Janice Hahn

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Marcus John Bradshaw, the grandson of Jimmie Bernstein, and a former neighbor of mine when I lived in Long Beach, California. Marcus John Bradshaw was born to John and Sheri (Bernstein) Bradshaw on July 26, 1988, in Hazel Crest, Illinois. Marcus was blessed to have three older brothers, Eric, John and Timothy. Known for his kindness, Marcus was steadfastly loyal and faithful to all who were blessed to know him. Marcus attended Western Avenue Elementary School in Flossmoor, Illinois, where he played soccer and baseball. Marcus went to Parker Junior High School in Flossmoor, where he played volleyball, golf, as well as participated in a national chorus. Outside of school, he was a member of a traveling baseball team, for which he played second base. Marcus graduated from Homewood-Flossmoor High School in 2006. He lettered in volleyball, participated in intramural sports, and became an official ball boy for the Chicago Bears. During the 2006 season, Marcus went to the Super Bowl when the Bears played the Indianapolis Colts. His school chronicled his experience as an NFL ball boy for the Chicago Bears in a feature article for its newspaper, the Homewood- Flossmoor High School Voyager. Marcus attended DePaul University, where he participated in the volleyball club and enjoyed playing flag football with friends. In 2010, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. Marcus began his professional career as a Brand Ambassador for Powerade and Fuze. He was then promoted to Event Manager for Powerade. He also worked as a Construction Coordinator for Goodman Networks. Following his tenure there, he worked for Bradshaw Construction & Management, first as a Field Inspector at Chicago's Midway Airport and then as a Quality Assurance Inspector at O'Hare International Airport. Marcus proved to be a consummate professional, known for his strong work ethic and his consistent punctuality. His travels included Mexico, the Caribbean islands, Australia, as well as two trips to China including the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Marcus' sparkling personality, infectious smile, and winning ways reflected his humorous side. He was witty and fun to be around. His favorite pastimes included fantasy football and fantasy basketball. In addition, he skied, continued to play volleyball and golf, and as a testament to his athletic prowess, served as a wide receiver for the Chicago Thunder semi-professional football team. Marcus truly enjoyed life to the fullest and experienced much in his 27 years. Marcus made his transition to everlasting peace and joy on July 5, 2016, from the rare incurable disease, autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Marcus will forever remain in the minds and hearts of those who love him as his spirit soars with the angels in the presence and love of God. Marcus is survived by those that honor and cherish his memory including: his parents, John and Sheri Bradshaw; his brother Eric and his wife Ana; his brother John and his wife, Sylvia; his brother Timothy; his maternal grandmother Jimmie Bernstein; as well as a host of loving family members and a legion of friends throughout the nation.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, over the last 5\1/2\ years, I have spoken here on the House floor more times than I can count, but this will be my last. I am retiring from Congress and joining the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, a position my father held for 40 years, where he did so much good for so many people. Few people have the privilege to serve their community and their country in the United States Congress. I am honored by the trust my constituents invested in me to represent them. I have been humbled by the experience and continue to be in awe of the time I have spent as both a witness and participant to history. Washington can be a difficult place, but I have managed to make incredible friends here with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, from my good friend, Congressman Ted Poe, my co-chair on the PORTS Caucus; to David Cicilline, my best friend, my inspiration for the issues that he addresses each and every day; and to Louie Gohmert, my co-chair for the National Prayer Breakfast. I want to thank Leader Pelosi for her example and for the strength she instills in all of us in the Democratic Caucus. I am eager to get back to work in Los Angeles, but I will be sorry to say goodbye to all of you. I have appreciated your support, your friendship, your dedication to your constituents, and to this great country, and I will forever be grateful to have known you.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join the world in mourning the loss of Shimon Peres, former prime minister and president of Israel and one of the country's last surviving founding fathers. Peres dedicated his life to the difficult challenge of establishing a lasting peace for Israel and its neighbors. He negotiated the landmark Oslo Accords and, in 1994, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work and commitment to ending ongoing violence. Near the end of his presidency, I had the honor of sitting down with President Peres at the Peres Center for Peace on a trip to Israel. I was struck by his vision for the future and his commitment to peace no matter what the obstacles. For seven decades, Shimon Peres has been a trusted partner to the United States and helped to forge the unbreakable alliance between our two countries. Two years ago, we held a ceremony here in the Capitol to award him with the Congressional Gold Medal--the highest civilian award Congress can bestow and the first to go to a sitting president of Israel. As the world mourns the death of this visionary leader, let us ensure that his legacy lives on and recommit ourselves to a lasting peace for Israel and our entire world.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues and I in the Transportation Committee, both Democrats and Republicans, decided to address this injustice in May when we passed a bipartisan bill that included the provision to finally take the harbor maintenance trust fund off-budget. However, much to my shock and dismay, this provision was stripped out after we passed the bill out of committee. We cannot continue to neglect our port infrastructure and put at risk job growth, our economy, and global competitiveness. For these reasons, I cannot support this rule and WRDA in its current form, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same.

