Sheila Jackson Lee

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. What was it like before this legislation? Simply, J.S., who is documented in the film ``Jane Doe,'' will tell you. A bright young lady, 15 years old, ran on the track team here in this area and, for her own enthusiasm, went to Seattle, Washington. When she went to Seattle, Washington, it would have been nice if a kind soul had found her, but that was not the case. Within 15 days, she met a man twice her age, who seduced her with gifts and convinced her to stay with him. Once she trusted the 32-year- old, he quickly turned on her and raped her, and he would post explicit pictures of her in an ad on Backpage.com, and she was forced to continue to have sex for money. One would think that there was relief. But when her family sought to file in court, she lost. She lost. Only through the work of Congress has her case been able to move forward on an appeal. So the work that we have done is vital to saving lives and to restoring lives. I am inspired and energized by the countless survivors, many of whom I have seen today and many of whom I have joined with last Monday in my district. As a leader in the fight against human and sex trafficking and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations, I am painfully familiar with the pervasiveness of sex trafficking in my own State of Texas, which has become a hotbed of human trafficking in the city of Houston. Among law enforcement and human trafficking authorities, Houston is known as a hub of human trafficking, not because of the lack of concern and energy in my law enforcement and social service community. It is just an epicenter because of the ability for people to come because of the warm weather, for children who have aged out of foster care, and for others who are victims of human trafficking. The highest number of calls to the National Human Trafficking Hotline in Texas comes from Houston, and a study conducted by the University of Texas stated that there are more than 300,000 victims of human trafficking in Texas, including almost 79,000 minors. The story of Kathy, right here in Houston, in the few minutes I have left, I would like to share the story of a young woman named Kathy who moved to Houston in 1994 with her family. Kathy was raised to be strong and independent. She was very involved in a church community and ROTC. So in the few minutes I have remaining, I will share the story of Kathy. She graduated from high school with hopes of pursuing a career in journalism, but she became a victim of sex trafficking. Like most girls, she wanted to be loved. She met a charming young man who treated her like she had never been treated before. After a fairytale year, her Prince Charming proposed something Kathy felt she could not refuse: a promising job with his company, an administrative position that would triple her income and provide financial security for her future. It seemed like a dream come true. The job was in Dallas. Despite her initial hesitation, she saw the offer as an opportunity to provide for her family. But shortly after she arrived in Dallas, Kathy found herself in the dark world of sex trafficking and prostitution, a life she never knew she would be involved in. Graphic images were taken of her and placed on the internet against her will. She was forced to perform sexual favors multiple times every day throughout Dallas' surrounding areas. Escape was not easy. She was cut off from her family. Her boyfriend- turned-pimp limited her phone calls to johns and did not allow her to have money. Somehow she found an opportunity to get away, and she never looked back. After many years of living in silence, Kathy decided to journal her experience. The journal became a book, which became a stage play. Kathy found her voice and is now an inspirational speaker who hopes to use her story to encourage others to join the fight. Images of Kathy's horrific past linger on. She said: Sites like Backpage have chosen to revictimize survivors and keep us in bondage by refusing to remove images taken against our will. Kathy hopes that one day the voices of survivors will be heard. Well, we hear Kathy today. Congress hears her. We hear the voices of the victims remaining in physical and mental bondage. So, in conclusion, let me say, as we hear the voices of the survivors, we realize the importance of our First Amendment and the ability of free expression. But we know that the torment that these victims are going through, the PTSD that they are suffering, really is a statement of importance for H.R. 1865 that allows States and victims to fight online sex trafficking and to work with all of those who have worked so hard on this bill, from our Judiciary Committee to the Senate Judiciary Committee to the sponsors, and to go forward building on this legislation with more legislation, more victims being able to work with us, and, finally, Mr. Chairman, to be able to stomp out and extinguish human trafficking, sex trafficking, and online trafficking. This is a powerful nation. There is no reason why we cannot do this. I look forward to that effort. With that, I ask for a vote of ``yes'' on this bill. I want to say that Mrs. Maloney, who sounded as if she said vote ``no,'' really meant to say she wants a resounding ``yes'' on this legislation as well. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed to the amendment.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chairman, I rise to support the Goodlatte amendment, and I thank the chairman along with our ranking member, Mr. Nadler, for their hard work in working together. I think this amendment is particularly important because it clarifies that the restitution provision applies to victims of sex trafficking and ensures that the affirmative defense applies to both of the criminal offenses created in the underlying bill. These changes are simple and reasonable. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the Goodlatte Manager's Amendment, which makes technical changes to H.R. 1865. The amendment adds ``attempt'' language that was inadvertently omitted from the bill and is consistent with, and tracks the typical language used in the federal criminal code to define criminal offenses. The amendment also clarifies that the restitution provision applies to victims of sex trafficking and ensures that the affirmative defense applies to both of the criminal offenses created in the underlying bill. These changes are simple and reasonable and maintain the overall spirit of the bill Mr. Chairman, I support the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Will the gentlewoman yield?

