Donald Payne

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, would that be the same process in the Congo, which has already had an agreement? As the gentleman knows, the Congo is more complex. There are five countries, Uganda and Rwanda and Angola and Congo and Namibia, all three. Speaking to several of the presidents, they are willing to withdraw the question as to the peacekeepers.

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, if I can ask the gentleman to continue to yield for just a few quick seconds more. Let us take the Congo. In the Congo I have spoken to heads of State just a day or two ago, the main belligerents, that is what they are called, the aggressors, they are waiting for the U.N. The reason there is a skirmish here and a skirmish there is because of the vacuum created by the lack of, as there are, retreating troops. So I would say to the gentleman that I think he is lumping together three or four places under one wand. I think that is a mistake, because they are all very different. And I do believe that we can have the peace without the conflict of war in some of these places, therefore even saving casualties from those regional powers. So I would urge the gentleman, as I yield back to him, if there could be a rethinking of this issue, we would appreciate it.

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the gentleman yielding to me. Let me say in regard to a few of the figures the gentleman raised, the gentleman talked about the fact that the U.S. had 30 percent of peacekeeping and now it has reduced this appropriations down to 25 percent and there is a move to even reduce it further. The way the U.N. assesses dues is based on GDP. The U.S. has 28 percent of the world's wealth. And as we continue to reduce our contributions to the United Nations, we are actually paying less. As we reduce our contributions down from 25 to 22, and we want to go to 20, that means that the poorer countries in the world will have to pay a disproportionate share, as we pay less than our share. So we are not paying more; we are actually paying less than the world standards of how assessments are done.

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Jackson amendment to the Commerce-State-Justice bill, H.R. 4690. Let me commend the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Jackson) for putting in this commonsense amendment. It is simply nothing more than that. It is common sense. Why is it common sense? It is common sense because, as we have heard a previous speaker say in a very eloquent appeal, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf), that the United States is the number one nation in the world. Our country is experiencing all-time heights in the stock market, the quality of life, unemployment, profits. Here we have a nation that is number one in the world, a nation that spends this year $310 billion on defense, many on these weapons that make war. These weapons are to supposedly defend ourselves against the enemy. We really have no enemy that we can see. The USSR is gone. We have potentials all around, but there is no threat as there was in World War II and as there was in World War I, or as there were during the Cold War. As we spend $330 billion making weapons of war, B-2 bombers, MX missiles, and Sea Wolf submarines, we say that we cannot afford $2.7 billion to preserve the peace; not to make the war, but to preserve the peace. Can it be that these are people whose skin is black? Can it be because these are people who struggle daily simply to eke out a living? They do not buy our cars, they do not buy our equipment, they do not buy our televisions, they do not buy our computers. So does that mean that these people do not count? They are human beings, like everyone else. When their fingers are cut, the little children, the blood is red. When their bellies hurt, their eyes show the pain. Why can we then say as a nation, the home of the free, the land of the brave, that we cannot put $2.7 billion in to preserve the peace? This is a disgrace. It is a shame. I almost feel that it is an embarrassment being a Member of this House, where we talk about taking money out that will preserve the peace. We are not talking about sending U.S. troops there to be in harm's way. We do not do that anymore. The French did it in the Congo when they went in and protected several million people. The British just went into Sierra Leone. But we do not now do that, and we are not asking us to do that, since we do not do that anymore. But we cannot give $2.7 billion so Ethiopia and Eritrea can stop the conflict? They want to do it, they are ready. They simply want some observers in to make sure that things are even. There is the Congo, with seven nations battling and saying, we are willing to step back if you send the U.N. in. There is the situation in Sierra Leone. They are ready to say, at least we need a semblance of peace and justice. Let the U.N. come in and all sides will agree. And we are saying that we do not want to send $2.7 billion of United States taxpayers' money to this region? Why? I am still trying to find out the reason why. Is it because their skin is black? Is it because they are poor? Is it because they have been exploited by the Cold War? No blood was shed during the Cold War except in Africa. Mr. Chairman, we have supported Mobutu, a despot, a tyrant, for 30 years, who stole from and ravaged his country, but the U.S. supported him. That is one of the problems in the Congo today, because of the legacy of Mobutu. We cannot now send $2.7 billion to the United Nations to try to undo what we have done? It is wrong. I would urge that we pass the Jackson amendment.

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, my question, basically, is, with the reprogram appropriator, I am the one that deals with the policy; and so, for example, if the combatants in the Congo, which are at the point of agreeing, I have spoken to two presidents of the combatants as we speak, if they agree that there will be the withdrawal, and a third president I will be talking to today, then where does the money come from? Is it withdrawn from the appropriation? How could, then, we move for a peacekeeping in the Congo, because they are days and perhaps weeks away from agreeing to end all hostilities? Where, then, can the money come from?

