Steve Cohen

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COHEN. I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, if people, I think, listen to this debate, they would see one thing clearly in that there is a difference on the two sides--a difference in perspective and a difference as to the facts. Some say that, clearly, the fetus feels pain. My data shows that the majority of medical opinion says that the fetus does not; and Dr. Anand, whom they cite--my research shows--has retracted his position and doesn't want to be involved in this debate, and he is an outlier. The bottom line is there are differences--differences as to the facts as well as to the opinions. What that should say to anybody who watches this debate, Madam Speaker, is this issue shouldn't be decided by politicians but by medical experts and by women with the people they trust--medical experts, not politicians--and by women with the advice of the people they trust. The truth of this debate came down to a lady from North Carolina who testified contrary to what she said in January. In January, she said the bill that came before this House was not a good bill and that it shouldn't come to the House. It was withdrawn because incest is incest, and it shouldn't be seen that people 18 and over couldn't get an abortion if they were victims of incest. This bill allows it. She has changed her position, and at the close of her statement, she said: I will not rest until abortion is illegal. That is what this is about. It is the beginning of the end of abortion at 20 weeks, at 17 weeks, at 12 weeks, at 1 week, at conception. This is an antiabortion bill. It is not about fetal pain. It is not about 20 weeks. That is what it is about. American women need to wake up. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney).

Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time we have remaining?

Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutch).

Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee).

Mr. COHEN. I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).

Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Clark).

Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, I yield the gentlewoman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for the time. I appreciate the good feelings and earnest arguments made by the gentlewoman from Tennessee and the gentleman from Arizona, but the fact is this bill is patently unconstitutional because this bill is not about viability; it is a subterfuge for viability and talks about the issue of pain. Pain is not the issue; viability is the issue. What the real issue is, politicians are not medical experts, and women should make these decisions based upon information from people they trust. Women should make these decisions based upon information from people they trust. The information given about this bill is limited, and the fact is Dr. Anand, who was cited by my friend, the chairman of the committee, is from the University of Tennessee in Memphis, where I am from. The fact is Dr. Anand, if he had gone further, since 2005, has turned down requests to testify in regard to this type of legislation because he doesn't think that his studies have been used properly. Abortion is not the focus, and the politicization of his work has gotten completely out of hand. The fact is there are polls that say one thing and polls that say another. The poll that I respect most shows it to be about an even one- third split on support, opposition, and indecision. This isn't about polls; this is supposed to be about the Constitution and upholding Roe v. Wade and medical experts and not politicians making decisions that are poll-driven and possibly favorable to their own constituencies. The exceptions for incest are the most egregious. If a woman is pregnant because of incest, under this law, if the lady is under 18 years of age, there is one rule; but, if she is 18 years of age or older, there is another rule. What it says is, if you are 18 or over and you are pregnant as a result of incest, then you cannot get an abortion--you cannot--but, if you are under 18, you can if you report it to the law enforcement authorities. In the discussion last night at Rules Committee, the vice chair of Rules Committee errantly compared rape and incest. Incest does not necessarily involve rape. It involves intercourse between parties that are not legally supposed to have intercourse and issues which could result in problems for the child. Incest should always be an exception, and the life and health of the mother should always be an exception, and the health exceptions are limited to physical and not mental and emotional, which are the most pressing for women. There is also a 48-hour waiting period in this bill. This bill is unconstitutional and wrong. We should respect medical experts and not politicians and women to make decisions with people they trust.

Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Bera), on the day after Yogi Berra's 90th birthday--not related.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of The Police Training and Independent Review Act, which I introduced earlier today with colleague Lacy Clay of Missouri. If enacted, the Police Training and Independent Review Act would help ensure the independent investigation and prosecution of law enforcement officers in cases involving their use of deadly force. It would also provide sensitivity training for law enforcement officers. America received a wakeup call last year in Ferguson, Missouri. It received another in Staten Island, New York. It received yet another in Cleveland, Ohio, and then North Charleston, South Carolina, and more recently in Baltimore. Our nation faces sobering questions about the basic fairness of our criminal justice system. And we face sobering questions about race. These questions simply cannot be ignored. For too many, for too long, justice has seemed too lacking. Precisely how long, and for how many--these are numbers we ought to know, and it is shameful that we do not. The fact that police departments are not required to report data about when, where and against whom they use deadly force is absurd. Even FBI Director James Comey has said it is, ``ridiculous that [he] can't tell you how many people were shot by the police last week, last month, last year.'' Last year, and again earlier this year, I introduced the National Statistics on Deadly Force Transparency Act to address this. The legislation would give both lawmakers and the public the numbers we need to measure the problem, so we can figure out how best to address it. However, I rise today to talk about another equally important step we can take, right now, that does not require us to wait for more data. We can remove the looming cloud of doubt that hangs over too many instances in which law enforcement officers use deadly force against unarmed individuals. We can stop asking local prosecutors to investigate the same law enforcement officers with whom they work so closely, and whose relationships they rely upon to perform their daily responsibilities. This is an obvious conflict of interest, and if we are serious about restoring a sense of fairness and justice, we must remove this conflict immediately. To be sure, the vast majority of prosecutors and law enforcement officers are well meaning, dedicated public servants, and we depend upon them to keep us safe from criminals. And they have dangerous jobs, as we have seen all too frequently in recent months. But the fact remains that some police departments don't vet their patrolmen well enough. Some allow wealthy supporters to be reserve officers where judgment is lacking and some don't provide all appropriate training. There are also some officers who go beyond the law in a callous disregard for due process. While we have seen charges against officers in North Charleston and in Baltimore, the question remains: would they have been prosecuted if we didn't have video of the events in question? According to a recent Washington Post investigation, there have been, ``thousands of fatal shootings at the hands of police since 2005, [and] only 54 officers have been charged. Most were cleared or acquitted in the cases that have been resolved.'' I can't stand here today and tell you whether each of these prosecutors was biased. But what I can tell you is that there is a perception of unfairness in certain kinds of cases, and that perception is poisoning the public trust. But we can fix this problem. The Police Training and Independent Review Act would give states a reason to do what they should already be doing: require the use of independent prosecutors when there is an obvious conflict of interest. If states refuse to use independent prosecutors for cases against law enforcement officers involving their use of deadly force, they lose federal funding, which can make up a significant portion of their budgets. I urge my colleagues to help pass this legislation quickly, and help restore some much needed faith in our criminal justice system. I want to thank my colleague Lacy Clay for his partnership on this bill. He is a tireless advocate on these issues, and I am honored to work with him.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the ranking member for the time; I want to thank the chairman for scheduling these bills; and particularly I want to thank the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Reichert) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell) for bringing them. My first job out of law school was attorney for the Memphis Police Department, and I served 3\1/2\ years working as the attorney for the Memphis Police Department. I know that police are on the front lines of democracy in seeing that we have a society that can function and that we have people's rights protected in a most direct way. The ranking member talked about the losses of the lives in New York of Officer Davis; the two officers this bill is named for, Officers Ramos and Liu; and then there were the two officers killed in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, each of which is tragic and each of which caused me to grieve and be mournful about the loss of these men's lives in the course of duty. While we have some issues with law enforcement in certain areas, we need to have law enforcement; and