Ed Towns

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Zenobia White. Zenobia always knew that after high school she wanted to do something meaningful. After successfully completing four years at Beach Channel High School in Far Rockaway, New York with honors, she enlisted with the United States Army as an Army Supply Specialist and served four years in Germany. After leaving the Army, Zenobia worked for the New York City Corrections Department working in prison complexes across the city including Riker's Island, Brooklyn's Men's House of Detention and Kings County Hospital's prison ward. Zenobia White married James White and the couple had two children, Daryl and Jameha White. Ms. White continued to work for New York City with the Health and Hospital Corporation and the Metro Plus Health Plan. In this position she enrolled over two hundred families for the East New York D&TC. As a recognized community activist, she joined the community board of the East New York D&TC, where she remains active. Ms. White now works as a Medicare sales representative for the Emblem health plan, where working for senior citizens has become one of her greatest joys. Zenobia White holds the position of Vice President for Sister Sister In-law, a women's group which assists and mentors young women in their communities. Please join me, Madam Speaker, in recognizing Ms. White's proven record in service to her community.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Angeli R. Rasbury. Angeli Rasbury is a writer, educator, artist, attorney and founder of Griot Reading Programs, which is dedicated to promoting literacy among youth of African descent and Black literature. She teaches poetry and creative writing to children as young as five-years-old and teens at the Brooklyn-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation and New York Writers Coalition. She has facilitated book clubs for middle school and high school students and elders. The reading scores of every middle school student with whom she worked improved. Her writing students have received awards from teachers and city council members. She has been an instructor of creative nonfiction and memoir at the Frederick Douglass Creative Arts Center in New York City and has taught creative writing, college composition and African American literature at Molloy College in Long Island. Ms. Rasbury has worked with girls in a rites of passage program and works with girls involved in the juvenile-justice system. She has organized readings and book programs for children, including programs for the annual Rhymes, Rhythms and Rituals Festival sponsored by African Voices, and literary programs for the adults. She has worked with elders, collecting oral history for Elders Share the Arts. She has been a panelist in the grant review process for artists for the Brooklyn Arts Council. Ms. Rasbury is a member of the New Renaissance Writers Guild and has been a member of the Richard Wright Project and PEN American Center Open Book Committee. As the youth services community and partnerships associate at the central branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, Ms. Rasbury has provided family-oriented Kwanza and Martin Luther King Program, Jr. Day programs where the focus is the young people in our community. She has provided a monthly art program for two years and provided an opportunity for our youth to work with award-winning and emerging artists, providing arts enrichment for youth and supporting the artists. She has partnered with various community organizations to promote literacy and youth and community development. A former editor for Black Issues Book Review and QBR: The Black Book Review, other magazines, and community newspapers. Her essays, book reviews, profiles, features and interviews have been published in Essence, American Legacy, Black Enterprise, The Source, Vibe, and other magazines and online at womensenews.com, for which she is the girls' beat reporter and focuses on detention and incarceration topics. She received a PASS Award (the only national recognition of print and broadcast journalists, TV news and feature reporters, producers, and writers, and those in film and literature who try to focus America's attention on our criminal justice system, juvenile justice system, and child welfare systems in a thoughtful and considerate manner) from the National Council on Crime and Delinquency for her article ``Out of Jail, Mothers Struggle to Reclaim Children''. Ms. Rasbury's short stories have appeared in Anansi: Fiction of the African Diaspora. She has been quoted in the New York Times, Mosaic and Brooklyn Rail and co-edited Sacred Fire: The QBR 100 Essential Black Books. She was awarded the DorisJean Austin Fellowship for African American Fiction Writers by the Frederick Douglass Creative Arts Center and has been a panelist at writing and publishing conferences. She performed in Talkin' Brooklyn: A Story Circle Showcase of Elders Share the Arts and Diary of a Mad Black Feminist. Angeli Rasbury has been keynote speaker for the Yellow Rose Awards Program for New York University's College of Arts and Science and the Brooklyn Public Library's Friends and Volunteers luncheon. She holds a B.S. from Syracuse University and a J.D. from Temple University. She practiced criminal defense law as a senior attorney with the Legal Aid Society, Criminal Defense Division. She has taught high school students various areas of the law and civil rights issues through the Law Education and Assistance Program and the New York Civil Rights Coalition and was executive director of the Nkitu Center for Education and Culture. Her photography has been published and exhibited. In her spare time she designs jewelry and loves to travel. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. She spends a lot of time with her nieces and nephews, family and friends.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Betty J. Gibbs, a nurturing presence who has been working with the children of Brooklyn for 40 years. Ms. Betty J. Gibbs, lovingly known to her students as Ms. G and ``Granny'' to her ``grandbabies,'' has been an influential figure in the lives of so many people. Ms. Gibbs began her work with students in January of 1968 as a paraprofessional with the NYC Board of Education. She held this position until 1998. She provided general supervision and instruction to small groups of children from grades one through six in math and reading. In June of 1979, Ms. Gibbs became Site Supervisor for St. Christopher's Group Home. There, Ms. Gibbs was responsible for overseeing the home and the care of the girls that comprised the home, ensuring all the necessities and personal needs are met. She remained a positive inspiration in their lives until August of 1988. Ms. Betty Gibbs obtained a position as the After School Program Director for Junior High School 275. There, she managed all aspects of the program. She held that position from March 1987, until June of 1988. Throughout this time, Ms. Gibbs managed to go to school for herself obtaining an A.A.S, from New York Community College in 1973 and a B.A. of Education from Medgar Evers College in 1988. In 1981, Ms. Gibbs became the Site Supervisor for the Jackie Robinson Center for Physical Culture. For the following 12 years she directed the ten components that comprised the program, as well as developed a multitude of events to help unify the community surrounding the center. In June of 2003, Ms. Gibbs began working with the Soul Tigers Marching Band, Inc., as Assistant Band Director. There, she is like a second mother to the children. All the students love her and appreciate her nurturing presence in their lives. She has won a number of awards in her life including: Unsung Hero (1996), Diamond Award (1993), and awards from The Joint Board of Ushers (1983), the United Community Baptist Church (1982) and Junior Glee Choir St. Marks Church (1976).

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Nicole Bayley, a socially conscious bank manager that enjoys giving back to her community. Nicole Bayley is an Assistant Vice President/Branch Manager for Carver Federal Savings Bank, one of the largest African and Caribbean American run banks in the nation. Ms. Bayley is a highly intelligent banker and is responsible for multimillion dollar deposit generation and currently ranks second in the entire branch network for deposits (outside of the corporate headquarters). Before she took the position at Carver Federal Savings Bank, Nicole spent seven years each at HSBC Bank and Citibank NA respectively. Two of the largest and most recognized global financial leaders, Ms. Bayley used her time in these institutions to learn and eventually gained a wealth of knowledge about the retail banking sector. Ms. Bayley is an active member of the Fulton-Nostrand United Merchants Association (FNUMA) and holds a number of accolades and distinctions including recognition as a Business Visionary for her business and community leadership. She uses her role in the FNUMA to recognize individuals, business and organizations that help keep a clean, safe and vibrant Bedford- Stuyvesant Gateway Business District.