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chair, a 16-year-old was found beaten and stabbed to death after being advertised as a prostitute on Backpage. I might suggest that we follow one great philosopher in California who asked: Can we all get along? This amendment is needed in order to give enhanced powers to State attorneys general that they can provide the extra litigation leverage for individuals who are impacted in a devastating manner. As I said, we have to be concerned about the First Amendment, but we have got to protect our children. Every time I think of this precious young lady, Desiree, and the tears of her mother who testified before the other body in the Senate hearing, I think it is important that we move forward. If we move forward, we can build on this legislation. I intend to offer additional legislation that we will need so that we can put a stop sign in front of the dastardly behavior of online sex trafficking. So I ask my colleagues to support the Walters amendment in order to ensure that we can move forward and, as we move forward, make a difference in the lives of these children. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the Walters Amendment, which addresses problems states and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and advocates have faced in their attempts to hold online sex traffickers responsible for their despicable behavior. Congress decided more than 150 years ago that no person--no woman, no child, no boy or girl--deserves to be bought, sold, or owned by another person. And, as I have said many times before, trafficking in human beings has no place in a civilized society. Our country is facing a crisis that touches urban cities, rural areas, and suburbs, and violates the fundamental American ideal of liberty--which sets this country apart from so many others. Traffickers hold their victims captive both physically and mentally, employing extreme forms of psychological abuse and coercion to main control over them and prevent them from escaping, while stripping them of their humanity. This is an ongoing battle with very high stakes. Several years ago, I, along with Chairman McCaul, held the first field hearing on human trafficking in Texas before the Committee on Homeland Security. At the time of the hearing, a stash house was raided and 115 people were rescued. I visited that location and saw first-hand, the atrocious conditions in which those people were forced to exist. Without the hard work of those Texas officers, I cannot fathom the torment that might have befallen those poor souls. As Ranking Member of the Judiciary Crime Subcommittee, I support the eradication of Human and Sex Trafficking. This vile cruelty must end. Anyone who aids, assists, facilitates or promotes such behavior must be held accountable. Just last week, I sat down with a room filled with anti-human trafficking advocates and representatives of anti-human trafficking advocacy groups, including Real Beauty Real Women and Break the Cycle. I heard stories of suffering and stories of frustrations. Victims and survivors are crying out for a change in the law and they are crying out for justice. They have tried to bring cases against the people, websites, and online service providers, who contributed to their suffering and profited from their victimization--to no avail. Prosecutors have tried to bring online sex traffickers and the companies who provide them safe harbor--and, unfortunately failed. It is imperative that we do all that we can to provide for victims of this disgusting crime, protect vulnerable members of society from becoming victims as well, and tell websites like Backpage.com. Sex trafficking is a callous and brutal crime that unquestionably deserves the nation's upmost attention. It is particularly difficult to see the victimization of the very young who are sold into the sex trafficking market. The SESTA amendment provides law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts at every level with the tools they need to hold responsible, both civilly and criminally, each and every bad actor who participates in, facilitates, contributes to, or profits from sex trafficking. Many of the groups that work with victims and survivors of sex trafficking support passage of H.R. 1865 only if Ms. Walters's amendment passes as well.

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

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chair, how much time is remaining on each side?

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Beatty).

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chair, does the gentlewoman have any additional speakers?

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I will close at this time. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewomen from Ohio and from New York. I thank Congresswoman Wagner. I thank Congresswoman Lofgren for her concern, as evidenced by her statement, but I want to focus on building blocks, and I want to say to fight for us in the coalition of 20 that I met with. My promise is that we are in building blocks. We are going to build on what we are doing today, and we are going to continue to mount the assault on sex trafficking and human trafficking, and we are going to literally wipe it out. We are going to wipe it out because of Shaundra. We are going to wipe it out because of this young, beautiful lady, 16 years old, Desiree. We are going to wipe it out because of Desiree. We are going to wipe it out because of J.S. We are going the wipe it out because Desiree was found beaten, stabbed to death, after being advertised as a prostitute on Backpage. We want her mother to know that we are outraged that children are treated in this way. My amendment will be the guidepost: Is what we are doing working? It will provide a report on the amounts of damages awarded, the restitution awarded, report the amounts that are requested by victims and the government on their behalf, the nature and description of the losses that are claimed and proven, the justification for the amounts that are requested and eventually ordered to be paid. My amendment asks GAO to report cases that are dismissed and provide information to describing the reason for those dismissals. We don't want anything to go under the rug. Our children are too important. I would ask my colleagues to support the Jackson Lee amendment. And in conclusion, I would say to those who I met with, to those groups around the Nation meeting in local communities thinking that they are alone fighting this dastardly act of sex trafficking and human trafficking, and, of course, a moneymaker like Backpage, you are not alone, we are starting today, we have done work before, and we are not going to stop. I will work with you for the ongoing blocks that are going to continue to stamp out online sex trafficking and human trafficking. With that, I ask for support of the legislation and my amendment. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, the question is: When? In 2017, there were 11,600 deaths linked to gun violence. In 2017, nearly four 911 attacks. There were more than 15,000 killed by gun violence in 2016. There were 383 mass shootings. The United States ranks number one in the world in terms of firearms per capita. The problem is so epidemic that gun violence is now the third leading cause of death of our children, which includes those dear souls who died in Florida just a couple of weeks ago. We heard those children's voices. We have heard many voices. So let me explain to the American people: no one is grabbing the Second Amendment. I honor the amendments of this Nation. For your information, in order to change an amendment, you need a two-thirds vote of both the House and the Senate and three-quarters of the States. The last time we changed an amendment was 1933, where we repealed the prohibition amendment. This is a cause of the heart and the mind. It is not a Second Amendment debate. It is a debate on sensible gun legislation to save lives. Ban bump stocks. Extend the waiting period. Ensure that multiple munitions are banned and automatic weapons are banned. When is there going to be, Mr. Speaker, the coming together of a bipartisan effort to save the lives of our children? Enough is enough. We need to answer the call. Our children are dying.