Charlie Rangel

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, in the interest of our national security, competitive standing in the world, and criminal justice system--I rise today to rouse dialogue on an issue that implicates all three: education. Recent numbers report that as few as 1 out of every 2 youngsters are not earning high school diplomas in our Nation's biggest cities. For those of us from districts where the need is great, these numbers are far from new, let alone startling. But even as they inspired alarm in the wake of the report's release, they have failed to ignite a national conversation on an issue that demands action, not just today, but yesterday. That alarm has already, regrettably, been snuffed out. We remain, still, oddly hush-hush and complacent. Many will make an argument of the heart, that to fail to equip these kids with the skills and knowledge they need to eschew poverty and criminality demonstrates an abominable lack of compassion. This is true. But allow me to also make an argument of the mind. These children cannot afford failure--and neither can we. As a nation, we drastically shrink our talent pool and our ability to compete on the global stage when we trade bodies in our college classrooms for bodies on the streets, in jails, even underground. We give way to the rise in influence of China and India and saddle the next generation with a workforce unfit for competition, perennially unemployed and underemployed. That is an explicit and direct threat to our national security. A New York Times editorial--written by Bob Herbert, published on April 22, and titled ``Clueless in America''--makes the case for an America that rises to this challenge, that takes note of our lack of progress, and moves with purpose and innovation towards correcting it. Clueless in America We don't hear a great deal about education in the presidential campaign. It's much too serious a topic to compete with such fun stuff as Hillary tossing back a shot of whiskey, or Barack rolling a gutter ball. The nation's future may depend on how well we educate the current and future generations, but (like the renovation of the nation's infrastructure, or a serious search for better sources of energy) that can wait. At the moment, no one seems to have the will to engage any of the most serious challenges facing the U.S. An American kid drops out of high school every 26 seconds. That's more than a million every year, a sign of big trouble for these largely clueless youngsters in an era in which a college education is crucial to maintaining a middle-class quality of life--and for the country as a whole in a world that is becoming more hotly competitive every day. Ignorance in the United States is not just bliss, it's widespread. A recent survey of teenagers by the education advocacy group Common Core found that a quarter could not identify Adolf Hitler, a third did not know that the Bill of Rights guaranteed freedom of speech and religion, and fewer than half knew that the Civil War took place between 1850 and 1900. ``We have one of the highest dropout rates in the industrialized world,'' said Allan Golston, the president of U.S. programs for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. In a discussion over lunch recently he described the situation as ``actually pretty scary, alarming.'' Roughly a third of all American high school students drop out. Another third graduate but are not prepared for the next stage of life--either productive work or some form of post- secondary education. When two-thirds of all teenagers old enough to graduate from high school are incapable of mastering college-level work, the nation is doing something awfully wrong. Mr. Golston noted that the performance of American students, when compared with their peers in other countries, tends to grow increasingly dismal as they move through the higher grades: ``In math and science, for example, our fourth graders are among the top students globally. By roughly eighth grade, they're in the middle of the pack. And by the 12th grade, U.S. students are scoring generally near the bottom of all industrialized countries.'' Many students get a first-rate education in the public schools, but they represent too small a fraction of the whole. Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, offered a brutal critique of the nation's high schools a few years ago, describing them as ``obsolete'' and saying, ``When I compare our high schools with what I see when I'm traveling abroad, I am terrified for our work force of tomorrow.'' Said Mr. Gates: ``By obsolete, I don't just mean that they are broken, flawed or underfunded, though a case could be made for every one of those points. By obsolete, I mean our high schools--even when they're working as designed--cannot teach all our students what they need to know today.'' The Educational Testing Service, in a report titled ``America's Perfect Storm,'' cited three powerful forces that are affecting the quality of life for millions of Americans and already shaping the nation's future. They are: 1. The wide disparity in the literacy and math skills of both the school-age and adult populations. These skills, which play such a tremendous role in the lives of individuals and families, vary widely across racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups. 2. The ``seismic changes'' in the U.S. economy that have resulted from globalization, technological advances, shifts in the relationship of labor and capital, and other developments. 3. Sweeping demographic changes. By 2030, the U.S. population is expected to reach 360 million. That population will be older and substantially more diverse, with immigration having a big impact on both the population as a whole and the work force. These and so many other issues of crucial national importance require an educated populace if they are to be dealt with effectively. At the moment we are not even coming close to equipping the population with the intellectual tools that are needed. While we're effectively standing in place, other nations are catching up and passing us when it comes to educational achievement. You have to be pretty dopey not to see the implications of that. But, then, some of us are pretty dopey. In the Common Core survey, nearly 20 percent of respondents did not know who the U.S. fought in World War II. Eleven percent thought that Dwight Eisenhower was the president forced from office by the Watergate scandal. Another 11 percent thought it was Harry Truman. We've got work to do.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to support H. Res. 865 which urges the United States Government to consider fully and carefully the recommendations in the UNODC and World Bank Report entitled ``Crime, Violence, and Development: Trends, Costs, and Policy Options in the Caribbean.'' Although using Caribbean nations as major transit points for illegal drugs is not a new problem, it does shed light on a longstanding issue--the U.S. policy on providing assistance to the Caribbean nations in combating illegal drug activity. A major contributing factor to illegal drug activity remains the lack of resources Caribbean nations possess to combat this growing and menacing problem. This problem will not resolve itself. Some steps the United States should take to assist the member states of CARICOM and the Dominican Republic include, but are not limited to: coordinating policy development and implementation, providing counter-narcotics assistance, and a continuance of policy initiatives that are working, such as the bilateral cooperation between the United States and the Government of Jamaica. Under this initiative, the U.S. provides training and material support to sections of Jamaican law enforcement agencies to strengthen their counter-narcotics capabilities. This is an excellent example that should be modeled throughout the Caribbean. It is imperative for the United States to work with CARICOM member states and the Dominican Republic to establish effective programs to mitigate and ultimately, eradicate illegal drug activity. This will take a coordinated and aggressive collaboration by CARICOM member states, the Dominican Republic and the United States to have an impact on drugs being transported through the Caribbean and into the U.S. Even though this is a very daunting problem, working together and fully and carefully considering the recommendations in the UNODC and World Bank report is certainly a major step in the right direction.