Adriano Espaillat

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee from the State of Texas, Congresswoman Nanette Barragan from the State of California, and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from the grea State of New York for bringing important facts to the table that will dispel the scare tactics that are being deployed and peddled across America about this Green New Deal. It will save lives. I represent the district that has one of the highest asthma rates in the State, Harlem. There is a significant number of bus depots in Harlem polluting the air. In East Harlem, the children have one of the highest levels of respiratory diseases and asthma. Washington Heights is cut right through its heart by a polluting railway called the Cross Bronx Expressway. We are surrounded by highways, and we are surrounded by pollution, leading to a very low quality of air, which leads to disease and leads to death. This has been an enlightened conversation about the Green New Deal. I hope America understands the particulars behind it and that we are better equipped and better informed to make the right decisions in support of this lifesaving piece of legislation. Madam Speaker, I thank you for this opportunity to allow the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to talk about the importance of protecting our planet in the way in which the Green New Deal will do, while we are also making our Nation better. I thank everyone who was able to participate, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 30th anniversary of the former South African President Nelson Mandela's release from jail. Mandela worked tirelessly to abolish apartheid, empower his fellow citizens, and fight the injustices against the disenfranchised people of South Africa. Mandela's efforts led not only to his 27-year imprisonment and subsequent ascent to the presidency, but it also transformed the consciousness of a generation and precipitated a more acute international focus on human rights. I hope we are all informed by his wise words: ``May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.'' Here in this Chamber and around the world we should all feel indebted to him for his service and commitment to justice.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to welcome Monsignor Kevin Sullivan as a guest chaplain here today. Monsignor Sullivan is the Executive Director of Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of New York. Monsignor Sullivan also represents Catholic Charities agencies in public policy discussions about immigration, welfare reform, job development, and foster care. He joins us on a day when we welcome more than 500 Dominican Americans from around the country to celebrate Dominican heritage and discuss civic engagement and issues affecting the Dominican community across the country. A native of the Bronx, the Monsignor served as a parish priest at St. Elizabeth's Church, my church, in Washington Heights, which is home to a historic and thriving Dominican American community. We owe a debt of gratitude to Monsignor Sullivan for his service to our community and to all New Yorkers and I am proud to see him give the invocation in the House of Representatives today.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, for far too long, Congress has allowed the executive branch to usurp its constitutional responsibility of the power to go to war. Now, we have seen how a President can misuse one of his most solemn responsibilities as Commander in Chief. The 2002 AUMF, which was built on a lie, on a lie of weapons of mass destruction, is long irrelevant and must be repealed. The American people do not want war. The American people do not want war. Yet, the President has escalated the prospects of war in the Middle East in a way that has not only severely endangered U.S. interests and diplomacy to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon but has also resulted in the injury of at least 50 American servicemembers. We must repeal the 2002 AUMF because the President has not been given the authority to go to war. And we must exercise the power of the purse and ensure that no funds are used for an unwanted, unauthorized war.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution. Without a coherent strategy, such actions as the recent ones that occurred in Iraq present a dangerous move toward the United States' engaging in a war that the American people do not want. Today, we move to reclaim power that the executive branch has tried to usurp from Congress. We assert our constitutional authority to determine if the country ought to go to war, and we send a message loud and clear that we do not want to go to war. We will not engage in reckless hostilities to endanger American lives, American interests, and our American values without fully evaluating imminent threat. We must continue to assert that, without new authorizations from Congress, this administration cannot engage in offensive military actions. That is what our Framers intended.