Gwen Moore

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the members of the Wisconsin delegation for joining me at this very difficult moment. Madam Speaker, I really wish that I did not have to make the request that I am about to make, but I am asking Members to join me and indulge me in this undertaking. Two days ago, the employees at Molson Coors in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, went to work in my district, and, unfortunately, five of them did not go home. Now their families are gathering to put them to rest. I want my colleagues to know their names: Jesus Valle Jr. of Milwaukee was an employee since 2014 and was only 33 years old. Gennady ``Gene'' Levshetz, 61, of Mequon, was an employee since 2008. I have known Gene personally since 1992, and his wonderful wife, Alina; his daughters, Tanya and Becca. I was so inspired by his story of having emigrated from the former Soviet Union to Mequon in the early 1990s. He worked like a dog. Gene will be remembered for being the best husband, the best dad, and the best grandfather. I can attest to that. Trevor Wetselaar, 33, of Milwaukee was married and a 2009 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He was an employee since 2018. Mr. Dana Walk of Delafield was an employee since 2004. He had been married to Dori for 35 years. His three children, Andy, Melanie, and Michelle are left to grieve his loss. He was a graduate of Kettle Moraine High School. Dale ``Huddy'' Hudson of Waukesha was an employee since 2008. Madam Speaker, I would ask that all Members and guests in the gallery rise for a moment of silence and reflect on these souls.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentlewoman for anchoring this extremely important intervention and Special Order Hour. I wasn't really sure whether or not I would have the strength to stand before you today because we have had yet another mass shooting just in the last day. It seems like this is a daily event. It happened, unfortunately, in my own hometown, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. When these things happen, you try to distance yourself from them. You say to yourself, you know, it doesn't have an impact on me personally. But, unfortunately, of the five victims, I knew one of them very well. I have known him since 1992, an immigrant, who was a father, a husband, a grandfather, a wonderful person who left the Soviet Union to come and seek a better life for him and his family, a life of freedom, only to be met with death. Mr. Speaker, it has been a year, today, I believe, that we sent H.R. 8 over to Mitch McConnell's graveyard, while our constituents are planning on putting their loved ones in the grave. It is Sandy Hook. It is Columbine; Newtown; Oak Creek, which is adjacent to my district; Florida, the Pulse mass killing; Parkland; churches, Mother Emanuel Church, the Sikh Temple; movie houses; for God's sake, an elementary school. There is nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. What I have come to learn too quickly is that it will have an impact on you personally, as it happened to me last night. Yesterday, my friend went to work, and today his family is gathering to put him to rest. Of course, my heart aches for them because I knew them, but I knew all of the victims of gun shootings. And I say: How long is how long? It is the reality in this country. I know people make the argument, Mr. Speaker, that, oh, we need to do something about mental illness. There is mental illness all over the world, but there are not these shootings because there is not the easy access to guns. And we ought to use the tools in our toolkit to be able to vet people before they receive these guns. How terrible is my restimulated memory of Zina Daniel, a constituent of mine who provided services in the spa industry. Her estranged ex- husband put out an ad saying: I need a gun, and I need the gun right now. He was sold the gun in a fast-food parking lot--no vetting, no background check, just sold a gun. All of the indicators were there that he was up to no good: I want a gun, any kind of gun, any caliber, and I want it now. That is how Zina Daniel and her coworkers lost their lives; Zina Daniel, leaving children on this Earth to be cared for, with no mother. While I don't know the circumstances of the weapon last night, I can tell you that we see our citizens with military-type weapons, nothing that can be justified for the many hunters we have in Wisconsin, weapons that mutilate people and butcher them and mangle the bodies of children, disfiguring people so badly that they can't be identified when their parents show up at the morgue. There are stories of these AR-15s brutalizing these bodies so terribly that it is just a second source of trauma for parents to see their deceased children in this condition, children as young as 6 years old, barely at the dawn of life, dead from gunfire. Please do not let their cries go on unheard. We need the Senate to pass comprehensive gun legislation yesterday because one death is too many. I speak for the students who lead protests all over this country demanding more. I speak for the moms who diligently march and protest every single day demanding more. I speak for all of the citizens in our districts who have wept too many times. I speak for those children who don't feel like they will get an opportunity to grow up and to have a voice, those who cannot vote, and they are depending on the adults, adults like Mitch McConnell, to act. I pray that Mitch McConnell does not experience the pain and agony that I am experiencing today, having to get on that airplane and go and face my friend since 1992 and her children in the wake of this. I hope that he will rest tonight, as I will not be able to rest tonight. Perhaps this is just one person who died, just five people in Milwaukee who died, but this was a very important person to my friend. This was a part of our community. This was a part of our commercial industry. He was a very important part of the MillerCoors family. He was our neighbor, and he was a human being. We are calling upon the humanity of you, Senator McConnell, to explain yourself to this man's wife, to his two daughters, to his grandchildren why we can't have a sensible background check piece of legislation. Someone that I loved very much is on their way to the graveyard. Please dig up our legislation from your graveyard, Senator McConnell.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I am so proud to stand here today to support H. Res. 826, the protect Medicaid resolution. I am proud to go on record today to spotlight the administration's continuous attempts to take away healthcare for Americans, especially those most vulnerable, such as seniors and those with disabilities. Mr. Speaker, Medicaid was created in recognition of the importance of healthcare for all Americans. Even though many low-income people have jobs, working every single day, the reality is that they don't have access to employer or private health insurance, and Medicaid fills that gap. It is such a sad reality that we need to remind this administration that the purpose of Medicaid is to provide healthcare for low-income individuals and families. Medicaid recognizes the humanity of everyone, despite their socioeconomic status. When I was on the Budget Committee, I repeatedly voted against pernicious efforts to change the Federal- State Medicaid partnership through the per capita caps, onerous work requirements--I led a letter on that--State waivers to jettison core medical protections, repeal of the Affordable Care Act. It was just exhausting. And of course, the favorite tool in the toolkit was block grants. Block grants. If you don't know what block grants are, just think, chopping block. And why has Congress repeatedly not enacted these harmful proposals? Because block-granting Medicaid will only lead to gutting care for millions, including seniors and people with disabilities. Block-granting Medicaid means setting caps on total funding and leaving the hard choices to governors and State legislators to decide which populations to serve and which ones to drop. Seniors and persons with disabilities, those account for a good portion of Medicaid spending, and any attempts to cut costs, as a result of cap funding, will hit these groups the hardest. Perhaps we should cut services to more healthy children to meet the needs of those in nursing homes. We literally pit the medical needy against the medical needy. Healthcare providers whose Medicaid payments would be curtailed and cut so low that they may decide not to provide services, will make it harder for even those who are eligible for Medicaid to find those services. And let me just remind you that Medicaid block grants are not responsive to recessions. Per capita cuts, block grants, and work requirements would undermine Medicaid's ability to help when the need is greatest, such as during an economic recession, as it was designed to do. So, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 826 to reject efforts to reduce access to quality and affordable healthcare for low-income patients, especially those with serious and chronic health conditions.