Steven Horsford

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, this global pandemic has devastated Nevada's economy, forcing thousands of Nevadans to be laid off from work. Nevada's unemployment rate was last reported to be 11.8 percent. My hometown of North Las Vegas reported the State's highest unemployment rate at 14.6 percent. Nevada's families are hurting. Constituents contact my office every single day about their unemployment insurance concerns, especially regarding the Federal unemployment compensation benefits which expire at the end of this month. Now that this pandemic is ravaging our country again, many States and localities are considering more stay-at-home orders. We in Congress must act to make sure Americans who are unable to work because of this virus receive the Federal unemployment compensation that they need to survive until we get a vaccine that is free and available to everyone. It is my hope that any COVID relief package that becomes law provides extended unemployment insurance benefits, direct cash payments, and additional State and local funding so that we can provide support to people who need it the most.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, travel is by far the industry hardest hit by the ongoing fallout of the pandemic, accounting for 42 percent of all jobs lost in the U.S. since the start of the pandemic. No State has been hit harder by the pandemic than Nevada. I hear from constituents each and every day about how they are impacted by the loss of jobs and the need to get back to work safely. That is why I introduced the Hospitality and Commerce Recovery Job Act today, to ensure that the tourism industry has the tax incentives necessary to get back on its feet. This legislation will work to implement the employee retention tax credit, support the convention and trade show industries, restore the entertainment business expense deduction, support the restaurant industry, and provide a tax credit for travel expenses. This legislation is necessary to ensure a robust travel and tourism economy that is the lifeblood of my State's economy. That is why I encourage my colleagues to support the Hospitality and Commerce Recovery Job Act, to support the tourism economy and all the people who make it strong.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Scott from Virginia for his kind words and leadership, and I want to commend Congresswoman Susan Davis from California for leading on this important issue. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship Act, and to urge my colleagues to support my amendment, which would ensure equity and fairness in our national apprenticeship system. Specifically, my amendment would support the recruitment, retention, and completion of nontraditional apprenticeship populations, including women, people of color, and individuals with barriers to employment. Now more than ever, in response to the economic challenges posed by COVID-19, people need access to opportunities in apprenticeships. This is especially true for my constituents throughout Nevada, which has been one of the hardest hit economic regions in the country. My amendment would ensure that women like Evelyn Pacheco, who is the founder and president of Nevada Women in Trades, continue to have opportunities to provide apprenticeships to women of color throughout southern Nevada. The opportunities presented by women like Evelyn matter because 94 percent of apprentices who complete an apprenticeship program retain employment with an average annual salary of $70,000. Mr. Speaker, it is no secret that this pandemic has disproportionately impacted workers of color, particularly women of color, who have shouldered the greatest job losses due to their concentration in low-wage service industries that have been hardest hit by the economic downturn. That is why we must do everything in our power to ensure that we have equity and fairness in our national apprenticeship system so that every person can have access and support for desperately needed job training. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote in favor of my amendment, and I support the passage of H.R. 8294. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Congressional Record a letter from the National Urban League supporting my amendment and the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020. National Urban League, November 19, 2020. Dear Representative: On behalf of the National Urban League and its 90 affiliates located in 36 states and the District of Columbia, I urge you to vote ``Yes'' on the National Registered Apprenticeship Act (NAA) and associated equity amendments, including those put forth by Representatives Brown, Horsford, Moore, Ryan/Rice and Smith/Langevin. The COVID-19 pandemic has shuttered businesses all across America, leaving millions of workers unemployed and devasting our national economy. Research shows that Black and Latino workers are more likely to be working in hard-hit industries that may never bounce back. The NAA represents an important step towards stemming that job loss by creating one million new apprenticeship opportunities over the next five years, in addition to the opportunities that are already being created. These apprenticeships result in substantially higher earnings compared to nonparticipants. By some accounts, the average starting salary of an apprentice is $70,000, a family- sustaining middle-class income. Yet, more work is needed to ensure equitable access to apprenticeship opportunities to nontraditional populations, including people of color and women, as apprenticeship programs are often less diverse than the occupations they ultimately serve. According to the Department of Labor's (DOL) Equal Employment Opportunity study, African Americans represented only 10% of registered apprentices and are the most underpaid compared to other ethnic groups. Across 25 states in which DOL tracks registered apprenticeships, the data show the opportunities are dominated by white men. The National Urban League has worked to advance economic opportunity for African Americans and other underserved communities for more than 110 years. Our job training programs target workers with multiple barriers to employment to help them secure full-time jobs and career advancement opportunities. Through DOL's Equity in Apprenticeship program, the National Urban League and eleven affiliates have increased opportunities in nontraditional fields through pre- apprenticeship and registered apprenticeships to more than 1,200 African American and other nontraditional populations. The National Urban League urges you to support the National Registered Apprenticeship Act and accompanying equity amendments to ensure nontraditional populations have access to the support they need to thrive and businesses have the skilled workforce they need to succeed in this uncertain economy. Sincerely, Marc H. Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I am thankful for this bill being brought forward on COVID relief before the House goes out of session. It is important to demonstrate to the American People that we are leading and willing to negotiate to provide real relief. Unfortunately, this bill does not include a pivotal provision--the Worker that would provide federal assistance to cover the full cost of COBRA premiums for laid off and furloughed workers. That policy is the only one that would protect the hard-earned benefits that union members and working families have fought for. So while this bill takes many important steps to protect Medicaid and private coverage, it provides premium tax credits for unemployed Americans--I am concerned that protections for employer-sponsored plans were not included. I urge this body to include all coverage measures in our relief package--including COBRA coverage for workers who have come to rely on their employer-sponsored plans.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I thank the chair and the committees of jurisdiction for this bill. For too long, communities of color, indigenous communities, and economically oppressed communities have borne a disproportionate burden from toxic pollution and environmental degradation. Communities experiencing environmental injustice have been subjected to systemic racial, social, and economic injustice. This legislation will push all of our communities forward together, whether through the $20 billion clean energy and sustainability accelerator to finance and mobilize private investment in low-carbon technologies and projects; over $4 billion for research, development, demonstration, and commercial application to advance cutting-edge renewable energy technologies, including: solar, wind, geothermal, and water power; or grants to local communities to improve energy efficiency, including workforce training and rebates for weatherization. It also authorizes over $36 billion for transportation electrification, which will help Nevada, including $650 million to deploy low- and zero-emissions school buses. I urge my colleagues to approve this measure.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, on July 11, 2019, President Trump issued Executive Order 13880 after the U.S. Supreme Court's decision denying the citizenship question on the Census. The Executive Order would have directed all government departments, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to share any information regarding citizenship that they have with the Department of Commerce, which operates the Census Bureau. It was clear that this order was another attempt to deny the rights and privacy of undocumented immigrants, but we could not let the Administration deter anyone from participating in the decennial census. The census is critical for vital programs to receive federal funding, but more importantly census data is critical for proper political representation of our local community. That is why I introduced my bill, H.R. 7291, that would nullify the effect of Trump's Executive Order that requires Federal agencies to share citizenship data. The executive order directing federal agencies to compile citizenship data through administrative records and merge it with decennial census data is a blatant effort to collect this information for political and discriminatory purposes. Recently, on July 21, 2020, President Trump issued a Presidential Memorandum to exclude undocumented immigrants from being counted in reapportionment for Congress. The Constitution explicitly requires an ``actual Enumeration'' of all persons, imposing on the federal government the duty to count the ``whole number of persons in each State.'' In other words, each person--regardless of citizenship status--must be counted. President Trump's plan to prohibit undocumented immigrants from being counted in the reapportionment of Congressional seats, violates the plain text of both the Constitution and the governing statutes. I submitted Horsford Amendment 23 to Division B of H.R. 7617 to block this effort by nullifying the effect that of the Presidential Executive Order that requires Federal Agencies to share citizenship data. Although the President's memorandum and executive order are unconstitutional, my amendment would send an important message to the President and his administration that he cannot disenfranchise whole communities in our Nation. This plan violates our Constitution and governing statute. By moving forward with my amendment, Congress is making it abundantly clear that the President lacks the authority to exclude undocumented immigrants from being counted in reapportionment for Congress. Congress compels possesses the Constitutional authority to prevent the President from excluding undocumented immigrants from the apportionment count, and the determination by this body to move forward with my provision will deter the President from wasting valuable public time and resources on an unconstitutional action. The contributions of immigrants are of vital importance to our society and economy, particularly as immigrant communities play a significant role as frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, the American health care system relies very heavily on individuals who were born in other countries, who make up about 18 percent of all health care workers in the country despite making up 15.5 percent of the population. Further, immigrants account for a third of direct care workers, and legal noncitizen immigrants make up 9 percent of direct care workers despite accounting for only 5 percent of the population. In addition to caring for us when we are sick, immigrants feed us by forming the backbone of our food system. An estimated 70 to 80 percent of farmworkers are immigrants, between half and three quarters of whom are undocumented. Finally, both documented and undocumented immigrants pay billions of dollars in taxes to federal, state and local governments every year. In 2017 alone, this accounted for $405.4 billion in taxes, including an estimated $27.2 billion paid by undocumented immigrants. Immigrants deserve not only to be recognized for these contributions, but to be respected as human beings taking part in one of the most integral traditions to the American way. For these reasons, we must ensure that the President does not exclude Immigrants, who make up the fabric of our nation.