3414 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS March 2, 1999 H. CON. RES. 38, gery? And that Ernest Everett Just, Percy Ju- taxes. Simply by raising teacher’s take-home COMMEMORATIVE POSTAGE lian and were all pay via a $1,000 tax credit we can accomplish STAMP outstanding scientists? Educators such as a number of important things. First, we show W.E.B. DuBois and Benjamin E. Mays left an a true commitment to education. We also let HON. BOBBY L. RUSH indelible mark on this country. The Harlem America’s teachers know that the American OF ILLINOIS Renaissance produced poets, writers and mu- people and the Congress respect their work. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES sicians like Countee Cullen, Finally, and perhaps most importantly, by rais- and . The civil rights movement ing teacher take-home pay, the Teacher Tax Tuesday, March 2, 1999 changed the face of this country and inspired Cut Act encourages high-quality professionals Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today movements toward democracy and justice all to enter, and remain in, the teaching profes- to join with several of my colleagues in intro- over the world—producing great leaders like sion. ducing a Concurrent Resolution urging the Martin Luther King, Jr., and Whitney Young. In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I once again U.S. Postal Service’s Citizen Stamp Advisory Too few people know that Benjamin Banneker, ask my colleagues to put aside partisan bick- Committee to issue a commemorative postage an outstanding mathematician, along with ering and unite around the idea of helping stamp honoring Paul Leroy Robeson. Pierre L’Enfant, designed the District of Co- educators by supporting the Teacher Tax Cut This bill marks an important step in recog- lumbia. There are many more and their stories Act. nizing the many contributions Paul Robeson must be told. f made to America, especially to the African- Until we understand the African-American American community. Paul Robeson was a story in its fullness and complexity, we cannot INTRODUCTION OF CIVIC PARTICI- well renown African-American athlete, singer, understand ourselves and our nation. We PATION AND REHABILITATION actor, and advocate for the civil rights of peo- must know who we are and where we have ACT OF 1999 ple. come from so that we may move forward to- In the midst of segregation, Paul Robeson gether. And we recognize the importance of all HON. , JR. managed to attend Rutgers University and Co- our people and all of our history. The estab- OF MICHIGAN lumbia law school where he rose to academic lishment of the museum would be one impor- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES prominence. Unfortunately, discrimination in tant step toward achieving greater under- Tuesday, March 2, 1999 the legal field forced Paul Robeson to leave standing as a nation and as a people. the practice of law. However, he was able to It is my hope and prayer that as we pre- Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased use his artistic talents in the theater and music serve these important moments in history, we to today introduce, along with 27 cosponsors, to promote African-American history and cul- will inspire future generations to dream, to the Civil Participation and Rehabilitation Act of ture. write, to march and to teach. As they are able 1999. This legislation grants persons who Paul Robeson is revered around the world to look back at all that has been accom- have been released from incarceration the for his artistic talents. Robeson became even plished, they will be able to look forward and right to vote in Federal elections. At a time more celebrated because of his role as a believe in the future of our great country. when our Nation faces record low voter partici- world famous singer and actor with exquisite I am pleased and delighted that many of my pation, this legislation represents an historic performances that included Shakespeare’s colleagues have joined me in cosponsoring means of both expanding voting rights while Othello and Showboat. Armed with the knowl- this bill. I urge all my colleagues of the 106th helping to reintegrate former felons into our edge of twenty-five languages Robeson was Congress to support this worthwhile and im- democratic society. able to sing for peace and justice throughout portant legislation. The practice of many states denying voting the world. f rights to former felons represents a vestige Last year marked the 100th birthday of Paul from a time when suffrage was denied to Robeson. It is only fitting that we celebrate INTRODUCING THE TEACHER TAX whole classes of our population based on Robeson’s legacy by issuing a commemora- CUT ACT race, sex, and property. However, over the tive postage stamp in his honor. past two centuries, these restrictions, along f HON. RON PAUL with post-Civil War exclusions such as the poll OF TEXAS tax and literacy requirements, have been HONOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN HIS- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES eliminated. Unfortunately, the United States TORY WITH A MUSEUM ON THE continues to stand alone among the major in- MALL Tuesday, March 2, 1999 dustrialized nations in permitting an entire cat- Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce egory of citizens—former felons—to be cut off HON. the Teacher Tax Cut Act. This bill provides from the democratic process. OF GEORGIA every teacher in America with a $1,000 tax Denial of suffrage to these individuals is no IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES credit, thus raising every teacher’s take-home small matter. A recent study by the Sen- pay without increasing federal spending. Pas- tencing Project and Human Rights Watch re- Tuesday, March 2, 1999 sage of this bill is a major first step toward veals that some 3.9 million , or one Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, today treating those who have dedicated their lives in 50 adults, is either currently or permanently I am introducing legislation to establish an Af- to educating America’s children with the re- disenfranchised as a result of state felony vot- rican-American Museum on the mall, in Wash- spect they deserve. Compared to other profes- ing laws. This includes an estimated 1.4 mil- ington, D.C., as part of the Smithsonian Insti- sionals teachers are underappreciated and un- lion African American men, or 13 percent of tution. derpaid. This must change if America is to the total population of black adult men. In two The story of black people in America has have the finest education system in the world! states (Alabama and Florida) almost one in yet to be told in its entirety. African-American Quality education is impossible without qual- three black men is permanently history is an integral part of our country, yet ity teaching. If we want to ensure that the disenfranchised, while in five other states the richness and variety of that history is little- teaching profession attracts the very best peo- (Iowa, Mississippi, New Mexico, Virginia, and known and little-understood. As tourists from ple possible we must make sure that teachers Wyoming), one in four black men is barred all over the world come to visit our Nation’s receive the compensation they deserve. For from voting in elections. Hispanic citizens are Capital, they will not be able to learn the full too long now, we have seen partisan battles also disproportionately disenfranchised. history of black people in America. This mu- and displays of heightened rhetoric about who In addition to diminishing the legitimacy of seum represents a great opportunity—to wants to provide the most assistance to edu- our democratic process, denying voting rights showcase our history in its diversity and cation distract us from our important work of to ex-offenders is inconsistent with the goal of breadth, and to make the understanding of removing government-imposed barriers to rehabilitation. Instead of reintegrating such in- American history more complete. educational excellence. dividuals into society, felony voting restrictions Did you know that Dr. Daniel Hale Williams Since America’s teachers are underpaid be- only serve to reaffirm their feelings of alien- was a pioneering heart surgeon that played a cause they are overtaxed, the best way to ation and isolation. As the National Advisory vital role in the discovery of open-heart sur- raise teacher take-home pay is to reduce their Commission on Criminal Justice Standards

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