Donald Payne

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 1432, the African Growth and Opportunity Act. I join the rest of my colleagues who are original cosponsors of this bill. We have been talking about this issue for some time now. I am finally pleased that this initiative is happening. The Subcommittee on Africa, of which I am a member, proudly marked up this legislation last year. I would like to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Crane), the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel), the gentleman from Washington (Mr. McDermott) and the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Jefferson) of the Committee on Ways and Means, who worked so hard with their vision to bring this particular bill to the floor. I would also like to commend my chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa, the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), and the ranking member, who we have heard from also, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez) for the time, effort, and energy they have spent in trying to perfect this bill. It is still not a perfect bill, but it would not be in the shape that it is in now had it not been for the work of the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez) and the other Members that I mentioned. This is a historic and exciting occasion. Today I stand before you to say that the Africa trade bill will improve the lives of many African- Americans on the continent. Imagine, as we approach the new millennium, a new partnership has been forged, a partnership that is not based on dependency on aid. People want to earn their way. They want to earn their keep. This is an opportunity for people to show that it is trade, not aid. If we give a person a fish, they eat for a day. If we teach a person to fish, they eat for a lifetime. This bill will finally bring Africa into the new millennium. I must also applaud the Africa diplomatic corps for their constant and unwavering faith that they would one day be active participants in the global economy. They are very supportive of this bill. What would this bill do? It would enhance market access for African goods and services; it would promote multilateral debt relief for the poorest of the poor; it would open free markets which otherwise would be closed to Africa. It directs OPEC to create a $150 million equity fund and a $500 million infrastructure fund to begin this year. It will increase authority and flexibility to provide assistance under the Development Fund for Africa. This bill will also establish a U.S. economic forum to facilitate annual high-level discussions of bilateral and multilateral trade and investment. Also, for the first time in over 20 years, a U.S. President will travel to Africa, and President Clinton will be armed with this legislation to talk about his partnership for growth and opportunity in Africa. I commend the President for his trip, going to Africa. Let me just say that I become disturbed when people say there is no national interest in Africa. We had an interest during the Cold War where we propped up illegal governments, like the Mobutu regime and some of the activities in Angola and other places, Mozambique and around the continent. Finally, we are able to say, let us forget the Cold War. That time has past. Let us look to the sub-Sahara African countries, and let us have a bill that recognizes that U.S. trade, aid, and investment are all important policy goals. Mr. Chairman, a foreign trade policy that ignores some 32 Sub-Saharan African nations is a distorted policy. This bill recognizes that U.S. trade, aid and investment are all important foreign policy goals. 32 countries have joined the new World Trade Organization, and we are helping them to share its benefits and to meet its requirements. In conclusion, liberalization will not be beneficial without a transformation in the thoughts and attitudes toward Africa. It must no longer be thought of as a region devoid of hope, but a region which the hope of civil society, popular struggle can be fostered to bring Africa to the ``center.'' I support this bill and urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do the same.

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, I am glad the gentleman brought that question up. This bill is separate from aid. The Development Fund for Africa was an earmarked area that this year is funded for about $700 billion, and $30 million has been allocated or recommended by the administration to go into the aid. Therefore, the answer is, no. This is a separate entity, and it will not take aid from any country that does not conform to the bill. Secondly, I might say that a country that does not comply with governance and human rights, with transparency and basic human rights, will not be invited to be in the rounds, just as NATO expansion has been done.

Mr. PAYNE. If the gentleman is willing to introduce his legislation, I would be more than happy to at that time identify Tunisia as one of those that should have the opportunity. But once again, I just hope that my statement is clearly understood. It is that it is pro sub-Saharan Africa. There is too little, too late at this point. I just fear a dilution of this first step that we are attempting to move forward. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PAYNE. They say, ``Start me with 10 who are stout-hearted men, and I'll soon give you 10,000 more.'' We start one, and then we might find it is good for one and good for another. I think we should do something in North Africa. I think Tunisia's government is working in the right direction. They are also certainly good. I think this new fledgling western Sahara, once the determination has been made there, should be assisted. Why not have a North African growth and development bill? That would make a lot of sense. I would just ask the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Solomon), that might be what they want to introduce, a North African growth and development bill. I would be as supportive of that bill as I know the gentlemen are of this. That might be the solution.

