Marcia Fudge

Ms. FUDGE

Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Kerner Report. In 1968, the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, known as the Kerner Commission, found that the civil unrest in the African American community was a result of white racism. From employment and housing discrimination to segregated and underfunded schools, racism was the root cause of systemic poverty plaguing African Americans. In 1969, the theme for Delta Sigma Theta under the leadership of the late Frankie Muse Freeman was,``One Nation or Two?'' As we continue to ask ourselves that same question 50 years later, it is clear that civil rights is still unfinished business. According to 2016 Census data, 12.7 percent of Americans live in poverty. For African Americans, the poverty rate is nearly double the national rate at 22 percent. And 33 percent of African American children are growing up in poverty. The persistent racial wealth divide and lack of economic progress among African Americans is cause for alarm. The Black unemployment rate has risen to 7.7 percent and continues to be nearly double that of White workers. In 1968, it was 6.8 percent. The median net worth for Black families is $17,600, compared to $171,000 for white families. When it comes to homeownership, 71 percent of White households are homeowners compared to 41 percent of Black households--practically the same as in 1968. On the campaign trail, the President said inner cities were more dangerous than war zones and repeatedly asked the African American community, ``What do you have to lose?'' Every day, the Trump Administration's economic policies make clear what African Americans and communities of color have to lose: economic opportunity and upward mobility. The President's lopsided tax cut added at least $1.5 trillion to the national deficit with likely offsets to earned benefits and social safety net programs many families depend on like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and SNAP. The President's budget would reduce funding for SNAP by $213 billion over the next 10 years and force 16 million households to survive on so-called ``Harvest Boxes'' that will cost more than they save in dollars and human capital. These proposed ``ration boxes'' are demeaning to families: shelf stable milk, ready to eat cereals, canned meat, fruits and vegetables, peanut butter and pasta. Is this what we have come to? This is the same Republican Party who told us that we couldn't provide our children healthy meals in schools. While roughly 1 in 6 Black households spend more than 50 percent of their income on housing, the President's budget eliminates the National Housing Trust Fund and U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, the legal aid program which helps families avoid unwarranted evictions, the Community Development Block Grant program, and the HOME Investment Partnerships Program. Republicans in Congress and this Administration have chosen to rob the American people of resources that could put people to work building infrastructure, improve public education, child care, and health care. Time and again, their proposals benefit the wealthy and hurt the working poor and communities of color. It's no coincidence that the President wants to eliminate diversity visas and prevent immigrants from Africa and Asia from coming into this country. It's no coincidence that our fellow Americans in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico are still suffering and can't get the resources needed to truly rebuild after Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria. Black and Brown people are not wanted. They need not apply here. As we look ahead to the next fifty years, will this be one America or two? One Black and Brown, one White? One rich, one poor? America will only be great if we ensure our policies create opportunities for all Americans and address the structural racism that preserves the racial wealth divide. If we don't direct needed resources to communities of highest need, they will never catch up.

Ms. FUDGE

Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to find the courage to take action and eradicate gun violence in America. While our children and families demand a vote on commonsense legislation to keep our communities safe, my Republican colleagues continue to turn their backs. Since the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary, the House has observed 42 moments of silence--tonight makes 43--to honor victims of gun violence, but no meaningful action has been taken to strengthen our gun laws. After every mass shooting we offer our thoughts and prayers to the victims, their families, and first responders. Our thoughts and prayers are not enough. A moment of silence is not enough. In the past decade, more than one million Americans have been shot. Every day, on average at least 35 Americans are killed with a gun and nearly 33,000 die each year from gun-related violence. In my home state of Ohio, someone is killed with a gun every eight hours. This is unacceptable. There are no moments of silence on the House Floor for these victims, and Congress is doing nothing to protect the next victim. The White House and the National Rifle Association claim mental illness is to blame for this latest tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, and that arming teachers will keep our children safe. Republicans cannot claim that mental illness is to blame, when they simultaneously cut funding for mental health treatment, undermine American's health insurance, and strip schools of resources needed to employ guidance counselors, social workers and/or more teachers to reduce class sizes and give students more individual attention. The NRA claims any sensible action to strengthen our gun laws is an attack on the 2nd Amendment and the rights of gun owners. Nothing could be further from the truth. Democrats and Republicans must work together on meaningful reform to keep guns out of the hands of criminals, domestic abusers, and individuals in crisis. Recent polls show that 97 percent of gun owners approve of background checks for all gun purchases, including those made at gun shows and through private sales. According to the Pew Research Center, 33 percent of gun owners oppose the NRA's prescription to make schools safer by arming teachers. As I've said before, all citizens have a right to basic safety and life itself. Our families should not fear the possible massacre of their children in school or on playgrounds. Everyone should be able to go to a concert or place of worship and not confront a shooter armed with high capacity ammunition magazines and a weapon of mass destruction. It is up to all of us to protect our communities, schools, workplaces, and places of worship from senseless gun violence. I have been encouraged by the courageous young people speaking out and taking action to effect change. I hope my Republican colleagues are listening. Every day Congress fails to strengthen our gun laws, we are complicit in the violence that takes place in our nation. We can and must do more to end gun violence.

