Charlie Rangel

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the gentlelady from Arizona (Ms. Giffords) for 2 minutes.

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, first let me once again thank Mr. English for the diligent way that he addresses the problems that are before our committee. His working with Richard Neal makes me proud to be a member and chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. I do hope that at some point that we will be able to get past the barrier of partisanship to deal with a national security issue, a global climate issue, an issue that should challenge all partisanship as we move forward. It defies common sense to believe that the oil industry that is receiving billions of dollars in profit would even consider the $14 billion that we are talking about. It is almost like grains of sand on the beach. We are asking them to be partners with us, not just for their shareholders, which they know how to take care of, but for their country, to be able to say that our foreign policy should not be directed by where oil is, to be able to say at the end of the day we can tell our kids and grandkids that we tried to protect the atmosphere of this great country, to be able to say that there are alternatives, that we don't have to rely on fossil fuels. We have the genius. We have the creativity. And this bill provides the incentives to see whether we can use the wind, the water, waste, solar, whatever it takes. We have the know-how given the opportunity which this bill will give to deal with it. We can create products that conserve energy. We can increase our surplus in terms of trade by being able to produce products that are far more competitive than what we are doing today. What a great opportunity for us. And when we talk about potential recession or whatever the President wants to call it, we have to recognize the big role that the increase in the price of oil has played with families who used to consider themselves middle income and now are faced with ever-increasing home fuel costs, automobile costs and all of these things, and to find that we have to give them $159 billion because they don't have the ability to put food on the table or shoes on their kids' feet or to pay their rent or to pay their mortgage. All of this, we can handle these problems if we work together in a bipartisan way. We even go as far as to say in the bill that we don't have all of the answers. We provide tax-exempt bonds for mayors and Governors and people with exciting ideas of how to make greenhouses and increase the efficiency of our commercial buildings as well as our residents. Why don't we give hope a chance and give the challenge to America a chance, force the Senate to come to meet with us and in a bipartisan way in the House to be able to say that we are prepared to do these things. And so I do hope that people would reconsider that did not support H.R. 5351. I do hope and congratulate the leadership and Nancy Pelosi, our Speaker, for never giving up and not giving in just because we face political obstacles. The record is going to indicate which side we were on, and it is abundantly clear, were you on the side of Big Oil or were you on the side of change and wanting to make certain that we met the challenges that we are forced to do. General Leave

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on the bill, H.R. 5351.

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I encourage our membership to support this bill.

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I reserve a point of order.

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I make a point of order that the motion to recommit is not germane to the underlying bill, and I insist on my point of order.

Mr. RANGEL. I have a point of order at the desk and I insist on my point of order.

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I object. The proponent is not dealing with the question of the point of order but is dealing with another subject matter.

Mr. RANGEL. The proponent's speech is not related to the parliamentary question of the relevancy to the point of order.

Mr. RANGEL. Before I speak, may I have a parliamentary inquiry?

Mr. RANGEL. Notwithstanding the rhetoric of the sponsor, does this motion to recommit kill the underlying bill?

Mr. RANGEL. I am asking what would be the impact if this were to pass. Would it kill the bill?

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I oppose the motion, and I am a little embarrassed about an issue that came up during the debate on this bill as related to the unity and the support for my great city, New York. I oppose the motion for many reasons, but the prime one is that this actually kills the bill and prevents us from taking a vote, but I don't think that they seriously would want us to consider the provisions here that they have in the motion. But having said that, I am embarrassed that one of the issues that is in the motion to recommit is that they not allow the City of New York, with the support of the President of the United States, and have it included in the President's budget, the opportunity to utilize tax- exempt bonds, bonds that were given for the specific purpose of assisting us in recovering from that tragic terrorist attack on September 11. After study by the administration and conversations which they had with the Republican and Democrat mayor and Governor of our great State, they reached the conclusion that the fair and equitable thing, because of the impediment under which the original tax-exempt bond issue was written, that it was inaccurately written and it would expire if this provision wasn't there. Someone on the other side called it an earmark. Well, if it is an earmark, it is a compassionate earmark that is supported by the President of the United States and the Secretary of the Treasury. I just ask you, in case somebody of good conscience would ask, Why would you do a thing like that in a motion to recommit? to give you the opportunity to say, I just didn't know that it was in there. So for all of those reasons, I ask that we defeat the motion to recommit, Mr. Speaker. Parliamentary Inquiries

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, parliamentary inquiry.

