Barbara Lee

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 2810, the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act. This bill authorizes $700 billion in defense spending for our already out-of- control Pentagon budget. It would also increase funding by $66 billion for wars that Congress has never debated or voted on. And once again, my Republican colleagues have used an off-the-books spending gimmicks to further expand the already-bloated Pentagon budget. Mr. Speaker, enough is enough. Instead of writing blank checks to the Pentagon, Congress needs to live up to its constitutional obligation to debate matters of war and peace. We need to rip up the 2001 blank check for endless war. We need to stop funding wars without end. Simply put, Mr. Speaker, we need to do our job. And this Defense Authorization Act does just the opposite. It allows Congress to kick the can down the road again, while funding wars with no debate on the costs and consequences to our troops or to the American people. Mr. Speaker, I do have to say that I am pleased by the passage of my amendment, which I co-authored with my good friend Congressman Burgess, to report on the audit-readiness of the Pentagon. This is a good first step, but much work remains to bring some accountability to Pentagon spending. So I call on Speaker Ryan to act to actually audit bloated Pentagon spending and to bring forth an authorization so Congress can vote up or down on these wars. I urge my colleagues to vote `NO' on this bill and reject this wasteful spending.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and also for his tremendous leadership on the Ways and Means Committee and for really telling the truth. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this bill, H.R. 1, which really is a tax scam. Republicans are really trying to pull a fast one on the American people. This bill would steal from the hard-earned paychecks of millions of middle-income families to line the pockets of billionaires and corporations. In fact, 80 percent of the tax breaks would go to the top 1 percent. It also eliminates student loan deductions and eradicates medical expense deductions. If this isn't cruel enough, this bill makes it easier for corporations to ship jobs overseas, so people will actually lose their jobs. This tax plan does nothing to create better jobs or better wages or a better future for the middle class. It does just the opposite. In my home State of California, one in five middle-income families will see a tax hike next year. The State and local tax deduction would be particularly hard on my State, where 6.1 million households will see a tax increase. Public sector jobs, like firefighters, will lose their jobs, not to mention the vital services our most vulnerable will need. These will be cut. This bill really is a disgrace. Stealing from families who need help the most to give more to donors--millionaires and billionaires and corporations--this is really a new low. Thirty-six million middle-income households, working families, will pay more in taxes. We can't forget, also, that this tax scam sets the stage, really, for a heartless $1.5 trillion cut to Medicare and Medicaid, as we saw in the Republican budget. We need to reject this mean-spirited tax scam and vote ``no'' and then come back and look at how we can support middle-income families, working families, so everyone has a chance and an opportunity at the American Dream.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Ranking Member Slaughter for her tremendous leadership on so many of these very critical issues. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this rule and to H.R. 2810, the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act. This bill authorizes $700 billion in defense spending for our already out- of-control Pentagon budget. It would also increase funding by $66 billion for wars that Congress has never debated or voted on. And once again, my Republican colleagues have used off-the-books spending gimmicks to further expand the already-bloated Pentagon budget. Mr. Speaker, enough is enough. Instead of writing blank checks to the Pentagon, Congress needs to live up to its constitutional obligation to debate matters of war and peace. We need to rip up the 2001 blank check for endless war. We need to stop funding wars without end. Simply put, Mr. Speaker, we need to do our job. And this Defense Authorization Act does just the opposite. It allows Congress to kick the can down the road AGAIN, while funding wars with no debate on the costs and consequences to our troops or to the American people. Mr. Speaker, I do have to say that I am pleased by the passage of my amendment, which I co-authored with my good friend Congressman Burgess, to report on the audit-readiness of the Pentagon. This is a good first step, but much work remains to bring some accountability to Pentagon spending. So I call on Speaker Ryan to act to actually audit bloated Pentagon spending and to bring forth an authorization so Congress can vote up or down on these wars. I urge my colleagues to vote 'NO' on the Rule and the underlying bill and reject this wasteful spending.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the longstanding career of Ronald Johnson, a fearless leader for more than three decades in the fight against HIV/AIDS. His leadership spans numerous esteemed organizations and agencies including the Gay Men's Health Crisis, Minority Task Force on AIDS, City of New York, Presidential Advisory Council, AIDS Action, and United AIDS from which he is now retiring. Following the Stonewall Uprising in 1969, the gay community of New York City witnessed the rising swell of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Throughout the 1980's, the number of AIDS-related deaths climbed higher each year. In 1981, amidst widespread fear and uncertainty, Dr. Lawrence Mass and Larry Kramer founded the first New York City nonprofit devoted to HIV and AIDS awareness, testing, education, advocacy, and prevention. They called it the Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC). Mr. Johnson began volunteering with GMHC in 1984, while continuing his service as the Assistant Executive Director of the University Settlement, a nonprofit social service program that assisted immigrants and low-income families with fulfilling their health, education, and housing needs. After volunteering for a few years, Mr. Johnson was invited to join the GMHC's Board of Directors. Mr. Johnson served as Executive Director of the Minority Task Force on AIDS and in 1992 was appointed the Citywide Coordinator for AIDS Policy for the City of New York. Known for being both forceful and persuasive yet guided by facts, Mr. Johnson helped the city develop a comprehensive strategy for stemming the HIV/AIDS epidemic through proactive education, prevention, and treatment. He strengthened the city's AIDS hotline and testing programs, needle-exchange program, and housing and medical care services for AIDS patients. By 1996, Mr. Johnson was rewarded for his efforts as he witnessed a sharp decline in New York City's HIV and AIDS-related deaths. His programs were working and he had the data to prove it. He later joined the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, where he helped design the policy thinking and best practices for the President's Emergency Plans for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Today, on behalf of California's 13th Congressional District, I am honored to commend Ronald Johnson for his long career advocating for the prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS. His service and devotion has saved lives, inspired hope, and made this world a remarkably safer and better place.