Juanita Millender-McDonald

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to join India in celebrating India Republic Day. The United States and India share a common colonial history, and today we are both strong democracies that serve as a model for other nations. I am pleased that President Bush and Prime Minister Vajpayee have agreed to work in partnership on civilian nuclear activities, civilian space programs, and high-technology trade. As we work together towards building trade, peaceful uses of space technology, and combating terrorism, our cooperative efforts will have global benefits, spread prosperity and enhance international security. With a population of over one billion people speaking over 114 different languages, cultural differences and significant poverty among her people, India faces enormous challenges. However, India has shown her strength, resiliency and vision for over fifty years since adopting a constitution in 1950. She has taken affirmative steps to promote equal and social justice for all, and to improve the plight of the poor. These are values that we share as democratic nations and partners working together to ensure that people have hope and freedom. Finally, I commend India for the steps she has taken to open relations with Pakistan and work towards a resolution over Kashmir. My best wishes for success in this endeavor that is important not only to the people of India and Pakistan, but also to the rest of the world.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, each February our Nation celebrates Black History Month. African-Americans have a rich and deep history, and many individuals should be recognized. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision of Brown versus the Board of Education, and it is my pleasure to speak about a very special woman who blazed a trail in completing her education. While the Supreme Court decision allowed for equal access and opportunity to education for African-Americans, long before this decision was handed down, Mary Eliza Mahoney, was the first African- American registered nurse, graduating from the New England Hospital for Women and Children Training School for Nurses in 1879. Mary Eliza Mahoney was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts in 1845. At the age of 33, Ms. Mahoney was admitted as a student into the hospital's nursing program, which had been established by Dr. Marie Zakrewska, notably, one of the first women doctors in the United States. Ms. Mahoney completed a strenuous and rigorous 16-month program, becoming one of only three people to actually complete the program. In 1896, Mr. Speaker, Ms. Mahoney became one of the first African- American members of the American Nurses Association (ANA). In 1908, she co-founded the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses, an organization working toward complete integration of Black Nurses in the ANA. Additionally, Mahoney participated in the campaign for woman suffrage and in 1921, was one of the first women in line to vote after the ratification of the nineteenth amendment. Ms. Mahoney spent her life caring for the sick until her death on January 4, 1926. In 1993, Ms. Mahoney was inducted into the Women's Hall of Fame. The indomitable courage of this African-American woman has set an example for equality, dignity and respect for African-Americans in nursing, as well as women's rights. I urge all of my colleagues to reflect on all the great African-American individuals who helped shape this great Nation during Black History Month.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, in keeping with the President's message last night on the critical need for security enhancement around our seaports and airports, I am introducing legislation today, the United States Seaport Multiyear Security Enhancement Act, and I ask all of my colleagues to support it. This is a bipartisan issue. Seaport security continues to be an ongoing national concern that Congress cannot afford to ignore any longer. The United States Seaport Multiyear Security Enhancement Act is much- needed legislation that seeks to provide a steady, predictable stream of funding for port security projects. In short, this legislation creates a port security grant program within the Homeland Security Department. Our Nation's 361 seaports are considered a major terrorist target. It is known that al Qaeda has strong ties to the shipping industry and that one of the aims of this terrorist network is to weaken the economic security of our country. Our Nation's coastline is our longest border, which is a 95,000-mile coast that includes the Great Lakes and inland waterways. Protecting America's seaports is critical to the Nation's economic growth, vitality and security. Seaports handle 95 percent of our Nation's overseas trade by volume, support the mobilization and deployment of U.S. Armed Forces and serve as transit points for millions of cruise and ferry passengers. Maritime industries contribute $742 billion per year to the U.S. gross national product. The United States Coast Guard has issued final regulations that call for immediate and long-term investment in securing our seaports. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, implementing these regulations that directly address our seaport security needs will cost $1.125 billion in the first year and $5.45 billion over 10 years. To date, security funding to our seaports has been woefully underfunded. Congress has provided $442 million in seaport security funding through three rounds of competitive grant funding and from the Office of Domestic Preparedness. Given our Nation's economic dependence on our seaports and our ongoing national security concerns, Mr. Speaker, seaport security funding and the need for Federal support for our Nation's security should be ongoing. Given the enormity of these seaport capital infrastructure projects, my legislation seeks to do the following: Establish a multiyear seaport grant program that resembles the letter of intent measures established in the aviation security program. And it calls for multiyear grants and $800 million per year for port security grant funding. The program would be authorized for 5 years. Mr. Speaker, this legislation is much needed. According to the Department of Homeland Security, to date, $1 out of every $10 requested for port security grants is funded. That is one out of 10. The continuing security and economic needs that face our Nation and our seaports should be recognized by the establishment of the U.S. Seaport Multiyear Security Enhancement Act, the legislation that I am introducing today. I ask all of my colleagues for their support of this very important piece of legislation.