Charlie Rangel

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, it seems like my friends on the other side got the wrong bill. If you want support for an inquiry, let's talk about it. We want the taxpayers' money back, no matter who is wrong. So talking about the inquiry, we are talking about recouping the taxpayers' money. I yield to my friend, Mr. Blumenauer, from Oregon.

Mr. RANGEL. Let me say to my friend that you have to look at me and read my lips. This issue was not before the conference committee. Now, it may have been on the other side. And after I say that, I am telling you that this has nothing to do with this being the right time to correct anything that you allege is wrong. These people are getting away with murder. They are getting paid for the destruction that they have caused our communities. And before we leave here, we have to decide not what they did on the other side, because no one back home was asking about the conference report, they are asking, ``Are these people going to take away bonuses that taxpayers have paid for?'' And I think that Danny Davis, the gentleman from Illinois, might be in a better position to explain our position in the majority, for 1 minute.

Mr. RANGEL. May I inquire as to the time remaining on both sides?

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker I would like to yield to a distinguished member of the Ways and Means Committee, Mr. Etheridge, 1 minute. (Mr. ETHERIDGE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Davis).

Mr. RANGEL. I would like to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis).

Mr. RANGEL. I certainly wish I'd heard the Republican freshmen proposal before, because we really wanted to get a bipartisan solution to this problem. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hare).

Mr. RANGEL. At this time I'd like to yield 1 minute to a person that was one of the prime movers in this concept, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney).

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the leader of our Democratic caucus, indeed, a leader in the Congress, the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson).

Mr. RANGEL. Let the church say ``amen.'' I would like to yield 30 seconds to Congressman Kratovil from Maryland on this subject.

Mr. RANGEL. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RANGEL. I thank the remarks of the other side, and I appreciate and have a great deal of respect for those Members that want to inquire about how these contracts came about, who knew what, and when did they know it. The Ways and Means Committee has no jurisdiction over these questions, whether they are valid or not. The real question is, do you really believe that people who did this damage to our families, to our community, to our country and, indeed, the world, deserve a bonus? If you want to know whether it is 90 percent or 100 percent or whether the State or local governments get the 10 percent, that is another question. We are not always right, but what we are saying is that the American people do not want their taxpayers' money paying for bonuses for people who have caused such destruction, and to that we have unanimity. So at the end of the day, when we put this on the suspension calendar, it is because we didn't think it was controversial. We didn't think it was a Democratic idea or a Republican idea. We thought you felt the frustration of your constituents in saying stop the thievery at taxpayers' expense. Now, this has been going on. No one can deny this will not happen. I urge you to vote for this bill for the American people.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in celebration of Women's History Month and The Network Journal's Eleventh Annual 2009 Twenty- Five Influential Black Women In Business Honorees. Since 1998, The Network Journal has recognized the outstanding performance of 25 African-American women in the public, private, entrepreneurial and nonprofit sectors throughout this nation and their impact to the world economy. The Network Journal is a monthly business magazine with more than 88,000 readers. The publication is distributed nationwide with a focus on the Tri-state area (NY/NJ/CT) and features business articles of interest such as finance, technology, industry focus and ideas for Black professionals and small business owners. Aziz Gueye Adetimirin, Publisher of The Network Journal Magazine stated. ``The women we are honoring this year are in the forefront of American leadership and symbolize the diversity and advancement that has occurred across industry lines.'' Founded in 1993, The Network Journal (TNJ) knows that Black professionals, more than most, recognize the importance of owning their own enterprises, but more importantly, TNJ knows that there is a difference between direct ownership and someone else defining your future. TNJ is also aware that Black professionals and entrepreneurs can chart their own course and own their success. I am pleased to recognized TNJ's 2009 Twenty-Five Influential Black Women In Business Honorees: Marcella Maxwell Ed.D., former Director of Development and Government Affairs Concord Family Services, Brooklyn, NY; Verna Myers Esq. Principal, Verna Myers Consulting Group L.L.C., Newton, Mass.; Irma Norris, Production Executive, Harpo Productions, Inc. Chicago, Illinois; Valerie Oliver- Durrah, President/CEO, Neighborhood Technical Assistance Clinic, Brooklyn, NY; N. Joyce Payne Ph.D., Founder, Thurgood Marshall College Fund, New York, NY; Cheryl Pegus M.D., Chief Medical Officer, SymCare Personalized Health Solutions, West Chester, Pa.; Karen Rafferty, Product Marketing Director, Chevrolet Midsize and Sports Cars, General Motors Corp., Detroit. The Network Journal has been recognized by government agencies, premier media outlets and business and professional organizations. TNJ has received the ``Outstanding Commitment and Positive Contribution to the MBE Community'' from the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency, and has been featured on CNN and FOX Television networks.