Barbara Lee

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Joe Dorsey on the occasion of his 80th birthday. Mr. Dorsey has had an incredible career in sports and serving his community. Joe was born in 1935, in Waco, Texas, to Charlie and Aldora Dorsey. He had five sisters: Ollie, Charlie, Alta, Evelyn, and Loretta. In 1945, his family moved to California and settled in Albany. His father later opened and operated Dorsey's Locker, a popular neighborhood restaurant and bar in Oakland. It was more than a social hotspot but a haven that provided jobs for members of the community for nearly 60 years. From 1948 to 1954, Joe attended Albany High School where he was a three-sport letterman. He led Albany High to four basketball and three baseball championships. During his senior year, he served as captain of both teams and was selected to the all-league teams to play both sports. Joe graduated from Albany High School in 1954 and enrolled in Contra Costa Junior College, where he continued to play basketball and baseball. During his freshman year, the baseball team won the Junior College State Championship and the basketball team won the conference championship. His leadership and talent on the field led to his signing with the Cincinnati Reds in 1957, but a shoulder injury ended his career after playing with the team for only two years. Albany High School and Contra Costa Junior College later inducted Joe into the Hall of Fame. Albany High School also honored him as their ``Athlete of the Century''. Joe married his high school sweetheart Bettye Willis in 1957 but they divorced in 1979. He later met Corrine Tucker and married her in 1984. From his unions, seven children were born: Adrianna, Doreen, Richard, Mitchell, Bruce, Tashia, and Jamareia. Committed to the continued success of the family business, Joe became a partner in 1996, working tirelessly to ensure its success. For more than forty years, Dorsey's Locker continued to grow and thrive in the Oakland community, even providing jobs to community members in need. It was extremely popular for its live music performances and open mic nights until its doors closed in 2015. It was a vital community institution where lively discussion and important events took place. On a personal note, I have known Joe for many years. He and Dorsey's Locker have been a part of my public and private life, supporting all of my efforts in extraordinary ways. Joe has been a true friend to me, my sisters Mildred and Beverly, and my late beloved mother, Mildred Massey. For this, we are deeply grateful. Today, California's 13th Congressional District celebrates the extraordinary life and service of Mr. Joe Dorsey. I wish him continued success, happiness, and well-being for many years to come.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. First, let me thank Congresswoman Kelly for those very generous remarks, but also for your tremendous leadership and for staying the course and making sure that we are here really speaking truth to power each and every week on behalf of the Black Caucus. Also, to you, Congressman Don Payne, thank you very much for your leadership and for really rising to the occasion on so many issues. In the very short time that you have been here, you have hit the ground running and really have made a tremendous difference. I want to just speak for a few minutes as it relates to the review of the Congressional Black Caucus for the last year or 2 years. I have to just say that our leader, Mr. Butterfield, has been a very bold and tremendous leader. We have accomplished quite a bit, and we have a lot more to do. While 2015 has been very challenging, I believe that the Congressional Black Caucus has really stepped up and made a huge difference not only for the African American community and communities of color, but for the entire country. It has also been an inspiring year. We have seen the birth and growth of the vital Black Lives Matter movement. We have also witnessed powerful and moving protests across the country in places like Missouri, New York, and even in my district in Oakland and in Berkeley, California, with people of all backgrounds and ages coming together to demand justice, to petition their government, to exercise their democratic rights. I am so proud of the young activists who are standing up and demanding an end to racism and injustice in many of our communities. They are truly bringing the civil rights movement into the 21st century. I want them to know that they have allies here in the people's House. For too long Congress has ignored or brushed aside issues affecting the African American community and other communities of color. It is past time that everyone steps up and does the good work that we were sent to Washington to do, that the Congressional Black Caucus has done for many, many decades. We need to start by talking about and looking at what has happened with the Voting Rights Act. As you know, this year marks the 50th anniversary of this landmark legislation. The Voting Rights Act was gutted by the Supreme Court in its Shelby v. Holder decision, and, of course, Republican State legislators have fallen all over to restrict voting rights across the country everywhere. These dangerous restrictions come in the form of voter ID requirements, elimination of same-day voter registration, and really severe reduction in early voting efforts. We must call these efforts for what they are: Republican attempts to take away one of our most fundamental rights. But we will not let this happen. I am so proud of the Congressional Black Caucus--Congresswoman Terri Sewell and John Lewis and Mr. Clyburn, the entire Congressional Black Caucus. Our bill, H.R. 2867, the Voting Rights Advancement Act, sponsored by Congresswoman Sewell, who represents Selma, Alabama, would restore the preclearance provisions of the Voting Rights Act for any State that has had 15 or more voting rights violations in the last 25 years in the preclearance process. As Dr. King once said: Give us the ballot, and we will fill our legislative halls with men--and, of course, women--with goodwill. We can fill this body with those who really want to see democracy fulfilled. So we need our young people to keep up the street heat and demand that Congress act. It is past time that we get serious about restoring the Voting Rights Act and ensuring that all Americans--and that means all Americans--have free and unobstructed access to the ballot box. Also, the serious economic disparities that persist in the African American community are very, very evident. According to a report released earlier this year by the Joint Economic Committee, led by ranking member Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, and the Congressional Black Caucus, we learned, and it is very glaring, that more than one in three Black children are born into poverty, and the African American poverty rate is three times that of White Americans. The cycle of poverty and inequality starts in our school systems, where Black students account for 42 percent of preschool student expulsions, despite accounting for only 18 percent of enrollment. Now, that is preschool expulsion. Every time I remember this and say this, it really makes me very terrified about what is taking place with young Black kids, especially with young Black boys, because there is no way anybody, no kids, should