André Carson

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, in the United States, rare disorders and diseases are defined as conditions that affect fewer than 200,000 Americans. These conditions range from neurological diseases to devastating disorders that affect development. One thing that all of the patients and families affected by these conditions have in common is the need for education, research and treatment. Though supporting research and development at the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration, Congress has recognized the necessity for investment in lifesaving innovations that have an impact on rare diseases. On the last day in February each year, people all around the world unite to share their stories and educate communities of researchers, health professionals, governments, families and friends about how rare diseases affect them. I am introducing this resolution to encourage my colleagues in Congress to recognize the challenges facing the rare disease patient community and support efforts to improve access to treatments and cures.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, as Americans, we pride ourselves on being the most free and open society the world has ever known. Yet, for far too long, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans have been forced to live in the shadows because of who they are. Year after year, we see attacks on the LGBT community as governments at all levels look to institutionalize discrimination in the name of religious freedom. In 2015, we witnessed my home state of Indiana enact the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, giving businesses the right to refuse service based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It is clear that the vast majority of Americans oppose this type of discrimination. After Indiana's law passed, the public and the business community came together to express outrage and successfully overturned Indiana's discriminatory law. However, we are still in need of a federal law to affirm the rights of all individuals to be protected from discrimination. That is why I am introducing the Equality for All Resolution to encourage Congress to take actions that ensure all Americans, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, know they are valued members of our society. From housing to employment to education, they deserve to live their lives like any other American, free from intolerance because of who they are.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, as we begin Black History Month, I am proud to reintroduce legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Muhammad Ali in recognition of his contributions to our nation. I believe it is long past time to recognize an American civil rights activist and sporting legend with Congress' highest honor. Unfortunately, Congress failed to act before The Champ's death last summer, at the age 74, so I ask my colleagues to join me now in honoring an American hero. Over the course of his illustrious career, Muhammad Ali produced some of our nation's most lasting sports memories. From winning a Gold Medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics, to lighting the Olympic torch at the 1996 Summer Olympics, his influence as an athlete and a humanitarian spanned over fifty years. Despite having been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in the 1980s, Ali devoted his life to charitable organizations. Ali, and his wife Lonnie, were founding directors of the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center and Movement Disorders Clinic in Phoenix, AZ and helped raise over $50 million for Parkinson's research. In addition to helping families cope with illness, Ali led efforts to provide meals for the hungry and helped countless organizations such as the Make-A-Wish-Foundation and the Special Olympics. Muhammad Ali's humanitarian efforts went beyond his charitable activities in the United States. In 1990 Muhammad Ali traveled to the Middle East to seek the release of American and British hostages that were being held as human shields in the first Gulf War. After his intervention, 15 hostages were freed. Thanks to his devotion to diplomatic causes and racial harmony, Ali was the recipient of many accolades, including being chosen as a ``U.N. Messenger of Peace'' in 1998 and receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005 from President Bush. Through his unyielding dedication to his sport and to struggling populations around the world, Muhammad Ali still serves an example of service and self-sacrifice for generations of Americans. The Congressional Gold Medal is a fitting commemoration of his life and work, for which he is deservingly known as ``the Greatest.'' Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing one of our nation's most lasting and influential figures by signing on to this important legislation.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I am introducing the Transition- To-Success Mentoring Act to help local education agencies prepare at- risk students for the transition from middle school to high school. During middle school, studies show that many students struggle to balance priorities between school, peer groups and their lives at home. Research also indicates that school-based mentoring is an innovative supplement to the traditional learning that takes place in the classroom. Mentoring provides underserved and at-risk students with much needed attention and support to help keep them engaged in school. For these reasons, I am proposing the creation of the Transition-To- Success Mentoring Program. With this bill, students participating in the program will develop and execute a plan for academic progress with the assistance of a school faculty member or volunteer from the community.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friend, Congressman Rokita, who has done a great job at representing his constituents, and we appreciate him for assembling a great body of Hoosiers from all across the great State of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate a milestone in Indiana's history, the bicentennial of our great State. For the past 200 years, Indiana has stood as a beacon of opportunity for millions of Hoosiers who came to the State to make a better life for themselves and their families. Indiana's history stems from our earliest Native American inhabitants. In fact, the State's name literally means ``land of the Indians.'' Early settlers befriended Native Americans as they came from New York in the Northeast, Kentucky in the South, and Ohio in the Midwest. They settled across a geography as varied as Indiana's people, stretching from rolling hills in southern Brown County to flat and sandy in the north along the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. These influences created a melting pot of influences that remain today. Over the past 200 years, Mr. Speaker, Indiana has been home to countless colorful and transformative figures like the Jackson 5, Larry Bird, John Cougar Mellencamp, Dan Quayle, Babyface, Mike Epps, and countless others. But more than any individual, Mr. Speaker, when folks think of Indiana, they think of racing, they think of basketball. In fact, the great Hoosier State is credited with the origin of high school basketball. Our college teams are some of the most consistently successful in the country, and the enthusiasm surrounding the sport is unmatched. In my hometown of Indianapolis, we are proud to have hosted the Indianapolis 500 for 100 eventful years. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has long been the world's gold standard for race tracks, hosting some of the most historic races and prompting countless innovations. But what makes Indiana so special is not what most people think of first, Mr. Speaker. It is not a historical figure or a notable accomplishment. What makes Indiana great is the type of people who live there. Hoosiers have truly built America. Students at our world class universities have spawned creative businesses and grown our economy across the country. Our workers have built millions of automobiles, created lifesaving medicines, and advanced sports to new levels. Our farmers feed America and the entire world. We joke about how friendly and welcoming Hoosiers are. Living in Indiana, you don't always recognize it, but coming here to Washington, D.C., has made me realize how real Hoosier hospitality is, unlike a lot of D.C. I am talking about Capitol Hill. I am not talking about the rest of D.C.; they are great people. Staffers are great here, too. But Hoosiers care about people. We want to make them feel welcome, and we want to help them when we can. The Hoosiers we see today who grew up in a State built by all of those before us are the reason that this bicentennial is so special. I can't imagine a better place to live, Mr. Speaker, and I am proud to call Indiana home. I am proud that I grew up there and that my daughter will, too; and representing this wonderful State in Congress continues to be a tremendous honor. Happy birthday, Indiana. May our next 200 years be as full of history, innovation, and achievement as our past 200.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. O'Rourke).

