Robin Kelly

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman LaHood for yielding and for organizing tonight's Special Order about our great State, Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because I am Illinois proud, and I rise today to celebrate our State's upcoming 200th birthday. As you know, Mr. Speaker, I am privileged to represent Illinois' Second Congressional District--in my opinion, the best district in the entire country. This community starts at 53rd and Cornell around the Museum of Science and Industry, it then reaches south to include many suburbs in Cook and Will Counties. It stretches all the way to the border of Indiana and the border between Kankakee and Iroquois Counties, to include some of our Nation's most productive family farms. While I am humbled and honored to represent the remarkable people and families of Illinois' Second District, as you have heard, I first moved to Peoria to attend Bradley University. While at Bradley, I joined the Zeta Phi chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho and completed my BA in psychology and my MA in counseling. I am proud to have been a Bradley University trustee, since 2003, and to continue to be a part of this amazing institution that is preparing the next generation of leaders. I lived in Peoria until 1992, when I moved to Matteson, Illinois, my current home in the great Second Congressional District, to become the village's director of community affairs. In 2002, I was elected to the Illinois General Assembly, where I first met many of my current colleagues in the Illinois delegation while serving together in Springfield. At the time, I also served with the State senator who would eventually go on to become President of the United States, Barack Obama. As someone who has been privileged to live throughout Illinois and travel it extensively while working as a chief of staff to the State treasurer, I couldn't be more proud to represent this great State and the great people who will call it home, especially those who call the Second District home. The Second District is truly a microcosm of Illinois and the entire U.S. It is urban, suburban, and rural. It includes parts of the city of Chicago and more than 1,200 farms. In the Second District, Nucor makes American steel and our Ford facility makes American cars. We grow corn, soybeans, and raise American pork. We have local breweries and giants like Amazon, alongside world-class bike trails, scenic vistas, and the historic Pullman neighborhood, and we will soon be home to the new Obama Presidential Library and Museum. Mr. Speaker, the Second District is home to many universities and Blue 1647, a tech incubator, that are training the next generation of businesses, tech, and innovation leaders. Our small, medium-sized, and family businesses like Pullman Cafe, K&S Tire, SA Piggush Financial Consultants, South Creek Animal Hospital, Two Whisks Bakery, Homewood Bat, and Affordable Flooring By Rodrigo drive forward our regional economy and create local jobs for Illinois families. Our farms, like Van Drunen Farms and FutureCeuticals, feed people in more than 70 countries around the world, and our manufacturers, including Crown Cork and Seal, Best Diamond Plastics, and Chicago Heights Steel continue the proud tradition of Make It In America. While we are proud to build and grow products used around the State, country, and globe, you might be surprised to learn that many of the things you buy every day cross through the Second District. For generations, Chicago has been the crossroads of America, a hub for transcontinental and global commerce, and the Second District is the beating heart of that transportation infrastructure that creates good- paying American jobs. The Second District is also home to a vibrant faith community that is committed to serving their community by putting their faith into action. Leaders in these movements have their houses of worship in the Second or they serve many people in the Second: Reverend Dr. James Hunt of New Hope Christian Community Church; Rami Nashashibi, executive director of the Inner-City Muslim Action Network and a recent MacArthur Foundation Fellow; Rabbi Ellen Dreyfus, B'nai Yehuda Beth Sholom; Father Mike Pfleger, a tireless champion to end gun violence; Pastor Andrew Singleton from Victory Apostolic; Apostle Ron from Full Gospel Christian Assembly. Our local nonprofits are helping to create a better, fairer, and more just world, organizations like Chicago Family Health Center; Aunt Martha's; Polished Pebbles; Alliance of the Southeast; the Dovetail Project; Centro de Trabajadores Unidos; and Kids Off The Block, which provides at-risk young people with positive alternatives. In the Second District, our young people are active and engaged. They are dedicated to being a force for positive change in their communities, in our country, and in their world. In the face of any darkness, they stand proud and allow their personal life to shine through circumstance. Now, we have had a few famous people coming through the Second also: Quinn Buckner, the basketball player; Shonda Rhimes, famous from ``Scandal,'' ``Grey's Anatomy,'' and ``How to Get Away With Murder;'' Eddy Curry, basketball; Tom Dreesen; Mary Matalin, who worked for Dick Cheney; and Mike Tomczak, who was a player for the Bears. So, yes, Mr. Speaker, I am Illinois proud. As we, the congressional delegation of families throughout the State, celebrate our 200th birthday over the next year, we are focusing on what makes Illinois great, things that I have discussed and you will hear tonight. Illinois greatness is born, it is built, it is grown, and we are proud of it. Happy birthday, Illinois. Here is to 200 more years of growth, innovation, and leadership. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman LaHood for yielding.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

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

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yet again rise along with my colleagues because Americans are dying and this House is doing nothing. They are dying every day in their homes, in our schoolyards, and, yes, even at events hosted by Members of this House. Still we do nothing. Mr. Speaker, every day, 93 Americans lose their lives to gun violence, and still this House has not acted. If anything, last week, the majority passed through a dangerous bill that will put more lives, especially the lives of law enforcement officers, at risk. Mr. Speaker, these are fathers and mothers, daughters and sons, beloved friends and dear colleagues. These are people in every one of our communities and in every one of our districts. Not one Member of this House can come to the floor and say that their community--their neighbors and their district--hasn't been affected by gun violence. Not one Member, yet we still do nothing as bullets fly and mothers cry. We do nothing as we lose children and police officers. The death, destruction, and carnage continue, and still we do nothing. In less than a decade, two Members of this House have been shot and a staffer murdered, and even that can't move us to act and save American lives. Mr. Speaker, at what cost does our continued silence come? Earlier this year, I pledged to read the names of 5,950 gun