Congressional Black Caucus Roundup

Congressional Black Caucus Roundup for the week of June 25

Illinois Senator Barack Obama voted no on the proposed constitutional amendment to prohibit flag desercration. Following is the Senator's floor remarks about the amendment:

"I cannot imagine anything more abhorrent to a veteran than seeing the flag they fought for being burned to make a political point. I too have great pride in our flag. I share outrage at the thought of it being disrespected. And though I have never seen anyone burn a flag, if I did, it would take every ounce of restraint I had not to haul off and hit them.

"But we live in a country of laws. Laws are what stop people from resorting to physical violence to settle disagreements, and laws are what protect free speech. And when I became a Senator, I swore an oath to protect the Constitution. Under that oath, my first allegiance is not to a political party, or to an ideology, or to a president, or even to popular opinion, but to the Constitution and to the rule of law.

"The Framers made it difficult to amend the Constitution because our founding document should not be changed just because of political concerns or temporary problems. And even the strongest supporters of this amendment are hard-pressed to find more than a few instances of flag burning each year. Those problems were left to be solved through legislation, and I support legislation introduced by Senator Durbin that makes it illegal to burn the flag without changing the Constitution. The Constitution has only been amended 27 times. These amendments include guarantees of our most basic freedoms, the freedom of religion, the right to a trial by jury, the protection against cruel punishment.

"Today, there are hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops risking their lives for their country, looking to us to come up with a plan to win the peace so they can come home. Across America, there are millions who are looking for us to do something about health care, about education, about energy. The Senate will likely be in session for about 50 more days for the rest of this year. To spend the precious time we have left battling an epidemic of flag burning that does not exist is a disservice to our country.

"As Richard Savage of Bloomington, Illinois wrote to me, "I am a Vietnam veteran and Republican. . . . Those who would burn the flag destroy the symbol of freedom, but amending the Constitution would destroy part of freedom itself." Mr. Savage is right, which is why I will vote against this amendment. Senator Durbin's amendment is a way forward to balance our respect for the flag with reverence for the Constitution."

David Scott (D-GA) took to the House floor to argue against an amendment that would have stopped funds from being used to implement parts of the Section 203 in the Voting Rights Amendment. The Congressman's remarks follow:

Mr. Chairman, this is a very shameful amendment, and I will tell you why it is shameful.

Here we are on the eve of the 4th of July at the very foundation of this country when those noble words were spoken by Thomas Jefferson, ``We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among those, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,'' and the most important guarantee of that pursuit of happiness is the right to vote.

Not long ago, many of my colleagues on that side of the aisle stuck their finger in purple ink and proudly went around and promoted it because the Iraqis had the freedom to go and vote. There was a private first class named Private First Class Rincon from my district in Conyers, Georgia, who gave his life and died for that right, and he was not even a United States citizen. This House had to approve his citizenship posthumously.

Now we want to pass an amendment that would give just a little bit of help to his wife, to his mother, to his grandmother, who have difficulty with the English language.

This is a terrible moment at a terrible time, when we should be speaking to the greatness of this country, to the right to vote, to cherish it. Here we are on the eve of the 4th of July being what was referred to 40 years ago in the bestseller, being the Ugly American.

Let us prove that we are the good American and vote down this ``Ugly American'' amendment.

Also on the case for the Voting Rights Amendment was Congressman Scott's Georgia colleague John Lewis.

Speaking on the same amendment, Congressman Lewis gave some history about the need for the funds and preceded to talk about why the dollars are still needed. His remarks are below:

There are some mistaken ideas about Section 203 of the VRA. It does not offer voting assistance to illegal or non-naturalized immigrants. It refers only to U.S. citizens who may not speak English fluently enough to comprehend some of the complex ballot initiatives that are often a part of the voting environment today. More than 70% of the citizens who use the language assistance provision of the VRA are born in the United States and include not only Latino citizens, but Alaskan natives, American Indians and Asian Americans.

“The Stearns Amendment is a modern-day literacy test,” said Rep. Lewis. “It is a back-door attempt, through the appropriations process, to cripple federal enforcement of Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act. We must decide as a nation whether we want to live in a truly democratic society, or whether we want to reserve democracy for a privileged few. Are we suggesting, through the Stearns Amendment, that Native Americans, the only original citizens of this land, should not have the language assistance they may need to participate in the democratic process? That is not right, that is not fair, that is not just.”

