i also want to recognize a special work done by congressman donald payne who was the founding chair of the friends of the caribbean caucus and congressman kendrick meek, congressman gregory meeks, and of course congresswomany vet clarke. truly all the members are champions of the causes of the caribbean. last year one of our great achievements led by congressman donald payne and you, madam speaker, congresswoman lee, in one of those great efforts pepfar was extended to all of the caribbean for the very first time. two months ago health ministers and caricom leaders met to draft a five-year plan which would build on the pan cap, the pan caribbean partnership to ah.i.v. and aids in this region. the shirley chisholm exchange act of 2009 introduced again by congressional black caucus chairwoman and madam speaker lee, is now working its way through congress. it will help to build a stronger caribbean work force and promote greater collaboration between the united states and the caribbean, as well as a sharing of values and culture. madam speaker, i do have a few colleagues here with me this

founding chair of the friends of the caribbean caucus, the gentleman from new jersey, congressman donald payne. mr. pane: i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks. thank you. let me commend the congressional black caucus and its chairperson this evening, barbara lee, from california for the outstanding job that she is doing as chair of the congressional black caucus and as the caucus moves forward being the conscience of the congress, let me also commend representative fudge who is from the great state of ohio who continues to lead this special order on our evenings. of course to our caribbean queen , delegate donna christian-christensen who as you know is our representative from the u.s. virgin islands. not only is she an expert on the caribbean, but as we all know she is an internist, physician and has been very, very helpful as we move forward in a very difficult health care reform. and her input is invaluable. i also want to commend her for the recent involvement in a documentary about the relationship between st. croix and puerto rico that went through the history of the su