violence victims into the Congressional Record--a number that should have special significance to the Speaker. Today we continue honoring those taken from us by gun violence, and we pledge to honor their legacy through action that saves lives. So I asked my social media followers to share their personal stories of how gun violence has torn their families and communities apart. These are their names and stories: Lenore Draper, a community activist working to stop the violence. Kenneth D. Mitchell, Jr., served three tours of duty in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kuwait. He lost his life to gun violence here in America, leaving behind three sons, one of whom will never meet his father. Thomas R. Lee was killed in Harvey, Illinois, on August 13, 2008. Patricia May Springer. Malcolm Dowdy was killed leaving a Memorial Day party. He had just purchased a home, was getting married, was on the dean's list, and was the proud father of a 17-month-old. His mom, Michelle, asked me to read his name. Katie Kearns, just 24 years old, was murdered in rural Kankakee County. John Thomas Larimer, just age 27, gave his life protecting two friends at the Aurora, Colorado, theater shooting. Jessica Ghawi was also killed at the tragedy in Aurora, Colorado. Her mother, Sandy, asked me to read her name today. Jonathan Schaffer. Camilo Senchyna-Beltran, killed while celebrating the completion of paramedic school. Tomorrow should have been his 30th birthday. Sterling ``Steelo'' G. McKenzie. Rami Cooks. Lashea Cretain was shot five times by a boyfriend in 1996, and survived. She reached out on Twitter, asking me to tell her story. She still lives with those bullets. Steven Laurence, 21, a friend of my staffer, Mia. Kenneth Bowens. Diane Mokos Kriz, the mother of four girls, was murdered while stopping at her church on the way to the hospital where she worked. Her sister, Charlene, asked me to read her name. Lindsay Key. Calvin Thompson, Jr. Kenzo Dix, just 15 years old, killed in an accident with a loaded, but unlocked, gun. Bill Venable, 17, and his father, Billy Venable. Tim Boyd of Chicago Heights. Kerry Parks was killed in a drive-by shooting. Her friend Lucy asked me to read her name. She said that Kerry ``was my best friend and was just playing out in her front yard like we always did. She was full of life, love, and smiles.'' Maurice Hobbs. Betsy Lowther, who left behind a husband, a daughter, and grandson. Her niece Amy asked me to read her name. She said her aunt ``was a generous, loving, vibrant woman who struggled with depression.'' James Williams, 21 years old. Larry Perrine, 17 years old. Galen Gibson, 18 years old. Professor N. Saez. Ricky Riggins. Joyce Penebaker. I was asked to read her name by her son Khary. He said: ``I chose to tell my daughter about my mom, her grandmother, and how she died by suicide with a gun when I was very young. I wanted my daughter to know what has motivated me to get active in the gun violence prevention movement.'' Christy Owens. Patrick Wyatt McKinley. His mother, Jeanette, asked me to read his name. He was killed in front of his home on New Year's Eve 2004, a day that should be a celebration of new beginnings. Steven Shears. Kimberlee Thomas and her father, Keith Thomas. Kay Weins was taken while showing compassion to a stranger. She left behind two sons and several beautiful grandchildren. Her cousin Edward asked me to read her name. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Ms. Clark). Since her election, Congresswoman Clark has been a dedicated leader in efforts to protect the health and safety of American families. Congresswoman Clark cares deeply about this issue and was the architect of the gun violence prevention sit-in.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I am sorry the Congresswoman had to read all of those names. Maybe, as we go on, things will change. We will learn and things will change. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from the great State of California (Ms. Lee), a member of the Appropriations Committee. Since her election to Congress, Congresswoman Lee has been a fearless and dedicated leader on ending poverty and health disparities in our Nation's communities, including gun violence. Like many who serve in this House, she is someone who has attended too many funerals and comforted too many grieving mothers, fathers, and colleagues because of gun violence.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, Congresswoman Lee's words remind me of what I hear sometimes: we need to wait before we do anything; this group or that group or someone just died, and we are already talking about what we are going to do. It has been 5 years since Newtown, and we still have done nothing. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Demings). She sees this issue through a number of lenses: a mom, a wife of law enforcement, and a career law enforcement officer herself.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Demings for those remarks, and I thank her for reminding us of the law enforcement officers who have lost their lives protecting us. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. Esty), from the town of Newtown. Congresswoman Esty is a tireless advocate for commonsense legislation that will save American lives. She knows all too well the cost that gun violence takes on our communities and on our families. Like many who serve in this House, she is someone who has attended funerals, comforted, and continues to comfort so many grieving mothers and fathers because of gun violence.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Esty for her words, her commitment, and her voice in making sure that those 26 lives will never be forgotten. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues and I have been reading names for nearly half an hour, and we still have stacks and stacks of names--the names of Americans taken by gun violence--to still read. And, tragically, every day the list of names grows and grows as we do nothing to stop it. Children are murdered in their kindergarten classroom and we remain silent. Mothers and their children are killed in Cracker Barrel parking lots and we still do not act. Hadiya Pendleton, a smart, charming, and talented young woman who performed at Barack Obama's inauguration has been resting for nearly 5 years. How much longer must she wait, Mr. Speaker? Country concerts, nightclubs, and even a congressional baseball practice have been shooting galleries, and the majority callously often calls for thoughts and prayers and moments of silence. Mr. Speaker, it is time to crawl out from under the gun lobby checkbook and do something--anything--to save American lives. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise yet again because Americans are dying and this House is doing nothing. Correction, we aren't doing nothing. House Republicans are planning to make the situation worse. Yesterday, the House Judiciary Committee considered the so-called Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, which should be called the ``Exporting Gun Violence Across State Line Act.'' In addition to threatening the safety of our communities, this bill, H.R. 38, is not only a threat to innocent citizens, but a direct threat to the brave men and women who protect and serve our communities. So far this year, 42 law enforcement officers have been shot and killed in the United States. I come from a law enforcement family. I have police officers--uncles, cousins, and nephews--serving in New York City and Chicago. I know the fear that law enforcement families feel, the constant worry that they may not come home, that you might get that call in the middle of the night or a knock on the door from the police chaplain. If this House passes this dangerous bill, more law enforcement families will get these calls and get these late-night visits that no family should ever get. H.R. 38 is opposed by many law enforcement organizations, including the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Police Foundation, the Police Executive Research Forum, Major Cities Chiefs Association, the Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, National Associations of Women Law Enforcement Executives, the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, and many others. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter of opposition from the National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence. National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, the letter, in part, states that the bill will create unacceptable risk to our Nation's 900,000 police officers and the public at large. The Fraternal Order of Police has come out in opposition to a similar bill in the Senate. Mr. Speaker, the police are telling us that it is dangerous to them and the public safety at large. So why is the majority pushing it so hard? Because, once again, the majority is putting the NRA's agenda above the lives of Americans and our law enforcement officers. This is simply unacceptable. Why are we considering a bill that puts our officers at greater risk? Why should we take up legislation that we know will increase the number of gun deaths, including among law enforcement officers? Why would we make a dangerous job more dangerous just to satisfy the NRA? Why is it cosponsored by one of my colleagues who demanded that a painting be taken down for disrespecting law enforcement, but he is willing to cosponsor a bill that puts their lives at greater risk? I guess it is easier to complain about a picture than stand up to the NRA. Mr. Speaker, once again, the NRA's checks are influencing this House. The victims of gun violence should matter more than their dollars. Dollar 209, Deputy Sheriff Robert French, end of watch, August 30, 2017; Dollar 210, Officer Miguel Moreno, end of watch, June 30, 2017; Dollar 211, Trooper Joel Davis, end of watch, July 9, 2017; Dollar 212, Agent Roberto Medina-Mariani, end of watch, September 11, 2017; Dollar 213, Captain Bryon K. Dickson, II, end of watch, September 12, 2014; Dollar 214, Special Agent Michael T. Walter, end of watch, May 27, 2017; Dollar 215, Corporal Stephen J. Ballard, end of watch, April 26, 2017; Dollar 216, Officer Miosotis Familia, end of watch, July 5, 2017; Dollar 217, Lieutenant Kevin Mainhart, end of watch, May 11, 2017; Dollar 218, Lieutenant Patrick Weatherford, end of watch, June 12, 2017; Dollar 219, Sergeant Richard ``Sam'' Howard, end of watch, August 19, 2017. Dollar 220, Deputy Sheriff Mason Moore, end of watch, May 16, 2017; Dollar 221, Chief Steven Eric DiSario, end of watch, May 12, 2017; Dollar 222, Master Sergeant Debra Clayton, end of watch, January 9, 2017; Dollar 223, Deputy Sheriff William Durr, end of watch, May 27, 2017; Dollar 224, Officer Eric G. Kelly, end of watch, April 4, 2009; Dollar 225, Officer Gary Michael, end of watch, August 6, 2017; Dollar 226, Corrections Officer Curtis Billue, end of watch, June 13, 2017; Dollar 227, Agent Benjamin De los Santos-Barbosa, end of watch, April 21, 2017. Mr. Speaker, I will jump to dollar 234, Trooper Damon Allen, whom we just heard about, end of watch, November 23, 2017. We cannot let this bill pass. If we pass H.R. 38, that number will, tragically, grow. Dollar 228, Officer Sean Clark, end of watch, March 31, 2007; Dollar 229, Deputy Sheriff David Wade, end of watch, April 18, 2017; Dollar 230, Lieutenant Aaron Allan, end of watch, July 27, 2017; Dollar 231, Assistant Chief Deputy Clinton Greenwood, end of watch, April 3, 2017; Dollar 232, Deputy Sheriff Mark Burbridge, end of watch, May 1, 2017; Dollar 233, Officer Justin Terney, end of watch, March 27, 2017; Dollar 235, Officer Alyn Beck, end of watch, June 8, 2014; Dollar 236, Detective Sean Suiter, end of watch, November 16, 2017; Dollar 237, Officer Justice Leo, end of watch, October 21, 2017; Dollar 238, Officer Marcus McNeil, end of watch, October 13, 2017; Dollar 239, Officer Stephen Mayhle, end of watch, April 4, 2009; Dollar 240, Officer Floyd East, Jr., end of watch, October 9, 2017; Dollar 241, Corporal Michael Paul Middlebrook, end of watch, October 1, 2017; Dollar 242, Detective Kristen Hearne, end of watch, September 29, 2017; Dollar 243, Officer Igor Soldo, end of watch, June 8, 2014; Dollar 244, Officer Matthew Baxter, end of watch, August 18, 2017; Dollar 245, Officer Paul Sciullo, end of watch, April 4, 2009; Dollar 246, Officer Deriek W. Crouse, end of watch, December 8, 2011; Dollar 247, Deputy Sheriff Dwight Darwin Maness, end of watch, September 14, 2015; Dollar 248, Officer Jeff Shelton, end of watch, March 31, 2007; Dollar 249, Officer Thor Odin Soderberg, end of watch, July 7, 2010; Dollar 250, Officer Brian David Shaw, end of watch, November 17, 2017. Every year, more and more officers die from guns in the line of duty.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

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

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this legislation would amend the Former Presidents Act of 1958 to cap a former President's annual pension at $200,000 indexed to inflation. The bill also would provide an additional annual allowance for expenses that would start at $500,000 per year and decrease gradually to $250,000. Under this bill, the annual allowance would be reduced dollar for dollar in instances in which a former President's adjusted gross income in a taxable year exceeds $400,000. Taxpayers should not have to pay for a former President's allowance if the former President is making a comfortable living earning millions of dollars a year, as many former Presidents do. This legislation would not affect any funding for the security and protection of former Presidents and their spouses. This legislation would update the pension amount for surviving spouses of former Presidents, which has been unchanged since 1958, by increasing it from $20,000 to $100,000. Last Congress, President Obama vetoed a previous version of this legislation because it would have had unintended consequences. For example, due to technical drafting errors, it would have resulted in the immediate termination of the salary and benefits of certain staff of the former Presidents. It would also have resulted in the termination of leases for office space and the removal of furniture and equipment. That was clearly not an acceptable situation, and I am glad we have been able to resolve these problems in the legislation before us today. I believe this bill makes fiscal sense, and I urge Members to support it. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton).