Ms. HAHN. I thank my colleague, Representative Hastings, for yielding, and I thank the gentleman earlier for recognizing my work on this issue since I have come to Congress. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule for this bill. My colleagues and I, first of all, have been fighting for much-needed funding for the children who have been poisoned in Flint, Michigan. This bill should have included help for them. These families have waited too long, and it is inexcusable that we have not passed legislation on their behalf. I am also opposing this bill because an important provision that would take the harbor maintenance trust fund off budget was stripped from this bill after we passed it out of committee unanimously--with true bipartisan support. When I first came to Congress 5 years ago, I didn't think we were talking about our Nation's ports enough, and I started the bipartisan Congressional Ports Caucus, which now has over 100 members, both Democrats and Republicans. Some are in the caucus who don't even have a port that they represent; but, together, we have brought new attention to the problems that are facing our Nation's ports and the impact that they have on our economy. One of our caucus' priorities has been taking the harbor maintenance trust fund off budget so that Congress cannot use these funds for any other reason or keep them in a surplus that is not going to the purpose for which they were intended. Shippers have been paying billions of dollars into this fund for the purpose of maintaining our ports so that we can continue to have goods movement and the international trade industry be at the core of our economy in this country. We had a $9 billion surplus at one point. That is criminal to have that money just sitting here not going back to our ports. In fact, over the last decade, less than 60 percent of the revenues that we have collected have been used to maintain and dredge our ports. This is unacceptable. Money that is collected at our ports, for our ports, should go back to our ports. Jo-Ellen Darcy, the head of the Army Corps of Engineers, told me that if she had the appropriate funding--which means we should take the harbor maintenance trust fund off-budget--all of our ports in this country could be dredged in 5 years. Not only would this create jobs, it would prepare ports across the country for the larger ships coming through the expanded Panama Canal. We made great headway on this issue in 2014 by passing a bipartisan WRRDA bill that established annual spending targets that led to the full use of these revenues by 2025. However, less than 2 months after that was passed, I was back here on the floor with my colleague, Representative Huizenga, fighting for the appropriations funding that matched what was set in our water bill, and we have had to keep fighting for that ever since.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, every year, from September 15 to October 15, our Nation marks Hispanic Heritage Month to celebrate the enduring contribution of Latinos throughout our country's history. I am proud to represent a district that has been shaped and bolstered by generations of Hispanic Americans as well as recent Latin American immigrants. Los Angeles County is home to great Hispanic leaders, like Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis, and State Senator Ricardo Lara. For the first time in history, our California State Legislature is led by two Latino lawmakers, Senate Pro Tem Kevin de Leon and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon. California is proof that diversity is a strength and something we must recommit to and celebrate. That is why we must, as a nation, condemn attempts to demonize, marginalize, and scapegoat immigrant families. We are better than that as a country. We need to stop playing politics with people's lives and finally do our jobs and pass comprehensive immigration reform that fixes our broken immigration system and lives up to our American values. We can be better. Let us recommit to these values while we mark this year's Hispanic Heritage Month.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, February 4, 2016 I had the privilege of attending the 64th Annual National Prayer Breakfast chaired by Representatives Robert Aderholt and Juan Vargas. I would like to submit Part Four of the transcript: 64TH NATIONAL PRAYER BREAKFAST: PART FOUR The President: Thank you so much. Thank you. You're very kind. Thank you very much. Well, good morning. Giving all praise and honor to God for bringing us together here this morning. I want to thank everyone who helped organize this breakfast, especially our co-chairs, Robert and Juan, who embody the tradition of friendship, fellowship, and prayer. I will begin with a confession: I have always felt a tinge of guilt motorcading up here at the heart of D.C.'s rush hour. I suspect that not all the commuters were blessing me as they waited to get to work. But it's for a good cause. A National Prayer Brunch doesn't have the same ring to it. And Michelle and I are extremely honored, as always, to be with so many friends, with members of Congress, with faith leaders from across the country and around the world, to be with the Speaker, the Leader. I want thank Mark and Roma for their friendship and their extraordinary story, and sharing those inspiring words. Andrea, for sharing his remarkable gifts. And on this occasion, I always enjoy reflecting on a piece of scripture that's been meaningful to me or otherwise sustained me throughout the year. And lately, I've been thinking and praying on a verse from Second Timothy: ``For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.'' For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. We live in extraordinary times. Times of extraordinary change. We're surrounded by tectonic shifts in technology and in our economy; by destructive conflict, disruptions to our environment. And it all reshapes the way we work and the way we live. It's all amplified by a media that is unceasing, and that feeds 24/7 on our ever-shrinking attention spans. And as a student of history, I often remind people that the challenges that we face are not unique; that in fact, the threats of previous eras--civil war or world war or cold war, depressions or famines--those challenges put our own in perspective. Moreover, I believe that our unique