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Lorna Khan. Lorna Khan was born in Guyana in South America. She had her elementary and secondary school training in Guyana and migrated to the United States to pursue college education in January of 1973. She attended Andrews University in Berrien Springs Michigan where she graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Biology and minor in Chemistry in June of 1977. After graduation she attended New York University in September of 1977 to study Public Health with a focus on nutrition and alcoholism as well as international health. During her two years at New York University, she traveled to the University of the West Indies in Jamaica, West Indies to study their health care system. During her time as a student she worked at Long Island College Hospital Alcoholism center and graduated with her Masters degree in June 1979. In December 1980, she joined the staff at the Brooklyn Jewish Hospital as data manager for the Oncology department. She supported the Oncologists and Hematologists in their investigative trials of experimental drugs in the hopes of finding a cure for cancer. In 1982 she applied for and was hired as a data coordinator for cancer research at the Montefiore Medical Center. The team of doctors, pharmacists, drug company representatives joined with researchers to look closely at experimental drugs and trying to find a cure for many cancers such as lung, ovarian, breast, cervical, lymphomas and leukemia to name a few. In October 1984 she joined the Department of Health as a Health Coordinator in Middle School 35 in Brooklyn. Her focus was on adolescent health issues in particular, pregnancy prevention, nutrition education, health referrals and management and suicide prevention. She received training in AIDS education and worked closely with teachers to promote healthy living by junior high school students. After feeling the need to make a greater impact on the education of the young, she began a career with the Department of Education in 1987 as an elementary school teacher at PS 250 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. After 2 years she accepted a call to return to middle school this time as a mathematics teacher at IS 33, Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. For the next 13 years she worked as a mathematics teacher, academic intervention teacher and staff developer. In 2002 she became the Assistant Principal for mathematics at MS 88 in Park Slope, Brooklyn. The school had just been identified as a SURR school (School Under Registration Review) for below performance literacy and mathematics. She worked with three other Assistant Principals to change the culture of the school and support high expectations for teaching and learning. In the fall of 2004 the school had improved students' performance in both literacy and mathematics and was removed from the SURR list. This was celebrated in a press release done by the Mayor and Chancellor at the school. In February of 2005 she was recruited to be the Principal for the Samuel C. Barnes Elementary School, PS 54. After being in middle school for most of her career, she was hesitant to take on the responsibility as Principal for an elementary school. However, with much prayer and thoughtfulness she accepted the challenge and has been working to bring change to her community. Her goal is to promote an environment where everyone is valued and respected. It has been a fulfilling time for her as a teacher and administrator and she will continue to do her best to support high levels of teaching and learning for students at this level.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Genisus Thompson. Genisus, a native of Greenville, North Carolina, has lived in the East New York community for the past 20 years. Married to the late Dwight Thompson, the love of her life is her son, Anthony. Genisus graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School, attended Kingsborough Community college and then proceeded to study Labor Law at Harry Van Arsdale Jr. Institute. As an East New York resident, she has devoted a great deal of her time to helping the community to be a better place to live. For example, Genisus has been a member of the 75th Precinct Community Council since 1980 where her efforts and devotion has been instrumental in uplifting her community. Genisus received an award from the 75th Precinct Community Council for outstanding service and dedication. She attended and graduated from the Citizens Police Academy in June of 2007. Genisus was employed at the Metropolitan Jewish Geriatric Center for 32 years as Chief Switchboard Operator, she was also a shop delegate for Local 1199, 114 division, and retired in June, 2006. In addition to these daily responsibilities, she is an active member of Liberty Baptist Church. Genisus's civic activism includes membership in the Milford Street Block Association and member of the North Brooklyn Democratic Party.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Pamela Tate- McMullen a Parent Coordinator in the Department of Education. Mrs. Pamela Tate-McMullen was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York where she presently resides with her husband, John and son Justin. Mrs. Tate-McMullen is a Parent Coordinator in the Department of Education, serving at Bedford Academy High School in Brooklyn, New York. Since the inception of the position of Parent Coordinator (2003), Pamela has served in various capacities working both with the founding leader of Bedford Academy, Mr. George Leonard, and too with the present leadership of Mr. Adofo Muhammad. Her duties include, but are not limited to: (1) increasing parent involvement in the school by working closely with school-wide, parent and community organizations, (2) convening regular parent meetings and events around topics of key concerns to parents and other stakeholders, and (3) maintaining ongoing contact with community organizations that are involved with providing services to the schools' educational program such as the Bedford Stuyvesant YMCA, media contacts and key members of the public who are also interested in the ongoing success of Bedford Academy High School. Mrs. Tate-McMullen and her family are proud members of Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, New York, where Pamela serves on the Hospitality Team. One of Pamela's favorite pastimes is singing with the renowned 50's group, the Bobbettes, where she has traveled both locally and internationally. A vibrant, creative member of the Bedford Academy/Bedford Stuyvesant YMCA team, Pamela has consistently contributed to a congenial relationship between Bedford Academy High School and the governing members and staff of the Bedford Stuyvesant YMCA.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Rose Carter, a strong upbeat presence in the Brooklyn community. Rose Carter is a cheerleader. She has strong family values and from an early age demonstrated a deep commitment to her community. Rose jump-started her community service at The Midwood Development Corporation, Brooklyn, New York, working as a youth coordinator. She took her job seriously and developed and implemented many multicultural programs. She also spearheaded workshops that highlighted self awareness, good citizenship, tolerance and volunteerism. While at Midwood, she expanded her learning by taking advantage of an opportunity to work as a merchant liaison. In this role, she utilized the relationships which she had cultivated to provide resources for an intergenerational art show; she created the show in an attempt to bridge the gap between the young and the elderly. Currently Rose Carter works at PS 260 Breuckelen School. There she is known for her hallway presence and commitment to motivating the school community. Rose Carter's everyday efforts are focused on rallying everyone she comes in contact with to have a good day. As the parent coordinator she is dedicated to improving the quality of life for the school population and their families. Rose Carter is very passionate about her work and gives beyond the required responsibilities of the job. During the Hurricane Katrina disaster, Rose Carter was instrumental in helping victims who relocated to New York and had children enrolled in the school. She facilitated a connection of a Moroccan couple that spoke very little English with a Pakistani group that spoke their native language. This is just one example of her dynamism and devotion. Rose seeks out civic minded people like herself and she inspires people of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds to seek and celebrate excellence. She is a mother, motivator and a consummate optimist.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Maxine Hamilton-Alexander. Maxine Hamilton-Alexander ``Maxx'' is a creative mind that knows ``don't worry about a thing, because every little thing is going to be alright''. This philosophy is helping to fulfill her dream. She operates an Events Planning & Management Company, Blue Mango LLC, along with spearheading Hamptonians New York (HNY) a nonprofit organization. With the drive, passion to excel and energy that buoys all who interact with her, Maxx is applying her skills and heart, determined to wear her glass slippers. Besides a proverbial ``heart'' Maxx brings enthusiasm and the attention to detail it takes to execute exciting and seamless events. She possesses highly developed networking and negotiating skills that are helping her solidify relationships. She stresses that her strength and aspirations are encouraged and accentuated by her children. ``They keep me informed, thinking, responsible, engaged, mindful and youthfully fashionable''. Maxx also says her most beguiling moments are watching the young ones grow, testing, exploring, maturing. For over fifteen years Mrs. Hamilton-Alexander has dedicated time and expended personal funds working to enrich the lives of young people. In 2002, urged by her colleagues she incorporated HNY and in 2003 ``Gifts from My Heart'' was established to bring cheer into the lives of children who need to know someone cares. 