Diane Watson

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in very strong opposition to H.R. 3313, the so-called ``Marriage Protection Act,'' a misnomer that would make George Orwell smile. The fact is, just like the Federal Marriage Amendment, this Court Stripping bill is unnecessary, unwise, and serves as little more than a distraction from the many urgent matters facing our Nation. Like the Federal Marriage Amendment, the Court Stripping bill is not needed. The Defense of Marriage Act remains the law of the land and its Constitutionality has not been overturned in any United States court. Furthermore, H.R. 3313 is a grave threat to the protection and enforcement of civil rights laws, and will erase decades of social progress all in the name of ``marriage protection.'' Historically, the judicial branch has often been the sole protector of the rights of minority groups against the will of the popular majority. Cases such as Brown v. Board of Education come to mind. The Court Stripping bill would deny the courts the ability to hear challenges to a legislation by a specific minority group, in this case gays and lesbians, thus creating a slippery slope where any law could be subject to ``courtstripping.'' This is a serious challenge to our fundamental system of checks and balances. The Court Stripping bill is the first, and undoubtably NOT the last, effort by the Republican Congress to hamstring an independent Federal judiciary. This reckless bill would take away even the Supreme Court's authority to decide on a Federal law. Those who are advocating the Court Stripping bill today use the argument of ``judicial activism'' in Massachusetts and other States as a justification. Make no mistake about it, these same arguments were also advanced by defenders of segregation in the South in response to the Brown v. Board of Education decision and other decisions such as Loving v. Virginia that invalidated State anti-miscegenation law. There are so many issues that this Republican-controlled Congress has failed to address. We don't have a budget. We haven't passed all of our appropriations bills we are engaged in, with no end in sight, and our economy has failed to generate the jobs necessary to keep the GDP growing. Meanwhile, this Republican Congress is taking up a divisive, discriminatory, and completely unnecessary legislation just to appeal to their far right base and to drive a wedge into this upcoming election. It is cynical and simply dead wrong. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in rejecting this hateful, unconstitutional, and discriminatory legislation.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I want to read words of reflection about one who believed who just passed away, and read this scripture, ``God had the power to work within her and to accomplish abundantly far more than all she could ask or imagine.'' Aunita T. Hudson-Edwards was born to Levi Hudson and Elnora Davis Hudson on September 20, 1915 in Carthage, Texas. She was the first of three children, and she just recently passed away. When she married Frank Edwards, she enjoyed parenting four children. Many of you might know Willis Edwards, Brenda Joe Edwards and Edward Earl and Frank. In California she worked as a teacher in Palm Springs Unified School District for 15 years and found herself taking in children who had no one else to claim them. She was active in the community, and as a quiet force demonstrated her trail-blazing tendency by founding the Palm Springs Chapter of the NAACP and joining as a founding member of the First Baptist Church. She was a life member of the NAACP. Mr. Speaker, she was a stateswoman, this woman that we pay tribute as she passes on. She enjoyed coming here to the White House during the Clinton and Bush administrations and tended two Congressional Gold Medal ceremonies, one for Rosa Parks and the recent ceremony for Dorothy Height. She loved going to the NAACP national conventions. She was a great soul we will always remember, and wish that her legacy would produce more like Aunita T. Hudson-Edwards. Mrs. Aunita TriDoris Hudson-Edwards Words of Reflection about one who believed-- ``God had the power to work within (her) and to accomplish abundantly far more than all (she) could ask or imagine . . .'' Ephesians 3:20 (NRSV) Aunita T. Hudson-Edwards was born to Levi Hudson and Elnora Davis Hudson on Sept. 20, 1915 in Carthage, Texas. She was the first of three children. She attended public school in Carthage, Texas and graduated from Bishop College, Marshall, Texas. She taught in the Texas public school system for many years. At an early age she united with Bethlehem Baptist Church of Carthage and remained active until she relocated to California. She married Frank Edwards and enjoyed parenting four children, Willis, Brenda Jo, Edward Earl, and Frank. In California she worked as a teacher in the Palm Springs Unified School System for 15 years and found herself ``taking in'' children who had no one to claim them. She was active in the community, and as a quiet force demonstrated her trailblazing tendencies by founding the Palm Springs chapter of the NAACP and joining as a founding member of the First Baptist Church. She was a life member of the NAACP. As an elder stateswoman she enjoyed accompanying Willis to the White House during the Clinton and Bush Administrations, and attended two Congressional Gold Medal ceremonies (Rosa Parks and Dorothy Height), NAACP national conventions, Congressional Black Caucus weekends, NAACP Image Awards, and numerous awards and community service events. Aunita T. Hudson-Edwards departed this life July 19, 2004. She is preceded in death by her husband, Frank, her sister, Nelva J. Thomas and brother, Hodges Hudson, both of Kansas City, MO and her son Edward Earl. She leaves to cherish her memory, a son, Willis Edwards of Los Angeles, CA; a daughter, Brenda Joe Pine of Palm Springs, CA; a son Frank Edwards of Northridge, CA; grandchildren: Kisha Dixon, Zachary Clayton, Renita Pine, Natalie Edwards, Antoinette Pine, Charlotte Pine, Derrick Pine, Teresa (Kent) Taylor, Tanya (Kenneth) Molinelli, Karon (Lennard) Lehman, and Sharon Edwards; great- grandchildren: Devian, Fanasha, David, Demaria, Kadisha, Eric, Sierra, Alonzo, Jr, Demitra, Tony, Alonzo, Jason, Jr., Jordan, Deshaun, Delawn, Derrian, Armani, Sherlita, Juan, Vivianna, Derrick Jordan, DeMond, Jade, Arika, Eleana, Suamana (Bright), Mattias, Christian, Michelle, Heather, and Thomas; a nephew, Perry C. Daniels of Longview, TX; a niece, Gwendolyn C. Moore of Miami, FL; niece, Jacquetta J. West of Kansas City, MO; brother-in-law, Dr. Jackson Thomas of Kansas City, MO. She also leaves a host of nieces and nephews in addition to the many relatives and friends in California and Texas. Aunita TriDoris Hudson-Edwards made herself available to be used by God. Because of her, young people were rescued, communities were activated, churches fulfilled their ministries, and her family was blessed. Thank you, Mother Aunita, for giving us so much--We pledge to honor your legacy of humble service with the establishment of a computer lab for senior citizens at the First Baptist Church of Palm Springs sponsored by the Tavis Smiley Foundation and the Aunita TriDoris Hudson-Edwards Scholarship Fund in your name. Until we meet again! July 21, 2004. Homegoing Services for Willis Edwards' Mom We mourn not because she is lost, for God has taken her home, but because we will miss her. Yet, we are assured that if we are faithful, that parting will be only for a short while. We thank God that Mother Edwards came our way and loved us. Willis Edwards has asked that you, his extended family and friends know of the Homegoing Services for his Mom-- aunita tridoris hudson-edwards Service in Los Angeles, Saturday, July 24, 2004, 11:00 AM, Ward AME Church, 1177 W. 25th Street, Los Angeles, CA. Rev. Norman D. Copeland, Pastor and Officiant, Bishop Carolyn Tyler-Guidry, Eulogist. Service in Palm Springs, Tuesday, July 27, 2004, 11:00 AM, First Baptist Church, 588 Las Vegas Road, Palm Springs, CA. Rev. Rodney S. Croom, Officiant/Pastor. Services conducted by: Agape Funeral Home--4250 South Central Avenue--Los Angeles, CA. For those who have inquired, in lieu of flowers you may want to make a contribution to the Aunita Tridoris Hudson- Edwards Scholarship Fund to provide assistance to young people pursuing college and/or graduate degrees.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, on August 23, President Bush's new overtime pay take-away rules will go into effect. These rules will slash wages for over 6 million Americans. Since 2001, this administration has passively stood by while Americans lost their jobs and unemployment benefits; but here in Congress, we have a duty to fight for the safety and security of workers who need overtime wages to pay their bills and make ends meet. If these rules go forward, the outcome will be disastrous for working families who depend on the income from overtime wages in order to live. Hardworking mothers and fathers in my hometown of Los Angeles will see their workplace more than their homes, their bosses more than their families as they are forced to work longer hours for less pay. Mr. Speaker, it is outrageous for Congress to deny overtime pay to the nurses, policemen, secretaries and every other person who works for a living, while the administration rewards millionaires and big corporations with tax breaks. Slashing overtime wages is another example of this administration's disregard for the well-being of the middle class.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, we are now almost 3 months past the deadline for Congress to pass a Federal budget. At this point, it is likely that Congress will not pass one at all. The cause of this breakdown is the ongoing misguided policies of the administration which have put irresponsible tax cuts ahead of the programs that Americans rely on to move our country forward. One such program is COPS, or Community Oriented Policing Services. Since its inception, COPS has put more than 140,000 police officers on the streets. In Los Angeles, my hometown, that meant 240 new officers last year alone. But despite all of the talk about supporting local police, Republicans are starving the COPS program of funds. Because of their marriage to big tax cuts, Republicans have proposed cutting this vital program by over $100 million. That means about half as many new police on the streets next year.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor and memorialize a great American, Juanita R. Phillips, a retired educator in the St. Louis public schools. She died of natural causes on Thursday, July 1, 2004, 3 months shy of celebrating her 100th birthday. She was born in Chicago, Illinois, on September 26, 1904, 3 months, as I said, before her centennial. She attended the Clinton Iowa public schools and graduated in 1927 from the University of California at Los Angeles and earned a master's degree in English from Ohio State University. After graduation, she taught English at various historically black institutions such as Florida A&M College in Tallahassee, Florida, and Hampton Institute in Hampton, Virginia, before moving to St. Louis. In 1943 she moved with her husband, Dr. A.C. Phillips, an educator who served as principal of Washington Technical, Vashon, and Central High Schools, and after retirement as a former president of New Age Federal Savings and Loan in North St. Louis. Mrs. Phillips continued her love for teaching English at Soldan High School, from which she retired in 1972, and subsequently served as a tutorial volunteer. During her lifetime, Mrs. Phillips remained engaged in various local and national organizations until she became well advanced in age. As a founding member and first president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority's Alpha Gamma Chapter, my chapter, at UCLA in the 1920s, she also dated Ralph Bunche, a classmate while in college. She continued an active social life in St. Louis where she maintained membership in the Booklovers Club, the Garden Club, a local women's bridge club, as well as shared activities with her husband as an archousa in the Beta Eta Boule, The Anniversary Club, The Couples Club, and numerous civic and philanthropic projects. She was a voracious reader, avid gardener, a consummate traveler, and a generous hostess who enjoyed sharing her time and energy to make life more pleasant for her friends and family, and especially her grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, I want to say I just returned from the Alpha Kappa Alpha Convention, over 10,000 women, and announced to them her passing. But the remarkable thing is that she almost saw a full century of life and we, her family, she was my aunt, need to emulate her spirit because she believed in peace. She loved poetry, and she wrote to us poetically. The last conversation I had with her she said to me, I think I have just lived too long. And I responded, you will live forever in our hearts and our minds.