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I am so very pleased to rise in support of this bipartisan legislation to reauthorize and strengthen the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the GLRI. Twenty percent of the world's freshwater resides in the Great Lakes. It is a national treasure and a regional economic engine. I remember when I was first elected in 2004. On election night, I was so excited because I said now I get to represent Lake Michigan. It is one of my favorite constituents. In its mere one decade of existence, the GLRI has not only generated environmental benefits, but it is helping to generate economic development as waterways that were once polluted, unusable, and off- limits to the public have become attractive to not only recreational users but to businesses that are able to open their doors to the public. GLRI investments have been used in over 4,000 projects across almost 300,000 square miles of the Great Lakes Basin. It is truly a win-win. Mr. Speaker, this bill takes the next step to support the ongoing efforts and partnerships that are making this program so successful in Great Lakes communities. While I don't have much time, I want to highlight a couple of efforts that my constituents who are hard at work to make use of the funds that protect Lake Michigan. Here is one story of a small business owner. Beth Handle is the owner and operator of Milwaukee Kayak Company, located right on the Milwaukee River in downtown Milwaukee. She came to my office to share how cleaning up this river has benefited her business. Cleaning up the river changed the river from a place that people didn't want to go.

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, cleaning up the river changed the river from a place that people didn't want to go, and now it is where families go to paddle board, swim, and explore the river and our city. Of course, Milwaukee is A Great Place on a Great Lake. The Milwaukee Water Commons, while not directly funded by the GLRI, has been working with grantees and others to make sure that communities that have been historically disengaged are in those conversations. Our Metropolitan Sewerage District is using it to clean up the Milwaukee Estuary, where there is a gathering of three rivers: the Kinnickinnic, the Milwaukee, and the Menomonee Rivers. This estuary is one of 30 areas of pollution concerns in the Great Lakes. The GLRI would fund 65 percent of these projects. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this bill, and I am so delighted that we are debating it here on the floor in this bipartisan manner. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Madam Speaker, late last week, President Trump ordered the assassination of a high-ranking Iranian official while he was in Iraq. This action threatens to cascade the United States into an ill- advised, not authorized war with Iran, and is already setting into motion a series of disastrous unintended consequences for American security and interests in the Middle East. The President trashed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which Iran was following and that put in place the first real restraints on Iran's nuclear program. The world and America were safer under the JCPOA framework, period. Enter Trump, and now we see Iranian rockets firing, U.S. forces being pushed out of Iraq, and alliances strained as we all await further retaliations. Oh, history is replete with the misery befalling those poor empires who first fight and mistake that for might. This escalation with Iran must end, Congress must reassert its war powers authority, and I urge adoption of the resolution.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, today marks a sobering anniversary. Three years ago today, Scarlett Lillian Pauley, a magnetic, vibrant, 16- month- old died suddenly and unexpectedly. She was born at 11:25 a.m. on August 31, 2015, a happy and healthy 6-pound, 4-ounce, 20-inch-long baby. This vibrant little girl loved her mama and her dada and her pets. Scarlett loved books. She could read for hours. Her favorite book was ``Barnyard Dance!'' by Sandra Boynton. She loved and she was loved. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated story. Each year, hundreds of children die unexpectedly and their deaths go unexplained, even after an investigation. Each year, nearly 3,500 children up to age 1 die suddenly. Among infants, my colleagues may have heard of the leading cause being SIDS, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. These devastated families want answers which, unfortunately, don't come. One reason is that States and municipalities all over the country collect inconsistent and often incomplete data on these unexplained sudden deaths; and, even with these efforts, they are irreconcilable. If we can't even collect good and consistent data, how can we expect to reverse this trend or even prevent it? Mr. Speaker, we can and we must do more to save the lives of our most vulnerable, which is why I introduced the Scarlett's Sunshine on Sudden Unexpected Death Act, H.R. 2271, named in honor of little Scarlett. This bill would authorize efforts to improve the investigation of these deaths nationwide to help find answers that can guide prevention efforts. It would also support better data initiatives of safe sleep education and other efforts to prevent such deaths and support for grieving families, among other provisions. Mr. Speaker, I was so inspired to do this because I have, in fact, been to the homes of grieving parents who have lost their child to sudden infant death. I am so grateful that this is bipartisan legislation. There are 62 bipartisan sponsors, and I just want to name a few of them on the other side. Tom Cole is the cosponsor on the Republican side, along with Jaime Herrera Beutler, who has given birth to three children since she has become a Member of this body, and Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who is on the Energy and Commerce Committee. This bipartisan legislation has also been endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the March of Dimes, Children's Hospital Association, Cribs for Kids, First Candle, SUDC Foundation, KID: Fighting for Product Safety, Aaron Matthew SIDS Research Guild of Seattle Children's Hospital, the Mackenzie Blair Foundation of New Jersey, Jaxin's Cause in Ohio, the Scarlett Lillian Pauley Foundation, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, and Safe Kids Worldwide. Today, the Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold hearings on this legislation, bringing it one step closer to law. One of the witnesses will be Scarlett's mom, someone who took her grief and turned it into activism, and I believe she is going to speak eloquently of the challenges that families across our country who experience such a tragedy face. Though Scarlett is gone, she is not forgotten. Passing this bipartisan bill is one way we can honor her and save lives. If this bill helps save one life--and I am confident that it will do more than that--it is worth it. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this legislation.