Charlie Rangel

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, as our colleagues know, we passed overwhelmingly the minimum wage bill. But it got into trouble in the Senate as they attempted to attach an $8.2 billion tax cut. I shared the problem that we faced with Mr. McCrery, and we thought that small business certainly did deserve some assistance, with or without the minimum wage bill. And we talked, and Mr. McCrery said, well, if we are going to have a bill, are we going to pay for it? And let's select what we thought would be the best interests of small businesses in view of this dialogue that we had with the Senate. Our staffs got together, gave us several options, and we agreed that we would increase and extend the small business expense, increase the work opportunity tax credit to include veterans and disabled veterans, protect the current benefit of the FICA tip credit, allow small businesses to use the work opportunity tax credit, and to enjoy the alternative, to exclude alternative minimum tax, and to simplify the tax filing system for businesses that are owned jointly by husband and wife. We then tried to figure a way to pay for it. And what we agreed to is to make certain that the capital gains tax cut that was dramatically made lower for people in low income, that we would prevent people from transferring the capital stock to their kids who have little or no income and enjoy a benefit that was designed to assist low-income people. Letters commending our efforts were received, it was supported by the Chamber of Commerce which says that it is going to have a key vote; but since I don't follow them that closely, I don't know what it means; the National Association of Manufacturers, the National Restaurant Association, Equipment Leasing and Finance Association, American Bankers Association, the American Farm Bureau, Federation to Secure the Industry and Financial Markets Association, the National Federation of Independent Business, and the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Coalition. I urge you to join with me and the ranking minority member in supporting this legislation, which is supported as well by the Small Business Association. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, in view of the fact that so many Members have travel engagements, I will reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 976.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 62nd anniversary of the birth, life and legacy of renowned musician, champion of peace, and provocateur of thought; Bob Marley. His music stirred emotions of love; his life inspired the hope of peace. February 6, 1945 marked the beginning of his journey as an ambassador of humanity. Bob Marley was with us such a short time, but left such a rich legacy that on each birthday we ask ourselves what greatness we would have seen if he had lived a full life. We are sad that he died so young and that after all these years he would have just turned 62 this month. Bob Marley's international appeal is due to his commitment to the unity of mankind. He awakened the consciousness of society as a spokesperson for equality in Africa and for the poor and underprivileged across the world. His efforts to shine a light on the darkest regions across the globe gave a platform to the voiceless to let their stories be heard. Bob Marley was an activist of world peace, and he encouraged us that if we come together ``we can make it work.'' Bob Marley's ability to empathize with the plight of the poor and destitute is a characteristic that we all must internalize. When we are faced with the widening gap of the haves and have-nots, with our neighbors affected by Hurricane Katrina, and with the citizens of Haiti and Darfur, we must have the compassion and the courage to ensure that all are given the opportunity to live fulfilling lives. With the revolutionary spirit of Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Bob Marley empowered us to realize our inner strength and to continually strive for spiritual maturity. His famous lyrics in ``Redemption Song'' gave insight in overcoming inner dissonance, advising to ``Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds.'' His conviction to personal growth was seen in his commitment to the principles of his faith, and his unyielding desire for others to become fully actualized human beings. Having a special talent to recreate the scenes of everyday life, Bob Marley gave us the opportunity to experience the joy, love, pain, and redemption that characterize our humanity through his music. With a message which transcends the reality of which he sung, he speaks to us in this day and time as meaningfully as he did when he lived, leading us to reflect on the complexities of our world, and the enjoyment of the pleasures in our lives. His numerous awards and accolades reflect his dedication to creating music and a message unhindered by culture, race, time, or space. He and his beloved anthem ``One Love'' was voted as the most popular international song of the 20th century. Bob Marley's music lives on to remind us to strive for peace in our society and within ourselves. Because of his contribution to the world of music and the consciousness of humanity, I celebrate the birth, life, and legend of Bob Marley.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, NAACP, on its 98th anniversary. On February 12, 1909, the NAACP was founded by W.E.B. DuBois, Ida Wells-Barnett, Henry Moscowitz, Mary White Ovington, Oswald Garrison Villard, and William English Walling to embark on fight for the civil rights of Native Americans, Asian Americans, African Americans, and Jewish people. These brave men and women had a vision of equality and a commitment to fight for the downtrodden, in an era when people of color, meaning anyone who was nonwhite, were denied rights and subject to harassment and intimidation. Their commitment to establishing an organization that would stand up to power was unparalleled. The words, from the original charter, prove the need and urgency to establish such an organization. It stated, ``To promote equality of rights and to eradicate caste or race prejudice among the citizens of the United States; to advance the interest of colored citizens; to secure for them impartial suffrage; and to increase their opportunities for securing justice in the courts, education for the children, employment according to their ability and complete equality before law.'' With the spirit of fighting for equality as the motivation and the constitution as the tool, the battle for equality would be with the courts and thus, they marched on. In the beginning, the NAACP's efforts focused on fighting the segregation laws under Jim Crow. I vividly remember living with separate but equal as the accepted doctrine. I also recall stories of people who gave their lives fighting that injustice. Despite the struggle, the NAACP did not waver in the face of adversity and took its fight with separate but equal education to the highest court in the land, the Supreme Court, with the landmark case Brown vs. Board of Education and was victorious. Today, the NAACP continues to be a voice for minorities and does excellent work with the continued fight for civil rights and equality. On this day, the 98th anniversary, I pay homage to the NAACP for work done in the past, present, and it is to be expected in the future.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life and legacy of Percy Sutton, a true leader in the Harlem community. He has worked as a stunt pilot, train conductor, military intelligence officer, civil rights attorney, broadcast company owner, TV producer, and borough president. But Sutton is most notably known as a mentor for young leaders in my congressional district. Percy Sutton was born in San Antonio, TX on November 24, 1920, the youngest child of Samuel and Lillian Sutton's 15 children. Sutton attended and graduated from Prairie View A&M University, Tuskegee Institute, and Hampton Institute. A skilled pilot, Sutton served our country during World War II with the Tuskegee Airmen and won combat stars as an intelligence officer. After receiving an honorable discharge with the rank of captain, Sutton enrolled in the Brooklyn College Law School and received his law degree in 1950. During the 1950s and 1960s, Sutton became one of American's best known lawyers, fighting for civil rights and representing many prominent African American figures, including Malcolm X. Sutton served as borough president of the borough of Manhattan from 1966 until 1977. During his tenure he supported initiatives to forge economic revitalization in Harlem. It was Sutton, while borough president, who first presented the idea of tourism in upper Manhattan. He continues to encourage the revitalization of the Harlem community by supporting organizations which promote local empowerment and economic development. Sutton is also a leader in the business world. In 1971, he created the Inner City Broadcasting Company. The company housed the first African American owned radio stations in New York City: WBLS and WLIB. Sutton initiated the revitalization of the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem and successfully produced the nationally acclaimed television show, It's Showtime at the Apollo. In 1987, he went on to receive the Spingarn Medal from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, NAACP, for his many achievements as a public servant, businessman, and community leader. Percy Sutton is a great American and a good friend. He continues to be an inspiration for young African Americans. I urge you to support H.R. 954 to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 365 West 125th Street in New York, NY, as the ``Percy Sutton Post Office Building.''

