Karen Bass

Ms. BASS

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I worked with Representatives Katherine Clark and Brenda Lawrence, along with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, Guy Reschenthaler and Debbie Lesko, to introduce the bipartisan H.R. 7718, Protecting the Health and Wellness of Babies and Pregnant Women in Custody Act, which will improve the prenatal and postpartum care women receive while in BOP custody and provides additional funding for States to do the same. Since the early 1980s, the number of women in Federal and State custody has increased by 700 percent. Women are the fastest growing segment of the incarcerated population, and women are incarcerated mainly for nonviolent offenses. Over 60 percent of women in prison are mothers with children under the age of 18. The purpose of this bill is to take a comprehensive look at how women are cared for while in custody. This bill addresses a series of health- related concerns raised by women in custody as well as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. This bill would require that once a determination that a woman is pregnant is made, that her doctor devise a plan that would allow for reasonable accommodations for her care while in custody. This plan would be provided to the warden of each prison. The plan would take into account a woman's individual healthcare needs during pregnancy and postpartum, which includes access to healthcare professionals, such as OB/GYNs, nurses, doulas, and midwives, to address the conditions in prison that, if modified, would significantly improve her chances of having a healthy pregnancy. Reasonable accommodations include food and nutrition and access to nutritious food. According to healthcare professionals, good maternal nutrition can contribute positively to the delivery of a healthy newborn of an appropriate weight. We have heard stories of women who are incarcerated given an additional peanut butter and jelly sandwich to address their nutritional needs. This is obviously not adequate for a woman who is pregnant. Another accommodation is transferring a woman from a top bunk to a lower bunk, as pregnant women are at high risk for falls, and falls are dangerous for pregnancies. In addition, women who are pregnant need access to bathrooms and water for the duration of their pregnancy. I know it sounds strange, but in some prisons, this is actually an issue. Meeting the healthcare needs of women has a positive impact on the pregnancy and allowing women access to OB/GYNs as their primary caregiver is vital. Birth by caesarean section, on average, can cost $7,000 to $10,000 more than a natural birth, and dealing with women appropriately during pregnancy reduces the number of caesarean sections. For women who are determined to have pregnancies that are considered at high risk by their doctor, it might be appropriate to say incarceration in a prison is not the best way and maybe women could be housed closer to home in halfway houses. After a baby is born, birth mothers will be provided with postpartum care and also will receive information regarding family preservation and their parental rights. So this is a comprehensive bill, and I advise all of my colleagues to support the bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. To date, the United States incarcerates more women than any other country in the world. However, Federal, State, and local facilities have not fully met the needs of pregnant women in their care. I would like to share a few stories with you. Last Congress, Pamela Winn, while she sat in the Chamber during the passage of the FIRST STEP Act, was a registered nurse who specialized in obstetrics. She knew her pregnancy was in distress after she fell while her wrists and ankles were shackled in her 20th week of pregnancy. For weeks after the fall, Ms. Winn asked for medical help, which she did not receive. She began bleeding in her cell and was brought to the hospital in shackles. While still in the hospital, Ms. Winn asked the guard what happened to her baby, and he told her that her baby was thrown in the trash. That is how Ms. Winn discovered she miscarried. No one should experience what she had to endure. Andrea Circle Bear is the first woman to die in custody as a result of COVID-19. Ms. Circle Bear entered custody while pregnant and contracted COVID-19 while in BOP's care. She later gave birth on a ventilator by caesarean and died without meeting her child. Ms. Circle Bear, the mother of five children, was a high-risk pregnancy and could have easily been released. She was in on a drug charge. Instead, she now leaves behind six children. Recently, I spoke with Nicole Bennett, who lives in Los Angeles. Nicole is the mother of four and shared her experience being pregnant with her second child while in custody. Ms. Bennett did not receive proper prenatal care or nutrition. She was shackled during labor and immediately after. Ms. Bennett, like most women in custody, was not a violent offender. Yet, she was not allowed to hold her infant daughter when she was born. It would be 6 months before Ms. Bennett saw her daughter again. Today, her daughter is 8 years old, and Ms. Bennett still carries a lot of guilt and pain for being shackled, not having access to proper prenatal care, and having her child in custody without friends or family. Ms. Bennett firmly believes this impacted her ability to bond with her child. Tammy Jackson is a woman struggling with mental illness. She was brought into custody while in her final trimester. Ms. Jackson informed the officers that she was in labor, and it took 6 hours for her to receive medical help. Ms. Jackson gave birth to her child in her cell, alone. Diana Sanchez could not pay for her bond for a traffic violation while in her final trimester of pregnancy. Ms. Sanchez requested medical help after she began experiencing severe cramps. She informed the on-duty nurse, as well as the officers on duty, yet Ms. Sanchez was left alone in her cell for 5 hours and gave birth alone in her cell. The entire nightmare was caught on video. You can see Ms. Sanchez screaming. She should not have been left alone in her cell in her third trimester, and she should have received medical care from an obstetrician. This is a comprehensive and strong bipartisan bill, and I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 7718. Support pregnant women in custody. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, one day I hope that these mothers mentioned here earlier are the last to have experienced not receiving appropriate care while in custody and pregnant. As we begin to institute criminal justice reform to stem the increase of people entering the system, we must improve the resources provided to those who are currently in custody. Support H.R. 7718. Support pregnant women in custody. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BASS

