Charlie Rangel

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Thank you again, Dr. McDermott, Mr. English, and all of those that I know everybody in this House is sensitive to the plight that these unfortunate, hardworking people find themselves. All I can suggest, from a very political point of view, is that at some point when we get home, somebody is going to ask us how did we vote? And as they put together their budgets and try to figure out the rent, the mortgages, the tuition, the gas prices, I just hope that you perfect the arguments of those of you that oppose this bill in such a way that you expect they would understand what the heck you are talking about.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Guyana's 42nd anniversary of independence. Guyana achieved independence on May 26, 1966, and became the Co- operative Republic of Guyana on February 23, 1970, with a new constitution. Guyana is a located on the northern coast of South America between Venezuela, Brazil, and Suriname. It is the lone English-speaking nation on the South American mainland, a country of 83,000 square miles, dense tropical forests, and 800,000 people. This former British colony is rich in human resources, bauxite, gold and arable land. The young country had promising expectations but success was not immediately attained. In fact, Guyana, at times, is described as one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere and qualifies for debt concessions through the global initiative to reduce burden on the world's highly indebted poor countries. After years of economic decline, failure to maintain its infrastructure, political conflict between Afro and Indo Guyanese, Guyana's largest ethnic groups, and factors that fueled an exodus of its brightest, the country needed reform. Today, it is rebuilding both its economy and infrastructure and with prospects of finding large deposits of oil, Guyana now has the potential for growth and prosperity expected of it since the 1960s. Guyana still faces many obstacles today. Earlier this year, two massacres took the lives of more than 20 men, women and children but a period of relative calm has followed. Yes, crime and violence remain a serious problem as they do elsewhere in the Caribbean. The latter is the dichotomous image that Guyana presents to the world as it celebrates its 42nd anniversary of independence. As a member of the international community, Guyana has made important contributions to the resolutions of major conflicts around the world through its participation in the United Nations Security Council, in the Organization of American States, on the World Court and in other global bodies. This anniversary offers us an occasion to thank the people of Guyana for their strength, their courage, and their contributions to our global community. So, on this anniversary of independence, I stand in camaraderie with the Guyanese people to celebrate and appreciate the growth and change of Guyana.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a champion of environmental health and a stellar legislator, Stanley Michels, a 24- year New York City Council member whose birthday we honor today. Three decades ago, he set for himself an ambitious task: to render visible the invisible, to--as he put it--``convince City Hall that there is life in Manhattan above 96th Street.'' A lifelong resident of northern Manhattan, he felt it imperative that he and his neighbors in West Harlem, in Washington Heights, in Inwood, in Morningside Heights, in Central Harlem, be given a voice. After an illustrious career on the Council, it's safe to say he has succeeded, and then some. The litany of legislative achievement attached to his name speaks to his political and personal philosophies: Prioritize the quality of life of everyday people. Hold steadfast to the guiding principles of fairness and pragmatism. And always, always stand by those who need most defending. An environmentalist at heart whose driving motivation was consistently the health and well-being of his constituency, Michels led the charge for cleaner air and the protection of the area's water supply. He advanced a precedent-setting law aiming to protect children from lead poisoning in apartments. He spearheaded an expansion of the city's recycling and waste-reduction programs, requiring the weekly collection of recyclables and granting the Council the power to approve the city's Solid Waste Management Plan. He railed against smoking and excessive noise in public places, limiting both in his time on the Council. Two short months after the attacks of Sept. 11, he held the first public hearings on air quality and the environmental impact of the World Trade Center collapse. For nearly a decade, he chaired the Committee on Environmental Protection, early in his tenure bringing together at-odds parties in the battle over the city's watershed and succeeded in creating the dialogue that led to the Watershed Memorandum of Agreement, still effectively safeguarding the city's water-supply system today. A master of both policy and relationships, he is as good at legislating as he is at bringing people together. He fought then--and continues to fight--for the little guy. He required that there be public hearings before annual increases to rent- stabilized apartments. He was the motivating force behind a provision that exempted seniors from certain rent increases. He closed loopholes in the deregulation of apartments, allowed the city to foreclose on individual properties in tax arrears, and eliminated the parking garage surtax for Manhattan residents. For a quarter of a century, he served tirelessly for the public. His home--too often forgotten, overlooked, disregarded--had finally a voice in city government. And what a powerful and distinct voice he gave them. He optimistically noted that his tenure sent the city a clear message: that ``no city agency can ignore us'' ever again.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend tens of thousands of youngsters who, this year, earned their high school diplomas as first in their respective graduating classes. The diploma in itself has come to symbolize promise and opportunity, the first step in a series of steps towards achieving the American dream, and I am proud of each and every student who earned one this year. But that honor is ever the more remarkable when awarded with a valedictorian title, an acknowledgement that its receiver is academically top-notch in his or her class. These bright, young minds--freshly out of school, having ostensibly left adolescence behind and come into their own as educated, young adults--will inherit this world, as much our successes as our failures. It will be up to them to improve upon our legacy, to wield their ingenuity and knowledge to the benefit of their country and their world. It pleases me to know that there are steady, capable young hands out there prepared to mold, shape, and supply form to a better future. These men and women are an exemplary class, many of whom will go on to earn college degrees, serve America in some form of public service, travel abroad, raise families, or join the workforce. Regardless of the path, their unique strengths and talents will sustain America and her standing on the global stage. Although the task may sound great and daunting, these achievers have shown both grit and giftedness over the past 4 years and will surely rise to the challenge with poise and a sense of purpose. But for today, we celebrate and congratulate, keeping an eye on the greatness that lies in store for them and this Nation.