Juanita Millender-McDonald

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased and proud to join the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Talent), the ranking member, the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez) and many other members of the Committee on Small Business who are dedicated to providing critical services to the countless men and women who have fought to preserve and protect our Nation. As we approach the 4th of July holiday to celebrate this Nation's independence, we recognize our veterans and the tremendous sacrifices and contributions they have made to this country. In their honor we are here today to pass legislation that ensures veterans that once their service is complete they can continue to apply their hard-working ethics, strong leadership skills, and determination to succeed in small businesses. Currently out of a total business population of 23.2 million people 5.5 million are veterans. In addition, there are 104,000 disabled veterans. It is estimated that veterans constitute almost a quarter of the business population today. However, many veterans face tremendous barriers when trying to create and grow their businesses, particularly when their military service has caused them to leave their businesses. Specifically, the obstacles facing our veterans can range from a lack of training to difficulty in securing adequate capital to launch their small business. The obstacles are even greater for service disabled veterans who may have additional handicaps that prevent them from securing employment or starting their own business. Mr. Speaker, the Veterans Entrepreneurial and Small Business Development Act creates a number of new programs designed specifically to help these veterans and service disabled veterans to join the ranks of entrepreneurs. I would like to commend the Small Business Administration for creating the Small Business Administration Veterans Affairs Task Force for entrepreneurship in July 1998. This task force examined SBA programs to determine how SBA might deliver services to America's veterans more effectively. In October of 1998, it made recommendations to SBA, many of which have been included in this bill. The Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act designates a position onto SBA of veterans business development to be the advocate for veterans and to ensure that veterans needs and concerns are represented and being addressed. In addition to this new position, this bill creates a public private partnership called the National Veterans Business Development Corporation to provide access to technical assistance and an advisory committee on veterans' business affairs to serve as an independent source of advice for Congress and the President and to increase outcome and outreach to veterans. This bill also directs the SBA administrator to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Service Corps of Retired Executives called SCORE, an organization that provides advice and technical assistance to small businesses free of charge through a nationwide network of volunteers. Finally, this bill establishes a 5 percent government procurement goal for veteran-owned business and authorizes SBA to make loans to self-employed individuals or owners of small businesses who are called to active duty to assist them with potential losses and disruption caused by their return to active duty. I encourage all of my colleagues when this bill comes to the floor to come together during this historic time of year and vote for legislation that provides our veterans with the opportunities they need and deserve to succeed. The Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act is a comprehensive approach to ensuring that the backbone of our Nation no longer shuts off but hence forward embraces and reaches out to America's service men and women.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Madam Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 252 on June 24, 1999, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Madam Speaker, during rollcall vote no. 251 on June 24, 1999, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 2084, the Fiscal Year 2000 Transportation Appropriations Act. This bill provides a total of $50.7 billion in FY 2000 for the Transportation Department and related agencies. The bill's funding includes $14.6 billion in direct appropriations and nearly 70% of the bills funding comes from guarantees set forth in the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century--TEA-21. I would like to commend Chairman Frank Wolf and Ranking Member Sabo and the leadership of the Full Committee on Appropriations for putting together a bill that increases funding for highways, highway safety, transit, and operations at the Federal Aviation Administration. This bill provides $7 million for bus acquisition for Los Angeles County and $5 million for the Municipal Transit Operators Coalition. Further, this bill meets the transportation needs for the State of California. However, I am concerned that once this bill passes the House and moves to conference that it may be subject to the language offered to the Senate's bill. As part of last year's landmark highway and transit authorization bill, TEA-21, California is slated to receive 14.6% of the total federal allocation for transit funding. However, the so-called ``Transit Equity Provision'' included as part of the Senate Appropriations Committee's FY 2000 Transportation Appropriations bill artificially caps California's share of transit funding at 12.5%. This reduction will result in a loss of at least $120 million for the State of California in fiscal year 2000. California accounts for roughly one-quarter of the nation's transit users, yet we receive only about 15% of the federal transit funding. A majority of our statewide transit capital programs are financed from state and local resources, but we need the federal funding to continue to provide and expand effective service and to spur economic growth. Furthermore, capping the state's federal transit aid will reopen the carefully crafted distribution formulas enacted just one year ago, and invite a host of new problems. When this bill goes to conference, I urge the leadership of both the Committee and Subcommittee to fight this provision and avoid re-opening TEA-21. I urge passage of this legislation and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the McCarthy-Roukema amendment, in support of real gun safety for our children.