Gwen Moore

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. I thank the Delegate and the Congresswoman from the Virgin Islands and her counterpart, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Veasey), for really supporting this Congressional Black Caucus hour so that we can discuss the pledges and proposals that President Trump has made as the new deal within the Black community. Mr. Speaker and Madam Chairwoman of this Special Order, I would like to engage in a kind of colloquy with the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Evans), who has been a State appropriator before he joined this body for some 25 years. I hate to date him. He has been a member of the prestigious appropriations committee. So, therefore, he was tasked with taking Federal funds and making those appropriations and those decisions at the State level. I wanted him to help evaluate some of the proposals that now President Trump has made regarding his new deal for Black America. One of the proposals that President Trump has made is to allow the conversion of funds for poverty programs to be converted from those programs into microloans that he would then provide to the poor. I am feeling a little confused and perplexed as to how this would work. I fear that this is part of kind of the double speak or alternative facts about the roots of and the solutions to poverty. As the gentleman now serves on the Committee on Small Business here in the House, and he has been an appropriator, I am wondering, number one, if converting funds from, say, the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Act, which is comprised of mostly poor women and children or Social Security disability insurance, which is set aside for those folks with significant disabilities, or perhaps SNAP and food stamps, those people who are temporarily out of the workforce waiting to go back, find another job, but need to sort of eat that month--I am wondering how, in his experience, converting programs set aside for poor people would a poor person use a microloan. I have two questions. I want the gentleman to sort of respond to what poor people would do. Presumably they would create their own jobs with these microloans. How big, perhaps, would these microloans have to be in order for them to establish their own businesses so that they would be off welfare? In fact, on any given day, there are 3 million children who live in extreme poverty, off of less than $3 a day. So I guess I would wonder how converting those funds--what those children who are not capable and eligible to work would do with such a proposal. I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my friend Marlene Johnson-Odom. She served as alderwoman on the City of Milwaukee Common Council for the sixth aldermanic district for more than 24 years. Ms. Johnson-Odom passed away on January 9, 2017. Marlene Johnson-Odom was a lifelong Milwaukee resident. She was a product of the public school system and a fellow graduate of North Division High School. Marlene received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Prior to becoming an elected official, Ms. Johnson-Odom worked for Milwaukee Public Schools and was TV Hostess at Channel 18, a local television station. Ms. Johnson-Odom succeeded her first husband Ben Johnson on the Common Council and was known as a quiet but effective leader. While serving on the Common Council, one of the achievements of which she was most proud was the renaming of 3rd Street to Martin Luther King Drive. Always approachable, Marlene provided outstanding service to her constituents. Ms. Johnson-Odom was always extremely involved in the community and served on numerous boards and commissions including: Milwaukee Area Technical College Board, United Way Board of Directors, Black Women's Network and Pabst Theater Board. Ms. Johnson-Odom leaves behind 3 children: Jan Johnson Carlyle, Paula Darling and Jay Johnson, 2 grandchildren: Amber Brown and Ellis Johnson, 8 great-grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends to mourn her passing. She leaves a strong legacy of leadership for her children and grandchildren to model. Mr. Speaker, Marlene was my friend and a Milwaukee and Wisconsin treasure and I valued her service to the 4th Congressional District. I urge you and my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in a salute to the late Marlene Johnson-Odom.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. I thank the chairman. I really appreciate the gentleman, Mr. DeSaulnier, for bringing forth this amendment. Disclosures of and divestment in conflicts are becoming increasingly important in this administration coming up. The conflicts that we know about and the conflicts that we suspect exist with President-elect Trump and his nominees have become a tremendous source of concern as not only do they undermine the faith and fairness of U.S. financial markets, as has been pointed out, but, quite frankly, they have become a matter of national security concern. The amendments that were rejected by Ranking Member Waters and this amendment by Representative DeSaulnier together restore confidence that the U.S. financial system is not being manipulated for the gain of a few government officials. Mr. Chairman, I urge all of my colleagues to support this amendment.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, on January 11, 2017, I missed three votes in order to attend the testimony of my colleagues Sen. Booker and Rep. Lewis in opposition to the confirmation of Sen. Sessions for Attorney General. Had I been present, I would have voted NO on the Motion on Ordering the Previous Question, NO on H. Res. 40, and YES on H.R. 39, the TALENT Act.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. I thank Mr. Veasey so much, and I thank our new chair of the Congressional Black Caucus for his tremendous effort in putting this very important Special Order hour together. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening because I am extremely concerned about the nomination of Senator Jeff Sessions. Certainly, President-elect Trump has a right to nominate people and have them be presented before our Senate, and, certainly, you don't expect a Republican to necessarily agree with all of your positions; but I am concerned about Senator Sessions because I think he has aligned himself with extreme ideological views that won't best serve all of the people of the United States. During the last 7 years, the Department of Justice has investigated at least 23 law enforcement agencies in response to rampant civil rights abuses. I fear that, under an Attorney General Jeff Sessions, those consent decrees and that very important work in resolving the conflicts between, particularly, African American communities and police officers will be lost. I am extremely concerned, as are at least 70 civil rights organizations and organizations that serve women, with an Attorney General Jeff Sessions. They are concerned about not just the anti- abortion views that Senator Sessions has displayed, but about the zealous anti-choice positions that he has taken--his association and alignment, again, with extreme anti-abortion organizations. They believe that he is not capable of fair and impartial action as Attorney General. What is so chilling, as an example, is when Senator Sessions was asked about President-elect Trump's Access Hollywood scandal in that he said he didn't characterize the grabbing of a woman's genitals as necessarily a sexual assault. Very, very chilling and disturbing. In being from Wisconsin, where we have fought egregious and unfair voter ID laws that were designed to disenfranchise, particularly, African Americans, Mr. Sessions has indicated that the gutting of the Voting Rights Act has actually had no impact and that no one has been denied the right to vote. He seems to be tone deaf to the cries of African Americans across this country to protect their voting rights. I encourage the Senate to look very carefully at this nominee, because, in fact, the United States Attorney General's only charge is to protect the civil rights of all of the citizens. I don't know that he will be willing or able to do that.