strengths as a nation make us better equipped than others to harness this change to work for us, rather than against us. And yet, the sheer rapidity of change, and the uncertainty that it brings, is real. The hardship of a family trying to make ends meet. Refugees fleeing from a war-torn home. Those things are real. Terrorism, eroding shorelines--those things are real. Even the very progress that humanity has made, the affluence, the stability that so many of us enjoy, far greater prosperity than any previous generation of humanity has experienced, shines a brighter light on those who still struggle, reveal the gap in prospects that exist for the children of the world. And that gap between want and plenty, it gives us vertigo. It can make us afraid, not only of the possibility that progress will stall, but that maybe we have more to lose. And fear does funny things. Fear can lead us to lash out against those who are different, or lead us to try to get some sinister ``other'' under control. Alternatively, fear can lead us to succumb to despair, or paralysis, or cynicism. Fear can feed our most selfish impulses, and erode the bonds of community. It is a primal emotion--fear--one that we all experience. And it can be contagious, spreading through societies, and through nations. And if we let it consume us, the consequences of that fear can be worse than any outward threat. For me, and I know for so many of you, faith is the great cure for fear. Jesus is a good cure for fear. God gives believers the power, the love, the sound mind required to conquer any fear. And what more important moment for that faith than right now? What better time than these changing, tumultuous times to have Jesus standing beside us, steadying our minds, cleansing our hearts, pointing us towards what matters. His love gives us the power to resist fear's temptations. He gives us the courage to reach out to others across that divide, rather than push people away. He gives us the courage to go against the conventional wisdom and stand up for what's right, even when it's not popular. To stand up not just to our enemies but, sometimes, to stand up to our friends. He gives us the fortitude to sacrifice ourselves for a larger cause. Or to make tough decisions knowing that we can only do our best. Less of me, more of God. And then, to have the courage to admit our failings and our sins while pledging to learn from our mistakes and to try to do better. Certainly, during the course of this enormous privilege to have served as the President of the United States, that's what faith has done for me. It helps me deal with the common, everyday fears that we all share. The main one I'm feeling right now is that our children grow up too fast. They're leaving. That's a tough deal. And so, as a parent, you're worrying about will some harm befall them, how are they going to manage without you, did you miss some central moment in their lives. Will they call? Or text? Each day, we're fearful that God's purpose becomes elusive, cloudy. We try to figure out how we fit into his broader plan. They're universal fears that we have, and my faith helps me to manage those. And then my faith helps me to deal with some of the unique elements of my job. As one of the great departed heroes of our age, Nelson Mandela, once said, ``I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. . . The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.'' And certainly, there are times where I've had to repeat that to myself while holding this office. When you hear from a parade of experts, just days after you're elected, that another Great Depression is a very real possibility--that will get your attention. When you tell a room full of young cadets that you've made a decision to send them into harm's way, knowing that some of them might not return safely-- that's sobering. When you hold in your arms the mothers and fathers of innocent children gunned down in their classroom-- that reminds you there's evil in the world. And so you come to understand what President Lincoln meant when he said that he'd been driven to his knees by the overwhelming conviction that he had no place else to go. And so like every President, like every leader, like every person, I've known fear. But my faith tells me that I need not fear death; that the acceptance of Christ promises everlasting life and the washing away of sins. If Scripture instructs me to ``put on the full armor of God'' so that when trouble comes, I'm able to stand, then surely I can face down these temporal setbacks, surely I can battle back doubts, surely I can rouse myself to action. And should that faith waver, should I lose my way, I have drawn strength not only from a remarkable wife, not only from incredible colleagues and friends, but I have drawn strength from witnessing all across this country and all around this world, good people, of all faiths, who do the Lord's work each and every day, who wield that power and love, and sound mind to feed the hungry and heal the sick, to teach our children and welcome the stranger. Think about the extraordinary work of the congregations and faith communities represented here today. Whether fighting global poverty or working to end the scourge of human trafficking, you are the leaders of what Pope Francis calls ``this march of living hope.'' When the Earth cleaves in Haiti, Christians, Sikhs, and other faith groups sent volunteers to distribute aid, tend to the wounded, rebuild homes for the homeless. When Ebola ravaged West Africa, Jewish, Christian, Muslim groups responded to the outbreak to save lives. And as the news fanned the flames of fear, churches and mosques responded with a powerful rebuke, welcoming survivors into their pews. When nine worshippers were murdered in a Charleston church basement, it was people of all faiths who came together to wrap a shattered community in love and understanding. When Syrian refugees seek the sanctuary of our shores, it's the faithful from synagogues, mosques, temples, and churches who welcome them, the first to offer blankets and food and open their homes. Even now, people of different faiths and beliefs are coming together to help people suffering in Flint. And then there's the most--less spectacular, more quiet efforts of congregations all across this country just helping people. Seeing God in others. And we're driven to do this because