Barbara Lee

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Many constituents are in very similar circumstances, Congressman Swalwell. On top of that, their credit score goes down, so then they can't even buy a car, even if they wanted to. They are not able to do anything else because they are delayed on their payments. They are behind because they can't afford it. They get dings on their credit score, and then they can't buy anything else on credit. It is a vicious cycle. They end up in debt and out there not being able to participate in the mainstream economic fabric of our society because of that.

Ms. LEE. Student loan debt really is hampering our young people from moving forward. They are concerned mainly about how to get a job that is going to pay enough money to pay down their debt when, really, they should be looking at how to move forward and get the type of job they want, buy a home if they want, have a family or do some of the things that their dreams have been in their minds, in their vision, and in their heart for years. Now their dreams are deferred because they have to just hang on with their families and pay student loan debt. Secondly, in our area, the cost of housing is outrageous. We met with the Secretary of HUD last week to try to determine what the Federal Government could do to help with, first, displacement and, secondly, to help develop more affordable housing, which, of course, will help young people because they can't afford to live now in the east bay or in the bay area, really. Our region is just excessively expensive, and we have to figure out how young people can stay where they want to stay and how they can have the type of life they deserve. They have gotten a degree. I went to UC-Berkeley. That is my alma mater--go Bears--and I know what a phenomenal education it is. But I also know, when you get out, you think that that degree, that piece of paper, is a ticket to something better, and here you end up having to go back home, live with your parents, and pay down your student debt. That is outrageous. It doesn't make any sense. Our young people deserve more.

Ms. LEE. I think it is the fourth in the country. It is outrageous. Homeownership is not even a dream anymore that young people have. How do you acquire wealth in this country? When you look at what happened to African Americans, for example, and Latinos during the subprime meltdown and crisis, our net worth is gone. Most of that was equity in our home. Young people deserve to be able to buy a house so they can begin to acquire some wealth, so they can begin to do what they want to do with their lives. Until we get this housing piece right, we are not going to get anything else right in terms of inequality and equity for our young people or for people of color.

Ms. LEE. There is no reason why. Here you have young people starting out making a life for themselves. They should be able to do the same thing. The banking institutions should allow young people the same opportunities as they do other people who own mortgages and who own cars. This, to me, is discriminatory. I am really pleased to be a cosponsor of the bill. I hope we can pass this on a bipartisan basis. I would give young people just a bit of hope that it can be done, that they can be made whole, and that their college education, the sacrifices that they made, was worth it because now they are going to the next step.

Ms. LEE. Republican young people are hurting also. I would think that the majority party would want to help their young people also find a path to the American Dream. Certainly refinancing student loan debt is a major step. It should be bipartisan, it should be nonpartisan, and we should be working together to get this passed.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Swalwell, and I thank him for his leadership. I am confident we can with his leadership and with all of us working together. I know that both Democrats and Republicans want the same thing, I am confident of that, but we are just not matching our rhetoric with reality. Hopefully they will begin to understand, the majority will, that this is good for America, not just for Democrats and not just for our young people.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary career of Mrs. Alecia A. DeCoudreaux. Mrs. DeCoudreaux serves as the President of Mills College, my Alma Mater, and will be stepping down to conclude a successful tenure in academia. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Mrs. DeCoudreaux began her academic career as a student of English and Political Science at Wellesley College in 1976. After receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree, Mrs. DeCoudreaux continued her education and received a Doctor of Laws degree from the Indiana University School of Law in 1978. While at Mills, Mrs. DeCoudreaux furthered inclusion by instituting the first women's college policy for admitting transgender students. This policy has become a model for women's colleges across the nation. She also expanded Mills' global focus and reach by participating in the U.S. Department of State's Women in Public Service Project (WPSP), hosting 25 women delegates from 22 countries in a 10-day conference focusing on women solving the climate crisis. Mrs. DeCoudreaux led the campus community and collaborated with the school's board of trustees to find solutions to tough economic circumstances. Many educational programs have suffered similar downturns, and Mrs. DeCoudreaux's commitment to higher education succeeded in sustaining Mills College. In January 2016, Mrs. DeCoudreaux joined 11 other Northern California colleges and universities in signing the Oakland Promise College Pathway Partnership, which offers financial aid and mentoring support to Oakland high school graduates. These graduates learned the skills necessary to continue a path in academics and further their careers. Her many accolades portray Mrs. DeCoudreaux as a tireless advocate for access to education, including the Award for Education from the Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women; the ABC 7 News Profiles of Excellence Award; the Madam C.J. Walker Pioneer Award; and recognition as a Leadership California Trailblazer. She was selected as one of San Francisco Business Times' Most Influential Women in Business, and she was included in Diverse Issues in Higher Education magazine's 30 Women Making a Difference feature. On behalf of the residents of California's 13th Congressional District, Mrs. Alecia A. DeCoudreaux, I salute you. I thank you for your outstanding leadership in higher education and wish you continued success as you transition to this exciting new chapter of life.