Emanuel Cleaver

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. The NFIP continues to pay over $400 million a year in interest. That is money that could go towards making improvements in the program or helping enhance affordability. We need to wipe the slate clean and give the NFIP a fresh start. Lastly, enhancing mapping technology and increasing litigation resources will go a long way in improving the program and preparing communities for prevention and recovery efforts. To be sure, I am pleased that we are voting to keep the NFIP up and running for the next 4 months, but I remain concerned that we have been unable to agree on a long-term plan. I again urge my colleagues to come to the table in a bipartisan manner for a solution and for the updating of the NFIP.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I regrettably missed votes on Monday, July 16, 2018. I had intended to vote ``yes'' on Roll Call vote 330, and ``yes'' on vote 329.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I proudly rise today to recognize the 119th anniversary of the creation of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) and celebrate their fervent service to veterans, service members, and their families. This year's annual VFW convention will be held in Kansas City, Missouri, and it is truly an honor for our city to host such a noble event. The VFW was established in 1899 in the wake of the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection. Many soldiers returned home sick or wounded with no means of medical care, so organizations formed to aid these recently established veterans. Through the resilient spirit that they have come to be known for, veterans came together in unity to establish the monumental institution known today as the VFW. Over one hundred years later, the VFW is now comprised of over 1.7 million members spread across nearly 6,374 posts worldwide. Today, the VFW continues to change the lives of veterans, military service members, and their families through their altruistic commitment to service and advocacy. Moreover, through their advocacy efforts, the VFW has been instrumental in moving veteran's rights and issues to the forefront of American policy. The VFW has stated its mission is to foster camaraderie among United States veterans of overseas conflicts, to serve our veterans, the military and our communities, and to advocate on behalf of all veterans. In this regard, the VFW has continuously kept its promise, ensuring that the service the organization provides is a direct reflection of its core values. Just as veterans and service members commit to putting the people of this country first, the VFW serves veterans, service members, and their families in the same manner. This noble organization commemorates the meritorious women, men, and families who have made monumental sacrifices and stood tall and valiant in the face of adversity. It is truly an honor and a privilege to stand today and recognize their outstanding work. Mr. Speaker, while a simple ``thank you'' could never properly describe our appreciation for these American heroes, please join me in honoring and showing our gratitude, not only for the VFW, but for those it serves.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I proudly rise today to recognize and celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS) and its many contributions to youth in Kansas City. As a cornerstone of the community, I am truly honored to have this institution in the Congressional District that I represent. Kansas City Public Schools began humbly as the Kansas City Missouri School District in 1867, serving only 2,150 children in the Kansas City area. Since its formation, KCPS has faced and overcome many hurdles, from segregation and racial barriers in the 1960s, to funding and accreditation in the 1980s to the early 2000s. Throughout these challenges, KCPS has exemplified true resilience and shaped the future of education in Kansas City for the better. In its journey to gain full accreditation, KCPS turned times of struggle into opportunities for advancement, exploration, and innovation. The KCPS system launched mentor programs to conscientiously provide students with support and guidance. Recently, it spearheaded the Middle College Program that allows students who have dropped out of school to complete their high school education and prepare for technical school or a two-year degree program at no cost. Moreover, it fostered community partnerships with the public sector, private sector, business leaders, volunteers, and stakeholders to ensure the district has resources to meet the needs of every student and their family. KCPS has faced adversity, but never threw in the towel. The KCPS system established itself as a source of stability for not only education, but also for families and the community. KCPS preserves its commitment to fostering a rich, diverse, and inclusive environment by providing services for English language learners, homeless students in transition, students with learning disabilities, and many others. This pledge to both student and family outreach demonstrates true assiduity and ensures that education is an equitable opportunity for all. Today, the Kansas City Public School system employs 2,300 teachers and educates nearly 16,700 students annually. Of these, nearly 91 percent of students come from marginalized communities, and more than 50 languages are spoken in its 35 schools, centers, and programs. KCPS gives students the tools necessary to be college and career-ready, empowering them to achieve their dreams. KCPS sets itself apart as an innovator, advocate, and champion. Undoubtedly, a century and a half of educating youth and serving the community is no easy feat. However, the spirit of the district, dedication of the administrators and teachers, and the commitment to growth is what allows the Kansas City Public School system to continue achieving its vision. In our diverse city with students from all walks of life, the importance of having access to a quality public education is critical in ensuring doors of opportunity for the youth of Kansas City continue to open. It gives me great hope for the future knowing that institutions like KCPS are devoted to a holistic support system for its scholars. I can say with confidence that the KCPS legacy will continue to shape the minds of students for generations to come. Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring the students and staff, both past and present, who made it possible for Kansas City Public Schools to achieve this monumental milestone.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, let me, first of all, thank Chairman Duffy from our subcommittee for working on this significant piece of legislation, as well as the chair and the ranking member of the full committee. I am not going to take long. I think most of the salient points have already been made. If I had a chance to rename this piece of legislation, it would be the Living in Higher Opportunity Neighborhoods Act. That is exactly what we are doing when we pass this act. This bill should pass without anyone even doing third-level thinking. All you have to do is read the Harvard research project from Raj Chetty, Nathaniel Hendren, and Lawrence Katz, which spoke about the improved opportunities for children based on their location. Higher opportunity neighborhoods offer just about everything that we would want a child to have growing up in this country. This choice voucher act, under section 8 of the 1937 housing bill, will provide opportunities for people to move out of areas of high poverty concentration into neighborhoods where there are opportunities. As a former mayor, this is the part I wish we could do on a lot of projects, and that is, if public housing authorities want to participate in this program, they must submit a regional plan, which means that they will work beyond their own special interests. In the case of PHAs in Kansas City, Missouri, we are separated by five other cities by one street, called State Line. So this would also provide an opportunity for Kansas City, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri, to work together. I am sure that there are situations all across the country which will provide opportunities for PHAs to work together. I will just end by saying that this program is one that I think we are going to find people in these neighborhoods strongly supporting. Should this legislation be signed by the President, I hope that we will do everything we can to make sure that the communities, as a whole, understand what this bill is, because I think it speaks to the overall needs in the urban core in particular. I am appreciative of the fact that I was allowed to be involved in this piece of legislation. I appreciate all the great work that my colleague and my neighbor across the hall, Mr. Duffy, has made available.