Bobby Rush

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Mr. Chairman, I am from the other side of town. I live on the other side of town; and, Mr. Chairman, those who live on the other side of town understand the Biblical principle, the verse in the Bible that says, know ye the truth, and the truth shall set you free. Mr. Chairman, there are some untruths that have been spoken today about this bill. This is a good bill. This is a marvelous bill. This is a bill that is worthwhile. This is a bill that will make a difference in the lives of the people who live on the other side of town. Mr. Chairman, there are five truths about this legislation that I want to share with you. This legislation, number one, represents a huge step in bringing lower prices and more choices for cable services, not only from the other side of town, but from all of town, and also to the Nation. Mr. Chairman, this bill will provide equitable competition amongst a variety of video service providers on the other side of town. Video service providers can compete in price, in quality, and in quantity. And the people on the other side of town, on my side of town, can finally decide which service provider they prefer. Number two, Mr. Chairman, the second truth, this bill will create a nationwide approval process for pay TV services. The people on my side of town, on the other side of town, pay more money for cable TV services than any other demographic group within the Nation. And by streamlining this archaic franchise system, companies will be able to offer new TV services on the other side of town, while also protecting the local interests. The third truth. And this is a truth, Mr. Chairman, that I take to heart. I have spent all of my life fighting against discrimination. And I will never, never, ever be a sponsor or cosponsor or vote for a bill that allows for discrimination in any area of life within this Nation. The third truth, Mr. Chairman, is that this bill will prohibit discrimination on the basis of income and give the FCC the power to impose stiff fines, up to $500,000 a day, or revoke a provider's franchise area if there is willful or repeated violation of discrimination. And it goes even beyond that. The burden of proof will be on the company and not on the consumer. The fourth truth, Mr. Chairman, is that this bill also preserves net neutrality by allowing the FCC explicit power to go after companies that violate network neutrality principles. And, Mr. Chairman, on network neutrality, let me just say this: network neutrality is a Trojan horse in this whole debate. It is not about build-out; it is not about access. The opponents of this bill are in favor of network neutrality, and they are not in favor, Mr. Chairman, of lowering cable costs for the people on the other side of town.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. I want to thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I am in kind of a difficult situation here. I am a minority, I am a Democrat, I was raised in the civil rights movement, I live next door to a public housing residence in the City of Chicago, and I am a supporter of this rule. Why am I a supporter of this rule? I am a supporter of this rule because my constituents want to get much-needed relief from the escalating and high cost of cable television. I am amused and I am bemused by the comments of some of my colleagues from the party that I am a member of because they are talking about build out. They are talking about video services in my community, the community that I represent, that I haven't left, that I have been a part of. Well, let me tell you about that community. That community has the highest viewership of cable television than any other demographic group in America. We pay more for video services, for high premium packages than any other group in America. And why is that? Because only on cable do we see people who look like us, speak like us, and who understand us. That is why we pay more for cable. Let me just tell you, Mr. Speaker, we don't need build out, we need build up in my community; build up by allowing minority entrepreneurs to get access to the telecommunication industry. And that is what this bill would do, and that is what this rule will provide for. We need build up and not build out. This legislation represents a huge step in lowering prices and creating more choices for cable services, not only to my hard-pressed constituents, but to the entire Nation. Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill. This is a good rule. Of course, there were amendments in the committee that were voted down. I voted against a lot of them, because the intention of those amendments was to gut the bill. And I cannot go back to my community, because I came here to represent my community. I came here to represent my community, no philosophy, no party, my community, and that is what I am going to do. I am going to represent my community, and my community wants this bill. They want lower cable prices, they want more access, and they want more diversity and content on the video platform. That is what this bill does. I urge my colleagues, those who can think for the little people in America, not the elite, but for the little people in America, I urge you to vote for this rule. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule for H.R. 5252, the Communications, Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act of 2006, a bill that I jointly and proudly sponsored with my Colleague Congressman Barton. This legislation represents a huge step in bringing lower prices and more choices for cable services, not only to my hard pressed constituents, but to the entire Nation. Specifically, this bill would provide equitable competition amongst a variety of video service providers. Video service providers can compete in price, quality and quantity, and consumers can finally decide which service provider they prefer. Specifically, this bill would create a nationwide approval process for pay-TV services. By streamlining the archaic franchise system, companies will be able to offer new TV services in many areas while protecting local interests. It would prohibit discrimination on the basis of income and give the FCC the power to impose stiff fines up to 500,000 a day or revoke a provider's franchise area if there is willful or repeated violation of discrimination. The bill also preserves net neutrality by allowing the FCC explicit power to go after companies that violate network neutrality principles and lastly and more importantly H.R. 5252 creates new jobs when video entrants make new investments in advance network. Mr. Speaker, I believe this is a fair rule it allows for meaningful amendments by my Democratic colleagues. I respectfully urge my colleagues to support this rule and the underlying legislation.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, I rise here today to extend my remarks on H.R. 4681, the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act that was passed here on the House Floor on May 23, 2006. Madam Speaker, the Palestinian Anti- Terrorism Act was a bill that I and I am sure many of my colleagues as well, struggled with and deliberated on a great deal. While America's support for Israel is unwavering, Congress does not want to send the wrong message to the Palestinian people that we have given up on them or the path to peace in that region. Madam Speaker, the intent of H.R. 4681 was not to alienate the Palestinian people, but rather to demonstrate America's resolve against terrorism in all its forms, including the leadership of Hamas and the Hamas-controlled Palestinian Authority. This bill was passed to send a strong message to Hamas' leaders that they cannot continue to sponsor terrorism and call for the destruction of Israel and expect to receive American financial and diplomatic support. America will stand firm with Israel against any enemy who seeks to terrorize its people or disrupt the lives of its citizens. With that being said, it is also important for the Palestinian people to know that America is not an enemy, but that we seek to help establish a two-state system, with Israel and Palestine coexisting side by side in peace. America strongly believes in the peace process and we hope to facilitate that process so the entire region will be better for it. When Congress passed H.R. 4681 it was not a vote against the Palestinian people, but a vote against terrorists of those who have called for the destruction of Israel and who have sponsored terrorism in the past and continue to do so. Congress understands that we must be resolute against terrorist leaders, but also show humanity and compassion towards the poor and innocent children and destitute people of the Palestinian territories. That is the only way we can achieve peace and stability in the region. Madam Speaker, I will continue to support the peace process between Israel and the Palestinian people along with my colleagues here in Congress, and America will continue to provide humanitarian aid and assistance for those people who need it most. We will not let the election of Hamas hijack the road to peace that we have all sought for so long.