Ms. FUDGE

Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, during the State of the Union speech last week, many of us did not applaud the President as he assumed responsibility for the lowest rate of Black unemployment ever recorded. The simple truth is that while Black unemployment reached its lowest level in decades, the rate has been in steady decline for the last seven years, a credit to the Obama Administration President Trump so often maligns. It is also true that while gains have been made, the Black unemployment rates fall short of that for White workers. The President has failed to acknowledge that just in the last month, Black unemployment jumped nearly a full percentage point, from 6.8 percent to 7.7 percent, and continues to be nearly double that of White workers. If Black unemployment figures were the overall national figures, the country would be facing or nearly facing an economic recession, Yet, this Administration's policies continue to take aim at too many of us, especially African Americans and other communities of color. Black unemployment has consistently been about double that of white employment. Sadly, other statistics mirror what amounts to a persistent racial wealth divide: 90 percent of White households live above the poverty line compared to 75 of Black households; 71 percent of White households are homeowners compared to 41 percent of Black households; and In 2016, white families had a median net worth of $171,000, compared with $17,600 for Black families. There is no doubt the persistent wealth disparity is rooted in federal policies that build and preserve the racial wealth divide since the institution of slavery. The Social Security Act of 1935 provides just one example. The Act's passage laid the groundwork to aid the elderly after the Great Depression. Yet, the Act excluded about one- third of all American workers, including farmworkers and domestic workers--who were predominately people of color. For African Americans, the cost of exclusion from the Social Security Act of 1935 resulted in a loss of benefits totaling $143.2 billion in 2016 dollars. Similarly, federal housing policies from 1934 to 1968, which sought to make homeownership accessible to more families, shut out black families from homeownership through the practice of redlining. Unfortunately, the racial wealth gap shows no sign of letting up under the Trump Administration. His economic policies offer dim prospects for African Americans and other communities of color. The President's lopsided tax cut transferred massive amounts of wealth to those who are already wealthy at the expense of everyone else. The tax cuts add at least $1.5 trillion to the national deficit, with likely offsets to earned benefits and social safety net programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and SNAP--programs many families depend on. The cuts rob the American people of resources that could put people to work building infrastructure, or be invested in public education, child care, and health care. Trump's first year budget was equally alarming. Proposed cuts to the Minority Business Development Agency, Community Development Block Grants, and the Economic Development Administration, among countless others, will almost certainly diminish the ability of underserved communities to get ahead . These are not the actions of an Administration interested in helping all Americans. It is time the Trump Administration and Republicans in Congress start acting on behalf of all Americans, and not just a few. It is time to turn words, cheers, and applause into meaningful action and help ensure economic justice for all.

Ms. FUDGE

Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, Janus v. AFSCME comes down to a binary choice: will the U.S. stand up for the fundamental right of workers to form a union and collectively bargain; or will the Supreme Court allow large corporations to continue their assault on hard-working Americans. Unions are a vital part of our nation. Decades ago, Congress protected the right of workers to join together and bargain for better wages, regular work hours and improved safety conditions, giving workers a voice when negotiating with large corporations. Despite their role in creating and maintaining America's working middle class, unions are under relentless attack. It is no coincidence that a dramatic rise in income inequality coincides with a nation-wide campaign against unionization. American workers have become more productive, yet wages have stagnated. Their hard work has created billions of dollars in profits, all while working longer hours for less pay and fewer benefits. Endless attacks have been launched against workers' overtime pay, retirement savings, and health care. The tax code was just tilted even more toward the wealthiest individuals and corporations. Corporate profits were at all-time highs before the tax cut. Unions ensure workers can fight for their fair share of the profits they help create. On average, unionized workers earn $207 more per week than non- unionized workers. Unionized workers have greater access to paid holidays, paid sick leave, life insurance, medical, and retirement benefits. Unionized workforces lead to less turnover for employers and more highly skilled workers. Children of union members are more likely to climb the ladder to the middle class. States with higher union density have better workplace laws. The foundation of U.S. labor law has held firm for nearly 70 years. American standards are what we strive to hold other countries to when negotiating trade deals, yet these standards are constantly under attack. The Supreme Court will soon hear oral arguments in Janus v. AFSCME, a case that could fundamentally end collective bargaining. The question of ``fair share'' was settled by the Supreme Court years ago. Unions are required by law to represent and negotiate on behalf of all public sector employees, regardless of whether or not a worker decides to formally join the union. Fair share fees support that requirement and ensure no worker is required to join the union and no one is forced to pay any fees that go toward politics or candidates they disagree agree with. But all employees benefit from union negotiations. It is only fair that all employees contribute. This is already the law. Janus is just another in a long line of attacks on unions and workers. Since Republicans took control of the House in 2011, they have convened more than 30 hearings and markups to undermine workers' rights in the Education and the Workforce Committee alone. Rather than attacking workers' rights, we should focus on raising wages and improving working conditions for all Americans. We should work to ensure paid family, sick and medical leave, improve access to child care, and ensure access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans. It's time for my colleagues to turn their words into actions. It's time to support unions and the American worker. The real middle class.

