Yvette Clarke

Ms. CLARKE

Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Jeffries) and the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Horsford) for their leadership in anchoring this year's CBC Special Order hour and thank them in particular for this evening here in review. Mr. Speaker, it has been a long road. From fighting to keep SNAP funding to rehashing the Affordable Care Act to advocating for immigration reform that is truly diverse and comprehensive, the CBC has come a long way. As one of the cochairs of the CBC immigration task force, I am proud of the work we have done to ensure that everyone, including immigrants of the African diaspora and African Americans, were adequately included and represented in this conversation. It feels like it was just yesterday when we stood here in February introducing the CBC's perspective on the urgent need for comprehensive immigration reform. That night, we laid the foundation of what was to be an uphill battle between politics, policy, and procedure. The CBC, along with our Tri-Caucus colleagues, argued that the burden of the broken immigration system does not encumber one group of immigrants alone. For example, there are approximately 3 million immigrants from the African diaspora in the United States, the vast majority of whom entered the country with legal documentation, but there are millions more from all over the world, including eastern Europe and South Asia. As the conversation increased, the CBC immigration task force tried to highlight the impact of immigrants of the African diaspora from the continent of Africa, the Caribbean region, and South and Central America, which has been large in scale. Their contribution has not been mentioned in the Main Street stories representing reform. Many did not recognize nor understand that the road for many immigrants of the diaspora was significantly different than the proverbial stories in the media. Many entered our Nation with legal student visas, like my own parents did, to pursue careers in medicine, science, education, and other professions. Many are proud business owners of law firms, restaurants, grocery stores, shipping companies, and hair-braiding venues. There are those who have come as asylum seekers fleeing the tumult of war, famine, and genocide. Like any other immigrant group, they come to the United States to be productive, tax-paying members of our civil society, to attain the American Dream. Like the other immigrant groups, immigrants of the African diaspora are dealing with backlogged immigration processing, families being ripped apart, falling out of status because they have aged out of the legal immigration process; racial and status discrimination; unfair criminal aggravated felony laws that prohibit judicial review; deportation processes that violate civil and human rights; an insecure, prohibitive student visa program; and limited access to work permits and much more. Mr. Speaker, it is imperative for us to acknowledge the fact that many immigrants arrive on our shores during a time of their lives when they are in the most productive years of their lives. Any delay in processing these individuals, bringing them to the fore, would deny us as a Nation the opportunity to access their talent, their skill, and abilities in the prime of their lives. Additionally, it was important for us to note that African Americans, those descendents of the transatlantic slave trade, whom I fondly call ``longtime stakeholders'' of this Nation, have been affected by our broken immigration system as well.

Ms. CLARKE. Let me thank the gentleman from New York for saving me. I have recovered now and would just like to bring forth a few more points. Working class Americans of all backgrounds, races, and ethnicities are adversely affected with a broken immigration system. As we stated, they are dealing with depressed wages because of unscrupulous and illegal corporate hiring practices. Urban communities aren't even being adequately counted via the census and other surveys, resulting in the reduction of adequate government services and Federal resources to meet the needs of actual populations in our communities, increasing the strain on current public services. Urban communities are exposed to more crime as the undocumented are more reluctant to report crimes, and African Americans are dealing with increased racial and status discrimination as many are subjected to interrogation based on citizenship. Imagine our delight, Mr. Speaker, when the immigration reform debate gained some traction this year with the actions taking place in the Senate. There were tangible legislative fixes in the works. The CBC quickly expressed our concerns to both the House and the Senate leadership over the elimination of the Diversity Visas, used largely by African and Eastern European immigrants. We voiced our concern over the ability of American children, particularly those from underrepresented and underserved areas to be successful in STEM fields without the proper education, especially since much of the emphasis in the debate relied on increasing incentives of migrants in those fields. We also expressed the need to address our immigration judicial system. The current state is not aligned with our criminal justice system, leaving many immigrants forced to experience double jeopardy for nonviolent crimes. We stood up against racial profiling language that does not include religion or national origin and expressed concerns over the switch from family- based immigration to an economic-based system. Now, as the House looks to different vehicles to consider comprehensive immigration reform, I implore the House leadership to understand the importance of diversity; that is, racial, ethnic, religious, national, and especially economic diversity, the visa equity that must be afforded immigrants from around the globe. If we eliminate country caps without including other avenues for smaller countries, we are jeopardizing the beautiful mosaic that makes this country unique and great. We must evaluate consideration of the SAFE Act, which is a bad idea and a slap in the face to our immigrant history. Additionally, we have to have an honest conversation about the relationship between legalization and border security. Allowing those who are here a pathway to citizenship but creating an obstacle course based in fear to obtain the citizenship is not the way to go. We will never realize the true potential of this country if anyone in our society is held back from realizing their individual dreams. And relying heavily on an economic-based immigration system will exclude many immigrants, creating yet another stratified immigration system, forcing people back into the shadows. That is why, as we look at the next session of the 113th Congress, I ask my colleagues to take the opportunity to revisit these proposals, sans political pressure, sans the haste to get it done, and take a real look at how we can improve the lives of all Americans and all those who strive with the hope to be an American. Mr. Speaker, we must get this right. Our national security is at stake. Our moral standing in the world depends upon it. The American people, many of whom are first- and second-generation immigrants, have demanded it. If we turn our backs on those law-abiding contributors to our civil society that come to our shores only to embrace the American Dream, to labor in the rebuilding of our great Nation, strengthen our economy, and to serve honorably in our military, we turn our back on ourselves and our future. I can definitely say that the CBC Immigration Taskforce looks forward to continuing this conversation into the new year, ensuring that any comprehensive immigration reform measures mirror the diversity of this Nation. So I want to thank my colleague, the gentleman from New York, whose district is right next to mine in Brooklyn, for yielding time to me today.