be expelled from preschool. That is ages 1 to 4. That is outrageous. I am the mother, yes, of two fabulous great Black men, and I am the grandmother of two Black boys, and I find statistics like that very, very troubling. For African Americans, we have allowed our school system to be turned into a pipeline to prison. We must act now to address systemic issues facing our education and our criminal justice systems. I want to applaud Congressman Bobby Scott and Congressman Conyers because they have worked for decades on criminal justice reform, and we are beginning to see some progress as a result of their very diligent work. Our criminal justice system is broken. It needs to be rebuilt from the ground up. So alongside of our CBC colleagues, once again we are calling for comprehensive criminal justice reform. Also, I want to mention our effort, which I co-chair with Chairman Butterfield, our Tech 2020 initiative. Silicon Valley is right next to my district in California. There are great opportunities there for everyone. However, the tech industry has not been inclusive of hiring and contracting with and working with communities of color, especially the African American community. So I am very pleased that the Tech 2020 of the Congressional Black Caucus has been initiated. We are working with our great leader, Reverend Jesse Jackson, with an inside-outside strategy. Many of the tech companies understand what is taking place and that they need to be an industry that is inclusive of everyone. So the Black Caucus along with Rainbow PUSH, along with the tech industry are working on a variety of strategies to make sure that this industry which provides good-paying jobs and opportunities is an industry that is inclusive, that does not discriminate, and that includes the diversity of this great country. So I have to just say to Congresswoman Kelly and Congressman Payne, thank you for giving us a chance to talk about so many of the issues that we have been working on. When you look at the issue of poverty, cutting poverty in half in 10 years, we know how to do it. We have legislation, the Half in Ten Act, H.R. 258, to do that, and the Pathways Out of Poverty Act, H.R. 2721. We know how to provide opportunities. The Congressional Black Caucus once again is leading on all of these fronts. It is a big agenda, but it is an agenda that makes our country stronger. So thank you, Congresswoman Kelly, and thank you, Congressman Payne, for the chance to be with you tonight.

Ms. LEE. Thank you very much. I just want to say that I think what is reflective in the Congressional Black Caucus' agenda and all of the work that we have done for so many years is really an effort to show that how, if you ensure that opportunity is there for everyone, including African Americans and communities of color and people who have been shut out and marginalized, our country becomes stronger. This means that everybody benefits--not only for the Congressional Black Caucus, this is for the entire country. So thank you again for your leadership.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues, Congressman Mike Honda and Congressman Eric Swalwell, to honor the inspiring life of an exemplary member of the East Bay community, Mary V. King. With her passing on November 15th, 2015, we honor her career of extraordinary service to the East Bay community and her lasting legacy. As a young mother on public assistance, Mary was drawn into politics to improve the economic conditions of lower income residents. She successfully led a county tax initiative campaign that created new sources of funding for public transit and other transportation projects. In 1988, she became the first African-American woman elected to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors and was reelected twice. During her tenure, she authored several monumental policies, including the King Plan, a major land-use amendment to protect open space while maintaining sustainable development in unincorporated areas. Mary also dedicated much of her time to improving the social services provided to lower income residents. Because of her advocacy, the Mary V. King Health Education Center, located at the Eastmont Wellness Center in Oakland, was named in her honor. After leaving office in 2001, Mary worked as a private consultant specializing in government affairs, regional housing, and transportation issues. In 2009, she was appointed the General Manager of AC Transit, where she served faithfully until her retirement in 2012. Mary also served on numerous local and regional committees, including the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), California Department of Corrections, and the Alameda County Central Committee. She also served as a Chief of Staff to Oakland Mayor Lionel J. Wilson and California State Legislator Bill Lockyer. Throughout her career, she received numerous awards including the ``Lifetime Achievement Award'' from the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials; the ``Allen E. Broussard Memorial Award for Outstanding Humanitarianism'' from the Alameda County Bar Association; and the ``George Moscone Memorial Award'' from the American Society of Public Administration. In 2014, she was awarded the Metropolitan Transportation Grant award for her leadership as Chair of the Bay Bridge Design Task Force during the construction of the Eastern Span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. On a personal note, I will always remember Mary for her many contributions as a public servant, but more importantly, as a loving mother, grandmother, daughter, and friend. Mary always put her family first. She loved and cared for her beautiful mother, children, and grandchildren in ways that I witnessed and admired. I was inspired by how she balanced her work and her personal life, always rising to the occasion in both. Mary's humanity was never destroyed by politics and power. She was authentic in all of her relationships, and she will be deeply missed. Today, California's 13th Congressional District salutes the life of a remarkable individual and devoted public servant, Mary V. King. Her service has helped countless residents of the East Bay community and her contributions are innumerable. I join all of Ms. King's loved ones in celebrating her incredible accomplishments and offer my sincerest condolences.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for yielding and for his leadership on these critical issues. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the rule, H. Res. 531, and also to the bill, H.R. 4038, the American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act of 2015. Foreign enemies--refugees. We all watched with horror as unconscionable violence unfolded in Paris over the weekend, but also in Egypt, in Lebanon, and in Nigeria. So let me just first say that my thoughts and prayers go out to all of those who have been affected by all of these tragedies. But it would be a grave mistake to use these attacks as a pretense to close our doors to the families that are fleeing ISIL in their own countries. The overwhelming majority, of course, are women and children. Just as the unfortunate attacks of 911 required us to step up and lead, we are at that moment again where Members of Congress need to lead. This counterproductive bill would immediately shut down the resettlement of refugees from countries such as Syria and Iraq while significantly slowing down--yes, shutting down--our resettlement process in the future. But, of course, as Members of Congress, our first goal is keeping our country safe. We all are committed to that, and we do that each and every day. But preventing these people suffering the violence of war-- the violence of war--sends the wrong signal first to our allies; to our own country. And really, this is not consistent with our national security goals. Simply put, closing our doors to these refugees would really be a betrayal of our Nation's most fundamental values. Mr. Speaker, the United States already has the lengthiest and most robust screening procedures in the world. Any refugees seeking to come to the United States go through a screening process that takes 18 to 24 months before they can even set foot on United States soil.