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, May 27, 1999, I was unavoidably detained while conducting official business and missed rollcall vote 166, a motion to approve the Journal. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, May 25, 1999, I was unavoidably detained while conducting official business and missed rollcall votes 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, and 157. Had I been present I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes 147, 148, 149, and 150. I would have voted ``present'' on rollcall vote 151, the Quorum Call of the Committee. Finally, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall votes 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, and 157.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, it is time for Congress to act on the issue of gun related violence, and pass legislation which will adequately address this issue. The school shootings in Jonesboro, Edinboro, Fayetteville, Springfield, Richmond, West Pacucha, Littleton and most recently, Conyers, should be a wake up call for this body to act. Gun related violence has plagued our nation and jeopardized the safety of our children. The American people are demanding action by this body, and the people want a safe environment in our nation's urban and rural areas for our children. Each day in America, thirteen children under the age of 19 die from gunfire. In 1996, 4,643 children were killed by firearms. Firearms cause 1 of every 4 deaths of teenagers from the ages of 15 to 19. In addition to this, firearms are the fourth leading cause of accidental death among children from the ages of 5 to 14. The rate of gun related crimes is increasing. From 1984 to 1994, the firearm homicide death rate for youths from the ages of 15 to 19 has increased 222%, while the non-firearm homicide death rate decreased 12.8%. It is our responsibility, as parents and leaders to protect our nation's children. These statistics illustrate the need for stronger measures from Congress. Yet, despite the statistics and recent developments, which clearly prove that there is a problem with firearms, many Members of Congress refuse to push forward substantive gun legislation. To address this problem, I have re-introduced my bill, the Firearm Child Safety Lock Act of 1999. My bill, H.R. 1512, the Firearm Child Safety Lock Act of 1999, will prohibit any person from transferring or selling a firearm, in the United States, unless it is sold with a child safety lock. In addition, this legislation will prohibit the transfer or sale of firearms by federally licensed dealers and manufacturers, unless a child safety lock is part of the firearm. A Child Safety Lock, when properly attached to the trigger guard of a firearm, will prevent a firearm from unintentionally discharging. Once the safety lock is properly applied, it cannot be removed unless it is unlocked. Public support for child safety locks is strong. 75% of Americans have voiced support for mandatory trigger locks. This legislation will protect our children and increase the safety of firearms. However, child safety locks are not enough. We must determine why young people commit these horrible acts of violence. We must take the proper steps to educate and counsel our children, to prevent future acts of violence. We must be proactive and diligent in our efforts to help our children, and stop these violent acts. My bill, H.R. 1512, also has an education provision which provides for a portion of the firearms tax revenue to be used for education on the safe storage and use of firearms. The mental health of our children must also be adequately addressed. We must determine what the problems are. Find solutions to those problems, and then act. We can address this issue without violating the second amendment to the Constitution. The right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. The right to life without fear will be preserved by this legislation and other necessary legislation that should be passed by Congress. We must have the courage to stand firm and take steps to avoid the continued senseless bloodshed and loss of life of children around this country. This bill and our efforts can do just that, we can protect our children and protect their future. In doing so, we are protecting ourselves.