Barbara Lee

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Max Anderson, a beloved Berkeley activist and public servant who passed away on July 5, 2024. Max Anderson was born on December 15, 1944, in Decatur, Illinois. At age 18, he enlisted as a Marine and served in Vietnam. He later earned a degree in Respiratory Therapy at the Community College of Philadelphia and later his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Thomas Jefferson University. He moved to Berkeley with his wife Linda in 1985. In Berkeley, Max cemented his legacy as a community organizer and public figure, serving as Commissioner of Berkeley's Rent Stabilization Board from 1994 to 2004 and on Berkeley's City Council from 2004 to 2016. He was a co-founder of the Alcatraz Avenue Neighborhood Association, a founding member of the Friends of Adeline, and a member of the Berkeley NAACP and the Sierra Club. Max was known as a fierce advocate for the underserved in Berkeley and fought tirelessly for progressive policy initiatives, including raising the minimum wage, expanding public health services, raising green building standards, and fighting for workers' and tenants' rights. Max was known by his friends and family as a ``Renaissance man'' who loved the outdoors, travel, history, and science. He is survived by his loving wife Linda Olivenbaum and daughter Marisha Anderson. Max Anderson was a beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, friend, and community leader. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him and all whose lives have been touched by his great contributions to our community. Berkeley is a better place because of his incredible leadership and dedication to his community. May he rest in eternal peace and power.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Acts Full Gospel Church located in Oakland, California. As this occasion also marks his 40th Pastoral Anniversary, I want to congratulate the church's founder, Bishop Bob Jackson, for his enduring service and commitment to the East Bay community. Deriving from a small bible study, the church held its first service on May 6, 1984, with just 15 members. Four decades later, Acts Full Gospel Church has a congregation of more than 6,000 members, with 30 ministries diligently working to improve the lives of Oaklanders. As Senior Pastor, Bishop Bob Jackson has continuously used his platform to give back to those in need. Working alongside his wife, First Lady Barbara Jackson, they have made Acts Full Gospel Church a community pillar. Additionally, he has founded several non-profits, educational institutions, and small businesses. This list includes, the Acts Christian Academy, Men of Valor Academy, Acts Anointed Acres, Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce, Oakland House of Ruth, amongst others. In his establishment of the Acts Community Development, Inc., he has also developed 59 units of affordable housing in Oakland. Given the significant need in the Bay Area, he is currently working to develop 58 more. In his spare time, Bishop Bob Jackson also holds several leadership positions in local organizations, including serving as the Chairman of Oakland's Chapter of the Our Kids ``OK'' Program. In this role, he helps empower young Black men and boys to transform their communities via their unique mentorship program. Through his incredible work and commitment to Oakland, in 2022, Bishop Bob Jackson was awarded the President's Lifetime Achievement Award--one of the nation's highest civilian honors. Therefore, it brings me great joy to celebrate Bishop Bob Jackson, and the entire Acts Full Gospel congregation. I am tremendously grateful for their 40 years of service to the East Bay community and wish them continued success.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of a civil rights icon, a fearless truthteller, this country's ``Father of Black Studies,'' Dr. Nathan Hare. Born on April 9, 1933, Dr. Hare was a son of Oklahoma sharecroppers. Academically gifted, he excelled through the state's segregated school system, earning a bachelor's degree from Langston University. He went on to receive a master's degree and Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Chicago, finishing his education with a second Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the California School of Professional Psychology. Throughout his academic and professional career, Dr. Hare was a champion of Black history and power. In 1965, as a professor at Howard University, he published ``The Black Anglo-Saxons,'' the first of his many ground-breaking works. In 1968, he arrived at San Francisco State University, where he sought to develop an interdisciplinary program dedicated to understanding the Black experience. After significant pushback from the university's administration, which resulted in a five-month strike with students and faculty, Dr. Hare completed the proposal for the program. With its adoption, Dr. Hare became the first head of a Black Studies Department in the United States In 1969, Dr. Hare co-founded the Black Scholar magazine. Through this publication, he granted me the privilege of writing an edition about the Non-Aligned Movement. The Conference on Non-Aligned Nations was held in Havana, Cuba and I received credentials as a journalist to cover this impactful summit on behalf of the Black Scholar and the Sun Reporter newspaper. He also asked me to write an article about the nonviolent revolution in Grenada. Through our friendship, work, and his mentorship, he taught me what a Black perspective on foreign policy and international relations meant as an African American. For this, I am deeply grateful. Dr. Hare was preceded in death by his loving wife, Dr. Julia (Reed) Hare, an activist and scholar who joined him on the frontlines of his academic efforts. In 1979, they founded a research institution, called the Black Think Tank, where they wrote several books about Black life in America. Dr. Nathan Hare was an incredible scholar, whose contributions to Black academia and media have made a lasting impact on our world. He will be greatly missed by those who had the honor of knowing him and remembered by all who stand upon his shoulders. May he rest in eternal peace and power.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the achievements of Carol Christ as she celebrates her retirement from the University of California, Berkeley after serving as Chancellor of the university since 2017. I honor Chancellor Christ for her dedication to this distinguished university in California's 12th district and wish her the best of luck in her retirement. Carol Christ has had an incredible career in higher education that has made a lasting impact on the Berkeley community. Before becoming Chancellor, Christ was a professor and administrator at UC Berkeley for more than thirty years, serving as executive vice chancellor and provost from 1994 to 2000. During that time, she was the highest- ranking female administrator at the university. She then served as the president of Smith College from 2002 to 2013 before returning to Berkeley as the director of the Center for Studies in Higher Education and interim executive vice chancellor and provost in the years leading up to her being named chancellor. Christ received her Bachelor of Arts from Douglass College and her Master's degree and Ph.D. in English from Yale University. In 1970, she joined UC Berkeley's faculty in the English department, focusing on Victorian literature. She later served as both chair of the department and dean of the Division of Humanities. As Chancellor, Christ has been a champion of women's issues and diversity on UC Berkeley's campus. She has fostered a positive campus climate for students, staff, and faculty of all backgrounds. She has addressed critical issues such as the housing shortage and has embraced and celebrated UC Berkeley's spirit and commitment to free speech. I am happy to congratulate Carol Christ on her retirement from the University of California, Berkeley. Christ has made a lasting positive impact on UC Berkeley and California's 12th Congressional District, and I honor and thank her for her continued contributions to our community.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as my Republican colleagues continue to rail against everything woke and for their Project 2025 agenda. Now, most Members don't even know what woke even means, so let me just try to lay it out. As the NAACP reminded us in a 2023 resolution, the word ``woke'' has been used by Black Americans even as far back as the 1940s when the Black mineworkers issued the statement: ``We were asleep. But we will stay woke from now on.'' Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert this official NAACP resolution titled: ``Resolution-Reclaiming the Word `Woke' as Part of African-American Culture'' be inserted into the Congressional Record.

