Barbara Lee

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the passage of the Global Respect Act. I thank Congressman Cicilline for sponsoring this legislation and also Chairman Meeks and the Speaker for bringing it to the floor. Human dignity is a basic human right, yet LGBTQ individuals are often targets for harassment, violence, and even death, simply based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. As chair of the State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, I am committed to protecting and promoting the human rights and dignity of all people, especially those who are marginalized and most vulnerable, such as LGBTQ individuals. I am so proud that in the House FY22 SFOPS bill we provided $15 million for the Global Equality Fund at the State Department and $10 million for the protection of LGBTQ persons at USAID. The Global Respect Act will ensure that the administration has the tools it needs to advance the rights of all human beings, regardless of who they are or who they love. This bill upholds our core values of tolerance and compassion for our fellow human beings. I want to congratulate this body for voting for this bill today.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, we will go to another fighter who has just come here from the great State of Ohio, who has a remarkable record fighting for voting rights and justice and is a woman who serves her community in ways that every Member of Congress should serve their community, Congresswoman Shontel Brown, who I think has been here for years now, but she has really hit the ground running in her presence on this floor.

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include any extraneous material on the subject of the Special Order.

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, first of all, I would like to thank our Congressional Black Caucus chair, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, for her tremendous leadership and for giving us this Special Order hour on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus to honor my mentor, one of the founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus, the late Congresswoman Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm. And to Congresswoman Beatty, I just want to say how proud we are, and how bold she has led this caucus by demanding that everyone really understand our power, and our message. Tonight is no exception. And, in fact, Congresswoman Chisholm, I am sure, is very proud of the leadership of Congresswoman Beatty. As the first African-American woman elected to Congress in 1968--I want you to listen to this--the first Congress convened in 1789 and the first Black woman elected to Congress was in 1968. That was Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm. She was also the first African American and woman to seek the Presidency. Shirley Chisholm has truly cemented her place in history as a trailblazer. I first met Congresswoman Chisholm because of a college assignment at Mills College in Oakland, California. My government professor assigned us to do field work on a Presidential campaign. At the time, several men were vying for the Democratic nomination, but they didn't speak to the issues that I cared about. I was a young, single mom on public assistance, and their platforms did not include issues that related to me or my community, like childcare, public education, universal healthcare, and ending poverty. So, of course, even though I had never flunked a class in my life, I decided to get an F in this class because I could not bring myself to work for these candidates. Now, I didn't believe these candidates could see me or had seen my community in terms of our needs. So I invited Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm to Mills College. I did not know she was running for the Presidency, but I invited her to address the Black Student Union because I was president of the Black Student Union. I had no idea she was running for President. In her speech, she stood up for children and struggling working families. She spoke out against racism and sexism. She was against the Vietnam war. She advocated for what she knew was right, undeterred by criticism and without fear of the consequences. As soon as she finished her speech, I went up to talk to her to tell her about this class I was about to flunk, and she took me to task. She asked me if I was registered to vote. And I said: No. I admitted that I wasn't going to do much in politics because I didn't believe in the two-party system and its relationship to my needs and my community. She said: Little girl, you can't change the system if you are on the outside looking in. Register to vote. And from that moment on, I ended up working in her northern California campaign. I vowed to listen to her, allowed her to mentor me and take me to task. We organized her northern California campaign out of my class at Mills College, and the rest is history. I went on to Miami, Florida, as a Shirley Chisholm delegate and we took a large percentage of the vote in Alameda County. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Beatty), the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus to deliver, once again, our power and our message, and then I will return and yield to my colleagues after the chair of the Black Caucus speaks.

Ms. LEE of California. Let me first say to our chair that our power and our message is exactly what the gentlewoman has delivered tonight. And I just want to thank her for her very gracious remarks and just know that I know Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm is proud of her leadership and proud of the fact that although she was one in 1968, I believe we have--what--25 bold, brilliant Black women in the Congressional Black Caucus. Thank you again for giving us a chance to honor her tonight and for your leadership. I now yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Johnson), the chair of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. I have been here since 1998, and she took to me and explained to me why, and I was on the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology when I first came to Congress, and I learned so much from her and have really just honored her for helping us navigate as Black women in this institution.

