Eleanor Norton

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing the invaluable contribution to public safety made by community corrections professionals in the United States and throughout the world. Every year, the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) and its allied members set aside a week to honor these valued public servants, and this year, they have chosen July 12-18 to mark Pretrial, Probation and Parole Supervision Week 2015. I am proud to stand in support of corrections professionals not only in the District of Columbia but around the world. In the nation's capital, thousands of women and men serve as pretrial, probation and parole officers or administrators. As public servants, these constituents, along with many other Americans, commit themselves on a daily basis to helping improve the lives of those involved in the criminal justice system. Mr. Speaker, the work of these professionals ultimately results in stronger and safer communities for all. Community corrections professionals are responsible for supervising adult and juvenile offenders in communities throughout our nation. In many cases, these trained professionals go above and beyond the call of duty by providing their clients supportive services or referrals to critical community-based resources, employment opportunities and housing programs. Additionally, community corrections professionals provide services, support, and protection for victims, while continuously promoting the importance of crime prevention and restorative justice. In honor of Pretrial, Probation and Parole Supervision Week 2015, I recognize, in particular, the community corrections and supervision services carried out here in the District of Columbia by the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia (CSOSA) and the Pretrial Services Agency for the District of Columbia (PSA). CSOSA and PSA stand out as model community supervision agencies due to both their professionalism and their novel, partnership-based approach to reentry and public safety in the District of Columbia. On any given day, CSOSA is responsible for supervising approximately 12,000 individuals on probation, parole or supervised release, whereas PSA supervises roughly 20,000 defendants. Charged with having to balance issues of public safety with social services and reentry support, the employees of CSOSA and PSA help to enhance the security of everyone that lives, works or visits the District of Columbia, I extend my gratitude to these public servants for their commitment, compassion and contributions to healthier and safer communities throughout the District of Columbia. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in acknowledging the impact community corrections professionals have on the quality of life of so many Americans, and recognizing July 12-18 as Pretrial, Probation and Parole Supervision Week 2015.

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I certainly associate myself with the remarks of Mr. Duncan. I am asking my colleagues to join me in supporting S. 179. That is the bill that would designate a United States post office located at 14 3rd Avenue Northwest in Jim Oberstar's hometown, Chisholm, Minnesota; and it would be called the James L. Oberstar Memorial Post Office. Mr. Speaker, I am speaking today for a memorial for Jim Oberstar not only because of my position on the committee, but for me, this is an act of love and respect. I am speaking for a man known in this House as one of singular intellect and personal qualities. Jim was a native of Chisholm. He graduated--and anybody who knew Jim will not be surprised at this--summa cum laude from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota; then he got a master's degree in Belgium. That may be where he picked up his French, which he playfully used on us at every opportunity. Jim was not long out of college when he began working in this House, and working in this House was to determine his destiny for the rest of his life. He first served as clerk of the Committee on Rivers and Harbors, as it was then called. He became administrator of the Committee on Public Works--now called Transportation and Infrastructure--when Representative John Blatnik became chairman in 1970. Four years later, Jim, himself, ran for Congress, succeeding Mr. Blatnik who retired from Minnesota's Eighth District of Congress. Then Jim served 36 extraordinary years in this House, and he became the longest serving Member from Minnesota in the House of Representatives. During that period, Jim Oberstar became the leading expert on transportation and infrastructure in the Nation. Mr. Speaker, for example, he served as chairman of the Subcommittee on Aviation when it passed legislation, increasing our investment in airports and air security, which we are still benefiting from. Later, he became ranking member of the full committee. There, he worked tirelessly for something we are trying to get in this House now, for that gas user fee, which used to be bipartisan and was often raised and helped Jim and those who served with him improve and make our system reliable on the transportation and infrastructure that we so often celebrate today--and I mean, all of it, roads, bridges, and transit alike. We were very fortunate when in 2007, Jim Oberstar was elected chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. It was during his chairmanship that the economy went down; and we really needed an expert on transportation and infrastructure, since investment in transportation and infrastructure is the best investment for the dollar during a recession and that, of course, was the deepest recession since the Great Depression. Jim's work during that period is still blossoming in the States. He held 300 hearings and passed almost 300 bills and resolutions out of committee and through the House. Nearly 200 of those pieces of legislation were approved by both Houses, including the Water Resources Development Act, the bill that authorized the maintenance and construction of America's harbors, as well as funding for important wildlife habitat projects. Mr. Speaker, Jim also was a cyclist. He took transportation seriously. He cycled on the trails that he helped get built and that he so loved. His knowledge of our work was so encyclopedic that Democrats and Republicans alike, when Jim spoke, listened hard because they knew they were getting a once-in-a-lifetime lesson in the complexities associated with transportation and infrastructure in our country. He was a particular leader on intermodalism, which we know as the transportation wave of the future today. It was with enormous sadness that we learned that Jim Oberstar passed away on May 2, 2014. He was 79 years old. Jim will long be remembered for his dedication to public service and for leaving his mark on transportation in our country. It is a mark that will never be erased. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Nolan), a sponsor of the House companion of S. 179, a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the gentleman who represents the very same district that Jim Oberstar represented.

