Susan Davis

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, two issues have been plaguing communities across the nation: gun violence and excessive force by police. Make no mistake, these are very separate issues. They're problems that people in my district care deeply about and that deserve to be addressed in their own right. But both of these are urgent crises that are making our communities less safe. These issues deserve action here in Congress, but they'll both take much more than that. Solving these issues won't just happen in this House, it's a discussion that needs to happen in every house across America. It will require us to come together and really listen to each other, to understand things from a perspective that many of us haven't experienced. Many of us will never know what it's like to lose someone to gun violence, just as many of us don't know what it's like to have to sit your kids down and explain to them that they need to be careful because they won't necessarily be treated fairly by law enforcement. Addressing these two issues will take a level of empathy and cooperation that, frankly, we haven't seen a lot of in Washington lately. And it will take a will to act. These are complicated problems, with no single, simple solution, but that shouldn't stop us from trying.

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, Members have been coming forth all afternoon, talking about the fact that our constituents are feeling great anxiety. They feel and they look to Congress, and they think there are some issues here that we can deal with in our communities. We are going to be having some very serious and deep conversations about some of the concerns that we have, but there are a few issues that this House--the people's House--needs to deal with while our constituents are dealing in their own houses with some of the concerns that are addressed by education, by poverty, by guns. There are too many guns in their communities. We have been hearing repeatedly that we can close the gun show loophole here in Congress, in the people's House, and we should. We can close the fact that there are people who can fly today who are on no-fly lists. We can change that in the people's House. We have to get on this, and that is why it is discouraging when there is time--when there are hours and minutes and days--that we are not working on these issues. People look to us. They want us to solve those problems that local government cannot solve alone.

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor the memory of Cora Wilson, a victim of gun violence who never received a moment of silence on this House floor.

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, had I been present for votes on July 5, 2016, I would have voted the following way: No on the Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on H. Res. 796. No on H. Res. 796. No on the Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on H. Res. 793. No on H. Res. 793. Yes on H.R. 4854. Yes on H.R. 4855.

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, as we have heard repeatedly, this past weekend, Omar Mateen walked into a nightclub that had been a fixture of Orlando's LGBT community for over a decade and opened fire, killing 49 people and wounding dozens more. This tragedy was many things. It was an act of terror and the deadliest mass shooting in American history. It was an attack targeting the LGBT community in what was meant to be a safe space on what was meant to be a night of celebration. Information is still coming in about the perpetrator and his past, and we will continue to learn more in the days ahead. But we do know now that Mateen had been investigated by the FBI for possible terrorist ties and placed on the terrorist watch list. Despite this, he was able to pass a background check and legally purchase a gun. There were other warning signs as well. He was described by coworkers and family as a violent and unstable person with a history of domestic abuse. But the loophole by which suspected terrorists can purchase guns is something that we have the power to fix right now with one simple change. The vast majority of Americans agree with us: if you are too dangerous to ride on a plane, you are too dangerous to own a gun. Let's fix this commonsense loophole.

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. ``I told the probation officer I do not want Brock to rot away in prison. I did not say he does not deserve to be behind bars. The probation officer's recommendation of a year or less in county jail is a soft time-out, a mockery of the seriousness of his assaults, an insult to me and all women. It gives the message that a stranger can be inside you without proper consent and he will receive less than what has been defined as the minimum sentence. Probation should be denied. I also told the probation officer that what I truly wanted was for Brock to get it, to understand and admit to his wrongdoing. ``Unfortunately, after reading the defendant's report, I am severely disappointed and feel that he has failed to exhibit sincere remorse or responsibility for his conduct. I fully respected his right to a trial, but even after twelve jurors unanimously convicted him guilty of three felonies, all he has admitted to doing is ingesting alcohol. Someone who cannot take full accountability for his actions does not deserve a mitigating sentence. It is deeply offensive that he would try and dilute rape with a suggestion of `promiscuity'. By definition rape is not the absence of promiscuity, rape is the absence of consent, and it perturbs me deeply that he can't even see that distinction.''

