Barbara Lee

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the brilliant life of Mr. Earl Williams. Earl was a caring friend, family member, and leader in the community. He will be greatly missed, but the positive impact he has left will remain in the hearts of all who had the honor of knowing him. It is with a deep sense of sadness that I rise today to deliver condolences to the family and friends of a great man, a brilliant human being and a true servant of God. However, it is also with a deep sense of gratitude to Earl's family and friends for sharing this loyal, patriotic, and compassionate man with us that I rise to celebrate his life and honor his legacy. As a person committed to those who are most vulnerable and most in need in our world, Earl was committed to creating safe havens for individuals who needed the love and kindness of their neighbors to see them through difficult times. He worked tirelessly as an administrator and part owner of Garden Plaza Convalescent Home in Los Angeles, CA. Earl was also the founder of Liberty Child Care Center in Chicago. His wide reach--involved in communities as different as Chicago and Los Angeles--and his limitless compassion drove his intentions to service humankind, and to do the Lord's work on this earth. Earl was a true patriot, serving his country as an outstanding and dedicated member of the United States Army. He and his family were proud of his service, and our country owes him a debt of gratitude for his commitment to his country. As a devoted family man, Earl always demonstrated his unwavering and unconditional love, loyalty, and devotion to each and every member of his family. He was a true role model to those whose lives he touched in so many ways. Today, I join with Earl's family and friends in bidding him farewell. I salute Earl Williams for a life well lived. Let us keep his legacy alive by recommitting our lives to his work and to his values to make this a better world. May his beautiful spirit continue to live and guide our lives, helping us to be true to our family, our friends, our community, our country, and most importantly, to our God. Today, California's Ninth Congressional District joins with the communities of Los Angeles, CA, Chicago, IL, and all the places where Earl William's love touched the lives of those who knew him, to salute and honor a great human being. We extend our deepest condolences to Earl's family. Thank you for sharing his great spirit with so many. May his soul rest in peace.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of Dr. Asa G. Hilliard III (Baffour Amankwatia II). A devoted father, husband, mentor, and world-renowned humanitarian who worked tirelessly and inspired us all, Dr. Hilliard will be sorely missed by us all. Asa passed away on August 13, 2007. An accomplished academic and devoted professor, Dr. Hilliard affected the lives of thousands of students. He was not only a mentor in his community, but a hero in the African Diaspora Movement. Dr. Hilliard began his academic career in Denver, where he earned a B.A. in Education Psychology, an M.A. in counseling, and a Ed.D in Education Psychology at the University of Denver. Dr. Hilliard launched his professional career at the University of Denver, teaching at the College of Education and in Philosophy colloquium of the Centennial Scholars Honor Program. After moving with his family to California, Dr. Hilliard dedicated 18 years of his life to San Francisco State University. During this time, he served as Department Chair for two years, Dean of Education for eight years while also working as a consultant for the Peace Corps. Dr. Hilliard's influence and reach was truly global. As he mentored and taught students in the United States, he also made constant visits to Africa, serving as the Superintendent of Schools in Monrovia, Liberia for two years. Dr. Hilliard was a founding member of the association for the study of Classical African Civilization, serving as its first Vice President. He was co-developer of a popular educational television series Free Your Mind, Return to the Source: African Origins and produced many videotapes and educational materials on African-American History through his production company, Weset Education Productions. Dr. Hilliard was so groundbreaking and forward- thinking in his approach to education that several of his methods have become national models in the field. Dr. Hilliard was a purposeful man with an unquenchable passion for education and the preservation of his culture's history and traditions. Without reservation, Dr. Asa Hilliard significantly changed the world with his dedication to the preservation, study, and spiritual understanding of Africa, African Americans, and Africans in Diaspora throughout the world. One of my long standing desires was to travel to Egypt with Dr. Hilliard on one of his study tours. Each time I saw him I mentioned this and we both were very excited about the prospect. Due to my hectic schedule, this never happened. As God will have it, I was in Ghana, West Africa, at the Cape Coast Slave Castle when I learned from Reverend Jeremiah Wright through Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. that Asa had passed the day before in Egypt. Like many, I was devastated and saddened, yet thankful to his family and to God for his amazing life. I reflected upon his death in Egypt in a prayerful manner, and took pause to commemorate this great soul. His loving wife, Mrs. Patsy Jo Hilliard, has quoted Asa as repeatedly saying, ``It is not enough for us to be bright and competent. We must also have purpose and direction. It is not enough for us to `make it' on our own--to save ourselves. As Abena says in Armah's novel, Two Thousand Seasons, `There is no self to save without the rest of us.' '' In this way, Dr. Hilliard touched and influenced the lives of all who were privileged to come into contact with him. On behalf of California's 9th Congressional District, we salute and honor a great human being, our beloved Asa G. Hilliard III. We extend my deepest condolences to Asa's family, and our deepest gratitude to them for sharing this great spirit with us. May his soul rest in peace, and may we continue to benefit from the positive impact he left on the world.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the effort to prevent our economy from sliding into recession. but I have strong reservations about any strategy that does not take meaningful steps to help those in need. Just last week, the House passed my resolution (H. Con. Res. 198) to cut poverty in half. While this stimulus bill is a step in the right direction, it's also important to act on our words by ensuring ``the least among us'' don't bear the brunt of an economic downturn. For example, I'm concerned that the minimum earnings requirement of $3,000 leaves out the neediest. And we have a lot of reasons to be concerned about the plight of those in need. Since the Bush administration took office in 2001, the median income is nearly 2 percent below its high in 2000, more than 5 million have fallen into poverty for a total 37 million Americans living in poverty, and the unemployment rate has risen to 5 percent and is almost double for African American males. Congress must ensure that any relief it provides to stem the downward slide reaches all Americans. We must assist those who are going to lose their homes in the mortgage foreclosure crisis. We must provide increased funding for food stamps and FMAP Medicaid payments to States. Finally we must make sure that unemployment benefits are extended. Madam Speaker, any economic relief we provide will be a hollow victory if those most in need are excluded. We must make certain that the gap between the haves and have nots isn't widened by our action here today. This is our solemn moral obligation.