Robin Kelly

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate Congressman Butterfield's remarks. It is now my pleasure to yield to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Fudge), past chairperson of the Congressional Black Caucus and Congressperson extraordinaire.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield), the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. I thank Congresswoman Fudge for her very, very pertinent remarks. It is now my honor to yield to the freshman gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ms. Plaskett).

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Thank you to the gentlewoman from the great State of Ohio. You have done a great job describing the challenges and sharing the progress that has been made thus far for our constituents of color. You have given us a call to action. Mr. Speaker, once confirmed, Loretta Lynch will replace Eric Holder as Attorney General. In that role, she will be in charge of managing and directing the policies of our Nation's law enforcement officers. Ms. Lynch, as we have heard, is uniquely fitted to serve that role for our Nation, especially at this critical point in our national discourse. As U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Ms. Lynch currently serves as the chief Federal prosecutor for Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and Long Island. The death of Eric Garner this past July occurred on Staten Island, within Ms. Lynch's jurisdiction. Eric Garner's death--followed by the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, this past August--stirred a national discussion on use of force by police. Unfortunately, this discussion has produced increased animosity and distrust between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve. This is especially true in communities of color. This is not the right approach, Mr. Speaker. This is not the way to move our country forward. We cannot afford distrust between law enforcement and the communities they are tasked with protecting. What we need is increased compassion, increased understanding, and increased trust between police and communities, and Loretta Lynch understands this. In her opening statement before the Senate Judiciary Committee last month, Ms. Lynch stated: Few things have pained me more than reported tensions and division between law enforcement and the communities we serve. If confirmed as Attorney General, one of my key priorities will be to work to strengthen the vital relationships of courageous law enforcement personnel in the communities we serve. My family members have served and do serve in law enforcement. I have many friends in law enforcement. I have been fortunate enough to have many positive experiences with the law enforcement community. I understand just how courageous and brave the men and women who dedicate their lives to keeping us safe truly are. However, I also understand the fear many citizens in communities of color have toward law enforcement following these tragic events. Nobody should live in fear of the institutions put in place to protect them. To move forward, we must change the conversation from law enforcement versus community to law enforcement and community. Essential to advancing this cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship is the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, or COPS office, within the Department of Justice. COPS is tasked with building trust and mutual respect between police and their communities. Increasing trust is essential to advancing public safety. A citizen who trusts their local police office and understands their mission is less likely to engage in antisocial and unlawful behavior; and a police officer who can empathize with the fears, sensibilities, and concerns of community members will be less likely to take rash, unwarranted, or disproportionate responses to those unlawful actions. These focused efforts allow for law enforcement agencies and communities to work together and, instead of simply addressing immediate concerns, address systemic issues plaguing communities, many of which serve as the root cause of the violence and crime that occurs. The COPS program's motto is: ``Building Relationships, Solving Problems.'' For the past 20 years, COPS has done just that. COPS grants have given billions of dollars to State and local law enforcement agencies to hire police officers, provide technical assistance, and conduct training programs teaching collaboration skills, increasing shared understanding, and advancing sensitivity training. Mr. Speaker, I can think of no better person to lead our Justice Department and further advance the efforts of the COPS program than Loretta Lynch. Ms. Lynch is exactly right in her desired focus of prioritizing improving relationships between law enforcement and communities. Her vision is exactly what the Justice Department and the COPS program, in particular, need at this critical point in time. I fully understand the frustration, anger, and deep concern felt in communities across the country; however, it is simply unsustainable to have a dynamic where police fear communities and communities fear the police. In order to ensure that all State and local law enforcement agencies and the entire justice system treat all Americans fairly and value all American lives equally, we must hold law enforcement to high professional standards and provide them with necessary training to effectively protect and police diverse communities. Mr. Speaker, this month, we recognize the 50th anniversary of the March on Selma, Alabama. The brave men and women who marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge that day and the countless others through the Jim Crow South were on the receiving end of horrendous and unspeakable actions of police brutality. We have come a long way over the 50 years, Mr. Speaker; however, much work remains. I can think of no better person to lead that charge than Loretta Lynch. I look forward to her service as our Nation's Attorney General and the robust COPS program she will advance. I yield to my great partner from the great State of New Jersey.