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to sound the alarm about our military operations in Niger. On October 4, four U.S. Army Special Operations Forces were tragically killed on a mission in Niger. My deepest condolences to the families of these fallen heroes. This is a mission, Mr. Speaker, which Congress still knows nothing about. And as recently as last week, Secretaries Tillerson and Mattis testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on this tragedy. But one question remains unanswered: Why were our servicemembers in Niger? It is outrageous that Congress has been left in the dark about these operations. At a minimum, we should have some basic knowledge of the missions we are asking servicemembers to risk their lives for. Myself and others sent a bipartisan letter to the administration demanding that President Trump seek authorization ahead of any future military operations in Niger. It is not just Niger. Speaker Ryan needs to stop blocking a debate and vote on these ongoing wars. The people deserve answers. What is the holdup, Mr. Speaker? What are you afraid of? Why don't you want the American people to know? Congress, yes, is missing in action. We owe it to our servicemembers and our constituents to have a debate and a vote on these ongoing wars. Congress needs to do its job.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, first let me thank Congressman Espaillat for yielding and for his tremendous leadership and advocacy to ensure that our communities have access to affordable housing, regardless of their income, regardless of their background. I want to thank the Congressional Progressive Caucus and him for leading this Special Order tonight because it is so important that the public really understand the issues that we are dealing with here in Washington, D.C., on behalf of the American people. Tonight, of course, we are calling on the Trump administration and our colleagues across the aisle for greater investments in affordable housing, including in public housing. Affordable housing should be a basic right. No one should have to choose between placing food on the table or paying their rent, especially not in the wealthiest country on Earth. Sadly, right now, our country is in the midst of an affordable housing crisis. Half of all families in this country are forced to spend more than 30 percent of their hard-earned income on housing. Over 38 million families struggle to pay rent and put food on the table every day because they pay more than one-third of their income on housing. Right now there are only 12 counties in the entire country where a minimum-wage worker is able to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment. Simply put, the housing crisis in America has reached epidemic proportions. It is really a state of emergency. Nowhere is this epidemic more evident than, for example, in my own district. The average renter in Oakland, California, for example, would be forced to spend a staggering 70 percent of their income on housing if they were to move today--70 percent--and many are being forced out. In Oakland, the number of homeless individuals increased by 25 percent this year to more than 2,700 people. In all of my county, Alameda County, the homelessness population has increased by nearly 40 percent in the last 2 years to more than 5,600 people. Now, these people have settled into encampments with all of their furniture and belongings across the streets of cities in my district. It is unconscionable and devastating that this un-American reality persists across the country. Yet, instead of working to address this crisis, Republicans have slashed funding, mind you, for housing assistance programs to their lowest level in 40 years. In the Republican fiscal year 2018 budget, there are over $200 billion in cuts from programs that everyday families depend on, like SNAP, agricultural subsidies, and housing assistance. What is worse, the Trump budget slashes the budget of the Department of Housing and Urban Development by nearly 15 percent. The Secretary of HUD, I guess, supports this, which is mind-boggling because he is charged with developing housing strategies so that everyone can have decent, affordable housing. To cut it by 15 percent makes no sense. This endangers the livelihoods of millions of low-income seniors, people with disabilities, families with children, veterans, low-wage workers, families living with HIV and AIDS, which they all depend on affordable housing programs. Our Progressive Caucus colleagues and I are here tonight to say that, really, enough is enough. We demand affordable housing for every person in our Nation, regardless of who they are and where they live, and we are not giving up. Earlier this year, I introduced a renters' bill of rights. It is H. Con. Res. 74, which affirms that all renters have the right to safe, decent, and affordable housing. It calls for greater enforcement of antidiscrimination laws that protect communities of color from burdensome regulations. It calls on Congress to increase funding to protect every American's right to livable and affordable housing. So as a member of the Appropriations and Budget Committees, I am committed to advancing the American Dream for all, and that is affordable housing. People deserve to have a decent and safe place to live to raise their families. So to everyone across the country who worry about paying rent or whether they can finally, at the end of the day, buy a home, I say: Keep raising your voices and keep bringing what we call street heat to defend your communities, because you have got allies in the Congressional Progressive Caucus. You have got them in this House of Representatives, especially Democrats. We are not going to give up fighting for you. I want to thank Congressman Espaillat for holding this Special Order tonight because I think the public, given this crisis--and it is a crisis, it is an epidemic, it is an emergency--people need to know we are here fighting for them, and we are going to continue fighting until everyone in America has a decent, safe, and affordable place to live.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman for yielding, and also for organizing us here tonight and every week on the issues that are so important to this country. Her leadership, specifically, for the Virgin Islands, is truly commendable, and just know that we are doing everything we can do under her leadership to help her recover and rebuild. Mr. Speaker, I just have to say to our chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressman Richmond, I have to thank him for his bold and his visionary leadership of the CBC. First, let me just take a moment to offer my deepest condolences to the family, friends, and community of those who lost loved ones in the senseless act of gun violence in Texas, my home State. We mourn their loss, we pray for the recovery of those injured, and we say once again that this House needs action on gun safety measures to save lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with them tonight. Mr. Speaker, I rise to discuss the urgent need to preserve temporary protective status for immigrants fleeing famine, war, and violent conditions around the world, especially those countries from within the African diaspora who account for 10 percent of all TPS beneficiaries. Today, 440,000 individuals from 10 countries reside in the United States under temporary protective status because, as a nation, we have kept our commitment to being a beacon of hope and security for those in