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8225) to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit certain types of fraud in the provision of immigration services, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 8225, the Fight Notario Fraud Act of 2020, would address notario fraud, the practice of the provision of unauthorized immigration legal services, which has not been effectively curbed by existing Federal, State, and local efforts. The practice continues to cause irreparable harm to immigrant communities. Notario fraud proliferates all over the United States because there is an overwhelming need for representation in immigration proceedings. In any given year, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services receives approximately 6 million applications from individuals and businesses seeking an immigration benefit, humanitarian relief, or naturalization. Immigration proceedings are notoriously and unusually complex, as one editorial described them, dizzyingly Byzantine. The high demand for assistance with this complex set of laws attracts charlatans who prey on unsuspecting victims. Unfortunately, efforts to curb notario fraud for the past several decades have fallen short. Education campaigns by local governments, bar associations, and grassroots organizations have raised public awareness and have stemmed notario fraud somewhat. While 34 States and the District of Columbia have some type of statute outlawing the unauthorized practice of immigration law, only a handful have more comprehensive laws, like California, Illinois, New York, and Washington. Most jurisdictions address the issue by limiting the activities of licensed notaries public. But this is rarely effective, and even where laws have been enacted at the State level, these efforts have done little to meaningfully rein in notario fraud. Leadership from the Department of Justice is needed. The Federal Government plays a singular role in immigration proceedings, so it must also undertake efforts to protect the integrity of the immigration process and to protect vulnerable victims from fraud and illegal deceit. We must strengthen the ability of Federal prosecutors to hold notarios accountable for their malfeasance. Congress must act carefully when creating new crimes. There must be strong need and justification for them, but this is one instance where State and local efforts have fallen short, and Federal enforcement has been almost nonexistent. This bill's comprehensive approach would not only criminalize notario fraud at the Federal level and in 16 States that have yet to enact such legislation, but it would also establish an enforcement apparatus within the Department of Justice to combat fraudulent notario schemes nationwide. Importantly, this bill requires the Department of Justice to post information on the internet aimed at protecting consumers from fraud, including maintaining a public list of individuals who have been convicted of unlawful conduct under this bill or have been found by the State or Federal agency to have unlawfully provided immigration services. The Fight Notario Fraud Act will help prevent fraud and protect vulnerable victims. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the harms brought by notario schemes can be devastating. This bill's combination of enforcement and public education is critically needed to protect some of the most unsuspecting and vulnerable victims of fraud. The Department of Justice must refocus its efforts to target notario fraud, and we are enabling them to do so with this bill. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Mucarsel-Powell for championing this issue, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Garcia).

