Sheila Jackson Lee

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the Homeland Security Committee, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1637, the ``Federally Funded Research and Development Sunshine Act of 2015.'' I support this bipartisan legislation which requires annual reports on the activities and accomplishments of federally funded research and development centers within the department of Homeland Security. The bill requires that the secretary of Homeland Security annually submit to Congressional oversight committees a list of ongoing and completed projects lead by federally funded research and development centers within the Department of Homeland Security have been assigned or completed. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) act as a vehicle for special research and development contracting within the federal government. The FFRDCs provide DHS with independent and objective advice and quick response on critical issues throughout the Homeland Security Enterprise. Homeland Security Systems Engineering and Development Institute (HSSEDI) and Homeland Security Studies and Analysis Institute (HSSAI) perform high-quality research and provide advice that is authoritative, objective and free from conflicts of interest caused by competition. I support H.R. 1637, which provides much needed transparency on the research conducted by the Department of Homeland security. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in strong support of the suspension bill, H.R. 1637, the ``Federally Funded Research and Development Sunshine Act of 2015.''

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the Homeland Security Committee, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2200, the ``CBRN Intelligence and Information Sharing Act of 2015.'' I support this bipartisan legislation which amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Office of Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to: (1) support homeland security-focused intelligence analysis of terrorist actors, their claims, and their plans to conduct attacks involving chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear materials against the nation and of global infectious disease, public health, food, agricultural, and veterinary issues; (2) support homeland security-focused risk analysis and risk assessments of such homeland security hazards by providing relevant quantitative and no quantitative threat information; (3) leverage homeland security intelligence capabilities and structures to enhance prevention, protection, response, and recovery efforts with respect to a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear attack; and (4) share information and provide tailored analytical support on these threats to state, local, and tribal authorities as well as other national biosecurity and biodefense stakeholders. I am pleased that H.R. 2200 incorporates an amendment by Congresswoman McSally that directs the department to establish chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) intelligence and information sharing functions of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security and to require dissemination of information analyzed by the Department to entities with responsibilities relating to homeland security. The Nation's chemical facilities represent a terrorist target that must be protected. It is my hope that this bill will improve upon current legislation authorizing the Department of Homeland Security to regulate security practices at the Nation's chemical facilities. Mr. Speaker, it is clear that we must equip ourselves to be able to detect attacks of a CBRN nature. H.R. 2200 ensures a standardized communication platform for need to know industries dealing with such sensitive information. There is no room for error when it comes to our nation's security. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in voting to pass, H.R. 2200, the ``CBRN Intelligence and Information Sharing Act of 2015.''

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chair, as a senior member of the Homeland Security Committee and Ranking member of the Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations, I rise in opposition to H.R. 2596, the ``Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016,'' for several reasons. I opposed the rule because Section 2 of the rule permits the House leadership to continue to be postponed through the legislative day of Thursday, July 30, 2015, further consideration of the motion to reconsider the vote by the House rejecting the Senate amendment to H.R. 1314, the ``Trade Adjustment Act of 2015.'' I do not believe it is appropriate to commingle in one rule subjects as complex, critical, and disparate as international trade policy, on the one hand, and authorization of Intelligence community programs and activities, on the other. They should be considered separately, debated separately, and voted on separately. Second, I also opposed the rule because the appropriations authorized by H.R. 2596 are predicated on a continuation of the draconian funding levels set by sequestration rather than more realistic and responsible limits to be negotiated and agreed to by the House and Senate. I agree with President Obama that prior to consideration of appropriations or annual authorization bills, the House and Senate should first reach agreement on a fair and balanced budget framework that does not harm our economy or require draconian cuts to middle- class priorities. When applied to national security information gathering, sequestration is harmful because it adversely affects the ability of the intelligence community to: provide strategic warning to decision- makers across all levels of government; improve collection technologies to exploit existing and future opportunities and increase resilience; provide cutting-edge technical analysis of counterintelligence, cyber, advanced weapons, and proliferation threats; to spur IC integration; and increase intelligence capacity by investing in critical information technologies. Third, I oppose the bill because it uses funds intended for Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) in a manner that is inappropriate. By ignoring the pre-negotiated terms regarding war spending, H.R. 2596 seeks to take monies budgeted for war and defense and apply them to domestic defense while neglecting other vital non-defense priorities of the American people. Specifically, the bill uses OCO funding to circumvent budget caps in defense and intelligence spending and ignores the long-term connection between national security and economic security and fails to account for vital national security functions carried out at non-defense agencies. Finally Mr. Chair, I oppose H.R. 2596 on the merits because it contains a highly objectionable ban on the use of funds to transfer any Guantanamo detainee into the United States or construct or modify facilities in the United States to house detainees transferred from Guantanamo. Also highly objectionable is the provision in the bill providing that nothing in the statute authorizing the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board should be construed to allow that Board to gain access to information the executive branch deems to be related to covert action. Mr. Chair, in this digital information age the federal government has at its disposal a wealth of resources that enable it to record, track, and monitor the daily activities of ordinary law abiding citizens. The balance between liberty and security must be respected to preserve our way of life and the values that countless generations have fought to preserve. This includes taking precautionary measures to ensure that their lives are safe from eminent danger and terrorist threats both domestically and abroad. I have long supported effective legislation that seeks to do this such as the bipartisan USA FREEDOM Act, which imposes necessary limits on the bulk collection of telecommunication metadata on U.S. citizens by American intelligence agencies, including the National Security Agency. Because I have long advocated greater diversity and inclusion in government contracting and procurement, I am pleased that H.R. 2596 includes section 334, which requires the Director of National Intelligence to submit a report to Congress regarding participation in contracting opportunities by women, minorities, veterans, and small businesses awarded by elements of the intelligence community for goods, equipment, tools, and services. There are several other provisions in the bill that I support, including provisions: allowing the Department of Energy's national laboratories to compete for homeland security grants; ensuring better understanding of FBI resource allocation against domestic and foreign threats, and the role of the FBI and DNI in countering violent extremism, particularly among young people; promoting greater oversight of the Intelligence Community's relationships with certain foreign partners; and giving intelligence support to the Ukraine. But, on balance, Mr. Chair, H.R. 2596 contains more objectionable than salutary provisions, and for that reason I cannot support the bill or the rule governing the terms of floor debate.