Diane Watson

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Lantos substitute. Mr. Chairman, I rise to speak in support of the substitute legislation offered by the ranking member of the House International Relations Committee, Mr. Tom Lantos. As a former U.S. Ambassador, I know and appreciate that the United Nations serves a most useful purpose. It is the only international body that allows those countries that support the United States and those that do not to sit down in peaceful dialogue to address issues of concern and to work together. To maintain the opportunity to resolve our differences, we must not cut the funds we provide to the United Nations. Mr. Lantos' bill supports the necessary reforms we all recognize are needed for the United Nations but does so without malice. Like H.R. 2745, the substitute supports the goal of reforming budgeting procedures, but it eliminates the devastating automatic withholding of 50 percent of the dues we owe to the United Nations. We should not tie the hands of our Secretary of State nor should we give those who do not support the United States, an issue in which to embarrass us. The substitute gives the Secretary of State the authority to make the cut but does not mandate such cuts. A more preferable position. The substitute also keeps the peacekeeping reforms of H.R. 2745 but does not mandate the vetoing of any new or expanded U.N. peacekeeping operation that does not serve our national interest. Again, the flexibility contained in the substitute is preferable to H.R. 2745. Mr. Chairman, the United States is the world leader and we should be a leader in all areas including serving as a model country in its relationships to the world community. This means pushing for reforms in the United Nations when such reforms are necessary but it also means being a good citizen and doing our part to fulfill our responsibilities and to be a good world citizen. Mr. Chairman, I urge support for the Lantos substitute.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, how much does the majority leader underestimate the American people? For 6 months now the House Ethics Committee has been unable to meet because the Ethics Committee chairman refuses to abide by the committee's own rules. And now, this week, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay) says it is the Democrats who are keeping the committee from meeting because, according to him, they want to delay his case before the Ethics Committee until an election year. If the majority leader really wants his case heard before the Ethics Committee, he should persuade the Ethics Committee chairman to abide by the ethics rules and appoint a nonpartisan staff director. The rules of the committee are clear that the staff be assembled and retained as a professional nonpartisan staff. If the gentleman from Washington (Chairman Hastings) is allowed to appoint his chief of staff, he would be breaking the committee rules by having a partisan staffer on the committee. Democrats want the Ethics Committee to play by the rules. Please play by the rules.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, the Committee on the Judiciary chairman turned the lights off on democracy last Friday morning when he halted a hearing on the PATRIOT Act in which opposition voices were given time. After Friday's hearing, it was clear that the chairman does not like to hear from those that do not agree with his opinion; certainly, an abuse to the freedom of speech. During the hearing, the chairman scolded both Democratic Members and panelists; and when he did not agree with a comment, he demanded panelists wrap it up. When he got really mad, he just gaveled the hearing to an end and stormed out of the room. What appalling behavior for a distinguished leader. Then, as Democratic members tried to continue the hearing, the microphones in the room were turned off. When that did not silence my Democratic colleagues, the Republicans finally turned off the lights. Mr. Speaker, some congressional Republicans are abusing their power over this House to silence any opposition to either them or to the Bush administration. The gentleman from Wisconsin (Chairman Sensenbrenner) should not only apologize to everyone who attended Friday's hearing, but to every Member of this House. That is simply not the way the people's House is supposed to work, and it is time this arrogance stops.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, today, we may find out whether President Bush and his Congressional colleagues want to turn the Senate into a second House of Representatives, a rubber stamp for a right wing agenda and radical judges. President Bush wants to pack the Federal courts with the extreme right fringe of this country, putting at risk the rights and liberties this country has fought for and protected for centuries. He wants to create a Supreme Court that will not act as an independent branch but instead wag its tail at every beck and call. Mr. Speaker, Republican leaders are out of control. Instead of governing and tending to the Nation's business, they are on a quest for absolute power. They are on a mission to trash our Founding Fathers' commitment to the separation of powers and the abhorrence of simple majority rule. While the Republicans continue their odyssey for absolute power, Democrats are fighting to protect our constitutional checks and balances and to ensure that we remain a Nation ruled by laws and not by men.