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees and as founder and co-chair of the Congressional Children's Caucus I rise in strong support of S. 772, ``AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act of 2017.'' This bill ensures that Native American tribes would be eligible for Justice Department grants to establish AMBER Alert systems, authorizing a $10 million grant program. The bill would allow grants to cover costs associated with integrating tribal AMBER Alert systems into state and regional plans to ensure broader distribution of alerts involving Indian children. This legislation provides crucial infrastructure to keep children and adults safe in all of America, whether they live on a reservation or not. The Justice Department will be able to waive their 50 percent funds matching cap if any Native American Tribe is not able to fully fund their nonfederal share of the project. Law enforcement agencies use the AMBER Alert system through radio, television, phones, email, and road alerts to alert the public of child abductions. This system is responsible for the successful return of over 800 missing children. The lack of coordination between tribal and state authorities, and the resulting delays in broadcasting an AMBER Alert, were blamed for the 2016 death of Ashlynne Mike, an 11-year-old Navajo girl. More than 7,500 Native American children are listed as missing in the United States. This legislation will reduce that number. This legislation facilitates coordination between tribal and state authorities, resulting in faster unification of families of abducted children. Mr. Speaker, this bill will make a difference and deserves the overwhelming support of this body. The sheer volume of abduction of love ones is enough to support this legislation. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in protecting our children and those suffering from abuse by supporting S. 772.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support to H.R. 2410, the ``Sickle Cell Disease Research, Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment Act of 2017.'' I support this bipartisan legislation because it will improve the way states study and monitor sickle cell disease. This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services to make grants to states to: Collect data on the prevalence and distribution of sickle cell disease; Conduct sickle cell disease public health initiatives to improve access to care and health outcomes; and Identify and evaluate strategies for prevention and treatment of sickle cell disease complications. Mr. Speaker, it is estimated that: Sickle cell disease affects 90,000 to 100,000; Americans; Sickle cell disease occurs among about 1 out of every 500 Black or African-American births; Sickle cell disease occurs among about 1 out of every 36,000 Hispanic-American births; Sickle Cell Trait occurs among about 1 in 12 Blacks or African Americans. If one parent has sickle cell 4 anemia and the other has sickle cell trait, there is a 50 percent chance (or 1 out of 2) of having a baby with either sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait with each pregnancy. It is critical that infants with Sickle Cell are identified early. Sickle cell-related deaths among African-American children younger than 4 years of age fell by 42 percent from 1999 through 2002. This drop coincided with the introduction in 2000 of a vaccine that protects against invasive pneumococcal disease. Many racial health disparities stem from lack of access to quality healthcare and proper health awareness. Certain medical illnesses are known to be more prevalent in certain demographic groups, including type II diabetes, lupus, sickle cell anemia, and Triple Negative Breast Cancer for which African Americans are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed on average. As a Member of Congress, I have been a staunch advocate for my constituents to find a cure for sickle cell disease. Mr. Speaker, this bipartisan legislation will prepare states to combat sickle cell disease in the 21st century, while helping provide access to healthcare for Americans. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting the passage of H.R. 2410.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2422, the Action for Dental Health Act of 2017. The ADH Act will allow states to receive grants that will establish innovative dental programs on behalf of the Health Resources and Services Administration. Passing H.R. 2422 will establish of dental homes for children and adults, reduce use of emergency departments for dental services, and reduce geographic, language and cultural barriers in the dental care system. Mr. Speaker, there is a great need to improve oral health education and prevent dental diseases in low-income and underserved communities. The health of many Americans is dependent upon the resources we provide. African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans and Alaska Natives generally have the poorest oral health of any racial and ethnic groups in the United States. African Americans, non-Hispanics, and Mexican Americans aged 35 to 44 years experience untreated tooth decay nearly twice as much as white, non-Hispanics. Poor oral health is strongly correlated with other chronic health conditions like cardiovascular diseases, lung disease, strokes, diabetes and can also contribute to problems with employment which furthers poverty. The Surgeon General estimates that children with oral disease miss over 51 million hours of school each year, and that adults with oral disease miss approximately 164 million hours of work each year. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2422 to show their support and compassion for the people we serve and to ensure that individuals predisposed to contracting any sort of dental diseases receive the proper prevention and care they deserve.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, although many in my constituency are still recovering from Hurricane Harvey--and I wear a ``Houston Strong'' pin--we are working on getting housing rebuilt and seniors back in their homes, I can tell you that, throughout my district, as I was there this past week, they spoke in quiet tones about Douglas, the high school, and the tragedy in Florida. And none of them seemed to agree--and, in particular, young men, who I will talk about in the Congressional Black Caucus Special Order on guns. None of them seemed to agree to arming teachers. All of them had ideas about gun violence and handguns, as well as weapons of war. And I believe the young people should be listened to, and we should not leave until we do constructive, sensible gun safety legislation, and it should be done now. I ask the American people to rise up and speak in tones of nonpartisanship, bipartisanship, to save and secure our children and our teachers.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the distinguished gentleman from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for his leadership. I am delighted to join the Congressional Black Caucus this evening under the leadership of Chairman Richmond. As my colleagues have said, we have been, sadly, a leader on commonsense gun safety legislation, sadly, because many of our districts, although we represent the huge numbers of diverse Americans--our districts represent Anglos, African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians, and all economic backgrounds, all wealth backgrounds, all backgrounds dealing with religion--we are able to speak because many of our districts have the reality of gun violence. So I want to speak, Mr. Speaker, to a particular point that I have heard from the stander-uppers of the NRA, particularly the president and CEO when he spoke to the conservative organization just this past week. I was certainly shocked to hear accusations about Democrats are socialists, even to the extent of calling out Members' names, which I think patently rejects the comity and collegiality of recognizing democracy accepts two distinct parties and some other parties and respects differences of opinion. But let me be very clear on the record. No one Member of this body, nor the distinguished gentleman, can eliminate the Second Amendment. No group of 20 Members of Congress, no Republicans of Congress and no Democrats of Congress, can eliminate the Second Amendment. The Second Amendment is a constitutional amendment, and there is a decided practice of a percentage of Members of Congress and the percentage of Members of 50 States. With that in mind, let us clear the air. But if we want to know the truth, what is being fought is gun safety legislation, not gun eradication. In my State, you cannot rent a car if you are not 21. The Federal law says that you cannot buy a gun if you are not 21. I will be introducing legislation to raise the age of 21. I already have legislation, a 7-day waiting period banning bump stocks, and, of course, dealing with automatic weapons. I know we are introducing one now. There are a multitude of introductions of bills and a multitude of decisions being made by the Florida delegation which we should listen to. I hope they will come forward in a bipartisan way. But let me talk about the children and parents. I was on the air today talking--or hearing that parents are hovering and scared of sending their children to school, and the children are scared. This last week I went into my schools where children were not only talking about not arming teachers, but the gunfire