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak today to object to consideration of the Omnibus Appropriations bill. I am specifically concerned with provisions in this legislation that would result in the removal of overtime pay protection for many American workers. A few months ago, this House voted to instruct conferees to remove unfair provisions on overtime pay. Despite the will of a majority of Members, those provisions still remain in this bill. This does not reflect the true position of the House of Representatives. Mr. Speaker, I am speaking on what has been called ``the Harkin amendment.'' This amendment to the FY2004 Labor-HHS appropriations bill would have prohibited the Department of Labor from issuing regulations that would disqualify overtime protection to workers protected under current law. The opponents of overtime pay protection would require employees to work more than 40 hours weekly without being paid time and a half for their work. The Department of Labor claims that only 644,000 current workers will lose overtime pay benefits under the provisions of this legislation. In sharp contrast, the Economic Policy Institute reports that over eight million eligible workers are earning overtime, and will be adversely affected by these regulations. This figure includes 5.5 million workers paid hourly and 2.5 million salaried employees. We all know that we live in a time of scarce resources and few job opportunities. Therefore, this drastic pay cut, especially during the holiday season, is fundamentally unfair and wrong for American workers. Over 1.4 million Americans are also faced with the expiration of their unemployment benefits at the end of this month. We cannot in good conscience go home to celebrate the holidays with our families while unemployed Americans face a grim future and a bleak holiday season. Mr. Speaker, I urge the Members of this body to take action today that will give hope to American workers, and protect the wages they earn and extend the benefits they deserve.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks about the premium support provisions in this conference report that will undermine the Medicare system on which elderly women in my district depend. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in opposition to H.R. 1. This conference report represents the beginning stages of this Administration's withdrawal from its promise to seniors. This report being considered on the House floor today, sets the stage for a gradual pullout of the federal government providing benefits to seniors and shifting the responsibility to private insurers. As our nation's population ages and the baby boomer generation places additional burden on our healthcare infrastructure, we can no longer provide a ``one-size fits all'' level of healthcare. I am a strong and passionate advocate of a Medicare program that would cover all of our nation's seniors and provide a comprehensive prescription drug benefit. This is not that benefit. Mr. Speaker, this is not a better solution than ``no benefits''--it's worse. It gives our seniors false hope. It makes seniors think that this government is expanding Medicare services, while it takes a backdoor approach to privatization of the Medicare program. Mr. Speaker, in my home state of California, hundred of thousands of Medicare beneficiaries will lose their retiree health benefits. Medicaid beneficiaries will pay more for the prescription drugs they need. Hundreds of thousands of Medicare beneficiaries will pay more for Part B premiums because of so-called income relating provisions. Last night, Mr. Speaker, I spoke with my Congressional Seniors Council which represents leaders from senior associations in the 37th congressional district. This council has expressed its deepest concerns with H.R. 1. On behalf of the more than 51,000 seniors in the 37th Congressional district, this council fears Seniors, who should otherwise qualify for a drug benefit, may no longer qualify because of the asset provision in this report. Seniors, who have saved their hard- earned money for use during retirement, who relied on the promises of this Administration, become disqualified from receiving the prescription drug benefit. Very poor and very sick dual eligible beneficiaries will lose wrap around coverage for prescription drugs making out-of-pocket costs more than they can afford. I urge my fellow colleagues for the sake of Medicare beneficiaries in their districts, to vote against H.R. 1. Our seniors deserve better.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Department of Veterans Affairs Long-Term Care and Personnel Authorities Enhancement Act of 2003. I would like to thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Chairman Smith) and the gentleman from Illinois (Ranking Member Evans) for their commitment to veterans issues and their steadfast leadership and dedication to those men and women who have served us admirably in this country and throughout the world. I want to also thank the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Simmons), subcommittee chair, and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez), the ranking member, for their dedication and leadership. They are all steadfast in ensuring that veterans have their proper stay in terms of care. Another person who has worked tirelessly for the committee and for Filipino veterans is my colleague and friend from California (Mr. Filner). His commitment and resolve has been stellar on behalf of these veterans whom we both serve. This bill, Mr. Speaker, is a long time coming. There are many, many good measures in this bill. I applaud the committee for doing good and timely work. Mr. Speaker, addressing the current and future needs of our veterans must continue to be a national top priority. There is one important measure in this bill, though, that has been particularly close to me for the past several years. I want to applaud and thank members of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs for including the authorization to provide hospital and nursing home care and medical services to Filipino World War II veterans of the Philippines Commonwealth Army and former Philippines New Scouts in the same manner that is provided for other U.S. veterans and who reside permanently in the United States. Currently, there are 11,000 World War II Filipino veterans who are citizens or legal residents of the United States. Many of these brave veterans are in their seventies and eighties and in desperate need of health benefits, and I am proud to represent many of them in my district. Passage of this language provides health benefits to these brave men, as well as benefiting our communities across the country. I represent a district with approximately 35,000 Filipinos, the largest population of Filipino veterans in America. And for several years now, I have put my heart and soul into the welfare of many Filipino veterans who have asked me to help them in their struggle for recognition and equity in acquiring benefits. I have witnessed firsthand how providing these long overdue health benefits will affect our families, our neighborhoods, our friends and, ultimately, our communities. I urge my colleagues to support this very important legislation on behalf of all of our veterans, and especially these Filipino veterans who have waited long enough. Finally, I want to commend the committee on H.R. 2297, the Veterans Benefit Act of 2003, which passed the floor last night. This legislation addressed many issues that are also very important to the Filipino community. H.R. 2297 included language that extended eligibility for burial in the National Cemeteries to new Filipino scouts. For this, Mr. Speaker, and for all other reasons and the great provisions of this bill, I want to thank the committee, and especially thank the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Secretary Principi, for his leadership and guidance.