Donald Payne

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, in August 2006, I visited Professor Mesfin Wolde Mariam in Kaliti prison in Ethiopia. Though it was saddening to see him in that kind of a situation, I was nevertheless thrilled to have had the opportunity to pay my respect to a man I have known for over a decade. Professor Mesfin is one of the most dedicated and true champions of human rights. He chose to dedicate his life to studying famine and food security, writing about and promoting human rights and bringing to light issues often ignored and forgotten by many. I first met Professor Mesfin in the early 1990s, shortly after he founded the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO), the most effective human rights organization in Ethiopia. I was with several Members of Congress on an official visit to Ethiopia. We decided to go to EHRCO's office and hold our meeting with Professor Mesfin in order to show our support for EHRCO and to underscore the significance of their valuable work. It was a memorable meeting and the opportunity to learn of their monumental undertaking was very valuable. Unfortunately, this is not the first time Mesfin is in prison. He has paid dearly over the decades for standing up for what he believes in and for exposing systematic abuses and sometimes neglect as the case may be over a period of several decades. What is amazing about this incredible human being is his sharpness and focus even in prison. This is a dedicated human being who chose to stay in his native Ethiopia to stand up for, and educate the helpless and the neglected, even though he had plenty of opportunity and offers to live comfortably elsewhere. In April 2006, his three children wrote about their father stating: ``Many months have passed since Mesfin Wolde Mariam, the father of all three of us, and grandfather of Semra Kristos, Kokeb, Tinsae and Oscar has been incarcerated. We miss him terribly and would love to see him home. No less important is our utmost respect, concern and commitment for the principles he has so staunchly promoted for longer than anyone of us has been around.'' I was thrilled to learn that the New York Academy of Sciences decided to recognize Professor Mesfin for ``his leadership in advocating for the disadvantage and in promoting human rights, civil society, and a peaceful transition to democracy.'' Professor Mesfin deserves this recognition and I thank the New York Academy of Science for its leadership and efforts.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Johnson & Johnson and Tibotec Therapeutics on its entry into the HIV/AIDS market with the launch of Prezista. On June 23, 2006 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to the anti-HIV medication PrezistaTM (darunavir) tablets. Prezista, a protease inhibitor previously known as TMC114, was developed by Tibotec Pharmaceuticals Ltd. and will be marketed in the U.S. by Tibotec Therapeutics. Prezista is indicated for treatment-experienced adult patients, such as those with HIV-1 strains resistant to more than one protease inhibitor. I am pleased that a company in my home state of New Jersey has responded to the HIV/AIDS crisis in a time when new innovations are essential in order to provide life saving medications to HIV/AIDS patients. Mr. Speaker, as you may know, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, has granted accelerated approval to the anti-HIV medication PrezistaTM (darunavir) tablets. Prezista, which is a protease inhibitor previously known as TMC114 was developed, by Tibotec Pharmaceuticals Ltd. The FDA accelerated approval procedures allow for earlier approval of drugs that provide a meaningful therapeutic advantage over existing treatment for serious or life-threatening diseases. This approval is based on the 24-week analysis of HIV viral load and CD4+ cell counts from the pooled analysis of the TMC114-C213, POWER 1, and TMC114-C202, POWER 2, studies. One of the most challenging obstacles in the care for HIV is finding proper therapies for treatment-experienced patients. Prezista is an important new option for the thousands of people with HIV in the United States who are resistant to more than one protease inhibitor. Additionally, the Fair Pricing Coalition believes that Tibotec Therapeutics has priced Prezista responsibly. This is a particularly thoughtful move on the company's part since it recognizes the crisis of federal funding constraints faced by payers in and out of government and the health care system. I am pleased to see that the spirit of philanthropy has not eluded the makers of this much needed drug by putting the needs of patients first. Johnson & Johnson recognizes the unparalleled global challenge posed by the AIDS epidemic and our response to collaborate in the international response to HIV, particularly through providing access to our HIV medications. For sub-Saharan Africa and Least Developed countries, Johnson & Johnson is actively pursuing licensing and technology agreements in order to enhance the affordability of Prezista. They are in negotiations with generic manufacturers and anticipate that by working with generic manufacturers, Prezista/ darunavir can be offered at substantially reduced prices. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the makers of this drug and encourage more companies to follow in their footsteps.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, middle-class Americans are feeling more and more squeezed by the economy that values productivity, but not enough to reward it with an increase in pay. Wages are simply not keeping up with inflation, making it more difficult for families to afford monthly bills. One of the most daunting bills families face today is the bill for their children's college education. The average cost for a 4-year college at a State university is $40,000 and the cost for private colleges top $107,000. Democrats want to help families better afford these ever-increasing costs. Republicans, on the other hand, refuse to join us in making college more affordable. Earlier this year, they actually made college more expensive for our Nation's students when they cut $12 billion from the higher education budget, forcing college kids to pay more interest on loans. Valuable dollars for college assistance are being siphoned off by the war in Iraq, which this administration chose to wage rather than to devote dollars not only to domestic priorities but to finding Osama bin Laden. Thank you, President Clinton, for telling it like it is and making the administration more accountable for their lack of vision and failed policies.