Barbara Lee

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. In conclusion, I just want to reiterate that authorizing wars with no end, no debate, and no vote is unconstitutional, and it is wrong. I call on Speaker Ryan to bring forth an authorization because every step of the way, we are trying in a bipartisan fashion to do this, and it is the Speaker's call. He should do that so that we can debate and vote up or down on these wars. So this rule and this bill should not be passed just based on the amount of money that we are giving to the Pentagon to do more than ensure our national security and fight terrorism. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' on the rule and the underlying bill and reject this shameful bill.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to respond to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Byrne) and say that I know exactly what is going on over at the Pentagon in terms of their auditing requirements and what they are doing. But I have to say the Pentagon--and the gentleman should know this--has never been audited, I know, for the last 50 years. The public understands it needs to be audited because they see each and every day the wasteful spending of the Pentagon when you just look at, for example, CEO compensation of millions and millions and millions of dollars that are being paid to defense contractor executives on the taxpayers' dime. So, yes, I know what is going on; and, yes, it has not been audited in 50 years.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding, but also for his tremendous leadership on this bill and so many other issues. I rise in strong opposition to this disastrous farm bill. This bill cuts the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by $23 billion, taking food out of the mouths of 2 million Americans. Over 265,000 children will lose benefits. Why in the world do congressional Republicans want more Americans to go hungry? This is immoral and it is wrong. These so-called work requirements won't help anyone work. They punish struggling families who are not getting enough hours at work or decent wages to help feed their families. Nutrition assistance helps 40 million people put food on the table. More than 80 percent of SNAP households work the year before or after receiving aid. The majority of people receiving SNAP benefits are children, disabled, and seniors. When I was young, I was a single mom raising two little boys. I relied on food stamps to help my family during a very difficult time in my life. It was a bridge over troubled waters. I want families to have this bridge over troubled waters now. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of every family struggling to pay rent, every student facing homelessness, and every city that is seeing historic communities displaced. We are facing an affordable housing crisis, and we cannot ignore this epidemic. Over 38 million families struggle to pay rent and put food on the table every day because they spend more than a third of their income on housing. Now, in my district, in the East Bay in northern California, the average renter in Oakland would be forced to spend a staggering--mind you, staggering--70 percent of their income on housing if they were to move today. That is 70 percent. Clearly, the affordable housing crisis is off the scale in my district. In April, I sent an email to my constituents asking for their stories and suggestions on how to address this very important issue. Today I would like to share just a few of those stories which really touched my heart. One woman shared how, being unable to afford a place to live, she had to put herself in harm's way to have shelter. She said: I stayed in an unsafe and shared housing situation much longer than I would have had I been able to find an affordable place to move. I have found a place now but no longer have any disposable income. I worry that an unexpected event could lead to being unhoused. I have many friends who are single mothers with children who are sleeping in cars or bouncing from couch to couch. The housing crisis has also taken a devastating toll on seniors in my district. One woman wrote: Many of my longtime friends and acquaintances have been forced to move out of the State. My husband and I have lived in an old place for a long time, and the rent is relatively low; but the building may be sold, and I don't know what we would do. I am a cancer survivor and fear moving out of the State would make me lose my health insurance. I would also have a hard time finding a new job at 62. We have applied at numerous senior housing apartments, but all have long waiting lists. These stories also highlighted the impact of the housing crisis on public sector workers and students in our community. One gentleman wrote: As a teacher, I cannot afford to stay in Oakland. Home ownership is out of the question. Even as a dedicated public servant, I can't afford to work in urban schools in the Bay area. A former student wrote me: I had to withdraw from classes at UC Berkeley so I could find stable housing and enough income to afford my monthly rent. Mr. Speaker, our community, our country, cannot function without nurses, teachers, or young people living in decent affordable housing. We need to solve this crisis before it is too late. These stories represent just a small number of the responses I received. I heard from many constituents who are delaying having children and passing up opportunities to open a business or switch careers because they cannot afford to move or to live where they want to live. I heard from some residents who live in cars, on couches, or on the streets because the cost of rent has soared. Now I see, sadly, homeless camps with sofas, chairs, and tables. So many people have been evicted with nowhere to go. Believe you me, there are many more in my district and across America who are homeless right now: seniors, veterans, single moms raising children. They have nowhere to sleep at night. We must do better so that no one is forced to live on the streets. We must do better to ensure that no child is homeless. And we must do better to ensure that no senior has to choose between food and rent. We must do better because there is no option. The affordable housing crisis is tearing apart families and communities. This is not a partisan issue; it is a human one. That is why I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will cosponsor my affordable housing resolution which I introduced yesterday, H. Con. Res. 120, and affirm that all people deserve access to basic living standards. We need to begin this debate, and it needs to be bipartisan. People deserve to hear that from their representatives. And I hope that these stories which I shared will inspire all of my colleagues to ask their constituents about this crisis and convince them to join me in bolstering Federal resources for affordable housing. We can't delay any longer. Mr. Speaker, as a person of faith, there is no way that I can stand by and watch so many people living on the streets without shelter, without food. They deserve a chance at the American Dream, also.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I want to comment very briefly on the Federal Aviation Reauthorization Act, which provides long-term stability for our Nation's aviation community and critical investments in U.S. airports. I have many, many issues in my district that this bill, hopefully, will address. Airplane noise is an issue that directly affects my constituents in the East Bay. I have convened meetings with Federal and local stakeholders to come up with a regional solution to airport noise in the bay area. This bill will help us make progress to address noise pollution and ensure that my constituents can live under quiet skies. It would establish a pilot program for the Department of Transportation to give grants of up to $2.5 million to six airports for noise mitigation projects. That is so important. Also, I am pleased to see that the bill includes language that would require the FAA to partner with higher education institutions to assess the health effects of white noise. While these changes may not reduce airplane noise immediately, we are moving in the right direction. I look forward to working with the FAA to ensure my constituents affected by airplane noise are addressed in a timely fashion. This legislation is critical legislation to help support America's innovation in aviation technology and will ensure quieter skies for all.