in their neighborhoods by handguns, or those who were in schools dealing with children who had steered in the wrong direction. Those children were talking about you got to pack. Gun culture doesn't realize what we are turning our children into that they have got to pack. So from Las Vegas to Orlando, to Virginia, to Sandy Hook, to San Bernardino, to now Douglas High School, the question is: When are we going to act? An average of 1,297 children die annually from a gun-related injury. A majority of Americans now support gun policy proposals, such as barring people with mental illness from buying guns. But let me make it very clear. I don't label people who suffer from mental health issues. What I say is: Let us provide the resources for those individuals and clearly between mistakes of reporting what this young man had indicated, to mistakes on the local and Federal level, to mistakes on his mental health situation. We all can stand in blame. But they are adults. What the response has been from our good friends who are the gun advocates, so they say, has been to close their eyes, close their ears, and not sit down at the table of reconciliation. The gun manufacturers cannot continue to dominate the discussion of sensible gun legislation, from Gabby Giffords to the tragedies that I have listed, to children who are saying: I hover in my room, my bedroom, listening to gunfire in my neighborhood because the proliferation of guns is so extensive. So guns are being trafficked illegally because of the gun culture. There are many elements that will go into this. The Congressional Black Caucus has been at the forefront of changing that gun culture, as Congresswoman Kelly has preached about, because of what happened in Chicago. I join her because what happens in our neighborhood is that our children are cowering over gun violence, period. No, arming our teachers is not the answer. Securing our school is; banning those weapons of war is; extending the timeframe is; lifting the age is; and getting the background checks to close the loopholes is. So I am asking this floor and this leadership, as we are doing good legislation on human trafficking, of which I will participate in tomorrow, that we put on the floor legislation of gun safety. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership tonight.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, with pride I rise to pay tribute to Michael Thomas, a multi-talented young man and professional football player, who is volunteering as an NFLPA extern in my office. Before he joined the Miami Dolphins in 2013 to bolster its secondary as a free safety, Michael Thomas, who starred and attended Chester W. Nimitz High School in Houston, Texas, was rated the 75th best high school player in the nation by ESPN. Michael went on to collegiate stardom at Stanford University earning All-Pac-12 Honorable-Mention after his senior year campaign with the Cardinal. Michael Thomas is one of those rare individuals who has a knack for making good things happen. In the very first game he played with the Miami Dolphins, Michael made the game-saving play against the New England Patriots with an end- zone interception of the great Tom Brady. But what I find most exciting and inspiring about this winner is that Michael Thomas also earned his degree from Stanford University and continued his education by earning his MBA from the University of Miami Business School. Michael Thomas comes to my Washington office as an extern during the Second Session of the 115th Congress to get hands on experience on how the legislative branch of the federal government works. During his time in my office, Michael has made a difference by: Attending committee hearings, meetings, and briefings; Researching legislative proposals, advocacy documents, and policy analyses; Contributing to my Budget Committee work; and Drafting memoranda regarding important legislative priorities. Michael Thomas has observed and contributed to the important legislative work that is performed every day in my office to advance a positive legislative agenda that puts children, families and the elderly first at the forefront of public policy initiatives and funding. Michael's work in public service did not begin with his decision to become an extern, nor did it begin when he decided to take a knee in silent protest against a criminal justice system that too often appears to value some lives less than others. Michael Thomas is determined to make a difference in the world of professional sports and in society at large, which inspired him and other athletes to engage in next-step initiatives beyond ``Taking A Knee.'' Michael's commitment to making the world just a little bit better is exemplified by his work on education reform in the city of Houston, as well as with the Miami Dolphins. Michael Thomas is a leader and public entrepreneur in his own right. He proposed that the Miami Dolphins create a ``Project Change Scholarship'' through the Dolphins Foundation, which made its first award this year. Michael is now expanding this effort into a campaign to persuade every sports organization to adopt a similar scholarship program. Michael is challenging all athletes to take an internship or externship in the office of one of their local, state, or federal government elected officials or agencies to gain a better appreciation for and understanding of the central importance of democratic norms, traditions, and institutions to democratic governance that is responsive, effective, innovative, and efficient. There are present and future citizen-activists in every community in America and as Members of Congress we should actively encourage them to become and remain engaged in the important work of citizenship. I am reminded of this pearl of wisdom from Margaret Mead: ``Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.'' I thank Michael Thomas for everything he is doing and has done to promote greater civic tolerance, understanding, inclusion and diversity, and commend him as an example and inspiration to young people everywhere who are asking not what their country can do for them, but what they can do for their country.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from New York for yielding. Mr. Chairman, because we are talking about need this morning, having seen Mr. Deutch in Florida, let me offer my deepest sympathy for the tragic loss of our children. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to be able to speak for many of those who cannot be on the floor today, and that is the millions of disabled Americans; and to be able to say that with all of the consternation and the uncomfortableness of some of the very important people in America: small businesses, the engine of our economy. I have to stand and speak for the value of civil rights and the civil rights of Americans with disabilities who waited for centuries to not be looked upon in distaste and disgust. I remember preceding the passage of the American with Disabilities Act. George H.W. Bush is a Texan, and I see often his passion for passing that bill. There are 57 million Americans with disabilities. That translates to 1 in 5 Americans. There are 31 million Americans with physical disabilities. I heard some of their comments: ``As an older woman with disabilities, I feel invisible.'' Or ``I am not living; I am just existing.'' The ``notice and cure'' framework included in this bill would fundamentally change the structure of the ADA's public accommodations title and remove any reasons for business to comply proactively with the law. The same as the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that we now suffer because we gutted section 4 and section 5, and we have voter suppression, and people are not having their civil rights in terms of voting. You touch this in a way that you undermine the very existence of people living with disabilities. I am outraged, even though I am empathetic. But if it is a problem of lawyers, State bars can regulate them and State courts can regulate them. You can punish or sanction lawyers who do not have the proper protocols. Mr. Chairman, this is wrongheaded. I ask my colleagues to stand for civil rights for Americans with disabilities. This is not just an amendment. It is undermining the civil rights of those who are living with disabilities. They have a right to live. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to H.R. 620, the ``ADA Education and Reform Act,'' legislation that would infringe on important civil rights of Americans who live with physical disabilities. I am deeply troubled that the House of Representatives is taking up H.R. 620, legislation that would remove any incentive businesses currently have to comply with this longstanding civil rights law and undermining protections that allow millions to live independently and in the dignified manner they deserve. There are about 57 million Americans with disabilities; that number translates to 1 in 5 Americans. There are 31 million Americans with physical disabilities who use a wheelchair, cane, crutches, or a walker. And for that I commend former President George H. W. Bush, along with many members of Congress, for their leadership in passing the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, legislation that made our country's public spaces more accessible to those with disabilities. H.R. 620 would require disabled persons to notify businesses of a violation of the ADA's public accommodation provisions contained in title III of the act, and wait up to 180 days to remedy that alleged violation before a lawsuit could be filed, presenting a direct undermining of the civil rights of Americans with disabilities. The ``notice and cure'' framework included in this bill would fundamentally change the structure of the ADA's public accommodations title and remove any reasons for business to comply proactively with the law. H.R. 620's notice and cure provisions will have the effect of inappropriately shifting the burden of enforcing compliance with a federal civil rights statute from the alleged wrongdoer onto the discrimination victim. Moreover, it would undermine the carefully calibrated voluntary compliance regime that is one of the hallmarks of the ADA, a regime formed through negotiations between the disability rights community and the business community when the ADA was being drafted 28 years ago. H.R. 620 would, instead, perversely incentivize a public accommodation to not comply with the ADA unless and until it receives a notice of a violation pursuant to H.R. 620's notice provision. Finally, the bill does nothing to address the problem that its proponents seek to address, which is the purported concern with the filing of meritless lawsuits by certain plaintiffs' attorneys, a problem (to the extent that it is actually a problem) that is one of state law, not the federal ADA. This is not the first time in this Congress, or even this year, that I witness the Republicans, allegedly a party for state's rights, completely undermine the established idea that tort law should be left for states to legislate without interference from federal mandates. H.R. 620's proponents have never adequately articulated why federal law must be amended to address a problem driven by state law. Also, the bill makes no attempt to distinguish between meritorious and non-meritorious lawsuits and would, instead, impose its harmful and unnecessary requirements on all ADA claims, regardless of potential merit. I remain adamantly opposed to any effort to weaken the ability of individuals to enforce their rights under federal civil rights laws and I am concerned that H.R. 620 would undermine the key enforcement mechanism of the ADA and other civil rights laws, namely, the ability to file private lawsuits to enforce rights. Joining me and my colleagues in opposition is a broad coalition of 236 disability rights groups, including: American Foundation for the Blind, the Bazelon Center for Mental Health, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, the National Council on Independent Living, the National Disability Rights Network, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, Vietnam Veterans of America, the AFL-CIO, the Anti-Defamation League, Human Rights Campaign, the NAACP, and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Additionally, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights opposes the bill because it would ``remove incentives for businesses to comply with the law unless and until people with disabilities are denied access'' which ``would lead to the continued exclusion of people with disabilities from the mainstream of society and would turn back the clock on disability rights in America.'' Likewise, the American Civil Liberties Union opposes H.R. 620 because it would ``fundamentally alter [the] way in which a person with a disability enforces their civil rights and would severely limit access to places of public accommodations.'' For the foregoing reasons and those discussed below, we strongly oppose H.R. 620 and respectfully dissent from the Committee report. While it is very important to protect small and growing businesses, we can do so without jeopardizing the rights of disabled individuals to have a day in court. I do not believe that we have crossed the T's and dotted the I's with all the information that we should have in trying to improve our situation and address the concerns of many small businesses. Small businesses are the heartbeat of America and the backbone of successful communities, which is why I have served as one of their strongest advocates during my tenure in Congress. But the reality is that H.R. 620 does not help small businesses, it only hurts the disabled. I do, however, hope that we can achieve this balanced goal through a different avenue. So today I stand with Ranking Member Nadler, Congressman Langevin and all those who stand for civil rights and for the rights of Americans with disabilities. For these reasons I oppose H.R. 620.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Will the gentleman yield?

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chairman, first of all, the American Bar Association supports this legislation. Secondarily, the gentleman is talking about lawyers, not the disabled. Let the State bars and let the State courts regulate these lawyers. Sanction them, just like we have sanctions in the Federal court system.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the rule which makes in order H.R. 620, the ``ADA Education and Reform Act,'' legislation that would infringe on important civil rights of Americans who live with physical disabilities. I am deeply troubled that the House of Representatives is taking up H.R. 620, legislation that would remove any incentive businesses currently have to comply with this longstanding civil rights law and undermining protections that allow millions to live independently and in the dignified manner they deserve. There are about 57 million Americans with disabilities; that number translates to 1 in 5 Americans. There are 31 million Americans with physical disabilities who use a wheelchair, cane, crutches, or a walker. And for that I commend former President George H.W. Bush, along with many members of Congress, for their leadership in passing the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, legislation that made our country's public spaces more accessible to those with disabilities. H.R. 620 would require disabled persons to notify businesses of a violation of the ADA's public accommodation provisions contained in title III of the act, and wait up to 180 days to remedy that alleged violation before a lawsuit could be filed, presenting a direct undermining of the civil rights of Americans with disabilities. The ``notice and cure'' framework included in this bill would fundamentally change the structure of the ADA's public accommodations title and remove any reasons for business to comply proactively with the law. H.R. 620's notice and cure provisions will have the effect of inappropriately shifting the burden of enforcing compliance with a federal civil rights statute from the alleged wrongdoer onto the discrimination victim. Moreover, it would undermine the carefully calibrated voluntary compliance regime that is one of the hallmarks of the ADA, a regime formed through negotiations between the disability rights community and the business community when the. ADA was being drafted 28 years ago. H.R. 620 would, instead, perversely incentivize a public accommodation to not comply with the ADA unless and until it receives a notice of a violation pursuant to H.R. 620's notice provision. Finally, the bill does nothing to address the problem that its proponents seek to address, which is the purported concern with the filing of meritless lawsuits by certain plaintiffs' attorneys, a problem (to the extent that it is actually a problem) that is one of state law, not the federal ADA. This is not the first time in this Congress, or even this year, that I witness the Republicans, allegedly a party for state's rights, completely undermine the established idea that tort law should be left for states to legislate without interference from federal mandates. H.R. 620's proponents have never adequately articulated why federal law must be amended to address a problem driven by state law. Also, the bill makes no attempt to distinguish between meritorious and non-meritorious lawsuits and would, instead, impose its harmful and unnecessary requirements on all ADA claims, regardless of potential merit. I remain adamantly opposed to any effort to weaken the ability of individuals to enforce their rights under federal civil rights laws and I am concerned that H.R. 620 would undermine the key enforcement mechanism of the ADA and other civil rights laws, namely, the