Juanita Millender-McDonald

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

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

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, if the House is going to vote out a proof-of-citizenship requirement to allow citizens to exercise their constitutional right to vote, then we should consider who will be disenfranchised by this new requirement, and we should ensure that the States have both the funds and have determined their needs to implement this mandate. Of course, we should exempt those who will be greatly burdened and are least likely to fit the straw man profile which the majority has thrown up as its excuse to pass this bill, voting by noncitizens. There is no showing that this straw man is a problem of sufficient proportions to justify a 21st century poll tax. There is no empirical data on which to justify this unfunded mandate, and the personal financial burden and, in some cases, the sheer impossibility of citizens to obtain the required documentation must be taken into consideration. I therefore offer a motion to recommit, which does the following things to the Republican proof-of-citizenship photo ID obstacle to voting. First, the motion to recommit exempts all military voters and their families from the requirement of submitting a copy of their photo ID when mailing in an absentee ballot, not just those uniformed personnel overseas, as the underlying Hyde bill allows. Second, my motion exempts all elderly and disabled voters from having to provide their photo ID at polls or when mailing in absentee ballots. They have financial and access obstacles which ordinary citizens simply do not have, and we need to recognize and adjust for that. Third, the motion prevents the bill from taking effect in any State and during any fiscal year in which the Federal Government is acting irresponsibly by not providing sufficient Federal funds to cover the State costs of the unfunded mandate of making photo IDs available. Fourth, my motion to recommit empowers the States by requiring that this new proof of citizenship photo ID provision will not take effect until the State's chief executive, chief election officer, and attorney general have each certified to Congress that voting by noncitizens in the State is a persistent and significant problem that can't be resolved by existing State and Federal laws. Fifth, the motion seeks to enlighten the Congress on the impact of this law by having States issue a report to the Election Assistance Commission on the number of individuals who are disenfranchised because of a photo ID requirement. Sixth, the motion seeks to temper the likely effects of this harsh new statute by holding its application in abeyance until the Election Assistance Commission reports to Congress that 95 percent of the voting-age population has acquired a photo ID which meets the requirements of this act. Seventh, my motion prevents the law from taking effect until the Election Assistance Commission studies and reports to Congress that the photo ID law will not disproportionately disenfranchise the elderly, disabled, minority and Native Americans. Finally, the motion exempts Katrina victims whose records were destroyed and who were unable to obtain the requisite documentation, as long as they certify under penalty of perjury to the appropriate State election officials. These are major concerns but by no means the only ones.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Corrine Brown).

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, this week we celebrate National Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Week, and all that they have done for our country. While I did not attend an HBCU, I have reaped the benefits of these institutions, as have all Americans. Historically black colleges and universities were founded at a time when segregation was often the norm, whether officially sanctioned or not. These institutions offered African-Americans the opportunity to pursue an education that may have otherwise been out of their reach. Education is very often the key to a successful and productive life, and HBCUs continue to provide this invaluable asset to thousands of African Americans and other Americans. HBCUs have helped many students who have gone on to become leaders and who have left a positive and lasting effect on society as a whole. In law and politics, HBCUs have yielded great minds such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Thurgood Marshall. HBCUs have educated cultural and literary greats such as Toni Morrison, Langston Hughes, and Ralph Ellison. Many talented entertainers and athletes have attended HBCUs, including Oprah Winfrey and football great Walter Payton. These individuals and countless others have gone on to make a significant contribution to society after attending an HBCU. For all that HBCUs have done to improve the lives of African Americans, and for all that these African Americans have in turn done to improve society, we are eternally grateful.