Joyce Beatty

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Madam Speaker, I was absent from the House Chamber on November 21, 2019, due to illness. Had I been present, I would have voted yes on Roll Call number 638.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent the Third Congressional District of Ohio. Unfortunately, my district, the State, and the Nation are no stranger to senseless gun violence, lack of affordable housing, and quality healthcare. I rise today, again, to say enough is enough. I rise to mourn the 13,200 men, women, and children who have been victims of gun violence this year. The time for only thoughts and prayers is over. It is time for serious, hard-hitting policy and change. I call on my colleagues to support my legislation, H.R. 287, the SAFER Now Act. Safer America for Everyone Right Now is comprehensive and pulls together the most forward-thinking policies in one package. It would, Mr. Speaker, require background checks, prohibit the sale of semiautomatic assault weapons, make trafficking in firearms a stand- alone criminal offense, prohibit the possession of firearms by a person who has been convicted of stalking, and bans bump stocks. Let's pass this bill and the two gun reform bills already waiting on Senate action. My first-ever floor speech, when elected to Congress, was on gun violence. Since then, I sponsored and helped sponsor and pass commonsense gun laws, proudly received an F rating from the NRA, participated in the 24-hour gun reform sit-in, marched with Moms Demand Action and stood with Students Demand Action for gun reform, and more. I am calling on the Governor of Ohio, city mayors, State representatives, city council, community leaders, and others to demand action to make our communities safer, get guns off the street, train and put neighborhood police back in our communities, call upon the soon-to-be new police chief of Columbus to first patrol our inner-city neighborhoods, know our community, hold police officers accountable, and support reducing gun violence--because enough is enough. Lack of Affordable Housing

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, lack of affordable housing is an issue. The Columbus area is the most expensive region for housing in Ohio. A person would have to work a minimum wage of over $18 per hour to afford a two-bedroom apartment. We are fighting to only get a $15-per- hour minimum wage. I recently convened an Affordable Housing Summit to discuss this critical issue with 36 stakeholders, toured the district, and, in that evening, was joined by some 400 constituents to have a community conversation, hearing firsthand from them about affordable housing issues. We know that young people and African Americans are disproportionately affected by this housing shortage. Too many young people, too many seniors, too many veterans, and too many families are facing homelessness. Columbus and our suburban areas are continuing to grow. We need to ensure that all of our residents can grow and prosper. Call to action: I recently passed a bill for FHA first-time home buyers to get a reduction on their mortgage insurance for taking a financial literacy course. It passed the House. Now let's call on the Senate to pass it. We must increase the supply of equitable opportunities to access affordable housing, call on the banks to design CRA projects with their bank-owned houses, raise bond financing, expand abatement housing buyouts, increase Federal funding, hire a housing czar in my district, and support State housing tax credits. I will continue to work with stakeholders to address this affordable housing crisis. Affordable Quality Healthcare

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, lastly today, I rise for access to affordable and quality healthcare for my constituents and all Americans: Too many constituents do not get the care they need due to skyrocketing costs. Too many seniors can't afford their prescriptions, and they are cutting their pills in half to stretch their medicine. Too many young people cannot afford the insurance premiums to even get access to a doctor. At the beginning of this Congress, I met with stakeholders in my district to solicit their help. I will continue to support the Affordable Care Act and oppose Republicans' attempts to dismantle this critical legislation, because if Republicans had their way, nearly 30 million Americans would lose their healthcare--an unconscionable and sobering statistic. I am proud to cosponsor H.R. 3, the Lower Drug Costs Now Act. Mr. Speaker, I am fighting for the people of the Third Congressional District of Ohio.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Bernard Tyson, who passed away on November 10 and is being celebrated at this hour. I had the privilege of serving alongside Bernard on the board of the American Heart Association, and I can tell you he was a visionary and a champion for high quality healthcare for all Americans and providing some 12 million American men, women, and children healthcare in the process. That is what he fought for every day as president and CEO of Kaiser Permanente, in which he served as the first African American in that role. He was a trailblazer in the industry with a push-the-envelope mindset, quick wit, and he was a people person. He never forgot where he came from. He mentored many and was a prominent African American that we looked up to. My condolences, thoughts, and prayers are with his wife and dear friend, Denise, his son, and the entire family. I am proud to call Bernard my friend and will miss him dearly and his exceptional contributions to our Nation's healthcare industry. Rest in peace. Rest in power.