Gregory Meeks

Mr. MEEKS of New York

Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings). (Mr. HASTINGS of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).

Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee). (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio).

Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), a senior member of the Committee on International Relations.

Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega). (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).

Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman).

Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise to speak out against House Joint Resolution 44 to declare war on Yugoslavia. The U.S. and our NATO allies do not consider themselves at war with Yugoslavia or its people. NATO is acting to deter unlawful violence in Kosovo that endangers the stability of the Balkans and threatens wider conflict in Europe. Yesterday, the Committee on International Relations reported this resolution with a negative recommendation by a unanimous vote. This was a right vote. Today, I hope my colleagues will follow suit and vote unanimously against this resolution. Mr. Speaker, in my opinion a declaration of war is a very serious step. Congress has declared war in only five conflicts: the War of 1812; the war with Mexico in 1846; the war with Spain in 1898; and the first and Second World Wars. In the 20th century, without exception, presidential requests for a formal declaration of war by Congress have been on findings by the President that U.S. territory or sovereign rights had been attacked or threatened by foreign nations. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi).

Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Capuano).

Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Taylor).

Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Rothman). (Mr. ROTHMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. MEEKS of New York

Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, during the past few days I have asked myself, because I was against the conflict in Kosovo, I asked myself why, and I kept coming up with the answer that I was upset with the administration because it did not do the right thing in regards to the genocide that took place in Rwanda, Uganda, Sierra Leone and the Sudan. And then I thought again, and I said, and came to the conclusion that 1, 2, 3 or even 4 wrongs do not equal a right. Therefore, I changed my opinion and said we should stay the course in Kosovo and correct our policy in Africa, for genocide is, indeed, genocide wherever we may find it. I believe we should follow the lead of the administration and NATO in preserving humanity, for we cannot sit idly by as thousands of innocent people are raped, murdered, stripped of their identities and forced from their homelands like what occurred in Rwanda, Uganda, Sierra Leone and the Sudan. We must not allow evil to take over, and ethnic cleansing is indeed an evil. We should not sit on the fence between right and wrong. We should be firmly on the side of the fence that is right. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said war can never be a positive or absolute good, but it could serve as a negative good in the sense of preventing the growth of an evil force. I believe that Mr. Milosevic is an evil force that must be stopped.

Mr. MEEKS of New York

Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, on April 10th, this city was treated to the sight of the thousands of Americans of the Sikh religion marching through Washington to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the Sikh's most sacred event, the founding of the ``Khalsa'' (Community of Sikh believers). For Sikhs in this country and around the world, it was a sacred and inspiring day. However, both the reporting of the march and several subsequent comments placed in the Congressional Record, made it appear as if the march was something it was not. For some reason, the comments in the newspaper and elsewhere made it appear as if the entire U.S. Sikh community was here to advocate separation from India, home of the world's largest Sikh community. This was simply not true. The Sikhs who came to Washington traveled here to show pride in their religion and their way of life. They came to celebrate the deep and abiding three- century heritage as found among the 22 million Sikhs worldwide. It is a heritage that has enriched both this nation and the Sikhs home country, India. Sikhs have served at all levels of government in India, including the Presidency. They have played a key role in India's economic and military development. The vast majority of Sikhs are committed to India and its continued progress. The Sikh community is held in high regard by all Indians. Sadly, a small number of Sikhs here seem to have been determined to pervert the purpose of the march. It was their intent to promote a narrow agenda--a partial dissolution of the world's most populous democracy, India. While this small minority is vocal and active, it is a very small minority of American and world Sikhs. But being active, it was their comments that got reported in the press and reprinted in the Record. What they espouse, a separate homeland for Sikhs has virtually no support in the Sikhs traditional homeland, the Punjab of India, and very little support here in the United States. And for good reason. Rupturing the territorial integrity of India invites greater instability in a region of the world where U.S. interests are best served by stability. Mr. Speaker, the April 10 march showed the finest of America--freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, freedom of speech. The great numbers of Sikhs who visited our city recently came here to celebrate their religion and their way of life. Any suggestion that these Sikhs came here with a political agenda is incorrect and does a disservice to the community at large.