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, let me thank the gentlelady from the District of Columbia, not only for managing this resolution today, but for your long-standing work in addressing injustice everywhere, including economic justice which goes to the heart of this resolution. Also let me take a moment to thank my colleague, the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays) for your leadership and for your support and for your commitment to eliminate poverty; to Speaker Nancy Pelosi; our majority leader, Steny Hoyer; Chairman Waxman and Ranking Member Tom Davis. I want to commend them and thank them for their strong support in bringing this very important resolution forward today because I think the bipartisan support for this shows and demonstrates that we all understand very clearly this is not a Democratic or Republican issue, it is not an urban issue or rural issue, this is a moral issue that we must address together. I would like to recognize all 83 cosponsors who have worked hard on this resolution. Your support has been critical in helping to move it forward. Also to those who co-chair the Congressional Out of Poverty Caucus with me: Congressman Conyers, Chairman Baca, who chairs the Congressional Hispanic Caucus; Congressman Honda, who chairs the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus; and Congressman Butterfield. Their dedication and commitment is crucial to our broader goal of ending poverty. I would also like to thank our staff, Alexis Brandt of the majority leader's office; Bill Goold of the Congressional Progressive Caucus; Leila Gomez of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, who works in my office and has done a tremendous job on this; Tunde Eboda, who was a Brookings Fellow in my office; and Chris Lee of my staff. All of our staffs have really kept focused and worked together and have worked very hard to make sure that this resolution received the support that it has received. Madam Speaker, the resolution before us today is really very straightforward. It simply states that Congress supports setting a national goal of cutting poverty in half over the next 10 years. It is unfortunate that in the wealthiest country in the world that we even need this resolution, but the fact is that we do. As both the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) and the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays) reminded us, yesterday we took the time out to honor what would have been Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 79th birthday, and as we reflect upon his life and his legacy and the struggle for civil and human rights, for peace and for justice, it is important also to reflect upon how far we have strayed from his vision to eradicate poverty. So this resolution is just one small step in honoring his legacy in more than words. It is one small legislative action we can do today to say we, too, believe that not only on his birthday but throughout the year we have a responsibility to live his legacy and do what we can do to eliminate poverty. Our country is the land of opportunity. But the sad reality is that income inequality continues to grow and more people are falling into poverty than getting ahead. Just consider the fact that over 37 million Americans, more than the population of my home State of California, are in poverty, and the number has grown by 5 million within the last 5 to 6 years. One in eight Americans lives in poverty now. Poverty in the United States is far higher than in many other developed nations, and inequality is at an all-time high. The richest 1 percent of Americans in 2005 held the largest share of the Nation's income since 1925; and at the same time, the poorest 20 percent held only 3.4 percent of the Nation's income. Madam Speaker, I will include for the Record a document titled ``From Poverty to Prosperity.'' It was put forth by the Center for American Progress' Task Force on Poverty. The statistics in this report and other reports quantify what most of us already know, that we are heading in the wrong direction, and that we need a national commitment to address the growing poverty crisis in this Nation. This resolution helps us get back on track by setting an achievable, and in my view a very modest goal, of cutting poverty in half over the next decade. Madam Speaker, perhaps the greatest example of the profound need for action to address the poverty crisis in our Nation was Hurricane Katrina and the incredible suffering that it brought to so many, and which continues today. The facts speak for themselves. One-third of those displaced by Hurricane Katrina had incomes below 1\1/2\ times the poverty line. The storm had its greatest impact on people of color, affecting African Americans who accounted for nearly half of those affected. The gulf coast hurricane should have been a wake-up call. Unfortunately, the administration chose only to hit the snooze button. That is why I am glad we are here today in a bipartisan way helping to sound this alarm again. By setting our sights to tackling poverty head-on, we can take some very serious steps towards bridging the gap between the haves and the have-nots. There is much work to be done. Last year again, this important document on the state of poverty in America made several important proposals. The Center based its recommendations on four principles: Promote decent work, promoting opportunity for all, ensuring economic security for all, and helping people build wealth. Based on these principles, the report offers 12 key steps, including raising the minimum wage, and many of the efforts which we have been engaging in in this Congress, but much more needs to be done. So as we consider an income stimulus plan in the next few weeks, I hope we keep these points in mind. Fighting poverty isn't a mystery, it just requires us to make a commitment to the goal and to dedicate the necessary resources to do this. This resolution is an important step forward, and I urge my colleagues to support it and join me and my colleagues in the Out of Poverty Caucus in our efforts to eliminate poverty in America. This is a moral imperative which we must all embrace. From Poverty to Prosperity

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, first let me thank Chairman Barney Frank and our chairwoman, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, for their hard work in bringing to the floor this very critical legislation that reauthorizes HOPE VI for the first time in 6 years. As a former member of Congresswoman Waters' subcommittee, I saw firsthand her leadership on this and so many issues to create and expand affordable housing, to promote fair housing, to improve public housing, and to support the creation of a National Housing Trust Fund, among other initiatives. And so I know that, without her expertise and the chairman's expertise and their commitment, we wouldn't be considering today this truly important HOPE VI reauthorization bill. So I want to thank Congresswoman Waters and Chairman Frank for their leadership. In revitalizing public housing, the HOPE VI program is able to offer precisely that, and that is hope: hope for a better community, hope for a better future. And I know that in my own district, for example, in Oakland, California, the Mandela Gateway HOPE VI initiative is doing just that. Mr. Chairman, that is why I come to the floor today with a very simple amendment that builds on this hope. My amendment would allow Congress to stand up for the elderly and the disabled residents of public housing who are unwitting victims of the misdeeds of their relatives or guests. Specifically, this amendment would create a narrow exemption from the eviction rule for those who are elderly or disabled and who have committed no crime and have no knowledge of a crime being committed or are the actual victims of a crime. This amendment will give completely innocent tenants who are the most vulnerable a fighting chance to stay in their homes. It is sad that we have to stipulate this, but there is a history of these unfair evictions. Let me just share one. In 2002, the Supreme Court reversed the Ninth Circuit Court and upheld the eviction order to remove a 63-year-old woman, Ms. Pearlie Rucker, from her home. The court did so despite the fact that she had committed no crime or had any knowledge that the crime was happening. The Court did so based on the criminal actions of her adult son and daughter, who committed their crime several blocks away from their home. The Court found that, because she had signed a lease that gave public housing authority the right to no-fault evictions, her inability to control the actions of other adults made her a threat to other tenants, and evicted her. This is just plain wrong. Unfortunately, Pearlie Rucker and her Supreme Court case has become the basis for more forced evictions of people who have committed no crime. So this amendment certainly does not want to stop our hardworking public housing authorities from providing low-income families with a safe place to live; but innocent, elderly, and disabled tenants must not have their housing rights stripped from them because of the actions of other individuals away from their homes. So as such, it is especially tragic that the elderly and the disabled are the most vulnerable but are the least able to effectively control the actions of their guests as fellow tenants should be held liable and punished for the actions of other adults. So I urge my colleagues to support this very simple amendment, and again I want to thank Congresswoman Waters and Chairman Frank for their leadership and their assistance with this.

