Diane Black

Mrs. BLACK

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Scalise), our majority whip.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa), a member of the Committee on Agriculture and Committee on Natural Resources.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. You know, although my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have made this a conversation about climate change--which I agree that we can have and we should have in another venue, and that is in the committee structure--this is about a President who decided on his own, without coming to Congress to discuss this tax, this $10 tax on a barrel of gasoline, because he was unable to get this carbon tax, when, by the way, the House and the Senate were both in his own party, he couldn't even get this passed. So this is a discussion for another day about climate change, which we can all have, and have in a very gentle way. However, let me sum up what this would do if this were to pass, the impact that this carbon tax would have on the American people: It would drive up the cost of energy, which would most affect those at the lower income. It would destroy well-paying jobs in the energy industry, well-paying jobs. Right now, when we look at what our loss of jobs are here in this country, we have the lowest rate of jobs in 6 years. Number three, it would directly hit working families the most, those at the very lowest income, and especially those who are elderly. None of these help to grow our economy and get our economy moving or people back to work or raise their incomes. Therefore, I urge a ``yes'' vote on H. Con. Res. 89. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mrs. BLACK

Mrs. BLACK. Madam Chair, on rollcall No. 289 on agreeing to the Ellison Amendment for H.R. 5325, I am not recorded because I was unavoidable detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.'' Amendment No. 6 Offered by Mrs. Blackburn

Mrs. BLACK

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Chairman, sanctuary cities flaunt our laws and put our citizens at risk. We need only to look at the tragic 2015 murder of Kate Steinle in San Francisco to see the grave danger of allowing cities to ignore the Federal immigration policy. We cannot allow this to stand. That is why I am introducing this amendment to the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that would ban funding to any State or city that refuses to comply with our immigration laws. Mr. Chair, I recognize that some of my colleagues may say that an amendment like this is better suited on the Homeland Security or the Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill; and, indeed, I joined my colleague, Congressman Gosar, on a letter to the subcommittees asking that similar language be attached to their bills as well. But the truth is, Mr. Chairman, amnesty for lawbreakers impacts every aspect of our society: our jobs, our security, and, in the case of Ms. Steinle, a young innocent woman's life. I believe the crisis of sanctuary cities demands a multipronged response, and this amendment can be a piece of that effort. If cities choose to put their citizens at risk in defiance of Federal law--yes, in defiance of Federal law--there is no reason to continue spending Federal money on their energy and water projects. It is really that simple. I urge my colleagues to take a vote for your constituents and support this commonsense amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Chair, it really is ironic that this amendment is even necessary. It would not be necessary if the executive branch and the Department of Justice and Homeland Security were all doing their job and applying the law to each one of these sanctuary cities. I do want to point to the fact that, back in February of this year, Attorney General Loretta Lynch testified before the House Appropriations Committee. It was in that committee that she talked about cracking down on what is happening in these sanctuary cities. I want to read what was in The Washington Times that came as a result of that testimony: ``The Obama administration is preparing to crack down on sanctuary cities, Attorney General Loretta Lynch told Congress on Wednesday, saying she would try to stop Federal grant money from going to jurisdictions that actively thwart agents seeking to deport illegal immigrants.'' It goes on to say that there was a follow-up in a letter to Mr. Culberson that week that the Justice Department said that if it determined that a city or a county receiving Federal grants is refusing to cooperate with ICE agents, they could lose money and face criminal prosecution. So, hopefully, we will see the administration crack down on what really is unlawful, and that is for these sanctuary cities to be in operation at all. They should not be receiving any Federal funds in each one of these appropriation bills, and that is exactly what this amendment does. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. BLACK

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in honor of National Police Week and the courageous law enforcement personnel who serve Tennessee day in and day out. Police Week occurs every year, but this year demands special attention because recently we have seen some corners of society offer a negative portrayal of our police. We have heard instances of strained relationships between communities and the police officers that patrol them, and we have seen activists and agitators who cast our police as villains when they should be lifted up every day as heroes. So, Mr. Speaker, let us in Congress speak clearly on this issue today: We honor and respect the brave men and women of our police force. We pray for their safety and the safety of their families, and we reject the angry voices who seek to tarnish the most noble of professions. Mr. Speaker, on National Police Week and throughout the year, let us remember--police lives matter.

