[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 24 (Tuesday, March 10, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H933-H934]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    CONGRESSIONAL CHILDREN'S CAUCUS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I come today on the floor of 
the House for two issues that I think are extremely important. First of 
all, I would like to thank all of the participants who joined the 
Congressional Children's Caucus today in a hearing on emotional 
disorders of children.

[[Page H934]]

  Shockingly, one after another witness presented to our Congressional 
committee the fact that the services and funding for treating children 
with emotional disorders was at the lowest end of any sort of health 
care service in this country. In fact, we were told by the 
administration, that two-thirds of America's children needing 
assistance with emotional disorders are without treatment and care. We 
are also told of the complicated process of HMOs that does not cover 
care for emotional disorders and mental illness in children.
  In fact, running between two hearings, one of the remarks that I made 
in coming to the Congressional Children's Caucus hearing on this matter 
is that we might even call the system bankrupt; the fact that our 
children are so very important and when, in the greatest need of their 
time, when they are young, when they may be suffering from attention 
deficit disorder or they may be suffering from depression, we in this 
very powerful nation do not have the wherewithal or funding to fix 
these broken lives.
  Parents came and presented to us tragic instances of suicide and what 
could have been done or what should be done to prevent this. But more 
importantly, what they did say to us is this is something that could be 
remedied. A child aged 7 or 4 or 5, 8, 10, 12 or a teenager suffering 
from depression can be helped. That family can be helped.
  Why, in this powerful country, do we spend so much money on so many 
different things; do we argue and debate on the floor of the House on 
so many different things, and yet we cannot find the funding or any of 
the resources to truly help those children who are in need?
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that I will be looking to 
offer legislation to increase the amount of funding that we have to 
implement centers around the country, some centers, that we now have 
only 31 centers in 22 States, 22 out of 50 States, where we have the 
resources to help our children suffering from emotional disorders. And 
clearly, I will be looking to question HMOs as to how they treat the 
reimbursement to families for coverage of this whole question of mental 
or emotional disorders of our children and hope to support House 
Resolution 212 sponsored by John Lewis that emphasizes the importance 
of this question.


                   Tribute to Women-Owned Businesses

  Let me complete my remarks, Mr. Speaker, by saying that I do want to 
pay tribute to women-owned businesses. Certainly, one would ask the 
connection. But I thought these were two important issues that I needed 
to mention this evening.
  My tribute to women-owned businesses is simply this: These represent 
the backbone of America's economy. How many women do I meet who are 
moved out of the workforce without any opportunity for employment and 
have found economic independence through the idea of women-owned 
businesses. I am a major supporter of the Small Business 
Administration's effort in helping cottage-owned industries owned by 
women.
  In fact, there was a pilot program in Houston, Texas, spearheaded by 
Milton Wilson of our SBA, that helped to fund what we call cottage-
owned agencies, such as Mary Kay, which has been expanded by the one-
stop capital store. The U.S. general store allows small businesses to 
go in and access contracts in the Federal Government all over the 
country. The one-stop capital store allows small businesses and women-
owned business to access capital.
  If I ever heard anything from our women-owned businesses, it is that 
it is so difficult for them to prove themselves as a worthy credit 
risk. How shameful in 1998 that we still have the problems of saying 
the little lady can't handle it.
  Well, let me salute all the women-owned businesses who have turned 
into the big ladies who are doing quite well. Let me encourage them to 
continue to be the pioneers that they are. And let me say to them that 
I, for one, will give to them my full commitment for ensuring that they 
are treated with the dignity and equality for capital, for investment, 
for access to opportunities, and for access to opportunity in this 
government.
  I close by simply saying that women-owned businesses have benefitted 
from affirmative action. And for all my colleagues who might be 
listening, that is why I think it is extremely important to turn back 
anyone who attempts to undermine what affirmative action stands for, 
providing an equal opportunity, acting affirmatively to open the doors 
of opportunity for all.

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