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, at the end of last week Forbes Magazine released their annual list of the 400 richest Americans. For the first time ever, this list was comprised entirely of billionaires. Not one millionaire made the list. 400 billionaires. These are the types of people who benefited from the massive tax cuts pushed by President Bush and his Republican rubber-stamp allies here in this Congress. The giveaway to the wealthiest Americans stands in stark contrast to the plight of millions of working people in my home State of New Jersey and throughout the Nation who have actually seen their wages fall by over $3,000 over the past 6 years if you take inflation into account. How are working Americans supposed to realize the American Dream when their wages remain stagnant, when all of their monthly bills are steadily rising? Over the past 6 years, the cost of health care has risen by 71 percent and the tuition of public colleges has gone up 57 percent. We must stop this. Let's stop benefiting the billionaires.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3127, the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act, a bill which I have worked on for more than a year with many others. I am glad to see it come to the floor again for final passage. Let me just say that the bills that are being discussed today, H.R. 3127, the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act of 2006; H.R. 723, calling for the President to take immediate steps to help improve the security in Darfur; and H. Res. 992, urging the President to appoint special envoys for Sudan; really speaks out that we are sick and tired of being sick and tired. We continue to say to Khartoum that they must stop the genocide. It will not be tolerated. President Bashir, the National Congress party officials, Janjaweed commanders and murderers, and others responsible for genocide must be held accountable and will be brought to justice. This bill is just the first step. I want to thank Chairman Hyde for working with our Democratic members of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations. I also would like to repeat what Congressman Wolf said, that Congressman Lantos has been a steadfast leader on issues of genocide. And as he being a genocide survivor, a Holocaust survivor, we know of his strong passion for this issue, and so we really appreciate his leadership. There are key provisions in this legislation, Section 7 and Section 8. We want to first say that a peaceful resolution must happen in Darfur, and the Comprehensive Peace Agreement we think is a step towards that to happen. Section 8 of the legislation exempts the south and the three marginalized areas, deals with a number of issues that have been summarized in the bill. But let me just conclude by saying that there was an additional provision in the original bill, though, that I just would like to mention briefly, of Congresswoman Barbara Lee, which dealt with States having the ability to withhold pension funds from businesses that are operating in Sudan. Unfortunately, this was removed by the Senate. We hope to see this legislation, this language put back in, because we believe that States should have the right to divest from companies doing business, international companies doing business in Darfur; and we will continue to work towards that end. And so, Mr. Speaker, I thank the leadership for moving this bill forward.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, let me once again thank Mr. Lantos for House Resolution 723, calling on the President to take immediate steps to help improve the security situation in Darfur. Let me just say that things are getting worse. Increased rapes, 500 rapes over the summer in one camp alone; renewed attacks; 12 humanitarian workers killed, including two of the last 6 weeks; 26,000 Sudan armed forces headed to the Darfur region for major offensive; renewed aerial bombings; the Darfur Peace Agreement not being held to by the government of Sudan; continued integration of the Janjaweed into the Sudan armed forces. United Nations Security Resolution 1706 says that 17,300 U.N. troops and 3,300 policemen should go into Darfur. I think we should urge the U.N. to fulfill this mandate. President Bush did not ask Aideed to go into Somalia. President Clinton did not ask Milosevic to go into Bosnia. We should not wait for a murderous leader like Bashir to invite us in. We should even create no-fly zones where we would do as we did in Iraq. A no-fly zone means you don't go in and you don't go out. We were able to protect the Kurds in southern Iraq through all those years of the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein. We can do the same kind of no-fly zone. You don't use one single human being in a no-fly zone when you use drones and other kinds of sophisticated weaponry. We have to take out some antonovs, destroy some helicopters, and let Bashir know we are not playing. I think if we sent that message there, you would see that this opposition to the United Nations would simply disappear. They are only bold when they are with unarmed civilians, weak women, small children, elderly men. That is when they show how strong and powerful they are. I think that we should go in. The United Nations already has U.N. troops in the Sudan. It is simply expanding the mandate that is already there. I commend the President for appointing Andrew Natsios as the Presidential Special Envoy, and I think that is even more significant than the special envoy in the past. I urge passage of this resolution.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on the subject of my Special Order tonight.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the Members who have participated in the dialogue on what is going on in the Darfur region of Sudan. Let me thank our leader, Leader Pelosi, for her participation, Chairman Watt of the Congressional Black Caucus from North Carolina, Congresswoman Kilpatrick from Michigan, Congresswomen Lee, Watson and Waters from California, Congressmen Rush and Davis from Illinois, Congressman Green from Texas, Congresswoman Moore from Wisconsin, and Congressman Jefferson from Louisiana for their participation this evening. Let me also acknowledge other Members who were not here tonight but have been real troopers in this battle for justice. Congressman Capuano from Massachusetts, and on the other side of the aisle, this is indeed not a partisan issue, because there is no person who has fought harder for the last 20 years or so on Sudan than Congressman Wolf from Virginia. He is there all of the time. Congressman Tancredo from Colorado, Congressman Royce from California, Congressman Smith from New Jersey, all Members of the House who have said that enough is enough, that we must do more. And so 2 years ago, we declared genocide in Darfur. And that was 10 years after the world ignored Rwanda when genocide went on. And had the world done something in Armenia in 1916, when the so- called young Turks came in and had genocide on the Armenia population, perhaps this would not have happened today. Or in 1939 as the German Nazis went through Europe and created the Holocaust, perhaps this would not have happened. If in Cambodia when Pol Pot and his regime killed millions of people, perhaps this would not have happened. If in Rwanda, when we saw the genocide happen, perhaps it would not be happening in Darfur. But we looked the other way in all of those instances and genocide is still here today. We must stop