Katherine Clark

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding. Our Nation is experiencing a deadly opiate epidemic, an epidemic that knows no boundaries and destroys lives, families, and communities. Today 58 babies--one baby every 25 minutes--will be born suffering from the same pain adults describe as the worst pain of their lives. It is the pain of drug withdrawal. Neonatal abstinence syndrome, or NAS for short, occurs when babies are born dependent on opioids, and it is one of the chief causes of the significant surge of newborns in neonatal intensive care units across the Nation. Over the last decade, the number of infants born dependent on powerful drugs has grown nearly fivefold. In States like Massachusetts, NAS is occurring at a rate three times the national average. NAS births are five times more costly than healthy ones. Costs have risen to more than $1.5 billion a year, 80 percent of which are paid for by Medicaid. Because of this skyrocketing rise of NAS cases and costs, doctors are desperately trying to find the most effective method of diagnosis and treatment. There is little coordination of data and best practices and protocols among States, healthcare systems, and practitioners; and no medications have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treating these babies. The Protecting Our Infants Act is the first Federal bill to take proactive steps in addressing the rise of NAS. With broad bipartisan support in both Chambers, this is an opportunity for Congress to make a difference for babies suffering from opioid exposure and the families struggling with addiction. This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to develop the protocols for treating and preventing NAS. The Protecting Our Infants Act helps babies suffering from opioid withdrawal by making sure they get the best care available. This act will ensure that every hospital has access to the best practices and that States have the public health data they need to address this crisis. This is good for families, good for our healthcare providers, and good for our Nation's bottom line. I want to thank my colleagues in the House and, in particular, Congressman Steve Stivers for his partnership in this bill. I am grateful for his deep commitment to addressing this problem and crafting a solution. I am also grateful to Senators McConnell and Casey for sponsoring this legislation in the Senate. Today, we have a chance to help the youngest of those suffering from the opioid crisis. I urge my colleagues to pass the bipartisan Protecting Our Infants Act.

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about a common medical condition that is too often masked by silence and stigma. It affects more women than diabetes or stroke or breast cancer. It is postpartum depression. Here are some words from women who have suffered from postpartum depression. From Maria: I was experiencing anger and rage, and I had suicidal thoughts. ``I don't know what's wrong, but I can't take care of the baby, and I'm miserable all of the time.'' From Jodi: My son was sick again, and I was crying so hard I could barely text my mom to have her come over immediately. I waited anxiously at the door, with a screaming, ill child, and greeted her by handing over my son, saying, ``I can't do this anymore.'' From Heather: Soon after the birth of my son, I knew something was wrong with me. I couldn't fall asleep, or if I did, I couldn't sleep for long. I also couldn't eat. I forced down every bite of food, and I spent most of my time crying. These women are not alone. In 2013, there were more than 3.9 million live births in the United States, and of these births, one out of every seven mothers was affected by postpartum depression. Women suffering from maternal depression often report overwhelming and isolating feelings of sadness, anxiety, fear, and guilt. This can include strong feelings of anger, thoughts of death or suicide, and even negative feelings towards their babies. The children of mothers with postpartum depression can become withdrawn, have behavioral problems, and have a higher risk of anxiety disorders, depression, and toxic stress. Even though this condition affects hundreds of thousands a year, many do not seek medical help. Many moms report that they are too embarrassed to admit their feelings or are worried they might be seen as failing or as being bad moms. It doesn't have to be this way. The good news is that treatment works. Ninety percent of women who are going through postpartum depression can be treated effectively. That is why I am introducing a bill with Representative Costello to make sure new moms are not on their own when it comes to dealing with postpartum depression. The Bringing Postpartum Depression Out of the Shadows Act will offer grants to States to screen and treat new and expecting moms for maternal depression. States and professional groups have made great progress, and we need to support them as they move to increase awareness and consolidate resources. We need to help doctors recognize the signs of postpartum depression and provide access to appropriate treatment. This is commonsense legislation to help the over 400,000 women annually who suffer from maternal depression. We need to stand up and tell moms they are not alone. Needing help does not make them bad mothers, and help is out there, but we need to make sure those who need it can get it. I ask my colleagues to cosponsor our legislation and take this concrete step towards supporting healthy moms and healthy babies.

