Nita Lowey

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), the ranking member on the Legislative Branch Subcommittee.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), our distinguished Democratic whip.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 3 minutes to the articulate gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), the ranking member on the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, who has been very clear on the need to combat the Zika virus.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentlewoman an additional 1 minute.

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, may I ask how much time I have remaining?

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Ruiz).

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Graham).

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I would like to repeat again, as a Member who has been in this House and has had the privilege of being part of many responses to emergencies, this is an emergency. In last year's omnibus, Congress used emergency funding without offsets to pay for wildland fire suppression mostly in the West. Congress provided emergency funding to respond to two hurricanes and flooding in the Carolinas and Texas, again without offsets. When those disasters struck, my colleagues, we didn't steal money from prior disaster response like the emergency funding provided for hurricane damage in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, storms in West Virginia, and tornadoes in Oklahoma and Kentucky. We paid for those emergencies. We did not steal from any other account, my colleagues. In fact, after the 2013 Oklahoma tornadoes, my friend, Chairman Rogers, told reporters: ``I don't think disasters of this type should be offset. We have an obligation to help these people.'' So, my friends, I just want to emphasize again, we have a crisis. We have people suffering. The potential is enormous. These are Americans. These are citizens. Whether it is here or in Puerto Rico, we have a responsibility to respond. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. I thank the distinguished ranking member of this committee, Mr. Sanford Bishop, for that very generous introduction. I would like to thank my good friend on the other side of the aisle, Chairman Dent from the neighboring State of Pennsylvania, for his good work and the partnership that he has made to make this an excellent bill. I also want to thank Chairman Rogers for his leadership and, of course, for the hard work of the committee members on both sides of the aisle who are so critical to this process. Mr. Chair, the fiscal year 2017 Military Construction-Veterans Affairs bill would allocate $81.6 billion in discretionary funding-- $1.2 billion less than the fiscal year 2017 budget request and a $1.8 billion increase above the fiscal year 2016 enacted level--and allow for several critical improvements, including: the further reduction of the veterans' claims backlog, which has dropped from 600,000 to 74,000 in the past 2 years; $7.8 billion to support outreach, prevention, and awareness to reduce unacceptably high levels of suicide and other mental health challenges among our veterans; a greater focus on the gender-specific needs of female veterans, including prosthetics designed for women and enhancing access to both medical health services; a $32 million increase for medical and prosthetic research; $1.3 billion for family housing construction; and strong oversight of the electronic health records system, requiring that the VA meet key benchmarks throughout the fiscal year and improve interoperability with the Department of Defense. Mr. Speaker, as I close, I want to again congratulate Chairman Dent and Ranking Member Bishop for you are truly outstanding in making this a good, bipartisan bill.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize my constituent and friend, E. Robert Goodkind, of Rye, New York, for his more than 60 years of service to the American Jewish community and in particular for his visionary leadership of the American Jewish Committee. Mr. Goodkind grew up in Lawrence, New York and attended Woodmere Academy, where he developed an interest in government and international relations. As an undergraduate at Princeton University, Bob also nourished a commitment to Jewish values and the State of Israel. He graduated from Harvard Law School and led a successful career in private practice, crafting an expertise in corporate law, trusts and estates, and charitable organizations law. After marrying Barbara, his devoted wife, and raising three children, Bob increased his involvement with Jewish civic and cultural life, by joining the American Jewish Committee, where he quickly assumed a leadership role in mobilizing action in support of human rights, promoting interfaith dialogue, and advancing universal standards of decency. In the 1990's, Bob spearheaded the formation of the Jewish Foundation for Christian Rescuers, to provide financial support to aged and needy righteous gentiles, who had rescued Jews during the Holocaust. From 2004 to 2007, Bob served as National President of the American Jewish Committee, during which time he traveled the world on behalf of the AJC, engaging with leaders and speaking out against human rights violations, intolerance, and injustice. He was also a passionate advocate for Israel in the halls of the United States Congress. On both the local and national level, Bob has worked to strengthen mutual understanding and relations between Jews and African Americans, both of whose histories have been shaped by oppression and bigotry. Throughout his life, Bob Goodkind has personified the core Jewish value of Tikkun Olam--the enduring charge to perfect the world. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me today in honoring his exceptional life of devotion to the causes of humanity, brotherhood, and the American Jewish community

