[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 2 (Thursday, January 6, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H130-H131]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                ISSUES CONCERNING AMERICA AND THE WORLD

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 4, 2005, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) is 
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I will begin my remarks as I 
started this morning and as I continued on the floor just a few minutes 
ago.
  It is good to be an American, and it is certainly good to have 
Americans value their freedom, their justice, their democracy, and 
their Constitution.
  I said earlier that the debate regarding the election of a President 
had nothing to do with any personal statement on the executive. But 
what it did have to do with is, I believe, a value for all Americans, 
and that is the value of valuing a vote; one vote, one person; one vote 
counted and not uncounted.
  The reason why I rise is because I cochair the Afghan Caucus, and I 
was very proud to see the work that was done by all of those around the 
world that helped contribute to the election process in Afghanistan.
  I was equally proud of those who have sacrificed their lives; those 
who tried to vote but were undermined by terrorists and others who were 
distracted away from the voting process. And even though there is much 
disagreement many times about the process, we welcome democracy; 
President Karzai now has begun to turn Afghanistan into a nation that 
welcomes the education of all people, that welcomes the empowerment of 
women and the protection of human rights.
  So it is important today, January 6, 2005, to reinforce that for our 
Nation, for if we were to look at some of the infractions, in my own 
county, in Harris County, Texas, 270 voting failures; the lack of 
voting places and voting equipment; equipment breaking down; voter 
intimidation; voter suppression; equipment showing one name, as in my 
particular election of the Eighteenth Congressional District, 
constituents voting for me and my opponent's name showing up, who 
happened to be in the other party. So it is very vital, Madam Speaker, 
for us to take very seriously the democratic process.
  Let me also say in the backdrop of a terrible tragedy in Iraq, and 
when I say tragedy, obviously what I mean is no reflection on the brave 
men and women who fight every day, those who I visited and those whose 
greetings I bring home to their families, but the tragedy of a 
misdirected war, a war based on weapons of mass destruction that did 
not exist, a war that was based on liberation, and we are still 
struggling for that, a war that is ongoing with no end in sight. We 
still are looking for an election on January 30 and hoping and praying 
that the Iraqi people will have the opportunity to take up their own 
destiny.
  But that is why this day was so very important and why it was 
important for Members of Congress, not of any caucus or any one group, 
to be engaged in the debate and the democracy. I thank the two signers 
of the petition, as I indicated, the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones) 
and the Senator from California, Ms. Boxer.
  But I also thank the ranking member of the Committee on the 
Judiciary, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers), for the insight 
he had; for the hearings I participated in in Washington and also the 
hearings that others participated in in Ohio. It allowed us to hear 
firsthand the pain of people who tried to vote and could not vote. It 
allowed us to hear firsthand about those who stood in line until 4 
a.m., those who were turned away, those who had fewer machines in their 
community than those in anothers.
  Madam Speaker, I think in this year we are to reauthorize portions of 
the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It is clearly urgent that we not 
disregard and disrespect the voting process.
  Might I say that my heritage is one that is different from many 
Americans. My ancestors came here as slaves. When the Constitution was 
written, they were less than one person. It took constitutional 
amendments, the 13th, 14th and 15th, one to eliminate slavery, the 
others to provide equal process and equal protection and due process. 
And certainly it took the Constitution to acknowledge every citizen's 
right to vote.

[[Page H131]]

  Therefore, I do not take lightly the responsibility of fighting for 
voting rights, and that is why I stand today at the conclusion of this 
day to say to this House that we hope no one left here embittered, 
believing that this should not have been done; that I will get you in 
the appropriations process; I will make sure your bill does not pass; I 
will see you in the committee room.
  I hope that does not happen, Madam Speaker. I hope that the 
collegiate response of the Speaker of the House, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Speaker Hastert), who presided, who I give great accolades 
for his demeanor and temperament, I hope that will be the temperament 
of the Republican leadership throughout this body's time. I hope that 
individual Members will not take it personally. I hope that they will 
not undermine their oath of office and demean the dignity of this place 
by punishing people for utilizing democracy.

