Barbara Lee

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. I want to thank the gentleman for this clarification, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE. Madam Chairman, let me thank the ranking member for yielding, for his unwavering leadership for our veterans on this committee, and for your friendship. Thank you very much, Mr. Bishop. Let me also thank Chairman Dent, in addition to Ranking Member Bishop, really for working very hard in a bipartisan way on a variety of issues facing our veterans, including empowering our vets in their transition back to civilian life and ensuring adequate and accessible access to care. As the daughter of a veteran, I understand the enormous sacrifices that our servicemembers and their families make to serve our Nation, so this subcommittee is extremely important. I want to thank the ranking member and chair for working with me and my colleagues on the subcommittee to include important report language on the backlog at the Oakland VA regional office, which is, of course, one of the worst in the Nation. I want to thank our ranking member, Congresswoman Brown, who is here today, for her leadership on the committee in shedding some light also on what is taking place at the Oakland VA regional office. This language will ensure that the Oakland office not only has to provide Congress with accurate information on what has happened with these backlogged claims, but it will require the Veterans Benefits Administration to outline the lessons learned and what the new protocols are to ensure that no veteran faces delays in accessing care. Yet, of course, insufficient allocations in this bill leave much work to be done. The 2016 MILCON-VA approps bill includes a $582 million cut from the major construction account. Now, that is half of the President's request of $1.1 billion. Simply put, the level of funds allocated in this bill is totally insufficient and, yes, it undermines the responsibility we have to provide our veterans with the best and most innovative care. As a result, the construction of vital medical facilities that will serve our veterans will be delayed. This includes the initial phase of construction for the state-of-the-art Alameda Point outpatient clinic in my own congressional district, which serves thousands of veterans in the northern California area.

Ms. LEE. Thank you very much. I just want to thank the ranking member and the chair for continuing to work with me to ensure that the limitation language in the report with regard to major construction funds for the VA does not preclude clinics like, for example, the Alameda Point outpatient clinic. Addressing the limitation language and restoring funding to the President's request level for major construction is really vital to ensuring that our Nation keeps the promise that we have made to our brave veterans to give them access to the best care. Madam Chair, we really can't afford what these cuts will do with our veterans. We can't afford to allow this dangerous and harmful impact of sequestration now to be locked in by these allocations before us today. These dismal numbers, they directly affect our veterans' access to care that they need and that they have earned. So I hope that, as this process moves forward, these insufficient allocations are resolved.

Ms. LEE. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I rise in very strong support of this bipartisan amendment, which I am very proud to cosponsor with my colleagues. This would finally put an end to the misguided VA policy that keeps our veterans from receiving the medicine that they need. To date, 23 States, the District of Columbia, and Guam have passed legislation allowing legal access to medical marijuana. What is more, similar amendments saying that the Federal Government should respect states' rights and the will of voters on this issue have passed the House with bipartisan support. This amendment represents the will of more than 70 percent of voters who support patient access to medical marijuana and is supported across party lines. Veterans should have the benefit of being able to know what the options are. So many of our veterans are suffering from PTSD and other medical problems, and possibly, this would help in terms of relieving their pain and providing for the quality of life that they so deserve. This amendment would put an end to the policy that keeps our veterans from receiving the medicine, counseling, and care they so deserve, and I hope we have an ``aye'' vote on this.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Let me thank our ranking member, first of all, for yielding, but secondly, for her unwavering leadership on this subcommittee, but also on each and every issue that we are addressing in this bill and for her leadership just in general, in terms of making sure that people who have been marginalized and who really have been victimized by this terrible recession really have opportunities into the middle class. Thank you very much, Congresswoman Kaptur. Let me thank the Chair for including language to recognize the importance of workplace diversity in the Department of Energy's National Laboratories and encouraging the Department to develop and broaden partnerships with minority-serving institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Mr. Chairman, however, I am concerned that not only does this bill maintain harmful sequester levels for funding, it also continues the pattern of inserting unnecessary policy riders into spending bills, including allowing guns to be carried on all Corps of Engineers lands. These riders are harmful and further complicate the already difficult appropriations process. Mr. Chairman, instead of trying to roll back vital environmental protections, we need to be proactive about preserving our environment for the next generation. We need to make more investments in clean energy like solar, wind, and geothermal. We need to do this to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels that release harmful, toxic methane and carbon. Pollution and smog must not be a normal way of life for our children and our children's children.

