Donald Payne

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. I oppose H.R. 2606 which prohibits the use of Defense Department funds for United States participation in a multi- national effort to implement a future peace agreement in Bosnia. The national interest of the United States is at stake. United States foreign policy should be concerned with the security and stability of Europe. Finally, we should support American participation in a NATO alliance with other countries. This is our job and responsibility to take a leadership role in ending the war. Without U.S. participation, NATO will be hard pressed to enforce a peace agreement. There must be international military presence to give parties to the Bosnian conflict the confidence that they can lay down their arms and begin rebuilding their nation. This bill that is before us will seriously derail the peace process and cause havoc in the entire region. The United States must not turn its eyes on the massive human rights violations. I have been fighting for human rights for a long time. The bloody conflict of ethnic cleansing must end. Democracy can be restored and democratic institutions of government at the regional and national levels will flourish if the United States keeps their promise to the peace efforts. Also by limiting the President's authority as this bill will do, risks derailing the negotiating before any such settlement can be reached. How can the United States work toward reaching a settlement with the Serbs and Croats when we are not willing to support the cause? Let us defeat this measure. This undermines everything we have worked for in the name of peace. This is a crucial time.

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a man that I deeply respect and admire for his devotion to God, for his grace and dignity, as well as for his years of valued service to the people of this community. Bishop Joseph A. Francis, who has announced his retirement from the active ministry, has been an extremely active member of the Catholic Church since he was ordained in the Society of the Divine Word in October 1950. Bishop Francis dedicated himself to humanity. He has been generous in giving his time to people, he has a way of making everyone in his presence feel special. He has served as both a teacher and administrator in secondary schools and colleges throughout the country. He has received numerous honorary degrees and served on the boards of trustees of many fine institutions of higher learning. His resume and list of achievements are as impressive as his bearing and his humility. As a result of his work in the community, Bishop Francis has been the recipient of numerous prestigious awards and commendations. Bishop Francis has been and continues to be an advocate for the least fortunate members of our society. During his tenure in the archdiocese of Newark he touched many lives including mine and he has made an impression that we will never forget. Mr. Speaker, I ask that all of my colleagues join me in paying tribute to Bishop Joseph A. Francis, a wise man and good man who achieved great things.

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to say that I was truly honored to be able to pay tribute to war hero and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. What I witnessed in Jerusalem on Monday by the people of Israel was a tremendous outpouring of love and affection. I think I can say that I join the world in mourning the loss of a heroic leader who never wavered in his rule as peacemaker, who persevered in the face of danger and adversity, who chose hope over fear. In meetings that I attended with him both in Israel and Washington, I found him always to be thoughtful and deliberative, thorough and fair-minded. He most impressed me with his ability to weight all sides of controversial issues. We can truly empathize with the people of Israel. The brutal slayings of President Kennedy in 1963 and Dr. King in 1968 are dramatic reminders of the lives that were lost in the struggles for peace. We must continue the legacies that Rabin stood for--peace in the Middle East. We must show that our support for acting Prime Minister Shimon Peres, Rabin's partner in the long march Israel had undertaken toward peace with his Arab neighbors, will not waver. I would also like to say the support of the United States delegation to Israel was tremendous. The people of Israel expressed their gratitude. The eulogies stated that the visionary had become a fighter for peace turned martyr for peace. Ultimately, we must remember that to us he was a hero and a true statesman but to Leah, his wife, his children, and grandchildren he was just a great man that they loved dearly. In their hour of mourning, let us be ever so mindful of their pain. The fate of the Oslo Accord, signed in Norway by Rabin and Arafat in 1993, must be [[Page H 11853]] carried on. They include provisions for military and paramilitary troops, the occupied territories the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank. The United States has a responsibility to help Israel on the long journey toward peace.