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) and the ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), for their great leadership and their sensitivity in marshaling this piece of legislation to the floor. I would like to also thank the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) for managing this piece of legislation; and I would like to thank my colleague and friend from the area that we both represent, Long Beach, for joining in this morning in presenting this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on my resolution, House Concurrent Resolution 83, a bill honoring the victims of the Cambodian genocide. Between April, 1975, and January, 1979, up to 3 million Cambodians were deliberately and systematically killed in what later became known as the Killing Fields. Many more were tortured, starved, and brainwashed but survived this horrific period in history. In 1975, Pol Pot led the communist guerilla group, the Khmer Rouge, in a large-scale insurgency that resulted in the removal of millions of Cambodians from their homes and forced them into brutal labor camps. Traditional Khmer culture and society were systematically destroyed. Temples, schools, hospitals, and other buildings were shattered. Families were separated in an attempt by the Khmer Rouge to prevent family formation. Many were punished or killed for education, wealth or sophistication. Doctors, nurses, clergy, teachers, business owners, artisans, city dwellers and even those who wore glasses were singled out for execution since they were seen as bourgeois or contaminated with western influence. The Khmer Rouge maintained control by mass public torture, executions, and dismantling the social order. Men, women and children were sent to labor camps and forced to do strenuous farm work. They were starved, with little food and contaminated drinking water. Famine and disease became epidemic, while medicine and medical care were nonexistent. When the Khmer Rouge regime was overthrown in 1979, thousands of Cambodians fled on foot to refugee camps on the Thai border. While war continued to rage in their homeland, they waited for up to 12 years to be resettled in a third country such as the United States. From the refugee camps in Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia, approximately 145,000 Cambodians made their way to the United States between 1975 and 1999. The majority of Cambodians arrived in the early 1980s. With the assistance of the Federal Government, State, local and voluntary agencies, Cambodians were resettled in communities across the country. Mutual assistance associations organized by previously resettled southeast Asian refugees helped these newcomers by providing essential social, physiological, cultural, educational and economic services. I am grateful for the work that these organizations have done to help assimilate the many Cambodians that reside in my district and around this country. The United Cambodian Community, the Khmer Parent Association, the Family and Good Health Association, and the Cambodian Chamber of Congress all have played an important role in trying to help these refugees find their way and to help them overcome the horrendous experiences that they had in their homeland. The Cambodian culture and contributions have enriched the American landscape. According to U.S. census figures, there are 176,148 Cambodians currently living in the United States, including almost 100,000 in the City of Long Beach. I am proud that the largest Cambodian population in the United States resides in my district. Despite the tremendous loss of family members, homes, and even parts of their heritage, Cambodians have shown enormous resiliency. They continue in their struggle to fully assimilate themselves into the fabric of our society. Unfortunately, some Cambodian refugees still suffer severe emotional trauma from the cruelties experienced under the Khmer Rouge. An article in The New York Times this past Sunday noted the difficulty and the adjustment that Cambodian refugees have had to make from forced labor to a free society. We must continue to help Cambodian refugees share in the American Dream. Passage of this measure is a start in the pursuit of justice for the victims of the Cambodian genocide. Mr. Speaker, I urge swift passage of this resolution paying tribute to the victims of the Cambodian genocide; and I thank the chairman, the ranking member, and all who will partake in this resolution.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I want to bring to the attention of this Congress, legislation that I recently introduced. The Goods Movement Projects of National Economic Significance is legislation that addresses some of our nation's most pressing transportation and economic needs. this is the problem How freight moves through our communities is an important issue with far reaching implications. Goods movement is the driving force of our nation's economy. This is a state issue, a Federal issue and it is an issue that directly affects the communities in which we live. According to the Federal Highway Administration, $7.4 trillion in goods were moved on the nation's highway system in 1998, directly employing 10 million people. In 2000, $706 billion in international merchandise trade flowed through U.S. Seaports and $646 billion was handled by our Railroads. The volume of goods is projected to grow nationally by 67 percent over the next two decades. This tremendous growth in international trade will continue to place an increasingly heavy burden on our nation's seaports, trade corridors, highways and rail lines. Traffic congestion, delays, accidents, and freight transportation costs have increased as a result. On a human level--our citizens are spending more and more time stuck in traffic instead of at home with their families. this is the history Over the past 30 years our population has grown, our international trade has increased and our congestion has worsened. For example, in 1970, trade was 12 percent of U.S. gross domestic product (GDP). Today, it is over 25 percent. Since 1970 the population of the U.S. has grown by 40 percent. At the same time, the number of registered vehicles has increased by 100 percent while our road capacity has increased by only 6 percent. By the year 2020, shipment of containerized cargo moving in and out of the United States will increase by more than 350 percent. By the year 2020, total domestic tonnage of freight carried by all U.S. freight systems will increase by at least 67 percent and international trade will increase by nearly 100 percent. The transportation reauthorization bill is the perfect opportunity for us to address these pressing transportation infrastructure needs. TEA-21 began to address Goods Movement issues with the creation of the Borders and Corridors