Language assistance is vital to the equal representation of Native Americans. In Apache County, Arizona, DOJ enforcement of the language assistance provisions of the Voting Rights Act resulted in a 26 percent increase in Native American voter turnout, and it allows Native veterans who have defended democracy abroad, Navajo Code talkers who aided American intelligence efforts in World War II, as well as elderly tax-paying Native American citizens to participate knowledgeably in the electoral process.

The provision of Chinese language ballots in New York City helped more than 100,000 Asian-American citizens vote in recent elections. Even though the city is home to the largest Asian-American community in the country, they had never been able to elect an Asian American to a major elected post. Finally, due to DOJ language assistance support mandated by Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act, John Lui was elected to the City Council in 2001. These are just a few examples of the powerful benefit of the language assistance portions of the VRA. Rep. Lewis encourages his colleagues to vote NO on the Stearns Amendment.

On another topic Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) teamed up with fellow Californian Henry Waxman (D-CA) to atttach an amendment to a funding bill on the issue of public health in trade policy. Ms. Lee's comments are below:

“If the only formal advisors for our trade representative are representatives from the pharmaceutical industry, the policy will be biased toward industry and will overlook serious public health concerns,” said Lee. “This amendment will help make sure that our trade policy is both fair and balanced by ensuring that it is informed by advice from public health experts.”

Lee and Waxman’s amendment will block the use of Science-State-Justice-Commerce funds for Industry Trade Advisory Committees (ITACs) 3 and 15, which advise the U.S. Trade Representative on pharmaceutical and intellectual property negotiations, unless their membership is “fairly balanced” as required by the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

“The status quo is unacceptable," said Waxman. “The longer the USTR delays adding public health representatives to these panels, the more we need to be concerned about biased advice that is resulting in controversial trade policies.”

In December 2005, the Administration acknowledged the need for more diverse input on these issues. The International Trade Administration issued a Federal Register notice seeking nominations for public health and community health representatives to serve on ITACs 3 and 15. However, more than six months have passed, and despite receiving a number of applications and congressional inquiries, no appointments have been made.

According to Waxman and Lee, recent free trade agreements have reflected the influence of the pharmaceutical industry at the expense of public health concerns. The FTAs have extended patent terms and delayed generic competition - moves that increase profits for drug companies, but make it more difficult for governments to respond in the case of a public health crisis.

For example, Thailand has initiated a program of universal access to government-subsidized antiretroviral drugs that now reaches 70,000 of 170,000 Thai people living with HIV/AIDS. There is strong concern, however, that the future costs of expanding treatment with newer patented medicines will be prohibitive if provisions included in recent FTAs are included in the pending trade deal with Thailand.

Dems Iraq Proposals Come Up Short

Earlier today the United States Senate voted on two competing Democratic proposals on the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.

Senators Carl Levin (D-MI) and John Kerry (D-MA) offered two options on the withdrawal of troops. The Levin plan, co-sponsored by Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), was a nonbinding resolution that encouraged the President to begin pulling troops out of Iraq this year but did not set a specific date.

The Levin plan garnered more support than the Kerry plan, including the vote of Illinois Senator Barack Obama, but was defeated 60-39. Only six Democrats voted against the plan and one Republican voted for the it (Senator Lincoln Chaffee of Rhode Island who is locked in a bitter reelection campaign).

As lopsided as that vote was Mr. Kerry would have taken it. The Democratic nominee for President in 2004 saw his proposal, which required immediate redeployment of American troops from Iraq and with most gone July 1, 2007, was beaten soundly 86-13. 31 Democrats voted against the Kerry Plan, which was co-sponsored by Senator Russell Feingold (D-WI), including Senator Obama.

The measures were debated on the Senate floor yesterday and the comments of Senator Obama, the reason for his support and co-sponsorship of the Levin plan and his opposition to the Kerry plan, are included below:

"Mr. President, in October of 2002, I delivered a speech opposing the War in Iraq.

I said that Saddam Hussein was a ruthless man, but that he posed no imminent and direct threat to the United States.