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize World Malaria Day. Every 30 seconds, a child dies from malaria. More than 1 million people die of malaria every year, mostly infants, young children and pregnant women and most of them in Africa. Approximately 40 percent of the world's population, mostly those living in the world's poorest countries, is at risk of malaria. Every year, more than 500 million people become severely ill with malaria. Since the 1970s, significant investments have demonstrated that malaria control is working, and given hope for preventing the 1 million deaths caused by malaria each year. With the advent of new tactics, elimination and, ultimately, eradication of malaria may be possible. Because malaria is a massive global scourge and a medically complex disease, the pathway to eradication is a long one. Achieving eradication will depend on carefully coordinated, balanced efforts to build upon malaria control and elimination programs. Building a pathway to eradication will take time, but it is possible if all stakeholders collaborate today to prevent malaria deaths in Africa and elsewhere. Now is the time to begin charting the course. Organizations like Jhpiego, an affiliate of Johns Hopkins University, reach across borders to fight a disease that has no borders. Jhpiego is working to combat the devastating effects of malaria by bringing innovative approaches and putting research to practice to improve the health of women and families throughout the world. For example, in Nigeria, it is preparing community volunteers in remote areas to extend malaria services to pregnant women who are not in contact with a formal healthcare system. The volunteers are trained to educate pregnant women on the steps necessary to prevent malaria. Additionally, the workers also distribute preventative medicine and insecticide-treated bednets. Once rolled out to full scale, this community based intervention will help break down some of the barriers to high-quality healthcare for the world's most vulnerable populations. Jhpiego is a leader in developing innovations that break down the barriers and build more sustainable local health care systems globally. Jhpiego works in 12 African countries to support program implementation for malaria in pregnancy (MIP) prevention and case management.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss the editorial, ``Black Achievers in Industry'' which appeared in this week's edition of the New York Carib News. The editorial praised the Harlem YMCA's 38th National Salute to Black Achievers in Industry (BAI) Awards dinner. The Black Achievers in Industry Awards dinner serves as the organization's premier fundraiser to raise the money necessary to fund countless youth programs. The Black Achievers in Industry Awards serves a vital purpose in the community, as the cooperative has partnered with more than 100 corporations to provide much needed scholarships to New York City high school seniors and college students. The Black Achievers Program recognizes the importance of education and its ability to give children a future filled with possibilities. It is my sincere hope that other corporations across the Nation will join the Black Achievers Program in providing disadvantaged students from lower- and middle-income families with the financial means required to attend a college or university.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Congresswoman Maxine Waters on receiving the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo Silver Award. Since 1980, Congresswoman Waters has worked tirelessly to improve the situation of the South African people. During the long reign of the apartheid regime, Representative Waters organized marches, participated in rallies and welcomed countless antiapartheid leaders to the United States. Spearheading the national divestment movement, Congresswoman Waters persuaded countless American corporations to withhold investing money in South Africa until apartheid ceased to exist. When South Africa held its first free elections 1994, Representative Waters was asked to be a member of the official U.S. delegation that attended the inauguration of the country's first black president, Nelson Mandela. Clearly, Congresswoman Maxine Waters played a vital role in ending apartheid. In my opinion, there is no one more deserving of one of South Africa's most prestigious awards. Congresswoman Maxine Waters devoted her career to ensuring that all people no matter their origin, race or culture, have the chance to experience freedom.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to support fair pay for women. Women are an integral and vital part of the United States workforce. However, there exists a wage gap between men and women. Forty-one percent of women are the sole breadwinners in their families. April 22, 2008 is Equal Pay Day, which highlights the need for equal pay for American women. Equal Pay Day began in 1996 as a public awareness event by the Committee on Pay Equity (NCPE). The purpose of this day is to illustrate the gap between men's and women's wages. Equal Pay Day is observed on a Tuesday in April to represent how far into the year a woman must work, on average, to earn as much as a man earned the previous year. It is preposterous that, in 2008, women earn less money than men for doing the same work. This wage gap is even greater for women of color. In this age of rising fuel costs, which impact what we pay for food, clothing, utilities, etc., women should receive the same pay as their male counterparts for doing the same job. In 2006, women earned 77 cents to the dollar. However, when women shop at the supermarket, they do not receive a 23-percent discount on food nor do they receive a discount on their utilities, medical care copayments or any other of life's necessities. Something must be done to close this gap. I support the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2007 and hope my Senate colleagues will support equal pay for all American women.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker: Whereas, Since 1967, The Harlem Commonwealth Council has been dedicated to empowering the Harlem community through job creation and ownership of local commerce, industry and real estate. From the time of its humble beginnings, they have embarked in a mission to stimulate the overall economic development of Harlem through the creation of enterprises, generation of jobs, and improvement of services; and Whereas, Today, The Harlem Commonwealth Council has continued to hold firm on its pledge to serve the Harlem community by implementing successful ventures and programs through the years that promote self- sufficiency amongst its citizenry and create stability in Harlem through economic development projects, academic empowerment, and entrepreneurial support; and Whereas, Harlem Commonwealth Council has the distinction of having made historically significant contributions to its vibrant multicultural community in many instances without the financial support of governmental agencies or outside entities. Through a team of Harlem professionals, community and business leaders, it continues to engineer new initiatives that will foster and sustain economic prosperity to Harlem's residents and businesses; and Whereas, Leading the way towards the future of the Harlem Commonwealth Council is none other than the distinguished Harlem veterinarian Dr. Joseph L. Tait. While pursuing Veterinary goals, he became a Director in the Commonwealth Holding Company, Inc. Board. Through hard work and perseverance he gained the confidence of his peers who elevated him to the position of Chairman of The Council and ultimately the President and CEO. As President, Dr. Tait has shifted the focus to include reaching out to the young people of our community to offer opportunities for growth professionally and educationally; and Whereas, As the Harlem Commonwealth Council celebrates forty-one years of service to the Harlem community, it is important to note that when the world had given up on Harlem and urban communities like it nationwide, HCC and other community based organizations, business owners and residents did not. They continue to serve as a shining example of what people can accomplish when they are dedicated to a vision and work together to realize it; and Resolved, That along with all the residents in the 15th Congressional District of New York, I congratulate The Harlem Commonwealth Council on their forty-first anniversary. Through their unwavering efforts to secure the future of the Harlem community, The Harlem Commonwealth Council has contributed to the effervescent Harlem of today.