July 9, 2004 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1341 merit, from John Jay College of Criminal Jus- Mr. Speaker, I join with the Elderly Housing Another fellow board member, Willie tice. Even as an undergraduate, she partici- Development & Operations Corporation and McKnight, called Thurston ‘‘a great educa- pated in community programs that helped oth- the seniors of North Park Village in honoring tor’’ and noted that they were fraternity brothers, having joined Alpha Phi Alpha in ers. These experiences helped her develop Jerry Prete. Today, numerous Chicagoans 1979. her interest and skills in community relations. have reaped the benefits of one man’s heroic McKnight said Thurston loved music, al- Prior to joining the Community Relations Bu- dream. May God bless the Prete family and though he didn’t play any instrument and, reau, she worked as a senior paralegal in var- the memory of a man who was truly loved by he often spoke at his church. ‘‘He always was ious bureaus in the District Attorney’s office. his friends, his community and his family. willing to speak and was always trying to She worked as a legal secretary in the East- uplift our black boys and girls.’’ f Pelton Stewart, executive director of the ern District office of the United States Attorney Continentals of Omega Boys and Girls Club, General. A TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE OF MR. BILL THURSTON OF VALLEJO, said when he first came to Vallejo Thurston Sharon’s biggest love is working with our took him under his wing and ‘‘told me some community’s young people as she is always CALIFORNIA pitfalls to avoid politically in our little willing to volunteer her knowledge and experi- city.’’ ence to help others. Remarkably, she plans to HON. GEORGE MILLER ‘‘He was a real long time dedicated sup- serve as an example to our students by con- OF CALIFORNIA porter of the Boys and Girls Club. He and his IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES wife were always at our banquets, always tinuing her education in law school. supporting. He was just a great man,’’ Stew- Mr. Speaker, Sharon Devonish-Leid has Friday, July 9, 2004 art said. been a shining star in the community by bring- Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. ‘‘He gave a lot back to the Vallejo commu- ing residents and law enforcement together. nity. He was very proud of his African ances- Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity try and helped with the African American li- As such, she is more than worthy of receiving to call to my colleagues’ attention the recent our recognition today, and I urge my col- brary in Oakland and very proud of the edu- passing of a good friend, an outstanding edu- cation system here in Solano County.’’ leagues to join me in honoring this, truly re- cator and public servant, and a wonderful hus- Thurston was born Jan. 15, 1930 in markable person. band, Bill Thurston of Vallejo, California in my Logtown, Mississippi. As a young child, he f congressional district. once recalled watching police wake a sleep- ing African-American man at a train station. HONORING JERRY PRETE I urge my colleagues to read the article that follows below about Mr. Thurston’s life, his They kicked him, then shot him in cold blood, Thurston told an interviewer. passion, and his significant contributions to the Thurston’s family moved to California in HON. RAHM EMANUEL city of Vallejo and the greater Solano County 1944, and at age 17, he joined the military. He OF ILLINOIS community. Bill was a longtime history and po- served in Korea, Germany, the Philippines IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES litical science instructor at Solano Community and Okinawa before leaving the service in Friday, July 9, 2004 College and a member of its board of trustees. 1964. He served on the county and state Democratic Thurston earned an AA degree at Solano Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to Community College and a BA at California join with the Elderly Housing Development & Central Committees for 22 years, and served State University at Hayward. In 1972, he Operations Corporation and the people of Chi- eight years on the Democratic National Com- began teaching at Solano Community Col- cago in honoring the late Jerry Prete with the mittee. lege. He was a friend and supporter to my father ‘‘I never taught a class without dealing dedication of the ‘‘Appreciation Garden’’ at for his work in the state legislature and he was with reality,’’ he once told a reporter. North Park Village in Illinois. A man who com- a mentor to me about the education of chil- ‘‘In all the U.S. history classes I taught, I mitted himself to helping his fellow citizens, always included segments on the failures of dren and the needs of our community. Jerry Prete