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Oakland Athletics baseball team. While the team's history extends back all the way to 1901, when it was founded in Philadelphia as one of the charter baseball clubs of the new ``American League'', this year marks 50 years since the team recognized the potential of Oakland and the East Bay, and moved west in 1968. That year on April 17th, the team played its first game in front of more than 50,000 fans at the Oakland Coliseum, and quickly put together a championship dynasty. Led by Hall of Famers Reggie Jackson, Catfish Hunter, and Rollie Fingers, the ``A's'' became World Series champions during three consecutive years: 1972, 1973, and 1974. During the 1980's, beginning with manager Billy Martin's ``Billyball'' system, the A's found new success and developed stars such as hometown heroes Ricky Henderson and Dave Stewart, and Dennis Eckersley. In 1989, the A's won the ``Battle of the Bay'' World Series in a four-game sweep against the San Francisco Giants. Game 3 of that series was interrupted by the Loma Prieta earthquake--which claimed the lives of 39 people in Oakland and caused the series to be delayed for 10 days while both cities recovered. Breaking tradition, the A's decided against a victory parade out of respect for those impacted by the earthquake. Following an ownership change in the 1990's and the team's decision to hire the legendary Billy Beane as General Manager, Beane instituted a system now known as ``Moneyball'' to find undervalued talent in order to field competitive teams. Beane's approach was revolutionary, and led to the A's outperforming expectations against better funded opponents. During this period, the team won multiple American League West division titles, and set the then-American League record for the most consecutive victories in 2002 when the A's completed ``the Streak'' by winning 20 games in a row. This era was led by the ``Big Three'' pitchers: Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder, and Barry Zito, and hitters Miguel Tejada and Eric Chavez. The Oakland Athletics have an impressive history of outstanding players, including Hall of Fame inductees, such as: Rickey Henderson, the greatest leadoff hitter in baseball history; Jim ``Catfish'' Hunter, an eight time all-star and five time World Series champion; Rollie Fingers, a seventime all-star and one of the first modern ``closers'', Dennis Eckersley, one of the most dominant relievers in history, and Reggie Jackson a six-time all-star selectee, World Series Most Valuable Player (MVP), and three-time World Series champion. In addition to the team's on-field success, the Athletics have made an impact on the community they represent. Throughout the years, the Oakland A's Community fund has made it their mission to serve the East Bay community by promoting educational programs, health awareness, and crime and drug prevention. The team has also provided sorely needed athletic fields to Oakland's kids, and held the annual Community Fund Golf Classic for the past 35 years, the annual Root Beer Float Day, and the annual Breast Awareness Day to raise funds for the American Cancer Society and the Cancer Prevention Institute of California. I commend the A's for being a valuable part of our Oakland community these past fifty years. I extend my congratulations on this important milestone to all managers, players, staff, and fans who have contributed to the team's rich legacy, and I wish the Oakland Athletics continued success on and off the field in the years to come.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 150th Anniversary of the University of California, Berkeley. Considered one of the top public universities in the world, Cal provides a quality higher education to more than 40,000 students each year. In addition to providing a world-renowned education for students, UC Berkeley supports cutting-edge research programs facilitated by distinguished academic faculty. The University of California, Berkeley was the first campus of the UC system and continues to set the standard for public universities nationwide. Established in 1868, the University of California, Berkeley formed as a merger between the private College of California and the state-run Agricultural, Mining, and Mechanical Arts College. In 1873, UC Berkeley chose blue and gold as their school colors--blue for California's sky and ocean and gold to honor the ``Golden State.'' In 1895, Cal chose the golden bear as their mascot after a 12-student track team represented the school with banners depicting California's state emblem. To date, UC Berkeley alumni, researchers and faculty have earned 94 Nobel Prizes, 45 MacArthur Fellowships, and 14 Pulitzer Prizes. UC Berkeley's notable alumni include Nobel Laureate and former Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, Governor Jerry Brown, co-founder of Apple Steve Wozniak and yours truly. I am particularly proud that the university has sent more alumni to the Peace Corps than any other university in the nation. In 1964, during the Free Speech Movement, UC Berkeley developed a strong reputation for student activism. Student leaders opposed the Vietnam War, fought for civil rights, and defended their right to participate in political activity on campus. Facing great odds, the students' actions promoted change and established a legacy of political activism that continues to this day. I commend UC Berkeley for its integral role in developing generations of academic, business, cultural, and political leaders. Cal has been at the forefront of some of the most important scientific discoveries and defining social movements of the modern era. As a proud alumna of UC Berkeley, I am honored to represent my alma mater in Congress, and work on the many issues that are critical to the students and faculty. On behalf of the residents of California's 13th Congressional District, I extend my congratulations on this important milestone to the Regents of the University of California, the Chancellor and staff, the distinguished faculty past and present, and most importantly the students who embrace Cal's rich history, and continue to push the campus forward with their passion and talent. I look forward to a bright future for UC Berkeley and continued success in the years to come. Go Bears.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, first let me thank Congressman Tonko for leading this important hour in memory of our beloved friend and colleague, Congresswoman Louise Slaughter. Every time I walk on this floor, I still look for Louise. Actually, Paul, right there. The void that she has left is just unbearable. Her passing was devastating news for all of us here, but I must once again send my thoughts and condolences to her beautiful daughters, her grandchildren, to her entire congressional district, the State of New York, and really, to our entire country. Louise was a dear friend and mentor, and she was an unparalleled legislator. Of course, she loved her district and fought for them with passion, intellect, and dedication. I also want to say to Louise's staff how much I know, like Anna said, that she loved you and she respected you. I have to say, around here poaching is a no-no. Well, Louise poached one of my staff members, and I told her. And when we talked about it, I said: I am so happy, Louise. You are the only Member that I would be happy about poaching. And so thank you, all, because I know she loved you, and I was happy to allow Louise to poach my staff because she did an incredible job for Louise. Louise invited me to her district several times. I tell you, the love and the respect all across her district, I witnessed. I said, if only my district saw this, how she brought people together, because I think we could learn a lot from Louise's ability to build coalitions. I remember when I first came to Congress, yes, 20 years ago--April 21, it will be 20 years--Louise came up to me and she said: Honey. She called everybody ``Honey,'' as you know. She said: I want to be your friend, and I want to get to know you. She said: I want to invite you to come up to Seneca Falls to mark the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of Sentiments. I tell you, that was quite a remarkable moment for me to be with Louise Slaughter, and we became close friends from that day forward. She was a trailblazer, the only microbiologist in Congress. She had a Ph.D. She was brilliant. Also, watching Louise work late into the night, past midnight, but yet she stayed engaged and