the loss of any life of a law enforcement member in the actions of their duties or because of their position is wrong, and we should have a system in place to apprehend and arrest somebody who, with probable cause, committed that crime. I also want to thank the chairman of the committee for scheduling a hearing next week on civil rights issues. These issues go together. No one should lose their life wrongfully. We must deal with these issues, and it is commendable. There are some good things happening in Congress. So many times I go home, and people talk about the acrimony and don't we get along. Well, we get some things done, and we get some things done together, and the Judiciary Committee is doing some of those things. I want to thank the chairman and the ranking member, who is not here, for that. I am a proud sponsor of this bill. I hope everybody will vote for it and pass it. It will save some law enforcement people's lives.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 125th anniversary of Orange Mound, an historic and cultural hub in Memphis, Tennessee. Founded in 1890, Orange Mound was the first American community developed specifically for African-Americans to buy land and purchase homes. From the early twentieth century into the 1970s, the community was said to be home to the largest concentration of African- Americans outside of Harlem, New York, and like Harlem, Orange Mound has a rich history of talent and economic independence. Orange Mound is home to some of the most well-known leaders and entrepreneurs in Memphis. Its residents have included the late Judge Otis Higgs, Jr., the first African-American sheriff in Shelby County, Tennessee and an instrumental figure in overturning the runoff provision in Memphis' citywide races, which led to the election of the city's first African-American mayor. Fred Davis, the first African- American insurance policy writing agent in Tennessee, the first African-American to own an insurance agency in the South, the first African-American member of the Independent Insurance Agents of America and the first African-American Chairman of the Memphis City Council was also a noteworthy Memphian who claimed Orange Mound as his home. Orange Mound is also well-known for Melrose High School, an all-black school that was also founded in 1890 and remains revered in the community today. Many great athletes lived in Orange Mound and attended Melrose, including NFL cornerback Barry Wilburn who played for eight seasons from 1985 to 1996 and won a Super Bowl ring with the Washington Redskins in their 42-10 victory at Super Bowl XXII. His father, Jesse, coached football at Melrose from 1959 to 1968 and his mother, Margaret, was a track and field bronze medalist in the 1956 Summer Olympics. Bobby ``Bingo'' Smith was a college All-American basketball player at the University of Tulsa, a top ten pick in the 1969 NBA Draft and played for the San Diego Rockets, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the San Diego Clippers. Track star and Olympic gold (1996) and silver (1992) medalist Rochelle Stevens also attended Melrose and in 2007, the Memphis City Council renamed a street in her honor. Memphis State University (MSU) men's basketball coach Larry Finch, who helped ease race relations during a sharply divided era, led the Memphis State Tigers to the NCAA Tournament finals as a teammate, and then coached the team to its greatest number of wins, was also from Orange Mound and attended Melrose High School. Other notable Melrose alumni athletes include 1968 to 1971 NFL player Sam Walton, who played for the New York Jets when they won Super Bowl III; Ronnie Robinson, who played at MSU with Larry Finch and helped lead the team to the 1973 Final Four; Melrose 1974 state champion and MSU point guard Alvin Wright, who also helped MSU to a four year record of 80-34; John ``Big John'' Gunn played for MSU from 1974 to 1976; power forward for MSU and 1979 NBA Round 2 draft pick James Bradley; All-American William Bedford who also played in the NBA from 1986 to 1993; and NFL player Jerome Woods from 1996 to 2005. Melrose High School has also graduated top scholars, including Dellarontay Readus. Dellarontay scored a 31 on the ACT, is Melrose's class of 2015 valedictorian and was awarded a full academic scholarship by Stanford University. Melrose has also graduated three ``all college expenses paid'' Bill Gates Scholars. In addition to being home to many Memphis greats, Orange Mound has served as a hub for live music and entertainment. The W.C. Handy Theater located on Park Avenue was built by a group of Memphis businessmen and was a popular entertainment attraction for several years. Such premier acts of the day included Count Basie, Sarah Vaughan, Lionel Hampton, and Memphis legends B.B. King, Bukka White and Willie Mitchell. Internationally famed jazz saxophonist and CEO of the Soulsville Foundation, Kirk Whalum, got his start in music playing for the Melrose High School band. Religion has also been central to the Orange Mound community. It is the only community in America with six churches over 100 years old and many more that are over 75 years old. Particularly well-known churches include Mt. Pisgah CME Church at the corner of Park Avenue and Marchaneil, which was founded in the late 1870s and played a role in assisting activists during the Civil Rights Movement, and Mount Moriah Baptist Church, which was founded in 1879 