Gregory Meeks

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I was pleased to have my office participate in the Democratic Whip Office's fifth annual ``Member Online All-Star Competition.'' I applaud my colleagues for a friendly and spirited three week competition, and I congratulate the All-stars who led House Democrats in collectively acquiring over 213,000 new followers on social media. I am always delighted to find new ways to engage my constituents and all Americans. To that end, my staff did an outstanding job making many new connections. I especially commend Ladan Ahmadi in my office for her tremendous effort to take us to the final round with our Vine video. I thank the Democratic Whip for building on and fostering comity in the People's House. I know that we are all better off for it, and our work on the behalf of the American people is enhanced by it.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce H. Res. 699, Welcoming African leaders to the first United States-Africa Leaders' Summit and African trade ministers to the 13th Forum of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). At the start of the new millennium, the United States Congress enacted the African Growth and Opportunity Act--AGOA--with broad, bipartisan support and with a view to expanding growth and opportunity in Africa like never before. In this legislation, Congress called for the establishment of high-level dialogues, including regular meetings by the President with his African counterparts. Now, fourteen years later, that vision is coming true. Next week, the largest delegation of African heads-of-state in United States history will make its way to the White House. This will truly be a great day for America and a great day for our friends and partners from across the African continent, and I take immense pleasure in welcoming this historic delegation to our nation's capital. Africa has six of the ten fastest growing economies in the world, over one billion people, sixty percent of the world's uncultivated agricultural land, and is likely to replace China as the biggest contributor to the global workforce by 2050. The people of Africa share the hopes and aspirations of all Americans for peace and prosperity across both our lands, and they are committed to strengthening economic relations through mutually beneficial trade and investment opportunities which promote economic growth, development, poverty reduction, democracy, stability, and the rule of law. The African Growth and Opportunity Act is one of those opportunities, and I would like to use this chance to emphasize the importance of renewing AGOA well before its expiration in September 2015. Since the passage of AGOA, U.S. exports to sub-Saharan Africa have increased from $6.9 billion to $23.9 billion, per capita income in sub-Saharan Africa has more than tripled, and U.S. investment in sub-Saharan Africa has increased six-fold. Mr. Speaker, this Resolution, which already has broad, bipartisan support, recognizes the significant progress and hope that modern Africa represents today in global affairs and economic advancement with its booming demographics, increasing modernization, dynamic youth, and vast resources; and it acknowledges the many paths available for boosting cultural, trade, and economic relations and partnerships between the United States and Africa. It is in the economic and national security interests of the United States to engage and compete in emerging African markets, to foster U.S.-Africa trade and investment, to support greater capacity building for Africa, and to invest in Africa's youth and emerging leaders. It is also in our national interest to advocate good governance, a respect for human rights and constitutional term limits, and support for civil society organizations which contribute to enduring economic and social development. Mr. Speaker, this Resolution demonstrates that the United States Congress stands beside Africa in promoting peace and prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic. I look forward to your timely support of H. Res. 699 on the eve of the United States-Africa Leaders' Summit, as we prepare to welcome our African friends and partners to this nation's great capital for a truly historic occasion. Thank you very much.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to be here today and to have the opportunity to speak about something very important both to me and to many of the constituents I serve in New York's Fifth District: the Cyprus settlement talks. I'm here to tell you that I am following the negotiations carefully--that I am ready to lend my support in any way I can. And I am here to tell you that America wants these talks to be successful--that America is engaged. Mr. Biden's visit in May was the first by an American Vice-President in over 50 years, and that says a lot. Finding a fair and mutually acceptable resolution to the situation in Cyprus is a priority at the very highest levels of our government--and we will not rest until we succeed. I am also here to tell you that I'm hopeful. I have not forgotten the false-starts of the past, nor am I naive about the difficulties which lie ahead, but I am hopeful that Cyprus has turned a corner--that things are different this time. I'm optimistic that there's a real chance for progress. Not long after Mr. Biden departed Cyprus, in fact, Greek Cypriot President Mr. Anastasiades and his Turkish Cypriot counterpart, Mr. Eroglu, agreed to meet at least twice a month to discuss how they could build trust between the two sides. I commend both leaders for taking this step, and I express my utmost support for continuing an open and honest dialogue. I am also hopeful because at no other time during the 40 years Cyprus has been divided was reaching a settlement so critical. For millennia Cyprus has been at the crossroads of civilization. It has been a hub of commerce and a strategic waypoint for all who