Sheila Jackson Lee

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 494) to amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to reauthorize the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant program, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this is a very special bill to my heart and to my constituents and to the many, many advocates dealing with the reformation of the juvenile justice system and the importance of such. I would like to take note of many of them, but, in particular, the National Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Council and Coalition that represent decades of work all over the Nation, organizations that recognize that the best place for our young juveniles that have had some encounter with the system is not in a detention-like jail. I hope that as we move forward on criminal justice reform and juvenile justice reform that we can reform the places and the attitudes toward juveniles who run awry of the system all over the Nation. This bill is named for Tiffany May Joslyn, a champion for criminal justice reform, who formerly served as deputy chief counsel of the Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations Subcommittee, and whose life tragically was cut short on March 5, 2016, in a car accident, which sadly also claimed the life of her brother Derrick. She was just 33 years old. Her family loved her. Her family still remembers how much she talked about her work on the House Judiciary Committee and the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations that I served on at that time as the ranking member. So passage of this bill last Congress in this body was both bitter and sweet, but I would understand that Tiffany, in the place where she is, would have been proud as she championed these causes fearlessly. This moment is for both her and for all of the millions of young people that will be helped by this bill. We worked very hard on this bill, and it is a bipartisan bill. It has, I believe, those who have an interest in doing the very best for our Nation and for our young people. The Tiffany Joslyn bill will help stem the epidemic of juveniles within the criminal justice system by reauthorizing the juvenile justice system and the juvenile accountability block grant program and providing funding to State and local governments for the creation of antibullying and antigang prevention programs and intervention. It is clearly important to recognize that it is only us that can begin to reframe the old-fashioned attitudes about ``lock'em up.'' We know that there was a period of time, Mr. Speaker, when it was a shift so that schools and the education system were saying: Get the bad apples out of your classroom, not even into the principal's office or not even into the auditorium for detention. They leaped from the classroom into the hands of law enforcement officers who then, as we have seen some of the untoward actions, had to wrestle them down or there was emotional encounters, but they went downtown, as many of us would say, to the county jail or to the detention center. We hope that we will provide other tools to be able to intervene on behaviors by way of providing resources to some of our well-documented groups and organizations and new ones that have creative ways of intervening in a juvenile's life. How many of us have heard the story of how a pilot, a lawyer, a doctor started out their life, and then how they wound up as being contributing citizens because someone intervened. This bill is about intervention. In addition to reauthorizing the juvenile justice programs, the Tiffany Joslyn Juvenile Accountability Block Grant, and the Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act clarifies how to address the occurrences of bullying through developmentally appropriate intervention and prevention techniques, which center on evidence-based models and best practices. Best practices bring people together, because it doesn't matter whether you are Republican or Democrat, it brings people together, and that is best practices that rely on schools and communities rather than the involvement from law enforcement and the justice system. What we want is to put a big red stop sign in front of the life of every juvenile that might be awry with the system, and procedures and rules to be able to find an alternative way. H.R. 494 is designed to help both the victims and perpetrators of bullying. Research studies have shown that approximately 25 percent of school bullies will be convicted of a criminal offense in their adult years. Let's put a stop sign there. Let's not have that happen. We also recognize that cyberbullying has become an epidemic, particularly for young people. Their life is centered around technology. Many times they are in their home, bedroom, et cetera, only with technology, and they use that in a way--because their brains are not matured until 25 and over, they use it in a way that they don't fully comprehend how vicious, how devastating this could be to the receiver of that information, how exposing that could be to the receiver of that information. Let's get in their lives. Let's use this legislation to do so. It also includes provisions for gang prevention programs which will help guide our children toward socially beneficial paths. If we want our children to learn, we must be able to maintain a safe and healthy school environment. Bullying is a massive issue in our Nation's schools. Over the years, I have worked with young children as young as 10 or 12. Some of them have organized their own antibullying organizations, looking to us to affirm them, and I hope in this legislation we will have the opportunity to do so. If we want our children to learn, that is what we must do. The National Center for Educational Studies shows that 14 percent of 12- to 18-year-olds surveyed reported being victims of direct or indirect bullying. One out of four kids is bullied. Cyberbullying is in the midst of that. That is why I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation. I also urge them to consider that we may have short memories on some things, but I am sure many of us can go back and remember that middle school, that early age leading up to 18 and then going off, some to college and some on, at some point, to work. We remember that indecisive moment. We remember wanting to have friends and wanting to be liked. And then we remember the alternative of those who might take advantage of that. With that in mind, here we are with an opportunity to deal with best practices and to help our young people in the best way possible. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support the ``Tiffany Joslyn Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Reauthorization and the Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act'', which we passed in the last Congress, here in the House. This bill is named for Tiffany May Joslyn, a champion for criminal justice reform, who served as Deputy Chief Counsel of the Crime Subcommittee and whose life tragically was cut short on March 5, 2016, in a car accident, which sadly also claimed the life of her brother, Derrick. She was just 33 years old. So passage of this bill last Congress in this body, was both bitter and sweet. Tiffany would have been proud, as she championed these causes fearlessly. This moment is for both her and for all the millions of young people that will be helped by this bill. The Tiffany Joslyn bill will help stem the epidemic of juveniles within the criminal justice system by reauthorizing the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant program (JABG) and providing funding to state and local governments for the creation of bullying and gang prevention programs. It also includes provisions for gang prevention programs, which will help guide our children towards socially beneficial paths. If we want our children to learn, we must be able to maintain a safe and healthy school environment. Bullying is a massive issue in our nation's schools. The National Center for Educational Studies reports show that 14 percent of 12- to 18-year-olds surveyed, reported being victims of direct or indirect bullying. One out of 4 kids is bullied. This is why I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation. It will authorize such appropriations as may be necessary, which is anticipated to be at least $30 million per year. In addition to reauthorizing juvenile justice programs, the Tiffany Joselyn Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Reauthorization and the Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act clarifies how to address the occurrences of bullying through developmentally appropriate intervention and prevention techniques, which center on evidence-based models and best practices that rely on schools and communities rather than involvement from law enforcement and the justice system. H.R. 494 is designed to help both the victims and perpetrators of bullying. Research studies have shown that approximately 25 percent of school bullies will be convicted of a criminal offense in their adult years. Bullying is not just in a schoolyard anymore; it is a crisis that's taking over our nation. Gone are the days that children can come home and seek solace and escape from their bullies; technological advances have made it easy for young people to be tormented on social networks at any time from any place. They are never out of harm's reach. This needs to end. Americans children should be protected, and no child should be persecuted for exercising their American right to be themselves. It is time for us to come to a conclusive solution to America's bullying crisis so that we may keep all of our children safe. My bill, H.R. 494, provides the solution that we need. This is why I support this bill and ask my colleagues to do the same. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Let me, first of all, thank the ranking member for his kind support of this legislation. I think we have been together long enough to know how important this kind of work is; and a tribute to his father, who certainly probably ran across a few juveniles in the course of his work as a law enforcement officer. So I thank the gentleman so very much. I want to thank the chairman of the committee, Mr. Nadler, for his support of this legislation and continued work in this area. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Johnson), the chair on the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentleman. We are inquiring, and I am just going to say it publicly. We were about to engage the ranking member, but we are inquiring to be sure that the bill is complete. Its language was, ``and Anti-Bullying and Intervention Act.'' That is what the bill has carried over a period of time, so I was trying to get a ruling about that addition to the title.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. That is clearly what we are trying to do. If I might engage the gentleman in a dialogue: it reads, ``the Tiffany Joslyn Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Program Reauthorization Act,'' and it has always read, over the years, ``and Anti-Bullying and Intervention Act.'' It is in my text here, ``and the Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act.''

Ms. JACKSON LEE. We are awaiting a ruling, and may have to--but I at least want to get it on the Record. You see what I am saying?

Ms. JACKSON LEE. And that is the name that has been carried over the years that we have had----

Ms. JACKSON LEE. I believe so.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, if I might, I assume I can proceed.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. First of all, I want to thank the ranking member for his courtesies, and thank the committees for their courtesies. I would not desire to not move forward H.R. 494. So any motion for amending at this time, I would like unanimous consent to withdraw and to emphasize what the bill is in my debate.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. I seek to not withdraw H.R. 494, just any request for editing the legislation.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. I yield to the gentleman.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. That is my desire at this time. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. Does the gentleman?