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I would like to share the story of a determined woman who took a traumatic personal experience from her past and is using it to help people. Erin Merryn is a survivor of childhood sexual assault that began when she was just 7 years old. In her book, Erin shares: ``The only message I got as a child came from my abusers, and that was to stay silent or else. I went to bed night after night crying and keeping my secrets locked away in my childhood diary.'' Tragically, Erin's is not an uncommon story. Childhood sexual assault is a silent epidemic that exists in every one of our communities, and I am asking us to come together to do something about it. I am asking, as a mom of three boys first and as a lawmaker second, because every 6 minutes a child is sexually assaulted in the United States. One in four girls, and one in twenty boys are sexually assaulted before they turn age 18, and yet only a tenth of children who are sexually abused will tell someone. Survivors of child sexual assault carry the corrosive burden of this heinous act with them the rest of their lives. Survivors often experience guilt, isolation, problems with self-esteem, and building relationships. Erin shared her story to educate and protect thousands, if not millions, of children. And today, thanks to her work, policies that require schools to provide age-appropriate sexual abuse prevention education for teachers and students are called Erin's Law. As Members of Congress, as parents, as neighbors, we owe it to our kids to follow Erin's example and be their strongest advocates. Children, teachers, and parents are on the front line of this problem, but they often don't have the tools necessary to identify it or get kids the help they need. While Erin's Law is an important step for States that have implemented it, every child in America should benefit from the policies that prevent sexual abuse. Children learn tornado drills, fire drills, bus safety drills in school, but too often they learn nothing about how to protect themselves from predators and how to report abuse. Congress can and should do more to help, and that is why today I am introducing the Child Sexual Abuse Awareness and Prevention Act. This legislation will help schools implement and expand child sexual abuse awareness and prevention programs by authorizing funding through existing grant programs. It is common sense that we teach our children to stay safe and how to reach out to an adult when they are in trouble. By passing this bill, we can help schools across the United States protect some of the most vulnerable children in our country. I am grateful to Representative Joe Heck for partnering with me in the House, and to Senators Gillibrand, Heller, and Feinstein for introducing the bill in the Senate. I am also grateful to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network for their leadership on this issue in ending abuse and violence. Most importantly, I am thankful for Erin, for her bravery, leadership, and determination. No child should ever feel like they have nowhere to turn when they are being abused, and with the Child Sexual Abuse Awareness and Prevention Act, we can take a critical step toward making sure that they aren't.

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 435, had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege today to congratulate Ms. Kathleen Millet on more than three decades of service to the great Commonwealth of Massachusetts. For more than 37 years, ``Katie'' has played a vital role in overseeing and administering the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) nutrition programs in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. As the Executive Director for the Office of Nutrition, Health and Safety Programs at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Katie oversaw the policy and training development, fiscal and operational work of the office for all federal child nutrition programs including the National School Lunch Program, NSLP, USDA Foods, Child and Adult Care Food Program, CACFP, and the Summer Food Service Program, SFSP. Collectively, these programs annually totaled more than $300 million in federal nutrition funding. To ensure that Massachusetts held its spot as a leader in child nutrition programming and outreach, Katie served on many national and state committees. She was State Agency Representative for the national School Nutrition Association's Board of Directors and an advisor to the Massachusetts School Nutrition Association. She was also founding co- chair of the Massachusetts' Action for Healthy Kids State Team, Mass AFHK. Katie also served in numerous leadership positions with national child nutrition groups such as the National Food Service Management Institute, NFSMI, and the Food Research and Action Center, FRAC. With Katie's help, Massachusetts has always been on the cutting edge of new funding opportunities and practices, including USDA pilot grant programming. Katie has funded and supported The Child Nutrition Outreach Program, CNOP, since 1994, which works to increase participation in NSLP and SFSP. Katie has also funded and supported the John C. Stalker Institute of Food and Nutrition at Framingham State University since May of 1988 when it was dedicated as a source of education for food service directors, managers, and workers. Since 1988 a variety of workshops have been provided for both educators and food service staff Under Katie's leadership, Massachusetts has received multiple Direct Certification Performance Awards from USDA for improving direct certification rates. Massachusetts now has almost 95% of their eligible children living in households receiving benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, directly certified for free school meals. With Katie's help, Massachusetts school districts have also dramatically increased school breakfast participation, which is proven to positively impact students' academic success. For example, Katie spearheaded an initiative to increase statewide breakfast participation by 35% and was instrumental in the recent state regulation change, February 2015, allowing Breakfast in the Classroom to count towards instructional time. Ahead of the USDA Smart Snacks regulations, Katie also helped lead Massachusetts' implementation of nutrition standards for all foods and drinks sold or provided during the school day. As you can see from these accomplishments, Katie's tireless efforts have significantly advanced the quality of and access to healthy meals for infants, toddlers, adolescents and seniors across the Commonwealth. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I salute my constituent Katie Millett, on a job well done.