transited the Mediterranean. And it remains so today, but with even greater strategic implications. Located at the nexus of Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, Cyprus is a vital source of stability and security in one of the world's most volatile regions. And with a robust free-market, services-based economy and newly discovered natural gas reserves, Cyprus stands to benefit greatly from increasing ties with the international community, especially the Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership--a free trade agreement I strongly support. But Greek and Turkish Cypriots alike are being denied the bright future they deserve. It is time to come to the negotiating table ready to make compromises, ready to make progress. It is time to reunify Cyprus based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation, as called for by multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions. It is time to turn a page in Cyprus' history and find out what great surprises the next chapter holds in store. I stand by my friends and colleagues in Cyprus and the Cypriot diaspora--ready to read that next chapter. And America stands by too-- determined to deepen the partnership between our two great countries, eager to see just how much we can accomplish when we work together.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, this week marks 3 long months since nearly 300 Nigerian school girls were kidnapped and have since been held captive by Boko Haram. One day is too long, but yet 3 months have dragged on since this unconscionable crime and these families are still broken. I stand here now--with as much urgency as ever--with Nigerians, with the girls' parents, and with the rest of the world asking please bring back our girls. We must not lose focus, we must send a clear message that these acts will not be tolerated and we will join on a multi-national front in order to reunite these girls with their families. As a father of 3 young women I can only imagine the heartache and pain of the affected parents and communities and the terror felt by the girls, it is for them that I stand here today. This unthinkable crime is not only an unconscionable act against humanity but also against international law and we must stay vigilant until Boko Haram is brought to justice. I am encouraged by the leadership of President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry in their commitment of resources to help find these girls. I will continue to support any action that the U.S. can take to ensure their safe return. I stand strong with Nigerians, and those protesting internationally, to bring back our girls and make sure their deplorable captors are brought to justice.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Chair, here I stand in support of an amendment to the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriation Act. Specifically, the proposed amendment would strike Section 539 of this bill to allow funding to be used to mandate reporting to the Justice Department the name of an individual who has purchased multiple long- barreled arms in five days. The Republicans attempted to disallow the Justice Department from keeping these records, even though these records are crucial in cracking down on gun trafficking and straw purchasing. I stand in the wake of another unconscionable mass shooting. A recent wound not yet healed, our nation still mourns the lives that were cut short by a mentally unstable gunman. I stand not only as a Member of Congress but also as a concerned United States citizen, outraged by the fact that no measures have been taken to defend our nation's people against gun violence. I stand just as many of my distinguished colleagues have, to implore the Republicans to finally pass gun control legislation. I also stand in frustration, knowing that the Republicans will decry such acts of violence as the recent UC-Santa Barbara massacre but will refuse to take action to protect our nation's innocent citizens. I will do everything in my power to convince my colleagues on the other side of the aisle that it is our duty, as Members of Congress, to defend our nation's people while also upholding the second amendment of our Constitution. Dare I invoke the names of the hundreds of victims of mass-shootings in the last few years? Should I mention the alarming number of Americans murdered by guns every day which averages to more than 30 people? Or perhaps I should comment on the startling statistic that 140 Americans are taken to the emergency room every day to be treated for a gun assault. Of course, Republicans are aware of the thousands of people who are injured and murdered by guns every year. They know the toll that gun violence is taking on the American people. I am sure they also acknowledge that their pillar of conservatism, the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, supported gun control. Yet, Republicans still attached a gun rider to this bill to bolster their NRA ratings at the risk of the safety of the American people. They don't seem to care that less than a week ago, an individual documented for struggling with mental illnesses legally purchased a firearm and proceeded to use said firearm to deprive families of their loved ones. Well, according to the FBI, more than 400 people were murdered in my home state of New York in 2012 alone and I am outraged. It is in the honor of the victims of the UC-Santa Barbara tragedy and their families that I support this amendment. It is in the honor of those lost in other tragedies, who are not forgotten, and all victims of gun violence and their families who have wept at funerals that I support this amendment.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. It is my sincere hope that dialogue can be successful, but in moments like this, I hope that we understand that unilateral sanctions would be another policy mistake--a costly mistake that we can and should avoid.