the genocide. There is no reason for people to still be slaughtered as they are being. You have heard the figures, and I will not repeat them. But the National Congress Party, formerly the National Islamic Front, cannot and should not get away with this campaign of murder and terrorism. This government under President Bashir came to power in a bloody coup d'etat in 1989. The NIF Government harbored Osama bin Laden for 5 years, from 1991 to 1996. From there his operatives planned the assassination attempt on President Mubarak of Egypt. The NIF Government never was held responsible for harboring terrorists. They were responsible for millions of deaths before and they continue now to do this in Darfur. We must hold them accountable. There has been an authorization of 20,000 U.N. peacekeepers to go into Darfur. The government says no. We must, as President Bush said at the United Nations yesterday, we can no longer allow this to go on. The U.N. must go into Darfur to help the 7,000 AU troops who cannot handle this job alone. I was quite pleased that President Bush was forceful in his remarks yesterday at the 61st United Nations General Assembly. President Bush said, ``If the Sudanese Government does not approve this peacekeeping force quickly, the United Nations must act.'' He then stated that, ``the UN's credibility was on the line.'' President, Mr. Bush, I agree. And we must add that the credibility of the United States Government is also on the line. We cannot allow genocide to continue. I welcome the appointment of Andrew Nazios as the Presidential envoy for Sudan. We look forward to working with him. But he must have a robust mandate. He must have the proper staff. He must have access to the White House. He must have leadership in the State Department if we are going to have a success. Finally, countries with influence in Khartoum must be used to urge the Government of Khartoum to stop the genocide. China, who our country, with the balance of trade to them, have made them a robust country with 500 million middle-class people as a result of their selling their products to us, must tell the Government of Sudan that they must stop what they are doing. We should be able to force China to get involved and say that enough is enough. And Russia must continue, must be stopped from selling arms to Sudan. The Arab League must step up to the plate. And Egypt that gets $2 billion a year from the United States taxpayers must stand up and tell their neighbors, their friends, the Government of Sudan, that enough is enough. We must hold our so-called friends accountable. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate having the opportunity for us to have this discussion. We look forward to our government stepping up to the plate. Once again, enough is enough. It should really be ``never again.'' Let me just conclude by thanking the Metro West and the Jewish community in the State of New Jersey and throughout the United States who have come up and have been so supportive. And we are getting many more groups getting involved.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Let me thank the gentleman from Connecticut for taking this special order and let me acknowledge your great leadership as a leader in the Democratic Caucus. Let me also commend Barbara Lee and Lynn Woolsey for their leadership as cochairs of the Progressive Caucus where they have continually talked about progressive issues in this country and, in particular, the question of Iraq; and to commend Congresswoman Woolsey for her record of maybe 100 days consecutively speaking out against the war, day in and day out. Five years ago, on September 11, we had a tremendous amount of sympathy around the world. Everyone was with us. People throughout the world said this was a dastardly act. Seven hundred persons from my State perished. Flight 93 that left Newark Airport, including Ms. Wanda Green, a delightful African American woman, a flight attendant who traded with a friend who asked her if she could take her duty because of a conflict and she would switch and take Ms. Green's original duty which was not on 9/11. Ms. Green passed away on that infamous Flight 93. I met with her two children at the church in Linden where she lived. They are college-age students. Ms. Green was a divorcee and was the one taking care of the family. So this is very personal with all of us. From my house as I moved out to the corner and looked over, the World Trade Centers were both visible, the twin towers were very visible. I could see them very clearly. So it is very personal to us, all Americans, but especially to those of us who were so constantly involved in that area. When the President decided, though, to make Saddam Hussein a person that he felt should be dealt with and connected him to 9/11, it was actually criminal. Osama bin Laden, as we know, was in Afghanistan. We had a limited number of troops there. But just think of what position we would have been in today if our troops were sent to Afghanistan in the numbers that we have sent to Iraq. By this time I am sure Osama bin Laden would be behind bars or not alive at all. We could still have Iraq contained with the no-fly zone because they could not come in or go out. We had Predators watching. We knew where Saddam Hussein had lunch every day. It was bombed one day, but he left a few minutes early. They were going nowhere in Iraq. Osama bin Laden, in fact, talked as badly about Saddam Hussein as he did about the United States' leaders. But what did we do? Hans Blitz and the inspectors were given full range of the country. And when that announcement was made by the Government of Iraq, President Bush said, Get out in 48 hours. Why would you do that? They knew that they didn't have weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The bluff was over. So Saddam Hussein decided to let them go anywhere because I don't have them. And, therefore, they will see that the bluff is over. No, the President ordered the strikes. I will conclude because there are other Members here and I could go on and on and on. However, I was the one who controlled the 2-day debate where we debated giving the President the authority to having an attack on Iraq, a preemptive strike. I was convinced we should not choose war, we should choose diplomacy. Just think, Afghanistan would have been settled and we could have contained Saddam Hussein, but it was decided that we should go to war. Mission accomplished. We are losing lives every day. It was wrong. We need to come up with a sane plan to conclude this civil war that is in Iraq and move on to making our country a safer place.