Rosa DeLauro

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to share a story that has weighed heavy on my heart. The President speaks about keeping America safe. He speaks about building a wall. He speaks about deporting undocumented immigrants. His rhetoric of hate and fear is causing millions of families unspeakable pain. This is happening in every community across our country and it is happening in my community. I want to share a letter I received from one of my office's most dedicated interns one week after the election. This young man was such a positive force in my office. He took on tasks with a smile. He had an insatiable appetite for learning about our government. He was one of the finest interns our office has ever seen. I was proud to have him to be one of the first people that our constituents interacted with when they contacted our office. But a week after the election, this young man, Sergio, went home. He left me this letter, which I will read to you in its entirety because Sergio tells his own story better than I ever could: ``Dear Representative DeLauro: ``I was honored to intern in your Washington office and learn more about the government of the United States, and more specifically responding to constituents' concerns. Walking through the long tunnels that connect the congressional buildings to the Capitol I began to envision myself working in the District of Columbia upon graduation. But like for many people, the election results have forced me to take a different path. ``After the Presidential election, all the stability that had allowed my family and me to become part of the American life was turned into fear and doubt about our future. Not only has the President-elect vowed to deport millions of undocumented immigrants, but he also promised to remove the DACA program. For this reason, I had to return to New Haven and assist my family as we figure out which decisions are the best to take moving forward. Thus, I am sorry to inform you that I will no longer be able to continue my internship in your Washington, D.C. office. ``I want to express that while I am in constant fear questioning whether I will be able to complete my undergraduate degree, or if my U.S.-citizen sister will be separated from us, I am not giving in. My best memory working in your office was running into an old employer who came to the office for a Capitol tour. Reflecting on the aspirations I had working as a busser to get myself through high school, I remember your persona always providing me with hope. That hope has grown exponentially as I reminisce on the times you walked into the office and greeted all your interns with such gratitude and enthusiasm. ``With infinite gratitude, Sergio.'' How does this promising young man's fear make us safer? How can we stand idly by while his family navigates unspeakable anxiety and pain? How can we live with ourselves if we let these hateful policies stand? Sergio is a bright young man dedicated to public service, and now he is a young man questioning his future and the future of his family. This story breaks my heart; it should break yours. President Trump's executive orders are not just anti-immigrant; they are anti-American. Most of our families, including my own, came to this country as immigrants. My father came through Ellis Island in 1913 as an immigrant from Italy. He was in school, and he had to leave school in the seventh grade as he was 11 years old because his teachers and his classmates laughed at him. He got himself an education, served his country in the United States military for 8 years, served on the City Council in New Haven, worked as hard as he could along with my mother, whose mother and father came from Italy before her. They scrimped and they saved to give me the finest education. And as an immigrant family, they could only dare dream that I would sit in the United States House of Representatives and be here today. It is the American Dream. It is what this Nation is all about as we stand under this dome in this building, the seat of our democracy. Do not let any individual, any political party destroy that American Dream. Our country is made richer by immigrants. We have always welcomed men, women, and children to our shores so that they can build a better life and build a stronger nation. The President's executive orders are an insult to our country's roots and our values. Instead of uniting us, he threatens to further divide us. I stand with Sergio and the millions of people like him whose futures are in flux because of this administration's misguided policies. Do not destroy the American Dream.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 724, which would rescind President Trump's refugee ban on women like Shadi Heidarifar, a philosophy student at the University of Tehran who was accepted to New York University, but is now unsure if she will be able to attend.