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise to ask my colleagues to pause and remember the life of a good friend, Ralph Mercado, the legendary Latin music executive who recently passed away on March 10, 2009. As much an icon as the musicians that he worked with and promoted, Mercado was a visionary innovator who helped popularize tropical music worldwide, including New York's mixture of popular Latin rhythms know as ``salsa.'' Mercado etched his name in the history books by building a record label whose various components (from a publishing company to a video and film production arm) helped make and take salsa to some of the largest stages around the world. A catalog of award-winning international hits across three decades transformed the Latino music industry, bringing respect not only to talented artists but also providing young Latinos with a way to connect with their parents, their roots and their communities. It all started in Brooklyn on Sept. 29, 1941. The son of a Dominican dockworker and a Puerto Rican factory worker, Mercado often commented that he learned merengue, the typical dance from the Dominican Republic, in the hallway of the family's fifth-floor walkup as soon as he could walk. He first fell in love with the rhythms while at the Palladium Nightclub when he was only 16, watching the big bands of Machito, Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez. As a teenager, he was famed for producing ``waistline parties'' in apartment building basements where a couple's admission was a penny per inch of their dates' waistline. Using the same concept, he then opened the 3 & 1 Club where he began booking local Latin bands such as Eddie Palmieri and Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz, among many others. This led to Mercado's first management, booking, and promotions company called Showstoppers. He promoted legendary R&B acts that included James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight & the Pips, the Stylistics, the Chi-lites, starting a salsa-soul music trend. Mercado also continued to open many doors to up and coming artists. He helped to expand the Fania All-Stars, promoted dances at the Cheetah Nightclub, and presented Latin jazz at the Red Garter and, later, at the Village Gate and other downtown venues. His partnership with Jack Hooke, the late Tito Puente's longtime manager, helped create the Salsa Meets Jazz Series at the Village Gate and the Latin Jazz Jam as part of the JVC Jazz Festival. A great judge of talent, Mercado opened RMM Management in 1972 representing Eddie Palmieri and Ray Barretto. He went on to manage virtually every name in the industry, including its two biggest stars: Tito Puente and Celia Cruz. His concerts grew more popular and by 1987 the wildly successful ``Latin Tinge'' nights at the Palladium on New York's 14th Street were bringing 3,000 ``salseros'' to dance every Thursday night. Mercado managed these events until 1992, when he refocused his energies on the creation of a record label, RMM. Mercado expanded his venture into numerous companies including RMM Records, RMM Filmworks, and two publishing houses. With over 140 artists signed to RMM Records, the label sold millions of recordings a year. The recipient of countless awards and proclamations, Ralph Mercado was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Tribute by Billboard Magazine in 1999. Always an innovator, Ralph Mercado pioneered the presentation of salsa music in Africa, South America, Asia, and Israel. He was one of the first to bring Latin music concerts to such prestigious venues as Radio City Music Hall with Julio Iglesias' New York performance; Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall; the Beacon Theater; and Madison Square Garden. The truth of course is that Mercado's death this week leaves a tremendous void in the hearts of not just his family and friends but also countless Latin music fans around the world. However, his body of personal and professional work leaves a distinguished legacy whose impact can be seen not just in the industry he helped create, but also in the countless lives that his music touched. Little boys and girls can dream of singing the songs that their parents know and love thanks to Ralph's extraordinary commitment, energy and discipline . So Madam Speaker, rather than mourn his passing, I hope that my colleagues will join me in celebrating the life of Ralph Mercado, Jr. His is an inspirational story for all Americans, one that exemplified greatness in every single way.