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, the time has come to call attention to the food crisis which threatens to have a worldwide impact; I want to enter into the Record an editorial from the New York CaribNews for the week ending April 22, 2008, ``Haiti, Back to the Crisis Stage, Food Crisis and Riots Underscore Dire Economic and Social Conditions that Require Urgent Attention.'' Rising food prices are fueling the global hunger crisis. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and oldest black sovereign state. It is sad to think of Haitians demonstrating and taking to the streets in order to call the world's attention to the fact ordinary people cannot afford to buy food. The World Bank estimates that food prices have gone up by 83 percent globally over the last 3 years. The country is struggling to stabilize itself and now rising food prices threaten the progress that has been made. Haiti's need for assistance is a result of joblessness, high infant mortality, and dependence on imported food, inadequate health care services and poor educational opportunities. It is time for the international donor community to live up to the promises made to Haiti. The World Bank has outlined a strategy for the Government of Haiti, which includes helping the country to deliver rapid results, through jobs and basic services to foster development over the long term. This article points out the critical need for not only long term solutions but short and interim term solutions to rush assistance to those in greatest need. The right type of assistance is paramount in maintaining stability in Haiti, allowing the country to continue to make progress towards self sufficiency, which will help bring an end to the suffering. Haiti serves a wake up call to the potential looming global food crisis. It is taking an immense toll on the world's poorest people, who typically spend up to 80 percent of their income on food. After many years of working to end hunger and poverty, the United States and other developed nations must put forth bolder efforts to ensure progress is not lost in resolving global hunger. Haiti, Back to the Crisis Stage: Food Crisis and Riots Underscore Dire Economic and Social Condition That Requires Urgent Attention Just when people in different parts of the world, especially the Caribbean and the Haitian Diaspora, dared to dream that Haiti was on the mend and making progress, food riots broke out in the capital of Port au Prince a few day ago and they cost the Prime Minister, Jacques Edouard Alexis, his job. And if some members of the Senate get their way, the next on the list would be President Rene Preval, the duly elected chief of state, who has brought a measure of stability to the French-speaking Caribbean nations, the oldest Black sovereign state in the Western Hemisphere. Any attack on the President would be a tragedy. Few people, if any at all, could get angry with the demonstrators for taking to the streets to let the world know that they are hungry and need food at affordable prices. After all, as Michael Hess, a senior administrator of the United States Agency for International development, explained it, ``people are making two dollars a day and we're seeing food prices go up around the world.'' In other words, what do you expect when people are pushed up against the wall and don't have anywhere else to turn. The dire food situation in Haiti and the social upheaval it caused have not only dramatized the crisis confronting developing countries as imported food and fertilizers go through the roof in the Caribbean, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and other regions of the world but it points to the unstable economic and social conditions in Haiti. Here's a country that is among the poorest of the poor and it is feeling the full force of escalating global food prices, It is clear that the current situation if not remedied soon can lead to mass starvation and undermine its government. In a country which has had more than its fair share of economic and social problems for more than two hundred years, the specter of widespread hunger should be enough to convince donor nations and development institutions that Haiti's problems can't be ignored any longer. According to estimates by reputable international organizations, Haiti has enough food to satisfy its people's needs but the problem is that millions of nationals can't afford to buy it. That reflects both the chronic long-term poverty picture and the current nightmare of rising food costs. It is as if Haitians are caught between two crushing pinchers. Obviously time is not on the side of Haitians, a nightmare that's evident in the prediction of aid organizations that the nutritional crisis can lead to further impoverishment. That would be a crying shame for several reasons. First, the international donor community has promised much to Haiti but has often failed to live up to its word. Last weekends riots underscore the people's plight and the obvious need for prompt international action, a point made by Robert Zoelick, President of the World Bank. We couldn't agree more. Secondly, the pace of improvement has been too slow. There is a need to accelerate the rate of overall national development and not simply treat the food crisis as if it were an isolated phenomenon. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and its unstable political and economic picture is the result of indifference of some of its former leaders and exploitation by foreign governments and interests, especially the U.S. whose role in the country often ignored what's best for the people. The country cries out for assistance. It has chronic problems of joblessness, high infant mortality, dependence on imported food, inadequate education and health care services and the like. The riots which left at least seven people, including a Nigerian soldier attached to the United Nations military force, dead and millions of dollars in damage can erupt again if people become convinced that their appeals for a long-term solution are falling on deaf ears. So, it's important that a short, medium and long-term solution be implemented with the involvement of Haitians. Far too often tens of millions of dollars were set aside for the country's development but in the end the country remains poor. That's because the average Haitian was never the intended beneficiary. That has perpetuated a cycle of poverty that must be ended so that people there can enjoy the kind of economic success that we know is possible. But Haitians too have a responsibility to push the process forward. The Haitian Diaspora has played its part, sending back more than $4 billion to relatives since 2002 and many of the improvements in housing, for instance can be traced directly to the remittances. But the flow of that money is being threatened by the economic slowdown in the United States. It would be a pity because a reduction would heighten suffering. Coupled with the 50 percent rise in food prices since the middle of last year a cut in assistance and remittances would be a triple whammy, widening hunger, social upheaval and desperation.