Ed Towns

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Winston P. Thompson, a Certified Public Accountant and successful Financial Planner who has been actively involved in providing tax and financial planning services within the Brooklyn Community for the past fifteen years. Mr. Thompson, a graduate of St. Francis College in Brooklyn, New York, obtained his graduate degree from Pace University in New York. As a young certified public accountant, Mr. Thompson spent two years as a auditing officer with Morgan Guaranty Trust Company, a Wall Street Investment Banking firm. Mr. Thompson also spent five years with Arthur Andersen & Company, an international accounting and consulting firm. Fifteen years ago, following his tenure with Morgan Guaranty and Arthur Andersen, Winston Thompson founded Thompson & Company, a Certified Public Accounting and Consulting firm. Mr. Thompson currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of this highly respected firm, based in downtown Brooklyn. In addition to his serving the community through his membership in the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and the Bedford Stuyvesant Real Estate Board, Mr. Thompson is active in various community events. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and all of my colleagues to join me in recognizing the lifelong efforts of Winston Thompson, and wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize two remarkable entrepreneurs, Marc Ellis and, his brother, Jay Ellis. Marc Ellis is the Chief Executive Officer, and Jay Ellis is the President of MyPinstripes.com, a Brooklyn based Internet business that is quickly becoming a premier Internet based valet service company. MyPinstripes.com focuses on communities that have traditionally been ignored by garment care and apparel service providers. Marc and Jay Ellis were born to Joe and Katherine Ellis in Rockville Center, Long Island. Marc, born in August 1970, is married to Gardy Ellis and has three children: Marc 11, Kathleen and Sydney. Marc graduated from Springfield Gardens High School in Queens, New York in 1988, and earned a BA in Finance from Morehouse College in 1992. After graduating from Morehouse, Marc went on to earn two MBAs, one in Finance and the other in Marketing, from New York University Stern School of Business. Before founding MyPinstripes.com, Marc worked in corporate and investment banking with two of the largest banking institutions in the United States. Jay Ellis, the younger of the brothers, was born in November 1972. Jay graduated from Logan High School in Oakland, California in 1989, and entered the United States Army. During Operation Desert Storm, Jay earned a Purple Heart a combat veteran. Upon from serving the United States in the Persian Gulf, Jay earned a BS in Economics, with honors, from the University of San Francisco. The primary products for MyPinstripes.com are the door to door dry cleaning, laundry, shoe repair and tailoring services. They are using the Internet and other technologies to cut their operating costs while improving the buying experience for their, customers. The company was started on a full time basis in June 1999 with less than 100 customers, and as of last month it served over 3,000 households in four small communities in New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and all of my colleagues to join me in recognizing the lifelong efforts of Marc and Jay Ellis, and wish them continued success in their future endeavors.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Julette O'Meally, President of Agape Development Services. Ms. Julette Hernandez O'Meally has been in the business of managing, developing and training people for more than 15 years. She has served in hospitality, health care and other service industries in the United States and the Caribbean. Her clients range from Fortune 100 companies to individual entrepreneurs. Whether on an organizational or an individual level, her work centers around increasing the profitability and effectiveness of her clients-- by focusing on the personal/professional development of each person, as well as on the development of the organization. This is done through consultations, workshops and individual coaching sessions. Her work with recent clients includes creating, developing and delivering comprehensive orientation programs and training initiatives in customer service, supervisory/management development and communication skills. Ms. O'Meally has held a variety of operations management positions in the hospitality and retail industries. This management experience adds a certain level of credibility and depth of knowledge to the training programs she develops. Ms. O'Meally is also the founder of the Beethoven Reading Club--a non-profit organization dedicated to the inspiration and development of children. Ms. O'Meally has recently written a book on how to raise self-esteem in children and their parents. She is also a co-founder of Agape Community Services, which offers free workshops and consultations to nonprofit organizations. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and all of my colleagues to join me in recognizing the lifelong efforts of Julette O'Meally, and wish her continued success in her future endeavors.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Edison O. Jackson, President of the Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York. Dr. Jackson, a resident of Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, and a member of the Ministerial staff of Bridge Street A.M.E. Church, is a outstanding citizen and a pillar of our community. Born in Heathsville, Virginia, Dr. Jackson received a B.S. in Zoology, followed by a Master of Arts Degree in Counseling from Howard University. He began his career in education in the field of counseling, where he served for almost four years. In 1969, he was named Dean of Student Affairs at Essex County College in New Jersey, where he distinguished himself to the point that he was promoted to the position of Vice President of Student Affairs. In 1983, Dr. Edison was named Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer at Essex County College. In that same year, he received a Doctorate in Education from Rutgers University with academic emphasis on philosophy, function, role and administration of urban educational institutions. During these many years, Dr. Edison achieved numerous remarkable accomplishments so, when he accepted the position of President of Medgar Evers College in 1989, he brought with him a wealth of experience and knowledge in administering the affairs of educational institutions. Dr. Jackson currently holds memberships on a number of civic, educational and community organizations. His affiliations with professional and national organizations run the gamut from the American Association of Higher Education, to the President's Round Table and the National Council on Crime and Delinquency. Dr. Jackson has also written extensively on issues of concern to educators, with particular concentration on minority students and the community, academic preparation and student performance. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I want to note that Dr. Jackson is married to Florence E. Jackson, and is the proud father of two children: Eulaynea and Terrance. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and all of my colleagues to join me in recognizing the lifelong efforts of Dr. Edison O. Jackson, and wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, recently a list was published of atrocities against Christians in India from January to May of this year. It listed 38 specific incidents just in a period of five months. This should indicate the depth of India's religious terrorism against Christians. On July 8 and 9, two more churches were bombed. The pattern of Indian terrorism against its minorities continues. It is not just the Christians who are being attacked. In March, the Indian government massacred 35 Sikhs in the village of Chithi Singhpora. This was confirmed by two separate investigations. Some of our colleagues may deny it, but the evidence is clear. This, too, is part of the Indian government's pattern of repression. This pattern of repression and terrorism must be stopped. The U.S. Congress must take strong action. We should cut off aid to India until this terrorism stops. India should be declared a terrorist nation, as 21 of us recently urged the President to do. And Congress should support self-determination for the people of Khalistan, Kashmir, Nagaland, and all the minority nations seeking their freedom from India. Self-determination is the cornerstone of democracy. Mr. Speaker, I submit the atrocity list I mentioned earlier into the Record for the information of my colleagues.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, on June 28, the Washington Times published an excellent letter from our friend Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan, calling for strong action to end religious persecution in India. The letter cited the recent incident in which a Hindu woman poured boiling oil on militant Hindu fundamentalists who were attacking her tenant, a Catholic priest. The Hindu nationalists who carried out this attack are allies of the ruling BJP. It also refers to several other incidents, including the recent savage beating of some Christian missionaries, one so severely that he might lose his arms and legs. The letter also made reference to a letter send by 21 members of this House in which we asked the President to declare India a terrorist state because of its reign of terror against Christians which has been going in full force since Christmas 1998, as well as its oppression of Sikhs, Muslims, and other minorities. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, it is not safe to be a minority in India. India should be declared a terrorist state, its aid should be stopped, and the Sikhs of Khalistan, the Muslims of Kashmir, the Christians of Nagaland, and the other minorities of the subcontinent should enjoy self-determination. It is the responsibility of the Congress to speak out in support of these things. I submit Dr. Aulakh's letter to the Washington Times for the Record. [From the Washington Times, June 28, 2000] Oppression of Christians Continues in India (By Gurmit Singh Aulakh) We commend the Hindu woman who poured boiling oil on militant Hindu fundamentalists who were attacking her tenant, a Catholic priest (``Hindu woman protects Christian priest,'' World, June 25). This is an act of religious tolerance, which is very rare in India these days. Last week, a bipartisan group of 21 members of the U.S. Congress wrote to President Clinton asking him to declare India a terrorist state because of its oppression of Christians and religious minorities. They took note of the pattern of violence against Christians that has been going on since Christmas 1998. Last month, four Christian missionaries who were distributing Bibles and religious pamphlets were beaten severely by militant Hindu fundamentalists. The beating was so severe that one of the victims may lose his arms and legs. In April, Hindu fundamentalists affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, a pro-fascist organization that is the parent organization of the ruling Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), attacked a Christian group and burned biblical literature. In March, a Sikh family saved a group of nuns whose convent had come under attack from Hindu fundamentalists. On Easter, a group of nuns who were going to Easter services were run down by Hindu fundamentalists on motor scooters. Churches have been burned, prayer halls and Christian schools have been destroyed, nuns have been raped, and priests have been murdered by the militant Hindu nationalists advocating ``Hindutva,'' a Hindu culture, society and nation. Hindu fundamentalists chanting ``Victory to hannuman,'' a Hindu god, burned missionary Graham Staines and his two sons, ages 8 and 10, to death while they slept in their Jeep. The Indian government, led by the Hindu nationalist BJP, has not taken action to punish the persons responsible for any of these atrocities. Christians are the primary targets of the militant Hindu nationalists, but they are not the only ones who are suffering. In March, 35 Sikhs were murdered in the village of Chithi Singhpora in Kashmir. India promptly blamed Kashmiri ``militants'' and killed five Kashmiris, claiming that they were responsible. However, two independent investigations have established clearly that the Indian government's counterinsurgency forces carried out this massacre. India has since admitted that the five Kashmiris the government killed were innocent. The Sikhs who were murdered in Chithi Singhpora join more than 250,000 Sikhs who have been murdered by the Indian government, according to ``The Politics of Genocide,'' by Inderjit Singh Jaijee. In addition, the Indian government has killed more than 200,000 Christians in Nagaland, more than 70,000 Kashmiri Muslims and tens of thousands of Assamese, Manipuris, Tamils, Dalits (the dark-skinned ``untouchables,'' the aboriginal people of South Asia) and others. Tens of thousands of Sikhs are rotting in Indian jails as political prisoners without charge or trial. This is nothing less than a campaign of terror designed to wipe out minority peoples and nations from the Indian subcontinent and achieve hegemony in South Asia. The United States should declare India a terrorist state because of these ongoing atrocities. It also should cut off American aid and trade to India and openly declare its support for self- determination for the minority peoples and nations of South Asia through an internationally supervised plebiscite on the question of independence. If India wants to be seen as a democratic nation and a major world power, it will stop its reign of terror against its minorities and allow them to exercise their democratic rights. Until then, America must hold India's feet to the fire.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my deepest concerns for the ten Iranian Jews who were convicted last week of seditious crimes and sentenced to extraordinarily long sentences. By now it is well documented that the condemning trial was saturated with false evidence and forced confessions, and was never intended to expose the meaning of true justice. These individuals were small tradesmen, leading a life in the ways consistent with their religion, and it is that for which they are being punished. Religious persecution can never be allowed, but when such injustices are showcased before the international community, it is our responsibility to take a stand and say that this will not be tolerated. We have seen legal and human rights organizations worldwide affirming that this trial was in fact a sham, and that it is beyond the realm of possibility to believe that such individuals could ever have been capable of committing the crimes for which they are accused. By staging such a mockery of justice it is apparent that Iran has no comprehension of human or civil rights, and therefore convicted no other than themselves in proving that they remain unfit to enter any exercise of the civilized world. In a recent meeting between President Clinton and the American relatives of the convicted Iranian Jews, a promise was made to use all possible U.S. government resources to secure the freedom of these individuals. This is a promise in which I would urge President Clinton to keep as I hope my colleagues here in the House would as well. We must remember that as we speak that there are thousands of Jews remaining in Iran, who can be subjected to identical suppression at any time. We must take a stand here and now and say behavior such as this will not be tolerated both now and in the future. Today, in New York the Jewish Community Relations Council and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations organized a solidarity gathering in an effort to show the world community that we will continue to fight for the rights of these individuals until justice is truly served. I would like to commend these organizations for their efforts and would like to offer and assistance possible to the rectification of this atrocity.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise today to honor Audrey Lee Jacobs. She is president and chief executive officer of Lyndon Baines Johnson Health Complex. After years of working throughout the United States for several of the world's largest corporation, Ms. Jacobs is pleased to be returning to serve the Brooklyn community in which she was born. She is a great product of the New York City Public school system, graduating from Andrew Jackson High School as one of the top students in her class. Audrey attended Vassar College on a full scholarship and majored in psychology. Ms. Jacobs developed a keen interest in business as she watched her entrepreneurial parents establish and run their own small businesses. She began her career in marketing, working for several multi-national corporations, including Mobil Oil Corporation and AT&T. She wanted to broaden her base of skills and knowledge in business, so in 1985, she entered the University of Texas at Austin. In 1988, she was awarded her Masters in Business Administration degree and realized how important education was and went on to law school. She attended Columbia Law School, majoring in corporate law. Afterwards, she joined Mayor N. Dinkins' administration as an assistant to the President of the NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation. That provided an introduction to the field of health care administration for Ms. Jacobs, and she realized from that experience. ``. . . how many people in New York were not receiving medical care and how important it was to provide all New Yorkers, regardless of ethnicity, race, or social class, or access to high quality health care.'' After the Dinkins administration she returned to the practice of law. Throughout the years, Ms. Jacobs has been active in the alumni associations of her college and law school, and she has helped to raise funds for many community and political organizations. Recently, William F. Green, the Chairman of LBJ's Board of Directors talked with Ms. Jacobs about the changing health care landscape and LBJ's developing role in it. After the meeting Ms. Jacobs reflected on taking the reins of this proud clinic which, for 32 years, has been integral to the health and well being of Bedford-Stuyvesant. She quickly realized that it was the opportunity of a lifetime. And, we are grateful for her ability to seize this opportunity. Mr. Speaker I ask you and my colleagues to join me in honoring the contributions of Audrey Lee Jacobs. Our community, state, and nation are grateful for her dedicated service.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, today I am proud to honor Dr. Jean Claude Compas a radiant example of what a premiere physician in this country should hope to be. Dr. Compas was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. After completing his primary education, he traveled to France to attend the University of Lille, where he received his medical degree. After earning his degree, he migrated to the United States to set up his own practice in Brooklyn. He is the founder of one of the largest Haitian owned and operated medical clinics in Brooklyn. In addition to his successful medical practice, Dr. Compas has dedicated his life to advancing social justice. He has led several marches protesting blatant discrimination and prejudice against Haitians in the United States, including the plight of Haitian refugees. Through his research and publications with the Center for Disease Control in Washington, DC, he helped reverse the unjustified wholesale labeling of Haitians as a high-risk group for AIDS by the CDC and the FDA. He also was a major activist on the Abner Louima case, organizing a legion of protests against police brutality. Jean Claude Compas serves on several boards of nonprofit organizations, including the New York Aids Foundation, the Haitian Coalition on AIDS, and the Haitian American Alliance of New York. He was also a past-vice president of Haitian Medical Association abroad. Dr. Compas is a prime example of what every citizen should aspire to be. He has made a difference in many lives in Brooklyn. He remains a dedicated advocate for the Caribbean community. Dr. Compas' contributions to his community never stop, and hopefully he will continue good deeds to make Brooklyn a better community. Dr. Compas ultimately believes that ``it's better to give than receive'' and he demonstrated it through his many contributions. Please join me in recognizing the accomplishments of Dr. Jean Claude Compas.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor and celebrate the achievements of Colvin W. Grannum, the founding director and the chief executive officer of Bridge Street Development Corporation. Bridge Street Development Corporation is a faith based non-profit organization, affiliated with Bridge Street African Wesleyan Methodist Episcopal Church in Brooklyn, NY. Mr. Grannum's motto is ``Building on Community Strength.'' His vision is to restore Bedford Stuyvesant to the ranks of the most desirable communities for parenting and doing business. Under Mr. Grannum's leadership, BSDC has grown to over a $2 million operation with 300 units of housing in the development pipeline in only its first four years of experience. BSDC also has obtained preliminary approval for $2 million in start up financing for two locally-owned businesses. Finally, to help begin to close the digital divide, Mr. Grannum has used BSDC to establish a community computer lab and Internet access facility. In addition to being a community leader, Mr. Grannum has also practiced law for 17 years as a litigation attorney. He started his legal career as a law clerk to a judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. He also has held a variety of positions with the United States Department of Justice, the New York State Attorney General, the NYNEX Corporation, and the New York City Corporation Counsel. During his legal practice, Mr. Grannum was responsible for handling and supervising complex litigation, including trials, appeals, and regulatory proceedings. As a law student, he taught a legal writing and research course at Georgetown University Law Center. Mr. Speaker, please join me in thanking Colvin W. Grannum for his selfless service to the community of Brooklyn. Also, please join me in wishing him the best in his future endeavors on ``Building on community strength.''