lived life to its fullest. His family, Reconstruction after the Civil War and on To Bill’s wife of over 25 years, Rosemary friends and the seniors of the Chicago area the struggles of women. I taught the bad Thurston, and to all of Bill’s family I offer my are testament to the quality of his character, things and the good.’’ sincere condolences at this time. For the In January 1985, Thurston was elected vice- honor and integrity. many of us who were lucky enough to know chairman of the California Democratic Jerry Prete achieved his success through Bill and to call him our friend, our lives are Party. hard work and determination. He dedicated his He served on the county and state Demo- richer for it and we will always carry a place life to public service and the people of Chi- cratic Central committees for 22 years, retir- for him in our hearts. May he rest in peace. cago. An active member of the Christian Fam- ing in 1994. He also served eight years on the [From the Vallejo Times Herald, July 7, 2004] ily Movement since 1950, he assisted in de- Democratic National Committee. In May 1988, Thurston was a delegate for veloping leadership training and motivation for LONGTIME VALLEJO EDUCATOR AND ACTIVIST DIES AT 74 presidential nominee Michael Dukakis. them until the 1970s. In the 1960s, the Chi- (By Robert McCockran) But Thurston was not so partisan that he cago Senior Senate was formed and ex- ignored weaknesses of his fellow Democrats. Bill Thurston, a longtime history teacher, panded into 400 chapters with Jerry’s leader- He once referred to Oakland Mayor and state Democratic Committee leader and So- former California governor Jerry Brown as a ship. lano Community College trustee died Tues- In this quest, Jerry united with the National ‘‘flake’’ and said he was not overly impressed day. He was 74. with former President Bill Clinton. Council of Senior Citizens to submit a pro- A family member said Thurston, 74, was Frank Jackson, former president of the posal to the Department of Housing and having shortness of breath (about, 10:25 a.m.) Vallejo Chapter NAACP, said of Thurston: Urban Development for the funding of sub- and had to be rushed to (Kaiser Permanente ‘‘We go way back. Bill and I were real close sidized living at North Park Village. Today, the Medical Center) and collapsed in the hos- friends.’’ pital.’’ Jackson said he served with Thurston on Prete, Senate, and North Park Village Apart- Another family member said Thurston’s ments are considered some of the finest sen- an affirmative action committee at Solano wife, Rosemary, was distraught and unable Community College. ior citizen apartment buildings in the Nation. to talk about her husband’s death. ‘‘The thing I liked about Bill, he was fair Jerry made a lifelong commitment towards ‘‘We can say that he’s gone and we can say and equitable. When something wasn’t right, helping seniors gain access to affordable that he didn’t suffer,’’ the family friend said, he’d say ‘this isn’t right’ or ‘this is the thing housing—eventually assisting the implementa- adding that a memorial service will be ar- that we’re doing,’’’ Jackson said of his fellow tion of about 30 multiple dwelling units around ranged. NAACP member. For 20 years, Thurston taught political ‘‘Any time I would call on him and ask him the United States. He was a champion of science and history at Solano Community many causes for seniors including the expan- to do anything he was always willing to help College. out. And, anytime anybody called me about sion of Social Security and Medicare benefits, ‘‘I feel very sad, very sad,’’ said Pam Keith, anything political, I would tell them to call lowering the cost of prescription drugs, low- a fellow trustee. ‘‘He was just a very special Bill Thurston,’’ Jackson said. ering taxes, and working toward the creation person to me and I’m going to miss him very, Mel Jordan, an architect for the Vallejo of the Circuit Breaker program. very much.’’ City Unified School District who designed Aside from working to help seniors, Jerry ‘‘There will be a lot of people turn out for Jesse Bethel High School, said he was very this guy, whatever the situation is. He’s got was a passionate advocate for the religious close to Thurston. 500 children, grandchildren, great-grand- ‘‘Basically, Bill Thurston is almost like a community. From the mid-1950s until 1995, children, (and) great-great-great-grand- second father to me. In other words, a men- Jerry and his wife Anne operated the Alverno children, And he’s touched so many lives tor. He really assisted me in a lot of deci- Bookstore, which they established to meet the over the years, one way or another. People sion-making types of things for my own per- needs of the local Christian community. that you don’t even know about,’’ Keith said. sonal life,’’ Jordan said.

