Joyce Beatty

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Thank you so much to my colleague. As I stood here and I listened to you walk us through that rich history, it reminded me of all of the bad actors that caused many of those bad things. I reflect on someone in my family being a part of that chattel slavery as a slave, I think about Jim Crow, and I think about the things that my grandmother was asked to do when she had walked far just to try to vote and was asked to recite things that probably the people asking her could not have done. Then when I think about all of those social reforms and all the things that happened 50 and 55 years ago, it made me think, Congressman Jeffries, when we think about Martin Luther King and his dream, so often people say, ``What would he think today?'' But I guess for me the question is a little different that I would like to discuss with you. Do you think history is repeating itself? As I listened to you talk about slavery, and today when I go into some parts of my community with the War on Drugs I have had Black men say to me that they feel like they are living during a time of slavery. When I talk to young, single moms who are fighting for their own existence or to feed their children, they feel that they are held captive by poverty. So are we looking at still bad actors, bad actors in the Chambers that I stand in, bad actors who want to take away SNAP, bad actors who don't want to give us a voting rights bill, bad actors that don't want to ban the box? What do you think? Are we seeing history repeat itself?

Mrs. BEATTY. Thank you to the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands. Let me just say thank you for making us have a better understanding that we cannot do this alone and we have so much more work to do. Mr. Speaker, tonight's Special Orders hour hopefully will share with this institution the amount of work that we have yet to do. But I believe in hope and opportunity for all. So when I listen to the great legacy that those who have come before us, whether that is Dr. Martin Luther King, whether that is Rosa Parks, we have members of this Congressional Black Caucus who stand united to provide opportunities for all. We are often referred to as the conscience of the Congress. There is a reason for that: Because we are the voice of the voiceless. And when I think of voices, I think of my co-anchor. I think of a man who came as my classmate, someone stellar, someone who is a scholar and a profound lawyer, someone who stands tall in stature and in his words, someone that I actually enjoy sitting and listening to as he so often brings the message. It is my honor to yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Jeffries) to talk to us about the state of our union, Dr. King's dream, and African Americans in this great Nation.

Mrs. BEATTY. Thank you, Congressman Payne, for bringing us those words of wisdom and reminding us of the epidemics that face us, the failures that we have experienced, but leaving us with the hope of pushing forward and helping to realize Martin Luther King's dream. Mr. Speaker, it is indeed my honor now to yield to the freshman of our group, someone who may be a freshman by our description, but someone who is not a stranger. Whether it is advocating for jobs for veterans, whether it is looking at economic development and opportunities for those who are in struggling economies, she comes to us as a lawyer, she comes to us as a mother and a public servant. She is someone who stands tall in her words of wisdom and someone's voice that we have learned to listen to. She hails to us as the Delegate from the Virgin Islands. Join me in welcoming Congresswoman Stacy Plaskett for her words of wisdom.

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, it is now my honor and privilege to yield to my colleague from the 10th District of New Jersey (Mr. Payne). He is someone who is a great example of a committed public servant. He is someone who puts others before himself. When you want to call on him, he is someone that will sit and quietly listen to you, and then a few minutes later he will give you probably one of the most profound answers that one could look for. I am proud to not only call him my colleague, but I am also proud to call him my classmate. It is my honor to ask Congressman Donald Payne to bring his reflections.

Mrs. BEATTY. I thank Congressman Richmond for reminding us that you bring hope. Your experience shows that there is opportunity. Because certainly, we know that there are fewer Black students graduating from high school. Sixteen percent of Blacks drop out, compared to 8 percent of our White counterparts. Mr. Speaker, can you tell me how much time I have remaining.

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, thank you again to Congresswoman Karen Bass for reminding us of all the great riches that we have in this society, but also for putting on the forefront that our work is not finished. There is hope. Because we have learned that through having a President who stands on the shoulders of another great man--Martin Luther King. Mr. Speaker, it is indeed my honor and privilege to yield to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Richmond), who hails from the Second District of Louisiana. He is someone who is fearless and not afraid to speak up, but he doesn't speak in vain. He speaks with a platform-- whether that platform is to discuss reforming our broken prison system, whether it is to talk about HBCUs, or whether it is to be a role model--and he knows a lot about that because he is a natural leader. When he took office in the State legislature, he was one of the youngest legislators to ever serve. So it is indeed my honor to call Congressman Cedric Richmond a colleague and friend.

