Charlie Rangel

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Otter) on the other side of the aisle.

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Becerra), someone who has studied and is very familiar with this legislation.

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Paul).

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. McDermott), a senior member of the Committee on Ways and Means, and who, without his research and support, we never would have the Africa Growth and Opportunity Bill and who has worked on every trade agreement that we have passed in this House. (Mr. McDERMOTT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would like to quote what the bishops have said about this because I think the previous speaker gave an eloquent speech, but he said one thing: It could be better for the workers. I do not have any argument with that. And the bishop said, the panel urged that the agreement should contribute to sustainable human development, especially among the poorest and most vulnerable sectors; that the countries' governments take as much time as necessary to provide adequate information and foster broad debates about the contact and impact of the agreement, and that the moral measure of any trade agreement should be how it affects the lives and the dignity of poor families and vulnerable workers whose voices should receive special attention in this discussion. Mr. Speaker, the following six pages are organizations representing religious leaders in Central America and the Dominican Republic, representing peasants, representing farmers, representing workers that all they are asking is please include us. Central American Groups Opposed to CAFTA Accion Ciudadana (Nicaragua) Action Aid International (Guatemala) Action Network of Citizens Against Free Trade (SINTI

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin), who has been not only a supporter of trade agreements, but he has been an architect in designing trade agreements. Every major agreement he just did not vote for, but he helped to make it better. That is when we used to work together on trade agreements. (Mr. LEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The gentleman from Indiana is really so entertaining. After he got past Fidel Castro, I was ready for Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. Now that you mention it, I think we ought to have a search for weapons of mass destruction. I do not know how short you are on votes, but I want the gentleman to know, I appreciate his edification of how serious it can be. The Communists can come back.

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield for the purpose of making a unanimous consent request to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee). (Mr. KILDEE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Chicago, Illinois (Mr. Davis).

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cardin) is the ranking member of the trade committee. He has worked hard on this, and he probably never has voted against any trade agreement in this House. And I guess he is saying that this is an agreement worthy of his vote. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cardin). Announcement By the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, let me join with the handful of Republicans in complimenting the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means. His attack against arrogance has moved my heart, and those of others in the House, as well as his conversations with the immigrants and the newcomers to find out what should be in the trade bill. It certainly would have worked out a heck of a lot better if he had talked with some of the Democrats in the House. This is one day that we all should remember. A small bill designed to help small countries. I was successful in having the Dominican Republic included in it. People who indeed wanted to work, wanted to have the dignity of having a job, wanted to be able to buy some of those U.S. products, really wanted to be partners, but they also wanted to be a part of this. Arrogance? How can you have a bill you say that is helping these people to make certain that they stave off communism and that become, indeed, a democratic country and, at the same time, exclude them from participating? Yes, they want a Central American Free Trade Agreement. Yes, the Dominicans want to have a Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement, but they want to be a part of it, and they want their people protected. The gentleman talked about people who fought and died for our Constitution. You do not have to remind us about that. Patriotism can bring a tear to our eyes, but why do we not talk about the people who fought and died for workers' rights? Hey, can you not get that on your agenda? Those who fought and died for human rights, should that not be a part of it? But let us talk about the moral values. The Catholic bishops in the United States, the Catholic bishops in the Dominican Republic, the Catholic bishops throughout the island; the religious leaders, the labor leaders, the peasants, the farmers, those who work in the free trade zone, do they not count for something? This could have been an easy thing. This is no big deal. It was not before the President came down here. This could have been something we could have worked out. There has to be some compassion and less arrogance on the other side. We could have talked these things out. And what is wrong with language that protects kids? Just because people do not have a design to commit crime does not mean you do not have a criminal code. Just because people are not inclined to abuse workers does not mean you do not have a code. All we are saying is this: Let us protect intellectual property rights, let us protect our exporters, let us protect the multinationals, let us protect the big farm corporations. But, while you do that, protect the little guy where, in many of the countries, they have not the slightest clue, and they tell us each and every day, we want trade, we want to improve our lives; all we want to do is to be a part of the agreement. Now, I was told that we cannot get back to that. With regard to the side agreements, I thought it meant the issue had to be related to trade. But some of the offers that I have heard that relate to getting votes around here, side agreements mean something else. And that is why maybe it may still be light tonight in California, but for those who are wide awake tonight, they should know it is not prime time in Washington, D.C. As a matter of fact, it is the worst of times. This administration has taken a bill that could have meant something, a bill we could have been proud of, and has made a political toy out of it. They have excluded Democrats; they have offended some Republicans. So when we hear about this bill tonight, it will not be a trade bill, it will be a bill that would say, which side are you on? Are you on the side of transparency, open discussion, wanting to protect American farmers, wanting to protect American entrepreneurs, wanting to do business with people in these small countries that are impoverished, and do you want to help those who are the lesser among us, who, at the end of the day, have been excluded from consideration from this treaty? Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RANGEL. I yield to the gentleman from Indiana.

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee). (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Norwood).

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to a gentleman from California (Mr. Farr), who was a Peace Corps volunteer in South America. (Mr. FARR asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I have been reminded by staff that the Costa Rican Government has not approved of these changes; but since they are merely side agreements, I guess that means it is on the side. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett), a distinguished member of the Committee on Ways and Means.

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Coble), who served this country and served it well, and he wears that lapel pin showing how proud he is to be a veteran, not a Republican, not a Democrat.