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. So I will close at this time asking for support of this legislation. But as I do so, I cannot help but thank--I think we have had----

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I thank the gentleman from Georgia for engaging in the colloquy on this important issue, and I think we have created a record that indicates that this bill is the Tiffany Joslyn Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Program Reauthorization Act, and it does cover bullying prevention and intervention, and we will move forward with that understanding and recognize the importance of those elements of the bill. I want to just take a moment in my closing to acknowledge again the National Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Coalition and to indicate their support for a bill that has gone unfunded now for 6 years, and to indicate in their letter that H.R. 494 updates the JABG to reflect current research and practices; incentivizes States to use graduated sanctions and incentives grounded in positive youth development; enhanced antibullying measures, gang prevention programs, and additional youth violence prevention and intervention services. It also updates the JABG to include evidence-based practices such as trauma-informed practices and mental healthcare. I am excited about this legislation. And I close by saying bullying is not just a schoolyard action anymore; it is a crisis that is taking over our Nation. Gone are the days that children can come home and seek solace and escape from their bullies. Technological advances have made it easy for young people to be tormented on social networks at any time from any place. They are never out of harm's reach. This needs to end. American children should be protected, and no child should be persecuted for existing or exercising their American right to just be themselves. It is time for us to come to a conclusive solution to America's bullying crisis so that we may keep all of our children safe. I think we are on the right path by passing H.R. 494 and moving it to the Senate. That is why I support this bill and ask my colleagues to do the same. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California for her leadership, and I thank both the ranking member and the full committee chair. And I thank Mr. Deutch from Florida, for it looks like, in this instance, Florida and Texas and many other States certainly are--how should I say it?--in coalition with the number of veterans that we have and the stories that we have heard about fraudulent activities as it relates to our veterans. I would think that all veterans want to do after battling on behalf of this Nation and securing this Nation is to come home to a safe and secure community and people who welcome them and treat them with the dignity that they deserve. Unfortunately, because veterans have resources through their veterans benefits, they are targeted by those who have no goodwill, but evil intent. Currently, there are approximately 21 million veterans of the United States Armed Forces living in our country. It is estimated that about 30 percent of all Vietnam veterans have had post-traumatic stress disorder, and up to 20 percent of veterans serving in more recent conflicts in the Middle East are estimated to suffer from PTSD in a given year. Given the extreme sacrifice of our veterans and the hardships many of them continue to face after their military service, it is our duty, to the best of our ability, to have an appropriate measure of compensation for them, particularly for those in need. For instance, we provide disability payments to those with service- connected disabilities, pensions for veterans with limited income, education and training under the GI Bill, and various life insurance benefits. Over 71,000 veterans live in my congressional district. H.R. 450 provides law enforcement with another tool to bring to justice those who knowingly defraud a veteran of their benefits or engage in fraud in connection with obtaining veterans benefits. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, there are many of them. 476,515 veterans are living with PTSD and need their benefits. Mr. Speaker, how many have come to us in our offices and indicated that, through a telemarketing scheme, they have given up their benefits or they have taken their benefits to invest or buy something that either is never seen or doesn't help them, and never is their money returning back to them. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida in particular for being sensitive enough to listen to his constituents. In listening to my constituents and solving cases in our offices, there are cases that come into our offices where veterans have had their benefits taken away or they wind up homeless because resources are taken away and they don't have the necessary resources. This is a good, good step to acknowledge their service and how important they are; to stop those who think that they are easy prey from defrauding our veterans; and to make the right kind of legal traps, if you will, that law enforcement can place, not for veterans who have served us, but for those who wish to defraud them. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the gentleman from Florida and ask my colleagues to support H.R. 450, the Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act of 2019. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 450, the ``Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act of 2017,'' which provides an additional tool to deter, detect, and punish fraudulent activity against veterans. The Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act of 2017 would make it unlawful to knowingly execute, or attempt to execute, any scheme or artifice to defraud an individual of veterans' benefits, or in connection with obtaining veterans benefits. We honor our veterans' service and their sacrifices; it is important that we protect veterans from fraud and ensure the integrity of the system of benefits we provide for them. Currently, there are approximately 21 million veterans of the United States Armed Forces living in our country. It is estimated that about 30 percent of all Vietnam veterans have had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and up to 20 percent of veterans serving in more recent conflicts in the Middle East are estimated to suffer from PTSD in a given year. Given the extreme sacrifice by our veterans and the hardships many of them continue to face after their military service, it is our duty to provide, to the best of our ability, an appropriate measure of compensation for them--particularly for those in need. For instance, we provide disability payments to those with service- connected disabilities, pensions for veterans with limited incomes, education and training under the GI Bill, and various life insurance benefits. Over 71,749 veterans reside in my 18th Congressional District and one of my top priorities is to fight for their benefits and to fight for the rights of our most patriotic Americans. H.R. 450 provides law enforcement with another tool to bring to justice those who knowingly defraud a veteran of their benefits or engage in fraud in connection with obtaining veterans' benefits. Mr. Speaker, 476,515 veterans are living with PTSD and need their benefits to obtain needed care for their disorder; it is criminal that some are left untreated. Those who defraud veterans and the system of veterans' benefits harm the victims and diminish resources needed to pay the claims and fund the programs that are needed to help those who have served their country. I urge all Members to join me in voting to pass H.R. 450.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman very much, and I acknowledge the words of the ranking member of the full committee and acknowledge the work of the chairman, Mr. Nadler, of the committee. I am glad that these bills that we have just debated and one coming up that I know is Mr. Collins' bill dealing with the fees to provide resources to those who file lawsuits, justified lawsuits, and have no recourse, these bills are coming out of the Judiciary Committee in a bipartisan manner. This is a very important statement that we are making with the new majority and working with the minority on very important issues. This is an issue that has claimed our attention for decades, the fact that we are working every day to improve and, as Mr. Collins has just indicated, to never to have to talk about sex trafficking, human trafficking again. If we can eliminate this scourge, I think all of us will find peace. Just a few years ago, as the ranking member on the Homeland Security Committee, we did the first human trafficking hearing with then- Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Thompson in Houston, Texas, to listen to many who claimed and documented that Houston, Texas, was the epicenter of human trafficking in that region, in the Nation. It is not something that we are proud of, but we are proud of the advocates who work without ceasing with law enforcement to put, again, a red stop sign in front of this travesty. So I acknowledge the work that has been done by many of my colleagues, the work that has been done by Congresswoman Wagner and many others who gathered. That hearing was the first in history in that community, and the first field hearing that was addressing that question. It was quite a few years ago. But I want to acknowledge from my hometown Jackie Aluotto, who has found and saved lives of victims of human trafficking in our own community; Kathryn Griffin, who, likewise, has been at the forefront of stopping human trafficking, and particularly of young children sex trafficking, and has been a refuge for many who have suffered; Constable Alan Rosen; Constable May Walker; Sheriff Gonzalez; Mayor Sylvester Turner, who has an outstanding program in the city of Houston. So I rise to support H.R. 507 for several reasons, not the least of which being how much it will impact the local community and the work that is being done. This measure will strengthen the effectiveness of the 2017 act in various ways, which I am very proud to have supported. The 2017 act directed the Attorney General to study issues related to human trafficking in response to trafficking concerning services and benefits for victims, criminal justice, domestic sex trafficking of children, and interagency coordination and training. For example, H.R. 507 increases the personal safety of victim service providers who may face intimidation or retaliation for their activities. While many of us may not realize, sometimes these providers within the context of the law, may have one or two of these individuals at their own homes, or have secreted them somewhere, so they are in the eye of the storm. As I indicated, we had the first human trafficking hearing of any committee in Houston, Texas, several years ago under the auspices of the Homeland Security Committee. I am proud of the facts that came out, giving the local people the opportunity to talk about the difficulties and challenges that they face trying to stop the scourge of human trafficking, particularly with young people. Our committee determined this very point, that the safety of these victims should be our number one concern. Innocent people who have been turned into human trafficking products by the heinous traffickers deserve our protection. As such, this training and funding is critical to ensure that human trafficking victims are treated as victims and afforded justice, respect, and dignity. Second, H.R. 507 ensures that law enforcement officers and prosecutors make every attempt to determine whether an individual is a victim of human trafficking before arresting the individual for or charging the individual with an offense that is a direct result of victimization of that individual. This will ensure that law enforcement officers do not add trauma and pain to the victims that have already endured an enormous amount of suffering. Let me remind my colleagues, that human trafficking, even beyond the scourge of drugs, is a product that can be used or is used over and over again. How devastating, how deadly, how heinous it is that these individuals can be used in human trafficking, sex trafficking, and the acts that they may be called upon to do over and over again. As a result, H.R. 507 