Diane Watson

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, we must stand up for America's seniors. As this calendar shows, House Republicans have less than 1 week, only 5 days left to join Democrats in extending the period seniors have to sign up for private prescription drug plans. If this Congress refuses to act, millions of American seniors who have yet to choose a plan will be penalized with the Bush prescription drug tax that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. The Bush administration is trying to force American seniors to make a decision that will impact both their checkbooks and their health in the next 5 days. Five million seniors have still not chosen a drug plan. But the Bush administration wants to scare all of these seniors into choosing a plan before May 15, regardless of whether or not they are comfortable or ready to sign up for a plan. Mr. Speaker, it is time House Republicans declare independence from the White House. As we mark off another day, House Republicans must join us in taking action this week.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I learned of the passing of Earl Woods, the father of golfing legend Tiger Woods, of cancer. Earl Woods was a father, coach, and mentor to Tiger Woods. There is no doubt that the world would not now have the opportunity to witness the genius of Tiger Woods on a golf course without the input from Earl Woods. Theirs was a father-son match made in heaven. Earl Woods was the driving force in the development of Tiger Woods as not only a golf player but human being. Almost before Tiger could walk, his father had acclimated him to the game of golf. According to one account, Earl would hit golf balls in the garage on a makeshift range with Tiger watching him from his high chair. Earl later recounted that Tiger, at the tender age of 9 months, first demonstrated to him his incredible potential as a golf player. Mr. Speaker, Earl Woods is a model of fatherhood. He supported, nurtured, and literally raised Tiger Woods to the heights of the golfing world. I am particularly struck by the close relationship Earl Woods had with his son. When you hear so many professional athletes thanking or saying hello to their mothers after a television interview, it was refreshing to hear Tiger mention both his father and mother.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. I want to congratulate my good friend and colleague, Mr. Honda, for arranging this special order so that we can celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and acknowledge the important contributions of Asian Americans. This year's theme, ``Dreams and Challenges of Asian Pacific Americans,'' reflects the Asian and Pacific Islander American community's commitment to fairness and equality. I represent California's 33rd congressional district. It is one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse congressional districts in the U.S. It is emblematic of the emerging ``majority minority'' demographic of the state of California. California is home to the largest Korean-American population in the country. More people of Korean heritage live and work in Los Angeles than in any place in the world outside Korea; and more Korean-Americans live and work in the 33rd congressional district than in any other congressional district in California. I want to comment briefly on the recent and, in many ways, historic visit of Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward to Korea last month. His visit, I believe, embodies this year's theme of fairness and equality. The NFL hero, who is of mixed Korean and African-American ancestry, traveled to his native country to express pride in his Korean roots even though he shunned that side of his heritage after he faced prejudice as a child. His Korean mother accompanied him. By all accounts, South Korea warmly embraced Hines Ward and received him as a hero. The government made him an honorary citizen. Moreover, his visit not only galvanized the Korean community but also brought attention to the plight of Koreans of mixed ancestry. Korea has 35,000 people of mixed race, and many are subjected to discrimination. 22 percent are unemployed, and only 2 percent have administrative jobs. The rest are laborers. Statistics suggest that 9.8 percent of mixed-race Koreans leave primary school and 17.5 percent middle school. The average drop-out rate for Korean middle school students is 1.1 percent. The Pearl Buck Foundation notes that international marriages between Koreans and non-Koreans are on the rise and that the mixed-race population in Korea is estimated to grow to 2 million by 2020. My home state of California is a leader in the growth of mixed-race populations in the U.S. In the 2000 Census, 7 million people self- identified themselves as multiracial. Historically, the West has always been very multiracial due to high immigration levels, the rich mix of different ethnic groups, and the historical absence of legal barriers to interracial marriage. Much work, however, remains to be done as mixed-race children in the U.S. and their counterparts overseas suffer from sleights and discrimination. Hines Ward's visit to Korea has made a positive difference. The government and the ruling Uri Party recently agreed to grant for the first time legal status to people having mixed-race backgrounds and their families. The Ministry of Justice is now reviewing a plan to grant citizenship or residency status to those who marry Koreans. All acknowledge the impact and importance of Hines Ward's visit. I want to congratulate Mr. Ward on his triumphal return to his homeland. He has used his celebrity status to bring attention to an issue of mutual importance to both the U.S. and Korea. I also want to congratulate the Korean government for taking positive steps to address an issue that until now has been largely ignored. Finally, Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate Asian Pacific Heritage Month, let us not overlook those Asian-Americans of mixed race who have also made significant contributions to our nation.