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I recognize Warren Bell for his incredible success in small business and his continued involvement in his community. Warren first came to work for the family business, Bell's Bialys and Bagels, 20 years ago, under his father Martin, a distinguished businessman. Ten years ago, Warren assumed primary responsibility for operations at Bell's Bialys and Bagels. Under his talent and care the business has expanded tremendously. The company expanded its facilities, added new products and flavors to the supreme ``Bell'' quality and now ships his products to Japan on a regular basis. Warren has truly perfected the art of small business. Perhaps Warren's greatest and most commendable success is that despite all the time and energy he has put into his business, he still found time to devote to the finer things in life. His devotion to his community and family is one of a true role model. His years of work with his local school board, temple, neighborhood and borough-wide small business organizations and networking groups provides a great service to the community. Warren currently serves on the Executive Council of ``Brooklyn Goes Global'' and is an active member of N.A.S.F.T. and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. In 1989, the Democratic Club of Brooklyn honored Warren and in 1994 he won the Borough President's ``Mom and Pop'' Award for achievement as a small business. This year Bell's Bialys and Bagels has been awarded the prestigious Small Business Administration's Exporter of the Year Award and the Borough President's Ron Brown Award for commitment to international commerce. Warren has proven that in business and in public service that he is a man to emulate. He has helped to create jobs and played a major role in the economic growth and development of Brooklyn. I want to take this opportunity to recognize the achievements of Warren Bell, one of Brooklyn's finest residents and entrepreneurs.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, on this the 34th anniversary of the independence of Guyana, I would like to pay tribute to the government and people of the extraordinary nation. Although this year marks the 34th anniversary of Guyana's independence, it would be misleading to assume that Guyana's sense of nationhood only began with the grant of independence 34 years ago. Guyana's sense of nationhood existed over 500 years ago, among the Amerindian tribes that inhabited its tropical rainforest. It existed among the African warriors such as Kofi, Attah, Accabree, who launched their war of liberation in 1763. It existed among Indian indentured workers such as Rambarran, Pooran, Harry, and Surajballi who forfeited their lives in the struggle to improve working conditions on the sugar plantations. Nationalism has existed in the literature of the Guyanese people. It has existed in the poetry of Martin Carter and Arthur Seymour; in the novels of Edgar Mittelholzer, Wilson Harris and Jan Carew; in the patriotic music of R.G.G. Potter, Valery Rodway, and Halley Bryant; in the rhythm of the Indian Tassa drums and the African bongos drums; and the call and response of the Guyanese folk songs. Nature has been generous to the nation of Guyana. It has endowed her with an extensive network of over 40 rivers and creeks, and over 276 waterfalls, including Kaieteur Falls, which has a direct perpendicular drop of 741 feet. The land is richly endowed with natural resources-- fertile agricultural lands; extensive savannahs; rich fishing and shrimping grounds; over 500 species of tropical hardwoods including greenheart, mora, baromalli, purpleheart, and crabwood, and a wide variety of minerals including gold, diamonds, bauxite, manganese, titanium, columbite/tantalite, copper and nickel. In spite of its rich history of struggle and extensive natural resources, Guyana faces formidable political, social and economic problems. In the 1950s, Guyana had one of the most progressive movements in the Caribbean, based upon the principles of Guyanese nationalism and socialism. However, in 1955 the political movement split, ushering in two decades of racial antagonism. Racial divisions have stymied economic development, creating an environment of instability and uncertainty. In spite of an impressive growth rate during the last decade, Guyana still remains one of the poorest and least developed nations in the Western hemisphere. The Guyanese people are a resourceful, gifted and resilient people who are capable of confronting and overcoming the formidable problems that confront them. The historian Rodway described agricultural cultivation in Guyana as a daily struggle with the sea in front and the flood behind. The historian Walter Rodney has noted how the African slaves built the sugar plantations by moving ``one hundred million tons of heavy water-logged clay with shovel in hand, while enduring conditions of perpetual water and mud.'' The historian Eusi Kaywana has noted that the Berbice rebellion of 1763 predated the American Revolution of 1776, the French Revolution of 1789, the French Revolution of 1791, the Paris commune of 1848 and the Russian Revolution of 1917. Ironically, the policy of the U.S. government has been one of suspicion and hostility towards the governments of Guyana. We conspired with the British in 1960 to suspend the constitution, and to destabilize the government of Cheddie Jagan between 1957 and 1964. When President Burnham implemented socialist policies in the 1970s, we discouraged U.S. foreign investment, bilateral aid and multilateral loans to Guyana. It is time for the U.S. government to change its policy towards the nation of Guyana. Guyana has become an attractive location for foreign investment. There is a stable political environment that is committed to private enterprise; there is a system of Parliamentary democracy with free elections and an independent Judiciary; there is a substantial natural resource base; there has been radical and substantial economic growth over the last decade; there is preferential access to the Caribbean, Latin America, North America and European markets; there is a skilled and trainable labor force proficient in the English language. Guyana is an investment opportunity whose time has come.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to raise an issue of great importance to society's guarantee of due process and fairness to all of our citizens. As you all know we are less then two days away from executing a potentially innocent man, Gary Graham. There is a great weight of evidence, still unheard by a Texas court, that could establish his innocence. The evidence that he had an inadequate lawyer is so overwhelming that to put this man to death, without consideration of the evidence that could exonerate him, would be a travesty of justice. Last week, 34 of my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus sent a letter to the Texas Governor, appealing to him to grant Mr. Graham a conditional pardon and the right to a new trial. Mr. Speaker, I insert a copy of this letter into the Record at this point. Were the relief we requested granted, Mr. Speaker, the Texas Court would be able to consider this important evidence that could exonerate Mr. Graham. In a new trial, Mr. Graham's counsel would be able to effectively challenge the only evidence that was used to convict Mr. Graham--the testimony of a single witness. With the assistance of effective counsel, the court would hear that the witness initially failed to identify Mr. Graham at a photo spread the night before she picked him out of a lineup of four people. The Court would also hear that the .22 caliber gun found on Mr. Graham at the time of his arrest was determined by the Police Crime Lab not to be the weapon used in the murder. Further, the Court would hear from four other eyewitnesses mentioned in the police report who said that Mr. Graham was not the shooter. In addition to this evidence available in the first trial that defense counsel failed to present, the Court would also benefit from ``new'' evidence obtained after the first trial concluded. The court would need to hear this evidence, consisting of statements from at least six eyewitnesses to the incident who affirmed under oath that Mr. Graham did not commit the crime for which he may soon pay the ultimate price. Because prior Texas court rules give persons convicted of a crime only 30 days after their trial to present ``new'' evidence, these exonerating testimonies could not be presented to the Appellate Court for consideration. Mr. Graham may not be innocent, but as we stand here today we know that he has not been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. We are talking about a man's life, one that cannot be brought back once we have taken it away. If we execute this man without a fair trial it will be an obvious contradiction to everything this country stands for and a dark day in our history. Mr. Speaker, we have a choice today: we either hold strong to our principles and show that we are truly a nation of justice, or we allow a man to die in the face of strong evidence of his innocence. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of justice, to show that a human life can never take a back seat to politics. In two days we will show that we are truly the greatest country of all time, or we will put our heads down in shame in the realization that a great country, a just country, and a truly democratic country does not yet exist. Congress of the United States, Washington, DC, June 13, 2000. Hon. George W. Bush, Governor, the State of Texas, Office of the Governor. Re Request for Stay of Execution, Grant of Clemency for Shaka Sankofa, formerly known as Gary Graham Dear Mr. Governor: As you are aware, time is quickly running out before the June 22, 2000, scheduled execution of Gary Graham, also known as Shaka Sankofa. Based upon our understanding of the facts and merits of the case, as well as the ineffective counsel Mr. Sankofa received at trial, we believe that it would be a severe miscarriage of justice for his execution to proceed. Therefore, we are writing to request that you grant an immediate stay of Mr. Sankofa's execution, as your predecessor, Governor Ann Richards, did in 1993. We feel strongly that it is altogether appropriate for you to grant the stay of execution for Mr. Sankofa to give your office and the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles time to approve Mr. Sankofa's clemency petition. As is clear from reviewing the history of this case, which is set forth in detail in Mr. Sankofa's clemency petition, Mr. Sankofa received grossly ineffective counsel at his two-day capital trial. Throughout the recent history of Texas capital cases, there is perhaps no situation like this, where a young man is sentenced to die based entirely upon the testimony of one witness--with absolutely no corroborating evidence. We must not ignore the fact that officers investigating the shooting never recovered any physical evidence or corroborating witness testimony linking Mr. Sankofa to the shooting. Whether Mr. Sankofa received ineffective assistance of counsel is hardly a dispute. Mr. Sankofa's trial lawyer failed to use any of the key witnesses who were available at the trial to rebut the testimony of the prosecution's only witness--indeed, their only evidence--to tie him to the crime. A reasonably competent attorney would have called witnesses, like Ronald Hubbard, who would have directly rebutted the prosecution's evidence by testifying that Mr. Sankofa did not resemble the gunman. Had Mr. Hubbard's testimony been received into evidence, the jury or a later appeals court would have had a factual basis, at the very least, to determine that Mr. Sankofa should not be executed. Furthermore, at trial, Mr. Sankofa's attorney did not even seek to impeach the testimony of the prosecution's lone witness, Bernadine Skillern. Mr. Sankofa's lawyer was negligent in not pointing out to the trier of fact that Ms. Skillern failed to positively identify Mr. Sankofa in a photo array shown to her the night before she finally identified him in a lineup with four different men in the lineup. Mr. Sankofa's lawyer did not introduce a police report saying that Ms. Skillern focused on Mr. Sankofa's photo but declined to positively identify him, saying the shooter had a darker complexion. A competent attorney would have used this information to establish a foundation for impeaching Ms. Skillern's testimony--the only evidence of any kind linking Mr. Sankofa to the murder. In fact, a reasonably competent attorney would have realized that Mr. Hubbard's testimony alone would have seriously undermined a finding that the prosecution met its burden to present clear and convincing evidence establishing guilt beyond a shadow of a doubt with the scant evidence it offered. Clearly, directly conflicting witness testimony raises a legally significant doubt about a person's guilt. Mr. Sankofa's counsel's failure to offer this evidence is inexcusable neglect. As the clemency petition shows, there are many other instances of ineffective assistance of counsel, which do not need to be set forth again here. The pattern of negligence of Mr. Sankofa's trial lawyer is well established, and Mr. Sankofa should not pay with his life for his attorney's many mistakes. Unfortunately, simply failing to call important witnesses to testify at trial was not the end of Mr. Sankofa's lawyer's negligence. Because prior Texas court rules gave persons convicted of a crime only 30 days after their trial to present ``new'' evidence, Mr. Sankofa's subsequent counsel, retained in the mid-1990s, were not permitted to offer exonerating testimony to appellate courts. Specifically, these attorneys obtained statement from at least six witnesses to the incident who affirmed under oath that Mr. Sankofa did not commit the crime for which he may soon pay the ultimate price. Therefore, Mr. Governor, we request you to weigh all the evidence that is available to you, which could not be considered by the courts, and ensure that justice is done by preventing his execution and granting him a conditional pardon and the right to a new trial. Mr. Governor, what we have here is a very compelling case for granting Mr. Sankofa clemency. Unfortunately, we are concerned that the merits of his petition may get overlooked in the current atmosphere of your candidacy for the Office of the President of the United States. The life of an innocent man may be at stake, and politics must not be allowed to cause a miscarriage of justice that can never be undone. For the foregoing reasons, we respectfully request you to grant an immediate stay of Mr. Sankofa's execution, and work with the Texas parole board to approve his petition for clemency. Thank you for your consideration of this request. Please feel free to contact Jeffrey Davis, Legislative Counsel, in Congressman Towns' office should you need any additional information.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, Newsroom.org reported on June 6 that a group of human rights and religious freedom activists in India issued a written statement saying that political leaders have failed to guarantee the rule of law for religious minorities. This is significant, Mr. Speaker, because these are Indians saying this. The statement follows a similar one from the All-India Christian Council (AICC). The AICC said that it ``holds the government responsible for the lack of safety of Christians in various parts of India.'' The recent statement was signed by Hasan Mansur, head of the Karnataka unit of the People's Union for Civil Liberties; Ruth Manorama of the National Alliance of Women's Organizations; Sister Dolores Rego, who represents 10,000 Catholic nuns in India; and H. Hanumanthappa, former chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, among others. The statement said that the Indian government is ``incapable of guaranteeing the rule of law for protecting the right to life and security of peace-loving citizens'' and ``has become so anarchic as to have derailed democracy.'' Indian human rights activists are saying that there is effectively no democracy in India. There have been several recent incidents. Just within the past few days a priest was murdered and five churches were bombed. A group of Christians was savagely beaten while distributing religious literature and Bibles. These are just the latest incidents of violence against Christians, a reign of terror that has been going on since Christmas 1998. In March, the Indian government murdered 35 Sikhs while President Clinton was visiting India. Remember that these Indian human rights leaders hold the government responsible for all these incidents. They were carried out by militant Hindu nationalists under the umbrella of the RSS, the parent organization of the BJP, the political party that rules India. The Indian government has murdered over 250,000 Sikhs, according to the Politics of Genocide by Inderjit Singh Jaijee of the Movement Against State Repression. And why does a democracy need a Movement Against State Repression? India has also killed more than 20,000 Christians in Nagaland, more than 70,000 Kashmiri Muslims, and tens of thousands of Dalits, Assamese, Manipuris, Tamils, and others. It is holding about 50,000 Sikhs as political prisoners without charge or trial, as well as thousands of others. It offends me that our government continues to funnel aid to a government that has such a complete disregard for basic human rights. We should immediately cut off American aid to India until everyone there enjoys the liberties that we expect from democratic states. India should be declared a terrorist state. And we should put the Congress on record in support of self-determination for the people of Khalistan, Kashmir, Nagaland, and all the other nations seeking their freedom. That is what we can do to ensure freedom and the rule of law in the troubled South Asian subcontinent. Mr. Speaker, I submit the Newsroom Article of June 6 into the Record. Indian Human Rights Activists Chastise Politicians for Deteriorating Rule of Law Delhi, India, 6 June 2000 (Newsroom)--Prominent Indian advocates of human rights and religious freedom accused political leaders in a written statement of failing to guarantee the rule of law for social and religious minorities and appealed to the government to uphold the rule of law and India's constitutional democracy. The All Indian Christian Council last week had issued a similar statement expressing concern ``about the unabated violence against Christians'' taking place in the state of Gujarat and elsewhere. The council said it ``holds the central government responsible for the lack of safety of Christians in various parts of India.'' Among the signatories of last month's statement were Hasan Mansur, a Muslim intellectual who also heads the Karnataka unit of the People's Union of Civil Liberties, a well-known civil rights group; Ruth Manorama of the National Alliance for Women's Organizations; Sister Dolores Rego, who represents 10,000 Catholic nuns in India; and H. Hanumanthappa, former chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Indians are ``deeply