Yvette Clarke

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I rise today to anchor the Congressional Black Caucus Special Order hour. I would like to thank the Congressional Black Caucus chairman, Cedric Richmond, for his leadership in this effort. For the next 60 minutes, we have an opportunity to speak directly to the American people about issues of great importance to the Congressional Black Caucus and the millions of constituents whom we represent. Tonight's Special Order hour topic is gun violence and gun violence prevention. Mr. Speaker, how many more lives? Mr. Speaker, there are 13,000 gun homicides a year in the United States. On an average day, 96 Americans are killed by guns. Sadly, our children are not untouched by this senseless violence. On an average day, seven children and teens are killed with guns, and since 2013, there have been 311 school shootings. Kyle McLeod; Angelique Ramirez; Chris Stone; Jared Black; Kimberly Vaughan; Sabika Sheikh; Cynthia Tisdale; Glenda Ann Perkins; Shana Fisher; Christian Garcia. On Friday, eight children and two of their teachers were slaughtered during the early morning hours of the schoolday, and those were their names. Many students thought it was a drill when a fellow student wearing a ``Born to Kill'' shirt opened fire at his school. Throughout the weekend, witnesses and survivors recounted the sheer terror of the shooting and its frenzied aftermath. This is unacceptable, Mr. Speaker. Enough is enough. We know that there are ways to reduce gun violence in our communities and in our schools. There are solutions. Today, the movement is being led by young people from around our country, including the Ninth Congressional District of New York that I am honored to represent. In April, I met with students from March for Our Lives NYC. In my hands are the postcards. I have nearly 100 letters from my constituents calling for us to take up some of these solutions. My constituents are calling on me, their Representative in this esteemed body, and upon all of us to do something now. One student wrote: We shouldn't have to be marching for this. Children are dead, lots of them. Do something. Anything. ``Please help,'' wrote another. Mr. Speaker, that meeting was nearly 2 months ago, and this President and this Congress have done absolutely nothing. Since the Parkland shooting, countless numbers of children have died in their schools and in their communities because of our inaction. Our inaction puts our children in danger. One student wrote: It is time to serve the American people and not the gun lobby. One teacher stressed the need to protect kids and staff. Another said: Schools and teachers need more funding for books, salaries, social support programs, and counseling, not more guns. One letter came from someone who had actually been shot: One in three people in the U.S. knows someone who has been shot, and I am one of them. Mr. Speaker, I, too, am a survivor of gun violence. While serving in the New York City Council during the year 2003, all colleagues were coming back from a recess period, and we were excited to see one another. One of my dearest and closest colleagues, the Honorable James E. Davis, came to work that day as we all did, excited about doing the work for the people of the City of New York. Unfortunately, James E. Davis had befriended his assailant. His assailant walked into the chambers of the New York City Council and unleashed a violent attack on Mr. Davis that took his life. That attack took place in the workplace in front of all his colleagues. To this very day, I need to just close my eyes, and I can transport myself back into that moment where members had to scramble to the floor, where members ran out of the chambers and barricaded themselves in the speaker's office waiting to be rescued, not knowing whether we were being attacked or it was a lone assailant, not knowing whether our colleague would survive or whether he would perish. Mr. Speaker, since 2003, we have continued to see senseless death due to uncontrolled unwillingness in this body to do what we know we can do: to do background checks, to make sure that we provide a pathway for those who have mental health concerns to receive treatment, and to ban AK-47s and AR-15s. If you are 18 and have to be registered to drive in the United States of America, you should also have to be registered to carry a firearm. We know there are plenty of stories of gun violence that are not shared on the House floor, and many more receive no media coverage. The gun epidemic has hit underserved communities of color particularly hard. Gun homicide rates in these neighborhoods have reached a critical point, where homicide rates often reach 10 times the national average. While gun-related deaths have fallen in New York, in parts of my district, the death toll has risen since last year. In Brownsville, Brooklyn alone, murders are up. Mr. Speaker, we are in the midst of a national crisis. Urban violence has too often been left out of the national conversation about guns, gun running, and gun trafficking, and instead, too often, the epidemic in urban centers is used by many as a misguided, misdirected distraction so that our conversations on gun reform, racial justice, or police tactics are disregarded. But gun violence intervention programs have been shown to be effective at breaking the cycle of violence and impacting communities. The question is: Will Congress truly get serious about supporting these programs? Will we get serious about universal background checks? Will we get serious about limiting access to weapons of war? Nine out of 10 Americans agree that we should have universal background checks, including three out of four NRA members. But this Republican Congress has shown to be spineless. In the East Room of the White House, the President expressed his solidarity with the people of Santa Fe and said his administration would do everything in its power to protect schools and keep guns away from those who should not have them. Just earlier this year, he also vowed to take action after the Parkland shooting. At that time, the President said he would look at stricter background checks and raising the minimum age for buying an assault weapon. But Donald Trump did not press for any action on any of those initiatives. Lies, once again, to the American people. Congress did not follow through. Shame on us for our inaction. We are well past time for action, Mr. Speaker. The time is now. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the Second District of Louisiana (Mr. Richmond) to address this Special Order hour of the Congressional Black Caucus, our chairman.