Ms. CLARKE

Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate former Public Advocate and a dear friend of mine Bill de Blasio on his election as Mayor of New York City. He will be New York's 109th Mayor and the first Democrat to hold the office in 20 years. Mr. de Blasio is a compassionate and intelligent man who believes that every person in New York should have access to a quality education, attend college or vocational training, find a job, and start a family. He is ready to address the enormous challenge that income inequality poses for New York City and our nation, which threatens to undermine our shared commitment to the American Dream. This is a great victory for the people of New York City, and I know that he will unify all New Yorkers and lead the City forward into a new era. New York City has a new incredible leader and I look forward to working with him on initiatives that will keep New York City and our nation on the path to prosperity. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the election of Bill de Blasio, and urge us all to continue the fight for an America that is a true champion of equity and opportunity.

Ms. CLARKE

Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast Cancer is the most common cancer among women in the U.S. and also the most common cancer found among every ethnic and racial group in America. Thanks to continuous research efforts to improve breast cancer treatment, the mortality rate for this cancer is gradually declining. According to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Organization, in 2013, it is estimated that among U.S. women there will be 232,340 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 39,620 breast cancer deaths. It is also estimated that 27,060 new cases of breast cancer and 6,080 deaths are expected to occur among African American women. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among African American women and the second leading cause of cancer death among African American women exceeded only by lung cancer. Studies have found that African American women often have aggressive tumors with a poorer prognosis which leads to a higher mortality rate. Breast cancer incidence in African American women is lower than in White women overall. However, for women younger than 45, incidence is higher among African American women than White women. Breast cancer mortality is 41 percent higher in African American women than in White women. Although breast cancer survival in African American women has increased in recent decades, survival rates remain lower than among White women. Over the past 20 years, progress in both early detection and treatment has led to improved survival for people of all ages and races, and with all stages of breast cancer. Between 1990 and 2009, breast cancer mortality declined by 33 percent among women in the United States. According to the National Cancer Institute, between 2003 and 2009, 89.2 percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer survived 5 years or more after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Death rates have been falling on average 1.9 percent each year over the last 10 years and this is due to the advances in treatment. Though we have been successful in improving our treatment of Breast Cancer, we still must provide adequate research funding to find a cure for the disease. I therefore stand in honor of all breast cancer patients and survivors to urge my colleagues to support cancer research and ensure that the current and future breast cancer patients have an increased fighting chance for survival.

Ms. CLARKE

Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to promote awareness of the growing concern for one of the deadliest cancers in America--Pancreatic cancer. Some of you may not know, but the threat of Pancreatic cancer is growing in the United States. Pancreatic cancer is not only one of the deadliest cancers, but it's the 4th leading cause of cancer death for both men and women in the United States. It is estimated that in 2013, 45,220 Americans will be diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer and 38,460 will die from this disease; while overall cancer incidence and death rates are declining, the incidence of Pancreatic cancer and death rate due to this cancer have been increasing. According to a recent report issued by the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Pancreatic cancer is expected to become the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States by 2020. In my home state of New York, the projection of Pancreatic cancer deaths in 2013 is 2,500. Specifically, in Kings County, which is where my congressional district is located, there have been on average 256 deaths per year between 2006 and 2010. This information is particularly troubling to me and underscores the fact that we need to put forth more effort to support cancer research. The Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act was signed into law on January 2, 2013. This law calls on the National Cancer Institute, also known as NCI, to develop scientific frameworks for Pancreatic and Lung cancer, which will help provide the strategic direction needed to make true progress in these deadly cancers. Although we enacted this piece of legislation, our work is far from over. Pancreatic cancer statistics call for aggressive measures NOW to develop early detection and treatment tools before incidences of the disease dramatically increase--but NCI funding is falling dangerously behind. In fact, over the last decade the National Institutes of Health has lost approximately 20% of its purchasing power because funding has not kept pace with the rate of biomedical inflation. Added to that, the NCI budget was cut by 5.8%, largely as a result of sequestration. As members of Congress, we can give current and future Pancreatic cancer patients a fighting chance by ensuring that the provisions of the Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act are fully implemented and provide sustained, adequate funding for the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute. We cannot have success in fighting diseases like Pancreatic cancer if research funding levels do not improve. So, I stand here today to urge my colleagues to support cancer research and ensure that the provisions of the Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act are fully implemented.