Ms. BASS

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6813) to amend the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act to improve the prevention of elder abuse and exploitation of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6813, the Promoting Alzheimer's Awareness to Prevent Elder Abuse Act. This bill requires the Justice Department's training materials to address treating, protecting, and caring for people living with Alzheimer's and related dementias. More than 5 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer's or dementia. One study estimates that over 50 percent of these individuals may experience some type of elder abuse. Neglect is the most often reported type of abuse, followed by financial exploitation. Building upon the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act of 2017, H.R. 6813 addresses the need for better training of law enforcement officers, first responders, social workers, prosecutors, and judges. This legislation would strengthen the best practices and training materials available to medical professionals and financial services personnel who interact with this special population. Significantly, the bill would also establish a new requirement to address situations in which individuals living with Alzheimer's or dementia may be involved in a criminal case as a victim or a witness. In addition, the bill requires greater collaboration and consultation between government agencies at the Federal, State, and local levels, as well as with nationally recognized nonprofit associations with relevant expertise. According to one recent report, deaths attributed to Alzheimer's disease and dementia rose to more than 20 percent above normal this summer. In June alone, there were more than 61,000 dementia-related deaths, 10,000 more than the same period last year. Increased isolation, stress, and staff shortages at nursing homes are all likely contributing factors to the higher-than-normal death toll. Our seniors living in long-term care facilities are particularly vulnerable and isolated given current physical distancing measures that limit contact with family members and other visits. Most of these residents have some form of cognitive impairment and are at an even greater risk of mistreatment or exploitation. This legislation would expand the quality and scope of dementia-specific training materials, leading to improved practices and processes to combat elder abuse and exploitation. As this public health crisis continues, our senior citizens face even greater risk. This legislation addresses an important and timely need for this uniquely vulnerable population. I thank Representative Deutch for introducing this legislation that has strong bipartisan support and for his leadership in expanding protections for our vulnerable citizens living with Alzheimer's and dementia. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this important bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this issue touches millions of families across America who have a loved one living with Alzheimer's or dementia. For this vulnerable population, there is far too great a risk of elder abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation, and the current pandemic has taken a tremendous toll. Across the country, residents of long-term care facilities are facing increased risk around COVID-19, as well as greater mortality rates. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting passage of H.R. 6813 today, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutch).

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 15 seconds to the gentlewoman from Texas.

Ms. BASS

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 46) to correct the enrollment of S. 2330, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Ms. BASS

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2330) to amend the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act to provide for congressional oversight of the board of directors of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee and to protect amateur athletes from emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, and for other purposes.

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2330, the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic, and Amateur Athletes Act of 2020, a bipartisan bill that restores integrity to the Olympic movement and provides much- needed protections to our country's amateur athletes in the wake of the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal. S. 2330 was introduced after bipartisan investigations, launched in both the House and the Senate, revealed systemic failures within the Olympic community that contributed to widespread instances of sexual abuse of athletes, including minors. These include a lack of effective oversight of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and amateur sports national governing bodies, the failure of these organizations to uphold their duty to protect athletes from abuse by failing to report allegations of wrongdoings to appropriate law enforcement authorities, and concealing these failures and neglecting to enact serious reforms. S. 2330 addresses these issues through a series of governance and oversight reforms, including increasing the liability of the USOPC and NGB for failing to take appropriate action in response to allegations of abuse, providing congressional authority to dissolve the USOPC board and decertified NGBs, increasing the level of amateur athletes' representations on the USOPC board and NGB governing structures, and requiring the USOPC to establish clear procedures and reporting requirements to protect athletes. Importantly, the bill also strengthens the work and independence of the Center for SafeSport, the nonprofit organization that is responsible for investigating allegations of sexual abuse against athletes. The bill requires USOPC to provide the Center for SafeSport $20 million in funding each year to cover its operating costs. The bill also prevents potential conflicts of interest by prohibiting individuals who are employed by the USOPC or an NGB from serving the Center for SafeSport and limiting the ability of former employers and board members from serving. S. 2330 is supported by the USOPC, the Center for SafeSport, and a coalition of hundreds of Olympic and Paralympic athletes, coaches, sports leaders, and sexual abuse survivors. The bill passed by the Senate by unanimous consent on August 4, 2020, and its companion bill, H.R. 7881, has bipartisan support here in the House as well. I commend the work of Senators Blumenthal and Moran, as well as Representatives Ted Lieu, John Curtis, Diana DeGette, Susan Brooks, Ann Kuster, and Michael Burgess for their tireless work on this bill. I urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I again acknowledge the leadership and commitment of so many of my colleagues who worked in a bipartisan fashion on this important bill. Mr. Speaker, I support S. 2330, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BASS

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, the Nation lost an icon; the House lost its most respected Member; and the Congressional Black Caucus lost the most senior member of our family. The Congressional Black Caucus is known as the conscience of the Congress, but John Lewis was known as the conscience of our Congress. One of the greatest honors of serving in Congress was that I had the possibility of serving with him. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the State of South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn), the majority whip.

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, Congressman John Lewis spent his life fighting racism and injustice wherever he confronted it, from Boy Scout sit-ins and other protests in the streets to championing bold, progressive policies in Congress, including the Voting Rights Act.

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Danny K. Davis).

Ms. BASS. Now that he is no longer with us, we have to live up to his legacy and protect the right to vote for all Americans. As we continue to face challenges due to the coronavirus and issues of systemic racism, we must protect our democracy and elections, even in the midst of adversity. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks).