Sheila Jackson Lee

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3234, the Failing VA Medical Center Recovery Act. I support this legislation because it would establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs an Office of Failing Medical Center Recovery, and the position of Under Secretary for Failing Medical Center Recovery to head the Office. The Office shall carry out the managerial and day-to-day operational control of each VA failing medical center. The bill directs that the VA shall: publish in the Federal Register and on a publicly available VA website a compilation of key health metrics for each VA medical center; certify semiannually that each VA medical center ranked as ``failing'' is subject to managerial and day- to-day operational control by the Office; revoke the certification of a VA medical center as a failing medical center if it achieves a ranking of ``satisfactory'' or better for three consecutive fiscal quarters; submit to Congress a quarterly report on the Office, including actions taken by the Under Secretary regarding covered failing medical centers; and transfer each covered failing medical center from the direct control of the relevant Veterans Integrated Service Network to the direct control of the Under Secretary. The bill also ensures that the Inspector General of the VA will prioritize investigations relating to covered failing medical centers, and the Office of Accountability Review will prioritize investigations of whistle blower retaliation relating to such centers. Mr. Speaker, the reason this important legislation is needed is illustrated by the tragic and heart breaking cases of thousands of veterans who were left waiting for care for serious medical conditions. In the State of Texas we have 1,099,141 Veterans under the age of 65 and 590,618 who are over the age of 65. There are over 1,689,759 veterans living in our state. The 18th Congressional District has 20,607 under age 65 and 9,844 Veterans over the age of 65. The Michael E. Debakey Veterans Hospital Center, located in Houston Texas serves the health care needs of thousands of veterans and their families. The Debakey Veterans Hospital Center provides support to veterans and their families who are amputees, cancer, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injury, and have visual impairments. The Medical center provides family support services through its Fisher House that provides living suites at no cost to family members of hospitalized Veterans and military members. Today, with our vote on H.R. 3234, we can renew our commitment to our nation's more than 2 million troops and reservists, their families, and the 22 million veterans who served our nation. I urge all Members to join me in voting to pass H.R. 3234.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as a proud cosponsor I rise in strong support of H.R. 2915, the ``Female Veteran Suicide Prevention Act,'' which directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to implement mental health care and suicide prevention programs and identify metrics that are effective in reducing the incidence of suicide among female veterans. Over the last decade suicide has become a major issue for the military, but the research has been predominantly focused on men and too much remains unknown about the cause and frequency of suicide among female veterans. Mr. Speaker, several recent studies show that, unfortunately, female military veterans commit suicide at nearly 6 times the rate of other women. The suicide rate among female veterans is so high that it approaches that of their male counterparts, a finding that surprises researchers because men generally are far more likely than women to commit suicide. The highest rates of suicide are found among young female veterans, ages 18-29, who are 12 times more likely to commit suicide as their civilian counterparts. This is heart breaking, but perhaps not unexpected, since reports indicate that 10% of women serving on active duty are victims of rape and another 13% were subjected to other unwanted sexual contact. Mr. Speaker, in every other age group, including women who served as far back as the 1950s, suicide rates for female veterans are between 4 and 8 times higher than that of their civilian counterparts. These trends are so disturbing that it has earned the sobriquet from the Houston Chronicle as ``The Silent National Epidemic.'' The Texas Department of State Health Services lists a decedent's military experience in his or her death record, regardless of whether the deceased was serving in the armed forces at time of death. While it is not clear what is driving the rates of female veteran suicides, the consistency across age groups suggests that a statistically significant correlation exists between gender and military service but the sad truth is that we lack sufficient data to generate externally valid inferences about causation. In the general population, women attempt suicide more often than men but succeed less because women usually use pills or other methods that are less lethal than firearms. Female veterans, however, are more likely than other women to possess firearms, and more likely to use a firearm to commit suicide (40% compared to 34% of civilian women). H.R. 2915 is intended to make progress in identifying the causes and reducing the incidences of suicide by female veterans. The bravery and devotion of female veterans, who have provided heroic service to our nation, often at great personal costs, is unquestioned. We owe it to them to be there when they need our help just as they were there to answer the call when their country needed them. I urge all Members to join me in voting to pass H.R. 2915, the ``Female Veteran Suicide Prevention Act.''

