[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 28, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H479-H484]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PRINTING OF A REVISED EDITION OF ``BLACK AMERICANS IN CONGRESS, 1870-
                                 1989''

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Rehberg). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 3, 2001, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) is 
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, this is the last day of Black History Month, 
a vital commemoration that we celebrate in our Nation each February. I 
have had the privilege of hosting for 20 years, every year that I have 
been in Congress, a black history breakfast in my district, to which I 
have invited extraordinary speakers over the years, including our 
colleagues, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis), the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Jackson); as well as his father; and many other 
distinguished African Americans and Members of this House.
  At the outset, because she has a committee meeting to attend, I would 
like to yield to one of our newer colleagues but who is not new to the 
struggle for civil rights in this country and in her city. She is also 
a leader in her city as a prosecutor and as a judge. It gives me a 
great deal of pleasure to yield to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. 
Jones).
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Maryland 
(Mr. Hoyer) for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I have to say that in the time that I have been in 
Congress, although 2 years and 60 days, the gentleman from Maryland 
(Mr. Hoyer) has been one of my finest friends and has given me great 
instruction and guidance; but I want to be invited to be the speaker at 
the Black History Month breakfast next year.
  Mr. HOYER. I hear the gentlewoman.
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the 
resolution to reprint the book called Black Americans in Congress; and 
I thank my colleague, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), and my 
colleague, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney), for their insight and 
vision to do such a thing.
  I rise today to honor the contributions of black Americans in the 
Congress of the United States. In our collective history, the period of 
1865 to 1877 marked reconstruction. The first African-American Member 
of Congress, Senator Hiram Rhodes Revels from Mississippi, Republican, 
served in 1870 in the 41st Congress.
  Senator Revels was also the first black Member of Congress and the 
first black Member from Mississippi. Senator Revels began an 
illustrious tradition that has continued through this day. The History 
of Blacks in Congress was last published in 1989. It is now time to 
update this volume to reflect the work of individual Members of 
Congress, as well as the collective work of the Congressional Black 
Caucus over the past 12 years.
  In the 212 years of congressional history, African-American Members 
of Congress have shown that effective African-American leadership is 
more than simple expressiveness. It must deliver substance by opening 
up opportunities for the poor and powerless. It must enhance race 
relations but also hold accountable any group or individual that may 
seek to disenfranchise people of color.
  Hiram Revels and other 19th and 20th century black Members of 
Congress worked to ensure that representation of African Americans 
through the franchise, voting rights. At this point in our history, it 
is highly significant that we must continue to examine the systematic 
disenfranchisement of voters, most recently during the 2000 elections.
  Most African Americans who aspire to leadership in the post-civil 
rights era will understand what makes a difference in people's lives: 
Homes and safe neighborhoods, schools that teach our children, 
businesses that support economic growth and jobs in our communities, 
faith and community institutions. These matters are at the heart of 
much of the work of the Members of Congress, both black and white. But 
until our society prioritizes fairness, economic stability, health 
care, security for seniors, and education, advocacy on behalf of the 
poor and powerless need continue. African-American Members of Congress 
will continue to strongly advocate to ensure that our society evolves 
into a more perfect union.
  Again, I am so happy to join my colleague, the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), and my other colleagues as we push to reprint 
Black Americans in Congress. This time maybe I will get printed in the 
program since I have managed to make it here, and am blessed to be 
here.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. 
Jones) for her remarks. She is impossible not to include, Mr. Speaker. 
She is effervescent, ever-present and ever-ready; and we thank her for 
her participation.
  Mr. Speaker, I mentioned that today is the last day of Black History 
Month. It is appropriate that we look back on this history and we look 
back with our eyes wide open at the injustices committed on American 
soil. The stain on our history deserves no defense because it is simply 
indefensible, but let us take this opportunity today to look back and 
learn from those who led our Nation out of darkness through the 
strength of character, through the unbreakable human spirit, through 
the unending quest for freedom and human dignity and in the words of 
that great national anthem, ``facing the rising sun of their new day 
begun, let us march until victory is won.''
  The inspiring lives of our colleagues teach rich lessons for all of 
us. The inspiring lives of great African Americans do so as well: 
George Washington Carver; Frederick Douglas; Sojourner Truth; Harriet 
Tubman; W.E.B. DuBois; Thurgood Marshall, from my own State; Jackie 
Robinson; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; and Shirley Chisholm, who served 
with such high distinction in this House. Mr. Speaker, that list of 
great African Americans could go on and on; and that list is 
continually growing.

[[Page H480]]

  If we take a look around this very body, Mr. Speaker, we will see a 
new generation of African-American leaders who serve the American 
people so ably, so proudly. It is important that we recognize their 
contributions and their service to the people of America.

