Donald Payne

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, let me first of all commend the leadership of this House that have taken this very important legislation, the gentlemen from New York, Mr. Rangel and Mr. Reynolds; the Committee on International Relations, with the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce); and the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson). Mr. Speaker, this is a historic day for me, a person that in the middle sixties started going to Africa, working with the freedom movements in Kenya, with the Kenyu party back in the fifties, with SWAPO in Namibia, dealing with the racist regime of Ian Smith in Rhodesia and talking about independence for Africa. So today is a great day. It is a day that we have some conflict, there is no question about it. We have longtime leaders like the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters), who have been fighting for Africa for many, many years, and we have our newer generation who are there, coming up to step up to the plate. So I think Africa is in good shape for the future. I think that every area needs an opportunity. When we look at Asia after World War II and at Hong Kong, we had the lowest per capita income in Asia. Housing was poor, education was down, there were no jobs. If we go to Hong Kong today, we will see a bustling, vibrant economy. Why? Because in Hong Kong and in Asia they determined that there was a need to have some investment. We needed to start with a program. We needed to start with something that could be done. Textiles started in that place. Now we have seen the development moving into more and more sophisticated types of industry. Africa, a continent of 800,000 people in sub-Saharan Africa, a place that has all of the resources and riches, plus it has a very strong and vibrant people, because people who can exist on less than $5 a month by their own ingenuity and by their own creativity, by their own industry, are a group of people for whom the sky is only the limit if they had the opportunity. They say that even a trip of a thousand miles must begin with the first step. I think that today the first step is being taken. No, this is not a bill that is all-encompassing. As a matter of fact, in the old mythology, in the Pandora's box, all of the evils came out in that myth, but the cap was put down and hope remained in it. So I think that it is important that hope remains alive, but I think we have to take a first step. This is an important first step. I think that it is insulting to tell the Diplomatic Corps from Africa that this is not good for them. I just returned from Africa this past week, and everyone there was saying, please have this bill pass, it means that much to us. I urge my colleagues to support the rule and pass the bill.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis). (Mr. DAVIS of Illinois asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters).

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, let me also commend the leaders in this fight: the gentleman from Washington (Mr. McDermott); the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Crane); the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel); the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Jefferson); the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce); and the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson) for the work that they have done. But I also wish to acknowledge, quickly again, the ambassadors from Africa who are here, and with this chart demonstrate what they have said what they want. The ambassador from Djibouti, who says we are sovereign and we would like to continue to have the support of this bill; and Mrs. Sisulu from South Africa, who said their country supports the bill, even under the late president of the country. Our good friend, Mr. Mandela, and Mrs. Ssempala from Uganda talked about Africa is interested in doing business. This is what they have said. So what I am saying, as I last week went to the funeral of Joshua Nkomo, one of the freedom fighters in Zimbabwe, who fought against the white regime of Ian Smith; and while I was in Zimbabwe people were coming up and saying, we are glad finally to see this bill come. And I remember the freedom fighters of Jomo Kunyata, Patrice Lumumba and people who fought many years ago, Julius Nyere, those men who fought for independence of that great nation, of that great continent; and the new leaders today of Thabo Mbeki and Mr. Chissano in Mozambique; and we can move on and on through the continent. As they were trying to get it moving forward, then came the Cold War, and our policies destroyed many countries in Africa. Our policies were based on U.S. policy towards Russia. So now, after 50 years of independence, let us give African leaders an opportunity. Let us remember W.E.B. DuBois, who was the first panAfricanist, and Dellums and Diggs, or Gray and Dellums, who fought against apartheid, and the late Congressman Diggs, the first chairman of the African committee; and let us remember our friend, Mickey Leland, who lost his life saying that we should feed the children. So, finally, we are here. We have seen peace coming to Sierra Leon, and Nigeria electing a new president, Eritrea finally coming to some accord. We are seeing the fact that Africa now has the opportunity to move forward with growth and development and opportunity. Yes, there are many problems in the continent. We need clean water, we need to eradicate the guinea worm and deal with river blindness, we need to have inoculations, but we also need to have jobs for people. This is the first step. And people criticize and ask why it is such a little step. Everyone knows that a trip of a thousand miles has to begin with the first step. Let us start that step; let us support the bill.

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time. (Mr. PAYNE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 additional minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald).

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee). (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks).

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, let me commend the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) for bringing this amendment up. I think the more we talk about AIDS, whether it is here or in sub-Saharan Africa, is positive. I cannot believe that we would say that a sense of the Congress, saying that we need to do something about it, is not the first step. Ten years ago we could not get a leader in Africa to admit that AIDS was a problem. I have met with presidents and they said no, we do not have that problem. I think we have to start with education. Just to mention the word AIDS in some of these circles is a step in the right direction. I compliment the gentlewoman and urge Members to support this resolution.