Ms. CLARKE

Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues, we were all saddened last Monday evening to hear of the passing of my predecessor, the Honorable Congressman Major R. Owens, and I stand here with colleagues to commemorate his life and his record of dedicated service to the people of central Brooklyn. Congressman Owens was committed to the children and families who had been marginalized and ignored by the body politic. He worked to involve the community in the control of local public schools in Brooklyn and was a strong advocate for education as a member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. His efforts were critical to the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Congressman Owens had always been dedicated to expanding access to information and the empowerment of the citizenry. Before being elected to the New York State Senate, he was a proud librarian at the Brooklyn Public Library, and he remains the only librarian to have been a Member of Congress; and he was a mayoral appointee of Mayor John Lindsay as commissioner for the Community Development Agency, fighting on behalf of impoverished New York citizens. Congressman Major Owens retired from elected office. He devoted himself to training the next generation of leaders. As a professor, he shared his experience with the students at Medgar Evers College. Mr. Speaker, the example of Congressman Major R. Owens' public service will remain an inspiration to this and future generations of elected officials in Brooklyn and across the Nation. Mr. Speaker, I ask that the House stand to offer a moment of silence in honor of the late Congressman Major R. Owens.

Ms. CLARKE

Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, I am deeply concerned that Republican- Majority has brought a bill (H.J. Res 79) to the floor that would provide funds solely for specific offices within the Department of Homeland Security. DHS deemed 86 percent of its employees essential during this forced Republican government shutdown; however, this bill only provides funds for: Immigration and Customs Enforcement, National Protection and Programs Directorate's office of Biometric Identity Management, Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, and Citizenship and Immigration Services. The bill does not provide critical funding for many of the other offices within the DHS that play a vital role in protecting our country. As the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies, I advocate for funding of the offices and programs that protect our nation from cyber attacks and monitor our critical infrastructure. The consequences of accepting this piecemeal bill are very severe, a very risky impediment to the daily duties and services that DHS provides for our country's protection. Providing funds for the DHS, as a whole, is vital to our homeland security. Republicans continue to use this piecemeal approach; showing a reckless disdain for the Federal government and her dedicated employees, which fails to grasp the bigger picture, and have failed to bring an end to this government shutdown. We must, and cannot accept these extortion tactics. I urge my colleagues to reject this bill and vote for a clean CR, and to raise the debt limit now.

Ms. CLARKE

Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, at the time that President Obama was first inaugurated, it was clear to most Americans that we had a crisis in the health care system: the cost of premiums was skyrocketing every year, millions of American families did not have health insurance, and many of the health insurance plans that existed were inadequate, providing coverage that was essentially useless when someone had a serious health problem or a preexisting condition. Our seniors enrolled in Medicare were, in many instances, paying hundreds of dollars each month for drugs. Now the Affordable Care Act in immediate effect addresses this crisis. Already, the Affordable Care Act has permitted millions of Americans to visit a primary care physician without copayments, prohibits insurance companies from discriminating against people with preexisting conditions, and now parents are keeping their children on their health insurance plans until they're 26 years of age. As of Tuesday, across our great Nation, people without health insurance at long last have the ability to enroll in health care exchanges. The Affordable Care Act, it's the law of the land.

Ms. CLARKE

Ms. CLARKE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the House bring up the Senate amendment to H.J. Res. 59, the clean CR, and go to conference on a budget so that we can end this Republican government shutdown that is undermining public health by preventing the CDC from working on its annual flu vaccine or detecting disease outbreaks.