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I thank very much Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson for that powerful statement and also reminding us of her humble beginnings. She also, when she came to Congress, championed the rights of domestic workers and of low-income people. It was in her soul and in her spirit. She turned her vision into legislation here and was an excellent legislator who never lost touch with who she was. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), the co-chair of our Special Order, another greater leader from the State of Texas, and, as Chairwoman Beatty said, a fighter for justice on a lot of fronts.

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I thank very much Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee for that very comprehensive statement about our shero, Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm. Congresswoman Jackson Lee certainly is the epitome of who she was. I am so happy that she raised some of the issues and some of her quotes because she told me personally: Barbara, these rules and policies weren't made for you and I. She said: Don't go along to get along. She said: If you get behind these closed doors in any capacity, you have to fight to change the rules of the game. You have to fight the systemic issues. Don't tinker around the edges. I say that because, once again, when I started, I mentioned the fact that the first Congress was held in 1789, right? Shirley Chisholm was elected in 1968. Our country lost so much during that period because there were no Black women right here in this House of Representatives. We have to always remember the power of the moment when Shirley was elected to Congress and then running for President. Congresswoman Lucy McBath, another trailblazer who has shattered a heck of a lot of glass ceilings, first of all, and who has been bold and determined and persistent in making her community and this country a better place, I am so glad that she is with us tonight. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Georgia (Mrs. McBath).

Ms. LEE of California. Congresswoman Lucy McBath, I would like to share a story with you which reminds me of you that happened during Shirley's campaign because I know your district, and I know how you fight each and every day to bring people together, and how you care about all people, humanity. You care about people regardless of party affiliation, regardless of background, and I know that is how you do your work, and that is how you are so effective as a Black woman. During Shirley Chisholm's campaign, George Wallace was running for President also. He was shot and he was hospitalized. He was paralyzed. This is in the middle of the campaign. Congresswoman Chisholm suspended her campaign for a few days, and she went to visit that segregationist George Wallace. I mean, I was ready to leave. I said no, there is no way that my first campaign, this hero--shero of mine is going down to see this man who has blocked African Americans from going to school, who has sicced dogs on them, who is a horrible human being. And so I talked to her and said, ``I can't deal with this, Mrs. Chisholm.'' I was so angry for that decision. And I am thinking of Congresswoman McBath now, I am thinking of the context in which we live in terms of so much hate out there because she said to me, she said, ``Little girl,'' even though I was a grown woman with two little kids, ``Remember, we are all human beings. Maybe I can teach him something and help him regain his humanity.'' I said, ``Well, he never had any. He was a bad man.'' And she went on to say, ``I know you are angry. I know people are really angry who support me, but you have to rise to the occasion if you are a leader, and you have to try to break down some of these barriers. You have to break through and try to enlighten other people who may hate you.'' I said, ``No, that is not good enough. He will never, ever come around, and I am really angry.'' But she asked me to stay on with her campaign, so I begrudgingly did. But what happened was she was able--and I am a good friend with George Wallace's daughter, Peggy Wallace Kennedy, who is a fighter for racial justice, who is a phenomenal woman in Alabama, and she is a good friend of mine, and she told me just recently, she said, ``Honey, you know, I was at that bedside when Shirley Chisholm visited my daddy, and she talked to him, and she told him what terrible things he had done, and she asked him to please, please, please understand that Black people deserved justice and equality.'' And she didn't know whether she was making an impact on him or not, but later--I still say too little, too late--he went to Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in his wheelchair and rolled down the aisle and apologized for all of his misdeeds. They became friends from afar, and he got a lot of the Southern Members to sign onto her legislation for domestic workers and for all of her bills that she was working on that she needed Southern Dixiecrats to support. I share that story now because that seems like something that we forgot how to do. I mean, I know I have. It is something that she taught me because not only was she responsible for this apology--again, too little too late--but it showed me that you have got to step out of your comfort zone, like you do, and hopefully, hopefully see some good in people who are your adversaries. You were talking, and I wanted to share that because I was personally involved with that story. I want to salute Peggy Wallace Kennedy tonight because she has really led a life that has been a life of making sure that every barrier against African Americans and people of color is dismantled in this country. Thank you again.