Program. But we need to take it further during this reauthorization bill. Back in 1998 when the Borders and Corridors program was created in TEA-21, the intent was to create a discretionary program that provided federal funding for transportation projects and initiatives that supported, enhanced and helped the movement of goods and economic development through the gateway and trade corridors in this country. The program provided $140 million a year. During the first 3 years the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) received over $2 billion in grant requests per year. After the third year, the entire Borders and Corridors program had been earmarked. Aside from the fact that the authorized amount of $140 million per year was far too low to meet our Nation's infrastructure needs, the earmarking of this program has proved problematic. It has prevented communities and regions from developing comprehensive programs and plans that addresses goods movement issues of our transportation infrastructure. We must have a dedicated source of funding to ensure that goods movement and projects of economic significance can be built and that these projects contribute to the overall efficiency of the national transportation infrastructure. As we continue the dialog of reauthorizing the transportation bill, the Goods Movement Projects of National Economic Significance needs to be a part of that conversation.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, let me first thank my chairman and ranking member, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney), and the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson) for their constant sensitivity on issues that are critical to many members and all Members of this House. I am so happy and honored to serve on the committee with both of these giants who share so much of their leadership and reflect their leadership in the work that they do. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) and the former Congressman J.C. Watts for their initiation of this well-deserved project and for their great leadership and sensitivity in bringing this to the House. Throughout United States history, African Americans have made significant contributions in terms of building up the cultural, business, academic, and civic institutions of this Nation. Without the input of African Americans into the moral, spiritual and political aspects of American life, this country would be a much different place. In that spirit, I am here to offer my wholehearted support as a cosponsor of H.R. 3491, calling for the creation of a museum devoted to celebrating the history of African Americans in this Nation. The intent of this museum will be to feature the many highlights of African American life in this country from the time of slavery through the era of Reconstruction, the Harlem Renaissance, the Civil Rights Movement, to present-day events. Our young people of all backgrounds, as well as those most recently arrived in the United States from other parts of the world, must be made aware of the rich traditions added by African Americans to all facets of American life. There are multitalented individuals of African American and other ancestries waiting for approval of this museum's construction to start so that they can begin to shape the content of the museum's offering for the public to enjoy. There has been much discussion regarding the potential location of the museum. I have the utmost faith that we as a Congress can pass this long-overdue legislation and agree upon a site that will most ably honor the legacy of African Americans while providing the best possible option in terms of a location. For 15 years, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) has continuously pushed for the construction of a museum recognizing the extraordinary history and achievements of African Americans. Let us reward his perseverance by passing this bill, H.R. 3491, so the business of building this museum can get underway. I also want to commend the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton), the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Kingston), the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Wicker), and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette), along with Senators Brownback and Dodd, as well as many others for the leadership and vision they have shown in working to make this African American museum a reality. It is time now, Mr. Speaker, that we move forward with the approval of this legislation and allow the African American museum to be witness in the honor of all African Americans past, present, and those generations yet unborn.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment that will join with the congresswoman from California, along with the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Hoekstra), and offering this amendment would direct the board of directors of Federal Prison Industries to increase its maximum rate of pay to inmates participating in its programs. Specifically, our amendment would require the FPI board to increase the maximum wage that an inmate participating in its programs could receive, half the current Federal minimum wage by September 30, 2004. Our amendment also requires that the FPI board would increase the maximum wage rate for inmates in the program to a full Federal minimum wage by September 30, 2009. Mr. Chairman, this amendment was offered for two very important reasons. First and foremost, individuals who are working in any type of environment deserve a fair and decent wage. Currently, inmates participating in the Federal Prison Industries program earn anywhere from 25 cents per hour to just over $1 per hour. So, Mr. Chairman, I believe it is unfair to ask any person, including those who are incarcerated, to work for wages that are abysmally low. Raising inmate wages, I believe, will give these individuals a desperately needed boost to their self-esteem and confidence as they seek to rehabilitate themselves while they finish their sentences and return to society as contributing members. Raising the hourly wages of these inmates has additional benefits. As an inmate earns more, increased deductions from their wages can be used to pay applicable State, local and Federal taxes, fines and restitution pursuant to court costs, and contribute to a fund in the inmate's name to help them assimilate back into society once the inmate is released. Secondly, the Committee on Small Business, Subcommittee on Tax, Finance and Exports and the Subcommittee on Workforce, Empowerment, and Government Programs held a joint hearing October 1, 2003, to hear firsthand how FPI maintains a competitive advantage in the Federal contracting market and how FPI and small businesses can compete on an even playing field. I do feel that these amendments joined together will be a win-win for those who we are trying to help in rehabilitation and to go back into society ready for work and for assimilating into that society. Mr. Chairman, I ask that all Members support the amendment.