Barbara Lee

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, that sounds like my great- grandmother Fanny, who I did not know, but my grandfather spoke of her. I am certain that she was part of that. As I listened to my colleague and looked more into my personal family history, Galveston, certainly, is in my spirit. I guess that is why each and every year since I was a child, we continued to celebrate Juneteenth as our liberation day, our emancipation day. Historically, we generally recognize January 1, 1863, the date when the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, as the end of chattel slavery of African Americans in the United States. However, for generations, African-American communities have been celebrating June 19 as a symbolic date representing our freedom from enslavement. As Congresswoman Jackson Lee mentioned, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston to announce the end of the Civil War. He also declared that the enslaved Africans were now equal in personal rights to that of their former masters, ending the inhumane, barbaric subjugation of African Americans as property that still continued 2\1/ 2\ years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Again, we are not far removed from this history. Citing my grandfather, I have to call his name: Mr. W.C. Parish, William Calhoun Parish. He was born in Galveston, just 10 years after Granger's Juneteenth announcement. Black Texans began celebrating Juneteenth the following year, and year after year for the last 150-plus years. Communities across the Nation have created their own traditions and events to honor and commemorate this historic moment as a day of freedom. It is not just a cultural celebration for African Americans. It is a true testament to the endurance of our democratic ideals of liberty and equality. So, we need to pass H.R. 1320, the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, establishing Juneteenth as a Federal holiday to further cement the importance of this date in our Nation's historical narrative on freedom. I thank Congresswoman Jackson Lee, again, for introducing this legislation, and I am a proud cosponsor. The last time Congress enacted a Federal holiday, I believe it was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday, and it took nearly 20 years for it to pass. We cannot let this idle. Each year, Juneteenth compels us to confront the darkest chapter in American history, a chapter born in the Middle Passage, continued through slavery, and manifested today through systemic racism. Our Nation's racial past has consistently led to inequities in income, education, employment, healthcare, and the wealth gap of African Americans. We must use Juneteenth to reflect upon the dehumanization of enslaved Africans in America but also to honor their legacy because ``and still we rise.'' The labor stolen from enslaved Africans built this country. Black people created some of the most cherished national symbols, all while considered merely three-fifths of a person under our Constitution. We must honor and recognize the millions of men, women, and children lost to the brutality of slavery. As a Nation, we must reckon with the true nature and legacy of slavery in the United States and acknowledge how it has allowed a false racial hierarchy to permeate and infect our society today. That is why, Congresswoman Jackson Lee, it is time to pass H.R. 40, legislation to establish a commission to study and develop reparations--championed, again, by a great Texan--to repair this damage, and my resolution, H.R. 19, calling for truth, racial healing, and transformation. It is way too long. It is past overdue. We must repair this damage and move forward. Madam Speaker, I thank Ms. Jackson Lee for this evening. I thank our CBC chairwoman, Joyce Beatty, and our vice chair, Mr. Horsford, for this Special Order tonight. I think it is very important that the history be told of Juneteenth and how it connects to today and systemic racism. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for honoring my ancestors.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Emergency Security Supplemental to Respond to January 6th Appropriations Act. I'd like to thank Speaker Pelosi, Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro, Subcommittee Chair Tim Ryan and the other Subcommittee chairs for their extraordinary leadership in crafting this emergency package to respond to the urgent need for a safer and more secure Capitol. I was here on the House Floor during the violent insurrection on January 6th. In carrying out our tradition of the peaceful transfer of power, a mob tried to violently overthrow our government because of Donald Trump's false narrative of election fraud. On the global stage, we are a nation that condemns violent attempts to negate the outcomes of free and fair elections and yet in our Nation's capital we saw an armed standoff at the door of the House Chamber and tear gas deployed in the rotunda. This bill would address the direct costs incurred by agencies in the riotous attack. It funds security improvements to the Capitol and specialized training for Capitol police. Lastly, it also provides funding for the continued prosecution of the perpetrators. As we have seen, the lie that incited the riot has not gone away. The white supremacist ideology that fuels these lies and conspiracy theories persists. Looking towards the future, it is important that we pass this bill to improve the protection of the Capitol for those who visit and work here daily. I urge the passage of the Emergency Security Supplemental to Respond to the January 6th Appropriations Act.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to address the injustice of poverty and low wealth. Let me just say, this pandemic has exposed the toll of longstanding, interlocking inequities stemming from structural racism, poverty, economic inequality, ecological devastation, and many more systemic barriers keeping people living on the edge. Our country now stands at a tipping point. Mr. Speaker, 140 million people are poor or one healthcare crisis, job loss, or emergency away from economic desperation. We must prioritize their needs and give them the opportunity to live in dignity and with hope. We can realize the third reconstruction to fully address poverty and low wages from the bottom up, from housing to healthcare, water, education, and more. We need a third reconstruction to revive our moral and political commitments to democracy and the founding principles of this country. That is why Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and I have worked with great leaders, such as Bishop William Barber and Dr. Liz Theoharis, co- chairs of the Poor People's Campaign, A National Call for a Moral Revival. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to cosponsor our resolution, and I want to thank the millions of people whose voices we have heard.