Mr. PAYNE. The difference, if I may reclaim my time, Mr. Chairman, the difference is in the countries that the gentleman has explained where the legislature has some authority. They are able, then, to have the will of the people move forward. In the so-called constitutional monarchies that we find in other areas in the Middle East and in the Far East, we do not find the legislature, as the gentleman mentioned, they are moving into the tier. In Europe they have been into that tier for decades, for centuries. I have nothing against Morocco, but I simply think there is too little already going into the bill, and I just think to bring in all of North Africa to the bill, when we are talking about three or four initial countries to be included, I think it dilutes the bill.

Mr. PAYNE. Yes, I do, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, let me commend the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for his amendment. I have traveled extensively in Africa by land, by rail, by air, and by sea. As we are developing infrastructure in Africa, I think that it is essential and important that as we move towards Africa into the area of trade and development and growth, that we need to take a look at the infrastructure. In the bill there are dollars that are set aside through OPIC to deal with the infrastructure, to improve the roads and the ports. But I do not think anything could be more important than to shore up the air traffic control. We have members of our FAA that travel around the world to certify airports. Several airports in Africa are not certified, in particular the airport in Lagos, Nigeria. We are here saying that there should be standards so that air safety is secure. There should be standards so that air transport can be moved. I have traveled on charter planes and other kinds of aircraft, and I would like to say that the Davis amendment will go far to shore up and improve the air transportation in these countries which is so essential for communications. So I once again commend the gentleman from Illinois for his amendment and urge support for the Davis amendment.

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. For many years we have tried to dictate policies for other countries and tell them what they ought to do. We have had a year-long meeting with the African diplomatic corps, and many of them are offended by the statements that we hear that we are going to transship through them. They say they have been dealing with other countries before. There is the ECOWAS community of 16 West African countries; we have SADC, made up of the 12 southern; we have the east and southern countries. And the African diplomatic corps indicate that they want this bill to come through. They think it is best for them. It is racism when we try to apply our views on other people, whether they are countries in Africa or whether they are minorities in this country. And if African diplomats and African presidents feel that this bill is at least a step up in the right direction, then who are we to tell them that it is wrong for them?

Mr. PAYNE. I yield to the gentleman from Nebraska.

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Let me just reiterate, Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the clarification, the fact that the $2 billion that Egypt is getting, that it will not be part of this bill. I still contend that if we are going to deal with sub-Saharan Africa, that has been the forgotten area. The only time we dealt with sub- Saharan Africa was in the Cold War when we dealt with Mobutu, who now has left that country in such bad straits that even a new government, a fledgling government, I question whether the Kabila government will actually make it. And the fact that we have still a Civil War in Angola between Savimbi holding out, and the dos Santos government, we still have remnants of the Cold War, where we used Africa as a vehicle in that war. I simply say it is time we try to correct those Cold War problems that we created. I think this is a vehicle that we could do it with. I think it is too little. All of these fears that I hear of organized labor, hundreds of thousands of textile jobs being lost, I just cannot believe that people would believe that this first step would create that. I do not believe it will do that. I think it will really just be a little drop in the bucket and a step in the right direction. I still say, there are no kings in sub-Saharan Africa. If we are going to have elections, how can, therefore, governance be declared in Morocco when they do not elect their head of State? Right there it would seem to me to eliminate that country from this bill, because how do they have governance at that time?

