Sheila Jackson Lee

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I think most of the world today saw the leader of the Democratic Caucus, Nancy Pelosi, stand on her feet with compassion and passion for the 800,000 DREAMers, those who are desperately in need of a solution, and 140,000 in the State of Texas. We pray that her standing and reading those stories will move this body to do what is right. FEMA Needs to be Completely Reorganized

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I also want to do what is right for my constituents. FEMA needs to be completely reorganized. As a member of the Homeland Security Committee, we are seeking to divide FEMA into the emergency component and the long-term recovery. So many of my constituents have received FEMA denial letters. They don't know what to do with those letters even though we have advocated for them to appeal. It is important for FEMA to address the question of these letters throughout the hurricane-devastated areas, including throughout Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Florida, and beyond. People are hurting. FEMA must assess these denials. They must reach out again for review, and they must stand up for a long-term recovery of an amazing, devastating flood like Hurricane Harvey that had 51.22 inches, 21 trillion gallons of water, and Houston underwater for a period of days. We must help the American people and Texans.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1997, the ``Ukraine Cybersecurity Cooperation Act,'' legislation that will lead to greater cooperation between the United States and Ukraine on matters of cybersecurity and require State Department reporting to Congress on best practices to protect against future cyber-attacks. In recent years, Ukraine has been the target of an increasing number of cyber-attacks that have infiltrated state institutions and critical infrastructure to the effect of undermining its democracy. It is past time we step up to work with our ally Ukraine in furtherance of our mutual interest in cyber security, the modern battlefield. Ukraine is a frontline for nation state-directed cyber-attacks, which are potential harbingers of attacks on the United States. Helping Ukraine strengthen its cyber defenses will not only protect Ukraine from future attacks, but it will also help the United States develop new and more effective technologies and strategies. As a former member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I am pleased to stand in support of the effort to advance the strategic interests of both the United States and Ukraine on a bipartisan basis. Cybersecurity is a complex and serious national and economic security issue for any nation. For years, Ukraine has been under siege from nation-state cyber- attacks that have sought to weaken its government and undermine hopes for an open and democratic society. The United States must play an important role in this fight. By not adequately responding and adapting to these cyber-threats in Eastern Europe, our nation is both letting down an ally as well as failing to take proactive steps to protect itself. Standing strong with our trusted allies in the cause of freedom is liberty's best defense. I am proud lo work with my colleague, Congressman Boyle, in encouraging cooperation between the United States and Ukraine on this front, and look forward to continuing to work with members of the Foreign Affairs Committee to keep our focus on this 21st century battle. I urge all Members to support H.R. 1997, the ``Ukraine Cybersecurity Cooperation Act.''

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 724. This is an important resolution and I am proud to support it. The recent wave of sexual harassment allegations has been an important moment for our country. The last many months represent a sea change in how we, as Americans, talk about and respond to allegations of sexual misconduct. Fortunately, it has empowered women to share their story through the #MeToo movement. This movement has made the country realize that allegations of sexual harassment touch all pockets of society, including, sadly, the Congress of the United States. These allegations have exposed numerous allegations against congressional offices. This is concerning because it tells us that those who come to our nation's capital and serve the country they love must contend with unwanted harassment. Further still, and prior to this thoughtful legislation, victims of abuse had to contend with the separate and various office policies, if any at all, of every individual member. This is disorienting and unhelpful. Congress must set the example. That is why I am proud to support H. Resolution 724. H. Res. 724 would set mandatory anti-harassment and antidiscrimination policies for house offices. Additionally, this Resolution would establish an Office of Employee Advocacy to provide legal assistance and consultation to employees of the House regarding procedures and proceedings under the Congressional Accountability Act. And, critically, it would list sexual harassment as a violation of the House code of official conduct. Mr. Speaker, if we are going to be able to speak with a moral voice about the problem of sexual harassment, then we must begin with this institution. That is why I am proud to support this legislation.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the ranking member, Mr. Brady, and acknowledge his longstanding leadership and friendship, and as well the work that he does with the chairman and for his leadership as well. This is a highlight on the floor of the House for the bipartisanship that it represents, the tone of which we are speaking, even though we know that this is a matter of urgency and we have seen the telling of situations that none of us would want to see repeated. And forgive me for using more of a most recent set of circumstances just to capture the intensity of the moment, and that is, of course, the recent trial with a conspicuous and vile sex offender to the 200- plus young women athletes. Now, this is not the circumstances here in the House of Representatives, but I think it captures the intensity of silence, because those young women had to live or thought that that was what they were obligated to do because they wanted to achieve greatness in their field, and they were stopped by the wall of silence and, therefore, could not find relief. The courts have finally given them relief, but through an enormity of pain. I think it is important for the congressional standards to be such that it sets a wide net across the Nation to be able to ensure that the wall of silence is broken. Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 4924, to amend the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to reform the procedures provided under such Act for the initiation, investigation, and resolution of claims alleging that employing offices of the legislative branch have violated the rights and protections provided to their employees under such Act, including protection against sexual harassment, and for other purposes. Mr. Speaker, this bill will provide a broader subpoena authority to the Office of Compliance, which adjudicates workplace disputes, and as well it would expand protections in other areas of antidiscrimination. Let me say that this is a positive statement made by all of us, and I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 4924. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for H.R. 4924, the ``Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 Reform Act,'' legislation to amend the Congressional Accountability Act (CAA) of 1995 to reform the procedures provided under such Act for the initiation, investigation, and resolution of claims alleging that employing offices of the legislative branch have violated the rights and protections provided to their employees under such Act, including protections against sexual harassment, and for other purposes. Legislative branch employees who allege sexual harassment or other workplace violations could use an accelerated claims process under H.R. 4924. The bill would amend the 1995 Congressional Accountability Act (CAA; Public Law 104-1). I celebrate and congratulate Jackie Speier and the women members of Congress who stood up. Thanks again to the Ranking Member and Chairman of the House Administration Committee. The amendments include: Eliminating a requirement for counseling and mediation before a legislative staffer could file a civil action in a U.S. district court; Requiring members of Congress to pay for settlements and awards if they're the alleged offender; Giving broader subpoena authority to the Office of Compliance (OOC), which adjudicates workplace disputes for most legislative branch offices; Requiring the OOC to publish more information on claims, awards, and settlement payments and reimbursements from lawmakers; The measure follows recent accusations that lawmakers sexually harassed or otherwise mistreated employees. Some of those cases went through the OOC process and resulted in resignations and taxpayer-funded settlements. The OOC approved more than $17 million in awards and settlements from fiscal 1997 through 2017. Many of those cases originated outside of member-led congressional offices and didn't involve alleged sexual harassment. The House is also slated to consider a separate resolution (H. Res. 724) that would apply only to House offices and employees. That measure would establish an office to provide House employees with free