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Thelma Sias, Vice President of Local Affairs for WE Energies, who is retiring on January 4, 2017. She has served the organization with distinction for over 31 years, beginning in 1986. Thelma was born in rural Mayersville, Mississippi, growing up during the civil rights-era. Her father was a farmer. Her mother was a schoolteacher, farmer, and restauranteur. She is one of 11 children, all of whom graduated from college or technical college. Thelma Sias received an academic scholarship to Clark College in Atlanta where she ultimately received her degree. In 1976, Ms. Sias came to Wisconsin to work as the Supervisor of the Ethnic Heritage Recruitment Center for the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, making the Badger State her new home. Ms. Sias spent most of her career making an extraordinary impact on people in Wisconsin by seeking common ground and finding solutions. Over the years, she has sat on at least a dozen boards, including the Zoological Society of Milwaukee, Children's Hospital and Health System Foundation, Milwaukee Public Library Foundation, and the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board. Thelma was paid to do what naturally was a part of her core: making connections and fostering relationships. It is also why she has been such an asset to WE Energies in serving their interests in a manner that supports the communities dear to my heart. In her position, she was able to help establish connections between people in need and those who can help through the corporation's separate, nonprofit arm, Wisconsin Energy Foundation, which has invested $130 million into Wisconsin and Michigan communities since 1982. Ms. Sias has a natural gift for connecting people, which she has to move the powerful to invest both financially and emotionally in economically distressed communities in a way that fosters sustainable solutions to problems. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to know and work with her for so many years. Thelma is political, but, more importantly, she is knowledgeable and she cares. She has remained an integral part of the community, maintaining her residence and remaining deeply committed to the Johnsons Park neighborhood community in central city Milwaukee. In addition to all her work with the Foundation and the community, she has found time to be a fixture in every presidential campaign from Carter to Obama. I join her friends and husband of over 30 years, Stephen Adams, in congratulating her on her well-earned retirement. I wish her much success as she transitions into a different phase of her life. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Thelma Sias and I am proud to call her friend. The citizens of the Fourth Congressional District and the State of Wisconsin are privileged to have someone of her ability and dedicated service working on their behalf for so many years. Thelma, I thank you for all that you have done. I am honored for these reasons to pay tribute to Thelma Sias.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ralph Hollmon who is retiring from the Milwaukee Urban League (MUL), on December 31, 2016. He has served the organization since 2002, when he assumed the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of the MUL. Over the 14 years at the helm of the MUL, he has been in charge of the organization's management, strategic planning and overall operation insuring that the League's education, employment, economic development and social justice programs are implemented in an effective manner. He was also the Central Region Vice President of the National Urban League Association of Executives. Mr. Hollmon has been a tireless advocate for the organization and its commitment to serving African Americans and others in need of assistance in order to improve the quality of their lives. Mr. Hollmon has spent much of his career helping uplift those in need and has a wealth of knowledge gained by service in various governmental and community positions including: Director, Milwaukee County Department of Human Services, Chief Executive Officer of the Private Industry Council, Executive Director, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District and held positions with the State of Wisconsin Department of Administration and the Social Development Commission of Milwaukee County. Prior to joining the Milwaukee Urban League, Ralph led his own company as President of Hollmon Management and Consulting LLC, (HMC) a project management and public affairs consulting firm. Mr. Hollmon holds a long standing commitment to community service and has served on a variety of civic and community boards/commissions including: Co-Chair of the Milwaukee Commission on Police Community Relations, Co-Chair of the Governor's Business Opportunity Advisory Commission; member of the JP Morgan Chase Bank National Community Advisory Board; Marcus Center for the Performing Arts Board of Directors; VISIT Milwaukee Board of Directors; Milwaukee Succeeds Executive Committee; Greater Downtown Action Agenda Executive Leadership Committee; African American Chamber of Commerce and Member of the Greater Milwaukee Committee. Ralph Hollmon is a homegrown Milwaukeean and graduated from North Division High School. He received his undergraduate degree at Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa, and earned his Master's Degree in Urban Affairs from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He also completed the Executive Education Program, ``Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management'' at the Harvard School of Business. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to know and work with Ralph Hollmon for many years on issues at the various positions where he has had tenure. I join with his wife Margaret and friends in congratulating him on his many years of service to this community and the Milwaukee Urban League. Ralph has led the organization admirably and I wish him much success as he transitions into a different phase of his life. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Ralph Hollmon, I am proud to call him a friend and thank him for all he has done. The citizens of the Fourth Congressional District and the State of Wisconsin are privileged to have someone of his ability and dedicated service working on their behalf for so many years. I am honored for these reasons to pay tribute to Ralph E. Hollmon.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Nancy O'Keefe who is retiring from the Historic Third Ward Association, HTWA, on January 3, 2017. The HTWA was organized 41 years ago and Nancy has served the organization for 21 of those years. She began since 1996 and for 20 of those 21 years of service has been the Executive Director of the HTWA. During her tenure as Executive Director, the agency has grown tremendously; she has gone from supervising 2 employees to over 50. In the 20 years since Nancy O'Keefe took charge as executive director, she has helped HTWA act as a catalyst to develop the district as an innovative, livable and exciting mixed use neighborhood while preserving its historic and creative character. The neighborhood has emerged with vibrant agencies, businesses, restaurants and entertainment venues including: The Broadway Theatre Center with its spectacular Cabot Theatre draws audiences into the ward at night, many fine restaurants bringing a contemporary vibe and flair to the neighborhood, a Congressional District Office, and the annual Third Ward Art Festival has joined the roster of Milwaukee's outdoor events. However, the construction of the Milwaukee Public Market has been the pivotal point in guaranteeing the Third Ward's sustained viability, as well as, a new hotel, the Journeyman. However, the HTWA does not want to rest on its laurels, Nancy would like to see more public space, more people getting off the streetcar and shopping and dining in restaurants, as well as, a grocery store and a drug store in the Third Ward. Nancy O'Keefe is responsible for the many social events which are staples of the downtown culture and brought many visitors to the Third Ward including: Summer Sizzles, Christmas in the Third Ward, Gallery Nights, World's Largest Coffee Break, Shortest & Smallest St. Patrick's Day Parades, Sculptures on Ice Competitions, and Small Business Saturdays. She has also served on numerous boards including: Architectural Review Board, Friends of Lakeshore State Park, and Downtown Neighborhood Association. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to know and work with Nancy O'Keefe. In fact my Congressional District Office is sited in the Third Ward. I have had the privilege of joining with Nancy and other dignitaries to promote Small Business Saturday and other events in the Third Ward. I join with friends in congratulating her on her retirement. I wish her much success as she transitions into a different phase of her life. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Nancy O'Keefe and celebrate her outstanding leadership. Nancy O'Keefe has overseen the Third Ward's transformation from a district with growing potential into an urban success story. The citizens of the Fourth Congressional District and the State of Wisconsin are privileged to have someone of her ability and dedicated service working on their behalf for so many years. I am honored for these reasons to pay tribute to Nancy O'Keefe.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member and chairman for their hard work in crafting this resolution. It reiterates a number of points consistent with longstanding U.S. policy on the Israeli- Palestinian conflict, including the current Administration, that I support. It is still to be seen what this policy will look like under the new Administration. No one disputes the need for the parties to directly work out the issues. I articulated that position in a letter I sent to President Obama when he took office in 2009. I reaffirmed that position again in a letter to the President about a year ago. I continue to support that position. Additionally, no one disputes the need to oppose unilateral actions by either party that undermines the process. As Vice President Biden noted earlier this year, ``Actions on either side to undermine trust only take us further away from the path of peace. Actions like at the U.N. to undermine Israel, or . . . settlement activities.'' Such actions clearly erode the prospect of a two-state solution, the stated goal for U.S. policy and efforts for a number of years now. However, I believe that this resolution we are debating is incomplete. For example, this resolution should not be mischaracterized or misrepresented as opposing constructive steps by the United States, either unilaterally or with the international community, to help preserve and further a negotiated two-state solution between the Israelis and Palestinians. While no effort can replace the parties themselves reaching agreement, there are a host of ways in which the U.S. and other stakeholders in the international communities, like Arab countries in the region, with a vital interest in peace can support steps to rebuild trust and good will, both of which are sorely lacking and will be needed. It must be made clear that Congress is not discouraging such efforts through this or any other resolution. The framework for a resolution to the conflict has long been clear for a number of years and formulated a number of times, including President Clinton and President George W. Bush. No U.N. resolution is needed for that. The issue isn't whether we know where the major issues of disagreement lie, but how to create an environment that encourages the parties to move forward. The U.S. and international support can be helpful and useful to building that environment. It would be foolhardy to hope that somehow the Israelis and Palestinians spontaneously decide to stop pointing fingers and come together and find solutions to some very tough and challenging issues. The challenges to peace at the moment are tremendous which is why it is important that we should encourage all interested in peace to continue to work for it. Even Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu recently expressed appreciation for and a willingness to build on multilateral and regional efforts regarding the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians, such as the Arab Peace Initiative. At the end of his Administration, President George W. Bush held a conference at Annapolis where he hosted the leaders of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, but also other ``nations that support a two- state solution, reject violence, recognize Israel's right to exist, and commit to all previous agreements between the parties.'' President Bush also noted that ``the world can do more to build the conditions for peace'' between the two parties. The U.S. invited 49 countries and international organizations to participate including Members of the Arab League, Permanent Members of the U.N. Security Council, and the International Quartet for Middle East Peace. In 2007, President George W. Bush argued for the international community to ``rise to the moment, and provide decisive support to responsible Palestinian leaders working for peace'' and laid out one role for the international community--helping create viable Palestinian institutions necessary for a state. Former Senator and head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Richard Lugar repeatedly noted that ``Both Israel and the Palestinians urgently need international support to fortify their ability and willingness to embrace the difficult choices that will be necessary'' to reach a peace deal. While the world has changed much since that time, the need for the international community to do more to ``build conditions for peace'' between the two parties has not diminished. Yet, I am concerned that some may read H. Con. Res. 165 as dismissing all efforts by the U.S. to engage the international community to galvanize broad support for meaningful efforts to move the parties towards peace. I also want to emphasize that no one should read this resolution as preventing the U.S. from supporting non-binding efforts through the U.N. Security Council to further progress toward a negotiated, conflict-ending agreement. This has long been a part of the U.S. Middle East Peace toolbox. The U.S. was instrumental in drafting and passing UNSC Resolutions 242 (in 1967) and 338 (in 1973) outlining the international community's desire for a peaceful resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict through territorial compromise. Democratic and Republican Presidents alike have previously worked through the U.N. Security Council to promote peace. Under President Reagan, the United States did not veto U.N. Security Council Resolutions criticizing Israel's annexation of the Golan Heights and its activities in the occupied Palestinian territories. I believe that such efforts remain a viable tool today. That doesn't mean the U.S. has to support efforts it believes are contrary to peace. It has long been U.S. policy to denounce actions by any party--Israel, the Palestinians, or international actors--that are unwelcomed. This includes opposition to actions by the United Nations-- or any other entity--to pass resolutions that are one-sided or anti- Israel. And the Obama Administration has done so when needed. Additionally, I believe the resolution would have been strengthened by strongly emphasizing that there is no workable alternative to the two-state solution which has been the focus of U.S. peacemaking efforts for years now. Lastly, I continue to support the current Administration's push for peace between our allies and to urge it to continue to do so even in its waning days. I also urge the incoming Administration to work constructively towards a two-state solution. In a recent poll, 69 percent of American Jewish voters expressed support for President Barack Obama delivering a major speech before leaving office outlining a vision for what Israelis and Palestinians must do to reach a peace agreement. There is plenty of blame to apportion for why the status quo of violence, instability, and conflict continues unabated. We owe it to every Israeli and Palestinian who share a vision of two peoples living side by side in peace and security to never quit on working toward a meaningful peace and that should include pursuing every tool and leveraging every ally in that pursuit.