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate, Las Aguilas Cibaernas, the team representing the Dominican Republic at the 2007 Caribbean Series, for winning the championship on February 7. Wearing jerseys emblazoned with the words ``Dominicano Soy'' (I am Dominican), their pride in their country and in the game of baseball was evident as the team dominated this year's Caribbean Series, where they won a record five of their six games during the Series. Dominicans have once more demonstrated that they are the forerunners in the all-American sport of baseball. The Dominican Republic has now won 16 Caribbean Series titles, the most by anyone country in the history of these championship games. The Dominican Republic has won seven out of the last 11 Caribbean Series, demonstrating their passion and commitment to the sport. Baseball is the national sport of the Dominican Republic and many of the best Dominican born baseball athletes play for U.S. Major League Baseball teams. Even in the poorest rural villages throughout the Dominican Republic, boys are swinging bats in well-tended baseball fields. They move with an athletic grace and throw without fear. They play barefoot sometimes, and swing with the entire body in one fluid poetic arc. They practice day in and day out with hopes of one day being the baseball player. They play for the love of the game, which is why professional baseball scouts from the United States go to the Dominican Republic in droves. About 500,000 Dominicans live in New York, the city's second-largest Latino group after Puerto Ricans, according to census officials. The majority of New York's Dominicans live in and around Washington Heights in Upper Manhattan, part of my Congressional district. Baseball is a year-round sport for them. In the winter, after the baseball season finishes in the United States, they enjoy the Dominican baseball season, which includes the Caribbean Series games. This year the Series was watched by over 700,000 fans all over the world, the highest viewing ever. Please join me in congratulating the team from the Dominican Republic for an outstanding demonstration of commitment, dominance and pride at the 2007 Caribbean Series.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I didn't come down here, my colleagues, to talk about General MacArthur, but I guess I knew of him better than anyone in this room. General MacArthur was called out of Korea. He was the commander of the entire Armed Forces there, and left us in the Second Infantry Division completely surrounded by the Chinese in November of 1950. The last I remember, he was called back by the Commander in Chief, Harry Truman, for defying his direction. So with all due respect to the great late general, this is hardly a time to talk about what soldiers have to do when they defy authority. I want to thank those who have given us an opportunity today to express ourselves under question of life and death. Very few people have this responsibility, yet those here in this House, you didn't get elected to do this, but today you have to decide whether or not you want this war to continue and how many people have to die before it is stopped. You here talk about me supporting a draft, but I challenge anyone to tell me that their feelings about this war in Iraq would not be different if they thought that their loved ones, their family, their community, would be placed in harm's way. Whether you are for or against the war, or no matter how you voted, when you see the casualties mounting up, when you visit the hospitals and see young dedicated people without their skulls, their faces, their legs, their arms, you don't have to know any of these kids to start crying. But if you have children and grandchildren, and your imagination allows you to believe that they would be included in the 21,000, and no matter how many times they go, there has to be a feeling that maybe this is the last chance I have, you have to have a different feeling if you are not dealing with someone else's children. Now, people would say these kids want to fight. I mean, they are different from most kids. They volunteered. They want to do it. It is strange how most of them sought the $40,000, $30,000, $20,000 bonus or sought educational benefits, or don't come from families that are affluent in this country. It is strange that you never heard the President of the United States or the Secretary of Defense ever make a plea to the patriotism of America to say, Give me your young, your able body, give me your patriots, we have a war to fight. You have never heard that. Oh, no, we applaud those who enlisted, but there has never been a plea out there for America to make sacrifices. A country at war, and the President doesn't ask people to sacrifice anything. Well, my son in the Marines got out of the Persian Gulf. He is out, and he too enjoyed the GI Bill. But recently I attended a funeral in my district of a young man who died in Iraq, and I have gone to others, and the family was outside, and they pled with me, please, Congressman, tell them our son was a hero. Please, Congressman Rangel, we thank you that you are here, salute my son, please. I have gone to these funerals before. Most of these young men and women were marines. So I was so used to seeing this blue uniform with the red stripe. The family actually walked me to the coffin, and my knees buckled. Why? Because as sensitive and as passionate I am about the loss of life, instead of seeing a brown-skinned Dominican in a marine outfit, I saw a soldier about 20 years old. I saw a soldier of about 20 years old in an Army uniform, not a Marine uniform. Guess what, he looked just like me. I ask my colleagues to try to figure, if you were involved as an individual, as a kid, or your family was involved, that this great country and this great Constitution has given you the right, right in your hand, to determine who lives and who dies. You cannot make a mistake in supporting this resolution, it is not going to hurt our beloved warriors, it is going to help our country, it is going to help them, and it is going to make us proud one day to be able to say, when asked, What did you do when this was going on in the world, and your Congress was asked? You would be able to say, There was a resolution. It may not have been a profile in courage, but I supported it, and I am proud that I did

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the historic meeting of two wonderfully talented African-American coaches, Lovie Smith of the Chicago Bears and Tony Dungy of the Indianapolis Colts. These two men have made history by leading their teams to Super Bowl XLI. February 4, 2007 will remain a significant day in the pantheon of sports history, as well as American history. Prior to this date, there was never an African-American coach at the helm of a team that qualified for the big game. It is important for us to recognize the historic nature of this meeting--the meeting of two extremely successful coaches and two very talented teams--because the victories celebrated on this date extend far beyond the length of the football field and speaks to significant changes from a time when Black players and coaches were not allowed to join White sports leagues. The leadership of African-American coaches who pride themselves on their Christian ideals and coach using positive reinforcement demonstrate the resilience, perseverance and desire to partake in all aspects of the American dream of people of African descent. I urge my colleagues to support the resolution to H. Res. 90, congratulating Lovie Smith of the Chicago Bears and Tony Dungy of the Indianapolis Colts on becoming the first African-American head coaches of National Football League teams to qualify for the Super Bowl. We should pause to commemorate this historic event, but it is important that we remain critical while celebrating. Though there have been significant improvements in racial inequities in the NFL, there is still much work to be done. Frederick Douglass ``Fritz'' Pollard became the first African-American head coach of an NFL team in 1921 with the Akron Pros. It would be another 70 years before another head coach joined the ranks. Throughout the 1980s, there was not a single African- American head coach in the NFL, in fact all head coaches were Caucasian. In 1989, Art Shell joined the Oakland Raiders as head coach. He would be joined by two more Black coaches in the years that followed while the number of African-American assistant coaches continued to grow. The stark contrast between the number of Black coaches, always very few in numbers, and the number of Black players has sometimes drawn critical attention from those outside of the Black community; however, it was extremely difficult to avoid discussing these discrepancies in the coming weeks. I hope that as we move forward and continue to remember the first meeting of two great African-American men and continue to push for true equality, throughout the ranks, in the NFL and in other professional leagues. Football, in America, has always been more than just a game. It is the American game, deeply entrenched in the fabric of our society and a symbol of our culture as Americans. Travel to any city or town throughout the Nation and you will see people of all races, ethnicities, religions, socio-economic classes and social backgrounds discussing, celebrating and playing football, sharing in the losses and successes of their favorite teams. While tremendous progress has been made, especially in the area of racial equity, there is still work to be done in extending equality to all Americans.