Mr. RANGEL. If it was reported back, would it comply with the PAYGO rules of the House of Representatives, Mr. Speaker?

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my concern over President Bush's handling of the budget and to enter into the Record editorials from today's Washington Post, ``Budget Mess--President Bush's last spending plan only adds to a disastrous fiscal legacy'' and from today's New York Times, ``Lame-Duck Budget.'' President Bush was given a gift 7 years ago; the gift was a projected surplus of $5.6 trillion over the next decade. He has been neither appreciative nor responsible with this gift that America entrusted him with to make the lives of all Americans better. Instead his policies have benefited select groups and special interest. Case in point, his tax cutting agenda has greatly improved the lives of households with incomes totaling more than $450,000 a year. These are some of the wealthiest American households. The national debt has grown by $2 trillion and the projected $725 billion surplus for the upcoming fiscal year (2009) has disappeared and in its place has appeared a $407 billion deficit. Based on Mr. Bush's recent budget submission, he proposes to pay for additional tax cuts through $397 billion deficit spending over the next 5 years. Mr. Bush leaves behind a legacy of failed fiscal policies and priorities. Mr. Bush stated his budget plan would put the country on the road to balancing the budget by 2012. However, he mistakenly forgot to inform the American people that his plan only partially funds the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan for 2009, and starting in 2010, he has planned zero spending. This is a disingenuous attempt to make his budget plan seem plausible. There are no winners with the Bush budget proposal; domestic spending programs will be cut or remain flat. There is no long-term planning for the alternative minimum tax and both Medicare and health care spending will suffer devastating cuts. Given the uncertain economic future of the country Mr. Bush's budget proposal leaves his successor with a very difficult task ahead. This is especially disheartening since his predecessor left him with a surplus. [From the Washington Post, Feb. 2, 2008] Budget Mess Seven long years ago, a new president submitted his first budget--an optimistic document now relevant only as a chastening artifact of a bygone era. In that ``Blueprint for New Beginnings,'' George W. Bush grappled with the supposed challenge of dealing with a projected surplus of $5.6 trillion over the next decade. The president proposed to pay down the debt by $2 trillion during that time, which, he said, was as much as could be responsibly redeemed. He offered lavish tax cuts. And he vowed to ``confront great challenges from which Government has too long flinched,'' putting Social Security and Medicare on solid financial footing. The final budget of Mr. Bush's presidency arrived yesterday, and the contrast between then and now could hardly be more sobering. Instead of being paid down, the national debt has grown by $2 trillion. The $725 billion surplus once projected for the coming fiscal year (2009) has evaporated. In its place is a $407 billion deficit--an unrealistically rosy number that omits billions in likely war spending and is artificially reduced by including the $200 billion Social Security surplus. The explosion in entitlement costs has been left unaddressed and is therefore even more daunting. Indeed, on entitlements, Mr. Bush's legacy will be to have added to the long-term tab with the addition of an expensive Medicare prescription drug benefit. Some of this transformation, as the administration would be the first to point out, is not Mr. Bush's fault. Even as he submitted that initial budget, the economy was slowing. The attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, further rattled the economy and imposed huge unanticipated costs for homeland security and military operations overseas. Mr. Bush tried to launch the necessary debate on Social Security, and, although the president can be faulted for having poisoned the well with a relentlessly partisan legislative strategy, congressional Democrats chose to respond with more partisanship. But the fact remains that the purported surplus on which Mr. Bush based his tax-cutting agenda was always something of a mirage, and the president has never been willing to adjust his agenda to the grim new fiscal reality. Yesterday's promise of a small surplus by 2012 is once again premised on omitting likely costs (zero is budgeted for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan) and by assuming cuts to domestic spending that are unachievable politically and, in large part, unwise as a matter of policy. As always, Mr. Bush pledges to press ahead with his tax- cutting agenda: another $2.4 trillion over the next decade, $3.7 trillion if relief from the alternative minimum tax is included. The President argues that failing to extend his previous tax cuts would result in an average tax increase of $1,800. But Mr. Bush neglects to point out that the overwhelming share of the tax cuts go to the wealthiest Americans. The top 1 percent of households--those with incomes of more than $450,000--would get 31 percent of the benefits, with tax cuts averaging $67,000 by 2012. And Mr. Bush does not even propose fully paying for these cuts: The budget he submitted yesterday envisions another $397 billion in deficit spending over the next five years because it would devote more money to tax cuts than it would cut in spending. Mr. Bush inherited a potential windfall--and squandered it. The next president will inherit his mess.