Kendrick Meek

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for assisting in the organizing and assisting young people coming to Washington, and also the pride and energy that I hear in her voice of this generation and generations after this particular generation to be stimulated and motivated to continue to struggle in the fight for equal opportunity. We appreciate the entire State of Michigan, the Motor City for what they did, and the corporations for standing for what is right in this country.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to proceed with my Special Order.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to honor George ``Godfather'' Thompson, one of the most remarkable men in my life and many of the lives of individuals who have played Rattler football at Florida A&M. Tomorrow night, friends and families and other players at Florida A&M are going to come together to pay tribute to this wonderful man who has done so much on behalf of so many, a man of great humility and compassion. When he speaks of Florida A&M and Rattler football, he gets chill bumps all over his body. His heart is so big that those who go to Florida A&M with very little money, very little guidance or those that have great guidance, he takes the time to speak with them. This Nation loves sports and for good reasons, but the right coach and guidance and sports, particularly in team sports, are fun and effective ways to teach young people the great lessons of life, that discipline and hard work are necessary for success but not necessarily guaranteed; that those who are trying to beat their opponents, they are not necessarily their enemies; that winning with grace and dignity often requires as much character as losing with grace and dignity; and that teams succeed over the long haul when there are people working together, helping each other and supporting each other. These are the great lessons of George ``Godfather'' Thompson. I played defensive end for Florida A&M University, and this is where I met Godfather. He gave me a great, great insight on life, even though he was just an equipment manager. He was one of great dignity and pride and told many Rattler football players about the programs and stories. Even though it was not his responsibility to be the counselor, he took that responsibility as being someone to head young men in the right direction, or point young men in the right direction. For everyone who calls George Thompson ``Godfather,'' and we still do, it is not a godfather that we may see on a movie or what have you, but it is out of respect and love for someone who took the time with everyone and opened his heart to accommodate not only their feelings but to guide them in the right direction. He came to Florida A&M from Melbourne, Florida in 1951 as a student and pursued his degree and worked on campus as an equipment manager. It changed his life and the lives of thousands of student athletes who passed under his mentorship. He is a walking, talking history book who still inspires the coaches, students and players at Florida A&M. His compliment to the university and the students is unprecedented at Florida A&M, and maybe unprecedented in the entire Nation. Mr. Speaker, I think it is very important for us to be able to highlight the fact that he served under five coaches there at Florida A&M, and for many of those years great individuals passed through that program. Rattler football is something we take very seriously down in Florida, especially in Tallahassee, Florida where the blood runs orange and green. I want to thank him for his commitment and his level of responsibility for so many individuals in our lifetime. So many young men have moved on to do great things in this country because of his guidance, and we honor his presence and we thank God that so many of us had the opportunity to have him walk our way. So I not only commend him, Mr. Speaker, but I also want this Congress to be aware that a great American and patriot took time to not only guide individuals like myself and others and that we are forever indebted to his presence and to his feelings and to the work that he put forth over the years doing common things uncommonly well.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman. I want to be very quick and within a minute I would like to share with the American public something that is very, very important. The information that you are receiving here this evening and the amendment that the Democrats will have tomorrow to not only put teeth but to make sure we have real homeland security is very, very important. As we look at our ports and the Coast Guard, I think we need to go far beyond great speeches in front of Coast Guard cutters, and talking about how we support our men and women riding in those vessels and fighting in helicopters. I would say that with any major incident in our ports, not only will we experience a large loss of life, but we would also experience quite an interruption in commerce. It is very, very important that the American people understand that the Coast Guard says they need a billion dollars alone this year to secure our ports. We have individuals working at our ports now that do not have proper credentials as it relates to some of the shipping companies. We know we are very vulnerable in our ports, and I think it is important that we make sure that this administration understands that it is more than just giving speeches, that it is important that we put our money where our mouth is and make sure that we are standing on behalf of homeland security. This is an everyday issue that Americans care about, and it is an everyday issue that we have to respond to, and I am encouraging this Congress to support our efforts tomorrow to make sure that we have true homeland security. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Turner) and our subcommittee members for sharing their thoughts and ideas that we have as it relates to meaningful homeland security versus just talking about what we need to do.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I will tell the chairman, just watching some of the news accounts of many of these destroyers, our destroyers leaving to go to the Persian Gulf, as an individual that knows the sacrifice as it relates to many of my friends who I attended college with that were involved in ROTC, that are officers in our military right now, that have been shipped off, that e-mail me every now and then about their experiences overseas, and they are very proud to be there. I think it is very important that as we start to look at those families, someone is going to have to pick up the kid after school. Someone is going to have to read a story. Someone has to go and minister to a wife or husband that is having not only to take the burden on of the family but to also take the burden on of having their loved one overseas serving our country. When we look at this, those families really understand that this is not a made-for-TV movie, that this is real, that the possibility exists that they may never see their loved ones again. We all pray for that not to happen. We had a good day yesterday in Iraq with no U.S. casualties. But my heart goes out also to those other individuals in our world, the Iraqi children, the Iraqi people, that we are trying to provide freedom for. I am glad that this country has gone through great lengths in trying to preserve life. And so I commend those family members, sons and daughters, that are paying a mental and physical, emotional tax because a loved one from their family and not even to mention the single parents, that the aunt or grandmother or grandfather has to take care of the children now. So tonight it was more than an honor for me to be a member of the Committee on Armed Services to come tonight to pay tribute to those families and to those troops and to those veterans that have provided the kind of freedom that we celebrate here today. I look forward to working with Members of the Congress and also members of the Black Caucus as we continue to be the conscience of the U.S. Congress and hopefully the world in the future as we start dealing with this new level of terrorism that we are having to work and fight against every day.