Dwight Evans

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Child Care for Economic Recovery Act. Even before the pandemic, childcare in Pennsylvania cost twice what is considered affordable, and working families struggled with a shortage of quality care. Now, Pennsylvania could lose half of its childcare supply due to the pandemic. This bill funds improvements to help childcare centers reopen and operate safely and addresses longstanding barriers to help families secure quality care. We should invest now to upgrade childcare facilities of all sizes and ensure children have a safe place to be. We must act to protect children and the providers who care for them. I would like to close by thanking all the childcare workers who provide essential services to American families. Now, let's pass this bill.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise to honor truly a great American, a real-life hero, who I was fortunate enough to have as a colleague for 4 years, including the 2 years serving together on the Ways and Means Committee. Congressman John Lewis has been an inspiration to me from a very young age. I remember the first time I saw him on the Walter Cronkite evening news. He was walking across the Pettus Bridge in Selma. I felt very strongly about him and what he was doing. Madam Speaker, I was 10 years old, and I found him to be inspiring. He was purposeful. He was driven to make a difference. He was driven for ``good trouble.'' As a result of his action and because of the action of another gentleman who was a part of the Big Six, Whitney Young, I worked at the Urban League. I recall being elected to the Pennsylvania State House at 26 years of age, and it was John Lewis that inspired me, though I had never been to Alabama, but I had seen him on television. I remember that impression that he left upon me, because--although I had heard all the words I have heard today--I had never seen such determination. So you can imagine growing up in the city of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, him from Selma, Alabama, and the influence he was having. I also honored him by welcoming Congressman Lewis to the southeast part of Pennsylvania for a gun reform ceasefire. I recall introducing him. I recall all of that. But now, Madam Speaker, we must carry on his work of civil rights, equal opportunity. Most of all, we must rededicate ourselves to protecting the right to vote and making use of hard-won rights, a right for which John Lewis and many others sacrificed for all of us. So I say to you, Madam Speaker and Mr. Chairman, he should rest in peace and power.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a truly great American and a real-life hero. I was fortunate enough to have him as a colleague for 4 years. Congressman John Lewis has been an inspiration to me at a very young age. I remember the first time I saw him was on the evening news. He was walking across the Pettus Bridge. I felt very strongly about him and what he was doing. I was 10 years old, and I found him to be inspiring. He was purposeful. He was driven to make a difference. He was driven to make some good trouble. Now, we must carry on with the work of civil rights and equal opportunity. Rest in power, Congressman Lewis.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act. Our Nation's public schools are in desperate need of repair, school facilities across the country. I come from the city of Philadelphia, where our average public school buildings are more than 70 years old. I am proud to say that H.R. 158, the Rehabilitation of Historical Schools Act, which I am the sponsor of, is in this. H.R. 158 allows the historic tax credit to be used for rehabilitation of public school buildings. President Trump used the historical tax credit to transform an old public building, a post office, into a hotel. I believe that should be made available to fix our schools. Our children all deserve an equal shot at the future, regardless of their ZIP Code. I stand proudly supporting H.R. 2, because I commend the leadership of my chairman here, who is demonstrating that we need to work this all together.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I, too, as all of my colleagues, not just Pennsylvanians, but all the others, stand up to speak about a young man, because he was a young man, Congressman Michael Fitzpatrick. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember him not as just a departed colleague from the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, but he was also a good person. He was someone whom I knew from the fact that, when I was in the State legislature and he was a Congressman, that although I was not in his congressional district, I knew him very much as a person. I knew his leadership; I knew what he provided; and I knew his friendliness. He, both, was a principled conservative and comfortable working with people on both sides of the aisle. That is how he got things done, including the creation of the Washington Crossing National Cemetery. He also led the effort to better secure passenger planes from terrorism, a cause inspired by September 11 families from Bucks County. Bucks County was very close to the congressional district in the legislative district I represented. Limekiln Pike is something that led up directly to Bucks County. So Mike was not a stranger to the issues in the southeast part of Pennsylvania, as well as the city of Philadelphia, as well as the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. My fellow Democrats from this district all remember him as a true patriot, a father to Bucks County, a man of grace and honor who looked past politics in the community. There is a quote from my departed colleague, and this is what he said: ``Some legislators look back at how many bills they passed. I measure my time by how many people I helped.'' That was a quote that Mike has stated, and I think it is important if all of us remember this. So, in that spirit, we from Pennsylvania stand with that spirit of Michael Fitzpatrick. It is safe to say he helped a lot of people. Mr. Speaker, to Brian and his family, please know that you are in our prayers and our thoughts. We don't take that lightly. We understand it. I say to you that I am honored to be a part of the delegation of people who are standing here today to add my voice to the importance of what Michael Fitzpatrick meant to this body and to this country, and I thank him.