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, if you live on Lenox Avenue in the village of Harlem in my district, you are not above the law. If you live on Webster Avenue in the Bronx part of my district, you are not above the law. If you live in Washington Heights, the immigrant neighborhood in my district, you are not above the law. So I submit to you, if you live at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, you are not above the law, and you will be held accountable. President Donald Trump asked the Ukrainian President to ``do us a favor'' and look into the Bidens. That is abuse of power. President Trump used the official White House meeting to extort the Ukrainian President. That is abuse of power. President Trump ordered White House staff to withhold $400 million in aid to Ukraine. That is abuse of power. President Trump and his staff defied multiple subpoenas from Congress. That is obstruction of Congress. He blocked witnesses from testifying before this body. That is obstruction of Congress. No one is above the law. I cast my vote for these Articles of Impeachment, and I ask my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, New York City is recognized for both its tenacity and its profile as an incubator of elite talents. Perhaps no one embodies these Big Apple virtues more than chef Kwame Onwuachi, a Bronx native. Chef Kwame's early life was branded by adversity, his early career marked by missteps. However, as a true New Yorker and as a true son of the Bronx, he bounced back. A fusion of Bronx grit and culinary acuity has catapulted this young man, chef Kwame, from a subway candy salesman to winning a James Beard Award, perhaps the most prestigious award in the culinary world. Now, as executive chef of the renowned Kith and Kin restaurant right here in Washington, D.C., at The Wharf here in our Nation's Capital, chef Kwame is a shining example of perseverance, prestige, and promise bred in the Bronx. Go try his curry goat. Go try his oxtails. You will go back again. Chef Kwame is an exceptional individual, and he continues to make us all proud. He is an inspiration to many. He is right here with us, Mr. Speaker, in the gallery, and I welcome him to the House of Representatives. He is a Bronx native and now resides here in Washington, D.C. We are proud to have him. He is a young talent. You will be hearing a lot about him in the future, not only in written media, but you will be tasting his fine cuisine in many places around the world. I congratulate him for having won the James Beard Award and for being a true example of how a young man of color from the Bronx can get up and shine. As the former great champion of the world Muhammad Ali said, he shook up the world. Congratulations, chef Kwame.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order in the Record.

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, as the whip of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, I am pleased to lead this monthly Special Order hour. This afternoon's topic comes at a critical time for our Nation and for the communities we represent who are all concerned with the state of healthcare and harmful actions of the Trump administration. There is no more personal an issue than one's health, and as such, this should be top on the minds of Members of Congress. It was the late Martin Luther King, Jr. who said in 1966 that of all the forms of inequality, injustice in healthcare is perhaps the most shocking and inhumane. Healthcare is a priority of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and we want to use today's opportunity to discuss the state of Latino health in the United States of America. The Affordable Care Act was landmark legislation that extended healthcare coverage to more than 20 million Americans either through Medicaid expansion or tax credits to purchase quality and comprehensive healthcare insurance products. In the Latino community, at least 4 million Latino adults and 600,000 Latino children have gained health insurance coverage thanks to the ACA. And we cannot forget that the ACA extended health insurance coverage for children through age 26. Especially for children and young adolescents, the uninsured rate for Latino children has decreased considerably, from 11.5 percent to around 7.5 percent. The gains in health insurance coverage for these children and preventive healthcare and reduction in the severity of chronic conditions is a testament to the good and constructive health policy that Democrats are committed to. However, the Trump administration has sought to undermine the ACA and the benefits it brings to the Latino community. Earlier this year in a bipartisan vote, the U.S. House of Representatives felt compelled to rebuke the Trump administration for its promotion of the skinny junk plans that offer no guarantee of essential health benefits. That is no guarantee for mental health treatment; no guarantee for preventive healthcare, which lowers the overall cost of healthcare; and no guarantee for prescription drug coverage. According to the data collected from the Kaiser Family Foundation, from 2013 to 2017, people of color had higher uninsured rates than non- Hispanic Whites prior to 2014. And it was only after the Affordable Care Act came into effect that Latinos had larger gains in health insurance coverage from 2013 to 2016 than non-Hispanic Whites. But our work is not done. It is truly not done. Every day we are working to curb the destructive actions of this administration to harm the gains that we have made in the healthcare arena and well-being of the Latino community overall, and we continue working to close the health equity gaps that the ACA did not address. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Latino Americans are twice as likely to have type 2 diabetes than White Americans. In the United States, adults over their lifetime have a 40 percent chance of developing type 2 diabetes, but the Latino adult has a rate of 50 percent higher. Given that, coverage of and the overall cost of insulin--a necessary treatment for managing diabetes--is a priority for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Since the start of this 116th Congress, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus has invited the CEOs of insulin manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers to meet with us and explain how and why insulin remains unaffordable for so many Americans. We met with the largest pharmacy benefit managers in this country who collectively comprise 78 percent of the market and cover 180 million individuals with health insurance: CVS Health, Express Scripts, and OptumRx of UnitedHealth Group. In our discussions we