                              {time}  1415

  It is important that we capture the rich lessons of their lives which 
inspire generations yet to come, not just of young African-Americans 
who will see them as role models, but young Americans and young people 
throughout the world who will see them as courageous human beings who 
have overcome great adversity, racism, in many instances, economic 
deprivation, cultural deprivation.
  Some, have come from advantaged homes, but they have not forgotten 
that there is a struggle that continues.
  To that end, Mr. Speaker, I have joined more than 40 of our 
colleagues in introducing a bipartisan concurrent resolution for the 
printing of a revised edition of the House document entitled ``Black 
Americans in Congress, 1870 to 1989.'' I introduced this because in the 
last 10 years now we have had many distinguished African-Americans join 
our ranks. I and my cosponsors want to make sure that they are 
remembered.
  The latest edition of this work, published in 1990, contains 
biographies, photographs, and other important historical information 
about the 66 distinguished African-Americans who had served in either 
Chamber of Congress as of January 23, 1990. Since that time, an 
additional 40 distinguished African-Americans have served or are now 
serving.
  As we celebrate Black History Month, therefore, I encourage my 
colleagues to support this important resolution, which directs the 
Library of Congress to revise and update this volume. It will be a 
tremendously important resource for Members, scholars, students, and 
others.
  To appreciate history, we must recognize where we have been and how 
far we have come. When the Voting Rights Act was signed into law by 
President Johnson in 1965, there were five African-Americans in 
Congress. Today there are 38, nearly eight times that number. Progress? 
Yes. But our work is far from finished. We cannot, rest on our laurels 
or that accomplishment. That, Mr. Speaker, as all of us in America 
know, became painfully clear during last November's national election.
  Yesterday I participated in an important hearing on election reform 
convened by the Members of the Congressional Black Caucus. It is 
undeniable that the election problems and irregularities that arose not 
just in Florida, where we focused, but all across this land, contain a 
profound civil rights dimension.
  It is a basic right of American citizenship to have the opportunity 
to vote. It is a fundamental responsibility of our democracy that we 
ensure that their everyone's vote is properly counted. In Atlanta's 
Fulton County, which uses punch card machines similar to those that 
gained so much notoriety in Florida, one in every 16 ballots for 
President was invalidated. In Cobb and Gwinnett Counties, two largely 
white neighboring counties that use more modern optical-scan equipment, 
the nullification rate was one in 200. Think of it. In the inner city, 
one in 16 ballots was thrown out. In the more affluent suburbs, which 
could afford better technology, only one in 200. What a stark contrast 
that is a 1,250 percent difference.
  That is not acceptable in America, it is not acceptable in any 
democracy. In many Chicago precincts populated by African-Americans, 
one in every six ballots was thrown out. In contrast, neighboring 
DeKalb and Henry Counties, which are mostly white and use optical scan 
equipment had a spoilage rate of only three-tenths of a percent, one in 
six versus three-tenths in 100.
  It is painfully clear today, Mr. Speaker, nearly 36 years to the day 
after the famous bloody Sunday civil rights march in Selma, Alabama, an 
event that awakened the Nation to rank injustice and led to enactment 
of the Voting Rights Act, that our work is not finished. Far from it. 
Those brave foot soldiers of the civil rights movement, including our 
beloved colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis), marched in 
Selma and across our Nation for the most basic right in a democracy, 
fought for the right to vote.
  Mr. Speaker, I will be marching across the Edmond Pettis Bridge on 
Sunday. I will be marching across that bridge with the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Lewis) and many others to commemorate that historic march 
which directly led just a few months later to the passage and enactment 
and signing by President Lyndon Johnson of the Voting Rights Act.
  The right to vote alone is simply not enough. Even in a Nation as 
great as ours, we must redouble our effort to ensure that every single 
vote is counted, and that the integrity of our election system is never 
threatened.
  It is startling, Mr. Speaker, that women were not able to vote in 
this country until the 1920s. African-Americans could not vote, not 
because legally they could not, but because they actually were 
discouraged. They were not empowered by being encouraged to register to 
vote. They were instead given literacy tests and other devices were 
used to preclude them from exercising what the 13th, 14th, and 15th 
Amendments said was rightfully theirs as citizens of this country.
  As we conclude Black History Month, as many of us prepare, as I said, 
to join the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) and others this weekend 
in a pilgrimage to the historic civil rights sites in Montgomery, 
Birmingham, and Selma, let us redouble our commitment to the spirit and 
righteousness of that historic Voting Rights Act and say, never again, 
never again will we accept an election system that fails to count every 
vote.
  As Frederick Douglass, the abolitionist and journalist who escaped 
from slavery, said so many years ago, ``The whole history of the 
progress of human liberty shows that all concessions yet made to august 
claims have been born of earnest struggle. If there is no struggle, 
there is no progress.''