Ms. LEE of California. In 2010 it began to be used widely, primarily by Black Americans to bring awareness to social inequities such as racial injustice, sexism, and denial of LGBTQ+ rights. Today, the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines ``woke'' as ``aware of and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues, especially issues of racial and social justice.'' Also, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary quotes me from a speech I gave several years ago: ``We have a moral obligation to `stay woke,' take a stand and be active; challenging injustices and racism in our communities. . . .''

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chairman, I thank our ranking member, Mr. Meeks, for his tremendous leadership on so many fronts especially as it relates to global peace and security. I thank him for yielding me time. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 1425. Now, we have all seen and felt how global health threats don't respect borders. Any serious global health response requires cooperation, not finger- pointing. This partisan bill doesn't provide any pathway to protecting Americans and the world from the next pandemic. The good news is that we have an alternative, a positive example of how to build a global health partnership. I am talking about the effort to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Mr. Chair, 20 years ago, AIDS was a death sentence for millions. Entire countries and communities were literally facing oblivion. I, along with the Congressional Black Caucus, worked with President George W. Bush and top Republicans like Senate Republican leader Bill Frist and House Foreign Affairs Chair Henry Hyde to create PEPFAR, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. I believe now probably only about 20 to 25 percent of Members who are presently serving were here when we passed this first major global health initiative. Today, PEPFAR is the most successful assistance program in history. PEPFAR investments have helped save 25 million lives. That is what we did. Seven million orphans and vulnerable children have received support, and 5\1/2\ million babies have been born HIV-free. This success has led Congress to extend PEPFAR three times. Last year, for the first time, Congress failed to do this despite bipartisan support. I have spoken at length with many Members on both sides of the aisle, and both sides of the aisle, the Members, continue supporting PEPFAR's work. However, Republican leadership seems to prefer divisive bills like H.R. 1425 instead of bipartisan bills like PEPFAR. They are choosing divisiveness over cooperation and results. This is just a 5-year extension with no changes. That is all we are asking for. Mr. Chair, PEPFAR also, you have to understand, is a key national security priority. The world is watching. We are trying to show people in other countries that the United States should be their preferred partner, of course, instead of China, for example. What message does it send when we walk away from our commitments before the job is done? Yes, we all are committed to an AIDS-free generation by 2030, and that is why a 5-year extension is extremely important. For this reason, at the appropriate time, I will offer a motion to recommit this bill back to committee. If the House rules permitted, I would have offered the motion with an important amendment to this bill. My amendment would reauthorize PEPFAR for another 5 years, just as we have in the past three times, to ensure that the United States keeps its commitment to finally defeat HIV and AIDS for everyone everywhere. Mr. Chair, I include in the Record the text of the amendment. Ms. Lee of California moves to recommit the bill, H.R. 1425, to the Committee on Foreign Affairs with instructions to report the same back to the House forthwith with the following amendment: Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following:

Ms. LEE of California. I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will join me in voting for the motion to recommit.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today along with my colleagues, Representatives Mark DeSaulnier and Eric Swalwell, to honor the retirement of a champion of women's issues, a leader in diversity, and an advocate for high quality and accessible education--Chancellor Carol Christ. Chancellor Christ began her career in academia at Douglass College, where she studied English Literature and graduated with high honors. Recognizing the value of the liberal arts and sciences, Chancellor Christ earned a Ph.D. from Yale University before immediately joining the English Department at the distinguished University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley). Chancellor Christ served as a professor at UC Berkeley for over three decades. Her titles included chair of the English Department, dean of Division of Humanities, and provost for the College of Letters and Science. Beyond helping form the minds of the future, Chancellor Christ was key in helping the University achieve its academic and strategic goals. This made her an ideal choice when in 2017, Chancellor Christ began her term as the 11th chancellor of UC Berkeley. During her term she oversaw academia and education at the highest level. Through thoughtful debate and discussion, strategic financial decisions, the consideration of student and community voices on key issues, and encouragement of a positive environment for education; Chancellor Christ helped cement UC Berkeley as one of the premier learning institutes in the world. We honor Chancellor Christ and congratulate her on a well-earned retirement. We thank her for her decades of service to educational justice and the careful facilitation of curious young minds and wish her well as she has more time to spend with her children and grandchildren as her legacy continues to grow and impact future generations of students and leaders.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, let me first take a moment to thank Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick for her leadership and to thank the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and the entire Congressional Black Caucus for leading this tribute tonight to our colleague, our sister, and our friend. To Sheila's family, her community, her friends, my deepest condolences. You know how much we love Sheila, and we know how much they loved her and how much she is missed already. Now, let me say a couple of things. First of all, I met Sheila before I met Sheila. This was when I was in the legislature. I went to the graduation where my niece was attending college, Prairie View College right out of Houston, Texas. There was a great orator who spoke at that commencement. This was probably '95, '96. This orator spoke for probably about 2 to 3 hours in the hot sun. It was a great speech, and I will never forget that speech. It was over 2 hours, and everyone was listening intently in that hot sun. Finally, when I actually met Sheila, coming to Congress, I felt that I knew her because this speech was so profound. She was, first of all, an effective legislator. We know her well as being right down here on the floor. I think she had an amendment for every single bill that came to the floor, and they passed. She worked with Republicans. She worked with all of us. She was at the Rules Committee until midnight. She had more energy, but she was brilliant with her energy, and she knew how to effectuate legislative change and get bills passed. Of course, she led the effort for reparations, for the study and development of reparations. She picked that bill up, H.R. 40, from our beloved John Conyers. She led the effort to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. She was the lead author of Federal legislation for the Juneteenth National Independence Day. We cannot forget that. I have to remind people of that, in her absence this year. As we celebrate Juneteenth, we cannot forget the name Sheila Jackson Lee. My grandfather and my great-grandmother were born in Galveston. I had never visited Galveston until Sheila invited me to Galveston to be with her the first year the legislation passed. What a reunion that was. To be with Sheila Jackson Lee in Galveston, Texas, was the highlight of that year for me. She also was a constituent advocate. Let me tell you, right after Katrina, members of the Congressional Black Caucus were in New Orleans. Sheila went back to Houston because she received so many evacuees. She called me up and said: Barbara, I don't care wherever you are going, you better come here to Houston. I said: Yes, ma'am. I went to Houston, and I saw how Sheila Jackson Lee in many ways ministered to these evacuees. She had me out there, and I was honored to be out there with her feeding people, clothing people, finding shelter, on the phones being advocates. She truly loved people. When people got stuck at the airport in Houston--once my sister did, as well as constituents--I would call Sheila. She would have me up all night long talking to people on the phone until the problem was resolved. She was dogged about constituent services. She loved people. She was a caregiver also for her mother. Many don't remember this if you weren't here. Her mother lived in New York, and her mother was very ill. It was during the time that my mother was very ill. Sheila stayed on that phone talking to caregivers. I was on the phone talking to my mother's caregiver. We were comparing notes, comparing medicines. She would get on a plane and fly up there and come back here. She was a daughter who truly loved her mother and took care of her mother until the very end. I learned a lot from Sheila going through what I went through with my mother as she was making her transition. Sheila was a global citizen. For those of you who traveled with her, you know she was a queen. Sheila went to school in Nigeria. I have been in refugee camps with Sheila. I have been on many codels with Sheila, some of which I led. Sheila would call me way past the deadline--you all know what I am talking about--24 hours before the codel departed: I am going. I said: But Sheila, the deadline was 3 weeks ago. She said: I am going. I said: Yes, ma'am. She went. She provided so much insight and input and brilliance on all of these codels. Members came back more informed and with more clarity about what the issues were we were dealing with. The last codel that I led to Africa was, I believe, in 2022 when during that period the devastating flood in Pakistan occurred. Sheila was chair of the Congressional Pakistan Caucus. She had me on the phone, as an appropriator, from Ghana calling back here making sure that we were ready to respond to the devastation in Pakistan. Sheila said: You have got to go with me to Pakistan. I said: Sheila, we are in Africa, and we have got to get back to America first. I have got to clear my schedule. She said: No, no, no. You have got to go with me to Pakistan. I said: Sheila, I can't go, but I will do everything I can to help. I could not go, but we landed here at Andrews. Sheila flew to Houston, and the next morning she left for Pakistan. She spent, I guess, 5 days there helping people through that dire, terrible flood that was taking place. She would call me every other hour: Where are we? Did you call USAID? I would say: Yes, ma'am. That is how Sheila was. She was a person who was obsessed with taking care of people and changing the world and making life better for everyone. Our personal friendship was deep and broad. She received the John Lewis award recently for the most number of 1 minutes. She called me that morning. She says: Barbara, I can't be there, but I want you to accept this award for me. I said: Sheila, they are not going to let me accept an award for you. She said: Just do like I would do and tell them you are going to accept it anyway. That was Sheila. She would not take no for an answer. Also, finally, I was her personal photographer. Many of you may have been also. Sheila wanted to make sure she was in every single picture. If a real photographer wasn't around, she would pull me. I was looking at my pictures. I have more pictures of Sheila than myself because she made sure she got those pictures taken. They weren't necessarily for her. They were for her constituents, for her family, for her grandchildren, for her husband. She wanted people to know and to be informed about her work as their public servant. Sheila deserves to rest now. She was a force of nature. Her spirit will live forever. She was fearless. She was loving. She was powerful. I am reminded of one Scripture in Second Timothy. This reminds me of Sheila: For God did not give us the spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind. May Sheila's soul rest in peace, may she rest in power, and may she rest. God bless her.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition to this amendment.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition.

