Juanita Millender-McDonald

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her comments. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from the State of Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson).

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. My God, you have done well by my spirit and by my soul. I will certainly call on the gentleman as we engage further in hearings, because the gentleman has given some compelling arguments with the cases that he has outlined that suggest to me that we can perhaps fight this, and we will do just that as we go around this country hearing from folks and hearing what they have to say in terms of discriminatory practices and then challenge even States and their attorneys general so that we can then fight this on this floor. I thank the gentleman so much. I told my colleagues that he was a scholar in his constitutional knowledge and, indeed, he has reflected that today. We have with us another great lady from the great State of California, who in her own right has worked in this House on numerous issues, but what she has been so noted for is her fight for women and children, for funding for women's health and for the HIV/AIDS epidemic in minority communities. Those of us who are people of color cannot say enough of this woman, who may not be a person of color, but she is a person of conscience. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield to none other than the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi). California has brought us one of its finest, and I thank her so much.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, the 14th amendment of the Constitution of the United States guarantees every American citizen the right to vote. When our country was founded, the right to vote was preserved for white men and property owners. It took the Women Suffrage Movement to enfranchise women and the Civil Rights Movement to fully enfranchise African Americans and other people of color in this country. In the words of Susan B. Anthony, we, the people, not just the select few, but we, the whole people including all of us formed this union. Today, we have awakened to a new challenge for this republic, restoring the voting rights of men and women who committed crime but have paid their debt to society. While the Constitution takes away the voting rights of individuals convicted of serious crimes, the States are given the power to restore this right. Through our criminal justice system, hundreds of thousands of men and women have been politically disenfranchised, many of whom are poor and minorities who committed nonviolent crimes. Many of these individuals have paid their debt to society; and yet some States have restored their right to vote automatically, while others hold this right hostage to politics. Laws governing the restoration of voting rights after a felony conviction are unequal throughout the country. Persons in some States can easily regain their voting rights, while in other States persons effectively lose their rights to vote permanently. Mr. Speaker, two States do not disenfranchise felons at all times; 46 States and the District of Columbia have disenfranchisement laws that deprive convicted felons of the right to vote while they are in prison, and in 32 States convicted offenders may not vote while they are on parole. In 29 States, probationers may not vote; 14 States disenfranchise ex-offenders who have fully served their sentences, no matter the nature or seriousness of the offense; 17 States require gubernatorial pardon, legislative action or administrative procedures to restore the right to vote. State disenfranchisement laws disproportionately affect the poor and ethnic minorities. They are more likely to be arrested, charged more harshly, poorly represented in court, convicted and receive harsher sentences. Whether we like these people, whether we want to know them personally, or whether we want to share private lives with them, they are part of the whole people of America. They deserve a second chance to vote. Consider these statistics, Mr. Speaker: an estimated 3.9 million Americans, or one in 50 adults, currently cannot vote because of a felony conviction. Women represent about a half million of this total. Three-fourths, or 72 percent, of the 1.9 million disqualified voters are not in prison, but are on probation, parole or are ex-offenders. The last decade alone, over 560,000 Americans served their entire sentence, stood free and stand free and clear of incarceration and parole and have paid their debt to society. An estimated 65,000 of these Americans are women, and they cannot vote in some States. Now, today you will hear from fellow Members of Congress who believe firmly that those individuals who have committed crimes paid their debt to society and been released free and clear should be allowed to vote. This may seem like a radical proposition, but it is not. It is fundamentally consistent with the principles we live by in this country. When you pay your debt to society by spending time in prison, your punishment is complete. At that point, our society releases you back into society and expects you to be rehabilitated socially with family, friends, and community. They also look to ensure that you are economically upright with jobs, or should. It is time now to pay attention to your civic rehabilitation, that is, giving one the right to vote. Minority and poor people are overrepresented in these numbers. Tonight you will hear from my colleagues why we need to enfranchise all of these women and men. Mr. Speaker, I have introduced H.R. 5158, the Second Chance Voting Rights Act of 2000, and this bill does just that. Others, like my friends and colleagues, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), also have introduced legislation to enfranchise these Americans. My bill, H.R. 5158, simply says if you have served time, you are now out and have served your debt to society. If you are free of all parole and paroles, then you should have a restoration of your voting rights. That is only the right thing to do in this country we call America. Those persons who have had a mishap in life should be given a second chance. My bill simply says they should in those States that will allow that, and those States you see are listed here. Clearly, the States that you see on the chart are the States that automatically will have a restoration of those voting rights, once a person has served his or her debt to society through parole and is now free and clear standing. And those States are California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, and Pennsylvania. Every vote counts. Every vote should count as we proceed into an election mode over the next month or so, a little better than a month. We should remember that the Constitution does give us this fundamental right, and we should also ensure that every person in this country has that fundamental right. We should not abridge that in any form once a person has paid his or her debt to society and is clear and free of her or his parole. I can recall in the early sixties before the 1965 Voting Rights Act in southern States there were many who had to pay poll taxes before they were given the right to vote. There were some who had to know the Constitution verbatim before they were given the right to vote. That was a certain amount of disenfranchising in and of itself. Yet, those were persons who were people of color, primarily African-Americans. After the 1965 Voting Rights Act that established their right to vote, then we saw large numbers of African-Americans voting, many of whom now have gone on but who recognize the type of disenfranchisement through not being able to vote unless they knew the Constitution verbatim or paid, as they had, so-called poll taxes. My bill is simply saying that person does not have to do any of this anymore. This person will not be allowed to vote if he or she is on probation, but for the persons who have cleared themselves of all of the debt that they owe, they should have a restoration of their voting rights. I say to the Members, Mr. Speaker, if they know of any such person who really has restored his or her rights, do let them know that they have a few days in some States; that there are some States where the deadline for voting is October 7. There are other States where the deadline is October 10. We are encouraging all of those who want to restore their rights and to vote to call their registered Recorder's office and ask simply, where do I get the affidavit? They have that responsibility to go to the registered Recorder's office and get that affidavit. We have a right to restore your rights by virtue of giving you that right through legislation. My bill also suggests that those States that do not automatically restore that, we should give them, through the Federal law, that right to vote, especially in Federal elections such as for the President of the United States. I do have now with me a gentleman who has made his mark early on coming to this House, who in 1999 also introduced a bill, a different bill than that of the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) in that year, but his bill speaks to enfranchisement and restoration of voting rights. I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), an outstanding Member, to speak on his bill, and just for general statements. I thank the gentleman for being here.