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, the American people are fed up with us in Congress. They finally see the House Republican majority for what it is, nothing but a rubber stamp for President Bush and his special interest friends. House Republicans simply have no agenda for helping everyday Americans. Perhaps that is the reason we have only been in session for 26 days so far this year. If House Republicans were really interested in helping the American people, they would join us in tracking and tackling our Nation's energy crisis. House Republicans failed to address skyrocketing gas prices in their energy bill last year. Instead, they chose to follow the President in supporting a bill that gave the oil and gas companies $20 billion in special interest gifts while doing absolutely nothing to ease the sticker shock consumers face every time they fill up at the pump. Democrats have a plan that works for all Americans, not just big oil and gas CEOs. Our plan not only cracks down on price gouging but also calls for an increase in production of alternative fuels.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, yesterday the Republican-controlled House returned from a second spring break recess. Today is the 116th day of 2006. Remember, you set the House schedule. Would you believe, Madam Speaker, that this is only the 22nd day we have had votes here in the House this year? That is 22 days out of a total of 116. We indeed are a do-nothing Congress. House Republicans simply have not focused on the concerns of average Americans. Today, Americans face record prices at the gas pump. In some areas, gas prices are hovering around $4 a gallon. Since President Bush took office in 2001, gas prices have doubled, and yet for 5 years now, House Republicans have done absolutely nothing to address the problem. They passed an energy bill last year, but the Bush administration's own Energy Department admitted that it would not do anything to reduce gas prices. Madam Speaker, it is time for House Republicans to stop sending us home for breaks. The American people were rightfully demanding a solution to the energy crisis. It is time for the do-nothing Congress to do something.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate Mr. Faleomavaega for sponsoring H. Res. 692, which commends the people of the Republic of the Marshall Islands for the contributions and sacrifices they made to the United States nuclear testing program in the Marshall Islands 60 years ago. When I served as the Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia, I had the opportunity to visit the Marshall Islands on several occasions and to get to know the people, their land, and their history. During the period of June 20, 1946 to August 18, 1958, the United States conducted 67 nuclear tests in the Marshall Islands. The vast majority of the tests were atmospheric. The most powerful of these tests was the ``Bravo'' shot, a 15 megaton device detonated on March 1, 1954, at Bikini atoll. The test was equivalent to 1,000 Hiroshima bombs. While the Bravo test is the probably the best known, it should also be acknowledged that 17 other tests in the Marshall islands were in the megaton range with a combined yield estimated to be 174 megatons. Approximately 137 megatons of the that total was detonated in the atmosphere. This represents nearly 80 percent of the atmospheric nuclear tests detonated by the U.S. Mr. Speaker, we must also acknowledge that the people of the Marshall Islands paid a steep price for the nuclear testing program. Many Marshalese who lived through the period of nuclear testing have been relocated to other areas and have been waiting for decades to return to their homes. Residents of the Rongelop Atoll, the island closest to ground zero, still remain in exile. Other Marshalese, including their offspring, have suffered from medical conditions associated with increased levels of radioactivity. Despite the hardships endured by the people of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands has an exemplary record of working with the United States and supporting U.S. security concerns, including efforts to stamp out terrorism around the world. H. Res. 692 acknowledges the debt that all Americans owe for the sacrifice as well as loyalty of the people of the Marshall Islands.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from California for allowing me to join in this discussion on women and the budget. This budget, as you have heard, would hurt working women and their families. It does not alleviate the real health disparities that exist throughout the Nation, and it does not do much to help young girls realize their potential, whether in the classroom or in the community. I would like to use my 33rd District in Los Angeles, California, as an example to show what women want and the impact of the President's budget on my sisters. Women want an environment where they and their families can live, work and play. They want to eliminate the community health disparities that leave some people with different standards of care, and they want to redirect youth away from violence and lives of crime and into a life of productive citizenship. Women are integral to uncovering the solutions to these issues, yet this budget severely undermines women and the roles they play. For example, the President's budget hurts working women and their families by freezing funding for child care in the Child