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to point out the Bush administration's policy of isolating Cuba and bringing down the Castro government (or its successor) has no chance of success and enter into the Record the first of two parts to an article in the current issue of Foreign Affairs by Julia E. Sweig entitled ``Fidel's Final Victory.'' Dr. Sweig's article analyzes the reality of the current relationship between the U.S. and Cuba and advocates the lifting of the embargo as a means to a more effective advance U.S. interest in establishing an economic relationship with Cuba. I have long opposed U.S. policy towards Fidel Castro and Cuba, specifically the embargo, as I strongly believe that restricting travel and trade is a failed policy that hinders the American People from competing in the Cuban market and works against the promotion of democracy on the island. It also denies citizens of the United States the fundamental right and freedom to travel where they want and denies Cuban Americans to visit their relatives living in Cuba. Current United States policy toward Cuba is markedly out of touch with current world realities. Almost every nation has normal trade and diplomatic relations with Cuba, especially many of our allies such as Israel, Spain, China and other European nations. Instead of collapsing, the Cuban economy is growing at a rate of 8 percent a year, and the government has new and profitable relationship involving crude oil drilling operations off of the Cuban coast with China in conjunction with India, Norway and Spain. It is evident that continuing the current course and making threats about what kind of change is and is not acceptable after Fidel, the Bush administration will only slow the pace of liberalization and political reform in Cuba, guaranteeing many more years of hostility between the two countries. The best approach to dealing with post-Fidel Cuba is by immediately proposing bilateral crisis management and confidence-building measures, ending economic sanctions, and by stepping out of the way of Cuban Americans and other Americans who wish to travel freely to Cuba. Further, lifting the embargo now will prevent American businesses from falling even further behind as foreign competitors in this market. I urge you to consider H.R. 624, a bill to lift the trade embargo on Cuba and for other purposes. Fidel's Final Victory (By Julia E. Sweig) Summary: The smooth transfer of power from Fidel Castro to his successors is exposing the willful ignorance and wishful thinking of U.S. policy toward Cuba. The post-Fidel transition is already well under way, and change in Cuba will come only gradually from here on out. With or without Fidel, renewed U.S. efforts to topple the revolutionary regime in Havana can do no good--and have the potential to do considerable harm. Julia E. Sweig is Nelson and David Rockefeller Senior Fellow and Director of Latin America Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. She is the author of Inside the Cuban Revolution: Fidel Castro and the Urban Underground and Friendly fire: Losing Friends and Making Enemies in the Anti-American Century.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of Father Robert F. Drinan, his enduring faith, and lifelong commitment to human rights. Father Drinan passed on January 28, 2007, at his residence in the Georgetown University Jesuit community in Washington, DC. He was 86 years old and had recently been ill with pneumonia and congestive heart failure. Father Drinan was an unwavering defender of the civil and human rights of all Americans. His commitment to these principles was anchored by his religious conviction and a fundamental belief in the rights of all people to be respected and protected by their governments and elected leaders. It was this conviction that led Father Drinan to politics in 1970 when he sought a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. During his tenure in Congress, Father Drinan was an outspoken opponent of the Vietnam war and was the first person to call for the impeachment of President Nixon. Father Drinan was re-elected four times, serving from 1971 until 1981. He stepped down in accordance with a directive from Pope John Paul II, barring priests from holding public office. Father Drinan was the first Roman Catholic priest to serve as a voting member of the U.S. Congress. I had the honor of serving with him on the Judiciary Committee during the Watergate proceedings. He was a man of deep convictions, a passionate leader and a good friend. Long after he left Congress, Father Drinan continued to be a vocal supporter of human rights. Through his words and his actions he demanded morality in our political leadership. Ever committed to his work, Father Drinan spent the past 21 years as a professor at the Georgetown Law Center where he focused on legal ethics and international human rights. We all mourn the loss of Father Robert F. Drinan, a man who committed his life to standing up for what he believed. He will be greatly missed.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to fully support the goals and ideals of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. In 2005, African Americans accounted for nearly 50 percent of all new HIV infections, despite representing nearly twelve percent of the total population. The HIV/AIDS infection rate among Black men is six times that of white men and the rate among Black women is sixteen times that of white women. More children with AIDS are African American than all other race and ethnic groups combined. There is no question that we must continue to devote considerable attention and resources to support the efforts of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and its mission to build capacity and increase the awareness, participation and support for HIV prevention, care and treatment among African Americans in particular. For these many reasons, I urge you to support the passage of H. Con. Res. 35, National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. While a cure for HIV/AIDS remains just beyond our reach, there are many known factors that contribute to the devastating effects that HIV/ AIDS continues to have in the African American community in particular. For example, we know that the stigmatization surrounding those with HIV/AIDS deters many from being tested and learning about treatment needed to prolong their lifespan. We also know that economic issues such as the need for more inexpensive housing, substantial increases in livable wages and affordable health care, weakens community ties making it difficult to build capacity, disseminate information and target interventions. It is also evident that funds are needed to support these initiatives, perform meaningful outreach and provide organizations with the resources necessary to serve this vulnerable population. It is important for us to increase knowledge about preventative measures, educational techniques, capacity building and outreach to find targeted solutions to the problem of HIV/AIDS in the Black Community. In the State of New York alone there are 33,747 Black Americans living with HIV/AIDS. Sadly, this number will continue to grow at exponential rates without the attention, care and resources supported by the National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. While it is important to direct resources to Black Americans and others who are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS, we must remember that HIV/AIDS does not discriminate. It is estimated that between 1,039,000 and 1,185,000 infected persons live in the United States and approximately 40,000 new infections occur each year. Those affected belong to all gender, racial, ethnic, religious, socio economic and regional configurations. Those affected are mothers and fathers, sisters and our brothers, bosses, friends, and children. The devastating effect of HIV/AIDS impacts us all. Confronting this international crisis will require the collective efforts of researchers, legislators, clergy members, community activists and organizations, and all others committed to reducing the force of HIV/ AIDS. We must work together to find solutions that are scaleable and make possible innovations that result in value adding and sustainable positive changes. Observance of the National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day provides an opportunity for governments, national AIDS programs, churches, community organizations and individuals to communicate the importance of the fight against HIV/AIDS. If we have any hope of ending conversations about the injurious effects of HIV/AIDS, we must immediately devote the time, energy and resources needed to educate, treat and prevent against future transmission.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I stand before you today to acknowledge the importance of the economic relationship between the United States and the Caribbean and to enter into the Record an article from the Carib News by Tony Best entitled ``A Picture of U.S.