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. The Senate did an outstanding job in their light. But I think it is important that we pay very, very close attention to what our priorities are right now. Our priorities right now should be making sure that our men and women return back to the States safely, making sure that the Iraqi people receive the kind of freedom that they yearn, and also making sure that we treat our veterans, even when they return back, back here to the United States, treat them with dignity, the dignity that I know this Congress wants to treat them with. I urge my colleagues here in the Congress, and I am sure the Congressional Black Caucus would like to urge them, let us treat our veterans and let us give the dollars toward the veterans that we should give toward their health care and making sure that they do not have waiting lists as we have right now existing here in the United States. I came tonight, in closing, to be able to pay respect to those that not only are in the theater of war right now but on behalf of those patriots of the past. I think it is very, very important that we remember, Mr. Speaker, those individuals in such a time as this. On behalf of this Member of Congress from the 17th Congressional District of Florida, I think it is very, very important, all Americans, that we pray for the safe return and we respect and pray for those that have provided us with the very freedom that we enjoy this evening.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for his leadership and the members of the Congressional Black Caucus for bringing voice to the real level of patriotism that our country is at at this particular time. I think it is so very, very important, Mr. Speaker, that we make sure that all Americans understand the level of integrity when we look at our military. When we look at our military, not only the sacrifice they are undertaking right now in the theaters of war in other parts of the world but it is also the sacrifice that their families are paying. Their families are truly paying the ultimate price of giving a loved one the opportunity to serve their country and many of those individuals like two young men from Florida. I just called home, Mr. Speaker, and spoke to my wife; and she shared with me that just today in the Miami Herald they had a story of a letter of one of our outstanding young patriots who gave his life on behalf of this country willingly. He was happy and thought it was a great opportunity for him, right out of college, to fight on behalf of his country. I know in this Congress that many of us do not agree with the rules of engagement that we used, especially in Iraq, and we had a resolution here on this very floor and many Members were draped up in the flag, rightfully so, paying praise to all of our troops that are getting sand in their teeth right now. We all understand here in the Congress that the sacrifice, the sacrifice of family, of friendship, the sacrifice of just being an American, few of us have the opportunity to put our lives on the line on behalf of this country, but we have thousands of Americans that are doing that. Some 43 percent of the individuals that are in the theater right now are what we may call our volunteer army, reservists, individuals that have given up their weekends from their families for years and now they have been called upon. I think it is important since we have set the stage of saying truly that we are here to pay not only respect to those who are fighting the war now but it is important that this Congress and members of the Congressional Black Caucus feel very strongly about this, that we continue to respect those that put it on the line in the past. We know that we have a number of these individuals that are serving our country right now in a time of war that are going to return back to the United States and they are going to need adequate health care, veterans' benefits. They will be our new veterans. Some of them will be as young as 19 and 20 and 21. Some will be 55 and over 65. It was very disheartening when the budget, this Federal budget that passed by a very narrow, narrow margin, that we would have a shortfall of some $1.9 billion in the 2003 fiscal year. It is good for us to pay respect and cry and pray on behalf of those that will return and those that will not return. But I think words are inadequate to even describe the kind of, how would I put this, I am trying to be a distinguished gentleman here, but the kind of understatement, for us to undercut our veterans. Veterans of wars past right now, in my district, the Miami VA hospital, those that have laid it down in different theaters of war, some of them in two different theaters of war, have to wait a year and a half to see an eye doctor. What do you think after this $1.9 billion shortfall that is going to be given to the richest Americans here, how is it going to affect that veteran if we allow this huge tax cut that the President is trying to pass? I commend the Senate for taking half of the responsibility and saying that in a time of war, just like in the past, we have never given a tax cut. Yes, times are hard, and it is important that we sacrifice. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand here tonight to endorse this resolution, but I must say that this resolution has language like many pieces of legislation that moves through the body of this Congress. There is language in it that I do not agree with, and I am glad that I am able to state that as an American, but I think it is important that we remember that boys and girls, I mean teenagers, I also mean mothers and fathers, I also mean sons and daughters, are getting sand in their teeth right now defending our country, and I think it is important we send a very strong message to not only their families, but to their loved ones that this Congress stands firmly behind them. I respect the Members that are going to vote for the resolution. I respect the Members that are not going to vote for this resolution, and I commend their patriotism for standing up for what they believe in, but I think it is imperative that we remember that we must have resolutions that every Member of this Congress can vote for because we are all patriots, and we all believe in the American way, and it is important that American families understand that we are together and united always when it comes down to defending this country.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. I open my remarks with this quote by Charles M. Province by thanking those men and women who continue to serve in the United States military and provide us with the freedoms that we so frequently take for granted. We don't all have to agree about the conditions and terms and politics of war to agree that we have men and women in uniform who are among the finest human beings on this planet. It is fitting that at a time when our thoughts and prayers are most strongly focused on them, that we in the 108th Congress have this opportunity to offer them this small showing of our commitment to them. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, more than 188,000 members of the National Guard and Reserve are currently mobilized for active duty on top of the many hundreds of thousands of career active duty soldiers. These friends, neighbors, and family members are putting their everyday lives on hold in order to protect us and provide us with more than a sense, but a knowledge of security. Our military personnel and their families make enough sacrifices. They should not have to further sacrifice tax fairness just because they wear a uniform of the armed services. We need to provide incentives for our military personnel to continue their service to our country. Moreover, we need to provide adequate and fair compensation for our military personnel by ensuring that those men and women are treated fairly and equally under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. I think this bill does just that. This bill: Exempts payment to beneficiary of soldiers killed in the line of duty; Extends the income tax deadline for soldiers deployed overseas for potential action; Makes it easier for transferred soldiers to be exempted from capital gains taxes on the sale of their homes; and, Would provide guardsmen and reservist an above-the-line deduction for unreimbursed travel expenses incurred by members of the reserve components, while going to and from training. These are simply issues of fairness. The Floridians and other fine Americans that take the stand to fight for our country deserve every fair consideration under our tax laws. The Tax Code is complicated enough, and our military should not be penalized for making decisions required because their official assignments. By passing this legislation, we are helping the members of our armed forces so that they will no longer be burdened by out-of-date tax regulations that penalize them even as they are serving our country. Finally, I'd like to congratulate leadership for bringing this good bill to the floor clean so that we can focus on an issue on which Republicans and Democrats all agree--equity and fairness for members of the uniformed services. Everyday, both in peacetime and in wartime, the brave men and women of our military work to preserve our freedoms. With this small token, I hope we can preserve some of theirs. I urge the support of this good bill.