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Columbia University on its newly announced initiatives to restructure their financial aid policies, in order to provide those students from lower- and middle-income families with an affordable solution to skyrocketing tuition costs. Columbia University has long held the reputation of inclusion, attracting the most socioeconomically diverse undergraduate student populations among Ivy League universities. The University has recently gone a step further announcing that the College will replace loans for students qualifying for financial aid with University grants. The University is expected to spend upwards of $1 million annually to ensure that income disparities do not prevent capable students from attending a top university. As the price of college increases more and more every year, Columbia's actions display their understanding of the importance of a good education to underprivileged children in escaping poverty and opening the door to opportunities in life. It is my sincere hope that other colleges and universities across the Nation will join Columbia in providing those students from lower- and middle-income families with a feasible way to pay for college.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, this week New York City does what many in our country should be doing everyday. Across 7 days and more than 100 events, the Big Apple celebrates the culture and achievements of the countless numbers of immigrants--past and present--who have come to our great country. They come from numerous continents, and countries, in a variety of hues, each with their own distinct histories, descendants of cultures that pre-date our society sometimes four or five times over. Despite the obstacles, they manage to quickly prove themselves and contribute to their communities in a number of ways. They and their children, their lives now woven into the fabric of this Nation, find success and across a number of fields including academia, business, law, music, sports and politics. Contrary to the hateful and divisive anti-immigration rhetoric that so open poisons our public discussion of the issue, the vast majority of immigrants are not a drain on our government or on our economy. They are in our military, in the reserves and on the battlefront, some even paying the ultimate price for their sacrifice of service. They more than hold their own weight economically by paying, according to the non-partisan Immigration Policy Center (IPC), more than 300 billion in federal, state and local taxes. They fuel our economy as both laborers and employers, locally generating more than 229 billion in New York State alone. That is a figure that represents more than 22 percent of the State's overall GDP, even though they represent a small percentage of the overall population. I see it every time I walk in my district, every day I am visiting another town or city in our vast land. That their contributions have and continue to positively shape our lives should not come as a surprise. What should are the ways that we continue to treat them, many of them like second-class citizens. Congress must lead the way in honoring this country's immigrant history by rewarding their hard efforts and their faith in the American Dream. The fact that it can take up to 20 years for a mother to see her brother or her child of more than 21 years is shameful. It's disrespectful to the generations who laid the foundation for American democracy at home and abroad that you could have more than a quarter million people shut out from voting this November, despite increased fees and promises of improved service. And it's an outrage that those who work hard to provide a stepping stone for their children to succeed can be easily deported because notices to appear in court get lost in the mail or because of a long ago misdemeanor that wouldn't even land a citizen behind bars. The debate over the millions of undocumented immigrants who reside here should not confuse our support of those that we have agreed to welcome with open arms. If we can't do right by those who follow the current broken system, what expectation should we have that anyone would or should follow a reformed one, no matter how liberal or conservative a plan that is devised? Soaring food prices, unattainable affordable housing, stagnant job opportunities, substandard and unaffordable education--these are issues that every family living in this Nation is facing. Whether they have been here for five generations or one, whether they speak one language or two, or whether it was man's cruelty or economic misfortune that forced them here in the first place. There are no easy answers or perfect solutions. Yet, if we can remember our past and remember the values that bind us all together, we can overcome these challenges and position this Nation for renewed success. The strength of any nation lies not just in the might of its military, but in the spirit and ingenuity of its people. All of its people.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to express my full support for H.R. 2634, the Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation of 2008. This is extremely important legislation that will have no budgetary impact on the United States Federal budget but stands to have a lasting and life changing impact for up to 24 additional poor countries. The Jubilee Act is one of the most humanitarian efforts this Congress could undertake. Poverty is one of the greatest ills to plague mankind. We have recent evidence of the impact of poverty in the demonstration of desperately hungry people for food no longer affordable because of economic forces beyond their control. Those who survive in poverty are under constant threat of death. The debt forgiveness offered by the Jubilee Act will enable poor countries 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 these countries from falling back into debt. It is inconceivable for the United States not to act immediately in passing this legislation; there are many poor countries desperately awaiting our assistance. By granting authorization for the U.S. Treasury Department to begin negotiations within the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and other multilateral creditors is the first step towards improving the lives of so many impoverished people. Above all other reasons, we are morally obligated to help those less fortunate, therefore I urge my colleagues to support the Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation Act.