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in celebration of Women's History Month and The Network Journal's Eleventh Annual 2009 Twenty- Five Influential Black Women In Business Honorees. Since 1998, The Network Journal has recognized the outstanding performance of 25 African-American women in the public, private, entrepreneurial and nonprofit sectors throughout this nation and their impact to the world economy. The Network Journal is a monthly business magazine with more than 88,000 readers. The publication is distributed nationwide with a focus on the Tri-state area (NY/NJ/CT) and features business articles of interest such as finance, technology, industry focus and ideas for Black professionals and small business owners. Aziz Gueye Adetimirin, Publisher of The Network Journal Magazine stated. ``The women we are honoring this year are in the forefront of American leadership and symbolize the diversity and advancement that has occurred across industry lines.'' Founded in 1993, The Network Journal (TNJ) knows that Black professionals, more than most, recognize the importance of owning their own enterprises, but more importantly, TNJ knows that there is a difference between direct ownership and someone else defining your future. TNJ is also aware that Black professionals and entrepreneurs can chart their own course and own their success. I am pleased to recognize TNJ's 2009 Twenty-Five Influential Black Women In Business Honorees: Abenaa Abboa-Offei, Senior Vice President, Customer and Community Connections Affinity Health Plan, New York City; Kelly Chapman, Director, Diversity Recruiting, Microsoft Corp., Cleveland; Amina Dickerson, Senior Director, Global Community Involvement Kraft Foods, Chicago; Joi Gordon Esq. Chief Executive Officer Dress for Success Worldwide, New York City; Brenda P. Grant, Infection Preventionist, Stamford Hospital, Stamford, Connecticut; Cecelia ``Ci Ci'' Holloway, Managing Director, Diversity and Inclusion for the Americas UBS Investment Bank, Stamford, Connecticut; Michele Hoskins, Michele Foods Inc. South Holland, Illinois; Gayle S. Lanier, Vice President and General Manager, Nortel Knowledge Services Nortel Networks, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina; Ellin LaVar, Owner, LaVar Hair Designs, New York City; Sibongile Magubane, Head of Finance Sports Cars, General Motors Corp., Detroit; Lillian Roberts, Executive Director, District Council 37, AFSCME, AFL-CIO, New York City; Teresa Wynn Roseborough Esq., Senior Chief Litigation Counsel, MetLife Inc., New York City; Sandra Scott Esq., Vice President of Legal Affairs, Home Box Office Inc., New York City; Gerri Warren-Merrick, President Warren, Merrick Communications, New York City; Elizabeth Williams, President and CEO, Roxbury Technology Corp., Jamaica Plain, Mass.; Karen Williams, Associate Publisher, Marketing, Essence Magazine, New York City; Rebecca Williams, Senior Vice President, Executive Creative Officer, Uniworld Group Inc., New York City; and Brenda Williams-Butts, Director of Community Engagement & Audience Development, WNYC Radio, New York City. The Network Journal has been recognized by government agencies, premier media outlets and business and professional organizations. TNJ has received the ``Outstanding Commitment and Positive Contribution to the MBE Community'' from the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency, and has been featured on CNN and FOX Television networks.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to speak on behalf of the building, 799 United Nations Plaza, being named after my late friend, Ronald Brown. I want to thank his family and his community, the central Harlem community, for the support that they have given to this bill, as well as the community who loved and respected him all of his life. I want to thank Chairmen Oberstar and Holmes Norton for allowing this to become a part of our American history. Ron Brown was an extraordinary human being. He was born in 1941. My relationship to him was really outstanding since, while I was in school, I was the desk clerk at a rather famous hotel in Harlem called the Theresa Hotel. Ron Brown's father was the manager of that hotel. So I got to know Ron at a very, very early age, and was able to see the remarkable career that he staked out for himself. Bright, articulate. He was one of those type of Americans that could do most anything that he wanted to do. He worked for Senator Kennedy; he went to St. John's Law School; he worked for the Urban League. He became an outstanding member of the Democratic Party. But the most remarkable thing about Ron Brown is that as Secretary of Commerce under the Clinton administration, he became one of the greatest ambassadors that the American government ever had abroad. It wasn't that he was just extending trade and getting people to buy our goods and services. It's that he was extending love, attention, sensitivity and, especially in the developing countries, where we had not spent the time that we should have, he not only sold our wares, but he was able to sell our reputation as a country that wanted to help other countries. And so it is with a great deal of pleasure for those of us from Harlem, those of us from New York, those of us who understood and knew Ron Brown, and even the Clinton administration, who gave him this great opportunity to have a building named right across from the United Nations, which would have the responsibility for all of the member nations, as well as the employees there, to be able to establish American policies and embassies throughout the world, that there will be a little bit of Ron Brown's reputation as being a great American in everything that we are able to do in that building. So, I thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to join with the millions of Americans who believe that Ron Brown made us taller, made us more proud, and certainly more respected. God has taken his life far too early, but we praise God for allowing him to share his wonderful life with us.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, once in a while someone leaves this Earth and their life's story needs to be told, not just because it's interesting, but because it illustrates lessons that should be passed along. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recall the life Wilbert ``Bill'' Tatum, longtime publisher of the Amsterd News and my personal friend, who, to the sadness and shock of my community, died suddenly last week. Bill lived the life that people dream of and few attain, and while doing so became a friend, mentor, and ``brother'' to countless people. In the early 1970s, Mr. Tatum, along with former State Comptroller H. Carl McCall and former Manhattan borough president Percy Sutton, bought the Amsterdam News. This venture into the news industry reflected their longtime involvement in civic activism and passion for their community. Bill maximized his passion as the paper's publisher, a role for which his life prepared him. Bill's voice goes back to his high school oratory competition days in North Carolina. He was a journalist, writing for three small newspapers that provided information to Black farmers. He served his country in the Marine Corps, graduated from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, and received his master's degree from Occidental College in Los Angeles. In New York, he was a community activist who served as deputy Manhattan Borough President under Percy Sutton's borough presidency and held various city-level posts. Under Bill's ownership, the Amsterdam News was a brash and controversial voice for the Black community, regularly scorching politicians like 1970's Mayor Ed Koch. He was one of the angriest--and most eloquent--of voices on issues of politics, civil rights, and community action. What some perceived as sensational journalism, we in the community knew reflected the honest views of the publisher and his readers. At the same time, he filled the pages with colorful articles on social and community happenings. Bill was a gentleman who loved people and derived no bigger joy than helping his community. He gave opportunities to scores of budding journalists and was a friend and professional mentor to many. A kind and decent person with a keen sense of humor, Bill was a man for all seasons and fierce defender of the causes he believed in. Despite an illness that confined him to a wheelchair, he and his beloved wife Susan continued their travels around the world. He entrusted his daughter Eli to succeed him as publisher and editor, and she has done an admirable and successful job in filling his shoes. Wilbert Bill Tatum will be remembered as an honorable man of tough love, who used his brilliant mind and the First Amendment to denounce injustices he saw in his community. His life reminds us that the greatest love we can share with others is the power to speak up and be honest about where we are and where we need to go. I will miss him dearly.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, it is with great honor and enthusiasm that I rise to congratulate my good friend Reverend Robert Royal as he joins his family, long time friends, and the Harlem community together in celebration of his 80th Birthday. This momentous and joyous occasion will be celebrated with an extraordinary affair on March 1, 2009 in the headquarters of ``Our Children's Foundation'' in my beloved village of Harlem. Reverend Royal has a very rich history that has given him life and longevity. It all began in the winter day of January 27, 1929. At the tender age of fifteen, Mary, his dear mother, gave birth and quickly abandon her newborn on the streets of Harlem. Among the many reasons that could compel a mother to make such a heart wrenching decision, one can only assume that uncertainty in her tender age and the economic downturn that was to become the Great Depression later on that year, were strong reasons for such a decisive conclusion. Robert Royal was placed in the old New York Hospital Founding Children's Home, under the administrations of the Catholic Archdioceses of New York. As a youngster, he was loved, cared for, and reared by nine surrogate mothers. Before this eighth birthday, he was transferred to the Riverdale Orphanage for Colored Children. In 1937, he was finally adopted by a distant uncle who lived in Stanford, Connecticut. Robert returned to Harlem and attended Cooper Junior High School. He excelled in his studies and was given the honor to represent his school at the New York Daily Mirror International Youth Forum. Among the 500 attendees, he was selected to be one of the five panelist chairs. He went on to complete his High School education at Seward Park High School. During the Korean War, there was a call to national service. He answered the call of conscription and become a warrior in the fight for freedom. Young Robert was among the many that had a near fatal experience, becoming a disabled Korean War Veteran. His heroic actions earned him two Bronze Stars and the President's coveted Distinguished Service Medal. Battered, wounded, with medals on his chest, and limited choices in his life, Royal returned to the Village of Harlem. He sought out to write his own ticket for a better future by entering the City College of New York. Like so many G.I.'s coming home from the war, he was able to take full advantage of the G.I. Bill. Higher learning resulted in an undergraduate degree in accounting with a minor in Law of Labor Standards. Robert's public service career began shortly thereafter at the NYC Department of Hospitals as an auditor. Later, he worked for the NYC Department of Public Works, the United States Internal Revenue Service, and as a publication typesetter for the United Nations. Robert's call to the ministry in 1974 led to entering New York Theological Seminary, where he received a Masters of Divinity. Reverend Royal is presently serving as Executive Director of the New Brighton Local Community Development Corporation and Minister of Social Justice at Saint Paul Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend Dr. V. DuWayne Battle. Reverend Royal continues to be known for his extraordinary commitment, energy, wisdom, discipline, principle, and clear purpose which have won the admiration of all who are privileged to come to know and work with him. I consider myself fortunate to have the opportunity to observe and experience his example as a personal inspiration. Madam Speaker, I ask that you and my distinguished colleagues join me in honoring and congratulating Reverend Robert Royal on his historic 80th Birthday. His constant dedication, commitment, and spiritual guidance is worthy of the highest esteem.