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the House Committee on Homeland Security and the Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations, I rise in support of H.R. 3036, the ``National 9/11 Memorial at the World Trade Center Act.'' This bill will designate the National September 11 Memorial located at the World Trade Center site in New York City, New York, as a national memorial. H.R. 3036 authorizes the Secretary of Interior to award a grant in an amount not to exceed $25 million each fiscal year to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center Foundation for the operation and maintenance of the memorial. Finally, the bill requires the National September 11 Memorial and Museum to report annually to the Interior Secretary and Congress on (1) the amount of grant funds expended; (2) the purpose for which the funds were used; and (3) any other information the Secretary may require. As a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security since its creation, and Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security, I strongly support this resolution. I will never forget September 11, 2001, a day on which I stood on the East Front steps of the Capitol on September 11, along with 150 Members of the House of Representatives, singing ``God Bless America.'' September 11, 2001 remains a tragedy that defines our Nation's history since that fateful day for many reasons. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the September 11 attacks that killed 2,977 men, women, and children. At the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan, 2,753 people were killed when hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 were intentionally crashed in the North and South towers. Of those who perished during the initial attacks and the subsequent collapses of the towers, 343 were New York City firefighters, another 23 were New York City police officers and 37 others were officers at the Port Authority. The victims ranged in age from two to 85 years. At the Pentagon in Washington, 184 people were killed when hijacked American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the building. Near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, 40 passengers and crew members aboard United Airlines Flight 93 died when the plane crashed into a field. It is believed that the hijackers crashed the plane in that location, rather than their unknown target, after the passengers and crew attempted to retake control of the flight. The act of those passengers to stop the hijackers likely saved the lives of thousands of their fellow Americans that day. The heroic work done by the first responders who rushed into the burning Twin Towers and the Pentagon saved lives. We will forever remember the first responders who lost their lives in the line of duty on September 11. This Nation shall forever be grateful for the selfless sacrifice shown that day. That is why the National September 11 Memorial and Museum is so important. The National September 11 Memorial at the World Trade Center remembers and honors the thousands of innocent lives lost during the September 11th attacks, and the attacks of February 26, 1993. This Memorial is a testament to the triumph of human dignity over human depravity and affirms an unwavering commitment to the fundamental value of human life.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3984, legislation requiring military and civilian personnel of the Department of Defense required by law to report suspected instances of child abuse and neglect to do so promptly and directly to State child protective service agencies. I support this legislation sponsored by Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, a good friend and veterans of the Armed Services, because no child should have to bear the pain and suffering of abuse or neglect alone. Mr. Speaker, the reason this important legislation is needed is illustrated by the tragic and heart breaking case of Talia Williams, an innocent and loving 5-year old girl who was beaten to death by her father, an active-duty infantryman stationed in Hawaii. After investigation and through subsequent legal proceedings, it came to light that before being murdered, precious Talia had suffered through months of torture and abuse by both her father and stepmother. Even worse, Mr. Speaker, it was revealed that multiple federal employees, including military police and workers at her on-base child care facility, failed to report suspected signs of Talia's abuse. But the shocking case of Talia Williams is not isolated; it is estimated that more than 29,000 children have been abused in military homes over the past decade. The system failed Talia Williams but it is not too late to save other children at risk by passing H.R. 3894. Under current law, Family Advocacy Programs operated by the Armed Forces are to identify individuals who are mandated to report known or suspected cases of child abuse to designated ``points of contact,'' who then are to conduct an assessment investigation into the reported abuse and to communicate with State child protective services agencies. H.R. 3894 amends current law and requires DoD professionals who come into contact with children such as physicians, psychologists, social workers, and teachers to report suspected instances of abuse or neglect directly to the State child protective services agencies in addition to Defense Department points of contact or chain of command. H.R. 3894 also requires these ``mandated reporters'' to receive training in accordance with state guidelines in order to improve their ability to recognize evidence of child abuse and neglect and understand mandatory reporting requirements imposed by law. Mr. Speaker, it is too late to save Talia Williams but out of the horrific tragedy that claimed her life, it is possible to identify and save other children from a similar fate. H.R. 3894 will help ensure that instances of child abuse and neglect are recognized and reported immediately by empowering appropriate military and civilian personnel in the Department of Defense with the skills and training need to recognize evidence of child abuse and neglect and to place on them an affirmative duty to report instances of suspected abuse or neglect promptly and directly to child protective agencies. I urge all Members to join me in voting to pass H.R. 3894.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Thank you very much. And I thank the gentleman from New York for his kindness in my brief support of all of you on the floor. Let me first of all acknowledge, as I indicated, your potent and powerful question to America of $348 billion to solve our problem and are our children that valuable or are our children worth it. My answer is yes. Let me add my appreciation, though I know that he would not want to be in this predicament, to Congressman Kildee and the entire Michigan delegation who were there on Saturday. They stood arm in arm listening to Flint residents just to see how painful it is to hear a mother talk about a child with spots all over his body and to have her point to other children and say, ``They are getting sick, and I have lost my hair'' or a teacher say, ``I have children coming to school with pus sores.'' So, let me say a few points. I sit on the Judiciary Committee. And also have the privilege of sitting on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee as a guest. I just want to say that we need to hold someone accountable, which will then generate into what the solution is. April 2014, a nonscientist--I just came out of the Rules Committee on science legislation--made a decision to go to Flint River. He had no anti-corrosion plan. Really, there lies the source of problems throughout a number of these cities that you have indicated. You had one with non-toxins. They were just breaking the law and suffering because of lack of money. Saving $5 million has resulted in spending multiple millions of dollars--maybe $1 billion-plus--to try and salvage this great city. With Governor Snyder, of course, there is no accountability. Just to show you an example, it is very difficult to read these emails that were