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to clarify a statistic I inadvertently misstated on the House Floor on January 3rd. I intended to highlight how medical research at the National Institutes of Health has been cut by $7.5 billion since 2003, when adjusted for inflation. The cost of conducting medical research increases each year, yet the NIH's budget has not kept up with this pace. As a result, the NIH has been able to support less research each year. Thankfully we started to reverse this trend in 2016, when we provided a $2 billion increase however that is not nearly enough to close the gap. Even with the money provided by 21st Century Cures for the next decade, Congress has barely put a dent in the NIH's funding deficit. For example, in 2017, with the increase provided in the House Mark and the Cures bill, the NIH would still be over $7 billion short of the 2003 level. I would also note that the Cures funding is a gimmick--there is no guarantee that Congress will provide that funding each year. I regret my error in omitting the term ``when adjusted for inflation.'' But it is clear that when you look at the cost of research and the money we appropriate for the NIH, we have a long way to go.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to this rule. This is about a woman's fundamental right to make her own family planning decisions. The courts have spoken: Roe v. Wade is settled law, and a majority of Americans support it. But the Majority would rather roll back the clock by decades, forcing women back into a reality when women could not make their own health care decisions, by restricting insurance coverage. Enough is enough. We must promote and protect the rights of every woman, every family, every American to make their own family planning decisions, and to have access to a full range of healthcare services. What we are facing now is not just an attack on the right to abortion. It is not just an attack on women's health. It is an assault on the health and wellbeing of millions of Americans. On Saturday, millions of people across the country marched in support of an agenda that puts women's health decisions in the hands of women and their families--and that ensures safe and affordable access to women's healthcare. This bill flies in the face of the mandate demonstrated this weekend, and I oppose it.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. A report by Families U.S.A. said that repeal of the Affordable Care Act equals a huge tax cut for the wealthy. What people don't know, and the public doesn't know at the moment, is that this will hand over to wealthy and major corporations new tax breaks worth nearly $600 million--more than a half-trillion dollars over 10 years, $345.8 billion over 10 years in tax cuts for people whose incomes are over a specified threshold; $200,000 for single individuals; and $250,000 for families. There are $274.4 billion over 10 years going to health insurance companies, drug manufacturers, and other large healthcare corporations. That is what repeal of the Affordable Care Act does. My colleagues need to face up to that, and the public needs to know it.

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the rule. It sets into motion the repeal of the Affordable Care Act. This repeal-only bill takes money intended to fund health care for middle class families and it hands it to the wealthy families and to big health corporations in the form of tax cuts. The public does not know this. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, this bill would give the 400 highest income families in the United States an average tax cut of $7 million a year. It would rob millions of families of the money they need for their insurance. It hands it over to the wealthy, including nearly $250 billion over 10 years in tax cuts for health insurance companies and drug manufacturers. Where are the majority's values? We should be providing more Americans with health insurance, not fewer; and we should be creating jobs, not eliminating them. This bill is a disgrace. It is a betrayal of the working families of this Nation.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to engage the chairman and ranking member in a brief colloquy on behalf of the Connecticut congressional delegation and Long Island Sound. The sound is a treasured and integral source, one that generates $9 billion annually through tourism, recreation, and economic activity, so the importance of dredging activities to our State and the larger region cannot be overstated. Therefore, we seek clarification with the constant intent of section 1189 and the dredging provisions contained in the WIIN Act. I yield to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Courtney).

Ms. DeLAURO. I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania.