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from California for yielding me the time. Let me say that I think that small business, whether it is here or abroad, is really the wave of the future. In this Nation, small business comprises 85 percent of employment in this country. Most of the new jobs created today are small business. Whether they are high-tech, whether they deal with intellectual properties, most of these are done with small businesses. And so, in order to move this Nation, this continent, forward in the area of entrepreneurship, small business is where it ought to be. We also should support the micro-economics, some of the very, very small businesses that women in Africa are in charge of. Women are the main driving force in many villages, as they are the barterers and they are the deal makers. And so, it is keenly important that we not only connect small business people on the Continent of Africa but in this Nation of small business people, minority women, minority-owned businesses. I think this is a great connection. I think that the Continent of Africa is looking for partnerships or looking for people to work as equals together. I believe that the historic 12-day, 6-country tour that President Clinton made last year sent a message that the U.S. is ready to stand up, stand forward to create the climate that is necessary to see this continent finally in the new millennium take its rightful place in the world. I am very encouraged by this amendment. I think we should all urge the House to adopt this amendment.

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek). (Mrs. MEEK of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Davis). (Mr. DAVIS of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to bring to the attention of my colleagues here in the United States House of Representatives a family rich in both history and tradition. I speak of the Johnson Family, who will gather on July 30th-August 1, 1999 to celebrate their 25th Annual Johnson Family Reunion. The Johnson Family are descendants of the distinguished George Johnson of Lincolnton, Georgia. The theme for this year's reunion of the Johnson Family is ``A Strong Foundation . . . Bridge To The New Millennium.'' At a time when we constantly hear that family values are a thing of the past, the Johnson Family stands out as a shining example of the strong, enduring bonds of family. As we enter this new millennium, we indeed draw inspiration from the Johnson family and their commitment to each other and to the betterment of society. Mr. Speaker, I call upon all of my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Johnson Family as generations young and old gather for this special occasion. May their 25th family reunion be a successful event full of happy memories which they will carry to the new millennium.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Chairman, I rise to express my strong support for the Community Reinvestment Act which has helped ensure fair and equal access to capital and credit. We all strive for the American dream of home ownership and many of us aspire to start our own businesses. But that dream is out of reach for some in our society because there are financial institutions which discriminate against minorities living in working class neighborhoods. Fortunately, blatant discrimination in lending is declining, and homeownership and small business opportunities are on the rise. Much of this progress against so-called ``relining'' can be attributed to the Community Reinvestment Act. Under CRA, federal banking agencies grade lending institutions on how well they meet the credit and capital needs of all the communities in which they are chartered and from which they take deposits. In my own state of New Jersey, CRA has helped provide more than $8 billion in discounted mortgages, discounted home improvement loans, loans to small businesses owned by women and minorities and loans and investments for community and economic development. Many people who never thought it would be possible to own their own home have succeeded through programs made possible by the Community Reinvestment Act. Madam Chairman, let's help make the American Dream a reality for millions of Americans by continuing to support a strong CRA.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, the nation of Tibet is a country with a long history stretching back nearly fifteen hundred years, with a unique and irreplaceable cultural and religious heritage. In 1949, the People's Republic of China invaded Tibet and since that time, over 1.6 million Tibetans have been killed and more than 6000 monasteries destroyed. Whereas the government of China has committed ``acts of genocide'' in Tibet, and is currently committing systematic human rights violations in that country, including torture, arbitrary arrest, denial of freedom of religion, denial of free speech and free press, and coerced sterilizations and abortions. Whereas China seeks to absorb Tibet into China and is conducting economic development in Tibet contrary to the wishes of the Tibetan people. The Dalai Lama, temporal and spiritual leader of Tibet, was forced to flee to northern India in 1959, where he has been living reluctantly ever since, working to keep alive the culture and religion of his people along with their hopes of freedom. Whereas the Dalai Lama has been trying unceasingly to establish a peaceful dialogue with the Chinese government concerning cultural, religious and political freedoms for the Tibetan people. The Tibetan people in their cultural, religious, and political life are now facing the grim prospect of extinction. On July 10th, one week after America's Independence Day, World Tibet Day will be held. This event shares in the spirit of freedom of Independence Day symbolizes, while also symbolizing the nation of Tibet since at this event many Tibetan communities will honor the birthday of the Dalai Lama (on July 6th). This day will showcase the variety and beauty of Tibet and affirm basic rights of the Tibetan people to religious, cultural and political freedoms. Further on the weekend of World Tibet Day, houses of worship in many parts of the world-- churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, gurudwaras--will take part in an Interfaith Call for Freedom of Worship In Tibet and For Universal Religious Freedom. One of the overall goals of World Tibet Day is supporting the Dalai Lama's campaign for peaceful negotiations with China, without preconditions, on the future of Tibet. I would like to help in the celebration of World Tibet Day on July 10, 1999.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, the United States Department of State said on June 7 that it welcomes Taiwan's plan to offer the United States $300 million to help Kosovar refugees and for reconstruction of Kosovo. I think Taiwan is most praiseworthy in its willingness to assist other nations. As a major economic power in the Far East, Taiwan feels that it must not shirk its responsibilities to help other countries in need. Taiwan hopes to set a good example for other wealthy nations in the world to extend a helping hand to all those displaced Kosovar refugees. As a matter of fact, even though Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations, Taiwan has always committed itself to help other countries in the Far East and Africa. Taiwan's willingness to be a donor nation deeply reflects its people's firm commitment to protect and promote human rights and their humanitarian concern for the Kosovar refugees living in exile as well as for the war-torn areas in dire need of reconstruction. I applaud Taiwan's people for their assistance to the Kosovar refugees and their President.