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to enter into the Record a February 14th editorial from the New York Times by Eliot Spitzer, Governor of New York, ``Predatory Lenders' Partner in Crime''. This editorial talks about the role the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) had in preempting state laws designed to protect consumers from mortgage loans with deceptive ``teaser'' rates and hidden fees. Several states had enacted laws to protect consumers from these practices. Many low- and middle-income borrowers are not able to absorb monthly payment increases when variable terms reset, such as the expiration of teasers rates and/or interest rate increases. Many of these loan products are so complex, that the disclosures currently available are inadequate to protect consumers. The end result is that hardworking Americans are stripped of the equity they have built in their properties, and they lose their homes. Who would have thought that the OCC would issue formal opinions in 2003 that preempted state laws designed to protect consumers from lending practices and would put consumers in jeopardy of losing their homes? This was so egregious that all 50 state attorney generals and state banking superintendents vigorously fought the new rules. The fight was to no avail--the Bush administration won and the banks were protected. Greater regulatory oversight is necessary to ensure borrower confidence in the banking system, and the availability of quality loan products in the market place. The end result is where the U.S. finds itself today--with record rates of foreclosures and an economy in a perilous condition. [From the New York Times, Feb. 14, 2008] Predatory Lenders' Partner in Crime (By Eliot Spitzer) Several years ago, state attorneys general and others involved in consumer protection began to notice a marked increase in a range of predatory lending practices by mortgage lenders. Some were misrepresenting the terms of loans, making loans without regard to consumers' ability to repay, making loans with deceptive ``teaser'' rates that later ballooned astronomically, packing loans with undisclosed charges and fees, or even paying illegal kickbacks. These and other practices, we noticed, were having a devastating effect on home buyers. In addition, the widespread nature of these practices, if left unchecked, threatened our financial markets. Even though predatory lending was becoming a national problem, the Bush administration looked the other way and did nothing to protect American homeowners. In fact, the government chose instead to align itself with the banks that were victimizing consumers. Predatory lending was widely understood to present a looming national crisis. This threat was so clear that as New York attorney general, I joined with colleagues in the other 49 states in attempting to fill the void left by the federal government. Individually, and together, state attorneys general of both parties brought litigation or entered into settlements with many subprime lenders that were engaged in predatory lending practices. Several state legislatures, including New York's, enacted laws aimed at curbing such practices. What did the Bush administration do in response? Did it reverse course and decide to take action to halt this burgeoning scourge? As Americans are now painfully aware, with hundreds of thousands of homeowners facing foreclosure and our markets reeling, the answer is a resounding no. Not only did the Bush administration do nothing to protect consumers, it embarked on an aggressive and unprecedented campaign to prevent states from protecting their residents from the very problems to which the federal government was turning a blind eye. Let me explain: The administration accomplished this feat through an obscure federal agency called the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). The OCC has been in existence since the Civil War. Its mission is to ensure the fiscal soundness of national banks. For 140 years, the OCC examined the books of national banks to make sure they were balanced, an important but uncontroversial function. But a few years ago, for the first time in its history, the OCC was used as a tool against consumers. In 2003, during the height of the predatory lending crisis, the OCC invoked a clause from the 1863 National Bank Act to issue formal opinions preempting all state predatory lending laws, thereby rendering them inoperative. The OCC also promulgated new rules that prevented states from enforcing any of their own consumer protection laws against national banks. The federal government's actions were so egregious and so unprecedented that all 50 state attorneys general, and all 50 state banking superintendents, actively fought the new rules. But the unanimous opposition of the 50 states did not deter, or even slow, the Bush administration in its goal of protecting the banks. In fact, when my office opened an investigation of possible discrimination in mortgage lending by a number of banks, the OCC filed a federal lawsuit to stop the investigation. Throughout our battles with the OCC and the banks, the mantra of the banks and their defenders was that efforts to curb predatory lending would deny access to credit to the very consumers the states were trying to protect. But the curbs we sought on predatory and unfair lending would have in no way jeopardized access to the legitimate credit market for appropriately priced loans. Instead, they would have stopped the scourge of predatory lending practices that have resulted in countless thousands of consumers losing their homes and put our economy in a precarious position. When history tells the story of the subprime lending crisis and recounts its devastating effects on the lives of so many innocent homeowners, the Bush administration will not be judged favorably. The tale is still unfolding, but when the dust settles, it will be judged as a willing accomplice to the lenders who went to any lengths in their quest for profits. So willing, in fact, that it used the power of the federal government in an unprecedented assault on state legislatures, as well as on state attorneys general and anyone else on the side of consumers.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the University of the West Indies and its recent push to make publicly available those official papers penned by some of the Caribbean's greatest leaders. These papers shed invaluable insight into the area's national and regional public policy, and their availability would grant a host of students, citizens, and political analysts knowledge of their governments' inner workings. The New York CARIB News article, ``Give Us Your Papers, They Would Help Future Generations,'' published on Feb. 5, makes the case. University of the West Indies to Former Caribbean Leaders: Give Us Your Papers, They Would Help Future Generations ``Give us your official papers that deal with both national and regional public policy.'' That appeal to former leaders of several CARICOM nations, from P.J. Patterson of Jamaica, Dr. Kenny Anthony of St. Lucia and James ``Son'' Mitchell of St. Vincent to Owen Arthur and Sir Lloyd Sandiford of Barbados has come from Dr. Nigel Harris, Vice Chancellor of the University of West Indies. He told the Carib News in New York