Charlie Rangel

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss the editorial, ``Women's Month, A Time to Reflect'' which appeared in this week's edition of the New York Carib News. The editorial, in recognition of March being international women's month, discusses the current situation of women in the United States, Canada, Africa, the Caribbean, Asia, Europe and Latin America. The standing of women in the global community has drastically improved, but is sadly far from the lofty goals outlined by the United Nations Millennium Goals. Today, women have achieved new highs, as women now outnumber men in those who pursue tertiary education. Similarly, women continue to outlive their male counterparts and a record number of women are pursuing leadership roles in politics. Yet, the struggle is far from over as women still remain largely underrepresented in politics and leadership roles in religious institutions. Women still comprise the largest community affected by domestic violence, human trafficking and poverty. As a result of the continued disparity in equality among men and women, I urge Americans to remain informed on the situation by reading the editorial ``Women's Month, A Time to Reflect'' in CaribNews. In the 21st century, it is simply unacceptable for women to not be afforded the same opportunities as their male counterparts.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, today I join with the hundreds of thousands of Mexican residents of my congressional district and across our Nation in recognizing the everlasting accomplishments and contributions of Cesar E. Chavez, a social crusader who lived a lifetime of sacrifice and dedication for the betterment of others. Cesar Estrada Chavez, World War II veteran and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, as the late New York Senator Robert F. Kennedy once noted, was ``one of the heroic figures of our time.'' A true American hero, Cesar was a civil rights, Latino, farmworker, and labor leader; a religious and spiritual figure; a community servant and social entrepreneur; a crusader for nonviolent social change; an environmentalist and consumer advocate. A second-generation Mexican-American, Cesar was born on March 31, 1927, near his family's farm in Yuma, Arizona. At age 10, his family became migrant farmworkers after losing their farm in the Great Depression. Throughout his youth and into his adulthood, Cesar migrated across the Southwest laboring in the fields and vineyards, where he was exposed to the hardships and injustices of farmworker life. After achieving only an eighth-grade education, Cesar left school to work in the fields full time to support his family. Although his formal education ended then, he possessed an insatiable intellectual curiosity, and was self-taught in many fields and well read throughout his life. From 1946 to 1948, Cesar served in the U.S. Navy and fought in the Western Pacific during the tail end of World War II. Upon his return from the war, he embarked on new beginnings that would set the tone of his life. He married Ms. Helen Fabela and shortly after in 1952 began working as a community organizer with the Community Service Organization, CSO, a prominent Latino civil rights group. CSO afforded him the opportunity to learn how to organize groups for a common cause. Cesar coordinated voter registration drives and conducted campaigns against racial and economic discrimination, primarily in urban areas. In the late 1950s, he ascended to the position of national director. Cesar's dream, however, was to create an organization to protect and serve farmworkers, whose poverty and disenfranchisement he had shared. In 1962, Cesar resigned from the CSO and founded the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers of America. For more than three decades, Cesar led the first successful farmworkers union in American history, achieving dignity, respect, fair wages, medical coverage, pension benefits, and humane living conditions, as well as countless other rights and protections for hundreds of thousands of farmworkers. Against previously insurmountable odds, he led successful strikes and boycotts that resulted in the first industry-wide labor contracts in the history of American agriculture. His union's efforts brought about the passage of the groundbreaking 1975 California Agricultural Labor Relations Act to protect farmworkers. Today, it remains the only law in the Nation that protects the farmworkers' right to unionize. The significance and impact of Cesar's life transcends any one cause or struggle. He was a unique and humble leader, in addition to being a great humanitarian and communicator who influenced and inspired millions of Americans to seek social justice and civil rights for the poor and disenfranchised in our society. Cesar forged a diverse and extraordinary national coalition of students, middle class consumers, trade unionists, religious groups, and minorities. Sadly, Cesar Chavez passed away in his sleep on April 23, 1993. He was laid to rest in a rose garden at the foot of a hill he often climbed to watch the sun rise. More than 50,000 people attended his funeral services in the small town of Delano, California. Cesar Chavez--a common man with an uncommon vision for humankind-- stood for equality, justice, and dignity for all Americans. His motto, ``si se puede,'' yes we can, embodies the uncommon and invaluable legacy he left for the world's benefit. His ecumenical principles remain relevant and inspiring today for all Americans.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and praise the work of Shared Interest for their continued encouragement and investment in black-owned businesses in South Africa. Shared Interest is a New York-based international social investment fund that has worked tirelessly since 1994 to mobilize U.S. investors to provide the necessary capital to foster the development of black- owned organizations, small businesses and agricultural cooperatives in South Africa. Undoubtedly, the work of Shared Interest has provided many struggling black South African people with the funds required to create a successful business. Shared Interest took its $11 million guaranteed fund and was able to successfully leverage credit of more than $100 million. Shared Interest has gone beyond simply providing capital to small black businesses in need. The investment fund has taken on a philanthropic role in the community by honoring the work of fellow business men and women in South Africa. Shared Interest has recognized many people including the Honorable Albie Sachs, Debra Lee, Jerry Dunfrey and Nadine Hack for their contributions both business and philanthropic in nature to building a better South Africa. As a result of their continued initiatives to promote increased business and human rights standards, I hope that many more Americans will recognize the tireless efforts of Shared Interest and the need for further investment in minority owned and operated business within South Africa.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, today I would like to recognize the historic governorship of David Alexander Paterson, who at the age of 53, has become the 55th Governor of the great State of New York. Mr. Paterson is New York State's first Black Governor. I would like to again wish New York's new Governor well, and support his efforts on behalf of the great State of New York. I would like to enter this March 25th editorial from the CaribNews entitled ``A Breath of Fresh Air in Albany'' into the Record. Breath of Fresh Air Stirs Albany--Governor Paterson Takes Office as New York's Chief Executive ``I am David Paterson and I am the Governor of New York State.'' With those words and many more, David Alexander Paterson, decisively assumed the mantle of office as the Chief Executive of America's most influential state at the age of 53 years. With the State's Chief Judge, Judith S. Kaye, administering the oath office, the grandson of Caribbean immigrants was sworn in on Monday as the 55th Governor of New York and the third Black head of a state government in the more than 125 years after America's Reconstruction era. It was truly a historic moment, filled with symbolism, pageantry and realism. Few, if anyone present in the legislature, who watched it on television or who listened to the ceremony on the radio would forget the class act that unfolded in Albany, the State capital. Paterson's rise to the most powerful position in state government was swift as it was stunning and despite the unusual circumstances which led to his ascension--the forced resignation of Eliot Spitzer after he became embroiled in a lurid sex scandal involving high priced prostitutes--it was clear that the transition had occurred smoothly and that Paterson, a legally blind person, was and is in charge. His presence at the helm is a sharp reminder of the changing times in which we live. Who would have imagined a mere few years ago that in the first decade of the 21st century, the United States would be on the verge of electing a Black man, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, or a woman, U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton, a Democrat of New York, as the next President of the country or would have a Black person with Jamaican and Grenadian roots occupying the Governor's mansion in the Empire state or another Black as the chief executive of Massachusetts. It was not only pride that filled the hearts of New Yorkers everywhere. It was also a sense that a decent human being who had fought against the odds caused by his disability and spawned by the ubiquitous nature of prejudice had prevailed. U.S. Congressman Charles Rangel, Chairman of the House of Representatives' powerful Ways and Means Committee, and an icon on Capitol Hill and in Harlem summed up the situation well in a ``Dear David'' letter to the new Governor when he said: ``You have defied expectations, compiling a record of accomplishment as a member and leader of the New York State Senate. Now, as holder of the state's highest office, I am confident that you will govern with the same wisdom and leadership to make a positive difference in the lives of all New Yorkers.'' The noble Congressman spoke for all of us. In his short address after the official swearing in, Governor Paterson went straight to the issues that could define his administration: the need for jobs at a time of economic crisis; the necessity to improve education and reduce its costs to the taxpayers, students and their parents; the need for improved