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to bring your attention to an organization that has made quite an impact on its surrounding community. I speak of the Beta Alpha Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is the oldest Greek- letter organization for African American women. Founded on the Howard University campus in Washington, DC on January 15, 1908, it has grown from a membership of 9 to over 150,000. New Jersey's oldest chapter is Beta Alpha Omega. It was chartered on January 30, 1934 in Newark. For the past 65 years this chapter has continuously provided invaluable community services in the City of Newark and surrounding area. As a result of their unwavering dedication to the improvement of their community, the Beta Alpha Omega Chapter will be honored by the Kappa Alpha Sorority on Saturday, June 19, 1999. Mr. Speaker, I ask that we too join in honoring this fine organization; an organization rich in both history and service. Once again, I extend my praises to the Beta Alpha Omega, and wish them another 65 years of continued success.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the amendment of the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling) to H.R. 1150. This is the first opportunity I have had to talk about the then Juvenile Justice Delinquency and Prevention Act of 1973, as it was being conceived by Senator Birch Bayh and was then made into law in 1974. At that time I was president of the YMCAs of the USA, and at that time young people were in trouble, they were on the roads, they were confused. At that time young people were incarcerated with adult offenders. We have seen many changes come since that time. But I am a bit disappointed that partisanship has once again raised its ugly head, and that out of over 70 Democratic amendments, only 11 of these amendments were adopted by the Committee on Rules. It is more than apparent that politics as usual has prevailed again. Of course, I commend the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling) for moving forward with this legislation, but in the Committee on Rules we saw the partisanship come out over and over again. Let me take this opportunity to bring to my colleagues' attention my primary prevention amendment, which was not adopted by the Committee on Rules. I called for 50 percent of the funds in the prevention block grant to go towards primary prevention programs. As my colleagues know, prevention works. It works because it avoids young people from becoming involved in the criminal justice system. We have seen surveys continually which have proven that prevention works. As a matter of fact, old folks used to say a stitch in time saves nine. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It is better to build boys than to mend men; that idle hands are the devil's playground. But in spite of all of this, we were unable to get the funds put into prevention, and we are using the Republicans' method of intervention. Of course, if it was up to me, I would designate more than 50 percent of the funds for prevention, as I feel that attacking crime prior to when it happens is the only true solution. Nevertheless, we were willing to compromise to meet the majority party halfway, but it was abundantly clear that they have no intentions of doing the same. Even the Democratic substitute that I and several of my colleagues submitted with the hope of including language about school counselors was not adopted. This, after the horrible tragedy of Columbine. Elementary schools need counseling as well as our middle schools and high schools. Youngsters are crying out for help, but in many instances there is no one there to help them. As a matter of fact, in a typical inner-city high school, we have more full-time military recruiters for the senior class than we have high school counselors. Our goal is to cut down on juvenile crime; thus, we must ensure our young people the ability to seek services that they need to help them cope with their problems so that they can be out of harm's way of the escalation of violence and tragedy. The increase of funding and actual number of school counselors is a measure that must be taken. I must say, I am utterly baffled as to say why the Republican Party is so hesitant to actually adopt legislation that would actually produce results to help our young people in this country with counseling and other preventive means. Mr. Chairman, allow me to conclude by calling upon all of the Members of this House to support the Goodling amendment to H.R. 1150. It is my hope that in the future, our political parties could work more closely together, though, in favor of the children.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, allow me to speak briefly on my opposition to this amendment. ``The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention from producing literature which would discriminate against, denigrate or otherwise undermine the religious or moral beliefs of any juvenile or adult in the programs authorized in this bill'' is certainly just simply too broad and too vague, it is too equivocal. The nature of this amendment could be construed to admit any category, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation from inclusion in hate crimes. At a time when violence against gays and minorities is becoming more frequent there is no place for benign legislation. We must have strong and direct legislation in an effort to rid our Nation of hate crimes. And I would also like to say that I add my remarks regarding the previous amendment that undermines the major precepts that our Nation was founded on, the separation of church and state. The previous amendment seeks to incorporate religion into our justice system. Both of these entities have distinct places in our society and are not to be combined. Religious freedom is a core of our Nation and must be preserved at all costs. Charitable choice is simply going to be divisive. With that I express my opposition to both of these amendments.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, once again, I would like to thank everyone for the support. Finally, the question of Sudan is starting to become an issue that people in this country and around the world are starting to focus on. We have seen Somalia. We have seen Haiti. We have seen Kosovo. But as these things were going on, Sudanese were still suffering. For the last 40 years, they have been suffering. So finally, I think enough is enough. The time is now for us to act. I would also like to thank people like Barbara Vogel, who is a teacher out in Colorado whose youngsters have written letters about slavery, and they call themselves ``The Little Abolitionists,'' and they have raised close to a $100,000 to buy back people who have been in bondage in Sudan; and Father Dan Ethal, who is with the Norwegian People's Aid, who has worked so long in southern Sudan; and Roger Winters from the Refugee International; and Charles Jacobs, who heads the anti-Africa Slavery Committee. When I concluded at a church service on our last day in southern Sudan, I simply told the people there that I had been there many years, as it was interpreted, but I said the next time I return to southern Sudan, I would hope to visit them in their own homes. There was a tremendous cheer that went out. So, hopefully, this resolution will move us toward that day where those people who have been suffering for decades and decades can go back to their own homes.