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, imagine waking up every morning with the dread that you will face hundreds of violent threats as soon as you get to work. Imagine that, while you are in your office, people threaten to sexually assault you, and they know where you live, when you are home, and who your family members are. Maybe they even show you the weapon they will use in the future to harm you. We would never tolerate this in our offices, but this is a daily reality for women online. Right now, millions of women and girls are online, navigating their personal and professional lives; yet women will be targeted with the most severe types of online threats and harassment at a rate 27 times higher than that of men. Although these threats occur online, there is nothing virtual about their devastating impacts on women's lives. Meet Jessica Valenti, a journalist who founded a site that features topics like women in the media, women's health, and LGBT rights. The price Jessica pays for creating this forum and expressing a feminist point of view on the Internet is an unrelenting barrage of rape and death threats. After threats forced her to leave her home, to change her bank accounts, and to change her phone number, she contacted the FBI. The FBI advised her to never walk outside by herself and to leave her home until the threats blow over. The threats continue today, 4 years later. In Pennsylvania, a women described her terror after her abuser announced on Facebook that he planned to tie her up, put her in a trunk, pull out her teeth one by one, and then her nails, chop her into pieces, but keep her alive long enough to feel the pain. Then there is the story of my constituent, Brianna Wu, a video game developer who had to flee her home with her family in the middle of the night after specific threats to rape and to kill her and her husband. Her online attackers released her home address and described in graphic detail the acts of violence they were planning. Another woman moved nine times in an 18-month period out of fear of online threats. She moved across the country and changed her job four times just to stay safe. None of the people who made these threats has been prosecuted, and most of the examples I have of online threats that women, including myself, have received are too vile and obscene to share on the House floor. In Jessica Valenti's words: ``When people say you should be raped and killed for years on end, it takes a toll on your soul.'' For Jessica and Brianna and other victims of severe threats online, there are huge financial and professional impacts. They have lost work opportunities and have spent money on legal advice, protective services, and temporary housing. They have had to pay to have their personal information scrubbed from Web sites. This is a significant price to pay just to remain an active participant of an online economy. What has been our response? In a 3-year period, of an estimated 2.5 million cyber stalking cases, only 10 were federally prosecuted. A judge in Massachusetts recently told one victim who works in technology and has suffered terrifying threats from an ex-boyfriend to simply go offline. When I asked the FBI about the investigation and prosecution of online violence against women, they told me it is not a priority. By failing to address the realities of changing technology and a changing economy, we are failing these women. It is not okay to call this an Internet problem. It is not okay to say to women that this is just the way things are. It is not okay to tell women to change their behavior, to withhold their opinions, and to stay off the Internet altogether, just to avoid severe threats. For decades, women who have been victims of sexual assault and abuse have been told they have provoked their abusers by what they wore or what they have said. We have worked hard to change that culture; yet, by not taking these cases seriously, we send a clear message that, when women express opinions online, they are asking for it. That is why I am calling on the Department of Justice to enforce the laws that are already on the books and take these investigations and prosecutions seriously. The Prioritizing Online Threat Enforcement Act would give the Department of Justice and the FBI the resources and the mandate to investigate and enforce the Federal laws on cyber threats. It is not Congress' job to police the Internet, but we have a responsibility to make sure that women are able to fully participate in our economy. I urge my colleagues to support this crucial bill. Let's keep the Internet open and safe for all voices.