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, and Congresswoman Karen Bass, to honor the extraordinary life of an outstanding public servant and advocate, Mr. Percy Pinkney. With his passing on Saturday, March 18th, we honor his long, extraordinary life of service and the experiences he shared. A native of McComb, Mississippi, Mr. Pinkney began his adult life as a member of the United States Army. He later received his Bachelor's degree at San Francisco State University, and went on to receive a Master's in Social Work from Lone Mountain College in San Francisco. Mr. Pinkney was an active part of California politics for over 30 years, serving in prestigious positions with many influential leaders. During Governor Jerry Brown's first administration, Percy led his community relations department for seven years, beginning in 1975. In 1992, he joined Senator Dianne Feinstein's staff as a field representative, overseeing issues affecting Los Angeles' Black community. He faithfully served the community until his retirement in 2014. Mr. Pinkney founded the Black American Political Association of California (BAPAC) in 1979. The organization has since become one of the largest political grassroots organizations in the state, with 60 chapters and more than 40,000 active members. Since its founding, BAPAC has continued its mission of developing, documenting, and identifying the resources necessary to achieve cultural, economic, and educational goals of underserved citizens in California. The organization has also played an effective role in increasing African Americans participation in the civic and political process. Overall, Mr. Pinkney's commitment to community building and advancement is unrivaled and BAPAC's leadership has helped countless constituents develop their educational and economic goals. His love for his community and his neighbors will be remembered for years to come, and his achievements in public service have given many Americans the hope and prosperity they deserve. Mr. Percy Pinkney is survived by his dutiful daughter, Delane Sims, his son in law, Jerry Sims, his brother, Salahudin Tulah, and many grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He will forever be remembered as a beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. On a personal note, we remember the support, strategic advice, and friendship Percy gave and owe him a debt of gratitude for his selfless contributions to our success as elected officials. Today, California's 13th Congressional District salutes the life of an exemplary individual and devoted community member, Mr. Percy Pinkney. I join all of Mr. Pinkney's loved ones in celebrating his inspirational life and achievements, and offer my sincerest condolences. I am joined in these sentiments today by my colleagues, Maxine Waters, of California's 43rd Congressional District, and Karen Bass, of California's 37th Congressional District, who also knew Mr. Pinkney personally and valued his service.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I was not present for roll call votes 130 through 135 due to official travel. Had I been present, I would have voted yes on Number 130, no on Number 131, no on Number 132, yes on Number 133, yes on Number 134, and yes on Number 135.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus in this critical fight to ensure full voting rights for all Americans. I'd like to thank my colleagues, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, and Congressman Hakeem Jeffries for organizing this special order and for their dedicated leadership in protecting the right of all Americans to vote. I'd also like to thank Chairman G. K. Butterfield for his leadership of our caucus as we work to ensure equality and democracy for all American families. Mr. Speaker, since 2013, when the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act in their Shelby County v. Holder decision, too many Americans have seen their voting rights weakened and undermined. This year, as we celebrated the 51st anniversary of the historic civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, the very progress we celebrated was under attack. This year, 16 states have enacted new voting restrictions for the first time in a presidential election since the Voting Rights Act was made law more than 50 years ago. These new barriers range from unnecessary voter ID laws, to ending same-day voter registration, and reducing or completely eliminating early voting. Since 2010, 21 states have implemented new restrictions. This is a crisis. While states have put up barriers, Speaker Ryan, Judiciary Chairman Goodlatte and some Congressional Republicans have ignored the clear, bipartisan consensus to fix the Voting Rights Act and restore voting rights protections for all Americans. Republican Congressman James Sensenbrenner has introduced the bipartisan Voting Rights Amendment Act (H.R. 885), which I am proud to co-sponsor with more than 100 other Members of Congress. This is a good first step to restoring voting protections for all Americans. But let me be clear--simply fixing the Voting Rights Act isn't enough. We need to empower voters and Congresswoman Sewell's bill--the Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R. 2867)--would do just that. It's past time that Congress got serious about protecting voting rights and passing the Voting Rights Advancement Act--and we are here to support these efforts. Our work is not over until the voice of every American is heard. So I join my colleagues in the CBC tonight to implore our colleagues in the House to work harder to protect the bedrock of our democracy--the right to vote.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate Women's History Month, but also highlight the harmful impact of poverty on women all over our Nation. This month we celebrate Women's History Month and reflect on the generations of American women and their many contributions that have brought us to this place in our history. For example, as Women's History Month was being created back in the 1970s, the Honorable, the late Shirley Chisholm, my mentor and friend, she was making history. She became the first African American woman to serve in Congress, and the first woman and African American to run for President of the United States. Throughout her career, she broke many glass ceilings, while remaining unbought and unbossed. Today we see women challenging the status quo everywhere, from sports and politics, to STEM fields and corporate boardrooms. In fact, I am proud to serve in this Congress that has 104 women, the most in history, with our very first Speaker, Nancy Pelosi. But too many women are still fighting to break down barriers and lift themselves and their families out of poverty. It is truly a disgrace that in 2016, despite making up 50 percent of the workforce, women still earn 77 cents, on average, for every $1 a man makes. Even worse, African American women earn 64 cents and Latina women earn 55 cents for every $1 a man makes.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an extraordinary member of the East Bay community, Ms. Corinne Mohrmann upon the occasion of her retirement. Ms. Mohrmann was orphaned in early childhood and grew up in foster care, where she first learned the impact a great teacher could have on the life of a young person. After being introduced to a parish by a Catholic family she was placed with, she began helping to teach catechism as a young teenager. At the age of sixteen, she graduated from high school and successfully negotiated her enrollment in San Jose State University, where she supported herself by working as a kindergarten assistant at Saint Elizabeth's Day Home. While she was still a minor, she went on to successfully petition to be allowed entrance to the religious order of the Sisters of the Holy Family. She came to Oakland and the Saint Vincent Day Home in the late 1960's and with her friend, Sister Ann Maureen Murphy, began developing a vision for a safe, nurturing educational environment. With Sister Murphy, she authored a master's thesis at Pacific Oaks College that laid the foundation for the extensive restoration and development of Saint Vincent's Day Home that turned the Day Home into the incredible learning environment it is today. This is Ms. Mohrmann's fortieth