Danny Davis

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Davis) for yielding. I rise in strong opposition to H.J. Res. 57 and 58 that undermine equity in public education. Until I moved to Chicago when I was 19, I attended segregated schools because our States failed to follow Federal laws and the Federal Government demonstrated weak enforcement. The Civil Rights Act and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act advanced equal educational opportunity for African-American students and other students who faced discrimination and barriers in education, making this country stronger and better. During Black History Month, the GOP will advance a bill to undermine the educational civil rights of African-American students. The scope of this joint resolution of disapproval clearly reflects the discrimination and the intent. It doesn't target a narrow regulation. It encompasses each of the critical civil rights elements of ESSA--data collection and reporting to ensure transparency about whether schools are educating vulnerable students comparably to other students, and accountability to ensure that schools take action to improve and receive support in meeting the needs of all students. To do so leaves States confused and Federal protections for disadvantaged students hollow. H.J. Res. 57 is an extreme, calculated effort to promote discrimination, removing any transparency and accountability related to educational civil rights. African-American students do not yet have equal educational opportunity. Black students are suspended and expelled three times the rate that their White peers are, only about two-thirds of Black students graduate high school on time compared to 86 percent of White students, and one in three Black men who start as a full-time student at a university graduate with a bachelor's degree within 6 years. Students with disabilities, English language learners, low-income students, Latino students, and Native-American students also do not yet enjoy equal educational opportunity. This resolution will erase this data and allow schools that continue these disparities to continue performing poorly in perpetuity. Out of respect for our country's history of educational discrimination against vulnerable students, out of respect for Black History Month, and out of respect for the American value of equal opportunity, I ask my colleagues to reject this discriminatory resolution.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I strongly oppose this bill that uses dangerous procedure to advance dangerous policy to erode our important firearms background check system and undermine public safety. In response to the tragic mass shooting at Virginia Tech, the National Instant Criminal Background Check System Improvement Amendment Act was passed by Congress unanimously and signed into law by President Bush because everyone agreed that we need federal and State agencies to submit relevant information to maintain an accurate, effective system. This bill directly undermines public safety by permanently blocking a federal agency from submitting records to this critical safeguard system. I know the high cost of gun violence on families and communities. I know that policy makers have an obligation to address public safety carefully and responsibly. Reasonable people can disagree about whether the rule by the Social Security Administration struck the right balance between the threshold and process reporting to the background system. While opponents have raised some concerns about whether there is sufficient due process in this rule, the solution is not to block the rule entirely. Rather, the solution is to fix it. Therefore, I oppose this CRA because it would permanently prohibit the Social Security Administration from ever reporting individuals to this critical safety system, which is an extreme, dangerous, irresponsible, and irreversible action that threatens the safety of our communities.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge Mrs. Olivia S. Jackson on her 88th birthday, which was December 13, 2016. Mrs. Jackson celebrated her birthday on January 7th in Chicago with her family and friends. I am hopeful that she has many birthdays to come and wish her all the fun and joy in celebrating throughout the year.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Village of Maywood and the 250 seniors who with the Honorable Mayor Edwina Perkins, Board of Trustees and the Honorable Village Clerk Viola Mims, and other dignitaries as they gather on Wednesday, December 14th at their 9th Annual Christmas Party and Dinner at Mariella's Banquet Hall. This event climaxes another year of engagement, fellowship, activities, information and healthy meals for the 250 members. During 2016, these 250 members had exercise sessions, visited Brookfield Zoo and the DuSable Museum of African American History, interacted with Promise East High School during Black History Month and benefitted from programs sponsored by the Secretary of State of Illinois and participated in a power of attorney workshop. They also held weekly meetings, had a senior prom, outdoor jazz night and an R & B night. I commend the Maywood Seniors Club and urge them to keep their spirits high.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5015, a bill that would improve the fairness of the tax code and treat our service members with the respect they are due. Veterans who suffered combat-related injuries who separated from the military are not supposed to be taxed on any one-time disability payments. Unfortunately, an accounting error has cost about 14,000 veterans more than $78 million in taxes. Just under 500 of these veterans are from my home state of Illinois. H.R. 5015 fixes this problem by instructing the DoD to identify those who were wrongfully taxed so that they can be reimbursed. The lion's share of the affected veterans are outside of the window for amending their tax returns to recoup the funds. Consequently, this bill would allow those veterans identified by the DoD to file amended returns to recoup these unintentionally-withheld funds. This is a good bill that helps our service members as we should. I hope that this chamber can engage in similar bipartisan efforts to support other needy Americans as we move into the next Congress. I am troubled that some stakeholders are advocating that a 15 to 20 percent corporate tax rate serve as the central metric by which we judge any tax reform effort. To achieve this rate, middle- and low- income families and small businesses will have to subsidize the wealthiest corporations, foregoing critical credits and deductions that provide much needed assistance. I sincerely hope that we advance the intent of this bill to help Americans in need as we consider tax reform next year. I strongly support H.R. 5015, and I urge my colleagues to support its passage.