Joyce Beatty

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, let me just end by saying that the urgency is now. In the words of Nelson Mandela, ``It always seems impossible until it's done.'' Tonight the Congressional Black Caucus says: Let's get it done. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of financial literacy month, which is observed in April of every year to emphasize the critical role consumer education plays in helping our constituents realize the American Dream. Each year, too many Americans face difficulties purchasing automobiles, buying homes, paying for college, and even finding gainful employment due to poor credit history. In fact, according to a 2014 American Bankers Association poll, 60 percent of Americans do not even know their own credit score. As a member of the bipartisan Financial and Economic Literacy Caucus, I am proud to work tirelessly with my colleagues to improve consumer financial education. That is why I introduced the Free Credit Score Act of 2016, H.R. 5058 to require the inclusion of a credit score in a consumer's free annual credit report. During this Financial Literacy Month, I ask my colleagues to join me in the effort to improve consumer education by co-sponsoring this piece of legislation.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, recent studies show that 21.3 million households pay more than 30 percent of their incomes towards rental housing, up from 14.8 million in 2001. In turn, the demand for low-cost rental housing has increased as the supply of affordable rental units has decreased. Nationwide, there is a shortage of affordable housing options available to low- and middle-income Americans. That is why I am introducing the Jumpstart Housing Opportunities Utilizing Small Enterprises Act of 2016 or Jumpstart HOUSE Act. In 2010, President Obama signed the Small Business Jobs Act, P.L. 111-240, which created the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). Funded with $1.5 billion, the SSBCI disperses funds to participating states who in turn use credit support programs and state- sponsored venture capital programs to award funding to small businesses. Without reauthorization, the SSBCI is set to expire at the end of FY17. The Jumpstart HOUSE Act would reauthorize the SSBCI program for an additional 8 years with $1.5 billion in new funding. Additionally, it will improve the program by requiring state business development agencies to set aside the lesser of $2.5 million or 10 percent of unobligated funds, for small businesses to purchase, rehabilitate, or operate affordable housing units. Since its inception, the SSBCI program has created or retained over 140,000 jobs, as well as, supported over 12,400 private sector loans to small businesses, 42 percent of which were made to low- and moderate- income communities. As we continually look for ways to advance economic growth, it is critically important to renew the SSBCI program to increase availability of credit for small businesses, generate jobs, and stimulate economic development. It also is critically important to improve the program by amending it to direct funds to job-creating small businesses that focus on increasing the stock of affordable housing units. The Jumpstart HOUSE Act would accomplish both of these goals. The SSBCI program has demonstrated proven success in leveraging federal dollars to generate private access to capital for small businesses. Let's build off of SSBCI's success and extend it to increasing the supply of affordable housing nationwide. I urge my colleagues to become a co-sponsor of the Jumpstart Housing Opportunities Utilizing Small Enterprises Act of 2016.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. I thank the gentleman. I always look forward to engaging in our Congressional Black Caucus' Special Order hour and, tonight, for our dialogue, for our debate, on the House Republicans' repeated failure to pass a budget. First, let me say, as your classmate and colleague, being able to be the voice for your constituents and my constituents and America at large, it is an honor. I think it is so important, when we think about how important the work of this Congress is, for us to take on challenging the House Republicans' road to ruin. Madam Speaker, tonight, the Congressional Black Caucus is going to discuss the importance of why we should pass a budget. Not only that, I am sure Mr. Jeffries and I will have a dialogue about the value and the importance of having a budget. As Members of Congress and, especially, as members of the Congressional Black Caucus, we know specifically that a budget creates jobs and that it raises the paychecks of hardworking American people while reducing the deficit in a balanced and responsible way. Madam Speaker, let me just take a moment to point out that this is not the first time that the Congressional Black Caucus has held a Special Order hour on the subject of the Republicans' inaction. Earlier this year, the Congressional Black Caucus came to this House floor and implored the Republican leadership to do its job--the job America wants us to do--and that was to enact commonsense gun control legislation. To date, Madam Speaker, Republicans have continued to fail the American people by putting forth or by bringing forth commonsense gun control legislation. It is still hanging out there, waiting for action. Now, again, here in the House of Representatives, the people's House, we are faced with another instance of Republican failure. Under law, as spelled out in title III of the Congressional Budget Act, Congress is directed to complete actions on the concurrent resolution on the budget by April 15, as we heard Mr. Jeffries remind us. A concurrent resolution on the budget means it is supposed to pass both the Senate and the House, again, by April 15. At this date, neither Chamber has considered a budget resolution for 2017. Madam Speaker, I don't know about your constituents, but in my district, Ohio's Third Congressional District, my constituents expect Congress to work; so let's take a look at it. What happens when people refuse to do their jobs? If postal workers don't deliver, you don't get your mail. If farmers don't farm, people don't eat. If teachers don't show up, our children don't learn. People all over America take their jobs seriously, and they expect us, as their elected officials, to also do that. It is time for House Republicans to get America off the road to ruin and back on the path to prosperity. When Speaker Ryan took office--this is worth repeating, and Congressman Jeffries mentioned this earlier. When Speaker Ryan took office, House Republicans stated that passing a budget was a basic function of government. However, the statutory deadline of passing a budget resolution by April 15 has come and gone, although House Republicans made passing a budget a top priority for this year. In the Republicans' own words, they can't even accomplish the basic functions of government--their