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer recognition to Dr. Don Michael Randel, the outgoing president of the University of Chicago. Dr. Randel has presided over the University of Chicago since 2000, and he has been instrumental in strengthening the humanities and the arts on the campus. Dr. Randel has also been active in overseeing a broad range of interactions with the city of Chicago and further strengthening the University's programs in the physical and biomedical sciences and its relationship with the Argonne National Laboratory. He also led the Chicago Initiative, an ongoing campaign for $2 billion, the largest in the University's history, which has raised more than $1.3 billion toward this goal. Dr. Randel came to Chicago after 32 years at Cornell University, where he served as a faculty member in the department of music and in many administrative posts, including department chair, vice-provost, and associate dean and then dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. He became provost of Cornell University in 1995. Dr. Randel is one of the nation's leading musicologists and served as the editor of the Journal of the American Musicology Society. He also is editor of the Harvard Dictionary of Music 4th ed., published in 2003, the Harvard Biographical Dictionary of Music, published in 1996, and the Harvard Concise Dictionary of Music and Musicians, published in 1999. During Dr. Randel's presidency, substantial improvements to the University of Chicago's facilities were completed, including the Palevsky residence halls, the Ratner Athletic Center, the new Graduate School of Business and the $200 million Center for Integrative Sciences, the largest building in the University's history. The University also completed several joint programs with the city along the Midway, including opening a highly successful charter school, which has now been joined by another, under the auspices of the University's Center for Urban School Improvement. The University also has launched the Collegiate Scholars Program, a College bridge program aimed at preparing Chicago public school students for elite academic institutions. Dr. Randel will leave a long-lasting impact on the First Congressional District by encouraging a greater awareness of the value of diversity. Speaking on the importance of combating prejudice, Dr. Randel noted the related virtue of diversity, both of ideas and of experience when he commented, ``No part of the University community can think of itself as immune from this concern for diversity. An unprecedented number of programs are in place to increase diversity in the functioning of our academic programs and in the ways in which we carry on our business affairs and our relations with the neighborhood and city of which we are a part. Each of us must believe that embracing--not merely tolerating--diversity is a personal obligation.'' Mr. Speaker, the University of Chicago, as well as the city itself, will be losing an exceptional, first-class leader, but we want to wish Dr. Randel well on all of his future endeavors, as well as thank him for his many contributions to the school and to the great city of Chicago.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great public servant: John H. Stroger, Jr., President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners. John Stroger is the first African-American to have been elected as Cook County Board President after serving Cook County for many years in other capacities, including as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners Finance Committee. During his lifetime of public service, President Stroger has always served with distinction and with an unwavering dedication to improving the lives and well being of all of the residents of Cook County. As Chairman, he was instrumental in the development and construction of a new hospital facility, which bears his name, John H. Stroger Hospital. The facility, which is state-of-the-art, serves the health needs of all of Cook county's residents, including the indigent and uninsured. John Stroger is the past President of the National Association of Counties and in that capacity, he provided leadership on public policy issues affecting local governments across the Nation. He was particularly concerned with the need of county governments to ensure health care access for all county residents. Mr. Speaker, I know that you will join me in wishing President Stroger a full and speedy recovery from his recent illness and all the best to his wife and family.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, today I want to tell this Congress and this Nation about a high school success story. Today I would like to acknowledge students and teachers from the Morgan Park High School located in my district, the first congressional district on the south side of the City of Chicago. Morgan Park High School students posted world-class advanced placements test scores. Mr. Speaker, it must be noted, particularly as this is the month that we celebrate black history, February, it must be noted that out of the more than 15,000 high schools and 31 countries worldwide, more students at Morgan Park High School passed their AP exams in two courses, English language composition and European history, than at any other high school in the Nation or in the world. The vast majority of these students were African American. The number of African-American students passing these college-level exams at Morgan Park High School is even more amazing considering the fact that African Americans are the most underrepresented racial group in the country in AP classrooms. Mr. Speaker, thanks to the excellent teaching and tutelage of their teachers, Ms. Judith Keyhoe, Ms. Marilyn Jackson and Mr. Martin Luzzo, all of the Morgan Park students deserve special recognition and congratulations from this Congress today. Morgan Park High School is a great example of what dedicated administrators, committed teachers, motivated students, and involved parents can accomplish; and I ask all my colleagues to please join me in congratulating Morgan Park High School, this fine school, for their wonderful academic achievement. Now, Mr. Speaker, I would like to just take a moment to name the individual students that allowed Morgan Park High School to soar to these unprecedented heights. These students are: Jorge Anguiano, Jenele Anderson, Desney Avery, Nicole Banks, Brian Belcher, Aryelle Berry, Evan Beverly, Jasmine Bomer, Justin Booz, Christina Boyce, Jenise Chappell, Monique Childress, Angelo Dasilva, Eric Dorsey, Natalie Dowdell, Patrice Gardner, Jeffrey Gonzales, Brandon Hamilton, Zellonda Harris, Rachel Hoffman, Dominique Jones, Edward King, Latasha Kinnard, Juwaun Mcclain, Amanda Moore, Tichina Moore, Eduardo Morales, Jeffrey Nelson, Cecilia Ortiz, Kimberly Randle, Ashley Rouse, Lajoi Royston, Renata Sago, Bradley Thomas, Jerome Wade, Langston Wesley, Alexandria Willis, Rachel Woods, Joshua Young. To the students at Morgan Park High School, we take our hats off to you. Keep up the good work. Make sure that you keep on the path to success. This Congress, this Nation, is very proud of you. God bless you.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman of the committee for yielding his time to me, and I certainly want to thank the ranking member of this committee for all of his efforts on behalf of human rights and justice throughout not only this Nation but throughout the world. He has been an inspiration to us all. Mr. Speaker, we lost an inspiration. We lost an icon. Mrs. Coretta Scott King was more than just the wife of Dr. Martin Luther King. She was, indeed, an incredible force in the movement for equality, for justice in her own right. And she was the strong spirit and character that certainly laid the foundation for many of us who are present in this body tonight who serve in this Congress and in other elected offices throughout our Nation. Mrs. King, as was indicated earlier, was born Coretta Scott on a farm in Heiberger, Perry County, Alabama to Obadiah and Bernice McNurry Scott. She graduated from the Lincoln Normal School in Marion, Alabama, at the top of her class before going to Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. After graduating from college, she moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where she was classically trained as a promising opera singer. The story is well known about her meeting Dr. Martin Luther King, another student in Boston, and their unity that was ordained before the Lord. Mrs. King was a steadfast partner of Dr. King, and she shared in his sacrifice and also his hardships. It was not an easy life that they led. It was a very difficult life that they led. They raised four children. Mrs. King raised four children. It was very difficult for her to keep her family safe and united in the face of what would ordinarily be overwhelming anger, extreme violence, and deep-seated resentment. But for Mrs. King, her majestic poise and grace made her efforts seem to the rest of us almost seamless. And after the death of her husband, she continued on with his legacy of seeking justice, equality, and liberty for all citizens. Leading marches, participating in protests and organizing civil rights groups, Mrs. King continued to struggle against racial injustice, economic inequality, military adventurism, hate crimes, and violence. Mr. Speaker, this Nation owes Coretta Scott King an incredible debt. We owe the King family an incredible debt for the sacrifices that they made.