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to Reverend E. Baxter Morris, the ninth and longest-serving pastor of the iconic First Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. Rev. Morris was a graduate of Selma University with a Bachelor of Theology Degree. He studied at Alabama State University, Samford University Extension Division, and the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education. When he was still in school at Selma University, Rev. Morris was selected as First Baptist Church's newest pastor in 1972. The First Baptist Church was founded by 700 newly freed Black citizens after the Emancipation Proclamation was recognized in Montgomery in 1866. Church members completed the first church in 1867 on Columbus Street. The Columbus Street Church was destroyed by a fire, but was painstakingly rebuilt brick by brick using any bricks the parishioners could find. Completed in 1915, it became affectionately known as the ``Brick A Day'' Church. The First Baptist Church played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement. Under the pastorship of Rev. Ralph D. Abernathy, it became a meeting place for historic civil rights leaders. In 1961, it served as refuge for Freedom Riders who were subjected to mob violence at the Montgomery Greyhound Bus Station and was the target of a Klu Klux Klan attack when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights icons were worshipping inside. For almost 50 years, Rev. Morris led the Brick A Day congregation and made it his mission to acknowledge and preserve its rich history, while also continuing the church's legacy of progress and social change. In addition to shepherding his own congregation, Rev. Morris served in various roles at several other religious organizations, including the Montgomery-Antioch District Association of Baptist Churches and Missionary for the Alabama Baptist South East District State Convention. He also dedicated more than 20 years of service to the Montgomery Police Department as chaplain. Rev. Morris was a pillar in his community and the true epitome of a servant leader. Buoyed by the strength and example of his predecessors, Rev. Morris lived his life to give, to support, and to uplift his fellow man. Every year, I bring young people from the Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center in Oakland, CA on the Faith and Politics Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage. Rev. Morris always greeted them with enthusiasm, kindness, and appreciation. Upon learning of his passing, they were heartbroken because he taught them so much and had earned their respect and admiration. Along with my youth leaders, I send our heartfelt condolences and love to Rev. Morris' family, the First Baptist Church family, loved ones, friends, and community. Please join me in honoring Rev. E. Baxter Morris and his many contributions to First Baptist Church, and the community of Montgomery, AL.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, of which I am a proud cosponsor. I applaud the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act's passage in the Senate, and I thank Representatives Meng, Chu, Beyer, and Senators Hirono and Duckworth for leading the call to address the rise in hate crimes against the AAPI community. The COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act will help ensure that we are measuring the severity of hate crimes in this Nation so we can implement systemic change. It is time that we address the rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. We cannot ignore the fear and the heartbreak that plagues our AAPI communities. We cannot ignore the hate and the violence perpetrated upon the AAPI community. We cannot ignore the fact that there have been at least 2,800 incidents of anti-Asian hate in the United States since the pandemic began and 1,226 incidents taking place in California and 728 crimes in the Bay Area alone. Unfortunately, this is only a fraction of anti-Asian hate crimes and incidents that we know because so many go unreported. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act so that we can continue to fight against hate and violence and support justice, equality, and safety for the AAPI community.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, first, let me thank the gentleman from New York for organizing this very important Special Order and for his tremendous leadership on so many issues on behalf of his district, the Congressional Black Caucus, and on behalf of all Americans. Let me first send my deepest condolences to Chairwoman Joyce Beatty and her family on the loss of her beloved husband, Otto Beatty, Jr., a devoted partner, beloved father, grandfather, and community leader. Our hearts are broken this evening as we think about Congresswoman Beatty and her family, and just know we are praying for her and her community and her family. This is a Special Order tonight that I want to thank again Congressman Ritchie Torres and the Congressional Black Caucus for organizing this to mark 100 years since the horrific tragedy of the Tulsa Greenwood massacre. In one of the worst acts of racist violence in United States history, a White mob ransacked a prosperous African-American neighborhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma. From May 31 to June 1, 1921, an estimated 300 Black men, women, and children were murdered. The mob destroyed 35 square blocks of Greenwood and burned down over 1,000 Black-owned businesses, churches, and homes. During a time when lynching African Americans was commonplace, the alleged--mind you, alleged--assault of a White woman by a Black man was enough to incite a massacre of unimaginable proportions. A thriving Black community became the target of animosity and racial hatred by its neighbors. Now, a grand jury placed the blame for the massacre entirely on the Black community. No White person was ever held accountable for these crimes. This is an example, mind you, of the horrors and the experience of living as a Black person in America then and now. In 1997, the Oklahoma Legislature established a commission to study the Tulsa race riots of 1921. It was charged with the responsibility of developing an historical record of the massacre through identifying witnesses and gathering testimony and records. The commission not only corrected the record, but also recommended reparations for the survivors and their descendants. To date, they have not received any-- mind you, any--direct compensation. Up until recently, the silence in Tulsa, in Oklahoma, and in the United States about this massacre was an intentional effort to whitewash our Nation's racialized past. But we must remember these stories. We must tell the truth about our past. I introduced H. Con. Res. 19 to establish a National Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Commission to usher in this moment of truth to begin to examine and lift up to the public as the historical record of the