job. Madam Speaker, why do we care that we don't have a budget? Let me give you the answer. The importance of setting a budget is that it lays out the blueprint for the appropriations process. It outlines government spending for the year. Without a budget, we have 12 appropriations bills that are working their way through Congress without there being guiding principles on overall spending. If we cannot as a Congress perform the basic functions of governing, how are we going to tackle the much more complicated issues, such as income inequality, education quality, tuition affordability, tax reform, and so many others? Once again, House Republicans have demonstrated the degree to which the sharp division within their Conference is impeding Congress' ability to work for the American people. Instead of coming together with Democrats to pass a budget resolution that will create jobs and grow the paychecks of hardworking American families, they have just decided not to pass a budget. This decision was made despite the fact that President Obama submitted his budget request to Congress back in February. As you may remember, Madam Speaker, the Republican majority here in the House of Representatives and the Republican-controlled Senate took the unprecedented step of refusing to receive the OMB Director for a formal hearing so as to present the President's budget. Madam Speaker, how did that turn out for us? We all know how it turned out. The Republican Conference failed the American people, and it set us on a road to ruin by not passing a budget. Mr. Jeffries, I look forward to our continuing this dialogue tonight with other members of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Mrs. BEATTY. I think Mr. Jeffries and our other colleagues have said it so well, but here is what I am afraid of. I think the Republicans--the GOP--want to take us down to the radical trickle-down agenda that shattered our economy and hollowed out the wages of middle class, hardworking Americans. You said it all with that comparison from Clinton to Bush to now President Obama. And I could add to that long list: some 18 million people with health insurance; women having some of the best healthcare opportunities, getting mammograms for those who are under- and uninsured. We are able to have college students stay on their parent's insurance. So I think when we look at what is happening, there are billions of dollars that they want to do away with in programs. And we can add to that: the $185 billion from Federal college aid for low-income students or the $150 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Many of my constituents refer to that as their food stamps. And certainly, but for the Congressional Black Caucus, those members on the Agriculture Committee, those Members in leadership fighting for us to restore those dollars, I think it is quite simple. I think what we are hearing tonight from our members of the Congressional Black Caucus is that they are trying to take us back in history. They are trying to take us back to an era of time, and we are not going to let them do that. We have too much at stake. We have gained so much. Someone may ask us tonight: Why are we here? Why are we the conscience of the Congress, Mr. Speaker? Why are we here tonight talking about the road to ruin and destruction by not having a congressional budget? I think the facts speak for themselves. I think that the American public needs to know that this is not something that just affects the Congressional Black Caucus. I want that to be clear. This affects America. You mentioned it with Mr. Clyburn's 10-20-30. The fact is more individuals who don't look like members of the Congressional Black Caucus will benefit. And that is the difference between Democrats and Republicans. We care about all people. They profess to have hearings on poverty, and then when you look at the results of their own budget and what they are doing to those individuals who live in poverty--chuckle we may, clear our voice, Mr. Speaker, as we may--the facts speak for themselves. They are not creating programs that will help us eliminate poverty. And it is as simple as that.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, April 12, 2016, our nation marked Equal Pay Day, a day that symbolizes when, now four months into the new year, women's wages finally catch up to what their male counterparts earned during the previous year. On June 10th, 1963, President John F Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act, which established the principle of equal pay for equal work for women in the workforce. Yet, sadly, more than 50 years later, women on average earn 79 cents for every dollar earned by men. African-American women fare even worse, earning only 64 cents for every dollar earned by white, non-Hispanic men. Today, families rely increasingly on women's wages to make ends meet, and with less take-home pay, women have less money to cover the everyday needs of their families. In the spirit of Equal Pay Day 2016, I call upon Congressional Republicans to work with Democrats in getting the long-overdue Paycheck Fairness Act, H.R. 1619, enacted into law. Mr. Speaker, When Women Succeed, America Succeeds and our economy succeeds.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the young women of Girl Scout Daisy Troop 1944, ages 6 to almost 8 years of age, who recently visited my office. After meeting with them, I was truly inspired. Mr. Speaker, they alerted me to all their great work, from volunteering in a local animal shelter to hosting a birthday party for homeless children. We also discussed the importance of civic engagement and honoring our Nation's veterans. The members of this impressive troop are Roxanne Dion, Kirsten Wilson, Harley Craig, Cecelia Rodriguez, Aubree Meyerin, Kileigh Solberg, Brooklyn Cress, DeLana Windnagel, Lily Denovo, Georgia Woodward, Allison Helser, Kaylee Thompson, and Isabelle Jones. During Women's History Month, let us pay tribute to the next generation of women leaders, like the young women of Daisy Troop 1944. Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing the works of the 1.9 million girl members of the Girl Scouts as well as the individuals who volunteer to help them as troop leaders, their parents, and Girl Scouts CEO Anna Maria Chavez, all who strive to make the world a much better place. I say to you, Daisy troops: Job well done.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Jeffries, as I listen to you talk about the rich history and what we are dealing with today, I think about you serving on the Judiciary Committee. I think about how, as Members of Congress and members of the Congressional Black Caucus, we often talk about our broken prison system. We often talk about what happens to young children who go to college and then find themselves in that pipeline of education to prison. I would like to ask you how you think the decrease in Black voters will affect that broken system.