Ms. LEE. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Let me thank the gentleman for his leadership and for yielding. Here we go again, another payment on a war that should not have been fought and an occupation that keeps our young men and women in harm's way. By forcing Congress to tie the fate of spending for critical domestic programs to Iraq funding, this President held these programs hostage just to prop up his failed policy. This is not only shameful, it is unacceptable. The American people want our troops and our contractors home. A recent CNN poll found that 69 percent of respondents favored withdrawing all of our troops from Iraq. Nearly half believe that our troops should be home in under 1 year. The only funds that we should be giving this President today should be to protect our troops and our contractors and to bring them home in a safe and timely and orderly fashion, in other words, what we tried to do several weeks ago, and, that is, fully fund the redeployment of our troops and military contractors from Iraq. And we should be using this opportunity to shore up vital programs such as our poverty elimination efforts, vital HIV/AIDS programs, both domestic and international, and providing health care for all, which we tried to do in the Appropriations Committee under Chairman Obey but which the President, unfortunately, threatened to veto. Now, Congress, this body, once again is complicit in the President's games. And these are war games that he is playing. Why in the world are we going to put another payment down on this war that should have ended? Actually, it should have never started. So let's vote ``no'' on this. His inflexibility, the President's inflexibility, this House, this body's inflexibility has already cost America too much in terms of lives, in terms of treasure, in terms of our standing in the world, and in terms of our national security.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. I want to thank the gentleman for yielding, and I want to once again acknowledge the leadership of Congressman Wolf and Congressman Bachus. I served for many years on the Financial Services Committee and had the privilege to work with Spencer Bachus on many, many bills and legislation, including debt relief. And I just wanted to thank him on this one issue because I know this comes from his values, not only as a legislator, but as a human being who wants to see humankind live, and live in peace and harmony without the devastating effects of genocide in their country. So, I want to thank you again, Congressman Bachus.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2271, the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act. First, let me thank Chairman Frank. As Chair of the Financial Services Committee, I have just got to say you didn't have to do this, but you did. This took many, many months to negotiate. Chairman Frank understands very clearly that this bill will put the United States on the right side of history in our efforts to end this genocide in Darfur. So I just want to thank the Financial Services Committee under your leadership. I want to thank Ranking Member Spencer Bachus, Mr. Gutierrez, and all of those who really made sure that this happened in a bipartisan way. So thank you again, Congressman Frank and Ranking Member Bachus, for your leadership but also for your commitment. Your moral commitment, your intellectual resources have been put on the table to get this done. So thank you so much. I want to also take a few minutes just to thank a few more people because this is a bill that has been a bipartisan bill, and it has been tough to negotiate; but it happened finally. First, I have to say that my colleagues in the other body, Senator Dodd, Senator Durbin, Ranking Member Shelby of the Senate Banking Committee, I have to congratulate them and thank them for working together in a bipartisan fashion on this bill. Initially it was actually, when it left this House, H.R. 180, the Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act, better known as DADA. And for the most part, 90 percent of DADA remains intact thanks to our negotiators and thanks to our staff. The staff has been phenomenal. Daniel McGlinchey, Jim Segel, Katie Lavelle, and I want to thank all of our staff for their efforts and I have to especially acknowledge Christos Tsentos on my staff who has gone way beyond the call of duty to make sure that this bill came out in the form that it came out where we all could support it. Also, a former staffer, Aysha House-Moshi, her tireless effort, her inspiration and her pushing, pushing, pushing helped us draft the original DADA bill. And I must acknowledge Congressman Don Payne, Chair of the Africa Subcommittee. I've got to say that his leadership on Sudan has been phenomenal. He authored the initial legislation over 3 years ago that declared the genocide taking place was a genocide in Darfur. Representative Wolf, Senator Brownback, in a bipartisan way Members in both bodies have come together to not only declare that genocide is taking place but also to do the things that we need to do to make sure that it ended. So I want to thank you also for your leadership. Also, let me just say to Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, they have been such phenomenal leaders, as leadership in this body and as great human beings. I have visited the refugee camps on three occasions, once also with Speaker Pelosi and once with Majority Leader Hoyer. They saw the devastation. They saw the tragedy. They saw the glare in the refugees' eyes. They heard the stories of men, women, and children being run out of their villages. They saw the pictures that children painted of bombs coming down into their villages and the janjaweed on horseback coming through burning their villages. So Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer saw this firsthand with so many Members of this body. So I just want to thank them for following up and for making sure that we were able to bring this bill to the floor. The religious community, the students, the Save Darfur Coalition, STAND, the NAACP, the American Jewish World Service, the National Association of Evangelicals, and the Genocide Intervention Network and the Sudan Divestment Task Force, I cannot say enough about these outside organizations because they have been the wind beneath our wings here. They got it early. They got it early. So I just have to thank them, including Sam Bell, Adam Sterling, Allyson Neville, and Nina McMurry with the Sudan Divestment Task Force for their work because sometimes these negotiations got very difficult, but they hung in there and they were very realistic and yet very principled in how they moved forward. With each decision to divest, our constituents send a very loud and clear message to Khartoum that they won't fund genocide, not on our dime, not on our watch. Already in our Nation there have been 58 universities, 22 States, and 11 cities. All of these have divested. So this bill allows these divestment movements to move on. This is an impressive track record, Mr. Speaker, and it really deserves our recognition. Briefly, this bill, one, authorizes States and local governments and universities to divest from companies doing business in the military, the power production, the oil-related, and mineral extraction industries in partnership with the Khartoum Government of Sudan. It also authorizes States, local governments, and universities to prohibit new contracts with such companies. It provides safe harbor to mutual funds and pension plans choosing to divest their assets in such companies and also prohibits the Federal Government from entering into new Federal contracts with these offending companies. Let me be very clear. This bill does not require anyone to divest. Even when it comes to Federal contracts, we provide the President with waiver authority in the event of a national security emergency. Further, this bill is designed to protect and encourage our Governors, State legislators, our mayors, our provosts, and our deans to divest their assets from Sudan and express their outrage with the ongoing genocide in Darfur. No one should have to worry that their pension or retirement funds are supporting genocide. So by passing this legislation today, we can help achieve that goal and at the same time send a message to Khartoum and to the companies that are enabling, enabling the genocidal regime. Not on our watch, not on our dime. Taken together with the over $1 billion in humanitarian assistance and peacekeeping money we passed last night and the diplomacy efforts of this administration, divestment is one part of a comprehensive bipartisan strategy that we are pursuing to end the genocide. So we must continue also to urge all parties to lay down their arms, come to the table to negotiate a political solution. We must continue support for the rapid and unconditional deployment of a United Nations/ AU hybrid force, along with free and unfettered access for humanitarian groups to continue to provide humanitarian assistance. Mr. Speaker, 13 years ago the world stood by as nearly 1 million people were slaughtered in the genocide of Rwanda. And the best our country could do, the best we could we do was apologize, and that was after the fact. Today the people of Darfur who are suffering and dying need this bill. They need it because another genocide is occurring. And, again, as