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, this week we mark the fifth anniversary of the tragic and unprecedented events of September 11, 2001. On this fateful day, we lost not only thousands of our fellow citizens, but a piece of our innocence as well. On behalf of my constituents of the 37th District of California, I affirm that we will not forget those who lost their lives on that dreadful day. We offer our heartfelt prayers to the families of the victims, and assure them that time has not dulled our deepest sympathies. We shall never fully recover from the loss of so many of our best and bravest and brightest. This attack on our homeland showed us that great vigilance and effort are required to prevent terrorists from realizing their murderous aims. This important lesson was paid for dearly, and we owe it to all those who lost their lives to continue to work to protect our country from another attack. In particular, I am acutely aware of the need to secure our Nation's ports, as my District is adjacent to the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles, which are among our Nation's busiest. Some 95 percent of American trade enters the U.S. through 1 of 361 seaports on board over 8,500 foreign vessels and makes more than 55,000 port calls per year, which total worth is nearly $1 trillion. It is our duty to protect America's ports which remain highly vulnerable targets. In fact, over 52 percent of all waterborne cargo moves through the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles alone. Securing these and the rest of America's ports as well as the economic contributions they make must remain a top priority for each of us. As such, I am pleased that Congress is finally working on a bipartisan basis to address this gaping hole in our security. I am a proud supporter of the SAFE Port Act, which would appropriate a dedicated stream of port security funding. I look forward to continuing to work on this important issue with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle. I appeal to all Members of Congress to work toward these goals in the spirit of unity that we felt so poignantly 5 years ago in the wake of the terrorist attacks. This is really the greatest honor we could offer the victims of that day.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, a year ago last week, Americans saw one of the most devastating natural disasters in our country's recent history. Hurricane Katrina ravaged the gulf coast and overwhelmed the levees of New Orleans, resulting in near total submersion of that city. A year later, the flood waters have receded, yet the devastation sadly remains. One area where this devastation is most readily apparent is in the city's public schools, many of which were destroyed beyond repair in the storms. However, the system which has arisen in the wake of Katrina is fragmented and poorly organized. More than half of New Orleans' schools remain closed a year after the storm. Of those that are open, some are run by the city, others are run by the State, and others are run by private companies. As a result, area schools may have different application procedures, admission rules, and starting dates. That is no way to educate children. Further complicating this problem is the fact that more students are returning than were ever previously expected, putting an additional strain on a system already stretched to the breaking point. Parents have expressed frustration at the difficulty of navigating this system, and many have been unable to enroll their children in school, despite their best efforts. These barriers to education are intolerable, Mr. Speaker, anywhere in America. However, it is particularly egregious that we have allowed such barriers to exist for a population that is already so challenged. We must do better, especially for an area with a high minority population, high poverty levels and historically poor academic outcomes. The consequences of the failure to improve the education system in New Orleans are all too real. Without drastic improvement, we will surely see higher dropout rates and substandard education for those who manage to remain in school. Furthermore, the effects of this neglect will not rest solely with the young and vulnerable. A poorly educated population promises a bleak future for the entire City of New Orleans and for this country, one characterized by poverty, crime and broken families. We cannot leave the victims of Hurricane Katrina to fend for themselves twice. President Bush has promised to stand with the victims of Hurricane Katrina until the job is done, yet the persistent problems with New Orleans schools are a disheartening sign that the job is far from done. In Congress, we have approved four emergency spending bills that together provide more than $110 billion in Federal aid for rebuilding these areas. However, less than half of this money has actually been spent by Federal agencies, with hardly any accountability. Much needs to be done to help New Orleans recover from the disastrous effects of Hurricane Katrina. However, we must prioritize children in our efforts to rebuild this city, making them first priority. Therefore, I call on the Bush administration, as well as relevant State and local agencies, to promise the children of New Orleans that they will have access to safe, high quality schools this year. As part of this, the administration must exercise the oversight and follow- through necessary to ensure that Federal funds are appropriately spent and schools are built. Our children can wait no longer. While Hurricane Katrina resulted in much destruction along the Gulf Coast, it has also given us an unprecedented opportunity to completely remake underperforming schools. We must do that for the children of America. We must do that for New Orleans children. I demand that this administration and other relevant persons not let this opportunity slip through their fingers.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to speak out of order.