Juanita Millender-McDonald

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment offered by Representatives Lowey, McCarthy, DeLauro and Stabenow. This amendment would increase by $150 million the bill's appropriation for the Community Oriented Policing Service (COPS) program. The COPS program adds officers to the beat, enhances crime- fighting technology, and supports crime prevention initiatives. The COPS program is a Clinton/Gore initiative that has been successful in adding cops to the beat and advancing community policing nationwide. To date, the COPS program has funded more than 104,000 officers. Community policing is a crime fighting strategy that encourages law enforcement to work in partnership with the community to solve crime problems. Mr. Chairman, this is a proven crime fighting initiative that has worked in my district and throughout the nation. COPS is making a difference in our schools. Many communities are discovering that trained, sworn law enforcement officers assigned to schools make a difference. The presence of these officers provides schools with on-site security and a direct link to local enforcement agencies. Community policing officers typically perform a variety of functions within the school. From teaching crime prevention and substance-abuse classes to monitoring troubled students to building respect for law enforcement among students, School Resource Officers combine the functions of law enforcement and education. These funds will allow the COPS program to award grants to add up to 7,000 officers to our nation's streets and to provide added safety in our schools. These funds will be used to equip law enforcement with 21st century tools to fight 21st century crime. Grants will be used to invest in interagency information networks, technology centers, ballistics testing, DNA research and backlog reduction, crime lab enhancement, and crime mapping and analysis. Mr. Chairman, my district is comprised of cities like Watts and Compton which struggle to meet the demands of crime fighting. While the rest of the nation is experiencing unprecedented drops in crime, our nation's urban centers are being left behind. I want to urge my colleagues to support this amendment which provides additional funding for a program that has truly taken a bite out of crime.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 533. Earlier last year, we passed H.R. 2614 with overwhelming bipartisan support. The 504 Certified Development Company is considered one of the premier business loan programs administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA). Over the past 20 years, the 504 program has clearly been one of the greatest success stories in business development efforts made by the Small Business Administration. It is considered one of the ``best values for the taxpayers.'' In that time, we have seen it mature into one of SBA's bedrock programs, by providing over $20 billion dollars in assistance to more than 25,000 businesses. Since 1980, the 290 CDC's nationwide have provided more than $20 billion in fixed asset financing to over 25,000 business concerns. H.R. 2614 left the House as a good bill, however, the Senate included several unrelated, and in some way harmful provisions that will delay the passage of this legislation. The Senate language would have allowed Congress to regulate the agency and decide who receives licenses under the 504 program. This is the ultimate in micro-managing. Furthermore, the language reprogrammed critically needed money into the 7(a) program. This constitutes appropriating on an authorizing bill that will cause serious delays. I believe that the most damaging provision put forth by the Senate is the expansion of the HUBZone program to allow businesses that no longer reside in low-income areas to continue to enjoy the benefits of the program. This is a clear contrast and violation to the original intent of the program. Colleagues, we cannot let these bad provisions spoil the good that is in H.R. 2614. The bill extends current fee system for the program until October 1, 2003. As a member of the Committee, I know that the 504 program is completely fee generated and is not currently supported by any federal funds. The ``Premier Certified Lenders Program'' was granted permanent status. PCLP is designed to allow established lenders to expedite the loan application process. This streamlines the process and provides immediate access to funds. I was proud to see that during Committee we raised the amount of loan guarantee available from $750,000 to $1,000,000. One of the vital improvements was the addition of women to the list of public policy goals for the 504 program. By doing so, the 504 program increased the amount of government loan guarantee available to women-owned businesses. As we all know, women-owned business are the growth agents of the future. Presently they contribute more than $2.38 trillion dollars annually in revenues to the economy. This is more than the gross domestic product of most countries. In the United States, women-owned businesses employ one out of every five U.S. workers--a total of 18.5 million employees. I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 533 and continue to ensure that the 504 Certified Development Company is prepared to continue helping new small businesses, grow existing ones, and provide opportunities so that none are not left out of the changing marketplace.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the amendment being offered by Representatives Slaughter, Horn, and Johnson. I commend them on their continued commitment to arts funding and I urge my colleagues to vote to increase funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. After suffering major budgetary cuts in 1995, these three vital organizations have been forced to endure level funding for the last 5 years. It is time, in this period of budget surpluses, to devote more resources to arts and culture. Art education plays an important role in the development of our youth. Brain research is showing that the stimuli provided by the arts--pictures, song, movement, play acting, are essential for the young child to develop to their fullest potential. These activities are the ``languages'' of the child, the multiple ways in which he or she understands and interprets the world. Active use of these forms also paves the way for the child to use verbal language, to read and to write--critical skills our children need to become productive members of society. Arts education improves life skills including self-esteem, teamwork, motivation, discipline and problem-solving that help young people compete in a challenging and high-tech workforce. According to the College Board, students who study the arts for four years score an average of 89 points higher than non-arts students on the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT). Research conducted between 1987 and 1998 reveals that when young people work in the arts for at least three hours three days each week throughout the year, they show heightened academic standing, a strong capacity for self-assessment, and a secure sense of their own ability to plan and work for a positive future for themselves and their communities. The results of art education do not just build self confidence but deter crime as well. The U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention found in its YouthARTS study that arts programs designed to deter delinquent behavior of at- risk youth dramatically improved troubled youths' academic performance, reduced school truancy, and increased their skills of communication, conflict resolution, completion of challenging tasks, and teamwork. The effects that an education enriched with art instruction can have on our youths is invaluable. Whether assisting in the development of our children or acting as preventative measures, increased funding for the NEA, and NEH, and the IMLS is in the best interest of our children and their future. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the amendment.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, I rise today as a proud cosponsor of the McGovern, Johnson, Udall, Bono, Sanders, Morella, Millender-McDonald, and Napolitano amendment. Now, that is a mouthful, but it is full of a lot of promise. This amendment will help the 9.1 million women-owned businesses in the United States which are currently generating over $3.6 trillion in sales and employing 27.5 million workers throughout this country, most of whom are a lot of the welfare-to-work mothers. This amendment will increase funding for the Women's Business Center program from $8.9 million to levels of $13 million this Congress authorized last year. This amendment will also increase funding for the National Women's Business Council from $595,000 to $1 million. As the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Empowerment and author of a similar amendment in 1998, I urge my colleagues to join me again in ensuring that women business owners are given the opportunity they need to develop their businesses and continue to nurture the growth of our national economy. The Women's Business Centers, or WBCs, provide education, training, consulting and access to capital to women entrepreneurs. There are 50 States that have WBCs with tens of thousands of entrepreneurs working each year. A large percentage of these WBC clients are women from low- income disadvantaged backgrounds who would be unable to start their own businesses without the training provided through these centers. The reason the Committee on Small Business authorized the $13 million appropriation for this program is to ensure that, once the Centers are established, their success is not thwarted by a sudden loss in Federal funding. This appropriation is critical to ensuring that the Centers are given a more realistic time frame to establish their own private funding stream before the Federal funding source is completely eliminated. The National Women's Business Council is a Federal Government advisory panel created to serve as an independent source of advice and counsel to the President and Congress on an economic issue of importance to women businesses and business owners. Since its inception in 1988, the NWBC has implemented countless programs to promote an environment which women-owned businesses can become an integral part of our national economy. The NWBC has worked tirelessly and effectively on increasing access to capital and credit, proving and improving opportunities for women in the Federal procurement market, strengthening the training and technical assistance networks, and facilitating alliances between policy makers and women business owners. The increased funding for the council is virtually needed to complete research projects, help reach the national procurement rate of 5 percent for women-owned businesses, and continue the very successful venture capital training program. America's small business owners are the backbone of our economy and an indispensable part of this Nation's vigorous and continuous growth over the past several years. I have appreciated the support of the gentleman from Kentucky (Chairman Rogers) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano), ranking member, in the past for their efforts to help women business owners, their leadership has made the difference. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this amendment.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Serrano-Ramstad-Delahunt amendment. As the vice-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues, I must urge the passage of this amendment, and I am pleased to stand here with the support of others to support this amendment. It is because of the abuse that goes on daily in the lives of far too many women and children is why I stand here today; and the need for legal services for these, the most vulnerable of our Nation, is immense. This amendment ensures the proper representation is provided for women who are facing domestic violence. As we recognize that sexual violence against women is the single most unreported crime; therefore, understanding and competent representation is critical for those brave women who step forward. In 1999, Mr. Chairman, LSC resolved more than 924,000 cases, the vast majority of which have helped women and children. LSC is making a difference in the lives of tens of thousands of women and children across this country, and we must continue this success. We recognize that the most vulnerable of those first are the women. While domestic violence occurs in all income levels, low-income women are significantly more likely to experience violence than any other women, according to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics. Medical research asserts that 61 percent of women who head poor families experience severe physical violence as adults at the hands of male partners. Mr. Chairman, I represent Watts and Compton and Wilmington, some of the most impoverished areas in this country; and I have seen how domestic violence has absolutely just ripped apart women and children. I know that we have won this amendment, but I just wanted to stand to recognize those women who have stepped forward who are really strong and brave women. help victims of domestic violence Mr. Chairman, low-income women are significantly more likely to experience violence than other women, according to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics. Medical researchers assert that 61 percent of women who head poor families have experienced severe physical violence as adults at the hands of male partners. The problems faced by low-income battered women can be particularly acute and complex. Often they are financially dependent on their batterer and require an immediate source of support and shelter in order to escape from a dangerous situation. In many communities, emergency shelters are simply not available; where they are, they are frequently forced to turn victims away due to overcrowding as too often battered women and their children are forced to return to the home that they share with the batterer because they have nowhere else to go. help children living in poverty Every year, LSC-funded programs help millions of children living in poverty, helping them to avoid homelessness, to obtain child support, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and other benefits, and to find safe haven against violence in the home. The number of children living in poverty is increasing. The legal problems faced by people living in poverty can have particularly serious, long-term consequences for children. For example, a family with children that goes unrepresented in an eviction proceeding can easily find itself homeless, due to the chronic shortage of low-income housing. We can do better, better as a rich country to protect and take care of our children. senior citizens Many elderly people depend on government benefits, such as Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Veterans Benefits, Food Stamps, Medicare and Medicaid, for income and health care. One of the challenges of the entitlement system is that an attorney is often needed to navigate the system. Legal services programs frequently represent clients in establishing their eligibility for these programs or dealing with reimbursement or benefit problems. Older people are frequently victims of consumer fraud, particularly if they lack financial sophistication or have lowered mental capacity because of age-related illness. They are often victimized by contractors who promise to make repairs but perform incompletely, charging exorbitant prices. Faced with the need to make expensive repairs on their homes, pay medical bills, or supplement their income after the death of a spouse, they may be enticed into home equity loans they cannot afford. In many cases, only the intervention of a legal services attorney has prevented victims from becoming homeless. Amendment Offered by Ms. DeGette