legal assistance during the OOC process, and would bar the Office of Congressional Ethics from investigating an alleged workplace violation once a staffer files a claim with the OOC. These comprehensive reforms will provide a positive change of culture within the Congress, and improve the overall process of both preventing and reporting any harassment in the future. The CAA requires congressional and other legislative offices, such as the Congressional Budget Office, to comply with about a dozen workplace protections that apply to private-sector and executive branch employees. For instance, the 1964 Civil Rights Act bars discrimination based on factors such as race, religion, and sex. The Supreme Court has held that the law also prohibits sexual harassment in the workplace. Some CAA provisions don't apply to offices such as the Library of Congress (LOC), whose employees are covered by other laws and procedures. To seek relief for certain workplace violations specified in the CAA, a legislative employee must go through a multistep OOC process. Within 180 days of an alleged violation, the employee must bring it to the attention of the OOC to initiate a 30-day counseling phase and be informed of his or her rights. The OOC doesn't notify the employing office unless the employee waives confidentiality. An employee can participate by phone and be represented by someone else. If a claim isn't resolved during the counseling phase and the employee wishes to keep pursuing it, he or she must file a request for mediation, which lasts at least 30 days and can be extended for an additional period. Materials prepared for mediation are kept confidential, though an employee can still discuss the allegations publicly, according to December 2017 testimony from OOC Executive Director Susan Tsui Grundmann. If a resolution can't be reached through mediation, the employee can file a confidential administrative complaint with the OOC or a public civil action in a U.S. district court. Either filing has to be made within 90 days after mediation ends, though the employee must wait at least 30 days during a ``cooling off'' period. OOC-appointed hearing officers are authorized to issue subpoenas to investigate the allegations. An employee can appeal a hearing officer's decision to the OOC board and then to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. For most legislative branch offices, including congressional offices, settlements are paid from an account in the Treasury general fund. The bill would still require employees to file a claim with the OOC within 180 days of an alleged violation. The measure, however, would allow an employee to file a civil action in a U.S. district court within 45 days, which would end the OOC investigation. Otherwise, the matter would go through a revised OOC process. At the outset, the OOC would inform the employee of his or her rights and notify the head of the employing office. Employees could also contact the OOC before filing a claim to learn about their rights. The OOC general counsel's investigative authority is limited to certain types of claims, such as alleged violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The bill would expand that authority to cover a wider range of claims, including alleged discrimination or harassment under the Civil Rights Act. The general counsel could issue subpoenas regardless of whether a party requests one. The bill would express the sense of Congress that subpoenas should be issued only if other methods are insufficient. The general counsel would have to finish the investigation within 120 days. The OOC would have to conduct an administrative hearing if the general counsel finds reasonable cause to believe there was a violation, or if the general counsel is unable to make a determination. If the general counsel finds no reasonable cause to believe a violation occurred, the employee would be notified that he or she could still file a civil action within 90 days. The general counsel could also recommend mediation, and the parties could file a joint request for mediation at any time. The bill would allow an employee to request mediation meetings in which the parties are separated. Any investigative reports concerning allegations of discrimination or retaliation by members of Congress would be referred to the House and Senate Ethics committees. The OOC would also refer claims to the committees if there's a final disposition--such as a settlement or final decision by the OOC or a court--in a case involving a lawmaker or a senior staffer. The bill would require current and former members of Congress to reimburse the government if an employee receives an award or settlement for the member's alleged act of discrimination or retaliation. Funds could be withheld from the member's salary or retirement account if he or she doesn't meet payment deadlines specified in the bill. The OOC would have to notify members as soon as a claim is filed that they may be required to provide reimbursement. The member could intervene in a mediation, hearing, or civil action to contest an award or settlement, though the employee who filed the claim couldn't be subject to an additional deposition. Non-congressional legislative offices would also have to reimburse the government for certain award or settlement payments. The filing and investigation of a claim would be kept confidential, though an employee or employing office could disclose claim information during a proceeding. The bill would also clarify that information discussed or disclosed during mediation would remain confidential, without barring the parties from talking about the underlying allegations. An office could allow an employee to work remotely or grant the employee a paid leave of absence while a claim is pending. The provisions wouldn't override the terms of a collective bargaining agreement for the office. The bill would rename the OOC as the ``Office of Congressional Workplace Rights'' and make other changes to the office. The office publishes annual reports with statistics on employee contacts with the office, the basis of their claims, and the results of proceedings. The bill would require the office to publish semiannual reports listing each award and settlement in the previous year related to a wide range of CAA workplace claims if the money comes from the Treasury account. The reports would have to specify the employing offices, award amounts, and alleged violations. They would also have to indicate whether members of Congress made reimbursements resulting from cases of alleged discrimination. Reports couldn't include the names or positions of employees who filed a claim. Within 30 days of the bill's enactment, the office would have to publish a report on all previous payments related specifically to discrimination claims if the payment involved any public funds. That report would have to indicate the amount paid and the source of public funds, including a House or Senate office account, though it couldn't identify the specific office. The OOC would also have to establish an electronic system to receive and keep track of claims, and use the system to provide Congress with semiannual reports on the time required to resolve claims. The OOC would collect information from employing offices, including the Library of Congress, every two years on their workplace environment and attitudes regarding sexual harassment. All responses would be anonymous and confidential. The OOC would consult with Congress on survey procedures and methodologies and share the survey results. The office would have to create a program to permanently retain records of investigations, mediations, hearings, and other proceedings. The Government Accountability Office would report to Congress on OOC management practices and cybersecurity. The bill would expand certain protections--including antidiscrimination provisions--to cover employees at the LOC, as well as unpaid legislative branch interns, detailees, and fellows. Because of these clarifications and expanded protections included in H.R. 4924, I stand in support of this bill and urge my colleagues to join me.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I think the important point is that this has to be a collective effort of the administration and the bodies of the House and the Senate. The only point that I would make is that the administration has not sent forward--yes, the $81 billion--but we are not moving it in the Senate. The administration has not been engaged actively to say that they want to help the people who are impacted, and they have a skinny impact or skinny impression of what we need of $81 billion for all of the disaster areas. And, of course, Mr. Sessions, my good friend, understands that $1 trillion tax cut does not help us in getting the increased disaster money.