Daniel Kildee

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to how much time I have remaining?

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutch).

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Sarbanes).

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Chairman, fundamentally, this amendment is simply about the right of the American people to know who is influencing the elections that determine the leadership in this country. This legislation, as presented, would actually prohibit the SEC from requiring that kind of disclosure. The American people deserve a democracy that is transparent. This amendment would provide the SEC with the tools to make rules that would provide that. I urge my colleagues to support my amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KILDEE. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. KILDEE. Are the corporate contributions made under the provisions that we are speaking of disclosed to the Federal Election Commission? Corporate spending under the Citizens United case, for example; are those disclosed by corporations to the FEC?

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, Congress has no greater responsibility than acting to keep the American people safe. That is why House Democrats, focused on a strong and smart national security plan, have repeatedly made attempts to close a dangerous loophole that allows suspected terrorists to buy deadly weapons, weapons like those that we just saw used in the horrific mass shooting in Orlando. Eighty percent of Americans, an overwhelming majority, support a law that would prevent people on the FBI's terrorist watch list from being able to buy guns. For the American people, it is common sense. It is a no-brainer. Yet Republicans in Congress continue to do everything they can to stop us not just from acting, but to stop us from even having a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives as to whether this legislation ought to go forward. In the Senate, they have blocked efforts--they just did yesterday--to bring up this commonsense legislation. Speaker Ryan and House Republicans continue to keep us from bringing up a bill authored by one of the Republican Members of this House that would prevent an individual on the terrorist watch list from buying a gun. It is long past time. Congress needs to act.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember two young Michiganders who tragically were among the 49 people who lost their lives in Orlando on Sunday. Tevin Crosby, from Saginaw, Michigan, was just 25 years old. He was on a trip visiting family in North Carolina and went on to Florida to see some friends and some colleagues. He was a young businessowner. He was described as a rising star, according to his friends and his colleagues. An employee at his company told The Saginaw News that he was always smiling and always positive. Michigan also lost Christopher ``Drew'' Leinonen, who was a native of Detroit. His mother, Christine, told ABC that her son established the gay-straight alliance at his high school and received a humanitarian award for his effort. Juan Ramon Guerrero, the man he planned to wed, was also killed. My heart aches for Tevin and Drew's families and their loved ones and all those who were killed over the weekend. This was an act of terror against the LGBT community. As our Nation heals from this tragedy, Congress must turn our country's grief into action. There is no place for weapons of war on the streets of America's cities, murdering our children. This Congress has it within its hands to act, and this Congress needs to act.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, like my colleagues and so many Americans, I am horrified by the brutal act of terror that killed 49 people, including Tevin Crosby, a 25-year-old man from my district, and that wounded so many others in Orlando. I stand with the loved ones of those lost and with the LGBT community that has suffered this unimaginable act of violence. You know, as our country works to heal from this latest deadliest mass shooting ever, Congress has got to do its job. We can act on this floor to protect American citizens by making sure that, if an individual is on the terrorist watch list, they cannot fly on a plane. For God's sake, they should not be able to go and buy a weapon. The shooter in Orlando had been on the terror watch list and was able to go buy three weapons, including an AR-15. Congressman Peter King of New York's bill would stop this. I join with him, and I ask all Members of Congress, please, let's not let this moment pass. Let's take action.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, Republicans in Congress have failed to pass a budget or to adequately address the health crises that we have brewing in this country, including one in my own hometown of Flint, Michigan. Now, this week, Speaker Ryan is trying to distract the focus from Republican Party leader and presumptive nominee Donald Trump's racist and bigoted remarks toward Mexican Americans and Muslim Americans. Releasing white papers is not enough to offset what the leader of your party is saying every day about American citizens. Last week, for example, Donald Trump questioned the ability of an American Federal judge to do his job--this is a direct quote--because ``he's a Mexican.'' He even doubled down on this extreme position, questioning whether a Muslim American judge could also properly do his job based on his religion, based on his beliefs. These are deeply troubling, racist, un-American comments that cannot be tolerated, that cannot be accepted. Honestly, if I felt as if the leadership in the House were doing its job to overcome that so as to do its own job and not align with those sorts of statements by allowing its own legislation to fail because of the willingness to fly the Confederate flag, it would be far more acceptable.