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, our screening process has already involved multiple Federal intelligence, security, and law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, the National Counterterrorism Center, and the FBI. These agencies subject those seeking refuge in the United States to safeguards, such as biometric and biographic checks. Syrian refugees are already subject to additional forms of security screening. Mr. Speaker, it is worth noting--it has been said before, and I will say it again--that of the 2,174 Syrian refugees admitted to the United States since September 11, 2001, not a single one has been arrested or deported on terrorism-related grounds. I am proud that Oakland--in my congressional district--has resettled more Syrian refugees than any other East Bay area city in California. Rather than working to shut out those seeking refugee in our country, we should instead be working toward ensuring a regionally led, comprehensive, economic, political, and diplomatic solution to the conflicts that have led to the worst refugee crisis since World War II. Mr. Speaker, this would stop the flow of refugees and give them a chance to live in their own country free of war and violence. I urge my colleagues to reject this rule and this unnecessary bill.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Kelly and Congressman Payne for organizing this Special Order and for your continued leadership on so many vital issues and for staying the course and holding down the fort for the Congressional Black Caucus. It is so important that our message of unity and our message--which really describes what many of the issues are that all of our communities are faced with--that that message goes out. Both of you have really been tremendous in this effort. So I rise this evening to join this critical conversation on race relations in America and to challenge our colleagues to work with the Congressional Black Caucus to realize progress for racial justice and equality. I join Congresswoman Kelly and Congressman Payne in sending my condolences to the families and the victims of the horrific terrorist attacks in Paris, Lebanon, Nigeria, and also in Egypt. Know that we join in this quest for global peace and security throughout the world. Now, tonight's Special Order is an important part of our work to address the discrimination and racism that still plagues our Nation, specifically as it relates to African Americans, but we know that it impacts all communities of color. It is manifested in many ways, and it affects our entire country. As Congressman Payne said so eloquently, we are the United States. So when one is affected, all are affected. All across the country at universities like Mizzou and Yale; in places like Baltimore and Ferguson; and in high schools like Spring Valley High in Columbia, South Carolina, we are witnessing the painful impact of institutional racism in our communities. Very recently, we saw this in my home district at Berkley High School. In one of the most progressive and enlightened cities in the country, Black students were subjected to threatening messages on campus. But I am so proud of the students at Berkley. They walked off-- it was not only Black students; it was all students--and marched out peacefully through the city to protest these terrible, despicable messages. This is unacceptable. All students have a right to learn free from violence and from threats. As long as Black students and any student of color feels unsafe in their classrooms, our work for justice remains incomplete. This crisis isn't limited to our schools. Tragically, people of color face institutional racism from the moment they are born. According to a report released earlier this year by the Joint Economic Committee and the Congressional Black Caucus, more than one in three Black children are born into poverty. This cycle of poverty and inequality continues in our school system where Black students account for 42 percent of preschool student expulsions. Mind you, now, that is preschool. That is students from about 2 years old to 4 years old. Black students account for 42 percent of preschool student expulsions, despite accounting for only 18 percent of enrollment. I can't figure out how any student aged 2 to 4 is expelled from school. That is outrageous. Yet 42 percent of preschool student expulsions are African American babies. These kids don't even get a start, let alone a head start. Outside of the classroom, African Americans are overpoliced, overcriminalized, and underemployed. A report published by the New York Times in April found that there are an estimated 1.5 million Black men between the ages of 24 to 54 who are missing from civic life, just missing it. These missing men, who account for one in every six Black men, have been victims of mass incarceration or premature death. And this crisis of inequality extends to the structures of the community and have persisted from generations. Over the past four decades, the average unemployment rate for Blacks has been double the rate for White Americans. For many Black families, it feels like this is a permanent recession. Mr. Speaker, this must be our call to action. That is why I am so proud of our young people throughout the country and students who are standing up to racism and injustice in their communities. It is time for Congress to listen to the young people, saying that Black Lives Matter and Black students matter. Earlier this month, I held a forum on racial justice in my district to address these issues. More than 300 East Bay residents from all backgrounds attended and raised their voices for justice. This was the second forum that I have held throughout the last 3 months. Now, I have been able to reach over 1,000 East Bay residents. So, tonight, in this dialogue, which Congressman Payne and Congresswoman Kelly have talked about, this dialogue leads to action. Hopefully, our colleagues would think about hosting these types of forums and listen to what people are saying, listen to what the impact of some of our policies are on their daily lives. We must be part of the conversation and the solution, but we must listen. We must hear the pain and the suffering that people are experiencing as a result of discrimination and racial injustice. Now, the Congress must act to start addressing the systemic racism that degrades our institutions and threatens our communities. It is past time for us to get serious about us addressing