Major Owens

Mr. OWENS

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. OWENS

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume. I am pleased to join my colleagues in honoring the contributions of our Nation's historically Black colleges and universities. I am a graduate of Morehouse College and of Atlanta University, both historically Black colleges. I think it is very important to note that in the constellation of the higher education world in America, these 105 historically Black colleges and universities are only a small part. There are more than 3,000 colleges and universities in the United States at this point. It is very important that we understand the value of this treasure that we have in this collection of colleges. Our Nation continues to struggle with a great gap in college opportunity. Only 59 percent of African American high school graduates enroll in college, compared to 66 percent of white high school graduates. I am not going to stand here and pretend that the bulk of the African American students who do go to college are going to go to historically Black colleges and universities. That is not the case. We have more students enrolled, of course, in other institutions. However, these institutions have a special role in going after an underserved, hard-to-reach group. Historically Black colleges and universities have a unique track record of success in expanding college opportunity for those who would normally not get the opportunity or, given the opportunity, would need special assistance. Historically Black colleges and universities enroll 16 percent of all African American college students, but they are responsible for a full 40 percent of African American college graduates. The greater percentage of African Americans that get Ph.D.s are far greater among the graduates of historically Black colleges and universities. They have developed innovative academic strategies, supported cutting-edge research and helped to launch the careers of millions of today's leaders, including scientists, doctors, teachers, lawyers, artists, entrepreneurs, community and religious leaders. They were there when there was nothing else, especially in the segregated South. These institutions were created out of the efforts of local people using very basic grassroots methods. Sometimes tuitions were paid in terms of bushels of corn or crates of eggs. They improvised and survived over the years, and even now many of these historically Black colleges and universities have a very difficult time financially. They are not secure at all. Very few of them have endowments which are adequate for the purposes of today's financing. Despite broad bipartisan support, they still receive only 4 percent of the $29 billion in Federal funds for universities each year. The House leadership has failed to keep its promise to move the education appropriations bill, and they have a lot at stake in that bill. Even worse, the Republican proposal includes only a 3.6 percent increase for Black colleges. Over the past 5 years, these institutions have received a 15 percent annual increase. The increase this year is far less than it was before. We appreciate this resolution. We appreciate the special recognition being given to historically Black colleges and universities, but they are in need of substantial support. The Republican leadership has also failed to schedule H.R. 1606, which is the gentleman from South Carolina's (Mr. Clyburn) bill to preserve historic landmarks on Black college campuses. H.R. 1606 was approved by the Committee on Resources and has been on the House calendar since June. We would like to see some action on that. The House has not even held any hearings on H.R. 1162, even though it has 120 sponsors. H.R. 1162 is a comprehensive initiative of minority- serving colleges introduced by the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller). Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis). (Mr. DAVIS of Illinois asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton).

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt). (Mr. HOLT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this time to repeat a plea for H.R. 1606. We have had tremendous bipartisan support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities starting in 1986 with the Higher Education Assistance Act when title 3-B was authorized and a steady stream of funding was created for historically black colleges, the first steady stream of Federal funding for the majority of these colleges. Before, there had been some land grant colleges in the South, segregated land grant colleges that were receiving Federal funding, but this created for all 105 Historically Black Colleges and Universities a steady stream of funding. During the years of the existence of title 3-B, both parties have supported increases in funds. It is an example of bipartisan cooperation that probably is unmatched in the area of education. So I have no complaint whatsoever in terms of that effort by both parties. But I would like to make a plea for H.R. 1606. H.R. 1606 builds upon the successful program that Congress authorized in 1996 to provide Federal funds to assist in the preservation of buildings and structures that are eligible to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places and that are located on the campuses of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. We do not want Historically Black Colleges and Universities to become museums. Our fight is to keep them operating, keep them functioning and making a contribution. But they do have a museum quality, and they have a special contribution they have made to the American heritage. We would like to see that supported. The 1996 act came about as a result of a cooperative effort by the Department of Interior and the United Negro College Fund, which identified many historic properties at the HBCUs that were threatened and in need of repair. A 1998 study had been done by the General Accounting Office, and it identified 712 historic properties at 103 of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities that were in need of assistance. H.R. 1606, as reported by the Committee on Resources, authorizes the appropriation of such sums as may be necessary to carry out this historic preservation program. The bill also provides that the grantee must provide from funds derived from non- Federal sources an amount that is equal to 30 percent of the total cost of the project for which the grant is provided. H.R. 1606 enjoyed significant support in Congress and among the African American community. The bill was favorably reported by the Committee on Resources on May 22, 2002, and has been pending on the House calendar since the committee report was filed on June 20, 2002. I would like to make a plea from both sides of the aisle to support the placing on the calendar and bringing to the floor a vote for H.R. 1606, the preservation of historic buildings on the campuses of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. OWENS