energized no matter how late the Rules Committee worked. She used her role, though, as chair to fight for children and for families, for women, for communities of color, for those living below the poverty line. Another remarkable thing about Louise was her humor. Any Member of Congress, just ask anyone, Republican or Democrat, and they will tell you a story. They will share a story about her sense of humor. Yet Louise was very direct. She did not mince her words. She was a straight shooter, and you never had to guess where she was coming from. I remember when her dear husband, Bob, passed. I got to know Bob because we traveled together several times. When Louise came back, she told me: Honey, I couldn't live if I didn't have this job. I love serving the people of my district. I love helping the people of western New York. I love serving this country. This was her life's work. Finally, let me just say I not only lost a colleague, but also a dear friend. My prayers are with her family and friends, her staff, her district. Louise will have a lasting place in history, though, and her spirit is with us tonight. She was a woman who exuded grace, dignity, intelligence, and she touched and enriched all our lives. Louise, we will miss you so much. May you rest in peace. May God bless you. And again, I thank Paul for this opportunity.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, first of all, let me thank our ranking member for yielding, but also for her tireless work day and night to really help shape this bill to be, in many ways, a bipartisan bill. Also, I thank all of our ranking members. The input that they received from all of us and our staff and the phenomenal work that they have done has just been amazing in spite of the circumstances. So I just have to thank them and Leader Pelosi for all of their very diligent work. Almost 6 months after the deadline, though, for the fiscal year 2018 appropriations bill, this 2,232-page omnibus was released late last night. Now, less than 24 hours later, we are about to vote on a bill that really no one has had the time to read. I don't know who in this body has read this bill. We would have had to read 100 pages per hour to get through this bill. Does anybody here read that fast, 100 pages per hour? What kind of informed decisions are we making with this last-minute rush for a vote? This is no way, Mr. Speaker, to run a government. However, yes, this omnibus has some really good provisions in it. It eliminates hundreds of poison pill riders ranging from efforts to defund Planned Parenthood to dismantling of critical labor and consumer protections. I am very grateful for that. Many good provisions include a new competitive grant which we have been working on for years for computer science funding for young girls and people of color. We include increases in job training, education, and family relief, as well as for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. My State has the highest number of students coming to HBCUs; so I am very grateful for those increases. Even with these increases, Mr. Speaker, the omnibus bill still falls so far short of what we need to just return to the funding levels before the sequester 8 years ago. Adjusted for inflation, we are still way below the 2010 levels for domestic spending. What is worse, while underfunding our needs here at home, this bill includes an increase in $80 billion in defense. This includes the overseas contingency fund which really is a slush fund for the Pentagon to fund these wars off- budget. We know that the Pentagon doesn't need this excessive increase in funding to ensure our national security.

Ms. LEE. A Washington Post report in 2016 exposed a report detailing $125 billion in waste, fraud, and abuse. Yet we are increasing this by $80 billion; not to mention that much of this funding is dedicated to continuing the endless wars that we are waging around the world; wars that, I might add, Congress has still not debated, voted on, or authorized. Put simply, the defense spending will be the single largest increase for the Pentagon since the beginning of the Bush so-called war on terror. What is worse, this bill also fails to protect our young Dreamers who are still stuck in limbo. DACA recipients are American in every way, except on paper. When are we going to vote to protect our young people, Mr. Speaker? It is time to put politics aside and pass a clean Dream Act immediately.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentlewoman for those kind remarks, and also let me thank Congresswoman Lawrence for her tremendous leadership and all she has done not only through this Special Order, but through all of their work with the Congressional Black Women and Girls Caucus. They have really lifted up Black women and shown the world that Black women lead, and I am very proud of both of them for doing that. You know, hidden figures, we are not hidden anymore thanks to them. Mr. Speaker, I want to just take a minute and begin by saying what a huge void it is on the floor of this House tonight without the presence of our beloved warrior woman Congresswoman Louise Slaughter. She was a brilliant and beautiful woman: the first woman to chair the Rules Committee and the only microbiologist in the House. My heart is broken tonight. Louise sat right there. She encouraged us; she supported our agenda, whatever we were doing; and she was a true mentor. I know, on behalf of all of us, we are praying for her family and her constituents tonight, and it feels different without Louise being on this floor. I am glad to be with my sisters this evening and Congressional Black Caucus member Mr. Evans because this is a moment that we have to kind of pull together in her absence. Each year, in March, we pause to honor the countless contributions that women have made to this Nation. As a Black woman, I am uniquely aware that our stories tend, really, to be lost in the mainstream celebration of Women's History Month. That is why I am glad to be here with my CBC colleagues to declare that, yes, 2018, this is the year of the Black woman. For generations, Black women have blazed trails throughout this Nation: Madam C.J. Walker, Mary McLeod Bethune, Ruby Bridges, Audre Lorde, Mae Jemison, and Michelle Obama. This list of historical Black girl magic, it could go on. It could go on and on because, in every chapter of American history, Black women have stood up, spoken out, and pushed this Nation closer to freedom and justice and equality for all. Last year, we saw the clearest indication of the influence that Black women have on our society through the emergence of the Me Too movement against sexual assault and misconduct. Many don't know this, but the Me Too movement was started by a Black woman 12 years ago to support victims and survivors of sexual violence. Tarana Burke's work and the phrase ``me too'' have revolutionized the way we approach sexual assault in this country. But as has been the case throughout American history, Tarana's story, the story of Black women, is often lost in mainstream coverage of this movement, and what a shame it is. But, once again, 2018, this is the year of Black women, and thank you for giving us a chance to highlight some of these hidden figures. Courageous, bold, and brilliant women like Tarana have been fighting for the soul of this country for generations. And despite being locked out of opportunity and left behind in consideration, like our beloved, brilliant, the late Dr. Maya Angelou said so wisely: And still we rise. We rise in the spirit of Black women like Ida B. Wells, who happens to have been born on July 16, which is my birthday--different year, though, but July 16. She was a revolutionary journalist and crusader for justice who spoke truth to power and exposed the atrocity of lynchings across the country. We rise with the hope and determination of Black women like my mentor--and Congresswoman Yvette Clarke has so boldly taken up her agenda, and she is standing on her shoulders--Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, the first major party African-American candidate and the first woman candidate who ran for the United States Presidency. Miss C., as we called her, broke many barriers while tirelessly advocating for the most vulnerable in our Nation and our world. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Clarke for laying her record out. I have to say, I got to know her very well. I was honored to have coordinated her northern California campaign, and I saw the many obstacles that she overcame as a Black woman in politics. I happen to have been honored to have been a Shirley Chisholm delegate in Miami at the convention, and I have to just say, you talk about mentors, Congresswoman Chisholm encouraged me, and she was a catalyst for change, and she was unbought and unbossed. I think Black women today are unbought and unbossed, and we are the catalyst for change, and so I can't help but honor Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm tonight and thank her for her contributions to our country, but also for being so special in my life, because I shared many, many, many moments with her. So thank you again, and we want to recognize her on this floor. Mr. Speaker, we also rise with the courage of fearless Black women like Anita Hill, who held her head high and spoke out against sexual harassment despite being humiliated by a committee of White male Senators. I was reminded by Andrea Mitchell last week, on her show, that Congresswoman Slaughter was one of those House Members who marched over there to that committee and held that hearing up for a couple of days. When we rise, when we stand up together. When we refuse to be silenced, Black women and women can change history. Because Anita Hill refused to let the abuse she was subjected to dissuade her from working to create a world where other young female professionals wouldn't be made to accept sexual harassment as simply part of the job, a movement was begun because of that. The movement led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1991 that allowed employees to sue for damages related to sex discrimination and harassment, and Anita reminded us that it was a Black woman who filed the first sexual harassment lawsuit in the mid-eighties. Now, this movement led to more women being elected to office, tripling the number of women Senators from two to six; and because of that movement, there are now 22 women Senators and 104 Members of the House. Make no mistake, we still have a long way to go to achieve full and lasting equality for Black women in this country. Black women still make only 60 cents for every dollar that White females make. We still have to fight for access to healthcare, and structural sexism continues to stand in the way of Black women being able to fully achieve the American Dream. But still we rise. I am confident that, no matter what obstacles we face, as long as we stand up, speak out, and fight for what is right, we will win--because we are winning. And let me just say as a Black woman who has been fighting for social justice and equality my entire life, the fight is worth it. So I am proud to stand here with you tonight in memory of my mother, who was a fearless warrior woman, who taught me never to back down if I thought what I said or what I did was right. Had Black women, like Ida B. Wells, my mother, Mildred Parish Massey, Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, and Anita Hill given up, I might not be standing here today. I am the 17th African-American woman in Congress, the 74th African American, and the 163rd woman to serve in the House of Representatives in the United States' history. I know I would not be here if it weren't for these phenomenal African-American warrior women. Mr. Speaker, thank you again for giving us a chance tonight to talk about our great sheroes, and I hope we continue to educate the public and to lift up Black women so the entire country will really understand and value and know where we have been so they know where we are going, and that is to achieve liberty and justice for everyone in this country.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week, which is March 11 through 17. Each year, activists, physicians, and policymakers come together to spread awareness about this disease and to salute the healthcare professionals and researchers who are dedicated to finding treatments and a cure for this debilitating disease. Since 2008, I have introduced a bipartisan resolution recognizing the goals and ideals of MS Awareness Week. That is H. Res. 176. MS is an unpredictable and incurable disease that my family and hundreds of thousands of families across our Nation experience every day. My sister, Mildred, has lived with MS for more than 40 years. Her courage and the courage of 2 million people living with MS around the world inspire my efforts to bring more research for treatment and a cure. As a member of the House Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee, I promise to continue fighting for increased funding to find a cure, and I hope all of my colleagues, Democrats and Republicans, help us in this effort.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of a strong voice in the progressive movement, and a great mentor and friend, Marcus Raskin. Marcus' exceptional work as a national security staffer, political theorist, and progressive thought leader has deeply shaped our nation's consciousness about war, economic inequality, and civil rights. Born in 1934 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Marcus initially pursued a career as a pianist, before changing direction and studying law and policy at the University of Chicago. After attaining his law degree, Marcus moved to Washington D.C. and became a staffer for Representatives Robert W. Kastenmeier & James Roosevelt. He quickly distinguished himself as a leading voice of liberal thought, and was hired as staff on the National Security Council by President Kennedy's National Security Advisor, McGeorge Bundy. He also later served in the Bureau of the Budget (now the Office of Management and Budget), and the Presidential Panel on Education. Following his service in the Kennedy Administration, Raskin formed the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) along with Richard Barnet. As a progressive policy think-tank, IPS was the first of its kind. To this day, the institute remains committed to economic and racial justice, climate justice, peace and foreign policy, community engagement, and leadership development. Marcus also played a pivotal role in the release of the Pentagon Papers during the Nixon Administration. His criticisms of the Vietnam War and American military policy led to Daniel Ellsberg noticing Marcus and relying on his help to get the leaked documents to reporters at the New York Times. This initiated a watershed moment in our country's history about the need for transparency and accountability in government. I first met Marcus Raskin, during the mid-1970's, while I worked on Capitol Hill for Congressman Ron Dellums, and I am grateful to him for his wise counsel over the years. Marcus was one of the first to congratulate me on my election to Congress, and acted as a reassuring confidant as I considered my vote against the overly broad 2001 authorization to use military force. Marcus Raskin passed on December 24, 2017, and is survived by his wife, Lynn, and his children Erika, Eden, Noah, and my colleague in Congress--Jamie. Today, on behalf of California's 13th Congressional District, it is my honor to commend Marcus Raskin for his moral leadership and to thank him for his mentorship. I cherish my time serving alongside his son, Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland's 8th Congressional District and wish my sincere condolences to the rest of his surviving family.