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the chairperson of the Small Business Committee, Chairwoman Velazquez, for yielding. The gentlewoman has, in the 3 years that I have been here, led this committee in a very positive direction, and also as the ranking member before she became chair. Ranking Member Chabot has also been a partner in this effort. I thank him too for his leadership of working together. I thank Mr. Hagedorn from the great State of Minnesota, which is one of my favorite places--Sleepy Eye, Minnesota--the gentleman knows that I know about Sleepy Eye--as well as Mr. Joyce, who is a colleague from Pennsylvania. I thank my colleagues for their leadership on this bill. The well-being of our communities depend in part on what we do to create circumstances where small businesses can thrive. When small businesses thrive, Americans enjoy great economic security. In my home city of Philadelphia, minorities constitute about 65 percent of the population. Yet, they constitute 80 percent of those in poverty. Coupled with the fact that the city has a poverty rate of nearly 25 percent, creating economic opportunity for minorities is critical to advance well-being: financially, physically, and socially. We, as Members of Congress, have tools in our toolbox to address economic disparity. One of those is H.R. 5146. This bill will allow small businesses to compete more fairly with large businesses by permitting small businesses to create past performance records. A past performance record is integral to winning federal contracts, but small businesses are prevented from establishing one. Most of the work of minority-owned small businesses does not count towards past performance, such as work in joint ventures or as subcontractors to prime contractors. This hurts small businesses' ability to bid, compete, and win contracts as primes. In turn, it impairs the business' ability to grow, create jobs, and contribute economically to the community. With the passage of this bipartisan bill into law, we will create circumstances where all small businesses, including minority-owned small businesses, will be better equipped to compete and thrive. Madam Speaker, I thank the chair again for her leadership and the staff, too, for working together collectively to make this happen. I invite all of my colleagues to support passage of this bill.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I want to talk about why I am voting ``Yes'' on both articles of impeachment against President Trump: Impeachment is a solemn and historic task. With the outrageous, ongoing conduct of President Trump, impeachment is necessary for upholding our oath of office and the Constitution. Benjamin Franklin said after the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia that we have `a republic, if you can keep it.' House Democrats intend to keep it. This impeachment process, holding the President accountable, is only possible because the House majority changed, but the root cause of it all is the President's own unconstitutional, reckless behavior. He withheld $391 million in congressionally approved, tax-funded military aid from a free country, Ukraine, that is trying to defend itself from a dictatorship, Russia, and he did this for political gain. His action appears to have cost Ukrainian lives. He obstructed investigation and oversight by Congress, which is a co-equal, independent branch of government under the Constitution. He appears to have no shame or regret about any of this behavior, which means he is likely to repeat it unless he is held accountable. No one is above the law in America--that is the principle the House is voting to uphold. Now the nation will be watching the Senate to see if Senators will uphold their oath to do impartial justice.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I would like to first thank the chairman and the working group for working together. Trade can be a poverty buster. It is a powerful tool in the toolbox by increasing the earning power of our communities and creating well- paying jobs. Coming from the city of Philadelphia, which nearly has 25 percent poverty, well-paying jobs are the difference between thriving and surviving. Let me say that again: thriving and surviving. That is why this is important. Trade is especially beneficial to minority-owned businesses. Minority-owned exporting businesses average three times more workers and pay a wage premium of nearly $16,000 more. That is why I thank the chairman and the staff in the working group, because of their leadership. This really sends a message to the entire world that we want free trade, but also fair trade. It is especially important to understand that everybody doesn't get everything they want. That is called negotiation. Again, I stand here today, proudly, to say I am supporting this 100 percent.