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of this Congress a matter of utmost importance--the current civil unrest in Haiti over rising food prices, and the inability of ordinary Haitians to afford to feed themselves and their families. Haiti is an impoverished nation and this current crisis will only push Haiti further into despair. I am urging our great Nation to provide emergency food aid to Haiti. Food costs have risen on average 40 percent over last year's cost. The cost of staples such as rice, beans, fruit and milk has increased by 50 percent. The majority of Haitians live on approximately $2 a day. These extraordinary circumstances have caused wide spread rioting throughout Haiti and have even resulted in death. People should not have to die in pursuit of food to feed their families. As a donor nation, the United States should have answered the World Food Program's (WFP) call for donor support earlier. The WFP appeal is for $96 million, and only 13 percent of the request has been provided. Our great Nation should be embarrassed for allowing our Caribbean neighbor to suffer this fate. I want to urge this Congress and the President to quickly answer the call of the WFP and provide critical food assistance to Haiti in its time of great need.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise to ask my colleagues to take this time to remember the life of Puerto Rican boxing champ and a long-time community activist Johnny Manzanet. Manzanet was a man whose life embodied the reverie of the American Dream, a man of distinction whose accomplishments were a testament to his great Puerto Rican heritage. Born in the small fishing town of Salinas, Puerto Rico, Manzanet rose up to become a world class middleweight boxing champion and dedicated public servant. In 1968, he was called upon to lead the Olympic Team of the United States in Mexico's Summer Games of the XIX Olympiad. He was then called to serve once more, when Governor Nelson Rockefeller appointed him as the New York State Boxing Commissioner in 1970. In the ensuing decades, Johnny continued to remain involved with the boxing world, training and developing young talent in every era. All- in-all, the list of those who learned from him include some of the sport's best, from Mike Tyson to the first Hispanic cruiserweight champion, Jose ``Chegui'' Torres, to even Cassius Clay, the young upstart who would go on to become the great Muhammad Ali. Yet no matter where he was or what he was doing, Johnny always managed to devote his time to the betterment of the Puerto Rican community. He contributed his time and talents to countless civic and charitable endeavors and has always given of himself unstintingly. Places like the Community Corporation of Loisaida and the Puerto Rican Community Development Project were the recipients of Manzanet's fierce advocacy and protection. He continued to serve in his final years, as a community representative under Bronx Borough Presidents Fernando Ferrer and Adolfo Carrion, Jr. Sadly, Manzanet passed away on January 22, 2008, a benevolent amalgamation of intellect, steadfastness, and vigor. Though he will be greatly missed, his family, his friends, and his community will never forget his lifetime of sacrifice and dedication to others. They and we should never forget that in and out of the ring, Johnny Manzanet had the heart of a champion.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to warmly and reverently welcome Pope Joseph Alois Ratzinger to the United States-- making his stay at our esteemed capital, the District of Columbia, as well as my home State of New York. This country boasts a strong Catholic tradition, home to the third-largest Catholic population in the world at approximately 66 million followers, and has generated a fount of enthusiasm at this, his first visit to American soil as Pope. The 265th reigning Pope will hold mass at the Nationals and Yankee stadiums, meet with the President at the White House, address the United Nations, and pray at the Ground Zero site in lower Manhattan. May he enjoy a safe and spiritually fulfilling trip. It is my wish that this Pope's commitment to progressive causes-- prime among them the proliferation of peace and socioeconomic justice-- ignites that noteworthy agenda in this country. He has called for peaceful resolutions to global conflicts, publicly expressing his conscientious opposition to the war in Iraq, and has bravely noted that all are entitled to at least the bare necessities of life: A roof overhead, food for nourishment, access to medicines. These are basic human rights and entitlements that ought to be made sacrosanct in our society.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today--the day that hundreds of thousands of DC residents pay federal income taxes while denied today (and every other day) the full vote to decry disenfranchisement in our capital city. This country was founded on the notion that, at the very least, by contributing to the purse, a citizen and his district ought to be afforded an electoral voice. `No taxation without representation!' they shouted then, and they (rightfully) still shout today. For too long, the District of Columbia has been robbed its voting seat in Congress. For too long, voices have been silenced and democracy has been severely hemorrhaged. Granting Washington, DC a vote in Congress is of historical import. That's because the city is home to one of the largest percentages of African American residents nationwide. Alongside our many triumphs as a democracy were certain failures in our not-so-distant past that we must never forget or recommit. We once legally, routinely, and unabashedly kept the vote from our African American brothers and sisters, and it would be a powerful symbol if a region as diverse as this one were not similarly kept from exercising its right to be heard. Anything short of that represents an unnerving setback in civil rights, one that indisputably has a racially disparate effect, if not intent. The District is in need. It has gradually given way to an unfortunate schism, where this country's well-to-do and politically powerful live and work side by side with communities, namely of color, plagued by overwhelming poverty, rundown schools, and unsafe streets. If any area is most deserving of partaking in the national conversation regarding the challenges this country faces, from the slumping economy to the campaign for affordable health care, it is this one. The needs of the District, however, are not endemic to itself--as the representative city for our democracy, its needs are of salience to us all. It is in our national interest that those needs be met with proper and full, electoral representation. We are now at a place and point of decision with legislation to create a vote for the District having passed this House. We now urgently need that the Senate act to pass this legislation and affirm the intention of this Congress to right this historic wrong.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to praise and congratulate Junot Diaz for winning the Pulitzer Prize for fiction on Monday, April 7, 2008, for his novel ``The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.'' Junot Diaz was born in the Dominican Republic on December 31, 1968, but has lived most of his life in New Jersey. As a child he loved reading, and his favorite book of all time is ``Planet of the Apes.'' After high school, Junot attended the University of Rutgers where he received his Bachelor's Degree in English in 1992, later received his Master of Fine Arts at the University of Cornell in 1995, where he decided to develop his passion for creative writing. Junot Diaz first made a name for himself with his critically acclaimed short story collection ``Drown'' in 1996, which featured the short stories ``Ysrael'', and ``Drown''. In this novel he developed the short stories into segments of the life of a Dominican immigrant getting accustom to life in the United States. He also published a translated version of ``Drown'' titled ``Negocios.'' This short story novel made him a household name in the Dominican American communities nationwide. His latest novel, ``The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao'' has been praised as the best novel of 2007 by Time Magazine, New York Magazine, the Washington Post, and countless other newspaper publications. In this novel he portrayed the story of a boy, who is fascinated with comic books, who lives with a dysfunctional Dominican family, who decide to move back home during the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo. Junot Diaz is a wonderful example that anything you put your mind and dedication to can be achieved in great depth. He has achieved goals that many only dream about in a lifetime, at a tender age of 39. He serves as a great role model for youth in the United States as evidence the American dream can be achieved.