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to address underage drinking, a public health and safety issue that is often lost in the pile of other stories in our 24-hour news cycle. Back in 2005, the Federal Trade Commission initiated a consumer education program to reduce underage drinking called ``We Don't Serve Teens.'' It is a valuable resource to raise awareness among parents, educators, and other adults that furnishing alcohol to minors is illegal and irresponsible. The program also encourages common-sense measures to further reduce illegal underage drinking and the dangers caused by teens who drink illegally and to the general public. Over the last several years, I have checked with credible sources to see how we are doing as a nation on addressing underage drinking. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) indicates that progress has continued for more than a decade in reducing underage drinking, but it remains a serious public health problem for adolescents and young adults. SAMSHA surveys find that significant numbers of younger persons between the ages of 12 and 14 drank alcohol in the month before they were surveyed, and that more than 90 percent obtain alcohol from their own home, the home of a friend, or an adult family member. Those findings clearly indicate the importance that family members can play in reducing young adolescents' access to alcohol and the associated risks of injury and the early onset of serious health problems. Recent information on highway deaths from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is very discouraging for adults and teens. Highway deaths increased in 2015 as did deaths from drunk driving. More than 10,000 Americans were killed in drunk-driving accidents, and younger drivers are a large portion of that terrible and preventable toll. Tens of thousands of people were also injured, including many young people who will be scarred or disabled for life. Underage drinking is illegal and persons under the age of 21 are subject to arrest, fines, and license suspension for possession of alcohol beverages or driving after consumption of a single drink. This issue is often overlooked in stories about the criminal justice system. Thousands of young people get a criminal record and driver's license history that will prevent them from obtaining many jobs that involve driving or that require a clean record. In addition to the risk of injury and death, experimenting with alcohol can cause a young person permanent economic harm. A substantial proportion of college students are under the age of 21. They face significantly higher risks than their non-college peers of injury or death from assault, car crashes, and other accidents after illegally consuming alcohol. This behavior must be challenged. Our best and brightest students, many of whom attend publicly supported schools and receive government grants and subsidies, have to do better. For the last eleven years, members of the alcohol beverage industry have actively supported the We Don't Serve Teens initiative. Constellation Brands Beer Division and many retail stores in Chicago have made long-term commitments to underage drinking prevention in the district I represent and surrounding communities. Over the last couple of months, they sponsored electronic billboards, bus shelter signs, and media messages to promote the We Don't Serve Teens message. Other companies made similar efforts in their home cities. I commend those efforts. I also ask all adults and teens to work together to further reduce the tragic consequences of illegal underage drinking. All of these hazards are preventable. As we approach the holiday season celebrations in our homes and elsewhere, I urge all adults to set an example of responsible behavior and compliance with laws designed to ensure the safety of our citizens. With a sincere commitment of parents, guardians, and concerned citizens to remain involved in the lives of our teens, we can all get home safely and to enjoy special holiday occasions together for years to come.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, Mr. William Garth, Sr. is the Chairman of the Chicago Citizen Newspaper Group Inc., Garthco, Inc. and founder/chairman of the QBG Foundation as well as chairman of the Chatham Business Association. Mr. Garth is the guiding force behind what is known as the largest Black-owned ABC audited newspaper in America. There is no other respected audit better than ABC. Having started with the Chicago Citizen Newspaper in 1969 as an advertising sales representative under the leadership of former Congressman Gus Savage, Garth purchased the Chatham Citizen, Southend Citizen and Chicago Weekend in 1980. He later added the South Suburban and the Hyde Park editions, and founded Garthco Publications, which also published PUSH Magazine, a bi-monthly national publication for the Operation PUSH organization. With Chicago's population being nearly 50 percent Black, the Chicago Citizen Newspaper has effectively reached this market with its total circulation of 121,000 and weekly readership of over 400,000. The circulation areas cover Chicago's South and West sides as well as the South Suburbs. As a tribute to his business acumen, Garth became the first Black person to be elected President of the Illinois Press Association (IPA). The IPA is the state's largest newspaper association and the office trade organization for Illinois' weekly and daily newspapers. Garth is the second Black person in the nation elected president of a statewide press association. He currently sits on the Board of the Government Affairs Committee, of the Illinois Press Association and has served as a board member for more than 15 years. In addition, he was elected a stockholder in the Cook County South Suburban Publishers Association and in 2009, was elected to become Chairman of the Cook County Publishers Association for 2010. His business savvy and knowledge in the publishing industry allowed