Yvette Clarke

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in commemoration of Dr. Lamuel Stanislaus' 95th birthday. Dr. Lamuel Stanislaus celebrated his 95th birthday on April 22, 2016 in Brooklyn, NY, with close friends and relatives. Born in Petite Martinique, Grenada, Lamuel A. Stanislaus, has been the recipient of numerous professional, civic and political awards which include the Insignia of Commander of the British Empire from her Majesty the Queen of England, (CBE), The Lifetime Achievement Award from the District Attorney of Brooklyn, and a Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from St. George's University, to name the few. On February 7th, 2016, Dr. Stanislaus was recognized under Grenada's National Hero's legislation and was named Knight Commander which provides for him to be referred to as Sir Lamuel--KCNG. His exemplary work done as the UN ambassador of Grenada furthermore cements his legacy, contributing to the well-being of not only his country, but the host of eleven other small commonwealth countries; in particular the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in which I deeply express my gratitude. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I ask we recognize Dr. Lamuel A. Stanislaus not only for his achievements he's done for the global community but most importantly being a family man, a father to his children, a loving husband and a true hero in our society.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. I thank our ranking member, Ms. Eshoo, and the chairman. Mr. Chairman, I rise to oppose H.R. 2666, the No Rate Regulation of Broadband Internet Access Act, which would prohibit the FCC from regulating rates for broadband Internet access. I agree with the premise behind the bill. The Commission should not be setting rates for broadband access. In fact, we have heard from FCC Chairman Wheeler. He has stated several times that he does not intend to set rates. Like millions of Americans who made their voices heard last year, I support a free and open Internet. I do not believe the FCC needs to get into the business of regulating consumer broadband rates. H.R. 2666, however, is overbroad and far-reaching. The unintended consequences of the bill before us would undermine important consumer protections and would threaten a free and open Internet. For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to oppose the bill before us today.

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to support the Lujan, Pallone, Yarmuth, and Clarke amendment. This commonsense amendment would ensure that the FCC can easily determine who is paying for political ads. More specifically, this amendment would guarantee that nothing in this bill would prevent the FCC from requiring that TV broadcast stations, AM and FM radio broadcast stations, cable operators, direct broadcast satellite service providers, or satellite digital audio radio service providers upload the public inspection file in the format that is machine- readable. Unfortunately, there is a large amount of unlimited money moving through our electoral system. This amendment gives all voters the peace of mind of knowing our elections are fair and transparent. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate our civilian U.S. international media organizations, Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty and the Voice of America, for the dramatic work they have done in jointly creating and developing their Russian language television news venture, ``Current Time.'' ``Current Time'' draws upon a uniquely informed network of reporters and commentators to provide timely and credible news. It has expanded since its debut in October 2014 from a 30-minute, daily broadcast into a brand that combines daily and weekly programs on numerous platforms to bring audiences all along Russia's borders--from the Baltic countries, through Belarus, Ukraine, and Moldova, to the Caucasus countries and on into Central Asia--the information they need. I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating and supporting the ``Current Time'' team, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the Voice of America. Their work makes a critical contribution to supporting the freedom of the press for Russian speakers in critical regions around the world.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, as a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, I thank Mrs. Watson Coleman for her leadership, and I stand with my colleagues from the Michigan delegation and our colleagues throughout this House in our outrage over what has occurred and the pursuit of justice for the people of Flint. As a New Yorker, I say to myself: There, but for the grace of God, go I. We, too, in New York City faced a lead crisis when callous landlords did nothing to abate lead paint in their older housing stock. A crisis that impacted untold numbers of young New Yorkers remains with us to this very day. But then, that was the private sector. Who will speak for the marginalized and disenfranchised that depended on the State leadership of the Governor, Mr. Snyder, and his team to keep them safe from harm? The decision of the State of Michigan to change the source of water for the sake of saving money showed an utter disregard for the well- being of the people of Flint. It is a national disgrace. It is a national tragedy. This callous disregard for the poor and the vulnerable leaves us all culpable for what has happened in our Nation. The timeline of events is especially unnerving. The source of Flint's water was changed in April of 2014. For nearly 1 year, complaints about the water quality were ignored by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. It took the EPA one series of tests to determine that the water was unusable, just one series of tests. And we know, as a result of that, that this water was definitely unsafe for human consumption. The result is babies, children, nursing mothers, the elderly, some with compromised immune systems and health, were poisoned by their own government. Access to clean water and clean air are fundamental human rights. The State of Michigan has failed the people of Flint. Its State leadership has demonstrated a contempt and