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, one of the most important, private decisions that a woman has to make in her life, a gift given to her only by God and that only women can participate in, is the right to bear a child. I rise in support of the DeGette amendment. Regardless of what our personal views are on that very personal decision that women have to make, abortion is lawful in our country. Women who find themselves incarcerated in the Federal system ought to be allowed to have a procedure that is lawful and, at the same time, use funding that is available through our tax dollars that would allow that lawful procedure to take place. It is unfortunate that people in this Chamber want to restrict women in several ways and, as we have discussed with the DeGette amendment tonight, a woman's right to choose. Now, whether we personally believe that is a right that is given every woman by God, it is that woman's decision. To restrict it, to withhold funding for a lawful procedure that a woman wants to make with her God and her man or husband or significant other, I think, is appalling. The DeGette amendment is a good one. The procedure is a legal one. Who gives us the right to determine that we should take the money away from a woman after she has made that most very special important decision? It is not right. I hope we will adopt the DeGette amendment. I hope we will give women who find themselves incarcerated and who will soon be coming back into society, hopefully whole and free and healthy, to make the decision that they see fit for themselves in their lifetime at that time. Mr. Chairman, I rise to support the DeGette amendment. I thank the gentlewoman for offering the amendment. It is important that we allow women to make this decision. Again, God has chosen her to bear children. Only women can do that. Allow us to make that decision for ourselves.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, tonight I rise to congratulate the Los Angeles Lakers for a job well done last night. As we can see on the sports page of the L.A. Times, it says ``Great Lakers.'' I agree. I am one of the Members who represent Los Angeles, and we were all proud when they brought home the victory last night. Mr. Speaker, before this playoff season started, my dear friend, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton), got on the floor and said that the Indiana Pacers would win, that the L.A. Lakers would not get the championship. I only want to say to him that I told him that night that I would give him a tissue, but instead I am going to give him this ball. Hopefully, the Pacers will bounce back next year. That is, if they are not playing the Lakers. Go Lakers.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, on rollcall No. 293, I was unavoidably detained and was unable to make this vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.'' Stated against:

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, today I rise for women across the country as Co-Vice Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues and for the women of California and Los Angeles, in particular, to praise the work of Chairman Lewis and Ranking Member Murtha for ensuring critical funding is provided for the Department of Defense Peer-Reviewed Breast Cancer Research Program. California, as one of the most populous states has a corresponding high degree of breast cancer deaths and in 1990, over 25 percent of these deaths occurred in the Los Angeles area alone. Nationally, an estimated 2.6 million women--one in eight women--are currently living with breast cancer. As the leading cause of cancer deaths among women aged 40-59, it is second only to lung cancer in the number of cancer deaths. It is estimated that 40,800 women will die of breast cancer this year. African American women currently have the shortest life expectancy. The need for research to reduce the number of deaths among all women and stop this disparity in life expectancy between Caucasian women and women of color is unequivocal. The most significant risk factors for breast cancer are simply being female and growing older. The majority of women with breast cancer have no known significant family history or other known risk factors. In fact, only 5-10% of breast cancers are due to heredity. Therefore, research that is conducted by the Defense Department as well as by the National Institutes of Health is imperative for all women. Thanks to the bipartisan leadership and dedication of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, the breast cancer research program continues to grow and provide innovative ways of fighting this disease. On behalf of the women of California and women across the country, I thank Chairman Lewis and Ranking Member Murtha for their commitment to this issue.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 8 and in strong support for the Democratic substitute. Once again, the Republicans have shown us their recklessness by spending the budget surplus on an irresponsible tax cut for their special interest allies with no investment in Social Security and Medicare. Furthermore, just yesterday we were here discussing the massive cuts to our Education, Health and Labor Departments. How can we today stand here in good conscience and debate spending $105 billion on tax cuts when yesterday we could not even guarantee that all of our children will have a quality education in this, the richest country in the world. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support providing relief to smaller estates, family-owned small businesses and farms; but I believe that we can do this in a more fiscally responsible way with targeted relief. The Republican bill does not represent targeted relief; it represents preferential treatment. It seeks to benefit only 2 percent of Americans, and yet, with H.R. 8, it is evident that the Republicans feel that only 2 percent of Americans should be represented. Well, I am here representing the other 98 percent, and I say no to H.R. 8.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to give a tissue to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton) after the last game of the Pacers and Lakers, when that happens. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight because I think we were all excited last week as we went to our districts for our District Work Period for a week. And I was excited because first, I received the President and CEO of Amtrak coming in to Los Angeles to show the high-speed rail that we are trying to get to move people and goods throughout the State of California and all across the Nation. All of California was quite excited about that. I also had the privilege of opening up a one-stop capital shop for small businesses to grow, to expand, and to have job creation through the Small Business Administration. The small business administrator, Ms. Aida Alvarez, came to open up this shop. I had the mayor of Los Angeles, Richard Riordan. I even received an award, Mr. Speaker, on my legislation from pediatric asthma from the Asthma Foundation. I went to Sacramento to talk to the Governor and its people about funding for higher education. So I thought it was a good week until the moment came where I got the call that one of our young women again had fallen to gun violence. This young woman, Lori Gonzalez, was the granddaughter of our chief of police Bernard Parks. I guess I stand tonight once again to remind this