Yvette Clarke

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 1, the so-called Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This egregious bill would penalize families for having multiple children, reduce incentives for affordable housing units, hurt the sick by eliminating the medical expense deduction, harm commuters by limiting the benefit of the transit tax credit to employers, and harm New York in particular by limiting the state and local tax deduction, which helps New York provide valuable benefits to people of all income levels. Most importantly, this bill would add $1.5 trillion to our national debt, essentially paying for tax cuts to America's wealthiest citizens today on the backs of our children tomorrow. This bill exposes the moral bankruptcy of the Republican agenda and I hope the American people will remember these actions in the future. I ask all of my colleagues to oppose this legislation.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 2874, the 21st Century Flood Reform Act. At a time when oceans are rising due to climate change, this Chamber wants to hike up the cost of flood insurance premiums on lower- and middle-income Americans. As if that were not enough, this bill would also exempt corporations from the requirement to buy into the system, thereby limiting the availability of flood insurance in numerous markets. As the representative of Gerritsen Beach and other areas that were hit hard by Superstorm Sandy, I know the importance of ensuring that all Americans have access to quality flood insurance. While we need to ensure that our insurance programs remain solvent, we must do so in a manner that protects the most vulnerable among us. This is not the way and I urge my colleagues to vote no.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from the U.S. Virgin Islands for her leadership on this matter, serving as co- chair for the Caribbean Caucus, and being an outspoken advocate and fighter on behalf of the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands who are still reeling from the two hurricanes that wreaked havoc on the three islands of the U.S. Virgin Islands. I want to thank the gentlewoman for organizing us this evening and really moderating what we all have to say here today. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my concern for the more than 300,000 temporary protected status beneficiaries who are under attack from this administration. Temporary protected status was signed into law with bipartisan support by President George H. W. Bush as part of the Immigration Act of 1990. Since then, it has been used in roughly equal numbers by Democratic and Republican Presidents alike. This program is based on a simple idea that we can all agree upon: the idea that it is immoral to send someone back to a country suffering from famine, disease, war, or governmental collapse where they could reasonably expect to perish. Today, instead, we, as a society, decided long ago as a humanitarian gesture to extend ourselves as a safe haven and to temporarily allow such people the ability to lawfully remain in the United States for up to 18 months at a time and seek gainful employment as conditions in their home countries would improve. This is not citizenship, and this is not amnesty. Rather, it is a way of protecting human life while allowing eligible individuals from Haiti, Yemen, Honduras, Nicaragua, and numerous other countries across the world to earn wages for themselves and their loved ones abroad. Unfortunately, this administration's antipathy toward immigrants-- particularly immigrants of color--has found its way to some of the most vulnerable amongst us and threatens the existence of this commonsense program rooted in human decency and respect for life. This program of agreement is now being totally undermined with real lives hanging in the balance. For example, while it would seem obvious to extend Haiti's temporary protected status in light of the catastrophic 2010 earthquake, subsequent cholera epidemic, food insecurity crisis, and the damage inflicted by Hurricanes Matthew, Irma, and Maria, this administration only extended Haiti's status for 6 months in the month of May, while, at the same time, the administration insinuated that Haitian TPS recipients were criminals. The administration now appears ready to ignore the advice of Haiti experts in the United States and the request of the Haitian Ambassador by forcing some 50,000 Haitians to subject themselves to life- threatening conditions in Haiti. This would not just be tragic for those forced to return, it would also be detrimental to Haiti's economy which benefits significantly from the hard-earned remittances that Haitian TPS beneficiaries send back to their loved ones. It is also no way to treat a neighbor that is located less than a 2-hour flight away from American soil, the most impoverished nation of the Western Hemisphere. Indeed, such a decision would be cruel and unusual punishment. For this reason, I have worked with Congressman Cedric Richmond, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, and my colleagues of the Congressional Black Caucus in sending a letter to Acting DHS Secretary Elaine Duke, signed by the entire Congressional Black Caucus, requesting a full 18-month extension of Haiti's TPS status. I also asked that Acting Secretary Duke take the Haitian Ambassador up on his invitation to visit Haiti and to see the conditions for herself. However, Haiti is not the only country that clearly merits an extension. Nearly 60,000 Hondurans and Nicaraguans currently await news of their fate, as will thousands of other immigrants from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. While I hope that Acting Secretary Duke will do the right thing and make an evidence-based decision in light of the human cost to her actions, our experience teaches us that we must also prepare for the worst. Where