released. The Governor indicates that this was not relevant to the issue. The main point is that while we are talking about the infrastructure--and I do support Mr. Kildee's effort as well as our colleagues in the Senate to help this city of 765 million, we must also hold ourselves accountable--this body of Republicans and Democrats who know that we must invest in infrastructure. As a member of the Judiciary Committee, I sent a letter early in January asking for an investigation by the Department of Justice. The FBI is now investigating. We want to make sure there is a review of whether there is malfeasance. So, I come to the floor today to say there are many questions and there must be many answers. I want to make sure there is an accountable standard. I want to say to the American people that we can't have a city like Flint, where decisions are made--General Motors, by the way, stopped using the water--that we have no anticorrosion plan. This is happening across America, partly, because cities are broke and because we have not invested in the overall infrastructure of America, as you, Mr. Garamendi have said on the floor over and over again. So, I wanted to come to the floor to thank my colleagues. Knowing how painful it is to represent that area, I thank Congressman Kildee for his leadership. Congresswoman Lawrence, who is a neighbor, is working with him. Congressman Conyers, Congresswoman Dingell, Sandy Levin, and some Senators have all been working so hard on this issue. Count me in as a collaborator as we stand before the American people and say: Send me. We are prepared to fight for more infrastructure to help cities across America.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Lunar New Year and to applaud the significant contributions made by Chinese Americans to American life and culture. Today, February 8, marks the first day of the ``Year of the Monkey.'' The Lunar New Year, or ``Nian,'' is a tradition that has been celebrated for more than a thousand years by the Chinese and other persons of Asian ancestry. The Lunar New Year is cause for celebration in communities all across our country but might I say that no city does it better than my home city of Houston, which will be hosting the Annual Lunar New Year Houston Celebration this coming weekend. Celebrants will be treated to a variety of festivities, including parades, festivals, art exhibits, and musical performances. Mr. Speaker, Americans of Asian Pacific ancestry have positively influenced our country through their strong commitment to family, faith, hard work, and service. They have enhanced and shaped our national character with centuries- old traditions that reflect the multiethnic and multicultural customs of their communities. Asian Americans have enriched our culture and economy and made significant contributions in every area of American life from the arts and humanities, to the natural and social sciences, to business and the economy, in government, sports, the military, and technology and innovation. Notable Chinese Americans who have distinguished themselves in the field of the arts and humanities include the two-time Academy Award winning cinematographer, James Wong Howe; Ang Lee, the Academy Award winning director; Maya Lin, the architect who designed the iconic Vietnam Veterans Memorial; I. M. Pei, the famous architect and designer of the Louvre Pyramid; Amy Tan, the best-selling author of The Joy Luck Club; Yo-Yo Ma, the world-renowned cellist; and the legendary Bruce Lee, who revolutionized the martial arts film genre. In the field of business, American life has been enriched by the contributions of Steve Chen, the co-founder of YouTube; Jen-Hsun Huang, the co-founder and CEO of NVIDIA, the computer graphics card company; Min H. Kao, co-founder of Garmin, the GPS software giant; William Wang, the founder and CEO of Vizio; and Jerry Yang, cofounder of Yahoo. Mr. Speaker, Connie Chung made history as the first Chinese American woman to co-anchor a major network's national news broadcast, as did Norman Bay, the first Chinese American United States Attorney; and Thomas Tang, the first Chinese American federal judge. Many contemporary Chinese Americans have risen to occupy some of the most important positions in the nation, including my colleagues, Judy Chu and Grace Meng, the first and second Chinese-American woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives; Dr. Steven Chum, Nobel laureate in Physics and United States Secretary of Energy from 2009-2013; Hiram L. Fong, the first U.S. Senator of Chinese ancestry; Ed Lee, the Mayor of San Francisco; and Gary Locke, former Secretary of Commerce, Ambassador to China, and only Chinese American ever to serve as a Governor. Mr. Speaker, Kurt Lee was the first Asian American Marine Corps officer and he was followed by John Liu Fugh, the first Chinese American officer to be promoted to the rank of Major General in the United States Army and Coral Wong Pietsch, the first female Chinese American Army General; and it is a source of great pride that the Congressional Medal of Honor was awarded to Francis Wai, so far the only Chinese American to have been so honored. In the fields of science, engineering, and medicine, Chinese Americans have made significant contributions that have fundamentally changed the way we live and work, including those of Min Chueh Chang, the co-inventor of the first birth control pill; Charles Kao, the 2009 Nobel laureate in Physics who pioneered the development and use of fiber optics in telecommunications; Yuan-Cheng Fung, the founder of modern biomechanics; and NASA astronauts Leroy Chiao and Edward Lu. Mr. Speaker, according to most recent data reported by the Census Bureau, there are more than 423,609 businesses owned by Chinese Americans generating $142.8 billion in economic output towards the U.S. economy, along with creating over 780,000 jobs. As the Member of Congress from the 18th Congressional District of Texas, I am honored to represent a district rich in cultural and ethnic diversity and with a vibrant Chinese-American community. Mr. Speaker, there are more than four million Chinese-Americans in the United States and Texas is home to more than 167,000 of them; of this latter number, approximately 25 percent, or 43,940, Chinese- Americans live in Harris County, making it the tenth largest community of persons of Chinese heritage in the nation. Mr. Speaker, Chinese-Americans have made much progress in the United States since May 10, 1860, the date the first transcontinental railroad was completed. That massive construction project transformed our country for the better and could not have been completed had it not been for the labor of Chinese immigrants. Despite the enormous progress made challenges still remain for persons of Chinese ancestry, particularly the nation's antiquated immigration system which needs to be reformed to make it fairer and more humane. Celebrating the Lunar New Year helps us to remember how much our country has benefitted from the energy, creativity, and service of Chinese Americans. I encourage all Americans to take part in activities marking this important occasion.