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. I thank the gentlewoman so much. The gentlewoman has touched on an issue that we certainly will be looking at as we probe into this whole notion of discriminatory practices when it comes to voting rights, especially for those who have served their debt to society, and one is mandatory sentencing. We really need to see how that plays into the inability of one having to have the restoration of their voting rights. So that is one thing we will look at critically as we move into venues with hearings. As I said, the gentlewoman from California may not be a woman of color, but she is a woman of conscience. Well, Mr. Speaker, now we have a woman of color who once was a prosecutor and a judge out of the great State of Ohio. She has come in and put her paw prints on this place in such a short time. She has gone around this country talking about predatory lending. As her predecessor said, the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones) is someone she knew was going to come in like a strike of lightning, and she has done just that. With her experience in the courts, with her experience in other areas of the justice system, she has certainly served us well even in her short time. I thank the gentlewoman so much for being with us tonight.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States guarantees every American citizen the right to vote. When our country was founded, the right to vote was preserved for white men and property owners. It took the women's suffrage movement to enfranchise women and the Civil Rights Movement to fully enfranchise African-Americans and other people of color in this country. In the words of Susan B. Anthony, ``we the people'' were not just the select few but ``we,'' the whole people, including all of us, formed this Union. Today, we have awakened to a new challenge for this Republic-- restoring the voting rights of men and women who committed crimes but have paid their debt to society. While the Constitution takes away the voting rights of individuals convicted of serious crimes, the States are given the power to restore this right. Through our criminal justice system, hundreds of thousands of men and women have been politically disenfranchised--many of whom are poor and minority and who committed nonviolent crimes. Many of these individuals have paid their debt to society. Some States have restored their right to vote automatically while others hold this right hostage to politics. Laws governing the restoration of voting rights after a felony conviction are unequal throughout the country. Persons in some States can easily regain their voting rights while in other States persons effectively lose their right to vote permanently. Two States do not disenfranchise felons at all. Forty-six States and the District of Columbia have disenfranchisement laws that deprive convicted offenders of the right to vote while they are in prison. In thirty-two States, convicted offenders may not vote while they are on parole. In twenty-nine States probationers may not vote. Fourteen States disenfranchise ex-offenders who have fully served their sentences, no matter the nature or seriousness of the offense. Seventeen States require gubernatorial pardon, legislative action, or administrative procedures to restore the right to vote. State disenfranchisement laws disproportionately affect the poor and ethnic minorities. They are more likely to be arrested, charged more harshly, poorly represented in court, convicted and receive harsher sentences. Whether we like these people, whether we want to know them personally, or whether we want to share private lives with them, they are part of the ``whole people'' of America. They deserve a second chance to vote. Consider these statistics: An estimated 3,900,000 Americans, or one in fifty adults, currently cannot vote because of a felony conviction. Women represent about a half million of this total. Three-fourths (73%) of the 3,900,000 disqualified voters are not in prison, but are on probation, parole or are ex-offenders. Over the last decade alone, over 560,000 Americans served their entire sentence, stand free and clear of incarceration and parole and have paid their debt to society. An estimated 65,000 of these Americans are women. And, they cannot vote in some States. Today, you will hear from fellow Members of Congress who believe firmly that those individuals who have committed crimes, paid their debt to society, and been released free and clear should be allowed to vote. This may seem like a radical proposition, but it is not. It is fundamentally consistent with the principles we live by in this country--when you pay your debt to society by spending time in prison, your punishment is complete. At that point, our society releases you back into society and expects you to be rehabilitated socially with family, friends, and community, and economically with jobs. It is time now to pay attention to your civic rehabilitation. Minority and poor people are over-represented in these numbers. Tonight, you will hear from your colleagues why we need to enfranchise all these women and men. I have introduced H.R. 5158, the Second Chance Voting Rights Act of 2000, to do just that. Others like my friends and colleagues Representative John Conyers and Representative Danny Davis also have introduced legislation to enfranchise these Americans. You will hear from them now. Representative Danny Davis; Representative Julia Carson; Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones; Representative Nancy Pelosi (maybe); Representative Bobby Scott; Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee; and Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson; for unanimous consent. The last day to register is coming up soon. Every person who is not registered should check with your county registrar of voters and make sure you get registered. I want to encourage all Americans of every political persuasion to register and vote on election day, November 7. I particularly want to encourage ex-offenders who live in States that have restored their voting rights automatically to register and vote. These States are: California; Colorado; District of Columbia; Hawaii; Idaho; Illinois; Indiana; Kansas; Maine; Massachusetts; Michigan; Montana; New York; North Dakota; Ohio; Oregon; and Pennsylvania. In our great representative democracy, we must not deny anyone who is eligible to vote; even those who have paid their debts to society not be given this fundamental right. Remember. Every vote counts and your vote can make a difference. Register to vote by October 8 and vote on November 7. Mr. Speaker, again, thanks to all of the Members who have come tonight.