Ms. CLARKE

Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize September as National Americans of African Immigrant Heritage Month and to celebrate the significant contributions of Americans of African Immigrant Heritage who have enriched the history of the United States: Whereas, people of recent African immigrant heritage are found in every State of the Union; Whereas, the history of Americans of African Immigrant Heritage in the United States is inextricably tied to the story of the United States; Whereas, the community of Americans of African immigrant heritage is an inherently diverse population comprised of more than 45 distinct ethnicities and more than 500 language dialects; Whereas, Americans of African immigrant heritage in the United States come from all regions in Africa and do not constitute a homogeneous group, including people from different national, linguistic, ethnic, racial, cultural and social backgrounds; Whereas, Americans of African immigrant heritage came to the United States voluntarily, and are distinct from African Americans, the latter of whom are descendants of mostly West and Central Africans who were involuntarily brought to the United States by means of the historic Atlantic slave trade; Whereas, the month of September has been celebrated by the Africans of Montgomery County, Maryland since 2008, because, African Union Day is on September 9th; Whereas, recent African immigrants have made significant contributions to American culture such as having high educational and income levels, as well as contributing to many areas of American life such as the military, health-care, arts, education, community service and public policy; and Whereas, raising awareness about African immigrant heritage is crucial to effectively fighting disparities within the greater Black population in the American narrative and is essential to building a stronger community and a stronger America; and Whereas, during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a significant number of slaves from Africa region were brought to the United States; Whereas, African immigrants from Cape Verde first came to the United States in the 1790s, The Cape Verdean immigrants arrived aboard New England whaling ships, which would often pick up crewmen off the coast of Cape Verde in Africa and their descendants include the legendary Lena Home and sailors who fought in the Union Navy; Whereas, In 1922, the US government restricted the immigration of peoples of color, greatly reducing Cape Verdean immigration. The new regulations also prevented Cape Verdean Americans from visiting Africa for fear of being denied reentry into the United States; Whereas, In the 1960s to 1970s, due to the more racially inclusive regulations of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, more African immigrants from across the continent came to the US primarily as students; Whereas, In the 1980s and 1990s, Africans in the US were primarily refugees, who were fleeing hardships from countries such as Ethiopia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan; Whereas, In the 2000s Africans in the US were primarily beneficiaries of the highly popular State Department program known as the Diversity Visa lottery program; Whereas, much like the United States, the countries in Africa faced obstacles of in country-slavery and colonialism and struggled for independence; Whereas, the independence movements in many countries in Africa during the 1960s and the consequential establishment of independent democratic countries in Africa strengthened ties between the region and the United States; Whereas, there have been many influential Americans of recent African immigrant heritage in the history of the United States, including in Academia: Jem Spectar, Elfatih A.B. Eltahir, Ahmed Zewail; Whereas, there have been many achievements of Americans of recent African immigrant descent in sports, which include: Betty Okino, Yoakim Noah, Hakeem Olajuwon, Ndamukong Suh, Luc Mbah a Mboute, Freddy Adu, Alfred Aboya; Whereas, there have been many achievements of Americans of recent African immigrant descent in the arts, which include: Akon, Charlize Theron, Dave Matthews, Djimon Hounsou, Karine Plantadit, Idris Elba, Wale, and Anika Noni Ross; Whereas, there have been many achievements of Americans of recent African immigrant descent in media, which include: Sade Baderinwa, Yves Bollanga, Lola Ogunnaike, Pamela Anchang, Celestin Ngoa, Omoyele Sowore; Whereas, there have been many achievements of Americans of recent African immigrant descent in fashion, which include: Imam, Kibonen Nfi, Oluchi, Bertini Wandja Heumegni, Liya Kebede, BeBe Zahara Benet, and Betrand Fote; Whereas, there have been many achievements of Americans of recent African immigrant descent who are successful entrepreneurs, which include: Jessica Matthews, Kase Lukman Lawal, Christopher Che, Elon Musk, and Noah A. Samara; Whereas, there have been many achievements of Americans of recent African immigrant descent in government, such as Members of the Montgomery County Executive's African Advisory Group (MD), Washington, DC Mayor's Commission of African Affairs, the Newark Mayor's African Commission (NJ the Philadelphia Mayor's African and Caribbean Commission (PA), the Bronx Borough President's African Advisory Council (NY), Council Member Edoaurd Haba, and Judge Nina Ashenafi Richardson; Whereas, there have been many achievements of Americans of recent African immigrant descent as African immigrant activists, which include: Tsehaye Teferra of Ethiopian Community and Development Center and Sylvie Bello of Cameroon American Council; Whereas, the 44th President of the United States, Barack Hussein Obama, is of Kenyan descent; Whereas, Americans of recent African immigrant heritage have played an active role in the civil rights movement and other social and political movements in the United States; Whereas, Americans of recent African immigrant heritage have contributed greatly to education, fine arts, business, literature, journalism, sports, fashion, politics, government, the military, music, science, technology, and other areas in the United States; Whereas, Americans of recent African immigrant heritage share their culture through art, fashion, festivals, music, dance, film, and literature that enrich the cultural landscape of the United States; Whereas, the countries in Africa are important economic partners of the United States; Whereas, the people of Africa share the hopes and aspirations of the people of the United States for peace and prosperity throughout the world; Whereas, there remains much to be done to ensure that Americans of recent African immigrant heritage have access to resources and a voice in the Government of the United States and continue to advance in the political, social, and economic landscape of the United States; Whereas, celebrating African Immigrant Heritage Month provides the people of the United States with an opportunity to recognize the achievements, contributions, and history of and to appreciate the challenges faced by Americans of recent African immigrant heritage; and Whereas, September is an appropriate month to establish an African Immigrant Heritage Month: chosen because African Union Day is September 9. I am firmly resolved that a National Americans of African Immigrant Heritage Month should be established to celebrate the significant contributions of Americans of recent African Immigrant Heritage to the history of the United States, and believe the people of the United States should observe the month with appropriate ceremonies, celebrations, and activities. Americans of recent African Immigrant Heritage strengthen the United States and enhance its rich diversity; it is time we formally celebrate this fact.