health care; and the importance of equity in society. To get things done Paterson will need all of the goodwill he can get from his colleagues in government and from those whose taxes pay the bills. With the national economy in a tailspin and with the state facing a gaping hole in its budget of about $124 billion, fiscal prudence without sacrificing quality of services and help for those who need it the most must be a number one priority. The Governor, Senate and Assembly must work closer together, something that didn't happen at all during Spitzer's 16 months in office. Paterson recognized that hard bit of reality and it was an important message which he sent when he lamented, rather briefly, about the absence of the cooperation in recent times. And he did it without holding up Spitzer to ransom, so to speak. An important signal was sent to everyone when some former governors, George Pataki, a Republican, and Hugh Carey, a Democrat made a point of being present and Paterson went to great lengths to recognize them and others who can make a difference in the weeks, months and the two and a half years he has left to complete the four year term. Standing alongside the Governor were his wife and children, his parents, Mr. & Mrs. Basil Paterson, people known for their grace and integrity. Their presence sent a message about the value of family, something to which the state's chief executive alluded when he sought to tell New Yorkers something about himself and the role Harlem has played in his life. In his letter, Rangel, a long-time friend of the Paterson family, reminded the Governor that as he faces the ``great challenges'' which are ahead of him and the state, ``you are not alone. Count me among the many New Yorkers who wish you well and stand ready to support your efforts on behalf of the great state of New York.'' We wish to join the choir and sing the chorus, not simply with voices and lyrics but with sincere action. Yes, there are difficult days ahead for most people in the country. But with determination, clarity of thought and his noted sense of humor, not to mention his decency we are confident that the Governor and indeed the state will succeed.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the House Resolution commemorating the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In mourning the loss of Dr. King, we must also simultaneously celebrate the life and legacy of this courageous civil rights leader. For the better part of his life, Dr. King stood in protest to inequality. He provided a voice to people once silenced by bigotry and intolerance. He preached nonviolence as a means of securing the fundamental principles of equality and justice, endowed to all people in the United States Constitution. Through his actions and life, Dr. King aided in creating the world we live in today. I am deeply humbled and inspired by his resolve to achieve change in America. Dr. King's work as a civil rights activist and leader has been studied in depth. But, often overlooked is his stance against the war in Vietnam. In the wake of Jeremiah White's comments, I believe that it is important to understand that Dr. King was more than the icon we have created in our efforts to sanctify him. Yes, he lifts the dreamer and man who worked for racial reconciliation, but he was as well a leader with a strong moral vision who was willing to call our great Nation to task when it failed to live up to the standards he saw created by our Declaration of Independence and Constitution. Many parallels exist between Dr. King's opposition to the war in Vietnam and my opposition of the war in Iraq. Dr. King believed, as I believe, that the United States Government will never invest the necessary funds and energy required to improve the situation of the poor in America, as long as the country's resources are being diverted to a war. Similarly, Dr. King and I both agree that war disproportionately affects the poor, as more of them are sent to fight and die on foreign soil. As Dr. King once stated, ``A time comes when silence is betrayal,'' and today that time has come for us in relation to Iraq. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a man of steadfast conviction, determination, sheer grit, and uncompromising faith. That is why today. I stand here advocating the House Resolution commemorating the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a man who has impacted the lives each and every American.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to declare that we have an emergency on our hands--not altogether new but altogether urgent. African Americans are hurting, caught in a justice system that disproportionately targets them, facing aggressive and often violent law enforcement, and victimized by a steady rise in racial intolerance and intimidation. These are Americans in need, and Americans of all stripes must find ways to come together in the spirit of compassion and generosity when our own is in need. That same spirit is required of us now, to move with all deliberate swiftness in correcting injustices and finding solutions to the disparate treatment of Blacks in this society. In a recently released report from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, ``State of Emergency: Stemming the Tide of Injustice against African Americans,'' a solemn picture is depicted. Facing a startling number of police beatings, the shooting deaths of unarmed Blacks, and the excessive use of force against minority youth, a majority of Blacks today do not believe that police are held accountable for acts of misconduct, an NAACP survey finds. Even that perception, divorced from its almost-certain reality, is reason enough to be concerned. lust this past year, new cases of inexcusable police brutality sprung up across the country, many involving the deaths of young African Americans and the complete acquittal and absolution of the officers who perpetrated the offenses. As the galvanizing Jena 6 case taught us, we sometimes treat our Black children harsher than we treat our White children in the courtroom. The NAACP report finds that when White and minority youth are charged with the same offenses, Black youth are six times more likely to be incarcerated than White youth are. We cannot afford to give up on any of our youth--Black or White--and we must commit the resources to invest in their rehabilitation and educations. We will, one day soon, rely on that generation. The reemergence of the hangman's noose as a symbol of fervid threat and unspeakable hatred is more than troubling. It represents a regression in the remarkable progress we have made in this country in terns of race relations. Since early 2006, there have been 43 reported noose hangings, the overwhelming bulk of those, 32, since the Jena 6 rally this past September. The lackadaisical and nonchalant response on behalf of authorities seems to have spawned this new wave. We must send the clear message that these nooses are neither harmless nor ambiguous--they are unveiled throwbacks to a Jim Crow era of public lynchings and racist terrorism. It is as direct a threat as words can be and has no place in America but as sad artifacts of still-recent history. We are today, however, so much better than that. We move forward now sobered by these unfortunate findings but focused on an optimistic plan that unifies all Americans in this call for greater equality. A community policing that trains officers in cultural awareness, teams tip officers with minority communities in a working relationship, and without bias prosecutes officers for misconduct works best. So, too, does a colorblind justice system that doles out punishment evenly and without prejudice, one that works to free our youth from lives of criminality and tap, instead, into their reservoir of talents and skills. I have no doubt the American people have the commitment and resolve to get this done. I am hopeful that for our government, our law enforcement, our justice system, we can say the same. State of Emergency: Stemming the Tide of Injustice Against African Americans Introduction: State of Emergency The case in which six black teens were arrested and charged with attempted murder for their part in a fight with fellow white students in Jena, Louisiana captured the country's attention. How is it that the black teens involved in the fight could be charged with attempted murder while the white students, whose racially-motivated actions presumably led to the schoolyard tussle, receive little more than a slap on the wrist? Unfortunately, Jena is not an isolated case; rather, it is but one of many that are reminiscent of a disturbing trend involving the disparate treatment of African Americans in the criminal justice system. The latest examples include a boot camp beating death and an assault of black youths by representatives of law enforcement. In addition to the reprehensible treatment of youth at the hands of law enforcement officials, there has also been a startling increase in the number of hangman's noose sightings around the country. If one were to take the aforementioned examples, coupled with the fact that racial harassment complaints filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) have more than doubled from just over 2,000 in 1991 to roughly 7,000 today, I one might conclude that a steady stream of racial intolerance has resurfaced. Some individuals might view the series of incidents noted throughout this report as isolated incidents; others will view them as part of a larger systemic tide stubbornly connected to the history of American race relations. What is clear to anyone who cares about civil rights, however, is that the disparate treatment of blacks in the justice system accompanied by racial intimidation is unacceptable. Not only do the police beatings, disparate sentencing cases, and noose hangings suggest movement toward a more hostile environment directed at blacks, but they call into question the extent to which African Americans really are viewed as a part of the American collective. A recent NAACP survey found that a majority of blacks do not believe the police are held accountable for acts of misconduct including, excessive use of force. Furthermore, they believe that when police use excessive force, they are more likely to exact it against African Americans than other racial and ethnic groups. The sentiment expressed by blacks in this survey is not new and demonstrates a consistency in the belief that ``the system'' works differently for blacks and whites. The disparate