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I ask the United States House of Representatives to join me in welcoming my constituent, Ms. Jameshia Shepherd, to Congressional Foster Youth Shadow Day. Today, I am honored to be joined by Jameshia Shepherd, who is shadowing me as part of the 2016 Congressional Foster Youth Day. Throughout her time with me, I have had the opportunity to learn more about Jameshia and she has had the opportunity to learn more about my work in Congress. Jameshia is a remarkable young woman who has dedicated herself to help enrich the lives of those who, like her, have grown up in the foster care system. Like me, Jameshia is studying social work. She hopes to pursue her law degree with the intention of eventually working with juvenile delinquent youth. Using her experiences as a template for a brighter future, Jameshia has shown a great dedication to her fellow community members. I am confident that her passion to impact young lives will prove to be a determining factor in the futures of young individuals like her. Her commitment is commendable, and I am honored to have had the opportunity to meet her. Foster Youth Shadow Day, launched in 2011, provides Members of Congress the opportunity to meet foster youth in order to discuss and develop policy recommendations to strengthen the child welfare system and improve the overall well-being of youth and families throughout the United States. It has been an honor to take part in this program. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I applaud Ms. Jameshia Shepherd for her dedication to serve those in her community and commitment to helping young individuals like her to build a bright future.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, today is Foster Youth Shadow Day. It is a day that gives Members of Congress a chance to spend time with young adults from our districts who have grown up in the foster care system. I always enjoy this day because it gives me a chance to understand the experience of foster youth and to talk about policies that would help support those children and young adults in that system. I have learned a lot today from Justin and Jameshia, who are here with me. They are two young adults with whom I am spending time. Both have spent years in the foster care system and have grown to be really remarkable young adults. Justin is studying international relations at Michigan State University, and Jameshia just graduated from the University of Michigan-Flint, one of my alma maters, with a degree in social work. Along with their interest in school, they both have dedicated themselves to bettering the lives of other children in Michigan and around the world. Their commitment to raise up kids in my hometown and their hometown of Flint is really inspiring. I am just happy that I am able to get to know them better and to see the passion that they bring to their communities. That passion will take them far. It is important that we hear from people like Justin and Jameshia in order to shape the policies that we make right here in this Congress. I am just glad I could hear what they had to say, and I am glad they could be with us today. I am honored to spend part of Foster Youth Shadow Day with them.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I ask the United States House of Representatives to join me in welcoming my constituent, Mr. Justin McElwee, to Congressional Foster Youth Shadow Day. Today, I am honored to be joined by Justin McElwee, who is shadowing me as part of the 2016 Congressional Foster Youth Day. Throughout his time with me, I have had the opportunity to learn more about Justin and he has had the opportunity to learn more about my work in Congress. Justin is a remarkable young man who has dedicated himself to the work of fighting for a better future for young individuals in poverty and those in foster care. Justin is studying international relations with the hope of working with international organizations who battle for the downtrodden in the United States and around the world. Justin's commitment to serve his fellow man, especially young individuals like himself, is commendable. I am honored to have had the opportunity to meet such a remarkable young individual. Justin is living proof that the circumstances of youth can be used to help shape a brilliant future. Foster Youth Shadow Day, launched in 2011, provides Members of Congress the opportunity to meet foster youth in order to discuss and develop policy recommendations to strengthen the child welfare system and improve the overall well-being of youth and families throughout the United States. It has been an honor to take part in this program Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I applaud Mr. Justin McElwee for his dedication to serve those in his community and commitment to helping young individuals like him to build a bright future.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for offering this amendment and for yielding to me. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the previous question so we can immediately bring up H.R. 4479, which, as described, is the Families of Flint Act. We all know this story. Many Members have heard me talk about it here on the floor of the House before. But in short, the city of Flint had been a struggling community already because of the loss of jobs. Then the State of Michigan just a few years ago cut one of the three essential elements to keep that city running--State revenue sharing-- which threw the city into a financial crisis. The State's response: appoint a financial manager, an emergency manager, to take over the city government, to suspend democracy, and, essentially, to act in dictatorial form. One of the decisions that that emergency manager made was to move the city from using Great Lakes water as its primary drinking water source to using the Flint River--a highly corrosive river--just to save money, and they did save money. The corrosion from that water, untreated, caused lead to leach into the pipes in Flint and into the homes of 100,000 people. There are consequences to that decision. The lives of children--the lives of people in Flint--are permanently affected by that. There are 9,000 children under the age of 6 who could potentially bear scars of this poisoning for the rest of their lives and have their development affected. Lead is a neurotoxin. It affects brain development, and its impact is permanent. But, with help, people can overcome the effects of this kind of lead exposure. The failure by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and the terrible mistakes made by the emergency manager cannot be undone. The effect can't be changed. What we can do is make it right for the people of Flint. We can prevent another exposure. The Kildee-Upton bill, which I worked on with my friend from across the aisle, Mr. Upton, would do that. Just preventing the next Flint isn't enough. We have to make it right for the people of Flint and provide them justice. The Families of Flint Act would do that. It would provide immediate relief in making sure that they have clean drinking water. It would provide support to get rid of those lead service lines and improve the water distribution system so that this does not happen again. Importantly, the Families of Flint Act would also provide ongoing support for those families in Flint and give them the kind of health care they need to overcome the effect of lead exposure in the monitoring of their health. Especially, it would provide for kids, who should have every opportunity to overcome the effect of lead exposure, by basically providing to those 9,000 children the same thing that any of us would do for our own children if they had a developmental hurdle to overcome--providing the kind of behavioral support and the kind of enrichment opportunities that many of these kids, because they are born into poverty in Flint, don't have access to. This would provide that for them to make sure that they have a chance to overcome this terrible crisis. Justice for the people of Flint will come in many forms. Some people have resigned. Some have been fired. Some have been criminally charged. None of that does any good for the people of my hometown unless we also do what we can to restore to them the opportunity that the kids in Flint and that the families in Flint--like any other American--expect to have for their kids. Justice comes in lots of forms. Our job in Congress is to make sure we seek justice for the people in our country. When one community, one group of folks, is struggling, facing a disaster, facing the biggest challenge that the community has ever faced, it is our duty, our job, our responsibility, to come together to help them. The Families of Flint Act would do that by providing Federal help that would be required to have State support equal to what the Federal Government provides. Basically, rather than litigating who is at fault, we would fix the problem and realize that the people who live in Flint have a right to have their Federal Government step up for them. Even if it were primarily the State's responsibility for what took place, they are citizens of the United States just like they are citizens of Michigan. When they face the greatest crisis that they have ever had, they have every right to expect that Congress itself would act to provide for them the relief to get through this disaster. We have done it in other cases. There are times when we all come together as Americans. This is one of those times. Congress must act. Congress should do its job. By defeating the previous question, we can bring up the Families of Flint Act and do that.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, last week we learned that the Republican presumptive nominee, Donald Trump, actually rooted for the collapse of the housing market just before the Great Recession wrecked our economy. In 2007, before the crash, Donald Trump said he was excited about the housing market crash because ``I've always made more money in bad markets than in good markets.'' Today we don't know if he made money or not because, unlike Presidential candidates for decades, Donald Trump refuses to release his income tax returns. In fact, there is one report that suggests that he paid no income taxes in 1 year. Even worse, his own company, Trump Mortgage, actually pushed people into subprime mortgages. Millions of people lost their homes in the housing crisis, and 8.4 million Americans lost their jobs, but Donald Trump was the winner. He is doing what he does best--putting himself above everybody else. He does not want to make America great. Donald Trump wants to make Donald Trump richer.