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I want to bring to the attention of this Congress, legislation that I recently introduced. The Goods Movement Projects of National Economic Significance is legislation that addresses some of our Nation's most pressing transportation and economic needs. This is the problem: How freight moves through our communities is an important issue with far reaching implications. Goods movement is the driving force of our Nation's economy. This is a State issue, a Federal issue and it is an issue that directly affects the communities in which we live. According to the Federal Highway Administration, $7.4 trillion in goods were moved on the Nation's highway system in 1998, directly employing 10 million people. In 2000, $706 billion in international merchandise trade flowed through U.S. seaports and $646 billion was handled by our railroads. The volume of goods is projected to grow nationally by 67 percent over the next two decades. This tremendous growth in international trade will continue to place an increasingly heavy burden on our Nation's seaports, trade corridors, highways and rail lines. Traffic congestion, delays, accidents, and freight transportation costs have increased as a result. On a human level--our citizens are spending more and more time stuck in traffic instead of at home with their families. This is the history: Over the past 30 years our population has grown, our international trade has increased and our congestion has worsened. For example, in 1970, trade was 12 percent of U.S. gross domestic product (GDP). Today, it is over 25 percent. Since 1970 the population of the U.S. has grown by 40 percent. At the same time, the number of registered vehicles has increased by 100 percent while our road capacity has increased by only 6 percent! By the year 2020, shipment of containerized cargo moving in and out of the U.S. will increase by more than 350 percent. By the year 2020, total domestic tonnage of freight carried by all U.S. freight systems will increase by at least 67 percent and international trade will increase by nearly 100 percent. The transportation reauthorization bill is the perfect opportunity for us to address these pressing transportation infrastructure needs. TEA-21 began to address Goods Movement issues with the creation of the Borders and Corridors Program. But we need to take this need further during this reauthorization bill. Funding for the Borders and Corridors program was far from adequate. This new legislation encourages communities and regions to develop comprehensive programs and plans that address the goods movement issues of our transportation infrastructure. This legislation recognizes that we must have a dedicated source of funding to ensure that goods movement and projects of economic significance can be built and that these projects contribute to the overall efficiency of the national transportation infrastructure. As we continue the dialog of reauthorizing the transportation bill, the Goods Movement Projects of National Economic Significance needs to be a part of that conversation. This is what we must do: Goods Movement Projects of National Economic Significance will do the following: It will provide $3 billion per year to a Goods Movement Program. This legislation separates the Borders and Corridors Program and creates one strong Corridor and Gateway Program. Corridor projects represented 95 percent of the project requests for the Borders and Corridors program. My legislation focuses our resources on projects and initiatives that promote the safe, secure and efficient mobility of goods and on the immediate and long-term needs of our transportation infrastructure. This legislation combines and enhances elements of two highly successful transportation programs. This program uses the criteria from the Corridors program and combines it with the fiscal responsibility of the full funding grant agreement of the transit New Starts Program. Specifically, this program provides $1.5 billion a year, $9 billion over the life of the reauthorization bill for local communities, States and the Federal Government to plan and build Goods Movement projects. These projects will ultimately enhance local, regional, and State economies, and of course, the national economy. Finally, $1.5 billion a year or $9 billion over the life of the reauthorization bill will be dedicated to funding projects of National Economic Significance. Throughout the country there are national bottlenecks that congest our communities and slow our national economy down. As we all know from experience, if there is a bottleneck on the highway, traffic several miles away can be affected. If the type of gridlock that I just described happens and goes unchecked, it will affect an entire region and the entire country and ultimately our economy and the livability of our communities. These are projects located throughout the country that are ``ready to go'' major investments in the national transportation infrastructure. By funding these projects we will be stimulating the national economy while investing in the long-term health of our national transportation infrastructure. This legislation, like the entire transportation reauthorization bill, is an economic stimulus package. For every billion dollars invested in public transportation infrastructure, 47,000 jobs are created. I ask my colleagues to strongly support this legislation as part of the transportation reauthorization bill. Join me and support The Goods Movement Projects of National Economic Significance.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. I would like to thank my colleague, the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Davis), and also the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays), for bringing forth this resolution that is just so timely. To my colleague and friend who just spoke, the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), our best regards to him because we know that his district was extremely devastated, including the loss of his home; and we are with him on whatever he needs us to be with him on. I rise today, Mr. Speaker, in support of H. Res. 425. As a Representative from Southern California and a resident of Los Angeles County, I want to thank those brave men and women who are firefighters and public servants who have worked so hard to put out those fires that have devastated Southern California. They are truly our heroes. We thank them so much. As I stand here today, our firefighters continue to make excellent progress towards containing four major fires involving over 271,000 acres of State, Federal, and private lands. Three of these fires involve national forest lands. Six other fires totaling an additional 473,778 acres have been contained. Three more fires are expected to be fully contained by the end of the week. The devastation of these wild fires in Southern California is unprecedented, Mr. Speaker. To date, the Forest Service wild fire cost is $45 million. The total cost of wild fires is $92 million, which represents all fires both contained and active. I look forward to working with Congress and with the administration, and we thank the President for being out there this week to look at the devastation and to continue to provide more emergency relief to California in the near future. We will work together to get our State, our region, and our citizens back on their feet.