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Thank you so much, Madam Chairlady, for giving me this opportunity. Mr. Speaker, I could not disagree with my friend from California more, and there is no one in this House that I believe that the administration has not spoken to more in concern for pieces of trade legislation, and I doubt whether there is anyone that has the compassion and the concern more than I about the people of Colombia who I have learned to admire, respect and work with over the years, not only with their political problems, but certainly their fight, their narcotics and trying to preserve democracy in that country. The President has violated protocol in terms of not fulfilling the outlines that we have been using historically. What I have to say applies whether you are a Democrat or a Republican. If, in the rules that the distinguished chairman of the Rules Committee has outlined to us, there is an area of consultation before the President actually sends a complex piece of legislation to the House, which is more conducive to bringing us together, saying to the House that you have 90 days, and if you don't do anything in 90 days that it's the House of Representatives that killed the bill designed to help our friends in this area? Or one may say, Mr. President, you forgot to consult with us? You forgot to consult with the Ways and Means Committee. You did not deal with some of the issues that we have. As you just changed the rule and just sending it over saying it's your responsibility in the House, what we are saying is that let's give the House more time and not a timetable to see what can we do to facilitate an atmosphere that would allow the Members at least to know what's in the bill. It is really strange that the ranking member of the Rules Committee has presented us a speech this morning that is so similar that I don't remember the last time anyone in the administration has talked about the bill. Oh, Hugo Chavez, I go to sleep every night wondering what he is going to do. Castro, my God, we should vote for the people of Colombia and against him and make him a big threat in the community. I am not saying these things shouldn't be considered, but how many people, Republican or Democrat have the slightest idea what's in the trade bill? Why not give them an opportunity to make this decision, not based on 40 days, 50 days or 90 days, but for us to bring up these things. When has anyone ever heard that they didn't have a crisis in terms of peace and tranquility against terrorism and assassination in Colombia? The question we may ask is Uribe doing, a man that I respect, as much as he should? Should he be doing more?

Mr. RANGEL. The real question I think we should ask, my friend, is I know you have a problem. We have problems in every major city. Why don't you allow us to share with you some of the techniques we have, some of the technology, work with your law enforcement so at the end of the day those who claim that it is murder that stops us from voting on a trade bill, that we will be able to say that we are working with them. I hope you would rethink the vote. This vote is going to apply to every President, every Speaker of the House that deals with us. Do you believe they can change the rules and then they say that we dictate the legislative calendar of the House of Representatives? I think not. You change the procedure. We defend the rules of the House. What are we giving up? We are giving us an opportunity, one, to find out what's in the trade bill, and, two, which is most important, what can we do to resolve the issues that force Members to be against it. I appreciate the words of my friend from California, but you have to do that, you are the ranking member. I remember when I had to say things that I had to say. Let's work together on this.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the late and great former Congresswoman Julia Carson of the Seventh District of the State of Indiana who passed away on December 15, 2007. Julia Carson was the first woman and African-American to be elected to Congress by the Seventh District of the State of Indiana. She holds the title as the second woman to be elected by the State of Indiana, besides Katie Hall. She served in the Indiana House of Representatives for 4 years and the Senate for 14 years before moving on to a new position as a trustee for Center Township in Indianapolis, Indiana. She gained much respect and success as the trustee and was motivated by former Congressman Andy Jacobs to run for Congress in 1996. Her victory was marked by sheer success in the House of Representatives. Julia made a lot of good contributions to the House as being a firm supporter of children's health insurance, and by playing a key part insuring that Rosa Parks received a Congressional Gold Medal in her remembrance. She was a devoted member to the Congressional Black Caucus and to Congress as a whole. We will truly miss her and take all her wisdom with us as we move on to make right decisions for the American people.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my support of H. Res. 1077, Calling on the Government of the People's Republic of China to end its crackdown in Tibet and enter into a substantive dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama to find a negotiated solution that respects the distinctive language, culture, religious identity, and fundamental freedoms of all Tibetans, and for other purposes. It is important to encourage and support a dialogue between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Dalai Lama in order to improve the current and future situation of Tibet. For almost six decades the people of Tibet have been repressed by the Government of China by their policies, laws, and regulations, which have reduced the Tibetans' economic opportunity and have eliminated their cultural identity. On March 10, 2008, Tibetan Buddhist monks staged peaceful demonstrations in recognition of the 49th anniversary of Chinese rule over Tibet and the forced exile of the Dalai Lama. In reaction to the protests, the Government of China used excessive force that resulted in the death of hundreds and detention of thousands of Tibetans. It is time for the Chinese Government to talk with the Dalai Lama to reconcile their differences so that the Tibetans will no longer resent the Chinese and they can live peacefully together.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, the time has come to recognize the effects of climate change on the Caribbean community; I want to enter into the Record editorials from the New York CaribNews for March 4, 2008 and March 11, 2008, respectively, ``Paying the Price for Climate Change'' and ``Deal with Climate Change.'' The Caribbean community countries (CARICOM), Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and other Least Developed Countries (LCD's) are experiencing the serious effect of climate change even though they contribute the least to the problem and have the least capacity to adapt to the new conditions created. CARICOM Member States are being forced to divert resources from important development initiatives such as health, food, education and critical infrastructure issues to adapt to the damages being caused by the climate change. Some of the major effects being experienced include sea-level rise, increasingly severe hurricanes, drought and water scarcity, coral bleaching and declining fish stocks. CARICOM is asking developed countries to take immediate action to help counteract the effects of climate change and to increase funding over and above traditional official development assistance. The United Nations has been requested to assist specifically with disaster preparedness. I encourage the International Community to mobilize to help the Caribbean protect its precious beautiful environment as a legacy for all mankind. Deal With Climate Change Region Outlines Wishes to U.N.