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman John Larson. As I was listening to him reflect on the wonderful program that we are all going to be able to participate in at the Library of Congress-- as I listened to his words, 51 years ago the President of these United States could recognize what the Nation needed. It disappoints me, as I stand here on this House floor and I think about voting rights and I think about the condition of this Nation today and where we are when we talk about casting our votes and who we are going to cast our votes for. I say thank you for Congressman John Lewis and Congressman Sam Johnson. As I was listening to the gentleman, I thought about so many of the things that Congressman John Lewis has said to us not only on this floor, not only in private moments, but in our Congressional Black Caucus meetings. He represents that sense of history of why we come to continue our work, why we come to continue to stand up for the voting rights. Because he has said to us on numerous occasions, Mr. Speaker, that the vote is the most powerful and most nonviolent tool that we have in a democratic society. We must not allow the power of the vote to be neutralized. We must never go back. So I thank Congressman Larson for taking us forward, for taking us on March 15 on a journey that we will remember for a lifetime, because, you see, we stand on the shoulders of those individuals who came before us. Now our voters stand on our shoulders. Our voters, Mr. Speaker, are wanting us, are thirsty for us, to stand up for them so that their vote counts. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask my coanchor to share some thoughts with us on why our work continues, why it is so important in the African American community for us to stand up for not only African Americans, but for our citizens who are discriminated against, those who, when we talk about social and economic programs, we see the disparities in what happens to them in education, in health care, in housing, the juvenile justice system, the criminal justice system. I could not think of any better coanchor or colleague, someone who is such a great orator, someone who, when he stands up, we listen. Please, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, share with us some of your thoughts. I yield to the gentleman from New York.

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening for tonight's Congressional Black Caucus Special Order Hour: The Work Continues--Why Voting Matters in the African American Community. I am so proud to join my classmate, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries from the Eighth District of New York. He is a member of the House Judiciary Committee. He continues to be a tireless advocate for social justice, working to reform our criminal justice system and to eliminate the overcriminalization of the African American community. Mr. Speaker, we are here to discuss the current state of voting rights in America, which, unfortunately, are under assault. The freedom to vote is one of America's most fundamentally, constitutionally guaranteed rights. It was 51 years ago this month, Mr. Speaker, that over 600 peaceful, orderly protesters set off to march from Selma, Alabama, to the State capitol in Montgomery to demonstrate the need for voting rights in the State. Last week, our Congressional Black Caucus chair, Chairman Butterfield, stated at the first in a series of CBC hearings about the current state of voting rights in America and that the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is probably one of the most significant pieces of legislation that was ever passed in the United States Congress. Certainly, Mr. Speaker, as we know, in 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down this crucial provision of the Voting Rights Act in the Shelby County v. Holder decision. Our work continues because by invalidating section 4 of the Voting Rights Act, the Supreme Court opened the doors for ways to reduce the voting power of minority communities and it put in place new voting restrictions in an effort to make it harder for millions of Americans to vote. Our democracy has far too many missing voices, particularly those who are already at a disadvantage due to deep-rooted racial and class barriers in our society. By exercising our right, we can do great things. We can hold this country accountable. We can advocate for legislation that supports social and economic progress, equality and fairness for all Americans. We can champion policies that create and sustain jobs and that protect against cuts to social and economic programs that are vital to our most at-risk populations. We can move forward on efforts to address the school-to-prison pipeline and criminal justice reform. We know that the inequalities in access to quality health care still exist between races and that more and more Black children are victims of failing schools. Mr. Speaker, I am calling on all citizens, including on our community and national leaders, to join the Congressional Black Caucus to work to eliminate voter suppression and to restore what so many people fought for, marched, and died for--yes, the Voting Rights