need. The TPS program grants immigrants the right to lawfully remain in the United States for 6 to 18 months. This longstanding practice has been honored for decades through Democratic and Republican administrations because, regardless of political affiliations as Americans, we have always stood for protecting the value of human life. Sadly, the Trump administration fails to grasp the lifesaving impact of this program. Just last month, the administration announced that it would terminate the TPS designation for Sudan, despite the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region. In the coming days and weeks, Mr. Speaker, the Trump administration, unfortunately, will decide the fate of TPS holders from vulnerable countries including Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Haiti. Let me be clear: failure to renew TPS status would mean deportation for over 300,000 individuals who are working and living in the United States. We also know that this issue disproportionately impacts immigrants from countries within the African diaspora. Take Haiti for example. After a devastating earthquake and horrific hurricane, there is an active cholera outbreak and protracted food security crisis. Letting TPS expire for this country would send 50,000 people back to uncertain fates. An influx of people of this size would further destabilize a fragile recovery. That is why I joined my colleagues in sending a letter to the Department of Homeland Security calling for a full 18- month extension of Haiti's TPS designation. In El Salvador and Honduras, the return of over 250,000 people would strain government services and lead to job displacement in countries besieged by violence, narcotics trafficking, and weak institutions. Unfortunately, this week, Secretary Tillerson falsely claimed that conditions on the ground no longer warrant TPS designation for these countries. How he came up with that, I have no idea. This is really a shame and a disgrace. That is why members of the Congressional Black Caucus are here tonight fighting for temporary protected status because we cannot turn our backs on our brothers and sisters in their time of need. TPS holders have families, they own businesses, and they contribute to this country in countless ways. At a time when devastating hurricanes and flooding ravages our neighbors in the Caribbean, the last thing that our government should be doing is turning its back on TPS holders. It is not only TPS holders that we are fighting for. We are also now recognizing, understanding, knowing, and making public--as everyone knows--that millions of undocumented youth are living in fear of deportation because this President and Republicans in Congress can't muster the courage to do what is right. Our Nation has been and should continue to be a nation of immigrants. From TPS to DACA, deporting innocent young people who came to the United States to escape devastation and violence, or as a child, is not only wrong, it is really cruel, and it is heartless. So that is why we will continue to fight to protect undocumented youth as we work towards comprehensive immigration reform once and for all. Now we are going to say we are going to continue to fight to make sure temporary protective status is granted for the 300,000 immigrants. I want to thank Delegate Plaskett for helping us to, once again, raise our voices, educate the public, and stay woke.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in total opposition to the Republicans' rigged tax plan for billionaires and corporations. Despite having one of the largest economies in the world, one in five Californians live in poverty. Yet Republicans in Congress are pursuing one priority: tax breaks for billionaires and corporations. Their tax package is Robin Hood in reverse: it steals from the poor and gives to the rich. And it will decimate Medicare. It will cripple many essential programs like the child tax credit and the earned income tax credit. This billionaires-first plan will devastate many States, including my home State of California. California will suffer tremendously. The earned income tax credit and child tax credit really has saved more than 1 million Californians from falling below the poverty line. Undermining the earned income tax credit and child tax credit would push millions of Californians even deeper into poverty. Americans should not be forced to pay more than their fair share in order to give tax breaks to the ultrarich. Any tax plan that pushes even one more American deeper into poverty and forces middle-income people to pay more should not even be on the table. Mr. Speaker, we need to reject this plan that lavishes tax breaks on President Trump, his billionaire buddies, and giant multinational corporations.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his tremendous leadership. And also, just very briefly, I want to mention to my colleague from California on the other side, I remember the Reagan-era tax cut period also, and there was a huge rise in homeless veterans as a result, unfortunately. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the so-called budget plan. I know that our budget shapes our national priorities and values, but the Republicans have put forward a budget that I think is downright sinister. This budget is morally bankrupt. It is a Trojan horse that steals healthcare from children and rips food from the hungry just to fast-track $1.5 trillion in tax breaks to billionaires and corporations. Budgets are moral documents. They should not be rigged in favor of special interests and the wealthy few, but the cruel and crooked Republican budget does just that. Our Nation's budget should prioritize working families and the middle class, too many of whom are making low wages and living below the poverty line. It should assist those struggling to find a job. It should invest in workforce training, education, job creation and job training. Instead, this Republican budget creates tax cuts for billionaires, millionaires, and corporations. Our budget should expand to protect healthcare for all. Instead, this budget steals nearly $2 trillion from lifesaving Medicaid and Medicare. With nearly 40 million Americans living in poverty, our budget should invest in communities of color and rural communities, which have higher rates of poverty. Simply put, the House Republican budget would push more people into poverty. It slashes programs that help create good paying jobs for struggling families. It is a shame, it is immoral, it is un-American, and I hope we defeat it.