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, today I was honored to be joined by six-time Olympic medalist, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, for the unveiling of the Asthma Awareness, Education and Treatment Act, which I am introducing tonight. I am joined by 35 of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle introducing this important legislation to help children suffering from asthma. Over the past several weeks, the safety, health and well-being of America's children have been in the hearts and minds of parents and families throughout the country. Today, we are addressing a critical health issue that is affecting the health of our children: asthma. The Asthma Awareness, Education and Treatment Act establishes a grant to reach out to inner-city, minority and low income communities to fight asthma. Some of the initiatives include: asthma and allergy screenings; education programs for parents and teachers; a nationwide media campaign; tax incentives for pest control and air climate control businesses to alleviate the suffering of asthmatic children; and community outreach through nontraditional medical settings, including schools and welfare offices. We must act now to help our children breathe more easily. African- Americans are five times more likely than other Americans to seek emergency room care for asthma. The asthma death rate is also twice as high among African-Americans and a staggering four times higher for African-American children. Asthma is also more prevalent among all age groups in lower income families. In families with an annual income of less than $10,000, 79.2 out of 1,000 individuals have asthma while in families with an annual income of $20,000 to $34,999, 53.6 out of 1,000 individuals have asthma--that means close to 400,000 more people with extremely limited earnings have asthma. Whatever your income, we are all paying the price for the 160 percent increase in asthma among preschool children over the past decade. The total cost of asthma to Americans was close to $12 billion last year. Simply put, parents miss work, children miss school, and too many cases are treated in emergency rooms that could have been treated, or in some situations prevented, by medication and ongoing management by a physician. Today, we are taking steps to curb this staggering growth in asthma cases, its high cost to society, and its disproportionate effect on minorities and low income families. With the Asthma Awareness, Education and Treatment Act, we will empower teachers, parents, coaches, and anyone who works with children to help those with asthma. I represent some of the poorest areas of the country in South Central Los Angeles. I have seen the dire need for community assistance. And I know the tax incentives in this bill will jump start businesses that can make our communities better and ultimately save lives that otherwise may have been cut short by asthma. I have been working with the Allergies and Asthmatics Network/Mothers of Asthmatics, the American Medical Women's Association, the American Lung Association, the Children's Environment Network, the Children's Defense Fund, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the National Association of Children's Hospitals to help children and their families face and manage this critical disease. I hope that my colleagues will join me, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and all of these groups in raising awareness of asthma and making sure that this bill is brought to the floor as soon as possible.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, we were elected to the ``people's House,'' without question the most deliberative body in the world. As such, when legislation comes to the floor of this House, Members should have every opportunity to amend and perfect it before we pass it on to the Senate. It is our duty. It is our obligation. Last Thursday, the Republican Leadership in the House presented H.R. 1664, the Kosovo and Southwest Asia Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act of 1999. The measure provided $12.9 billion for emergency spending to support the ongoing military operations in Kosovo. The request was $6.9 billion above the President's request which by all accounts was more than adequate to fund our mission overseas. H.R. 1664 was presented to this body under a restrictive rule that limited the Minority's opportunities to perfect the bill. For this reason I opposed the rule. While the rule was passed, it did allow some Democratic amendments. One of those amendments was the Obey amendment which restored $1.5 billion to the budget surplus that the Committee bill removed to fund the construction of military projects overseas. The Obey amendment made increases in military pay and effectively dealt with the issue of retirement by not making it subject to future legislation. The Obey measure also provided funds for disaster assistance for the victims of Hurricane Mitch. The Obey amendment was defeated along with other amendments that sought to restore funds to the budget surplus. Even though the Obey amendment failed, I voted for H.R. 1664 during final passage. When our troops, our sons and daughters, are engaged in military conflict overseas, we must lay aside our partisan differences and give them the financial and moral support they need. While the Majority failed to do this and used H.R. 1664 to fund pork projects abroad, I felt compelled to rise above Party and vote for my country by casting my vote in support of H.R. 1664. I voted for our troops--our sons and daughters who willingly lay their lives on the line for our national security and for freedom.