Mr. MEEKS of New York

Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a lady, and I mean a lady in every sense of the word, Ms. Rosa Parks. Forty years ago Mrs. Parks, in her quiet, gentle way, said enough is enough. Forty years ago Mrs. Parks sat down so others could stand up for freedom, justice, and equality. Forty years ago this gentle lady gave birth to a movement that broke the chains of Jim Crowism and its ugly, cruel, and inhuman ways. Her actions on that fateful day in December of 1955 set forth a chain of events for which every citizen, black, white, Latino and Asian, Jew and Gentile, everyone of this great country will be forever in her debt. I cannot express how her act of heroism has impacted my life personally. Growing up in public housing in New York City, she inspired me as a young child to join the fight for freedom and to always stand up for dignity and justice. Her quiet, gentle actions commanded that every man, woman, and child has the right to be treated with dignity and respect, not how the Jim Crow regime perceived many or all African Americans to be, less than human. I do not know where we would have been today without this great woman, for without Ms. Parks there would not have been a Montgomery bus boycott. Without the Montgomery bus boycott there might not have been a Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Without the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, we would not have known Dr. Martin Luther King in the manner that we have known him and the contributions he has made to this great Nation. Back in 1955 there were only three Members, three African American Members of this body. Now we stand 39 strong, and in large part it is due to this woman. Mr. Speaker, I say that no one is more deserving to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor than Ms. Rosa Parks.

Mr. MEEKS of New York

Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, when I won a special election in February, little did I expect that 10 months later I would have to cast a vote that was certain to become one of the most important in my life. I intend to vote against each of these articles of impeachment. My reasons are neither partisan, nor do they reflect my distaste and dissatisfaction with the President's behavior. Instead, my votes are a protest against an unfair process. The inequities of the impeachment process have been glaring. The Republicans started with Whitewater, and they found nothing. Ken Starr then went to Travelgate, he found nothing. He looked at Filegate, he found nothing. Mr. Starr never made statements. He never released documents. In fact, he made no effort to publicly admit to the lack of evidence against the President. Instead, he developed relationships with the Jones legal team, and withheld this information from the Justice Department. Rather than disclosing this bias to the proper parties, Mr. Starr was now working in cahoots with Jones, Linda Tripp, and others to set up the President. What we are doing here is not a prosecution, it is a persecution. Indeed, it is a political lynching. The Republicans have had no agenda for over a year, and with this act today, they are signaling they have no agenda for the future, rather than working together in a bipartisan manner on issues. The people want censure and move on.

Mr. MEEKS of New York

Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, just 9 months ago I was not a Member of this body, but I remember listening to the President's statement on education during his State of the Union address, and I stand here today as a Member of the Congress probably for one reason: education. We can build prisons, or we can build schools. I think that all Americans know that the best solution is to build schools. When we build schools, we are showing our children that we have confidence in them. Oftentimes when they go astray, we say what happened to the children of the day? What is going on with the children today? Mr. Speaker, I tell colleagues it is not the children, it is us. It is us who fail to put our money where our mouths are and put it where our most important commodities are, our children. We must, at all sacrifices, make sure that we build schools; therefore, we will not have to build prisons. Make sure that we make the class sizes smaller so that we can understand, these kids can understand, what is going on, and the teachers can relate to them. This is what this is all about. We must not leave here until we have put money in schools as opposed to other things. We must build our schools.

Mr. MEEKS of New York

Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, it is with a great sense of loss that I pay tribute to Mr. Benny Waters, a jazz legend and the oldest touring jazz musician, who died on August 11. Benjamin Arthur Waters was born the youngest of seven children to Edward and Francis Waters on January 23, 1902 in Brighton, Maryland. Mr. Waters started his musical education at age 5 with organ lessons, and he soon moved to reed instruments. While in high school, still in the pre-jazz era, he played syncopated music with Charlie Miller's band. In his late teenage years he attended the Boston Conservatory of Music, where he studied theory and arranging and gave private clarinet lessons. Among his pupils was Harry Carney, who went on to play baritone saxophone with Duke Ellington. In 1952, a turning point came in Waters' life when he was asked to join Jimmy Archey's Band for a European tour. The saxophonist decided to stay on in Paris and remained there making it his home wile touring festivals and giving concerts in Europe for the next 42 years. Last year, the French government presented Waters with its distinguished ``Chevalier Legion d'Honneur.'' Failing eyes and the need for cataract surgery brought the saxophonist home and unfortunately resulted in losing his eyesight. Waters' never-failing buoyancy and upbeat spirit brought him to the attention of the ``Statesmen of Jazz'' Tour, and he was invited to become a founding member. Through his performance, he achieved new stature at home in America. Waters, along with his fellow ``Statesmen,'' contributed his time to Arbors Records for the ``Statesmen'' CD, and its sales are donated to perpetuate the nationwide and international tours. His most recent recording was ``Birdland Birthday--Live at 95.'' In blindness, he persevered, averaging 100 dates a year until this year, making a second-floor apartment in Hollis, Queens--a suburban town in my district--his home base. Jazz historians indicate that Benny was one of only six survivors of jazz recording artists of the late 1920s who were still active, along with Claude ``Fiddler'' Williams, Benny Carter, Lionel Hampton, Spiegel Willcox and Rosy McHargue. Benny will be missed by his family, friends, colleagues, fans and communities across the world.