Ms. CLARKE

Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to voice my opposition to H.R. 3102, the Nutrition Reform and Work Opportunity Act of 2013, which calls for $40 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as the SNAP program. This program currently provides food assistance to a total of 47 million Americans, 3.1 million of which are New Yorkers. Without SNAP, these recipients would not have access to one of our most basic human needs--food. Four to six million low income Americans, including low income children, seniors, and the disabled, will lose their food assistance as a result of these cuts. These cuts would come in addition to a benefit cut already scheduled to take place in November. The SNAP program is a promise our government made to Americans to ensure there would be assistance for both the working poor and those individuals out of work--including parents and their children--so they can afford food. It also helps low income working families whose wages are not sufficient to make ends meet. I am particularly concerned about the negative impact the cuts will have on the nutritional needs of children. If children go to school hungry and malnourished, learning becomes even more difficult. The worst possible thing we could do is deny healthy meals to needy children at a time when they need all the help they can get to succeed in the classroom and begin to build productive lives. We have seen in recent years that families continue to face a shortage of jobs or are being paid wages too low to lift them out of poverty. This legislation does nothing to help this group of Americans and will lead to even greater costs in the long run. One thing we should all remember is that increasing hunger is not the answer to reducing the deficit.

Ms. CLARKE

Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained and missed the first series of votes today. Had I been present, Mr. Speaker, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall No. 450, H.R. 1155, the National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers Reform Act of 2013. I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall No. 451, H.R. 2747, Streamlining Claims Processing for Federal Contractor Employees Act. I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall No. 452, S. 130, Powell Shooting Range Land Conveyance Act.

Ms. CLARKE

Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in opposition to the Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 1911--the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act of 2013. This bill will peg student loan interest rates to the 10-year Treasury note allowing the rate to fluctuate with financial markets. Specifically, the bill would peg the permanent student loan interest rate to the 10-year Treasury note plus 2.05% for undergraduate subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans; the 10-year Treasury note plus 3.6 % for subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans; and the 10- year Treasury note plus 4.6% for Parent Plus and Graduate Plus loans. One positive thing that this bill does do is that it caps student loan interest rates at 8.25% for undergraduates, 9.5% for graduate students, and 10.5% for Parents Plus and Graduate Plus loans. I am disappointed with this bill because it fails to permanently keep student loan interest rates at their current fixed rate, and in doing so increases the cost to borrowers over the next 10 years by an estimated $715 million dollars. Despite the public outcry over student loan debt, now totaling over $1 trillion dollars, Congress has chosen to make an estimated $715 million dollar profit off of student loans. This is shameful! We should not be making a profit off the backs of students. Students are our future. An educated populous is what America needs to remain competitive in the 21st century. Balancing the budget on the backs of students is wrong, unfair and shameful!

Ms. CLARKE

Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to congratulate my alma mater Edward R. Murrow High School for winning the 2013 National High School Chess Championship. This is the eighth time that my alma mater has won this prestigious title. Edward R. Murrow's chess team, along with more than 5000 students from across the country, vied for the national title in Nashville, Tennessee. Murrow trumped the competition and came away with the top prize. Murrow's championship chess team hails from a diverse background reflective of the multicultural and vibrant communities that call Brooklyn, New York home. I am tremendously proud of the team's talented young men and women, who worked hard to perfect their skills. I also want to acknowledge their coach, Mr. Eliot Weiss, who helped the students hone their talents, while offering guidance and mentorship throughout the year. This victory was no easy feat. It was only through hard work, tenacity, and long hours spent perfecting the craft that they were able to claim the title. Through judicious choice and astute strategy, Murrow's chess team has again proven that they are some of the most proficient and accomplished in the sport. I feel honored to call myself an alumna of such a distinguished institution, which has a long history of shaping the sharp and analytic minds of New York's most promising youth. Once again, I say congratulations to Edward R. Murrow's Chess Team for a job well done!