we're driven by the value that so many of our faiths teach us--I am my brother's keeper, I am my sister's keeper. As Christians, we do this compelled by the Gospel of Jesus--the command to love God, and love one another. And so, yes, like every person, there are times where I'm fearful. But my faith and, more importantly, the faith that I've seen in so many of you, the God I see in you, that makes me inevitably hopeful about our future. I have seen so many who know that God has not given us a spirit of fear. He has given us power, and love, and a sound mind. We see that spirit in people like Pastor Saeed Abedini, imprisoned for no crime other than holding God in his heart. And last year, we prayed that he might be freed. And this year, we give thanks that he is home safe. We pray for God's protection for all around the world who are not free to practice their faith, including Christians who are persecuted, or who have been driven from their ancient homelands by unspeakable violence. And just as we call on other countries to respect the rights of religious minorities, we, too, respect the right of every single American to practice their faith freely. For this is what each of us is called on to do: To seek our common humanity in each other. To make sure our politics and our public discourse reflect that same spirit of love and sound mind. To assume the best in each other and not just the worst--and not just at the National Prayer Breakfast. To begin each of our works from the shared belief that all of us want what's good and right for our country and our future. We can draw such strength from the quiet moments of heroism around us every single day. And so let me close with two such stories that I've come to know just over the past week. A week ago, I spoke at a ceremony held at the Israeli Embassy for the first time, honoring the courage of people who saved Jews during the Holocaust. And one of the recipients was the grandson--or the son of an American soldier who had been captured by the Nazis. So a group of American soldiers are captured, and their captors ordered Jewish POWs to identify themselves. And one sergeant, a Christian named Roddie Edmonds, from Tennessee, ordered all American troops to report alongside them. They lined up in formation, approximately 200 of them, and the Nazi colonel said, ``I asked only for the Jewish POWs,'' and said, ``These can't all be Jewish.'' And Master Sergeant Edmonds stood there and said, ``We are all Jews.'' And the colonel took out his pistol and held it to the Master Sergeant's head and said, ``Tell me who the Jews are.'' And he repeated, ``We are all Jews.'' And faced with the choice of shooting all those soldiers, the Nazis relented. And so, through his moral clarity, through an act of faith, Sergeant Edmonds saved the lives of his Jewish brothers-in-arms. A second story. Just yesterday, some of you may be aware I visited a mosque in Baltimore to let our Muslim-American brothers and sisters know that they, too, are Americans and welcome here. And there I met a Muslim-American named Rami Nashashibi, who runs a nonprofit working for social change in Chicago. And he forms coalitions with churches and Latino groups and African Americans in this poor neighborhood in Chicago. And he told me how the day after the tragedy in San Bernardino happened, he took his three young children to a playground in the Marquette Park neighborhood, and while they were out, the time came for one of the five daily prayers that are essential to the Muslim tradition. And on any other day, he told me, he would have immediately put his rug out on the grass right there and prayed. But that day, he paused. He feared any unwelcome attention he might attract to himself and his children. And his seven year-old daughter asked him, ``What are you doing, Dad? Isn't it time to pray?'' And he thought of all the times he had told her the story of the day that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rabbi Robert Marx, and 700 other people marched to that very same park, enduring hatred and bigotry, dodging rocks and bottles, and hateful words, in order to challenge Chicago housing segregation, and to ask America to live up to our highest ideals. And so, at that moment, drawing from the courage of men of different religions, of a different time, Rami refused to teach his children to be afraid. Instead, he taught them to be a part of that legacy of faith and good conscience. ``I want them to understand that sometimes faith will be tested,'' he told me, ``and that we will be asked to show immense courage, like others have before us, to make our city, our country, and our world a better reflection of all our ideals.'' And he put down his rug and he prayed. Now, those two stories, they give me courage and they give me hope. And they instruct me in my own Christian faith. I can't imagine a moment in which that young American sergeant expressed his Christianity more profoundly than when, confronted by his own death, he said ``We are all Jews.'' I can't imagine a clearer expression of Jesus's teachings. I can't imagine a better expression of the peaceful spirit of Islam than when a Muslim father, filled with fear, drew from the example of a Baptist preacher and a Jewish rabbi to teach his children what God demands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. I pray that by His grace, we all find the courage to set such examples in our own lives--not just during this wonderful gathering and fellowship, not just in the public piety that we profess, but in those smaller moments when it's difficult, when we're challenged, when we're angry, when we're confronted with someone who doesn't agree with us, when no one is watching. I pray, as Roma so beautifully said, that our differences ultimately are bridged; that the God that is in each of us comes together, and we don't divide. I pray that our leaders will always act with humility and generosity. I pray that my failings are forgiven. I pray that we will uphold our obligation to be good stewards of God's creation--this beautiful planet. I pray that we will see every single child as our own, each worthy of our love and of our compassion. And I pray we answer Scripture's call to lift up the vulnerable, and to stand up for justice, and ensure that every human being lives in dignity. That's my prayer for this breakfast, and for this