--How International Community Can Help CARICOM States (By Tony Best) Citing their own high vulnerability CARICOM nations have called on the international community to help them deal with the costly impact of climate change. What the countries, which include Antigua, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica Grenada, Haiti, Guyana, Jamaica. St. Lucia, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Vincent, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago want the United Nations system to do is to help them cope with disaster preparedness. This means high-priced insurance to aid in recovering losses due to the fall-out from climate change while aiding in risk management and climate monitoring, among other things. CARICOM's shopping list of needs, will, was presented to the U.N. General Assembly by Dr. Christopher Hackett, Barbados' U.N. Ambassador, who in an address on behalf of the entire region complained that although an ``unfortunate reality'' was that Caribbean nations and other Small Island Developing States, (SIDS), as well as the world's least developed countries, (LDCs), contributed ``the least to the problem'' they were ``confronted with the most serious challenges'' associated with climate change. Just as important, Dr. Hackett told a special session in New York that was devoted to the issue that the smaller and poorer nations ``possess the least capacity to adapt'' and meet the challenges. ``CARICOM member-states are highly vulnerable to climate change impacts including sea-level rise, increasingly severe hurricanes and other extreme weather events, such as drought and water scarcity, coral bleaching, and declining fish stocks;'' he explained. That is why Caribbean states wanted U.N. agencies, funds and programs to ``ensure that their activities in the area of climate change in our region are fully supportive of national and regional efforts to address these specific challenges.'' Specifically, they appealed to the U.N. to: * Assist CARICOM in ``incorporating climate change adaptation concerns in national development plans and strategies'' * Provide technical and other forms of assistance to CARICOM so they can ``strengthen'' the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center and other ``cc-ordination mechanisms.'' * Back plans designed to promote information sharing ``on adaptation technologies, development and transfer between exchange developing countries;' including the exchange of ideas on ``best practices.'' * Help CARICOM undertake the monitoring of climate while expanding the ability to assess the region's vulnerability and to carry out impact studies. * Give both ``technical and financial'' support in such areas as disaster preparedness, early warning, risk management, disaster mitigation and disaster recovery and rehabilitation. * Develop new financial arrangements to support ``adaptation measures'' while providing insurance coverage to small island states so they ``recoup losses due to the impacts of climate change and sea level rise.'' As Dr. Hackett explained it, ``climate change of very damaging proportions and which poses a very serious danger to the very existence of our countries is already occurring and the longer the international community postpones the implementation of the necessary greenhouse gas emissions cuts, the more adaptation will be required by SIDS and at much greater costs.'' The region complained that the island- nations and coastal states in the region had ``been forced to diver scarce resources'' from key development initiatives'' such as health, education, food and the provision of critical infrastructures to meet the demands of climate change adaptation. ``Surely,'' he added, ``this has major implications for achieving sustainable development goals.'' Paying the Price for Climate Change How Caribbean Nations Are Facing Serious Challenges It is an unfortunate reality that CARICOM countries and other Small Island Developing States (SIDS) as well as the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), all of whom contribute the least to the problem, are confronted with the most serious challenges associated with climate change; yet we possess the least capacity to adapt. Climate change of very damaging proportions and which poses a very serious danger to the very existence of our countries is already occurring and the longer the international community postpones the implementation of the necessary greenhouse gas emission cuts, the more adaptation will be required by SIDS and at much greater costs. Negotiations around the four themes agreed to at Bali-- Mitigation, Adaptation, Finance and Technology--should not prevent advancement of, or immediate action under any theme. For CARICOM adaptation, finance and technology are not only required in 2009 or post-2012, they are urgently needed now. CARICOM Member States have been forced to divert scarce resources from key developmental initiatives (e.g. health, education, food, provision of critical infrastructure etc) to climate change adaptation activities. Surely this has major implications for achieving sustainable development goals. The inadequacy of financing for adaptation activities in developing countries is a major failing of the entire international system. As stated in the 2007 UNDP Human Development Report ``the current framework provides the equivalent of an aid sponge for mopping up during a flood''. That report estimates that new additional adaptation finance of at least US$86 billion a year will be required by 2015 to meet the most basic and pressing adaptation needs of developing countries. Expressed in other terms this figure represents a mere one tenth of what developed countries currently mobilize for military expenditure. While increasing emphasis is being paid to private-public partnerships the role of international cooperation remains essential and must be enhanced. CARICOM urges developed countries to take immediate action to significantly scale-up the level of financing devoted to adaptation through the provision of new and additional resources, over and above traditional official development assistance (ODA). This would serve as a major confidence building measure and demonstration of good faith, as we enter a period of great uncertainty. The General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and other intergovernmental bodies of the UN System by the very nature of their respective mandates are important for a dialogue, awareness raising and the exchange of information on issues of global concern. CARICOM believes that the General Assembly and ECOSOC must continue to ensure that addressing climate change remains a global priority, while fully respecting and not duplicating the ongoing negotiating process with the Convention. In this context, future actions or initiatives by the GA or the ECOSOC should add value to the ongoing negotiations, and be guided by the needs of Member States, particularly those most vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change. While we are convinced that a parallel negotiating theatre should not be established within the GA, we are equally convinced that the issue of climate change should not be held in abeyance in New York until our work is completed within the Convention. CARICOM has some concerns over the orientation of the SG's report and in particular the rationale given for what he terms ``a more inclusive and coherent approach to climate change''. We believe that the first and overriding priority of