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, children are killing children. This madness, this destructive behavior must stop. Gun-related violence has plagued our Nation and jeopardized the safety of our children. According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control, more than 5,000 innocent boys and girls have lost their lives due to unintentional firearms related deaths. Between 1983 and 1994, 5,523 males between the ages of 1 and 19 were killed by the unintentional discharge of a firearm. Currently, a child dies from gunfire every 100 minutes in America, 12 times the rate of the next 25 industrialized nations combined. Each day in America, 14 children die from gunfire, a classroom full every 2 days. Mr. Speaker, it is our responsibility, no, it is in fact our obligation as parents and leaders to protect our Nation's children from the senseless deaths caused by the unintentional and intentional discharge of firearms. To address this problem, I have reintroduced my bill, the Firearm Child Safety Lock Act of 1999. My bill, H.R. 1512, the Firearm Safety Lock bill, will prohibit any person from transferring or selling a firearm in the United States unless it is sold with a child safety lock. In addition, this legislation will prohibit the transfer or sale of firearms by federally licensed dealers and manufacturers unless a child safety lock is part of the firearm. A child safety lock, when properly attached to the trigger guard of a firearm, would prevent a firearm from unintentionally discharging. Once the safety lock is properly applied it cannot be removed unless it is unlocked. This legislation will protect our children and increase the safety of firearms. The bill also has an education provision, which provides for a portion of the firearm's tax revenue to be used for education on the safe storage and use of firearms. This bill in no way prohibits a buyer from purchasing a firearm unless it is sold without a child safety lock. A child safety lock will be included in the firearm when it is purchased. Knowing that many citizens are concerned about gun laws, because they believe these laws may affect their constitutional rights, I would like to make it clear that this bill does not interfere with a citizen's constitutional rights. It only gives our children the right to life without the fear of another Jonesboro, Edinboro, Fayetteville, Springfield, Richmond, West Paducah and Littleton. We must create a safe environment in our Nation's urban, rural and suburban areas for our children. We must avoid the continued senseless bloodshed and loss of life of children around this country. We must be proactive, Mr. Speaker, and address this problem. This bill does just that. It protects our children and it protects their future.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I cannot thank my colleague enough for the leadership that she has provided for us in this House to ensure that we have Medicare and Social Security as the top issues for women in 1999 and leading into the millennium. I would like to echo what she said, because public education is important. We must make sure those who are today's citizens in this country, more of them are women and the elderly, do not get hooked and locked on this privatization of Social Security and Medicare, especially Social Security. We must ensure their well-being, their safety, their security by not having privatizing and not privatizing with these private accounts that is being discussed as we move into the discussion of Social Security and Medicare. Mr. Speaker, I would like to now yield to a person who has been on point, who is one of the senior Members of the House, and she has just done a yeoman's job in talking about the unique effects that this proposal, Social Security and Medicare, will have on women. The distinguished gentlewoman from the State of Ohio (Ms. Kaptur) will now speak to us on Social Security and Medicare.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek) for her comments. Now we will hear from the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) and our cochair.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, as we embark upon Mother's Day this coming Sunday, distinguished women of the House thought it was really fitting to come and talk again on women and Social Security and Medicare and how these two critical issues will impact women leading into the 21st century. I have gathered with me tonight a distinguished core of women of the House to speak on these critical issues. As the Co-Vice Chair of the Women's Caucus, I think it is vitally important that we ensure retirement security for women as we work to strengthen Social Security and Medicare. Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the two women who have been in the forefront on these issues, the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Thurman). Each will speak to these issues as we progress tonight. Social Security has played a very vital role in ensuring financial security for most elderly women; however, there are still far too many elderly women living in poverty. In our work here in the House to establish a better and more secure retirement system, we must not exacerbate this situation but rather do all we can to resolve the discrepancy now and for all future generations. Mr. Speaker, tonight is the night for women to speak to the two issues and to voice their concerns from their constituents in their respective states. So I will call on them tonight as they come to speak to this issue as we embark upon Mother's Day this coming Sunday. I have tonight the great gentlewoman from the State of Florida (Mrs. Meek), who will speak to this issue as she relates to it in the State of Florida.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) the distinguished cochair of the Women's Caucus, for her comments tonight. Mr. Speaker, indeed America's older women do depend upon Social Security and Medicare for their security and their well-being. We have now another distinguished Member of the House who we will hear from as she voices her concerns for the women of North Carolina, the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Clayton).