yesterday that such papers would enhance the ability of future generations of students, political scientists and researchers to understand the development of the region's public policies. ``First of all such donations would be a service to the region as a whole,'' Dr. Harris said. ``Secondly, it gives enduring value to the University that this is a place that our leaders see as being vitally important; understand its enduring value; and in that context have a sense of comfort, if you will that what they leave, that part of their life that they are leaving to the University, will be preserved. It will serve to inform future generations of our peoples and our scholars.'' Dr. Harris was in New York for the glitzy annual awards gala of the American Foundation for the University of the West Indies. Almost 400 guests attended the Black Tie dinner at the Waldorf Astoria in Manhattan where more than a dozen people were honored for their contribution to the development of the Caribbean or the societies in which they now live and work. So far Edward Seaga, a former Prime Minister of Jamaica has donated his papers to the UWI's Mona campus; the papers of the late Dr. Eric Williams, the father of Trinidad and Tobago's independence, who helped to create CARICOM, are now housed at the St. Augustine campus in Trinidad; while those of Sir Shridath Ramphal, a former Commonwealth Secretary who later became the University's Chancellor, are at the Cave Hill campus in Barbados. ``We in the Caribbean need a place that scholars, students and others can go to understand, read and learn about public policy,'' Dr. Harris said. ``Such collections shouldn't be stored in a willy-nilly fashion.'' The Vice Chancellor thinks the papers of Patterson and Arthur would be vital to an understanding of their approach to regionalism and to the policies affecting people in Jamaica, Barbados and the rest of the region. In Arthur's case, he spent almost 14 years as the head of the government with lead responsibility for the launching of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy and Dr. Harris said his papers were an ``extremely valuable'' source of information and guidance for future generations. ``Owen Arthur has been one of the thought leaders, if you will, with respect to the implementation of the CSME,'' Harris said. ``It was a charge that he took on. He was engaged in a number of meetings and conferences, some of our university people were there, in terms of thinking through the CSME, the integration of the Caribbean and I think we can learn a lot from that in the short term. We can also learn a lot in the long-term in terms of the journey that we took, so to speak, when it comes to Barbados' development at this point in time and the journey we are going through right now to achieve the Caribbean Single Market and Economy.'' Interestingly enough, Dr. Harris said that technological development was making it easier to store and gain easier access to the papers than ever before and that should be an attraction to the donors and the users of such documents. ``Now that we can digitize material, which is what Mr. Seaga is doing with his papers, digitizing hundreds of thousands of pages, it is going to make it so easily accessible and acceptable to scholars in years and decades to come,'' was the way he put it. ``Just plain folks who are interested throughout the region would be able to come in and examine them and learn about how decisions were made and positions taken. We have methods already that can readily assemble and store masses of information in ways that would be able to access easily.'' The UWI is celebrating its 60th anniversary and many of honorees who received awards on evening were hailed for their work in the Caribbean or the United States. ``It was a very highly successful event,'' Dr. Harris said. ``The American Foundation of the University for the West Indies plays a vital role in our University's continuing expansion.'' Sir George Alleyne, UWI Chancellor, described the gala as a ``special event'' one that was particularly true as ``our university celebrates'' an important milestone in its history. ``In a young institution like ours we must mark this early milestone and use them not only to review what we have done, but to see what else we may do and how much we can do better when we are doing.'' During the gala awards were presented to Denis O'Brienm, founder of Digicel; Dr. John Agard, senior lecturer in the UWI's faculty of science and agriculture at St. Augustine; Prof. Anthony Chen, professor of applied physics at Mona; Dr. Leonard Nurse, a senior lecturer in the Center for Resource Management and Environmental Studies at Cave Hill; Kenneth DeGhetto, a former member of the Foundation's Board of Trustees; Reggie Canal, first vice president of African Heritage Banking at HSBC; Raymond Goulbourne, BET's Executive Vice President; Noel Hankin, Senior Vice President of Multi- Cultural Relations at Moet Hennessy USA; Roy Hastick, founder and chief executive officer of the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Brooklyn; Marc Morial, a former Mayor of New Orleans who is the President of the National Urban League; Colbert Narcisse, chief administrative officer of Global Investment Bank and the chief operating officer of the Americas Investment Bank at Merrill Lynch; Paul Altman, Managing Director of Altman Real Estate, the Caribbean's leading real estate company; Winston Bayley, UWI's chief financial officer; Dr. Rollin Bertrand, CEO of the TCL Group; Stephen Cozier, Managing Director of ScotiaBank's Eastern Caribbean operations; Vincent Hosang, founder of Caribbean Food Delights and Royal Caribbean Bakery; and Minna Israel, Managing Director for RBTT Bank Jamaica Limited. Harry Belafonte, world famous entertainer and civil rights activist, was also honored. Susan Taylor of Essence Magazine accepted the award for him in his absence. Brenda Blackmon of WWOR-TV, My 9; and Maurice Dubois of WCBS-TV were the gala's hosts. The Rt. Rev. E. Don Taylor, Episcopal Vicar Bishop of New York City delivered the invocation. ``We salute the immense contributions of our luminaries and other awardees,'' said Karl Rodney, New York Carib News publisher, chairman of the dinner committee. Michael Flanagan, the Foundation's Chairman, said that the event and the Foundation continue to ``focus on supporting the University so that the institution can continue to expand and meet demands and remain relevant to the societies it serves.''