year as acting executive director of Saint Vincent's. Saint Vincent's Day Home, which has been in operation since 1911, offers comprehensive educational programs, serves healthy meals, and provides access to health, dental, speech, and social services for toddlers and preschoolers. Over the course of Ms. Mohrmann's forty years of leadership, Saint Vincent's Day Home has expanded to serve more than 230 children of a diverse range of working poor families each day, including the homeless, victims of abuse, and those born exposed to drugs. Throughout the years, Ms. Mohrmann has made innumerable contributions to Oakland and the Greater Bay Area and has touched tens of thousands of lives with her kindness, wisdom, and determination. Ms. Mohrmann has frequently received honor and recognition for her work by the state and local legislative community and by the Department of Education. She was named City of Las Vegas's ``Educational Mother of the Year'', inducted to the Alameda County's Women's Hall of Fame in 1996, and was the recipient of the Oakland Diocese's Monsignor McCracken Award. On behalf of the residents of California's 13th Congressional District, Ms. Corinne Mohrmann, I salute you. I thank you for a lifetime of service and congratulate you on your many achievements. I wish you and your loved ones the very best as you enjoy your well- deserved retirement.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman McGovern for the tireless work he does every day for hungry families and children. I rise as Chair of the Democratic Whip's Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality, and Opportunity, which Congressman McGovern is also a member of and I want to thank him for that and for our SNAP challenge almost 3 years ago. That was truly an eye opener and so important to make sure we stop any cuts from this critical program. Mr. Speaker, persistent hunger is truly a stain on our nation. Fourteen percent of households in America--that's nearly one in seven--are food insecure. These are people, who despite working full time, simply don't earn enough to feed their families. For these families, putting food on the table is a constant struggle. It is truly a disgrace that in the richest and most powerful nation, that this many families are going hungry every day. And this burden is hard on children. More than 15.3 million American children are living in food-insecure households today. Let me say that again: more than 15 million kids are at risk of going to bed hungry-- every night. And hunger is far from color blind. We know that communities of color are disproportionately affected by hunger. For example in 2014: One in four African American households and One in five Latino families were food insecure. And for rural families, food insecurity is coupled with other barriers including lack of access to transportation and limited job opportunities. More than 17% of rural households--that's 3.3 million households--are food insecure. We know that hunger is a problem that affects people in every zip code. It is endemic in our counties, rural communities, urban streets and suburban neighborhoods. I've seen its impact in my community, Alameda County, where one in five residents have turned to our local food bank for help. These families are forced to make impossible choices to feed their children. Many must decide between food and medicine, food and school clothes, or food and paying the electric bill. One Alameda County mother, Claire, said ``My kids need milk, but we can't afford it. So, I buy condensed milk and water it down.'' This is the tragic reality of millions of families in our country. And this epidemic of hunger is the direct result of persistent poverty and continued cuts to vital safety net programs. As a young mother, I struggled to keep food on the table for my two little boys. Food stamps, or SNAP as we call it now, was a bridge over troubled water for my family. Thanks to this safety net, I was able to get my degree, start a small business, and eventually be elected to Congress. Surely we should be providing these benefits for all families? Programs like SNAP, housing vouchers, Head Start, Medicaid and Pell Grants help families lift themselves out of poverty and were critical to President Johnson's War on Poverty. And SNAP--which is our nation's first line of defense against hunger--is also a critical tool in the fight against poverty. In 2015, it kept nearly 5 million Americans--including 2.2 million children--out of poverty in 2014. We should be strengthening these programs instead of cutting them. Mr. Speaker, we need real solutions to these very real problems. My legislation, the Half in Ten Act (H.R. 258), would develop a national strategy to cut poverty in half over the next decade. That's more than 23 million Americans lifted out of poverty and into the middle class in just the next 10 years. We must recognize that addressing food insecurity in America is a critical first step in this ongoing war on poverty. We can do this, and we can do so much more.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of an outstanding member of the East Bay community, Sister Dorothy Cook. We honor her life of service and spiritual devotion, and recognize the teachings she has given to our community. Born in 1934 in Prescott, Arkansas, Sister Dorothy Cook has been a lifelong servant and messenger of the Lord's word. She attended Sunday school every weekend at Sweet Home Baptist Church, building her relationship with God and His word. Sister Cook relocated to San Francisco in 1947, where she then attended San Francisco City College and San Francisco State University. Sister Cook's exemplary ministry promotes faith, family values, and the presence of God in every aspect of life. She seeks to bring religion back into the fabric of our society. Ministry is the foundation and sole mission of Sister Cook's work. Whether building a gospel house or preparing videos, Sister Cook involved many believers in her endeavors. Ministry can be found anywhere, as Sister Cook has shown us, with many of these projects helping to train others to follow the path of their Lord. Her patience is a testament to the endurance of service and devotion to God. She is selfless and unwavering in her motivation to do God's work. Furthermore, Sister Cook has produced numerous literary works which have impacted our local youth and church community. Sister Dorothy Cook has also had a profound impact on the most vulnerable in our community, helping lead many voices toward the word of God by offering opportunity and appreciation to those who have never had such chances in their life. Her dedication to community is unrivaled and fueled by the word of God. Today, California's 13th Congressional District salutes the life of an exemplary individual and devoted community member, Sister Dorothy Cook. I join all of Sister Dorothy Cook's loved ones in wishing her continued happiness and success in life.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentleman from New York for yielding, but also for his tremendous leadership. You and Congresswoman Joyce Beatty from Ohio really have sounded the alarm, beat the drum, and really brought to the American people the important issues that we are dealing with each and every day, so I just have to thank you for your diligence and for staying the course. Every week you are here, you are representing not only this Congress, but the country very, very well. So thank you. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with all my colleagues from the Congressional Black Caucus, with our whip, Mr. Hoyer, and others to urge our Republican colleagues in the Senate to, of course, do your job. Also, let me just remind us, once again, the President is trying to meet his constitutional obligation once again. He is trying to do what he is supposed to do, and that is to nominate Justice Scalia's replacement to our Nation's highest Court. And Senate Republicans have a constitutional responsibility to give the President's nominee a speedy and fair hearing, followed up with a simple up-or-down vote. Sadly, these Senate Republicans said ``no'' to their constitutional responsibility. The Supreme Court has a huge responsibility of deciding cases that impact every aspect of American life, from our elections, college admissions, to scientific patents and a woman's right to make her own healthcare decisions. It is imperative that the Supreme Court be allowed to function in its full capacity with nine Justices. Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who was appointed by a conservative President, President Ronald Reagan, did not mince words in her condemnation of Republicans playing politics with the Court. She said: ``We need somebody in there to do the job and just get on with it.'' Former Justice O'Connor, I could not agree more. Despite the calls for action and a constitutional mandate, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has said that there will be no hearings, no votes, not even a meeting with President Obama to discuss the late Justice Scalia's replacement. That is just wrong. His actions prompted The New York Times to editorialize that he ``seems to have lost touch with reality and the Constitution,'' speaking of Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a couple of New York Times articles. [From the New York Times, Feb. 17, 2016] Blacks See Bias in Delay on a Scalia Successor (By Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Martin) Charleston, SC.--As he left Martha Lou's Kitchen, a soul food institution here on Wednesday, Edward Gadsden expressed irritation about the Republican determination to block President Obama from selecting Justice Antonin Scalia's replacement on the Supreme Court. ``They've been fighting that man since he's been there,'' Mr. Gadsden, who is African-American, said of Mr. Obama, before pointing at his forearm to explain what he said was driving the Republican opposition: ``The color of his skin, that's all, the color of his skin.'' When Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, said after Mr. Scalia's death on Saturday that the next president, rather than Mr. Obama, should select a successor, the senator's words struck a familiar and painful chord with many black voters. After years of watching political opponents question the president's birthplace and his faith, and hearing a member of Congress shout ``You lie!'' at him from the House floor, some African-Americans saw the move by Senate Republicans as another attempt to deny the legitimacy of the country's first black president. And they call it increasingly infuriating after Mr. Obama has spent seven years in the White House and won two resounding election victories. ``Our president, the president of the United States, has been disrespected from Day 1,'' Carol Richardson, 61, said on Wednesday as she colored a customer's hair at Ultra Beauty Saloh in Hollywood, S.C., a mostly black town near Charleston. ``The words that have been said, the things the Republicans have done they'd have never have done to another president. Let's talk like it is, it's because of his skin color.'' Reflecting on the Supreme Court vacancy, Bakari Sellers, a former state representative from Denmark, S.C., likened the Senate treatment of the president to the 18th century constitutional compromise that counted black men as equivalent to three-fifths of a person. ``I guess many of them are using this in the strictest construction that Barack Obama's serving three-fifths of a term or he's three-fifths of a human being, so he doesn't get to make this choice,'' Mr. Sellers said. ``It's infuriating.'' The anger and outrage that Mr. McConnell's position has touched off among African-Americans could have implications for the presidential election. Leading African-American Democrats are trying to use it to motivate rank-and-file blacks to vote in November, the first presidential election in a decade in which Mr. Obama will not be on the ballot and in which Democrats fear black participation could drop. ``Anger becomes action when it's directly tied to a moment, and the moment now is the election on Nov. 8,'' said Stacey Abrams, a Democratic state representative from Georgia and the House minority leader there, adding that Mr. Scalia's death meant that this presidential campaign could no longer be construed as a mere ``thought exercise.'' For Hillary Clinton, who is increasingly relying on nonwhite voters to ensure her success against Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, the court issue could be especially crucial. Should she defeat Mr. Sanders, who has electrified many liberals, she will need a motivating issue to bring Mr. Obama's loyalists to the polls. She moved swiftly Tuesday to tap into the anger of blacks over the opposition of Senate Republicans to Mr. Obama's naming a replacement for Justice Scalia. ``Now the Republicans say they'll reject anyone President Obama nominates no matter how qualified,'' Mrs. Clinton said in remarks before a predominantly black audience in Harlem. ``Some are even saying he doesn't have the right to nominate anyone! As if somehow he's not the real president.'' Doing so, Mrs. Clinton added, is in keeping with a longstanding pattern of mistreatment. ``They demonize President Obama and encourage the ugliest impulses of the paranoid fringe,'' she said. ``This kind of hatred and bigotry has no place in our politics or our country.'' Republicans are especially sensitive about the notion that they are diminishing Mr. Obama because of his race, and spokesmen for several Republican senators, including Mr. McConnell and Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, declined to comment or would not make the senators available for comment. The suggestion that racism is playing a role angers Mr. McConnell's friends, who point out that his formative political experience was working for a Republican senator who supported civil rights, that he helped override President Ronald Reagan's veto of sanctions against the apartheid government in South Africa and that he is married to an Asian-American woman. But in the aftermath of Mr. McConnell's statement on Saturday, a growing chorus of black voices is complaining that such a refusal to even consider a Supreme Court nominee would never occur with a white president. ``It's more than a political motive--it has a smell of racism,'' said Representative G. K. Butterfield, Democrat of North Carolina, the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. ``I can tick instance after instance over the last seven years where Republicans have purposely tried to diminish the president's authority,'' Mr. Butterfield said. ``This is just really extreme, and leads me to the conclusion that if this was any other president who was not African-American, it would not have been handled this way.'' Even as Mr. Obama's popularity has risen and fallen, his base of support among black voters has been unshakable. A Gallup tracking poll