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, the families I represent in Flint, Michigan, are still suffering from an ongoing water crisis that left their water tainted with lead and unsafe to drink. When Americans face a humanitarian crisis, we come together to act, to provide them help. That has been our tradition. Those are our values, and, in Congress, that is our job. For too long, the Republican-led House has not allowed a hearing, let alone a vote, on legislation that would provide that basic humanitarian relief to 100,000 people in Flint, Michigan, who still cannot drink their water, who are still suffering from the effect of lead poisoning in their water by acts of its own State government. The Families of Flint Act, legislation that I introduced, has over 155 cosponsors. This bill at least warrants a hearing. There have been committee hearings on this question. There has been a lot of finger- pointing, a lot of argument, a lot of sympathy from Members of Congress, but no action. Congress needs to do its job.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. I thank my friend for yielding. Mr. Chair, for many years, the Air Force used perfluorinated chemicals in its compound for firefighting foam, but in the past few years, very high levels of these PFCs have been discovered in the fish near the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda, Michigan, which is in my district. Tests have revealed the presence of PFCs as well in the groundwater that people who live near the former Air Force base depend upon. The CDC and the EPA have both said that PFCs can be potentially harmful to people's health, though there is still not clear guidance as to what is a safe level of exposure, especially in the long term; although, there is great concern on this question. I have asked the Air Force as well as the State of Michigan to provide bottled water to those identified individuals who are living near Wurtsmith whose water may be contaminated by PFCs at least until more research is done on the safety of their water. My amendment would require the Department of Defense to do whatever it can to prevent further exposure to PFCs.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, my hometown of Flint is still facing a crisis: 100,000 people still cannot turn on their tap and have access to safe drinking water. This Congress faces a multitude of public health crises--Zika, the opioid epidemic--but Congress must also do its job and act on Flint to aid the people that I represent of my hometown that are still suffering and still cannot drink the water coming out of the tap--100,000 people. This is a disaster. It is a crisis that demands Congress to act. Congress should do its job and immediately take up the Families of Flint Act, legislation that I have introduced that has over 150 cosponsors, 150 Members of this body cosponsoring legislation that would replace those damaged lead service lines, provide public health service and wraparound services, especially for children who can overcome the impact of lead exposure, but just need help in order to do so. Families in Flint have waited too long. Congress has to do its job and act on the Flint crisis.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I ask the United States House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Ms. Killotta Tartt-Wall for her unwavering commitment to equal educational opportunities and student success. Ms. Tartt-Wall has worked in the educational field for 12 years. She has worked as an Early Childhood Special Education Teacher for five years and has worked for the Head Start program for seven years. For two summers she also taught the Tot Lot summer Preschool Program. All of her teaching has been done in the Flint area with Flint families and children. Ms. Tartt-Wall is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of young children and their families. She believes that one of the pathways out of poverty is having a good educational foundation that focuses on partnering with families to help ensure the success of the children she works with. Head Start is the national commitment to give every child, regardless of circumstances at birth, an opportunity to succeed in school and in life. When Head Start was first launched in 1965, the idea of providing comprehensive health, nutrition, and education services to children in poverty was revolutionary. The Head Start Model, developed over the decades has been built on evidence-based practices and is constantly adapting--using the best available science and teaching techniques to meet the needs of local communities. This year, Ms. Tartt-Wall was nominated for the National Head Start Teacher of the Year by her peers. She has a reputation of having endless enthusiasm and a passion for working with at-risk families and children. Ms. Tartt-Wall is an outstanding example of what one person can do to bring hope and success to the children and families affected by the Flint Water Crisis. Mr. Speaker, I applaud Ms. Killotta Tartt-Wall for her dedication to the families of Flint and commitment to educational success.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I ask the United States House of Representatives to join me in recognizing the students of Holt Public Schools for the support they have offered to the city of Flint and its residents during the Flint Water Crisis. Seven students from Washington Woods Middle School and Dimondale Elementary have embarked on a campaign to donate a truckload of drinking water to Flint residents. The students quickly accomplished their fundraising mission by selling rubber ducks at local community events, and cooperation with Meijer stores and UFCW Local 951 assisted in their donation effort. The student group is continuing their successful community service campaign and plans on raising funds for the delivery of another truckload of water. To date, over $4,500 has been raised by the group's Truck of Water for Flint GoFundMe fundraiser. This has allowed a truckload of over 36,000 water bottles to be delivered to Flint residents, and the second load of drinking water is forthcoming. The type of direct care that these students have shown is exactly what the residents of Flint need. It is my honor to represent such active and charitable members of our community, and this group of young students is a shining example. Mr. Speaker, I applaud the work done by these Holt Public Schools students, and I thank them for the service they have provided to the city of Flint.