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the life of Richard ``Rick'' Graham Hill of Oneida, Wisconsin. Rick was born on January 6, 1953, in Detroit, Michigan, and lived a life filled with love and compassion for both his community and nation. He was a politician, innovator, entrepreneur and leader. Rick descended from a family committed to public service. His grandmother, Dr. L. Rosa Minoka Hill, was the second American Indian woman doctor in the nation, and his mother was a registered nurse. He began following in the footsteps of his family at a young age, often accompanying his father to tribal meetings, which cultivated him into the leader he eventually became. Rick went go on to be a long-serving councilman and vice-chairman of the Oneida Nation, and served two non-consecutive terms as the nation's chairman. During his first term, he also served simultaneously as chairman of the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA), representing and advocating for 168 federally-recognized tribes in the gaming industry. Under his leadership, NIGA became a nationally-recognized voice on Indian gaming issues, and successfully initiated the development of national regulatory standards and policies for tribal governmental gaming. As chairman of the Oneida Nation, Rick signed the first gaming compact with the state of Wisconsin. Even after retirement, Rick continued his service by forming Hill Group, LLC. There he consulted with various stakeholders to identify economic development projects and partnerships in Indian Country. He also formed RGH Holdings the first ever consortium of tribes to invest in real estate development projects outside of the reservations. Out of all his contributions, Rick was most proud of his work serving on the board of the Native American Rights Fund and the Public Sector Gaming Study Commission. His devotion and commitment to serving others has been recognized with honors and awards including: the Eagle Visionary Award, the Pathbreakers Award and induction into the Indian Gaming Hall of Fame. He was also the first Indian Gaming inductee into the Gaming Hall of Fame. He was a loving husband, father, and tenderhearted coach to his sons and so many others. Rick leaves to cherish his memory: his spouse, and my dear friend, Donsia Strong Hill, as well as his children: Richard (Desirae), Sage, Dakota, and his two grandchildren: Asher and Vine. He is also survived by siblings: Barbara Author, Norbert, Jr. (Mary), Rosa (Rick) Coenen; sister-in-law, Lenora Hatathlie and brother-in-law, Mike Author; his nieces: Megan, Sarah, Maria, Nasbah (Jamison), Nanabah (Michael), Melissa (Scott); and his nephews: DineNizhoni, Christopher (Maria), Mark, Nabahe, Norbert III (Erin), and goddaughter, Jolene Billie; and long-term business partner and colleague, Dawn Reiter. Rick always credited his success to those who supported, mentored and befriended him while working in Indian Country. I am proud to have worked with Rick over a 30-year period and happy to have called him my friend. I am inspired by his work to continuously help other tribes and will work collaboratively with them to establish strong tribal governments. Everything he's accomplished came from the heart, and the legacy he leaves behind reflects the positive impact of his service. Madam Speaker, it is for these reasons I rise to salute Richard ``Rick'' Graham Hill, a man who has made the State of Wisconsin and our nation a better place.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the career and ongoing legacy of Milwaukee's own Paula Penebaker. Ms. Penebaker, the President & CEO of the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) of Southeast Wisconsin, is retiring on December 31, 2019. Paula enjoyed a successful career in the for-profit sector in the Management Systems Division at The Procter & Gamble Company and later with First Wisconsin Bank in Training & Development, departing as the Vice President & Diversity Manager, prior to joining YWCA. She decided to take her talents to the non-profit sector and joined YWCA as the Chief Human Resources and Facilities Officer in 1999. Five years later, she was appointed Executive Director and later designated the President & CEO of the agency. As the head of this prestigious organization, Paula was dedicated to eliminating racism and improving the lives of all women. Under her leadership, the YWCA strategically promoted and advanced racial justice, economic empowerment, and health and safety for women and girls of color. The programs offered included High School Equivalency Diploma and GED Preparation & Testing, Employment Readiness, Personal Financial Management, as well as resources and programs that created lasting and meaningful change to their clients. Even while performing her duties as President & CEO of the YWCA Southeast Wisconsin, Paula found time to serve on the board of directors for the Rotary Club of Milwaukee and Milwaukee World Festival, Inc., and as a member of the Milwaukee Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. and the Milwaukee Chapter of The Links Incorporated. She was also a trustee for the Public Policy Forum and Milwaukee County Federated Library System. Furthermore, her devotion and commitment to service has been recognized with awards from the Milwaukee Business Journal, Community Brainstorming Conference, North Central Service Club, the Medical College of Wisconsin, BizTimes, Professional Dimensions and the Greater Milwaukee Foundation. Paula is a pioneer who has spent her life carrying a torch of justice to ignite and empower generations of women to fight back. She changed her career trajectory because she wanted to ensure that each day she was using all her might to fight and eliminate injustices toward women and people of color in this country, not for personal recognition. Madam Speaker, Paula Penebaker has made the 4th Congressional District, Wisconsin and the nation a better place. She is a staunch defender and advocate for justice, and I applaud her contributions. As she embarks upon a new chapter of her life, I know that her fight and quest for justice will not end.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Madam Speaker, the facts are uncontestable. The evidence is overwhelming. The President grossly misused the Office of President and obstructed Congress, and justice requires this impeachment. I feel compelled to respond to the false narrative that Democrats are using this process to overturn an election. I agree that elections are the appropriate venue for public policy disputes. However, we are not talking about a public policy dispute. We are talking about a President who subverted national security by soliciting foreign interference in our elections, the exact thing our Founding Fathers feared and the exact circumstance for which they drafted the impeachment clause. Our democracy, our Constitution, deserves standing up for, not Donald John Trump. I will leave my colleagues with this last thought as they decide how to cast this historic vote: For what shall it profit a man to gain the whole world only to lose his own soul.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Madam Speaker, I thank the Speaker and the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee for working on an end of year bipartisan tax package and helping Congress get on with the business of legislating. While I wish that our colleagues in the Senate would take up Butch Lewis, which the House passed in July, and addresses the multiemployer pension crisis affecting millions of retirees across the country and I wish my colleagues across the aisle would have supported the Ways and Means Committee's advancement of legislation to expand the Earned Income Tax Credit and make the Child Tax Credit fully refundable, it's important for our constituents to see Congress working together. I also know that many Americans are waiting for Congress to make essential fixes to the tax code in response to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and were hoping that Congress would add these fixes to our year-end tax package. While a couple such fixes were made, many vital revisions were left out. I am planning to introduce bipartisan legislation early next year that will fix an unintended consequence of the recent changes to the insurance business exception to the passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, rules. I urge my colleagues to join me in this effort and cosponsor this upcoming legislation especially Members who are aware of the importance of available and affordable municipal bond financing to state and local municipalities. This legislation is necessary to preserve the availability and affordability of financial guaranty insurance with respect to municipal bond financing for state and local municipalities. I have worked in close consultation with the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation in developing this legislation to ensure that it provides a narrow exception for financial guarantors that is specifically designed to address the issue affecting municipal bond insurance in a manner that preserves the closing of a loophole for foreign hedge funds, the intended targets of the recent changes. As I work with stakeholders and colleagues to finalize this legislation, I understand that the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service are currently working on finalizing regulations with respect to the PFIC insurance business exception. I am particularly encouraged that the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service specifically requested comments with respect to the application of those regulations to financial guaranty insurance. I would encourage the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service to carefully consider the comments received pursuant to their request in light of the pending introduction and consideration of my legislation to address as much as possible any unintended consequences with respect to financial guarantors.