Charlie Rangel

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to congratulate the Republic of Korea for winning the bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang. I have no doubt that Korea will be an excellent host, as it was for the 1988 Summer Olympics and for the 2002 World Cup. This honor recognizes how far Korea has emerged from the ashes of war into a giant in Asia and throughout the international community. When I first went to Korea over 60 years ago, I had no idea where it was. As a Korean War Veteran, I could not be more proud to witness today's ``Dynamic Korea.'' Seoul's skyscrapers, booming businesses and rising apartment buildings are a testament to the resiliency and determination of the Korean people. Just as the 1988 Olympics in Seoul demonstrated the promise of the Korea to the world, the 2018 Winter Games will showcase the economic superpower the great nation is now. I never would have imagined that the Korea I left behind after the war would now be hosting their third international sporting event. Korea will always have a place in my heart as it does in the hearts of all veterans who have served then and those who serve now and I am proud to congratulate the nation on this well deserved recognition.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, 76 years ago, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law the National Labor Relations Act, which continues to protect the rights of employees and employers, encourages fair bargaining, and blocks harmful practices that hurt our Nation's workers, businesses and the economy. This important piece of legislation in our Nation's history has allowed working Americans to enjoy their rights to assemble and organize into labor unions. Unions have been instrumental in strengthening the middle class. Leaders like AFL-CIO President Dennis Hughes, DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts, Teamsters Local 237 President Gregory Floyd. SEIU Local 1199 President George Gresham and SEIU 32BJ President Mike Fishman, and AFT and UFT Presidents Randi Weingarten and Michael Mulgrew have all marched in the spirit of A. Philip Randolph and Thomas Van Arsdale to protect the civil rights of all Americans in the workplace and I stand by my fellow soldiers in our continued struggle to preserve the Labor Movement and all the victories fought and won. With the recent change of rules enacted by the National Labor Relations Board, working Americans will be able to quickly unionize and cut the time businesses have to mount anti-union campaigns. There is still more to do for our workers. That is why I co-sponsored the Employee Non-Discrimination Act which prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender in the workforce. I will keep on supporting other bills that ensure labor rights and will work hand in hand with union leaders to create an equal partnership in revitalizing our economy.''

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Artists whose designs were selected through the BID on Culture banner design competition. On Tuesday, June 21, the 125th Street Business Improvement District along with the Harlem Arts Alliance, Inc. and the Harlem Community Development Corporation, unveiled the 2011 ``BID on Culture'' winning banners in recognition of June Black Music Month. BID on Culture is a new initiative developed through the partnership between the 125th Street Business Improvement District (125th BID), the Harlem Arts Alliance (HAA) and the Harlem Community Development Corporation (HCDC) to showcase and promote our rich unique heritage while bringing recognition to the many talented entertainers and venues throughout, as Harlem celebrates Black Music Month. The ``BID on Culture'' Banners have added to the branding of 125th Street as the center of culture in Harlem, highlighting our community's diversity, history, and contributions to and throughout our Nation and the world. Currently, there are 36 new banners that are now flying on streetlight poles along the world-renowned famed 125th Street corridor. Let me now recognize the six winning designs that were selected from 41 submissions in the 3rd Annual ``Bid on Culture'' banner design competition. Corine Campbell for Billie Holiday; Misha McGlown for Jimi Hendrix and Josephine Baker; Tomo Mori for Somos la Musica; Soyca Mphahlele for New Colors; and Hubert Williams for True Colours. Harlem resident Artist, Corine Campbell says her creativity usually starts from a simple place like spotting a color combination that she wants to incorporate into a painting, expressing feelings with lines indescribable to words or finding attractive shapes to produce a portrait. She usually depicts women, while experimenting with different media, such as, paint, ink, pencils, yarn, fabric, and computer software. ``It has been that way ever since I was a child drawing in my sketchbook in Harlem. Art allows me to escape somewhere fun while discovering numerous possibilities,'' Campbell said. Her design in the 2011 banner competition features legendary jazz vocalist Billie Holiday. Detroit, Michigan Artist, Misha McGlown attended Wayne State University and Center for Creative Studies. Although she began painting professionally in 2006 and has since exhibited throughout the New York area, she is best known for her jewelry collection, under the Omo Misha brand. She was awarded her first solo exhibit by Columbia University in 2008 and on behalf of artHARLEM, she curated EVOLUTION: The Changing Face of Harlem--an exhibit, hosted by Columbia University, featuring the works of 25 Harlem artists. She is currently Curator-in-Residence for Harlem's Cafe One and has worked in programming and development for The Children's Art Carnival, and led residencies and youth workshops for numerous organizations in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. A multi-faceted artist and visionary, Misha is a published author and creator of The Omo Misha Times--a webzine covering art, fashion, politics, fun and social awareness. She has been the recipient of artistic awards by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, the Puffin Foundation, and Harlem Arts Alliance. Her designs in the 2011 banner competition feature Josephine Baker and Jimi Hendrix. Artist Tomo Mori was born in Shijonawate in the countryside of Osaka, Japan and later moved to Tokyo. There, she discovered a severe affliction with allergies that kept her house-bound, but allowed her to find a new freedom: art. At 15, she enrolled in the Tokyo Metropolitan High School for Music and Fine Arts and a year later traveled to California to study English. She returned to Japan, where her first large scale painting, ``Scream,'' was exhibited at the prestigious Metropolitan Museum in Ueno. In 1991, she moved to Atlanta, and studied at the Atlanta College of Art. Tomo worked as a graphic designer for 16 years but last year, she decided to focus on her art. She has found her artistic home at Harlem where she says she thrives from the creative energy. Inspiration struck while she was taking a dance class in Mali. She realized that her life experience among different cultures combined with her boundless curiosity fuels the engine that makes her art original. Her focus on music/dance, process, and color are the catalysts for her 2011 banner competition design submission of the vibrant dancers, Somos la Musica, which will find a stage along 125th Street. Originally born in Zambia, Africa, Harlem resident Artist Soyca Mphahlele grew up in the Parkside Projects in the Bronx and went on to attend the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts and later graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication from the Maryland Institute College of Art. He has lived, worked, and worshipped in Harlem since he was a child. Soyca says his work ``represents the tone of the real New York and his enduring respect for the art of the streets.'' His 2011 banner competition design, New Colors, does just that. Artist Hubert Williams was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but moved to New York in 1964. A versatile photographer, filmmaker, and visual artist as well as a musician (organist) had his first encounter with a camera in 1976. He has since gone on to photograph his viewpoint of people, places, and structures as well as weddings, fashion events, opera, and jazz concerts. ``I live to shoot,'' Williams says of his passion for photography through his vivid 2011 banner competition design submission True Colours. In addition to the banner competition, BID ON CULTURE presents Black Music Month in Harlem featuring nearly 100 events at nine venues throughout the area. The month-long celebration features Jazz, Blues, Gospel, R&B, Classical, Caribbean, Salsa, Afro-Cuban, Funk, and Soul music performances as well as spoken word, art, and other entertainments. Known worldwide as the epicenter of Black culture, Harlem's contribution to American music and all the arts is legendary. Concerts include the Michael C. Lewis Jazz Experience at the Aloft; Nate Lucas Organ Trio, and Paul Mooney ``Live In Harlem,'' at the Lenox Lounge; the Danny Mixon Trio at Showman's Jazz Cafe; the Oral Tradition of Gospel Music in Harlem at the Dwyer Cultural Center; the Ben Williams & Sound Effect at the Harlem Stage Gatehouse; and Karaoke & Martini Thursday at Sylvia's Also. Bid on Culture is also a participant in Make Music New York, a live, free musical celebration across the city that takes place each June 21, the longest day of the year, where hundreds of public spaces throughout the five boroughs become impromptu stages for more than 1,000 free concerts. The 125th Street BID is a non-profit organization funded primarily from an additional tax assessment collected from the property owners within the defined boundaries. Organized in compliance with State and city laws, the property and business and business owners determine the services and programs needed for the district. The BID will utilize the competition to bring visibility to its streetscape improvement efforts and to enliven the community's central business district. www.125th streetbid.com. The Harlem Arts Alliance (HAA) is a not-for-profit arts service organization committed to its mission of nurturing the artistic growth of artists and the organizational development of arts organizations based in Harlem and surrounding communities. Comprised of over 750 individual artists and arts organizations, HAA plays an essential role by helping to build the resources, network, and capacity of its richly diverse membership. Counted among its members are young emerging artists as well as established and internationally recognized artists. Also represented are small grassroots organizations and major cultural institutions in Harlem and beyond. In addition, HAA maintains strong partnerships with numerous arts organization and institutions throughout New York State, the region, and the nation to maintain vital collaborative efforts to promote the arts in communities (www.harlemaa.org). Harlem Community Development Corporation (``Harlem CDC''), a New York State public benefit corporation, was created in 1995 to serve the greater Harlem community, including East Harlem, Central Harlem, West Harlem and Washington Heights, through planning and facilitating the development of a range of community development projects and revitalization initiatives and restore Upper Manhattan as an economically stable and culturally vibrant community. Harlem CDC targets the redevelopment of vacant or underutilized commercial and residential property and publicly-owned spaces (www.harlemcdc.org). Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join with me in recognition of the 2011 ``BID on Culture'' Winning Banners and in celebration of Black Music Month.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise today to join the First Central Baptist Church of Harlem and the International Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons to pay tribute and celebrate the birthday of my dear friend and ally, the Honorable Dr. Edward R. Culvert, Publisher of the Culvert Chronicles Community Newspaper. Rev. Dr. Edward R. Culvert is a man who possesses great qualities. He is a writer, educator, and philosopher. He attended Texas Baptist University in Austin, Texas from 1950 to 1959 graduated cum Laude. Dr. Culvert obtained his Bachelor in Arts, Master in Arts, Masters of Divinity and Doctor of Divinity degrees. Dr. Culvert has been a professor at the City University of New York for forty-four years. He has served in many capacities including Special Assistant to the President of City College in regards my Empowerment Zone legislation and initiative, and was on the committee that helped form the Urban Legal Studies Program. He has held many positions throughout his career and lifetime, such as the Commissioner of Labor Relations from 1977 to 1983. During that time, He handled most of the labor problems, actions and strikes that occur throughout the State of New York, and was the first and only African American to hold that position. In addition to working at City College, he also teaches Religion, Sociology, Criminal Justice, History and Philosophy at Herbert Lehman College; and is currently teaching African American Studies. He has dedicated his entire life advocating for African American Studies, particularly stressing the importance progressive education, which is not limited to the classrooms. The Culvert Chronicles is the brainchild of Dr. Edward R. Culvert, who observed that the African American community needed a vehicle of free expression. The paper is bi-partisan and prints positive and informative news to all of the residents of the greater New York Metropolitan area. He is quick to point out that the paper does not deal with tabloid news. ``We report news that emphasizes education, social issues and relative information. There are no hidden agendas. People who are doing positive things need be heard. The Culvert Chronicles gives a voice to the `common folk' that make up this city.'' The Reverend Dr. Culvert is a man of God who has devoted his time to teaching, not preaching, the word of God, directly from the Bible, to family, friends, members of the community and in the prison populations throughout New York State. His open door policy has prevented many youth from getting in trouble, and others to go back to school. Dr. Culvert always finds time to listen, give advice, or providing comfort to anyone in need. His compassion for people, especially the children and our youth has made him a renowned father figure and mentor for all. Reverend Dr. Culvert is the founder of the First Central Baptist Church of Harlem, where he currently serves as Pastor. He is listed among Who's Who in American Education and was chosen as one of the top 5% of Educators in America. Dr. Culvert is also considered a ``Jack of All Trades.'' Some of his greatest achievements throughout his life-time were playing basketball, football, soccer and running track. In addition to his many talents, you will find Reverend Culvert on any given Sunday playing various musical instruments in the church, and singing Solos when the spirit hits. Mr. Speaker, please join me and a very grateful nation in wishing my friend and ally, Reverend Dr. Edward R. Culvert, a great American hero a hearty Congressional happy birthday.