Ms. DeLAURO. I yield to the gentleman from Oregon.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise today to join family, friends, and colleagues in extending my heartfelt congratulations to Chris George, Executive Director of Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services (IRIS), as he is honored by Liberty Bank with their 2016 Willard M. McCrae Community Diversity Award. Named in honor of Willard McCrae, past chairman of the Liberty Bank Board of Directors and founding member of the Liberty Bank Foundation Board of Directors, this annual award honors an individual who has made an ``outstanding and ongoing contribution to the cause of promoting and celebrating diversity in the communities served by Liberty Bank.'' I can think of no one more deserving of such a recognition than Chris George. Chris has dedicated a lifetime to promoting human rights, social justice and equal access to all. He began his career as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Sultanate of Oman and later worked with Quakers in Lebanese villages and refugee camps. He worked with Save the Children, primarily in the West Bank/Gaza Strip, was the director of the Middle East division of Human Rights Watch, and he directed the legislative strengthening project for the Palestinian Parliament during his tenure with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). He continued that unique dedication here in Connecticut through his work at IRIS and it is that good work that has earned him this very special honor. As the Executive Director, it has been through Chris' leadership that IRIS has grown into one of the most respected, vibrant refugee resettlement programs in Connecticut. Welcoming refuges from Somali, Iraq, Congo, Sudan, Cuba, and Columbia, IRIS has helped many families navigate the many difficulties associated with resettling in a new community, country, and culture. From the time of its founding, our nation has welcomed those from other shores, particularly those whose own home countries have become too dangerous for them to stay. Whether boarding the Mayflower to escape religious persecution or fleeing from the many countries that are today caught in the midst of civil war, America has long been a safe haven for many. Chris has long championed the contributions refugees make to our communities and our country. Encouraging faith communities and other groups to co- sponsor refugee families, he has worked to bring together Connecticut's diverse residents to support refugee resettlement and has advocated vigorously for the U.S. government to allow more refugees into the country. Most recently, when that increase was approved, IRIS and its community partners stepped up to welcome four hundred and sixty to our state. Under Chris' leadership, IRIS has not only built relationships and better understanding between Americans and the refugees, but between the different local organizations. Throughout his professional life, Chris George has demonstrated a compassion and commitment that is second to none. He embodies the spirit in which the Willard McCrae Community Diversity Award was created and I am honored to join all of those gathered this evening in extending my sincere congratulations to him as he is bestowed with this very special recognition. Chris--many thanks for your service and best wishes for continued success.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to join the congregation of the First Calvary Baptist Church and the many family, friends, and colleagues who have gathered this evening in extending my heartfelt congratulations to the Reverend Dr. Boise Kimber as he marks his 30th Pastoral Anniversary--a remarkable milestone for this outstanding member of our community. Over the course of the last thirty years, Reverend Kimber's commitment to service through religious leadership has been unwavering. Under his direction, the First Calvary Baptist Church and its congregation have flourished, and as the former President of the Greater New Haven Clergy Association he brought spiritual growth to the entire community. In addition to his work in New Haven, Dr. Kimber is past immediate president of the Connecticut State Missionary Baptist Convention, an alliance of approximately eighty churches across the state, where he launched the Christian Leadership School, an accredited four-year Christian Education degree program. He has long been an active member of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. serving as an Administrative Assistant for ten years and as the Executive Secretary of the Board of Directors for the past five years. Reverend Kimber also serves as a staff member for the Institute of Church Administration and Management at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Reverend Kimber has not only been a dedicated religious leader, but a strong voice for social justice, here in Connecticut and across the country. From housing development, police brutality and profiling, to workers' rights and other social issues, Reverend Kimber has stood against discrimination and injustice in its many forms. He is consultant to the office of Multicultural Affairs and the Multicultural Center at Southern Connecticut State University, a Fire Commissioner for the City of New Haven, a Director for Aids Interfaith Network, Inc., an advisor to local labor unions, and a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. He is also the Director of the National Action Network, Inc., the Conference of National Black Churches, and Executive Director of the Social Justice Initiative. Above and beyond his work in the church and on behalf of social justice issues, community leadership has always been a driving force for Reverend Kimber. His work to improve the quality of life for New Haven residents led him to political involvement. By encouraging citizens to participate and ensuring local concerns are heard by political leaders, Reverend Kimber has given voice to many who may not have otherwise been heard. Tonight, as he marks his 30th pastoral anniversary, Reverend Kimber can be sure that his good work has touched the lives of many. As a spiritual guide, he has nourished the souls of many--often providing much needed comfort in the hardest of personal trials. Religious leader, community activist, mentor, and friend, the Reverend Dr. Boise Kimber has and continues to be an invaluable member of our community-- striving to enrich the lives of others and inspiring a new generation to service. I am so pleased to join his wife, Shevalle, his children LaShawn, Sherine, Shevalle and Savion, and his congregation in celebrating this remarkable milestone.