2005 Brooklyn came alive with more sounds and rhythms of the Caribbean when her and her team launched the Brooklyn Caribbean Youth Fest. Mrs. Hamilton-Alexander has spent many hours during the last five years enlisting civic-minded people, seeking advice and building a cohesive committee, while growing Brooklyn Caribbean Youth Fest into an impressive example of artistic excellence. Performances at the festival highlight in celebration, the diverse Culture of Caribbean-Americans. The many cultures of the Caribbean region are saluted with folk songs, dances and poetry. This is a no-nonsense event that boasts performers trekking from as far away as Trenton, New Jersey to strut their stuff. To date, HNY has served over 5,000 NYC youth through programs and events. Additionally, Mrs. Alexander-Hamilton is a volunteer at PS 260, Prospect Park Youth Council and serves on Brooklyn College World AIDS committee. She also makes direct donations that supplement tuition for students at the Hampton School, Jamaica, West Indies, through an annual Merit Award. Maxx diligently beats the bushes and finds resources necessary to implement her programs which help to nurture young minds. Maxx's dedication to youth and her natural bent for perfection continuously reinforces her reputation as a woman who is unarguably committed to serving the youth. She received her education from Brooklyn College here in the USA as well as the Jamaica School of Arts, Jamaica. She is happily married to her husband Andrew Alexander with whom she has three lovely daughters Ebony, Amber and Ayana.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Mrs. Ophelia Young Perry pillar of the Brooklyn Community. Mrs. Ophelia Young Perry is a native of Buckingham County, Virginia. She presently resides with her husband, Mr. William Frank Perry, Jr. in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York. The Perry's have one son, Rev. William Franc Perry, III, Esq. She has been an active member of the Berean Missionary Baptist Church in Brooklyn for over 56 years. Mrs. Perry is genuinely involved in community and civic affairs. She is the President of Church Women United in Brooklyn. Church Women United (CWU) is the world's largest ecumenical movement of Christian women. Under Mrs. Perry's leadership, the movement's membership has increased to include over 700 Christian women. It is the largest unit of CWU in the country. In response to shrewd spiritual insight, Mrs. Perry conceived the idea for an observance centered around the ``Seven Last Words of Christ.'' For the past 25 years ecumenical worship begins at 7:00 A.M. on Good Friday and the attendance continues to grow. These services have been held in various community churches and have continued to draw over 4000 worshipers. Participants travel throughout the metropolitan area and from many other parts of the United States to attend this annual worship celebration. Additionally, she organized the initial Annual Award's Luncheon for the organization and continues to provide her expertise in this worthy cause today. Under Mrs. Perry's leadership, the Brooklyn Unit of CWU sponsors many other activities to raise funds to make contributions to others in need, including: Holiday sharing, contributions to World Church Services, Rose F. Kennedy Residence for Girls, Project Teen Aid, Herbert G. Birch Services, Antigua/Barbuda Cultural Society, Inc, Fund for Burned Churches, Bedford-Stuyvesant Volunteer Ambulatory Service, Hurricane Floyd Victims in North Carolina and they provide aid to orphaned foreign sisters living in the U.S. She is also affiliated with Berean Missionary Baptist Church, The Women's Civic League of Abyssinian Baptist Church, the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus, the Eastern Baptist Association, Spouses of the Black Congressional Caucus and is a member of the National Council of Negro Women of Brooklyn. She has won numerous awards for her work including: Women of the Year Award--The National Conference of Christians and Jews, Salute to Brooklyn Women Leadership Humanitarian Award--The Brooklyn League, The Woman's History Month Honoree--Brooklyn District Attorney, The Caribbean American Award--Chamber of Commerce, Outstanding Service Award--The Council of Churches, City of N.Y., Woman of Influence Award--Brooklyn YWCA, Thomas R. Fortune Community Service Award--Unity Democratic Club, Valiant Woman Award--Church Women United, Sandy F. Ray Award--Religious and Humanitarian Award--Cornerstone Baptist Church, Religious Award--People's Institutional AME Church, Religious Award-- New Life Tabernacle Life Changing Ministries, Congressional Record United States House of Representatives, Woman of the Year for Community Service--Bridge Street AME Church, ``Brooklyn Women of Essence'' Con Edison and, finally, National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women, Global Ministries Humanitarian Award and International Affairs Division. After working for 18 years for Borough President Howard Golden as Liaison to the Christian Community, Borough President, Marty Markowitz appointed her as Good Will Ambassador for Brooklyn Churches.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Tracye Rawls-Martin, proud daughter of Henry Sr. and Shirley M. Rawls, wife of Arnold V ``Woody'' Martin, stepmother to Britt'ney D. Clarence and ``Nana T'' to Woody's oldest daughters' son, Charles Lovell 3rd. Tracye Rawls-Martin, MS ATC is a Certified Athletic Trainer and one of 5 African American Athletic Training Education Program Directors in the United States. She is ``mother'', advisor and professor to more than 16 Athletic Training Students within the BS/MS Degree Program in Athletic Training & Sports Sciences at Long Island University Brooklyn Campus. She began her academic career as a Dance Education major and progressed to a Pre-Physical Therapy major and fell in love with an Athletic Training major. After completing two semesters in the Pre- Physical Therapy program at Kingsborough Community College, she decided it was time to move on to a more exciting and productive field--the field of Athletic Training and Sports Sciences. The field of Athletic Trainers was made for her because it is designed for Health Care Professionals who specialize in prevention, assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries and illnesses that occur to athletes and the physically active. All Certified Athletic Trainers must have at least a bachelor's degree in athletic training, which is an allied health profession, must pass a comprehensive exam before earning the ATC credential, must keep knowledge and skills current by participating in continuing education and must adhere to standards of professional practice set by a national certifying agency. The combination of dance education & athletic performance was a winning combination for her personality because she loves helping people, teaching, watching and participating in sports. In addition to nurturing her students through academic requirements for the program, she has had the honor and privilege of working with over 1000 athletes worldwide; high school, junior college, division one collegiate athletes, semi professional and professional. Her current responsibilities as Director of Athletic Training Education Programs at Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus include teaching (18 credit hours teaching a variety of sports medicine topics which include risk management, injury prevention, orthopedic examination & diagnosis, medical conditions and disabilities, acute care of injuries and illnesses, therapeutic modalities, conditioning, rehabilitation exercise and pharmacology, psychosocial intervention and referral, nutritional aspect of injuries and illnesses and health care administration), administrative (direct and administer BS/MS Degree Program and Advanced Master's Degree program in Athletic Training and Sports Sciences, maintain guidelines and standards set forth by the accrediting agency, work with the Clinical Coordinator to establish and maintain affiliations, conduct and publish research/scholarly activities in areas of expertise, advise students, develop and implement internal/external marketing strategies for the Athletic Training Education Programs, assist in the recruitment of faculty, continue to encourage good citizenship and professional conduct among all students and faculty so as to promote the best interest of athletic trainers, maintain continuing education credits, participate/coordinate and conduct committees within the Division, School of health Professions, the University and the Brooklyn Committee), service (active member with the local, regional and national athletic training organizations, Athletic Training Students Club/Members and Faculty noted on national website, Instructor for American Heart Association, Book reviewer for Lippincott Williams and Wilkin publishing company, participant in several health events for children, i.e. TEAM L.I.U- Teenagers Educated About Asthma Management). In addition, Tracye Rawls-Martin is an entrepreneur and a top executive for one of the world's largest direct selling telecommunications providers. On a part time basis she has reached the first earned executive position in the company. She is well on her way to helping hundreds and thousands of individuals achieve financial freedom and continue to live our their life long dreams whether it be to have more time with their families or to explore the beaches of the world. Tracye will continue to pursue her passions and would like to contribute her success to the Lord, her family and her students. She will not rest until she has fulfilled her life's long mission--to take care of children of all ages, to feed them, clothe them, teach them and love them; in the end to develop a place they can call home and a place they can always return to a ``University for Children.''