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the House Republican minimum wage legislation which is not a clean bill. A clean bill would not have poison pills in it. Mr. Speaker this is a sad day. The American people need our help. From coast to coast, the lowest paid Americans are clamoring for assistance as they struggle to live off of wages not suitable for this decade. It is obvious that an increase in the minimum wage is sadly overdue. Unfortunately, when the majority finally provides the opportunity to vote on increasing the minimum wage, it comes to us bloated, filled with provisions harmful to the American worker and which ensure that this legislation is never enacted. While it is unfortunate that the majority leadership has not seen fit to bring legislation to the floor that neither the American people nor most of my colleagues have had a chance to review, it is downright insulting that the legislation on the floor today was written knowing that it will never pass out of the Senate. This bill is dead on arrival in the Senate. For the last two-years, the Democrats have fought to increase the minimum wage. The effect of the last minimum wage increase in 1996-97 has been completely eroded by inflation, which, when factored in, the $5.15 minimum wage today is lower than the $4.25 minimum wage level before the 1996-97 increase. At the same time fuel prices have continued to skyrocket, housing prices are soaring and health care continues to be out of reach for those whose jobs do not provide it for them. If the Democrat minimum wage initiative would come to the floor, an estimated 14.9 million workers would receive an increase in their hourly wage rate if the Democrat minimum wage were raised. Over half a million of these workers reside in my home State of California. But this Republican bill does not provide the minimum wage increase American workers need. It delays the increase and nullifies wage protections for tipped workers. Mr. Speaker, in the almost 10 years since the last increase in the minimum wage, the purchasing power of the minimum wage has deteriorated by 20 percent and the value of the minimum wage is at its lowest level since 1955 when adjusted for inflation. This is clearly unacceptable. The American people need us more than ever. I urge my colleagues to only support a clean bill focused solely on the minimum wage and to vote against this Republican legislation in its current form.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize an intelligent, gifted and courageous young man, Jonathan Strickland, who is a 14-year-old African American California resident who began his training to fly airplanes and helicopters at the age of 10 at Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum. This museum is located in my district at the Compton Woodley Airport in Compton, California, and is a nonprofit organization that strives to give adolescents the opportunity to reach their goal of flight. All program participants are able to receive free training, as long as they perform local community service. The museum director and an accomplished flight instructor, Robin Petgrave, saw fit to create this program that would serve youth in poverty stricken neighborhoods and provide them with a positive alternative away from the streets. Jonathan Strickland has clearly benefited from Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum. I am proud to recognize his incredible achievements. He broke four world records in June, including being the youngest person to solo both a plane and a helicopter on the same day, being the youngest African American to solo a helicopter, and to fly a helicopter internationally. He also flew a helicopter round trip internationally. On July 1, 2006, Jonathan successfully landed back at Compton Woodley Airport and was greeted by his family, friends, the Compton Mayor Perrodin, well wishers, the media, as well as the original members of the Tuskegee Airmen. He was also presented with an application for future employment with the Los Angeles County Fire Department Operations Division. Ambitious and brave, Jonathan Strickland was able to live his dream because of Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum. I am proud that this wonderful program is in my Congressional district, and that it is changing young people's lives and creating ways for them to reach their potential and excel. Jonathan's future goals include becoming a test pilot, attending the Air Force Academy, and eventually becoming a commercial pilot. And as already a world record setter, I am confident that he will surpass every goal he sets for himself. He has recently graduated from St. Francis Cabrini School, and will enter Cleveland High School as a freshman in September of 2006. I am anxious to see what records he will set and break as a high school student. I join with his family, friends, his community, his supporters, and the Nation who are rightfully very proud of his accomplishments and have recognized him for his outstanding achievements. The President has also received a letter outlining those achievements. We are extremely proud of this young man.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to speak out of order.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, further reserving my right to object, I would like to now join the chairman and urge the House to adopt this printing resolution. The two publications to be reprinted, ``Our Flag'' and the pocket edition of the U.S. Constitution, are very popular with the American people, especially teachers and students. I know when I go to my schools, our students really enjoy these two very fine publications telling them about their flag and about the Constitution in an abbreviated form. So the supplies, Mr. Speaker, of both have been exhausted, and with Constitution Day approaching on September 17, now is an ideal time to replenish our supplies. The resolution also provides for printing of a new publication about the U.S. Botanic Gardens. Mr. Speaker, I remove my reservation, and I urge all Members to support the resolution.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the right to object. I shall not object, but I will yield to the gentleman from Michigan to further explain his request.