Mr. MEEKS of New York

Mr. MEEKS of New York. Madam Speaker, it has come to my attention this summer, in the heat of the Sosa-McGwire home run race, that the Jackie Robinson Commemorative Coin program was set to end on June 30, 1998. This program has been a source of pride for Americans as we have recognized a true American hero. Mr. Robinson's breaking of the race barrier in professional sports in many aspects signaled our country's drive to equal justice and equal treatment under the law. Moreover, his life's story is indicative of Americans striving to defeat high odds, and his achievements represent the best that this country has to offer. These reflections on his contributions to baseball and indeed his contributions to America were the foundation of our enactment of coin legislation to pay homage to Mr. Robinson. It is with dismay that I learned of the legislative history behind this important program and I was obligated in part to defend this program since it was a program that my predecessor Reverend Floyd Flake helped implement. For those of my colleagues who do not know, this extension is necessary because of the allocation of Jackie Robinson surcharges, the Botanical Gardens Coin Program. I recognized the political agendas at the close of the 104th Congress required this arrangement. However we also recognize today the Jackie Robinson Program has suffered because of the arrangement. Today's legislation, in addition to honoring the Little Rock Nine on whose shoulders I also stand, allowed the Jackie Robinson Foundation to buy the remaining stock until January 1, 1999. It will then be free to resell these coins to help further the foundation's educational mission. I, therefore, urge the adoption of H.R. 2560 and extend my gratitude of thanks to Senator D'Amato, who, with Congressman Flake, created this program, and I also extend my appreciation to the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle), the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters) and the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson) for their efforts in bringing this legislation to the floor today.

Mr. MEEKS of New York

Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, this resolution does not allow us to even set standards. When we do not have standards, what we become is a modern-day kangaroo court. I was arrested myself the other day, and when I was arrested for the immoral practices of the Supreme Court in hiring minority law clerks, I knew that I had a right to a speedy trial. I knew the elements of the crime that were against me. That is not here. Dr. King once said that a threat to justice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. My fellow Americans, this is not about just justice for President Clinton. This is about justice for all of the American people.

Mr. MEEKS of New York

Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a sad heart to extend my condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of officers J.J. Chestnut and John Gibson. I do this on behalf of my wife, Simone, and our family, my staff, and the constituents of the Sixth Congressional District of New York. I have only been a Member of the Capitol community for about 5 months, and it has been a learning experience for me and my staff, as most us are new to Washington. One of the things that we have learned is that there is a strong sense of community here. Members and staff view each other as colleagues, and we view our staffs as part of our families. The Capitol Police, in my opinion, are indeed an extension of that spirit of professional respect, friendship, and family. They protect Members, they protect our staffs, and they protect the many visitors that visit the Capitol every day. They risk their lives for us and for America. But we must ask ourselves, what is it that they are protecting? I believe, as I am sure all Americans believe, that they are defending the crucible of freedom. It is the crucible of freedom that is on display every day in this building. The fact that Officers Chestnut and Gibson gave their lives defending this place will serve as a reminder to me what the words ``duty'' and ``service'' really mean. The senseless act of this past Friday truly define the words ``defending the Constitution.'' Yes, I still learn every day that I am here, as I had learned before I arrived here, that we cannot place a value on human life. But a person who is willing to give their life, make the ultimate sacrifice so that someone else might continue to live, is one who really understands life and its value. Yes, as others have said, freedom is not free. And it is with a tremendous sacrifice that we are free in this country, a freedom that we all to often take for granted. But I just pray that we all understand what sacrifice means after this tragedy. I again send my prayers to the families of these heroes. I know, and I want them to know, that they are not alone. This House, this Congress, and indeed America's prayers are supporting them.