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment. Section 706 of the 2003 Foreign Relations Authorization Act reminds the President to report to Congress on countries determined to be major drug-producing or transit countries. The administration produces this report and, in 2023, included the People's Republic of China as a significant source of precursor chemicals used for illegal drugs in the United States. There is a process in place. Prohibiting any future administration from making a decision as to whether the PRC should be on this list, as this amendment does, undermines the whole goal of this report. If Congress would rather come up with the list, they should do so. Until then, the law leaves the administration to determine who belongs on the list. This administration has made disrupting the global flow of illicit synthetic drugs a priority and has maintained pressure on the PRC to that end. This amendment is unnecessary, and I urge my colleagues to oppose it. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Chair, I believe in the urgency of this crisis, but this is not the way to address it. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition.

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Chair, this amendment, which I am opposed to, seemingly seeks to punish Secretary Blinken likely due to differences of opinion with the amendment's sponsor. Now, the last time I looked, in a democracy, I thought differences are allowed without punitive measures. This is a slippery slope. Given that the Secretary covers all worldwide issues, it is unbelievable that differing opinions would not arise. We cannot decide to defund the salary of a Cabinet member simply because a Member of Congress does not agree with all the positions the administration takes on issues pertaining to foreign affairs. Again, remember what the fundamentals of our democracy allow. This is, again, another move to shut it down. Again, to my colleagues, if you want to debate the foreign policy of the Biden administration, let's do that, but Secretary Blinken is doing his job. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Chair, elections matter. This is still a democracy. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition.

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Chair, this amendment, of course, I oppose. NSM-20 ensures that any transfers of arms from the United States are done with partners in accordance with international law. What is the problem with that? International law says that civilians have to be protected and not targeted, that humanitarian actors are given access to provide assistance to vulnerable populations, and that weapons are to be used with proper oversight. What is the problem with that? I truly don't understand what the objection to this would be. This policy, which is representative of laws and policies already on the books, was implemented in February and began its review with countries currently engaged in conflict, such as Nigeria, Ukraine, Colombia, Iraq, and, yes, Israel. No country that is in compliance with international law should be concerned with this review, but it gives the United States, our taxpayers, as the largest provider of weapons around the world, a check that they are not running afoul of international law either. NSM-20 is about good government and oversight and should be supported and strengthened. I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Chair, in closing, I don't know why the gentleman is making this about Israel. NSM-20 implements a regular process for reviewing these requirements and reporting to Congress. Taxpayers deserve to be ensured that these processes are upheld for each and every country. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.