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I associate myself, and I think it is important for my colleagues and the American people to know, that this body, this government, this Congress, is controlled by one party: the Presidency, the House, and the Senate. Just a few minutes ago, the President of the United States called for a shutdown. I am shocked. I am not calling for anything but relief. I am delighted that the gentleman from Dallas was able to craft a support system for infusion therapy, but it goes to show you who controls this place. I don't know what Democrat could get any additions to this particular CR. It is not an appropriation. It is not an authorization bill. I am just on the floor begging for what my colleagues, both Republicans and Democrats from Texas, have been asking for but my Republican House has not been able to produce, or the Senate. When I say that, we have not been able to produce a disaster supplemental bill that is going to respond to the needs of those who are still suffering. Harris County covers 1,778 square miles. It can fit New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Seattle, Austin, and Dallas, with room still to spare; 41,500 square miles of land mass impacted by Hurricane Harvey and the subsequent flooding that covered an area larger than the States of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, combined. This is not puffery. It is to show you the depth of devastation. Hurricane Harvey dropped 21 trillion gallons of water on Texas and Louisiana, most of it on the Houston metroplex. 51.88 inches of rain fell near Cedar Bayou, and at the peak, on September 1, one-third of Houston was underwater. Our headlines: Hurricane Harvey Recovery Goes Ignored in Washington Yet Again; Republicans Controlling Every Phase of Government; After Harvey, Houstonians Eye Long Road to Recovery; After Harvey, Houstonians Have Long Road; Houses Down on the Ground; Long Road to Recovery; Senior Citizens Suffering; Suffering from Health Conditions. And you can see, here is the basic point: There is no reason why Republicans joining with Democrats cannot, one, have an $81 billion supplemental that goes up. It is not enough. But it is the administration that has cut into our very life by giving us a skinny disaster aid supplemental. I am looking for the Senate to plus it up because this is not enough. In this bill, if you want to know why we are voting ``no,'' it doesn't exist. Where is the disaster emergency supplemental money that is needed? I left my office with six members of local officials in my office. They were telling me about the depression of so many in Texas who do not have the resources. They don't have the housing money. The infrastructure money has not come. Mold is there. They have bad health. And these are examples of their situation. This is what the rescues look like. This is, of course, what the water looked like. And this gentleman was walking in the water.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. This is a house that is evidenced by those impacted by the hurricane. This is a house of someone who is still waiting for that house to be rebuilt. Finally, the city council, wanting to be responsive--and I thank them--has lifted the permitting to allow trailers. Our people are begging now for trailers. Most people don't beg for trailers. We are begging for trailers in urban Houston because people have nowhere to live. This is a disgrace. I am not making this personal, but we flooded on August 27. It is now, today, February 6. There is no reason why this Republican administration has not been able to work. And all these additional addendums on this CR should have been done in a bipartisan effort. We support infusion therapy. We support federally qualified health clinics. But you are taking money from prevention. We support CHIP, but you are taking money from prevention and other things. This is not the way to do, one, spending; it is not the way to provide for national security; it is not the way to provide for the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of State, Department of Justice, law enforcement. We are not doing any of that. And then there are 140,000 DREAMers in my State. Some of them are impacted by Hurricane Harvey. And let me make mention of the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Florida, and California. I am not in any way diminishing their pain. They are likewise suffering. So if the American people want to know what the ``noes'' are about, the ``noes'' are because those who are in charge are not doing anything. By the way, DREAMers are part of those who sought to rescue many who were stranded in Houston. We lost a DREAMer who traveled all the way from Dallas to provide rescue and he died. He died because he loved this country. He died because he loved his neighbors. Yet we cannot get that fixed, but we cannot help our neighbors get the dollars that they need. If you want to know why there is a ``no'' vote, it is because it is long overdue for our friends to do the real work that needs to be done, and to do disaster supplemental funding and do it right. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record two articles from the Houston Chronicle. [From the Houston Chronicle, Oct. 26, 2017] Houston ISD Schools With Most Displaced Students After Hurricane Harvey (By Shelby Webb) More than 1300 Houston ISD students are displaced or homeless after Hurricane Harvey, according to records the district submitted to the Texas Education Agency. That number is likely to change after the TEA changed how districts should categorize displaced students and as Houston ISD shores up its own internal estimates. But initial data shows four of the 10 schools with the largest numbers of displaced students are located in Southwest Houston, three in Meyerland alone. Two magnet schools--Carnegie Vanguard High School and Lamar High School--also saw large numbers of their students affected by Harvey's floods. Houston ISD Superintendent Richard Carranza required that all teachers go through crisis and trauma training during the first semester of the year to better help students who are dealing with Harvey-related fears and losses. Across the Houston area, more than 10,700 students have been displaced by Hurricane Harvey, according to data reported to the TEA and given to the Chronicle by 16 local school districts. But that number does not include estimates for how many students are displaced in some of the area's largest school districts, including the Cypress-Fairbanks, Spring and Pearland ISDs. Katy ISD had the most students affected by the storm with 2,862. Tiny Stafford MSD had the least, with 32 students displaced by the storm.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Will the gentleman yield?

Ms. JACKSON LEE. The gentleman, we have worked together.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a sense of sadness but with joyful noise, if you will, to celebrate Mrs. Emma Primas, 112 years old, who passed away last month in the arms of the comforting Lord and her family. Mrs. Primas was a historic figure. She was someone who lived through the suffragette movement; lived through World War I; was a street car operator in San Francisco; the head of nutrition for the schools of San Francisco; a businessowner in Houston, Texas, where she owned a store and was able to provide for others who could not pay for the food. She paid poll tax to vote. She provided for her grandchildren. She loved her wonderful daughter and her wonderful grandchildren. She became an icon in our community. People flocked to her because she was alert and bright, and she could tell us the history not only of her life but of this Nation. How wonderful it was for her to be able to vote for the first African-American President. When I hosted her in Washington with President Barack Obama, she said it was the greatest moment in her life. Obviously, I know the love of her children was even greater, but she was so excited. And when, of course, she met the former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, she was rejoiceful as well. To all of her wonderful grandchildren, I know that Saturday at the Community of Faith, February 10, we will celebrate her life. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in a moment of silence in honor of this great American, Mrs. Emma Primas, 112 years old. Though she has gone home to glory, she has celebrated her life as a great American and a great patriot.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, in the House we have a procedure that if words are untoward and not becoming of our stature as Members of the United States Congress, by any Member those words can be asked to be taken down. It is unfortunate that in a tweet this morning the Commander in Chief said, of a Member of Congress who is a Federal official, he ``must be stopped,'' words to that effect. I left my hometown early this morning and had hoped there would have been some decent response from the Chief of Staff or other staff members of the White House to be able to say that that is an inappropriate attack on any Member of Congress or Federal official. I have yet to hear a clarification or apology that indicates that providing provocative words to take a Member down, or he must be taken down, is an inappropriate action or words for any Federal official. I hope that we can establish decorum not only in this body, but I hope we can establish decorum in the White House. It is sorely missing.