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker: It is the soldier, not the reporter, Who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, Who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the organizer, Who has given us freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier, Who Salutes the flag, Who serves beneath the flag, And whose coffin is draped by the flag, Who allows the protestor to burn the flag.'' --[Charles M. Province]

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, on the 5th Annual National Lobby Day for The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, to join my colleagues in speaking out against domestic violence, a brutal crime committed against millions of women. Domestic violence is the single largest cause of injury to women between the ages of fifteen and forty-four, more than muggings, car accidents and rapes combined. Mr. Speaker, women are losing their right to safety in their homes and in their communities. Women account for an alarming 85 percent of the victims of domestic violence. Each year between two to four million women are battered, and a substantial number of these battered women will die of their injuries. Devastatingly, because one in three women are likely to be abused by a partner or someone she knows, only half of all female victims report their injuries to the proper authorities. Women remain in grave fear of their lives and do not leave their violent relationships. Domestic violence is increasing at a disturbing rate. In my home state of Florida, which has an increasingly expanding immigrant population, battered women claim that they are in fear of reporting their violent relationships until their immigration concerns are addressed. These women, Mr. Speaker, are fed misinformation about United States laws and are faced with the threats of deportation by their abusers. Many of these women are overly dependent on their abusers because they face racial and language barriers. Others face cultural barriers and being a victim of domestic violence is considered taboo. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in encouraging and supporting all victims of domestic abuse to seek help and to report all violent and criminal acts without being ashamed to do so. We must help prevent women from being ashamed and embarrassed and encourage them to report the abuse from these monsters. Further, I strongly encourage Congress and the Administration to support and pass legislation pertaining to health care and law enforcement in order to combat violence against women. The abuse of women is an all too common occurrence and the fight to prevent this crime must strengthen.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I want to share that today is the third anniversary of the march on Tallahassee in Tallahassee, Florida. It took place in 2000, to stand not only for justice by affirmative action in this State, but ultimately this country. The adoption of affirmative action programs in the '60s reflected our Nation's aspirations to overcome long-entrenched injustices and become a society of equal opportunity, or at least to make sure that everyone has the opportunity in higher education that would like to have it. Now, not only the President but the Governor of the State of Florida, Jeb Bush, has put forth a brief to the Supreme Court fighting against equal opportunity for all. I think it is important that we as Americans come together at a time such as this and commend those that have come forward. One of the things that the State of Florida talked about as it relates to moving away from affirmative action was moving away from equal opportunity, not only for race or gender, but also moving away from what we believe makes us Americans. I think it is important for us to note that some of these programs are more harmful than helpful. In Florida, they have the Talented 20 program. If this was to become the law of the land and philosophy of the land, if the Supreme Court does not uphold the Michigan decision, it is important, it is important that we make sure that we have as many inclusionary opportunities as possible, especially for those that are attending school for the first time. In Florida, under the Talented 20 program, if you have school A, and school A is a school where the GPA of top 20 percent stops at a 3.5, and school B, where the top 20 shuts off at 3.3; say you have 2 students, they play soccer together, two girls, and you have one student in school A that will have a 3.4 GPA, and the one in school B has a 3.4 GPA, this school A student does not go to school and this one does, based on the capability of other students in their school. The top 20 cuts off at different locations, different areas in every school; so a child should not be penalized on the fact that they go to a school that has more magnet programs or Rhodes scholars, future Rhodes scholars, whatever the case may be. They should not be penalized. When we move away from the practice of affirmative action, using race among many factors, we get into a very gray area that is going to end up hurting more Americans than helping them. As we start looking at the fact that, I must say, my President and yours was able to get into school under a legacy, I think it is important that we remember that everyone did not have the opportunity to have a parent or someone that was able to get a dormitory named after them to be able to get into school. That means every American. I share with people constantly that it is very, very important that we remember that education is the number one key to help individuals provide for their families. I tell individuals when I go to speak at Rotary Clubs or at the Kiwanis Club, if they have a wife or daughter, which qualifies every man in this country, then they should be for affirmative action. The Michigan case is supported by General Schwarzkopf and many others that are noted throughout the military, because diversity makes our country great and strong. I think it is important that Members, not only of this Congress but definitely of the Supreme Court and just everyday Americans, need to understand that if we have to get a football or a basketball, or we have to take our kids to an arts program where they can learn how to sing or what have you, dance well, to get into our institutions of higher education, I think that is the wrong thing. Universities and institutions of higher learning would like to be able to have the opportunity to say that this child, based on the fact that they have great ability, will be a great asset, not only to our university but also to our society. I