Ms. LEE. Will the gentlewoman yield?

Ms. LEE. I just thank the gentlewoman, first of all, for her visit, but also for really understanding very deeply what our labs are about and what they are really conducting not only for my district and for California, but for the country and for the world in terms of their research. I just really want to thank you because the feedback, of course, from my lab is how smart and how committed you are.

Ms. LEE. Let me thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Once again, congratulations on bringing this important bill to the floor. I wanted to thank you for the chance to really engage and for your willingness to address an issue of critical importance to the Nation's innovation and competitiveness, that is the full utilization of the Department of Energy's radiation light source national user facilities. Unfortunately, the funding level in this bill for DOE's light source scientific user facilities would not utilize our Federal investment to the fullest effect. This would lead to facilities temporarily shutting down and laying off and furloughing scientific staff. The fiscal year '15 enacted level for this program was $447 million. Now, the President has requested $477 million, but the House mark is $443 million. My colleagues and I look forward to working with you to address this issue in conference and with the Senate and to work toward a higher mark for this account, at least higher than fiscal year '15 and hopefully closer to the President's budget. Again, I want to thank you for your leadership and for your willingness to work with us on this important issue.

Ms. LEE. I yield to the gentleman from California.

Ms. LEE. I yield to the gentleman from Idaho.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary career of Dr. Ruth B. Love. Dr. Love was born in Lawton, Oklahoma, and grew up in Bakersfield, California, where she attended public schools. From a young age, Dr. Love displayed a deep passion for reading, which she transformed into a career in education. Dr. Love received her B.A. in education from San Jose State University, her M.A. in Guidance and Counseling from San Francisco State University, and her Ph.D. in Human Behavior and Psychology from the United States International University. Dr. Love began her teaching career in Oakland, California. In addition to teaching, which she enjoyed immensely, Dr. Love worked on various projects, at the local, national, and international levels. She served as the Project Director for Operation Crossroads Africa in Ghana. She was also selected for the National Fulbright Program in England, where she taught for a year and was able to travel the world. Dr. Love also took on various roles at the California State Education Department, where she served in a statewide role as Bureau Chief for Program Development. She went on to join the Federal Office of Education as National Director of the Right to Read Program, and worked with Congress to enact the National Reading Program and other important pieces of legislation. Eventually, Dr. Love was recruited to serve as Superintendent of the Oakland Unified School District, where her teaching career had begun. She served for nearly seven years, pioneering innovative programs and helping Oakland students achieve national norms on standardized tests. After much consideration, Dr. Love accepted the position of General Superintendent for the Chicago Board of Education, where she oversaw one of the largest school districts in the nation--comprising over 500 schools, 44,000 employees, and a $2 billion budget. Prior to her retirement in 2014, Dr. Love was the Founder and President of RBL Enterprises, an education consulting company. Dr. Love traveled the world extensively in this capacity, lecturing and advising on education policy. She also worked for many years as a professor in the Doctorate Programs at San Francisco State University and the University of California, Berkeley. On a personal note, I have had the privilege to be with Dr. Love in Ghana and witness the respect and love Ghanaians have for her. She is truly a citizen of the world, and has shared her knowledge and experiences with those who have not had the chance to visit Africa. Many years ago, I met Dr. Love's late mother. I will always remember the love, kindness, and selfless caregiving Dr. Love provided her mother in spite of her busy schedule. She was an inspiration to me as I had the honor to care for my late mother in her golden years. On behalf of the residents of California's 13th Congressional District, Dr. Ruth B. Love, I salute you. I thank you for a lifetime of service and congratulate you on your many achievements. I wish you and your loved ones the very best.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. First, let me thank Congressman Jeffries for his leadership in hosting this important Special Order on a critical issue facing every single member of the House--the senseless murder of our young African American male constituents and the overmilitarization of our police forces. My heart and prayers continue to go out to Walter Scott's family. Losing a loved one is always incredibly hard. But it is unbearable when a life is cut short. The unfortunate truth is the tragic death of Walter Scott is another in a series of tragedies that remind us that, to some, the lives of young black men and women do not matter. Tragedies like Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and Oscar Grant--one of my constituents--are far too common in communities across this country. As the mother of two black men and two black grandsons, I have had many uncomfortable but necessary conversations about how to walk, how to talk and how to interact with police. This is not just my reality. It is also the reality of millions of other black mothers and grandmothers. Tonight, we stand here, once again, to discuss the ongoing failures of our criminal justice system and over-use of deadly force by law enforcement across the country. In order to address the problem people need to know the facts. I applaud President Obama's Task Force on 21st Century Policing. The Task Force provided much needed recommendations, such as the creation of a National Crime and Justice Task Force that will review all components of the criminal justice system and provide recommendations on comprehensive criminal justice reform as well as renewed focus on community policing. The unfortunate facts are since President Obama's Task Force on 21st Century Policing released its report; there have been more than 100 fatal police shootings in America. Every 28 hours an African American male is killed by a security officer. 