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Veasey for yielding, but also for his remarkable leadership here in Congress and for hosting this very important Special Order this evening. Mr. Speaker, I rise, along with my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus, with a message for the American people: Wake up. COINTELPRO 2.0 is on the rise. Mr. Speaker, now, in a report that was never supposed to see the light of day, the FBI's Counterterrorism Division branded African Americans in the fight for equality and justice as Black identity extremists that pose a domestic threat to police officers. Now, I have witnessed many covert tactics designed to suppress African-American activism in my life, but the revelation of this report is one of the most troubling details I have ever learned about our government. I remember very clearly the days of COINTELPRO under J. Edgar Hoover. As a community worker who worked closely with the Black Panther Party in their Ten-Point Platform, which made programs like Free Breakfast for Children possible and paved the way for our government's free breakfast program for low-income children, I witnessed firsthand how the lives of good people doing good work were destroyed by COINTELPRO. Seeing the emergence of what is effectively COINTELPRO 2.0 is not only alarming, it is frightening. Just listen to how the FBI describes young women who take a stand for justice. According to the FBI: ``Black identity extremist, BIE, perceptions of police brutality against African Americans'' has been responsible for ``an increase in premeditated, retaliatory lethal violence against law enforcement and will very likely serve as justification for such violence in the future.'' My God. Mr. Speaker, we know that all police officers aren't bad actors. Actually, thousands of officers, the majority of officers, go to work every morning to protect our communities and to provide public safety for everyone, but I want to be very clear about two things, Mr. Speaker. Police brutality is not, as they said in this FBI report, a perception. Police brutality is a reality African Americans grapple with every day. African Americans are three times more likely to be killed by police than White people. That is a reality. That is not a perception. The facts speak for themselves. Despite being only 13 percent of our population, nearly 25 percent of those killed by police in the United States each year are African Americans. That is a reality. That is not a perception. Nearly 99 percent of police-involved shootings have not resulted in any officers involved being convicted of a crime. Now, that is a reality, not a perception. I also want to be very clear that Black identity extremism does not exist. It is simply not real. No academics or journalists have uncovered such a movement. No one has identified as a leader of such a movement. No act of hate or violence has been committed in the name of Black identity extremism. So what is it, then? It is a twisted attempt by arbiters of the alt- right, including Attorney General Jeff Sessions and this administration, to deflect attention from the realities of police misconduct and the alt-right and White supremacy. First let me thank Congressman Veasey for his remarkable leadership in Congress and for hosting this vitally important Special Order hour. Mr. Speaker I rise today along with my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus with a message for the American people. Wake up! COINTELPRO 2.0 is on the rise. Mr. Speaker, in a report that was never supposed to see the light of day, the FBI's Counterterrorism Division branded African Americans that fight for equality and justice as ``Black Identity Extremists'' that pose a domestic threat to police officers. I have witnessed many covert tactics designed to suppress African American activism in my life, but the revelation of this report is one of the most troubling details I have ever learned about our government. I remember clearly the days of COINTELPRO under J. Edgar Hoover. As a community worker who worked closely with the Black Panther Party on their 10 point platform, which made programs like free breakfast for children possible, I witnessed firsthand how the lives of good people doing good work were destroyed by COINTELPRO. So seeing the emergence of what is effectively COINTELPRO 2.0 is not only alarming it is frightening. Just listen to how the FBI describes young men and women who take a stand for justice. According to the FBI: ``Black Identity Extremist (BIE) perceptions of police brutality against African Americans'' has been responsible for ``an increase in premeditated, retaliatory lethal violence against law enforcement and will very likely serve as justification for such violence'' in the future. Mr. Speaker, we know that all police officers aren't bad actors. Thousands of officers go to work every morning to protect our communities. But I want to be very clear about two things Mr. Speaker: Police brutality is not a perception. Police brutality is a reality African Americans grapple with every day. African Americans are three times more likely to be killed by police than white people. That is a reality, not a perception. Despite being only 13% of our population, nearly 25% of those killed by police in the U.S. each year are African Americans That is a reality, not a perception. And nearly 99% of case of police involved shootings have not resulted in any officers involved being convicted of a crime. That is a reality, not a perception. I also want to be very clear that Black Identity Extremism does not exist. It is simply is not real. No academics or journalists have uncovered such a movement. No one has identified as a leader of such a movement And no act of hate or violence has been committed in the name of Black Identity Extremism. So what is it then? Black Identity Extremism is a twisted attempt by arbiters of the alt- right, including President Trump and Jeff Sessions to deflect attention from the realities of Police brutality and white supremacy. That is why members of the Congressional Black Caucus are here this evening. To sound the alarm. This is not just another revelation or press report that should be dismissed. This kind of hateful stigmatization presents a serious threat to the African American community. This is not mere speculation, Mr. Speaker. If we're honest about the history of our nation, we must admit that the FBI has a disturbing history of surveillance and intimidation of African Americans for political expediency. I remember all too clearly the lives that were cut short during the civil rights movement through the highly coordinated counterintelligence program known as COINTELPRO. For 15 years under the direction of FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, the federal government spied on civil rights leaders and sowed division among African Americans with one express goal. To ``expose, disrupt, misdirect, discredit, or otherwise neutralize'' any individual or group deemed to be subversive or a threat to the established power structure. Members of the Black Panther Party were the greatest victims of this vitriolic pursuit. Under the guise of COINTELPRO FBI agents harassed, intimidated and committed acts of violence against Black Panthers and their supporters. Men and women were killed as a result of this program. We simply cannot allow government sanctioned violence to develop against innocent African Americans fighting for the perfection of our union. As the conscience of Congress, members of the Congressional Black Caucus are determined to stop COINTELPRO 2.0 dead in its tracks. That is why we are demanding that the FBI give a full account to Congress on the development of this report and the sources used to inform it. It has been said that those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat. Well Mr. Speaker, we are here to give the American people and the Trump Administration a history lesson. Clearly the FBI has not learned from its mistakes. But I want to be clear about one thing, under no circumstances will we allow another generation of African Americans to be subjected to unwarranted surveillance and harassment. It will not happen, not on our watch. Istand with our Chairman Congressman Richmond, Congressman Conyers, Congressman Thompson and Congressman Cummings in demanding that the FBI come clean about this report. Enough is enough.