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, rising food prices are fueling the global hunger crisis. The World Bank estimates that food prices have gone up by 83 percent globally over the last three years. This reality has hit home in Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and oldest black sovereign state. It is sad to think of Haitians demonstrating and taking to the streets in order to call the world's attention to the fact ordinary people can not afford to buy food. As Haiti struggles to maintain its stability, rising food prices threaten the progress that has been made. The recent removal of Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis is evident that Haiti's political stability is in jeopardy. Also this month, 10 Senate seats in Haiti will be up for election. Originally scheduled for last fall, these elections had to be postponed after members of the country's electoral commission accused their leaders of embezzlement. In a country where political turnover has become the norm, President Preval's stability offers hope for Haiti. I urge the United States not to allow the current humanitarian crisis to become a political one as well. Poverty is one of the greatest ills to plague mankind. Those who survive in poverty are under the constant threat of death. The debt forgiveness offered by the Jubilee Act will enable Haiti to address the issues of poverty, create opportunities for economic growth and establish sound governing practices. The Jubilee Act also promotes responsible development assistance by prioritizing grants over loans, which is an important measure to prevent poor nations from falling back into debt. Releasing Haiti from its onerous debt will allow the country to feed its own people and rebuild its struggling economy without the burden of diverting its scarce resources to fill the coffers of wealthy, multi-lateral financial institutions. The U.S. House of Representatives has gone on record supporting the immediate cancellation of Haiti's debt, it is now time for the President to make sure that this struggling nation is no longer held captive to its past and is put on a sustained path to development. Haiti serves a wake up call to the potential looming global food crisis. It is taking an immense toll on the world's poorest people, who typically spend up to 80 percent of their income on food. After many years of working to end hunger and poverty, the United States and other developed nations must put forth bolder efforts to ensure progress is not lost in resolving global hunger.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1212, I call up the bill (H.R. 6049) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide incentives for energy production and conservation, to extend certain expiring provisions, to provide individual income tax relief, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. My friends and colleagues, we now have an opportunity to reverse the trend that this great Nation has bound itself to, and that is, the addiction to oil as well as the lack of will to do something about it. This great country has faced up to many crises, and the oil shortage just happens to be one. The question is do we have the will to look and to research and to find alternative means in which to meet the needs of this great Nation. Under the leadership of Speaker Pelosi, I think today is the day that all of us are going to be proud of the initiatives that we have taken, the opportunities that are going to be given, the jobs that are going to be created, and the excitement in being able to say that the United States need not look to any Nation because of their vast resources in oil because we have the ingenuity and the ability to find alternatives. It is endless the possibilities that this will pursue in encouraging the production of electricity from renewable sources, using the wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, hydropower, landfill gas and solid waste. We even go as far as to have coal electricity plants. It is a great opportunity for us and the world to explore these new areas that we just were too lazy or found no need to do, encouraging energy efficient products such as plug-in hybrid cars and incentives for conservation of energy in our buildings, whether they're residential or whether they're commercial. And I find it very exciting that we allow local government, that knows their communities better than we ever could, to issue tax credit bonds to further explore how we can conserve energy. I think this is merely a beginning, but it is an historic beginning that defies party lines. I do hope that we thank the Speaker and the chairman of the committee, the staffs who came together after working years on this project, to come together with a bill that's the beginning of the one that could be a new day for America, a new day for the world as we release our addiction and dependency on fossil fuel. There is another part of this bill that I come to you with mixed feelings and yet ask your support. It's called the extenders. What are the extenders, for the new Members? It's when people want bills passed, but they put expiration dates on them in order to hide the real cost of the bill. I think that the ranking member of the Committee on Ways and Means and I agree that we have so much garbage in this bill that soon I hope someone would have the courage to take a look at the tax bill that we have and strip it of the preferential treatment and get down to making the bills that we want permanent, and those that should not be permanent, just to kick them out. I think it's a disgrace that we have a stimulus package and we have to target the middle class in order to be given handouts because they don't have enough money under our tax system to put food on the table, to provide tuition for their kids and put clothes on their back. We target them as being people who cannot afford to save and plan for the future. I think it is a disgrace for the Congress to have a tax system that way. But because we make commitments and because some of these laws are good and efficient and because we don't have the money at this point in time to make it permanent, we come to you and ask you to support the extenders. These extenders include research and development, standard deduction for property taxes for non-itemizers. We have provisions in here to help Katrina. Expanded child credits. We make it more equitable how attorneys can write off their investments before the end of a case. We also make it equitable for the moving picture industry to get the same benefits that other industries get as relates to job credit. This is one heck of an opportunity, I think, for us to move this forward in a short way. It's only a 1-year extension, which means that the next administration hopefully will be more progressive in terms of cleaning up the code and making permanent what should be made permanent. It is not paid in controversial taxes. We remove preferences for income that is made overseas and avoid tax liability, as well as tax benefits yet to be received. So there is no pain there. I ask unanimous consent at this time to yield the remainder of my time to the gentleman from Washington, Dr. McDermott, for purposes of managing the bill, and to thank him and so many others on the Ways and Means Committee for their leadership, their patience, and being able to bring this bill to the floor. I'm fairly confident that we will have very little problem in the Senate and have this passed into law. So remember the date. It's historic in nature. And remember the role that you played in supporting this revolutionary approach to avoid the dependency on fossil fuel for our great Nation.

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in outrageous opposition to the motion to recommit that has been offered to this House.