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chair, I thank Chairman Luetkemeyer and Ranking Member Cleaver for their leadership, commitment and effort to modernizing and improving Federal Housing programs for millions of Americans who are working their way up to economic empowerment and stability. I wish to thank Chairman Sessions, Ranking Member Slaughter, and the members of the Rules Committee. I acknowledge and appreciate the bipartisan efforts by my colleagues across the aisle to modernize and improve Federal housing programs as anticipated in H.R. 3700, the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2015. For instance, H.R. 3700 contains provisions that would modify core rental assistance programs such as the Housing Choice Vouchers, Public Housing, and Project-Based Rental Assistance, homelessness prevention and assistance programs, and Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage insurance for condominiums. Additionally, H.R. 3700 amends the Rural Housing Service program in the Department of Agriculture. Some of its provisions would help streamline the administration of HUD programs. For instance, this legislation will facilitate income determination for tenants and housing quality inspections for assisted rental housing. Another provision of the bill seeks to expand flexibility between public housing operating and capital funds. The legislation seeks to provide additional flexibility to public housing agencies to conditionally approve housing voucher units with non-life threatening deficiencies in order to allow families immediate access. Although these many provisions of the legislation are commendable, we hope to see improvements in provisions that have been identified as potentially increasing administrative burden and have unintended consequences. We want to make sure that deductions for child care and medical expense deductions would not adversely impact the lowest income households. I share the Administration's concern with the delegation of the authority to grant exceptions to HUD requirements to the lenders approving projects under the Direct Endorsement Lender Review and Approval Process. Another major issue appears to be that the delegation of authority does not appear to provide HUD with sufficient ability to set standards for exceptions and oversee their application and procedure. There are also concerns that other FHA requirements in the bill may create future difficulties for HUD in implementing timely and consistent program changes in response to market conditions. I look forward to working with my colleagues across the aisle as we are working to continue to improve the bill as it moves forward.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of the President's veto of H.R. 3762, the Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act. The President was right to veto this irresponsible and mean-spirited legislation because it neither restores healthcare or freedom. I will proudly vote to sustain the President's veto. This bill is not a serious effort to address this nation's budgetary needs and its details reveal that it is another opportunity for the majority to hide behind legislative gimmicks in an attempt to kill the Affordable Care Act. This is a waste of taxpayer money and this body's legislative calendar, which has too few days left for wasting any of our time voting on bills that the President has communicated in writing that he will veto. The President was right to veto H.R. 3762 because it: 1. continues the majority's relentless crusade to put barriers between women and their right to have the healthcare provider and services that they want and need; 2. repeals individual responsibility requirements that people must have their own health insurance; 3. repeals the Independent Payment Advisory Board, which works to keep Medicare solvent; and 4. repeals the Prevention and Public Health Fund, which supports evidence-based programs designed to keep Americans health, prevent chronic and infectious diseases and reduce future healthcare cost. The news from across the nation regarding the healthcare freedom and choice created by the Affordable Care Act for first time health insurance consumers is overwhelmingly positive. Unfortunately, today the majority has targeted a women's right to control her own healthcare by attempting to defund Planned Parenthood. The partisan and mean-spirited nature of H.R. 3762 is illustrated by the fact that House Republicans have opted to proceed with this veto override vote notwithstanding the fact that after an exhaustive investigation lasting more than 5 months and led by a strongly pro-life Republican District Attorney, a grand jury in Harris County, Texas completely exonerated Planned Parenthood of the false, malicious, and scurrilous charge of trafficking in the sale of fetal body parts. Instead, the grand jury returned indictments against the producers of the doctored videos. Mr. Speaker, in my home state of Texas, a law that would have cut off access to 75 percent of reproductive healthcare clinics in the state was challenged before the U.S. Supreme Court in 2014 and 2015. On October 2, 2014, the Supreme Court made unconstitutional a Texas law that required that all reproduction healthcare clinics that provided the full range of services would be required to have a hospital-style surgery center building and staffing requirements. This requirement meant only 7 clinics would be allowed to continue to provide a full spectrum of reproductive healthcare to women. In 2015, the State of Texas once again threatened women's access to reproductive health care when it attempted to shutter all but 10 healthcare providers in the state of Texas. The Supreme Court once again intervened on behalf of Texas women to block the move to close clinics in my state. New attacks on women are now being couched with renewed attacks against the Affordable Care Act, which the majority has attempted to overturn with over 50 votes since its enactment. The attacks against Planned Parenthood is a social and economic statement that if you are a woman with money you have the right to think for yourself regarding your healthcare choices, but if you are poor or lack healthcare options you do not have that same right. Millions of women now have free coverage for comprehensive women's preventive medical services. The reality is women who face difficult health care decisions do not do so lightly. Women in this nation have a right to self-determination. It is fundamental human right and one that should be cherished. The most important right is the ability of each person to determine their destiny and this right has to be freely exercised. Healthcare has become a fundamental right for our nation's citizens with the best possible outcomes for the millions of people who had no healthcare due to pre-existing illnesses or were penalized with higher premiums for pre-existing conditions. Because of the Affordable Healthcare Act: 1. l00 million Americans no longer have a life-time limit on healthcare coverage. 2. 17 million children with pre-existing conditions can no longer be denied coverage by insurers. 3. 6.6 million young-adults up to age 26 can stay on their parents' health insurance plans. 4. 6.3 million Seniors in the ``donut hole'' have saved $6.1 billion on their prescription drugs. 5. 3.2 million Seniors have access to free annual wellness visits under Medicare, and 6. 360,000 Small Businesses are using the Health Care Tax Credit to help them provide health insurance to their workers. Statistics on Texas and the Affordable Care Act reveal that: 1. 3.8 million Texas residents receive preventative care services. 2. 7 million Texans no longer have lifetime limits on their healthcare insurance. 3. 300,731 young adults can remain on their parents' health insurance until age 26. 4. 5 million Texas residents can receive a rebate check from their insurance company if it does not spend 80 percent of premium dollars on healthcare. 5. 4,029 people with pre-existing conditions now have health insurance. This year for the first time insurance companies are banned from: 1. discriminating against anyone with a preexisting condition; 2. charging higher rates based on gender or health status; 3. enforcing lifetime dollar limits; and 4. enforcing annual dollar limits on health benefits. Few people knew that health insurers viewed pregnancy as a pre- existing condition. Because of the Affordable Care Act women can no longer be charged a higher rate just because they are women. Attempts to weaken or end the ACA are wrong. A January 2015, Gallup poll revealed that nationally the uninsured rate in the United States was reduced to 12.9%. The uninsured rate nationally dropped 4.2% points since the enactment of the Affordable Care Act. We are becoming a nation of equals when it comes to access to affordable healthcare insurance. I urge all Members to join me in voting to sustain President Obama's veto of this latest Republican effort to turn the clock back on women's rights and the healthcare safety-net that is assuring longer and heathier lives for millions of Americans.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, may I have the time remaining?