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, first, I thank my colleague and friend, Congresswoman Plaskett, for leading tonight's Congressional Black Caucus Special Order hour. First, and certainly fitting, to tonight's topic on mental health, I salute the life and legacy of a giant in the healthcare industry who passed on November 10, Bernard Tyson, president and CEO of Kaiser Permanente and friend. Just this year, Mr. Speaker, he was talking to the editor-in-chief of Fortune magazine about lessons learned and lessons that were worth remembering, and now he has left them behind, and those lessons were about mental health. He was talking about, in this healthcare system, we have a system of healthcare for the body and for the mind, and he had integrated both into his system, and he had done it in a seamless way and in a way that did not have stigma. So, tonight, I say to my friend: Rest in peace. Rest in positive power in healthcare. But also, Mr. Speaker, the Congressional Black Caucus is coming together tonight, as the Congresswoman has said and as she powerfully leads us, to elevate the conversation about mental health in the African American community. Millions of adults and children are impacted by mental health conditions each year, including depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress, and anxiety. For too long in our country, there was a stigma associated with mental health, especially in our community, the African American community. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Offices of Minority Health, just in 2017, suicide was the second leading cause of death for African Americans between the ages of 15 and 24. Additionally, the death rate from suicide for Black men was four times greater than for African American women in 2017. We are encouraged, encouraged to see more influencers, such as Jay-Z and the ``Breakfast Club'' host, Charlamagne, speak out about mental health disparities in the Black community. But as the gentlewoman is leading us tonight in saying more must be done, the Federal Government has a moral obligation to invest more resources into mental health services. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her leadership, and I thank her for being a voice for us on this topic.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Madam Speaker, I was absent from the House Chamber on October 31, 2019, due to a serious illness in my immediate family. Had I been present, I would have voted: No on Roll Cal No. 605; No on Roll Call No. 606; Yes on Roll Call No. 607; No on Roll Call No. 608 and Yes on Roll Call No. 609.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Madam Speaker, I was absent from the House Chamber on October 28, 2019 through October 30, 2019, due to a serious illness in my immediate family. Had I been present, I would have voted: Yes on Roll Call No. 585; Yes on Roll Call No. 586; Yes on Roll Call No. 587; Yes on Roll Call No. 588; Yes on Roll Call No. 589; Yes on Roll Call No. 590; Yes on Roll Call No. 591; Yes on Roll Call No. 592; No on Roll Call No. 593; No on Roll Call No. 594; No on Roll Call No. 595; No on Roll Call No. 596; Yes on Roll Call No. 597; No on Roll Call No. 598; No on Roll Call No. 599; No on Roll Call No. 600; No on Roll Call No. 601 and Yes on Roll Call No. 602.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Madam Speaker, I was absent from the House Chamber on October 18, 2019, to attend a funeral in my district. Had I been present, I would have voted no on Roll Call No. 565; no on Roll Call No. 566; and yes on Roll Call No. 567.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, I have met many people in my life, but Elijah Cummings was steadfast and unmovable in his quest to protect our democracy. He was my friend from day one. I was a lost freshman, trying to find my way to the Rayburn Building from Cannon. Not only did Elijah teach me how to read the numbers, but he walked me all the way to the Rayburn Building. Then he recommended a chief of staff to me, Kimberly Ross, who is with me today. He was a mentor to me and so many. We texted often and talked about healthcare challenges and the challenges of our communities and this great Nation. He cosponsored and saluted me for my work putting Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill. Elijah would often say his life was based on pain, passion, and purpose, which propelled him forward. A few months ago, he keynoted an event in my district for his good friend, the Reverend Dr. Charles Booth's program, Bridges to the Future, for its 25th anniversary, although he was not feeling well himself. But Elijah was a friend to the end. His unmatched ability to tap into the heart of the matter and find consensus that mattered was Elijah. So, Elijah, my brother, my friend, my mentor, my colleague, I assure you, when times get tough, I will borrow your fighting spirit and harness the power to stand firm in the face of injustice. My heart and prayers are with his wife and my friend, Maya; his children; his family; his constituents; and his staff. Elijah, my friend, my colleague, rest in peace. Rest in power, my friend. I know you are dancing with the angels. God bless you.