Yvette Clarke

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for closing. Mr. Speaker, authorizing SEAR's great work will ensure that DHS may continue providing risk assessments and support to certain preplanned special events across the United States. I thank Representatives Titus of Nevada and Hudson of North Carolina for introducing this bill, which will strengthen Homeland Security and protect our greatest community events from terrorism or other security threats. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 6229, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6229, the DHS Special Events Program and Support Act, sponsored by the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus). H.R. 6229 is a bipartisan bill that would make our communities safer during large public events and mass gatherings by ensuring that our State, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement have access to tools, resources, and help from the Department of Homeland Security. We all know that the United States holds some of the world's greatest events, from professional football games to Formula One races, rodeos, State fairs, NASCAR, and so on. Every one of these events, big or small, requires security planning and management by State, local, Tribal, and territorial officials. Good planning and management are what it takes to prevent threats at mass gatherings and public events and, in the event of any danger, respond quickly and effectively. H.R. 6229 is an opportunity for Congress to provide our communities with planning and management resources by authorizing the Special Event Assessment Rating program, known as the SEAR program, within DHS. The SEAR program has had great success in every one of the States we represent, helping us ensure safe and enjoyable experiences at home events, big and small. What SEAR does is measure the risk of a terrorist attack or other hazards, as appropriate, on a special event. Events are submitted to DHS by a State, local, Tribal, or territorial partner for an assessment. Under the bill, DHS may provide security coordination and protection support for events with the most serious ratings. Earlier this year in a hearing during National Police Week, former Atlanta Chief of Police Rodney Bryant told the House Committee on Homeland Security that the SEAR program and DHS resources helped him ensure a safe experience for Americans attending the Super Bowl and college football playoff championship. Looking forward, our communities are going to need even more help from DHS through the SEAR program. In addition to longstanding large- scale public events like NFL games or New Year's celebrations in Times Square, the United States has a robust and growing presence on the Formula One racing circuit, and in just 2 years, we will be host to the World Cup. DHS recently informed Congress that the World Cup matches across the country in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, New York, and New Jersey are SEAR rated and will need Federal help to secure their global soccer matches. Mr. Speaker, it is time we authorize this critical program and ensure that these social, sporting, and other events can be enjoyed freely, safely, and without fear. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus), the author of the bill.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, the DHS Cybersecurity Internship Program Act will advance our shared goal of strengthening the American cyber workforce while supporting DHS' effort to recruit the next generation of cyber talent and to defend the homeland. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 9689, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, according to testimony before the House Committee on Homeland Security earlier this year, there are approximately 2,000 cybersecurity vacancies at the Department of Homeland Security. Recent cyber intrusions like the Salt Typhoon telecom breach demonstrate the urgent need to fill those empty desks. That is why I have introduced H.R. 9689, the DHS Cybersecurity Internship Program Act. This bill codifies DHS' cyber internship program, helping ensure DHS continues to expand its efforts to support individuals seeking to join the cyber workforce. Internships are particularly valuable for building the workforce because they help build the connection from school to work. For students, they provide critical work experience that can help launch their careers with the practical skills they will need in the workforce. For the Department, internships can help support the cyber mission while building a pipeline to future employment at DHS. Importantly, these internships are paid, ensuring the program is accessible to all. This summer, 85 interns participated in DHS' new cyber internship program. Enacting this legislation will ensure that DHS continues the program while adding new oversight requirements to keep Congress informed on how the Department is recruiting interns and utilizing the program to support its cyber mission. Additionally, my legislation directs the Department to meet cyber talent where it is, whether in high school, community and 4-year colleges, technical schools, or graduate school. Recruiting cyber talent from a broad range of educational institutions will result in a bigger pool of applicants and reflect best practices that more employers should implement. I thank Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee Chairman Garbarino for cosponsoring this bill and my colleagues on the House Committee on Homeland Security for supporting it at our markup in September. I look forward to similar bipartisan support in the full House. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 9769, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, our adversaries are growing bolder and more sophisticated in using cyber tools to gain access to government and critical infrastructure networks. As we speak, the Federal Government and its private-sector partners are working to understand the full scope and scale of the telecommunications hack by state-sponsored threat actors from China, known as Salt Typhoon. The Salt Typhoon telecom hack followed warnings issued earlier this year by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and its Federal partners that state-sponsored threat actors from China are ``seeking to pre-position themselves on IT networks for disruptive or destructive cyberattacks against U.S. critical infrastructure.'' H.R. 9769, the Strengthening Cyber Resilience Against State-Sponsored Threats Act, formalizes interagency efforts already underway to defend against state-sponsored threat activity directed by the People's Republic of China. Notably, it would establish an interagency task force and a reporting requirement to ensure Congress is informed of sector-specific cyber threat trends and additional resources or authorities the government needs to protect government and critical infrastructure networks, among other things. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 9769, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman, Mr. McHenry, and the ranking member for bringing this legislation to the floor. I thank Congresswoman Barbara Lee for her tenacity in making sure that we would see this come to fruition. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as one of the many women who stand on the shoulders of Shirley Anita Chisolm and in strong support of S. 4243, the Shirley Chisolm Congressional Gold Medal Act. We honor the first African-American woman elected to Congress and a trailblazer whose life and work continue to inspire generations of leaders. Congresswoman Shirley Chisolm was a woman who had the audacity to be a catalyst for change unbossed and unbought. From her candidacy for President of the United States to her first day in the New York State Assembly, Shirley Chisolm paved the way for Black Americans, Caribbean Americans, women, and marginalized communities overlooked in our political system. She showed us what was possible and, in doing so, raised the standard of what it means to be a woman who is unbought and unbossed. She was a daughter of Brooklyn, my soror, both of us made in the Brooklyn Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and above all, a daughter of progress. This Congressional Gold Medal serves as a testament and a symbol of her achievements as a political trailblazer and advocate for those who were too often left behind. It is our responsibility to ensure her legacy is not just remembered, but built upon. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Let us honor Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm for her courage, her vision, and her unmatched contributions to Congress, the Congressional Black Caucus, and our Nation at large. As she so powerfully said: ``If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.'' Today, let us solidify her seat and honor her rightful place in history.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, let me thank my dear colleague, Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, along with her partner, Congressman Jonathan Jackson, for anchoring this evening's Special Order hour honoring Shirley Chisolm. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on this special occasion to celebrate and commemorate the 100th birthday of the late Congresswoman Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm and in commemoration of her lifetime of extraordinary trailblazing achievement. Shirley Chisolm was a woman who truly lived her American Dream out loud, unapologetically, and with audacity. Her special brand of leadership and her charismatic persona in concert with her audacious eloquence and sheer elegance brought to the world our fight for justice through the embodiment of a petite woman from Brooklyn. As the only Black woman in the New York State congressional delegation, also a Brooklynite, and the Member who holds the very same seat in part that Shirley Chisholm once held, I am not only duty bound to prioritize the marginalized and overlooked and protect the underserved and left behind, I am compelled to do so. My Congress Member, Congresswoman Shirley Chisolm, did the same for me. She championed my cause, she paid it forward, and she pulled me up, just as she did for all Americans. You see, Mr. Speaker, Congresswoman Shirley Chisolm was a woman who dared to be a catalyst for change. From her first day in the New York State Assembly to her last in the United States House of Representatives and beyond, Congresswoman Shirley Chisolm fought to deliver justice, fairness, and equality to all Americans. We are all very fortunate that her