Karen Bass

Ms. BASS

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I notice that there are a number of young people who are in the gallery, so I am hoping that they pay close attention to this debate since it is all about you guys.

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Mucarsel-Powell).

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3942 is an important measure to address a threat to the health of our children and young people. For the reasons discussed here today, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bipartisan legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bipartisan legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BASS

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, a man of great honor and a giant within the House of Representatives. Congressman Cummings was born in Baltimore on January 18, 1951. He was one of seven children of Robert and Ruth Cummings. Although his family struggled financially, they always found a way to help others in their community. Representative Cummings and his family, like thousands of other African Americans, had to face the brutal experience of the Jim Crow period. When Representative Cummings was a child, at 11, he was attacked while trying to swim in the neighborhood swimming pool. Racist adults threw rocks and bottles that resulted in injuries but left him with a determination to study law and to become the fighter for social justice that characterized his life. He would go on to receive his bachelor's degree in political science from Howard University, and, while at Howard, he served as student government president. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Howard University, he obtained his law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law. Congressman Cummings practiced law in Baltimore, and, at the age of 31, he was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates, where he served for 14 years and ascended to become the first African American speaker pro tempore. In 1996, Congressman Cummings won a special election to Congress. He immediately demonstrated his leadership talent and won the respect of his colleagues. In 2003, he was elected as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, where he served with distinction. In 2011, he was elected by the Democratic Caucus as the ranking member of the Committee on Oversight and Reform; and, in January of this year, he became the chair of the committee. At this difficult time in the history of our country, we were so fortunate to have had Representative Cummings in the leadership of such an important and contentious committee. He fought passionately for the rights of children separated from their families; he fought for everyone to have healthcare and medications that are affordable; and he fought for everyone to have access and the right to vote. Anyone who attended a committee hearing could feel his passion. Even if they disagreed with him, they knew his passion was based on his belief and a commitment to fight for justice. The respect he afforded his opponents demonstrated for everyone to see how to lead with integrity and humility. Chairman Cummings once said: ``I'm not trying to do anything extraordinary. I'm trying to do what the Constitution says I'm supposed to do.'' Representative Cummings' passing is a loss to the entire Nation, especially at this moment in history where he provided for us all an example of true leadership--leadership for the people, not leadership for self-advancement. He provided an example for us all to emulate. His memory will forever be in our hearts and his legacy is secured in history because, in spite of his word, he was, in fact, extraordinary.

