Juanita Millender-McDonald

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, the world we live in is becoming more complex each and every day. The tragic and heinous events of September 11 transformed the way Americans and people in this world respond to news. In the aftermath of recent events, our country and the world is experiencing a state of high anxiety directly related to threats of bioterrorism, and most recently, anthrax contamination. House offices were closed, and some remain closed, while anthrax contamination is eliminated. Postal offices have been shut down for periods of time, and postal workers have succumbed to anthrax inhalation and died from their exposure to this very deadly chemical agent. Indeed, a war is being waged on numerous fronts to preserve freedom and the health of our Nation and its world partners. However, Mr. Speaker, there is another deadly vital threat that has been wreaking havoc domestically and internationally. That threat is the scourge of HIV/AIDS. While our Nation and its global neighbors have undertaken a campaign to stave off the threats of terrorism poised by ideological fanatics, millions have died and millions are suffering from HIV/AIDS. Their plight is there. Yet global concerns revolve around potential terrorism. Perhaps that is because the specter of 6,000 lives lost to terrorist acts still looms large. However, the reality is that HIV/AIDS has claimed the lives of over 25 million people including an estimated 4 million children, most of whom live in Sub-Saharan Africa. The global AIDS crisis in Africa is without question the most vexing humanitarian crisis in recent history. The statistics are shocking and alarming. Eight thousand people died from AIDS every day last year and six people died every minute. Fifty-eight million people have been infected since the virus was first recognized 20 years ago. Recent projections are that the total will exceed 100 million by 2007. These numbers are mind-boggling. As a mother and grandmother, I am struck by the fact that AIDS has orphaned over 10 million children in Africa. By 2010 there would be more than 40 million AIDS orphans. Therefore, proactive measures must be initiated. I and many of my colleagues in a bipartisan way responded to the challenge put before us. On September 5, I introduced the Peace Corps HIV/AIDS Training Enhancement Act of 2001. This legislation provides an additional $5 million to the Peace Corps to pay for health volunteers working with HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention efforts, particularly the training of HIV/AIDS trainers. Currently, there are 7,300 Peace Corps volunteers who work in 76 countries worldwide including 25 countries in Africa; 1,431 of these Peace Corps members are health volunteers who serve in Africa. The volunteers work in rural and urban settings in a variety of health activities, including teaching HIV/AIDS education and prevention methodologies to local people. The Peace Corps would like to increase its capacity in HIV/AIDS education and prevention activities, especially in the area of training HIV/AIDS trainers; but it cannot do so without this additional appropriation. I believe that Peace Corps volunteers work and perform God's work. They are the vanguards of humanitarian efforts in the struggle to eradicate HIV/AIDS. The volunteers' efforts target training literate peer educators and community health workers who will be training others in the community. Their work is commendable and critical. Much of their work is targeted in Sub-Saharan Africa where 25 percent of the population may be infected. They have to garner the trust of the people in the community and then work to establish the building blocks necessary to transform the attitudes and behavior of at-risk populations, especially children and women. Their messages are directed at people living with HIV as well as those who are not currently infected. Children are the focus because they are impressionable and vulnerable. Young African American girls must be educated because they are more likely to contract HIV and AIDS than young boys of the same age, and that goes for African kids too. Peace Corps volunteers are the front line because reality is that new drugs are expensive and not usually available throughout Africa. Additionally, the infrastructure does not exist for monitoring the immune system of victims overcome by the disease who are undertreated. That is why we must use the human factor, Peace Corps volunteers, to stem the pandemic of HIV/AIDS. The Peace Corps HIV/AIDS Training Enhancement Act of 2001 can be a useful tool in transforming the plight of many throughout the world. We are all members of a global village that is interdependent. Consequently, global threats in different forms such as terrorism, bioterrorism and the global pandemic of HIV/AIDS must be fought on many fronts simultaneously. We must be vigilant on all fronts.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. I thank the gentlewoman from Texas for her leadership on this issue, an issue that she has garnered as the chair of the Congressional Issues on Children, especially the critical role addressing children and mental health. I am here to join her tonight in her efforts to try and push through H. Con. Res. 228 as it relates to our children, and especially the children who have been left parentless with either losing one or two parents. I am really touched and heartened by the New York Times article today, ``A Nation Challenged.'' Indeed, these are challenging times for all of us, given the events and the tragedy of September 11, but none that is more challenging than that of the children who have been left to try to carry on with either one parent or no parents left after this tragedy. I was reading about this young man, his name is Aidan Fontana, age 5, who lost his father in that tragic fire in New York. His father was a firefighter. This article continues to talk about the trappings of a funeral when his mother finally gave in to the notion that the husband would not be returning and she had the funeral just the other day. It states here that when this young boy, age 5, Aidan, looked out the window and saw the spectacle of a thousand firefighters saluting him, he said to his mama, ``Mommy, I'll