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I tell the gentleman from Illinois, he just says it so eloquently. I want to enter into some kind of colloquy or dialogue with the gentleman, so I do not want him to leave. We have been joined by the outstanding gentlewoman from Indiana (Ms. Carson), who has been in the forefront of mental health. We do recognize that a lot of those of whom we speak have a certain amount of mental health issues, yet it is not being addressed as they are being incarcerated and/or let out. The gentlewoman from Indiana (Ms. Carson) comes with experience, having served in the State legislature of her State, with the know-how to address and dig into this issue of mental health. I yield to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Ms. Carson) for her remarks on this particular issue.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank all of those Members, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Coburn) for his leadership in helping me with this resolution and the input for the language, as well the ranking member and the chairman. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to sponsor the Cervical Cancer Public Awareness Resolution with the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Coburn). Together we have worked to raise awareness of cervical cancer throughout the past 2 years. Our work began with the Committee on Commerce, which held an eye-opening hearing on cervical cancer in early 1999. I appreciate all of the support the gentleman from Virginia (Chairman Bliley), the ranking member, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) have given to this cause, and especially the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown). He has been most helpful. More than 50 years ago, Dr. George Papanicolaou developed what is considered the most effective cancer screen in the history of medicine, the Pap smear test. This test is still one of the most effective tools in saving lives and preventing invasive cervical cancer. When cervical cancer is detected at an early stage, the 5-year survival rate is 91 percent, according to the National Cancer Institute. The CDC reports that the mortality rate among American women with cervical cancer declined from 1960 to 1997 in large part because of the extensive use of the Pap smear test. However, in 1997, the number of women with cervical cancer began to rise. An estimated 15,000 women in the United States develop cervical cancer each year, and far too many of these women do not get annual screenings. In October of 1997, a Gallup survey found that almost 87 percent of the women surveyed know they should have a Pap smear every year. Nearly 40 percent of these same women failed to do so in the previous year. One in four of the women who had not had an annual Pap smear test said they did not have the time. Other reasons include the belief that they are too old, feel embarrassed, are afraid of the results, or think it is too expensive. While all of these reasons are valid, they are not acceptable, when one considers that 80 percent of the women who die of cervical cancer have not had a Pap smear test in the past 5 years or more. Women must understand what cervical cancer is, what steps they can take to reduce the likelihood of getting cervical cancer, how it can be detected early, and what all of their treatment options are when facing this disease. While it is encouraging that women seem to know of the Pap smear test, many women do not understand just how life-saving this annual screening can be. That is why I sponsored this resolution, Mr. Speaker, with the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Coburn). Our resolution is part of a national campaign to raise awareness and increase annual screenings among women. I want to end the confusion, discomfort, and misunderstanding that form an unnecessary barrier to too many women, and particularly low-income and minority women. One out of every three Hispanic women reported in an HHS study that they failed to get a Pap smear test in the preceding 3 years, compared with about one-quarter of all American women. In addition, another survey by HHS found that 87 percent of employed women had a recent Pap test within the past three years, while 73 percent of women who were not in the labor force had done so. More disturbing than the gap in lack of screening is that more women of color are dying from this disease. The rate of mortality for African American women is nearly twice that of Caucasian women, according to HHS. Equally disturbing is the high rate of STD transmission within this community. The World Health Organization and the National Institutes of Health report that the principal cause of cervical cancer is HPV infection, which is also the most common STD. In my own district of South-Central Los Angeles, including Watts, the County Health Department reports that the rates of STD among African Americans are up to 20 percent higher than among Caucasians. The main reason is lack of information on how to prevent this transmission, which undetected years later, can lead to cervical cancer. Although the risk factors for cervical cancer can vary, the cultural, financial and even geographical areas that complicate the fluid delivery of quality health care linger as a dangerous indication of the need for more dialogue on this issue. Mr. Speaker, let me thank my colleagues, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Coburn) first for his leadership in joining me on this resolution and all of the national effort in raising the awareness of this deadly disease. I applaud the thousands of persons who are out there helping to make this awareness possible.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I thank all of those who have been in the leadership role in bringing this important legislation to the floor. I support this legislation and any legislation that will help and protect America's children. I do want to bring attention though to one provision that is very dear to my heart and truly affects the inner- city communities in my district. That provision authorizes funding for important life-enhancing and life-saving asthma initiatives. As author of the Asthma Awareness Education and Treatment Act and founder of the Congressional Asthma Task Force with the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Barton) and Senators Durbin and DeWine, I have been a vocal and unyielding advocate for America's right to breathe. Countless children and families in my district, which includes Watts, Compton and other low-income inner cities, are literally struggling to breathe, primarily because they lack information and access to effective long-term asthma management medical care. While the rate of asthma prevalence has grown throughout the country, including rural and suburban areas, it has devastated our inner cities minorities and low-income families. The asthma death rate is twice as high among African Americans, and a staggering four times higher for African-American children. African Americans are also five times more likely to seek emergency room care for asthma, which does not provide long-term management for this disease. Asthma is also more prevalent among all age groups in lower-income families. In families with an income average of less than $10,000, 80 out of 1,000 individuals have asthma, while in families with an average income of $20,000 to $34,000, 54 out of 1,000 individuals have asthma. That means close to 400,000 more people with extremely limited earnings have asthma. Mr. Speaker, we can do better. This bill provides that type of funding, and I welcome and appreciate this legislation. Mr. Speaker, today we will pass historic legislation which will help and protect America's children. The Children's Health Act is the result of bipartisan dedication to ensuring that we address critical problems facing our youth today. From drug abuse to youth violence to prenatal care, this legislation is comprised of critical programs that will impact the lives of children most in need. While I embrace all the initiatives included in the Children's Health Act, today I would like to address one provision in particular, which is dear to my heart and will truly affect the inner-city communities in my district. That provision authorizes funding for important, life- enhancing and life-saving asthma initiatives. As author of the Asthma Awareness, Education and Treatment Act and founder of the Congressional Asthma Task Force with Congressman Barton and Senators Durbin and DeWine, I have been a vocal and unyielding advocate for America's right to breathe. Countless children and families