before moving to its present- day location at the corner of David and Carnes Streets in 1883. Today, descendants of the founders of many churches in Orange Mound still attend these historic houses of worship and serve in the community. Since 1990, Memphis has played host to the Southern Heritage Classic football game between Tennessee State University and Jackson State University at the Liberty Bowl Stadium, which helps form the northern border of Orange Mound. In that same year, the Orange Mound Parade Committee was formed to honor Memphian Fred Jones for his dedicated work in establishing the Southern Heritage Classic. As the Congressman for Tennessee's Ninth District, which includes Orange Mound, I have been honored to participate in this parade as it travels down Park Avenue and passes Melrose High School, homes, local businesses and Orange Mound's historic churches. I have met with the residents of Orange Mound and am always inspired by their commitment to the revitalization and renaissance of this historic community in America. In commemoration of the anniversary, the United States Postal Office has issued a special postmark cancellation honoring Orange Mound. It was designed by the residents of Orange Mound and I was happy to work with the new Memphis Postmaster, Jennifer Vo, to make this a reality. As the first all African-American community in America that has been home to many internationally known African-Americans who have contributed to American culture, the Orange Mound community is truly part of American history and is deserving of this special recognition. As such, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 125th anniversary of Orange Mound in Memphis, Tennessee.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Chairman, this amendment would increase funding for the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy account by $2 million for the SuperTruck II program. The SuperTruck program was initiated by the Department of Energy to improve freight and heavy-duty vehicle efficiency. The Appropriations Committee acknowledged the success of the SuperTruck I in their committee report, but, unfortunately, it recommended only $8 million of the requested $40 million for the SuperTruck II program to further improve the efficiency of these vehicles. SuperTruck II will continue dramatic improvements in the freight efficiency of heavy-duty Class 8 long-haul and regional-haul vehicles through system level improvements. These improvements include hybridization, more efficient idling, and high efficiency HVAC technologies. By increasing the funding for the SuperTruck program by just $2 million, it will allow the Department of Energy to better achieve their freight efficiency goals. It will be good for the environment. It will be good for the trucking community. It will be good for America. This amendment is offset via a decrease in the departmental administration account. I would like to thank Chairman Simpson and Ranking Member Kaptur for their hard work on the bill, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer an amendment.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Royal Studios in Memphis, Tennessee for recording Uptown Funk, which has topped the Billboard Hot 100 for fourteen weeks and counting, marking the single as the longest-leading Billboard Hot 100 of the 2010s. Additionally, Uptown Funk's fourteenth week makes it only the Billboard's eighth single since the chart began in 1958 to hold the top spot for at least as long and places it in a seven-way tie for the second longest #1 hit in the history of the Chart. The only single among this elite group of eight to surpass Uptown Funk has held the #1 spot for sixteen weeks. The single also leads the Hot 100's Digital Songs, Radio Songs and Streaming Songs charts. In a raving endorsement of Uptown Funk's popularity, First Lady Michelle Obama with cast from the show ``So You Think You Can Dance'' performed a choreographed dance to the song as part of her ``Let's Move!'' initiative on the Ellen DeGeneres Show and at this year's White House Easter Egg Roll. The collaboration between Uptown Funk writer Mark Ronson, singer Bruno Mars and Royal Studios has swept the music scene in America and abroad, and has given listeners around the world a taste of the soulful sound that is unique to Memphis. Uptown Funk is an example of born-and-bred Memphis musical talent. Ronson, a Grammy-winning artist and a noted producer for talents such as Adele and the late Amy Winehouse, traveled to Memphis in February 2014 looking to recruit singers for his music project. It was then that he visited Royal Studios and met owner Lawrence ``Boo'' Mitchell, the son of Memphis music legend and producer, Willie Mitchell, and decided to record at the iconic studio. Ronson enlisted Philip Lawrence and notable Royal Studios familiars Steve Jordan, Willie Weeks, Kevin Parker, Trombone Shorty, Mystikal and Michael Chabon to work on the single. Uptown Funk also features Bruno Mars's band member and Memphian, Kameron Whalum, who is the son of Pastor Kenneth Whalum of Olivet Baptist Church in Memphis and the nephew of Grammy-winning saxophonist Kirk Whalum. The success of Uptown Funk is the latest chapter in the long and storied history of Royal Studios, one of the oldest music recording studios in the world. Housed originally in a movie theater built in 1915, Royal Studios was founded in 1957 and became the