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor today to oppose H.R. 4587, the Venezuelan Human Rights and Democracy Protection Act. And while I am deeply troubled by the violence that erupted in Venezuela at the onset of protests months ago, and I join all of the people of Venezuela in mourning the loss of many lives, I also join all the people of Venezuela in the desire to see peaceful protests and a peaceful outcome, and that violence by anyone and everyone cease. I remain committed to doing everything in my power to support a positive outcome in that nation. But I believe vehemently that unilateral action by the United States is not the answer, and that is why this bill is not the right step to take. I know that there are high emotions on all sides of this issue, and I understand why, but the House should not act emotionally, it should act judiciously. This bill does not advance U.S. interests, it will not help the people of Venezuela, and it sends the message to our regional allies that we don't care much about what they think. And these are allies, these are friends. Moreover, the Obama administration has the authority to do what this bill calls for right now, and the administration has shown its willingness to use its authority. So what, then, is our objective? Is it intended to push Venezuela to the brink? What would that do for the Venezuelan people and the region? Now, I have spoken to all of our major allies in the region, and I have yet to hear any support by them for sanctions, but there is strong support for multilateral engagement. Our allies do not want to see the situation in Venezuela worsen. The unilateral sanctions bill we are considering today is misguided in that it is an unfortunate reminder of the history of U.S. arrogance in the Western Hemisphere. We have a legacy in the Americas that is riddled with long-lasting consequences. That legacy has left us with a trust deficit. Today, we are considering a bill that does nothing to build that trust. Our standing in our own hemisphere will never improve unless or until we build that trust. While we pursue these sanctions, our allies are actively supporting dialogue. Members of this very body have made it a point to denounce and even condemn some regional organizations. Yet, one of those organizations, along with the Vatican, has managed to be the facilitator of engagement between some of the opposition and some in the Government of Venezuela. UNASUR, in its mediation efforts, continues to urge dialogue between all parties, and it is my sincere hope that dialogue can be successful.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. I want to thank the gentleman from Illinois, from the great city of Chicago, who long before he came to Congress, as a member of the Chicago City Council, spoke truth to power. And the words he has just articulated, that we should never forget that we will make sure that we are our brothers' keeper, that we need not have what I would call a gang mentality ourselves, that simply because someone is away across the ocean, may not look like some of us look, may not talk or speak the way we speak, that when we see evil, we won't stand silently by. We will stand against it and fight. Dr. King once said that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, and so it is that evil anywhere is a threat to all of us everywhere. Yesterday, Rwanda launched a week of official mourning to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the genocide which left 800,000 people dead and changed the face of a nation forever, and I want the people of Rwanda to know that I stand in solidarity with them during this week of mourning. But I will also stand with them next week, and I will stand with them the week after that, and I will stand with them the week after, because what happened during the spring and summer of 1994 is too important to be mourned only on an anniversary. The tragic consequences of ethnic hatred and violence must never be forgotten, for we must never allow the events of 1994 to be repeated-- not in Rwanda or anywhere else. We must, once and for all, put all racial and ethnic strife behind us as we strive for a better and a brighter future for our children and grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, we have, in this Chamber today, one whose voice has always spoken about justice, one whose actions were to feed those who were hungry, clothe those who had no clothes, and put a roof over the head of those who were homeless. We have in the Chamber today, Mr. Speaker, an individual who didn't sit idly by and quietly when he saw injustices take place here in America. He stood up and was counted for. He wasn't silent and inactive as, unfortunately, the world was in 1994. He stood up. He put his life on the line and said: I must have a voice for the voiceless. He is an American hero whom I, with pleasure, am able to tell my children that I serve in the United States House of Representatives with an American hero, an American icon. I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rush), an icon, a true American hero, a fighter for justice, and a man who is committed to Almighty God.