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. I would like to thank the gentleman from Missouri for yielding me 3 minutes. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1323, the Reducing Information Control Designations Act, introduced by Representative Driehaus, is an important piece of legislation that will improve public access to unclassified information. I am pleased to be a cosponsor of this bill. This week has been designated as Sunshine Week, and this bill will help bring more sunshine to the Federal Government. Our democracy requires that citizens be able to access information about how their government is working and how it is spending their tax dollars. This bill is the latest step that the Oversight Committee has taken to advance that goal. In January we passed bills to open up presidential records and information on presidential libraries. The stimulus package requires that all spending information be posted online at recovery.gov, and we are holding a hearing on Thursday to examine how the transparency provisions of the stimulus bill are being implemented. And we are moving forward to obtain information from all Wall Street banks that receive bailout money, including AIG, on how they are spending that money, especially the bonuses. What these Wall Street firms need to understand is that if they are being supported by the taxpayers, which they are, sunshine applies to them also, and we will make that happen. I would like to thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Driehaus) for taking the lead on this bill and the Chair of the Information Policy Subcommittee, Mr. Clay, for all his work on bringing sunshine to the government. I also want to thank the ranking member, Mr. Issa, for working together with us on these sunshine bills. President Obama has indicated repeatedly that we need more transparency in our government. In almost every speech, he has indicated that. I agree with that goal. And this bill is an important step towards it. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. And, of course, on that note I would like to just commend the gentleman from Missouri and, of course, the gentleman from California for their outstanding work.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to in recognition of Albert Brandel. Albert F. Brandel of Melville, New York, was elected president of The International Association of Lions Clubs at the association's 91st International Convention, held in Bangkok, Thailand, June 23-27, 2008. Mr. Brandel is a retired police detective. For many years he investigated child abuse and neglect, juvenile delinquency, domestic violence involving children and missing children. Mr. Brandel was a member of the West Hempstead Lions Club since 1975 and an associate member of the Melville Lions Club, International President Brandel has held many offices in the association, including club president, district governor and international director. He has also served as a presenter and panelist at USA/Canada Lions Leadership Forums. He worked with the Long Island Lions Eye Bank as a transporter and has been the Lions Representative to UNICEF in New York for 10 years. Mr. Brandel also helped coordinate Lions relief effects at the World Trade Center following September 11, 2001. In recognition of Albert Brandel's contributions, he has received numerous awards, including the 100% Club President Award, the 100% District Governor Award, 15 International President's Awards and the Ambassador of Good Will Award, the highest award the association grants to its members. He is also a Progression Melvin Jones Fellow. In addition to his Lions activities, Mr. Brandel has served as a Little League volunteer and a Eucharistic minister. He is a former member of the board of directors of the United Nations Association of the USA.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Clinton Miller who is a pastor at Brown Memorial Baptist Church in the historic Clinton Hill section of Brooklyn. Clinton Miller was born in Brooklyn, New York. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Southern Connecticut State University. Rev. Miller first felt the divine calling of the gospel ministry at the age of 19 but did not actively pursue the vocation of ministry until he was a seminarian at Yale University. Upon graduation from divinity school in 1994, Rev. Miller continued training for the ministry as an intern minister at Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem under the guidance of Rev. Calvin O. Butts. Rev. Miller also was also a teacher in the New York City Public School system for four years before entering full time ministry. Rev. Miller then became the youth minister for Abyssinian Baptist Church. In this capacity Rev. Miller developed several youth programs which have assisted the overall ministry of Abyssinian. His experiences with Dr. Butts have adequately prepared him for the full time pastorate in an urban locale. In October of 2000, Rev. Miller was called to pastor Brown Memorial Baptist Church. Since assuming the pastorate at Brown, Rev. Miller has applied the functions of traditional ministry to this community of believers. Through preaching, teaching bible study, counseling and visitation, he has set a tone that will allow Brown Memorial's vision to be realized. He is interested in pursuing causes that closely affect the community like the need for more affordable housing, better youth services and a living wage for all working New Yorkers. Currently Brown Memorial plans on launching new educational programs, a summer day camp and a long awaited banquet facility in the newly built church annex. Rev. Miller has begun a $7M renovation of Brown Memorial Baptist Church's edifice, a landmarked building. It is Pastor Miller's vision to stabilize the ministry of Brown Memorial by demonstrating consistent Christian service, strong financial administration and sound preaching. Rev. Miller combines community service with personal faith in his ministry to help bring people closer in their relationship with God. The mission of his ministry at Brown Memorial is to introduce the Salvation of Jesus Christ to individuals through dynamic worship, relevant Christian education, responsible stewardship, inclusive fellowship and impacting evangelism. He was ordained by the American Baptist Churches and the United Missionary Baptist Association of Greater New York. Rev. Miller is awaiting and pursuing the opportunity to achieve a doctorate degree in Ethics. He attempts to build his ministry around Christian concepts of fairness, justice and the development of genuine Christian community.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the ``Increased Student Achievement through Increased Student Support Act,'' which Congresswoman Linda Sanchez, Congressman Polis and I proudly reintroduced today. This bill will increase the number and availability of school counselors, school social workers, and school psychologists in qualified urban and rural low-income districts. More and more we are finding that schools in underserved communities suffer disproportionately from a lack of support services, with many schools sharing only one social worker, school psychologist, or school counselor with neighboring schools. With this poor ratio of personnel to students, it is difficult to effectively and adequately address the needs of students, leaving the important job of monitoring the child's emotional and mental wellbeing to the teacher. When teachers are left to address these issues on their own, they have less time to deliver quality instruction and raise student achievement. It is not surprising then, that low-income schools experience high teacher turnover and frequent complaints of inadequate support. In fact, in our urban, public schools in 2003-04, 30.2 percent of teachers reported student acts of disrespect for teachers on at least a weekly basis and 18.5 percent reported student verbal abuse of teachers on at least a weekly basis. To address these social and behavior issues, students require the attention of school counselors, school social workers and school psychologists. For these reasons, along with Congresswoman Linda Sanchez and Congressman Jared Polis, I am reintroducing the Increased Student Achievement through Increased Student Support Act. This legislation will create funding to form partnerships between higher education institutions that train school counselors, school social workers and school psychologists and qualified low-income schools, placing these student support professionals where they are needed most. I urge my colleagues to support the ``Increased Student Achievement through Increased Student Support Act'' to ensure quality education for our children nationwide.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to a growing concern facing a U.S. friend and ally in oil-rich Central Asia, Kazakhstan. In light of the heightened concern over the global oil supply shortage, we want to give special recognition to the critical role that Kazakhstan plays as a major world-wide supplier, and therefore we urge in particular that the Government of Kazakhstan step up to the demands. In so doing, Kazakhstan leaders should be very cognizant of the need to comply with the rule and sanctity of its contracts and do its best to ensure proper appropriation of profits to its citizens. Recently, Transparency International ranked Kazakhstan 150 on its Corruption Perceptions Index, with the worst country ranked 179. This puts Kazakhstan only slightly ahead of Hugo Chavez's Venezuela. The costs of corruption are exceedingly high--both for the Kazakh people, international investors and consumers--and will surely lead to the corrosion of that society. In recent years, Kazakhstan's economy has grown tremendously because of its large oil deposits, and the political elite have been successful in virtually monopolizing the benefits of this boom. But, regrettably, Kazakhstan has become a centralistic and authoritarian state under the 27 year rule of President Nursultan Nazarbayev with little leverage for the development and activity of civil society. Kazakhstan's governmental system lacks the basic features of democracy; elections are neither free nor fair, there are few independent media outlets and what political opposition exists is manipulated, harassed, physically attacked or even killed. There is massive corruption on a grand scale in this environment of intra-elite allocation of benefits connected to oil production. Corruption in Kazakhstan is systemic, even within the country's anti-corruption agency, and no public office is free from executive interference. Long wait times, unwieldy bureaucracy, weak business law, short deadlines, employee discontent and the absence of explanatory information all breed corruption. Foreign firms have frequently reported harassment by the Financial Police in the form of unannounced inspections and intimidation. Forbes Asia Magazine