Kendrick Meek

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I think that is important too. I just want to make sure that I clarify that, from what I understand from the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel), that he spoke with President Aristide this evening or earlier, and he did share that he had French, U.S., and personal security individuals; and he is on a French base in this particular country. Hopefully, that security holds up over time and justifiably so. Going back to what I was mentioning a little earlier, and I know that the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) has joined us now for this discussion, but the very safety and how President Aristide was removed speaks to the future security of Haiti. And the gentleman from Michigan is a member of the Committee on the Judiciary. I know that he is fully aware of the temporary protected status that all of us have been fighting for so that we do not put Haitians that are in the U.S. into harm's way just like we have done for other countries that had similar turmoil, be it political or natural disaster. I think it is important that we note that when people are saying why are we worried about how President Aristide left, I am more worried, Mr. Speaker, about the safety of the Haitian people, also worried about our troops that are in Haiti protecting not only U.S. properties but also looking at the issue as it relates to the safety of humanitarian workers; and I think the way that the administration moved on a Saturday night/early Sunday morning with this whole resignation thing or he cannot get on a plane fuels more chaos on the ground in Haiti. Mr. Speaker, I yield back to the gentleman, as the ranking member of the Committee on the Judiciary, to speak to that.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I just want to say that it is important that we try not in our democracy to revisit the kind of action as I understand it has taken place over the last 84 hours. While we are speaking into the record, I want to commend not only the Secretary of the U.N. for his forward progress and concern and in appointing a special envoy to deal with this situation in Haiti. But it is going to be upon this Congress to be able to respond in the way that we should. We cannot have it both ways. We cannot say, Haitians, you stay in Haiti and then on the other hand clog up assistance. We cannot say, because it is all wrapped around Haitians leaving, that is the real issue. Haitians, stay in Haiti. Deal with your own issues, but we will hold up the assistance. I say that again because that is what has happened in the past, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the gentleman's work as chairman of the working group as it relates to Haiti and its issues. But the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) and I celebrate representing a large Haitian American population, and I must say that it is important that we do the right thing in Haiti. Number one, to make sure our troops are not over there for the rest of their lives. Because if we follow the Bush policy that has been followed in Iraq, we do not know when the clock will run out on that. We do not know how long our troops will be there. If you let some of us tell it, we think we are in charge in Iraq. And every day on the news it is different. So when I look at this administration, it is a say-one-thing-and-do- another administration. And I hope that the American people are paying very close attention. If you care about Haiti or not, you have to care about the moves that we are making that are going to define the very future of our children's and grandchildren's lives based on the knee- jerk decisions that are being made on a Saturday night.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I have two points and a question for the chairman. Two points: Number one, President Aristide was recognized not only by the U.S. Ambassador, I want to recap, as the duly elected President of Haiti, but also recognized by the United Nations and the international community as being the President of Haiti. So when we hear these arguments about a questionable election, I do not say history speaks to that as it relates to our diplomatic ties with Haiti. Mr. Ranking Member, whom I refer to as ``chairman'' constantly, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers), I have a question for you: Let us just play ``what if.'' Let us just reflect back, because I was not in the Congress when William Jefferson Clinton was the President of the United States of America. If there was a Saturday night visit by the Clinton administration to a democratically elected leader, what kind of Congressional hearings would be taking place right now on the Hill? I just want the gentleman to share that. I want the Record to reflect that, because I remember being a member of the State legislature a number of hearings for less. I yield to the gentleman from Michigan.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, from what I understand, I have no firsthand accounts, that they are in a Central African country, that they have French and U.S. guards that are protecting them, including their own private security that President Aristide has had over the last couple of years. So from what I understand, his life is not in jeopardy, and I am glad that the gentleman has brought that up because there are many people not only in the United States but many of my constituents that feel otherwise, and we try to find out that kind of good information and share it with them that all is well so that we can hopefully see some sort of smooth political process in the future.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to address the House and the American people this evening. Last night, Mr. Speaker, we were on the floor talking about the recent events in Haiti that has also involved not only our military but our international community, not only as it relates to humanitarian efforts but to the safety of the Haitian people. I just left the Committee on International Relations, the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere where we had witnesses, the Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs from the U.S. State Department, Mr. Roger Noriega; and also the Honorable Arthur Dewey, Assistant Secretary of Population, Refugee and Migration of the United States State Department; also other representatives from the State Department. Mr. Speaker, it was quite disturbing hearing some of the testimony that was given to us there on that committee. I am thankful that the chairman, the gentleman from North Carolina, allowed other Members that were concerned about not only the plight of Haiti but also the U.S. involvement in Haiti. I think the events that took place last Saturday evening and early Sunday morning has a lot to do with how we move forward from this point on. Many of us in this Congress feel very strongly about the U.S. involvement in Haiti from this point on, on how safe will it be in Haiti? How safe will it be for the Haitian people? How many months will our U.S. Coast Guard be visually off the coast of Haiti? What kind of commitment will the United States make to Haiti? And also what kind of commitment will the international community put forth as it relates to Haiti? First of all, I would have to go back. We spoke last night about Mr. Philippe, who