life's work, which pioneered progress and restructured the status quo, altered the very chemistry of this body and has provided us a blueprint that we need to do the same. Remembering the name and remembering the accolades of Shirley Chisolm does more than memorialize her life and legacy. It proves to the millions of Black girls and women in this country that if they achieve, if they strive for their greatness, if they better their country and this world, then they too may be remembered eternally by the Nation they devoted their lives to bettering. They, too, may be remembered for all time as the trailblazers and changemakers of their day. We know all too well that progress has never happened by accident. It takes leaders, and in many cases, it takes Black women leaders. Thankfully, today we have countless of them to lean on and to learn from. Together, I believe we have a moral mandate and an opportunity to not just examine racial inequalities that span every sector and every segment of our society, but the responsibility to tell the truth about how we got here. By celebrating the late Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm, we are fulfilling that responsibility. It is indeed my honor to stand here. Both of us were born in the month of November. Both of us are daughters of Caribbean immigrants. Both of us love to dance and love to dress. Shirley Chisolm was a trailblazer, Shirley Chisolm was a changemaker, and Shirley Chisolm will forever be remembered.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, let me thank my colleagues, Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Congressman Jonathan Jackson, the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus Steven Horsford, and my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus for this opportunity to share some thoughts about our dearly beloved colleague, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. To Elwyn Lee, Erica and Jason, other members of the Lee family and staff, loved ones, friends and constituents, on behalf of myself, the Clarke family, and the people of the Ninth District of New York, I extend my deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences. Madam Speaker, I rise on this day to remember the gentlewoman from Texas, my friend, my mentor, my dear colleague, the honorable and incomparable Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. Sheila was the granddaughter of Jamaican immigrants and a daughter of New York. I was blessed to have known her for many years. I have served with her for just short of 18 years. We both served on the Homeland Security Committee. We bonded over many of our deep connections. My parents are Jamaican immigrants. As it turned out, Sheila Jackson Lee's uncle was one of my mother's biggest donors when she was a member of the New York City Council. I had an opportunity as a councilmember to meet the incomparable Sheila Jackson Lee at many events and activities and occasions where we gathered. To come to Congress, as the only Black woman elected to Congress in the year 2007, I ran into someone who I had already become acquainted with and who put me under her wings. As the author of the Violence Against Women Act, the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, the woman who reintroduced the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, and H.R. 40, the bill to provide a study on reparations, our Nation will long remember the scale and scope of her legislative acumen and successes. We were blessed because she was a justice seeker and relentlessly so. There was not a piece of legislation, as one of my colleagues--I think it was Barbara--stated where she did not come in with an amendment if she found any inequities within that legislation. She was able to convince Members on both sides of the aisle of the need to include an amendment that would provide that breathing room for the oppressed in our communities. We are grateful for not only her leadership of the people of Houston, Texas, but by extension the people across this Nation who have benefited from her work. We in the Congressional Black Caucus and countless others across the Nation will long feel the gravity of her absence. One of the projects that we worked on together is now resident at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, and that is the Sojourner Truth Legacy Project. Prior to my arrival here in the House of Representatives, Congresswoman Lee led a group of women to make sure that a bust of Sojourner Truth would be placed in the United States Capitol. She worked, and she worked, and she worked, and the year that I was elected, as it turns out, not only was the legislation passed to have that bust created, but it was actually placed in the new Capitol Visitor Center in 2007. She was an integral part of establishing the Sojourner Truth Legacy Project at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation where we look at the work of Black women across this Nation, those who are overlooked and who are marginalized and lift them up for the great works that they do in our communities and across the Nation in every community. We will miss her counsel. She often spoke about the struggle to establish that bust which was the presence and the essence of Black women's power in this Capitol. We are forever grateful to Sheila for her