disturbed about the virulent, premediated, and recurrent attacks on persons and institutions of the social, cultural, and religious minority communities being carried out in recent months by the Sangh Parivar (various Hindu groups) in different parts of the country,'' the advocates said. ``The unending spate of propaganda unleashed against these communities is a matter of rave concern to us. We are very much distressed about the dubious manner in which the political leaders at the helm of affairs in this country today have been responding to such methodically orchestrated malicious behavior of these communal outfits.'' Government at the national and state levels is so disorganized that it is ``incapable of guaranteeing the rule of law for protecting the right to life and security of peace-loving citizens.'' It ``has become so anarchic as to have derailed democracy that was built up very assiduously during the past 50 years,'' the group charged. The statement comes amid continuing attacks against Christians and Muslims, as well as Dalits, the lowest group in India's caste system. Dalits typically perform the most menial tasks in Indian society and are shunned by members of upper castes. The rights advocates expressed their shock at recent attacks on Christians and members of the so-called ``untouchable'' community in India. They took particular note of the murders of seven Dalits who were burned to death by members of the dominant castes in Kambalapalli village in the south Indian state of Karnataka on March 11. Eleven Dalits died in the same way last month in the north Indian state of Bihar. ``We are dismayed at the direction in which the nation is moving,'' the statement said: ``. . . Social, cultural and religious minorities are the constant targets of these atrocious attacks. Recurrence of such assaults has become the order of the day. Inaction, or the lethargic response, to say the least, of the law-enforcing machinery is the maximum that the citizens are (acculturated) to expect from the governance system.'' The Christian Council was especially critical of what it called ``the whitewashing of communal incidents by the minority Commission'' and apathy on the part of the Delhi government in putting a stop to the violence. ``These are not criminal attacks, but planned, deliberate attacks on the Christian community by the elements of the Sangh Parivar,'' the council said. ``The culture of impunity that has been perpetuated is now getting out of control.''

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, the Council of Khalistan recently issued an open letter about the deplorable situation in Punjab, the Sikh homeland which declared its independence on October 7, 1987, as Khalistan. The Sikhs are under attack from a militant Hindu organization called the RSS. The RSS was formed during World War II in support of the Fascists. It is the parent organization of the ruling BJP and many other organizations also come under its umbrella. Its agenda is to promote fundamentalist Hindu nationalism. Two members of the ruling BJP, which is a part of the RSS, were quoted in the newspapers as saying that everyone who lives in India should be Hindu or subservient to Hinduism. Now the RSS is trying to form a satellite organization called the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat which is designed to subsume Sikhs under Hinduism and wipe out their religion. Since the ruling party is part of the RSS, it is implicitly part of this effort to eliminate the Sikh religion. As people who believe in freedom of religion, this assault on anyone's freedom of religion ought to concern all of us. The recent massacre of 35 Sikhs in Chatti Singhpora is just another chapter in this campaign. Two recent investigations have proven that the Indian government was responsible for that massacre. There are still 50,000 Sikhs political prisoners rotting in Indian jails without charge or trial. The Indian government has murdered over 250,000 Sikhs. Punjab is a police state. The only way to end this campaign against the Sikhs is to support self-determination and freedom for Punjab, Khalistan. Mr. Speaker, there are measures the United States can take to promote freedom for Khalistan and throughout South Asia. I urge the President to declare India a terrorist nation. We can cut off American aid and trade to India until all people there enjoy their basic human rights. And in accord with American principles, we must declare our support for self-determination for the people of Khalistan, the people of Kashmir, the people of Nagaland, and the other peoples and nations of South Asia. This can be achieved by allowing the people to vote in a free and fair plebiscite under international supervision on the question of independence. Such a plebiscite is similar to the periodic votes in Puerto Rico and Quebec on their political futures. This is how democratic nations do it and it is how great powers do it. If India wants to be taken seriously as a member of the family of democratic nations, it must allow self-determination and human rights for all peoples and nations within its artificial borders. Mr. Speaker, I would like to place the Council of Khalistan's open letter on the situation in Punjab into the Record. Council of Khalistan, Guru Gobind Singh, the Tenth Master, Washington, DC, May 12, 2000. A Sovereign Khalistan Is the Only Solution All Sikh Institutions and Present Leadership in Punjab Are Under Government Control Khalsa Ji: The militant Hindu fundamentalists of the RSS are now attacking the Sikh Nation. They are trying to insinuate themselves into the Sikh Nation by forming the ``Rashtriya Sikh Sangat.'' They are trying to bring Sikhs under the Hindu umbrella by any means necessary. The Sikh Nation must stay alert and fight back against these efforts. The only way to stop these efforts is political power. Without political power, nations perish. If we cannot reclaim our lost sovereignty, the RSS will succeed in its efforts to wipe out the Sikh Nation and the Sikh religion. Every day, we pray ``Raj Kare Ga Khalsa.'' Do we mean it? A true Sikh cannot lie to Guru. If we mean what we say, we must do everything we can to establish Khalsa Raj. The turmoil of the Akal Takht and the SGPC, and the other problems of the Sikh Nation are the result of the fact that we have lost the sovereignty that the Guru gave us. These problems have come about because the entire Sikh leadership and the Sikh institutions in Punjab are under Indian government control. We can only solve these problems by liberating our homeland, Khalistan. Why are there still 50,000 Sikhs rotting in Indian jails without charge or trial? Why have the Sikh leaders in Punjab been silent about the murders of over 250,000 Sikhs at the hands of the Indian government? There is an Akali government and there are other Akali parties like Mann's Akali Dal. Why can't they start a Shantmai Morcha to free those political prisoners? Why can't they demand that Amnesty International be allowed into Punjab to conduct an independent human-rights investigation? The government previously sent Professor Manjit Singh to destroy the Khalistan movement abroad. Now it has sent Simranjit Singh Mann. No Sikh leader who speaks for Khalistan will be allowed to leave the country and come here. There is moral degeneration of the Sikh character due to the lack of political power. Four years ago, the Sikh leadership passed the Amritsar Declaration. It said that if India did not grant Punjab complete autonomy within six months, they would start a peaceful agitation for Khalistan. Four years later, Mann still supports the Amritsar Declaration. He still says that there should be a federation with India controlling defense, foreign affairs, and finances. These are the things that define your political status. The other Sikh leaders in Punjab have backed away from even that position. On February 12 at the celebration of Sant Bhindranwale's birthday, Mann opposed the speakers who spoke for Khalistan, saying that they spoke only for themselves and that Bhindranwale supported secularism. The proposal for a federated India still keeps Hindustan in control. That is why Mann made it. At the Sikh Day parade, U.S. Congressman Major Owens raised slogans of ``Khalistan Zindabad,'' yet Mann would not even use the word Khalistan. He has long posed as a Khalistani. Even last year at the 300th anniversary celebration, he raised slogans of ``Khalistan Zindabad'' but now he has changed his stand. He, too, is clearly under government control. There is only one solution: a sovereign, free, and independent Khalistan, as declared on October 7, 1987. Only in a free Khalistan can Sikhs live in freedom, dignity, prosperity, and peace. The Sikh Nation will not achieve its legitimate aspirations with any of the current political parties in Punjab. None of these parties will bring us a free Khalistan. Whether the Akalis, Congress, or the Akali Dal Mann is elected, elections under the Indian constitution will not free Khalistan and they will not end the slavery of the Sikh Nation and the corruption in the Punjab government. Badal made three promises to get elected: that he would release all political prisoners, that he would punish guilty police officers, and that he would appoint a commission to look into the excesses by the Indian government against the Sikh Nation. He could not even keep these modest promises. Instead, he put the heat on the People's Commission and shut it down. The massacre of 35 Sikhs in Chatti Singhpora shows that without sovereignty, the Indian oppression of the Sikh Nation will continue. An