home of Hi Records and the Hi Rhythm Section. Since that time, numerous acclaimed artists have recorded there, including Willie Mitchell, Al Green, Ann Peebles, Bobby Blue Bland, Elton John, Robert Plant, Snoop Dogg and many others. The studio has also recorded for Hollywood films including Opportunity Knocks, Pulp Fiction, Good Will Hunting, The Book of Eli, Love Jones, Six Feet Under and other films and television shows. Uptown Funk marks Royal Studios' first #1 hit since Al Green's 1972 Let's Stay Together and the first Billboard 100 Hit out of Memphis since the 1976 hit Disco Duck by Rick Dees. Uptown Funk continues Royal Studios' long tradition of musical excellence and showing the world what Memphis has to offer. I ask all of my colleagues to join me in recognizing Memphis' Royal Studios as the recording home for the Billboard-chart topping single, Uptown Funk, and the dedicated work of Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars, Kameron Whalum, Lawrence ``Boo'' Mitchell and the entire Royal Studios family in producing a single with such a soulful Memphis sound that has reached listeners worldwide. Many people have noted that Uptown Funk will be one of the hottest hits this summer. If you don't believe them, just watch.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, there was a story in today's Washington Post about the Salk vaccine being approved for usage in this country 50 years ago, on April 12, 1955. There was a picture of a second-grade student getting a shot as a test case in 1954. It brought back memories to me that I wanted to relate here. My father was a physician. In 1954, he gave shots to second-grade children as part of the testing of the Salk vaccine. I had a brother in the second grade. My father gave him the shot that he gave all other second-graders. I was in kindergarten. My father's mission was not to give shots beyond the second grade. So while the vaccine was in my home, he thought about giving it to me but didn't. In the spring of 1954, I came down with polio. My father never forgave himself for not giving me that vaccination. I have suffered for it ever since and will continue for the rest of my life. I relate this story to tell the American people: Vaccinate your children. Don't listen to the hysteria. Science has given us ways to stop children from getting diseases that have threatened society for generations. Do vaccinate. It is safe.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to the issue of poaching and illegal trafficking of African rhino horn and elephant ivory. The barbaric slaughter of tens of thousands of these animals appears to be growing worse, currently occurring at its highest level in 25 years. More than $19 billion move through illicit wildlife crime syndicates, and ivory's value on the street is sometimes greater than gold or cocaine. Around the world, rhino horns can cost as much as $60,000 per pound. To meet this demand, roughly three rhinos are killed on a daily basis. At the same time, more than 20,000 elephants were killed in 2013. If this killing trend continues, the extinction of the African Elephant will occur in our lifetimes. In addition to its profitability, many criminals choose to engage in poaching because it is viewed as a low- risk endeavor compared to other illegal activities, despite the attempts of African nations to crack down on animal trafficking. Park rangers face tremendous challenges in their efforts to protect these animals, including injury, torture and death as they confront poachers and illegal traders. It is reported that at least two rangers die worldwide each week while fighting to protect wildlife from poachers. Although park rangers have a heavy burden of responsibility, they are too often given little to no support or pay. In contrast, poachers are armed with weaponry such as heat-seeking telescopes, automatic weapons, GPS satellite receivers, and even helicopters. The lack of adequate funding and equipment for park rangers is evident in the brutal massacres of both humans and animals left in the wake of night-time raids, silent ambushes, and communities in poaching areas that are often paid-off or threatened with destruction by poachers. The illegal trade of animal parts is fueling conflict throughout Africa, providing cash and support for international criminal organizations and terrorist groups. Following the drug and weapons trade, animal poaching is the 3rd most prominent and lucrative source of funding for conflict around the world. With the presence and spread of terrorist groups like Boko Haram in many African nations, the urgency to prevent any contributions to these violent organizations is clear. Ending poaching and illegal trafficking of African rhino horns and elephant ivory is in the interest of our national security, peace in poaching regions and preservation of these majestic animals.