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strident opposition to H. Res. 933. Madam Speaker, we have heard so much about fake news lately, and now we are being asked for taxpayer funding for fake congressional committees. This resolution provides another 800,000 taxpayer dollars to the Republicans' ongoing hatchet job against Planned Parenthood. We already know the facts on the faked Planned Parenthood videos and the unethical videographer. The fake committee's only goal is to create Orwellian unfacts. So far, this fake committee has found no wrongdoing by Planned Parenthood or their doctors. Of course, this panel knows that they wouldn't find anything because Planned Parenthood has been cleared of wrongdoing 17 times by three different House committees, 17 State investigations, and a grand jury. Now, despite all this, Republicans want to waste more taxpayer dollars.

Ms. MOORE. Madam Speaker, despite all this, Republicans want to waste more taxpayer dollars for their smear campaign, money that could be used on meaningful measures to reduce infant mortality, feed hungry children, or improve early childhood education. What we really need to get to the bottom of is: What will it take to get Republicans to get the target off women's backs? Do that, and we might actually make some progress.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the life and work of Mahmoud Othman Atta a highly-respected leader in the Muslim and interfaith community, veteran, husband, father and grandfather. Mr. Mahmoud Othman Atta died on November 9, 2016 at the age of 80. Mr. Atta was born in the Palestinian territories and moved to Milwaukee at age 16 with his dual-citizen father. He graduated from West Division High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, attended two years of technical college and was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving as a medic. After his military service Mr. Atta returned to the Palestinian territories, where he married his wife, Intisar and had two children. He later returned to Milwaukee with his family in the mid-1960s. He is regarded as the Milwaukee area's first de-facto imam, leading prayers and religious services in homes, though he never held the title full time. Local Muslims hailed from various homelands, speaking different languages and Mr. Atta bridged those divides through communal worship. He organized classes to teach Arabic, the language of the Qur'an so that everyone would be able to pray and read the Holy Book together. Mahmoud Othman Atta was one of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee's seven founding members. Mr. Atta guided Milwaukee's Muslim community and the Islamic Society of Milwaukee in the 1970s, when an estimated 200 Muslims lived in the city. He helped lead fundraising for the purchase of its main center on the city's south side and served on the society's first board of trustees, a position he held for about a decade. Mahmoud Othman Atta was a natural leader. He saw the value in reaching across racial and religious lines, joining interfaith organizations and Muslim-Christian dialogue groups. He was respected for his character and his knowledge. Mr. Atta would open his home to a stranger; realizing how it felt like to be alone without family, so he always had a soft spot in his heart for students or individuals who were coming from overseas. Mr. Atta worked as an engine technician at Briggs & Stratton for about 25 years, retiring in 1990 after suffering his first stroke. Mr. Atta had been in declining health in recent years and suffered a stroke while he and his wife spent several months in the Palestinian areas. He returned to the Palestinian territories every year or two, where his large family is well-known. About 1,000 people there have attended visitations spread over three days, after his death. Mahmoud Othman Atta is survived by his wife Intisar; 2 sons Othman and Ihsan; 2 daughters, Janan and Bayan; and 12 grandchildren Mr. Speaker, Milwaukee has experienced a profound loss with the passing of Mahmoud Othman Atta. He had an attachment to Milwaukee, and he loved the Midwestern lifestyle. Today, I thank him and his family for their immeasurable achievements, I mourn his loss and I salute his legacy.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Chris Ahmuty who is retiring from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Wisconsin on December 31, 2016. He has served the organization since 1982 and for 24 of those 34 years of service has been the Executive Director of the ACLU of Wisconsin. Mr. Ahmuty has spent much of his career making an extraordinary impact on civil liberties and civil rights in Wisconsin. Over the decades he has led the organization as a tireless advocate for issues such as LGBT rights, voting rights, reproductive freedom, transit equity, environmental justice, free speech, and public access to the state Capitol. Chris Ahmuty is especially proud of the organization's success in racial discrimination cases, marriage equality, and youth leadership development. He remains a man in a hurry, ready to push back against those who would deny fundamental liberties; he truly believes that whenever society and the laws that govern society become more inclusive, everyone gains. Chris Ahmuty was born in New York City and grew up in Derby, New York. His mother, a schoolteacher, died of cancer when he was just 15. His father, a sales manager, died when Ahmuty was in graduate school. Chris Ahmuty's grandfather Frederic P. Lee, a lawyer involved in drafting New Deal-era policies, deeply influenced Ahmuty's political and social justice positions. Mr. Ahmuty came to Wisconsin to attend graduate school at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, earning a master's degree in history, and made Wisconsin his new home. At the helm of the ACLU, Chris Ahmuty has worked on many initiatives. Some of the most notable activities include the numerous lawsuits challenging government abuse of power, special attention to the rights of society's most vulnerable, and expansion of the affiliate's programs, especially youth development. He works daily to uphold the ACLU mission to protect and defend civil liberties in a nonpartisan manner. Mr. Ahmuty's ability to keep calm, whether in victory or defeat, has served him well through his long tenure with the ACLU. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to know and work with Chris Ahmuty for many years on issues such as voting rights, prison reform and incarceration issues, and rights of the poor. I will join with friends and his partner, Bob Schlack, to congratulate him at the ACLU Annual Bill of Rights Celebration where he will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award on November 19, 2016. During these decades of service to the ACLU, Chris has led the organization through troubling times for civil liberties in Wisconsin and our nation. I wish him much success as he transitions into a different phase of his life. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to honor Chris Ahmuty and I am proud to call him friend. The citizens of the Fourth Congressional District and the State of Wisconsin are privileged to have someone of his ability and dedicated service working on their behalf for so many years. Chris, I thank you for all that you have done. I am honored for these reasons to pay tribute to Chris Ahmuty.