ability to file private lawsuits to enforce rights. Joining me and my colleagues in opposition is a broad coalition of 236 disability rights groups, including: American Foundation for the Blind, the Bazelon Center for Mental Health, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, the National Council on Independent Living, the National Disability Rights Network, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, Vietnam Veterans of America, the AFL- CIO, the Anti-Defamation League, Human Rights Campaign, the NAACP, and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Additionally, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights opposes the bill because it would ``remove incentives for businesses to comply with the law unless and until people with disabilities are denied access'' which ``would lead to the continued exclusion of people with disabilities from the mainstream of society and would turn back the clock on disability rights in America.'' Likewise, the American Civil Liberties Union opposes H.R. 620 because it would ``fundamentally alter [the] way in which a person with a disability enforces their civil rights and would severely limit access to places of public accommodations.'' For the foregoing reasons and those discussed below, we strongly oppose H.R. 620 and respectfully dissent from the Committee report. While it is very important to protect small and growing businesses, we can do so without jeopardizing the rights of disabled individuals to have a day in court. I do not believe that we have crossed the T's and dotted the I's with all the information that we should have in trying to improve our situation and address the concerns of many small businesses. Small businesses are the heartbeat of America and the backbone of successful communities, which is why I have served as one of their strongest advocates during my tenure in Congress. But the reality is that H.R. 620 does not help small businesses, it only hurts the disabled. I do, however, hope that we can achieve this balanced goal through a different avenue. So today I stand with Ranking Member Nadler, Congressman Langevin and all those who stand for civil rights and for the rights of Americans with disabilities. For these reasons I oppose the rule governing H.R. 620.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as we address Women's History Month in the month of March, I raise the attention of my colleagues to a set of circumstances that we have seen relating to the administration and its personnel policies, but the real issue is the affirmation of opposition to domestic violence and abuse. Thousands of women and some men lose their lives to domestic abuse and domestic violence. Thousands live in silence and absolute fear. Children see their mothers and fathers killed. To have insensitivity to the importance of anyone who has engaged in domestic violence and domestic abuse be ignored sends a wrong signal to the girls and young women in this country. We must join together in a bipartisan manner to ensure that the Violence Against Women Act is reauthorized in March, and we must pronounce that domestic violence and domestic abuse is wrong for men, women, and families. It is something that should be condemned and not condoned. No matter how important a position you may hold, it is important for America's leadership to denounce this kind of vicious attack on families. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to bipartisanship on this issue.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to explain the importance of the pending legislation, which extends the Continuing Resolution passed by Congress on January 26, 2018 but expired at midnight, February 8, 2018, by an additional six weeks, or until March 23, 2018. This crucial legislation rests upon three pillars. First, the legislation before us provides $89.3 billion in aid to respond to the damage caused by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, and the wildfires in California. Second, the Continuing Resolution pending before us is necessary to finalize and implement a bipartisan and bicameral budget agreement gives parity to defense and non-defense discretionary funding and provides $117 billion more funding for needed non-defense investments in the areas of education, public health, infrastructure, community development, and disaster relief than proposed under the Trump FY 2018 budget. Third, I will be advocating for a nay vote on the Previous Question in order to bring to the floor a crucial legislative fix for debate and vote that will provide permanent legal residence and a path to citizenship to the more than 800,000 Dreamers, including the 124,000 who live in Texas, whose lives have been turned upside down because of this Administration's cruel, unwise, and reckless termination of DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. And in connection with legislation to protect Dreamers, I will insist that the Administration rescind the revocation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti, El Salvador, and Honduras, or failing that, TPS for those countries be extended by congressional legislation. Mr. Speaker, 44,800 residents of Texas are TPS holders from El Salvador (36,300), Honduras (8,400), and Haiti, who combined are parents of 53,800 U.S.-born children in Texas and 14,000 of whom have home mortgages. These TPS holders are integral members of the Texas's social fabric, having lived in Texas an average of 20 years, and contribute an aggregate $2.2 billion to the Texas economy. This legislation provides $89.3 billion in emergency supplemental appropriations to help states, communities, businesses, and individuals respond and recover from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and the California wildfires. This amount represents a doubling of the woefully inadequate $44 billion disaster relief package proposed by the Administration and a substantial increase over the $81.1 billion disaster relief funding approved by the House. Ever since the widespread and catastrophic destruction of Hurricane Harvey occurred, I have been working closely with Senator Cornyn and other federal, state, and local officials, along with my colleagues in the Texas congressional delegation to secure the help necessary for the areas affected by Hurricane Harvey recover and rebuild. The $8 billion increase in disaster relief funding reflected in this legislation is due in strong part to the efforts of Senator Cornyn, with whom I worked very closely to ensure that the interests of Houston and Harris County were promoted and protected. I have witnessed firsthand the pain of storm-weary Houstonians who lost their homes, their belongings, and in many cases their jobs. Right now, at this very moment, hundreds of thousands of Texans--in Port Arthur, in Port Aransas, in Rockport, in Houston and Harris County--remain homeless or are living in substandard homes with blue tarp roofs and infected with mold. They are struggling and hurting. So this is personal to me. That is why right now my highest priority is to ensure that funding that has been made available expeditiously gets in the hands of local governments so that relief can deliver the resources and services so desperately needed. That is why I am working with the Texas General Land Office Commissioner and have advocated for the immediate release of the $5 billion that was approved in September 2017 and wrote the HUD Secretary to expedite promulgation of the proposed regulations necessary to release the funds, which finally were published this week in the Federal Register for notice and comment. And that is why on September 6, 2017, ten days after Hurricane Harvey struck, I introduced the first Hurricane Harvey disaster recovery legislation. I was joined by 44 colleagues in introducing H.R. 3686, the ``Hurricane Harvey Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2017,'' which provides $174 billion in disaster relief for the areas affected by Hurricane Harvey, the worst superstorm ever to strike the mainland United States. The $174 billion in funding provided by H.R. 3686 represents a comprehensive response commensurate to the challenge; specifically that legislation would provide relief in the following amounts: 1. Housing and Community Development Fund: $50 billion 2. FEMA Disaster Relief Fund: $35 billion 3. Army Corps of Engineers--Construction: $15 billion 4. Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies: $13 billion 5. Public Transportation Emergency Relief Program: $33 billion 6. Small Business Disaster Loans Program: $2 billion 7. Emergency Conservation Activities: $650 million 8. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: $321 million 9. National Aeronautics and Space Administration: $50 million 10. Legal Services Corporation: $10 million 11. Army National Guard: $10 million 12. Army Corps of Engineers--Civil Investigations: $150 million 13. Coast Guard: $450 million 14. National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund: $800 million 15. EPA Environmental Programs and Management: $2.5 billion 16. EPA Hazardous Substance Superfund: $7 million 17. Leaking Underground Storage Tank Fund: $15 million 18. State and Tribal Assistance Grants: $600 million 19. Employment and Training Services: $100 million 20. Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund: $2.5 billion 21. Airport and Airway Trust Fund: $90 million 22. Federal-Aid Highways Emergency Relief Program: $6.5 billion Although, the disaster relief funding provided in the legislation before us is not as robust as the package I have proposed, it is a significant improvement over what was initially offered by the Administration and will provide much needed assistance to disaster victims in desperate need of help. I wish to thank the leadership of the Appropriations Committee, in particular T-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Diaz-Balart, and Energy and Water Appropriations Ranking Member Kaptur for including in the legislation before us the following beneficial measures that I requested, including: 1. Authority to establish and implement a $1 billion pilot program to provide small business disaster recovery grants, modeled on H.R. 3930, the ``Hurricane Harvey Small Business Recovery Grants Act,'' legislation I introduced on October 3, 2017 and is co-sponsored by 16 of our colleagues. 2. $75 million for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Investigations account, which is to be used in areas affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and can be used to finance the $3 million Houston-Area Watershed Assessment Study. 3. This is a highly successful conclusion to the multi-year struggle I waged to secure House approval of this project and funding with the Jackson Lee Amendments to the Energy and Water Appropriations Act for Fiscal Years 2016, 2017, and 2018. 4. The bill also includes helpful legislative language to ensure that in awarding CDBG-Disaster Relief funds to states, the Secretary of HUD should to the maximum extent practicable award grants to units of local government and public housing authorities that have the financial and administrative capacity to manage a grant awarded under the program. 5. The bill also includes a provision for which I advocated expressly providing that religious nonprofit organizations and houses of worship have the same opportunity to qualify for disaster assistance as their secular counterparts. Let me describe briefly some of the major provisions contained in this disaster relief funding package before us: FEMA Disaster Relief Fund: $28 billion to provide critical funding to assist the ongoing federal disaster response to allow up to $4 billion to be provided for Community Disaster Loans (CDLs). Emergency Food Assistance Program: $24 million to provide an additional 35 million pounds of food for food banks in states affected by natural disasters. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): $14 million. $7.6 million to repair 12 Food and Drug Administration sites damaged by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, including repair of scientific equipment such as those used to test foods for chemical contamination. Economic Development Assistance Programs: $600 million in additional funding to provide grants to communities directly impacted by Hurricane Harvey, Irma, and Maria, as well as others disasters declared in 2017. This funding will support immediate relief efforts and longterm recovery projects, including repairing and replacing basic infrastructure needs that are vital for local economic recovery. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: $400 million, with $100 million allocated for improving weather forecasting capabilities and data collection efforts to better protect lives and property in the wake of future hurricanes, and with $200 million for fishery disasters causing severe economic harm in coastal communities following Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. National Aeronautics and Space Administration: $81 million to repair facilities damaged at the Kennedy and Johnson Space Centers. Legal Services Corporation: $15 million for mobile resources, technology, and disaster coordinators necessary to provide storm- related services to the population in affected areas. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: $17.39 billion, including $15 billion for flood control and storm damage reduction construction projects and $135 million for high priority Investigation studies for risk reduction from future floods and hurricanes. Of this $135 million, $75 million is to be allocated for the Army Corps of Engineers' Investigations account, which is to be used in areas affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and can be used to finance the $3 million Houston-Area Watershed Assessment Study I have worked to secure and which has been previously approved by the House. The bill also included $608 million to finance needed federal dredging projects, such as Houston Shipping Channel and $810 million to prepare for and mitigate future flood, hurricane, and other natural disasters. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), will receive $28 billion allocated to the Community Development Fund to repair homes, support local business, and rebuild infrastructure while mitigating future risk. Also included in the legislation is authority for HUD to adjust Section 8 voucher funding for public housing agencies adversely affected by disasters in 2017. Mr. Speaker, George Bush Intercontinental Airport, located in my congressional district, will benefit from the $10.3 million to repair Transportation and Security Administration facilities, security equipment, and access control equipment at airports damaged by the hurricanes. The Texas Gulf Coast will benefit from the $835 million allocated to the U.S. Coast Guard; $4 million of which for site assessments to determine environmental compliance and restoration needs. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will receive $23.5 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund to support response and recovery efforts. Other important provisions in the FEMA appropriations: 1. Ensure that religious nonprofit organizations are given the same opportunity to qualify for certain disaster assistance as their secular counterparts. 2. Extend the period of time that local government revenue loss as a result of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria can be considered for the purpose of Community Disaster Loans. 3. Authorize the President to increase the federal cost share for certain disaster assistance from 75 to 85 percent if recipients have taken steps to make themselves more resilient against disasters. The Environmental Protection Agency will receive $6.2 million for the Superfund program to help repair damage sustained to remedies at Superfund sites; $7 million for the Leaking Underground Storage Tank program to repair damage to storage tanks to prevent spills and contaminants from leaking into the environment; and $50 million for debris removal and technical assistance to inspect and clean up hazardous waste facilities. Department of Labor: $100 million for disaster response economic recovery through the Dislocated Worker National Reserve. Department of Health and Human Services: 1. $200 million for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2. $50 million for National Institutes of Health; 3. $650 million for Head Start; and 4. $162 million for the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund, including $60 million for Community Health Centers and $20 million for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration. Department of Education will receive $2.7 billion for Hurricane Education Recovery, including: 1. $2.46 billion to restart operations at elementary and secondary schools; 2. $100 million for institutions of higher education, and students at those institutions; 3. $25 million for education services for homeless children; and 4. $35 million for Project SERV for education-related services to help students recover from traumatic events, including natural disasters. Notably, this legislation forgives loans made to four Historically Black Colleges and Universities in response to Hurricane Katrina. Also notably, the CR allocates $14 million for the Government Accountability Office to conduct oversight and evaluate distribution and use of disaster funding across agencies to ensure responsible use of taxpayer funds. Department of Veterans Affairs: $4.1 million to repair damages to the Veterans Benefit Administration Office in Houston, Texas and the Puerto Rico National Cemetery. Department of Transportation: $30 billion to repair damaged infrastructure and help communities recover from natural