Mr. RANGEL. One, the outrage concerns my love for the Congress and the Constitution. And to think that this great House and the committee which I'm proud to chair would even have to consider what they're thinking, if they're thinking at all on the other side, to decide what we're going to legislate outrages me. Two, whatever the President says he's going to do or may do--we understand that he's addicted to veto, but that shouldn't stop us from doing the right thing. And why do I think basically it's the right thing? Well, it has to be if you want to extend it for 5 years. So your vote on this, after the motion to recommit dies on this floor, is going to be very interesting as to if you want it for 5, why wouldn't you want to extend it at least for 1? Lastly, I wish that I had some time to share with my friend, whom I've enjoyed working with as the ranking member of the Ways and Means Committee, to ask him how much money do you think they have in Japan and China to loan us? There must be some limit to their capacity. Our bill costs about $125 billion altogether, I think. $54 billion for the energy provisions as well as for this. So I assume that you want to add another $200 billion to that. And I don't remember you using the creative language that you used when you and the Senate--that you and the other body, whatever they call themselves--decided that you don't have to pay for the alternative minimum tax. First of all, if I understood that, I'll take it home to my wife and explain that there are ways that you can lose revenue and not renew it and still not change your lifestyle. And if it works at home, I will come here, and at least for the next Congress, ask Mr. McCrery, if he can't stay over there, come on our side and explain how, if the President puts in the budget that we should be expecting money from these 25 million hostages that shouldn't have to pay the tax, that we don't have to make up for the money. So I assume that you have now extended this to cover the extenders. And I hope really that you would stick around a little while so that you will be able to work with me and the next President, not to explain why in the last 8 years we haven't reformed this doggone tax system. Most of this stuff shouldn't be in the Tax Code. You know it and I know it. And the things that should be in the Tax Code should be made permanent. The stuff that shouldn't be in there should be taken out. So in 8 years, the President is now talking about vetoing. Why didn't he take enough time to say, Let's straighten out the code, let's attempt to balance the budget, let's do the right thing for energy and whatever has to be in an extender that expires, help us to get rid of it without being charged with raising taxes. Any extender that expires, we would say that it raises taxes. I know and Secretary Paulson knows, and we'll be hearing more from him probably after he leaves the administration, that this House has the responsibility of having a Tax Code that is simple, that is economically inspiring, and is something that can be confident and things shouldn't expire. If they expire, they shouldn't be in there in the first place. If it is good, it should stay in the Tax Code so there's reliability. And if you're going to say that we're not going to get revenues as a result of extending this, we say for 1 year, we will raise the money, we will do it the right way, we will be proud of it, and in a small way attempt to stop this deficit. But be kind to the people in Japan. Be kind to the people in China. They can't forever support everything that the Republicans want. We're going to have to make sacrifices if we want to make changes. So this war is one against ignorance and not having the research and development. It's one in trying to have research and development for our corporations, but, more importantly, to find alternatives to this addiction that we have. So you have been there for 8 years. Please don't try to change the things in 10 minutes here. Join with us. Let's work together in a bipartisan way, and let's mark down this day that is a day that House Democrats and Republicans said, stop the addiction, move to the alternatives, and dedicate ourselves to having a reformed Tax Code, if not this year then certainly next year. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to wish the State of Israel a chag sameach and happy birthday on its 60th anniversary of independence. Over the past 60 years, Israel has exhibited strong and unparalleled growth in every aspect: governmentally, educationally, culturally, economically, industrially, and militarily. Today she is as strong as she has ever been. The state's population is nine times what it was in 1948, the year she declared her independence. It is hard to imagine that in the earlier part of the 20th century she was nothing but a swampy British colony. Governmentally, Israel's democracy is alive and well. It is the only democracy with free and fair elections in the Middle East. Israel has some of the world's top universities and its citizenry is highly educated. According to the state's Census Bureau, in 1948, 208 people received degrees from the country's two universities; 2 years ago, 53,000 people received degrees from 62 local colleges and universities. Eight Israelis are Nobel Prize laureates. Israel's diverse population, which is composed of immigrants from countries throughout the world, has contributed to its rich culture of arts, music, and literature. Economically, Israel is considered to have one of the most advanced economies in Southwest Asia. Industrially, Israel has managed to become completely self-sufficient despite its lack of natural resources and small size. This has been thanks to its groundbreaking technological advances in agriculture and its hard-working Zionist pioneers. Militarily, despite the country's size, its army is one of the most superior in the world. Israel is and will continue to be a key and necessary ally of the United States. The cross-Atlantic friendship shared by our countries is critical to both our democracies. I recognize Israel's contributions toward rooting out terrorism and salute its citizenry for their resilience and bravery. As the state turns the page and moves into a seventh decade of independence, I hope and pray that a future with peace and prosperity for all of the people in the region is on the horizon.