Ms. FUDGE

Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Dr. Toby Cosgrove, an innovative leader and the recently retired president and CEO of the Cleveland Clinic Hospital System. I am fortunate to know Dr. Cosgrove personally, and I am privileged to call him a friend. Some say a picture is worth 1,000 words. That was certainly true of Toby Cosgrove. Toby was an accomplished sailor as a young man. That was his path until he saw a photo of his neighbor in an operating room. That photo inspired Dr. Cosgrove to become a surgeon. He graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts and earned his medical degree from the University of Virginia School of Medicine. After medical school, Dr. Cosgrove served our Nation in Vietnam as a captain in the U.S. Air Force. He was awarded a Bronze Star and the Republic of Vietnam Commendation Medal for his service during the war. Dr. Cosgrove joined the Cleveland Clinic staff in 1976. Dr. Cosgrove was a world-renowned heart surgeon for more than 30 years. He performed more than 22,000 operations and pioneered the first minimally invasive heart valve surgery. Throughout his remarkable career, he acquired 31 registered patents. Dr. Cosgrove took the helm of the Cleveland Clinic in 2004 and made the health of the clinic employees a priority. Some of his wellness initiatives included implementing a smoking ban on all campuses, ensuring healthier food options in cafeterias, and opening weekly farmers' markets. During his tenure, Dr. Cosgrove focused on enhancing patient outcomes and a better patient experience. Dr. Cosgrove is credited with instilling a vision and culture that has led to the Cleveland Clinic being described as ``a role model of healthcare delivery.'' He coined the phrase ``Patients First'' and made headlines by hiring America's first chief experience officer to ensure caregivers were meeting the medical, physical, and emotional needs of patients. Dr. Cosgrove led the expansion of Cleveland Clinic's footprint to over 100 locations in northeast Ohio, including 10 regional hospitals and 21 family health centers. Under his leadership, the Cleveland Clinic has become Ohio's largest employer. Total visits increased to 7.1 million and research funding grew to $260 million. The Cleveland Clinic health system includes facilities in Florida, Nevada, Canada, Abu Dhabi, and a new London facility scheduled to open in 2020. Dr. Cosgrove stepped down at the end of 2017. In tribute, the Cleveland Clinic community came together to raise over $50 million for the Cosgrove Transformation Campaign to honor his career and legacy. The Cosgrove Transformation Campaign will ensure Cleveland Clinic remains a world leader in innovation, research, education, and improving the patient experience. On behalf of the people of the 11th Congressional District of Ohio, I thank Dr. Cosgrove for his years of innovative leadership at Cleveland Clinic and his commitment to improving the health and wellness of those we serve. Mr. Speaker, there is no question that Dr. Cosgrove's impact will continue to be felt for decades to come.