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Thank you kindly to the gentleman from New York, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, a man of much wisdom and truth. Congressman Payne, we have heard from a number of Members why Loretta Lynch would be a great Attorney General. Hopefully, we can move on this and she will be confirmed very soon. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would like to introduce one of my freshman colleagues, the woman from the great State of Ohio, Congresswoman extraordinaire Joyce Beatty.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Thank you, Congresswoman Plaskett, for educating our public on the challenges people on the Islands face. Your words are so pertinent as we go to Selma to remember the events of 50 years ago. Mr. Speaker, it is now my distinct honor to call to the podium the gentleman from New York, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries,

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, this evening, the Congressional Black Caucus will take a moment to discuss our strong support for the confirmation of U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch as the next Attorney General of the United States, and we will examine the larger issue of justice in America. Tonight's CBC hour is entitled ``Bridging the Divide: Observations on Race and Justice in America.'' As we reflect on the 50th anniversary of the Selma marches, the events of Bloody Sunday, and the progress that has been achieved in the years since, we must remember that the Voting Rights Act was achieved not only because of those who marched, it succeeded because of those who cared enough to get involved, a Congress that became engaged, and an active Department of Justice that was diligent about enforcing the Voting Rights Act. Loretta Lynch is exactly the type of active, educated, and principled character we need as our next Attorney General. Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to confirm her as the next AG, paving the way for her confirmation by the full Senate. This confirmation must come soon and cannot be held up for partisan political purposes. With experience as a frontline prosecutor, a U.S. attorney, and as someone with a strong record of service over several decades, Ms. Lynch is more than qualified to sit at the helm of the Department of Justice and protect the rights of our American democracy. On the issue of justice, there is so much more we can discuss tonight, but right now, it is most appropriate for us to examine a few topics that so many citizens in the districts we represent want to look at. In addition to Ms. Lynch and the Department of Justice, we would like to take time to explore the value of black lives in America and the fact that they do really matter, perceptions in minority communities regarding police treatment, the impact of black incarceration on communities, and voting rights and disenfranchisement. I want to thank the distinguished gentleman from the Garden State, my good friend and anchor for this hour of action, Representative Donald Payne. Congressman Payne has been a forceful advocate for justice issues in America and a leader in the true sense of the word. I yield to Congressman Payne.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I offer a commonsense amendment to H.R. 5, the Student Success Act. My amendment makes a minor modification to the underlying bill and does not have an impact on direct spending; still, the simple fix stands to make a tremendous difference for countless students and families on the education front. My amendment would provide an assurance from statewide family engagement center grantees, under the ``family engagement in education programs'' portion of the bill, that they will conduct adult and financial literacy training programs in their communities as part of their efforts to engage families and improve academic outcomes for students. So often, the national debate around education focuses on children in school, but estimates suggest there are 30 million adults in the United States who have trouble with basic literacy. This means, not only do they struggle in their own lives when reading a menu or paying the bills, but they are also unable to help their children with the most basic homework exercises. Parents who struggle to read are often incapable of comprehending report cards and academic progress reports, and their struggle with literacy can have multigenerational consequences as these parents are unable to provide early academic guidance at home that is critical to early learning success. Like reading literacy, financial literacy is a critical component to comprehensive education, and communities stand to gain from the existence of more local programs devoted to teaching money management skills to parents and kids. Many teachers cite a lack of time, a lack of State curriculum requirements, and a lack of demand as the top challenges to teaching financial literacy. American students today often find