in my district which includes Watts, Compton and other low- income inner-city communities are literally struggling to breathe primarily because they lack information and access to effective, long- term asthma management medical care. While the rate of asthma prevalence has grown throughout the country, including rural and suburban areas, it has devastated our inner-cities, minorities and low income families. The asthma death rate is twice as high among African Americans and a staggering four times higher for African American children. African Americans are also five times more likely to seek emergency room care for asthma, which does not provide long-term management of this disease. Asthma is also more prevalent among all age groups in lower income families. In families with an annual income of less than $10,000, 80 out of 1,000 individuals have asthma while in families with an annual income of $20,000 to $34,999, 54 out of 1,000 individuals have asthma--that means close to 400,000 more people with extremely limited earnings have asthma. Whatever your income, we are all paying the price for the 160% increase in asthma among preschool children over the past decade. The total cost of asthma to Americans was close to $12 billion in 1998. Parents miss work, children miss school, and too many cases are treated in emergency rooms that could have been treated, or in some situations prevented, by education, medication and on-going management by a physician. Today with the passage of the Children's Health Act, we are taking meaningful steps to curb this staggering growth in asthma cases, its high cost to society, and its disproportionate effect on minorities and low income families. This bill provides comprehensive asthma services to children, mobile health care clinics, patient and family education on managing asthma, and identification of children eligible for Medicaid, and other children's health programs. In representing some of the poorest areas of the country in South Central Los Angeles, I have seen the dire need for community assistance, and that is why I applaud the efforts of Senator Durbin to ensure this legislative language was included in the Senate-passed bill. Furthermore, I urge my colleagues to not only vote for the Children's Health Act but to ensure that you inform your constituents of the asthma services this bill creates. As Members of Congress, it is our job to educate our constituents on the policies we enact and empower them to use the programs we create to improve their lives.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez) for yielding the time to me. Let me also join the refrain and thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Manzullo), chairman of the Subcommittee on Tax, Finance and Exports, as well as the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Talent), chairman of the Committee on Small Business, and the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez), the ranking member, for their leadership in bringing forth this outstanding piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, as the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Empowerment, I rise in strong support of the National Small Business Regulatory Assistance Act. This bill will offer small businesses a voluntary, confidential and nonpunitive way to obtain assistance in complying with regulations through the small business development centers. It creates partnerships with the Federal agencies to encourage them to increase outreach efforts to small businesses which will improve compliance with regulations and establish a mechanism for unbiased feedback from SBDCs to Federal agencies on regulatory environment. Specifically, H.R. 4946 will establish a pilot program that sets 20 SBDCs as points of contact and advice for small businesses with concerns about regulatory compliance. The selected SBDCs will coordinate and develop partnerships with Federal agencies for the provision of much-needed advice to small businesses. The SBDCs will be charged with sending information obtained from Federal agencies concerning contradictory or confusing advice on regulations to the National Association of Small Business Development Centers. The ASBDCs will then prepare a report for the President, the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Ombudsman, and the House and Senate Small Business Committees. Mr. Speaker, with so many small businesses overwhelmed by growing and constantly changing State, Federal, and local regulatory requirements and in fear of penalties for noncompliance, the time has come, Mr. Speaker, for Congress to help these businesses understand and comply with the various regulations. In the past 20 years, the Federal Register, which lists all of the regulations and changes, grew from 42,000 to a record rate of 73,879 pages in 1999. Small businesses want to comply with the numerous regulations, but they often just do not know what to do. The National Small Business Regulatory Assistance Act will offer these small businesses critical assistance by turning confusion into clarity through these pilot programs. I urge my colleagues to support me and all of those who work on small businesses to pass this very good and common sense legislation. Mr. Speaker, I support the Export Working Capital Loan Improvement Act because it will implement crucial technical changes which will streamline the entire small business loan process and help America's dedicated small business owners continue to grow and stimulate our strong economy. Small firms represent 97 percent of all companies working within the United States import/export marketplace. Small businesses account for nearly one-third of total U.S. export sales and approximately 88 percent of the U.S. companies engaged in exporting are small business with fewer than 100 employees. The Export Working Capital Program [ECWP] loan program is designed to provide short-term ``working capital'' loans for small businesses in the import/export business. The current ECWP loan process allows the Small Business Administration to only sell loans on the secondary market if the loan has been fully disbursed to the borrower. This creates a quandary for the SBA and the EWCP because the SBA only makes loan disbursements once a month for all of its loan programs. Also the EWCP loans tend to be very short-term loans--often less than a year in length. As a result, many small businesses owners are left to squander for critical dollars in order to maintain their businesses. By providing an exception that would allow SBA to sell these loans into the secondary market, the SBA will be able to improve its long-term financial planning and streamline loan operations for import/export businesses. While this may appear to be a small change, this legislation will expand SBA's ability to reach into every sector of the economy and to help more small business owners. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for America's hard working small business owners by voting ``yes'' on Export Working Capital Loan Improvement Act.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I thank all of those who are responsible for bringing this piece of legislation to the floor, especially the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella). Mr. Speaker, this comprehensive law sends a clear message across the Nation: violence against women is a crime, and punishment for this crime will be enforced. While the Violence Against Women Act has had a positive impact on communities across the Nation, there is still much work to be done. Violence still devastates the lives of too many women and children. Nearly one-third of women murdered each year are killed by their partners. Domestic violence accounts for over 20 percent of all violent crime against women in America. Over 300,000 women were raped and sexually assaulted in 1999 alone, Mr. Speaker, and approximately 1 million women are stalked each year. The State of California, which I represent, maintains 23 sexual assault response teams, 13 domestic violence response teams, and scores of domestic violence advocates located in the State. The Violence Against Women Act must be reauthorized. We cannot turn our backs on women in need of protection and care. I urge passage of this bill.

Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD. Mr. Speaker, let me first thank the chairman and the ranking member for their leadership on this great piece of legislation. I rise today in strong support of the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel Act. As a representative of the 37th Congressional District in California, I represent parts of the Long Beach area, so I am particularly supportive of this bill, since it will help many of my constituents. There are approximately 24.4 million veterans in America, 552,800 of whom are in Los Angeles alone, and 28,900 of whom live in the 37th Congressional District. The number of veterans has declined over the years, but the average age of America's veterans has increased. The median age of veterans is 58 years, and 36 percent are over 65 years of age. This means the services provided at veterans' health care facilities throughout the country are even more important to our veterans, now more than ever before. Mr. Speaker, this legislation authorizes important construction projects primarily at VA medical facilities to help veterans who have reached an age where the need for safe, accessible medical care is critical. In particular, it authorizes the construction of the VA Medical Center in Long Beach which is located on major fault lines that have yielded earthquakes which have caused severe damage to the area over the years. This construction project will correct life safety and functional space deficiencies and ensure that veterans receive the health care they need in a safe environment. The Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel Act also improves the pay of nurses, dentists and other health care professionals employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs which ensures that those who serve our veterans are adequately compensated. In addition, it establishes a pilot project that will allow four sites to provide inpatient hospital care to veterans in their own communities. The bill also contains a provision that would increase the availability of accommodations at VA medical facilities for veterans and their families who need to travel great distances and stay overnight when obtaining VA medical services. Mr. Speaker, all of these measures will significantly impact the lives of veterans and their families; and, therefore, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel Act. It is a great piece of legislation.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to a man who has served as one of the most determined and effective advocates for America's hard working families in the United States Senate. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan was first elected to the Senate in 1976, and has served the people of New York as well as the entire country with commitment, leadership and integrity. As the Ranking Member on the Senate Finance Committee, he has pioneered for new initiatives to feed our nation's poor, to provide critical welfare and job training services to families in need, and to ensure that everyone has access to quality health care. Senator Moynihan has been particularly committed to an issue I know well: AIDS. As many of my colleagues know, since the moment I first stepped foot in Washington, I have fought for increased funding for critical HIV and AIDS education, treatment and research programs. I have also worked to expand our current programs to areas that are still in need of our help. Africa, India, the Caribbean, and Central and Eastern Europe in particular need our help and Senator Moynihan has heard this call to action. Senator Moynihan introduced S. 2032 to amend the Foreign Assistance Act to address mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Africa, Asia and Latin America. At the same time, I introduced H.R. 4665 to initiate a $10 million pilot project in Africa and India to reduce and prevent mother-to-child HIV/AIDS transmission. I am extremely pleased that H.R. 3519, the Global AIDS and Tuberculosis Relief Act of 2000, was signed into law by the President on August 19 and included much of the language and intent of my International Mother-to-Child HIV/AIDS Prevention Bill. With this legislation, we can commit $25 million to this cause. Worldwide, 1,800 infants become infected with HIV each day. The total number of births to HIV-infected pregnant women each year in developing countries is 3.2 million. HIV/AIDS has doubled infant mortality in poor countries most heavily affected by the epidemic. We have hit a critical point where we must take action in the world's epicenter of HIV infection. We must act now if we ever hope to end this epidemic once and for all. I thank Senator Moynihan for his leadership on this serious public health issue and on so many issues affecting our women and children.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank the chairman and the ranking member for their leadership and for bringing this much-needed legislation to this body. Mr. Chairman, as the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Empowerment of the Committee on Small Business, I rise in strong support of the Small Business Competition Preservation Act. America's hard-working small business owners, entrepreneurs and employees are the bedrock of our Nation's unprecedented economic growth. Small businesses represent over 99 percent of all employers and employ 52 percent of the private workers; 61 percent of the private workers on public assistance; and employ 38 percent of the private workers in high-tech companies. They provide 51 percent of the private sector output and represent 96 percent of all exporters of goods. These hard-working businessmen and women need us to pass the Small Business Competition Preservation Act to assess the effectiveness of contract bundling, which has dominated the Federal procurement market for years. This legislation would require the administrator of the SBA to determine whether bundling contracts actually achieves the savings that Federal agencies assume. The bill will also require the administrator to maintain a database that would track the number of small businesses who are displaced as prime contractors as a result of contract bundling. Currently, there is no data available which shows contract bundling is effectively cutting costs. However, our Federal agencies have insisted on bundling most of its procurement contracts. This has shut out too many qualified small businesses, especially women- and minority-owned businesses, which are growing at the fastest rates. The number of African American-owned businesses soared by 46 percent from 1987 to 1992. Hispanic-owned businesses are among the fastest growing segments of the U.S. business population, with 82.9 percent rate of growth during the same period. Businesses owned by Asian Americans, American Indians and other minorities increased by 87.2 percent during this same period. This same success has been achieved by women-owned businesses. In 1992, there were just over 400,000 women-owned businesses. Today, they total 8.5 million and represent one-third of all U.S. companies. Women- owned businesses generate $3.1 trillion in revenue, an increase of 209 percent between 1987 and 1997 after adjusting for inflation. This resounding rate of growth has outpaced all other business growth in each of the 50 States. I urge my colleagues, Mr. Chairman, to join the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Talent), the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez), and me in voting for America's small businesses by voting for the Small Business Competition Preservation Act. We cannot give them anything less.