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Black History Month and to enter into the record an editorial from New York CaribNews for the week ending February 19, 2008, ``Harriet Tubman: Moses of Her People--She Demonstrated the Courage and Grit of a Freedom Fighter.'' Harriet Tubman was born a slave in 1820 on a Maryland plantation. In 1849 she escaped to Philadelphia and immediately began her mission of freeing as many slaves as she could on what became known as the ``Underground Railroad'', a network of antislavery activists and safe houses. Harriet Tubman is credited with rescuing over 300 slaves. The Underground Railroad operated at night with escaping slaves following the Northern Star. This enterprising operation involved the following states: Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland and ultimately was responsible for guiding more than 2,500 slaves to freedom. Harriet Tubman was so successful that a $40,000 reward was issued for her capture, dead or alive. However, this was not a deterrent to her mission. Even with the enormous price on her head she returned south to free her family and made 19 additional trips while eluding her enemies. She was said to have never lost a passenger. During the Civil War Harriet Tubman joined the Union Army and worked first as a cook and a nurse and later as a scout and spy. When the war ended Harriet Tubman took on the role of community mother taking care of elderly and needy Blacks while supporting the establishment of Southern Freed People's school. She continued caring for the community well into her 80's. As Michael D. Roberts states at the end of his CaribNews essay, ``For all her toughness Harriet Tubman, who died at age 90, was first and foremost a decent, kind and loving human being who only wanted the best for her people.'' Harriet Tubman: Moses of Her People--She Demonstrated the Courage and Grit of a Freedom Fighter (By Michael D. Roberts) This tiny but exceptionally brave Black woman commanded the grudging respect of white southern slave owners. As a matter of fact they put out a huge reward of $40,000 for her capture dead or alive. In the north they called her the ``Moses of her people'' because of her legendary exploits in getting slaves out of the racist south. Her name was Harriet Tubman and she was born a slave on a Maryland plantation. Then in 1849 she escaped to Philadelphia and immediately joined what has now come to be known as the ``Underground Railroad'' a complex and secret passage used by abolitionists to conduct slaves to the free north. It operated at night and followed the Northern Star. Its conductors met and accompanied the runaway slaves leading them through an intricate web of roads, barns, paths and hideouts to confuse irate southern slaveowners hot in pursuit. The states involved were Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. And the Railroad's greatest conductor was Harriet Tubman. In a daring enterprise, and with more than 3,200 people involved, this Railway was responsible for guiding to the north more then 2,500 slaves between 1830 and 1860. The story of Harriet Tubman began when she freed herself and then returned, even with a price on her head, to the hostile south to free her family. She made 19 additional trips to the south and was able to elude her enemies by guile and cunning. She became an embarrassment to the intelligence organizations of the south as she avoided trap after trap and earned the name ``Scarlet Pimpernel'' for her exploits. Her trips to the south resulted in freedom for more than 300 slaves who were conducted by ``General Moses'' to the north and Canada. Known for her great physical strength, Harriet Tubman also became widely known for her courage and resourcefulness. Always she was able to confuse the slaveowners. For example, she once let loose several chickens she had just bought in a southern market place to avoid being recognized by a former master. And another time she deliberately took a southern bound train to shake off her pursuers. Said to be deeply religious, it was the strength of her convictions that motivated her to do what she did--she was convinced that she was doing the Lord's work. When the Civil War broke out Harriet Tubman enlisted in the Union Army and became a spy and scout because of her knowledge of the outdoors and her uncanny intelligence. She was placed in this dangerous role also for her ability to operate under extreme pressure and to handle difficult situations. From all reports her dispatches were informative and led to many successes for the Union forces. Not one to remain complacent she also worked as a nurse in a hospital for freed slaves and helped them economically by raising money from the sale of eggs and chickens. When the guns of the Civil War fell silent Harriet Tubman made New York her home and cared for her aged parents. She became something of a community mother because she took in other needy Blacks who were struggling to make a new life in New York. Never able to read or