country, in the years to come. May God bless you, and may He continue to bless this country that we love. Rep. Aderholt: Thank you so much, Mr. President. Thank you for your encouraging and also your challenging word this morning. As you know, this breakfast began with one of your predecessors, Dwight Eisenhower; we appreciate you being with us all eight years. And now, let us get ready for the world that awaits us outside the walls of this hotel, and let's hear again from our friend and our brother from Italy, Andrea Bocelli singing Amazing Grace. [Mr. Bocelli sings Amazing Grace] Mr. Andrea Bocelli: Thank you. Thank you very much. A few words in my terrible English. Ladies and gentlemen, and Mr. President, there is a dark shadow on the world in this period. Many children, elderly die under the bomb. The war is the worst incident of our intelligence. There is a very small word, an honorable word that is to the base of our tragedy. This word in Old Greek, is hubris. Hubris means pride. But there is also on the other side a big reason of happiness, a big reason to be optimist. This reason is the will to be all together and pray together. To be all together also for a moment, to put aside our opinions, our ideas, our different goals, and to be really very close and to pray. Thank you for this invitation. Thank you very much. Rep. Vargas: Wow, what a great morning. Better than what we ever imagined. Thank you, Jesus. Let's take away the right kind of pride in what we have experienced today, the right kind. As my mother often said, ``Never be ashamed of your faith in Jesus because you never want him to be ashamed of you.'' As Democratic Leader Pelosi reminded us in her reading, Jesus prayed for us to be one and brought to complete unity, and we also heard that today with Mr. Bocelli. So here is my question to you, does Jesus get what he prays for? Let's work for unity. Jesus asked God to send us all together to be one. Rep. Aderholt: In closing, let me challenge you with this. We have heard a lot about unity this morning, that is what Juan and I wanted, just what we were hoping would be the case. Division is a great problem, so unity is our greatest need, and we believe that we need to pray our way to that unity. We cannot achieve unity on our own. Humanity has tried and humanity has failed for centuries. We have tried, and we have failed in this city, Washington D.C. Unity is a gift from God and Jesus says, ``Seek and ye shall find, knock and the door will be open to you.'' Bring us the unity we need, Lord Jesus. And now to offer our closing prayer, Derrick Henry. Mr. Derrick Henry: Good morning. I am so glad and honored to be here to do this closing prayer. We bow our heads. Lord Jesus, I thank you for gathering us here today, to hear from these great leaders and these great people, to hear God's word about unity and us being united as one, and how important it is. Jesus Lord I pray for the people who weren't able to eat breakfast today, people who don't have clothes on their back or shoes on their feet, but I pray that you make them find a way and have faith in you that they will receive better days. Father God, I pray for the people who have cancer, who suffer every day with pain and heartache and that you one day will heal them from all the suffering and all the pain. And Lord, I want to pray for my generation, that every day we wake up we seek you, Lord for guidance and wisdom, and one day that we can stand up here and be great leaders, be great people, men and women to speak on unity and united as one, and how important it is to this country and to this world. My Father God, I pray that us as people, great people in here, that we continue to use our platform to help others and inspire others. And last, I would like to pray on the food that we are eating today. I pray that we bless the hands that prepared this food, and let it be nourishment to our bodies. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Rep. Aderholt: Thank you again. Paco and I are very happy that you have joined us here this morning for this breakfast. I think it was very successful. Again, let's give everyone at the head table a great hand. That concludes our breakfast, and the President and the First Lady will be leaving shortly. If you could stay in your seats for the next few minutes, but we do appreciate them as they're leaving the building and their support for the National Prayer Breakfast. May God bless each of you that are here. May God bless the United States of America, and every country around the world. Thank you, and God Bless.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, it has been almost 3 months since I joined John Lewis and my Democratic colleagues right here for a sit-in on the House floor to demand a vote on commonsense gun violence legislation. Instead of letting us vote, instead of confronting this issue, Speaker Ryan and my Republican colleagues left town. Now we are back in session, there is still no talk about holding a vote, but there is a lot of talk coming from my colleagues on the other side of the aisle about punishing us for protesting on the House floor. I hope they do. But I am not going to apologize for what I did. I am proud that I did something to try to save lives. I think they should apologize to the American people because they have not allowed us to vote on commonsense gun violence legislation. I think they should apologize, but they continue to do the bidding of the gun lobby. And I think they should apologize that, during our 7-week recess, 2,015 Americans were shot and killed. My Democratic colleagues and I took action. They continue to sit on their hands.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1076, the bipartisan no fly, no buy legislation, in honor of the memory of Jennie Marie Keener, a victim of gun violence who never received a moment of action on this House floor.