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of myself and Ways and Means Ranking Member Jim McCrery to recognize Diane B. Garro, an exemplary public servant. Ms. Garro is retiring after 36 years of distinguished service at the Social Security Administration. Ms. Garro has devoted her professional life to serving Social Security's current and future beneficiaries. Like many other dedicated SSA employees, Ms. Garro began her career on the front lines, directly serving beneficiaries. Through her talent and hard work, she rose to become a key senior executive. Ms. Garro started her career with SSA while she was still a college student, and later took a full-time job as a claims authorizer for disability benefits. Her skill and commitment were recognized as she was promoted to a variety of management positions throughout the agency, and she eventually was named as Assistant Deputy Commissioner-- the top civil service position--in SSA's Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs, OLCA. She has served with distinction for over 12 years in that position or as Acting Deputy Commissioner. She has helped to establish a high standard for knowledge, cooperation and professionalism in representing SSA with Members of Congress and their staff. Ms. Garro is recognized as an expert on SSA's disability policies, with a particular expertise in the complex challenge of determining childhood disability. With her early experience as a disability claims authorizer as a base, and additional experience gained in organizational management, she was named Director of SSA's Division of Medical and Vocational Policy, which is responsible for developing the regulations and policies used to determine whether an applicant meets the test of disability in the law. She was chosen to represent SSA on a White House workgroup on children with disabilities, and she addressed the National Commission on Childhood Disability on behalf of SSA. Ms. Garro also led the development of SSA's medical listing for HIV, creating a streamlined process that allowed individuals with HIV to qualify for presumptive disability payments based on a doctor's certification. As a result, payments for individuals suffering from HIV could begin in a matter of days rather than months. She also played a pivotal role in developing and implementing the procedures the Agency continues to use to expedite benefits to terminally ill applicants. At the Committee on Ways and Means, we are grateful for Ms. Garro's vast expertise covering Social Security programs and agency operations, and her skill in communicating vital information to Congress. She has led the Congressional affairs team with a high degree of integrity, knowledge, and compassion. The Subcommittee on Social Security particularly appreciates her unfailing responsiveness, and her timely, accurate, and insightful analysis on issues ranging from disability determination to disclosure of information to the impact of immigration reform on SSA. The technical assistance she and her staff have provided over the years has been invaluable in perfecting the laws Congress has enacted. Ms. Garro's tenure in OLCA spanned six SSA Commissioners. She led SSA's preparation of witnesses for many hearings, and the Committee learned to expect those witnesses to be ready to handle any question we would ask. Ms. Garro also participated in innumerable Congressional briefings. Her hallmark was a thoughtful, practical, well-reasoned approach to any issue, leavened by a sense of humor that ensured balance and perspective. Diane Garro's career exemplifies her commitment to providing effective, compassionate, and knowledgeable service to the Agency and to the American public. She can retire knowing she has the respect and admiration of those who have worked with her, and she can be very proud of her accomplishments. We wish Ms. Garro all the best in her retirement from the Social Security Administration. We thank her for her many years of dedicated Federal service, and we will certainly miss her.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and recognize the birthday of Lorraine Hansberry, whose work; A Raisin in the Sun became the first Broadway production of a black playwright. Lorraine Hansberry is the foremother of African-American drama. As the youngest American, the fifth woman, and the first black to win the New York Drama Critic's Circle Award as Best Play of the Year for A Raisin in the Sun, she has paved the way for many of her peers. To Be Young, Gifted and Black, an autobiographical portrait in her own words won the record for longest Off-Broadway running drama in 1968. Lorraine Hansberry's work does not stop at the stages of Broadway; her work provided many in White America with their first exposure to the reality of the pain and struggles associated with being Black in America. She used the success of A Raisin in the Sun as a platform, becoming a spokesperson for the American Civil Rights Movement. Ms. Hansberry's first brush with the struggles of civil rights occurred when her family moved into an all-White neighborhood. White landowners in the area had relied on a restrictive covenant in order to not sell property to any person of color. The legal struggle to permit them to move to and live in an integrated environment led to the landmark Supreme Court case of Hansberry v. Lee, 311 U.S. 32 (1940). This experience later inspired her to write her most famous work, A Raisin in the Sun. Today marks the birth of this great American 78 years ago. Although her life was cut short, her impact on her peers and her field will continue to be a testimony to hard work and what it means to be deeply committed to the causes of justice and equality.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6081) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide benefits for military personnel, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the bill before us has been passed before, and they call it the HEART bill, Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008. I would prefer to call it the ``Thank You'' bill. Thank you for the tens of thousands of American men and women who have come to America's call to fight this war and to place themselves at risk because our Commander in Chief and our Nation have called them. It is very difficult for me to think of any people that we should be saying ``thank you'' more to than this group, who are not Democrats and Republicans, are not politicians, but people whom America has depended on since its very beginning, and, that is, people who are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice because their country asked them to do it. We have recently passed a bill which is the equivalent, if not expanded, the GI Bill, so that those that do get back, many of them without limbs, many of them without jobs, would be able to get a decent education. This kind of enhances the ability for them to get their pensions, to get homes, and to remove the impediments that these brave people deserve. And one of the things that we're proudest of is that we have removed some type of impediment that will allow our fighting soldiers to be able to get the benefits of some of our tax laws even though they have married immigrants. So it is something that I am certain that everyone in this House and most all Americans would be supporting. What a great honor it is for me to yield the balance of my time in support of this bill to Admiral Joe Sestak from the Seventh District of Pennsylvania. It's so easy for all of us to talk about sacrifices and so seldom that we find someone who has dedicated 31 years of his very young life for the defense of this great Nation of ours. He has been the commander of an aircraft carrier of 30 U.S. and allied ships, over 15,000 sailors, 100 aircrafts; and this is only part of what the three-star Admiral in the United States Navy has done. How lucky we are in this Nation and, more specifically, in this Congress to have this distinguished Member speak in support of this bill, one who probably knows more about the needs of our service people than most of us ever hope to find out. So with the Speaker's permission and unanimous consent of this body, I ask you to allow me to yield the balance of my time for purposes of picking other speakers to Congressman/Representative/Admiral Joe Sestak of the Seventh District of Pennsylvania.