Ms. CLARKE

Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentleman from Brooklyn, my closest colleague in the New York State delegation--both of our districts being in the borough of Brooklyn--for leading us in this Special Order hour today: Race in America--where do we go from here? For more than a year, many people have tried to give voice to Trayvon Martin and to present his perspective into the debate concerning the injustice of the criminal justice system in Black males. With his remarks on Friday, President Obama provided Trayvon Martin a voice. By sharing his experiences, he offered America a perspective on the experiences of other African American men, women, boys, and girls, and he gave voice to millions of Americans who felt the pain of the Martin- Fulton Family as their own. When President Obama introduced racial profiling into the conversation, he held up a mirror to the faces of all of us as Americans--to a truth that some commentators have tried to ignore and that many more are in deep denial of--for, despite the promises of equality in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, our practices have been inadequate to our ideals. Our beliefs, the best traditions of our Nation, have not become a reality for millions of Americans of African descent. The tragic death of our young man Trayvon Martin, followed by the acquittal of the man who pursued him and killed him, has reminded us that, although it may seem as if African Americans and other minorities have achieved full equality in our civil society, we are still victims of racial profiling--in violation of our laws and our morals. The lives of Black men and women are not accorded the same value as the lives of White Americans. This is the reality for far too many Black Americans. Compounding the 21st century's divisive racial tone is the reality of knowing that our lives have been devalued, our exercise of the liberties to which Americans have been entitled have been devalued and diminished, such as the right to vote. With millions of Americans, I was deeply disappointed with the Supreme Court's decision to prevent the enforcement of the Voting Rights Act. We cannot forget that prior to the enactment of voting rights that democracy did not exist in many parts of the Nation, with the deliberate denial of the right to vote to Black people. Mr. Speaker, while the Supreme Court's recent decision and the Trayvon Martin case are crucial to this conversation, they cannot fully address the problem of racial inequality without a discussion of racial profiling, the structural discrimination of our judicial system, the disintegration of the educational system, and the lack of jobs and economic opportunity, especially for the African American community. Tonight I want to just quickly hit on the issue of racial profiling and our justice system. In a June 2013 report from the ACLU, ``The War on Marijuana in Black and White'' demonstrated that even as rates of marijuana usage between Blacks and Whites are comparable, Blacks are nearly four times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession. In my district in Brooklyn, and all over New York City, African American young men are harassed simply because of the color of their skin. The excessive use of Stop-and-Frisk, known in New York City as the Stop-and-Frisk program, it has been proven that this program disproportionately targets African Americans and Latinos, these two groups comprising 87 percent of all stops while only about 50 percent of the City's population. According to the New York City Civil Liberties Union, the number of stops of young Black men neared the entire population of young Black men, 133,119, as compared to 158,406 in the population in the year 2012. That means that there were some young men that were getting stopped more than once Commissioner Kelly increased the number of stops 600 percent since 2002 when he became Commissioner, reaching a peak of almost 700,000 stops in the year 2011. They have almost a 90 percent fail rate. Only 12 percent of the number of massive stops result in an arrest or a summons and have been less effective in getting guns off the street than random searches of all New Yorkers would. It is a clear violation of civil rights and civil liberties of African American and Latino men. So where do we going from here? Well, members of the Congressional Black Caucus have introduced and sponsored legislation on racial profiling, and that will represent a comprehensive Federal commitment to healing the rift caused by racial profiling and restoring public confidence in the criminal justice system at large. I want to encourage my colleagues to take a look at this legislation, because this is where the conversation can begin, and this is where the healing should start. This can be done through the changing of policies and procedures underlying the practice of racial profiling and through, like the President said, working with the State and local governments on training that helps enforcement officials become more aware of potential racial and ethnic bias. I urge my colleagues to go back to their districts and to hold town hall meetings and discussions on race. Speak to your constituents. Speak to your families and friends. Have conversations at home and in your neighborhoods. We must not sit back and watch the progress gained by those who came before us who worked diligently and often made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom and the rights that we all enjoy today, we cannot permit their sacrifices to be forgotten or erased from history. Today we must take a stand against further racial injustice of all kinds. Enough is enough. You know, it's ironic, because when I think about my age and having come of age in the 1970s in the United States of America, there was just a lot more optimism about us becoming a more perfect Union. And to arrive in the House of Representatives in the 21st century and see the type of digression that is taking place in our Nation, to know that my nephews that are millennials are going through some of the same issues that young men in the 1950s and 1960s were facing in a desegregated Nation is extraordinarily painful. We are an enlightened civil society, and we have an obligation to do what we can to make sure that all Americans are worthy of all that this Nation has to offer. And that means that we have to have an honest conversation about the inequities, the racial injustices that continue to persist. While not as blatant as they were in the 1950s and sixties, they still fester and continue to be a blight on a Nation that is poised for greatness.

Ms. CLARKE

Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, as a proud member of the Brooklyn Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, under the leadership of Ms. Sohndra Stone-Snead, president, it is my deepest honor to extend a hearty congratulations to our outgoing national president, Ms. Cynthia Butler-McIntyre, and our new and incoming national president, Dr. Paulette Walker, on the historic centennial and 51st national convention here in Washington, D.C., over the past 7 days, the largest gathering of college-educated Black women ever. Blanketing our National Capital in a sea of red, close to 40,000 attended the convention, which is part of a year-long celebration to mark the sorority's 100th anniversary. This great sorority and glorious sisterhood started on January 13, 1913, when 22 young college women at Howard University in Washington, D.C., founded the organization. Many prominent community leaders and members have been members of this sorority, including the Honorable Marcia Fudge, past national president; and Congresswoman Joyce Beatty; as well as former Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones and former Congresswoman Barbara Jordan. My predecessor in Congress, the great Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, was also a member, a pioneer for women and African Americans in elected office. So I not only followed her footsteps in my journey into Congress, but also my journey into Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Mr. Speaker, once again, please join me in congratulating Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, on its 100th anniversary and recognizing the members for the work they do to progress the mission of sisterhood, scholarship, and public service. For 100 years, its leaders and members have continued the legacy and goals of its founders. They are committed to public service, education, and social action locally, nationally, and worldwide.

