Sydney Kamlager-Dove

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to condemn Republicans' attack on our workers. The GOP's surprise billing our workers act would allow States to send surprise bills to workers for unemployment benefits overcompensation paid to them during the pandemic for as long as 10 years after the overpayment was issued. Is it the job of the American people to keep the receipts of 10 years past of UI payments so that they don't go to jail? People who applied for these benefits and were overpaid did not know they had been overpaid. These were the result of a government mistake. To add salt to the wound, Republicans want to cut fraud prevention programs by $400 million over the next 5 years. Unbelievable. This legislation hurts our State employee unions by allowing States to contract out jobs, which is what led to this mess in the first place. Let's be clear: This is an old trope from the Republican playbook. Blame and demonize poor and Black women, insinuating they are gaming the system, when Republicans have their own welfare queen to deal with. How can you possibly lecture Americans about paying their bills when you fail time and time again to come together and meet your financial obligations as a country?

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the chaos the Republicans have created by playing with our debt limit. The GOP's default on America plan is disastrous for American families and our economy. There is no reason why we should debate whether America should honor its obligations and pay its debt on time. Extreme Republicans would even prefer us to default for purely political and partisan means. Instead of bringing a serious proposal that could be passed in the Senate and signed by the President, Republicans brought a bill to the floor that would threaten Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and veterans benefits. Time and again, we have asked Republicans to show us their budget and to present us with a comprehensive plan for our Nation. They can't do it. Instead, they come to the table with extremist policies that fail to do the one thing it is supposed to do: pay our bills on time. President Biden and leaders Jeffries and Schumer have all made it crystal clear that we must pass a clean debt limit and honor our commitments. There is no other option. As we get closer to June 1, I implore my Republican colleagues to see how much they are hurting the American families they claim to serve and present us with a real solution for the debt limit.

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the terrifying regularity of gun violence across this country. The tragic shooting in Allen, Texas, is part of a near-daily pattern of gun-related tragedies in America. This year alone, there have been almost 200 mass shootings in our country, more mass shootings than we have had days in the year. I feel for the Allen, Texas, community and empathize with the pain that too many American families understand. I also feel for the survivors of gun violence that have to relive their own trauma every time another shooting occurs and watch as Republicans fail to act. Over 4,800 lives have been lost at the hands of gun violence this year. It is sickening because it is stone-cold preventable. Every time a shooting rips apart a community, all we can offer are thoughts and prayers with hollow solutions that only kick the can down the road. No more thoughts. No more prayers. Action. No, this is not God's divine order. This is Republicans too cowardly to stand up and solve the damn problem. We have got to talk about guns. We have got to talk about guns. We have got to talk about guns. Unfettered access to guns, compounded with other challenges, is what creates these horrific scenes of death and devastation. Republicans must gather the courage to work with us and make our streets safer instead of hiding behind antiquated interpretations of the Second Amendment because the majority of Americans want gun reform legislation because they want to live. Democrats have come together to offer a ban on assault weapons that Republicans have yet to bring to the floor or even consider. AR-15s shred anything in their wake. They are not used by hunters. They were designed to be used by snipers. Last Congress, Democrats and Republicans passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. This legislation supports red flag laws, enhances background checks for those under 21, cracks down on gun trafficking, disarms convicted domestic abusers, invests in violence prevention violence and mental health initiatives, and funds school safety programs. President Biden signed this valuable legislation into law, but it is not enough to save the lives of our children. We can and should be doing more. The House Republican majority is playing games, wasting precious time bringing legislation to the floor that has no chance of being signed into law. If they cared about the life of every child, then they should deal with the public health epidemic of gun violence because everyone's child is worth a life. We need an assault weapons ban, stronger background checks on gun ownership, gun storage. It must be stated that instead of working on these policies, some Republicans choose to inflame our gun violence epidemic with toxic, racist, or bigoted rhetoric. The Allen, Texas, shooter reportedly espoused white supremacist ideology before his attack. The shooter had a fascination with mass shootings and fascism. If you are amplifying hate, if you are amplifying xenophobia, then you are complicit in these deaths. Stop, for example, saying that white nationalists and white supremacists need mental health services while making racist comments about gun violence in Black and Brown communities or saying that those neighborhoods are worse than war zones, as the former President has repeatedly done, because everyone's child is worthy of life. We must come to the table on gun violence to save our communities.

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Harry Belafonte, who passed away this week at age 96. This is a hole in the soul of goodness. He broke barriers in Hollywood, becoming one of the first Black faces on-screen. His unique sound led him to success in the music industry, with classics like ``Day-O,'' ``Banana Boat,'' and ``Jamaica Farewell.'' His artistry spoke to the soul of many Black Americans who did not see themselves represented in music or on-screen. He touched the West Indies diaspora of New York and lent that island sound to his top hits. He had great success with his ``Calypso'' album when it topped the charts for 31 weeks straight before a man known as Elvis Presley came on the scene. He also took up the mantle of civil rights to work alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Stokely Carmichael, and others to promote racial equity. He will be remembered as a multitalented entertainer who shattered barriers while continuing to battle racial prejudice and help clear the way for those who came after him. May we remember his powerful legacy and his remarkable efforts to progress justice, equality, and civil rights.