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the fiftieth anniversary of Pace University's Lienhard School of Nursing, and to applaud its work in educating generations of nurses. Founded in 1966, the Lienhard School of Nursing was Westchester County, New York's, first collegiate nursing program. Over the past fifty years, the School has maintained its commitment to excellence and scholarship by embracing change and always focusing on meeting the health needs of the general public. The School has offered the highest level of education to nursing students and has paved the way in designing innovative new nursing programs, including the first nurse-managed health care unit on a college campus, one of the first nursing programs in the country for second career individuals, and was an early Doctor of Nursing Practice Program. This leadership in the field of nursing makes the School one of the finest in the country. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have the Lienhard School of Nursing in my district. I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring the School during its fiftieth anniversary year.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize my fellow congregant, Rabbi Emeritus Norton Shargel, who is celebrating the 70th anniversary of his Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, May 14th. I have had the great pleasure of knowing Rabbi Shargel since moving to Westchester County and joining his congregation. He has served as a spiritual leader for the Jewish Community Center of Harrison (JCCH) since 1970. Throughout his time as Rabbi, he has enriched our community with his insight and warm demeanor, and his dedication to his congregation is unflinching. Throughout his life, Rabbi Shargel has committed himself to his rabbinical studies. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy and Semitics from Johns Hopkins University, and a degree in Religious Education from Baltimore Hebrew College. He first entered the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1954 and studied at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem before earning his Master of Hebrew Letters and Rabbinical Degree in 1959. He also holds a degree of Doctor of Hebrew Letters and an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. Beyond his impressive academic resume, the Rabbi has worked as a spiritual leader in various communities. In 1959, Rabbi Shargel served as an army chaplain at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he was an active member of the local Jewish community. He then moved to Easton, Pennsylvania, where he served as leader of the Bnai Abraham Synagogue. During his time in Easton he founded ``ProJect,'' an interfaith, interracial group devoted to improving the community. Since 1970, Rabbi Shargel has served JCCH and has worked to improve interfaith cooperation in the community. He organized an interfaith Bible Study Group and has developed an ongoing dialogue with local clergy. He has served as President of the Westchester Board of Rabbis and helped create the first Westchester Clergy Institute, a seminar for clergy of all faiths. Since 1998, Rabbi Shargel has served as an Adjunct Professor of Religion at Manhattanville College in Purchase, New York, teaching courses in Judaism and Holocaust Studies. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to call Rabbi Shargel my friend, confidant, and spiritual leader. I congratulate him on a lifetime of commitment to the Jewish community, and I urge my colleagues to join me in celebrating the 70th anniversary of his Bar Mitzvah.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, with great respect for our distinguished chair with whom we work very collegiately, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the previous question in order to provide the funding needed to mount a robust response to a pressing public health emergency. More than 2 months ago the administration requested funding critical to respond to the Zika virus, a public health emergency tied to microcephaly and other neurological disorders in infants. It is unconscionable that, when nearly 1,000 people in the U.S. and territories have contracted Zika, the majority continues to drag their feet on meeting our most basic responsibility. The majority's inaction has forced the administration to redirect funding needed to meet other basic responsibilities, shortchanging still-needed investments to protect against Ebola and to help States and cities improve domestic public health. The majority's claim that the administration has provided insufficient detail on the request doesn't make any sense. Every cent has been accounted for. Yet, we continue to wait to sit on our hands. Further, the majority holds this emergency to a new standard, requiring offsetting cuts before providing needed resources. This literally holds emergency funding hostage to unrelated political fights. This simply cannot go on. Are we waiting for the height of summer when mosquito control will be infinitely more difficult? Are we waiting for this emergency to spiral out of control? I urge my colleagues to stand with me and defeat the previous question so we can meet our responsibility to protect against Zika.

Mrs. LOWEY. Will the gentleman yield?