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise today to join friends, family, and colleagues in celebration of my good friend, Gerald S. Clark, Sr., as he marks his retirement as Executive Director of the Greater New Haven Business and Professional Association--an organization that he founded and has led for the last fifty years. A visionary business leader for as long as most of us can remember, Gerry has left an indelible mark on Greater New Haven and particularly the minority business community. Born in Tuskegee, Alabama on New Year's Day of 1929, Gerry joined the U.S. Army in 1950 following his graduation from Hampton University. He served our nation with distinction during his two years of active service and twenty-eight years of service in the U.S. Army Reserves, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. His graduate studies brought him to New York University and he soon settled in New Haven, Connecticut with his late wife, Yvonne. He opened the Gerald S. Clark Insurance Agency in 1965 and spearheaded the development of Dixwell Plaza as well as serving as a founding member of the Dixwell Merchants Association. Gerry quickly became a driving force in Greater New Haven's business community. He has served as a member of the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Tennis Foundation of Connecticut Board of Directors, Science Park Development Corporation, Chapel Square of New Haven, the Minority Enterprise Small Business Investment Corporation, the Airport Commission, the City-Wide School Building Committee, the New Haven Scholarship Fund, the Greater New Haven NAACP, and the Technology Investment Fund. Indeed there is no part of our City that has not been impacted by his dedicated efforts. Perhaps his greatest contribution to the Greater New Haven community has been the establishment of the Greater New Haven Business and Professional Association. An organization dedicated to helping improve small and minority businesses and professions within Connecticut, to assisting in the development of new enterprises among minority businesses inside and around the community, enhancing the cultural and spiritual values of the community through communications and economic cooperation, and to promoting the development of business and economic resources in the minority community. For more than fifty years, Gerry has led this organization and helped to ensure that its members have had access to services that have enabled their businesses to flourish. Small businesses are the backbone of our nation's economy and one of the keys to creating new jobs. In today's challenging economic climate, organizations like the Greater New Haven Business & Professional Association are more important than ever--fostering the entrepreneurial spirit of small business owners in our community. I would be remiss if I did not extend a special note of thanks to Gerry for his many years of friendship. There are few who have dedicated more of themselves to the New Haven community and its residents than Gerry Clark. His unique vision and leadership have made this organization the success it is today and his good work has helped to shape the very character of our City. I am honored to stand today to join his children, Gerald, Tanya, and William, his seven grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren as well as the many friends, colleagues, and community leaders who have gathered today in extending my deepest thanks and appreciation to Gerald Clark, Sr. for his invaluable contributions to our community as well as my very best wishes for many more years of health and happiness as he enjoys his retirement.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to join the New Haven Manufacturers Association and the many family, friends, and colleagues who have gathered as Jerry Clupper, Executive Director of the Association, is honored with the 2016 American Manufacturing Hall of Fame Leadership Award. For more than two decades, Jerry has played an integral role in advancing manufacturing, as an industry and a career path and this award is a reflection of all of his good work. Owner of Process Services, LLC and Executive Director of the New Haven Manufacturing Association for the last fifteen years, there are few who devoted as much time and energy to advocating for manufacturing in our state. Manufacturing has grown in so many ways yet too many hold tight to the stereotypical images of grimy factory floors and workerd faces stained with grease and dirt. No one has worked harder to change that image than Jerry. He has spent countless hours meeting with his fellow manufacturers, collaborating with high school and college educators, and advocating for changes in the halls of Connecticut's General Assembly. From workforce development to investment in manufacturing, Jerry has and continues to be a catalyst for change-- strengthening relationships between the community and the industry and inspiring a new generation of manufacturers. I would be remiss if I did not take a moment to extend a personal note of thanks to Jerry. Over the years, he has helped myself and my staff on a variety of projects. He has joined me at local technical