  Then I would simply say that in the backdrop of the tragic loss of 
our good friend and colleague, Bob Matsui, and the passing of our 
former colleague, Shirley Chisholm, two Members that were so different 
in time and age but yet represented the focus of this body, and that is 
representing the people, today we attempted to represent the people. We 
represented people not only in Ohio, but where people felt they were 
disenfranchised all over the Nation. So in that representation, I am 
proud.
  As we look to the future and the backdrop of the tragedy that is 
going on in Asia, people now who have no places to live, no places to 
vote, no places to eat, no places to go and get medical care, no places 
to be educated, we in America should be highly grateful for what has 
transpired in this country on this very day.
  As we do so, might I say that I congratulate those who are now 
engaged in the humanitarian help going on for the tsunami victims.
  I would also like to applaud the efforts of a group that has founded 
itself in Houston, Houston's Solution for Tsunami Victims. There are 
many other groups that have formulated in Houston as well, but this 
group in particular came together in less than 48 hours after the 
tragedy, and they are representatives from Indonesia, Sri Lanka, 
Bangladesh, Vietnam, India, Pakistan, Thailand and all over our 
community, those who came together to find out what they could do.
  I am gratified that on this Sunday they will come together again. 
January 9, 2004, we will be at the University of Houston Wellness 
Center in Houston, Texas, inviting all the community to come out and 
provide medical relief and as well to save the children by providing 
diaper items and bottles and other dry items for children who are in 
need in these devastated areas.
  I look forward as well to joining my colleagues in visiting Sri Lanka 
in the days to come and hopefully bringing a sense of hope to the 
people who are now hopeless.
  This is an important democracy in which I stand in the most powerful 
lawmaking body in this Nation.
  I am gratified to able to stand here, one, to salute the process 
today that was one founded in democracy, equal protection and due 
process; but I am also very grateful to stand here today to salute 
America and all of those who have risen to the occasion in aid of those 
in the Asian area that are suffering from the tsunami devastation.
  I will also make mention of the legislation that is now gaining great 
bipartisan support, the temporary protective status to be given to 
those nationals from those areas so devastated who are not able to go 
back and their legal documents are expired. I hope we will move swiftly 
on that legislation, because it will add to the humanitarian stance of 
the President of the United States, the Secretary of State, the United 
States Congress, and the American people.
  We all can do better, and we can do better united together. I want to 
applaud Houston's Solution for Tsunami Relief Victims. I want to 
applaud all of the relief efforts going on around the Nation and all of 
the international aid groups in the United Nations for rising to the 
occasion.
  As I close, let me admonish those who are participating in this 
relief effort that this is a short-term stance that we are taking right 
now. We will need a long-term investment. The $350 million that the 
United States has offered, it may not be enough; and I hope this 
Congress will rise to the occasion and make it sufficient.
  On that, let me say, Madam Speaker, I am grateful that we have a 
Constitution that allows me to speak under the first amendment. I am 
grateful that we have a process that allows democracy to follow through 
today. I am more grateful that we have a large heart in the United 
States that is drawn together from every nook and cranny, every hamlet, 
every city, every rural area, that is now participating in this massive 
relief effort for those so devastated.
  Let me also ask for prayers for families who have lost loved ones, 
including those Americans that have now died, and let us ask for 
prayers for those who are now suffering. We hope that we can stand in 
the doorway and prevent more disease and more death that may come from 
this terrible disaster.
  I ask as I go to my seat that God bless the United States of America, 
God bless this process, and God bless those that are suffering today in 
the world.


                            LEAVE OF ABSENCE

  By unanimous consent, leave of absence was granted to:
  Mr. Baca (at the request of Ms. Pelosi) for today on account of 
personal reasons.
  Mr. DeFazio (at the request of Ms. Pelosi) for today on account of 
duties in the district.
  Mr. Kind (at the request of Ms. Pelosi) for today on account of 
personal reasons.
  Mr. Ortiz (at the request of Ms. Pelosi) for today on account of 
important business in the district.
  Mr. Stark (at the request of Ms. Pelosi) for today on account of 
escorting the Matsui family to Sacramento, California, where the late 
Honorable Robert T. Matsui will lie in state in the California State 
capitol.
  Mr. Stupak (at the request of Ms. Pelosi) for today on account of 
travel problems.
  Mrs. Tauscher (at the request of Ms. Pelosi) for today on account of 
official business.
  Mr. Wynn (at the request of Ms. Pelosi) for today on account of 
personal reasons.
  Mrs. Biggert (at the request of Mr. DeLay) for today on account of 
official travel overseas.
  Ms. Granger (at the request of Mr. DeLay) for today on account of 
being out of the country on official business.
  Mr. Shadegg (at the request of Mr. DeLay) for today on account of a 
death in the family.
  Mr. Shimkus (at the request of Mr. DeLay) for today on account of his 
traveling with a congressional delegation to Jordan.

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