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I urge my colleagues to support the amendment. I would also like to thank my colleagues on the Committee on Rules for allowing me to bring this important issue to the floor today. This amendment would require the Attorney General to seek input from local elected officials before designating an area as a high-intensity interstate gang activity area. The bill currently only requires the Attorney General to consult Governors of the States. California is three States in one; and for a person like me who lives in South Los Angeles, right in the middle of a gang area, I would have a lot to tell about designating that gang area. The underlying bill gives local communities no input. My amendment would simply require the Attorney General to seek input from local elected officials before designating an area as being a high-intensity gang area. This amendment is not intended to slow down the process of designation or give local officials veto power that supersedes the power of Federal and State officials. Rather, it lets the communities and the people that represent them have a voice in the decision-making. Addressing the gang problem in our communities is an issue that requires all levels of government working together. Who knows better the problems facing these communities' constituents than the communities themselves? Reducing gang violence requires hands-on intervention and input from those most affected by gang violence. These communities know, first-hand, the damage gang violence does in their neighborhoods everyday. Their opinions should be heard on the state and federal levels. The communities affected by gang violence must have the chance to express their views before neighborhoods are classified as a High Intensity Gang Area. Local officials know better than anyone else what is occurring on a day to day basis in their jurisdictions. This amendment would allow participation on all levels of government in this designation process. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and allow local elected officials, in conjunction with federal and state officials, to have input on how their communities are branded as High Intensity Gang Areas.

Ms. WATSON. I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin.

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Chairman, I would hope the Members would support my amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. WATSON. I thank the gentleman. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, I will just finish up. These additional inspectors and agents are essential because they would be assigned to assist local law enforcement to cut off the supply of weapons and ammunition to gang members. This amendment would also help local law enforcement and the BATFE compile much-needed data on how weapons are obtained and used by gangs. This amendment is not a gun control amendment; it is a law enforcement amendment. By improving our enforcement of existing gun laws, gang members will lose the dominating weaponry that permits gangs to outgun police and kill innocent people. Mr. Chairman, I believe that we should make every effort to prevent gang members from obtaining their ``Weapons of Mass Destruction.'' I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and help the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives continue the assault on crime in our communities while cutting off the flow of guns to gang members. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. WATSON. I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin.

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. This amendment would add 100 new inspectors and 100 new agents to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. These inspectors and agents would be assigned to the new high-intensity interstate gang activity areas created by H.R. 1279. As I mentioned, my congressional district is part of a high-crime area, and there is a gun shop in it that has sparked my attention in recent months. I have been working with BATFE to ensure that this shop does not become a source of gang weaponry in my district. One comment I have repeatedly heard from the bureau is that they simply do not have the personnel necessary to crack down on gun-law violators and keep guns out of the hands of violent gangs. The lack of proper inspections and detailed reports on how guns get into the hands of gang members hampers the fight against these violent gangs. Congress must assist the bureau by allowing it to have an adequate amount of staff to accurately investigate how illegal guns are getting into our communities and make every effort to remove weapons from gang members' hands.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, the Republican Congress and Republican President are overcome with power, so much so that they want to fundamentally change our Nation's government into one where a single political party in power holds total control. And how do the Republicans want to lay claim to absolute power? In order to break down the separation of powers and ram through their appointees to the judicial branch, the President and the Republican leadership want to eliminate a 200-year-old American rule that permits the Senate the right to extend debate in the confirmation of Presidential nominees. Mr. Speaker, the role of the Senate in the confirmation of Presidential nominees is a central element of our democracy. The confirmation process underscores our Founding Fathers' commitment to the separation of powers and their abhorrence of simple majority rule. It provides for essential checks and balances to ensure we remain a Nation ruled by laws and not just by men. We do not need a monarchy. We need to preserve our Republic.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, the House of Representatives has an elaborate set of rules and regulations to ensure that Members' commitment to the public interest is never undermined by a conflict of interest. Unfortunately, the very House body charged with enforcing these rules and regulations is itself suffering from a conflict of interest. At the start of this year, three Republican members of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct were removed by their party because they were not friendly enough to the leadership. Two of the replacement members have given $15,000 to a legal defense fund for a member of the Republican leadership who likely will become subject to an ethics investigation. Does any Member believe these two Members can fairly and independently, without bias, judge a Republican House leader while at the same time helping to pay his legal bills? The Committee on Standards of Official Conduct has not even yet met, but the deck is already stacked against getting to the real truth and restoring the high standards of this House. The American people should be rightfully troubled and outraged.