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. My colleagues, once again I come before this House to ask you to reconsider establishing the draft. I know some of you think politically this doesn't make sense. But after listening to the President last night, the only people that I saw that were making sacrifices in these wars that have been undeclared have been our troops. They have volunteered. They come from communities that most of them are not wealthy. But when they get there, they defend the flag. Every war, every time our Nation is threatened, all of the American people should be prepared to make some sacrifice. Those of us in Congress, when we authorize troops to go overseas, should not say that we have volunteers willing to do it. We should say that we have Americans; they come from our families, our communities, our States, and their wealth should not even be an issue. Everyone should be up at bat. Now that the President has dramatically reduced the need for all of these volunteers, why don't we mandate that every American make some sacrifice. Let them be trained during this transition as we withdraw our troops. Let them be able to do something to make certain that America remains strong. This is too serious an issue. It's not a Democrat or Republican issue; it's a moral issue. Trillions of dollars are spent on undeclared wars, but who's paying for it? The poorest among us, the lesser among us--in health care, in education, in homelessness, in joblessness. And now the wealthiest of Americans have the lowest tax rates since 1950. And really, it just bothers people when you say they, too, should make some sacrifices, not just for the war that I don't support, but for the security, the economic security of this Nation, where the debt ceiling is going to be an issue, and yet those that are paying for the cuts have nothing to do with the crisis that we're in. So I conclude, I'll be back in support of H.R. 1152. And I will ask you to consider that as we wind down from our involvement in the Middle East, think about giving some relief to our volunteers. Think about asking young Americans to make some type of commitment. Think about having an America that says, yes, I support the involvement and am prepared to make sacrifices, which includes my family, my community, and our great Nation. We should not just have professional volunteers; it is not American, it is not moral. When our country is involved, everyone should be prepared either to stand up and be counted or don't support this type of involvement. It is not just costly financially, but how America looks throughout the world, especially among our young people--most of whom do not know any period of time that we haven't been involved in a war. So if we're not prepared to be honest enough to call a war a war, if we're not prepared to have the Congress put every President, Republican or Democrat, on the line for constitutional reasons, for God's sake, let's find some fairness as we ask people to put their lives on the line for our great Nation. And it's not just their lives, it's not just how they come back home, but the mental disturbance and problems that we are bringing to our great country is going to be not just trillions of dollars but adversely affect our ability to deal with education and training and technology and research while we try so desperately hard to bring these people to some type of normality for the sacrifices they've made to our country. So H.R. 1152 only says, if we have to be involved, don't have just a small segment of our great Nation pay the ultimate sacrifice while others make no sacrifice at all. Please consider a bill that mandates that everybody from 18 to 25, 26 do some type of mandatory service for our great country, and we will only select those people that we need for the military. And if indeed it is a transition that we support, it means that they can support our country, our national security, support our Armed Forces, and not really--hopefully--be in harm's way. Please consider it, and please rest assured I will return with this plea from time to time. I thank this House for the opportunity.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise with great sadness as I pay tribute to my dear friend Luther Gatling who recently passed away peacefully in his home in Teaneck, New Jersey on Tuesday, May 31st. As I speak with profound sorrow, I ascend to celebrate a life well lived and to remember with fondness the accomplishments of a remarkable man who, over his many years of service in government and credit counseling, etched his name in history as The Credit Doctor. Luther dedicated his life to public service and championed diversity. And, as a long-time civil rights and business leader, he possessed a remarkable moral compass that inspired fiscal responsibility upon many disadvantaged people. Mr. Gatling has provided mentorship to our youth and much needed credit guidance to all. He stood for the empowerment, development, and prosperity of our Nation. Luther R. Gatling was born in Waterbury, Connecticut on September 9, 1931. He received his Bachelors degree in business administration from Temple University. Luther then went on to serve as the president of the Waterbury City Council. He became the mayor of Waterbury before the age of 30 and later served as the assistant director at the Manpower Assistance of Boston program in Washington, D.C. In my community of Harlem, Mr. Gatling is well known for his service as the President of the New York Chapter of the One Hundred Black Men, Inc. for 8 years. He also served on the executive committee and Board of Directors of the National One Hundred Black Men of America organization. In 1976, Luther created Budget and Credit Counseling Services, Inc. to help educate consumers with financial difficulties. BuCCS provided counseling and advocacy for more than 40,000 consumers. Luther Gatling was an economically savvy man who never resisted sharing his wealth of knowledge with those in need. The Credit Doctor, as he was known, believed in empowering struggling and financially illiterate consumers through the power of sound credit comprehension. Consumer credit, debt education, financial literacy are passions of Mr. Gatling. Instructing consumers on how to manage their credit wisely and pay their debts responsibly was important to my friend Luther. Luther symbolized the American Dream. He worked vigorously with the One Hundred Black Men to expand educational and economic opportunities for African Americans and other minority communities. Mr. Gatling worked tirelessly with the BuCCS to properly educate the public on fiscal responsibility. Luther extended his guidance through practically every medium to educate the masses. He worked his first job as a taxi driver later to become the CEO of the Budget and Credit Counseling Service. I would like for my colleagues in the Congress to join me in offering our heartfelt condolences to his wife Bonnie Gatling and their children, Dr. Sharon G Waldrum, Lydia Miller, Robbin Gatling, and Richard Patton. It is important that they know that their friends and all of those whose lives were touched by Luther over the years, are with them in spirit and the Gatling family are in our thoughts and prayers. No amount of words can ever replace this titan. Luther bore his illness with great dignity and pride. And through his illness, he continued to persist on living and fighting for causes true to his faith and community. Now free from pain and discomfort, we can all draw some comfort in knowing that he has found peace in the eternity of God's Kingdom. He will long be remembered for his extraordinary commitment, humor, liveliness, energy, wisdom, discipline, principle and clear purpose which won the admiration of all who were privileged to come to know and work with him during his distinguished career. Mr. Speaker, I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to observe and experience Luther's example as a personal inspiration. Though Luther is no longer with us, we will continue to keep his memory alive in our hearts and minds, and continue to honor his legacy with our advocacy for the issues he cared about the most. We as a nation are all blessed to have known a Luther Gatling, ``The Credit Doctor,'' a titan who shaped financial counseling history with his everlasting spirit.