themselves in situations in which they are making more spending decisions and accumulating more debt at a time when debt pressures are impacting student performance and resulting in students dropping out of school. As the family engagement centers supported by this bill aim to improve educational outcomes for families across the spectrum, they must realize that bolstering reading and financial literacy is a critical comprehensive family engagement in education strategy. Our national security, economic prosperity, and global standing depend on America's ability to secure its educational and financial future. When schools succeed, America succeeds, and when communities and families are invested in education, students thrive. I ask for bipartisan support of this commonsense amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, as we recognize the achievements of many African Americans this Black History Month, I want to acknowledge the Divine Nine, historically black fraternities and sororities of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, and the role of their members in shaping our Nation. Divine Nine organizations consist of: Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, founded in 1906 at Cornell University, whose brotherhood includes: the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; my colleagues Congressmen Emanuel Cleaver, Danny Davis, Chaka Fattah, Al Green, Gregory Meeks, Charles Rangel, David Scott, and Bobby Scott; legendary Olympic Gold Medalist Jesse Owens; National Urban League President Marc Morial; and legal pioneers Charles Hamilton Houston and Thurgood Marshall; and they are led by Grand President Mark S. Tillman. Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, founded in 1911 at Indiana University, includes: civil rights leader Reverend Ralph Abernathy; my colleagues Congressmen Sanford Bishop, William Lacy Clay, dean of the House John Conyers, Alcee Hastings, Bennie Thompson, and Hakeem Jeffries; General Daniel ``Chappy'' James, the first African American four-star general; attorney Johnnie Cochran; Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr., the first Black astronaut; Hall of Fame Chicago Bear running back Gale Sayers; and a special shout-out to a proud Kappa, Brace Clement of Seattle, Washington. They are led by Grand Polemarch William ``Randy'' Bates. Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, founded in 1908 at Howard University, is a sisterhood which proudly boasts of Congresswomen Sheila Jackson Lee, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Terri Sewell, Frederica Wilson, Alma Adams, and Bonnie Watson Coleman; astronaut Mae Jemison; the late Maya Angelou; the late civil rights leaders Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King; and their honorable president, Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson. Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, founded in 1911 at Howard University, men who include in their ranks Assistant House Democratic Leader James Clyburn of South Carolina, Congressmen Hank Johnson, and Kendrick Meek; NASA Administrator Charles Bolden; Hall of Fame Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan; and Dr. Charles Drew, whose medical research in the field of blood transfusions led to the founding of the Blood Bank. They are led by the Honorable Grand Basileus Antonio F. Knox. Delta Sigma Theta, founded in 1913 at Howard University, who count as sisters our next Attorney General, Loretta Lynch; Congresswomen Marcia Fudge, Yvette Clarke, Joyce Beatty, and Brenda Lawrence; the first African American woman elected to Congress, Shirley Chisolm, one of my sheroes; former Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman; and their Honorable President Paulette C. Walker. Another special shout-out to my bonus daughter, Michelle Mills, and my mentee, Miki Grace. Phi Beta Sigma, founded in 1914 at Howard University, the fraternity of my husband, Dr. Nathaniel Horn; civil rights pioneer and leader of the first Black labor union, the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, A. Philip Randolph; civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis; Dr. George Washington Carver; James Weldon Johnson, author, politician, and songwriter, whose works include ``Lift Every Voice and Sing,'' the Black national anthem; Alain LeRoy Locke, the first Black Rhodes Scholar; and former President of the United States, William Jefferson Clinton. They are led by President Jonathan A. Mason. Zeta Phi Beta, founded in 1920 at Howard University, a sisterhood that counts Congresswoman Donna Edwards; the late Congresswoman Julia Carson; author Zora Neale Hurston; Lillian Fishburne, the first African American to hold the rank of Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy; and their honorable president, Mary Breaux Wright. Sigma Gamma Rho, my sorority, Congresswoman Corrine Brown of Florida, the late Lindy Boggs of Louisiana; Eugenia Charles, first female Prime Minister of Dominica--she was the first woman elected head of government in the Americas; the first African American winner of the Academy Awards, Hattie McDaniel; broadcast trailblazer founder of Radio One, Cathy Hughes; and our esteemed Grand Basileus Bonita Herring. Last, but certainly not least, Iota Phi Theta, whose brotherhood includes Congressman Bobby Rush; Billy Ocasio, former alderman to Chicago's 26th Ward and adviser to former Governor Pat Quinn; and Elvin Hayes, NBA player and NBA Hall of Fame Inductee. The brothers and sisters of the Divine Nine have saved countless lives, advanced civil rights, and left a lasting legacy across our Nation. I thank the Divine Nine brothers and sisters for their groundbreaking contributions and for their commitment to molding future leaders, improving education, and the advancement of civil rights.