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act. In the middle of the historic health and financial security crisis of the coronavirus pandemic, especially in my home State of Nevada that has suffered the most debilitating economic impact, affordable healthcare is now more important than ever. Last week, in the middle of this COVID-19 crisis, President Trump petitioned the Supreme Court to strike down every last protection and benefit of the Affordable Care Act. On Friday, I learned that such a ruling would cost 23 million Americans, including 309,000 Nevadans, to lose their health insurance. There is no excuse for this cruelty ever. But it is truly unconscionable at a time when over 100,000 Americans have lost their lives to a virus that we have yet to curb completely. When access to quality healthcare could be the difference between life and death, we should be building on the Affordable Care Act to lower health costs, not ripping away every last benefit. With all due respect to my colleagues on the other side who keep saying this bill has no chance in the Senate, who do you work for: Mitch McConnell or the American people? My constituents elected me to do my job, and that is to fight for their healthcare. Madam Speaker, I fully support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act because we need to do more to provide affordable healthcare and bring down the rising costs of prescription drugs. This bill does that, and I urge my colleagues to join us. Do your job today.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in favor of the Justice in Policing Act. I want to commend our chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus for her tremendous leadership. George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Rayshard Brooks, Elijah McClain, for them, and for all of the other Black lives that matter, we need, and this bill provides, concrete Federal reforms to address the root causes of these injustices. George Floyd and so many others like him should be alive today. With the Justice in Policing Act, we can, like the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King said, bend the arc of justice, when all Americans will be treated with humanity and dignity by law enforcement. During this moment of national anguish, we must insist on bold change. This legislation is necessary to save lives and to seek justice, and I am proud to cast my vote in favor of this legislation today.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise today to speak in favor of this emergency coronavirus supplemental package. I am glad that we are delivering for the people of Nevada, including bringing home billions of dollars of additional funding for Nevada's 270,000 small businesses and nonprofits. We also are positioning our country for recovery in voting for $25 billion for COVID-19 testing. This bipartisan agreement is one of the many steps that we must take to provide the American people with the relief they need. However, for Senate majority Leader McConnell to suggest that our States and local governments should be bankrupt in order to be made whole is outrageous. These are our heroes. They are on the front lines. I urge this body to pass this legislation and to work with us now to pass the Heroes Act.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Majority Leader, my chairman, Chairman Neal, today this body is here to send a united message to the American people: Help is on the way. Yesterday, the Department of Labor released devastating numbers revealing that 3.28 million people in America filed unemployed claims in the past week. My home State of Nevada alone saw a 182 percent increase in claims. That is unprecedented job loss. American families need unprecedented relief to address it. An important provision in the Families First Coronavirus package laid the groundwork for expanding unemployment benefits. Now, with the CARES Act, we are going above and beyond for our country's workers, providing an additional $600 per week for the next 4 months. No person in this country should worry about putting food on the table or paying their bills while trying to keep themselves, their families, or their neighbors safe. I know the pain and uncertainty that losing a job or facing a furlough causes.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I ask that this body recognize the life of Mrs. Verlia Hoggard, who recently passed away. Ms. Hoggard dedicated her life to serving Las Vegas, and her consistent work to better the lives of those around her made her a fixture in our community. As the former Director of Clark County Social Services, she dedicated her career to social work, including spending 32 years as the Director of Welfare. Whereas most people may become bogged down after such a long career in social work--a notoriously tiring profession that asks so much of those in it--Ms. Hoggard remained focused on those she served, demonstrating her steadfast commitment and boundless dedication to her community. Additionally, she was active in many local, county, and state governments, as well as organizations including the NAACP, Clark County Library Board, Women's Democratic Club, the Links, Incorporated, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Even after her official work ended with her retirement in 2003, her involvement did not. She continued her longtime participation in various organizations, served on the Steward Board and Hospitality Committee. She also remained an active member of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church, serving her community through it as well. Beyond her work as a public official, Ms. Hoggard was known for her kind spirit, her selflessness, and her fortitude. Put simply, it was a privilege to know her. Las Vegas is lucky to have been the place that Ms. Hoggard called home and to have benefitted tremendously from her years of service. I am proud of the work my dear friend accomplished and honored to continue her legacy of service--pushing forward with her contributions alongside my colleagues in the Nevada delegation here in the House of Representatives, as well as those serving in the state and local governments back home.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on the subject of my Special Order.

