Barbara Lee

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, first, let me thank Congresswoman Robin Kelly and Congressman Donald Payne for hosting this important Special Order. I appreciate your leadership in organizing this important discussion. I would also like to thank Chairman Butterfield and Assistant Leader Clyburn for their continued leadership and dedication to fighting racism and racial bias. Tonight's special order is particularly important because of recent high profile events that have forced our nation to reflect on race. Our nation continues to grieve those lost in the terrible tragedy at Mother Emmanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, S.C. and my thoughts and prayer remain with their families. In the wake of this senseless tragedy, Americans all over the country are asking: why do we still celebrate the Confederate battle flag? The confederate battle flag is a true symbol of hate and discrimination. Late Wednesday night, as the South Carolina legislature debated bringing down the Confederate battle flag that had flown over its statehouse, Congressman Ken Calvert, a Republican from California, introduced an amendment--in the dark of night--to allow for the sale and display of this symbol of hate in our national parks and federal cemeteries. That's simply outrageous--this symbol of hate has no place at these federal landmarks. It's past time that we put away these symbols of hate and division. It's past time that we confront America's long and dark history of racism and work to address the legacy of slavery, Jim Crow and institutional racism that continue to disadvantage too many African American families. Now I grew up in El Paso, TX and I remember vividly Jim Crow. I remember the segregated schools and separate drinking fountains. I wasn't able to go to the Plaza Theatre with my white and Latino friends--because I was black. Thankfully, those days of legal segregation have ended but in many ways, we know that segregation and the wounds of racism still persist. And the Confederate battle flag is a symbol of that hate and racism. It is a symbol that only serves to divide us and that never should have existed. From its conception, the confederate battle flag has represented white supremacy, and oppression. In the words of William Thompson, the designer of the confederate battle flag, ``As a people we are fighting to maintain the Heaven- ordained supremacy of the white man over the inferior or colored race. A white flag would stand fourth our southern cross, preserving in beautiful contrast the red white and blue'' He continues by saying ``. . . it would soon take rank among the proudest ensigns of the nations, and be hailed by the civilized world as the White Man's Flag.'' Mr. Speaker--I could not have put it more plainly. This flag means hate--it always has and always will. The intent for the confederate battle flag was to create a symbol that will remind the whole world of white supremacy, discrimination, and opposition to America. It was also the banner under which millions fought against the preservation of our great union. Under this flag, the Ku Klux Klan; a terrorist organization solely devoted to promoting hate and white supremacy, would unlawfully lynch blacks and burn churches to the ground. Under this banner, lawmakers instituted laws that established and preserved segregation for generations. And Dylann Roof looked to the flag as his guiding symbol that legitimized his actions: the murder of 9 peaceful parishioners looking to develop a deeper connection with God and their community. Mr. Speaker--enough is enough. This symbol of hate has no place in our society--it's past time to take it down. However, it is not enough to simply take it down. We must get serious about deconstructing the system that the Confederate battle flag represents--a system designed to close off economic opportunity for African Americans. It's past time that we get serious about ensuring liberty and justice for all. To start, we must pass Congressman Bennie Thompson's resolution to bring down the Confederate battle flag from our nation's Capital. This is a common sense step and I urge the House Administration Committee to quickly move on his legislation. We can and must do more to put away hate and ensure justice for all. We must start by creating good-paying jobs that are open to all Americans. In my role as co-chair of the CBC Task Force on Poverty and the Economy and Chair of the Democratic Whip's Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality, and Opportunity, I am proud to be working with more than 100 of my colleagues, to advance policies that give all Americans--a fair shot. This work includes working to pass the Pathways out of Poverty Act (H.R. 2721), which I am proud to have introduced this Congress. This legislation is a comprehensive approach to address poverty in America that starts by creating good-paying jobs that empower families to build pathways out of poverty. We also need to raise the minimum wage--and fight for a living wage because no one working full time should live in poverty. To that end, I am proud to be a cosponsor of Congressman Al Green's The Original Living Wage Act (H.R. 122) and Congressman Scott's Raise the Wage Act (H.R. 2150) to increase paychecks for families living on the edge. We also need to fight against the disparities that persist in our health care system. The Affordable Care Act was a good start but more is needed. For years, the Congressional tri-caucus has championed this effort by introducing The Health Equity and Accountability Act (HEAA). Congresswoman Robin Kelly will have the honor of introducing this important legislation this Congress and I am proud to co-lead this effort as co-chair of the CAPAC Health Task Force. This legislation builds on the Affordable Care Act and puts us on track to eliminate health disparities in our country. Lastly, we need criminal justice reform. For too long we have ignored the systemic racial bias that's endemic in our criminal justice institutions and which has created an entire ``missing generation'' of black men. That is why Congress should pass the bipartisan Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act (H.R. 1232), which I am a proud cosponsor of, to stop the militarization of our nation's police forces. We need to 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 there is more accountability among police officers. Mr. Speaker--we have the legislation before us to start ending systemic poverty and injustice in America--let's call a vote and pass these bills. It's time that we get serious about deconstructing the institutions that have oppressed millions and denied them and their families' opportunity to live the American dream. But first, we must take down the Confederate battle flag--a symbol of those biased institutions. A symbol of hate-- Of racism and Of treason. Mr. Speaker--it's past time to take it down.