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones), a distinguished Member of the House and of the majority party.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in acknowledgment and appreciation of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation interns as they complete their internships with the 43 members of the Congressional Black Caucus. This summer, the members of the Congressional Black Caucus have enjoyed the benefit of working with college students from all over the country through the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Congressional Internship Program. The program has provided the interns with housing and stipends to allow them to work in our offices and gain knowledge and experience in the legislative process, affording them an opportunity that they might not otherwise have been able to take advantage of. In a society where African-American youth are usually characterized by negative stereotypes, it is refreshing to see such promising individuals. These young people have shattered negative stereotypes by accepting the challenge to become America's future leaders. The 43 CBCF interns have done more than just answer phones and sort mail, they have become active participants in the legislative process. They have worked on substantive issues and evidenced the potential to become proficient in public policy research, analysis and advocacy. Their presence has definitely been felt throughout the nine short weeks they have been on the Hill. From organizing receptions to starting petitions for the Darfur crisis, they have made an impact in our offices and on Capitol Hill. The CBCF internship program and the interns it has produced are very special to me. My wife, Alma, was one of the first co-chairs of the Congressional Black Caucus Spouses and was instrumental in creating the foundation's internship program. Since then, the internship program has flourished and we have gone on to providing wider support for young African-American students, offering fellowships and conducting summer enrichment programs. I would like to take this opportunity to formally recognize the CBCF interns and thank them for the valuable work they have done this summer. In particular, I want to recognize and praise Jackeline Stewart for the contributions she made to my office this summer during her CBCF internship; she was a terrific addition to my staff. I would also like to thank the program coordinators Troy Clair, Erin Miles and Jason Goodson of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation staff for all of their hard work in the planning and implementation of this summer's CBCF internship program. I would like to submit to the Record the 2005 Congressional Black Caucus Foundation intern roster: Byron Adams, Representative David Scott (GA), Pomona College. Kara Akins, Representative Robert Scott (VA), Howard University. Elizabeth Bakanic, Representative G.K. Butterfield (NC), University of South Carolina--Columbia. John Lewis Baker III, Representative Bennie G. Thompson (MS), Tougaloo College. Joseph Bastian, Representative Corrine Brown (FL), Florida A&M University. Michele Bradley, Representative Diane Watson (CA), Spelman College. Wesley Brunson, Representative Kendrick Meek (FL), University of Florida. Robert Cary, Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones (OH), Columbia University. La Mont Chappell, Representative Juanita Millender-McDonald (CA), University of New Mexico. Sharonda Childs, Representative Artur Davis (AL), Columbia University. Christopher Cody, Representative Harold Ford, Jr. (TN), Boston College. Christopher Coes, Representative Sanford Bishop (GA), St. John's University. Lesley Coleman, Representative Bobby Rush (IL), Georgetown University. Nicholas Colvin, Representative Carolyn Kilpatrick (MI), University of Michigan. Lawrence Crockett, Representative Albert Wynn (MD), University of Pittsburgh. Sophia Davis, Representative Julia Carson (IN), Miami University. Kory Davis, Del. Donna Christensen (VI), Johnson C. Smith University. Phallan Davis, Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee (TX), Baylor University. Jeffrey Delaney, Representative Donald Payne (NJ), Williams College. Jonathan Fong, Representative Al Green (TX), University of Texas- Austin. Omari French, Representative Maxine Waters (CA), University of Miami. Andre Gray, Representative Gregory Meeks (NY), University of Maryland, College Park. James Guster, Representative Cynthia McKinney (GA), Tennessee State University. Jaira Harrington, Representative Danny Davis (IL), Spelman College. Nija Leek, Representative Chaka Fattah (PA), Bethune-Cookman College. April Love, Representative Emanuel Cleaver (MO), University of Arkansas. Willie Lyles III, Representative James Clyburn (SC), Winthrop University. Whitney Marshall, Representative Melvin Watt (NC), Wake Forest University. Ryshelle McCadney, Representative Edolphus Towns (NY), Harvard College. Stephanie McGary, Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX), Dillard University. My'Ron McGee, Sen. Barack Obama (IL), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Nicholas Paul, Representative Major Owens (NY), Medgar Evers (CUNY). MarQuita Petties, Representative Barbara Lee (CA), UC Berkeley. Stefanie Rhodes, Representative William Jefferson (LA), Louisiana State University. Jennifer Rush, Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr. (IL), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Jackeline Stewart, Representative Charles Rangel (NY), American University. Rachel Tanner, Representative John Conyers, Jr. (MI), University of Michigan. Nzingha Thompson-Bahaudden, Representative Gwen Moore (WI), Howard University. Mimi Tsige, Representative William Lacy Clay (MO), St. Charles Community College. Charisma Williams, Del. Eleanor Holmes-Norton (DC), Temple University. Isaiah Wilson, Representative John Lewis (GA), Morehouse College. Erin Wilson, Representative Alcee Hastings (FL), University of Pennsylvania. Darryl Yates, Representative Elijah Cummings (MD), Morgan State University.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the significance of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Next week will mark the fortieth anniversary of the passage of that historic act of Congress and there will be commemorations and remembrances of this anniversary throughout the nation, including a march in Atlanta being led by our colleague, the Honorable John Lewis--a civil rights legacy in his own right. While August 6th will signify prominent strides that this country has made in terms of equal rights, the 40th anniversary of the Act's passage will also highlight considerable room for improvement and work to truly guarantee that right to vote to all Americans. The Act is a reminder of the oppression suffered by the Black community between Reconstruction and the Civil Rights Movement that Blacks could be utterly denied the most basic constitutional right to vote without any recourse to assert and obtain that from any of the branches of the United States government, including the Judiciary. The right to vote is fundamental to political empowerment under our Constitution and democratic form of government. Its denial effectively deprived citizenship to African-Americans in the Jim Crow era. Despite the promises of the Fifteenth Amendment, most Black Americans were routinely denied the right to cast ballots in federal and state elections, particularly in the South. This denial was a function of both the state government and of local individuals determined to maintain their hold on political power in this country. It was another element of the fear and torture that existed throughout this country to intimidate and discourage Blacks from pursing their most basic rights in this country. Individuals were denied the opportunity through official and unofficial channels to cast their ballots. Literacy tests, poll taxes, grandfather clauses, and gerrymandering were but a few of the mechanisms used by the state to prevent Black Americans from voting and electing leaders to represent their interests while lynchings, threats