the U.N. System's work in climate change should be addressing the needs of those most vulnerable and most adversely impacted by climate change--SIDS, LDCs, countries in Africa and disaster prone developing countries, rather than, as the report states providing support for negotiations. The effectiveness of the U.N. System should be assessed by its capacity to deliver the required assistance to, and build capacity in, these vulnerable countries and other developing countries. CARICOM Member States are highly vulnerable to climate change impacts including sea-level rise, increasingly severe hurricanes and other extreme weather events, drought and water scarcity, coral bleaching, and declining fish stocks. In this regard we call on relevant U.N. agencies, funds and programs to ensure that their activities in the area of climate change in our region are fully supportive of national and regional efforts to address these specific challenges. This demand driven approach with strong national and regional ownership must be embedded in the U.N.'s work at the national and regional levels. Areas, sectors, projects and program identified as priority in our national communications to the Convention, national and regional adaptation plans and sustainable development plans and strategies should receive the full support of the relevant parts of the U.N. System.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker. I would like to bring to your attention an article written on domestic violence featured in the New York CaribNews for the week ending March 25, 2008 on ``Domestic Violence, A Scourge in the Caribbean--Women Suffer at Men's Hands in Almost Every Country.'' Domestic violence is an ill that plagues many communities but is especially prevalent in immigrant communities as highlighted by a recent State Department human rights report. Domestic violence primarily affects women and children and mostly girls. The violence is often at the hands of fathers or male authority figures in the family or community. Despite tougher laws and penalties, domestic violence continues as a ``significant social problem.'' Often victims of domestic violence are reluctant to report incidents of abuse due to the stigmatism that it carries and fear of reprisal from their abusers. Even more troubling are the cases that go unreported because the perception that law enforcement officers and magistrates can be bribed to make cases disappear. Clearly there is much work to be done in educating both victims and law enforcement personnel on the serious effects of domestic violence. Articles such as this are instrumental in raising public awareness of this critical problem; and serves as a reminder that domestic violence is problematic in both immigrant and nonimmigrant communities. As a society, we have a moral obligation to educate and protect our most vulnerable members. U.S. State Department: Domestic Violence, a Scourge in Caribbean--Women Suffer at Men's Hands in Almost Every Country (By Tony Best) It's like a recurring decimal. In almost every country, from Barbados, the Bahamas, St. Vincent and Jamaica to Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize and Haiti the story was the same: physical abuse of women at the hands of their lovers is rampant throughout the Caribbean. Admittedly, though, the problem is far more serious in some places than in others. Take the case of Barbados, where the U.S. State Department human rights report described violence and abuse against women as significant social problems. And they exist despite the presence of tough laws which impost stiff sentences on men, depending on the severity of the charges. For instance, penalties can range from fines for a first time offenders (unless the injury is serious) up to death penalty for a killing. In between are prison terms for those who breach court- imposed restraining orders. But apart from physical abuse, there are the sexual offences, including spousal rate, for which the maximum penalty is life behind bars. In 2007, about 63 rape cases, seven assaults with intent to rape and 30 cases of sex with a minor were reported to the police. But women were not the only victims of violence in the home. Children in Barbados too suffered, complained the State Department. The abuse of women and children by lovers and fathers was a serious issue in Belize. Domestic violence, discrimination against women, sexual abuse of children, trafficking in persons for sexual and labor exploitation, and child labor were also problems, as was the way the report described the situation in Caricom's lone member-state in Central America. The numbers tell much of the story: in the first six months of last year, the Ministry of Health recorded 455 cases of domestic violence, of which 385 involved physical abuse of women and 67 were for sexual abuse. The picture of violence against women was worst in the Bahamas. For not only did the report term it ``serious'' and ``widespread'' but warned it often ended in murder. Last year, 14 of the 79 homicides in the Bahamas ``were related to domestic violence.'' To add to the tragedy, Washington cited complaints from women's rights groups that law enforcement authorities were generally reluctant ``to intervene in domestic disputes.'' However, the State Department softened the blow by insisting that the ``police recognized domestic violence as a high priority, provided specialized training for all incoming officers and offered continuing training in domestic violence.'' The sketch of Guyana didn't include homicides but at the core was a triple whammy: violence, rape, including spousal rape, and the trafficking of women. In addition. Guyanese women face the added burden of a perception that some police officers and magistrates could be bribed to make cases of domestic violence go away. That's not all. Despite the existence of laws designed to deal with the problem, the report charged that the real headache was a failure to implement programs designed to curb domestic violence. Small wonder, then, that a leading NGO, Help and Shelter, which handled 739 abuse cases of which 538 involved spousal abuse against women in 2007 demanded sensitivity training for magistrates and court staff to improve the handling of domestic violence. St. Vincent is another country where abuse of women is a hard and continuing fact of life. A human rights organization there charged that in far too many cases domestic violence went unpunished due to the culture in which victims choose not to seek assistance from the police or the prosecution. As for Jamaica, the situation there too could best be described as dismal, although not as deadly as the Bahamas. Social and cultural traditions perpetuated violence against women, including spousal abuse the report charged. Violence against women was widespread, but many women were reluctant to acknowledge or report abusive behavior, leading to wide variations in estimates of its extent. Just as serious and complex was the report on Trinidad and Tobago where abuse of women was a matter of grave concern. Like Jamaica, tough laws and programs to aid battered women are in existence in the twin-island republic but there was a common problem: cops are lax in enforcing the law. If figures compiled by women's groups are accurate between 20 to 25 percent of women in Trinidad and Tobago were victims of abuse. While no figures existed in Haiti that would give a indication of the depth of problem, what was clear was that it was a nightmare. For instance, a man who kills his wife or her lover found in act of adultery in the home wouldn't be charged under the country's criminal code. But a woman who murders her spouse under similar circumstances would be hauled before the court, the State Department reported. Although laws against domestic violence were enacted, human rights activists described domestic violence as both ``commonplace and underreported,'' so much so that Women's Solidarity, a human rights body for women, estimated that eight of every 10 Haitian women were victims of domestic violence. Meanwhile, the problem of domestic violence has seemingly spread from the West Indies to Caribbean immigrant groups in New York City. Both physical and verbal abuse is said to be high in Brooklyn where Charles Hynes, Brooklyn District Attorney, has an aggressive program to combat spousal abuse. ``We see it quite a lot among Caribbean immigrants,'' said an official of the DA's office. ``But people from the Caribbean aren't alone. Spousal abuse is prevalent in almost every immigrant community, whether they are from Europe, Latin America or the Caribbean.''