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring greater awareness to triple-negative breast cancer and to talk about the pressing need for increased funding for triple-negative breast cancer research. Breast cancer is a devastating disease that overwhelmingly affects women, especially women of color. Triple-negative breast cancer is one of the most aggressive and deadly forms of breast cancer. Women with triple-negative breast cancer often face a worse prognosis and limited treatment options. We need to increase funding for research into this disease so that we can find better ways to detect it early and to develop new treatments that will give women with triple-negative breast cancer a fighting chance. But funding for research is not enough. We also need to ensure equitable access to treatment for all women with breast cancer, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. Women from marginalized communities often face barriers to accessing care, and we must work to break down those barriers. No woman should have to fight breast cancer alone, and no woman should be denied the care she needs because of where she comes from or how much money she makes. We must come together as a community to ensure that all women have access to the care and treatment they need. I urge my fellow lawmakers to join me in supporting increased funding for triple-negative breast cancer research and ensuring equity and access to care for all women with breast cancer. Together, we can make a difference and save lives.

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE. Mr. Chair, I rise today to strongly oppose this attack on trans women and girls, known as the Republicans' politics over participation act. Americans are concerned about gun violence, paying rent, climate change, and reproductive rights, but Republicans are once again stoking culture fires, putting lives at risk, ignoring everyday kitchen-table issues, and searching for votes rather than solutions. This legislation would make it a violation of Title IX for federally funded institutions to allow trans women and girls to play sports, potentially setting gender equity back decades and undermining the true purpose of Title IX. This bill is so vaguely written that it would subject every single girl to undergo a medical evaluation to prove their femaleness. Did I wake up? Are we in Iran? Is this what we want to subject our girls to? This bill is assaultive, dehumanizing, and tantamount to rape. To its core, this bill is issue-deflecting and cloaked in misogyny, and it is a true disgrace because I don't think you would do this to a man to prove their maleness. This is sick. Vote ``no'' on this legislation.

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida and the gentleman from Illinois for managing this very important Special Order hour. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the blatantly antidemocratic and, frankly, racist expulsion of Tennessee Representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson. In response to the Covenant School shooting that claimed the lives of three innocent children and three staff members, Representatives Jones, Pearson, and Johnson protested on the floor of the Tennessee House. They were calling for long-overdue commonsense gun reform that would help save the lives of children and keep our communities from becoming war zones. They engaged in good trouble, similar to what Congressman John Lewis did when he sat on this very floor to demand action to end gun violence. What the ``Tennessee Three'' did was righteous, yet instead of joining the calls to keep our communities safe, extremist Republicans retaliated by expelling Representatives Jones and Pearson, two young Black male lawmakers. Actions of civil disobedience by Black men and women have been the impetus of change in our Nation, from boycotts to peaceful protests to sit-ins. I know we like to romanticize the civil rights movement, but let's be clear: It was not long ago that dogs were sicced on young people for wanting the right to vote, and their disobedience was in nonviolently persisting. Representatives Jones and Pearson's only ``disobedience'' was in being vocal and unapologetic about gun violence in this Nation and about being Black. Unfortunately, throughout our history, Black people fighting for a stronger democracy and a more perfect Union have been silenced and shut down by white supremacy. When asked to make a choice between democracy and white supremacy, those in the Tennessee Legislature chose white supremacy, ignorantly presuming that this could happen without any attention, but they were wrong. There is a long history of attacks against Black legislators going back to the Reconstruction era or even the case against civil rights advocate Julian Bond and Congressman Adam Clayton Powell. Tennessee Republicans managed to expel two duly elected Black legislators, but the vote against Representative Johnson, a White woman, failed. We cannot ignore the racial undertones of this incident and the efforts to temporarily disenfranchise Black voters and muzzle Black voices. Was it the color of these young men's skin, their age, their hair? As a Black legislator, I know what it feels like to have to explain my very presence in these spaces. Sadly, my story is not unique. It is the story of individuals in Black and Brown communities everywhere. That is why I introduced a resolution to immediately condemn the actions of the Tennessee Legislature and to recognize this as an attack on the very heart of our democracy. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cohen) for joining the resolution with me. He is a true advocate for the people of Tennessee. In addition, I am proud to work with my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus who reached out to Representatives Jones and Pearson and assured them that they have our support. My colleagues stand by me today as we demand more from a country founded on the principles of liberty and justice for all because it is clear that we live in a nation where liberty and justice are only granted for some. I am glad that both Representatives Jones and Pearson have been reinstated as interim representatives so that they can continue to serve their constituents. Their municipal governments saw the importance of getting them back to work. They have it right. The Tennessee House had it wrong. The fact that it took national outrage and the shaming of the legislature of Tennessee is absurd. I will continue to work with my CBC colleagues to call out attacks on our democracy in Black communities across the country as we work to advance racial equity and address the needs of Black Americans because these young men were fighting to end gun violence. As you have heard, guns are the leading cause of death for children and teens, and Black men are 10 times more likely to be killed by gun violence. They were speaking truth to reality, and they were silenced. I don't know why the truth is so scary, but that is why I am so proud to be part of the CBC, to make sure that we are reminding people of the truth every single day.