this administration refuses to respect decades of bipartisan agreement, Congress must assert its constitutional powers and act to safeguard human life and American interests. I, therefore, call upon my congressional colleagues to come together and pass bipartisan legislation that will protect the hundreds of thousands of TPS beneficiaries from around the world--Black, brown, Asian and other--who are, at this moment, relying upon us for their very lives. Although we live in times of great division, now is the moment to come together and recommit to the basic values that unite us all. This country was founded upon the idea of human dignity, and TPS is yet another test of whether we will be true to that idea or fall painfully short. We must not fall short, but instead we must rise to the occasion. Mr. Speaker, TPS is something that falls within our purview to address. It is my sincere hope that we will address this impending crisis. When I think about Haitians who are living here, many who, at this stage, had children born in the United States, and many who are here during the most productive time of their lives when they can work because of their strength, their ability, and their intellect, it would be a travesty to begin separating families and to wrench from these individuals the opportunity to add value to our civil society while undergirding the nation of their birth, the nation that many hope to return to at the appropriate time by summarily excusing them from our civil society. Having said that, I, too, stand with my colleagues to extend on behalf of Chairman Richmond, the executive officers, and members of the CBC a heartfelt condolence in this season of bereavement to our dear colleague, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, on the loss of her sister. She remains in our prayers at this time. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from the U.S. Virgin Islands, once again, for her leadership.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to be removed from H. Res. 220.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 3388, the SELF DRIVE Act. As you may know, autonomous vehicles are the wave of the future, and they are here now. As innovative technology for these vehicles develop, our Nation's transportation system will be transformed, decreasing the number of traffic collisions, enhancing mobility for the elderly, disabled, and poor, and lowering fuel consumption. My constituents in the Ninth Congressional District of New York will benefit greatly from autonomous vehicles, which will allow for smarter, faster, and more fuel-efficient travel. I am pleased that proper cybersecurity protections are included in the legislation. As you may know, cybersecurity protections for self- driving vehicles is of great interest, particularly in today's environment, to ensure that these vehicles not only meet technological challenges, but there is a plan in place to meet public safety standards and prevent and tackle potential hacks and/or terrorism. I am so pleased that H.R. 3407, the legislation I introduced with Congressman Adam Kinzinger is included in H.R. 3388. The cybersecurity portion of the bill requires manufacturers to develop a written cybersecurity policy. Within the cybersecurity policy, manufacturers would address the following: one, a process for identifying, assessing, and mitigating reasonable foreseeable vulnerabilities from cyber attacks or unauthorized intrusions; and two, a process for taking preventive and corrective action to mitigate against these vulnerabilities, including incident response plans, intrusion detection, and prevention systems that safeguard key controls, systems, and procedures through testing and/or monitoring. This legislation requires companies to develop a more comprehensive cybersecurity plan, which can mitigate, correct, intersect, and identify imminent threats. Fostering consumer confidence will include ensuring an established system built to protect sensitive information in our technological age. I am pleased to be a Member of this committee.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my strong opposition to the administration's cruel and inhumane decision to terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA. President Obama first implemented DACA in 2012, to ensure that the hundreds of thousands of immigrant children, many of whom are young adults and have lived in the United States for years and known no other home other than the United States, have a place here in America. This program was rooted in the best of our political tradition and intended as a temporary fix until Congress chose to take action. In 2013, the Senate rose to the challenge and passed a bipartisan reform proposal. However, this Chamber callously refused to even consider the Gang of Eight proposal and instead let it die a slow and painful legislative death. We are now being called upon to resume the fight, and we must not squander this opportunity. What my colleagues need to understand here and now is that this is not a game. The fate of nearly a million people hangs in the balance. Today's coldhearted decision will impact their health, wellness, families, and earning potential for years to come. DREAMers are generally beginning the most productive years of their lives. This is not a hypothetical question. It is real. We need to get to work, Mr. Speaker, right away.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, on July 17, 2017, I was unavoidably detained and missed recorded votes No. 379 to 381. Had I been present, on Roll Call No. 379, H.R. 2210, Sergeant Joseph George Kusick VA Community Living Center, I would have voted YEA; on Roll Call No. 380, H.J. Res. 92, Granting the consent and approval of Congress for the Commonwealth of Virginia, the State of Maryland, and the District of Columbia to amend the Washington Area Transit Regulation Compact, I would have voted YEA; and on Roll Call No. 381, H.J. Res. 76, Granting the consent and approval of Congress for the Commonwealth of Virginia, the State of Maryland, and the District of Columbia to enter into a compact relating to the establishment of the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission, I would have voted YEA.