marginalization of the humanity of her people. Who will speak for the marginalized and disenfranchised of the callous disregard for the poor and the most vulnerable? Well, tonight and every night across this Nation Americans are standing up to say that this cannot be tolerated, that justice is due, that we have to speak out for the vulnerable communities, often minority and impoverished, that are victims of environmental injustice. We must stand firm in our resolve to see that the people of Flint are dealt with in a humane manner, that their lives are enhanced by a quick remedy to what they are currently experiencing. The malaise, the laid-back way in which people--in particular, the Governor and his administration--are dealing with this crisis leaves all of us uneasy. You have heard from my colleagues this evening about the impact of lead on the brains of developing children. You have heard about how lead impacts the health of those with compromised immune systems. We are also hearing about other contagions within the waters of the Flint River maybe even being tied to Legionnaires' disease. We will continue to see health crises emerge as more and more is discovered about actually what is in the Flint River. We have also been told that the level of lead within this water is so over the top that the filtration systems that have been given to the people are no longer capable of providing them with a safe source of water. So it is now up to Governor Snyder to do right by his own people, to stand up and to do what is right by the people of Flint, Michigan. The effects of what has taken place in Flint will be effects that will be felt and experienced by the people of Flint, Michigan, now and into the years to come. It is our sincere hope that the Governor and his team will do right by the people of Flint, Michigan, and, by extension, the people of the United States by moving swiftly to apply the resources of Michigan to the mitigation of this problem as well as to make sure that every life, every soul, that has been impacted by the poisonous water that they have consumed will be taken care of today and for the rest of their lives. So I thank Bonnie Watson Coleman for her leadership this evening. I thank all of my colleagues for standing up, for speaking out, for being consistent, in demanding that this Governor do right by his people, that he come out with a plan immediately to direct the resources needed to fix this problem, and to address the illness that is ultimately going to be a part of the lives of a significant portion of this population for the rest of their lives. It is the right thing to do.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, on February 1, 2016, I was unavoidably detained and missed recorded votes Number 46 through 47. Had I been present, on Roll Call Number 46, H.R. 2187--Fair Investment Opportunities for Professional Experts Act, I would have voted YEA, and on Roll Call Number 47, H.R. 4168--Small Business Capital Formation Enhancement Act, I would have voted YEA.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Let me first start by thanking my brother from the neighboring district in Brooklyn, New York (Mr. Jeffries), alongside my sister from Ohio, Mrs. Joyce Beatty, for their leadership in our Congressional Black Caucus Special Order hour, discussing gun violence and gun safety measures. Let me also commend the Honorable Robin Kelly of Illinois for her leadership in doing the work that she is doing not only with our Health Braintrust, but by being an outspoken and forceful advocate for the end to gun violence not only for her district in Chicago, Illinois, but for all communities across this Nation. Madam Speaker, gun violence in the United States has reached epic proportions in the 21st century. The death, the trauma, the devastation that we are witnessing can no longer be tolerated. Congress must act now. Over the past decade in America, more than 100,000 people have been killed as a result of gun violence and millions more have been maimed by the reckless and unlawful discharging of firearms. I applaud President Barack Obama for taking this historic executive action to address gun violence in our Nation. These actions will save lives and will make America a safer place. The President's actions will strengthen lifesaving background checks, improve mental health services, and expand smart gun technology. We have all that we need in the United States to observe the Second Amendment rights of Americans and, at the same time, to take our Nation into the 21st century with responsible gun ownership that leaves little room for the illegal gun activity that we see taking place in terms of gun trafficking, in terms of the use of deadly arms in the hands of those who are unlicensed to hold them. As it relates to background checks, the proposals focus on new background check requirements that will enhance the effectiveness of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, the NICS, and the greater education and enforcement efforts of existing laws at the State level. Specifically, it directs the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to require any business that engages in the sale of guns to obtain a Federal license to do so and to conduct background checks. It calls for the increased funding for the ATF in the hiring of 200 new ATF agents and investigators to help enforce existing gun laws, and it requires the ATF to issue a rule requiring background checks for the purchasers who purchase certain dangerous firearms and other items through a trust, a corporation, or other legal entity. It encourages greater communication between Federal and State authorities on criminal history information. What could be wrong with that? That is within the boundary of our laws, within our constitutional rights, and it makes our Nation safer. I come to this floor today as one who considers herself to be a victim of gun violence. We need to confront this right away because, for many in our communities, it is not only those who have been physically harmed by gun violence, but those who have been traumatized by being a witness to gun violence. I had the unfortunate privilege, if you will, of being in the Council Chambers of the New York City's City