Mr. MEEKS. Thank you, Mr. Rush. I thank you for having the broad shoulders that I stand on and for being here. Let me wrap up. Over the last several months, thousands of Rwandans have watched as a torch symbolizing the memory of those who perished, known as the Flame of Remembrance, was passed hand to hand, village to village, across the nation. In a fitting climax to its journey, that torch finally arrived yesterday at the National Genocide Memorial beneath dark skies and a gentle rain. But the rain did not distinguish the flame, nor will it for the next 100 days. The Flame of Remembrance will burn in Rwanda's capital of Kigali and remind the world of the 100 days of violence which marred its streets 20 years ago. Let us work together to make sure, Mr. Speaker, that it never happens again and that we can live in peace. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Cleaver for giving his voice of remembrance, his voice of comfort, his voice of concern, his voice that says this terrible genocide shall never happen again, nor should anybody who is of the human species sit back and allow such a tragedy to occur as what happened 20 years ago when, simply because of being a member of a different tribe, people were killed. When I visited Rwanda, I had the opportunity to go to the museum where memorials were set up, but you saw the remains, the bones, of a number of individuals that were slaughtered, and you also learned the history of what took place in Rwanda, how the people were taught, especially during colonization, to make one feel that they were better than the other and one should rule over the other. And it went on to such a time when people started to cry out for equality and democracy moving on, and just because they happened to be of a different tribe, the Hutu majority, to terminate the Tutsi ethnic group. Tragedy. Husbands turning in their wives, wives turning in their husbands where there were mixed groups, feeling one was superior to the other. Tragedy. Yet, the global community sat silently on the sidelines--sat silently on the sidelines. Mr. Speaker, at this time, before I say more, I see the distinguished gentleman from the great State of Illinois and the city of Chicago, and I yield to the Honorable Danny Davis.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, let me first thank Ranking Member Waters and my good friend, Michael Grimm, for working collectively to make this bill happen. You see, it was just 17 months ago that residents in my congressional district, the Fifth Congressional District of New York, and others throughout America were devastated by Superstorm Sandy. Little did they know then that they were about to be hit by another storm. Then came FEMA with astronomical rate increases to their flood insurance program. Two strikes in the midst of severe recession, and many of them were out. This bill, today, once we pass it, and once the Senate passes it, it will finally give relief to individuals who were wondering what they were going to do, many whom had to pay already these astronomical rates. Help is on its way. You will get reimbursed. Many who did not know what the values of their property would be and, if they choose down the road to sell it, whether they would be able to do it. Help is on its way. This bill fixes that. I congratulate both sides.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, last week, I received hundreds of calls and emails from my constituents across the Rockaway Peninsula, Broad Channel, and Jamaica Bay in New York's Fifth Congressional District. Most had been struck hard by the devastation of Superstorm Sandy, and were eagerly hopeful that relief was finally underway with the Senate's passage of the flood insurance relief bill. My constituents then asked: How long will it take, and when will the House pass the Senate bill? Why is the House not taking up the Senate bill, or why is it being delayed? Let's put politics aside because, if there is ever an issue that should not involve politics, it is this issue, because this storm struck Democrats and Republicans. It struck everybody--rich and poor. Everybody was affected by it. So when will we put those differences aside so that we can get something done? ``Why?'' they ask, Madam Speaker. It is time for us to respond to these Americans who have suffered too long and who need relief now. It is time we hear the voices of hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens who have been devastated by the unintended consequences and the botched implementation of the Biggert- Waters Flood Insurance Act that led to dramatic increases in the cost of flood insurance. It is time that we on this side of the Capitol take up this legislation and address the problem before one more family suffers from increased premiums, depressed home prices, or the inability to sell their home. I hope that, unlike what took place when we initially asked for relief, it is not the most extreme wing of the Republican Party that is blocking or stopping real relief for our Nation's homeowners and that we pass this important reform legislation today. Madam Speaker, it is time that we pass the Homeowners Flood Insurance Act. It is time that we get it done. We need it done today. We need it done right now for relief for American citizens.