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today before you in continued celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Korean war in honor of SGT Cornelius H. Charlton, the Hero of Hill 543. On Saturday, June 11, the Cornelius H. Charlton Memorial Society and the 369th Historical Society celebrate the bravery of Sergeant Charlton by unveiling an exhibition in his honor highlighting his historic exploits on Hill 543, a major battle during the Korean war. SGT Cornelius H. Charlton is one of 87 African-American Medal of Honor recipients. He was born on July 24, 1929, in East Gulf, West Virginia to Van and Clara Charlton. In 1944, the family moved to the Bronx, New York. Cornelius attended James Monroe High School. After graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1946. Initially assigned to an engineering group, Sergeant Charlton requested a transfer to an infantry unit and was placed in Company C of the 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. The 24th Infantry, nicknamed the ``Buffalo Soldiers,'' was the United States Army's last, all-Black, segregated regiment to engage in combat. Sergeant Major Charlton volunteered for frontline duty for this rear-echelon outfit. On June 2, 1951, near the village of Chipo-ri, northeast of Seoul, Korea, Sergeant Charlton's platoon encountered heavy resistance while attempting to take Hill 543. Taking command after his platoon leader was wounded, he regrouped his men and led an assault against the hill. Wounded by a grenade, Sergeant Charlton refused medical attention and continued to lead the charge. He single handedly attacked and disabled the last remaining enemy gun emplacement, suffering another grenade wound in the process. Sergeant Charlton succumbed to his wounds and died after he knocked out two Chinese machine guns guarding Hill 543. The North Korean and Communist Red troops had stalled United Nations troop advance for three days. Prior to that tragic battle, and ultimate sacrifice, Sergeant Charlton was recommended for a battlefield commission by his Commander. On February 12, 1952, for his actions during the battle, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor and the Purple Heart. After his death, Sergeant Charlton's body was returned to the United States and buried in his mother's family burial place in Virginia. According to family members and other veterans, Sergeant Charlton was not buried at Arlington National Cemetery because of his race. The Army later stated he was not buried at Arlington because of an administrative oversight. In 1989, the Medal of Honor Society discovered Sergeant Charlton's burial site in poor condition; and in 1990 re-interred his remains at the American Legion Cemetery in Beckley, West Virginia. Finally, on November 12, 2008, Sergeant Charlton was finally re-interred at Arlington National Cemetery. The Cornelius H. Charlton Memorial Society, Inc., CHCMS, a non-profit organization, was founded in 2010 by the family and friends of SGT Cornelius H. Charlton. Sergeant Charlton, a member of Company C, 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor during the Korean war, 1950-1953. The mission of CHCMS is to preserve the heroic legacy of Sergeant Charlton, while also promoting his character and leadership qualities to young people through its college scholarship fund. The 369th Historical Society Museum is housed in the 369th Regimental Armory, home of the famous Harlem Hellfighters. The 369th Historical Society is an all volunteer non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization, chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. Established in 1960 to collect, preserve and maintain artifacts, books, papers, photographs, film and articles on the history of the 369th Regiment, its allies and affiliates, and of African American soldiers who served in the Military Service of the United States. The Museum's holdings consist of an extensive collection of photographs and artifacts of the 369th soldiers from WWI to the present. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join two very grateful nations in honor and in memory of our American hero, Medal of Honor and Purple Heart recipient, SGT Cornelius H. Charlton, as we continue to celebrate and remember the 60th Anniversary of the Korean war.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 65th Anniversary of the founding of the Northside Center for Child Development, Inc. In March of 1946, shortly upon the conclusion of World War II, two young African American psychologists, Mamie Phipps Clark and her husband, Kenneth B. Clark founded the Northside Center for Child Development. Originally called the Northside Testing and Consultation Center, the Northside Center for Child Development's first home was in the basement apartment located in the historic Dunbar Housing Development on 150th Street in Harlem. The research of Kenneth and Mamie Phipps Clark challenged the notion of differences in the mental abilities of black and white children, which played an important role in the desegregation of American schools. At the Center, the Clarks conducted experiments on racial biases in education. Their findings were presented at school desegregation trials in Virginia, South Carolina, and Delaware; and in 1954, in a famous footnote, those findings were cited in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, the landmark Supreme Court decision that ruled public-school segregation unconstitutional. Kenneth Clark was the first African American to earn a doctorate in psychology at Columbia, to hold a permanent professorship at the City College of New York, to join the New York State Board of Regents and to serve as president of the American Psychological Association. In addition to his work as a psychologist and educator, he assisted corporations with racial policies and minority hiring programs. His books include Prejudice and Your Child (1955), Dark Ghetto (1965), A Possible Reality (1972), and Pathos of Power (1975). During Columbia's student protests in 1968, Clark, whose son Hilton (Columbia College 1968) was a leader of the Society of Afro-American Students, served as mediator between the black student protesters in Hamilton Hall and the administration. Mamie Phipps began studying self-perception in black children as a graduate student at Howard University, where she met and married Kenneth Clark. Between 1939 and 1940, the two published three major articles on this subject. Phipps Clark continued her work at Columbia where, in 1943, she became the first African-American woman and the second African American (after her husband) in the University's history to receive a psychology doctorate. It was her work on the way black children seemed to prefer white dolls to black ones that particularly impressed the Supreme Court justices. In 1966, Columbia recognized the couple's work by awarding each the Nicholas Murray Butler Silver Medal. Prior to the establishment of the