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the life and achievements of Preston Wilcox and his commitment to community empowerment, education, and public service. In 2006, the passing of Preston Wilcox removed from the world a scholar whose academic stature was as profound as its practical application. Though he is no longer with us we will not forget the contributions he has made to Harlem and to society at large. Preston Wilcox was born in Youngstown, Ohio in 1923. He moved to New York after World War II. He went on to graduate from the City College of New York in 1949 and in 1957 he earned his Master's degree in social work at Columbia University. Mr. Wilcox utilized his skills to benefit the Harlem community from 1958-1964 where he served as a program consultant to the East Harlem Summer Festival, a United Neighborhood Houses initiative which was designed to prevent juvenile delinquency. He continued in this vein for the Massive Economic Neighborhood Development, and anti-poverty program. As a teacher, Mr. Wilcox taught courses in social work theory and community organization at Columbia University's School of Social Work, Clark Atlanta University, Medger Evers College, along with other institutions of higher education. As a practitioner, Mr. Wilcox was a strong advocate for parent participation in curriculum development and in the hiring of school supervisors and teachers. He also participated as a social researcher in the Princeton University six week summer studies program for junior high school students for what has now become the Upward Bound Program. After twenty years of involvement in the black educational movement he developed AFRAM Associates, a public service agency to provide technical assistance to community groups in the areas of education, economic development, and consumer rights. AFRAM operated a parent- implemented program in education funded by the Follow Through Program Division of Compensatory Education of the U.S. Office of Education. AFRAM also operated a farm experiment, AFRAM Farm, in upstate New York, as a campsite and recreational center for urban-bound families and groups. After his death, the acquisition of his personal and professional papers, writings, office files, and printed matter documenting his dual career as an educator and community organizer, by the Schomburg Center comprising twenty-one linear feet, add an important name to the roster of black intellectuals who made Harlem their home. Today, I am proud to pay tribute to the life of Mr. Preston Wilcox.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I stand before you today to acknowledge the importance of the United States' presence in the Caribbean during these difficult economic times and to enter into the record an editorial from the Carib News by Basil Wilson entitled ``Jamaica and the World Economy.'' As the world deals with the difficult economic challenges, there needs to be a renewed economic commitment to the Caribbean nations, who are also suffering from the spiraling effect of the weakened world economy. For many years, the United States has cultivated a relationship with the Caribbean that involved a strong history of generous remittances and a prospering reciprocal trade relationship. As a result, both the U.S. and the Caribbean have benefited. The United States must continue to uphold strong trading ties with the Caribbean islands to make certain their Gross Domestic Product is not greatly compromised. This is also not the time to decrease our level of relief efforts in the Caribbean community. We must understand that an economic decline in the First World results in an economic catastrophe in these Caribbean areas. As the world tries to gain control of the wavering economic calamity, let us not forget that our neighbors and friends in the Western Hemisphere are also dealing with the adverse effects of the global economy. It is especially during these times when there is a greater reliance on the Caribbean Diaspora's kindness and compassion to sustain the economic viability of their families. The U.S. government needs to be aware of the needs of the governments in the region for assistance in providing a necessary social safety net.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise with great sadness as I pay tribute to my dear friend Jordi Reyes-Montblanc who recently passed away. 