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise to speak out against the senseless loss of innocent lives resulting from another senseless act of violence. My thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Charleston, South Carolina, the members of the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, pastored by the Rev. Clementa Pinckney, who was one of nine persons slain by a gunman motivated by hate. Last night Rev. Pinckney, who was also a member of the South Carolina State Senate, and eight others were shot in a horrific massacre at one of the nation's historic black churches. Mr. Speaker, it shocks the conscience that this shooting took place during a prayer meeting in a house of sanctuary. These types of events should never happen, and should never happen in a House of the Lord. There is no place in a civilized society for senseless acts of violence. I commend Attorney General Lynch for her moving quickly and decisively to launch an investigation into this hate crime and bring the perpetrator to the bar of justice where he will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Mr. Speaker, as a country we have made major strides in equality and social justice but this tragedy reminds us that we still have work to do before Dr. King's dream of an America where all live and work together in brotherhood is realized. There is no place for bigotry and hatred in our great country and individuals who wish to practice hate must be rooted out and ostracized. Mr. Speaker, this senseless act of violence provides us with yet another opportunity to teach our children that violence is never the answer and that we all must be compassionate, inclusive, and understanding to all regardless of age, economic status, race, religion, nationality or educational background We as a nation must live lives motivated by love, not hate. We must teach our children to be tolerant, to show kindness, and to embrace and celebrate our differences. Changing a culture of violence will not happen overnight but that is no excuse for failing to try. We must try. For the sake of the victims of Emanuel A.M.E., we must not give up. I ask the House to observe a moment of silence in memory of the victims in South Carolina, and victims of gun violence everywhere.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 160, the ``Protect Medical Innovation Act of 2015,'' which would repeal the 2.3 percent excise tax on medical devices that was enacted as part of the Affordable Care Act. I oppose this bill strongly because repeal of the excise would increase the deficit by $24.4 billion over 10 years. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 160 is nothing but our Republican friends' latest unpaid-for permanent tax cut bill. If H.R. 160 were to become law, House Republicans will have passed unpaid-for GOP tax cuts that increase the deficit by a total of $611 billion just this year. Mr. Speaker, given the real challenges facing our nation, it is irresponsible for the Republican majority to continue bringing to the floor bills that have no chance of becoming law and would harm millions of Americans if they were to be enacted. House Republicans have tried at least 58 times to undermine the Affordable Care Act, which has enabled more than 16 million previously uninsured Americans to know the peace of mind that comes from having access to affordable, accessible, high quality health care. Their record to date is 0-58; it will soon be 0-59 because the President has announced that he will veto this bill if it makes it to his desk. Mr. Speaker, all sectors of the health care industry are benefiting from the projected 25 million Americans who will gain coverage under reform, all were called upon to contribute. The medical device tax that H.R. 160 would repeal was simply the medical device industry's contribution to this collective undertaking. A repeal of the medical device tax would encourage drug companies, health insurers, hospitals, clinical laboratories, and home health agencies to seek the repeal of their own contributions as well. According to a study conducted by Wells Fargo Securities, increasing the number of insured Americans, will increase medical device sales by 3.6 percent over its first decade. Moreover, the medical device tax, which went into effect in 2013, has not damaged the medical device industry. In fact, the medical device industry is prospering grandly. A recent analysis by Ernst and Young indicates that the medical device industry's revenue increased by $8 billion in 2013, while R&D spending by the industry increased by 6 percent and employment in the industry increased by 23,500. Also, despite industry's claims to the contrary, the medical device tax has not forced companies to ship jobs overseas and there is no disadvantage for U.S.-based firms. Mr. Speaker, our friends across the aisle just cannot accept the fact that the Affordable Care Act is a success and is making a positive difference in the lives of more than 16 million persons. These Americans come from all walks of life. They are women, who can no longer be denied coverage or be forced to pay exorbitant amounts for coverage simply because of their sex. They are nine million seniors and people with disabilities, who have saved $1,600 each on expensive and lifesaving prescription medication. And they are this country's most vulnerable citizens; people who are working hard and struggling to make ends meet while living in near- poverty, and who have been covered by Medicaid expansion in 27 states and the District of Columbia. These benefits have been felt across the country, and especially in my home state of Texas where: 1. 10,695,000 individuals with pre-existing conditions such as asthma, cancer, or diabetes--including up to 1,632,000 children--will no longer have to worry about being denied coverage or charged higher prices because of their health status or history. 2. 4,889,000 uninsured Texans have new health insurance options through Medicaid or private health plans in the Marketplace. 3. 5,198,000 individuals on private insurance have gained coverage for at least one free preventive health care service such as a mammogram, birth control, or an immunization in 2011 and 2012. 4. In the first ten months of 2013, 233,100 seniors and people with disabilities saved on average $866 on prescription medications. 5. 357,000 young adults have gained health insurance because they can now stay on their parents' health plans until age 26. In addition to the tangible healthcare benefits for millions of families, the ACA has had powerful effects on the financial state of our nation. Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, we have extended the solvency of the Medicare Trust fund by more than a decade, and helped save taxpayers $116 billion through new Medicare efficiencies. H.R. 160 will not make our country better, it will not help uninsured Americans obtain coverage; it will cost the medical device industry jobs and will increase the deficit. It is an irresponsible proposal and should, like the previous 58 attempts to undermine Obamacare, be rejected. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting against H.R. 160.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 1190, the Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act of 2015, which repeals the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), that was established under the ACA in response to high rates of growth in Medicare expenditures and charged with developing proposals to ``reduce the per capita rate of growth in Medicare spending.'' I oppose this bill strongly because by repealing IPAB before it has a chance to work, the bill would eliminate an important safeguard that will help reduce the rate of Medicare cost growth responsibly while protecting Medicare beneficiaries. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1190 is nothing but another attempt, in a long line of House Republican efforts to undermine both the Medicare guarantee and the Affordable Care Act. Repealing IPAB cost over $7 billion during the course of a ten year period according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). Republicans have chosen to pay for the cost of this repeal with cuts to the ACA's Prevention and Public Health Fund. This fund has invested nearly $5.25 billion into programs that support a number of public health initiatives, including obesity prevention and childhood immunization. It has been used to increase awareness of and access to preventive health services and reduce tobacco use--concentrating on the causes of chronic disease to help more Americans stay healthy. Eliminating these funds in the name of damaging the sustainability of Medicare is a two-pronged attack on our nation's public health. After more than five years under the Affordable Care Act, 16.4 million Americans have gained health coverage; up to 129 million people who could have otherwise been denied or faced discrimination now have access to coverage. Mr. Speaker, given the real challenges facing our nation, it is irresponsible for the Republican majority to continue bringing to the floor bills that have no chance of becoming law and would harm millions of Americans if they were to be enacted. House Republicans have tried 58 times to undermine the Affordable Care Act, which has enabled more than 16 million previously uninsured Americans to know the peace of mind that comes from having access to affordable, accessible, high quality health care. Their record to date is 0-58; it will soon be 0-59 because the President has announced that he will veto this bill if it makes it to his desk. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to look at the facts before prematurely repealing sections of the ACA that have significant negative impacts on Americans currently insured. The Independent Payment Advisory Board recommends to Congress policies that reduce the rate of Medicare growth and help Medicare provide better care at lower costs. IPAB has been highlighted by the non-partisan CBO, economists, and health policy experts as contributing to Medicare's long-term sustainability. The Board is already prohibited from recommending changes to Medicare that ration health care, restrict benefits, modify eligibility, increase cost sharing, or raise premiums or revenues. Under current law, the Congress retains the authority to modify, reject, or enhance IPAB recommendations to strengthen Medicare, and IPAB recommendations would take effect only if the Congress does not act to slow Medicare cost growth. Despite the Supreme Court's upholding of the law's constitutionality, the reelection of President Obama, and Speaker John Boehner's declaration that: ``Obamacare is the law of the land,'' Republicans refuse to stop wasting time and taxpayer money in their effort to take away the patient protections and benefits of the Affordable Care Act. Mr. Speaker, I ask that we stop wasting our time in taking away healthcare protections and benefits and work to ensure that we support the current law. A law that is providing access to an industry once denied to so many Americans and now supports millions. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting against H.R. 1190.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, this hour, this minute, this second is actually a gift to the American people. I thank the proponents of this resolution because it recognizes, first and above all, that this little document, the Constitution, albeit small, creates mountains of responsibility on behalf of the American people. This moment, this minute, this second we are giving the American people their due and their respect, and that is to acknowledge that there must be a full debate on sending our treasure continuously to Iraq and Syria. There is no divide between us on the vileness of ISIS and all of the terrorist groups and the willingness of the American people to be empathetic, sympathetic, and helping the Iraqis and Syrians and those who are suffering and those who are bleeding. But the question has to be, after 6,000 wounded, hundreds who have been killed particularly in my State, and thousands more across the Nation, we have to find the pathway where all of us know what we are doing. This is an important resolution. We need the debate, and we need to understand that our soldiers need to be protected and ultimately brought home. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 55, directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces deployed to Iraq or Syria on or after August 7, 2014, other than Armed Forces required to protect United States diplomatic facilities and personnel, from Iraq and Syria. This resolution provides a procedural mechanism for Congress to do its job. Specifically, the resolution gives the House leadership 6 months to take up an AUMF, debate it and vote up or voted down. This time frame allows the President the opportunity to revise the AUMF to state his objectives and goals for consideration by Congress. As a senior member of the Homeland Security Committee and the Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations, I stand in strong support of our country's armed forces' might and our valiant soldiers and armed personnel who have fought to protect our country. I also stand with the American people and taxpayers, who have placed their trust in the President and his Administration through war and peace. After all, not too long ago, he was one of us grappling with the war logic we were presented by the prior administration. President Obama inherited this war, along with a problematic economy and we applaud all his good faith efforts to do ``damage control'' to fix a problem he did not create as it relates to ending war and facilitating a better economy for the American people. I recognize that it is not an easy feat to fix our problematic war policies under enormous pressure from both sides of the aisle. We recognize that the President has been thoughtful, deliberative and judicious about our presence in Iraq and Syria. We appreciate the threat to the United States posed by the current instability in the Middle East, especially with events in the recent past: the Arab Spring, ISIS in Iraq and Syria. We have spent nearly trillions of dollars in wars against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. Let me be clear the threat of ISIS and terrorism is clear. That is why we need to have a full clear and comprehensive debate on what the plan is. We have six months to do it and thus we can be thoughtful and deliberate about it. To keep our homeland safe, we must be able to defeat and destroy ISIS. Over 7,000 fallen heroes have sacrificed their lives to protect our country and help facilitate democracy in Iraq and Syria. Their devotion to our country is remarkable and inspiring. The Islamic State, also known as ISIS is gobbling up land in Iraq and Syria. In 2007, I introduced H.R. 930, the ``Military Success in Iraq and Diplomatic Surge for Political and National Reconciliation in Iraq Act of 2007'' (MSIA). Among other things, H.R. 930, would require a diplomatic full-court press designed to engage all six of Iraq's neighbors--Iran, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait--more constructively in stabilizing Iraq. These countries are already involved in a bilateral, self-interested and disorganized way. The MSIA Act would ensure that never again will the American people or the Congress be bamboozled into rubber-stamping an ill-advised, ill- planned, preemptive war. In the Eighteenth Congressional District of Texas alone, more than 300 Texans have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Indeed, more than 3,000 Texans have been wounded. The cost of war is brutal on our communities. In my state, of the over 3,000 lives that have been lost, I can assure you that thousands more lives are affected. To date, the war in Iraq alone has claimed the lives of over 4,000 brave servicemen and women. More than 30,000 Americans have been wounded, many suffering the most horrific injuries. The mothers, fathers, wives, brothers, sisters, children, cousins, aunts, uncles and friends of those of our fallen soldiers are affected. How do they manage? How do they cope after losing their loved ones? How does a mother deal with the reality of burying her son or daughter? How does a father mourn the loss of his adult child, whose bright future carried a lot of his aspirations for a better and safer America? That is just the human cost. We are grateful to various U.S. agencies and non-profit organizations like the wounded warriors organizations that are helping these brave men and women attempt to put the pieces together. We made the point that it was essential for this and prior Administrations to develop ``a plan'' for any war we sought to embark upon. Yes, we understand that the Armed Forces of the United States is unparalleled on the battlefield and would decisively defeat Iraq's forces and remove Saddam Hussein, which in fact we did. But the existential question was what do we do next? This resolution allows time for the President to come up with a plan for Congress to look at and consider. Just consider these facts. Since the war began in Iraq and Syria: In addition to our American causalities, hundreds of thousands of Iraqi and Syrian civilians have been killed. About 13.6 million people, equivalent to the population of London, have been displaced by the conflicts in Syria and Iraq, and many are without food or shelter according to the UNHCR. More than a trillion dollars has been expended on both wars; On the operations against ISIS, it is estimated that we are spending as much as $22 billion a year. Could this money be put to better use? Well, consider the following: How about fully funding the last week's Trade Adjustment Bill we voted on to protect over 280,000 American workers displaced by U.S. involvement in global trade; A well funded TAA is designed to help train American workers displaced into new career paths so that they are able to make a living and support their families; Programs funded by the TAA provide a path for employment growth and opportunity through aid to U.S. workers who have lost their jobs as a result of foreign trade; The TAA provide our trade-affected workers with opportunities to obtain the skills, resources, and support they need to become reemployed; According to the DOL, over 5 percent of Americans are still looking for work and are unemployed or underemployed; That means 1.5 million Americans are struggling financially; This translates to millions of families. Should we not be working to improve the livelihood of Americans? Mr. Speaker, opponents of the resolution before us contend that it gives comfort to the enemy and undermines the President's strategy for success in war in Iraq and Syria. What we need is a solid strategy that is supported by the Administration, Congress and the American people. This starts with a plan put forth by the President and debated and approved by the Congress. This is why we should afford the President the opportunity to come up with this plan. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned before, exiles and militia leaders have found their way into Iraq and Syria in the likes of ISIS and are now a menace to peace loving people everywhere. Peace, security, and the protection of lives is and should be our priority. That is why I strongly and proudly support our magnificent, heroic, and selfless service men and women. That is why I strongly support H. Con. Res. 55 which provides a procedural mechanism for Congress to do its job, by giving House leadership 6 months to take up an AUMF, debate it and vote up or voted down. I urge all members to support the resolution before the House.