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, while I intend to support the omnibus appropriation bill, I wanted to voice my deep concern and disappointment that the omnibus appropriation bill fails to address the unemployment insurance issue, as well as it fails to address the rising flood insurance premiums facing millions of those who have been impacted by Superstorm Sandy. Rather than amend the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Act in a comprehensive way, the omnibus contains language that temporarily delays flood insurance premium increases for a year and for just a segment of policy owners. After that year, flood insurance premiums could continue to rise exponentially for newer policies. This is crippling our housing market recovery in areas like New York City, New Jersey, Connecticut, and others that were hard hit by Superstorm Sandy. Though this temporary delay may be better than nothing, it is not the certainty that the Nation's 5.5 million flood insurance owners deserve and need. Again, I call on Congress to bring up a comprehensive flood insurance reform legislation quickly in order to provide economic certainty to at-risk neighborhoods across our great country.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, Roslyn M. Brock is Chairman of the National Board of Directors for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). She made history in February 2010 when she was unanimously elected as its 14th Chairman. She is the youngest person and fourth woman to hold this position. Brock is currently employed as Vice President, Advocacy and Government Relations for Bon Secours Health System, Inc., in Marriottsville, Maryland. Prior to working at Bon Secours, Brock worked 10 years in health programs at the W. K. Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek, Michigan. She graduated magna cum laude from Virginia Union University; earned a master's degree in health services administration from George Washington University, an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a Master of Divinity degree from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University. In May 2010, she received an honorary doctorate degree from Virginia Union University. Brock has been a servant leader with the NAACP for more than 27 years. She is a Diamond Life Member of NAACP and joined the Association as a freshman at Virginia Union University where she was elected President of the Youth and College Division from the Commonwealth of Virginia. One year later, she was elected as a Youth Board Member from Region 7 representing the District of Columbia, Maryland and the Commonwealth of Virginia. In 1988 as Vice Chairman of the NAACP Board Health Committee, her advocacy for quality, accessible and affordable health care for vulnerable communities resulted in the National Board's mandate of a health committee for all units in its Constitution. In 2012, she initiated and led the Board's historic policy decision to support marriage equality and to implement The Black Church and HIV: The Social Justice Imperative. An expert grant writer, Brock has secured millions in philanthropic support for the NAACP. From 1999-2010, Brock chaired the NAACP's National Convention Planning Committee. In this role, she led the Committee to institute fiscal policies that resulted in the Annual Convention becoming a profit center for the Association with average yearly net revenues of one million dollars. For nine years (2001-2010) she served as Vice Chairman of the NAACP National Board. In 2005, Brock created the NAACP Leadership 500 Summit. The Summit's goal is to recruit, train and retain a new generation of civil rights leaders to the NAACP. Since its inception, Leadership 500 has contributed more than $1.5m to the NAACP to support its civil rights programs. Brock is a member of the Board of Trustees of The George Washington University, Kellogg Global Advisory Board, American Public Health Association, American College of Health Services Executives, Association of Healthcare Philanthropy, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, The LINKS and a former Trustee of the Catholic Health Association of the United States of America. Brock's leadership skills have been recognized by several national publications and organizations. In 2012, she was the convocation speaker at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University and featured as the February 6, 2012 NBC Universal iVillage Woman of the Week. Brock was awarded the 2011 Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award by The George Washington University; the September 2010 issue of Essence magazine listed her among the ``40 Fierce and Fabulous Women Who Are Changing the World''; Black Entertainment Television's (BET) 2010 ``Black Girls Rock,'' honored her in its inaugural broadcast and she received the 2010 National Urban League's Women of Power Award. Brock participated in the 2008 U.S. Department of Defense's 75th Joint Civilian Orientation Conference (JCOC) reserved for American leaders interested in expanding their knowledge of the military and national defense. She was a guest lecturer on ``Alleviating Global Poverty'' in Rome, Italy at the 2007 Martin Luther King, Jr. Conflict Resolution Conference. From 2003-2005, Brock was a Young Leaders Fellow with the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations to build cross- cultural understanding and professional networks with young Chinese leaders. Brock's goal in life is embodied in an African proverb, ``Care more than others think is wise, Risk more than others think is safe, Dream more than others think is practical, and Expect more than others think is possible.''