  When we join the earnest struggle for human liberty, then and only 
then, Mr. Speaker, will we have learned the rich lessons that Black 
History Month helps us to teach. Then and only then will we honor the 
extraordinary Americans, African Americans, but Americans, committed to 
their country, chosen by their neighbors to serve in this Congress who 
have enriched this institution, enriched their fellow African 
Americans, and enriched this Nation by their service.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased in this special order to urge every one of 
my colleagues to support this resolution to reprint this fine 
publication to ensure that even the newest Members of this Congress who 
are African Americans are included in it, so that everybody in America 
can know of their background, of their service, and of their 
commitment.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield to the gentleman from Missouri 
(Mr. Clay), a distinguished former member of the Missouri Senate, the 
son of a distinguished former member of this body, William Clay, who 
chaired the Committee on Education and Labor for a number of years, who 
was a giant in speaking out for the education of every American child, 
white or black, yellow, brown, or red.
  The gentleman's father is, I know, extraordinarily proud of his son, 
who has been selected by his Missouri neighbors to represent them here. 
No father can send a son here; only the citizens can do that.
  I am pleased now to yield to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay), 
the son of a great American, a great American himself, and the 
president of the House freshman class for the year 2000.
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me.
  Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate that I rise on this, the last day of 
Black History Month, to urge my colleagues to support passage of House 
Concurrent Resolution 43.
  I also want to thank my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), for scheduling this special order and allowing us 
this opportunity to speak on the measure.
  As the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) mentioned earlier, I am a 
second generation African American Member of this body. I am only the 
second African American to succeed a parent in this body, with the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Ford) being the first.

[[Page H481]]

  We were proud to follow in our parents' footsteps, and with both his 
father and my father being founding members of the Congressional Black 
Caucus, that adds a certain significance, also.
  House Concurrent Resolution 43 calls on the Library of Congress to 
update and reprint the historic publication, ``Black Americans in 
Congress, 1870 to 1989.'' I urge all of my colleagues to support this 
effort. Black Americans in Congress is an important historical document 
for all Americans. It brings together the stories of men and women of 
color who, through their own determination and commitment, overcame 
incredible barriers to serve this Nation with distinction as Members of 
Congress. The collective stories are a record of achievement that we 
can all be proud of.
  It has been more than a decade since this collection was last issued, 
and during that time many more distinguished African Americans have 
stepped forward to serve their Nation as Congressmen and Congresswomen. 
Their stories of success in public service deserve to be told, as well.
  I encourage all of my colleagues in the House to support and pass 
this resolution.
  Mr. HOYER. I thank the gentleman for his comments, and contributions. 
He and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Ford) have two fathers who are 
very, very proud, and I know mothers, as well, proud of their sons who 
are serving so ably and following their fathers' footsteps so 
appropriately. I thank the gentleman for his comments.
  Mr. Speaker, I said earlier that on Sunday I would be marching across 
the Edmond Pettis Bridge. One of the people that I am sure will be 
walking with us is a great fighter for civil rights who was there 
during the darkest days, most difficult days of the struggle for, as 
Martin Luther King, Jr., said, America to live out its promise. He 
represents Birmingham, the city of Bull Connor, one of the examples of 
how hate and racism can inflict a community like a cancer. The 
gentleman was perhaps not as famous, but a giant himself of the civil 
rights movement.
  I am very proud to yield to my friend, the gentleman from Alabama 
(Mr. Hilliard), formerly a member of the Alabama Senate and chairman of 
one of its most important committees.