Council when my colleague, the Honorable James E. Davis, was gunned down before all of his colleagues--workplace domestic terrorism. That incident has been with me from that day forward. To this day, at a moment's notice, I can recall the trauma of that day, what it meant to see my colleague's life taken from him and to hear the gunplay that took place in the New York City Council's chambers. I am not alone. There are millions of Americans who are witnesses to gun violence or who may have been maimed by gun violence and who did not necessarily die as a result of it, but whose lives have been changed dramatically. We should not have another generation of Americans who can speak to the unspeakable horror of what it is to either be impacted directly in the loss of a loved one or to be the families who have to recount the times when they have had to be at the hospital with someone who is trying to recover from being gunned down. It is our obligation, our responsibility, as lawmakers for this Nation to get this right for future generations. So I applaud President Obama for doing what he could do within the parameters of his authority. It is now time for the United States House to do its job.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in commemoration of World AIDS Day and to honor those who labor to end its spread. Today is the day to raise our awareness of HIV/AIDS and our unwavering fight against it. New infections worldwide are down 35 percent since 2000, and AIDS-related deaths have been reduced by 42 percent since 2004. Though HIV and AIDS are now considered chronic illnesses, like with any chronic illness, first you must know that you have it in order to treat it. We know that 35 million people are living with HIV/AIDS globally, and that is unacceptable. My own district, the Ninth District of Brooklyn, New York, has been particularly hard hit over the past three decades by HIV/AIDS. Nearly 29,000 Brooklyn residents were living with HIV/AIDS since June of 2014. Over 30 percent of new HIV diagnoses in the first half of 2014 were made concurrent with AIDS diagnoses and years after infection. Surveys suggest that 40 percent of Brooklyn adults have yet to receive an HIV screening. Mr. Speaker, in the first half of 2014, Brooklyn had the highest percentages of HIV/AIDS, so now is the time for us to act. Let us end HIV/AIDS. Help stop the spread today.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to H.R. 1599, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act, also known as ``the DARK Act.'' One of my concerns is that this bill blocks the FDA from creating a national mandatory GMO labeling system. The current voluntary labeling system is not providing consumers with the information they need because only 2 percent of the products on the shelves have voluntarily submitted to the non-GMO labeling process. It is apparent that mandatory labeling is sorely needed, such as the kind required by Mr. DeFazio, the gentleman from Oregon's bill, the Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act. In addition, what has happened to the outcry for states' rights from the other side of the aisle? This bill preempts States from passing their own GMO labeling laws. This would essentially invalidate the will of the people and, in so doing, limit a State's ability to respond to the individual needs of its constituents. There have been many discussions and conversations surrounding this bill. One such discussion has been extremely troubling, debasing, and scornful. Specifically, there are some who say that poor people don't care what is in their food, nor do they care what they eat. Let me be clear: I don't care whether you are wealthy or poor. All Americans deserve to know what is in their food. Poor people are, first and foremost, human beings. They are not marginal subordinates in a democratic civil society. Poor people deserve the same respect and consideration as the wealthy. Despite what some may think, poor people do care about what food they eat, and they should be able to choose what they put in their bodies. I will say it again. All Americans deserve to know what is in their food. I ask my colleagues to join me in opposing H.R. 1599, the DARK Act.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Chair, today, I rise to discuss my opposition to H.R 1734, Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2015. H.R. 1734 is an attack on the EPA's recently finalized minimum disposal standards for toxic coal ash and a threat to safety, health, and the environment. Low-income communities bear an unbalanced share of the health risks from disposal of coal combustion waste, as with so many environmental issues. Almost 70 percent of coal ash impoundments are located in communities of color or low income communities. Coal ash disposal sites directly impact the health, livelihood, and home values for the already poor and vulnerable communities living around these dump sites. More than 200 coal ash sites have already contaminated water in 37 states. Supporting this act gives a cold shoulder to American families suffering from toxic coal ash-related health issues. It tells those families that Congress does not care about their health and environmental issues. This bill will delay many of the EPA's coal ash rule's new health and safety protections, weaken the rule's mandate to close inactive ponds by extending the deadline for closure, eliminate the rule's guarantee of public access to information and public participation, and eliminate the rule's ban on storing and dumping coal ash in drinking water. The bill will also remove the national minimum standard for protection and cleanup of coal ash-contaminated sites, remove the rule's national standard for drinking water protection and cleanup of ash-contaminated sites, prohibit effective federal oversight of state programs, and prohibit EPA enforcement of state program requirements unless invited by a state. This is why I am in support of the Butterfield/Rush/Clarke/Price/ Adams Amendment, which attempts to improve this bill by allowing the Administrator of the EPA to prevent the underlying legislation from going into effect if it is determined to have a negative impact on vulnerable populations. In summary, I oppose H.R. 1734 because it places the health of communities and environment in great danger and fails to guarantee consistent nationwide protection. I urge my colleagues to join me in protecting the American people by opposing this bill.