and intimidations, and Ku Klux Klan marches asserted the will of bigots to oppose the equal treatment of all Americans. Faced with these startling realizations and a mobilized Black community, President Lyndon Johnson advocated for the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Despite the perceived political disadvantages for himself and his party, Johnson's efforts were important to securing the rights of Black Americans throughout the country. His efforts opened the doors of electoral influence and power for Black Americans in this country. Thanks to the efforts of the Voting Rights Act, poll taxes that charged certain Americans for their right to vote were eliminated. Literacy tests which were selectively applied to Blacks were banned. Individuals who stood in polling sites intimidating minorities from voting were committing federal crimes. Federal agents were deployed to protect and guarantee the rights of these Americans to vote. Today, we can enjoy the fact that African-Americans, Hispanic Americans, and other minorities are guaranteed the right to vote in every state and federal election, that the legislative bodies of this country are more representative of the diversity of the nation than of the rich and powerful, and that the power of the people to elect their leaders is guaranteed in both the 15th Amendment and the Voting Rights Act. Nevertheless, Mr. Speaker, the right to vote--the most important obligation of our citizens--is not universal to our citizens. There remain a number of barriers to full voting rights of this country and this Congress should look into addressing those challenges when we renew the Voting Rights Act next year. Some of these barriers are intentional; others less so. Regardless, the right to vote should be undeniable to a democracy's citizens. It should be undeniable to the citizens of the United States. As we approach the 40th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, an ever-increasing number of Americans are being permanently denied their right to vote in federal elections for their past criminal behavior. Based on Justice Department figures from 2000, an estimated 1.6 million ex-offenders in 14 states are denied the right to vote after paying their debt to society. These ex-offenders are continually denied their right to cast votes for these past actions. We should allow these individuals who have fulfilled their sentences to vote in federal elections. Purging of voting records, targeting and intimidation in minority voting sites, the absence of reliable voting machines, circulation of false and misleading information, and long lines in polling sites have all been recent examples of the challenges to creating a fair and justice electoral system. There is clearly more work that needs to be done and I look forward to working with my colleagues in securing legislation that will tackle this challenge. For today, we can look back on the hopes and promises of a more open society and see the fruits of our labor: A citizenry that participates at all levels, a Congress that reflects and represents the country's diversity, and a country that is opening doors and opportunities for the voices of all Americans. Tomorrow, we should take up the challenges of opening this society even more to the inclusion of all our citizens.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the importance of the fifteenth anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the ADA. This legislation has played a vital role in ensuring that all Americans are granted the opportunity to fully participate in all aspects of society. With the bipartisan support of this body and the Senate, President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act as a mechanism to ensure that ``every man, woman and child with a disability can now pass through once closed doors into a bright new era of equality, independence, and freedom.'' Thanks to the ADA, we have taken significant steps towards the achievement of that goal. The Act required educational facilities to become accessible to those in wheelchairs, opening the doors to learning and opportunity for thousands of Americans. It ensured the availability of transit, entertainment, and communications systems to the hearing-impaired and the blind, guaranteeing them an opportunity to participate in cultural events, media events, and public engagements. The ADA has substantially moved this country forward in terms of our relationship with a group of Americans who had once been unfairly excluded for their physical abilities. We have taken important steps to increase the opportunities and lower the barriers to the equal and just treatment of all Americans. We have opened doors through the ADA for the full participation and contribution of individuals to our society. Despite the efforts of the last decade and a half, we still have further to go. We still have more work to do to assist our citizens with disabilities. Today, approximately two-thirds of people with disabilities of working age are still unemployed. While many factors influence the high rate of unemployment for the disabled, a third of non-workers with disabilities reported their need for some type of accommodation as a major factor in their unemployment. An interesting aspect of this is their requests are minor accommodations-- elevators, closer accessible parking, and special worksite features modifications that are not particularly expensive to make, especially with advance planning. Likewise, proposed cuts in housing, assistance technology, training, and other assistance programs threaten to undo many of the advances we have made in the last 15 years to help those with disabilities. Whether it is the costs involved or the unwillingness to reach out to this brave segment of our national workforce, people with disabilities are still discouraged from opening some doors of opportunity. They still need more assistance in their fight for justice. I encourage the Members of this chamber, as well as citizens and employers across the country, to pursue reinvigorated efforts at ensuring that every man, woman, and child is afforded an opportunity to success. Let us find ways to help every citizen build a better life as we create the conditions for a better America.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 31st anniversary of a series of festivities honoring the wonders of Harlem, my home community which I am privileged to represent in the Congress. Harlem Week 2005 is a cultural, educational, and entertaining series of activities designed to highlight the history, traditions, and future of the Harlem community that has grown from its modest beginnings to become a major attraction for the residents of the community and thousands of visitors annually. A lifelong resident of Harlem, I have long been proud of the many facets of my community. From the music and arts of the Harlem community to the politics and strategies of Harlem's activists and leaders, this is a community that is rich in diversity, entertainment, culture, and love. It is a community that embraces its differences and its commonalities in order to represent the rainbow of beauty and culture that characterizes our great city of New York. Harlem Week is a celebration of this embrace. It is a time for the community and the families that make up that community to come together, to be exposed to their variety of traditions and customs, and to affirm their individual identities as well as their American consciousness. This community will always, in my mind, represent the essence of America. And, during Harlem Week, we pay tribute to the soul of America. Harlem Week is not simply a series of festivities and parties. It is an educational experience where individuals are taught to appreciate the arts and the history of the community. This summer, in theatrical performances, dance exhibitions, story-tellings, and other artistic expressions, the Harlem community will come alive in recognizing its rich and beautiful cultural attributes. The accomplishments and history of the African-American cinema will be highlighted alongside a