will ensure that most effective practices are standardized so that sex trafficking victims are ultimately protected and treated with respect at all times. Lastly, the legislation ensures the effective prosecution of traffickers and individuals. For these reasons, I would say that this would be a bill that all of us support. Let's put up more than a stop sign and fight human trafficking and sex trafficking. Support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 507, which directs the Attorney General to study issues relating to human trafficking, and for other purposes. Madam Speaker, it is of the upmost importance that we pass this important legislation and uphold the ideals of this country by protecting human trafficking victims. This bill is intended to improve the implementation of the Putting Trafficking Victims First Act of 2017. The 2017 act directed the Attorney General to study issues relating to human trafficking in response to trafficking concerning services and benefits for victims, criminal justice, domestic sex trafficking of children, and interagency coordination and training. I support H.R. 507 for several reasons. This measure will strengthen the effectiveness of the 2017 act in various ways, which I was proud to support. For example, H.R. 507 increases the personal safety of victim service providers, who may face intimidation or retaliation for their activities. We had the first human trafficking hearing of any committee in Houston, Texas, several years ago under the auspices of the Homeland Security Committee. Our committee determined this very point: that the safety of these victims should be our number one concern. Innocent people who have been turned into human traffic products by the heinous traffickers deserve our protection. As such, this training and funding is critical to ensure that human trafficking victims are treated as victims and afforded justice, respect, and dignity. Second, H.R. 507 ensures that law enforcement officers and prosecutors make every attempt to determine whether an individual is a victim of human trafficking before arresting the individual for, or charging the individual with, an offense that is a direct result of the victimization of the individual. This will ensure that law enforcement officers do not add trauma and pain to the victims that have already endured an enormous amount of suffering. As a result, H.R. 507 will help ensure the most effective practices are standardized so that sex trafficking victims are ultimately protected and treated with respect at all times. Lastly, the legislation ensures the effective prosecution of traffickers and individuals who patronize or solicit children for sex and facilitate access for child victims of commercial sex trafficking to the services and protections afforded to other victims of sexual violence. H.R. 507 identifies a broad range of important initiatives that States should undertake that would provide meaningful assistance to these victims: increasing victims' personal safety, ensuring the correct treatment of human trafficking victims by law enforcement and, ensuring the effective prosecution of all traffickers. Each of these initiatives should help ensure that these victims are not revictimized and help enable them to be guided back to a normalized life. Mr. Speaker, for all of these reasons, I am pleased to support this bill. This legislation is all about pointing out, finding, saving the victims, making sure they get treatment, and making sure that human trafficking is identified. I am also pleased that this measure, maintains the commitment to maintaining a report on State safe harbor laws. As we all know, safe harbors play a critical role in preventing youth, forced into the sex trade, from being revictimized again and stigmatized a second time by the criminal justice system, almost similar to the little girl who was looking for love. Instead, she got victimized and turned into a human trafficking product. H.R. 507 also fosters better collaboration among the Federal, State, and local law enforcement in the fight against sex trafficking and encourages States to adopt protections for trafficking victims by providing rehabilitation and recovery services for victims of human trafficking. Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to support this measure and, as well, to be reminded of all those children who will be helped and saved.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 752 ``Open Book Equal Access to Justice Act'' which will amend titles 5 and 28, United States Code, to require the maintenance of databases on awards of fees and other expenses to prevailing parties in certain administrative proceedings and court cases to which the United States is a party, and for other purposes. In 1980, Congress passed the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA) as a means to help individuals, retirees, veterans, and small businesses recover attorney's fees and costs associated with suing the federal government. Congress intended the EAJA to remove a barrier to justice for those with limited access to the resources it takes to sue the federal government. Payments of EAJA attorney's fees come from the budget of the agency who action gave rise to the claim. While the original EAJA legislation included a requirement to track payments and report to Congress annually, Congress and the agencies halted tracking and reporting of payments made through EAJA in 1995. Without any direction to track payments, most agencies simply do not do it and Congress and taxpayers are unable to exercise oversight over these funds. H.R. 752 reinstates the tracking and reporting requirements of the original EAJA legislation by requiring the Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS) to develop an online, searchable database to facilitate public and Congressional oversight over the program. This will allow public access to information on the amount of attorney's fees being paid under EAJA, to whom the taxpayers' money is being paid, and from which agencies. The Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act helps ensure that agencies are operating under the public eye and that taxpayer dollars are being spent effectively and properly. Allowing plaintiffs to recoup legal costs when they sue the federal government for reparations they deserve is only fair. Many Americans do not have the resources to take on our sprawling bureaucracy, but EAJA gave them the power to do that by removing a barrier to justice for those with limited access to resources. Since the original reporting requirements were halted by Congress, there is no information on payments made under the law. Tracking and reporting payments will help preserve the integrity of this law and help Congress make sure it is working effectively for the people it was intended to help. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for H.R. 752.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise this afternoon to recognize and acknowledge gun victims in America. This week in the Judiciary Committee, we held an important hearing on beginning the first steps toward real commonsense gun safety legislation. In listening to witnesses from law enforcement, victims and near- victims, representatives from the health profession, and, yes, those who advocated for the Second Amendment, I would argue that, in this tribute to gun victims, recognizing the pain of their families and those lives lost, that no one is challenging the Second Amendment. But with 100 persons a day dying by gun violence in the United States, it is without question that we must move quickly on universal background checks; we must move quickly on making bump stocks illegal; we must move quickly on the question of assault weapons; we must move quickly on closing loopholes and straw purchases; and we must work with the mental health community to ensure that we address that very sensitive question to help people who are disturbed and challenged. Mr. Speaker, I honor those who have lost their lives, and I honor them by our action.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Clerk be directed to make the change in the engrossment of H.R. 494 that I placed at the desk.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, this February we recognize and celebrate the 41st commemoration of Black History Month. This month we celebrate the contributions of African Americans to the history of our great nation, and pay tribute to trailblazers, pioneers, heroes, and leaders like the 44th President of the United States and First Lady, Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, respectively; Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall; U.S. Senator Blanche Kelso Bruce; U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Jordan; U.S. Congressman Mickey Leland; Astronauts Dr. Guion Stewart Bluford, Jr. and Mae C. Jemison; activists, intellectuals, authors, artists, and entrepreneurs like Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, James Baldwin, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Gwendolyn Brooks, Shonda Rhimes, Ava Duvernay, and Oprah Winfrey, 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 activist, 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 succed 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. Madam 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 neverending challenge of perfecting our union. A few years ago about this time, I was honored to join my colleagues, Congressman John Lewis and Congressman Charles Rangel, a Korean War veteran, in paying tribute to surviving members of the Tuskegee Airmen and the 555th Parachute Infantry, the famed ``Triple Nickels'' at a moving ceremony sponsored by the U.S. Army commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The success of the Tuskegee Airmen in escorting bombers during World War II--achieving one of the lowest loss records of all the escort fighter groups, and being in constant demand for their services by the allied bomber units--is a record unmatched by any other fighter group. So impressive and astounding were the feats of the Tuskegee Airmen that in 1948, it helped persuade President Harry Truman to issue his famous Executive Order No. 9981, which directed equality of treatment and opportunity in all of the United States Armed Forces and led to the end of racial segregation in the U.S. military forces. It is a source of enormous and enduring pride that my father-in-law, Phillip Ferguson Lee, was one of the Tuskegee Airmen. Clearly, what began as an experiment to determine whether ``colored'' soldiers' were capable of operating expensive and complex combat aircraft ended as an unqualified success based on the experience of the Tuskegee Airmen, whose record included 261 aircraft destroyed, 148 aircraft damaged, 15,553 combat sorties and 1,578 missions over Italy and North Africa. They also destroyed or damaged over 950 units of ground transportation and escorted more than 200 bombing missions. They proved that ``the antidote to racism is excellence in performance,'' as retired Lt. Col. Herbert Carter once remarked. Madam Speaker, Black History Month is also a time to remember many pioneering women like U.S. Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm; activists Harriet Tubman and Rosa Parks; astronaut Mae C. Jemison; mathematicians like Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson authors Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, and Gwendolyn Brooks; all of whom have each in their own way, whether through courageous activism, cultural or intellectual contributions, or artistic creativity, forged social and political change, and forever changed our great Nation for the better. It is also fitting, Madam Speaker, that in addition to those national leaders whose contributions have made our nation better, we honor also those who have and are making a difference in their local communities. In my home city of Houston, there are numerous men and women who are great because they have heeded the counsel of Dr. King who said: ``Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. You only a 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 who helped to make Houston the wonderful, dynamic, vibrant, inclusive, and progressive city that it is: 1. Mayor Sylvester Turner 2. Rev. F.N. Williams, Sr. 3. Rev. Dr. S.J. Gilbert, Sr. 4. Rev. Eldridge