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Education and Workforce Committee, I am shocked at the difference between Presidential rhetoric and economic reality. Every time the President speaks about the state of our Nation, it becomes apparent just how out of touch he really is. Last month, after meeting at Camp David with his economic team, the President told reporters that things are good for the American worker. Let me ask: What exactly is his economic team telling him? The reality is that American workers are suffering, while corporate profits soar. Productivity in our Nation has increased, but the workers who are putting in the extra effort have no piece of that wealth they are helping to create. In fact, wages and salaries are at their lowest proportion of the economy, while corporate profits are at the highest level since 1960. What that means for the average American worker is that they are working harder without receiving any real pay increase. Meanwhile, the companies they work for are reporting record profits. Something is wrong. We need to turn it around and have that reality work for the working people.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to welcome to the United States House of Representatives today's guest chaplain, Monsignor Robert Sheeran, a friend and an innovative leader who serves as the 19th president of my alma mater, Seton Hall University, which happens to reside in my 10th Congressional District of New Jersey. After studying at Seton Hall as an undergraduate, Monsignor returned to the university in 1980 to serve as rector of St. Andrew's College Seminary. In 1987, Monsignor Sheeran was appointed assistant provost of the university. Under his leadership, the school saw a marked decrease in undergraduate attrition. After completing Harvard University's management development program in 1989 and being promoted to the assistant provost in 1991, he was selected as a fellow of the American Council on Education. Upon his return to Seton Hall, he was appointed executive vice chancellor, a post he held until his appointment as president 2 years later. Under Monsignor Sheeran's leadership, Seton Hall has moved forward technologically, with the distinction of being named one of the most connected college campuses in the United States by Forbes magazine. Under construction is a new science and technology center which will help train graduates to compete in the workforce of the future. In addition, the White House School of Diplomacy and International Relations has formed an innovative partnership with the United Nations, which is of special interest to me as a member of the House International Relations Committee and one of the two congressional delegates to the United Nations serving in the House. I hope that Seton Hall will play a constructive role in confronting the many foreign policy challenges our Nation faces. I know my colleagues join with me in welcoming Monsignor Sheeran and thanking him for his devoted service throughout his life.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues here in the House of Representatives to join me as I rise to honor the memory and legacy of Irene L. James who passed away on Tuesday, July 4, 2006. Her death leaves a deep void in the Greater Newark community. Irene was known for her caring spirit and her service to others. She was creative, passionate and intelligent. Her intellect led her to Rutgers University in Newark where she earned both her under-graduate and law degrees. Over the years, she would hold several roles that allowed her to utilize her talents to enrich the lives of others. A prolific writer, Irene was able to secure grants and/or technological enhancements for many programs and institutions. In fact, Irene is credited with procuring a three million dollar grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to create a ``fighting back'' sight in Newark. This program's mission was to help decrease the demand for alcohol, tobacco and other drugs for women and children. Irene served with distinction in administrative positions at Essex County College, CHOICES, Inc., Newark Welfare and Newark Fighting Back. During her life, Irene touched many lives with her kindness, thoughtfulness and humor. She will be remembered for making a difference in the lives of those fortunate enough to benefit from her years of public service. Irene was a profound believer in social justice and was able to associate with many others who felt likewise. As Irene's life was celebrated during her ``Home going'' service on Wednesday, July 12, 2006, many recalled the impact she made in the community, her competency and professionalism. They remembered that she came from a family of achievers, including my Chief of Staff, Maxine James, her father, Mack James, sister, Jeanette Parham and her brother, Michael James. Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues join me in letting Irene L. James' family, friends and associates know that her memory will always be honored and cherished.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the King amendment and urge its defeat Mr. Chairman, I want to thank Chairman Sensenbrenner and Ranking Member John Conyers for their hard work on the Voting Rights Act and for the opportunity to speak on the importance of passing this landmark piece of legislation. I stand in opposition to the King amendment to strike sections 7 and 8 of the bill which ensure that all American citizens, regardless of language ability, are able to vote on a fair and equal basis. Recent discriminatory actions in the States of Georgia, Texas, the Dakotas and even in my home State of New Jersey underscore the importance of including provisions such as language assistance for potential voters and the pre-clearance of electoral changes for covered jurisdictions. In fact, in New Jersey there are approximately 1 million Spanish- speaking voters, which quite clearly exemplifies the need to extend provisions such as section 203. In 1999, the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division found that Passaic County, New Jersey, was discriminating against Latino voters by denying equal access to the electoral process. The Civil Rights Division entered into a consent decree with the County of Passaic, and now the elections are monitored by the Federal observers. A three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court of New Jersey appointed an independent elections monitor to ensure that the county complies with the court orders. The monitor assisted the county in its efforts to comply with the court's orders. Today, the House of Representatives stands at a fork in the road. On one side, we can journey down the path where we ignore past and recent history that has shown discrimination and disenfranchisement still prevents U.S. citizens from exercising their inherent right to vote. I am one of the Members of this Chamber who marched for civil rights back in the 1950s and 1960s. From my first-hand experiences, I can attest that our gains have been hard-fought and a long time coming. Fortunately, we still have the opportunity to choose the right path of action. The reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act is a reaffirmation of the values upon which America was founded. The American principles of justice and fairness compel this Congress to pass this piece of legislation without weakening amendments. Martin Luther King Jr., whose life and death symbolized the struggle for equality and justice along with his wife Coretta Scott-King, said that, ``Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.'' If we pass the Voting Rights Act with these odious and retrogressive amendments, we are not only turning our back on the sacrifices of those who were harmed and killed for our right to vote but also turning our back on our diverse constituencies who have entrusted us to stand up for justice and equality for all. I applaud the bipartisan efforts that have cleared the way for this bill to be voted on and I urge all Members of the House of Representatives to complete this journey with the swift and clean passage of this bill.