1 in 3 African American men and 1 in 6 Latino men will spend some part of their lives in prison. The truth is that disparity and inequality continue at every level of our society, especially in our criminal justice system. It's past time that Congress start enacting policies to dismantle the bias endemic in our institutions. We must come together like never before to tackle the systemic, structural and rampant racial bias endemic in our institutions and criminal justice system. We need to empower communities and work to build greater trust between law enforcement and the community, especially communities of color. 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. Congress should also work to pass the Shield Our Streets Act (H.R. 103) to increase investments in proven, community-orientated policing programs that reduce crime and increase community and law enforcement trust and understanding. Congress must work with the Department of Justice to ensure training programs are available to ALL law enforcement officials to reduce racial bias and profiling and provide law enforcement officers with the resources to address, defuse and manage situations without the unnecessary use of deadly force. We also must support funding programs that focus on increasing police force diversity and retention of qualified officers in communities. This is something that the President's Task Force recommended in its report. It is vital that Congress acts to ensure the tragedies in Ferguson, Staten Island, Oakland--in my district--and now North Charleston are not repeated. So I urge my colleagues to support these efforts that can end the structural injustice that is endemic in our criminal justice system. These events must be our call to action--as Dr. King reminded us in his ``Two Americas'' speech in 1967. He said: `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 of us, be those dedicated individuals working persistently for the social progress that is so greatly needed. Too much is at stake to do nothing--we must act and act now.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 208, the Equality for All Resolution of 2015, which is being introduced by my good friend from Indiana Mr. Carson. As a founding member and Vice Chair of the LGBT Equality Caucus and representative of a diverse and vibrant LGBT community in California's 13th Congressional district, I strongly support this legislation. It is a shame and a disgrace that in 2015, after the LGBT community has made such enormous strides towards equal protections under the law, that we continue to see discriminatory legislation advanced in states like Indiana and Arkansas. At a time when what we truly need is comprehensive legislation to ensure that LGBT individuals are treated and protected, intolerance is sadly being codified in law under the false flag of religious liberties. I am glad that the national reaction to discriminatory RFRA laws was swift and disapproving, from businesses and individuals, to governments and communities. I was proud that the City of Oakland located in my district, banned city-funded travel to Indiana in the wake of the state's discriminatory statute. Now, Congress must respond by sending a strong message that we will not stand for prejudice and small-mindedness. This resolution is a step in the right direction. It outlines the need for LGBT people to receive full protections under the law and urges comprehensive legislation to prohibit discrimination in areas where unequal treatment against LGBT people is still the law of the land. I thank the gentleman from Indiana as well as my fellow colleagues in the LGBT Equality Caucus for introducing this important resolution and urge my colleagues to lend it their support.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Let me thank you, Congresswoman Watson Coleman, for yielding and for hosting this important Special Order on the need to provide all Americans a good-paying job and the right to form a union. I want to thank you for your tremendous leadership each and every day, for making sure that we stay on point on all of these economic issues that mean so much to people who are working yet still live below the poverty line. So thank you again. This afternoon, the Congressional Progressive Caucus, which I am proud to serve as the whip of, welcomed experts and low-wage workers to the Hill for a forum. Now, each of the workers told powerful stories, and I hope that these are stories that Members here on both sides of the House will listen to. They spoke of struggling to get by, despite working full time on paychecks that are just too small. I hope we will take their struggles to heart and join the Congressional Progressive Caucus in our efforts to ensure a good-paying job for all Americans. Too many Americans are still struggling to find a job that pays more than the bare minimum. They don't want to just get by. They want to get ahead, and they want to live the American Dream. They deserve to live the American Dream. They are looking for a job that pays an actual living wage, a job that will provide them with paychecks big enough to lift themselves out of poverty into the