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 50th season of the Kansas City Royals baseball team and the dedication of their fans. Fifty years ago, the Athletics were officially transferred to Oakland California, leaving Kansas City without a Major League Baseball team. With a legacy and tradition of the All-American pastime serving as one of the foundational elements of Kansas City, it was essential that they worked quickly to fill this void with a new team. Although the Major League Baseball owners had approved an expansion club for the city, there was a potential for delay. It was the quick action of then-Senator Stuart Symington that threatened Congressional action that would usher in the next generation of KC baseball--The Royals. As many of you are aware, Kansas City has a rich history of contributions to America's favorite pastime. Starting as early as 1884, the Kansas City Cowboys threw the first pitch as the first professional baseball team to represent the municipality. Although the KC Cowboys only fielded a team for one season, the Kansas City Blues immediately followed as one of the original eight founding members of the American Association, a minor league baseball association. This initial Kansas City team influenced many ``greats'' through the league until 1954. Yielding notable alumni players and managers, one of unique merit being Mickey Mantle. Concurrently, in 1920 the Kansas City Monarchs, one of the initial teams that formed the Negro National League, launched its first team. As men came home from World War I, entrepreneur and former pitcher, J.L. Wilkinson, brought together a team of multi-racial players that eventually became known as the KC Monarchs. Claiming 12 league titles and two Negro World Series titles, the Monarchs would commonly lead the league as a major contender. Stars from these Monarch teams included baseball legends and Hall of Famers like Satchel Paige, Jackie Robinson, Ernie Banks, Willard Brown, and Buck O'Neil. The Kansas City Blues and Monarchs lead Kansas City in its original baseball fandom, eventually resulting in the establishment of the city's first stadium in 1923. Known initially as Muehlebach Field, the stadium is rooted adjacent to the Historic 18th and Vine Jazz District. This stadium would change hands several times; however, in the early 1950's, a wealthy real estate developer purchased the stadium, as well as the Philadelphia Athletics, with the goal of bringing a major league team back to Kansas City. Eventually, it was sold to Kansas City, Missouri. Encouraged by fans to step up to the plate and expand the venue to hold some 30,000 fans each game, the city agreed to bring the newly named Kansas City Athletics to Municipal Stadium. After only 90 days of reconstruction, the new stadium would be debuted to a sold-out crowd. Independence native and former President of the United States, Harry S. Truman threw out the first pitch in 1955. Kansas City would be victorious on that day, defeating the Detroit Tigers in an 8-2 bout. Following their victorious debut, the Athletics would continue to draw enormous crowds, making Kansas City baseball attendance third behind only the illustrious Yankees and Milwaukee Braves. Ultimately, the Kansas City Athletics would go through many changes, leading fans on a topsy-turvy ride with various owners, uniforms, mascots, team colors, and even names of the team. Inevitably, the owner at the time, Charles ``Charlie'' O. Finley, decided to move the team in 1967. Although the Athletics left in 1968, Kansas City baseball fans didn't give up on the sport, as voters approved a bond issue to construct a new baseball stadium. With the roar and threat of Missouri's U.S. Senator Stuart Symington, Major League Baseball was forced to ensure that a team would be in Kansas City no later than 1969. Local entrepreneur Ewing Kauffman won the contentious bid as the new team's owner and joined a local committee to crown the team as the Kansas City Royals, in recognition of the region's historic livestock economy and thriving American Royal livestock show that has a legacy dating back to the late 19th century. Although Kansas City's hometown team would not only be based on a hometown history, the design of the team's logo would be furthermore iconized by an artist, Shannon Manning, from another Kansas City original: Hallmark Cards. The Kansas City Royals were fated for greatness as the new team took the field in their new stadium. With the 1969 Rookie of the Year Lou Piniella on the Royal's side, the Minnesota Twins were destined for defeat. In a 4-3 win after 12 innings, the Royals truly earned their crown that night. Furthermore, the team would go on to field some of Major League Baseball's premier players including: five-time allstar and three-time golden glove winner Amos Otis, Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum's Hall of Famer and five-time all-star Octavio Victor ``Cookie'' Rojas, twotime all-star Steven Lee ``Buzz'' Busby, legendary manager Dorrel Norman Elvert ``Whitey'' Herzog, and many more. In 1980, famed Royal slugger George Brett led the Royals to their first American League Pennant. Finally defeating the Yankees, the Royals triumphed over a bitter rival that had defeated them three consecutive seasons in the American League Championship Series for a pennant win. This was the first year the Royals took the field in search for a World Series title. Unfortunately, the Royals would lose the nail-biting seven game series. However, that defeat only prompted Brett to drive the team further. In 1983, Brett hit a two-run homer in the top of the 9th inning to put the Royals in the lead over the Yankees only to be called out on a technicality, prompting Brett to storm the field in raging protest. ``The Pine Tar Incident,'' as it would be known from that point forward, would forever be hailed in baseball history, even inspiring song-writer Lorde to draft a song about Brett's reaction to being tossed out of the game. The Royals were making their mark on baseball history and the fans were cheering them on along the way. In 1985, during the I-70 Series Showdown against the St. Louis Cardinals, KC's Bret Saberhagen and the all-star team finally brought home the Commissioners Trophy. Royal's stars such as Frank White, Willie Wilson, Dan Quisenberry, and many others mounted a comeback rarely seen in baseball, roaring back from a 3-1 series deficit. The Royals would have many ups and downs before they would win another pennant or be crowned as World Series champions; however, they continued to energize fans with greats such as: Bo Jackson, Carlos Beltran, Mike Sweeney, and many more. In 2014, the Royals would once again take their shot at the World Series. As fans continued to ``believe'' in the Royals, their eyes were glued to their screens as our boys in blue raced towards the post-season for the first time in nearly 30 years. In a stunning wild-card clinch, the Royals boasted a crowd-inspiring winning streak, winning eight consecutive games and securing their place as American League Champions. They went on to face the San Francisco Giants in their first World Series appearance since 1985. Sadly, our star-studded team fell in seven games, but continued to remind fans that we would be ``forever Royal.'' Just as the sun sets, it is sure to rise the next morning. Therefore, as the next season began, the Royals--lead by all-star and fan favorites like Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Salvador ``Salvy'' Perez, Alex Gordon, and Lorenzo Cain--would yet again drive us towards another pennant win. With an even more focused effort, the Royals would head into the All-Star break, with the best record in the American league. Based primarily on the momentum from fans and experience from the previous season, the Royals won another American League Pennant and were heading back to the World Series to face the New York Mets. This time, the Royals secured their crown in only five games, solidifying their victory with a Game 5 rally to tie in the 9th inning and a five- run smattering in the 12th inning. This year, the Royals returned home with their second Commissioner's Trophy. Like many cities across the country, the Royals dawned their crown and headed toward main street for their victory day parade. Like every other parade, they were welcomed by firetrucks, marching bands, trolleys, and floats. However, as the parade route came to close at the crossroads of the Historic Union Station and the National World I Museum and Memorial, our boys in blue were welcomed by nearly 800,000 cheering fans celebrating a city-wide victory and uniting people across all spectrums. On this day, I believe, every baseball fan across the country was cheering for the Royals. Mr. Speaker, please join with me as we commemorate the 50th Anniversary season of the Kansas City Royals. The historic contributions of Kansas City's commitment to baseball will live on through our legacy and as we continue to inspire the next generation baseball fans.