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues here in the House of Representatives to join me as I rise to acknowledge Project GRAD Newark as it hosts its sixth annual scholars celebration on Monday, June 19, 2006. Project GRAD has every right to be proud of its accomplishments and a celebration is indeed in order. Project GRAD Newark was established in 1998 to provide support and an educationally enriched opportunity for Malcolm X Shabazz High School and eight schools that feed students to it. The objectives of Project GRAD Newark are to raise the level of academic performance in mathematics and literacy; to have students believe in their ability to achieve; to have all students aspire to graduate from high school and pursue a college education and to have students strive to receive the $6,000 Project GRAD scholarship. Fortunately for the students of Newark, Project GRAD Newark expanded to include Central High School and its six feeder schools in 2000. In both instances, the leadership of the Newark Public Schools assessed key indicators of progress and determined these two feeder groups were lowest in the district. These schools needed the GRAD reform initiative to support them with research-based programs, services and resources. Project GRAD Newark is the first expansion site for the model that was developed in Houston, TX, in 1993. With initial support from Lucent Technologies Foundation and the Ford Foundation, the Newark Public Schools entered into partnership and launched Project GRAD Newark. Today, 16 schools serving over 8,500 students, 485 teachers and 50 administrators constitute the Project GRAD Newark family. All can share in the joy of the improvements in each of the schools. On-time graduation rates at Central High School have doubled since it became a GRAD school. At Malcolm X Shabazz, the on-time graduation rate has improved by 20 percent compared to the years before it became a GRAD high school. This year 109 students, 60 from Malcolm X Shabazz and 49 from Central, will graduate with the $6,000 Project GRAD Newark Scholarship as they go off to college this fall. At a time when the City of Newark is struggling to reduce crime in the streets and help young people have hope and focus for a bright future, these students are taking full advantage of the opportunities Project GRAD Newark provides. Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues join me in congratulating these students on their achievements and all those associated with the Project GRAD Newark program in helping to facilitate this significant program.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues here in the House of Representatives to join me as I rise to offer my heartfelt congratulations to Jacqueline A. Young, PhD, as the Dr. Jacqueline A. Young Education Center is dedicated on June 15, 2006, in Fairfield, New Jersey. It should come as no surprise to anyone who knows Dr. Young, who received her Doctorate of Education from Rutgers University, Graduate School of Education, that such an honor would be bestowed upon her for her many years of dedicated service to the Essex County Educational Services Commission. An educator since 1974, Dr. Young has been involved with many aspects of this noble profession. She has been a teacher, a Basic Skills Consultant, a Coordinator, a Supervisor, a Director and has held her current post as Superintendent of the Essex County Educational Services Commission since July, 1992. Prior to being named Superintendent, Dr. Young served the commission as Director beginning in 1986. During this period, Dr. Young has been responsible for many new programs and initiatives which have resulted in sustainable growth and institutional stability. Under her guidance, both staff and students have been exposed to professionalism at its finest as Dr. Young is the epitome of excellence in leadership. With facilities such as the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center under her control, Dr. Young is certainly challenged on a daily basis to provide educational opportunities to students that are coping with a variety of other distracting issues. In order for students to retain a semblance of their high school experience and to allow them to embark on their new life journey with a clean slate, Youth House graduates earn diplomas from their respective high schools. In part, this results in some students retaining their interest in education. Dr. Young manages to get their attention and to remain a woman of ``grace under pressure.'' Mr. Speaker, Dr. Young does an admirable job in serving her community well and the Essex County Educational Services Commission is thriving under her leadership. I know my fellow House Members join me in wishing Dr. Young continued success in her career with the Essex County Educational Services Commission. To have a building named after her is a well deserved honor and a fitting tribute to Dr. Jacqueline A. Young, Educator Extraordinaire.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, the Taiwan Chapter of the Democratic Pacific Union will sponsor a symposium this summer (August 12-14) in Taipei, Taiwan. The symposium will include topics such as legislative and democracy, legislature and the electoral process, legislative procedures and rules, legislature and campaign finance. All these topics are very timely and relevant to the legislative process. Taiwan's efforts in promoting democracy throughout the Pacific regions are laudatory. In addition to the upcoming symposium, the Taiwan Chapter of the Democratic Pacific Union has sponsored other worthy programs such as a training program on hazard mitigation with emphasis on typhoon-related disasters and fellowships for students from Democratic Pacific Union member states to study in Taiwan as well as invitations to distinguished women throughout the Pacific regions to come to Taiwan to discuss women's issues. Best wishes to the Taiwan chapter of the Democratic Pacific Union on their upcoming conference.