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from the United States Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett) for yielding to me. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my Caribbean-American sisters and brothers across this country. For hundreds of years, Caribbean Americans have contributed to the artistic, legal, literary, diplomatic, business, athletic, and medical--you name it, there is not an endeavor where you won't find a Caribbean American who helped shape American society. Alexander Hamilton grew up in the Leeward Islands of St. Kitts and Nevis and went on to found our economic system. Former Attorney General Eric Holder, whose family came from Barbados, served honorably as the first Black Attorney General. General Colin Powell, whose own parents immigrated from Jamaica, became our Nation's first Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the first Black Secretary of State. Constance Baker Motley, whose parents were from Nevis, drafted the complaint in the landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education before serving as our Nation's first Black female Federal judge. Shirley Chisholm, my predecessor and role model, served in Congress for seven terms and became the first Black woman to seek a major party's nomination for President. Her family was from modern-day Guyana and Barbados. Who can forget the unmatched contributions of such notable performers as Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte, Sammy Davis, Jr., and even Beyonce? Let me add Rihanna. I could go on. But by any measure, Caribbean Americans have enriched the United States beyond their numbers. They have made the United States better, stronger, and more vibrant while serving as a credit to the Caribbean region and the United States of America. I, myself, am the proud daughter of Jamaican immigrants. My mother, Dr. Una Clarke, served as the first Caribbean-born female member of the New York City Council. In fact, she was the first foreign-born female to serve in the New York City Council. For those reasons, I am proud to represent one of the largest Caribbean diaspora communities in the Nation and to serve as one of the co-chairs of the Congressional Caribbean Caucus. However, unfortunately, the Caribbean region stands at a crossroads today. Many of the nations face high energy prices, environmental degradation, public health challenges, and economic challenges imposed by the correspondent banking crisis. Haiti, in particular, has been beset by numerous challenges over the past few years through no fault of its own. I believe that the United States must not be silent in the face of those challenges. The Caribbean region is known favorably as the third border of the United States. Instead, it should aid our Caribbean neighbors to help ensure a vibrant future in the region. Indeed, the State Department's recent report to Congress on the U.S.- Caribbean strategic partnership marked a step in the right direction. However, we must continue making strides on the road to full diplomatic engagement in accordance with our values and as befitting our friends and neighbors in the region. I find it quite fascinating that so many other nations around the world have found this region in the Western Hemisphere to be partners with, and, we, right on its borders, have given it short shrift. When you look at the level of investment that China is making in the Caribbean region right now, it should give us all pause in the United States as we are concerned about the expansion of their influence into the Western Hemisphere. So, Mr. Speaker, as I speak with pride today, I want to mention the name Susan Rice, former Ambassador to the U.N., another proud Caribbean American; and Patrick Ewing, formerly of the New York Nicks, another proud Caribbean American. The list goes on and on. We have deeply benefited from their contributions to our life, enriching society here in the United States of America. I would be remiss if I left the floor this evening without adding my voice to that of my colleagues of the Congressional Black Caucus in condemning this horrible healthcare bill that has been put forth in the United States Senate. It is a companion to the horrible bill that was put forth by United States House of Representatives. I am a Christian and I practice my faith regularly. There is something said in the Bible about wickedness in high places. I have to speak to the wickedness within this bill that we, as a civil society, would remove the ability for people to just have human dignity, to have life, to be able to see their doctors, to be able to make sure that their children are well taken care of, that their parents can live out their days in dignity and in as best health as possible is really a blot on this Nation. We have been through generations of challenges. We have reached a point where, in this Nation, we have made a lot of progress in really doing our best for our neighbors as we would do for ourselves. This is totally a step back. Our children are going to ask us where we were when this vicious bill was proposed that Americans would be stripped of the ability to access healthcare in the United States of America in the 21st century. I stand shoulder to shoulder with my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus to say that we stood on the floor of the House and we fought. We fought for human dignity. We fought to make sure that this would not be something that would not rest on the mind and the conscious of our colleagues, that they would reflect on how they would feel