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentlewoman.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a blog post regarding this bill written by Congressman Pallone and myself. [From the Energy & Commerce Democrats, Sep. 13, 2017] It's Time To Give the Government an Upgrade for the Mobile World (By Frank Pallone, Jr. and Robin Kelly) In the wake of the natural disasters devastating so much of the country, millions of Americans are turning to federal agencies for help--but the government's websites don't always make it easy. We've introduced legislation in the House that would change that, and it's moving forward at a time when it can help a lot of Americans who are suffering. For people who were forced from their homes or are without power because of hurricanes, storms or wildfires, their only connection to necessities of survival--food, water, fuel, and shelter--is through their mobile phones. It's the device they could take with them when they had to flee their homes. But while private websites and charities have developed new mobile websites and apps to help those who are still struggling, many of the essential government websites on which people depend are essentially unusable on a phone. During any natural disaster, we expect the government to be at its best. But for people whose homes have been flooded, burned out, or leveled, trying to navigate government websites on their phones likely feels like a waste of time. For instance, if you need to start looking for a loan to rebuild your home, good luck trying to use your phone to navigate the website for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. If you need to reach state or local authorities, the problems get worse. And asking people to hunt down a working desktop computer right now is just unreasonable. Although these natural disasters are making this problem more acute, the need for a government-wide upgrade is only growing more important every day. That's because the people who need the most help are often on mobile devices. If you are young, if you have a lower income, or if you are a minority, you are much more likely to use a smartphone as your only entry point to the internet. The gap is significant--people earning less than $30,000 were 13 times more likely in 2015 to depend on a smartphone than people earning more than $75,000. Yet websites that are intended to strengthen the social safety net like programs providing food assistance are nearly inaccessible on a phone. A smart government brings services to people when they need them most-- not the other way around Last year we crossed a significant threshold--Americans are now more likely to access the internet on their mobile device than on their desktop computer. If people rely on mobile devices, our services should be designed for mobile devices, and that's why agencies with consumer-facing websites should be designed with an eye towards mobile first. These mobile sites can make it easier for people who may not have the time to wait in line at a government office. In order to bring government up to speed, we have introduced the Connected Government Act, which ensures that all new federal agency websites are designed to work well on mobile devices. These federal sites would serve as an example to the states who need to do more to modernize their own technology. This simple change can have a big impact--from shorter lines and faster service, to providing more help to more people. Mobile friendly websites will ultimately help build a stronger democracy. Today, our bill is expected to clear a crucial committee vote in the House. And our colleagues Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) recently introduced a companion bill in the Senate. With this progress, our path to a smarter government is within reach. Congress should act soon to get this bill passed. In the wake of these recent disasters, we need to ensure that anyone looking for assistance from a federal agency can get the information they need through their mobile device. This is the least we can do to help alleviate some of the stress people feel in times of need.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the coleader on this bill, Congressman Frank Pallone, who has been a strong supporter every step of the way, from the bill's drafting through today's floor consideration. I also thank my good friend Congressman Mark Meadows, a cosponsor of the bill, and I thank Senator Hassan, who introduced the Senate companion. Mr. Speaker, this is a simple bill that will ensure all government websites are accessible to all Americans. It simply requires that any new or updated Federal websites be mobile friendly. It is 2017. We need Federal websites to work for all Americans. In the past 90 days, there were 2.61 billion visits to Federal websites. Almost 40 percent of those came from mobile devices. That is over 1 billion hits from mobile devices like tablets and smartphones. But today, according to a report by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, 40 percent of government websites don't work on smartphones or are mobile unfriendly. Alarmingly, many of these sites are critical to serving the American people, like the application for Federal student aid and the launch point for bidding on Federal Government contracts. For millions of Americans without access to reliable broadband or without a desktop computer, smartphones are their doorway to the internet. A recent Pew report found that younger Americans, low-income Americans, rural Americans, and people of color are more likely to rely only on smartphones to browse the web. Today, 77 percent of Americans own and use smartphones to access the internet. For 10 percent of Americans, it is their primary access to the internet. That is 32 million Americans. It is unacceptable for 32 million Americans to have difficulty reaching their government simply because we couldn't keep up with technological trends. Recently, Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria showed just how vital smartphones have become, especially during disasters. In the aftermath of these storms, millions of Americans relied on their smartphones to find assistance. Imagine the frustration of navigating SBA, FEMA, or HUD websites, looking for assistance on a 5-inch screen, and the site not working because it is only designed for desktop browsing. In my time serving as the ranking member of the Information Technology Subcommittee, it has been clear that the Federal Government's IT systems are not working and have not kept up with even the most basic technology trends that are common in the private sector. Americans deserve a modern American Government that is accessible and responsive to their needs. This bill takes us one step closer to realizing this goal. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense bill that the CBO has said will have no significant cost to taxpayers. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 3071, the Federal Acquisition Savings Act, as amended, would require Federal contracting officers to consider short-term rentals in addition to long-term leasing or purchasing when acquiring equipment agencies need. I would like to thank Chairman Gowdy and Representative Carter for working with the minority in a bipartisan manner to address concerns that were raised about the bill as introduced. The Federal Acquisition Regulation is currently unclear about whether short-term rentals are permitted. Rental equipment, as opposed to purchasing or leasing, can be a cost-effective option for Federal agencies in certain circumstances. This bill would provide additional flexibility by allowing such rentals. It would also improve efficiency by requiring the cost- effectiveness of renting to be considered by Federal contracting officers. I support giving contracting officers additional tools to make the most cost-effective decisions. The bill, as amended, also would require GAO to produce a report card on the use of renting or leasing by Federal agencies. The requirements for that report were very burdensome for GAO in the bill as introduced. I know we all value GAO's work and want to make the best use of its resources. I am glad that those reporting requirements have been streamlined. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to say what many in this body have said: we should simplify our Tax Code. However, I am 100 percent opposed to you and your caucus's efforts to write this bill in secret, hidden away from the public eye. I am 100 percent opposed to your plan to give massive tax breaks to a superrich few and leave middle class and working families to pay the bill. As written, the richest 1 percent of Americans will receive one- third of the overall benefits from your so-called tax reform plan in 2018, but by 2027, this lucky superrich handful of Americans will receive half of its benefits. Mr. Speaker, that is just wrong. Hardworking moms and dads deserve a tax break, not the wealthiest. So, yes, I am 100 percent opposed to limiting the State and local tax deduction, a provision in the Republican tax plan that would hike taxes on more than 40 percent of my constituents. I am 100 percent opposed to limiting the student loan deduction, especially at a time when student debt totals more than a trillion dollars. Nearly two-thirds of Illinois college graduates have debt, and their average debt totals more than $28,000. Mr. Speaker, I am 100 percent opposed to repealing the elder tax credit, which helps families keep loved ones at home as they age. I am 100 percent opposed to denying teachers, hardworking men and women who have dedicated their lives to teaching the next generation, a deduction when they dip into their own pockets to purchase school supplies their students need. I am 100 percent opposed to repealing the work opportunity tax credit that helps businesses hire our brave veterans and young people starting their careers. I am 100 percent opposed to repealing the orphan drug expense credit that helps find cures for terrible diseases like sickle cell anemia, pancreatic cancer, and cerebral palsy. I am 100 percent opposed to saddling my children and grandchildren with an additional $1.5 trillion in national debt just so Republicans can give a tax break to their donor base. This is a scam. Mr. Speaker, I stand with the National Farmers Union, AARP, the National American Council on Adoptable Children, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, Fix the Debt, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the National Association of Realtors, the Mortgage Bankers Association, the Chicago Sun-Times, and the majority of Americans in opposing your so-called tax reform that is, frankly, nothing more than another attempt by the GOP to steal from the middle class and give to the rich. Instead of packaging tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires, let's work together on a plan for all Americans. Let's stop allowing one side of the aisle the ability to write legislation affecting more than 300 million people, in secret, behind closed doors, and away from the public eye. I am 100 percent in favor of bringing in some sunlight and letting the American people know exactly what we are doing. I am 100 percent in favor of doing what we were elected to do: fix problems by working together. I am 100 percent in favor of real tax reform. I am 100 percent in favor of giving hardworking moms and dads what they need and deserve: a tax break. I am 100 percent in favor of growing the earned income tax credit so families get bigger paychecks. I am 100 percent in favor of creating tax initiatives for businesses that hire and train at-risk young people and underemployed people. And I am 100 percent in favor of a child care tax credit that actually reflects the true cost of childcare in America. Let's put the politics aside and give the American people real tax reform that supports working families and our small businesses. On other note, one more thing I am 100 percent against is more thoughts, prayers, and moments of silence and no action toward gun violence prevention. Shame on us, Mr. Speaker.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise, yet again, because Americans are dying each and every day. The epidemic of gun violence has ended too many futures before they have begun, left too many empty seats at the dinner table, torn too many families apart, and left too many communities asking: How many more before Congress acts? Mr. Speaker, I can't blame them. With 90 Americans dying from guns every day, this House and this Speaker continue to turn a blind eye to this epidemic. Mr. Speaker, earlier this month, one man carried out this Nation's worst mass shooting in history in just 11 minutes, leaving 58 Americans dead. These are mothers and friends, sons and brothers, people just trying to enjoy some country music. Instead of going home to their loving families, instead of going home and being greeted at the door by their toddler, they were carried away in bags. They are now another tragic statistic, another empty seat at Christmas dinner--lives taken, not lost--lives with such potential, lives that were doing amazing things, lives that were raising families and serving their community--lives taken, not lost--lives surrounded by hundreds of other lives that will never, never be the same. Each life taken is a tragedy, but the hundreds of other lives impacted forever in those 11 minutes are, equally, now made tragic. 489 people were injured. Mr. Speaker, let me say that again, because we often focus on those killed but forget about the hundreds fighting for their lives in the intensive care unit. We forget about those who will need to learn to walk again or will never walk again. We forget about the mom who will never hold her baby again because her arms are paralyzed, the other grandfather who will never see his grandchildren again because he has been blinded. Mr. Speaker, while Las Vegas marked that largest mass shooting in U.S. history, just 477 days earlier, the largest mass shooting was a preventable tragedy at Pulse nightclub in Orlando that took 49 lives and wounded 58. How can you say there isn't a problem with gun violence when it takes less than 500 days for one horrific mass shooting to eclipse another as the deadliest in American history? How can you say there is nothing we can do, as Americans die, as kids get shot and are never the same? How is one man able to be so destructive in such a short amount of time? The answer is in an after-market modification called the bump stock that turns an assault weapon into a machine gun, something outlawed by this House during the days of Al Capone. Yet it is still possible to walk into a gun store, purchase this device, and, within minutes, have a gun of war in your hands. Mr. Speaker, how did we let this happen? More importantly, how are we still letting this happen? Why haven't we acted to outlaw these devices that allow people to make machines in their backyard? There is a commonsense bipartisan bill awaiting action. Why haven't you called it to the floor? Is it because the NRA changed its mind and now opposes the bill? Crickets--that is what I thought. How can we keep our families safe when this House and this majority is beholden to the gun lobby dedicated to profits over people?