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman and the ranking member and the CBC chair for their moving forward this equal protection under the law for all Americans. I tell you, the gentleman who proposed this said that this is to help save the Voting Rights Act. In fact, it is an attempt to destroy it, because this amendment turns section 5 on its head under this amendment. Instead of enforcing the Voting Rights Act and stopping voting discrimination, the Department of Justice would be forced to spend nearly all of its time conducting investigations. As the ranking member of the Committee on House Administration, which oversees Federal elections, voter disenfranchisement continues nationwide, and this is the wrong time to weaken this voting rights bill with all of these poison amendments. Three Presidents cannot be wrong. The architect of this one, the late President Lyndon Johnson's daughters are asking for this to be passed without these poison pill. We had the late Ronald Reagan, who continued this piece of legislation for 25 years, and our present administration, the President who strongly wants to renew this. We must move forward. We must let generations to come know that we were steadfast in keeping the promise of this America.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be a sponsor of H.R. 9, ``The Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006.'' This legislation compliments the historic Voting Rights Act of 1965, which is considered to be among the greatest legislative accomplishments in our nation's history. Often referred to as the ``Crown Jewel'' of America's civil rights laws, the Act memorializes those who marched, struggled and even died to secure the right for all Americans to vote. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 passed just months after the historic Selma to Montgomery march and remains a lasting achievement of the Civil Rights movement. It helped to change the face of Southern politics in ways we could hardly imagine. In Alabama, in the space of only one year after the Act became law, black voter registration practically doubled from 116,000 in August 1965 to 228,000 in August, 1966. By 1990, there were more than 7,300 black elected officials nationwide, including the governor of Virginia. The Act produced black Members of Congress from Alabama, Florida and North Carolina for the first time since Reconstruction. Rural black voters in Georgia and Louisiana sent black representatives to Congress as well. One of the more meaningful provisions of the Act called for the placement of federal referees and monitors in counties with a clear practice of disenfranchisement. There were and still are subtle tools to discourage blacks, other minorities and poor people from voting. Local political establishments still use many of the same tactics: annexation ineligibility; purging voter lists; relocating polling places; the use of official government issued voter-ID cards and raising residency requirements. These are some of the discriminating practices that undermine the impact of black and other minority voters in particular. As the Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration which oversees Federal elections, I applaud the substantial progress that has been made in the area of voting rights through the 1965 Voting Rights Act. However, I also know that we must continue our efforts to protect the rights of every American Voter. This can be achieved through the reauthorization and restoration of the expiring provisions of this vital law. Chief among the expiring provisions is Section 5, which requires that any change to voting rules in covered jurisdictions be submitted to either the United States Department of Justice or the United States District Court for the District of Columbia for ``preclearance'' before it can take effect. Through Section 5, the Voting Rights Act has prevented thousands of discriminatory voting changes from undermining minority voters' access to the ballot. H.R. 9 will also extend Section 203, the language minority protection of the Act. This provision requires jurisdictions that fall under the purview of the law to make all election information that is available in English available in the local minority language. Thus, all citizens will have a fundamental right and opportunity to register, learn the details of the elections and cast a free vote. During hearings, House Members received substantial evidence from advocacy groups and the Department of Justice that language minorities remain the victims of discrimination in voting. There is no more fundamental right than the right to vote. For nearly a century many Americans were denied this fundamental right of citizenship. We must continue our efforts to protect the rights of every American voter with the reauthorization and restoration of the expiring provisions of the Act. H.R. 9 will renew and strengthen the Voting Rights Act for another twenty-five years. A vote for this important legislation will send a resounding positive message to the next generation and generations of Americans to come. I urge its passage.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, on rollcall No. 347, I was detained and was unable to get to the floor before the roll closed. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.'' (By unanimous consent, Mr. Boehner was allowed to speak out of order.) Legislative Program