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank Dr. Heck and the committee staff for working in a bipartisan manner to develop this bill and particularly recognize Chairman Thornberry and Ranking Member Smith for their leadership during this process. The bill includes many provisions that will provide the military services flexibility to recruit and retain members of our Armed Forces and to continue our commitment to taking care of military families. One provision that we have expands parental leave for military members to 14 days as well as expanding adoption leave for dual military couples to 36 days to be split between them. It also requires DOD to study flexible maternity and paternity leave sharing for all of our dual military couples. This bill includes reforms that will put the commissary on a sustainable path while protecting the benefit for our servicemembers, retirees, and their families. It also begins to reform and modernize the military healthcare system. Although we would all agree it is not perfect, this bill is long needed to start ensuring that our servicemembers, retirees, and their families continue to receive the best health care in the world through efficient and economical means. Important issues were addressed in this bill. I support many of the reforms and all of the hard work that went into them. However, I am extremely concerned with how this bill is funded. I applaud Chairman Thornberry's desire to increase funds for end strength, modernization, and the operations and maintenance accounts. But the $18 billion required comes from the Overseas Contingency Fund and cuts short resources required for our troops in harm's way. This will require the next Congress to pass a supplemental before May, and that assumes current operations don't increase over the next year. What programs do we cut midyear to find that level of funding? This gimmick creates a hollow force. It will require the military services to hedge their bets that the funding to maintain the increased end strength authorized will be available in fiscal year 2018 when sequestration hits. The world we know is very dangerous in many places, and the pace of combat operations will most likely not diminish in the near future. In light of these dangers, I do not disagree that the Army may need more soldiers. But the Army has not provided us with the requested number, nor have they told Congress how they would create the appropriate force structure to use these additional soldiers. Lastly, this NDAA passed out of committee continued to expand on Congress' efforts to increase opportunities for women to serve our Nation by requiring women to register for the Selective Service. This was only possible because the Department of Defense, after several years of intense review, opened the last remaining combat arms positions to women earlier this year. Unfortunately, the rule for the NDAA strikes the provision without debate. I understand that we are not always going to be in agreement, and that is why we debate and vote issues on the House floor. But to resort to gimmicks to hide debate is unconscionable. This is a national issue that Congress must debate and vote on. I certainly look forward, Mr. Chair, to continuing to work with the chairman and the rest of the committee to ensure we resource our military services in a responsible manner so that we can face the challenges of today and tomorrow.