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I would like my colleagues here in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in extending much deserved recognition of Sunday, November 5, 1995 as Girl Scout Unification Day. In a time when much of America's youth is often left without hope or direction, it is indeed inspirational to consider the wonderful work that is being done by the Girl Scouts, both nationally, and locally, in my home State of New Jersey. The unification of Essex County and Hudson Counties' Girl Scouts is designed to produce a stronger base of resource for all of the girls and adult volunteers that so proudly serve their area. On Sunday, November 5, 1995, there will be a celebration involving approximately 800 girls and adults representing more than 11,000 members from Hudson and Essex Counties. The Girl Scouts will march from both sides of the Jackson Street Bridge, meeting in the center to symbolically unite themselves into one acting body. The Girl Scouts continue to be an incredibly positive influence in America's communities, teaching responsibility and leadership to our Nation's youth. The Girl Scouts have been able to bridge the gap between young women of all racial, ethnic, religious, and socio- economic groups. With the unification of the Girl Scout Councils of Essex and Hudson Counties, we can look forward to continued success and great accomplishment. It is with great pride that I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing Sunday, November 5, 1995 as Girl Scout Unification Day.

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on International Relations, I rise to express my concern and disappointment over several provisions of the foreign operations appropriations bill. It is unfortunate that while Congress continues to spend heavily on weapons of destruction, funding is being slashed for constructive programs which generate international goodwill and help make poor countries more self-sufficient. I have had the opportunity to visit Africa on many occasions and have seen first-hand the positive results produced by the Development Fund for Africa. Vital programs help address the scourge of hunger, illiteracy, and poverty. In fact, through foreign aid provided by American and other countries, the death rate for children under 5 has been cut in half. Now, three accounts, including the Development Fund for Africa, have been combined and funded at a level which is $450 million less than last year's level and less than the President's request. The measure also cuts $9 million from the President's request for the Agency for International Development, which administers U.S. foreign economic and humanitarian assistance programs in more than 100 countries throughout the developing world. I believe these cuts are counterproductive and fail to live up to America's tradition of humanitarian assistance to the people of struggling nations. On the issue of Haiti, I am determined to see democracy succeed in that nation. I visited Haiti many times during the effort to reinstate President Arisitide. I had the opportunity to talk with ordinary citizens of Haiti who are excited that at last they are in control of their country's destiny. I think it is important that impartial observers be sent to Haiti to monitor elections and determine the fairness of the process. Other items in this bill which I find disturbing are the $15 million cut in the Peace Corps budget, $2 million cut in peacekeeping efforts, and $1 million reduction for the Trade and Development agency. Let me add that I was also disappointed, as one who is deeply concerned about human rights in Northern Ireland, that the conference report does not require that U.S. assistance be provided only to those who comply with the McBride principles which protect religious minorities. The fund was also cut below the $30 million the President requested to a level of $20 million. Mr. Speaker, I recognize the need for fiscal responsibility, but I believe that it is in America's best interest to invest globally. These cuts are short-sighted and will undermine America's stature internationally. I urge my colleagues to oppose the foreign operations appropriations conference report. Let me finally add that I was also disappointed, as one who is deeply concerned about human rights in Northern Ireland, that the conference report does not require that United States assistance be provided only to those who comply with the McBride principles which protect religious minorities. The fund was cut below $30 million; the President requested to a level of $20 million. Mr. Speaker, I recognize the need for fiscal responsibility, but I believe that it is in America's best interest to invest globally. These cuts are shortsighted and will undermine America's stature internationally. I urge my colleagues to oppose the foreign operations cuts.