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, will the gentlewoman yield?

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I would like my colleagues here in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in honoring a special person, Ms. Mary L. Carroll, on the occasion of her retirement from Bell Atlantic after 32\1/2\ years of loyal service. Ms. Carroll began working for the Bell Telephone Company in New Jersey on December 9, 1967, as a telephone operator. In 1972, she was promoted to Service Assistant, a position she held until her retirement on September 17, 1999. Ms. Carroll became active in her union, the Communication Workers of America, where she held a number of key positions. She served as group leader for 9 years, secretary-treasurer for 6 years, and as president for three consecutive terms. She continues to hold that position for Local 1006. Ms. Carroll has earned an outstanding reputation for fairness, leadership, and concern for others. Family has always been important to Ms. Carroll, who was the oldest of 12 children born to her parents John and Annie Mae of Henderson, NC. She takes pride in her own children, Raymond, Valencia, and Ray and her grandchildren Jovan, Andrea, Ray Sean, and Little Raymond. In addition, she treasurers her extended family at Bell Atlantic and the Communications Workers of America. On June 16, 2000, family and friends will gather in New Jersey for a retirement celebration in honor of Ms. Carroll. Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues join me in congratulating Ms. Carroll on a job well done and in wishing her all the best as she begins a new phase of her life.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask my colleagues here in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in congratulating a highly accomplished professional, Ms. Darlene L. Cox, who has been selected to receive a 2000 Congressional Community Service Award for her outstanding civic work in the Tenth Congressional District. I have had the privilege of working with Ms. Cox on community health issues, and her selection to receive this honor is truly reflective of her hard work and commitment to excellence as president and CEO of the East Orange General Hospital. Ms. Cox is the president and chief executive officer of Essex Valley Healthcare, Inc. East Orange General Hospital in New Jersey, a position she assumed in 1999. Under her leadership, East Orange General Hospital has emerged as a key player in the delivery of quality health care and as a major employer of the community. During the course of a successful career spanning two decades, Ms. Cox has distinguished herself as a leader in the positions of health care executive and nursing administrator. Most recently, she served as Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at the New York Presbyterian Hospital. Prior to that, Ms. Cox was chief nurse and administrator of Patient Care Services at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ). While on a sabbatical from UMDNJ from 1991 to 1992, Ms. Cox served as a White House Fellow. In addition to serving as Special Assistant to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, she also served as Executive Assistant to the President of the United States. Ms. Cox represented the University Hospitals as a witness before the House of Representatives Subcommittee of the House Government Operations Committee to discuss the impact of the AIDS crisis on the acute care environment. She has written and published several articles relating to patient care and presented a position paper on the Immigration Nursing Relief Act of 1989 to a Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee. Ms. Cox has held a number of prestigious academic positions. She has been the guest lecturer at various academic forums and was the keynote speaker to the Graduating Class of 1992 at Seton Hall School of Nursing in South Orange, NJ. She is a member of the North Jersey Unit of the Negro Business and Professional Women's Club, The Concerned Black Nurses of Newark, the New Jersey Hospital Association and other professional organizations. She has also participated in 100 Black Women Teen Mentoring and Health Fair projects and is the recipient of numerous professional and community service awards. Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues join me in congratulating Ms. Cox and extending our very best wishes for continued success.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to draw to the attention of my colleagues a remarkable and powerful story about three young men who have been selected as recipients of my Congressional Community Service Award. They have also received Year 2000 Essence Award for outstanding community service and have been honored by the organization 100 Black Men. Theirs is a success story rooted in their youthful friendship and nurtured over the years by mutual support and shared determination to reach their goals against all odds. Thirteen years ago, three teenage boys from the streets of Newark, New Jersey made a pact that they would encourage, support and stand by each other until each graduated from medical school. With hard work, tenacity, and determination to overcome all