were, quite frankly, met with much resistance by all parties in the prescription drug supply chain and pharmacy benefits business. It is infuriating for patients at the local pharmacy counter; and trust me, it is infuriating to me and my colleagues in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. In addition to benefits managers, the CHC met with the CEOs of the top three insulin manufacturers who produce 90 percent of the global insulin supply and 100 percent of the supply for diabetic patients in the United States of America. They are Sanofi, Novo Nordisk, and Eli Lilly and Company. It may seem impossible, but Dr. Frederick Banting who discovered and cultivated insulin as a treatment for diabetes, sold the patent for his remarkable drug for only $1 to the University of Toronto. Madam Speaker, he sold this important patent that has saved the lives of millions of people just for $1 to the University of Toronto, yet the price of insulin both with insurance and without it has risen astronomically to the point where diabetic patients must make the decision between purchasing lifesaving insulin versus paying their rent, finding childcare for their families, or getting an education. We asked them why this is, and, in short, they simply did not have a good answer. So we are concerned, Madam Speaker, that the patent for insulin which was sold by Dr. Frederick Banting to the University of Toronto for $1 has now been placed in a position that is inaccessible to patients across America who will subsequently die without having that treatment. But we are committed to shedding a light on this obscured process and making sure that patients receive the therapies they need at the price they can afford. This is our promise. This is our commitment. We, as the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and greater Democratic Caucus, are committed to fighting for healthcare that lies in stark contrast to this White House administration. That is why we have passed legislation to strengthen the ACA, not to weaken it, not to obliterate it, but to strengthen it, and it is why we will consider landmark legislation later this month to help lower the cost of prescription drugs. Now, before I conclude, Madam Speaker, I want to lay out some important events taking place as we speak, because they will have an unimaginably detrimental impact on the state of health in the Latino community. The Trump Department of Justice and Attorney General William Barr abandoned their obligation to defend our current healthcare system and the Affordable Care Act. The State of Texas is seeking to invalidate the ACA and unravel the law that has benefited constituents across America represented in this, the House of Representatives of the U.S. Congress, and this Department of Justice is willing to let this happen undeterred. This administration told the Texas district court that it was opting to not defend existing regulations such as protections for preexisting conditions. Imagine that, Madam Speaker, not protecting preexisting conditions, meaning that those who suffer from diabetes and those who suffer from hypertension and cardiovascular problems who have preexisting conditions will not be protected and will be out in the cold. This administration is turning its back on over 130 million Americans, including 17 million children and adolescents with preexisting conditions. With no plan or idea of what to do going forward, they are willing to harm the lives of millions of Americans. This is purely irresponsible, and it is reprehensible. Neither the Congressional Hispanic Caucus nor Democrats will allow this to happen unchecked. We will continue to work hard to make sure healthcare continues to be made more affordable and more equally accessible for all Americans, especially people whom we represent. Madam Speaker, I am so grateful for this opportunity. I will now conclude, Madam Speaker. I would like to thank my colleagues who could not be here today or are here today. And I would like to reiterate that we will defend the Affordable Care Act and make sure that Latinos across America are not further harmed by this administration or partisan politics. We are committed to lowering the cost of prescription drugs and making sure that insulin remains available and affordable to all communities across America and particularly communities of color that are disproportionately affected by diabetes. And we will raise hell every time that we find another instance of capricious price inflation or market consolidation or an obvious attempt to shift the blame. With that, Madam Speaker, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus will not cease in our advocacy for the healthcare and the well-being of our communities that we represent here in the Congress and across our country. This is a crucial time in America where the Affordable Care Act, as presented by the past administration, not only provided access to healthcare for people with preexisting conditions and not only did it allow our children up to the age of 26 to be part of our health plan, but it also provided funding for Medicaid and Medicare. It also provided funding for mental health services, an arena that has, for far too long, been left aside with not having the appropriate funding that it needs, and for people suffering from opioid addiction. These are the services that were provided by the ACA. This administration has moved forward to dismantle it and to put people's lives in jeopardy. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials in the Record on the subject of my Special Order.

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Costa).

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, I yield to my colleague from California (Mr. Vargas).

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, I yield to my colleague from California (Mr. Correa).