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand in recognition of one of our nation's most iconic institutions as it celebrates its 100th anniversary. The San Diego Zoo is one of our city's most cherished landmarks, and has been consistently recognized among the world's top zoos. But it is much more than a zoo--it is an economic driver, it educates thousands of children and teachers, and it includes the largest zoo-based conservation research center in the world. It is a place where generations of families have come to appreciate and celebrate the great significance of our planet's most amazing creatures. The San Diego Zoo was founded in 1916 by Dr. Harry M. Wegeforth, Dr. Paul Wegeforth, Dr. Fred Baker, Dr. Joseph C. Thompson, and naturalist Frank Stephens. It began as a sanctuary for animals abandoned after the 1915-1916 Panama-California Exposition held in San Diego, and it quickly became a home for exotic animals donated by private owners, purchased from circuses and other zoos, and recovered from challenging situations in the wild. It is now one of the largest and most important institutions in our city of San Diego and in the State of California. Under current President and CEO Doug Myers' stewardship and vision, the San Diego Zoo has transformed into San Diego Zoo Global, an internationally acclaimed conservation organization. With the mission to ``Save species worldwide by uniting our expertise in animal care and conservation science with our dedication to inspiring a passion for nature,'' this truly global organization aids recovery efforts around the world. San Diego Zoo Global's Institute for Conservation Research took the lead in saving the California condor by designing and implementing a successful captive-breeding program. Thanks to their tireless efforts, a species that was on the brink of extinction 25 years ago now has a population of over 420, with more than 200 living in the wild in California, Arizona, Utah, and Mexico. San Diego Zoo Global is also investing in the future of conservation. Its Global Wildlife Biobank, which stores frozen viable cell cultures, tissue samples, and DNA of more than 10,000 individual animals representing 1,000 species, is perhaps the most important biological vault in the world. This invaluable resource will help San Diego Zoo Global in its mission to lead the fight against extinction, and researchers, universities, and scientific institutions around the world will use it for generations to come. San Diego Zoo Global is not only a catalyst for wildlife conservation, it is an economic driver, attracting more than five million visitors annually and employing our citizens in its parks and research facilities. In 2014, a San Diego Taxpayers Association research study reported that San Diego Zoo Global had an annual economic impact of $1.2 billion--roughly the GDP of Australia. It is one of our city's largest and most stable private employers with 1,610 full-time employees, approximately a quarter of whom have been with the institution for more than 20 years. In addition, San Diego Zoo Global is making an immediate and lasting impact in our nation's classrooms, producing educational materials for children and hosting hands-on conservation research workshops for middle and high school teachers from around the country. Educating and inspiring the next generation to be passionate about wildlife conservation is vital for long-term conservation efforts, and it all begins with one teacher inspiring one classroom. David Attenborough once said, ``People are not going to care about animal conservation unless they think that animals are worthwhile.'' San Diego Zoo Global and their tireless dedication to saving species has not only taught us all that animals are indeed worthwhile--they have set a new standard for zoological institutions worldwide to adopt and share their commitment to wildlife conservation. San Diego Zoo Global has educated generations to appreciate and understand that all creatures, from the African elephant to the kangaroo rat, are vitally important to life here on Earth--and that we all have a role to play in their care and conservation. On behalf of San Diego's Congressional Delegation, I graciously commend San Diego Zoo Global on their 100th Anniversary, for being a beacon for our city of San Diego--driving our economy, educating our students, and bringing the world's animals into our lives, our classrooms, and our consciousness--and leading the fight to end extinction.

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to celebrate the beginning of Women's History Month by recognizing a woman from my home State of California, Sally Ride. Sally Ride personifies the Californian and American spirit of exploration and discovery. In 1983, she became both the first woman and the youngest astronaut NASA has ever sent into space. Over the course of her distinguished career, Ride logged a total of nearly 350 hours in space, and she went on to serve on the committees that investigated the Challenger and the Columbia shuttle disasters. After leaving NASA, she cofounded Sally Ride Science at UC San Diego, which develops educational programs to inspire middle and high school students, especially girls, about science. Sally Ride had a passion for science and space exploration that inspired generations of girls to pursue STEM. I had a chance to meet her and see how everyone reacted to her. She is exactly the kind of woman we should honor this month, one who achieved her own dreams and paved the way for others to do the same.