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, when the House considered H. Res. 444, a Gynecological Resolution for Advancement of Ovarian Cancer Education, I was unavoidably detained in my Chicago district. I would like to take this opportunity to express my support for this resolution, which has been sponsored by my good friend and colleague, Ralph Hall of Texas, to bring attention to a disease that has afflicted one of his long time staff members, Grace Warren. That disease is ovarian cancer. Mr. Speaker, ovarian cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer mortality among women in the United States. Research has proven that early detection of the disease can improve the long term survival rates among those with the disease dramatically yet, unfortunately, there are few, if any, effective methods of early detection. As a result, often when the disease has been diagnosed, it is often far advanced. While the mortality rates have decreased in the United States for other cancers, they have remained high for women with ovarian cancer. This is the result, in part, because the symptoms of the disease are not well understood and in part, because there are no reliable and reasonably priced screening tests to detect the disease in its early stages. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that more than 22,000 American women will be diagnosed with the disease this year, yet last year, the National Cancer Institute dedicated approximately one-fifth of the research dollars to ovarian cancer as it does to breast cancer. Earlier this year, when Ralph advised me that he was sponsoring legislation to increase the awareness of ovarian cancer and to dedicate resources to research on its causes and cures, I agreed to cosponsor the legislation. Not only as a testament to Grace, and to the strength and courage which she has demonstrated while battling this devastating disease, but to all of the women in this country who are the victims of ovarian cancer and other gynecological cancers. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased and proud that the House has passed this resolution overwhelmingly. It is my hope that the Senate will soon follow suit and pass similar legislation. Grace Warren, and the other victims of this disease, deserve no less.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank sponsor of this resolution, my friend from the Chicago City Council, my friend in the civil rights movement, my colleague here in the Congress, the Congressman from the Seventh Congressional District, Congressman Danny K. Davis, for the lead that he took in terms of this particular resolution, the sponsoring of this resolution; and I want to thank him for all the work that he does on behalf of not only his constituents but the constituents of Chicago and the constituents of the Nation. Mr. Speaker, it is proper that I would follow a Cubs fan because for a long time the Cubs have been known throughout the Nation as being Chicago's team, and that moniker was earned because the entire Nation sympathized with the Cubs. They have lost so much and they have lost for such a long time that they have really kind of endeared themselves in their losing manner to the Nation; and so, therefore, the Nation has responded to them accordingly. But I stand here now to say to the Cubs fans and to all of the Nation really that there is a team in Chicago now that has earned the respect and the love and the endearment of all the citizens of the City of Chicago. We are not Chicago's team because of sympathy. We are Chicago's team because the Chicago White Sox have instilled a sense of pride in Chicago. Indeed, the Chicago White Sox are now the pride of Chicago. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the White Sox for their dominant, excellent performance in the World Series and the playoffs, how they conducted themselves, both as professionals and how they conducted themselves as superior and supreme athletes. They made us all proud, particularly those of my constituents who share, as Congressman Davis said, share the ethos and share the pride and share the workman mentality of the City of Chicago with the Chicago White Sox. The Chicago White Sox team epitomizes the lunch-pail approach, the lunch-pail mentality that I would like to think all of my constituents represent. This is the team of the little guy. This is the team of the unheralded heroes. This is the team that fights based on heart. They have got big hearts, not big names, but they have got big hearts, and their big hearts won the World Series. Mr. Speaker, this win that we were able to experience over the last few days really united the City of Chicago unlike it has been united in recent memory. I remember back in 1959 I was a 13-year-old lad, living in Cubs territory; and although all of my friends and my teachers and everybody, all those who I was associated with, they all were die-hard Cubs fans, but Chicago, the White Sox, kind of captured my imagination. I became a Chicago White Sox fan at 13 years old when they were in the American League pennant race, and since that time I have been following the team closely. I have become friends with Jerry Reinsdorf and Eddie Einhorn and Kenny Williams; and it just gives me a sense of pride, gives my constituents a sense of pride just to know that within the neighborhood that we all reside in that we have a world championship team there. We have a World Series team there. Mr. Speaker, the black and the white is all over the City of Chicago. When I got off the plane last week from Washington here, the whole entire airport was an avalanche of black and white all over the airport, and people from far and near were coming trying to buy some of the White Sox logos and some of the White Sox t-shirts and some of their paraphernalia. I am just so proud of this particular team. It is really a shot in the arm for those of us who work hard every day, those of us who do the right thing, those of us who really just put our hearts and our minds and our spirit out on the field. Sometimes we come back victorious and sometimes we do not come back victorious, but we still go out and approach our day-to-day activities with the kind of zeal and with the kind of understanding that this is fair. This is fair. We go and put everything, our guts on the ground, and if we do that, then sometimes we are able to be victorious. The Chicago White Sox have really cemented the fact that if you just work hard you do not have to be the big names, you do not have to have the dazzling system. All you have to have is an organization of people from the elevator operator to the janitor all the way up to the president of the company, the owners of the company. If you have that kind of organization and you really, really have a single focus, you have the power of a made-up mind, you can accomplish and you can be victorious. The Chicago White Sox have shown that with the power of the made-up mind that they could be victorious. Mr. Speaker, they started out this year saying they had one thing on their mind, that they were going to go to the World Series, and they did it. We are proud of them. They have shown the way, and I am just so grateful to have the opportunity to come and to speak on behalf of this resolution. So I want to congratulate the Chicago White Sox and their entire organization. Lastly, Mr. Speaker, before I take my seat, I just want to say to my colleague from the Seventh Congressional District and to others, we will try to do all that we can to ensure that this franchise, that this organization, that this World Series champion has what it takes in order for them to continue on with their success. I want to let the world know that we will be erecting a new public transportation system, a metro system, that will have a stop there at the White Sox field there, U.S. Cellular Field. The Cell will have a metro stop there so that people from far and near can come. And if my colleagues from the Cubs part of the city, from the north side and from the other places, if they want to get on the metro and come to Comiskey Park to see some winning going on in the City of Chicago, then they are invited to come over. It does not take a lot of money. We invite them to come from the north side to the south side in order to see some victories in the City of Chicago.