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 2491. I am particularly disappointed about the impact this legislation has on the Earned Income Tax Credit. Under this measure the Earned Income Tax Credit will be cut by $23 billion. This legislation will have a very negative impact on the State of New Jersey. Provided only to those who work, the Earned Income Tax Credit is a valuable tool in encouraging work over welfare. In my State of New Jersey the Earned Income Tax Credit helps 513,808 low-income workers and their families in their struggle to stay afloat in our society. That translates into 13.1 percent of all New Jersey taxpayers. In the past, this tax credit has received bipartisan acclaim under the Presidencies of Ronald Reagan and George Bush. I find it perplexing that despite the success of the tax credit, it would be slashed under this current proposal, thereby increasing taxes on millions of working Americans. I find it ironic that while my colleagues on the other side of the aisle talk about the need for welfare reform and personal responsibility, they are willing to decimate the program that helps people rise from dependency. The Earned Income Tax Credit encourages families to move from welfare to work by making work profitable. The tax credit rewards employment for working families, so parents who work full-time do not have to raise their children in poverty--and families with modest means do not suffer from eroding incomes. The Earned Income Tax Credit is a nonbureaucratic way to encourage work over welfare. There are no middlemen or service providers. There are no long lines at Government offices. The tax refund is provided by the IRS directly to the working families. I ask my colleagues who support this measure and have low- and moderate- income families in their districts to explain why it is necessary to slash a tax credit to low- and moderate-income families whose income has deteriorated since 1979. Payroll taxes increased five times between 1983 and 1990, while in 1996 the real value of the minimum wage will decline to its lowest real value in 40 years. The poverty rate for working families with children grew by nearly half from 1979 to 1993. The bottom 40 percent of American families, by income--those earning less than $30,000 in 1993--made 10 percent less in real terms in 1993 than in 1979. In light of these grim statistics, I would like to know how my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are going to explain to the American people the fact that they are prepared to cut millions of dollars away from poor, working families, then turn around and provide a tax cut for the wealthy. I cannot begin to understand how many of my colleagues justify this type of action especially in light of that fact that the income gap between wealthy and nonwealthy Americans is at record levels. In addition, the budget reconciliation bill before us today punishes poor children by eliminating key child nutrition programs, including the highly successful WIC Program--women, infants, and children. It repeals school lunch and school breakfast programs and denies benefits to legal immigrants who have faithfully complied with the law and gone through all the proper channels to enter our country. Our Nation has always valued education as the ticket to achieving the American dream. This bill attacks student loan programs, cutting a total of over $10 billion over 7 years. Is it fair to tell our young people that they will just have to abandon the dream that we all shared? As chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, I am outraged that the Republican Congress has once again reversed the clock, turning back progress by eliminating the Minority Development Agency which coordinates minority business and development programs and gives a fair chance to those who were shut out of the system for years. Our seniors are hurt by the reductions in section 8 housing; veterans who served our Nation are now told that they are part of the budget problem. Once again, Federal employees and retirees are given harsh and unfair treatment. Those who have chosen careers in public service are now being told they will have to pay more and get less. This is a hidden tax whether the authors of this budget want to admit it or not. This budget will be disastrous for the working people of our Nation, for children, for students, and for seniors. I urge my colleagues to oppose H.R. 2491.

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Chairman, as chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, I rise in strong opposition to this outrageous attempt to thwart the recommendations of the Sentencing Commission and I rise in strong support of the Conyers amendment. The sentencing guidelines are an effort to restore some degree of fairness to our criminal justice system by addressing the enormous disparities that exist between the penalties for crack cocaine and those for powder cocaine. Mr. Chairman, the Sentencing Project, a national nonprofit group, recently noted that while African-Americans constitute 13 percent of all monthly drug users, they represent 35 percent of arrests for drug possession, 55 percent of convictions and 74 percent of prison sentences. One of the primary reasons we have experienced a rise in minority incarcerations is the imbalance in our national drug policy not an increase in crime. Is this equal justice under the law--to say that if you can afford powdered cocaine you will be given preferential treatment in the courts? I don't think any fair-minded American supports this blatant inequity in our system. Our drug policy has become a tale of two cities, or, more accurately, a tale of two classes--rich and poor. Mr. Chairman, it was the U.S. Congress which created the Sentencing Commission in 1984 to allow criminal justice professionals to establish sentencing guidelines for Federal crimes. Now, Congress has decided that they don't like the decision that the Commission has made, after careful study and analysis, to equalize the penalties for crack and powder cocaine. The Commission specifically noted that ``blacks comprise the largest percentage of those affected by the penalties associated with crack cocaine.'' As some of my colleagues have pointed out, the Million Man March this past Monday highlighted the importance of racial justice as we work to rid our communities of drugs and violence and to restore hope to Americans who have been living too long with no hope and little faith in our system of justice. Restore fairness and equity to our criminal justice system--oppose this attempt to disapprove the Sentencing Commission recommendations and support the Conyers amendment. [[Page H 10276]]