this month showed that some 85 percent of African-Americans approved of the president's performance compared with only 36 percent of whites. And many African- Americans strongly identify personally with Mr. Obama, and have watched his tenure with pride. Mr. Butterfield said that he believed that the effort to undermine, and even delegitimize, Mr. Obama began soon after he was sworn in, and that Congressional Republicans had blocked Mr. Obama's agenda wherever they could. Even more stinging were the suggestions from some on the right that Mr. Obama, a Christian, is actually a Muslim and that he was not born in the United States. In interviews, members of the Congressional Black Caucus also bitterly recounted indignities, such as demands--most pointedly from the current Republican front-runner in the polls, Donald J. Trump, in 2011--that Mr. Obama prove he was born in Hawaii, and not in Kenya, as some critics claimed. Others recalled the calls to impeach Mr. Obama over his use of executive authority. ``You hear the thing about: `He's not a citizen. He oversteps his bounds. He's divisive.' One thing after another,'' said Representative Marcia L. Fudge, Democrat of Ohio. ``This has been going on since the day he was elected in 2008.'' Republicans have had more success than Democrats in recent decades galvanizing their voters over who should control the courts. But Jennifer McClellan, a member of the Virginia House of Delegates and the Democratic National Committee, said the dispute over how to replace Justice Scalia could now become ``an issue for the average citizen.'' Ms. Abrams agreed, saying the Supreme Court and its powerful influence on people's lives is especially resonant with blacks. ``Congress is denying our president his rights as a president, but, more than that, they're denying the legacy of his presidency,'' she said. ``That will animate Democratic voters across the board but especially African- Americans, who realize more than many voters how great an impact the Supreme Court can have on freedom.''

Ms. LEE. One of the titles of these articles is ``Blacks See Bias in Delay on a Scalia Successor.'' The other is The New York Times article, ``Senate Republicans Lose Their Minds on a Supreme Court Seat.'' Likewise, Judiciary Committee Chair Charles Grassley of Iowa led a letter to the majority leader signed by all the Republican Committee members confirming their resolve to not have hearings or a vote on the nominee. This is downright ludicrous. Republicans cannot and should not use the Supreme Court to push their radical political agenda. The Constitution is clear, Mr. Speaker. Article II, section 2, ``He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate . . . shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, Judges of the Supreme Court.'' Nowhere in the Constitution does it say, ``except in an election year'' or ``except when the President is a Democrat'' or ``when Republicans have spent the last 7 years actively working to subvert every policy proposed by a President elected by nearly 70 million Americans.'' The Constitution doesn't say that. This is simply unacceptable, and the American people deserve better. For more than a century, every single Supreme Court nominee has received a vote on the floor of the United States Senate. Just like all the Presidents before him, President Obama should nominate a Supreme Court Justice, and the Senate should determine if he or she is fit to serve on this Nation's High Court. Instead, Republicans are holding the Supreme Court and the American people hostage. Their action, in the words of The New York Times, is simply, ``panic masquerading as strength.'' The Senate has a responsibility to at least consider the President's Supreme Court nominee, and by refusing to do so, they are failing their constituents and their Nation. So, Mr. Speaker, it is really past time for Majority Leader McConnell and the rest of the Republican leadership to do their jobs and work together to get a new Supreme Court Justice. The Supreme Court is way too important to be used as a political bargaining chip. Enough is enough. So, once again, I join my colleagues, Congressman Jeffries, Congresswoman Beatty, members of the Congressional Black Caucus, and the American people in saying, ``Do your job.'' Once again, thank you for giving me the opportunity to join with you tonight.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably delayed and not present for roll call votes 83 and 84. Had I been present. I would have voted yes on both Number 83 and Number 84.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, as chair of the Democratic Whip Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality, and Opportunity, I rise to commemorate Black History Month and highlight the disproportionate impacts of poverty on the African American community. Sadly, our Nation has a long history of individual and institutional racism, from slavery and Jim Crow to redlining and overpolicing. This has locked many, many families out of opportunities, even with the enormous progress that we have made with our great civil rights leaders and foot soldiers whom we honored yesterday. These deplorable disparities and inequalities continue at every level of our society. For example, the African American poverty rate is 26 percent, nearly triple the poverty rate of White Americans. One in three African American children lives in poverty. The unemployment rate in the African American community is more than 8 percent, twice the unemployment rate of White Americans. The median wealth of White households is 13 times the median wealth of African American households, the widest gap since 1989. Poverty doesn't just hurt African American families. We know that communities of color are two times more likely to live in poverty and too many rural White and Native Americans have felt persistent poverty for generations. These statistics paint a clear and stark picture that Congress cannot ignore. We need to get serious about ending poverty and giving everyone, including African Americans and people of color, an opportunity to live the American Dream.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues in decrying this manmade disaster that is affecting the residents in the city of Flint, Michigan. Every day we learn more about how the Governor and Michigan public officials made decisions that sacrificed the health and futures of the Flint residents in order to save a few dollars. That is just plain wrong. The people of Flint deserve better. We cannot stand silent while Americans, while children, are poisoned. Flint is a majority African American city, and the average household income is just $24,834--that is a year--which is barely half of Michigan's average household income. Would the same decisions have been made had this been in an affluent community? I doubt it. Earlier today, this House passed the bipartisan Safe Drinking Water Act Improved Compliance Awareness Act, but we can and must do more to prevent this from ever happening again. Our response must be comprehensive and urgent. It is a state of emergency that requires Members of Congress to find all of the Federal resources possible to demonstrate that we are really and truly our brothers' and sisters' keeper.