history and legacy of slavery and how it is manifested today in systemic racism as it relates to African Americans. But telling the truth is not enough. We must pass H.R. 40, sponsored by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. And I am a proud cosponsor of H.R. 40, which is the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans to address and repair the material harm done by instances like the Tulsa Greenwood massacre. I am pleased to say that my home State of California is leading the Nation in this effort, being the first State to pass a law to establish a task force to study and develop reparation proposals. Black Tulsans have still not recovered from the impact of the Tulsa Greenwood massacre. Decades of discrimination following the massacre prevented the community from rebuilding their economic vitality. Black Tulsans are still over two times more likely to be unemployed than their White counterparts, and their communities are the least likely to attract businesses and large employers. Policies like redlining and local ordinances have prevented growth. The legacy of the massacre continues to impact Black Tulsans today. We cannot forget and we cannot let the Nation forget about the Tulsa Greenwood massacre. H.R. 40 is a bill that we need to move forward to begin to repair the damage of the historical facts of the legacy of enslaved Africans brought to this country, who, quite frankly, in spite of our progress, still have not achieved liberty and justice for all.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 51, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act. I thank Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton for her tireless campaign for full democratic representation for the residents of our nation's capital. Without her leadership and grassroots advocacy, it is hard to believe that we would be on the floor today considering D.C. statehood again. I also want to thank Chairwoman Maloney and the Speaker for working to get this bill to the floor. The late Hilda Mason, former D.C. councilmember, a giant in D.C. politics, and impassioned champion for the disadvantaged brought me into the fight for D.C. statehood. Her courage and steadfast determination to ensure D.C. residents have full democratic representation should be an inspiration to us all. The revolution that led to the creation of our democracy began with calls of ``No taxation without representation'' and yet we have over 700,000 people--taxpayers--nearly half of whom are African American-- routinely disenfranchised. Historically, the District of Colombia has been home to one of the largest African American populations in the nation. After Emancipation, thousands of African Americans migrated from the segregated South to benefit from better employment opportunities, better educational institution, and more access to civic and political life. It is a disgrace that the District, a symbol of our nation's promise of equality, is denied the right to self-government and full representation in Congress. To correct this injustice, we must pass H.R. 51.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1996, the Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act, or the SAFE Banking Act, of which I am an original cosponsor. I want to thank my friend Congressman Perlmutter as well as Chairwoman Waters and Chairman Nadler for their leadership on this issue. This bill creates protections for financial institutions to be able to provide financial services to state-legal cannabis businesses and ancillary businesses. This would allow these businesses to access the banking system instead of relying on cash transactions. Marijuana is currently legal in 36 states, 4 territories and the District of Columbia for medicinal or recreational use. This is an important issue as financial institutions prohibit dealing with cannabis businesses because of its current Schedule I, federal status. We need to ensure that these legitimate businesses have access to banking services as more states have medicinal and adult use cannabis programs. Many of these businesses are operating as cash only, which has created many issues for business owners and employees and has led to safety concerns for our communities. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on this and other marijuana related issues as they relate to racial and economic inequality. The SAFE Banking Act helps provide a solution to this financial issue, but we must not forget the larger systemic injustice of cannabis prohibition, which has disproportionately impacted Black and brown communities through the war on drugs. We must work together to end federal cannabis prohibition and to pass the MORE Act.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1333, the NO BAN Act, of which I am an original cosponsor and which passed the House earlier today. I thank and salute our good friend Judy Chu as well as Chairman Nadler and the Speaker for their leadership in bringing this to the floor. This bill strengthens the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion and restores the separation of powers by limiting overly broad executive actions. President Biden's recent executive order overturned Donald Trump's racist and discriminatory ban, but we need to ensure that broad, xenophobic policies that are not based on actual national security concerns do not ever go into effect again. Make no mistake, the NO BAN Act would help ensure that this kind of discrimination ceases, prevent future such discrimination, and promote our Nation's core value of religious freedom. The Muslim and African bans were an abuse of Presidential authority and based off of hateful campaign promises. The ban separated parents from their children and spouses from one another. This bill begins to repair the damage of the past 4 years.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Jackson Lee for yielding. I also was born and raised in El Paso, Texas, so I thank my sister. Let me say tonight that I rise to celebrate the remarkable life of our dear friend, a dedicated public servant and a warrior for justice, the Honorable--he truly was the Honorable--Alcee Hastings. I thank Congresswoman Beatty for organizing this Special Order to honor our friend this evening. I would like to offer my deepest condolences to Congressman Hastings' family; his wife, Patricia; his staff; all of his loved ones; his children; and his grandchildren. I know that this loss is deeply felt, and I am praying for the Hastings family and also for his constituents whom I had the honor to meet during my visits to his district. Congressman Hastings was a trailblazer, and he lived a life of firsts as the first African-American Federal judge appointed to the State of Florida and the first African American to lead the Helsinki Commission. I have had the privilege to travel with Alcee to Europe several times and to work with him to establish a transatlantic dialogue to