the lack of opportunity for Black and minority families in this country. Right now, today, in this Chamber, there is legislation that can start moving the needle forward. We need to empower our communities to build greater trust between law enforcement and communities of color, and we need to address chronic recidivism, which would be a huge step toward returning some of our missing men to their families and communities. To do this, Congress should pass the Safe Justice Act, sponsored by Congressman Sensenbrenner and Congressman Scott. Congress should also pass the Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act, H.R. 1232, to stop the militarization of our Nation's police forces. We also should pass the Police Accountability Act, H.R. 1102, and the Grand Jury Reform Act, H.R. 429, so we can ensure that deadly force cases are heard by a judge and that there is more accountability for police officers. As we reform our broken criminal justice system and work to help repair those families hurt by mass incarceration, we will be strengthening America. We will have people who really can make a contribution, not only to their families and their communities, but to the entire country. The Federal Government shouldn't continue to put up barriers to work for those trying to rebuild their lives after making a mistake and should ban the box totally by Federal contractors and by Federal agencies. We also need to repeal the lifetime ban on Pell grants for those formerly incarcerated as it relates to drug felonies, the ineligibility for public assistance and food stamps. We need to remove these barriers so that people of color, primarily African American men and Latino men, can get back into society, get a job, and take care of their families. Once again, this is an example of public policy that racism wreaks its ugly head in our own institutions and policies. Finally, Mr. Speaker, we must address the poverty that plagues communities of color all across the country. We have the Whip's Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality, and Opportunity, which I am proud to chair with our whip, Mr. Hoyer. We are working with more than 100 of our colleagues now to advance policies that give all families, including African American families living below the poverty line both in urban communities and in rural communities, a fair shot. This effort includes our Half in Ten Act, H.R. 258, which calls for a national strategy to cut poverty in half in the next decade. That is more than 22 million Americans lifted out of poverty into the middle class in just the next 10 years by being strategic and coordinating our existing programs. Our Pathway Out of Poverty Act, H.R. 2721, would create good-paying jobs. It would lift families out of poverty into the middle class while strengthening our safety net for those who are still struggling. Ultimately, the only way to end institutional racism is to give African Americans and people of color a seat at the table, and we need to pass legislation and policies that begin to remove these barriers. My mentor, the Honorable Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, used to say: ``If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring in a folding chair.'' That is what our young people are doing around the country. So I want to thank all of the people across our country who are bringing in folding chairs and ensuring that these important conversations happen. We hear you. We support you, and we will keep fighting for you for ensuring liberty and justice for all, which means just that. It means for all. In doing so, we will make the United States a stronger country. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Kelly and Congressman Payne for organizing this very important Special Order. I know that out of this discussion, we are laying out what can be done, and it doesn't take another generation to end racial injustice in our country.

Ms. LEE. I will just close by saying, we pledge allegiance to the flag, and we say, ``and liberty and justice for all,'' and that is what we mean.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Kelly for raising that issue because I think this is a clear example of what we talk about when we talk about racial injustice. It is very clear that many of our policies--Federal, local, and State policies--the impact and the result end up being a result that has racial components, and that is what our young people are talking about when they are talking about systemic and institutional racism.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, first, let me thank the gentleman for his kind remarks, but also for really digging deeper into this subject and really raising, in many ways, the unconscious biases that are reflected oftentimes in the policies and in the laws of the land. One example that Chairman Butterfield and myself, co-chair for the Congressional Black Caucus, and Reverend Jackson have really been true leaders in, and that is the effort with the tech industry in terms of the diversity of the tech industry. We have learned and the data shows that many companies next door to me in the Silicon Valley, 2 to 5 percent may be African Americans and Latinos--maybe. To their credit, they are trying to figure out how to address this; but one of the areas that some of the companies are exploring now is looking at unconscious bias and how that is reflected in the hiring policies of their managers as it relates to the discrimination actually that takes place against people of color, especially African Americans. It is embedded in this whole system here in our country, both in the private and in the public sector, and we have to really begin to talk about it to raise the level of awareness so people understand we are not talking about individuals and we are not going after people. We are talking about biases that are embedded in our programs and policies and in the law of the land.

Ms. LEE. Congressman Payne, you are talking about racial profiling and driving while Black, which so many of us experience throughout the country. I am glad we are having this discussion and you raised it because you come from a middle class family. You come from a great family.

Ms. LEE. Your father was a giant and raised you and your family to be law-abiding citizens, and still this happened to you. Also, with regard to redlining, this is another level that we have to look at as it relates to racism. When you look at how financial institutions targeted African American and minority communities with subprime loans, our communities lost all of our wealth as a result of that, and now have to start all over in terms of wealth accumulation. So you just go one aspect after another of what America has done in terms of the past that has not been corrected yet, and we have to really do that. Congresswoman Kelly, I just want to mention the phenomenal job you are doing as the chair of our Health Braintrust. We had a meeting this weekend in South Carolina with our great leader, Mr. Clyburn. We talked about health disparities in communities of color. You are talking about ZIP Codes. I know in my district--I mentioned this at the forum--there is a gap. Depending on where you live, depending on the ZIP Code, life expectancy where Black people live can be 10 to 15 years shorter.

Ms. LEE. The mortality rate, that is right.

