House Proceeding 06-10-09 on Jun 10th, 2009 :: 3:54:10 to 3:56:50
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3:53:51 to 3:54:12( Edit History Discussion )

Gregory W. Meeks: house report 111-143 offered by mr. meeks of new york. the chair: pursuant to house resolution 522, the gentleman from new york, mr. meeks, and a member opposed will each control five minutes. the chair recognizes the gentleman from new york. mr. meeks: thank you, mam chair. i rise today with an important amendment to h.r. 2410, the foreign relations authorization act for fiscal years 2010, 2011.

3:54:10 to 3:56:50( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Gregory W. Meeks

3:54:13 to 3:54:33( Edit History Discussion )

Gregory W. Meeks: we here in the united states understand all too well that it takes more than just passing laws to ensure equal access to prosperity. it took decades of constant pressure and struggle to get the legal right to full participation of african-americans in our american democracy. yet we realize that our work is far from over in our great nation. racial discrimination is a

3:54:34 to 3:54:54( Edit History Discussion )

Gregory W. Meeks: sobering reality both here in the united states and in the rest of the world. we understand that we cannot throw stones from a glass house. but instead we must work with -- work in a tandem with our neighbors to ensure that all citizens in our hemisphere are unfettered by discriminatory practices now and the vestiges of those practices of the past. it is in our interest to work

3:54:55 to 3:55:15( Edit History Discussion )

Gregory W. Meeks: toward more equal hemisphere and we are all at risk if our citizens do not have full faith in the strength of democracy to provide upward mobility. the reverend dr. martin luther king jr. put it best when he said, injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. afro latinos face a

3:55:16 to 3:55:36( Edit History Discussion )

Gregory W. Meeks: long-standing struggle against racial discrimination and a lack of opportunities. afro latinos make up approximately 15million of the region's 540 million total population and awill will long with women and indigenous populations are among the poorest, most marginalized groups in the region. people of african descent comprise a significant amount of

3:55:37 to 3:55:57( Edit History Discussion )

Gregory W. Meeks: the population in several latin american countries and are 50% of the region's poor. for many descendents, endemic poverty exacerbated by isolation, exclusion and racial discrimination in. in brazil, of a ro latinos are 45% of the population but

3:55:58 to 3:56:20( Edit History Discussion )

Gregory W. Meeks: constitute 49% of the poor. in columbia, the plight of afro columbians is harshest as they are all too often caught in the crossfire of violent conflict. congress previously supported the united states-brazil joint action plan against racial discrimination and house resolution 1254 and called for both the united states and

3:56:21 to 3:56:41( Edit History Discussion )

Gregory W. Meeks: brazil to promote equality and they continued to work toward eliminating racial discrimination. the joint action plan helps to facilitate the exchange of information on the best practices of anti-discrimination measures and development of ideas on how to bilaterally promote racial and ethnic equality. with this amendment we request that the secretary clinton report on plans and efforts to

3:56:42 to 3:56:51( Edit History Discussion )

Gregory W. Meeks: address the plight of afro latinos and indigenous peoples in the western hemisphere and we also request a report on the status of the u.s.-brazil joint action plan so that we can gain a greater understanding of how