middle class, a job where they can take care of their families and make sure the bills are paid, and maybe save for retirement. These are American values that everyone wants to live by and to achieve. A few decades ago, these jobs were accessible to most Americans. Yet, because of the Great Recession and wage stagnation, too many Americans are working harder and harder for paychecks that keep them trapped in poverty. In the world's richest and most powerful Nation, this really is a disgrace. A report released just 2 days ago from the University of California at Berkeley, in my district, found that allowing companies to pay workers wages that keep them in poverty costs taxpayers $152 billion a year. That is outrageous. Instead of doing the right thing and paying for a living wage, these corporations are reaping record corporate profits while leaving families to struggle and taxpayers on the hook. Now, as a former small-businessowner myself, I can tell you that paying poverty wage is no way to run a business. Paying a living wage with benefits is good for business, and it is the right thing to do. As we continue to build support for the Good Jobs Movement, I know that more and more businessowners will see the benefit of paying a living wage and will join our cause. Everyone deserves a job that allows them to make a living and provides them with the right to form a union. It is the economically sensible thing to do. You can ask any college or high school student who has taken Economics 101. When we empower workers to fight for themselves and provide them a big paycheck, our country becomes fairer and our economy grows. People who are working should not be living below the poverty line. So $15 an hour, that is the minimum that we should be paying our workers. Certain parts of the country, $15 an hour just barely, barely helps them put food on the table. So we need to get to a living wage, and we need to talk about what that means in different parts of the country. So I want to thank you, again, Congresswoman Watson Coleman, for your leadership, for bringing us together. We have got to stay focused on this because everyone deserves a path out of poverty into the middle class. Everyone in our country deserves to live the American Dream.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, first, let me thank Congresswoman Robin Kelly and Congressman Donald Payne, Jr. for hosting this important Special Order. I appreciate your leadership in organizing this important discussion on the state of Black Health in America. Madam Speaker, every April, we observe National Minority Health Awareness Month. This year is particularly significant as we mark 30 years since the groundbreaking Health and Human Services Task Force on Black and Minority Health report. This report sparked the first serious discussion in Washington on addressing the deep racial health disparities that exist in this country. This year also marks 50 years since the creation of Medicare and Medicaid--programs that have kept and continue to keep Americans healthy. We are also celebrating the fifth year anniversary of the passage of the Affordable Care Act--the most significant legislation to improve the health of all Americans in more than a generation. These legislative achievements continue moving us closer to health equity for all--however, major health disparities still exist. The zip code in which you are born still determines your likely life expectancy. Gross disparities exist from zip code to zip code--even within the same city or county. So today, I rise to join my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus to bring to light the state of Black health in America and call for more action to address persistent and lingering disparities in health access, treatment and care. Since the passage of The Affordable Care Act, access to care has dramatically expanded in communities of color. The uninsured rate has declined 7.3 percent in the African American community. And more people have access to affordable, quality healthcare--all thanks to the Affordable Care Act. When we were crafting the Affordable Care Act, I had the privilege of serving as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. And let me tell you, we worked day and night with our colleagues in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, to push Congress and the Administration to craft the best possible bill. Since its passage, the Affordable Care Act has improved the American health care system: Healthcare is now more affordable and accessible than ever Women can no longer be discriminated against because they are a woman, have a pre-existing condition--such as HIV/AIDS--or have been the victim of domestic violence; Young people can stay on their parent's health insurance until they are 26; and People with serious conditions, like cancer, no longer face the real fear of hitting their lifetime cap and being denied life-saving treatment. The ACA also expands the capacity of the healthcare delivery system to better serve those at risk for and living with HIV/AIDS. These are the facts. The Affordable Care Act has dramatically increased access to preventative care for women, low-income communities, and people of color. Despite rabble-rousing and grandstanding from the right, this law is saving lives--every, day, in communities across America--from Maine to my district in the East Bay. During the last enrollment period, 16.4 million Americans obtained health insurance, and more than half a million came from my home state of California. Make no mistake--the Affordable Care Act is working. African Americans and Latinos, historically underinsured or uninsured groups, have seen the greatest declines in their uninsured rates. This is especially good news for African Americans who are living with HIV, where the key to halting the epidemic is access to affordable and quality care. With this increase in