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for those very thoughtful words. I hope that our colleagues on the other side of the aisle will heed his admonition because, indeed, action needs to be taken, and it needs to be taken now. Without further ado, it is my honor and privilege to yield to the gentlewoman from the Second District of Illinois, Ms. Robin Kelly, who has been an ardent defender, an outspoken advocate for gun violence prevention.

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Illinois for her words and for really laying out the framework for which this Congress needs to act. She said that it is a shame and a disgrace. I agree wholeheartedly. But I think that even more, our Republican colleagues need to search their souls, particularly those who claim to be of the Christian faith, which is the faith that I practice. Indeed, they are going to be called to account for their inaction. All I would ask is that the Lord have mercy on their souls, because there is blood on their hands. Mr. Speaker, having said that, I yield to the gentlewoman from the Third District of Ohio, Mrs. Joyce Beatty, an outspoken advocate, one who comes from a State where, again, gun rights are something that people pride themselves in. Commonsense gun measures are something that everyone is crying out for.

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Beatty) for bringing her plea to the floor. She is absolutely correct. The inaction of the Speaker of the House of Representatives on the matter of gun violence in America is appalling. So we call on him to bring bipartisan legislation to the floor. We have the votes to pass it. The question is: Do we have the will? Do we have the spine? Do we have the courage to do what needs to be done in the 21st century to protect our communities from this onslaught of gun violence? Having said that, it is now my honor and my privilege to to yield to my coanchor to share his thoughts with us this evening, none other than the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Dwight Evans.

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for his words of wisdom and for his statistical data. And just to add to the conversation is that we have not counted those who were injured in all of these gun violence episodes across this Nation, those who have been traumatized by exposure to such carnage that is unfolding right before their very eyes. There are individuals in hospitals right now, as we speak, trying to recover from the most horrific gun violence that has ever hit their communities. We don't know that all of them will heal, and, you know, this should be motivation to everyone in this Chamber to act. We are all just a moment away from a tragic occurrence. And as a matter of fact, it wasn't that long ago that our colleagues were set upon at a Congressional Baseball Game practice. It boggles the mind. You have to ask yourself, where is the sanity when individuals who were gunned down at a Congressional Baseball Game practice have not mustered up the courage to bring a bill to the floor? Unbelievable. Unforgivable. Having said that, I yield to the gentlewoman from North Carolina, Alma Adams, the 12th District, who is an advocate as well for commonsense gun measures in this Nation to come and bring her comments at this time.

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from the 12th District of North Carolina, the Honorable Alma Adams, for bringing her comments to the floor. At this time, clearly across this Nation, we represent very different districts, but there is one thing that we all have in common, and that is a reverence and a real concern about the human condition; and the fact that here we are, once again, coming to the floor to plead with the leadership of this body to bring commonsense gun violence prevention laws to the people of this country. We won't stop until that occurs. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs. Watson Coleman), an outspoken advocate, who has done everything within her power to bring a voice to the voiceless, particularly those who are trying to come to grips with the violence that is unleashed in this Nation, and the lack of action coming from the leadership here in the House of Representatives.

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for those comments. I feel her sense of frustration, I feel her outrage, and I think many Americans--as a matter of fact, the majority of Americans--do when they hear the outcries of the parents who have learned that their children have been gunned down in school; when they see their children on lifesaving equipment in hospitals because they are hanging on to life by a thread; when they see their children duck down under their beds because they hear a car backfire, having flashbacks from the trauma they experienced in school, hearing mass gunfire taking place before their very eyes; when they don't want to go to school because they remember the rivers of blood that they witnessed as children and teachers' lives were being sucked out of them, due to the gun violence that was unleashed in a place that is supposed to be safe for them to learn, to grow, and to mature. Mr. Speaker, we can't hear you. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott), someone who the Congressional Black Caucus looks to for a lot of our legislation when it comes to criminal justice, and when it comes to understanding the role that we can play in advancing progressive legislation.