reported that AES Corporation, an American company and one of the largest power companies in the world faced this type of harassment in June 2005. The Forbes article titled ``Thug Capitalism,'' reported that AES was subjected to Financial Police raids and was forced to pay up to $200 million in fines before they decided they had enough and withdrew from Kazakhstan. Exxon Mobil, which is also in the consortium with ConocoPhillips, Eni, Total and Royal Dutch Shell experienced similar problems with the Kashagan project. The Kazakh government has repeatedly used delays and cost overruns to renegotiate its original terms with the consortium, using negotiating tactics similar to those perfected by Russia to extract concessions from foreign energy investors. Both the international investor community and the Kazakh people have every reason to be concerned over the Kazakh government's increasingly heavy-handed intrusion into business activity, especially in the energy sector. According to a recent report by ABC News: ``The U.S. Department of Justice prosecutors have long alleged in court documents filed in a case against a U.S. businessman that President Nazarbayev and his deputies accepted nearly $80 million in kickback from foreign companies in exchange for access to Kazakhstan's vast oilfields.'' And perhaps the largest concern of all is the precedent set when this, or any, government is rampant with corrupt practices. Nations and lives become unglued. Take for instance the assassination attempt on the former head of Kazakhstan's National Security Service in Vienna. According to Radio Ekho Moskvy, Alnur Musayev and his companion were both wounded; and simultaneously, that the ex-ambassador of Kazakhstan in Austria who is also the former son-in-law of the Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Rikhat Aliyev, was targeted but escaped. These events were officially confirmed by the spokesman of the Austrian Office of Public Prosecutor, Gerhard Jarosh. Exiled citizens must not become targets of their home country. They must be free to live their lives and express themselves without threat of life or limb. Such is a fundamental right and expectation of all democracies and free nations. Furthermore, the ex-Chairman of the National Security Committee of Kazakhstan was sentenced in absentia to 20 years of imprisonment. Rakhat Aliyev was also sentenced in absentia to 40 years in prison on multiple charges. However, when the Austrian Government investigated Kazakhstan's allegations of money laundering and corruption against Rakhat Aliyev, they found no evidence to substantiate such allegations, and thus have refused to extradite Mr. Aliyev for fear that he will never receive anything resembling a fair trial. Such activities are all too reminiscent of a pattern of violence and corruption we have long seen in Russia, and nothing can be more destabilizing both internally and externally. Moreover, these are not the qualities that we expect of the incoming Chair of the OSCE. Kazakhstan has made several promises to implement reforms that respect political freedoms and human rights. To date these reforms have not been implemented and on issues such as religious freedoms and freedom of the press, it is arguable that Kazakhstan is becoming more restrictive and less tolerant. The United States has sought a mutually beneficial relationship with Kazakhstan and provides aid to Kazakhstan in order to enhance economic growth, democracy, security, civil society and attend to humanitarian needs. However, it is evident that the current U.S.-Kazakhstan relationship is compromised by Kazakhstan's record of human rights violations and lack of immediate and necessary reforms before ascending to the OSCE Chairmanship. The U.S. Department of State has criticized President Nursultan Nazarbayev's government for human rights violations. A report from March 2008 faulted the government for practices including ``arbitrary arrest and detention'', ``restrictions on freedom of speech, the press, assembly, and association'', ``lack of an independent judiciary'', ``severe limits on citizens' rights to change their government,'' and more, including abuse of detainees and prisoners. As an influential OSCE member and global leader, the U.S. must now more than ever, begin to raise questions regarding Kazakhstan's human rights record and about allegations that Kazakhstan has attempted to kidnap and injure its dissidents. Kidnapping and bodily harm have no place among nation states and Kazakhstan should be made to answer for any and all violations before it assumes the Chairmanship.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of Louvinia G. Pointer. Ms. Pointer, a 92-year-old Brooklyn resident, was a musicologist and celebrated arts educator. Born in Holly Hill, South Carolina in 1926, Mrs. Pointer and her family migrated to Harlem in 1926 in search of progressive opportunities for African Americans in the North. Trained as a pianist from a young age, organist and lyric soprano, Louvinia White was prompted by friends to audition for Apollo Theater's Amateur Night competition at age 18. With a recommendation from Countee Cullen, Louvinia was accepted to New York University (NYU) in 1935, where she studied music education and later enrolled in the Music Masters program. In 1939, a member of Louvinia's church informed her that renowned British playwright Noel Coward sought three African American women to open his new production scheduled to open on Broadway. Louvinia and two singing partners auditioned for Coward singing ``Lift Thine Eyes'' from Felix Mendelssohn's Elijah. Returning home from classes at NYU one evening she found a telegram in her mailbox from Mr. Coward asking her to report to the theater, When she arrived, Coward approached her with hands outstretched and thanked her for coming, exclaiming that he needed her voice in his show, Set to Music, starring Beatrice Lillie. Soon thereafter, Coward composed an obbligato for Louvinia to open the production. In 1943, Louvinia became a choral director in the National Youth Administration (NYA) Radio Workshop, a unit of President Roosevelt's Works Progress Administration. Louvinia directed one of the two NYA Radio Choirs, which performed weekly concerts on WNYC-FM until the conclusion of the program in 1943. Through the success of her choir, Louvinia married World War II veteran William Davis Pointer Sr. (1918- 2001) and the two birthed three children, Olive Elise Pointer (1950), William Davis Pointer Jr. (1952), and internationally acclaimed, Grammy nominated jazz violinist and political activist Noel Whitaker Pointer (1954-1994). Louvinia's final Broadway role was in the 1951 revival of Marc Connely's 1936 film classic The Green Pastures, a musical setting of the Biblical ``Creation''. Louvinia then commenced her tenure as a music educator in the New York City public school system in 1958. She educated thousands of youth at Girls High School, Tilden High School, P.S. 21 and Lefferts Junior High School. In 1987, Louvinia founded the Great Day Chorale, a 50-member a capella singing ensemble. Under Louvinia's leadership the four-part ensemble performed nationally and internationally in New Orleans and Barbados. Louvinia is survived by daughter Olive Pointer Harney, son, Rev. William D. Pointer Jr., Associate Pastor of Christian Cultural Center Brooklyn, N.Y., daughter-in-laws Elder Lillie Pointer of Long Island, NY and Chinita Pointer of Orange, N.J., fourteen grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Leo V. Stimmler, who after 34 years of service to the NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation has decided to retire. A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mr. Stimmler graduated from Fordham University's School of Social Work. Shortly thereafter he joined the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation. Hired by Earl Deane, chief psychiatric social worker at the Kings County Hospital's Bedford-Stuyvesant Addiction Treatment Center, Mr. Stimmler began a long career working with those dealing with addiction. In 1976, Mr. Stimmler was promoted to social work supervisor and, eventually, the head of the social work department. In 1985, Mr. Stimmler was hired by Wayne C. Wiltshire and Arthur Wright to administer the HHC drug and alcohol treatment program at a sister HHC facility, the Cumberland Diagnostic and Treatment Center. With Phil Garrett, CASAC, they wrote successful grant applications for adolescent treatment, homeless families, acupuncture, women services, parolees and homeless veterans. In 1988, some of the homeless patients complained to Mr. Stimmler that it was difficult attending treatment at Cumberland during the day to then return to the shelter at night, to a drill floor with 700 beds in an armory facility pervaded by drugs and alcohol. Mr. Stimmler asked Holly Argent-Tariq, Cumberland's senior administrator, to help him convince Frank Gonzalez, the director of the Atlantic Mens Shelter, to set aside a separate room for 10 patients living in the shelter who were simultaneously attending alcohol and drug treatment programs. Mr. Gonzalez agreed, on the condition that the shelter resident supply proof of enrollment in a treatment program and make a pledge of abstinence. On April 22, 1989, Sara Rimer's article in the New York Times described the history and success of the first drug free dorm in a city shelter. Within six years the outpatient clinic census at Cumberland went from 12,000 annual outpatient visits to 48,000. According to the New York City Bureau of Health Statistics, between January 1, 1988 and December 31, 1991, the number of deaths from drug abuse in Fort Greene, Brooklyn dropped from 30 percent to 10 percent. In 1982, in response to difficulties retaining addiction counselors due to the lack of a career ladder, Mr. Stimmler asked the HHC Office of Behavioral Health to add senior addiction counselor to the corporate plan of titles. After working on the project for more than ten years with Brenda Ballenger and the