obstacles, an amazing thing happened--these three friends realized their youthful goal. Their impossible dream came true. Last year, Ramek Hunt and Sampson Davis received degrees from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and George Jenkins graduated from UMDNJ Dental School. Growing up, Dr. Ramek Hunt lived in Orange, Newark and Plainfield, New Jersey, eventually returning to and settling in Newark. There, he attended University High School and clearly succeeded, but the path to success was often rocky. He began to focus on his future when a recruiter from Seton Hall University visited his school and spoke about careers in medicine and dentistry. George Jenkins encouraged Ramek and Sam to go with him to Seton Hall and become doctors. Dr. George Jenkins was born in South Carolina, but has lived in Newark, New Jersey since the age of two. He first lived in the Stella Wright Housing projects and then moved to the High Park Gardens Co-op, where he still resides. Dr. Jenkins presence in the Newark community is a source of inspiration for young people who look to him as a solid role model. Dr. Sampson Davis was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey where he excelled at academics and sports at an early age. As a young man, he reached for the stars, determined to succeed not only for himself, but for the good of the entire community. Even today, the three friends meet together with the young people of the community and they share a new goal--to open a health clinic in their old neighborhood. Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues join me in commending these remarkable young men, who have set such a fine example of determination to succeed as well as dedication to community service. Let us express appreciation for their work and extend best wishes for continued success to Doctors Ramek Hunt, George Jenkins and Sampson Davis.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask my colleagues here in the House of Representatives to join me in paying tribute to a special person who will be honored at a recognition ceremony in Belleville, New Jersey this week, Mr. Richard R. Luongo, who has given twenty-seven years of dedicated service to the Newark Police Department. Lieutenant Luongo has earned a fine reputation as an outstanding law enforcement officer who is strongly dedicated to his work and to the community he serves. He ascended in his career first to Sergeant and later to Lieutenant. He first started as a police officer for Newark on October 15, 1973 and retired on June 1, 2000. In addition, he is currently serving in the capacity of President of the Superior Officers' Association of the Newark Police Department. Mr. Luongo and his wife Gilda have two wonderful daughters, Nicole and Erica. The Luongos currently reside in the township of Bloomfield. Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues join me in congratulating Lieutenant Luongo for a job well done and in wishing him continued success as he begins a new phase of his life.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to ask my colleagues here in the United States House of Representatives to join me in honoring a very special person, Reverend Dr. David Jefferson, Sr., who has earned an outstanding reputation as a teacher, preacher, civic leader, community servant, attorney, and visionary. He has excelled spiritually, academically, and professionally and has made valuable contributions to his community. Reverend Jefferson has provided vital leadership to his church in creating formidable ministries, outreach evangelism to the surrounding communities, and leadership training seminars. He has orchestrated a Mens and Boys Breakfast with over three hundred people in attendance. The church has formed a Mass Choir, a Bible Study of over eight hundred people, and car pooling for college students who wish to attend services. Reverend Jefferson has built a strong and diverse graduate level of education. Upon leaving Grambling State, Reverend Jefferson immediately enrolled in the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio. Here he earned a Master of Business Administration degree in Marketing and Finance. He then received a Juris Doctorate of Law from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio and a Master of Divinity from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. In 1988 he was awarded a fellowship to the prestigious ``Sloan Fellows Program'' at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Here Dr. Jefferson completed his Master of Science in Management in 1989. Reverend Jefferson is happily married to the former Linda Mouton of Jennings, LA. They are the proud parents of four beautiful children; Kimberly, David Jr., Lou Ella, and Jasmine. He is a member of the New Jersey Bar and American Bar Associations, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Mr. Speaker, I call upon my colleagues to join me on June 11th, in congratulating Reverend Dr. David Jefferson, Sr. on his outstanding accomplishments in expressing our appreciation for his dedicated community service. Let us extend our best wishes to Dr. Jefferson for continued success and fulfillment.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Owens).