tenacity and her audacity that she was a warrior. She was a true Representative and an advocate of and for the people who devoted all of her talent, intellect, expertise, and energy to the people. Whatever moments of hardship and uncertainty lie ahead, may we all draw strength from her memory and her legacy. I pray that my sister, the Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee, rest in peace and that she rest in power. To her staff members who have been loyal to her, who have worked hard because she worked harder to make a difference in this body, I extend to you on behalf of the people of the Ninth District of New York, the Clarke family, and of course myself my deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for yielding. I rise today on behalf of the people of the Ninth District of New York, the Clarke family, and myself to remember a true gentleman from New Jersey, the honorable and incomparable Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. Just about everyone who was blessed to know my dear friend, Donald, will remember a man with unwavering principles guided by his belief that every American deserves an advocate willing to fight for their best possible future, not to mention his incomparable sense of style. Those bow ties were just classic. I think back fondly on my time serving alongside Donald throughout his six terms in the House of Representatives and the precious time we shared. We both served on the Committee on Homeland Security together. One of the memories I have is sitting by his side, deep into the early morning in defense of Secretary Mayorkas during the sham impeachment proceedings, as he admonished those who chose to laugh at the depiction of an officer--as they continued to move different issues forward that were certainly not truthful--on horseback who was using a whip on human beings at the border. The second instance is of his righteous anger at the existence of a challenge coin commemorating the abuses Black and Brown migrants faced at our southern border. Each of these stories exemplify the singular commitment to justice and moral courage which defined Donald's tenure here in Congress. We supported one another in our districts, and we would move back and forth, him coming to Brooklyn, New York, and me going to Newark, New Jersey, to be of support to one another. We shared so much in common: our sense of humor, our sense of fashion, and our genres of music. We often talked about the fact that when we were younger, we would frequent the same nightclubs right there in Newark, New Jersey, and that was one of our bonding moments. I can say with confidence that all of Congress will dearly miss Congressman Payne's leadership, kind spirit, and unparalleled dedication to making progress. So to Beatrice and the triplets, to his loved ones, friends, and staff, I send them love and light and extend my heartfelt condolences during this season of their bereavement. Mr. Speaker, I will miss my brother and my dear friend. Rest in peace, Donald Payne, Jr.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise on this day to help shed light on an escalating crisis 700 miles from the shores of Florida. That crisis is in the island nation of Haiti. I thank my colleagues for anchoring this evening's Special Order hour as part of our mission in the Congressional Black Caucus: Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, and Congressman Jonathan Jackson, your leadership is tremendous, and, of course, my colleague, Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that the Haitian people are experiencing some of the most horrific times in modern-day civil society. Their democracy has been suspended and there is no viable governance. Anarchy is poised to take root, and there is no protection for the people. This is a humanitarian crisis that has reached unprecedented levels with widespread food insecurity, hunger, and undeterred gang violence, filling the void and terrorizing the nation. According to the U.N., 4 million people in Haiti face acute food insecurity and 1 million are one step away from famine. Imagine the population of Los Angeles, subject to severe food insecurity and violence that has led to a spike in starvation, with goods unable to move freely while people are forced to remain in their homes out of fear for their lives. Haiti is a mere 700 miles from our shores, yet in many ways, Haiti has been forgotten. It is urgent, crucial, that we pay attention. American lore and ethos paint the United States as a Nation of immigrants, but our Nation has historically welcomed mostly immigrants of European origin, like Donald Trump, who once asked: Why are we having all these people from ``S-hole'' countries come here? Some of the wealthiest people in the world, who despite being immigrants themselves, continue to push insane conspiracies, completely devoid of compassion, logic, and reason. They repeatedly use the rhetoric of the white supremacist great replacement conspiracy theory, focus efforts on the erasure of Black immigrants' contributions to our Nation from our history, and hoping that a whitewashed or real replacement theory of disinformation will endure. Their racial cruelty and inhumanity have only enabled maltreatment of Black immigrants as temporary workers or, worse, as criminals, rather than as legal, permanent