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to stand tonight and thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for passing H.R. 4416, a bill I introduced to help missing children be reunited with their families. Let me first begin by thanking Chairman Tom Davis and Ranking Member Waxman for reporting this measure out of the House Committee on Government Reform. I would also like to thank Chairman Ehlers for the role that he and the Committee on House Administration have played in moving this legislation forward. Mr. Speaker, my bill will permanently authorize the use of official franked and penalty mail to assist in the location of missing and exploited children. Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita opened many eyes to the undeniable reality that faces so many of America's most vulnerable. In the aftermath of those disasters, TV screens across the country aired photographs and other information about missing children throughout the gulf region. Fortunately, in the days and months since, the children missing as a result of these hurricanes have been reunited with their families, and that is very good news. However, one thing remains clear. This Congress should take every reasonable step available to help families, not only those from the gulf coast but all across America be reunited with their loved ones that have been missing. My bill represents one step in that effort. I have reviewed this matter at great length in the course of my work as ranking member of the Committee on House Administration and as a member of the Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards. In my judgment, the congressional frank presents an ideal opportunity to distribute information about missing and exploited children in addition to being an effective way for Members to communicate with their constituents about our important work. Beginning in 1985 and for a period of 3 years, section 3220 of title 39 of the U.S. Code authorized the use of Federal penalty mail to assist in U.S. Department of Justice efforts to locate and recover missing children. Congress subsequently reauthorized this law three times for various lengths of time, but the last reauthorization expired 4 years ago, and unfortunately it has not been renewed or extended. This program, which is entirely voluntary, has been a joint effort between the Department of Justice and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. By permanently authorizing this legislation, we are providing Federal agencies and the United States Congress with the opportunity to help in the recovery of missing and exploited children throughout this country. Under the provisions of my bill, biographical data and pictures of children featured in the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's photo distribution program can be included in various categories of official Federal Government mail. According to the center, one in six of these featured children is recovered as a direct result of someone in the general public recognizing the child in the picture and notifying authorities. The U.S. Postal Service reports that in fiscal year 2005, U.S. Government agencies mailed over 1.3 billion pieces of penalty mail. If only 50 percent of this mail had included a picture and biographical sketch of one of the more than 797,000 children currently reported as missing, there would have been over 708 million chances of a missing child being identified and reunited with his or her family. Mr. Speaker, I would like to include in the Record a letter that I received from the president of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Mr. Ernie Allen, urging reauthorization of this program and emphasizing its value and importance. Mr. Speaker, this is a very important piece of legislation that Congress has supported for almost 20 years. I am grateful that this body will continue that support by the passing of my bill on Monday so that we can do our part to help bring these children home safely. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Alexandria, VA, March 24, 2006. Hon. Juanita Millender-McDonald, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Representative Millender-McDonald: On behalf of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (``NCMEC''), I am writing to commend you for introducing H.R. 4416, a bill to reauthorize the use of official and franked mail to assist in the location and recovery of missing children. NCMEC can attest to the fact that distributing photos of missing children is extremely successful. We began our photo distribution program in 1984 and now have 345 public and private partners. We are pleased to report that one out of every six missing children in our program has been recovered as a direct result of the photo being recognized by a member of the public. We are grateful to the members of Congress and executive branch offices that have chosen to join us in our efforts over the years. Thank you for your initiative in continuing this program that has proven to be a valuable tool in the search for missing children. Sincerely, Ernie Allen, President.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to speak out of order.