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank our ranking member for yielding time to me and for her tireless leadership. Mr. Speaker, as a Representative from northern California, let me just say that my thoughts and prayers are with our neighbors in the North Bay. I remember the Oakland Hills. I represent Oakland and Berkeley, California; and just as many helped us then, we will help our neighbors now. I am deeply grateful to our firefighters and our first responders who have been working around the clock to extinguish these fires. Mr. Speaker, I also rise in strong support of this emergency supplemental. Our neighbors in the North Bay, the Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Texas, they need our help, and they need it now. Communities are devastated, and many are still without power and water. This is a life-and-death situation for so many. Make no mistake, the recovery process is just beginning, and we cannot forget our Caribbean neighbors who are also suffering. Mr. Speaker, the supplemental is a good first step. It is a good first step in a very long process, but we must provide more long-term assistance to help communities rebuild and to help them recover very quickly, and we must leave no one behind.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge this body to send urgent aid to the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and all of our Caribbean neighbors in its federal response to this year's devastating hurricane season. Hurricanes Harvey, Jose, Irma and now Maria have ravaged our southern border, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and our friends and neighbors in the Caribbean. Sadly, the pace of federal response in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico has been much too slow. Nearly three weeks after Hurricane Irma, a category 5 hurricane, decimated the Virgin Islands, residents are still having trouble receiving appropriate aid and commodities. Now, nearly two weeks after another category 5 storm tore through St. Croix, the U.S. Virgin Islands' three main islands have lost its economy, its physical infrastructure and scores of its people. Insufficient quantities of food and supplies, lack of power, extremely long fuel lines, and lack of communication and cell phone coverage have left the Virgin Islands utterly decimated. The Virgin Islands are in a humanitarian crisis, Mr. Speaker. No American citizen should be forced to endure these conditions, especially not with the level of resources at the disposal of our federal government. My heart breaks for these families. I urge my colleagues and the Trump Administration to fund all necessary resources not only to address the urgent humanitarian crisis but also the sustained commitment support funding necessary to help rebuild and restore infrastructure necessary for their economy and people to move forward.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chair, once again, Republicans are determined to balance their budget on the backs of the most vulnerable; to hand tax breaks to millionaires, and billionaires, and corporations; and slush funds for Pentagon contractors. This budget is cruel and unusual punishment for those who are not rich. I urge my colleagues to reject this un-American, heartless budget, and to vote ``no.''

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, first, I want to thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership as our ranking member on our Budget Committee. I rise in strong opposition to the Republican's so-called budget plan. I am a member, yes, of the Budget Committee and the Appropriations Committee, and I know, because we work on this each and every day, that our national budget is a statement of our national priorities and our values. I know very well that the Republicans have put forward, quite frankly, a sinister budget whose chief purpose is to hand tax breaks to billionaires. Budgets are moral documents. They should not be rigged in favor of special interests and the wealthy few, but the Republican budget is. Our Nation's budget should prioritize working families and the middle class, too many of whom are making low wages and living below the poverty line. It should assist those struggling to find a job and investment in workforce training, education, job creation, and job training. Instead, this Republican budget creates tax cuts for billionaire, millionaires, and corporations. Our budget should expand to protect healthcare for all. Instead, this budget steals nearly $2 trillion from lifesaving Medicaid and Medicare. Our budget should also invest in our crumbling infrastructure, which, of course, creates jobs. But the Republican budget cuts funding for our roads, our bridges, and our railways. Finally, with nearly 40 million Americans living in poverty, our Nation's budget should contain a serious and effective strategy to end poverty, especially for communities of color and rural communities who have higher poverty rates. The House Republican budget does not do this. In fact, it slashes programs that help create good-paying jobs for struggling families by $5.4 trillion. No family in America should be forced to go hungry. Yet, because wages are so low across this country, millions of families now rely on nutrition and food assistance. Yet this budget cuts $150 billion from SNAP, food assistance, and nutrition assistance, which will create more poverty for people who are working. It doesn't make any sense. It is fundamentally immoral.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I just want to thank the gentleman and Congressman Pocan for their really great leadership of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and for crafting a budget which creates economic growth, a decent standard of living for everyone, and a strong yet rational national security budget. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Congressional Progressive Caucus' people's budget. Today, millions of Americans are struggling to make ends meet and millions more are working hard trying to find a job. Paychecks for everyday Americans are shrinking, while corporations are reaping record profits. Yet, instead of developing a budget to create jobs and to help American families, the House Republicans ``balance'' their budget once again on the backs of struggling families. And for what? To protect tax cuts for billionaires and millionaires and corporations. Again, this is totally disgraceful. The CPC's people's budget stands in stark contrast to the House Republican budget. It creates 2 million good-paying jobs and invests $2 trillion in infrastructure. It includes a plan to lift more Americans out of poverty, and it invests in communities of color, like expanding computer science education. It ends the Pentagon's slush fund, known as the overseas contingency account, that for far too long has padded the pockets and the wallets of defense contractors at the taxpayers' expense. It also tackles waste, fraud, and abuse at the Pentagon by demanding audit readiness. It is hard to believe that the Republican budget goes $10 billion over what the Pentagon even requested. Make no mistake, the people's budget does what the House Republican budget does not. It works for the American people, not special interests, nor defense contractors, or the 1 percent. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to do what is best for all American families, and that is support the Congressional Progressive Caucus' people's budget.