disasters. Federal Highway Administration will receive $1.3 billion and the Federal Transit Administration will receive $330 million, both for their Emergency Relief Programs. Mr. Speaker, there is much more work to be done in my city of Houston, and across the areas affected by the terrible, awesome storm that will be forever known simply as Hurricane Harvey, and by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. But the disaster relief funding package before us today represents a solid start toward completing the necessary work that must be undertaken to restore the affected communities to their previous greatness. As I conclude, I am remembering a heroic DREAMER, Alonso Guillen, who came to the U.S. from Mexico as a child, and died in my congressional district when his boat capsized while he was rescuing survivors of the flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey in the Houston area. There is no heart in ending DACA and leaving the fate of 800,000 young persons in limbo and constant fear of deportation from the only country they have ever known, and the only nation to which they have ever pledged allegiance. The way to end this crisis is to bring H.R. 3440, the Dream Act of 2017, to the floor right now and vote for it so it can pass both houses of Congress with a veto-proof majority. A Dreamer seeking to earn her college degree and aspiring to attend medical school to better herself and her new community is not a threat to the nation's security. Law abiding but unauthorized immigrants doing honest work to support their families pose far less danger to society than human traffickers, drug smugglers, or those who have committed a serious crime. President Obama was correct in concluding that exercising his discretion regarding the implementation of DACA enhances the safety of all members of the public, serves national security interests, and furthers the public interest in keeping families together. According to numerous studies conducted by the Congressional Budget Office, Social Security Administration, and Council of Economic Advisors, DACA generates substantial economic benefits to our nation. For example, expanding DACA is estimated to increase GDP by $230 billion and create an average of 28,814 jobs per year over the next 10 years. That is a lot of jobs. In exercising his broad discretion in the area of removal proceedings, President Obama acted responsibly and reasonably in determining the circumstances in which it makes sense to pursue removal and when it does not. Because of President Obama's leadership and visionary executive action, 124,000 undocumented immigrants in my home state of Texas have received deferred action. 91 percent of these immigrants are employed or in school and contribute $6.3 billion annually to the Texas economy and $460.3 billion to the national economy. Instead of wasting time scapegoating DREAMERS, we should instead seize the opportunity to pass legislation that secures our borders, preserves America's character as the most open and welcoming country in the history of the world, and will yield hundreds of billions of dollars in economic growth. THE SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Collins of Georgia). All time for debate has expired. Pursuant to House Resolution 734, the previous question is ordered. The question is on the motion by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen).

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as school children rise across America to go to a place of work for them, but a place of joy, of learning, I rise today to reenforce the importance of education in the State of Texas. The Texas education administrator, along with the Governor of the State of Texas, will be receiving a letter from me reaffirming the plea of local officials--both governmental and educational officials--to give Texas school children, because of the devastation of Hurricane Harvey, a waiver for 2 years for them to be able to improve their scores and to keep the schools open that the parents and the community want to have open. Many of my school districts--seven of which I represent--have faced the tragedy of Hurricane Harvey: the displacement or relocation of their children and the devastation of their schools, including the Houston Independent School District. It has historic schools. So my plea is that this is, likewise, a Federal issue. I was a strong supporter of the SUCCESS Act where we look at different elements, other than testing. Let's look at the holistic aspect of the school children of Houston. Let's give them a waiver. Let's understand Hurricane Harvey. Let's fix the schools and keep them open. That is my fight, and that is my commitment.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 772, the so-called ``Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act of 2017,'' which would deprive American consumers of the full benefit of the Menu Labeling Rule promulgated by the Food and Drug Administration scheduled to go into effect on May 7, 2018. The Menu Labeling Rule provides consumers with nutritional information on the foods they purchase which is critically needed given rates of obesity and diabetes at crisis levels across the country. Mr. Speaker, more than two-thirds of adults and one-third of children are considered to be overweight or obese. Additionally, on average, Americans consume roughly one-third of their calories, and nearly half of their total food spending, on food prepared outside the home. For this reason, access to nutritional information at the point of sale is an important tool for consumers to make informed nutrition decisions. Unfortunately, H.R. 772 will undo the important progress made to implement federal menu labeling standards and will lead to consumer and industry confusion. Consumers deserve transparency and industry deserves certainty, and the bill will lead to less of both. Specifically, I oppose the bill because it: 1. Increases consumer confusion and allows deceptive portion sizes; 2. Removes consumer's right to information regardless of the location of purchase; 3. Removes the American people and the FDA's ability to ensure compliance; and 4. Delays needed transparency and undoes years of work by the FDA. Current law requires menu boards to display calorie information for foods in portions that people would realistically be expected to eat. However, H.R. 772 would permit establishments to display misleading calorie counts, such as by listing a single sandwich as ``4 servings.'' H.R. 772 removes the requirement that menu labeling be available at all points of purchase. In a business sells 51 percent of sales online, restaurants would not be required to provide nutritional information to the remaining 49 percent of consumers. Consumers should not lose access to nutritional information based on where they decide to purchase their meal. This bill removes the responsibility of businesses to certify they remain compliant with menu labeling requirements and shields establishments from any civil lawsuits for noncompliance. This removes important tools to hold businesses accountable and ensure Americans receive the transparency they want and deserve when eating out. Since 2010 when menu labeling requirements were placed into law FDA has worked extensively with stakeholders to enact the law in a manner that works for both consumers and businesses. Most recently, in November 2017, FDA published additional guidance to help answer remaining questions related to compliance and ensure all covered establishments have the tools they need to comply. H.R. 772, however, would require FDA to expend significant resources to revise the final menu labeling rule, leading to extensive delays and greater confusion given that many businesses have already begun implementation of the menu labeling requirements as they currently stand. Under H.R. 772, changes to menu labeling requirements would make access to information on menu labels more difficult for consumers. Americans must be able to know what is in their food to make healthy choices. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the final rule enacted by the Food and Drug Administration. It was the result of a deliberate multi-year process that included input from officials in the food industry, government and public health. This bill is unnecessary as the FDA's recent guidance already addresses the bill's concern. Chain food service establishments have had years to prepare for compliance with the requirements. Many of these establishments have already changed their menus in anticipation of the May 5, 2018 deadlines. The May 7, 2018 deadline is actually the third extension of previous deadlines, dating back to December 1, 2016. Consumers must be able to have all available information to make informed, healthy choices for themselves and their families. I urge all Members to vote against this ill-advised and anti-consumer measure.