Bobby Rush

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, Historically Black Colleges and Universities are important institutions of higher learning, growth and development for African Americans and minorities Nationwide. These institutions offer quality education in collegiate settings that are conducive to education and economic excellence. The students who attend these colleges are educated, without the deriding stumbling blocks, the deriding stumbling blocks of racial selection for grants and scholarships and loans. The institutions are free of racial, religious, and gender discrimination. Historically Black Colleges and Universities graduate large numbers of African Americans who, as previous speakers have indicated, lead, very, very productive lives in our society, who are leaders in this Nation among all professions, and who are leaders in the world. In my home state of Illinois, many of our African American students attend HBCUs. There are 23 States along with the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands which are home to HBCUs. While these institutions are places where African Americans can flourish and people prepare for the challenges of the global village. There is an important problem which impacts the quality of their students and their professors, and that problem is finances, it is money. In the last decade, the Federal Government has increased its support of HBCUs, and although the House appropriators led by the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) and others have worked hard to ensure that HBCUs have ready access to Federal dollars through the HBCU capital financing program, more work still needs to be done. It is this commitment to excellence which has fueled this administration's, the Clinton administration, acknowledgment of the needs of the HBCUs. This commitment was exemplified on November 1, 1993, when President Bill Clinton signed an executive order 12876 in order, and I quote, ``to advance the developments of human potential, to strengthen the capacity of Historically Black Colleges and Universities to provide quality education, and to increase opportunities to participate in and benefit from Federal programs.'' I am proud that President Clinton has designated the week of September 17, 2000 as National Historic Black Colleges and Universities week. The administration, the Democratic leadership, the Congressional Black Caucus and the House Democratic Caucus have led in promoting awareness of the merits of these education institutions. It is with this leadership that this subject is discussed on the Floor today, and that our Nation is aware of the tremendous benefits and the success of attending HBCUs. Mr. Speaker, I just want to say, on a personal note say that both the previous speakers before me mentioned Albany State University, Albany State University was the first college that I ever laid eyes on. As a young man, my mother attended Albany State University. I am a product of Albany, Georgia, and I cannot ever forget the awe and the delight and the sense of curiosity as a young man who was in kindergarten, going to a school right across the street from Albany State University, and to be excited about my first day in school, to look across the street, to be in the shadow of Albany State University, indeed imprinted on my mind that education was indeed the one thing that meant the most to me as a young man. As I grew into adulthood, education certainly became the hallmark of my activities. I want to thank, again, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer). I want to thank all of those who had a vision to create Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and I want to thank my mom for introducing me to education and to instill in me the yearning, the need, the desire to make sure that I received all that this Nation can provide in terms of college and higher education and higher learning.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fattah) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. McHugh) for their efforts in bringing this legislation to the floor today. I also owe a great deal of gratitude to the entire Illinois delegation for their cosponsorship of this worthy piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise in support of H.R. 3909, a bill that I introduced in March, which designates the United States Post Office located at 4601 South Cottage Grove in my district, the first district of Illinois, as the ``Henry W. McGee Post Office Building''. H.R. 3909 pays fitting tribute to Henry W. McGee, the first black postmaster of Chicago, who gave 44 years of outstanding service to the United States Postal Service. Mr. McGee who died on March 18, just days after I introduced this bill, began his career in 1929 as a temporary substitute letter carrier. But Mr. McGee determined that his position would not just be temporary and that he would not remain a substitute employee. When he retired from the United States Postal Service in 1973, Mr. McGee was the general manager of the eight metropolitan districts of Chicago. Under his leadership, Chicago obtained a reputation among the best managed Post Offices in the Nation. With Mr. McGee at the helm, the Chicago Postal Service was able to improve its delivery and its delivery rates and its delivery effectiveness in meeting the needs of its consumers. While working hard to achieve his career goals, Mr. McGee continued to pursue his education, earning his bachelor of science degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1949. In 1961, Mr. McGee received a master's degree in public administration from the University of Chicago, while currently being promoted to personnel manager for the Chicago region of the Post Office department, which encompassed both the State of Illinois and also the State of Michigan. Five years