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Chair, today I rise in support of the Lee-Schakowsky-Clarke amendment, and I thank them for their leadership in advancing this amendment. H.R. 6, the 21st Century Cures Act, which received unanimous support from members of the Energy and Commerce Committee, demonstrates that Democrats and Republicans can work together in an effort to develop medicines, treatments, and cures that will save lives. Unfortunately, our bipartisan consensus has been undermined by a last-minute inclusion of an antichoice provision in this bill. This new provision, which is a cynical poison pill and lacks germaneness to the underlying bill, would place restrictions on women's ability to access health services. It fails to respect the personal dignity of women by limiting their healthcare options. It interferes with the private relationship between a woman and her doctor, and it denies women what I believe is their fundamental right to have control over their own bodies. I am deeply concerned that this new provision will only serve as confirmation for the skeptics, who believe that Members of Congress are simply unable to work with each other in the public interest. We have the opportunity to disprove the skeptic by voting for this amendment and stripping out this provision.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to H.R. 5 The Student Success Act. I rise in opposition to this bill because education is a civil right. The Elementary and Secondary Schools Act, also known as ESEA, was initially passed in 1965 as part of President Johnson's ``War on Poverty.'' President Johnson understood that without a good education, economic stability was impossible and poverty inevitable. The goal of the original ESEA was to provide a fair and equitable education to every child in America. Unfortunately, H.R. 5 is neither fair nor equitable. This bill creates the warped concept of Title I Portability, which would shift resources from poor school districts such as the ones in my district of Brooklyn, New York to wealthier communities. Children in poor districts stand to lose upward of $85 per student, while children in wealthier communities would gain an average of $290 dollars per student. It ends the Safe and Drug Free Schools Program, among 70 other programs also slated for elimination. You would think that with the rise in school shootings and rampant school violence, that if we ever needed a Safe and Drug Free School Program it would be now. It also eliminates Title III, which helped to ensure that English Language Learners attain English proficiency. H.R. 5 not only figuratively, but also literally, silences the voices of our Hispanic students and in doing so relegates them to a life of inequity and poverty. Under H.R. 5, New York State is projected to receive $1.52 billion in 2016 and $6.943 billion over the 2016-2021 period. This is $46 million less in 2016 and $606 million less over the 2016-2021 period than under the President Obama's budget. In fact, my district of Brooklyn, New York is in Kings County. Kings County, with a poverty rate of 33.3 percent, will see a $39.9 million cut in Title I funding under this bill. Today, we Democrats are shining a light on H.R. 5 so that America can see how ugly, dangerous and divisive this bill really is. And just like during the civil rights movement, we won't back down! We won't give up! We will fight until every child in America--Black, Brown, Asian or White--has a fair, equitable, and quality public school education-- because Education is a Civil Right.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained in my district and missed recorded votes #390 through 391. Had I been present, On Roll Call #390, Motion to Close Portions of the Conference on H.R. 1735--National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, I would have voted YES; On Roll Call #391, Concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 91-- Veteran's I.D. Card Act, I would have voted YES.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my brothers and sisters of the Congressional Black Caucus, to stand in support of the ``privileged'' resolution called by Rep. Bennie Thompson to remove the Confederate Flag where ever it may be represented within the House wing of the U.S. Capitol. It is with great remorse that what took place on June 17, 2015 at the Emanuel AME bible study in Charleston, S.C. that claimed the lives of Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, Cynthia Hurd, Tywanza Sanders, Myra Thompson, Ethel Lance, Daniel Simmons, Depayne Middleton-Doctor, Susie Jackson, and South Carolina State Senator Rev. Clementa Pinckney had to be the catalyst to drive this motion after 150 years when this symbol was first surrendered. For many Americans, this symbol has stood as a symbol of heritage under which their family has dug deep roots into our country. But, this symbol was created in a time where our nation struggled to understand the very words written in our own Declaration of Independence, ``We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.'' Furthermore, troubled individuals and groups have taken to the symbol of the Confederate flag as an icon to portray their racist expression and actions against all groups whether in regards to their gender, sexuality, or race. Much like the creation and defamation of the swastika in Europe, this symbol of hatred must not be a symbol in our present, but a symbol in our past. I urge my colleagues in the House Administration to act in due diligence to bring this issue back to the House Floor for consideration so that we may do our duty as elected Representatives and respond to the voices of this great nation.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, earlier today, I was unavoidably detained in a meeting with constituents and missed recorded vote No. 385. Had I been present, on rollcall No. 385, On the Motion to Refer the Thompson (MS) Resolution to the Committee on House Administration, I would have voted ``no.''