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Thank you so much. I am so glad that my colleague from Arizona is here to speak to this. She is very uniquely qualified to do that as one of the first women pilots--or the first--to actually fly in combat. As I remember, the women who joined us a few years ago here in the Capitol who were part of the WASPs were here to receive Gold Medals for their heroic acts during the war and for really coming forward and being part of that volunteer band of women who had had some experience in flying, but who could not have imagined in their wildest dreams doing what they were asked to do, but they were delighted to do it. As I will share, they actually wanted to do more, but there were some other people who took over and asked them to go home and enjoy their lives after they had given so much. So I am just delighted to join in this effort and to right this injustice for military trailblazers who were truly ahead of their time. When the call came to serve in World War II, the WASPs answered that call just like millions of other Americans. They logged over 60 million miles in over 12,000 aircraft. As my colleague has said, 38 WASP women died while serving their country. In 2009, as I mentioned, the WASPs were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for flying military missions in World War II. Boy, even when they were here, they were just a strong group of women who delighted in seeing one another and in reminding themselves of the amazing stories that they brought. More than anything else, they serve today as great role models to women who were considering going in the Air Force, of course, and in the Navy, flying for our country, but, also, for taking on some remarkable challenges in their lives. They really represent that for all of us. They fought, of course, and they died in service to their country. They trained in military style. They slept on metal cots like everybody else and marched and lived under military discipline. That is why we feel they deserve the full honors that we give our war heroes. As has been mentioned, they were given those honors, but because we have a problem of space, it was decided that perhaps they were not at the top of the list. We need to be sure that we provide for everyone who needs to be there. There are many WASPs who may not necessarily choose to be at Arlington National Cemetery, but for those who have chosen in working with their families--and their families have fought hard for them--this is something that we need to do. I want to particularly mention--and I thought this was really fun to read--one of the articles about these WASPs. This is Eddy, who is saying, ``I thought it was the nastiest thing that they''--speaking of the Army Air Forces officials--``could have done to us.'' This was while she was receiving visitors at her home in Coronado. ``They fired us. They gave our jobs to Air Force men who didn't want to go overseas. I would have gone overseas in a minute,'' she said. ``I was a (heck of) a good fighter pilot.'' In my community of San Diego, in El Cajon, I also have a woman named Joyce Secciani, who perhaps was not as forthright as Eddy. But despite some fading memories, at 87, she still shares Vivian's passion for the WASPs and her disappointment with its demise. She was also one of the 1,102 women who flew in the all-volunteer program between 1942 and 1944. She remarked, ``All of us felt bad to lose (our flying jobs)--all of us wanted to keep up our ability to fly,'' because they knew that, with prevailing chauvinistic attitudes, there would be no pilots' work for them in the civilian realm. We need to be sure that we don't lose our perspective about the work that these women did and that we honor them in this way, that we honor them and their families who supported them as well, because we know, with all of our military families, it is not just the person who serves, but it is the entire family who serves as well. That was certainly true of these WASPs, whose family members worried about them and were concerned about them as they carried on with their duties as forcibly as they did. Let's send that message. Let's continue to work hard. I know that the WASPs are also planning a museum to honor them and to make sure that the country never forgets the work that they did because it was necessary. Had they not been there to do that work, many, many people would not have received the materials. Whatever it was, they were making sure that it got to our fighting warriors during World War II. I am so delighted that my colleague is choosing to move forward with this. I want to turn it back to her, and I know that there are other colleagues of mine over here that would like very much to join in this.

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, the horrific attack in San Bernardino shows us just how much damage can be done when terrorists have access to firearms; and while we discuss sensible policies that may have prevented this tragedy, I hope we can all agree--certainly, at the very least--that people our government suspects of having terrorist ties should not be allowed to walk into a store, pass a background check, and walk out with a gun. So many Americans have been understandably amazed to hear that people on the FBI's terrorist watch list can legally purchase firearms and that it has happened over 2,000 times in the last 10 years. I know that some have concerns about the accuracy of the watch list or worry that this bill may somehow prevent some law enforcement officers from obtaining guns. We should ensure that the watch list is as accurate as possible, and we can even start that today. But if we are concerned for our law enforcement officers, the least we can do is protect them from the threat of terrorists who are armed with guns. Fixing this loophole is immediate. It is a step we can take to make our country safer. It is a commonsense reform that deserves a vote.

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, November 20th is Transgender Remembrance Day. However, every day we must recognize that transgender men and women are being unjustly discriminated against, bullied, ostracized and even killed because of their sexual identity. On this day, we remember those who were senselessly murdered, those who are targets because they are different and those who end up homeless when family abandon them. Transgender men and women wake up each morning being targets of bigotry and hate. So far in 2015, about 29 transgender men and women, primarily in their early 20s, have been murdered. Many more take their own lives because they simply cannot see life getting better or easier. Organizations like ``Project Trans at the Center'' in San Diego offer a safe environment to be themselves; they offer resources to help with life situations. It's up to Congress to offer protection from discrimination as a basic human right. Imagine a world where you wake up every day with the challenge of existing; where it seems the world is against you no matter what you do. This is their world. Every day. Together we can make a difference and work toward ending discrimination. Today, let's unify and work together to fix the inequality among transgender persons. But tomorrow--let us not forget the struggles they face and the support they need to live freely in a world that is so full of intolerance.