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and I thank him for leading this important hour tonight. Madam Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus and with Americans from our great country because it is time to root out racism. While racism has, tragically, been a part of the American story--from Jamestown to Jim Crow; to the Little Rock Nine, whose 60th anniversary is today--in 2017, we are seeing it rise in new and disturbing ways. Right now, there is a sham, ``Presidential voting commission,'' plotting to turn back the clock on our voting rights. Right now, African Americans live in fear that they will be stricken down, unjustly, because of the color of their skin. Right now there is an un-American and unconstitutional Muslim ban preventing families from reuniting. Right now the Attorney General is undoing consent decrees and pouring billions of tax dollars into the for-profit prison industry. Right now there are rabid racists, White nationalists, and White supremacists that this administration won't denounce. And right now our President refuses to blame White supremacists for racially motivated killings in Charlottesville. The individuals, who inspired this bigoted violence, he called ``some very fine people.'' Just this weekend, we saw President Trump attack athletes for exercising their First Amendment rights; using terms like ``you people'' and ``those people'' in an effort to further divide us. Our Commander in Chief is uniting those who hate, while ignoring millions of Americans facing a humanitarian disaster in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Florida, and Houston. Madam Speaker, if we want to root out racism, we need to start at the top. Let's start with this White House. Racism is a cancer. You don't ignore a cancer. You don't let it fester and grow. You cut it out. You purge it. You remove it. That is what we must do with racism: remove it, stop it before it grows further and consumes us. America's greatest strength has always been our diversity. It is the source of our economic innovation that made us the world's largest economy. It is our ability to stand shoulder to shoulder and face down any threats that have been made to America, from the Contrabands and the Red Tails to Lance Corporal Jose Gutierrez. It is our ability to see ourselves and our families in one another that makes America great. It is our compassion and belief that we all share a higher purpose, as Americans, that propels us to higher heights. It is our capacity to come together and break bread, help someone with a flat tire, even give our own lives for those of others. These are the things that make America great, not some idealized, grayscale image of a misremembered past. It is all Americans who make America great, and that greatness comes in all colors, all genders, all faiths, all orientations. When we stand together, we are stronger. When we are divided, we will fail. That is why it is imperative that we call out racism, decry racism, and, most importantly, root out racism.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following Proclamation: Whereas, members of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), founded in December of 1941, have honorably served our country for 76 years; Whereas, CAP has moved its Illinois Wing Headquarters to the Illinois Second Congressional District at Bult Field in Will County; Whereas, in all 50 states, as well as in the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia, CAP serves the American Air Force in times of need; Whereas, CAP's 57,000 members not only protect the American people, but build and support American's next generation of leaders through scholarships, education, and training; Whereas, CAP diligently strives toward its three main initiatives: aerospace education, cadet training, and emergency services for the U.S. Air Force. Through state and local offices, CAP fosters an ethos of civil aviation and public service in local conununities; Whereas, the Civil Air Patrol volunteers perform 90 percent of the country's inland search and rescue missions; Whereas, CAP's Illinois Wing received an overall ``excellent'' rating in its biannual U.S. Air Force evaluation and rescue mission; Whereas, the Illinois Wing operates out of 35 locations statewide, and hosts 622 adult volunteer members, 543 cadets, 686 voting-age members, 673 emergency responders and 124 aircrew members; Whereas, the Illinois Wing's volunteer members conducted 2,147 hours flown in 2015; Whereas, the Illinois Wing flew 399 real-world sorties and conducted 71 ground sorties during 2015. In addition, its members led two missing aircraft finds, four tornado or flooding disaster relief missions, and 20 counterdrug reconnaissance missions; Whereas, the Illinois Wing hosts the Johnson Flight Academy, which attracts aspiring pilots from all corners of this country; and Whereas, the Illinois Wing conducted 62 training missions in 2015, which consisted of 357 flights and 229 ground sorties: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, by the House of Representatives of the United States of America, That the contributions of the Illinois Civil Air Patrol be recognized and honored.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise yet again because Americans are dying in our movie theaters, city parks, on street corners, and in elementary school classrooms. Even our homes and relationships aren't safe. A new CDC report found that half of all murdered women are killed by a partner or an ex-partner. Guns are their weapon of choice. Mr. Speaker, the report found that 5,234 American women have been killed by husbands, boyfriends, or exes with guns. Has this Congress acted? No. Three American women are shot and killed by an abuser every day. Congress does nothing. This year, 352 Americans have already been lost to gun-related domestic violence. Congress does nothing. Felons buy guns online; abusers get weapons without background checks. Congress still does nothing. Convicted stalkers legally purchase guns in 29 States, yet, still again, this Congress does nothing. Mr. Speaker, I would like to read some quotes from brave women who called the National Domestic Violence Hotline--women in danger, women fearing for their lives, women that this Congress has ignored in order to cater to the NRA. One survivor said: ``Abuser threatened our young child that he would shoot the entire family and maybe others.'' Another survivor said: ``He never fired the pistol, but he would sit on my chest and point it at my head. He would put it right next to my temple.'' The NRA doesn't think there is a problem. They think it is politically motivated and claims victims manipulate ``emotionally compelling issues such as `domestic violence' and `stalking' simply to cast as wide a net as possible for Federal firearm prohibitions.'' Are you kidding me? Victim No. 103, Amber White, 32. Victim 104, Korinda Rodriguez, 32, killed on her way to work. 105, Jabria Hall, 23. 