Ms. CLARKE

Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, I oppose H.R. 2668 the Fairness for American Families Act; which would seek to delay until 2015 the requirement that individuals maintain minimal essential health care coverage. Once again, for the 38th time, Republicans are voting to repeal parts of the Affordable Care Act. The individual responsibility requirement under the Affordable Care Act, which calls for purchasing coverage or paying a penalty, covers only those who have access to affordable coverage. If an individual does not have access to coverage with premiums that are 8 percent or less of their income, the individual is exempt. Individuals are also exempt if their income is so low they do not have to file a federal tax return; or if they qualify for an exemption based on hardship, religious beliefs, and certain other factors; or they spend less than three consecutive months without coverage. Therefore, the Republicans' disingenuous concern that Americans will be punished if they are unable to afford coverage is simply not true! The Affordable Care Act's individual responsibility provision is a critical component of the additional patient protections and reforms that go into effect in 2014. Health experts have determined that if, beginning in 2014, insurers can no longer deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions and can no longer charge them higher premiums, premiums in health insurance marketplaces would rise sharply unless all Americans with access to affordable insurance either purchase it or pay a penalty. This is yet another attempt to obstruct and undermine the successful implementation of the Affordable Care Act. The result of this bill's delay of the individual responsibility provision would be to limit access to affordable coverage for millions of Americans and thereby, weaken one of the primary premises of the Affordable Care Act. Don't fall for this trick! I ask my colleagues to stand in with me in solidarity and vote no on this bill.

Ms. CLARKE

Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in vehement opposition to H.R. 2642, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013. Specifically, I oppose separating nutrition assistance programs from the agricultural subsidies programs and this is exactly what this bill does. Agricultural and nutrition assistance programs have traditionally moved through Congress as part of the same authorizing legislation, allowing us to comprehensively address both issues. This amalgamation has united urban and rural areas of America, serving as a manifestation of the connection shared between these seemingly disparate communities. Divorcing food stamps from agricultural subsidies would halt much- needed action that insures funding for food assistance to low-income Americans. Republicans accuse Democrats of playing politics with farm issues, yet they propose a two-bill strategy that is likely to stagnate any progress toward assisting the nation's most vulnerable populations. The moment has arrived in our Congress where we have the ability to pass legislation that ensures a child can focus on a homework assignment without the distraction of hunger, guarantees healthy meals to struggling families who have been hit hard by the recent economic downturn, and lends to the economic advancement of communities across the country. Forty-seven million people experience food insecurity in the United States. In New York alone, over three million New Yorkers receive food stamps. This bill as it currently stands is an attack on the nutrition programs, specifically food stamps. We have an unparalleled moment of opportunity to generate policy that is in tune with the circumstances of ALL of the American people--those in both rural and urban communities. Decoupling the nutrition programs from the agricultural subsidies programs will in effect be the death nail for the food stamps program. There will be no incentives for conservatives to support nutritional programs if this decoupling occurs, which is why I oppose this bill.

Ms. CLARKE

Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in total and strong opposition to the farm bill rule and the underlying bill because it starves America's children.

Ms. CLARKE

Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained in my district and missed the votes on Monday, July 8, 2013. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall No. 305, H.R. 1341--Financial Competitive Act of 2013, ``no'' on rollcall No. 306, H.R. 1564--Audit Integrity and Job Protection Act, as amended, and ``yes'' on rollcall No. 307, H.R. 1171--FOR VETS Act of 2013.

Ms. CLARKE

Ms. CLARKE. To my colleague, Congressman Chaka Fattah, it was a great day, November 21. But let me just say this: I want to thank you for your leadership. It is very appropriate that we're here on the House floor, a place where Mr. Gray's power was most profoundly felt, and that you, being his successor in office, would lead us through what, for many of us, is a day of celebration and commemoration of his life. On behalf of the people of the Ninth Congressional District, I'm here to express our most profound condolences to the family of Congressman Bill Gray and, as I've said, to celebrate his life and the legacy that he's left for all of us. Trailblazer, man of God, outstanding husband, father, preacher, skilled negotiator, consensus builder, majority whip, and servant leader, these are just a few of the words that describe the Honorable William H. Gray. As a pioneering Member of Congress, William H. Gray III was an industrious public servant who worked diligently to provide equal rights, education, and service to the people of his district and, indeed, our Nation. He was a trailblazer for so many who have followed in his footsteps in the House of Representatives, including myself, and paved the way for many more to follow. Congressman Gray represented the Second District of Pennsylvania from 1979 to 1991. He was the first African American to become majority whip of the House of Representatives in 1989, the third-ranking House leadership position. He also served as the first African American to serve as the chair of the Budget Committee of the House of Representatives and was a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Foreign Operations. Congressman Gray, along with many of the CBC at that time, led the effort back in the mid-1980s to end U.S. support of apartheid. When he retired from the House of Representatives, he went on to become president and CEO of the United Negro College Fund, where he led the efforts to raise more than $2.3 billion for HBCUs, which was extraordinary. I'm sure my colleagues have recounted over and over and over all that he has done. I'm just putting an exclamation point because I think it's worth repeating that the people of this Nation need to know what an outstanding servant, Congressman, and preacher Congressman Bill Gray III was. We miss him dearly. He was passionate about education and believed it was the greatest tool towards a brighter future. I believe my colleague, Congressman Fattah, and he must have melded DNA--or maybe it's a Philly thing. I don't know. But certainly I know that this is the legacy that he has left for Congressman Fattah, for all of us to follow. Congressman Gray hails from a long lineage of preachers. Before coming to Congress, Congressman Gray served as the pastor of Bright Hope Baptist Church in north Philadelphia, where he served as pastor for 35 years. He was a real renaissance man who had been able to manage several careers throughout his lifetime. He succeeded his father, William H. Gray, Jr., who preached there for 22 years, and his grandfather, William H. Gray, Sr., who served there for 24 years. While in Congress, he returned to Philadelphia on weekends just to preach. He leaves an amazing legacy that will never be forgotten and that will be a part of our Nation's history for generations to come. During this time of grief, I hope that his family and all of us will find solace in our memories and comfort will be bestowed upon the family and loved ones at this time of their bereavement. I will continue to keep the family and his parishioners and those who hold him dear in my prayers and hope that the Lord will continue to be with them at this time.