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the chairman's eloquent remarks. However, I want to emphasize again that this is an emergency. People are severely, severely, being impacted because of the Zika virus. This is an emergency. We should be doing it immediately. I understand that it may be tempting to transfer money from another account. However, to have to find offsets here when people are suffering, dying, perhaps having deformed infants doesn't make any sense now. I would just say in closing, I thank the gentleman for his concern, and I do hope that we can pass this emergency supplemental as soon as possible because so much of where the money is going to go is long- range planning. Vaccines. We have to make sure that we prevent additional cases of Zika, and developing a vaccine can't be done in a month or 2 months. It takes time. So if, in fact, the administration has requested $1.9 billion, and we have responded, and the administration has responded to the very sincere questions provided to us by the chair, Chairman Rogers of the committee, we think it has been documented very carefully. I would ask again my colleagues to consider that this is an emergency, $1.9 billion is what has been documented in detail. It is all in writing. I thank the gentleman for listening.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, dire needs across this great Nation demand Congress' attention: Zika virus, the crisis in Flint, the opioid epidemic, not to mention the ongoing needs for education, infrastructure, jobs, and security. Yet, Republicans will miss tomorrow's statutory deadline to pass a budget. The majority's ``Road to Ruin'' budget would devastate good jobs, end the Medicare guarantee, and increase poverty. Even this was not cruel enough for the most extreme voices in the Republican Conference who demand cuts that will hurt hardworking American families. The majority's internal dysfunction is preventing Congress from investing in job creation, economic growth, and help for the American public. My friends, it is time to end the games, address the dire challenges we face today, and invest in a brighter future for tomorrow.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Susan Gordon, a nationally recognized pediatrician, teacher, and equal rights advocate from Pomona, New York, who passed away January 25. Dr. Gordon opened her pediatric office in Haverstraw, New York after graduating from Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C. In 1958 she started a 25-year career as an associate professor of pediatrics, first at New York Medical College and then at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Gordon served as a member of the National Panel on the Measurement of the Program Effects of Head Start and a member of the Board of Trustees of Nyack Hospital. Dr. Gordon was also a member and past president of the board at the Lexington School for the Deaf, and the School's Health Center was named in her honor. Dr. Gordon and her husband, Dr. Edmund W. Gordon, were champions for equal educational opportunity, working with a small group of concerned citizens in the late 50's and 60's to integrate the schools in the East Ramapo Central School District. Dr. Gordon was very active in the PTA and later was elected a member of the East Ramapo Central School District Board of Education, where she was elected and served as President for three years. The Drs. Gordon combined their medical and educational knowledge and talents to found the Harriet Tubman Child Health and Guidance Clinic in Harlem in the 1950's, and helped establish the Psycho-Educational Diagnostic Clinic for children at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center (referred to as the Ambulatory Pediatrics Division). In addition to her work in medicine and education, Dr. Gordon devoted her time and talents to serving the Rockland County community, and her accomplishments brought her well-deserved recognition. Dr. Gordon was a long-standing board member and served as President of the Martin Luther King Multi-Purpose Center Board of Trustees, and on January 22, 2000, the classrooms and computer center at the Martin Luther King Multi- Purpose Center were dedicated as the Susan G. Gordon, M.D. Education Corridor. She was also one of three women recognized at the African American Chamber of Commerce of Westchester & Rockland Counties, Inc.'s 2000 Women's History Month luncheon. Dr. Gordon was the recipient of the 1999 ``Children's Champion Award,'' given by the Early Child Consortium of Rockland County, and in 2006 was inducted, along with her husband, into the Rockland County Civil Rights Hall of Fame. Most recently, the Drs. Gordon founded Gordon and Gordon Associates in Human Development, and their children established the CEJJES Institute and Library in Pomona to continue their parents' life work in the promotion of social justice, particularly as it pertains to health, education, and the environmental and material well being of marginalized communities. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize the many outstanding accomplishments of my constituent, Dr. Susan Gordon. I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring her exceptional life.