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 75th birthday of Elaine Brown, a community leader, civil rights activist, and advocate for the underrepresented. Elaine Brown was born on March 2, 1943, in North Philadelphia, an area affected by significant poverty and racial segregation. She was raised by her mother, Dorothy Clark, who worked to support her and instilled in her a love of music. Starting with classical piano lessons, Elaine grew as a songwriter and eventually moved to Los Angeles to pursue music as a career. In LA, she engaged with the civil rights movement, and after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., Brown was motivated to join the Black Panther Party. As a party member, she helped establish the groundbreaking Free Breakfast for Children Program, Free Busing to Prisons Program, and Free Legal Aid Program. In 1968, Brown was commissioned by David Hilliard, the Party Chief of Staff, to record the album ``Seize the Time,'' which includes the anthem of the Black Panther Party. The Party's co-founder, Huey P. Newton, later commissioned her to record a second album, ``Until We're Free'', to promote the party's message, ``All Power to the People.'' In August of 1974, Elaine Brown took over as the chair of the Black Panther Party--the first and only woman to lead the revolutionary organization. Under her leadership, the party focused on electoral politics and community service. In 1977, she managed Lionel Wilson's victorious campaign to become Oakland's first black mayor. That same year, I was proud to work on her trailblazing campaign for the Oakland City Council. After leaving the party in 1977, she wrote her memoir ``A Taste of Power: A Black Woman's Story'' in 1982 and returned to her work on the struggle of black liberation and prison reform. In 1996, Brown moved to Atlanta, Georgia, and founded Fields of Flowers, Inc., a non-profit committed to providing educational opportunities for impoverished African American children. Elaine also founded Mothers Advocating Juvenile Justice and the Michael Lewis Legal Defense Committee, where she spent nearly two decades supporting the legal appeal of Michael ``Little B'' Lewis, who was wrongly accused of murder and tried as an adult at 13. Elaine wrote The Condemnation of Little B, exposing racism that affects millions of poor African Americans and the barbarity of trying children as adults. In 2003, Brown co-founded the National Alliance for Radical Prison Reform and has continued her advocacy by frequently lecturing at colleges and universities throughout the country. Elaine continues to co-author many books and serves in leadership roles for various committees, and is the CEO of a non-profit organization, Oakland & The World Enterprises, Inc. which is dedicated to launching and sustaining for-profit businesses for cooperative- ownership by the formerly incarcerated and those facing monumental social barriers. On a personal note, Elaine has been a ``comrade'' and friend since the early 1970's, whose friendship, intellect, and life's work I deeply appreciate and admire. Today, on behalf of California's 13th Congressional District, it is my honor to celebrate Elaine Brown and her accomplishments, advocacy and contributions for the underrepresented. Her work toward the empowerment of women and minorities, especially African Americans, is a true inspiration to many.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, first, let me thank Congressman Dwight Evans for, once again, hosting this very important Special Order and for really continuing this fight for racial and economic justice both here in the House of Representatives but also in his congressional district. So I thank the gentleman very much for his tremendous leadership. Fifty years ago at the height of the civil rights movement, violence erupted in cities across America. Over generations, systemic racism had produced what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., called a tale of two cities. One city was bright and full of opportunity for a select few, and another city was shrouded in darkness and locked in a never-ending cycle of poverty. African Americans, suffocating under the pressure of institutional racism and discrimination, took to the streets. After race riots erupted in Watts and Chicago; Newark, New Jersey; and Detroit, our government took notice. President Johnson convened the Kerner Commission, which Congressman Evans laid out, which had three goals to investigate the root cause of the unrest. Many activists and civil rights leaders were concerned that the Commission wouldn't reveal the true facts. But to our surprise--and I remember this very clearly--the report was brutally honest. According to the report, White racism was responsible for the rising tensions and explosive violence ripping our Nation apart. So that should have been a wake-up call. Racism had created two societies: one Black, one White, separate and unequal. The report identified the problem and proposed a series of targeted solutions that could right this terrible wrong. According to the report, there were three options for our government: One, do nothing, which would result in more riots and economic devastation and racial division in our country; Two, we could make robust investments into African-American neighborhoods and schools; Three, take racism and discrimination head-on, removing discriminatory barriers that lock African Americans into poverty and prevent them from accessing the basics and a basic standard of living. Option three, of course, could have drastically changed the lives of millions of African Americans. Sadly, the Kerner Commission's report was largely ignored. Again, Congressman Evans laid that out. Instead of investing in education, employment opportunities, livable wages, raising incomes, and pathways out of poverty, this country, unfortunately, has allowed institutional racism to divide this Nation. Of course, we have made some progress, but this updated report clearly shows that is not nearly enough. We really are still a divided country. As a result, the findings of the 1968 Kerner Commission's report remain constant to this very day. In 1968, almost half of all students of color, primarily African Americans, went to majority-White schools. Today, that number has plummeted to 20 percent. In 1968, the unemployment rate for African Americans was 6.7 percent. Today, 7.5 percent of African Americans are unemployed. In 1968, African Americans were 5.4 times as likely as Whites to be in prison or in jail. Today, African Americans are 6.4 times as likely as Whites to be incarcerated. Five decades have passed and economic inequality still prevents the African-American community from accessing the American Dream. I represent the 13th Congressional District of California, which includes Alameda County. While some are witnessing and experiencing enormous wealth and economic growth in my district, 43 percent of African-American children in Oakland are living in poverty, 23.6 percent of African Americans in my district are locked in poverty, and the average income for African-American families in the San Francisco Bay Area is $46,571 a year, compared to White families, who make more than $109,000. That is in my district in the San Francisco Bay Area. This gap is one of the hugest gaps in the country. It is a total disgrace. We should be leveling the economic playing field for African Americans across the Nation. Instead, we throw Black workers meager wages and apply trickle-down economics that only benefit the rich. Our Federal Government should provide the impetus, incentive, and investment for good-paying jobs for African-American workers. Instead, this administration is attacking unions and produced a budget that guts job training programs and a tax law that makes it easier to ship jobs overseas. We should be investing in affordable housing, which, yes, is a basic human right for everyone, including the African-American community. Instead, this administration is weakening fair housing laws and rationing off affordable housing funding. The majority of this administration's proposed budget--the cuts, especially--will disproportionately negatively impact African Americans and people of color. This really is a twisted and sick reality that shouldn't be possible in the United States of America. But members of the Congressional Black Caucus are here tonight to say that we continue to be determined to change this reality because, yes, Black lives do matter. We are here to tell the truth about what is dividing America: racism. It is manifest in many forms in our policy, in our budget, in our funding priorities, and in many, many ways. In January, a group of nearly 100 religious leaders came together to issue a unity declaration on racism and poverty. Mr. Speaker, I include in the record a letter, a document, entitled, ``Unity Declaration on Racism and Poverty,'' and a document entitled, ``Circle of Protection.'' Unity Declaration on Racism and Poverty As leaders from diverse families of U.S. Christianity, we are called by the Spirit to work together with new urgency against the resurgence of racism and the persistence of poverty in America. We see around us an increase of harmful attitudes and policies toward people of color and people in need. That painful reality and the current push for trillions of dollars in cuts to anti-poverty programs are bringing us together in a new way. While we have different positions on other questions, we are united on the gospel and biblical teaching on poverty and racism--feeling invited to do so by the grace of God in Jesus Christ. We believe that racism and poverty are theological issues The integral relationship