celebration of Jazz and music that has originated in Harlem. Harlem will applaud the history of a diverse community that has struggled with the soul and legacy of generations of Americans. Harlem Week is also a family event. Children of all ages will be entertained throughout this recognition of the wonder and cultural diversity of Harlem. Petting zoos, story-tellers, fashion shows, and interactive arts--all with an emphasis on achievement and education-- will be displayed throughout the events of Harlem. This year, attendees will also be exposed to the diverse sports and entertainment heritage of Harlem. The National Black Sports & Entertainment Hall of Fame will induct such entertainment luminaries as Phylicia Rashad, Bonnie Raitt, Marian Anderson, Alvin Ailey, Pearl Bailey, Ray Baretto, Donald Byrd, Kenny Gamble, Frankie Crocker, Symphony Sid, and Tito Rodriguez. Sports stars such as John Chaney, Fritz Pollard, Rafer Johnson, Lou Carneseca, Zina Garrison, Jack Johnson, Elston Howard, Johnny Sample, and Al Maguire will also be inducted in the Hall of Fame. Harlem Week 2005 promises to be one of the best celebrations of the vitality of the Harlem community this year. It will be an important celebration of the soul of America and the community that has long nurtured that soul. This celebration, exposure, and education of the community will truly be instrumental in understanding and appreciating the beauty of the Harlem community. As always, I welcome the Members of this Congress, as well as all citizens of these United States of America, to join me and the Harlem community during Harlem Week 2005. You will not regret your time there. I submit for the Record the calendar of events for Harlem Week and I look forward to seeing you in Harlem. Harlem Week 2005: The Legacy Continues New York's Premiere Festival Continues to Celebrate Decades of Community Service June 29, 2005 (Harlem, USA)--Back by popular demand, HARLEM WEEK, which celebrates its 31st Anniversary, returns with a spectacular line up of exciting events, outdoor activities, concerts, and fun for the entire family. Themed ``The Legacy Continues'', the culturally-rich affair swung into gear on Wednesday, July 13, as Mayor Bloomberg and the city of New York paid tribute to HARLEM WEEK, with a special private celebration and concert at Gracie Mansion. The festive affair will include a special harmonious presentation from the hit musical, ``Three Mo' Tenors'', along with soulful, rhythmic selections from Ron Anderson and the Harlem Jazz & Music Festival All Stars. On Sunday, July 31st, HARLEM WEEK salutes the grand village of Harlem during its ``Great Day in Harlem'' celebration at Ulysses S. Grant National Memorial Park, 122nd Street and Riverside Drive. This all-day, three-part affair opens with the ``Family Unity Day Cultural Festival'' at 1:00 p.m., featuring family-oriented outdoor activities including theatrical excerpts, dance performances, story-telling, spoken word, and more. The celebration continues with the Harlem Jazz & Music Festival's fashion extravaganza, featuring the latest, cutting-edge creations and accessories from emerging and leading urban designers. Runway activities begin at 5:00 p.m. The festive day will end with the annual Concert Under the Stars. The Harlem Jazz & Music Festival and WBLS FM invites the entire family to join them for this enchanting moonlit night of great music as Meli'sa Morgan, Layla Hathaway, Freddie Jackson, the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater and other surprise guests pay homage to Harlem's legacy. This spectacular affair, sponsored by Time Warner and Citibank, runs from 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. From August 2nd-6th, EBONY Magazine, in concert with HARLEM WEEK, presents Hollywood in Harlem. This annual four day affair, which celebrates the accomplishments and history of African-Americans in cinema, will take place at various venues in the Harlem community. On each evening, there will be a VIP reception, film screenings, and award presentations. With this event, EBONY continues a 60 year tradition of giving recognition to African-American actors, actresses, and filmmakers. On August 20th and 21st, HARLEM WEEK invites everyone to come to uptown New York and take part in one of the city's most exciting weekends, beginning on Saturday, August 20th, with the annual ``Uptown Saturday Nite'' music festival. This all-day celebration consists of a plethora of exciting events as attendees take to the streets throughout Harlem, enjoying outdoor cultural arts, crafts, exotic foods and live entertainment from a variety of stages along West 135th Street (between Malcolm X Blvd and St. Nicholas Avenue). The annual ``Flava'' fashion show burst onto the stage on Uptown Saturday Nite, and concert acts will be provided by stations Power 105, WKTU-FM, and Lite FM. Also taking place on August 20th is The Children's Festival which features such activities as a petting zoos, story-tellers, and interactive arts, all with a strong emphasis on education and achievement, sponsored by Washington Mutual, The New York Post, and WWRL 1600. Sunday, August 21st, is HARLEM DAY and the good times continue to roll. The entertainment stages and the Children's Festival remain on 135th Street along with the addition of several exiting events: The Children's Festival adds a fashion show featuring the hottest back-to-school fashions; The 16th Annual Upper Manhattan Auto Show includes a display of cars from antiques to 2005 preview models; students and families discover college options and how to pay for them at The National Historic Black College Fair & Expo; and The NYC Health Fair & Expo features free health information and screenings. Music and other entertainment will be courtesy of Kiss-FM, Hot 97, & CD 101.9. On August 30th, the National Black Sports & Entertainment Hall of Fame Induction Gala will be held, honoring both live and posthumous luminaries in the fields of sports and entertainment. This year's inductees in the area of entertainment include Donald Byrd, Iman, Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff; Phylicia Rashad, Ray Baretto, Bonnie Raitt, Frankie Crocker, Marian Anderson, Alvin Ailey, Pearl Bailey, Symphony Sid, and Tito Rodriguez. In the area of sports, inductees include John Chaney, Fritz Pollard, Rafer Johnson, Lou Carneseca, Zina Garrison, Jack Johnson, Elston Howard, Johnny Sample and Al Maguire. Vignette tribute for various inductees will air on WNBC-4 throughout the summer. If HARLEM WEEK only accomplished giving people a sense of pride and enjoyment, that alone would be a worthy feat; however, HARLEM WEEK does that while also addressing other community needs. With the support of sponsors and elected officials, HARLEM WEEK, Inc. has been a proponent for advancing education by giving grants to educational organizations, plus scholarships to thousands of students who have worked diligently inside the classroom and outside in the community. The relationship between those parties and HARLEM WEEK has not only garnered higher enrollment, but also provided internships and careers for students. Scholarships and grants are presented at virtually every HARLEM WEEK, Harlem Jazz & Music Festival, and National Black Sports & Entertainment Hall of Fame event. HARLEM WEEK also hosts events focused on economic development and on the welfare of Senior Citizens. Perhaps this is why mayors, governors, senators, members of congress, foreign leaders, and other inspirational figures, have opted to address HARLEM WEEK audiences over the years. The HARLEM WEEK's 31st Anniversary is a great celebration of accomplishment through unity. Those unable to attend can still partake in the festivities by listening to live radio broadcasts on stations throughout the New York City area. HARLEM WEEK invites you to come discover the treasures of a proud community. Discover Harlem. For further information about the excitement and culture that is HARLEM WEEK, log on to www.HarlemDiscover.com