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, on September 10 I was unavoidably absent and missed rollcall votes Nos. 378, 379, 380, 381, 382 and 383. If present I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. OWENS

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, Monday, September 9th I was unavoidably absent and missed roll call votes No. 375, No. 376 and No. 377. If present I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. OWENS

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to salute Clarence M. Surgeon who will be honored on Saturday, July 27th for his past service to his country and the community; and for his continuing activism on behalf of worthwhile causes. Mr. Surgeon is a POINT-OF-LIGHT for all Americans. Clarence M. Surgeon had a distinguished 39-year career with the New York Police Department. He was appointed to the force in April 1955 as a Police Officer and rose to the rank of Detective 1st Grade. Clarence has received many citations for excellence in the performance of his duties. He is a native of Brooklyn, New York, still residing in the neighborhood of his youth. He is one of five children of Bessie and Lesline Surgeon. His siblings are Lesline Ethel, Aubrey and Winifred. He was married to the late Helen Mayfield. He honorably served in the United States Army during the Korean War and rose to the rank of Sergeant First Class. He was discharged from the Army in 1953 after two years of service. He is an accomplished pilot and enjoys membership in the Negro Airmen International. In 1979 Clarence earned a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Long Island University, NY. He is a member of the National Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration (PI Alpha Alpha). As a student in pursuit of his bachelors degree at John Jay College of Criminal justice, Clarence had the opportunity to go abroad to study and patrol with the London Police Department. In high school he was a football player and earned recognition for his athletic ability. Upon entering the criminal justice profession, Clarence continued to exhibit his tenacious ability, now as a criminal investigator. He successfully completed the Criminal Investigator's Course commanded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He served as a Commander of the Confidential Investigation Unit and was responsible for the development of documentation designed to prevent internal theft from various state and local revenue collecting agencies; and represented the NYPD as a criminal investigator in many federal, state and city inter-agency investigations. His knowledge as a criminal investigator qualified him to lecture on behalf of the NYPD in various cities such as Atlanta, Boston and Washington, D.C. His civic activities include: serving as a marshal at the March on Washington, August 28,1963; representing the Cerberean Society (Now the New York City Police Guardians) standing alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Lincoln Memorial, as he delivered his now famous ``I Have A Dream'' speech. In 1983, he founded and served as Director of the Guardian Association and Anti-drug program located in Community School District 16, (Bedford-Stuyvesant). In 1985 Clarence founded and coordinated the National Black Police Association and the Grand Council of Guardians-NYPD Inquiry Panel. The panel was formulated to review procedures used by the city to hire minority candidates to the position of police officer. In his community, he is an activist involved in all aspects of service to improve the quality of life for his neighbors. He is a member of the Black Community Council of Crown Heights; the Steering Committee for the 11th Congressional District; President of the 100 Men for Congressman Major Owens; a member of the Vanguard Independent Democratic Association and the NAACP. For youths of the community, one of his activities included Founder and Commissioner of the Interborough Youth Sports Complex which included approximately 1100 youths in the tri-state area. Other organizational affiliations include: National Black Police Association (NBPA) Northeast Region; Past Chairperson and Past Vice-chairperson; Transit Guardians, NY-Past Secretary, Recording Secretary and Sergeant-at-Arms; Grand Council of Guardians, NY- Historian. Clarence was affiliated with the National Conference of Black Lawyers. Clarence states: His main purpose is to fight for the rights of Black people, keeping in mind, ``now is the time tomorrow is not promised.'' We particularly salute Clarence Surgeon for his continuing volunteer activities despite a series of personal hardships. After enduring several serious operations and experiencing the death of his wife, Clarence has returned to the arena to continue working for the less fortunate and the community. For being a great role model for unselfish dedication we are proud to salute Clarence M. Surgeon as a POINT-OF- LIFE for all Americans.