think it is important. I think it should not be just based on sports, and it should not be based on the fact that someone can sing or run. I think it is important that we remember that children and young people that want to move on into higher education should be able to do so based on their academic ability, and not on the academic ability of others. So I think we really need to really look close to these fast, quick programs, affirmative action, things that are untested, unproven, and look at what the University of Michigan has put forth. I commend the brief that has been put forth by Members of Congress supporting affirmative action, of supporting the Michigan case in the Supreme Court. I think we, as Americans, it brings us together. It does not divide us. When we start looking at voices and hearing voices that are willing to use race and use divisive kinds of languages like preference, things of that nature, divides us as Americans. I think it is important we redefine preference. Mr. Speaker, I urge Members of the House to really look close as we look at this national debate over inclusion, this national debate of education on behalf of fair play, making sure that every young person in our country has an opportunity to quality education and the best universities that we have that serve us. We do not want to go back to the day like my mother, who served in this House, in this Congress, who had to go to the University of Michigan not by choice but just on the fact that she could not get into an institution in Florida to be able to receive a master's degree. I do not think that we will get to that point because I know that Americans will stand up, and I am glad. And I commend the University of Michigan and the corporations and our men and women that are sponsoring them.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay honor to a fallen soldier in our country. I rise to pay tribute to one of Florida's unsung heroes, the late Dr. William B. Perry, Jr. who was truly one of the most outstanding civil rights leaders of our time. His passing on Wednesday, February 12, 2003, in Miami-Dade County leaves a deep void in our community as it relates to being an outstanding protector of justice and protecting civil rights in our community for disenfranchised African Americans and people of color. He was a grassroots person. He was beyond what you may call an elected official or someone that felt that they should do a good thing every once in a while. He was an individual that had many individuals come who celebrated his life on February 17, and it so happens to be Black History Month, of his contributions not only in south Florida but also in other parts of our Nation. He was noted for being an educator, an educator of young and old, someone that continued to fight a good fight, day in and day out, on behalf of those that were disenfranchised. I think it is important that we remember his work as untraditional and uncommon, doing uncommon things uncommonly well in a way that everyday people could be able to grab on and hold on to his dream. He stood up in a time in the 1980s when there was a gentleman by the name of Arthur McDuffie that was killed by police officers in Miami-Dade County that then sparked off several days of rioting, and he was a part of bringing calmness to that situation and moving forth to help move Miami forward and what we have to do as it relates to fair play for all. I think it is important, Mr. Speaker, for us to note that he attended college at Coppin State College and Loyola College for his undergraduate studies, and then went on to earn his doctorate degree in education from the University of Massachusetts. He served as an ordinary classroom teacher with the Baltimore City Public Schools. After that, he then went on and was awarded a national fellowship in the school superintendency by the Rockefeller Foundation in 1996, one of the Nation's most prestigious academic honors given to postdoctoral scholars. I think it is also important for us to be able to note his contributions within the NAACP. He served as one of the Presidents of the Greater Miami-Dade NAACP where he was at the forefront and was ready to be able to move forth on behalf of those individuals that needed a voice in the community and in our Nation. Dr. Perry went on to educate many other leaders that are in our community today. He was a man who believed in family. He believed in commitment. He believed in the American way and making sure that everyone, and I do mean everyone, had an opportunity of the American dream. He left behind a family of great love and appreciation not only for public service but for education, making sure that they were the beacon for other families to follow. He left several grandchildren and children behind to carry on his legacy, and even those that are not in his bloodline, Mr. Speaker, that can continue his way of thinking, his uncanting will to represent those that needed the representation. Words are truly inadequate, Mr. Speaker, to try to describe all the contributions that Dr. Perry gave to our country and also to Miami-Dade County in Florida. But we must say that we only have a Dr. William Perry to come our way every once in a while. I must say that we need to continue to carry on, and America should move along in standing for those that need individuals to stand for them, and also make sure that we keep Dr. King's dream alive and Dr. Perry's dream alive in equality for everyone, Dr. Perry also was a drum major, to make sure to tell young and old never to give up on what they believe in and what they think is right. Mr. Speaker, I would close by saying that it is important that we have fallen heroes, be it elected or selected or, we may say in the Christian community, anointed to lead, that we remember their contributions so that others can follow their track.