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, on June 15, 2015, I was unavoidably detained in my district due to weather and missed recorded votes #364-365. Had I been present, on Roll Call #364, H. Res. 233-- Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Iran should immediately release the three United States citizens that it holds, as well as provide all known information on any United States citizens that have disappeared within its borders, I would have voted YEA; and on Roll Call #365, H.R. 2559--To designate the ``PFC Milton A. Lee Medal of Honor Memorial Highway'' in the State of Texas, I would have voted YEA.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I voted against this re-vamped version of H.R. 36, the ``Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.'' This act is both dangerous and unconstitutional and violates the rights of women to an abortion. By allowing this act to become law, we are limiting the reproductive rights for all women in this nation. H.R. 36 is blatantly unconstitutional, as it bans abortions after the twenty week mark. This bill is in clear violation of more than 40 years of Supreme Court precedent that protect women's access to abortion prior to viability--that is prior to twenty-four NOT twenty weeks. This bill provides fake fixes that make it worse than the first version of this bill. This bill requires sexual assault victims seeking abortion services after twenty weeks to provide written proof that they obtained counseling or medical treatment for their sexual assault. This bill also requires a minor, who is an incest victim and who seeks abortion services after twenty weeks, to provide written proof that the crime was reported to law enforcement or a government agency. Forcing sexual assault victims and minor incest victims to report their rape is bad enough, but this bill gets even more dangerous because it requires doctors who provide abortion services after twenty weeks to publicly disclose, to the government, the location of where care was provided. In light of Americans' easy access to guns and explosive materials, this provision would endanger many lives. This is a nightmare waiting to happen--a nightmare that I refuse to take part in supporting. We cannot allow a woman's right to choose to be infringed upon by a minority of people in this nation. We cannot let them bully the rest of the country into accepting their worldview. I stand with women, which is why I opposed H.R. 36.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, on April 28, 2015, I was unavoidably detained in my district and missed recorded votes #174-175. Had I been present, on Roll Call #174, H.R. 373--Good Samaritan Search and Recovery Act, I would have voted YEA, and on Roll Call #175, H.R. 1324--Arapaho National Forest Boundary Adjustment Act of 2015, I would have voted YEA.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I stand today with my colleagues to focus the attention of the world on the 276 young women who were kidnapped by Boko Haram--219 whose whereabouts remain unknown--in Chibok, Nigeria, just a year ago in April. This kidnapping, this act of terrorism, was an attack on the basic human rights of women and girls to participate in the civil society, in this instance by attending school to develop their individual talents and God-given potential. These young women were violently abducted for the explicit purpose of preventing their full participation in the civil society of Nigeria. Now, a year after their kidnapping, these young women are still missing, and Boko Haram continues to terrorize the people of west Africa, forcing millions of people to flee their home and undermining the foundations of democracy. We must continue in our efforts to find these girls and bring their abductors to justice. The destabilization of Nigeria, Cameroon, and Chad has implications for the entire continent of Africa and, indeed, the world. We have called on the community of nations to bring back our girls.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained in my district and missed recorded votes Nos. 145-147. Had I been present: on rollcall No. 145, H.R. 1259--Helping Expand Lending Practices in Rural Communities Act, I would have voted ``yea,'' on rollcall No. 146, H.R. 1265--Bureau Advisory Commission Transparency Act, I would have voted ``yea,'' and on rollcall No. 147, H.R. 1480--SAFE Act Confidentiality and Privilege Enhancement Act, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a very heavy heart. This weekend, my district experienced an unspeakable loss. One of our families in the Midwood section of Brooklyn lost seven of its children to a horrific fire. I wanted to come to the floor to just extend our condolences to the Sassoon family, where mother and daughter are currently hospitalized. We are wishing them a speedy and healthy recovery. To the extended community, we all mourn the loss of these children, and we will do everything we can going forward to impress upon the community, those with large families, the importance of fire safety, and that we make sure that we keep our loved ones safe by having fire detectors on every floor of our homes and fire extinguishers where possible.