if this bill were to impact them personally. I find it really ironic that in many of the districts that this healthcare bill would impact, our colleagues are basically stripping away the well-being of their own constituents--people who voted and sent them here. It is truly unfortunate that we value wealth over human dignity; that we value giving money to people who haven't even asked for it over making sure that we can stop pandemics, that we can continue research into cures for those who may be ill, and that we can continue to move along the path of preventive health, which is, by far, the best way for us to conduct our lives in the United States of America. To see emergency rooms, if they remain open, filled with those who are uninsured in this day and age is not worthy of who we are as a nation. So I stand with my colleagues to say that we will fight until the last person standing to bring dignity to our Nation--to all people--but we fight, in particular, as a Congressional Black Caucus for those who have been most victimized and are the most vulnerable amongst us, and those are the people of the African-American communities here in the United States. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett) for yielding.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, a few days ago, I received a letter from a third grade student at the Brooklyn Friends School and the Kane Street Synagogue Hebrew School named Elijah. Elijah wrote: At our synagogue, we learned that welcoming a stranger is an important mitzvah, and I know that my people were immigrants and sometimes refugees trying to find a new home in the USA. So it is important to me that we extend our welcome to refugees from Haiti. Elijah is right. The people of Haiti have suffered through numerous tragedies over the past few years alone. They have experienced a devastating and catastrophic earthquake, tragic cholera epidemic, ongoing food scarcity crisis, deadly hurricanes, and continued flooding. For these reasons, the Obama administration designated Haiti for temporary protected status in 2010, and redesignated it four times thereafter. However, Haiti's TPS designation will expire in July if the administration does not act immediately. That is why I organized with my colleagues of the Congressional Black Caucus and called for DHS Secretary John Kelly to redesignate Haiti for an additional 18 months of TPS. We also asked DHS to issue a new TPS designation that would include the tens of thousands of Haitians who are in the United States but are not covered by the existing TPS designation. The continuing humanitarian crisis on the ground in Haiti should make this an easy call. But news reports indicate that the acting head of USCIS, James McCament, is looking for evidence of crimes committed by Haitians to use as a pretext for ending Haiti's TPS designation. Such actions are part of the Trump administration's attempt to depict immigrants as criminals. They are also part of a flagrant effort to obscure the fact that TPS is based on the conditions on the ground in Haiti rather than the actions of some TPS beneficiaries here in the United States. I call on Director Kelly to ignore these misguided voices and instead listen to people like Elijah. Human decency demands that the Department of Homeland Security extend temporary protected status to all Haitians present in the United States prior to November 4, 2016, as the country continues to rebuild.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the American Health Care Act. This dangerous and destructive bill leaves 24 million Americans without coverage. It will cause the uninsured rate for my district in Brooklyn, New York, to skyrocket to over 12 percent and leaves over 400,000 Brooklynites in my district without coverage. Because of the severe cuts to Medicaid, this bill will also put people in the terrible position of having to choose between being able to eat, being able to obtain life-sustaining medication, or visiting their doctor. Which one do you, Mr. Speaker, suggest they choose? For most Americans, Medicaid benefits are not the end goal but, rather, provide temporary support. For seniors, Medicaid can mean the difference between nursing home care and dying alone. I urge my colleagues to consider the harmful and deadly real-life impact of this legislation, and I vehemently oppose it. I ask that we resist this cynical reverse Robin Hood sham that takes from the poor and gives to the rich. As President Lincoln said: ``You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time.'' This is a sham, and we need to vote it down.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Mrs. Dolores S. Williams, a community matriarch. Her life was a true Brooklyn story. Born in Newport News, Virginia, on February 14, 1933, she came to New York City with her family as a young girl as part of the Northern migration from the South in search of opportunity. Growing up in Bedford-Stuyvesant Brooklyn, Dolores graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School and married Jacob A. Williams in 1951 and raised three children: Cheryl Elise, Jacob Conrad, and Celeste Elena. Dolores was a staunch believer in education and was actively involved in her children's school and with issues in her community. She also practiced what she preached. She returned to school and received a bachelor of arts in education from Brooklyn College at the age of 40. She found success as an educational sales representative for Random House publishing company, inspired by a desire to support the education of all children. Dolores returned to the classroom, earning a master of science degree in special education from Hunter College, which she used to pursue her passion by working with developmentally challenged children in her beloved Bedford-Stuyvesant. She was a woman of high distinction and a real New Yorker, a real Brooklynite, survived by three