                              {time}  1430

  Mr. HILLIARD. Mr. Speaker, history is very important, not only for 
the sake of knowing of the past, but being able to look at the past in 
terms of the future and the present and interpret history and perhaps 
see the resemblance and correct the things of the past, so that in the 
present we will not make those same mistakes.
  It is very important that we have documentation that explained the 
facts, that explained the order of being during a particular time. It 
is very important that information be gathered and be cataloged and be 
published, so that in the future, people will be able to reflect back 
in a written manner and ascertain facts of the past.
  Mr. Speaker, I speak because I am one of those who have an 
appreciation of history. Unless we make sure that our history is 
accurate, that the record is clear, concise and in a form that can be 
interpreted, digested and related to the future, we will never be able 
to have accurate representation of the past, and we will never be able 
to correct problems of the past, so that those mistakes will not be 
made in the present, nor in the future.
  Bloody Sunday in Selma, Alabama was one of those historical events in 
Alabama that changed this Nation, that called for laws in the State of 
Alabama and in the United States Congress to be changed. So it is 
always important that an accurate representation be made on Bloody 
Sunday.
  It is also important that an accurate representation of the history 
of those who serve in the United States Congress be documented for the 
present and for the future.
  Mr. Speaker, as a student of history, I ask that all Members concur 
and support the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) and what the 
gentleman is seeking to do.
  This has been done in the past, and it was good. It must be done in 
the present, so that we may continue the goodness of the past so that 
it will be available in the future.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman from 
Alabama (Mr. Hilliard) for his contribution, not just to speak on this 
resolution, but his contribution over at least three, possibly four 
decades of service to his State, to his community and to our Nation. I 
thank the gentleman from Alabama.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield to the gentleman from New York 
(Mr. Meeks), my friend, one of our newer Members, but one of our most 
able Members.
  Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, this month, as we celebrate the 
achievements of African Americans to our great country, I find this 
resolution most appropriate to recognize the hard work of African 
American legislators and the world's greatest legislative body, the 
United States Congress.
  As we do today, African Americans have always been the conscience of 
the Congress, fighting for people and communities that have 
traditionally had no voice in these hallowed halls, championing for the 
protection of civil rights of all people.
  This book will give a historic illustration of the tireless work 
black Members of Congress made during the post-Civil War era to the 
last decade in the 20th century, arguably the most crucial period in 
our country's history.
  Mr. Speaker, I stand here today as a proud Member of Congress, 
because of the work of black pioneers who served in this body at the 
turn of the century through the civil rights movement and right on up 
to today.
  Mr. Speaker, I know from looking at the first edition of the book 
that I stand here as only the 98th Member of Congress who happens to be 
of African descent. And I know that that first edition sits on my 
coffee table at home and there a number of young people that pick it up 
and look at it and begin to ask questions about the people that are 
contained in there and read the contributions that they have made to 
this great Nation.

  Indeed, I know of some teachers who utilize this book as part of 
their curriculum, not just in February, but throughout the year in 
teaching all children, no matter what color they may be, about the 
accomplishments of those who serve in these hallowed halls and the 
contributions that they have made to these United States.
  Mr. Speaker, for sure we have come a long way, and Members who happen 
to be of African descent that is in this body have helped make this 
Nation great and greater than it would have been had they been excluded 
from this body.
  So I want to thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), my good 
friend, for introducing this timely resolution. As Black History Month 
comes to its conclusion, let us all celebrate the achievements of black 
Members of Congress by updating the work of African American Members of 
Congress from 1989 until today.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Meeks) for his contribution. And the gentleman is correct, the history 
of this institution would not be nearly as rich, as important as it is 
without the contribution of Americans of African descent. Mr. Speaker, 
I thank him for his contribution.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. 
Eddie Bernice Johnson), a distinguished representative of a great 
State. She is the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak on 
behalf of this publication. Every month, and this happens to be the 
last day of that month, we have Black History Month. We have that 
because much of the history of black Americans was not recorded and 
intertwined with history making.
  Often, we do not know our own history until we can get some 
publication where someone wrote something down about what was going on.
  All too often, we find the absence of anything that sometimes we 
accomplish unless it is breaking the law. Our young people need role 
models. They need to know opportunities are really available. When they 
can see a publication like this, then often it gives them that 
inspiration to feel that it is possible for them, too. That is why I 
think that it is very worthy of having it printed and updated now.

[[Page H482]]

  Classrooms at every level can utilize something of this sort, and it 
is not because we think we are that special. It is because there are so 
many young black Americans that do not even know today that many of us 
serve in Congress and do not know what we do.
  It is very moving to walk into a classroom and students just want to 
touch you, because they think that where you have gone and what you 
have achieved is untouchable until you can say to them, it is 
touchable. It is touchable because the people that are featured in this 
book helped to make that possible.
  And the next one that comes out, it will be those people that helped 
to bring us to the next level. It is important, and it makes for a more 
positive attitude with our young people for them to work toward a most 
successful and productive future.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie 
Bernice Johnson) for her contribution. I want to join her in saying 
that it was not any individual Member of this Congress of African 
American descent seeking to have a new book published with his picture. 
It was a thought, as the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) mentioned 
and the gentlewoman has mentioned, that we have millions of young 
people around this country who are not sure of what the opportunities 
are. And knowing that there have been trailblazers who have done that 
and been there will give them a confidence that they, too, can seek 
opportunity and success in any place in America.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield to the gentleman from Maryland 
(Mr. Cummings), my very close friend, who is the Vice Chair of the 
Congressional Black Caucus and a great leader of this Congress.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) for yielding to me, and I want to thank him for 
his leadership and sponsorship, and I join the gentleman in sponsoring 
this legislation and on speaking on it today.
  As I listened to the gentleman and then I saw the gentleman from 
South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn) walk into this Chamber, I could not help 
but think about my great grandfather.
  The only thing I have from him is to see his grave. I have never seen 
a picture of him. I have never seen anything written about him, 
nothing.
  I think it is so important that our young people be connected with 
their past. It is so very, very, very important. This is the kind of 
effort that does that.