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 1158, a funding package that wraps together the FY 2020 Department of Defense and the FY 2020 Department of Homeland Security funding bills. While I support the other funding bills included in this package, I am concerned and opposed to the policies and priorities outlined in the Defense and Homeland Security bill and will vote No. I support our men and women in uniform and ensuring they have the equipment and resources they need to do their jobs. The 3.1% military pay raise should be applauded. The best way to support our men and women is to ensure those funds are being well spent rather than on things that do nothing to enhance or security, that we do not need, and which we cannot afford, but also for Congress to reassert our authority to prevent dangerous national security and foreign policy decisions, that will have consequences for generations. Among my concerns with the Defense bill is continued and higher spending for the Defense Department with little or no oversight, especially when it comes to wasteful spending on overbudget programs. In this bill, we fund one of the largest military budgets in history, with little oversight to ensure we are getting the best bang for the buck. As we have seen with this capricious President, oversight is essential and necessary. I am also troubled by the decision to drop the provision that would call for the repeal of the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force and for Congress to debate its replacement. Congress' war power is not self-executing and we need to aggressively protect it. We will never stop open ended war if we never reconsider the open- ended authorizations that are feeding them. Yet, I am concerned when you consider this omission combined with the decision to drop key provisions from the FY 2020 NDAA (that I voted to add to that bill in the House) such as the provision ending the 2002 AUMF for Iraq--which is outdated and needless. While the FY 2020 NDAA included a provision providing paid leave to federal employees, it dropped strong language barring funding for an unauthorized war with Iran and ending U.S. involvement in the humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen. This is the bill that funds the policies and spending that was authorized in the NDAA and I will vote NO. Tomorrow, we'll have a debate about the Constitution and our authority, ability, and responsibility to hold the President accountable. Well, we need a similar debate when it comes to war and peace. The Constitution is clear about Congress' authority and yet every time we punt on reasserting our authority to either approve or disapprove sending our men and women in uniform to war, we weaken our institution and our democracy. Please know I will continue to work with my colleagues and support legislation to address the important House-passed provisions that were left out of this legislation and the final FY 2020 NDAA. I also oppose the Department of Homeland Security funding bill. Neither this bill nor the Defense bill include strong restrictions on the President's ability to transfer and move funds for the border wall or to implement and enforce his immoral and unlawful immigration policies. From the terrible family separation policy, to the remain in Mexico policy, to even the decision by immigration authorities to ignore the CDC recommendation that those in detention be provided with flu shots during flu season. According to media reports, last May, a 16-year-old Guatemalan boy died in immigration custody after being diagnosed with the flu. This is just cruel. I appreciate the work of my colleagues, from Chairwoman Lowey to Chairwomen Roybal-Allard to add strong oversight provisions to the bill and to end these harmful and ineffective immigration policies. Unfortunately, many of those efforts were not included. We can do better which is why I will vote NO.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Madam Speaker, on December 10th, I missed roll call vote 660. Had I been present, I would have voted AYE.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I am just so thrilled and excited to be reintroducing my Social Security reform bill, the Social Security Enhancement and Protection Act of 2019. Today, our prized Social Security program is at risk. Currently, Social Security is fully funded until 2035 but faces a financial shortfall after that. And while there is broad agreement that we need to take steps to improve the fiscal outlook for Social Security, there is not enough attention given to the need to improve the system so that it works better for vulnerable populations, including women, people of color, and low-income people. My bill would both improve benefits and extend the program's solvency. Mr. Speaker, I would like to draw your attention to three critical components of my bill: My bill would modify the special minimum benefit to credit workers for up to 5 additional years of work to reflect the years workers provide care for a child under 6 years old. This, of course, is especially important for women. We need to value caregiving and acknowledge that this uncompensated labor is not free. Mother work is work. My bill also extends the benefit eligibility for children of retired, disabled, or deceased workers who are full-time students enrolled in college or vocational schools up to the age of 26 years old. In this knowledge-based worldwide economy, this benefit needs to be reinstated. It was particularly helpful to students of color, low- income families with parents working who were at higher risk, those with parents who were blue-collar workers, and women. My bill also provides additional benefits for all beneficiaries of any income age 20 years after their retirement. People who live beyond the age of 85--God bless them--tend to be more likely to be financially vulnerable, even with their Social Security benefit. They may have exhausted their savings by this point or have more serious health problems that may have been a drain on their finances or have faced any number of financial strains. Mr. Speaker, Social Security has become one of the hallmarks of our safety net, and I urge my colleagues to improve this system, which has been an integral part of our Nation. Mr. Speaker, Social Security is the North Star of humane public policy in the United States, and I would invite all of my colleagues the opportunity to cosponsor this legislation and vote for the Social Security Enhancement and Protection Act of 2019.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendments which are included in en bloc No. 1. My amendments are simply. I will sum them up in six words: Community Engagement, Education, Outreach, and Consultation. The impacts of climate change and environmental degradation affect us all. But the fact is climate change has a disparate impact on low- income and minority communities. Indeed, these communities are also disproportionately impacted by other environmental hazards. It is also worth mentioning that these communities, which suffer resource deficits, cannot simply relocate out of flood zones or pay for expensive mitigation efforts. Similarly, my Native brothers and sisters have unique cultures that are highly vulnerable to climate change impacts which threatens their ways of life, subsistence, lands and water rights, and survival. For example, the Great Lakes have been an integral part of the history of many of the region's tribes. However, too often, the most vulnerable communities are left out when it comes to the great ideas and projects like those we are authorizing in this bill. Tribal communities and low-income communities have a great stake in this debate. My amendment makes sure that they are included and active participants in the efforts authorized by this bill. My amendments would amend two of the grant programs in the bill to make clear that you must consult with, reach out, and meaningfully engage with tribal and low-income communities located where these projects are planned. My amendments affect two programs created in this bill: the Living Shorelines Grant Program and the Climate Change Adaption Preparedness and Response Program. The Living Shorelines Grant program is intended to fund the design, implementation, and monitoring of climate resilient living shoreline projects intended to protect coastal communities and ecosystem functions from environmental conditions, particularly those impacted by climate change. The Climate Program is intended to help develop and fund comprehensive adaptation plans to help states better understand the scope of the threat of climate change, identify state-wide costs, and develop local strategies to ensure safety for their residents. We get better policy making and outcomes when we ensure that all segments of our communities are engaged and meaningfully involved in the process. I thank the chairman for his support of these commonsense amendments.