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to the attention of my colleagues an important benchmark. It is the 10th anniversary of the founding of SHARE New Jersey. SHARE New Jersey is a self-help food distribution system. It was established to bring people of diverse backgrounds together to eliminate hunger in New Jersey, help build stronger communities, and develop leaders. The program was founded as a means of eliminating hunger and providing participants with the opportunity to assist one another in local communities. Realizing that the self-help concept would make a difference in the quality of life of many people, SHARE membership was open to all who were willing to pay a small fee of $12 to $14 for food and commit to 2 hours of volunteer service. The first SHARE New Jersey food distribution was held in September 1985 in Newark; 1,900 households participated in the distribution of over 75,000 pounds of food. Since 1985, 1,121,477 households have received wholesome food and 2,242,954 community service hours have been provided. In just 10 years, 33,644,310 pounds of food has been distributed by SHARE New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I offer my congratulations and best wishes to the people of SHARE New Jersey who have helped to eliminate hunger and create a spirit of partnership.

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to the attention of my colleagues, a special occasion that is taking place in New Jersey this Sunday, September 17. It is the recognition of a great American, Queen Elizabeth James, known affectionately as ``Queenie.'' She is being honored for her tremendous contributions to the civic and political communities of America. Queen E. James has been active in the city of Newark, the county of Essex, and the State of New Jersey. Today, the term ``diversity'' is being used more and more to describe elements and relationships of our complex society. Queenie James is an able example of diversity at work. She has been a successful entrepreneur, an elected official, a political and civic leader, all the while being a dedicated daughter, wife, mother, and grandmother. She has dedicated herself to making positive changes for those she serves. And she has served well. She has committed 32 years of her life to serving her local community as a county committeewoman. She has served in the leadership of the South Ward Democratic Organization as well as the Essex County Democratic County Committee. The New Jersey Real Estate Commission has benefited from her service as a commissioner. Mr. Speaker, I am sure my colleagues will want to join me as I congratulate and thank Queen Elizabeth James for her dedication to making life better for so many.

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk. Mr. Chairman, today we are here to target the working people in this country again, this time in the ability of the pension funds to make investments that take collateral benefits into consideration when plan fiduciaries are making investment decisions with pension contributions. Economically targeted investments are any investments or assets that earn competitive risk-adjusted rates of return while also producing collateral benefits such as infrastructure revitalization, economic development, and job creation. To be sure, these components are integrally linked, because when there are jobs available, more money circulates back into the economy and stimulates economic growth. My amendment simply states that employee benefit plans cannot be prohibited from considering infrastructure improvement and revitalization as part of their investment decisions. I have sat here on many occasions this session listening to many of my colleagues talk about getting Government out of the lives of the people and today we are sitting here considering a bill that would immobilize the investment decisions of many pension plans. We also hear on one hand proclamations from the majority that individuals must be more personally responsible, but then on the other hand we remove the incentives that promote personal responsibility like job creation, and that's what 1594 does. My amendment today would free the hands of plan fiduciaries because they would be allowed to consider infrastructure improvement as part of their decisionmaking process. By providing billions of dollars for investment in American companies and infrastructure, ETI's serves as an economic catalyst while still offering competitive investment returns to pension plan participants and retirees. Since I know everyone here is interested in the long-term economic health of our Nation and its retirement system, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment.