has announced himself as the leader of Haiti, the head of the rebel force, using Secretary Noriega's description of him as a thug, that has now taken control of Haiti. He was in Port-au-Prince yesterday, he had a meeting, he talked about him being in charge of Haiti. He said he really looks up to the United States, that he reveres our President, and rightfully so, he should revere our President, because if it was not for a visit by officials from the State Department that will go unnamed at the home of President Aristide and giving him an ultimatum to either leave or be killed, that simple, that he had to make the decision right then and there. Reports say that he made that decision. That decision empowered Mr. Philippe, a known individual not only to Haitians but also a known individual that has carried out terror in Haiti in the past, a 36-year-old young man that is now on the streets of Haiti who has announced that he is going to arrest the prime minister of Haiti. I say that as a backdrop of talking about troop safety. I think it is important to note in the early 1990s when U.S. troops went into Haiti to not only kick General Cedras out who took Haiti by a coup but to also provide a level of safety to try to build onto democracy, that not one soldier lost his or her life. No one even choked on popcorn. It was that smooth of an operation. I commend Senator Nunn at that time, I commend Mr. Powell at that time, now Secretary Powell, and also the leadership of William Jefferson Clinton. But now we have a situation that is in question. Some people may say, why are you so concerned? Okay, President Aristide said he felt like he was kidnapped. Some people say, well, he wasn't kidnapped, that's not true. Who's right? Who's wrong? That is not the issue. The issue is that for us to provide the kind of forward progress that we are going to need in Haiti to make sure that Haiti is able to move forth in a democratic way, for us to continue to have the international community willing to be a part of democracy-building in the Caribbean as it relates to other Caribbean islands surrounding Haiti, then we can no longer move forth with a Saturday night policy ultimatum. This should have not happened, ladies and gentlemen. Mr. Speaker, I must say that it brings into question the very safety of troops and also it brings into question good elections in the future. If Haitians that were pro-Aristide and within the party that he was the head of know and feel that the United States played a strong role in his departure by force, and taken from Mr. Noriega's quote, I might add, that he just gave in responding to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) in the committee just a couple of hours ago, the gentleman from New York asked him: Mr. Noriega, is it true that President Aristide was told that he needed to sign a resignation letter before he boarded the plane? Mr. Noriega responded: It was important to make sure that we have a positive process to a political resolution. The gentleman from New York asked him again: Is it true that he was asked to sign a resignation letter before he boarded the plane? That answer was: Yes. And then after that, to give Secretary Noriega some credit, he said that to make sure that we can resolve a good political resolution. Mr. Speaker, if someone showed up to my house on a Saturday night and shared with me that either I needed to leave with them or I would be killed and my family, I would leave. If they were to ask me, listen, sign your mortgage or your deed over to your property because we are not going to take you unless you do that, I would sign it. We met with the Secretary-General of the U.N., several Members of this Congress, on Monday. This brings into question, was this an exit of a leader who wanted to leave of his own free will and saying that, hey, come get me, I already have my resignation letter ready and I'm willing to sign it, I want to thank you, America, for helping me and helping my family leave this island? Or was this a resignation under duress? We do not know if the 33rd coup d'etat took place on Saturday night or it was just a misunderstanding. I must say, I am no fan, and I have said this time after time, Mr. Speaker, of President Aristide. I represent Miami. I represent south Florida. But what I am a fan of is democracy. When these knee-jerk policy decisions are made on a Saturday night, it puts forth a bad light on the United States of America as it relates to how we deal with democracies in South America or in the Americas. This is so very, very important. We are sending the signal to individuals that will arm themselves, known to be outlaws, have been a part of terror groups in the past of Haiti to arm themselves and take cities, if we like it or not. Some may argue, well, the 2000 elections as it relates to Haiti was wrong and it was flawed. I would say that he was recognized and given credentials by the Ambassador of the U.S., President Aristide was. He was recognized by the United Nations as the President of Haiti. So to even talk about the 2000 elections, and I think that we should not even go there as it relates to our own personal situations. And one thing that I do honor. Never once that I have denounced or said that President Bush is not my President. He is my President. Until November, until we all get a chance to be able to cast our ballots as Americans on how we feel, he will be the President until that point. If he is reelected, he will be reelected. That is just something that we have to live with. But what is important as we move forth from this point and making sure that we stop the violence is that we play with a level hand. Guy Philippe is an individual that has said, once again, that he will arrest the prime minister. The prime minister of Haiti's house has been burned down to the ground. It has been looted and burned down to the ground. He has been living in his office protected by U.S. Marines. Can he leave that office? No. I do not think that that is a safe situation. I have one other thing before I yield to my colleague here. Secretary Dewey said that there has been over 900 Haitians rescued. The Secretary-General of the U.N. had brought a question to the United States policy as it relates to individuals trying to flee Haiti of fear of persecution. Persecution means that if you return, you are fearful of your life or your family's life, women and children. We have repatriated over 900 Haitians even though the road is littered of bloated bodies that the rebel forces left in the path on their way to Port-au-Prince, never once stopped by the United States of America, never once stopped by the international community but kept marching on. It is that same rebel force that did not agree to any of the diplomatic or political solutions we tried to bring about to bring a peaceful resolution to what was going on in Haiti. Nine hundred were repatriated. The Secretary reported since Aristide has left the island only three have been caught and repatriated. Let me just say this. After the 900 that were brought into the Port-au-Prince dock and sent off to the streets because they were leaving from the south end of the island, not from Port-au-Prince, which is like over 100 miles away, they are walking through a populated area where rebel forces and other folks can see them and their families. Some of them are government workers, some of them are individuals that were pro-Aristide or they never would have left the island in the first place. They were not leaving because of President Aristide. They were leaving because of the violence and the violence and the persecution that they were going to receive. So I would not even try to leave if I knew I was going to go through Port-au-Prince and everyone was going to see me and know exactly where I am. They are now in hiding in Haiti. I think it is important, ladies and gentlemen, that we look at what we are doing and how we are doing it and if we want to see a peaceful resolution in Haiti, it is important that we put forth policy not on slogan but based on making sure that our troops and humanitarian supporters are safe. So it is very, very important that we understand that as this U.S. Congress. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan, the ranking member of the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. He is in my district.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. They say they came from the Dominican Republic. Also, there was a question about the U.S. selling arms to the Dominican Republic, some of those same arms that ended up in Haiti. So I am not a man with conspiracy theory here. And take it from my good friend, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel), this is not the Kendrick Meek Report. This is factual. So we have a lot to be worried about. And like I am saying to Americans, what this administration is doing as it relates to putting our armed services and making the job harder, we could have had peacekeeping troops in there. We could have stopped the violence, and we could have come up with a peaceful solution.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. As we close, Mr. Speaker, and I want to thank the Members of the House and the Democratic leader for allowing us to have this moment to address not only Members of the House, but the American people and that we think long and hard about the decisions that the President is making. We think we should not automatically give instant credibility to Saturday-night decisions. I am pretty sure there is a strong argument to justify the reason why we went in and we told President Aristide what we told him when we told him. I am pretty sure that there is a strong argument when we said you have to sign this letter of resignation not once, but twice, before you board the plane to save your own life. I am pretty sure there is an argument. But I will tell you as we look on the annals of history of this country and how we treat democracies, like it or not, there has to be a better way. For us to make sure that we assure the safety of those peacekeeping troops that are there, some that are Americans, some that are do-gooders at the United Nations, we need to make sure that we do not put them in harm's way. Mr. Speaker, I pray and I hope that we do not have any harm come to any of the peacekeepers that are there. I pray and hope that the killings stop on both sides of the ball as it relates to Haitian people. Mr. Speaker, with that I will close. I am proud to be a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and I hope in the future that we can change some of the mistakes that have been made in the last 84 hours.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. If the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) could yield while I call my mother so she can watch. Both of the gentlemen are saying these wonderful things about me. Go ahead.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Madam Speaker, that answer is yes. I just want to say that the President and the Department of Homeland Security can grant temporary protective status as they have done in similar situations in Nicaragua and other places where they had disruption and danger on the streets. But, Madam Speaker, I must say the repatriating of 900-plus individuals seeking safety and refuge and to get a true asylum hearing of being returned back to Haiti, 12 executions, 12, took place on Monday. These are pro-Aristide supporters. Twelve individuals died execution style. So I am going to tell the Members right now that our country, and I will not even say our country, I would say our leadership has placed us in that position. So, once again, we have other Members here. We will be hitting the floor in the coming days and coming hours. It is important that we have leadership in this House that is willing to schedule congressional hearings immediately based on the actions of the executive branch on a Saturday evening to go to a democratically elected president's home and tell him either he gets on a plane or he loses his life.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the chairman for holding this special order on Haiti tonight. I believe all through the week and next week and the week after that and the month after that that we will continue to raise the issue of the policy decision that the Bush administration has put forth as it relates to Haiti. I must say that it is sad today in this democracy that we celebrate that we are now in the position and seen by the world community as being a country to decide who will lead in a democracy and who will leave a democracy. Madam Speaker, I just wanted to come down here for a minute. This is the front page of the Washington Post. Mr. Guy Philippe, the rebel leader who went through Haiti, taking cities over and left about 70 people dead in the path of that. Here is the cover of the New York Times. This is Mr. Philippe again, with two armed individuals with AK- 47 fully automatic weapons, going through the streets of Port-au- Prince. Mr. Philippe called a meeting today and he said if police chiefs throughout Haiti and also the prime minister, if they did not show up, that he would place them under arrest. He has declared himself as the leader of the Haitian army. He said that he respects democracy and that he would respect the wishes of the now president, who was the supreme court justice, if he asked him to lay his weapons down. Madam Speaker, I am no great cheerleader, I must add, of President Aristide or the opposition forces, but I am a cheerleader for democracy, and I will tell the Members, regardless of what anyone may say or what they feel, representing south Florida where we have several Haitian Americans, I must add that it is a disappointing day on behalf of democracy. The fact that the President of the United States, along with the Secretary of State, along with Mr. Noriega, who is Assistant Secretary of State, made the singular decision to go visit President Aristide on a Saturday night to give him two options: One, board a plane to save his life or, two, die. I do not consider that an easy and nonpersuasive discussion. I will take that as a very persuasive discussion if someone, just any American, just think about it, if military forces came to one's house representing the United States of America and said they have two options, one, leave with us and live, two, die, we will not stop them from killing them. Madam Speaker, we have a lot of distinguished Members that are ready to address the House here tonight, but I want to say regardless of how one may feel toward Haiti, the administration, as far as I am concerned, the Bush administration had something personally against President Aristide. It was personal. This was not, well, he