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I am only able to raise my right arm to maybe 50 percent, sometimes not that much, but that is due to shoulder separations from playing football. John McCain cannot raise his arms because he was tortured in Vietnam. I believe that it is just about sinful for Mr. McCain, in his days of very serious illness, to have anyone in this country, particularly anyone in a position of significance, say things about him that cannot in any way bless him or encourage him but, in fact, denounce him through baseless attacks. Mr. Speaker, when I was elected, I promised my four children that I would never come to the well of this House and attack a human being or call them names. Unfortunately, things have changed in this country to the point now where that is a part of our daily way of doing the business of the greatest Nation God has ever allowed to exist. There is something wrong, Mr. Speaker, when the elected leaders of our country refuse to apologize. There is not a single parent watching the goings-on in this Chamber who would tell their children: No matter what you do, no matter how awful you hurt another human being, you had better not apologize. We are setting examples for children and unborn children by what we do in this Chamber. How in the world can a person sleep at night who can hurt another individual and not apologize? I guess there are some things I will never apologize for. I will never apologize for never coming to the floor to attack a colleague. I will never apologize for respecting a person with whom I may disagree. I will never apologize for displaying disrespect for a member of the other party though their policies are separate and distinct from mine. I will never apologize for trying to get my point across without stabbing someone with it. I will never apologize for being sensitive to the pain and hurts of others. I will never apologize for being an apologist when I wrong someone. Silence is consent. And when I see this going on around this Chamber and I see it going on in other places in our government, I know that there are millions of people who believe that that is okay, that if it is done by someone in my party, it is okay. I have said to my family, I have said to our church, and I have said to my colleagues here: If the leaders of the Democratic Party, Nancy Pelosi or Steny Hoyer, stand up and attack someone, particularly someone who is ill, I would come to the floor and condemn them. Right and wrong is not based on party; it is based on right and wrong. We are becoming a mean-spirited nation. No one watching this will tell their children: I want you to watch what is going on in Washington and use what you see as an example of how to live. Mr. Speaker, Washington is dark right now. The people around this country who believe in light should let it shine.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate a constituent in my district who went above and beyond to serve our community. Jewel Scott began her work nearly two decades ago in Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which I proudly represent. Furthermore, her efforts and contributions to the region are nothing short of remarkable. Of her many accomplishments, Scott is most known for her work with the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City, an organization of chief executive officers representing various influential companies in the area. After serving as the Director of Research and Planning, Scott was named the Executive Director of the Civic Council in 1994. Since then, Scott has spearheaded a myriad of projects and initiatives focused solely on the council's four main objectives: innovation economy, human capital, vibrant communities, and leadership development. She has worked tirelessly to uphold the organization's standards and mission of accelerating growth in the region's prosperity and quality of life. Aside from her work with the Civil Council, Scott boasts a lifelong career of community based innovation and development through her multifaceted involvement. with various organizations within the Greater Kansas City area. Currently, she occupies a seat on the Missouri biotechnology association executive committee and is on the board of directors for both the University of Kansas Advancement Board and the Kansas City Convention and Visitor's Association. Although she would be the last to admit it, it is my personal belief that her benevolent ambition and persevering dedication has made a profound impact on the community as a whole. Therefore, it is with a sense of bittersweet pride that the community must now congratulate Scott on her retirement from the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City. I speak on the behalf of the entire district when I say thank you Ms. Jewel Scott. Mr. Speaker, please join me and all of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District in expressing our sincerest congratulations to Jewel Scott for her monumental achievements in her community and her tireless efforts in promoting education, innovation, and commerce, not only within her city limits, but throughout the state. I urge all my colleagues and fellow citizens across the country to join me in showing our appreciation to Ms. Jewel Scott's accomplishments and service.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the 175th Anniversary of the Independence Fire Department in Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which I proudly represent. Throughout the first half of the 18th Century, Independence, Missouri was a prospering village on the cusp of achieving the noteworthy status of an industrialized community. As people planted their roots and a community flourished, there emerged an evident need to protect what they had established. In 1843, community members petitioned the state legislature, and the 12th General Assembly of Missouri approved the establishment of a volunteer fire department known as the ``Independence Fire Company''. At that time, it is my understanding that these volunteers carved out an indelible mark of innovation in the community, with a manpowered wooden engine and buckets of water to put out fires as their only tools. In August of 1894, the Independence Fire Company transitioned from a volunteer based organization to a professionally paid department. Furthermore, it gives me great pride to know just how far this company has come over the years. By the end of the 1950's, the department boasted the employment of more than 100 firemen, nearly five times the amount the company had at the beginning of the decade. Furthermore, with eight stations total, the department expanded its protection of a population of 16,000 to nearly 100,000 citizens. This period of rapid expansion was initiated by the Missouri Inspection Bureau; however, it is my belief that these achievements would not have been possible without the hard work and determination of each and every individual within the department. Today, the department encompasses 10 fire stations, 165 firefighters, and an area of 78 square miles. Under the current leadership of the Fire Chief Douglas Short, the Independence Fire Department remains an institution that protects and serves the community. Just as those who established the company 175 years ago, they maintain the same selfless sacrifice regarding the protection of countless lives and the community as a whole. Mr. Speaker, please join me and all of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District in honoring the Independence Fire Department for their 175 years of dedicated service to the community. Let us join in recognizing the bravery of the men and women, past and present, who have honorably served the community and preserved the integrity and excellence of this establishment.