Care and Development Block Grant, early childhood education in the Head Start programs, and necessary social services in the Social Services Block Grant. The legislation we passed tells low-income women they have to work if they wish to qualify for aid from the government, but how can women work if they cannot afford a decent place to leave their children during the day? They have to have confidence that their children are getting the proper care. The President's budget does not provide an answer to that question. Women need more assistance with their health care needs, not the same as last year, and certainly not less. The budget reduces funding for title X family planning programs, the Maternal and Child Health Block Grants, and the Public Health Service's Office of Women's Health. The goals of these programs are to improve the health and the well-being of women and girls, and by reducing their funding, we show women and girls that their health care is less important. This budget has failed economic policies and has contributed to the 1.2 million more Americans slipping into poverty. Communities of color are disproportionately living at risk. Approximately 25 percent of African Americans and 22 percent of Latinos are living in poverty. We should be doing more, not less, to help all Americans trying to make ends meet. The President's budget cuts spending on food stamps by more than $650 million over the next 5 years by making it more difficult for low- income families receiving welfare to qualify for food stamps. Approximately 225,000 people will lose eligibility for food stamps. 40,000 of those are children who will also lose access to free school lunches, and subsequently, spending on child nutrition will be cut by $50 million over the next 5 years. These cuts will hurt the low-income women who rely on the food stamps; and what is so tragic about this is that it is the women who shop for children's foods, and when we think of it, children will be going to school with empty stomachs, hungry. How can they concentrate on their classwork when they are hungry? Of the 21 million people who receive food stamps, nearly 70 percent are women. The President's cuts will also affect Latinos across the country who are struggling to put food on their tables. We must end the irresponsible cuts to the food stamp program that pays for tax cuts for the wealthy, and we must oppose this President's budget. The President's budget also eliminates the Commodity Supplemental Food Program which provides nutritious food packages, primarily to low- income seniors. Over 420,000 seniors are served by the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, as well as 50,000 mothers and children. Our seniors deserve better treatment than to cut these programs. Over two-thirds of low-income elderly are women who also receive disproportionately less in other government benefits, and the programs are Social Security and others. And these are people who have paid in to the Social Security System who deserve to have a dignified retirement. In February, 59,000 of these recipients were eliminated from this program and are no longer able to obtain their monthly supply of groceries. Shame on us. Simply transferring these individuals to the Women, Infant, and Children Food Assistance program, known as WIC, or food stamps is not a workable solution for many elderly individuals. Cuts in the budget to food stamps will make it more difficult for seniors who will be transferred from this commodity supplemental food program if the President's budget is implemented. In addition, many elderly shifted to food stamps will not qualify for the same amount of groceries they currently receive from the commodity supplemental food program. Again, shame, shame on us. The commodity supplemental food program is also a very unique program that helps seniors because the food is delivered where they live and eat, and it is important that we preserve this program for our distinguished seniors, all of whom are distinguished because they have lived long and worked most of their lives. The President's budget also calls for cuts to WIC in the coming years. While the budget includes $5.2 billion for 2007 for the WIC program, funding declines to $5.0 billion in 2011. That is a 13.3 percent cut from the amount that would be necessary to maintain purchasing power at the current level. The President's cap on administrative costs in the budget will likely lead to reduced WIC clinic hours and other service cuts, making it more difficult for families to receive services such as nutrition education. So the President's assault on the safety net services for the poor in favor of tax breaks for the wealthy has to come to a stop, and it is up to us here in Congress to say no to his ridiculous requests that put thousands of women, children and the elderly at risk. We must honor our old, and we must do for our children what America stands for. Women need more assistance with their health care needs. Seniors need better assistance with their health care needs, and the budget reduces funding for many of these programs. Shame, shame on us if we allow such a detrimental budget to go forward. So I would say, my colleague, my distinguished colleague, that our speaking tonight, I hope, will convince our colleagues that this is a detrimental budget that doesn't help. It only harms America's women and elderly and America's children.