remember this day for the rest of my life.'' The mother said, ``Good, that's why we did it.'' She was trying to bring some closure. But, yet, in the aftermath of this, the article goes on to say that he throws tantrums when it is time for bed, something he has never done before. That is where the whole notion of H. Con. Res. 228 comes into play, when it addresses the needs of these children. It talks about the foster care assistance. It speaks to adoption assistance. There are so many children, 15,000, as the Congresswoman out of Texas has so eloquently put on the floor. We are talking about medical care, nutrition and psychological care, educational services. Such additional care or services are necessary in light of this tragedy. I am so pleased that the Congresswoman has seen the need to bring such a critical and important piece of legislation to this floor, not just because of the Women's Caucus but that is indeed an element by which she has brought this resolution to us, and we have all embraced it, but it is because of this House speaking to and addressing this very Nation's tragedy, this challenge that parents now have before them, a Nation that has been challenged to try to address the needs of these children. And so as she spoke about the 4,000 qualified orphans under the Twin Towers Orphan Fund, when you talk about the different children missing at the Cantor Fitzgerald employees alone, some 1,500, I say to her, keep bearing, keep pushing on. This legislation is critically needed. We know that the children of our Nation are suffering in many ways and in need of mental health, but this is another group that has been added to those numbers that indeed need the mental health assistance, the psychological assistance and the nurturing assistance of all of us here in Congress. I urge my colleagues to join with me and all of the others who are original cosigners of H. Con. Res. 228 that speaks to, addresses, listens to and helps in the assistance of the children who have been befallen by the death of one or two parents. I thank the gentlewoman so much for yielding.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from West Virginia for her leadership as well. She is one of our new Members and she has done extraordinarily well tonight on the floor, and I wish to thank her.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman so much. I join with my cochair, the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert), and all of the women of the House, in recognizing this month as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and to say to the women out in the audience and across this country that we wish for you the very best in health, but please get tested for this very important, important illness that is before us. You know, Mr. Speaker, as my cochair has mentioned, October is recognized as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month; and as the women of the caucus come today in this hour to talk about its importance, we also know the importance of funding; funding for education, funding for early detection through research, funding for treatment and testing. All of those are critical elements in the fight against breast cancer now. We do recognize that breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women in the United States and its cause and its cure remains undiscovered. In 2001, 192,000 new cases of female invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed, and 40,200 women will die from this disease. We recognize also, Mr. Speaker, that breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among all women, after lung cancer being number one. But it is the leading overall cause of death in women between the ages of 40 and 55. This is why it is critical for women, especially women from low-income families, to get tested and treated for any trace of breast cancer. In the United States, one out of nine women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime, a risk that was one out of 14 in just 1960. This year, breast cancer will be newly diagnosed every 3 minutes and a woman will die from it every 13 minutes. Fundamentally, when breast cancer is detected and treated early, the survival rates improve. We have seen that, Mr. Speaker, in the death rates in women between 20 and 69 years of age, which declined by 25 percent in 1990. But, again, early detection and treatment are really the areas to credit that decline. Early detection is the key to surviving breast cancer. Mammography is the best method of breast cancer detection. Mammography can detect cancer several years before a woman or her health care provider can through the testing, to feel for a lump. Throughout this month of October, many mammography facilities around the country will offer reduced fee or free screening and extended hours. We urge women from low-income families to check their health facilities, because this month there will be many reduced fee and free screenings for women. There will also be extended hours. So we urge women to go and get this testing. We also encourage women to protect their health and well-being by taking advantage of the mammography services in their communities. There are hundreds of community-based breast cancer resource programs around this country. They provide information about breast cancer, services to breast cancer patients and their families, and are committed to raising money in the fight against breast cancer. In my district of Compton, California, which I represent that city, the Relay for Life program raises awareness, money for detection, and celebrates survivorship. I am pleased with the women who are part of that Relay for Life program. Twenty-three teams of local citizens participated and raised over $20,000 for breast cancer research and education just last year. This Relay for Life program in Compton stands as an example of what we can accomplish if everyone joins in an effort to collectively beat the odds. As we well know, the sale of the breast cancer stamp has already raised over $22 million in 3 years since its inception. I have teamed with my colleague, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Kelly), on H.R. 2725 to extend the stamp for an additional 6 years. With bipartisan support from over 206 Members of the House, this bill