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I proudly rise today to recognize one of my constituents from the Fifth District of Missouri, Hugh Zimmer. Early in Hugh's adolescence he was introduced to real estate and all its glory by his father and grandfather, both of whom worked at the North Kansas City development company. In 1948, Hugh's father made the decision to resign from his position at the North Kansas City development company and begin his own business, which is now known as Zimmer Real Estate Services. Five years later, in 1953, Hugh returned from his service with the United States Air Force and went to work for his father; who, in 1957, passed away. Despite the death of Hugh's father, the Zimmer family kept the business afloat and nurtured it into the prosperous business that it is known as today. The legacy Hugh has built within the last 65 years is but a reflection of his noble character. Zimmer Real Estate Services has played an important role in many of the area's economic development organizations, spearheaded by Hugh Zimmer. As an individual who strives to uphold the highest level of integrity and moral values, Hugh follows through with projects that promote and ensure positive community infrastructure and development. Through this he confirms his personal beliefs, while bolstering prosperity and growth of the community. Aside from his real estate contributions, Hugh takes an active role in numerous social and civic organizations. Hugh has served on the boards of directors and executive committees in numerous communities, as well as civic and professional organizations. In 1998, the governing body of Lenexa, Kansas made him an honorary citizen in recognition of his contributions to the area's growth and development. He is a past Chairman of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Trustees and is currently Chairman of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Chancellor's Institute for Urban Education National Advisory Board. Hugh also served as an Advisory Director of Commerce Bank of Kansas City, and a Trustee of Midwest Research Institute. In addition to the many roles he plays in the community and as a business owner, he also maintains a healthy and growing family. The Zimmer Real Estate Services is a family owned business that is run by and employs Hugh, his brother Bill, his son David, and his daughter Ellen. Soon they will have two other Zimmers working for the company as interns, thus, the likelihood of a fifth generation of Zimmers in real estate is very promising. Hugh has stated that, ``running a family-owned business, like the market, has its ups and downs.'' However, being the optimistic man that he is, Hugh focuses on the benefits and good that result from owning a family run company. Two of their most noteworthy accomplishments, as a family, include serving as presidents in different terms in the local real estate board and the Society of Industrial and Office REALTORS (SIOR). Hugh, Bill and David all served as President of the local real estate board at one point or another; and Hugh and David served as President for the SIOR, a rare feat for a father and son. Hugh has been an authentic and constant leader in his company, the community, and his family. Mr. Speaker, please join me and all of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District as we wish Hugh Zimmer well in all his future endeavors while continuing to recognize all that he has accomplished.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate two significant anniversaries for two of America's closest allies. One hundred years ago, Czechoslovakia was formed through the Pittsburgh Agreement following the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the end of World War I. Additionally, this year marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of Czechoslovakia, from what many refer to as the ``Velvet Revolution of 1989'' or the ``Gentle Revolution,'' peacefully becoming two democratic countries by mutual consent: the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic on January 1, 1993. The Pittsburgh Agreement and the Velvet or Gentle Revolution, whichever you prefer, are monumental events for these great nations as it opened the door for democracy and prosperity for the people of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. During their brief history as independent, democratic nations, both the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic have formally become members of the European Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the United Nations, showcasing their commitment to democracy through institutional participation and military cooperation in NATO missions around the globe. Let it also be known that the Czech Republic has a local tie to Missouri's Fifth Congressional District. When applying for admission into NATO, the Czech Republic had the official documents signed at the Truman Presidential Library in Independence, Missouri. Visiting diplomats from the Czech and Slovakian governments will gather again May 15-16, 2018 in Kansas City for a diplomatic luncheon and to commemorate the anniversary of the Czechoslovakian Declaration of Independence, which officially created the nation state of Czechoslovakia in 1918. Mr. Speaker, please join me and all of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District in expressing our sincerest congratulations to the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic for their monumental achievements in independence and their tireless efforts in promoting democracy, not only within their borders, but throughout the world. I urge all of my colleagues and fellow citizens across the country to join me in showing our appreciation to these two great nations and their commitment to continued friendship with the United States and democracies everywhere.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by saying that there are a lot of things in this farm bill that I actually agree with, and I would like to be supportive of such components of this bill. I agree with and would like to be a partner in getting this bill passed. However, there are some things I need to mention. For the last 50 years, Democrats and Republicans have worked together to combine food and farming programs in a bipartisan effort. However, when discussing the 2018 farm bill, which will come up for a vote very soon, I want to shed some light on some things that don't quite add up, some things that aren't what I would call common sense. In essence, this bill aims to restrict eligibility and reduce benefits of the Nation's most effective antihunger program, SNAP, formerly known as food stamps. Moreover, this proposed bill dumps a massive burden on State governments. Therefore, although I intend to be an active partner in the final passage of this legislation, I cannot and will not support the 2018 farm bill until the necessary changes are made. If enacted, this bill, as it is currently designed, will deal damaging blows to the very heart of America by cutting nearly $20 billion from SNAP, resulting in higher levels of hunger, poverty, and critical health problems. I want to take just a minute to remind my colleagues and those who are watching at home who the SNAP recipients are. In my home State of Missouri, SNAP reached 759,000 residents, more than 10 percent of the population. That is 1 in every 10 Missourians. SNAP kept 221,000 people out of poverty in Missouri, including 109,000 children, which reminds me--and this is the painful part of being in a body that has now become tribal in the way we conduct business, and it is so sad that we have come into this situation. Over and over and over there is this theory that is floated out in America that people are stealing food stamps and living in luxury homes and all of this; and it is just so sad because, when you hear something like this for decades, people actually believe it. There is no proof to what they say when they make these allegations. It may be important to know that 82 percent of the places where food stamps or SNAP are redeemed, there is 0.5 percent fraud. But if you listen to people, they are not going to say it on the floor. They could go and say it out in the world, but they won't say it on the floor, because they know that it is inaccurate, but you would come to believe that, boy, these people are ripping these hardworking Americans off. Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive. That is from Macbeth, and it is exactly what is happening. We are deceiving the American public. I read somewhere that says the generous will themselves be blessed for the food they share with the poor. That is something that we should remember, particularly those of us who are inclined to read the book from which that quote came. As Representatives of the United States of America, it is our responsibility to pass legislation that is proactive, not reactive. It is our responsibility to understand the very real and human consequences that could take place if this legislation is passed as it currently stands. Once again, let me remind you of the fact that the SNAP program is the most effective way to combat food insecurity. I know. I grew up poor. I grew up in public housing. I saw my father working three jobs to get us out of public housing. We lived there 5 years. He would not even take food stamps because he didn't want anybody to think that he was not working hard enough. So I get a little frustrated when I hear people lying about people who receive SNAP. The fact that, in the year 2018, there are children and adults in America who go hungry is absolutely appalling. It is important to note that over 70 percent of the people who receive SNAP are the children, the disabled, and the poor.