Ms. LEE of California. Let me thank you, Congresswoman Brown, for that statement and for your presentation and laying out many of Shirley Chisholm's accomplishments. I mean, she was a great legislator. She passed the 1974 minimum wage law, which expanded minimum wage standards to domestic workers and a broader swath of government employees, so I am glad that you laid that out because so many of us and so many especially younger African-American women and women of color see her as this icon who ran for President, first Black woman elected, but she was an excellent legislator. She used her contacts and leverage, and she knew how to leverage the folks, as I mentioned George Wallace's people. She understood her power. You understand your power, and I am so glad that you are here tonight for this presentation. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee) for some additional words.

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Jackson Lee for reminding us of Shirley Chisholm's history here in the Capitol as a member of the Agriculture Committee. Now, you know I worked for the late Ron Dellums starting in 1975, and I worked for him for 11 years. I got a chance to be with Congresswoman Chisholm many times, also with Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, so I got a chance to know her and her brilliance and her stately demeanor and her huge intellect. And I remember very clearly that Congresswoman Chisholm also was on the Rules Committee. And I know she was only the second woman to ever be appointed to the Rules Committee. Again, I have to go back to 1789 because I want the public to understand the centuries that took place during the interim. First, Congresswoman Chisholm was the second woman on the Rules Committee since 1789, and I believe--and we are checking--I think that she may have been the first member of the CBC on the Rules Committee also. But also, in terms of Congresswoman Chisholm's history and bringing it current, she was an original board member, first honorary copresident in 1969 of the National Abortion Rights Action League, better known as NARAL, and she was a fierce advocate for women's reproductive rights and justice. And she was also only one of 16 Black women who courageously led a movement for reproductive freedom that began with the publishing of the very seminal brochure ``We Remember: African American Women Are For Reproductive Freedom.'' And that was in 1989. And so Congresswoman Chisholm has been honored in so many different ways throughout the years, but we need to do more. We are going to start with our Chisholm Trail. For those who want to join us this year we are going to commemorate the Chisholm Trail. I was so pleased that Chairwoman Beatty mentioned the Shirley Chisholm stamp. It took us a long time to do this, but it was a bipartisan effort. We finally have a Forever Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm's historical stamp from the Postal Service. Also, she posthumously was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama. For her official portrait, I thank Speaker Nancy Pelosi because that was one of her first efforts working with us. And you remember Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald, another African-American woman, brilliant woman, from Southern California who passed away. She was chairing the House Administration Committee, and we got together. And this wasn't easy. And I thank Speaker Pelosi for helping us because it was a heavy lift to get this beautiful portrait painted by a young brother down in Southern California into this temple of democracy. And at first, there were those who wanted the portrait to be hidden in some little corner. Well, Speaker Pelosi and Lorraine Miller, Clerk of the House, made sure that she was placed in a prominent place so that people, especially young people, could get a chance to know her and to love her because what she did for this country was so amazing for everyone, for the voiceless, and she was a person, a woman, a Black woman who loved to bring people together from all backgrounds. So there are so many other memorials across the country to remember her fortitude and to honor her grit and tenacity. And she taught me once again, and I know Congresswoman Jackson Lee knows this, that Black women can't go along to get along. Again, 1789. These rules weren't made for us. So we must change these rules of the game, so that we must address gender and racial equity at its core. Before Congresswoman Chisholm passed away, she was asked how she wanted to be remembered. And I remember she said: I want history to remember me not just as the first Black woman to be elected to Congress, not as the first Black woman to have made a bid for the Presidency of the United States, but as a Black woman who lived in the 20th century and dared to be herself. I want to be remembered as a catalyst for change in America. And so I can confidently say that that is her legacy. Well done, Mrs. C, well done. Her staff and many of us called her ``Mrs. C.'' She had a phenomenal staff, Carolyn Smith. She had an African-American woman as her chief of staff. She was one of the few, like Ron Dellums, who had senior staff members who were Black, Black women, three of us on the Hill at that point. So she lived a life that we can all be proud of and how she paved the way for so many of us to be here as Members of Congress, but also throughout the country as members of elected bodies and corporate boardrooms. Congresswoman Chisholm made sure that she left her legacy so that, yes, as someone said earlier, we finally have the first African-American Vice President in the country. Because of Shirley Chisholm, I am. Because of Shirley Chisholm, Kamala Harris is. Madam Speaker, I thank my staff Rico Doss and Kayla Williams on my staff for really pulling this all together and helping us with all of this. And, Sheila, your staff and the Congressional Black Caucus members' staff because without our staff--as I know because I was a staffer for many years--none of this would have happened tonight. So I thank you guys very much. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise to express my appreciation for the powerful, persistent, and prophetic service of Diane Randall, who is stepping down from her role as General Secretary of the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) at the end of this year. FCNL is the 78-year-old Quaker lobby working to end war and the threat of war, advance social justice, and protect the Earth. In addition to its team of advocates in Washington, FCNL has built a network of thousands of people in all 50 states who advocate for those same values day-in and day-out. I have deeply valued working with Diane and her team as allies in my own work to end the forever wars, fight poverty and ensure a better life for all people at home and abroad. As a Quaker leader and a person of faith, Diane has brought a strong moral voice and the power of her Quaker community to policy discussions here in Washington. Her deep faith and belief in the inherent value of all people have allowed her to work across partisan and ideological lines to achieve major, positive change. During her decade-long tenure, Diane vastly expanded FCNL's advocacy staff in Washington and energized Quaker activists across the country. She built enduring coalitions with many different faith communities, joining with the heads of Washington offices of faith-based organizations, the Circle of Protection, and the Washington Interfaith Staff Community. In fact, I recall a dinner with faith leaders that Diane hosted a few years ago at FCNL's Quaker Welcome Center. We discussed the intersection of poverty and racism, and from that dinner-discussion emerged a powerful statement: a Unity Declaration on Racism and Poverty signed by more than 80 prominent Christian leaders. I have seen first-hand how Diane has nurtured and challenged all of us to work toward her vision of the world we seek. FCNL's wonderful mission statement is something that I believe we should all champion: We seek a world free of war and the threat of war. We seek a society with equity and justice for all. We seek a community where every person's potential may be fulfilled. We seek an earth restored. FCNL has been and continues to be a principled, effective and steadfast partner in advancing that mission. They have been an integral part of our efforts to repeal the 2001 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force. FCNL is one of the few organizations that has been with me since September 2001, supporting my lone vote against the war authorization, and continuing to campaign against the endless wars that resulted from one 60-word sentence that was enacted into law over our objections. Under Diane's leadership starting in 2011, FCNL staff have been steadfast allies, advocating to support my legislation to repeal these war authorizations. Their professional lobbyists as well as their citizen advocates tirelessly visited Hill offices, telling their own personal stories as well as making a logical case for why endless wars and endless Pentagon spending make all of us less secure. We work together on so many issues, from promoting racial justice at home to ending the drone wars to supporting the United Nations. Whether it is protecting the right to vote, protecting refugees and migrants, or protecting vulnerable people in developing countries, FCNL has been right there alongside me. Although FCNL is a Quaker-led organization, its network includes many people of other faiths and non-religious people who are drawn to their priorities and their vision for a better future. Diane has particularly strengthened FCNL's work on poverty and economic justice issues, focusing a huge amount of energy and lobbying power on passing legislation to expand and extend the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit. This November, FCNL organized more than 600 people in 45 states plus the District of Columbia to lobby Congress in support of these priorities. Diane is truly one who speaks truth to power, and I am deeply grateful for that. She leaves a legacy not only of moral leadership, but also a vision for a more peaceful and equitable future, and an organization that is energized and equipped to pursue it.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5665, the Combating International Islamophobia Act. I thank my friend, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, for her leadership on this issue, and also Chairman Meeks and the Speaker for bringing this bill to the floor. Mr. Speaker, the bill creates mechanisms for the State Department to monitor and combat international Islamophobia. There are approximately 1.8 billion Muslims in the world, including 3.5 million Muslims in the United States. Now, the truth is, while Islamophobia is not a new phenomenon, anti- Muslim violence has increased significantly over the past 20 years. Just ask any Muslim what Islamophobia is. We have seen incidents such as the terrorist attacks on mosques in New Zealand, atrocities against the Uyghurs in China, and Islamophobic laws in France that prevent girls from wearing the hijab in public. The United Nations Human Rights Council now says that discrimination and hatred toward Muslims have risen to epidemic portions.