between poverty and racism unifies us against both. They are both issues to which the gospel of Jesus Christ speaks--which also calls us to love our neighbors, without exceptions. Our unity on these issues is because they are theological issues for us, not merely political or partisan ones. These fundamentally biblical concerns challenge all of us and both of the major political parties. Racism is a sin that goes back to the founding of our nation. At its root, racism is in conflict with the opening declaration in Genesis 1, that we are all made in the image and likeness of God. Racism literally throws away the biblical principle of imago dei--the image of God in all of us, with no exceptions. Racism is a sin against God and all of God's children. Therefore, the whole counsel of God calls us to preach against the sin of racism from all of our churches' pulpits and call for repentance. The body of Christ is perhaps the most diverse racial community in the world. When people of color in the body of Christ suffer--while many white members of the body of Christ do not acknowledge their pain--we are violating the principle laid down in 1 Corinthians 12: that we are one body with many parts, who suffer with and honor one another. As Galatians instructs us, ``there is no more Jew or Greek, bond or free, male or female, because we are all united as one in Christ'' (3:28). The historical sin of racism lingers on in America today, continuing and evolving in our social systems of economics and education, policing and criminal justice, housing and gentrification, voting rights and suppression, in our racial geography, and, painfully, in the continued segregation of our churches, which adds to our own complicity. Racism is more than individual behavior, language, and overt hostility toward particular people. Racism is systematic and structural in America and harms people of color in very specific, measurable, and tangible ways. The failure to defend the lives and dignity of people living in poverty, by individuals or governments, is also a sin against God, with 2,000 verses in the Bible clearly outlining God's fundamental concern for people who are poor, vulnerable, and oppressed, instructing the people of God to protect and help them and holding political leaders responsible for them. Jesus says, in Matthew 25, that how we treat the ``least of these'' is how we treat Christ himself. The world and our country have made progress against poverty in recent decades. It is possible to make further progress--perhaps virtually end--hunger and extreme poverty in our time. We see the alleviation of material misery as an experience of God's loving presence in our own time, and believe that God wants us to seize this opportunity. To our churches: What we are doing and can do Most of our churches are active in helping people in need, struggling people within their congregations or in their communities. We need to do more, but many of our churches directly help millions of people every day. Local church leaders often work to bridge the racial divides in our communities, and many are searching for authentic and specific ways to address the rise of white supremacy. Since the God of the Bible requires social justice and charity, our churches and many of our members also work to influence public policies. Christians have a wide array of political viewpoints. But a majority of the leaders of national church bodies have spoken out repeatedly against cuts to programs that provide help and opportunity to hungry and poor people in our country and around the world. We have also spoken out against renewed expressions of white racism, ethnic nationalism, and hateful attitudes toward people of color, immigrants, refugees, Jews, and Muslims. Many of us are active in support of immigration reform, criminal justice reform, and voting rights for all. We are deeply troubled by the budget proposals coming from Congress and the president. They outline more than $2 trillion of cuts in programs for hungry and poor people in our country and around the world. These cuts would hurt struggling people of all races, including millions of low- and middle-income people who need safety-net programs at some time in their lives. The hardest hit would be African American, Latino, and Native American communities, where the poverty rate is already high, and among people in the poorest countries in the world. The threat over the coming year of this broad assault on anti-poverty programs that support families struggling to make ends meet is unifying us--bringing us together in a more vigorous, multiracial Christian movement to maintain a circle of protection around all people in poverty and God's children of color in particular, who are disproportionally impacted. To Congress and the White House: Our united appeal for healing and reform in our nation's politics We appeal to the president and Congress to work together for the common good. We especially call upon political leaders who are also people of faith to protect all the people in our country and world who are struggling with economic deprivation and frustration, hunger and poverty, disability and disadvantage--and racial bigotry that often contributes to inaction and hard-heartedness. God's love for all people moves us to reach out to people and leaders all across the political spectrum. We respect and pray for all those who are in authority--that our nation and world ``may lead a quiet and peaceable life'' (1 Timothy 2:1- 2). Conservative and liberal people, and those with differing political philosophies, may disagree on how to live up to our nation's ideals, but our loving God calls all of us to work together for liberty and justice for everyone. We appeal to all people, especially Christians, to actively work against racism and poverty--in their personal and local engagement and as advocates for public policies that foster racial equity and healing, shared prosperity, and peace in our country and worldwide. The spiritual power of a fresh, energetic, multiracial Christian movement against both racism and poverty is our prayer. So help us God.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I want to share a passage from the unity statement that was developed. This was an ecumenical group of over 100 religious denominations: ``Racism is more than individual behavior, language, and overt hostility toward particular people. Racism is systematic and structural in America and harms people of color in very specific, measurable, and tangible ways.'' Mr. Speaker, the Kerner report, unfortunately, was ignored, and 50 years later, we are still feeling and reaping the consequences. The difficult truth is that, until we address the impact of the middle passage and slavery of generations of African Americans and believe that truth and reconciliation must happen, 50 years from now, two cities will have destroyed the very fabric of our Nation. As the unity declaration goes on to say: ``Racism is a sin that goes back to the founding of our Nation.'' We know what is plaguing our society, and we know what to do about it. The time for talk is over. It is time we do what is right for all Americans. Yes, Black lives do matter.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, in many communities, housing was segregated. We passed fair housing laws. Affordable housing now is out of reach for many African Americans. This administration is now gutting all of our fair housing programs, our public housing programs, our Section 8 programs. The banks, of course, did target African-American communities for these subprime scam loans. Unfortunately, any equity that had been built in the homes that we purchased after 1968 is gone. So the wealth gap is huge. It is greater than what it was probably in 1968. When you look at the number of African Americans who were unemployed in 1968, I believe it was a little over 5 percent. Now we are looking at 7 percent. When you look at the incarceration rates for the war on drugs, the marijuana laws in this country, especially in the eighties and the impacts of that, we have so many of our young African-American men incarcerated for misdemeanor and felony charges for marijuana distribution and use. We are looking at mass incarceration that has taken place since 1968 of African-American young men and women. So, yes, we have made a lot of progress. I stand here as the 100th Black Member of Congress. Mr. Evans is here. We have a Congressional Black Caucus that has increased in size. We have many, many allies