-Barbados Trade.'' For many years, the United States has cultivated a trade relationship with the Caribbean that goes far beyond rum. As a result, both the U.S. and the Caribbean have benefited. In recent years, trade in the areas of natural gas, garments, seafood, sodium hydroxide, peroxide, and textiles are noteworthy. A focus on Trinidad and Tobago is particularly important because Trinidad and Tobago is an abundant energy producing nation with 60 percent of the oil reserves in the Caribbean. The U.S. receives the majority of its natural gas imports from this resource rich nation and imported over $1.7 billion of various energy commodities in 2005. That is remarkable. In turn, the U.S. has exported approximately $491 million in industrial commodities such as computers, cell phone transmission equipment, and lab furnaces, just to name a few, to Trinidad and Tobago. Another key trade area is with textiles. The nation of Haiti exported $169 million in garments, while the U.S. reciprocated with imports of $124 million. The Caribbean U.S. trade relationship continues to grow and provide mutually beneficial benefits for both the U.S. and the Caribbean nations. A Picture of U.S.-Barbados Trade (By Tony Best) How solid is your knowledge of U.S.-Caribbean trade? To find out take the trade test. First question: Name the Caricom state which has a whopping $6 billion trade surplus with the U.S.? Second query: Identify the country which exports tens of millions of dollars in live crustaceans--mostly aquatic species with a hard shell and many legs, such as lobsters, crabs and shrimp--every year but ends up with a $1 billion deficit with the U.S. How about the nation whose beer exports went through the roof but its garment exports have fallen sharply in recent years. At the same time, this country bought large amounts of sodium hydroxide and peroxide from the U.S. Then there is the coastal state, which often sells more sweaters, pullovers, vests and other garments to the U.S. than it buys American made T-shirts and tank tops? Finally, list the island whose Cricket World Cup construction could boost its trade with the U.S. If you identified Trinidad and Tobago as the Caribbean nation, one of the 16 Western Hemisphere nations with a healthy trade balance with the economic giant next door, you would be right on the money. But if your answer about the exporter of $45 million in lobsters and crabs to Florida and other parts of the U.S. as the Dominican Republic you would be away off base. Actually, the country was the Bahamas. On the other hand Jamaica's textile industry was not a strong exporter in 2005, the latest year for which there was trade data. Exports of Jamaica-made garments plunged to $55.5 million down from $82 million the year before. However, it did export $23.5 million in beer, up by 82 percent over 2004 but bought $113 million in sodium hydroxide and peroxide, a 119 percent jump. It exported 60 percent more aluminum ores and concentrate to the U.S. in 2005 than it did in 2004. Those exports amounted to almost $69 million. Like Jamaica, Haiti exports large amounts of textiles but unlike its Caricom partner, the French-speaking republic exported almost $100 million more in garments to the U.S. than it bought, $169 million in exports as compared with $124 million in imports of T-shirts, tank tops and knit or crocheted items. But the U.S. turned around and sold an extra $52.4 million in miscellaneous knitted or crocheted fabrics to Haiti. Barbados, which will play host to the Cricket World Cup final in April, is experiencing a construction boom and analysts believe the major sporting event could trigger more trade with the U.S. The picture of Caribbean-U.S. trade was sketched from U.S. Census Bureau data and published in a guide on U.S. trade in the Western Hemisphere distributed by World City, a journal that emphasizes global trade. What the figures and analyses show, according to trade specialists, is that as Caribbean nations continue their efforts to diversify their economies, export trade with the U.S. hasn't come close to reducing the dominant role played by the U.S. Energy-rich Trinidad and Tobago is by far the most successful Caribbean exporter and that's attributed to the fact that the twin-island nation is the largest natural gas supplier to the U.S., which bought $3.3 billion in liquefied natural gas from the ethnically diverse country. Trinidad controls 60 percent of Caribbean's oil reserves. In 2005, for instance, it sold $3.3 billion in petroleum gases to the U.S.; $1.2 billion in ammonia; $1.2 billion in crude oil; $972 million in non-crude oil; $714 million in acyclic alcohols; and $101 million in nitrogenous fertilizers. On the other side of the trade ledger, the U.S. exported almost $250 million in machinery to Trinidad, over $46 million in electrical equipment for line telephony; $36 million in computers; and $29 million in ``transmission apparatus for cellular phones. Add another $28 million in industrial or lab furnaces and ovens; $84 million in low value shipments; and $18 million in iron or steel tubes and pipefittings and it would become clear that Trinidad and Tobago's industrial base is expanding. In much the same way that Jamaica's oil imports from the U.S. skyrocketed to unbelievable levels in 2005, Barbados saw its refined oil imports rise by 127 percent, going to almost $18 million. In the end, Barbados sold a mere $32 million in goods to the U.S. while it imported close to $400 million. Its deficit with the economic colossus in the north was $360 million. Between them their trade rose by 10 percent, reaching $424.7 million. Guyana was another Caribbean state whose trade with the U.S. rose in 2005. Exports went up marginally, by less than two percent but the amount of U.S.-made goods jumped by 26 percent, reaching $175 million, less than half of what Barbados bought and close to 10 percent of Jamaica's imports of American commodities, which were valued at $1.6 billion. Guyana's key exports were aluminum ores and concentrate valued at just under $50 million; $32 million in live crustaceans; and $11 million in diamonds. Interestingly, the top U.S. commodity exported to Guyana was listed as ``charitable items,'' with a value of about $42 million. As for Guyana's neighbors, the Census Bureau's data stated that in 2005: St. Lucia-U.S. trade rose by almost 40 percent in 2005, reaching $167 million. The U.S. had a surplus of $107 million. U.S. trade with Antigua jumped by almost 50 percent, reaching $149 million. U.S. export went up by 51 percent and Antigua's by less than two percent. St. Kitts-Nevis exported $49 million to the U.S. That was more than the combined totals of Dominica $3.3 million, Grenada $5.8 million; St. Antigua's $4.4 million and Vincent's $15.6 million. It exported more than Barbados did to the U.S. Electrical supplies, transformers and other power supplies, electric motors, generators and sets accounted for more than $36 million of the total. The Bahamas, whose negative trade picture of $1 billion made it Caricom's largest, was third on the list of Western Hemisphere countries with large trade deficits. Barbados was fourth on the trade deficit ridden partners of the U.S. followed by Haiti, Antigua, Belize, St. Lucia, Suriname, Grenada, Guyana, St. Kitts-Nevis, and St. Vincent.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to enter into the Congressional Record an article in the Washington Post discussing a Brown University committee's call for the institution to make amends by building a memorial, creating a center for the study of slavery and injustice and increasing efforts to recruit minority students, particularly from Africa and the West Indies. It is good to see the subject of slavery and the question of reparations being addressed with integrity and grace. The article announces the findings of the university's Committee on Slavery and Justice. Appointed three years ago by Brown's president, Ruth J. Simmons, the committee recently investigated Brown's historical legacy, focusing specifically on its involvement in the transatlantic slave trade. The descendant of slaves and the first African American president of an Ivy League institution, Ruth Simmons has been steadfast in her commitment to uncovering the truths of Brown's past in ways that are academically and historically rigorous and just. Arguably one of the most traumatic events in western history, the issue of slavery continues to instigate debate. Most recently questions of reparations, repairing the lives of those forced into the barbarous institution of slavery, often discussed in the form of repaying debts owed to descendants of slaves, have proven divisive at best and controversial at least. Although not called reparations, as reported in the article, the committee's recommendations are substantive and represent a form of repair. The committee's findings offer an example of the many ways that conversations and inquiries around reparations may be had in intelligent and sensible ways. As stated in the article, the argument around reparations is not about a simple monetary gain, rather at the core of the debate is the need to acknowledge a part of our history that not anyone has fully come to terms with. It is important that we recognize and champion Brown's lead. This issue is central to who we are as a people and to who we are as a country. [From the New York Times, Oct. 19, 2006] Panel Suggests Brown U. Atone for Ties to Slavery (By Pam Belluck) Boston, Oct. 18.