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. We need observing. I observed the election in 2000 from Micronesia. I was ashamed. I was embarrassed because I had to go out and interpret what had happened. I did not find those elections to be free or fair. The spaghetti ballot, the hanging chad, and the Supreme Court's decision, cutting off the counting of votes, so the person who had the largest number of votes did not win. And so we need the world to see how our elections are run because Florida cheated, and we are not going to allow it to cheat again.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), the ranking member, my good friend and very distinguished Member of the House, and the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Ballenger) for supporting H. Res. 576, a bipartisan resolution urging the government of the People's Republic of China to improve its protection of intellectual property rights, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to thank them for their leadership and their diligence in bringing the bill to the floor for consideration. Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 576 is a balanced and responsible piece of legislation. It recognizes China's efforts to deal with the serious problems of intellectual property violations, as well as encourages China to redouble its efforts to rectify a serious problem that results in the loss of revenues, according to the USTR's most recent figures, in excess of $2.5 billion yearly to U.S. companies and manufacturers. The resolution recommends that the Chinese government implement more effective customs and border measures to prevent exportation of pirated goods into the United States and into other countries. It encourages the Chinese government to fully and comprehensively implement a legal framework to protect intellectual property rights; and it urges the Chinese government to give greater market access to foreign producers of legitimate products to reduce the demand for counterfeit goods. In crafting H. Res. 576, my staff shared the text of the resolution with various Federal Departments and agencies, including the State and Commerce Departments, U.S. Customs, the U.S. Copyright Office, USTR, and the United States Patent and Trademark Offices. In many instances, changes suggested by these various entities have been incorporated into the final version of H. Res. 576. Mr. Speaker, I will submit for the Record at this point letters that I have received from Marybeth Peters, register of copyrights from the United States Copyright Office; and Douglas Lowenstein, the president of Entertainment Software Association, in support of H. Res. 576. U.S. Copyright Office, Library of Congress, Washington, DC, March 30, 2004. Hon. Diane E. Watson, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Representative Watson: I am pleased to have this opportunity to respond to your request for the Copyright Office's views regarding H. Res. 576. I wholeheartedly agree that consideration of the problem of copyright infringement in China is especially important and timely. The Copyright Office has actively engaged our counterparts at the National Copyright Administration of China (NCAC) for over twenty years in an effort to foster better understanding and improve the protection of copyrighted works in China. Our most recent exchange was earlier this month, when we hosted a delegation led by Deputy Director General Wang Ziqiang of the NCAC for a one week symposium on the protection and enforcement of copyright. The delegation included officials from the central government in Beijing, officials from several of China's provinces with authority for the enforcement of copyright, and judges who hear copyright infringement cases. The Copyright Office also plays a crucial role in the United States' bilateral trade relations with China. We advise the Congress, the U.S. Trade Representative's Office, and other federal agencies on copyright protection and enforcement and we participate in trade talks held both in the U.S. and in China. Over the years, we have worked with China as it has transformed itself from a country that did not even have a copyright law into a WTO member. But we have also been dismayed by the persistent and overwhelming problem of copyright infringement in China. The U.S. copyright industries continue to report piracy rates of at least 90% across the board in China. This fact, combined with the size of the Chinese market and the growing problem of the export of pirated products from China, threatens, if gone unchecked, to deluge markets in the region and around the world with cheap, illegal copies of American products. Despite these threats, many American companies continue to invest in the Chinese market. I believe that this is indicative of the business opportunities in China. Thus, I see both a crisis of piracy and great opportunity. H. Res. 576 eloquently captures a balanced and realistic assessment of the situation in China and the Copyright Office supports it and hopes that it will be adopted. It is important for the Chinese Government to understand that the United States recognizes that much has been done, but also that it sees how much remains to do and how important it is to finish the job. Please feel free to contact me again on this or any other copyright matter. Sincerely, Marybeth Peters, Register of Copyrights.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, today is a great day for the protection of intellectual property rights in America and around the world. The U.S.