residents and asylum-seekers, as political pawns rather than people in need. They describe Haitians as invaders. Desperate families seeking refuge, clinging to life and their fleeting tenuous futures are not invaders. Such rhetoric reflects an ongoing 21st century vicious quest for racial hierarchy in immigration policy that deters and blocks Black refugees and immigrants from entering the United States. It is urgent that we pay attention, because the Black African descendant diaspora has always been the reservoir to Black communities and Black families in the United States, from Malcolm X, whose mother was from the island nation of Grenada, to Vice President Kamala Harris, whose father is Jamaican, just like mine. As we continue to bear witness to the hell unfolding on a small nation a mere 700 miles off our coast, we can never forget that Black history is American history. In closing, I implore my colleagues and the administration to come together for our Haitian sisters and brothers. My co-chairs from the Haiti Caucus and I will continue to push this administration to extend TPS for Haiti and a pause in deportations. The whole country is unstable and dangerous. There is no excuse to send anyone anywhere in Haiti. Let me repeat: There is no excuse to send anyone anywhere in Haiti. We cannot give credence to those who would have us give in to fear, forsaking our American values for reasons beyond logic and comprehension. We cannot forsake our American values for reasons beyond comprehension or give credence to those who would have us give in to fear. Our Nation rises to its greatest heights when we are guided by our hearts and compassion and moral obligations to our neighbors in need. I, again, thank my colleagues for spending this time tonight.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise on this day to celebrate the extraordinary life of my dear brother and friend, Dr. John Louis Flateau, who was laid to rest this past Wednesday. Dr. Flateau, a beloved scholar and public servant, dedicated his life to championing justice, equality, public service, and political empowerment. His contributions spanned politics, education, and advocacy, leaving an indelible mark on Brooklyn, New York City, and New York State. His legacy extends beyond the policies he championed. It lives on in the lives of many he touched. He was not merely a legislative force. He was a force to be reckoned with. He was a friend, confidant, and political mentor to so many, including both me and my mother, Dr. Una Clarke. He had a profound impact on the lives of so many, from his tenure as a Medgar Evers College professor to his work in advancing voting rights. As we reflect on Dr. Flateau's life, let us remember the countless stories of those who found hope and empowerment through his advocacy. In his absence, we must continue to carry the torch that he lit to ensure that his vision continues to manifest itself. Though Dr. Flateau may no longer be physically with us, the impact he made will echo on from generation to generation to come. He is now with the ancestors, and he will be dearly and deeply missed.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise on this day in opposition to the continuing resolution, which includes the Republican extreme and restrictive immigration and border security legislation, H.R. 2. This cruel legislation would force draconian restrictions and punishments on migrants and asylum seekers and set America's immigration priorities back decades. This bill would damage the asylum system, a process millions upon millions of vulnerable and desperate people and families have long depended on for their safety and future. Instead of putting forth legislation that can pass the Senate and avert a government shutdown, extreme Republicans would rather hold the economy and border security hostage, throwing millions of lives into a tailspin. Let's be clear. Any bill that would allow vulnerable migrant children to be inhumanely detained by Border Patrol for up to a month, to be ripped from their families and locked up from the world, is unacceptable. It is fundamentally un-American. To treat innocent people who are looking for a better life in our Nation with such contempt, such vitriol, such callousness, while also making American families vulnerable in putting food on their tables, that is not leadership. It is called cowardice. Every American, no matter how long their families have called this country their own, should be outraged at the GOP embracing the Trump administration's failed and immoral border policies to keep the government open.