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Madam Chairman, I rise to express my strong support for the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act (H.R. 2443). Specifically, I want to thank the chairman and Ranking Member Filner for including my amendment in the manager's amendment. My amendment will provide the Department of Homeland Security the authority to issue port security grants, by amending the Maritime Transportation Security Act. This is a simple act, but I believe it will go a long way in clarifying the responsibility of issuing port security grants in a timely, predictable and efficient manner. In November 2002, when the Maritime Transportation Security Act passed this House, the Department of Homeland Security had not yet been created. Since the beginning of the 108th Congress we have worked to iron out the kinks that go with creating a new federal agency such as the Department of Homeland Security. This is, yet, another wrinkle that I hope has been ironed out. As a representative from Long Beach, the home of the largest port complex in the country and third largest port complex in the world, we in southern California, as well as other port cities around the country, want to know where the responsibility for issuing port security grants lies. By clarifying the authority of issuing port security grants it is my hope that we can begin to define the federal role in port security. Specifically, from this point on, we need to provide more funding for port security and we need to establish a dedicated stream of funding for port security. Finally, I believe, for the large port security projects, we need to provide the authority for multi-year grants so that our ports and local governments can adequately plan to build their new projects. In closing I want to reiterate my support for this bill and look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on the committee on these very important issues.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member of both the subcommittee and the full committee for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 2115, this FAA reauthorization bill conference report. To begin with, I am deeply concerned that the Democratic members were not included in this conference committee. Members from both sides of the aisle and in both Chambers of Congress have worked too hard on this aviation reauthorization bill to have had it stalled over disputes that can be rectified through consensus. Secondly, the language that was struck from section 230 will actually make it easier for the privatization of air traffic control positions. Ultimately, when we address the future of our national air traffic controllers, I firmly believe that we need to view it through the scope of safety and security. No amount of cost-saving can come close to substituting for the safety and security of our national aviation system and infrastructure. This is not an administrative shell game, Mr. Speaker, nor should we treat it as such. At risk is the American flying public. In 2002, 612 million people boarded U.S. carriers, serving both domestic and international flights. No event illustrates the importance and the grave necessity of ensuring that we have a skilled air traffic control network than the events of 9-11. On that horrific day, as Americans waited for the next tragic event to unfold, our Nation's air traffic controllers calmly landed almost 5,000 planes in 2 hours without any operational incidents or errors. This incredible feat was due to the skill and ultimate professionalism of our Nation's air traffic controllers. As a senior member representing California on the Subcommittee on Aviation, I have local concerns as well. Specifically, Southern California is no ordinary region. We are the most populous region in the country. The congestion on the highways of Southern California is legendary. Mr. Speaker, let us oppose this bill.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. I yield to the gentleman from California.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman so much. Mr. Chairman, I need not say anymore. I appreciate the other side accepting this. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman from Texas for yielding me this time, and I stand in accord with what the gentlewoman from Texas has said. It is critical, Mr. Chairman, that we recognize the importance or the violation of human rights in Iraq and the women's rights in Afghanistan. For years, I have worked with a lot of Members of the House in working on women's rights in Afghanistan and ensuring that they have more of a governance, more education, and the same as in Iraq. So I urge everyone to support the gentlewoman's amendment.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Today I am offering an amendment that directs $50 million from the Operation and Maintenance Defense-Wide account to the Family Advocacy program that is administered by the Defense Department. This amendment addresses the fundamental needs that will be facing our returning military personnel and their families when they return home from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Family Advocacy program provides support services to families that are transitioning from the frontline to the home front. This additional $50 million in funding will enable military families to get personal and marriage counseling which will work to reduce the incidence of domestic violence and suicide among our military personnel. As we are all aware, Mr. Chairman, domestic violence occurs within all groups and levels of society. However, the military presents families with particular challenges not normally found in civilian society.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor for me to speak in favor of H.R. 1821 to award Dr. Dorothy Height the Congressional Gold Medal. During the 107th session, I introduced H. Res. 55 declaring a day acknowledging all of Dr. Height's stellar achievements, and this legislation resulted in over one hundred mayors across this country submitting proclamations to Dr. Height. We cannot celebrate Dr. Height and her illustrious accomplishments enough. By awarding her the Congressional Gold Medal, we are noting a life well lived by a dynamic woman who at one time simultaneously held leadership positions with the YWCA, the National Council of Negro Women and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Dr. Height became known as the only woman among the ``big six'' group of civil rights leaders including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Roy Wilkins, Whitney Young and A. Phillip Randolph. Always a pioneer on behalf of women's and civil rights overall, Dr. Height became as well known abroad as she is here in the United States for her efforts to build coalitions among women internationally. We revere Dr. Height for advancing the National Council of Negro Women's agenda in terms of developing model programs in the areas of teen parenting, eradicating hunger, and career education. Dr. Height has always advocated for the expansion of access and opportunities for poor and marginalized people everywhere. In 1989, President Reagan recognized Dr. Height's contributions to society by awarding her the Citizens Medal award for distinguished service to the nation, and she has also earned more than 50 honors from local, state and national organizations. Her life is a living testimony to the quest for an equitable society for all.