addiction counselors of Cumberland, Woodhull and Kings County Hospitals, a new assignment level for the addiction counselor position was created. On January 29, 1993, Rosa Maria Gil, DSW, HHC Senior Vice President for Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Services, announced the creation of the titles of senior addiction counselor I and II. In 1998 Mr. Stimmler was assigned responsibility for administering the Woodhull Chemical Dependency Program as well as Cumberland's. Mr. Stimmler is married to Kathleen, whom he met 36 years ago at the Fordham School of Social Work; she is in charge of psychiatric social work at the Nassau University Medical Center. They have two children, Colin, who works for the City of New York's Department of Homeless Services as an Emergency Planner, and Chad, a data analyst, is employed by the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, on February 8, 2009, Mrs. Edith Lovell, a resident of Brooklyn, New York, celebrated her 105th birthday. She was born on February 8, 1904 in Barbados, West Indies. She migrated to the United States in 1924 and resided with family in Harlem. A few years later, she married Samuel Lovell and relocated to Brooklyn, New York. Mrs. Lovell is the mother of the late Muriel Lovell Sealy and the mother of Dr. Alvin Lovell. She has three grandchildren, Angela Graham and Kelley Sealy and Alison Lovell; two great grandchildren, Philip and Amanda Graham; one great great granddaughter, Angelique; nephews, nieces and cousins, including New York State Supreme Court Justice Valerie Brathwaite Nelson. She enjoys reading, history, the company of family and friends and participating in lively social and political discussions. She was a strong supporter of Barack Obama during the recent campaign and was proud to witness the historic occasion and celebrated his Inauguration as the 44th President of the United States. Mrs. Lovell was an avid gardener until recently; she was the recipient of the 2003 Award for the Greenest Block in Brooklyn. As we celebrate the various events honoring African Americans during the month of February, I truly believe we should include the name of Ms. Edith Lovell. I am proud to join the United States Congress and our nation in honoring this great trailblazer.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to give my remarks on the reintroduction of the Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act, which I first introduced in the 110th Congress. Once again, I am immensely honored and privileged to recognize the historic efforts and legacies of two of my personal heroes in supporting a profession that each of us has been proud to call our own. Moreover, I rise in support of the millions of Americans served daily by the nation's social workers. As a professional social worker, I am acutely aware of the significant contributions that social workers have made to the socio-economic fabric of our nation. Sadly, I am equally aware of the troubling challenges that prevent my professional colleagues from continuing to deliver essential social services and interventions to Americans most in need of such support. This measure could not be introduced at a more critical moment. Our nation is experiencing challenges of a magnitude we have not faced in decades. Unemployment rates are rising, banks across the country are failing, millions of houses are in foreclosure, and a middle-class lifestyle is no longer within reach for the average American. This is placing extreme pressure on families and creating an ever-increasing need for a workforce adept at tackling issues of poverty and inequality, particularly during moments of crisis. The workforce that has historically led this charge in times of turmoil is social work. My social work colleagues provide essential services to individuals across the lifespan and have long been the workforce to guide people to critical resources, counsel them on important life decisions, and help them reach their full potential. Social workers are society's safety net, and with our current economic challenges, the need for this safety net has grown to include and protect a diverse group of people from all walks of life. Yet, as I stand before you today, our nation's social workers face daunting challenges, challenges that compromise the ability of these dedicated professionals to provide their clients with unparalleled service and care. These challenges are preventing students from choosing a degree in social work and causing experienced social workers to leave the field. Competing policy priorities, fiscal constraints, safety concerns, significant educational debt, comparatively insufficient salaries, increased administrative burdens, and unsupportive work environments are just a few of the common obstacles encountered by our nation's social workers. Yet, our nation's social workers do not suffer alone. Indeed, just as America's social workers struggle daily to confront mounting barriers impeding the delivery of essential services, so must millions of Americans absorb the direct impact of this compromised access to necessary care. There are already documented social work shortages in the fields of aging and child welfare. The Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act is designed to address these challenges to the social work profession, thereby helping to ensure that millions of individuals and families throughout the nation can continue to receive necessary social work services. This legislation creates the foundation for a professional workforce to meet the ever-increasing demand for the essential services that social workers provide. Professional social workers have the unique expertise and experience to help solve the social and economic challenges that our nation is facing. I rise today with grave concern, yet resolute optimism. On one hand, I am convinced that workforce challenges, if left unaddressed, will result in a social work corps ill-equipped to provide comprehensive service to underserved communities throughout the country. Nonetheless, I recognize that we have a unique opportunity to outline, develop, and implement strategies that help the people of America. Like Dr. Dorothy I. Height, I believe that ``we hold in our hands the power . . . to shape not only our own but the nation's future,'' a future that is founded upon the dissolution of imaginary distinctions within our growing society and a renewed commitment to those struggling to keep pace. Thus, in the words of Whitney M. Young, Jr., I stand today to ``Support the strong, give courage to the timid, remind the indifferent, and warn the opposed.'' In the name and spirit of Dorothy I. Height and the late Whitney M. Young, Jr., then, I come before you to propose a dramatic reinvestment in our nation's social work community. I invite my colleagues in the House and Senate to consider the far- reaching effects of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, to say nothing of the persistent echoes of years of conflict in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. More than any other group of professionals, America's social workers provide our armed services and combat veterans with mental health interventions, housing and financial counseling, case management, and advocacy, among other services. Yet, across America, social workers with unmanageable, excessive caseloads cannot properly serve the millions of veterans who will return from the Iraq War experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, suicide, and drug and alcohol addiction. Indeed, despite our best wishes, America will continue to see war-weary soldiers whose otherwise thankful homecoming may be marred by post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, or substance abuse. Much the same, social workers with intractable educational debt must balance the burden of repaying student loans with ever-expanding and complex caseloads, leaving young social workers struggling to assist the one in seven adults with dementia, and the hundreds of thousands of older Americans who rely upon their invaluable skills and service. With a full quarter of the American population suffering from a diagnosable mental illness, important caregiver, family, and health counseling, as well as mental health therapy will continue to suffer as professional social workers struggle to repay student loans and are forced into better paying careers. In addition to these and other invaluable services provided to our nation's veterans and senior citizens, however, the efforts of America's social workers have a direct and measurable impact upon communities throughout the nation. A brief sampling of these efforts includes: Child Welfare: The Children's Defense Fund has found that an American child is confirmed as abused or neglected every 36 seconds. Similarly, a recent estimate by U.S. Administration for Children and Families indicates that 510,000 children are currently living within the U.S. foster care system, with most children placed under the care of foster parents due to parental abuse or neglect. Research shows that professional social workers in child welfare agencies are more likely to find permanent homes for children who were in foster care for 2 or more years. Unfortunately, fewer than 40 percent of child welfare workers are professional social workers. Health: The American Cancer Society estimates that there were 1,437,180 new cases of cancer and 565,650 cancer deaths in 2008 alone, while the incidence of cancer will increase dramatically as the population grows older. Similarly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that as many as 1,285,000 Americans are living with HIV or AIDS. In 2006, 1.3 million people received care from one of the nation's hospice providers. Health care and medical social workers practice in all of these areas and provide outreach for prevention, help individuals and their families adapt to their circumstances, provide grief counseling, and act as a liaison between individuals and their medical team, helping