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, as we continue to talk about both Social Security and Medicare, we know that the faces of Medicare are really the faces of women you know. They are your mom, your grandma, your wife, your sisters. They might even be the person whom you see in the mirror. Medicare, being an important issue, is very timely that we speak about it today and we talk about this critical issue as it relates to women age 65 and older. Women are 58 percent of the people who receive Medicare. At the age of 85, that number will rise to 71 percent. At age 85, women outnumber men in the Medicare program two to one. Women's average life expectancy is 6 years longer than men. At every age, women are at greater risk of poverty than men. There are many gaps in the Medicare program, Mr. Speaker, and there are a number of gaps in this program, most notably the absence of coverage for prescription drugs and long-term care. Also, in Social Security, we know that, on average, women are in the workforce fewer years than men and earn less than men, yet women tend to live longer. Meanwhile, women's pension benefits are based on such factors as years in the workforce and lifetime earnings relative to those of their husband. Mr. Speaker, we must remember that just 33 percent of women retirees 65 and older versus 53 percent of retired men at that age receive a private pension annuity fund. In fact, in 1994 those were the numbers. Women simply cannot rely on other forms of retirement savings to the extent to which men can. Women must continue to have a strong, secure Social Security and Medicare system that recognizes the need of widows and divorced women to receive their spouse's benefits. Lastly, any effort to strengthen our retirement system must resolve this vast economic chasm that exists between women and men in America. Security, Protection, Safety Net Mr. Speaker, tonight Congresswoman DeLauro and I have gathered our colleagues to address two critical issues concerning women. As Co-Vice Chair of the Women's Caucus, I think it is vitally important that we ensure retirement security for women as we work to strengthen Social Security and Medicare. Social Security has played a pivotal role in ensuring financial security for most elderly women, however there are still far too many elderly women living in poverty. In our work to establish a better and more secure retirement system, we must not exacerbate this situation but rather, do all that we can to resolve the discrepanacy now and for all future generations. Mr. Speaker, the Social Security rules provide critical income security for women. The progressive benefit formula provides proportionately higher benefits for low earners than for high earners, which is important for women who continually earn less incomes than men. In 1997, the median annual earnings year-round for full-time workers was approximately $33,000 for men and $24,000 for women, which means women are earning 74.1% of the wages men earn. For working women in their fifties, who should be earning close to their peak salaries, the income differential is equally disturbing. These women earned just 63 percent of what men of the same age earned in 1996. The entire group of older women have less than three-fifths the personal income of older men. In 1996, older women had a median personal income of approximately $10,000. Providing higher benefits for women through the current Social Security system helps compensate for the countless paychecks that are at most 73 percent of their male counterparts. Social Security also places the necessary emphasis on the value of raising children by helping homemakers establish retirement security. For these women, Social Security provides a retirement benefit equal to 50 percent of their spouses' benefits. For the homemaker who becomes divorced after at least 10 years of marriage, Social Security provides a retirement benefit based on her former spouse's benefits. In addition, Social Security provides widow's benefits equal to 100 percent of her husband's benefits for the older woman whose husband dies. Social Security survivor's benefits are even provided for younger widows whose children receive survivor's benefits while the widow is caring for them and not working. For all of these reasons: the pay gap, the fact that women live longer than men, and the current Social Security benefit rules, is why a significant proportion of older unmarried women are solely dependent on Social Security. In 1994, 40 percent of unmarried women 65 and older who received Social Security depended on it for at least 90 percent of their income--and more than one-fifth had no other income. Even more alarming, half of older unmarried women of color relied on Social Security for 90 percent of their incomes, and for more than one-third of these women, Social Security was their only source of income. In real terms, this means that most elderly women are living on just $10,000 to $12,000 per year. Social Security clearly serves as a vital safety net for women who are divorced or become widows. As strong as this system is, however, too many women fall through the cracks. Nearly three-fourths of the nation's four million who are elderly poor are women. Older women are twice as likely as older men to be poor. In addition to the consistently lower income women earn per year as compared to men, the disparity in other retirement options contributes to the feminization of poverty among our elderly women. In the Nation's pension system, men benefit significantly more than women since most mothers do not have a consistent work history due to the time off for raising children. Just 33 percent of women retirees 65 and older versus 53 percent of retired men that age received a private pension annuity in 1994. Women simply cannot rely on other forms of retirement savings to the extent to which men can. Women must continue to have a strong, secure Social Security system that recognizes the need for widows and divorced women to receive their spouses' benefits. Any effort to strengthen our retirement system must resolve this vast economic chasm that exists between women and men in America. I would like to thank the women and men of the House who are joining us tonight to address women's retirement security.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia. Mr. Speaker, Medicare and Social Security, as we know, will be two very important issues here in 1999. I cannot think of a more deserving person to come before us now to talk about these issues as discussion intensifies about the ways to strengthen Social Security and Medicare for the future for women. She has been in the forefront on these issues. Certainly we recognize now that Medicare is required to cover screenings for osteoporosis and breast cancer. She has been in the forefront to make sure that this took place. We have with us now one of the leaders of the House, the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. Rosa DeLauro), who will come and speak to us on these two very critical issues as we broach Mother's Day.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman. A woman who has kept the focus on women as it relates to Social Security is a former co-chair herself. I would like to now yield to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Eleanor Holmes Norton).