Mrs. BEATTY. Thank you so much, Congresswoman Lee, for reminding us of the work we have to do to strengthen our America and for giving us those facts that clearly point out the barriers that we have and also the disparities when you look at 70 percent of our men being incarcerated, yet we don't make up 70 percent of the population. Thank you for reminding us of all the work and the words of Martin Luther King because you are so right. To sum it up in his words: injustice anywhere is an injustice everywhere. Thank you. We will continue that work. Mr. Speaker, it is now my honor and privilege to yield to Congresswoman Karen Bass from the 37th District of California. It is a great honor for me because she is certainly not only a leader, but an advocate domestically and globally for young girls. As a matter of fact, when I think of her work across this Nation in foster care, I call her the Sojourner Truth of foster care. When I think of her leadership, it is important for me to remind folks that she was the first African American female to be Speaker of the House of the great State of California. Today it is indeed my honor to yield to Congresswoman Bass.

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor and a privilege for me to rise this evening as co-chair, along with my distinguished colleague who represents the Eighth District of New York, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, for this Congressional Black Caucus Special Order hour, an hour of power, addressing the state of our Union, Dr. King's dream, and today's African American message. Congressman Jeffries is a scholar, a distinguished member of the Judiciary Committee. He continues to be a tireless advocate for social and economic justice, working hard to reform our criminal justice system, improve the economy for hardworking Americans, and to make college more affordable for all. Most importantly, he is someone that I am proud to follow and he is my colleague. Today we come to educate and to discuss some of the many contributions and accomplishments in American history that African Americans etched into the cornerstone of this America, Mr. Speaker, that they helped change. The Congressional Black Caucus is and continues to be a part of that change. As we reflect on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose holiday we recently observed, thanks to our Congressional Black Caucus colleague, Congressman John Conyers, the dean, who worked tirelessly to have the day observed as a Federal holiday, we pause to reflect on our progress and our history not only to remember, but to acknowledge, our unfinished work. Congressional Black Caucus members and other colleagues with constituents across the country participated in holiday services, programs, marches, and many other events last week. This was not a day off, Mr. Speaker, but a day on in the spirit of Dr. King's legacy. Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity to join some 4,000 constituents in my district in Columbus for the Nation's largest Martin Luther King breakfast celebration. As I sat there, I was reminded of his words that we live by and that we are guided by: ``Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase.'' Later I had the opportunity to join hundreds of folks to march in freezing weather, singing ``We Shall Overcome.'' Today we also mark the beginning of the observation of Black History Month, to celebrate giants in civil rights, in the civil rights movement, as well as labor and education, transportation, the arts, and the service movement. As we reflect on Dr. King's dream, just a few weeks ago President Barack Obama from this House floor, Mr. Speaker, delivered his final State of the Union Address. In his address, the President delivered a speech filled with hope and optimism, reminding us that we, the people--emphasizing all people--want opportunity and security for our families. It was a message of a better future, fairness, and democracy for all Americans because we rise or fall together, Mr. Speaker. President Obama continues to remind us that ours is a nation bounded by a common creed and that our American values of equality, fairness, and justice should be available to all, not just a fortunate few. Far too long people and communities of color continue to be left behind when we discuss equality, fairness, and justice. In the 48 years since his death, while we have made some strides in confronting injustices and ending unequal treatment, there is still work to be done. Our Nation is still plagued by the vestiges of segregation and unequal laws and policies, evident today in Flint, Michigan, and its lack of clean drinking water; in it being harder, not easier, to exercise the constitutional right to vote through voter disenfranchisement; Black men being killed in Ferguson, Baltimore, Chicago, and my State of Ohio; inequities in health care, poverty, and in our failing schools. But, Mr. Speaker, the time is now for us to work together to protect the most at risk among us, to defend the foundation of our democracy, and to expand opportunity for all people. However, Republican leadership fails to act and refuses to bring up Voting Rights Advancement Act, a bipartisan piece of legislation, for an up-or-down vote. Tonight, Mr. Speaker, we will hear from our Congressional Black Caucus colleagues on the state of our Union and where we go from here. I welcome the dialogue and the debate. Mr. Speaker, it is now my honor and privilege to yield to Congresswoman Barbara Lee from the 13th District of California. We know her as a fearless advocate, fighting to eliminate poverty. We know her as someone who has a history of representing not only the people of her district but the people of America. I have had the opportunity to witness this firsthand, as I serve on her committee when she fights to end the War on Poverty. It is my honor to ask Congresswoman Barbara Lee to bring her message to us tonight.