106, Lauren Walker, 32. 107, Karen Smith, 53, a teacher. Her estranged husband killed her and her 8-year-old student, Jonathan Martinez. 108, Trini Do, 29, killed with four family members at her son's eleventh birthday party. 109, Kathleen Grimes, 54. 110, April Bailey, 39. 111, Zina Daniel, 42, killed with two others when her abusive and estranged husband bought a gun from Armslist, walked into a spa, and started shooting. Victim 112, Emily Young, 24. Her husband had twice admitted to domestic violence charges, but he had a gun. 113, Ashley Hicks, 23. 114, Latina Verneta Herring, 35, killed along with her 8-year-old son, Branden, because of a fight over car keys. 115, Lidia Juarez, 37. 116, Fannie McWhite, 61. 117, Tracy Judd, 33, and her 23-month-old daughter. 118, Amber Weigel, 25, and her 2-year-old daughter, both killed because the father didn't want to pay child support. 119, Tania Adams, 41, a mother of three boys. 120, Gladys Tordil, 44, murdered in a high school parking lot in front of her daughter. 121, Karla Ayde-Garcia Arellano, 25. 122, Jitka Vesel, 36, shot at least 11 times by a boyfriend who bought a gun in Washington and drove to Illinois. 123, Rashanda Franklin, 29. Victim 124, Tammy Mattison, 49. 125, Jennifer Krieger, 44, killed along with her 14-year-old daughter Kelsie. 126, Camille Thompson, 26, murdered with her two young children in the car. 127, Mary Shipstone, 7 years old, shot by her father while at a safe house. Kate Allen, 43, killed with her two 10-year-old children at a Cracker Barrel. It was her daughter Kerri's 10th birthday. Courtney Price McKinney, 22. Maria McIntosh, 19, killed alongside her father and her sister. Crystal Hamilton, 29. Officer Ashley Guindon, 28, was also killed responding to Crystal's call. It was her second day of work. Nalisha Gravely, 19. Ernestina Lara Chaires, 44, killed while trying to escape her abuser. Rachel Naomi Peters, 32. Cara Russel, 52. Sandra Smith, 42, killed alongside her 15-year-old son Daniel. Olga Neubert, 37. Elizabeth Rodriguez, 26. Tabitha Apling, 33. Michelle Morris, 50. Laura Aceves, 21. Kathy Edwards, 53. Alejandra Hernandez, 28. Jamila Odom, 41. Ashley Hasti, 31, the first victim in a Minnesota-to-California mass shooting that ended on the campus of UCLA. Maria Guadalupe Sobrevilla, 58. Joyce Haynes, 41. Amanda Colley, 36. Her murderer was on probation for violation of the protective order against him. Larissa Barros, 18. Mr. Speaker, we failed these women and their families.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to condemn in the strongest possible terms the President's decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, also known as DACA. This issue should be very simple. These are children who were brought here by their parents, through no fault of their own. They grew up with our kids, attended the same schools, played on the same playgrounds, and learned to drive in our neighborhoods. These kids are Americans in their hearts and in their minds, just not on paper, yet. Beyond that, my faith, my conscience, my understanding of basic economics prevents me from supporting this cruel and inhumane decision by President Trump. If we are to love our neighbors as ourselves, we must remember that we, too, were once strangers in a strange land. Many of us have our own immigrant stories, stories of how we became Americans. My family's story begins like many of yours. My great-grandfather, Metro, was born in Austria in 1881, and my great-grandmother, Margaret Skrutt, was born in Ukraine in 1882. They got married and knew that they could find a better life in America; so, in 1906, they took a chance and came to America, arriving on November 1, 1906. They settled in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, because other Ukrainians already lived there. They joined the community, worked hard, went to church, raised a family of Americans, including my grandmother, Anna Guryesh. My great-grandparents' story is the story of America. It is the story of immigration and immigrant families dreaming of a better life and making America great. It is the same story repeated 24 years later when Mary Anne McLeod boarded the Transylvania in Glasgow on May 2, 1930. Nine days later, she arrived in New York with $50 in her pocket. Eighty-six years later, her son was elected President of the United States of America. At the age of seven, a young woman left Cuba, fleeing communism. In 1989, she became the first Latina elected to Congress, and it is a privilege to serve with her. Melania Knavs was born in Slovenia. She first became a permanent resident, and then a citizen of the United States. This young lady, born in southeastern Slovenia, now lives in northwest D.C. as the First Lady of the United States of America. Daniel, one of my constituents who I helped with his DACA status: He works hard, pays his taxes, loves this country, his country, as much as any other American. So many great Americans are Americans by choice, not by birth. This has made America the greatest, strongest, wealthiest country in the world. We can attract the best, the brightest, the most driven and the most talented. People like Dr. Elizabeth Stern was born in Kansas, but, in 1915, became an American. She drove forward our ability to detect and treat cancer. Author Ayn Rand, a favorite of the Speaker, was born in 1905 in Russia, and came to the United States in 1926. Actress Natalie Portman, born in 1981 in Jerusalem, came to the U.S. as a toddler. Alonso Guillen was born in Mexico but died last week as an American hero working to save lives during Hurricane Harvey. At the last Olympics, Americans born in places like Australia, Kenya, and Poland brought home nine medals, including two gold for the United States. Their stories are all the same. They came to America seeking a better life and a better future. They contributed to our society and our culture. They made America great. Margaret and Metro's story is America's story. America's story is Mary Anne's story and Daniel's story. This is the story of us, the story of America. It is a story that no President's pen can erase. America's story is Melania's, Ayn's, and the story of Albert. We are America, and we are here to stay. No matter where you were born, we are America, and we are here to stay. No matter what language you speak to your mom in, we are America, and we are here to stay. We are America, and we are here to stay because America's story is our story.