Yvette Clarke

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1446, the Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021. Under current Federal law, unlicensed sellers can sell guns at gun shows, online, and person to person without conducting any background check on the purchaser. This loophole has dangerous consequences for our communities. In fact, up to 80 percent of firearms used for criminal purposes are obtained without a background check. I am reminded of my time on the New York City Council where I witnessed the murder of my colleague and dear friend, Councilman James E. Davis. Just earlier this week, a gunman opened fire on two police officers in my district, hitting one officer in the chest and another in the leg. Guns are not manufactured in Brooklyn, New York. Time and time again we have been shaken to the core and heartbroken by the news of another shooting in our communities that we call home.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I was participating in critical Committee proceedings and, therefore, was unable to make the first vote. Had I been present, I would have voted: ``yea'' on rollcall No. 41, Bipartisan En Bloc No. 1.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, today, I rise to support H. Res. 24, the Article of Impeachment against Donald Trump for high crimes and misdemeanors for a second time. Let us be very clear, what took place on January 6, 2021, was an act of domestic terrorism by rightwing sycophantic white supremacists, promoted, instigated, and advanced by the man in the White House, Donald Trump. Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., once said: ``The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it.''

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Uterine Fibroids Awareness Month. Uterine fibroids are noncancerous tumors that affect an estimated 26 million women between the ages of 15 and 50 in the United States. As vice chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee and a survivor of uterine fibroids myself, I know that increasing awareness about uterine fibroids is critical to our efforts to address the national maternity mortality crisis and prevent pregnancy-related deaths. While more than 80 percent of African Americans and 70 percent of Caucasians develop fibroids by the time they reach menopause, hospitalization rates for uterine fibroids are three times higher for African American women and twice as high for Latina women. However, the exact number of affected women is unknown because it is difficult for healthcare providers to detect and accurately diagnose this condition. This issue has not received the attention or funding it deserves. This is why I was proud to introduce H.R. 6383, the Uterine Fibroid Research and Education Act of 2020. This awareness month is an opportunity to cast the spotlight on the forgotten issue that impacts the lives of women of color.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor a great man, Representative John Lewis. This past Friday, July 17, our country lost one of its greatest heroes, a true patriot, who literally put his life on the line in the pursuit of justice and fairness in our society. The Honorable John Lewis was a penultimate hero who embodied the struggle for human rights and dignity. He was a fierce civil rights warrior, who refused to abide by the Jim Crow laws of the South. He embodied what it means to be a public servant, putting his life on the line and the people above his own self-interests. I am so honored and privileged to have served with John Robert Lewis--John Robert Lewis, who was a dancer, a man who loved to have fun but was convicted for the right to vote, convicted as an activist for civil rights and civil liberties. And I will forever hold dear the moment that we landed in Ghana together, invited by the President of Ghana for the Year of Return, and to see the wonderment in his eyes of visiting a space where it all began for all of us 401 years ago. May he rest in peace and rise in power. The Honorable John Lewis will never be forgotten. We all hold onto his legacy.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today to reemphasize the urgent need for the U.S. Senate to pass the HEROES Act. Communities across the country have been and continue to be ravaged by the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. One $1,200 check is not enough to cover 3 months of expenses for millions of out- of-work Americans, and many families are still missing a check. Millions of Americans are behind on rent and unable to pay their bills, worried they may be evicted from their homes. Frontline workers are risking their lives and the lives of their loved ones to ensure that our communities and our people can continue to thrive. The coronavirus is resurging across the country, and this administration is shutting down Federal testing sites in impacted communities. The HEROES Act will provide payments to families, create a national moratorium on evictions and foreclosures, provide hazard pay for frontline workers, and provide billions for testing and contact tracing. While Americans suffer from this crisis, the leadership on the Senate side sits behind his desk, refusing to hold votes on a bill that will provide support and relief for millions of Americans in need. Madam Speaker, it is time for Senator McConnell to lead with empathy and pass this legislation. As a representative of one of the hardest hit communities by the coronavirus, I know, now more than ever, we must pass this landmark bill into law, and do it now.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank our conference chair. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act in honor of the lives I took an oath to serve as long as I draw breath. Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Dominique ``Rem'mie'' Fells, Sandra Bland, Saheed Vassell, Eric Garner, Sean Bell, Patrick Dorismond--how many more Black lives must be hashtagged before we deliver equal justice to all of our people? I have heard my colleagues on the other side of the aisle make every excuse under the Sun for maintaining the status quo. Not today, my friends. When Americans are dying at disproportionate rates across the country at the hands of law enforcement and have been doing so for generations, enough is enough, and Congress must act. This crucial legislation will make police accountable for their actions. 1976, Randolph Evans, 15 years old, unarmed Black boy, shot dead, Brooklyn, New York. 1978, Arthur Miller, choked to death, Brooklyn, New York--my first protest as a child. The only crime: Being Black. Here we are 2020, Breonna Taylor, shot dead in her home; George Floyd, choked to death. Their only crime: Being Black. So, my colleagues, as the only Black woman in the New York State congressional delegation, there are two things I know are true and will remain true whether we acknowledge or accept it: Black lives matter. No justice, no peace. Today, I choose justice. I vote ``yes.''