improve social and political inclusion of people of African descent in Europe and the United States. This was a visionary idea that Congressman Hastings wanted to see happen in his lifetime, and he has made so much progress toward achieving that goal and his dream. Alcee's political and diplomatic acumen was strengthened by his very warm and caring spirit. Many may not be aware, but while he was fighting the fight for human rights and democracy, he was also a devoted caregiver to his ailing mother. When I was struggling with the health challenges of my own beloved mother, he was there to offer comfort and guidance. He made me realize how blessed I was to be able to take care of her during her last years on Earth. For that I will be deeply grateful. When I first met Judge Hastings back in the 1980s, even before I was an elected official, I knew I had met someone special. He gave me his honest opinion and offered guidance without hesitation even before I was elected to office. Despite his no-nonsense attitude and direct nature, myself, like all of us, had our own inside jokes. He called me Bob. I loved his socks-- like so many of us--so much so that he gave me six pairs for my birthday. They are my Alcee socks which I will always cherish and wear. Congressman Hastings always supported and guided me when I presented my bills to the Rules Committee, and he encouraged me by always saying: ``I'm with you, Bob. I'm with you, Bob.'' Even if he disagreed with my progressive bills, he would say: ``I'm with you, Bob. I'm with you, Bob. We are going to get this out.'' He taught me some colorful words to use during very challenging times. I feel beyond blessed to have known Alcee Hastings. His loss will be felt not only in Florida, in his district, throughout the country and here in Washington, D.C., but also around the world. He was truly a beloved and brilliant world leader. I am reminded of 2 Timothy 4:7. I am reminded of Alcee tonight as I think about and read this Scripture: ``I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.'' Yes, our brother, our friend, our colleague, our warrior for justice and for peace fought the good fight, and now may he rest in peace and may he rest in power. Madam Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Jackson Lee for yielding and for this Special Order tonight.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairwoman DeLauro for her persistent leadership for so many years, as well as Chairman Scott and the Speaker. We must put an end to the wage gap and pay discrimination. Let me tell you, as you have heard, the wage gap for women of color is so much worse. I am reminded today of our heroine, Fannie Lou Hamer. She said, ``I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.'' Black women earn 63 cents, indigenous women earn 60 cents, Latinas earn 55 cents, White women earn 82 cents, and AAPI women are paid as little as 52 cents on every dollar paid to the White man. That is outrageous. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from the Equal Pay Today! campaign urging Members to support the bill. Equal Pay Today, April 14, 2021. Re Pass the Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R. 7) and vote no on harmful amendments. Dear Representative(s): As the House votes on the Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R. 7), we strongly urge you to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, H.R. 7, without amendments that would limit its scope or undermine its critical protections. As members of the Equal Pay Today Campaign, we represent a broad coalition consisting of both national and state based organizations from all across the country, that are dedicated to challenging the legal, policy, and cultural barriers at the local, state, and national level that keep women from being paid equally. Launched on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the federal Equal Pay Act, we are committed to fighting and advocating for legislation that will ultimately close the gender wage gap. With our nation now entering into year two of this global pandemic, we can no longer ignore the disparities that have existed long before our nation's shutdown, and despite federal and state equal pay laws, the gender pay gap persists, and earnings lost to these gaps are widened due to the financial impacts of the pandemic, with a heavier burden bared by women of color and the families and communities who depend on them and their income. Women are increasingly becoming the primary or co- breadwinner in their families, with Black mothers being far more likely than other mothers to be the primary or sole breadwinners for their families and more than half of Latina mothers being the breadwinner in families with children under 18. Women across this country, working full-time, year-round, are typically being paid only .82 cents for every dollar paid out to men, adding up to a loss of more than $400,000 dollars over a lifetime. And the wage gap gets even wider as race is factored in. Black women working full time, year round typically make only .63 cents, Native American women only .60 cents, and Latinas only .55 cents, for every dollar paid to their white, non-Hispanic male counterparts. Latinas stand to lose more than $1 million over a 40-year career due to the wage gap, and while Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women make .85 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men, many AAPI communities experience drastically wider pay gaps. And even when controlling for factors, such as education and experience, the pay gaps still persist, start early in women's careers and contribute to a wealth gap that follows them throughout their lifetimes. These pay gaps can be addressed and rectified through legislation that offers workers the legal tools and safeguards needed to challenge discrimination. The Paycheck Fairness Act, which has already been passed by the House of Representatives three times before and most recently by the 116th Congress, would offer the much needed updates to the Equal Pay Act of 1963 by making these tools available while also providing new ones, that would help to combat and challenge discrimination and the pay gap. The Paycheck Fairness Act updates and strengthens the Equal Pay Act of 1963 to ensure that it provides robust protection against sex-based pay discrimination. Among other provisions, this comprehensive bill: ends secrecy around pay by barring retaliation against workers who voluntarily discuss or disclose their wages, and requiring employers to report pay data to the EEOC prohibits employers from relying on salary history in determining future pay, so that pay discrimination does not follow women from job to job closes loopholes that have allowed employers to pay women less than men for the same work without any important business justification related to the job ensures women can receive the same robust remedies for sex- based pay discrimination that are currently available to those subjected to discrimination based on race and ethnicity provides much needed training and technical assistance, as well as data collection and research This past year has undoubtedly been a challenging one. The pandemic has shone a light on how the work performed by women, specifically Black and brown women, has continuously been undervalued, underpaid, and gone unnoticed. We cannot continue to use the word ``essential'' to describe the nature of this work, if there is no commitment to ensuring that all women can work with safety and with dignity, and the first step to making this happen, starts with pay equity, and the catalyst for this would be the passing of the Paycheck Fairness Act. We urge you to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act without harmful amendments that weaken its critical protections. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Equal Pay Today.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, let me finally say: Remember, because of this discrimination, women's Social Security benefits during their senior years are much lower than men. This injustice follows women throughout their lives. This issue impacts women, regardless of industry, education level or political party. It is past time--it is so past time for Congress to take action on this. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise to acknowledge and memorialize the legacy of Dr. Margaret C. Snyder, referred to as the ``United Nations' First Feminist'', who died on January 26, 2021 at the age of 91. I share my sincere condolences and prayers with her family, including her brother, Thomas Snyder. Dr. Snyder, who went by ``Peg'', was a trailblazer whose passion and determination to empower women transformed the U.N.'s mechanisms of global development aid to include millions of women in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Dr. Snyder also worked to support women at the UN to move beyond being restricted to secretarial roles to rise to join the professional ranks within the organization. Dr. Margaret Cecilia Snyder was born the youngest of three children on January 30, 1929, in East Syracuse, New York. Her father, Matthias, was a doctor, and her mother, Cecilia (Gorman) Snyder, taught Latin and German in a local high school. Peg graduated from the College of New Rochelle in Westchester County, New York in 1950. Two years later she received a master's degree in sociology from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. While working as the Dean of Women at Le Moyne College, in Syracuse, she followed John F. Kennedy's call for young Americans to volunteer overseas by taking a one year sabbatical to work with volunteer organizations in Tanganyika (which merged with Zanzibar to become Tanzania in 1964) and Uganda. Among other tasks, she arranged for African students to attend college in the United States--part of an effort known as ``Kennedy airlifts.'' When her year ended, she quit her job at Le Moyne and stayed in Africa, but she moved home in 1965 to help run the East African Studies program at Syracuse University. She advised students from the region on their graduate work, many of whom went on to hold leadership positions in their countries--the first threads of her continentwide network of partners. In 1970, she returned to Tanzania to complete her Ph.D. in sociology at the University of Dar es Salaam, having started pursuing her degree in 1964. Upon graduation in 1971, Peg joined the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) as a co-founder of what became the African Training and Research Center for Women--the UN's first major program directed specifically at improving economic opportunities for women. In 1978, she moved to New York City, where she was put in charge of a development fund focused on women, funded by voluntary contributions from member states. She built the organization (renamed the U.N. Development Fund for Women or UNIFEM) from operating on a shoestring budget to a global powerhouse that served women not just in Africa but across the developing world. By the end of the 1980s, it had supported the creation of women's development commissions in 30 countries, through which the U.N. channeled millions of dollars to grassroots women's projects. It is now known as U.N. Women. One of her first grants went to Kenya's Green Belt Movement, an anti- deforestation initiative led by the late 2004 Nobel Laureate for Peace and eventual close friend Wangari Maathai. After retiring from the United Nations in 1989, Dr. Snyder was a Fulbright Scholar in Uganda and a Visiting Fellow at the School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. She also wrote or co-wrote three books on women's economic development in Africa. Peg continued to serve as an informal adviser to the U.N. and advocate for a long list of women activists and organizations, many of whom she hosted at her apartment in New York City. It was there, in 2006, that she helped organize the Sirleaf Market Women's Fund, a program to rebuild markets across post-civil war Liberia, named for Liberia and Africa's first female President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Dr. Peg Snyder's legacy continues to bear fruit. In 2021, women make up a significant portion of the U.N. professional staff, and women's issues, including development, remain one of the organization's focal points. In her tribute to Dr. Snyder, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the Executive Director of UN Women, assured the continuation of Peg Snyder's legacy for generations to come: ``Her passing comes at a point where the importance of bringing women's voices and skills to the forefront has never been more important for the world's ability to move ahead resiliently and creatively. We thank her, honour her countless contributions to women across the world, and take forward her legacy.'' We in the United States Congress commemorate Dr. Snyder's work and legacy, and stand ready to help carry on her work to help women everywhere claim their rights and lift up themselves, their communities and nations.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, first of all, let me say that I rise in strong support of H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act. I thank Congresswoman Roybal-Allard, Chairman Nadler, and Chairwoman Lofgren for advancing this legislation and supporting our Dreamers. It is time that we protect these young people who have never called any other country than America home. Dreamers and individuals eligible for TPS or Deferred Enforcement Departure contribute mightily to their communities and to our economy. They deserve a pathway to citizenship. Now, the Dreamers in my State of California and in my Congressional district have made so many contributions under very scary and difficult circumstances. Madam Speaker, yes, they are as American as I am. I ask for an ``aye'' vote.