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, let me start by thanking Bonnie Watson Coleman for leading this important special order and for her leadership on these issues. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, President Obama announced that the United States--along with our P5+1 negotiating partners--had reached a deal with Iran--a deal that if fully implemented, will prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. As someone who has long supported sustained diplomatic engagement with Iran, I applaud President Obama, Secretary Kerry, and our P5+1 partners for their tireless work to obtain a deal which promotes peace and global security. In the 112th and 113th Congresses, I introduced a bill--the Prevent Iran from Acquiring Nuclear Weapons and Stop War Through Diplomacy Act--that called on the President to use all diplomatic means to resolve the nuclear issue with Iran. It urged the President to ``secure an agreement that ensures Iran does not engage in nuclear weapons work,'' through increased safeguards and international Inspections, Yesterday's announcement demonstrates just how effective that type of sustained engagement and diplomacy can be. When fully implemented, this deal--or the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action--will prevent an Iranian nuclear weapon while ensuring greater stability in the Middle East. The deal is an important victory for diplomacy and America's leadership abroad as well as for United States national security and of course for global peace and security. And as the President said yesterday during his announcement--``This deal meets every single one of the bottom lines we established when we achieved a framework earlier this spring. Every pathway to a nuclear weapon is cut off.'' Prior to yesterday's announcement, negotiations with Iran had already led to a first-step agreement that has significant reduced Iran's nuclear stockpile and their ability to create a nuclear weapon. Without those negotiations and the framework agreements, Iran's nuclear program would have been unmonitored, unrestrained and Iran would have continued the production of medium enriched uranium. Now, we know that more work remains. The deal has to go to the United Nations Security Council--and Congress now has 60 days to review the terms of the agreement. Mr. Speaker, all of us share the same goal; preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. That is why it is critical--as this process moves forward--that Congress act in good faith and ensure the success of this agreement. This negotiated deal, between Iran and our international partners, remains the best route to ensuring national and regional security while preventing another war in the Middle East. We simply cannot afford the alternative to this deal. Diplomacy is the best way to cut off any potential pathways to an Iranian nuclear weapon. It is the best way to ensure oversight and inspection. And it is the best way to ensure regional security. So I urge my colleagues to support the President, support our negotiators, and to give this deal the chance to succeed.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, let me just start by thanking my colleague and my neighbor in the East Bay, Congressman DeSaulnier, for organizing this very important and long overdue Special Order. Since being elected to the House, Congressman DeSaulnier, you have really been doing a phenomenal job working on behalf of your constituents on a whole range of issues as a member of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee. So I know your constituents are thanking you, but I just want to thank you for coming and hitting the ground running on so many issues, including our efforts to eliminate poverty. Also tonight, it is so important, this special hour, calling for the exoneration of these brave and courageous men. This is an issue, I must say, that I have worked on for many, many years, first as a staffer to my mentor and predecessor, Congressman Ron Dellums, and then alongside your predecessor, Congressman George Miller, who was a true leader on so many issues. Some, and you may have mentioned this earlier, may know that in 1999 we pulled together a national petition and persuaded President Clinton to pardon one of the few surviving convicted sailors affected by this tragedy. We also worked tirelessly to preserve the Port Chicago National Memorial through legislation, the Port Chicago Naval Magazine Memorial Enhancement Act, which President Obama signed into law in 2009. So I am very pleased to see that we are here tonight once again calling for justice for the African American sailors at Port Chicago. Mr. Speaker, this story needs to be told over and over and over again, as we are doing tonight. And, once again, thank you for taking that baton, continuing to fight the good fight for justice, Congressman DeSaulnier. We stand here just days before the 71st anniversary of a national tragedy that is far too often forgotten. Today we remember 320 American sailors--African American soldiers were, I think, 200 of the 320--who lost their lives in the deadliest homefront disaster of World War II. But we also remember how deeply this tragedy was marked by, yes, institutional racism and the solemn duty we have to undue the legacy of that racism today, which Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman talked about very eloquently. The Port Chicago Naval Magazine, as some may know, is located near Concord, California, right next to my congressional district. On the evening of July 17, 1944, a violent explosion ripped through the magazine, shattering piers, destroying vital ships, and blowing out windows as far away as San Francisco. As I said earlier, all in all, 320 sailors lost their lives; 200 of them were African Americans. The cause of this tragedy was inadequate training and insufficient safety precautions around handling active munitions. All of the enlisted men who were unloading the active munitions onto a cargo vessel at the time of the explosion were African American. Our Nation's then-segregated military barred