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Madam Speaker, I was absent from the House Chamber on October 15, 2019, to attend important events in my district. Had I been present, I would have voted yes on Roll Call No. 556 and yes on Roll Call No. 557.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Madam Speaker, I was absent from the House Chamber on September 27, 2019, due to a dire illness in my immediate family. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall No. 553; ``yes'' on rollcall No. 554; and ``yes'' on rollcall No. 555.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Madam Speaker, I was absent from the House Chamber on September 19 and 20, 2019, due to an illness in my family. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on Roll Call No. 537; ``yes'' on Roll Call No. 538; ``no'' on Roll Call No. 539; and ``yes'' on Roll Call No. 540.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Madam Speaker, Katherine Johnson, Dr. Christine Darden, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson; most people know them as the ``Hidden Figures.'' Well, Madam Speaker, I think it's safe to say they are ``hidden figures'' no longer. Thanks to them and many other women, we were able to reach for the stars and put a man on the moon. We honor these brave, brilliant women. They accomplished what many thought impossible and proved--to paraphrase Katherine Johnson--that ``Girls are capable of doing everything men are capable of doing. Sometimes they even have more imagination than men.'' In that spirit, I am proud to be a cosponsor of the Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act and urge all my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Guam (Mr. San Nicolas), vice chair, for his leadership and for all his support. And to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Stivers), my colleague, thank you for your support. Mr. Speaker, I have the distinct honor to chair the Committee on Financial Services' Subcommittee on Diversity and Inclusion. And we have heard from numerous experts and we had countless research reports that show more diverse executive teams are more likely to outperform their peers on profitability, be more stable, and increase their market share. According to a study conducted by McKinsey & Company entitled, Delivering through Diversity, researchers have found that companies in the top 25 percent for gender and ethnic diversity on executive teams were 21 percent to 33 percent more likely to outperform on profitability. While companies in the bottom 25 percent for both gender and ethnic diversity were 29 percent less likely, Mr. Speaker, to achieve above- average profitability. That is why it is so important that we pass my bill, the Ensuring Diverse Leadership Act of 2019, or better referred to as H.R. 281, which would require at least one individual reflective of gender diversity and one individual reflective of racial or ethnic diversity to be interviewed for each Federal Reserve president vacancy. Mr. Speaker, as we have heard, it is modeled after the National Football League's Rooney Rule, which requires every team to interview at least one minority candidate in the hiring process for a new head coach. This bill adopts this proven private-sector diversity initiative and applies it to the Federal Reserve, what I like to call the Beatty rule. Like the National Football League prior to the implementation of the rule in 2003, the 12 Federal Reserve banks face a diversity problem within the leadership in their institutions. This would help move the needle. In more than 100 years of existence, the 12 Reserve banks have had only three non-White presidents and seven female presidents. It wasn't until 2009 that the Federal Reserve ever had a non-White Reserve bank president. It wasn't until the historic selection of my friend Raphael Bostic to be the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta in 2017 that an African American president of the Federal Reserve was appointed. Though we have had seven female presidents, 8 of the 12 Reserve banks have never had the distinction of having a female at the helm. That is why we need to adopt the Beatty rule at the Federal Reserve and pass this very important bill. Reserve bank presidents not only serve as the head of their financial institutions, but they play an incredibly important role in our Nation's economy, from serving on the Federal Open Market Committee, which determines the country's monetary policy and interest rates, to regulating the banks in their regions, to getting cash into their banking systems. Federal Reserve presidents should be more reflective of the public, and this bill will ensure diverse leaders are in the room and at the table when making decisions that directly impact our economy and directly impact our communities. I would like to end by thanking Chairwoman Waters and all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have cosponsored this legislation, including my good friend and colleague from Ohio (Mr. Gonzalez), who spoke on behalf of this bill and helped to make this bill bipartisan. Lastly, I would like to thank Jim Rooney and the Rooney family, with whom I have had the opportunity to sit down and discuss this legislation, his philosophy, and his ideas. He is the son of the late Dan Rooney. This is a very important initiative. I am pleased to have his support and bipartisan support on this bill. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I ask them to vote in the affirmative, ``yes,'' to pass the Beatty rule.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Will the gentleman yield?