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE. Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 1, House Republicans' polluters over people act. When the House Democratic majority passed the landmark Inflation Reduction Act, they delivered key environmental safeguards to bolster our clean energy economy and lower costs. The legislation that Republicans are bringing to the floor attempts to undermine those promising provisions because of political animus. Instead of trying to meet the needs of the American taxpayer, they are working to line the pockets of fossil fuel tycoons and exacerbate toxic mining projects that directly harm communities like mine. H.R. 1 is not about the people, it is about a political win, and it is hooey. This legislation would undo significant environmental regulations central to our public health and environmental protections at a time when people are facing an alarming pattern of severe weather, lack of access to clean water and air, and blatant pollution across the country. Pollution kills people. I can tell you that no one here is breathing dirty air. No one here is drinking dirty water. No one here is growing anything in dirty soil. If we are not, that means that no one else should be forced to do so. It would roll back the environmental review processes under NEPA, putting community health and safety at risk while worsening pollution and the health risks associated with toxic chemicals such as PFAS, the same forever chemicals that are killing our firefighters. I urge you to listen to the committee hearings where you will hear them say there is no need for community engagement, polluters can self- monitor. That is why I was so disappointed but, oh, not surprised when Republicans voted down my amendment to include an environmental analysis and review of how oil and gas development will impact community health and safety because it will. Instead, Republicans are so eager to rush into free-for-all oil and gas development that they are unable to reckon with the serious health consequences they are pawning off onto our constituents. You would have more respect for a bill if they cared enough about the health and safety of your community, if they wanted to protect your child or your grandmother's health. Unfortunately, we know that the Black community is disproportionately impacted by environmental pollution. I have talked about what is going on in my district every single week. Black Americans are three times more likely to die of asthma after continued exposure to polluted air, a result of historic, systemic racism. This legislation makes it virtually impossible for impacted communities to file lawsuits against corporate polluters for environmental and public health damages, so it is killing your lungs and silencing your voice. It continues to put mining rights ahead of the interests of the community, especially in indigenous communities where mining was used to settle the West. This bill declares that indigenous communities shouldn't even be consulted about what is going on on their lands, to rip away lands from indigenous communities in favor of our own traditional, patriarchal, American individualistic interests. Even more than that, we have seen ties between environmental racism and increased rates of gender violence at these mining sites where indigenous women and girls are attacked by employees at the man camps. Now they don't even care about the safety of women and girls. Polling shows that two-thirds of Americans want legislation that addresses the climate crisis, proving once again that Republicans answer to special interests and not the will of the people. This is all about dirty money, profits over people, and it is disgraceful. Shame on them, Mr. Chair, for deliberately ignoring the health of our people and the environment. I oppose this bill and any other fossil fuel cash grabs the Republicans send our way.

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE. Mr. Speaker, I thank my brother and friend, Congressman Jackson from the great State of Illinois, for managing this Congressional Black Caucus Special Order hour and standing with his sisters. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the work that my CBC colleagues are doing as we continue fighting to enshrine the equal rights amendment into our Constitution. The ERA was sent to the States for ratification in 1972. As we reflect on the 100 years since the ERA was first proposed in 1923, attempts to ratify the amendment each year have faded. What is old has become new again, but the state of gender equality in our country has sadly remained unchanged. Why all the controversy and why such difficulty in giving women the protection of the Constitution that should have been given to us long ago? It is 2023. There is no reason that an arbitrary deadline should prevent women from having basic fundamental rights under the Constitution. Around the country, women, especially women of color, continue to face discrimination in healthcare, in the workforce, in the boardroom, in the schools, and in everyday life. Enough States have finally ratified the ERA, but it is past time that it becomes an official part of our Constitution and gives every woman in America full protection under the law. If you support women, you should support the ERA. If you don't support women, stand up and say why you don't think your mother, daughter, sister, aunt, or grandmother deserves equal rights. My colleagues, Representatives Cori Bush and Ayanna Pressley, have led a renewed charge to add a 28th amendment to our Constitution and enshrine the ERA into law. I thank them for their commitment to confronting gender equality in the face of disheartening challenges. The first ever Equal Rights Amendment Caucus is dedicated to this cause, and as vice chair and co-lead of Representative Pressley's resolution, I stand arm in arm with my colleagues as we bring this battle home. I am going to say this. This charge is being led by Black women. Historically, we are the ones who take up the mantle of equality and fight to not only uphold our democracy but to move it forward. Abolition, suffrage, civil rights--all of these movements supported Black women even though they were not always recognized for their leadership and courage. A glaring irony of gender discrimination. I am going to say the names again. Mary Church Terrell, Shirley Chisholm, Pauli Murray, Nevada Senator Pat Spearman, and even our own Jennifer McClellan. These activists have led fierce fights for gender equality to uplift Black women and women across the country. In fact, Pauli Murray once said: ``If anyone should ask a Negro woman in America what has been her greatest achievement, her honest answer would be, `I survived.''' We must recognize the work of these pioneers as we continue their fight today. The ERA would allow Congress, Federal agencies, and courts to address the needs of women as they relate to pay equity, pregnancy discrimination, sexual harassment and violence, abortion access, and LGBTQ protections because women are insulted, harassed, demeaned, demoted, and assaulted just for being women. Enshrining these rights brings our Constitution into the 21st century. We might have been written out, but don't count us out. We will persevere until we can finally celebrate the addition of a 28th amendment to secure equal rights and a better and brighter future for our children and the women that we love.