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a significant milestone achievement, the commencement of direct flights between Houston's George Bush International Airport (IAH) and Taiwan's Taoyuan International Airport. The arrival of EVA Airways Flight #52, which is scheduled to arrive at George Bush International Airport from Taipei on June 19, 2015, at 4:30 p.m., will mark the first direct flight from Taipei. Houston and Taipei are sister cities, having begun a friendship in 1961 that has for more than 50 years provided mutual benefits in the areas of business, culture and education, as has brought significant direct foreign investment to Houston and Texas. Taiwan is the United States' 10th largest trading partner and the United States is Taiwan's largest foreign investor. Our people-to-people exchanges are flourishing, with over 20,000 Taiwanese students studying in the United States each year. In 2012, the first year that Taiwan was eligible to participate in the Visa Waiver Program, travel from Taiwan to the United States increased 35 percent. EVA Airway's direct flight between Houston and Taipei will facilitate continuous prosperity and cooperation between the U.S. and Taiwan. As the airline also connects major cities in East and Southeast Asia, the direct flight service is expected to facilitate more business, tourism and leisure travel between not only Houston and Taipei but Houston and the entire region as well. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize and congratulate Houston's George Bush International Airport and EVA Airways on their bold, exciting, and mutually beneficial new venture of direct air travel between Houston and Taipei.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate National Men's Health Month a time to focus attention and heighten awareness of preventable health problems affecting men and boys and encourage early detection and treatment. Men's Health Month is celebrated across the country with screenings, health fairs, media appearances, and other health education and outreach activities. The National Men's Health Network has encouraged the development of thousands of health awareness activities as corporations, hospital systems, clinics, faith-based communities, the public sector, and others use the month of June to highlight their services and reach out to men and their families. In my district of Houston, Texas, this information has led to the increase in men being conscious about their risk factors for prostate cancer and other diseases. The University of Houston has an entire clinic specializing in men's health for the Houston community to collect information and receive treatment; this clinic provides educational and specialized services that encourage men of all ages and ethnicities to implement positive lifestyle changes. I encourage all men, young and older, and their families, to develop positive and proactive attitudes toward health and wellness, engage in preventive behaviors, lead healthy lifestyles, and seek timely medical advice and care. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, afflicting 1 out of every 11 American men and killing 34,000 men every year. In the past 6 years, the death rate for prostate cancer has grown at almost twice the death rate of breast cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates for 2015 the number of new cases for prostate cancer to be 220,800, and the number of deaths to be 27,540 from prostate cancer. For African-American men, the rate of affliction is even worse; African-American men have the highest incidence of prostate cancer in the world. These are not just statistics, each of these numbers represent a father, brother, son, uncle, or cousin who has been affected and passed away from this treatable disease. Mr. Speaker, much progress has been made in the past 21 years with improvements in the health and well-being of men and boys, with a dramatic improvement in life expectancy and surprising drops in key mortality indicators. There has been a steep drop among males in overall mortality, and corresponding improvements in the mortality rates for cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Our goal this month should be to raise awareness about men's health in our communities and to rededicate ourselves to providing support for our men by further educating ourselves and our communities on men's health and effects. Recognizing and preventing men's health problems is not just an issue of concern to me because it impacts wives, mothers, daughters, and sisters. Mr. Speaker, as a Congresswoman, wife, mother and now grandmother, I can personally attest to the importance of heightening the awareness of preventable health problems as well as encouraging the early detection of disease that affect our young men's lives. Men's health is truly a family issue.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as we rally around the obvious in the need for criminal justice reform and, in essence, the rehabilitation of our criminal justice laws as we deal with the interaction of law enforcement and civilians, having a pathway for respect for both, one of the most forgotten aspects is dealing with the treatment of juveniles in the criminal justice system. I intend, over the next couple of weeks, to introduce a series of legislative initiatives that address that form of the criminal justice system, which we find, as parents and family members, touches all juveniles. One of the things that the bill recognizes is that a young person's brain is still developing into his or her early twenties, and that those who commit crimes before this point should be treated differently by the criminal justice system. The purpose of this effort is to improve the treatment of young offenders within the Federal criminal justice system and to put them on a path toward successful reentry by providing options for the sentencing judges: a safety valve for young offenders which would, in essence, break through the mandatory minimum; an early release for young offenders; and, particularly, alternatives such as massive use of home arrest. Our children are our future. They get on the wrong path. Let's not celebrate that wrong path and force them to live that wrong path. Let's save their lives.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. I thank the gentleman from Florida for yielding and for the astute question that he asked, which is one that I would like to follow up on. Mr. Speaker, let me say to the gentleman from Georgia that he is quite right. There are very serious and important components of the intelligence bill covered by this rule. As many of us have experienced over the last couple of days, we are in and out of intelligence and security briefings because that is the era in which we live. And in most instances, Members draw their concern from the responsibility they have for protecting the American people. I am on the Homeland Security Committee and have continued on that committee since the tragedy, the heinous act of 9/11, and before, when the select committee was in place. So I have no quarrel with some of the important elements of this legislation. But the gentleman from Georgia should recognize that this is an aberration. There are two or three points that I would like to make: First of all, we are long overdue for getting rid of the sequester. This joke was played on Members and the American people only because of the supercommittee--not because of any individual Members, but there was a supercommittee structure put in place, the time ran out, and they could not come to a budget conclusion. So this was the ultimate end. Members didn't vote on this. They voted on the supercommittee, and then this was the hatchet that fell when the supercommittee did not work. So sequester should be something that Speaker Boehner puts on the floor and immediately gets rid of. And the reason why I say that is because I am going to talk about the shenanigans dealing with the trade bill. But what I am going to say is that the overseas contingency fund is being used to bolster up this bill, the intelligence bill. But I can't get those resources to be utilized for infrastructure or summer jobs or fixing the education system that we have responsibilities for or providing opportunities for young people to finish their education or criminal justice reform. So this is being 43 percent pumped up when used by funds that are not in the stream.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. I thank the gentleman. The funding is not in the stream of funding that other appropriators have to utilize. That is wrong. Then I might conclude on the shenanigans of the trade fix, if you will. I am for TAA, the Trade Adjustment Assistance. I want it to be voted on straight up or down, like many Members do, to provide for workers and not have, unfortunately, the addition that was added coming from the other body. So now we know that, whatever shenanigans that will come up, it probably won't be in the way that will help American workers. Mr. Speaker, this rule should be voted down because we need an opportunity to work on behalf of the American workers, to get rid of sequester, and to find a way to move this country forward.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, before leaving my district, I had the great excitement of presiding over or introducing a new medical center to the Acres Homes community and to the community of Houston, the UMC Center, organized by committed and dedicated doctors. This facility is formerly the Doctor's Hospital Tidwell in historic Acres Homes community. The real value and significance are two things. One, Americans need access to good health care. With the Affordable Care Act, we have been able to sizably bring down the 25 percent of Texans who are uninsured. We have been able to expand with community health clinics. For those States who have accepted the expanded Medicaid, which includes Ohio under Governor Kasich, a former Member of this body, and, as well, the State of Kentucky, they have seen a sizable dent in those who are uninsured. I want to thank those doctors working with me and working with the Texas Department of State Health Services, the U.S. Department of Health, recognizing that an inner-city hospital, a hospital dealing with those aged populations and children and young families, is valuable to save. We need to save Riverside Hospital. I want to congratulate those doctors, and we will work together to be able to provide good health care for all of the community.