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Members of the Congressional Black Caucus and all the black members of Congress that have served this Nation. As America observes African American History Month, I would be remiss not to remember the giants of this institution who made it possible for me to stand before you today. In the 212 years of Congressional History, there has been only 108 black Members of Congress: 104 elected to the House and 4 to the Senate. In the great State of Florida there have been five black Members of Congress and I have the distinctive honor to serve as one of them. I want to commend your attention to the first black Member of Congress elected from the State of Florida, Josiah Thomas Walls. Congressman Josiah Thomas Walls was the only black representative from the State of Florida before reconstruction. He was born, probably to slavery, in or near Winchester, Virginia, on December 30, 1842. As a child, Josiah Walls moved to Darksville in what is now West Virginia. Josiah Walls briefly attended the county normal school in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and may have received additional education. As a Congressman, Josiah Walls described his impressments into the Confederate army and his capture by Northern forces at the siege of Yorktown, Virginia, in May 1862. By July 1863 he had entered the Third Infantry Regiment, United States Colored Troops at Philadelphia, becoming a corporal in October. Josiah Walls moved with his regiment to Florida in February 1864. After his discharge in October 1865 he worked at a sawmill on the Suwannee River and later taught at Archer in Alachua County. In 1867, Josiah Walls was elected to represent Alachua County at the 1868 Florida Constitutional Convention. The county convention of March 1868 also nominated Josiah Walls for the state assembly. He was elected, taking his seat in June. Later that same year he was elected to the state senate from the Thirteenth District and took his seat the following January. Josiah Walls participated in several national conventions held to discuss problems facing blacks. At the Southern States Convention of Colored Men in 1871 he proposed an amendment to a resolution of support for President Ulysses S. Grant, which called on the Republicans to nominate John Mercer Langston for Vice President in 1872. In August 1870, Florida Republicans nominated Walls for the state's lone seat in the House of Representatives. Walls appeared to win a narrow election victory and presented his credentials to the Congress on March 4, 1871. He accepted assignments to the Committee on Militia, the Committee on Mileage, and the Committee on Expenditures in the Navy Department. Congressman Walls put forth several proposals and spoke on a variety of subjects. Since he feared public education would receive little attention if it were administered by southern states, he supported a measure to establish a national educational fund financed with money from public land sales. He introduced bills for the relief of private pensioners and Seminole War veterans. He strongly favored expenditures for internal improvements in Florida and supported efforts to grant belligerent status to rebels fighting in Cuba for independence from Spain, which still permitted slavery to exist on the island. After a disputed election and defeat for renomination to the House, Josiah Walls took an indefinite leave of absence from public service. Upon his return to Alachua County, Josiah Walls owned and operated a successful tomato and lettuce farm, sawmill and orange groves. He also remained interested in political developments. He slipped into ill health and lost his fortune when a February 1895 freeze ruined his crops. Shortly thereafter he was placed in charge of the farm at Florida Normal College (now Florida A&M University). He died in Tallahassee on May 15, 1905. As a great writer once penned, ``God will not let us fall . . . For our work is good, We hope to plant a nation, Where none before hath stood.'' Congressman Josiah Walls planted a nation for other African Americans to follow. Today, I honor him and ask all my colleagues to join me in remembering this politician and great leader from the great State of Florida.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay homage to Doris Heyman, one of my district's most involved civic activists who sadly lost her courageous battle against cancer this month. Doris was committed to creating a bright future for everyone she came into contact with. A dedicated educator, she was a preschool teacher for over 20 years who was determined to provide children with a solid foundation for school and life success. She was a leader who advanced children's issues through Voices for Children, a leadership organization promoting healthy lives for children and their families. Doris was a compassionate volunteer for numerous causes and charities for nearly half a century. She actively participated in the American Cancer Society, the Humane Society, the Leukemia Society, and the Florida Breast Cancer Coalition. She was also very active at Safe Space/Domestic Violence Centers and at the Temple Beth Torah and Temple Beth El. This dynamo of a public servant gave hope and courage to many. A political activist, Doris lived her life with incredible passion for several causes. She fought for beach renourishment, women's reproductive rights and the everglades restoration. Her fight for these causes remains within her legacy. Inspired by her mother's tenacious approach to politics, her youngest daughter, Sally, served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives and today is a Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioner. Doris was a devoted wife and mother. She was a kindhearted and take- charge woman who fought tirelessly for causes that she believed in until she saw results. She was a very active person who loved the outdoors. Completely unselfish in all her endeavors, she was generous to those in need and will be missed by all that knew her.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks. I rise today in opposition to H.R. 4 and in support of the Cardin- Kind-Woolsey substitute amendment. In its current state, this bill will not only put great strains on the families and individuals we set out to protect in every other aspect of life, but adds unbearable strains on States that already suffer from shortfalls and unfunded mandates. These new requirements could cost states up to $11 billion over the next 5 years. in addition to the $50 to $70 billion in shortfalls estimated by the National Conference of State Legislators. It is important that we write and support laws that have positive effects on our nation's families. Now, while Florida's efforts at welfare reform are by no means perfect, it has at least recognized that a well-trained adult is a self-sufficient adult. Instead of focusing on keeping participants busy for precisely 40 hours per week while they are on welfare, Florida and other States have recently placed a greater emphasis on structuring programs that provide the types of activities needed to move participants into paid employment and off of welfare, like training programs and educational incentives. Also, Florida determined that providing supports to low-income families, such as child care and transportation assistance, before they resort to welfare, is an essential part of