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, today I rise to anchor the Congressional Black Caucus' Special Order hour, and I thank our chairwoman, Congresswoman Karen Bass, for her tremendous leadership in organizing this effort. Tonight, we are marking the 150th anniversary of the ratification of the 15th Amendment, which prohibits the Federal Government and each State from denying a citizen the right to vote based on that citizen's race, color, or previous condition of servitude. In the aftermath of the ratification of the 15th Amendment, well over 2,000 Black men were elected to local, State, and Federal offices, 16 of whom served in Congress. Those elected officials were able to stand up for their communities and to work for the resources and protections they needed. Today, the members of the Congressional Black Caucus are continuing their legacy. So tonight, we have a number of Members who will speak on both the importance of the 150th anniversary of the 15th Amendment as well as the present dangers that exist in this body and the issues that we are continuing to address. Today, we also received the President's budget. Every year, the President's budget shows that he does not reflect the values or the lives of the most vulnerable Americans or the success and security of hardworking families across this country. This year, I am proud to, again, stand with my colleagues on the House Budget Committee under the guidance of Chairman John Yarmuth to work to protect the programs that the President is seeking to destructively slash in his proposal. Not only does his proposal threaten my constituents and their access to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act programs that protect my constituents with preexisting conditions, but it also hacks away at my State's and all of our States' dollars for affordable housing and nutrition assistance, just to name a few. The White House proposes to cut spending by $4.6 trillion over a decade. Medicaid will see a cut of about $900 billion in funding. Medicare would see about $500 billion in cuts over that same period. Funding for Federal disability programs, including Social Security Disability Insurance, would be cut $63 billion. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, would be cut by $182 billion over 10 years as a result of the proposed strident work requirements proposed by this administration. This, after they gave themselves the biggest tax cut proposal enacted by Congress in 2017, giving the top billionaires and big corporations the greatest benefit from a $1.9 trillion tax cut. We knew it then and it is now proving out today: those tax cuts are being balanced on the backs of everyday Americans who are depending upon this Congress to stand up and to fight for them. So in the spirit of the 15th Amendment, we know that every voice matters regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. So today, my colleagues and I will raise both the commemoration of that important amendment as well as speak truth to power as it pertains to these horrendous budget cuts that are being proposed. Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to yield to my colleague from the great State of California. She definitely speaks for me and so many other great Americans who are looking for strong advocates here in the United States Congress. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), my friend.

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from California again for her tremendous leadership and for reminding us about the history that brought us to this day, the fact that it was the 13th Amendment that abolished slavery; that it was the 14th Amendment that granted us citizenship and equal civil and legal rights to freedom; but it was the 15th Amendment, which was the last of the Reconstruction Amendments, which was designed to guarantee Black men the right to vote. As the gentlewoman rightly noted, Black women were a significant part of that effort, despite the fact that they weren't included in those initial rights until the 19th Amendment was passed. The fact is that we have come so far and made so much progress with the Voting Rights Act and know that this body, we passed H.R. 4, but we can't get agreement with our colleagues on the other side and the colleagues in the Senate to pass the Voting Rights Act. Fifty-five years after the initial Voting Rights Act was passed, to reauthorize that in this body shows just how much of a struggle we have, whether it is with our voting rights, whether it is with legal protections, or whether it is with the values that are reflected in the budget that we are deliberating this week that the President will submit. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman very much for her words of wisdom and know that, with the gentlewoman in this fight, we will continue to make progress and people will be heard.