- Australia Free Trade Agreement, of which I am a strong supporter, serves as a great testament to our Nation's commitment in safeguarding and strengthening the rights of intellectual property holders. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill. Australia and the United States have long had a strong relationship, be it economically, politically, and culturally. In addition to nearly $60 billion invested in the United States by Australian companies, two- way trade between the two countries is currently at over $28 billion per year and growing. The U.S.-Australia agreement before us today would further strengthen these economic ties by expanding market access for the distribution of U.S. entertainment products and by setting the highest standards of copyright protection for the modern digital age. For example, among many of its outstanding provisions, the Agreement would establish strong anti-circumvention provisions to prohibit tampering with copyright protection technologies. It includes strong IP enforcement language, which includes enhanced criminal standards for copyright infringement and stronger remedies and penalties. It would also eliminate tariffs on all U.S. movies, music, consumer products, books and magazines exported into Australia, and broaden market access for U.S. films and television programs over a variety of media, such as cable, satellite, and the internet. Finally, the FTA provides groundbreaking commitment to non-discriminatory treatment of digital products, including DVDs and CDs, and an agreement not to impose customs duties on such products. The U. S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement is a giant step forward in improving the protection of intellectual property rights and in promoting the access of U.S. entertainment products around the world. It is good for our economy and good for our entertainment workers, who have witnessed drastic erosions in the values of their products due to unprecedented global piracy. When a major trading partner such as Australia makes these type of commitments to protect the products of the American creative community, we need to embrace them. I strongly urge my colleagues to support the U.S.-Australia FTA.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, as we mark the first anniversary of the President's historic tour of Africa, we cannot help but wonder when, if ever, the government of this country will end the ``promise game'' they are so adept at playing with the peoples of Africa. The administration's whirlwind, 1-week tour was ostensibly undertaken in pursuance of a policy ``to work with others for an African continent that lives in liberty, peace, and growing prosperity.'' It offered a laundry list of financial aid and development initiatives that could wipe out its poverty and dependence. It is up to us to insist that the promises are kept and not relegated to unfunded programs for Africa, so characteristic of compassionate conservatives. Startled by the realities of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, a threat potentially more devastating than global terrorism, the administration announced a tripling of its relatively modest commitment to battling the spread of the dreaded disease in Africa. The proposed $15 billion appropriation over the next 5 years in a region in which the pandemic has infected more than 30 million people, a tenth of them being children under the age of 15, is a drop in the bucket compared to the several billions we are committing annually to the pursuit of geopolitical strategies of a significantly less danger to the world at large. But as generous and noble as this initiative is and touted to be, it is subject to political strings and is actually presented as another means of imposing our ideological concepts on the suffering people of Africa. The other priority of the administration's African policy is the so- called advancement of political and economic freedom. Considering the means by which this government sat itself in power, it remains a source of wonder that they have had the unmitigated gall to propose to lecture any other state, least of all ancient African kingdoms, on the arts of governance and the democratic path to freedom. The supposedly well-intended African Growth and Opportunity Act, known as an AGOA, is designed to build trade capacity with Africa and will, no doubt, be renewed and extended. Yet its full effect may never be realized until its implementation is not limited to those African nations that place themselves under the thumb of U.S. business interests. The administration's third African policy priority is, they say, to create peace and regional stability. This would and could have been a lofty goal in itself had it not been proffered by an administration whose overall relations with other nations is based on a doctrine of preemptive aggression and regime change by violent external force. We of the Congressional Black Caucus have been dubbed the conscience of this Congress. It is our duty to watch over the actions and activities of this government and to insist that, in words as well as in deeds, the interests of our constituency primarily and of the Nation ultimately are served. In closing, Madam Speaker, our priority, therefore, is to ensure that the advantageous promises made to Africa are kept, and that every cent committed is spent as appropriated; that this and every other administration become fully convinced that its appropriations to Africa are not charitable contributions, but at least are reparations for past exploitations and, at the most, investments in the prosperity of Africa's people and all of the world.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, today is the first good day that Grandma Millie has had in a long time. Disgraced former Enron chairman Ken Lay has surrendered to the authorities. This is an important milestone. Many Americans, including myself, worried that Lay's close ties to President Bush would permit him to go free. I am heartened that it appears those fears have been proven wrong. But while Lay's arrest is an important step on the road to justice, justice will not be complete until the victims of Enron's crimes get back the money that Lay and his cronies stole from them. The full scale of Enron's greed is laid bare on recently released tapes, where Enron traders openly crow about stealing millions of dollars each day from Grandma Millie. What a shame. My congressional district in Los Angeles is full of Grandma Millies, hard-working homeowners who pay their bills on time and in full. They deserve better than this. I call upon all of us to join to force Ken Lay and his friends to repay the total amount of stolen money.