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the subject of this special order today.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. I thank the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur) for the outstanding contribution she has made tonight and the ongoing leadership and support that she gives to these critical issues. General Leave

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, gun related violence is an issue that has, in recent years adversely affected the lives of American children and adults. We have a responsibility, as leaders and parents to address this problem and work towards creating a solution. Children should feel safe in our Nation's urban and rural areas, and in order to create an environment that is a safe one, we must deal with the issue of the misuse and abuse of guns. I feel that this issue may be addressed by requiring manufacturers to fit firearms with a child safety lock. Therefore, I felt that it was necessary to introduce the Child Safety Lock Act of 1999. This bill will prohibit any person from transferring or selling a firearm, in the United States, unless it is sold with a child safety lock. Further, this legislation would prohibit the transfer or sale of firearms by federally licensed dealers and manufacturers unless a child safety lock is an integral component of the firearm. A child safety lock is a locking mechanism that attaches to the trigger guard of a firearm. The device fits over the trigger guard and the trigger, preventing the firearm from unintentionally discharging. Once the device is properly applied, it cannot be removed unless it is unlocked. According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control, more than 5,000 innocent boys and girls have lost their lives due to unintentional firearm related death. Between 1983 and 1994, 5,523 males between the ages of 1 and 19 were killed by the unintentional discharge of a firearm. The loss of these young lives can be prevented, which is why this legislation is necessary. To improve the quality of life for children and adults, and avoid the continued senseless bloodshed and loss of life of children around this country, we should work together to pass the Child Safety Lock Act of 1999. It is our obligation to protect our children. This bill does just that, it protects our children and it protects their future. Summary of Legislation as Introduced Section 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the ``Child Safety Lock Act of 1999.'' Section 2. Findings Presents findings to support the need for this legislation. Title 1--Criminal Provisions Section 101. Handgun safety Defines what a locking device is, provides for locking devices and warnings on handguns and penalties related to locking devices and warnings. Title 2--Regulatory Provisions Section 201. Regulation of trigger lock devices Establishes general authority for the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe regulations governing trigger lock devices. Section 202. Orders inspections Allows the Secretary of the Treasury to issue an order and/ or inspections regarding a trigger lock device which is in violation of this title. Section 203. Enforcement Allows the Secretary of the Treasury to assess civil penalties and/or criminal penalties for violation of a provision of this title. Section 204. No effect on State law This title does not annul, alter, impair, or affect, or exempt any person subject to the provisions of this title from complying with, any provision of the law of any State or any political subdivision thereof, except to the extent that such provisions of State law are inconsistent with any provision of this title, and then only to the extent of the inconsistency. Section 205. Definitions Defines terms used in this title.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I stand tonight as a very proud black woman, a woman who came from Alabama, one who was there during the time of the Rosa Parks venture. Before I go on to talk about this woman who should, by all stature, receive this congressional medal, let me congratulate my colleague and friend, the gentlewoman from Indiana (Ms. Carson), who had to come to the 105th Congress to sensitize us of the importance of recognizing this heroine that we call Rosa Parks. She is the mother of civil rights because it was in December of 1955, Mr. Speaker, that Rosa Parks refused to get up after having spent all day as a seamstress to give her seat to a man who was nonblack, who thought that he was to sit at the front of the bus and she was to sit in the back where there were no more seats. Mr. Speaker, Rosa Parks showed courage, dedication and commitment to the cause of saying that everyone should be equal when they paid their fare to ride a bus. That ignited the civil rights movement. We know that the mother of civil rights, Rosa Parks, was the catalyst in bringing about the civil rights laws that we now know because when Rosa Parks refused to get up from her seat, it was the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King who said: I will not stand for this woman to be removed from a bus and not fight for cause. Indeed, she is a drum major for justice. So on Monday, April 19, 1996, the United States Senate unanimously approved legislation to award the congressional medal to a woman who is