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, whether in the Halls of Congress, our districts, or across the world, we will not tolerate Islamophobia. We know what it is. We must work together to end this bigotry. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 5665.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise to oppose the out-of- control defense spending contained in this year's National Defense Authorization Act. At a topline level of $768.2, billion, this bill is larger than any previous pentagon spending bill. It's even bigger than what the President asked for by $25 billion. This excess is particularly egregious when compared to the military spending of our potential adversaries. We spend more on the US military than the next eleven countries combined. And all this funding is being poured into an agency that is perennially unaccountable to the American public. It has been 30 years since all federal agencies were required to pass audits. And after three decades the Department of Defense (DOD) remains the only agency in the federal government that has so far failed to pass an audit. The most recent prediction from the department for a clean audit is 2028. Yet we see numerous examples of fraud, waste, and abuse from this department, from legacy weapons systems built for the cold war, to the billions in documented waste in Afghanistan. The military has rightly identified the climate crisis as one of the biggest and most immediate threats to American lives and interests. And yet the Pentagon still hasn't fully reported on its own greenhouse gas emissions. And every excessive dollar spent on the Pentagon isn't available for the investments we need to make in mitigation and adaptation to protect us and the world from the impacts of climate change. Especially frustrating to me about this bill is the fact that needed reforms to advance racial justice and combat extremism and white supremacy were excluded in the negotiations that produced this compromise legislation. Our military leaders have been clear about the need to address extremism within the ranks and provide equal justice for Black and Brown servicemen and women. By failing to address these issues adequately in this bill, we don't just let down our men and women in uniform, we let down the country and betray our ideals. Enough is enough. Americans are demanding that Congress rebalance our priorities and invest in the biggest challenges America faces. We face imminent threats from the COVID pandemic, Climate Change, domestic terrorism, growing economic inequality, and systemic racial and ethnic inequities. It is time to shift our spending priorities to meet these urgent human security priorities. I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today, alongside Representative Judy Chu, to honor the life of the late Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan, who tragically passed on November 3, 2021. We extend our deepest condolences to her children, grandchildren, family, staff, and loved ones, and to the people of Alameda County who she served so well during her 30-year career in public service. Supervisor Chan was born in Boston, MA, after her parents immigrated there from China. She attended public schools and went on to receive her bachelor's degree in history from Wellesley College and her master's degree in education policy from Stanford University. She was a trailblazer throughout her career. She was the first Asian American to serve on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, to which she was elected in 1994, and later became the first Asian American and first woman to hold the position of Majority Leader in the California State Assembly, where she represented the East Bay from 2000 to 2006. In 2010, voters reelected her to the Alameda Board of Supervisors, where she continued to serve until her tragic death. Supervisor Chan's unyielding commitment to the wellbeing of children, families, and her most vulnerable constituents prevailed throughout her legislative career. During her tenure in the State Assembly, she authored groundbreaking legislation that successfully made California the first state to ban toxic flame retardants, which resulted in a significant decrease in how often those chemicals are detected in women's breast milk. During her time on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, she brokered a crucial deal to stop the San Leandro Hospital from closing, effectively saving jobs, keeping an emergency department running, and strengthening our community's healthcare infrastructure. Supervisor Chan was a great leader for the East Bay and the entire state, a consummate public servant, and a true friend. She embodied service, uplifted the vulnerable, and used her platform for the betterment of all. She said, ``My goal is really to make sure that children and families have everything that they need to be successful and to have a good quality of life.'' That is the precise sentiment by which she served and lived. In her memory, let us continue the fight to remove systemic barriers and hurdles so that all members of our community can thrive and flourish. Supervisor Chan's legacy should continue to inspire us to keep up the work for justice and equality to which she dedicated her life. As California Members of Congress, we thank Wilma for her service and honor her as an ardent champion for healthcare, education, children, seniors, and justice in our community. May Wilma's soul rest in peace and in power, and may her great legacy be a reminder of the work for justice and equality that remains. May we always honor Supervisor Chan, by taking the baton and rising to the occasion, as she so lovingly did, in service to her fellow human beings. On behalf of the 13th Congressional District of California, I honor Supervisor Wilma Chan for her service and dedication.