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise as a mother of a Loyola Cub, a formidable rival to the Mater Dei Monarchs, but I have the courage enough to say that Mater Dei is a world-class high school that prepares young men for the highest echelons of sports, academic, and life achievement. They own that accolade in part to the legendary coach, Bruce Rollinson. Coach Rollo, as he is affectionately known, has been as committed to winning high school national championships as he has been to developing these students into productive young men. Some famous Monarchs heralding from this fine school including USC's--my alma mater--Matt Leinart, Matt Barkley, and Todd Marinovich. They are all success stories in different ways. I do want to add that the JV football is looking pretty Division I ready this year, and they are a daunting lineup for anyone who is trying to oppose them. This is, as was mentioned, the only high school to produce three Heisman Trophy winners. Mr. Speaker, I would like to share and have included in the Record a quote from Heisman Trophy winner, powerhouse, and Pasadena-bred Bryce Young, one of the best quarterbacks college football has seen in the past decade. Yes, I said it. Congratulations to Coach Rollo, who has had such a positive impact in my life. From when I first entered his program, he always believed in me and pushed me to be the best version of myself on and off the field. While he is retiring from coaching football, I know he will always be there for the young men who had the privilege to call Coach Rollo their coach. I am honored to have played for him and now call him a friend.

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to speak on the amendment and in strong opposition to H.R. 5. Today, I spoke with teachers, principals, and superintendents who have all gone to school to learn how to educate, manage, and supervise the education of our young people. They oppose this bill and the usurping of their expertise in their field and their ability to teach. H.R. 5 declares that we have now decided that we don't trust our teachers. I have to say the title of this bill is a lie. It is a Trojan horse when it comes to what is best for educating our children. It is really about the evisceration of public education. I am a parent. I know what is best for my child, but that doesn't mean I know what is best for your child. This bill will take the participation of parents out of the decisionmaking process and truly create anarchy in our education system. Earlier today, I was in a committee hearing listening to Republicans talk about China, and this is what I heard them say: They said, shame on China. China is bashing access to education, stifling access to free thought, and banning access to information. The hypocrisy in that talking about bashing China, this bill does exactly what they say they don't want to see happen. The poison pill in this bill will actually promote violence and bullying in our schools and of our young kids who are finding themselves and trying to learn who they are. If you support mob rule, then you support H.R. 5. If you support autocracy, then you support H.R. 5. The Americans that I know, the constituents in my district, support democracy, and that is not H.R. 5. Democracy is about everyone having a voice. Hypocrisy is about silencing people. No one is suggesting that parents can't and shouldn't be involved in the education of their children and in the activities that are going on in schools. Absolutely. In fact, if more parents were engaged, teachers would feel supported, principals would feel empowered, and communities would thrive. But that is not what H.R. 5 is about. So I am here to defend our education system and ensure that our students and our teachers go to school unencumbered by political agendas so that they can live and learn freely about who they are and the history of this country and the world.