high schools to look at ways Congress can support skills training that better prepares students for local manufacturing jobs. We have visited community colleges where he has helped to develop curriculums for advanced manufacturing degrees that help those graduates meet the changing needs of our manufacturing industry. And it was under his leadership that the New Haven Manufacturing Association and I developed the concept and legislation for the Manufacturing Reinvestment Act. He has been an invaluable resource and what began as a working collaborative has grown into a cherished friendship. Jerry Clupper has been a leader in Connecticut's manufacturing industry in every sense of the. word. His vision, dedication, and advocacy have renewed the spirit of an industry that has a long and proud Connecticut history. There is no one more deserving of being honored with the 2016 American Manufacturing Hall of Fame Leadership Award. I am honored to rise today to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Jerry on this very special and prestigious recognition

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with my sincere thanks and appreciation that I rise today to join the many who have gathered to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Connecticut Mental Health Center--a remarkable milestone for this exceptional institution. In 1963, President John F. Kennedy signed into law the Community Mental Health Act, a pioneering piece of legislation that sought to transform the way in which we, as a society, approached mental health treatment. It was from this legislation that the Connecticut Mental Health Center, a unique partnership between the State of Connecticut and Yale University, was inspired and conceived. Opening its doors in 1966, CMHC has been an invaluable resource to our community for half a century, not only as a service provider but as a leader in research, education, and community. Each year, more than five thousand of our most vulnerable citizens count on the Center for comprehensive clinical, addiction, and rehabilitative services. For fifty years, the Connecticut Mental Health Center has been transforming the lives of those with mental illness and addiction issues by providing a safe space where they can find the services they need to live, work, learn, and participate fully in their community. Their outreach programs for the homeless, those who are at serious risk for mental illness, or involved with the criminal justice system have helped to ensure that those most at risk are able to find the care they need. CMHC's community education programs have helped community leaders better understand mental illness and addiction and their professional education programs have trained hundreds in Psychiatry, Neuropharmacology, Psychology, Psychiatric Nursing, as well as Pastoral and Social Work. In addition, CMHC is a national leader in cutting-edge research and innovation. CMHC's mission statement concludes with a message to which they have strived for fifty years: ``Continued success means transforming our systems of care to be suitable to the new environment, while preserving our fundamental commitment to excellent culturally sensitive, clinical, rehabilitative, and preventative services, linked to nationally recognized research and educational programs.'' It is their dedication to continually ensuring that the care they are providing is meeting the changing needs of their clients and community that has been their greatest gift. I have had the privilege to work with the Connecticut Mental Health Center on a variety of issues over my tenure in Congress and have always been in awe of the outstanding work that they do. Today, as administrators, staff, supporters, and community leaders gather to mark this golden milestone, I am honored to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Connecticut Mental Health Center on their 50th Anniversary. I have no doubt that they will continue their invaluable work for many more years to come.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this bill. The 21st Century Cures bill aims to promote biomedical innovation and mental health, noble goals that I share. Unfortunately, this bill sets a dangerous precedent and has the potential to do more harm than good for millions of Americans. In its attempt to speed up the drug and device approval process, this legislation neglects the very people whom clinical trials are meant to help, that is, the patients. Rather than protect those who rely on the healthcare system, it reduces the already weak regulation on medical devices, allows drugs to be approved with only limited evidence of the drug's safety and efficacy, and rushes the use of new and unproven antibiotics. An example, 13 models of the St. Jude's defibrillators are currently being recalled for sudden battery failure that has been linked to at least two deaths, 10 people fainting, and 37 people feeling dizzy. When the cost of our prescription drugs is skyrocketing, this bill does nothing to combat excessive prices. Finally, this bill strips away funding from the public health and prevention fund. While the bill authorizes $4.8 billion to the NIH over the next 10 years--on average, a mere $480 million a year--this is barely a quarter per year of what the House passed last year. Let us not forget that we would need to provide $7 billion a year to keep up where we were in 2003. There is also no guarantee that the appropriators will follow through and provide funding each year, as we have seen with the public health prevention fund, which has been used to fill appropriations shortfalls. Illness touches us all. We owe it to the patients who depend on the standards that we set. Unfortunately, I believe the standards in this bill are both weak and dangerous. This legislation is the wrong path forward, and I strongly oppose it.