African American enlisted servicemen from active naval duty and, therefore, from receiving the proper training to handle artillery. Nevertheless, White officers at Port Chicago ordered African American sailors to improperly load active munitions into ships resulting in the tragic explosion. These men died serving their country on the homefront and died because their lives and personal safety were not valued by their commanding officers. But the story does not end there. Three weeks after the tragedy, the more than 300 African Americans sailors who survived the tragedy were once again ordered to continue loading ships in the same perilous fashion. Nearly all of them stood their ground and refused to return to work without proper safety conditions and ammunition training in place. All of those who refused to go back to work in unsafe conditions were arrested, and 208 of them were sentenced to bad conduct discharges and forfeiture of 3 months' pay for disobeying orders. This is mind-boggling as I recount the history of this tonight. It is so sad. The 50 of these men who stood up for their rights and spoke truth to power about the value of their lives were charged with mutiny--mutiny, mind you--convicted and sentenced to hard labor, and dishonorably discharged from the Navy. They are now known as the Port Chicago 50. So we are here tonight, Mr. Speaker, demanding justice for their courage and recognition for their service. Instead of being cited for mutiny and dishonor, these men should be recognized for standing up to the specter of discrimination and racism in the Armed Forces. As the daughter of a retired lieutenant colonel in the Army, I remember these days very, very vividly as a child. These naval sailors, these men, showed that their courageous act of defiance really is part of the long history of people of color demanding just basic respect for their rights and their lives, which continues to this day. That is why it is so important for us to stand here tonight and remember their brave actions and how they pushed us towards progress in our Nation and the Armed Forces. But to date, only one of the Port Chicago 50 has been pardoned--only one. For the remaining 49, their families have been patiently waiting for their names to be cleared of this unjust conviction. So I urge my colleagues to join us in calling for the exoneration of these 49 sailors. These brave sailors should be remembered for their courage. They were heroes. They are heroes. They stood up in the face of discrimination and the devaluing of Black lives. We must continue to tell the story, which is far too often left out of our narratives on civil rights; military history; and, yes, California history; and the history of our Nation. As Dr. King said and, Congressman DeSaulnier, I am reminded of this tonight because you are certainly showing us that Dr. King's quote, the arc of history is long, but it bends towards justice, this is one night that you are helping to bend that arc towards justice. Thank you again, Congressman DeSaulnier, for your leadership and ensuring that not only we remember those who were lost in this tragedy, but that we move forward and exonerate each and every one of them.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 435, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 5, the so- called Student Success Act, which should really be called the Letting Our Students Down Act. Instead of making much needed improvements to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), H.R. 5 would weaken critical federal protections for our most vulnerable--including students of color, students with disabilities, low-income students, English-language learners (ELL), migrant students and LGBT students. It would gut our nation's education funding by foolishly locking in Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 funding levels for the next 6 years--with no exceptions to adjust for inflation. H.R. 5 would also divert critical Title I funds away from the highest poverty schools and districts--undermining our nation's commitment to ensuring that all students--regardless of their zip code or where they were born--should have equal access to high-quality education. This is outrageous and it is wrong. Simply put, H.R. 5 undermines our promise to students that they will have equal access to high-quality education. So let's defeat this egregious bill and work to reauthorize ESEA that will reinvest in our future, help close the achievement gap, and prepare our students for a 21st Century workforce. I urge my colleagues to vote NO on H.R. 5.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. LEE. Madam Chair, I am very pleased to offer this amendment with my colleagues, two great women, Representative Jan Schakowsky and Representative Yvette Clarke. Our amendment is very simple. It would strike a provision in this bill that applies to any policy riders included in the annual Labor, Health and Human Services and Agricultural appropriations bills to the new National Institutes of Health funds and the Federal Drug Administration funds included in H.R. 6, the 21st Century Cures Act. This provision reiterates the current law restrictions on appropriations bills, like the Hyde amendment, which is restrictive and discriminatory against low-income women to make their own reproductive healthcare decisions. Now this would apply to this new fund created for the NIH in this bill. Let's be clear what this is really about. It is yet another attempt to insert abortion restrictions and other inappropriate riders into an unrelated bill. This is a bill to increase biomedical innovative research. The 21st Century Cures Act should have been a noncontroversial, bipartisan effort. But anti-choice leaders could not help but add this to the bill after--mind you, after--it had passed out of committee on a bipartisan vote. It is really outrageous and part of a larger effort to force the inclusion of these harmful Hyde restrictions in multiple and unrelated bills. We know that these dangerous policies disproportionately affect low- income women and women of color. So our amendment is about removing these inappropriate and consistent attacks on a woman's right to make her own healthcare decisions. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' to protecting a woman's right to choose. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky), a cosponsor of this amendment.

Ms. LEE. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Clarke), another cosponsor of this amendment.