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to thank the Democratic Women's Caucus, Congresswomen Frankel, Speier, and Lawrence, for hosting this Special Order on Women's History Month. I want to thank Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence for insisting that Black women and women of color be seen in this body. Last year, we celebrated the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which gave some women the right to vote. We know that women of color were not able to vote until decades later, and Black women fought until they got suffrage in 1965. I am proud that this January, my bill, with the support of both Republicans and Democrats here in this body and in the Senate, passed. It is called the Women's History and Nineteenth Amendment Centennial Quarter Dollar Coin Program Act, and it was signed into law. This measure will ensure that prominent women from American history can be honored on our circulating quarter dollar coins. The currency we use is one of the most important shared ways that we have in memorializing what is important to us as Americans. Making sure that prominent American women are featured on our coins is an important step in recognizing the contributions women have made in furthering civil rights and making our country a more equitable place. As the mint solicits public input for these coins, it is my hope that diverse American women will be chosen and depicted, celebrating our Nation's leaders, thinkers, and innovators. Last election also brought a record number of women in Congress, and there are, I believe, 120 women now in the House. I know my mentor, the first African-American woman elected to Congress, Congresswoman Shirley Chisolm, would be so proud. Yes, we brought our folding chairs, but I have to just tell you, we are here to stay. I salute my late mother, Mildred Parish Massey tonight, who blazed so many trails. She instilled in her three girls that women are equal to men, from day one. She was one of the first 12 Black students to integrate the University of Texas at El Paso. She was the first Black female civilian at Fort Bliss, Texas, to work there for years, and she was the first in so many segregated places. But you know what? She told my sisters and me that ``can't'' is not in the dictionary and that we can fulfill our dreams. But in doing that, we have to break these barriers so that others can enter, and she insisted that we open the doors for other women and girls. It is so important that we celebrate Women's History Month and honor the women trailblazers who came before us. Not only should we celebrate women, but we should also ensure that they are protected and granted equality. I can't think of a better way to honor Women's History Month than for this body to pass bills to guarantee and enshrine women's equality. It is a shame we have to do that. One important action we can take to do that is to remove barriers to ratifying the equal rights amendment. I have to thank my good friend, Congresswoman Jackie Speier, for her leadership on these efforts. It is way past time we do that. For 244 years, women have not been able to claim the full protections and opportunities afforded by the Constitution. Women and girls face a devastating wage gap, gender-based violence, inadequate access to healthcare, pregnancy discrimination, sexual harassment, the list goes on. Yet, our Constitution does not explicitly protect them, and women of color have had to fight twice as hard. I thank Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence for leading the Special Order tonight. It is an important moment for women in this country.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1620, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act. I am proud to cosponsor this bill, and I want to thank Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and Chairman Jerry Nadler for, once again, their leadership and bold efforts to bring this bill to the floor. This reauthorization bill builds upon the landmark 1994 legislation by expanding protections and services for survivors, while also working to prevent violence from occurring in the first place. It makes vital investments in preventing sexual assaults and stalking and increases victims' access to safe housing and economic stability. It also increases funding of programs for culturally specific services. An estimated one in three women experience domestic violence in this country. I personally know what strong and consistent support means to emerge as a survivor. When I was in the California State Legislature, I authored the Violence Against Women Act for the State of California. And today, I am so proud, along with Congresswoman Jackson Lee, that we passed the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act with bipartisan support. When I was in the California State Legislature, a Republican Governor signed my bill into law, so I thank the gentlewoman very much for her leadership.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall vote 78, I was not present because I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``Yes'' on ordering the previous question on H. Res. 233.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this rescue plan. I thank Chairman Yarmuth, the Speaker, and all the committee chairs for this historic and transformative bill. We have struggled through a year of gross neglect. People have suffered. They have died. They have lost their jobs and businesses. Families are living on the edge. But today, thank God, help is on the way. We included provisions to ensure that communities of color disproportionately impacted by the virus get the care and vaccines they desperately need. We included support for State and local governments, for our essential workers, resources to help our schools open safely, child tax credits that will cut child poverty in half, and investments to crush the virus worldwide. We will, however, continue to fight for a $15 minimum wage to lift low-income people out of poverty. I ask for an ``aye'' vote.