Ms. LEE. That is right. That is right. The importance of the work you are doing in closing healthcare disparities, which sometimes people don't understand, there are racial and ethnic disparities that, again, are reflected in our historical policies that have really severely impacted communities of color and African Americans.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a proud member of the Congressional Black Caucus to participate in this special order hour on ``Saving Our Communities'' and to discuss how we can work together to address the militarization of law enforcement, the high rate of arrest of our African American youth in our school systems, and the importance of criminal justice reform. First, let me thank my colleague Congresswoman Robin Kelly, for organizing this special order and for her continued leadership on so many issues, especially as chair of the CBC's Health Braintrust. Her leadership is so critical for these important discussions. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to speak about our broken criminal justice system and how its institutional biases overwhelmingly and negatively affect African Americans. Black bodies are criminalized, our police forces are becoming more and more militarized and we see astronomical arrest rates amongst African American youth. From the East Bay to New York City, we see a common story of African Americans living in a different version of America. Their version is one filled with fear, distrust, and vicious cycles of incarceration, unemployment, poverty and recidivism. Mass incarceration and a lack of reintegration policies have greatly hurt African American communities and I am frankly tired of waiting for ``the people's'' house to act. For too long, we have ignored issues affecting African American communities. It is time to do the good work needed to save our communities. Let's pass criminal justice reform, end the militarization of our police forces, and work so that no student will have to go through what that young woman in South Carolina went through. I applaud the President for his announcement today, and his bold and continued leadership to advance criminal justice reform. Yet much work remains to be done. The cycle of incarceration and recidivism start early for African American students. The school to prison pipeline is very real and it pushes young people into prisons before they even have a chance. While black students represent just 18 percent of preschool enrollment, they account for 42 percent of preschool student expulsions. We are talking about kids that are 2-5 years old--these kids don't even get a start, let alone a head start. This carries over to high-school. Look at the incident at Spring Valley High school in South Carolina--it speaks to issues around black criminalization and the unnecessary escalation of discipline for African American students. Having a phone out in class does not warrant a police call, and it certainly does not justify a student--a child, really--from being thrown out of a chair and dragged across a classroom floor. Yet we see today that young African American girls are disciplined 10.5 times more than their white counterparts. Black girls are expelled and suspended at higher rates as well--what is going on? We live in a country where black and brown youth are punished more often and more severely than their white counterparts. Yet few seem to raise an eyebrow at these gross disparities--disparities that have landed thousands of young people in jail, without hope and without a future. As the mother of black men and the grandmother of two black boys, I find statistics like that troubling. For African Americans, we have allowed our school system to be turned into a prison pipeline. We must act now to stop it. The sad thing about the Spring Valley incident is that this is not the first time we have seen students be brutalized at school. And while I commend the police department for firing this out of line officer and applaud the Justice Department for investigating, more must be done to prevent these miscarriages of justice. We must address the systemic issues facing our education and criminal justice systems. Nationwide, our local police forces have become increasingly militarized. Images from the unrest in Ferguson caused an outcry as we saw citizens being repelled by police officers in tanks. It looked like a scene from a battlefield than the streets of a suburban Missouri town. For too long excess military equipment has been sent to local jurisdictions with the obligation to use them within one year. Weapons of war have no place on Main Street. That is why I am a proud co-sponsor of the Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act (H.R. 1232) a bipartisan bill that reins in the transfer of military equipment to civilian law enforcement agencies. Instead of finding ways to arm our police forces, let's find ways to provide them with greater racial sensitivity training and work to build greater trust between law enforcement and the communities in which they serve. That is why I introduced H. Res. 262, a resolution supporting community-oriented policing and encouraging greater diversity in law enforcement hiring and retention. Our local law enforcement agencies must reflect the communities they serve. Finally Mr. Speaker, it is past time that we tackle criminal justice reform. The President made some bold announcements today but Congress must act. Let us ban the box, implement policies that increase integration, and address issues of income inequality and poverty that keep too many people and families trapped in a cycle of mass incarceration, unemployment, poverty and recidivism. Systemic and institutional racial biases have broken our criminal justice system and eroded trust between law enforcement and the communities that they serve. Thoughtful criminal justice reform is what is necessary to mend these relationships and work to ``save our community'' from the inside and out. I am proud to be a member of the CBC's Ferguson Task Force that is putting forth real, actionable legislation that should come forward for an immediate vote-- Legislation like the Police Accountability Act (H.R. 1102) and the Grand Jury Reform Act (H.R. 429, which together would ensure that deadly force cases are heard by a judge and ensure police accountability by expanding the DOJ's power to persecute cases. Let's work to save these communities. Let's end excessive force in our schools, work to stop the decriminalization of black bodies, and find effective solutions to the end the school to prison pipeline.