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 Americans and Pacific Islanders in U.S. history. I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus for organizing this special order. I thank the gentleman very much. Mr. Speaker, I represent one of the most diverse congressional districts in our Nation, with African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Anglo Americans, each making up about 30 percent of my Los Angeles- based district. Los Angeles' Korea Town, also in my congressional district, is home to 80,000 Asian Americans, who make up roughly 13 percent of my constituency. My congressional district includes Sony Studios, Capital Records, American Film Institute and Raleigh Studios. It is the home of our Nation's and a great deal of the world's entertainment industry. Today, I want to address the need for adequate and accurate representation of Asian Americans in film and television. Many of my colleagues speaking today have already mentioned the fact that there are over 13 million Asian and Pacific Islanders living in the United States and that by the year 2050, there will be an estimated 33.4 million self-identified Asian Americans in the United States. However, while the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities continue to grow, our Nation's entertainment sector continues to fall behind in recognizing their presence through film and television and their influence in shaping the course of our Nation. Just last week, the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium released a report called ``Lights, Camera, and Little Action,'' detailing the shortage of Asian-American characters on prime time network television. The report finds that while Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders make up 5 percent of the United States population, they represent only 2.7 percent of regular characters on prime time television. The report also finds that virtually no Asian actors are cast in situation comedies, and the characters they play in dramas tend to have less depth and development than most regulars, with minimal on- screen time and few romantic roles. For example, programs such as ``King of Queens,'' set in a New York City borough, features no regular Asian characters despite the fact that almost one in five residents of the city are Asian Americans. The show ``Charmed'' on the network WB also includes no Asian actors, despite being set in San Francisco where a third of the population is Asian American. Such whitewashing of prime time television not only fails to reflect reality, it also denies viewers the opportunity to learn about other cultures and the chance to further cross-cultural understanding and communication. And, finally, I think an equally disturbing trend is the study's finding that when AAPIs are depicted on a television show, they are placed in roles that reinforce stereotypes. Let me give the Members an example. While the 2000 U.S. census showed that half of AAPI adults do not have college degrees, all of the Asian American characters on prime time television have professional jobs that often require advanced degrees. These are admittedly very positive portrayals, and many ethnic groups have railed against their negative portrayals in the media as gang members, pimps, drug dealers, and prostitutes. Nonetheless, any ethnic stereotyping by media, even positive stereotyping, tends to eliminate the larger public's understanding of the real conditions of the ethnic group. Mr. Speaker, the contributions of Asian Pacific Americans to the growth and success of this Nation cannot be overstated. The history of their struggle and triumph in the United States must be captured and remembered. One of the most effective means of commemoration is through the accurate portrayal of AAPI characters in film and television that illuminates their hopes, dreams, and struggles. The AAPI communities have played instrumental roles in advancing the freedom and equality of all Americans; yet we do not see their achievements adequately documented and reflected by the media. Mr. Speaker, in commemorating this year's Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, I call on the entertainment industry to further improve their depiction of the AAPI communities and urge everyone to remain vigilant about the roles the media play in capturing the shared heritage of Asian and Pacific Islander communities in our Nation.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, earlier this year, the House Republican leadership purged the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of three of the Republican Members. Serving on this committee, where one is charged with investigating and possibly reprimanding one's own colleagues is not an easy assignment, but it is a very important one. The gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley), the chairman, and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Hulshof) wanted to continue to serve on the committee, a committee unlike most in this Chamber, that worked in a bipartisan fashion. Could that have been their downfall? After losing his chairmanship, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley) told The Washington Post, and I am quoting, ``There's a bad perception out there that there was a purge in the committee and that people were put in that would protect our side of the aisle better than I did.'' He continues, ``No one should be there to protect anybody; they should be there to protect the integrity of the institution.'' Madam Speaker, I could not have said it better myself. The integrity of the House is much more important than any one Member. It is time the Republican leadership learns that lesson.