is not a great guy, he is not this, that, and the other. Guy Philippe is a murderer. He is a murderer and a thug and still carrying out thuggery on the streets of Haiti. He is willing to arrest the prime minister? He is going to arrest any police chief who did not show up at a meeting, and he is parading around the streets with armed individuals? This does not look like security for Haiti. What this looks like is more difficulty for Haiti. And he says he is interested in politics; so, Madam Speaker, I will say to the other Members the next leader of Haiti is going to be the person with the biggest guns and the most guns and who are willing to do what they have to do. I will tell the Members also as it relates to U.S. forces on the ground, what the Bush administration did on that Saturday night, Sunday morning have endangered the lives of American troops that are there that are trying to restore peace and security there, and international force troops, the President himself has placed their lives in jeopardy. As a member of the Committee on Armed Services, I am very upset about that. We do not go and do this kind of Saturday night visit giving people an ultimatum. Madam Speaker, I look forward to the hearings that will be hopefully held in the coming days here in this Congress because if we allow this to happen as a U.S. Congress, we are in for a rude awakening from the international community about our integrity as it relates to democracy. I thank the chairman so very much.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Yes, sir.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. That is correct; and, Mr. Speaker, it is the highest concentration of Haitians in the United States. And I will tell the gentleman this: the Haitian people have been so involved in this country's history. They fought with us for our independence, and they are major, major contributors to not only our economy. We have a positive trade relationship with Haiti, and they create many U.S. jobs. Because of that positive relationship that is very important, Mr. Speaker, whichever side that people may fall on this issue, we cannot allow democracies to be taken over by gun and violence, and that is the bottom line.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I am glad to be here to not only address the House but also the American people. I think what is so very, very important and proud to be a Member of the U.S. Congress on this day, of making sure that we do the right thing under the circumstances. Right now, Mr. Speaker, we have not only one but two carriers with Haitians that are being interdicted by the U.S. Coast Guard right now. I do not think that there needs to be a mountain of evidence to even show that there are individuals in Haiti that are being persecuted as we speak, that are losing their lives, that are being beaten for either being for the pro-government or anti-government forces that are there. And then you have innocent individuals that are in the middle of all of this gunfire and violence that is taking place, children, women, people, young men, older men that are there just trying to be citizens of a country. A democracy as shaky as it may be, it is still a democracy. We recently met with the President, just today, and I am glad that members of this caucus and Members of this United States Congress shared with the President the importance, the fact that we are America and that we wear the breastplate of righteousness as it relates to standing and fighting for democracies. If we support or we are against President Aristide, that is not the issue here. The issue is that a democracy is being overthrown by a gun as we stand idly by and make tough talk about Haitians leaving Haiti. To not do anything about the killing and the fighting that is going on right now in Haiti and in the same breath say Haitians stay in Haiti, don't take to the sea, it does not work toward logic to a diplomatic solution or a political solution of what is taking place now in Haiti. I have said it before, and I will say it again tonight, our policy should not be driven on how many Haitians are face down in Haiti on the ground or are floating face down in the waters around Haiti and the United States. I will tell you that it is not healthy for our hemisphere; it is not healthy for our policy of making sure that we put forth democracies in the Caribbean and in this hemisphere, and it works against logic. So I urge the President, though we urged him earlier today, let individuals that are carrying guns know in Haiti, as they are getting more and more equipped as the hours go by. Just a week and a half ago, there were 1960-style rifles that these rebels, thugs, whatever we want to call them or they identify themselves as, 1960-style rifles that can shoot maybe three or four bullets. Now they are almost up to par with U.S. troops. They are wearing full body armor, armored helmets, AR-15s, M-16s, American made, I must add, carrying a magazine of bullets of 40 to 50 rounds, banana clips, radio capabilities; and they are holding press conferences. If we expect for the people of Haiti, a human being, to keep their family in that kind of environment, thinking that they are just going to suck it up and take the bullets, then we are in for a rude awakening. I want to talk about U.S. taxpayers. If we play defense of having our Coast Guard out there waiting in a 5-mile radius from each other, planes flying over to detect boats and things of that nature, all those resources focused on Haiti, what is happening to some of the other countries where we know we have a footprint of terrorism in the Caribbean? It is not Haiti, but I think it is important that we understand that and take that under heavy consideration. I know that the American people are compassionate people. And if we are in Iraq justifying our presence of being there, of saying that we stand for democracy and we stand for the lives of the Iraqi people, then definitely 650 miles off the coast of the continental United States, we should stand for a democracy if we had an international force there to be able to stop the violence and start diplomatic talks. I want to thank the gentleman for allowing me to address the House tonight. I know that we have to continue to follow this situation, but I would also like to add before I close that the Haitians that are on boats now, we have to remember international law and our own laws, if they can prove persecution, if they fear persecution, if returning back to Haiti, what the President said earlier today cannot stand. It is almost like we are sending them back to be murdered. So it is important that we set up the opportunity for them to receive the due process that they deserve. If we agree or not with illegal immigration, it is important that we ask other countries to do the same, that we do things by the book and by the law.