will provide funding for breast cancer research, incurs no cost to taxpayers or the Government, has gathered bipartisan support by more than four-fifths of the Senate representing all 50 States, and standing as the most supported bill in this body since perhaps many a year. It stands among the 28 most widely supported House bills of the 107th Congress. It requires no new administrative procedures and allows for the creation of additional postal stamps on any other issue. I hope my colleagues will join the 206 Members who are trying to make a difference with this legislation in trying to really find a victory and hopefully finding a cure for breast cancer. This summer I even went a step further and introduced H.R. 2317 that would have made this breast cancer stamp permanent. It is imperative, Mr. Speaker, that we support the efforts of community-based organizations and women across this Nation to raise the awareness and provide support to breast cancer patients and support legislation that will increase Federal funds for research and lead to improving the treatment for women so that this life-threatening condition can be eliminated. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to raise your voices, open your hearts, and strengthen your resolve to educate communities for the fight for adequate funding, so that women can maintain their health and vitality. At this time I would like to thank the American Cancer Society and the Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer Foundation for their strong efforts in the awareness, the treatment through funding, and for their different programs that they have in providing the Beat Cancer pins and ribbons that we are using today and also for their many efforts. I will just yield back now to the gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. Capito), as we have several speakers on this side of the room who wish to speak.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, we do thank the gentleman for coming today, because although we recognize that it is not an alarming number of breast cancer victims on the male side, still men do get it, so I thank him so much.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the Homeland Security Task Force of which the leader on this side has convened and of which I serve as a member of that task force. In preparing to meet with local municipal leaders and those agencies that are so critical in combatting any type of terrorist attack, I was encouraged on Monday when I convened a meeting in my district and met with 45 of those agencies. In speaking with them about the preparedness of cities and hospitals, schools, refineries, water agencies, postal services, I am convinced that we are prepared. Of course, there are further resources that can be put in place for those city governments, and there is a critical need for more training perhaps in small cities, where there is not a full-time person who can help in executing the plan that has been put in place, but in the State of California, the Governor has put a strategic plan in place to help the hospitals and to ensure that every hospital has a bioterrorism plan. We have asked now for the sheriff's department and they have responded with a uniform plan that is in concert and coordinated with city block clubs and other organizations. I am pleased to report to you that the water agencies have security on every front, especially in the State of California. So I say, Mr. Speaker, we are ready. The connect is there; the coordination is there. The execution of those plans are there. I would like to also inform my colleagues that FEMA has 28 Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces, eight of which are in California, and these task forces integrate the plan from the Federal down over to the State and then the local levels. So I will say that I am encouraged by this whole notion that the municipal leaders, the municipal emergency preparedness plan is in place, especially in California. I would urge all Members, though they may or may not sit on the Homeland Security Task Force, that they meet with their municipal leaders to draw from them their plan and to see whether it is coordinated across all of the agencies. I will say that more than likely they have such a plan, because with FEMA having the Urban Search and Rescue Task Force, I am sure that all other States have put that in place. Mr. Speaker, we are ready for any type of bioterrorism attacks from the Federal, State and local levels.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, let me first thank my colleague, the gentlewoman from the great State of California (Ms. Solis), for her leadership in bringing this very important issue to the forefront this evening. You might recall, Mr. Speaker, that the Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues met just a couple of weeks ago with the Ambassador to Pakistan to talk about the conditions of women in the Central Asia area. In talking with her, we realized the atrocities that women are continuing to go through in Afghanistan. This is an issue that the Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues have now made as a top priority in this House; and it is a bipartisan effort, because, Mr. Speaker, years ago, as you can see by this very old paper, many of us tried to fight this issue on the atrocities, the genocide of women in Afghanistan. Let me simply read some of the things that we talked about back in 1996. We talked to reporters to ask why they had not reported the atrocities against women. They simply said that the situation had received so little coverage because they were not sure that Americans were interested in this kind of news. Well, Mr. Speaker, the women of this House, the women around this country and across this Nation, and the women around the world are very much interested in how women are treated in Afghanistan. They are absolutely stripped of their very basic fundamental rights, a right to freedom of expression and the right to assemble. There is no way that we women in America can stand and allow women in other parts of this world to be treated so inhumanely. A lot of us saw just a couple of weeks ago this ``Beneath the Veil'' documentary. That in itself told the story, the story of how women are treated. They