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Madam Chair, I am proud to stand before you and offer my support for H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act. One issue that has a significant impact on my constituents is the skyrocketing cost of insulin. Across Pennsylvania, more than 1 million people live with diabetes and can spend anywhere from $1,200 to $20,000 on insulin medication each year. Over the past decades, the price of insulin has increased 197 percent. When I think about the impact that these price hikes have on my constituents, the first person that comes to my mind is a young man by the name of Chase. Chase is from Philadelphia. He was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 3. He came to my office not long ago. Chase told me that he and his mother needed Members of Congress to do something about the cost of insulin because he was worried about the burden it was placing on his mother, even though his illness was brought on through no fault of his own. Chase walked me through each step of his journey with his illness. He told me what he and his mother do on a daily basis to manage the diabetes. He is strong in his message that we need to do something about this rising cost. Chase is 10 years old. He did not choose this, and neither did the other 30 million Americans across the country. Under H.R. 3, there will be a reduction in insulin. It is important that I stand with my colleagues today and support H.R. 3, which includes my bill. It is important that this bill will help seniors afford healthcare costs by increasing the number of them who are eligible for the Medicare Savings Programs. No one chooses to be sick, and no one chooses illness for their children. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation. It is time to act.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman, my colleague from the great city of Detroit and from Michigan, for showing this leadership. ``None of us are home until all of us are home.'' This is the slogan of Project HOME, an organization in my district that empowers individuals to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness, starting with permanent supportive housing. Safe, affordable housing is the basis of stability and well-being. Secure housing improves health outcomes, helps children perform better in school, and can break generational cycles of poverty. But given the skyrocketing cost of rent, which is outpacing incomes, secure housing is out of reach for many low-income families. Lacking a fixed address makes it harder to land a job, enroll children in school, apply for assistance and benefits. The affordable housing shortage is a crisis in my district and in many other cities and neighborhoods across the Nation. I represent Philadelphia, a city which has a poverty rate of around 25 percent. Let me repeat that, a city with a poverty rate of about 25 percent. Most low-income renters spend at least half of their income on housing. This leaves no room for unexpected expenses such as medical bills, which can quickly send vulnerable families into housing inability, eviction, and, sometimes, homelessness. We must increase funding for programs that help the most vulnerable, including children, people with disabilities, and seniors, such as homeless assistance grants and the housing choice voucher program. Those living in poverty, including 400,000 in the city of Philadelphia, are struggling to find safe and affordable places to live. Over 40,000 families are on the Philadelphia Housing Authority waiting list--40,000 are on that list. Most low-income renters in Philadelphia receive no government assistance with their housing costs, driving many to rely on alternative arrangements to secure shelter. These are steps that we can take to address this growing crisis. We must invest in preserving existing public housing and improving health and safety through increased funding for the Public Housing Operating Fund and the Public Housing Capital Fund. In the city of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia City Council recently passed a right to counsel law, providing attorneys for low-income families facing evictions. But millions of Americans in other cities and communities face evictions every year. This lack of access to legal representation has led to unjust evictions. I am an original cosponsor of the Eviction Protection Act, which creates grants to provide legal representation to those facing eviction. It is not an accident that two Members who stood up here are also members of the Ways and Means Committee, as I am. We all recognize that we can use the Tax Code to lift our neighborhoods and boost our stability in housing. Yes, we can use the Tax Code. I am happy that my colleagues are from the Ways and Means Committee, and we should work together on that. I support the expansion of the low-income housing tax credit-- especially the credits for securing extremely low-income households--to bring capital to underserved regions. Access to affordable housing is a right. It is time Congress acknowledges that fact. All Americans deserve quality homes--all Americans. None of us are home until all of us are home. I want to stress that message: None of us are home until all of us are home. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman, again, from Detroit, Michigan, for her leadership in bringing us together to talk about a subject that is very key to a lot of our survival. It is extremely essential that we have that opportunity, but it starts with leadership, and it starts today. We need to be relentless on this subject, and we need to be no nonsense.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably detained due to pressing business in my Congressional District. Had I been present on Thursday, November 21, 2019 I would have voted: No, on Byrne Amendment, Yes, on Harder Amendment, Yes, on Wexton Amendment, Yes, on Delgado Amendment, Yes, Motion to Table and Yes, on H.R. 1309.