Mr. MEEKS of New York

Mr. MEEKS of New York. Madam Speaker, what I have heard thus far, it seems as though we are trying to make the victims of a tragic situation the culprits. For as a man, as a husband, as a father, and as having the opportunity of talking to many of the women that had to undergo this tragic circumstance, one would think that from the other side that these women went through this willingly and they went through this as a mechanism to get rid of a child. They went through it because of no other alternative, because of serious health results that would have happened had they delivered this child, or because of bad chromosomes, malfunctions with reference to a child. I dare say that most, not most, 95 percent of the women that have to undergo this unfortunate circumstance, this never leaves them. How do I know? Just look at a woman who may have lost a child, for she wanted to have that child, and I can just testify to the fact that just a few months ago, my wife and I lost a child and my wife had to undergo a special procedure for her health to get the child out of the womb. My wife still has not recovered from that, for she had no other alternative because the doctor said that if the fetus stayed in any longer, she could have some serious health ramifications. So this is not a procedure that one does out of convenience, this is what one does out of kindness, out of respect for this woman. Without her, I would be nothing and there would be no chance to have another child.

Mr. MEEKS of New York

Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, I rise to say thank you to a man who is a living legend, a man who is a gentleman, a man who is a hero, not only an African-American hero, but a true American hero. For surely I do not believe that I would be standing here today in this august body as a Member of the United States House of Representatives if it was not for the trailblazing work of Carl and Louis Stokes. I remember, while in high school, maybe it was junior high school, when Carl and Louis Stokes began to run for office in the City of Cleveland. As a young boy, I would scratch my head and say, why can we not do that in New York? That was the beginning of me having an opportunity to admire, look up to, having an idol, and having a hero and a role model in Louis Stokes. I can recall attending the great Howard University School of Law; and while in evidence class, my professor was talking about the landmark case of Terry versus Ohio, and said, did you know that there is a man that works over in the Capitol that was one of the attorneys on this landmark case? That was Louis Stokes. I can recall attending my first Congressional Black Caucus weekend and sitting in the seat and watching Mr. Stokes move about and being in awe. Little did I know that, at that time, that I would be having the pleasure and the opportunity of saying that I served, though ever so briefly, with Louis Stokes. I recall when Willie Mays was traded to the New York Mets, there was a rookie on the team at that time. In the newspapers, they were asking the rookie, when he took his first step at the plate, was he nervous? How did he feel? All he said was, I did not even think about stepping up to the plate. I just remember sitting next to Willie Mays. Well, I can say that my first experience here, and being next to this giant of a man in Louis Stokes, I shall always remember for the rest of my life. But to have that privilege to be able to tell my children and my grandchildren, and, hopefully, they can tell their children, that their great grandfather had the opportunity to serve with an individual who changed the course of history in America is an opportunity that I could not pass. I thank God for that opportunity. I thank God for the legend, for the man who epitomizes what a legislator should be, who talks the talk, walks the walk, and the main thing is gets results. My predecessor, I asked him before I came, I said, you have been successful, and many people have said that I have big shoes to fill. How were you able to accomplish such things? He said, ``Well, Louis Stokes.'' He said, ``Take advantage of all that you can while he is there.'' The biggest loss to the House of Representatives that we will have is losing Louis Stokes. I say to my hero, may God continue to bless you. Keep walking on. I am so thankful I have had the opportunity to serve with you.

Mr. MEEKS of New York

Mr. MEEKS of New York. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia for yielding this time to me. As indicated, I represent the Sixth Congressional District in Queens, New York, and I succeeded a man who I respect, who is my friend, who I think has done a great deal, the Reverend Floyd Flake. However, on this issue he was incorrect. On this issue dealing with school vouchers, the individuals that I represent in the Sixth Congressional District overwhelmingly believe in public education and are against school vouchers. Madam Speaker, I think the reason that that occurs is, I can testify to, because of the fact that I am a product of public education, I have two daughters who are now attending public schools, that, in fact, all children can learn. And I think from the debate that I have heard here today I have not heard anyone say that only a few children can learn, but they are talking about children and their ability to learn so that we can have a better tomorrow. And if, in fact, we concede that all children can learn, then it seems to me it should be our responsibility to make sure that they all have that opportunity, and in order to do that the answer is very easy. We must make sure that public schools are there to educate all and that those, whether it is religious purposes or et cetera, want their kids to go to a different school, they are going to a different school not because they do not have the ability to learn in a public school but because they choose to go to a religious or private school. So, therefore, I think it is our task and our mission and our jobs to make sure that everybody in public education has an opportunity to learn, not just a few. We should not have just a few good public high schools or a few good public junior high schools or a few good public elementary schools; every one should be. We should set a standard so we can make sure that all of the public schools reach that standard, and that standard is this. It seems simple that we found that where there are smaller class sizes, where we have educated teachers, where we made sure that there is opportunities for the young people to enhance their environment, for example, junior varsity sports and all, math and science courses and all, we then improve the educations of our children. Madam Speaker, I am against and I oppose this bill, S. 1502; and I thank the gentlewoman for having yielded me the time.