--Extensively documenting Brown University's 18th-century ties to slavery, a university committee called Wednesday for the institution to make amends by building a memorial, creating a center for the study of slavery and injustice and increasing efforts to recruit minority students, particularly from Africa and the West Indies. The Committee on Slavery and Justice, appointed three years ago by Brown's president, Ruth J. Simmons, a great- granddaughter of slaves who is the first black president of an Ivy League institution, said in a report: ``We cannot change the past. But an institution can hold itself accountable for the past, accepting its burdens and responsibilities along with its benefits and privileges.'' The report added, ``In the present instance this means acknowledging and taking responsibility for Brown's part in grievous crimes.'' The committee did not call for outright reparations, an idea that has support among some African-Americans and was a controversial issue at Brown several years ago. But the committee's chairman, James T. Campbell, a history professor at Brown, said he believed the recommendations ``are substantive and do indeed represent a form of repair.'' The committee also recommended that the university publicly and persistently acknowledge its slave ties, including during freshmen orientation. Dr. Campbell said he believed that the recommendations, if carried out, would represent a more concrete effort than that of any other American university to make amends for ties to slavery. ``I think it is unprecedented,'' Dr. Campbell said, adding that a few other universities and colleges have established memorials, study programs or issued apologies, but not on the scale of the Brown recommendations. It was not clear how much the committee's recommendations would cost to carry out. ``We're not making a claim that somehow Brown is uniquely guilty,'' Dr. Campbell said. ``I think we're making a claim that this is an aspect of our history that not anyone has fully come to terms with. This is a critical step in allowing an institution to move forward.'' Even in the North, a number of universities have ties to slavery. Harvard Law School was endowed by money its founder earned selling slaves for the sugar cane fields of Antigua. And at Yale, three scholars reported in 2001 that the university relied on slave-trading money for its first scholarships, endowed professorship and library endowment. Dr. Simmons issued a letter in response to the report, soliciting comments from the Brown community and saying she had asked for the findings to be discussed at an open forum. She declined to give her own reaction, saying, ``When it is appropriate to do so, I will issue a university response to the recommendations and suggest what we might do.'' She said ``the committee deserves praise for demonstrating so steadfastly that there is no subject so controversial that it should not be submitted to serious study and debate.'' Initial reaction to the recommendations seemed to be appreciative. ``It sounds to me like this makes sense,'' said Rhett S. Jones, a longtime professor of history and Africana studies at Brown. ``I did not expect the committee would emerge saying, Well, you know, Brown should write a check. ``I never thought that was in the cards. I'm not sure I think it's even appropriate that a university write a check, even though it's pretty widely agreed on that Brown would not be where it is if it were not for slave money. These recommendations seem to me to be appropriate undertakings for the university.'' Brown's ties to slavery are clear but also complex. The university's founder, the Rev. James Manning, freed his only slave, but accepted donations from slave owners and traders, including the Brown family of Providence, RI. At least one of the Brown brothers, John, a treasurer of the college, was an active slave trader, but another brother, Moses, became a Quaker abolitionist, although he ran a textile factory that used cotton grown with slave labor. University Hall, which houses Dr. Simmons's office, was built by a crew with at least two slaves. ``Any institution in the United States that existed prior to 1865 was entangled in slavery, but the entanglements are particularly dense in Rhode Island,'' Dr. Campbell said, noting that the state was the hub through which many slave ships traveled. The issue caused friction at Brown in 2001, when the student newspaper, the Brown Daily Herald, printed a full- page advertisement produced by a conservative writer, listing ``Ten Reasons Why Reparations for Slavery Is a Bad Idea And Racist Too.'' The advertisement, also run by other college newspapers, prompted protests by students who demanded that the paper pay ``reparations'' by donating its advertising fee or giving free advertising space to advocates of reparations. The Brown committee was made up of 16 faculty members, students and administrators, and its research was extensive. ``The official history of Brown will have to be rewritten, entirely scrapped,'' said Omer Bartov, a professor on the committee who specializes in studying the Holocaust and genocide. The report cites examples of steps taken by other universities: a memorial unveiled last year by the University of North Carolina, a five-year program of workshops and activities at Emory University, and a 2004 vote by the faculty senate of the University of Alabama to apologize for previous faculty members having whipped slaves on campus. Katie Zezima contributed reporting.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to enter into the Congressional Record an article in the New York Times announcing a majority African American School Board in Little Rock, AR. This is the first time since Federal troops enforced integration in 1957 that African Americans have earned a majority on the Little Rock School Board. As pronounced in the article, it is good to see that people are looking for a change. The events that took place in Little Rock still stand as a testament to the spirit of resiliency abiding deeply within the African American community. Similarly, the decision to integrate in 1957 echoes our countries commitment to ultimately ensuring equality among all of our Nation's sons and daughters. In the same way that 1957 remains such a pivotal year in our Nation's history, I hope that these more recent events continue to shape future generations--moving away from things as usual, as the article states, toward viewing issues of importance from the perspectives of the people directly affected rather than by socially engineered categories like race, gender, and class. Central to the article are the issues faced by students, skin color notwithstanding. It is important to understand that what this article highlights is not simply the need to recognize the gains made by African Americans in winning the majority of seats on the school board but rather the changes in minds and hearts necessary to move to a space where people are voted for because of their desire to preserve and protect the interest of the people they serve. I applaud the efforts of Little Rock School Board members as well as members of the community. [From the New York Times, Oct. 13, 2006] Little Rock School Board Has First Black Majority (By the Associated Press) Little Rock, AR.--For the first time since federal troops enforced public school integration here by escorting a group of black students into Central High School 49 years ago, the Little Rock school board has a black majority. Dianne Curry won a runoff election on Tuesday, meaning four of the Little Rock School District's seven board members are black. Ms. Curry defeated Tom Brock, who had been appointed to fill an unexpired term in February. The district, which has 26,000 students, has been mostly black for years, but until now has never had a black majority on the school board. Until 1957, Little Rock had operated separate schools for blacks and whites. Despite an order from the United States Supreme Court, Gov. Orval E. Faubus sought to prevent nine black students from entering Central High, but President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent in the 101st Airborne to enforce the court's order. Federal courts have monitored the desegregation effort since 1965. Sixty-eight percent of the district's students are black, 24 percent are white, and Hispanics and Asians make up most of the remaining 8 percent. The population of Little Rock is mostly white, and there are many predominantly white private schools in the area. The school district has sought to free itself from federal monitoring, but a judge maintained partial control after ruling two years ago that the district was not adequately appraising how well its academic programs helped black students. Superintendent Roy Brooks is black, as is Robert Daugherty, the board's president. ``I think people are looking for a change,'' Mr. Daugherty said. ``They're tired of things as usual, business as usual. They want people who are more in tune with the community, and I think that's what you see now.'' Skip Rutherford, dean of the Clinton School of Public Service and a former board president, said that a black majority on the board was ``probably long overdue.'' Students will still come first, said Mr. Rutherford, who is white. ``I think the board members are going to vote much more on the content of their character than the color of their skin,'' he said. ``Most people when they get on the school board tend to view issues not by color but by what's best for the students.''