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum).

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski).

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, Jim Oberstar was a rare Member. He managed to awe us by his knowledge at the same time that he nurtured us with his warmth and his kindness. That is why you have heard Members speak so eloquently about him today. He left his mark in this House. I am very pleased that, with this bill, he will leave his own mark in his own hometown with a memorial, a post office named for Jim Oberstar. I urge Members of this House to vote for this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce the Reducing the Effects of the Cyberattack on OPM Victims Emergency Response Act of 2015 (the RECOVER Act), a bill to require the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to provide complimentary and comprehensive identity protection coverage to all individuals whose personally identifiable information was compromised during recent OPM data breaches. Senator Ben Cardin (D- MD) has introduced the companion bill in the Senate. Yesterday, OPM reported that more than 21.5 million current and former federal employees have had their personal information compromised in a second OPM data breach, five times more than the 4.2 million already reported, for a grand total of 25.7 million federal employees and retirees. OPM said that the 21.5 million individuals whose background check records were compromised would receive only three years of credit monitoring and identity theft protection services and $1 million in loss coverage, while the other 4.2 million individuals whose personnel records were compromised would receive 18 months of credit monitoring and $1 million in loss coverage. In light of the scope of OPM's data breach and the limited protection that is proposed, I, along with my House colleagues Chris Van Hollen, Don Beyer, Donna Edwards, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, Elijah Cummings, Gerald Connolly, and John Delaney introduce a bill that would provide free lifetime identity theft protection coverage that includes identity theft insurance for losses up to $5 million. This protection is particularly necessary since the breach was discovered a year after hackers had already infiltrated OPM's system. OPM's proposed protection would not protect current and former federal workers if hackers simply waited for a period of years before exploiting the stolen identities. However, our bill would give current and former federal employees some peace of mind. The RECOVER Act is necessary to reduce the angst of our dedicated public servants resulting from this entire ordeal. OPM failed to protect our current and former federal employees. It follows that the government must do the right thing to make up for its mistake.

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, 2-year short-term highway fund extensions have become one of Congress' most costly habits. Kudos to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, which has marked up the highway portion and may come to the floor this week with a 6-year bill. That bill is not yet paid for, but the Senate is at least making progress toward a 6-year bill, the kind that is needed to make a dent in the backlog of our construction projects in the States. We should not be deterred by the likelihood of another short-term bill, perhaps going to the end of the year. The goal before the year is out must be a long-term bill. Congress has taken to authorizing the highway trust fund for 2 years, knowing full well that the trust fund, collecting gas user fees at 1993 levels, would run out even before those 2 years are out; then the waltz begins with endless short-term bills. The States are disgusted and exhausted. MAP-21 ran out before the end of its 2-year lifetime. The last short-term bill extension was so useless that it has lasted longer than expected because the States could not apply the funds to the backlog of now endless rescheduled projects; 6-month extensions have yielded 6-month projects, usually only patchwork. This poster goes beyond showing that the short-term extensions have been useless to the States. These short term bills and extensions are having negative effects on the pocketbooks of our constituents. The highway user fee, which has not been raised for 22 years, costs drivers $97 a year. The bad roads that are the result cost those same drivers $515 per year. Find your State for the cost to your constituents. Here is a random sample: Louisiana, $514 per year; Oklahoma, $763 per year; New Jersey, $685 per driver; Ohio, $446 per driver; California, $762 per driver; and Pennsylvania, $471 per driver. All the figures are high, regardless of State or region of the country, and those high dollar amounts go out of the pockets of our constituents to patch bad roads, instead of putting the funds into fixing those roads, bridges, and transit. Congress' short-term attention to our roads, highways, transit and bridges is breaking the bank, not for the Federal Government, but for our constituents. It is no longer the old adage ``you can't get something for nothing'' rather, not funding the highway trust fund for 6 years costs the people we represent not nothing, but $515 per driver. We have got to fund our transportation projects or ask our constituents to pay for their bad roads. The costs to the American people make our options clear what the best thing to do is.