Mr. OWENS

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, the massive suffering being inflicted on millions of employees and investors by corporate thieves is still difficult to comprehend. Members of Congress have a duty to clarify the murky ``infectious greed'' scenarios unfolding everyday. Stealing by very sophisticated means is still thievery. When an executive is granted a 400 million dollar loan, there is no way to explain it as a rational business decision. Congress must confront this dirty business by pushing harder for the confiscation of stolen money. We must establish a system for restitution to swindled employees, current and retired. And Congress must push for greater criminal penalties. The very rich insiders must be forced to confront their crimes. Deprival of liberty by sentencing corporate crooks to prison is a necessary step to foster deterrence and restore confidence in our financial systems and markets. Already our constituents are ahead of the lawmakers in demanding justice. Those members who are soft on white collar crime will pay at the polls. It is the Great American Middle Class that is now being victimized. The following RAP poem summarizes their sentiment: Message to the Republican Mob Before you merely mauled welfare mothers, But now you're messing with The Great American Middle Class; We'll kick your rear! Grandfathers are full of fear, New anger after every tear, Our pensions down the drain, No shelter from old age rain; O say Newt can you see Pain and suffering you contracted for me? Chisel swindle in the great greed spree, Criminals still strutting free, Lock up that mugger With the 400 million dollar loan, Tell the crook building that Multi-million dollar home You'll shoot if he lays another stone. Stage a raid On all the board room whores Hiding behind fancy carved doors; Bring out the hand cuffs, Shine bright lights in haughty faces, Drag them through drug pusher paces; Grill Martha and the Hamptons crowd, Make them confess Early and loud. Special prosecutors to the front lines. In 2002 we have real crimes, Whitewater was just kid stuff; Let's play Harkin and Halliburton bluff: At each turn Take ten million and run-- Insiders have all the fun, A tax break bonus For each step you mount, Ordinary dumb investors Can't follow the count. Chisel swindle in the great greed spree, O say Newt can you see Pain and suffering you contracted for me? Before you merely mauled welfare mothers, But now you're messing with The Great American Middle Class; At the November showdown We'll be kicking your elephant (bleep)!