are stripped of basic fundamental rights to education and training. They cannot even educate their children. We, in America cannot continue to allow these types of things to happen. These women and children are the first victims of this Taliban regime, this very rogue group of men who are allowing women to not have their basic rights. Those of us here in the Women's Caucus have started this campaign. Tomorrow, I speak to a group of women again on the conditions of Afghani women. Next week, the Women's Caucus will be meeting with the Department of Defense to better understand the humanitarian efforts that they are putting forth and to make sure that the women and the children get the rightful benefits of this humanitarian effort that our President is putting forth. We applaud our President for the millions of dollars and for those relief efforts. But as I called the White House, I wanted to remind the President and the administration that we cannot just simply send this over and not have as a condition that women and children have their rightful share in this relief effort. We will introduce legislation this week, Mr. Speaker, to ensure that there will be Radio Free Afghanistan. We are not going to stop. We simply cannot do that. We, as the women of this House, are destined to make sure that the wellness of women goes across the hue, goes across the waters, goes not only from this country but to Afghanistan and other countries throughout the world. We must make sure that we fight for those women. Let me just say this, Mr. Speaker. The women, as the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Solis) has said, have been banned from working; the women and girls are prohibited from attending schools. But let me tell you some other things that are just absolutely inhumane. Women have been brutally beaten, publicly flogged, and killed for violating Taliban decrees, decrees that they have imposed on no one else. Let me cite some more horrific examples. A woman who defied the Taliban orders by running a home school for girls was killed in front of her families and friends. A woman caught trying to flee Afghanistan with a man not related to her was stoned to death for adultery. An elderly woman was brutally beaten with a metal cable until her leg was broken because her ankle was accidentally showing beneath that burqa that was demonstrated earlier. We will not stop, Mr. Speaker. Our campaign is continuing. As you see this very yellow paper, where we started in 1996, we will continue to fight until justice is brought to the women of Afghanistan and to that region. We want our children to be educated. We want them educated here; we want them educated there. And so I will simply say tonight is a night that we shed the light; we put the light on these atrocities. The documentary ``Beneath the Veil'' just reenergized us so that we can continue to fight for these women and children. I will be here throughout the rest of this hour to speak as we continue to unveil these atrocities against women and children, the suffering they endure at the hands of this Taliban regime, which absolutely has no regard for women and children. We will not tolerate the inhumane way by which they function. So I would simply say to my dear friend and colleague that we thank her for bringing this Special Order tonight so that we can unveil these horrors and continue to fight for the women of Afghanistan.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I would just merely say the collective voices you have heard tonight simply is a determination to ensure that the women of Afghanistan be given their rightful spot of freedom and democracy, and we will not stop until that is done. We will do an international strategy to ensure that the type of human rights that they deserve will be given to them. We thank again this outstanding young freshwoman, freshman, fresh- person, for tonight's special order, and for that, I am not sure if she wants to say a few words, but I thank her so much.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, let me first thank the gentleman from Illinois and the gentlewoman from Virginia for their management of this bill, and my dear friend and colleague, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson), for sponsoring this important piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay homage to the late Julian Dixon, the great Congressman who represented the 32nd Congressional District of California. Julian Dixon served in the House of Representatives with distinction and honor. He was a personal friend whom I admired and respected. It is appropriate and fitting that we are honoring his life and political legacy by redesignating the post office located at 5472 Crenshaw Boulevard in his name. Julian Dixon was a tireless public servant. He aspired to and succeeded in effectively representing his constituents. Julian won reelection in west Los Angeles with over 84 percent of the vote. He enjoyed immense bipartisan support among his peers. He was known for his integrity, patience, intellect and diligence. Those qualities served him particularly well during his tenure as the ranking Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and as a senior member of the Committee on Appropriations. He previously chaired the Subcommittee on the District of Columbia for the full Committee on Appropriations. At a time when allies for the District were few in numbers, Julian's efforts were, indeed, Herculean. Leadership was always his calling; and during the 1980s, he served as the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. His leadership was under a microscope and bright lights during his term as chairman of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. Julian's chairmanship coincided with the turbulent era of House scrutiny that focused on ethics violations by a former illustrious Democratic Speaker of the House, who was later forced to resign. Julian Dixon had the unenviable task of conducting a fair and impartial bipartisan investigation of a well-respected Speaker. With his quiet and calm demeanor, Julian dispelled false notions that he could not be fair in conducting a historic investigation. He proved his detractors wrong and received kudos for his impartiality. An astute politician, Representative