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman is absolutely right. The plan fiduciaries cannot even consider the investment also unless all things are equal. That is what makes this so scary. 1594 leaves a lot of ambiguity about the ability of plan fiduciaries to make these kinds of investments. I only seek to clarify, so that infrastructure improvements can be considered. ETIs are still subject to the prudent man standard as they have always been. So I would urge once again that my colleagues support this amendment.

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, among the unkindest cuts for working men and women was the 25-percent reduction to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. I suppose some Members have never heard of NIOSH. Neither has the Heritage Foundation which mistakenly reported that NIOSH duplicated the functions of OSHA--the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. NIOSH is the only Federal agency charged with conducting research to identify the causes of work injuries and diseases and develop approaches by which workers can be protected. OSHA does not conduct research, although they rely on it. Every day 17 Americans die from work injuries and illnesses. Every week 67,000 workers are disabled by workplace injuries and illnesses. What is more disappointing is the fact that most of these illnesses and injuries are preventable. Many problems still exist in the workplace and need to be researched. In 1991, NIOSH eased public concern over an unknown hazard. At that time, there were over 7 million women operating video display terminals [VDT's] and there had been widespread concern that the cause of the highly publicized clusters of miscarriages among workers were caused because of exposure to VDT's. But thanks to NIOSH, these stories have happy endings. NIOSH published the definitive report that found no connection between VDT's and miscarriages. The NIOSH relieved anxiety of both employers and workers.

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask my colleagues to join me in acknowledging the many accomplishments of the World League for Freedom and Democracy [WLFD] in its 40 years of existence. The World League for Freedom and Democracy is an international organization comprised of some 137 member nations whose primary goal has been to promote the principles of democratic forms of government, free enterprise, and human rights among all people of the world. WLFD has long been an advocate of worldwide democracy, monitoring various parts of the world to ensure that human rights are upheld. WLFD should be commended for being a strong voice for the principles of universal political freedom and the rights and responsibilities of the democratic process for all citizens of a country. WLFD, along with the United Nations, was formed with the intent of maintaining a peaceful dialog between nations and stabilizing relations between sovereign governments. This year, WLFD is holding its 27th annual conference at the United Nations. I am honored to participate in WLFD's dinner to welcome the over 250 delegates attending the U.N. conference from over 50 countries, including the Presidents of Costa Rica and Fiji. It is also with great pride that I was chosen to share my experiences and lend my support to the continuing struggle to secure human rights in all parts of the world. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to the WLFD as they continue their crucial mission, because the fight for freeom and democracy serves in the interests of all humanity.

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Marine Corps Lt. Kurt S. Osuch of Linden, NJ, because as he put it, ``Marines do what Marines have to do.'' A horrible tragedy occurred on July 4, 1995. A traffic accident claimed the lives of Evelyn Dotson, Gwendolyn King, Henrietta Lathen and Jeanne Sanford. Because of the brave actions of this fine American and marine, the list of fatalities is not as long as it might have been. It was in the early hours of July 4 that Lieutenant Osuch saved the lives of Matthew and Johnnie Buie. Mr. and Mrs. Buie were the only survivors of six members of St. Augustine Presbyterian Church in Paterson, who were traveling from a communion that morning when their van burst into flames after it was struck by a car heading in the wrong direction on the Garden State Parkway. Lieutenant Osuch, returning from a friend's house, noticed the burning van and unlike several other passing motorists, stopped and in a selfless act of courage, pulled the two survivors from the van's front seats to safety. Lieutenant Osuch said that he was just doing what anyone else would have done. The fact is, he responded extraordinarily. Lt. Kurt Osuch's sense of duty did not begin with this incident. Lieutenant Osuch, a graduate of Linden High School, enlisted in the Marine Corps in July 1982. Following boot camp he became an aviation technician. In July 1984, he entered the 2d Marine Air Wing at Cherry Point, NC. He was stationed in Okinawa between December 1984 and January 1986, where he served in the 1st Marine Air Wing. Following his duties in Okinawa, Lieutenant Osuch was a marine security guard in Beirut, Lebanon until June 1988. In August 1988, the Marine Commissioning Enlistment Program brought him to the campus of Auburn University. He graduated from Auburn in March 1991, joining the ranks of the 10 percent of marines who are selected for and complete the Marine Commissioning Enlistment Program. Lieutenant Osuch then became a field artillery officer in the 2d Battalion of the 10th Marines in the 2d Marine Division. He served in this capacity until January 1995. During this time, Lieutenant Osuch served his country in Mogadishu, Somalia, participating in Operation Restore Hope. He has also received the Navy Achievement Award for superior performance of his duties. Lieutenant Osuch currently serves as an operations officer and works at the Marine recruiting headquarters in Iselin, NJ. Mr. Speaker, we, in New Jersey, have been reminded how fortunate we all are that marines do what marines have to do. I urge all of my colleagues to join with me in acknowledging a real American hero. Lt. Kurt Osuch.