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, since the beginning of this year, the House Republican leadership has worked to undermine the ethics process here. First, the leadership floated an ethics proposal that would have allowed Members of its leadership to continue to serve in leadership if they were indicted. When that did not go over too well, the leadership decided it could protect one of its own by making it more difficult to investigate unethical behavior. The leadership rushed through a new rule that would end an ethics compliant after 45 days if no agreement could be reached on how to proceed. Under the old rules, if the two parties could not come to an agreement, a subcommittee was automatically appointed to investigate. Finally, to guarantee that Republican leadership would be able to quash any ethic complaints, they purged the committee of three members, including the chairman, who were not always willing to toe the party line. Then they replaced them with party loyalists. Mr. Speaker, the Republican leadership is going to extreme measures to weaken our ethics rules. It makes one wonder just whom they are trying to protect. Ethics and morals have been overtaken by hypocrisy.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 504, a bill to rename a post office located in Los Angeles, California, the Ray Charles Post Office, is a small act to commemorate one of the true giants of the 20th century in popular music. Ray Charles is both a national treasure and a international phenomenon. He was also a long-time resident of Los Angeles and the 33rd Congressional District, living right around the corner from me. The story of Ray Charles's life is full of paradoxes. It is about rags to riches, the sacred and the profane, and triumph overcoming tragedy. It is the material of Horatio Alger and Mark Twain. It is a uniquely American story; and his music, a melting pot blend of pop, country, gospel, blues and jazz, brilliantly reflects the rich American cultural and musical tapestry in its various shades, shapes, and premonitions. Much has been written about Ray Charles's life, and his rise from poverty and obscurity in St. Augustine, Florida, to his decision to migrate to Seattle, a decision he made by asking a friend to find him the farthest point from Florida on a map of the Continental United States. Many of you have probably seen the movie ``Ray,'' and the Oscar- winning performance of Jamie Foxx. What we learned from the life of Ray Charles is that he constantly persevered in the face of adversity and often overwhelming odds. He learned very early that the two constants of life are change and adaptation. Those qualities are reflected in spades in his music. He secularized gospel music, wed it to jazz rhythms and sensibilities, and popularized, almost singlehandedly, music known as rhythm and blues. But the music of Ray Charles, as true to his legacy, cannot be confined to one genre or type of music. In 1962, Ray Charles spit in the eye of conventional wisdom, as well as his producers, and recorded one of the great country albums, ``Modern Sounds in Country and Western.'' Billboard Magazine listed it as the number one-selling album for 14 weeks in a row, a feat that has not been duplicated since then. Ray Charles's accomplishments were all the more profound when we consider that the races in America were still largely segregated, particularly in the South. Ray Charles's revolutionary approach to music was also reflected in his politics and his deep and abiding commitment to Martin Luther King and the plight of the African Americans. Ray Charles may not have been on the front lines, but he put his money where his mouth was. In his autobiography, Ray Charles wrote about his life-long love affair with music. ``I was born with the music inside me,'' he wrote. ``That is the only explanation I know of. It was, of course, already with me when I arrived on the scene. It was a necessity for me like food or like water.'' Ray Charles has provided comfort to millions of Americans from all races and backgrounds and made their lives brighter with the genius of his music. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would note that this legislation, to name a post office in honor of Ray Charles, is but a small tribute to a man who started from nowhere and ended up as a national treasure and a global phenomenon. God bless, Ray Charles.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 167, the Family Entertainment and Copyright Act of 2005, which strengthens our Nation's intellectual property rights system and further protects and rewards our Nation's artists for their creative products. I supported this bill during the last Congress, and I look forward to seeing its eventual enactment in the coming weeks. This bill closes several significant gaps in our copyright laws that have contributed to the epidemic of digital piracy today. It outlaws camcording of movies off of theater screens by making it a Federal crime. It also empowers judges to impose up to 5-year prison terms for persons convicted of distributing copyrighted songs and movies on file-sharing networks for financial gain. I believe these provisions create crucial tools to combat the theft and redistribution