treatment of the Jena 6 defendants, the shooting deaths of unarmed blacks, and even the disparity in the rate at which black and Latino motorists are stopped and searched for drugs even though they are less likely than whites to actually have them, all serve to intensify the feelings of skepticism and mistrust toward the American criminal justice system. It is in this context that the NAACP declares a State of Emergency. the context of injustice today: police misconduct, prosecutorial discretion, and racial intimidation police misconduct Regrettably, many African Americans are aware of police misconduct in this nation's history, be it in the form of excessive use of force, brutality, or racial profiling. Oftentimes this familiarity is a result of first-hand experience or that of family members or friends. Therefore, the more recent instances of police misconduct, no matter how shocking, confirm what many blacks already believe about the American criminal justice system: that justice is not always leveraged fairly. Indeed, when law enforcement officials who are charged with beatings or other forms of misconduct are acquitted, the assertion of an unequal system is further corroborated. What follows are examples of alleged incidents involving black youth and adult mistreatment, death, or both at the hands of police since 1999. New York--18-year-old Khiel Coppin was shot 20 times when five officers opened fire killing him. Police believed Coppin was holding a gun; it turned out to be a hairbrush. (2007) Florida--15-year-old Shelwanda Riley was thrown around, punched, and pepper sprayed by a police officer, a man twice her size, as he tried to arrest her for a non-violent curfew violation. (2007) Maryland--17-year-old Isaiah Simmons died after struggling with several adult staff members of a residential program under contract with the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services. Witnesses and staff sat on Simmons' limbs, chest and head. The state medical examiner ruled his death a homicide, however, the staffers were charged with reckless endangerment--a misdemeanor. (2007) Washington, DC--14-year-old DeOnte' Rawlings was fatally shot by an off-duty officer for allegedly stealing a mini- bike and shooting at the officer during a foot chase. An autopsy found no gunshot residue on Rawlings and several suspicious injuries to his elbows, knees and face. (2007) Florida--14-year-old Martin Lee Anderson died while in custody at the Bay County Boot Camp. An all-white jury acquitted deputies and a nurse who participated in the videotaped violent abuse that resulted in Anderson's death. (2006) New York--23-year-old Sean Bell was leaving a bar after his bachelor party unaware that he and his friends were being followed by an undercover officer. Once accosted by the officer a confrontation ensued in which the officer said he believed Bell and his friends were going to retrieve a gun. During that confrontation, five officers fired 50 shots at the men's car, killing Bell and wounding his fiends. No gun was found in the car. (2006) Georgia--Kathryn Johnston, an elderly woman, was shot 30 times by Atlanta police who entered her home with a fraudulent warrant. Two or three officers involved plead guilty to manslaughter. (2006) Wisconsin--Frank Jude was beaten at a house party while unarmed. The three off-duty Milwaukee police officers were charged but acquitted. (2004) New York--19-year-old Timothy Stansbury was shot and killed by police as he was attempting to climb to a rooftop with a pile of CDs in his pants. He was using the rooftop as a shortcut to go to a party in an adjacent building. The officer claimed he fired at Stansbury by accident and was cleared of criminal responsibility. (2004) California--16-year-old Donovan Jackson-Chavis was slammed to the ground, tossed into the air, and bounced on the hood of a squad car and chocked by police as they handcuffed him for allegedly not dropping a bag of potato chips at a convenience store. The incident was videotaped. (2002) Ohio--Timothy Thomas was fatally shot by police during a foot chase. Cincinnati Police said Thomas, who was wanted for traffic violations, was reaching for a gun. An investigation showed that Thomas was unarmed and was holding his pants up as he ran. The officer was cleared on the shooting charges. (2001) New York--Amadou Diallo was killed when police shot him 41 times. He was unarmed. (1999) prosecutors and judges: courtroom injustice According to a report on racial disparities in the juvenile system, although minority youth are one-third of the adolescent population in the United States, they are two- thirds of the more than 100,000 young people confined to local detention and state correctional systems. The report notes that when white youth and minority youth are charged with the same offenses, black youth with no prior admissions are six times more likely to be incarcerated than white youth with the same background. Latino youth are three times more likely than white youth to be incarcerated. Additionally, youth cases that are sent to the adult court system involve black defendants at least fifty percent of the time--a number that increases to sixty-three percent when the cases involve drugs. Nationally, custody rates are five times greater for African American youth than for white youth, and among all offense categories, white youth are more likely than minority youth to be placed on probation. Judges and prosecutors have a certain amount of discretion within the confines of the law to determine which charges to seek in a given case. However, as the examples below suggest, prosecutors and judges can and do exact uneven punishment by using the law in unintended ways. This is not a minor issue of concern if one considers that abuse of sentencing power has the potential to destroy lives. recent examples: Marcus Dixon--a Georgia high-school honors student was charged with rape, assault and aggravated child molestation for having consensual intercourse with a younger white classmate. Dixon was held for over a year; his 10-year conviction was overturned once it was discovered that the Georgia prosecutor had misled jurors. Genarlow Wilson--a talented Georgia high-school student and athlete was sentenced to 10 years for having consensual oral sex with a younger classmate. Wilson's felony conviction of aggravated child molestation was recently amended to a misdemeanor, however, Wilson spent more than two years in prison. Interestingly, as Wilson was being sentenced to 10 years in prison, a white 27 year-old Georgia high school teacher who had sexual intercourse with a 16 year-old male student was sentenced to 90 days in jail and probation. Mychal Bell--a Louisiana high-school student charged with attempted murder for a fight that ensued between six black students and white students following a noose hanging on the school's unofficial ``white tree.'' The white students involved in the fight were expelled and then later reinstated but not arrested, despite having engaged in other incidents against the black students. The black students were charged as adults with attempted murder for their part in the fight. No one was ever arrested for hanging the noose on the tree. Shaquanda Cotton--a 14 year-old Paris, TX freshman shoved a hall monitor in a dispute over entering the building before the school day started. The hall monitor was not seriously injured but Cotton was convicted of assault of a public servant and sentenced to prison for up to 7 years. Meanwhile, a 14 year-old white girl was convicted of burning down her family's home and received probation. In the same town of Paris, a 19 year-old white man was convicted of negligent vehicular homicide for killing a black woman and her grandson. He received probation and was ordered to send annual Christmas cards to the victims' family. racial harassment and intimidation: noose hangings ``What's the big deal? It's only a noose...'' Why the hangman's noose is so offensive. The hangman's noose is a symbol of the racist, segregation-era violence enacted on blacks. A frequent part of the Jim Crow Southern way of life, it is an unmistakable symbol of violence and terror that whites used to demonstrate their hatred for blacks. The noose was not used as a mechanism to punish an individual; it was used to send a message to blacks in general about respecting the racial boundaries and to not ``get out of place.'' Similar to a burning cross on a lawn, a noose is not an ambiguous symbol. In the pre-civil rights era the noose was a very specific artifact used in the lynching of blacks. Lynchings were big community events in which hundreds of white families would come to watch a black man being burned and mutilated before he was hung. Those in attendance would even pose for pictures with the charred body. Since the dangling noose from a schoolyard tree raised racial tensions in Jena, Louisiana last year, the symbol of segregation-era lynchings has turned up at an alarming rate all around the country. Some have been found in fire stations and police stations, in truck yards and construction sites, in corporate places of business, and on college campuses. What follows is an overview of reported noose hangings since early 2006. At the time of this report's release 43 known noose hangings have occurred since early 2006. A review of the occurrences shows a pattern of noose hanging incidents in places of business and in school environments, with a significant increase following the media attention given to the Jena 6 case and the subsequent rally. That is, 11 cases were noted between February 2006 and August 2007; however, 32 noose incidents occur following the Jena 6 rally that took place in September. A strong pattern of noose hanging incidents seems to emerge in the northeast and southeast regions of the country.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, today I would like to introduce and recognize Cafe 2115 in my home community, an example of the dining and retail renaissance in Harlem, and to enter into the Record an article from New York CaribNews for the week ending March 4, 2008, ``Harlem's Finest with African Flavor.'' Cafe 2115, recently opened at 2115 Frederick Douglas Boulevard, blends traditional African dishes with American fare and other delicacies from around the world. The owner, Abe Fofanah is a native of Sierra Leone, who came to the United States in 1998. People who live in Harlem now have multiple options for shopping and dining that do not require them to leave the community. This is but one example of the richness of new restaurants and retail outlets that are opening in the 15th Congressional District on a daily basis. There is a renaissance occurring in Harlem.