in our fight. But I think what we haven't addressed is the issue of racism and institutional racism, because it is so subconscious for so many people until many decisions are made which negatively impact the African-American community. So from 1968 to now, we have made some progress. We have some great professionals, people doing wonderful things in our community. We have great leaders. We have great scientists, lawyers, doctors, teachers, firefighters, and workers. We have so many people who have been able to lift themselves into the middle class, but we have left so many behind. That is the point, I think, that, while this new report shows that some of us have progressed, we didn't do what was necessary to bring everyone along with us, to lift everyone out of poverty in the Black community and provide for a level playing field for equality, for parity, and for a pathway into the American Dream. That is really very sad and very shameful, but I have a lot of hope that our young people and that we here in the House and that the country really begin to understand that we have to address the root causes of what has happened in this country as it relates to the middle passage and slavery, and to understand that what we see today in these respects that cause these economic and racial disparities go right back to the unfortunate, devastating, and horrific middle passage.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, several years ago, we established the Whip's Task Force on Poverty, Inequality, and Opportunity. For so many years, I wanted to see our caucus talk about more issues relating to low- income and working people and people of color. I really appreciate our whip, Steny Hoyer, and our leader, Nancy Pelosi, for rallying around this concept of looking around all these issues of poverty, inequality, and opportunity. We put together this task force to begin to look at the policies that not only we need to support that are lifting people out of poverty, but what we need to do to fight against some of the policies and funding priorities that would lead more people into the ranks of the poor. This task force now has over 100 people. We have meetings with experts, with organizations that are doing wonderful work throughout the country in communities of color and low-income communities and the Black communities, really demonstrating that there are some grassroots efforts and community efforts that, while here in Congress we haven't been able to change many policies, at the grassroots levels and the community level there are some wonderful people doing some great things to help lift people out of poverty and into the middle class. So we try to highlight and showcase those organizations and individuals so that we can replicate them around the country, so that, until we can get the policies right, we can support those efforts that are taking place that are really doing a wonderful job.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask Speaker Ryan for a debate and a vote on our endless wars. It has been 16 years since Congress first passed the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force. At that time, of course, I knew then it was going to be a blank check to encompass conflicts all around the globe, and I couldn't vote for it. It has been used for operations in Niger, Syria, Libya, Somalia, and many other countries. It has been used to justify the war against ISIS, which did not exist, of course, when this AUMF was first written. Simply put, the 2001 AUMF has become a blank check for any President to wage war, anytime, anywhere, anyplace, without the consent of Congress. In 2016, the Congressional Research Service documented 37 times it had been used in an unclassified report. Now, in 2018, it has increased to 41 times. The Constitution is clear: Congress, not the White House, is tasked with the solemn responsibility to declare war. We have turned a blind eye to these conflicts. They have spiraled out of control. Today a bipartisan group of Members, the Progressive Caucus and the House Freedom Caucus, will be hosting an ad hoc hearing to demand a debate and vote on these ongoing wars. Mr. Speaker, enough is enough. We need to repeal the 2001 AUMF and, yes, give at least 8 months while the current one is in place to debate and vote on a new AUMF.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Congressman Evans for his tremendous leadership and his friendship, and I thank him for hosting this very important Special Order hour. His leadership in our caucus to fight the epidemic of gun violence in America is bold, it is visionary, and I thank him for calling us together tonight. Mr. Speaker, let me also just acknowledge my sister and colleague Congresswoman Robin Kelly, who spoke earlier. Congresswoman Kelly chairs our Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust, and she continues to demand that gun violence be treated as the public health crisis that it is. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus to say enough is enough. The epidemic of gun violence in America must be brought to an end. Two weeks ago, the world stood in shock as yet another gunman massacred innocent students and teachers in an American school. The 19- year-old killer legally purchased an AR-15 assault rifle and killed 17 students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. My heart goes out to the victims, their classmates, families, and the entire Parkland community. We must take action so that this never happens again. Newtown, Aurora, Charleston, Orlando, Las Vegas, and now Parkland, this is not normal in a civilized society. The United States of America is the only developed nation that experiences mass shootings with this level of frequency. This doesn't happen anywhere else in the world. Of course, we know it is because the National Rifle Association can't buy their votes in other countries, and the children's lives come first. Speaker Ryan and the Republicans in Congress have been bought by the National Rifle Association, making it easier for mass shootings to occur. Let me just say that mass shootings in public schools, unfortunately, are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to gun violence in America. Our communities, especially our urban communities, are war zones. On an average day, 93 innocent lives in America are cut short due to gun violence. This year alone, there have been over 8,200 incidents of gun violence in America, including 24 mass shootings. These senseless acts of violence have taken more than 2,200 lives already. I represent the 13th Congressional District of California in the bay area, which includes the city of Oakland, which has been brutalized by gun violence. Since 2014, 312 of my constituents have had their lives cut short by gun violence. Our community feels their loss every single day. Here are just a few of their names and tragic stories. Davon Ellis: Davon was a star football player and an excellent student at Oakland Tech High School. He was shot and killed while walking home from school. My nephew was walking with him when he was gunned down. Travon Godfrey: Travon was killed in 2016 while sitting in a car with his friends in front of his home. Every time I think about Travon, my heart breaks. Travon came to a town meeting that I held on gun violence in January of 2016. He was worried about coming to that town meeting, and he shared the toll that gun violence had taken on his life and that of his friends' lives, yet he was determined to make a difference and finish school and go on to college. Less than a year later, on November 28 in 2016, Travon and his lifelong friend, Deante Miller, were shot and killed in broad daylight. Anibal Andres Ramirez: Anibal was Oakland's youngest gun victim in 2017. He was only 13 years old and was shot outside of a community center. Francisca Martinez Ramirez: She was one of Oakland's first homicide victims in 2018, killed by her husband during a domestic dispute. Sadly, these heartbreaking stories are all too familiar in communities across the country. More than 30,000 Americans lose their lives to gun violence each year. Shootings now kill as many Americans as car accidents. Last year, there were 77 gun violence homicides in my home city of Oakland. Already this year there have been 12. This is only February, Mr. Speaker. How much bloodshed will we see this year? We need action and we need it now. We need to pass, of course, the bipartisan King-Thompson legislation that strengthens background checks and keeps guns out of the wrong hands. And, yes, we need to reinstitute a ban on assault weapons to get these weapons of war out of our communities. We need to close the gun show loophole once and for all. Passing our assistant leader Congressman Clyburn's legislation to close the 3-day loophole to require background checks to be completed before you can buy a gun, that legislation is long overdue. That is common sense. At some point we have to stand up and say enough is enough and stand up to this NRA. Ninety-seven percent of Americans support some kind of gun violence prevention legislation. So that is why I am standing here tonight with my colleagues from the CBC demanding that the Speaker take action and bring commonsense gun legislation to the floor for a vote. Give us a vote, Speaker Ryan, give us a vote.