Danny Davis

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining?

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Kamlager-Dove).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Chu).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Sykes).

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, Democrats strongly agree that those who took advantage of the COVID crisis to commit fraud must be held accountable. That is why Democrats put $2 billion in the American Rescue Plan Act to fight fraud. Every House Republican voted against it. According to the Department of Labor's trust fund, only 16 States met the required solvency standard for unemployment systems. Instead of punishing organized crime and instead of addressing the fragility of State unemployment systems, the Republican H.R. 1163 guts Federal funding to fight fraud, weakens State unemployment systems, privatizes American public service jobs, and claws back overpayments for workers who were unemployed during the pandemic and received overpayments through no fault of their own. Mr. Speaker, I am shocked that the Republican leadership is advancing this bill that guts Federal investment in stopping unemployment fraud the same week when one of its own is indicted for such crimes. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill that punishes America's families while stunting accountability for actual crimes. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, a government should help its people; it should make life easier and improve well-being. 1 reject the Republican Default on America Act that seeks to exact $4.8 trillion in harm from children, the elderly, veterans, workers, small businesses, families, and our economy. This bill is one of the most cruel that has come before the House in the 25 years that I've served here. This Republican Default on America would help tax cheats and oil companies while devastating our Nation to appease Republican extremists. In Illinois, the House Republicans extreme demands would: put 562,000 people at risk of losing Medicaid; threaten food insecurity for 54,000 people aged 50-55; eliminate preschool and child care for almost 11,000 children; make college more expensive for at least 229,500 students; deny student loan debt relief to 679,000 borrowers; harm 960,000 k-12 students with draconian education cuts; cut $10 million in mental health funding for students; and increase housing costs for over 28,000 people. In my Congressional District alone, it would kill about 7,500 jobs, put health benefits at risk for 264,000 people, jeopardize Social Security payments for 73,000 families, and threaten the retirement savings of almost 78,000 people near retirement. The harm from the Republican Default on America would affect the entire Nation. It would deny over 40 million borrowers much-needed student loan debt relief, take away the opportunity to go to college for 80,000 youth, and make college more expensive for 6.6 million Pell grant recipients. It would cut over 2 million rural and underserved families from health care services. It would increase hunger for over one million seniors and strip nutrition assistance from millions of people, including 1.2 million women, infants and children. It would pull 200,000 children from Head Start and 100,000 children from childcare, making it harder for parents to work and hurting our economy. It would evict over 430,000 families from Section 8 housing and yank rental assistance from an additional 640,000 families, an unprecedented loss of affordable housing for older adults, persons with disabilities, families with children, and veterans. It would make it more costly to run small businesses and result in 125,000 fewer entrepreneurs having free business counseling and leave 295,000 out from the Entrepreneurial Development program. It would cut 780,000 jobs in our economy according to Moody's Analytics while likely resulting in 100,000 fewer workers in registered apprenticeships and shipping domestic manufacturing jobs overseas. It would threaten veterans' health and benefits by removing 87,000 jobs across the Veterans Health and Benefit Administration. It would endanger our safety by cutting $8 billion from the Department of Justice programs that support federal, state; and local law enforcement and first responders. It would increase energy costs for working families and harm our climate, including by cutting the provision that I helped enact to bring the economic and environmental benefits of solar energy to low- income communities. It would devastate research in our country that helps us compete globally and improve our health and well-being via 5,000 fewer NIH grants and $4 billion in cuts from the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy's Office of Science. The Default on America Act is anti-children, anti-seniors, anti- veterans, anti-small-business, antihealth-care, anti-labor, and anti- education. Quite frankly, it is anti-American. I vehemently oppose this cruel bill that threatens the strength of our Nation and the well-being of our citizens. I urge my colleagues to reject it.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Oregon for his leadership and for yielding. Mr. Speaker, solar energy is one form of electricity generation that is growing in the United States. Yet, we do not have the economy of scale in manufacturing solar systems to meet supply and demand for industry and consumers. Solar energy accounts for 3.9 percent of total electricity generation in 2021 compared to 0.7 percent in 2014. Currently, domestic solar production is sold out for the next 2 to 3 years. In order to continue to address China's unfair trading practices and allow America's solar industry to grow, President Biden's Presidential Proclamation 10414 declared an emergency with respect to U.S. electricity generation capacity by implementing a final rule that permits the importation of select sales on modules without the payment of antidumping and countervailing duty temporary for 24 months. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, brinkmanship is no way to run a government. The default on America act is one of the worst bills I have had the opportunity to vote on. It is antichildren, antiseniors, antiveterans, antimiddle America, antismall business, antihealthcare, antiworkers. As a matter of fact, it is anti-American because all that it does is cut, cut, cut. When all that you do is cut, cut, and cut, all that you get is blood, blood, blood. The blood of the American people will be on the hands of those who held the knife. I urge a ``no'' vote.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to cast votes on February 27, February 28, and March 1. Had I been present for the following roll call votes, I would have voter Aye for the following votes: Roll Call No. 120, February 27, 2023: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, H. Res. 132--Responding to the earthquakes in Turkiye and Syria on February 6, 2023. Roll Call No. 121, February 27, 2023: On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass H.R. 538--Informing Consumers about Smart Devices Act. Roll Call No. 125, March 1, 2023: On Agreeing to the Amendment of H.R. 347--Bost of Illinois Amendment No. 1. Roll Call No. 126, March 1, 2023: On Agreeing to the Amendment of H.R. 347--Boebert of Colorado Amendment No. 3. Roll Call No. 127, March 1, 2023: On Agreeing to the Amendment of H.R. 347--Jackson Lee of Texas Amendment No. 6. Roll Call No. 128, March 1, 2023: On Agreeing to the Amendment of H.R. 347--Jackson Lee of Texas Amendment No. 7; and Roll Call No. 129, March 1, 2023: On Agreeing to the Amendment of H.R. 347--Lee of Nevada Amendment No. 9. I would have voted Nay for the following votes: Roll Call No. 122, February 28, 2023: On Ordering the Previous Question H. Res. 166--Providing for consideration of (H.R. 347) Reduce Exacerbated Inflation Negatively Impacting the Nation Act; (H.J. Res. 30) congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, U.S.C., of the rule submitted by the Dept. of Labor relating to Prudence & Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments & Exercising Shareholder Rights; Roll Call No. 123, February 28, 2023: On Agreeing to the Resolution H. Res. l66--Providing for consideration of (H.R. 347) Reduce Exacerbated Inflation Negatively Impacting the Nation Act; (H.J. Res. 30) congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, U.S.C., of the rule submitted by the Dept. of Labor relating to Prudence & Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments & Exercising Shareholder Rights; Roll Call No. 124, February 28, 2023: On Passage H.J. Res. 30-- Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to ``Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising; Roll Call No. 130, March 1, 2023: On Agreeing to the Amendment of H.R. 347--Roy of Texas Amendment No. 14; and Roll Call No. 131, March 1, 2023: On Passage H.R. 347--Reduce Exacerbated Inflation Negatively Impacting the Nation Act.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the exceptional service of Christine James-Brown, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA), who recently announced her retirement as President. CWLA is an outstanding organization that works to improve the quality and availability of child welfare and related services through standard-setting and advocacy. Ms. James-Brown began her tenure as President of CWLA in April 2007, assuming the leadership of the nation's oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization. Ms. James-Brown has served as the eighth President of this 103-year-old organization. With more than sixteen years of service, she is the second-longest serving President of CWLA. Ms. James-Brown is a national leader in efforts to protect children and strengthen families, and she has led CWLA through historic accomplishments and challenging times. Ms. James-Brown led CWLA's advocacy efforts to help enact critical child welfare laws, including the Fostering Connections to Success and Promoting Adoptions Act of 2008 and the Family First Prevention Services Act of 2018. Her leadership continued CWLA's policy work in areas including kinship care, adoption and foster care services, prevention services, and residential care. Under Ms. James-Brown's leadership, CWLA worked with members and experts across the country during 2012 and 2013 to develop the CWLA National Blueprint for Excellence in Child Welfare that presents a vision for the future of child welfare where all children grow up safely in loving families and supportive communities. Her service includes her work as a member of the Congressionally- mandated National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine panel with the mission of making recommendations to reduce child poverty in half over ten years. I and other policymakers used those recommendations and the science behind them to champion legislation that helped reduce child poverty during the global pandemic. During her tenure, Ms. James-Brown helped CWLA continue its leadership and engagement of its network of public and private agencies and partners to advance policies, best practices, and collaborative strategies that result in better outcomes for children, youth, and families. She led the organization through 16 national conferences, including a celebration of 90 years in 2010 and a virtual conference during the pandemic on the organization's 100th anniversary I join with members of the Child Welfare League of America and the child welfare community to thank Ms. Christine James-Brown for her exceptional service to the children and families of our nation and to wish her health and happiness in her well-deserved retirement.