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I am thankful that we have this moment that we are using to make some expressions of concern, and I thank Mr. Perlmutter for organizing it. Let me preface my comments, Mr. Speaker, by saying that when President Trump was elected, against the advice and concern of my family, my many campaign workers, and supporters, I attended the swearing in because I believed--and still believe and will always believe--that my responsibility as a Member of Congress was to be at the inauguration as a Member of Congress. Then at the first joint session--not the State of the Union, but the joint session--many of my friends and family said: You know, do not go. The President is alien to our concept of decency and democracy. I came anyway. I sat not too far from where I am standing now. I also then went to the State of the Union. Some of our colleagues chose not to come. When there were Articles of Impeachment placed on the table for a vote, I voted to table it against a person I have known in Congress longer than I have known anybody else because I know he is a decent and thoughtful person, Congressman Al Green. He had brought it to the floor. I voted to table it, along with just about every Republican and a sizeable number of Democrats, and the reason was, I believed that it was important for Mr. Mueller to complete his investigation. I resent any discussion about trying to impeach the President. I am not in that group. I must say, however, how troubled I am by many of the things that I have seen. And when I grew up down in Texas in the 1950s and 1960s, in elementary school at the Booker T. Washington Elementary School, we had these tests. Back then, there was a great threat from Russia. And economically, Wichita Falls, where I attended high school, was completely dependent on Sheppard Air Force Base for its survival. My first job was at the SAC base, the Strategic Air Command. I cleaned up. I thought it was the biggest job any human being could get. I was 15 years old and, man, I was big time. I cleaned up the barracks for the SAC Command. And then at school, we had to get under our desks for a drill for an attack from Russia. And we would hear the horn. All over town, schoolkids were getting under their desks. The truth is, we all would have been burned up. I am not sure that a wooden desk was going to protect us. But I was a kid and I didn't know any better, so all of us got under our desks. But it allowed me to understand one thing, and I have never forgotten it: At that time, Russia, the Soviet Union, was not our friend. And over that period, a lot of things have changed. That has not changed. And so let's fast forward to our last Presidential election. It is indisputable. Every single intelligence agency in the United States, as well as intelligence agencies with our allies in Europe, say that the Russians interfered with our election--not attempted to do so, but interfered. Did they change the outcome of the election? There is no evidence to support that. However, there is plenty of evidence to support that Russia remains the enemy of the United States of America. I necessarily am going to become increasingly concerned when the President of the United States refuses to say even one bad thing about Vladimir Putin, who is--and I don't like to call people names--I don't call my colleagues bad names; that is not who I am--this man is a bully and a danger to the entire world. The most troubling moments I have are when I hear people say, as I did on TV the other night, they were interviewing a woman and she said: ``I don't care anything about Russian meddling. All I want them to do is just let Mr. Trump have his agenda approved.'' And I am thinking: What is happening to this Republic? I have five grandchildren, the youngest of which just turned three last month. My work in Congress, my ministry in the United Methodist Church for 37 years, my time on the city council, my time as mayor, all was dedicated to what I wanted for my grandchildren. I want them to enjoy the same kind of freedoms that we enjoyed. Mr. Speaker, anybody who is watching this and who has even a semblance of objectivity would have to say something is dramatically wrong when the President will, by Twitter, attack anybody and everybody--horses, children, little animals--anybody he will criticize and call them names, except Vladimir Putin. Vladimir Putin is the only person he will not criticize. This man orchestrated an attempt to damage our democracy. What Putin did--and it was brilliant--I have to say he is a devilish man, but he created a beautiful way of doing it. He knew the weaknesses of the United States and so he tried to exploit it. And it is still going on. For example, just a few weeks ago, one of those Russian bots had a deal on the internet advising White Americans not to go and see the movie Black Panther. Inside this message online is that African Americans are attacking white movie-goers. Now, of course, that didn't happen, it is not even remotely the truth, but Russia understands how to get to us. They look at our weaknesses and they attack. We cannot help in that process. Mr. Mueller needs to complete his investigation. I will never support doing anything legally in this body until Mr. Mueller completes his investigation. I thank Mr. Perlmutter for getting us together. I think that we have got to make the American public conscious of what is going on and maybe, more importantly, what is not going on. If we are able to do that, this Republic, the greatest Republic that God Almighty has ever blessed to exist, the greatest Republic in the history of this planet, is going to be in jeopardy.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to speak about a very important issue to my constituents in Missouri's Fifth Congressional District and, frankly, millions of farmers and ranchers all across this great country. Recently, President Donald Trump announced his intention to place a $50 billion--that is billion with a ``B''--in tariffs against Chinese goods, claiming that China has been taking advantage of the United States for too long. I wish that someone in the White House, someone on the staff had cautioned the President on the negative impact his launching of a trade war would have on this country. This unvetted decision has and will continue to cause significant harm to many of my constituents and to rural Americans throughout the heartland. Following President Trump's announcement of his intended tariffs, predictively, the Chinese responded with $50 billion in proposed tariffs of their own. These tariffs, which would be as high as 25 percent, would target 128 American products such as pork, beef, cotton, soybeans, corn, specific types of vehicles, and airplanes. First, I want to talk about soybeans. Last year, the United States exported $14 billion worth of soybeans to China. In Missouri, my home State, soybeans are the number one cash crop, contributing $7.7 billion in total output and supporting more than 20,000 jobs in our State. One out of every three rows of soybeans grown in Missouri goes to China, and one in every four rows grown in the United States goes to China. The day the Chinese announcement was made, soybean futures on the stock market were down almost $0.40 a bushel. This was only after the tariffs were announced. Can you imagine the kind of losses soybean farmers would face if they were actually implemented? Now, how about pork? Over the past 10 years, the United States has been, on average, the top exporter of pork in the world. Last year alone, nearly $6.5 billion in pork was exported from the United States with $1 billion of that being exported to China. Pork exports help to support about 550,000 jobs. Midwest States like Missouri dominate hog production and exports. Missouri is ranked seventh, and our next-door neighbor, Kansas, is ranked tenth. The Chinese have announced that they will also target U.S. corn, which will negatively impact the corn-based ethanol plant in my district, Mid-Missouri Energy. The plant is located in a little town, Malta Bend, and probably to some people that is not important, but it is a major economic stabilizer in that town and the entire area. Economic losses to that plant or even closure of the plant would have rippling effects throughout the surrounding area. Now, I know Mr. President is a real estate man, so he might not understand how business works on a farm, but these people work on razor-thin margins. In any given year, a bad crop, lack of demand, or Mother Nature's wrath can cause an economic downturn that leaves them struggling. American farmers have enough unknown variables they have to deal with. These reckless threats of tariffs on one of our biggest trading partners do not need to be added to that list. If this so-called war continues, we can expect Boeing plants, such as the one in St. Louis, Missouri, down the street from us in Kansas City, to hit China, and then China may back away from ordering some 7,000 planes that would strengthen and inject over $1 trillion into our State's economy. The President is correct, the Chinese do steal U.S. intellectual property and, yes, there is a trade imbalance in this relationship. Nevertheless, even with only one class in economics, I understand clearly that trade wars are not good. No one wins. President Trump promised to negotiate new and improved trade deals, but his negotiating skills are falling far short and our farmers and ranchers will pay the price. I encourage President Trump to reconsider his shortsighted approach to trade and to offer him my help in finding other solutions to address our problems with China.