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, thank you Congressman Evans for yielding and for anchoring this very important special order on the state of economic inequality in the United States, especially regarding its citizens of color. The President would have us believe he is bringing the country together and growing the economy for all Americans but this could not be further from the truth. First and foremost, Trump has nothing to do with the African-American unemployment rate being at its current level. The President inherited a strong and rescued economy, including the downward trend in black unemployment from President Obama. The African-American unemployment rate was cut in half during the Obama Administration. The African-American unemployment rate actually jumped nearly one percentage point in January 2018, right after President Trump took credit for it being the lowest on record. During the Obama era, the economy added 15 million new jobs, the black unemployment rate dropped and the high school graduation rate for African Americans soared. The members of the CBC are here to tell the American people: ``Stay Woke, Don't Be Fooled.'' The racial wealth gap is much larger than the wage or income gap by race. Average wealth for white families is seven times higher than average wealth for black families. Worse still, median wealth (wealth for the family in the exact middle of the overall distribution--wealthier than half of all families and less-wealthy than half) for white households is twelve times higher than median African-American wealth. Black-white wage gaps are larger today than they were in 1979. Young African-American women have been hardest hit since 2000. The wage gap for African-American men was 22.2 percent in 1979; in 2015 it was 31 percent. Wage gaps are growing primarily because of discrimination and racial differences in skills and worker characteristics. Declining unionization has also had a role in the growing African- American-white wage gap, particularly for men newly joining the workforce. African Americans have been disproportionately affected by the growing gap between pay and productivity. Not only are the President's policies divisive along racial and cultural lines, they also serve to further increase economic inequality due to their clear design in favor of the wealthiest among us at the expense of everyone else. Trump's billionaire tax heist robs the U.S. Treasury of $1.5 trillion in resources that could be invested in economic growth in underserved communities. Trump has proposed eliminating programs that help minority businesses and that help minority communities access bank lending. Trump has opposed increasing the minimum wage and eliminating labor protections for middle and lower income workers in the black community Trump has proposed doubling down on mass incarceration and the war on drugs, which drains the African-American labor pool. Trump has taken every opportunity to harm health care for African- Americans from sabotaging the ACA to ending Medicaid as we know it. Donald Trump is no friend to African-Americans' pocket book. Trump also wants you to believe that he wants a bipartisan infrastructure plan. ``Stay Woke; don't be fooled.'' Trump's proposal is yet another giveaway to his wealthy friends. Instead of providing a robust federal investment in our infrastructure, including roads, bridges, mass transit, schools and broadband, Trump wants to give tax incentives to wealthy firms and individuals to build infrastructure that will cost the middle and lower income Americans money to use. Instead of making it easier for state and local governments to invest in needed projects, he will make it more expensive for them to do so by reducing the federal cost share. A recent National Urban League report titled ``Protect Our Progress'' gives a detailed look at the conditions of African Americans today. The report suggested that the nation should invest in a ``Main Street Marshall Plan'' that would ensure that the gains made by African- Americans during the Obama administration aren't lost. The plan includes expanding pre-K, increasing the number of college students receiving Pell grants, increasing the minimum wage and summer youth employment programs and incentivizing more doctors to accept Medicaid. But we are in a climate where the current administration is looking to make cuts in many of these areas. As it has for more than a decade, the Urban League used its Equality Index to track how close black America has gotten to white America in five major areas: education, health, social justice, economics and civic engagement. There was not much change between 2015 and 2016 in the five areas the Urban League measures. For this reason, the overall 2017 Equality Index of Black America was 72.3 percent, compared to 72.2 percent the year before. An index of 100 percent would mean full equality in the particular measure between African-Americans and whites. The biggest increase came in the area of education, which rose from 77.4 percent in 2015 to 78.2 percent in 2016. In economics, African-Americans went from an equality index rate of 56.2 percent in 2015 to 56.5 percent in 2016. In healthcare, the equality index between African-American and white Americans went from 79.4 to 80 percent between 2015 and 2016. The only decrease came in social justice, from 60.9 to 57.4 percent. In the category of civic engagement, African Americans actually surpass whites, according to the Urban League, with the number between 2015 and 2016 remaining at 100.6 percent. As for Hispanics, there was a bigger increase in the overall Equality Index, from 77.9 percent in 2015 to 78.4 percent in 2016. The Urban League also ranked the 70 metropolitan areas from the smallest gap in unemployment between African Americans and whites (and Hispanics and whites) to the largest gap. For African Americans, the area with the smallest black-white unemployment gap was San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX, where the African Americans unemployment rate was 6.4 percent (down 1.9 percentage points from the previous year) The white rate was 4.5 percent (down 0.4 percentage points). The area with the largest gap was Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI, where the unemployment rate for African Americans was 13.8 percent, while just 2.7 percent for whites. In income inequality, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA for the third consecutive year had the smallest difference between African Americans median household income and white median household income The city with the biggest income gap was Minneapolis-St. Paul- Bloomington, MN-WI, where the chasm was 41 cents for African Americans for every dollar earned by a white person. For both African Americans and Hispanics, the area with the highest median household income was Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD- WV, at $68,054 for blacks and $69,481 for Hispanics. It also had the highest white household income at $112,177. Mr. Speaker, our nation still has a long way to go before we achieve economic equality for all its citizens.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Scott for yielding and for anchoring this very important Special Order on the value of the labor unions, and the pending case of Janus v. AFSCME, Council 31, No. 16-1466, which is scheduled to be heard and decided by the Supreme Court this term. Mr. Speaker, it is my strong hope and expectation that the Supreme Court will uphold the position advanced by Respondent AFSCME, Council 31. All workers should chip in their fair share to cover the cost of representing them. That is because unions work because all employees benefit from the terms and conditions of employment negotiated by unions. Fair share fees provide public service workers with the power in numbers they need to negotiate better wages, benefits and protections that improve work conditions and set standards for everyone. The corporate special interests supporting this attack on labor unions want to weaken the ability of unions to build strength in numbers. That is why they want the Supreme Court to rule that workers can receive all the benefits of a union contract without contributing anything in return. I know it is fashionable today to disparage, downplay, or minimize the importance of organized labor to our country. That is easy to do but it would be wrong. Those who would destroy or further limit the rights of organized labor--those who would cripple collective bargaining or prevent organization of the unorganized--do a disservice to the cause of democracy. Fifty years or so ago the American Labor Movement was little more than a group of dreamers, and look at it now. From coast to coast, in factories, stores, warehouse and business establishments of all kinds, industrial democracy is at work. Employees, represented by free and democratic trade unions of their own choosing, participate actively in determining their wages, hours and working conditions. Their living standards are the highest in the world. Their job rights are protected by collective bargaining agreements, and they enjoy benefits that were unheard of less than a generation ago. Our labor unions are not narrow, self-seeking groups. They have raised wages, shortened hours and provided supplemental benefits. Through collective bargaining and grievance procedures, they have brought justice and democracy to the shop floor. But their work goes beyond their own jobs, and even beyond our borders. Our unions have fought for aid to education, for better housing, for development of our national resources, and for saving the family-sized farms. They have spoken, not for narrow self-interest, but for the public interest and for the people. Unions are as important as they ever were--because corporations are just as dedicated to their bottom line, regardless of the consequences for workers. Employers are trying to shed responsibilities--for providing health insurance, good pension coverage, reasonable work hours and job safety protections. The simple truth is that no one is forced to join a union and no one is forced to pay any fees that go to politics or political candidates. Rather, each public