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to submit for printing in the Congressional Record, pursuant to rule XI, clause 2(a) of the Rules of the House, a copy of the Rules of the Committee on Ways and Means, which were adopted at the organizational meeting of the committee on January 17, 2007. Rules of the Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives, 110th Congress

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 34, to honor Percy Julian, an American research chemist of international renown, and a pioneer in the chemical synthesis of medicinal drugs. During his lifetime, Percy Julian received more than 100 chemical patents. Percy Julian attended elementary school in Birmingham and later moved to Montgomery, Alabama where he attended high school. After high school, Julian applied to and was accepted into DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. At DePauw, he began as a probationary student, having to take higher level high school classes along with his freshman and sophomore course load. He was named a member of the Sigma Xi honorary society as well as a Phi Beta Kappa member. Upon graduation from DePauw in 1920, he was selected as the class valedictorian. Julian was awarded the Austin Fellowship in Chemistry and moved to the distinguished Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he achieved straight A's, finished at the top of his class and received a Masters Degree in 1923. Percy Julian proved himself to be a brilliant chemist. Among his many patents, most notable are--a foam fire retardant, a treatment for glaucoma and a low-cost process to produce cortisone. His innovative approach to chemistry helped to make important medicines more accessible to millions. Please join me in supporting H. Con. Res. 34, honoring the life of Percy Lavon Julian, a pioneer in the field of organic chemistry research and development and the first and only African American chemist to be inducted into the National Academy of Sciences.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to bring to your attention the devastating impact of imprisonment on the lives of rehabilitated ex-offenders and to enter into the Record an opinion editorial in the New York Times entitled, ``Closing the Revolving Door.'' Last week I introduced the Second Chance Act which would provide for the expungement of criminal records of certain non-violent offenders who have paid their debts to society. This ``second chance'' would only apply to individuals who have clearly demonstrated their commitment to turning themselves into industrious members of our communities. It is preposterous that many states have often been forced to choose between building new prisons or new schools, because of the federal mandatory minimum sentencing laws. Worse still, the country has created a growing felon caste, now more than 16 million strong and growing, of felons and ex-felons, who are often driven back to prison by policies that make it impossible for them to find jobs, housing or education. The U.S. Sentencing Commission and the Department of Justice have both concluded that mandatory sentencing fails to deter crime. Furthermore, mandatory minimums have worsened racial and gender disparities and have contributed greatly toward prison overcrowding. Mandatory minimum sentencing is costly and unjust. Mandatory sentencing does not eliminate sentencing disparities; instead it shifts decision- making authority from judges to prosecutors, who operate without accountability. Mandatory minimums fail to punish high-level dealers. Finally, mandatory sentences are responsible for sending record numbers of women and people of color to prison. I urge your support for H.R. 623, the ``Second Chance for Ex- Offenders Act of 2007,'' which would provide for the expungement of criminal records of certain non-violent offenders who have paid their debts to society. [From the New York Times] Closing the Revolving Door The United States is paying a heavy price for the mandatory sentencing fad that swept the country 30 years ago. After a tenfold increase in the nation's prison population--and a corrections price tag that exceeds $60 billion a year--the states have often been forced to choose between building new prisons or new schools. Worse still, the country has created a growing felon caste, now more than 16 million strong, of felons and ex-felons, who are often driven back to prison by policies that make it impossible for them to find jobs, housing or education. Congress could begin to address this problem by passing the Second Chance Act, which would offer support services for people who are leaving prison. But it would take more than one new law to undo 30 years of damage: Researchers have shown that inmates who earn college degrees tend to find jobs and stay out of jail once released. Congress needs to revoke laws that bar inmates from receiving Pell grants and that bar some students with drug convictions from getting other support. Following Washington's lead, the states have destroyed prison education programs that had long since proved their worth. People who leave prison without jobs or places to live are unlikely to stay out of jail. Congress should repeal the lifetime ban on providing temporary welfare benefits to people with felony drug convictions. The federal government should strengthen tax credit and bonding programs that encourage employers to hire people with criminal records. States need to stop barring ex-offenders from jobs because of unrelated crimes--or arrests in the distant past that never led to convictions. Congress should deny a request from the F.B.I. to begin including juvenile arrests that never led to convictions (and offenses like drunkenness or vagrancy) in the millions of rap sheets sent to employers. That would transform single indiscretions into lifetime stigmas. Curbing recidivism will also require doing a lot more to provide help and medication for the one out of every six inmates who suffer mental illness. The only real way to reduce the inmate population--and the felon class--is to ensure that imprisonment is a method of last resort. That means abandoning the mandatory sentencing laws that have filled prisons to bursting with nonviolent offenders who are doomed to remain trapped at the very margins of society.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of Father Robert F. Drinan, his enduring faith, and lifelong commitment to human rights. Father Drinan passed on January 28, 2007, at his residence in the Georgetown University Jesuit community in Washington, DC. He was 86 years old and had recently been ill with pneumonia and congestive heart failure. Father Drinan was an unwavering defender of the civil and human rights of all Americans. His commitment to these principles was anchored by his religious conviction and a fundamental belief in the rights of all people to be respected and protected by their governments and elected leaders. It was this conviction that led Father Drinan to politics in 1970 when he sought a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. During his tenure in Congress, Father Drinan was an outspoken opponent of the Vietnam War and was the first person to call for the impeachment of President Nixon. Father Drinan was re-elected four times, serving from 1971 until 1981. He stepped down in accordance with a directive from Pope John Paul II, barring priests from holding public office. Father Drinan was the first Roman Catholic priest to serve as a voting member of the U.S. Congress. I had the honor of serving with him on the Judiciary Committee during the Watergate proceedings. He was a man of deep convictions, a passionate leader and a good friend. Long after he left Congress, Father Drinan continued to be a vocal supporter of human rights. Through his words and his actions he demanded morality in our political leadership. Ever committed to his work, Father Drinan spent the past 21 years as a professor at the Georgetown Law Center where he focused on legal ethics and international human rights. We all mourn the loss of Father Robert F. Drinan, a man who committed his life to standing up for what he believed. He will be greatly missed.