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to bring to the attention of my colleagues and the country an important conference and series of events being held in Washington this week. On Wednesday, July 27, the National Urban League will celebrate its 95th anniversary with a conference-summit on the challenges and advances in the empowerment of our communities to change the daily lives of Americans. With a broad and exemplary series of panels and discussion sessions, the Urban League will continue its legendary service in support of raising awareness of the limited job opportunities, challenging health care costs, increasing economic and social disparities, and disappointing gaps in educational equality. The Urban League will not only highlight and question the challenges and limitations faced by communities across the county, but they will also propose and examine solutions for those communities. For almost a century now, the Urban League has championed and advanced solutions to the crippling disparities that exist within our communities. They have long been involved with the struggle for equality and opportunity that faces the Black community, in particular, but economically disadvantaged groups nationwide. In reaction to the Supreme Court's 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson decision approving segregation in the United States, Black Americans were quickly relegated to the most menial jobs, the poorest conditions of housing and health care, and the least access to quality education. Individuals, such as Mrs. Ruth Standish Brown and Dr. George Edmund Haynes, led the effort to adopt and prepare Black Americans for their economic struggles in urban America. Their efforts led the Committee on Urban Conditions, the Committee for the Improvement of Industrial Conditions Among Negroes, and the National League for the Protection of Colored Women to form the National League on Urban Conditions Among Negroes, later shortened to the National Urban League. Since that mergence of groups and interests, the National Urban League has been at the forefront of fighting for equal opportunities and treatment of Americans in this country. They have pursued public and private strategies designed to provide training, assistance, development and awareness programs about the struggles for equal treatment and opportunity. Working with Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians, the National Urban League has been a champion of the economic welfare of the disadvantaged. Today, the League continues that legacy of championship for economic justice. They continue to provide useful information to policymakers in their evaluation and development of programs to aid the poor. They continue to inform the community of mechanisms to overcome the challenges that lay before them. They continue to be an advocate for the poor, an information-provider for the decision-makers, and a champion of justice and equality for the Nation, and they do all of this at the local community level through its chapters in communities around the Nation. This week, led by its president, Marc Morial, who is providing superb leadership to the Urban League in the tradition of the great Whitney Young, the League continues its legacy and consciousness-building. I hope my colleagues will be reminded of the importance of this group to our economic development. As they conference in the Nation's Capital, I hope we would reach out and listen to the proposals and solutions the League provides. I hope we would provide them a voice for and an ear to their causes. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following article written by Zenitha Prince of the Afro-American concerning this week's meeting. I welcome the attendees and conferees of this year's conference to their Nation's Capital, Washington, DC. Urban League Celebrates 95 Years July 23, 2005--About 15,000 people are expected to join the National Urban League in ``Celebrating 95 Years of Empowering Communities and Changing Lives'' during its annual conference, which will convene at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., from July 27 to 31. ``As we celebrate 95 years of direct service to communities across the nation, we expect the annual conference in Washington, D.C., to be the largest gathering of the Urban League Movement,'' said Marc H. Morial, National Urban League president and CEO, in a prepared statement. The annual conference will feature innovative and interactive plenary sessions and events that present some of the Nation's most illustrious and influential leaders. It also gives us a chance to discuss and finds ways to help one another in closing the tremendous gaps that exist in health, education and economics. The annual conference helps bring people together around issues of concern to our community and the Nation. Among the featured speakers are U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.); hiphop historian and author Kevin Powell; author, activist and comedian Dick Gregory; and Rainbow Coalition/ PUSH founder and president the Rev. Jesse Jackson. The conference will also feature performances by India.Arie, Brian McKnight, Doug E. Fresh and Chuck Brown. Most notably, however, the 2005 conference will feature a new Influencer Summit geared towards engaging, connecting and building young professionals. The list of speakers includes (The Apprentice) star Kwame Jackson, who plans to discuss how he parlayed his reality television experience into opportunities that include a new company, Legacy Holdings, which is even now brokering a $3.8 billion deal to build a real estate development called Rosewood, just miles outside of the District of Columbia, and a lucrative career on the international speakers' circuit. ``I wouldn't be on this phone or have any notoriety if I had stayed on my job [with Wall Street firm Goldman Sachs],'' said the 30-year-old D.C. native. Modestly deflecting any praise about his achievements, Jackson advised young entrepreneurs that corporate America is a tough environment for a young Black person, and that it takes tenacity and vision to attain success. ``Being an entrepreneur is for people who enjoy getting their teeth kicked,'' Jackson said. ``You have to be the kind of person that will get up and ask for more.'' The Influencer Summit will also examine the changing civil rights landscape and the young Black professional's role in it. ``I think we're the up-and-coming leaders. Any civil rights movement from here on out will be carried out by us,'' said Larry Meadows Jr., president of the Washington National Urban League Young Professionals. Both Jackson and Meadows agreed that the Black community is moving into the ``second generation'' of the civil rights struggle, which involves the fight for economic parity. ``We've grown by leaps and bounds, but if you look at it economically, we've not gone very far,'' Meadows said. ``We have a lot of successful individuals, and that creates the perception that we're OK. But overall, we're still struggling.'' For more information about the 2005 National Urban League Annual Conference, go to www.nu1.org; and for more information about Kwame Jackson, check out his Web site, www.kwamejackson.com.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the 52nd anniversary of the Cuban Revolution on July 26. It was on this day 52 years ago that Fidel Castro and a band of young men and women initiated a revolutionary struggle against the US-backed Batista regime. On this day in 1953, Fidel Castro led a small group of rebels in an attack on the Moncada military barracks in Santiago de Cuba. While the attack was a military failure, it signaled the beginning of the Cuban revolution which ultimately succeeded in overthrowing the Batista regime and establishing a communist regime led by Fidel Castro which, despite enduring hostility of the government of the United States has ruled the island for forty-six years. Today, as we observe the new familiar pictures of Fidel Castro speaking to throngs in Revolutionary Square still in power after all these years, we need to examine the role U.S. policy has played in keeping him there. 