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

Mrs. BEATTY. Thank you so much. Let me just end by saying, Mr. Speaker, what you have witnessed tonight is that our past that we have talked about is our experience, our present is our responsibility, and our future is our hope. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening proud to stand with my Congressional Black Caucus Special Order hour co-anchor, Congressman Jeffries, from the Eighth Congressional District of New York. Mr. Jeffries, it is my honor to stand here today as we undertake an urgent dialogue on how we, as elected Representatives of the people, can work together to end gun violence. I look forward to engaging with Congressman Jeffries and our Congressional Black Caucus colleagues in scholarly debate on the issues plaguing African Americans, African American communities, and to develop solutions to the problems our constituents face. As the conscience of the Congress, the Congressional Black Caucus will remain on the forefront of issues that affect Black Americans in particular, and the Nation, in general. For tonight, our anchor, Congressman Jeffries, has pointed out the CBC will continue to shed light on the epidemic of gun violence, standing our ground, ending gun violence in America. Mr. Speaker, last week we opened the Second Session of the 114th Congress. Four hundred thirty-five of us traveled back to Washington ready to serve our constituents and work for the betterment of our Nation. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, whatever spirit of bipartisanship may have been present at the end of 2015 as Republicans and Democrats worked together on key pieces of legislation has disappeared at the precise time our Nation is calling on Congress to pass commonsense legislation to keep guns out of the wrong hands. We find ourselves confronted with startling statistics that no Nation should endure. Let me just take a moment to share just a few. We know that the impact of gun violence affects every community and every congressional district. However, African American children and teens are 17 times more likely to die from gun homicide than White youth, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While African Americans make up 15 percent of youth in America, African Americans accounted for 45 percent of children and teen gun deaths in 2010. According to Everytown for Gun Safety, 88 Americans die every day from gun violence, Mr. Speaker. Roughly 50 percent of those killed are African American men, who comprise just 6 percent of the population. Homicide is the primary cause of death among African Americans ages 15- 24. Mr. Speaker, these numbers should be unthinkable, unimaginable, but they are the unfortunate reality in which African American communities live. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, whose legacy we honor next Monday, he said: We find ourselves ``confronted with the fierce urgency of now.'' And Mr. Speaker, it is now that our Nation is in an urgent crisis, yet we are trapped in congressional inaction. Shameful. So our President decided he would not stand by idly while Congress did nothing to prevent another Newtown, another Charleston, other Tucson. With tears in his eyes, he reflected on the senseless killings caused by gun violence over the course of his administration. President Obama announced new executive actions to confront the epidemic of gun violence in America. While mocked by some Republicans for showing emotion at the loss of so many lives, I am here to say I proudly stand with my President on the actions he has taken to prevent gun violence in America. These executive actions will save lives and make the country safer without infringing on law-abiding individuals' rights to firearms. You will hear from our colleagues tonight talking about the President's actions. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues and to address gun violence.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues Congresswoman Ann Kuster and Congressman Frank Guinta for leading this important Special Order Hour on opioid and heroin abuse and dependence. Today's theme, ``Faces of Addiction,'' gives us a unique opportunity to the powerful addicting qualities of heroin and opioids, which have serious implications for every family impacted by its abuse. Some of you may have seen the 60 Minutes segment, ``Heroin in the Heartland,'' which filmed in parts of my district. Let me share the story of Robbie, whose struggle stands out to me. Robbie was prescribed opioids--Oxycodone and Oxycontin, among others--for a chronic pain condition. Although he said he never intended to abuse these medications, Robbie became an addict, taking painkillers for 25 years as his doctors kept prescribing higher and higher doses to manage his pain. Robbie eventually stopped caring about anything except opioids and finding his next dose of medication. His marriage fell apart. He became estranged from friends. He gained 90 pounds and developed diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis. He lost his will to live and contemplated suicide. Ultimately, it was a pharmacist who put a stop to Robbie's opioid use by refusing to fill his prescription. This abrupt end to the drugs led Robbie to connect to a new doctor, an addiction specialist. Robbie is not alone in his struggle with opioid dependence and abuse. According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, over 100 Americans died from drug overdose deaths each day in 2013. 