Ms. LEE. I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. DeGette), a leader of this bill and sponsor.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in the strongest possible opposition to House Republican efforts to support hate through the promotion of the Confederate battle flag. Make no mistake, the Confederate battle flag is a symbol of hate and racism. The Calvert amendment would allow for the display and sale of this symbol of hate at our national parks and Federal cemeteries. That is outrageous. This flag speaks to one of the darkest moments in our Nation's history, and its display and sale in our national parks is simply unconscionable. Today, our Nation still grieves the tragedy in Charleston, and we remember the nine lives that were tragically cut short by a person whose sole goal was hate and division. The South Carolina Legislature voted last night in a bipartisan way to take down the Confederate battle flag from the statehouse. Likewise, major retailers have removed this symbol of hate from their shelves. Yet my Republican colleagues want to return it to our national parks and Federal cemeteries. This is simply outrageous. It is past time for our Nation to get serious about putting away not only these hateful symbols, but ensuring liberty and justice for all. It is past time to take it down.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chair, let me thank our Ranking Member, Congresswoman McCollum, for her tremendous leadership of this Subcommittee. Mr. Chair, the Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Interior and Environment bill before us would place health and safety of all Americans at risk. It dangerously cuts funding by $246 million from FY 2015 levels and is $3.1 billion less than the President's FY2016 request. The deep cuts to this bill would undermine our air quality, land, water and conservation funding and will have devastating impacts on all communities in my home state of California and across the country. What's worse--this bill slashes funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by more than 700 million dollars--from FY2015 levels and funds the agency at more than a billion dollars less than the President's FY2016 request. These profound cuts would significantly harm the Clean Water Fund and the Safe Drinking Water Fund--critical programs that ensure the safety of our drinking water and our children. It also includes $40 million in cuts to the Historic Preservation Fund (HPP), which would weaken the National Park Service's (NPS) ability to preserve sites significant in the Civil Rights Movement. This includes sites like the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail, where I marched this spring to commemorate the 50th anniversary of ``Bloody Sunday.'' Furthermore, there are also egregious policy riders in this bill that would block clean air protections, such as the EPA's Clean Power Plan. Too many families, particularly those in low-income, vulnerable communities, already suffer from poor air quality because of dirty carbon pollution. We know that communities of color are disproportionately affected by pollution-related illnesses, including asthma. According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, one in six African American and one in nine Latino children suffer from asthma. There are other toxic policy riders that would block the protection of our imperiled wildlife under the Endangered Species Act, like the Greater Sage Grouse population. The Endangered Species Act is the only law that has safeguarded more than 2,000 plants and wildlife from extinction. This law enjoys broad support from nearly 85 percent of Americans. And yet here we are again, with a bill that seeks to undermine decades of animal protection and runs counter to vast public support. Mr. Chair, we need to continue to fight to defend our environment, address climate change, and make real, meaningful impacts on reducing greenhouse gas emissions so we can protect our environment, our children and our future. Unfortunately, the bill before us does just the opposite. I hope that as this process moves forward, we can address the insufficient funding allocations and backwards policy riders that would harm every American and put our precious environment at risk.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of Mr. Jose Duenas, former President and CEO of the Alameda County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Known throughout the Bay Area as a fervent Latino community leader, Mr. Duenas has left an undeniable mark on our community. With his passing on June 20, 2015, we look to honor the outstanding quality of his life's work. Born in Mexico City, Mexico on February 24, 1952, Mr. Duenas was raised in Oakland, California where he graduated from Fremont High School. He later attended California State University, Hayward and St. Mary's College of California. Upon receiving his Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Mr. Duenas went on to pursue a career in public service to develop and promote opportunities for the greater Bay Area community. During the earlier stages of his professional career, Mr. Duenas' determination and hard work led him to become a senior manager for the Port of Oakland, the fourth largest port in North America. Shortly after, he was chosen to lead the Bay Area World Trade Center as Chief Executive Officer where he coordinated trade missions to over 40 different countries. Afterwards, the Alameda County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (ACHCC) hired Mr. Duenas to represent and provide assistance to over 18,000 Hispanic owned firms. As President and Chief Executive Officer at ACHCC, he led the charge of building a sustainable economic and financial foundation for Latino businesses to grow and prosper in the Bay Area. During his tenure, he also helped create a Latino Political Action Committee to help promote Latino candidates and address key issues facing the Latino community and communities of color. Furthermore, Mr. Duenas also ran his own company, Global 8 Partners, which focuses on international trade, government affairs and Hispanic business marketing. He is survived by his two children, Nicolas and Annalisa, three sisters and one brother. I will always remember Jose's resiliency, his charisma, and passion for serving his community. Some of my most memorable moments with Jose were traveling to Mexico and Africa on the trade missions he helped organize. He truly understood the importance of international trade to the Bay Area, and he shared his knowledge with policy makers and the private sector to help spur economic growth and create jobs. His larger than life spirit will live forever and will continue to give us hope for the future. I will be forever grateful for his wise counsel and friendship. Today, California's 13th Congressional District salutes an outstanding individual and leader, Mr. Jose Duenas. Mr. Duenas' contributions have truly impacted countless lives throughout the Bay Area. I join all of Mr. Duenas' loved ones in celebrating his incredible life and offer my most sincere condolences.