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and service of Ms. Teola Sanders, and I commend her fifty years of impassioned leadership and unyielding volunteerism to the East Bay community. Ms. Sanders' dedication to Bay Area women's rights, horticulture, arts and humanities, reflects the lasting legacy of her service. Ms. Sanders was born in Mansfield, Louisiana in 1931 and was the oldest of four children. In 1938, the family relocated to Oakland, California. Ms. Sanders attended Oakland Public Schools and was a proud graduate of Oakland Technical High School. In 1951, she met Jeff Sanders and from this union three children were born: Tori, Andre, and Jay. Ms. Sanders completed community college courses before obtaining her Real Estate License. For 27 years, she worked for the Shorenstein Company (formerly Milton Meyer and Company), one of the country's oldest and most respected real estate organizations. Her tremendous leadership led to her appointment as the company's lead organizer for political and humanitarian events throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Extremely passionate about local politics, Ms. Sanders was a founding member of Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA). One of BWOPA's first major successes was helping elect Ronald V. Dellums to the United States Congress in 1971. Ms. Sanders' passion for political activism continued and she was appointed to serve on numerous boards, including the Commission of the Deputy Chief of Protocol by Oakland Mayor Elihu Harris, and the Horticultural Commission by Governor Jerry Brown. She was also the Founding President of Today's Women, Inc., and a founding member of the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame. Ms. Sanders' life was dedicated to the service of others. She generously donated her time to the Oakland Museum, the Oakland Symphony, the African American Museum and Library Coalition, the American Red Cross and many other humanitarian organizations. Ultimately, Ms. Sanders was blessed to live a full life with no regrets. A loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, Ms. Sanders will truly be missed. But we can rest assured knowing her lasting memory of love and wisdom will continue to guide all those who knew and loved her. Today, California's 13th Congressional District salutes the legacy of Ms. Teola Sanders, and her contributions which have truly impacted countless lives throughout the Bay Area. I join all of Ms. Sanders' loved ones in celebrating her incredible life and offer my most sincere condolences.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, thank you, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, for your tireless advocacy for working families. I'd also like to thank Ranking Member Bobby Scott for leading the way, as ranking member of the Education and Workforce Committee, and with this important agenda. Let me start by telling Andre's story. Andre is from California, he's 31 and a father of four boys. He was a trained apprenticed carpenter. When he began to look for work, he learned quickly that without a personal connection, it was nearly impossible to get a job in the construction industry. Every morning, he hustled to get to work sites by 5 AM to introduce himself to employers and show them his skills. Seldom did he receive the opportunity to actually apply for a job. As a result, he could barely sustain his family. Any income he had went to food, transportation and rent. So, he began volunteering with the Los Angeles Black Workers Center, which connected him to a good- paying job building new rail lines that let him provide for his family. The unemployment and underemployment that Andre and other Black workers experience is not unique. The use of informal networks in hiring means that Black workers are often excluded and discriminated against before they even get a shot. Andre said: ``Too many people are out there talking about training, like we're not trained enough. Training is not the issue. I was trained really well. The issue is access.'' Andre is right--all the training in the world won't help if in the end, employers won't give people like Andre a fair shot. And this agenda is designed to give Andre, his family and all families, a fair chance. Andre's struggle reflects the divide in our economy and our country: while some have recovered fully from the Great Recession, too many working families are still struggling. And in communities of color, which were the hardest hit by the Great Recession, unemployment and underemployment remains sky-high--and wage discrimination and formal and informal barriers to employment continue to slow economic growth. For example, African American women in my home state of California still earn just 64 cents for every dollar paid to white men. And Latinas earn a mere 44 cents. This persistent wage gap is a reflection of our economy, which is leaving too many working families behind-- especially communities of color. That's why the Working Family Agenda is so important. It takes long overdue steps to level the playing field for all. Specifically, this agenda would: raise the wage for millions, strengthen collective bargaining and improve working conditions, provide paid sick and family leave, and expand access to childcare. Furthermore, it would provide long overdue protections for women and LGBT Americans in the workplace. And as a former small business owner, I know the importance and value of providing your employees with a living wage: it's better for your company and for retaining good workers. Mr. Speaker, now is the time to take action on this agenda--families need it and our economy needs it. Let's boost wages, make it easier for families to balance work and family life, and bring an end to workplace discrimination. That's what American families want--and it's what Congress should be working on.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, first, let me thank our ranking member, Congressman Van Hollen, for yielding and for his tremendous leadership on the Budget Committee. Also, to Leader Pelosi and to Speaker Boehner, I just have to thank you for demonstrating that we can work together in a bipartisan way on behalf of the American people. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1314, which is the bipartisan budget agreement of 2015. Let me just say, as a member of the Appropriations and Budget Committees, I really know how difficult it has been to get us to where we were today. So thank you very much. This budget deal, though, is not perfect. It averts a shutdown and prevents a catastrophic default on the Federal debt. Most importantly, though, it provides relief from the sequester and it begins--it begins--to invest in the American people through programs like food stamps, a safety net which many, many people need until they are through this economic recession. We must do more to create good-paying jobs for individuals who want to work. This begins to invest in early childhood education and in public housing. This agreement also prevents a massive hike in healthcare costs for our seniors. So while this agreement is an important step forward, much work remains. It is past time that we start addressing the priorities of the American people, including passing bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform, making education affordable and accessible from pre-K through college, investing in workforce training through our community colleges, and building pathways out of poverty. So, Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this agreement so we can get Congress back to work putting people first. The American Dream has really turned into a nightmare for so many. Hopefully, our action today will give people hope that the American Dream may be achievable. But we must do more.