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 as an outstanding advocate for the West Harlem community, fought strongly and passionately for his ideals regardless of how popular the issue. Jordi was a larger-than-life figure in the West Harlem community. For decades he was one of the area's most energetic activists, fighting for safe streets and cleaner parks, and especially championing the cause of affordable housing and homeownership for New Yorkers of modest means. Jordi delighted in his many contradictions. He was staunchly proud of his Cuban heritage. He was a fierce opponent of Communism who nonetheless fought for not-so-Capitalistic affordable housing policies. Jordi's story was the stuff of novels. He fled his native Cuba as a young adult in 1958, escaping the winds of communism that eventually swept the island. He joined the U.S. Marines, where he engaged in covert operations in Southeast Asia. Though, he never spoke much about his past to those outside of his closest circle of friends. He was an avid hunter who often demonstrating his trademark frankness. Jordi was a pioneer in the movement to allow low- and middle-income families to purchase their own apartments through the city's Housing Development Fund Corporation program, and in 1993 he lead the conversion of his own building to a limited-equity co-op. This activism on housing issues secured his appointment to Community Board 9 in the mid-1990s. It was during that period when he developed a close bond to Councilman Stan Michels, another significant local leader who passed away late last year. As Chair of Community Board 9, Jordi was fearless in speaking his mind on local issues, regardless of who he might offend. That quality could have earned him nothing but detractors on the Board, but instead the reverse happened: he was almost universally respected for his even-handedness and devotion to the community. Columbia University's plan to expand to a new campus in Manhattanville defined Jordi's tenure as Chair of the local community board. While maintaining that he wasn't opposed to the expansion per se, he became a vocal critic of the displacement of local residents and businesses which would result from the specific plan Columbia was advancing. Jordi thrusted his community board into the center of the fight on this issue, and he become a fixture in the city's media as an outspoken critic of the expansion. In his blog you can still find his thoughts on what he felt he was about. He states, ``I don't lead, I don't follow and I do the things my heart and conscience tells me are right for me to do, any one is welcome to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with me freely.'' Jordi Reyes-Montblanc will be long remembered for his extraordinary commitment, energy, wisdom, discipline, principle, and clear purpose which won the admiration of all who were privileged to come to know and work with him. I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to observe and experience his example as a personal inspiration. Madam Speaker, rather than mourn his passing, I hope that my colleagues will join me in celebrating the life of Jordi by remembering that he exemplified greatness in every way.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to share the optimism of the Caribbean people in response to the historic inauguration of Barack Obama on January 20th, 2009. The New York CARIB News has deemed the 44th presidency ``a watershed, a significant departure from where we once were as a nation.'' What a great feeling it is to know that when Mr. Obama put his hand on the Bible used by Lincoln to vow to uphold the nation's constitution, it was well received by people of the Caribbean and around the world. I share the sentiment expressed by the reporters of New York CARIB that it was a moment to savor. A news article in the publication titled, ``U.S./Caribbean-Relations: On the Verge of a new Chapter in America and World History,'' makes the case. [From the New York CARIB News, Jan. 20, 2009] On the verge of a New Chapter in America and World History As a soldier in the civil rights movement of almost half a century ago, a person on the front line of the battle for equality has lived through and has helped to break down the barriers that have opened the flood gates to next week's historic event. Naturally, John Lewis, a Congressman from Georgia and a sharecropper's son who shared the stage of the ``March on Washington'' in 1963 with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., quite clearly understands the monumental significance of the official swearing in Washington on January 20th, the inauguration of Barack Hussein Obama as the 44th President of the United States and the nation's first Black Commander-in- Chief. It has been a long time in coming. The road to the inauguration was soaked in the blood, sweat. and tears of millions, both Black and white, who like John Lewis, Marcus Garvey, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Roger Wilkins, and a long list of thousands of major iconic figures in American history, had a vision of what was possible in a country in which race was at the core of public policy. ``Without the Emancipation Proclamation, the sit-ins, the Freedom Rides, the march on Washington, there may not be a Barack Obama,'' was the way John Lewis summed up the set of building blocks, which have placed us on the cusp of a new chapter in America's history. It signals the promise of more than a new way of thinking but a fresh and inclusive approach to decision-making in a nation whose influence affects almost every corner of the globe. ``It's the pinnacle,'' said Roger Wilkins, a former university history professor in Washington, as he reflected on the impact of Obama's November 4th victory at the polls. It stands to reason, therefore, that as we look forward to Tuesday's momentous step we cast our minds back to the days when in 1857 the U.S. Supreme Court in the landmark Dred Scott case decided that Blacks ``had no rights which any white man was bound to respect.'' Next, it took President Abraham Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863 to free all slaves in Confederate States. Just in case, you think we are delving into ancient history to prove a point, just remember that it was about 50 years ago, George Wallace, Alabama's most