Mr. PAYNE. That certainly eases it a bit. I think also in this bill, we are talking about governance; that the countries, the five or six that will be selected have to go through elections. We are saying that there cannot be human rights abuses. We are saying that there has to be transparency in government. We are saying that there must be elections that are going on in these countries, or they do not fit into the first round. It is simply like NATO expansion. There are three countries that are going to be selected in NATO expansion. You have the Czech Republic, you have Poland, you have the third country in the NATO expansion, Hungary. It is those countries, because they have proven that they are moving in the right direction. There are still allegations of people being tortured, and the abuses of detainees, and prison conditions, even in Morocco. The government's use of force to dispel student protesters in Casablanca in January and February resulted in many human rights violations. There have been continued delays in elections, and at the time when the United Nations is finally attempting to broker an agreement between Morocco and western Sahara, the report that came back this week by former Secretary James Baker and Representative Dunbar states that Morocco has stalled the process again just last week. So I say, in conclusion, that we are sending the wrong message if we start to alter sub-Saharan Africa. If this occurred a decade ago, that would be fine, because then sub- Saharan Africa could have been brought into the benefits that Northern Africa has. But I think it is wrong that we all of a sudden start this. That is simply like calling a new government, Benin, Liberia and Togo, part of the Newly Independent States of central Europe. They are not. They are newly independent States, but they do not qualify for funds of the Newly Independent States in the former Soviet countries. So I think when we do revisionary government, when we redefine, when we define for the convenience of what we want, I think we move in a wrong direction. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PAYNE. I yield to the gentleman from Illinois.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, this past weekend marked a celebration for a fine young man who is serving as shepherd to some of my constituents. That young man is Reverend Anthony W. Wilcots. Rev. Wilcots is the pastor of the Liberty Baptist Church of Elizabeth, New Jersey. Although his physical presence with this church is short-lived, the spirituality and lessons he has taught are far-reaching. As we begin our life's journey we never know what paths we'll cross or with whom we'll come in contact but if we're fortunate to be prepared and faithful we are usually blessed to meet and serve those for whom we were destined. Rev. Wilcots' journey has taken him far and wide and he and his congregants have certainly benefitted. Rev. Wilcots, a native of Houston, Texas, is a graduate with the Bachelor of Arts degree from Texas Southern University, the Master of Divinity degree from the School of Theology, Oral Roberts University and the Master of Sacred Theology degree from Yale University School of Divinity. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Social Ethics at Drew University. His evangelistic ministry has carried him to college campuses, churches and tent crusades in over 30 states, the District of Columbia and six foreign countries. Mr. Speaker, as you can see Rev. Wilcots has taken his calling seriously and continues to increase his capacity to serve the minds and souls of many. Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues join me in expressing our appreciation to Rev. Anthony W. Wilcots and his family for his contributions to our community.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to the students of New Jersey for winning the Kindness and Justice Challenge. Pupils of New Jersey led the nation with 96,816 acts of kindness. Students from my home district of Newark, New Jersey led all municipalities with 30,615 good deeds. This is indeed an honor and a privilege to represent such model students. The competition was started 3 years ago by Newark students who wanted to do something about all the negative images that faced their communities. Today we have over 40,000 pupils in over 12,000 classrooms participating in the contest across the nation. Good deeds are recorded on the Internet to keep an accurate account. Teachers had to pitch in during lunch breaks and at night because not all students had access to computers at home. Newark students were led by Latoya Hedgespeth, a fifth grader at Madison Avenue School who recorded the most acts of kindness with 321 goods deeds. This truly exemplifies the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and should serve as a lesson to us all. The students were honored by Superintendent Beverly Hall and Mayor Sharpe James. Mr. Speaker, I am sure that my colleagues will join me as I extend heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the students of New Jersey.