Mr. OWENS

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. OWENS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 460. This resolution fittingly honors and celebrates the life of Justin W. Dart, Jr., a civil rights pioneer for individuals with disabilities. Sadly, he passed away at the end of June, leaving our Nation to mourn him, but also to recognize his legacy of accomplishments. Justin Dart is remembered for his tireless work on behalf of individuals with disabilities and ensuring their ability to fully participate in life. His spirit and efforts to better opportunities for individuals with disabilities was a constant focus since he contracted polio at age 18. Justin Dart's determination for success led him to establish a successful business that employed disabled individuals, but also to fight for the civil rights of all Americans. Justin received numerous awards and recognitions during his lifetime, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded to him by President Clinton in 1998. Justin also held numerous positions within the disability community, including vice chairperson of the National Council on Disability, commissioner of the Rehabilitative Services Administration, and chairman of the President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities. Justin is best remembered, however, for his tireless work to enact the Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA has literally opened the doors of opportunity to millions of disabled Americans, ensuring they can work, go to school, and access facilities to the same extent as nondisabled individuals. Without Justin's work on this legislation, I am certain there would be no ADA today. The ADA is a living monument to his spirit and his determination. Our thoughts go out to Yoshiko Dart, Justin's wife, and his family for their loss. As individuals and institutions around the world celebrate Justin Dart's life, it is only fitting the House recognizes him for his lifetime of contributions to the civil rights cause of individuals with disabilities. His legacy and his tireless work is an inspiration to us all. Mr. Speaker, I had intimate, personal knowledge of Justin Dart and his amazing energy and dedication as reflected in the spirit with which he approached the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. I know as no one else knows that the Americans with Disabilities Act would never have been passed had it not been for Justin Dart. Justin Dart at the very beginning of the act's preparation, our effort to pass it, recognized the complexity of the bill. The ADA was a bill which had jurisdiction spread throughout all the committees of Congress. There were many people who predicted it could never pass. The ADA, however, moved forward and had a momentum that was mysterious to many people, but I clearly understood what was happening. Every Congressman tells the advocates of any piece of legislation that the first thing they have to do is go out and get the sentiment of their own Congressman involved, to arouse the constituency of each Congressman who is involved in order to make certain that the bill is given the proper attention in this House. In the case of the ADA, I saw with my own eyes and heard with my own ears a monumental effort led by Justin Dart. He put together a task force which visited every one of the 50 States. In every one of those 50 States, they made certain that somebody from every congressional district was present at a meeting or a hearing and went forward to talk to their own Congressman about the ADA. I recall conducting some hearings in some of the States as a result of the request of Justin Dart and the task force and they were monumental experiences. I do recall in Boston holding a hearing that lasted from 10 in the morning until 5, or it was supposed to last 10 to 5, it went 10 to 6, and had 90 witnesses. They actually had 90 witnesses. They were very disciplined. They held them to a 2- to 3- minute limit. Many of them could not speak. They had to have people to speak for them. Some of them had to use devices or machines to help speak for them. It was an unprecedented hearing; but they were all determined to be heard, and they were heard that day in Boston. I recall in Houston, Texas, where one of the people who was a sworn opponent against the travel provisions of the ADA, the head of the Houston transportation system, he was known as an opponent against the bill, but he came in and he testified on behalf of the bill because he had suddenly seen the light. He not only testified but he said that it was a shibboleth that was being erected by his colleagues across the country in terms of their objections to the bill because of possible high cost. He said that the cost of the additional services that were being provided to people with disabilities would probably be no greater than the amount of money spent on conventions and travel by the various transportation authorities across the country. This hardball opponent concluded by reciting ``Gray's Elegy'' and tears were in his eyes when he sat down from his testimony. It was one of the most moving experiences I have ever had. Justin Dart and the legions he rounded up in every State inspired that kind of response across America. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the sponsor of the bill.

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin).

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I would like to again thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) for his sponsorship of this bill. Justin Dart, with his wide-brimmed hat and in many other ways, liked to remind us that he was a Texan. His vision was broad and comprehensive like that of LBJ. He could also be as combative as Teddy Roosevelt. Justin Dart was always politically alert, but he really operated above politics. He was a lifelong Republican who would not hesitate to make alliances with Democrats and others when he felt it was necessary. Justin was above politics. He really belongs with the ranks of Martin Luther King and Mother Teresa. We are proud to recognize Justin Dart as one of the true champions of the rights of individuals with disabilities, and for his many other contributions to the Nation throughout his lifetime.