work-based welfare reform. By increasing work program costs for families on welfare, a 40-hour requirement would limit the resources states have to help other low-income working families stay off of welfare. The bill would reduce the flexibility states now have to tailor work activities to the individual needs of parents and families. In particular, States would have less ability to place recipients in vocational education programs because such activities generally would not count toward the first 24 hours of participation required of parents. The bill also would limit significantly States' ability to engage recipients in activities designed to address various barriers to employment--such as physical, mental, and learning disabilities, domestic violence, and substance abuse--because these activities would not count for the bulk of the mandated hours of participation. I wonder how many children will continue to be alone or with inadequate care while parents are forced to increase their hours of work. In the State of Florida and throughout this country, we have issues in our child protective services, because many poor or near poor parents are working and children are left to fend for themselves. While this bill fosters and promotes marriages by giving States grants for research, technical assistance and promotional activities, it diverts $200 million from current bonus to States. All while hurting the single parent trying to make a living and care for their family without any additional programs. We should have looked at this reform from the point of view of both the family and States in implementing change. We cannot use the carrot and the stick approach and not allow the States the flexibility to administer this Federal program. States will be required to have 70 percent of their welfare caseload working within the next 5 years, up from the current work participation rate of 50 percent while keeping TANF block grants at $16.5 billion annually for the next 5 years. Section 8 housing vouchers for low-income families will be replaced with a block grant program. These vouchers were targeted to welfare recipients for whom housing assistance is critical to obtaining or retaining employment. HUD provided 50,000 vouchers at a cost of $283 million. The program allowed families to rent apartments near available jobs, transportation or childcare. The vouchers were targeted to families who are currently receiving, are eligible for, or have left the welfare roll within the last 2 years. But, instead, this bill fails at every turn: Instead of increasing access to education and training, this bill requires that such activities would count for up to 24 months against a State's participation requirement. Instead of increasing mandatory funding for child care by $11 billion over the next 5 years, and restoring the Social Services Block Grant funding to $2.8 billion per, this bill will cost states $11 billion over the next 5 years, and still sacrifice support services that would allow parents to maintain working hours. Instead of removing barriers to serving legal immigrants, including the current ban on States providing Federally funded TANF benefits to immigrant families, the bar on serving pregnant women and children under Medicare, and the bar on disabled children under SSI, this bill retains the discriminatory restrictions despite bipartisan support for removing them. Instead of providing States with the flexibility to tailor programs to their clients, while maintaining some minimum level of support, this bill takes away the ability to help people how they need to be helped, all the while saying that Federal agencies can choose not to help them at all by implementing a superwaiver overriding most Federal laws related to low-income programs. We had an opportunity today to help the hardest to help find a way to self-sufficiency. Instead, we have forced States to go deeper into fiscal crisis or cut programs that could actually aid reform. Webster's defines reform as improvement by alteration, correction of errors, or removal of defects. I don't think there will be a picture of this legislation by definition.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor one of Florida's heroes, Tonya Mitchell. Tonya Mitchell, a valiant public servant, was abducted on January 31, 2003, while driving a mail truck across northwest Miami-Dade County. Tonya Mitchell, extraordinarily composed, drove throughout Miami North-Dade and Broward Counties at gunpoint while dozens of patrol cars and news choppers followed. For five terrifying hours, including a two-hour standoff, Tonya Mitchell, unlike most people facing a life or death situation, maintained a remarkably calm demeanor until she was finally released to safety. Tonya Mitchell, a 32-year-old mother of two from Miramar, Florida, is an example of true courage. The target of a very dangerous situation, she overcame fear and convinced her abductor, after the two-hour standoff, not to commit suicide. Because of her committed faith, she persuaded a man who put her life in grave danger to turn himself in to the authorities. Tonya Mitchell, a deeply religious woman, is not only a survivor, but a model of bravery. United States postal employees have a visible presence in our community. My district, and districts across our country, function more effectively because of their invaluable work. Tonya Mitchell is a three-year veteran of the postal service who often fills in on her colleague's routes. She is a devotee to her community and as seen through last week's experience, a devotee to human kind. Mr. Speaker, the South Florida community is very proud of Tonya Mitchell. Clearly seen through the dedication she has in her work and through her extraordinarily bold composure, she is truly a hero and a role model to us all.