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I certainly want to thank the gentlewoman from California for her outstanding, steadfast leadership not only on this issue and in this regard but for all the work that she has done on behalf of the people called Americans, people who are in this Nation. Mr. Speaker, the Bible tells us that the glory of the Lord is our strength. We are strengthened in order to glorify him and glorify his creation. I think of that particular scripture as I think of Rosa Parks. You see, because ordinarily back in 1955, a person who was an African American, called ``colored'' at the time, was supposed to respect a system that denied the dignity of African Americans, of blacks, during that time. So tradition had it that once you got on a bus, you could take a seat at the back of the bus as long as there was not a white person who needed a seat; and if there was a white person who needed a seat on the bus, then the black person was, out of honor and a sense of second-class citizenship, to rise up and give that white person their seat on the bus. That was wrong, and today we all realize how wrong that system was. The Lord, in my estimation, had some serious problems with that kind of a system, and he wanted that system corrected. So in a singular moment, in the batting of an eye, he whispered to Rosa Parks, ``Don't move. Sit there. I will protect you. I will be with you. I have a hedge, a protection, that surrounds you. Sit there. And just in case you are not listening to me, I want you to think about Emmett Till. Remember Emmett Till. But just sit there. Whatever you have to do, just sit there, because I have got something that I want you to do. I have got something, a task, a goal, an objective for you to accomplish. I want you to teach the world, teach this Nation, about what I can do using an ordinary woman to accomplish some extraordinary things.'' So, Rosa Parks sat there. This humble seamstress from the South did not realize that just by her sitting there, that she was beginning to stitch together a torn fabric called America and that she was beginning to stand by sitting. The Lord in his glory uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. Mr. Speaker, I am a product of the civil rights movement. I was raised in the civil rights movement. I started out in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and then I became a member of the Black Panther Party. In all of my activities in the civil rights movement, I focused on the strength, the calmness, the deep commitment of Rosa Parks. I know that without Rosa Parks, there would not be 40 members of the Congressional Black Caucus today. Without Rosa Parks, we would not have an African American in the U.S. Senate. Mr. Speaker, I know that without Rosa Parks, we would not have the successes that we have been able to enjoy over these last few years here in America. Mr. Speaker, I want us to realize that there was more to Rosa Parks than just what happened in Montgomery, in the borders of this country. By her taking that simple act, which took enormous courage and commitment and resolve and persistence, by her taking that one act, she inspired an entire world. Mr. Speaker, as I close my eyes, and if I look across the landscape of this world, and as I look in Europe, I see images, I see Lech Walesa in Poland being inspired by the actions, the sitting down of Rosa Parks in Montgomery, Alabama. As I look in China, I see the students in Tiananmen Square being inspired by Rosa Parks. And as I look to Africa, I see Nelson Mandela being inspired by Rosa Parks sitting down. And as I look in Latin America, I see youth groups and I see the students in Colombia and other places being inspired by the legacy of Rosa Parks sitting down. Of course, we all know here in this Nation, Dr. Martin Luther King was brought to the forefront of the world's consciousness by Rosa Parks sitting down. So, Mr. Speaker, it is with deep honor, profound privilege, deep- seated admiration and undying love that I stand here as a Member of Congress, a product of the civil rights movement, a young boy who remembered the segregated buses as a lad in Albany, Georgia. I stand here today proud of being a Member of this Congress, proud of the Senate, proud of the House of Representatives, but I am just so, so, so, so proud that I lived in a generation that not only heard about Rosa Parks, but walked with Rosa Parks, that talked with Rosa Parks, that was able to touch just the hem of the seamstress' garment. Mr. Speaker, I support this resolution.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, this morning we learned that a 23-year-old mother threw her three children off a pier in San Francisco killing them all. Apparently she heard voices that told her to commit this unthinkable act. Mr. Speaker, we do not know yet whether this woman suffered from a most severe form of postpartum disorder known as postpartum psychosis. We do know that postpartum depression and psychosis can emerge even a year after a child's birth. That is why for the last three Congresses I have introduced the Melanie Blocker Stokes Postpartum Depression Research and Care Act, H.R. 1940. My bill would direct funds to researching this misunderstood disorder, and it would also provide grants for services and care for mothers who suffer from postpartum depression. I urge all of my colleagues in the House to cosponsor this important bill. What happened in San Francisco happens way too often in this Nation, and we must do what we can to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The mothers of America desperately need this Congress to recognize this deadly malady and pass H.R. 1940.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, this evening I rise before this House condemning the words spoken yesterday by former Secretary of Education William Bennett. It is truly reprehensible that as we try to heal the wounds that were laid bare following the disaster of Hurricane Katrina, that powerful elements in the Republican Party still insist on espousing racial rhetoric while trying to divide Americans based on the color of their skin. I was shocked, I was appalled that the former Secretary of Education, William Bennett, a prominent member of the Republican Party, would go on public radio and say, ``But I do know that it is true that if you wanted to reduce crime, you could, if that were your sole purpose, you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down.'' Mr. Speaker, as a proud black American who was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army, I know that this is precisely the kind of insensitive, hurtful, and ignorant rhetoric that Americans have grown tired of. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Bennett still has power and influence within this Republican administration; and he is representative of the ignorant, inconsiderate politics that have been displayed in this government today. And I am calling on my friends, the responsible Republicans, to rebuke Mr. Bennett for his damaging statement. Where is the indignation from the GOP, as one of their prominent members talks about aborting an entire race of Americans as a way of ridding this country of crime? How ridiculous. How asinine. How insane can one be? Mr. Bennett's remarks were thoughtless, mean-spirited, and well, well off the mark. We all know that aborting black babies would not decrease or erase the crime rates in this country. Aborting the Republican policies which have hurt the disadvantaged, the poor, and average Americans for the benefit of large corporations would be a much more sane and reasonable way to address crime and poverty in this Nation. Americans are sick of the poisonous, divisive atmosphere that is prevalent in this Republican era. Americans want reform. Americans want change. Americans want an end to the culture of corruption and bitterness that the Republican Party and this House have come to embody. It is ironic that the same people who promised America that they would clean up the system 11 years ago, have used their power and influence to benefit their own agenda and defile the