  As the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson) talked 
about it, there is something about a child seeing someone who looks 
like them and saying that here is an African American woman, she is a 
Congresswoman, and I can be one, too.
  Mr. Speaker, I remember when I was a little boy, I mean being a 
Congressman was just off limits. I just did not even think about it, 
but I will tell my colleagues one thing, if someone had presented a 
book like this to me and I could see people who were doing it in my 
space and in my time, it certainly would have been a major force in 
helping me to get to where I have gotten to today.
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud this effort. I think it is very important that 
we document our history. During this month, African American History 
Month, so often what happens is that we set aside this month for 
African American history, but as I have often said, everyday, 365 days 
a year, we should not only celebrate the history of African Americans, 
but celebrate the history of this wonderful country and how all of us 
have come together to work together.
  Mr. Speaker, I think a document such as this not only helps African 
American children, but guess what, it helps white children, Hispanics 
and others, too, because then they get a chance to see that their 
classmates and the foreparents of their classmates made a tremendous 
contribution to their society.
  My daughter was in a class once and she was telling me how a number 
of the white children just could not believe that her father was in 
Congress, could not believe it. But I think documents like this remind 
all of us of the power of the determination, the power of working hard, 
the power that people can have to attain high heights.
  I have often said, and we have said it many times in our State of 
Maryland, our children are the living messages we send to a future we 
may never see. When we send a message through a book like this one, it 
is a powerful message, because someone once said that what a book does 
is it memorializes a time and a space. It memorializes it, so when we 
are dead and gone, this document will still be here, lifting up the 
lives and encouraging people to go forth.
  I applaud my good friend, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), 
with regard to ``Black Americans in Congress'' and seeing that it will 
now be extended from 1870 straight on up to the present time.
  I think it is a wonderful effort, and I think we all ought to applaud 
ourselves for sending that wonderful, powerful message to our future.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) is 
one of the most eloquent Members we have in this body. When he was in 
the Maryland General Assembly, he was the Speaker Pro Tempore of our 
House of Delegates, the second highest leader in our House. The 
gentleman did an extraordinary job there. He is doing an extraordinary 
job here, and I thank him for his contribution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. 
Clyburn), the immediate past Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, 
whom I have known for almost 40 years. He and I started out in the 
Young Democrats together. We have gone through a lot of history 
ourselves.
  He came to this Congress several years ago. He is a colleague on the 
Committee on Appropriations, a real leader on the steering committee, 
the managing committee of our party. He has done an extraordinary job 
in leading the Congressional Black Caucus and an extraordinary job in 
serving South Carolina and America.

                              {time}  1445

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. 
Hoyer) very much for yielding me the time. I thank him so much for his 
leadership, not just on this issue, but his leadership here in the 
Congress on so many issues. Also, I want to thank the gentleman for our 
long-time friendship. The gentleman is right. I started adding up the 
years in my head. I hate to think of it, but the gentleman is probably 
close to it.
  Mr. HOYER. Stop doing that.
  Mr. CLYBURN. But, Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Maryland so 
much for his friendship over the years, and I appreciate being a part 
of this special order to speak on this very special issue.
  As the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson), our chair 
in the Congressional Black Caucus, stated so eloquently, one of the 
reasons to me, the main reason for this document, which I think was 
first published in the 101st Congress, and of course I came here in the 
103rd, is in order to give young people most especially in our country 
a fuller understanding of the broad history of this great Nation.
  I have always maintained, as so many others, that Black History Month 
is a time for us in this country to focus attention in an affirmative 
way on what some of the issues are today that have come to pass because 
of our passive resistance in so many areas in years gone by.
  As I go around my district during this month, I like to remind the 
students that I talk to. I go to public schools and private schools. In 
fact, I have gone to participating in a Black History Month program in 
a private academy in my district with only one black student. But I 
accepted the invitation, because I wanted to be there to talk to those 
students, irrespective of skin color, about what this month really 
means.
  In this country, we tend sometimes when we know that there is an 
issue that needs to be addressed, we tend not to take the giant step. 
We want to creep and then crawl, then walk and run.
  We started out, when I was a kid, we had Black History Week, the week 
that embraced both the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick 
Douglass, that was set aside every year for us to focus attention on 
the contribution of African Americans. That was done because our 
textbooks in those times