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life and legacy of Carlos Lezama, West Indian community leader who left this world at the age of 83 years and to enter into the Record an article in the Daily News by Bill Hutchinson entitled ``West Indian Carnival Founder Carlos Lezama Dies at 83.'' Carlos Lezama was born in Trinidad and spent his formative years on the island. He played the Cello and was nicknamed ``Celloman'' a name and position he enjoyed while working on a passenger ship before migrating to the USA in the early fifties. He joined the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority, in the mid-sixties. At NYTA he moved up steadily for the next twenty years until he became a Machinist. In 1989, he retired from that Agency. Lezama long ago recognized the cultural significance of Carnival, since he played Mas' in Trinidad. When he came to New York he naturally gravitated towards the Carnival which took place in Harlem. In the mid- nineteen sixties, he directed his efforts to firmly establish Carnival in Brooklyn with his friend Rufus Goring, who brought the celebration to Brooklyn. Under the stewardship of Lezama, the Brooklyn Caribbean Carnival grew from a five-block affair to the status of the largest outdoor parade in the United States. It attracts in excess of three million people on Eastern Parkway every year on the first Monday in September. Over the years the West Indian American Day Carnival Association has grown to a full-fledged community service organization and provides scholarships and a host of annual calendar events of cultural and educational events. Lezama has been officially recognized and honored by scores of organizations, four New York State Governors (Govs. Rockefeller, Carey, Cuomo, and Pataki), and numerous awards from Mayors John Lindsay, Abe Beame, Ed Koch, David Dinkins and Rudy Giuliani for his efforts in promoting the rich culture of Caribbean people and thus enriching the cultural life of New York City. In 2001, the Carnival route--Eastern Parkway was renamed Carlos Lezama Parkway. Even though Carlos Lezama passed away on January 22, 2007, his contributions to the diversity of the United States of America will continue to resonate through the Annual Brooklyn Carnival held each Labor Day Monday. [From the New York Daily News] West Indian Carnival Founder Carlos Lezama Dies at 83 (By Bill Hutchinson) Carlos Lezama, who transformed the West Indian American Day Carnival from a five-block affair into one of the city's biggest events, died yesterday. He was 83. Lezama, a retired machinist for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, died at Kings County Hospital after a brief illness. ``Throughout our lives, my siblings, as well as my mother, have been privileged to share my father with the millions who are part of the carnival family,'' said Lezama's daughter, Yolanda Lezama-Clark. ``I am grateful that he has left an impressive legacy of which we all as Caribbean people can be proud,'' added Lezama-Clark, president of the West Indian American Day Carnival Association. Born in Trinidad, Lezama grew up playing the steel pan and the cello, garnering the nickname ``Celloman'' while working on a cruise ship. When he immigrated to America, he gravitated to the annual carnival event in Harlem. In the mid-1960s, he and a friend, Rufus Goring, brought the celebration to Brooklyn, and in 1967 he was elected the first president of the carnival association. ``He was a major force with respect to the West Indian Day parade, which now has millions of people,'' former Mayor Ed Koch said of Lezama yesterday. ``It's really not a parade. It's a mass of people, having a great time together.'' Former Mayor David Dinkins said it was Lezama's ``vision and foresight'' that turned the parade into a city cultural icon. ``I thought he was terrific,'' Dinkins said. ``He had a drive, he was determined that the parade was going to go off and he didn't particularly care about the politics of it. I thought he did a great job.'' Besides his daughter, Lezama is survived by his son, Kenwyn; four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life and legacy of Wilfred G. Gooden, civic and political activist who left this world at the age of 84 years and to enter into the Record an article in the New York Carib News entitled ``Wilfred G. Gooden, 84, a Real Estate Developer, Philanthropist, Civic and Political Activist.'' Wilfred G. Gooden was born in Jamaica and spent 60 years residing in New York City. His life is one of those rags to riches stories, including a social, charitable, and political side. Mr. Gooden began in 1977 rehabilitating city-owned abandoned apartment houses, under the Federal Government's section 8 housing subsidy program, along the area of 145th Street from Broadway east to Amsterdam, then south along Amsterdam toward 144th Street. Gooden never forgot his Jamaican roots. He founded the American Friends of Jamaica in 1982 and remained as a director on its board until his death and founded the Concerned Committee For Christian Education, CCCE, which supported two schools, one in New York and the other in Jamaica. He has received several accolades including the Order of Distinction, O.D., for his contribution to Jamaican charities from the Government of Jamaica and an honorary degree of human letters from the Faith Grant College of Alabama. Even though Wilfred G. Gooden passed away on January 6, 2007, his contributions to Harlem, my congressional district, are ever present in the buildings he rehabilitated in the area. Please join me in extending heartfelt sympathies to his beloved wife, Sybil, and brother, Vibert. Wilfred G. Gooden, 84, a Real Estate Developer, Philanthropist, Civic and Political Activist Dr. Wilfred G. Gooden, O.D., of Riverdale, New York, a Jamaican American who arrived in New York almost penniless from Jamaica in 1945, worked hard, saved his money and become one of Harlem's most successful real estate developers. He died in Kingston, Jamaica W.I., at Andrews Memorial Hospital on January 6th, 2007 just weeks away from his 85th birthday. Mr. Gooden's life embodied not only a rags to riches story, but he entered the social, business, charity and political life of the city, and never forgot his Jamaican roots. He was a founder of The American Friends of Jamaica in 1982 and remained as a director on its board until his death. The Government of Jamaica honored him with the ``Order of Distinction (O.D.) for his contribution to Jamaican charities and the Faith*Grant College of Alabama presented Mr. Gooden with an Honorary Degree of Human Letters, He also founded The Concerned Committee For Christian Education (CCCE) which supported two schools, one in New York and the other in Jamaica. It was not unusual to walk into his home and find Congressman Charles R. Rangel and former Mayor David Dinkins in good active conversation. In Jamaica he counted at least three former Prime Ministers as good friends, The Most Hon. Michael Manley, Edward Seaga and P.J. Patterson. His Christmas season trips were legendary on behalf of The Concerned Committee For Christian Education (Seventh Day Adventists) when he distributed clothing, books, toys and blankets to the children of families in need. Mr. Gooden is survived by his beloved wife Sybil and a brother, Vibert who is 93 years young of Atlanta, Georgia. In Lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Concerned Committee For Christian Education (CCCE) Box 683, New York,

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Yvette Clarke, newly-elected Representative of the 11th Congressional District in Brooklyn, New York and to enter into the record an article in the New York Carib News by Tony Best entitled ``Brooklyn Celebrates Yvette Clarke's Assumption of Duties as Representative for 11th Congressional District, Hundreds Attend Community Event at Brooklyn College.'' Yvette Clarke was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She is the daughter of Leslie Clarke, father, and former Brooklyn councilwoman Una Clarke. The Clarkes migrated to the United States before Congresswoman Clarke was born. Clarke attended New York City public schools and received a scholarship to Oberlin College in Ohio. Yvette Clarke was elected to the New York City council in November 2001 as the representative for the 40th District in Brooklyn. Clarke was overwhelmingly re-elected to office in November 2003 and November 2005. She succeeded her pioneering mother, the former city councilmember, Dr. Una Clarke, making them the first mother-daughter succession in the history of the council. In November 2006, Clarke was elected to represent the 11th Congressional District in Brooklyn, New York. Clarke, a life-long Flatbush resident, will continue to ably represent her mostly working- class constituents in her district the same way she did while sitting on the council, particularly as Congress takes up immigration reform and long-deferred issues of economic fairness. Yvette Clarke has the reputation of being a good listener and a true leader. She distinguished herself as a strong negotiator and has a record of getting things done to meet the needs of the residents of her district. I look forward to working closely with Yvette on the issues facing the American people and I ask you to join me in welcoming Congresswoman Clarke into the 110th Congress of the United States of America. [From the New York CaribNews] Brooklyn Celebrates Yvette Clarke's Assumption of Duties as Representative for 11th Congressional District; Hundreds Attend Community Event at Brooklyn College (By Tony Best) After one of New York City's big political flash points: a brutal election campaign to fill a Congressional seat once held by the iconic figure Shirley Chisholm, it was time for a community celebration. And the emotional atmosphere that