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Leonor Rosas who retired in September, 2016 from UMOS, Inc. Leonor is a public servant, nonprofit executive, mother, grandmother, friend and leader. Leonor Rosas has earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and has Graduate Certificates in both Nonprofit Management and Public Administration. Ms. Rosas has over 36 years of work experience in the both the private and public sectors and retired from UMOS after serving 15 years in various management positions there. She has served as a high level manager in State, City and County governments and has worked with nonprofits and in the private sector, as well. While working for Wisconsin State Government, Leonor held many positions including Job Service Bureau Director where she was responsible for the oversight of 72 Job Service locations throughout the state including managing staff and services and assisting the unemployed and underemployed in job searches and offering employment related workshops. I have had the great privilege of working with Leonor for over two decades, beginning while I served in the Wisconsin State Assembly and extending to my years in Congress. In fact, I worked with her most recently in helping to establish the Milwaukee Brides Walk with the Latina Resource Center and on workforce readiness programs. Leonor has the unique ability to develop and lead personnel with extensive experience in employment and training and resource development and strategic planning. Leonor is a passionate critical thinker with a heart of gold and enjoys working with people from various ethnic and educational backgrounds. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize Ms. Leonor Rosas and proud to call her friend. She is a true trailblazer for women and Hispanics. In fact, Ms. Rosas gains great satisfaction in mentoring young Hispanic professionals insuring that all voices are heard in an equitable manner. I honor Leonor's many accomplishments and life time commitment to the entire Milwaukee Community, the 4th Congressional District and the State of Wisconsin.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my continued support for the critical nuclear agreement (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA) forged to keep Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. I believe that agreement remains the best option to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Keeping Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon is a bipartisan priority, which is why the U.S. must uphold the commitments we made under that deal. According to the evidence before me, Iran has largely fulfilled its obligations including limiting its stockpile of uranium, drastically reducing its operating centrifuges, and removed the core of its Arak reactor. While not perfect, this is one of the most stringent non- proliferation agreements ever negotiated and includes tough verification requirements. The JCPOA has led to real on the ground progress in restricting Iran's nuclear program, something that our nation never achieved even under the most biting sanctions. Despite any limitations, the agreement is working as intended in the face of many skeptics and naysayers. And we all have a shared interest in helping to continue to foster the fertile ground necessary to support its continued implementation and compliance by both parties. So I will support a ``clean'' reauthorization of the Iran Sanctions Act authorities even though the President has made clear he has authority under other federal laws (that do not expire) to snap back some sanctions even in the absence of this law. Critically, this bill does not put new obstacles in the way of the U.S. upholding its commitments but intends to essentially reassert the existing status quo. This is unlike other legislation we will consider this week that more directly impact our commitments under the JCPOA. The stakes at play here are very high for our nation and our regional allies including Israel. So rather than wasting time trying to undermine it, we all must continue to work to ensure the long term success of this deal and the goal we all share of keeping Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. We used sanctions to bring Iran to the table, worked with our international partners to secure a strong deal, and now more than ever need to make sure we uphold our end of the bargain.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, on September 21, 2016, I returned home to Milwaukee to address the medical emergency of my son and, as a result, missed all votes on September 21 and 22, 2016. Had I been present to vote, I would have voted the following way on the bills considered by the House for those days that I missed. September 21, 2016. Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule. I would have voted NO. H. Res. 875. I would have voted NO. Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule. I would have voted NO. H. Res. 876. I would have voted NO. H.R. 3957. I would have voted YES. H.R. 5659. I would have voted YES. H.R. 5713. I would have voted YES. H.R. 5613. I would have voted YES. Cicilline Amendment. I would have voted YES. DelBene Amendment. I would have voted YES. Democratic Motion to Recommit H.R. 3438. I would have voted YES. Final Passage of H.R. 3438. I would have voted NO. Final Passage of H.R. 5461. I would have voted NO. H.R. 5859. I would have voted YES. H.R. 6007. I would have voted YES. H.R. 5977. I would have voted YES. H.R. 6014. I would have voted YES. H.R. 5147. I would have voted YES. September 21, 2016. Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule. I would have voted NO. H. Res. 879. I would have voted NO. Passage of H.R. 5719. I would have voted NO. H.R. 5320. I would have voted YES. H.R. 5946. I would have voted YES. H.R. 2285. I would have voted YES. H.R. 5523. I would have voted YES. H.R. 5625. I would have voted YES. House Amendment to S. 1550. I would have voted YES. H.R. 4419. I would have voted YES. H.R. 5963. I would have voted YES. Engel Amendment. I would have voted YES. Final Passage of H.R. 5931. I would have voted NO. H.R. 5037. I would have voted YES. H.R. 5798. I would have voted YES.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Chairman, I thank the ranking member, and I thank the committee for being sensitive to the needs of native peoples to be included and involved in things that concern their sovereignty and self-governance. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Chairman, I will be brief. We are all aware of the latest controversy surrounding the failure of the Federal Government to consult with Native American tribes. Wisely, the Obama administration has postponed work on the Dakota Access pipeline while it meets to hear tribes' concerns about the inadequacy of the consulting process in that case and, more broadly, across the Federal Government. In the bill before us, Mr. Chairman, we are authorizing billions of dollars in Army Corps of Engineers projects and providing direction for work it is doing in almost every community throughout our great country. There is no question that the Corps' responsibility to undertake this work and the indigenous people's desire and ability to protect their cultural and natural resources will continue to clash, and we know that tribes continue to be frustrated by how Federal agencies, including the Army Corps, do their so-called consulting with them. I share this frustration. I would love to go much further with this amendment, but my amendment, Mr. Chairman, simply requires the Army Corps to work with tribes to review its current consultation policies. Let me just read a little bit, Mr. Chairman, because it sounds good on paper. ``All federally recognized Tribes are sovereign governments and will be treated with respect. . . . The trust responsibility will be honored and fulfilled. . . . The Federal Government has a unique legal and political relationship with Tribal governments that recognizes self- government and self-determination,'' et cetera. I include in the Record this policy. Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, DC, November 1, 2012. Memorandum for Commanders, Directors and Chiefs of Separate Offices, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Subject: Tribal Consultation Policy 1. This memorandum affirms and formalizes current tribal consultation procedures for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). 2. The interaction between the federal government and federally recognized Indian Tribes (including Alaska Natives) has its origins in the U.S. Constitution and has been upheld and defined through Treaties, U.S. Supreme Court cases, various statutes and regulations, presidential documents and policies, including the Department of Defense American Indian and Alaska Native Policy, and the USACE Tribal Policy Principles, recently reissued on 10 May 2010. 3. The Policy provides an outline of our responsibilities to federally recognized Tribes as well as a framework for consulting with them. It is purposefully general in nature because each of the 565 federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes are distinct and separate governments, requiring a consultation process that may be completely unique to them. 4. USACE recognizes the sovereign status of Tribal governments and our obligation for pre-decisional government- to-government consultation. USACE also recognizes the unique role Tribes play as partners in water resources projects and seeks to develop relationships with all Tribes who may need our assistance in their capacity building and self- determination. 5. USACE has an excellent tribal program coordinated by a tribal liaison at Headquarters and a point of contact or liaison in each District and Division office. These experts are ready to support you and answer any questions you have regarding tribal policies. 6. An accountable process to interact with Tribes is mandated in Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments, 06 Nov 2000, and Presidential Memorandum, Tribal Consultation, 05 Nov 2009. Please ensure that your staff is aware of and abides by our Consultation Policy to ensure effective and mutually beneficial relationships with tribal partners. Thomas P. Bostick, Lieutenant General, U.S. Army Commanding. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Tribal Consultation Policy 1. References. a. U.S. Constitution, Articles I, Section 8; Article VI. b. National Historic Preservation Act. c. American Indian Religious Freedom Act. d. Archaeological Resources Protection Act. e. Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. f. Religious Freedom Restoration Act. g. Executive Order 13007, Indian Sacred Sites, 24 May 1996. h. Department of Defense American Indian and Alaska Native Policy, 20 Oct 1998. i. Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments, 06 Nov 2000. j. Engineer Regulation 1105-2-100, Planners Guidance Notebook, 22 Apr 2000. k. Department of Defense Instruction Number 4710.02: DoD Interactions with Federally Recognized Tribes, 14 Sep 2006. l. Army Regulation 200-1, Environmental Protection and Enhancement, 13 Dec 2007. m. Engineer Regulation 1130-2-540, Project Operations-- Environmental Stewardship Operations and Maintenance Guidelines and Procedures, 11 Aug 2008. n. Presidential Memorandum, Tribal Consultation, 5 Nov 2009. o. USACE Tribal Policy Principles, 18 Feb 1998 and 10 May 2010. p. Announcement of Presidential support for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Public Papers of the President, December 16, 2010. 2. Purpose. On November 5, 2009, President Barack Obama issued a Memorandum to the heads of all federal agencies entitled Tribal Consultation (74 Fed Reg 57881) reaffirming Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments (65 Fed Reg 67249) signed by President William J. Clinton on November 6, 2000. E.O. 13175 requires all federal agencies to formulate ``an accountable process to ensure meaningful and timely input by tribal officials in the development of regulatory policies that have tribal implications.'' This document affirms the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' (USACE) commitment to engage in consultation with federally recognized Tribes. 3. Background. There are responsibilities to Tribes resulting from the Federal Trust Doctrine, as well as from Treaties, statutes, regulations, Executive Orders and agreements between the United States government and tribal governments. Department of Defense American Indian and Alaska Native Policy, Department of Defense Instruction number 4710.02: DoD Interactions with Federally Recognized Tribes, and US Army Corps of Engineers Tribal Policy Principles (Attachment 1) provide guidance. For the purposes of this policy, the following definitions are applied: a. Tribe: Indian Tribes as defined in E.O. 13175, ``an Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or community that the Secretary of the Interior acknowledges to exist as an Indian tribe pursuant to the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994, 25 USC 479a.'' b. Consultation: Open, timely, meaningful, collaborative and effective deliberative communication process that emphasizes trust, respect and shared responsibility. To the extent practicable and permitted by law, consultation works toward mutual consensus and begins at the earliest planning stages, before decisions are made and actions are taken; an active and respectful dialogue concerning actions taken by the USACE that may significantly affect tribal resources, tribal rights (including treaty rights) or Indian lands. 4. Applicability. This regulation applies to all HQUSACE elements, Major Subordinate Commands, District Commands, the Institute for Water Resources, the Humphreys Engineering Center Support Activity, and the Engineer Research and Development Center. 5. General Policy. The Tribal Policy Principles. a. All federally recognized Tribes are sovereign governments and will be treated with respect. (1) Sovereignty is the foundation of tribal governments. (2) Tribes are responsible for their own governance and management. b. The Trust responsibility will be honored and fulfilled. (1) The federal government has a unique legal and political relationship with Tribal governments that recognizes self- government and self-determination. (2) USACE is committed to supporting projects and programs beneficial to Tribes through partnership with them. (3) USACE will ensure that it addresses Tribal concerns regarding protected tribal resources, tribal rights (including treaty rights) and Indian lands. (4) USACE will protect and allow access to protected tribal resources under USACE jurisdiction to the extent practicable, and will work to develop and implement access policies as needed. (5) USACE will share information that is not otherwise controlled or classified information. c. USACE will maintain a government-to-government relationship with Tribes. (1) Tribes have a unique and distinctive political and legal relationship with the United States. (2) A Tribe may have access to the Chief of Engineers, the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works), and other high level individuals if the need arises. (3) While most interaction will be staff to staff, decision making will be leader to leader (the head of the Tribe and the district commander), with the assistance of the local subject matter expert (typically, the Tribal Liaison). d. Consultation will be an integral, invaluable process of USACE planning and implementation. (1) When appropriate, potentially affected Tribes, as determined by the Corps, including Tribes whose aboriginal territories extend to the lands where an activity would occur, will be contacted by letter, telephone or e-mail sufficiently early to allow a timely review of the proposed action. If contacted Tribes notify USACE that other Tribes are potentially affected, USACE has the responsibility to notify