Ms. FUDGE

Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Scott for yielding. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3441, the Save Local Business Act, would fundamentally redefine the relationship between employers and employees. Mr. Speaker, corporate profits and income inequality are at an all- time high, yet we are debating a bill that would strip workers of their right to hold employers accountable, allowing corporations to further stifle wage growth and undermine collective bargaining. This is yet another Republican attempt to make the rich richer and the working people poorer, just like their tax bill. What we should be fighting for is a living wage and employee rights. My Republican colleagues say the law is ambiguous and we must act to save small businesses. The law is not ambiguous. They just don't like it because it holds businesses responsible and forces them to bargain with unions. This bill is an assault on workers. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from the Economic Policy Institute outlining how H.R. 3441 will ensure small businesses are left with sole responsibility for business practices often dictated by large corporations; and, in addition, a letter from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters opposing this bill in support of workers protections. Economic Policy Institute, Washington, DC, October 3, 2017. Hon. Virginia Foxx, Chairwoman, Committee on Education & the Workforce, House of Representatives. Hon. Bobby C. Scott, Ranking Member, Committee on Education & the Workforce, House of Representatives. Dear Chairwoman Foxx and Ranking Member Scott: On behalf of the Economic Policy Institute Policy Center, we write to express our strong opposition the H.R. 3441, the so-called ``Save Local Business Act,'' which would do nothing to protect small business owners or their workers. The Economic Policy Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank founded in 1986, and our labor policy unit assesses actions by Congress and federal agencies that impact workers and the economy. We urge you to oppose this legislation. The so-called ``Save Local Business Act'' (H.R. 3441) would roll back the joint employer standards under both the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). It has nothing to do with protecting small businesses. In fact, the bill would ensure that small businesses are left with sole responsibility for business practices often mandated by large corporations like franchisors. It would establish a joint employer standard that lets big corporations avoid liability for labor and employment violations and leaves small businesses on the hook. Given the realities of the modern workplace, in which employees often find themselves subject to more than one employer, working people deserve a joint employer standard that guarantees their rights and protections under basic labor and employment laws. Instead, this bill would establish a standard that makes it nearly impossible for workers whose wages are stolen or who are fired for supporting a union to get justice. By limiting employer responsibility to only those firms who ``directly, actually, and immediately'' exercise significant control over the essential terms and conditions of employment, the bill would enable large firms that contract for services to evade responsibility under both the NLRA and the FLSA. When two or more businesses co-determine or share control over a worker's pay, schedule, or job duties, then both of those businesses should be considered employers. A weak joint employer standard robs workers of their rights, making it impossible for them to effectively collectively bargain or litigate workplace disputes--and it leaves small businesses holding the bag when the large corporations that control their business practices and set their employees' schedules violate labor law and refuse to come to the bargaining table. If this committee wishes to support small businesses and the workers they employ, then it should support a strong joint employer standard rather than this legislation. Since the NLRB narrowed its joint employer standard in 1984, contingent and alternative workforce arrangements-- including reliance on temporary staffing firms and contractors to outsource services traditionally performed by in-house workers--have grown dramatically. Recent estimates find that 15.8 percent of workers were engaged in alternative work arrangements in late 2015, or around 24 million workers in today's labor market. The NLRB's 2015 decision in Browning-Ferris Industries addressed this issue, requiring all firms that control the terms and conditions of employment to come to the bargaining table, ensuring that workers are again able to engage in their right to collective bargaining. Employers already face only narrow liability under Browning-Ferris, and the Board would examine the specific circumstances of each case before making a determination. Nothing in the decision implies that all employers in a specific industry will be found to be joint employers under the NLRA. Similarly, the Wage & Hour Division's Administrator's Interpretation on the joint employer standard under the FLSA did not create any new policy; rather, it simply sought to make clear for employers their responsibilities under existing court law and opinion, and to provide the exact kind of clarity and guidance to employers and the regulated community that proponents of the H.R. 3441 purport to seek. And yet, earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Labor rescinded that Administrator's Interpretation, hiding it from view. In spite of its title, H.R. 3441 does nothing to save local businesses. Instead, it saves large corporations from any responsibility for violations of the FLSA and NLRA. The legislation leaves small businesses and their workers without meaningful recourse. We urge you, your fellow Committee members, and all Members of the House of Representatives to oppose this bill. Sincerely, Celine McNicholas, Labor Counsel, Economic Policy Institute Policy Center. Heidi Shierholz, Senior Economist and Director of Policy, Economic Policy Institute Policy Center.

Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on H.R. 3441. Let's get back to fighting for the people we were sent here to serve.

Ms. FUDGE

Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 2921, the National Forest System Vegetation Management Pilot Program Act of 2017. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2921 is a bipartisan bill that would help protect electric transmission lines from forest fires and other potential forest management issues. The bill creates voluntary pilot project authority for the U.S. Forest Service to partner with the private sector to proactively undertake limited and selective vegetation management projects near utility infrastructure. These pilot projects include, but are not limited to, things like tree thinning and fuel reduction, which would help to alleviate some of the risk of forest fires and enhance electric reliability. H.R. 2921 requires that all projects comply with existing environmental laws. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. FUDGE

Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 2941, the Kisatchie National Forest Land Conveyance Act. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2941 permits the sale of two isolated parcels of Kisatchie National Forest land, totaling approximately 50 acres. These parcels are isolated from the forest's core lands and are intermixed with private land and residences, leaving it incompatible with the National Forest management. The proceeds from the sale of these parcels will be made available for the acquisition of lands and interest in the Kisatchie National Forest. Under H.R. 2941, the Secretary of Agriculture is required to first convey a portion of the land to Collins Camp Properties. Collins Camp Properties must pay reasonable appraisal costs and costs of any required administrative and environmental analysis. H.R. 2941 allows the Kisatchie National Forest to consolidate ownership of natural lands and continues the strong tradition of the National Forest Service acting as stewards for the environment. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. FUDGE

Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3567. H.R. 3567 will allow California's Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District to purchase at appraised value the parcel of property on which it is currently located, which is the former U.S. Salinity Laboratory. The property is currently administered by the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service and is being comanaged under a cooperative agreement. The cooperative agreement dates back to 1996. Since that time, the Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District has invested $2.8 million into the property with the understanding that NRCS would eventually transfer ownership. The Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District provides natural resource conservation through education, collaboration, and technical assistance in southern California. Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this measure. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. FUDGE

Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 2521, the South Carolina Peanut Parity Act of 2017. Mr. Speaker, the 2002 farm bill established the Peanut Standards Board to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on quality and handling standards for domestically produced and imported peanuts. The board consists of 18 members representing three regions: the Southeast, the Southwest, and the Virginia/North Carolina region. Despite its status as the Nation's fourth largest peanut-producing State, South Carolina is not represented on the Peanut Standards Board. H.R. 2521, or the South Carolina Peanut Parity Act of 2017, would correct this problem by adding South Carolina to the Virginia/North Carolina region and making peanut farmers and industry representatives from the State eligible for board appointments. The legislation has the support of the entire South Carolina delegation as well as the support of South Carolina, Virginia, and North Carolina peanut growers. In conclusion, H.R. 2521 gives South Carolinians a rightful opportunity to serve on the Peanut Standards Board. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. FUDGE

Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friend Rep. Veasey for hosting tonight's special order. Let me begin by offering my condolences to the families of Sgt. La David Johnson and his fellow soldiers who lost their lives in Niger. Those who give their lives in the service of this great nation and their families deserve our honor, respect and thanks. The White House's treatment of Sgt. Johnson's Gold Star widow is an embarrassment to our nation. Furthermore, the White House's attacks on Congresswoman Frederica Wilson's character are baseless and shameful. I know Congresswoman Wilson as a woman of integrity who has proven her deep commitment to her constituents and community over the years. Mr. Speaker, I stand today with my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus to share a concern about the leaked FBI's assessment creating a new class of threats and unjustly labeling ordinary Americans exercising their constitutional rights as extremists. In the report, the FBI coins a new term--black identity extremists-- which can easily give the perception that African Americans speaking out against police brutality or anyone who identifies as black for that matter is a threat to law enforcement. I can't help but wonder, what led the FBI to reach such a conclusion. Was it the Facebook ads purchased by Russian operatives targeting the Black Lives Matter movement? This type of mischaracterization is dangerous and further erodes the trust between law enforcement officials and communities of color. We have seen this before. The FBI has a long and troubling history of targeting African Americans in this country. In the 1960s, the FBI's Counter Intelligence Program (COINTELPRO) was used to surveil and discredit civil rights activists fighting institutional racism, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and black members of Congress. These activists were fighting for equality, access to the ballot box, educational opportunities, and decent housing. They no longer wanted to be treated as second-class citizens. Put simply, they were seeking an even playing field and equal treatment under the law as should be provided to every American. Here we are sixty years later, and we continue to fight for the same rights. We have seen it play out in the unrest that unfolded in communities like Ferguson, Baltimore, and Cleveland where those who are being paid to protect and serve are not held accountable for killing unarmed African American citizens. This report makes clear that we have harkened back to the dark days of J. Edgar Hoover. COINTELPRO 2.0 undermines the progress we have made and continues the current Administration's disturbing trend of demonizing communities of color. At some point, Members on both sides of the aisle must stand up and speak out against these efforts to mischaracterize actions of Americans fighting for a fairer and more just America. We all have rights under the Constitution, and no American seeking equal treatment under the law should be unfairly labeled when exercising those rights.

Ms. FUDGE

Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong opposition to the Republican budget. As Vice President Biden stated: ``Don't tell me what you value. Show me your budget and I will tell you what you value.'' The Republican's so-called Building a Better America budget shows us they do not value education, infrastructure, research and development, veterans' benefits, and other programs which expand opportunities for America's families. This budget is immoral. It provides trillions of dollars in tax money to millionaires and wealthy corporations while shifting the burden onto the middle class. It cuts $5.4 trillion from programs that American families rely on; programs like SNAP, Pell grants, Social Security, and healthcare. The budget ends the Medicare guarantee. It cuts Medicare alone by almost $500 billion over 10 years. A vote for this budget destroys American families in favor of a select few. This budget does not build a better America. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this budget.

Ms. FUDGE

Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, let me first begin by thanking my friend and colleague Rep. Bennie Thompson for leading today's effort in honoring the life and legacy of Fannie Lou Hamer. October 6th marks the 100th anniversary of her birth in Montgomery County, Mississippi. An honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta, Fannie Lou Hamer dedicated her life to the fight for civil rights. Born in 1917, she was the daughter of sharecroppers and the youngest of 20 siblings. By the age of six, she was helping her family in the cotton fields. Fannie Lou Hamer was a woman of courage. She used her voice to raise awareness about the plight of African Americans in the Mississippi Delta. She was a woman of strength who was able to channel the injustices committed against her into activism. Working for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, Hamer helped African Americans register to vote and worked to end segregation. After attempting to register to vote herself in August 1962, Hamer lost her job and was kicked out of her home. The following year, she and fellow activists returning from a training workshop were unjustly jailed and severely beaten. While the beating left permanent damage, the officers were later acquitted by an all-white jury. Hamer was also a trailblazing political activist. She helped to found the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and the National Women's Political Caucus. She almost derailed the re-election of President Lyndon Johnson and changed the Democratic Party's delegate selection process. In 1968, she would become the first African American to serve as an official delegate at a national-party convention since Reconstruction and the first woman ever from Mississippi. Although unsuccessful in her bids for elected office, Hamer remained committed to voting rights and antipoverty efforts. She filed a lawsuit to push forward desegregation efforts in local schools, led the cotton pickers resistance movement and helped to bring a Head Start program to her community. Fannie Lou Hamer's contributions to the American Civil Rights movement and our nation are undeniable. As then UN Ambassador Andrew Young eulogized at her funeral, ``None of us would be where we are now had she not been there then.'' His words still ring true 40 years later.