Ms. BASS

Ms. BASS. Madam Speaker, as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, along with my fellow CBC colleagues, I am pleased to join Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Congressman Bobby Scott, and Congresswoman Alma Adams for this CBC Special Order hour. Tonight, my colleagues and I will take the time to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the first enslaved Africans arriving in the United States. The transatlantic slave trade was the largest coerced migration of human beings in the history of the world. An estimated 10 to 12 million enslaved Africans were transported across the Atlantic Ocean between the 16th and 19th centuries. The brutality, murder, rape, disease, and starvation were so high that some historians assess that around 15 to 25 percent of the enslaved Africans died aboard slave ships. Slavery in the United States officially lasted from 1619 to 1865, or 246 years. Enslaved Africans worked 10 or more hours a day, in dangerous conditions, and also worked 18-hour days in peak cotton- picking and sugar harvest season. The average lifespan of enslaved Africans who labored on sugar and rice plantations was only 7 years. Violence on the plantations was always a danger and threat to the lives of enslaved human beings. Wealth from the enslaved Africans and their labor established global capitalism and set the economic foundation for Europe, the Caribbean, and the Americas. According to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, by 1860, 4 million enslaved people produced well over 60 percent of the Nation's wealth, and the slave trade valued them at $2.7 billion. The financial legacy of the slave trade contributed to the creation of nation-states such as France, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Great Britain, South America, the Caribbean, as well as the United States. One of the contemporary myths that too many Americans believe is that only the South gained from slavery. However, both the southern and northern economies of the United States profited from slavery. For example, in Manhattan, enslaved Black men accounted for one third of the labor force by 1740. During Reconstruction, former enslaved Africans made some progress: The first Black Members of Congress were elected to the House and the Senate. Nevertheless, Black Members of Congress were still not allowed to eat in the same cafeteria as their White colleagues and were segregated, overall, in the institution. And this went on for many years. There was a period in which there were no African Americans in Congress at all because they were run out. Black Codes adopted under Reconstruction in the South and some areas of the North restricted freed Blacks from equal political rights, access to quality education, and jobs. For example, the State of Mississippi enacted a Black Code law to arrest free African Americans who were unemployed and lacked permanent housing. They could be arrested and bound out for a term of labor if unable to pay the fine, which means they were just reenslaved, and they used the criminal justice system to reenslave people. When Reconstruction ended in 1877, the majority of African Americans lived in the Southern States; however, the southerners used their power in State and local governments to pass new laws, Jim Crow laws. Some people refer to this as U.S. apartheid. As a matter of fact, when White South Africans were setting up the apartheid system in the early part of the 20th century, they traveled to the southern part of the United States to learn what we did so they could replicate it. The civil rights movement was born out of the need to resist second- class citizenship and to demand that America deliver on the promises in the U.S. Constitution. The 1964 Civil Rights Act granted the Federal Government a new role in desegregating schools and other public facilities. The progress that was made and the legislation that was eventually passed in the U.S. Congress was made because of a massive grassroots movement that we have come to know as the civil rights movement. Many laws were passed that allowed for equality or access to education. But, as soon as those laws were passed, unfortunately, they were challenged in the Supreme Court. So, as we remember and honor the 400th anniversary of all the enslaved Africans' arrival in America, we must never forget the tragedies, successes, and contributions that all of them made, and that African Americans are a part of the very fabric of America and have made significant contributions in every major field. Oftentimes, we tell the glorious history of the United States, but, at some point in time, we will embrace all of the history of the United States and not just focus on the parts that make us all feel good.

Ms. BASS

Ms. BASS. Madam Speaker, I mourn with the family, friends and congregation of Rev. Edward V. Hill II, who passed away suddenly on August 12 at the age of 52. He pastored at both Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church and Spirit of Zion Church in Los Angeles, California, and thousands are expected to honor him at homegoing services to be held at West Angeles Church of God in Christ. Rev. Hill was the son of famed preacher and evangelist E.V. Hill, who Time Magazine once honored as one of the seven most outstanding preachers in the United States, and who Ebony Magazine listed as one of the 15 greatest Black preachers. Proud of his heritage, Rev. Hill had built his own considerable reputation and spoke frequently at churches across the country. His colleagues in ministry have noted how he took his father's mantle and wore it with grace. Bishop Charles Blake noted that ``My world is diminished since he is no longer in it.'' From a very young age, Rev. Hill showed a strong interest in Bible study and prayer, and a commitment to church service and revivals. He grew up in Los Angeles and attended the University of Southern California, earning a degree in Communications with a minor in Spanish. Following his father's counsel he enrolled in Pepperdine School of Law, but soon realized his true passion for the ministry which would become his life-long pursuit. That passion led him to devote his energy to learning every aspect of the Mt. Zion Ministry, then to the senior pastorship of Calvary Temple Pentecostal Holiness Church and finally, on his father's passing, to take the reins at Mt. Zion himself in 2005. He sought new ways to engage people, and was known for his active music ministries and revivals. He brought creativity and dynamic preaching to his work to help change people's lives for the better. I offer my sincere condolences to his family, friends and congregants. He will be remembered for his compassion, his creativity, his powerful oratory, and his life-long dedication to preaching the gospel.