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I'd like to thank Congressman Dan Kildee for his tireless work to bring justice for the residents of Flint. His work, and the work of Congressman John Conyers, Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, and so many Members of the Michigan Delegation, is essential to providing the families of Flint a voice as we address this crisis. Madam Speaker, the situation in Flint is nothing short of a tragedy-- and a tragedy that could have been prevented. Every day, we learn more information about how Michigan public officials sacrificed the health and futures of Flint residents in order to save a few dollars in water costs. This is a shame and a disgrace. The people of Flint deserve better from their leaders. As Members of Congress, we cannot stand silent while Americans are poisoned. First, to truly understand this crisis--you have to understand Flint. Flint is a majority African American city and the average household income is just $24,834 a year--that's barely HALF the average household income for the state. Let me say that again, the average household in Flint earns JUST half of what other Michigan households earn. Even before the water switched from Detroit to the Flint River, Flint had fallen on hard times. It was a city in need and instead of taking action, Governor Rick Snyder balanced the budget at the expense of Flint children, their health and their safety. Even after residents complained of brown water coming out of the taps, the state insisted nothing was wrong. But not everyone got the same treatment. Last January--a full year ago--state workers complained about the quality of water. While Flint residents were told the water was perfectly safe, the state employees were provided with bottled water. Even before that, in October 2014, the Flint General Motors factory complained that the water was corroding car parts. The city helped General Motors tap into a different, safer water line. While officials lined up to protect state employees and corporate profits, the residents of Flint were fed lies and lead. Madam Speaker--I have to ask: Would this have happened in another city, where the residents had the advantage of wealth? Or do these gross breaches of public trust only happen in cities where politicians see the residents as expendable? Sadly, I think we all know the answer to that question. Tragically, this isn't the first time a poor town has been poisoned-- and then ignored. In far too many low-income communities and communities of color across the country, this story is very familiar. They, like the families in Flint, have had their health, their well- being and their futures traded in by callous politicians more concerned with expanding corporate profits than serving the public good. It's past time for Congress to take steps to address environmental racism and ensure that everyone--no matter their zipcode--has the opportunity to grow up safe and healthy. President Obama took the first step by declaring a state of emergency and extending $80 million in federal funding. But more can and must be done to address this public health crisis and ensure that this never happens again--in any community, anywhere. When I was in the California legislature, I worked to pass one of the first state bills regulating lead. This toxin was disproportionately impacting communities of color. I have seen firsthand the devastating impact of lead on children. I support the work of my colleagues who are demanding state and local officials are held accountable for this man-made disaster, a disaster that never should have happened. The tragedy in Flint reveals the real impacts of structural and institutional racism and classism on our community. I stand with the people of Flint in my outrage and will continue to demand answers. As we do so, we must come together to address the impacts of lead poisoning on Flint's residents, particularly Flint's children. Because, sadly, for them, this crisis is just beginning.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of an outstanding member of the Bay Area community, Reverend James Anthony Noel. With his passing on Sunday, January 31st, 2016 at the age of 68, we honor his many years of faithful service. Born on New Year's Day in 1948, in Queens, New York, Reverend Noel moved to Berkeley, California when he was a young child. He would go on to earn his B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley in 1969, as well as a Master of Divinity degree from San Francisco Theological Seminary (SFTS) in 1975, and his Ph.D. from the Graduate Theological Union (GTU) in 1999. Reverend Noel joined the SFTS faculty in 1988, where he was the H. Eugene Farlough, Jr. Chair of African-American Christianity, as well as a professor of American Religion. He also served as a member of the Core Doctoral Faculty at the GTU, and was the convener of the Black Church/Africana Studies Certificate Program. Reverend Noel received a distinguished professor award from his colleagues at GTU, for his embodiment of scholarly standards, teaching excellence, and commitment to ecumenism. From 1976 to 1987, Reverend Noel served as the pastor of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Marin City, CA. Following that, until his passing, he was the pastor of New Liberation Presbyterian Church in San Francisco. He also served as interim pastor of Sojourner Truth Presbyterian Church in Richmond, CA. Considered by many a true renaissance man, Reverend Noel was a gifted painter, with his vibrant artwork on display throughout the Bay Area. Reverend Noel was also a 7th Dan Tae Kwon Do Master, having studied the Korean martial art since he was a teenager. He would also often break into song with his rich bass voice during lectures or sermons. Reverend Noel is survived by his beautiful wife, Dianna, and his children Michelle, Kaiya, Daniel and Amada. He will be forever remembered for his love, legacy, and the impact he had on the hearts and minds of those whom he touched. On a personal note, Reverend Noel was a prophetic and prolific preacher. He was a great leader who demonstrated what it means to live a life in service to humankind and to God. We will miss this magnificent man of God who taught us what a spirit filled life means. Today, California's 13th Congressional District salutes the life of an exemplary individual and devoted community member, Reverend James Anthony Noel. I join all of Reverend Noel's loved ones in celebrating his inspirational life and achievements, and offer my sincerest condolences.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, let me thank our ranking member, Congresswoman Waters, for leading and also for her tremendous leadership on the Financial Services Committee as our ranking member. She has been phenomenal in terms of making sure that our legislation is bipartisan. Also, I remember serving on the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance for many, many years with Congresswoman Waters, and she constantly worked to make sure that people had access to affordable, accessible, clean, and safe housing. She has not wavered on that agenda. So I thank her very much. The need for affordable housing has never been greater. That is why I am very happy to be here today to support the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2015. This bill would make critical improvements to our Nation's public and assisted housing programs, and takes steps to ensure that low-income communities have access to safe and affordable housing. Now, let me just tell you, in my district in Oakland, California, rents have risen faster than anywhere else in the Nation. In fact, if the average Oakland renter had to move tomorrow, they would be