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of Mr. Obey's motion to instruct conferees to provide the ``highest funding level possible'' for the Education Department which is embodied in H.R. 4577, the Labor, Health, Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill. The education of our nation's children is an issue of paramount concern. As Members of the House of Representatives we need to be committed to ensuring that all children are being educated in a safe and clean environment that is conducive to learning. We know, however, that in many school districts all across the country this is not the case. Students are being educated in dilapidated school facilities with severely overcrowded classrooms. We should support the Administration's request for dedicated funds to reduce class sizes in early grades and for local school construction. Research and common sense suggest that smaller classes offer teachers the chance to devote more time to each student which improves their ability to learn. A 1998 U.S. Department of Education report, ``Reducing Class Size: What Do We Know?'' indicates that reducing class size is related to increased student learning. Other studies have shown that smaller class sizes result in increased student achievement, a reduction in discipline problems and increased instructional time for teachers. In addition, smaller classes have been shown to be most important in early grades, and for disadvantaged and minority students. Under the leadership of the Administration's Class-Size Reduction Initiative, a number of states have already implemented class size reduction programs. The state of California, which I represent, began its Class Size Reduction Program in 1996, giving money to school districts for the purpose of reducing the student/teacher ratio to 20 to 1 in kindergarten through third grade. The goal of the K-3 Class Size Reduction Program was to increase student achievement, particularly in reading and mathematics, by decreasing the class size to 20 or fewer students per certified teacher. The program has been a great success as over 90 percent of the state's schools are participating in the class-size reduction program, academic achievement is up and the state has dedicated a record amount of money for teacher recruitment and school construction. Similar results are being experienced all across the country and serve as a testament to the importance of promoting smaller class sizes. Smaller classes require larger, modern facilities. The motion to instruct conferees offered by my colleague, Congressman Obey, recognizes that federal funds need to be targeted toward school construction if we are to meet the needs of students across the nation. Communities across the country are struggling to address critical needs to renovate exiting schools and build new ones, School construction and modernization are necessary to accommodate rising student enrollments, to help reduce class sizes and to make sure schools are accessible to all students. According to the General Accounting Office, two-thirds of America's schools are in need of extensive repair and replacement of major structures. The state of California has estimated $22 billion in school infrastructure and modernization needs. I have walked through school facilities with leaking roofs, splintered chairs, and walls with severe water damage. This is unacceptable. America's students deserve better, and I congratulate Mr. Obey for working diligently to ensure that they get better. I strongly support Mr. Obey's motion to instruct because it focuses on the need to provide students with the best possible learning environment which consists of smaller classes in safe school buildings, that are conductive to learning.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I rise with great pride because September 9th marked the 150th anniversary of California's admission to the union. The United States Postal Service is reissuing its California Statehood stamp to honor this event. And all of the 52 members of the California delegation have come together to pay tribute to an important part of our history in the United States. As the Representative of the 37th District of California and long time resident of this great state, I am happy to join this effort to pay homage to our historical leaders who had the wisdom to form one union of the United States. My district in particular has made wonderful contributions to the state of California over the past 150 years. The South Bay area has a long and distinguished history that is unique and embraces the essence of Southern California. The city of Carson has a strong Spanish presence and is home to Dominguez Rancho Adobe, built in 1826. The Goodyear blimp ``Eagle'' also calls Carson home. Goodyear's blimp logs over 400,000 air miles per year and have adorned the skies of Southern California as a very visible corporate symbol of the tire and rubber company. The Los Angeles community of Watts is home to the Watts Towers. Created by Simon Rodia, the towers rise over one hundred feet tall. Composed of structural steel rods and circular hoops connected by spokes, the towers incorporate a sparkling mosaic of found materials including pottery, seashells, and glass. Rodia's house, destroyed by fire in 1957, resided within the complex. Declared hazardous by the city of Los Angeles, the towers were threatened with demolition until an engineer's stress test proved them structurally sound. They have since been designated a cultural monument. The city of Long Beach has a past deep in Spanish history. Created by a land grant given to soldier Manuel Nieto, the city was planned out in 1882 as Willmore City by developer Williman Willmore, and a new town began forming along the coast. Long Beach serves as home to the historic Queen Mary. Partially adjacent to Long Beach is the community of Habor Gateway and serves as the entrance to the Los Angeles port area. People from around the world visit and call the South Bay area home. I am proud to call the 37th Congressional District home. Happy Anniversary California!

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I stand today in support of H.R. 4678, the Child Support Distribution Act. This bill would help poor children escape poverty, strengthen families, and enhance welfare reform by making improvements to the child support system. These improvements would allow more of the child-support collected from noncustodial parents to reach the children on whose behalf these payments are made. When fully implemented, this bill would increase income to children and their custodial parents by over $1 billion a year. In addition the bill simplifies child support distribution rules, and promotes responsible fatherhood. Passage of this bill will result in several important benefits to families by distributing more support to families to help them maintain employment and reduce welfare receipt, simplifying state child support systems and providing needed services to low-income parents to help them support and raise their children. The bill ensures that once a family has left welfare, that family has the first claim on all child support paid by the father. Under current law, child support collected is first applied to taxes owed to the state. Child support payments begin to repay debts owed to custodial families only after the debt to the state has been completely repaid. The changes proposed in the Child Support Distribution Act would help families that have left welfare to stay off welfare by providing additional resources to them at a time when they are likely to be vulnerable to economic hardship. Child support is an important income supplement for low-income working families. According to the Center for Law and Social Policy, when single-mother families receive child support, their poverty rate drops from 33 to 22 percent. The Child Support Distribution Act would also dramatically simplify rules governing the assignment and distribution of child support payments. According to the National Governors' Association, ``The complexity of current child support distribution rules creates a costly administrative burden for both states and the Federal Government.'' The current rules are expensive to administer, and difficult for child support staff to explain and for parents to understand. The Child Support Distribution Act addresses these issues and provides funding to community-based and state programs working directly with low-income custodial parents to help them support their children financially and emotionally. This legislation gives funding preferences to community programs that partner with domestic violence programs and child support agencies. This bill includes a number of complementary provisions that are beneficial to low-income children and families. Several provisions in the bill are intended to help low-income fathers improve their capacity to support their children financially and emotionally. The changes the bill makes in the child support system would allow a larger portion of the child support that low-income fathers pay to benefit their children. These provisions represent an investment in stronger families that should reduce poverty among these children, help low-income parents receive services they need, and strengthen children's ties with their fathers, who will be better able to see the result of their hard- earned contributions when they pay child support. These changes should make child support easier to administer and empower states to integrate the collection and distribution of child support with their own welfare reform strategies. I strongly support H.R. 4678, the Child Support Distribution Act and urge my colleagues to do the same.