notorious segregationist Governor, vowed ``segregation today . . . segregation forever.'' Less than 20 years before that, African American servicemen and women defended this country during the Second World War fighting or serving in segregated units. Who could have imaged back then that we would have lived to see the day when Colin Powell, a Black man with Caribbean family roots, would in less, than 40 years, become the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of State and much later the U.S. Secretary of State. And it was during Obama's lifetime, when he was two years old that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 became the law of the law, officially removing the stain of racial prejudice from our lives. It would take decades and scores of legal tests at the highest levels of our state and federal judicial systems to ensure that the Act was accepted by most Americans. Small wonder, then, that President Bill Clinton once described racism as ``America's curse.'' That's why when Chief Justice Roberts administers the presidential oath of office and Obama puts his hand on the Bible once used by Lincoln to vow to uphold the nation's constitution that people everywhere, not simply in the 50 states and in the U.S. territories would fully appreciate how far we have traveled and where the country is heading. But his mere presence in the White House wouldn't be enough to make the nation what we hope and dreamed it would be: a place where all persons would be judged on their merits and not on the color of their skins. Undeniably, America is not the same. Obama's election and his inauguration are like a watershed, a significant departure from where we once were as a nation. As a matter of fact, he couldn't have captured the presidency without the support of four of every 10 white voters who cast their ballots for him, alongside the 95 per cent of Blacks and the more than 60 per cent of Hispanics. On Tuesday, people of all ethnic groups, sizes and shapes, not only in the United States but around the world will savor the moment and thank God, Allah, Jesus, you name the supreme being, that they have lived long enough to see it. It's a feeling like no other.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for providing 100 years of legal advocacy and justice for all Americans. One hundred years ago today a coalition of activists, scholars, and intellectuals of various shades gathered together to challenge our United States to live up to the words of the Constitution for all Americans. This founding group was diverse in ethnicity but united in their thirst for equality. The catalyst behind the group's formation was the 1908 racial attacks against Blacks in Springfield, Illinois, the state capital and the birthplace of President Abraham Lincoln. Disheartened by the violence, which took the lives of two Blacks and five accidental Whites; the group formally organized on February 12, 1909, the birthday of President Lincoln. A year later, the national office of the NAACP was opened in New York City. W.E.B DuBois founding publisher of The Crisis, the organization's official publication, was instrumental in attracting distinguished African-American literary figures who became the voice of the Harlem Renaissance. The iconic scholar also became the intellectual leader and voice of the NAACP, where he took a strong position in demanding full integration for his people over Booker T. Washington's policy of accommodation. Due to the rabid racism of the day, the organization grew quickly and reached the peak of its membership during the civil rights struggles of the 1950's and 1960's. Rosa Parks, secretary of the NAACP chapter in Montgomery, Alabama, triggered the famous boycott of the bus system by refusing to give up her seat. The NAACP's greatest achievements were in the courtroom, where it challenged many of the laws that enshrined segregation. One of the best known cases was Brown vs. Board of Education, which in 1954 challenged the ``separate but equal'' doctrine that was the bulwark of the nation's segregationist policies. Thurgood Marshall, special counsel to the NAACP, led legal arguments before the Supreme Court in that case, as well as many other laws that promoted segregation. Marshall would go on to become the first African-American Justice on the Supreme Court. The NAACP fought against lynchings, Jim Crow laws, and otherwise challenged the system of laws which denied full citizenship for Blacks. The election of President Barack Obama represents a culmination of the NAACP's efforts over the years, particularly in gaining full voting rights for African-Americans. The work of the NAACP has not been without danger. Many NAACP members and staff have been victims of racial violence. Perhaps the best known, was the assassination of Medgar Evers, the NAACP field secretary in Mississippi, in 1962. The NAACP has many heroes across the country who have sacrificed in order to fulfill our nation's promise of democracy and freedom. Among the organization's heroes are my good friends, Hazel Dukes and Percy Sutton. Ms. Dukes participated in many NAACP marches and was arrested several times as a protester. She has also served as president of a New York chapter and national president of the organization. Percy Sutton, a long time member and former president of the NAACP, represented many civil rights workers, including Malcolm X. I salute them for their dedication to this organization. Ben Jealous, the new leader of the NAACP, has pointed out a new set of challenges to be addressed in the years ahead. Among them are racial injustices in the criminal justice system, improving educational resources, and removing any remaining obstacles to economic development. The challenges may be different from those addressed during the first 100 years, but they are no less important. Mr. Speaker, I proudly ask you and my colleagues in joining me in honoring the NAACP for 100 years of distinguished service to our country.