coverage, we are beginning to close the gap in racial and ethnic health disparities and access to care. However, much work remains to truly realize health equity in America. Right now--in America, the richest and most powerful country in the world--African Americans still suffer from disproportionately high numbers of preventable deaths, disparities in access to quality health care, and underrepresentation within the medical community. African Americans have the highest mortality rate of any racial and ethnic group from cancer. Furthermore, African-Americans are 40% more likely to die from a stroke than whites, and 30% more likely to die from heart disease than whites. And while African Americans are only 13% of the U.S. population, they account for nearly half of all new HIV infections. African Americans also account for the highest HIV-related deaths and HIV death rates. Madam Speaker--this is unacceptable. In an age where technology and innovation are paving the way to new medical breakthroughs, these persistent disparities in healthcare cannot be allowed to continue. That is why today, I urge my colleagues: Let's work together and commit ourselves to passing legislation that will end racial and ethnic disparities and achieve health equity. 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. The Health Equity and Accountability Act would address incidences of terminal and chronic diseases that disproportionally affect communities of color, including cancer, diabetes, heart disease and HIV/AIDS. So, in recognition of National Minority Health Awareness Month, I urge my colleagues to support this important bill in order to truly achieve health equity for all. Madam Speaker, the state of black health in America is improving, but much work remains before us. As our drum major for justice, Dr. King, told us, ``of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.'' I urge my colleagues to join us in securing health equity for all.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Let me thank the gentleman for yielding, and also thanks to you and Congressman Grijalva for your tremendous leadership of the Progressive Caucus and for crafting this people's budget--which is a people's budget. Today, millions of Americans are working hard and still struggling to make ends meet, and millions are working hard trying to find a job. Paychecks are shrinking while corporations reap record profits. Instead of developing a budget to create jobs and help American families, the House Republican budget ``balances'' the budget once again on the backs of the most vulnerable to protect giveaways to special interests and the wealthy few. The CPC's people's budget stands in stark contrast to the House Republican budget. This is a moral document. It reflects our values as a nation. It creates more than 8 million good-paying jobs. It includes a plan to lift more than 22 million Americans out of poverty over the next 10 years. It restores funding for SNAP and opens educational opportunity to all. It ends the Pentagon's slush fund, known as the overseas contingency account, that for far too long has padded the wallets of defense contractors at taxpayer expense. It also tackles waste, fraud, and abuse at the Pentagon by demanding audit readiness. Make no mistake: the people's budget does what the House Republican budget does not. It works for American families, not special interests, defense contractors, or the 1 percent. I urge my colleagues to do what is best for all American families, and that is support this amendment.

Ms. LEE. I thank the gentleman from Virginia for yielding, and I also thank him for his tremendous leadership in continuing to craft the Congressional Black Caucus' budget and also for his work as ranking member on the Education and the Workforce Committee. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of this amendment and of the Congressional Black Caucus' alternative budget. I want to, once again, commend Congressman Bobby Scott for leading us to this point and for putting together a budget which really is a budget that reflects our values as a Nation. As a member of the Budget and Appropriations Committees and as chair of our Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality, and Opportunity, I know that our national budget is a moral document and a statement of our national priorities. The budget that my Republican colleagues have put forward does nothing for families struggling to find a job or those living in poverty. Instead, it includes draconian cuts to programs which, over the last 50 years, cut poverty by one-third, thanks to the War on Poverty. The Republican plan cuts the safety net while 45 million people still are living in poverty. Mr. Chairman, poverty in the African American community is 27.2 percent. In the Latino community, it is 23.5 percent. Our budget addresses this problem with the Half in Ten plan. By coordinating Federal programs and agencies under a national strategy, we will cut poverty by 50 percent in one decade. That is 22 million people lifted out of poverty in the next 10 years. This budget outlines a clear package for eradicating poverty rather than foolishly turning vital programs into block grants. We expand food assistance for our children and seniors. We extend unemployment compensation for those still looking for work following the recent recession. We give America a raise and, thereby, boost our economy, because no one should be working and living in poverty. With regard to the Pentagon, we require that we audit the Pentagon and encourage DOD to implement remaining GAO recommendations that would likely lead to tens of billions in cost savings by bringing a culture of financial accountability to the Pentagon. As in the previous budgets, the CBC invests savings from cuts in the ballistic missile defense program to be used by the Defense Department to implement the remaining GAO recommendations.