I said, I have witnessed this three times in the camps, and I have heard these stories. I have seen the devastation from the survivors. Nearly 3 million refugees are in the camps now. So I must say there must be no apologies this time because we must sign this bill into law. The President needs to do the right thing. He needs to listen to bipartisan, bicameral support from Congress for divestment and sign this. This really is, Mr. Speaker, the moment of truth. This is the moment of truth. Let's stop the rhetoric and do something, do something now that we have declared for 3 years genocide taking place. We need to put the United States on the right side of history. Divestment worked in South Africa when our former colleague and my mayor now, Ron Dellums, when he led the effort in the 1980s. It can work now in Sudan. So I urge the President to join us in saying to the Government of Khartoum not on our watch, not on our dime. So let me again thank Chairman Frank for his leadership on this important legislation. Let me thank all those on the other side of the House for their commitment to make sure that this became a bipartisan bill and that we take the right step, put our country on the right side of history and say ``no'' to the Sudanese Government, ``yes'' to ending this genocide, and let us urge the President to sign this bill into law.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. I thank the gentlelady for yielding and for calling this Special Order to recognize and honor the extraordinary life of our dear friend and colleague Julia May Carson. First, I would like to offer my deepest condolences to her family and her constituents of Indiana's Seventh Congressional District, to her friends and to her staff here in Washington, DC, and in Indiana. For over 35 years, Congresswoman Carson championed the rights of the underprivileged, the underrepresented and the overlooked. We came to depend on her determined leadership and commitment throughout her tenure in Congress. So a true voice for the voiceless was taken from us on December 15. We shared many conversations about our common interests. We frequently talked about the fact that we both shared the same astrological sign. We are both Cancers. Julia's birthday was July 8. Mine is July 16. Julia Carson was fiercely loyal and patriotic, and that supposedly is a typical characteristic of Cancers. She exemplified those values, though, in many, many ways. Her loyalty and her patriotism was what undergirded and served as the foundation for her career in public service. In coming to the House floor to vote, I would pass by her office. Oftentimes, I would walk with Julia. We would share many conversations. But even to this day I noticed, and I would like for you to look at the plaque outside her door, she has the pictures of at least 45 of Indiana's fallen men and women who have served this country. She kept their pictures in her office. She loved the troops. She loved her district and our young men and women. She was a woman of courage. Congresswoman Carson was an adamant opponent of the Iraq war, and we talked about this a lot, even though it could pose political risks, but she let her conscience be her guide. I witnessed her passion for justice when I served with her on the Housing Subcommittee with Congresswoman Waters, her passion for the homelessness and seeking housing for homeless public recipients. What a woman. Very recently, even with her debilitating illness, several months ago she came to me and asked me to help her. We were putting this together, to put together another visit to South Africa. She wanted to lead a codel. And of course her health would not allow for this exhausting trip, but I will always remember up until a couple of months ago her optimism and determination to go back to South Africa. She wouldn't take ``no'' for an answer. We are going to miss Congresswoman Carson tremendously. I am reminded of the scriptures, Timothy 4, Chapter 7: I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. Madam Speaker, Congresswoman Julia Carson fought hard. She fought hard for peace and justice all of her life, and she completed her work on this Earth, but it is up to us to pick up that baton and to move it forward in her memory. And she remained faithful. She remained faithful to the end to her family, her friends, her constituents, her country, and most importantly to her God. May her soul rest in peace.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the business in order under the Calendar Wednesday rule be dispensed with on Wednesday next.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. As a strong supporter of H.R. 6, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, I wanted to take a few moments to speak about this important bill, which we passed earlier today in the House, and how delighted I am and my constituents are for its passage. It is a historic step forward in our goal toward reaching energy independence. H.R. 6 raised CAFE standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2020, cutting oil consumption by 1.1 million gallons per day, also, eliminating greenhouse gases equivalent to 28 million cars from our roads. That's 28 million cars. Among many important additional initiatives, it includes new energy efficiency standards to reduce demand. It extends renewable energy tax credits for solar and other renewable sources. It includes a renewable fuels standard that contains safeguards to reduce carbon emissions and protect our environment. It also contains a renewable electricity standard, requiring utilities to get 15 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2020. It also assists and empowers small businesses to cut costs and scale up innovative energy solutions. It will create thousands of new good-paying green jobs and build on the work that has begun in places like the Ella Baker Center in my district in Oakland, California, which is helping to lead the green jobs revolution. Mr. Speaker, this bill takes the right steps forward to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, to save our constituents money, and to fight global warming. Most importantly, it echoes the innovative steps that have already been taken by individual cities, States and districts like my district in the East Bay of California, Alameda County, to be specific. In many ways, the California Bay Area, and my district in particular, are in the forefront of the innovation and research on alternative energy climate change and the environment. Ongoing research into alternative and renewable energy at the University of California at Berkley, one of the premier public universities in the country, of course I am an alma mater of the University of California at Berkley and very proud of that, we hold the promise of a cleaner and brighter future for our children, our country and the world. Businesses in my district have also taken the lead in greening their activities to reduce waste, improve energy efficiency, and save water, minimizing the impact on our environment. Innovative programs like the Ella Baker Center, which I already mentioned, and funded in part through the City of Oakland, are also training youth in my district about the importance of environmental stewardship and providing them with new job opportunities and new career paths. Community-based organizations in my district have also taken the lead in advocating for environmental justice and equity for all of our constituents. Together, my community is at the forefront of a robust environmental movement that is quite literally changing the world for the better. The passage of the Energy Independence and Security Act will help these grass-roots efforts expand and grow through Federal initiatives designed to put the United States on a path to energy sustainability. Again, I am very pleased that the House passed H.R. 6, and I look forward to its final passage by the Senate. In my district, we have the City of Albany, Berkley, Piedmont, Oakland, California, Ashland, Cherryland, Fairview, Castro Valley, unbelievable innovations which this bill will certainly support and enhance. So I urge the President not to reject this proposal and hope that he signs the bill when it reaches his desk.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet to 3 p.m. on Monday next, and further, when the House adjourns on that day, it adjourn to meet at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 11, for morning-hour debate.