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of Simeon Booker, who passed away on December 10 at the age of 99. Simeon Booker was a trailblazer for African Americans in journalism, becoming the first black reporter at The Washington Post before continuing his distinguished career as the Washington Bureau Chief of Jet and Ebony magazines. Simeon's tireless dedication to uncovering the truth and seeking justice was pivotal to the civil rights movement. In 1955, Simeon traveled to Mississippi, and his story on the brutal murder of Emmett Till sent reverberations of shock, anger, and pain throughout the country. Later in the 1960s, Simeon's time with the Freedom Riders drew attention to the great dangers faced by civil rights activists and shined light on their hope and courage for change. Throughout his life, Simeon fought hard to bring voice to narratives that might otherwise have been covered over and lost, and his words have galvanized change. I have always looked to Simeon as a role model and leader in fighting for freedom and equality. I am deeply honored to have considered him a friend and to have learned from his compassion, bravery, and fierce love for others. I offer my sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Simeon Booker.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of Edwin Hawkins, who passed away on January 15th at the age of 74. An Oakland native, Edwin was a four-time Grammy winner and gospel music trailblazer, whose work inspired generations and helped shape the contemporary Gospel music industry. His crossover hit, ``Oh Happy Day'', was featured in the hit movie ``Sister Act 2'', reached No. 4 on the Billboard pop chart and No. 2 on the R&B pop chart. And in 2007, he was voted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame. Edwin was truly a man before his time. He was compassionate, caring, and never wavered from his faith. I have known Ed for many years and he was a source of inspiration for me personally. He always spoke words of encouragement and like so many others, I am deeply grateful for his love and kindness, which brought me peace and joy over the years. I offer my sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Edwin Hawkins.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman for yielding and, once again, for her tremendous leadership on so many issues as our ranking member. As a member of the Appropriations Committee and the Budget Committee, I rise in strong opposition to this continuing resolution. This bill kicks the can down the road for the fifth time--mind you, fifth time-- since October. It also shamelessly includes the stand-alone defense spending bill of $659 billion to an already out-of-control Pentagon budget. This bill breaks the budget caps. It includes $75 billion for wars that Congress has never debated or voted on. It also includes more than $1 billion in funds to increase troop levels in Afghanistan by 3,500, not to mention the millions--the billions, actually--in waste, fraud, and abuse that taxpayers have already lost by irresponsible Pentagon spending. This is outrageous. Republicans control the House, the Senate, and the White House. The least they could do is keep the government open. Yet here we stand, once again, with no deal on DREAMers and no agreement on a long-term spending bill. Clearly, Republicans have no strategy on funding the government. They would prefer to pass CR after CR after CR after CR. This is beyond irresponsible, Mr. Speaker. How long will Republicans govern from crisis to crisis? Nobody can manage their household or their business like the Republicans are managing our government spending. This short-term resolution once again ignores urgent bipartisan priorities the Democrats have been fighting for for months with Republicans, the most urgent of which is passing a clean Dream Act. DACA recipients are American in every way except on paper, and right now their lives are hanging in the balance. We have less than 1 month until DACA expires, a deadline that the President, himself, created. This continuing resolution is really irresponsible, and it is morally bankrupt.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, this continuing resolution fails to honor the temporary protective status for immigrants. It fails to raise budget caps for defense and nondefense spending, and it neglects to provide desperately needed funding for hurricane- and wildfire-impacted communities, the opioid crisis, and our veterans. This bill underscores the majority's complete lack of regard for everyday Americans and struggling families. Continuing resolutions leave the American people out on a limb with no confidence in their Federal Government. This resolution makes it clear that that is just what Republicans want to do. The American people sent us to Congress to govern in their best interest. Now we have spent the last 4 months passing short-term spending bills one after another, and for what? Because Republicans refuse to do their job. Instead of wasting more time on this terrible CR, we should deal with our bipartisan priorities and fund the government for the long term. It is the right thing to do for our communities and our country. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on this bill.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentleman for yielding me time and for his tremendous leadership as our ranking member on the Defense Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition once again to this bill. I think the House has taken it up now for a third time this year. Let me just start by saying I grew up in a military family. I am a military brat. My dad fought in World War II and in the Korean War. He was stationed, among his posts, at Fort Bliss, Texas. And I want to say that supporting our troops, making sure that they have everything they need, is extremely important. And opposing this budget, for me, of course, does not reflect my support for our troops. But I just have to tell you, this bill appropriates the $664 billion in defense spending for this already out-of-control Pentagon budget. It also includes more than $75 billion for wars that Congress has never debated or voted on. And what is worse, this bill includes $1.2 billion in overseas contingency operations to increase troop levels in Afghanistan by 3,500 troops. This is really outrageous, and this fund should really be eliminated. Now, the Pentagon has failed to achieve the requirement to audit itself by 2017, and we know that billions of dollars have been found in waste, fraud, and abuse. That is unacceptable. Instead of writing blank checks--which is what I think this bill does, another blank check to the Pentagon--Congress needs to live up to its constitutional obligation to complete an audit, first of all, to determine how to make sure we have a rational defense budget that protects our national security and supports our troops, not to provide excess contracts that lead to waste, fraud, and abuse. We also need to debate matters of war and peace. So we need to pass my amendment, which I tried to do, quite frankly, last year in this very bill, that would sunset the 2001 AUMF, and it would give us 8 months--not immediately, but 8 months--to debate and vote on a new one before it would be enacted. It took 3 days to enact the last one. That is what the debate was. I am asking for 8 months. This important amendment would provide Congress plenty of time to do our job and finally have a debate on matters of war and peace. However, even though my amendment passed the Appropriations Committee in a bipartisan fashion, Republicans unilaterally decided to strip this amendment from the bill, really, I have to say, in the dead of night.