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Pesach Osina. Mr. Osina learned from a young age the importance of working on behalf of the community. Born in Brooklyn to parents who were well known for their kindness and charity, Pesach moved to Far Rockaway in 1999. Pesach immediately got involved in Far Rockaway community life--as an active board member of the Jewish Community Council (JCCRP) and a founding member of the Rockaway Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). He started a holiday toy collection and distribution organization that provides toys to hundreds of needy families. In addition, Pesach used his love for politics to advance the needs of the community by actively advocating with local elected officials. After helping elect Phil Goldfeder to the New York State Assembly in September of 2011, Pesach joined Goldfeder's government staff as Community Liaison and put his experience and skills to work for the community at the government level. Pesach has carved out a name for great work, responsiveness and community service. Pesach's passion for helping others has been most evident during the last few months--prior to and in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Pesach worked with government officials and community leaders doing to prepare the community, as much as possible, for the impending storm. As the storm was raging, he worked throughout the night with local organizations to communicate with and to meet the needs of stranded families. In the days and nights following the storm, Pesach travelled throughout the community visiting relief sites and working with community leaders to ensure that all of the community needs were met. Pesach has provided a beacon of hope and an exemplary standard of community service to the entire district. On behalf of New York State's 5th District, I commend Mr. Pesach Osina and thank him for all his contributions to our community.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the generosity and vision of Mr. Virgil Hall Hodges. Mr. Hodges is a proud alumnus, member of the Board of Trustees, and founding father of the Richard Allen Classic Group. The Richard Allen Classic Group is an 11-year-old advocacy group of men of consciousness and influence who are committed to upholding the social and intellectual mission of our traditional institutions and perpetuating their mission to the masses. Richard Allen Classic Group members remain staunch supporters of education and the quest to close the technological divide that exists in our communities Mr. Hodges professional career began as a college professor and football coach. He was then recruited to become a government agency administrator, first as Administrator with New York City's Youth Board, then as head of an anti-poverty agency, the Coney Island Family Center. From there he went into state government as a Facility Director at Mt. Morris and later Arthur Kill Rehabilitation Centers of the NYS Drug Abuse Commission. Lastly, to the NY State Department of Labor and retired from the NYS Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission and Institute for Nonviolence. Mr. Hodges adopted Morris Brown College, a 132-year-old prestigious institution founded by the A.M.E. Church that has produced thousands of professionals and masters of the trades and has dedicated countless hours to the service of others. Mr. Virgil Hall Hodges is the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award as Deputy Labor Commissioner by the NYS Legislature; the Distinguished Service Morris Brown College President and Faculty Award; and the NYS Employees Brotherhood Award; and the NYS NAACP Public Service Award. I commend Mr. Virgil Hall Hodges for his extraordinary service. His vision as an educator and policymaker has inspired both students and colleagues alike. On behalf of the more than 718,000 residents of Fifth Congressional District, I thank you for your outstanding contribution to our communities and nation.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, really I felt compelled to come because let's really talk about what this is. This is the 44th time to try to deny people access to health care. That is what it is. If you listened to some of my colleagues, you would think that all Americans are being denied health care coverage. Number one, we are talking about 5 percent, and 5 percent is too much. So what the President did today was to say that we are going to make sure that those individuals who have lost their coverage, if the insurance companies will stand up, they will do the right thing. What this says is that what we know is that there are 36 States, most of them headed by Republicans, that have already decided they didn't want to get involved; they didn't want State exchanges. So they wanted to make sure to deny individuals who have preexisting diseases. You could come and talk about the people who are saying, Thank you, Mr. President, for the Affordable Care Act. Because of my preexisting condition, I had been turned down by insurance companies. With Affordable Care, that won't happen. Young people who don't have insurance, up to age 26, they will still be covered because of the Affordable Care Act. What this is is a process and an attempt to try to end the Affordable Care Act for the 44th time. Let's not do that. Let's give the people the right to health care.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I stand in strong support of the Pitts amendment on the House resolution on the farm bill. The sugar program included in the 2008 farm bill that became permanent in the 2013 House farm bill, contains a harmful restraint on trade and sugar between the 6 months of October and April, which makes it so that the Secretary of Agriculture cannot allow an increase in sugar imports, even if the marketplace needs it. This detrimental restriction led to record-high prices for both the sugar producers and consumers alike. The higher costs resulted in many manufacturing companies, some are located in my district, struggling or having to even shut down because they are unable to sustain these high costs, killing good manufacturing jobs in the process. This resolution ensures that the U.S. will not be forced to face higher sugar prices that are two times the world price because of an erroneous restriction in the current law. These high sugar prices have unfairly cost consumers $3.5 billion a year. Simply, the U.S. should be able to control these costs and adjust accordingly so that we do not impose unjust costs upon our consumers, especially in these economically trying times. The bottom line is this: the problem is not Mexico. The problem is an outdated anti-taxpayer, anti-consumer, anti-business sugar-reform program. The Pitts resolution will help restore some balance to the program and remove artificial pressure from the current government intrusion into the marketplace, which is what we are looking for here. What will the Pitts resolution do? It will help fix our broken sugar program by, one, allowing sugar farmers to retain their commodity program; two, to help ensure taxpayers will be less likely to have to pick up the tab for this program; and, three, help to ensure that hundreds of thousands of good manufacturing jobs and sugar industries will be less threatened. I urge support of the Pitts resolution. It is a commonsense approach.