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, first let me thank the gentlewoman from Los Angeles for her leadership and for giving me the opportunity to speak for a few minutes on behalf of this resolution, H. Res. 822, recognizing the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Port of Los Angeles. The Port of Los Angeles, and we are hearing this over and over again, and many of us who represent ports have known this for a long time, but it has a long and distinguished history as a training hub in California. Today, the fifth largest container complex in the entire world along with the Port of Long Beach, the cargo that comes through the port reaches every congressional district throughout the country. The Port of Los Angeles is an economic engine, not just for Los Angeles but for the region, for our entire State and our entire country. The economic benefits that it provides to the Nation are impossible to measure but assuredly are immense, just as is the Port of Oakland located in my congressional district. So I want to commend my colleague from Los Angeles, California, our newest Member from California, for introducing this resolution. I could think of no Member who has come to Congress who has hit the ground running, who has done the hard work, and who has been able to bring forth a resolution such as this as Congresswoman Richardson. She recognizes the economic opportunities, the job creation aspects, the trade benefits of the Port of Los Angeles. So I salute you, Congresswoman Richardson. From the Port of Oakland to the Port of Los Angeles, happy anniversary.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the chairman for his leadership and for his friendship. Also I want to thank our colleague from Texas, Congressman Al Green, for introducing this very important resolution and for your spirit with which you have introduced this. Racism is alive and well in America, regardless of how we try to sweep it under the rug. It is tragic and very sad that we need a resolution like this today, but the rash of noose hangings across America reminds us that it is necessary. Clearly, there can be no better example of these tragic incidents than in the case of the Jena Six. What does this say about our Nation and the level of racism present when we see an increase in these times of hateful acts? As a child, I remember listening to these horror stories about the Klan and their terrorist acts, and that is what this is. These are terrorist acts against African Americans. And today, I just shiver at the thought of a hanging noose and how intimidating this is for anyone, any community, any family whose race has been targeted and has been terrorized by these acts. Every act of intimidation in the displaying of nooses must be criminally prosecuted. It is a horrible act. A noose is a racist symbol. On behalf of the more than 4,700 people who were lynched between 1882 and 1968, let us pass this resolution, H. Res. 826, today, and vigorously prosecute those who continue to harass, intimidate and hang nooses in our country. These acts of hate have no place in America. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you Congressman Green for allowing us the privilege to say ``no'' to racism once again in America.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise this evening in recognition of World AIDS Day, which took place last Saturday, December 1. Now, all through last week and into the weekend, events were held all around our country and throughout the world recognizing World AIDS Day. This solemn day provided us with the occasion to commemorate the lives of those who have died of this disease, more than 25 million people worldwide, and express our solidarity with those who are currently living with the disease, over 33 million people. I had the good fortune last week to travel with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation to South Africa, where we celebrated and commemorated World AIDS Day with Congresswoman Dr. Donna Christensen. Our delegation met with the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria in Johannesburg. We spoke to the group about our support for increased funding for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or better known as PEPFAR, and the importance of the private sector in fighting the pandemic. Later, we visited an HIV/AIDS testing site located in the Zola area of Soweto, sponsored by Levi Strauss Red for Life Initiative, Centers for Disease Control, USAID, and State Department and other organizations, and I had the chance to talk to young people about the importance of getting tested and knowing their status. Together, Congresswoman Christensen and I helped lead by example by getting tested publicly, and we noted the very thorough pre- and post- testing counseling as well as the emphasis on maintaining confidentiality. We were very inspired to see young people sign up for testing, and some actually came up and told us that our speeches had convinced them to get tested. This really was remarkable and gave us a glimpse as to what we need to do more and more and more with our young people here in America also. We ended our trip at the United States Embassy where we helped to hang a giant AIDS ribbon and spoke to the assembled diplomatic corps about HIV and AIDS and the importance of our collective struggle against the disease. We had an opportunity to meet with the great moral and religious leader Bishop Desmond Tutu, and Bishop Tutu had spoken earlier at the Swedish and Norweigian Embassy, and he talked about helping to fight this global HIV/AIDS pandemic just as we helped fight to end apartheid in South Africa. It was especially important to be in Africa last week, because the discussions with regard to the reauthorization of PEPFAR will be coming up very shortly. And tonight I must take a moment and ask that my remarks include my sympathy for Henry Hyde, Chairman Hyde's family. I thought about Chairman Hyde during our visit, because we worked together on the initial PEPFAR legislation. He was committed to address this HIV pandemic. He ensured that this bill became a bipartisan bill. And even though we didn't agree on every issue, tonight I commemorate him and I give my sympathy to his family because, as we reauthorize this, his spirit and his hard work and his legacy certainly will prevail as we move forward. Many of the key issues which remain were addressed in South Africa as it relates to the PEPFAR reauthorization. Some of them included addressing the abstinence until marriage earmark and the onerous prostitution pledge; reducing the vulnerability of women and girls to HIV and AIDS by empowering them through my legislation, such as the PATHWAY Act; sharpening our focus on orphans and vulnerable children, which of course Chairman Hyde was committed to; better integrating nutrition and wrap-around programs. We also have to expand support for health systems and strengthen delivery of basic health care services. And, of course, I believe that we must provide $50 billion, not $30 billion as the President has asked for, but $50 billion over the next 5 years for this initiative. And AIDS is also disproportionately affecting those who live in the Caribbean and also in black America. All across demographic ranges, African Americans are the most likely to get infected with HIV and to die from AIDS. The unfortunate reality is that to be black in America is to be at greater risk of HIV and AIDS. And the numbers are staggering, but I want to mention a few specifically. According to the CDC, in 2005, African American women accounted for 66 percent of all new HIV and AIDS cases among women. Compared to white women, African-American women were 25 more times likely to be infected. Today, AIDS is the number one cause of death among African-American women between the ages of 25 and 34. We can no longer wait for this administration to take action. We have to take action immediately to address this pandemic.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of overriding the President's veto of the L-HHS-Education conference report. I stand with Chairman Obey and greatly appreciate his support of funding programs that are essential to the growth and development of the communities I represent in Oakland, California. This bill includes funding for critical programs under the Department of Health and Human Services--programs like nurses education; the Ryan White CARE Act, and the Minority AIDS Initiative. These are all programs for which we should increase funding, as opposed to playing politics with the lives and well-being of the American people. We are in a fundamental struggle over war vs. peace. We now conclusively know where the President's priorities lie--they are with occupying Iraq, as opposed to funding critical labor, heath and education programs at home. In one stroke of a pen, the President signed the Defense funding bill, and yet in the next stroke he vetoed the LHHS funding bill. What is the President saying to the American people when he rejects legislation that funds education programs like 21st Century Community Learning Centers, TRIO, GEAR UP and programs that strengthen Historically Black Colleges and Universities? He is saying that he does not care about the programs that our people care about--programs that we need and want to see implemented to help our communities grow. He is more concerned with occupying Iraq. We are now spending $12 billion a month in Iraq and yet the President is asking us to approve another $200 billion. This is absurd! For the price of one month of our occupation of Iraq, we could be paying for 1.5 million children to go to Head Start for a whole year; we could hire 200,000 new school teachers for a year; we could have even insured 7 million of the 8.7 million children living in this country that do not have medical insurance--for a whole year. This is a fundamental question of where our priorities lie. Would you rather we continue to waste our American tax dollars on a war without an end, or would the American people rather spend their tax dollars on our children, our schools, and in our communities? Mr. Speaker, I hope to continue our fight for our funding priorities at home, as opposed to waging war abroad. I urge my colleagues to override the President's veto.