Stanley Branch 5. Rev. William A. Lawson 6. Mr. John Brand 7. Ms. Ruby Moseley 8. Ms. Dorothy Hubbard 9. Ms. Doris Hubbard 10. Ms. Willie Bell Boone 11. Ms. Holly HogoBrooks 12. Mr. Deloyd Parker As we celebrate Black History Month, let us pay tribute to those who have come before us, and pay forward to future generations by addressing what is the number one issue for African American families, and all American families today: preserving the American promise of economic opportunity for all. Our immediate focus must be job creation, and enacting legislation that will foster and lay the foundation for today's and tomorrow's generation of groundbreaking activists, leaders, scientists, writers and artists to continue contributing to the greatness of America. We must continue to preserve the American Dream for all. Madam Speaker, I am proud to stand here in celebration of the heroic and historic acts of African Americans and their indispensable contributions to this great Nation. It is through our work in creating possibilities for today and future generations that we best honor the accomplishments and legacy of our predecessors.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize my sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority for the extraordinary work it does all throughout the nation. On January 15, 1908, nine college students on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. founded Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. As a member of the Xi Alpha Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, I take great pride in my sorority's tradition of service and the many programs that it has established to serve our communities. One of the founders, Ethel Hedgeman Lyle, dreamed of creating a support network for like-minded women coming together for mutual uplift, and coalescing their talents and strengths for the benefit of others. What began as a small band of sisters in 1908, transformed over the ensuing 111 years into a globally-impactful organization of nearly 300,000 college-trained members, bound by the bonds of sisterhood and empowered by a commitment to servant-leadership that is both domestic and international in scope. As Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority has grown, it has maintained its focus in two key arenas: the lifelong personal and professional development of each of its members; and galvanizing its membership into an organization of formidable power and influence, consistently at the forefront of effective advocacy and social change that results in equality and equity for all citizens of the world. In order to maintain its commitment to servant-leadership, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority hosts an international conference every two years. On July 6-July 12, 2018, my fellow Sorors from all around the world came to my hometown in Houston to launch ``New Dimensions of Service by Celebrating a Legacy of Leadership and Service.'' At this conference Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority decided on new targets of focus for the next two years, which include: HBCU for Life: A Call to Action; Women's Healthcare and Wellness; Building Your Economic Legacy; The Arts! and Global Impact. February 2019 is Women's Healthcare and Wellness month. To kick off Women's Healthcare and Wellness month, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority has joined with the American Heart Association in the fight against heart disease in order to improve the health of all women. On February 1, Alpha Kappa Alpha women all over the world took off their pink and wore red for the day to raise awareness of this deadly disease for their ``Pink Goes Red Impact Day.'' Alpha Kappa Alpha chapters are bringing awareness to the devastating effects of heart disease in communities around this country. My chapter, Xi Alpha Omega hosted a Zumba and Line Dancing Class at our Houston Texans YMCA to promote a fun and healthy way to stay heart healthy. As we observe Pink Goes Red Impact Day and Heart Health month on the international level, here are some unsettling truths about heart disease and high blood pressure and undeniable truths about prevention that can help to stem the tide of this dreadful disease. Cardiovascular diseases kill nearly 50,000 African-American women annually. Forty-nine percent of African-American women 20 years of age and older have heart disease. Only one in five African-American women believes she is personally at risk. Only 52 percent of African-American women are aware of the signs and symptoms of a heart attack. Only 36 percent of African-American women know that heart disease is their greatest health risk. These unsettling truths are the reason that Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority has made Heart Health and Wellness Month one of its most important initiatives. Although there is nothing that will 100 percent guarantee a life without high blood pressure and heart disease, there are several things women can do every day to take steps towards a healthier life. Be honest about their health. There are several things that can be done to reduce the risk of heart disease: exercise regularly; eat healthy; know your family medical history; and monitor and treat pre- existing health conditions. Moderate salt and sodium intake and read the label and be knowledgeable about what is contained in the food consumed. Commit to improving eating habits by developing a healthy diet and healthy cooking skills, eating more fruits and vegetable and staying hydrated. Get moving. Live an active lifestyle and eliminate sedentary practices from daily routine. Schedule regular check-ups with their physician to monitor their health. During the Women's Healthcare and Wellness month, I encourage all women to join me in walking, running, exercising, and educating ourselves and our communities on heart health.