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, on Wednesday December 1, 2021, l was unavoidably detained and unable to cast my vote on three roll call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``Yes'' on roll call 389, passage of H.R. 2685; I would have voted ``Yes'' on roll call 390, passage of H.R. 4045; and I would have voted ``Yes'' on roll call 391, passage of H.R. 4055.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, let me first thank our chair, Congresswoman DeLauro, for yielding and for her tremendous leadership throughout this overall process because, I tell you, this continuing resolution, it really should not be necessary. We have had ample time under the previous CR to complete bicameral, bipartisan negotiations to complete our full-year funding responsibilities, but not all parties have agreed to even come to the table. But Democrats are determined to keep our government open, so I urge everyone to support this continuing resolution. There are immense needs, though, and challenges outside our borders. We must complete our work on a full-year appropriations bill that provides the much-needed investments in diplomacy and development to meet those challenges. For far too long, we have had an imbalance between defense, diplomacy, and development. So I am very proud that the House passed the State-Foreign Operations bill, increasing funding for global health and pandemic response efforts, humanitarian assistance, and our commitment to key allies and partners. We must provide our international agencies the resources they need to defeat the global COVID-19 pandemic and ensure that we are taking the proper steps to protect ourselves in the future. The House bill also has a tripling of environmental funding from the prior year, which are critical investments to address climate change and accelerate the progress in adaptation of clean energy. Our bill prioritizes the protection and advancement of women, including for family planning, which has not received an increase in funding in over a decade.

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, these investments, along with other important investments in housing, jobs, and community investment, are on hold until we complete our work for fiscal year 2022 appropriations bills. So we must not shrink from our global responsibility but instead work to pass our budget, an omnibus bill, as soon as possible. Lives and livelihoods depend on this. Madam Speaker, again I thank Chairwoman DeLauro for making sure we keep the government open.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, today the Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments for the case Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. This case is the first time in 50 years that the Court is hearing a case that directly challenges Roe v. Wade. Half of the States in the country are poised to ban abortion entirely if the Court overturns Roe through trigger laws. Everyone should have the freedom to make their own reproductive healthcare decisions--not politicians. Now, I am one of the one in four women who have had an abortion. I remember the days when abortion was criminalized way before Roe v. Wade. Now, Madam Speaker, I survived. But many women, especially Black women, died. We will not go back to the days of unsafe abortions. These lives impact everyone but have a disproportionate impact on Black, Latina, indigenous people, and people of color. This also is about economic justice, racial equity, and the freedom to make decisions over one's life and one's reproductive healthcare. Abortions must be safe, they must be legal, and they must be accessible. The Senate must pass Congresswoman Judy Chu's Women's Health Protection Act so we can ensure that we protect the right to safe, legal, and accessible abortions.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today on a very historic occasion for the international community as we celebrate the life of American-born singer, dancer, World War II hero and civil rights icon Josephine Baker. On November 30th, Madame Baker will be reinterred in a ceremony at the Pantheon monument in Paris, France. This will make her the first American, the first Black woman, and the first entertainer to receive the country's highest honor. Madame Baker's induction into the Paris Pantheon will put her among the company of the highest French achievers in Arts, Letters, and Science. Though born an American citizen, Madame Baker lived most of her life in France and became a French citizen in the 1930s. Growing up homeless and in poverty, she became an internationally recognized entertainer and actress. However, her contributions did not stop in the arts. She was also a key member of the French Resistance movement during World War II, acting as a spy, as she gathered intelligence and smuggled messages for resistance forces. After the war, Madame Baker was awarded with one of France's top military honors, the Croix de Guerre, for her role in resisting occupation under the Nazis. Even as France became her home, Madame Baker never turned her back on the United States and the social injustice happening here. She used her celebrity to push against