Charlie Rangel

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding work accomplished by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO), recognize the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and commend its founder and chairman William Denis Fugazy. NECO's mission is to preserve ethnic diversity, promote equality and tolerance, combat injustice, and bring about harmony and unity among all people. Since its founding in 1984, the multi-ethnic coalition has sponsored programs, activities, and education initiatives designed to break through the walls of ethnic misunderstanding and ignorance. NECO is the largest organization of its kind in the United States consisting of more than five million family members. It serves as an umbrella group for over 250 organizations that span the spectrum of ethnic heritage, culture, and religion. In the past, NECO has raised more than $1 million during the refurbishing of Ellis Island for its Immigrant Wall of Honor, where the landmark names of 200,000 immigrants to the U.S. are inscribed. They also contribute resources to the Forum's Children Foundation, a sister humanitarian organization, whose mission is to bring children requiring life-saving and life-enhancing surgery from disadvantaged countries to the United States. NECO also is involved with immigration/racial issues and community relations. They have worked with the New York City Mayor's Office, the New York State Governor's office and the New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) on developing strategies to eliminate anti- immigrant feelings, promote ethnic tolerance and understanding, and prevent hate crimes. They have worked to enhance the quality of living among all Americans by collaborating with community groups in the coordination of programs such as the Family Exchange Peace Program that bring thousands of school children and their families together to raise awareness of the City's diverse racial and ethnic heritage and the James Byrd Jr. scholarship that provides tuition support for students graduating from high school. In 1986, NECO established the Ellis Island Medals of Honor Award that pays tribute to the ancestry groups that comprise America's unique cultural mosaic. Over 17,000 individuals are nominated each year. To date, approximately 1,400 American citizens have received the award. These individuals are remarkable Americans who exemplify outstanding qualities in both their personal and professional lives while continuing to preserve the richness of their particular heritage. Past Ellis Island Medals of Honor recipients have included several U.S. Presidents, entertainers, athletes, entrepreneurs, religious leaders, and business executives, such as William Clinton, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, George Bush, Richard Nixon, Mario Cuomo, George Pataki, Bob Hope, Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, Muhammad Ali, Barbara Walters, and Attorney General Janet Reno. Finally, the success of NECO can be attributed to its Founder and Chairman of the Board, William Denis Fugazy. The energy that Mr. Fugazy brings to his philanthropic work is evident in the numerous accolades bestowed upon the NECO. His passion for honoring ethnic Americans, who through their achievements and contributions, have enriched this country and have become role models for future generations, is truly a blessing.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett), this outstanding member of the Committee on Ways and Means, to close our debate. Since he led the fight for reform in the tax committee, I think he can most eloquently explain our position.

Mr. RANGEL. I have one speaker left.

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays) who has displayed bipartisan leadership on the question of campaign finance reform. We all are proud of him as a Member.

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, we are not going to hear too much debate because the method selected by the leadership to bring this bill to the floor actually restricts debate. I know that the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means says that most of us have restricted our understanding of the bill to tax press releases and do not have a clear understanding of the legislation. I have to admit that the chairman is one of the brightest people that we have in the House, if not in the Congress; but the gentleman does not have a reputation of supporting campaign finance reform; and the Members who think they understand it, like the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Meehan) and the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays), and like the editorial writers of all of our major newspapers that fought hard for campaign finance reform, while not nearly as bright as the chairman, believe it is a flaw and believe it is a loophole. So even a little compassion, even if we do not have debate, can go a long way. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the minority whip.

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I agree with the gentleman from New York (Mr. Houghton) that it is a good bill, and it is totally unfair to have this contentious idea included in this bill; and I ask for its defeat. This provision should not be in the bill. It fatally flaws the good work that has been done. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Meehan), one of the outstanding reformers of campaign finance, who certainly knows good legislation when he sees it, and the gentleman also knows a poison pill when he smells it, and thank the gentleman for all of the fine work that he has done in campaign finance reform.

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Thurman), an outstanding member of our committee.