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Let me thank the manager of this hour, Mr. Payne, and all of my colleagues and my chairman, who has just spoken and who set the tone very eloquently and with deep conviction. In his having served on the supreme court for the State of North Carolina, Mr. Butterfield understands the issues of justice, and I applaud him for taking this cause up as well. The gentlewoman from New Jersey and the gentleman from Louisiana, let me thank them as well for the words that they will say. Let me also say that this is a team and that we will work as a team on our respective committees to be able to bring this issue to a productive solution. I have always said--as a member of the Committee on the Judiciary for a number of years now, serving on the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations--that we must breathe life into change, and as legislators we must come to a point where we bring legislation for final signature by the President of the United States of America. So I thank Mr. Payne for giving us this opportunity. Let me rush quickly through my remarks because one could be here for a very long time. As I do so, let me take note that this is the 150th year commemoration of the 13th Amendment; that is the freeing of individuals from slavery. It is the 150th year also of the commemoration of Juneteenth, and that is, of course, a regional holiday that the Nation celebrates, which is the acknowledgment that the slaves were freed pursuant to the Emancipation Proclamation issued in 1863. Texans, who will celebrate this on June 19th, and many others travel throughout the Nation Juneteenth. I say that because it is a question of freedom. When we have the ability, Mr. Payne, to save lives, that is a question of freedom. I want to thank The New York Times for writing about this research. I want to hold this up. ``Rise in Suicide By Black Children Surprises Researchers.'' Researchers did not come predisposed to get this answer, but they got this answer. The opening sentence says: ``The suicide rate among Black children has nearly doubled since the early 1990s.'' They did not expect this to come forward, but it contributes to the story in The New York Times: about 1.5 million men are missing. In New York almost 120,000 Black men between ages 25 and 54, missing from everyday life; Chicago, 45,000; and more than 30,000 are missing in Philadelphia. Across the South, from North Charleston, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and up into Ferguson, hundreds of thousands more are missing. African American men have long been more likely to be locked up, more likely to die young. A city with at least 10,000 Black residents that has the single largest population of missing men? Ferguson, Missouri, where a fatal police shooting catapulted this question to the national attention. Incarceration and early deaths are overwhelming. Of the 1.5 million missing men from 25 to 54, which demographers call the prime-age years, higher imprisonment rates account for almost 600,000. Let me say that again: higher imprisonment rates account for 600,000. Almost 1 in 12 Black men in this age group are behind bars, compared with 1 in 60 non- Black men in the same age group. Whenever we talk about the shootings in South Carolina, Ohio, Ferguson, I hear people saying, what about Black-on-Black crime? As if we, as African Americans, run away from facts. We do not. But we recognize that the fight to preserve lives in the African American community is societal and holistic. It deals with education and job opportunities and health care and mental health care, and it calls upon the Nation to respond. But it does not put aside what we have faced over the years by killings of Black men, even from the time of slavery and Reconstruction into the 1900s, all through the time of segregation. We found that they were in the eye of the storm. So let's not distract or detour from the crisis of incarceration and the crisis of what happens in the African American community in the justice system by suggesting that any of us are ignoring Black-on-Black crime. I am glad that the Congressional Black Caucus wants to look at the holistic issue of how do you solve this problem. It does not take the attacking of the Black community, of ignoring the fact that crime is perpetrated there. I think everyone knows that perpetrating crime impacts your neighbors, impacts where you live, just as it does in incidents dealing with White crime or White-on-White crime or Hispanic or Asian. People usually engage with those who are familiar. So I am looking to work with this very august body to talk about how we can stop the tide of suicide and the incarceration of our young people. Let me cite these examples as I come to a close. Let me just give you the example of Kelvin Mikhail Smallwood-Jones, who was a dean's list student with a 4.0 grade point average on a full academic scholarship to one of the most respected historically Black colleges in the country. Prior to enrolling in Atlanta's Morehouse College in the fall of 2006, he was a football star and homecoming king at his Washington, D.C.-area high school. An English sophomore, he dabbled in photography, mentoring at-risk youth in his free time. Last winter he was planning an elaborate birthday celebration, and he was preparing to accept a prestigious summer internship. He never made it to either. On February 23, 2008, less than 2 weeks before his 20th birthday, Kelvin shot himself in the head with his mother's gun on the deck of a suburban Atlanta farmhouse that she bought to live closer to him. This very statement is hurting, is hurting the family, but it means that we must collectively come together to address the question of the pain, of the disparate treatment, the disparate treatment in education, and to get to the source of Mr. Smallwood-Jones' pain so that we can, in fact, find a solution. On the criminal justice--and I realize that criminal justice is not the answer to all, but it is a side parallel effort that we must correct in order to give dignity to those who may have detoured but yet do not need to be condemned for life. I intend to introduce a number of legislative initiatives besides those which are ongoing, as we are discussing the mandatory minimums, to focus on the criminal justice side of dealing with juveniles: an effective speedy trial, bail reform, and a solitary confinement safeguards for juveniles act. Most people don't realize that when these young men are incarcerated, rather than giving them an opportunity, rather than promoting the PROMISE Act of our colleague, Mr. Scott, and giving alternatives to incarceration, but more importantly to people's lives, we throw them in jail. Many of us know the tragic story of the 16-year-old who was in solitary confinement for 3 years, was ultimately released, and committed suicide. So we look forward to our colleagues joining in this legislation, an effective, speedy trial, bail reform, and solitary confinement safeguards for juveniles act of 2015, to alter the holding of juveniles so that they come out whole and ready to be rehabilitated and to be welcomed into society. The Nonviolent Offenders Act, which will diminish the amount of time that African American men serve in a Federal prison system that does not have parole. And then we want to introduce the RAISE Act to establish a better path for young offenders to ensure that there is a way for judges, even though juveniles are treated differently, to give an alternative assessment in giving them or sentencing them when they run afoul of the law. Mind you, they are in juvenile court for status offenses, for truancy and others. This young man was incarcerated for taking a knapsack, and he insisted he did not take it. That is why he was still there. He did not take it, but he couldn't get to trial. How horrible a life, 3 years of solitary confinement. So, Mr. Payne, let me thank you for leading forward on this august day and time, this year of commemorating the 150th year of the 13th Amendment, when we were declared free, meaning the ancestors' African American slaves. It should be a telling moment that this is also the 50th year of the commemoration of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. This should be the year that we restore the voting rights to individuals who have detoured. We should restore section 5. We should preach freedom. We should encourage those who want to advocate for fixing the criminal justice system, which can incarcerate and enslave and as well deny freedom. This is a time that we can join together in the Congressional Black Caucus and free people in the right way and put them on a pathway of contributing to this great country. They are worthy, and they have the talent, the stardom to contribute. I look forward to working with all of you for that journey and for those results. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues of the Congressional Black Caucus in this Special Order to speak to the issues that Members of the 114th Congress must address. I thank my colleagues Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. and Congresswoman Robin L. Kelly for leading this evening's Congressional Black Caucus Special Order on ``The Missing Black Male''. We are in a time where the news of young black men being incarcerated and losing their lives is all too common. As highlighted in a recent NY Times article, 1.5 million black men are missing from everyday life, as a result of incarceration or early death. In New York, almost 120,000 black men between the ages of 25 and 54 are missing from everyday life. In Chicago, 45,000 are, and more than 30,000 are missing in Philadelphia. Across the South--from North Charleston, S.C., through Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi and up into Ferguson, Mo.