of valuable intellectual property. With our movie industry losing about $3 billion to piracy every year, it is time that Congress demonstrates its support for our Nation's creators and artists by strengthening protection of copyrighted products. In addition, the bill strengthens our Nation's film heritage by reauthorizing the National Film Preservation Board and the National Film Preservation Foundation that have worked successfully to preserve historically or culturally significant films. Their fine work will ensure our collective artistic heritage will be preserved for generations to come. Finally, I want to point out that despite my overall support for the bill, I disagree with title II of the legislation, which shields companies that make movie-filtering systems from liability for copyrighting infringements. The intent of the movie-filtering technology is to sanitize movies to protect children. While I support a family-friendly entertainment, I believe this method is not only a violation of film makers' copyright protections but also an infringement of their artistic vision. Just yesterday, the Washington Post reported that companies sanitizing films removed 24 minutes from the part of the movie ``Saving Private Ryan'' depicting the landing at Omaha Beach on D-Day and eliminated racial epithets uttered by police officials against African American boxer Rubin Carter in ``The Hurricane.'' Both are central to the themes of the movies. Such editing may be done in the name of protecting children, but often reflect our political or ideological biases of the censors. I want to make it clear that my general support of the bill is no way an endorsement of film sanitization. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 167, and it is my hope that we will keep the dialogue open regarding the ever-changing landscape of technology, censorship, and creativity in our country.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, the public may now know Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr., as a high-profile, superbly dressed, superstar attorney with a signature smile that swayed everyone he met, including many of the multi-million dollar clients that he represented. However, as a personal friend of Johnnie's, I saw another side. Yes, he did everything with class, style, dignity and extreme care; but in addition he was a warm, loving, caring, attentive friend and community leader. Johnnie Cochran was a brilliant attorney whose untimely death is a loss to the world. His legal genius was compared to Justice Thurgood Marshall, his hero and his idol; Clarence Darrow; F. Lee Bailey; Professor Charles Ogletree and other legendary legal scholars. Johnnie Cochran was an incredible human being who really cared about the plight of the poor and disadvantaged regardless of race, color, creed, or religion. Johnnie was often fond of saying, ``The clients I cared about the most are the No Js, the ones who nobody knows.'' Attorney Cochran truly believed in justice for all. Even after death, Johnnie's legal legacy was larger than life. His funeral last week in Los Angeles, entitled ``Johnnie's Journey To Justice,'' was a celebration of his incredible life. The A-list of celebrity clients were among more than 5,000 admirers saying good-bye to their hero who fought for civil rights, police reform, and basic human rights for everyone. The Reverend William Epps, Johnnie's home pastor of the historic Second Baptist Church of Los Angeles, the first church that Martin Luther King spoke in when he came to Los Angeles, and Reverend Calvin Butts of Abyssinia Baptist Church, Harlem, New York, presided over this joyful funeral service, which was held in the great West Angeles Cathedral in my district. I would say that Johnnie led a very important life for a lot of people, and we will remember him always for bringing justice to not only the poor but middle class and wealthy. May God bless his soul.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to S. 256 because this bill does nothing to address the epidemic of identity theft or protect its victims.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Josie Gray Bain, a brilliant woman who was a dedicated wife, mother, and pioneer educator, who I had the distinct honor to work with closely when I served on the Los Angeles School Board. Josie Gray Bain was born in Atlanta, Georgia, where she attended elementary and high school. Shortly after graduation from high school, she met and married Reverend John C. Bain of Los Angeles. In the fall of 1930, Josie Bain relocated to Spring Hill, Tennessee, where she and her husband began their first ministerial appointment. Their son, John David, was born soon thereafter. Both Josie and her husband enrolled at Drake University, where Josie received her B.S. degree with honors and continued to do graduate work there. In 1942, Josie Bain moved with her husband to Los Angeles, California. She completed her graduate studies at California State College in Los Angeles, Immaculate Heart College, and the University of Southern California. In 1948, she began her career in education with the Los Angeles Unified School District as an elementary schoolteacher at Marianna Avenue Elementary School. After teaching several years, she was promoted to positions of ever-increasing responsibility. Josie ended her brilliant career as Associate Superintendent of Instruction, the first African American in the history of the Los Angeles Unified