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize one of our own. On Friday, March 30, 2018, Mr. Geoffrey (Geoff) Jolley will bid farewell as my District Director and General Counsel, having overseen my District operations since my first day, on January 3, 2005, as a Member of Congress in these hallowed halls. For more than 13 years, Geoff has dedicated his life to serving our community. He has quietly juggled two careers in public service, working for the people of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District and as a Kansas City Firefighter/EMT. Geoff is a Kansas City native and lifelong resident. After graduating high school, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics with a minor in African-American Studies from Emory University in Atlanta. He then earned his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law in 2002. Prior to serving nearly six months in 2004 as the Campaign Coordinator on my inaugural campaign, Geoff worked for my predecessor, Congresswoman Karen McCarthy. Following the tragic events of September 11, 2001, Geoff joined a volunteer fire department and a FEMA urban search and rescue team while still enrolled in law school. After graduation, he spent six months as a Lieutenant with the Antarctic Fire Department at McMurdo Station, Antarctica before returning to Missouri and ultimately joining the Kansas City Fire Department. Over the years, Geoff has helped me build my district offices from the ground up, from our beginnings at the Federal Courthouse in Kansas City to the openings of my satellite offices in Independence and Higginsville. It was not unusual to see my District Director working on the floor in his suit, wiring and configuring computers in the Kansas City Office, physically laying the hardwood floor in my Independence Office, or hanging photos he had taken around the District in the Higginsville Office. From working with me to establish the foundation in my office to implementing my vision for district projects, Geoff has served as a sounding board for many of my creative projects, providing legal, practical, and political insight. Once we identified a path forward, he spearheaded many of my major district successes. He has maintained an expansive portfolio over the years, including speaking on my behalf at Chamber and community meetings, overseeing our monthly finances and assisting with personnel matters, helping coordinate constituent services and town halls, and addressing issues impacting residents of the Fifth District, such as the federal budget and appropriations, transportation and infrastructure, energy and the environment, among others. Having been Mayor of Kansas City during devastating floods, one of my early priorities included protecting the lives and livelihoods of constituents living in flood-prone areas. Geoff worked quietly with the Army Corps of Engineers and stakeholders along Turkey Creek, Brush Creek, and the Blue River by attending stakeholder meetings and advocating for federal resources for these flood control efforts. He also worked with the City of Kansas City, Environmental Protection Agency, and Department of Justice on the City's ever-challenging Overflow Control Plan, by successfully pushing for the inclusion of green infrastructure and an extended implementation period. At the time, Kansas City was granted the longest implementation period of any municipality in the country, and more recently, we have been working to extend it even further to bring needed financial relief to our taxpayers. Geoff led the staff in planning, developing and implementing a multi- pronged effort that included both public and private organizations and entities in order to maximize the use of 2008 Economic Stimulus Act and 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) resources in the District for the good of our entire community. This inclusive effort yielded grants, partnerships and alliances that brought needed resources and opportunities for job creation, economic development, public transportation, housing improvements, utility and infrastructure projects, health and social programs, as well as educational and veterans programs that will have enduring positive impacts on the recipients. Perhaps the largest and most ambitious of those efforts included the Green Impact Zone (GIZMO). GIZMO consisted of 150 blocks in Kansas City's urban core where Geoff supervised our effort to bring various stakeholders, including neighborhoods, the Mid-America Regional Council, the City of Kansas City, State of Missouri, and dozens of corporations, non-profits, developers, and other entities together to concentrate efforts in a targeted fashion to weatherize homes, install a smart electrical grid, demolish vacant properties, rehab abandoned buildings, and create job opportunities for residents in the area. We accomplished this by helping to bring over $160 Million in ARRA and other federal funds to the area. The Green Impact Zone aimed at transforming an oft-ignored part of our community into one of the environmentally greenest pieces of urban geography in the world. GIZMO was regularly highlighted nationally as a model for regional collaboration in the sustainable community efforts. Among the ARRA grants received for GIZMO included a $50 Million TIGER grant, a $48 Million SmartGrid grant, and a $20 Million EECBG grant. Geoff coordinated dozens of meetings with stakeholders and staff to help craft grants that would be impactful and then ensured strong fiscal management, accountability, and oversight during the implementation stages. The TIGER grant helped bring much-needed curbs and sidewalks to neighborhoods in the urban core, provided funding for a new Troost Bridge and pedestrian crossing at Brush Creek, improved streetscaping and corridor installations along transit routes, and more. Geoff's staff work and collaboration with Kansas City Power & Light aided in the development and federal funding of KCP&L's SmartGrid Innovation Park. SmartGrid put the Kansas City area in front of the line when it came to the energy efficiency revolution. The park features a 1 MW storage battery, a solar array, and educational kiosks to illustrate how power is delivered to the customers. In 2012, Geoff also played an integral role in helping to bring ShotSpotter, a gunfire detection system, to our region. I had initially viewed the success of this program in Washington, DC and was determined to institute a pilot project in Kansas City. Geoff worked with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority and U.S. Department of Transportation to use existing federal funding to install ShotSpotter technology along the Troost BRT route. In its first couple years, it helped reduce gunfire by 26 percent in the areas where the technology was installed. The Kansas City Police Department continues to fund this technology today to support their proactive policing strategies and deployments, in their ongoing commitment to improve the safety, security and quality of life for our residents. Over two decades ago, I fought for the revitalization of Liberty Memorial, an historic and majestic monument built nearly a century ago by Kansas Citians and dedicated to all our nation's veterans of World War I. It stands as a constant reminder of our veterans' sacrifice, but also as a tribute to peace and liberty. During my service in Congress, my respect and commitment for our veterans has remained a priority and Geoff has worked on numerous efforts to raise awareness of World War I. In 2006, he joined me at the opening of the WWI Museum, built below Liberty Memorial, and worked closely with me and our Washington staff to help get the entire site officially designated as the National WWI Museum and Memorial. Geoff has served as my representative to the Board of Trustees for the National WWI Museum and Memorial and became an integral part of Board, helping to secure legislation and funding from the State and serving on the Host Committee for their annual Night at the Tower. For the past twelve years, Geoff led our staff as we worked with a bi-partisan, bi-cameral delegation, including Senators Roy Blunt and Claire McCaskill, along with my colleagues, Congressmen Ted Poe, Doug Lamborn, Sam Graves, and Kevin Yoder to create the U.S. WWI Centennial Commission. Geoff has served as my liaison at dozens of meetings and events alongside the Commission. As April 6, 2017 marked the Centennial of the United States' entry into World War I, Geoff was asked to serve on the WWI Commission's Management team to help coordinate our nation's official ceremony, a major international gathering in Kansas City to commemorate this historic moment. On that day, thousands of people came to the