Mr. OWENS

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I was unavoidably absent and missed rollcall votes Nos. 283 and 284. If present I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. OWENS

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4954, the Republican Pharmaceutical Industry Protection Act, is a cruel and unusual joke perpetrated against the senior citizens of America. The Republicans are preoccupied with the goal of the prescription drug manufacturers which is to maintain the highest possible prices and profits in America. Without operating at a loss in foreign markets, these drug companies sell their products at much lower prices. They sell at lower prices because foreign government negotiators refuse to pay exorbitant prices. Insults are added to injuries when Americans are forced to pay the highest prices for drugs which our Government often play a major role in research and development. A workable and simple plan offering the necessary benefits to seniors in need can be set in motion immediately. First, lower the cost of prescription drugs by following the principles and procedures set forth in my bill, H.R. 4772, the Pharmaceutical Products Price Equity Act which I first introduced on September 25, 2000. This bill ensures that pharmaceutical companies cannot charge more the 6 percent above the average retail price of prescription drugs sold in the 5 most industrialized, free-market countries. This will ensure that pharmaceutical companies charge consumers within the U.S. prescription drug prices that are comparable to other nations. The second simple step is to follow the program of implementation as stated in the Democratic Plan. No new HMO and insurance bureaucracy is necessary. Let the Prescription Drug Benefit Plan be an extension of the of the Medicare program. Instead of offering a cruel and unusual joke, this Congress should unite behind a plan which relieves the very desperate needs of many of our senior citizens.

Mr. OWENS

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I was unavoidably absent and missed rollcall votes Nos. 249, 250, 251, and 252. If present I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. OWENS

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Chairman, all members of Congress were ready to debate and pass a supplemental budget in support of the war effort, and for other emergencies. We have been shocked by the addition of a section which raises the national debt ceiling by 750 billion dollars. This giant expenditure without debate is designed to protect the massive Republican tax cut for the rich. This legislation represents a gross abuse of power. Mr. Chairman, this gross abuse of power must be challenged. The Republican juggernaut is out of control and they must be exposed in the eyes of the American people. Through an undemocratic, autocratic process under the camouflage of parliamentary tricks, the Republicans are staging an economic coup using a tax cut to permanently place the rewards of our economy in the hands of the corporate elite. The supplemental budget process is being abused to protect and enshrine the tax cut for the rich. It is a clear statement that the Republicans claim the nation's resources for the benefit of the rich alone. Republicans are declaring, that the constitutional infrastructure established by the founding fathers and nurtured by succeeding generations belongs only to the rich elite. The Republicans are seizing for themselves alone all of the wealth that flows from American scientific and technological achievement; from military research and testing; from grants for domestic research. All the wounds and battlefield deaths of American heroes in all the wars are now deemed to be for the sake of only the rich. A massive tax cut for the rich accomplishes the clear purpose of leaving the treasury emptied of all funds that might be used for the benefit of the poorer ninety percent of the population. The Republican action makes more than 200 years of struggle for a more perfect union only for the comfort of the rich. By their actions related to the supplemental budget the Republicans confiscate America the Beautiful as America for the rich and powerful. Will these same rich and powerful recipients of the tax cut volunteer for the front lines if the war against terrorism is prolonged and a draft becomes necessary? Will those who have the most to lose step forward or will the draft again be a vehicle which forces the sons of working families to die to preserve the comforts of the rich? The public must be fully made to understand the cynical, selfish, cold blooded posture of Republican policy. Republicans never voted for social security, medicare or medicaid. Republicans refuse to raise the minimum wage. Currently, as well as in the past, Republicans do not hide their plot to strip the Federal government of programs that benefit working families and the unfortunate poor. More than a decade ago David Stockman wrote a book outlining the plot that Ronald Reagan could not quite complete. With this stealth effort to raise the debt ceiling without debate, the scheme to kidnap the Treasury is given new life. Despite the extra expenditures for the war against terrorism, there would be no necessity to increase the debt ceiling by 750 billion dollars if the Republican tax cut for the rich had not been rammed through in the first year of this session of Congress. Every Democrat has a duty to sound the trumpet and spread the word that an economic takeover, a fiscal coup is underway that will rob our Nation and make it impossible to provide a prescription drug, benefit; increased funds for education and school construction; and adequate day care and children's programs. Every voter must understand that this defiant Democratic initiated debate on the eve of Memorial Day is a landmark battle for the people against the selfish few.