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, today, we may each have our own convictions about this war, and no matter what those may be, I think I can safely say that we stand united in our support for our troops and their families. No one here today can challenge the commitment, the dedication, or the bravery of our men and women who have responded to this national call. They have made sacrifices that very few Americans have ever been called on to make--many have paid with their lives, and many others with the loss of limbs and mental injuries we will never be able to comprehend. We all know the great value of education benefits for our military. I wil1. continue to fight for an increase that exceeds what our President has requested in GI education benefits and in military pay for our sons and daughters who serve in the military. Our men and women need it and they have earned every bit of it, and more. The bill being considered today cannot make up for the debt we owe to these men and women and their families. We cannot make up for the loss of life and limb and the mental anguish they will endure. But today, we will play a small positive role that I know is supported by every Member of this body. Today, we will vote to pass a small token of our gratitude--a small step in the right direction. This bill is expected to be taken up by the Senate after we pass it here today and sent to the President this week. This is very fitting as we leave to celebrate Memorial Day--a day of remembrance for all who sacrificed in war for our country. There is a provision in this bill that has been added since we passed the bill last year. The provision would ensure that a member of the military, who is married to an immigrant spouse would qualify for the stimulus rebate payment even if such spouse does not yet have a Social Security number. This fix was necessary because in the zeal to impose anti-immigrant philosophy, language was added to the legislation for the stimulus rebate payments which now has a negative effect on some of our military and their families, even as they are off fighting a war. This should serve as a great lesson in caution and being circumspect before we allow our deep-seated feelings to get the best of us. We must learn from these lessons even as we fight to improve the lives of those who fight for our country through improved GI education benefits, pay increase, better health care services, and increased disability benefits. This bill has been a labor of love. We passed a very similar bill (H.R. 3997) 410-0 on December 18, 2009, and had hoped to get it signed into law before the end of last year. Yet, despite the total bipartisan nature of this bill, we were unable to get it to the President's desk before the end of December, 2007. So, here we are again. Persistent to the end. This bill is small but means a lot to many people. The Committee has received more calls on this bill than we could have imagined. People are calling to find out when the bill will become law. Today gives us fresh hope--it looks like we will actually do it this time. I am proud to be a part of this small but important effort for our military men and women and their families who continue to give so much to our country.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support of H. Res. 1176, Supporting the goals and ideals of National Train Day, as a Member who appreciates and recognizes the vital role of trains in our economy and as a passenger who commutes between New York and Washington, DC, on the Amtrak Acela. I find my commute by train a convenient, efficient and relaxing way to travel that enables me to read and work in comfort and arrive refreshed, usually on time, and downtown, closer to my destination. I praise the efforts of visionary leaders who over the years have advocated the preservation and modernization of passenger rail service. Trains have played a vital and historic role in this country, transporting cargo and passengers since the early 19th century, when the first steam locomotive was built by engineer George Stephenson. Without the creation of the steam engine, the Industrial Revolution would not have occurred and our great country would not have been able to prosper as much as it has. In 1869, the first transcontinental railroad was completed. Known as the `golden pike,' it connected both the east and west coast of the United States, linking our Nation and bridging the geographical divide like never before. Although there are a greater number of modes of transportation-- planes, cars, buses--than there were in the early 1800s, trains are still relied on to transport large amounts of freight and millions of people everyday. They have reduced congestion in major cities, helping to reduce pollution connecting people in rural areas to urban centers. The history of trains has come a long way, from burning coal and going only 130 km/h to high-speed trains that can go from 200 km/h to 350 km/h and are electrically driven by overhead cables. Trains are constantly changing and improving. Due to global warming and greenhouse effects, trains now run more fuel efficiently, emitting only 0.2 percent of the travel industry's total greenhouse gases. I support National Train Day because the train industry has been an important part of America's story and its economic development, as well as a large part of Americans' day-to-day lives.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to note--with alarm--that organ donations are not keeping pace with need in this country, resulting in the deaths of 18 patients per day as they wait idly by for lifelines. The shortage proves particularly detrimental to minority patients, who together make up a staggering 50 percent of people on the transplant waiting list. Because of a paucity of minority donors, and the bruising effect of disparate and unequal access to health care, minority patients find themselves most vulnerable to a deepening crisis that should rally all Americans to the cause. The health of our citizens should remain foremost on our minds. As the leading power and example in the world, this country should strive to carve out a premier health care system that works for everyone, not just the politically connected, not just the moneyed. For every American, we have safeguarded the promise of life, liberty, and happiness--and we ought to make good on that. We can have none of the three without adequate health care. This should be our national pride: to continually develop and improve upon our remarkable successes in medicine, to shape and mold a health care system that is the envy of the world. An April 22 New York CARIB News piece, titled ``Organ Donation A Crisis Among Minorities'' and written by Dr. Jennifer Wider, denotes these concerns and offers solutions. Organ Donation a Crisis Among Minorities The number of people needing organ transplants is rising faster than the number of donors, according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Roughly 77 people receive organ transplants per day in the United States, but 18 people die each day waiting for transplants that will never happen due to the shortage of available organs. Organ transplantation involves putting organs or tissues from one person into the body of another person, whose organs or tissues have been damaged or are no longer working. ``The recipient has to be immunologically matched to the donor well enough that the organ won't be immediately rejected,'' says Mark Schnitzler, Ph.D., assistant professor of health administration at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. ``Blood type match has to be acceptable and the recipient can't be already sensitized to the donor's tissue types.'' The need for transplants is particularly high among minorities, especially among African-Americans. Of the 83,000 people on the national transplant waiting list, approximately fifty percent are minorities, according to United Network for Organ Sharing. According to a recent study in the American Journal for Respiratory Critical Care Medicine, David J. Lederer, M.D., and colleagues at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York found that, ``After listing for lung transplantation, African-American patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were less likely to undergo transplantation and more likely to die or be removed from the list compared with Caucasian patients.'' Unequal access to care is among the likely reasons Lederer and his team cited for this disparity. Organ donation recipients are more likely to match up to others of their own race and ethnicity. ``Both blood type and tissue types have