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the history and legacy of the Pullman community of Chicago. Last week, President Obama designated Pullman as a national monument, ensuring that Pullman's heritage as an industrial innovator and labor leader lives on. Pullman played a vital role in our Nation's labor and civil rights movements. It is the birthplace of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, our Nation's first Black labor union, and it was a major battleground in the national fight for fair wages and safe working conditions. I thank the countless dedicated people who worked with me and before me to make this designation possible. Pullman National Monument will preserve Pullman's legacy and ensure that the community will continue to thrive for generations to come.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise on behalf of the many Illinois veterans that I represent and their families to draw attention to the high rate of veteran unemployment in America. After fighting for our Nation, far too many military heroes are being forced to fight for a job here at home. Despite many veterans having the leadership skills and work ethic that businesses are looking for, the unemployment rate for post-9/11 veterans is 6.9 percent, far higher than the national average of 5.6 percent. I am committed to reducing veteran unemployment and helping our heroes find quality work. Last week, I released an updated edition of my veterans resource guidebook to help our veterans get the benefits they have earned and employment resources to get them and their families back in the workforce, but we need to do more. I urge my colleagues to work with me to pass a veterans job bill to put the half million unemployed veterans back to work.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Thank you, my friend from New Jersey. It is an honor to host with you this year. I am excited about the work ahead for the CBC in the 114th Congress. I also want to acknowledge the great job that Congressman Horsford and Congressman Jeffries did in hosting the Special Order hour in the 113th Congress. I also want to honor our past chair, Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, for all of her great work. Discussing 50 years from Selma, where we were, where we are, and where we are headed, I expect this to be very stimulating, frustrating, and rewarding all at the same time. It remains that we have a lot of work to do.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. I would like to thank the gentlewoman from Ohio for her important remarks. As we come to a close, I thank the distinguished gentleman from the Garden State--my good friend, Representative Donald Payne--for his tremendous leadership and for leading this Congressional Black Caucus Special Order hour. Mr. Speaker, in our hour of power, we have had the opportunity to speak directly to the American people. This is a privilege that I take seriously and a responsibility that the CBC cherishes. Tonight, we strengthen our future by embracing our past. 2015 represents a critical junction in the advancement of our Nation. Fifty years after the Selma to Montgomery march there are strengthened civil rights and improved access to the ballot. Today, we find ourselves with equally important ground to cover in promoting civil rights, in reducing economic and health disparities, and in strengthening voter rights protection. As a legislative body, we have made progress, but as Representatives and as men and women who love this country, our work continues. As we look back, we are comforted by the bridges we have crossed, by the trails we have blazed, and by the future ahead of us that we envision. I want to thank the entire Congressional Black Caucus, especially my fellow coanchor, the gentleman from New Jersey, Congressman Payne. Fifty years after Selma, the CBC remembers that it exists to promote the public welfare through legislation that meets the needs of millions of neglected citizens. It is that spirit that guides us and many others in Congress. When we see millions of men, women, and children who need help moving forward, we march. When we see obstruction in our path to creating a more perfect Union, we respond. Again, I thank my colleagues.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. Seventy years ago, following the atrocities of the Holocaust--which left 6 million Jews, 1 million Roma, 250,000 mentally and physically disabled individuals, and 9,000 homosexuals brutally murdered simply because they were different--the world's democracies stood together and declared: ``Never again.'' These two simple and powerful words greet visitors to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum as a reminder that it is our collective responsibility to promote religious tolerance and stand up against persecution or totalitarianism in any form. The recent attacks at a kosher market and at the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris, the kidnapping of 276 Christian schoolgirls by Boko Haram in Nigeria, and beheading by the Islamic State of journalists and of 13 teenage boys last week for the simple act of watching a soccer game underscore the unfortunate and troubling reminder that we must remain vigilant and undeterred in our fight to protect the most human rights. ``Never again'' must be more than an aspirational statement; it must be fact.