Mrs. BLACK

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the action the House is taking this week to combat the crisis of opioid abuse. As a registered nurse, I have seen the grim reality of the addiction from all sides. I have witnessed its grip on families--the way it slowly steals the life behind its victims' eyes and how what was thought to be a quick fix can easily spiral into a deadly experience. We all know that addiction is an equal opportunity destroyer of potential. It does not care about your race, gender, income, or political party. Therefore, the solutions that we offer in Congress must also reach across artificial boundaries to help all who are touched by this epidemic to get back on their feet. I am proud that, all told, the House will take up 18 bills this week that are aimed at combating opioid abuse. Among these solutions is a bill creating an interagency task force to ensure healthcare professionals have up-to-date guidelines and best practices for treating patients with acute and chronic pain. This is critically important as 17 percent of opioid users today get their highs from medications that are legally prescribed to them by a doctor. The House also passed legislation that makes it safer for veterans to seek pain management care. Specifically, the bill would require the VA employees who prescribe opioids to receive education and training on pain management while also calling for a government watchdog report on the VA opioid use and treatment. Importantly, for me as a nurse, Congress has additionally taken steps to protect newborns from the exposure to addictive opioid drugs while in the womb. This includes legislation to authorize residential treatment grant programs for pregnant and postpartum women who have substance abuse problems, as well as a bill calling for a government study on the prevalence of neonatal abstinence syndrome and offering recommendations to improve access to treatment. While these bills offer an important starting point, Congress cannot singlehandedly legislate away the threat of opioid abuse. It takes willing partners in our community to help raise awareness and intervene before addiction sets in. I was reminded of this recently when I visited and met with the Smith County Anti-Drug Coalition back in my district. This organization is going into schools to arm young people with the facts about drug abuse. They are providing drop boxes in the public spaces so citizens can safely dispose of unused medication, and they are working with law enforcement to ensure that their efforts are as effective as possible. We can never underestimate the importance of nonprofits and volunteer- supported organizations like this. Mr. Speaker, opioid addicts are not bad people trying to be good. They are sick people trying to get well. When we come together with an eye on the solution and an emphasis on personal responsibility, we can find victory over this preventable disease and help those who are hurting to reassemble their lives and regain their pursuit of the American Dream.

Mrs. BLACK

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, on roll call No. 150 for passage of the Yarmuth Amendment No. 2, rollcall No. 151 for passage of the McNerney Amendment No. 3, rollcall No. 152 for final passage of H.R. 2666 which took place Friday, April 15, 2016, I am not recorded because I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 150, the Yarmuth Amendment No. 2, on rollcall No. 151, the McNerney Amendment No. 3. I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall No. 152 for final passage of H.R. 2666.

Mrs. BLACK

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call Number 138 (H. Res. 658), which took place Wednesday March 23, 2016; I am not recorded because I was unavoidably detained at the United States Supreme Court. Had I been present, I would have voted AYE. I firmly stand with my colleagues in the House in condemning in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks in Brussels on March 22, 2016, which murdered more than 30 innocent people, and severely wounded many more. I would like to reflect my deepest sympathies and condolences to those killed and injured in the attacks and their friends and families. I also reflect my pledge to support the Belgium government in its efforts to bring to justice those responsible for the attacks. Finally, I declare my belief that the Islamic State poses a fundamental threat to the universal value of freedom in all countries, and that the flow of foreign fighters to and from the Middle East and West and North Africa remains a grave concern.

Mrs. BLACK

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 137 for passage of H.R. 2745 which took place on Wednesday, March 23, 2016, I am not recorded because I was unavoidably detained at the Supreme Court. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall No. 137 for passage of H.R. 2745. Stated against:

Mrs. BLACK

Mrs. BLACK. I have a feeling that the gentleman is going to be quite a good daddy--that he is and that he will be--as they grow through those difficult years, which all little girls do; so the gentleman will have those years. Just remember, on the other end, they will come out to be beautiful young women.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friend, Mr. Zeldin, for yielding to me. I have been sitting here listening to the gentleman's words, and I will say that I am honored to have the gentleman here talking about the women in his life, particularly his wife and his two daughters, and what the future may bring for them. Mr. Speaker, it is often said that every issue is a woman's issue, and it is true. I know Representative Zeldin just made that comment. When we talk about tax reform for our small businesses, this directly impacts 30 percent of small businessowners who are women. When we talk about repealing ObamaCare's harmful 30-hour rule that is depressing hours and wages, we do so with the knowledge that the majority of those harmed by this rule are women. When we talk about preserving and protecting the American Dream for future generations, we do so with the hope that young girls like my two granddaughters would be able to live a life that they choose for themselves, not that someone else chooses for them. For me, this topic is deeply personal. I spent the first years of my life living in public housing, the daughter of parents with no more than a ninth grade education. I know how matters of poverty acutely impact women because I lived it. I came from a background where people didn't always know how to dream, and as a result, I was prepared to settle for a life of unfilled potential. I had started to believe that, as a young woman growing up in the 1950s and 1960s who literally lived on the other side of the track, that maybe the American Dream wasn't for me. But, in time, Mr. Speaker, doors of opportunity were opened that helped me realize a plan for my life that was greater than I could ever imagine. I became the first person in my family to earn a college degree. I fulfilled my desire to become a registered nurse, and I became privileged to serve the State of Tennessee in the legislature and now in Congress. Mr. Speaker, I have traveled to far corners of the world, and I have seen the struggle that women endure for access to education, a paycheck, and for real independence. I am also keenly aware that only here in this country is this story of mine possible. Only here could someone like me go from living in the halls of a public housing complex to serving in the Halls of the United States Congress. That is why we call it the American Dream. On this Women's History Month, we must resolve to ensure that stories like mine aren't unique. The work we do here in Congress must reach today's young women with the truth that they have God-given gifts waiting to be used and that the American Dream is theirs to share in as well. I again thank Congressman Zeldin for bringing us together for this important conversation.

Mrs. BLACK. I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. Mr. Speaker, I have the honor of recognizing someone who mentored me when I was back in the State senate and had the honor of serving there with a Lieutenant Governor who was a very fine man and who is retiring. I thank the gentleman for yielding in order for me to recognize him and to let him know how much we have appreciated his service to the State of Tennessee. I thank him for his mentorship to me as a young senator back at the State level.

Mrs. BLACK. I thank the gentleman for that. I appreciate his saying that. Mr. Speaker, my family is number one in my life. I have two granddaughters, and I am hoping that everything that I teach them--that includes cooking and sewing and fishing--they will remember fondly as they grow into young women as well. I encourage them to be all that they can be, and I think, given their strong personalities that I see right now, we are going to see them as being leaders when they grow up as well.

Mrs. BLACK. I will tell the gentleman, no matter what phase they go through, they will always be your little girls. The thing that the gentleman needs to do, every day, every night, every moment, is just let them know how much he loves them, and they will grow up to be fine young women.

Mrs. BLACK. You send them to see Mama Black.

Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I recognize Tennessee's Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey, who is going to be retiring after his years of service. Today I rise to honor my friend, Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey, on his upcoming retirement from the Tennessee State Senate. It is not an exaggeration to say that Lieutenant Governor Ramsey changed Tennessee history. He was, after all, our first Republican Lieutenant Governor in over 140 years. His legacy will be one of preserving that which makes Tennessee special: our low tax burden, our commitment to fiscal responsibility, and our tradition of defending life. It was among one of the great honors of my professional career to serve as chairman of the State Republican Caucus under his leadership and to partner with him as we laid the groundwork for the conservative supermajority that we enjoy today in Tennessee. I will never forget being in the Senate Chamber the moment that Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey was elected. He came to the well of the Senate floor and, before doing anything else, paid honor to God, telling all of us in the room and everyone else watching that it is to Him we owe our very being. He then thanked his family, including his wife, Sindy, who has served Tennessee with distinction as our Second Lady for nearly a decade. In that moment, Lieutenant Governor Ramsey reminded all of us of his priorities. He loves our State. He loves public service. But as anyone who knows him can attest, his faith and his family are of the greatest importance. I will always be thankful to him for setting that example. Mr. Speaker, it should be noted that Lieutenant Governor Ramsey arose to his post in the State leadership shortly after a dark time in Tennessee history, which saw the very public failings of legislators on both sides of the aisle. He was an example of character and personal integrity at that moment when we needed it the most and, in time, he made us believe that government could do right by its people. Lieutenant Governor Ramsey often reminded us, ``It matters who governs.'' Indeed, it does. As we reflect on where Tennessee has come from and where we are headed, we can say with certainty that our State is stronger because of Ron Ramsey's leadership. I count it a privilege to call him my friend. I wish him, his wife Sindy, and his beautiful family all the best in this next chapter of their lives.

Mrs. BLACK

Mrs. BLACK. I thank you, Mr. Fortenberry, for bringing us together to talk about a most serious topic, one that goes to our heart and makes us so sad for what is happening to these remarkable people who stand up for their faith. Mr. Speaker, just today the Associated Press reported that President Obama would likely miss the March 17 deadline established by Congress for his administration to determine whether or not ISIS has committed genocide. This is unfathomable. How long does it take for this President to call a spade a spade and declare what Americans already know to be true? This isn't hard. ISIS is evil. They have engaged in systematic persecution and mass killing of Christians and other religious and ethnic minorities throughout the Middle East. The United States has a moral responsibility to lead in the fight against ISIS, but we can't defeat a threat that we refuse to acknowledge exists. I am proud to participate in tonight's Special Order and to support Congressman Fortenberry's resolution because we need to go on Record and declare the belief of crisis that ISIS has without a doubt committed genocide and must be dealt with accordingly. Mr. Speaker, we in the United States cannot turn a blind eye when our brothers and sisters around the world are murdered, tortured, and kidnapped for their faith. It is long past time to dispense with this hyper-political correctness and to call these heinous acts by their true name. These are crimes against humanity. Stopping the violence starts with acknowledging this truth. I thank Congressman Fortenberry for his leadership on this much- needed resolution.