Act. It is up to all of us to protect the most at-risk among us and to expand opportunity for all people. That begins with passing a voting rights act. Our work still continues, Mr. Speaker. This week, we are celebrating Women's History Month, and I must note the powerful impact that African American women are having at the polls. In the past two Presidential elections, Black women led all demographic groups in voter turnout. That is why voting matters to African American communities. Black women make up the most dynamic segment of the rising American voters. A great civil rights leader said that women are among the greatest leaders of social reform, and they are fighting, literally fighting, for their political rights. This past Saturday I had the opportunity to be with the mothers of the movement. We know who they are. They are the mothers of Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Dontre Hamilton, Jordan Davis, Sandra Bland, and Hadiya Pendleton; and we have all heard what happened to their children. As a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, we are calling for action on gun control. We need to do more than just stand up on this floor for a moment of silence. We need to make sure that we are passing gun control legislation, commonsense legislation, that keeps the guns out of the hands of the most dangerous individuals. It is time for us to protect our children. Mr. Speaker, I am going to give you some examples of what we should include in our call for action. I go first to my good friend and colleague and classmate who brought it to my attention that we stand up for a moment, and then we sit down. Then we come back to this floor, and it is business as usual. We talk about wanting to keep our families safe, and we talk about the mental health issues. That is all we do, Mr. Speaker. We talk about it. Congresswoman Robin Kelly of Illinois' Second District has legislation, H.R. 224, which would require the Surgeon General of Public Health Services to submit to Congress an annual report on the effects of gun violence on public health. This bill has 140 Democrat cosponsors. I am asking my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to step up and do more than just stand up for 30 seconds. I am calling on Congress to act on Congressman James Clyburn of the Sixth District of South Carolina's legislation, H.R. 3051, the Background Check Completion Act, which would guarantee that no gun is sold by a licensed dealer until a background check is completed. Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to say that I am a cosponsor of both of these bills. I will go on and tell you about Chairman Butterfield, the chair of our Congressional Black Caucus. He understands that our work continues, because he has focused his efforts on promoting anti-poverty programs and on expanding economic development and job creation. There are a number of things that have happened in his State. For example, the Moral Mondays are protests in North Carolina that are led by religious progressives. These protests are in response to several actions by the government of North Carolina, which was elected into office in 2013. These events, which spread throughout the South, helped bring attention to voting rights, criminal justice reform, and workers' rights. I think it is very important for us to note that. Mr. Speaker, tonight my coanchor and I will talk about a number of issues that explain why our work continues. We are going to talk about why in African American communities it is important for us to understand, if we don't diversify those who are going to vote, we don't represent the diversity of this great America that we are here to protect and to serve. It is not just members of the Congressional Black Caucus who value and understand the importance of us coming together, the importance of us celebrating our rich history, all tied to the Voting Rights Act, all tied to the movements that we have had of the past. Let me give you a great example because I am so proud that I am going to have the privilege to yield time to my good friend, Congressman John Larson from the First District of Connecticut. He is here, Mr. Speaker, tonight to join with us as we talk about our rich history. He is going to share with us information about the 51st anniversary of President Johnson's ``We Shall Overcome'' speech, which was given on March 15, 1965. I yield to the gentleman from Connecticut.

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to add any extraneous materials relevant to the subject matter of this discussion.

Mrs. BEATTY. It is 2016. I am writing an article that sounds like I was sitting in 1955. That gives me great concern. So when I think about our topic tonight, our work continues. What matters in the African American community I think we have answered tonight. Whether it was from Congressman John Larson, who is not a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, whether it is from Congressman Sam Johnson or Congressman John Lewis, Mr. Speaker, I say to you that we stand here as members of the Congressional Black Caucus because we are the conscience of the Congress. Mr. Chairman, how much time do I have remaining?