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, this past Friday, the world watched in horror the unfolding of the deadliest attack on French soil since World War II. The attacks in Paris killed 129 people from 26 countries, including one American, a young student from California. To all those affected by these terrible acts, I offer my deepest sympathies. Around the world, tragedies of this scale have become distressingly familiar, but to see one happen in a country at peace, a country with which the United States has shared such a special relationship since our founding days, hits particularly hard. Those who carried out these horrific attacks want us to react with divisiveness and hate; in fact, they depend on it. They know they cannot survive in a world that stands united against them. We must, of course, respond to this threat with strength. But we cannot forget our compassion toward those in France and those in the Middle East fleeing the very same dangers. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., once said: ``Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.''

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Thornberry and Ranking Member Smith; my colleague from Nevada, Dr. Heck, chair of the subcommittee; along with the committee staff for working in a bipartisan manner to incorporate the budget changes from the Bipartisan Budget Act into the NDAA. I am pleased to see this very important bill headed back to the President so that it can be signed into law quickly. The bill includes many good provisions to improve our military. It takes important steps toward personnel reform by including recommendations from the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission, a key provision in the modernization of the military retirement system. As has been mentioned before--and this is very, very important, I think, for everyone--while maintaining the 20-year defined retirement, a Thrift Savings Plan is added not just for retirees, but for all servicemembers. This will positively impact the 83 percent of the Force that leaves prior to the 20-year mark. The NDAA also continues the committee's critical work towards the prevention and response to sexual assault. Although the bill allows for some pilot programs to improve health care for servicemembers and their families, we need to do more. I am pleased that Chairman Thornberry has asked the Military Personnel Subcommittee to begin working on reforming the Military Health System. Important issues clearly are addressed in this bill, and I support many of the provisions and all the hard work that went into it. As we know, national security is born from many factions, including the education of our people, investment in science and technology, and the support of sustainable resources and infrastructure. The Bipartisan Budget Act provides for these investments over the next 2 years. We must capitalize on the time provided and fix the national budget so that we don't find ourselves back in the same situation we were in just a few weeks ago. Our national security is far too important.

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, Speaker Boehner has pledged to clean the barn before handing the Speakership over later this week. So far, we are off to a good start. First, a bipartisan majority is finally able to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank. Ex-Im supports countless American jobs and historically has enjoyed broad bipartisan support. Today we learned of a bipartisan deal. I am still reviewing the details of this compromise, but I am encouraged that the leaders of both parties came together to protect the full faith and credit of the United States and to reduce the burden of sequestration. Now, I represent the heart of San Diego. We don't have many farms in my district, but even I know that, when you put off cleaning the barn, the you-know-what tends to pile up. There is so much more that Congress should be doing that we are not doing this week. We still need a highway bill that will improve our Nation's infrastructure and create jobs. We need meaningful immigration reform and a deal to get rid of sequestration once and for all. Let's hope this week marks the beginning of an effort to not just clean the barn, but to keep the barn clean.

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. What is important? What was Secretary Carter talking about? Predictability. Not just for our folks at the Pentagon to be able to make sure the men and women of this country are provided with everything that they need, but we also need to be sure that those who work with our country--we have a very strong contractual relationship with the public-private sector in this country, and we need to provide prediction for them as well. That is why I stand today. I believe it is in the best interests to go back and work this out.

Mrs. DAVIS of California. I work in a community of large numbers of military families. And guess what, the military is no different from the rest of our country. It is made safer and stronger by Homeland Security, by law enforcement, by environmental protection, and by strong education programs. They care about all those things, so they want us to stand up for their children and for their future. Mr. Speaker, we can do this together. Let's take that chance. It is worth it.