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, on vote 547, the amendment offered by the gentleman from Ohio, I inadvertently voted ``yes.'' I intended to vote ``no,'' and I request that the Record reflect that.

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to ask my colleagues to join me in observance of National Literacy Day on July 2, 1995. As we move into a technologically advanced, 21st century economy, it is imperative that the American people are equipped with the tools they will need to navigate in such a milieu. Basic literacy is a fundamental prerequisite to survival in our rapidly-developing world. While literacy does not guarantee success and prosperity in a third wave culture, illiteracy does forbode a life of poverty and despair. When 30 million Americans cannot read, and over 42 million are functionally illiterate, we are relegating these individuals to a life on the cusp of viability and hopelessness. Furthermore, through the economic underemployment that an illiterate populace engenders, we are continuing to underutilize the resources which we possess. As a result, by the year 2000, we will need to retrain 50 million workers to enable them to compete in the new economy. Additionally, the Nation will spend over 225 billion dollars per annum because of the insufficiencies of illiterate workers. Over the past 10 years, we recognized our commitment to literacy through a nationally observed Literacy Day. Today, I ask that we recognize July 2, 1995 as a day in which we both praise the efforts of those who have worked to increase our national reading capacity, and promote awareness of the shortcomings continually inherent in our educational system. For example, in my home State of New Jersey, project Focus on Literacy, spearheaded by executive director Caryl Mackin-Wagner has worked tirelessly to increase statewide literacy. However, on the other hand, in New Jersey alone, there are over 800,000 people who are illiterate, and countless others who suffer from functional illiteracy. This kind of awareness of both our successes and failures is crucial if we, as a Nation, hope to triumph over illiteracy. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I ask that we again observe National Literacy Day on July 2, and continue our arduous journey toward a literate America.

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my constituents in paying tribute to a longtime friend and a dedicated public servant, Mrs. Geraldine George-Foushee. Gigi, as we all know her, has dedicated her professional life to law enforcement and service to her community. A Newark resident who graduated from Newark's public schools, she went on to earn a masters degree in social work. Gigi served her community as a police officer with the Newark Police Department and later as a detective in the Essex County Sheriff's Office. Gigi Foushee was the first African-American woman to serve as deputy mayor for the city of Newark and the first to serve as executive director of Newark's Alcohol Beverage Control Board. In 1991, Gigi achieved another first, she became the first African-American woman in New Jersey's history to be appointed warden of the Essex County Jail, the largest jail in New Jersey. She was recently appointed by Chief Justice Robert N. Wilentz, of the New Jersey Supreme Court, to serve as a member of the New Jersey Supreme Court Task Force on Minority Concerns. Gigi continues to participate in numerous committees and task forces which are committed to addressing the concerns of the people of this community. As a result of her activities and accomplishments, she has received numerous community and law enforcement awards. Gigi Foushee is a mother, a wife, and an excellent role model for our young people. Her service to this community will always be appreciated and remembered. She is an inspiration to us all. Mr. Speaker, I ask that all of my colleagues join with me in recognition of a truly extraordinary woman, Mrs. Geraldine ``Gigi'' Foushee.