children and nine grandchildren who will never forget her kindness and love. I, too, was very fortunate in my youth to have been a part of the extended family of the Williams. I befriended their youngest daughter, Celeste, and we grew up together in the quintessential village that raised its children in the Prospect-Lefferts community in Brooklyn, where we were neighbors. Mrs. Williams and her family embraced me and reinforced the values of my home and family. She shared the expectations of becoming highly educated and well-rounded young adults, always encouraging through conversations filled with laughter. Her support and encouragement helped me in my formative years to focus on my educational goals and lifelong aspirations. To my dearest Cheryle, Conrad, and Celeste, I extend my deepest, most profound condolences. Now that she has returned to her ancestors, let us always remember her timeless pursuit of public service, her profound respect for education and lifelong learning, and her love for family and community. She is now in the arms of God. Well done, Dolores Williams. Rest now in peace.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of women and men of New York's Ninth Congressional District on this, the anniversary of the signing of the Equal Pay Act by President John F. Kennedy. It has been 54 years since the Equal Pay Act was signed into law, yet women in the United States who work full-time, year-round, on average still only earn 80 cents for every dollar earned by men. This amounts to a yearly gap of $10,470 between full-time working men and women. For African-American women like myself, the pay gap is even larger. African-American women working full-time, year-round, on average still only earn 63 cents for every dollar earned by White, non-Hispanic men. In my own district, in Brooklyn, men earn $49,691, while women earn only $42,487. Mr. Speaker, that is just not acceptable. On Equal Pay Day 2017, we are calling upon Congressional Republicans to work with Democrats in getting the long overdue Paycheck Fairness Act enacted into law. Pay inequity not only affects women, it affects children and families and our national economy as a whole. That is because so many women in our country are the sole or co-bread winner in two-thirds of families with children. Families increasingly rely on women's wages to help make ends meet, and with less take-home pay, women have less for the everyday needs of their families: groceries, mortgages, rent, child care, and doctor visits. President Barack Obama signed several orders to address gaps in Federal equal pay protections, protecting segments of the civilian workforce from pay discrimination, despite congressional gridlock. Rather than working with Democrats to promote equal pay, House Republicans have voted nine times since 2013 to block the Paycheck Fairness Act from being considered on the House floor. So let's see whether Donald Trump, who claims he respects women more than anyone else, demonstrates through his deeds in real and substantive plans to do more to help working women and their families. Mr. Trump, it is time to put the money where your mouth is.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to this sham American Health Care Act. I am from Brooklyn, and in Brooklyn we know: Men lie; women lie; the numbers don't. Here are the numbers: This reckless and destructive bill leaves 24 million Americans without coverage. It will cause the uninsured rate for my district to skyrocket over 12 percent and leave over 400,000 Brooklynites without coverage. Because of age discrimination in this bill, the age tax, it will put our seniors in the terrible position of having to choose between eating, visiting their doctors, or purchasing medication. Which one do you, Mr. Speaker, suggest they choose? I also vehemently oppose the Empire State kickback language put in this bill as an attempt to get Republican votes. This language is a dressed up earmark that specifically targets New York City. It targets my home. This would further reduce Medicaid funds for New York by an additional $2 billion. The trade-off, raising city taxes to cover the gap. For most Americans, Medicaid benefits are not the end goal but rather [provides] temporary support, but for our seniors Medicaid can mean the difference between nursing home care, family home care and dying alone. I urge my colleagues to consider the harmful real life impact of this legislation and to oppose it. Brooklyn Resists . . . America must resist. Thank you and I yield the balance of my time.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of Brooklyn's own Notorious B.I.G., Jamaican-American Christopher Wallace. In celebration of his life and living legacy, I share these words: Thinkin' back on my one-room shack, Now my mom pimps an Ac with minks on her back. And she loves to show me off of course, Smiles every time my face is up in The Source. We used to fuss when the landlord dissed us, No heat, wonder why Christmas missed us. Birthdays was the worst days, Now we sip champagne when we thirsty, Uh, right, I like the life I live, 'Cause I went from negative to positive. And it's all good. And if you don't know, now you know.