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 harms the people of Cuba, 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 now denies Cuban Americans to visit their relatives living in Cuba. In Cuba today, you will not find a Fidel Castro weakened by our 45- year embargo, but a Cuban leadership solidified by what can only be thought of as bullying tactics by the world's strongest superpower against one of our hemisphere's poorest nations which its people believe is being made to suffer because of its opposition to the United States. I believe that the embargo has had the opposite of its intended effect. It has actually prolonged Fidel Castro's rule and continues today to be effectively used by him to distract the Cuban people from the failures of his policies by having them focus upon the embargo as the source of the hardships they are enduring. This will not be a happy anniversary for the Cuban people because of worsening economic conditions and increasing political repression, but Fidel will still receive applause when he blames the U.S. embargo. 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 those nations in the Western Hemisphere. Even in the Cuban-American refugee community, whose older members remain bitter about Fidel Castro and fiercely opposed to loosening sanctions, the younger members are beginning to support U.S. engagement with Cuba instead of confrontation. However, under the Bush administration the 45-year old embargo, has been further tightened, severely limiting travel to Cuba and the transfer of funds to family members on the island. The new rules permit Cuban Americans to visit the island once every three years--and then only if they can get a license to travel from the Treasury Department. Additionally the White House has also restricted remittances. Under the changes, Americans are permitted to send cash only to a Cuban child, parent, sibling or grandparent--but not to cousins or nephews. If you were to visit Cuba today you will not find people inspired by our embargo aimed at the removal of Fidel Castro from power, but rather you will find hungry families living in unnecessary poverty. In 2005 you will find a large constituency of Cuban Americans such as U.S. soldier Sgt. Carlos Lazo, who are angered and embittered by U.S. policies that limit visits with their family members to only once every three years. You will find a Cuban-American constituency angered by the fact that in the wake of Hurricane Dennis (a disastrous force that wrecked havoc on the island and killed 16) they are powerless to help their family members still on the island because of remittance and aid restrictions. Cuban people are well known for their strong sense of family values. It is therefore an outrage that a group of people who hold family bonds in such high esteem are prevented from assisting their families in a time of overwhelming need because of outdated and unreasonable U.S. policy. Today marks the 52nd anniversary of the start of the Cuban-Revolution and for 46 years Cuba's government has remained the same. This is overwhelming evidence that U.S. policy towards Cuba must be reevaluated. We should move towards a policy of active engagement with the people of Cuba, encouraging travel and visits to the island of all Americans who wish to go. The very presence of a significant number of U.S. citizens affluent and free will be an opponent to the Castro regime and will serve as a contrast that will sharpen the realization of the Cuban people of the failure of Communism to provide them with an economic system which can get them out of the poverty which afflicts most of the Cuban people. Visiting U.S. citizens will inevitably place enormous pressure on the Castro regime. As it stands our policy toward Cuba is one that severely limits the availability of medicine and medical supplies to the Cuban people. It is a policy that denies U.S. Citizens the right to travel where they choose. It is a policy that prevents Cuban and American diplomats from establishing meaningful channels of communication to improve our relationship and prevent misunderstandings. It is a policy that denies American companies and businesses access to an important and potentially enormous new market for American goods, services, and ideas. It is a policy that prohibits a country ninety miles from our shores from being a partner in our global effort to thwart terrorism, to counter drug traffickers, or protect our overlapping ecosystems. Most importantly however, it is a policy that has proven itself ineffective for more than 40 years. The Cuban people are the ones who are suffering and it is time to put politics aside and work on developing a new foreign policy standard in regards to Cuba. Developing a relationship with Cuba is an important foreign policy goal and in order to achieve this goal a new and rational approach to relations between our countries is urgently needed, based on dialogue, open travel and increased trade. I introduce in the Record an article from today's Miami Herald reporting on the circumstances in Cuba on the eve of the celebration of the 52nd anniversary of the start of the Cuban revolution. [From the Miami Herald, July 26, 2005] Patience Wears Thin on Eve of July 26 Several Cuban dissidents remained in detention as the government scaled back plans for festivities commemorating the start of the revolution. (By Nancy San Martin) When Cuban leader Fidel Castro takes to the microphone as expected today to commemorate the 52nd anniversary of an attack that marked the start of his revolution, many on the island will cling to words that promise relief from conditions exhausting the patience of an already exasperated population. Human-rights activists on the island have said that ``tempers are flaring'' as the country continues to struggle with extended blackouts and a shortage of food, made worse by Hurricane Dennis. Meanwhile, 10 of as many as 33 dissidents arrested last week spent their third day in custody Monday, opposition leaders in Havana reported. They were detained as they tried to participate in an anti-government protest in front of the French Embassy in Havana. And while the European Union joined the United States in condemning the arrests, leaders of the opposition movement on the island began plotting their next move to bring international attention to their plight. ``The detentions are completely arbitrary,'' said prominent dissident Martha Beatriz Roque, who was released from custody Saturday without charges. ``We cannot allow the government to continue to treat us this way.'' ``There must be a response, not only from the opposition but from everybody,'' Roque told The Herald in a telephone interview, declining to reveal whether any new anti- government protests were planned in the coming days. However, she hinted they could be organized at a moment's notice. ``All I can say is that opposition groups all over the island are on alert,'' Roque said. ``They are waiting for the call to take to the streets. I see the strong possibility of civil unrest.'' Roque's determination to strike back comes as the government prepares to commemorate the July 26, 1953, assault led by Castro in a failed attempt to seize the Cuban army's Moncada Barracks in the eastern city of Santiago. The event planted the seeds of a revolution that brought Castro to power in 1959. The anniversary usually is marked by big public events, but this year's planned celebration appears more subdued. Castro is expected to give a speech, but as of late Monday, the location had not been announced. Other events were planned to take place indoors, Several opposition leaders said the scaled-back festivities illustrate government fear that widespread discontent could escalate. Human-rights activists in Cuba have said patience is wearing thin as the island continues to struggle with blackouts that can last 12 or more hours a day, spoiling what little food there is in most refrigerators. Several anti- government incidents have been reported, and police presence has been boosted. Besides the 10 in custody since last week, six others who tried to participate in a separate demonstration July 13 remain jailed on ``public disorder'' charges.