patients make informed decisions about their care. Education: The National Center for Education Statistics states that, in 2005, the national dropout rate for high school students totaled 9.3 percent. White students dropped out at a rate of 5.8 percent, while African American students dropped out at a rate of 10.7 percent, and Hispanic students dropped out at a rate of 22.1 percent. Some vulnerable communities have drop out rates of 50 percent or higher. Social workers in school settings help at-risk students through early identification, prevention, intervention, counseling and support. Criminal Justice: According to the United States Department of Justice, every year more than 650,000 ex-offenders are released from Federal and State prisons. Social workers employed in the corrections system address disproportionate minority incarceration rates, provide treatment for mental health problems and drug and alcohol addiction, and work within as well as outside the prison environment to reduce recidivism and increase positive community reentry. For these reasons, and innumerable others, America will increasingly demand the services of a highly skilled professional social work community. Unfortunately, this community is not currently equipped to keep pace with this increasing demand for vital services throughout the country. The Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act will provide the necessary insight and perspective to guide current and future investment in this indispensable profession and the individuals and families they serve, while providing immediate support for demonstration programs throughout the country. I am proud to introduce the Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act and must acknowledge the passionate advocacy of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), Action Network for Social Work Education and Research (ANSWER), Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors (BPD), Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW), Clinical Social Work Association (CSWA), Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work (GADE), Institute for the Advancement of Social Work Research (IASWR), National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW), National Association of Deans and Directors of Schools of Social Work (NADD), Social Welfare Action Alliance (SWAA), and the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) on behalf of this legislation. As drafted, this bill will create a Social Work Reinvestment Commission to provide a comprehensive analysis of current trends within the professional and academic social work communities. Specifically, the Commission will develop recommendations and strategies to maximize the ability of America's social workers to serve individuals, families, and communities with expertise and care. The recommendations will be delivered to Congress and the Executive Branch. This Commission will investigate in greater detail the numerous areas where social workers have a profound impact upon their client population, including aging, child welfare, military and veterans affairs, mental and behavioral health and disability, criminal justice and correctional systems, health and issues affecting women and children. More significantly, the Commission established within this legislation will provide needed guidance to protect the profession that has historically protected the most vulnerable in society. These concerns are also directly related to national discussions affecting entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, to name only a few. While the Social Work Reinvestment Commission included within the proposed legislation will work to ensure that America's underserved families and individuals receive professional care and social services in the years to come, I urge my colleagues to recognize the urgency of the pervasive challenges confronting our nation's 600,000 professional social workers at this very moment. The Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act will also create demonstration programs to address relevant ``on the ground'' realities experienced by our nation's professional social workers. The competitive grant programs will prioritize activities in the areas of workplace improvements, research, education and training, and community based programs of excellence. These grants programs will provide Congress guidance on the establishment of best practices and the replication of successful programs nationally and as such, this initial investment will be returned many times over both in supporting ongoing efforts to establish efficacious social service solutions and in direct service to affected client communities. While the singular goal of this legislation is the delivery of vital services to our nation's underserved communities by means of a reenergized and emergent academic and professional social work corps, it is essential to undertake preliminary efforts to assess the best means by which to confront ongoing challenges cutting across diverse communities. Finally, in bringing this measure before my esteemed House colleagues, I would be remiss to neglect the heroes in whose name this vital reinvestment in our nation's social workers is made--Dr. Dorothy I. Height and Mr. Whitney M. Young, Jr. The exemplary efforts undertaken by model social work programs throughout the country and the forward-thinking initiative instilled within the Social Work Reinvestment Commission serve as a reflection of the common strengths of Dr. Height and Mr. Young, while the legislation I propose in their names will enable our most talented social workers to continue and broaden their collective efforts. A lifelong advocate for racial and gender equality, Dorothy I. Height has applied the professional training she received at the New York School of Social Work to challenges dauntingly large and deceptively small. A confidant and protege of renowned activist and educator Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, Dr. Height began her long and esteemed relationship with the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) when then- Council President Dr. Bethune noticed a young African-American woman escorting First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt into a Council meeting. From that moment forward, Dr. Height served as a stalwart champion for the rights of African American women and the families they love and support. Leading both as NCNW President, and a crusader within the American Civil Rights Movement, Dr. Height's efforts obliged the nation to recognize the disturbing lack of basic social services within America's low-income and minority communities in her time and still today. Bound by an undying commitment to women and families left unsupported by prevailing social services, Dr. Height's commitment to the study and practice of social work and faith in the power of direct care and intervention have remained indelible throughout her decades of service on behalf of both the NCNW and the YWCA. In fact, in many instances, such support for social work could be found at the forefront of these efforts, with Dr. Height serving as an advocate and professor of social work in developing countries throughout the world. Much the same, Civil Rights leader, educator, and long-time President of the National Urban League, Whitney Young leveraged the skills and values strengthened within his advanced study and practice as a social worker to lead the Urban League to unprecedented successes in its ongoing commitment to provide economic opportunity for America's most disadvantaged. A close advisor to three Presidents--Democrats John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, as well as Republican Richard Nixon--Mr. Young brought a unique ability to work for change from within the often-contentious political paradigm of mid-century America. Expanding the size and influence of the National Urban League exponentially during his time as president, Mr. Young guided a once-fledgling, guarded organization to the vanguard of the American Civil Rights Movement. In fact, his personal efforts and bold vision contributed significantly to the creation of President Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty and similarly historic and transformative policy initiatives. Yet, throughout and within each of his great accomplishments, Mr. Young brought with him a profound appreciation for the power of social services within communities historically neglected and underserved. In fact, in a formative moment during his tenure as Dean of Social Work at Atlanta University, Young stood as a vocal advocate for his alumni in their boycott of the Georgia Conference of Social Work. Aware of the great responsibilities of his colleagues and students, Mr. Young fought for a responsive and dedicated social work corps, the services of whom must be directed to those most in need. As President of both the National Conference on Social Welfare and the National Association of Social Workers, Young led efforts within the social work community to expand and more assiduously target services to low-income and minority communities neglected throughout our nation's history. In this emboldened spirit, the legislation that today bears the names of Whitney M. Young, Jr. and Dorothy I. Height will enable an already active American social work workforce to overcome lingering barriers to the delivery of essential services to underserved client populations throughout the country. This investment in our nation's social workers is both a commitment to the continued support of their critical role within American society, and an anticipation of the great advances still achievable within the field. I urge my colleagues in both Chambers to support this measure both in honor of Dr. Dorothy I. Height and the late Whitney M. Young, Jr. and in resolute defense of the ideals and the people to whom Dr. Height and Mr. Young have dedicated their lives.