Northside Center for Child Development (Northside Testing and Consultation Center), the Clarks decided to tackle the lack of services for troubled youth in Harlem. They approached nearly every social service agency throughout New York City with their modest proposal to urge established agencies to expand their programs to provide social work, psychological evaluation, and remediation for youth in Harlem, since at that time there were virtually no mental-health services in the community. Each agency they explored rejected their proposal and they decided to open their own developmental center to address those needs that were lacking for Harlem families and the youth. In 1948, Northside moved to the 6th floor of the New Lincoln School, located at West 110th Street across Central Park. In 1974, Northside moved its headquarters east one block in Schomburg Plaza on Fifth Avenue. Today, the Northside Center continues its mission to further the healthy development of children and families and empower them to respond gainfully to negative communal factors, including racism and its related consequences. By providing comprehensive, high quality mental health and educational services, coupled with research, Northside is able to assist children and families in their development to seek their full potential. Under the leadership of Executive Director Dr. Thelma Dye, Northside Center doors are open to over 500 families and children who walk in on any given day for support, guidance, psychological evaluations, and therapeutic services or just to talk about their day or utilize the library of books available at the center. Mr. Speaker, in the words of Dr. Dye, ``whether children and families come to Northside because they are deeply troubled and look to us for solace, compassion, direction and understanding, or they come because they are excited and happy and look forward to the next enjoyable learning adventure, we welcome them. We work toward empowering and helping them learn and grow in an environment that reinforces their strengths, their cultures, their self-worth and their dignity. What we do at Northside is important, challenging and immensely rewarding.'' I ask my colleagues and our Nation to join me in this special Congressional Recognition on the 65th Anniversary of the Northside Center for Child Development, Inc.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor, recognize, and celebrate Mr. Courtney C. Brown. Courtney C. Brown is a long time resident of Manhattan, a staple of Harlem, and a tireless advocate for human rights. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina and a Masters in Social Work from Hunter College, School of Social Work in New York City. He completed his post graduate work in Education at City College and Columbia University Teachers College, and completed the New York Seminary Program at the New School for Social Research. Mr. Brown has been active in Harlem and throughout New York for many years. His employment experience has ranged from a caseworker for the New York City Department of Welfare in 1965, to academic Professor, to Regional Director of the Urban League of Westchester County, Inc. from 1976 until 1983. In the mid 1970's, Mr. Brown began working at the New York State Division of Human Rights as a Director of Community and Voluntary Services. In May of 1987, he earned the Position of Human Rights Specialist, a position he holds today. He was honored with the 2006 Governor's Tribute to African American Leaders of Excellence in Service State Award. Mr. Brown's dedication to our community is outstanding to say the least, and I am most proud of all the contributions to my Congressional District that Courtney C. Brown has made. Mr. Brown's civic priorities have earned him a well regarded reputation of devout social dedication. He has served as Warden and Clerk of the vestry at St. Phillip's Episcopal Church, Vice President of St. Philips Housing Corporation, Trustee of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, Chairperson of New York Chapter, Union of black Episcopalians, as well as belonging to numerous Boards of Directors. He is a member of the Alpha Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Mr. Brown has been honorably recognized for his many deeds, including in 1988, when he received the Ellen Lurie Award for thirty-five years of community and civic work in New York City, a twenty thousand dollar award, which he donated to St. Phillip's church. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Courtney C. Brown has provided mentorship to our youth and much needed guidance for our elderly. He stands for the empowerment of our community and healthy development of our families. I ask my colleagues and our Nation to join me in this special Congressional Recognition of Mr. Courtney C. Brown.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Let me thank Mr. Kucinich, and I support his efforts over the years, but especially today, in allowing this very sensitive constitutional question to be debated. I asked him and almost pleaded that he allow me to follow my friend Dan Burton, because nothing could better prove to our colleagues and those that know both of us how nonpartisan this issue is and should be. This is not a question, really, of past Presidents who always thought they were doing the best for the United States of America when they put our men and women in harm's way. Not one of them ever thought that they were doing anything immoral. This is not a Democratic problem; it's not a Republican problem; it's not a problem of the President of the United States, not Nixon, not Kennedy, not Johnson, certainly not President Obama, certainly not the Bushes. It's a problem of the House of Representatives and the United States Senate. This is a congressional problem. We have not fulfilled our responsibility. Some people I have heard say, well, this hasn't reached a level that it should be war. Well, ask the men and women that make the sacrifices and come home and leave their fallen friends there whether this was a war. Ask those mothers and fathers and children who have lost their loved ones whether this is war. It's easy for us to say that we are not going to get involved; let the President have the authority. But in the final analysis, when we go to the funerals, these brave men and women may not come from your districts because they don't have to make the sacrifices somehow in these United States. We know who has to volunteer, who makes the sacrifices, and we sit back and wash our hands and say we didn't think that this reached a level that we had to give approval to the President of the United States. I am not saying that the President is right or wrong. I am saying we are. And, Mr. Kucinich, I thank you for the opportunity, because no longer should there be a debate as to whether or not it's Libya, whether it's Korea or wherever it is. We have a constitutional authority. Thank you for giving us an opportunity to talk about this as Members of the United States Congress.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I ask that the gentleman from New York, Peter King, join with me at this time. It is a great honor for us at this time to present to you a young lady who did it the hard way. She's earned it. She's here with her husband, Bill, her mother, Pat, her dad, Jack. Bill and Katie, the children, are here. And symbolic of what a great country that we have during this time, a person with her credentials can go to the voters, and show that in this great country of ours, the people govern. In order to give her the bipartisan support that she truly deserves, I would like to yield at this time to my friend, Peter King.