deserving of that, an icon of the civil rights movement. According to Mrs. Parks, she has been pushed as far as she could stand when she was arrested in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955, for refusing to give up her seat and move to the back of the bus. As I look at myself as the vice chair of the Women's Caucus here in the U.S. Congress, I know that I would not be standing here had it not been on the shoulders of Rosa Parks, a woman who saw a need to open the doors for opportunities for all of us, not only African American women, but for all women in this country. Mrs. Parks is an integral part of the civil rights movement which led to sweeping changes of the laws and the social fabric of these United States. These changes, due in part to the efforts of Mrs. Parks, have paved the way for not only the opportunities for me, but for my grandchildren, my granddaughters and my grandson. She is a quiet strength, Mr. Speaker. If you have seen her, you would wonder how this woman, who seemed to be so frail perhaps, would have done this; but her strength and her courage and her commitment and her faith caused her to say: I shall not be moved, I shall not return back to the days of degradation . . . So, she is truly a drum major for justice, Mr. Speaker. I am so proud that this House now has seen befitting for it to bestow a congressional medal on a woman who deserved this. She will now take her position and stand with Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela as persons who changed the core of this civil rights movement in this country and in this world and made it better for all of our children, black children, white children, brown children, red children, yellow children, to have the opportunities that should be accorded them in these United States. Mr. Speaker, I am so happy to be a part of the 106th Congress who bestowed a congressional medal on such an outstanding woman. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, April 19, 1999, the United States Senate unanimously approved legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Rosa Parks, an icon of the civil rights movement. According to Mrs. Parks she: ``had been pushed as far as she could stand,'' when she was arrested in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955 for refusing to give up her seat and move to the back of the bus, as mandated by law. This courageous act of civil disobedience led to the Montgomery bus boycott, which helped to form the foundation of the civil rights movement in this country. Mrs. Parks was an integral part of the civil rights movement, which led to sweeping changes of the laws and social fabric of the United States. These changes, due in part to the efforts of Mrs. Parks, have paved the way for increased opportunities for all Americans. The title of Mrs. Parks' autobiography ``Quiet Strength,'' is a fitting title and description of a woman whose selfless act made this country a better place, and whose life should serve as an example of public service. Mrs. Parks is truly a drum major for justice and it is for these reasons that Congress should honor this American hero with the Congressional Gold Medal.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the numerous women of achievement in this country during Women's History Month. I believe true leadership has no gender, race, age or religion. It consists of dedication, perseverance, hard work, compassion, wisdom and a commanding vision for the future. Tonight I woudl like to honor two women in particular who have mastered all of these traits despite being faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. As both the Vice Chair of the Women's Caucus and an active member of the Congressional Black Caucus, I have worked with my colleagues to present two awards to Helen Thomas and Dorothy Height during Women's History Month. Since it is important to document the remarkable work of women of such achievement Mr. Speaker, I would like to share with you their stories. Helen Thomas has been the White House bureau chief of United Press International (UPI) since 1974. Over the past several decades, Helen has covered eight presidents. She is the first female UPI White House bureau chief. Prior to that, over the span of 50 years, she has been given what she called ``the big plum'' job of getting doughnuts for reporters in 1942. She went on to cover exclusively ``female'' subjects for UPI's radio wire, which was called United Press at the time. However, her big break came when she served as the only print journalist accompanying President Nixon when he made his historic trip to China in 1972. Thus was the rise of Helen Thomas. Helen is considered tough and incisive with a keen ability to pierce through issues to find the meaning of events. She is also considered warm, open, passionate and opinionated. She has been a self-described women's libber since the day she was born and initiated the campaign to open the doors of the National Press Club to women, which finally occurred when Nikita Krushchev spoke at the Club in 1959--although it took another 12 years before women were admitted. In the mid-seventies, she became the National Press Club's first female officer; the first female member of the 90-year old Grid Iron Club, Washington's most exclusive press organization, and in 