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Chairman, today we are debating whether or not we should repeal civil rights provisions in Head Start reauthorization, and allow religious organizations that use federal funding to discriminate in hiring and firing based on an individual's religious beliefs. In a time when we are forcefully trying to persuade other countries to include protections against religious discrimination in their constitutions, it is astounding that we are here, in the United States Congress, trying to repeal these same protections for our own citizens. As a practicing ordained minister, I find the Boustany amendment to be unnecessary, unwise, and unproductive. The Boustany amendment would allow religious organizations to waive civil rights protections that nonreligious organizations must abide by. The provisions that currently govern Head Start have been in place and have been working effectively for decades. Religious organizations operate over 5 percent of all Head Start programs, abiding by the civil rights provisions, and there is no need for Congress to take this unprecedented step that Mr. Boustany is proposing. Never before has Congress ever repealed existing civil rights protections by adopting an amendment on the House Floor, without the benefit of committee hearings, debate, or expert testimony. In fact, H.R. 2123, the School Readiness Act, passed through the Education and the Workforce Committee by a bipartisan, unanimous 48-0 vote. Now, some Members of Congress are attempting to sabotage this bill by attaching this unconstitutional, divisive amendment to it. Maybe this is a way for Members who are against Head Start anyway, to try and derail the program. Mr. Boustany knows that Democrats will note vote for an amendment that allows federally funded organizations to discriminate against any Americans on any grounds. Republicans are trying to make us choose between early childcare for our neediest students and civil rights protections for the rest of our citizens. I wonder what the real motivation is behind bringing up this amendment. It is truly a shame that Members of this House are playing politics with a bill that affects millions of our young children, and which millions of Americans have come to trust and rely on. No, Mr. Speaker, I will not vote for a bill that repeals civil rights protections. I will not vote for federally funded discrimination. It is unconscionable that Members of Congress would try to reverse the progress that we have made on civil rights in this country. What message are we sending to the rest of the world, including the newly-established democracies struggling to find a balance between religious freedom and civil liberties in their own laws and constitutions? Adopting the Boustany amendment will send our country in the wrong direction. This is just another example of where the Republican Leadership wants to take our country, and I hope all our citizens are watching carefully. I urge a ``no'' vote on the Boustany amendment.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Mississippi for yielding to me, and I want him to know that he and the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Jefferson), and the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Davis) are an inspiration to many of us. Your courage, your commitment, and the leadership that you have displayed over these trying times, not only to those who reside in your districts but also to the American people in general have not gone unnoticed. The Bible says, ``When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan.'' Mr. Speaker, when I think of the devastating effects of the failed rapid response of the Federal Government to Hurricane Katrina, I cannot help but wonder about the value of some life, some human life in this country, particularly the lives of the poor, the powerless, and the black. Along with the rest of the world, I have been outraged by the less- than-rapid response, of the inaction, of the lack of attention and the lack of providing aid to the thousands of individuals who were left to die and fend for themselves in the aftermath of the worst natural disaster in American history. Those who did not die were subject to the most dehumanizing conditions, the demoralizing squalor in the Superdome and other relief centers in New Orleans has been compared to the conditions in the hulls of slave cargo ships. I might add, this is not a far-fetched and extreme exaggeration. Hurricane Katrina is an example of how the Federal Government failed. It is an example of a complete breakdown when responding to those in need of critical help. In times of national crisis, the cries of mothers, fathers and families from Louisiana and Mississippi and Alabama went unheard. I serve on the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and today our committee held a hearing on price gouging at America's pumps. But my immediate concerns are on the price of human suffering being paid by the most vulnerable in our society. New Orleans is going through a full-blown public health crisis, Mississippi is going through a full-blown public health crisis, and so is Alabama; and they are all suffering from the debilitating environmental conditions caused by Hurricane Katrina and by human malfeasance. In addition to examining the incompetence and indifference of FEMA, the National Guard, and, I might add, the American Red Cross in their responding to this catastrophe, this Congress needs to address immediate and emergency concerns, including the purification of the drinking water and the abatement of dreaded diseases such as e-coli, hepatitis A, cholera, West Nile and other mosquito and waterborne diseases. Clearly, the public health concerns of this Nation and particularly the Gulf Coast region are of paramount importance. I might also quickly note that we should sharply increase funding for the LIHEAP program, so that we can address the rising cost of heating oil during the upcoming winter months. Lastly, we must examine and address the psychological scars that people have suffered from this terrible tragedy. We cannot underestimate the wounds that lie deeply in the psychology of the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The week-long conditions under which many of them toiled are unimaginable. In this regard, we must especially be sensitive to the psychological needs of the children. Children may have suffered trauma that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. It is important that this Congress provide comprehensive mental health services to the children and to all of the evacuees. It is now time for this Congress to acknowledge that there is widespread poverty in this Nation. It is now time for this Congress to also acknowledge the role that poverty played in the paucity of the Federal response during this national crisis. Mr. Speaker, I also join with my colleagues in saying down with Michael Brown. Down with Michael Brown.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this conference report. I do not think that this piece of legislation is perfect, and there are many provisions in this bill that I disagree with, but overall I support passage of this conference report, because it contains many provisions that are important to me and to my district, including provisions affecting ethanol and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, also known as LIHEAP. During the markup of this House version of the bill in the Energy and Commerce Committee, we passed my amendment, which will significantly increase authorized funding for LIHEAP to $5.1 billion. And I am very pleased that this increase was sustained during the conference committee and the hearings of the conference committee. Mr. Speaker, I want you to know that this provision is so important to my constituents and to constituents similar to mine who suffer during the ravaging winter months and are often at a point where they have to make a decision between paying high energy costs and paying for medical care or paying for food. I want to talk for a moment about this process that we have gone through this year. This year's process has been infinitely better than last year's shoddy process, whereby the majority went behind closed doors and drafted a conference report with zero input from the minority. And, Mr. Speaker, I want to let you know and let the Members of this House know that I really appreciate the fact that Chairman Barton has displayed a willingness to be fair and to work with me and other Democrats on this energy bill. We have a long history of bipartisan cooperation in our great committee, the Energy and Commerce Committee, particularly and especially when the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell) was chairman. I want to commend the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Barton) for continuing this tradition. It should serve as a blueprint for the rest of the Congress. We would have a lot less sniping and get a lot more work done in the full House of Representatives were we to follow the leadership of Chairman Barton, the ranking member and the Energy and Commerce Committee. And I urge my colleagues to vote yes for this conference report.