him to also serve as a board member of the Midwest Black Publishers Association. In December 1998, Garth received the honor of being appointed to Governor-elect George Ryan's Transition Team and was later appointed to the Board of Directors for the Illinois Inauguration 1998, Inc. In 1995, Garth founded the Quentis Bernard Garth Foundation, the benevolent arm of the Chicago Citizen Newspaper, in memory of his youngest son Quentis B. Garth, and is currently the chairman. The QBG Foundation provides scholarships to disenfranchised, inner city youths in the Chicagoland area. To date, the foundation has helped over 50 students and has disbursed over $1.5 million in scholarship awards. As chairman of the Chatham Business Association, Garth leads the organization in creating opportunities, inroads and programs to benefit and ensure the prosperity, economic strength and excellence of all businesses in the Chatham area and its surrounding communities. A dedicated activist and leader in the business community, Garth maintains memberships and positions with several business organizations. He is the former president of the Midwest Region III of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), Region III Advertising Representative with the NNPA, Transition Team for IDOT--Dan Ryan Project, board member of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, a life-time member of the NAACP and a member of the Chatham Lions Club. Garth has been the recipient of numerous local and national awards and honors; one of such honors bestowed upon him was to carry the torch in Chicago during the 2002 Olympic Torch Relay.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on October 30, 2016 the St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its founding. St. Volodymyr is a part of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA and was established in 1916 as the first independent Ukrainian Church in the United States. The centennial celebration will take place on the 30th day of October 2016, starting with the Hierarchal Dinner Liturgy, led by his eminence metropolitan Anthony and his grace Bishop Daniel at 10:00 am at St. Volodymyr, which has been a source of spiritual strength to its members as they perpetuated their religious heritage and culture at the same time. They also found inspiration from their religion to be active and loyal citizens to the USA and to the city of Chicago. The festivities then will continue with a member banquet held at the Ukrainian Cultural Center at 2247 W. Chicago Avenue in Chicago. Since its inception, the cathedral has been an integral part of life of the community at large. Some notable examples include participating in the 1928 women's world fair at the coliseum, and in the Ukrainian Pavilion during Chicago's 1933 century of progress international exposition; sending its son and daughter to war when the government called; providing help to those in need during troubled times. I congratulate the St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Church for 100 years of spiritual and community service and look forward to 100 years more.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an outstanding individual, Lydia de La Vina de Foley, who will step down this month as Executive Director of the Congressional Club after more than four decades of service to this important federally chartered institution. Lydia first began her work at the Congressional Club as a volunteer illustrator of the Club's Bicentennial Congressional Club Cookbook in 1975. In 1977, she was asked to come on full time as Secretary to the Club. In the 1990's Lydia became Administrative Assistant to the President of the Club, and then became its Executive Director in the 2000's. Throughout her tenure, Lydia has served under twenty-two Club presidents and, as she aptly describes, ``lived through thirty-nine First Lady's Luncheons, the Club's premiere annual event honoring the nation's First Lady. She has been part of the Congressional Club's continued growth and development as a key center of bipartisan comradery in the Nation's capital. Lydia has been a Life Member of the Club since April 10, 1981 and became a member through her father-in law and mother-in law, the late Honorable John Foley and Lucy Foley of Maryland. Founded in 1908, the original purpose of The Congressional Club was to provide a non-partisan setting for friendships among the spouses. Although the scope of the Club and the breadth of its activities have increased over the years, its purpose remains the same. The Congressional Club is rich in history and tradition, and we can thank Lydia for being an integral part of it. I also want to commend Lydia's family who has stood by her all of the years she has helped to lead the Congressional Club including her husband, John (Jackie) and her children, Bryan Juan Carlos and Nicole Vivianne. Lydia says that her most memorable experiences as part of the Club are ``the friendships forged with many members and presidents of the Club.'' Her dedication and commitment can be summed up as ``be willing to do everything and work hard.'' Mr. Speaker, Lydia has a been a friend to hundreds of Congressional spouses over these past four decades, and because of her dedication, she has truly made Washington, D.C. and the Congress a better place. Lydia, we will miss you. We honor her on this day with love and good wishes.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, every year people all over the country acknowledge National Recovery Month. National Recovery Month recognizes the many thousands of individuals who have successfully recovered from substance use and abuse. There are millions of people at 12 step classes, Alcoholics Anonymous, and other recovery programs meeting every hour of the day and every day of the week. It reminds me of what Henry David Thoreau said, ``I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man [person] to elevate his life by a conscious endeavor''. National Recovery Month helps to bring awareness and substantial change in our nation and in our communities. While we are thankful for the success, we must do more. The statistics are stunning. Prince's death from an opiate overdose in April 2016 made national headlines. His death is one of many thousands that died from overdose of prescribed drugs and illegal substances like heroin. The Center for Disease Control reported that from 2001 to 2014, there was a, 6-fold increase in the total number of heroin deaths. 