I said that a war in Iraq would take our focus away from our efforts to defeat al-Qaeda.

And, with a volatile mix of ethnic groups and a complicated history, I said that the invasion and occupation of Iraq would require a U.S. occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences.

In short, I felt the decision unfolding then to invade Iraq was being made without a clear rationale, based more on ideology and politics than fact and reason.

It is with no great pleasure that I recall this now. Too many young men and women have died. Too many have been maimed. Too many hearts have been broken. I fervently wish I had been wrong about this war; that my concerns had been unfounded.

America and the American people have paid a high price for the decision to invade Iraq and myriad mistakes that followed. I believe that history will not judge the authors of this war kindly.

For all these reasons, I would like nothing more than to support the Kerry Amendment; to bring our brave troops home on a date certain, and spare the American people more pain, suffering and sorrow.

But having visited Iraq, I'm also acutely aware that a precipitous withdrawal of our troops, driven by Congressional edict rather than the realities on the ground, will not undo the mistakes made by this Administration. It could compound them.

It could compound them by plunging Iraq into an even deeper and, perhaps, irreparable crisis.

We must exit Iraq, but not in a way that leaves behind a security vacuum filled with terrorism, chaos, ethnic cleansing and genocide that could engulf large swaths of the Middle East and endanger America. We have both moral and national security reasons to manage our exit in a responsible way.

I share many of the goals set forth in the Kerry Amendment. We should send a clear message to the Iraqis that we won't be there forever, and that by next year our primary role should be to conduct counter-insurgency actions, train Iraqi security forces, and provide needed logistical support.

Moreover, I share the frustration with an Administration whose policies with respect to Iraq seem to simply repeat the simple-minded refrains of "we know best" and "stay the course." It's not acceptable to conduct a war where our goals and strategies drift aimlessly regardless of the cost in lives or dollars spent, and where we end up with arbitrary, poll-driven troop reductions by the Administration - the worst of all possible outcomes.

As one who strongly opposed the decision to go to war and who has met with servicemen and women injured in this conflict and seen the pain of the parents and loved ones of those who have died in Iraq, I would like nothing more than for our military involvement to end.

But I do not believe that setting a date certain for the total withdrawal of U.S. troops is the best approach to achieving, in a methodical and responsible way, the three basic goals that should drive our Iraq policy: that is, 1) stabilizing Iraq and giving the factions within Iraq the space they need to forge a political settlement; 2) containing and ultimately defeating the insurgency in Iraq; and 3) bringing our troops safely home.

What is needed is a blueprint for an expeditious yet responsible exit from Iraq. A hard and fast, arbitrary deadline for withdrawal offers our commanders in the field, and our diplomats in the region, insufficient flexibility to implement that strategy.

For example, let's say that a phased withdrawal results in fifty thousand troops in Iraq by July 19, 2007. If, at that point, our generals and the Iraqi government tell us that having those troops in Iraq for an additional three or six months would enhance stability and security in the region, this amendment would potentially prevent us from pursuing the optimal policy.

It is for this reason that I cannot support the Kerry Amendment. Instead, I am a cosponsor of the Levin amendment, which gives us the best opportunity to find this balance between our need to begin a phase-down and our need to help stabilize Iraq. It tells the Iraqis that we won't be there forever so that they need to move forward on uniting and securing their country. I agree with Senator Warner that the message should be "we really mean business, Iraqis, get on with it." At the same time, the amendment also provides the Iraqis the time and the opportunity to accomplish this critical goal.

Essential to a successful policy is the Administration listening to its generals and diplomats and members of Congress - especially those who disagree with their policies and believe it is time to start bringing our troops home.

The overwhelming majority of the Senate is already on record voting for an amendment stating that calendar year 2006 should be a period of significant transition to full Iraqi sovereignty, with Iraqi security forces taking the lead for the security, creating the conditions for the phased redeployment of United States forces from Iraq. The Levin Amendment builds on this approach.

The White House should follow this principle as well. Visiting Iraq for a few hours cannot resuscitate or justify a failed policy. No amount of spin or photo opportunities can change the bottom line: this war has been poorly conceived and poorly managed by the White House, and that is why it has been so poorly received by the American people..