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, as the whip of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, I am pleased to lead this monthly Special Order hour. It comes at a critical time in America, a critical time for our Nation and for the communities that we represent. Yesterday morning, Madam Speaker, you may know that the Supreme Court heard a case. They heard arguments on Dreamers. This decision will determine the lives of nearly 1 million young Americans in the Supreme Court of the United States, a million people who were brought here at a very early age, at a very young age, and have known no other country but the United States of America. We have come to call them Dreamers because they symbolize, in a quintessential way, what the American Dream stands for. They derived the name from bipartisan legislation introduced in 2001 by none other than the former Republican president pro tempore of the Senate, Orrin Hatch of the State of Utah and Dick Durbin of the State of Illinois. That legislation, which was reintroduced multiple times, would have granted residency status to immigrants who came here as minors, assuming they had no criminal record and had a high school diploma; and they could become permanent residents if they got a college degree or served honorably in the U.S. military. This proposal was seen as a critical component of any comprehensive immigration reform and for many was considered a low-hanging fruit, the easiest thing we could all agree on, both sides of the aisle. Opinion polling of the American people bore that out. In fact, we have seen poll after poll after poll indicate that over 80 percent of the American people, whether in red States or blue States, support Dreamers. In 2013, after the House Republican majority flat-out refused to even consider an overwhelmingly bipartisan comprehensive immigration package painstakingly negotiated, amended, and, finally, approved by the Senate on a healthy bipartisan vote, President Obama looked at what his options were, and he saw the very last deal was this low-hanging fruit. He used his administrative discretion in enforcing immigration laws, a longstanding authority used by Presidents on both sides of the aisle, to create the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or the DACA program. While the program couldn't provide permanent legal certainty, it did, essentially, tell those who have been eligible under the DREAM Act that, if they came forward and followed various steps to ensure they met conditions similar to those in the DREAM Act, they would be granted relief from deportation and issued documents allowing them to remain and work legally in the United States. In essence, the Dreamers came forward and shared their personal information--their address, their date of birth--they shared that with us, the government. They were forward. They were transparent in their approach to share vital, personal, and confidential information with the government. The DACA program and the DREAM Act were so popular and so important because they are an example of who we are and aspire to be as a nation, a nation of immigrants, and it honors our core principles such as basic fairness, compassion, and common sense. What is more, it is in our national interest to keep DACA recipients here. Between 2017 and 2027, DACA beneficiaries are projected to contribute $460 billion to the national GDP. They pay $5.7 billion in Federal taxes and $3.1 billion in State and local taxes, annually. Researchers estimate ending DACA will cost the United States economy anywhere from $283 billion to $460 billion over the next 10 years. Our Nation also sees benefits from the fact that many DACA recipients are highly educated and skilled workers. Ninety-six percent of DACA recipients are enrolled in school, and 75 percent are pursuing a bachelor's degree or higher. 27,000 DACA recipients are currently employed as healthcare workers and support staff. They are an integral part of the healthcare industry across America. So it stands to reason that rescinding DACA would do nothing but hurt the economy, drain our businesses of skilled and educated workers, and threaten our public health system. The reason the current case is making its way through the courts is precisely because the Trump administration has been unable to substantiate their reasoning for terminating the program. President Trump, himself, has said on numerous occasions that he does not want to deport DACA recipients or so he says. In fact, two lower Federal courts have placed injunctions in the efforts to eliminate the DACA program. So there are a few things I believe we must do. Most obviously-- though, admittedly, unlikely--if the administration really does not want to send DACA recipients to their place, a place that they have never known, it should rescind its order or find other administrative means to give them certainty. But even more importantly, Madam Speaker, is that we change the law to provide permanent certainty for these young Americans. And they are truly Americans: They feel American; they have been here for many years; and many of them, with the exception of having their green card, are very much part of the American fabric. I was proud to vote for the Dream and Promise Act not too long ago when it passed here in the House. And as the only formerly undocumented immigrant in Congress, I was honored, deeply honored to preside over its passage. It is now on the Senate to act. We heard the arguments yesterday in the Supreme Court. We are hopeful that the Court will be reasonable and understand that these young people have nothing but to give their sweat and their work, their abilities to our Nation. Based on the vote just 6 years ago, it is clear that H.R. 6 would pass if the majority leader in the Senate, Mitch McConnell, brought it to a vote. This legislation, a similar legislation, a lot more complex, more comprehensive in scope, was passed not too long ago in the Senate in a bipartisan way. In the meantime, Democrats in the House, we must continue to consider other legislation that will help Dreamers. For example, the Education and Labor Committee recently passed a sweeping reform of our higher education programs, the College Affordability Act. That bill would make college more affordable and accessible to Dreamers by making them eligible for financial aid, Pell Grants, and other kinds of financial assistance. Besides, if we are encouraging Dreamers to complete their education in order to grant them legal status, the least we can do is help them afford the education. There are numerous reasons to keep Dreamers here and give them the certainty they need to succeed, the most basic being that we have always been, and will continue to be, a Nation of immigrants. For the rest of this special hour, you will hear from other colleagues in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus who will share their stories about why this is critically important for the future of America. In fact, I am compelled to tell you that this is a fight for the soul of America. But here I yield to them. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the many groups who continue to serve our constituents through their advocacy, their legal assistance, their organizational skills, and their moral support, groups like UnidosUS, United We Dream, the Hispanic Federation, Make the Road New York, faith-based groups, labor unions, and countless others. They are all shining examples of what America stands for, and we could not be successful in our work inside the Capitol without the work that they do outside of the Capitol. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Soto), my colleague.