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution that reaffirms longstanding U.S. policy regarding the two-state solution and which squarely condemns unilateral acts by any party (and I hope the Administration understands that includes the U.S.) that undermines that goal. The two-state solution has been such a central part of the U.S. policy for this region that it rightly deserves its own debate in this House, rather than just a passing reference in legislation as we have seen in the past. As noted by the resolution, for more than 20 years, ``Presidents of the United States from both political parties and Israeli Prime Ministers have supported reaching a two-state solution that establishes a Palestinian state coexisting side by side with Israel in peace and security.'' Yet, somehow the two-state solution has now become a controversial position, including within the current Administration which goes out of its way to not even mention it as a goal of our policy anymore. In light of the Administration's refusal to even say the phrase, more and more leaders in the region feel emboldened to also publicly oppose two states living side by side in peace and security. It is even more critical now that the U.S. Congress unambiguously and clearly express support for the two-state solution. Current trends are moving us farther away from peace or security and the Administration's efforts are doing nothing to stop that. As a hundred of my colleagues and I recently noted in a letter to the State Department, the Administration's recent announcement declaring that Israeli settlements in the occupied territories do not violate international law as far as the U.S. is concerned, ``following the administration's decision to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem outside of a negotiated agreement; its closure of the Palestinian mission in Washington, D.C. and U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem; and its halting of aid Congress appropriated to the West Bank and Gaza, has discredited the United States as an honest broker between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, severely damaged prospects for peace, and endangered the security of America, Israel, and the Palestinian people.'' This legislation sends a clear message that any U.S. proposal to achieve a just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict ``should expressly endorse a two-state solution as its objective.'' Additionally, the resolution also makes clear that ``Presidents of the United States from both political parties have opposed settlement expansion, moves toward unilateral annexation of territory, and efforts to achieve Palestinian statehood status outside the framework of negotiations with Israel.'' It reaffirms the Administration's obligation to actively ``discourage steps by either side that would put a peaceful end to the conflict further out of reach, including unilateral annexation of territory or efforts to achieve Palestinian statehood status outside the framework of negotiations with Israel.'' I don't have to tell my colleagues that unilateral actions, such as annexation or unilateral declarations of statehood will not or cannot achieve the peace or security that is so urgently desired. Additionally, I know that this legislation has been changed to remove references to occupation and to the settlement enterprise. Whether you agree or disagree with those changes, doing so does not and will not change the actual facts on the ground or the obstacles to peace that remain. And our debate should be based on recognizing those facts, however discouraging or contentious they may be. The Israeli's and Palestinians deserve a debate that does so accurately. The time for pushing for peace is always now. But let's be clear, the sentiment in this resolution is only a start. Acknowledging the need for two states is important but even more so is working to actually achieve it. And that is where work needs to happen. What we need are bold steps forward. Not some half-baked peace plan that has taken nearly three years to develop, is apparently subject to the whims of the U.S. and Israeli election cycles, and has already been dismissed by key stakeholders in the region. If the Administration refuses to do so, then its time that Congress consider what actions it can take to make the vision of the two-state that we so beautifully describe in this resolution into a reality. Because today, the reality on the ground is one state, continuing tensions, and cycles of violence that can easily escalate. It's no longer good enough to give lip service to two-states. So I thank the leadership for bringing this to the floor and for welcoming this debate in the House. And I know that the two-state solution has its critics who are just as frustrated as I am that both sides have seemingly never failed to miss an opportunity to let peace slip away. But the deadly status quo is no substitute. And wishful thinking for some other ``alternative'' option also is no substitute. Achieving two-states was never going to be easy. Peace never is. But ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is vital to the interests of our country, Israel, the Palestinians, and the broader region and international communities. This is why we continue to advocate for two- states despite the setbacks and spoilers.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler) for yielding. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a direct response to evidence of significant and pervasive racial discrimination across the country. My home State of Wisconsin really has suffered under the Supreme Court decision of 2013. After that ruling, then-Governor Scott Walker, someone I had been fighting since 1990 to prevent him from enacting an onerous voter ID law, he prevailed in 2016. The very first year that that voter ID law was enacted was in 2016. According to a study done by the University of Wisconsin, between 12,000 and 23,000 registered voters in Madison and Milwaukee, and as many as 45,000 statewide, were deterred from voting by the ID law. The President, of course, won our State by a mere 23,000 votes. Mr. Speaker, it is important and imperative that we restore enforcement of the Voting Rights Act. I urge my colleagues to vote for this great legislation.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Madam Speaker, on December 3rd, I missed Roll Call vote Nos. 643 and 644. I would have voted YEA on Roll Call 643 on H. Res. 546 disapproving of the Russian Federation's inclusion in future Group of Seven summits until it respects the territorial integrity of its neighbors and adheres to the standards of democratic societies. I would have voted YEA on Roll 644 related to final passage of the Uighur Intervention and Global Humanitarian Unified Response Act.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Madam Speaker, on November 21st, I missed Roll Call vote Nos. 638, 639, 640, 641, and 642. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA, on Roll Call 638, 639, and 640 on amendments to H.R. 1309. I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 641 related to upholding the chair's ruling. I would have voted Yea on Roll Call No. 642, final passage of H.R. 1309, the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New Mexico for yielding. I am so very pleased to join my colleague, Deb Haaland, as one of the first Native American women--it is about time--to join this body in celebrating Native American Heritage Month. It is fitting here in November, as we think about Thanksgiving, to celebrate Native American Heritage Month, considering the welcoming of foreigners to this land first inhabited by the Native peoples. This month really allows us the opportunity to formally remember the great contributions that Native Americans have made, and they continue to make to bridge our communities and to improve our Nation. All you have to do is walk right down the street to the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian to just get a glimpse of the many ways that Native Americans have contributed to the fabric of our Nation, despite the many hardships, the broken promises, and trials they have faced. Indeed, as you walk through that museum, you will see the dozens and dozens and dozens of documentation of the treaties that have been executed and violated in this country. But the rich culture and heritage of Native Americans have still come through all of these hardships. They have been an indelible and undeniable impact on the American way of life. I am reminded of that every single day in my community. In fact, I hail from Wisconsin, where Earth Day was inaugurated by the late, great Senator Gaylord Nelson because, indeed, one of the things we have learned in Wisconsin from our Native community is to have stewardship over our environment, one of the legacies of the Native peoples. My home State is proudly home to 11 federally recognized Native American Tribes, and I am so proud of the many contributions that these Tribes have made to the cultural and economic richness of my State. In fact, the city of Milwaukee, which I represent, has a name that is derived from some of the Native brothers and sisters who inhabited the region: the gathering place by the water, the beautiful land, or the pleasant land. In fact, the host committee from the Democratic National Convention is called the Good Land Committee. These Tribes have helped refine and strengthen our State. In my home city of Milwaukee, the Forest County Potawatomi Foundation has not shied away from helping to address some of the most intractable problems facing our communities, including high unemployment, access to basic and higher education, ensuring better access to healthcare, and reducing health disparities, among other things. I am so inspired by the dedication of the Forest County Potawatomi to invest in Milwaukee and to give a helping hand to those serving the most vulnerable in the broader community, from young children to seniors in our community. In my life as an elected official, first at the State level and now in Congress, I have had so many wonderful friends and allies in the Tribal community. As a matter of fact, I grew up in a community where I had many friends, and I learned so many things from my Native friends. I am extremely honored to now serve in this body with the first Native American women--what a difference one session makes--who have been elected to this body and to be able to work across the aisle, even before they arrived, with concerned colleagues with Native backgrounds, such as Mr. Cole and Mr. Young, on legislation to address the needs of Native Americans. Madam Speaker, I want to take just a few seconds, if the gentlewoman from New Mexico will indulge me, to reinforce my commitment to the first peoples of this Nation. As they are citizens of this Nation, I want to remind the body that Native people are dual citizens. Because of their treaty rights--and it is in the Constitution--they are sovereign nations, and we ought to double down on our efforts of the Federal Government to fully live up to these trust obligations. Unfortunately, the history of our country is not the same as our aspirations. Our country's policies toward our Tribal communities is not a proud one. It actually is quite horrifying, which is why remembering, commemorating, and celebrating our Native brothers and sisters is so important, in order to remember the great things but also to remind us of where we have fallen short so that we learn from our past and that our history never repeats itself. You have heard some of the things that my sister Deb Haaland has talked about here. She talked about the abrogation of families and moving Native American people into assimilation programs. Part of that legacy has come to pass because we have not protected the sanctity of our Tribal obligations, respected sovereignty, and promoted the political, economic, and social self-determination for Native American communities. This is of paramount importance if we are not to repeat the same negative legacy. As we celebrate this month, let us rededicate ourselves to the numerous bills and initiatives that can help make a difference to our Native brothers and sisters. Let this not be just some moment, some little 5 minute or Special Order talking about how wonderful Native Americans are. One of our key legislative priorities this year is a strong reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. For too long, non- Native men could assault Native American women with impunity. The Violence Against Women Act that passed the House earlier this year, sitting over in the Senate graveyard, would take more steps to end this scourge by empowering Native law enforcement and Native courts to protect Native American women and children from domestic violence. The need for affordable housing in Indian Country cannot be overstated. Some of the poorest and most remote communities in this country are Native American communities. Native American elders and children are living in deteriorated housing with mold and structures that cannot protect them against the harsh environment. NAHASDA, the Native American Housing Assistance and Self- Determination Act, provides Tribal governments the ability to provide safe and affordable housing to Tribal communities that is consistent with their status as sovereigns. We need to stop punting and finally undertake a real reauthorization to unlock the potential of these programs to improve housing for all Native Americans. I continue to work with House and Senate colleagues to find a path forward so we can finally have this program reauthorized.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the life and legacy of Mildred L. Harpole a highly esteemed change agent and civil rights leader. A Native of Cleveland, Ohio, Mildred came to Milwaukee to earn her bachelor's degree from Marquette University, and later her juris doctorate from now Case Western Reserve University in Ohio. During her brief time away, she married Reuben Harpole the love of her life and returned to Milwaukee to raise their family. Upon her return in the early 1960s, Mildred would become an educator for Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS). With very few curriculum materials, and children lacking reading skills, she unlocked their desire to learn by engaging them in everyday media. By using newspapers, popular music, and television shows, she helped students read and inform themselves on current events, and literature styles. Mildred simultaneously became engaged in the fight to end segregation in MPS with the Milwaukee United School Integration Committee (MUSIC). Like other demonstrations during the Civil Rights era, Mildred helped organize several ``Freedom Schools'' that ran parallel to the boycott. These grassroots schools were designed to be a supportive environment for her students with innovative teaching, learning, and liberated thinking for African American children. ``I don't feel that it was productive for children to sit home or be on the street during the boycott.'' Mildred often recalled. She would go on to administer and establish the foundation for the Harambee Community School that cultivated generations of students for more than forty years. Mildred understood that there was a direct link between educational opportunity and housing policy and became the Director of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity in the Milwaukee office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Her work updating national fair housing standards and providing access to shelter for the underprivileged and homeless received extensive recognition from policy makers, developers and community groups. Mildred also served as chair of the health committee for the Harambee Health Center and was awarded a $5 million grant from the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation and members of Fisk University for the City of Milwaukee to expand their operations. Mildred's deep commitment to supporting our community was done consistently