3.4-fold increase in the total number of cocaine deaths. 42 percent increase in the total number of pain relievers deaths. 2.8-fold increase in the total number of opioid deaths. In 2014, experts said that an astounding 900,000 adults and adolescents ages 12 and older used heroin. It is evident . . . Heroin kills. Cocaine kills. Over the counter opiates and prescribed medications can kill. We have the support to do something about it. A Pew Research Center national survey found that 67 percent of Americans support providing treatment for those who use illegal drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Public opinion in local communities shifted to the extent that voters will support using taxpayer dollars for drug treatment. In Cook County Illinois, 76 percent of the electorate overwhelmingly supported a substance use treatment referendum. Voters support Treatment on Demand. While National Recovery Month means something different for the researcher, for the policy maker, community groups and for people in the neighborhoods. For the individuals in recovery, National Recovery Month is very personal. More than a decade ago, we kicked-off the first recovery walk in Cook County. We joined with communities, government, faith-based groups, providers and especially people in recovery. The 13th Annual Recovery Walk will kick-off on September 24, in Union Park. I urge my colleagues and people all over America to join me in applauding people in recovery for your conscious efforts to remain sober and for being an inspiration for others who sincerely desire to follow in your footsteps. I urge my colleagues to support legislation which will transform the lives of individuals from addicts to contributing people in recovery.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I wish to pay tribute to Arnie F. Bryant--a loving family man and community leader whom I and others called friend. This year marks the eighth anniversary of Arnie's home-going on April 8, 2008. His family will honor him this month with a trip to Washington, DC. Arnie was a fierce supporter of President Barack Obama and encouraged political discussions via his radio program, View Points from the Other Side. Unfortunately, Arnie was called home before he could witness the historic election and inauguration of our 44th President. Today, I join with his family to celebrate Arnie and the tremendous contributions he made to his communities in his short 49 years of life. Arnie was one of the most dedicated, committed, and caring individuals that I have ever known. Arnie was a respected leader who worked tirelessly to make society a better place. After attending Farragut and Proviso East high schools, Arnie served his country by joining the Army. Arnie remained active for 20 years. Arnie's tribute by the Proviso Insider referenced him as ``Proviso Township's most popular social and political activist.'' From a young age, Arnie engaged in community affairs, working to strengthen his community through his compassion, intelligence, commitment, and kindness. He served as the President of the Proviso National Association for the Advancement of Colored People for many years. His passion for learning evidenced itself in his role as President of the Bellwood Library Board. His position as a Proviso Township Trustee reflected his willingness to do the hard work of governing, just another example of his willingness to invest his time to help others. Those who knew Arnie can testify to his absolute and profound commitment to his family. His love for his wife, Gladis, and his children, Brittany and Frank, buoyed him and those around him. Arnie was a spiritual man. He accepted Christ as a member of the Proviso Missionary Baptist Church. As an adult, he was an active member of New Horizon Missionary Baptist Church. Arnie Bryant was a great individual who deserves our commemoration, respect and gratitude. I join with the community in expressing our sadness for his loss and celebrating his life and legacy.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor the memory of Laquan McDonald, a victim of gun violence who never received a moment of silence on the House floor.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I would much rather be discussing a bill that would get automatic and semiautomatic weapons out of our lives. Nevertheless, I strongly oppose H.R. 1270. This bill gives advantage to the most secure in our country at the expense of the vulnerable. If you really look at it, it is kind of Robin Hood health care in reverse. According to the Joint Committee on Taxation, health savings accounts vastly benefit high-income earners. Fewer than 0.5 percent of taxpayers with incomes under $50,000 contribute to HSAs, yet 6.3 percent of taxpayers who earn over $500,000 contribute to these accounts. This is not surprising because it is high-income earners who can set aside thousands of dollars in HSAs. The median income in my congressional district is $51,311. The vast majority of my constituents will not benefit from this bill, but they will be harmed by it. To pay for the $24 million boon to the upper income, this bill hikes up the healthcare costs of low- and middle-income Americans. When low- and middle-income families receive financial help to make their ACA health insurance more affordable, the ACA wisely protects them from excessive penalties if they incorrectly predict their annual incomes. Shockingly, H.R. 1270 removes these important consumer protections from thousands of low- and middle-income families in order to pay for the tax breaks for the wealthy. In addition to increasing costs for struggling families, the bill would result in approximately 130,000 fewer individuals who are covered by health insurance. HSA expansion is not a substitute for comprehensive healthcare reform. HSA expansion does not lower healthcare costs nor improves the quality of healthcare services. Rather than raising the minimum wage, creating jobs, or growing the economy, the Republican leadership simply advances HSA expansion to bolster the wealth of the most privileged at the expense of the vulnerable. I urge my colleagues to reject this bill and vote ``no.''