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Town of Haverstraw in Rockland County, New York, as it begins the celebration of its 400th anniversary year. I am honored to represent in the Congress this community with its richly diverse population, historic brick homes, beautiful views of the Hudson River, and a growing business district. Haverstraw is a Dutch name which means ``Oat Straw,'' referring to the straw of the river meadows that once filled Haverstraw Bay. Balthazar de Harte, a New York merchant, purchased the tract of land along the river that would become Haverstraw in 1666 from the Lenni Lenape confederation of the Algonquin Indians. The precinct of Haverstraw was created in 1719 when it separated from Orangetown, and officially became a town in 1788. Today, the Town includes the Village of Haverstraw, the Village of West Haverstraw, and part of the Village of Pomona. In 1780, Haverstraw was the scene of a major plot, which if it had succeeded, could have changed the course of the Revolutionary War. American General Benedict Arnold had convinced George Washington to give him command of the fort at West Point, but secretly was involved in treasonable negotiations with English Emissary Major John Andre to sell the plans to West Point to the British. Arnold and Andre met during the night on the beach of Haverstraw, but the negotiations were not completed by dawn. Arnold and Andre fled, and Andre was captured in Tarrytown on his way back to British lines. Haverstraw is located in the widest point of the Hudson River, which was the main artery of trade between New York City and Albany, as well as the dividing line between New England and other colonies. In the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries, Haverstraw was home to several key industries. It became the greatest center of brick production in the nation, one year shipping out more than 300 million bricks from Haverstraw Bay for the New York City area. The Rockland Print Works incorporated in 1853 to print and dye woolen, cotton and linen goods, and the current owner, Garnerville Holding Company, now rents space to businesses, artists and craftsmen. These buildings are some of the few examples of the 19th century factory architecture still in use in the United States. Haverstraw has a diverse history, rich with culture. Central Presbyterian Church was founded in 1846 and moved to its present location with its beautiful Tiffany windows in 1909. The Congregation of the Sons of Jacob, established in 1877, is the oldest Jewish congregation in Rockland County. In 1905 the New York State Hospital for the Care of Crippled and Deformed Children purchased 48 acres of land in West Haverstraw, known as the Lilburn Estate, opening a facility that became world famous for its rehabilitation and research programs. In 1974, the hospital was renamed the Helen Hayes Hospital to recognize the great contributions of the famous actress to the institution. The Haverstraw King's Daughters Public Library was chartered in 1895 and opened its present building on Main Street in 1903. Today, Haverstraw is a shining example of a diverse community working together to better the Town as a whole. Residents hail from Latin America, Russia, India, and all over the world, giving Haverstraw a global culture all its own. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting the Town of Haverstraw on this special anniversary as its residents celebrate its distinguished past and look ahead to a strong future.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support passage of the Electrify Africa Act. This bipartisan legislation will build a brighter future for more than 600 million Africans by improving their access to reliable electricity. During the last several decades, development gains in impoverished communities throughout the continent have been dramatically undercut by prevailing practices for accessing light and cooking fuel--practices that have damaged one's health and safety, degraded the environment, or have inefficiently used scarce resources. By investing in electricity and by encouraging the private sector to do the same, this legislation will help save lives, provide education and medical services, bolster communities, and improve economic development. As the Ranking Member of the State Department and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, I applaud Congress' passage of this critical legislation, and I look forward to working with the Administration on its implementation.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Willie Bryant, of Spring Valley, NY, a dentist and Hudson Valley civil rights activist for nearly a half-century, who passed away December 28, 2015, at the age of 77. A lifelong NAACP member, Dr. Bryant was active with the Rockland Human Rights Commission and helped create the Spring Valley NAACP Life Membership Program. Dr. Bryant also helped form the Rockland Employees Federal Credit Union, a non-profit group that provided low-interest loans to people who worked at the Rockland Psychiatric Center and in county government. Dr. Bryant also spearheaded the successful effort to have a statue of United States Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall placed on the front lawn of the former Hillburn Main School, which was integrated following then-NAACP attorney Marshall's appeal to the New York State Commissioner of Education in 1943. Dr. Bryant attended Florida A&M University, graduating in 1961, and then Howard University School of Dentistry. He remained active in both universities' alumni associations, serving as President of the Florida A&M Ossining (NY) alumni branch, where he started a sickle-cell anemia screening project that reached more than 1,200 people. Dr. Bryant interned at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Philadelphia and joined the dental staff of the FDR Veterans Administration Hospital in Montrose, NY, in 1969. In 1982, Dr. Bryant