service worker chooses whether or not to join a union, but the union is still required by law to represent and negotiate on behalf of all public service workers--members and non- members alike. All employees receive the wage increases, benefits and workplace rights negotiated through the union. All workers should chip in their fair share to cover the cost of representing them. When working people have the freedom and opportunity to speak up together through unions, we make progress together that benefits everyone. Working people need a voice at work to keep employers from making our jobs look like they did 100 years ago, with sweatshop conditions, unlivable wages and 70-hour workweeks. And lest we forget, it was the men and women of organized labor who rushed into the burning World Trade Center Towers when others were rushing out. The men and women of organized labor put their lives on the line for their fellow Americans everyday. They do not ask for much. All they ask is to be treated with respect and dignity. They want what we all want: to do their jobs and to make a better life for their families. The least we in the Congress can do is to go on record in support of our working men and women in the vitally important transportation industries of our country. We can and should affirm that none of the funds made available in this appropriations bill shall be used in a manner that undercuts the hard won rights of Americans workers that is reflected in the National Labor Relations Act and other important federal labor laws.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, this past Saturday, January 27, 2018, we observed International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a day in which we take time from our busy lives to remember and mourn the millions of souls lost in the Holocaust, the worst example of man's inhumanity to man in human history. Nearly 73 years have passed since the end of World War II but for those who survived, and the descendants and relatives of those who perished, the Holocaust is not ancient history but a reminder of the evil that can be unleased when humans give into their worst instincts and appetites. The Holocaust's magnitude of destruction numbered more than 12 million deaths, including 6 million Jews and 1.5 million children (more than \2/3\ of European Jewry). A haunting quote in the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum refers to the story of Cain and Abel: ``The Lord said, `What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground (Genesis 4:11).' '' The Holocaust forces us to confront uncomfortable questions such as the responsibilities of citizenship and the consequences of indifference and inaction, and the importance of education and awareness. The Holocaust is a testament to the fragility of democracy. We must resolve to resist prejudice and intolerance in any form. It fills me with grief to know that the leaders of nations can destroy their own, as did the Nazi regime; yet I hope that we can continue to strengthen the means by which we can pursue justice. And I am saddened, outraged, and embarrassed that the current President of the United States could think it proper to characterize, as he did on August 15, 2017, as ``very fine people,'' persons who adhere to the ideology of the Nazi regime and deny the existence of the defining crime of the 20th Century, the murder of 6 million persons for no reason other than they were Jews. Before that date, never before in history had a President of the United States, the nation that led the alliance that defeated Nazism and fascism in the greatest conflict in world history, ever publicly defended or tried to normalize neo-Nazis or White Supremacists. But the vast majority of American do not share the current President's view and reject the suggestion that there is a moral equivalence between those who advocate racial separation and white supremacy and those, like the Anti-Defamation League and the NAACP, who are unalterably opposed to that evil, racist ideology and are united in this prayer and promise: Never Again.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak on the need for prompt and effective disaster recovery for the United States. I consider it a high priority to maintain the efficacy of our country's disaster recovery procedures, to help ensure the safety of the American people. In 2017, this nation saw a very anemic response to disaster recovery from this Administration. Four months ago, Hurricane Maria, a Category 4 hurricane, devastated the island of Puerto Rico, destroying infrastructure and leaving the island without power. Puerto Rico, which produces more pharmaceuticals by dollar value for the nation than any of the 50 states or any foreign country, has been key to the supply of these intravenous (IV) saline bags and solution routinely used in hospitals and clinics. Hurricane Maria halted production at Baxter International Inc., a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant that produces 43 percent of IV saline fluids for U.S. hospitals. This year's flu season has been uncharacteristically aggressive, which makes the shortage of medical supplies caused by Hurricane Maria all the more problematic. The American Hospital Association has urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take ``any and all steps possible'' to resolve worsening shortages of small-volume saline solutions--sterile suspensions of drugs and lifesaving nutrients administered intravenously. The FDA has responded by relaxing regulations on the importation of medical saline solutions from other nations. Saline solutions are fundamental to patient care in hospitals, as over 200 million IVs are administered annually in the United States. Critical small-volume saline solutions include: (1) Sodium Chloride 0.9 percent a solution that is used to absorb and transport nutrients, maintain electrolyte balance, and maintain blood pressure, and (2) Dextrose 5 percent, a form of glucose injected into a vein through an IV to treat low blood sugar, insulin shock, and dehydration. Had it not been for our allies allowing IV saline to be sent to the U.S., we could have been in the midst of a public health crisis. The lack of response by this Administration to Hurricane Maria is another example of how this Administration is failing the American people. Another example of the shameful disaster recovery response of this Administration is the handling of the Hurricane Harvey, which devastated the nine-county, 9,444 square mile Texas Gulf Coast. The effects of Hurricane Harvey have long outlasted the storm itself. This Administration has not risen to the task of producing an effective recovery plan for the largest housing disaster to strike the U.S. in our nation's history. Hurricane Harvey damaged at least 203,000 homes, of which 12,700 were irreparably destroyed. There are 18,000 families who were impacted by Hurricane Harvey still living in hotels and motels six months after the crisis, with no resolution in sight. A staggering 889,425 people, post Hurricane Harvey, have registered for assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The first tranche of emergency funding approved by Congress has yet to be distributed to Texas by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development because the agency has not published in the Federal Register the rules governing how housing funds made available may be allocated between state and local entities. Each of this President's immediate predecessors has had to navigate our nation through many disasters. President Bush had September 11th and Hurricane Katrina. President Obama inherited the near-total collapse of our nation's financial system, but thanks to his exceptional leadership, the Dow Jones is consistently breaking records, the economy continues to expand, and our American families are more financially stable. Mr. Speaker, a prerequisite of leadership is the ability to solve problems and make critical decisions. President Trump lacks the ability to inspire the nation and the fortitude to overcome adversity. As we consider the President's assessment of the State of the Union, one fact has become abundantly clear: this Administration cannot handle disaster recovery. This Administration's failure to effectively implement proper disaster recovery has left thousands of Americans with no clear path to reclaiming their lives.