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, as Black History Month comes to a close, I would like to share with you the untold story of Weeksville. Weeksville, though rarely mentioned among the historically black and vibrant neighborhoods, was very dynamic and was founded by African- American free men in Brooklyn during the 19th century. In 1838, a former Virginia slave named James Weeks bought land from another free African-American man. Several African-American investors, political activists and other free men from the South started moving to this plot of land bought by Mr. Weeks. As more and more people moved to this Promised Land, it became known as Weeksville. By 1850, more than 500 African-American free men were residing in Weeksville. According to historical reports, the population of Weeksville was quite diverse, two of the residents were born in Africa, 40% of the residents were south-born and the rest of the inhabitants were from all over the East Coast. Not only was Weeksville diverse, but it was also a successful and independent community. One-third of the men in the neighborhood over the age of 21 were landowners, the community had its own churches, had a school which was the first school in the U.S. to integrate both staff and students, and a newspaper called ``Freedman's Torchlight''. In the 1860s, the national headquarter of the African Society Civilization was located in Weeksville and the neighborhood also housed an orphanage called the Howard Colored Orphan Asylum. Today, all that remains of Weeksville are four small cottages known as the Hunter Road houses. Fortunately, the Weeks Heritage Center formed in 1972 has managed to raise funds to preserve the houses as National Historic places. Preserving such landscapes is important to educate our children and to embrace the beauty of their heritage. If you want to learn more about Weeksville, I invite you to read the book ``Brooklyn's Promised Land: The Free Black Community of Weeksville, New York'' by Judith Wellman. In this book, Professor Wellman provides details about the everyday lives of the inhabitants of Weeksville and also narrates the rise and fall of this promising community.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to draw the attention of the House on the dangerous position in which my Republican colleagues have placed the American people by refusing to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Republicans in the House of Representatives voted in January to fund DHS only if we threaten millions of undocumented parents and children with deportation. Unless Republicans stop playing games with our national security and vote to fund DHS, the agency will not have the ability to maintain critical operations by the end of February. We have a responsibility to demonstrate to the people of the United States and the leaders of other nations that we are capable of supporting national security without concern for politics. The partisan interests that have convinced many Republicans to oppose the Obama administration on immigration are not in the interest of our nation as a whole. The position of the Republicans imposes serious risks on the American people. The failure to fund DHS, as President Obama has recently reminded us, will impact one hundred forty-three thousand Department of Homeland Security workers who are responsible for the safety of our families and children. In New York City, DHS resources support our police and fire departments to protect the city and the millions of visitors from around the world from attacks. Undermining the funding of the DHS threatens their safety and the security of our communities across the nation. House Republicans should not hold our national security hostage to a narrow agenda. In the community I represent in Brooklyn, New York, the many first- generation and second-generation immigrants will suffer irreparable harm if we fail to fund the DHS. Who among would want to know the fear that a knock on the door in the middle of the night or a citation for a minor infraction such as jaywalking could result in permanent separation from their children? Mr. Speaker, instead of playing games with politics, Republicans should focus on avoiding a shutdown of the DHS by enacting a bipartisan bill to fund the DHS through the rest of the 2015 fiscal year.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. I thank the gentleman from Colorado for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the House bring up H.R. 861, the clean Department of Homeland Security funding bill that would keep the Department open so it can carry out its mission of keeping the American people safe.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 596, a bill that will completely repeal the Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law in 2010 and was declared constitutionally sound by the U.S. Supreme Court. The Affordable Care Act extends health care coverage to all Americans, regardless of their gender, health condition, or ability to pay. Unlike other Republican repeal efforts, H.R. 596 does have a bit of a new twist. This legislation instructs the appropriate committees to draft a Republican alternative to the Affordable Care Act and directs them to include provisions that will provide people with preexisting conditions access to affordable health coverage and provisions designed to increase the number of insured Americans. I am not sure where the Republicans have been over the past 5 years, but those two provisions are already in the Affordable Care Act which is already the law of the land. In fact, the number of uninsured Americans has steadily decreased under the Affordable Care Act to a record low of 13.4 percent by the second quarter of 2014, and Gallup's quarterly trends projected that the uninsured rate will continue to drop over all age groups. The Affordable Care Act is good law. It should not be repealed, and that is why I vehemently oppose H.R. 596. It is another very cynical attempt to take our Nation backward.