investigation by the Ludhiana-based International Human Rights Organization, led by D.S. Gill, showed that the Indian government was responsible for the massacre. A recent report by the Justice Ajit Singh Bains, chairman of the Punjab Human Rights Organization, Sardar Inderjit Singh Jaijee, convenor of the Movement Against State Repression, and General Kartar Singh Gill, also found that the government counterinsurgency forces were responsible. This atrocity underlines the need for a sovereign, independent Khalistan. Punjab is a police state. None of the political parties will bring us Khalistan. The Sikh Nation needs new leadership and a new party that are committed to liberating Khalistan. We need a Khalsa Raj Party. The Khalsa Raj Party should be committed to self-determination. It should demand freedom for Khalistan and any peaceful, democratic, nonviolent means should be used to achieve this goal, whether it is a plebiscite or any other democratic means. The only way to escape Indian slavery is to liberate Khalistan. New Sikh leadership emerge to free the Sikh Nation. They should raise the slogan ``India Quit Khalistan'' and start a Shantmai Morcha until we achieve freedom. We have now seen how the Indian government controls Sikh institutions and the entire Sikh leadership in Punjab. Unless the Sikh Nation brings back the Sikh spirit and fight for truth and justice, the Khalsa Panth will not prosper. Remember the Guru Ka Bag Morcha and the Jaito Morcha. We did it then and we can do it now. Only in a free Khalistan can the Sikh religion flourish. Only in a free Khalistan will Sikhs be able to live in freedom and dignity. Only then can the Sikh Nation finally enjoy the glow of freedom that was promised to us so many years ago. Khalsa Ji, the onus is on us. The time is now. We must start a Khalsa Raj Party and begin a Shantmai Morcha to liberate Khalistan. We must reclaim our lost sovereignty. New, young leadership which has dedication and the spirit of sacrifice must emerge. Support only these new leaders who are honest, dedicated, fearless, and committed to freedom for Khalistan. India is on the verge of disintegration. Kashmir is going to be free from Indian control. Let us make use of this opportunity to free Khalistan. Sincerely, Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President, Council of Khalistan.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, on May 31 Newsroom.org reported that a May 21 bomb blast that injured 30 Christians during a prayer meeting was apparently carried out by the RSS, the pro-Fascist, militant Hindu fundamentalist organization that is the parent organization of the BJP, the party that leads India's government. According to the Newsroom report, which was brought to me by the President of the Council of Khalistan, Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, the bomb exploded during a meeting of the Women's Club, a Christian group. An extensive investigation by the All-India Christian Conference showed that the Sangh Parivar, a branch of the RSS, was responsible for the incident despite police claims that it came about as a result of strife within the Christian community. The Catholic Bishops' Conference has written to the Indian government demanding action. This bombing is the latest in a string of violent attacks on Christians and other religious minorities. According to the article, ``the community is being threatened with anonymous letters and telephone calls ordering citizens to stop Christian prayers.'' Anti- Christian slogans have been painted on walls all over town. In the light of incidents like this against Christians, Sikhs, Muslims, and other minorities, the United States must act. Our aid to India, one of the largest recipients of American aid, must be stopped until all people's rights are respected. India should be declared a terrorist state and punished accordingly. Congress should call for a free and fair plebiscite under international supervision to allow the Christians, Sikhs, and other minority nations under Indian rule to enjoy self-determination, as a democracy should. I would like to place the article from Newsroom into the Record. I urge my colleagues to read it and see the reality of religious freedom in India. Christians in India claim Bombing Is Part of Hate Campaign NEW DELHI, India, 30 May 2000 (Newsroom)--A bomb blast that injured 30 people in the coastal state of Andhra Pradesh last week was part of a campaign of hate by Hindu extremists, leaders of a Christian organization claim. The blast at a prayer meeting in the Women's Club at Machilipatnam on May 24 was not the result of strife within the community as police first said, according to a team assembled by the All India Christian Council (AICC). The AICC has presented its report to Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, who said in a press release that he has directed police to review the investigation. ``We have already written to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee about this,'' Father Dominic of the Catholic Bishop's Conference of India (CBCI) said. ``With the report we hope the government will take it seriously.'' The incident follows a series of attacks against Christian institutions, priests, and nuns in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh. The AICC team--composed of an advocate, a pastor, and a community representative--said it found disturbing elements of a deliberate hate campaign by the Sangh Parivar, the extended family of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist organization that is the ideological parent of India's governing Bharatiya Janata Party. Provocative statements and signs have been painted on the walls in the town, the AICC said. The community is being threatened with anonymous letters and telephone calls ordering citizens to stop Christian prayers in the schools or face dire consequences, according to the AICC. Police previously attributed the bombing to rivalry between two local pastors. After interviewing Christians belonging to both congregations, the AICC concluded that police were incorrect. Local police have since said that senior officers who made the earlier statements did so in haste. ``Going by the facts, evidence, and circumstances, in our opinion the cause of the blast is a handiwork of fundamentalists who conspired and executed a meticulous precision blast without leaving any evidence to the site,'' the AICC report said. The bomb was not an ``ordinary (crude) one but it appears to be either a time bomb or a remote bomb,'' according to the report.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, it is with the utmost pleasure and privilege that I rise today to salute the contributions of the Tony Modica Pizza Dance Foundation and One World-One Heart, Inc., organizations which exemplifies our nation's direction of unity and cultural exchange through inter-generational activities and programs. One World-One Heart, Inc., a non-profit organization, serves to provide access to educational, recreational, cultural and intergenerational programs for participants from all ethnic, religious, economic and cultural backgrounds. The founders, Catherine Laport and Steven Kaplansky have over 30 years of experience of providing non- profit, social and recreational services to communities at large. Tony Modica came to this country as an immigrant and became successful in the pizza industry. This foundation is a means for him to give back to the community through a program that benefits the elderly and the youth. Modica uses pizza as an international symbol of unity. Pizza is a favorite food of both young and old and its incorporation into a program which features song and dance makes for an enjoyable experience for all involved. The foundation has created programs that promote unity; and encourage children to stay in school and improve their grades. After his lectures, the students and seniors socialize and are treated to pizza. The Tony Modica Pizza Dance Foundation and One World-One Heart join together every year in June and sponsor a month-long celebration of unity and to raise awareness of the joys of life through free public activities for all ages which include lectures, song, dance and pizza. The concept behind the pizza campaign is a simple but powerful one. They are not merely celebrating the worldwide love of the delicacy, but also the theory that the pizza with its varied toppings on a round of bread is symbolic of the many cultures in our society. Our culture, like the toppings on the pizza is very different, yet the toppings taste great on one foundation of bread. We as a global society have more in common than we sometimes can imagine, and our differences can be greatly appreciated. It is this commonality which is embedded in the joy of life, and respect for one another that is celebrated in the month long pizza campaign in June. The events celebrate unity and cultural diversity in a fun, spirited way. The campaign brings together corporate, non-profit, religious and elected officials who come together to support a month of unity; understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity. The Tony Modica Foundation and One World-One Heart, Inc. are positive examples of how private citizens and non-profit organizations can make a difference in the community with the support of business and government. It is for these reasons that I implore my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to join me in recognizing The Tony Modica Pizza Foundation, One World-One Heart and ``the Pizza'' in proclaiming June, ``The National Taste of Pizza Month.''