And it's troubling to already see Karl Rove in New Hampshire, treating this as a political attack opportunity instead of a major national challenge around which to rally the country.

There are no easy answers to this war. I understand that many Americans want to see our troops come home. The chaos, violence, and horrors in Iraq are gut-wrenching reminders of what our men and women in uniform, some just months out of high school, must confront on a daily basis. They are doing this heroically, they are doing this selflessly, and more than 2,500 of them have now made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

Not one of us wants to see our servicemen and women in harm's way a day longer than they have to be. And that's why we must find the most responsible way to bring them home as quickly as possible, while still leaving the foundation of a secure Iraq that will not endanger the free world. "

Renewal of Voting Rights Act on Hold

The idea was to pass it a year early and use it as campaign fodder on both sides of the political divide. However, the attempt to renew the portions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that expire next year was put on hold today by House Republican Leadership after they received pressure to delay the vote.

Republican members from the south who said that southern states should no longer be targeted in the act argued, in a private caucus meeting Wednesday morning, that until those provisions were removed they would continue to voice their opposition.

The bill, scheduled for a vote today, has bipartisan support and passed the House Judiciary committee 33 -1. In that spirit GOP leadership maintained support saying they expected to renew it "as soon as possible."

Democrats who have been pushing for a renewal vote (especially Congressional Black Caucus members) expressed disappointment in the delay. Rep. David Scott (D-GA) expressed displeasure at the delay:

I"am extremely disappointed with the move today by Republican leaders to hastily and shamefully deny a scheduled vote to consider reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act, one of the most important pieces of legislation ever enacted by Congress. The Act along with its special provisions has proven tremendously successful at expanding and protecting the opportunity for participation in the political process for all Americans and is still very much needed. Members of both parties worked extensively to create sound legislation supported by both Democrats and Republicans.”

The delay wrecks havoc with the bill's schedule. The Senate Judiciary Committee was expected to hear an identical bill next week but that is now in question. Chairman of the committee Sen. Arlen Spector (R-PA) says "[t]here's less pressure to do it if the House is not doing it..."

Other members of the Congressional Black Caucus also commented on the withdrawal:

Mel Watt (D-NC) Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus:

“We are extremely disappointed that the Voting Rights Act was pulled from today’s legislative calendar. We have worked extremely hard over a number of months to reach bipartisan and bicameral agreement on this legislation and had reason to believe it would be considered expeditiously. The Voting Rights Act has always had strong support from Democrats and Republicans alike. We fear that pulling the bill could send the wrong message about whether the bill enjoys broad bipartisan support and that delaying consideration until after the July 4 recess could give those with partisan intensions space and time to politicize the issue.”

Artur Davis (D-AL):

“I am disappointed that for the second time, the Voting Rights Act has been pulled off the House agenda. The VRA has protected black and white southerners from election abuses for over 40 years, and we Alabamians should be thankful for it. While the statute is complicated, it has worked and Congress should resist schemes to weaken it or to make it impossible to administer. I hope that my Alabama colleagues in the House and Senate who have been on the other side of this issue will re-think their position.”

Barbara Lee (D-CA):

“The Voting Rights Act has been a critical tool in helping fight discrimination in voting and ensuring the proper functioning of our democracy and I can’t understand why anyone would oppose this bipartisan bill,” said Lee. “I hope the Republican leadership can sort out their problems with this so that we can act quickly to pass this critical legislation.”
The bipartisan bill, the Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006 (H.R. 9), reauthorizes for 25 years key provisions of the Voting Rights Act that are set to expire in 2007. It was originally put on the suspension calendar, which expedites votes for measures considered to be uncontroversial.

More on House Resolution 861

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) didn't just sit and listen to the two day debate on House Resolution 861. A yes vote on HR 861 backed the President's action in Iraq "declaring that the US will prevail in the global war on terror...".