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I am proud to be a sponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act. This Act is needed to stop discriminatory practices by employers against our mothers, wives, daughters, and granddaughters that do the same job as their male counterparts. It is sad that today in America, women working full-time, year-round still earn 80 cents, on average, for every dollar earned by men. Women of color face the brunt of the inequality, with African American women earning 61 cents, Latinas earning 53 cents, and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander women earning 62 cents compared with white, non-Hispanic men. This year marks the 10-year anniversary of President Barack Obama signing the Lily Ledbetter Act, which made it easier to sue in cases of pay discrimination. This legislation that we are discussing today--the Paycheck Fairness Act--is but one small step towards that end. The Paycheck Fairness Act, will strengthen the Equal Pay Act--passed more than 45 years ago--and as a result improve the law's effectiveness, and help to address the persistent wage gap between men and women. The Paycheck Fairness Act would: Clarify acceptable reasons for differences in pay by requiring employers to demonstrate that wage gaps between men and women doing the same work are truly a result of factors other than sex. Deter wage discrimination by strengthening penalties for equal pay violations, and by prohibiting retaliation against workers who inquire about employers' wage practices or disclose their own wages. The bill's approach would ensure that women can obtain the same remedies as those subject to discrimination on the basis of race or national origin. Provide women with a fair option to proceed in a class action suit under the Equal Pay Act, and allow women to receive punitive and compensatory damages for pay discrimination. Clarify the establishment provision under the Equal Pay Act, which would allow for reasonable comparisons between employees to determine fair wages. Authorize additional training for Equal Employment Opportunity Commission staff to better identify and handle wage disputes. It will aid in the efficient and effective enforcement of federal anti-pay discrimination laws by requiring the EEOC to develop regulations directing employers to collect wage data, reported by the race, sex, and national origin of employees. It will require the U.S. Department of Labor to reinstate activities that promote equal pay, such as: directing educational programs, providing technical assistance to employers, recognizing businesses that address the wage gap, collecting wage-related data, and conducting and promoting research about pay disparities between men and women. More importantly for our young ladies going into the workforce it will establish a competitive grant program to develop salary negotiation training for women and girls. As a Member of the Women's Caucus I have been fighting for pay equity for American women since before I arrived here as a Representative in 1995, and I believe that equal pay for equal work is a simple matter of justice. Wage disparities are not simply a result of women's education levels or life choices. In fact, the pay gap between college educated men and women appears first after college--even when women are working full-time in the same fields with the same major as men--and continues to widen during the first 10 years in the workforce. Further, this persistent wage gap not only impacts the economic security of women and their families today, it also directly affects women's retirement security tomorrow. Now is the time for additional proactive measures to effectively address wage discrimination and eliminate loopholes that have hindered the Equal Pay Act's effectiveness. I urge my colleagues, both men and women to support equality in rights and pay for all Americans by supporting the Paycheck Fairness Act.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Maryland for his astute analysis and his service on the Rules Committee, and I thank my good friend from Georgia for offering his recognition of the value of our Federal workers. Mr. Speaker, this morning, I started my day, first of all, with supporting H.R. 21, and gathering with the leadership of the House and Senate recognizing that Social Security must be strengthened. But truly I joined in my long-term commitment for not only the survival of Social Security, but the survival of our families and seniors--3 million senior women living in poverty, 2 million senior men. These individuals have worked. They may have been Federal employees. I then joined my colleagues, House and Senate, on supporting pay equity for women. And now I am on the floor dealing with a crucial component of survival in this Nation. I thank Mr. Connolly and the Oversight Committee for bringing this bill. It is important, as I speak about the needs, to emphasize that we can do nothing else but pass this bill, the Senate pass this bill, and the President signs this bill. For the idea of paycheck inequality, for example, that will be debated later today, it is important to know that women working full- time still earn 80 percent on average for every dollar earned by men, and women of color face the brunt of inequality, African-American women 61 cents on the dollar, Latinas earning 53 cents on the dollar, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander women earning 62 percent with white non- Hispanic men. So what are we doing today? We are saying that the executive order squeezing Federal workers in the middle of the shutdown by the President of the United States in an executive order is null and void. As I left for Washington talking to TSO officers who had worked and worked and worked with no pay as essential workers, one quietly said to me: Are we going to get our pay raise? Are you going to fight against the executive order? Mr. Speaker, I said to them: We sure will. We want Democrats and Republicans. But I said: We sure will. So I rise today to support this legislation that deals with the Federal Civilian Workforce Pay Raise Fairness Act of 2019. Texas has over 270,000 Federal employees. I have 4,000 in my district. The cost of the pay raise would be approximately $25 billion. President Trump's tax reform bill costs over 10 times that amount. It is important to note that this is a 2.6 percent pay raise for Federal civilian workers and establishes pay parity between the military and service workers.