46 Americans die each day from prescription opioid overdoses, which is two deaths per hour or 17,000 deaths annually. In Ohio, according to the Ohio Department of Health, from 2000 to 2012, Ohio's death rate due to unintentional drug poisonings increased 366 percent, and this increase in deaths has been driven largely by prescription drug overdoses. On average, approximately five people die each day in Ohio due to drug overdose. As these statistics illustrate, much work remains to be done toward resolving the problems of opioid abuse nationally as well as in my home state. We need an honest effort to integrate prevention, treatment, and enforcement. Ohio is adding a weapon to its arsenal in fighting drug abuse by providing doctors and pharmacists with a one-click link to the state opiate tracking system. Ohio will become the first state to integrate its database, the Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System (OARRS), with electronic medical records already maintained by doctors and pharmacists. This database linkup is one of the latest tools utilized by state officials to combat the epidemic of overdose deaths. The opioid epidemic has been particularly devastating to our fight to end infant mortality in central Ohio. When a pregnant mother abuses drugs, her unborn baby isn't just an innocent bystander. The drugs can affect that child to the degree that the baby will likely suffer withdraw after birth. As of 2013, about 12 in every 1,000 babies born in Franklin County faced that uphill battle. Those numbers grow year after year and experts say heroin is fueling the increase. That is why at the federal level, I co-sponsored and voted in favor of the Protecting Our Infants Act of 2015, which was signed into law November 25, 2015. This new law will help prevent and treat babies exposed to opioids in utero. It will also support efforts to collect and disseminate strategies and best practices to prevent and treat maternal opioid use and abuse. Finding solutions to this epidemic will require all of us to work together at the Federal, State, and local levels. Drug abuse certainly isn't a partisan issue and many Members of Congress are actively engaged on the matter. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to address this epidemic.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the memory of Mr. Walter McCreary, a former but longtime community leader and resident of Ohio's Third Congressional District. Mr. McCreary was a member of the famous Tuskegee Airmen. He flew almost 100 combat missions over Europe in his red-tailed P-51 fighter plane during World War II. In 1944, he was shot down and spent 9 months as a POW. After the war, he was assigned to Lockbourne Army Airfield, now known as Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio. In 2007, the Tuskegee Airmen were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. Their exemplary combat record and honorable service are rightfully credited as the driving force for the full integration of our armed services. Walter McCreary lived his life with courage, bravery, and honor. I extend my condolences to his family, and honor the legacy of both him and his fellow Tuskegee Airmen. Mr. Speaker, I am also here today to stand up for families, for women, and for preserving access to women's health care.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, I come here today to speak about weapons of murder and terror. Mr. Speaker, suspected terrorists should not be able to walk into a gun store and come out with weapons of murder and terror. As Members of Congress, we have an obligation to keep American families safe. To not bring the bipartisan bill, H.R. 1076, to the floor for a vote is to deny us the opportunity to keep our families safer. This bill, H.R. 1076, is sensible and straightforward. If you are a suspected terrorist, you should not be able to buy a gun. If you are a suspected terrorist, you should not, Mr. Speaker, be able to buy a gun. I will say it today and tomorrow and repeatedly: if you are a suspected terrorist, you should not be able to buy a gun. We should not have guns and weapons of murder and terror. I will no longer be silent. Mr. Speaker, we should no longer be silent. Let's transcend partisan politics and uphold our promise to keep American families safe.