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and distinguished career of Francis Mary McHie Rains for her important contributions to society, especially women and African Americans. Ms. McHie Rains, the eldest of three children, was born to John and Hermina McHie in Minneapolis, Minnesota on January 29, 1911. After high school she attempted to enroll at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing, but she was denied admission because of her color. Ms. McHie Rains successfully petitioned the legislature to become one of the first African-American women to be accepted to the school and she graduated in 1932. Ms. McHie Rains was a pioneer. She became the first African American employed at two major Midwestern hospitals before serving as assistant to the director of the School of Nursing at Meharry Medical College in Nashville where she met her future husband, Dr. Horace Rains. The couple married and had two children before moving to California, where they established a family medical practice in my district of Long Beach. In 1953 Mrs. Rains became the first African American woman to teach at the School of Nursing for the University of Southern California's general hospital. Mrs. Rains also served as a board member of the Long Beach Children's Psychiatric Clinic, the National Council of Negro Women, and the NAACP. She was an involved member of Grant AME Church for nearly 50 years, as well as a Sunday school teacher. During her retirement, she served as the Chair of the Long Beach Community Improvement League. Mrs. Francis Mary McHie Rains passed away on May 21, 2006 at the age of 95 in Long Beach, California. I proudly recognize Francis Mary McHie Rains, a woman whose faith, wisdom and courage became her legacy. I rise today to recognize the long and distinguished career of Francis Mary McHie Rains for her important contributions to society, especially women and African Americans. Mrs. McHie Rains, the eldest of 3 children was born to John and Hermina McHie in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 29, 1911. After high school, she attempted to enroll at the University of Minnesota's School of Nursing, but she was denied admission because of her color. With the help of a State Senator and a local African-American activist and businesswoman, Mrs. McHie Rains successfully petitioned the legislature to become one of the first African-American women to be accepted to the University of Minnesota's School of Nursing and the first African American to graduate from the university in 1932. Mrs. McHie Rains was a pioneer, as a young professional she became the first African American employed at the Minneapolis General Hospital where she served as a superior, and at the Herman Keifer Hospital in Detroit, Michigan where she was one of the 12 women who broke the color barrier at the hospital. While serving as Associate Professor and assistant to the Director of the School of Nursing at Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, she met her future husband, Dr. Horace Rains. The couple married and had 2 children. They later moved to southern California where together they established a family medical practice in Long Beach. In 1953, Mrs. Rains became the first African American woman to teach at the School of Nursing for the University of Southern California General Hospital in Los Angeles, and later became a real estate broker in 1972 and was the owner of a Century 21 franchise. Mrs. Rains served diligently as board member of the Long Beach Children's Psychiatric Clinic, the National Council of Negro Women, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, NAACP. She was an involved and long time member of Grant AME Church for nearly 50 years, as well as a Sunday school teacher. During her retirement she served as a Chair of the Board of the Long Beach Community Improvement League. Mrs. Francis Mary McHie Rains passed away on May 21, 2006 at the age of 95 at Windsor Gardens Convalescent Center of Long Beach, California. She leaves to cherish her memory one son, Anthony J. Rains, M.D. of Renton, Washington; a daughter, Kimberly Kerns of Houston, Texas; and 2 grandchildren; one great-grandson; and a host of relatives and friends. Mrs. Rains was a woman of many firsts; she was a trailblazer and loyal servant. Those who knew and loved her will always remember her dedication to excellence and progress in her community, and as loyal and dedicated constituent of my district, I am very proud to be able to remember and celebrate her life as a part of my community. I join with her children, family and friends in tribute to this good and faithful servant who has gone home, leaving us to humbly acknowledge the living legacy of a great educator, mentor and abundant love evident in the lives of all those she has touched. I proudly recognize Francis Mary McHie Rains, a woman of faith, courage, dedication, persistence, understanding and wisdom, for her career accomplishments over a span of 70 years as a pioneer and her contributions of service in caring for the people of our community, our Nation and the world.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman. I do recognize you will use all of your efforts to try to increase this. I appreciate your commitment to this successful program. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw the amendment.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Today, I am offering an amendment to increase funding for the Department of Justice drug court programs. My amendment would raise allocated funding to drug court programs in the bill from $40 million to $45 million. Mr. Chairman, we Members of Congress recognize that substance abuse not only has devastating effects on the abuser but also on the entire community. The total estimated cost of drug abuse to American communities in 2000 was $160.7 billion, mostly from health care costs and productivity losses. Also troubling is the rise in drug-related crime. Between 1984 and 1999, the number of defendants charged with a drug offense in Federal court increased by 247 percent. In 2001, substance abusers accounted for more than half of all sentenced Federal inmates. However, many drug-related offenses are nonviolent, and incarceration will not prevent repeated drug use. Treatment is the key. Drug courts are a proven, unique tool in the war against substance abuse. These special courts were developed to curb dependency at the local level by reflecting the unique strengths of each community and using comprehensive supervision, drug testing, and treatment services. To