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H. Res. 289 designating the week of August 7 as ``National Health Center Week''. Community Health Centers provide primary health services to low income, working poor, Medicaid and Medicare enrollees and uninsured individuals. Community Health Care Centers provide a larger range of services including primary care, cancer screenings, pre-natal care and emergency medical services in medically underserved communities without regard to the patient's ability to pay for the services. This past year almost 35% of all Illinois health center patients were uninsured. Throughout the state of Illinois over 40 percent of those seeking services at community health centers are Medicaid eligible and health care centers are often the only medical support offered to homeless individuals. The first district in Illinois, which I have the honor and privilege to represent, has ten facilities as part of a statewide network of 250 primary health care delivery sites that will serve 850,000 patients this year. My Illinois colleague, Representative Danny Davis, who introduced this resolution, credits the health centers for contributing to the health and well being of minority communities by keeping children healthy and providing preventive health care so that parents and adults can remain employed. These centers have significantly increased the availability of preventive health care for minorities, migrant and homeless individuals and families. I am glad to join my colleague in support of this resolution to recognize the efforts of the community based organizations in providing these important services.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to thank the distinguished Member from New York, Carolyn Maloney, with whom I have had the pleasure of working along side ever since we were first elected at the end of the 102nd Congress. She has always been a true champion for women's rights and human rights, and I thank her for bringing this important issue to the awareness of the Congress. You may or may not know that the World Health Organization estimates that at least two million women and girls around the world currently suffer from obstetric fistula, with an additional 50,000 to 100,000 cases happening each year. Obstetric fistula, a debilitating pregnancy related condition mainly affects girls ages 15-19. The condition occurs during childbirth when the infant's head presses against the woman's vagina and rectum, creating a formidable hole in vital tissue areas around the pelvis, resulting in loss of control of the bladder, bowels and nerve damage to the mother's legs. The prolonged labor almost always results in a high rate of infant mortality. Beyond the significant health related risks that I have just outlined concerning this condition, there are also some societal factors that further debilitate these women. Many women with fistula are abandoned by their husbands and families because of the resultant odor and infertility. In effect, they become social outcasts because of the stigma associated with the disease, through no fault of their own. As I stated before, approximately, two million women suffer from this condition. However, studies conducted by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and EngenderHealth reveal that these figures are grossly underestimated. For example, in Nigeria alone, close to one million women suffer from the disease although these figures are based solely on patients who seek and report treatment in medical facilities only. This statistic clearly disregards the many cases that go unreported and untreated in the region. A key factor concerning this issue is that fistula is a preventable and curable disease. One form of prevention is a Caesarean section, which costs a mere 60 U.S. dollars. Surgery to repair fistula has an uncharacteristically high success rate of 90 percent even after a woman has had the condition for several years. Most women are either unaware that treatment is available or simply cannot afford it. Surely this cost is worth the value as success rates have proven to be extremely high. Funding to treat this curable condition has been rescinded by the current Administration. The $34 million in funds for the UNFPA that could save the lives of women and children around the world have been withheld causing more women and. children to suffer. We are here today to introduce the ``Repairing Young Women's Lives Around the World Act,'' which would provide that the voluntary U.S. contribution of $34 million to UNFPA for the fiscal year of 2006 and subsequent years, will be directed to UNFPA to be used only for prevention, treatment and repair of obstetric fistula. The UNFPA serves as a vital institution for providing crucial family planning and health services to women in developing countries. In closing, I would like to briefly remind you of some key points that summarize the severity of the issue. Treatment to correct the condition has a 90-percent success rate. For every child who dies from pregnancy complications, 15 to 30 women live and suffer chronic disabilities, the most acute of which is obstetric fistula. It is estimated that there are 100,000 new fistula cases each year, but the international capacity to treat fistula remains at only 6,500 per year I fully support this issue because it brings attention to one of the failed maternal health systems around the world. Fistula is virtually unknown in places where early pregnancy is discouraged, women are educated, family planning is accessible and skilled medical care is available. I feel that eradication of this problem in developing countries is a goal that the U.S. should work to make a reality.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring light to the continuing neglect of Afro-Descendent people in Colombia. This past May 21, 2005, Colombia marked the 154th anniversary of the abolition of slavery. Yet, African descendant minorities, who comprises 26 percent of the population, continues to be mistreated, marginalized socially and economically, and are pushed to the fringes of society. Afro-Colombians are displaced from their ancestral lands which is one of the most bio-diverse regions in the world, so that extra-judicial groups such as the FARC, ELN and AUC are able to grow crops for drug trafficking. This population is, by far, the most repressed group in Colombia. They have the lowest national per capita income, the highest rates of illiteracy, high indices of infant mortality, and startling rates of preventable diseases. Though the Colombian government is starting to make strides in breaking down the power of guerrilla and paramilitary groups, it has not done enough to protect Afro-Colombian territories. Historically, Afro-Colombian territories such as Choco are of great strategic importance to securing the United States. Choco is in essence at the crossroads between Central America and South America. It also has access to the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea making Choco a very attractive launching pad for Colombia's extra-judicial actors. These illegally armed actors should not and must not be exempt from prosecution for the human rights violations carried out under their leadership. The oppression of the Afro-Colombian population by these military groups must cease and desist. It is the responsibility of the Colombian government to secure its communities by eliminating such groups who have murdered, raped, and displaced the Afro-Colombian people. We must do more in humanitarian assistance to provide better aid to those Afro-Colombians who have been displaced. Groups such as the Social Solidarity Network, Afro-Latino Development Alliance, the Black Mayors Federation, and AFRODES, in collaboration with local NGOs, are laying the foundation for advancements in healthcare, education, sustainable development, community kitchens, housing and other programs to address the needs of the displaced. Additionally, organizations such as USAID, Pan American Development Foundation, and the Colombian National Police are now finally planning to hire Afro-Colombians for technical and professional positions that will be beneficial to the Afro-Colombian community. It is imperative that, more coordination by the Colombian government, our State Department and the philanthropic communities develop mechanisms to address this critical issue. President Uribe of Colombia agreed to the creation of a Cabinet level appointee to address the crisis facing Afro-Colombians and we are waiting for this to happen. This person will provide coordination amongst the Colombian government, the State Department, NGOs and other groups to address the plight of the Afro-Colombian communities. This will afford Afro-Colombians a voice in public policy that will ultimately have an impact on their communities. The role of the United States must be, as it has in the past, multi- faceted. We must work closely with the Colombian government, our State Department and USAID to fight this crisis on all fronts. We must help to put an end to the oppression that the Afro-Colombian people have endured over the past 154 years since the abolishment of slavery. Mr. Speaker, we must contribute more money in the area of sustainable development and rely less on military aid to solve Colombia's problems. We cannot continue to allow the egregious human rights violations within the Afro-Colombian community to continue. We must hold the Colombian government accountable on its human rights record and for its neglect of the Afro-Colombians.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the ``Small Business Intermediary Lending Pilot Program Act of 2005'' (SBILPP). This bill would establish a pilot program to provide low interest loans to nonprofit, community-based lending intermediaries. The program would also provide midsize loans for small businesses. Small businesses and startups continue to face barriers when accessing midsize loans between $35,000 and $200,000, with affordable terms and conditions. With all of the banking industry consolidation, the method by which banks make small business credit decisions has changed to the disadvantage of small or startup businesses. Nonprofit intermediary lenders, including community development corporations, are in a better position to provide financial support to small businesses. These nonprofit intermediary lenders provide riskier, up front capital to small businesses, with more flexible terms and underwriting procedures. These lenders also offer technical assistance to reduce the transaction costs and risk exposure of banks. The effectiveness of these types of programs has been demonstrated by several Federal programs, including the Microloan Program under the Small Business Act, and the Intermediary Relending Program in the Department of Agriculture. There are more than 1,000 nonprofit intermediaries around the country that are addressing the needs of small businesses by providing financial and technical assistance, leveraging additional capital for borrowers, and creating employment opportunities for low income individuals through their lending and business development activities. This bill would establish a midsize loan pilot program, providing loans averaging $150,000 to eligible intermediaries, particularly for startup, newly established, or growing small businesses. The bill would also assess the effectiveness of nonprofit intermediaries, and determine the feasibility of implementing a midsize loan program nationwide. I hope my colleagues will join me to support this initiative.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the ``SBA Microenterprise Improvement Act''. This act would revise the eligibility for microloan intermediaries, increase the maximum microloan small loan amount from $7500 to $10,000, increase technical assistance contracting to 30 percent, adjust the term limit for loans, and create reporting requirements that will highlight the successes of public-private partnerships. This bill will also provide several improvements to the ``Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs Act of 1999'', also known as the PRIME Act, a bill that I introduced in 1999 to help disadvantaged microentreprenuers obtain technical and training assistance. The SBA Microloan and the Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs (PRIME) are unique from other SBA programs because they combine training and technical assistance with loan capital. These programs serve small businesses without access to loans through conventional means because they lack business experience, collateral, or the credit scores needed. Loans that are very small are unprofitable for banks to service and often are not available in rural or low income communities. The combination of technical support and small loans has made these programs the most successful in the SBA portfolio. In FY2004 the default rate was five hundredths of one percent even though the loans were made to the riskiest category of borrowers. Microloan programs create jobs that stay in the community, which is very important these days as we hear of increased off-shore movements by large corporations to remain competitive worldwide. With most small businesses participating in this program employing less than five people the cost for job creation in the microloan program averages approximately $3000 per employee which is eight times less than SBA's stated goal of creating one job for every $23,000 loaned through the 7(a) program. The ``SBA Microenterprise Improvement Act'' also amends the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994 to extend the program to disadvantaged Native American entrepreneurs and prospective entrepreneurs by providing 2 million dollars annually over the next three years for loans and training programs. I believe that the SBA Microloan and the Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs has proven that it can help unbankable small business owners with intensive technical assistance; training and small loans to succeed financially and become important service providers in our communities. I hope that all my colleagues will join me in supporting ``The SBA Microenterprise Improvements Act'' legislation.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the life of the Honorable Margaret Smith who made her heavenly transition on Monday, May 16, 2005. Senator Smith served with distinction in the Illinois General Assembly for 22 years until her retirement in December, 2002. Prior to her 20-year tenure in the Illinois State Senate, Senator Smith served one term as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives. Senator Smith served as the chairwoman of the influential Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, where she had the distinction of being the first female State Senator in the United States to serve as the chairperson of the same committee chaired previously by her spouse, the late Senator Fred J. Smith. Senator Smith has been recognized for her sponsorship and support of legislation on health care and women's issues, including requiring Illinois to cover the cost of mammograms for poor women, requiring insurance companies to cover mammograms, protecting senior citizens in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, improving the child immunization system in Illinois; and accordingly received the coveted ``Legislator of the Year Award'' from every major public health organization in Illinois, including the Illinois Nurses' Association, the Illinois Health Care Association, and the Illinois Hospital and Health Systems Association. A recognized national leader, Senator Smith served as a member of the National Conference of Black State Legislators, the Midwestern Legislative Conference, and the National Conference of State Legislators, NCSL, serving as the chairperson of the NCSL's Health and Human Services Committee. Mr. Speaker, I want to encourage all those whose lives were touched by this gentle stateswoman, the Honorable Margaret Smith, to always remember to look to the hills from which comes all of their help. Senator Smith was an anchor within the Illinois governmental and political landscape. I am truly blessed to have known, worked with and supported her. I am honored to pay tribute to this outstanding public servant and am privileged to enter these words into the Congressional Record of the United States House of Representatives.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Chairman, I rise against this H.R. 1279, the Gang Deterrence and Community Prosecution Act of 2005. I strongly believe in cooperation between Federal and State law enforcement to deter gang activities. However, this bill takes the wrong approach by imposing mandatory sentences, trying juveniles as adults and expanding the death sentence to new offenses. I, myself, can appreciate the destruction that gang violence can impose on a community. In Chicago alone, there are estimated to be 70,000 to 100,000 gang members--compared with about 13,000 Chicago police officers. Several ``super gangs'' dominate: the Gangster Disciples, the Black Disciples, the Vice Lords, the Black P Stones, the Mickey Cobras, the Latin Kings, the Spanish Cobras, the Maniac Latin Disciples, and the Satan Disciples. Each of these gangs controlled large amounts of territory and have wreaked havoc on the Chicago community. Nevertheless, prevention and intervention is the key in deterring juvenile crime and gang activities, not discriminatory mandatory sentencing or unfettered prosecutorial discretion. Study after study have shown that trying juveniles as adults does not reduce crime but increases crime, including violent crime. In addition, a better approach, as opposed to this ill-advised approach, would be to focus our energy on more programs for at risk youth such as Head Start, Job Corps and family focused intervention programs. Again, I rise against H.R. 1279, and urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do the same.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the ``Small Business Spectrum Ownership Opportunities Act.'' This bill would level the playing field in the acquisition of spectrum for telecommunications services so that small businesses and economically disadvantaged business owners could enter the communications field. As you know, since the passage of the 1996 Telecommunications Act there has been an unprecedented growth on the Telecommunications sector, which has often been referred to as the telecommunications revolution. However, conspicuously absent from this revolution has been economically disadvantage business owners. They have in essence been left on the fringes of this telecommunications revolution. There are many factors attributed to this lack of participation but chief among them is lack of capital. Because entry into the telecommunication field is capital intensive, many deserving, innovative, and well qualified small business owners have been denied entry into this vital sector because they lack access to the needed capital to complete with large companies. The problem of small businesses access to capital in telecommunications is greatly amplified because potential lenders to small telecommunications businesses cannot secure an interest in spectrum licenses as a condition of a loan. Given that new spectrum is auctioned and requires cash, this defect in spectrum financing means that small business are disadvantaged in their opportunities when compared with companies that have broad access to capital. My bill would increase telecommunications ownership opportunities for small businesses, including small businesses owned or controlled by socially disadvantaged individuals, through Small Business Administration participation in a market-oriented restructuring of the credit aspects of Federal Communications Commission telecommunications spectrum auctions. The Act establishes two programs. THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SPECTRUM INSTALLMENT LOAN PROGRAM which permits an entrepreneur to apply for a direct loan from the Small Business Administration in order to bid on a spectrum license in an auction of the Federal Communications Commission. In addition, the SBA Administrator may make loan guarantees (guarantees on private sector loans) only for telecommunications equipment and working capital necessary to carry out the terms of the license to be financed. The second program is the TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACCELERATED LENDER PROGRAM. In this program the SBA guarantees loans that are provided in the private sector. Guaranteed loans are to be used by entrepreneurs to obtained spectrum in auction or in secondary spectrum markets. An approved borrower is given a letter of credit by the lender (and SBA). The Federal Communications Commissions accepts this letter of credit in lieu of any up front payment or earnest money deposit required by Commission regulation. In addition, the SBA Administrator may make loan guarantees (guarantees on private sector loans) for telecommunications equipment and working capital necessary to carry out the terms of the license to be financed. The SBA Administrator requires, as a condition of any direct loan and any loan guarantee, that (1) any disbursement of a loan amount be fully protected by a secured interest in the proceeds of sale or other assignment of the license involved; (2) the loan agreement contain specific measures by which, in the case of default by the borrower, the lender may require the borrower to sell or otherwise assign the license. I believe the ``Small Business Spectrum Ownership Opportunities Act embodies the essence of this statement by making economically disadvantaged small business owners not only consumers of technology but also producers of technology. I hope that all my colleagues will join me in supporting this important initiative.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Chairman, as a member of both the Congressional Black Caucus and the Energy and Commerce Committee, I rise in support of both the Democrat alternative and of the Congressional Black Caucus alternative to H. Con. Res. 95, the First Concurrent Resolution on the Budget. The CBC alternative offers to the American people and to this Congress a rational budget that is fiscally sound and morally responsible. The CBC alternative budget invests federal resources in the programs that benefit the constituencies of all of the Members of this House: education, health care, economic opportunity, retirement security and homeland security. And the CBC alternative budget makes these investments while reducing the federal deficit--which has spiraled out of control and out of sight over the last four years--by an additional $4.0 billion. The Congressional Black Caucus budget alternative focuses on closing the disparities that exist in America's communities and invests in the future of this nation by fully funding the No Child Left Behind Act at Fiscal Year 2006 authorization levels, expanding the Head Start Programs, doubling the funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Hispanic serving institutions and increasing the size of the Pell Grant allotment for college students. The CBC alternative restores much-needed federal dollars to the Minority Health Initiative and for Community Health Centers that provide critical health services to urban-based congressional districts like mine and rural-based congressional districts as well. The CBC alternative also increases funding for law enforcement initiatives such as juvenile justice programs and prisoner reentry programs that are so critical to facilitating successful reentry into society by ex- offenders. The Congressional Black Caucus Substitute invests in education and funding for the minority health initiative. The Congressional Black Caucus Substitute invests in our nation's veterans by restoring the cuts the President's budget proposed in veterans' health care and providing enhanced survivor benefits, medical and prosthetic research, long term care and mental health care. To meet the needs of America and its citizens, the CBC changes some of the components of the President's tax program, and directs those revenues to making our troops safe in the battlefield and our citizens safe here at home. Mr. Chairman, the CBC's budget is America's hope for tomorrow. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of the CBC alternative budget.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, I rise tonight to recognize Dr. Melvin E. Banks of Chicago, Illinois, on his company's 35th anniversary. Dr. Banks is the owner of Urban Ministries, Incorporated, which is the largest African American owned and operated Christian publishing and media company. At the age of 12, Dr. Banks discovered the Lord and his subsequent calling after sharing his testimony on the back roads of Birmingham, Alabama. At that time an elderly gentleman overheard his testimony and provided the young Banks with a Bible verse that would have significant impact on his future pursuits. Hosea 4:6 states, ``My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.'' Upon hearing those words, Dr. Banks knew immediately that God's purpose for his life was to help spread knowledge of the gospel from an African American perspective. After founding Urban Ministries in 1970, Dr. Banks and his small staff operated out of the basement of his home for 12 years. As Dr. Banks' faith grew, so did his media ministry. In 1982, Urban Ministries occupied the second floor of a building located at 1439 West 103rd street in Chicago, Illinois. Guided by a vision that others did not see, Dr. Banks moved Urban Ministries in 1996 to its current 46,000 square foot headquarters in the Chicagoland area. Today, Urban Ministries serves over 40,000 Sunday school teachers throughout the United States, Haiti, the Bahamas, Nigeria and South Africa. Under Dr. Banks' leadership, souls have been touched and prayers have been answered as Urban Ministries moves closer to its goal of reaching every black Christian church with Christian education products and services. Mr. Speaker, Dr. Banks holds a Bachelor's Degree from Moody Bible Institute as well as undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate degrees from Wheaton College in Illinois. So on this day, I congratulate Dr. Banks on this momentous milestone in his company's history. My fellow colleagues, please join me in extending best wishes to Dr. Banks on 35 years of success and for another 35 years of success that surely will be approaching.