Mr. RANGEL. I present to you Congresswoman Kathleen Courtney Hochul.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentlewoman from New York, the Honorable Kathleen Courtney Hochul, be permitted to take the oath of office today. As pointed out, her certificate of election has not arrived, but there is no contest and no question has been raised with regard to her election.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. I think those of us who are Members of Congress or within the Beltway understand that this is a political thing that's going on at one of the most serious financial times that our Nation is facing. I only wonder whether or not our friends and creditors abroad, or those that respect the United States and even try to follow our fiscal ways in thinking that this is the strongest country in the entire world--for them to follow what we are doing, it is an embarrassment to the House, as well as the Senate, that the President of the United States of America would ask that our country be safe from a fiscal point of view by allowing the traditional increase in the debt ceiling. Notwithstanding the political differences we had, we come together as a Nation, not to play games on each other for political reasons, but we come together as a symbol for the free world to understand that if it's the United States of America, you can depend on us. But now on the suspension calendar--which is an insult to those people who have studied the Constitution--in the House of Representatives, which is reserved for noncontroversial issues, when the whole world knows that this is controversial and is certainly not a subject that should be on a calendar called the suspension calendar. So we still have some time to rehabilitate ourselves. I don't know how more ridiculous we can get, but I do hope that we avoid this in the future.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I am recorded as having voted ``yes'' on H.R. 1216; it should have been a ``no.''

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I want to indicate that I missed the last vote inadvertently; and had I been here, I would have voted in the affirmative.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, May 20, 2011 marks the third anniversary of the Inauguration of Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou. Much has transpired in those 3 years. Wars continue to plague our society. However, in the Taiwan Strait, tensions have abated and much of the credit must be given to President Ma for the courageous efforts he has made to lessen the tensions between China and the Republic of China (Taiwan). While protecting the interests of the people of Taiwan, President Ma has made marked progress in the dialogue between the People's Republic of China (mainland China) and the Republic of China (Taiwan), thereby advancing peace in the Pacific. For this he is to be congratulated and commended and we wish him much continued success.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my deep appreciation to the gracious hospitality President Lee Myung-bak of South Korea and his countrymen have extended to me, Secretary of Commerce Locke and my esteemed colleagues on the Ways and Means Committee--Representatives Jim McDermott, Joe Crowley and Dave Reichert--during our recent trip to the Peninsula as part of a trade delegation. As a Korean War Veteran, I could not have been more proud to witness today's Dynamic Korea. Seoul's skyscrapers, booming businesses and rising apartment buildings are a testament to the resiliency and determination of the Korean people. There are presently more than two million Americans of Korean descent living in our own country. In my home state of New York, there are more than 200,000 recent immigrants and native-born Korean-Americans who make significant contributions to our communities. It is no wonder that trade and investment between the United States and Korea has been growing rapidly over the past few years. South Korea is the seventh-largest trading partner of the United States, with more than $80 billion in trade passing between our two countries. Korea is also the world's 11th-largest economy, the sixth largest market for U.S. agricultural goods, and the third largest destination for U.S. foreign direct investment in the Asia-Pacific region. Korea has always been one of our closest and most important allies. Free trade between U.S. and Korea will strengthen our respective economies. In a speech to the American Chamber of Commerce in Seoul, Secretary Locke noted that ``the U.S.-Korea trade pact is the United States' most significant trade agreement in 17 years. And it's estimated to increase American economic output more than our last nine trade deals combined.'' In both countries, consumers will see lower prices for goods and services, businesses will have better access to supplies and technology, and workers will find more jobs available to them. In addition, ratification of the agreement will enhance security and stability in Northeast Asia. A stronger South Korean economy is a bulwark against threats from North Korea. I remain astounded by the economic success that Korea achieved since I first landed at the Pusan Perimeter in the summer of 1950. There is such a satisfaction in knowing that the noble service and sacrifice of the nearly 1.8 million American soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines were not made in vain. On a personal note, I especially thank President Lee Myung-Bak and his Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Park Sung-Choon for the moving ceremony held at the War Memorial of Korea in honor of my service and the U.S. veterans who fought to defend Korea sixty one years ago. Korea will always have a place in my heart as it does in the hearts of all veterans who have served then and those who serve now. In closing, I extend my appreciation to Foreign Minister Sung-Hwan Kim, Trade Minister Jong-Hoon Kim, and leaders in the National Assembly for their warm welcome. Our delegation is indebted to U.S. Ambassador Kathleen Stephens and her exceptional staff at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, as well as Secretary Locke's Department of Commerce staff, for their outstanding support and professionalism that made our trip successful. I am also grateful to my good friend, ROK Ambassador Duk-Soo Han, for his continuous work on strengthening the relationship between our two nations. He has been working tirelessly to move the U.S.