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, 2 weeks ago, I attended the funeral of one of our colleagues, my good friend, Congressman Mark Takai of Hawaii, who lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. Mark was a great leader. He served his country both in the military and the Hawaii National Guard, as well as being a public servant in the Hawaii State House and here in the U.S. Congress. He was taken from us far too soon. Mark was only 49 and left behind his wife and two children. He was a wonderful father and deserved more time with them. Pancreatic cancer has one of the lowest survival rates of any cancer. Just 6 percent survive 5 years past their diagnosis. While death rates for other cancers are declining, pancreatic cancer is projected to become the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S. in the next 4 years. Every year, pancreatic cancer survivors and family members walk the Halls of Congress advocating for more Federal funding for pancreatic cancer research, with the goal of doubling their survival rates by 2020. For too long, those calls have fallen on deaf ears. But perhaps now, in the wake of losing one of our own colleagues, Congress will do what is right and dedicate much-needed funding to curing this deadly disease.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Maralin Niska who passed away at home in Santa Fe, New Mexico on July 9, 2016. Maralin sang leading roles with both the Metropolitan Opera and the New York City Opera and was widely known as one of the greatest talents of her generation. She was not only an acclaimed soprano, she was a devoted teacher who loved sharing her passion with admirers and her community. Born in San Pedro, California, on November 16, 1926, Maralin Niska showed early promise as a musical student. In her youth, she performed as a young soloist in the First Presbyterian Church of San Pedro as well as with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Despite the advice of teachers and friends, she refused to go to Europe to study and build a career. She told the New York Times, ``I've never even been to Europe, and I don't have any desire to go . . . I'm still one of the few holdouts who are truly American in training, experience, everything.'' She never wavered in her love for her community and country. Ms. Niska completed her degree at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), in English literature and continued to study voice at the University of Southern California (USC) and UCLA. All the while, she continued to sing as a resident soloist at several community churches. Ms. Niska had a rewarding career in education and was a Torrance elementary schoolteacher for seven years, while continuing to perform for local opera companies and the community. She loved teaching, and appreciated all students at whatever level they could achieve. In 1968, Ms. Niska sang the title role in Madama Butterfly for the opening of the new house at the Santa Fe Opera. After retiring in Santa Fe, Ms Niska continued her passion for teaching and maintained a private vocal studio. There, she taught Master Classes to aspiring students who shared her love for music. The Arizona Daily Star even wrote that Ms. Niska left ``most of the traditional diva arrogance back in the dressing room . . . She offered no-nonsense criticism to her students but tried not to trample their ego.'' Niska's dramatic talents earned her a reputation as a singing- actress. Ms. Niska appeared regularly with some of the great conductors of her time, including Pierre Boulez, Eric Leinsdorf, and Andre Kostelanetz. She received national recognition when she debuted at the opening of the Metropolitan Opera National Company in 1965. Followed by her debut, she was engaged by the New York City Opera and commanded dozens of roles. In all she sang 29 leading roles with the company--the most of any singer in its history. Ms. Niska gave her last professional performance in 1996, in Santa Fe, performing arias of Mozart with the Musica de Camara Orchestra conducted by her husband, the famous violinist and renowned conductor, William Mullen. The couple established Music One, a predecessor to Performance Santa Fe, a performing arts center. Maralin Niska was loved by all and will be sorely missed by her husband, students, the greater communities of Los Angeles and Santa Fe, and by opera lovers all over the world.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, a little over an hour ago, we finished voting. Right now, most of my Republican colleagues are leaving Washington for the longest summer recess in 60 years. Many Americans will be surprised to hear this. There are so many issues we have yet to address. Do my Republican colleagues actually think we have earned this break? We are well into mosquito season and Congress has yet to provide meaningful emergency funding to battle the spread of Zika. In the United States, we already have seen 560 cases of Zika in pregnant women and 7 babies already born with birth defects. My Republican colleagues are leaving Washington without providing any aid to help the thousands of children suffering lead poisoning in Flint, Michigan. My colleagues are taking a 2-month vacation without lifting a finger to act on lifesaving, commonsense legislation to keep guns out of the hands of terrorists and criminals. God forbid there will be another mass shooting in the next 2 months. The American people will have a sick feeling knowing that Congress did nothing to try to prevent it. The American people deserve better than that. We did not earn this recess, and I urge my Republican colleagues to cancel their vacations until we tackle these issues.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, this is a photo of my former coworker, Michelle Kelly-Love. Michelle and I worked together at the same company in Los Angeles in the early nineties, and she was kind and funny and warmhearted, a person who was very generous, and a dear friend of mine. On February 27 of this year, Michelle was dropping off her son, Jordan, at his home in a quiet neighborhood in Carson, California. They were parked in her car in front of the house when they were attacked by a drive-by shooter. Both Michelle and her son were struck multiple times and died at the scene. Michelle's mother, the grandmother of Jordan, was in the back seat and survived. Michelle's funeral was one of the saddest I have ever attended. She and her son were taken from us so randomly and so suddenly. You have heard a lot of numbers and statistics related to gun deaths, but Michelle was not just a number. She was friend and a mother and had a long life ahead of her. Her 27-year old son was not just a number. We cannot stand by and do nothing as our friends and neighbors continue to die. We have lost too many lives to gun violence. The time for action is now. Please.