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), my colleague who serves on the Budget Committee, as well as the Judiciary Committee and the Homeland Security Committee. She has many roles in which she understands the impact of the budget, the budget proposal that has been submitted by the President, which makes tremendous cuts to vital social service and safety net programs, as well as the threat and the assault that is on the voting rights that we are speaking about tonight. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Texas for her tremendous leadership and for bringing such concise points to both the budget realities that we are faced with in this current budget proposal by the administration, as well as what is at stake with the 150th anniversary of the passage of the 15th Amendment. The fact that so many people have worked so hard for prior generations, we now, in this generation and those Members here in this body who have been duly elected by our constituents, have a solemn responsibility to respect that Amendment and the protections that come with it. Too many times in this body, we have had an opportunity for our colleagues on the other side to work with us in a bipartisan manner to pass the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act. Fortunately, the House Democrats have moved it as part of the For the People Agenda. It is sitting on Senator Mitch McConnell's desk. We are asking them to take that bill up and to vote on it in honor of the passage of the 15th Amendment and its 150th Anniversary. I thank the gentlewoman for bringing that perspective to the floor tonight. We are calling on all of our colleagues to work with us on this important legislation, as well as H.R. 40 and the other measures that the gentlewoman spoke about. I thank the gentlewoman for her time tonight. I now yield to a great leader in this body. She serves as the chair of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. She is also a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. As the chair of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, she is one of five chairs for the Congressional Black Caucus. That is a tremendous accomplishment in its own right, but it reflects the legacy on which we stand as Members of this body. I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Johnson).

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairwoman for her strong leadership, for sharing her perspective tonight, and for reminding us about the reality of the poll tax, the literacy tests, and the grandfather clauses that were once common mechanisms used to disadvantage minority voters, particularly African American voters. Tonight, Madam Speaker, again, we are recognizing the 150th anniversary after the ratification of the 15th Amendment. Tremendous gains were made during that Reconstruction period, where well over 2,000 Black men were elected to local, State, and Federal office, 16 of whom served in Congress. For instance, Hiram Rhodes Revels, the first African American Senator representing Mississippi, was elected to Congress in 1870. Senator Revels was sometimes called the 15th Amendment in flesh and blood. Senator Revels and his colleagues were only part of the story. All told, about 2,000 African Americans held public office at some level of government during Reconstruction. But, sadly, this happened in the face of literacy tests, poll taxes, and grandfather clauses, once the most common mechanisms used for disadvantaging minority voters. After the end of Reconstruction, these amendments were rarely enforced for nearly 100 years after their ratification. So even despite the fact that these gains were made, they were not enforced. That is why we need to have laws that are enforced, and we need to remind this administration that they are not above the law and that they have to follow the law and enforce the law. Black families were separated from their White counterparts and forced to use lesser facilities. They were maligned, tormented, and treated without respect. Black children were forced to attend rundown schools without the necessary books to succeed. This rampant segregation thrived across the country until the Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education, which struck down the inherently flawed concept of separate but equal. Sadly, we are still trying to ensure that separate-but-equal concept no longer applies. It is 150 years on from the ratification of the Black men's right to vote, however, and we are still fighting to protect those rights in the face of voter suppression efforts across this country. Each election cycle, untold numbers of eligible Americans are prevented from voting due to barriers in the voter registration process and restrictions on casting ballots. Just since the 2010 elections, 24 States have implemented new restrictions on voting. Alabama now requires a photo ID to cast a ballot. Other States, such as Ohio and Georgia, have enacted use-it-or-lose- it laws, which strike voters from registration rolls if they have not participated in an election within a prescribed period of time. In Georgia, in 2018, 53,000 voter registrants, 70 percent of whom were Black, were unable to vote because of minor misspellings or missing hyphens on their registration forms. That is why we must draw attention to the suppression of the Black vote on this day that we honor the ratification of the 15th Amendment. Our ancestors require it. While today we mark the ratification of the 15th Amendment and the Black men's right to vote as my colleague, Representative Barbara Lee, indicated, we must also acknowledge that Black women were denied that right for nearly another 100 years. During the 19th and 20th centuries, Black women played an active role in the struggle for universal suffrage. We will be recognizing the 100- year anniversary of the 19th Amendment this August, and it is important that we remember that Black women attended political conventions at their local churches where they planned strategies to gain the right to vote. In the late 1800s, Black women across the country worked for churches, newspapers, secondary schools, and colleges, which gave them a larger platform to promote their ideas. They participated in political meetings and organized political societies. In spite of their hard work, many people didn't listen to them. Black men and White women usually led civil rights organizations and set the agenda, and they often excluded Black women from their organizations and activities. In 1896, reformers like Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin and Charlotte Forten Grimke founded the National Association of Colored Women to discuss ways of attaining women's rights and women's suffrage. Their motto was: Lifting as We Climb. In 1913, Ida B. Wells founded the Alpha Suffrage Club of Chicago, the Nation's first Black women's club focused specifically on suffrage. Seven years after the founding of the Alpha Suffrage Club, the 19th Amendment was ratified. The 19th Amendment technically granted women in the United States the right vote, but Black women were excluded from those rights due to the ever-present racism still pervading every corner of society in this country at that time. It wasn't until the Voting Rights Act was passed nearly a half-century later on August 6, 1965, that Black women were officially allowed to exercise their right to vote--Madam Speaker, 1965. Yet, Black women today are the strongest in our families. They are strong in our communities, and they are strong civically. They understand how much has been fought and has been sacrificed in order for them to have that right. So when I talk to young people and they ask me: Why should I vote? Why does this matter? What do I have to lose? We need to be reminded tonight that people had a lot to lose. Some lost and some gave their very life, Members like our esteemed civil rights icon John Lewis gave blood so that we would have the right to vote. It is important for us to remember that right. That right is based on this premise that the Federal Government and each State may not deny a citizen the right to vote based on that citizen's race, color, or previous condition of servitude. That last piece I really want to underscore because the massive incarceration that has occurred over the last few decades and the number of formerly incarcerated citizens who still to this day in some States do not have their right to vote, the 15th Amendment guarantees them that right. As we recognize this 150th anniversary, we need to challenge policies like the one in Florida where the people of Florida decided to restore those formerly incarcerated citizens and give them the ability to vote, and then the Republicans in the legislature imposed a fee for them to be able to vote. That is not what this says under the 15th Amendment. Those in Georgia being denied the right to vote by having their name stricken from the voting rolls, that is not what the protections under the 15th Amendment provide for. This is something that, to me, is very alarming because it speaks to the very essence of who we are as a people and the democracy that we uphold in this institution. So, tonight, I want to commend my colleagues, the entire Congressional Black Caucus; our chairwoman, Karen Bass; and every single Member who will stand with us to pass H.R. 4, which we have done out of this House to call on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and to ask him to bring that bill to a vote, for the President to sign it, to ensure that every single person's vote is protected in this country and that we end these tactics where we are intimidating people from participating in this process. This goes to the civic engagement of this country. People should participate by registering to vote. They should participate in the Census, which is occurring this year. They should participate by making sure their voice is heard at the ballot box every election. Madam Speaker, again, I thank my colleagues for joining me for this Special Order hour. As we commemorate the 150th anniversary of the 15th Amendment, we remind ourselves what is at stake. As we deliberate on the President's budget tomorrow and in the coming weeks, let us be reminded of what is at stake. I know for me and the people whom I represent in Nevada's Fourth District, my job is to never forget where I come from, what I am fighting for, or whom I am fighting for, and it is the people of my district. I am proud that Nevada was the first State of the 28 States to ratify the 15th Amendment. We did so on March 1, 1869. We are battle born in Nevada. We come from a strong history, and one of the things that we will always do is protect the rights of our fellow citizens to have their voice heard. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Gun Violence Survivors Week. Every Nevadan was affected by the October 1 shooting that claimed 59 lives, injured more than 800, and shattered the lives of countless more. Gun violence has touched too many of our lives, both on that day, 2 years ago, and daily. In Nevada, someone is killed by gun violence every 19 hours. I personally lost my father to gun violence when I was 19 years of age. And these deaths are preventable. My bill, H.R. 4836, the Break the Cycle of Violence Act, is an important step forward to get ahead of the senseless violence. I am also proud that nearly a year ago, the House passed H.R. 8 for meaningful gun background checks. I know the cruelty of suffering a loss at the hands of a gun; knowing your loved one won't come home because someone was armed with a weapon they should not have had access to. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to vote on H.R. 8, and for this body to take up H.R. 4836.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Chair, I rise today to join my colleagues from the Education and Labor Committee in speaking in support of the Protecting the Right to Organize Act--the PRO Act. The PRO Act is necessary for America's workers because the economy is simply NOT working for millions of Americans who are struggling to get by while corporate profits are soaring. We know now, thanks to a study from Princeton University, that unions have consistently provided workers with a 10- to 20-percent wage boost over their non-union counterparts. And the benefits pervade race and gender lines. People of color in unions make five times more than people of color who are NOT in unions. Women union members see the gender pay gap nearly eliminated. Unions across our country are fighting to secure better working conditions and better wages for their members. In my hometown of Las Vegas, the Culinary Union represents 60,000-- those are 60,000 people who already benefit immensely from fair wages, job security, and good health benefits. But we can expand these benefits to ALL Americans. We must protect the mission and legacy of organizations like the Culinary Union by passing the PRO Act, and strengthen workers' power to stand together and negotiate for higher wages, better benefits, and safer working conditions.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. I appreciate the opportunity to rise and speak in support of the Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act, which includes my bill, the Support American Teachers Act of 2019, which will substantially increase the current educators' deduction expense for teachers. On average, teachers in Clark County School District, the fifth largest district in the country, which I represent, spend about $750 out of pocket on school supplies for their classrooms. The starting year salary for those teachers is $40,000. Kaitlyn Cline, a kindergarten teacher at Kay Carl Elementary School, also in Las Vegas, spends even more. Every year, Kaitlyn spends about $1,000 out of her own pocket to give her class the educational experience they deserve. As Ms. Cline says: As a teacher, I have to work extra hard on the side to help pay my bills and have extra money for work expenses. Any extra financial relief that can be utilized, can make a huge difference. Today, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill. Let's give the teachers the support they need and provide them the deduction for the expenses that they incur.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, when I made the decision to return to Congress, I did so with a clear understanding of how important this moment is for our country and the democracy of our nation. My desire to serve has always been to help people who deserve an effective voice fighting for them. I did not come to Congress to impeach a president. Despite the ongoing inquiry, I've remained laser-focused on the issues that I hear from my constituents most often--access to affordable health care, lowering the cost of prescription drug prices, passing common-sense gun reforms that will make our communities safer, and addressing income inequality in all of its forms. My role as the Representative for Nevada's Fourth Congressional District also includes faithfully preserving and upholding our Constitution and the system of laws and norms that undergird our federal government. Our Constitution clearly lays out Congress' role in protecting our democratic institutions and the delicate balance that exists within it. Today, the House of Representatives is voting to uphold this solemn responsibility to hold President Trump accountable. In an effort to fulfill my obligation to uphold our Constitution and the rule of law, I have paid careful attention to the investigations of the impeachment inquiry in the House of Representatives. The Committees of jurisdiction and witnesses have brought forward evidence uncovering the truth of President Trump's July phone call and subsequent inappropriate behavior toward President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine. It has become apparent that President Trump is a continuing threat to our democracy and danger to our national security. He abused the power of his office for personal and political gain at the expense of our national security; he conditioned official acts--millions in military aid and a White House meeting--for his personal, political gain; and he attempted to cheat our democracy and corrupt our elections. And so today, I will vote in favor of the two articles of impeachment against President Trump. No one is above the law. Not even the President. The first article of impeachment charges President Trump with violating his oath of office by abusing the powers of the Presidency when he solicited the interference of Ukraine in the 2020 United States presidential election. The second article of impeachment charges President Trump with violating his oath of office by obstructing justice and directing defiance of subpoenas issued by the House as part of its impeachment inquiry. This is no longer a question of facts, it is a question of duty--my duty to this country, our Constitution, and my oath of office to uphold that Constitution and protect our democracy. This decision took careful thought and consideration. When I made my oath of office, I swore to uphold the Constitution of the United States and to serve this country. As difficult as this moment is for the country given the political divisiveness, preserving the integrity of our system for posterity is how I can best serve the interests of the people of Nevada. I hope that following this vote I can turn my full attention back toward the issues that matter to Nevada's working families. My mission in Washington has not changed, and I'll continue to fight for the issues that will improve the lives of my constituents. My focus will be on their stories and passing legislation to positively advance their futures. I will continue to work to lower health care costs for all Nevadans, to bring down the cost of prescription drugs, to protect our children from mindless gun violence, and to ensure all Nevadans have access to well-paying jobs and accessible job training programs. It is the honor of my life to serve the people of Nevada's Fourth Congressional District and I will continue to put their interests first as I work to deliver on their behalf.