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman for yielding. Also I want to thank him for his tremendous leadership in continuing to craft the Congressional Black Caucus' budget which really does reflect our Nation's priorities and our values, so I rise in strong support of this budget. As a member of the Budget and the Appropriations Committees and as chair of our Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality, and Opportunity, I am really proud that the Congressional Black Caucus budget includes $300 billion in investments into initiatives that have proven to lift millions out of poverty. For example, it restores the cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, it extends emergency unemployment insurance, it expands access to affordable housing, and it also increases funding for job training and trade assistance programs. The CBC budget creates a fair Tax Code that provides investments in communities. It boosts GDP by $329 billion and helps create 2 million jobs. This budget addresses poverty head on by investing $120 billion in creating jobs, $25 billion to restore our Nation's public housing, and $80 billion to modernize our schools. Also, our budget employs the 10-20-30 formula championed by our assistant leader, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn), by directing at least 10 percent of Federal spending into areas with poverty rates of more than 20 percent over the last 30 years. We will make progress toward ending entrenched and generational poverty that hurts families and communities. With regard to the Pentagon, yes, we require that we audit the Pentagon and encourage DOD to implement remaining GAO recommendations that would likely lead to tens of billions in costs savings. This is a budget that stands with the American people. It is a message to the American people that we stand with those who are working hard to find a job, and we stand with those working hard at a job with low wages. It is a message to the country that balancing the budget on the backs of struggling families to provide giveaways to billionaires and corporations is unacceptable. That is not the American way. The CBC budget provides for the national security and the economic security of our Nation.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 36, which is a nationwide 20-week abortion ban. I would like to share a story about Lindsey, a woman from California. Lindsey ended her pregnancy at 24 weeks, after a devastating diagnosis. When Lindsey had her 12-week ultrasound, everything looked completely normal. But the picture was different at the 21-month anatomy scan. Lindsey and her husband learned that their baby girl had lethal skeletal dysplasia. Lindsey sought out additional opinions from three maternal-fetal specialists. They all agreed that her lungs were not developing properly and she would not survive. Lindsey and her husband chose to end the pregnancy at 24 weeks. Lindsey wants lawmakers to know: ``If I had to carry her to term, she would not have survived. As her mother, it is my right to spare her suffering, and that is what I did.'' The cruel ban on the floor today would only make these heart- wrenching situations worse for families like Lindsey's. On behalf of Lindsey, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on H.R. 36. Republicans should stop playing politics with women's lives and focus on the real problems facing this government and this country, and stop interfering in the private lives of women. We must stop this ban.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, first let me thank my colleagues, for organizing this important special order hour and for their dedicated leadership in the fight to take racism and discrimination head on in America. I'd also like to thank Chairman Richmond for his mighty leadership of our caucus as we work in resistance to this Administration. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to stand with my colleagues in the fight to Root Out Racism from our society. Our country was founded on the values of freedom, justice and equality. Right now, those very same values are under attack from the highest levels of our government where the President of the United States and Republicans are openly embracing racist and discriminatory policies and actions. As we speak the Trump Administration is actively supporting a Presidential Voting Commission which is rooted in voter suppression and racism. As we speak, Attorney General Jeff Sessions is undoing consent decrees, funding private prisons and reviving the failed War on Drugs which is rooted in racism. As we speak, this Administration is waging an all-out attack on affirmative action on campuses across the country which is rooted in racism. As we speak, the President of the United States is being advised by individuals with ties to white supremacists, white nationalists and Neo-Nazis. And to make matters worse, the President takes to Twitter nearly every morning to fan the flames of division and discrimination. Choosing to tacitly speak out against racially motivated killings in Charlottesville but finding ample time to insult athletes who are protesting in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick. Mr. Speaker, a recent NBC News/Wallstreet Journal poll found that 70 percent of Americans believe race relations in America are poor. This should come as a surprise to no one. I am convinced that the public wants us to root out racism. Attacks against communities of color seem to have no end under the Trump Administration. Racism, unfortunately is alive and well in the United States. We need look no further than the devastating budget cuts Republicans have proposed which would disproportionately impact African Americans. We must also acknowledge that systematic racism permeates these policies. Last year then-presidential candidate Donald Trump asked African Americans what do we have to lose? The answer is clearer than ever before: everything. Critical programs that help the most vulnerable such as Meals on Wheels, heating and energy assistance, and nutrition aid to women and children are on the chopping block in the President's budget. The President's budget eliminates: Community Development Block Grants; HOME programs that provide affordable housing for low-income residents; Legal Services Corporation, which helps those who cannot afford legal representation; and the Minority Business Development Agency, which helps promote minority-owned businesses. And Republicans are determined to continue their crusade against the Affordable Care Act which would rip healthcare from millions of African Americans. For over 50 years our progress as a nation has been measured by how we reckon with the remaining vestiges of slavery, how we root out racism when it rears its ugly head. Administrations have been judged by their support for civil rights, voting rights, advances in health care, public education, social justice and strengthening ladders of opportunity to enter the middle for African Americans. This Administration is failing on all accounts. That is why as the ``Conscience of the Congress'', Members of the Congressional Black Caucus have united to resist the rollback of progress. We will resist this cruel hearted political agenda, which exudes racism at its core. We will stand united in defense of our communities. And we will exercise our God-given constitutional rights. From Jamestown to Jim Crow, we've fought to root out racism in this country and we have won amazing victories. So right now, despite the challenges we face with this President and Republicans in Congress, the Congressional Black Caucus will continue to fight. Whether it's standing up to the alt right agenda in the White House or taking a knee in solidarity with courageous Americans, we will not lose heart in the fight to root out racism. Because in the words of that old negro spiritual, ``We aint gonna let nobody, turn us around''.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, this should really be a wake-up call to this Chamber to defeat this bill immediately. Instead of ramming through a bill that would push more people into poverty, we should be working to create good-paying jobs and expand opportunities for all. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this mean- spirited and heartless bill.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, first, let me thank the gentleman from Illinois for yielding and for his tireless leadership for families everywhere. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 2792, the so-called Control Unlawful Fugitive Felons Act. This cruel and misguided bill would terminate Supplemental Security Income benefits for vulnerable seniors and people with disabilities who have an outstanding warrant. Let me be clear. This is a horrible bill. It is mean-spirited and it is unfair. Despite this bill's misleading title, Americans who would be harmed by this bill are not felons and they are not fugitives. In reality, this bill would rip benefits from individuals who haven't been arrested, tried, or even convicted. They have only been accused. This violates the basic principle of innocent until proven guilty, and it would terminate benefits without due process. What is worse, most of these outstanding warrants are decades old and involve minor infractions when people are unable to pay for court fines and fees. This is awful. This bill criminalizes families living in poverty, and it disproportionately harms communities of color. One in five SSI recipients are African Americans. Without this critical program, believe you me, African Americans will struggle even more. Make no mistake; cutting off SSI benefits would put all families at risk of being unable to keep a roof over their heads, put food on the table, and meet other basic needs. And for what? To pay for the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting program. We know that this is an important program and helps millions of struggling families, but we cannot afford to rob Peter to pay Paul. Lives are at risk here. This is as sinister as it gets. Taking an ax to these lifesaving benefits is cruel and heartless. That is why 120 civil rights, disability, and retirement organizations oppose this, including the NAACP, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the League of United Latin American Citizens, the National Council of Churches, and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call for an end to the dangerous war of words between President Trump and North Korean officials. Provoking Kim will not make us any safer. It will only raise the temperature on an already volatile situation. As everyone in this Chamber knows, a conflict on the Korean Peninsula would be catastrophic. Let me be clear: a war with North Korea would put millions of lives at risk, and the threat of nuclear weapons only heightens tensions. Diplomacy is the only answer. However, President Trump's rhetoric has destabilized us over our process and stopped it before it could even begin. This administration needs to end the name calling and saber rattling. President Trump must deescalate his rhetoric before it is too late. Direct talks remain our best chance of resolving this conflict peacefully. We must also remind the President that he does not possess the power to declare war without congressional approval. It is up to Congress, not the White House, to debate and vote on military action. Congress must immediately vote on Representative Lieu's no first use bill, H.R. 669, to prevent the President from unilaterally authorizing a nuclear strike. Mr. Speaker, it is clear to everyone that there is no military solution to this crisis.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an extraordinary mother, grandmother, activist, and public servant, Charlie Mae Davis. With her passing on September 9, 2017 the East Bay lost a champion for justice, and many of us lost a life-long friend. Charlie Mae was a Texas transplant to California. She was born in Rockdale, and graduated from high school in Waco. In 1950, she moved to California where she met her future husband, Arthur Lee Davis. Charlie Mae and Arthur Lee were married in 1964, and raised a wonderful family together. During this period when she was raising her family, Charlie Mae was very active in her community, and eventually went to work at Brookfield Elementary, where she would later retire after working as an assistant to the principal. Charlie Mae gave selflessly of her time to help improve her community, and was passionate about improving the lives of her neighbors in Oakland. In 1992, she, along with a core group of activists, worked to establish the Martin Luther King, Jr. March and Rally, which is the longest continuously held celebration in Oakland to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King. I was grateful to participate in this past year's Oakland MLK Day rally, marking the event's 25th anniversary. This wonderful event's continuation for future generations is a great legacy for Charlie Mae. Charlie Mae was also instrumental in the establishment of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Center in Oakland, an organization that I helped found and am particularly proud of. In the mid-1990's, we had this idea to create a leadership academy for students, inspired by the teachings of Dr. King. I was in the state legislature in California at the time, and I proposed a bill to establish a memorandum of understanding between the City of Oakland, the East Bay Park District and several other local agencies in order to provide the resources for the MLK Freedom Center to exist. Charlie Mae, who was one of the principal founders of the center, helped organize busloads of my constituents from Oakland up to Sacramento to testify on the importance of the project, and why the bill was so important. That effort was essential to the passage of the bill and the formal creation of the center, which now has taught hundreds of young people from the East Bay about leadership, conflict resolution, violence prevention and civic engagement and is really helping to create the next generation of social activist leaders. On a personal note, I was proud to call Charlie Mae my friend for decades, and am indebted to her for her leadership in empowering Oakland residents to work together to create a better city and world for themselves, their neighbors, and future generations. It was such an honor this past May to present Charlie Mae with the first Mildred Parish Massey Legacy Award, named after my late mother. It was a happy moment for Charlie Mae, and inspiring for me to know that I had the chance to say thank you to her for her service, her friendship, her leadership and her love. Today, California's 13th Congressional District honors Charlie Mae Davis' memory, and her lifetime of service working on behalf of social justice and equality. I join her loved ones in celebrating her incredible life with a promise to honor her tremendous legacy.