write she nevertheless knew the value of education and was shrewd enough to realize that Blacks would have to educate themselves to make it in the United States. She therefore supported the establishment of Southern Freed People's Schools. Well into the twilight of her years Harriet Tubman set up a home to care for old and poor Blacks. It is correct to say that she remained the Moses of Her People right on to the end of her long life. When she set up the ``poor people's home'' she was at the ripe old age of 80 years. Harriet Tubman proved that age was never a fetter to advancement and that complacency and inaction were the greatest enemies of Blacks in America. She demonstrated that conviction; determination and bravery were necessary tools in fighting for human and civil rights. Harriet Tubman has left an example on how to love people. She did what no government or institution was able to do for her people. She became in the process an institution herself. Her exploits and bravery will always be remembered as will be her humanity and compassion. For all her toughness Harriet Tubman, who died at age 90, was first and foremost a decent, kind and loving human being who only wanted the best for her people.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Black History Month and to enter into the record an editorial from New York CaribNews for the week ending February 19, 2008, ``Celebrating the African-American Contribution to Black History--the NAACP--Then and Now.'' The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), originally called the National Negro Committee was founded on February 12, 1909 by Ida Wells-Barnett, W.E.B. DuBois, Henry Moscowitz, Mary White Ovington, Oswald Garrison Villiard, William English Walling. The 6 founders, who comprised a multi-racial group of Americans, renewed the struggle for civil and political liberty. We now know the organization as the NAACP. In the early years, the NAACP concentrated on using the courts to overturn the Jim Crow laws that permitted racial discrimination. The NAACP in 1913 organized opposition to President Woodrow Wilson's introduction of racial segregation into the federal government policy. The NAACP devoted a significant amount of energy after World War I and in the 1920s and 1930s to publicize the lynching of blacks throughout the United States and sought federal legislation against those states which refused to prosecute. Today, the NAACP continues its mission to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination. (From the CaribNews, Feb. 19, 2008) Celebrating the African-American Contribution to Black History--NAACP-- Then and Now The NAACP was founded as the National Negro Committee on February 12, 1909, by a multi-racial group of political activists including W.E.B. DuBois, Ida B. Wells, Henry Moscowitz, Mary White Ovington, Oswald Garrison Villiard, and William English Walling. DuBois edited the association's magazine, The Crisis, which reached more than 30,000 people. One often overlooked aspect of the NAACP's history is that the Jewish community contributed hugely to the NAACP's founding and continued financing. In 1914, Professor Emeritus Joel Spingarn of Columbia University became Chairman of the NAACP and recruited for its board such Jewish leaders as Jacob Schiff, Jacob Billikopf, and Rabbi Stephen Wise. In the climactic civil rights drives of the 1950s and 1960s, Jewish participation was all but overwhelming. The NAACP's headquarters are in Baltimore, Maryland and it has regional offices in California, New York, Michigan, Missouri, Georgia, Texas, and Maryland. Each regional office is responsible for coordinating conferences in the states included in that region. Local, youth, and college chapters organize activities for individual members. The NAACP is governed nationally by a 64-member board of directors led by a chairman. The board elects one person as the president and chief executive officer for the organization. Departments within the NAACP govern areas of action. Local chapters are supported by the Branch and Field Services department and the Youth and College department. The Legal Department focuses on court cases of broad application to minorities, such as systematic discrimination in employment, government, or education. The Washington, D.C. bureau is responsible for lobbying the U.S. Government. The Education Department works to improve public education at the local, state and federal levels. The goal of the Health Division is to advance health care for minorities through public policy and education. As of 2004 the NAACP had approximately 500,000 members.