Ms. BASS

Ms. BASS. Madam Speaker, last month California lost an esteemed political colleague and tireless advocate, Mr. Darren Parker. He championed racial equality and civil rights, especially for African Americans, and his career was one of public service and selfless contributions. From a very young age, Darren showed a strong interest in political engagement. At just 11 years old, he teamed up with a few family members to found One Hundred Thousand Students for the Freedom of South Africa, gathering peers in his grandmother's Compton home to support the anti-apartheid struggles half a world away. His passion for politics continued through his college years, then as a union rep with the Communication Workers of America during his 20- year career with Pacific Bell. Early on, he became involved with the Democratic Party, in Los Angeles City, Antelope Valley, L.A. County, and the state of California. After years of involvement, in 2007 he was elected Chair of the California Democratic Party's African American Caucus, aiming to lift up the voices of African Americans and encourage civic engagement. He was particularly proud of significantly increasing voter registration in the Antelope Valley. His passion for service continued with his positions on many nonprofit boards and appointed offices over the course of his life, including his appointment to the LA County Commission for Children and Families. Wanting to contribute directly to governing the state, he ran for a seat in the California Senate in 2011 and in the Assembly in 2016. In between, he served in state government as special assistant to California Assembly Speakers John Perez, Toni Atkins, and Anthony Rendon. As a former Speaker myself, I know how demanding and important that job is, and I know that he contributed to successes in each Speaker's administration. Remarkably, during that time he also served as Executive Director of AFSCME Local 2620 for two years. I had the privilege of working with Mr. Parker many times over the years. I offer my sincere condolences to his family and friends. He will be remembered for his influential activism, indomitable spirit, and life-long dedication to public service.

Ms. BASS

Ms. BASS. Madam Speaker, I attempted to vote in favor of H.R. 3239. Unfortunately, due to a mechanical error during yesterday's vote on this bill, my vote was not recorded. As a legislator, a medical professional, and an advocate of humane treatment for all people, I am proud to support this bill because it will raise the minimum standards for medical treatment of migrants and asylum seekers seeking refuge at our southwestern border. I went to the border to view the circumstances on the ground and what I saw were inhumane conditions. Men, women, and children should never be placed in cages. In 2018 alone, there were nine migrant deaths that occurred after an encounter with Customs and Border Protection--including seven-year-old Jakelin, who died of dehydration and shock; and eight-year-old Felipe, who died from influenza while in the custody of Customs and Border Protection. In the first half of 2019, there have been ten deaths, including a two-year-old who died from pneumonia and a 16-year-old who died from influenza. All these deaths could have been prevented. The tragic deaths of these children do not go unrecognized and are an unfortunate and disgraceful symptom of the inhumane treatment occurring at our southwest border. H.R. 3239, the Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in Customs and Border Protection Custody Act, introduced by Congressman Raul Ruiz, raises the bar on humanitarian standards at our southern border. Migrant children require protection from harm, but we already know this from our own personal experiences. Our children and grandchildren need pediatric health assessments and appropriate medical attention. So do migrant children. Your child's pediatrician needs the equipment and medications for assessment, triage and treatment. So do the health care providers for migrant children. Migrant children escaping dire situations deserve the same care for their hygiene and health. You wouldn't allow your children or grandchildren's safety, nutrition, health and hygiene needs to go unmet because you know that they can lead to illness and death--like the deaths of the children who died after being detained at the border. We must do better. We must dig the bar out of the ground for the humane and dignified treatment of migrants and raise it up to, at minimum, international levels, so that no more deaths occur on our watch. I commend and support my colleague, Congressman Ruiz, for introduction and passage of this bill in the House of Representatives.

Ms. BASS

Ms. BASS. Madam Speaker, the world is watching, and the world is in shock. Today I rise to speak in support of this resolution condemning the hateful rhetoric of Donald Trump. His comments were beneath the dignity of the Office of President of the United States, and they have no place in our country. My four colleagues he attacked have every right to be in the United States. They are just as American as any one of us, and it is shameful that the leader of our country would seek to disparage them for political gain. But the sad truth is that if we were to pass a resolution every time Donald Trump were to say something offensive, little else would happen in Congress. For that reason this moment has to be about much more than condemning Donald Trump. This moment has to be about moving our country back toward its best values and ensuring that every American, regardless of origin, race, or sex, has an opportunity to succeed. The American people want to see us fighting for jobs, healthcare, free elections, and policies that recognize the humanity of all who seek refuge in our Nation. As chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, I remember when the President said to Black America: What do you have to lose? When the leader of this Nation attacks two of our Members--two of the four women are members of the Congressional Black Caucus--what we have lost is a President who has dignity.

Ms. BASS. Someone who has the capacity to bring our country together is what we have lost. But even for this President, this is a new low: using rhetoric against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's race is superior. Since the President will not lead, we must.