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment that condemns honor crimes against women. Mr. Chairman, I rise to speak in support of this amendment that condemns so-called ``honor crimes.'' In countries around the world, women are beaten and killed by male members of their families after being accused of being unfaithful or acting in ways that embarrass the family. According to Amnesty International the brutal practice of ``honor killings'' in Pakistan results in several hundred women being killed each year for suspected affairs, for seeking divorce, and for being raped. In Jordan in the 1990s, an average of 20 women were killed every year. In India in 1998, 286 women were victims of ``honor killings'' in Punjab alone. In the first quarter of 1999, 132 ``honor killings'' were documented in Sindh. Domestic laws do not protect women who fall victim to this crime. For example, under Article 340 of Jordan's Penal Code, men are exempt from punishment who kill female relatives found or suspected of committing adultery and reduces sentences against those who kill unmarried female relatives who have affairs. I support the amendment's call to increase investment of U.S. foreign assistance programs designed to investigate and document ``honor killings.'' I would also like to see our assistance support initiatives that conduct public education campaigns about women's equality, with an emphasis on educating law enforcement officers and judges and that provide rehabilitative services to threatened and abused women. Mr. Chairman, as we continue to expand and deepen our influence around the globe, protection of women and girls from this kind of barbaric behavior must be at the top of our agenda.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. If I can just ask the gentlewoman from North Carolina to yield for just a second, and then I know the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) is here, and he has been absolutely a divine young man to sit here and wait for us as we talk about this, and he wants to get into the fray; but the one thing I am concerned about as well with this H-1B bill is that it is inconceivable as to whether they are professionals who are coming over or persons, as the gentlewoman has just mentioned, straight out of high school. Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today to discuss the importance of technology in education. We have a great deal at stake when it comes to the technological literacy of this nation's teachers and students. A strong work force and a strong economy depends on the quality of our schools, the preparedness of our teachers and the ability of our students to compete in an increasingly technical world. The ability to use computer technology has become indispensable to educational, career, social and cultural advancement. In the new millennium, technological literacy has not become only a basic job requirement, but a life skill as well. It is imperative that students are equipped with technology skills at an early stage in life by teachers who are skillfully trained to incorporate technology in their curriculum and classroom learning environments. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, Internet access in public schools has increased from 35% to 95% and classroom connections have increased from 3% to 63% from 1994 to 1999. While these increases indicate positive responses to the need for technology in the classroom, we must be cognizant of how efficiently and effectively this technology is being used. According to the President's 1997 Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology, a ratio of 4 to 5 students per computer represents a reasonable level for the effective use of computers within schools. In my Congressional District, the ratios are much higher. In the city of Compton, the ratio is 18 students per computer. In the city of Lynwood the ratio is 9 students per computer and in Long Beach the ratio is 8 students per computer. Considering the socioeconomic demographics of my district, these numbers are just not acceptable. The children in my district and in similar districts across the country are falling behind and something must be done to stop it. Equipping our schools with technology is the first step in fulfilling the challenge to promote technological literacy in our schools. Another real challenge lies in filling the vast training gap, and in providing trained teachers who can incorporate computer technology in all aspects of the learning experience. A study by the National Center for Education Statistics found that only one teach in five felt very prepared to integrate technology in the subject they taught. This fact is not surprising when, according to a study by the Milken Exchange on Education Technology, teachers on average receive less than 13 hours of technology training year per, and 40 percent of all teachers have never received any technology training. In addition, teachers receive far less technology curriculum integration training than basic computer skills training. 42 percent of teachers had six or more hours of basic skills training within the past year, compared with just 29 percent of teachers who had an equal amount of curriculum integration training. And yet, research shows that training on integrating technology into education programs has a greater impact on teachers than basic technology skills training. Clearly, the key to successfully integrating technology into the classroom will not be in installing more hardware or software, or wiring schools to the Internet. The key will be in training teachers to be the integrators. Now is the time for action. The U.S. Department of Commerce estimates that by the end of the year 2000, some 60 percent of jobs will require proficiencies in the use of a broad range of information technologies. By the year 2005, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates there will be growth of 70 percent in technology related jobs. This issue, however, is not focused solely on preparing students to assume the jobs of the future. More important is the need to prepare students for American life and culture, both of which will be influenced heavily by technology. In order to produce a citizenry ready to accept upcoming technological challenges, we must be willing to make a significant investment in education. By preparing teachers and students we are paving the way to a brighter more prosperous future.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I agree with both overtures of what both my colleagues have just said. I think mainly we must see in this H-1B bill some provision by which outreach can be done in our urban and rural communities to begin to train our young folks in the area of math and science. Secondarily, I think there has to be an outreach program to the HBCUs of students who are already in math and science. We do have young folks who are coming out of these schools ready to go into the jobs that they are talking about; but if we have not gone to those campuses, and we do not know that they are there, then we tend to think there is not a prepared group of folks out there waiting for the jobs. When I was director of Gender Equity for Los Angeles Unified, we had to make sure that we went around this Nation and look in every nook and cranny to try and get those who have been prepared for those particular subject areas and disciplines that we were looking for. I think we have no other recourse but to make sure that this bill has some provision of having the high-tech companies utilize those fees for outreach and for training of those who are in that digital divide and in that gap.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, it is great to be here tonight. My dear friend, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge), has been an excellent leader in education, not only in this Congress but throughout the Nation for many years, and we value his advice and his leadership on the issues that are so important to parents and to this Nation, given the need for educational opportunities. Mr. Speaker, tonight I stand here to discuss the importance of technology in education. We have talked about the digital divide and how the gap has widened between those who have and those who have not, and especially among urban areas as well as rural areas of our children who have not had the opportunities to advance in this highly technological environment. We have a great deal at stake when it comes to the technological literacy of this Nation's teachers and students. A strong work force and a strong economy depend upon the quality of our schools, the preparedness of our teachers, and the ability of our students to compete in an increasingly technical world. The ability to use computer technology has become indispensable to educational, career, social, and cultural advancement. In the new millenium, technological literacy has not become only a basic requirement but a life skill as well. It is then imperative that students are equipped with technology skills at an early stage in life by teachers who are skillfully trained to integrate technology in their curriculum and classroom learning environment. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, Internet access in public schools has increased from 35 percent to 95 percent, and classroom connections have increased from 3 percent to 63 percent from 1994 to 1999. While these increases indicate positive responses to the need for technology in the classroom, we must be cognizant of how efficiently and effectively this technology is being used. According to the President's 1997 Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology, a ratio of four to five students per computer represents a reasonable level for the effective use of computers within schools. In my district, however, Mr. Speaker, the ratios are much higher. In the city of Compton, the ratio is 18 students per computer. In the city of Lynwood, the ratio is nine students per computer. In Long Beach, the ratio is eight students per computer. Considering the socioeconomic demographics of my district, these numbers are just not acceptable. The children in my district and insular districts across the country are falling behind, and something must be done to stop it. Equipping our schools with technology is the first step in fulfilling the challenge to promote technological literacy in our schools. Another real challenge lies in feeling the vast training gap and in providing trained teachers who can incorporate computer technology in all aspects of the learning experience. A study by the National Center for Education statistics found that only one teacher in five felt very prepared to integrate technology in the subject they taught. This fact is not surprising when, according to a study by the Milken Exchange on Education Technology, teachers on average receive less than 13 hours of technology training per year, and 40 percent of all teachers have never received any technology training. That is really a travesty. In addition to that, teachers receive far less technology curriculum integration training than basic computer skills training. Forty-two percent of teachers have had 6 or more hours of basic skills training within the past year, compared with just 29 percent of teachers who had an equal amount of curriculum integration training. Yet, research shows that training on integrating technology into education programs has a greater impact on teachers than basic technology skills training. Clearly, the key to successfully integrating technology into the classroom will not be in installing more hardware or software, or wiring schools to the Internet, the key will be training teachers to be integrators. Now is the time for action. The U.S. Department of Commerce estimates that, by the end of the year 2000, some 60 percent of jobs will require proficiencies in the use of a broad range of information technologies. By the year 2005, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there will be growth of 70 percent of technology-related jobs. This issue, however, is not focused solely on preparing students to assume the jobs of the future. More important is the need to prepare students for America's life and culture, both of which will be influenced heavily by technology. In order to produce a citizenry ready to accept upcoming technological challenges, we must be willing to make a significant investment in education. By preparing teachers and students, we are paving the way to a brighter, more prosperous future. I thank the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge) so very much. I think he recognizes as much as I do how digital divide and technological training is so important to students as well as teachers in planing for the future.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, that is exactly what I am talking about. When the gentleman from North Carolina spoke about the E-Rate and the wiring and how that is important; but the most important thing is to get adequate computers into the classroom. The ratio should be as such where students will get the type of computer training that is necessary to ensure that the training that they have will be commensurate with their going out getting a job once they have completed their secondary education or even post secondary education. I will say, as well as serving on the National Commission on Teaching on America's Future, as we look at the whole integration of technology and to the teacher training program, we find that a lot of the professional development that teachers are taking now are suggesting, or those who are giving that, suggesting that that professional development training require a certain amount of computer literacy. I am very thankful that the gentleman from North Carolina sought to bring us to the floor today to talk about education. We cannot talk enough about education and about the opportunities that are out there for the children of the future and teachers of the future if we, indeed, have the propensity to put the computers in the right spot. So I see others who have joined the gentleman from North Carolina on the floor. I will move out if the others move in.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, this is very true. As we have looked into the digital divide, we do find that, not only is that divide among the students in the classroom, but among the teachers as well. We find that a lot of the computers that are given to students in the inner city area are really all outdated computers that cannot really be used for training, nor has the teacher had training on computers as well. I have a program in the Watts area where we are now asking for old computers to come into that area where we will train young folks to prepare, do maintenance on old computers. Then once they have done that, we train them on that computer and then send that computer home to the parents for the kid to learn on. This is a whole new innovative concept in helping parents as well as students to understand the realization and the importance of technology. We also find that teachers are very fearful because the curriculum and the liberal arts colleges are not putting technology in the curriculum for training or the teacher training program. So the gentleman is correct. It is important that, as we look at the digital divide, we look at that division within the teacher training programs as well as the students who are, for whatever reason, have been given old outdated computers that really do not do anything in terms of teaching them.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. To expand, yes.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, today I rise in strong support of the amendment of my colleague and friend, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), and I urge everyone to support this amendment, because it is really a moral issue that we are talking about tonight. The devastation caused by this pandemic has been most severe in sub- Saharan Africa where over 23 million people are infected with HIV, and nearly 14 million Africans have already died from AIDS. This is indeed, my friends, a moral issue, and we have an obligation and a responsibility to heed the warning here. The funding, $42 million, is not a cure-all for HIV-AIDS, but it is an urgent and necessary step in the right direction. This AIDS epidemic has also drastically decreased life expectancy in Africa, and I urge everyone within the sound of my voice to know that our children are being left as orphans because of the death of their parents. I urge Members to support the Lee amendment.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank the ranking member, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), for her leadership and commend her for the continued effort and tenacity in trying to make sure that we have a fairness on this floor in terms of our services to foreign countries. Mr. Chairman, leadership is the operative word here today, and because of that, I will say to this body, if we are leaders, then please lead. Be leaders and be responsible for those things that we were sent here to do. It is unconscionable to me to see the most powerful country in this world reneging on children and women. Some of the poorest countries in this world are suffering and here we are opposing the administration budget for $244 million for HIV and AIDS. It is a pandemic in Africa; we know that. You knew that. We know the 50 million people who have been infected with HIV and AIDS. Why is it that my colleagues are minimizing the efforts that have been brought about with people throughout Africa in trying to combat this very critical infectious disease? I urge my colleagues to oppose this legislation. It is unconscionable. It is immoral. It is inconceivable.