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, this February we recognize and celebrate the 40th commemoration of Black History Month. This month we celebrate the contributions of African Americans to the history of our great nation, and pay tribute to trailblazers, pioneers, heroes, and leaders like the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama; Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall; U.S. Senator Blanche Kelso Bruce; U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Jordan; U.S. Congressman Mickey Leland; Astronauts Dr. Guion Stewart Bluford, Jr. and Mae C. Jemison; activists, intellectuals, authors, and artists like Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, James Baldwin, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, and Gwendolyn Brooks just to name a few of the countless number of well-known and unsung heroes whose contributions have helped our nation become a more perfect union. The history of the United States has been marked by the great contributions of African American activists, leaders, writers, and artists. As a member of Congress, I know that I stand on the shoulders of giants whose struggles and triumphs made it possible for me to stand here today and continue the fight for equality, justice, and progress for all, regardless of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. The greatest of these giants to me are Mrs. Ivalita ``Ivy'' Jackson, a vocational nurse, and Mr. Ezra A. Jackson, one of the first African- Americans to succeed in the comic book publishing business. They were my beloved parents and they taught me the value of education, hard work, discipline, perseverance, and caring for others. And I am continually inspired by Dr. Elwyn Lee, my husband and the first tenured African American law professor at the University of Houston. Mr. Speaker, I particularly wish to acknowledge the contributions of African American veterans in defending from foreign aggressors and who by their courageous examples helped transform our nation from a segregated society to a nation committed to the never ending challenge of perfecting our union. A few years ago about this time, I was honored to join my colleagues, Congressmen John Lewis and Congressman Charles Rangel, a Korean War veteran, in paying tribute to surviving members of the Tuskegee Airmen and the 555th Parachute Infantry, the famed ``Triple Nickels'' at a moving ceremony sponsored by the U.S. Army commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The success of the Tuskegee Airmen in escorting bombers during World War II--achieving one of the lowest loss records of all the escort fighter groups, and being in constant demand for their services by the allied bomber units--is a record unmatched by any other fighter group. So impressive and astounding were the feats of the Tuskegee Airmen that in 1948, it helped persuade President Harry Truman to issue his famous Executive Order No. 9981, which directed equality of treatment and opportunity in all of the United States Armed Forces and led to the end of racial segregation in the U.S. military forces. It is a source of enormous and enduring pride that my father-in-law, Phillip Ferguson Lee, was one of the Tuskegee Airmen. Clearly, what began as an experiment to determine whether ``colored'' soldiers' were capable of operating expensive and complex combat aircraft ended as an unqualified success based on the experience of the Tuskegee Airmen, whose record included 261 aircraft destroyed, 148 aircraft damaged, 15,553 combat sorties and 1,578 missions over Italy and North Africa. They also destroyed or damaged over 950 units of ground transportation and escorted more than 200 bombing missions. They proved that ``the antidote to racism is excellence in performance,'' as retired Lt. Col. Herbert Carter once remarked. Mr. Speaker, Black History Month is also a time to remember many pioneering women like U.S. Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm; activists Harriet Tubman and Rosa Parks; astronaut Mae C. Jemison; mathematicians like Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson; authors Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, and Gwendolyn Brooks; all of whom have each in their own way, whether through courageous activism, cultural or intellectual contributions, or artistic creativity, forged social and political change, and forever changed our great Nation for the better. It is also fitting, Mr. Speaker, that in addition to those national leaders whose contributions have made our nation better, we honor also those who have and are making a difference in their local communities. In my home city of Houston, there are numerous men and women who are great because they have heeded the counsel of Dr. King who said: ``Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.'' By that measure, I wish to pay tribute to some of the great men and women of Houston: 1. Rev. F.N. Williams, Sr. 2. Rev. Dr. S.J. Gilbert, Sr. 3. Rev. Crawford W. Kimble 4. Rev. Eldridge Stanley Branch 5. Rev. William A. Lawson 6. Rev. Johnnie Jeffery ``J.J.'' Robeson 7. Mr. John Brand 8. Ms. Ruby Moseley 9. Ms. Dorothy Hubbard 10. Ms. Doris Hubbard 11. Ms. Willie Bell Boone 12. Ms. Holly HogoBrooks 13. Mr. Deloyd Parker 14. Ms. Lenora ``Doll'' Carter As we celebrate Black History Month, let us pay tribute to those who have come before us, and pay forward to future generations by addressing what is the number one issue for African American families, and all American families today: preserving the American promise of economic opportunity for all. Our immediate focus must be job creation, and enacting legislation that will foster and lay the foundation for today's and tomorrow's generation of groundbreaking activists, leaders, scientists, writers and artists to continue contributing to the greatness of America. We must continue to preserve the American Dream for all. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand here in celebration of the heroic and historic acts of African Americans and their indispensable contributions to this great Nation. It is through our work in creating possibilities for today and future generations that we best honor the accomplishments and legacy of our predecessors.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 534, the Protecting Young Victims From Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017, but I thank my colleagues here in the House, Congresswoman Brooks and Congresswoman Frankel of Florida. In Michigan, there was a volcanic action. One might call it the ``Nassar volcano.'' It acted, and there was no reaction. It was deadening silence. No one responded to the volcano that kept pouring poisonous lava in the way of young, beautiful athletes. I would hope and wish that I was not on the floor today with my colleague from Texas having to discuss this life-changing experience for these young athletes who wanted to do nothing else but to make their families proud first, maybe exceed, and be able to adhere to their faith, determination, and resolve and make their Nation, their State, their school proud of them, young girls, women, who, heretofore, Mr. Speaker, had been held back or told that this sport was not for them. I am reminded of the women's hockey team, and I heard a young hockey player indicate that her grandmother said that hockey was not for girls. All they wanted to do was to make us proud. All they wanted to do is to show the strength of women and the resolve of women. That is why I think this bill not only is important, Mr. Speaker, but it is timely to come today; but all of us would have wished, with no condemnation, that we had it 5 years ago or 10 years ago. But remember what I said: the volcanic action was faced with deafening silence, for those who knew and for the girls who wanted to make us proud thought that the best way to resolve it or to handle it was to embrace it, accept it, suffer, and still make us proud. That is why I believe this bill is crucial, and I am very glad to be on the floor with the two House sponsors, and I thank Senator Feinstein for her efforts, because this bill would prevent the sexual abuse of minors and amateur athletes by requiring the prompt reporting of sexual abuse to law enforcement authorities. This is a reasonable and important measure that is intended to protect young athletes--and listen to the sound of the volcano--from abuse and preserve the sanctity of sports associated with the U.S. Olympic Committee, the organization responsible for preparing and training young athletes who might one day represent our Nation competitively all over the world. How proud we are as we sit and view them on the Nation's televisions, the Summer Olympics and the Winter Olympics that are about to start. How shameful it is that we have to have this legislation to protect them and, as well, the deadening silence at Michigan State University and Dr. Nassar. I guess the only words that he could say are how ashamed and embarrassed and sorry he is. Eons and eons and eons of young women now live with that pain. Children deserve to fully enjoy the innocence of their youth by exploring the curiosities of the world, taking pleasure in the art, participating in sports free of abuse. Yes, I am going to defend the parents. I know some of them are overly eager. We have seen them at Little League, and we have seen them at football competition for little ones and middle school and high school, and they are overly enthusiastic. You can't condemn a parent for being proud of their child. And if that child wants to be engaged in sports, you can't condemn that parent for trying to get them the best doctor and best instructor. Those parents were not protected--deafening silence. Sexual abuse of children and youth is an abhorrent practice that is intolerable in any context, and we must take appropriate measures to eliminate it from youth sports. Young people look to adults to protect them and keep them safe. We all have a responsibility to do so. With S. 534, we have an opportunity to ensure that individuals abide by this duty. Certain other professionals, such as doctors, dentists, social workers, psychologists, teachers, and daycare workers, are already bound by law to report suspected abuse to law enforcement. Finally, S. 534 will require the same of adults who interact with young athletes in connection with sports activities organized by the national governing bodies of various sports. The urgent need for this legislation is best illustrated by the horrible abuse and exploitation of numerous young gymnasts at the hands of Dr. Larry Nassar, who victimized young