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friend, the gentlewoman from Illinois, and my friend, the gentleman from New Jersey, for their important leadership they are exercising here this evening. Mr. Speaker, I have come to speak about why symbols matter and why this symbol, the Confederate flag, must not stop with the flag, but must also go to what to do not only about the flag, but about the guns that took down the Charleston 9. To be sure, symbols matter, Mr. Speaker. To take two of the most powerful symbols in the world, the cross and the Star of David, we know well these symbols can sometimes mean everything. We also know that the Confederate flag is a symbol of a different and lower order. A symbol stands for more than itself; the symbol tells a story. The religious symbols evoke tears; they evoke joy, and they evoke their own set of stories. The Confederate flag, when it led to the extraordinary tragedy of the Charleston 9 will always--should always--make us think of the gun that was responsible for the Charleston 9--not just the symbol, but the story behind the symbol. In the 19th century, the flag signaled the importance of slavery. In the 20th century, it had a different meaning. Robert E. Lee had told his soldiers: Put down the flag. We are one Union now. He was, in a real sense, the counterpart to Abraham Lincoln, who was trying to draw us together after Lee had lost that war. In the 20th century, the flag was revived. It was revived by Southern Democrats--Dixiecrats, as they called themselves. It has been, in the 20th century and, now, the 21st century, a symbol of discrimination and racism. No matter what it stood for in the 19th century about heritage, it lost that meaning when, in the 20th century, George Wallace raised it and said ``segregation now'' and ``segregation forever.'' Nobody who now speaks of heritage then said: Wait a minute, Governor Wallace, don't take away our heritage. Only when African Americans have the nerve to raise the notion, after we lost nine good people in Charleston, does it somehow now become a symbol of heritage. I will give Senator Mitch McConnell some credit. He wants to remove the statue of Jefferson Davis from the Kentucky State Capitol, but when asked about removing the Jefferson Davis statue from the United States Capitol, Mr. McConnell grew silent. We have got to come to grips with what this flag meant to this boy who used a gun. I am not going to forget those who died and what we owe those who died. The Dixiecrats bolted from Harry S. Truman when Truman refused to embrace their racism. These were Southern Democrats, and we owe them the 21st century meaning of the Confederate flag. Mr. Speaker, why are we talking about this symbol and not another symbol? The other symbol is the gun in America. The grace of the people of Charleston so overwhelmed the country that there were many who were simply grateful that, instead of bursting forward with rage, they showed their extraordinary Christian heritage, the heritage they undoubtedly shared with the gunman. We were so grateful, all of us, and so proud that we have not talked about what took the lives of these nine good people. Well, I want to talk about it because the Confederate flag for me now will always represent those nine people and the gun that took their lives. That 21-year-old kid didn't know anything about them except their Christian love when they invited him into their sanctuary. But, he knew about what that flag stood for, and he raised that flag before he went into that sanctuary. We must not forget not only the flag--we cannot live by symbols alone--we must not forget the gun that took down the Charleston 9. Now, I understand--I read--that Senator Manchin and Senator Toomey are interested in reviving their gun safety legislation. There are several bills here in the House that do that in one form or another. We know what happened. There was a breakdown in the background check system, which is why this young man was even able to get a gun. He would have been denied a gun if those who opposed any bill hadn't assured that the bill would have only a 3-day time period, during which, if you couldn't find something on the individual, then he got his gun, no matter who he was. That is how he got his gun. There are some of us who know full well that the Confederate flag has done more than put the flag back on the agenda--on the Nation's agenda--it has put gun safety once again on the agenda. I must say, I don't believe we, who celebrate the extraordinary grace of the families of the Charleston 9, owe them only our speeches about the flag. They probably, once they saw it come down, have moved on; and now, they have only their loved ones to think about. If I were one of them, I would wonder: What are those who celebrate the flag coming down going to do about making sure that, never again, will people like our loved ones have to suffer because of gunfire? The flag is the symbol that is important to raising our consciousness in the long run. If all we have is our memory of the symbol and not why that symbol became important, then we will leave on the table a real memorial to the Charleston 9. I appreciate the time.