those Tribes as well. (2) Any activity that has the potential to significantly affect protected tribal resources, tribal rights (including treaty rights) and Indian lands-individual projects, programs, permit applications, real estate actions, promulgation of regulations and policies--regardless of land status, will be reviewed at the district level by an individual who effectively interacts with Tribes, usually the Tribal Liaison. (3) Consultation will be conducted at the district or division level under the guidance of an individual who effectively interacts with Tribes, usually the Tribal Liaison, unless there is a request for HQUSACE (and/or OASA (CW) in the case of Civil Works) input, or if HQUSACE determines input is necessary. (4) Commands will ensure that all Tribes with an interest in a particular activity that has the potential to significantly affect protected tribal resources, tribal rights (including treaty rights) and Indian lands are contacted and their comments taken into consideration. (5) Consultation procedures for individual projects or programs may be developed at the local level to meet the needs of particular Tribe(s). (6) In recognition of the varied organizations and customs of different Tribes, written protocols for consultation procedures may be considered and implemented at the local level with a specific Tribe. (7) A dispute resolution process will be developed during the consultation process, including a provision to elevate the consultation to higher USACE and/or Tribal levels. (8) Requests for consultation by a Tribe to USACE will be honored. e. USACE will support Tribal self-determination, self reliance and capacity building by: (1) Partnering with Tribes on studies, projects, programs and permitting procedures will be supported and promoted to the extent permitted by law and policy. (2) To the extent permitted by law and policy, provide information on opportunities to compete for requests for proposals or other potential contracts with USACE. (3) Sharing appropriate information on USACE programs, policies and procedures, and public documents. (4) Utilizing Tribal knowledge for planning purposes and to inform operational activities. (5) Supporting Tribal efforts to lease and operate water resource projects and lands, where appropriate. (6) Identifying and implementing, within existing authority, other capacity-building opportunities as they occur. f. Protection of natural and cultural resources. (1) USACE recognizes the importance of strict compliance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and other statutes concerning cultural and natural resources. (2) USACE acknowledges that compliance with the above statutes may not comprise the full range of consultation, nor of cultural property and resource protection. (3) To the extent allowed by law, USACE will protect the location of historic properties, properties of religious and cultural significance, and archaeological resources, in consultation with and when requested by the affected Tribe(s). 6. Responsibilities of Commanders and other USACE officials interacting with federally recognized Tribes. a. Build relationships with Tribes soon after each change of command by face-to-face interaction at the local headquarters or at tribal offices when at all possible. b. Identify and remove procedural impediments to working with Tribes whenever possible. c. Share appropriate Corps procedures, regulations and organizational information with Tribes. d. Maintain open lines of communication through consultation with Tribes during the decision making process for those matters that have the potential to significantly affect protected tribal resources, tribal rights (including treaty rights) and Indian lands. e. Provide Tribes with points of contact on project-related issues, and issues in general. f. Encourage partnerships on projects with Tribes wherever possible. g. Encourage collaborative partnerships by other federal and state agencies with Tribes to further their goals and projects. 7. Education. To develop a proactive well-informed workforce, in-house training, workshops, and an annual meeting of USACE tribal liaisons have been developed and should be attended by Corps employees who interact with Tribes-liaisons, project managers, program managers, real estate professionals, regulators, leaders, contracting specialists, etc. 8. Accountability. To assess the effectiveness of USACE Tribal consultation, professionals who interact with Tribes will keep records of consultation meetings and other tribal interactions. These records will be accessible and can be made available for purposes of reporting to OMB through DoD as per the reporting requirement in the Presidential Proclamation of 5 Nov 2009. The report will be synthesized at HQUSACE and transmitted to DoD (OSD) on a yearly basis. A copy of this report will be distributed to federally recognized Tribes upon request. 9. Implementation. USACE will incorporate the six Tribal policy principles, including pre-decisional consultation, into its planning, management, budgetary, operational, and legislative initiatives, management accountability system and ongoing policy and regulation development processes. 10. General Provision: This policy does not establish new requirements, but reaffirms procedures and policies already in place, clarifies responsibilities and establishes clear measures of implementation success.

Ms. MOORE. Let me be clear. We may need a formal rulemaking process, but this amendment today doesn't block any pending project or permit process. I do think it is appropriate, when questions are raised about inadequate consultation, that we do something here. It is my hope that this report will guide Congress within a year, when we consider the next WRDA bill, so that the chairman, the ranking member, and the underlying bill, itself, will make clear that their support for taking up WRDA bills on a regular 2-year cycle will include tribal consultation. Again, these consultations look good on paper, but my amendment wants to formalize the consultation process and get a report. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, it is really, truly a pleasure to welcome Greg Young here as our guest chaplain. I just want to note that I met him on an airplane during the time of a great, great distress, illness in my family, and he prayed for me; and he is here today at another time when I am experiencing some family illness. It just goes to demonstrate that no matter what your race, creed, color, gender, there is always somebody out there who can touch you, someone out there who can bring the spiritual resources to you, if you just open up your heart and your mind. Thank God for Greg Young, and I thank him for visiting us today.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Eric Von Boardley, known to everyone by his broadcast name Eric Von. Eric passed away on September 8, 2016, at the age of 58, leaving behind his wife Faithe Colas, daughters Erica Boardley and Paige Colas, a brother and sister, numerous other family members and many friends to mourn his passing. Eric was a radio and television broadcaster, veteran journalist and community advocate. However, he was most widely recognized and revered as a radio personality. He began his career in his hometown of Washington, D.C., as the business manager for Radio One. He eventually settled in Milwaukee, WI where he remained for over 25 years; beginning at WMCS 1290 AM and ended his radio career at WNOV 860 AM. He created an online magazine in 2014 whose goal was to improve the health of black men, entitled Brain, Brawn & Body. Eric was a frequent panelist on Wisconsin Public Television's ``Interchange''; served as co-host of ``Black Nouveau'' from 1998 to 2000, another show on Public Television; and was a special assignment reporter and co-host of ``It's Your Vote''. Most recently, Eric was a leader in Precious Lives, a media-led effort to look at the causes and consequences of gun violence on Milwaukee youth. Eric was involved in public events and the live on- the-air community discussions he hosted were widely listened to with huge public participation. He did his research and was informed; guests had to be fully prepared before going on his show. Eric was so much more than a radio host and personality, he was a Milwaukee icon who was completely enmeshed in the issues impacting the community, especially Milwaukee's African-American community. I have had the great privilege of working with Eric for his entire tenure in Milwaukee; beginning while I served in the Wisconsin State Assembly and extending to my years in Congress. In fact, I was a regular guest on his radio program while in Congress when he hosted his show on 1290 AM. For many years, he served as the Master of Ceremonies at the yearly issue forum I host at the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Caucus. Eric was also the Master of Ceremonies at my 60th Birthday celebration where he was featured along with Mary Wells of the Supremes. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize Mr. Eric Von Boardley and proud to have called him friend. He leaves big shoes to fill for the broadcast community in Milwaukee. He was creative and a true trailblazer; I will truly miss this amazing man and his wonderful banter and commentary. The citizens of the Fourth Congressional District and the State of Wisconsin have benefited tremendously from his dedicated service. I am honored for these reasons to pay tribute to Eric ``Von'' Boardley.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Richard Maslowski who has served as the City of Glendale, Wisconsin's City Administrator since 1980. After 36 years of exemplary service to the City of Glendale, he retired effective on August 31, 2016. Richard Maslowski may well be the longest-serving city administrator in the State of Wisconsin and is a native of South Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He held similar positions in West Bend and Butler prior to assuming the Glendale City Administrator position. Richard Maslowski has been a transformative figure for the City of Glendale, Wisconsin. He leaves behind a city that has undergone major positive changes due in large part to his broad influence and great leadership. When Richard Maslowski started working as Glendale's City Administrator, the community's most visible properties were Bayshore Mall and Jos. Schlitz Brewing Co.'s massive grain elevator. More than three decades later, the mall has been redeveloped as the mixed-use Bayshore Town Center, while a business park has replaced the grain elevator. Under Mr. Maslowski's direction, Glendale created its first tax incremental financing (TIF) district in 1981, for a hotel project; eight more districts followed during his tenure. The nine commercial developments developed during Mr. Maslowski's tenure utilizing the city's TIF district authority include: hotels, business parks, apartments and the conversion of Bayshore Mall into Bayshore Town Center being the largest TIF project. Mr. Maslowski always found a way to move the project forward. I was proud to work with Richard Maslowski to obtain a federal grant to help finance an off-ramp from I-43 to Bayshore's main parking structure on N. Port Washington Road. At the time, I obtained the funds I did not represent Glendale in Congress but had previously represented Glendale in Wisconsin's State Senate. I knew the area well and knew what it represented for the future of the City of Glendale and for this development, Bayshore Town Center, which opened in 2006. Mr. Maslowski has been an innovator, he was among the first to utilize TIFs for environmental cleanup costs. In 1992, Glendale used a TIF for environmental cleanup costs, an unusual tactic then but is now commonplace, to convert a closed hotel, built on the site of a former dump, into a new Hotel complex. Glendale also became perhaps the first city in Wisconsin where the developer/company paid the costs upfront for environmental cleanup. The company later received property tax rebates to compensate it for the environmental cleanup costs. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize Mr. Richard Maslowski. He leaves big shoes to fill and a rich legacy of innovation, creativity, growth and sustainability for the City of Glendale. Mr. Maslowski has many skill sets and is always professional. However, I believe perhaps his strongest ability is bringing the right people together at critical times to complete a project and ultimately recreate a city. He is a true trailblazer. The citizens of the Fourth Congressional District, the State of Wisconsin and the nation have benefited tremendously from his dedicated service. I am honored for these reasons to pay tribute to Mr. Richard Maslowski.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my thoughts on H.R. 2646, the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2016. I voted in favor of this bill on July 6 of this year because it is a step forward in improving the lives of many Americans affected by mental illness. I support numerous key provisions of H.R. 2646, including reauthorizing grant programs to promote efforts that curb suicide deaths and substance abuse, requiring the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to develop a strategic plan to improve services for individuals with serious mental illness, and allowing Medicaid Managed Care coverage of certain stays in psychiatric hospitals and other treatment facilities. However, there remains much more work to be done in the mental health sphere. While H.R. 2646 addresses many of the pressing issues individuals affected by mental illness face, it misses the opportunity to address key areas that would greatly improve our mental health system. H.R. 2646 could be improved by placing more emphasis on the benefits of community integration for people with mental health illnesses in conjunction with treatment by a medical professional. While hospitalization may be critical for some patients, a multi-faceted approach to treatment that includes community engagement and peer support has proven to be more effective in the long-term treatment of patients with mental illness. I am also concerned by H.R. 2646's definition of ``anosognosia,'' which states that people with psychiatric conditions may be unable to make sound decisions regarding their own care because they lack reasoning and judgment. Evidence has shown that people with psychiatric disabilities make reasonable decisions about their care comparable to others with chronic health conditions. I fear that this definition may further stigmatize those living with mental illness and may jeopardize their privacy in making health care decisions for themselves. While this bill improves mental health services for people living with mental illness, I take exception to the Majority's premise that it in any way addresses the prevalence of gun violence. H.R. 2646 conflates the ideas that reforming the mental health system is a means of reducing violent gun crimes, when in fact, it is a false and manufactured narrative that people with mental illness are more prone to violent behavior. The truth is that researchers have not found any correlation between psychiatric diagnoses and mass murder and people with mental illness are more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators of violent crimes. I was pleased to vote in favor of H.R. 2646, as it marks an effort by this body to address our critically broken mental health system, but our priorities in this effort must remain focused on the health, security, and privacy of people living with mental illness. It is my hope that we will continue to improve upon this first step to guarantee that Americans with mental illness have access to effective mental health treatment while also remaining an integral part of our communities.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation. Here is Zina Daniel, who was murdered when her ex-husband bought a weapon from the Internet.