Mrs. BEATTY. Congressman Jeffries, you have given us a lot to reflect on tonight. You have given us the roll call of how President after President has reauthorized the Voting Rights Act. As I was listening to you, it appears that there is an uncommon denominator that we now have in this great America: a Black man as President of these United States. I want to stand here and say, Mr. Speaker, that I am very suspect when I listen to how eloquently my colleague walked us through the history and shared with us how 51 years ago our colleague, John Lewis, was putting his life at risk with other great leaders as a very young Black man, that it was because he understood what was at stake. He was probably ahead of his time. But when you think about that, everyone in this Chamber should want to have that experience. I can remember a year ago, almost to the date, that I took that journey to Selma, Alabama. I took that journey with Congressman John Lewis and some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, who stood there and locked and latched hands and talked about how we should overcome. For a moment, Congressman Jeffries, it gave me that hope that I came here for, that hope that one person can make a difference and change the lives of others. It wasn't 48 hours later that we came back to this institution, to this House floor, and all of that was washed away. It was back to business as usual. There were no hearings, whether it is a budget hearing for funds to fund things from our infrastructure, things to educate and take care of our infants and children, mental health that we have all come to an agreement on with all the things that have happened during the time you and I have been here, Congressman Jeffries, with the number of lives that have been lost. I think about the Emanuel Nine. We talked about that commonality of putting more money into mental health. Yet, the President puts dollars in the budget and we can't get a hearing. So why does our work continue? Our work continues because it is so important for us, as African Americans, to make sure we protect those who are most at risk. Mr. Speaker, we have a huge job to do. We are 46 members strong. While we focus on the lives of African Americans and the African American community, we stand here and fight for all children of all races, all ethnicities, because that is what we do because we care. But as I stand here today and reflect on Congressman Jeffries' outline of history, outline of the number of lives that have been lost, outline of the legal process and what we have gone through, it made me recall, Mr. Speaker, that a week ago I decided to write an editorial to my local newspaper, and it was published. Mr. Speaker, that editorial was titled: ``Work to improve voting rights.'' [From The Columbus Dispatch, Feb. 29, 2016] Work To Improve Voting Rights (By Rep. Joyce Beatty) As Black History Month closes, I am reminded of Martin Luther King Jr., who famously said, ``We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now.'' We have come a long way since the era of Jim Crow. Indeed, our nation has laws on the books protecting people from discrimination based on sex, age, race, religion, national origin and ethnicity. Moreover, each February, we collectively reflect on the important contributions and accomplishments African-Americans etched into the cornerstone of America. Yet, the more things change, the more they stay the same. What do I mean? Every year, without fail, we celebrate Black History Month and honor the many leaders, heroes and ``sheroes'' of the black community. However, we rarely discuss the systemic and pervasive bathers still preventing African-Americans from achieving the American Dream. Our nation is still plagued by the vestiges of segregation and unequal laws and policies. Today, it is more difficult to exercise one's constitutional right to vote, not easier. Inequalities in access to quality health care still exist between races, and more and more black children are victim to failing schools. As opposed to getting bogged down in the numbers and reciting a long list of statistics and historical grievances, I am calling on all people, including our community and national leaders, to join me in working to eliminate voter suppression I and to restore what so many people fought, marched and died for: the Voting Rights Act. It is up to all of us to protect the most at-risk among us, to defend the foundation of our democracy and to expand opportunity for all people. It begins with the Voting Rights Act. In Congress, I am working tirelessly to rebuild the very foundation of the Voting Rights Act undone by the Supreme Court's Shelby County v. Holder decision. As an original cosponsor of the Voting Rights Empowerment Act of 2015 (H.R. 12), I believe we must ensure every American has equal say and the opportunity to vote. This legislation would do just that by expanding access and putting in place common sense protections for our nation's electorate, no matter the color of one's skin. It takes a village. So, let's work together in our neighborhood, at work or with family and friends to make this change possible and to help guarantee every American has fair and equal access to the ballot box. Black History Month should be about the progress that has been made and the journey that awaits us. Remember, the past is our experience, the present is our accountability and the future is our responsibility.

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Jeffries, I paused for a moment as I was listening to you, and you are so absolutely right; the vehicle, the power of casting that vote, the power of making a difference. Mr. Speaker, I think one of the things that is so significant about the Congressional Black Caucus, that is our history. It is our fortitude to have the courage to always continue to fight and never give up, because we actually have members of the Congressional Black Caucus who were there during that time. When you think about Members like Congressman John Lewis, when you think about Members like John Conyers, John Conyers, a Black man, will go down in history as the longest-serving man in this Congress. Just think about it. A man that shared an office for almost 2 decades with Rosa Parks, the modern civil rights leader who decided that she was going to sit down that day because she realized one person could make a difference. So, Mr. Speaker, we have gone through our whole history of the Voting Rights Act, we have gone through the sections of the Constitution, we have gone through what the Supreme Court has done, and yet we can't get the reauthorization of our Voting Rights Act. Mr. Speaker, I say this to you tonight. The Congressional Black Caucus will not give up. We are holding field hearings, as I speak, so we can collect the information to come back here and tell you that the vehicle for American people, that vehicle is the ballot box. Mr. Speaker, as I stand here today, we have resolved. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus don't come just to complain and put issues out there. We are scholars. We like hearing that we are the conscience of the Congress, but we are the scholars. We are Howard, and Morehouse, and Spelman, and Harvard, and Princeton, and Yale. We are the whole spectrum of this America that you and I serve. So I ask you today, Mr. Speaker, to consider that when we stand up the next time on this House floor, why Members are sitting down. We are sitting down because I think you and Congressman Jeffries and all the rest of my colleagues in this Chamber, we have an obligation to do more. Innocent lives are being taken, and there is something we can do about it. We could start with something that has been bipartisan. Congressman Jeffries mentioned it a number of times, and that is something as simple as passing a Voting Rights Act. That would make a difference. I guess my question is: What are we afraid of? Are we afraid if we increase the number of those who have been disenfranchised, those who have been discriminated against, that they will actually vote, they will actually have a voice to make a difference in the way they live in this wonderful America? I am asking you to go to your Republican colleagues and ask them to stand with us that we can leave a great legacy in history, because history will be written. When the first Black President leaves these United States, we will read of all the wonderful things that President Barack Obama did. But we will also have those who will write part of that history of us failing to do our job. And I will reflect back on this day when Congressman Jeffries and I stood at this Congressional Black Caucus Special Order Hour and we said, the work continues, and why it matters in African American communities that we vote. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, I was absent on Thursday, March 3, 2016, in order to attend a funeral of a dear friend. I was unable to cast my floor vote on roll call vote numbers 106, 107, 108, 109, and 110. Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted NAY on roll call votes 106, 107, and 109. Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted AYE on roll call votes 108 and 110.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., established January 13, 1913, by 22 collegiate women at Howard University. From those humble beginnings 103 years ago, to today, there are more than 200,000 Deltas and 1,000 college and alumni chapters worldwide. Mr. Speaker, today is the first day of Women's History Month. Thousands of Deltas flood Capitol Hill to meet with Members of Congress to discuss some of our most pressing issues. I thank you, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, for standing up for Attorney General Loretta Lynch of the United States and for coming today with a national agenda: equal pay for equal work, sustaining the Affordable Care Act, educational reform for college school funding, and yes, opposing the Voting Rights Act. Mr. Speaker, please join me and the three other Members of Congress of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, for saluting them for being on the Hill today, and to my Columbus Alumni Chapter, and Delta Kappa, where I was made.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Thank you so much, Congressman Jeffries. It is certainly an honor and a privilege for me to join you this evening as coanchor for this Congressional Black Caucus Special Order hour. Congressman Jeffries' scholarship and distinguished talents as a member of the Judiciary Committee have not gone unnoticed. I thank him for leading by example in challenging us to initiate and follow through in sending a message on Senate Republicans' refusal to act on the Supreme Court vacancy. In part, tonight's Congressional Black Caucus Special Order hour, Senate Republicans: Do Your Job, does just that. As you reflected in your opening statement, Article II, section 2, of the Constitution expressly designates that the President has a duty to name and the Senate has a responsibility to advise and consent a nominee to fill the seat. President Obama takes this very seriously. He has stated: ``It's a decision to which I devote considerable time, deep reflection, careful deliberation, and serious consultation with legal experts, members of both political parties, and people across the political spectrum.'' But Republicans have made a decision to completely refuse consideration of anyone that President Obama nominates to the Supreme Court. In fact, they have stated that they won't hold a hearing or a vote before the full Senate. Senate Democrats never acted so recklessly when faced with this situation in 1988, when there was a vote to confirm Justice Kennedy. There was no talk of doing nothing until after that year's election because it was unthinkable then to leave the Court shorthanded for that long. And it remains so now. The power of the Court, Mr. Speaker, is reflected in the work it does. Its decisions often shape the policy as profoundly as any law passed by Congress or any action taken by the President of these United States. When we look back to our history, especially as African Americans, the importance of the decisions handed down by the Supreme Court cannot be overstated. For example, most of us are familiar with Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, which reversed Plessy v. Ferguson and its ``separate but equal'' ruling. Striking down segregation in our Nation's public schools provided a major catalyst for the civil rights movement and made advances in desegregating housing, public accommodations, and institutions of higher education possible. After Brown, the Nation made some great strides towards opening the doors of education to all students. Unfortunately, the promise of the Brown decision remains unfulfilled in many ways. More than 2 million Black students attend schools where 90 percent of the student body is made up of minority students. On average, schools serving more minority populations have less experienced, lower paid teachers who are less likely to be certified. A report from the Center for American Progress found that a 10 percent point increase in students of color at a school is associated with a decrease in per-pupil spending of $75. In many ways, more than 60 years after Brown v. Board of Education school systems in the United States are still separate and unequal. And we are just not witnessing educational disparities at the elementary and secondary education level. College enrollment is racially polarized. White students are overrepresented in selective colleges, which have more resources to educate and to support them, while African American students are overrepresented in less selective institutions. Mr. Speaker and Congressman Jeffries, you see where I am going with that. This is also why the late Justice Scalia's comments during oral arguments of the pending United States Supreme Court case, Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin, were so disturbing. He stated, in part: Maybe the University of Texas ought to have fewer African Americans. These comments are inaccurate and insulting to me and to African Americans. They undervalue the historic achievement that African Americans have made. Thousands of Black Americans have excelled to the top