Ms. FUDGE

Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, what is a life worth? What does it cost to save the life of a sick child or a senior citizen? For all of the rhetoric about freedom and choices, this bill sends a clear message to every American as to where Republican priorities lie. Tax breaks to the wealthy have been deemed more valuable than lifesaving care. They are telling hardworking families that insurance that only benefits the wealthy, the healthy, and the young is more important than access to nursing homes, to pediatric care, mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and the overall peace of mind that, if you get sick, you can afford care. Speaker Ryan calls this ``an act of mercy.'' This is by no means merciful, Mr. Speaker. Mercy is caring for the sick, the poor, for our elders. Mercy is extending a hand to those in need. This is heartless. Human decency demands a ``no'' vote on TrumpCare. Vote ``no.''

Ms. FUDGE

Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues, Representatives Beatty and Kaptur, to address the Secretary of Education. Mr. Speaker, Betsy DeVos is an imminent and present danger to all of America's children. She does not support public schools. Public schools are where 93 percent or better of all America's children attend. She opposes increased accountability and transparency in for-profit schools, and has a privatization agenda that can set public education back more than 50 years. Even more alarming, she breaks laws and does not pay her bills. DeVos has owed my home State of Ohio $5.3 million since 2008 for violating campaign finance laws. Despite repeated attempts to collect the money, she has failed to pay those fines. As ranking member of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, I am deeply concerned about DeVos' nomination for Secretary of Education. As a member of the Ohio delegation, I am appalled by her deliberate refusal to pay millions in fines she owes our State. We cannot give the purse strings of America's education system to someone only concerned with her own bank account. And we cannot entrust the future of our children to a person who breaks the law, cozies up to Wall Street, and calls public schools, which I believe are the bedrock of our education system, a dead end. I urge my Senate colleagues to vote ``no'' on DeVos. The future of our country and our children are at stake.

Ms. FUDGE

Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, as I stand in my wine and gold and black today, I quote the words of LeBron James, in Cleveland, ``nothing is given. Everything is earned.'' I rise today to congratulate our 2016 NBA champions, the Cleveland Cavaliers. They earned it. Facing a 3-1 series deficit, the Cavaliers beat all the odds. Led by LeBron James, the team quieted all doubters and brought home the Larry O'Brien Trophy. It was historic, something that had never been done in the history of the NBA. Cleveland's victory ended the city's 52-year championship drought, the longest in professional sports history. No city has witnessed as many heartbreaking moments in sports. But not this time, Mr. Speaker. This time, it was our time. Over those 52 years, our fans never wavered, never lost hope. We always believed. Mr. Speaker, the wait is over. Victory is ours. Congratulations to the NBA world champion Cleveland Cavaliers.

Ms. FUDGE

Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the cooperative owners and the employees of the Farm Credit System for 100 years of service in meeting the financial needs of our nation's agricultural producers. The Farm Credit System was established by Congress through the Federal Farm Loan Act of 1916 and signed into law on July 17, 1916 by President Woodrow Wilson. This year marks the centennial anniversary of the founding of the cooperatively owned and operated Farm Credit System. Congress designed the Farm Credit System as a permanent means to support the well-being and prosperity of our Nation's agricultural sector. Today, the Farm Credit System plays a vital role in the success of United States agriculture and the economic vibrancy of communities throughout all 50 States and Puerto Rico. The Farm Credit System provides more than $237 billion in loans to more than 500,000 customers. The Farm Credit System has served my home district, Ohio's 11th Congressional District particularly well. In 2012, three Farm Credit System organizations; AgriBank, CoBank and Farm Credit Services Mid- America joined to provide $135,000 in financial support for Cleveland's Gardening for Greenbacks program. The Gardening for Greenbacks program provides grants to local entrepreneurs for the development of for-profit urban food gardens. This program encourages economic development, improves access to fresh, healthy and affordable food, and has helped to establish the City of Cleveland as a model for local food system development. I am proud to honor the Farm Credit System on its centennial. Happy 100th Anniversary to the Farm Credit System.