Following are the links to what some of the CBC members had to offer during the debate and after:

Artur Davis (D-AL) http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/al07_davis/iraqvote06061606.html

David Scott (D-GA) http://davidscott.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=45053

Barbara Lee (D-CA) http://lee.house.gov/index.cfm?ContentID=789&ParentID=0&SectionID=4&SectionTree=4&lnk=b&ItemID=784

Kendrick Meek (D-FL) http://kendrickmeek.house.gov/press/2006.06.16.shtml

Albert Wynn (D-MD) http://www.wynn.house.gov/display2.cfm?id=11971&type=Hot%20Topics

William Clay (D-MO) http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/mo01_clay/Iraqdebate.html

CBC votes on the Iraq Resolution

Yesterday the House of Representatives passed House Resolution 861. The Resolution, hotly debated over two days, backed President Bush's current course of action in Iraq. HR 861 passed with 256 yes votes and 153 no votes. The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) voted nearly unanimously against the resolution. The votes of the CBC follows:

Yes - 2

Bishop
Thompson

No - 36

Brown
Butterfield
Carson
Clay
Clyburn
Conyers
Cummings
D. Davis
A. Davis
Fattah
Ford
Green
Hastings
Jackson
Jackson-Lee
Jefferson
Johnson
Jones
Lee
Lewis
McKinney
Meek
Meeks
Millender-McDonald
Moore
Owens
Payne
Rangel
Rush
D. Scott
R. Scott
Towns
Waters
Watson
Watt
Wynn

Not Voting - 2

Cleaver
Kilpatrick

Dems Vote to Oust Jefferson

In an unprecedented move today House Democrats voted, by a margin of 2 to 1, to remove Congressman William Jefferson (D-LA) from his seat on the House Ways and Means committee because of an ongoing FBI bribery investigation.

The vote, done behind closed doors, apparently was not popular with members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) who question why the same has not been done with Rep.
Alan Mollohan (D-WV) who is also under investigation, but has been allowed to keep his seat on the equally powerful Appropriations Committee. Congressman Mollohan is white.

Despite the double standard alleged by the CBC, House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) looking to score political points and continue her drumbeat that the GOP is engaged in a "culture of corruption" bulled ahead with the full caucus vote. Several weeks ago Ms. Pelosi asked Mr. Jefferson to step aside, he refused thus setting up this course of action.

Now that the full Democrat caucus has vote to remove Cong. Jefferson, the full House of Representatives must vote on the caucus recommendation.

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee Calls for Funds from FEMA

In the hours, days and weeks after Hurricane Katrina hit the City of New Orleans, tens of thousands of evacuees headed for the city of Houston, Texas. With very little financial assistance from the federal government the city absorbed the cost of the new citizens.

Those cost have increased and the federal government has yet to respond. That continued lack of assistance moved Houston's Congresswomen Sheila Jackson Lee to request financial assistance. Saying the administration's response has been "marked by failure, incompetence and cyronism..." the Congresswomen took to the House floor Tuesday to ask for the appropriate financial support "...in a timely manner."

The press release issued on the request by Jackson Lee's office follows:

CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE SEEKS REIMBURSEMENTS FROM FEMA TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON REGARDING HURRICANE KATRINA Washington, DC -

Last Thursday House and Senate Conferees finalized an agreement on a long-sought $94.5 billion bill to pay for the war in Iraq and deliver a much-needed infusion of relief to hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast states.

"More than nine months after Hurricane Katrina, the worst natural disaster in our nation's history, struck the Gulf Coast, many needs of Katrina survivors still go unmet. Over the last nine months, the Republican response to the Katrina aftermath has been marked by failure, incompetence and cronyism," commented Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.

More than nine months after Katrina, 40,000 families are still waiting for a FEMA trailer, only 4% of approved SBA disaster loans have been fully disbursed to survivors, and more than $1 billion in Katrina aid is estimated to have been wasted. Now, the GOP-controlled Congress has made Katrina survivors wait for more than three months for this urgently-needed Katrina aid. Some of the highlights of the Katrina aid that Democrats have fought for include:

$5.2 billion for CDBGs. The conference report includes $5.2 billion for Community Development Block Grants for the Gulf Coast states, to be particularly used for aid to homeowners in rebuilding. Language was included in the conference report that no one state would receive more than $4.2 billion in assistance.

$3.7 billion for levee improvements. The conference report includes $3.7 billion for critically important levee improvements and flood control projects. This includes funding to reinforce or replace floodwalls in the New Orleans metropolitan area, to raise levee heights, provide additional hurricane repairs to flood control structures, and provide coastal restoration to minimize future storm damage.