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Barragan), the second vice chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleagues for joining me here today. I would like to reiterate the important message that we are here to support Dreamers. This is not impossible, Madam Speaker. In 2002, while I was a Member of the New York State Assembly, the lower house of the New York State Legislature, we passed instate tuition allowing undocumented college students the ability to pay instate tuition. We did that with a Republican Governor and with a Republican-led Senate. Just last year, New York State again passed the Jose Peralta Dream Act. So it could be done, Madam Speaker. Just recently, I was speaking to a group of Dreamers and advocates in Battery Park, New York, having the Statue of Liberty as a backdrop to our rally. I told them to be cognizant of what they are doing because, very often, those who write history, those who write the chapters and the annals of history, are not aware that they are doing it. I asked them to pay close attention to what they were doing because they are, in fact, the protagonists. They are the leaders of this movement. When you see their faces, and you see what they want to do for our country, it is almost impossible to say no to them. I told them to be very cognizant of their effort because, in fact, they are an army of goodwill. They may not have weapons in their hands, and they may not wear military gear, but they are an army of goodwill that I think is fighting every day for the soul of America. And 20 or 30 years from now, they will be able to tell their children and grandchildren that they were successful, that they were critical. They were the protagonists, the leaders of a movement led by an army of goodwill that saved America and what it stands for. Madam Speaker, we will continue to call on our colleagues in the Senate to take up and pass the American Dream and Promise Act so that the lives of over 800,000 Dreamers no longer hang in the balance. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, I rise to commemorate the life of Private William Blount, a resident of New York's 13th Congressional district who recently passed away. Private Blount grew up in the neighborhoods of Manhattan and proudly answered the call of his country, when he was drafted into the United States Army on February 14, 1968, and was assigned to the HHD 523rd Signal Battalion. Private Blount was deployed to fight in Vietnam for 11 months with his combat tour ending on April 10, 1969. For his 11-month deployment and combat in Vietnam, Private Blount was awarded the National Defensive Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Parachutist Badge, and for his marksmanship, a Sharpshooter Badge for the M-14 Rifle. While Private Blount was overseas, he was given orders to join another unit. However, record of this order and Private Blount's transfer was lost or unaccounted for in the midst of the Vietnam War. Like many soldiers, Private Blount was designated as ``AWOL'' for nearly 75 days by the U.S. Army. This inaccurate representation of Private Blount's service, like many other Vietnam War veterans, is an error both President Ford and President Carter recognized, and both submitted Amnesty of Pardons for Vietnam veterans under AWOL or Deserter Status. Private Blount's record was never cleared and was discharged Under Conditions Other Than Honorable. While this design permitted Private Blount to receive health care services through the VA, he and his family had been prevented from receiving many veterans' benefits while he was alive. It is with great sadness that Private Blount passed away late last month on September 29, 2019, and due to his designation was not permitted to receive a military burial. Private Blount's circumstance is not abnormal from other Vietnam veterans whose discharge from active service on ambiguous grounds and have been denied the benefits and dignity they deserve. Private Blount's death is a reminder of the sacrifices required to defend our country. But to recognize Private Blount only from his passing is a diminution of his life and career following his active service. Private Blount was an active member of the United States Army Garrison Ft Hamilton's Equal Opportunity Program and has countless volunteer hours logged. He received numerous Garrison Commander's Certificate of Appreciation for outstanding service and dedication to the Equal Opportunity Program. Private Blount's unwavering patriotism, invaluable knowledge of military tactics as a combatant and lifelong student, and ardent representation of combat as a tireless sacrifice for his brothers in arms, inspired four of his nephews to enlist in active service as well as his niece, Ret. Sergeant First Class Ramona Gamble who is a proud 26-year veteran of the U.S. Army. His story highlights our obligation to honor the veterans who secure the freedoms we all enjoy. Private Blount will not be forgotten. I thank him for his bravery and dedication to his country. May he rest in peace.