athletes participating in USA Gymnastics over the course of 20 years--20 years, two decades. All of our hearts should break. In those 20 years, there were lives ruined. They will never be the vibrant, excited young women that they were as they entered this wonderful experience of showing their prowess, their genius, and their strength. The stories of abuse and suffering of these young women are heartbreaking. Many complaints of sexual and emotional abuse by Nassar and others went unreported for years, allowing coaches, instructors, and doctors to repeatedly victimize gymnasts as young as 6 years old. The shocking failure of anyone to report accusations to law enforcement or even keep track of complaints internally made it possible for some of these predators to commit multiple horrific acts over time. We entrust the care of our children and young athletes to those we hope will uphold the trust and not abuse it. One of the more than 150 girls and women victimized by Dr. Nassar was recently quoted as saying: He has everything he needs to be an incredible leader. He has the personality, the skill, and the knowledge, and he's using it to prey on people. What a waste. Last week, a Michigan judge sentenced Nassar to a prison sentence of up to 175 years. The judge called Nassar's assaults on scores of girls and women under the pretense that he was treating them as ``precise, calculated, manipulative, devious, despicable.'' She also indicated what a debasing human being he was and is. We must continue to do more to help protect our young athletes, and this bill will greatly assist in that effort. However, I must note a concern with a change the bill before us would make to the Senate- passed version of S. 534. The bill unanimously passed by the Senate would authorize funding to be provided to the U.S. Center for Safe Sport in the amount of $1 million for each of the next 4 years. Unfortunately, the version of the bill before us strips this funding authorization. I believe we should have taken up the Senate bill without amendment. Safe Sport is charged with important responsibilities under this bill with respect to receiving and investigating all allegations of abuse and setting policies to prevent future abuse, so this bill has taken out that language from the Senate. It is critical that we ensure that the center is provided the resources for those things to be done immediately. By doing so, I hope we will prevent the type of abuse and suffering perpetrated by the people like Larry Nassar. In a recent open letter from the U.S. Olympians and Paralympians Association to athletes everywhere, they wrote: The goal of Olympianism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of humankind, womankind, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity. Now we must ask: How can athlete dignity be preserved when the responsible institutions fail so in their oversight? In an apology letter to Team USA from the United States Olympic Committee issued last week, the committee admitted that they had failed these young athletes. Frankly, I believe that whole committee and system should be overhauled, reviewed, inspected, and changed. While the USA Gymnastics scandal is unfortunate, let it be an example and an incentive to prevent such abuse from happening in the nooks and crannies of this Nation, in the villages and cities and counties where young people who are starry-eyed and ready to accept the leadership of an adult are ready to show their proudness as well as their talent, their strength, and their resolve. I hope that we will never end that here in America. Mr. Speaker, accordingly, I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation. I hope we will see fit to fund it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Frankel), the cosponsor of the House bill, and I thank her for her leadership on these issues.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as we have listened to various speakers, I am glad that we are joined by men and women of the United States Congress. All of us have indicated the sadness in which we do this now. But I think it is also important to take note of the fact of individuals who have to be held responsible. We know that the president of the university was asked to resign, or in fact has resigned. As we go forward, there will be others as well. This should be the clarion call, even as this legislation is passed and signed by the President, for all of these agencies and associations that run sports for children to do their own vetting and internal assessment of individuals who are not there for the benefit of children but are there for the benefit of themselves. 156-plus women were molested by this doctor. One of the victims said something that stops your breath. This could have been stopped in 1997, more than 20 years ago. So this legislation should move swiftly to the President's desk. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, when I read the quote from the accuser who said this could have been stopped in 1997, the article's headline was that eight times Larry Nassar could have been stopped. Eight times. So it is important to take note of this legislation as a clarion call, and these words are most important. This provision makes it unlawful for an adult who is authorized by a national governing body, a member of a national governing body, or an amateur sports organization that participates in interstate or international amateur athletic competition to interact with a minor or amateur athlete at specific events to fail to report as soon as possible child and sexual abuse to local law enforcement or another agency. Many times members of the Judiciary Committee don't like wide nets. We have a responsibility to adhere to the Constitution. But we are the committee that has the responsibility of upholding the rule of law. And to all of those who are now in this wide net, that is the rule of law: to be able to protect our children against massive sexual abuse as they pursue their dreams. Just a comment, the requirement would arise on a person that learns of the facts that give reason to suspect that a child has suffered an incident of child abuse, including sexual abuse; and, therefore, those who can say or attempt to say, ``I couldn't understand what the child was saying; it wasn't clear,'' but if they got a sense that there was a problem, they come under that net. I believe that that is appropriate. Let me also indicate that there is a long list of sheroes who have been impacted by Dr. Nassar. My constituent stated, on January 16, a former Olympic gymnast who wowed the world, Simone Biles, said that she was abused by Dr. Nassar. The long list of Dr. Nassar's victims include U.S. Olympic gymnasts McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, and Gabby Douglas. They represented the country and made us proud. And can you imagine? They were abused. Let me thank the many organizations that have worked hard to advance this legislation, including Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, RAINN, the Nation's largest antisexual violence organization. They have been magnificent. I include in the Record a number of letters, Mr. Speaker, because each day approximately 600 individuals are affected by sexual violence, most of whom are children or parents seeking support, and they are served by this organization. The first letter I include in the Record supporting this legislation is from RAINN, which urges the House of Representatives and others to pass this legislation so that it can move quickly into the position to be signed by the President.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, every 2 minutes in America, someone is sexually assaulted; every 8 minutes, that individual is a child. Let me include in the Record a letter from the U.S. Olympians and Paralympians Association, and I would like to call out their names. These are all athletes: Dick Fosbury, track and field; Willie Banks, track and field; Allison Baver, speedskating; Carol Brown, rowing; Candace Cable, Paralympic track and field; Caryn Davies, rowing; Gary Hall, Sr., swimming; Micki King, diving; Carol Lewis, track and field; John Naber, swimming; Bill Toomey, track and field; Iris Zimmerman, fencing. U.S. Olympians & Paralympians Association. An open letter from the U.S. Olympians and Paralympians Association to athletes everywhere: We hear you. We have heard your many stories detailing the sexual and emotional abuse you endured while training and competing in pursuit of your goals and your dreams. We applaud your individual and collective courage and conviction in coming forward and telling all . . . and calling out those who abused your trust. We are both appalled by the actions of those who hurt you and deeply saddened by your suffering. For those whose stories we haven't heard (and may never hear), we respect your decision and your privacy . . . but also acknowledge the pain you feel in silence. We are united in saying that there is no place for abuse in sport--at any age, at any level, in any venue. As Olympic and Paralympic alumni, we want you to know we are a family that stands strong for the ideals of the Olympic and Paralympic movements. When we, as athletes, returned from past Games, we shared an understanding that ``The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of humankind, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.'' Now we must ask how can athlete dignity be preserved when the responsible institutions fail so in their oversight? So what shall we do? We shall continue to advocate for education and safe sport, to teach young boys and girls to recognize the signs of abuse and provide a safe place to speak without repercussion. Parents, coaches and trainers need to be educated to recognize the signs and learn how to behave properly in coaching situations. We shall support Title IX, the U.S. Center for SafeSport and pending federal legislation to protect our athletes. For any of you who are currently in need (or know someone who is), the newly created and independent U.S. Center for SafeSport is available for confidential 24/7 reporting and crisis support: SafeSport.org 24/7 SafeSport Crisis Helpline 866-200-0796 We know the power of commitment to a belief and to goals; our goal is that your experiences are never repeated. Together, we shall seek to create a way of life based on the joy of effort. Together in sport, United States Olympians and Paralympians Association Executive Committee President Dick Fosbury--Track and Field, 1968 Willie Banks--Track and Field, 1980/1984/1988 Allison Baver--Speedskating, 2002/2006/2010 Carol Brown--Rowing 1976/1980/1984 Candace Cable--Paralympic Track and Field, 1980/1988/1992/ 1996, Alpine Skiing, 1992; Nordic Skiing,1994/1998/2002/2006 Caryn Davies--Rowing, 2004/2008/2012 Gary Hall Sr.