racial and ethnic patterns,'' Schnitzler said. That is why it is important to look into ways to increase minority organ donations. The need for more donor organs among minority women is especially great because minority women suffer disproportionately from certain diseases of the kidney, heart, lung, pancreas, and liver that can lead to organ failure. ``Minority women are well represented as a share of the total population that donates organs, but their need for transplants is greater,'' said Sherry Marts, Ph.D., vice president of scientific affairs for the Society for Women's Health Research, a Washington, D.C., based advocacy organization. ``Because of a shortage of appropriate donor organs, minority women often have to wait longer for doctors to find a match. Sadly, many die waiting. With more donated organs from minority women, finding a match will be quicker, waiting times will be cut and more lives will be saved.'' Further complicating matters are studies that show the biological sex of the organ donor and recipient can affect transplant success. At least one study has found that the combinations least likely to result in organ rejection are female recipient-male donor, followed by male recipient-male donor. ``These findings have not yet affected clinical practice because of the organ shortage,'' Marts said. ``Doctors can't afford to wait for the most optimal donor-recipient combination where the sex of the patients is concerned. They have to make the best decisions possible with the limited organs available. As organ preservation techniques improve, however, this could become a factor.'' Health promotion and disease prevention programs are needed to shed light on the diseases and negative lifestyle choices that may increase the need for organ transplants. Diseases such as diabetes and hypertension and behaviors including alcohol and substance abuse, poor nutrition and lack of exercise are all risk factors for diseases that can cause permanent or irreversible damage to organs and tissues. The Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program is working to increase awareness for minority organ donation. This program also provides information that is vital to good health and can delay or prevent the need for organ transplants. Here are some of the program's key tips: Have your blood pressure checked at least twice per year after age 12; Diabetics should have blood pressure checked regularly and follow diet and exercise instructions; Avoid alcoholic beverages to help prevent liver disease; Avoid use of illegal drugs such as marijuana, heroin and cocaine which cause liver disease and kidney failure; Avoid smoking cigarettes which can lead to heart and lung disease; Avoid foods high in cholesterol and saturated fats such as fried foods which can clog the arteries; Establish a regular exercise routine which should be performed at least three times per week; Visit your doctor at least once per year for a check-up. April is National Donate Life Month. Information about organ and tissue donation is available on a special Web site from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: http:/ /www.organdonor.gov/.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. I know that some of you may wonder why an old man like me from Harlem would have an interest in the ag bill, but when I hear my distinguished colleague from New York talk about muck farming, it's very important to us as a farm State that we be involved in those type of things. But the truth of the matter is that, while I recognize there are times to be quiet and to listen and look intelligent, I had Earl Pomeroy right there at my side asking, what are they talking about? I've learned a lot about trust funds that I didn't even know existed--and some of you didn't know. But the truth of the matter is that, while I recognize that Mr. Kind was looking for a bill that, as a person that concerned themselves in agriculture, that at the end of the day we have to play the cards that have been given to us. And so I do know the good that has come out of this bill and the pride that I got as a Member of this Congress and seeing the work that Mr. Peterson has been able to do, working with the Republicans on the other side, in all parts of the bill, in all parts of the leadership on the House and on the Senate side and with them. And I'm telling you, if all of us could have the optimism that he has displayed in the last few years about the salvation of our country, we would have no problems. It was like a big jigsaw puzzle, and each time he told me we got the last piece there, and when he plugged it in, something even bigger dropped out. We buried this bill so many times, but I'm glad to see that, through the bipartisanship, the friendship, and the cooperation, we will be able to give this country and the world a product that we're proud of, a product that our farmers have worked on to be able to be the food basket not only of the world, with special provisions, but of the many people in our great country that are so in need of food. I'm proud to be a Member and proud to be a part of this.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to applaud the incredible efforts our nurses pour into their grueling workdays, carrying out their duties to the great benefit of this country's health and medical care system. Together, nurses represent the largest share of health care professionals in the field, boasting numbers eclipsing 2,500,000-- but that's becoming increasingly not enough. Facing a shortage that demands a million new nurses by 2016, the current crop of professionals have shouldered, and will continue to shoulder, the extra work and hours of properly caring for our elderly and infirmed. For this, and so much more, nurses deserve a generous helping of our gratitude and the highest of reverence, not just this next week dubbed ``National Nurses Week,'' but all year round. We can show them that we care by paying tribute to those nurses serving in Iraq and Afghanistan--by bringing them and our heroic troops home after a job well done. We can show them that we care by outfitting them with a health care system that is affordable, universal, and driven less by profits and more by compassion and humanitarianism. We can show them that we care by investing in the research, techniques, and technologies that promise to one day cure age-old, debilitating diseases that plague millions--and not play politics when our citizens' livelihoods are at stake. The Harlem Hospital Center serves my district as a powerful force for social progress, catering to the community's health needs and training the next generation's minority and female physicians. The nurses there fight the good fight, day in and day out, not often enough rewarded with the credit that they deserve. I am honored to praise their achievements--and those of their colleagues all across America--this week.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York on its' newly announced initiative to implement two new bachelor degree programs. Medgar Evers College has long possessed an unparalleled reputation in the field of adult education. The college provides its students with a unique experience, which combines academic excellence in nearly 100 areas of study with real-world experience. This unique combination has lead to the continued success of its students. As a result, the State Board of Regents and the City University of New York accreditation committee approved the allocation of money to fund two new bachelor degree programs: the Bachelor of Arts in Religion Studies and the Bachelor of Science in Social Work. The new programs are expected to attract a record number of new students to the college for the next academic year and ensure a steady stream of students for the foreseeable future. Medgar Evans College provides students with the flexibility to select their course of study and schedule their classes around commitments such as a job, thereby providing those adults who might not otherwise have the opportunity with the chance to return to school. Education is the key to escaping the grasp of poverty that plagues so many Americans. Medgar Evers College is taking profound steps to ensure that those in need have access to higher education. It is my sincere hope that other Colleges and Universities across the nation will join Medgar Evers College in providing opportunity for the working poor to enhance their education and qualify for better paid employment.