--hundreds of thousands more are missing. African-American men have long been more likely to be locked up and more likely to die young, but the scale of the combined toll is jolting. It is a measure of the deep disparities that continue to afflict black men--disparities being debated after a recent spate of killings by the police--and the gender gap is itself a further cause of social ills, leaving many communities without enough men to be fathers and husbands. And what is the city with at least 10,000 black residents that has the single largest proportion of missing black men? Ferguson, Mo., where a fatal police shooting last year led to nationwide protests and a Justice Department investigation that found widespread discrimination against black residents. It is critical that we look to training that will lead to cohesive policing in areas of minority concentrations. We need to focus on improving relationships between law enforcement and communities most impacted by cases of police brutality and incarceration. Incarceration and early deaths are the overwhelming drivers of the gap. Of the 1.5 million missing black men from 25 to 54--which demographers call the prime-age years--higher imprisonment rates account for almost 600,000. Almost 1 in 12 black men in this age group are behind bars, compared with 1 in 60 nonblack men in the age group, 1 in 200 black women and 1 in 500 nonblack women. Higher mortality is the other main cause. Homicide, the leading cause of death for young African-American men, plays a large role, and they also die from heart disease, respiratory disease and accidents more often than other demographic groups, including black women. We also are seeing a shocking and troubling increase in suicide rates amongst our young black youth. Also noted by the NY Times, the suicide rate among black children has nearly doubled since the early 1990s. Between 1993 and 1997 suicide was the 14th cause of death among black children. Between 2008 and 2012, suicide was the 9th leading cause of death among black children. In 2005, when suicide was the 3rd leading cause of death among African-American youth--1621 of the 1,992 suicides completed by African-Americans were black boys (371 of 1,992 were female). Thus, looking specifically to our young black men with this growing trend of suicide rates, we must highlight the fact that black males are six times more likely to commit suicide than their female counterparts. Increase in Black male suicides is not surprising considering the ``unique social and environmental stressors, including racism,'' they have to deal with. Interestingly, just 4 percent of the nation's psychiatrists, 3 percent of the psychologists and 7 percent of social worker are black. The mental health profession needs to become more culturally sensitive to the needs of our black youth and get out the message that it's OK to get help and be vulnerable. Noticeably, girls get depressed and gravitate toward friends, family, church or other social institutions while through social conditioning. Yet, black males are taught to tough it out, stand strong, to get a grip, and ultimately isolate when mental anguish becomes visible. As we saw with the recent and tragic case of Kalief Browder in New York--his plight was ignored and overlooked for far too long. Continued statistics and reports documenting the death and disappearance of our young black males is unacceptable and must be addressed. We know that the disappearance of these men has far-reaching implications. We know there is a correlation between the mass incarceration and the destruction of the black home. The absence of black men disrupts family formation and foundation building for our young people. This in turn results in vulnerable feelings of little or no self- value or self-worth and lacking direction or foresight on ways to overcome dangerous ways of thinking and living. We need to give special attention to families and communities affected by incarceration and mental health problems--as we know many of our young black men are afflicted with abuse, trauma and unresolved stigmas of mental and emotional health. It is time to acknowledge the cracks in our foundation and treat our young with the attention they deserve. We can no longer ignore gapping deficits that exist for our young black males--namely, in education, health care, mental health services, and general opportunities for growth and success. This special order is an opportunity to highlight and raise awareness to the stark and tragic reality of young black males in America. Now is the time to change the course and save their lives.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, over the last couple of hours, we had the opportunity to discuss some important issues that, as they were framed, many Americans might not understand. They are called trade issues or trade legislation to discuss the interactions between the United States and its future world trading partners. No vote here should be maligned. When I stand here to emphasize that whatever the ultimate results are, if these bills do not generate into actual jobs for our local districts, then we have all failed. That is the question for this Congress and that is the question for those who are working so intently and for those of us who raise the question whether jobs are created. And we will only move forward if we can determine a pathway of a structure that actually addresses the question of documented jobs, nonlost jobs or substituting jobs for the American people. Trade, yes, it is business. But it is also the business of the American people and the constituents of the 18th Congressional District in areas like Fifth Ward and southeast and South Park and Acres Home and Independence Heights. It is a question of whether or not jobs are created. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to that answer being answered as ``yes.''

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in humble gratitude to commemorate the 71st anniversary of D-Day, the Allied Forces' audacious amphibious landing at Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944. ``Operation Overlord,'' as D-Day was formally known, was the largest single amphibious assault in the history of warfare. The success of D-Day, which was far from certain at the outset, led to the liberation of Western Europe, signaled the death knell of the German Wehrmacht, and paved the way to unconditional victory by the Allied Forces over the evils of Nazism, fascism, and Japanese imperialism. It is no exaggeration to say that D-Day changed the course of human history. The aim of the meticulously planned D-Day operation was to open a second front in the European war theater from which the Allied Forces could attack the German army and push east to capture Berlin. With the Russian Army advancing from the east, coupled with the southern front opened by the Allied invasion of Italy from North Africa in 1942, the opening of a western front would set in motion the pincer movement that would catch the German Army in a trap from which there would be no escape. The formidable German Army expected that the Allied Forces would try to launch an invasion from the western beaches of France, they just did not know when or where. So in anticipation of an Allied invasion, the Nazis constructed the infamous Atlantic Wall, an extensive system of coastal fortifications built along the western coast of Europe and Scandinavia. Under the direction of Field Marshal Rommel, the Atlantic Wall was reinforced by the addition of concrete pillboxes built along the beaches to house machine guns, antitank guns and light artillery. Mines and antitank obstacles were planted on the beaches themselves and underwater obstacles and mines were placed in waters just off shore. By the time of the D-Day landing, the Nazis had laid almost six million mines in northern France. And awaiting Allied soldiers who made their way onto and away from the beaches were gun emplacements and minefields extended inland. ``War is hell,'' said General William Tecumseh Sherman during the Civil War. And that is an apt description of what awaited the brave Allied warriors who set sail from England to the beaches of Normandy in the early morning of June 6, 1944, at the beginning of what has rightly been called ``The Longest Day.'' But they were buoyed in their resolve by the millions of prayers from Americans and others back home, of all races, religions, and creeds, invoking the Lord's blessing, mercy, and grace. With the outcome in doubt, President Franklin Roosevelt asked the nation to join him in this solemn prayer: Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity. Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith. They will need Thy blessings. For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and goodwill among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home. The prayers were needed because the cost of D-Day was high; U.S. casualties on D-Day totaled more than 2,499 dead, 3,184 wounded, 1,928 missing, and 26 captured. Our British and Canadian allies suffered terrible losses on D-Day as well: approximately 2,700 for the British and 946 for the Canadians. German casualties are estimated at 4,000 to 9,000. In total, the number of combatants killed, wounded or missing in the Battle of Normandy for both sides exceeded 425,000, not including the estimated 15,000 to 20,000 French civilians killed. But the operation was a success. More than 156,000 troops or paratroopers came ashore on D-Day, 73,000 from the U.S., 83,000 from Great Britain and Canada. By the end of June 11, D-Day+5, 326,547 troops, 54,186 vehicles and 104,428 tons of supplies had come ashore. And with them the seeds for the victory in Europe that would come less than a year later, on May 8, 1945, with the fall of Berlin and the unconditional surrender of the Nazis. On the eve of the Normandy invasion, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, addressed the soldiers, sailors, and airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Forces and said to them that they were about to embark upon a ``Great Crusade,'' and that the ``eyes of the world'' were upon you. He told them that their task would not be easy because the ``enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely.'' But, General Eisenhower said, ``this is the year 1944. The tide has turned. The free men of the world are marching together to victory.'' And march to victory they did, fully justifying General Eisenhower's ``confidence in their courage, devotion to duty, and skill in battle.'' Because of the heroism of these men who willingly risked their lives to be the tip of the spear of liberty, the war was won and a world was saved for freedom. Mr. Speaker, D-Day was, and remains, a day like no other in the history of man's sojourn on earth. We remember Gettysburg. There, President Lincoln paid tribute to those ``who gave their lives so that the nation might live.'' And it is equally fitting and proper that we remember D-Day. And that we continue to honor those who risked all and gave all so that the world could remain free.