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, let me thank the gentlewoman for her generosity, and let me, first of all, thank her for leading the Congressional Progressive Caucus. I understand she is due a recognition, of which I celebrate, that she will have shortly. But let me thank her for her astuteness about state government. You come from state government. You understand oversight. You understand the responsibilities. You are the right person to lead this particular Special Order. Madam Speaker, it is important today to say that I fully support the proposed supportive services that have been accounted or recounted by Congressman Kildee, Congresswoman Lawrence, and Congressman Scott, who is the ranking member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce. We must embrace and surround those children. I must say it again. I said it earlier. For those of us who remember Jim Jones, who left California and gave a poisonous concoction to children in a foreign country, we have a Jim Jones in Michigan giving a poisonous concoction to the children of Flint, Michigan. So we are obviously upset about this, and we want the services to be provided for children, who are innocent. But, at the same time, wearing a hat that deals with the law and law and order, I must make the argument that there has to be a criminal investigation. Let me applaud the Department of Justice because I sent a letter January 14, 2016, to ask the Department of Justice to immediately investigate the actions of State officials in Michigan. They are actively engaged. The FBI is actively engaged, and their work is not for naught. Let me give you an example, Madam Speaker, very quickly. The Governor was asked to release his e-mails. Part of what he released was this black, redacted pages of information. He released some other materials that I think are telling. Here we are: ``We need Treasury to work with Dan in Flint on a clear side by side comparison of the health benefits and costs of GLWA [Great Lakes Water Authority] vs. a more optimized Flint system.'' But here's the real key: ``Also, we need to look at what financing mechanisms are available to Flint to pay for any higher cost actions.'' Madam Speaker, the Governor of the State of Michigan is sitting on $1 billion. Yet, he is asking a city that is near bankruptcy, controlled by an emergency manager under a State law that was rejected by the people of Michigan, to find out how they can pay for better water. They have no money to pay for better water. But let me tell you what they did. Instead of helping Flint pay for better water, helping them have a plan for anticorrosion, they paid an emergency manager under a law that was rejected by the voters of Michigan. This individual led the Detroit's Public Schools as an emergency manager. I am told that that was literally brought to collapse. He was paid $180,000. Well, he didn't do that well enough that they wanted to give him $221,000. Let me say this. The emergency manager payment for the city of Flint--let me correct that--was $180,000. When he did it for Detroit's Public Schools, that came to near collapse. It was $221,000. From my perspective, there is much here that warrants a criminal investigation. Let me add to the point. On April 25, 2014, the city switches its water supply. Let me be very clear. The city leaders--I served on city council--had no authority because the emergency manager was in place. Did the emergency manager have an anticorrosion plan? No. Did they test the water when they opted to go cheap and save $5 million and go into the Flint River? No. The city switches its water supply, because of money, from a Detroit system that works. The switch was made as a cost-saving measure for the struggling majority-Black city of Flint. Soon after, residents began to complain about the water's color, taste, odor, and to report rashes and concerns about bacteria. In August and September 2014, city officials suggested that they boil the water, the complete wrong thing to do. They did not have a plan for anticorrosion. They did not follow the Federal law that indicated that you had to put phosphate, an anticorrosive element, into the water. So it continued to deteriorate and deteriorate. Guess what, Madam Speaker, and my colleagues. The emergency manager was never a scientist. It was not someone who said: Let me test the water before I order citizens to drink the water. That sounds to me like there is culpability and criminal culpability because lives have been endangered. And so I am looking forward to the attorney general of Michigan coming in, just as the Governor should, and looking forward to a thorough investigation, Madam Speaker, that will find some relief. My final point, Madam Speaker, is to say that the Governor is culpable. The Governor right now needs to go into his rainy day fund and provide the full funding requested by Mr. Kildee and all others to fix the Flint water system.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman from Maryland. I do want to say to the gentleman that, as you well know, the Judiciary Committee, in many machinations over the years, has looked at this question of choice and the constitutional right that comes from Roe v. Wade. Unfortunately, our voices--those of us who are there who argue the constitutional premise--have not been heard Let me stand in opposition to, again, a Groundhog Day announcement, which is again trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act. The good news is that this is my daughter's birthday. So I can celebrate February 2nd in a good way. This approach to again try to take away from the millions of people in Texas who are uninsured the right to be insured, to have insurance with preexisting conditions, and this horrible provision to defund Planned Parenthood, which is a health prospect and a health project that gives good health care to women, is absurd. Let me also say, Mr. Speaker, that we face some troubling times when people are unemployed, and Planned Parenthood has provided resources to those vulnerable women. I can't understand why this bill continues to come up. I am glad to stand in opposition to support Planned Parenthood and its funding and to recognize that the Constitution does protect choice. We do need to provide health care.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman and ranking member of the full committee and express my excitement in talking about reform and real housing issues. If there is ever an issue that we, as Members of Congress, are confronted with when we go home to our districts, it is about people who need housing, about people who don't have housing, about people who have poor housing, about seniors who need housing, about young families who need housing. I am delighted to be part of this reformation that has been done by the Committee on Financial Services and to acknowledge the chairman and the ranking member of the subcommittee from which this comes and to congratulate this bipartisan process. I am delighted to offer an amendment. I thank the Rules Committee for making it in order, for I think it adds to the improvement of some of the issues that we are confronted with. My amendment indicates that the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor and with other relevant agencies, shall submit a report to Congress annually that goes to the heart of some of the issues unaddressed of interagency strategies of such departments that are designed to improve family economic empowerment by linking housing assistance with essential supportive services, such as employment, counseling, training, financial education and growth, child care, transportation, meals, youth recreational activities, and other supportive services. It goes on to say: any actions taken in the preceding year to carry out such strategies and the extent of progress achieved by such actions. My amendment recognizes that, in addition to housing connecting low- income families to job training and supportive services, such as child care, transportation, it is key to enabling families across the country--from Texas to California, from New York to California--to access employment and other services that foster upward economic mobility and family stability. It allows them to look at their family structure and at people who are in need. My amendment acknowledges and recognizes that helping families achieve economic empowerment requires interagency collaboration. Let me cite, Mr. Chairman, two supportive letters from the National Coalition for the Homeless and from the Heartland Alliance, which are supporting this constructive and instructive amendment to find out what our families need to be strong. Leading Houston Home, February 2, 2016. Speaker Paul Ryan, Washington, DC. Hon. Blaine Luetkemeyer, Chairman, Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance Financial Services Committee, Washington, DC. Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Washington, DC. Hon. Emanuel Cleaver, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance Financial Services Committee, Washington, DC. Dear Speaker Ryan and Leader Pelosi: The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County is dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness in Houston, Harris County, and Fort Bend County. We are writing in support of H.R. 3700, the Housing Opportunity through Modernization Act. The proposed legislation includes many provisions that would increase the efficiency and effectiveness of critical rental assistance programs that serve extremely low-income households. In particular, we are writing in support of Amendment Four, submitted by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18) to the Rules Committee. Representative Jackson Lee's Amendment Four directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to work with the Secretary of Labor to produce an annual report on interagency strategies to strengthen family economic empowerment by linking housing with essential supportive services such as employment counseling and training, financial growth, childcare, transportation, meals, and other support services. Representative Jackson Lee's amendment recognizes that in addition to housing, connecting low-income families to job training and supportive services are key to helping families access employment and economic opportunity and achieve stability. Representative Jackson Lee's amendment also recognizes that helping families achieve economic empowerment requires interagency collaboration. We know that public systems are better at solving big problems when they work together to share capacity, knowledge, and resources. We commend Representative Jackson Lee for encouraging systems collaboration to help ensure that low-income families succeed in housing and employment. We further encourage HUD to collaborate with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture, as these agencies can offer families critical supports such as child care and nutrition assistance that are necessary for success. The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County, as a leader of The Way Home, the collaborative model to prevent and end homelessness in Houston, Harris County, and Fort Bend County knows the importance of interagency collaboration and the incredible successes that can be achieved as a result of shared capacity, knowledge and resources. We have made tremendous progress in our community and are happy to serve as a resource moving forward. Thank you for recognizing the important role of employment in helping low-income families achieve housing and financial stability. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Marilyn Brown (mbrown@homelesshouston.org), President/CEO of the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County. Sincerely, Marilyn L. Brown, President/CEO.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. I am delighted to tell the story of Finney from the Houston Housing Authority where we gave her supportive services through the Family Sufficiency Program. She has gotten to the point of attaining a credit score of 640, and she is now a proud homeowner. What a legacy. So I would ask my colleagues to support this amendment. Mr. Chairman, how much time do I have remaining?

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chairman, unfortunately, as my dear colleague from Guam missed her time in which to offer her amendment, I ask unanimous consent to modify my amendment with the modification by the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo), which I have placed at the desk.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo).

Ms. JACKSON LEE. I thank the gentlewoman. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Texas. I was very pleased to help out the gentlewoman from Guam, and I want to indicate that these are two amendments that stand on their own right. I close by indicating the purpose of the amendment offered by Ms. Jackson Lee to again refer to Finney, a woman who tried to get a home. She stayed in the program and completed the criteria that was needed for her to qualify. She earned wages of at least $20,000 and got that credit score and established a savings account of $1,000. This is what we are talking about with regard to supportive services. What we want to do is to emphasize employment counseling, financial education, growth, child care, transportation, meals, youth recreational activities, and other supportive services. I am very glad to have the support, if you will, of the National Coalition for the Homeless of Houston, Harris County, as well as of the Heartland Alliance to be able to say that this makes for a better roadmap for getting housing to people who are in need. I celebrate the fact that we are on the floor with this reform bill, talking about housing. I ask my colleagues to support the Jackson Lee amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chair, let me express my appreciation to Chairman Luetkemeyer and Ranking Member Cleaver for their leadership, commitment and effort to modernize and improve Federal Housing programs for millions of Americans who are working their way up to economic empowerment and stability. I also wish to thank Chairman Sessions, Ranking Member Slaughter, and the members of the Rules Committee for making in order Jackson Lee amendment Number 13. Mr. Chair, thank you for the opportunity to explain my amendment, which provides: The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor and other relevant agencies, shall submit a report to the Congress annually that describes-- (1) any interagency strategies of such Departments that are designed to improve family economic empowerment by linking housing assistance with essential supportive services, such as employment counseling and training, financial education and growth, childcare, transportation, meals, youth recreational activities, and other supportive services; and (2) any actions taken in the preceding year to carry out such strategies and the extent of progress achieved by such actions. Mr. Chair, my amendment recognizes that in addition to housing, connecting low-income families to job training and supportive services such as childcare and transportation are key to enabling families across the country from Texas to California access to employment and other services that foster upward economic mobility and family stability. Jackson Lee amendment Number 13 acknowledges and recognizes that helping families achieve economic empowerment requires interagency collaboration. I am pleased to submit into the Record letters supporting my amendment authored by the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County and the Heartland Alliance National Initiatives on Poverty and Economic Opportunity. Mr. Chair, we all know that public systems are better at solving big problems when there is coordination amongst various implementing agencies motivated to work together to share capacity, knowledge, and resources. My amendment encourages agency collaboration to help ensure that low- income families can succeed in housing, in employment and in life. Interagency collaborations between agencies such as the Department of Labor, Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture can offer families critical support such as child care and nutrition assistance that are necessary for family stability and employment success. Livelihood and self-dignity are tied to employment and employment is critical to achieving financial independence and stability and stimulation of the economy. My amendment seeks to bridge the opportunities that abound when there is interagency/intersystem collaboration and the success that can come about. Take for instance the success story of Fini Tuamokumo, a single mother of three children and former Housing Choice Voucher participant, enrolled in the Houston Housing Authority's Family Self-Sufficiency program (FSS). Among other supportive services, the Houston Housing Authority's FSS program facilitates a pathway for public housing tenants to meet their individual goals by