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the Walberg bill. We must allow the Department of Labor to implement and enforce the Overtime Rule, giving employees a fair day's pay for a fair day's work. The American people have waited long enough. In 1975, approximately 62 percent of salaried workers were covered by overtime protections-- but according to the White House, that is just 7 percent today. This bill would deny the 4.2 million American workers affected by this rule $600 million dollars. For working families making under the overtime rule's threshold, six months of lost overtime pay means less food on the table, less gas in the car, less money in the college fund. We cannot play politics with the incomes of hardworking Americans. The biggest issue facing our country today is that families are not making enough to live on. The overtime rule is a step to lessen the burden on hardworking but struggling families--it is commonsense and overdue. According to the Economic Policy Institute, workers who will benefit the most from the new rule include women, African Americans, Latinos, and workers under 35. The Department of Labor spent more than a year meeting with 200 stakeholders to collect input for the new rule--and collected more than 270,000 public comments, which they took seriously to make significant changes to the rule, making it work for businesses and working families. I would also add that in 2004, the last time we raised the overtime rule threshold, the Bush Administration used a 120-day implementation period. We are providing even more time, for a rule that is much less complex. This delay is unnecessary and harmful--and we cannot let it pass. This proposal throws up another unnecessary and shameful hurdle in the way of the overtime rule. We have an obligation to do right by our working families.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this continuing resolution, though I prefer full-year funding for all of the government rather than just through December 9. It is good that this bill funds veterans and military construction programs through next year. While I am pleased that the bill includes $1.1 billion for the Zika public health emergency, I am very disappointed that this funding comes 7 months after the President's emergency request and is $800 million short. Zika is a public health crisis that has waited too long to be funded. Congress should have provided this funding before local transmission began in Florida and in Puerto Rico. Zika is long from over, and we will need to provide additional resources to combat the Zika virus in the future. In the interim, this supplemental does address some critical Zika- related needs in the U.S. and its territories. It includes $126 million for healthcare services, including, yes, contraceptive services for Puerto Rico and the territories to help nearly 20,000 people infected with Zika, including more than 1,300 pregnant women. Another $400 million in the Zika supplemental is for advanced research and development at NIH and BARDA, which will support clinical trials of vaccine candidates and advanced diagnostics. I am pleased that State and local health departments, which are under severe financial strain, will be reimbursed for $44 million that was taken from their budgets earlier this year. I am disappointed that we are not providing the people of Flint, Michigan, with immediate relief after failing to provide emergency resources for over a year. While I support quickly providing emergency assistance to Louisiana, we should do the same to assist the people of Flint--9,000 children, lead poisoning. I hope that the chairman will have that same commitment to Flint, Michigan, as he does to Louisiana. I am also disappointed that this bill contains almost half a percent across-the-board funding cuts. We can and must do better going forward.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor the memory of Officer Montrell Jackson, a victim of gun violence who never received a moment of action on the House floor.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, we are here again today because the American people are demanding action; they are begging us to stop the killing. And I urge my Republican colleagues: Listen to your constituents. Do your job. Pursue commonsense gun violence legislation. We need to vote on legislation that makes a real impact on the epidemic of gun violence in this country, and we need to vote now. The American people want us to do our job. They want bipartisan legislation, and we have a moral obligation to take action. For each of us, it is personal. In every community, the effects of gun violence have left scars that will never heal. In my home State of Connecticut, we know how devastating this can be. After the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary, we lost 6 incredible caring adults, 20 beautiful children. We said, ``Never again.'' Since Sandy Hook, 39,000 or more people have been killed by a gun. There have been over 1,200 mass shootings in movie theaters, churches, nightclubs, and safe havens. We have held 31 moments of silence on the floor of the House in honor of these brothers, sisters, children, and babies; yet we have held zero votes on bipartisan gun violence prevention legislation. Let's move to a real no fly, no buy bill, one that actually prevents potential terrorists from getting dangerous weapons. We need to address the issue of universal background checks. The gun lobby would have you believe that background checks are a wedge issue. It is a lie. Ninety two percent of gun owners support background checks and 72 percent of NRA members support background checks. The victims' families do not get a break from their grief, so we will not take a break until we get a bill, a real bill with concrete, enforceable measures that will stop the killing. The American people deserve real, concrete gun legislation. How many more people must suffer and die before we open our eyes?