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, last night President Obama called on Congress to work together on behalf of the American people. It is a call I hear from my constituents in Illinois every day. So as we begin the 114th Congress, I rise on their behalf to urge my colleagues to rise above partisanship, to strengthen our economy and put even more Americans back to work. Today, all signs point to our economy being the strongest it has been in nearly a decade. Businesses are flourishing. We have gained nearly 3 million new jobs. But there are still 8.7 million Americans living in the shadow of the economic crisis who are struggling with chronic unemployment. They deserve a Congress that is focused and united in putting them back to work. Let's work to reduce the tax burden on the middle class, putting more money in their pockets and making it easier for them to afford their homes and to send their kids to school so that the American Dream is within everyone's reach. Americans want a Congress that can overcome partisan gridlock to put the people first. I urge my colleagues to put politics aside, to find a middle ground to help our middle class and put more Americans on the path to opportunity and prosperity.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Article II, section 1: ``The executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his office during the term of four years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same term, be elected, as follows: ``Each State shall appoint, in such manner as the legislature thereof may direct, a number of electors, equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or person holding an office or trust or profit under the United States, shall be appointed an elector.''

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following resolution honoring the life and career of University of Illinois Associate Head Basketball Coach Wayne McClain. Whereas, Over a 37 year career as a teacher, school administrator, and basketball coach at the high school and college level Wayne McClain touched the lives of countless players, students, and families; and Whereas, Wayne McClain led the Peoria Manual High School Rams to four straight AA State Championships from 1994 to 1997. with his 1997 squad being named National High School Champions; and Whereas, Wayne McClain was named the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 1995, 1996, and 1997, and the National High School Coach of the Year in 1997; and Whereas, Wayne McClain coached for 11 years at the University of Illinois, first as an assistant coach, and then as associate head coach; and Whereas, Following a successful collegiate career, Wayne McClain returned to coach High School basketball last season at Champaign Central High School, seeing it as an opportunity to make a more meaningful and direct impact across his entire community; and Whereas, Wayne McClain passed away this Fall, and is survived by his wife Robin, his son and former player Sergio, a member of the state champion Rams and four year letterman for the Illini, his daughter Brindeshie, his grandson Sergio Jr., and his granddaughter Brindisi; Now, therefore, be it Resolved, by the House of Representatives of the United States of America, That the life and career of Wayne McClain be honored and remembered, and that he be recognized for his nearly four decades of service to student athletes across the state of Illinois.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 554 I was detained at a Press Conference. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to take note of the historic gains our economy made last month. With the recent addition of 314,000 new jobs, unemployment under 6 percent, and the best single- year job creation since the 1990s, our economic future looks bright, but we still have work to create a better economic future for American families. I recently held my second annual hiring event where 400 jobseekers met with 75 employers looking to hire. I also hosted five job search boot camps where we taught jobseekers interview skills, how to prepare a resume, and strategies to successfully navigate hiring events. My district is home to many innovative centers that will serve as engines in driving America's economy. I recently visited job training facilities like the Kankakee Area Career Center and the Canadian National job training center which are preparing people for careers in trades and transportation. With centers like these and workers like the ones we have in Illinois, I am optimistic about America's continued economic recovery. I look forward to working with my colleagues to continue growing jobs here at home. Lastly, I want to acknowledge two women. The first we have heard about already, the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Fudge), the great leader of the CBC. Marcia has taken the CBC to another level. Also, Marcia has taken a special election freshman like me and helped me make it through my first session. Marcia, I want to thank you for the faith you have in me for asking me to become the next CBC Health Care Brain Trust chair. I thank you and I salute you. The CBC is not only fortunate to have you, the Deltas are, the Links are, Congress is, and the great State of Ohio. Thank you so much. Lastly, like my colleague Representative Rodney Davis, I want to acknowledge the passing of Illinois' comptroller, Judy Baar Topinka. Judy was a true public servant who combined service and fun. She definitely made her mark in Illinois serving as the first female treasurer, the head of the Republican Party, and then as comptroller. Judy had a special way of relating with all people. My thoughts and prayers are with Judy's family, friends, and staff.