[[Page H483]]

were completely devoid of any mention of African Americans, 
irrespective of what field they may have made their contributions in.
  So in 1976, I believe, under the direction of, first, former 
President Gerald Ford I think, and then followed in action by maybe 
executive order by Jimmy Carter when he became President, we moved it 
to Black History Month.
  So we have gone from one week now to a month. I believe that, in the 
not too distant future, we will eliminate whatever reasons we have for 
setting aside this month, because I think that we will slowly but 
surely get to a point where we are going to bring into our textbooks 
all of the contributions of African Americans in whatever field of 
endeavor.
  I think now, though, we are here to talk about updating this book 
that really discusses the history of African Americans' service in this 
great body. I believe it is important for us to understand that this is 
to offer an opportunity for everybody, red and yellow, black and white, 
to get a better understanding of their history and a better 
understanding of all of the people who are citizens of our great Nation 
what contributions they may have made to the development of this 
Nation.
  Because in so many instances, I am actually surprised when I go to 
these schools the number of young students, black and white, who are 
just unaware of this rich history and the kind of respect that can be 
developed for each other when we have a better understanding that all 
of us have a rich history in this country and all of us, irrespective 
of background, race, gender, hair texture or which side of town one may 
have been born on, all of us have made significant contributions that 
the entire country celebrates this month and celebrates the year round.
  I am going to use an example of what happened in the school I was in 
the other day to underscore this point. I said to the students that I 
talked to, I said, you know, when I was a child, I remember the most 
dreaded disease known to us children at that time was the disease of 
polio. We used to really live in fear of it. I remember one would come 
home from school with a headache, my mother feeling that may have been 
the first sign of polio. Polio visited my neighborhood twice, leaving 
one of my playmates dead and another one crippled for life.
  But along came two people, Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin, whose great 
work, great study and contributions have virtually eliminated polio 
from the face of the earth.
  Well, at the same time, there were soldiers dying on battlefields all 
over the world, not because of the wounds they were receiving, but they 
were dying because of a loss of blood. Along came a guy named Charles 
Drew who saw that life did not have to end this way. Because of his 
hard work and his study, he came up with a method by which we can 
refrigerate blood and save it until we need it.

  So I tell students these two stories to let them know that it does 
not matter to me that Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin happen to have been 
born white, nor should it matter to anybody else that Charles Drew 
happened to be born black. What matters to all of us is these three men 
made contributions so that all of us can have better lives, better 
quality of life today.
  When these things are put in our books so that our students can see 
that people of various backgrounds, various skin colors did in fact 
make significant contributions, there is a higher level of respect they 
will have one for the other.
  They will learn to treat that student sitting next to him or her 
irrespective of what the gender or color they may be with a new level 
of honor because they will know that that could very well be another 
leader in the political world, in the government affairs, in science, 
in whatever field of endeavor they may undertake.
  So I want to thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) for 
bringing this resolution so that we can update this book, because I 
think that, when one looks at some of the men and women who have been 
elected to this august body since it was last published in 1989, it 
behooves all of us to make them familiar to all of our students so 
those students can get a better level of respect for this body and for 
the men and women serving in it.
  So I thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) for letting me be 
a part of this special order. I hope that the entire Congress will see 
that the wisdom of going forward with this resolution, funding it, so 
we can get it out to all of our libraries and our schools, these men 
and women who make significant contributions day in and day out to the 
governmental affairs of our great Nation.
  Hopefully they may spark something into that little girl or boy who 
may wonder whether or not service in this body can, in fact, be 
something they can look forward to and use that as a stepping stone 
instead of the many stumbling blocks that have been placed in many of 
their ways in years gone by. So I thank the gentleman so much for 
letting me be a part of this.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from South Carolina 
(Mr. Clyburn) for his remarks. I want to say that, having known him for 
a long period of time, there is no doubt in my mind that he has himself 
been a spark, an inspiration to many, many young people, not only in 
his home area of South Carolina, but around this country, to see the 
opportunities available to them.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues in 
support of the concurrent resolution authorizing the printing of a 
revised version of ``Black Americans In Congress, 1870-1989'' Our 
beloved Capitol is rich in culture, art, and most importantly, history.
  It is this great history that paints a picture of growth, prosperity 
and advancement for all of the world to see. And in this spirit, it 
behooves us to take note of those great pioneers, who came before us, 
and blazed a trail for us to follow. It is important to take note of 
the accomplishments of Congressman Jefferson Franklin Long, the first 
Black congressman from Georgia. It is essential that history reflects 
the legacy of Bill Dawson, the first Black congressman to serve on a 
major congressional committee. We can never forget the contributions of 
Adam Clayton Powell who introduced legislation to outlaw lynching and 
the poll tax, and to ban discrimination in the armed forces, housing, 
employment and transportation. These are just three out of countless 
examples that illustrate the important accomplishments of legislative 
patriarchs who presided in these hallowed halls.
  The reprinting of ``Black Americans in Congress'', is essential. I 
urge my colleagues to pass this resolution to help further our 
dedication in preserving and maintaining the rich history of our 
Country and fortifying the spirit and heart of our Country's citizens.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to today in support of H. Con. Res. 
43, legislation to authorize printing of a revised and updated version 
of the book ``Black Americans in Congress, 1870-1989.'' This volume is 
an important chronicle of the history of the United States Congress. It 
is especially appropriate that we take time during Black History Month 
to recognize the many African-American Members of Congress that have 
come before us.
  The printing of an updated version of ``Black Americans in Congress'' 
will serve as an educational and historical reference for all 
Americans. We must never forget that there were Black Members of this 
Congress in 1870, just five years after the end of slavery. We must not 
hesitate to teach our children that there were, at one time, Members of 
Congress who had barely secured their own right to vote. As we continue 
to work towards the promise of our democratic system, it becomes even 
more relevant to recognize those past Members of Congress who 
struggled, in sometimes hostile environments, to serve our country. 
Special thanks go to my good friend Steny Hoyer and the Members of the 
House Administration Committee who have shown such leadership on this 
important issue. As a founding member and Dean of the Congressional 
Black Caucus, I encourage the House to pass this resolution.


