E214 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks February 28, 2006 proud to recognize its impact on National Dis- of the next one. Fighting terror requires that educate and bring useful information to peo- ability Day. we look forward, and what keeps me up at ple, especially youth, people of color and f night is the possibility of a radiological bomb women.’’ or human terrorist entering our ports in an Representative Walker believes it critical to INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT ON uninspected container. get civil rights issues back into the public’s JOINT RESOLUTION When it comes to port security, we should eye. Disparities in poverty and the justice sys- have solid answers, not lingering questions. In tem are too great to stand idly by, she said. HON. JANE HARMAN this Era of Terror, there remains a constant Representative Keith Ellison was born in OF CALIFORNIA threat to our homeland. We don’t have the lux- Detroit, attended Wayne State University and IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ury of waiting to harden the obvious vulner- then came to Minneapolis to attend the Uni- versity of Minnesota Law School. As a stu- Tuesday, February 28, 2006 able targets. I have visited the Los Angeles/Long Beach dent, he first got involved in the anti-Apartheid Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, last week I port complex many times. I have authored and movement. He and his wife have four children. stood at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long co-authored bipartisan port security legislation. ‘‘I was raised in a household where I was Beach, the largest container port complex in Representative DAN LUNGREN and I will intro- encouraged to question things,’’ he said. His the nation, with my good friend Senator SUSAN duce a comprehensive bill soon to ensure a grandfather had worked for voting rights, and COLLINS, the chair of the Senate Committee coordinated approach to maritime and cargo Ellison grew up listening to stories of those ex- on Homeland Security and Governmental Af- security through the authorization of key secu- periences. Ellison’s activism continued, and fairs. rity programs and initiatives, as well as a dedi- evolved into his profession as a trial lawyer, We both have championed the fight to cated funding grant program to shore up secu- working on death penalty cases in Louisiana, strengthen security at our ports. As of last rity gaps that exist at our Nation’s ports. Sen- as well as indigent defense work. Today at the week, neither of us had been briefed on the ators COLLINS, LIEBERMAN, and COLEMAN have Ellison Law Office, his legal work consists of review conducted by the Committee on For- introduced similar legislation in the Senate, criminal cases, civil rights cases and family eign Investment in the United States, CFIUS, and both bills will be the subject of hearings law. into the sale of stevedoring and terminal oper- in this Congress. Ellison was first elected to the Minnesota ations of many major eastern seaboard and This resolution on CFIUS is prudent; so are House of Representatives in 2002. He said Gulf Coast ports to a state-owned firm from our efforts to legislate enhanced port security. that instead of cajoling and persuading gov- Dubai. This sale would not only affect the six I urge its support. ernment leaders to pursue worthy programs, he was determined to work for change from major US port terminal facility leases that have f been reported, but additional operations in 15 inside the system. other locations, including ports shipping mili- TRIBUTE TO MINNESOTA STATE ‘‘When you’re a community activist, you pro- tary materiel. REPRESENTATIVES NEVA WALK- pose change,’’ he said. ‘‘But when you’re in Last week, we stated our concerns about ER AND KEITH ELLISON office as a public official, you make the the announced sale and our plan to issue a change.’’ As one of two black Representatives Joint Resolution of Disapproval. HON. MARTIN OLAV SABO in Minnesota, Ellison believes he helps to im- Today, I am introducing in the House the OF MINNESOTA prove the level of engagement for people of color in the state. ‘‘I think all people need to Joint Resolution which Senator COLLINS intro- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES duced yesterday, S.J. Res. 32. This resolution have equal access to their government.’’ would do three things. First, it officially dis- Tuesday, February 28, 2006 He continues to work on issues of environ- approves of CFIUS’s initial review of the Dubai Mr. SABO. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to mental justice, equal justice in the courts, vot- Ports World deal. Second, it requires CFIUS celebrate Black History Month by recognizing ing rights, and public safety. He is also a co- to rescind its previous decision and conduct a distinguished Minnesota legislators who are founder of the Environmental Justice Advo- formal 45-day investigation. Third, it requires civil and human rights leaders: Minnesota cates of Minnesota, which deals with environ- that CFIUS brief the Congress before allowing State Representatives Neva Walker and Keith mental hazards posed by pollution. the deal to proceed, if in fact that is the deci- Ellison. Ellison believes that the civil rights move- sion after a full, complete and proper evalua- Representative Neva Walker was born and ment forever changed America, but that Amer- tion of the national security risks posed by this raised in Minneapolis, and attended the Uni- icans must still work for economic, health, arrangement. versity of Minnesota. A ‘‘community baby,’’ as educational and social equality for all people. Since Senator COLLINS and I announced our referred to by elders, Walker comes from a Mr. Speaker, Neva Walker and Keith Ellison intentions last week, there has been some family deeply involved in the community, espe- are dedicated public servants who are making progress. Dubai Ports World has agreed to a cially the Sabathani Community Center which unique contributions to their communities, secondary review, the Administration has is a pillar of the community and a source of working for all people, but especially African agreed to a 45-day assessment of the sale, assistance to many. Walker grew up with this Americans and other people of color, women, and, beginning this week, some committees of sort of activism, and she now embodies it her- and the poor. They are committed to bringing Congress will now be briefed. self. the promise of America to all its people, and But the bad news is that this process got as Representative Walker was encouraged to work day in and day out to achieve that ideal. far as it did, and that it took deep bipartisan run for office when lobbying Minneapolis City I commend them for their activism and their concern to have Congress brought into the Hall on housing issues. When she learned that service in the Minnesota Legislature, and their loop. When our country considers these im- no African American woman had served in the dedication to making their communities, our portant deals, Congress should be on the front Minnesota Legislature, this firmed her resolve State, and our world a better place. lines, not the back bench. to run for office. In 2000, Neva Walker was f And as we heard yesterday from a Senate elected to the Minnesota House where she IN MEMORIAM THEODORE R. briefing, the U.S. Coast Guard cited their con- continues to address disparities of all kinds: ‘‘TED’’ SWEM cerns over the deal at the time. The U.S. health, poverty, racial profiling and out-of- Coast Guard plays a critical role in ensuring home placement. the security of our ports, and their reservations Representative Walker has a son, and is the HON. MARK UDALL OF COLORADO make me question why this deal was ap- youngest of seven children herself. In addition IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES proved as quickly as it was. to her service in the State House, Rep. Walker This issue has also served to highlight the contributes with many community involve- Tuesday, February 28, 2006 fact that our Nation’s ports remain inad- ments such as the Blaisdell YMCA board, the Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, on equately protected. ‘‘GirlsBEST’’ initiative through the Women’s February 7th, America lost one of its con- As a member of both the House Intelligence Foundation of Minnesota, and the Minneapolis servation leaders with the passing of Theo- and Homeland Security Committees, I have Youth Coordinating Board. She takes every dore R. Swem—known to everyone as consistently worked to improve our national opportunity reach out to people, speaking to ‘‘Ted’’—whose long career was marked by the security, and believe much remains to be groups that range from children in daycare to highest standards of dedication to the public done. When we focus 9 out of 10 transpor- college students. interest. tation security dollars on aviation security, we ‘‘I consider myself a seed planter,’’ Walker Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on December fall into the trap of fighting the last war instead said about her efforts. ‘‘I’m always trying to 6, 1917, he attended Coe College, in Iowa

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