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call to the attention of my colleagues here in the U.S. House of Representatives a very special man, Dr. John S. Mbiti. Dr. Mbiti has studied the attitudes of mind and belief that have evolved in the many societies of Africa. His interests are in biblical studies in relation to the expansion of Christianity and theological developments in Africa, Asia, and Oceania, and missiology, ecumenics, and the science of religion. Mbiti adds a new dimension to the understanding of the history, thinking, and life throughout the African continent. Religion is approached from an African point of view but is as accessible to readers who belong to non-African societies as it is to those who have grown up in African nations. The publication of his book ``African Religions and Philosophy,'' has become essential reading for anyone concerned with African religion, history, philosophy, anthropology or general African studies. As the representative of Elizabeth in Congress, I am proud of the accomplishments of Dr. John S. Mbiti. Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues join me in expressing our appreciation to Dr. John S. Mbiti for his numerous outstanding contributions to humankind.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to raise some concerns I have regarding House Concurrent Resolution 202. This year President Clinton has brought to public debate the most pressing dilemma for American families. That dilemma is finding and affording appropriate child care. In the State of New Jersey, an estimated 56 percent of all women with children ages 6 and younger are employed and 75% of mothers with children between the ages of 6 and 11 work outside the home. Unfortunately, the cost of affordable care can be between $4,000 and $10,000 annually. We must also take into account the fact that if both parents work at full time minimum wage jobs they together will earn only $21,400 a year. The need for some type of guidance and relief could not be more apparent in New Jersey and nationwide. Unfortunately, the resolution we will consider today does not address the issue of access to quality child care. Instead it requires that we focus our attention on parents that choose to stay at home rather than go to work. I am pleased that some parents have such an option and I salute their commitment to their families. However, this resolution does not address the real problem that most concerns parents which is affordable child care. I believe we must first address the need of those parents who do not have a choice to stay home and supply them with the best options to find appropriate child care. I am also concerned that this resolution includes a misrepresentation of facts that does not accurately reflect the reality of the child care dilemma in this country. It also largely ignores those who are committed to caring for children who are relatives but not immediate family members. These individuals are also important and deserve recognition by Congress in child care legislation. For example, a study conducted by the Department of Commerce found that grandparents and other non- parental relatives provide about 35% of the primary care for African American and Hispanic families. This resolution only focuses on stay at home parents and ignores other individuals that have a need to be compensated for their commitment to caring for children. I must finally remind my colleagues that the U.S. House of Representatives voted to send millions of stay at home parents back into the workforce only three years ago by passing welfare reform legislation. This resolution sends the message that while we will encourage middle and upper class parents to stay at home we do not believe that the value of a stay at home parent is as important for low income children. This message is a disturbing one and not one that I will support.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, let me congratulate the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Lou Stokes) again for his effort of bringing forth our African- American history to the Nation. We will certainly miss him when he departs from this great body. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues this evening in commemorating Black History Month, which is celebrating the achievements of African Americans in the field of business. This year's theme, African Americans in Business: The Path Towards Empowerment, is very fitting at a time in history when so many talented African- American men and women are playing leading roles in our Nation's business sector and taking their rightful place in national and international economic affairs. According to the Census Bureau's survey of minority-owned business enterprises, the number of black-owned businesses has increased 46 percent in recent years. The 100 largest black-owned companies in the United States generated revenue of over $14 billion. Last summer Fortune Magazine profiled a new generation of African Americans who are achieving phenomenal success on Wall Street. Among them are John Utendahl, a bond trader who founded Utendahl Capital Partners, the largest black-owned investment bank in the United States. His firm has been involved in over $250 billion worth of transactions. Another success story, a friend of mine, young Ron Blaylock from New Jersey, a young man in his 30s, founded Blaylock and Partners, the first minority firm to manage a corporate bond underwriting. His firm supervised the $150 million issue on behalf of the Tennessee Valley Authority. We all know Marianne Spraggins, the top achieving African-American woman on Wall Street, who took on the challenging position of CEO for W.R. Lazard, a black-owned firm. One African