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Texas for yielding. Child welfare advocates have used the adjectives ``landmark,'' ``historic,'' and ``trailblazing'' to describe this bill. I wholeheartedly agree with them. I am pleased to be a cosponsor of this legislation that begins a fundamental shift in Federal child welfare policy to preserving families rather than separating them. I am deeply grateful to Ranking Member Levin, Chairman Brady, Chairman Buchanan, Ranking Member Wyden, and Chairman Hatch for including many provisions for which I have advocated, provisions that will substantially strengthen families in Chicago, in Illinois, and throughout the Nation. I am equally grateful to Ranking Member Doggett for his tireless efforts to secure additional resources for prevention. My congressional district has the highest percentage of children living with grandparent caregivers in the Nation, followed closely by two other congressional districts in Illinois. We know that substance abuse and addiction underlie a substantial percentage of child welfare cases and separates families. When I ask foster youth what policymakers could do to make child welfare better, they almost always say: You could have helped my mom and dad. That is exactly what we are doing here today. The Family First Prevention Services Act invests in addressing key reasons that families struggle by providing evidence-based mental health, substance abuse, and parenting services to strengthen families so they can avoid the child welfare system. I am especially pleased that the bill includes my work to improve the effectiveness of child abuse and neglect prevention related to substance abuse by modernizing the Regional Partnership Grants. Coupled with the prevention services, the extension of the Kinship Navigator program, the improved licensing standards to address barriers for relative caregivers, the extension of adoption and legal guardianship incentive payments, the new services for pregnant and parenting foster youth, the investment in electronic systems to improve interstate placement of youth, and the funding to support children in staying with their parents in residential treatment all promise to improve permanency and well-being for youth and kinship caregivers. I want to thank the chairperson of my Child Welfare Task Force, Dr. Annetta Wilson, for sharing her expertise on how to improve policies to support children and families. I also want to thank Pam Rodriguez and George Williams with TASC in Chicago as well as Nancy Young with Children and Family Futures for sharing their expertise about what policies work to support parents affected by substance abuse so that we can strengthen families. Finally, this is not a perfect bill, but it is a historic bill and a unique opportunity to strengthen families. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to enact additional supports for kinship caregivers, enhance services for expectant and parenting foster youth, and to protect the Social Security benefits of foster youth. I attended a high school graduation last Friday, and the young lady who got the biggest applause was one whose mother and grandmothers both had died within the last 3 years. She also has given birth to two children. But she graduated with honors, and it is the assistance and help that we give to these young people who really prove that we can have an effective welfare help system for young people who need the help.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, along with other Members of this body and tens of millions of Americans in every corner of our Nation, to express my profound sympathy and heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the 49 beautiful young people of Orlando whose lives were stolen Sunday morning. We may never know the kind of hatred, what kind of sickness moves an individual so vehemently with such unchecked racism and homophobia to commit mass murder allegedly in the name of one or more terrorist causes. My mind constantly returns to those who lost their lives at the Pulse, along with the 53 who were wounded, in an attempt to understand how one individual came to have the power to wreak such destruction and havoc. These innocent souls now join those lost at Blacksburg, Virginia; Newtown, Connecticut; Killeen, Texas; San Ysidro, California; San Bernardino, California; Edmund, Oklahoma; Fort Hood, Texas; Binghamton, New York; and Aurora, Colorado, as victims of modern warfare. So far 2016 has seen 136 mass shootings, according to the Gun Violence Archive. How can we countenance the continued ownership, availability, and use of semiautomatic weapons such as the AR-15? What legitimate purpose can they serve? What legitimate need do they fulfill? How many more must die before we rise up as a Nation and reinstate the ban on such weapons in civilian life? Would that have an impact? Would such a ban save lives? We don't have to guess. We can look to the experience of Australia, a nation with some significant parallels to the United States. In 1996, after the worst mass shooting in Australian history, then-Prime Minister John Howard led the battle for what was to become the National Firearms Agreement, which banned certain semiautomatic and self-loading rifles and shotguns and required all firearm license applicants to show a genuine reason for owning a gun, which couldn't include self-defense. The country instituted a mandatory federally financed gun buyback program, which led to the repurchase of 700,000 guns, which halved the number of gun-owning households and reduced the number of guns in circulation by about 20 percent. The firearm homicide rate fell by 59 percent and the firearm suicide rate fell by 65 percent without increases in other types of deaths. Australia hasn't had another mass shooting on that scale since. Mr. Speaker, I want to close on another even more critical note: addressing the deadly end result of racism, homophobia, and male chauvinism. The self-serving notion that any individual or group is superior to another has plagued America from our earliest days as a Nation. Slavery was a cancer on our people. Justified by the crudest, cruelest, most vicious ideology, which proclaimed persons of African or Native American ancestry to be inferior and subhuman and persons of European ancestry to be their natural masters, it was the basis of a vicious system of social oppression and economic exploitation. No people will endure such oppression and exploitation forever. Indeed, it inevitably led to the deadliest and most divisive war in our Nation's history: the Civil War. 