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, that is 110 percent right. We have to look at the stage the way it is set. I think it is important for us to understand the U.S. has asked U.S. citizens and mission workers to leave Haiti for their own safety. The French have advised their own citizens, which is justified. Canadians have done the same and other representatives from other countries that are there. There are a number of U.S. citizens still in Haiti. That is still something for us to take into account. Because 97 percent of social services in Haiti, including schools and educating the children, are by missions. They are privatized. I mean, it is not like the government has the ability to be able to put forth an education system. So when that breaks down, that means that the elderly are not receiving the care that they have received before in the past. Children are not receiving the kind of care that they need, prenatal care for women that are pregnant, some of the very things that are there. The AIDS and HIV work that this country is invested in, should invest more but has invested in, is all going to go for naught and having to rebuild all of that if we do not stop the violence. We have people that are pro-Aristide and that are against Aristide; but one thing they have in common, Mr. Speaker, is that we must, yesterday, stop the violence. They know that has to happen. And unless we stop that from happening, we are not going to be able to come up with a diplomatic or political solution to this situation. So, Mr. Speaker, I think that Members of this Congress should continue to press on, and I am glad that we met with the President and Secretary Powell and also Dr. Rice, National Security Adviser; and the President's Chief of Staff, Mr. Andy Card. We have taken it to the highest levels that it can be taken to in this country and in the international community. Very little has to be done by us to prevent drowning of Haitians and Haitians face down in the streets of Haiti and very little, very little of a presence and leadership.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge the Bush administration to move forward in providing the kind of security that we need in Haiti right now. On average, every day in Haiti, 15 to 16 Haitian nationals are losing their lives due to rebel forces and anti- Aristide forces. I will tell my colleagues right now that the violence will continue to escalate. The rebels are getting more and more arms. They are getting body armor, they are getting helmets, they are getting all of the things that they need to continue to carry on the nightmare in Haiti. I want to say to the U.S. citizens here tonight, standing by will not make things better in Haiti. Being from Florida and being from Miami, Florida, there is going to be a number of individuals coming to our shores if we do not stand in and intervene now. It is important that the U.S. moves forth with France and Canada, who are willing to bring about peace in Haiti, so that we can have diplomatic talks with the opposition forces. The reason why there was not an agreement today at 5 o'clock is because there is no agreement to be made. The rebels cannot be controlled by opposition parties right now, and it is important that this administration acts now before military action will be paramount.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to one of Miami's youngest community leaders, 11-year-old Sara Berlin, a 6th grader from Jacobson Sinai Academy Bergman Upper School in Miami. On Friday, February 13, 2004, Sara was honored by community leaders and organizers of ``Do The Right Thing of Miami, Inc.'', a program under the auspices of the City of Miami Police Department. Although I have not had the opportunity to meet Sara yet, I feel as though I know her after reading her book about the agonizing plight of Haitian children. I do reserve the utmost respect for her recent and compassionate work. It is my understanding that Sara was genuinely inspired to write her book after researching the plight of Haitian children and learning about my bill which would allow alien children to be transferred from the Department of Homeland Security to the Office of Refugee Resettlement within 72 hours of apprehension, and to be released from custody and placed into the community with a qualified relative or caretaker within 15 days of such apprehension. I am delighted to know that Sara included me in her book. Indeed, Mr. Speaker, our quest for simple justice and fairness for newly-arrived Haitians evokes the storied stance of our Nation as the defender of due process and human rights, particularly when the beneficiaries of our action are helpless children. I am so grateful that Ms. Sara Berlin, a magnificent advocate in her own right, has added her own brave words to ours. We are strengthened yet again by her timely voice to the cause that calls attention to the cruel disenfranchisement of Haitians and their children. Sarah writes, Everyone should help kids. They shouldn't be locked up. Everyone should donate or do something to help out. It is really not fair. Kids should be able to live freely. With her book on Haiti and specifically Haitian children, we are inspired by a greater appreciation of their struggles. I am moved by the inspiring description written about Sara's work of compassion thus: ``I'm proud that Sara has taken an interest in helping others. The feelings she expressed, and the desire to help, are genuine and spontaneous.'' I join our community in honoring Sara and her parents, classmates and teachers as they come together at the city of Miami Police Department. It is without a doubt that we will long remember this wonderful day as Sara inspires those of us who continue to care for the voiceless children of the world. We are comforted by her words in articulating their struggles to be free and living in a democratic country like ours. Indeed, I am privileged to have been encouraged and inspired by her work, and I thank her for giving me the honor of representing her in the U.S. Congress.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I want to thank the gentlewoman from California for her comments earlier about what this budget is doing to America versus for America. I think it is important in our democracy to be able to outline not only the pitfalls but where we can play offense, moving forward, moving this country forward. As I speak about moving our country forward, it is important that we have a budget that is going to reflect our qualities and our values here in the United States. When I see a budget such as the President has sent here to the Hill, I cannot help but question the priorities of the administration versus the priorities of families that are living here in the United States, those that are working and those that are looking for work. I must say that being a past creature of State government, I think it is important that we understand when the Federal commitment is cut, then the State commitment has to be cut. And when the State commitment is cut, then the local government commitment to communities and families is cut also. When I am talking about local government, I am not just talking about your counties or your parishes or just a city, I am talking about school boards. We call it devolution of taxation here in Washington, D.C. We cut it here, and they raise it there. Property taxes have gone up throughout this country, in all communities, not because local governments are saying that we like to raise revenue locally; they are doing it because the Federal Government is no longer supporting and helping and assisting local communities in vital programs that put forth the quality of life in America that we enjoy. I just want to share a few figures. I am going to speak briefly tonight. States are currently facing their worst fiscal crisis in decades, with 41 States facing a cumulative