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I introduced, along with my colleagues Reps. Robert ``Bobby'' Scott, Eleanor Holmes Norton and Carolyn Maloney, H.R. 1609, the Tax Return Preparer Accountability Act, which would provide explicit authority for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to regulate tax return preparers. As we near April 15th, millions of taxpayers will pay someone to help them fill out their tax returns. Many of these tax preparers are honest and trustworthy. But, unfortunately, too many of them take advantage of their customers or help their customers engage in tax fraud themselves. In Memphis, my Congressional district, a company named Mo' Money Taxes was caught charging taxpayers deceptive and outrageous fees and cheating them out of their refunds. The company also helped some customers prepare fraudulent returns that claimed bogus deductions and cheated the public of needed tax revenue. Fortunately, the Department of Justice has shut down the tax preparer company but there are many businesses just like them cheating taxpayers and the government alike. The IRS issued rules in 2011 regulating the tax return preparer industry by requiring them to register with the IRS and meet certain education and testing standards. However, a federal court held that the IRS did not have the authority under existing law to issue these regulations and they could not come into effect. That's why I introduced the Tax Return Preparer Accountability Act because it's important that anyone who assists in filing federal taxes is sufficiently trained and maintain a certain level of professional conduct. I hope that Congress will quickly act on this bill to ensure that these dishonest business practices cannot continue, and protect the pocketbooks of middle-class families.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Private Student Loan Bankruptcy Fairness Act, a bill I introduced earlier today with my colleagues Danny Davis and Eric Swalwell which would restore fairness in student lending by treating privately issued student loans in bankruptcy the same as other types of private debt. It is sad enough that our children are increasingly burdened by a crushing weight of student debt. But the fact that students under the weight of this debt are treated so unfairly in bankruptcy is unconscionable. Before 2005, private student loans issued by for-profit lenders were treated in bankruptcy like most other unsecured consumer debt, such as credit card debt. Our bill will ensure that privately issued student loans will once again be treated like other consumer debt and be dischargeable in bankruptcy. Private student loans have much in common with credit cards and subprime mortgages. For example, private student loans often have onerous interest rates with no caps and can include exorbitant fees and hidden charges. In addition, many lenders have used aggressive marketing and high-pressure sales tactics to target particularly vulnerable people, namely, young men and women without financial experience, and older Americans seeking to re-start their careers in these financially difficult times by pursuing higher education and training. The harmful features of many private student loans have resulted in a substantial rise in the number of delinquencies. To make matters worse, private student loans lack the critical consumer protections that come with federal student loans. For instance, private lenders are not required to--and typically do not-- provide any of the deferments, income-based repayment plans, cancellation rights, or loan forgiveness programs that are available to federal student loan borrowers. A hallmark of our Nation's bankruptcy law is to give an honest but unfortunate debtor a chance to obtain meaningful relief. To that end, the law exempts very few types of debt from elimination through the bankruptcy process, and only for principled policy reasons, such as debts for child support, taxes, criminal fines and intentional injury. Ten years ago, however, Congress changed the bankruptcy law without any substantive analysis so that student loans made by private, for- profit lenders became very difficult to discharge in bankruptcy. Currently, the Bankruptcy Code prohibits the discharge of private educational debt unless the debtor, in addition to meeting the already stringent requirements for personal bankruptcy, proves that repayment would impose an, ``undue hardship,'' on the debtor and the debtor's dependents. In practice, however, it's hard for a debtor to ever successfully meet this standard. The current bankruptcy law unjustly punishes hardworking Americans who are simply trying to improve their lives by pursuing a higher education and became victims of predatory private student loan lenders. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau warns that private student loan debt currently exceeds $150 billion, which could undermine the future prospects of millions of Americans. We can do better. I urge my colleagues to support the Private Student Loan Bankruptcy Fairness Act.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce CARERS Act, a bipartisan House companion to a bipartisan Senate bill that would allow states to set their own policies on medical marijuana, and give Veterans Administration physicians the ability to recommend medical marijuana to their patients. The consensus on medical marijuana is overwhelming. Last year, a CBS News Poll found 86 percent of Americans thought doctors should be allowed to prescribe small amounts of marijuana for patients suffering from serious illnesses. 