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to bring to the attention of my colleagues a very innovative educational program which is helping to address the need for doctors and other trained medical professionals. As a member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, I am supportive of expanding educational opportunities for students interested in medical training. Last year I had the opportunity to visit the American University of Antigua and to meet with students from my home State of New Jersey who are enrolled there. This school was founded only a few years ago and has already had an immense impact on the surrounding community, as well as the lives and careers of medical students around the world. Its founder, Neal S. Simon should be commended for establishing a quality medical education program that accommodates the need for diversity in medical education. As part of a new and exciting partnership, the American University of Antigua is now cooperating with Tuskegee University, a Historically Black College, to explore developing a veterinary school at its campus in Antigua. Officials from Tuskegee University were happy to offer ideas and advice. This would be an important educational development for American University of Antigua and the community, due to the severe need for trained veterinarians in the Caribbean. The students at American University of Antigua, while primarily American citizens, hail from all over the world. They are committed to a high standard of learning and achievement. The faculty of the AUA is comprised of distinguished scholars who have mostly worked in American and European medical schools. The school has also enhanced the surrounding community by providing doctors, nurses and other medical professionals. The American students attend the university and receive training at an academic standard equal to what they would receive in the U.S. and are then able to obtain medical license in the United States where they contribute to easing the physician shortage that the United States is experiencing. Medical and nursing schools are running at full capacity in the United States, and AUA helps the American medical system fill its need for trained professionals. The willingness of this university to work with other schools, such as Tuskegee, to improve its programs is commendable. The ability of this university to provide a world class education to a diverse group of students while adding much needed resources to the American and Caribbean community should be applauded. The ability to attract a qualified diverse student population is something that many United States schools can learn from. I hope that we will see more partnerships of this type in the future, and again, I commend the school for its leadership and innovative ideas.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, as we approach Memorial Day many of my constituents face the same dilemma as other Americans around the country. With gas prices out of control, many can hardly afford to drive to work, let alone drive on a vacation in their cars. For 5 years now, House Republicans have refused to offer a real solution to the rising gas prices, choosing instead to rubberstamp Cheney's energy task force meetings that boosted the profits of big oil while hurting working Americans. The only plan that Republicans are offering consumers this Memorial Day is to allow drilling in the National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, a temporary solution which would damage a natural treasure while providing no long term supply of oil. This makes no sense from a practical or environmental standpoint. Democrats have a better plan. We have an innovative agenda that would help our Nation achieve energy independence within 10 years through clean, sustainable energy alternatives. We will provide tax incentives to encourage increased production of homegrown fuels. Madam Speaker, let's protect the American consumers so they can once again afford to drive to work and take vacations with their families.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, it is with a great deal of pleasure that I ask my colleagues here in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me as I rise to congratulate my Chief of Staff, Ms. Maxine James, on her induction into the Essex County Hall of Fame. This is a well-deserved honor for Ms. James, as she has been a positive force for the betterment of Essex County for many years. Fortunately for me and the residents of Essex County, Ms. James has always been strongly committed to meeting the needs of her community. It was through her vision and insight that some of the finest public servants in Essex County have been drawn into government service. She has also been responsible for helping to establish long-term, beneficial programs in the County, including the Newark Emergency Services for Families (NESF). NESF provides a life-line for residents of Newark and Essex County who are facing challenging situations including homelessness, a lack of heat, or the need for food to feed their families. She has contributed her time and talent to numerous community-based organizations over the years. Throughout my years as an elected official, Ms. James has been a staunch supporter, friend and confidante. She is a true professional with a creative genius that has garnered many friends from all walks of life. Before my election to Congress, I had the privilege of working with Ms. James at Prudential Insurance Company in Newark, where she impressed me with her enormous energy, intelligence and tenacity. During my tenure on the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Maxine generously volunteered her services on several committees doing work to benefit the local community. When I was elected to the office of Newark Municipal Council in the early 1980's, Maxine joined my team and did an excellent job running my office and providing assistance to the residents of the South Ward over the course of 7 years. In 1988, upon my election to Congress, I selected Ms. James to be my Chief of Staff, and she continues in that role today. Her loyalty is admirable and her dedication is unparalleled. She is indeed ``one of a kind'' and it is my good fortune to have benefited from that distinction. Ms. James is the mother of two children, Chris and Brian, and the proud grandmother of two, Olivia and Malcolm. Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues join me in extending best wishes to Ms. Maxine James as she is inducted into the Essex County Hall of Fame. I am pleased to congratulate her on this very special award and wish her all the best as she continues her public service.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, when I return to my home district, where the price of regular gas has topped $3 a gallon at many service stations, I hear constituents tell me loud and clear that they believe that the Republican majority in Congress has led this country in a drastically wrong direction. Unfortunately, from the very beginning, the Bush administration has excluded the concerns of ordinary Americans from their energy policy debates. In fact, the secretive energy task force, headed by Vice President Cheney, deliberated behind closed doors, and, as a result, billions of dollars in subsidies were provided to big oil interests. Last fall, the Republican House rubber stamped an energy bill that even President Bush's own Energy Department predicted would raise gas prices. Almost 1 year later, the price of gas at the pump has skyrocketed. In fact, Americans are now paying an incredible 100 percent more for gas than they were when President Bush took office. Meanwhile, the incomes of middle income families have fallen every year. Mr. Speaker, I ask that we turn out those who have given us this flawed policy.