tier of their universities. Many of them you will hear from tonight because they are members of the Congressional Black Caucus. They are scholars. They are the conscience of the Congress. They represent the diversity of America's best universities and of America's Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Mrs. BEATTY. Thank you so much, Congressman Jeffries. Hearing you quote those things, three things come to mind. First, let me say that Congressman Steny Hoyer was absolutely right when he says that this issue of not filling the vacancy is not related to only one group. So I want to say, after hearing what you said and many others of our members of the Congressional Black Caucus, it is important for us to know why we are calling on the Senate Republicans to do their job, and that is because we are the voice for those who are not often represented. We are the voice for those when you talk about issues related to women and women's rights, when you talk about issues that are related to things that affect you and me, and when you talk about the article that Congresswoman Barbara Lee entered into the Record, ``Blacks See Bias in Delay on a Scalia Successor.'' Now, that article says it all. That article specifically states that many folks believe, in this wonderful America that we live in, that it is also because of the color of his skin. I think that is another reason that we come as a strong 46 members of the Congressional Black Caucus, because the facts work against them. Think about it. When we look at the number of people who have been appointed, when we look at the number of days, if you look at since 1975, it has only taken an average of 67 days to confirm a President's nominee to the Supreme Court. The Senate has never taken more than 125 days to vote on a Supreme Court nominee, and there are 325 days left in President Obama's term. Since the early 1900s, six Supreme Court Justices have been confirmed in an election year. When I think about your question and I think about your sharing with us some of the comments that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said, let me add this one to the Record. And it is something he got right. He said that the American people should have the right to choose the President who will pick the next Supreme Court Justice deciding the future balance of the Nation's highest court. Well, he got that right. Because you know what. The people did pick the President when they picked President Barack Obama in 2012, who won the election by 5 million votes. I am calling on him and the Senate Republicans to do their job, to allow the President to do what the Constitution tells us, to allow the President, who has already said that he is going to bring somebody who is full of scholarship, he is going to bring someone who is committed and capable to doing the people's work--I wanted to add that to your statement and share with everyone tonight that is why we are here.

Mrs. BEATTY. Congressman Jeffries, I think you answered that question for me when you gave the long list of successes that this President has done without their help. That gave me pause to think: What is it that is keeping them from doing their job? Why is it that they are so threatened? Maybe it is the success that this President has brought forth not for you and I, not for the 435 Members of us, but he has done this for this Nation. He has made it a better place. When we look at what the Justices do and represent, when we think about liberties and freedoms and the economy and our rights, I think they are afraid that he will appoint someone who will have that same scholarship, who will have that same success, someone who will bring balance. I think they are afraid of the balance. In the words of another one of our colleagues, I might add, from the great State of Ohio, Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus--she has words that she is entering, but I would like to quote from her words to remind us why we are saying: Senate Republicans, do your job. She reminds us, as Members of Congress, we made a promise to our constituents that we would faithfully discharge the duties and the oath of office which we took, which we were elected to. She reminded me in her words that it is so important for us to say tonight to the Senate: Do your job. Do your job. I think they are afraid. So I am going to issue a challenge. Congresswoman Barbara Lee said that you are here tonight initiating this topic because we are sounding the alarm, we are ringing the bell. I challenge them to answer that question. I challenge them to share with not only the Congressional Black Caucus, not only the Members of Congress, not only the Members of the Senate, but they have an obligation to America, to the citizens of these United States, Mr. Speaker, for them to tell us why they are not doing their job.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, during Black History Month, we honor the contributions and achievements of African-Americans, and recommit ourselves to achieving the day when no person is judged by anything but the content of their character. Let us stand on the shoulders of individuals like Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, Dr. King, Rosa Parks, Shirley Chisholm, Louis Stokes, and our colleagues, John Lewis and John Conyers, who sacrificed so much to secure equal rights for all Americans, including generations yet unborn. However, more progress must be made. We must close the gaps in employment opportunities for African- Americans, eliminate the school-to-prison pipeline, and restore the full protections of the Voting Rights Act. Today, let us resolve to continue to march toward a day when every person is guaranteed the unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the residents of the Third Congressional District of Ohio, I am pleased to commend Meagan Warren for being recognized by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards as ``Ohio's Top Youth Volunteer'' in 2016. A seventh-grade student at Bexley Middle School in my district, Meagan has always been an avid reader. For Meagan, who learned to read when she was two years old, it is hard to imagine not having a book within arm's reach, especially at bedtime. Unfortunately, many children her age do not have the same fortune. One night, while reading in bed, Meagan thought about other children her age that had no books to read. She committed herself to doing something about it. Meagan's late-night inspiration spurred her into action and, with the help of her family, she founded Books for Bedtime, a nonprofit organization that has collected more than 14,000 books from neighbors and local businesses for low-income children since 2014. Books for Bedtime's mission is simple: to distribute books to low- income children and to instill the ``magic of reading'' in Columbus-area students. Meagan's unbridled passion for reading and service has impacted countless children and families in Central Ohio. Today, I commend Meagan Warren on this well-deserved recognition as ``Ohio's Top Youth Volunteer'' and thank her for making Columbus the place we are all proud to call ``home.''