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, gulf coast residents continue to pay the price for the Bush administration's incompetence, cronyism and failed leadership. Yet, House Republicans refuse to ask the tough questions of an administration that showed no competence during Hurricane Katrina. The House Republican Davis report on the Katrina response is woefully incomplete. The White House was allowed to ignore congressional subpoenas, and Michael Brown's e-mails were excluded. How is that a proper investigation? Worse yet, Republicans hold no one in the Bush administration accountable. Americans cannot afford to gamble their security on the same Bush administration team that mismanaged Katrina. The American people deserve a bipartisan independent Katrina commission, like the 9/11 Commission, to get all the answers we need to better prepare for future natural and terrorist disasters. Hurricane Katrina should have served as a wake-up call to House Republicans about the critical need for congressional oversight. Unfortunately, they refuse to ask the tough questions.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, how low do the President's poll numbers have to go until he finally realizes that it is time to make some changes in his administration? Either he is to blame for all of the incompetence that we have seen out of the White House over the last couple of years, or he finds it a perfectly acceptable attribute in his key advisors. With the ever-increasing violence in Iraq, it simply defies logic why Defense Secretary Rumsfeld still has a job. How many mistakes does Rumsfeld have to make before President Bush says enough is enough? Then there is Secretary Chertoff. The White House can blame Michael Brown all they want for a tragically slow and inadequate response to Hurricane Katrina, but a lot of the blame should be pointed right at the man in charge, Secretary Chertoff, who as of yesterday put a lot of the evacuees out on the street. And he still remains on the job. Then there are the Under Secretaries who signed off on a deal that handed over operations of six U.S. ports to a foreign nation. Imagine that, outsourcing our homeland security to another nation. It is time for changes, Madam Speaker.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, President Bush is now touting the line item veto as the magic formula to get our deficit under control. Then why does the President not begin by actually sending Congress a balanced budget? For 5 years now, one of the President's main priorities has been to provide billions in tax breaks to his friends in the pharmaceutical and insurance industry, the oil and gas industry, and America's wealthiest elite. When the President provides these tax breaks to his friends, he increases the deficit and prevents the Federal Government from being able to properly address the concerns of hardworking Americans. There is no doubt the President has lost control of the deficit, piling mountains of debt on the backs of our children and grandchildren. Under President Bush, a projected 10-year $5.6 trillion surplus has turned into a $3.3 trillion deficit. This year the deficit is expected to reach $423 billion, the largest deficit in history. And yet the President suggests making his tax breaks to his friends permanent.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great American and my constituent, Mr. Arthur Winston. This year Mr. Winston will mark over three quarters of a century as an employee of the transportation agencies that have made Los Angeles County's buses and trains move millions of people a year. In fact, since Mr. Winston began his employment with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Agency's (Metro) predecessor agencies in 1924, millions of people have been safely delivered on billions of trips across Los Angeles County. Arthur can and should be proud to have been an important part of the historic growth of mass transit in California's 22nd Congressional District, which I proudly represent, and throughout the rest of Los Angeles County. Arthur Winston was born in Okemie, Oklahoma on March 22, 1906 before Oklahoma was officially recognized as a state. He and his family moved to Los Angeles in 1918, when Arthur was 12. His father found work in the maintenance department for one of Metro's predecessors, the Pacific Electric Railway Company. Arthur attended Jefferson High School in Southern California, graduating in 1922. Arthur Winston was 28 years old when he started his remarkable 72 years of continuous work at Metro. If you account for the years he spent, beginning at age 15, helping his father at the Pacific Electric Railway Company, Arthur has worked a remarkable 76 years for Los Angeles transit agencies. Mr. Winston was first employed by Metro's predecessor agency in December 1924 and worked until mid-1928. He resumed his employment with the agency in January of 1934. Amazingly, Arthur has missed only one day of work in 76 years, having taken a day off on the day of his wife's death in 1988. In 1996, Arthur Winston received a Congressional Citation from President Clinton as ``Employee of the Century.'' In his more than seven decades of Metro employment, Arthur has received many honors for his work ethic and longevity on the job. In 1997 Metro's Board of Directors named the agency's bus operating division in South Central Los Angeles (Chesterfield Square) after him. He has also appeared on the Oprah Winfrey television show and has appropriately been honored by a large number of community and civic organizations in Los Angeles County. At the Arthur Winston Division, Arthur is a service attendant leader, directing a crew of 11 employees who clean, maintain, and refuel 240 Metro buses before they go out onto city streets. Remarking about his longevity at Metro, Arthur had this to say, ``I stayed with Metro through all these years because I felt comfortable here. After a certain age I decided to stay on the job until I'm 100 years old.'' Arthur Winston turns 100 on March 22, 2006 and has announced his retirement from Metro, quite fittingly, on his birthday. In the meantime, Arthur will spend his remaining days on the job waking up at his usual time, 4 a.m., and driving his 1994 Toyota sedan to work. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join Los Angeles Metro in saluting Arthur Winston and his unparalleled work ethic. May Arthur Winston's long record of public service serve to inspire Americans, young and old, to dedicate their energy and intellect for the benefit of the general public.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to memorialize the life of a distinguished American, Dr. Lawrence ``Bill'' W. Scott, who passed away on December 20, 2005. Throughout his illustrious life, Dr. Scott could claim many ``firsts.'' In 1944, he was the first black student body president of Foshay Middle School. In 1947, he graduated with honors from Polytechnic High School, where he participated in track and field and also served as the first black student body president. In 1948, he attended the University of California at Berkeley and later became the student body ``representative at large.'' After receiving his degree from Berkeley, in 1951, Dr. Scott was drafted into the U.S. Army and stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, where he served for 2 years during the Korean War. He eventually attained the rank of Captain. After his discharge from the Army, Dr. Scott enrolled in the pre-med program at the University of California at Los Angeles. In 1957, the then new UCLA School of Medicine accepted Dr. Scott as its first African American medical student. Upon graduation, Dr. Scott interned at Harbor General Hospital, ultimately specializing in obstetrics and gynecology. He subsequently opened 2 women's clinics in Los Angeles. At the age of 52 and after 14 years of medical practice, Dr. Scott returned to law school and received his J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law in 1980. After passing the bar, he initially thought he would pursue missionary work; however, he worked as a forensic attorney and represented victims in malpractice suits. Dr. Scott's achievements, honors, and awards are numerous. He was the first African American resident at Queen of Angeles Hospital in Los Angeles. At one time, he held the record for the most infants delivered at Cedars-Sinai Medical center. He also served on the Board of Governors of the UCLA Foundation in the mid 1980s. His interest in people and his special affection for children were evident. He enjoyed sports and was an avid tennis player. He also loved music, from jazz to the classics. He will be remembered by many for his wonderful humor and his black book of jokes. Dr. Scott is survived by his devoted wife of 8 years, Maria; his three children--Rebecca, Brian, and Onjale Scott; his sister, Darling Scott Herod; his brother, Paul Richard Scott; mother-in-law, Loretta Domer-Wilson; and other beloved family and friends. Dr. Scott truly enjoyed this journey called life and lived it to its fullest.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, Congress should not allow the secretly decided backroom United Arab Emirates port deal to go through. It must be stopped, and House Republicans should stand up to the President in the name of national security. Our ports are not for sale to the highest bidder. This deal shows once again the lengths the Bush administration will go to bend the laws to their advantage. The administration failed to conduct a 45-day investigation that is legally required. This, in itself, should be enough to stop this deal. The national security implications are simply too important to ignore. And, unfortunately, House Republicans have neglected our vulnerable ports since 9/11. Over the past 4 years, House Republicans have opposed and defeated Democratic efforts to increase funding for port security. Right now, only 6 percent of cargo coming into the U.S. is being checked, producing a large hole in our homeland security. I would hope that we can make port security a top priority.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, Congress should not allow the United Arab Emirates port deal to go through. It must be stopped, and House Republicans should grow a backbone and finally stand up to the president in the name of national security. This deal shows once again the lengths the Bush administration will go to bend the laws to their advantage. The administration failed to conduct a 45-day investigation that is legally required. This, in itself, should be enough to stop this deal. The national security implications are simply too important to ignore. And, unfortunately, House Republicans have neglected our vulnerable ports since 9/11. Over the past four years, House Republicans have opposed and defeated Democratic efforts to increase funding for port security. Right now, only six percent of cargo coming into the U.S. is being checked, producing a large hole in our homeland security. Democrats have tried to increase port security funding on this House floor FOUR TIMES over the last four years, and House Republicans defeated our efforts every time. It's time Republicans make port security a priority.