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I want to associate myself with the ranking member because I think that we all work very, very hard on this committee, and I appreciate the work that our chairman has done as well. I have to say I am speaking largely as someone who has never not supported an NDAA. I actually did support it in committee, and I support it on the floor. But I think we are in a box, and sometimes when you get in a box, you have got to do something about it. You can't just stay in there and sit. It means making some hard decisions. Mr. Speaker, I have listened in the committee when Secretary Carter was there. I have to say I think he was a bit badgered in that discussion, but at the same time, he is a big boy and he can handle that. Basically what he said is of course we support all those issues, of course we want a better budget for the men and women who serve our country because it is in the best interests of the United States of America, but we also have to be concerned about the future, not just about tomorrow. We have got to be able to do this for the men and women and for our country as we move forward. That is what this doesn't do. We have got to give this a chance. There has got to be a better chance. That is why I feel that I have been there. I have compromised; and there are a lot of members on that committee, honestly, who are not willing to compromise. We have tried to find that balance. Mr. Speaker, I am really proud of the work that we have done on the Military Personnel Subcommittee. I am proud because we made some gains. We have sort of shuffled some issues a little bit to be able to say to our leaders that we understand their concerns, we understand what readiness means in this country, and we have got to deal with that. Maybe we can't deal with all these issues that we have tried to make sure we funded to the very, very highest limit that we could possibly do. We know there are some changes perhaps that are coming, and so we do it in an incremental way, in a slow way, and something that we think is in the best interests of the men and women and the country all at the same time. We have got to do that. We have multiple global crises going on in this country. So we can't just make a decision for today; it has got to be down the line. What is it that we need to do?

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, if it is September, it must mean another shutdown on the horizon. The same small band within the House majority is demanding another shutdown of the Federal Government. Mr. Speaker, we have seen this movie before. In the mid-1990s, conservatives shut down the Federal Government, demanding cuts to Medicare, threatening the healthcare security of seniors. Just 2 years ago, the government was shut down as conservatives demanded an end to the Affordable Care Act, threatening the healthcare security of millions of Americans. This time, the demand is to end funding for Planned Parenthood, threatening the healthcare security of millions of women, many of them low income. A recent poll showed that more than 7 out of 10 Americans want Congress to do its job and reach a budget agreement, but like a bad horror movie franchise, the GOP keeps turning out shutdown sequel after shutdown sequel. Guess what--the American people don't get to walk out on this sequel. They have to sit and suffer through it.

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, after much deliberation and soul searching, I am convinced that the P5+1 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action creates a viable path to reduce Iran's nuclear weapons capability. For that reason, I believe this agreement is in the best interest of the United States. Of course, the agreement must also be in the best interest of our friends in the Middle East. As someone who has lived in Israel and has returned many times since, I understand that, for Israelis and Americans with close ties to Israel, Iran threatening to wipe Israel off the map is not an abstract concern. It has been less than a hundred years since the Jewish people nearly suffered such a fate. The threat of annihilation is very real to Israelis, and it is very real to me. I would never take a vote that I thought could leave my grandchildren a world without a strong, safe Israel. Mr. Speaker, I am under no illusions that this agreement will end Iran's hegemonic ambitions, but I can't allow their destabilizing behavior to have the protection of a nuclear umbrella. I agree with the former head of the IDF, the Israeli Defense Force, the head of that intelligence agency, Amos Yadlin, that, if we walk away from this agreement, Iran will remain closer to a nuclear bomb in the coming years, and the chances of a collapse of the sanctions regime will increase. Nobody in this Chamber, Mr. Speaker, trusts Iran. That is why we need and we must have and take the responsibility to come together after this vote to make sure that the United States is exercising all of its initiative to implement this agreement and to address what we know will come, those inevitable challenges.

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, June may be LGBT Pride month. Back home in San Diego we continue to celebrate well into July, and we sure have something to be proud of this year. The Supreme Court finally affirmed what all of us know to be true, that love is love, that equality is for everyone, and that discrimination against one is discrimination against all. Without knowing the outcome of the Supreme Court decision, but knowing that all are created equal, San Diego Pride appropriately chose this year's theme as ``Liberty and Justice for All.'' As we continue to push toward that goal, we can't forget that there is more to be done. LGBT individuals still do not have workplace or housing protections in many States. Many LGBT students aren't protected from bullying in schools, and transgender individuals, in particular, face added obstacles that arise from stigma and ignorance. So while we have much to be proud of, there is still work for this House to do. Let's come together to ensure that truly there is liberty and justice for all.