Ms. CLARKE

Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained in my district and missed the votes on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 and Wednesday, June 26, 2013. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 287, H.R. 2383--To designate the new Interstate Route 70 bridge over the Mississippi River connecting St. Louis, Missouri, and southwestern Illinois as the ``Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge''; ``Yea'' on rollcall No. 288, H.R. 1092--To designate the air route traffic control center located in Nashua, New Hampshire, as the ``Patricia Clark Boston Air Route Traffic Control Center''; ``No'' on rollcall No. 289, Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule providing for consideration of H.R. 1613, H.R. 2231, and H.R. 2410--Democrats are urged to vote no on the Previous Question so that Mr. Hastings of Florida can offer his amendment to the Rule, which allows for Mr. Courtney of Connecticut's bill, H.R. 1595--Student Loan Relief Act of 2013, to be considered under an open Rule. H.R. 1595 would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965, extending the freeze on subsidized student loan interest rates for two years, which would prevent rates from doubling from 3.4% to 6.8% on July 1. Immediate action is necessary to protect college students and families, given the short time remaining before rates double. Republicans should not allow the House to go into its 8th full week of recess this year without addressing this critical issue with a bipartisan solution that can become law; and ``No'' on rollcall No. 290, H. Res. 274--Rule providing for consideration of H.R. 1613--Outer Continental Shelf Transboundary Hydrocarbon Agreements Authorization Act, H.R. 2231--Offshore Energy and Jobs Act, and H.R. 2410--Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2014.

Ms. CLARKE

Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I was unavoidably detained at a meeting and missed the first votes of the day. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall No. 254, the motion on ordering the previous question on the rule; and ``no'' on rollcall No. 253, H. Res. 271, the rule providing for further consideration of H.R. 1947, Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act.

Ms. CLARKE

Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, I stand with my colleagues in the Congressional Progressive Caucus in honor of LBGT Pride Month. We have had many achievements to celebrate in recent years--the end of ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'' the extension of many benefits to the same-sex partners of federal employees, the enactment of marriage equality in several states and here in the District of Columbia. These achievements have been critical in our effort to create a society in which we fulfill the promise of the Declaration of Independence that all persons are created equal and the promise of the Fourteenth Amendment that every person has a right to the equal protection of the law. The foundation of these achievements was not built here in Washington, D.C. Instead, it was the work of activists around this nation, it was the conversations between families at the dinner table, it was the realization of millions of Americans that ``I know a gay person, I know a transgender person,'' and that he or she remains my son, my daughter, my brother, my sister, my friend. For who among us would accept a society in which our children and our friends are allowed to become victims of legalized discrimination? Who among us would not allow our brothers and sisters who are in committed relationships to sanctify their love in the form of marriage? Who among us would exclude our neighbors and our colleagues from full participation in this civil society? When we celebrate Pride Month, we celebrate these relationships, relationships in which parents come to know who their children really are, in which friends come to know their friends, in which Americans have come to know and accept their fellow Americans regardless of their sexual orientation. It is these relationships that have provided the foundation for many of the achievements of the LGBT community. Today, we have much to celebrate.

Ms. CLARKE

Ms. CLARKE. Madam Chair, today, I stand in opposition H.R. 1947, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act. I vehemently oppose this bill's $20 billion cuts to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program also known as SNAP. This program currently provides food assistance to forty seven million Americans, who otherwise would not have access to one of our most basic human needs--food. This bill would result in irreparable harm to families, not just in my home district of Brooklyn New York, but in every part of the United States. Almost two-thirds of the people enrolled in SNAP are children, senior citizens, or persons with disabilities. These low income Americans would lose their food assistance as a result of these draconian cuts. In addition to the SNAP cuts, this bill also restricts some categorical eligibility options for States. In New York, more than 300,000 households participant in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Participation in this program usually results in a higher SNAP benefit for the household. If this state option is restricted, SNAP benefits for these households will decrease by roughly 90 dollars per month. This cruel provision takes the food out of the mouth of children and increases the administrative burden on New York. The bill under consideration today would create even more difficulties for the families that receive SNAP benefits. I ask my colleagues to vote no on this heinous bill.