VerDate May 21 2004 03:42 Jul 10, 2004 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A09JY8.015 E09PT1 E1342 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks July 9, 2004 ‘‘He’s extremely going to be a loss to me, clothing, shelter, etc., thus perpetuating an un- aging the creation and effective enforcement but he’s passed on so much wisdom. It’s al- equal power balance in their relationships. of legal frameworks that guarantee women most like passing on the torch because we Without being able to control their own bod- equal rights and equal protection under the connected so much over the years,’’ Jordan ies and choose their sexual partners, women law. said. Former Vallejo mayor Terry Curtola At the same time, my bill would also seek said he’d known Thurston most of his adult are frequently treated as commodities to be life. bought or sold, without rights under the law. to balance funding for our HIV prevention ini- ‘‘Always was an adviser to me in my polit- This perpetuates a culture that accepts rape tiatives by stripping out misguided language in ical career. Just what I like to call a good and violence against women as something last year’s Global AIDS bill that guaranteed old boy Vallejoan. He was always supporting that is commonplace, and without punishment. that 33% of our prevention funds would go to- everything that went on. Always had the And women who have no right to refuse the wards abstinence only programs. best of Vallejo at heart. Just a good man,’’ sexual advances of men cannot control the Instituting a blanket requirement for absti- Curtola said. circumstances of their sexual encounters and nence spending in our global prevention pro- ‘‘I think what I like the most about Bill grams sends the message that religious ide- more than anything, he covered all the di- are unable to insist on abstinence, faithfulness on behalf of their partners, or the use of ology coming out of Washington DC is driving versities of our whole community. You could our global HIV/AIDS programs rather than never pinpoint him. He was just a man that condoms. I always went to for advice. Even when I Without the ability to own or inherit property, sound science and the reality of the situation didn’t go to him for advice, he’d call and give women are in constant danger of being kicked on the ground. it to me anyway.’’ Curtola said. out of their own homes, and losing control of Our policy should be to provide flexibility in our global HIV prevention strategies to support f their families most basic productive resources. Ultimately, women who fear the con- a variety of culturally appropriate prevention initiatives based on need and the specific HIV INTRODUCTION OF NEW UNITED sequences of speaking openly are powerless infection trends and gaps of each country. STATES GLOBAL HIV PREVEN- to advocate for any of these rights and are TION STRATEGY TO ADDRESS In the best interests of improving the Emer- consigned to accept a second class status in gency Plan for AIDS Relief, and achieving our THE NEEDS OF WOMEN AND their societies. GIRLS ACT OF 2004 goal of preventing 7 million new infections, I In the context of our moral tradition and our believe that we must make this change. common humanity, that is just plain wrong. And we must also make this change be- HON. BARBARA LEE But when it comes to combating HIV/AIDS, cause we owe it to all the women who are left OF CALIFORNIA for women it can be deadly. vulnerable and powerless because of social, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Working jointly with my colleagues in Con- political, legal, and economic inequalities that gress and the Administration, last year we es- Friday, July 9, 2004 allow HIV to fester and spread. tablished the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief If we do not address these underlying Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker I rise today to talk to treat 2 million people, prevent 7 million new issues in a comprehensive manner, then I fear about an urgent need in regards to our Global infections, and care for 10 million individuals. that our efforts to prevent the disease from HIV/AIDS Initiative—the need to address the But Mr. Speaker, I believe that if we do not spreading will only be in vain. disproportionately growing effect of HIV/AIDS aggressively target the needs of women, and I invite all my colleagues to join me in sup- upon women and girls. work to eliminate the factors that contribute to port of this legislation, and I urge the Inter- Today there are an estimated 40 million the increased vulnerability of women to HIV, national Relations Committee to move swiftly people infected with HIV/AIDS throughout the we will never reach our targets. to take it up. world. That is why