Ms. FUDGE

Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. It is a pleasure to watch my fellow Ohioan and friend and the gentleman from New York on this House floor every Monday night bringing the message of the Congressional Black Caucus because indeed they are the people who carry our message to the United States. Mr. Speaker, the school-to-prison pipeline is robbing far too many children of productive futures. Instead of learning in classrooms, a large percentage of our Nation's at-risk students sit in jail cells. The numbers don't lie. Black students are suspended and expelled at a rate three times greater than White students. More than one in four boys of color with disabilities and nearly one in five girls of color with disabilities receives an out-of-school suspension. And studies show that students who are suspended or expelled in school are more likely to end up in prison. Our Nation's children deserve better. It is time we prioritize education and not incarceration. Comprehensive criminal justice reform must include policies which dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline. We must reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, a bill that funds delinquency prevention and improvements in State and local juvenile justice programs, supports restorative initiatives, and promotes early intervention. Disrupting the pipeline will provide a pathway for a successful future and lessen the burden on our current judicial system. The number of people incarcerated in America quadrupled between 1980 and 2008. Of the more than 2.3 million Americans incarcerated today, more than 1 million of them are Black. In my home State of Ohio, more than 50,000 people are incarcerated in a system that was designed to only hold 39,000. And on average, States across this Nation spend $30,000 per year to house one inmate. That is at least $19,000 more per year than we spend to educate one child. It is time we get our priorities straight. As ranking member of the Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, promoting policies that keep our children in school is one of my top priorities. I ask my colleagues: What are yours?

Ms. FUDGE

Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, more than 21 percent of American children live in poverty. More than 15 million children live in food-insecure households. In fact, households with children are more likely to be food insecure than those without. In my home State of Ohio, 16.9 percent of households experience food insecurity, and Ohio's rate is higher than the national average of 14.3. Programs that affect child nutrition, such as the National School Lunch Program, the National School Breakfast Program, and the Summer Food Service Program, are essential tools in the fight to end child hunger. Access to healthy foods during the school day and throughout summer feeding programs is essential to helping children thrive both academically and developmentally. The Improving Child Nutrition and Education Act would increase the burden on schools with new verification requirements and increased community eligibility thresholds, or CEP. I represent one of the Nation's most impoverished districts, with nearly 200,000 people living in poverty. Out of 435 districts and the District of Columbia, my district ranks 420th. Only 16 other districts in the United States fare worse than mine. If passed, the changes to CEP alone could result in children across the country losing access to free and reduced-price meals at school, and that is unacceptable, Mr. Speaker. The bill fails to make critical investments in the summer meal program. Meals served through the summer feeding program may be the only ones some children have in a day. If the sponsors of the bill truly wanted to improve child nutrition, they would invest in summer meals to ensure eligible children do not go hungry during the summer months. As we move towards reauthorization, we must strengthen and expand child nutrition programs. Our children's health and education are not budget-saving gimmicks. I firmly believe that any attempt to reauthorize child nutrition programs must improve access to healthy foods year-round. This bill does not even come close to meeting the minimum requirement. We must engage in bipartisan conversations about how to best meet the needs of all children. I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Ms. FUDGE

Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Tony Richison, a veteran from Ohio's 11th Congressional District who died on March 30. Mr. Richison and I were friends for many years. He was a respected leader in our community and served as a member of my selection panel for military service academy nominations. Known for his big personality and love of service to his Nation, Mr. Richison entered the Army at age 16. He served for 10 years during the Korean war and received a Bronze Star for his bravery. As a champion for returning servicemen and -women, he founded Veterans for Ohio, a nonprofit that provided assistance to veterans in Cuyahoga County. Through his work, more than 30 veterans won disability claims and more than 80 gained much-needed housing and medical assistance. Mr. Richison was a patriot, a community leader, and an advocate. The State of Ohio is indebted to him for his service and sacrifice. He will be greatly missed.

Ms. FUDGE

Ms. FUDGE. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, first, let me thank all of the men and women who have sacrificed and served this Nation. I can't imagine why any person of sound mind would deny women the right to the same benefits, to the same recognition that men get who serve this Nation. I would think that not one person would deny them this right. I cannot imagine why those who serve would have to fight for the dignity that each and every single person who serves this country should have. I support this legislation, and I support the people who support it. Anybody who doesn't should not be in this building.