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 1435. H.R. 1435 would have disastrous consequences, not only on California's ability to regulate dangerous air pollution from its own transportation sector, but for all of the other States who have adopted its standards, including my home State of New York. My colleagues, climate change is accelerating in real-time, and we are experiencing the impact to our own detriment. The transportation sector accounts for nearly one-third of the Nation's greenhouse gas contributions. Heavy-duty transportation makes up a significant piece of this polluting sector. Heavy-duty vehicles make up approximately 6 percent of vehicles on the road but generate 59 percent of the nitrogen oxides and other dangerous pollutants that contribute to ozone and particulate matter. An estimated 72 million people live near truck freight routes across the United States. These communities, whose residents are more likely to be people of color and vulnerable populations, have lower incomes and experience higher rates of adverse health effects. This bill would harm and potentially reverse decades of progress on cleaning up our heavy-duty transportation sector. Republicans are putting polluters over people by attempting to block States' ability to regulate air pollution from heavy-duty trucks, in direct contradiction to the Clean Air Act. While my Republican colleagues continue to try to block commonsense air pollution control efforts, I, along with my fellow House Democrats, will continue to fight for cleaner air and a clean energy future. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on H.R. 1435.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of a New York City icon, the honorable Albert Vann. After four decades of service as a progressive New York State and New York City legislator, Councilmember Albert Vann passed away 1 year ago today. His contributions have enshrined him as a multigenerational champion of equity and justice for those needing it most. He understood the importance of progress and the fight for justice. He understood what it meant to challenge the White-male-dominated political machine of his day. He understood where real power comes from. It comes from the beloved community. This led him to becoming the first president of the African American Teachers Association, the first Black teachers' union in New York State. He was a friend, a colleague, a mentor, but most importantly, he set the standard for what it means to serve your community. To those who are underprivileged, overlooked, left out, or marginalized, it is with great honor that I stand as a direct beneficiary of a great man, Councilmember Albert Vann, a true trailblazer in New York State politics.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend and colleague, Representative Jonathan Jackson, for yielding to me in commemoration of Caribbean-American Heritage Month. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening in commemoration and celebration of the designation of Caribbean-American Heritage Month during this month of June. I add my voice to those who have lauded Congresswoman Barbara Lee for her leadership in ensuring this designation 17 years ago. It is with an immense sense of pride in this special moment in the lives of those of us in communities across the Nation of Caribbean descent. For nearly two decades, this month has served as a cherished opportunity to honor the boundless contributions of Caribbean Americans to our Nation. From grass-roots activists, the first Black woman to run for President--the Honorable Shirley Chisholm--the first female Vice President--the Honorable Kamala Harris--to thought leaders, entertainers, entrepreneurs, diplomats, business moguls, Michelin-star chefs, and the brave, highly decorated members of our military, Caribbean Americans compose an integral part of our Nation's legacy, fabric, and future. It is indeed the honor of my life and the dream of my ancestors to be a woman of Jamaican descent representing my home and my community--the place where I was born and raised--and to carry the torch of my people in the United States Congress. As we acknowledge the excellence and contributions of Caribbean Americans, let this month remain a beacon for uplifting diversity, the preservation of legacy, the strength of unity, and the undeniable truth that we, the descendants of Caribbean peoples, are a force to be reckoned with, and that our culture and contributions deserve every acknowledgment and all the appreciation of a grateful Nation. From Jamaica to Barbados and every nation in between: Bless Up, One Love, Walk Good.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the cowardice of my Republican colleagues, who should be standing across the aisle right now but have fled D.C. and their sworn duty to their constituents to avoid forcing our Nation onto default on our debt. A catastrophic default should not, under any circumstances, delight MAGA Republicans, but these horribly bad actors are in contempt. They can hardly contain their excitement as the Nation stands on the brink of ruin. Make no mistake, the MAGA movement has abandoned all pretext. They are not here to govern. Eight million American jobs will be slashed in the blink of an eye. Retirement savings will be devastated overnight, and there will be an all-but-certain recession. This catastrophe is not just looming, but primed to collapse on our communities, and Speaker McCarthy refuses to keep the House in session. Are he and his party really so eager to preside over our Nation's default on her debt? The answer is a resounding, yes, they are. Remember, their cruelty is the point.