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, on July 19, 1941, the United States military began a revolutionary program in Alabama to train black Americans as military pilots. The program helped change military culture and negative perceptions of blacks in the military, especially the Air Corps. The Division of Aeronautics of Tuskegee Institute, the famed school of learning founded by Booker T. Washington in 1881, and I am a descendant of his, conducted flight training for aspiring black pilots; and my cousin, still alive, living here, Ira O'Neal, was one of those pilots. The first classes of Tuskegee Airmen were trained to be fighter pilots for the famous 99th Fighter Squadron slated for combat duty in North Africa. By the end of the war, 992 men had graduated from pilot training at Tuskegee, 450 of whom were sent overseas for combat assignment. I should also note that 16,000 men and women supported the Tuskegee Airmen program. Mr. Speaker, the 450 pilots that flew combat missions over North Africa and Europe, five of them live in the 33rd Congressional District of Los Angeles and Culver City, which I represent. And they are Wilbert Johnson, William B. Ellis, Elbert T. Hudson, Samuel R. Hughes, and Roger B. Duncan. Mr. Speaker, although pilots that flew twin-engine aircraft did not see combat, it does not take away from the barriers that broke because of their service. In my district there is an individual that flew twin- engine bombers. He is Oscar H. York. Many others who were not pilots supported the Tuskegee Institute and are original members of the Tuskegee Airmen. These individuals also live in my district. And they are Floyd J. Cawthon, Jerry T. Hodges, Jr., Flora M. Lane, John Lehman, Theodore G. Lumpkin, Jr., Levi H. Thornhill, and Albert L. Wallace. Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge both the historic as well as the heroic role all members of the Tuskegee Airmen played in securing our Nation's freedom as well as changing our Nation's culture and perception of African Americans. Once again, I congratulate Congressman Rangel for introducing this historic resolution of acknowledgment.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, it appears that the Bush administration refuses to learn anything from 9/11 or Hurricane Katrina. Once again this year, President Bush's budget shortchanges America's security, failing to make it the number one priority. Here are some startling examples of how the President refuses to make Americans as safe as they should be: First, the budget underfunds key programs that provide local communities with the resources to protect our borders, our ports, mass transit, and critical infrastructure. Second, the budget continues the trend of cutting grants for our first responders, cutting overall funding for three key first responder grant programs by 35 percent below 2 years ago. Third, the budget zeros out funding for interoperability grants, grants that would allow Federal, State, and local governments the ability to communicate during a major disaster or terrorist attack. President Bush claims he is protecting the homeland, but he refuses to back it up with the funding necessary to prepare agencies at all levels for the worst case scenarios. Hasn't he learned anything from Katrina? Pull FEMA out from under Homeland Security.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to memorialize the life of a distinguished American, Dr. Lawrence ``Bill'' W. Scott, who passed away on December 20, 2005. Throughout his illustrious life, Dr. Scott could claim many ``firsts.'' In 1944, he was the first black student body president of Foshay Middle School. In 1947, he graduated with honors from Polytechnic High School, where he participated in track and field and also served as the first black student body president. In 1948, he attended the University of California at Berkeley and later became the student body ``representative at large.'' After receiving his degree from Berkeley, in 1951, Dr. Scott was drafted into the U.S. Army and stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, where he served for two years during the Korean War. He eventually attained the rank of Captain. After his discharge from the Army, Dr. Scott enrolled in the pre-med program at the University of California at Los Angeles. In 1957, the then new UCLA School of Medicine accepted Dr. Scott as its first African American medical student. Upon graduation, Dr. Scott interned at Harbor General Hospital, ultimately specializing in obstetrics and gynecology. He subsequently opened two women's clinics in Los Angeles. At the age of 52 and after 14 years of medical practice, Dr. Scott returned to law school and received his J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law in 1980. After passing the bar, he initially thought he would pursue missionary work; however, he worked as a forensic attorney and represented victims in malpractice suits. Dr. Scott's achievements, honors, and awards are numerous. He was the first African American resident at Queen of Angeles Hospital in Los Angeles. At one time, he held the record for the most infants delivered at Cedars-Sinai Medical center. He also served on the Board of Governors of the UCLA Foundation in the mid-1980s. His interest in people and his special affection for children was evident. He enjoyed sports and was an avid tennis player. He also loved music, from jazz to the classics. He will be remembered by many for his wonderful humor and his black book of jokes. Dr. Scott is survived by his devoted wife of 8 years, Maria; his three children, Rebecca, Brian, and Onjale Scott; his sister, Darling Scott Herod; his brother, Paul Richard Scott; mother-in-law, Loretta Domer-Wilson; and other beloved family and friends. Dr. Scott truly enjoyed this journey called life and lived it to its fullest.