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Also jobs in Africa; healthcare issues like HIV and AIDS; development assistance, such as the Millennium Challenge Account. So we can't neglect Africa, and we can't allow the continent of Africa to be used as a gimmick in this overall process, which I think was very, very poor and reflects poorly on this body.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, let me thank our ranking member for yielding and for your very critical and tremendous leadership on these issues. Mr. Speaker, as a strong supporter of this African Growth and Opportunity Act, let me first say that I am extremely disappointed that AGOA was used as a bargaining chip to pass the unrelated Trade Adjustment Assistance package. AGOA has been a longtime cornerstone of the U.S.-Africa relationship. And I just have to thank Congressman Rangel and Congresswoman Bass and members of the Congressional Black Caucus who have done everything they could do, everything possible to keep AGOA a clean bill, without being loaded with non-Africa trade-related issues. Yet, in spite of these efforts, we are faced with a bill, really, that looks like a Christmas tree. But I will reluctantly vote for this because Africa deserves better. It deserves not to be caught up in the gimmicks of this body. And we will continue to fight for American jobs, American workers, and a TPP that creates jobs in America, economic growth in America, and preserves jobs in America. So this is not over. On top of the very cynical way that these trade bills have been brought to the floor, the TAA included in this bill is inadequately funded and fails to protect workers who will ultimately be displaced by massive trade agreements like the TPP--and that will happen. It is unfortunate that we have to pass a TAA to protect workers from job losses that we know will exist which we are told won't exist. So at least we need to, sooner or later, come back with a TAA that is fully funded, at least to the tune of $575 million. We have got to do that. This TAA fails to cover all workers who will adversely be affected by TPP, and it even excludes public sector employees from eligibility. This is simply wrong. We must do better. It is time for us to get real and stop putting American workers at risk with trade deals like TPP. We need an adequate trade assistance bill and a trade policy that protects and creates American jobs and economic growth in America. But, quite frankly, we have to have trade policies that create markets also for African goods, jobs in Africa.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chair, let me thank our Ranking Member, Congresswoman McCollum, for yielding, and for her tremendous leadership of this Subcommittee. Mr. Chair, the Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Interior and Environment bill before us would place health and safety of all Americans at risk. It dangerously cuts finding by $246 million from FY2015 levels and is $3.1 billion less than the President's FY2016 request. The deep cuts to this bill would undermine our air quality, land, water and conservation funding and will have devastating impacts on all communities in my home state of California and across the country. What's worse--this bill slashes funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by more than 700 million dollars--from FY2015 levels and funds the agency at more than a billion dollars less than the President's FY2016 request. These profound cuts would significantly harm the Clean Water Fund and the Safe Drinking Water Fund--critical programs that ensure the safety of our drinking water and our children. It also includes $40 million in cuts to the Historic Preservation Fund (HPP), which would weaken the National Park Services' (NPS) ability to preserve sites significant in the Civil Rights Movement. This includes sites like the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail, where many of us participated in the commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday. Furthermore, there are also egregious policy riders in this bill that would block clean air protections, such as the EPA's Clean Power Plan. Too many families, particularly those in low-income, vulnerable communities, already suffer from poor air quality because of dirty carbon pollution. We know that communities of color are disproportionately affected by pollution-related illnesses, including asthma. According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, one in six African American and one in nine Latino children suffer from asthma. There are other toxic policy riders that would block the protection of our imperiled wildlife under the Endangered Species Act, like the Greater Sage Grouse population. The Endangered Species Act is the only law that has safeguarded more than 2,000 plants and wildlife from extinction. This law enjoys broad support from nearly 85 percent of Americans. And yet here we are again, with a bill that seeks to undermine decades of, animal protection and runs counter to vast public support. Mr. Chair, we need to continue to fight to defend our environment, address climate change, and make real, meaningful impacts on reducing greenhouse gas emissions so we protect our environment, our children and our future. Unfortunately, the bill before us does just the opposite. I hope that as this process moves forward, we can address the insufficient funding allocations and backwards policy riders that would harm every American and put our precious environment at risk.