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce the Reducing the Effects of the Cyberattack on OPM Victims Emergency Response Act of 2015 (the RECOVER Act), a bill to require the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to provide complimentary and comprehensive identity protection coverage to all individuals whose personally identifiable information was compromised during recent OPM data breaches. Senator Ben Cardin (D- MD) has introduced the companion bill in the Senate. Yesterday, OPM reported that more than 21.5 million current and former federal employees have had their personal information compromised in a second OPM data breach, five times more than the 4.2 million already reported, for a grand total of 25.7 million federal employees and retirees. OPM said that the 21.5 million individuals whose background check records were compromised would receive only three years of credit monitoring and identity theft protection services and $1 million in loss coverage, while the other 4.2 million individuals whose personnel records were compromised would receive 18 months of credit monitoring and $1 million in loss coverage. In light of the scope of OPM's data breach and the limited protection that is proposed, I, along with my House colleagues Chris Van Hollen, Don Beyer, Donna Edwards, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, Elijah Cummings, Gerald Connolly, and John Delaney introduce a bill that would provide free lifetime identity theft protection coverage that includes identity theft insurance for losses up to $5 million. This protection is particularly necessary since the breach was discovered a year after hackers had already infiltrated OPM's system. OPM's proposed protection would not protect current and former federal workers if hackers simply waited for a period of years before exploiting the stolen identities. However, our bill would give current and former federal employees some peace of mind. The RECOVER Act is necessary to reduce the angst of our dedicated public servants resulting from this entire ordeal. OPM failed to protect our current and former federal employees. It follows that the government must do the right thing to make up for its mistake.

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, as you can see by this chart, the Federal gas user fee, at only $97 a year, buys drivers $515 in costs per driver because of bad roads. Just released data also shows that up to 73 percent of the bridges in some States are deficient. Can you think of any other necessity, except the $97 gas user fee, that has not increased in 22 years? We are getting what we paid for in the hidden costs of bad roads and bridges. The congressional response has been so disproportionate to the needs of the States that we are told that another short-term extension--that would be the 34th--12 legislative days from now could yield a veto. The States say that these short-term extensions are useless. Only the next 2 weeks to get a long-term authorization is pushing it. Given the state of our bridges and roads, we have no alternative.

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Bill Press for his outstanding contributions to political commentary in the District of Columbia and across the country, and in congratulating him on the occasion of his 10th anniversary as host of the nationally syndicated The Bill Press Show, heard on the radio and seen on FreeSpeech TV. With offices located right here in Ward 6 of the nation's capital, Bill Press has remained consistent in informing Americans about our congressional legislation for statehood and voting rights, and D.C.'s fight to achieve equal citizenship. Ten years ago, The Bill Press Show began as a nationally syndicated talk radio program. Today, the program is seen and heard nationally on radio, television, and on the internet. For more than four decades, Bill has made himself a go-to, reliable political pundit on radio and on television. Bill has covered both the Democratic and Republican national conventions in his time as host of The Bill Press Show and regularly covers the White House. As a former co-host of MSNBC's Buchanan and Press, CNN's Crossfire and The Spin Room, Bill Press built a national reputation for thought-provoking and humorous insights on American politics. Bill Press is also the author of five books and writes a nationally syndicated newspaper column, distributed by Tribune Media Services. He is also a featured columnist for The Hill newspaper in Washington, D.C. During Bill's storied career, he has received numerous awards for his work, including four Emmys and a Golden Mike Award. In 1992, the Associated Press named him Best Commentator of the Year. Bill Press got experience many commentators lack when he chaired the California Democratic Party from 1993 to 1996 and served as chief of staff to California State Senator Peter Behr (R). He also served as director of the California Office of Planning and Research under Governor Jerry Brown. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me commending Bill Press and his entire team at The Bill Press Show, including his Executive Producer, Peter Ogburn, and his business partner, Paul Woodhull for their 10 years of outstanding service to the field of political commentary and their continued commitment to providing information and analysis to the American people.