Mr. OWENS

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I was unavoidably absent and missed rollcall votes 171, 172, 173. If present I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. OWENS

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this act and hope that it will be administered very much in the same way that the Victims Compensation Act that already exists is administered. I think the Victims Compensation Act that we passed several months ago was a great landmark for America, a great landmark in terms of celebrating the spirit of the Great Angels. I think I have said before that there is a schizophrenic personality in our Nation, the Great Angels and the Giant Scrooges. The Giant Scrooges' spirit is expressed in the fact that we sometimes demonize welfare mothers and children and we refuse to pass a minimum wage bill. On the other hand, we do have great generous acts that are unparalleled in history, and throughout the world you will find people no more generous than Americans and America as a nation. I think the Victims Compensation Act that was passed in connection with the September 11 tragedy was an example of that generosity. The formulas that were worked out by the master for that should stand for all time, and it should be the pattern. There are people who have some difficulties with certain aspects of it but they are working it through. And, finally, I hope we will have a pattern that we can use in the future and we will not have a situation where the victims of the embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania have had to wait for 4 years to get a hearing on the floor of Congress, and even now it is not certain what the procedure will be. Let us let the Great Angels spirit that prevails in the case of September 11 victims stand for all time as an example of how generous our Nation can be, recognizing that all Americans are in this together. And when we make sacrifices, we are willing to take care of those who are left behind.

Mr. OWENS

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by informing the gentleman from Delaware that the unfunded mandate in this bill would cost the State of Delaware about $33 million. I think it is important to note these unfunded mandates and the higher costs. Maybe the Governors in the States would like to have the farm subsidy bill given to the States so that they could have more flexibility there and return the administration of the TANF program strictly to the Federal Government. We had our previous speaker from New Jersey, the gentlewoman from New Jersey, who talked about tough love. When she first spoke, I thought she was talking about tough luck is what we are offering to welfare recipients. In the case of the farm subsidy bill, it is tough luck too if we get up to $390,000 in taxpayer safety net benefits if one is a farmer, and if that $390,000 a year is not enough, then tough luck after that. Consider the contrast. Also, consider the fraud that permeates this legislation and the whole process of discussion. If we really care about children, if we care about getting people out of poverty, then built into the legislation there ought to be some kind of punishment or incentives related to reducing the child care waiting list. There ought to be an incentive for reducing the child care waiting list. The waiting list in New York is so large, they will not even tell us what it is; and yet New York City has one of the best day care systems in the world, one of the largest day care systems, but still the waiting list is so long. The waiting list in Georgia is 46,800; in Mississippi, 10,422; Ohio will not even tell us what theirs is. North Carolina, 25,363. If we had some way to reward them for reducing the waiting list, then children would be better taken care of. There is no real way to see that that happens in the most basic way, and that is in the area of day care.