Ms. FUDGE

Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, when taking office, every Member of Congress swears to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. This includes Article II, Section 2, Clause 2, also known as the ``Appointments Clause.'' The Appointments Clause clearly states the President has the power to nominate Justices of the Supreme Court. Nowhere does this clause state the President abdicates this constitutional responsibility during a presidential election year. And, nowhere does it state the U.S. Senate can make threats against the President for exercising his constitutional authority. Our separate branches of government exist to provide checks and balances against tyranny, not to hijack Constitutional processes for political gain. Many Republicans have argued that Supreme Court Justices are not typically appointed during presidential election years, and especially during a president's last term. To those claims I invoke Mahlon Pitney, Louis Brandeis, John H. Clarke, Benjamin Cardozo, Frank Murphy, and Anthony Kennedy--all examples of Supreme Court Justices who were confirmed during a presidential election year. Supreme Court Justices Anthony Kennedy and Benjamin Cardozo in particular, were confirmed during President Reagan and President Hoover's last years, respectively. Justice Louis Brandeis was nominated and confirmed in 1916 to replace Justice Joseph Lamar, who died in early January of that same year. Not only has the Senate voted on and confirmed Supreme Court nominees during presidential election years, the process has never taken more than 125 days. In fact, on average, nominees have been confirmed, rejected, or withdrawn within 25 days. Ample time remains for President Obama to work with Congress to approve a nominee. However, Republican leadership has once again let politics get in the way of doing what the American people elected them to do. The Constitution is clear. Just as we honor our First Amendment right to freedom of religion or our Second Amendment right to bear arms, so should we defend the constitutionality of the Supreme Court appointment process. We cannot pick and choose which sections we enforce. As Members of Congress, we made a promise to our constituents that we would ``faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which'' we have been elected to. It is the Senate's duty to consider a Supreme Court nominee. I implore my Republican colleagues: Put politics aside and do your job; do not block President Obama's nominee. Rulings handed down by the Supreme Court directly affect our economy, security, and civil rights. This seat is too important to leave vacant.

Ms. FUDGE

Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to celebrate the 107th anniversary of the NAACP, an organization dedicated to eradicating racism and injustice in the United States. Since its founding in 1909, the NAACP has been a constant voice in the fight for civil rights. But, unlike other organizations, its original battlefield was the courtroom. The founders of the NAACP were smart. They understood that in order to combat ignorance, you must first change the laws that foster it. One of their first actions was to lobby against Jim Crow lynching laws. Though their efforts were unsuccessful, they turned the nation's attention to the ongoing mistreatment of Blacks in the 1920s and '30s. In 1954, the NAACP played a pivotal role in the historic landmark case, Brown v. Board of Education. A team of NAACP lawyers joined Thurgood Marshall in a series of legal battles that would lead to segregation in public education being ruled unconstitutional. The organization was then instrumental in the passage of the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts of 1965. Since its inception, the NAACP has been our champion, and its expertise is now needed more than ever. We are at a critical point in our nation's history, where strategic, collaborative efforts are best to move our country forward. Like the NAACP, we must be catalysts for change, not the cause of division. The anniversary of the NAACP's founding reminds us what can be done when we work together. We all must play a role in the advancement of our communities. To quote NAACP member Ms. Rosa Parks, ``Racism is still with us. But it is up to us to prepare our children for what they have to meet, and, hopefully, we shall overcome.'' As a nation, we must reject discrimination in any form and give all children a chance to succeed in the land of the free and the home of the brave. To the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the NAACP, my sincerest gratitude for all you have done to shape American history and ensure all of us have an opportunity to fully participate in the American dream. Thank you for being there in the streets, on college campuses, and at the courthouse. Our communities are indebted to you for the vision in 1909, and the 107 years dedicated to righting the wrongs of our nation's past. Thank you for persevering and changing the face of America.

Ms. FUDGE

Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, each February our nation takes time to reflect on the countless contributions African Americans have made to this country's history. We celebrate innovators like Ohio District 11's own Langston Hughes, pioneers like astronaut Mae Jamison, as well as political and civil rights leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Black History Month represents inclusion and innovation. It promotes America at its best. For in this month, we appreciate our collective strength and recognize the diversity of each and every patriot. America is a country of immigrants, and our power lies in our differences. To quote Dr. King, ``We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now.'' No matter how we arrived, every American should have access to the same opportunity. Every individual should be able to reach his or her own potential and succeed in the home of the free and the land of the brave. Unfortunately, many do not have equitable access to opportunity. This is why the Congressional Black Caucus stands today. Despite the contributions and sacrifice of African Americans, many still suffer from the effects of historic injustice and prejudice. We are almost three times more likely to live in poverty than Whites, and six times more likely to be put in jail. Our unemployment rate is nearly two times the rates of Whites. When we do find work, we make less than our White counterparts. As Black America reflects on its current situation, many tend to ask questions such as, ``What would Dr. King do?'' or ``How would the civil rights leaders of the past address the issues of the present?'' If Dr. King was alive today, I believe he would certainly be proud of who we are. But he would also say that we must commit ourselves to moving forward together as one people and one nation. It is time we ``fix our politics.'' Not just in Washington, but everywhere. As President Barack Obama stated recently, ``We are in a time of extraordinary change.'' The Members of this House have the opportunity to pass policies that reverse years of bigotry and injustice and level the playing field for all. This Black History Month, I urge my Congressional colleagues to celebrate through legislative action. Develop a new formula to ensure the right to vote for all Americans. Reauthorize the Higher Education Act to help more kids go to college. Combat harsh sentencing through criminal justice reform. These actions won't just honor a race of people. They will further the hope and success of an entire nation.