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. McNulty).

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this resolution concerning Sierra Leone. I would especially like to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) of the Subcommittee on Africa for his work on this very important issue. I should also like to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), and the ranking member, the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson), for bringing this resolution up so swiftly through the full committee last week. Let me also thank my colleague, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), who has been concerned about Sierra Leone for many, many years and for his resolution last week that congratulated everyone involved, especially the Reverend Jesse Jackson, for securing a cease- fire between President Kabbah and Corporal Foday Sankhoy at the talks. I am pleased that the cease-fire was called and serious negotiations are beginning in Lome. I know that the President of Togo, General Gnassingbe Eyadema, is anxious to get the process moving forward. Mr. Speaker, the brutal civil war in Sierra Leone has gone on for 8 horrific years. Even during the 30 years of independence, we have seen a country that has been governed improperly, where resources have not been used throughout the country, and that you have a different country from Freetown and the rest of the country. Twenty thousand people have been killed, hundreds have been maimed, and hundreds of thousands have been displaced; and, as we have heard about the horrendous violence from the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) previously, there is not anyplace in the world where the atrocities to this degree should be allowed to go on. H. Res. 62 expresses the sentiment of the House of Representatives that it is time for the war to end and for all combatants to commit to maintaining the cease-fire and continue talks that will lead to peace and true national reconciliation. H. Res. 62 abhors the violence against innocent civilians that has characterized the late stages of the conflict. Additionally, the resolution condemns the human rights violations by all combatants, the RUF, the Kabbah government, the Nigerian-led ECOMOG. H. Res. 62 calls upon the United States Government to increase its diplomatic efforts by pressuring the government and the rebels to remain at the peace talks. It will be difficult because of the brutality of the conflict but, we must urge them to sit at the table and come up with a negotiated settlement. The government of the U.S. is encouraged to appoint an independent commission to investigate human rights allegations and appoint a special envoy for Sierra Leone in an effort to stop the fighting and end the war. To date, a cease-fire has been in effect since May 25, 1999. The government of Sierra Leone, headed by the democratically elected President Kabbah and the rebel Revolutionary United Front, called the RUF, have worked out an agreement for exchange of prisoners. However, the diplomatic effort of the U.S., the UK, ECOWAS and other diplomats will be tested as the two sides grapple with the tricky and final issues of power sharing, a transitional government and the removal of foreign troops. The stakes are high in Sierra Leone. The stability of the West African region depends on peace and stability within its regions. As I said, we commend Reverend Jesse Jackson and the State Department, but the people of Sierra Leone must resolve their deep seeded ethnic, social, economic, and political problems for peace to have a chance to take root.