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, as the mother of two black men and grandmother of two black boys, we're here to talk about a crisis in our communities: the crisis of missing black men. In order for us to understand where these men have gone, we must understand the root of the problem. Simply put, too many places in our nation are a tale of two cities. One city is bright, shiny and new-- it's home to new condominiums and fancy restaurants. The other city is littered with boarded up stores, abandoned homes, and too many people without a job and without hope. This disparity did not happen overnight. We've lived with these structural injustices for centuries. But it wasn't until race riots erupted in Watts, Chicago, and Detroit in 1968 that our government began to take notice. After the riots, President Johnson convened the Kerner Commission to investigate the root causes of the unrest. The Commission found a nation ``moving towards two societies, one black, one white, separate and unequal.'' Tragically, this report could have been written last week. In the last 50 years, these structural injustices have barely budged. And black men are still being pushed out of American society. According to a New York Times report published in April, there is an estimated 1.5 million black men aged 24-54 who are simply missing from civic life. Let me repeat--one in six black men have disappeared from civic life. 1.5 million black men missing--that can be hard to visualize. So think about it this way: There are more African-American men missing nationwide than there are African-American men residing in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Detroit, Houston, Washington D.C. and Boston, combined. Let me say that again: There are more African American men missing from our society than black men living in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Detroit, Houston, Washington D.C. and Boston--COMBINED. Many have been lost to our jails and prisons, which disproportionately incarcerate black men. And others have lost their lives far too young. Some are the victims of homicide; others, the victims of a healthcare system that fails to care for them. This is tragic--but it's hardly surprising. The inequity of opportunity for black men starts at birth. More than one in three black children are born into poverty. The cycle of poverty continues in school systems that institutionalize discrimination and racial bias. 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. And this crisis of inequality extends from education to the economy itself. Over the past four decades, the average unemployment rate for blacks has been DOUBLE the rate for white Americans. And the current unemployment rate for black men over 20 stands at 10.2 percent--that's higher than the national average at the height of the recent recession. For many black men, it feels like there is a permanent recession. In the world's richest and most powerful nation, it is simply inexcusable for the inequities to persist. Mr. Speaker--this must be our call to action. We must come together like never before to address the systemic inequalities that are endemic in our nation--inequalities that leave black men behind. We know that one in six African American men are missing because they are incarcerated or the victims of premature deaths. To start undoing this crisis, we need a coordinated approach including legislation, local programs and broad national initiatives. We must re-double our support of the President's My Brother's Keeper initiative. I encourage everyone, especially my Congressional colleagues, to encourage your local leaders to engage in this initiative, which builds ladders of opportunity and unlocks the full potential of boys and young men of color through a collaborative public-private partnership. We must also look for innovation solutions that are currently working in our communities and bring them to the national stage. I am proud that Oakland Unified School District, in my congressional district, is the first school district to have a dedicated department to address the needs of African American male students. And we need more like it across the country. These national and local initiatives are working but Congress also has a role. It's past time for us to get serious about addressing the lack of opportunity for black men and boys in this country. Right now--today--in this chamber, there is legislation that can and will start moving the needle. Legislation that will create real, good-paying jobs--legislation that will give everyone a fair chance at a job--legislation that will ensure a college degree is within reach for everyone, regardless of where they were born or what race they are. Legislation that will bring health equity and reform our broken criminal justice system. In my role as co-chair of the CBC Task Force on Poverty and the Economy and Chair of the Democratic Whip's Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality, and Opportunity, I am proud to be working with more than 100 of my colleagues, to advance policies that give black men--and really all Americans--a fair shot This work includes the Half in Ten Act (H.R. 258)--which would develop a national strategy to cut poverty in half the next decade. That's more than 22 million Americans lifted out of poverty and into the middle class in just the next 10 years by being strategic and coordinating our existing programs. We also need to raise the minimum wage--and fight for a living wage because too many Americans are working full time and still struggling to make ends meet. I am proud to cosponsor Congressman Al Green's The Original Living Wage Act (H.R. 122) and Congressman Scott's Raise the Wage Act (H.R. 2150), legislation that would increase the minimum wage for federal workers and the national minimum wage to $12 by 2020, respectively. We also need to fight against the disparities that persist in our health care system. The Affordable Care Act was a good start but more is needed. For years, the Congressional tri-caucus has championed this effort by introducing The Health Equity and Accountability Act (HEAA). Congresswoman Robin Kelly will have the honor in introducing this important legislation this Congress and I am proud to co-lead this effort as co-chair of the CAPAC Health Task Force. This important legislation builds on the Affordable Care Act and puts us on track to eliminate health disparities in our country. Lastly, we need to empower 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 towards returning some of our ``missing'' men home to their families and communities. That is why Congress should pass the bipartisan Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act (H.R. 1232), which I am a proud cosponsor of, to stop the militarization of our nation's police forces. We need to 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 there is more accountability among police officers. I was also proud to lead a letter, signed by 72 of my colleagues, urging the President to adopt a fair chance hiring policy at the federal level for individuals who have been previously incarcerated. A fair chance hiring policy would level the playing field and help stop the cycle of recidivism that's plaguing our communities. This is simply the right thing to do: the federal government shouldn't put up barriers to work for those trying to rebuild their lives after making a mistake. It is vital that Congress acts to ensure the tragedies in Ferguson, Staten Island, Oakland--in my district--and now Baltimore are not repeated. Mr. Speaker, we can end the phenomenon of the missing black male. We must keep calling for action. As Dr. King said in his ``Two Americas'' speech that he gave on April 14th, 1968 at Stanford University: `We must come to see that social progress never rolls in on the wheels of inevitability. It comes through the tireless efforts and the persistent work of dedicated individuals.' We must each be those dedicated individuals working for the social progress that is so desperately needed. I urge my colleagues: act and act now--too much is at stake.