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to note the work Tonya Kinlow has undertaken as the District's Ombudsman for Schools. That office provides a venue for parents, teachers, and students to voice their frustrations and dissatisfaction with the low-performing school system, and to have investigations launched in order to address those complaints. Kinlow has an impressive record--she, of course, once worked for my office--and she demonstrates a fierce commitment to service that should serve her well in her new post. She served on the DC and State boards of education and was a board member of the education advocacy group, DC Voice. She was most recently the vice president of government relations for the DC Hospital Association. And as a part of the Rangel family, she executed her tasks superbly well and with an unmatched attention to detail. I am proud of her accomplishments and the many great things she is poised to do.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to highlight Major League Baseball's ongoing effort to reach out to minority communities and introduce a press release describing said effort. The league will host the first Urban Invitational Baseball Tournament, fielding two historically black colleges in recognition of its need to revitalize baseball in the African American community. Baseball should be committed not only to boasting diversity in its rosters, but to enjoy that same minority representation in its coaches, in its management, and in its viewership. On the heels of the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's historic breaking of the color barrier, the league has targeted urban youth and pledged its resources to bring them back to the sport. African Americans have played integral roles in the illustrious story of baseball, and it is a connection worth saving. Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academy To Host First Urban Invitational Baseball Tournament Major League Baseball today announced that the Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academy will host its first Urban Invitational Baseball Tournament from February 29-March 2. Two Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Bethune-Cookman University (Daytona Beach, FL) and Southern University (Baton Rouge, LA), will face off against collegiate baseball powerhouses UCLA and USC. The participation of HBCUs in the Urban Invitational is part of MLB's ongoing diversity and youth initiatives. ``The Urban Invitational Baseball Tournament is a part of our continued focus on reviving the majesty of baseball in the African American community,'' said Major League Baseball Executive Vice President of Operations Jimmie Lee Solomon. ``This tournament, along with the other programs at the MLB Urban Youth Academy, the Civil Rights Game and many of our other efforts, is reflective of the League's commitment to diversity, inclusion and engagement of our nation's young people. Our goal is to make sure that every child who wants to play baseball has an opportunity to do so.'' Tournament games will be played at the MLB Urban Youth Academy, USC's Dedeaux Field and UCLA's Jackie Robinson Stadium beginning Friday, February 29 and continuing through Sunday, March 2. Both games on Saturday, March 1, 2008, will be played at the MLB Urban Youth Academy and broadcast live on ESPN2. Fans attending on that day will also be entertained by a live performance of Southern University's, ``Human Jukebox'' and USC's Trojan Marching Band, as they bring their unique musical performances to Compton, California. Bethune- Cookman University and Southern University baseball teams will square off against each other at 1 p.m. (PST) on Sunday at the Academy. ``ESPN is proud to be associated with Major League Baseball's urban initiatives,'' said Len DeLuca, ESPN Senior Vice President, Programming and Acquisitions. ``The second Civil Rights Game and new Urban Invitational--40 years since the tragic death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.--are on the heels of our observance last year of the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier. ESPN is honored to join with MLB to celebrate baseball's cultural history.'' Tickets to the games being played at the MLB Urban Youth Academy will be available for purchase on game day for $5. Proceeds from the ticket sale will benefit the Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academy, which is a not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) corporation. ``On behalf of our team, I would like to say how honored we are to have been invited to an event like this, especially in its first year,'' said Bethune-Cookman Coach Mervyl Melendez. ``We hope that the Urban Invitational Baseball Tournament continues to grow and more people notice what Major League Baseball is doing for college baseball and Historically Black Colleges.'' ``Our program is very excited to represent UCLA in the tournament at the MLB Academy,'' said UCLA coach John Savage. ``We are honored to be able to play in the inaugural event. Our players are looking forward to the exciting weekend of baseball.'' Major League Baseball is committed to addressing the issue of African American participation in professional baseball. Through Reviving Baseball in the hinder Cities presented by KPMG and the establishment of the Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academy in Compton, California, MLB has pledged its resources to bringing urban youth back to America's pastime. The inaugural Civil Rights Game in 2007 also reinforced the League's dedication by paying tribute to legendary African- American players who broke barriers and made important contributions to American society. HBCUs have long offered quality education and athletic programs and have a proud tradition of outstanding baseball players. Hall of Farrier Lou Brock, former most valuable player Andre Dawson and current Milwaukee Brewers star Rickie Weeks, all rose from HBCUs. Twelve HBCU players were selected in the MLB 2007 First-Year Player Draft. Through the annual Urban Invitational Baseball Tournament, MLB hopes to help these programs revitalize baseball in the African American community. The MLB Urban Youth Baseball Academy encompasses more than 15 acres on the campus of El Camino College, Compton Center, the Academy is a state-of-the-art facility featuring four fields including a show field, batting cages and other training facilities. The Academy operates on a year-round basis, offering free baseball and softball instruction, as well as clinics to youth throughout Southern California.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Grenada on the commemoration of its political independence and to commend its selection of Eric Matthew Gairy, the country's first prime minister, as its first national hero. He led his country to independence from Britain in 1974 and served out his term amidst those politically charged and tense early years. It is imperative for a nation seeking to move forward to cull its collective memory and pay homage to the men and women whose sacrifice and heroism in the past created the opportunities of the present. Grenada is applauded for its efforts to do just that, announcing along with Gairy 15 other awardees who have stood up for the island nation over the course of its 34 years. Congratulations, Grenada. Grenada: Eric Gairy National Hero St. Georges's Grenada, CMC.--Former Prime Minister Sir Eric Matthew Gairy was named as the country's first National Hero and a number of outstanding nationals honoured as Grenadians celebrated 34 years of political independence from Britain. Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell announced that Gairy, who became this Caribbean country's first Prime Minister after leading the former British colony into Independence on February 7, 1974, would be the nation's first hero under the recently passed National Honours Act. The new piece of legislation provides for 15 people to be recognised annually for outstanding services to Grenada as part of the independence celebrations. Among the first batch of awardees was deceased Grenadian- born regional broadcaster Leslie Seon and Leslie Pierre, editor of the weekly Grenadian Voice newspaper, who was made a Knight Commander for his contribution towards the development of the Scout Movement and Journalism in the island. ``Well I don't know who put my name there but I have done my part,'' said Pierre, who was putting together this weekend's edition when the representative of the National Hero's Commission made the announcement to the thousands who were attending Independence Day celebrations at the National Stadium. The other awardees announced by the Committee include former teachers Eleanor Pilgrim and Lorraine Ramdhanny who received the Spice Isle Award. This award is awarded to two people who have rendered valuable service to Grenada in any field of human endeavour or for other humane action. Joel Mark and Veronica Alexis received the Camerhogne Award, which is awarded to two citizens who rendered meritorious service in the furtherance of national prestige or for gallantry. Mark was the first Grenadian Sailor to cross the Atlantic on a solo voyage while Alexis is a retired nurse. The Medal of Honour was presented to Commissioner of Police Winston James; former Principal Ursula Antoine and well known mas player Evelyn Mark. Honorary awards, which are presented to non Grenadians whose work has impacted on the development of Grenada, went to USA citizen Rev. Melville Schaper and Formula One racer Lewis Hamilton, whose parents are from Grenada. Schaper is the founder of the St. John Christian Secondary School which was opened here 42 years ago in one of the most rural villages in the country. Governor General Sir Daniel Williams was honoured with the first Companion of the Order of Grenada award. In his address Prime Minister Mitchell indicated that the later in the year a number of streets and buildings will be named after some prominent Grenadians who have made significant contributions towards the island since gaining independence 34th years ago. ``This Government is of the view that after 34 years of independence, it was time to develop a system that recognized Grenadians from every background all of whom have done many different types of work in building our nation and shaping our society. ``There are those who have made genuine contributions to our industrial development as a whole and who have headed up major initiatives in the corporate sector or who have given outstanding service to the community. Our new system of national awards sought to recognise them all,'' the Prime Minister said. On the eve of independence the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) called on the Mitchell administration to commit to naming the country's international airport after former leftist prime minister Maurice Bishop. ``We believe that the time has come, as this whole nation is moving towards genuine reconciliation and an understanding of its history, that the airport be named after the leader who perhaps did the most for its coming into being,'' NDC Deputy political leader, George Prime said. The Point Salines International Airport was constructed under Bishop's administration with Cuban aid.