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. I thank the gentleman from Maryland and the gentlewoman from Washington State for hosting this very important Special Order hour. Mr. Speaker, I rise to voice my outrage over Donald Trump's unconscionable, ill-conceived, horribly executed and implemented executive order that limits Muslim immigration and travel into the United States. This order is an appalling affront to American interests. It is contrary to our ideals and values as a nation, and it flies in the face of our history and the core conviction of freedom from religious persecution that this Nation was built upon. It provides the fuel to our enemies and makes a mockery of our democracy and Constitution. Most importantly, it tears families apart by prohibiting people with valid travel documents from entering the country. I saw this firsthand on Saturday when I visited JFK International Airport to witness the needless chaos and confusion that this order has created. One person who lives in my district who has been affected by this order is Dr. Kamal Fadlalla. Dr. Fadlalla is a Sudanese hospital resident in Brooklyn, New York. He is trained to save lives, not to take them. Yet, due to Donald Trump's egregious executive order, Dr. Fadlalla has been prevented from returning back to the United States to help heal our sick and save lives. There is no justification for this shameful order, and it is no wonder that the Acting Attorney General, Sally Yates, risked her job and reputation rather than act as Donald Trump's enforcer. I commend Ms. Yates for her personal integrity and fidelity to our Constitution. Ironically enough, during her confirmation hearing, it was Donald Trump's own nominee for Attorney General who suggested that Ms. Yates maintain the integrity of the Department of Justice at all times and that she must refuse to enforce orders that were unconstitutional. This week, Ms. Yates made good on her answer to Senator Sessions and upheld her oath to faithfully uphold our Constitution. For these reasons, I will proudly introduce a resolution that commends Ms. Yates for her act of moral courage and for her adherence to the dictates of the United States Constitution. I call on all of my colleagues to sign on to this resolution and for House leadership to schedule a vote to commend Ms. Yates. Most importantly, though, I call on Donald Trump to rescind this egregious order that harms our economy, that contravenes our values, and that endangers our national security. I thank the gentleman and gentlewoman for yielding.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 724, which would rescind Donald Trump's refugee ban and help unify the family of Farah Usa, a refugee who risked her life for United States forces in Iraq and whose father, mother, and sister are now barred from entering the United States of America.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act. I speak for my constituents of the Ninth Congressional District of New York and for women across the Nation when I say that H.R. 7 is not only dangerous, but it is misleading and would be detrimental to women's health everywhere. This bill not only creates barriers for women who want to access abortion care, but it unfairly targets low-income women with there being a particularly disproportionate effect on women of color, who are more likely to live below the poverty level and become eligible for Medicaid. Additionally, it penalizes small businesses that want to provide comprehensive healthcare coverage to their employees, including reproductive health care. Let's not punish the single mother who recently left her abusive husband and who has no money, no job, and no health insurance--except for Medicaid--in making her unable to receive the abortion care and services she desperately needs. Let's not punish the young woman who is suffering from cancer, whose life will be in danger if she cannot access an abortion. This past weekend, millions of women and men across the country, including me, marched with one goal in mind: to let the world know that our rights must be respected and protected. A woman's right to an abortion should be a personal choice that she makes, not a decision that government makes for her.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. I thank the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs. Watson Coleman). Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the nomination of Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education. I know that my colleagues have been talking about their concerns with regard to the troubling nominations of Donald Trump, and I want to add my voice with respect to the Secretary of Education. About 90 percent of Americans--Republicans and Democrats alike--send their children to public schools; and as a proud graduate of the New York City public school system, I, myself, know firsthand of the importance of both primary and secondary education as part of early childhood and young adulthood. Most public schools in the United States are operated by the city, town, or county for the benefit of the public, and all of the resources that are allocated to public schools are used to support the development of students and to prepare them for success in the 21st century. Mr. Speaker, I believe Betsy DeVos has a very different approach to education, and that is extremely clear. She and her family, over the years, have devoted millions of dollars to replacing public schools in Michigan with charter schools, most of which have recorded test scores in reading and math that are well below the State average. Let me repeat that--most of which have recorded test scores in reading and math that are well below the State average. Recently, the Detroit Free Press released an article that explained, while families in Detroit have the choice of many different charter schools, few of these choices actually offer a quality education. Mr. Speaker, I am concerned that Betsy DeVos has used donations to provide to Republicans in the Michigan State Legislature to prevent State agencies from investigating as to whether charter schools are providing students with a comprehensive education that will prepare them for the future. I am alarmed that the system that was developed by Betsy DeVos, which allows for-profit corporations to operate charter schools, realigns those resources intended for schoolchildren into the pockets of shareholders--making a profit off the backs of children. Since 1959, the DeVos family has operated Amway, which is a business that has been labeled as a pyramid scheme--paying out millions of dollars in fines and cheating working families. We cannot allow Betsy DeVos the chance to extend those same basic principles used during her time at Amway to affect our education system--enriching wealthy investors at the expense of our children's education. It is not a solution. It is a problem. I thank my colleague for giving me the time. I hope that the American people are watching very closely as to what is taking place here because, indeed, it is a travesty.