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce the Major General David F. Wherley, Jr., District of Columbia National Guard Retention and College Access Act (NGRCA) on the six-year anniversary of the tragic June 22, 2009 Metro crash, where General Wherley, former Commanding General of the D.C. National Guard, his wife, Ann, and seven others were killed when Metro trains collided on the Red Line. Yesterday, the District of Columbia opened Legacy Memorial Park in Ward 4 to honor those who lost their lives and the 70 area residents who were injured. My bill would permanently authorize funding for a program that provides grants for higher education to members of the D.C. National Guard, which is funded by the federal government. I have renamed this bill after General Wherley because he worked tirelessly with me to get funding for the program for many years, and because of his devotion to the youth of the District of Columbia. The NGRCA authorizes an education incentive program, recommended by the late General Wherley and his successor, Major General Errol Schwartz, to stem the troublesome loss of members of the D.C. Guard to other units. Surrounding states offer such educational benefits to their Guards. I am grateful that Congress has provided funds for the program in recent years, most recently in fiscal year 2015. Naming a permanently authorized program after General Wherley would memorialize his service to the country and to the Guard in a way that I know his family would appreciate. Authorizing funding is necessary to ensure that D.C. Guard members receive the same treatment and benefits as other National Guard members, particularly those in states that provide the higher education benefits we seek for D.C. Guard members. The Guard for the nation's capital has a limited ability to compete for regional residents, who may find membership in the Maryland and Virginia Guards more beneficial. A competitive tuition assistance program for the D.C. Guard will provide significant and much needed incentives to help maintain enrollment and level the field of competition. The D.C. Guard is a federal instrument not under the control of the mayor of the District of Columbia. The federal government supports D.C. Guard functions and should support this small benefit as well. I appreciate that the Congress has not hesitated to fund the education benefits for the D.C. National Guard. These small education incentives have not only encouraged high-quality recruits, but have helped the D.C. Guard to maintain the force necessary to protect the federal presence here, including in the event of a natural disaster or terrorist attack. I am pleased to introduce the bill based on the advice of Guard personnel, who best know what is necessary. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today I introduce a bill to direct the Joint Committee on the Library to accept a statue depicting Pierre L'Enfant from the District of Columbia and to provide for the permanent display of the statue in the United States Capitol. Pierre L'Enfant was born in France in 1754. He was an engineer and an architect, and he traveled to the United States to serve with the United States in the Revolutionary War. In March 1791, L'Enfant was hired to develop the design for the District of Columbia. L'Enfant's design for the city was so remarkable that it remains and is cherished today in the nation's capital and throughout this country. L'Enfant's design envisioned a federal and residential city with diagonal streets propelling from Congress and the President's home, beautiful boulevards on local streets and neighborhoods, and open spaces for monuments, memorials and historical structures, all of which largely remain intact, protected as a historical treasure. In 2006, the residents of the District of Columbia chose L'Enfant as one of the top ten Americans that have given distinguished service to the District, and the selection committee created by the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities chose L'Enfant as the second statue from the District of Columbia to be placed in the United States Capitol. The District's first choice for a statue was Frederick Douglass, and I am pleased that the Douglass statue now sits in Emancipation Hall. Because the United States Capitol does not currently appropriately recognize the contributions of Pierre L'Enfant, and because D.C. residents and stakeholders chose L'Enfant as a distinguished Washingtonian, this bill would require the Joint Committee on the Library to place the Pierre L'Enfant statue in the United States Capitol. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. I protest, Mr. Speaker. I protest continuing to demand full citizenship costs from the residents of our Nation's Capital while denying them the vote granted to all other Americans that come with those costs. I thank my friend for yielding.