Jim Crow segregation and leveraged her platform to support the Civil Rights Movement happening at the time. On numerous occasions, she returned to the United States to perform. However, she refused to play in segregated establishments and championed racial equality--including right here in the San Francisco Bay Area. In the 1950's Madame Baker appeared with Paul Robeson supporting better pay for Oakland dock workers and longshoreman, she took part in Berkeley protests demanding Black people be hired as transit workers on the Key Line, and she warned that she would not perform at San Francisco's Golden Gate Theatre unless Black patrons could buy tickets to her concerts. For her civil rights activities in challenging racial segregation, Madame Baker was labeled ``a communist troublemaker'' and put on the FBI watchlist. She lost her U.S. citizenship rights for over a decade. It was not until the intervention of then U.S. Attorney General, Robert Kennedy, that she was finally allowed to return to the U.S. in 1963 to speak at the March on Washington. Wearing her French Resistance military uniform, Madame Baker was one of the few women speakers to address the crowd that day as a quarter million people gathered before the Lincoln monument. ``You know I have always taken the rocky path,'' she told the crowd. ``I never took the easy one, but as I get older, and as I knew I had the power and the strength, I took that rocky path and I tried to smooth it out a little. I wanted to make it easier for you. I want you to have a chance at what I had.'' This is the legacy of Madame Josephine Baker that we celebrate and uplift on the global stage. From the Pantheon in Paris to the halls of the U.S. Congress, we honor her contributions, courage, and conviction to make this world a better place for us all. On behalf of the 13th Congressional District of California, I commend Madame Josephine Baker for her service and dedication.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Deaconess Easter Mae Green and her decades of service in our Bay Area community. Deaconess Green was born in Waterproof, Louisiana on October 17, 1926. She was one of many African Americans to migrate West from the Jim Crow South, hoping to find a better life for her family. She arrived in the Bay Area in 1952 and began working in Oakland's manufacturing industry, eventually gaining the ability to move her brothers and her mother to California. Deaconess Green understood the importance of establishing financial stability as a single mother, and thus became an entrepreneur in the Oakland community. She opened Easter's Beauty Salon in East Oakland, which operated for more than 30 years. The salon provided many services to the community and became a strong pathway of entrepreneurship for other female cosmetologists in the Oakland area. Deaconess Green's good works in the community were truly remarkable. In addition to raising four biological children, she provided a safe and secure home to more than 158 foster children. She became a mentor for other young and single mothers and helped raise scholarship funds for students. Her service was recognized by Alameda County, and she would later publish her reflections in ``The Value of Motherhood'' in the Woman of Color Study Bible in 1999. Deaconess Green was strongly devoted to faith as a 38-year member of the Allen Temple Baptist Church, where her daughter, Rev. Dr. Jacqueline A. Thompson, now serves as senior pastor. She later became a Deaconess to provide physical and spiritual support to anyone in need. She lived her life as a reflection of her values--equal opportunity for women, care for children, and protection of the most vulnerable around us. She will be missed. My deepest condolences and prayers go to her family friends and loved ones, and my great respect and sympathies go to my dear friend and pastor, Reverend Thompson, who was a supportive and loving caregiver of her mother until the very end. Today, on behalf of California's 13th Congressional District, I commend Deaconess Green for her lifelong work as an entrepreneur, a mentor, and spiritual leader. As she returns to her maker, may this beautiful woman of God, Deaconess Easter Mae Green, rest in peace and power.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the East Bay Area Section of the National Council of Negro Women. The National Council of Negro Women is a non-profit organization with the mission to ``lead, advocate for, and empower women of African descent, their families and communities.'' NCNW was founded in 1935 by the influential educator and activist Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune and the iconic Dr. Dorothy Height served as president of the organization for more than fifty years. For seventy years, the East Bay Section of NCNW has followed in the footsteps of the organization's founder and its longtime president by serving as a pillar of the Bay Area community. The strength of the East Bay Section lies in its exceptional members. Led by President Carlene Gray, the members of this Section are leaders in their industries and in their community. Some are students, others are educators, business owners, healthcare professionals, civil servants, and others have retired. What they all have in common is their commitment to improving their community and empowering its people. They believe they are their sister's keeper. They encourage African American women and their families to serve as ambassadors in the community and contribute to its success. The East Bay Section continues to strengthen the community through innovative