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman from Texas for yielding. Bentley University is a renowned business school in my district, and when a class from Bentley visited me just a few weeks ago, they were advocating for a critical underpinning of our economy. These students came to discuss the importance of funding the geosciences in the NSF. Why? Because it is good business. These students and the business community understand the critical role that geoscience has in disaster resilience, helping us to address drought, looking at solar storms that can cripple our electric grid, impacts on fisheries and ocean health, and in maintaining agriculture and in healthy soil. Business leaders know that extreme weather like hurricanes, droughts, tornadoes, and landslides result in billions of dollars in damage, and by using what we learn from geoscience, we can identify ways to mitigate these costs and save us money. Business leaders understand this connection, so why doesn't Congress? Rather than support investment in geoscience research, this legislation specifically targets it for drastic cuts in funding. Climate change is real. Human activity contributes to it, and it is bad for the bottom line. It is irresponsible for us to cut funding for research that helps us understand what is happening and how to address it. Adequately funding geoscience research is critical to protecting and growing our economy and to the security of the American people. Let's vote for our economy, let's vote for our security, and let's reject this bill.

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Madam Speaker, this is an outrage. We are again debating a bill that takes away women's constitutional rights. I agree with the gentleman from Arizona that we are privileged. We are privileged to be Members of Congress and represent our districts and our country, but we are not medical experts, and we are not privileged to insert ourselves into these most personal decisions that must remain with women, their doctors, their families, and their faith. Clearly absent from this Congress' agenda is any discussion about persistent wage inequality hurting women and their families. What about paid parental leave? or making sure families get access to quality child care? What are we doing about feeding hungry children? or making sure that every child can access education? How about anything at all concerning women that doesn't have to do with restricting reproductive rights? Let's call this bill what it is. It is an unconstitutional bill that would force survivors of sexual assault and incest to jump through hoops in order to get the medical care they need. This bill is an insult to women and to their families. As women and families are working hard to move this country forward, we are seeing a Republican Congress obsessed with moving us backwards. I urge this Congress to get back to work for them and reject this unconstitutional and insulting bill.

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Thank you to the gentleman from Worcester for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to this rule and its assault on Americans' reproductive health rights. All women should have the right to make their own healthcare decisions without fear of losing their jobs. With reports of women being fired for undergoing in vitro fertilization and being fired for being a single mom, the City Council of Washington, D.C. passed a resolution to ban workplace discrimination based on personal reproductive healthcare decisions. This joint resolution does not infringe on religious liberty. It ensures the freedom to practice individual religious and moral beliefs. This decision of the D.C. Council will protect women and ensure that reproductive health decisions are made by women and not their employers and not corporations. It is 2015, and I would love for Congress to be debating women in the workplace. We should be talking about how we achieve equal pay, how we increase paid sick leave, and how to help working families make ends meet. We should not be stripping away the progress that has already been made. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote against this rule.

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Massachusetts. Congress often talks about strengthening the middle class and growing our economy. For many years now, we have had an opportunity to pass a commonsense bill that will actually help us do just that. It was the very first bill that I cosponsored. The Paycheck Fairness Act ensures equal pay for equal work and will help us end wage discrimination for half of our workforce. Recent reports tell us that, given current trends, pay equity between women and men will not be achieved until 2058. We shouldn't have to wait until our children are ready to retire before women are finally paid what they are worth. Women are losing hundreds of thousands of dollars over their lifetime due to wage discrimination. And for women of color, it is an even worse situation. African American women, on average, earn only 64 cents, and Latinas, on average, earn only 56 cents for every dollar earned by White men. When women aren't paid what they are worth, that means less money for their families, less money for child care, less money for gas and groceries, and less money to help them prepare for the future. When wage discrimination persists, women and their families are less able to contribute to the economy, and that hurts all of us. Ending wage discrimination for our workforce is just common sense. That is why today, on Equal Pay Day, I urge my colleagues to recommit to restoring the middle class and growing our economy by supporting the Paycheck Fairness Act.