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. I thank Congressman Jeffries for his leadership and my colleague from Texas for his generosity. As we reflect on the events in Ferguson, let me begin by offering my prayers to the family of Michael Brown and the entire Ferguson community. Tonight, we stand before the House as Representatives of our communities and as concerned citizens. We stand here to say we, too, mourn Michael Brown. We mourn his loss and what it represents--the very real fear and frustration of Black and brown families across the Nation who worry for their sons. We are here to speak for those who are weary after another incident of a young Black man being killed by police. Ferguson speaks to the broader challenges we face as a Nation--race relations--but particularly the fraught relationship between the Black community and the police. Members of my family have and do serve in law enforcement, and I am fortunate that, for most of my life, I have been able to have many positive personal experiences with that community. My grandparents' grocery store in Harlem always had police officers checking in. On the whole, I believe those who put their lives on the line for our communities are good, but that doesn't negate the fact that, in America today, we still have too many in the Black community who fear the police or feel disrespected by the police, including my son and his friends, and we still have too many police officers who fear the Black community. This is a dynamic that colors every encounter and paves the way for tragic outcomes. Regardless of your perspectives on the events in Ferguson, we can all agree that no community should live in fear of the institutions that are charged with protecting it. We must hold our law enforcement officials to the highest professional standards and provide them with the training they need to effectively police diverse communities. This training must address the biases and stereotypes that influence decisions in the field and that creates obstacles to mutual understanding, and in working to achieve that understanding, we can and must strive toward a justice system that treats all Americans fairly and values all American lives equally. I am encouraged by the many peaceful, productive protests across the country from everyday citizens of all colors calling for change in the way our country views and values young Black men, but this is just the beginning and not enough. As a mother, a wife, and a Member of Congress, I believe that this change must begin today. I encourage everyone who is outraged by Ferguson to look for ways that they can prevent a similar tragedy from happening in your community. Don't let this issue fade until the next tragedy. Get involved with your local government. Go to your local town hall, city council, and community policing meetings. Know who represents you and who is policing your streets. Be a part of the change, and lend your voice to the discussion on the direction of your community; vote, exercise your rights, demand and expect accountability. That is how we work together toward the kind of change that makes our communities safer and honors the memory of Michael Brown.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, as we observe American Education Week, I would like to pay tribute to America's public schoolteachers and administrators for their leadership and service to our communities. Teachers are proof that you really can change the world if you care enough. That is why so many, even when faced with diminishing resources and budget cuts, work tirelessly to ensure our students receive the education they deserve. Our promise as a nation depends on our teachers. We all must do our part to support America's educators. That is why I oppose sequestration cuts that threaten school districts and teachers. That is why I worked to pass bipartisan legislation to provide food nutrition programs to schoolchildren during the summer months. I have donated nearly 1,500 books to schools in my district and was proud to have launched the Robin's Readers program in my district, which is a literacy partnership between my office and Second District schools. This week, I encourage you all to reach out and get to know your local schools. Offer to volunteer your time and energy to their efforts. But, most importantly, thank an educator.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho, which today proudly celebrates 92 years of service. Established in 1922 at Butler University, Sigma Gamma Rho engrained in me and countless women the value of public service. Sisters include former Congresswoman Lindy Boggs, the first woman to represent Louisiana; my colleague, the Honorable Congresswoman Corrine Brown of Florida; Hattie McDaniel, the first African American woman to receive an Academy Award; and our Grand Basileus, Bonitta Herring. Sigma Gamma Rho played an integral role in the civil rights movement, as members fought to overturn Jim Crow laws and advance women's equality. Today Sigma Gamma Rho continues their service in promoting education and awareness in communities on issues like health equality and financial literacy. For 92 years, Sigma Gamma Rho has been on the front lines of making our Nation better through scholarship, sisterhood, and service. I am honored to be a part of this legacy and wish many more years of success to my sisters in Sigma Gamma Rho.