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, when we were elected to serve, we were charged with a responsibility, the responsibility to give our constituents a voice in Washington. They are crying out for action on the public health emergencies that are plaguing our country. And if we do not act, why are we here? We need to vote on legislation that makes an impact on the epidemic of gun violence in our country. The American people are demanding a vote, and we have a moral obligation to take action. For each of us, it is personal. In every community in this country, the effects of gun violence have left scars that will never heal. Congress also needs to act immediately on Zika. We must fund the President's request that was made 5 months ago. We must not put American women in the predicament of choosing whether or not they should get pregnant or, if they are already pregnant, wondering whether or not their baby is okay. We are also facing a nationwide opioid epidemic that is sounding alarms that we must heed. We are all seeing this in our districts. And the lead poisoning of thousands of children in Flint, Michigan, and across our country has not disappeared. Over 500,000 children every day are affected by lead poisoning. We were elected to vote on issues working families care about. The Republican majority left town, abdicating its responsibility and leaving the American people at risk.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor the memory of Roderick Nelms, a victim of gun violence who never received a moment of silence on the House floor.

Ms. DeLAURO. I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor the memory of Elton Wayne Madison, a victim of gun violence who never received a moment of action on this House floor.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, when I arrived home last night, I found this note; and I won't say the name of the family who sent it, but I will just briefly read a bit of the content. ``Dear Congresswoman DeLauro, thank you for standing up for gun legislation. My three kids and I traveled from Westport, Connecticut, to D.C. today to support all those who are taking a stand. I hope my children remember that our government will speak up for those who can't and protect those it serves.'' Stand up and protect. That is the oath of office that we take. That is what our job is. And I rise today to urge my colleagues across the aisle to pursue commonsense gun violence legislation. We need to vote, to vote on legislation that makes an impact on the epidemic of gun violence in this country. The people of this great Nation are demanding a vote, and we have a moral obligation and a responsibility to take action. We need to move a no fly, no buy bill, one that actually prevents potential terrorists from getting dangerous weapons, and 85 percent of the American public supports this legislation. When we were elected to serve, we were charged with the responsibility, the responsibility to give constituents, our constituents, a voice in Washington, D.C. They are crying out for action, and if we do not provide that action, what were we sent here to do? I say very frankly to the American public, if we are not addressing this need, send us home. Send us home. But our work cannot stop just with no fly, no buy. We need to address the issue of universal background checks. I would go a step further. I would ban assault weapons. I think we need to hold gun manufacturers accountable for crimes committed with their guns. I believe we need additional mental health resources, and to fund mental health programs sufficiently so that people get the help that they need. And we need to conduct research on gun violence. For each of us, it is personal. In every community in this country the effects of gun violence have left scars, scars that are never going to heal. Again, in my State, in Connecticut, we know how devastating this can be. After the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary, we lost six incredible, caring adults and 20 beautiful children, and we said, never again. Yet, since Sandy Hook there have been hundreds of gun deaths in Connecticut, brothers, sisters, children, babies. The same story is true across our country, on the streets of our cities every day, in movie theaters, in churches, in nightclubs, in safe havens. The massacre in Orlando was one of the deadliest shootings in American history. Forty-nine people at the Pulse were killed; wounded, 53. I would just like to take a moment to remember just one of them, Kimberly Morris, though her friends called her K.J. She was from Connecticut and she worked at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando. She had recently moved from Hawaii to Orlando to help care for her mother and her grandmother. Friends said she always wore a smile. A former basketball teammate of K.J.'s from Post University in Waterbury, Connecticut, said