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from the Third District of Virginia, the Honorable Bobby Scott, for those comments. Mr. Speaker, I neglected to mention that he is the ranking member on the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and has really brought forth to us the real tangible information that we have about what happens to our young people in school when such tragedies occur, and what all of the fallout and by-products can be when we institute nonsensical policies, like having teachers arm themselves in the classroom, or the overreliance of law enforcement in the school environment. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for bringing those facts to the floor and really laying out for the American people what it really means for our students to have to experience this violence within what is supposed to be the sanctity of their classrooms. Having said that, let me just close this evening's Special Order hour by expressing sort of the collective outrage of the members of the Congressional Black Caucus for the inaction of our Speaker and our colleagues on the other side of the aisle in the Republican Party who are not stepping up to show courage and determination to really bring an end to what we see as a violent epidemic in our Nation at this time. Our colleague called upon colleagues in the body today to stand with him if they had witnessed or have experienced gun violence in their communities, to stand with the families whose names he read off today of children who perished in Texas. I found it interesting, when I looked at the floor--I didn't go to the floor because I knew it was just a ploy. But when I looked and saw how many colleagues were standing there with him, I said, if only they brought some legislation to the floor to end all of this, it would pass, because just about every colleague has been impacted by this outbreak in horrible gun violence across this Nation. We need our legislation to be brought to the floor. Not doing so is really an affront to the American people, and it is certainly uncivilized and, some would even say, barbaric, because we have the knowledge, the wherewithal, and the ability to make a difference in the lives of the American people. It is up to us, the people who they have elected, to do the work that must be done on their behalf. Enough is enough, Mr. Speaker. Lives are being lost minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, month by month, year by year in America because of the inaction of the Republican majority in the House of Representatives. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Roy Hastick, the President and Founder of the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce (CACCI) in celebration of his 68th birthday. Born in Grenada, West Indies, Hastick migrated to the United States in 1972 and worked for several years as a social services administrator, community advocate, entrepreneur and newspaper publisher. In 1985, Dr. Roy A. Hastick, Sr. founded the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (CACCI) with 10 members. Under his leadership, the organization has become a well- recognized business entity with a membership of over 1,700 in the tri- state area and in the Caribbean. Over the years, CACCI has sustained and developed its mission which is to promote economic development on behalf of Caribbean Americans, African-Americans, women and other minority entrepreneurs. As President and CEO of CACCI, Hastick has been credited for his tireless efforts serving the small business community and fostering a climate of unity and harmony among diverse cultures. Hastick has convened over 800 business development seminars that bring together the CACCI membership with other entrepreneurs and the wider business community to network and access business resources, in order to make contacts and to explore contracts. As an ardent supporter of Two-Way trade between the United States and the Caribbean region, Hastick, an elected delegate to the 1995 White House Conference on Small Business, campaigned to get Two-Way trade with the Caribbean region into the final recommendations that were submitted to the United States Congress. Through Hastick's tireless efforts and visionary leadership, CACCI has undertaken and accomplished several challenging initiatives including: providing weekly business clinics, business services for micro enterprises, start-ups and emerging minority and women business enterprises in areas of access to financing, certification preparation and promoting trade and investment opportunities in the Caribbean region. CACCI's most recent small business programs are: MWBE and Financial Literacy seminars. In collaboration with the CACCI membership and the wider community, CACCI provides rapid emergency responses to hurricane disasters in the Caribbean region including St. Kitts Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Haiti and Grenada. Hastick has led several trade missions to the Caribbean region, and hosted numerous Caribbean Heads of State on their visits to New York. Under Dr. Hastick's leadership the organization organizes and sponsors the Annual National Caribbean American Heritage Month Conference. For 16 years, CACCI has managed the city-owned Brooklyn-based micro enterprise incubator, a 9,000 sq. ft. Flatbush Caton Vendors Market, which houses 40 vendors who sell a variety of African and Caribbean artifacts, as well as a small business service center. Through Hastick's collaborative efforts, patience and persistence, his long- term goal of creating a Caribbean American Trade Center will soon come to fruition. The Economic Development Corporation announced that a M/ WBE developer was selected to create a mixed-use project, which in addition to the Caribbean American Trade Center, will have 250 units of affordable housing, an upscale Flatbush Caton Vendors Market and a cultural center. For several years Hastick has served on numerous economic development boards including Governor's Transition Teams, Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, J P Morgan Chase CAB Board, and New York City and Company, Inc. He has also served as a Delegate to the United Nations for Grenada and has received numerous awards including: National Small Business Advocate of the Year by the United States Department of Commerce; was honored at the White House at New York Day in Washington, DC. He was also the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from City University of New York (CUNY). More recently, Hastick received the Goodwill Ambassador Award from the Jewish community for ``his impressive record of achievements, promoting economic development, and for working diligently to cultivate understanding and mutual respect.'' Most recent awards were the NYS Attorney General's (2008) African-American Achiever's Award for exemplary small business leadership; NYC ``American Dreamer Award'' for service to New York City during Immigrants' Monthly in New York City, and the Caribbean Diaspora Leadership Award presented by Caribbean Tourism Organization. Hastick was recently appointed by Brooklyn Borough President, Eric L. Adams as a Brooklyn Ambassador. Hastick currently lives in East Flatbush with his wife, and has 4 children and 8 grandchildren. As a fellow Caribbean Brooklynite, I am beaming with pride as we honor the generous service of Dr. Roy Hastick in commemorating his 68th birthday. New York's Caribbean community has forever changed through his decades of dedicated service. On behalf of New York's 9th Congressional District, I am grateful for our hard-working and impactful community leader, Dr. Roy Hastick.