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, it is with great honor and enthusiasm that I rise to congratulate Alipio ``Coco'' Cabrera in celebration of his 25th anniversary as a radio host and personality. He along with the Univision Radio family will be celebrating this very momentous and joyous occasion with a concert held on February 17th, 2008 at the United Palace Theatre in my district. ``Coco,'' as he is referred to by his fans, has a very rich history that has given him longevity in the radio industry for the past 25 years. His career began in the Dominican Republic as a journalist and writer, for the well known newspaper ``El Nacional.'' Looking for better opportunities, in 1978 he decides to embark on a journey to New York City. As many immigrants that come to our shores, Alipio had to earn a living by working tough jobs such as a cab driver, tailor, and factory worker. In 1980, after he was able to enter New York City's rigid media field, his dreams finally became a reality. He was able to demonstrate his talent to popular radio stations such as: WBNX, WSKQ and WKDM where for the first time, he gained the highest ratings for an AM Radio Station during 1984 to 1988. Shortly after, the largest Hispanic radio group in the country, Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation (HBC) gains interest in Coco's talents and hires him to work in various projects and popular radio shows in prime time. Coco is very well respected by those in the radio industry and also by the thousands of fans that listen to him on a weekly basis. He is a regular guest in Univision Spanish Language Television shows such as: ``Despierta America,'' ``Al Despertar,'' and ``Don Francisco Presenta.'' Alipio Cabrera has received various important awards and recognitions nationally and internationally. After conquering the radio and television industries, Mr. Cabrera decided to journal his triumphs in an autobiography titled ``Abriendo el Coco'' (Opening the Coconut) which narrates his struggles and desire to better himself as a professional and as a human being. His greatest achievement has been his involvement with many charitable organizations. He was instrumental in the relief effort to assist those affected by hurricane George. Again faced with another tragedy, Coco again became involved in the relief efforts for the affected areas of Hurricane Noel and Olga in the Dominican Republic and the many victims of the earthquake in Peru. Alipio is a faithful supporter of St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN. Madam Speaker, I ask that you and my distinguished colleagues join me in honoring and congratulating Alipio Coco Cabrera on his historic 25th Anniversary. His dedication, commitment, and joyous spirit is worthy of the highest commendation. As New York's favorite Latin radio personalities, just a mere mention of his name brings a smile to all.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Black History Month and to enter into the Record an editorial from New York CaribNews for the week ending February 19, 2008, ``Blacks Who Helped Change the Course of History and Improved the Quality of People's Lives Everywhere.'' This editorial makes mention of many Blacks who have contributed to American history, with deeds that have benefited the lives of all Americans. Some of these pioneers have familiar names--other names are not as familiar, however, their contributions are important all the same. They include: Oscar DePriest, the first Black Congressman of the 20th century; Mary McLeod Bethune, educator and White House advisor; A. Philip Randolph, the trade union leader; and Dr. Charles Drew, the pioneer of blood plasma. This editorial highlights the many accomplishments of Black Americans in religion, the arts, education, and science. It would take years to complete a list of all the accomplishments Blacks have made in America, which have transformed our own lives, as well as those of people around the world. [From the New York Carib News, Feb. 19, 2008] Blacks Who Helped To Change the Course of History and Improved the Quality of People's Lives Everywhere ``Ask historians about Oliver Cromwell and they would quickly point to the man who became Lord Protector of England, Ireland and Scotland between 1653-58. But there was another Oliver Cromwell, who was born in Burlington County in New Jersey, exactly a century after the gentleman who essentially was a dictator turned down the English crown. While the American is often ignored by the chroniclers of the nation's past, the fact of the matter is that he made his presence felt when George Washington crossed the Delaware River on the Windy night of December 25, 1776 to attempt to capture the British garrison at Trenton. Actually, the Black man was among 2,400 hand picked troops who caught the unsuspecting mercenaries of the British unawares. It was a much needed victory that did much to lift the spirits of colonists and boost people's morale. The rest, as they say, is history. George Washington and his forces eventually went on to victory in the battle for independence stretched over a number of years after the river Crossing. This episode is important because what it demonstrates once again is the role which Blacks played in fighting for America's freedom. They were present at the creation of the nation and have been working assiduously ever since. In almost every major battle in