$400 million for alternative housing for Katrina survivors. The conference report includes $400 million for the establishment of alternative housing pilot programs, which may help displaced Louisianans rebuild at a lower cost and identify more practical housing solutions for future hurricanes.

Assistance to Small Businesses - $542 million.

Businesses in declared disaster areas, including the hurricane-affected areas of the Gulf, are eligible to receive disaster loans within the funding provided to the Small Business Administration.

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee today went to the House floor to raise the question of reimbursements to the city of Houston from FEMA. The Congresswoman is working with city leaders to make sure Houston is properly reimbursed in a timely manner.

FEMA's Public Assistance reimbursement program is one way federal assistance gets to the state and local governments and to certain private nonprofit organizations. These reimbursement grants allow them to respond to disasters, to recover from their impact and to mitigate impact from future disasters. While these grants are aimed at governments and organizations - their final goal is to help a community and all its citizens recover from devastating natural disasters.

Vote Scheduled on Jefferson

A couple of weeks ago House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) asked embattled Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson (D-LA) to resign his spot on the powerful Ways and Means Committee because of the ongoing investigation surrounding Cong. Jefferson and possible bribery.

Jefferson, who has steadfastly denied the FBI charges, refused to quit saying his city of New Orleans needed representation on the committee. That request and denial were not the end of the story.

On Thursday evening in a secret meeting the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee voted to recommend that Jefferson be removed from the Ways and Means. Moments after the Committee's recommendation, the full Democratic caucus met to consider and vote on the suggestion. However, Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Mel Watt (D-NC) stopped the vote, noting that caucus rules require a cooling period and the vote can only be done within 5 to 10 legislative days after the recommendation.

Congressman Watt succeed in slowing the vote but not ending the process. A removal vote has now been scheduled for Thursday.

After the fireworks Chairman Watt issued a statement about the action of his Democratic caucus:

"What I hope is that the caucus comes to its senses and sees that there"s no precedent for this..., They might consider it politically expedient but I think it's about to blow up in their face...When you start making up rules and applying them only to one person...and if the only person you have applied it to is a black person then our community will legitimately ask, what in the world are you all doing?"

Congressional Democrats know exactly what they're doing, they have made this mid-term election about the ethical lapses of Republicans and can't be seen as hypercritical. Leadership may be willing to sacrifice Jefferson and endure short damage with African Americans to gain control of Congress.

Source: thehill.com http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/060806/jefferson.html

Congressional Black Caucus Update

Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) -- Last week United States troops in Iraq killed al Qaeda terrorist and insurgency leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and Senator Obama released the following statement:

"I am proud that American troops, with the help of Iraqis, were able to find and kill Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. He was a brutal monster whose single-minded goal was to sow instability and the death of innocent Iraqis and American forces."While this successful attack will not completely end the insurgency in Iraq, it does strike a major blow against al Qaeda and gives hope to the possibility of a secure and stable Iraq. It is an encouraging development that should fill Americans and Iraqis with pride."

Democrat candidate for the United States Senate in Tennessee Harold Ford, Jr. also weighed in on the death of al-Zarqawi.

Rep. Harold Ford (D-TN):

"Our troops in Iraq scored a tremendous victory today with the killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Once again, the 101st Airborne led the way, moving in just after the bombing to identify Zarqawi. Our warfighters are continuing to perform heroically and bravely and deserve a tremendous amount of praise."There is no question that we are better off with Zarqawi dead. But the insurgency has never just been about one person. We must remain vigilant about implementing a real plan that will enable the Iraqis to take control of their own security."

Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) -- There was a lot of conversation on Capitol Hill early this year that Congress would renew the Voting Rights Act this session. But we find ourselves in June and reauthorizationion has slowed to a crawl. Last Wednesday Congressman Butterfield wrote a letter to House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) urging him to bring the bill up for vote.

The text of the letter follows:

June 7, 2006

The Honorable John A. BoehnerMajority Leader, House of Representatives
H107, U.S. Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Majority Leader Boehner:

I am writing to respectfully urge you to schedule the "Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006" for consideration by the House.

As you know, reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act has strong bipartisan support, including the House Speaker and a large contingent from the South. This represents a welcome contrast to ferocious debate over protecting voting rights in 1965, and an improvement over 1982, when there was noticeable hostility on the part of some Southern lawmakers.