Congress how important it is to pass meaningful gun safety reform. Because of the recent death of Lori Gonzalez, 20 years old, had not reached her adult life, and of the many who have fallen to gun violence, I urge this Congress to swiftly move to protect our Nation's children and its communities by approving common sense gun safety provisions. Just a few weeks ago, I joined with other mothers in my community in Los Angeles and the thousands and thousands of mothers across this Nation who marched in Washington and 71 other cities to call on this Congress to finally enact common sense gun legislation. On Mother's Day, we paused to remember the thousands of children who have been killed by gunfire and to pray that our message would finally move Congress to address this very critical issue before another day passes and another one of our Nation's children would be lost to gunfire. In the weeks since Mother's Day, Congress has continued to sit idle, refusing to answer the prayers of, not just the Nation's mothers, but of the majority of Americans who favor the passage of common sense gun legislation. Today and every day gun violence continues to plague our communities and has taken the lives of innocent victims like Lori Gonzalez. With the ineptitude and stagnation that has infiltrated the halls of Congress, I would unfortunately be fooling myself if I thought the death of one individual, Lori Gonzalez, could once again get this Congress to take up meaningful gun legislation. This is the Congress that has done nothing in the wake of the horrible shootings in Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. This is the same Congress that has ignored every shooting in the past years simply accepting shootings as a part of daily life in America. Lori Gonzalez, as I said, the daughter of Los Angeles Chief Bernard Parks was gunned down over the Memorial weekend outside of the fast food restaurant in Los Angeles. This could be any child because our kids do like to go to fast food restaurants, Mr. Speaker, even my grandchildren and even my adult children. Ms. Gonzalez was a Saddleback College English student, was killed one week shy of her 21st birthday. Her friends and family have spoken about Ms. Gonzalez's high spirit and boundless energy. They spoke of a young woman who, with huge ambitions, urged smaller kids to reach for the stars and have hope in her small acts of kindness like soothing the ache of a burn victim, helping to stucco houses in Mexico and of her passion for helping the children in her community. I say to my colleagues I call on this Congress to pass the gun safety lock bill that I introduced in the 105th Congress and the 106th Congress. We can ill-afford to have another gun violence victim in this Nation.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 185, I was detained by constituents and was unable to get to the floor in time. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. LaFalce), the ranking member, for his leadership on this issue, and really thank my dear friend and colleague, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), for her tenacity and her leadership in pushing until this bill came to this floor. It is so incredibly important that we support this piece of legislation. We have recognized by the statistics that have been presented to us all today how devastating it is in areas of Africa; in fact, all over Africa. It is really seen as a pandemic, and I urge my colleagues, everyone in this House, to support this. As the cochair of the International HIV/AIDS, I have also seen this devastation now rising in places of India, Central America, Eastern Europe and other places, and we recognize that this disease is seamless. It has no borders. It has no respect for age, ethnicity or anything else. So I urge all my colleagues to look at this bill, vote the bill out, and make sure that we are addressing the most egregious disease that has ever hit the face of this country and the world. In a bill that I had, Mr. Speaker, I had certain components as prevention, education, and making sure that research as to vaccine was a part of this bill. I am happy that that was inserted into the bill and I urge support. Mr. Speaker, we cannot speak enough on a bill of this magnitude, on an issue of this magnitude. I am happy that the administration is supporting it, and I urge all my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, AIDS is potentially the greatest health catastrophe to humankind. It knows no borders and strikes individuals regardless of age, race, gender, national origin, or social class. More than 16,000,000 men, women and children have died of AIDS. More than 33,600,000 people are living with HIV, and nearly all of them will die of AIDS-related complications within the next two decades. UN-AIDS estimated that there were 5,600,000 newly-infected people with HIV in 1999, including an estimated 2,300,000 women and approximately 570,000 children. Ninety-five percent of people worldwide living with HIV live in the world's poorest countries. With poor health systems, weak economies, poverty, and limited access to resources, the epidemic will grow even more over the next quarter century without immediate intervention. There also are potential security implications in poor countries where the increase in HIV-infected military personnel is gradually weakening the capacity of militaries to defend their nations, maintain civil order, and deploy peacekeepers. Child soldiers and girl `wives', some also HIV-infected, are a byproduct of a dwindling pool of adult recruits. Sustained education, prevention, and treatment programs for military personnel. Alongside H.R. 3519, I authored this session H.R. 4140, ``The International HIV/AIDS Partnership Prevention Act of 2000'' that addresses the global HIV/AIDS challenge in all world regions. From Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, Eastern and Central Europe and Russia, we must pull together world resources including our own to combat this disease. Let me close by underscoring the human rights elements to this crisis. In our expedience to overtake this disease and bring education, prevention, and treatment to those infected with HIV/AIDS, we must not overlook their basic human rights. I hope when this bill comes to Conference Committee that we will assure women, children and men around the world that we care for their human rights as well as their physical well being. I am reminded of the early days of the epidemic here in America when we had to grapple with broad social policy issues like privacy and discrimination. I hope, Mr. Speaker, that when this House passes HIV/AIDS legislation, we will require that any government or organization can receive funds only if the government or organization, as the case may be, certifies that its laws, policies, and practices, as appropriate, do not punish or deny services to victims based on age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, and political status. If we add this clause to our legislation, we not only will bring physical care and treatment to persons with HIV/AIDS but will also guarantee respect for their human and civil rights. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that this bill reflects so many of the issues I raised in H.R. 4140. I hope that this Congress will pass a global HIV/AIDS bill and we will move one step forward toward conquering this disease.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) for her leadership and her passion on this issue. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support today's special order and to thank again the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia for bringing attention to this serious problem in our Nation. It is a serious issue that is really plaguing the families and the children of our mothers. As a mother and a grandmother, I am moved by the efforts and commitment of mothers across this Nation to draw attention to the thousands of children who have been killed by gunfire. As a legislator, however, I am disturbed that we here in Congress have not heard the pleas for common sense gun legislation. Throughout this session, we have struggled to keep the focus of Congress on gun safety, one of the most vital issues facing our country today. This Congress has sat idle for some 9 months, refusing to pass common sense legislation or to hold a simple meeting while an alarming number of America's children are gunned down every day. Mr. Speaker, the question we must ask ourselves is why so many of our American children must die, for God sake, before this Congress takes action to end the epidemic of violence that plagues our communities and especially our families, but, most importantly, our children. In the United States today, a child dies from gunfire every 100 minutes, 12 times the rate of the next 25 industrialized nations combined. That means, Mr. Speaker, that 12 children die from gunfire each day, a classroom full every 2 days. Not one of our congressional districts is immune from gunfire which has taken the lives of children. In my district, Joe and Gerald Hawkins are but two of the victims in this cycle. The names of America's children continue to toll. George Camacho, Armondo Garcia, Yuridia Balbuena, Olivia Munguia, Jessica Yvette Zavala have all been killed by gunfire in California. What do we tell mothers when we in Congress cannot even meet to discuss common sense gun legislation that would have saved the lives of these children and save the lives of many more? Mr. Speaker, I represent the 37th Congressional District of California, which includes the areas of Watts, Compton and Wilmington, some of the most impoverished areas in the Nation. These areas, like many in the inner city, have been riddled with gun violence. We cannot allow another child from our communities to die while this Congress refuses to move forward with common sense gun legislation. It is quite simple. While Congress sits on the sideline, more of our Nation's children are dying each day from gun violence. Our Nation's mothers have spoken and will speak again on Sunday. The message is clear. Gun safety is about saving lives. Regrettably, the mothers of this Nation are marching on Washington and in cities across this country not to celebrate sensible gun legislation but to protest an ineptitude which has infiltrated the halls of Congress. A delegation of mothers from my district will participate in one of the two marches in the Los Angeles community. I hope and pray that our message will finally move Congress to address this issue before another day passes and more of our children are lost to gunfire. It is unfortunate that we have let special interests and political differences interfere with a common sense approach to protecting the lives of America's greatest asset, our children. I have introduced a bill both in the 105th Congress and the 106th Congress that would prohibit any person from transferring or selling a firearm in the United States unless it is sold with a child safety lock. Common sense gun safety measures that prevent felons, fugitives and stalkers from obtaining firearms and children from having access to guns are the types of items that we want enacted into law in this Congress. My dear colleagues, wherever you are, we have been entrusted by the people of this Nation to be leaders and visionaries. We have a moral obligation to the people of our Nation to enact legislation before more of our children are sacrificed. Again, I thank the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia, and I urge my colleagues to stand up for children and support the Million Mom March this Sunday. Happy Mother's Day to all mothers and to those mothers who will be marching on behalf of our children.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman so much for his leadership and the expertise that he brings to the table on education.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, one can see the leadership that the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind) shows, and he shares with us in showing how great teachers and quality teachers can bring about a quality Member of Congress. I suppose I started also in talking about the person who was instrumental in my life, my father, because my mother died when I was 3\1/2\, and I was brought up by my father. This is why I carry the full name of Juanita Millender-McDonald. But he was so absolutely so strong on quality education. This is why, Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4141 is potentially detrimental to both the Safe and Drug Free School Act and the 21st century community learning centers. Further, the national program on hate crime prevention sponsored by the Safe and Drug Free School Act could lose much-needed funds if this particular provision, that transferability clause, passes in this ESEA reauthorization. We can no longer, Mr. Speaker, tolerate violence, especially gun violence that affect the lives of our students. We have seen that with Columbine and the others. So I plan to offer an amendment which repeals the transferability clause in Title I of H.R. 4141 when it comes to the floor. I believe that it is extremely harmful for the local education agencies to be able to transfer funds between educational programs thereby weakening the original mandate of those funds. Again, Title I is for our poorest of children, the poorest of schools. I have those schools in my district of Watts and Wilmington and other places. I say to all of us in this House, let us not forget the disadvantaged student, the one who critically needs quality education.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I start today by talking about the person whose name I carry and the reason I have such a long name on the board. That name is Millender, Juanita Millender-McDonald. It is because of my father, Reverend Shelly Millender, who taught us that education is important, that we must have a quality education in order to challenge the world that would be before us. And so, Mr. Speaker, tonight I rise with several of my colleagues to discuss the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act known to us as ESEA. This act is an act that is of immense importance to our children and the future of our Nation. The education of our Nation's children is an issue of paramount concern. As Members of the House of Representatives, it is imperative that we remain focused on our national priorities of raising standards and providing special assistance to children in need to ensure that all students are prepared to face the challenges of the 21st century. Globalization has brought us into a more competitive world where the challenges of technology will dominate the economic relations among world nations. If all of our children are not prepared to face these challenges, our great country will not continue to lead the world in the vital areas of economy and technology, and also in the critical areas of democracy and political participation. We must, Mr. Speaker, guarantee quality school facilities, quality teachers, smaller classroom sizes and gender equity in technology so that all of our children, both boys and girls, are able to face these new challenges. I stand with some of my Members who are on the floor today as we recognize America's teachers. As a former teacher, I know the importance of teachers and their leadership to the classroom, but more importantly their leadership for the future, for our future, America's future because they are guiding our children who will be the leaders of tomorrow. Some of them will be the Members of Congress. Therefore, we must