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Sensenbrenner for yielding me time, and Congressman Conyers for never letting down on your struggle to recognize the movers and shakers for civil rights and always being on point in an expeditious way. I extend my condolences to the King family. We have lost a national treasure and a civil rights icon. Mrs. King was a loving partner and an inspiration to her husband, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and her husband's untimely death placed a tremendous responsibility on her shoulders. She not only excelled at raising her four children, but also worked tirelessly to preserve the vision of her late husband. She carried on Martin Luther King's legacy with grace, love and a strong sense of spirituality. Dr. King left a gift to the world in Coretta, who continued to travel throughout the United States and abroad to reinforce his vision of civil and human rights, not only for all Americans but indeed all citizens of the world. She understood the demonstrative power of one of Martin's most cherished phrases, ``We shall overcome.'' Mrs. King was indeed an angel among us. She enhanced the civil rights movement with her dignified and gracious presence. We are saddened by her passing, but also rejoice in a life full of meaning and purpose.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the resolution. I congratulate and honor the Iraqis for their successful election. I would request an open debate on Iraq on the House floor.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, over the last 3\1/2\ months, this Republican Congress has failed to act to meet the critical needs of Hurricane Katrina survivors. The few proposals the Republican leadership has put forward fail to go far enough in meeting the challenges of restoring the gulf coast region. The Congress has yet to enact a clear housing plan for the survivors still living in tents and waiting for promised trailers that have not appeared. Many families may lose their rental assistance at the end of December. And economic revitalization is moving at a snail's pace, with only about 5 percent of small business disaster loan applications approved so far. Even Republicans have begun to criticize the delay by the administration and the Republican Congress in getting assistance to the gulf coast region. Last week, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, a former Chairman of the Republican National Committee, said his State's ability to recover has been severely hampered by Congress's delay in approving more money. This Congress must not adjourn for the year until we enact measures to address this critical need.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Rogers) for introducing H. Con. Res. 273 which recognizes the 50th anniversary of the Montgomery bus boycott. The 1955 Montgomery bus boycott lasted for 381 days. It was a defining moment in our Nation's history. The heroic and nonviolent actions of many people, and in particular, those of Rosa Parks, who was arrested on December 1, 1955, for refusing to give up her seat to a white man led ultimately to a historic U.S. Supreme Court ruling that outlawed segregated public transportation. The catalyst for the success of Montgomery bus boycott is the fact that some 40,000 Black citizens of Montgomery decided not to ride the bus. Their nonviolent boycott ultimately drained the city financially. Perhaps for the first time in history, black residents of Alabama had used their economic power to gain social success. Social justice and economic equality are two sides of the same coin. 50 years after the Montgomery bus boycott, our Nation has made great strides in social justice and in increasing economic opportunities for all Americans. But much remains to be done. Fifty years later, the unemployment rate for African Americans is almost double that for the whole of America. Fifty years later, almost 1 in 4 African Americans live in poverty. Fifty years later, America's African American children are twice as likely as white children to die before their first birthday. And 50 years later, poverty in America still holds a tight grip on too many of our Nation's citizens. As this body honors and recalls a truly historic event in our Nation, let us also not forget that much still remains to be done to ultimately fulfill the legacy and the dreams of those thousands of Americans who participated in the Montgomery bus boycott.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I want to bring to the attention of my colleagues a report prepared by Eugene B. Kogan on the role of Congress in the implementation of U.S. foreign policy. Mr. Kogan is the John Kenneth Galbraith Fellow at the Americans for Democratic Action (ADA). The report is entitled The War Congress: Shouldering the Responsibilities of A U.S. Global Role. Mr. Kogan's report is particularly timely in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, and the U.S. intervention in Iraq. The report focuses on the role of Congress in these two seminal events and its abdication of effective oversight over the Bush administration's foreign policy decisions. Mr. Kogan states in the report: ``The lack of congressional oversight over the Bush Administration's foreign policy can compromise the ability of the United States to build a more secure world. Accountability is eroded in wartime, and the war on terrorism is not any different, except that it will shape America's world role for the next half a century or more. In this critical period of U.S. history, it is important for Congress to exercise its Constitutional responsibility by holding the Executive Branch accountable for its foreign policy decisions.'' Congress plays a vital role in the formulation of our Nation's foreign policy. I commend Mr. Kogan's report to my colleagues as they consider the future congressional role in the war on terrorism and U.S. intervention in Iraq.