                             General Leave

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include therein extraneous material on the subject of this special 
order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Rehberg). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Maryland?
  There was no objection.


               Introduction of the Voting Improvement Act

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, on an additional subject, today together with 
the gentleman from California (Mr. Horn) and the gentleman from North 
Carolina (Mr. Price), my colleagues, and 60 additional cosponsors, I am 
introducing the Voting Improvement Act. This bill provides a short-term 
and

[[Page H484]]

a long-term solution to a crisis we face in the wake of the 2000 
elections.
  Mr. Speaker, today together with my colleagues Mr. Horn and Mr. 
Price,  and with 60 additional cosponsors, I am introducing the Voting 
Improvement Act. This bill provides a short term and a long term 
solution to crisis we face in the wake of the 2000 election.
  One of the reactions that I have heard repeatedly from my 
constituents in the months since the election, was shock at the sheer 
number of votes that were cast but were not counted--19,000 discarded 
ballots in Palm Beach County alone. Those numbers are shocking--and 
they have the potential to drive voters away from the polls permanently 
unless we can act quickly to repair our voting system and repair the 
voters' confidence in that system.
  In 615 days we will be having a federal election. That election will 
be subjected to the greatest amount of media scrutiny that has ever 
befallen an election in this country. And that is why I believe that it 
is imperative that we devise a way to bring about the most dramatic 
reduction possible in the number of votes that are cast but not 
counted.
  The quickest way to get more votes counted is to target the system 
with the highest rate of error and the lowest rate of public 
confidence. That system is, without a doubt, the punch card. A joint 
MIT Caltech analysis recently estimated that the nationwide error rate 
for punch cards is 2.5 percent. This translates to as many as 986,000 
votes cast but not counted on punch card systems alone. Almost a third 
of voters used punch card systems in 2000, making it the most commonly 
used voting method.
  Yet, in some jurisdictions punch cards have had error rates as high 
as 6.25 percent or one in every 16 ballots. These disturbingly high 
rates of spoiled ballots also have a troubling tendency of occurring in 
jurisdictions with high populations of minority voters. For example, in 
Chicago rates of uncounted ballots increased from 1 in 20 in precincts 
that were less than 30 percent African American, to 1 in 12 ballots in 
precincts more heavily populated with minorities. Fifty one precincts 
in Chicago had ballots that were ruined at a rate of 1 in 6 ballots. 
These 51 precincts were 90 percent African American and Hispanic.
  Punch card technology has not changed significantly since its 
introduction in 1964. This is true even though there is virtually no 
other technology that has not undergone revolutionary improvements 
since 1964. We no longer use rotary dial 1964 telephones, or portable 
78 rpm record players. Desktop computers have completely displaced 
typewriters, and even the venerable rolodex is being quickly replaced 
by the Palm Pilot. Yet the punch card counter remains virtually 
unchanged. In fact, punch cards themselves, a standard IBM product used 
in any number of computer systems in 1964--today are produced only for 
the purpose of voting! There is no excuse for keeping a punch card 
voting system in place. Particularly as this bill will provide $6,000 a 
precinct to any jurisdiction that replaces punch cards by Election Day 
2002.
  While punch card voting systems are the number one offender, they are 
not the only problem. One estimate from a Bryn Mawr computer scientist 
is that nationwide, and across voting equipment, about two percent of 
the votes cast nationwide in 2000 were not counted. That means that 
over 2 million voters were unintentionally disenfranchised. Spoiled 
ballots occurred on lever machines, on punch cards, on optical scanners 
and on modern electronic touch screens. The number of ballots not 
counted far exceeds any measure of the margin of victory in the 
Presidential election.
  We have neglected our election system as a whole--trusting in 
outmoded equipment because it is familiar--and trusting in wide margins 
of victory because they often occur. I believe that with focus and 
funding we can develop voting technology that is cost effective, that 
is accurate, and that is accessible to all voters including the blind 
and the disabled. While it is not possible to eliminate spoiled 
ballots, there is no reason that we should not be able to reduce the 
nationwide error rate to .5 percent.
  I know that it is possible as a nation to drastically reduce the 
numbers of uncounted votes and do it quickly. It is possible because my 
own state of Maryland did it. They went from a statewide error rate of 
1.5 percent in 1988 to a statewide error rate of less than .5 percent 
in 2000. They accomplished this remarkable achievement in part by 
getting rid of punch cards. Maryland stands as an example and a 
challenge to the rest of the states. If we can reduce the number of 
uncounted ballots to .5 percent nationwide, one and a half million more 
voters would have their votes counted.