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate Immigrant Heritage Month and salute the contributions of immigrants to the never ending glory and story of America. I stand in solidarity with our immigrant soldiers who have fought to defend and extend our freedoms from the shores of the Atlantic to the Pacific, in the deserts of Africa and the jungles of Asia, to the seas of the Persian Gulf. I stand in solidarity with our immigrant innovators and entrepreneurs who make up over 40 percent of the CEO of the Fortune 500 companies, which employ over 3 million of our fellow citizens. And I stand in solidarity with the children of our immigrants who will be an integral part of our nation's future achievements. This is why I have consistently introduced legislation such as H.R. 1525, ``Save America Comprehensive Immigration Act of 2013,'' which sets forth a comprehensive and humane solution to immigrant reform. This legislation works to secure our borders and brings close to 12 million illegal immigrants out of the shadows of society through earned access to legalization. Our country has made progress because of the work and determination of immigrants and we owe it to them and ourselves to maintain a system that allows immigrants to prosper within our borders through approved legal processes. In 1884 a Serbian immigrant name Nikola Tesla worked with American innovator Thomas Edison and would later contribute to the development of the alternating-current electrical system. A son of an immigrant slave, Benjamin Banneker would grow up to be a scientist, surveyor, and author; these pioneers of their fields have helped advance the American economy through innovation. We are a more prosperous nation because of the contributions from immigrants who helped build this country, but we have not done enough. President Obama has used his executive powers to provide more resources for border security, modernizing the legal immigration system for workers, employers, and students, and focusing enforcement on the real threats to security. Although more remains to be done to realize the full promise of the America dream for many immigrants, we continue to fight for those who are already contributing members of their communities to ensure there is a safe and legal path to the ultimate goal of full citizenship. The unity of families is an essential American value and should be one of the fundamentals of immigration reform, along with increasing the diversity of immigration from parts of the world that have been historically underrepresented such as the Caribbean, Africa, and Haiti. Mr. Speaker, my district is home to the most racially and ethnically diverse metropolitan area in the nation, and as a result I celebrate our immigrant leaders such as Texas Representative Hubert Vo, born in South Vietnam, graduate of the University of Houston, and now public servant for the people of District 149. I celebrate Joseph Pulitzer a Hungarian immigrant soldier who served in the Civil War under the Union Army whose contributions would leave a legacy of literary excellence; Hakeem Olajuwon a Nigerian native and celebrated athlete of Houston who led the Houston Rockets to the NBA championship in 1994 and 1995, and the countless others who have made significant impacts that have advanced our nation. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to acknowledge the achievements of just a few of the countless Americans who have braved the seas and sands to build a new life in America and enrich the cultural tapestry of the greatest nation on earth. I recognize that our nation would not enjoy the freedoms we have today without the dedication and hard work of our immigrant ancestors and we owe it to them to work on a more comprehensive immigration reform.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased this morning to speak about a topic that I really believe there is a strong pathway forward. I have said often, as the ranking member on the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations, that as we look at the criminal justice system with a myriad of issues that have come to our attention from the American public, from asset forfeiture to mens rea to a number of issues dealing with police interaction with the community, this is a significant moment in America's history. We are a nation of laws, and we pride ourselves with understanding the very words of the Declaration of Independence that clearly says that we all are created equal with certain inalienable rights of life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The beginning words of the Constitution say that our Founding Fathers--although imperfect in many of the aspects of the Constitution based upon rights not given to women and rights not given to African Americans--did say that they formed this government to create a more perfect Union. Now, in 2015, we have an opportunity, again, as I said, to assess the criminal justice system in many ways. Let me cite for you some of the challenges that we face. For example, a 16-year-old in New York who was arrested for taking a knapsack--he shouldn't have taken a knapsack--was thrown into Rikers Island and had a $3,000 bail, which he or his family could not pay. He stayed in isolation for 3 years. His case never came before the courts. The lawyers obviously were backlogged, whatever court-appointed lawyer he might have had. During that time, there was abuse, and this youngster suffered. At 19 going on 20, he was finally released, no action taken against him. Tragically, 2 weeks after he was released, this young man committed suicide. We understand the brain does not mature to its fullest before the age of 24 or 25, and so when you are dealing with teenagers between 18 and 24, you are dealing with kids. You are dealing with individuals who have yet formulated their full judgment. These incidents, along with the cases of Walter Scott and Freddie Gray, begin to have us question how we make better our law enforcement. As we mourn those who have fallen in duty--and we do, as I have over the years--I recognize that we must give skills training and give more resources for professional development and change the concept that we have forced our law enforcement to be in. We have forced the concept of warrior versus guardian. Maybe that caused the incident of the gentleman who was in his doorstep in suburban Virginia, right outside of Washington, D.C. I think the case was 3 years ago where the gentleman came to the door. Of course he was having a disagreement with the officer who was at the door, but he wound up dead in his doorstep. Of course the family settled because there was, in essence, an inappropriate use of excessive force and it did not have to happen. As we work in the Committee on the Judiciary and work with Members, I am looking forward to finding a significant moment. We will be introducing legislation dealing with police accountability--we hope it will draw a number of Members' bipartisan support--using this concept of guardian versus warrior, giving the amount of resources for training, but also giving the necessary equipment that will be helpful, new technology, and a criteria utilized by small departments that will allow them to get a rating of having a police force that meets certain standards to know how to deal with the elderly, to know how to deal with the physically and mentally disabled, how to deal with juveniles, how to deal with women. Certainly we know that bad actors and those who are tending to do us harm, we are ultimately concerned that we have very safe communities. I hope that as we confront this that the sheer shrillness of dealing with criminal justice will be put aside so that we can studiously get a bill to the President's desk, we can get a bill about youth offenders that I will introduce, a bill about building trust, which means that we don't force communities to use police officers as revenue gatherers, so it is not about how many we stop on the street or how many we give tickets to to provide money to the coffers of our local community. That puts the police sometimes in unnecessary confrontational roles when they could very well be engaging in warnings or other ways of dealing with the community. I would like to enhance PAL, the Police Athletic League, an excellent community-based approach to police and children getting to know each other. Many things can happen. This is a significant moment that captures the constitutional premise that we want to create a more perfect Union.