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Thank you, Congresswoman Jackson Lee, for yielding, for your tremendous leadership on so many issues, and for once again bringing us together tonight. You and our Speaker pro tempore who is managing the floor tonight, Congressman Ritchie Torres, I thank you both so much for really continuing to beat the drum throughout the country about so many issues that are so important to not only the African-American community, but to our entire country. Also, to our Chairwoman, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, I just want to salute you for your leadership and for really ensuring that the Congressional Black Caucus stays the conscience of the Congress in so many ways on so many issues, being such an inclusive caucus under your leadership, which is, I guess, the largest one ever now on our 50th anniversary. So thank you so much. And to Congresswoman Terri Sewell, daughter of Selma, I know your mother is very proud of you, and I know that John Lewis is shining his light upon you and Selma and this 56th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. Congresswoman Sewell, I just have to say that I have been with her many times in Selma, in Alabama. She fights so hard for her constituents, but also to make sure that Selma gets the recognition, the credit, and also the resources that it so deserves as being that historical place where, had it not been for Bloody Sunday and Selma, we would not be here tonight as a strong Congressional Black Caucus leading the way on so many issues. A year later, after John Lewis's passing, of course, we celebrate his life and his legacy, but also we honor him for really passing the baton to our young people, who he knew would take that baton and run this next lap of the race. I had the privilege to attend the Faith & Politics pilgrimages for many, many years, at least 17 or 18 years. I took children, young people from my Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center on these pilgrimages. We crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge many times each year. John Lewis was so committed. Even with the 500, 600 people there, he took time to talk to young people, to explain to them not only the historical context upon which we were marching across that bridge, but he took time to encourage them and to empower them to take that baton and run this lap of the race for justice. I just have to tell you now with what is going on in the country now with voter suppression efforts throughout, we cannot go back to the days of Jim Crow. I am thinking now, 56 years later after Bloody Sunday, the moment that we are in, because we must run this lap of the race and we must run it much faster now. Bloody Sunday was just that. It was bloody. It was bloody. Those who were beaten and bloodied 56 years ago, they deserve our gratitude and our honor by passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, H.R. 4. Because of those heroes and sheroes, we all stand here as Members of Congress. Because of John Lewis, he believed in the promise of liberty and justice for all and the beloved community, which we all are fighting for and insisting that we come together to pass H.R. 4. This is a moment--a defining moment, I believe, for our democracy because we shouldn't have to stand here 56 years later, after so many people were bloodied, and say we once again have to fight this battle again. I hope tonight that those who are listening will really understand this defining moment we are in and help us pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. We owe it to John Lewis 56 years later. We owe it to those foot soldiers, those heroes and sheroes who marched across that bridge. We owe it to those who are still helping us. We owe it to those seniors, those elders in Selma and in Alabama, who are still out there fighting to make sure that liberty and justice for all prevails. Tonight, I just want to thank the Congressional Black Caucus for honoring Congressman John Lewis, for lifting up Selma and Bloody Sunday. I missed being there this weekend. This is quite a moment for me because I miss seeing John sitting right over there, getting into some good trouble, talking to all of us, saying, ``Okay, now, this is what we have got to do tomorrow. This is what we have got to do today. Are you coming down?'' You know, talking about votes on the floor. I mean, John was such a mentor to all of us and he encouraged us. Tonight is just very powerful for all of us to be able to recognize him, thank him, and say we must pass H.R. 4 in his honor. This is our power and this is our message.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, first of all, let me rise to support the Pressley-Meng-Schakowsky amendment. I thank Congresswoman Pressley for bringing this forward and to say that she is about the future and really about making sure that civic participation is really enhanced and moved forward by allowing for this amendment to come into this bill, H.R. 1, because this is what it is about. It is about our democracy, and she has been consistent in terms of inclusion and making sure our democracy works. Elections are about the future, and no one has more at stake in that future than our youth. By age 16, we trust our young people with a host of important decisions and responsibilities. It is the moment when lifelong habits are built and when ideas about the world become to be fixed. Evidence has shown that when people start voting younger, they are more likely to exercise their right to vote as they grow older. Too many of the arguments against lowering the voting age to 16 crumble when you really examine them clearly. Often the objection is simply that 16-year-olds are too young to exercise good judgment. This is really a patronizing thought. In fact, it is downright scary to think that we would have our government policies decide what constitutes as wisdom for our young people. It is past time for us to elevate voting as one of the central responsibilities of our democracy. I urge an ``aye'' vote.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Alameda Contra Costa Chapter of the Links (ACCL) for their 36 years of service throughout California's 13th Congressional District and the country. Based in Oakland, California, the Alameda Contra Costa Chapter of the Links supports local service agencies serving primarily low-income, inner-city youth and their families in Contra Costa and Alameda counties through volunteer and fundraising efforts. The Links, Incorporated was originally founded in 1946 and national membership now consists of more than 15,000 professional women of color. These women are committed to serving as ``volunteers to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry.'' The Alameda Contra Costa Chapter of the Links was founded in 1985. Its members and leaders have worked since its founding to help East Oakland and the youth who live there through community service programs. In 1996 ACCL established the Community Service Program called ``Respect Yourself.'' This program's aims are to ``Respect Your Health, Respect Your Knowledge, Respect Your Family and Community, and Respect Your Creativity and Intuitiveness.'' Through an oral health initiative targeting children, a cardiovascular health initiative with the American Heart Association targeting African American women, educational activities for young children focused on STEAM, financial literacy, English literacy, international affairs, anti-bullying, environmental stewardship, and the arts, the ``Respect Yourself'' program has bettered the health and education of many in our community. Over the years, ACCL has been able to serve over 2,800 young Oakland students. On February 26th, 2021, ACCL will hold its 25th annual Respect Yourself Youth Symposium. The Symposium directly supports young students in Oakland and exposes the students to thought leaders and educational content in STEM and health studies. On behalf of California's 13th Congressional District, I want to extend my sincere congratulations on this important milestone of 25 years of the Respect Yourself Youth Symposium and 36 years of service. I thank the Alameda Contra Costa Chapter of the Links for dedication to excellence and to our community. I wish them continued success in working to better the lives of the children and women of color of California's 13th Congressional District.