budget gap of $48 billion for 2004 alone. States are facing budget deficits of approximately $40 billion for States in fiscal year 2005 and nearly $200 billion. How are they going to make up that gap? They are going to make up that gap by raising tuition on students and working families, individuals that are going to community colleges trying to better themselves, prepare themselves as it relates to having an educated and prepared workforce which makes this country strong; also as it relates to making sure that we do not spend billions and millions of dollars in incarcerating individuals since we cut the COPS program. I was so glad to hear my colleague speak of the cuts that are in the COPS program. Not only am I a member of the Committee on Armed Services, as was mentioned earlier, but also the Select Committee on Homeland Security. I think it is very, very important that we protect the homeland, and I know it is important that we defend our country. But at the same time I must say that we are going to fall short in having young people who may make youthful indiscretions due to the fact that its government and its local community failed them by making sure that we have vital direction programs to be able to build the kind of integrity and the kind of culture that we would like to build here and continue to maintain here in the United States. Let us talk just for a moment about local governments. Being a past State trooper, I have a great appreciation for what police chiefs are trying to do in this country, and sheriffs, all of them. I believe that all sheriffs and all police chiefs genuinely would like to see a community that works towards harmony and also works towards making sure that they do not have to carry out the act of having to arrest individuals in a given community. If we continue to follow the track of this budget that has been sent by this administration to the Congress, and I am speaking to my colleagues here because we have to really man up and woman up and go see the wizard not only to get courage but also to get heart and making sure that we stand up on behalf of those individuals who cannot stand for themselves. We see a rural housing and economic development program that is cut by $25 million, and we also at the same time see dropout programs that are also cut. We also have a HOPE VI revitalization for severely stressed public housing that is cut by $149 million. Someone may say, well, we have to cut spending; but, ladies and gentlemen, we are not cutting spending. We are going further into spending, away from what we may say are mom and apple-pie issues here in the United States. As we start looking at our democracy and as we start looking at what we must do as Americans, and all of us have been elected to lead, doing common things uncommonly well in this country, of making sure that we do not hand a mandate to local governments to where they have to fulfill that mandate by raising taxes on everyday working Americans. Yes, we may receive a $400 check or a $300 check in the mail; but also on the other hand, out of our left pocket money is being pulled out, through property taxes, money is being pulled out on local referendums and bond referendums because the Federal commitment has been cut. I just want to say, ladies and gentlemen, as we look at this deficit that has grown under this administration, as we look at our commitment as Americans of making sure that we stand up for our children's future, as we make sure that children that are born, newly born in a hospital as I speak now already owe the Federal Government $24,500, and dollars that are not in a deficit, and paying on a deficit that we are creating, that this administration is creating, then we are going to find ourselves in a very sad situation looking at the abuses of contracting and all of these things that are going on as relates to the war in Iraq. I just want to say that it is important that we continue to share these bread-and-butter, literally, bread-and-butter issues with Americans about where this administration is falling short as it relates to providing the kind of leadership. It is just something fundamentally wrong, if you are a Democrat, Republican, independent, socialist, whatever you want to be a member of, the Green Party, you name it, for a President to speak passionately on making sure that we make tax cuts permanent on behalf of the wealthiest Americans and not speak passionately about making sure that we provide the necessary, not the funding that it deserves but the necessary funding to educate our children, to be able to provide a health care system that is going to make our country healthy and to be able to help local governments as it relates to their commitment of protecting the home front and our local communities. Because with the defensive budget that the President has sent to the Hill, it leaves very little room for us to play offense in solving and hopefully stopping some of the issues that are going to be far more expensive than it would be if we were able to prevent them. I thank the gentlewoman so very much, and I want to commend my colleagues for coming to the floor and sharing with America about what is going on and what we are going to fight against to make sure that we maintain the America that we celebrate today.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I am so glad once again that the Congressional Black Caucus saw fit to share with all Americans what is happening to them versus for them, because we are here to make sure that good things happen in America and that we push programs that are putting people to work and that are making sure that our children are not left with a bill, that we are willing to eat steak and have a good time right now, so that we dismantle our future in America. We want to have it better for them than it was for us.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, with great pride--but with deep sorrow--I rise to pay my homage to one of Miami-Dade County's giant leaders, the late Mr. Jay W. Weiss. His untimely demise late Saturday night, January 31, 2004, has cast a veil of sadness over our community. Indeed, as the business entrepreneur par excellence that he evoked, this extraordinary man easily communed with the pains and anguishes of ordinary people and transformed them into his very own by uplifting them into a timely rationale for creating appropriate solutions to them. As Chairman of the Miami-Dade County Public Health Trust, he spearheaded the passage of the half-penny tax that now provides continuous support to Jackson Memorial Hospital, along with the funding of the Ryder Trauma Center and the University of Miami/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. These are but a few of the great initiatives his humanitarian spirit willed to come to fruition, and these programs now serve to lessen the burdens of various illnesses and enhance the quality of life for countless people in Miami-Dade County. Though a highly private individual, he virtually consecrated his life to public service. In so doing he symbolized everything that is good and noble about the American spirit of idealism and optimism in serving our fellowmen. Our community genuinely feels the loss of a truly decent and caring man who made it his personal business to reach out to the less fortunate among us. Dr. Bernard Fogel, former dean of the University of Miami Medical School, succinctly described Mr. Weiss as someone who believed and lived by the tenets of tzedekah, ``. . . the Jewish tradition of charity . . . that's what he was motivated by--doing the right thing because it's the right thing to do. `` The numerous accolades with which government officials and various organizations have honored him buttress the unequivocal testimony of the utmost gratitude and respect he enjoyed from a grateful community. He truly epitomized the vision, resilience and compassion of a servant of God whose life served as an example of the great difference each one of us can make on behalf of our community's well-being once we hearken to the calling of our common stewardship over one another. This is the legacy Mr. Jay W. Weiss bequeathed to us. Indeed, I am privileged to have seen and marveled at the magnificent works that emanated from his boundless heart and great faith. I now join our community in thanking God for letting him grace us with his noble presence during his earthly sojourn.