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, here we are back again, another week in Congress where Republicans in Congress continue to fail to do their job to act to protect American families in crisis. Whether it is the ongoing water crisis in my hometown of Flint or the threat of the Zika virus, the American people look to us for action. They deserve action to protect American families. In my own hometown of 100,000 people, the people still cannot drink their water. It is a disaster. Typically, as Americans, we come together to act. It is this body that brings us together as a Congress to act to protect Americans in their moment of greatest need. Yet, Republicans in Congress fail to do their job. My bill, the Families of Flint Act, would provide relief evenly divided between the Federal and State government. No hearings in committee, no votes on the floor of the House of Representatives. The American people deserve a Congress that will do its job and will act on their interests. Mr. Speaker, I ask that we immediately take up my bill.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I ask the United States House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Ms. Leaym-Fernandez for the support she has offered to the city of Flint and its students during the Flint Water Crisis. Ms. Leaym-Fernandez is a professional artist and visual arts teacher in Flint Community Schools. Flint schools have an art budget of less than one dollar per student annually, but Ms. Leaym-Fernandez makes it her mission to combat this by providing opportunities and resources for Flint students to express themselves artistically. She has worked tirelessly to find funding opportunities to empower both her visual arts program and the students within it since she took the lead two years ago. Ms. Leaym-Fernandez emphasizes the importance of artistic expression by focusing her efforts on the population of disenfranchised students in her district who need her help the most, especially those students who attend an alternative education institution. Fostering success in students who vary from being teen parents, on probation, or have learning or discipline difficulties is a commendable mission. Especially in light of the ongoing water crisis. By striving to give students the resources they need to express themselves creatively and artistically, Ms. Leaym-Fernandez sets an admirable example for teachers and community members alike. It is my honor to represent such active and charitable members of our community, and Melissa Leaym-Fernandez is a shining example. The type of direct and individual care that Ms. Leaym-Fernandez has shown is exactly what the students of Flint need. Mr. Speaker, I applaud the work done by Ms. Leaym-Fernandez and thank her for the service she has provided to the students and city of Flint.

Mr. KILDEE

Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, the ranking member, for yielding. I also want to thank the folks on both sides of the aisle for their great work on this Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, particularly my colleague from Michigan, Congresswoman Miller, who just spoke and who will be leaving Congress at the end of this year. She has been a defender of the Great Lakes for her entire time here. I think it is a fitting part of her legacy that this legislation, hopefully today, will pass this House of Representatives. Mr. Speaker, being from Michigan and being a part of the Great Lakes, really growing up around the lakes and in the lakes gives us a lot of pride in my home State. It is the greatest freshwater source, surface freshwater source on the planet, and provides drinking water to over 30 million Americans. It is a great economic resource as well with great benefits to our entire Nation. It supports millions of jobs, and billions of income every year is derived from the dependence that we have on this great resource. It supports commerce, agriculture, transportation, and tourism. It is home to over 3,500 species of plants and animals. It is an incredible ecosystem. But we know that the threat to the lakes--the threats--multiple threats to the lakes--are real. From invasive species like Asian carp to toxic chemical contamination and to habitat loss, we have to do everything we can within our power to protect the Great Lakes and combat these really clear present threats. So I am really proud in a very bipartisan fashion to support full funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to protect and restore that which we have lost in the largest system of fresh water in the world. In the short time that the GLRI has been in place, we have made progress--and we know that this is an effective program--addressing longstanding environmental problems confronting the lakes. Over 2,500 individual projects have already been implemented to improve water quality, to clean up contaminated shorelines, to protect and restore native habitats and species, and to control invasive species. Mr. Speaker, we are here because we know we have to do more. I join my colleagues in urging Congress to join us in supporting the economic and environmental health of the Great Lakes and making this a permanent part of American law.