86 percent of Americans rarely agree on anything. Even CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who was once skeptical of medical marijuana, has publicly endorsed it. Yet, our federal laws continue to treat patients and the doctors and families who care for them like criminals. It is long overdue for our federal law to reflect the common sense views of 86 percent of Americans and stop adding to the suffering of those with horrible illnesses. One such patient was my constituent, Chloe Grauer. At 3 years old, Chloe suffered from a rare neurological disease that caused her to have 100 to 200 seizures a day. She tried dozens of medications and underwent surgical procedures but nothing stopped the seizures. Her family tried desperately to treat her with Cannabidiol--also known as ``Charlotte's Web'' or ``CBD'' for short--which has been shown to treat certain diseases that cause seizures, such as the disease from which Chloe suffered. CBD is derived from cannabis plants, and even though it contains just trace amounts of the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana--nowhere near enough to produce a high--but it is currently illegal under federal law. Even this tiny amount of the ingredient, THC, was enough for the federal government to keep a potentially life- saving drug away from Chloe. Late last year, Chloe died without receiving CBD. This should never have happened. We must ensure that this never happens again. Just as our children deserve to be treated compassionately, so, too, do our veterans. Federal law currently prohibits VA doctors from prescribing medical marijuana when they feel it is medically beneficial. Our veterans deserve the best medical advice from their doctors, not arbitrary limits on what their doctors can do to help them. Veterans are tough. They can handle frank advice from their doctors. Earlier this month, a bipartisan group of Senators introduced a bill that would make vitally necessary, common sense changes to federal law that would allow for greater access to medically necessary marijuana: the Compassionate Access, Research Expansion and Respect States Act. The bill builds upon efforts here in the House of Representatives. I applaud all of these efforts, and am proud to help keep the momentum going by introducing a bipartisan House companion to this bill with my colleague Don Young of Alaska. I urge the House to pass this bill swiftly, bring a dose of sanity to our federal drug policy, and extend some much needed compassion to those suffering from horrible illnesses.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great baseball player and human being who passed away on March 1, 2015, Saturnino Orestes Armas Arrieta who was better known as Minnie Minoso, the Cuban Comet and Mr. White Sox. Minnie Minoso was born November 29, 1925 in Cuba. He played baseball there and had the opportunity to play baseball here in the U.S. in the Negro Leagues, for, being a Black Cuban, he wasn't allowed to play in the Major Leagues. He played three years with the New York Cubans and then because of Bill Veeck, who was one of the leaders in integrating baseball--the American League's Branch Rickey, Minoso had the opportunity to play in the Major Leagues. He was originally signed to the Cleveland Indians but was traded to the Chicago White Sox in 1951, where, because of his unlimited exuberance and effort, he became known as the ``Cuban Comet.'' Minoso was a great White Sox player, one of the greatest players of the 1950s and a great emissary of Latin American baseball players. He was the first Black Latin American player and superstar, the first black White Sox player and the third American League player of African descent. Minnie Minoso had a great career. He did everything in baseball. He hit for average, he hit for power, he had speed, he was a great fielder, and a great competitor. In his career, Minoso batted .300 eight times, had a career batting average of .298 with 1023 RBIs and hit 186 home runs. He was a seven-time major league All-Star, a three- time Gold Glove Award winner and was one of only two players to play in the Major Leagues for five decades. In 1990, the White Sox wanted him to play in his sixth decade, which would have placed him in a league of his own. At the time, I placed a call to MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent and argued for Minnie being allowed to play in just one game and accordingly have six decades under his belt. Unfortunately Commissioner Vincent respectfully declined. In addition to Minnie being one of the greatest baseball players of the 1950s, he was simply a great human being. In 1955, I lived in Memphis, Tennessee and was recovering from childhood polio. I went to an exhibition baseball game at Russwood Park where the White Sox were playing the Cardinals. I had a White Sox cap kind of like this one-- this is a Minnie Minoso cap--and I had a White Sox t-shirt. I was on crutches and getting autographs when a player came and gave me a baseball. I went to my dad and told him about it; we went down to thank the player. He was a white pitcher for the Cardinals named Tom Poholsky. He said, ``Don't thank me. Thank that player over there.'' That was number nine for the White Sox, Minnie Minoso. In the entire baseball field of 50 players or more, one cared about a young boy with polio who was a White Sox fan and wanted to do something for him. But in segregated Memphis, a black player didn't feel comfortable doing that, so he did it through a white player. The experience taught me at a very early age about the horrors of discrimination, prejudice and racism. After that, Minnie became my friend. I visited him in Chicago and went into the White Sox locker room where he gave me his bat and cap. When he came to Memphis in 1960, I visited him at the