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Roy Hastick, the President and Founder of the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce (CACCI) in celebration of his 68th birthday. Born in Grenada, West Indies, Hastick migrated to the United States in 1972 and worked for several years as a social services administrator, community advocate, entrepreneur and newspaper publisher. In 1985, Dr. Roy A. Hastick, Sr. founded the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (CACCI) with 10 members. Under his leadership, the organization has become a well- recognized business entity with a membership of over 1,700 in the tri- state area and in the Caribbean. Over the years, CACCI has sustained and developed its mission which is to promote economic development on behalf of Caribbean American, African American, women and other minority entrepreneurs. As President and CEO of CACCI, Hastick has been credited for his tireless efforts to put in place a structure that serves the small business community and fosters a climate of unity and harmony among diverse cultures. Hastick has convened over 800 business development seminars that bring together the CACCI membership with other entrepreneurs and the wider business community to network and access business resources, to make contacts and to explore contracts. As an ardent supporter of Two-Way trade between the United States and the Caribbean region, Hastick, an elected delegate to the 1995 White House Conference on Small Business, campaigned to get Two-Way trade with the Caribbean region into the final recommendations that were submitted to the United States Congress. Through his tireless efforts and visionary leadership, CACCI has undertaken and accomplished several challenging initiatives including: providing weekly business clinics, business services for micro enterprises, start-ups and emerging minority and women business enterprises in areas of access to financing, certification preparation and promoting trade and investment opportunities in the Caribbean region. CACCI's most recent small business programs are: MWBE and Financial Literacy seminars. In collaboration with the CACCI membership and the wider community, CACCI provides rapid emergency responses to hurricane disasters in the Caribbean region including st. Kitts Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Haiti and Grenada. Hastick has led several trade missions to the Caribbean region, and hosted numerous Caribbean Heads of State on their visits to New York. Under his leadership the organization organizes and sponsors an Annual National Caribbean American Heritage Month Conference. Under his leadership, CACCI has managed the city-owned Brooklyn-based micro enterprise incubator, a 9,000-sq. ft. Flatbush Caton Vendors Market, for 16 years which houses 40 vendors who sell a variety of African and Caribbean artifacts and a small business service center. Through Hastick's collaborative efforts, patience and persistence, his long-term goal of creating a Caribbean American Trade Center will soon come to fruition. With the recent announcement by NYC Economic Development Corporation that a MlWBE developer had been selected to create a mixed-use project, which in addition to the Caribbean American Trade Center, will have 250 units of affordable housing, an upscale Flatbush Caton Vendors Market and a cultural center. For several years Hastick has served on numerous economic development boards including Governor's Transition Teams, Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, JP Morgan Chase CAB Board, and New York City and Company, Inc. He has also served as a delegate to the United Nations for Grenada and has received numerous awards including: National Small Business Advocate of the Year by the United States Department of Commerce; was honored at the White House at New York Day in Washington, DC. He was also the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from City University of New York (CUNY). More recently, Hastick received the Goodwill Ambassador Award from the Jewish community for ``his impressive record of achievements, promoting economic development, and for working diligently to cultivate understanding and mutual respect.'' Most recent awards were the NYS Attorney General's (2008) African American Achievers Award for exemplary small business leadership; NYC ``American Dreamer Award for service to New York City during Immigrant's Recognition during Immigrants Monthly in New York City and the Caribbean Diaspora Leadership Award presented by Caribbean Tourism Organization. Hastick was recently appointed by Brooklyn Borough President, Eric L. Adams as a Brooklyn Ambassador. Hastick currently lives in East Flatbush with his wife, and has 4 children and 8 grandchildren. As a fellow Caribbean Brooklynite, I am beaming with pride as we honor the generous service of Dr. Roy Hastick in commemorating his 68th birthday. New York's Caribbean community has forever changed through his decades of dedicated service. On behalf of New York's 9th Congressional District, I am grateful for our hard-working and impactful community leader, Dr. Roy Hastick.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, on April 16, 2018, I was unavoidably detained and missed recorded votes No. 140 and 141. Had I been present, on Roll Call No. 140, H.R. 146, Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Acquisition Act, as amended, I would have voted YEA; and on Roll Call No. 141, S. 167, National Memorial to Fallen Educators Act, I would have voted YEA.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Tonko for leading this Special Order hour in commemoration of our dear colleague, the Honorable Louise Slaughter. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues on the floor today to honor a remarkable woman. Words just couldn't adequately capture the sense of sadness I felt after hearing of the loss of Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, the dean of the New York delegation. Louise dedicated her life's work to the people of western New York and, indeed, all Americans across our great Nation. She embodied a spirit of strength, wisdom, and grace, and she was beautiful inside and out. She represented the very best of the American spirit, our values, and our ideals. Louise was a trailblazer and was the first woman to serve as chair and ranking member of the powerful House Rules Committee. She commanded the respect and admiration of all of her colleagues. Having had the honor of serving with Louise has enriched my passion for service and my commitment to fight for the most vulnerable amongst us. Louise was indeed a woman on whose shoulders I stand. The United States Congress has lost an esteemed leader, the New York delegation has lost a beloved dean, and I have lost a cherished friend and mentor. It was my great privilege to serve with Louise Slaughter, and she is missed immensely.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, on March 22, 2018, I was unavoidably detained and missed recorded vote No. 123. Had I been present, on Roll Call No. 123, On Ordering the Previous Question: H. Res. 796: Providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 1625) to amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to include severe forms of trafficking in persons within the definition of transnational organized crime, I would have voted NO.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