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, here we go again, back to the same bill we debated earlier this year that continues to embrace the idea that less Federal oversight over Federal dollars is what we need to transform K-12 education. The opposition seems to believe that removing Federal standards would help local leaders make tough decisions. That is absolutely wrong. It actually makes it harder. For 9 years, I served on a school board in a large urban school district, and I remember agonizing over the decision to move money from one high-needs school to another. In the end, it was the law and safeguards around title I that helped direct us to make sure the money went to the students that required the greatest assistance. This changes that. Mr. Speaker, what we need is a Federal law that gives guidance to local school board members that must deal with thousands of competing interests every single day and which enables local leaders ultimately to make the right decision. Mr. Speaker, today represents a missed opportunity. We need a 21st century education system that makes investment in all our Nation's children. That and only that will help our Nation compete in the global economy. Today's reauthorization of ESEA not only misses the mark, but actually moves us in the wrong direction. I urge a ``no'' vote on the rule, a ``no'' vote on final passage and also on the Salmon amendment.

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Today we recognize the first National Gun Violence Awareness Day, and when you look around, you will see a lot of people wearing orange. This day was declared in memory of Hadiya Pendleton, a teen-age girl who was shot and killed in a park 2 years ago. She would have turned 18 today. Hadiya's story is sadly familiar. For Americans under the age of 20, gun violence is now the second leading cause of death. Mr. Speaker, in recent years, we have lost more children to guns here at home than we did soldiers in Iraq and Afghan. It shouldn't be political to say that these shootings need to stop. I hope we can all agree that America's young people deserve better. We owe it to Hadiya and those like her to come together on this issue and work to prevent future tragedies. We know that simple solutions like mandatory background checks, which a majority of Americans support, can make all the difference. Mr. Speaker, the situation is dire, and action is long overdue. I urge my colleagues to act now on sensible gun control.

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank Dr. Heck and the committee staff for working in a bipartisan manner to develop this bill, and I also want to thank Chairman Thornberry and Ranking Member Smith for their leadership during this process. The bill takes important steps toward personnel reform by including recommendations from the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission, and I think we all want to thank them for their work. A key provision is the modernization of the military retirement system. While maintaining the 20-year defined retirement, a thrift savings plan is added not just for retirees, but for all servicemembers. This will positively impact the 83 percent of the force--I am going to say it again--83 percent of the force that leaves prior to the 20-year mark. The NDAA continues the committee's critical work towards the prevention of and response to sexual assault. Several provisions will increase access to better trained special victims counsel, prevent retaliation against servicemembers, and increase awareness and training to better aid male victims of sexual assault. Once again, the bill does not contain the Department's request to administer changes to the commissary system, reductions to the housing allowance, or TRICARE reform, but we must address these issues in some way in the future. Reform of the military healthcare system is crucial to ensure that care is elevated to a level befitting our servicemembers, our wounded veterans, retirees, and their families. Important issues were addressed in this bill, and I support many of the provisions and all the hard work that went into it. However, national security is borne from many factions, including the education of our people, investment in science and technology, and the support of sustainable resources and infrastructure. All of these realms, Mr. Chairman, must be funded adequately and properly in order for our military to remain the most elite force in the world. I am disappointed that this NDAA, although meeting the President's budget number request, does not follow the funding rules we have abided by in the past, thereby placing our national security in jeopardy.

Mrs. DAVIS of California

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring back our girls. I recently returned from a bicameral delegation mission to several African countries, focusing on terrorist threats. The girls are still on everyone's minds, as are the increasingly frequent and violent attacks of Boko Haram. With Boko Haram's recent alignment with ISIL, we must do more to counter the growing worldwide threat. We must work with the Nigerian Government and President Buhari, along with the Governments of Chad, Kenya, Cameroon, and any other nation willing to stand up and fight. Building partner capacity by assisting in military training and sharing intelligence will go a long way in the fight to end this cancer. We must also ensure that the voices of women everywhere are elevated, not just in Nigeria, but around the world. Nowhere in this world should girls fear for their lives just because they want an education.