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from New York for yielding to me. I have something special to say. Mr. Speaker, as the United States has increasingly drifted into war without the usual congressional authorization, I appreciate that today's resolution permits the House to assert its appropriate role. I only ask that the residents of the District of Columbia be permitted to be heard in the same way as other Americans. My colleagues will not only speak today, they also will vote the will of their constituents. Although District residents are already serving in Iraq, Syria, and elsewhere, I am limited to speaking without a vote. What an outrage, especially to our veterans. That outrage is amplified, considering that District residents pay $12,000 annually per capita in Federal taxes, more in Federal taxes than the residents of any State in the Union, to support our government in war and in peace. Regardless of what is decided on this resolution, Mr. Speaker, District residents will be there for America, as they have been for every war ever since the Nation was created. It is time that the Congress was there for District residents. Nearly 200,000 D.C. residents have fought for America's freedom in time of war, yet our residents, including our veterans, are still denied a vote in the national legislature that sent them to war. In fact, D.C. servicemembers fought and won the vote for citizens in Iraq and Afghanistan, yet our veterans came home without the same voting rights for themselves. The Nation willingly accepts their sacrifices and demands their tax dollars but denies them representation in Congress. D.C. residents have not only given their lives for this country since its creation as a nation, they have died in disproportionate numbers in all of the 21st century wars; yet these veterans, among the 650,000 Americans who live in the District of Columbia, still have no vote on national security, no vote on defense spending, no vote in the decision to send our country to war, and no vote on anything else in this House.

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to join me in congratulating the District of Columbia chapter of the Black Data Processing Associates (BDPA) on its 37th anniversary of service to the residents of the District of Columbia and the national capital region. Founded in May 1978 by Norman Mays, the D.C. chapter is the second chapter of BDPA formed, preceded only by the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania chapter, 1977. In 1979, BDPA was restructured as a national organization, and has 45 active chapters across the United States. As the oldest and largest African American information technology (IT) organization, comprised of over 2,000 African-American IT professionals, as well as science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) college students, BDPA's vision is to be a powerful advocate for their interests within the global technology industry. Its mission is to be a global, member-focused technology organization that delivers programs and services for the professional well-being of its members. BDPA continues to promote professional growth and technical development for young people and those entering into information and communication technology (ICT) in academia and corporate America. We also appreciate BDPA and its 45 chapters for continuing to provide ICT opportunities for STEM students and professionals. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in celebrating the 37th anniversary of the D.C. chapter of the Black Data Processing Associates, in congratulating BDPA for its outstanding accomplishments and commitment to the residents of the District of Columbia and around the country, and in welcoming those attending the BDPA Annual National Technology Conference and Career Fair, titled ``Evolution of IT--Embracing the Digital Future,'' on August 18-22, 2015, at the Washington Hilton Hotel.

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to join me in congratulating the District of Columbia chapter of the Black Data Processing Associates (BDPA) on its 37th anniversary of service to the residents of the District of Columbia and the national capital region. Founded in May 1978 by Norman Mays, the D.C. chapter is the second chapter of BDPA formed, preceded only by the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania chapter, 1977. In 1979, BDPA was restructured as a national organization, and has 45 active chapters across the United States. As the oldest and largest African American information technology (IT) organization, comprised of over 2,000 African-American IT professionals, as well as science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) college students, BDPA's vision is to be a powerful advocate for their interests within the global technology industry. Its mission is to be a global, member-focused technology organization that delivers programs and services for the professional well-being of its members. BDPA continues to promote professional growth and technical development for young people and those entering into information and communication technology (ICT) in academia and corporate America. We also appreciate BDPA and its 45 chapters for continuing to provide ICT opportunities for STEM students and professionals. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in celebrating the 37th anniversary of the D.C. chapter of the Black Data Processing Associates, in congratulating BDPA for its outstanding accomplishments and commitment to the residents of the District of Columbia and around the country, and in welcoming those attending the BDPA Annual National Technology Conference and Career Fair, titled ``Evolution of IT--Embracing the Digital Future,'' on August 18-22, 2015, at the Washington Hilton Hotel.