connecting them to community resources and homeownership assistance. Aspiring home owners like Fini receive support and resources towards employment success and homeownership. I am proud to report that Fini began the process, stayed the course and completed the criteria needed to qualify for homeownership: earned wages of at least $20,000 per year, a credit score of 640 or higher, the establishment of an Individualized Development (savings) Account with a minimum balance of $1,000, and completion of the FSS program's Financial Literacy and First Time Home Ownership classes. Fini is now a proud homeowner and can now pass on the legacy of the importance of a work ethic, grit and homeownership to her children. Fini is just one of many success stories of intersystem/interagency coordination as a nexus towards federal housing and economic empowerment. Mr. Chair, my amendment will create the space and opportunity for the economic mobility of federal housing recipients through linking housing assistance with essential supportive services such as employment counseling and opportunities, financial education and growth, childcare, transportation, meals, youth recreational activities and other supportive services. For all these reasons, I urge my colleagues to join me and support Jackson Lee Amendment Number 13.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, almost 2 years ago I led a bipartisan delegation, the first congressional delegation, to Nigeria to assess and address the crisis of Boko Haram. At that time, it was in the immediate aftermath of the taking of the Chibok girls in a previous administration. Boko Haram was doing the kind of raiding and rabble-rousing that may have been part of burning villages. That time has now passed. And in the last 48 hours, Boko Haram poured gasoline on children and burned them. Boko Haram has now become a marauding and crusading, vile, evil, and vicious group. It takes in the space and areas of Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. It is important for us, as Members of Congress working with the administration, to call upon these nations to again collaborate and work together. They have pledged their support to ISIL. I am very glad that, in the course of the Homeland Security Committee, Judiciary Committee, Intelligence Committee, Armed Forces Committee, Boko Haram is not going to get away. There will not be boots on the ground, but we must stomp out Boko Haram because they are killing children all in Africa and they are dastardly committers of violence against civil society.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my concerns about the banking industry in former CIS countries involving a bank in Latvia, ABLV. I have learned that ABLV was found to have not engaged in any activity regarding the Government of Moldova and/or activities related to the misappropriation of government funds and that there has been a thorough investigation of this matter and ABLV was not implicated in any wrongdoing with regard to this or any other matter in Moldova. In Moldova more than $1 billion was stolen from the Moldovan national treasury and a large portion of that money appears to have ended up in EU banks in Latvia. I still call upon the Administration and the Congress to investigate whether assets of the other national banks of countries of the former Soviet Union are not being plundered and used, knowingly or unknowingly, to benefit terrorist organizations.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I stand in strong support of H.R. 515 because it seeks to protect our children from predators by identifying the whereabouts of sex offenders and providing means to monitor their activities. This legislation is important because sex trafficking of children is a displaceable act that we detest and has been an on-going concern for the United States. In addition to protecting our children from national threats, we must also consider the potential threat from international actors, especially during times of increased tourism, like for example the Super Bowl, FIFA World Cup, World Olympics and other major events around the world where tourism is high. This legislation by my friend Representative Smith aims to protect our children from exploitation, specifically sex trafficking in tourism, by providing advance notice of intended travel by registered child-sex offenders outside of the United States to the government of the destination country. This legislation is important because it requests that foreign governments notify the United States when a known child-sex offender is seeking to enter the United States. International child exploitation is increasingly becoming a top priority for all nations and certainly is for our country. For instance, two years ago, during the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, reports of child exploitation received global attention. According to the Department of State, Brazil is a destination country for children subjected to sex trafficking. For the case of Brazil, child sex tourists typically arrive from Europe and North America. According to reports, the Rio de Janeiro civil police identified eight hotels and restaurants involved in a child sexual exploitation network in two city areas. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as you know, is where the World Olympics will be hosted this summer. According to the Huffington Post, major sporting event usually lead to a spike in the demand for sexual predatory activities. Unfortunately, these accounts of sexual predatory activity include child sex trafficking. Here at home, during the 2014 Super Bowl week, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with 50 law enforcement agencies, recovered 16 teenagers during an enforcement action on child sex trafficking. Additionally, more than 45 pimps were arrested, some of whom claimed to travel to the Super Bowl location specifically for the purpose of prostituting women and children at the sporting event. According to Judy Kluger, Director of Sanctuary for Families, and former judge for New York City Criminal Court of New York County, New York, ``the Super Bowl could never not be breeding grounds for sexual exploitation.'' If a location experiences an exponential increase in large numbers of men travelling for entertainment, it will proportionally see an increase in those who purchase sex. As you all know, I am committed to ensuring the protection of children, always championing the protection of children. As co-chair of the Children's Caucus, I commend the work of all my colleagues here in Congress, dedicated to protecting children here in the U.S. and across the globe. This is why I support this legislation and I commend Representative Smith for championing legislative measures dedicated to the safety and protection of our children worldwide.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 400, the Trafficking Prevention In Foreign Affairs Contracting Act. I support this legislation because it enforces the implementation of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000. H.R. 400 requires the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to submit reports on definitions of placement and recruitment fees for purposes of enabling compliance with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000. Indeed, the office of the Inspector General reported that a significant majority of the Department of State's foreign workers in certain Middle Eastern countries paid substantial fees to recruiters. According to the Inspector General, ``approximately one-half of the workers were charged recruitment fees equaling more than six months' salary.'' Moreover, ``more than a quarter of the workers reported fees greater than one year's salary and . . . fees that could not be paid off in two years.'' The United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that USAID, the Department of State (DOS), and the Defense Department (DOD) should enhance and strengthen their oversight of contractors in order to better protect against trafficking in persons. The agencies should develop more precise definitions of recruitment fees, and have stronger implementation strategies towards contracting officials in areas where the risk of trafficking in persons is high. Indeed, out of the three agencies previously addressed, only the DOD committed to definitional recruitment fees and concurred with the United States GAO's definitional recommendation. A proposed Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) rule that prohibits