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

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I rise today to anchor this Congressional Black Caucus Special Order hour. I thank the Congressional Black Caucus chairman, Cedric Richmond, for his leadership in this effort. For the next 60 minutes, we have an opportunity to speak directly to the American people about issues of great importance to the Congressional Black Caucus and the millions of constituents whom we represent. Tonight's Special Order hour topic is Women's History Month. Mr. Speaker, during Women's History Month, we salute phenomenal women who refused to sit on the sidelines of history. After the passage of the 19th Amendment, millions of women have continued to march like the women who came before them. For generations, women, particularly Black women, have been on the front lines fighting for key rights for America's women, including the right to equal pay, the right to equal access to educational opportunities, and the right to equal access to opportunities in the workplace. In that spirit, I rise today on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus in reclaiming 2018 as the Year of the Black Woman. 2018, the Year of the Black Woman--I like the sound of that. Black women are a force to reckon with, and we shall not be moved. New York, my hometown, has a longstanding and illustrious legacy of leading the way to advance women's rights, from Seneca Falls to the United States Congress, and even on the road to the White House. It was where Madam C.J. Walker and Billie Holiday laid down their roots. It was the home of the late great Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman to serve in this distinguished House and whose congressional district I represent today. ``I am not a candidate of Black America, although I am Black and proud. I am not a candidate of the women's movement of this country, although I am a woman, and I am equally proud of that. . . . I am the candidate of the people of America.'' These are the words she spoke. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Shirley Chisholm's election to the House of Representatives as the reformer from Brooklyn and the 46th anniversary of her historic bid for the Presidency. In doing so, Shirley Chisholm blazed a pathway for millions of girls and women to dream unthinkable dreams. Shirley Chisholm's labor and contribution to Brooklyn, Congress, and the Nation continues to bear fruit today. She paved the way for many of the women, myself included, to run for elected office at all levels. Shirley Chisholm opposed war, racism, sexism, and inequality. She stood up to Republicans and demanded more from her own party. She won; she lost; she never backed down. Forty-six years ago, the unbossed and unbought Shirley Chisholm announced her candidacy for President of the United States, making her the first woman in history to run for the highest office in the land. I can because she did. Congresswoman Chisholm used the authority of her experience to create nutrition assistance programs, expand healthcare services for parents and children, increase the minimum wage, support the veterans of our Armed Forces, and provide opportunities for women in college, graduate school, and collegiate and professional sports with the enactment of title IX. But that is not all. Shirley Chisholm pushed this country forward. I can recall growing up in Brooklyn and just being so proud as a young girl growing up knowing that there was a woman who looked like me who came from my neighborhood, who came from my origins, sitting here in the House of Representatives. She was somewhat of a rock star in Brooklyn. Her intellect, her ability, her savviness was something that she exuded in every environment that she found herself. She was pretty stylish as well. But it was, indeed, her strategic thinking and her ability to be a voice for the voiceless that really propelled Shirley Chisholm into the hearts and minds of all Americans. Shirley Chisholm pushed this country forward, and for this and other reasons, she deserves a permanent place among other figures of United States history right here in the Capitol. In January, I introduced H.R. 4856, what I have named the Shirley Chisholm Statue Bill. The bill would do just that, honor Shirley Chisholm's legacy with a permanent statue among those statues in our hollowed Halls. H.R. 4856 directs the United States Joint Committee on the Library, which is responsible for oversight of the operations of the Library of Congress and the management of Statuary Hall Collection, to obtain a statue of Chisholm for permanent placement in the United States Capitol. I am very pleased to say that over 70 Members of the United States House of Representatives are cosponsors. My sister, colleague, and friend, Senator Kamala Harris of California, in late February, introduced the companion bill. Among Senate cosponsors are the CBC members Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, in addition to Senators Warren and Sanders, and my Senators, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, as well. Senator Harris and I agree, Shirley Chisholm created a path for Black women Members of Congress who have served after her. ``Her legacy encourages us to keep up the fight for our most voiceless and vulnerable,'' Senator Harris stated. Mr. Speaker, Rosa and Sojourner, giant figures in American history and the only two African-American women cemented permanently here in the Capitol, are lonely. Mr. Speaker, I hope that you will join us in this effort. Let's pass the Shirley Chisholm Statue Bill right away. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Lawrence), one of the staunch supporters of women's rights here on Capitol Hill and co-chair of the Bipartisan Women's Caucus.

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her extraordinary comments this evening, really highlighting the triumphs and the challenges of both race and gender when we talk about Black women. This is Women's History Month. We want to bring a unique lens to the conversation of Women's History Month because oftentimes, indeed, Black women tend to be the hidden figures. Having said that, it is now my honor to yield to the gentlewoman from California, the honorable Barbara Lee, one of the outstanding mentors and Black women here in Congress who has done extraordinary work, whether it is in leading the conscience of this Congress around the Iraq war or many other causes that we have seen her leadership as a north star to really making this Nation the best that it can be. It is my honor to yield to the gentlewoman from California.

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California for her eloquent presentation this evening. It is now my honor and privilege to bring to the floor the gentleman from the great State of Pennsylvania, the great city of Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love and sisterly affection, the honorable Dwight Evans of the Second Congressional District.

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for really bringing to the fore all of these extraordinary Black women in Philadelphia. It is unfortunate that our history, when it comes to gender parity, does not extol the virtues of everyone who is really laboring in the vineyard, oftentimes trailblazers and making things happen for communities, municipalities, and States across this Nation. Again, we are illuminating hidden figures this evening, and I want to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for doing such a tremendous job. Mr. Speaker, it is now my honor and privilege to yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne), who is just across the river from the district that I represent in New York. The gentleman has been an extraordinary advocate for communities of color in the State of New Jersey. He has done a tremendous job in work on the Committee on Homeland Security. I know he has been an advocate for promoting and putting forth Black women in leadership positions. He was responsible for electing the very first Black woman to be Lieutenant Governor of the State of New Jersey. The Honorable Donald Payne, Jr., represents of the 10th District of New Jersey.