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my delight that immigrants have carved out a sacrosanct place in the American story and accordingly introduce a New York Daily News piece showcasing that contribution. The vivacity and freshness that come with a heavy immigrant population has been a defining characteristic of New York City--and we have been the better for it. We define ourselves as a city of immigrants and recognize the importance of the Statue of Liberty as a symbol of what has helped make our city great. We live immersed in a potpourri of culture, all components distinctly American but each with flair and a kaleidoscopic beauty. Our children have benefitted most from this variety, learning not just from their teachers, but from a diverse cast of neighbors and peers. The February 14 article--``Immigrants' Stories Not Foreign to Kids''--narrates the story of a New York classroom filled with Americans, through and through, all with ancestral ties to foreign nations. This newest generation will inherit this country far better equipped to be citizens of the world than generations before them. They are bound by a fervid love and allegiance to America, their home, married with a sensitivity and respect for our global neighbors. It is a good day in America when our commonalities bind us, and our differences bring us that much closer. Immigrants' Stories Not Foreign To Kids It's a wonder immigrants in the U.S. haven't been blamed for global warming. After all, from the crumbling economy to increases in crime, they've been accused of just about every other of society's ills. Which is why walking on Tuesday into teachers Joe Briscat and Kristen Grolimund's fourth-grade class at Public School 199 in Long Island City was so uplifting. Their students are lively, smart, curious and diverse, everything you would expect from New York kids. And as it can happen only in this city, particularly in Queens, they--or their parents--come from 11 different countries. ``Raise your hand if your parents came from a foreign country,'' the group of 24 9- and 10-year-olds was asked. All the students did. There was Anita, a self-assured 9-year-old with big green eyes who wants to be a doctor. A Muslim, she was wearing a beautiful gold head scarf. ``My parents are from Yugoslavia, but I was born here. I am a citizen,'' she said proudly. And there was Angel, also 9, with a ready smile and mischievous eyes, who wants to grow up to be a pilot. He came from Mexico with his parents, as did Maura, who is tall for her 9 years and very shy. ``I want to be a teacher,'' she said. Tenzin, 9, was born in Tibet and was not shy at all. And Shrabonti, 10, arrived in New York from Bangladesh and is proud of her good grades. ``I love school,'' she said. That's why ``A City of Immigrants--Dreams and Realities of Life in New York, 1840-2007,'' the history course Briscat and Grolimund are teaching, is so appropriate. For these kids, history is more than learning about events that took place many years before they were born. For them, the history of New York is their own and that of their parents; it is the struggle and the hopes and dreams of people like themselves who make our city vibrant and alive and unique. ``Immigration has defined the history of New York City,'' reads the introduction to the curriculum of ``A City of Immigrants,'' which was developed by the LaGuardia and Wagner Archives of LaGuardia Community College. This became even more evident for the students on Tuesday, when three of the people they had been studying in class--all of whom have their immigrant experiences chronicled in the fourth-grade curriculum of ``A City of Immigrants''--came to visit them. Esther Levine, born in 1919, was the daughter of Morris Levine, one of millions of Eastern European Jews who fled religious persecution from the 1880s through the 1920s. She told the children about her father, who became a traveling salesman, about Dora, her mother, and their life on Essex St. on a very different lower East Side of Manhattan. Juan Rodriguez, a graphic designer at LaGuardia, a Dominican immigrant in his mid-30s, dreamed of being a baseball player. The kids were fascinated by his tale of playing pelota with a glove made from cardboard in his native country when he was about their age. Fern Kahn, a former associate dean at LaGuardia, told the children about her life in New York in the 1950s, when she arrived from Jamaica to study at NYU. But it was when she spoke about her native country, and how she kept close ties with its culture, that the children could not stop asking questions. ``Many fourth- and fifth-graders, especially those in public schools in Queens, are members of these ethnic groups,'' said Richard Lieberman, the archives director. ``By inviting Fern, Juan and Esther to speak to the class, the children will gain an understanding of their own place in history and the important role they play in American society.'' They, these diverse New York children, will be the doctors, pilots and teachers of the future. And they will keep writing the history of our vibrant and unique city, which is, after all is said and done, their own story.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, today I rise to ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the everlasting accomplishments and contributions of women as we look to celebrate National Women's History beyond the month of March. This year's theme, as resolved by the House of Representatives on March 4, 2008, was to increase awareness and knowledge of women's involvement in history. It is an effort that is long overdue. Women have been pillars in our communities for centuries despite the sexism and discrimination that have limited their opportunities to succeed across all fields and disciplines. Their stories are undeniably woven in the fabric of our history, from colonial times up through today. The fight of our sisters and mothers to overcome stereotypes and other obstacles has helped carry out the promise of our democracy and drawn us closer to a more perfect union. The names of those who have broken through the barriers of the status quo include Harriet Tubman, whose stewardship of the Underground Railroad helped free hundreds of thousands of African American slaves; Elizabeth Cady Stanton, whose activism pushed open the ballot box and made it possible for all women to vote; Rosa Parks, whose refusal to move to the back of an Alabama bus jumpstarted the modern civil rights movement; and Dolores Huerta, who, as co-founder of the United Farm Workers Union, helped secure fair wages and working conditions for thousands of rural and urban workers. In our very own House of Representatives, the list of heroes includes the first woman in the U.S. Congress, Rep. Jeannette Rankin, and Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to the U.S. Congress who later become the first female and black Presidential candidate. It includes our very Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, who last year became the first woman elected to lead this grand Chamber. My district, New York's 15th Congressional District, is not without its share of accomplished heroines. It is home to accomplished community leaders like Dr. Ramona Hernandez, Director of the Dominican Studies Institute at the City University of New York; technology advocate Dr. Georgina Falu, founder and president of the Falu Foundation; prominent Harlem physician and activist Dr. Muriel Marjorie Petioni; and Susan Susman, founder of the Preserve West Park North Coalition, who is an active member of the Mitchell Lama Residents Coalition and fierce housing activist. These are just some of the extraordinary residents whose accomplishments sometimes go unnoticed by the media but who are working continually to improve the lives of their families and their communities. So Madam Speaker, I ask that you and my distinguished colleagues join me in recognizing the contributions made and realities faced by women in the month of March and every day of the year. It is an effort that will bring us one step closer to a Nation that not only values equality and justice but is also firmly committed to securing it for all.