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of Brooklyn's finest residents, Michael L. Pesce, who was recognized last night at the First Tri Block Association's June meeting. Michael L. Pesce was born in the small coastal town of Mola di Bari, Italy. He and his family immigrated to America when he was 12 years of age and settled in the Carroll Gardens section of Brooklyn. He attended local public schools and graduated from City College with a Bachelor's degree in Economics. Justice Pesce received his J.D. Degree from Detroit College of Law in 1969 and was admitted to the bar in 1970. He began his career working for the Legal Aid Society in their Hunts Point, Bronx office, handling a wide range of civil matters. In 1972, he was elected to the New York State Assembly, representing the 52nd Assembly District. Over the next eight years, he served on many committees, including Labor, Governmental Operations, and Higher Education, and served as Chair of the Special Assembly Committee on Ports and Terminals. During this period, he was also a partner in the firm of Pesce & Levine. Justice Pesce was elected to the Civil Court in 1980, and was assigned to the Criminal Court, where he served for three years. He was designated an Acting Justice of the Supreme Court in 1984 and was elected to a full term in 1989 from Kings and Richmond Counties. In 1996, he was designated Administrative Judge for the 2nd Judicial District. He has long been actively involved in Carroll Gardens and in the wider Italian-American community. Justice Pesce serves on the Board of Directors of Amico, Inc., and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Visiting Nurse Association of Brooklyn. In 1986, the Italian government granted Justice Pesce the title of ``Cavaliere'' (Order of Merit). Please join me in honoring Justice Michael L. Pesce, one of Brooklyn's finest.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ophelia Young Perry. Though a native of Buckingham County, Virginia, she presently resides with her mother, Thelma Jones and husband, William Frank Perry Jr. in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, New York. They have one son, William Frank Perry III. She is an assistant to Brooklyn Borough President Howard Golden, and serves as a liaison to the Brooklyn Christian community. She has been an active member of the Berean Missionary Baptist Church in Brooklyn for 49 years. Ophelia has a passion for her community and civic affairs. She is currently the president of ChurchWomen United in Brooklyn, an ecumenical movement of Christian women. Under Mrs. Perry's leadership, the membership has increased to include over 700 Christian women. It is the largest unit of CWU in the country. CWU sponsors many other activities to raise funds for contributions to others in need, such as it's Prison Ministry and holiday sharing program where 2,000 bedside bags are annually prepared and distributed to hospitals, nursing homes and to those who are incarcerated. The group also contributed to world wide church activities. In addition to supporting the Bedford-Stuyvesant Ambulance Service, recently CWU really supported the flood victims in North Carolina. In response to shrewd spiritual insight, Ophelia conceived the idea for an observance centered on ``The Seven Last Words of Christ''. For 16 years, the ecumenical worship service has begun at 7:00 am on Good Friday and the attendance continues to grow. These services have been held in various community churches and have continued to draw over 3,000 worshipers. Participants travel throughout the metropolitan area and from many other parts of the United States to attend this annual worship celebration. Ophelia Perry serves as the chairperson of the Development Committee of the Brooklyn Division of the Council of Churches. She is a lifetime member of the National Council of Negro Women, Brooklyn section. She is also a member of the Society for the Preservation of Weeksville. Ophelia has been honored and recognized for her civic work and achievements. Her many awards include: ``Woman of the Year''--The National Conference of Christians and Jews; Salute to Brooklyn Women Leadership Humanitarian Award--The Brooklyn Urban League; The Caribbean American Award--Chamber of Commerce: Outstanding Service Award--The Council of Churches--City of New York; ``Woman of Influence''--Brooklyn YWCA; Thomas R. Fortune Community Service Award--Unity Democratic Club; Valiant Women Award--Church Women United; The Sandy F. Ray Award; and The Christian Service award. I wish to recognize the lifelong efforts of Ophelia Young Perry, and wish her continued success in her future endeavors.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question and to allow the House to make in order a substitute that I would like to offer with the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters), the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell). Given the opportunity, I do believe many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle would enthusiastically support our substitute which would give Americans a bigger tax cut than H.R. 3961 and begin to close the digital divide, with no new costs to taxpayers. We cannot ignore the digital divide issue; we must improve the way our children learn. Specifically, our proposed amendment would immediately reduce the telecommunications excise tax from 3 percent to 1 percent, and would repeal the tax entirely by September 30, 2002. This tax cut would give Americans over $1.5 billion, that is B as in boy, more in tax relief than they would get under H.R. 3961. Mr. Speaker, I think all Americans would benefit from the repeal of this regressive tax on talking, and a vote in support of the previous question is a vote against giving Americans greater tax relief than the bill currently gives. I believe this is an important improvement. Our proposed amendment would also dedicate the funds collected by this tax to telecommunications projects to help close the digital divide. Just as money collected from the gasoline tax is used to improve our Nation's highway infrastructure, money collected from the telephone excise tax should be devoted to improving our telecommunications infrastructure. For example, money in our Digital Divide Bridge trust fund could be used to fund grants and loan guarantees to accelerate private sector deployment of broadband networks in rural areas such as California, Louisiana, and the western United States. The projects may also include supporting wireless high-speed Internet development to schools in underserved urban areas like Brooklyn, for instance. We believe the revenue generated from this telecommunications tax should be earmarked for telecommunications projects, instead of getting lost in the general revenue and allowing the digital divide to continue to go unabated. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I conclude by urging my colleagues to defeat the previous question and to make our proposed amendment in order. Mr. Speaker, I would like to say to my good friend from Ohio that this amendment would really, really move us in the right direction and begin to make certain that people that are left out will now be in. I think he would support that, so I am hoping that he will read it quickly and then join the band.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Calvin B. Alderman on the occasion of his graduation from Medgar Evers College. Mr. Alderman, born in Brooklyn, NY, was raised singularly by his mother. In 1986 his son, Calvin B. Alderman, Jr., was born. Two years after the arrival of his son came the birth of his daughters, Shakeera and Traquana. In an effort to support his children, he worked as a carpenter's apprentice for the Yonkers Construction Company for 5 years until he was shot three times in a robbery attempt. The incident left him with a spinal cord injury, requiring extensive physical rehabilitation therapy and a wheelchair for mobility. After his recovery he became determined to improve the quality of his life. He began researching the rights of disabled persons. He discovered that many people with disabilities were unaware not only of their civil rights but, of federal, state, and city agencies which provide services to help ease the burdens of the disabled. He saw his accident as a way of getting him to help others with disabilities. After his research, he decided to attend Medgar Evers College, and began to advocate for the disabled. He entered the CUNY B. A. Program at Medgar Evers College and will now graduate in June 2000. While enrolled at Medgar Evers College, he became actively involved in student organizations. He was the president of the Differently Abled Student Association (DASA) from 1995 to 1998, a nondelegate in the University Student Senate (USS) from 1996 to 1998, and a student advocate from 1995 to the present. He has also served as the vice president of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. Alpha Phi Chapter, from 1997 to 2000, a member of the Public Administration/Public Policy Club from 1996 to 1997, and the vice-chairman of Disabled Student Affairs from 1998 to 1999 to name some of his affiliations. Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize the accomplishments of Calvin Alderman, and wish him continued success in his advocacy and future ventures.