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. I thank Mr. Veasey for his leadership this evening. I thank our chairman, Cedric Richmond, for his vision and his timeliness in bringing this to the floor today. Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of the people of the Ninth Congressional District of New York in opposition to Donald Trump's nominee for the position of Attorney General of the United States, Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama. I stand with my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus as we raise our voices on behalf of the millions of Americans who depend on this caucus to speak as the conscience of the Congress--speaking truth to power. Mr. Speaker, I struggle to understand how Senator Sessions can even be considered to lead the Department of Justice when time and time again throughout his political career he has actively opposed the mission and purpose for which the Department of Justice was created. For the better part of my life--at least a half a century--the Department of Justice has assumed a position of leadership in the fight for the civil rights of African Americans who seek the uninhibited right to vote, for young women who seek protection against sexual assault on college campuses, for disabled individuals who fight for equitable access to basic services, and for immigrants who aspire to pursue their visions of the American Dream. The nomination of Senator Sessions does not support the legacy of progress that has been made under the auspices of the modern-day Department of Justice. As a young prosecutor, he directed racial slurs at his African American colleagues. Senator Sessions spoke highly of the Ku Klux Klan. He actively targeted and persecuted activists like Mr. Albert Turner--one of Dr. Martin Luther King's advisers--for simply trying to register disenfranchised voters. When he became Attorney General of Alabama, Senator Sessions, a product of segregated education, worked tirelessly to prevent predominantly African American public schools from accessing an equal share of resources that had been long denied to Black students. As a Member of the Senate, Senator Sessions has been an outspoken opponent of criminal justice reforms that many of his Republican colleagues support. He is a leader in the effort to define undocumented Americans as ``the other'' and forcibly separating families in the United States. The women and men who lead the Department of Justice are called upon to pursue justice; but with such a documented history of hostility toward the most vulnerable populations--people of color, women, disabled individuals, and immigrant families--we cannot expect Senator Sessions to pursue justice on their behalf. I absolutely and unequivocally oppose the nomination of Senator Sessions. He has demonstrated his disdain for the most basic of human principles: equality, justice, and fairness. These principles represent the promise of our Constitution. The Senate considering and confirming Mr. Sessions would break that very promise. Mr. Speaker, I stand with the CBC today asking the Senate of the United States to uphold the virtues of the Constitution and reject this divisive nomination.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of the 9th Congressional district of New York, I wish to express my deepest, most heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Dr. Lamuel Stanislaus. I stand today to honor and pay tribute to a man of high distinction, a man who was a pillar of my community, a neighbor, and a friend. His Excellency, Dr. Lamuel Stanislaus, who recently transitioned from his mortal existence into immortality, has joined the ancestors at ninety-five years of age. Dr. Stanislaus was born on the beautiful island nation of Grenada, Carriacou, and Petit Martinique. He came to the United States in 1945 to further his education, ultimately earning both a Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at Howard University here in Washington, D.C. He went on to practice dentistry in Wayne County, N.Y., before relocating to Brooklyn in 1956 and establishing a practice in the Bedford-Stuyvesant community, which he later moved to Downtown Brooklyn. That very same practice still exists today under the leadership of his proud son, Dr. Eugene Stanislaus. In 1985, Dr. Stanislaus was appointed Grenada's Ambassador at Large to the United Nations, serving for two terms, from 1985 to 1990 and again from 1998 to 2004. As a well-respected diplomat who was selected as Vice President of the General Assembly, Dr. Stanislaus formed partnerships with individuals such as New York State Governor Mario Cuomo and my predecessor, the Honorable Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, to establish a support system for the people of Grenada, at home in the Tri-Island State, here in the U.S. and indeed, around the world. He received many honors for his work including: the Insignia of Commander of the British Empire from the Queen of England; Knight Commander, the highest honor awarded by his native Grenada, Carriacou, and Petit Martinique; a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Brooklyn District Attorney, and a Distinguished Service Award from the Brooklyn Historical Society. In addition, the contributions of Dr. Stanislaus were also critical to development of the West Indian-American Day Carnival Association and its signature event the West Indian-American Labor Day Parade into