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 434, the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act. I join with the rest of my colleagues who are original cosponsors of this bill and appreciate their support, the persons involved from the Committee on International Relations and the Committee on Ways and Means. We have been dealing with this bill for some time. Last summer it was passed as H.R. 1432. We have been talking about this issue. Finally, I am pleased that this initiative is finally moving through the House. As the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Africa and as a member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, let me first assure the colleagues of mine who are concerned about labor that this bill will cause no American worker to lose their jobs. This is a bipartisan bill which the conferees have been meeting with and discussing on a regular basis. I am pleased also to mention that certain labor standards which our committee dealt with, including the right to organize and the right to bargain collectively, the right to set minimum wages and the minimum work hour requirements, are in this bill; and so many people who felt that there would be an open end we have put in safeguards for those folks in the region. This is a stark and exciting occasion. Today, I stand before Members to say that the Africa trade bill will improve the lives of many of the African people on the continent. Imagine that as we approach the new millennium a partnership has been forged, a partnership that is not based on dependency; but it is a partnership that possesses great opportunities for both the United States and for Africa. I must also applaud the Africa diplomatic corps for their constant and unwavering faith, that they kept coming and standing together united as a real force. I think that they have now become an effective force here on Capitol Hill to hear the problems of sub-Sarahan Africa discussed here, and I would like to compliment them. This bill will make improvements in the telecommunications sector, providing enhanced satellite and educational and scientific opportunities. Currently it takes an average of 4.6 years to get a phone in Africa, and almost double that time in some parts of sub- Sarahan Africa. This bill, H.R. 434, will help sub-Sarahan African countries by reinforcing the positive development taking place in Africa. Among other things, it will enhance market access for African goods and services. It will provide duty-free, quota-free benefits to apparel made in Africa from U.S. yarn; duty-free benefits to apparel made in Africa; promote multilateral debt relief for the poorest of the poor countries in Africa, the HIPC countries; open free markets which would otherwise be closed in Africa. It also directs the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, OPIC, to create a $150 million equity fund to assist in overseas private investment and also a $500 million infrastructure fund which will assist these countries in developing their infrastructure. It increases authority and flexibility to provide assistance under the Development Fund for Africa, the DFA bill. So there are so many benefits that this bill has in it. It will continually go on, and it will move countries ahead. It also will establish a U.S.-African economic forum to facilitate annual high-level discussions about bilateral and multilateral trade opportunities. So this bill is very important. President Clinton mentioned it in his State of the Union address in his partnership for growth and opportunity as he talked about a new era for Africa. So as I conclude my remarks, let me just say that I become disturbed when we say that there are no national interests of the U.S. in Africa. A foreign trade policy that ignores a sub-Sarahan Africa with its many countries is really a distorted policy. This bill recognizes that U.S. trade, aid, and investment are all important foreign policy goals. The countries in sub-Sarahan Africa have joined the new World Trade Organization, and we are helping them to share its benefits and to meet their requirements. So, therefore, once again, I ask for unanimous support for this. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, let me also echo what has been said here before. Let me certainly commend the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Crane) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) for the tremendous work that they have done on this bill. Of course, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) and the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson), our Chairs, also worked very hard. Mr. Speaker, I would like to compliment the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) for his interest and his dedication to this bill and to issues about Africa in general, as well as the gentleman from New York (Mr. Houghton) and the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Jefferson). But let me make special tribute to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. McDermott), a classmate of mine, who came in and is the one who came up with the idea and said something had to happen and moved it forward. So I would like to make special acknowledgment to the gentleman from Washington who has done an outstanding job in bringing this idea forth. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Becerra).