American caught in downsizing of Occidental Petroleum, William Davis, started his own company, Pulsar Data Systems. This $166 million business is now the largest owned black computer firm. In addition to large-scale companies, successful small businesses are being started every week in communities throughout the Nation. I am very proud of the entrepreneurs in my congressional district in New Jersey, who have worked hard to build their businesses. Our local communities are enhanced by the presence of successful businesses in the 10th District. Starting very quickly with the City National Bank, a minority-owned bank, chaired by Mr. Lewis Prezau; Dunn and Sons, a janitorial service owned by Malcolm Dunn; Bradford and Byrd, also a janitorial service, owned by Avery and Trina Byrd; Ke'Dar Books, a store that sells books on Bergen Street, owned by a former student of mine, Jack Martin; P.C. Pros, a computer company owned by an outstanding businesswoman, Avis Yates; Johnson Publication Company of New Jersey, which produces many publications, including the popular newspaper City News; and Evan Bow Construction, owned by the Bowser brothers; Justin's Mens Clothing in South Orange, New Jersey. And so during this Black History Month, as we celebrate, I conclude by saying that even during the era of slavery, free blacks were successful business owners. Records show back in the 1700s, as we have heard, Paul Cuffe was a shipper and merchant in New England; James Wormley owned a hotel right here in Washington, D.C.; William Johnson owned a string of barber shops in Natchez, Mississippi. And after the Civil War many African Americans were established in businesses. So as I conclude, I do want to mention this is the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Paul Robeson, a Jersian, a 12-letter man in every athletic event that they played at the time, an outstanding singer, but who had to fight to get on the chorus, on the glee club, and who was not allowed to play football initially when he first went out. He ended up with a broken rib and destroyed his hands, but he went back to say he was going to play. He became an all-American. And with that I yield back to the gentleman.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, today eleven African-American women of distinction are being honored as part of the Essex County, New Jersey, Hospital Center's Third Annual Afrikan Heritage Month celebration. The vision of Carter G. Woodson to set aside some time to remember and pay tribute to our history and its people is one for which we will always be grateful. I am especially proud of this group of women for it is representative of our families and our society as a whole when it comes to being prepared and accomplished. The women being honored today are: Gail Thompson, Vice President of Design and Construction of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, our new $165 million, 255,000 square foot theater building and infrastructure on 12 acres; Carolyn Wade, President of Communications Workers of America Local, the largest local in New Jersey which represents 9,000 dues-paying members in both the public and private sectors; Senator Wynona M. Lipman, distinguished by her tenure as the only African-American female state senator for 21 years; Dorothy E. Grisby, a representative of the National Black Nurses Association, a national organization with 42 chapters that works to provide quality health care; Miriam E. Ferguson, a community advocate is also Superintendent of Recreation and Culture for the City of Hackensack, NJ; Mary F. Lewis, an Education Training Coordinator and the Site Administrator of the United Auto Workers/ General Motors Skill Center at the General Motors Corp. in Linden, NJ, became the first African American female electrician in General Motors in 1984; Dolores `Bobby'' Reilly, a former Montclair, NJ, Councilwoman became the first African American woman ever elected to political office in the town; Audrey Fletcher, a former Montclair Councilwoman serves as the Executive Director of the Montclair Child Development Center which provides comprehensive services to Montclair's children and their families; Desha L. Jackson, the first African American female Assistant Prosecutor for Ocean County, NJ; Marcia Wilson Brown, a law school graduate and community activist who has used her time and talent to assist urban cities to plan, develop and fund a variety of housing and community development programs to improve the quality of life for poor, low and moderate income persons and neighborhoods; and Cheryl Diane Lawrence, an adventurous, compassionate and civic-minded business woman is the founder of Blind Detective Agency, a provider of customized security services, a business she developed when she became permanently disabled as a result of an act of heroism while serving as the first female police officer at the Rutgers University Police Department. Mr. Speaker, I am sure my colleagues will want to join me in congratulating these individuals for this appropriate recognition as their ``labors of love'' are recorded in the annals of American history.