Mrs. BEATTY. Madam Speaker, I thank the officers and Mayor Whalen. Megan Betts; Monica Brickhouse; Nicholas Cumer; Derrick Fudge; Thomas McNichols; Lois Oglesby; Saeed Saleh; Logan Turner; Beatrice Warren-Curtis.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Judy Schneider on the occasion of her retirement. Throughout her time on the Hill, Judy served as an unparalleled testament to bipartisanship, hard work, and public service. There is no one more deserving of being recognized for a lifetime of exemplary public service. Cherished mentor to a lucky few and friend to countless Members of this body, Senators, and Hill staffers, including my Chief of Staff, Judy embraced each day of her four decades of service as an opportunity to improve the processes of Congress. Her expertise knew no bounds. She has authored countless reports and mentored thousands. Judy was a tremendous help in the successful orchestration of the 2014 Women's Fly-In. Committing forty years to Congress takes resilience and a passion for public service. But to embrace those years with her unwavering belief that Congress can always do better is her shining legacy. Many of you know that I am fierce advocate for the 3 P's of public service: Policy, Process, and Politics. Fewer know that it was Judy who took the time to teach me the three P's, and emphasize that they are the key to fostering-bipartisanship, even in the most contentious of times. Her touchstone is immeasurable, her service is deeply appreciated, and her retirement is well-deserved.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, first I would like to thank Chairwoman Waters for all of her leadership and her support. Mr. Speaker, for a majority of American families, buying a home will be the biggest financial purchase in their lifetime. That is why this bill we are considering today is so important. My bill, the Housing Financial Literacy Act, H.R. 2162, would provide a 25-basis point discount on an FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium to first-time home buyers who complete a HUD-approved housing counseling program. One of the main barriers to homeownership is saving up for the downpayment. This bill would reduce that barrier by roughly $500. The FHA has been utilized by everyday American families to achieve the American Dream of homeownership. Eighty-two percent of all FHA- insured mortgages are used by first-time home buyers, likely since consumers only need to put down 3.5 percent as a downpayment. The downpayment is the number one barrier to homeownership for many first- time home buyers. This bipartisan bill would incentivize those prospective first-time home buyers to take ahold of their financial futures by taking a financial literacy class, while making it easier and a little cheaper for them to purchase that first home. These classes are already available across the country, from Homeport and Homes on the Hill in Columbus, Ohio, to Kentucky's Housing Corporation, to the Kenosha Housing Authority in Wisconsin, and the list goes on. These classes are available to first-time home buyers to purchase a home in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Not only is this bill a good deal for first-time home buyers, but it is also a good deal for the American taxpayer. There have been several studies over the past few years that prove not only does prepurchase housing counseling lead to improved mortgage literacy, greater appreciation for communications with lenders, and improved underwriting qualifications, such as higher credit scores, but there are also studies that show, as we have heard, that first-time home buyers who have received housing counseling are nearly one-third, Mr. Speaker, less likely to face delinquencies or foreclosures. When you consider the average cost to the taxpayer for default within FHA's portfolio is greater than $65,000, this bill could actually save the taxpayers money. That is something that both my Republican and Democratic colleagues were interested in during the debate on this bill in committee, and both sides of the aisle will be happy to know that, according to the Congressional Budget Office's initial analysis, this bill would not have a cost to the U.S. taxpayer. Mr. Speaker, I would like to close by thanking my colleague and friend from Ohio, Congressman Steve Stivers, for cosponsoring this important bill. Steve and I have served as the co-chairs of the Financial and Economic Literacy Caucus for the past two Congresses. This is an issue that we care about deeply. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank the organizations that came out in support of this bill. I think it is very important for people to know that the National Association of REALTORS, the National Housing Resource Center, the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, the Leadership Conference for Civil and Human Rights, the League of United Latin American Citizens, Credit Unions National Association, National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions, Public Citizen, and National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals all support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I think you get my point. People want this bill. It is the right thing to do. Mr. Speaker, I want to also thank Congressman Barr for his support. I urge my colleagues to join us in support of this bill, H.R. 2162, to allow more Americans to reach for that dream of homeownership in a financially responsible way. Please support this bill.