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, it brings me a great deal of fulfillment and joy to recognize the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Given the extremely close bilateral relationship between our two nations, and the important role played by the people of the Marshall Islands in our Nation's victory in World War II, it is appropriate that we commemorate this important day in the history of the Marshall Islands. On the personal side, I had the pleasure to be the Ambassador to Micronesia. As you know, Micronesia and the Marshall Islands are right in the same region, and the islands of Micronesia are under a Compact of Mutual Agreement, as are the Marshall Islands. As they work their way into the 21st century, it is with our support as they build their democracy in islands that are thousands of miles away. We can be proud of the relationship we have had with them for the past 20 years as they build their nations into a brighter, more prosperous future.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Chairman, I thank the ranking member and the chairman. Mr. Chairman, I rise to raise a concern and to support an amendment by the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Eshoo). I am particularly concerned with recent developments in my home State of California, where consumers are being forced to repay over $270 million to Enron and other energy corporations amidst growing evidence of Enron and other energy companies' manipulative practices. The recent release of Enron tapes, where traders openly discuss a manipulation of California power markets to the tune of $1 million to $2 million a day, is unfair to all residents of California. Instead of FERC ordering refunds repaid by States, they should step in and investigate, so that western consumers may receive well-deserved refunds for poor service. FERC should also give the American people the right to view all documents related to energy market deception in 2000 and 2001. Mr. Chairman, the administration continues to give billions of dollars in tax breaks to special interest oil, gas and coal companies that are doing nothing to help lower fuel prices, instead of giving tax breaks, we need to provide everything possible to help consumers in our States and right the wrongs the energy crisis created. I am appalled and dismayed with the administration's coddling of special interests, while leaving taxpayers the task of having to foot the bills for years of wrongdoing by Enron and other corporations. The refunds my home State is forced to pay reward market manipulators for predatory pricing activities. As legislators we should punish, not reward, companies who have deceived our citizens. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support the Eshoo amendment.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, the Bush administration has demonstrated a complete failure to plan for our operations in Iraq and a complete failure to plan here at home. One has to ask, Are we better off than we were 4 years ago? When President Bush took office, we had a $236 billion budget surplus and the Nation had created 22 million jobs over the previous 8 years. The number of uninsured had decreased for the first time in 12 years, and the country had the lowest poverty rate in 20 years. Today, 8.2 million are Americans looking for work; 1.8 million private sector jobs have been lost. The number of uninsured has increased by 3.8 million, and gas prices are at a 23-year high. Household income has decreased by almost $1,500, and college tuition is up by 28 percent. This is absolutely not acceptable, and it is not something that just happened. President Bush had only one economic policy when he took office and he had only one today, tax cuts for those who need them least.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on the recent order for my home state of California to repay over $270 million to Enron and other energy corporations amidst growing evidence of Enron and other energy companies market manipulation. The recent release of Enron tapes where traders openly discuss the manipulation of California power markets to the tune of one to two million dollars a day is unfair to all residents of California. Providing refunds to a company that used deceptive business practices is just plain backwards. The United States has fallen victim to gas prices that are at a 23 year high. It has had a drastic effect on all consumers whether they are automobile drivers or not. Despite this, the Administration continues to give billions of dollars in tax breaks to special interest oil, gas, and coal companies that are doing nothing to help lower fuel prices. Mr. Speaker, I am appalled and disgusted with the Administration's coddling of special interests while leaving taxpayers the task of having to foot the bill for years of wrongdoing by Enron and other corporate scoff laws. The refunds my home state are forced to pay reward market manipulators for predatory pricing activities. As legislators we should punish, not reward, companies who have deceived our citizens.