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Thompson for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the GOP's extreme and punitive immigration legislation, H.R. 2, also known as the child deportation act. This cruel legislation would force draconian restrictions and punishments on migrants and asylum seekers and set America's immigration priorities back years. At the cost of $6.1 billion, this bill would eliminate the right to asylum in America, a process millions upon millions have enjoyed over the generations. Vulnerable, desperate people and families have long depended on these laws for their safety and future. Moreover, it would affect the legal status of over 4 million people who would otherwise be granted parole or asylum. Instead of fostering immigration that strengthens our economy and empowers its growth, Republicans would rather throw our economy into a tailspin. So let's be clear: Any bill that would allow vulnerable migrant children to be inhumanely detained by Border Patrol for up to a month, to be ripped from their families and locked up from the world, is unacceptable. It is fundamentally un-American. ``Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. . . . `' I need not remind you, Mr. Speaker, what those words adorn nor what they represent. To treat vulnerable people fleeing violence, famine, and persecution, who are looking for a better life in our Nation with such contempt, such vitriol, such callousness, is not leadership; it is cowardice. Though I am the daughter of Jamaican immigrants and know the struggles and challenges immigrant communities confront every day, my unique perspective on this issue should be irrelevant. Every American, no matter how long their families have called this country their own, should be outraged at a GOP that would codify migrant child abuse. Make no mistake: Regardless of H.R. 2's fate, America's immigration system is massively broken. The glaring inequities, blatant racism, vicious xenophobia, and civil rights violations immigrants face, particularly in immigrant communities of color, will persist beyond any one bill. As the Federal Government ends its use of title 42 and Democrats work to increase investments in border safety and personnel, open more lawful pathways and begin to address root causes of migration--

Ms. CLARKE of New York. It is beyond time for Congress to pass immigration policy that reflects humane, equitable, and a 21st century immigration system. We are a Nation of immigrants, founded by immigrants, so we must do better for immigrants. I will always stand against the limitless cruelty that has become synonymous with the MAGA movement and the cruelty they espouse.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise on this day after a week of chaos and confusion following the Supreme Court's decision to allow mifepristone's status to remain as it has been: approved and accessible. Let me be clear. The fight is not over. The Supreme Court needs to do its job and reject this ridiculous effort to thrust unjustified grudges into the FDA approval process and further limit access to abortion. Women deserve safe and fair access to medication when they need it. Women deserve to have medication without interference from judges and politicians. Women must be treated as equals and have agency over our bodies and our lives. Mr. Speaker, mifepristone's approval is still in jeopardy. The Supreme Court Justices should keep their bans off our bodies. Access to this medication must be protected. Our rights must be protected. This fight is not over, and we will never concede.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick) for yielding, and I thank Mr. Jackson for co-anchoring this evening's Special Order hour. Mr. Speaker, I rise on this day praying for the speedy recovery of 16-year-old Ralph Yarl of Kansas City, Missouri, who was released from the hospital today after being shot in the head for ringing the wrong doorbell. We live in a society today where more and more communities are living in a recurring nightmare, reeling from gun violence. Gun violence is the number one killer of children in the United States of America. While it has always been Black communities that have borne the brunt and have been the most victimized and terrorized by gun violence, and have too often assumed the blame of a poorly regulated gun industry, I truly expected that there would have been some bipartisan action taken to protect the next generation after the tragedy at Sandy Hook all those years ago. Instead, the far right stays licking the boot of the NRA, taking their blood money and looking the other way. It has become crystal clear that the rightwing Republicans couldn't care less. It is unconscionable that they care so little for the lives of children. I mean, look at what has happened just this past week in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama. Mass murder and mass casualties have become commonplace, but we can't make them normalized. It is not lost upon me that two Black lawmakers, Representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, were expelled from the Tennessee House after joining peaceful protests against gun violence. Another generation that has had to grow up doing gun violence drills in their schools has now taken leadership and is leading the charge. Let's be clear. The CBC won't stand by and allow another Jim Crow era to take root while further GOP legislators abuse their power, as we saw in Tennessee. The CBC will continue to push back against any and all efforts by Republicans to subvert the will of the American people, whether it is the effort to overturn our election on January 6 or efforts to silence or expel members from statehouses who advocate for a better nation, a better America, safe from the horrors of gun violence. Again, I thank the gentlewoman from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for yielding.