School District to be appointed to the position. Josie Bain was an active member of several professional and civic organizations, including Delta Kappa Gamma, Education Sorority; Delta Sigma Theta, Education Sorority; National Council of Negro Women; the Urban League; United Methodist Women; and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. She founded and served as president of the Interchange For Community Action, which provided scholarships for many disadvantaged minorities for more than two decades. Josie Bain devoted her life to her family, God, community, and her church. She lived her life with style, grace, integrity, and vitality. Her dedication to helping children was recognized by all those whom she touched, and her accomplishments were evidenced by numerous awards and honors bestowed upon her throughout her life.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a recently deceased great American, Ulysses Bradshaw Kinsey. As a boy, Mr. Kinsey grew up on a large farm where he shared responsibilities with his older siblings. Mr. Kinsey's values of fairness, compassion, and personal integrity were learned from his father and mother. He closely observed and admired his beloved father's fair treatment of people regardless of race and stature. He also admired his mother for her kindness and compassion towards others. This strong foundation would become the basis for Mr. Kinsey's personal and professional values. While attending Florida A&M, he met and married his wife of 63 years. With their children they were loving and unfailing in their devotion. Mr. Kinsey believed that the best way to love his children was to love their mother. He encouraged independence of action and attitude while loyally supporting them and allowing them to develop in directions of their own choosing. At the same time, he set well-defined limits that were firm and consistent. Mr. Kinsey's focus on the individual development and welfare of each child was transferred to his professional life in a long distinguished career as an educator. In 1941, he began his career as a social studies and history teacher at his high school alma mater. By 1943, he became assistant principal and also served as school treasurer, junior class sponsor, and athletic director. In September of 1950, at the birth of his sixth child, Mr. Kinsey became principal of Palmview Elementary School, formerly an industrial high school. And by 1953, he had earned his masters degree in education and supervision from Florida A&M college. He also attended Lincoln University Law School in St. Louis, Missouri, during his summer vacations and completed his legal education. Although Mr. Kinsey decided to become an educator partly because of the financial demands of a growing family, he never regretted that decision; and that decision was a fortunate one for the thousands of children who passed through Palmview's doors during Mr. Kinsey's long tenure as a principal. As a leader, he focused on two rudiments of education, one, critical thinking through the development of reading and writing skills, and quantitative reasoning. His emphasis on these educational basics may explain why Palmview Elementary School, an institution located in an inner-city community with an 86 percent African American student population, was so hotly pursued by suburban parents during the early turbulent days of integration in the South. Palmview, an educational oasis, was distinguished from other schools by its clean, safe environment, intensive extra-curricular activities in art and music and computers in the classrooms. With a calm, careful demeanor, Mr. Kinsey led the way academically, not only for African American children but also for all children in West Palm Beach County. His impact on his community also influenced many others beyond the children who became part of the Palmview family. His work as a community organizer and leader began in the early 1940s. U.B., along with other African American educators, employed Thurgood Marshall and he was successful in bringing integration of the teachers and giving them the back pay they deserved. His contributions are countless to education and he serves as a role model for others and leaves a very rich legacy.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that on rollcall vote No. 67, I would like the record to reflect that I inadvertently voted ``nay.'' I would like the record to reflect that I intended to vote ``yea.''

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, on every issue our Nation faces it is our responsibility to ensure that the policies we pursue are consistent with the values that we cherish. The Bush Administration's 2006 budget fails in every respect. It is fiscally reckless, adding trillions of dollars to the deficit over the next 10 years. It is morally irresponsible in funding for key homeland security, veterans benefits, health care and educational programs. And despite the fact that the President has called privatizing Social Security his top domestic priority this year, his budget includes no details on this plan. Mr. Speaker, this money that it is going to take to institute his plan could be money going to education, going to health care, going to address the infrastructure of our Nation. So the President's plan clearly needs help. And his failure to provide a clear and honest accounting of the difficult tradeoffs between increases in debt, benefits cuts and tax increases shows a failure in leadership.