Ms. BASS

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to strongly support H. Res. 432, condemning the attacks on the Sudanese people peacefully protesting their right to have a civilian-led democratic government in Sudan. The legislation emphasizes a positive and productive relationship between the United States and Sudan and demands significant political reforms and more accountability. The situation in Sudan escalated in December 2018 and has been unstable ever since. The Transitional Military Council used Sudanese security forces to shoot peaceful protesters, leaving bodies in the Nile River. They shut down the internet for a month to try and disparage citizens from a united front and blocked journalists from doing their jobs, a clear violation of the freedom of the press. The people of Sudan have the right to assemble and demand that the Sudanese security forces negotiate without being killed or wounded. The international community and its partners must continue to demand that the security forces stop assaulting their own citizens and adhere to the July 5 agreement. The recent attempted coup was a ploy to try and deter the agreement, and the Transitional Military Council nor the civilian-led faction must deviate from this process. This agreement is too important, and the future of Sudan is at stake. The agreement would potentially end months of atrocities and gross human rights abuses that have destabilized the country. The negotiated deal would have five Military Council members, five civilian members, and one civilian member chosen by both parties. The military member would lead the council for the first 21 months and then transition into a civilian-led council thereafter. This is a step in the right direction because both the Transitional Military Council and civilian- led groups negotiated the settlement. I am also calling on the Sudanese Traditional Military Council to immediately open up the internet because it was a clear violation of the freedom of the press. Journalists must also be able to do their jobs and report and write on stories without being intimidated or physically harmed. I support this resolution because it encourages the rights and freedoms of all Sudanese people and their right to peacefully protest and assemble and their right to a civilian-led government.

Ms. BASS

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 998) to amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to expand support for police officer family services, stress reduction, and suicide prevention, 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 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 S. 998, the Supporting and Treating Officers in Crisis Act of 2019, also known as the STOIC Act. This bill would provide important mental health and suicide prevention services to law enforcement officers and their families. Specifically, it would modify an existing, but expired, authorization providing support to law enforcement officers' families to add mental health and suicide prevention programs directed at officers themselves. Additionally, S. 998 would also reauthorize the family support provisions and would appropriate up to $7.5 million for each fiscal year from 2020 to 2024 to carry out both the family and law enforcement officer mental health programs. The law enforcement officers this grant program would assist all too often face dangerous and horrific challenges, which takes a hard toll on them and, often, their families. Too frequently, local resources are not readily available or accessible for these purposes. S. 998 would bridge this critical gap. Seeking help is often the hardest step to take to address one's mental health issues. It can be especially difficult for law enforcement officers because of the stigma against it within the law enforcement community and, too often still, in society as a whole. The aim of this legislation is to help overcome this reluctance by destigmatizing mental health treatment in the law enforcement community. Provisions in this legislation encourage recipients of grant funding to set up suicide prevention hotlines. These lifelines are a critical step for getting those officers who need it the assistance they require and thereby help address the nationwide tragedy of officer suicide. The impact of on-the-job stress is not limited to law enforcement officers, however. The underlying expired grant program, which this bill reauthorizes, permits recipients of grant programs for marital and adolescent support groups. This ``whole family'' approach to mental health services is essential for retaining officers. It is often said that departments recruit officers and retain families. Family support programs, such as those authorized in S. 998, provide critical support that keeps officers on patrol. Lastly, included in the reauthorization is the ability for recipients of this grant to provide child care on a 24-hour basis. This provision furnishes much-needed support to single parent officers, many of whom are women. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that there are over 100,000 female law enforcement officers nationwide. Child care programs, as authorized in this measure, help promote family-friendly workplaces and facilitate the employment of more female officers. S. 998 is identical to H.R. 2368, a bipartisan measure sponsored by our House Judiciary Committee colleague, the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Representative Guy Reschenthaler, with the support of the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania, Representative Madeleine Dean. I should also note that the Judiciary Committee passed the House bill by voice vote last month. Accordingly, I support this bill, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the tragically high number of law enforcement professionals who take their own lives each year is a serious problem that must be addressed. According to Blue H.E.L.P., an advocacy organization that works to reduce mental health stigma in the law enforcement community, 167 law enforcement officers committed suicide in 2018. By comparison, in the same year, 144 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty. S. 998 will help provide critical mental health and suicide prevention assistance to law enforcement officers in need. I therefore urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BASS

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 744) to amend section 175b of title 18, United States Code, to correct a scrivener's error.