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an exceptional leader and activist, who fought for equality and civil rights for many decades, Malcolm ``Mal'' Burnstein. Mal Burnstein was born in 1933 in Detroit, and faced heavy oppression and intolerance growing up as a Jewish man in the 1930's and 1940's. The difficulties Mal faced inspired him to be an advocate for civil rights. In the 1940's, Mal was very active in politics in his youth, and volunteered on quite a few campaigns. Some of the campaigns he volunteered for include Henry Wallace's campaign for president; Mennen Williams's campaign for governor; and Martha Griffith's campaign for Congress. Mal graduated with his law degree from Boalt Law School at UC Berkeley in 1958, and after law school, he pursued a fellowship in Europe and studied international law at the Sorbonne in Paris. He then clerked for a year under California Supreme Court Justice Thomas White. Mal's strong conviction to fight for civil rights and equality led him back to Europe for another fellowship, where he worked in Geneva, advocating for the cause of international human rights. In 1961, Mal began working for Robert Trehauft at the Trehauft firm, practicing labor law. The Trehauft firm soon disbanded, and Robert Treuhauft joined Doris Walker's firm, hiring Mal as the only associate. In 1962, Mal formed the Boatrackers Democratic Club, a group dedicated to representing civil rights demonstrators. The club is notable for defeating a recall proposed by conservative Berkeley citizens to recall the Berkeley School Board for racially integrating their Berkeley schools. Mal worked with the Free Speech Movement, the student protest that took place at UC Berkeley in 1964, when the Movement organizers sought legal representation from the Walker firm. Mal provided legal counsel for the Movement, and advised the Movement student organizers during negotiations with the school. Mal's admiration for student leadership and commitment to the Free Speech Movement proved vital during the trials of the 800 arrested students. Mal was also a member of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), and was one of its volunteer lawyers. He participated in CORE organized eat-ins, sit-ins, shops-ins, and picket protests. Such actions were instrumental in paving the way for diversification in workplaces around the East Bay. On a personal note, Mal has been a confidant, my lawyer, a mentor, and most importantly, a wonderful friend. I value his wise counsel and am always energized by his soaring spirit. On behalf of the residents of California's 13th Congressional District, I extend my sincerest congratulations to Malcolm ``Mal'' Burnstein.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the exemplary career of Deputy Chief David Downing of the Oakland Police Department. Deputy Chief Downing began his career in law enforcement with the Oakland Police Department (OPD) in 1988. During his career, he has served in a wide variety of assignments, including Police Academy Director, Internal Affairs Commander, and Special Operations Commander. In 2012, he was promoted to Deputy Chief of Police and is currently the commander of the Bureau of Field Operations for West Oakland. Deputy Chief Downing also served concurrently with OPD's Special Weapons and Tactics team from 1992 to 2011 as an operator, team leader, and tactical commander. In addition to serving the citizens of Oakland, Deputy Chief Downing served the United States of America as an Air Force Reservist from 1984 to 2014. He retired as a Chief Master Sergeant with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations as the Senior Enlisted Leader for the 4th Field Investigative Region, at Randolph Air Force Base in Texas. In 2001, he was mobilized into active duty and served in Operation Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom until his return to civilian law enforcement in 2003. Deputy Chief Downing received his Bachelor's Degree in Administration of Justice from San Jose State University in 1989, and went on to graduate from Indiana State University in 2008 with a Master's Degree in Criminology. He is also the graduate of several senior management programs, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Academy, the Police Executive Research Forum's Senior Management Institute for Police, and the California Peace Officer Standards and Training Executive Development Course. Throughout his career, Deputy Chief Downing has maintained a special interest in and relationship with Oakland's Chinatown. He serves the Oakland and Chinatown communities as a member of the Board of Directors of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, the President of the Oakland Police Foundation, President of the Oakland Police Managers Association, Chairman of the Asian Advisory Committee on Crime, Chairman of the Asian Youth Services Committee (AYSC), Chairperson of the AYSC Scholarship Dinner, and has raised funds and manpower to send low-income youth to various camps and seminars across the nation. On behalf of the residents of California's 13th Congressional District, Deputy Chief David E. Downing, I salute him. I thank him for a lifetime of service and congratulate him on his achievements. I wish him and his loved ones the very best as he enjoys his well-deserved retirement.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an extraordinary member of the East Bay community, Ms. Frances Chow upon her retirement. Ms. Chow was born and raised in Stockton, California. She spent countless hours of her personal time volunteering in soup kitchens and senior centers, as a summer camp counselor for physically challenged youths, and in local community organizations including the United Way. Later, Ms. Chow went on to graduate from the University of San Diego with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration and minor in Mathematics. She is also trained and certified in Clinical Psychology, Project Management, and Bank Compliance. Upon graduating, Ms. Chow was recruited to work with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), which is an independent federal agency created by Congress to maintain stability and confidence in the nation's financial system. During her 20-year career at the FDIC, Ms. Chow received numerous performance awards, including ``Employee of the Year.'' Currently, Ms. Chow is Senior Vice President and Regional Operations Manager of Gateway Bank, FSB, located in Oakland Chinatown. Throughout the years, Ms. Chow has made innumerable contributions to the Chinatown and East Bay community, through her service as a Sunday school teacher, youth and science camp counselor, and her work with various local organizations. Ms. Chow has served as the Asian Advisory Committee on Crime's Annual Banquet Chairperson, former President of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, and the former President of the Oakland Chinatown Lions Club. Ms. Chow currently serves as the Vice President of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, Vice President of the Asian Advisory Committee on Crime, Treasurer of the Oakland Police Foundation, the Health Fair Chairperson for the Chinatown Lions Club, and volunteers at the Oakland Children's Hospital Children's Network. Ms. Chow has also received numerous awards for her community work. She was recognized as the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce's ``Volunteer of the Year'' in 1998, received the Lions Club's Melvin Jones Award in 2011, and in 2012, was recognized as the Asian Advisory Committee on Crime's ``Citizen of the Year'' Award and recognized as ``Citizen/Member of the Year'' by Gateway Bank. On behalf of the residents of California's 13th Congressional District, Ms. Frances Chow, I salute her. I thank her for a lifetime of service and congratulate her on her many achievements. I wish her and her loved ones the very best as she enjoys her well-deserved retirement.