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my strong opposition to the Thomas ``American Jobs Exportation Act'' that provides billions of new tax breaks for offshore operations at the expense of exacerbating our Nation's deficits. At the same time, I am extremely disappointed that millions of U.S. producers, farmers, and small business owners will be left behind. In my Los Angeles district, where the entertainment industry is the main driving force of our local economy, hundreds of thousands of workers are hurt by the phenomenon of runaway production, or the practice of filming overseas for pure economic reasons. The Senate JOBS Act has taken a serious look at this issue and included provisions to encourage domestic film production through tax write-offs. I regret that this was stripped out of the House bill, and, with the closed rule we are operating under today, no member could offer an amendment to address this devastating issue. I support the underlying goals of what we are attempting today, which is to replace FSC/ETI export incentives with help for U.S. manufacturers. But H.R. 4520 has turned into a big corporate gift that keeps on giving, an overstuffed pinata for lobbyists. Millions of workers, such as the creative workforce hit hard by the outsourcing of film production, are altogether ignored. H.R. 4520 is an outrageous bill not only because it fails to adequately address the plight of U.S. workers, but it helps move U.S. investment and jobs abroad. There is little wonder then that a modest provision to help keep entertainment jobs in the United States was completely discounted. While I strongly urge my colleagues to oppose H.R. 4520, I hope better legislation will be negotiated in conference.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 224, I was detained by constituents from my District. I would have voted ``no'' on H.R. 444.

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 444, The Back to Work Incentive Act. The bill does nothing to help the current labor market, and offering workers reemployment bonuses does nothing to help the future of our nations unemployed and won't help put more jobs into our nation's struggling economy. This bill is a careless attempt to replace the extension of unemployment benefits for the long-term unemployed. This bill will help less than 0.2% of the unemployed and will do nothing for millions of jobless workers, particularly those out of work for more than 26 weeks. The Back to Work Incentive provides a $3,000 voucher for only about 15,000 eligible workers. These recipients will not be able to access free core services provided through the Workforce Investment Act and they will forfeit the opportunity to get up to $10,000 in other possible Workforce Investment Act services and benefits available without cost under existing programs. This bill also does not address the pressing problems of lack of available jobs, the need for marketable skills, and sufficient training funds for today's unemployed workers. Mr. Speaker, in April alone 320,000 of America's workers exhausted their unemployment benefits. The Administration must come up with solutions that will provide jobs for all, not just benefits that are temporary for some. H.R. 444 doesn't cut it and I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this bill.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on behalf of our Nation's foster care youth during National Foster Care month. As of January 2003, there were 33,000 children in Los Angeles County foster care, which is the highest number of dependents in any county. I represent many of these youngsters who, on average, live in five different places. I co-sponsored H.R. 1534, which strives to place children in safe, loving, and permanent homes. But what happens when these youths turn 18 and ``age out?'' Only 27 percent of foster care high school graduates attend college, half the national average. Foster care youths lack the funding and supportive climate college students need to succeed. I support legislation that helps foster care students with their college admissions and financing. This week the Committee on Government Reform will meet to determine how our current foster care structure can be strengthened. This Congress must act to ensure the future of our foster care youth is as bright as any other child's. Thank you.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose the Republican budget that we are being asked to vote on today. For several years now, responsible Members of this body have been speaking out against a budgeting process that has been getting more absurd and undemocratic by the year. But I believe this year that the Republican leadership has outdone itself. Again this year, Republicans have given us a budget that fails to pay for health care, fails to pay for schools, fails to pay for veterans, and fails to pay for roads. Again this year, they have given us a budget that increases the debt that our children will have to pay, tying a thousand-pound weight around the neck of our economy. But this year, the Republican leadership has added a new twist. This budget is structured so that it cannot even be passed by the other body and become law. For those Americans outside of Washington who are watching this tonight, you deserve to know something about the cynical exercise we are engaged in here. The vote we will cast tonight will be purely symbolic. It will only be symbolic because some Republicans on the other side of the Capitol Building are finally saying enough is enough--that we cannot continue to rack up debt and force it onto our children. I regret that the Republican leadership in this House has not yet reached the same conclusion and decided to get our fiscal house in order.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Brown versus Board of Education Supreme Court decision and to call on this administration and Congress to further renew the goals and visions laid out by this monumental case. On May 17, 1954, the United States Supreme Court announced in Brown versus Board of Education that ``in the field of education, the doctrine of `separate but equal' has no place.'' In the half century that followed, This pivotal decision ushered in a new era, leading to the gradual elimination of State-sponsored racism. Specifically, it established the legal and moral framework for the civil and voting rights legislation of the 1960s that drastically expanded the Constitution's promise of ``equal protection'' to all spheres of public life. However, few people today would claim that the promises of Brown have been fulfilled. There is no doubt that the disturbing phenomenon of ``white flight'' in the North and ``segacademies'' in the South following efforts at integration created new forms of segregation along economic, and all too often, racial lines. As a recent study by the Harvard Civil Rights Project indicates, 70 percent of African-American children today attend schools that are predominately African-American, roughly the same level as 40 years ago. Throughout the country today and this week, many will gather to celebrate and commemorate the legacy of Brown. But it is also an occasion for observance. We cannot ignore how, across America today, Black and White students still go to separate schools in the same town, divided by neighborhoods and segregated by wealth. We cannot ignore the disparity in resources that continue to plague many of our school systems, especially those serving predominantly inner-city minority and impoverished children. Today is an occasion to recommit ourselves to the vision of Brown, to redouble our efforts in working toward an America that treats everyone equally and empowers everyone economically. Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act to establish a framework for States and districts to address and eventually eliminate education failures. I once again issue a call to action. First this administration and this Congress must fully fund No Child Left Behind to demonstrate our commitment to educational equity. Second, we must increase funding for Pell grants so that low- and moderate-income students can have access to higher education. This 50th anniversary commemoration of Brown versus Board of Education, like the decision itself, calls for action, not just words. Justice deferred is justice denied.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I want to pay tribute to someone who has made celebrities while she stayed in the background. Her name is Vonny Hilton Sweeney. She set high goals and obtained one of the most prestigious achievements by becoming the first black majorette while attending Brownsville High School in Pennsylvania. She was married to Howard James Sweeney and had one son. She worked at a community hospital in north Sacramento and received a B.A. in English and journalism from Sacramento State University. She was a contributing editor for the Sacramento Observer. She moved to Los Angeles in 1966 to pursue her career in the entertainment industry where she was promotion coordinator for Sussex Records, vice president of promotion and publicity for Hugh Hefner's Playboy Records Company, and received her first gold record for the hit single ``Falling In Love'' recorded by Hamilton Joe-Frank and Reynolds. She was also a publicist for Janet DuBois and one of the first female managers for such acts. She was the public directions director for over 25 years for James Brown entertainment including current editor of his Truth Magazine. As an icon in the James Brown organization, she was personally responsible for showcase venues worldwide, his biggest fan, as well as the dearest friend over many decades. In 1992, 1993 and 1994 she was listed in the ``Who's Who'' of entertainment. As a mentor, one of her attributes was to become involved with other people's lives, and was instrumental in helping individuals achieve and reach their dreams. Her goal in life was to pursue the dreams and goals of others through her dedication and guidance in all aspects of the entertainment industry. Vonny Hilton Sweeney was preceded in death by her loving parents James and Anna Rea Hilton and her brother James Thompson. She is survived by her son Howard James Sweeney, wife Jennifer, and granddaughter Jade Sweeney and step-grandson Justin McCarthy, brother Walter Thompson, his wife Jerri, sister Rose Alma King, sister Barbara Hilton Brown, her husband John L. plus numerous nieces, nephews and many friends. {time} 1930

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to also commemorate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and to celebrate the lives and accomplishments of Asian Pacific Americans in U.S. history. I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda) and the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega), the new chair and vice chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, for organizing this Special Order. And in particular, I want to recognize the contributions of Korean-Americans in my district and commend them for their tireless work in improving the City of Los Angeles. Mr. Speaker, today Asian Americans continue to gain new ground in even greater social and political representation. As we commemorate and celebrate the crucial role of Asian Pacific Americans and the role they have played in the development of this Nation, we must work harder to improve their lives and opportunities for 12.5 million Asian Pacific Americans who are still confronted with daily prejudices, discrimination, and economic inequalities.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, Americans should be confident that they have access to quality health care. So I support the resolution, H.R. 99, promoted by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) which gives guidance to provide insurance to all Americans. Over the past 3 years, 3.8 million Americans lost their health insurance and 43 million Americans are now uninsured. Health insurance premiums have increased almost 50 percent since the beginning of the Bush administration and four times faster than workers' earnings last year. In a related issue, minority groups often encounter major obstacles in obtaining health care. Minority groups are less likely to have health insurance and are less likely to receive the appropriate health care services. The Health Care Equality and Accountability Act of 2003 would go far in lifting the shadow of health disparities that fall not only on minority communities but on all Americans. Also, this legislation would make quality health care more affordable, providing coverage for parents and young adults who are currently uninsured.