charging any recruitment fees to employees was noted by both the Department of State and USAID. However, both the Department of State and USAID lacked an explicit definition for what constitutes a prohibited recruitment fee. Without an explicit definition of the components of recruitment fees, the risk of debt bondages increase, prohibited fees are more likely to be renamed and passed, and other conditions that contribute to trafficking are more likely to occur. I support this legislation because no later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, both the Secretary of State and the Administrator of USAID shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes a proposed definition of placement and recruitment fees for purposes of complying with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000. Both entities will also include a description of what fee components and amounts are prohibited or are permissible for contractors or their agents to charge workers. An explanation of how the definition provided will be incorporated into grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and contracting practices will be required. Both the 180-day period preceding the date of submission and the one year following the date of submission require a report of the description of actions taken. Indeed, acknowledging the actions executed during the time periods provided ensure that officials responsible for grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements and contracting practices include the prevention of trafficking in persons in plans and processes. These include agreements and contracting practices that relate to areas of the world in which the risk of trafficking in persons is high. In a 2011 CNN report, we learned about a federal agency filing a large human trafficking lawsuit. The article discussed Thai workers who made their way to the nonprofit agency. Some were approached by a labor contractor who offered what is said to be a lucrative job on a farm in the United States, but the would be workers unfortunately found themselves owing thousands of dollars in recruiting fees instead. I support this legislation because it facilitates, establishes and monitors a strong system for submitting reports pertaining to explicit definitions of placement and recruitment fees, so foreign workers recruited from developing countries are not vulnerable to a variety of trafficking-related abuses.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I stand in strong support of S. 2152 an important legislation. I support S. 2152 because it seeks to establish a comprehensive United States policy that encourages the efforts of countries in Africa to develop an appropriate mix of electricity solutions, including renewable energy, for more broadly distributed electricity access in order to support poverty reduction, promote development outcomes, and drive economic growth, and for other purposes. According to the World Bank, those living on $1.25 day in Africa accounted for 48.5% of the population in that region in 2010. Moreover, the U.S. Energy Information Administration statistics state that in 2011 the whole of Africa possessed only 78 gigawatts of installed generation capacity, of which South Africa accounted for 44 gigawatts. By comparison, installed capacity in the United States alone was 1,053 gigawatts. In other words, all of Africa has only 7% of the electric capacity of the United States. This is why S. 2152 is important, as it can be instrumental in helping to facilitate higher energy capacities in Africa. Furthermore, actual production capacity for Africa is likely to be substantially lower than the theoretical quantity because of inadequate maintenance, outmoded equipment and fuel shortages. Using per-capita data, a US citizen on average uses 12,461 kilowatt hours of electricity per annum; a citizen of Ethiopia uses 52. On average, only 30% of Africa's citizens have any access to electric electricity, and even where electricity is available, provision can be sporadic, with frequent electricity cuts and ``brown-outs.'' For now, the continent remains largely dependent on hydroelectricity with 13 countries utilizing hydroelectricity for 60% or more of their energy. But, hydroelectricity relies on rain and Africa's rain fall is sporadic at best. The reliance on sporadic rainfall adversely impacts the effectiveness and accessibility to hydroelectricity sources. Energy is a key life blood of every economy and community. In addition to electricity in homes, the energy sector has been instrumental in creating millions of jobs, providing lighting to communities and healthcare centers, fueling our vehicles, increasing literacy and life expectancy. As an advocate for energy empowerment in Africa, I have championed energy brain trusts that are convened to serve as a platform for all relevant stakeholders from the energy sectors including coal, electric, natural gas, nuclear, oil and emerging energy sources such as wind, solar, hydroelectricity and turbine energy. I support the Electrify Africa Act as it will address the energy issues of the day. As you all may know, with enthusiasm, optimism and a collaborative spirit I partnered with my colleagues here in Congress and experts in other U.S. agencies such as USAID, which has been spearheading innovative energy initiatives through its inter-agency efforts. This legislation is important because it will increase the number of people with new access to electricity and electricity services. This legislation will improve and expand the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. I support this legislation because it provides reliable electricity to people and businesses in urban and rural communities. It will address the energy needs of citizens living in areas where there is little or no access to electricity grids. It is also important because it will help develop plans to systemically increase coverage in rural areas. It will facilitate the reduction in transmission and distribution losses and improve end-use efficiency and demand-side management as well as end energy-related impediments to business productivity and investment. Additionally, this legislation will facilitate the capacity of countries in Africa to monitor appropriately and transparently the regulation of the power sector. It will also serve as an economic stimulator because it will encourage private investment in energy production and distribution. Overall, this legislation is important because it makes accessible a human necessity: electricity, which will dramatically improve the quality of life of children, women and men. Access to electricity will aid the mid-wife in successfully delivering a healthy child, while insuring the mother's successful recovery. Access to electricity, taken for granted in some parts of the world is critical in Africa because it will provide the light for a child to do his or her homework. Electricity gives Africa's future innovator, politician and teacher access to the internet: opening countless doors. I support this legislation because it will promote first-time access to electricity and electricity services for at least 50,000,000 people in Africa. This legislation will facilitate the installation of at least 20,000 additional megawatts of electricity in Africa by 2020 in both urban and rural areas. When Africa succeeds the world succeeds and this is why I support this legislation and I thank my colleagues for their bipartisan support across both chambers of the House.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, this February we recognize and celebrate the 39th 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 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, 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. Last year 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 they persuaded 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; authors Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, and Gwendolyn Brooks; all of whom have each in their own way, whether through courageous activism, cultural 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 great men and women. They 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. El Franco Lee 8. Mr. John Brand 9. Ms. Ruby Moseley 10. Ms. Dorothy Hubbard 11. Ms. Doris Hubbard 12. Ms. Willie Bell Boone 13. Ms. Holly HogoBrooks 14. Mr. Deloyd Parker 15. 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 work to get Americans back to work. 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.