what has become a beautiful and world renowned celebration of culture that draws millions of people to central Brooklyn every year on Labor Day. Dr. Stanislaus was devoted to his wife of sixty-three years, Beryl, and to their five beautiful, talented children Lamuel, Galen, Karen, Eugene, and John, and seven grandchildren. His lifetime of professionalism and service to others will forever demonstrate that people of good faith have the ability to impact the world and establish a legacy that following generations will continue to enjoy and benefit from. I am deeply honored to have known him as a dear friend. He served not only as a friend, but a mentor and advisor. He was a pillar of integrity and strength to an emerging Caribbean- American community and indeed to all that he encountered. He will be sorely missed, but his legacy lives on through his family, friends and relations and the many lives that he touched throughout his lifetime in service to others.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted: Rollcall No. 500, ``nay.''

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Councilman James E. Davis, who was assassinated at the New York City Council on July 23, 2003, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor his memory.

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan--that means Democrats and Republicans-- expanded background checks legislation, to honor the memory of Jonathon Edwards, 22 years old, from Georgia. He was a victim of gun violence who never received a moment of action here in the House of Representatives. He is deserving of that action, Mr. Speaker. Twenty- two years. No action. Mr. Speaker, it is time for us to act. The American people need for us to act.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my opposition to the rule being debated on the floor this evening, but also take this opportunity to remind the Speaker that the American people are waiting. They are waiting for us to bring commonsense gun violence prevention measures to this floor. Mr. Speaker, every day in New York City and in the Borough of Brooklyn, people are hurt and killed by gun violence. Too many families hold fear and sorrow in their hearts from their experiences with senseless gun violence. Mr. Speaker, people in my district and from all over our Nation have been demanding action. You and your Republican colleagues cannot continue to ignore their pleas and their pain. Well, I cannot ignore their pleas and their pain, and my Democratic colleagues will not either. Enough is enough. Congress must act to protect the lives of Americans. Congress must do more than hold a moment of silence to absolve you, Mr. Speaker, of your role in the death and destruction due to gun violence. For me and many in this Nation, gun violence is personal and it has hit home. My colleague, former New York City Councilman James E. Davis, was gunned down in the chambers of the New York City Council before me and his colleagues, the New Yorkers who visited our gallery, and the children, who were part of our audience on that infamous day. Whether it is in the legislative chamber of city hall, in a theater, an elementary school, or a night club, gun violence must end. Mr. Speaker, I will work tirelessly, relentlessly here on Capitol Hill to protect our communities from the ever-present threat of gun violence. I will continue to stand with all people of goodwill to demand action on the legislation that puts an end to this crisis. I will be their voice here in Washington, D.C.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I proudly introduce The Hadiya Pendleton and Nyasia Pryear-Yard Gun Trafficking & Crime Prevention Act of 2016, the House companion legislation to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's bill in the Senate. This legislation would establish gun trafficking as a federal crime. Specifically, it increases the penalties for those directly involved in the illegal movement of guns across state lines, those who organize the gun trafficking rings and those who conspire to traffic guns. Additionally, this legislation enforces gun trafficking as a federal crime punishable of up to twenty years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines under Title 18. This legislation tackles firearm trafficking at each stage by also increasing the penalties for all personnel involved in the illegal movement of guns, including those who participate in trafficking rings and those who conspire to traffic guns. Only 1 out of 10 guns used in a crime is wielded by the original purchaser and 1 in 3 guns used in criminal acts cross state lines. Ninety percent of guns found at crime scenes in New York City were originally purchased out of state and illegally brought to the city. Unfortunately, current crime laws are arbitrary: the act of selling guns without the necessary federal license carries the same punishment as trafficking chickens and cows across state lines. This critical legislation would not only make gun trafficking a federal crime, but it will also provide tools to law enforcement to get illegal guns off the streets, away from criminal networks and street gangs, and prosecute those who traffic firearms. The bill was named after Hadiya Pendleton and Nyasia Pryear-Yard--two high school students who were killed in recent years. In both cases, the individuals were killed by people that were in illegal possession of a firearm. Hadiya Pendleton was killed in Chicago, when shots were fired into a crowd of people. The shots were intended for members of the shooter's rival gang. Nyasia Pryear was killed in Brooklyn, while with friends. Witnesses said the shooting was gang related. The Hadiya Pendleton and Nyasia Pryear-Yard Gun Trafficking & Crime Prevention Act of 2016 is common sense legislation that should be supported by all Members of the House. I ask my colleagues to join me in cosponsoring this legislation.