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the challenges the Caribbean faces in this coming year by introducing the editorial, ``Looking to 2008 for Improved Economic and Social Conditions,'' published in the New York CARIB News on January 8. The article posits that the area will have to rely on the economic gains of the last few years, as it faces rising inflation and an economy that will prove to be less robust. It hails the Caribbean Single Market and Economy as vital and argues that efforts to strengthen it should help the region stave off the grim economic picture. It notes that the impact of rising crime, particularly homicides, merits acknowledgement and solutions, perhaps by tackling those social conditions--a pervasive drug trade, the flurry of guns, and poverty--that are fueling that rise. As steadfast allies of the Caribbean, we friends of the Caribbean in this House should stay abreast of all developments out of the region, with a ready hand, an open heart, and an attentive ear. Looking to 2008 for Improved Economic and Social Conditions, Caribbean Region Expects To Consolidate Gains of Recent Years The World Bank has warned of a slowdown in economic growth in the Caribbean while the United Nations considers it the Year of the Potato at a time when food prices throughout the region, indeed, the world have gone through the roof. By the middle of the first month of the year, Barbadians would have selected a political party to run the country for the next five years while Grenada's electorate would have a chance sometime soon to decide who should govern the Spice Isle. What else can we expect in the year 2008? Except for energy rich Trinidad and Tobago, the economic picture of the region isn't expected to robust. Whether in Jamaica, the Bahamas, Grenada, St. Kitts-Nevis, Barbados, St. Lucia, Haiti, or the Dominican Republic the forecast calls for expansion that would hardly cause elation, less than four per cent. With energy and food prices seemingly spiraling often out of control, inching towards record highs, the various countries may have to consolidate economic gains of prior years, instead of reaching for the stars. The next 12 months should see rising inflation as consumers throughout the English, French, Spanish and Dutch-speaking nations and territories are forced to dig deeper into their pockets for meat, cereals, rice and other essential items as global demand outstrips supply. As importing countries, Caribbean states, like the rest of the developing world are feeling and will continue to feel the full brunt of the impact of rising prices as they have to spend more, much more to buy the same amount of essential supplies they paid for in 2006. The problem isn't difficult to spot. While food accounts for only about one-tenth of the consumer price index in the United States, Canada and Europe and prices are expected to rise at about five per cent in 2008, the poor nations, the Caribbean among them, food accounts for almost 50 per cent or more of the consumer price index. In Nigeria and Bangladesh it's about two-thirds. That's why the big battle governments and central bankers in the Caribbean are expected to fight in 2008 as prices continue to rise is going to be limiting wage increases, thus creating continuing inflation. Don't be caught off guard, then, if central banks tighten the money supply. But food and energy prices aren't the only economic worries in the Caribbean. Coming on the heels of signing the controversial economic partnership agreement with the European Union, Caricom states and the Dominican Republic are entering a new relationship with Europe, one which is putting the final nails in the coffin of preferential trade. First it was the special arrangement for bananas produced in the Caribbean, Africa and the Pacific. Then it was sugar's special price being phased out. Now, they must perform in a different trade and investment climate that would force the nations to open up their markets to more European goods. Admittedly, they will have a grace period in which to do so, depending on the commodity and the product. And that's happening at a time when Caricom is moving ahead with its efforts to strengthen the Caribbean Single Market and Economy, CSME. Having officially launched the Single Market, the ``economy'' portion of the integration effort may prove to be the biggest challenge as countries seek ways to finance their continued development through taxes and other measures on intra-regional trade. That's where plans for the Caribbean Development Fund come in this year. With an anticipated pot of more than $200 million that would be earmarked to finance economic and social expansion in the less developed states, the members of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States in particular see the Fund as a carrot that would encourage them to commit fully to the

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the pressing matter of increasing violent crime in the Caribbean and to introduce a New York CARIB News editorial that eloquently elucidates the problems and speaks to possible solutions. A conflux of drugs, guns, disaffected youth, and poverty has gripped the area's island nations, particularly Jamaica, with a world-leading 59 homicides for every 100,000 people. This is an issue neither solely endemic, nor of sole concern, to the Caribbean. The international community, rather, must accept its contribution to the problem, in the way of an aggressive international drug trade and the rampant sale of small arms. The Caribbean itself must do its part to draw its youth away from criminality and hopelessness, and invest in their educations and financial security. Guns, Drugs and Murder a Lethal Combination in Caribbean--Where Is the International Community and Gun Makers? ``The Caribbean Sun, sea and murder.'' That unsettling headline atop an equally disturbing story about violence in the Caribbean was summarized in a shocking fashion by The Economist, one of the English language's leading weekly news publications. ``Indeed,'' it stated, ``the Caribbean better known for its blue skies, cricket and rum punch, is the world leader in violent crime.'' While that may be something of an over-statement, the fact of the matter is that the picture is deeply troubling and needs urgent attention, not simply by Caribbean governments but the international community. Some numbing figures tell much of the story about homicides in a part of the world where people and their government are wedded to law and order, tranquility and democracy. With 59 homicides for every 100,000 persons in the country, Jamaica heads the list as ``the world's most murderous country,'' according to the magazine. Some distance away were St. Vincent & the Grenadines 36; Belize 33; St. Kitts-Nevis 32; Trinidad and Tobago 30; the Bahamas 25; and Antigua & Barbuda 23 for every 100,000 persons. It's not difficult to figure out why this tragic situation has evolved in a part of the world that's known as a bit of paradise on earth. Drugs, guns and disaffected youth sum up the story. Add poverty to the mix and the situation comes into proper perspective. The Caribbean has been the soft underbelly of the international drug trade for decades. Illegal narcotics, especially cocaine and some heroin are ferried through the region from South America by Colombia, Bolivia and Venezuela and destined for North America and Europe. In addition, some Caribbean states, including Jamaica and St. Vincent & the Grenadines are considered by law enforcement authorities in the United States and Canada as significant marijuana growers. Because guns and ammunition are companions in the nefarious drug trade, it shouldn't come as a surprise to learn there is a flood of small arms in the region. Almost every country has reported a rising incidence of the use of guns in criminal activity. Law enforcement authorities are reporting more and more cases of drug-related offences in which guns are a factor. Next are the armed robberies; kidnappings, shootings, and as the story indicated homicides. The countries seem unable to stem the drug tide and the importation of guns. With wide open waterways and beaches, most of them find it virtually impossible to put a dent in violent crime. Perhaps the most dramatic and frightening incident in recent years was the massacre in Lusignan, the East Coast Demerara village of East Indians late last month. Eleven men, women and children were slaughtered in their homes by criminals. The killing of a soldier by a merciless gang brought the death toll to an appalling dozen persons. What then can be and must be done? Caribbean governments are already diverting scarce resources from education, health, roads, bridges, services to the elderly and the youth in order to boost law enforcement. They recognize two things: (1) their nationals and businesses must be able to feel safe on the streets, stores, offices, factories and homes, and (2) the vital tourism industry can be undermined if visitors stop going to the beautiful destinations because of a fear of crime. Interestingly, crime and violence aren't always seen by the populace as pressing issues. They barely registered on the political radar screens during recently general election campaigns in the Bahamas, Jamaica and Barbados. But in Trinidad and Tobago where kidnappings and killings drive fear into people's hearts, there are growing calls for the use of capital punishment as something of a deterrent. Already, the prisons in almost every nation are overcrowded and except for the acquisition of sophisticated equipment, more powerful guns and better training of cops, there is nothing that the countries have not already tried. Crime has featured prominent at the summits of the region's heads of government and the subject is expected to be raised again. But the international community must also do its part. Until the United States and Europe in particular address the issue of the demand for illegal narcotics, the Caribbean would remain highly vulnerable. Washington must also re- evaluate its stance at the United Nations and elsewhere on the sale of small arms. The Caribbean isn't a producer or exporter of guns, yet deadly weapons are in the hands of people everywhere. At a time when the U.S. is said to be fighting terrorists at home, most of the guns being used to kill people next door in its neighbors have a made in U.S. label on them. The world's rich countries can ill-afford to turn a blind eye to the peril caused by the twin evils of guns and drugs. Of course, the Caribbean must deal with the problem of disaffected poor youths, most of them males, who have seemingly lost their way and have little desire for an education that would enable them to become productive citizens. That's a dangerous trend because in the years ahead, the islands and coastal states would have hundreds of thousands of people who are unprepared for the challenges of life in a highly sophisticated world. That would heighten frustration and can lead to more crime. Bringing back hanging isn't going to solve anything. The death penalty has never been an effective deterrent to curb crime. The international community must consider rising crime in developing countries as a global issue that requires financial and other resources. The poorer states too must join hands to tackle the problem. Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados are acting wisely in strengthening their coast guard and other security forces to ``choke the influx of drugs, and guns,'' recognizing that success in a few countries would simply mean the narcotics merchants would find another route to ply their trade.