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to express my opposition to House Resolution 2625, a bill that would change the name of Washington National Airport to ``Ronald Reagan National Airport.'' With all due respect to the former President, it is no secret that there was no love lost between President Reagan and this city. Over and over again, he stated emphatically that he did not hold this city in high regard. He was proud to call himself anti-Washington. Clearly, when visitors arrive in their Nation's Capital, it is only appropriate the airport don the name of our Nation's first President. It would be inappropriate to name this airport after the man who in 1981, fired over 11,000 air traffic controllers and deprived the aviation industry of years of expertise and experience. The negative effects of President Reagan's actions are still visible today. Evidently, I am not the only one who has these sentiments. My colleague, Mr. Morgan, the Greater Washington Board of Trade, and both Arlington County and the city of Alexandria are officially opposed to H.R. 2625. Generally speaking, naming bills are enacted with the consent of the Member or community in which the building is located. I would support an amendment that requires the approval of local officials before an official name change takes effect. This partisan attempt to force a federally unfunded mandate onto a local community, as well as the city as a whole, contradicts President Reagan's own philosophies. In addition, President Reagan has already been honored by having his name on a bridge in Illinois, a boulevard in New York, a beltway in Ohio, and a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier which is to be christened in 2000. Not to be forgotten is the 3.1 million square foot, $818 million Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center which is located here in Washington, DC, only a few miles from the airport. For better or for worse, I will concede that President Reagan was an influential President in our Nation's history, but there are many alternatives that could be considered to honor his accomplishments, as well as his name. Unfortunately, these alternatives are not being considered by the proponents of this bill. Therefore, I urge you to join me in opposition of H.R. 2625.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, a special event will take place on February 13 in my district. It is the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Newark Community School of the Arts. Whenever I think of visionaries, the Newark Community School of the Arts and its founders come to mind. Today's Newark, New Jersey, the renaissance city, was very different thirty years ago. Newark in 1968 was feeling the scars of the 1967 acts of civil disobedience and the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who had visited the city days before his assassination on April 4, 1968. Amongst all the turmoil and disappointments, the Newark Community School of the Arts was born. Its founders, Stella Lass and Saunders Davis, exhibited their faith and vision in a great city and its people, especially its children. They took a beautiful brownstone building that had been neglected for some time at the outskirts of downtown Newark and renovated it, in terms of its physical appearance and what it meant to the community. The building became a renovations anchor for the area. It became a hub of activity on Saturdays when children from all over the city would come to learn about the arts. It was not unusual to see children leave their sometimes substandard homes and take a bus to spend a few hours learning to play the violin and interacting with others, who shared similar and different backgrounds, on a new peer-to-peer basis. This building on Lincoln Park became a safe haven for spirits, ideas and culture. I am happy to report that it still serves that purpose. I'm sure you can imagine the trials and tribulations that had to be faced to take this vision--this ``farfetched idea''--from the drawing board through to completion and beyond. What may have seemed as a herculean task was actually a labor of love for many individuals and corporations. Four individuals are being honored on February 13. The co-founders, the late Stella Lass and Mr. Saunders Davis; Mr. Louis Prezeau, President, City National Bank; and Ms. Cynthia Moore, Northeast Regional Manager, Corporate Affairs, Anheuser-Busch Corp. are being recognized for their roles in helping to shape the lives of a city and its children. I am fortunate to have worked with each of these fine individuals. Each is a leader in their own industries and communities. Today, when Newark is experiencing such a renaissance, especially with the recent opening of the magnificent New Jersey Performing Arts Center, the visions of people like those being honored are true testament to how faith and hard work for people and communities can be manifested. Mr. Speaker, I am sure my colleagues will want to join me as I extend my best wishes and thanks to the Newark Community School of the Arts on its 30th anniversary celebration and its honorees.