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to underscore the unfortunate financial squeeze many African American families will face as a result of the slumping economy. African American families and other families of color will suffer the most from a recession because they are disproportionately poor and do not have the safety net enjoyed by others. They carry a significant and disproportionate share of the burden, victim to an economic downturn that will harm working- and middle-class Americans most--unless we offer fresh and bold solutions to cultivate an economy that works for us all. Not just the wealthy. Not just the politically connected. But us all. The ``New Direction'' Congress has been swift in addressing this need. The stimulus package will provide much-needed tax relief to the tune of $600 per individual, $1,200 per married couple, and an additional $300 per child. But it doesn't stop there. It goes on to protect the least among us, committing $32 billion for those 35 million families who work tirelessly but do not earn enough to pay income taxes and guaranteeing rebates to seniors on Social Security, disabled veterans, and military widows. The package is estimated to create more than 500,000 jobs before the end of this year, of particular good news to African Americans, whose unemployment rate climbed from 8 percent in the fall to 9.2 percent just a few months afterwards. A second phase of increases in the minimum wage will take effect this July, not a moment too soon for those two million African Americans who benefit from the hike, and the 1.1 million more African Americans now living in poverty since President Bush took office. Our work on behalf of small businesses has strengthened the 1.2 million of them owned by African Americans, with revenues eclipsing $88 billion. That work has resulted in tax cuts for small business of $4 million over the next 10 years, increasing their share of Federal contracts, and lowering their cost of financing. And in response to the subprime mortgage crisis--the result of bad lending practices that saddled African Americans and Hispanics two times as much as Whites with high-cost subprime loans-- we've passed legislation providing some mortgage debt tax relief, cracking down on predatory lending, and expanding affordable loan opportunities. As Americans endure the hardships of a sputtering economy, it is incumbent upon the people's Government to get us through it and steer us back to the path of prosperity. We have been responsive--and so shall we remain--to the needs of those communities most harshly hit in times of economic calamity, and as a unified people, looking after our own, we will get through this stronger and far more prosperous.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my full support and recognition of the efforts made by Council Member Leroy Comrie, with cosponsors Abolish The N-Word Project Inc. and the Universal Circus, to organize the second annual Black History Month Essay Contest, which essay theme was: ``Why The N-Word Should Never Be Used?'' In New York City, freedom of speech is granted depending on which word you use, but do not dare let the ``n-word'' slip to your comrades. The ``n-word'' has been around for nearly as long as language itself. According to Merriam-Webster, the origin comes from the ``neger'' modification, and the French ``negre,'' and the Spanish ``negro.'' However, within the English language, the n-word was used to depict blacks during the slave trade. Blacks subsequently embraced a more palatable form, ``negro.'' This with the end of slavery and imposition of the Jim Crew was altered as a sign of disrespect and contempt. Today, some ``mainstream'' hip-hop recording artists slide the n-word into their albums. And when they clamor their way up the Billboard pop charts everyone listens, including the New York City Council. The abolish the N-Word Project Inc. has many worldwide supporters, with a mailing list of 27,000 people and 13 million hits on their Web site. Some critics state that focusing on a word will not solve the multitude of problems that exist within the black community. I support the council member's initiative; after all it has developed critical thinking wither and conversation about the use of the word is appropriate. The initiative of the council member's n-word essay contest educated young people about the negative history and impact of the n-word. Educating our society and making us conscious is important, because we need to begin to work with our children to have them understand the history and cultural meaning of a word that should only be used with such understanding.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the House Congress Resolution 310. Resolution 310 proposes a national day of remembrance for Harriet Ross Tubman, a fearless champion for civil rights. Harriet Ross Tubman was a pioneer to say the least. For the better part of a decade, Tubman made over 13 trips South to escort more than 300 hundred slaves to freedom. With no regard to her own well being, she sacrificed her own safety, so that countless other slaves could have the opportunity to realize and experience freedom, a right supposedly enshrined in our Constitution. Tubman was not merely a woman of steadfast conviction, principle and determination, but a hero and savior to those people who often had no hope. I am deeply humbled and inspired by her courage and bravery in the face of remarkable adversity. Harriet Tubman was a woman of unyielding principle, unparalleled courage and sheer grit. Therefore, I stand here today advocating House Congress Resolution 310 supporting the creation of a national day of remembrance for Harriet Tubman, a woman that inspires us all to stand and fight for freedom.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my full support of the resolution recognizing and honoring Earl Lloyd for breaking the color barrier and becoming the first African-American to play in the National Basketball Association fifty eight years ago. Earl Lloyd was born in Alexandria, Virginia on April 3, 1928. With a height of 6 ft 5 in and 225 lbs. Lloyd first developed his passion for basketball in the city of Alexandria's segregated Parker-Gray High School, where he started on the school team. He went on to play basketball at West Virginia College and then was drafted to play for the NBA in 1950. On October 31, 1950, he became the first African-American to play in a NBA game, against the Rochester Royals. Lloyd played five hundred and sixty NBA games and won a championship before retiring in 1960. In the midst of his career he proudly put his professional career on hold and served in the Army for two years before returning to the game. In 2003 he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and in his home town, Alexandria, a basketball court at T.C. Williams was named in his honor. Earl Lloyd played for the love of the sport of basketball and not to make history, but his entry into the NBA meant a lot during segregation. I am proud to honor Earl Lloyd for his career achievements as the first. He opened the doors for several famous basketball players, such as Michael Jordan, Scotty Pippin, Charles Barkley, etc. He truly blazed new trails for African-American athletes who today grace the professional game in significant numbers, constituting the great majority of the best players in the NBA.