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I thank my distinguished colleague, who is willing to go beyond political boundaries to get things done for the American people. Mr. Speaker, I also support this bill, which names the Federal building and U.S. Courthouse in El Paso, Texas, after Judge Thomason. He served as prosecutor. State legislator, mayor, even U.S. Congressman, as well as a Federal Judge. In his career as a politician, he was known for his commitment to public works and economic development. In his second career as a Federal judge, he was acclaimed for even handling of high-profile cases and managing a considerable workload of civil and criminal cases. I urge my colleagues to join me in advancing this legislation, which honors a great judge for his dedication to the good of the public. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I thank my colleague from Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis). Mr. Speaker, I also support this bill, as amended, which honors Judge Stagg by naming the Federal courthouse in Shreveport, Louisiana, after him. He served over 40 years, as was noted, as a district judge in the Western District of Louisiana. He was a lifelong Louisianan, who attended Louisiana State University for both his undergrad and law school education. I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting this important piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield).

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I also support H.R. 3937, as amended, which designates a U.S. courthouse located in Greenville, North Carolina, as the Judge Randy D. Doub United States Courthouse. I want to thank my good friend and colleague, G.K. Butterfield, for his work on this effort. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 6007. This legislation, Mr. Speaker, provides the FAA with authority to review whether or not a proposed structure will present a hazard to commercial space vehicle launches and reentries. The FAA is entrusted, Mr. Speaker, with providing for the safety of people and property in the air and on the ground, so it is very critical that the agency has the tools it needs to account for the rapidly-changing uses of the skies. The FAA already has authority to evaluate whether proposed new structures will interfere with the safe operation of aircraft or air traffic control. However, this statutory authority does not explicitly direct the FAA, Mr. Speaker, to consider whether a new structure might interfere with the safe launch and reentry of commercial space vehicles. H.R. 6007 provides the FAA with the authority it needs to maintain the highest levels of safety while allowing this dynamic industry to continue to grow. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 5977. This bill ensures that the members of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and certain Senate committees, will receive at least 3 days advanced notice of discretionary grants and loans made by the Department of Transportation. When Congress enacted the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), we included a Congressional notification requirement for surface transportation grants. Language to require notification was omitted inadvertently when Congress enacted the most recent surface transportation authorization act, the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act, or FAST Act. The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has not consistently received notice from DOT prior to the announcement of grant awards and credit assistance for transportation projects since the passage of the FAST Act. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I support this bill as well, which will allow our Nation's military to continue leasing space at airports at nominal rates. Current law requires that airports agree to certain conditions to receive Federal airport grants. One of these requirements is for an airport to generate revenue that sustains most, if not all, of the airport's operations. If airports continue to renew leases under which tenants of airport property pay discounted rates, they could violate their grant assurances and put their Federal airport funding in jeopardy. This bill allows airports to continue offering below-market rates to military tenants. I have no objection to this bill. However, I would like to note that our Nation's airport infrastructure needs far exceed the Federal funding available. I regret that we are not here discussing some accompanying language that would increase airports' ability to generate revenue, such as through the passenger facility charge or an increase in funding for the Airport Improvement Program. I am very pleased this bill is narrowly tailored to accommodate the important missions of the National Guard and the U.S. Air Force, as well as to protect the needs of airports. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5957, the Federal Aviation Administration Veteran Transition Improvement Act of 2016. This bill, introduced by my colleague and Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member Rick Larsen, a distinguished Member, will provide newly hired disabled veterans at the FAA with the same entitlement to leave that disabled veterans receive at other Federal agencies. I am also proud to be a sponsor of this bill. H.R. 5957 will close an important loophole and it will create parity between FAA-employed veterans with certain service-connected disabilities and veterans at other Federal agencies. This bill is fair, it is necessary, and it is the right thing to do for servicemen and -women who have bravely served this great Nation. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the very distinguished gentleman from Washington State (Mr. Larsen).

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Barletta. I also support this bill, as amended, which directs the GSA to install baby changing stations in restrooms in public buildings across the Nation. I would like to commend my colleague, the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline), for his leadership on this issue, and for his willingness to work with us to bring this bill to the floor today. I am pleased that our committee worked closely with Representative Cicilline to achieve the original purpose of the bill and to keep costs down to change public policy. The amended bill directs GSA to include at least one baby changing station in the men's and the women's restroom on each floor of a public building. The requirements of this bill do not apply to any restrooms in Federal buildings which are not available to the public. I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting this legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline).

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall Vote No. 481 on the previous question, I mistakenly recorded my vote as ``yea'' when I should have voted ``nay.'' (By unanimous consent, Mr. Graves of Louisiana was allowed to speak out of order.) Moment of Silence for Victims of Louisiana Floods

Mr. CARSON of Indiana

Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I missed rollcall votes 334 to 336. Had I been present, I would have cast the following votes: Roll call 334, on H.R. 5525, vote ``nay.'' Rollcall 335, on H.R. 5388, vote ``yea.'' Rollcall 336, on H.R. 5389, vote ``yea.'' personal explanation