today, along with 54 of my col- f For a number of reasons, women and girls leagues, I am introducing a bill entitled the are biologically, socially, and economically New United States Global HIV Prevention HONORING THE MEMORY OF THE more vulnerable to HIV infection than men, Strategy to Address Women and Girls Act of HON. JOHN HAWKINS and today they represent more than half of all 2004. individuals who are infected with HIV world- By recognizing the inadequacy of our cur- HON. JO BONNER wide. rent HIV Prevention efforts, which focus on the OF ALABAMA In sub-Saharan Africa the story is even ‘‘ABC’’ approach of Abstinence, Being faithful, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES worse, as women and girls make up 60 per- or using a Condom, my bill would seek to re- Friday, July 9, 2004 cent of those infected with HIV/AIDS. vise our current HIV Prevention strategy to Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, Jefferson Coun- Today we are undoubtedly facing a dramatic place an emphasis on the needs of women ty, Alabama, and indeed the entire state re- feminization of the global pandemic. and girls. cently lost a dear friend, and I rise today to Why are women more vulnerable? In doing so, my bill would require the Presi- honor him and pay tribute to his memory. In many cases, women still have inadequate dent to develop a comprehensive, integrated, Representative John Hawkins was a de- information about how HIV is transmitted, how and culturally appropriate HIV prevention strat- voted family man who spent over 28 years in it can be prevented, and how it can be treat- egy for each of the countries receiving assist- public service, serving from 1959 until 1965 in ed. ance to combat HIV/AIDS that includes: the Alabama House of Representatives, and Cultural and social norms in many devel- Increasing access to female condoms—in- from 1966 until 1974 in the Alabama State oping countries, and in some cases even here cluding training to ensure effective and con- Senate. Following a period of sixteen years in the United States, prevent frank and open sistent use. Accelerating the de-stigmatization out of the public spotlight, he again answered discussion about sex and HIV/AIDS. of HIV/AIDS—as women are generally at a the call to service and began a new period in But perhaps worst of all, women are most disadvantage in combating stigma. Empow- the state house in 1990. He was continuing to vulnerable because of the continuing legal, so- ering women and girls to avoid cross- represent House District 47 in the state capital cial, and economic inequalities that contribute generational sex and reduce the incidence of when he became ill earlier this year. to, and are the result of persistent and cul- child-marriage. Reducing violence against Throughout his professional career, he was turally ingrained gender discrimination women. Supporting the development of micro- dedicated to bringing better opportunities to all throughout the world. enterprise programs and other such efforts to the residents of Hoover, Vestavia Hills, and This gender discrimination is responsible for assist women in developing and retaining Jefferson County in Alabama, and was a tire- devaluing the rights of women to attend independent economic means. Promoting less advocate for his constituency. Represent- school, earn an independent living, control positive male behavior toward women and ative Hawkins sponsored countless bills during their own bodies and choose their own sexual girls. Supporting expanded educational oppor- his career in the legislature, but is perhaps partners, retain control over their own prop- tunities for women and girls. Protecting the best known for his championing the cause of erty, and speak their minds. property and inheritance rights of women. Co- automobile safety. In 1991, he was instru- And with the loss of each such right, women ordinating HIV prevention services with exist- mental in the passage of Alabama’s first state become more vulnerable to HIV infection. ing health care services—including mother to law that requires drivers and front-seat pas- Studies show that without an education, child transmission programs—and family plan- sengers to use safety belts. Eight years later, women are at a much higher risk of acquiring ning and reproductive health services. Pro- he helped to push through an amendment that HIV/AIDS. moting gender equality by supporting the de- gives police officers the authority to stop vehi- Without an independent source of income, velopment of civil society organizations fo- cle operators for violations of the seatbelt law women are forced to rely on men for food, cused on the needs of women, and by encour- alone.

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