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of St. Stephen's Community House. Located in the heart of my district, St. Stephen's Community House is a sanctuary of education, development, and faith serving the Linden Community for 100 years. Today, under the leadership of CEO, Marilyn Mehaffie; LaTisha Addo, Director of Family Services; and Kristin Giger, Director of Youth Services, St. Stephen's provides services for residents of all ages, ranging from infant mortality initiatives and early childcare programs to vital family and senior services including sustainability efforts and eliminating food deserts. Even after a century, St. Stephen's Community House's mission of dedicated service to the families of the Linden community continues to thrive, and for that the entire Third Congressional District of Ohio is forever grateful.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize June as Gun Violence Awareness Month. So far this year, nearly seven thousand Americans have been killed and almost twice as many injured at the hands of gun violence. Even more shocking, there have been 190 mass shootings across the country--in Shreveport, Philadelphia, Louisville, and Des Moines just within the last week. Gun violence is a uniquely American epidemic, but unfortunately, failure to act has also been uniquely American. Congress failed to act twenty years ago after Columbine, again twelve years ago after Virginia Tech, or after Sandy Hook, the Pulse Nightclub, Las Vegas, or Parkland. Thankfully, the new Democratic majority has passed the first gun violence prevention bills in a generation. Whether it's those bills or my SAFER Now Act (H.R. 282), Congress must continue our work ``For the People'' and act to prevent one more American from falling victim to gun violence.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Madam Speaker, I was unexpectedly delayed and absent from the House Chamber on June 3, 2019. Had I been present, I would have voted yes on Roll Call No. 232.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to voice my strong support for the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act, H.R. 1994, otherwise known as the SECURE Act. This bill will make it easier for all hardworking Americans to have access to retirement savings plans to create a brighter financial future for themselves and their families. In today's economy, far too many Americans do not have adequate access to traditional retirement savings vehicles such as an employer- sponsored 401(k) plans and pensions. In fact, as of 2016, only 30 percent of American households had access to a defined-benefit plan and only 52 percent participated in a defined-contribution plan. These statistics are even starker for minority families. According to recent studies, while African-Americans participating in employer-based retirement plans were on par with White families, participation rates have dropped to 41 percent in 2013, compared to 65 percent for White families. This bill would expand access to employer-sponsored retirement savings plans for all Americans and incentivize increased contributions to employee retirement accounts by employers. It would also provide a tax credit for small businesses to defray the costs of providing their employees certain 401(k) retirement options that include automatic enrollment, which has proven to increase employee participation and result in higher retirement savings. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mrs. BEATTY

Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank Chairwoman Waters for her leadership and commitment to putting the consumer back in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau without regrets. Mr. Chair, I am proud to be an original sponsor of this bill because it does exactly what the title of this bill says it does. It puts consumers first. One, by restoring supervisory and enforcement authority to the Office of Fair Lending. It also establishes the student loan office--continuing--and resumes military lending examinations, all without regret. Mr. Chairman, I don't know what my colleagues are talking about. Those are things that we need, and maybe that is why some of the people did send them back home. I do agree with my colleague on that. This bill ensures that no matter who is running the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, there are protections that guard against a rogue Director from dismantling it and halting its important work, as this administration has attempted to do time and time again. Mr. Chairman, I support this because I support the workers. I support what they do for consumers. I support this legislation, and I will proudly debate anyone who thinks this chairwoman has not established legislation and policies that put consumers first. I urge all of my colleagues, even those on the other side: Let's talk about bipartisanship. Let's get on board and vote ``yes'' for this.

Mrs. BEATTY. Madam Chair, the inclusion of credit scores on the free annual credit report is an issue that my colleague from Tennessee and I have worked on for several Congresses. Under current law, all consumers are entitled to a free annual report from the three credit reporting agencies. However, despite providing consumers with all of the information that makes up their credit scores, the free annual report does not actually include a credit score. That needs to change. Adoption of this amendment would do just that. I want to thank Chairwoman Waters for working with us. I also want to share that financial literacy is a lifelong journey, and as co-chair of the Financial and Economic Literacy Caucus, I believe that knowledge of one's own credit score is essential. There are few three-digit numbers as important to consumers as their credit score. Despite the importance, nearly 60 percent of U.S. adults are unaware of what their score is. Whether applying for a home or an auto loan, applying for a line of credit or a credit card, or even applying for a job, undoubtedly, a credit score plays an integral role in the everyday financial lives of all Americans. I am asking and urging my colleagues to support this important amendment.