204,070 people died in battle or from injury in battle, and 414,152 died from disease or accident, a total of 618,000 souls. Yet here we have these evils lingering in our society today. They continue to express themselves in so many different ways. What kind of deranged mind leads itself to believe that it can pass judgment on other individuals or groups? What kind of mind raised in the United States places itself above our constitutional declarations of equality for all? What kind of mind finds the basis to declare other individuals or groups defective or inferior? What kind of mind declares other individuals unworthy or unqualified to share the protections of our Constitution? What kind of mind asserts they are above judgment by a member of another group? What kind of mind envisions a world where one people are superior to another people and believes that such notions can lead to anything other than enduring conflict, death, and destruction? Mr. Speaker, these kinds of thoughts can no longer linger. The answer rests, to a real degree, with us.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, in this House, the Republican leadership has failed to provide sufficient investment in major emergencies facing Americans. They have refused to address the horrible epidemic of gun violence that plagues communities like mine and provides extremists an easy tool to kill dozens of people in minutes. Further, the Republican leadership has refused to give sufficient funds to combat the Zika virus, risking the health and well-being of Americans. They have refused to raise the minimum wage to help working families improve their quality of life and have advanced efforts to reduce access to school meals for low-income children. Yet, today, the priority of Republican leadership is a bill to blindfold the Internal Revenue Service to large donors to any 501(c) organizations except under very narrow circumstances, opening the floodgates for unlimited, anonymous donations, possibly from foreign sources. The confidential disclosure of donors provides an important check on secret money from foreign governments or individuals that could be funneled into our elections. This is not a freedom of speech issue. This is not a fight for American freedom. This is a fight to protect the secret efforts to funnel so much money into certain coffers to undermine the integrity of our election system. I strongly oppose this bill and hope the Republican leadership will focus on addressing the true emergencies facing American families, such as gun violence, hunger, poverty, and health. These are real deal issues.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize and celebrate the 110th anniversary of the Antiquities Act this week. The National Antiquities Act was signed into law by President Theodore Roosevelt on June 8, 1906. This legislation serves as a historic cornerstone in conservation, allowing our presidents to protect public lands with national or notable importance by designating national parks and monuments. The Antiquities Act remains a critical tool in preserving our American history and in educating our American and foreign visitors about the American experience. These parks preserve our nation's landscapes that reflect the diverse beauty of our country--such as Katmai National Monument in Alaska, Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, the Petrified Forest in Arizona, Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in Hawaii, Mojave Trails in California, Marianas Trench Marine National Monument in the Northern Mariana Islands, and Grand Sequoia National Monument in California. These parks reflect the history of people who called our land home--such as the Azectec Ruins in New Mexico, Russell Cave in Alabama, the Gila Cliff Dwellings in New Mexico, the Navajo National Monument in Arizona, and Ellis Island in New York. Further, these parks reflect the history of our nation's birth, struggles, and growth as well as citizens who played key roles in these efforts--such as Fort McHenry in Maryland, Castle Clinton National Monument in New York, Little Bighorn Battlefield in Montana, Fort Sumter in South Carolina, Appomattox Court House in Virginia, Booker T. Washington National Monument in Virginia, George Washington Carver National Monument in Missouri, the Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument, and the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument in Hawaii, Alaska, and California. The importance of our lands and monuments is well documented in our American culture--in songs that praise ``our redwood forests'' or our ``purple mountain majesties,'' music that captures the emotion of the Grand Canyon, and images of the Statue of Liberty that move our spirits and evoke our patriotism. In my home City of Chicago rests the Pullman National Monument and Historic District that honors the 1894 factory strikes and their role in our nation's labor and civil rights movements. The Pullman District reflects the long history that the City of Chicago has with the birth of the Union Movement. I am proud to represent ``Teamsters Row'' in Chicago, the home of this important national labor union that champions the rights of workers. In closing, I am pleased to recognize the 110th anniversary of the Antiquities Act and honor the substantial impact the Act has made in the preservation of our national and cultural history and environmental treasures.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, Muhammad Ali was, indeed, the greatest, and he spent considerable time in Chicago. Therefore, I got the opportunity to meet and know him. On occasion, I would visit with my friends Frank Lipscomb, Wallace Davis, Jr., and Ralph Metcalf, Jr., and we would visit with him in his Kenwood home and at meetings. Although Muhammad Ali was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, those of us who lived in Chicago embraced Ali as a fellow Chicagoan because of his relationship to the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, who was with the Nation of Islam, and because of his involvement and engagement with the larger community. Muhammad Ali was not only the best boxer in the world, but during his heyday, he was a genuine hero to everyday people who felt that he was a part of them. In 1966, 2 years after winning the heavyweight title, he refused to be conscripted into the military, citing his religious beliefs and opposition to the American involvement in the Vietnam war. He was eventually arrested, found guilty of draft evasion, and stripped of his boxing titles. He successfully appealed in the U.S. Supreme Court, which overturned his conviction in 1971. By that time, he had not fought for nearly 4 years and lost a period of peak performance as an athlete. Ali's actions as a conscientious objector to the war made him an icon for those who opposed the war. With a record of 61 total fights, 56 wins--37 by knockouts--and just five losses, Muhammad Ali was, obviously, a superb athlete, but he was so much more. He was a humanitarian, a principled man. He was proud of his heritage, proud of his abilities, and proud of his accomplishments. Muhammad Ali, a soldier in the people's army. I salute you.