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, this spring, we mark the 30th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act, known as FMLA. This groundbreaking law allows millions of workers to take unpaid leave from their jobs when necessary, without the fear of losing their jobs or being forced to choose retaining a job over the needs of themselves or their families. Prior to the passage of the FMLA, there were no uniform laws or guaranteed leave for workers. None. In 1993, with bipartisan support, Congress passed, and President Bill Clinton signed into law, the Family and Medical Leave Act. FMLA has remained crucial for workers all over the United States for three decades. It has provided workers across the country with 12 weeks of leave to care for a new child, an ill family member, or their own health. During this time, one's job is guaranteed. Unfortunately, FMLA leave is entirely unpaid, only about 56 percent of workers are eligible for the program due to strict eligibility requirements regarding tenure and worksite size, it restricts the definition of family to exclude millions of caregivers, and the stark reality is that many workers cannot go without income. As we celebrate 30 years of FMLA, Congress should recognize that paid family and medical leave is long overdue. The pandemic made crystal clear that the current patchwork system fails to cover many workers, especially low-paid workers, and harms our economy by removing millions of workers from the labor force and hundreds of millions of dollars in earnings. Limiting leave to those who can afford time off without pay harms workers of color and lower-wage workers, in particular. For example, Black workers are 86 percent more likely to be unable to take leave when they need to care for others or themselves. Indeed, 68 percent of Black women are the sole breadwinners in their households, making any loss of pay due to illness or caregiving a tremendous hardship. Families should not face the unethical choice of earning a paycheck or caring for their loved ones or themselves. As the lead Democrat of the Ways and Means Committee Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support, which has jurisdiction over paid leave, I am proud that House Democrats passed out of the House the first-ever, universal, comprehensive paid family and medical leave program. Had the Republicans in the Senate not blocked its final passage, this program would have provided all U.S. workers with up to 4 weeks of paid leave to address a serious personal or family health issue, or to care for a newborn or newly-adopted or fostered child. Universal paid leave is not a gamble; we have decades of research from state and international implementation that comprehensive protections help businesses retain qualified workers and government support helps level the playing field for small businesses while supporting workers and strengthening the economy. Fourteen states and the District of Columbia have passed laws to provide or require paid leave: Arizona; California, New Jersey; Rhode Island, New York; District of Columbia; Washington; Massachusetts; Connecticut; Oregon; Colorado; New Hampshire; Maryland; Virginia; and Delaware. Research by the Rutgers University Center for Women and Work found that implementing universal paid family and medical leave would result in higher post-birth wages for women who take paid leave than for those that do not. Given that women are more likely to serve as primary caregiver and, therefore, are more likely to need leave, a federal paid leave program would strengthen the economic security of women. Additionally, research by Zero-to-Three found that the well-being of children would improve dramatically given the availability of parents to care for children and help obtain needed healthcare. Finally, the improved economic well-being of families would boost the economy and business revenue. In fact, paid leave policies creating gender equity would boost GDP by $2.4 trillion by 2030, and policy allowing caregiving for older adults $1.7 trillion by 2030. I am proud to recognize my home state of Illinois is one of three states (i.e., Illinois, Maine, Nevada) that has enacted mandatory earned time off, a policy that is a substantial leap forward to universal paid family and medical leave. The Illinois Paid Leave for All Workers Act will begin in 2024. It allows workers to accrue one hour of paid leave for every 40 hours workers, with a limit of 40 hours per year. Importantly, workers can use this leave for any reason, not just health care. I also am proud to recognize that ordinances in Cook County and Chicago proved that these policies benefit both workers and employers. This flexible time off for shorter life events coupled with paid family and medical leave for longer periods could substantially support workers, allowing them to remain in the workforce and advance their careers over time while still meeting the needs of themselves and their families. We must take action to ensure equity for women, workers of color, and low-income workers through comprehensive, universal, paid family and medical leave legislation. Although my Republican colleagues have repeatedly blocked Democratic efforts to enact paid family and medical leave, I promise to continue to champion comprehensive paid family and medical leave legislation to give workers the protections they deserve that will strengthen families, communities, and our country. As we recognize the 30th anniversary of the Family Medical Leave Act, we must commit ourselves to moving toward a future in which all workers enjoy the right to paid leave.