Ms. LEE. I thank the gentleman from Virginia. Also, let me just say, our budget employs the 10-20-30 formula championed by our leader, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn). By directing at least 10 percent of Federal spending into areas with poverty rates of more than 20 percent over the last 30 years, we will make progress toward ending entrenched and generational poverty that hurts families and communities. A vote for the CBC budget really is a vote with the conscience of the Congress. It is a message to the American people that you stand with those who are working hard to find a job or working hard at a job with low wages. It is a message to the country that balancing the budget on the backs of the most vulnerable to keep giveaways to the superwealthy is unacceptable, and that is not the American way.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chair, I thank Mr. Van Hollen for his leadership as our Ranking Member on the Budget Committee and I thank him for his commitment to helping America's working families. Mr. Chair, as I've said--our budget is a statement of our national priorities. The Republican budget tells the American people that our priority lies with the wealthy, special interests, and the top one-percent. The House Republican Budget is rigged against American families. It continues the failed austerity cuts that drive families further into poverty. It forces draconian cuts on the poor, while offering more handouts to the wealthiest Americans. It keeps special interest tax breaks while claiming that there is not enough left to educate our young people. It is really unconscionable. By contrast, the Democratic Alternative Budget demonstrates a true commitment to our American ideal of opportunity for all. Our budget invests in families--too many of whom are making low wages and living below the poverty line. Our budget invests in our future by providing much-needed investments in our roads and bridges. It expands proven anti-poverty programs like the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit to create pathways out of poverty. And it increases funding for early childhood education, including the President's Early Childhood Education Initiative, so every toddler is prepared to start and succeed in school. Finally--it includes comprehensive Immigration reform, which House Republicans have allowed to languish for two years since the Senate passed bipartisan reforms--so families can come out of shadows and have a shot at the American Dream. This budget says that every single American--not just the wealthy few--deserves a chance to succeed. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. The Civil Rights Act, the Criminal Justice Act, Food Stamp Act, Older Americans Act, Social Security amendments, Voting Rights Act, HUD, all of these programs, Higher Education Act, these are initiatives that you are cutting that provide pathways out of poverty. This Republican budget balances on the backs of the most vulnerable to preserve tax loopholes for the superwealthy and slush funds for Pentagon contractors. I urge a ``no'' vote on the rule and on this budget. List of War on Poverty Programs: the Civil Rights Act (1964); the Urban Mass Transportation Act (1964); the Criminal Justice Act (1964); the Food Stamp Act (1964); the Older Americans Act (1965); Social Security Amendments (1965); the Voting Rights Act (1965); the Housing and Urban Development Act (1965); the Public Works and Economic Development Act (1965); the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act (1965); the Amendment to the Immigration and Nationality Act (1965); the Higher Education Act (1965); the Child Nutrition Act (1966); the Child Protection Act (1966); and the National School Lunch Act (1968).

Ms. LEE. Why do I oppose the rule? I oppose the rule, first, because this rule, if it moves forward, would allow for the Republican budget, which we know could pass this body, with these huge cuts. I think we need to go back to the drawing board and minimally put back and restore cuts to the SNAP program. Any budget that has SNAP cuts, cuts to Pell grants, does not invest in infrastructure, any budget that does that, regardless of the budgets that have been put forward, I don't want to see this debate put forward with those cuts in place.