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the HEROES Act. As reported in Newsweek on Tuesday, my beloved Brooklyn has the distinction of having more deaths due to COVID-19 than any county in the United States, with a death toll exceeding 46 entire States. Over 4,000 souls have departed due to the dreadful virus. The HEROES Act provides crucial relief and support for our heroes fighting COVID-19 on the front lines, who extended to us a lifeline at great risk to their own lives. While this legislation does not include the Paycheck Guarantee Act, I believe that we must pass this bill. This is not the time for red or blue one-upmanship. COVID knows no political labels. I ask my colleagues to vote for the HEROES Act.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today to stand up for the 15,000-plus New Yorkers and thousands of Americans who have lost their lives due to the coronavirus and to stand up for the tens of thousands of healthcare and essential community workers whose lives are on the line as I stand here. Today, we are voting on a $480 billion interim relief package that includes $370 billion for small business loans and grants, $60 billion of which will go to mom-and-pop, underbanked, and cash-and-carry, $75 billion for hospitals and healthcare facilities and $25 billion for a national testing strategy.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. As vice chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I rise today in support of the CARES Act. My colleagues have spoken about the provisions of this bill, and although it is not perfect, it is a necessary one. We must now protect my constituents in the Ninth District of New York, the epicenter, and all Americans across this country. New Yorkers have been through 9/11, the financial meltdown, Superstorm Sandy, and now we are in the midst of COVID-19. In my city, New York City, we are not just facing economic ruin, but also a genuine health crisis. That is why it is so critical that Donald Trump use the Defense Production Act.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 83.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time to address this very important issue. I rise today in the best interests of the American people, the African American community, and my constituents. I include in the Record this letter from the ACLU about the concerns of H.R. 2339, Reversing the Youth and Tobacco Epidemic Act. February 27, 2020. Re Coalition Concerns with Blanket Prohibition on Menthol and Other Flavored Tobacco within H.R. 2339, Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act. Hon. Frank Pallone, Chairman, House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Washington,

Ms. CLARKE of New York. While it is indeed a health imperative to reduce and eliminate the use of tobacco products in our society, I would like to recognize the inequity, potential harm, and unintended consequences of a ban on menthol combustible products within the Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act. This bill's purpose is to curb youth tobacco usage by banning flavored tobacco products, more specifically ending the scourge of youth vaping in our Nation and the flavored products used to attract young people to its use. However, this legislation has dire, unintended consequences for African American users, the overwhelming majority of which are over the age of 21. It does not treat all flavored tobacco products equally, exempting premium cigars preferred by White smokers, yet banning menthol cigarettes. Menthol is the preferred flavor of African American tobacco users, used by 90 percent of Black tobacco users. While I would love to assume the best intentions of all parties of this legislation and hope for the best in regard to law enforcement, lived experiences demand caution.

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, as a result of this asymmetric ban, law enforcement would have an additional reason to stop and frisk menthol tobacco users because menthol would be considered illegal under this ban. Having said that, I cannot support H.R. 2339 due to the potentially dire consequences that would create additional stop and frisk opportunities of African Americans and the constituents I took an oath to protect. I really believe that this is a health imperative, and if that is the case, the ban should be on all tobacco products and would be the best answer. Unfortunately, this bill does not do that.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today to address what I believe is in the best interests of the American people, the Iranian people, and our global community to say: No war with Iran. As an early opponent of the Iraq war back when I served in the New York City Council, I know we cannot afford to make reckless, irresponsible, violent decisions that put the lives of our servicewomen and -men, diplomats, and the people here and in the Middle East in danger of death and destruction. We must exhaust all diplomatic means and put our political differences aside to stand for peaceful resolutions to human conflict before taking the ultimate step of engaging in war. For close to 20 years now, our Nation has been engaged in low-grade war games in the Middle East with the constant threat of putting our children, our families, and our civil liberties at risk. We must oppose senseless acts of violence that take us many steps away from our progress. When we look back in our history books and tell the next generation stories of 2020, I want us to be able to say with pride that we kept the interests of our Nation we loved at heart without provocation, without the death and destruction of war. Madam Speaker, I stand before you today opposed to these efforts, and I support the War Powers Resolution, H. Con. Res. 83.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, I will include in the Record my remarks supporting my vote for the impeachment of Donald J. Trump.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Chair, I was delayed in arriving to votes due to a personal matter. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 657 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 660. Amendment No. 4 Offered by Mr. Brown of Maryland

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3469) to direct the Transportation Security Administration to carry out covert testing and risk mitigation improvement of aviation security operations, and for other purposes.