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Let me thank Chairman Frank, Chairman Watt, Congresswoman Waters and all the members of the Financial Services Committee for their leadership and commitment to help Americans who are struggling. And we all know, quite frankly, many, many people are struggling to keep their homes as this mortgage crisis continues to claim victims. This legislation adds a very important piece of what we're trying to do in terms of the protections, including limiting prepayment penalties, requiring that loans be affordable, and that refinancing provide a net benefit to borrowers. However, I have some concerns about H.R. 3915 that I hope will be addressed as it moves through the process, and I would like to just mention a few of those concerns because I think they're very important to hear. They were forwarded by ACORN, the Center for Responsible Lending, the Consumer Federation of America, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the NAACP, Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann, and Opportunity Finance Network. They raised concerns with regard to these issues: One, the ability to pay. They believe the standard does not apply to all loans, it undercuts agency guidelines, and will not change the markets; Secondly, the prohibition on steering is weak and upselling of loan rates still possible. Homeowners cannot prevent foreclosure. Some feel, and I know that this is being addressed today, that the preemption is too broad. So, I know that, as this bill moves through the process, we will look at it. It is a starting point. I urge our colleagues to make sure that it does become stronger because this American Dream of home ownership is, quite frankly, turning to a nightmare for so many people. I want to thank Chairman Frank for his leadership and for really trying to put together a bipartisan bill. And also, with regard to the Putnam amendment, the reporting, I think, makes sense. November 15, 2007. Hon. Barney Frank, Chairman, House Financial Services Committee. Hon. Spencer Bachus, Ranking Member, House Financial Services Committee. Dear Chairman Frank and Ranking Member Bachus: We, the undersigned organizations, write to present our views on H.R. 3915, the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act of 2007. While we greatly appreciate your efforts to reduce predatory lending and to restore balance to the mortgage market, we believe this bill requires improvements in the areas described below in order for the bill to achieve its goals. Subprime lending has been a disaster of monumental proportions, shattering hopes of economic progress for millions of families and triggering a devastating chain reaction of losses for communities and businesses. More than two million families will likely lose their homes as a result, and for most families--especially African-Americans and Latinos--their home equity represents the greatest share of their family wealth. Wall Street's demand for risky loans with higher interest rates played a key role in encouraging reckless lending, and brokers delivered whatever loans they could sell. When H.R. 3915 was introduced, we applauded many of its strongest provisions, such as the originator duty of care and anti-steering rules, the bans on yield spread premiums, prepayment penalties, mandatory arbitration, and single premium credit insurance, and the special protections for extremely high-cost mortgages and for renters. It is crucial to retain those strong provisions, to improve the remedies and market incentives in the bill, and to avoid preemption of state laws related to these issues. Unfortunately, as the bill has passed through the legislative process, several of the strongest provisions (such as the duty of case and ban on yield-spread premiums) have been weakened, the remedies have been weakened rather than strengthened, and a preemption clause has been added that would eliminate important state claims that help homeowners protect the homes. Our concerns about the bill fall into four main areas: ``Ability to Pay'' Standard Does Not Apply to All Loans, Undercuts Agency Guidance, and Will Not Change Market: The bill requires no ability to pay standards for approximately 90% of the current mortgage market and creates an irrebuttable presumption that any loan below 8.25% is affordable. This immunity undercuts the existing joint agency guidance that currently sets ability to pay standards for risky loans, especially loans such as payment options ARMs, the majority of which are ``qualified mortgages.'' Moody's estimates that monthly payments on $220 billion of POARMs will reset--in most cases to much higher monthly payments--between 2009 and 2011. Additionally, because there is no requirement that secondary market purchasers conduct due diligence, we fear that the secondary market will continue to purchase abusive loans and choose to absorb the expense of any cures as part of the cost of doing business. Prohibition on Steering is Weak and Upselling of Loan Rate Still Possible: Rather than prohibiting yield spread premiums, as was originally intended, the bill as amended now essentially authorizes such practices as long as there is disclosure to the consumer. Research shows that disclosure has virtually no effect on preventing abusive lending practices such as steering. We also fear that incorporating Title II into the Title I standards significantly weakens the entire structure, and the permitted damages are insufficient to change the market. Moreover, the damages for violation of the steering provision are too low to change broker behavior. Homeowners Cannot Prevent Foreclosure: As currently drafted, homeowners have no rights against the actual holder of the loan (in other words, against the entity that will foreclose on them) until a foreclosure has already begun. At that point, not only has the family been traumatized, but the damage to the homeowner's credit is done, which will likely prevent the use of the rescission remedy. Moreover, even in foreclosure, it is not fully clear that homeowners will be able to reach the holder in the vast majority of situations. Preemption is Too Broad: Although we appreciate that there is not preemption for the entire bill, the broad preemption in the area of assignee liability would wipe out the many existing state laws, such as UDAP statutes [and UCC protections?], that provide remedies against assignees. Since most loans are sold soon after origination, and since so many originators and creditors are thinly capitalized (assuming they even are still in business), many homeowners will be left without any remedy for unaffordable loans. Ultimately, unless legislation fundamentally changes the incentive structure both for Wall Street and for mortgage originators, predatory lending is likely to continue in one form or another. We look forward to continuing to work with the Congress as this bill moves through the legislative process. Sincerely, ACORN, CDFI Coalition, Center for Responsible Lending, Consumer Federation of America, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, NAACP, Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann, Opportunity Finance Network.