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the resolution that I coauthored with the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa). It expresses the sense of Congress that the Russian Federation must do more to protect intellectual property or risk losing its participation in the generalized system of preferences and be prevented from joining the World Trade Organization. I want to thank my colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa), for his hard work in crafting this most-needed resolution and for being such a strong voice on the global protection of intellectual property assets. The resolution came about, as he described, after a trip that we took with other members of the International Relations Committee to Russia in May of this year. During the trip, we learned firsthand the extent of the IP piracy problem in Russia which has reached epidemic levels, second only to China in the world. Indeed, the U.S. copyright industry lost over $1.7 billion last year due to Russian piracy and over $6 billion in the last 5 years, and the situation is getting worse. When we visited in May, the number of optical disk plants was 36. Now it is 42 with a production capacity that far exceeds Russia's demand for CDs and DVDs. Even by recent Russian government accounts, 16 of these plants are the Russian State (owned) Restricted Access Regime Enterprises where regular law enforcement officials are prohibited from visiting. Such information is truly disturbing. I represent Hollywood, California, the center of the U.S. copyright and creative industry. My constituents inform me that because of corruption, inefficiency and ineptitude in Russia's justice system, U.S. industry complaints have been routinely dismissed. The few sentences that have been handed down are wholly inadequate and non- deterrent. I fear that, unless Russia substantially improves IPR law and enforcement practices, Russian participation in the world trade system should be restricted. This is the reason why I introduced this along with Mr. Issa to condition Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization on the Russian government's demonstrated commitment in meeting its international obligations and protecting intellectual property rights. We understand that to curb the proliferation of IPR violations in Russia, it is not enough to focus on how many laws are passed by the Duma and how many raids on optical disk plants are being conducted each year. We have to generate a sense of urgency and motivate the political will of the Russian government. Simply put, a healthy and vibrant global trade market should not tolerate the ongoing systemic piracy of intellectual assets, and the Russian political establishment must understand that. I am pleased to note that over 100 Members of Congress have cosponsored this resolution. It will send a clear and convincing message that the United States Congress is looking at the issue closely and that real reform must happen now. Once again, I want to thank the congressman for his leadership on this issue. I urge my colleagues to support this critical resolution.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, Congressman Ed Roybal, who recently passed, will be remembered as a true pioneer in the struggle for human and civil rights. He was an advocate his whole life for the poor, disenfranchised and for seniors. Ed was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1962, at a time when Henry Gonzalez of Texas was the only other Hispanic representative in the House of Representatives. Ed served with distinction in the House of Representatives for 30 years. He quickly earned the respect of his congressional colleagues and, in 1971, was elected to serve on the Appropriations Committee, where he remained for the rest of his career in Congress. He became Chair of the Treasury, Postal Service, General Government Subcommittee in 1981. There he became a powerful advocate for funding for education, civil rights and health programs. He was one of the first Members of Congress to support HIV/AIDS research funding. Ed also had an abiding interest in the needs of our elderly and from 1985 to 1989 served as the Chair of the Select Committee on Aging. In 1980, he successfully restored funds to programs for the elderly and in 1982 played an instrumental role in maintaining the Meals on Wheels program. He was a trailblazer for the rights of not only Hispanics but of all persons, white, black, brown, the young and the elderly, who had been denied an equal opportunity and were looking for a hand up. He always selflessly extended his hand and never lost sight of those in need throughout his distinguished career as a public servant. I looked to Ed as he served on the Los Angeles City Council and then in Congress as a voice that could be trusted to consistently respond on behalf of those who could not speak for themselves. We saw him as the go-to guy on the City Council. Ed's strong and dedicated message will never be silenced. He leaves behind a spiritual and an indelible legacy that will live on. God bless him.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, this week, Republicans will bring a budget reconciliation bill up that cuts critical Federal programs that directly affect the lives of everyday Americans, all so they can turn around and cut taxes that primarily benefit America's millionaires. Among the proposals they will bring and will try to force through are dramatic cuts in food assistance programs to our most vulnerable. According to the CBO, the Republican food stamp cuts would knock nearly 300,000 Americans off nutritional assistance programs. Included in that number are 40,000 children who would no longer receive either free or reduced-price school lunches. No other group has benefited more from 5 years of Republican domination in Washington than those who are the wealthiest in our Nation, and now Republicans want to take school lunches away from 40,000 children so they can provide America's millionaires another tax break. These children desperately need the nutrition provided in school lunches. It is cruel, and this bill must be defeated.