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding efforts of the Charles W. Earle STEM Elementary School's Chess Team. Earle STEM Elementary School is among the top elementary school chess teams in Chicago. Considering this small school is located in a crime- prone area in the Englewood neighborhood of my Congressional District, I am very pleased of the involvement and leadership of chess Coach Joseph M. Ocol and the many leaders at the school. I would like to acknowledge the contributions of the Earle STEM School Principal, Cederall Petties, and Assistant Principal Elwanda Butler, along with the help Network 11 Chief Megan Hougard, the families and parents in the Local School Council Community headed by Darlene O'Banner. On Sunday, April 24th, 2016, the all-girls chess team of Earle STEM Elementary School won 1st Place in the 2016 All-Girls National Chess Tournament. Out of 65 schools and 450 female students from all over the USA, only four CPS schools qualified to form an all-girl, grade sixth to eighth, chess team to compete in this biggest all-girl national chess tournament in the USA. The Earle STEM all-girls chess team was one of only two all-African American girls' chess team in that 2016 All-Girls National Chess Toumament. Another notable victory for the Earle STEM Chess Team, composed this time of boys and girls from grades fourth to eighth, took place at the 2016 National Junior High School Championship where they won the 5th Place Trophy. This tournament was held at Marriott Hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana, April 15 to 17. With more than a hundred schools and about 2,000 students from all over the country competing, this is considered the biggest junior high school chess tournament in the USA. Six months into the 2015-2016 academic year, and during its initial year as a chess team, the Earle STEM Elementary School Chess Team garnered five 1st Place team trophies, including a 4th Place trophy in the State of Illinois chess championship, and a 3rd Place Chicago Public Schools academic chess trophy. At its inception, the Earle STEM Elementary School Chess Team members started mentoring one another on the rudiments of chess then advanced the mentoring program from Grade 8 to the kindergarten program. Allowing the 40 students of the chess and math club the capacity to participate after school and on Saturdays; the Earle STEM mentoring program has been effective in getting kids to mentor one another whilst competing against each other. This provides the most economical way of mastering skills and yet offering opportunities for students to be productive after school instead of being in the streets. In closing, the Charles W. Earle STEM Elementary School's Chess Team is a prime example of students excelling beyond their environment and striving for excellence. Congratulations to the children of Earle Stem: Joshua Johnson, Erik Tolbert, Brandon Burgess, Taahir Levi, Tamaya Fultz, Breanna Shaw, Gavin Harry, Semaj Lowe, Xavier Rosado, Angelique Wilson, Monique Williams, Gelita Woodlow, Devion Dukes, Tyrone Dellar and Shawn Palmer. I am proud to acknowledge the school and these students for their achievements and I look forward to hearing about their great works for years to come.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend and congratulate Chairman Tiberi and Ranking Member McDermott for having put together an outstanding piece of legislation. While we applaud it for being bipartisan, I applaud it because it is good. It actually helps to meet needs that exist. It protects hospitals and gives them the opportunity to provide a better level of patient care. I attended, just last week, the opening of an outpatient center that St. Bernard Hospital in the Englewood community of Chicago had put together. Of course, everybody in the community was there because everybody recognized that inner-city hospitals, disproportionate share hospitals, and medical centers that are complex need all of the protection that they can get, and we need to have a better understanding of readmission policies and practices and why some are different than others. These gentlemen have put together a piece of legislation that all of us can be proud of. I strongly support it and thank them for their diligence, for their cooperation, and for their tremendous efforts to do a good bill.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Verdell Trice was no ordinary man. He was born and raised in Mississippi almost a hundred years ago. He joined the military, returned home, got married, migrated to Chicago and lived a very active, involved and productive life. Mr. Trice had a business mind and developed, managed and operated several productive businesses. At one time Mr. Trice is reported to have owned 5 service stations on the Westside of Chicago. He and his family were active members and leaders in the St. Paul CME Church, which he and his wife Mrs. Mattie Jennings Trice served with distinction. Mr. Verdell Trice was an education activist and leader. He worked with Marshall High School and was also President of the local school council and a real advocate for students. Mr. Verdell Trice was a ``Black thinker'' and community advocate. He helped to organize and sustain the 5th City Development Corporation, organized and managed the 5th City Automotive Center and was an active member of State Senator Rickey Hendon's political organization. Mr. Verdell Trice and his wife owned and lived in their home on the southeast side of Chicago, but he was a true Westsider, and spent the majority of his time in the East and West Garfield Park areas of Chicago. He and his brother, who died from an accident not long ago, were like two peas in a pod. They both worked into their nineties and left their marks on the communities where they lived and worked.