with humility and persistence. She was the National President of Eta Phi Beta an affiliate of the National Council of Negro Women, co-founder of the Community Brainstorming Conference, Family Service of Milwaukee, the women's leadership forum TEMPO Milwaukee, as well as the founding President of the North Central Service Club. Mildred was also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the City of Milwaukee Arts Board, the Milwaukee County Cultural Artistic and Musical Programming Advisory Council and a charter member of the Cream City Links, Inc. She was also the recipient of the Vatican II Award from the Milwaukee Archdiocese for service in society, the Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals National Philanthropy Day--Todd Wehr Volunteer Award and the City of Milwaukee's Frank P. Zeidler Public Service Award with her husband. Mildred never did anything for a title or recognition, but because it was the right thing to do. She understood that though this world is imperfect, what we do with our lives can create a better one. Her career as an educator and housing advocate was done intentionally to lift future generations of African Americans and underserved communities, so that they may reach for the sky. Till the end of her days she never stopped lifting and her legacy will have lasting impacts. I am proud to say Mildred was my friend and she and Reuben were a part of my support network. I will cherish the memories of working with her over the years. She leaves behind her husband Reuben, children Anette and John, and grandchildren to cherish her memory. Madam Speaker, for these reasons I rise to salute Mildred Harpole, a fierce woman whose actions made the 4th Congressional District, the State of Wisconsin and the world a better place.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the 2019 Week of Positive Change, Nonviolence and Opportunities which runs from October 12 to October 19, 2019. This week was created to remind us of the toll that violence is taking in our communities but also to remind and reaffirm that we can all help to end the violence. During this week, events will take place in communities throughout the nation to discuss solutions and partnerships that will help to protect our communities from violence. I urge my colleagues to learn more about the events in their communities. As Congress considers ways to address the deadly gun violence that is plaguing too many of our communities, one of the central themes and solutions to consider are ways to increase resources and training available to community members themselves to help prevent or de- escalate conflict that can help break the deadly cycle that violence has in our communities. There is no question that stronger gun laws are an important part of efforts to prevent gun violence. I again urge Senator McConnell to take up the bills the House has already passed that would help strengthen background checks, a move which is broadly supported by the American public, and to close the Charleston loophole that allows gun sales to go through if not completed within three days. But just as critical is the need to develop and strengthen community wide resources and tools that can help prevent violence, including gun violence, in the first place. One such way is to increase support so that a broader range of individuals in communities can learn conflict prevention and de-escalation and violence interruption strategies that can help prevent situations from turning violent while helping to connect individuals to community supports. Now more than ever we need to explore all the ways to end this epidemic of violence. A study published in the October 2019 issue of Health Affairs shows that the rate at which Americans died from firearm injuries increased sharply starting in 2015. And while high profile mass shootings make up a small portion of these incidences, the vast majority are from the daily violence that too many of our communities continue to endure. According to that study, the United States saw a 14 percent rise in the rate of gun-related deaths of all kinds from 2015 to 2017 compared with the rate from 1999 to 2014. Like other cities around the country, the city of Milwaukee has experienced multiple forms of violence that have caused significant injury and trauma for individuals, families, and neighborhoods. From 2010 to 2016, there has been a 76 percent increase in firearm-related homicide victims, a 38 percent increase in nonfatal shooting victims, and a 43 percent increase in combined victims. During this time of crisis with violence happening around the country, we need to focus on how all elements of our society, government and the communities themselves, can work to help end violence. We need to invest in policies and programs that could literally save lives. Communities standing together can make a difference. I applaud the organizations that have come together to sponsor this week and help make our communities safer including Black Women for Positive Change, the National Black Nurses Association, Moms Demand Action and others. In addition, governors in Wisconsin, Colorado, Michigan, and Virginia have all issued proclamations recognizing this week.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Madam Speaker, I rise to express my deepest condolences on the passing of Gary Grunau a Milwaukee real estate developer and civic leader. Gary was born on April 17, 1939, in Bay View, Wisconsin, and lived his entire life in Milwaukee. He was a loving husband, father, uncle, grandfather, brother, relative, and friend to many here in Milwaukee. Gary left his home to attend Cornell University, but knew that Milwaukee was where he belonged. Upon earning his degree in mechanical engineering, he returned home to join Grunau Co. Inc, a business started by his grandfather. In the late 70's, the company was working on the Hyatt Regency construction project in downtown Milwaukee, but Gary had to step in as the developer to complete the project. He was the developer on several major projects in the city including the Wisconsin Center, Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin, Manpower Group World Headquarters, the Milwaukee Riverwalk System, and the former Time Warner Building. However, he is best known for revitalizing the former Joseph Schlitz Brewing Co. complex into one of Milwaukee's most desirable working environments, the Schlitz Park office complex. Gary's projects won numerous awards including the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Achievement Award, The National Council for Urban Economic Development Award and the ULI's 2017-2018 Global Award of Excellence for the Milwaukee Riverwalk, considered among the world's highest honors from land use experts. He also led and served on many boards, including the Milwaukee Academy of Science, Discovery World, Alverno College Board of Trustees, Milwaukee Riverwalk District, Spirit of Milwaukee, and the Greater Milwaukee Committee. Gary wanted to make Milwaukee a better place for all its residents. He was committed to addressing the racial and economic disparities that have plagued our city. He was disturbed by our city's status as one of the most segregated communities in the country and knew that the lack of affordable housing and support for public schools, prevented the upward mobility for people living in our poorest zip codes. In an article two years ago, Gary said that ``Segregation hurts the city's economic competitiveness, but not enough is being doing about it . . . the lack of inclusion hurts us downtown. It hurts us in education. It hurts us nationally.'' He took those words to his heart and didn't simply talk the talk, he walked it; raising millions of dollars to improve education and economic opportunities for the city. Gary leaves to cherish his memory his wife Joanne; sons Paul (Jeanie) Grunau, Daniel Grunau, and John (Adrienne) Grunau; stepson Jeff (Kate) MacInnes and stepdaughter Laura MacInnes; grandchildren Grace, Hank, Gus, Sadie, Alex, Jon, Grant, Andrew, Wesley, Darcy, and Wilson Grunau, and many other relatives and friends. Gary was my friend and while our fights against injustice didn't always go our way, he stayed committed to find a way to solve problems. Even with his illness, he continued forward, focusing on his final project; revitalizing Milwaukee both economically and in terms of racial equity. Madam Speaker, for these reasons I rise to salute Gary Grunau, a man that has positively impacted the 4th Congressional District, the State of Wisconsin, and the world.