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, let me just thank Representative Rangel, a real leader and long-time supporter of AGOA, and Representative Karen Bass for their leadership on these issues. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1295, to Concur in the Senate Amendment with an Amendment to the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015. This bipartisan bill provides for a long-term extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), renews the Generalized System of Preferences, and extends the HOPE and HELP programs for products from Haiti until 2025. And as a senior member of the Appropriations Committee and the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, I know just how important these types of programs are to the U.S.-African relationship and to countries like Haiti. As my colleagues have stated, AGOA has been a cornerstone of the U.S.-African relationship and has resulted in the creation of thousands of jobs--in Africa and the United States. With continued support for AGOA, we also have the potential to increase small-and-medium businesses between U.S. and African jobs. Let me also just mention just how important the extension of the HOPE and HELP programs included in this bill are to Haiti. These programs have had a tremendous effect on Haiti's economy. Haiti's textile sector has made great progress in recent years, increasing production by 5.84% and increasing jobs by 15% in 2014 alone. And as the author of the Assessing Progress in Haiti Act, which was passed into law last year, I know we need to do everything we can to continue to support programs that would aid its economic recovery-- particularly after the devastating earthquake in 2010. I urge my colleagues to support this important bill.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, the night before last, with the whole world watching, my home team, the Golden State Warriors, brought the O'Brien Trophy back to Oakland. The Warriors, led by NBA MVP Stephen Curry, showed the power of persistence and teamwork both on and off the court. The finals against the well-matched and talented Cleveland Cavaliers were a thrill to watch. These games were basketball at its best, with both teams showing real passion on the court. It has been 40 years since Oakland last brought home the championship, and throughout this long journey, Warrior fans have stayed loyal and faithful. Thank you to the Warriors team for making our dreams of another championship a reality. I have no doubt that this remarkable team will go down in Oakland's history. Thank you to head coach Steve Kerr, Stephen Curry, Clay Thompson, finals MVP Andre Iguodala, and all of the talented players who brought this championship home. I can't wait to celebrate this win with all the Warriors fans and players at the victory parade tomorrow morning in Oakland. Go Warriors. Go Oakland. Go Dub Nation.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, first, I thank the ranking member for yielding and, once again, for his tremendous leadership. I rise in strong opposition to this bill and to once again say ``no'' to fast track. This legislation cynically uses a bill that would exempt retired Federal police officers and firefighters from paying a penalty on withdrawals from their retirement accounts if they retire after the age of 50. What does that have to do with fast track? Absolutely nothing--this is just plain wrong. What is more, we know now that the Senate is considering attaching the Trade Adjustment Assistance, or TAA, to the recently passed African Growth and Accountability Act, better known as AGOA, as a means to get this flawed trade package passed. That is why yesterday, my colleagues Congressional Black Caucus Chair Congressman Butterfield, Congresswoman Karen Bass, Congressman Keith Ellison, and myself sent a letter to the Senate leadership expressing our opposition to what they are trying to do in using AGOA as a bargaining chip. Congress of the United States, Washington, DC, June 17, 2015. Hon. Mitch McConnell, United States Senate, Washington, DC. Hon. Harry Reid, United States Senate, Washington, DC. Dear Majority Leader McConnell and Minority Leader Reid: We write to urge you to expeditiously pass H.R. 1295, the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015, without attaching unrelated amendments. If passed, the bill would go to the President and reauthorize the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) until the end of FY 2025. AGOA is too important to be used as a bargaining chip to pass unrelated trade legislation. As you know, AGOA is not controversial and passed out of the House of Representatives with almost 400 votes. AGOA is a trade preference program that is usually noncontroversial, and thus voice voted. It is the centerpiece of relations between the United States and sub-Saharan Africa. Though a small percentage of overall trade by the United States, AGOA has helped enhance trade, investment, job creation, and democratic institutions throughout Africa. In its current form, AGOA expires September 30, 2015. It is imperative that the Senate move H.R. 1295 along to reauthorize the program soon. Delays will not only negatively affect global supply chains, but also adversely affect the livelihoods of individuals whose jobs come from AGOA. The House has already passed H.R. 1295 to reauthorize AGOA. We urge the Senate to follow suit without delay and send the bill to President Obama's desk. Sincerely, GK Butterfield, Member of Congress, Karen Bass, Member of Congress, Barbara Lee, Member of Congress, Keith Ellison, Member of Congress.

Ms. LEE. AGOA is a growth and trade act. That is a trade preference program that has helped enhance trade investment and job creation to democratic institutions throughout Africa.