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, the time has come to enact the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act. We need to end discrimination against those with mental illness and substance use disorders, just as we have worked to end discrimination more broadly. I regret that I could not be here to vote on its passage out of the House. If you cannot be moved by a sense of compassion to support this important legislation, then maybe you can be moved by the statistics. More than 57.7 million Americans suffer from mental disorders. That's one in five Americans--people in our families, our friends, and coworkers. Mental disorders and addictions affect us all--regardless of race, gender or socioeconomic status. H.R. 1424 ensures that health insurers and group health plans treat mental disorders and addiction no differently than any other disease. This is not a mandate. The Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act simply says that if plans choose to offer mental health coverage, then that coverage must not be subject to different standards than the coverage for treatments of physical disease. Parity will ensure that treatment for mental disorders and addictions will be no more restrictive than treatment limits applied to comparable medical and surgical benefits. Opponents of true parity claim that H.R. 1424 could result in decreased access to employer provided health insurance. That is merely a scare tactic designed to undermine the broad-based support for the bill. In fact, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has estimated that the impact on premiums is just two-tenths of one percent. Statistics show us that depressed workers lose 5.6 hours a week of productive work time. This translates into tens of billions of dollars annually in lost productivity for employers. We also know that every dollar spent in treatment saves up to $12 in health care and criminal justice costs alone. Do the math, and you'll see that treating mental health and addiction disorders is a wise investment. No one in this day and age should lose years of their lives in the fog of mental illness and addiction when help is available. We would never think of denying diabetes patients insulin. Yet, it seems to be acceptable to erect financial barriers or take other steps that ultimately deny patients with physical and chemical imbalances treatment for their mental illness. That is wrong, and this legislation would end these discriminatory practices. I look forward to negotiating a strong compromise with our Senate colleagues.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, today I rise to ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Coogan's Restaurant's 10th Annual Salsa, Blues & Shamrocks 5K Run, a local institution in my district that was founded on the premise that ``kids who run, do better in school.'' Coogan's Annual Salsa, Blues & Shamrocks 5K Run is a celebration of the strong community ties and rich cultural diversity of northern Manhattan. The scenic route circles the historic Cloisters and returns to 169th Street. The New York City Road Runners Organization, organizers of the New York City Marathon, calls this ``the best road race outside of Central Park.'' More than 2,500 runners of all ages including world class competitors along with local celebrities participate in the race. A collage of over 20 different musical groups including gospel, bagpipes, meringue, salsa, and brass bands will serenade the runners along the route. Hundreds of kids running their hearts out all receive their Olympic style medals awarded by local firefighters and policemen. Races ``within the race'' include the Captain Frederick Ill, Jr. Uniform Services Race created in memory of a local firefighter who lost his life in the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001. Participants from the Fire Department, Police Department, and Uniformed Services will compete for the Captain Frederic Ill, Jr. FDNY Victory Cup. Another race within the race is the Norbert Sander High School Open named after Dr. Norbert Sanders, M.D., founder of the Armory Foundation. This race features teams of high school students competing for trophies and awards. Winners receive $500, to be donated to their high school sports programs. Coogan's Annual Salsa, Blues & Shamrocks 5K Run was founded in 1998 by the managing partners of Coogan's Restaurant: David Hunt, Peter Walsh, and Tess O'Connor McDade. This five kilometer running party has been an extraordinary event ever since, packed with the pulse and flavors of one of New York City's most diverse neighborhoods. On the 10th anniversary of this momentous race, I congratulate and offer my best wishes for the continued success of the race and its organizers. What began as a run to help children do better in school has become a remarkable accomplishment that should inspire other communities across our great Nation to pursue similar goals with devoted persistence.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and mourn the passing of Johnnie Carr, a true champion for civil rights. I am humbled and inspired by the change Johnnie Carr was able to realize over the course of her pioneering life. For nearly a century, she fought for equal treatment--remaining never complacent, never satisfied. She was the childhood friend of Rosa Parks and fought alongside her in the historic Montgomery bus boycott. She succeeded Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1967 as president of the Montgomery Improvement Association (the leading force behind the boycott) and she ably served at that post until her passing earlier this month. But it was her dynamic message of unity--a call to arms that appealed to everyone--that set her apart as a one-of-a-kind healer, a matriarch in a movement as relevant today as it was then. May we carry with us the exuberance and energy she maintained and aspire to live up to the ideals to which she devoted her extraordinary life of activism.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate two birthdays. Wilbert ``Bill'' Tatum never shies away from a good fight. The publisher emeritus of Amsterdam News, starting in 1978, ran editorials excoriating then-Mayor of New York, Democrat Ed Koch, once a week-- every week--on the paper's front page. The recurring, and unrelenting, box read: ``Why Koch Should Resign.'' By the time Koch left office a decade later, Tatum had turned his attention to another New York mayor, this time Republican Rudolph Giuliani. He demanded his resignation, too. Throughout his life, which this year eclipses the 75-year mark, Tatum has been unafraid to show his mettle. He has railed against one-time popular policies--the invasion of Iraq and racial profiling--and defended unpopular, often controversial figures. The man who forged a niche for himself in black journalism, and broadened the field with his editorial perspective, is all about developing big ideas--and sticking to them. ``Don't worry about your beliefs if they are yours,'' Tatum writes in a recent column. ``If you have to depend upon somebody else's beliefs, then you have no beliefs at all.'' On the anniversary of his birth, it is that unflappable spirit we celebrate, honor, and uplift. He's a self-billed ``pragmatic idealist.'' As the director of community relations for the city's building department, he fervidly sought to develop new housing in poor neighborhoods. He spent a winter's night in 1967, huddled in an evacuated and unheated Queens housing development, just to highlight the plight of tenants. He, years later, lobbied then-Governor Mario Cuomo to establish a toll-free telephone line that gave residents tips, and accepted their complaints, about drug trafficking. But over the past quarter century, he's made his mark in the media. He owned financial interests in Inner City Broadcasting Corp, Apollo Theatre, and two radio stations, WLIB and WBLS. He served a brief stint as co-publisher of the New York Post in 1993, alongside real estate developer Abe Hirschfeld. And through the pages of the Amsterdam News, the Harlem-based Black weekly that came under his direction in 1982, Tatum developed his own voice. That paper projected a critical and focused voice of its own, particularly at a time when issues of concern to African Americans were largely ignored by the mainstream media. It all began nearly 100 years ago--with nothing but $10, six sheets of paper, a lead pencil, and a table as its initial capital--and, in short order, it became New York's largest and most influential Black-owned, Black-operated business. At its zenith, its circulation peaked 100,000 and by the 1940s, it had become a leading black paper along with the storied Pittsburgh Courier, the Afro-American, and the Chicago Defender. Greats like W.E.B. DuBois, Roy Wilkins, and Adam Clayton Powell contributed to its pages. As one of the most frequently quoted black weeklies in the world, it says its strength lies in its ``shaping the advancement and realization of Black aspirations.'' It now commands an irrefutable spot on the mantel of American Black history. It made visible the invisible; gave speech to the voiceless. It championed the causes of civil rights, amplifying the too-often muffled calls from the community. It fought for integration in the Armed Forces during World War II and was at the forefront in covering events such as the Montgomery bus boycott in Alabama. Tatum, himself, has been lauded for taking the paper in a new, fresh direction-- harkening back to its history while remaining modern and relevant. He's expanded its coverage of international affairs, attracting a wide variety of new readership from all corners of the local, national, and even international market. Tatum was born in January 23, 1933, in a three-room shack in Durham, North Carolina, 10th out of 13 siblings, against the backdrop of segregation and summers of tobacco-field toil. He today boasts a degree from Pennsylvania's Lincoln University, the oldest Black university in the U.S., a master's in urban studies from Occidental College in L.A, and a National Urban fellowship at Yale. Out of work in segregationist America, ``too well-educated'' to land a post as a janitor at any of the New York newspapers, and instead, tried his luck as a reporter and columnist in Europe. But he has since carved out a safe space of his own, assuming the leadership of a historic paper and injecting his powerful voice into the dialog. He has all our best wishes on his birthday and in this year, as his paper celebrates a milestone--a century's worth of scoops, awards, exclusives, and history-making. We are all the better for it.