Lorraine Motel, which was where the black players stayed while the white players were at the Peabody--another lesson in discrimination that taught me well and has taught me to this day to be vigilant against all forms of racism and discrimination. The Lorraine was where Dr. King was killed and now is a great Civil Rights museum in Memphis. I followed Minnie my whole life. He was like a part of my family. We moved to Los Angeles and we went and visited him at Chavez Ravine. He came up to my dad, and he said ``Doc, how's the kid's leg, how's he doing?'' He always was concerned. Minnie was denied one of his life's goals of being voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. I tried to help him with that. Baseball made a mistake; they should have put Minnie in the Hall of Fame for his Sporting News Rookie of the Year season in 1951 and for all his great years on the diamond where he was unquestionably one of the premiere players of the game through 1961, in addition to being the first Black Latin American Major Leaguer and the first Latin American star. While he was not afforded this honor during his lifetime, Minoso's achievements were recognized through his induction into the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983, the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002, the Latino Baseball Hall of Fame in 2010, and having had his number nine retired by the White Sox, his statue placed at U.S. Cellular Field as he was ``Mr. White Sox,'' and over 35 years of being the White Sox ambassador to Chicago. It is my hope that Minnie will soon be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum as it needs Minnie to remember this groundbreaking and popular diamond star. Minnie Minoso died Sunday, March 1, 2015. Visitation was Friday, March 6th at Holy Family Church in Chicago and the funeral was that Saturday. I'll miss Minnie Minoso. He is a lesson in why sports are bigger than runs, hits and errors. It is about human beings and humanity and young kids. Thank you, Minnie. Yours was a life well- lived.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Malcolm James ``Jimmy'' Keep, a lifelong Memphian and a veteran of World War II who fought bravely against Japanese forces on Guam, Saipan and Iwo Jima. Keep, now 88 years of age and one of two surviving veterans in the Memphis area who fought on Iwo Jima, served with the Fourth Marine Division after joining the Marines in 1943 at just 17 years old. On March 17, Mr. Keep and his son, Mickey, will travel to Iwo Jima with the help of Memphis- based nonprofit organization Forever Young Senior Veterans to join 70 other Marine veterans for a 70th anniversary gathering. Assigned to reconnaissance duty early in his career along with his partner from training, Charlie Ciulla of Massachusetts, Keep experienced the brutality of war that many people can only imagine through Hollywood films. Keep remembers fighting on Saipan as the bloodiest thing he had ever seen as Japanese soldiers employed Banzai charges, or human wave assaults, on Marines who were firing 50-caliber machine guns--essentially guaranteeing their own deaths. Even though Keep was trained in fighting and all too familiar with death, he took no satisfaction from the number of Japanese lives lost to his gun fire. On Iwo Jima, Keep and Ciulla found themselves exposed to enemy fire from all sides when their amphibious tank was disabled near Mount Suribachi, causing them to evacuate on foot. The two Marines then ran across the island without injury, earning them both the nickname ``rain-walkers.'' It was believed that if they could survive that kind of heavy fire without being hit, then they could walk through rain without getting wet. Their mission was not in vain as they saw the American flag raised on Suribachi. Also on Iwo Jima, the American Marines fell under fire from seemingly ghost bullets, which were claiming the lives of many. It was discovered that Japanese fighters were using huge tunnels from which they launch their attacks. As a recon man, Keep was responsible for clearing out the tunnel, and in doing so, he found himself fighting a squad of roughly 15. He performed this task every other day for two weeks. In addition to helping his fellow Marines depart the island safely; Keep was photographed helping a wounded Marine back to the beach. He recalled telling the Marine, ``You're getting off this rock. I'll trade places with you.'' Jimmy Keep is a true hero. After returning to Memphis, Tennessee, Jimmy became an electrician and started a family. Today, he still resides in Memphis and is an ardent fan of the Memphis Grizzlies. When Jimmy and his son travel to Iwo Jima, Jimmy will no doubt be filled with emotions as he is united with other Marines who also fought valiantly during World War II. While there, Keep plans to visit Japanese Shinto shrines to ask Japanese gods for forgiveness for the lives that he took as a result of war. This show of sorrow and respect is to be commended. It is my hope, however, that he also remain mindful of the countless lives that were saved because of his selfless decision at such a young age to fight for his country against those forces that sought to do harm to America and the American way of life. I ask all of my colleagues to join me in honoring Malcolm James ``Jimmy'' Keep for his service and bravery as a Marine with the Fourth Marine Division during the Pacific campaigns of World War II.