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my honorable friend, Congresswoman Lawrence, for her leadership on someone who really set a tone, not just in Detroit and Michigan, but the entire Nation. I thank her for her leadership. Mr. Speaker, I knew Chairman Conyers, not as well as some of the Members who have spoken, but I did know him. We each represented the largest city in a large northern industrial State. Philadelphia and Detroit have many of the same problems, such as poverty, gun violence, a loss of good manufacturing jobs, and access to healthcare. I didn't tell my colleague, Congresswoman Lawrence, that when she mentioned May 16, I was born on that same day, so there is that connection there. The chairman was one of the 12 founders of the Congressional Black Caucus. From Pennsylvania, the person who was one of them was Robert N.C. Nix, who was elected in 1958. So 48 years ago, as a result of the chairman, we have built on the backs of those founders. Today, there are 54 of us in the caucus, including the House majority whip, two Senators, four chairs of House committees, and one of our former members who became a two-term President of the United States. The chairman helped to lay the groundwork for this progress. When he cosponsored the Voting Rights Act of 1965, I was 10 years of age. In 1965, the Voting Rights Act banned discrimination at the ballot box. He was a fierce critic of the Vietnam war that led to a clash with President Lyndon Johnson. It even won him a spot on President Nixon's enemy list. It is rather interesting to have this conversation today because, as I recall, he played an important role in the impeachment proceedings. Mr. Speaker, I want my colleagues to know that I saw that on my black- and-white TV. Once again, we are building on the back of the work that he and other Members did in 1973 and 1974. We should thank the chairman for his leading role in creating the Federal holiday that honors Martin Luther King. He introduced a bill 4 days after Dr. King was murdered. When Congressman Lewis talks about that, he knows what he is talking about. The fight took 15 years, but he succeeded. The chairman also played a leading role in another long fight, the struggle to end apartheid in South Africa, with a Congressman from Pennsylvania by the name of William Gray. I recall, Mr. Speaker, meeting President Mandela. I say all of these things because there is a connection to all of us who are here today. I think that we should honor the chairman for all that he has contributed to this Nation. I want to close with how I recall the chairman urging skeptical African Americans to get involved in politics. He used to say, ``Register, vote, run for office. It is power that counts.'' He used to say, ``Register, vote, run for office. It is power that counts.'' There is an election, Mr. Speaker, 8 days from now. An important way for all of us to honor the legacy of Chairman Conyers, to honor everyone who has worked for civil rights, is to vote. I recall him loving music so much. I heard him talk about John Coltrane. I think it is important to recognize that the chairman did so much for all of us. I feel really a sincere obligation and a commitment to add my voice to the foundation that he has laid. As a person who has been a Member of the Congress for only 3 years, because of the foundation he laid, I have the opportunity to stand here today. So many of us not just in the Congressional Black Caucus but Members who are in this House, he has contributed to all of us. I want you to use your voice and be heard. As he would say, ``Vote.''

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I was attending a committee meeting. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on Roll Call No. 579

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I thank our colleagues and members of the Congressional Black Caucus, under the leadership of Karen Bass and both coleaders here tonight, Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett and Steve Horsford, for their leadership. Last week, I lost a friend and a colleague, and Baltimore, Maryland, and the United States lost a civil rights activist, a tireless activist and leader. I had the privilege of knowing the chairman for many years, since we both served our State legislatures before coming to Congress. We represented districts. I represented a district in Philadelphia, and he represented a district in Baltimore. He got elected about 1982. I got elected in 1981. We both had similar challenges. He did in Baltimore. I did in Philadelphia. A few months ago, I saw the chairman here on the House floor, and I complimented him for being relentless in his commitment to civic participation. I had the pleasure of sitting with him on my very first State of the Union Address. That day, we had the chance to talk about discussions and challenges that we both faced in major urban cities. Today, I am glad I said something when I had the chance. I told him that I loved him. I told him that I loved him for all the things he had been doing and all the relentlessness he has shown. Now, it is all up to us who are still in this fight to carry on, to make a difference. So, Mr. Chairman, rest in power. We have to continue this fight.