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Irving Smolens: a soldier, a father, a husband, an American hero. And I am very proud to call him my friend. Irving Smolens was a World War II veteran who survived D-Day, where he served with the U.S. Army 4th Infantry Division. He came home just short of his 21st birthday in 1945 to a country he loved deeply, and he helped build a community in Melrose, Massachusetts. Irving took his experiences from the darkest moments of our past and advocated for a better, more peaceful world. Up until he left us on Saturday at the age of 90, you could still catch up with Irving at the Melrose schools, where he would recount stories of the Allied invasion in World War II for hundreds of middle schoolers at our assemblies, and he taught thousands in our classrooms. He recently became a chevalier with the French Legion of Honor, and he was a regular at Democratic events and campaigns. He served as president of the Temple Beth Shalom in Melrose, and he was an avid jazz enthusiast and sports fan. He watched every one of the 19 innings of last week's Red Sox-Yankees game. He was quick to pen a letter to the Boston Globe and recently took to blogging in his late eighties and to social media. Not only did he comment on politics, but he helped reconnect veterans' families with their fathers' histories. This past fall, 70 years after Irving stepped onto the beaches of Normandy to fight the Nazis, he returned. This time he would be met by both the American President and the French President in recognition of his valor and patriotism. He was seen by a journalist, who said after the President had delivered a long speech, he was stopped by an old soldier who gave him a piece of his mind. When the journalist caught up with Irving and asked what he had to say to President Obama, Irving replied: ``I thanked him for keeping us out of war.'' Our thoughts and prayers are with Irving and his family, especially his wife, Edith, and daughter, Karen. We are so proud to have known him and for his service.

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Mark Johnson who received the 2015 Blue Star Neighbor Award from Blue Star Families, Inc. Mark spent the winter of 2014 clearing the steps and driveways of service members and their families while they were deployed. He demonstrated leadership, kindness, generosity and a true sense of community through his willingness to lend a helping hand, going above and beyond for his neighbor, Chief Warrant Officer Sean Durkee and the veterans in the city of Waltham, Massachusetts. Blue Star Families, Inc. held an essay contest about neighbors who helped servicemen while deployed. Friend Kelly Durkee-Erwin, and sister of Sean, entered Mark's story in the contest. In January of 2015, Kelly was alerted that Mark's volunteerism, service and friendship would be rightfully recognized through the Blue Star Neighbor Award. First Lady Michelle Obama, Jill Biden's Joining Forces, The Creative Coalition and Mark Johnson were recently recognized by Blue Star Families, Inc. in Washington, DC for their service, achievements and support of military families. Mark is an inspiration to us all. His actions motivate us to strengthen our communities by giving back. I thank him for his service to Waltham families and congratulate him for his achievements.

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, 50 years ago, when Congress passed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, they recognized the fact that education is a right, not a privilege. President Johnson celebrated this achievement, stating, ``it will offer new hope to tens of thousands,'' and will help ``children of poor families overcome their greatest barrier to progress: poverty.'' Today, millions of children face similar challenges, as the gap between the very rich and the very poor continues to grow and the path to the middle class is disappearing. Instead of ideologically-driven cuts to education that undermine our economic future, we should invest in early learning programs that yield high economic returns. We should protect the ESEA's investments in the students, teachers, and families who need it most. We need an education law that gives teachers the tools and flexibility they need to do what's best for their students. We have to protect our country's most fundamental promise to children: the promise of opportunity--that all children deserve a fair shot and a high-quality education regardless of their zip code; and regardless of the size of their parents' bank accounts. Communities across the country are working hard to meet today's economic challenges. They deserve a Congress that will roll up its sleeves, make the tough decisions, and work together on an education law that puts kids first.