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, this February we celebrate the 23rd Black History Month. Black History Month is a time to honor the past contributions of Black people in American society and also to pay homage to those making progress currently and in the future. It is an annual celebration of achievements, reflection on challenges faced, and recognition of the central role of Black people in U.S. history. Each Black History Month adopts a central theme. Last year's theme was ``Black Health and Wellness;'' this year, we focus on ``Black Resistance.'' ``Black Resistance'' is a powerful message that refers to how, throughout history, African Americans have withstood, com batted, and opposed both intermittent or ongoing disadvantages and oppression. We've undergone being enslaved and having human and civil rights stripped away. For centuries, African Americans have faced enormous obstacles in numerous aspects of life, including education, economic security, healthcare, employment, housing, and criminal justice. African Americans routinely experience opportunity denial due to the color of our skin, and we continue to struggle for justice and equality for ourselves and communities in the face of systematic racism. In Chicago, as across the nation, Black families are more likely to live in poverty than white families, making it challenging to access decent education, health care, and other essential resources for a fulfilling life. Being Black in the United States is a complicated and multidimensional experience affected by historical, social, and cultural influences. Black Resistance has helped overcome these barriers on the path to equality. African Americans have made enormous contributions to American culture, politics, and society. From the Civil Rights Movement to Black Lives Matter, Black people have battled for justice and equality. Their words and actions have molded the history and identity of our Nation. Black families have demonstrated Black Resistance--a remarkable endurance, fortitude, and perseverance in the face of adversity. Through all the pressures of life, Black parents teach their children the meaning behind the color of their skin, to stay on the right side of the system, and to face a world that fears our physique. Despite centuries of challenges, Black parents have raised children who grew into the workers, professionals, parents, and communities who made this wonderful Nation what it is. Black Resistance has helped us overcome barriers on the path to equality; yet recently, it seems that more obstacles arise with each hurdle we surmount. Instead of moving forward, it sometimes feels like we are stuck in an ongoing cycle of one-step-forward-two-steps-back. Black students in Chicago and across the nation are disproportionately likely to attend underfunded schools that lack resources and qualified teachers. This inequity often results in decreased academic achievement and diminished opportunities for success. Black parents must advise their children how to navigate the centuries-old barriers facing African Americans and hope the world doesn't take their babies from them. Too many Black mothers in the United States suffer from the agony of knowing that their child's last words were a call for them while being killed by the police. Further, some Republican leaders are aggressively pushing to eliminate the teaching of African-American history in classrooms, promising to exacerbate the ongoing education crisis and forcing the country to move backward instead of forward. Without education on the various accomplishments and failings of the past, future generations will be unprepared for the challenges ahead due to the lost lessons of history. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., recognized that ``the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.'' Regardless of the obstacles encountered, the Black community has a long, cultural tradition of activism and advocacy, and this Black Resistance advances the fight for justice and equality that Dr. King spoke of. In honor of Black History Month, I organized a town hall gathering to recognize the historical heroes and heroines, those from the past who have shaped our world and those from the present who are paving the path for future sheroes and heroes. The event occurred on Sunday, February 19, 2023, at the Home of Life Missionary Baptist Church. During this event, l heard from residents about what policies on which they believe Congress should focus to continue bending the arc of the moral universe toward justice. As we celebrate the 23rd Black History Month, I am reminded of Sam Cooke's hope: ``It's been a long . . . time coming, but I know a change gonna come. Oh yes, it will.'' I have seen Black Resistance bring about such wonderful change in my lifetime. I am proud to celebrate this success, and I promise to continue fighting for equality and opportunity at every turn. Change is gonna come.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, as we begin the 118th Congress and the new year, I want to take a moment to voice my strong support for the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, Public Law 117-328. Given that this legislation will help so many, it is fitting that we enacted this bipartisan bill during the holiday season--a time of kindness and caring for others. As people struggle with higher costs, this law provides substantial help paying for food, housing, health care, childcare, and education. For example, a few notable provisions include: It increases affordable housing funding by 8 percent, including an expansion of vouchers for 12,000 households at risk of homelessness; It ensures that the 40 million children on Medicaid and CHIP have uninterrupted access to health care through the year by offering continuous coverage; It expands high-quality childcare and preschool by increasing the Child Care and Development Block Grant by $1.9 billion and Head Start by $950 million; It invests in mental health services for Medicare beneficiaries by expanding the physician workforce, creating a new outpatient benefit, and extending telehealth flexibilities for 2 years; It helps improve customer service by the Social Security Administration for seniors, people with disabilities, and survivors with an additional $785 million; It lowers food insecurity with an additional $13.4 billion for the SNAP program and by giving 29 million kids healthy meals during the summer with the creation of a permanent summer food program; It increases Pell Grants by $500, the largest increase in over a decade; It helps lower energy costs with $6.1 billion for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program or LIHEAP; It helps individuals, families, and communities affected by disasters with $27 