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Levin) so much for yielding. Madam Speaker, 12 years, we are told that we have 12 years to limit the effects of climate change on our planet and ensure a better world for our children, our grandchildren, and future generations to come--12 years. I mean, it really seems like a long time, but now scientists are saying that the actions we take in the next 18 months will determine our ability to meet our climate goals by 2030. In 18 months, we will experience two more winters and another summer, each bringing with them more extreme weather and more catastrophic natural disasters. The stakes are so high. Less predictable climates produce lower crop yields, drive up the costs of healthy food; meanwhile, extreme weather events and heat waves resulting from a changing climate may worsen a growing array of public health problems like waterborne diseases, asthma, mental illness, heart disease, stroke, and more. In Wisconsin, from where I hail, we still remember the deathly chill of the polar vortex this past winter, matched only in intensity by the summer's record-setting heat, heavy downpours, and flooding. Our storm in July produced severe enough damage that several counties across Wisconsin received Federal disaster relief funding. But do you know what, Madam Speaker? Disaster funding can help rebuild communities, but it cannot prevent them from being torn apart by climate change. As we debate which urgent actions must be taken within the next 18 months to prevent further decay of our climate, we must work not only to support a swift transition away from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, but also to fortify our communities. The fact is climate change has a disparate impact on low-income and minority communities. Indeed, these communities are already disproportionately impacted by other environmental hazards, and we are just piling on. Air pollution from both stationary and mobile sources are a primary source of environmental health risks, particularly in urban areas. Low- income, high-minority population communities, which unfortunately are highly segregated, tend to be closer to industrial sources of pollution, including chemical plants, steel mills, oil refineries, peak load power plants, and hazardous waste incinerators. One study found that Blacks, the poor, and people with low educational attainment were substantially more likely to live within 1 mile of a polluting facility, and that within urban areas, racial disparities were particularly evident in the Midwest and the West. As it pertains to our warming climate, another study found that, as urban areas heat up, so-called urban heat islands, low-income and high- minority communities will boast higher heat indexes during extreme heat events, thereby compounding the already dire and deadly impacts that heat waves have on urban populations. Or, just to put it bluntly, the urban poor in dozens of large U.S. cities will actually experience more heat than the wealthy simply by virtue of where they live. With climate change, extreme heat is expected to become more common and more severe for the poor and already vulnerable communities. This will likely result in increases in heat-related illnesses, including cardiovascular and respiratory complications, kidney disease, and can be especially harmful to outdoor workers, children, our elderly, and low-income households. It is also worth mentioning that these communities, which already suffer resource deficits, cannot simply relocate out of flood zones. They also face challenges adopting new clean energy technologies. Now, while this administration continues to fiddle when it comes to taking the threat of climate change seriously and exercising leadership, while they ignore the admonition of science that if we don't do something within the next 18 months we may not be able to reverse these impacts within 12 years, I will tell you something. In June, my city of Milwaukee announced a comprehensive action-based plan to meet the U.S.' commitment under the Paris climate accord, despite what this administration is doing. We are moving forth to create green infrastructure and to create jobs. In August, our Wisconsin Governor, Tony Evers, signed an executive order aimed at eliminating the use of carbon-based fuel in Wisconsin by 2050. We also created a diverse task force comprised of city and county officials that will chart a path to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45 percent of 2015 levels by 2030 and eliminate them altogether by 2050, a goal which I wholeheartedly support. But let's just keep this real, Madam Speaker. While actions by State and local officials are welcome and necessary, we know they can't do it alone. On such a vital issue, the Federal Government should not lead from behind. The Federal Government cannot be missing in action and absent from the table, and it will be absolutely critical for them to ensure that we protect and help the most vulnerable populations so that they have access to adequate healthcare, clean drinking water, healthy food, quality air, and affordable housing. But leading from behind is exactly what this administration is doing. Besides pulling out of the Paris climate accord without any plan or alternative for addressing climate change, this administration has moved to roll back the Obama era Clean Power Plan and other efforts to address greenhouse gas emissions. We must not only make sure that we recognize the disparate impacts of climate change as we act, but we must also bring our most at-risk citizens to the table and educate them and discuss the actions that we will take together to address climate change. We need to do right by our fellow human beings and by our beloved shared planet and protect ourselves and our planet against the threats we face today and in the future. Even if this administration wants to turn its back, this House must not. We must continue to pass legislation that will help us meaningfully address climate change. Twelve years from now? Eighteen months from now? How about right now?

Ms. MOORE

Ms. MOORE. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the Vision Forward Association which serves Southeastern Wisconsin, as they mark their centennial in 2019. For more than 100 years, Vision Forward has provided services to a diverse community of individuals who are blind or visually impaired as well as their families. What began as an advocacy group for the blind has transformed itself into a consortium, which provides comprehensive services to individuals experiencing all stages of vision loss. From birth through adulthood, this organization provides critical resources to those who have been impacted by vision loss, helping them achieve important developmental milestones, as well as, educational, personal and professional goals. As an organization, Vision Forward chooses to focus on enhancing every client's ability not their disability; they know what people can achieve is far more impactful than what they can't achieve. Vision Forward clients are talented and spirited citizens who want the same things as all of us: a good education, a loving family and community, and a fulfilling career with success. They are a part of all of our lives in Southeastern Wisconsin; they are our family members, coworkers, friends and neighbors. The success stories of individuals who came through the doors of Vision Forward on Hawley Road are countless. All their stories touched my heart because they demonstrated the resilience of people under extreme adversity. At Vision Forward, they give every client hope and show them the amazing things they can achieve. The work of Vision Forward has helped create a reality in which all individuals with vision loss can reach their full potential to lead active and independent lives. The empowerment, education, and enhancement Vision Forward has provided over the years serves as a national model to the adage: ``it doesn't matter who you are, every person has the potential to do great things.'' Madam Speaker, for these reasons I am pleased to honor the Vision Forward Association, because they make the 4th Congressional District a better place to work, live and play.