  Whatever the means by which we seek to reduce the number of uncounted 
votes--through this bill--through some other Congressional proposal--or 
by State action--we must work hard to get these votes counted. I also 
want to say to the States and to the counties--this is an urgent 
problem. Do not wait. Do not trust that federal resources are coming. 
Act now to make improvements including buying new equipment for 2002. I 
fear that one of the unintentional effects of the discussion about this 
issue on Capitol Hill, is that we are unintentionally producing a 
disincentive for states and counties. The Voting Improvement Act would 
provide reimbursements to any punch card jurisdiction that acts now and 
gets new equipment in place for Election Day 2002. I challenge those 
state and counties to do so.
  Nonetheless, money and equipment alone cannot solve the problems with 
our voting system. New technology must be accompanied by voter 
education, and by polling place resources including helpful and well 
trained workers and officials. That is why the punch card buyout is 
simply step one of the Voting Improvement Act.
  The Voting Improvement Act would also create a new four member 
bipartisan Election Administration Commission. The primary function of 
the new agency would be to administer an annual grant program to aid 
states in the administration of elections. In 2003, the punch card 
buyout would be replaced by a grant program to provide $140 million 
annually to states and to counties.
  Unlike the buyout which requires no commitments from the States, the 
grant program would require States or local jurisdictions to provide 25 
percent in matching funds. States will also be required to install 
equipment that can be used by blind and disabled voters to vote 
privately, and States must also provide assurances that they are in 
full compliance with existing laws.
  Ten million dollars of the grant money would also be reserved for 
research and development by manufacturers. one of the problems that 
election officials have faced in buying new equipment is that the 
available technology is simply not as good as it could be. In part, 
that is because the market for voting equipment is not that large. 
Thus, the grant money would help to stimulate the production of 
equipment that better accommodates all types of disabilities, is more 
cost effective, and is more accurate and easy to use.
  A minimum of 20 percent of grant funds for States and local 
jurisdictions would be required to be used for voter education and for 
training. Voter education plays a critical role in getting more votes 
counted. The implementation of new voting systems cannot be successful 
unless the voters are amply educated in how to properly use it. Polls 
must also be staffed with people trained to aid voters in getting their 
votes cast and counted, not at discouraging them from voting at all. To 
that end, the bill would provide leave to any federal employee who 
worked in a polling place on a federal election day. Making federal 
worker resources available is an attempt to aid election officials in 
the tremendous task of recruiting and training the huge work force that 
play a key role in making federal elections work.
  The new Commission would also be responsible for creation of a Model 
Election Code. Like the Uniform Commercial Code or other Model Codes, 
it would serve as a resource to States that are seeking to protect 
themselves from legal challenges. The Model Code would cover statutory 
provisions including what constitutes a vote, when and how a recount 
should be held, and how an election contest should be handled. I hope 
that an organization with experience in producing model laws, such as 
the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, will 
agree to draft the Model Code, as I believe that a product will that 
imprimatur of expertise and credibility could prove a valuable resource 
in improving election statutes nationwide.
  Finally, the new Commission would serve as a national clearinghouse 
for information and study on what elections practices work best. It 
would develop voluntary ``best practice standards'' to study issues 
including how a ballot should best be designed, how voter registration 
list should best be maintained, and how many votes continue to go 
uncounted across the country.
  This bipartisan legislation is supported by a broad and diverse group 
of Members. I am very hopeful that we will continue to add more co-
sponsors and move this legislation forward.
  A few weeks ago, President Bush met with members of the Congressional 
Black Caucus and remarked: ``This is America. Everyone deserves the 
right to vote.'' However, as we all know now, the right to vote is not 
enough. Every vote also must be counted. The Voting Improvement Act 
will help us do just that, and will go a long way in restoring public 
confidence in our election system and our democracy itself.*****-*****- 
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