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE. I thank Representative Moore for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise with all of these other fabulous women in Congress to celebrate female trailblazers in Congress. I am going to speak to many of those trailblazers who hail from California. This is a shout-out to some bad sisters. I am here to honor former Representative Karen Bass, the now-mayor of Los Angeles. Mr. Speaker, you have to love the people if you want to lead people, and Mayor Karen Bass loves Los Angeles. Stepping into her shoes in Congress has been an incredibly humbling journey. Ms. Bass has a long history of public service working in the California State Assembly before coming here to Congress. In fact, she was the first female speaker--let alone the first Black woman--but the first female speaker of the California State Assembly--an incredibly powerful body. California, after all, is the fifth largest economy in the world. When she was first elected to the assembly, she was the only Black woman in the entire State legislature. She then came to Congress and eventually served as the chair of the mighty, moral Congressional Black Caucus from 2019 to 2021 before launching her mayoral campaign. Mayor Karen Bass is a champion for the people in every single way, leading the charge on foreign diplomacy, criminal justice reform, foster youth, and environmental justice. Karen Bass worked and works in a quiet, forceful, and bipartisan way, and Ms. Bass found results for the people while she was here in Congress. Following in her footsteps, I support the same issues that matter to Angelenos and Americans across the country. It is important to note that her work ethic stems from her own journey. She was a caretaker, she was a nurse, she was a nurturer, and she was a problem solver. She started her journey, actually, as a nurse. She eventually became a social worker. She got her degree in that. Then she started Community Coalition, a nonprofit organization that rose from the ashes of the 1992 riots focused on equity, access, and opportunity. Karen Bass is now the first female mayor of Los Angeles, and she is the second African American to hold the position since the founding of the city. She continues to break boundaries and passionately serve the people addressing critical issues now with laser-like focus, issues like homelessness, affordable housing, and increasing opportunity for all. Mayor Karen Bass is bringing a new direction to Los Angeles with a vision that advances equity and progress for the people. So I am proud not just to call her my mayor, but a friend, a mentor, and a guiding light in the fight for justice. I would be remiss as a Californian if I also didn't pay homage to fellow trailblazers like former Congresswoman Yvonne Brathwaite Burke. She was a Congresswoman who dared to be the first woman in Congress to have and raise a child while in Congress. Former Congresswoman Diane Watson also served in this very seat and was a staunch advocate for education. She fought against xenophobia, and she was a vocal leader on issues related to reparations for descendants of African-American slaves. I have to say that I come from a lineage of Black women in this seat, Black women who can't be beat. They are sheroes mostly because they are ordinary women who dared and continue to dare to do extraordinary things sometimes just by showing up, standing tall, leading with constitution, and not taking ``no'' for an answer. I am proud to be part of this group of women that celebrates the power--the female power--that comes to us in Congress in these hallowed Halls.

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to highlight the realities of the climate crisis as seen in my district and across the State of California. Earlier this year, Los Angeles County issued its first blizzard warning since February 4, 1989. Unfamiliar wintry conditions resulting in up to a foot of snow with 80-miles-per-hour winds overtook many parts of Los Angeles County, leaving Californians with flooded homes and no power. In my district, the Baldwin Hills neighborhood was hit with a local state of emergency as a disastrous rainstorm demolished daily rain records from over 100 years ago causing fatal mudslides. Today in Los Angeles, we suffered a tornado. This is not normal. Madam Speaker, I cannot stand idly by while Republicans continue to deny the validity of the crisis before us, seen firsthand by my district experiencing disastrous weather patterns not seen for over three decades. I have fought for the protection of our environment my entire life and will do everything in my power to work against the actions taken in this very room by my colleagues across the aisle to propagate the climate crisis that, if not addressed, will destroy Mother Earth and her inhabitants. We must take the lessons we are learning in California to heart because this is only the beginning. Madam Speaker, if this isn't a wake-up call, I don't know what is.

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise during Women's History Month to celebrate an incredible woman from California's 37th Congressional District, Aiyanna Zakia Sanders. Aiyanna was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1997. In just 25 years she has made incredible strides. In 2015, Aiyanna was an honored graduate from the Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies High School; In 2019, she graduated from Emory University with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and African American Studies. Recently, in 2022, she and her family celebrated her graduation from the prestigious Harvard Law School. While pursuing her rigorous education, Aiyanna went the extra mile to serve her community. While at Emory University, she was a member of the local NAACP chapter, the Head Step-Mistress of Ngambika, Co-founder and President of the Black Pre-Law Society, and a member of Black Mental Health Ambassadors. Proudly, Aiyanna also became a member of the illustrious Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. while at Emory. While studying law at Harvard University, Aiyanna was the Secretary of the Black Law Student's Association and an editor of the Black Letter Law Journal. Her many extracurricular activities and roles demonstrate her immense talent and leadership capabilities. In addition to her extensive leadership, Aiyanna has earned numerous awards for her commitment to public service. She was awarded the Dr. Herman L. Reese Community Service Award, the Delta Research and Educational Foundation Golden Anniversary Award, and the 2018 NAACP Peoples Award. In 2019 she was honored as a California Change Lawyers Scholar and received the Graduating Woman of Excellence Award. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize the achievements and dedication of this incredible woman. Beyond her academics, Aiyanna is a cherished daughter, granddaughter, and friend. Her parents, Mr. Aaron L. and Mrs. Chawn B. Sanders, her grandparents, Mr. Clifton Byron Ray, III and Mrs. Willa Ray, and countless friends and sisters have rooted for her along the way. I stand here today, proud. When we talk about representation, this is what we mean. Aiyanna is a trailblazer, an inspiration, and a role model for many. I thank her for all she has done and look forward to what she will accomplish.