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to support what the chairman of the committee has said and the cooperative spirit that existed on the Ways and Means Committee under the leadership of the gentleman from New York (Mr. Houghton) in working with the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Coyne) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett) as well as the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cardin) in correcting the duplicity that existed in terms of organizations reporting political contributions. We had worked so well together on this, it was almost frightening, because it was done in an atmosphere that we do not normally enjoy on the Ways and Means Committee. So it should not have come as any shock to me when the bill that was overwhelmingly accepted by all members of the committee, that the Chairman would put in a poison pill at the very last minute that caused the committee to be divided on a party line vote. It just seems to me that at the height, when the whole Nation is lauding the House and the Senate and the President for campaign finance reform, that if we find some flaw or some mistake or some area that we did not remove the fault, that we would take the opportunity under the Taxpayer Protection and IRS Accountability Act, may not be the right vehicle, but certainly that we would improve on what the House and Senate has done. Instead of that, this bill has a provision in it, a fatally flawed provision, that opens up gaping loopholes in our campaign finance disclosure laws, so big that every reform group in the Nation that campaigned for campaign finance reform are now prepared to say that this is no way for us to conduct business. We do not take a good piece of legislation like the Taxpayer Protection and IRS Accountability Act and then put a sleeper poison pill in it to kill all of the good work that Members on both sides of the aisle, led by the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays) and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Meehan) and Senator McCain, the person from the other body, we just do not do it. It is not fair, it is not equitable, it is not moral. It just may be legal. Then on top of that, to compound the moral failing of the way this legislation comes to the floor, it is presented as though it is noncontroversial, or certainly that is the reason why it goes on the suspension calendar; no amendments, no opportunity for people who disagree with parts of the bill to vote on an amendment. One does not have to be a campaign manager to know that it was a party vote in the committee. That sounds pretty controversial to me. Why not have it to be at least a vote on the floor where people can at least express themselves? So it is not bad enough that my colleagues bring it out on the Suspension Calendar, and I might add far too many tax bills are coming out on the Suspension Calendar, but my colleagues are not asking that we vote on it this evening. A lot of people may wonder why is it that we would bring a bill out that is so popular that we put it on the Suspension Calendar and not request a vote this evening? The reason for it is that they do not even want Members to stick around here to find out what the debate is on the bill. There are no votes, so Members can now leave the floor, leave the Hill, and take care of other business; because this issue, according to the leadership, is not important enough for them to stay around and vote on it. Oh, stay around and talk about it, if one will. It is just so unfair when people have worked so hard to try to sneak this in in the middle of the night, with no one on the floor, and do not even say vote for it until tomorrow. Then we come in tomorrow and there will be a vote, without any debate, without any discussions. Because of what? Because the rules prohibit it. How well packaged. I think we will defeat this, not because we do not appreciate the work that has been done by the Members on the base bill, but we are going to defeat it just because people think that they can get away with anything in this House. Some Republicans did not stand for it in the committee, and I think many more Members are not going to stand for this if my colleagues allow a vote on it at least tomorrow. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a New Yorker who has done a great deal for higher education in America, and for the City of New York. As a proud alumnus of this great university, I wanted to share with Members of Congress some of the accomplishments of this fine leader, and to take this opportunity to salute Dr. Oliva. New York University is the largest private university in this nation with more than 50,000 students, many of them first-generation college attendees. I know because I was one such first-generation college graduate in my family. NYU is clearly one of this country's premier universities. Dr. Oliva has been its president since 1991, but he has been a leader of NYU for many decades, four decades, in fact. He has provided distinguished leadership of young men and women as its Chancellor, as a Dean, a Provost, and as an Executive Vice President. Yet, I want to recognize him for a role he has played continuously throughout these 40 or so years, and still plays--a teacher. He still personally carries a teaching load; he believes in that role above all. NYU has been at the heart of this man's life. NYU's motto is a ``private university in the public service.'' These were not just words for Jay Oliva, for, indeed, he was one of the very first university presidents in the nation to lead the fight for Americorps. He helped shape a university that is dedicated to community service and volunteerism. Over 4,000 NYU students participate in volunteer efforts. President Oliva assembled his own President's C-Team that involves over 200 students working directly with him on public service initiatives. NYU is now home to the largest America Reads program in this country. Under his leadership, NYU has distinguished itself as a provider of services for the underprivileged, through its dental