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, let me thank our ranking member for yielding and for his tremendous leadership on so many issues. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 3762, the so-called Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act. This bill would attack women's health and the Affordable Care Act once again. This bill would defund Planned Parenthood for 1 year, leaving millions of women across the country without access to critical healthcare services. It would also prevent individuals or organizations that provide comprehensive reproductive healthcare services from treating women enrolled in Medicaid, stripping women of their fundamental right to choose their own healthcare provider, and leaving thousands of women out in the cold. Now, let's be clear. Family planning services are critical to reducing unintended pregnancies, and they make economic sense also. For every $1 spent on family planning services, we save more than $7 in other costs. Mr. Speaker, denying access to healthcare providers such as Planned Parenthood and other safety net providers will hurt women who need these services the most: low-income women and women of color. It is past time to stop these ideological attacks on women's right to health care. Instead of continuing with these callous attacks and cuts, we should work to replace the damaging sequester and get a responsible, long-term budget deal. Mr. Speaker, this bill reconciles nothing. It is divisive, it is misguided, and it is dangerous. I urge a ``no'' vote.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Makani Themba for her extraordinary life work empowering historically marginalized communities. Ms. Themba's activism spans numerous roles and she has a strong history of advocating and organizing in grassroots engagement alongside underserved people of color. For the past 14 years, Ms. Themba has served as the Executive Director for The Praxis Project, a nonprofit organization based in Washington D.C., which helps communities use media and policy advocacy to advance health justice. Under her leadership, The Praxis Project has raised more than $24 million dollars for advocacy organizations nationwide. These initiatives include Communities Creating Healthy Environments (CCHE), a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), which sets out to prevent childhood obesity by increasing access to healthy foods and safe places to play in communities of color. The program will advance RWJF's efforts to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic by supporting diverse, community-based organizations and federally chartered tribal nations in the development and implementation of effective, culturally responsive policy initiatives to address the root causes of childhood obesity. Prior to her tenure at The Praxis Project, Ms. Themba directed the Grass Roots Innovative Policy Program (GRIPP) a national project where she effectively engaged in media and policy advocacy to address institutional racism in welfare and public education. Ms. Themba has published numerous articles and case studies on race, class, media, policy advocacy and public health. She is the author of Making Policy, Making Change, and co-author of Media Advocacy and Public Health: Power for Prevention, a contributor to the volumes Community Based Participatory Research for Health, Prevention Is Primary: Strategies for Community Well Being, We the Media along with many other editorial projects. Her publications have helped set the standard for policy advocacy work and contributed significantly to the field's current emphasis on media and policy advocacy to address health problems. Her latest book is a collaboration with The Praxis Project and includes contributions from Malkia Cyril and others. It is titled, Fair Game: A Strategy Guide for Racial Justice Communications in the Obama Era. Additionally, Ms. Themba has worked on international projects that build capacity among advocates to more effectively address structural racism. At Transnational Racial Justice Initiative (TRJI), she leveraged tools and best practices from around the world and co- authored and edited a shadow report on institutional racism and white privilege--the first of its kind. Ms. Themba has also helped initiate numerous programs which have positively impacted communities facing national disasters. Through the Katrina Information Network, she connected more than 200,000 people displaced by the Katrina Hurricane to their families and friends through the use of informational technology. On behalf of the residents of California's 13th Congressional District, I salute Ms. Makani Themba, and thank her for a lifetime of service.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of Dr. Charles V. Shank. Known by many for his seminal development of ultrafast lasers and his visionary leadership as Director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory from 1989 through 2004, Dr. Shank made the Advanced Light Source a world-leading center for soft X-ray science. As a recipient of the U.S. Department of Energy's Enrico Fermi Award on October 20, 2015--presented to outstanding scientists for distinguished achievement--we honor Dr. Shank's life work and lasting legacy. Graduating summa cum laude in 1965 from UC Berkeley, Dr. Shank went on to receive an M.S. and PhD in Electrical Engineering. These early academic achievements were the catalyst for a distinguished twenty year career at AT&T Bell Laboratories, where Dr. Shank made his mark as a pioneer in femtosecond laser spectroscopy and the study of ultrafast events. In 1989, following his meteoric rise at AT&T, Dr. Shank was appointed Director of Berkeley Lab. Here, Dr. Shank would more than double the annual budget and grow the Lab's workforce to nearly 4,000 personnel. Under his watch the stage was set to attract the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC) and the creation of the Joint Genome Institute (JGI) to settle at Berkeley. Not long after, he championed the Supernova Cosmology Project, which led to the Nobel Prize-winning discovery of ``dark energy'', a phenomenon partly responsible for the expansion of the universe. These extraordinary advancements brought further discoveries, including the top quark and neutrino mass, the Time Projection Chamber for the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, the front-end system for the Spallation Neutron Source, and the reclamation of valuable land occupied by the long-defunct Bevatron. Today, California's 13th Congressional District salutes the life and work of an outstanding individual and pioneer, Dr. Charles V. Shank. His contributions have truly impacted the Berkeley community, the field of energy and applied science, as well as the lives of his family, friends, and patrons. I join all of Dr. Shank's loved ones in celebrating his incredible accomplishments and offer my highest gratitude for the distinction he has brought upon the 13th Congressional District.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I was not present for roll call votes 519 through 520 due to congressional travel. Had I been present. I would have voted yes on Number 519 and yes on Number 520.