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I join with my colleagues in honoring the brave men and women of the Space Shuttle Columbia, in celebrating their lives and marveling at their achievements; in mourning their passing and extending whatever solace and comfort we can to their families and loved ones. Space travel is important to our country, but it is particularly important to my State of Florida. All Floridians take pride in Cape Canaveral. Thousands of Floridians are part of the team that puts the shuttle together, loads up its space cargo and launches it into space. Everyone who has ever seen a shuttle launch goes away feeling differently; about our country, certainly, but also about the nature of human beings on this Earth. For we are a curious species. Our entire history, in countless tales that preceded Jason and the Argonauts, and in countless voyages that followed the voyage of Columbus, is a long, long saga of people trying to go places no one has ever been; seeing things no one has ever seen; and learning things that no one has ever known. And this is the type of people that the men and women of the Columbia were. As is so often the case in life, we have learned more about them after their deaths than we knew when they were living. But what we have learned is that they were truly remarkable people--people with dreams who worked hard, studied hard, exercised discipline, raised their families, served their communities and their country. Each of these astronauts would be a fine role model for our sons and daughters. Our hearts and prayers go out to their families. I hope they can take some comfort in knowing how much their strength and the lives of their loved ones have touched so many they have never met. In the words of Abraham Lincoln, speaking about another great national tragedy at the Battle of Gettysburg, ``It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they . . . have thus far so nobly advanced.'' Mr. Speaker, almost 100 years ago, Orville Wright took off from a launching rail in North Carolina and flew for 12 seconds and a distance of 120 feet. Space shuttle Columbia took off from Florida and flew for 16 days at a distance of 6.6 million miles. Because of the special people that these astronauts were, I marvel to think about how long and how far our great, great grandchildren will fly 100 years from today.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honoring one of Florida's most admired public servants and civil rights leaders, the Honorable Jesse J. McCrary, Jr. This Saturday, February 1, 2003 at 6:00 p.m. at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida, a host of friends and admirers will join his family in celebrating the legend that he genuinely symbolizes. This honoree epitomizes the preeminence of a gentleman and a devout Christian. In 1956, he attended Florida A & M University with a major in political science. He went on to pursue his legal studies at the Florida A & M University as well. He was subsequently honored with unprecedented accomplishments never before achieved by an African- American in the history of our state. Among his most prominent achievements was his being the first African-American to be appointed Assistant Attorney General for the State of Florida in 1967, the first African-American to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1969, the first African-American to sit on a statutory Court of Appeals in Florida's Industrial Relations Commissions in 1971, the first African-American Secretary of State of Florida in 1978, and the first African-American from Florida to be listed in the Best Lawyers in America in 1988. Ever since I've known this giant of a leader, Mr. McCrary has always been at the forefront of ensuring equality of opportunity for everyone in our community and throughout Florida. At the same time, his untiring advocacy in adhering to the mandate of equal treatment under the law not only in the halls of academia, but also in every segment of government agency, has become legendary. In fact, countless others from every color, creed or gender have been touched by his genuine commitment to their well-being, especially those who could least fend for themselves. By his passionate advocacy for due process and the rule of law, he won landmark cases he argued before the Supreme Court. The most memorable cases that now emblazon his legal triumphs are the right to have a jury of less than twelve persons and the prohibition for the state from dismissing jurors on the basis of race alone. The decisions handed down by the Court now form part and parcel of the history of our state's legal precedents. Aside from his role as our state's legal luminary, Mr. McCrary has been the consummate activist who abides by the dictum that those who have less in life through no fault of their own deserve to be helped by the government, be it at the local, state, or federal level. It is no wonder that the numerous accolades with which he has been honored by various organizations saliently represent an unequivocal testimony of the utmost respect and admiration he enjoys from our community. Imbued with a down-to-earth common sense, he has also been gifted with the rare wisdom of being able to discern the strengths and limitations of those empowered to govern. This brand of leadership has been tested time and time again during his stint as Chairman of the Florida Correction Review Commission, the Florida Education Standards Commission, the Select Committee to Review Competency Testing in Florida, the Gubernatorial Commission for the Study of Capital Punishment and Judicial Reform, and the Constitution Revision Commission. The acumen of his intelligence and the depth of his sensitivity were felt at a time when Miami needed to put in perspectives the agony of disenfranchised African-Americans and other minorities yearning to belong and participate in the fruition of the American Dream. When government and community leaders met to douse the still-burning embers of the Miami riots in the early 1980s, Mr. McCrary was the leader whose firm voice of reason and understanding succinctly articulated his credo that one has got to learn and live with one another in the community, or shamefully reap the grapes of wrath from those who have been left out of the ambiance of the rule of law and due process. He thoroughly understood the accoutrements of power and leadership, and he sagely exercised them alongside the mandate of his conviction and the wisdom of his conscience, focusing them upon the good of the community he has learned to love and care for so deeply. This stewardship motivated by his Faith in God defines the authenticity of his public service as exemplified by what he learned as a child that: ``. . . it is better to give than to receive.'' His word is his bond to those of us who know him. He has exuded this bond not only in moments of triumphal exuberance toward helping many a wayward youth turn the corners around, but also in his quest to transform Miami-Dade County into a veritable mosaic of vibrant cultures and diverse races converging to symbolize the noble idealism that is America. As my community honors Jesse F. McCrary, Jr., Esquire, I praise the decent man and devout Christian that he is. My pride in sharing his friendship is only exceeded by my deep gratitude for all that he has sacrificed on behalf of all Floridians. This is the magnificent legacy with which he will always be honored.