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and to celebrate the lives and accomplishments of Asian Pacific Americans in U.S. history. I want to thank Congressman Honda and Congressman Eni Faleomavaega, the new Chair and Vice Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, for organizing this special order. In particular, I want to recognize the contributions of Korean Americans in my district and commend them for their tireless work in improving the city of Los Angeles. Last month this chamber unanimously approved legislation that I sponsored to designate a U.S. Post Office in the Koreatown section of my district be named the ``Dosan Ahn Chang Ho Post Office.'' Dosan Ahn Chang Ho, who spent his formative years in the United States, is credited by many as the spiritual father of modern, independent, democratic Korea. During his stay in Los Angeles, at the beginning of the 20th century, he worked to unite the Korean-American community, founding schools and cultural organizations, and helping improve living and working conditions for his fellow Korean Americans. I am proud to be the sponsor of this legislation and grateful to the House for paying this timely tribute to a great Korean American. Mr. Speaker, the contributions of Asian Pacific Americans to the growth and success of this great nation can never be overstated. The history of their struggle and triumph in the United States must be re- told. We need to remember that it was the Chinese immigrants who toiled in the mines during the California Gold Rush of the 1800s and helped construct the transcontinental railroad in the 1860s. And we can never forget how Americans of Japanese ancestry were placed in internment camps during World War II, one of the saddest and most notorious chapters in our nation's history. I also want to take this opportunity to share with you the rich and diverse history of Korean immigration to Los Angeles. Although a small number of Koreans had immigrated to the United States at the beginning of the twentieth century, major waves of Korean migration to America did not occur until Congress passed the 1965 Immigration Act abolishing the quota system that had restricted the numbers of Asians allowed to enter this country. Since then, Korea has become one of the top five countries of origin of emigrants to the United States. Among the more than one million Korean Americans today, roughly 33 percent are settled in California, making it the state with the largest Korean American population. Today, Los Angeles is home to the largest concentration of Koreans outside of Korea, roughly 160,000 people. Located in my district, Koreatown is the hub of the Korean community and vital to our local economy. It is fabled that from the establishment of a single Korean store at the corner of Olympic Boulevard and Hobart Street in 1969 emerged today's Koreatown, which stretches from Beverly Boulevard and Pico Boulevard to the north and south and Hoover and Crenshaw on the east and west. Although 68 percent of the people living within these boundaries are Latinos, Korean Americans are the predominant business owners, and the area serves as a cultural, business, and social center for not just Korean Americans but all of Los Angeles. Indeed, for the past four decades, the district that I represent has thrived with the contribution of Koreatown. The willingness of Korean- American merchants to sacrifice for their future generations by working extremely long hours and overcoming linguistic and cultural barriers has led to many successful enterprises crucial to the growth of our local economy. For example, today Korean Americans own 46 percent of small grocery markets, and 45 percent of one-hour photo shops in Southern California, all of which demonstrate the critical role Korean Americans play in our communities. The Hanmi Bank, located on Wilshire Blvd., has become a major financial institution in the Korean-American community as well as to others in the greater Los Angeles area. Mr. Speaker, today Asian Pacific Americans continue to gain new grounds in ever greater social and political representation. As we commemorate and celebrate the crucial role Asian-Pacific Americans have played in the development of this Nation, we also must work harder to improve the lives and opportunities for the 12.5 million Asian Pacific Americans today, who are still confronted daily with prejudice, discrimination, and economic inequalities. The 1992 Los Angeles civil disturbances, in the aftermath of the Rodney King verdict, is one such tragic example that illustrates the need for continued dialogue and understanding. Nationally, Asian Pacific Americans continue to experience a crisis in health and health care disparity and face unique challenges in education, immigration, and economic development. It is very disappointing to me that this Administration has failed to renew the Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and the White House Initiative on Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAIPs) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). As a member of Congress I will continue to fight to ensure that our government address the needs of Asian Pacific Americans. Let's work to renew the American Dream for many future generations of Asian Pacific Americans to come.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H. Res. 627, a resolution condemning the abuse of persons in U.S. custody in Iraq. Every member of this body is outraged and saddened by the recent reports of the abuse of prisoners in Iraq as well as Afghanistan. H. Res. 627, however, is a ``feel good'' resolution that fails to empower Congress to exercise its oversight role in the investigation of the Iraqi prisoner scandal. Moreover, the resolution before us today was crafted by a narrow Republican majority, which once again did not permit either the appropriate committees of jurisdiction or the Democratic leadership to participate in the process of crafting language for the resolution. In effect, this resolution does absolutely nothing. It fails to put forward any policy language to address the serious issues at hand. Most egregiously, the resolution fails to offer any form of apology to the prisoners abused or the Iraqi people. The United States stands on the precipice of a major foreign policy disaster. It is long past time to change course in Iraq. Defense Secretary Rumsfeld and Deputy Secretary of Defense Wolfowitz are the principal architects of this failed policy. I once again call upon the President to seek their resignations. Only then will the people of Iraq and the world perhaps begin to view U.S. actions and intentions in a more favorable light.