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

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 744, the Effective Prosecution of Possession of Biological Toxins and Agents Act of 2019, a bill that would correct an error that has unintentionally resulted in an incomplete list of biological toxins and agents prohibited under current law. This legislation will help ensure the safety of our citizens and the security of our Nation. S. 744, which the Senate passed by unanimous consent earlier this year, is identical to H.R. 1986, which the House Committee on the Judiciary recently approved by voice vote last month. In 1990, Congress imposed criminal penalties with respect to the development, production, stockpiling, transfer, acquisition, retention, or possession of any biological agents, toxins, or delivery systems intended for use as a weapon. Thereafter, Congress in 2001, added section 175b to title 18 of the U.S. Code, criminalizing the possession by unregistered individuals or restricted persons of certain biological agents, termed ``select agents,'' as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. A person found guilty under section 175b can be imprisoned for up to 10 years. As originally enacted and thereafter in subsequent amendments thereto, section 175b referred to specific sections of the Code of Federal Regulations that listed various biological agents and toxins. That provision was last amended in 2004, but subsequently, the Department of Health and Human Services reformatted some sections of the Code of Federal Regulations and inadvertently rendered the references in section 175b incomplete. For example, one of the select agents inadvertently eliminated from the list of prohibited substances is ricin, a poison found in castor beans. Ricin is inexpensive, easy to make, and highly toxic. This result, the consequence of a drafting error, is clearly not what Congress intended. Unfortunately, there have already been real-life consequences for this error. Last September, for instance, the District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, dismissed the indictment of William Christopher Gibbs, a self-avowed white supremacist who was charged with the unregistered possession of ricin. In dismissing the Gibbs indictment, the court stated it: Appreciates the potential dangers associated with individuals possessing potentially hazardous agents and toxins without permission to do so. Equally, though, the Court takes very seriously the principle that citizens ought to have fair and clear warning of the conduct for which they can be held criminal responsible. It falls to Congress to write criminal laws, or to amend them if they yield unfair or unwanted results. The role of the courts, on the other hand, is limited to fairly reading and applying the laws Congress writes; not to change them. As we consider S. 744 today, it is important to recognize and commend the sponsor of the House companion bill, the gentleman from Texas and our Judiciary Committee colleague, Representative John Ratcliffe; and Judiciary Ranking Member Doug Collins; as well as the gentlewoman from New York, Representative Kathleen Rice; and the gentleman from Texas, Representative Will Hurd, for their bipartisan efforts to address this critical problem. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, without question, Congress should do everything within its power to ensure the safety of all Americans. Clearly, the possession and distribution of ricin is dangerous and should be included among the various biological toxins prohibited under current law, as Congress had intended. S. 744 corrects this technical error and addresses the serious consequences presented by this oversight. For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting S. 744, and 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. 677) to amend gendered terms in Federal law relating to the President and the President's spouse.

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

Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, there will be a time in this country when the President of the United States will have a husband and not a wife. In preparation for that day, I urge the House to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 677, the 21st Century President Act, which removes gender terms from current law criminalizing threats against former Presidents and their families. Currently, we have a law that makes it unlawful to threaten to kill, kidnap, or inflict bodily harm upon a former President, President- elect, Vice President-elect, or a major candidate for President, or Vice President, or their immediate family member. The statute, however, defines immediate family with terms such as: ``wife,'' ``her,'' and ``widow,'' which makes presumptions that will not stand the test of the future of this country. At present, one member of the LGBTQ community and six women have declared themselves to be candidates for the Presidency. Whether or not any of these candidates is nominated or elected, it is clear that the terminology in our law is outdated and should be changed to refer to the spouse of a former President. The words we use shape the world in which we live. We should act accordingly. I support H.R. 677, and I reserve the balance of my time.