later, Mr. McGee became the first black postmaster of Chicago appointed by President Lyndon Baines Johnson. But the accomplishments of Mr. McGee do not end there. While working hard to promote his career and to gain an education, Mr. McGee found time to get involved in the community and take on issues greater than himself. In 1939, Mr. McGee coordinated the arrangements for the annual convention of the National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees. He had joined the group 2 years earlier, but he immediately began taking on a leadership role. In 1945, Mr. McGee became president of the Chicago branch of the National Alliance. In 1946, he was selected to serve as president and acting executive director of the Chicago chapter of the NAACP. While there, he dedicated himself to the causes of ending segregation and fighting for equal justice. In addition to the NAACP, he became one of the charter members of the Joint Negro Appeal, a self-help organization. As president, Mr. McGee served diligently for more than 17 years and raised many thousands of dollars to help neighborhood groups. This legacy that Henry W. McGee leaves is both inspirational and impressive. I believe that this legislation is a fitting tribute to Henry W. McGee, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3909.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 4680 and to say that today we have seen a clear example of legislating at its worst. The Republican leadership of this House has denied the Democrats the opportunity to offer a meaningful prescription drug plan which would guarantee our senior citizens access to this important benefit under Medicare. The Republican leadership has issued a ``gag order'' rule, which prevents the Democratic members of this institution from offering a clear alternative to the legislation which they are calling Medicare Prescription Medicine. I say, the bill before us is not that: it is less than that. Last year, I visited with a number of Senior Citizens centers in the First Congressional District in Illinois. Secretary Donna Shalala was gracious enough to join me in August in a visit to the senior citizens residence at Montgomery Place. At every opportunity, the seniors in my district asked me--Is Congress going to do something about Medicare, and especially about prescription drugs? It was abundantly clear from these questions that the senior citizens in Chicago's First District--many of whom are living on income below the poverty line--that this is an issue of critical importance, to be dealt with seriously by this institution. Seriously and deliberately: not through political gamesmanship. Last year, we were told that the prescription drug issue would have to wait until the Republican-initiated tax cut was resolved. And we waited. And the senior citizens in our Congressional districts waited. Last week, when President Clinton proposed an end to the waiting and offered a sound and financially responsible entitlement program to provide senior citizens with the prescription drug benefits that they need and want, the Republican leadership in the House said ``No.'' They said we will consider a minimal proposal that does not even guarantee a prescription drug benefit to Medicare recipients. Mr. Speaker, I will say again what I said last fall: that the Republican majority must give up this ill-conceived plan and give us the opportunity to consider a real legislative proposal which will give our senior citizens the prescription drug benefits that they need--and want.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. I yield to the gentleman from Kentucky.

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent for 1 additional minute.

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw the amendment.

Mr. RUSH. Well, since it is authorized, Mr. Chairman, would the gentleman change his determination?

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I am introducing this amendment to the Commerce, Justice, State and the Judiciary appropriations bill to authorize $15 million for the PRIME Act. The PRIME Act was signed into law as part of the Financial Services Act in November of 1999, but yet has not received any funding. Funding for the PRIME Act will provide the SBA the opportunity to establish a microenterprise technical assistance and capacity-building grant program. Mr. Chairman, in our communities all across this country, there are small entrepreneurs with great ideas and aspirations toward furthering the business objectives to strengthen our commerce, but there are more than a few problems which they face. These entrepreneurs are usually unable to secure adequate funding, cannot market themselves to potential clients, are not educated with the business venture, and need the ability to lead their own lives. The PRIME Act will provide assistance in the form of grants to qualified organizations. Qualified organizations are microenterprises that are very small businesses, that typically have fewer than 10 employees, and generally lack access to conventional loans, equity or other banking services. A qualified organization will be able to use these grants to provide training and technical assistance to disadvantaged entrepreneurs, provide training and capacity-building services to microenterprise development organizations and to aid in researching and developing the best practices in the field of microenterprise and technicals assistance programs. Mr. Chairman, the PRIME Act is necessary to help people start and maintain businesses, contribute to their own individual self-reliance, and to strengthen our commerce. If there was ever a real solution to encourage people to work hard to control their own destiny, then certainly PRIME is the answer. Mr. Chairman, I would like to engage in a colloquy with the chairman of the subcommittee, if at all possible. Mr. Chairman, I am strongly in favor of this particular amendment. As the gentleman knows, this amendment passed out of the Committee on Banking and Financial Services with unanimous support, bipartisan support. It passed the House in the conference committee overwhelmingly, but yet the subcommittee has not funded it. I would ask the chairman, if he would be so kind, to work in the conference committee, if this bill passes this House, to try to secure funding for the PRIME Act. Again, it has been endorsed and supported by the chairman of the Committee on Banking and Financial Services, and it has strong bipartisan support. With that in mind, Mr. Chairman, I would entertain a motion to withdraw this amendment if we could reach an understanding of some kind and if we can have some kind of consideration from the chairman.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Chairman, today I am offering an amendment to supplement the Weed and Seed Program with an additional $8.5 million. The Weed and Seed Program does exactly what its name indicates: it weeds out violent crimes from areas where violent crime is rampant. The program also plants the seeds of crime intervention and prevention. The Weed and Seed Program is foremost a strategy, rather than a grant program, which aims to prevent control and reduce violent crime, drug abuse and gang activity in targeted high-crime neighborhoods across the country. Weed and Seed sites range in size all the way from several neighborhood blocks to 15 square miles. The strategy involves a two-pronged approach. Law enforcement agencies and prosecutors cooperate in weeding out criminals who participate in violent crime and drug abuse, attempting to prevent their return to the targeted area. The seeding aspect of this brings human services to the area encompassing prevention, intervention, treatment and neighborhood revitalization. A community-oriented policing component bridges Weed and Seed strategies. Officers obtain helpful information from area residents for weeding efforts, while they aid residents in obtaining information about community revitalization and also seeding resources. In today's society, we often hear that people must take responsibility for their actions for their communities. The Weed and Seed Program is proof positive that communities are seeing to it that criminals take responsibility for their action. The program has also proved that people are willing to work with law enforcement agencies and officials on a local level to reduce violent crime in their communities. There might be those who argue that this amendment will take money away from the FBI's efforts to fight crime in this country. Nothing could be further from the truth. This amendment will supplement, support, and complement the FBI's effort. Therefore, no matter what side of the argument one is on, we are for the same thing, and that is safer communities. The Weed and Seed program is simply designed to supplement the efforts of the FBI by detecting and weeding out crimes on a community level. Mr. Chairman, it is interesting to note that the largest recommended increase in the DOJ's budget will go to the detention of prisoners. I am not against the detention of violent criminals, but instead of an almost $800 million increase for detention, why not allocate a measly $8.5 million for an increase in a program that is about crime prevention. The question is, and I ask, are we really serious about reducing crime, or are we simply interested in building more prisons, more warehouses? If we are truly interested in reducing crime, we must pay as much attention to preventing crime as we do to locking up prisoners. The Weed and Seed program is the perfect way to strike that balance. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this amendment.

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that my request for a recorded vote on Amendment No. 9 be vitiated.

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Community Oriented Policing Services program, or COPS. I am offering an amendment to increase the funding to the School Violence Initiative portion of that program by $5 million. The School Violence Initiative provides grants to agencies and schools for programs designed to prevent violence in schools. Under this initiative, community organizations and school officials work alongside police officers to prevent gang violence and drug activity in and around elementary schools. In the wake of the Columbine incident and in the wake of countless acts of school violence in this country, I know that all of my colleagues are eager to join in support of this amendment. There are millions of children in this country who go to school every day eager to learn and to simply be among their peers. How devastating that these children should have to fear for their lives while in a learning environment. Those children who go to school should not have to fear for their lives while they are in school. School should be sacrosanct. The Community Oriented Policing Services program is only part of a program that funds, hires, and rehires for police and at the same time pays for equipment. The School Violence Initiative is only a drop in the bucket of what we in the Congress should do to stem the rising tide of school violence. But, it is an important drop in that same bucket. Why do we in Congress cry out in anger and in sadness when there is a school shooting? Why do we wait until a story hits the evening news before we decide that we must do something about violence in schools? Why do we wait until another child dies before we do what we must do about violence in America's schools? Mr. Chairman, we must put the money behind the rhetoric and fund a program that gives our children a better chance at life. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this amendment.