America's history, whether military or civil, Blacks have shouldered their share of the burden and took up the challenge of defending or building the country. They persisted against all odds. Today, their names litter the pages of history, covering everything from religion, science, the arts, health, education make such a long list of Black pioneers that it would take years to complete. Some like the Benjamin Banneker, a mathematical wizard; Prince Hall, the fraternal leader; Paul Cuffee, a late 18th century ship builder and owner; Elijah McCoy and Granville Wood, inventors; George Washington Carver, the savior of southern agriculture; Daniel Hale Williams, the first successful heart surgeon; and Charles Drew, the pioneer in blood plasma. In their different ways these Blacks helped to transform our lives, making them better for every one. But the list doesn't end there. Harriet Tubman, the liberator of slaves; Sojourner Truth, a pilgrim of freedom; Madame C.J. Walker, the cosmetics manufacturer; Paul R. Williams the architect, and A.G. Gaston, the shining light for free enterprise who showed the way forward towards success in commerce are also among them. How about the contributions of Oscar DePriest, the first Black Congressman of the 20th century; A. Philip Randolph, the pre-eminent trade union leader; Edward W. Brooke, the U.S. Senator from Massachusetts who represented a new breed of politicians in Washington, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the great humanist and civil rights leader of the 20th and any century; Mary McLeod Bethune, the cotton-picker, educator and White House adviser; and Congressman Charles Rangel, the long serving Democrat from Harlem and Chairman of the Ways & Means Committee of the House of Representatives, an eloquent voice for reason and social justice? They are but a small sampling of the voices for the multitude. Think of the persons who helped to widen the entrance to education and Carter Woodson, the father of Black History Month, Arthur Schomburg, the bibliophile and antiquarian, Alain Locke, the Rhodes Scholar and philosopher, and John Hope Franklin, the historian spring quickly to mind. James Weldon Johnson, the gentleman of letters, Gwendolyn Brooks, a Pulitzer Prize winner and Paul Lawrence Dunbar, the people's poet are among the tellers of troubled or delightful tales. These Black American contributors helped to ease our pain, bring smiles to our faces and opened human civilization to new vistas. In the process they became worthy of the praise being showered on them and many more African-Americans during Black History month.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my full support of the EITC, a refundable tax credit that reduces or eliminates taxes that low-income married or single working people pay, and also frequently operates as a wage subsidy for low-income workers. I am expressing my hope that taxpayers with incomes of less than $39,783 will take advantage of the EITC, since this can result in a refund of more than $4,700 for the eligible taxpayers. The EITC is one of the largest anti- poverty tools in the United States. This is an opportunity to help people get out of poverty. To educate those who are eligible for the EITC, more tax centers have extended their hours of operation. I encourage my colleagues in Congress to inform their constituents of the available resources. To check one's eligibility and identify the nearest IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center one can go to IRS.gov.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to throw the full weight of my endorsement behind a resolution of substantial import and consequence: that New York's championship football team be congratulated and honored for its come-from-behind Super Bowl win last week, one that left the sports world simultaneously stunned and elated. The competition was formidable and the challenge facing the Giants daunting. Experts did not give the Giants much chance of prevailing and the odds-makers in Las Vegas made them 12-point underdogs. The New England Patriots represented a veteran squad of impressive offensive muscle, strolling onto the field with a historic perfect season and an expected fourth championship within its grasp. But the New York Giants proved resilient. Eli Manning led the way, charging down the field with a 12-play, 83-yard drive that capitalized on the great skill of David Tyree, Brandon Jacobs, Steve Smith, and Plaxico Burress. This upset was no ordinary win. Facing a team dead set on making history, the G-men blazed a trail of their own, becoming the first NFC wild card team to win a Super Bowl. Theirs is a story of unparalleled heart and inspiration, of surpassing expectations and securing triumph in the face of all odds. Theirs is an American story, and they have accordingly ascended from being New York's team to being America's team. Join me in spirited congratulations and well wishes for America's team, the New York Giants, in their 17-14 championship win.