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Madam Speaker, tonight I am introducing a resolution to commemorate the life of the very talented Althea Gibson. Miss Althea Gibson represents an honorable and indelible mark on the history of America and the history of African Americans. On this day, we seek to commemorate the life and achievements of Althea Gibson, a pioneer who left an unforgettable mark on sports as she broke the color barrier in tennis in America in the 1950s and helped pave the way for future generations of black athletes. On Sunday, September 28, Miss Gibson died at the age of 76. Though the general public had largely forgotten her name in sports, Althea Gibson will always be a giant in sports history. The eldest of five children, Miss Gibson was raised in the Harlem section of New York City. She began studying tennis privately through the support of friends while furthering her education by attending Florida A&M University where she graduated in 1953. Althea Gibson was the first black player on the Ladies Professional Golfers Association tour. She was a self-described born athlete who broke racial barriers not only in tennis but also in the Ladies Professional Golf Association. In a capstone to her career, she toured with the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team after retiring from tennis. Miss Gibson won the American Tennis Association's Women's Singles Tournament 10 years in a row. However, tennis tournaments outside the ATA remained closed to her until 1950. In that year, white tennis player Alice Marble wrote an article in American Lawn Tennis magazine, noting that this excellent player was not able to participate in the better-known championships for no other reason that bigotry. So later that year, Althea Gibson entered the Forest Hills, New York, national grass court championship, the first African American player of either sex to be allowed to enter. In 1950, Gibson became the first black player to compete in the U.S. tennis championships, and she played at Wimbledon in 1951. She captured the Wimbledon and U.S. championships in 1957 and 1958, and also won the French Open, and three Wimbledon doubles titles from 1956 through 1958. Her presence helped pave the way for later stars, such as Arthur Ashe, Venus and Serena Williams, and, of course, Tiger Woods. On this day, let us all commemorate Miss Althea Gibson's fighting spirit and championship efforts. Miss Gibson came from the depths of racism and overcame much adversity. She proved as much as anyone that desire can beat the burdens of racism. In closing, I would like to end with a quote from Miss Gibson: ``In sports, you simply aren't considered a real champion until you have defended your title successfully. Winning it once can be a fluke; winning it twice proves you are the best.'' Today, we would like to commemorate Althea Gibson, truly one of the best.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in support of the Bob Hope Post Office Building Designation Act (H.R. 3011). First I would like to thank my colleagues Adam Schiff and Howard Berman for introducing this bill. On Sunday, July 27, 2003, the world lost one of its most beloved comic talents when Bob Hope died of pneumonia in Taluca Lake, CA. He was 100. Though he was born in England and he grew up in Cleveland, OH, Bob Hope will always be a Californian. He expressed the California spirit that has captivated not only this country, but also the rest of the world in the century in which he lived. Witty, self reliant, innovative and an entrepreneur wrapped together with impeccable timing, Bob Hope spoke to Americans on many levels. He made us laugh, he made us think and most importantly--he made us proud to be Americans. Bob Hope's accomplishments in entertainment are well documented. We will miss Bob Hope the entertainer, but during times like these, when every morning we are abruptly reminded of the conflict in Iraq and the sacrifices of American men and women in the Middle East, we desperately miss Bob Hope the American ambassador of good will, humanity and humor. His contribution to our military will be irreplaceable. It was his gestures that have made the greatest impact to our troops, to our Nation and to all our citizens that applauded him as he entertained our troops overseas. His decades of support to our troops, his presence oversees, made us all feel better back home. We couldn't be there, but Bob Hope was. He knew the sacrifices our men and women made and he let our brave men and women know that we supported them back home. Bob Hope is already missed.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the temporary extension of TEA-21 if it ultimately produces a robust and substantive six-year reauthorization bill. However, there are some concerns regarding the 5-month extension of TEA-21. The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has traditionally worked in a bipartisan manner. We are the largest Committee in Congress working through several jurisdictions and grappling with, along with transportation, many pertinent issues such as air quality, economic development, health, goods movement and the job creation and economic stimulus just to name a few. The Transportation reauthorization bill is far reaching and traditionally acts as an immediate economic stimulus to our nation's economy. As a Committee we are committed to producing transportation reauthorization bill that meets the immediate and long-term needs of the American people. As a former Speaker of the House once said ``All politics are local.'' Nothing could be closer to the truth. I would only add that in the case of transportation ``all politics are local and so are their transportation funding decisions.'' Since the passage of ISTEA, the question of how to meet the Nation's transportation infrastructure needs has been addressed increasingly at the regional and local levels of government. Local officials have risen to the challenge of maintaining, improving, and expanding the surface transportation system, and their efforts through joint powers of authority have contributed to the highly successful programming of surface transportation projects in TEA-21. Both ISTEA and TEA-21 fostered that successful programming by delegating greater responsibility to Metropolitan Planning Organizations, a policy further expanded upon by the California State Legislature to ensure a programming partnership between State and local government. Accordingly, Southern California recognizes the importance of continuing and further expanding suballocation provisions into any extension of the federal-aid highway program. My concerns are that this extension does not incorporate the