encased the ceremonial swearing in of Congresswoman Yvette Clarke was punctuated with music, dance, prayers, poetry, glowing tributes by prominent elected officials, tears of joy and the obvious satisfaction of the Clarke family that one of their own had made it to the halls of the U.S. House of Representatives. ``She got there the old fashioned way, she earned it,'' asserted U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, a Democrat of New York and one of his party's major architects of the successful mid-term election which resulted in the ousting of the Republicans from control of Capitol Hill. ``We are proud of Yvette,'' he told a cheering crowd. ``She worked hard to get elected. She didn't rest on her laurels. It's a great day for Brooklyn, a great day for the Clarke family, and a great day for the United States.'' Actually, the ceremonial taking of the oath of office followed the official swearing-in which had taken place in Washington a week earlier, and when Brooklyn Civil Court Judge Sylvia Ash asked the freshman member of the House to pledge to carry out her duties in accordance with the country's constitution, members of the audience joined in responding in the affirmative as if they too were going to the nation's capital. Clarke won the 11th Congressional District election last September when she defeated three other candidates in the Democratic Primary. Among the competitors was the well- financed Jewish City Council member David Yassky who had moved into the District just before launching his campaign with the clear and opportunistic goal of capturing the white votes while leaving the Blacks to split their support from the Hispanic, Asian and Black majority. Yassky had raised almost $2 million for his campaign war chest, more than the combined funds raised by the other three candidates. But it didn't work. The seat had become vacant when Major Owens who had occupied it for at least two decades after succeeding Chisholm in the 1980's decided to retire. He had hoped that his son, Chris Owens, a community activist would succeed him. But like Yassky's plans, that goal failed. Clarke went on to win the November election with about 90 percent of the vote. ``She worked hard,'' said U.S. Representative Anthony Weiner, who shocked the political establishment when he endorsed Clarke in the Primary campaign and campaigned with her, instead of backing Yassky. ``She shares the values of the community and understands its needs,'' he told the audience. The Congressman was on a list of speakers, mainly members of the state legislature in Albany and the City Council in Manhattan, who joined Marty Markowitz, Brooklyn Borough President and others in extolling the qualities which catapulted Clarke from City Hall to Congress, a feat which eluded her mother, Una Clarke, several years ago when she sought to replace Major Owens in a hard fought race. New York State Assemblyman Nick Perry alluded to that election battle when he told the crowd that while he had political differences with the Congresswoman's mother it didn't stop him from vigorously backing ``Yvette'' and helping to raise money for her. ``I feel like I won too,'' said Perry who dropped out of the Congressional race early last year and then threw his support behind Clarke. ``She will do great things for America. She is young and bright.'' State Senator John Sampson was another of the elected office holders, who at the urging of both ``Yvette'' and her mother, not only backed her drive for the House but contributed campaign funds and material support. He became philosophical when he invoked the presence and role of the Almighty God in people's lives and reminded the Congressperson that prosperity and success breed many friends but ``adversity proves them.'' State Senator Kevin Parker, who had declined to back Clarke during the Primary, supporting Karl Andrews, at the time a State Senator from Brooklyn instead, said that he too was confident ``Yvette'' would succeed in Washington. In his brief remarks, the Borough President, who sat out the Congressional race by opting not to endorse any of the four candidates, said the new House member was ``committed to public service.'' Dr. Kendal Stewart, a City Councilman, joined in the chorus of praise, saying her victory was a reminder to immigrants and their children, ``those who came by plane or by boat'' that they too could succeed and perhaps follow in ``Yvette's'' footsteps. Dr. Edison Jackson, President of the highly successful Medgar Evers College, put it differently, describing the lawmaker as a worthy ``advocate'' of the community that sent her to Capitol Hill. When the time came for Clarke to respond after wiping away tears, she spoke out against the Iraq war and the Bush Administration's misplaced priorities which had resulted in $130 billion needed to fix schools in the 11th Congressional District and elsewhere in the City, State and country being diverted to the Persian Gulf to finance a conflict ``we don't want.'' She said that as a member of the House's Committee that monitors the work of the Department of Homeland Security, she had already backed a measure, which would bring more funds into the City for the Police and Fire Departments as well as the Emergency Medical services. Congresswoman Clarke insisted that the City urgently needed funds, federal dollars, for its schools, drug treatment programs and other social services. She took time out to thank the community, the hard-working campaign volunteers, staff and others who ``came together'' and worked to place her in Congress. ``I am thankful,'' she said. She spoke about her parents, Leslie Clarke, father, and Una Clarke, mother, for the way they raised her, and the rest of the family from Jamaica who instilled core values in her. With the Rev. Barbara Lucas as ``the officiating minister, the celebration featured a mix of ecumenical blessings offered by a variety of religious ministers, including a Jewish Rabbi; dances by young performers of different cultural backgrounds; inspirational songs by a plethora of artistes, among them was Brooklyn Temple Seventh Day Adventist mass choir; steelband music by members CASYM, a youth orchestra; and a celebratory procession by the Panamanian Marching Band. Dr. Harold Robinson, Trinidad and Tobago' Consul-General, summed up the situation when he said that the Caribbean, the source of Congresswoman Clarke's early strength, might consist of countries with different languages but ``we are all one.'' Cynthia Brown-Franklin, Panama's Vice Consul-General, said afterwards ``great things are expected of the Congresswoman and she will deliver on those dreams.''

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Madam. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to my dear friend, Simeon Booker, on the occasion of his retirement as Washington Bureau Chief of Jet magazine. One of our nation's greatest journalists, his legacy is that of trailblazing reporter, radio commentator, author, and most of all, selfless and courageous advocate and defender of his people. Simeon, whom I have known since coming to Washington in 1971 at the time of the founding of the Congressional Black Caucus, was almost single-handedly responsible for informing the nation of our presence in the United States Congress and our fledgling role in the governance of the country. With his weekly column, he made it known to Black America that they too had a voice in national politics which spoke for them in the formulation of policies that affected their lives. The Caucus has grown from the original 13 to 43 members, one of them running for President. Simeon Booker has more to do with that than he would ever admit. Trailblazer that he was, Simeon never made himself the story. Forever humble, his great, and only, mission was to advocate for and record the history of African Americans. Bravely, he covered the Emmett Till lynching, despite threats to his life by a local white sheriff; reporting the first freedom ride from Atlanta to Birmingham, he had to use his Washington connections to get Justice Department protection from an angry mob. He marched with Martin Luther King through the hisses and catcalls from hostile white crowds. He covered the Little Rock 9 as they entered the Arkansas school house protected by federal troops. He traveled to Africa with Vice President Nixon and others as that continent threw off the yoke of European imperialism. The first Black reporter at the Washington Post, he gave up the job to focus on covering the civil rights movement for the Black press. He was the first to win the Newspaper Guild Award, the second awarded the prestigious Nieman Fellowship to Harvard, and the first ever named to the pool of reporters covering the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy in 1962. I congratulate and commend to my colleagues Simeon Booker, a preacher's son born in Baltimore, and his dear wife, Carol McCabe, who has stood by him. In the pantheon of American journalism, he stands in the first tier.