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me as I recognize the New Jersey Arya Samaj Mandir's first annual special event, the ``Arya Swaranjali'', which will take place on Sunday June 4, 2006 in Jersey City, New Jersey, my Congressional District. The ``Arya Swaranjali'' will be a time when the New Jersey Arya/Hindu community will gather together to showcase the works of talented artists in order to raise awareness and resources for less fortunate children in the South American country of Guyana. Arya Samaj, which means a Society of Noble People, is a global community of organizations whose mission, based on the ten Vedic principles, is to improve the physical, spiritual and social well-being of mankind. The New Jersey Arya Samaj Mandir, incorporated in 1987, is an organization that provides cultural, educational, religious, charitable and social links between the Arya/Hindu immigrant community and the United States. However, the New Jersey Arya Samaj community understands that ``. . . to whom much is given, much is required . . .'' Under the leadership of Pandit Suresh N. Sugrim, the ``Arya Swaranjali'' will help Guyanese children who are unfortunately without parents. Due to their beneficence, many orphans will be afforded an improved quality of life which includes better food and clothing, comprehensive education and full medical care. Mr. Speaker, I applaud the New Jersey Arya Samaj Mandir, Inc. for their support of the Arya/Hindu community. SpecifIcally, I would like to commend them on the ``Arya Swaranjali'' and the good works they will achieve through this event. I am proud to have them in my Congressional district and wish their organization never-ending success in their future endeavors.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I am proud today to recognize a valued institution within my Congressional district. For the past 8 years, the Elizabeth River/Arthur Kill (ER/AK) Watershed Association has been dedicated to the education and empowerment of its diverse, multilingual residents by proactively addressing clean water issues. Through services such as water-quality testing, research and advocacy, the ER/ AK Watershed Association, which is certified through the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, stands apart from many environmental organizations because of its emphasis on educating underserved communities about the environmental issues that affect their daily lives. Responding to resident requests for community-generated graphics and maps of the watershed, the ER/AK Watershed Association worked closely with New Jersey's Rutgers University Center of Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis and the prestigious international Green Map organization to create a dynamic Green Map that will document the natural and cultural resources of our Watershed community. It is important to share with you that two other watershed universities, New Jersey Institute of Technology and Kean University, have generously provided formative and foundational resources to the ongoing development of the ER/AK Watershed Association. I salute the ER/AK Watershed Association and its partners as they utilize their Green Map to enhance the quality of life in and around the watershed for its natural and human residents. I am proud to have this organization in my district and I wish them continued success in their future endeavors.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I stand today to recognize Africa Malaria Day, declared on April 25, 2000 by 43 African heads of state. That declaration marked the end of a 3-day summit called to renew and re- invigorate Africa's commitment to defeating malaria, a disease that takes a terrible toll on the African continent. It renewed a commitment to exploit all means possible to finally tame the disease that kills more African children than any other single disease. It recognized the massive impact of malaria and the potential for reducing that impact. It affirmed African leaders' intent to remove roadblocks to malaria control and called for more active participation by the international community. UNICEF and the World Health Organization estimate that malaria kills from 1 million to 2 million people every year, most of them young children and pregnant women in Africa. Along with HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, malaria remains one of the three biggest infectious disease killers in the world today. Effective weapons in this fight include prompt access to effective treatment, increased use of locally appropriate means of mosquito control such as insecticide-treated nets and indoor residual spraying, early detection of and response to epidemics, and improved prevention and treatment of malaria in pregnant women. To make a sustained impact against malaria we need a vaccine. There has never been a licensed malaria vaccine, but great progress toward that end is now being made, as evidenced by last year's results of a malaria vaccine clinical trial in Mozambique. However, people who need the vaccine the most are infants and children in developing countries. This means that market forces by themselves cannot drive malaria vaccine development. Ensuring the successful development of a vaccine for a disease that primarily affects the poorest people in the world requires public funding for research and development as well as funding for vaccine purchase once malaria vaccines are licensed. As a nation, we must take the challenge offered by African heads of state in 2000 and Bill Gates last fall to greatly increase funding for the development of new tools to defeat malaria, including a vaccine. Global and national efforts to control malaria are making a difference. Lives are being saved and the movement to finally control malaria in Africa is picking up momentum. Evidence of this includes the increasing level of support for malaria control by the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, by USAID and the President's Malaria Initiative. But more and broader support is needed to achieve the goal of ending deaths from malaria in the shortest time possible. For each year we delay, another one to two million lives are lost. Today, Africa Malaria Day, the equivalent of seven large planeloads of children died from malaria. Most of these children were under the age of 5. This is a tragedy of immense proportions. While it is deeply saddening, we cannot let its sheer magnitude paralyze us into complacency. Knowing about these deaths impassions me to do everything I can. We must ensure adequate support for existing and new malaria control tools to prevent more deaths, today, tomorrow, and into the future.