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Chairman, this will be the second time that I have cosponsored an amendment to the Secret Science Reform Act with Representatives Kennedy and McGovern. I have spoken in opposition to this bill before, but so long as the House continues to consider antiscience legislation that endangers public health, I will continue to point out why it is dangerous. As written, the Secret Science Reform Act prohibits the EPA from considering any science that is not publicly available in its rulemaking process. A great deal of important research, particularly related to public health, is based on sensitive personal information that this bill would exclude from consideration. This limit poses an impossible choice for the EPA: disregard critical research--even when it has been subject to rigorous evaluation and peer review--or violate the privacy of volunteers. Our amendment ensures that this will not happen. It simply provides that the EPA may rely on any peer reviewed scientific publication when making rules, even if all of the underlying data is not publicly available. This will protect the scientific integrity of the EPA's process without endangering the privacy of Americans who participate in scientific research. Mr. Chairman, I include two letters in opposition to H.R. 1030 for the Record. One is from the Union of Concerned Scientists and the other is from a coalition of environmental organizations, including the Sierra Club and Clean Water Action. Union of Concerned Scientists, March 2, 2015. Dear Representative: The Union of Concerned Scientists, with 450,000 members and supporters throughout the country, strongly opposes H.R. 1030, the Secret Science Reform Act of 2015, scheduled for a vote in the House of Representatives this week. The legislation represents a solution in search of a problem, and would greatly impede the agency's mission to protect public health and the environment. As you know, this bill is nearly identical to the bill that the Committee reported out last November. That bill received a veto threat from the Administration, which noted that it would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from protecting public health and safety and the environment, ``if the data supporting [its] decisions cannot, for legitimate reasons, be made publicly available.'' It appears that the language changes in the 2015 version of this bill were made to obscure the drafters' true intent, making it more difficult to discern that it would cripple the ability of the EPA to regulate based on information supplied by industries that is designated confidential, or on public health and medical data where the privacy of patients must be protected. The EPA already makes the data, methodology, and peer- reviewed research it relies on in its rule-making processes as transparent as possible. Moreover, the additional restrictions imposed by this proposed bill would make it almost impossible to base public protections on the best available scientific information. In particular, if enacted, the language appears to indicate that the agency would be inhibited by the following challenges: The EPA wouldn't be able to use most health studies. The agency would likely be prevented from using any study that uses personal health data. The confidentiality of such data is usually protected by institutional review boards ORB); thus, the data could not be made publicly available as demanded. Since many EPA rules are health-based standards, this rule would severely restrict the ability of the agency to base rules on science. The EPA wouldn't be able to draw from industry data sources. The agency would be prevented from using data provided by industry to the agency. Since information from industry sources is often not publicly available, a law requiring as such would prevent the agency from utilizing industry data, a source of information that often provides otherwise unknown data to inform EPA rule-making. The EPA wouldn't be able to use new and innovative science. New scientific methods and data may be restricted by intellectual property protections or industry trade secret exemptions. This proposed bill would limit EPA's ability to rely on the best available science including novel approaches that may not yet be publicly available. Long-term and meta-analyses would be unavailable. Many of EPA's health-based standards rely on long-term exposure studies that assess the link between chronic diseases/ mortality and pollutants; or on meta- analyses that include many different studies and locations to provide a more robust look at the science. In HR 4012, the provision that studies be conducted ``in a manner that is sufficient for independent analysis and substantial reproduction of research'' may prevent use of these vital studies by the EPA, as it is unclear whether such spatially and temporally comprehensive studies would be considered ``sufficient for substantial reproduction.'' I strongly urge you to oppose H.R. 1030, the Secret Science Reform Act of 2015. The proposed bill would inhibit the EPA's ability to carry out its science-based mission to protect human health and the environment. It does not deserve your or this Congress's support. Sincerely, Andrew A. Rosenberg, Ph.D., Director, Center for Science and Democracy, Union of Concerned Scientists.

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the Kennedy amendment and ``no'' on the underlying bill.

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, right now, millions of American women and girls are online, navigating their personal and professional lives. Sadly, many will be threatened online or will be subjected to terrifying harassment. Journalists, academics, and other professionals who dare to express an opinion, especially a feminist one, are routinely attacked with graphic threats of rape and murder. Women are targeted with sexually explicit messages and threats 27 times more than men, and for women of color and LGBT women, the rate is even higher. As a result, young women are deciding not to pursue certain jobs in order to avoid the crosshairs of men who think they don't belong. Others are being driven offline, sacrificing their freedom of expression for personal safety. A decade ago, Congress made online threats of death or serious injury illegal, but these cases are rarely prosecuted. That is why I am asking my colleagues to join me in calling on the Department of Justice to intensify the investigation and prosecution of the most extreme cases of online threats. Ensuring the stronger enforcement of laws that protect women from violent online threats is one commonsense thing Congress can do to ensure that the Internet and the 21st century economy is open to everyone.