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to speak out against murder. In the past few weeks, there has been a ground swell of support for Gary Graham, a man placed on death row in Texas at the age of 17. This case and others have drawn public attention to the death penalty in this country and especially in Texas where Governor Bush says that he is confident that each of the 134 people killed under his watch were guilty. But we must be mindful that confidence of one man or 1,000 men cannot right a wrong. In a case where a man will die because of suspect eye witness testimony, Governor Bush's confidence is not enough. In a case where already two witnesses who said the man was not the killer, Governor Bush's confidence is not a enough. In a case where those two witnesses were not even called to the stand by the defense to testify, Governor Bush's confidence is not enough. Mr. Speaker, in a case where the gun found at the arrest was not the gun used to kill the murder victim, Governor Bush's confidence is not enough. I urge Governor Bush to remember that simply saying that one is confident is not enough to right a wrong.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today a week after the Million Mom March to remind the Congress that even though the march is over, the cause is not. On the eve of the march, some argued that we were being rabble-rousers and troublemakers. They argued then and they still argue that we are too emotional in pulling for tough gun control legislation, common sense gun control legislation. The National Rifle Association argues that we need, and I quote, gun education and not gun legislation, end of quote. Well, as we all know, you cannot teach a child not to be a child. We all know that children often lash out in anger, without thinking, and they later wish that the things done and said can be taken back. But once a trigger is pulled, that bullet cannot be brought back. And those who, approximately 1 year after Columbine, still think that it is not their problem, I am here to tell you that once a bullet leaves the barrel of a gun, it does not care whether the child pulling it is rich, poor, black or white, they do not care where the child firing that gun is from, it does not care what sort of car that child's parents drive. A bullet does not care whether that child lives inside or outside of the Beltway, and a bullet does not care whether that child's mother or father is a bus driver, a lawyer or a Member of Congress. So to the millions of mothers from all across this country who either attended or supported the Million Mom March, continue to raise your voices in support of tough common sense gun laws. And to our critics who say that we are too emotional, I say yes, we are emotional over the gun control issue. The emotion we feel is sorrow over the senseless killing of our youth. And the emotion that I feel is frustration that we have not passed common sense gun legislation. The frustration that I feel is that we have not closed the gun show loophole, frustration that we have not required child safety locks for handguns, frustration that we have not banned the importation of large capacity ammunition magazines, and frustration that we have not encouraged the development of smart gun technology. In short, Mr. Speaker, I feel frustration and shame that we as a body have not heard the pleas of millions of mothers and fathers who want us to help stop the destruction of America's families.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia for all of her work on behalf of meaningful gun control legislation, and I want to thank her for allowing me the opportunity to come before this body to discuss gun control legislation and to discuss the Million Moms March. Today, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Million Moms March organizers for inviting me to share my thoughts on the need for gun control in this country at the Million Moms March on Mother's Day 2000 this upcoming Sunday. This is an issue which has been dear to me for quite some time. It is with great sorrow that I come to the floor to remember the more than 80,000 children who have fallen victim to gun violence since 1979, great sorrow that is followed with great conviction, great conviction that I rise to advocate for the 13 children who statistics say die today, died yesterday, and therein will die tomorrow from gun violence. Also on yesterday, the National Education Association held a press conference to draw attention in part to the fact that gun violence robs children of the opportunity to learn and to grow. And on the eve of the Million Mom March, we must remember that at its core the gun control issue is about opportunity. It is about the opportunity for our children to go to school and to learn without fearing for their lives. The gun control issue is about opportunity, the opportunity for our children to enjoy the wonderful innocence of youth. This is an opportunity that they all deserve. As adults, we make life choices which may be risky or may be dangerous. For example, millions of police officers and other public safety officers go to work each and every day and willingly put their lives on the line to protect and serve the public. But it is one thing for an adult to die in the course of performing a