billion; and It strengthens retirement for Americans. I am very proud that this law includes 3 of my bills and over $24 million to help my local organizations and constituents via community projects funding. The law includes The Jackie Walorski Maternal and Child Home Visiting Reauthorization Act of 2022 that provides historic funding for the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting program that funds evidence-based home visiting proven to improve mother and child health, family safety, and child development. It includes the Retirement Parity for Student Loans Act that improves retirement savings and lowers educational debt by allowing employers to make 401(k) matching payments for employees making student-loan payments, helping younger workers who currently cannot afford to save for their retirement to begin saving much sooner. In addition, the law includes key provisions of the Unclaimed Savings Bond Act that will help locate bondholders and heirs of unclaimed bonds, helping ordinary Americans claim the over $33 billion owed to them. Illinois citizens are owed over $1 billion in matured unredeemed savings bonds. Under current practice, Treasury has required bondholders and heirs who cannot produce the physical bond from redeeming those funds unless they are able to provide the serial number and other detailed information. This requirement likely affects poorer and elderly bondholders who face the most challenges in retaining all of their personal records and who hold a significant percentage of these bonds. Working with my colleague, Ron Estes, and other Ways and Means Members, the law included a fix to ensure that Treasury makes every effort to provide each state with the complete information, including the serial numbers, for bondholders in that state. Helping bondholders and their heirs redeem their investments is the clear purpose of the statute, and I will work with the executive branch to ensure it is carried out. Finally, this law delivers over $24 million to help my local organizations and constituents via community projects. These projects will: increase access to quality health, substance abuse, and mental health services; expand affordable and transitional housing; improve higher education for minority men; expand community well-being programs to improve community safety and economic security; help modernize one of our cherished local museums; improve the trauma-informed care system for children on the south and westsides; and provide high-caliber programming to youth. I am proud that the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, does so much to support individuals, families, communities, and businesses-- improving well-being, safety, and economic security. I look forward to seeing all the goods things that this law does unfold during 2023.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I know this may be the beginning of a new year, but we are back to the same old thoughts, ideas, and practices: Protect the wealthy. Disadvantage the poor. We need a tax system that is fair. We need the skilled auditors who can look at the more complex returns of wealthy taxpayers and make sure that they are paying their fair share. There is no doubt that this is a sham. Vote this down because it takes away opportunity for fairness in our tax system. We need the auditors.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for putting this bill together. We live in a country that is governed by a Constitution, laws, rules, and regulations. There are no exemptions, there are no people who could be let off because of a position that they hold. Tradition has it that we have seen the public is desirous of information. They want to know, and I think it is our responsibility to make sure that they do. Madam Speaker, I strongly support this legislation.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, S. 2834 is named in honor and memory of the departed former president and CEO, Dr. Joanne Smith, of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, who died last year on September 6. She was a visionary and transformative figure in the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation by shifting the focus from rehabilitation to the outcome of ability. It means the capacity to transcend beyond one's physical setbacks and circumstances in recovering and to live a healthy and meaningful life. Dr. Smith was a compassionate doctor, loving wife, and wonderful mother. She was the driving force behind the development, building, and implementation of the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab that opened in my district in 2017. Dr. Smith stood on the shoulders of the late Dr. Henry Betts and his legacy at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, which was before the name change to Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. He was a tireless advocate for the rights of people with disabilities and served as medical director and CEO of the rehabilitation institute for many years. People come from all over the world to be seen by our expert staff and researchers to receive cutting-edge technology from the hospital's medical discoveries. This facility was ranked number one in rehabilitation by U.S. News & World Report for the 31st year in a row. What a hospital. In the United States, there are nearly 1,200 inpatient rehabilitation facilities. As we know, many of these institutions are small and are driving the future of rehabilitation medicine and patient recovery. This unique category of comprehensive rehab hospitals treats the most complex conditions, such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, spinal cord injury, childhood disease, burns, and wartime injuries. They treat veterans, the elderly, the disabled, victims of violence, and children with birth defects. In addition, they conduct research that drives the entire industry and take on a greater share of training of the next generation of clinicians. These unique facilities are advancing the practice and standards of rehabilitation