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise, yet again, to beg this House for action. Let us have a vote on lifesaving legislation. Just this weekend, 57 Americans were shot in just one U.S. city. Tragically, 11 of them passed away, including a 10-year-old boy and a revered community activist who worked to create jobs for at-risk kids. The violence did not take a rest after the weekend. On Monday, 13 more people were shot and 3 were killed. Mr. Speaker, what are we doing here? People, Americans, American kids are dying every day in every community, in every State, in every district, yet this House, the people's House, continues to do nothing. Why, Mr. Speaker? Why is that? Well, I think greed and dollars. My 101st victim I want to share with you is Gustavo Garcia, who was 10 years old. Mr. Speaker, Gustavo would have turned 11 next month. He would have started fourth grade at Arnold Mireles Academy next month. Instead, he was murdered in the back seat of an SUV by an assault weapon, a weapon of war that this House has allowed to be legal and spill blood on our city streets. These weapons have one purpose: killing people. They are not for sportsmanship. They are not for personal defense. They are for theaters of war. They are designed to devastate, maim, kill, and destroy. That is why assault weapons were banned from our streets until this House, poisoned by NRA dollars, allowed the bill to expire. Mr. Speaker, Gustavo Garcia was 10 years old. He had an entire lifetime ahead of him. Mr. Speaker, the operative word in that sentence is ``had.'' Now he has become ``Dollar NRA No. 101.'' $102, William ``Willie'' Cooper, who was 58 years old. Willie was working to change Chicago and give our children a future. He founded the Lilydale Outreach Workers for a Better Community and helped mediate more than 50 conflicts that could have turned deadly. Willie was everything you could want in a neighbor, a community leader, and a friend. He was kind, concerned about others in his community, someone who truly loved all of his fellow men. Now he is ``$102.'' He was assassinated also with an assault weapon in front of the nonprofit he founded to help young people find jobs. Time and time again I hear from the other side of the aisle that work is transformative, it gives people purpose and direction in life. I could not agree more. Mr. Speaker, nothing stops a bullet like an opportunity. What Chicago needs is jobs for our young people, not guns flooding from States likes Wisconsin and even the Vice President's home State of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, it is about jobs. So I join Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth to introduce three pieces of legislation directly targeted to support at-risk youth and the amazing businesses that take a chance on them to change their lives. To date, these bills have simply been referred to committee. Mr. Speaker, when is the agenda of this House going to turn to the actual issues devastating American families? This Congress has voted to allow companies to poison our air and water. We passed a bill that stripped 23 million Americans of their health insurance. We even passed a bill that lets dangerously mental ill people buy a firearm. Shameful. We have not had one single debate, not passed one bill, nothing, zero, zilch, to save American lives. I guess some things just aren't worth the price.

Ms. KELLY of Illinois

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, 2 weeks ago, I stood up on this floor and called for action to stop gun violence. My request was simple: before we recess this summer, let us pass lifesaving gun safety legislation. This is something that has bipartisan support. It is something that urban, suburban, and rural communities have cried out for help on. Universal background checks are something 74 percent of NRA members support. Put in context, just 16 percent of Americans want the majority's healthcare bill, and yet you have attempted to pass it three times in the past 2 months. Nearly 8 in 10 Americans want background checks on gun sales, but we have not had one vote. Because of your inaction, over 100 people were shot and over 10 were killed by gun violence in Chicago over the Fourth of July weekend. Over 100 Americans shot in one weekend and in one city, and still we do nothing. I would like to call out names of those who have lost their lives: Martell Sanders-Anderson, 16; Djuan Williams, 16; Andre Taylor, 16; Lucas L. Spicer, Jr., 16; Pierre Loury, 16; Davharea Wilson, 16; Ladarrius Jackson, 15; Leonardo Betancourt, 13; Randall Young, 16; Eddy Brooks, 16; Nathan Hicks, 16; Damarcus Williams, 16; Veronica Lopez, 15; Fabian Lavinder, 15; Victor Felix, 16; Christian Bandemer, 16; Melvin Cook, 16; Trevell Parker, 16; Travon Smith, 15; Mario Venegas, Jr., 15; Delance Price, 16; Malik Causey, 14; Elijah Sims, 16; Jaylen Howard, 16; Demarco Webster, Jr., 14; Deandre Banks, 16; Elijah House, 16; Clarence Coakley, 16; Javon Wilson, 15; Diego Alvarado, 16; Christopher Brandon, 16; Gregory Livingston, 15; Malik McNeese, 16; Bruce Owens, 15; Diabolique Anderson, 16; Willie Woodus, 15; Clavonte Eubanks, 15; Takiya Holmes, 11; Lavontay White, Jr., 2; Deshawn Martin, 15; Mishawn Green, 16; Kanari Gentry-Bowers, 12; Laquan Allen, 14; Jaquarius Davis, 16; Julio Cesar Garcia-Lara, 15; Kahari Stovall, 16; Diego Villada, 15; Jesus Escobar, 16; Alexis Stubbs, 12; and Jazebel Aleman, 3. Mr. Speaker, not one of these children was over 16 years old. They should be learning to drive, learning to code, playing with dolls, and enjoying their own summer recess. That will never again be possible because of this Chamber's inaction.