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the signing of a sister city agreement between the City of Columbus and Accra, Ghana on November 30, 2015. This is Columbus' tenth sister city agreement, but it is momentous because it is the city's first such agreement with a city on the African continent. I was privileged to attend and participate in the signing ceremony between Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman and Accra Mayor Alfred Vanderpuije. Columbus, a diverse city, is home to nearly 10,000 people of Ghanaian descent and this partnership reinforces already firmly established ties between Columbus and Accra building economic, educational and cultural diversity between the two municipalities. I am also proud to inform my colleagues that Franklin University and The Ohio State University are working with educational institutions in Ghana to create even greater academic and cultural exchanges. As a City known for the Arts, Columbus' King Arts Complex is also working on a formal agreement to foster a relationship with the Ghana National Theatre. Mr. Speaker, I commend the cities of Columbus, Ohio and Accra, Ghana for this historic agreement and look forward to a long and prosperous partnership.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the memory of the great Rosa Parks, also known as the mother of the modern civil rights movement. Today, December 1, marks the 60th anniversary of Rosa Parks' arrest for refusing to surrender her seat on a city bus in Montgomery, Alabama, to a White male. Her arrest on this date in 1955 put a face to Jim Crow and the disgrace of segregation in this country and, in many ways, united a nation in the struggle for civil rights for all. As many of you know the story, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat, sparking the peaceful Montgomery bus boycott, which lasted 381 days and led to the eventual desegregation of the public transportation system across this Nation. Rosa Parks in every way embodies the tremendous difference a single person, Mr. Speaker, can make through the power of protest, nonviolence, and courage. As a member of the Ohio General Assembly, where I served as House leader, I was proud to have led the efforts that resulted in the 2005 passage of House Bill 421 designating December 1 as Rosa Parks Day, the first State in the Nation to do so. Each year, the State of Ohio, spearheaded by the Central Ohio Transit Authority, proudly celebrates the life of Rosa Parks in our State capital, Columbus, Ohio. It is important that we do not let her legacy of bravery die. I look forward to joining my constituents when I travel back to the district on December 3 to celebrate the 11th annual statewide tribute to Rosa Parks, ``The Power of One.'' Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Congressman John Conyers, the dean of this House, for agreeing to participate in my Community Leaders Forum at this year's celebration. For five decades, Congressman Conyers has been a champion of civil rights and voting rights. His distinguished career is highlighted by his work on important civil rights legislation such as the Martin Luther King Holiday Act of 1983, the Motor Voter bill of 1993, and the Help America Vote Act of 2002. Today, he continues to fight for voting rights and civil rights as the ranking member on the House Judiciary Committee. I look forward to welcoming him to our Rosa Parks celebration because he shared a personal relationship with her. She worked for Congressman Conyers from 1964 until 1988. However, before working with Congressman Conyers, she took a stand for justice and equality. The power of one person changed our Nation forever. Our fight for racial equality and real inclusion is ongoing, as recently publicized tensions across our Nation have made clear. With the Supreme Court decision to strike down section 4 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in Shelby County v. Holder, we no longer have the safety net that ensures that Americans, especially minorities, are able to participate in our democratic process. Mr. Speaker, we should not be rolling back voting rights protection. Instead, we should honor the progress our country has made to ensure and protect equal rights and equal treatment for all. That is why I am the cosponsor of the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2015, H.R. 2867, which enjoys bipartisan and bicameral support. Congress should immediately bring this legislation to the floor to ensure that all Americans may cast ballots to choose their leaders in public service. Mr. Speaker, many of the policies being pushed by the House Republican leadership would adversely and disproportionally affect people of color and individuals in low-income communities. When we talk about reform in Washington and starting with a clean slate without consideration of how these policies will affect all communities, we do our Nation a disservice. I am confident we can do better. I am hopeful that we can do better. We have a responsibility to do better. Today and every day, let us be inspired by Rosa Parks and remember that each person must live their life as a model for others. Mr. Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to speak on this important issue.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately on November 16, 2015, I missed roll call vote no. 626. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on final passage of Keep the Promise Act of 2015, H.R. 308.