chosen duty. It is one thing for the parents, the family of that adult to have an element of uncertainty in their lives as their father, spouse, mother go off to perform a chosen duty. But it is another thing for a parent, for any parent, to fear for the life of a young child who goes off to school, a birthday party or even to the local grocery store. Too often, it is a common occurrence in our Nation for these parents, these siblings, these loved ones, to engage in moments of uncertainty as our young people go off to perform in routine matters, go off to do those normal things that children do, including going to school, going to a birthday party or just going to the local grocery store. These are the routine events of a young life which should never ever be threatening. So today, on the eve of the Million Moms March, I want every mother in my district in Chicago, every mother in Chicago, every mother across this Nation, to know that I for one stand firmly with them arm in arm, hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder. I am ready to do all that I can to bring this senseless violence to an end. The time has come. This time is now. The time has come for the Congress to listen finally to the impassioned voices of mothers and fathers from all across this Nation. It is high time that we do all that we can to give our children the most important opportunity of all, and that is the opportunity to lead a meaningful life, the opportunity to just live. Again, I want to thank the organizers of the Million Moms March, and I want to thank the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia for organizing this special order.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, today I commend and celebrate the accomplishments of Ms. Mable Maxine Wright of Los Angeles, California, before her untimely passing on May 3, 2000. Ms. Mable Maxine Wright is the mother of Timothy Wright who served on my staff in 1997 and 1998. Tim is a fine young man who has gone on to devote his energy to continued public service. His mother, Mable Maxine Wright was a strong lady, who dedicated her life to education and helping people from many different backgrounds and walks of life. Mable Maxine Wright was born on July 1, 1921 in Los Angeles, California. Mable was the third of four children born to Mattie Mitchell-Brown and Annias Brown. She attended Nevin Elementary, Lafayette Junior High and graduated from Jefferson High School. She married Timothy W. Wright, Jr. on September 14, 1947. Her family includes seven children, Kaaren Drake, Gregory Wright, Phyllis Williams, Timothy Wright III, Janis Bradley, Korliss Robinson and Melrose Rowe; two sisters, Janice Robinson and Dorthy DeHorney; two sons-in-law, Harold Williams and Alonzo Robinson; two daughters-in-law, Evelyn Wright and Dr. Karen Nash Wright; thirteen grandchildren, Felicia, Michael, Erika, Ryan, Larshay, Joseph, Brittany, Ashley, Kristin, Timothy IV, Kouri, Jasmine, and Kelsi; sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends. Ms. Mable Maxine Wright was the moral compass and center of leadership and determination for her family and community. She was committed to setting and meeting goals towards furthering her career, and helping many others who could benefit from her successes. Mable took college courses at East Los Angeles Jr. College where she received training and later became a Licensed Vocational Nurse. Mable worked at County General Hospital for nine years before moving on to Bowers Manufacturing Company where she retired as a Computer Supervisor. Mable accepted Christ as her personal Lord and Savior at an early age while attending Hew Hope Baptist Church. She joined Grant A.M.E. Church in 1965 and was a member of the Ladies Usher Board for several years. She was a relentless community builder. Through her life she has learned that living a good life while striving for continued blessings for her family matter and is necessary. Known as ``Precious'' to her grandchildren, she especially loved being with her family, and was honored with that desire through the beginning of the next phase which she serves God. My fellow colleagues please join me in honoring the memory of Ms. Mable Maxine Wright, a true beacon of our society.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, this evening I rise to pay special tribute to a publication of historic proportions in the city of Chicago. Five years into the last century, the Chicago Defender created for itself a permanent place in the history of American journalism by becoming Chicago's most influential African American newspaper. Without fail, since 1905, the Daily Defender has provided news and information regarding African Americans and the Black Diaspora. In doing so, this newspaper fills an important void in Chicago's media because it tells the stories that much too often are not covered by other mainstream publications. In the Defender's early years, its founder, Robert Sengstacke Abbott, realized several impressive achievements, including orchestrating the ``Great Migration'' campaign. This campaign brought about the mass exodus of African Americans from the racist South to the ``promised land'' of the north. The continued visionary leadership of Mr. Abbott's nephew, Robert Sengstacke, has led to Sengstacke