Dixon was also a staunch ally of the defense industry in California. As a member of the Subcommittee on Defense, he planned his work and worked his plan until he delivered the scope of appropriations necessary to ensure the competitiveness of defense contracting companies in Southern California. Julian was committed to ensuring that the Los Angeles transportation system would accommodate the needs of his citizens. He was especially attentive to expanding the commuter rail. His efforts were instrumental in enabling employees to reach work via rail as opposed to having to rely on personal vehicles. The premature death of Representative Dixon surprised all of us, because as elected officials from Southern California, we relied on his steadfastness and consistency. Although his passing created a tremendous sense of loss for the members of the Congressional Black Caucus, it sparked a resurgence of political rededication by local elected officials to seize the mantle of leadership and fill the void. Julian cast a giant political shadow, and we continue to reflect on his lasting political contributions. I treasure my service in Congress with my former colleague. The naming of this post office in his name is a small symbol of our congressional gratitude for his work. But our efforts pale in comparison to the wonderful and many deeds he performed on behalf of the constituents he loved and faithfully served. Nonetheless, I am proud to offer my political support on behalf of H.R. 2454.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this closed rule and the underlying bill before us, H.R. 3108, a bill that we have just learned about a couple of hours ago. There are glaring deficiencies in this bill, and the action today is an affront to the Members who serve on the Committee on the Judiciary who passed a bill out in that committee 36-0. I was willing, Mr. Speaker, to vote on that bill, H.R. 2975, and had an amendment that required the Secretary of Transportation to consult with all Federal departments and agencies to conduct an assessment of terrorist-related threats to all modes of public transportation. We have heard from the ranking member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. We need an aviation security bill on this floor. We do not need bills that have come to us in the cloak of night that will circumvent us from really giving the confidence to the American people, a bill that they deserve. Mr. Speaker, we should not move forward with this legislation that infringes on the civil rights of this country and would not adhere to the Committee on the Judiciary members who did give us a bill, H.R. 2975, that we could have voted on.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, on rollcall No. 367, I was detained in a traffic accident. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, on rollcall No. 364, I was detained due to a hearing/press coverage with the Ambassador to the U.S. from Pakistan re: Women and children refugees migrating from Afghanistan. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.'' Amendment No. 52 Offered by Mr. Smith of Michigan

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, on rollcall No. 363, I had a hearing/press coverage with the Ambassador of Pakistan re: Women and children refugees migrating from Afghanistan. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.'' Announcement by the Chairman

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to also lend my voice to the 100,000 displaced airline workers. The terrorist act of September 11 left a colossal void in the hearts of all Americans. It has not only had an emotional impact on our Nation; it is having a significant economic impact as well. I believe, Mr. Speaker, that we have a responsibility as Members of this House to assist those whose lives have been threatened by the downturn of the aviation industry and their jobs are on the line for possibly cuts and layoffs. The economic crisis is not just limited to the employees, though, of the major commercial carriers who feel the pinch of an industry-wide slowdown. It is affecting the sky caps that do not know whether or not they can count on checking bags at curb sides to make a living. The crisis is affecting counter agents. I talked with a young lady who is a mother of six, single parent, Latino, who is saying that she is being laid off because there are not enough people who are coming to purchase tickets to get on the planes. It is affecting the travel agents who fear for the future of their small businesses as bookings decline. A lot of those, Mr. Speaker, are women- owned businesses. It is the hotels that are near the airport, where the workers, the cleaning ladies, the cooks, and all others are affected by this displaced workers program. We also have the tourist attractions. We know that tourism is $6.7 trillion to this economy. If we do not have tourists coming to the various States coast to coast, workers will lose their jobs in the aftermath of this cowardly act of September 11. It is the thousands of workers, including workers from Boeing and other aviation and engine manufacturers, who face massive layoffs as a result of this tragedy. It is essential for the administration and Congress to move aggressively in addressing the needs of America's workers. These men and women are hard-working individuals who are buying their homes, raising their families, and making significant contributions to the greater economy. In the days and weeks ahead, we will face enormous financial pressures; and so will they, including credit card bills, mortgage payments, and utilities, tuition bills, medical bills, and other essential outlays. I would like to see the Congress take up an immediate package which would address the medical care needs, job retraining, and severance pay. The tragic incidents of September 11 have already touched and affected so many Americans, Mr. Speaker. We should do everything in our power to limit further damage to the American economy and, most importantly, to American families.