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to an outstanding member of the Newark community on the occasion of his retirement after a long and distinguished judicial career, the Honorable Irvin B. Booker. Judge Booker has contributed over two decades of service to our community. Appointed to the Newark Court in 1970, he served as presiding judge of the Newark Municipal Court from 1974 through 1980. He was then elevated by the Governor of the New Jersey to the position of Judge of the Essex County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. Most recently, he sat on the Superior Court of New Jersey, assigned to the Family Court part of Essex County. Not only has Judge Booker gained great respect for his professional accomplishments, he has also won the admiration and gratitude of the community for his tireless volunteer work. Judge Booker, affectionately known as ``Buddy'' by his close friends, is noted for his vision and creative ideas to benefit the community. Always thinking of ways to improve the community or to stimulate citizens' awareness, he has been considered a fair, thoughtful and even-mannered judge. Judge Booker has increased the awareness of the judiciary by hosting an annual Black History Month program at the County Courts Building, which has continued to grow in size and stature. He has been an active participant in the Celebrity Read Program for Newark Elementary School Students; an active supporter of Senior Citizens events for the James C. White Senior Citizen Complex; an organizer of Education Encouragement Day for the city of Newark; an advisor and Pro Bono Incorporating Attorney for New Community Corporation, which meets numerous needs in our community; an organizing member of the First Crispus Attucks Day Parade; a Founder and Coordinator of the Life Experience and Achievement Program; and a supporter of the Weequahic High School and Chancellor Annex Father's Club. He was also a founding member of the Barristers of New Jersey, the Concerned Legal Associates, and the Garden State Bar. Other professional affiliations include membership in: the American Bar Association, the New Jersey State Bar Association, the National Bar Association, the Essex County Bar Association, the Essex County Municipal Court Judges Association, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Counsel, the Seton Hall Moot Court-Visiting Instructor, the Legal Advisory Committee of Montclair State College, the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Municipal Courts, the Advisory Board of the New Jersey Center for Law and Related Education, and the National Council for Judicial Planning. Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues join me in offering congratulations and best wishes for the future to Judge Booker.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 40th anniversary of Essex Catholic High School. In 1957 this school was founded by Archbishop Thomas A. Boland with an enrollment of 225 students and a faculty of 7. The school was the first regional high school in the Archdiocese of Newark and has served the young men of the Newark area since that time. The ability of Essex Catholic to grow and change with the times is perhaps the most important aspect of this school. They moved from the original location at the former Mutual Benefit Life Building on Broadway in North Newark to a larger campus on Glenwood Avenue in East Orange in 1980. At this new facility, the school continues to meet the challenges of serving an area that is consistently changing and progressing. Their ability to meet these challenges stems from the strong moral and religious foundation the school is built upon. This foundation also consists of teaching students to set high standards and goals for themselves. The school continues to emphasize the spiritual and emotional growth of students that is needed to ensure a well rounded education. The commitment of the Congregation of Christian Brothers and especially the commitment of the Most Reverend Theodore M. McCarrick to Essex Catholic and to our entire community is also to be commended. Their contributions to the school and our area are positive examples to the young men they teach and the community as a whole. This love and dedication to teaching and Essex Catholic is surely one of the school's most valued assets. Mr. Speaker, without schools such as Essex Catholic many of our young men would not have important educational opportunities available to them. In this year of their 40th anniversary, I would like to congratulate and praise the long-term devotion the Christian Brothers, religious sisters, priests, lay teachers, students, alumni, and parents have for Essex Catholic and the education of our area's young men.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, let me, first of all, commend the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Menendez], the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Africa, for the outstanding work that he has done at the Subcommittee on Africa. I would like to stand here in support of the previous Concurrent Resolution 130, as has been indicated regarding Kenya. As has been mentioned, I visited Kenya on a brief trip from July 4 to July 6. When I went there, it was to evaluate the situation there and to listen to what was going on. My mission had two principal objectives: First, to urge the President to meet with opposition and religious leaders to discuss opposition demands for constitutional reforms; and, second, encourage the government to create a level playing field for the upcoming election. I also delivered a letter from President Clinton. Kenya is one of the most important countries in Africa, and I think today for many reasons we are seeing Kenya's unwavering commitment and leadership of IGAD. Starting on October 28 in Nairobi, President Moi, as chairman of IGAD, was instrumental in getting the SPLA and the National Islamic Front, NIF, to agree