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. I did meet the bishop and did have an opportunity to see him before I went up to Cap Haitien but did not see him after my return.

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Chairman, will the gentlewoman yield?

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, I thank you for this opportunity to say a few words. Let me say that I stand in strong support of the Meek amendment. I had the opportunity to travel to Haiti this time, about the seventh time in the last few years, to be a member of the interorganizational observer mission. We went there to try to get an opportunity to see what was going on. The first thing that was very surprising to me though was the day before we arrived on Saturday that a report had been concluded already by the IRI, the International Republican Institute, very colorfully done, very well done, very thorough. And a press conference was held the day before we got there, two days before the election, which already said, for all intents and purposes, that this is flawed, that this was going to be an election that did not work, that this is something--this was a press conference given two days before the election was even held. So, therefore, people going into the election were suspect because of an American organization. And it is the first time I have ever seen an American organization in a foreign country give a press conference of something that is not very easily made. This is a pretty fancy-looking agenda item here, to say for all intents and purposes it is a failure. To me, it makes me suspicious. Let us talk about the election very briefly. They said there was confusion. Let me tell you something. I would be the first to admit that there was some confusion. But let us take a look at the ballot. There were eight months since President Aristide had been back. What was on the ballot? You had their Senators, 177 running on a ballot with pictures, with symbols, with names. There were deputies, 859 Senate Congress types running on another ballot. You had 855 mayors running; not only themselves but on each mayor's slate there is a deputy mayor and a third assistance mayor on the same ballot. What else did you have? You had 2,688 council people who had three people on the site. There were close to 5,000 candidates. There were over 25 political parties. There were over 10,000 polling places. There were people who had to walk from 3 in the morning to 6 in the morning when the polls opened to get to the polling place. Ninety-two percent of the people were registered. And guess what? The representative giving the report for the International Republican Institute said that 92 percent registration was a step in the right direction; 92 percent of the people in this country registered. Sure there were flaws. There were flaws because when I went back with President Aristide on October 30, 1994, when we went to the presidential palace, the water was not running, the electricity was not running. They did paint the house the day before so it could look presentable. When I went down to Haiti on my other trips and met with those murderous General Cedras and Biamby and Francois Michel, you saw people running and hiding. People were hiding in the bush. I went there six different times. When I went there this time, I could walk the streets. There was no-- I went to Cap Haitien, supposed to be the area that flew a one-engine plane all the way over the mountains to see what was happening over there. People were in line. They were waiting patiently. People were discussing the elections. This was one of the greatest democratic exercises that I have ever seen. I cannot believe that people of good will could go down, and we would look at the same thing and that these people would come back with a report saying that a polling place or so opened late. There were some people who seemed to be confused because of the fact that on every ballot you had about 30 or 40 or 50 different candidates. They looked at a glass being half empty. That glass was not only half full, it was bubbling over, because people were peaceful. The new police were up there in Cap Haitien, not the Army that used to control that country with 7,000 men with a gun, pointing the barrel down at people. These were policemen who were applauded by the people in Haiti. When they dispersed, the police group in Cap Haitien, they had a party. There was a celebration. People brought flowers and plants to the police. This is something that is unbelievable. I urge the support of the Meek amendment.