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate American University of Antigua & Barbuda on its newly announced initiative establishing a school that will address the nursing shortage occurring in the United States and abroad. The American University of Antigua & Barbuda aims to create a nursing school that provides Caribbean nationals with a place to pursue higher education in the healthcare industry as well as an alternative location of study for international students. Through its' historic affiliation with CUNY's Lehman College, AUA hopes to improve the medical standards of care throughout the Caribbean. The program allows AUA students who have completed their Associates Degree in Nursing with the option to transition directly into the baccalaureate program at the Lehman college for a mere 2 years. In a time when there is a 6 year wait list to attend nursing college, the creation of this program serves a model to produce more qualified nurses in an attempt to alleviate the nursing shortage. AUA also hopes to provide students with scholarships, in order to allow those people from lower-income families to pursue higher education. It is my sincere hope that other Colleges and Universities around the world will join the American University of Antigua & Barbuda in providing feasible alternatives to the nursing shortage, while simultaneously allowing minorities and people from lower income families to further their education.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 981, recognizing March 6, 2008, as the first-ever World Glaucoma Day, established to increase awareness of glaucoma, a leading cause of preventable blindness. I want to congratulate my colleagues Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin for introducing this important resolution and together with Congressman Pete Sessions for bringing this measure forward. As a cosponsor of this resolution, I am proud to speak out in favor of adequate Federal funding, legislation when indicated, greater support for glaucoma education and awareness, screenings, regular eye examinations, follow-up, treatment and research. Raising the level of awareness about the effects of this devastating eye disease, and drawing attention toward taking the necessary steps to preserve sight has been of great importance to me, and a special mission for many years. The resolution expands awareness by calling attention to this dreadful disease that can rob individuals of the priceless gift of sight. Glaucoma, an eye disorder that damages the optic nerve, is a leading cause of irreversible blindness, and affects more than 3 million people. It is often referred to as the ``sneak thief of sight,'' as many are not aware that they have the disease because it has no noticeable early warning signs, symptoms or pain. It is estimated that 1.5 million Americans are losing their sight because they do not know that they have the disease and are not getting the treatment they need. The resolution also supports early detection of glaucoma for those at risk, enhanced treatment for those affected, and expanded research. Those groups at highest risk for glaucoma include African Americans, Hispanics, people with a family history of glaucoma, as well as individuals with diabetes and/or hypertension. Senior citizens, in general, are also at high risk for glaucoma. Compelling studies and data show that glaucoma is 6 to 8 times more common in African Americans than in Caucasians, and that African Americans between 45 and 65 are 14 to 17 times more likely to go blind from glaucoma than Caucasians in the same age group. Glaucoma is also the most common cause of blindness in Hispanics, the fastest growing ethnic minority in the country, and they too are at particular risk of being blinded by the disease. I am proud to support the resolution and underscore the use of legislation as a vehicle when necessary, support adequate Federal funding for early detection, treatment, research, annual screenings and comprehensive eye examinations for individuals over 40, and those at highest risk for glaucoma. I applaud and support the mission and service of those agencies and organizations such as the National Institutes of Health, National Eye Institute, Glaucoma Research Foundation, glaucoma specialists at teaching hospitals, clinics, colleges and universities across the country who demonstrate on a daily basis, their dedication and commitment toward combating this devastating disease. I am particularly proud of the work of the Friends of the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus Foundation, a non-profit organization and the affiliation that I share with my colleague and friend Congressman Ed Towns, as founding members of the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus, a non-partisan body of more than 90 congressional members in the House and Senate. I urge my colleagues who are not members of the caucus to join to promote free glaucoma screenings, education and awareness within your districts. Finally, I join in with my colleague Congressman Ed Towns of New York and urge the Energy and Commerce Committee to hold a speedy hearing on H.R. 3005, the Glaucoma Screening Act of 2007, a worthy and important bill introduced by our colleagues, Representatives Serrano and Boozman.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise with great sadness as I pay tribute to Dr. Thelma Evelyn Goodrich-Hill an outstanding daughter of Harlem who recently passed away at the age of 85. As I speak with profound sorrow, I ascend to celebrate a life well lived and to remember with fondness the accomplishments of a remarkable woman who, over her many years and under much adversary, was a leader in the sphere of business. Thelma was born on April 19, 1923, in the City of New York. She was one of four daughters born to James E. Daniel Goodrich. Thelma was a life-long resident of Harlem and was a product of New York City's public school system, graduating from Wadleigh High School. She received her professional training at the Harlem Academy of Business, City University of New York's Baruch School of Business, and the College of Insurance. As a daughter of a real estate entrepreneur, Thelma inherited her father's interest in the world of business becoming one of the first women in Harlem to own and operate her own brokerage firm, Thelma E. Goodrich Real Estate & Insurance Inc. In January 1960, she united with Lawrence Dudley Hill in holy matrimony. Their marriage was a loving and committed union, lasting 45 years until his passing in September 2005. Over the years, Thelma emerged as a stabilizing force in the Harlem community in addition to blazing many new trails as a female entrepreneur. In 1982, after many years of the company's growth, Thelma E. Goodrich Inc., merged with the firm of Ernest E. Johnson Insurance Inc., forming Goodrich Johnson Brokerage. This company, a full service insurance brokerage business, continues to effectively handle the needs of businesses and churches throughout the State of New York. Throughout her busy and involved career, Thelma shared her knowledge of the insurance business by serving on corporate boards and in corporate leadership positions. In 1988 she was elected chair of the board of directors of the United Mutual Life Insurance Company, the first African-American woman to hold that position. She was also the first woman to serve as president, of the Council of Insurance Brokers of Greater New York, Inc. Thelma was also involved with many different organizations. She was an active member of the Iota Phi Lambda Sorority and a life long member and past president of the New York Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs Inc., a former chair of the board of the Greater Harlem Real Estate Board, and a founding member and past president of the Harlem Business Alliance. In April 1986 she was elected to the board of trustees at Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, and in 1998, she was awarded a Doctorate of Humane Letters by Shaw University. Over the years, Thelma was recognized by the business and religious communities for her professional achievements and volunteer work to improve the quality of life for others, including the NAACP, United Insurance Brokers of Greater New York, Harlem Commonwealth Council, Shaw University School of Divinity, The YWCA, and most recently, the Council of Insurance Brokers of Greater New York, Inc. Thelma leaves behind a wealth of family and friends to honor her memory. She will be greatly missed by her. sister, Irene McKenzie; 2 nephews, 1 niece, and a blessed abundance of cousins, friends and colleagues. Madam Speaker, rather than mourn her passing, I hope that my colleagues will join me in celebrating the life of Dr. Thelma Goodrich- Hill by remembering that she exemplified greatness in every way.