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Women's Day 2000 Committee of St. Anthony Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York. On Sunday, May 28, 2000, the Women's Department of St. Anthony will celebrate their annual Women's Day. To celebrate the first Women's Day of the new Millennium, the theme of the event will be ``Striving to be a Virtuous Woman,'' which is taken from scripture, Proverbs 31:10. The task of being virtuous is not easy to accomplish, but it is attainable. The woman of Proverbs 31 had it all. She had excellence, greatness, the favor of God, love and honor, the law of kindness in tongue, morality and character. All of these amazing attributes are the result of a God-centered life. Mr. Speaker, the reference to the Virtuous Woman in the scriptures is fine and appropriate for this inaugural Women's Day celebration of this new Millennium. I know the ladies of St. Anthony well, and I can say without hesitation, in the tradition of the late First Lady, Sister Grace McCollum, that every one of them exemplifies excellence in leadership, spiritual integrity, high moral and ethical standards. They truly are made in the image of the Virtuous Woman. While space will not allow me to name each of these remarkable women individually, I do want to pay special tribute here to Rev. Dr. Carrie Johnson, Rev. Renee Washington and Rev. Barbara Williams Norman, the eloquent and passionate guest speakers at the celebration. Mr. Speaker, I'd also like to recognize the Chairperson, Sister Elizabeth King-Atwood and Co-Chairperson, Sister Alisa Parris, as well as Captains of the Women's Day 2000 Committee: Sister Tiffany Hiers; Sister Wilhelmena Lewis; Sister Deidre Lewis; Deaconess Enid Hinds- Robinson; Sister Earnestine Frazier; Sister Penny Lilley; Sister Alma Reedy-Dorsey; Sister Carolyn Vails; Sister Clara Martin, and Sister Clara Hayes. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize Rev. Theresa Moon, Chaplain; Evangelist Mary Harden; Evangelist Eva Wise; Mother Lucille Norman; Mother Lillian Carter-Wilson; Mother Selma Alexander, and Mother Beatrice Brockington. These women, and the many I could not name here, deserve our recognition and praise.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Helen McDowell, a nurse, a parent, and a pillar of her community. Her motto is: ``Lots of talk and activity don't impress me; results are what really counts.'' I honor her today because she has an impressive history of achieving results and serving the needs of others. Helen McDowell was born in Montclair, New Jersey, the daughter of the late George McDowell of Birmingham, Alabama and his wife, Mary, of Halifax, North Carolina. After living several years in New Jersey and Queens, New York, Helen McDowell moved with her mother and two brothers to Stuyvesant Avenue in Brooklyn, New York. In her new home in Brooklyn, Helen attended the Holy Rosary School and Catherine McAuley High School. These distinguished institutions prepared her well for college, and she began her college career at St. John's University. After spending some time at St. John's, Ms. McDowell pursued a course of study at the Bellevue School of Nursing at New York University. Public Nursing was her forte, and her interest in it led her to continue her studies at Teachers College at Columbia University. ``Ms. Mac,'' as her friends know her, began an illustrious teaching career in San Francisco, California. Through her teaching position in San Francisco, she got the opportunity to travel to Africa, Haiti and the Eastern Caribbean with the United Nations' World Health Organization. As you can imagine, during her seventeen years away from her community in Brooklyn, Ms. Mac had the good fortune to combine her work, travel and, sometimes, play on several continents. Ultimately, Ms. Mac returned to us in Brooklyn, reestablishing her roots in Bedford Stuyvesant. However, she continued to fulfill her commitment to lifelong learning, a cornerstone of her philosophy of life. So, at the age of 50, she enrolled in a graduate program in Business Administration, which she completed with distinction. An early retirement enabled Ms. Mac to become deeply involved with non-profit organizations in her local community. She eventually established Marimac Services, Inc., a corporation that enabled her to invest in and assist others with tenant and building management services. Many local professional organizations benefited from her dedication, expertise and professionalism. While she is too shy to admit her many talents, like her fluency in French, her family and friends know how remarkable she is. Whether she is spending her time overseeing building renovations, home repair or decorating, her energy and resources seem endless. Ms. Mac is more than worthy of receiving this honor, Mr. Speaker, and I hope that all of my colleagues will join me today in honoring this truly remarkable woman.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, on this the 34th anniversary of the independence of Guyana, I rise to honor the memory and celebrate the achievements of the Hon. Cheddie B. Jagan, the former President of Guyana, and one of the most committed and dedicated political leaders in the Caribbean region and in the Third World community. Dr. Cheddie Jagan, like his contemporary and compatriot, Forbes Burnham, enjoyed a political career that can only be described as unique and unprecedented. Cheddie B. Jagan was born on March 22, 1918, in the village of Port Mourant, in the County of Berbice, in the nation of Guyana. He was the son of Jagan and Bachoni, indentured plantation workers who had migrated from the state of Uttar Predesh in India. Dr. Jagan was to retain a profound commitment to the concerns of the rural sugar workers throughout his career. Dr. Jagan was educated at Howard University and Northwestern University in the United States and returned to Guyana in 1946 to begin a remarkable political odyssey. In 1950, he founded the People's Progressive Party and, in April 1953, he headed the first democratically elected government in Guyana's history. In 1957, and again in 1961, he became Chief Minister of the Government. In 1964, he became a leader of the Parliamentary Opposition, and in October 1992, he was elected President of Guyana. On March 6, 1997, this monumental political figure passed away at the Walter Reed hospital in Washington, D.C. Dr. Cheddie Jagan lived in a period of profound repression during the Cold War. Regrettably, the government of the United States played a significant role in destabilizing the government of Cheddie Jagan. In 1953, it persuaded the British Government to suspend the constitution; in 1955, it helped to split the national movement; and, in 1962, it helped to provoke civil disturbances. This tribute is a small attempt to atone for this gross miscarriage of justice. Through all these political vicissitudes, Dr. Jagan maintained a constant and unwavering commitment to the cause of the Guyana working class, to the concept of working class unity and to the principles of constitutional democracy. In spite of overwhelming odds, Cheddie Jagan, like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., ultimately believed that ``truth pressed to earth will rise again'' and that ``the arm of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.''

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, on this the 34th anniversary of the independence of Guyana, I rise to honor the memory and celebrate the achievements of the Honorable Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, the former President of Guyana, and one of the most charismatic political personalities in the Caribbean region and in the Third World community. The Hon. Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, like his contemporary and compatriot, Cheddie Jagan, enjoyed a political career that was unique and unparalleled. Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham was born on February 20, 1923, in the village of Kitty, in the County of Demerara, in the nation of Guyana. He was the son of James Burnham, a Headmaster and Rachael Sampson, a housewife. From his parents, he inherited a profound love of learning and an intimate knowledge of the Bible. Forbes Burnham was educated at Queens College in Guyana, London University and Gray's Inn in London, England. Upon his return from London, he embarked upon a political career that was nothing short of remarkable. He was a co-founder of the People's Progressive Party and was appointed Minister of Education in the first democratically elected government in Guyana. After the split with the People's Progressive Party, he founded the People's National Congress and became Leader of the Opposition in 1957. In 1966, he became Prime Minister of an independent Guyana and, in 1980, became the first President of the Republic of Guyana. From his early years, Forbes Burnham had exhibited signs of academic brilliance. His keen intellect, sharp wit, photographic memory and awesome gift of public speaking, made Forbes Burnham a formidable political figure in Guyana, in the Caribbean and in the Third World. Forbes Burnham was in many respects a larger than life figure--a voracious reader of books, a passionate lover of the arts, a connoisseur of fine food, exotic wines and expensive cigars. He was in many respects the Caribbean Renaissance Man. However, Forbes Burnham was more than a Renaissance Man. He was a Guyanese nationalist committed to the political and economic empowerment of his nation. He remained a dedicated advocate for the working class and remained President of the Guyan Labor Union for most of his career. He was a passionate supporter of Caribbean integration and Third World empowerment. Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham remains one of the most remarkable political personalities in the history of the Caribbean.