Ms. HAHN

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

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

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

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, last week, I brought our historic gun violence sit-in back home to my district in Los Angeles to give my constituents a chance to make their voices heard. Over 100 people joined me to demand action from this Congress. Many of them had messages for you, Speaker Ryan, and I promised that I would bring their stories back to Washington and make sure that you heard them. Shannon Ross stood with tears in her eyes at our sit-in, holding a photo of her cousin, as she explained that she had been shot and killed just blocks away from where our event was held. Sarah Wirtz, whose niece was killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School, talked about the painful decision her sister had to make, deciding whether to bury her daughter with her favorite stuffed animal or keep it to remember her by. A war veteran from Compton told the crowd that, even though his son was shot and killed 24 years ago, he still cries every day. Nora, a mother from San Pedro, said that she lives in fear of her son being shot because he is gay. Mr. Speaker, I am calling on you to listen to the stories of the people in my community and communities across this country. Empathize with the pain they feel every day, and allow us to vote on real solutions to prevent gun violence.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, our country continues to grieve with Orlando and the LGBT community in the wake of the deadly shooting at the Pulse nightclub. The American people are angry; they are anxious; they are afraid; and they have good reason to be. This is the deadliest in a long list of recent attacks. Yet, after each mass shooting, many of my Republican colleagues have stood in the way of efforts to protect Americans from the next one. Monday night we held yet another moment of silence on the House floor. I have lost track of how many moments of silence we have had since I have been in Congress. Mr. Speaker, I am sick of silence. Forty-nine people were murdered this weekend in Orlando, and that is not just a number. Those are 49 young men and women who had parents and boyfriends and girlfriends who loved them and whose lives will never be the same. Moments of silence are not enough to honor these victims, and they do nothing to prevent future attacks. Mr. Speaker, I am calling on you to allow us to vote on reinstating the assault weapons ban and legislation to prevent suspected terrorists from buying firearms.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, last week, the world lost a champion. Muhammad Ali was a gold medalist boxer and a three-time heavyweight champ, but what truly made him ``The Greatest'' was what he did outside of the ring. He had quick reflexes but a quicker wit. He was introduced to the world as a fighter, but he chose to hang up his gloves to stand up against the war. At a time when racism pushed so many people down, Muhammad Ali had the audacity to speak up--and people listened. I was lucky to have met Muhammad Ali several times. He spent much of his time in Los Angeles, and he became close with my dad, L.A. County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn. They were allies in the fight for civil rights and for struggling families. I have a Muhammad Ali story. In 1987, my dad suffered a debilitating stroke that left him partially paralyzed shortly before he was up for reelection to his 10th term. Muhammad Ali actually showed up at my parents' home in South Los Angeles one day, and he told my father that he would personally push him door-to-door in his wheelchair if that is what it took to get him reelected. You can imagine what that meant to my dad, to me, and to all of the neighborhood kids who actually saw Muhammad Ali do that with my dad. I will never forget that moment, and the world will never forget Muhammad Ali.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the 80th Anniversary of the maiden voyage of the RMS Queen Mary. On May 27, 1936, over a quarter million spectators were on hand in Southampton, England to experience the magnificent world debut of the Queen Mary. At the time, the Queen Mary was the most advanced ship ever built, but its long storied history is what we are truly celebrating this month. The Queen Mary was the grandest ocean liner in the world carrying dignitaries like Prime Minister Winston Churchill, royalty like the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and Hollywood celebrities like Bob Hope and Clark Gable. When World War II began, this luxury ocean liner was transformed into a key vessel for our Allied forces. The ship carried over 16,000 American soldiers from New York to Great Britain. It continued operating throughout the war, and due to the Queen Mary's high speed it was difficult for German U boats to catch it. On numerous occasions, the ship carried Prime Minister Winston Churchill across the Atlantic for meetings with our fellow Allied Forces. The ship was a key asset in assuring our ultimate victory. After our victory in Europe, thousands of our brave soldiers traveled home onboard the Queen Mary, and were given a hero's welcome as the vessel returned to American ports. Today, the RMS Queen Mary is proudly docked in Long Beach, California. It serves as a treasured attraction where guests can come aboard and learn more about the history of this extravagant vessel. The ship features a full service hotel and hosts school groups, conventions and tourists from all over the world. To date, the Queen Mary has welcomed over 60 million guests. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to help celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the RMS Queen Mary. I am proud to represent the City of Long Beach in my district, which has the great honor of having this truly magical vessel permanently docked in its harbor.