suballocation process to adequately address regional transportation priorities. Instead, States are granted flexibility in obligating federal-aid highway funds, potentially jeopardizing local efforts to resolve transportation and air quality challenges. This provision of State flexibility may produce unintended consequences. Any significant changes in the flow of Federal funds could be detrimental to the region's ability to implement Transportation Control Measure (TCM) projects to alleviate traffic congestion and reduce emissions. To date, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) region has made great strides in implementing TCM strategies. Without sufficient transportation control measures, Southern California's air quality conformity status could be jeopardized. A conformity lapse could result in the loss of approximately $8 billion in near-term programming capacity. What is needed in this extension and in the reauthorization of TEA-21 is the further delegation of programming authority to regions to work directly with their communities in making investment choices that are critical to ensuring safe and efficient transportation systems throughout the Nation. The extension bill does require that States reimburse localities once TEA-21 is reauthorized. My further concern is how long can we ask our local and regional transportation entities to do without funding? We are here today voting on a 5 month extension bill; 5 months from now I do not want to stand here speaking on another extension bill. We cannot afford to keep putting off our responsibilities to provide adequate and timely transportation funding to the American people and to our constituents. Finally, I want to reiterate that I support this 5-month extension of TEA-21 if it keeps our national, regional and local transportation needs at the forefront of our Congressional priorities. All politics are local and so are their transportation funding decisions. We must be prepared to act swiftly and decisively on the reauthorization of TEA-21 when Congress returns to work in January.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Water Resources Development Act of 2003. This legislation is a long time coming. The Water Resources Development Act of 2003 authorizes $4 billion dollars worth of new water projects throughout the United States. Our environmental infrastructure is a vital backdrop to our communities. Congress must continue to work to provide the guidance and resources to the communities across the country that are working to preserve and enhance their environmental infrastructure. The Water Resources Development Act of 2003 will provide our communities and our Nation with an updated blueprint of the major environmental infrastructure projects that must be undertaken. Members of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, of which I am proud to serve on, and specifically the Water Resources and Environment subcommittee have worked diligently for the past 2 years to produce a bill that works toward addressing our Nation's mounting environmental infrastructure needs. I would like to applaud the work of Ranking Member Costello of the Water Resources and Environment subcommittee for his support and commitment to seeing this legislation through. This legislation is a product of bipartisanship in its purest form. As all of us are aware, our communities and our Nation must work together to ensure a healthy, productive and efficient environmental infrastructure. In southern California, where water is quickly becoming a precious commodity, our region is anxious to begin to repair our water infrastructure. In addition, the Water Resources Development Act of 2003 includes provisions that will enhance dredging and local Federal matches for these projects. Specifically, this bill will provide the Port of Los Angeles the ability to apply in-kind credits to the local match, thereby stretching the impact of precious local funds. This language modifies the project for navigation, Los Angeles Harbor, to direct the Secretary to provide credit for the cost of planning and design work performed by the non-Federal interest. Finally, this bill is a good first step in providing for our environmental infrastructure and reaffirming our commitment to the American people that the environmental infrastructure in which they live is healthy.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about an important issue for many working families in this country--access to affordable childcare. As all parents know, quality childcare is very hard to find, and it is also very expensive. It is especially expensive for families with low and moderate incomes. According to the Children's Defense Fund, childcare for a four-year-old child averages between $4,000 and $6,000 per year in cities and states around the nation. With so many families comprised of two parents who are working, the need for childcare has increased dramatically over the last few years, and we as a nation need to ensure that the children of these hardworking Americans have a safe, reliable, and moderately priced place to learn and grow. Mr. Speaker, it is for these reasons that I am pleased to introduce today, with over twenty-five of my colleagues, the ``Child Care Lending Pilot Act of 2003.'' This legislation will create a three-year pilot program that allows small, non-profit childcare businesses to access financing through the Small Business Administration's Certified Development Company (CDC)/504 loan program. As a Ranking Member of the House Committee on Small Business, I believe the SBA's 504 loan program is the perfect vehicle to expand the availability of affordable, quality childcare in this country. Currently, only for-profit childcare businesses are eligible for 504 loans, yet in many states, the majority of childcare is delivered through nonprofit providers. In addition, non-profits are often the only daycare providers in low-income communities. Mr. Speaker, The Child Care Lending Pilot Act will provide licensed nonprofit childcare providers access to desperately needed funding to start new centers with loan dollars that may not ordinarily be available without the incentive of a guarantee from the SBA. The 504 program is an appropriate vehicle for this initiative because it was created to spur economic development and rebuild communities. Financing through the 504 program will encourage the establishment and viability of childcare businesses because the program requires the borrower to only put down between 10-20 percent of the loan, with fixed interest rates for up to 20 years. Furthermore, the borrowers and lenders who participate in the 504 program cover the costs through program fees, which means there is no appropriation required to cover these loans. Mr. Speaker, our children, all of our, children, deserve the same quality of care no matter where they live, and I know that this legislation is a strong step in leveling the playing field for parents in low-income communities who simply wish the best for their children. I hope that my colleagues would support this effort, and ensure that affordable childcare is available to all families.