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Black History Month. Black History Month is an opportunity for our Nation to honor the contributions and accomplishments that African Americans and civil rights organizations like the NAACP have etched in the cornerstone of this America they helped change. The NAACP is the Nation's oldest and preeminent civil rights organization. Established in 1909 to curb the rampant discrimination plaguing our country, today's NAACP envisions an America not defined by color. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today to ask Congress to help make the NAACP's dream a reality. Let's restore the full protection of the Voting Rights Act, fix our broken criminal justice system, and end the school-to-prison pipeline. We must continue to move forward to ensure equality of opportunity for all Americans, not just the privileged few. During Black History Month, Mr. Speaker, and every month, let us recommit ourselves to ending the journey and having a more just and perfect union. Lastly, I salute the NAACP and its chairperson, Rosalyn Brock, and my Columbus chapter NAACP chair, Nana Jones.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women campaign. The Go Red for Women campaign is a critical public awareness platform that the American Heart Association uses to help promote heart-healthy lifestyles. More than 627,000 women's lives have been saved from heart disease since the Go Red for Women campaign was created in 2004. We have made tremendous progress, Mr. Speaker, in the fight against cardiovascular disease, but we still have a long way to go. Heart disease is the number one killer of women and is more deadly than all forms of cancer combined. Heart disease causes one in three women's death each year, killing approximately 1 woman every minute. Ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease. Since 1984, more women than men have died from heart disease. Heart disease is, unfortunately, a silent killer. According to the American Heart Association, nearly half of all women are not aware that heart disease is the leading cause of death for women. For African American women, the risk of heart disease is especially great. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for African American women. Of African American women 20 years of age and older, 46.9 percent have cardiovascular disease; yet only 43 percent of African American women know that heart disease is their greatest health risk. In fact, I did not realize that I was at risk for stroke. In 1999, I suffered a cerebral brain stem stroke. Because of my personal experience, I decided to be part of the solution. As this epidemic continues, I decided to not sit on the sidelines. In 2000, I was elected to serve on the National American Heart Association Board of Directors. I was the only nonphysician or nonmedical professional on the board at that time. As a board member, I served as a leader, guiding the American Heart Association's mission, cultural sensitivities, and national efforts. Here in Congress, my advocacy continues. As a member of the Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition, my colleagues and I work to raise awareness about the prevalence and severity of cardiovascular disease. Last Congress, I introduced two pieces of legislation that raise awareness for stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. One, the Return to Work Awareness Act, would assist survivors of stroke and other debilitating health occurrences in returning to work. Both pieces of legislation had the support of the American Heart Association and the National Stroke Association. I will reintroduce, Mr. Speaker, these important pieces of legislation this month during American Heart Month. I encourage all my colleagues, Democrats and Republicans, to join me as an original sponsor. Mr. Speaker, you will notice that many of our colleagues today will be wearing the red American Heart Association pin. By wearing this pin, we help raise the awareness of cardiovascular disease in women and provide an important reminder that it is never too early to take action to protect our health. This month, American Heart Month, let us recommit ourselves to improving heart-healthy lifestyles and to continue to fight against this deadly disease for ourselves and our families. Lastly, Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize all the survivors of heart disease and those who are battling heart disease. I salute their family members and friends who are their source of love and encouragement to them as they fight this disease, as well as my friend, American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown, and all the healthcare professionals and medical researchers who are working to find cures to improve treatments. Please join us. Sign onto my bill and support a healthy lifestyle.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Chairman, I think it is simple today. We have heard Congresswoman Maxine Waters outline our position for this. Let me just say that this bill is flawed, overly broad, avoids appropriate oversight, duplicative of existing administrative authorities, and could be wasteful and costly. I join Ms. Maxine Waters of California today in opposition to H.R. 1675, a package of capital market deregulatory bills that undermine the Security and Exchange Commission's effective oversight of capital markets and places the GOP special interests ahead of those hardworking Americans whom we are here to serve. Secondly, the package also excludes exemptions from certain investor disclosures and SEC filing requirements and a safe harbor from certain broker-dealer liabilities, all without commensurate investor protections. A key component of this package is title V, H.R. 2354, which is an unnecessary, burdensome, and unfunded mandate requiring a full-scale review designed to hamstring the SEC's ability to perform basic oversight of the financial markets. Title III of the package exempts small business merger and acquisition brokers from registering as a broker-dealer with the SEC. Mr. Chairman, let me sum it up by saying that the bad outweighs the good in this bill. I stand in opposition to it.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.