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary accomplishments of Ms. Mary Bergan, who has dutifully served and enriched the California Federation of Teachers and the labor movement for over 35 years. Her work has affected the lives of teachers and their students throughout the 9th Congressional District, and the great State of California. Ms. Mary Bergan has been involved in community politics, volunteerism, and education for her entire adult life. After graduating from the prestigious University of California, Berkeley in 1965 with a B.A. in English, Mary promptly joined the Peace Corps. For 3 years Mary lived in Malaysia teaching English language and literature and coaching athletics. In this way, Mary has always been acutely aware of the importance of both healthy minds and bodies for her students. When Mary returned to the United States she became a teacher, and immediately started organizing for the California Federation of Teachers, CFT. For more than three decades her passion and activism has rightly placed her in leadership positions throughout the State of California, both within her profession as an educator and within the greater Democratic Party. In 1976, while Jerry Brown was Governor of California, Ms. Bergan was chosen as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions. Shortly after, in the 1980's, Mary was elected as the chair of the Labor Caucus of the California Democratic Party. She continued her role as a delegate at the Democratic National Conventions in 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004. In 1991 Mary took her leadership skills, compassion, and dedicated experience to task. She was elected by her peers as president of the CFT. Only a year later, in 1992, Mary was elected vice president of the American Federation of Teachers, AFT, a national position of both great prestige and great responsibility. Not satisfied merely holding a title or position, Mary has participated in and continues to serve in numerous capacities within the AFT. She is a member of the Teachers Program and Policy Council, where she serves primarily on the council's working group on early childhood education. She is also a member of the organizing committee, the Task Force on Health Care Reform, and the State Federations Advisory Committee. When she was elected president of the CFT Ms. Bergen pledged ``to renew the organization's commitment to excellence in education, to reinforce its efforts to increase education funding and to raise the organization's profile in the media and public eye.'' This is exactly what Mary has done, and continues to do. She is an outspoken advocate of our children and the conditions of our teachers. Mary has always been quick to respond to the political issues of the day which most affect education, and she continues to be famously truthful and clear in those responses. Mary does not play with words, she does not play games with her positions on issues, and she does not play with the futures of our children and teachers. Mary has long known that the better the conditions are for our teachers, the better our schools will be. Ultimately, taking care of our teachers affords our students the greatest opportunities for success in their own lives. A true servant educator in every sense, Mary Bergan has immeasurably contributed to our community, our State, and our Nation. On behalf of California's 9th Congressional District, I thank and applaud Mary Bergan for the more than 35 years of unwavering service and inspiration.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary accomplishments of Ms. Joyce M. Taylor. As she retires from an illustrious and dedicated career in the communications industry, we have the opportunity to reflect on her achievements and thank her for her years of service. Joyce was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma at Norman with a bachelor's degree in journalism. From this early beginning, Joyce began her long career, traveling and working throughout the Nation, assuming leadership positions in some of our most influential communications companies. Ms. Taylor first served as the public relations manager in Oklahoma City for Southwestern Bell Telephone. After that, she held a number of communications positions, which included assuming responsibilities in advertising, employee information, news relations, public policy development and federal relations. Her capacities have taken her from Oklahoma City to St. Louis to Washington, D.C. Finally, she came to California, during an important merger between SBC and Pacific Telesis. At the time of the merger, Ms. Taylor was serving as the executive director of external affairs for SBC Communications, Inc. Her work during this delicate moment in the communications industry directly helped earn the support from many Bay Area community and consumer organizations for the merger. This resulted in Ms. Taylor's appointment as AT&T's Senior Vice President for External Affairs-Northern California. During all of this time, and throughout her professional endeavors, Joyce has always contributed to her community. Joyce has used her extraordinary talents to contribute to a number of worthy causes. From the arts to education, from industry to our neighborhoods, Joyce has always given back. It is our great fortune that the 9th Congressional District and the greater Northern California Area became her community as she grew in her capacities at AT&T. In April 1997, Joyce Taylor was appointed to oversee regulatory, legislative, governmental and external affairs activities for AT&T in Northern California. Continuing her natural enthusiasm and belief in charity and the growth of communities, Joyce has become integrally involved in many boards and organizations in the Greater Bay Area. Joyce serves on the Board of Directors of the Bay Area Council, the Bay Area Economic Forum, First Tee of San Jose, the San Francisco School Alliance Foundation, the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, the Tech Museum of Innovation, United Way of the Bay Area, and Women's Forum West. In addition, Ms. Taylor is a member of the Northwestern Regional Board of Operation Hope. Dedicated to the arts and education, Ms. Taylor also serves on the Board of Trustees of the San Francisco Ballet and as a member of the Executive Campaign Advisory Board of the United Negro College Fund. It certainly is not difficult to see how this remarkable woman has become such an invaluable part of our community. On behalf of California's 9th Congressional District, I would like to thank and applaud our beloved Joyce M. Taylor on the occasion of her retirement. I am sure that her contributions to our community, and the value that she brings to the young leaders following in her example, are only just beginning.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the legendary Joe Morgan as the Board of Directors of Alameda County Youth Development, Inc. (ACYD) come together in the 9th Congressional District to pay tribute to Mr. Morgan and celebrate his impressive legacy. Many are aware of Joe Morgan's incredible athletic accomplishments. His life has served as an inspiration to our youth, especially in communities of color, where Mr. Morgan's example has served as a symbol of the power of perseverance in overcoming obstacles and living up to one's great potential. Even though Mr. Morgan has made significant contributions to our world in his capacities as a role model through sports, his contributions to our community as a steward of our youth programs and charitable causes has created an equally positive impact on thousands of people. Mr. Morgan has been one of the most generous and committed supporters of youth programs in Oakland, California for over four decades. Joe Morgan was born in Bonham, Texas in 1944. At the age of 10, he moved to Oakland with his family, and has called the East Bay his home ever since. Mr. Morgan is a true product and member of the Oakland family. He attended Brookfield Elementary, Elmhurst Junior High, and graduated with recognition for his academic and athletic prowess from Oakland's Castlemont High School in 1961. Mr. Morgan went on to receive an Associate's Degree from Merritt College in 1963. After graduating from Merritt College, Joe Morgan quickly rose to prominence as he launched one of the greatest careers in Major League Baseball. In 1963, Mr. Morgan signed his first professional contract with the Houston Colt 45's. A year later, he emerged as a key member of the Houston Astros, eventually going on to be named the National League Rookie of the Year in 1965. He remained with the Astros until 1972, when he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds, one of the all-time great teams that was given the moniker ``The Big Red Machine'' after the franchise strung together a series of World Series Championships during the 1970s, an accomplishment that continues to be recognized as one of the great achievements in American sports history. After completing a successful career in professional baseball that eventually led to Mr. Morgan being inducted in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, he returned to school. This act of personal determination exemplified his unwavering dedication to education and personal growth. Mr. Morgan received a B.S. in Physical Education from California State University, Hayward, just as he had promised his mother he would do many years ago. These tremendous accomplishments, however, were just one aspect of Mr. Morgan's capacities as an extraordinary person. Fame and fortune were not satisfying for Mr. Morgan if he was not able to use his experience and energy to give back to his community. Mr. Morgan has always displayed incredible dedication to his family, an unwavering love for children, and a personal concern with those around him and his community. Mr. Morgan continues to actively support the Young America Baseball Program and the Oakland Unified School District Sports Program, doing what he can to ensure that those institutions have the resources necessary to serve the youth of our community. Harnessing so much compassion for his community, Mr. Morgan was compelled to create the Joe Morgan Youth Foundation. His Foundation provides many much needed services for our youth, including scholarships, financial support programs, and innovative community initiatives. This year, in recognition of his extraordinary life, accomplishments, and dedication to our community, ACYD has presented Mr. Morgan with its first George P. Scotlan Outstanding Citizen Award. Mr. Morgan is certainly one of Oakland's most outstanding citizens, and an excellent choice for such a prestigious honor. On behalf of the residents of California's 9th Congressional District, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Morgan as he receives due recognition for his contributions. The community of Oakland, especially those impassioned about the well being and future of our youth, salute Joe Morgan today, and we look forward to witnessing his lasting and positive impact on the lives of our children.