that K.J. was ``the sweetest person--I don't think I've ever seen her upset. What I would say is that she had a happy soul.'' She was only 37 when she was murdered at Pulse nightclub. Her death and the deaths of the other 48 people who were killed in this atrocious hate crime have left a void that cannot be filled for their families, for their friends, for the LGBT community, and for the American people. The victims' families do not get a break from grief, so we will not take a break until we get a bill--a bill with concrete, enforceable measures that will stop the killings. We must bring comprehensive, commonsense gun violence prevention measures to the floor of this people's House and reject measures that fall short of the standards this country deserves. It is the very least that we can do for the families who suffer grief that most of us will never understand. That is what our job is. That is what you elected us to do, to protect people, to protect the American people. Not one more death, not one more empty moment of silence followed by inaction. The American people deserve concrete gun violence legislation. They deserve to know that their elected officials are standing up for them and protecting them.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, we must pursue commonsense gun violence legislation, legislation that makes a real impact on the epidemic of gun violence in our country. The American people are crying out for a vote, and we have a moral obligation to take action. Two weeks ago, Democrats stood and sat on this floor and demanded a commonsense gun violence prevention bill. We are back today to continue that fight. The bills the Republicans are bringing to the floor this week do little to eliminate the scourge of gun violence in our communities. In fact, the Zeldin bill is supported by the National Rifle Association. I think that is all you need to know. We need to move a real no fly, no buy bill, one that actually prevents potential terrorists from getting dangerous weapons. But our work cannot stop there because gun violence in this country does not only occur at the hands of terrorists. We need to address the issue of universal background checks, to ban assault weapons, and to conduct research on gun violence. No more deaths. The American people deserve a Congress that votes on the issues that they most care about. Not one more death in this country.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I am in strong opposition to the rule, to this flawed financial services bill, but that is not why I have risen to speak. I have risen to speak today because the American people are crying out. They are crying out for a vote on legislation that makes a real impact on the epidemic of gun violence in our country. Last week, in my district, Stratford, Connecticut, I stood in front of the Victoria Soto School, demanding commonsense gun violence legislation. When the gunman began firing at Sandy Hook Elementary, Vicki Soto hid her students in the closet. She died protecting them. The AR-15 was on the floor by her body. She was a hero. She committed her time, her effort, and her life to protecting and caring for children. The school is a fitting tribute to Vicki and her life's work. There, children can be children. But it is also a stark reminder of the real and heartbreaking cost of gun violence, and it is a visible reminder of what is at stake and why we need comprehensive gun violence legislation now. We must take action for Victoria, for the Soto family. I watch how her parents suffer and her siblings suffer every single day, but we need to do that for the Soto family and for every family like them who know grief most of us will never understand. We must now act for the families in Aurora, the families in Newtown, the families in San Bernardino, the families in Orlando, and the families of those who are killed every single day on the streets of every city in this Nation. You know, we cannot heal the hole in their heart, but what we can do is what we have been charged to do in this institution, and that is to vote on public policy that makes a difference in the lives of the people that we have sworn to serve to uphold their rights. That is why I urge commonsense gun legislation; universal background checks; and no fly, no buy. Let's keep guns out of the hands of terrorists. I would go further. I would ban assault weapons. I want to see gun violence prevention research done. I want to see the mental health services that we need additionally to protect people in this Nation from gun violence. But I think that what we can conclude is that not one more death. While moments of silence are good things to do, we cannot just have one more moment of silence. The American people deserve real, concrete gun violence prevention legislation. That is what our job is to do. We can do it. That is what we have been elected to do.