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Velazquez and also Ranking Member Chabot for their leadership. I would also like to thank my colleague, Congressman Balderson, for working with me on this bipartisan legislation. One of the most widely successful tools the Small Business Administration utilizes to grow and support small businesses is the Growth Accelerator Fund Competition. Since this program began in 2014, the Growth Accelerator Fund Competition has small businesses and entrepreneurs in almost 40 States. This competitive program provides some of the most innovative and promising small businesses in high-growth sectors with early-stage education, financing, mentorship, cohort-based training, and technical assistance. Importantly, these entrepreneurial development models create a pipeline of talented entrepreneurs--especially women and minorities--to grow and succeed. According to the Small Business Administration, since this Growth Accelerator Fund Competition began in 2014, the first 50 awardees have led directly to almost 1,500 companies across the country. Codifying this program and authorizing $2 million for 4 additional years is a commitment to American innovation. The legislation reflects our bipartisan support and priority investment in the growth, development, and expansion of small businesses. I am proud to support this program, and I am glad to work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle on this meaningful and important legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National Ataxia Awareness Day, and to honor the courage of the one hundred and fifty thousand Americans living with Ataxia, a neurodegenerative disease that affects the ability to coordinate movement. Those with Ataxia may have difficulty walking, speaking, and executing fine motor skills, and for some may lead to early death. I would also like to honor the contributions of the National Ataxia Foundation, which is dedicated to improving the lives of those impacted by Ataxia including those with the disease, and their caregivers through support, education, and research. I applaud their commitment and advocacy at the State and Federal levels to raise awareness of this disease and urge my colleagues to learn more about it and laud the efforts being taken to break down the isolation barriers and misconceptions around Ataxia. I especially want to thank my constituent, Ms. Kim Brown for reaching out to me and my office to raise awareness of Ataxia and support research efforts to benefit those in my district and across the nation who live with this condition. Today I stand in solidarity with all Americans battling Ataxia, and the dedicated scientists, health care workers, and caregivers who support them. I look forward to the day when this devastating condition can be cured.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, I rise today in great sadness to share the passing of Floyd ``Skip'' Branch, Jr. and honor his life and legacy. For generations of children, Skip, as he was known to the community, was a fixture of their daily lives. In 1995, Skip founded the NYC Bombsquad Basketball Classic, where he worked each summer with nearly 300 young boys and girls. But his impact was not merely honing basketball skills, although he certainly did. On the court and off the court, his lessons transcended basketball and made better the lives he touched and the community he loved. Skip displayed an unyielding love for his community and inimitable belief that basketball was a constructive tool for the development and enrichment of children and adolescents. Responsibility. Teamwork. Academic achievement. Community engagement. Fraternity. Sorority. These are the tenets that Skip inculcated in every one of his students and will remain a part of his indelible legacy. His program grew and had such an impact on young people's lives that many of them returned to teach and coach new participants. Skip believed that basketball and the fundamental lessons he taught should not only be shared with his students at Rice High School, Cardinal Hayes, or Hostos Community College. He also used the playground at East 100th Street and Third Avenue as a haven for youth in East Harlem where he instilled the fundamentals of teamwork, sportsmanship and respect in his students. Anyone who knew Skip knows he loved every moment spent doing this important work. Floyd ``Skip'' Branch, Jr. was a beloved husband, brother, father, and grandfather. To his wife Carole, son Floyd III, brother Dr. Kent Branch, and all those close to Skip, I share my sincerest condolences in this time of grief and hope they find solace in knowing his legacy lives on in the many young lives he impacted.