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to one of our nation's unsung heroes, the late Mr. Samuel J. Simmons, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Caucus and Center on Black Aged, Inc. (NCBA). His untimely demise on Sunday, January 12, 2003 leaves a gaping void in our nation's quest for quality service to our low income and minority senior citizens. My district and the entire state of Florida will surely miss him for the longevity of his genuine commitment to the well being of our elder constituency under the aegis of the Center he so ably led. When I think of Mr. Simmons' consecration to our senior citizens, it is clear that it virtually parallels much of this nation's history as it struggled through the countless challenges of gender and racial equality. I first came to know him when he served as President of the National Center for Housing Management (NCHM), which trains individuals to manage housing and services for the nation's low-income population. He also served as the Assistant Secretary for Equal Opportunity of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Director of Field Operations for the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. He also worked for 16 years from 1978 to 1994 as a Director of the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) Corporate Board of Directors and the FNMA Foundation Board of Directors. Prior to this tragedy that has befallen our Black and minority senior citizens, this dynamo of a public servant came in our midst to give hope and courage to the underserved and disenfranchised constituents from our nation's inner cities. He urged them to stay informed and become knowledgeable of the various legislations proffered by Congress, along with the impact these initiatives would have upon their lives. Time and time again, he managed to prod the key leadership in Congress, particularly the Congressional Black Caucus, as well as the top officials in the administration, by focusing their attention on the needs and concerns of the burgeoning population of our elderly population. He urged them to strengthen Social Security benefits under the Medicare and Medicaid programs, prescription drugs, housing initiatives and the like. He forged his vast institutional memory and experience into a veritable force that compelled the various agencies of our government to respond accordingly to the agenda of the NCBA in a manner that immensely benefited its constituency. Mr. Simmons was a multi-dimensional public servant, a civic activist par excellence, and an indefatigable community-builder who is completely unselfish in all his endeavors. The authenticity of his stewardship on behalf of our nation's Black and minority senior citizens was buttressed by his utmost consecration to his vocation as God's faithful servant, bringing hope and optimism to thousands of ordinary folks whose lives he touched so deeply, never holding anyone at arm's length. He was the Founder and Treasurer of the Summit Health Coalition, the national lobbying arm for African Americans on healthcare reform and was a Board Member of the International Federation on Aging, the national nongovernmental organization concerned with issues of the elderly throughout the world. He also served as a Board Member of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA), the major advocacy for housing and living arrangements for older people, and the Leadership Council on Aging Organizations (LCAO), a coalition of all major organizations concerned with issues affecting the elderly. For all his efforts of advocacy for the elderly, he was feted with a number of citations, including the Arthur S. Fleming Award from the Joint Conference on Law and Aging, the Distinguished Service Award by AAHSA, and the Senior Advocate Award granted by the United States Health Cooperative. This remarkable leader was a friend and confidante in his pioneering mission to help establish the Congressional Black Caucus Aging Braintrust under the aegis of Congresswoman Carrie P. Meek, my mother. Indeed, we are deeply saddened by his death. At the same time, however, he will forever be an indelible reminder of the noble commitment and awesome power of public service on behalf of the less fortunate. His faith was deep and genuine, and his love for our low-income population of senior citizens defined his dynamic friendship and understanding. No one who knew Sam Simmons--and having been struck by his sunny disposition and eternal optimism--went away not acknowledging the towering presence of a caring and compassionate leader. His life was truly akin to that of a burning candle, the ritualistic symbolism of our Christian faith. Just as a candle's lifelong service is to shed its light to illuminate the darkness of pessimism and hopelessness until it is fully consumed, so too did Sam Simmons consecrate his life by serving his God through his outreach efforts to our nation's elders. This authentic trailblazer was a superlative example of the depth and nobility that inclusiveness brings to once- exclusive rights that only belonged to a privileged few. He will be remembered long after many others of his era are gone and forgotten. At a time when there is a rapid upswing in our unprecedented economic successes and technological advancements at the national, state and local levels, his persevering stance about the glaring gap between the haves and the have-nots in our nation still reverberates in our low- income communities and serves as a timely warning to those charged with advancing the common good of all Americans. It is truly his commitment in this arena that will most assuredly characterize his profile in courage. Though his voice is now stilled, let us not allow its echoes to disappear in our midst. Last Monday, January 20, 2003, at the People's Congregational Church in Washington, D.C., I joined our nation's advocates for the low-income and minority senior citizens to memorialize this great leader whose vision is as relevant today as it was during his stewardship over the National Caucus and Center on Black Aged, Inc. Having a strong faith, Mr. Samuel Simmons would remind us that his death does not represent an irrevocable termination or a grim finality. He would rather have us firmly believe that he shall live on in the good deeds he amply left behind, and he will carry on through the wonderful thoughts and memories we all have of him. Like the God whom he served faithfully during his earthly sojourn, he came and lived among us so that we may have life--and have hope more abundantly. This is the magnificent legacy Sam Simmons will leave behind. And this is the gift with which he will bless us. May Almighty God grant him eternal rest!

Mr. MEEK of Florida

Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 23, which will finally provide for a 5-month extension of the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002. I say ``finally'' because this legislation is long overdue. We all knew for months that on December 28th, in the middle of the holiday season, an estimated one million people out of work would be cut off from receiving unemployment benefits. Yet neither House Republicans nor the President took action to help suffering Americans provide for themselves or for their families. Mr. Speaker, our economy continues to weaken. The latest figures show that unemployment claims in my district, which includes part of Miami- Dade County, reached a record high of 80,554 during October 2002. In only one year, unemployment claims were up an overwhelming 30%. The unemployment rate in Miami-Dade County, a major international trading and tourist hub of the Americas, has climbed to an outrageous 8.0%, considerably higher than the national average. In Broward County, which is also a part of my district, the unemployment rate has reached a national rate of 6.0%. Last week alone, there were more than 13,000 new jobless applicants filing for unemployment benefits. It is no wonder that Americans are enraged. The House has waited until today, 11 days after the expiration, to provide benefits to jobless Americans. When a building is on fire, does a fire rescue team wait 11 days to put the fire out? When a patient is seriously ill, does a hospital wait 11 days to attend to this patient? In a crisis situation, we act immediately. The House has waited too long, putting Americans in fear. My district and the country are in an unemployment crisis. Everyday, more and more of my constituents join the hundreds of thousands of Americans in my colleagues' districts in the unemployment line. Mr. Speaker, it is important that we help displaced American workers today. It is terrible that we have waited so long to do so.