1993 was elected its president; and the first female officer of the White House Correspondents Association. She has received numerous awards for her work in journalism and in 1992, UPI established an internship program in her honor to be awarded annually to a female journalism student. At the proud age of 78, she continues to jump from behind bushes near the White House jogging track to fire questions at President Clinton during his morning run. And Helen is still known for jumping over banquet tables to get to a phone before her competitors. At White House press conferences, she is inevitably the first correspondent to be called on by the President and the last to close with her signature statement, ``Thank you, Mr. President.'' It is with great honor that the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues bestows the Women's Leadership Award to a woman of integrity, grit and boundless energy. She serves as a tremendous role model for millions of women in America. An equally important role model for this country is Dorothy Height. Despite reaching the ripe age of 87 years old, Dr. Height is still considered one of the nation's most influential and effective women's leader. She has her master's degree in social work, and has been awarded 23 honorary degrees from various universities, including Harvard University. Some of her most impressive achievements include her leadership of the YWCA, National Council of Negro Women and the Center for Racial Justice. During a tragic time of civil unrest, she was the first Black and first woman named to deal with the Harlem Riots of 1935 and sat at the table with President Johnson during the civil rights movement to develop meaningful civil rights legislation. Dr. Height served as a vocal and extremely effective leader in the civil rights movement to address lynching, desegregate the armed forces, reform the criminal justice system and free access to public accommodations. She also was the national president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority from 1947 to 1956. Today, Dr. Height is still viewed as a dynamic orator who contributes invaluable intellectual insight to national discussions on race relations, the role of women and a range of civil rights issues. She has traveled the world to study other cultures and developed a critical understanding of the role of women in Africa, Asia, India and Latin America. She has become a living legacy throughout this country and abroad. I am so honored to join my colleague Barbara Lee in bestowing an award on Dr. Height for her unyielding determination to never give up, her enthusiastic, can-do approach to solving some of the nation's most complex problems, and her astute understanding of the world that can be created through equality of opportunity for all of humanity.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost) for yielding me this time. I come before my colleagues today as the Vice Chair of the Women's Caucus to speak out against H.R. 472 and to oppose this rule, which is no more than another roadblock by the majority to prevent a fair and accurate census count in the year 2000. Having talked with women leaders across this country about the need for an accurate count, I know just how critical an inclusive census will be for women and their children in 2000. In 1990, half of the 4 million people that were missed were children, our most vulnerable constituency. The majority of those children that were undercounted and missed were minorities. In fact, 7 percent of black children were missed, 5 percent of Hispanic children were missed, and more than 6 percent of Native American children were missed. In my district alone, Mr. Speaker, more than 30,000 people were not counted. As a former mayor, I certainly understand the critical need for local involvement in the census, but there is a right way and a wrong way to do it. H.R. 472 is the wrong way. Local involvement cannot be conducted at the expense of accuracy. H.R. 472, a wolf in sheep's clothing, actually jeopardizes the count under the auspices of accuracy. Local involvement must come before the census, when the Bureau is compiling address lists, as my colleague the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) has suggested. Her amendment wisely focuses on the few situations where post-census local review would be useful, such as an account for boundary changes and new construction. Post-census local review, as defined by the bill offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller), however, would waste critical time and money in the census count. In fact, the plan offered by the gentleman from Florida may prevent the census numbers from being compiled and completed on time. We simply cannot, Mr. Speaker, jeopardize a fair and accurate count. It is too important to America's families and children. Mr. Speaker, not only do I stand here today to oppose this bill on behalf of the 37th Congressional District of California, but I also oppose this bill on behalf of the women of America who know full well how important the need for a truly fair and accurate count is.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, March 16, 1999, I was conducting official business in my congressional district and missed rollcall votes 50, 51, and 52. Had I been present I would have voted ``yea.''