Ms. LEE. In no way should that be used as a bargaining chip on this bill. It is outrageous. Members should not have to choose between programs that they support, like TAA and AGOA, and then supporting fast track. These procedural gimmicks are outrageous, and they are fundamentally dishonest. If Members fall for this maneuver, we not only risk imperiling the TAA, a program that many of our constituents rely on, but also AGOA. We have got to vote ``no'' on this bill, ``no'' to attaching TAA to AGOA. Let's get back to the drawing board and come up with a real fair, free, and transparent trade bill.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, let me first thank Congressman McGovern for yielding and for his tireless effort and leadership. Also, I am proud to join with Congressman Walter Jones and, again, Mr. McGovern on this bipartisan resolution. This resolution calls only for the withdrawal of U.S. Armed Forces from Iraq and Syria by the end of the year absent, mind you--absent-- the passage of an Authorization for Use of Military Force against ISIS. However, this resolution is also about reclaiming a fundamental constitutional responsibility: the constitutionally protected right of Congress to debate and determine whether and when this country enters into war. For the last 10 months, our Nation has been fighting yet another war in the Middle East, a war that Congress has yet to authorize or even to debate. We have been patient, and we have given the House leadership plenty of time to develop a strategy to bring up an authorization. When this war began, Congressman McGovern and I wrote to the Speaker, calling for an immediate debate and vote. Nothing happened. Then at the beginning of this Congress, the Speaker said that the President had to send to Congress an authorization. More than 4 months ago, the President did just that. Once again, nothing happened. In the 10 months since the war began, we have had no real debate and certainly no vote. This is outrageous. Now, let me be clear about what we are trying to do with this resolution. This is not about making a political point. This is about forcing Congress to take up an Authorization for Use of Military Force by the end of the year and to follow through on its constitutional responsibility. It is about making us do our job. It is unfortunate that we have to do that. The timeline included in this bill gives the leadership of the House 6 months to bring forward an AUMF, but the clock is ticking. Just last week, the President announced he authorized the deployment of 450 more American troops to train and assist Iraqi forces in the fight against ISIS. Mr. Speaker, this is textbook mission creep. Mr. Speaker, we are here to say, enough is enough. After more than a decade of wars in the Middle East, thousands of U.S. lives and billions of dollars lost, the need for Congress to reclaim its war-making powers is more critical than ever. Members of Congress are sent to Washington, D.C., to make hard decisions, but in the case of war, Congress, instead, has chosen to duck its responsibilities. And let me just say, the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force--which is a blank check for endless war--has been cited as the authorization for the ongoing war against ISIS. That is why, of course, I voted against it 14 years ago and have introduced legislation every Congress to repeal this blank check for endless war. Keeping this authorization on the books indefinitely without repealing or replacing it has allowed Congress to avoid its constitutional responsibility to bring up an authorization against ISIS. From what I remember, we only had 1 hour of debate in 2001. At least, Mr. Speaker, we have 2 hours now to debate whether or not to debate an Authorization for Use of Military Force. Congress must have a role in how we do our work and what we are required to do, and that is exactly what this resolution is about. Many of us agree that a robust debate and a vote is necessary, long overdue, and must take place. During the full committee markup last week of the Defense Appropriations bill, I offered a sense of Congress amendment that simply reaffirmed that Congress has a constitutional duty to debate and determine whether or not to authorize the use of military force against ISIS. This amendment was adopted with the support of six Republicans on the committee. While we may all not agree on what an AUMF should look like, we know there is bipartisan agreement around the need for Congress to debate on a specific AUMF. We need to do our job. We know full well there is no military solution in Iraq or Syria, for that matter, and that any lasting solution must be settled in the region among warring factions. The American people deserve to know the costs and the consequences of this new war, and Members of Congress should represent their constituents by saying ``yes'' or ``no.'' This resolution is a procedural mechanism. It is unfortunate, again, that we have to do this to make us live up to our constitutional job and duty in the matters of war and peace. We need to vote ``yes'' on this resolution. It is simple. It is bipartisan. It just requires us to do our job and to exercise our constitutional responsibilities. Enough is enough. We cannot allow the American people to have no voice in what is said and what is being done with their taxpayer dollars.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of Ms. Alice Adrienne Spearman, former School Board Member for the Oakland Unified School District, OUSD. Known throughout the Bay Area as a passionate advocate for children, Ms. Spearman has left an undeniable mark in our community. With her passing on May 26, 2015, we look to honor her extraordinary life work and the lives she touched throughout her career. Ms. Spearman, a proud Oakland native, was born on November 7, 1951. She graduated from Castlemont High School in 1969 and later attended California State University, CSU, East Bay and CSU San Jose where she earned an Associate's Degree. While attending CSU San Jose, Ms. Spearman followed in her mother's footsteps and became a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority Incorporated. Upon receiving her Associates Degree, Ms. Spearman decided to pursue a career in health services and obtained her Registered Nursing, RN, License. She worked as an RN with the Department of Veterans Affairs for a decade before retiring in 1980. Ms. Spearman's love for education grew from her mother, who worked as a teacher and school principal. When Spearman's daughters attended her alma mater, Castlemont, she founded a parental patrol group to offer student behavioral assistance. She also hosted a television talk show on Soul Beat Television Network where she frequently discussed issues affecting students attending Oakland public schools. In 2004, Ms. Spearman was elected to serve the East Oakland community as a School Board Member for the Oakland Unified School District, where she served tirelessly until 2012 and in a variety of positions; including Board President and Vice President. It was here that she continued her work advocating for quality education while always championing the need for resources for Oakland students. Ms. Spearman also worked to ensure Oakland residents were given priority for construction jobs within the Oakland Unified School District. Ms. Spearman was the mother of two daughters: Kiisha Jackson and Leilani Spearman; and, a proud grandmother of four: Tanisha Barker, Jocelyn Barker, Kii'era Smith, and Jahkari Clyde Lee Smith. I will always remember Alice's determination, her optimism, and love for children. Her larger than life spirit will live forever and will continue to give us hope for the future. I will be forever grateful for her wise counsel and friendship. Today, California's 13th Congressional District salutes the legacy of Ms. Alice Adrienne Spearman. Ms. Spearman's contributions have truly impacted countless lives throughout the Bay Area. I join all of Ms. Spearman's loved ones in celebrating her incredible life and offer my most sincere condolences.