date, there are nearly 1,800 drug court programs that serve more than 70,000 participants with impressive recovery results. The program allows for the full weight of interveners to be brought to bear on the offender, compelling him or her to deal with the substance abuse problem. The treatment represents a viable long-term solution with long-term results as opposed to incarceration, a short-term course of action that fails to treat the addiction problems. I am proud that while he served as our Nation's Drug Czar, Asa Hutchinson came to my district and visited my drug court in Compton, California. He went away believing it was a model for others nationwide. It is clear that these courts make a difference, Mr. Chairman, and deserve sufficient funding levels. I wish to recognize Chairman Lewis, Chairman Wolf, and Ranking Member Mollohan for their dedication to drug courts and thank them for increasing this account by 300 percent from last year. With the understanding that Chairman Wolf and Chairman Lewis will fight in conference to increase drug court funding to $45 million, I have agreed to withdraw my amendment, and I defer to the chairman at this time. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I wish to commend the Chairman and Ranking Member for their support of my request to include $228 million in funding for the C-17 aircraft procurement in H.R. 4939, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror and Hurricane Recovery. This funding allows for the procurement of seven new aircraft and clearly signifies the Defense Department's growing commitment to the future construction of the C-17 aircraft through fiscal year 2008. The House and Senate are fervent believers in the C-17, as this plane has exceeded all expectations and is one of the most successful airlift cargo aircrafts of the Defense Department. The C-17 is currently being flown 160 percent more than usual to deliver supplies to war theatres and to conduct humanitarian missions. The C-17 is vital to our national security, and an irreplaceable tool for our country to meet our growing global commitments. The C-17 is fighting for America, and I have proudly led the fight for the C-17. My work with the Secretary of the Air Force, letters to the Secretary of Defense and working with the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Appropriations Committees of both the House and Senate have resulted in the appropriations we have had approved. In December, I proudly delivered a letter to the President that had the signatures of 148 House Members and 13 Senators supporting the C-17 program. I am pleased to represent the Boeing Company in my District, and the skilled workforce who calls Southern California their home. Mr. Speaker, while I am pleased that Congress has done its part for the next fiscal year to provide much-needed C-17's to our troops to fight the War on Terror and to serve humanitarian needs both at home and abroad, I will only intensify my pursuit of further funding. The American Armed Forces deserve to fly with only the best.

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD

Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I am deeply disappointed in the Republican Congress' unwillingness to focus on the truth in Iraq. Calling today's spectacle a true debate of ideas on Iraq does not pass the ``straight face test.'' If House Republican leadership choose to have a real debate on Iraq, Members of the House should be able to offer alternatives and ideas. Instead, they have blocked all alternatives by Democrats and for 10 hours the American people are left with the same empty rhetoric they have been hearing from the House Republicans on the floor for 3 years. My constituents in the 37th District want a strategy in Iraq. They want to know when our brave young soldiers will return home to their families safely. Given this, I find it disingenuous for Republican leadership to talk tough about the war on terror when this debate is supposed to be about American troops in Iraq. It was the Republican leadership who could not wait to divert resources from the war on terror to chase after Saddam Hussein in the first place. Many Democrats said this was a dangerous path, and sadly, that is exactly where we find ourselves. Mr. Speaker, I support withdrawing our troops at a specific time and redeploying them to the periphery of the arena. Redeploying our troops is the natural and timely evolution to our mission in Iraq. But now is the time that we need to start the process and planning of bringing our troops home. Our troops have contributed to the building of a democracy, assisted in training an Iraqi police and military force and overseen three elections as well as the drafting of a national constitution. They have accomplished a great deal. And we have supported them throughout. I join the American people in their deep patriotism and love for our great land, and I join them in their solemn appreciation for the thousands of American families who have sacrificed a son or daughter. However, our troops have been in Iraq for over 3 years. We knew that when we entered this conflict that our troops were not going to be a permanent fixture in Iraq. This was the understanding Congress had with the administration and the American people. The men and women who have given their lives in liberating Iraq have completed their mission and they have done so with valor. Now it is time for the Iraqi people to rebuild their communities and it is time for us to make our communities whole again by bringing our troops home. The resolution today is not what the Republican leadership had notified us of. I can only hope that the next Iraq debate on House floor takes place both soon and with greater substance.