instill in them not only the moral standards, character building, but also quality education, quality education that comes from good teachers. I stand today in that salute and recognize the importance of teachers in this whole process. In the 106th Congress, the authorization of Federal aid to many education programs covered under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act known as ESEA is expiring. These bills have passed through the House in a piecemeal approach to reauthorizing major ESEA programs. It is expected that the final piece of the ESEA puzzle, H.R. 4141, will be coming to the floor soon. H.R. 4141, the Education Opportunity to Protect and Invest in Our Nation's Students Act, also known as the OPTIONS Act, amends ESEA programs regarding education technology which is part of title III, the safe and drug-free schools and communities that is couched within this title III. It also amends title IV, and the education block grant which is title V. I am deeply concerned, however, Mr. Speaker, with title I of H.R. 4141, entitled the transferability. Transferability is essentially a backdoor block grant program which would allow Federal funds intended to target technology, teacher training, school safety and after-school care needs to be used for any purpose deemed educational regardless of its relevance to the core mission. When we look at, Mr. Speaker, technology we think about the digital divide. The urban and rural areas both are in dire straits because of the lack of high technology to our students in both the urban and the rural areas. When we look at teacher training, Mr. Speaker, we look at those persons who will be guiding and directing our students through this 21st century, and indeed it is critical that we focus on professional development as an ongoing core of teacher training. School safety. We do recognize that children must be in an environment that is conducive to learning and, therefore, school safety is vital for this training. After-school care cannot just be left up to the schools now. It should be the community, it should be churches and all others who are getting involved in after-school care programs. These are very vital, very critical areas in the holistic education of our students. Title I of H.R. 4141 allows States and local educational agencies to transfer funds between ESEA programs after receiving funds for specific purposes. I would like to draw attention to that, because we can ill afford to have moneys that should go for one program specifically for that purpose to be transferred to another program. That is the whole notion of this transferability clause. Under title I, local education agencies can transfer up to 30 percent of one program's funds to another without any publicly documented rationale. That is wrong, Mr. Speaker. If we are going to really train our teachers, educate our students, have a school that is conducive to learning and have targeted technology that is applied for all students, then we must not have this transferability clause that will snatch funding from any program one deems important to transfer these funds to another program. In other words, if the funding has gone to the State specifically for a purpose and a program, then we should not be allowed to transfer up to 30 percent or any percent on a program that was not initially funded by this body. If a local education agency receives State approval, then 100 percent of those funds can be transferred between programs. In such cases, the State is not required to establish criteria for these decisions or document their approval. Again, it would not be up to the State, it would be up to the legislation that we apply here on the floor, and this is why I believe that H.R. 4141 does a great injustice to this country's young people, our students. Block grants, whether by law or de facto, and despite their popularity, do more harm to education than good. In fact, by pouring Federal funds into general State operating funds, we are not able to guarantee that the needs of all children are served, particularly the schools and the students with the most need. Again, I reiterate, those students are the students who are in the urban schools like my schools, in the Watts area, in the Compton area, and the Linwood area and the Wilmington area. Those are the schools where there are the students with most needs, and also in the rural communities where those students are falling behind in technology. Transferability, as mandated in Title I of H.R. 4141 increases the odds that ESEA money will not reach urban, minority students for much- needed educational programs. A study done, Mr. Speaker, by the General Accounting Office in January of 1999, reported that Federal funds are 8 times more likely than State funds to target disadvantaged students. Why are we putting this in the hands of the State when this has been documented by GAO, that the funds will be targeted more for disadvantaged students in coming from the Federal as opposed to the State? The report further concluded that Federal monies helped to close the gap in spending between the richest and poorest districts. Currently, local education agencies that receive Federal money are required to use the funds on specific populations and for specific purposes. No more, no less. The transferability clause of H.R. 4141 will allow local education agencies to use Federal funds in any way they like, resulting in the possible exclusion of funds for programs that serve disadvantaged students in low-income districts. We know that is not right, Mr. Speaker. We know that we cannot look to any local education agency to apply the funds that should be documented in legislation from us. We just give them that autonomy to transfer 30 percent of those funds to any program they deem important. Mr. Speaker, it is shocking to think that funds earmarked for the improvement of our education system's core mission can be used for virtually any purpose. Transferability makes this prospect a reality and it is likely to have a negative effect on teacher training, school safety, and education technology. Under H.R. 4141, we run the risk of diminishing our present emphasis on teacher training that is critical to maintaining a high standard among our schools. Under H.R. 4141, schools can decide to use funds targeted for upgrading and improving teacher quality for other purposes. Funds that could be used for teacher recruitment and certification may also be transferred to other programs. Mr. Speaker, I have with me tonight a gentleman who we all know was the superintendent of public instructions in the State of North Carolina. He has come tonight because we are both rather stunned by this H.R. 4141 and its adverse impact on the education of our students. Let me now present the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge).

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman. He is steeped in experience. As a former State Superintendent of Public Instruction, he recognizes and understands the importance of quality education, and he understands the barriers that are there with our children. They already come with a set of barriers, being poor and having unskilled parents. Then to further those barriers by not giving them the quality education is just absolutely an atrocity, in my book. I thank the gentleman from North Carolina for his leadership on this issue. I have another Member who is a leader in education who is on this floor just about every night talking about the inadequate education, given the funding that we do not get, but is busy pushing the whole notion of school construction and quality teacher training so that we can have the quality education that is sorely needed for those 53 to 54 million students. I yield to none other than the gentleman from New York (Mr. Owens).