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the extraordinary Jacquelynn Hawthorne, who devoted her career and life to serving the people of Los Angeles. Ms. Hawthorne constantly sought to help those around her through her public service in local government, her volunteer work in civic life, and her leadership in her church. Today, we are honoring the indelible mark she left on her family, friends, and her fellow Angelenos. Ms. Hawthorne was a true product of Los Angeles. Growing up, she attended Los Angeles public schools, then went on to LA City College, UCLA, and Pepperdine University. Ms. Hawthorne married her college sweetheart, Addison Hawthorne. Together, they had three children: Addison, Valery, and Hillary. Thriving in her professional life, Ms. Hawthorne worked for 28 years for Los Angeles County, where she retired as chief of the agency's Health Care Systems Development Division. Throughout her tenure, she modernized the county's Health Services and Mental Health and Public Health Departments, ensuring that crucial services could reach all Angelenos in the digital age. Through her hard work directing project managers in designing, implementing, and maintaining online systems, she became a mentor to many at the Health Department. Ms. Hawthorne threw herself into volunteer service and community action outside of work, seeking to give back in every aspect of her life. She served as president of United Methodist Ministries and was a board member of Vision for Voices. Believing in the good that local government could do, she served on the Los Angeles Commission on Community and Family Services, was a delegate for Assembly District 55, and was a member of then-Congresswoman Karen Bass Congressional Leadership Council. Serving and strengthening Los Angeles' Black community was of the utmost importance to Ms. Hawthorne. She was a proud lifelong member of the NAACP, a founding member of the African American Public Policy Institute, and president of the Los Angeles African American Political Action Committee. Ms. Hawthorne served as a mentor and friend to countless Angelenos and inspired many to follow in her footsteps of community service. Perhaps the strongest force in Ms. Hawthorne's life was that of her faith. She was a proud member of Crenshaw United Methodist Church, where she was a soprano in their choir. She traveled the world singing and even performed for the pope. Ms. Hawthorne's favorite scripture is ever present as we celebrate and remember her remarkable life. She was fast to recognize Micah 6:8--``And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God''--as her guiding light. On behalf of my constituents in Los Angeles, I share my condolences to Ms. Hawthorne's daughter, her extended family, and her friends. As we recognize Ms. Hawthorne, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in honoring her rich life and legacy.

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the life of Anthony Lowe, Jr., a doting father, uncle, brother, son, and friend, who was tragically killed earlier this year at the hands of the Huntington Park Police. Today, I stand here to honor Mr. Lowe's life and the joy he brought to his loved ones and to the South Los Angeles community. The center of Mr. Lowe's life was family. He was a loving, caring father to his children and never hesitated to crack a joke to cheer them up. Mr. Lowe was committed to keeping his family strong. Whether he was helping his nieces and nephews with their schoolwork or taking his children to the park, Mr. Lowe was always there to support his family and friends. He spread his infectious joy easily, always laughing, dancing, and bringing positive energy to those around him. Mr. Lowe was close with his mother and sisters. He looked out for others and jumped at the chance to helped loved ones. His laughter and kindness are what I hope he will be remembered by. We should be celebrating Mr. Lowe's sincere love for his family and friends and his devotion to his children. Instead, we must confront the tragedy of his death at the hands of our police. Mr. Speaker, I am saddened to recognize the life of Anthony Lowe ended under these circumstances. Today, I rise to honor the memory of Mr. Lowe and to reaffirm my commitment to working to eliminate police brutality and injustice.

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the life of Keenan Darnell Anderson. Mr. Anderson was a father, a life partner to his fiancee, a teacher, and a proud Angeleno. Mr. Anderson was taken from us earlier this year by the brutality and violence of the LAPD. Today, we stand here to honor Mr. Anderson's life, legacy, and contributions to his family and his city. Mr. Anderson grew up in Los Angeles and from a young age, demonstrated his commitment to his family across Southern California. He was known as the ``life of the party,'' always livening up family cookouts and picnics. Mr. Anderson was a linchpin of his close-knit family. From the time that he was young, Mr. Anderson knew he wanted to dedicate his life to helping others. In college, he focused this dedication on a career in law enforcement, double majoring in criminal justice and sociology. Later, he translated this desire to do good for the world into educating, earning a graduate degree in education. Mr. Anderson's passion for teaching led him to dedicate his career to educating his community's youth. As a teacher, he taught English to juniors and seniors in high school and even chaired the English department. Mr. Anderson was also invested in the creativity of his students, teaching drama classes that served as an introduction to the arts to many Angeleno youth. He was also a charismatic member of his church where he led family game nights and injected his infectious energy and enthusiasm. At the time of his untimely death, Mr. Anderson had just moved to Washington, D.C. to teach at Digital Pioneers Academy. Washington, D.C. will forever miss out on the contributions, energy, and inspiration he could have brought to the young people here. Washington, D.C. students are not the only ones that will forever miss Mr. Anderson. He is survived by his fiancee, Domonique, to whom he was deeply devoted, and his 5 year-old son, Syncere. Mr. Anderson doted on his son, proud to be a father and proud to have his son by side. Mr. Anderson's wrongful murder robbed Syncere of years with his father. On February 7, 2023, Domonique joined me as my guest at the State of the Union, where we continued to highlight the unjust and tragic death of this doting and dedicated father, partner, friend, educator, and member of my community. Today, we should be celebrating Mr. Anderson's great achievements as a father and a teacher, and the strength and resilience he imbued in his communities. Instead, we must confront the tragedy of his murder at the hands of the LAPD. Mr. Speaker, this commemoration of the life of Keenan Anderson, a life gone too soon, adds yet another name to America's tainted legacy of violence against the Black community at the hands of individuals charged with protecting and serving. I honor the memory of Mr. Anderson and commit to working to eliminate the inhumane violence and brutality that took him from us too soon.