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Madam Chairman, I rise today in support of the Sanchez/Harman amendment because I believe in healthcare parity. Our servicemen and servicewomen operate under the premise that the level of health care they receive anywhere they are stationed will be consistent with the same quality of care they would receive in the United States. This amendment is not about the legal merits of Roe v. Wade. We are not evaluating the moral merits of a woman's right to choose. We are debating the policy of parity and the assurance that uniform health care services will be delivered to service people wherever they are stationed. Medical services will be provided consistent with historical practice, medical convention and statutory requirements consistent with the laws of the state where they reside. The facts are clear. Federal funds will not be used to terminate pregnancies. Furthermore, physicians opposed to performing said operations are not forced to do so. Finally, the provision of health services should not be predicated on one's ability to pay for it. We must ensure that all female service personnel can avail themselves of legal medical services that are comparable to those in the United States, even if they are on a military base. Otherwise we will be creating a caste system, whereby only persons with the financial means to return to the states to receive the medical treatment they want and need would be able to do so. I ask my colleagues to support the Sanchez/Harman amendment.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 717 was called while I was enroute from the Airport (Dulles) of which I was detained due to a storm that delayed the landing of the flight coming in from California. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, today is a day I hoped I would never have to face, a day on which I would need to support the use of force. I am sure that all of my colleagues agree that when we took the oath of office to honor and defend our country, we hoped and prayed we, as Members of Congress, would not have to use force to defend this Nation. On Tuesday morning, however, we all knew that the only response that would be understood by the evil force that undertook these treacherous actions would be the powerful response of the greatest military force in the world, the United States military. However, our resolve must be based on the rule of law and reflect the lessons learned from history. The use of force is not something that we as Americans take lightly. America is a peace-loving Nation. Our involvement in World War II is the strongest example of America's peace-loving ways. We waged war on ruthless Naziism that threatened the very concept of humanity and the lives of entire races of people. Today we face another global threat, terrorism, which once again threatens the foundation of all peace-loving nations. Today the world looks to America and this very body for the very clear and unmistakable message that we as a Nation will not tolerate people and organizations to operate in opposition to the very foundation that every society is based upon: the sanctity of human life. I pray for our President. Mr. Speaker, I hope we shall overcome someday.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. I rise today in strong support of this resolution. On behalf of my constituents in the 37th Congressional District in California, I offer condolences and prayers and support for the families and loved ones of New York, the State of California, and across this Nation devastated by the wanton terrorism perpetrated on these United States of America. This cowardice act against our Nation is permanently etched in the memories of all Americans. As I think about my grandchildren, Ayanna, Myles, Ramia and Blair, I think about the psychological toll it has taken on our children who suffer from the ills of this heinous crime that is devastating. However, let it be known that the President and the Members of Congress who stand in this hallowed Chamber shoulder to shoulder will move with swift deliberation to bring justice and to restore confidence to the American people. Our buildings are shattered, but not our resolve, not our democracy. Yet in the face of this unspeakable tragedy, we thank our firefighters, law enforcement officers, the Red Cross, FEMA, and numerous volunteers for their quick response, daring courage, and unrelenting commitment. Their noble service is immeasurable. As a senior Member who serves on the House Subcommittee on Aviation, I pledge to the American people that I will work with the Secretary of Transportation and the FAA, with whom I have met, to make sure that air travel is safe to fly again. We must applaud our air traffic controllers and the ground crew at airports across this Nation who directed over 2,200 flights from the hostile airways to safe harbors. Mr. Speaker, this has been a tragic moment here in America. We will think back on September 11 as the deadliest assault on America in recent history, but we shall move with resolve to bring the responsible people to justice. We are a united America.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome 24 outstanding women who represent eight countries on the continent of Africa who have come at the request of the League of Women Voters, who have come to look at what we, the women of the House, do in order to empower ourselves and empower the women throughout this country. I am so pleased to welcome my friends from Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. These women represent non- governmental organizations, but are interested in the political process and how they can better serve the people of their respective countries upon their return. As we all recognize, the League of Women Voters encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. They have come in that role as advocates to take back with them how we, the 62 women who make up the House of Representatives, function: the types of policies that we pass out of this House. I happen to serve as the co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues, and I simply told them that to empower themselves is to become part of the democratic process, and that is to vote, to encourage all of the folks within their countries to vote, to be participatory in the election process, and then to seek the needs of women and families so that they can address those through an advocacy program to follow the needs of those respective constituents, and certainly it