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, as one who opposed the invasion of Iraq and as one who has led efforts to end the occupation of Iraq, I rise today to support the Orderly and Responsible Iraq Redeployment Appropriations Act of 2007. First, I would like to thank Speaker Pelosi, Chairmen Obey and Murtha for really crafting this historic legislation that takes the first step to end the occupation of Iraq. This bill's main purpose, main purpose, is to begin to fund the end of this occupation. This is also the very first time that this Congress will explicitly tie funding to bringing our troops home. It mandates a start date for the President to begin redeployment of our brave troops within 30 days of his signature. It also once again puts Congress on record prohibiting the establishment of permanent military bases and United States economic control of Iraqi oil and also of torture. Mr. Speaker, this legislation is not perfect. I strongly feel that there should be additional clarity on the numbers and nature of U.S. forces that remain for protection of diplomats and training of Iraqi forces. And given the President's determination to protect his legacy by allowing the occupation to continue indefinitely, we really must be wary of providing him opportunities to prolong or extend this war. So we made sure in this legislation that this bill explicitly states that ``the primary purpose of this $5 billion should be to transition the mission, redeploy troops in Iraq, and not to extend or prolong the war.'' But I am also disappointed that the end date in this legislation is a goal no later than December 2008. But hopefully, the Senate will pass this and send it to the President. This legislation does conform to what Congresswomen Waters, Woolsey and myself have been working on all year. Earlier this year, we authored the Lee amendment that stipulates funding for Iraq should be used to fully fund, fully fund, the safe and orderly redeployment of our troops from Iraq. We did this way back in March. Now, 92 Members of Congress wrote to the President to put him on notice to this effect. So I am glad this remains the main purpose of this legislation. This legislation represents for many of us a very important step forward to end the combat operations in Iraq. Otherwise, believe you me, I would never vote for it. Mr. Speaker, this legislation does not give the President a blank check for his occupation. It provides a down payment on redeploying our troops from Iraq and ending the occupation. It clearly says these funds are to be used to begin to end the death, the violence, and the destruction that the Bush administration has brought on Iraq, which he has brought on our brave young men and women, and our country and the world.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3315-- legislation which would designate the great hall of the new Capitol Visitor Center as Emancipation Hall. As Vice Chair of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee, I must note that similar language was added to H.R. 2771--the House-passed 2008 Legislative Branch appropriations bill. Mr. Speaker, this recognition is long over due. For nearly two centuries, the slaves who helped to build our Capitol have been overlooked, brushed aside, and denied their just recognition. How ironic that this great building that is viewed world-wide as a symbol of freedom, a symbol of justice, and a symbol of democracy, was constructed in part, piece by piece, by those who did not know freedom nor justice. That is why I would like to thank the Slave Laborers Task Force, chaired by Rep. John Lewis, for their diligence and commitment in ensuring that the slaves who labored to build our Nation's Capitol are both recognized and honored. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this historic legislation.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1593, The Second Chance Act. I thank Congressman Danny Davis for introducing this important legislation and thank him for his leadership in support of formerly incarcerated persons making a successful transition back into their communities. We must all begin to recognize the unique needs of those on the path of re-entry. I believe that there needs to be a comprehensive system of support to reduce the rates of recidivism and wasted tax dollars. Today, our prisons and jails are filled beyond capacity, mostly with non-violent drug offenders, at enormous cost to the taxpayer. The politics of locking people up are easy. Not enough lawmakers have given much thought to the hard part: the inconvenient fact that more than 95 percent of the people who got to prison or jail will return at some point to our communities, with little or no preparation to succeed when they do. The reality is, recidivism rates continue to rise with nearly 70 percent of those released from incarceration returning to prison within 3 years. By releasing the formerly incarcerated back into our communities without arming them with the necessary tools for survival, we are condemning them to repeat their past mistakes. This does nothing to reduce the crime rate or provide for safer communities. We need to put the rehabilitation back into our penal system, to prepare people for reentry with job training and to send people with drug problems to treatment, not jail. Today, we can change the landscape of re-entry programs for the formerly incarcerated in this country. We need to make rehabilitation a reality not just an abstract proposal. By providing all formerly incarcerated individuals with greater access to education, health care, job placement, and drug treatment we will reduce recidivism rates across the board. Mr. Speaker, this legislation is especially important to me because over 14,000 formerly incarcerated persons return to our community every year. The State of California had over 500,000 adults on parole or probation in 2005. Comprehensive re-entry programs are critical to safely and productively returning the formerly incarcerated into the communities that they came from. Up to 60 percent are unemployed a year after release and up to 30 percent go directly to homeless shelters upon their release. The incidence of drug use among ex-offenders is over 80 percent, twice the rate of the United States population. It's more than clear that something needs to be done. Following the lead of my colleague from Illinois, I host an annual Clean Slate Summit, which we held on November 3, to help those who qualify to legally clean up their records so that they can access the employment, education, housing and civic opportunities they need. We work to coordinate the efforts of community groups like the East Bay Community Law Center and All of Us or None, with local and county government leaders like Assemblymember Sandre Swanson and Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson as well as local judges and the district attorney's office. It is only through this comprehensive and cooperative approach that we can successfully assist those who are so often completely cut off from their communities. We have a vested interest in making sure that people reentering our community do so successfully. Help with cleaning their records provides and opportunity for a second chance to read an application, get a job or go back to school. Booker T. Washington once said that ``Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he, or she, has overcome.'' Mr. Speaker, we must end the cycle of injustice that is perpetuated by a system that continues to punish people, long after they have paid their debt to society. H.R. 1593, the Second Chance Act, is a critical step forward. No one condones criminal activity but once one serves their time, they should be free to feed their family and move on with their lives.