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, President George Bush made his highest profile re-election pitch yet with his annual State of the Union speech. His aides said that President Bush planned to defend the war in Iraq unapologetically. He was likely also to talk ``at length'' about the Middle East and Afghanistan and assure Americans that their Government is winning the global war on terrorism. Oddly, unlike last year, the President's aides had not described what the President would say about Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction--the chemical and nuclear weapons that President Bush so confidently and urgently assured us last year that Iraq was developing and stockpiling; The weapons of mass destruction President Bush said threatened the very lives and homes of the American people; The weapons of mass destruction that President Bush told us last year was the reason this Nation had to go to war. But on Saturday in Iraq, a remote-controlled bomb, planted on an access road and made up of two 155 mm artillery rounds and other explosives, was detonated killing three fine U.S. soldiers, two Iraqi civil defense workers, and wounding two other American soldiers. The blast was so powerful that it flipped the 30-ton Bradley over and set it afire. The number of U.S. service members who have died since the Iraq conflict began on March 20th reached 500 with that blast. The 500th young American to die was from my district in Miami, Florida, Sergeant Edmond Randle, Jr. Pentagon officials reported to me that Sgt. Randle of 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Division died with two others of his comrades in Taji, Iraq. He has joined 502 other Americans who have given their lives in defense of our country, and on behalf of its citizens. I visited Karla Randle-West, Edmond's mother and Hattie Hightower, his grandmother, in Carol City, Florida where Edmond grew up. I prayed with them, and they told me a little about the son who would have turned 27 this coming Saturday. Like many of our courageous soldiers, he was pragmatic and ambitious, joining the Army 3 years ago to raise money in order to continue studying at Florida A&M University, my Alma Mater. He was a pharmacy student in one of the most challenging programs in the Nation. His mother told me that he also played the trumpet in the Marching 100, one of the best marching bands in the world. He gave up his music scholarship to pursue a degree in Pharmacy and took a job in order to pay his tuition and expenses. He found out that the Army would pay for college tuition if he joined and served for 4 years. He signed up, and though initially worried, embraced his deployment to Iraq as a means to help out his fellow man. His family described him as a caring and sympathetic person who often looked for ways to help out other people. On Saturday, that was exactly what he was doing, helping people. He and his mates were conducting a surveillance sweep for roadside bombs north of Baghdad when the attack occurred. He died alongside a fellow Floridian, Private First Class Cody Orr, and a Texan, Specialist Larry Polley, Jr. They were all brave soldiers, soldiers who put themselves in harm's way to honor their commitment to the United States of America. They were soldiers who chased an often faceless enemy to protect men, women, and families they will never know. Unfortunately, they were among 503 Americans who gave the ultimate sacrifice while proudly defending the Red, White, and Blue. Reaching that threshold underscores the dangers still facing U.S. forces in Iraq as President Bush's administration prepares to seek help from the United Nations in building a new Iraq, after shunning the world organization for months. Sgt. Randle was to return home to his family in March, when another mother's son would likely replace him. As it is, his cousin is soon to be deployed himself. Certainly, it would make Sergeant Randle's death, the death of the other 502 soldiers; the wounds and injuries of 2,893 others, and the countless civilian casualties of no importance were we to pull out of Iraq without an established government with some form of democratic identity. But, we should expend every energy, every diplomatic means, and every world resource to make the turn-over of power to the Iraqis happen as quickly as possible, so that we can bring our troops home. In the meantime, I would continue to hope that the supplemental appropriations given to the Pentagon last Fall would purchase the jammers that might have prevented the remote detonation of the bomb that killed Sgt. Randle. Edmond Randle represented everything about the American soldier that we look up to--he was a talented musician, dedicated student, and much- loved son and grandchild. He was also a brave and honorable soldier in the United States Army. He will be missed by his family, his friends, and his fellow troops.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to one of Miami's unsung heroes, the late Johny Cesaire, also known popularly by my Haitian American constituency as P Jhony of Radio Pep La. His untimely demise due to cancer last Monday, January 16, 2004, leaves a deep void in our community. Though I have had not the opportunity of bonding with him as did my mother, Congresswoman Carrie P. Meek, I do reserve the utmost respect and genuine admiration for his insatiable quest for simple justice and fairness for the less fortunate among us, particularly our newly- arrived Haitian refugees. Throughout his 10-year stint with Radio Pep La, he vividly put a true face and a brave voice on the struggle of Haitians across Florida and beyond by portraying their unjust and inhumane treatment on the part of government, along with its discriminatory immigration laws and provisions that, to this very day, continue to impact their lives negatively. Mr. Cesaire was virtually the resilient and unyielding voice of the Haitian community that called to attention the cruel disenfranchisement of Haitians at almost every level of government. With his support the Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act (HRIFA) came about in October of 1998 to bring longed-for hope and confidence to Haitians in South Florida and throughout the nation. Thanks to him, hundreds of Haitians and their families have been given a chance to seek the freedom and legalize their status in the United States. Our community will be in mourning on Saturday, January 31, 2004 as his friends and admirers will come together at Holy Family Church to bury this seemingly ordinary man of God, who had done some great and extraordinary things during his earthly sojourn. I will certainly miss him for his undaunted leadership. He talked and lived by the simple adage that the quest for personal achievement is not beyond the reach of those willing to dare the impossible on behalf of a people buffeted by so much discrimination and injustice. This is the legacy that Johny Cesaire bequeathed to us, and it is with his nobility and compassion for the less fortunate that we will always remember him. I am greatly privileged to have been taught by him with this credo, and I thank him for giving me the honor of representing him in the U.S. Congress. I pray that God grant him Eternal Rest.