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Archbishop Mary Floyd Palmer, affectionately known as Bishop Mary. On March 16, 2019, Bishop Mary was installed as the first woman Presiding Prelate of the Philadelphia Council of Clergy, Inc. The Philadelphia Council of Clergy, Inc. is a non-profit organization founded in 1994 as an ecumenical group of multi-cultural faith-based leaders who desire to alleviate suffering, overcome oppression and foster justice and peace, not only in Philadelphia but in all communities nationwide. Bishop Mary is the eldest daughter of Rev. Dr. Melvin and the late Mrs. Elizabeth Floyd. Bishop Mary is a graduate of the Philadelphia High School for Girls and has obtained a Doctor of Ministry. In July 2009, Bishop Mary was ordained and consecrated to the Episcopal Office of Bishop in Atlanta, Georgia. In May 2011, Bishop Mary was selected by the Philadelphia Chapter of the National Congress of Black Women to receive their prestigious ``Woman of the Year in Ministry'' award. In 2006, Bishop Mary entered full-time ministry as a Motivational Speaker. She is passionate about prison ministries and she serves as a volunteer instructor teaching a weekly Reality Life Skills Class for male inmates since 1988. In October 2011, she became Founder and Pastor of The Samaritan Temple, a place where hope exists. Bishop Mary serves as the Corresponding Secretary for the National Congress of Black Women, Philadelphia Chapter and actively serves in several capacities on several committees. On behalf of the 3rd Congressional District of Pennsylvania, I am pleased to offer my sincere congratulations to Archbishop Mary Floyd Palmer in achieving this historic appointment as the first woman Presiding Prelate of the Philadelphia Council of Clergy, Inc.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Frank Wills, who in 1972, at the age of 24 years old, worked as a security guard at the Watergate Complex in Washington, DC. June 17, 1972, Mr. Wills was on-duty and making his routine rounds of surveilling the property he was hired to secure. During his rounds, he discovered duct tape placed over a latch bolt on the basement door of the building adjacent to a stairwell near the parking garage. It is now known that the tape was placed by burglars who entered the building to steal confidential documents from the office of the Democratic National Committee headquarters, which was located on the sixth floor of the building. Mr. Wills explained to federal investigators that he checked the basement door 45 minutes ahead of his scheduled time because he had a sense that something was amiss. He was correct. President Richard Nixon had hired five men, including a former CIA official to commit the burglary. Thanks to Mr. Wills keen and observant eye, a trail of related break-ins, corruption, wiretapping, slush funds and connected crimes were revealed. It led to the eventual resignation of a president. By most accounts, Mr. Wills should have been a decorated member of the law enforcement community as, he played a pivotal role in exposing what would later become one of America's most notorious scandals. He wasn't. He resigned from his position due to racist treatment at work and had difficulty finding suitable employment due to prospective employers being afraid of associating with him. Employers were fearful of hiring him due to the threat of losing federal funding. He moved to Georgia with his mother and lived off her monthly Social Security payment. Frank Wills passed away on September 27, 2000 at the age of 52. He should be remembered as a hidden figure in our nation as his actions created a catalyst for one of our nation's greatest political scandals. On behalf of the 3rd Congressional District of Pennsylvania and the city of Philadelphia I extend gratitude to the late Frank Wills for his bravery and service to our country.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from New York (Mr. Delgado) for the introduction. Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer my support for H.R. 1649, the Small Business Development Center Cyber Training Act. As vice chair of the Small Business Committee, I was proudly joined by fellow colleagues in the committee, Ranking Member Chabot and Chairwoman Velazquez, in introducing this important bipartisan legislation. I consider small business to be the foundation of our communities. They are the engines that drive innovativeness, investments, and economic development, and they are the pillars that prop up our neighborhoods. Both in my home State of Pennsylvania and across the U.S., small businesses account for more than 99 percent of all businesses. Nationally, they support almost 59 million jobs. Over the past decade, as we have seen immense growth in technology and innovativeness, we have also seen an increase in incidents involving the theft of valuable information from businesses and governments. In 2014, it was discovered that the Office of Personnel Management was hacked, resulting in the theft of over 20 million records. In 2013, criminals broke into Target's databases, with the credit and debit information from almost 40 million consumers being compromised. Breaches have also been reported at Home Depot, JPMorgan Chase, and Sony. As we have witnessed, these breaches can have extremely devastating and costly impacts on major corporations. Now, if major entities struggle with the challenges of cybersecurity, what chances do our small businesses have? H.R. 1649 was written to address this risk by providing cyber training, strategies, and resources to small businesses to better equip themselves against cyberattacks. I appreciate having the opportunity to co-lead this important piece of legislation that will truly help our small businesses, the backbone of our Nation's economy, have the tools they need to protect themselves and to succeed.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I applaud the gentleman and the coleader for leading this event for the Congressional Black Caucus under the leadership of Chairwoman Karen Bass. The Congressional Black Caucus is the conscience of this Congress. I don't know if you know, and I am constantly reminding people, Mr. Speaker, that the President, in August 2016, came to Philadelphia and said, ``What the hell do you have to lose?'' That is what he said. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues from the Congressional Black Caucus in calling for an increase in the Federal minimum wage. I am pleased that the Democratic leadership plans to put the Raise the Wage Act up for a vote in the House. A raise for these workers is long overdue. Congress has not raised the national minimum wage in 10 years. My home State has not raised its minimum wage for 13 years. Inflation has increased the cost of living nearly 19 percent from 10 years ago. Food, healthcare, and utilities all went up. Let me repeat that. A raise for these workers is long overdue. Congress has not raised the national minimum wage for 10 years. My home State of Pennsylvania has not raised its minimum wage for 13 years. Inflation has raised the cost of living nearly 19 percent from 10 years ago. Food, healthcare, and utilities all went up. Members from both parties should be able to agree that no one who works full-time should live in poverty. I am very focused on poverty because my city of Philadelphia has a 26 percent poverty rate. Raising the minimum wage is one of the best tools in the toolbox for lifting Americans out of poverty. That includes 600,000 children who will be lifted out of poverty by the Raise the Wage Act. It is important, Mr. Speaker, to understand that one of our colleagues, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, who leads the effort around the reduction of poverty, particularly child poverty, when we talk about the issue, 600,000 children will be lifted out of poverty by the Raise the Wage Act. How can my colleagues say no to that? We need to find some way to move forward. We have an opportunity, and that opportunity is the Raise the Wage Act. Americans who are working the hardest to grow our economy need to share the rewards of that growth. Just think, that raise in their pocket allows them to spend money in the economy. That is not something to take lightly. When we talk about small businesses--and I am the vice chair of the Small Business Committee--and we talk about small businesses being the backbone of our community, obviously, they need customers. They need customers who have money in their pockets. It is not just enough for that individual, but it is enough for entrepreneurs. It is enough for building businesses. It is enough for building communities. It is enough for all of us to recognize the importance and the significance of raising the wage. We need to not take that lightly. We need to understand that, in some of our communities, there is a growing income inequality gap, and we need to address that. The way to address it is by fundamentally raising the wage. Raising the wage gives people more of an opportunity to participate in this economy. We know this economy tends to be rigged for those who are at the top against those at the bottom who are trying to struggle and find a way. When you talk about our not raising the minimum wage in 10 years--and 13 years in Pennsylvania--I want anyone who is listening or watching what is taking place here this evening to know that the Congressional Black Caucus, clearly, as the chairperson always likes to say--she always talks about hidden figures. The hidden figures are that we haven't raised the wage in 10 years, and in Pennsylvania, they haven't raised it in 13 years. Americans who are working are working harder. They are working more than one job. They are working two, three jobs. There is something wrong with that. The CEOs have definitely been getting their raises. Where is the raise for the people who cook their food, make their beds, and clean their offices? Where is the raise for the people who cook their food, make their beds, and clean their offices? Today, led by my two colleagues from the great State of Nevada and the great Virgin Islands who are leaders in this effort, I am glad to join with them to add my voice to raising the wage. This is not an accident that the Congressional Black Caucus will be in the forefront because this is an issue that means a great deal to an awful lot of Americans and particularly African Americans when we have a President of the United States who comes and says: What do you have to lose? The fact of the matter is, when we look at his administration, clearly, the policies are not connecting to moving the people, at least not moving the people whom we are talking to and the situations that we are seeing. The bottom line on the minimum wage is simple: Pay these people now. Pay these people now and raise the wage. We can no longer joke about this. We can no longer have it as political rhetoric. We must show action, and we must show people that we are determined to raise the wage. I thank my colleagues for giving me the opportunity to add my voice to both of yours for what we are attempting to do today. We need to keep doing this every single day and not leave here until this wage raises. The bottom line of the minimum wage is simple: Pay these people now and raise the wage.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Gun Violence Awareness Month and to honor the hundreds of thousands of survivors and victims of gun violence. In 2018, in my city of Philadelphia, there were 351 homicides, and most of these were committed with a gun. What is happening in Philly is consistent with what is happening every day in violence-plagued Black and Brown communities across this country. It is sickening. So is the Senate's lack of action on commonsense gun reform bills that the House has passed. While we still need commonsense gun reform, Senator Casey and I have also introduced a bill that Members from both parties should be able to agree on, H.R. 2585, the Resources for Victims of Gun Violence Act. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join the 50 cosponsors and the many organizations that are putting their concern for gun violence into action by supporting this bill, and I urge the Senate to act on the bills the House has already passed.