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Reclaiming my time, I applaud the compassion that the chairman and the ranking member have had in the writing of this legislation, highlighting several very important points needed for our servicemen and -women, and I am grateful for the support of the additional resources, continuing the advocacy for them. In closing, let me thank this Congress for the wounded warrior that I have in my office. He is someone who suffers from PTSD. He has been an excellent staff person in reaching out to the veterans throughout my community. He is an example of the fact that, when you have treatment, you can be part of contributing to society, as they all want to be, even with some of the challenges they have. Mr. Chair, I want to thank Chairman Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member Visclosky for shepherding this legislation to the floor and for their devotion to the men and women of the Armed Forces who risk their lives to keep our nation safe. Mr. Chair, thank you for the opportunity to explain my amendment, which is virtually identical to an amendment that I offered and was adopted in last year's Defense Appropriations Act (H.R. 2685). My amendment increases funding for the PTSD by $1,000,000. These funds should be used toward outreach activities targeting hard to reach veterans, especially those who are homeless or reside in underserved urban and rural areas, who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Mr. Chair, along with traumatic brain injury, PTSD is the signature wound suffered by the brave men and women fighting in Afghanistan, Iraq, and far off lands to defend the values and freedom we hold dear. For those of us whose daily existence is not lived in harm's way, it is difficult to imagine the horrific images that American servicemen and women deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other theaters of war see on a daily basis. In an instant a suicide bomber, an IED, or an insurgent can obliterate your best friend and right in front of your face. Yet, you are trained and expected to continue on with the mission, and you do, even though you may not even have reached your 20th birthday. But there always comes a reckoning. And it usually comes after the stress and trauma of battle is over and you are alone with your thoughts and memories. And the horror of those desperate and dangerous encounters with the enemy and your own mortality come flooding back. PTSD was first brought to public attention in relation to war veterans, but it can result from a variety of traumatic incidents, such as torture, being kidnapped or held captive, bombings, or natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes. People with PTSD may startle easily, become emotionally numb (especially in relation to people with whom they used to be close), lose interest in things they used to enjoy, have trouble feeling affectionate, be irritable, become more aggressive, or even become violent. They avoid situations that remind them of the original incident, and anniversaries of the incident are often very difficult. Most people with PTSD repeatedly relive the trauma in their thoughts during the day and in nightmares when they sleep. These are called flashbacks. A person having a flashback may lose touch with reality and believe that the traumatic incident is happening all over again. Mr. Chair, the fact of the matter is that most veterans with PTSD also have other psychiatric disorders, which are a consequence of PTSD. These veterans have co-occurring disorders, which include depression, alcohol and/or drug abuse problems, panic, and/or other anxiety disorders. My amendment recognizes that these soldiers are first and foremost, human. They carry their experiences with them. Ask a veteran of Vietnam, Iraq, or Afghanistan about the frequency of nightmares they experience, and one will realize that serving in the Armed Forces leaves a lasting impression, whether good or bad. My amendment will help ensure that ``no soldier is left behind'' by addressing the urgent need for more outreach toward hard to reach veterans suffering from PTSD, especially those who are homeless or reside in underserved urban and rural areas of our country. I urge my colleagues to support the Jackson Lee amendment. Mr. Chairman, I ask for support of the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chairman, I wish to be heard.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. I would like to take this moment to thank the chairman and the ranking member and their staff for working with me on this matter. I am hoping to be able to revise or to resubmit this. At this time, if the chairman would allow me, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw this amendment.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

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

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chairman, the responsibilities of the President and the responsibilities of the Defense Department continue in this new climate to grow. This has been a long journey in the Defense Appropriations process and amendments on the floor, and I would like to at this hour thank the chairman and the ranking member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee for their patience and their participation in the list of amendments that we have had the opportunity to present. I am a member of the Homeland Security Committee. Therefore, I see a lot of the new approaches.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. I yield to the gentleman from Indiana.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. I am delighted, and I will finish up. I thank the chairman and ranking member. The amendment deals with countering violent extremism. I look forward to working on this issue. Mr. Chair, I want to thank Chairman Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member Visclosky for shepherding this legislation to the floor and for their devotion to the security of our country and the world. Mr. Chair, thank you for the opportunity to explain my amendment, which is simple and straightforward: Sec.___. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to contravene the authority of the President under article II, section 2 of the Constitution. The purpose of Jackson Lee Amendment 177 is to affirm the President's authority under the Constitution. Countering violent extremism and preventing the recruitment of American youth into violent extremism and preventing them from becoming foreign fighters for dangerous groups such as ISIL and other radical groups around the globe is a national imperative. Earlier this year, I introduced the ``No Fly For Foreign Fighters Act,'' legislation that will help keep foreign fighters and terrorists out of our country. In introducing this legislation, I was particularly concerned about terrorist groups recruiting our youth. In fact, I was part of a special roundtable along with DHS Secretary Johnson, in Houston, Texas on ``Youth Engagement and Countering Violent Extremism''. During the discussion, Secretary Johnson and I addressed the importance of community engagement in preventing the recruitment of young Americans into terrorist groups. The Jackson Lee Amendment will help to prevent the recruitment of American youth as foreign fighters, a phenomenon that is unfortunately already taking root. In March 2009, two-hundred schoolchildren in Britain (some as young as thirteen) had been identified and reported by community members-- including parents, imams, and teachers--as being at risk of extremism or of being ``groomed by radicalisers.'' At least six boys between the ages of 13 and 16 were captured by U.S. Forces in Afghanistan in the initial fighting there. In Iraq, U.S. forces detained more than 100 juveniles in the first year following the invasion, and more than 600 to date. In the last few years a number of Somali-American young men have traveled to Somalia, possibly to train and fight with al-Shabaab. At least one of these young men was killed during a suicide bombing attack in northern Somalia in October 2008, which is the first known instance of a U.S. citizen participating in a suicide attack. Moreover, over 140 United States persons have traveled to Syria or Iraq to fight alongside ISIL, the Nusra Front, and other terrorist organizations. Although there are no known instances of a U.S. person attempting to return from the region after participating in conflict, we must be vigilant against this prospect. The Jackson Lee Amendment 177, seeks to protect youth and combat the actions of terrorist groups like Boko Haram and others who are using social media to bring them to their side. The Jackson Lee Amendment is important because data shows that individuals recruited as foreign fighters from nations in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East have crossed borders and wreaked havoc and committed terroristic acts including kidnapping of youth similar to what Boko Haram has done. Mr. Chair, the United States is committed to protecting our youth, preventing and combating violent extremism, protecting our borders and the globe from the scourge of terrorism and violent extremism. The Jackson Lee Amendment will do just that. Jackson Lee Amendment 177 prevents terrorism by ascertaining that American youth are not seduced into becoming terrorists. The Jackson Lee Amendment promotes the United States military's unparalleled expertise and technological capability to combat and defeat terrorists who hate our country and prey upon our children, innocent persons, women and the elderly across the globe. Al Qaeda, Boko Haram, Al Shabaab, ISIS/ISIL and other militant terrorists, including the Sinai's Ansar Beit al-Maqdis in the Sinai Peninsula are all global and national security threats that must be stopped. The Jackson Lee Amendment will support the Department of Defense's efforts to prevent the recruitment of American youth into terrorism and the recovery of the still missing Chibok girls from Nigeria. I urge my colleagues to support the Jackson Lee Amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.