Mr. RANGEL

Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to bring to the attention and consciousness of this body the important and significant battles of a courageous warrior for justice, peace, and equality, Mr. Damu Smith. Damu has been a constant and consistent champion of peace and continues his fight for love and justice despite his struggle with cancer. I applaud this simple man, this mighty activist, and this concerned citizen of the world for his tireless struggle to make the world a better place. I encourage him to continue his fight, knowing that others are aware of his struggle and continue to need his leadership. A passionate believer in peace and global peace movements, Damu has fought to raise the awareness of the world community of the ugliness of apartheid in South America, the brutality of government injustice and gun violence, the need for environmental awareness and justice, and the international fights against racism, injustice, and discrimination. He has advocated peace instead of nuclear arms. He has sought reconciliation rather than violence. He has battled intolerance in lieu of understanding. A mere perusal of his life story would demonstrate to any of us that Damu has been a consistent champion of peace and justice wherever hatred and injustice reside. His humanitarianism knows few limits and his sense of person responsibility is not bound by social expectations. Damu, this champion of justice and peace, nonetheless is currently waging a battle with cancer. I wish him well in his persistent fight against the disease. I hope the struggle of Damu Smith does not go unnoticed by my colleagues in this body. I hope we see the challenges and struggles that face our relentless pursuers of peace, justice, and equality. I hope we take steps to prevent Damu's struggle from being repeated on future generations of Americans. While he is a true fighter to the core, Damu's struggle has not been easy. Yet he continues to persist in his advocacy of peace and justice. What is more disturbing about Damu's case is that there appears to be both genetic and environmental causes behind his disease: A family history and a location in ``Cancer Alley''--a small section of Louisiana with a number of industrial plants and facilities and high rates of cancer, lung conditions, and skin irritations. It would seem that the Congress could do more to address whether there is a correlation between these incidence and the industrial population of the community. I nonetheless praise the continued struggle of this fighter for justice and warrior for peace. I submit the following article written by Shantella Y. Sherman of the Afro-American highlighting Damu's struggle and his fight. I thank Ms. Sherman for bringing this to the Nation's attention. Faith and Deliverance: Damu Smith Wages War on Cancer Damu Smith's name bounces around rooms with the same quiet reverence often reserved for more popularly known figures: Nelson Mandela or Desmond Tutu. Sometimes, there's a knowing smile or two. Smith is a kind of modern-day superstar among activists: fierce, passionate, courageous, God-fearing. His celebrity has reached far and beyond Washington, D.C., into the far corners of the Earth. Where there is any semblance of injustice, rest assured, Damu Smith is planning strategic countermoves. Smith's activism rallied civic consciousness against apartheid in South Africa, gun violence, police brutality and government injustice. He worked to effect peace and a freeze on nuclear weapons, and advocated for environmental justice, both in America and abroad. In fact, Smith was in Palestine, heading up a delegation of protest against unfair treatment suffered by Palestinians at the hands of the Israeli government, when he collapsed, subsequently being diagnosed with colon cancer. As a result, Smith has always appeared larger than life, particularly to this reporter, who met him more than 20 years ago as a pre-teen. Interviewing Smith became a challenge that 15 years of reporting experience couldn't overcome. I was nervous. I wasn't sure what to expect, so I stood outside his apartment door for a solid five minutes, willing each knock to become just a little more audible to him on the other side. Finally, I entered at his behest, ``Come on in, the door is open.'' Once I'd taken off my shoes and peered around the corner, I was able to get a full glance at Damu. His eyes were bright, his skin flawless and his smile brighter than ever. He bustled around his apartment with a small contingent of associates: his friend and doctor of more than 30 years, Jewel L. Crawford; a friend from St. Louis; and others who came and went in fluid motions. There is a handwritten note attached to a hand-carved mirror, one of the many African treasures decorating Damu's home. Above a litany of daily affirmations, is written, ``With God All Things Are Possible.'' All along, Damu answered questions and telephone calls, gave directions to Dulles International Airport, passed out fresh juice and (laughed). Dr. Crawford answered my question and confusion without me asking: ``Damu approached his disease the same as he does everything in his life. He's a fighter, and he's getting stronger because of his faith.'' Crawford would know. She was one of the first people Smith spoke with following his hospital admission. While Crawford says she cannot be certain of how cancer struck Smith, she is certain he will beat it. ``Damu has a family predisposition to this type of cancer: His paternal grandmother and his father both had it. It's hard to put a definite on it, because even though Damu is a vegetarian, never smoked [and] never drank, he was in one of the most toxic areas on the planet for an extended period of time. Being in Louisiana all that time could have been the element that pushed him over into being affected,'' said Crawford. The area Crawford referred to is known as ``Cancer Alley,'' a small section of Convent, LA., where a smorgasbord of industrial plant run-off brought on cancers, lung conditions and skin irritations among residents. In the early 1990s, Smith led an all-out campaign against the Japanese owners of the Shintech plants, and lived with some of the area's residents. Smith himself agrees that living in a toxic environment could be the culprit in the development of cancers, including his own, but says the family factor should not be overlooked. ``The air we breathe, the water we drink, the foods we eat and the homes in which we live are toxic. This is a very toxic environment we live in this millennium. I live a healthy lifestyle: I don't drink, don't smoke, never did an illegal drug. I'm a vegetarian and I eat organic food. And yet, I end up with colon cancer. Why? Could be a number of things,'' he surmised. ``Could be the toxic environment, could be the fact that within my family there's a genetic marker of colon cancer. My father died of it. My grandmother, his mother, had it. She didn't die from it, but