-Korea FTA, and I look forward to the days and weeks ahead as the agreement moves forward and urge my colleagues to offer their own expressions of support.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, May 20, 2011 marks the third anniversary of the Inauguration of Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou. Much has transpired in those three years. Wars continue to plague our society. However, in the Taiwan Strait, tensions have abated and much of the credit must be given to President Ma for the courageous efforts he has made to lessen the tensions between China and the Republic of China (Taiwan). While protecting the interests of the people of Taiwan, President Ma has made marked progress in the dialogue between the People's Republic of China (mainland China) and the Republic of China (Taiwan), thereby advancing peace in the Pacific. For this he is to be congratulated and commended and we wish him much continued success.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, to recognize the lasting impact of the photo-journalists of the New York City Puerto Rican Community, as recently displayed at the 2011 New York Photo Festival. The renowned exhibition features eight photographers, who during the 1970's and 80's catalogued the daily lives and growth of their community. Frank Espada, Joe Conzo, Pablo Delano, Perla de Leon, Ricky Flores, David Gonzalez, Maximo Colon and Francisco Reyes II all became voices of the community through their art. They captured on film the diaspora that makes New York City truly special as well as the everyday pioneers whose struggles inch our nation closer to our founding ideals. During the decades that span these photos, the Puerto Rican community in New York rose up against prejudices that prevented them from enjoying their equal rights and established a more inclusive pride in their cultural heritage. Amidst the upheaval and hardships, these photographers captured the beauty in their surroundings. Today their work reveals a unique perspective into the rise of the New York's Hispanic Community. I have attached for the record a recent Daily News article, written by Carolina Gonzalez previewing the exhibition. Mr. Speaker, these photographers and their work must not be forgotten. Thanks to the efforts of Adriana Teresa Letorney, people from all over the district, the city, the country can discover the visual evidence of the Puerto Rican community in transition, from outcasts to vibrant, integral parts of our great nation. [From the New York Daily News, May 11, 2011] Exhibit Sshowcases Work of 8 Photographers Who Documented Puerto Rican Community in '70s and '80s (By Carolina Gonzalez) Several people carry oversize papier-mache puppets representing the Three Wise Men while others, dressed as shepherds, herd actual sheep. They walk into one of the arched passageways along upper Park Ave., making tracks in a dusting of snow. This scene from Dia de Reyes is instantly recognizable to longtime New Yorkers familiar with El Barrio folkways. The image, taken in 1978 by Frank Espada, is representative of several dozen on display at a new exhibit dedicated to eight Puerto Rican photographers documenting their community. Titled ``Dia''--not after the Spanish word for ``day,'' but after the Greek word for ``across''--the show is presented at the FotoVisura Pavilion as part of the annual New York Photo Festival, which opens today at DUMBO Arts Center, 111 Front St., Brooklyn, and runs through Sunday. The images are primarily from the 1970s and 1980s, set in the South Bronx, East Harlem and the lower East Side. Many were taken when the photographers were in their 20s. ``What I was looking for was a moment in time that the Puerto Rican community took a stand in who they were and started to develop its own voice,'' said curator Adriana Teresa Letorney. ``It's important for my generation to see that, how this group became a voice of a community.'' Letorney, who arrived from San Juan eight years ago to study art, created FotoVisura, the organization sponsoring the show, as a service for new and veteran photographers, offering online space to show and share photographs. ``Dia'' is her first show dedicated entirely to U.S.-based Puerto Rican photographers. Some of Joe Conzo's shots document protests against the 1981 film ``Fort Apache, the Bronx,'' which many community members saw as exploiting stereotypes of Bronx Puerto Ricans as savage criminals. An image by Espada of young dancers from Ballet Hispanico, arms in the air and heads back, is as tender as any by Degas. Some shots have elements burned into the popular imagination as representative of Puerto Rican communities: burned-out buildings, run-down businesses, dirty streets. But as in several images by Pablo Delano, Perla de Leon, Ricky Flores and David Gonzalez of happy children at play in these settings, it is clear that where others saw ruins, these shooters saw life. For all the photographers, the work comes from a period when they began to see themselves as serious shooters with a responsibility to document their communities. But not all ended up as fine-arts photographers. Flores continues to work in journalism. Gonzalez is better known for his journalistic writing, primarily at the New York Times. De Leon is known as a filmmaker. Conzo's day job is as an emergency medical technician, although he continues to document hip-hop and salsa culture as a hobby. Delano continues to work as a documentary photographer and as a professor at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. And Espada, at 80 the oldest in the group, considers himself ``half-retired.'' The show is presented as a projected slide show, not a traditional exhibit of printed photos. ``Having it be a slide show in a way represents how this was a transient stage in our lives, the impermanence of things,'' Flores said. ``Why aren't more people outside of our community aware of what happened? How did our history get swept away?''

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, to recognize the lasting impact of a coalition from all across the country, now known as the Freedom Riders, who showed great acts of courage fifty years ago in 1961 to help pave the way for all Americans--regardless of color and background--to have the same opportunities to pursue their dreams. They traveled to the deep South to challenge the codified injustice in place and bring about an end of segregation. James Farmer, the head of the Congress of Racial Equality, and his colleagues planned demonstration rides through the South because the Supreme Court's ruling of integration of bus and train stations and airports was not yet enforced. On May 4, 1961, thirteen riders--men and women, blacks and whites--left Washington, D.C. bound for New Orleans on May 17, the seventh anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education. Between May and September of 1961, people of all ages, color and gender throughout the country traveled to Jackson, Mississippi. The Riders desegregated stations by entering the `wrong' waiting room, sitting at the `wrong' lunch counter, using the `wrong' restroom. They encountered severe prejudice and brutality. My dear friend and patriot, Representative John Lewis, was struck by a crate. Another good friend and colleague of mine, Representative Bob Filner, was arrested and incarcerated for two months after refusing to post bond. Through their courage and determination, the Freedom Riders won. In September the Interstate Commerce Commission issued new regulations mandating an end to segregation in bus and train stations. Their success inspired more people to participate in Freedom Rides elsewhere around the South during 1961. These Rides eventually led the movement to its landmark victories--the Civil Rights Act in 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. They continue to inspire a new generation of activists, such as the students of the New York State Youth Leadership Council, who invoked the memory of the Freedom Riders as they marched from places like Washington Heights in my hometown of New York City all the way to our nation's capital to demonstrate their support for the DREAM ACT. Fifty years ago, Freedom Riders envisioned a country where everyone was given the equal opportunity to pursue their dreams. Thanks to their efforts, anyone in America can make his or her dream a reality by working hard with a can-do spirit. Today we honor the Freedom Riders by remembering their struggles and resolve, and by renewing our commitment to uphold their vision of promoting equal opportunity for all.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, on National Teacher Day, to recognize the important work of nearly 4 million teachers in public, private, charter and religious education institutions all throughout our great nation. Teachers go to work every day to educate, inspire and help children of all backgrounds to achieve their dreams and become successful. Among the eighty thousand educators in New York City is Dr. Althea Bradshaw- Tyson, principal of The Young Women's Leadership School (TYWLS) in my Northern Manhattan congressional district. I had the privilege of visiting The Young Women's Leadership School (TYWLS) of East Harlem and seeing firsthand the extraordinary impact Dr. Bradshaw-Tyson and the teachers have had on their students. Under their guidance, TYWLS of East Harlem has made history and headlines by providing low-income students of color an outstanding college-prep education and by offering a personalized, dynamic, hands-on learning environment where girls thrive academically. Nearly every student of TYWLS graduates on time and attends four-year colleges. At a time when our education system needs stronger support, our teachers are faced with innumerable obstacles. They are being blamed for the deficit, their rights taken away and wages slashed. Even worse, their livelihoods are being threatened by mass layoffs in school systems across America. Yet class sizes keep increasing as school budgets keep being cut. We cannot hope to win the future without an educated and inspired workforce. Throughout this National Teacher Appreciation Week as we honor their invaluable service and efforts, let us remember the life- changing impact of outstanding educators such as Dr. Bradshaw-Tyson, and continue to support our nation's teachers.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Thank you for giving me this opportunity. This substitute budget is listed as the ``Progressive budget.'' For reasons that clearly anyone can take a deep breath and see, as opposed to what Mr. Ryan is presenting to us as Republican, this is really what our country is all about: building on the great things that we've done and making certain that the young people who follow us will be able to say that we have improved their opportunities. Make no mistake about it: Borrowing trillions of dollars and paying interest on that money puts us in a very bad economic position, not only in our country, but throughout the world. I assume that none of us here wants to spend a lot of time pointing fingers at each other about how we got to be where we are. One thing is abundantly clear: If America is going to be progressive, it has to find a progressive solution in order to get out of that.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Thank you for this opportunity. Unlike so many of my colleagues, I don't have any charts or anything to point out the direction in which I would want my great country to go, but I do have 40 young minds that come from the Frederick Douglass Academy, come from my alma mater on Lenox Avenue, come from Harlem. And in these minds are the dreams and the aspirations of all the young people that want to be a part of the progress that this Nation has made. Most of them, their parents have never had an opportunity to go to college, but have been the recipients of Pell Grants and other kinds of educational benefits. Most of their parents and grandparents have depended on Medicaid and Medicare. Most of these kids have dreams that most of your kids have today. It just seems to me that when they go home they should not be able to say that they witnessed the protection of the wealthiest people in the United States; but they should go home to say their dreams can be acquired, our Nation can be stronger, and they want to be partners in making certain that America can be all that she can be. So as we welcome them, they are only symbolic, they are only representative of the young people of our great country, and I hope we can see clear to support them. Thank you for the opportunity.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Thank you, Madam Speaker. As we're about to close this part of the legislative morning expressions of belief, I would just like to say that for decades, so many people have said that we can't tell the difference between Democrats and Republicans. Well, I think that is over, that the Republicans, in their Ryan-projected budget, have made it abundantly clear that there is a big difference. All Americans--Democrats, Republicans, and independents--know that we have a tremendous deficit, that the interest is just blocking out programs that we have to support. While it's abundantly clear that there is an emergency that we have to deal with, the Republicans' method of doing this, through the Ryan budget, is to look for the most vulnerable people that we have--the poor that are sick, the older people that are sick, our young people that are trying to get an education. It seems to me if we take a look at the alternative, in investing now for the future of this great country of ours, to make certain that education is a part of what we're doing, investing in our infrastructure so that as we pay off the debt we are still investing for the future, this is what the Democratic Party is all about. And, Madam Speaker, I truly believe this is what America is all about.