across the field of medicine and helping to disseminate best practices throughout the country. For years, I have worked with colleagues in both parties and in both Chambers to support, study, and share the wonders of these leading rehab hospitals. They provide hope to countless patients and their families. S. 2834 is the companion bill to H.R. 9271, which received bipartisan and bicameral support. This legislation, which I am honored to partner on with Representatives Jan Schakowsky and Darin LaHood from Illinois, recently passed the Senate on a bipartisan voice vote, and it was led by my friend Senator Durbin and Senator Cassidy, Republican of Louisiana. I am pleased that we are considering it today. S. 2834 would direct CMS to study this class of rehab hospitals and provide recommendations on how to preserve patient access to these leading facilities. This will help share best practices, promote new research, and improve patient care across the entire medical field. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to vote for S. 2834, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky), one of the authors of this legislation and my dear friend and delightful colleague.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2834) to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to preserve access to rehabilitation innovation centers under the Medicare program.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, as I prepare to close, this may be the last time that I have an opportunity to be on the floor with former Chairman Brady, Ranking Member Brady, and I just want to say to him that it has been a pleasure working with him and observing his leadership on the Ways and Means Committee. Hopefully, the wind will always be at his back and the Sun will shine warmly upon his face. Having a bill that is going to help continue to provide that kind of research--having this legislation on the floor here today, I was reminiscing a bit with myself of some of the many wonderful opportunities to have dialogue with Dr. Henry Betts, who was a guru in rehabilitation medicine, as was Dr. Smith. Dr. Betts and I often used to ride on the airplane together, coming from Chicago to Washington for whatever, and he was the most passionate man, most creative. On a personal note, my former office manager and secretary had a stroke, and she was out for more than a year, but she went to the Rehabilitation Institute, came back, worked until she retired, is now living a very meaningful life as a retired person having all of her facilities. The Rehabilitation Institute did that. Rehabilitation medicine did that. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California for bringing this bill to the floor and giving me the opportunity to comment on it. I rise in strong support. I grew up across the river from Mississippi in the State of Arkansas. I happened to be the same age as Emmett Till when he was murdered; I was 14, he was 14. Then I had the opportunity to work with his mother, Ms. Mamie Till- Mobley, who lived in Chicago. The church, Roberts Temple, is now in my district, where his funeral was held, so I have always felt close to the situation. I have always felt a part of it. Ms. Mobley, Emmett Till's mother, was a premier activist in Chicago. She lived in Bobby's district, Congressman Rush's district, but she was all over the city, all over the country, all over the world, hoping to bring attention to the situation.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, these words are attributed to Sir lssac Watts, who wrote, and I paraphrase, ``Were I so tall as to reach from pole to pole or grasp the ocean with my span, I must be measured by my soul, for the mind is the measure of the man.'' Trying to describe Prince Asiel Ben Israel is no easy task because so many characteristics of desirability. He was a man of principle, a great husband, a provider, protector, a wonderful father, grandfather, great grandfather, a patriarch, and the leader of a tribe. He was a people's Prince born, educated, trained and prepared to lead. He was a visionary who understood that you cannot lead where you don't go and you cannot teach what you don't know. Prince was always searching for truth and knowledge and was exceptionally passionate about practically everything that he did or cared about. He loved people, and I mean people, and he had a humanitarian spirit and expressed that, ``all life sacred.'' it is now 4:00 am, in the morning, so let me wrap this up. I was blessed to spend many fortunate, precious, and meaningful hours with Prince. We traveled at least ten times to Africa, South Africa, West Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Many of these times it was just the two of us, and talk, talk, talk we did. We met with Heads of State, the ANC, Winnie Mandela, Members of Parliaments, academicians, grassroots groups, clerics, giants of industry, and sometimes I thought Prince was the greatest advocate and diplomat on earth, both at the same time, and he was always on point. A gifted intellectual spiritual leader who used his knowledge, talents and skills to advance the causes of his people (all caring people), as he journeyed through a lifetime of service to humanity. As I walked away from our last meeting with two of his sons and a government official from Ghana a few weeks ago, I had a feeling, first of all, servant of all, you shall transcend all, and as I walked down to my car on Michigan Avenue humming to myself, ``Swing low sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home.'' Good night my friend.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, Lawrence Butler, Jr. was born in Natchez, Mississippi on November 25th to Ellen Shaw Butler and Lawrence Butler, Sr. He was the only son and the youngest of three children. He had two sisters: Clara Butler Watts and Regina Butler Davis. The family attended Greater Fatherland Baptist Church.

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the outstanding gentlewoman from California (Ms. Chu).