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, tonight, I stand with my Congressional Black Caucus members, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and Congressman Jamaal Bowman, to call attention to the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which recognizes that, in order to transform policing, we must hold bad actors accountable while working to prevent instances of brutality and misconduct. As a mother and a grandmother of Black men and boys, these issues are really personal to me and my family and countless other families who face excessive force from law enforcement each and every day. This bill will address racial profiling, create a use-of-force database, improve transparency with a national police misconduct database, ban no-knock warrants and choke holds, end qualified immunity--nobody is above the law--and will limit the transfer of military-grade equipment to State and local law enforcement. We stand with the American people to turn this moment of agony into one of action, as we honor Mr. George Floyd's life and the lives of all those killed by police brutality. We will continue working with the millions of Americans marching and demanding action, and we will not stop until this legislation becomes law. As an original cosponsor of this bill, I urge us to take this opportunity to honor the lives of all police misconduct victims by preventing future cases from occurring.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the American Rescue Plan. I thank Chairman Yarmuth, our Speaker, our committee chairs, for addressing this emergency urgently. People across America are struggling. Yes, this package is big, but the scale of the challenges that families face is enormous. They need our help, and half measures just won't cut it. We cannot wait. This bill extends expiring unemployment benefits, provides $1,400 payments, permanently expands the child tax credit to $3,000 per child, and raises the minimum wage, way long overdue. And, yes, it provides State and local funding to protect the jobs of essential workers, who, in spite of the risk that they face, provide essential services to keep this country running. Mr. Speaker, this bill also fights the virus with funding for testing and vaccinations for communities of color that have been hit the hardest from COVID. Finally, this bill funds our global pandemic response. COVID doesn't respect borders. A global pandemic requires a global response. I thank Chairman Meeks of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs for working with me to ensure that America will play its role to help fight the pandemic abroad. Let's take this bold action and pass this bill tonight.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, as an original cosponsor of the Equality Act, and as a co-founder and Vice-chair of the House Equality Caucus, I want to voice my full support of this bill. I want to thank the Speaker and Chairman Nadler for acting quickly on this legislation. I also want to thank my friend Rep. Cicilline, as well as my fellow caucus co-chairs, for their efforts. Our federal laws still do not protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people from discrimination. Almost two-thirds of LGBTQ Americans report having experienced discrimination--and LGBTQ people of color often face compounded injustices, including higher rates of unemployment and health challenges. The Equality Act prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally funded programs, and jury service. The Equality Act will help ensure that LGBTQ Americans can play their vital role in our nation and our communities without fear of harassment and discrimination. As a Black woman in America, I know what it is like to face injustice and inequality. I applaud House passage of the Equality Act as an historic milestone in our effort to build a more just society. I hope the Senate will pass it quickly and send it to the President for enactment.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. I want to thank my friend and colleague Representative Teresa Leger Fernandez from New Mexico's 3rd district for convening this special order hour. Raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour is one critical step towards ensuring an equitable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The federal minimum wage has been at $7.25 for more than a decade. This is the longest period of time without an increase in the minimum wage in US history. Inflation has eroded this amount to a fraction of its previous value. We must increase the wage and we must do it now. Someone working a full time job at the current federal minimum wage only earns $15,000 a year. That is a disgrace. A full time worker in this country should be able to put food on their table and a roof over their head and be able to pay their other expenses with their earnings. Many of these minimum wage workers are essential workers, helping our communities endure this pandemic. Raising the minimum wage to fifteen dollars an hour isn't a cure-all. In high cost urban areas, such as the one I represent in the Bay Area, fifteen dollars an hour still is not enough to get ahead. But raising the federal minimum wage has been shown to help lift wages across the board for people at the lower end of the income scale. A fifteen dollar minimum wage would give 27 million low-wage workers a raise and lift nearly one MILLION people out of poverty. But this isn't just an economic need--it's a racial justice imperative. Many people of color have been paid poverty wages for too long--deepening the long standing racial and economic divisions in this country. African Americans, Hispanics and Asian Americans are all much more likely to make only the minimum wage. Recent polling shows that 72 percent of Americans, a vast majority, support raising the minimum wage, including Republicans and Independents. We need to ensure workers get paid living wages, especially in times of crisis. Raising the minimum wage is a necessary first step to growing our economy and recovering from this pandemic. Additionally, it will also lessen the need for full time workers to be receiving public assistance. When you raise the wages of the lowest- paid workers, it is good for our communities and our country. Those workers can then spend money in their communities, boosting local small businesses and our entire economy.