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois, Jonathan Jackson, for yielding to me. Mr. Speaker, I rise on this day to acknowledge and thank Congresswoman Cori Bush and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley for their unyielding, unflinching, and unapologetic leadership and for leading the charge on the ratification of the equal rights amendment. I rise today to reaffirm that ever-present need to have this ratification take place, as well as to recognize the tireless efforts and work of Black women on behalf of that mission. It was more than half a century ago that the ERA first passed Congress due in large part to the efforts in drafting, advancing, and organizing by trailblazing Black women. With that said, I am reminded of the words written by one of my congressional predecessors, Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, decades ago in the very spot where I stand right now. She said: ``Of course, laws will not eliminate prejudice from the hearts of human beings, but that is no reason to allow prejudice to continue to be enshrined in our laws, to perpetuate injustice through inaction.'' Mr. Speaker, we are tired of the inaction. We are tired of the injustice. We are tired of being tired. So, it is my privilege to join the first-ever Congressional Equal Rights Amendment Caucus in history and support legislative efforts to affirm the ERA as the 28th amendment to the Constitution. For decades, Black women have continued to pave the path toward ratification, and I am proud to see we are carrying on that legacy today. Mr. Speaker, I thank every woman who has played a significant and substantial role and continues to play their position in this battle and in this fight for equal rights. As the Honorable Marcus Garvey admonished each and every woman out there: Forward ever, backwards never.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today at a moment when, tragically, women's rights in the United States have been greatly diminished since last year's Women's History Month was commemorated. While we will continue our month-long celebration in observance of women's history, it is just as important for us to focus on the future that women will face as it is for us to reflect on the achievements of the past. Access to abortion is no longer a constitutional right. Full stop. Access to lifesaving abortion medication, even in States where abortion is legally protected is under threat. Teenage girls and young women are facing unprecedented rates of trauma, violence, suicide, and maternal mortality. We still have not achieved equal work for equal pay. Yet, we continue our celebration this month all the same. That is in part what makes this month so special. From Harriet Tubman liberating the enslaved to Vice President Harris inspiring women and girls across the Nation that they too can dream with ambition, lead with conviction, and see themselves in a way that others may not, we are making progress and our work is not yet finished. In closing, Happy Women's History Month.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise on this day, the first day of Black History Month, unfortunately during a moment of unprecedented assaults on truth by those desperate to rewrite America's history. In this troubling time of banned books and canceled curriculums, it is with great urgency that I stand before you, Mr. Speaker, to celebrate the profound history of our Nation that far too many far- right zealots are fighting to conceal. This is a special month, defined in equal parts triumph and tragedy, and centered in pride and appreciation because our African-American forebears rose above oppression and helped create the greatest nation the modern world has ever seen. Make no mistake, Mr. Speaker, only the ashamed and the afraid hide from history. Black Americans never have and never will, for ours is a story of victory over adversity, determination in the face of uncertainty, and the courage of our convictions. Our story is America's story. Let us never forget, let us never concede, and let us never be silent when we say that Black history is American history.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Lenox Road Baptist Church and their 150 years of selfless service as a spiritual home to the people of Central Brooklyn and all those who were blessed to cross their threshold in fellowship with one another. It was a century-and-a-half ago, in the heart of Flatbush, that the Lenox Road Baptist Church was established as a beacon of love, light, and Christian discipleship. Over these many years, this sacred community of faith never failed to open its doors to any and all who were eager to hear and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. For 150 years, those doors remained open to those in need of spiritual guidance, communion of saints, and warm embrace. On this sacred anniversary, under the leadership of Pastor Kirkpatrick Cohall and his team, may the Lenox Road Baptist Church continue to grow in its sacred mission of magnifying God's word, blessing His holy name, uplifting the people in service to all humanity, and honoring their incomparable legacy.