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise to note that this day, the 16th day of June, has been declared the ``Day of the African Child'' by the Organization of African Unity. Founded in memory of the uprising and massacre of school children in Soweto, South Africa, it is a day that we pause to remember the plight of children all over Africa, and what we as citizens and legislators can do to create a better environment for them. It is a day that provides us with a forum to celebrate the achievements Africa has attained in meeting the needs of its children, and provides us with the opportunity to renew our commitment to providing greater resources to aid in this struggle. In light of the recent defeat of the Hastings amendment to the foreign aid reauthorization bill regarding the restoration of the $802 million level for the Development Fund for Africa, we need to remind ourselves of the impact of this important part of our foreign aid bill that provided funds to help the malnourished, the illiterate and impoverished. Through foreign aid provided by America and other countries: The death rate of children under five has been halved since 1960. African governments provided safe water and adequate sanitation to an additional 120 million people during the 1980's and now over 80 percent of the children living in urban areas have access to safe water and adequate sanitation. African girls face many obstacles in obtaining an education but now approximately 69 percent of African girls are enrolled in primary school, up from 44 percent in the 1970's. While there has been progress over the last three decades, there were several setbacks in the 1980's, such as a falling off of school enrollment by 7 percent. This setback has been largely caused by the increasing civil wars with Africa. Armed conflict continues to afflict sub-Saharan Africa where fighting persists in Sudan, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. The potential for renewed outbreaks in Rwanda, Burundi, and Somalia is high, and other countries like Zaire and Nigeria, are at risk. Most of the nations where these wars occur have been victims of our former cold war policy. The condition that these countries find themselves in today is largely due to our policy of containment of communism in the cold war days. As proper as that may have been during that period, the truth is these countries are suffering today because of the divisions this policy created in their societies. Children of Africa have suffered due to this policy and this should concern the American people so that we strive harder to right these wrongs. It is important that this year's Day of the African Child campaign will explore the theme of children in armed conflict. A study commissioned by UNICEF found that 75 percent of the children interviewed in Rwanda had seen mass killings in many areas. Moreover, in several African countries, boys as young as 11 years old have been recruited into military training. The recent war in Rwanda is only one example of the atrocities committed where children have been the greatest victims. Thousands have been killed in the most brutal way by hacking away arms and limbs. On June 14 of last year, militia members of the majority Hutu tribe abducted up to 40 children of the minority Tutsis from a church complex in the government-held part of the Rwandan capital. The militia headed them off to almost certain death. Enormous strides have been made in providing basic services for children caught in conflict. I was proud of the pharmaceutical industries in the New Jersey and New York area that responded to my call to help the children of Somalia through providing quality drugs through UNICEF. On this now fifth annual Day of the African Child, please think of the children in each of the 56 countries of Africa and help in your own personal way to continue this good work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey

Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the Burton amendment to cut the operating expenses of the U.S. Agency for International Development, the implementing arm of our Nation's concern for children around the world. It is really ironic that a Member who has seen with his own eyes the suffering of African children would propose such a cruel amendment. This amendment will gut programs of child survival and feeding programs for young children, because there will be insufficient staff to carry out the very programs for which we are authorizing funds. What kind of a business are we running when we commit products to save lives, but do not have the cooks and truck drivers to get the food to the needy consumers? [[Page H5724]] I know from past discussions of this subject in the International Relations Committee that Mr. Burton somehow feels that our overseas staff is too large. Yet, in the last 2 years under the effective leadership of AID Administrator Brian Atwood we have already reduced total staff while at the same time have added 24 AID missions in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. AID has even responded to assisting in the peace process by implementing new programs in the West Bank and Gaza, bringing the results of peace to the people there. Amazingly, Mr. Burton seems to have a problem with an agency that is trying to turn around the management mistakes of the past administration when 87 percent of the money was spent in the last quarter. How can any business operate this way and provide timely service to the people America wants to help? This is why we need to keep the AID budget for staff and operations on a sufficient level. I further find this amendment ironic on the month of the African child, which we celebrate on June 16 in commemoration of the South African children that lost their lives in Soweto. Let us save the children. Vote against the Burton amendment.