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. You know, many Americans were born at night, but they weren't born last night. You can't fool them. There is an old saying: You can run, but you can't hide. We're here for one reason. The members of the majority party don't like the Affordable Care Act, and that's the whole reason we're here. They want to stop the Affordable Care Act. It has nothing to do with anything else. So all of America is held hostage because they do not like the Affordable Care Act. But you can run, but you can't hide. You can't hide from the fact that you closed down the government. You can't hide from the fact that by just now suggesting you put a few up, that all of the government is not shut down. We need to open up the entire government. You can run, but you can't hide.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, the politricks have to stop. The politricks have to stop. Today, I looked at one of my leading New York papers and this is the headline. This is what they are thinking of this House. The politricks have to stop. The divide and conquer mentality has to stop. Why is it politricks? Look at what's really taking place here today and has been taking place over the last few days. We should be just, as other Congresses have done, passing a clean CR bill so that we can continue the government moving. But what do we do? We bring up issues that have nothing to do with the continuing resolution. The first trick: repeal the Affordable Care Act. The second trick: delay the Affordable Care Act. The trick after that: delay the individual mandate. Then next you hear something: end the medical device tax. Then the next thing is: go to conference--something that Democrats have been asking for on budgetary issues since April. And now this piecemeal approach. It's politricks, folks. It's divide and conquer. It's trying to take key issues from key individuals and make them decide whether you want to go this way or that way. It's making individuals try to decide in the Federal Government who is more important than the others. You've got individuals working in the same divisions; some won't get paid, others will get paid. It's a divide and conquer mentality that could destroy the Nation. This Nation is supposed to be one together. United we stand. Don't divide this country. Don't pick winners and losers. Send all of Americans back to work. Eight hundred thousand did not work today. Don't just pick a few and say you should go back to work. All of them should go back to work. They are all American citizens. Let all of Americans free. Don't hold them in bondage, don't keep them back. Free them all. Don't go piece by piece. They all want the same thing. Their bills have to be paid. I have to tell some of mine on my staff, for example: If you happen to get sick, you can't get paid. That's not what this country is supposed to be about. The world is looking at us. We travel the world trying to show examples of democracy every place else, yet we're undercutting the greatest democracy in the world today over the last couple of days. We've got procedures that were put in place by the Founding Fathers. We are undercutting how they said we should do it. Let's not divide. Let's bring this Nation back together. Let's send all of our workers back to work. Let's have a clean CR bill, and let's vote on that.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, first, let me thank Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for providing leadership and working together to get this bill done in a bipartisan manner. This is a bill where everybody had their input and everybody gave some and everybody said what was involved, and we were able to come up with a bill that is a compromise bill that's in the best interest of all of us, especially the men and women who serve us in the State Department abroad. There's generally two groups of individuals that we have a huge responsibility for. They are our men and women on the battlefield, who are in the military. We need to make sure that they have everything that they need for their protection and their success in their mission. Likewise, the men and women who serve as our diplomats, what huge and important jobs they have. We have an absolute responsibility to make sure that we give them everything that they need to make sure that they're secure so their missions can be successful. That's what this bill does. It looks at the security issue in a manner to make sure that our embassies are safe and secure. For example, it establishes working groups to ensure that new or reopening posts are provided the necessary security measures and funding. We had some before that had to be closed. We want to make sure we look at it and focus so that they get what they need. It requires a strategic review of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security to ensure that its missions and activities are meeting current and projected needs. That's tremendously important. And it authorizes the State to utilize best value rather than lowest cost for security guard contracts at high-risk and high-threat posts. Furthermore--which I think is absolutely key--it gives full authorization for the National Endowment for Democracy, of which I once sat as a board member, to support the work of the four affiliated core institutes, including the National Democratic Institute and the American Center for International Labor Solidarity, to develop independent media, human rights protections, and other democratic institutions, values, and processes around the world. This is great work. This is work that will help democracy flourish throughout this place that we call Earth, making it a more peaceful and better place for us all to get along. As we've seen recently, we've come a long way in the last 4 weeks in moving diplomatically and trying to resolve issues together. If we give our diplomats the kind of protection they need, then I believe that we can make sure that this place we call Earth is much safer tomorrow than it is today. I thank, again, the chairman and the ranking member for the manner in which they have worked to resolve and bring this bill to the floor, and urge my colleagues to vote for it.