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, Madam C.J. Walker is the first self- made American female millionaire and the wealthiest African American woman of her time as an inventor and entrepreneur. Madam C.J. Walker born as Sarah Breedlove on December 23, 1867 in Louisiana to Owen and Minerva Anderson Breedlove was the first of her family born into freedom. Madam C.J. Walker was orphaned at a young age. She first married during her adolescent years and became a widow only a few years later. After the death of her husband Moses McWilliams, she overcame adversity and moved to St. Louis, Missouri as a single mother to her young daughter A'lelia Walker working as a laundress--barely earning one dollar a day--she persevered through the hardships of poverty solely focused on supporting herself and her daughter. Madam C.J. Walker was determined to make a better life for her and her daughter and she was inspired to start her own line of beauty products. Her inspiration stemmed from her own struggle as an African American woman who had difficulty finding hair-care products that were not only aimed for a specific hair type, but were also owned by an African American woman. Madam C.J. Walker was an activist and philanthropist who worked alongside her daughter A'lelia Walker, leading the vanguard of women and women of color in the world of business, philanthropy, advocacy with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the National Negro Business League, and the National Conference on Lynching, and rich history and culture of Harlem during the Harlem Renaissance. Madam C.J. Walker dedicated her wealth and success to better the lives of young African-American men and women through scholarships for the Young Men's Christian Association, the Tuskegee Institute, Bethune- Cookman University, and the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church as a testament to her fervent belief in furthering African Americans as they pursue economic independence and financial security which continues to pave the way for African Americans nationwide. As the Representative of the Thirteenth Congressional District of New York in the United States House of Representatives, I am proud to recognize Madam C.J. Walker for her inspiration and achievement impact in the African American community and celebrate the renaming of West 136th Street between Lenox Avenue and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard as ``Madam CJ Walker Way''.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Chair, on June 25, 2019, I was absent for recorded vote No. 406. Had I been present, I would have voted yea. personal explanation

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, like many Americans, like many of my colleagues, I am deeply troubled by the way the Trump administration has handled the treatment of migrants, particularly children, at the border. But I stand here to say tonight, Madam Speaker, that if, by passing this emergency supplemental bill, we will save one child's life, just one child's life, then it is worth it, and we should vote for it. We speak about the moneys as being allocated in the budget. But the only number that is really important in this debate is the six children that have died at the border. And we will continue to hold this administration accountable for its treatment of migrants, particularly young children. Madam Speaker, every time we deny help to the triangle countries, this crisis is aggravated. Every time we stop a mom and her children at the border and they have to go through the river and drown, this crisis is worsened. Every time we deny children the basic human services that they need, this crisis becomes tragic.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, the Carnegie Medal, the prestigious award that annually recognizes authors focused on literature for children or young adults, has been widely coveted since its establishment in 1936. Surprisingly, the medal has never been awarded to a woman of color in its 83-year existence--that is, until Dominican-American poet Elizabeth Acevedo's win for ``The Poet X,'' a critically acclaimed piece of literature named after its main character, Xiomara Batista. ``The Poet X'' artfully illustrates the journey of X, a shy Dominican girl of African descent who joins her school's poetry club in Harlem, a place I represent and know well. Elizabeth's brave exploration of societal structures in ``The Poet X'' is remarkable. Her childhood upbringing and tribulations gave Elizabeth unique authority and intimacy of X's journey. The resulting poem will inspire young voices who follow her footsteps. Congratulations to Elizabeth for her monumental accomplishment.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I have seen with my very own eyes the way migrants at the southern border, particularly children, are treated under U.S. custody. It is so appalling, we would not ever accept one of our own children being treated in such conditions in any country across the world. Young toddlers go days without proper hygiene, nutrition, or medical treatment. These awful conditions have led to the deaths of minors at the hands of our government, like Felipe Gomez Alonzo, who was just 8 years old. If this administration's plan is to mistreat refugees to prevent them from coming here, it clearly is not working. Just think, if they would rather risk this treatment than remain in their home countries, how bad must it be there? America is better than this. We must treat immigrants better than this. We must treat refugees better than this. We must treat children better than this. Mr. Speaker, the whole world is watching.