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Chair, I thank my colleague from Michigan for her leadership and for guiding this debate on the floor today. Madam Chair, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, named after a man who I have great respect for, who was a mentor of mine, and who fought so hard to hold Big Pharma accountable. Today is a big day for the American people because we are finally putting their health over the interests of Big Pharma's profits. I am speaking in support of this legislation for the hundreds, if not thousands, of constituents who have shared their stories with me throughout this year. This issue is the single most important issue in my district. I am speaking in support of people like my constituent Mario. About a year ago, Mario was diagnosed with diabetes and recently sought care for a lesion on his foot that wouldn't heal. Because he couldn't afford the proper medications, Mario ended up losing his toe and had to leave his job. His daughter had to drop out of college to work full time to help pay for Mario's medications. This is an issue that not only impacts the lives of the patients who are in desperate need of lifesaving medications to stay healthy, but it is also impacting those who love and care for them. It is altering the future of their families. As Chairman Cummings would say: ``We are better than this.'' We are better than this as a nation, to put the interests of Big Pharma and their profits over the interests of the American people and their health. For far too long, American families have been forced to pay 4, 5, or even 10 times more for their prescriptions than patients in other countries. Do my colleagues on the other side think that that is right, that your constituents are subsidizing the healthcare for people across the world when you have people in your own neighborhood who are rationing their medications, making false choices to pay their rent, buy food, or take the necessary medication as prescribed by their doctors? Well, I don't. I don't think that that is a choice the American people should have to make. Today, we are taking the necessary action to move this legislation forward, and I hope that my colleagues on the other side will work with us and that the President will work with us. What my constituents tell me is not that they are Democrats, not that they are Republicans, not that they are Democrats, not that they are independents. They tell me that they have diabetes, that they have cancer, that they have heart disease, that they have asthma, that they have HIV and AIDS, that they are dying, and that they need the healthcare that they demand. Madam Chair, I ask us to pass H.R. 3.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Chair, I thank the chairman for his steadfast leadership. I rise today to speak in support of H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019. I support this bill because of one of my constituents, Steven Pastrone, who lives with multiple sclerosis. He shared: ``My whole right side of my body was weaker than my left and I had a hard time cognitively doing anything.'' Steven was not able to access his medication, which cost $35,000 per treatment, more than many Nevadans earn annually, so he had to rely on a cost-assistance program from the drug manufacturer. So many people in our country are in Steven's position and cannot access their lifesaving medications outright. Chairman Elijah Cummings would say: ``We are better than that.'' My constituents who stop me at church and at recreation centers don't tell me that they are Democrat, Republican, or Independent. They tell me that they have diabetes; they have cancer; they have heart disease; they have asthma; and they want this Congress to do something, to act. So this week, we finally tell Americans across this country that we value your health more than Big Pharma profits, and we will pass H.R. 3, to lower drug costs now. I want to thank the chairman and the Members of this body, my colleagues, for working so hard. This is one of the most important issues that this Congress can act on, and I am proud to be a sponsor of this important legislation.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of H.R. 3, the Elijah Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act. Across America, seniors and families are struggling to afford the prescription drugs they need to stay healthy. One of my constituents from the rural part of my district, Christie Baldock from Yerington, Nevada, was receiving tele-healthcare through her Senior Care Plus coverage before her health plan cut its rural coverage. Until she enrolls in another coverage, she will have to pay out of pocket for her prescriptions. Her insulin alone will be $500 each month. Under H.R. 3, some commonly used insulins can cost as little as $400 per year. For Christie and for the 30.3 million Americans who live with diabetes, we must pass H.R. 3 and lower drug costs now.