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, esteemed colleagues on both sides of the aisle, I stand before you today, one happy man. I am happy that I have the opportunity to vote in favor and hopefully bear witness to the passage of this momentous bill, the State Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act. Our great leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., once famously remarked, ``Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.'' I wholeheartedly agree with Reverend King's sentiments and I would like to take his statement one step further. I contend neglecting adequate health care for all of our children is perhaps the most disgraceful and appalling atrocity this nation faces. Today we have an opportunity to take one step towards rectifying the wrongs of our past. Today we have the opportunity to vote in favor of a bipartisan piece of legislation that would expand health care to more than 11 million children nationwide and preserves the coverage of 7.1 million children through 2013. This fine piece of legislation will reduce the number of uninsured children in my state by 66%; reducing the number from 400,000 to approximately 267,000. I don't know about you, but that's the type of change I can believe in. The State Children's Health Insurance Program catches the most overlooked segment of our population--those families and children that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but too little to afford private health insurance. This land-breaking and much needed piece of legislation will provide coverage to those families that are eligible for but not yet enrolled in SCHIP and Medicaid. The legislation is truly bipartisan in nature, and is supported by numerous organizations including the American Hospital Association, AARP, and families USA. My Democratic friends and Republican comrades, I urge you to take a stand against health injustices and take a stand for our children. I urge you to vote in support of the Children's Health Insurance Health Program Reauthorization Act.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of the bipartisan Platts/Van Hollen amendment. This amendment is identical to H.R. 985, the Whistleblower Protection Act of 2007, which passed the House with an overwhelming vote of 331 to 94, and which was reported by the Oversight and Government Reform Committee by a vote of 28 to 0. The reason this measure enjoyed such strong, bipartisan support in the last Congress is that it was carefully crafted with input from both sides of the aisle. It is truly the result of bipartisan consultation and agreement on this issue. And I want to thank Representatives Platts and Van Hollen for their hard work on this measure. The amendment addresses several court decisions which have ignored the intent of Congress and created loopholes which undermine the current whistleblower statute's effectiveness and unreasonably limit the nature of disclosures protected under current law. In addition, the amendment makes clear that national security workers, employees of the Transportation Security Administration, employees of government contractors, and workers who attempt to protect the integrity of federal science are all entitled to protection from retaliation for blowing the whistle. Protecting whistleblowers is not a Democratic or Republican issue. It is an issue of importance to all Americans, because they are one of our most potent weapons against waste, fraud, and abuse. Ensuring that those who blow the whistle are protected from retaliation benefits all Americans. I urge members to support this amendment.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Chair, H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is a critical first step to beginning what will be a long process of recovering from our current economic crisis, the likes of which we have not seen since the Depression of the 1930s. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this bill. Our Nation has already lost 2 million jobs in the current recession, and is expected to lose another 3-5 million in the coming year. The bill before us targets priority investments in infrastructure, education, health care, and energy in an effort to forestall those job losses by creating or saving 3-4 million jobs. While the need for this economic stimulus package is urgent, clear, and compelling, we must also make sure that the money is spent wisely, and that waste, fraud, and mismanagement of these funds is kept to an absolute minimum. That is why this bill includes provisions that will ensure an unparalleled level of oversight, transparency, and accountability. Over the past few years, Oversight Committee investigations have uncovered waste and theft of government dollars on an unprecedented scale. Stacks of one-hundred-dollar bills were loaded onto cargo planes with forklifts and flown to Iraq--and nobody could say what happened to the money. Billions were spent on Katrina contracts, with little to show for it. When writing this bill, we worked with Chairman Obey so waste and fraud is prevented from the beginning. The bill will provide almost $210 million to agency Inspectors General and $25 million to the Government Accountability Office to ensure vigorous oversight of the programs and activities being funded through this bill. It will fund auditors and accountants, and more importantly, criminal investigators, to track the funds. The bill also creates a Recovery Act Accountability and Transparency Board to review management of the funds and provide early warnings of problems. The bill requires an unprecedented level of transparency over the announcement and award of contracts and grants through a special Government Web site. Federal, State, and local officials will be required to post this information. Governors and mayors will have to certify that any investments funded with recovery act dollars are an appropriate use of tax dollars. It is often said that sunshine is the best disinfectant. This bill puts that sentiment to work in an extraordinarily rigorous way. In addition, the bill makes clear that Federal contracts awarded using recovery act dollars must comply with the Federal acquisition regulation and that fixed-price, competitively awarded contracts are used to the greatest extent possible. This will ensure that the taxpayer gets the best bang for the buck. Contractors and other non-Federal employees are also afforded whistleblower protections under this bill. This is critical, since they are often our first line of defense against wasteful spending. Mr. Chair, this bill is essential to jump-starting our economy and providing sustained growth. But it does so in a way which will ensure unprecedented accountability and transparency. I urge all Members to support it.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 384, the TARP Reform and Accountability Act of 2009. This bill will improve the Troubled Asset Relief Program that was enacted as part of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act last year by increasing the transparency of financial institutions use of taxpayer funds, closing certain loopholes, and strengthening accountability of the Program. The bill also requires the Treasury Department to commit significant funding to addressing the growing home foreclosure crisis facing our nation. The housing crisis is at the heart of our current economic problems, so this is a much needed step. H.R. 384 requires financial institutions which receive taxpayer funds to account for the use of those funds on not less than a quarterly basis. To date, the banks and other financial institutions which have received billions of taxpayer dollars have refused or been unable to account for how that money has been spent. That is simply outrageous, and I am glad this bill addresses that issue. The Special Inspector General for the TARP has also informed me of several issues which would improve his ability to hire experienced and talented staff in an expeditious manner. One would be to clarify that his office has law enforcement authority. This is clearly needed to ensure that his investigative staff can issue subpoenas and make arrests, if necessary. I believe the intent of the original legislation was to include this authority, so this is only a matter of clarification. Also, other Special Inspectors General have the authority to re-hire federal employees who have retired. That enables them to quickly hire experienced auditors and investigators. While this is an issue which needs to be examined closely, I believe it may be appropriate for the Special Inspector General of the Troubled Asset Relief Program to have similar authority. While neither of these provisions are included in the bill before us, I believe they would improve the operations of the Special Inspector General's office, and would hope to work with Chairman Frank to address them in future legislation.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this amendment to the House rules that emphasizes the importance of congressional oversight. As Chair of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased that this resolution requires all standing committees to include reviews of waste, fraud and abuse in their regular schedule of hearings. We need to attack waste, fraud and abuse every way that we possibly can. This rule, in no way diminishes the jurisdiction of the Oversight Committee. Instead, it complements the Oversight Committee by ensuring that our committee's focus on government accountability carries through to the authorizing committees for each agency. The ranking member, Mr. Issa, and I agree that the Oversight Committee will continue to review all of the GAO and Inspector General reports that our committee receives, and consider whether a hearing in our committee would be appropriate. I look forward to working with him and with all of the Members of the House towards our shared goal of making government work more efficiently for Americans, and also to make it much more transparent and this is what this amendment does, and that's the reason why I'm supporting it.