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the remarkable life of Betty Olds. She passionately served on the Berkeley City Council for 16 years and advocated for the environment, women, and animal rights until her passing at the age of 96 on July 16, 2017. Ms. Olds was born Betty Marion Milne in St. Joseph, Missouri on October 19, 1920, and grew up in Holt County. She attended Iowa State University, where she graduated in 1942 with a degree in Home Economics and met her future husband, Walter Olds. Together they had three children. In 1950, Ms. Olds and her family moved to the Bay Area. While her husband was away in Okinawa for several years, Ms. Olds planted her roots in the city of Berkeley to raise her family, and became a substitute teacher at Garfield Middle School. She eventually became the Dean of Students at Willard Middle School, and was instrumental in evacuating the school and ensuring student safety when UC Berkeley protestors were tear-gassed in the Bloody Thursday riot of 1969. After committing her time to several city commissions, Ms. Olds was elected to the Berkeley City Council in 1992 where she made an immediate impact in the creation of a new fire station in the Berkeley Hills, following the devastating Oakland Hills fire of 1991. Ms. Olds was also a founding member of Save the Bay, a group that fights to protect and restore the environment of the San Francisco Bay. In 2007, Ms. Olds made national news when she protested the destruction of a grove of oak trees to construct a sports training facility next to UC Berkeley's Memorial Stadium. Although she was 87 years old, Ms. Olds, along with former Mayor Shirley Dean and Save the Bay founder Sylvia McLaughlin, climbed into an 80-foot-high tree to prevent it from being cut down. Ms. Olds was known for her humor and lively spirit. She often made jokes to her colleagues that they referred to as ``Bettyisms.'' She was an outspoken Council member, unafraid to take on opposing views, and was known for her pragmatic approach to local policymaking. Ms. Olds was adored by many and was greeted by a cheering crowd when she walked into the Council Chambers on the day of her retirement in 2008. That same year, Ms. Olds was voted ``Best Politician'' by East Bay Express readers; and in 2014, a path in the Berkeley hills, connecting Sterling Avenue and Whitaker Avenue was named in her honor. Today, on behalf of California's 13th Congressional District, it is my honor to commend the life and achievements of Ms. Betty Olds. I offer my sincere gratitude to Ms. Olds for her activism and civic leadership, and for the profound legacy she has left in the East Bay community. I also offer my condolences to Ms. Olds' family and friends as they cope with this immeasurable loss and join together to celebrate Ms. Olds' life.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Oakland Community Organizations (OCO) as it celebrates 40 years of organizing the people of Oakland into powerful leaders for social change. Founded on May 14, 1977, OCO has united people across diverse communities in order to create positive and permanent change in Oakland neighborhoods, schools, and throughout the city. After forty years of work, OCO continues to be at the forefront of coalition building and organizing to bring about systemic change and improve the quality of life for all families. Since its founding, OCO has consistently exhibited their steadfast support for underserved communities and tackled the obstacles that impede individuals from achieving a greater living standard. During its first 10 years, OCO created Housing Rehab programs to renovate 400 once-vacant houses, developed over 100 affordable housing units for first time homeowners, helped establish the Port of Oakland's minority hiring program, and aided in the implementation of Oakland's ``Hire Oakland First Program,'' which is still in existence today. In 1985, OCO transitioned from their traditional neighborhood- organizing model to a congregation-based model of organizing, which brought together congregations of all religious denominations. Under its new model, OCO launched a campaign to address Oakland's drug epidemic during the 1980s. Thanks to OCO, the City of Oakland, Alameda County, and the State of California adopted new enforcement, treatment, and prevention measures to address the drug epidemic. In addition, the White House formally recognized OCO for its anti-drug campaign. In the 1990s, OCO shifted their focus to the root causes of poverty. As a result, they brought a new grocery store to West Oakland, secured $6.6 million in new street lighting, implemented truancy reductions program, and formed Aviation High School, a pilot school-to-work transition program that prepared high school student for jobs in the transportation field. At the beginning of 2000, OCO researched and developed one of the only community-driven school reform efforts in the United States, which resulted in the creations of dozens of new schools. Since then, OCO has also been dedicated to defending the rights of immigrant community by organizing legal support forums for thousands of immigrant families seeking citizenship, pushing for family-oriented immigration reform legislation, and connecting at-risk immigrants with emergency deportation defense services. On behalf of California's 13th Congressional District, I want to extend my sincere congratulations on this important milestone. I thank Oakland Community Organizations for all that they do. I wish them continued success in training and organizing future generations of leaders to address the challenges facing the City of Oakland and its neighboring communities.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Reverend Dr. Amos Brown and Jane Brown, as they celebrate 40 years of service at the historic Third Baptist Church of San Francisco. Born on February 20, 1941 in Jackson, Mississippi, Rev. Brown became a fighter for civil rights and social justice at an early age after being influenced by Emmitt Till's murder and other examples of injustice in the Jim Crow South. As a student leader attending Jim Hill High School, he spoke out about segregation in public education, and was barred from serving as valedictorian despite being elected to that position by his schoolmates. His social activism led him to Morehouse College, where he was personally selected by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to enroll in the only class that Dr. King taught during his life. After graduating from Morehouse, Rev. Brown dedicated himself to the ministry and received his Masters of Divinity from Crozer Theological Seminary, and his Doctor of Ministry from the United Theological Seminary. In 1976, Rev. Brown and his wife Jane moved west when he accepted a position as the senior pastor of Third Baptist Church of San Francisco. In that position he was able to combine his passion for tending to the spiritual well-being of the community with his desire to promote social and community activism to address the causes of injustice throughout society. Under his guidance, Third Baptist has established itself as a leader in addressing the physical needs of the community and built bridges to expand the reach of his congregation in helping those in need around the world. Third Baptist has led relief efforts in Africa, including sponsoring refugees and helped enable 80 children from Tanzania to receive heart surgery in the United States. Rev. Brown's social activism also led him to many leadership positions outside of the ministry. He has served as the President of the San Francisco NAACP, and on the board of the national NAACP organization. He has also held elected positions as a San Francisco Community College Trustee and a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. On a personal note, I have been honored to learn from and work alongside Rev. and Mrs. Brown. I am incredibly grateful for their support, and for the selfless example that they have set by living out the teachings of scripture in their everyday lives. Today, on behalf of California's 13th Congressional District, I salute Reverend Dr. Amos Brown and Jane Brown for their 40 years of service to the greater Bay Area, and beyond. The East Bay joins in celebrating the leadership that you have shown, and I look forward to many more years of working with them and Third Baptist.