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on the last day of Black History Month to celebrate the remarkable contributions of Black businessowners. Business ownership leads to higher incomes and more wealth, but decades of systemic bias, redlining, lending discrimination, and inequity in wages have created an ever-widening wealth gap for minority communities. According to the Alliance for Entrepreneurial Equity, Black-owned businesses are three to five times more likely to be labeled as a high credit risk, which sets up barriers to affordable financing and slows growth. During the height of the pandemic, minority-owned firms were more likely to be completely shut out of credit and capital resources, receiving none of the financing they sought out. This Black History Month, I met with entrepreneurs in my district who drive our economy forward, people like Malik Muhammad, owner of an independent bookstore in Baldwin Hills. Malik is passionate about investing in the community and does so by hosting bookfairs at local schools because he knows that in order for his neighborhood to thrive, more people of color need to start businesses in the community. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues in Congress to recognize the great strength that is Black entrepreneurship and work with me to build a more equitable economy for all.

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 132 to respond to the devastating earthquakes in Turkiye and Syria. Three weeks ago, the world watched in horror as one of the deadliest earthquakes of the century hit southern Turkiye and northern Syria, causing destruction of epic proportions. The damage affected 20 million people in Turkiye and 8 million in Syria. Amidst the tragedy, I recognize the heroism and courage of the nearly 240,000 rescue and aid workers who have responded to this disaster. I am deeply proud that an urban search and rescue team from my district in Los Angeles was deployed to Turkiye to assist in USAID's relief efforts just 18 hours after the earthquake first hit. Eighty personnel from the L.A. County Fire Department and eight members of the L.A. Sheriff's Department led the search for survivors and assessed over 6,000 buildings to determine their safety for residents. As is always the case when disaster strikes, those who suffer most are the vulnerable and marginalized among us: civilians in rebel-led Syria who have endured the horror of Russian airstrikes and Assad's weaponization of aid; Syrian refugees seeking safety in Turkiye; and pregnant women, children, the elderly, and disabled people.

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the life of Keenan Darnell Anderson. Mr. Anderson was a father, a life partner to his fiancee, a teacher, and a proud Angeleno. Mr. Anderson was taken from us earlier this year by the brutality and violence of the LAPD. Today, we stand here to honor Mr. Anderson's life, legacy, and contributions to his family and his city. Mr. Anderson grew up in Los Angeles and from a young age, demonstrated his commitment to his family across Southern California. He was known as the ``life of the party,'' always livening up family cookouts and picnics. Mr. Anderson was a linchpin of his close-knit family. From the time that he was young, Mr. Anderson knew he wanted to dedicate his life to helping others. In college, he focused this dedication on a career in law enforcement, double majoring in criminal justice and sociology. Later, he translated this desire to do good for the world into educating, earning a graduate degree in education. Mr. Anderson's passion for teaching led him to dedicate his career to educating his community's youth. As a teacher, he taught English to juniors and seniors in high school and even chaired the English department. Mr. Anderson was also invested in the creativity of his students, teaching drama classes that served as an introduction to the arts to many Angeleno youth. He was also a charismatic member of his church where he led family game nights and injected his infectious energy and enthusiasm. At the time of his untimely death, Mr. Anderson had just moved to Washington, D.C. to teach at Digital Pioneers Academy. Washington D.C. will forever miss out on the contributions, energy, and inspiration he could have brought to the young people here. Washington, D.C. students are not the only ones who will forever miss Mr. Anderson. He is survived by his fiancee, Domonique, to whom he was deeply devoted, and his 5 year-old son, Syncere. Mr. Anderson doted on his son, proud to be a father and proud to have his son by his side. Mr. Anderson's wrongful murder robbed Syncere of years with his father. Today, February 7, 2023, Domonique will join me as my guest at the State of the Union, where we will continue to highlight the unjust and tragic death of this doting and dedicated father, partner, friend, educator, and member of my community. Today, we should be celebrating Mr. Anderson's great achievements as a father and a teacher, and the strength and resilience he imbued in his communities. Instead, we must confront the tragedy of his murder at the hands of the LAPD. Mr. Speaker, this commemoration of the life of Keenan Anderson, a life gone too soon, adds yet another name to America's tainted legacy of violence against the Black community at the hands of individuals charged with protecting and serving. I honor the memory of Mr. Anderson and further commit to working to eliminate the inhumane violence and brutality that took him from us too soon.