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in absolute strong support of H.R. 3127, the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act. I thank Mr. Lantos, our ranking member of the International Relations Committee, for his continued leadership on issues of importance to the committee, a person who can speak of genocide, being the only Member in Congress who is a Holocaust survivor. So this is very personal, as it is with all of us. I would like to thank Chairman Hyde for the work that he and his staff did for being open to negotiations with me and my staff and other Members as well as those of other members of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations, chaired by Representative Smith, my friend from New Jersey, who has done an outstanding job chairing the subcommittee. I would also like to thank Congressman Wolf for his continued work, who for many, many years has been involved in Sudan; and Congressman Tancredo, who went to Southern Sudan on his first CODEL a number of years ago with Senator Brownback and myself; and to Melvin Watt of the Congressional Black Caucus and Barbara Lee and others who have stood shoulder to shoulder opposing this horrendous genocide. It was nearly 2 years ago on June 24 in 2004 where I stood with the Congressional Black Caucus, Leader Pelosi, and Tom Tancredo and introduced H. Con. Res. 467, declaring that genocide was occurring in Darfur, Sudan and that the government of Sudan was responsible. This is the government which harbored Osama bin Laden for 5 years in his country and aided and abetted him and assisted him. Tragically and to our own shame, the genocide continues today, almost 2 years later, unabated. Many people were surprised when the Congress approved the genocide resolution. And then the next night Senator Frist, with unanimous consent in the Senate, had the genocide resolution passed in the Senate and the President indicated at the United Nations that genocide was going on after Colin Powell declared it for the State Department. Mr. Speaker, I have walked through the camps of the Darfur people who were violently forced by government troops and the Janjaweed mercenaries to run for their lives. I have seen the faces in the pictures that Leader Pelosi showed and to hear the horror stories. Try to imagine what it is like to run away from everything you have known in an instance at gunpoint, to look back at your home, at your village, to see them engulfed in flames. Imagine the cries of scores of men and women, young and old, being brutally killed, terrorized, raped, beaten. What continues to go on in Darfur today is the ultimate form of terrorism. An estimated 400,000 have already died from murder, starvation, diarrhea, and preventable diseases. Nearly 3 million were forced from their homes into other parts of the region or into Chad. Now the security nightmare has spilled over because the Janjaweed has gone into Chad. And this is the same government that for 20 years had a North-South war where 4 million people were displaced and 2 million people died. So this is a government responsible for 6 million displaced people, 2\1/2\ million people dead. This government does not deserve to even be called a government. Truthfully, it is difficult to imagine. We are half a world away, safe. That is why we bear even a greater responsibility. What can we do? We must call on President Bush to immediately push the National Congress Party to disarm the Janjaweed, to give the command to the government troops to stop killing innocent people, stop raping, to send those responsible for atrocities in Darfur to appropriate international authorities as called for in Security Council Resolution 1593, and to comply with Security Council Resolutions 1564, 1591, and 1556. Whether they are government officials such as Security and Intelligence Chief Salah Gosh or Vice President Taha, who leads the Janjaweed, as alleged, we must make sure that this ends. I would like to just conclude by saying even in my district on Sunday, April 9, the End the Genocide-Save Darfur will be having a rally with the American Jewish Congress, the American Jewish World Service, the United Jewish Communities of MetroWest, Help Darfur Now. So everyone is coming together.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my dismay at the passage of the unwise and unsound provisions contained in S. 2271, the USA PATRIOT Act Reauthorizing Amendments Act of 2006. Unfortunately, I was unavoidably detained during the vote and could not cast my strong opposition to the reauthorization of this act. I am deeply concerned about this flawed piece of legislation that purports to protect our country against future terrorist acts while still preserving our civil liberties. I do not agree that both objectives are mutually exclusive. However, as was evident during its rash passage in 2001, this bill forsakes one aim in favor another. While this version of the Patriot Act, with Senator John Sununu's amendments, adds some civil liberty protections, these changes are only cosmetic and are still an infringement upon many of our constitutional rights including the First, Fourth and Fifth Amendments. A reauthorization process should be a time in which legislators analyze how a law has impacted society and works towards its improvement. I even saw a slight glimmer of hope when many Senators from both sides of the aisle exemplified patriotism and questioned how this law is contradictory to what this nation stands for and upon which it prides itself. I applaud their courage and their effort. Unfortunately, the debate surrounding this bill was met with stern opposition from the White House and many Members of Congress. It is never wise to pass knee-jerk legislation. In the wake of 9/11, the US Congress quickly passed the Patriot Act without fully understanding its implications and how its infringements upon the Constitution could lead to abuses. It essentially gave the Executive Branch carte-blanche to pursue whatever actions it thought appropriate in the fight against terrorism. As evidenced by the Bush administration's warrantless domestic surveillance program, it is quite evident that civil liberties must be safeguarded not stripped. The government will still have the ability to employ National Security Letters and Section 215 court orders to go on fishing expeditions and obtain private and confidential records on the basis that there is ``reasonable grounds to believe'' that these records are ``relevant'' to an investigation. Furthermore, the government will still be able to delay notifying individuals that their private property has been searched. While there is an initial leeway of 30-days, the government can seek an indefinite amount of 90-day extensions. Where will the encroachments end? Through the passage of this legislation, we have done our country a great disservice. At this juncture, we could have sought true and meaningful reform that not only protected this great nation from terrorists but also from the improper intrusions that are inherent in this bill. Madam Speaker, I would like to again voice my opposition to the passage of S. 2271.