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise with great sadness as I pay tribute to my dear friend Gilberto Calderon who recently passed away. 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 in music, etched his name in history as Joe Cuba, ``Father of Latin Boogaloo.'' The death of Joe Cuba on February 15, 2009, brought immense sorrow and loss to his family and friends, and to the countless fans and individuals associated with Latin Rhythms and Salsa in the music world. The salsa band leader was famed for weaving a fluid and bilingual mix of musical influences dubbed ``The Boogaloo.'' Born Gilberto Calderon in 1931 in New York to a family from Puerto Rico, the band leader and conga player helped change the sound of salsa in the 1960s. Until then, most popular salsa had been played by orchestras. But Cuba led a six-member band with three singers who also played percussion and danced a routine. He had a dynamic group with a signature vibraphone-fronted sound that caused a craze because it was different. Albums such as 1966's Bang! Bang! Push, Push, Push incorporated elements of salsa, Latin jazz and R&B and featured lyrics in both English and Spanish. Joe Cuba's music career started with La Alfarona X in 1950. In 1955 the Joe Cuba Sextet came into being and his vibra-harp sound caught on. In 1962, when the group recorded ``To Be with You'' for Seeco Records, the band began to soar to popularity because of Nick Jimenez's arrangements and the vocals of Cheo Feliciano and Jimmy Sabater. When the boogaloo era arrived, the majority of the popular New York bands were put out of work. The Cuba sound changed with its recordings of ``El Pito'' and ``Bang Bang.'' He not only sold millions but enabled The Cuba Sextet to enjoy the No. 1 spot in the Latin music world along with the Eddie Palmieri Orchestra for years to come. The musician, a friend and contemporary of the late salsa giant Tito Puente, was an extraordinary man who lived a life of achievement which advanced a music that was at the forefront of the Nuyorican movement. Through these melodies brought by America's last citizens, the children of Puerto Rican emigrants, evolved new culture, arts, and politics. Joe Cuba will be long remembered for his extraordinary commitment, 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 in and around music. I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to observe and experience his example as a personal inspiration. Madam Speaker, rather than mourn his passing, I hope that my colleagues will join me in celebrating the life of Joe Cuba by remembering that he exemplified greatness in every way.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, today I rise to congratulate Randolph D. Sturrup and Kurt Williamson for creating BET Network's latest television series, ``Harlem Heights,'' premiering on March 2, 2009 at my beloved Harlem's grandest stage, the Apollo Theatre. Harlem Heights is a half-hour reality docu-drama highlighting the ups of and downs of seven young African-American professionals struggling to balance hectic work schedules with complicated social lives. It offers a window into the fascinating world of New York's young, Black and fabulous crowd. Picking up where college leaves off, the show features a diverse cast of twenty-somethings with different backgrounds and personalities but common goals: making the post college leap into adulthood and finding love and success in the big city on their own terms. The concept of Harlem Heights evolved from the creator's deep fascination with Harlem and the Harlem Renaissance. Some of our most prolific leaders from the past in the world of literature and music such as Langston Hughes, Claude McKay, Zora Neale Hurston, and Richard Wright all lived in Harlem and started their careers there. Randy and Kurt wanted to tell the story of a group of friends all between the ages of 25-30 who represent the new Harlem renaissance and all live within the world's most famous neighborhood. The show explores the ups and downs of being in your mid-twenties in the chapter post college. Some of the issues they explore in the series include: career transition, love, life challenges, and community. Harlem has gone through many changes. In the 1950s Harlem was predominately Black and was a thriving community. The pulse of American culture always began in Harlem through the musical and literature influences. Also Harlem is the home of some of our great political figures during the civil rights movement. There are so many historical landmarks in Harlem such as the Apollo Theater, Cotton Club, Grant's Tomb, and Abyssinian Baptist Church. Over the next two decades Harlem became a symbol of urban decay with crime and drugs that infested the community. In recent years, the Harlem community has emerged as a place of opportunity and resurgence. There's a climate of change and progression within Harlem that is symbolic and parallel to the lives of the cast of Harlem Heights. This show represents the new renaissance of young, talented and successful African-Americans that are emerging as leaders and trendsetters within the Harlem community. So Madam Speaker, I ask that in this Black History Month, that you and my distinguished colleagues join me in celebrating the creation of such a remarkable and impressive series that all Americans can equally enjoy.