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I, once again, thank the gentleman from New Jersey for highlighting all of the ways in which Black women have excelled beyond expectation, despite all the challenges and the obstacles that they have faced. We continue to see Black women rise, and I want to thank the gentleman for his observations, for his experience, and his interactions as part of this Special Order hour. We know that, again, these are hidden figures, but today I say hidden no more. They are in the Congressional Record, and I thank the gentleman for adding such richness to the Record this evening. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee). The Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee will be sharing with us her insights during this Special Order hour as we highlight the accomplishments and we speak to the concerns in the Year of the Black Woman.

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Texas for bringing to the floor so many of the issues that Black women have been in the lead on or have been fighting for, such as social justice and criminal justice reform, which is the hallmark of the leadership of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. We are grateful to her for expressing today all of these obstacles that we must overcome and that we are focused on here in the House of Representatives. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Lawrence).

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Michigan for sharing those quotes with us this evening. It is so important, in terms of inspiration and motivation, that we are able to pull from the work that is being done by Black women and those who have preceded us. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this moment, because I would be remiss if I did not take this opportunity to honor another distinguished woman from New York, the dearly departed Congresswoman Louise Slaughter from New York's 25th District. Words cannot adequately express the sense of sadness that I and many in my delegation feel to have received word of the passing of Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, the dean of the New York delegation. Ms. Slaughter dedicated her life's work to the people of western New York and, indeed, all Americans across our great Nation. She embodied a spirit of strength, wisdom, grace, and beauty, inside and out. She represented the very best of the American spirit, our values, and our ideals. She was a trailblazer. She was the first woman to serve as chair and ranking member of the powerful House Rules Committee. She commanded the respect and admiration of her colleagues. Having had the honor of serving with her has enriched my passion for service and my commitment to fight for the most vulnerable amongst us. She is, indeed, a woman on whose shoulders I stand. The United States Congress has lost an esteemed leader, the New York delegation has lost a beloved dean, and I have lost a cherished friend and mentor. My thoughts and my prayers are with her three daughters, Megan, Amy, and Emily; and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In this time of their bereavement, we extend our deepest condolences. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, the gentleman from Georgia, for anchoring this very important Special Order this evening. Mr. Speaker, I rise in solidarity with my colleagues in this very important discussion about fair share fees for union workers. In 1977, the Supreme Court, in Abood v. Detroit Board of Education, decided that fair share fees were constitutional, full stop. This decision allowed unions to be paid fair share fees by nonunion members in order to negotiate on their behalf. Fair share fees have become increasingly significant and important, as unions continue to fight for worker protections in the workplace. Now, 40 years later, the Supreme Court is poised to hear this issue yet again in Janus v. AFSCME. So what has changed? What has changed? Mr. Speaker, I am deeply concerned that this is yet another attempt to put big business above working people and weaken organized labor as effective representatives for the working class. I, therefore, ask the Court to be thoughtful. I ask that they think of the consequences that will follow by reversing this law. I ask the Court not to be used as pawns by the Republican conservatives, millionaires and billionaires, to weaken organized labor and unions of the 21st century. If it were not for organized labor, many of us would not be standing here representing our constituents today. My mother was a member of DC 37, a part of AFSCME, and it was through her labor union, her local, that she was able to put money aside for my brother and me to go to college, to make sure that our healthcare was taken care of. And here we are in the wealthiest Nation in the world where millionaires and billionaires are lining their pockets with profits, and, at the same time, we have workers who are before the Supreme Court just seeking dignity to be organized through labor and labor unions. This is a time for all Americans to remember their roots. Organized labor is part of the bedrock of this Nation. It is my hope that the Supreme Court will remember that in their deliberations.