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I rise today to coanchor this CBC Special Order hour. It is the first of the 118th Congress and my first in this body. We have a problem, America, a big problem. The problem is the rampant disregard for Black life at the hands of law enforcement. For too many years now we have seen snuff videos--death at the hands of police--of our Black men and women and our Black boys and girls. These videos become dissected, the victim in death is persecuted as a way to justify excessive force, and it goes on and on and on. The more this happens, the more desensitized we become, and as a culture, we enter into a culture of deflection: deflecting accountability, deflecting truth, and deflecting uncomfortable conversations about the value of Black life. Why are we always looking for the perfect victim in these circumstances? If they were perfect--if any of us were--they wouldn't be victims. They also probably wouldn't be victims if they weren't Black. We certainly spend a lot of time victim blaming, deflecting, and not talking about the kind of public safety all of us should have and how we reimagine it in a way that makes it safe for everyone. It is sad to say but police shootings in Black communities have become as American as baseball. In baseball, Mr. Speaker, you have something called balk. Pitchers commit balks, and the lower the balk number, the better your success. In law enforcement we also have something called BALKS, although it means something different. B, background; A, age; L, lethal force; K, knowledge, S, seriousness of a crime. Once again, the lower the number of deaths, the higher the use of BALKS, something American, something we should be discussing. How can we incorporate BALKS more deeply into our public safety system so that all lives can be saved? What we are seeing with these shootings is un-American. I would also argue that it is unconstitutional because shootings like this are equivalent to summary executions. Law enforcement has become judge, jury, and executioner. Meanwhile, the 14th Amendment declares that we all have a right to due process. But these shootings have stolen due process from so many men and women in our Black communities. These videos, once again, that we see, the images as horrific as they are, have become symbols of today and what Black America has to experience. The symbols of today become the reality of tomorrow, and the recordings of these shootings are important because they keep us honest. But they also become symbols of police brutality and police violence. We have gotten used to these symbols, and that is a problem. This is Black History Month, but, Mr. Speaker, you would be flawed in thinking that the issue of police shootings and police violence is a Black issue, or that it is not an issue because it is not happening in your community. It is an American issue, and it must be addressed. I think we should be talking more deeply about the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and how we reimagine law enforcement. When law enforcement officers are trained to understand and take all of these pieces into account, we see much better outcomes of police interaction. Once again, I would just like to share some of the symbols that are propelling us towards the values of tomorrow. George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Philando Castile--we must carry their memories with us as we fight to address the epidemic of police violence. We have an obligation to the family of Tyre Nichols who was beaten to death in Memphis, to the family of Takar Smith who was shot seven times by the LAPD while on his knees, to the family of Oscar Leon Sanchez cornered and shot while suffering a mental health crisis, to the family of Anthony Lowe shot in the back multiple times by LAPD--I might add a double amputee and someone living in a wheelchair--and to the family of Keenan Anderson tased to death during a routine traffic stop. I am honored that Dominique Hamilton, Keenan's fiancee, will join me tomorrow for the 2023 State of the Union Address. As one of the far too many people impacted by police brutality in 2023 alone, her bravery shines through. I hope that we can all take inspiration from her and all of the families of those killed at the hands of police this year. We must do more to hold our law enforcement officers accountable and stop this epidemic of State-sanctioned murder.

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE. Mr. Speaker, I thank our chair for his commitment and strength on this issue. I yield to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore).

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE. Mr. Chair, today, I rise in opposition to H.R. 21. Once again, Republicans are selling out the American people to their Big Oil friends. Oil companies are not even using the thousands of permits to drill on public lands that they currently hold, and Republicans want to add another 300 million acres to this oil carnage. Big Oil rakes in record profits while poisoning the Earth and anyone who lives and works near their oil fields. The Inglewood Oil Field is in my district and has been toxifying the predominantly Black and Brown communities near it for decades. There is literally oil bubbling up through the sidewalks. Back in April, more than 1,600 gallons of oil spilled from the field, spewing toxins into the air, and Republicans want more of that everywhere. Not caring if people literally have clean air to breathe doesn't sound very pro-life to me. This ``drill, baby, drill'' attitude isn't making the United States any safer or more economically competitive. It is killing Mother Earth and us. H.R. 21 is derelict to the American people, and I urge my colleagues to protect what is left of our public lands and vote against H.R. 21.

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 26. We didn't hop in a time machine back to the 1970s. It is 2023, and we all know what this is about. It is not about the protection of newborn children. It is about control. It is about Republicans' continued desire to control women, take away their freedoms, limit their bodily autonomy, plunge poor women deeper into poverty, and further marginalize those already not seen. It is about intimidating, silencing, and criminalizing doctors. It is about the nationwide abortion ban that Republicans have been itching to enact since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, bans that the American people have said loudly and clearly that they do not want. We cannot continue to let the extreme Republican Party attack and erode the rights of women across this country. We have a responsibility to put an end to politicians inserting themselves into the doctors' offices and uteruses of women across this country. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote against this measure.