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to join me in celebrating D.C. Flag Day, Sunday, June 14, 2015, which will be celebrated beginning this Saturday. All are invited to the fourth annual D.C. Flag Day Festival in Dupont Circle, celebrating the determination of the people of the District of Columbia to continue to fight for equal rights and statehood under the American flag. D.C. residents have struggled for equal rights since the city became the nation's capital in 1801. Although the city did not achieve home rule until 1973, D.C. finally got its own flag in 1938, when Congress commissioned a competition, and native Washingtonian Charles Dunn designed the current flag from the coat of arms of George Washington. Thanks to the D.C. Flag Festival organizers, the event showcases everything that makes D.C. unique--our diverse communities, music, arts, food, and our D.C. flag--all of which will be on display for enjoyment and entertainment. However, on D.C. Flag Day, residents will rally not only for the American flag but also their flag, to show pride in their city and demand statehood. Residents began to celebrate D.C. Flag Day in 2011, and June 14 continues to serve as an important day to mark the quest for freedom and equal rights for the citizens of hometown Washington, D.C. D.C. Flag Day coincides with national Flag Day, which has been a national holiday since 1886, and inspired the organizers of D.C. Flag Day to celebrate the event locally in the District of Columbia. At this weekend's D.C. Flag Day, we celebrate the District's own flag as well as the American flag. As residents show pride for our country and their hometown, they also continue to fight for the equal treatment the flag symbolizes. The American flag, our national symbol of patriotism and love of country, emboldens our continuous battle for self-government, voting rights, and statehood for the more than 650,000 taxpaying American citizens who live here. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing D.C. Flag Day, its two-day celebration on June 13 and 14, and the organizers of the D.C. Flag Day celebration for their exemplary efforts to ensure equal rights for the citizens of the District of Columbia by creating pride in the city and promoting the city's rich cultural heritage.

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today I introduce the Federal Employee Short-Term Disability Insurance Act of 2015, which will help provide financial relief for federal employees who have a short-term injury or disability, become pregnant, or develop a pregnancy-related illness. This bill will offer federal employees short-term disability insurance at no cost to the federal government. Employees will be responsible for 100 percent of the premiums, and will be able to receive disability insurance benefits for up to one year that would replace a portion of their lost income due to a non-work related injury, illness, or pregnancy. These benefits will be particularly beneficial to ensure that our federal employees, who do not yet enjoy paid maternity leave, are able to utilize the 12 weeks of unpaid maternity leave permitted by federal law while continuing to pay their bills, buy groceries, and make their mortgage, car, and other loan payments without having to deplete their retirement or other savings accounts. Too many federal employees do not take advantage of federal unpaid maternity leave because they have no way to replace the lost income. I decided to investigate how we could provide short-term disability insurance for federal employees after learning that many of them already buy short-term disability insurance as individuals in the private market at high individual rates. Although federal employees have good health insurance, federal health benefits do not replace lost income if employees are unable to work. Moreover, while federal employees may have available sick or annual leave days, they may not have enough such days to pay the bills if they have to be out of work for an extended period. Although there are long-term disability options for federal employees who become permanently disabled, federal employees do not qualify for such benefits until they have worked for the federal government for at least 18 months. My bill does no more than put federal employees in the same position as their private-sector counterparts, who have access to disability insurance through an employer at group rates. This bill will not allow participating insurance companies to exclude persons based on preexisting conditions. Because of the federal government's purchasing power, this bill will provide these benefits at a more competitive rate than is available if an employee sought such insurance as an individual. According to the Social Security Administration, a 20-year-old worker has a one in four chance of becoming disabled by retirement age. The majority of disabilities are not caused by major accidents, but by conditions or illnesses, such as cancer or back injuries, according to the Council for Disability Awareness. There is every reason to allow our federal employees to take advantage of the federal government's group rates to obtain the most reasonable price if they choose to purchase short-term disability coverage on their own at no cost to the federal government. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Lawrence L. Kitching, Jr. and TruTech Heating and Cooling, the recipient of our 2015 District of Columbia Small Business of the Year award. The award is given to an outstanding D.C. small business every year at our annual Small Business Fair. TruTech Heating and Cooling is a small business that was founded by Lawrence L. Kitching. Through hard work, determination, knowledge of his craft and excellence in performance, Mr. Kitching has grown his business significantly. Since opening in D.C. in 2012, TruTech Heating and Cooling has expanded its business into Maryland and Virginia. The business prides itself on quality craftsmanship, integrity and customer service. The technicians and professionals at TruTech Heating and Cooling are well-trained. Mr. Kitching, a native Washingtonian and graduate of William McKinley Technical High School, learned heating, ventilation and air conditioning at Lincoln Technical Institute and received his diploma in 1997. After heading down the wrong path, Mr. Kitching decided to pursue a better life for himself and his son, and began working to improve his skills while in prison. After his release, he worked at a prominent air conditioning company in the D.C. area for seven years. Then, he boldly followed his passion to become an entrepreneur and left his job to start his own company. Mr. Kitching and his company are certified by the North American Technician Excellence, and are recognized as professionals in the industry. We are particularly proud that TruTech Heating and Cooling has provided such an essential service to the members of our community. Lawrence Kitching has succeeded in a tough, competitive business environment. In the process, he has become an inspiration not only to our local small businesses but also to anyone who has had a poor start in life. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in congratulating Lawrence L. Kitching, Jr. for recommitting himself to the pursuit of excellence and integrity and to TruTech Heating and Cooling, the District of Columbia 2015 Small Business of the Year.