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald).

Mr. PAYNE. I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Virginia.

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 449. Let me thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson), and the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) for helping to bring this bill to the floor. As it has been noted, Senegal held free and fair elections on May 19, and it was recognized as an election that all democratic governments should follow when there is a possible shift in regimes. Senegal held these fair and free elections. The recent multi-party elections were peaceful; however, there was an attempt in the southern part to disrupt the voting in that region. But the people decided that they wanted to have fair and free elections and persisted. I would like to extend my best wishes to President-elect Wade. I had the privilege of meeting in my New Jersey office with then-candidate Wade who indicated that he felt that he had a very good chance to win the election. He just wanted to alert me and our committee and our government that he was going to insist that the election be fair and free. We were very pleased that it did happen to be that way. We would like to recognize the composure of President Diouf in his honorable defeat as an example of the true spirit of democracy. It is apparent that President Diouf respects the democratic process, which sends a signal to the people of Sierra Leone to respect the democratic process as well as to embrace change. They can have change without having disruption and military action. President-elect Wade has made a noble gesture to bridge the divide between his party and the other multi-parties by endorsing five leading opposition candidates after the second round of voting, including Mr. Niasse, who is the former foreign minister of President Diouf's party. This is merely another example of Senegal's respectable democratic system, adding to the willing resignation of former President Leopold Senghor in 1980 when power was turned over to President Diouf, adhering to the Senegal constitution. Senegal should be internationally recognized for their action and should be treated with equal respect given to all functioning governments worldwide. On our trip to Africa with the President when he made a historic six- country, 12-day trip, the final country that we visited was Senegal, visiting Goree Island, the place where slaves came. It is estimated close to 6 million may have perished, it is estimated, over the 600, 700 years that slavery was legal. And so Senegal has a tremendous place in the heart of African Americans and Africans in general, and Americans in general. Mr. Speaker, once again, we are very pleased that this transition of government was done in a most noble way. With that, I urge my colleagues to support the resolution. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), the chairman of the full committee, and our ranking member, the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson) for moving this legislation forward. I certainly would like to commend my chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa, the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) for his untiring devotion to the subcommittee and for moving legislation forward and the interest that he has taken in the problems of the continent. Let me say that Sierra Leone is a country which gained its independence back in 1961, but since that time it has had a difficult time from its first president, Momoh, to the current president, Kabbah. It is a country which has had a difficulty in the quality of life for its rural people in particular. A country which, incidentally, is small enough to be able to deal with its problems, a country very rich in diamonds and other natural resources. And so I strongly support the Sierra Leone Peace Support Act of 2000, H.R. 3879, because what this legislation will do is to help to support the peace-building efforts of Sierra Leone. It would help with the demobilization and demilitarization and reintegration of the military, which is essential in order to have people who are carrying arms to put them back and get back into civilian life. Mr. Speaker, let me also commend the Nigerian military, as the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) has already done, with the forces of ECOMOG that for many years kept the peace in Freetown and in Sierra Leone. Without their efforts, the situation would have been much more difficult. I would certainly agree that the RUF has been extraordinarily brutal. Nowhere in the world has there been more horrific behavior on the part of a military group, because this group would take its vengeance out on civilians, and not only civilians, but usually children and women, amputating hands and legs. And so it was difficult to come to an accord with the RUF in a government of reconciliation where President Kabbah has allowed Foday Sankoh to be a part of the new government, bringing in the rebels with the government to try to simply have the people of Sierra Leone have a quality of life that they deserve. Sierra Leone is a country that has a tremendous background as relates to the United States. As my colleagues may know, the Amistad, as the gentleman from (Mr. Gejdenson) talked about, Cinque was from Sierra Leone; and in the trial they were found not guilty and allowed to go back to Sierra Leone. I had an opportunity to hear from his great, great grandchildren who came to Connecticut. And so, as a matter of fact, after the Revolutionary War, African American slaves who fought with the British were given their freedom by Britain and allowed to go back to Sierra Leone, and people who were picked up on the high seas were also allowed to go to Sierra Leone. So that is a country that has strong ties with African Americans and Africans. We hope that the peace will keep. We are disturbed at the recent behavior of a small group of the RUF. The majority of them have come in; but there is a group, anarchist group that has broken off from the regular RUF organization that Mr. Foday Sankoh is attempting to bring in. We know that this legislation will go forward to help ameliorate the situation, and we are hoping to see peace for the people of Sierra Leone.

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3519, the Marshall Plan Trust Fund. I know my colleague, Ms. Barbara Lee (CA), has worked diligently on this issue for some time now and I am pleased that this House is taken up this issue. Let me also thank the Chairman of the Banking Committee, Congressman Jim Leach (IA), who is responsible for moving this bill through the Committee. The HIV/AIDS crisis is a transnational threat. It threatens not only our public health but it is also a threat to our National Security. According to the Washington Post, ``It has the potential to undo decades of work in building free-market democracies abroad.'' On my visit to South Africa in December of last year, I visited an HIV/AIDS clinic and saw first hand the education and preventive ways to combat this virus. In Soweto, South Africa, when the AIDS virus detonates this black township of 3 million in a decade or so, the disease will wipe out about 600,000 people. This is almost six times as many people as the atomic bombs killed in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Some estimates predict that more than 25% of the working age population in South Africa will be infected with HIV by the year 2010. The global spread of AIDS is reaching catastrophic numbers. HIV/AIDS has greatly reduced the life span of the citizens of South African countries. Life expectancy in Botswana has declined from 61 years five years ago to 47 years, and is expected to drop to 41 years between 2000 and 2005. In Zimbabwe 1 out of every 5 adults is affected and is significantly reducing population growth from 3.3%. More than 33 million are infected and more than 14 million have died. Of this number, more than 16 million people have died from AIDS since the 1980s, 60% of them from sub-Saharan Africa. In 1998, 200,000 people died from armed conflicts on the subcontinent, while AIDS has caused about 2.2 million deaths. Former Congressman Ronald Dellums, who is now the President of Healthcare International Management Company, has conceived the AIDS Marshall Plan for Africa as a means to bring treatment to those affected with the HIV/AIDS virus. Also, the NAACP introduced a similar measure declaring HIV/AIDS a crisis in Africa. The Clinton administration has taken the right step to curb the spread of AIDS. President Clinton recently declared $254 million to prevent the spread of AIDS around the world. Bristol-Myers, one of the largest pharmaceutical company and is headquartered in the state of New Jersey, has also pledged their support of $1 million to prevent the further spread of HIV and to care for those affected by this devastating disease. In conclusion, let me say that the spread of infectious diseases poses a threat to our own health here in the U.S. We should support the AIDS Marshall Plan and the Clinton administration's efforts to rid the world of this deadly disease.