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, February 27 marked the 27th anniversary of harrowing violence against the Armenian community in Sumgait, Azerbaijan. I am proud to stand today with the Armenian-American community, including many of my constituents in Massachusetts, in remembrance and mourning of this unspeakable tragedy. In February of 1988, anti-Armenian rallies through Azerbaijan gave way to waves of ethnically-motivated violence, death and destruction. In the aftermath of these terrible events, Azerbaijan's Armenian community all but disappeared, with thousands displaced, culminating in a war against the people of Nagorno Karabakh. That war resulted in almost 30,000 dead on both sides. Hundreds of thousands of refugees were forced to flee their homes. And to this day, those who lost their lives or were displaced by this violence still seek resolution and justice. Many displaced Armenian families have sought refuge in America, and are now making vital contributions in the Fifth District of Massachusetts. Proudly, our diverse District is home to one of the largest Armenian communities in the nation. Together, our community is a thriving example of strength and perseverance in the face of extreme adversity. Like the persecution of too many others before it, the lessons of the Sumgait Pogrom must not be forgotten. We have a moral obligation to promote tolerance and justice, and we have a duty to recognize the atrocities that have kept us from our common goal.

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the House bring up H.R. 861, the clean Department of Homeland Security funding bill that would keep the Department open so it can carry out its mission of keeping the American people safe and administering disaster relief.

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Madam Chair, I yield myself 3 minutes. Madam Chair, in addition to achieving outstanding results for individual children, high-quality early childhood education and care is as close to a silver bullet as we are going to find to solve our economic challenges. Young children's brains develop at an astonishing pace. Children's first learning experiences during these years are critical to their visual, language, and social emotional development. Skills developed at this stage are the foundation of language and reading proficiency, the key indicators for academic and economic success later in life. America's early childhood teachers will provide our children their first informative experiences and are, therefore, a critical influence on our Nation's future economy. An important stepping stone to the middle class is not just access to early learning, but access to high- quality learning. Parents should be able to go to work and have confidence that their kids are receiving high-quality learning experiences. This confidence, in turn, enhances parents' ability to work and reach their own economic potential. For this reason, I am offering a commonsense amendment. This amendment simply clarifies that professional development for early grade teachers is an acceptable use of funding under this bill. Local school systems should have the flexibility to use title II funds, the existing funds that are already targeted to support teachers, principals, and school leaders on professional development that directly benefits our youngest learners. It is important to note that this amendment does not require them to do so; rather, it simply allows them. This no-cost amendment is supported by a range of early childhood advocates, including the Center for Law and Social Policy and Zero to Three. High-quality early childhood education for our youngest learners is a goal that cuts across party lines and enjoys broad support from the American public. It is a win-win. I hope my colleagues in both parties will support this amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici).

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. I thank the gentleman from Virginia for yielding. Mr. Chairman, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act was passed 50 years ago to embody the promise that education is a right, not a privilege. We are supposed to be guardians of that promise, not the architects of its demise. This reauthorization was an opportunity for Congress to delve in and debate the most pressing issues facing our schools. Sadly, the Republican majority chose to introduce a partisan bill behind closed doors without a single public hearing. Now we have a bill that reflects that lack of inclusion, takes hundreds of millions of dollars from our most vulnerable children, and weakens the safeguards that govern taxpayer money. When I served on my local school committee, a tough economy meant some really difficult decisions. Not everyone was happy, but we listened. We listened to teachers, administrators, parents, students, experts, and fiscal watchdogs, and we were guided by one simple principle: what is best for our students. It is a shame Congress couldn't find the will to do the same. I urge my colleagues to reject H.R. 5.

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, last night I was regrettably detained by a snow storm and missed votes. Had I been present, I would have voted yes on H.R. 361, yes on H.R. 615, and yes on H.R. 623.

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts

Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, here we go again. Instead of prioritizing the needs of women and families, we are once again discussing a bill that attacks women's rights. When I ask women in my district what they need, they talk about not being able to find quality, affordable child care. But here in Congress we are talking about a bill that tells women they don't have a right to plan their own family. Women in my district talk about making sure they receive equal pay for equal work. What are we talking about? A bill that tells women that politicians are better able to make their health decisions than they are. Women in my district talk about making sure victims and survivors of domestic violence have the resources they need to build a better life. But we are talking about a bill that tells women that if they become pregnant because they were raped, they better have a police report to prove it.