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, it is election day in Ohio. Right now, my constituents are casting ballots to decide their next local, State, and judicial elected officials. Participating in our democratic process is not only a right, but it is a duty. Unfortunately, again, for many Americans, voting recently became more difficult in 2013. As you have heard my colleagues mention, Mr. Speaker, that is when the Supreme Court struck down key provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in its Shelby v. Holder decision, making it easier for States and localities to disenfranchise voters in areas that have a history of voter suppression. We shouldn't roll back voting rights protections. Instead, we should honor the progress our country has made to ensure equal rights and equal treatment. Congress should immediately bring H.R. 2867, the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2015, to the floor so all Americans may cast ballots to choose their leaders and their public servants. I am a cosponsor-- no. Let me say I am a proud cosponsor of this bill, and it enjoys bipartisan support and leadership support in both the House and the Senate. Mr. Speaker, voting rights restoration should happen now. On Tuesdays, I will proudly wear my pin for restoring the vote. Mr. Speaker, again, that is restoring the vote.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. I thank Ranking Member Waters. Mr. Speaker, here is what I know. The American people are clamoring for us to do our job and work together to help hard-working American families get ahead. We can do that today by reviving the Export-Import Bank, a job-creating organization that reduces the Federal debt--with no subsidies, with no taxpayers' money. Last night my caucus and some Republicans joined together to force today's vote on reviving the Export-Import Bank. Why? Because it creates jobs. It helps small businesses, female-owned businesses. It is so important today for us to do this. I know it firsthand, Mr. Speaker, because, in my district alone, there are 14 businesses, including eight small businesses, one minority owned and one female owned. The Export-Import Bank supports some $71 million in exports--and here is the key--at no cost to American taxpayers. We have heard a lot today, some misinformed, some misleading. So here is what I think, as the evidence is clear, Mr. Speaker: Let us renew the Bank's charter without delay.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Thank you to my friend, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, and Congressman Chabot for managing tonight's Special Order. I am proud to join my colleagues as we salute Speaker John Andrew Boehner for his almost 25 years of service and being elected this January to his third term as Speaker of the House. Tonight my remarks are personal. I have had the pleasure of knowing John Boehner for more than three decades. Although at different times we both served in the Ohio House of Representatives, he and my spouse, Otto, served and worked on many things together. When I came to Congress, he invited me into his office for a cup of coffee. It is not bad to have the Speaker, the third most powerful person in the country, call you by your first name and, when we are back home, to say to others in my district that I am his friend. As a freshman, I learned, as most of you know, that seniority is very important in this House. Well, I said, I was a freshman, so that equals no seniority. Nelson Mandela died, and I learned that there was going to be an opportunity for Members to go to South Africa to Nelson Mandela's funeral. Wow. Yes, I wanted to go. All my colleagues said: There is one problem, Congresswoman Beatty, and that word again appeared--seniority. I will always be so grateful for Speaker Boehner approving the recommendation from Leader Pelosi. Yes, I went to Nelson Mandela's funeral. Tonight I am proud to join my colleagues in saying that Speaker Boehner served as a great statesman for Ohio and the Nation. The great State of Ohio has benefited greatly through his leadership. While there are things, certainly, that we have not agreed on, we have always managed to not be disagreeable in a way that was negative for Ohio or the Nation. But there were some things that we did agree on. There is one quote that was a very proud moment for me, as a Member of this United States Congress, when Speaker Boehner said: ``It was beginning to become a political football, and I just thought it was time to stop. Let's have a discussion with responsible Members of Congress to try to bring some resolution to this.'' But in his own view, Mr. Speaker, there should be no debate because, he said: ``In my view, the issue is settled. The flag should be gone.'' And, Mr. Speaker, that flag was the Confederate flag. So I say thank you, Mr. Boehner, for that. Thank you, Congresswoman Kaptur, for a recent article that I read that you wrote about Speaker Boehner. I think you said it all when you talked about his life here in Congress, and you said we all have benefited in our State from the great work that he has done. I agree with you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for always taking my calls. Thank you for always having an open door. I leave you with these words, the words of Nelson Mandela: ``It always seems impossible until it is done.'' Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Job well done.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the need for federal highway and transit programs across the nation and for Republican leadership to pass the Highway Trust Fund. Federal highway and transit programs are vitally important to the third congressional district of Ohio, which I proudly represent. The design, construction, and maintenance of transportation infrastructure in the third congressional district supports 15,184 full-time jobs, earning these families a total of $602.1 million annually. Between 2005 and 2014, the federal investment in my congressional district has provided $1.4 billion to support 380 highway and bridge projects worth $2.1 billion. Republican Leadership's failure to enact a robust, long-term funding bill for our decaying infrastructure system, is hurting our economy and hardworking American families all across our nation. Mr. Speaker, a long-term bill helps provide good-paying jobs, safe and modern infrastructure, and efficient transportation. Let's reauthorize the Highway and Transit Trust Fund today, before the October 29th deadline.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, I submit a clarification of my vote during consideration of H.R. 3192, the Homebuyers Assistance Act. I mistakenly voted ``no'' on roll call vote 540, final passage of the bill. I intended to vote ``aye''.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the bipartisan Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2015, H.R. 885, and urge Republican Leadership to bring it to the floor for consideration. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was born from the ``Bloody Sunday'' marches from Selma to Montgomery. With its enactment over fifty years ago, it protected the ability of every American to make their voice heard at the voting booth. In 2013, that changed. In the two years since the Supreme Court struck down one of the Voting Rights Act's most important provisions in Shelby County v. Holder,--the Justice Department's ability to prevent discriminatory rules--our democracy has been weakened. Mr. Speaker, every American deserves unfettered access to exercising one of our most basic rights--the right to vote. It is time for Congress to right the wrong created by the Shelby decision and pass H.R. 885, legislation that restores the full power of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor H.R. 885, and I strongly urge Republican Leadership to bring it to the floor for a vote before October 31st.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, the House of Representatives, the people's House, is in chaos. Last week, just hours before a government shutdown, we only managed to pass a 6-week CR to keep the government open. I voted for this bill because I refuse to shut down government and to do it over partisan politics because our Nation deserves better. It is time for the GOP dysfunction to end. If we work together, Mr. Speaker, today with bipartisan support, we could reauthorize the Ex-Im Bank, restore voting rights lost in the wake of the Shelby v. Holder decision, and fund the highway trust fund in a sustained way. But none of this seems to be happening because of Republican chaos and the inability to govern effectively. Republicans in Congress need to join Democrats and just get back to the issues that hardworking American families care about: jobs, voting rights, and the economy.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, this week, September 28, 2015 through October 2nd, has been designated as Malnutrition Awareness Week. Malnutrition is a problem for millions of Americans nationwide, including in my home state of Ohio, and is often ignored in the deliverance of healthcare. We should recognize this critical, yet often unseen epidemic in our country, and fight to eliminate it. Hunger, obesity, and food insecurity all contribute to malnourishment in our country and disproportionately affects senior citizens and low- income families. In fact, patients with malnutrition have been shown to potentially suffer longer hospital stays, have slower healing times, and be at greater risk for re-hospitalizations and complications. Focusing on malnutrition care will help yield transformative policies for patient-centered medical care and make a meaningful difference in the lives of our nation's older adults. Additionally, systematic malnutrition screenings, assessments, and appropriate interventions for older adults are often not accessible, but could be vital to leading healthier lives, and result in health care cost savings. We cannot afford to ignore such low-cost solutions. That is why I, along with Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) urging improved incorporation of nutrition into programs and improvement in patient care and outcomes. This week, let's have a call to action to increase awareness and find solutions that better support the healthy aging of all senior citizens and the health of vulnerable families through focusing on eliminating malnutrition in our country. Healthy citizens mean a healthy society, economy, and future of our country.