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the hero who has too often been forgotten; Frank Wills is his name, the security guard who discovered the Watergate burglary in progress. Mr. Wills' discovery ultimately led to the exposure of crimes and scandalous behavior by several members of the Nixon administration and campaign, including the President himself. Despite his central role in exposing that Presidential scandal, Mr. Wills only received a 3 percent raise in his weekly salary, and his work at the Watergate actually hurt his later efforts to find a new job. Unfortunately, Mr. Wills passed away at the age of 52 without receiving the type of official recognition he deserved. This week, we observed the anniversary of the Watergate break-in, and on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus, I urge everyone to remember Mr. Wills and honor his memory.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor to welcome today's guest chaplain, who is from my district. Father Shaw is the rector of the historic African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas in Philadelphia. The church was founded in 1729 as the first black church in the Episcopal Church in the United States. It is also the oldest African American church in Philadelphia. I have known Father Shaw for many, many years. More recently, I had the pleasure of working closely with him in the Together for West Philadelphia initiative, which recently celebrated its first year of working to improve health and reduce poverty for the residents of West Philadelphia. That is just one example from his long record of working for social justice. I know Father Shaw has previously lived in Detroit and Chicago, but I am glad that he has chosen to live where America began, in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 2157) making supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other purposes, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (S. 1693) to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman of this strong, powerful committee and the ranking member for leading this effort. Madam Speaker, I rise to offer my support for the SECURE Act. Making it easier for small businesses to offer retirement savings plans is vital. It is vital not only for the benefit of these small firms but also the people they employ, their families, and the communities they support. In my home State of Pennsylvania, we have nearly 1 million small businesses, employing 2.5 million workers, accounting for 46.7 percent of the workforce for the entire State. Small firms account for 99.6 percent of my State's employers. Small businesses are a vital part of saving our middle neighborhoods in Philadelphia and across the country. These are neighborhoods that are poised to tip either toward blight or growth. By helping small businesses and their employees, the SECURE Act would help to revitalize these middle neighborhoods and help our economy grow from the ground up. Again, I thank the chairman and his leadership and the ranking member for this action.

Mr. EVANS

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for their leadership and vision for leading this effort, under the leadership of Congresswoman Bass. I think, as the gentleman from Nevada has demonstrated along with my other colleague from the great Virgin Islands, they both have shown the kind of leadership that is extremely essential. The passing of a civil rights icon like Judge Damon Keith is also a time to focus on one of his priorities: helping future generations to succeed. This is also a priority of the members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Unfortunately, it has not been a priority of the occupant of the White House. In August 2016, he asked African Americans: What the hell do you have to lose? It has been crystal clear in the last few years that African Americans of all ages have a lot to lose as long as Donald Trump is in the White House. The latest example of this is the Trump administration's plan to strip Medicare, food assistance, and other basics away from hundreds of thousands of working-class Americans. They are trying to change how the Census measures poverty so they can count fewer people as poor. As costs go up each year, the fake Trump poverty line will take basic benefits away: SNAP, WIC, Head Start, school lunches, legal services, and even tax credits under the Affordable Care Act that help working people to get healthcare. It is basically a backdoor tax increase for those who can afford it least. It is an outrageous sequel to the tax cut that Trump and the Republicans gave to millionaires and big corporations. It is classic Trump: Don't actually solve the problem; just pretend that it doesn't exist anymore. I stand with my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus in opposing the Trump poverty line change. I stand with all of those who did not inherit millions of dollars from a parent like the President did. Let us honor the work of Judge Keith and others like him by renewing our commitment to help lift our future generations. We can do this by making college affordable again, raising the minimum wage, and preserving the safety net. Each of these proposals will go a long way toward repairing the ladders of opportunity and making this a more just society. This dedication today to Justice Damon Keith is our commitment as the Congressional Black Caucus to raise him up in his legacy that he has done for all of us in this country. It is a real honor as one member of this body, the Congressional Black Caucus, that I stand here today to join my colleagues and show the kind of support for what Justice Keith demonstrated to all of us. So I am here to lend my voice, to make it clear that this is not acceptable, retreating on the people, particularly African Americans. Since the President made that statement in August of 2016--and he made it in the city of Philadelphia--it is clear to me that this is not acceptable. Mr. Speaker, we, as members of the Congressional Black Caucus, will not stand for this.