social, civic, and economic programs. These programs have supported so many members of the community including women, children, seniors, and veterans. They have also provided donations to the Alameda County Food Bank, donated hygiene supplies to women in need, purchased school supplies and hosted public forums on education. They have led innovative programs to support survivors of sexual assault, domestic abuse, and sex trafficking. During the pandemic, they have donated to community shelters and ensured that the community stayed informed with up-to-date resources. For seventy years, the East Bay Section of the National Council of Negro Women has been dedicated to serving and uplifting the Bay Area. Its members serve as passionate community advocates and share a commitment to improving the lives of African American women, their families, and the community. In the face of great challenges, the women of the East Bay Section of the National Council of Negro Women continue to rise to the occasion and improve countless lives through their tireless work. Their leadership and vision is needed now more than ever. May the East Bay Section's impact continue to be felt across the community for many years to come. Congratulations on seventy years of impact and service.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Lester L. Cannon, Sr. on the occasion of his retirement as a pastor and a spiritual leader at the Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church in Oakland, California, Dr. Cannon is a native of Maben, Alabama, the husband of Mrs. Minnie Ruth Cannon, father of Minister Lester L. Cannon, Jr., and Tammy Cannon, the grandfather of five, and the great-grandfather of nine. He served his first pastorage at Morning Star Baptist Church from 1974 to 1979, and later received both his Master of Theological Studies his Doctor of Ministry from Faith Seminary in Tacoma, Washington. Dr. Cannon has guided the Cornerstone Baptist Church according to his values of evangelism, education, youth ministry, and stewardship. With these priorities, Dr. Cannon has helped the church increased both its presence in the community and its long-term prosperity. Dr. Cannon also has been active in the community. He served as the Chairman of the Board of Nationwide Evangelism Training for 25 years, and currently serves as Executive Board Chairman of First Northern Christian Network. He also has served as Chairman of the Evangelical committee for the Baptist Ministers' Union of Oakland, and a trustee for the Golden State Convention, East Bay Baptist Association, and the Southern Baptist Convention. He also established a ``Thurgood Marshall Program'' which serves men in recovery from substance abuse in conjunction with the Comprehensive Action Network. Dr. Cannon authored a book on prayer called ``Helpful Hints on Practical Prayer.'' He has encouraged others to become pastors themselves and continued his work of teaching by opening a Christian school at Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church in 2009. Today, on behalf of California's 13th Congressional District, I commend Dr. Cannon for his lifelong work as a community and spiritual leader.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Build Back Better bill. I thank Chairman Yarmuth and the Speaker, as well as the committee chairs who worked to craft this transformative legislation. It makes bold investments in our people, reduces inflation, and will deliver real improvements in their lives. It will address the acute housing crisis in my community and throughout the country. It also includes wildfire prevention, drought relief, conservation efforts, and climate change research to curb the climate crisis. It includes the child tax credit, paid family leave, child nutrition programs, expanding access to childcare for working and low-income families, and home care for elders. All of these investments and more will help reduce poverty and allow women to get back into the paid workforce. It will also help build rewarding careers, create jobs through workforce development funding for underserved populations, including returning citizens. Passing this bill is a moral imperative, especially for children, women, seniors, and people of color that have been disproportionately impacted by this pandemic and continue to be sidelined due to systemic racial and economic inequality. I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Speier for her leadership as well as Chairman Deutch and the Speaker for bringing this with urgency. Representative Gosar used taxpayer-funded resources to publicize a cartoon of him killing one of our House colleagues, Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez, and threatening to kill the President. When Republicans don't condemn death threats against their colleagues and the President, it sends a message to the public that these threats are condoned. Their silence and misrepresentation in light of these threats speak volumes. Now, it might be easy for Mr. Gosar to shrug this off as a joke, but it is not only Members of Congress but women and people of color throughout the country who deal daily with the threat of physical violence. This is no laughing matter. As someone who for decades has had to live with death threats, this is a moment when we need to say enough is enough. Hate speech leads to hate violence. Death threats can lead to death. Threats to murder people can lead to criminal charges. This is the minimum we need to do. It reinforces that this behavior will not be tolerated. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.