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3469, the Covert Testing and Risk Mitigation Improvement Act of 2019. Before I begin, I would like to take a moment to recognize my dear friend and colleague, Chairman Elijah Cummings, who sponsored this legislation. Less than 2 months ago, the House lost a great leader. Chairman Cummings dedicated his life to fighting for justice and democracy for his constituents in his native city of Baltimore and for the American people. Today, the House will honor his legacy in the best way we can: by passing a bill he wrote to ensure that TSA does effective oversight of its airport screening operations that are essential to protecting American lives. Mr. Speaker, the Transportation Security Administration faces serious challenges in identifying and resolving security vulnerabilities in its airport security operations. Specifically, in April 2019, the Government Accountability Office found that TSA was not conducting its covert testing of screening operations in a risk-informed way and that TSA has limited assurance that its tests were targeted at the most likely threats. H.R. 3469 seeks to make major improvements to TSA's covert testing processes by requiring TSA to identify, document, and mitigate security vulnerabilities found through these tests. It requires TSA to develop a risk-informed process for its covert testing program and conduct at least three tests a year to identify vulnerabilities in the transportation security system. Importantly, H.R. 3469 requires TSA to document all vulnerabilities it identifies and how it plans to mitigate them. Finally, it requires GAO to submit a report on the effectiveness of TSA's covert testing program within 3 years of enactment. Simply put, H.R. 3469 seeks to enhance TSA's capacity to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities to the security of our transportation systems. I urge my House colleagues to support this legislation, sponsored by our beloved, departed colleague, to help ensure our transportation security systems are as effective as they can be. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I am prepared to close after the gentleman from Louisiana closes. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, we all know that the threats to our Nation's transportation security are real. We also know that, as the main Federal agency responsible for the security of our transportation system, TSA has a critical mission for identifying and mitigating such threats. To be effective, TSA must have a risk-informed covert testing regime that allows it to do effective oversight of its security operations. H.R. 3469 would improve TSA's testing programs to ensure they can identify vulnerabilities to the transportation system and properly address them to keep our Nation safe. Mr. Speaker, as such, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation, H.R. 3469, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4761) to ensure U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, agents, and other personnel have adequate synthetic opioid detection equipment, that the Department of Homeland Security has a process to update synthetic opioid detection capability, and for other purposes.

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, every American community, in one way or another, has been impacted by the opioid crisis. This crisis, already two decades old, continues to grow and evolve. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 28,000 people in the United States overdosed or died from synthetic opioids in 2017 alone. Virtually all types of opioids, whether finished heroin or potent synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, cross our borders through our ports of entry. Transnational criminal organizations hide illicit narcotics in legitimate cross-border cargo, making detection a significant challenge. The potency of these narcotics also varies by the method used to smuggle it into the country. With fentanyl, we now know that shipments coming through our international mail system often have higher purity levels than those smuggled in cargo crossing our land borders. Often, the majority of fentanyl and other opioids seized at land ports of entry have a purity level of less than 10 percent, making it possible to sell these drugs in our communities faster. Fighting back against this tactic requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection, CBP, to have adequate detection technology to interject these opioids before they reach our communities. However, in September of 2019, the Department of Homeland Security, DHS, Office of Inspector General reported that CBP purchased technology to screen for synthetic opioids that was unable to identify fentanyl and other synthetic opioids with purity levels below 10 percent. H.R. 4761, the DHS Opioid Detection Resilience Act of 2019, is a bipartisan bill meant to address this capability gap. It requires CBP to implement a strategy to ensure its chemical screening devices can identify narcotics, including opioids and synthetic opioids, that are less than 10 percent in concentration. The bill also requires that CBP follow best practices and good government standards by testing new devices to understand their capabilities and limitations prior to deployment. Recognizing that drug traffickers change their tactics and the chemicals used as precursors, H.R. 4761 also requires DHS to take steps toward developing a centralized database for chemical screening devices. This would mean that, as new chemicals are identified, their specific signatures will be more readily detected by the screening devices used by CBP's frontline personnel. DHS must continually adapt and stay ahead of the criminal organizations seeking to exploit our systems. An effective and enhanced detection capability is a critical tool to accomplishing that mission. Mr. Speaker, I urge my House colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Ways and Means, Washington, DC, November 20, 2019. Hon. Bennie G. Thompson, Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Thompson: In recognition of the desire to expedite consideration of H.R. 4761, the DHS Opioid Detection Resilience Act of 2019, the Committee on Ways and Means agrees to waive formal consideration of the bill as to provisions that fall within the rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means. The Committee on Ways and Means takes this action with the mutual understanding that we do not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and the Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as the bill or similar legislation moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues within our jurisdiction. The Committee also reserves the right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate conference involving this or similar legislation. Finally, I would appreciate your response to this letter confirming this understanding, and would ask that a copy of our exchange of letter on this matter be included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of H.R. 4761. Sincerely, Richard E. Neal, Chairman.