Congressional Record—House H1900
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H1900 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 27, 2007 OUR COUNTRY MUST APOLOGIZE Since DESA was started in 1986, it concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 47) FOR SLAVERY has been awarded service contracts supporting the goals and ideals of a Na- (Mr. COHEN asked and was given per- from HHS, the Department of Com- tional Medal of Honor Day to celebrate mission to address the House for 1 merce, the Minority Business Develop- and honor the recipients of the Medal minute.) ment Agency, the Army, the Air Force, of Honor. Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, ladies and the Small Business Administration, as The Clerk read as follows: gentlemen of the House, today I am well as various contracts from the pri- H. CON. RES. 47 going to introduce a bill to call on the vate sector. DESA works with compa- Whereas the Medal of Honor is the highest United States Government to apologize nies from the very beginning of award that can be bestowed to a member of for the history in this country of hav- projects until their completion. the Armed Forces for valor in action against ing a slave system and for Jim Crow In conclusion, God bless our troops, an enemy force; Whereas the Medal of Honor is awarded by laws that went on for a hundred addi- and we will never forget September 11 and the courageous service of Army the President, in the name of the Congress, tional years. to members of the Armed Forces who have The State of Virginia is to be com- Chief Warrant Officer II, Jason De distinguished themselves conspicuously by mended for its action this past week in Frenn of Barnwell, South Carolina. gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their making, in essence, an apology saying f lives above and beyond the call of duty; they regretted a system of slavery in Whereas the United States will forever be ILLEGALS USING FED TO WIRE in debt to the recipients of the Medal of this country. MONEY For 246 years, our Constitution and Honor for their bravery and sacrifice in our laws allowed a system that made (Mrs. BLACKBURN asked and was times of war or other armed conflict; Whereas the Medal of Honor was first people slaves, that divided people from given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend awarded on March 25, 1863, during the Civil their families and treated them as War; property. And for 100 years thereafter, her remarks.) Whereas, of the millions of men and women a system of laws in many States Mrs. BLACKBURN. You know, the who have served in the Armed Forces in war, throughout the country had Jim Crow United States is a Nation founded on military operations, or other armed con- laws that deprived people of the oppor- the rule of law. Those who do not fol- flicts, only 3,443 members have thus far been tunity for equal access to education, low the law are held accountable, ex- awarded the Medal of Honor; health care, public facilities, and other cept when you are an illegal immi- Whereas 111 Medal of Honor recipients are still living as of January 1, 2007; types of programs. These ended by law grant. We have already learned that a few of Whereas it is appropriate to commemorate in the sixties somewhat through the ef- and honor the recipients of the Medal of forts of Thurgood Marshall and other our major banks are issuing credit Honor and to recognize their bravery and attorneys in Brown v. Board of Edu- cards to illegal immigrants, but a re- sacrifice for the United States; cation, but the effects are lingering. cent article in the L.A. Times uncov- Whereas the designation of a National This country needs to apologize for a ered a program through our own Fed- Medal of Honor Day would raise the aware- brutal, inhumane system of slavery eral Reserve Bank that makes it easier ness of the American people regarding the and Jim Crow laws. President Bush has for illegal entrants to send money back significance and meaning of the Medal of made remarks similar to this in Sen- to Mexico, direct to Mexico. A feder- Honor and help focus the efforts of national, ally sponsored program allows illegal State, and local organizations striving to egal; President Clinton also in the foster public appreciation and recognition of State of Virginia most recently. immigrants without a Social Security Medal of Honor recipients; and I hope we will have all our colleagues number to wire money through the Whereas March 25 would be an appropriate sign on and pass this unanimously, as Federal system for a fee. date to observe National Medal of Honor the State of Virginia did, and make a What is even more shocking is that Day: Now, therefore, be it proper apology for a harmful and un- the Fed expanded the program that al- Resolved by the House of Representatives (the fortunate part of our history. lows anyone, illegal or not, to open ac- Senate concurring), That Congress— (1) recognizes the heroism and sacrifice of f counts at participating banks. This is a big business. We have learned it is Medal of Honor recipients for the United States; DIANE E. SUMPTER RECOGNIZED 27,000 transfers from illegal immigrants FOR SUCCESS (2) recognizes the educational opportunity every month, totaling $23 billion a that a National Medal of Honor Day would (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina year, all with the help of our Federal present to the American public; and asked and was given permission to ad- Government. (3) supports the goals and ideals of a Na- dress the House for 1 minute and to re- We are sending mixed messages, Mr. tional Medal of Honor Day to celebrate and vise and extend his remarks.) Speaker. We say we want to stem the honor the contributions of Medal of Honor Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. tide of illegal immigration, but once recipients. Speaker, during Black History Month, again, here we go. We will not only The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Diane Sumpter has earned front-page turn a blind eye; we will make it easy ant to the rule, the gentleman from cover status in the Greater Columbia for illegal immigrants to send money Missouri (Mr. SKELTON) and the gen- Business Monthly of South Carolina for back to Mexico. tleman from North Carolina (Mr. developing one of the most prestigious f JONES) each will control 20 minutes. minority business firms. DESA, Inc., The Chair recognizes the gentleman has grown to be a nationally recog- ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER from Missouri. nized management consultant firm. PRO TEMPORE GENERAL LEAVE Ms. Sumpter is a native of Jackson- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask ville, Florida. She later moved to Co- ant to clause 8 of rule XX, the Chair unanimous consent that all Members lumbia, where she graduated from will postpone further proceedings may have 5 legislative days to revise Booker T. Washington High School and today on motions to suspend the rules and extend their remarks and include then attended the University of South on which a recorded vote or the yeas extraneous material on the resolution Carolina, where she obtained both a and nays are ordered, or on which the now under consideration. B.A. in English and a master’s degree vote is objected to under clause 6 of The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there in social work. rule XX. objection to the request of the gen- Ms. Sumpter’s dedication to the Record votes on postponed questions tleman from Missouri? growth and success of minority- and will be taken after 6:30 p.m. today. There was no objection. women-owned businesses is evidenced f Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield in her efforts with the South Carolina myself as much time as I may con- Minority Business Development Cen- SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND sume. ter, which is operated by her company. IDEALS OF A NATIONAL MEDAL Today I rise in support of House Con- The center has assisted businesses by OF HONOR DAY current Resolution 47, which I intro- acting as a liaison to facilitate busi- Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I move duced to recognize the extraordinary ness growth for over 10 years. to suspend the rules and agree to the heroism and sacrifice of the Nation’s VerDate Aug 31 2005 01:44 Apr 19, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD07\H27FE7.REC H27FE7 hmoore on PRODPC68 with CONG-REC-ONLINE February 27, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H1901 Medal of Honor recipients and to in- rifice of the Nation’s Medal of Honor duty, honor, country. The Medal of crease America’s awareness of the sig- recipients, and to urge the establish- Honor recognizes and is emblematic of nificance and meaning of the Medal of ment of a National Medal of Honor Day great courage, selflessness and sac- Honor among our American citizens. to ensure that all Americans continue rifice. I want to thank my colleague on the to celebrate and to honor the contribu- It is with great pride that I stand House Armed Services Committee, the tions and ideals that the Medal of here on the floor of Congress today, as gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Honor recipients exemplify. Congress is recognizing these extraor- JONES) for being here in support of this Mr. Speaker, I urge the support of dinary members of our Armed Services issue this afternoon. this resolution. by establishing March 25 as the Na- The Congressional Medal of Honor is Mr.