will help them to build the base that is necessary to run for office. Those of us who are women here in the House have not sought to get these seats initially. We were teachers and nurses and social workers and other types of fields of endeavor. But when the need came and when folks in our communities told us that the education systems were broken, that there were so many children who were not insured with health insurance, then we took up the gauntlet, and we began to build a base to run for office. We encourage not only the women who are here who see this floor, who see this House, the House that receives people from around the globe. Earlier today we welcomed the President of Mexico, Mr. Vicente Fox. We are welcoming them today. We welcome all who come to seek out what we do in the House, the people's House, a House where we pass laws to make the quality of life better for all people. It has been my pleasure to host them today with the members of the Congressional Conference of Women's Issues, and with women and men Congresspersons who came to welcome them to the House. Mr. Speaker, I welcome them to this House.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I have come tonight to reflect upon some of the issues that I was confronted with over this August recess with many women whom I spoke with, and they simply wanted to know what we were doing in this House and this administration in trying to address some of the critical issues that are affecting women today. As we know, the women of today and tomorrow will be the majority of the workforce and thereby need to have the necessary tools with which they can provide for their families and themselves. As I talked with these women, they were really concerned about reproductive rights. They want to make sure that this House does not whittle away the rights that they should have to look into whether they will provide for their children, whether they will have the right to their own lives, to their own bodies; and they simply want to make sure that this House does not do anything that would be destructive to the rights of women in terms of their reproductive rights. Domestic violence is another one that they have talked with me about, because they simply look at the number of women and children who are now on the streets, the streets across this Nation, the most powerful Nation on Earth, not giving the women, again, tools to provide for their families and themselves, giving them the job training that they need so that they can sustain themselves and their families, giving their children the type of education that is needed to provide them the type of future that is required for the workforce. Mr. Speaker, we must simply look at the agenda that this Congress is bringing forth for women and their families, as well as this administration. We can really leave no family behind, as we talk about leaving no child behind. So as I come tonight, I just want the American people to know that I will be here every week now trying to synthesize and look through the myriad of issues that we have here on this floor, to see whether or not we really are serious about leaving no child behind and ensuring that the women of today will be sufficiently prepared for the workforce tomorrow and for today. So beginning this month-long effort, we want to look at the wellness of women and their families. We want to look into the public policy to find out whether or not this administration is serious about leaving no child behind. As we look at that, we simply look at the education proposal that has been put forth. We do not have the money to talk about the class sizes that the urban areas and the rural areas look at in terms of their children's quality of health and quality of education. This budget does not speak to reducing class sizes. It does not speak to qualified teachers that will be teachers who are making the salary conducive to teaching our children. It does not speak to the construction of schools that will provide the proper type of environment for our children. This education proposal that the President has put through will leave children behind if he does not put the type of financial support behind these words and this slogan. It will be an empty slogan if the money does not follow the message. So if we are talking about leaving no child behind, especially in my district of Watts and Compton and Wilmington, where you have the most impoverished kids, you have to make sure title I has the type of funding that is necessary to bring these children forward, the type of classrooms that will teach them high technology, the type of qualified teachers that will be there to teach them and to have a type of constructive engagement that will help them through their period of schooling. Healthy Start and Head Start need to have financial support. I will be looking very carefully at this education proposal, looking at the President when he speaks about leaving no child behind, to make sure that we have sufficient funding for math and science for girls, because as I have gone around this Nation over this last month, I have found that there is a considerably decreasing number of girls in math and science classes. We are not encouraging our girls to go into math and science, and yet these are the future engineers and scientists who will be speaking to and doing research on the quality of life for families. So that is one element that we need to look at. The other thing is that of health. Mr. Speaker, I will simply say, I will be here every week to speak on health, education and the quality of life for women and their families.