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a versatile and committed group of elected officials in Miami-Dade County who are members of the Florida Conference of Black State Legislators (FCBSL). On Thursday, January 29, 2004, they will be spearheading the 2004 Miami Regional Issues Conference, beginning with a town hall meeting on the ``High Stakes of the Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test (FCAT)'' to be held at Miami Edison Middle School. Joining them are parents and community leaders, school administrators and teachers, as well as elected and appointed officials from Miami- Dade County and the State of Florida. This conference comes at an opportune time when there is a need to foster greater knowledge and involvement regarding government and politics among residents of our various neighborhoods. In its most vivid history, the Florida Conference of Black State Legislators was incorporated in 1982 upon the election of nine prominent African Americans to the Florida House of Representatives. Indeed, the life of each of these legislators, and those that have followed, has become legendary and about as close to the impossible dream as I have witnessed. These preeminent leaders will spearhead this 2-day conference, which will cover crucial issues such as Affordable Access to Health Care, Juvenile and Criminal Justice, Telecommunications, Hip Hop and Politics, Front Porch Florida, and Florida's Pari Mutuels. The Florida Caucus leads a critical gathering of concerned citizens, as well as the virtues of responsible and competent public servants who aspire to expound their unwavering positions on equal educational opportunities for minorities, the controversial incongruence of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT), along with their unconditional passion for justice, equal rights, and educational opportunity for all. In a special manner, ever since I have known the members of the Miami Black Caucus delegation, these leaders have always been at the forefront of ensuring equal participation in the shared duties and responsibilities on the part of Miami-Dade County's citizenry. At the same time, their forceful advocacy for adhering to the tenets of equal treatment under the law not only in the halls of academia, but also in every segment of our State government agencies has become legendary. In fact, countless others have been touched by their genuine commitment to public service, especially to minorities who could least fend for themselves. The legislators forming the Miami Regional Issues Conference Committee truly exemplify a unique and responsive leadership whose courageous vision and wisdom appeal to the critical issues impacting our community and the entire State of Florida. I would like to extend my personal invitation to all those interested in our State government to enable them to seize the opportunity to renew and enhance their commitment to our common well-being as we prepare to meet the many challenges of our times. I honor these distinguished colleagues and fellow public servants of mine.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the late Eugene ``Whitey'' White, a legendary track star at Florida A&M University. It is indeed a sad day for the entire Florida A&M University family, particularly those involved with the Athletic Department. He will be laid to rest on Saturday, January 24, 2004 at Dade Memorial Park in his hometown of Miami, Florida. His untimely demise this past Thursday, January 15, 2004, leaves a great void in our historic institution. He is survived by his beloved daughter La Donna, grandson Ryan Smith, sister Cora L. White, nephew Eugene Randall White, and the rest of his loving family. Eugene White was born in Miami, Florida on December 24, 1937, the oldest of three children born to parents, Eugene and Corine White. He attended Phyllis Wheatley Elementary School and Booker T. Washington High School where he was a star athlete. He was a running back for his school's Tornadoes Football Team, and was a sprinter and relay team track member. Graduating with the Class of 1957, he was awarded a four- year scholarship to Florida A&M University where he excelled in sports, and became an acclaimed running back for the Rattlers Football Team. Upon graduation in 1962, he was drafted by the Miami Dolphins and later played for the Oakland Raiders. His illustrious football career continued as he played with the Canadian Football League. Though he was merely a freshman, Mr. White's most salient feat in the annals of Track and Field competition was that then-Coach Pete Griffin marveled at his amazing speed by winning the 100-yard dash at the Florida A&M Relays in a record 9.4. As he went about garnering many more excellent records, he entered the South Carolina State Invitational Meet. He was clocked by six official timekeepers at an unprecedented 9.5 for the warm-up, and, before the official hundred run, Mr. White pulled a muscle. Despite this apparent debacle that would have incapacitated many an athlete, he was able to finish second, clocking in at 9.7. White's magnificent contributions to the personal and professional growth of countless youth in his native Miami are well-known, as he was admired for his quiet spirit and loving demeanor, always exuding a great many gentlemanly virtues that endeared him to the community and to his church family. His records on the athletic field have become legendary, and they now emblazon the fond memories of countless FAMU alumni. Young men and women who came to admire his athletic prowess also found him to be a caring professional who personified an indomitable example of excellent discipline and genuine compassion for his fellowmen. His colleagues highly regarded him as a confidant and the epitome of utmost urbanity and gentlemanly behavior. Nowhere has this advocacy role played out succinctly in the lives of many youngsters than in the indelible mark he left on many students, who were inspired by him to excel both in their academic pursuits and athletic endeavors. Indeed, our FAMU family is genuinely touched and comforted by the undaunted leadership, resilient example and personal warmth he exuded to those who came to know and admired him. This is the genuine legacy he bequeathed to those of us he left behind. In a special way, I am privileged to be a grateful alumnus of Florida A&M University, a great institution of learning graced bountifully by his remarkable contributions, both on and off campus.