Ms. NORTON

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. NORTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer an amendment to prohibit the use of Federal funds to stop, investigate, detain, or arrest people on highways based on their physical appearance in violation of the Fifth and 14th Amendments of the United States Constitution and title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This is the same amendment I successfully offered to the fiscal year 2015 T-HUD appropriations bill and was agreed to by a voice vote on the House floor and was included in the fiscal year 2015 omnibus bill. I ask the same for the current amendment, which, like the one passed by the House last year, seeks to prevent profiling by law enforcement officials and to ensure that citizens are not stopped, investigated, or detained based on their color or other inherent physical appearance. The Supreme Court, in Whren v. United States, held that profiling based on physical appearance on highways violates equal protection of the laws. Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, whose 50th anniversary we celebrated in 2014, enforces the 14th Amendment and applies to funding for all Federal agencies and departments. My amendment carries out this title VI mandate as expressed in transportation funding in particular. Federal guidance regarding the use of race by a Federal law enforcement official finds that racial profiling is not merely wrong, but is also ineffective. Not only Blacks and Hispanics are affected, but many others in our country as well, given the increasing diversity of American society. The United States Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that Whites are stopped at a rate of 3.6 percent, but Blacks at 9.5 percent and Hispanics at 8.8 percent, more than twice that of Whites. The figures are roughly the same regardless of region or State. In Minnesota, for example, a statewide study of racial profiling found that African American, Hispanic, and Native American drivers were stopped and searched far more often than Whites, yet contraband was found more frequently in cars where White drivers had been stopped. In Texas, where disproportionate stops and searches of African Americans and Hispanics were found to have taken place, it was also found that Whites more often were carrying contraband. Earlier this Congress, I reintroduced the Racial Profiling Prevention Act, my bill to reestablish a popular Federal program aimed at reducing racial profiling. This bill permits States to apply for grants to develop racial profiling laws, to collect and maintain data on traffic stops, to fashion programs to reduce racial profiling, and to train law enforcement officers. Nearly half the States participated in the program when it was in existence, which shows both the need and the interest in our country in tackling this civil rights issue. I got this program included in the surface transportation law in 2005, but that program expired in 2009. I will try to get this bill included in the surface transportation reauthorization bill we will be writing this year, but in the meantime, a formal prohibition on racial profiling is in order. Meanwhile, Congress should have no hesitation in carrying out the 14th Amendment and the 1964 Civil Rights Act mandate regarding Federal funding of transportation, and neither the House nor the Senate hesitated last year. Considering our country's history and increasing diversity, we are late in barring profiling at the national level. At the very least, Federal taxpayers should not be compelled to subsidize the unconstitutional practice of profiling by law enforcement officials in the States. Mr. Chairman, I urge the adoption of this amendment, especially in light of recent issues in cities like Ferguson and Baltimore. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.