National World War I Museum and Memorial to pay respect and to give honor to those who fought to keep our world safe. Geoff worked directly with the Centennial Commission to ensure the celebration would go off without a hitch. Over 250 foreign dignitaries were in attendance from nearly 30 countries. In addition to working with WWI Commissioners, Museum and Commission staff, event planners, dozens of representatives of federal, state, and local agencies, including those from the Defense Department, State Department, and National Archives, among others, he volunteered as the staff lead on committees, including the security and aviation committees. Geoff's service on the latter committee resulted in him being asked to officially welcome the French Air Force's premiere demonstration team, Patrouille de France, to Kansas City's Downtown Airport upon their arrival for the event. Even after such a successful event on April 6th, Geoff has continued to work diligently to promote additional funding, educational outreach and national programming for this worthy cause. These are but a sampling of the many projects, events, and initiatives that Geoff has worked on during his tenure in my office. However, as my colleagues in this Chamber know, we are regularly pulled in many directions as we try to represent the nearly 750,000 constituents in our Districts. Oftentimes, it is our staff, serving behind the scenes, helping to ensure those constituents and stakeholders get prompt attention as they maneuver through the bureaucratic hurdles that regrettably get in the way. There is not a member of this esteemed body who wouldn't be proud to have Geoff Jolley on their team, and his service has certainly been a blessing for me. On a personal note, nine years ago, I had the pleasure of officiating the wedding of Geoff and his wife, Kimberly, and know him to be a loving husband and a devoted father of two beautiful young girls, Sophia and Maggie. I will miss the girls' cheerfulness, playfulness, and relentless energy, on display every time they stopped by the office or community events. Mr. Speaker, Geoff is a loyal, caring, and compassionate individual whose selflessness, empathy, and unflappable personality will be sorely missed. As he transitions into other areas of public service, I encourage my colleagues to join me in recognizing his lifetime of dedication to our community and country and wishing him continued success. The people of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, including me, are better off because of Geoffrey Jolley.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 4545. Today we are considering yet another measure that would weaken our system of financial regulation and bog down regulators in their important work. It would ultimately take us right back to some of the problems that led to the largest financial crisis since the Great Depression. The bill puts financial institutions' profits before the protection of consumers and the best interests of the American public. I rise, Madam Speaker, to say to Members of both sides of the aisle that we must remember the past as we create policies. I was here during that entire period, and it created a very, very heavy darkness over this entire country. In the years preceding the financial crisis, the Federal Reserve failed to write rules stopping predatory, risky mortgage loans. The OCC and OTS preempted State regulators from reining in mortgage abuses. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York and other regulators failed to stem excesses at large companies and did not downgrade troubled companies until it was too late. Legislation such as H.R. 4545 sets the stage to return us to an ineffective regulatory system. Republicans have made it a habit to falsely claim that their legislation is designed to benefit small community banks and credit unions. There are some things that could be changed to improve Dodd- Frank and to provide responsible relief for small community institutions, which I believe we all recognize did not cause the financial crisis. I have said in our committee and I will say openly in any other place, including on the floor here, that there are some things we can repair in Dodd-Frank. But what this bill would do is give all regulated financial institutions an additional way to appeal and, thereby, postpone material supervisory determinations of their prudential regulator and of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. In other words, messy megabanks and other big financial firms could appeal and delay adverse determinations such as a downgrade of a bank's credit rating for capital asset quality management, earnings, liquidity, and sensitivity to the market risk. It would also enable them to appeal significant deficiencies of their anti-money laundering programs, findings related to the violations of various rules, or a downgrade of their Community Reinvestment Act ratings. Let's think about this for just a minute. Some banks would be allowed, under this bill, to appeal the OCC's historic and well- deserved double downgrade of its CR rating. Under this bill, Wells Fargo, for example, would be allowed to unleash its army of lawyers to not only fight against the rating, but to tie the OCC up in proceedings. We all know that when the banks who spend millions on legal teams each year deploy those resources, they deploy them to win; and if they win, then American consumers lose. But let's focus on CRA. CRA was intended to ensure that institutions were making loans and providing services in the lower-income and moderate-income neighborhoods in which they were located to address the problems of redlining. As highlighted in the recent report by the Center for Investigative Reporting, redlining is not just some relic of the past. Sadly, painfully, and embarrassingly, redlining appears to be still very much an ongoing, troubling problem that continues to harm many minority mortgage loan borrowers in cities all across the United States of America. This bill will make redlining worse, and that will happen because, instead of improving their ratings and trying to end discriminatory lending practices, bank executives will simply challenge these rates and bully their own regulators into submission. Now, this may be unintentional, as I would presume to believe, but this bill ignores the fact that prudential regulators and the Consumer Bureau each already have an agency ombudsman and an intra-agency formal review and appeals process. What's more, messy megabanks already have existing avenues to bring a court challenge to any form of regulatory enforcement act. Thus, what this bill would actually do is create unprecedented barriers to the effective, prudential, and consumer protection supervision of the messy megabanks. It will give messy megabanks and predatory lenders, including payday lenders, an additional way to resist corrective actions to avoid violations of law or safety and soundness risk. As a result, the bill would allow these financial institutions to bog down agencies with frivolous appeals. In a letter opposing H.R. 4545, the National Consumer Law Center wrote that the effective bill ``would be most pronounced at the largest banks who could appeal dozens or hundreds of material findings from every examination creating enormous roadblocks to supervision. The bank supervision process has been the first line of regulatory defense against threats to bank safety and soundness for a century or more. H.R. 4545 creates unprecedented roadblocks to the effectiveness of bank supervisory determinations and could be devastating to effective regulatory oversight in areas ranging from basic prudential oversight to key consumer protections that make our financial markets fairer.'' In addition, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found that H.R. 4545 would increase the deficit by hundreds of millions of dollars--by hundreds of millions of dollars. It would increase by hundreds of millions of dollars. Hundreds of millions of dollars it would increase. Millions of dollars would be increased because banks would be more likely to fail and need government assistance. In sum, H.R. 4545 would weaken our Nation's system of financial regulation, and, in so doing, it would recklessly set the stage for a return to the captive, hamstrung regulatory system that existed in the years before the 2008 financial crisis that enabled the risky profit- fueled activities of large, complex, messy megabanks and other titans on Wall Street to go unchecked. I therefore urge my colleagues to oppose H.R. 4545. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the inimitable chair of our committee is absolutely right: there are Democrats. This is a bipartisan piece of legislation. But it proves what I was trying to say earlier, and that is that I and many other people believe that we need to make some changes to Dodd- Frank. This is just not one of them. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Maxine Waters), and I ask unanimous consent that control she may control that time.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I regrettably missed votes on Tuesday March 6, 2018. I had intended to vote ``yes'' on Roll Call vote 94, and ``no'' on vote 95.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I regrettably missed votes on Monday February 26 and Tuesday February 27, 2018. I had intended to vote ``yes'' on Roll Call vote 81, ``yes'' on vote 82, ``no'' on vote 83, ``no'' on vote 84, ``no'' on vote 85, ``no'' on vote 86, ``no'' on vote 87, ``yes'' on vote 88, ``no'' on vote 89, ``yes'' on vote 90, and ``yes'' on vote 91.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remind my colleagues and the American public about what is happening to families around this country and why this Congress must enact comprehensive immigration reform as quickly as possible. Syed Jamal is the father of three, a husband, and a chemistry professor from Bangladesh who has lived in the United States for 30 years. He had overstayed his visa but had been checking in periodically with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, as he was told to do. But on January 24, as he was getting ready to take his kids to school, ICE officers pulled up, put him in handcuffs, and arrested him. As was talked about this morning on most of the stations, they threatened his children that they too would be arrested if they tried to hug him good-bye. He was detained for several weeks without the ability to contact his family. Despite his lawyers', the community's, and my efforts, he was set to be deported yesterday. He was on his way to Bangladesh, where he probably would have been killed, when an emergency appeal was successful. He was released in Hawaii but is still in limbo. I will be working across party lines with Representative Jenkins to see a pathway to citizenship for Mr. Jamal and his wife. I am calling on ICE to bring Mr. Jamal home to be with his family while the court decides his case. Over 96,000 people have signed a petition to stop his deportation.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Georgia for yielding. He has pulled us together. Those of us who have been able to work with him over the years, as I have--13 years on the committee--we appreciate the gentleman's work from Georgia's 13th District. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues have already very eloquently reminded you of the significance, the history, and the benefits of unions. I want to talk to you about the power of unions, the power to effect change in the workforce. Next month, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in Janus v. AFSCME. This will decide whether workers can receive all the benefits of a union contract without contributing any funding in return. We call them fair share fees. Unions work because the workers pay their fair share, and they all benefit from what is negotiated. Each worker chooses whether or not to join a union, but the union is still required by law to represent and negotiate on behalf of all of the workers. Some people want to see an end to that, which is why this case is headed to the U.S. Supreme Court. A negative decision could reverse a 40-year unanimous precedent supporting State's rights. Now, I want to say that I believe in the power of unions. It allows employees a voice when some of them feel that they have been silenced. When they can't speak and ask for increased wages or a safe working environment for fear of retaliation, the unions speak. The unions are their voices and they demand fair and reasonable working conditions. We saw that power in 1970 during the Postal Workers' strike. Workers had had enough. And as the gentleman from Georgia mentioned earlier, we saw that power during the Memphis Sanitation Workers' strike. Workers were willing to sacrifice their lives. The Reverend James Lawson, a good friend of mine, was a United Methodist pastor in Memphis at the time. He made a phone call to a man he had met about 10 years earlier. Jim Lawson had just gotten out of prison for refusing to go to Korea. Jim Lawson met Martin Luther King after he got out of prison. They both ended up in India, studying under Gandhi. Jim Lawson realized that Martin Luther King had started this organization with four others called the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, so he called him and said: ``Would you come to Memphis? We need you to help with this sanitation workers' strike.'' It is little known that when Dr. King tried to get the SCLC board to vote to come to Memphis, they were not in support. Dr. King struggled around a couple of days by himself, and then let everybody know on the board he was going to go by himself. That, of course, changed everybody else's minds and they joined him in Memphis. We all know what happened to Martin Luther King, Jr., when he went to Memphis. He was killed on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel. He sacrificed his life for workers, the people who built this country. I owe my ``middle classness'' to my maternal and my paternal grandfathers. Both of them worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad and became members of a union and earned enough money to buy a house. In my little town where I was born, Waxahachie, Texas, an African American owning his own home, not a shanty? So it inspired his three boys, one of which was my father, to raise his four kids in a middle class way. We all went off to college. We owe that not only to the ingenuity of my grandfather and my parents, but also to the unions. So I will support unions as long as I can. Long after I am out of Congress, I intend to support unions because they have power to change lives. I am an example.

Mr. CLEAVER

Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, let me, first of all, state the obvious. I am rising to support H.R. 4258, the Family Self-Sufficiency Act. I would like to thank Chairman Duffy for the spirit of bipartisanship that he has demonstrated on this and on other legislation as well; and Mr. Himes, the gentleman from Connecticut, who is managing this piece of legislation. It is also appropriate to thank the chair and the ranking member of the committee for giving their support to this piece of legislation. H.R. 4258 would make important updates to the Department of Housing and Urban Development Family Self-Sufficiency program, the FSS program, which is a voluntary program that encourages residents who use housing vouchers or who live in public housing to connect with program coordinators to create self-sufficiency plans, obtain educational resources, and pursue work opportunities. This program also creates an interest-bearing escrow account for participants that can be accessed upon graduation from the program. Money from this account can be used for job-related expenses or as savings for a home. I deviate from my written comments to say that there are a number of great stories like Tanya's that Mr. Duffy shared. As a 5-year resident of public housing when I was growing up, during that time my father was working on three jobs trying to save money for a house and to buy what became his first car. Our first car was an Oldsmobile Rocket 88--Rocket 88 I want emphasize--and it was the pride of our family and our community, frankly, when that happened. But it would have been infinitely easier if there had been some kind of escrow account that my father could have moved money into to save so that when he found that lot and the house that he lives in today, that would have been money right there available for him to pay down on it or pay it off. It seems like a lot of money then, but the lot was $5,000, and the money that he could have saved over that period of time could have been so significant. We managed to do it anyway. This program would help countless numbers of people who want to take advantage of the help that the Federal Government can give them with housing but at the same time work and strive toward independence. That is what I think the great value of this program is. I don't want to repeat what has already been said, so I want to just give you a list of the organizations supporting this legislation: the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Preservation of Affordable Housing, the National Leased Housing Association, the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Compass Working Capital, National Association of Housing Redevelopment Officials, Housing Partnership Network, the National Housing Trust, and Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future. A similar version of this bill was introduced by Senator Reed and Senator Blunt from my home State of Missouri over in the Senate, and I am encouraged by this bipartisanship and the bicameral process. I am also hopeful that we can continue to work, as Mr. Himes said, on further improvements of housing resources all across the country, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.