Ms. LEE. I want to thank the gentlewoman for yielding and for making it very plain in terms of what their budget does and does not do. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this rule and the underlying bill. Yes, I am a member of the Budget Committee and the Appropriations Committee, and I know that our national budget is a statement of our national priorities and our values. And I know very well that the Republican budget is full of misplaced priorities and it is not a moral document. This budget should not be rigged in favor of special interests and the wealthy few, but the Republican budget is. Our Nation's budget should prioritize working families, too many of whom are making low wages and living below the poverty line. It should assist those working hard to find a job and invest in workforce training, job training, and job creation. Instead, this Republican budget keeps tax breaks for corporations and the superwealthy. Our budget should open educational opportunities for all, but the Republican budget slashes Pell grants that Congress has already paid for by $89 billion. A budget--a moral document--a budget that invests in the American people should invest in our Nation's crumbling infrastructure, but the Republican budget cuts funding for our roads, our bridges, and our rail. It should contain a serious and effective strategy to end poverty if we really believe that our budget is a reflection of our values and is a moral document. The House Republican budget offers none of these. In fact, it slashes programs that support low-wage workers and people working hard to find a job. These families shouldn't have to go hungry; yet, because their wages are so low, they need food stamps. By cutting $150 billion from SNAP, this budget creates more hunger and more poverty for people who are working. Many of the programs in this budget are a legacy of the War on Poverty, which cut the poverty rate in our country by one-third in 50 years. Let me just read the list of programs that you are cutting and what the War on Poverty listed.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, first, let me thank Congresswoman Robin Kelly for hosting this important Special Order. I appreciate your leadership in organizing today's important discussion. Last weekend, I had the honor of joining more than one hundred members of Congress, faith leaders and activists, to honor Bloody Sunday and the march from Selma to Montgomery. We gathered in Selma to celebrate and honor the courage of ordinary Americans willing to face tear gas, billy clubs, and risk their lives to ensure equal treatment under the law. The march from Selma to Montgomery helped change the course of history. They faced extreme opposition and their actions that day on Edmund Pettus bridge proved that non-violent change is possible. Ten days after the march from Selma to Montgomery, President Lyndon Johnson sent to Congress the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a cornerstone of our democracy. In the 50 years since Bloody Sunday, our nation has made significant progress. To deny this progress, as the President mentioned in his speech in Selma, is to rob us of our own agency, our own capacity, and what we can do to make America better. As we pause to mark this important anniversary and reflect on its effect on history, we know that the battle for full voting rights wages on. When the Supreme Court struck down the pre-clearance formula, states can change their election laws without prior federal approval--the ruling gutted the heart of the Voting Rights Act. The Voting Rights Act pre-clearance requirement afforded millions of voters confidence that roadblocks will not be thrown in their way as they try to exercise their fundamental right to vote. It provided voters with the knowledge that the federal government can be a backstop against oppressive laws and prevent voter discrimination before it happened. Now voter suppression is once again rearing its ugly head in the form of registration restrictions, voter ID laws, decreased access to early voting and racially-motivated redistricting that is stopping people from their right to vote. Now, I was born and raised in Texas and I vividly remember the days of Jim Crow, segregation, and poll taxes. The tactics being used today may be more subtle; but they serve the same purpose: to prevent Americans from exercising their fundamental right to vote. Mr. Speaker--Enough is enough. As the heirs of the civil rights movement, we cannot allow these assaults to stand. We must be defiant. We must stand up to those that want to turn back the clock and restrict our right to vote. We have come too far to go back now. Sadly, voting rights is not the only place that inequality exists. More than 45 million Americans are still living in poverty. African Americans have a poverty rate that is nearly three times the poverty rate of white Americans. The 10.4 percent unemployment rate among African Americans is nearly twice the national average. Discrimination and racial bias remains endemic in our justice system. We can start to address these issues this year--by working to restore the Voting Rights Act. One hundred members of Congress visited Selma to commemorate Bloody Sunday and as President Obama eloquently stated, we must go back to Washington and gather four hundred more. We can restore this law by passing a bipartisan bill, H.R. 855, The Voting Rights Amendment Act, which I am a proud cosponsor. This bill will help undo some of the damage done by the Supreme Court's decision. Just as Congress acted 50 years ago after the stirring events in Selma, Congress must act today to address the issues facing our nation. Mr. Speaker--We cannot afford to backslide on the progress we have made. We cannot afford to lose the prize that our forefathers and mothers fought, bled and died to obtain and preserve. We must stand together--stronger than ever--to raise our voices, march in the streets, and cast our ballots to demand change. I am reminded of Dr. King's ``Two Americas'' speech on April 14th, 1967 at Stanford University, when he said: 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 rededicate ourselves to persistently working for progress, equality and justice. The American dream of equality, freedom, liberty, justice and life for all can and should be more than just words. It should be a promise to all Americans, regardless of the color of their skin or where they were born.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I was not present for roll call votes 100-106 due to a family emergency. Had I been present, I would have voted no on #100, no on #101, no on #102, no on #103, no on #104, yes on #105, and yes on #106.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I was not present for roll call votes 91-99 due to a family emergency. Had I been present, I would have voted no on #91, no on #92, no on #93, no on #94, yes on #95, no on #96, yes on #97, yes on #98, and yes on #99.