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of Dr. M. Elizabeth Carnegie, a champion of the cause of Black nurses, who passed away on February 20, 2008. Born on April 19, 1916 in Baltimore Maryland, Dr. Carnegie received her initial nursing education through a diploma program. However, she went on to obtain her B.A. from West Virginia State College, and M.A. from Syracuse University, and a D.P.A. from New York University. Some of Dr. Carnegie's major accomplishments include working on the editorial staff of the American Journal of Nursing, including being editor of nursing research during her last 5 years The third edition of her award winning book, the Path We Tread: Blacks in Nursing Worldwide, 1834-1994, has been published by the National League for Nursing, New York, and continues to be a critical source of the history of Blacks in nursing. In addition, she has had six honorary doctoral degrees bestowed upon her and held eight distinguished professorships and two endowed chairs at leading universities throughout the country The M. Elizabeth Carnegie Endowed Chair in Nursing Health Disparities has been established in the Howard University Division of Nursing. Dr. Carnegie's affiliations include being past national officer of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority: chairperson emerita, American Nurses' Association Minority Fellowship Program Advisory Committee, board member. Nurses' Educational Funds: past president. American Academy of Nursing; member. National Black Nurses' Association: member. American Association for the History of Nursing. and past board member. Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. Dr. Carnegie was inducted into the Hail of Fame of the American Nurses' Association in June 2000. Dr. Carnegie has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the ANA Mary Mahoney Award; American Academy of Nursing Legend Award; and the Lillian D. Wald Award, New York Visiting Nurses Service. Throughout her life, Dr. Carnegie fought against injustice and prejudice in the nursing profession, wherever she found it. She worked vigorously to ensure educational opportunites for Black nurses. When the Florida State Nurses' Association, FSNA, finally admitted blacks, Dr. Carnegie became a member of the board without the full rights of board membership. Her ongoing personality and determination to be heard led the board to grant her full rights within the FSNA. She was not a major figure in Black history, and most people do not know about her contributions, yet she had an indelible impact on the world. Today we pay tribute to the legacy she leaves behind in the field of nursing.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to the historical contributions that Africa has made to civilization. Too often their contributions are overlooked. Rulers and leaders such as Tenhamenin, Sonni Ali, Abram Hannibal, Chaka, Nelson Mandela, Julius Nyerre and Kwame Nkrumah, just to name a few, are often briefly mentioned or forgotten. Africa is a diverse continent, with natural resources, growth opportunity and a strong history, which needs more recognition and support. In recognition of the importance of Africa, I am pleased that President George Bush has made his second trip to Africa, visiting Benin, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana and Liberia to encourage and support these countries' government stability and economic growth potential. During the spring district work period, March 17-26, 2008, I am leading a bipartisan Committee on Ways and Means delegation to South Africa, Lesotho, Uganda, Ghana and Mali to meet with government officials in regard to broadening and deepening trade and economic ties between the United States and sub-Saharan Africa. As a result of the President's visit to Africa and mine, I hope that Americans will become more aware of the contributions made by Africans and the importance of this great continent so that their contributions to civilization will no longer be ignored or forgotten. [From the Caribbean News] Stories To Be Told and Chapters To Ensure That African Contribution to Human Civilization Becomes Common Knowledge Around the World (By Tony Best) Turn back the hands of time. It's 1066 and the man history later dubbed ``William the Conqueror,'' the illegitimate son of Duke Robert of Normandy, invaded England to claim what he saw was his inheritance and was crowned King on Christmas Day of that year. At the same time, Tenhamenin, the ruler of the vast Ghana Empire, could place 200,000 warriors on the field of battle in Africa and with precision and military strategy take on all adversaries. Fast forward to 1488, a period of feudalism in Europe. It was in that year that the rulers of Songhay, the third of the great African empires, conquered Mali and took control of the fabled City of Timbuktu, the site of the University of Sankore, an important international center of learning in the world that attracted prominent scholars, both Black and White. These are but two nuggets of history, long hidden from global public view and scholarly research in the major universities of Europe and North America. Chances are thousands of students at some of America's historically Black colleges and universities will hear this month much about the empires of Ghana, Mali, Songhay and Kanem that thrived on the African continent between the year 1000 and 16th century, promoting trade, developing seats of learning and fostering the use of precio. The focus on Black achievement in February brings to center-stage the vital and multi-faceted roles played by peoples of African descent in advancing human development globally. From their ancestral homeland in Africa to North America, the Caribbean, Latin America and other parts of the world, people of color have been instrumental in improving the daily lives of human beings everywhere. It's a contribution that has been deliberately ignored, downplayed or distorted by many white historians and archeologists. Hence, the value of Black History Month in North America. Names that run the gamut from Pianky, the military genius and Black King of Nubia who conquered Egypt around 700 BC; Antar, the African-Arabian poet and story teller; Sonni Ali, the 15th century warrior king of Songhay, and Abram Hannibal, the soldier and commander of 18th century Russia to Chaka who led and forged the proud Black nation of South until his assassination in 1828 and Estavancio, Arizona's African ``discoverer,'' dot the page of history. Their presence and deeds underscore an essential reality: Blacks have been part and parcel of world history, present from exploration and revolution to scientific and other technological achievements. Along with the Hittites, Blacks from Africa pioneered in the making of iron, fashioned precious stones into historic ornaments, statues and valuable works of art and used oil- bearing plants for both medicinal and dietary purposes. They developed cereal and transformed a wild plant into cotton, thus opening up the world the art of weaving. They were among the world's first farmers, producing wheat, groundnuts, yams, watermelons and possibly coffee. During the heydays of Greek civilization, when Herodotus, the famous historian wrote about the ``Black and curly- haired'' soldiers in the army of Xerxes around 480 BC and when the Roman Empire was at its heights and Kush was an African province of Rome in the 4th century A.D. Blacks weren't ignored. In much later times when the Empires of Ghana, Mali, Songhay and Kanem and when Europe was experiencing the ``Dark Ages,'' African states were flourishing with established governmental systems, proud universities and successful commercial activity. Today. after centuries of colonial and imperial domination, Africa is emerging as a region with immense potential that can be an example to the rest of the world in the decades ahead. After being brutalized by 19th and 20th century European expansionism, civilization and bigotry, the African continent succeeded in gaining self-rule, beginning with Ghana in 1957. In the decades since then, a mix of the residual and pernicious effects of colonialism and dictatorial rule, derailed many of the dreams of hundreds of millions of people in Africa and stifled progress. But things have changed. More countries have embraced open government, are abiding by the rule of law, the will of the people and are harnessing their vast human and natural resources for the upliftment of all. In addition, towering international figures, including Nelson Mandela, a global hero of courage and principle, the late Julius Nyerre, the first President of Tanzania, Kwame Nkrumah. who led the way by becoming the first African in the 20th century to Head an independent nation as colonial rule began to crumble and Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya, have taken their rightful places as leaders who gave direction and purpose to the international community. Unfortunately though, Kenya suffered a severe setback in December 2007, when a scandalous hijacking of the presidential elections by supporters of the incumbent leader, Mwai Kibaki, triggered a bloodbath that left almost 1,000 dead and hundreds of thousands of Kenyans homeless. But that is expected to be a temporary setback along the road of progress. As the story of the exploits of Black people emerges from the bottom draw of history which recorded by Whites, especially Europeans, the accurate picture that surfaces is one not simply of grandeur of days past but of concrete achievement and of a bright future.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, it seems as though a lot of attention is being given to Hugo Chavez and CITGO and, I guess, Castro and maybe Osama bin Laden, but when the final record is established, it would be that we have a lousy energy policy in this country. We just hope you would join with us in trying to protect our great national security. I would like to yield 3 minutes to Richard Neal from Massachusetts, the subcommittee chairman of oversight, who has done a fantastic job on this subject, and for this your Nation is thankful. (Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1001, I call up the bill (H.R. 5351) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for the production of renewable energy and energy conservation, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. RANGEL. It is not an official earmark. And it can't be determined that, and the Record would so record that it is not an earmark.

Mr. RANGEL. Only because the opinion was considered officially and legally as an advisory opinion.

Mr. RANGEL. I would like to yield 3 minutes to an outstanding Member of Congress who has worked so hard on the Ways and Means Committee, Ms. Schwartz of Pennsylvania.