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E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 107th CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 147 WASHINGTON, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2001 No. 24 House of Representatives The House met at 12:30 p.m. ery. He understood the problems of for- lyn, New York. The horror they are re- f getting the past. He recognized that we membering is what is called the Middle must share the painful past in order to Passage and the hundreds of years of MORNING HOUR DEBATES protect our future. We must help en- enslavement that followed. The church The SPEAKER. Pursuant to the sure that future generations grasp the pastor, the Reverend Johnny Ray order of the House of January 3, 2001, injustice that occurred in North Amer- Youngblood, would like every church the Chair will now recognize Members ica’s past so that we may never repeat and civic organization in this country from lists submitted by the majority it. to do the same. and minority leaders for morning hour My bill is patterned after the Holo- debates. The Chair will alternate rec- caust Museum Act and pays tribute to Youngblood believes, along with ognition between the parties, with each those who suffered and perished under many of his church congregants, that party limited to not to exceed 30 min- slavery in North America. acknowledging, just simply acknowl- utes, and each Member, except the ma- Mr. Speaker, slavery infected our edging the pain of the past will pave jority leader, the minority leader, or past and oppressed several ethnic the way for real change, political and the minority whip, limited to not to groups. Education is one of the best personal. exceed 5 minutes. weapons to prevent such injustices, and Several noted psychologists contend f what better way to educate future gen- that because of the trauma from this erations than with a fitting tribute in NORTH AMERICAN SLAVERY original deep wound, it was so great, so our Nation’s Capital to those who were MEMORIAL COUNCIL ACT deep and has gone on so long publicly enslaved in North America. ungrieved, it may account for some of The SPEAKER. Under the Speaker’s My bill is designed to ensure that our social ills. announced policy of January 3, 2001, Americans never forget the horrors of the gentleman from Florida (Mr. slavery. We have wisely given honor to As with the many public remem- STEARNS) is recognized during morning those who lost their lives and suffered brances of the Jewish Holocaust, St. hour debates for 5 minutes. during the Holocaust. But we have ne- Paul’s commemoration allows grieving Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, it is a glected to honor those who lost their for forefathers and mothers, acknowl- delight to be back here to serve the lives and were imprisoned by slavery. edging the psychic wounds whose ag- people. We should offer a proper tribute to onies still are felt in our communities I am here in honor of Black History those who were denied their freedom in today. One church observer said, ‘‘You Month. I would like to bring my col- North America, and I am confident have to admit there was pain, real leagues’ attention to legislation that I that my bill will help to rectify this pain. Once you admit it, then you can intend to introduce today. The bill is oversight. heal it.’’ entitled the North American Slavery Last year, the Roth Horowitz Gallery So, Mr. Speaker, that is exactly what Memorial Council Act. in New York City showed a splendid ex- this museum would seek to do. We can I believe that this bill can best be hibition. It was entitled ‘‘Witness.’’ heal, and people healing will prevent thought of by a quote from Papa Dallas The exhibit chronicled the practice of division. One way is to acknowledge Stewart. He was a former slave that lynching between 1863 and 1960. An ar- the past problems and injustices. was captured; and his comment sort of ticle stated that after the opening of Americans have a rich history, but we provides the essence, I think, of what the exhibit, hundreds of visitors had must be true in recalling our history my bill is trying to do. This is what he poured in to see the exhibit, many of and slavery is sadly a part of that his- said: ‘‘And one thing I want you to them waiting in lines up to 20 minutes tory. This museum will stand as a bea- promise me: that you are going to tell in freezing temperatures. After one con and not only pay tribute to those all the children my story.’’ So my col- viewer came out, this is what he said: who were forced into slavery, but leagues, we need to tell it. ‘‘Perhaps the popularity of this exhi- should also stand to help end slavery Stewart, a former slave, knew first- bition should serve as an argument for that still exists throughout the world. hand the heartache and the pain that a museum devoted to slavery.’’ slavery could bring. As a child, his eyes Acknowledging slavery as a tragedy For the sake of Papa Stewart and were burned out when an overseer is very important. Groups have begun countless others, we must never forget caught him simply studying the alpha- holding commemorations on their own. the past. I encourage my colleagues to bet. He spent his life encouraging oth- In fact, one group is the St. Paul’s join with me in cosponsoring the North ers to never forget the horrors of slav- Community Baptist Church of Brook- American Slavery Museum bill. b This symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., b 1407 is 2:07 p.m. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. H413 . H414 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE February 27, 2001 AMERICA’S GOAL: DO NOT SPEND other trust funds will go up, to keep peace and well-being all across the At- THE SURPLUS the total debt of this country about lantic, including the North American The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. even and not have the total go down. countries and our allies and friends BIGGERT). Under the Speaker’s an- Madam Speaker, this represents what overseas in Europe. We get together a nounced policy of January 3, 2001, the has happened to the public debt, all couple of times a year to examine pol- gentleman from Michigan (Mr. SMITH) three of the previous charts. If my col- icy and, of course, at this time there is is recognized during morning hour de- leagues will join me on this chart, we a great deal of interest in the new ad- bates for 5 minutes. will see that the public debt of this ministration and where it is going. We Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Madam country has remained relatively low up had useful meetings, timely meetings, Speaker, tonight the President of the until the last 20 years, and now it is and there will be reports coming forth United States will come before this skyrocketing. What that means to me on those in time. Chamber in joint session, and I suspect is that whether it is the debt held by I wanted to speak about an aspect of he is going to talk about three areas the public or what we owe the Social the trip we took this time that I think that should be important to all of us. Security Trust Fund or what we owe is more important, because there is One is what do we do with taxes and the other trust funds, somehow, some some business for our House. As is cus- how much should they be lowered, and place, some time, government is going tomary, we quite often visit our troops should we continue a wartime tax rate to have to come up with the money to when we are out in these areas. We go in this time of peace that is now bring- pay that loan back. to remote areas, places like the Sinai ing in an estimated $5.6 trillion of sur- So that is the challenge for us. Where on this trip, and dangerous areas, pluses over the next 10 years, and prob- do we come up with that money? How places like the Balkans; and we go to ably that is going to be much higher; do we come up with that money? If all support areas, places like Italy and and, is it reasonable to say that sur- we do is shuffle boxes around and use places where there are active oper- pluses are really overtaxation. the surpluses coming in from Social ations in places like Turkey where our The next question I think that he Security and the other trust funds to troops are flying, our Air Force. We will also address is Social Security and pay down the debt held by the public, talk to our troops. We get right out the importance of keeping Social Secu- the debt will go way down low; but there; we do not get just the red carpet rity solvent. If we were to have a per- when the baby boomers start retiring, treatment talking to the officers. We fect world, or, if you will, a perfect then we have to come up with the extra talk to the men and women in uniform, Congress, we would probably not have money needed to pay Social Security hearing what their gripes are, their a tax cut and we would start a program benefits, and the debt will soar.