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of S. 793, as amended. Mr. Speaker, the OAS remains the premier regional forum for the countries of the Americas to conduct multilateral business, an important aspect of U.S. relations with its neighbors. The bill before us today seeks to support the organization, particularly with respect to democracy promotion and the protection of human rights. The version we are poised to pass today in the House adds an important provision to the bipartisan Senate bill introduced by the Senator from New Jersey, Bob Menendez, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. This new provision requires the State Department to examine ways to ensure that in the future no OAS member state pays more than 50 percent of the regular budget. Currently, based on a legacy fee structure from a different era, the U.S. does pay more than 50 percent, with a series of distorting results. A modernized OAS would benefit from a more egalitarian fee structure. The new provision asks State to lay out a roadmap to achieve such a fee structure, and hopefully opens up the conversation with our fellow member states in the OAS in the spirit of consensus and partnership. I would like to thank Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for working, truly, again, as we have done and seen time and time again on the Foreign Affairs Committee, really working in a bipartisan manner on this bill. We know sometimes it is not easy, but they have managed to do it. I thank them for that. I urge my colleagues to support it, and reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEKS. I have no further requests for time and am ready to close, and so I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, let me just state again about the hard work of Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel and their working in a bipartisan manner to get this bill done. It's difficult at times when you have different views on different issues; but I think that, when you have individuals working together across the aisle who are trying to come up with the appropriate compromise for an organization that is needed to have the strength to protect human rights and to make sure there is democracy, working together to get them on the right track, as Mr. Royce has indicated, is important. To also have the other body, the Senate, working with us so it's bicameral is a tremendous effort, I think, on both sides in trying to make sure that we have an organization in our hemisphere that is doing the right thing, and we've got to do it on a continuous basis, being sturdy, being forceful but also being bipartisan. Let me just finally say that the manner in which this bill has come together is the manner in which I wish many bills could come together on this floor and in working with the other body. I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentlelady an additional 2 minutes.

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill and yield myself such time as I may consume. This bipartisan legislation creates a Special Envoy to Promote Religious Freedom of Religious Minorities in the Near East and South Central Asia. Housed at the State Department, the Special Envoy would be responsible for monitoring and combating acts of religious intolerance, engaging with foreign governments to address laws that discriminate against religious minorities, and working to ensure that the unique needs of religious minority communities are being addressed. This bill is important because religious minority communities all around the world--particularly in the Near East and South Central Asia--are facing increased attacks and persecution. For example, Egypt's recent governments have failed to prevent, investigate, or prosecute crimes against members of religious minority groups, especially Coptic Christians. Churches have been burned to the ground and numerous Christians murdered. Iraq used to have a significant number of religious minorities. These groups have been subject to escalating violence, persecution, and discrimination for their religious beliefs, and today they comprise only about 3 percent of Iraq's population. By some estimates, half of Iraq's Christian population has fled since 2003. In Iran, the arrest and harassment of members of religious minorities, including Sunni Muslims and Christians, continues to rise. In one notable case last year, an Iranian-American Christian pastor was imprisoned for threatening Iranian national security. And what was his crime? Helping to set up small churches in people's homes. Iran's minority Baha'i community is particularly harassed, punished, imprisoned, and even killed simply because of their religion. This past August, a Baha'i community leader in Bandar Abbas, Iran-- Mr. Ataollah Rezvani--was found murdered in his car on the outskirts of the city, shot in the back of the head. He had been the subject of threats and pressure from agents of the Ministry of Intelligence, and until shortly before his death he had been receiving menacing phone calls from unidentified persons. There is little doubt that his murder was religiously motivated. Until now, the Iranian Government has not begun a formal investigation into his murder or the murder of many other Baha'is that have been killed in recent years. It is past time for the Iranian Government to move immediately to seek justice for the cruel deaths of its Baha'i citizens. I wish these were isolated cases, but countless other examples exist, from Afghanistan to India to Saudi Arabia. We indeed are fortunate to live in a country that was founded by religious refugees on principles of tolerance. But it is important that we do everything we can to ensure that religious minorities elsewhere in the world enjoy the freedoms and protections they deserve--the freedoms and protections enjoyed by all Americans. Appointing this Special Envoy would be an important step in that direction, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I reserve the balance of my time.