on a joint communique. Nelson Mandela concluded that Inter-Governmental Authority on Development remained the best forum, and President Moi was working hard to try to get those two groups together. After much prodding, after the World Bank and the IMF suspended its loan program and the subsequent fall of the Kenya shilling, I suppose that Mr. Moi had no other option but to meet with the opposition party members in the Inter-Parties Parliamentary Group, IPPG. In all fairness, though, President Moi stated that the opposition was divided and fractionalized, and I think that was one of his reasons for ambiguity on the reform package that he presented. I do not think that the people of Kenya can survive any more uprisings and civil unrest like they had in 1995 and Saba Saba in July of this year, when 10 people were killed. I also had an opportunity to meet with President Moi again last month on a Presidential mission with Ambassador Richardson. Let me say that President Moi has truly been responsive to the calls for reform. He is the promoter of a bill amending the Constitution. It sailed through its third reading in the Parliament on November 4. Shouts of triumph filled the chamber as members of different parties celebrated the bill's passage. The political and constitutional reforms of November 7 that Mr. Moi signed into law will make Kenya a multiparty democracy and will allow residents greater freedom of speech. The reforms repeal laws restricting freedom of speech and assembly, give greater representation on the Electoral Commission to opposition parties, and establish a multipartisan commission to review the Constitution after general elections. I do feel that President Moi should allow all political parties to become a part of the elections. There is still one party that has not been registered. I think that should be done. And, also, I think we need to take a look at the fact that there has been abolition of the Parliament. But I understand that, according to the procedures, that this happens right before elections. So I would just like to once again thank the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Hastings] for this resolution. I support it, and I hope that Kenya can get on the right track of its election, have them fair and transparent so that that country that was great in the past can move forward in the future for all the people of Kenya.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, November 16, the Civic Service Committee of Christ Church will honor the workers of East Orange, NJ, in my congressional district and will also bid a fond farewell to the former major of East Orange, Cardell Cooper, and his family. It is indeed fitting that we offer our appreciation to the hardworking men and women who serve the city of East Orange. These unsung heroes are a dedicated group of professionals who strive each and every day to deliver outstanding service to the residents of the city they serve. Positive changes are occurring in East Orange because of their efforts. I am pleased to have the opportunity to honor the workers of East Orange as well as my good friend Cardell Cooper, whom I have long admired and respected. His life has been an inspiring success story of one who rose from humble beginnings, as one of 13 brothers, to move ahead with steadfast determination to reach for the stars. His many accomplishments include holding positions as business administrator of Irvington; freeholder of Essex County, one of the most populous counties in the State of New Jersey; Essex County Administrator and major of East Orange. His crowning achievement is that he has now been nominated by President Clinton to serve in one of the highest ranking positions at the Department of Environmental Protection. As the representative of the 10th Congressional District, I have had the pleasure of working with Cardell Cooper on many issues and have found him to be a dedicated public service with tremendous energy and commitment. Among his peers throughout the Nation, Cardell Cooper has gained a reputation as an outstanding public official. He is widely respected by members of the National Association of Counties, the National League of Cities, the Conference of Mayors and other national civic and professional organizations to which he belongs. I know that my colleagues here in the House of Representatives join me in wishing the very best to Cardell Cooper, his devoted wife Sandy, and their children as they move on to exciting new challenges. Let us also say a special thank you to the workers of the city of East Orange for a job well done.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome Taiwan's new representative, Dr. Stephen Chen, to Washington. Prior to his present assignment, Dr. Chen was deputy secretary-general in the office of the President, Taiwan. Representative Chen is a career diplomat, having served his country in nearly every corner of the world. Fluent in English, Chinese, Portuguese, and Spanish, Chen is a master communicator. He will certainly bring to the Hill his vast knowledge of foreign policy issues affecting his country and ours. At a time of our country seeking better relations with the People's Republic of China, it is indeed a privilege to have someone like Representative Chen representing the Republic of China, a free democratic and sovereign country, which deserves a much strong presence in the world.