clinics providing healthcare to the indigent, low-income and minority populations, to its social work, education, nursing and medical school and initiatives, to its highly distinguished legal and business leadership and assistance. NYU provides tutoring and training for schools throughout the region, leaving a mark on many people's lives. September 11th 2001 was no exception, when NYU was not only directly hit, but it was a time when its doctors, nurses, dentists, social workers and staff immediately answered the call to provide services to those in New York in need. Dr. Oliva certainly saw a global vision and mission for NYU, but it was his local vision that has provided a blanket of services over New York City and State. For all of these and many more reasons, I stand now to applaud his leadership of NYU, his dedication to this great institution, and to the principles on which it was founded, and which he did so much to shape.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend to my colleagues an obituary which appeared in the Boston Herald reporting on the death-- and some of the attributes--of dear friend James Rowan, Sr. I've known Jim since his years of service with Speaker of the House Thomas ``Tip'' O'Neill. We worked together in Washington, traveled the world together with the Speaker, and had a brotherly love and friendship that was shared by our families. Just as I will never forget my friend Tip O'Neill, I will forever keep with me the many happy memories of my times with Jim Rowan. My wife Alma and I extend our prayers to Francis and the family, and share in their grief over the loss of a great husband, father and friend. [From the Boston Herald, Mar. 13, 2002] James Rowan Sr., Aide to House Speaker O'Neill James P. Rowan Sr. of East Boston, a senior political aide to the late House Speaker Thomas P. O'Neill Jr., died Sunday at his home, after heart failure due to a brief illness. He was 79. ``Jim Rowan was one of Tip O'Neill's right-hand guys, especially on the Massachusetts front. He was full of colorful stories and had a great heart. Few were better at hearing a working person's problem and pushing the right buttoms in the federal bureaucracy to get it solved,'' said Herald political columnist Wayne Woodlief. A lifelong resident of East Boston, Mr. Rowan attended the High School of Commerce in Boston, the University of Missouri and Suffolk University. He also studied at Calvin Coolidge School of Law. He served with the Navy in the Pacific for two years during World War II. Mr. Rowan joined the Massachusetts House member's staff in 1953 and was a senior political aide to Speaker O'Neill for 33 years. He served as O'Neill's coordinator for district service programs and political affairs until the House speaker's retirement in early 1987. He also served as a consultant for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for several years beginning in the late 1960s, when O'Neill was national chairman of the group. During the past 14 years, he had served as a senior consultant to Cassidy and Associates, Washington, D.C., and specialized in international issues. He was also president of J.P.R. Consulting Inc., Boston. He had previously served as an insurance broker and a Boston area bank director. Mr. Rowan had brief roles in two motion pictures. He was an avid racing enthusiast and owned horses that ran at several eastern state race tracks. Mr. Rowan is survived by his wife, Francis (Brown); two sons, Daniel and James P. Jr., both of East Boston; and his sister, Frances of East Boston. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at Out Lady of the Assumption Church, East Boston. A memorial service will be conducted in Washington, D.C., at a later date. His ashes will be scattered at Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., during the August meet. Arrangements by McGrath Funeral Home, East Boston.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the extension of section 245(i) that was included in House Resolution 365, the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002. This extension is long over due. Nearly one year ago, this provision expired and we have gone back and forth between the House and the Senate on the particulars of something we all know is a necessary and prudent piece of legislation. Extending section 245(i) will provide needed relief to the community that is the base of our society and I am proud to stand with my colleagues in support of this measure. However, this resolution simply does not go far enough. By only helping a narrow group of people, we do not assist all those we are capable of aiding and we do not right the wrong of eliminating section 245(i). Furthermore the restrictions present in this extension will only continue to confuse people about eligibility and giving people false hope of staying with their families and continuing to pursue their American Dream. Only when we reinstate section 245(i) will we have fully acknowledged the fundamental importance of family unification and the contribution of immigrants to our nation. This is an important first step in that direction. I am especially dismayed that the resolution came within one vote of being rejected by the House. Just last summer, it passed by a landslide. The obvious explanation for this dramatic change is the attacks of September 11th. Ironically, the previous bill extending section 245(i) was scheduled to be voted on for enactment on the day of the attacks. Six months later, it struggled to make it out of the House. Some would argue that it is these attacks, committed by people from countries other than our own that have changed our viewpoints on immigrants. This is an overly simplistic explanation. While it is certainly expected that these attacks would make us more acutely aware of the enemies we face, we cannot blame the terrorists that carried out these horrific attacks for the anti-immigrant sentiment that was articulated in this chamber during the debate on this resolution. We are the ones responsible for this attitude. We can never undo what was done against us and we can never fully understand the evil that lurked in the hearts of these men. But we can control what impact they have upon our lives. We should not allow fear to become the guiding principle, but should stand strong for the principles our country are founded on. Punishing our hard working, committed, and American, in every sense of the word, immigrant community is not the answer. We are headed in the right direction with H. Res. 365, but it is only a step. There is much more work to be done.