Enterprises which includes, not only the Chicago Defender, but also the Michigan Chronicle in Detroit, the Pittsburgh Courier in Pittsburgh, and the Tri-State Defender in Memphis, Tennessee. The Defender family has become a responsive and generous corporate citizen over the many years. Their philanthropic arm, the Chicago Daily Defender Charities, has created, developed, and sponsored various community events, including the largest parade in the city of Chicago, the beloved Bud Billiken Parade. Each charitable effort has enriched the lives of our people, our city, and our Nation. The Defender has provided a medium for several talented award-winning African American journalists, including Dr. Metz T.P. Lochard, W.E. DeBois, Langston Hughes, and Vernon Jarrett. Their outstanding work provided the foundation for the journalistic standard that the newspaper continues to meet today. So on this day, I rise to congratulate the Chicago Defender on 95 years of consistent, vital, exemplary work. It is my hope and my express desire that the Defender will continue to publish into the next century and beyond.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I certainly want to applaud commend and thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski) for this special order. It is a very, very important special order and it is very timely. Mr. Speaker, requiring trains to blow horns at railroad crossings is not a bad idea, in theory. This small action may prevent accidents and it may prevent deaths at railroad crossings, but in practice the train whistle rule does not apply to my State of Illinois where railroad crossing accidents have decreased by 52 percent since 1989. Once enacted, the Railroad Administration rule requiring trains to sound their horns at all rail crossings will greatly reduce the quality of life for Illinois residents. We in Illinois have already succeeded in drastically reducing railroad crossing fatalities. In my district alone, nearly 200,000 residents will be affected by the whistle blowing rule and more than 66,000 of those residents, my residents, will be severely impacted. Of the approximately 2,000 crossings identified by the FRA, 899 are located in Illinois, putting my home State at a severe disadvantage when FRA finally enforces the whistle rule. Installing alternative safety measures that meet FRA requirements could cost Illinois an estimated $590 million, which will require right-away acquisitions and other infrastructure improvements in order to put these, quote, quiet zones, end quote, measures into place. In short, Mr. Speaker, to comply with the FRA rule, which is not needed in Illinois, our constituents must pay either with the loss of peace and quiet, sleep and rest, or with the loss of their tax dollars. Certainly we in Illinois want to save lives and we have saved lives. There is no question about this, but we must address this issue regionally. Illinois should be left to handle railroad crossing safety on its own. The numbers clearly show what we are doing is working. Why fix it? It is not broke.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, the issue of whether these low-power FM stations cause interference must be addressed. We sat in the committee, observed and listened to both the FCC and the broadcasters. We were privy to the debate, the unsettled debate about whether or not low-power stations actually cause interference. I am in support of a middle ground. I am in support of finding a middle ground, Mr. Chairman, so that we can move forward. The amendment, the Barrett-Rush amendment that we are offering today reaches a fair compromise. I think that it is fair, not only to the low-power radio, FM radio station advocates, but it is also fair to the broadcasting industry. It is fair to the American people, and it is fair to the Members of this body. It provides 6 months for the FCC to conduct its pilot study and 6 months for the Congress to create the study's results. Mr. Chairman, as the bill of the opponents of this amendment, the bill that they have crafted, if it goes forward, it does not give the FCC any opportunities to activate and to allow community organizations, hospitals, students across this Nation access to the airwaves. Unfortunately, Mr. Chairman, the way that the bill is drafted now, the FCC would have to conduct a study by February 1, 2001. That is just a mere months away. If the FCC study or report indicates that there is no interference, the FCC still would not be allowed to act unless Congress specifically authorizes new legislation. So what this bill in fact does, Mr. Chairman, this bill actually kills low-power radio stations in this Nation. Again, Mr. Chairman, the Barrett-Rush amendment is fair. I would like to just remind my colleagues that low-power radio stations enjoy broad support from the AFL-CIO, Communications Workers of America, the United States Catholic Conference, the United Church of Christ Office of Communications, the Consumers Union, the Minority Media Telecommunications Council, the National Federation of Community Broadcasters, the National League of Cities, and nationally known musicians, including Ellis Marcalis and Bonnie Raitt. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, Mr. Chairman, to vote for this fair and reasonable amendment.