she had it. So, according to conventional medical doctors, I'm at greater risk because I have this family marker,'' said Smith. Though he says he should have seen a doctor regularly, like most minorities, he didn't make it a top priority, especially since he was so health-conscious. ``I should have been at the doctor every year getting checked. I wasn't. I have to be honest with you, I used to think about going to get a checkup and I'd say to myself, `I don't want to find out anything bad. I just can't imagine anything bad happening to me because I eat so well.' I used to say that stuff. So, this is one of the things I want to be a poster child for: getting screened and checked for colon cancer,'' said Smith. But how does a poster child maintain in the fight for his life? According to Smith, with an unwavering conviction in God. ``First of all, I have to have faith in God--in a higher power, greater than us. And so, that's the most important thing to me, having faith in God and knowing that he can deliver me from this,'' said Smith. ``I was told by one of the doctors when I was initially diagnosed at the end of March that people in my condition, statistically, have only three to six months to live. And he made it a point of saying to me twice during our conversation, 'Don't hesitate about anything.' That was Easter Sunday morning of this year. I had to really reflect on that.'' Doctors also informed Smith that his liver was three- quarters full of tumors--a condition that effectively made the illness terminal. After going through what he called ``about 30 minutes of anguish and seeing my whole life race in front of me like a video clip,'' Smith announced he was fighting it. ``There are a lot of people out there, when they hear that, allegedly, they have only three months, six months, a few days or a few weeks to live, they plan their lives accordingly. I plan to be here for several more years, and I'm thinking in that direction,'' said Smith. The reality of death is all the more gripping because he lost a close friend to colon cancer around Christmas. Unlike his friend, who went in for surgery and passed a few days later without a moment to prepare, Smith said he is grateful for the opportunity to fight for his life. ``Here I am. I've been alive three months since I was told, and I'm feeling great right now. Those tumors are shrinking. I'm sitting here with you now doing this interview and drinking this organic kale and carrot juice, and I am drinking it as much as possible because it heals the liver . . . I'm taking chemotherapy, acupuncture, sound healing, breathology, everything in the toolbox of healing. I'm picking up and using on my body right now. And I'm keeping God at the center of everything. So, I don't plan to lose.'' Smith is only human, and is clear about what his body is going through. He says that having a clear understanding of his body's day-to-day function and how to improve those functions while his body is under attack is essential. Even this though, he says, takes a back seat to faith. ``I'm also a very practical person. I understand that I have a very serious disease occupying my body, but I'm claiming victory! . . . I am expelling that disease from my body by having faith in God and having faith in my family and the community of angels who have descended upon me and who surround me now,'' he said. Still, others wonder why Smith would make such a personal struggle public. The answer for Smith is an echoed sentiment understood by everyone who encounters him. He wouldn't be Damu Smith if he wasn't helping out the next man--even during his own crisis. ``So many people hide what's wrong with them and stuff, and he was open and went public with it so that he could possibly help someone else,'' said Crawford. ``Even facing a life- threatening situation, Damu is {still} organizing and trying to touch someone else's life.'' ``When I was lying in the bed at Providence Hospital once I returned from Palestine in late March, I decided that I had to, one, walk publicly in this journey of healing [and], two, that I had to organize people to help me and organize people to help others understand that they don't want to go through what I was about to go through. ``There were literally hundreds of people who came to see me at Providence Hospital, and some of my friends were getting upset, saying I needed my rest. But I knew what I was doing. God knew what I was doing. I needed to organize my friends and family first, and I told them that we've got to fight this, because it's not just me. People have to go get checked, and we need to organize around this.'' Out of those bedside meetings, Smith was able to establish the Spirit of Hope campaign, which seeks solutions to health disparities among minority and poor Americans. The campaign focuses on universal health care, education about the need for screening measures, addressing astronomical health care costs and promoting general well-being among minority and poor people. ``The whole spectrum of wellness is what the Spirit of Hope campaign is focusing on, and I wouldn't have it any other way. It wouldn't be me if it didn't focus on something other than me,'' said Smith. Smith says that despite the cost and fear associated with the procedure, it is imperative that people of color and those living below the poverty line get regular checkups, including colonoscopies. ``What are you going to fear most? [If] you want to live, you cannot fear doing what you have to do to live. Colonoscopies are expensive. They're between $700 to $900 dollars. And if you're not insured, that's a major problem. For Black people, and people of color and poor people, that's a major problem. ``It's very important we organize a campaign that insures that everyone has access to effective, holistic, comprehensive, prevention health care and access to treatment facilities so they get what they need when they need it,'' he argued. Smith is also thinking about access for his l2-year-old daughter Asha, who he lovingly refers to as ``Asha Boo-Boo'' and the ``crown jewel of his life.'' ``I don't want her to go through this. I want her and all of her little friends to get screened when the time is right. So, I have to work for them too,'' said Smith. As my time with Smith draws to a close, I begin to wonder if maybe he hadn't been misdiagnosed. The wristband, which resembles a hospital clasp, is in fact a tag from the Essence Music Festival that he's simply neglected to remove. Damu Smith is doing life Damu Smith-style: happy, brilliant and winning the fight. ``This has been one of the happiest times in my life, in the midst of this crisis. Now some people might say, `How is that possible?' It's possible because I have seen the love come to me in such wonderful ways. I cannot begin to describe how profound, how rich and warm and beautiful the love has been from my family and friends and God. I thank God for this moment and for the chance to fight,'' said Smith.