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, the Panama Canal expansion is set to open next month, posing challenges for many of our Nation's ports. That is why it is more important than ever that our ports have the funding that they need to prepare for the future and stay globally competitive. Since coming to Congress, I have led an effort to ensure that money collected at our Nation's ports in the harbor maintenance tax be spent at our Nation's ports. We have set up a glide path to get us to 100 percent spending of the funding by 2025, and each year we have a target to get closer to that goal. This week, we are voting on the energy and water appropriations bill on the floor, and I want to thank the leadership of the Appropriations Committee--Chairmen Rogers and Simpson and Ranking Members Lowey and Kaptur--for recognizing the importance of port spending targets. This year $1.2 billion is set to go back to our ports and our port communities, making it the third year in a row that we have hit our target. I am proud of this continued achievement. This funding will go to the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, where I come from, and also to ports across this country to create construction jobs and economic opportunities for decades to come.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Madam Speaker, I am proud to represent vibrant AAPI communities in my 44th Congressional District, and I salute my 12 Asian American and Pacific Islander colleagues here in the House, including six from California. May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, which is a month dedicated to honoring the countless contributions and immeasurable accomplishments of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The legacies of these communities are tied to both proud and dark chapters of American history. We remember the Chinese laborers who faced grueling conditions while constructing the Transcontinental Railroad, as well as the cruel irony of patriotic Japanese American troops who fought in World War II while their families back home were kept in U.S. internment camps. For generations, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have worked to better this country despite often facing discrimination and hardship. As educators, activists, artists, small business owners, servicemen and -women, and elected officials, Asian American and Pacific Islanders have added so much to this Nation. They are a reminder that diversity continues to be America's greatest strength. It is why I will continue to fight to fix our broken immigration system, to expand opportunities for people of all backgrounds, and to combat discrimination wherever it occurs.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in solidarity with the Armenian community to commemorate 101 years since the start of the Armenian genocide. On April 24, 1915, more than 300 Armenian leaders were taken from their homes, arrested, and systematically executed. They were the first killed in what would eventually become a genocide resulting in the deaths of 1.5 million innocent men, women, and children. Over a century later, the Armenian people have vowed to never forget these atrocities. The children and grandchildren of the genocide's victims have worked hard to remember and honor those who suffered. For too long, this crime has gone unrecognized and unpunished. This weekend in Los Angeles, California, 60,000 people came together outside of the Turkish consulate to rally for long overdue acknowledgment of their ancestors' murders. I am proud to be a member of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, and I stand by the Armenian American community in Los Angeles and throughout this country in their call for recognition and justice.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, you might recognize this image. This is a photo of Sophie Cruz, my 6-year-old constituent from South Gate, California, who made headlines when she ran through the barricades to meet Pope Francis last year. Sophie is one of 5 million children who is an American citizen but whose parents are undocumented and face deportation. She asked Pope Francis to support DAPA, a program which could prevent her family from being separated. On Monday, DAPA was deliberated in the Supreme Court, and now the fate of millions of children like Sophie and their families is in the hands of the Justices. Sophie was in D.C. on Monday ready to tell her story. She rallied a crowd of hundreds of people on the Supreme Court steps and asked the Justices to think about her family. I could not be more proud of Sophie. But a 6-year-old girl, however courageous she may be, should not have to come all the way to Washington, D.C., to advocate for fixing the broken immigration system. That is our job. The Supreme Court should unfreeze DAPA--but we in Congress need to finally pass comprehensive immigration reform--for Sophie and for millions of children she represents.

Ms. HAHN

Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of my dear friend and former Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, who lost his battle with cancer on March 30. In 2005, Bill became the first openly gay man to be elected to the Los Angeles City Council. I remember how brave he was in the face of adversity. He became a fearless supporter of the Los Angeles LGBT community, and he left behind a legacy of fighting for HIV and AIDS research and an end to discrimination. Bill was one of the most selfless and kindhearted individuals I have ever known. That heart made him an incredible advocate and a beloved champion for the people he represented. I visited Bill recently in hospice and had a chance to hold his hand and tell him stories about when we served together on the city council in Los Angeles. I will never forget his joyfulness, his gregarious laugh that never failed to put a smile on my face. I have cherished his friendship, and I will miss him dearly. May he rest in peace.