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to H.R. 4, the Securing America's Future Energy Act of 2001. This bill grants expensive new subsidies to virtually every energy sector without offsets and does little to promote much cheaper energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. This bill will cost $34 billion and because no offsets are provided it will threaten the Medicare and Social Security trust funds. This bill does nothing to relieve the suffering of the citizens of California. California's crisis is a precursor of what is to come for the rest of America as we fail to produce an energy policy which is balanced. California consumers paid $7 billion for electricity in 1999. In 2000, that number went up to record highs and Californians paid $27 billion for electricity. It is expected that the number could go up to $70 billion in 2001. I am concerned that minority business owners in my district will suffer greatly due to the high costs of energy. I am dismayed that this bill will do nothing to stop the outrageous price gouging by out-of-state energy producers to California consumers. In fact, the administration and my Republican colleagues are unwilling to carry out its obligation to ensure that energy prices are just and reasonable, claiming that uncontrolled market prices are needed in order to increase the energy supply. That's like saying that we must pay dairy farmers $300/gallon to produce milk. This bill will not provide one more kilowatt to California this summer, prevent one less minute of blackouts, or keep one less dollar from being transferred from California into the hands of the energy producers. I am concerned about the environmental ramifications of this energy bill. We must look into renewable energy programs, rather than reverse a decade old U.S. policy against reprocessing commercial nuclear fuel and allow for new drilling on public lands without royalty payments. This bill fails to guarantee a significant increase in clean, renewable energy or energy efficient products. For example, the bill fails to require significant improvement in the efficiency of air conditioners, and fails to address peak power demands of other major appliances. Moreover, we must amend this bill because it would allow for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Instead, we must utilize current American sources that are already open for drilling. After 6 years of energy inaction on behalf of the Republican Congress, this bill follows the same old path: cast blame, insist on extreme antienvironmental proposals, and declare themselves powerless in offering relief to Americans facing record-breaking energy price increases. I believe in a balanced, comprehensive and cost-efficient energy program that meets America's energy needs through increased production and efficiency that puts the interests of consumers first and protects the environment. This omnibus energy package does little to address America's future energy needs and I want to urge my colleagues to vote no on H.R. 4.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the base bill, Dingell-Norwood-Ganske-Berry. However, I am concerned about provisions in the Norwood amendment, if adopted, that will have a deleterious impact on women. H.R. 2563, in its original form, provides protections for women and mothers and provides them with direct access to a physician specializing in obstetrics or gynecology, without them having to obtain prior authorization or referral from their primary physicians. The base bill requires that plans permit parents to designate a pediatrician as their child's primary provider. My district constituents will derive substantial benefits from this provision. Furthermore, the base bill provides vital protection regarding medical and surgical benefits for women afflicted with cancer, including coverage that a doctor deems medically necessary. Mr. Speaker, it is paramount for us to pass a bill that establishes both internal and external appeals processes, and which allows women a mechanism to appeal a denial of a benefit claim to services and/or treatment that a doctor feels is necessary. Today I stand and champion the needs of all Americans, but particularly for women. I applaud the authors of the Dingell-Ganske-Berry bill. Their legislation is a beacon of good policy and intentions. On the other hand, the negotiated agreement, crafted under the cloak of secrecy and darkness, must not be tolerated nor condoned. I implore my colleagues to support the base bill, support women's needs contained within it, and support Americans who want and need a true patients bill of rights.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 298 and 299, I was detained at a meeting called by the administration at the White House. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on each vote.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my colleague's amendment to appropriate an additional $662 million for the National Science Foundation's education and human resources account, to be used for training young scientists and engineers. There is a pressing need for this level of funding, particularly as it relates to minority scientists and engineers. Recent reports have cited the ``brain drain'' as our current pool of scientists and engineers prepare to retire. Furthermore, it is clear that America's youth are not being prepared to pursue the rigorous disciplines associated with the hard sciences. American students perform comparably to other children in foreign countries in math and science until they reach the fourth grade level. However, there is a serious drop-off in their achievement and competitiveness in later years. For minority students the case is even worse. Funding the NSF with increased resources will prepare communities and our nation to respond to the intellectual and real world challenges that await the engineers and scientists of the future. I urge my House colleagues to vote yes on this amendment.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of Representative Sanford Bishop's amendment to authorize FEMA to establish a minority emergency preparedness demonstration program, under which funding would be provided to eligible non-profit organizations to conduct research into the state of preparedness and disaster response awareness in African American and Hispanic households. A number of my constituents in Watts, Compton, Lynwood, and Long Beach are minorities who have been affected by natural disasters. There is an ever-present threat of an earthquake and the looming potential of floods. It is essential that they have contingency plans based on timely information in order to prepare for potential disasters. It is critical that funding be made available to determine the degree to which communities of color are aware of and prepared to respond to impending disaster. I offer my support to my colleague for this very timely amendment, and commend him for his foresight.