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, on March 19, 2002 the Council of Senior and Centers and Services of New York City will host a surprise retirement party for Joseph Watts. At the risk of spoiling the surprise, I rise today to pay my personal tribute to a remarkable community leader. Mr. Joseph Watts has proven to be an exceptional person committed to the pursuit of a successful career and giving back to the community throughout his life. In 1962 he graduated from the American Academy of Funeral Service in the State of New York and embarked upon a successful career in Funeral Service. Mr. Watts has contributed a great deal to the comfort of the bereaved in New York. Since the 1970's he has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Funeral Directors Association and Regional Governor of District 6 of the New York State Funeral Directors Association. He has also served as an often honored and recognized leader of many national and international associations of Funeral Directors. These professional honors have recognized the extraordinary contribution that Mr. Watt has made throughout his professional life to his chosen profession and to his community as well. Among the professional honors Mr. Watts received are: New York State Funeral Director of the Year in 1981; a report for President Carter on Funeral Industry and Federal Trade Commission with impact on small businesses; the International Order of the Golden Rule for ``Service to the Community and Profession''; honored by the White House On Social Security: ``The Long View--The Effect of Social Security Reforms on the Homeless, Poor and Children''; and International Funeral Directors Association award as Funeral Director of the Decade. His excellent reputation in his field has led him to be appointed to various positions in different organizations, such as Chairman of the New York State Funeral Directors Advisory Board, Vice-President of the Council of Senior Centers and Services of New York City, and Board Member of Retired Senior Volunteer People (R.S.V.P.). Mr. Watts has been an important part of many community associations such as the Rotary Club in Upper Manhattan, the Washington Heights/ Inwood Chamber of Commerce, the Washington Heights/Inwood Development Corporation and many others. In every organization of which he is a member, Mr. Watts has given his time to leave a positive mark on the communities or people he has worked with. His legacy has been so extraordinary in these communities that he has been honored by most of them. The Harlem Boys Choir has honored Mr. Watts for the Creation of Adopt a Child in 1984. He also received the Washington Heights/Inwood Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year Award in 1984. In 1985 he received the Community Resident Award from the Police Department of New York City for donation of Police Vests to the 34th Precinct. Mr. Watts' exemplary career and many contributions make him much deserving of the honor and tribute that will be paid to him by his many friends and colleagues on the 19th of March of 2002.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding achievements of the United States Latino athletes in the 2002 Winter Olympics. At these Olympic games we have seen a number of outstanding United States athletes from different ethnic and racial backgrounds. We have witnessed a number of ``firsts'' in our minority communities. These athletes have risen to the Olympic challenge against incredible odds, and for this, I honor them. I again recognize Mrs. Vonetta Flowers who won a Gold medal; in bobsledding at the Winter Olympic games, becoming the first African American to win a Gold medal for the United States in a Winter event. In addition to those accomplishments made by the African American community, I also commend those achievements of Hispanic American athletes as highlighted in the Daily News article on Latino Olympians. The article follows this statement and I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the Olympians' reference in it. Mr. Parra, 31 years old, is a Mexican American speed skater from Orlando, Florida. He began his athletic career as a inline skater and only picked up speed skating on ice five years ago. Considered the first Hispanic American to ever win a medal in the Olympic games makes Parra incredibly unique, but Parra did not just medal. Parra came in first, receiving a Gold medal and breaking the world record for his performance in the 1,500 meter. He also received a Silver medal in the 5,000 meter race. In addition, Jennifer Rodriguez of Miami, Florida became the first Cuban-American to medal in the Winter Olympics. A former inline skater--now speed skater, like Parra--Rodriguez competed in the women's 1,000 race and won a Bronze medal. Our nation's Puerto Rican heritage was also represented at the Salt Lake City Games. Though the two-man bobsled team was unable to complete in the end, Puerto Rico's presence was felt and we look forward to their full participation in 2006. Parra, Rodriguez, and the Puerto Rican athletes have performed to commendable heights. They are a tribute to everything the Olympics stand for: courage, athleticism and national and international unity. I thank them for their hard work and perseverance. These, along with African American and Asian American, athletes are great examples to our future athletes, especially our minority communities. Their faces reflect the composition of our country and are an inspiration to countless young people who might believe the Olympics are not for them. Thank you again and congratulations. [From the New York