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in tribute to a great man, a loving husband and father, a visionary entrepreneur, a philanthropist and humanitarian, my beloved and dear friend, Mr. Lowell Hawthorne of the Bronx, New York. Lowell Hawthorne immigrated to the United States from the beautiful island nation of Jamaica in 1981 and, like most immigrants to our country, began his pursuit of the American Dream. After working his way up the administrative ranks of the New York City Police Department as an accountant handling police pensions, he was bitten by the entrepreneurial bug and started a home-based business doing tax returns for coworkers and friends on the force. Determined to provide for his family a life that he never had, in 1989, inspired by his father and sisters, who were bakers, and with the financial support of his wife and siblings, he would go on to open the first Golden Krust Bakery, on East Gun Hill Road in the Bronx, New York. His specialties included the Jamaican beef patty, Caribbean baked goods, and other culinary delights. From there, his entrepreneurial talents, work ethic, and dogged determination allowed him to soar, methodically expanding his empire to include over 120 stores in nine States across the country. Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery & Grill would become the first Caribbean-American- owned business in the United States to be granted a franchise license. Producing more than 50 million beef, chicken, and vegetable patties a year, Golden Krust is also the largest Caribbean-American-owned business in the Nation. Lowell has been described by his employees as a nice boss, a wonderful guy, a God-fearing man, also, as someone who cared deeply for his staff, his family, his community, and the beloved land of his birth, Jamaica. He leaves to cherish his legacy his devoted wife of 34 years, Lorna, and his four children, who all worked for the company: Daren, Omar, Monique, and Haywood. I admire Lowell for bringing our shared love of Jamaican culture to life on a larger scale through food and fellowship. His success story is an inspiration to all who continue to dream the American Dream. I personally was honored to have known him. As part of a tight-knit Caribbean diaspora and Jamaican community, he was considered a beloved part of my extended family, so much so that my mother adopted him, as mothers often do, and took him under her wing and into her heart. Lowell was more than a friend; he was a brother. Today, I honor his life and living legacy. I will miss my friend and will cherish him always. On behalf of the people of the Ninth Congressional District of New York, the Clarke family, and myself, I wish to express my most deepest, profound condolences to the family and friends of the honorable Lowell Hawthorne.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my fellow New Yorkers in honoring and celebrating the life of our colleague, Congressman Maurice Hinchey. Congressman Hinchey embodied what it means to be a true public servant and patriot with a vocation to serve his country and the people of New York. From his 18 years serving in the New York State Assembly to his 10 years in Congress, Congressman Hinchey remained a steadfast champion for working people, American families, and the environment. During the Congressman's time in the New York State Assembly, where he served as Chairman of the Environmental Conservation Committee, he sponsored the nation's first ever acid rain prevention bill. His passion for the environment followed him from New York State to Capitol Hill, where he famously sent President Reagan a tree and a gallon of acid rain water to draw attention to environmental pollution. The Congressman represented some of New York's most beautiful land, from the Hudson Valley to the Finger Lakes, and we can attribute much of the preservation of New York's natural beauty to Congressman Hinchey's tireless dedication to conservation. While on the House Appropriations Committee, the Congressman served as a staunch advocate for progressive policies and innovation to help American families and veterans. My thoughts are with the Congressman's wife, Ilene, the Hinchey family, and all those who loved him as we honor his legacy of activism, advocacy, and passion for public service.