--Swimming, 1968/1972/1976 Micki King--Diving, 1968/1972 Carol Lewis--Track and Field, 1980/1984/1988 John Naber--Swimming, 1976 Bill Toomey--Track and Field, 1968 Iris Zimmerman--Fencing, 2000

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, likewise, I include in the Record a letter, dated November 16, 2017, from the CWLA, Child Welfare League of America, an organization that worked on this issue.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Poe for his longstanding work on these issues, the two House cosponsors, and the Senator, and I want to end with, with that volcanic action, there was no reaction, a deafening silence. Let us, with the passage of this bill, begin the journey of commitment, along with our acknowledgment of the Me Too movement that we will never be silent again. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 534, the ``Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse Act''. This bill will help prevent the sexual abuse of minors and amateur athletes by requiring the prompt reporting of sexual abuse to law enforcement authorities. This is a reasonable and important measure that is intended to protect young athletes from abuse and preserve the sanctity of sports associated with the U.S. Olympic Committee--the organization responsible for preparing and training young athletes who might one day represent our Nation competitively all over the world. Children deserve to fully enjoy the innocence of their youth--by exploring the curiosities of the world, taking pleasure in the arts, and participating in sports--free from abuse. Sexual abuse of children and youth is an abhorrent practice that is intolerable in any context, and we must take appropriate measures to eliminate it from youth sports. Young people look to adults to protect them and keep them safe. We all have a responsibility to do so. With S. 534, we have an opportunity to ensure that individuals abide by this duty. Certain other professionals--such as doctors, dentists, social workers, psychologists, teachers, and daycare workers, are already bound by law to report suspected abuse to law enforcement. S. 534 will require the same of adults who interact with young athletes in connection with sports activities organized by the national governing bodies of various sports. The urgent need for this legislation is best illustrated by the horrible abuse and exploitation of numerous young gymnasts at the hands of Dr. Larry Nassar, who victimized young athletes participating in USA Gymnastics over the course of 20 years. The stories of abuse and suffering of these young women are heartbreaking. Many complaints of sexual and emotional abuse by Nassar and others went unreported for years--allowing coaches, instructors, and doctors to repeatedly victimize gymnasts as young as six years old. The shocking failure of anyone to report accusations to law enforcement, or even keep track of complaints internally, made it possible for some of these predators to commit multiple, horrific acts over time. We entrust the care of our children and young athletes in the hands of those we hope to uphold that trust and not abuse it. One of the more than 150 girls and women victimized by Dr. Nassar was recently quoted as saying, ``He has everything he needs to be an incredible leader. He has the personality . . . the skill . . . the knowledge. And he's using that to prey on people . . . what a waste.'' Last week, a Michigan judge sentenced Nassar to a prison sentence of up to 175 years. The judge described Nassar's assault of scores of girls and women, under the pretense that he was treating them, as ``precise, calculated, manipulative, devious and despicable.'' We must continue to do more to help protect our young athletes, and this bill will greatly assist in that effort. However, I must note a concern with a change the bill before us would make to the Senate- passed version of S. 534. The bill unanimously passed by the Senate would authorize funding to be provided to the U.S. Center for Safe Sport in the amount of $1 million for each of the next five years. Unfortunately, the version of the bill before us strips this funding authorization. I believe we should have taken up the Senate bill, without amendment. Safe Sport is charged with important responsibilities under this bill--with respect to receiving and investigating allegations of abuse and setting policies to prevent future abuse. It is critical that we ensure that the Center is provided the resources for those things to be done immediately and effectively. By doing so, I hope we will prevent the type of abuse and suffering perpetrated by people like Larry Nassar. In a recent open letter from the U.S. Olympians and Paralympians Association to athletes everywhere, they wrote: ``The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of humankind, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity. Now we must ask how can athlete dignity be preserved when the responsible institutions fail so in their oversight?'' In an apology letter to Team USA from the United States Olympic Committee issued last week, the Committee admitted that it had failed its young athletes. While the USA Gymnastics scandal is unfortunate, let it be an example and incentive to prevent such abuse from happening again. Accordingly, I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation. The ``Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse Act'' is a necessary measure to ensure young athletes in this country are able to pursue their athletic dreams in safe environments, free of the fear of being victimized by predators. I thank the many organizations that have worked hard to advance this legislation, including Rape Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), the Nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. I'd like to enter into the record a letter from RAINN, which indicates survivors are reaching out to its National Sexual Assault Hotline in record numbers, at a 21 percent increase. Each day approximately 600 individuals affected by sexual violence are served, most of whom are children or parents seeking support. For the foregoing reasons, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill. Mr. Speaker, I ask support of the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from the DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence. They have worked along with RAINN and have emphasized that the Nation's youngest have been impacted by this dastardly series of actions. DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Washington, DC, November 20, 2017. Hon. Paul Ryan, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives. Hon. Susan Brooks, House of Representatives. Hon. Kevin McCarthy, House of Representatives. Hon. John Thune, U.S. Senate. Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader, House of Representatives. Hon. Lois Frankel, House of Representatives. Hon. Steny Hoyer, House of Representatives. Hon. Dianne Feinstein, U.S. Senate. Dear Speaker Ryan, Leader Pelosi, Ms. Brooks, Ms. Frankel, Mr. McCarthy, Mr. Hoyer, Mr. Thune, and Ms. Feinstein: The DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence urges the House of Representatives to pass the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act. This bipartisan legislation is imperative to respond to the numerous disclosures of child sexual abuse by our nation's youngest and most accomplished athletes while they were training for the U.S. Olympics. Intervention and prevention measures through this legislation are desperately needed to keep our children safe and hold offenders and entities accountable for their actions and their silence. Authorization and funding for the U.S. Center for Safe Sport will be the first significant step toward this goal. We ask the House of Representatives to swiftly and expeditiously pass this legislation to protect our young athletes and show them they are valued and deserve to excel in their chosen sport without fear of and violence from those they trust. Thank you for your commitment to ending sexual abuse, please do not hesitate to contact our office if we can be of further assistance in this charge. Sincerely, Karma Cottman, Executive Director.