Daily News, Feb. 21, 2002] Latin Olympians Good as Gold Global warming has affected the Utah Winter Olympics in unexpected ways. And all of them seem to be good. For one thing, there are all these warm-weather people heating up the ice at Salt Lake City. And doing their part to make the medal count grow for the U.S. Take Derek Parra. Believed to be the first Hispanic ever to win a medal in the Winter Games, Parra, a 31-year-old Mexican-American, lives in Orlando, Fla., where Mickey and Donald are found all over the place, but snow is as rare as, well, speed skating. He is 5-foot-4 and weighs 140 pounds, but Para accomplished what many bigger men had unsuccessfully attempted before. He broke a world record to take the gold in 1,500 meters speed skating Tuesday in such spectacular fashion that even his competitors were thrilled. ``It sounds stupid, but I enjoyed [seeing] it,'' said Jochem Uytdehaage, of the Netherlands, who won silver, after Parra broke the world record he had set a few minutes before. The reverse had taken place the opening day of the games, when Parra set a world record in the 5,000 meters. Uytdehaage destroyed it a few minutes later. ``It is just an amazing thing,'' Parra said after his 1,500-meter victory. Cuban-American Pioneer Now take Jennifer Rodriguez. Born in sunny Miami to Cuban parents, Rodriguez is believed to be the first Cuban-American to compete in the Winter Games. Rodriguez not only competed but won the bronze in the women's 1,000 meters. Another American, Chris Witty, won the gold and established a new world record. That no Cuban-American had competed in the Winter Olympics before is not at all surprising. After all, in Miami, ice is usually found only in drinks. Not exactly an ice-skating paradise. Baseball, football, swimming, boxing, soccer--all of them are pretty popular in warm, heavily Latino Miami. But a Cuban-American speed skater? Rodriguez's and Parra's feats will do wonders to change that. Parra and Rodriguez--as did Apolo Anton Ohno, for that matter--got their start as in-line skaters. Actually, Rodriguez didn't train on ice until six years ago, and Parra made the switch only five years ago. The young Mexican-American also was a phenomenal in-line skater, becoming national champion three times in the 1990s and holding world records in short- and long-distance events. And then take the case of the Puerto Rican bobsled team. Yes, I know, you are asking yourself what in the world was the Caribbean island--average temperature 85 degrees--doing in Salt Lake City, where freezing weather is their daily bread? Did these sun-tanned, warm-weather guys stand a chance against all those cold-weather-seasoned athletes? We'll never know. Bobsledders Blocked On Friday evening, the Puerto Rican Olympic Committee dropped out of the two-man bobsled competition hours before it began. The reason: Michael Gonzalez, one of the two team members, was not able to demonstrate to the island's Olympic committee that he had lived on the island for the required three years. Ironically, the International Olympic Committee was satisfied with the two years and one month he was able to prove. ``He's a great, great guy, but those are the rules,'' said Hector Cardona, president of the island's national Olympic committee. ``We have to follow the rules. As president of the Olympic committee, I took him out, according to our constitution.'' Maybe next time. And count on it, there will be a next time.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, let me take advantage of this rare opportunity when I agree with the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. I would like to get his attention for a moment so that I give him his usual opportunity to respond. I am so desperately trying so hard to get the gentleman from California's (Mr. Thomas) attention. It is so difficult. I just wanted the gentleman to know that I agree with him that the Washington Post is in serious error in suggesting that the Republicans in the House of Representatives have relented. The Republicans do not know how to relent. The hostages of those 8 million people who are unemployed and without health benefits have not been freed completely by the Republican leadership. As the gentleman pointed out, he could not resist putting tax benefits that in the first 3 years cost some $100 billion, or as the gentleman pointed out, a projected $43 billion. The glee that the gentleman takes in suggesting that we are only providing $2.7 billion for the unemployed as opposed to the incentives that we are paying for the corporate structure. No, he is not relenting; he is responding to the outrage that has been felt by people throughout this country that since 9-11 the gentleman has ignored the people who are unemployed. The gentleman has taken their pain, their misery, their loss of homes and jobs and dreams and tuition, and he has put this into what the gentleman calls a stimulus package. Now, the stimulus package always included not relieving pain for the unemployed but always accelerating tax benefits for the rich, or repealing the alternative minimum tax or something that had nothing to do with those victims that were unemployed. So when my colleague suggests that it is the other body that has loaded up the bill, what, are we in Alice in Wonderland? Did we not just get a bill from them passed by Republicans and Senators saying to just do employment compensation? My colleague could not resist jumping on that with all of the things that make the Republican Campaign Committee happy. So I agree with the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas), this is not a stimulus package, nor should the unemployed be held hostage by so-called stimulus tax cuts. The ratio of tax benefits to the corporation and easing a little pain to the unemployed, my God, would let us know there is not too much compassion here. Will we grab this and run with it, even though it is not paid for? Well, it is paid for out of the monies coming in from the Social Security Trust Fund, but we do not have that many options, considering the box that the leadership has placed us in as relates to the spend-down of the surplus. So, let the record reflect that I agree with most all that the gentleman has said. This is not a stimulus package. The GOP, as my colleague likes it to be called, does not know how to relent. There is an area of some tiny relief here for the unemployed. The gentleman had to resist giving some decent health benefits to this, and the fact that it is not paid for, so what else is new? Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to allow the gentleman from California (Mr. Matsui) to manage the remainder of my time.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a great humanitarian, health executive, physician and civil rights leader--the late Dr. John Holloman who passed away on February 27, 2002. For many years, as president of the New York City public hospital corporation in the mid-1970s, Dr. Holloman battled for increased accessibility to health care for the poor in the city. At the time he was the country's highest-ranking African-American person in health care. Duly committed to health care for all, he served as Associated Director of Health Services of the William F. Ryan Community Health Center up until the time of his death--a job he held for the past 21 years. Many remember, that on his desk sat a plaque with the simple, but powerful motto that represented the goal of most of his life's work: ``Health Care is Right.'' During his years as an advocate and physician, he managed to influence policies to increase better health care for prison inmates and the inclusion of more minorities in the American Medical Association. He also was instrumental in the civil rights movement, where I remember him taking care of people's feet during the voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. The medical attention he gave to many was a necessity during the long journeys in the fight for civil rights. His medical and humanitarian deeds, numerous at last count, have been recognized by organizations such as the Urban League, state and private universities, and the Bar Association. For 50 years, Dr. Holloman political activism, community and national leadership, and provision of both care and concern to the most hard to reach and vulnerable population exemplify the will of a man to accomplish great deeds for the benefit of all human beings. I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the life of Dr. John Holloman a man who today we owe a great deal of gratitude for his work on ensuring equitable access to health care.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate an American athlete, Vonetta Flowers who accomplished a crowning achievement by winning a gold medal for the United States during the 19th Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. The accomplishment is made so more notable in that Vonetta Flowers became the first American of African descent to win a gold medal for the United States in a Winter Olympic Games. Ms. Vonetta Flowers won a gold medal along with her teammate, Jill Bakken, in the inaugural women's Olympic bobsled race. Ms. Flowers is a native of Helena, Alabama. She is the daughter of Jimmie and Barbara Jeffery and is married to Johnny Mack Flowers. Ms. Vonetta Flowers attended Jackson-Olin High School in Birmingham Alabama where she was The Athletic Congress (TAC) champion, an All- State basketball star, and a member of the Birmingham Strider Track Club. She went on to be a four year-letterwinner in track and field at the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB). She achieved prominence as a seven-titleholder in the 100 meters, 200 meters, long jump, and triple jump throughout her illustrious career at UAB. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education in 1997. Since graduation, she has returned to Birmingham to coach the track team at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. Ms. Vonetta Flowers' path to Winter Olympic gold is storied one. After failing to qualify for the 2000 United States Olympic team, she was given a flier found by her husband indicating that someone was in need of versatile athletes interested in the bobsled. Flowers tried out and eventually raced with Bonny Warner amassing a top 10 in all seven World Cup races in 2000-2001 and closed the season with four straight top-three finishes--earning them a third-place finish in the overall World Cup Standings. After the 2001 season, Vonetta Flowers started racing with Jill Bakken, a former Oregon State soccer player turned bobsleder. On Tuesday 19th, 2001, they sled into the history books as the fastest women on a bobsled at the Winter Olympic Games. I share the view of Ms. Vonetta Flowers as she spoke on the interview podium. She said ``I didn't know I was the first. I hope this won't be the end of it. I hope you'll see other African-American girls and boys who want to give winter sports a try . . .'' Ms. Vonetta Flowers, the Congress of the United States of America salute you. The American people salute you.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Does the minority have an opportunity to make a motion to recommit the majority's rule?

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, my further and last parliamentary inquiry.

Mr. RANGEL. Will the minority have an opportunity to offer a substitute to the majority position?

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I have an additional parliamentary inquiry.

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, what would be the appropriate time for me to move that we concur with the Senate amendment to extend the unemployment compensation?

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I have a parliamentary inquiry.

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, well, whether the truth or falsity of a statement, if it is a derogatory remark made by a Member in the other body----

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, my inquiry would be, are you stating the inquiry made in a parliamentary fashion by the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas) was not a political statement?