began serving as the Director of Dental Services at Letchworth Village, a residential facility for people with physical and mental disabilities in Thiells, NY. Dr. Bryant often said providing dental care for the developmentally disabled population was his biggest achievement and his most rewarding experience. Dr. Bryant was honored many times throughout his career. He received the 2003 ``Volunteer Beyond Excellence'' Award from the New York Organ Donor Network for promoting organ and tissue donation. He was named Rockland's Alpha Man of the Year in 2004 and was awarded the Rockland Buffalo Soldiers' Award in 2006. Dr. Bryant was a 2008 inductee into the Rockland County Human Rights/Civil Rights Hall of Fame for his efforts to help people attain justice and equal treatment under the law. In 2012 he was named one of Florida A&M's Outstanding Alumni of the Quasquicentennial and was honored by the Howard University Alumni Club of Westchester and Rockland. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize my constituent, Dr. Willie Bryant. I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring his exceptional life of service.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Patricia Simmons, an inspiring educational leader from Pomona, New York. who passed away on December 27, 2015. For the last 15 years, Ms. Simmons served with distinction, grace and total dedication to students as Principal of Fleetwood Elementary School in Chestnut Ridge, New York. She was an integral, respected and beloved part of the entire East Ramapo Central School District community, serving as President of the East Ramapo Building Administrators Association, a co-founder of the Rockland Association of Black School Educators and as a board member of the CEJJES Institute, a local cultural, educational, and research foundation dedicated to improving educational and social conditions for all. Ms. Simmons also served on the Spring Valley NAACP Education Committee as a strong advocate for student, parent, and community engagement in local schools. At Fleetwood, Ms. Simmons quietly and effectively instilled a sense of hope and respect in all her students and pride and confidence in the teachers and staff. During the winter, Ms. Simmons would stand at the entrance of the school to make sure every child was wearing a coat, gloves, and hat. providing for those who did not have their own. On Fridays, Ms. Simmons would pack food in students' backpacks to make sure they did not go hungry over the weekend. Ms. Simmons and her staff at Fleetwood Elementary would also supply gifts for children and deliver turkeys for Thanksgiving to families in need. Ms. Simmons earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Black and Hispanic Studies from the State University of New York at Oneonta; a Master of Arts in Education, specializing in Infant and Toddler Educational Development and Reading Recovery at New York University; and a Master of Education in Administration and Supervision from Bank Street College. She began her career in Brooklyn as a classroom teacher and reading specialist, and later was appointed Assistant Principal at the Crispus Attucks School in Bedford Stuyvesant, until her appointment as Principal of Fleetwood Elementary. In her early years at Fleetwood Elementary, Ms. Simmons received the Excellence in Education Award in 2004 from The Parent and Student Advocacy Network in Rockland County. She was honored by the Epsilon Chi Chapter of the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., as a ``Bridge Builder'' in 2009 for her dedication to ensuring a promising future for East Ramapo youth. She also was selected to receive the Empire State Supervisors and Administrators Award for Administrator of the Year in 2012. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize the many outstanding accomplishments of my constituent, Ms. Patricia Simmons, a true advocate for children. I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring her exceptional life.

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 44 on January 13, 2016, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.'' personal explanation

Mrs. LOWEY

Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the service and sacrifice of my constituent, New York Police Department (NYPD) Detective and Staff Sergeant Joseph Lemm of West Harrison. A 15-year veteran of the NYPD and member of the Air National Guard, Staff Sergeant Lemm was killed alongside five other Americans in Afghanistan on December 21, 2015. Staff Sergeant Lemm was a true patriot who dedicated his life to protecting others. To quote New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton, ``he chose selflessness; he chose sacrifice; he chose to serve.'' Staff Sergeant Lemm is survived by his wife, Christine, and two children, Brooke and Ryan. Tonight, Christine will accompany me to President Obama's final State of the Union Address. I urge my colleagues to honor her sacrifice and remember that each service member who loses his or her life leaves behind a circle of loved ones to whom we are also indebted. Mr. Speaker, I commend Staff Sergeant Lemm's exceptional service to our country. We offer his family, friends, and community our heartfelt sympathy and will work to ensure that the loss of Staff Sergeant Lemm will serve as a reminder of the heroic sacrifices of our service members. I offer my deepest condolences to Christine, Brooke and Ryan on the passing of their husband and father, and I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Staff Sergeant Lemm's service and sacrifice.