Mr. OWENS

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, this process of the rule shows contempt for poor people and poor children, just as legislation also shows contempt. Welfare legislation should not demonize poor children. Yes, first we must remember that the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Act is a safety net program for children, for poor children. Helping mothers to find jobs is only a means to accomplish the end of providing necessities for children. These children are a vital part of the fabric of America. History clearly exposes the fact that poor children of America have grown up to supply the majority of the foot soldiers who have been maimed and killed by the wars of this Nation. The overwhelming majority of the heroes whose names are engraved on the Vietnam War Wall Memorial are soldiers who came from families who would qualify for free school lunches, food stamps and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. If we are so unfortunate that we are entrapped into a prolonged war against terrorism and it becomes necessary to institute a draft again, the first and greatest number to be drafted will be the children from the poorest families in America. Helping children out of poverty and not harassing the so-called welfare mothers should be the goal and mission of the reauthorization of TANF legislation. After 5 years of this program, which has been labeled a great success, why are there more children living in poverty than before? Have the infant mortality rates decreased? Are children who have been pushed off Medicaid receiving adequate health care? Are there more children in juvenile delinquent detention facilities? What proportion of the prison population were teenagers on welfare 5 years ago? To bring legitimacy and humanity into this lawmaking process, these are a few of the questions that we should answer. We have rushed to declare a success without applying any basic scientific research principles. Instead, we are passing a rule tonight which facilitates a cold-blooded grab for another pound of flesh from the demonized welfare mothers. Today it is approximately 2 weeks since we passed the largest safety net under congressional jurisdiction, the farm subsidy program. Although it has a few other features, it is primarily to convey $20 billion per year to so-called poor farmers who constitute less than 2 percent of the population. This is not the only tax dollar give away orgy that we have seen recently. In the nearly $400 billion defense bill, we threw billions of dollars at several unnecessary weapon systems, such as the dangerous Osprey helicopter gadget, a missile defense system that will not protect us from terrorists, and other high-tech overweight gun monsters that the Secretary of Defense has declared obsolete. There have been other tax giveaway orgies, but the farm bill is the most relevant comparison because the farm subsidy is a safety net program. Most people do not understand; it is a safety net program. The means test for the agriculture safety net benefit is $2.5 million. If you make more than this, you are not eligible for the safety net benefits of the farm program. In any one year, you can only receive $390,000. Do farmers have to work for these taxpayer dollars? Or are they paid not to work to grow food? Farmers are important, but no more important than the families that supply the majority of the foot soldiers who fight and die in the wars of America. Poor children in America are as important as anybody else. We should not continue to demonize them. We should understand what Osama bin Laden and a number of people in the Islamic world understand. They are precious, they take them and they train them to hate; and they have become a resource to be used against America. Our children deserve the same kind of attention, not to be demonized but to be nurtured.

Mr. OWENS

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, we have initiated the debate on the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Act reauthorization. I want to pick up on a point that I made during the discussion of the rule, and that is that poor people are treated with great contempt in this Congress. During the discussions that preceded the preparation for the bill, there has been language that indicated that the poor are held in contempt. Children are treated with contempt. They make the mistake of assuming, speaking as if we are dealing with welfare mothers and women who are unworthy of being helped by the government. Actually most of the aid to families with dependent children is exactly what it says, it is aid to families with children. We are helping children, and to treat children with contempt is a great mistake in humanitarian terms, in national terms and even military terms. It happens at this point in history there has been a lot of highlighting of the fact that poor children in certain countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan and a few of the Islamic nations are being nurtured and brought into schools called madrassahs, and being given three meals a day, taught to read and write, and they are taught to hate, and then shipped out to military camps which become part of the armies which are supposed to wage jihad against the West. Recently in the New York City Times there was an article which shows that the right-wing Hindus in India are doing the same thing. They are taking poor children with nowhere else to go, and raising these children up as soldiers. Observing these manifestations in the world of Islam, I began to think about what happens in this country. It dawned on me if we examine the names that are on the Vietnam War Memorial Wall in Washington, and I challenge the Heritage Foundation or anyone else who has the staff to do it to challenge me, the majority who died for the country are poor people. We know from the Civil War if you got drafted, you could pay for someone to take your place. In Korea and Vietnam, the majority also were poor people. Those were the foot soldiers. If we ever have a situation where we start drafting people again, those are going to be the foot soldiers again. Let us not treat our poor children with contempt. They are as vital to America as anyone else. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, this is a program for children. The only able-bodied adults who get safety net benefits are farmers in America. I must mention that because of the fact that we have suddenly decided to become fiscally responsible in this bill. We do not have the money for the kind of day-care we need. Part of the money was spent on our farm bill where in order to be a participant, you can make as much as $2.5 million a year. And we put a cap on the amount of taxpayer dollars that the farmers can receive of $390,000. That is where the obscenity is in terms of the misapplication and misappropriation of taxpayers' dollars. To nurture children makes more sense. The costs are far lower. If there is anybody in America that ought to be crowned as royalty, and we do not have royalty in America, but it would be the people who have been maimed and killed in all of our wars. They would be designated as the royal class, and we would find that the overwhelming would be poor people, the sons and daughters of poor families.