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Owens). He has absolutely been stalwart in bringing to this floor those education needs and some of the concerns that are critical in the communities that have been underserved. We thank again the gentleman from New York. We have another education leader, I say, because he is on the Committee on Education and the Workforce, but he has also shown great leadership in this area. Mr. Speaker, I bring to now the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind).

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from New Jersey for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 434, the African Growth and Opportunity Act. This is a great day for America; this is a great day for Africa. I am honored to say that today the vast majority of American civic, religious, and business leaders strongly support this bill. More important, all 43 nations of sub-Saharan Africa have voiced unanimous support for this bold step towards stronger economic ties between the United States and Africa. As we speak this afternoon, Mr. Speaker, trade ministers from 13 African countries and 3 regional cooperative communities are visiting Washington to press the urgency of this bill. They are the new African leaders who will lead that continent into the global economy as equal partners with other world regions. I am proud to say that the United States is poised not only to support them, but to build enduring partnerships between our businesses and commercial enterprises. Africa is rich with natural resources, but its most important resource is the ingenuity and inventiveness of its people. Africa and American entrepreneurs can now partner to strengthen businesses on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. While trade barriers have prevented Africa from strengthening its imports to the United States, American consumers purchase Kenya bags and Kente cloth from competing world regions. The African growth and Opportunity Act now will let American businesses travel to Africa to build infrastructure, expand access to technology, and make good use of its natural resources. In return, Mr. Speaker, African businesses will have access to this vast market where the sky is the limit on consumer goods. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank all of my colleagues who have supported this bill every mile of the way, but a special kudos to my friend, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel), and my colleague, the gentleman from Los Angeles, California (Mr. Royce). We have never suggested that this bill would be a panacea for Africa; however, it will put Africa on the road to economic growth and prosperity for its people.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, let me first thank the ranking member of the Committee on the Judiciary the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) for offering this motion, bringing us back to this point where we can engage in, hopefully, dialogue in conference. I would like to thank the gentleman from Illinois for his position in wanting to be open to get this to conference and to resolve this issue. We have long struggled as mothers and grandmothers in seeing so many children being killed at the touch of a gun, a gun that a trigger lock can be placed on and perhaps prevent the killings of over 13 children per day. Yes, I have introduced a bill in the 105th Congress and the 106th Congress talking about child safety locks. I looked at that as just common sense legislation, nothing too onerous but simply trying to make sure that our children are safe. There are mothers who are crying to me in the area that I represent in Watts, one of the most violent areas in this country, where violence has just absolutely permeated the streets. They are asking for this type of safety measure that will help us to bring our children back to some sensibility and hopefully will bring families together. I agree with the gentleman from Illinois that this is not the end-all of all of it but it is the beginning of helping us cope with this issue. I say to the chairman and the ranking member, I hope in their final words today that they will give us some definitive dates or date by which we can convene this conference so that we can speak to the many questions that mothers are asking and fathers are asking about gun safety and their children. I say to them that this Nation has entrusted us with trying to do the best we can in the halls of Congress to bring about sensible legislation that will protect our children. I think this is a move in the right direction. I urge the chairman and the ranking member to give us dates as they leave today to help us to come to the point that we want to get to.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, let me first thank this outstanding Member out of the State of New York (Mrs. Maloney) who not only leads the census and has been absolutely strong in her deliberations on this issue but is the chairwoman of the Woman's Caucus. She, too, understands, Mr. Speaker, that of the 4 million people who were undercounted, 50 percent of those were our children. And so, this is why, Mr. Speaker, I am appalled a leading presumptive presidential candidate, a man aspiring to lead this great Nation, cannot figure out whether he will fill out his own confidential census form. This is the same man who wants to take charge of the American people and its government to make public policy based on population figures that affect our daily lives in health, education, transportation, appropriations, and other public responsibilities. Carrying out his own education proposal unveiled last week would depend upon, Mr. Speaker, accurate data that all of the census produces. How does he plan to produce an accurate Consumer Price Index without accurate long form data? Still, he has not committed enough to government fairness to fill out one of these forms himself. Now, I have worked with the Census Bureau now for about 2 years to make sure that they count every hard-to-count group. I spearheaded a special project to make sure Africans and Caribbean residents in the Diaspora understood the importance of the census and trusted our laws of confidentiality governing the process. I also called on homeless shelters, battered women shelters, colleges, universities, and families with children to make sure that we count them, because they will have been historically undercounted individuals. Shame on any elected official who would undermine our Nation's effort to gather vital information we need for appropriations and planning. The census numbers are extremely important to Government leaders. In 1990, the census undercounted 486,000 persons in the State of Texas, causing that State to lose about $1 billion in Federal funding for health care, housing, transportation, and other Federal programs. Even California lost $2.3 billion, Mr. Speaker, and a congressional seat. Children, the target of this presidential candidate's education reform package, are one of the most undercounted groups in America. How many of them fell through the cracks in Texas this past decade because of underfunded public services? It seems, out of self-interest, one would want an accurate assessment of one's home State. Remember, these same officials who do not want residents filling out census forms oppose using modern scientific methods for a more accurate census count. Come now, they cannot have it both ways. If all public leaders, no matter what party affiliation, would encourage