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, Bosie Edwards was no ordinary man, he was multi-talented, seriously focused and good at practically everything that he did. I have known him for many years because he was always intimately connected and actively engaged in the community. He was an excellent social worker and was recognized as one of the top gang intervention and youth violence prevention specialists in the city. Of course that was only one aspect of his being. When it came to music he was top of the line, a maestro, a band leader, a choreographer, a smooth jazz, rhythm and blues music man, gentleman of leisure, and the top band in town. I have heard them many, many times and never got enough. Finally Bosie has been a regular on cable television with his own very interesting show which has been watched religiously by thousands of individual on a regular basis. Yes, Bosie Edwards made a great impact on the lives of those who knew and/or came into contact with him. I extend condolences to his family, friends and all who knew and loved him.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 7th anniversary of the end of the war in Sri Lanka. The Government of Sri Lanka won the war to keep the Sinhalese and Tamil communities within one country, but has not yet won the peace. A new president and a new government in 2015 have led to hopes that a different path will be trod towards a plural state in which all religions and ethnicities may live with dignity and security. The leaders of the new government have made many ambitious promises to advance toward the goal of a stable and prosperous future for all. Now is the time to turn those promises into concrete action. The US, must assist and support in any way we can, but we must also keep incentives in place such as conditions on military and other aid until the government has accomplished real reform. The government of Sri Lanka has made commitments on transitional justice and accountability, a political settlement of the ethnic problem, security sector reform, the return of land, the release of Tamil political prisoners, actions to end human rights violations and other ambitious reforms. Unfortunately, not enough improvement has yet been seen by the Tamils, Christians and Muslims who feel marginalized and discriminated against. Courageous leadership is needed to gain trust if reconciliation is the goal, not just promises. Now is the time for real action.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to join with my colleague from Indiana, Representative Todd Young, in offering our amendment to strengthen families by addressing parental substance abuse and decreasing the number of children entering foster care. Our amendment is common sense. It simply allows the CARA substance abuse treatment diversion grants to focus on parents whose incarceration could result in their children entering foster care. I am deeply troubled that almost 8 percent of children placed into foster care each year enter due to parental incarceration. This is approximately 20,000 young children every year. In some States like Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, and South Dakota, over 20 percent of children enter foster care due to parent incarceration. We also know that substance abuse underlies a substantial percentage of child welfare cases. Aside from neglect, alcohol or other drug use is the number one reason for removal from the home. In 2014, over 77,000 youth were removed from their homes due to drug abuse. What is exciting is that we have strong, empirical evidence that working with parents experiencing substance abuse significantly helps children and families experience fewer days in foster care, higher reunification rates, less recurrence of child maltreatment, and better permanency over time. Neither the Senate nor the House CARA bill addresses this critical intersection of criminal justice, substance abuse, and foster care. Yet, this intersection underlies the surging numbers in both the judicial and child welfare systems. The Annie E. Casey Foundation, an amazing champion for foster youth, just released a report 2 weeks ago that recommended that judges consider the impact on kids and families when making sentencing and confinement decisions. Our amendment is necessary to demonstrate congressional intent that the Department of Justice improve our judicial system to decrease the horrible family impact of incarceration that swells our child welfare system and undermines child well-being. That is why over a dozen key child welfare advocates support our amendment, including the American Public Human Services Association, the American Psychological Association, Children's Defense Fund, Children's Home Society of America, Child Welfare League of America, National Association of Counsel for Children, National Foster Family- Based Treatment Association, National Foster Parent Association, North American Council on Adoptable Children, Ray E. Helfer Society, Voice for Adoption, and Zero to Three. I urge support of our amendment that will do much to strengthen families and improve child welfare.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I met and got to know Henry Wilson in January of 1969 when I took a job as the Executive Director of Greater Lawndale Conservation Commission where Mr. Henry Wilson was a member of the Board of Directors. Henry worked for Western Electric at its Hawthorne Plant; which at its height, employed 45,000 people in its operations. Henry came off the assembly line and ultimately became the Director of Community Relations. Western Electric was incorporated in New York in 1915 and became the telephone monopoly until 1984 when it split and became AT&T Technologies. Henry as a pioneer in corporate community relations used his position at Western Electric to assist local community charitable, not-for-profit and faith institutions in fund-raising, planning and program development activities. Mr. Wilson was a great advocate for education and youth programs such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and YMCA activities. He loved Chicago, he loved the Englewood community where he lived and especially the North Lawndale Community where much of his work was centered.