spending a staggering 70 percent of their income on housing--70 percent of their income. That is outrageous. My constituents, like many constituents around the country, can't afford this, so this is a crisis. This bill takes steps to address this issue by protecting voucher holders from losing their subsidies when fair market rents drop, which is something that recently had a major impact on my community. Thankfully, with the help of Congresswoman Waters and our Secretary of HUD, we were able to navigate the agency's redtape to find a solution so the tenants could keep their assistance and stay in their homes. I support this bill and the critical amendments offered by Congresswoman Waters and Congressmen Price and Aderholt. It is also important that we update the formula that is used to distribute funds under the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS to reflect the changing nature of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and to ensure those communities in greatest need receive critical HOPWA funds. This is one issue that Congresswoman Waters has been working on for many, many years to make sure these funds are targeted to the people and to the communities who need it the most. The bill allows for homeownership for those whose American Dream of such has been shattered. Thank goodness, in this bill, we now have provisions that will allow that dream to be fulfilled. I thank Congressman Cleaver as well as our majority and minority members for this bill. From just a very parochial point of view, in my district, I have to say how badly needed this bill is, as gentrification is a big issue. My constituents constantly ask me what the Federal Government can do, and this is a major step in that direction.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Ronald V. Dellums on the occasion of his 80th birthday. Mr. Dellums has had an incredible career in public service, advocating for change and reform in many areas of government affairs. A proud Oakland native. Ron attended both McClymonds and Oakland Technical High School, and went on to graduate from San Francisco State University after serving for two years in the United States Marine Corps. He later obtained his Masters of Social Work from the University of California, Berkeley. Mr. Dellums began his career as a psychiatric social worker and political activist for the African-American community. In 1967, he was elected to the Berkeley City Council, where he provided three years of extraordinary service. In 1970, he was elected to serve the 9th Congressional District of California in the United States House of Representatives. During his 27-year tenure in Congress, Mr. Dellums fought strongly for peace, justice and equality. As a freshman member, he adamantly spoke in opposition to the Vietnam War, going as far as setting up an exhibit of war crimes next to his office. For fourteen years, he campaigned to end the apartheid policies in South Africa. In 1986, the U.S. House of Representatives passed his sponsored legislation, the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act, which placed trade restrictions against South Africa and led to immediate withdrawal by American firms. Although the bill had broad bipartisan support, it was vetoed by President Ronald Reagan. However, the Senate and the House overrode Reagan's veto, making it the first ever override of a presidential foreign policy veto. Mr. Dellums served as Chairman of the House Committee on Armed Services where he advocated for the inclusion of gays and lesbians in the military. Furthermore, Ron co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus in 1971, an organization representing African-American members of the United States Congress. Mr. Dellums retired from Congress in 1998 but continued his public service as a legislative lobbyist in Washington, D.C. He served many clients including the Peralta Community College District, AC Transit, and the San Francisco International Airport. In 2006, he was elected Mayor of Oakland and he immediately worked to address the city's public safety issues by implementing a community policing program and was able to bring the city's police force to 837 officers, the highest in the Department's history. On a personal note, I am honored to have served as an intern and member of Ron's staff for eleven years. He taught his staff to stand on principle and for what was right, even if it was politically unpopular. He reminded me and his entire staff to provide quality constituent services and casework, for we were hired to ``serve the people.'' Ron also taught us the art and skill of negotiation, even with those we disagree with, and to achieve results without compromising our principles. He exemplified the finest in public service and set a new standard for elected officials. For that, we are deeply grateful. Today, California's 13th Congressional District, celebrate the extraordinary life and service of Mr. Ronald V. Dellums and wish him continued success, happiness, and well-being for many years to come.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the National CARES Mentoring Movement on the occasion of its 10th Anniversary Gala, ``For the Love of Our Children: A National Call to Commitment.'' On January 25, 2016, National CARES celebrated the work it has done to break the cycle of intergenerational Black poverty, and its deepening commitment to the critical work that remains. Founded by Susan L. Taylor in 2006 under the moniker ``Essence CARES'', the National CARES Mentoring Movement was established to protect and elevate our nation's most vulnerable children. Ms. Taylor's vision for Essence CARES first arose in 2005, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Today, the National CARES Mentoring Movement has grown into an organization focused on community mobilization comprised of local affiliates in 58 cities across the nation. These affiliates recruit, train, and place mentors in schools and youth-serving programs. To date, more than 150,000 men and women have served as CARES mentors with organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and many more. The National CARES Mentoring Movement is the only national organization working with youth groups and schools to build culturally competent STEM-literacy training and workforce-readiness programs. Its initiatives, known as ``The Risings,'' are working to build capacity in some of our nation's most blighted black communities. Designed to heal trauma and transform lives, The Rising initiatives focus on the academic, social, and emotional development of children who are living in deep poverty. One of the initiatives, known as HBCU Rising, is based in Atlanta and is designed to be replicated through the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) system. It interweaves strong workforce- development and career-readiness skills for college-student mentors and the middle school children they serve. The Rising also operates in challenged high schools across the nation, guiding students through interactive lessons designed to encourage critical thinking skills, excellence in academics, and preparation for success in college and careers. On a personal note, I want to thank Susan for her wise counsel, her tremendous leadership, her inspiration and her friendship. It is her loving spirit that keeps us hopeful for a better world for our children. This milestone in her life reminds us that we too must and can lead a purposeful life to secure the future for our children. For this, along with so many who honor and celebrate her at this important moment in her journey, I am deeply grateful. On behalf of the residents of California's 13th Congressional District, I congratulate the National CARES Mentoring Movement on 10 years of exemplary service. We wish them continued success as they continue to work to ensure the healing, social, and academic wellness of some of our nation's most defenseless--African-American children. Again, I wish the National CARES Mentoring Movement well as it strives to end intergenerational poverty in our African-American communities.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Let me first thank Congresswoman Beatty for her very kind and humbling remarks, but also for her tremendous leadership on so many issues, not only since she has been here in Congress, but before she came representing her constituents, and really looking out for, speaking out for, and working for the most vulnerable in our society. I am really proud of what she is doing with the Congressional Black Caucus, also Congressman Jeffries for continuing to organize these important sessions really to beat the drum and to allow our country to understand what the issues are that the Congressional Black Caucus continues to work on because if, in fact, we address those issues, as you know, that the most vulnerable are dealing with each and every day, we will strengthen America, and so our country will be stronger. I thank both of them for making sure that we are doing that. We celebrate tonight the start of Black History Month, but I would like to reflect quickly again what we are doing tonight on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s dream of true democracy. In his famous speech, ``I Have a Dream,'' let me just quote here what he asked the American people to do. He said: ``To make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. ``Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all God's children. ``Now is the time to lift our Nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.'' Of course and sisterhood. As I think about his powerful words going into Black History Month and his challenge for America to live up to her highest ideals, we must reflect on how far we have come and where we need to go. Now, of course, the right to vote is the bedrock of our democracy, which Dr. King reminded us of when he said: ``Give us the ballot, and we will fill our legislative halls with men and women of goodwill.'' In his honor, we must pass the Voting Rights Advancement Act, H.R. 2867, introduced by a great woman, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congresswoman Terri Sewell. In 1967 Dr. King explained the underlying nature of the challenges facing our country in his book ``Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos Or Community?'' he talked about these triple evils. He wrote about poverty, racism, and war. He said they are the forms of violence that exist in a vicious cycle in our country. He says: ``They are interrelated, all-inclusive, and stand as barriers to our living in the beloved community. When we work to remedy one evil, we affect all evils.'' So we must come together as never before to address these issues that infect our communities in order for our Nation to move beyond the quicksands of racial and economic injustice. Of course, the first of these evils is poverty, a harsh reality lived every day by more than 46 million Americans. Our Joint Economic Committee report, championed by Congresswoman Maloney and the Congressional Black Caucus, demonstrated and showed that African Americans are disproportionately affected by the scourge of poverty. The poverty rate in our community is 27 percent. One in three African American kids live in poverty. One in five kids in the entire country live in poverty. Poverty rates throughout our country are much too high for everyone, and we know how to eliminate poverty. Our assistant leader, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, a great human being who has worked so hard to eliminate poverty for so many years has come up with a formula that would target resources to those rural and urban communities with the highest rates of persistent poverty. We have our Half in Ten Act, which establishes a national strategy to cut poverty in half over the next decade. That is more than 22 million Americans lifted into the middle class in just 10 years by coordinating local, State, and Federal anti-poverty programs. Likewise, our Pathways Out of Poverty Act is a comprehensive anti- poverty bill that starts by creating good-paying jobs while redoubling our investments in proven programs that empower families to build pathways out of poverty into the middle class. Of course, Dr. King mentioned the second evil, which is racism. While racial barriers and biases are endemic through our society, they are very and most apparent in our broken criminal justice system. It is high time that we work to fix our criminal justice system that far too often fails African Americans. Yes, Black lives matter. So today in America, an African American is killed by a security officer, police officer, or self-proclaimed vigilante every 28 hours. That is nearly once a day. One in three Black men can plan to spend at least some part of their life behind bars, and men of color make up 70 percent of the U.S. prison population. Let me say that again. Seventy percent of the U.S. prison population are men of color. That is simply outrageous. Now, we have ended legal segregation. Our first African American President is serving his second term in the White House. Our Attorney General, Loretta Lynch, serves as our first African American female Attorney General. But so much must be done to achieve the dream of liberty and justice for all. Dr. King told us over and over again that we live in two Americas. This was in 1967, in one of his speeches. The Kerner Commission report still describes American society today. We have got to really look at our history and acknowledge and honor the legacy of those who really brought us this far. But when you look at the statistics and what is taking place now in communities of color and the African American community, it just shows us what we have to do. We have a long way to go. Dr. King finally spoke of war. He talked about the fact that our Nation continues to be involved in endless wars, and communities are suffering the costs. The Pentagon consumes 60 percent of discretionary spending compared to 11 percent that we spend on education, job creation, and resources to help our young people live the life that they so deserve in terms of being educated and providing workforce training, housing, health care, all the opportunities that are the American opportunities to allow us to live the American Dream. Congresswoman Beatty and Congressman Jeffries, I just want to thank you for arranging the time for us to talk tonight. We have real solutions. You have real solutions. Every member of the Congressional Black Caucus has real solutions to end poverty, to end racism, and to end war. During Black History Month, we need to recommit ourselves to all of the solutions that members of the Congressional Black Caucus, and Members of this body as a whole, have if the political will were there so we can honor the legacy of those who came before us during Black History Month. By honoring them, we say we are going to pick up that mantle and really address these triple evils once and for all.