Ms. CLARKE of New York

Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my outrage over the administration's unconscionable decision to terminate Haiti's temporary protected status designation on July 22, 2019. This decision, which came just days before Thanksgiving, will force over 50,000 Haitians to return to a country that is still struggling to recover from the devastating effects of the 2010 earthquake and reeling from a cholera epidemic and food insecurity caused by Hurricane Matthew that decimated Haiti's agricultural sector. Although Haiti has made extraordinary strides to overcome the impact of the deadly earthquake and subsequent events, including the cholera epidemic, food insecurity crisis, and Hurricanes Matthew, Irma, and Maria, it has killed over 10,000 people and hampered the recovery efforts. The devastation of these events should have made the decision to redesignate Haiti for 18 months without setting an end date an easy call, a no-brainer. However, last week's disastrous decision to terminate Haiti's TPS status did not occur in a vacuum. In the past few weeks alone, this administration has also announced its decision to terminate temporary protected status for Nicaragua and Sudan. These actions demonstrate the administration's clear departure from the bipartisan consensus that has always surrounded the TPS program which exists to protect human life. Instead, this administration has chosen to sow fear and division in our society to distract from its failed policies that benefit the wealthy at the expense of the vast majority of Americans. Faced with this clear and credible threat, we must come together to pass bipartisan legislation that protects all TPS-eligible individuals from being forced to return home to countries experiencing famine, natural disaster, and outright civil war. That is why I have worked with Representatives Ros-Lehtinen and Jayapal to introduce the bipartisan ASPIRE-TPS Act, which would provide meaningful protections to all TPS-eligible individuals. I urge my colleagues in this body to cosponsor our legislation. I also urge House leadership to bring it to the floor for a vote as soon as possible so that we can grant meaningful protection to the 300,000 TPS-eligible individuals at risk of being sent back to life-threatening conditions abroad. Now is the time to act for the sake of 300,000 TPS- eligible individuals and our standing in the world.