every resident to fill out and return their forms, we could get the results we need, Mr. Speaker. Maybe those now questioning the census have other motives for spoiling an accurate census count. Maybe they do not want a true accurate count. Frankly, this reminds me of the 1980s, when South African apartheid government decided not to count the majority of African people as South Africans. Did undercounting tens of thousands of residents who were not acceptable but lived in Johannesberg make them go away? Did it drive down actual unemployment figures and increase the real infant mortality rate? Of course not. This statistical chicanery only lets those in power fool themselves to the realities they need to face. The Census Bureau has done a great job and has gone to great lengths to carry out the mandates of Congress to make sure the forms are as brief as possible. In fact, the long form is shorter than the 1990 form by four questions and it is the shortest form in history. My friends, this is the information age. We need the data from these forms to administer our public duty in this country fairly. Those encouraging citizens to voluntarily suppress an accurate count are doing it as a grave disservice to their State and to Americans across this Nation. As leaders, they should know the laws of confidentiality governing the census in our great country. This is our process governed by our laws that our courts have upheld. Reasonable and sensible officials swear to uphold the law. And this law has never been violated. Let us stop playing games, my friends, with America's future. Follow the advice of sensible leaders in all political parties. Fill out that census form, and encourage everyone who comes within their purview to do the same. I thank again the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) for her leadership.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank both Chairman Boehlert and Ranking Member Borski of the House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment for their excellent work on this bill. I would also like to commend the continued bipartisan leadership of Chairman Shuster and Ranking Member Oberstar. H.R. 910 does have a significant impact on my district as groundwater contamination in the San Gabriel Basin is spreading and has already begun to reach the Central Basin. The Central Basin groundwater aquifer covers 277 square miles from Montebello to Pico Rivera and Whittier to Long Beach. And 1.5 million people depend on the Central Basin groundwater aquifer for their primary source of drinking water. The Central Basin groundwater aquifer is contaminated by volatile organic compounds, which originated from the San Gabriel Valley and have moved over the past ten years down into the Central Basin. Several wells, which contain drinking water, have been shut down because of contamination. The funds that will be made available through H.R. 910 will allow the Central Basin Municipal Water District to construct and operate a treatment facility that will clean up the contamination currently in the Basin. Funds allocated to the clean-up facilities in the San Gabriel Valley will help prevent further flows of contamination into the Central Basin. H.R. 910 is an excellent example of the federal government working in partnership with local governments and private entities to facilitate the resolution of a regional problem. I urge my colleagues to vote YES on final passage of H.R. 910.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment sponsored by my colleague Mrs. Pelosi of California. This amendment, which recognizes the need to focus on reducing supply and decreasing demand in the fight against drugs, promotes a common sense approach to this problem. It devastates homes, communities and our nation at large. When excessive youth drug abuse, reduced treatment facilities and scare prevention services are the norm; we need to act. The Pelosi amendment does act. This measure adds much needed funds to drug prevention and treatment programs which are making a difference in the war against drugs. If we fund $1.3 billion for ``Plan Colombia'' to reduce supply internationally, less than half of that money will be used for treatment service and prevention programs to reduce demand domestically. It is reprehensible to support a plan which authorizes money for Colombia's drug interdiction programs, when there are 5.7 million Americans in need of substance abuse treatment. In addition, it is not responsible drug policy to stop the supply of drugs from Colombia while virtually ignoring the fact that the demand for drugs especially among our youth has gone largely unchecked. As the Representative of a mostly minority district I am keenly aware of the devastating affect that drugs has on the minority community. Drugs abuse and related illnesses such as HIV and AIDS have debilitating effects on women, people of color and the poor. If a $1 investment in drug abuse prevention will save $15 in reduced health, justice and other societal cost, most of which are felt within the minority community, it is logical to conclude that prevention programs are needed just as much as interdiction programs. Yes, we need to address the supply of drugs to this nation but not at the cost of neglecting the treatment needs of this nation's addicts and our youth who are being lured into the drug trap every day. Let us put our drug control funds to use in programs that will be of greatest benefit to Americans. Successful drug prevention programs benefit individuals, families, communities, and this country. The country of Colombia cannot ensure the welfare of our citizens; we can. I strongly support the Pelosi amendment.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Madam Speaker, let me thank our ranking member, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), for his leadership on this issue. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act. This bill promotes bad environmental and health policy and it does not allow the EPA to issue public health and safety standards for waste storage in Yucca Valley. In addition, it does not authorize the Department of Energy to build interim storage facilities or take responsibility for utility waste storage on-site. This process that we are using to consider this bill is a perfect example, Madam Speaker, of how partisan politics have degraded the legislative process. Rather than to bring the House version of the bill to this body, we are considering a Senate measure which does not even garner enough votes to override a veto. Moreover, we are not being given the opportunity to offer amendments that might bring about some level of bipartisan compromise on this issue. There are at least 8 amendments that have been offered as a means to strengthen S. 1287. I am a cosponsor of one such amendment which promotes fiscal responsibility. My amendment allows utilities to invest the surcharge nuclear utilities pay to the Department of Energy. Interest earned on this investment would be used to fund on-site storage. The Department of Energy's obligation to store the waste until a permanent facility is completed is met, and taxpayers' money is saved. My amendment further would create an incentive to speed up the development of a permanent facility. Madam Speaker, I am dismayed at the fact that my colleagues and I are not able to present our amendments, which would bring about needed reform in nuclear waste disposal. I urge then all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to oppose this measure.