Mr. RUSH. I thank the ranking member for yielding me this time. Mr. Chairman, I want to say that, first of all, that I have heard a lot of comments regarding the FCC and actions of the FCC, and I want to go on the record to inform everyone that I believe that the FCC has done a great service to the American people. I am an unmitigated supporter of the FCC, and I think that the FCC has done an outstanding job in terms of trying to ensure that all Americans have access to the airwaves of this Nation. Regarding the low power FM stations, Mr. Chairman, I just want to ensure that people understand that the American people and the Members of this Congress understand that the LPFM is a new noncommercial community-based radio service that will benefit local communities all across this Nation. It gives media access and broadcast voices to local churches, to schools, colleges, State and local governmental agencies, musicians, and nonprofit community organizations, those same organizations that have been excluded heretofore regarding having access to the air waves. LPFM adds to radio diversity and encourages alternatives to the commercial formats that currently dominate our radio. Mr. Chairman, as has been stated earlier, it is a fact that the top four radio groups own the majority of this Nation's radio stations, and according to the Congressional Research Service, between 1995 and 1998 the number of radio station owners decreased by 18.8 percent. Mr. Chairman, with the number of radio station owners decreasing and the consolidation of radio ownership growing, LPFM allows underrepresented groups and communities the opportunity to enter the radio broadcast market. Mr. Chairman, just 2 weeks ago Chairman Kennard visited my district, the Chairman of the FCC. We went to a high school, the Dunbar High School located in my district on the South Side of the city of Chicago. I just wish that Members of this body could have observed students who had never had the opportunity to participate in broadcast fields, the broadcast profession, who never had an opportunity to run a radio station nor a television station. These students were aggressively engaged in learning all that they could. What they asked us at that time, at that visit, they asked this body to give them an opportunity to really run a radio station, 100 watts, that would have a radius of 2 miles within that high school. That is all they are asking for, so they in fact can learn more about the broadcasting industry. Mr. Chairman, this bill I think does not address that concern, and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Barrett) and I will introduce an amendment to this bill in order to try to allow opportunities for unrepresented groups and citizens to engage in this process.

Mr. RUSH

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

Mr. RUSH. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I fully support this bill, and I believe that this bill is a good bill. I believe this bill could become a better bill if, in fact, my amendment was a part of the bill. I, too, represent a disadvantaged community on the South Side of the City of Chicago, and I know the problem that is caused by the scarcity of nurses in my hospitals and in my nursing homes and in other health care facilities. This amendment is meant to address this very, very serious problem that we are facing, not only in the City of Chicago, but all across this Nation. We need to give some incentives to nurses who are committed to working in disadvantaged communities. Mr. Chairman, I would just like to engage in a colloquy with the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lazio), the chairman of the subcommittee, and ask him if, in fact, this amendment does get voted down, would he please assure me and other Members of the House that he will work with the ranking member and myself to make sure that we try to work on this particular amendment. Today the House will be voting on a bill to increase homeownership among low- and moderate-income families, including teachers, police officers, firefighters. My amendment would simply add nurses to the pool of people who are able to benefit from the downpayment and closing costs abatement on homes. My amendment would allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to define the term nurse. It would also specify that under the bill, nurses would be required to live in the jurisdiction where the hospital, nursing home or other place of nursing employment is located. Many of today's nurses do not want to work in disadvantaged and underserved communities and this causes a critical shortage in these areas. Also, because of managed care cuts and the growing health needs of an aging population there is a shortage of skilled nurses in many of our communities. When hospitals cut nursing jobs, many leave the profession and fewer students pursue nursing degrees. Another factor contributing to fewer skilled nurses is the aging nursing population: the average age of all registered nurses nationally was 44 years in 1996. More than 62 percent of RNs are age 40 or older. In some communities starting salaries for nurses range from $14,000 to $20,000. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this amendment.