I am deeply troubled by recent media reports that some of our colleagues in the South have reservations about this legislation and may seek to delay its prompt consideration by the House. During the last 40 years, we have made strides toward ensuring the protection of every American's right to vote. The Voting Rights Act has been a cornerstone of that progress. To weaken or delay reauthorization of this important and historic legislation expresses the willingness to step back in time.

While strides have been made, the immense need for this legislation was demonstrated clearly through the more than 8,000 pages of documentation describing discriminatory voting practices that was submitted to the House Judiciary Committee. Unfortunately, the election process continues to be abused - through redistricting schemes, last minute changes of polling locations and outright restrictions on registration for some eligible voters.

The Voting Rights Act provides an effective mechanism for courts and the Justice Department to address practices that are racially motivated. It is a remedial statute whose authority stems from the Congressional determination that certain areas of our nation have a history of discriminatory election laws.

Sadly, racial conflict remains a part of life. We must ensure that this vital protection remains in place to defend people against racial abuses. With that in mind, I respectfully urge you to schedule this matter for consideration.

Very truly yours,

G. K. Butterfield
Member of Congress

Congressional Black Caucus Action

June 8

Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) -- Early today United States troops in Iraq killed al Qaeda terrorist and insurgency leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and Senator Obama released the following statement:

"I am proud that American troops, with the help of Iraqis, were able to find and kill Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. He was a brutal monster whose single-minded goal was to sow instability and the death of innocent Iraqis and American forces.

"While this successful attack will not completely end the insurgency in Iraq, it does strike a major blow against al Qaeda and gives hope to the possibility of a secure and stable Iraq. It is an encouraging development that should fill Americans and Iraqis with pride."

Democrat candidate for the United States Senate in Tennessee Harold Ford, Jr. also weighed in on the death of al-Zarqawi.

Rep. Harold Ford (D-TN)

"Our troops in Iraq scored a tremendous victory today with the killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Once again, the 101st Airborne led the way, moving in just after the bombing to identify Zarqawi. Our warfighters are continuing to perform heroically and bravely and deserve a tremendous amount of praise.

"There is no question that we are better off with Zarqawi dead. But the insurgency has never just been about one person. We must remain vigilant about implementing a real plan that will enable the Iraqis to take control of their own security."


Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) -- There was a lot of conversation on Capitol Hill early this year that Congress would renew the Voting Rights Act this session. But we find ourselves in June and reauthorizationion has slowed to a crawl. Today Congressman Butterfield wrote a letter to House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) urging him to bring the bill up for vote. The text of the letter follows:

June 7, 2006

The Honorable John A. Boehner
Majority Leader, House of Representatives
H107, U.S. Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Majority Leader Boehner:

I am writing to respectfully urge you to schedule the "Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006" for consideration by the House.

As you know, reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act has strong bipartisan support, including the House Speaker and a large contingent from the South. This represents a welcome contrast to ferocious debate over protecting voting rights in 1965, and an improvement over 1982, when there was noticeable hostility on the part of some Southern lawmakers.

I am deeply troubled by recent media reports that some of our colleagues in the South have reservations about this legislation and may seek to delay its prompt consideration by the House. During the last 40 years, we have made strides toward ensuring the protection of every American's right to vote. The Voting Rights Act has been a cornerstone of that progress. To weaken or delay reauthorization of this important and historic legislation expresses the willingness to step back in time.

While strides have been made, the immense need for this legislation was demonstrated clearly through the more than 8,000 pages of documentation describing discriminatory voting practices that was submitted to the House Judiciary Committee. Unfortunately, the election process continues to be abused - through redistricting schemes, last minute changes of polling locations and outright restrictions on registration for some eligible voters.

The Voting Rights Act provides an effective mechanism for courts and the Justice Department to address practices that are racially motivated. It is a remedial statute whose authority stems from the Congressional determination that certain areas of our nation have a history of discriminatory election laws.

Sadly, racial conflict remains a part of life. We must ensure that this vital protection remains in place to defend people against racial abuses. With that in mind, I respectfully urge you to schedule this matter for consideration.

Very truly yours,

G. K. Butterfield
Member of Congress