Donald Payne

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, nearly 50 years after the Voting Rights Act was signed into law, we still see efforts to weaken voter protections and suppress votes. Discriminatory voting laws, such as strict photo ID requirements and reduced early voting, disproportionately impact minority voters in the name of preventing widespread voter fraud, a problem that simply does not exist. Clearly, since the Supreme Court's decision 2 years ago to erode some of the VRA's most critical protections, including preclearance requirements that protect against disenfranchising laws, the Voting Rights Act is still needed more now than ever before; yet Republicans have refused to allow a renewed and strengthened Voting Rights Act to come to the floor. This should concern everyone who believes the right to vote is one of the most fundamental to our democracy. It is time we renew and strengthen the Voting Rights Act.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues here in the House of Representatives to join me as I rise to pay tribute to Mr. LeRoy Joseph Jones, Sr., and the many contributions he made as a dedicated public servant in the State of New Jersey. Born and raised in Orange, New Jersey, Mr. Jones had an extensive career in public service and worked tirelessly to improve the lives of the residents in his community. After graduating from Orange Public Schools in 1953, Mr. Jones enlisted in the United States Navy in 1954 and served his country honorably for 12 years. Following his military service, Mr. Jones earned an Associate Degree in Urban Studies from Essex County College. In 1972, he attended the Community Action Training Institute at Rutgers University and later earned a Bachelor's Degree in Urban Studies at Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina. As a trailblazer, he served as President of New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association and Board 33 Referee Association, where he became the first African American President in the history of both organizations. He was appointed by Governor Brendan Byrne in 1980 to serve on the State of NJ Parole Board Juvenile Panel from 1980-1983. Mr. Jones achieved another first, when he served as senior hearing officer on the State of New Jersey Parole Board. Some of his other accomplishments included Director of the Fellowship Civic Center in East Orange, Assistant Director of Recreation for the City of Orange, Acting Director of the Orange Community Development Program, member of the Orange Chamber of Commerce, Board of Trustee for the East Orange Neighborhood Development Corporation, Coach of the East Orange Tigers, and member of the management board for the YMCA of Orange. His commitment to public service has changed many lives throughout the state. His contributions were recognized by numerous organizations such as the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, the National District Attorney's Association, NJ State Interscholastic Athletic Association and the American Correctional Association. He was a devoted man that showed his love for his family and his community through his actions. My thoughts and prayers are with Mr. LeRoy Jones, Sr.'s family. He is survived by his beloved wife Rosan Jones, his four children LeRoy Joseph Jones, Jr., Leanne Jackson, Leisa Tynes-Merriweather and Lisa Jones, his 11 grandchildren, 5 great- grandchildren, two brothers and two sisters, and a host of other relatives and friends. Mr. Speaker, I know my fellow members of the House of Representatives agree that Mr. LeRoy Joseph Jones, Sr. deserves to be recognized for a job well done and for his many years of service to the citizens of the State of New Jersey. This tribute recognizes his life's work, his stellar career and his personal commitment to improving the lives of his fellow man.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Illinois. This is a very timely topic, as we have seen what has transpired in our Nation over the past several weeks. It is incredible to me how fast this issue has moved over the past month. But it always seems that it takes a horrific act in this country for us to wake up and realize that maybe something isn't right. Nine people at church study on a Wednesday night, not knowing their fate, were gunned down in cold blood by someone who actually said: You know, they were so nice to me, I almost didn't do it, but I had to. Last week in South Carolina, there was a monumental step in removing the Confederate flag from its State capitol, where it had shamefully flown for 54 years; but here in our Nation's Capitol last week, Republicans tried to go back to the future. House Republicans had to pull a vote on a spending bill because some of their Members opposed a measure that would ban Confederate flags from national cemeteries, and when the Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi, presented an opportunity for Republicans to do the right thing and immediately remove the Confederate flag from the Capitol Grounds, they punted. South Carolina, the birthplace of the Confederacy, had the courage to do what the House Republicans did not, remove that dreaded symbol. It is the symbol of an incomprehensible hate, a hate that manifested itself in a massacre. Since that unfortunate day 1 month ago, we, as a nation, have been forced to look inward at who we are and who we want to be. Mr. Speaker, out of this immense grief of that dark day in Charleston came a resounding call throughout our Nation to remove the Confederate flag and other symbols of racism and racial supremacy. For many, the removal of these symbols is a logical step in the trajectory of our Nation, a necessary action on the path toward the more perfect Union. For others, calls to remove these symbols of hate are seen as an attack on the Southern identity, heritage, and culture; but arguing that the Confederate flag is a symbol of Southern pride celebrates a single homogenous culture. It means listening to only some voices at the expense of others. It means ignoring the African American experience throughout our Nation's history from the dark period of slavery to the civil rights movement to the present day. According to a report by the Equal Justice Initiative, 3,959 African Americans in 12 States were killed by the terror of lynching between 1877 and 1950, 3,959 Americans lynched. If we are going to refer to the past and debate over the Confederate flag, certainly, we need to take all of this into account. The Confederate flag has always stood for racial supremacy and bigotry, and if we are to realize our Nation's promise of justice and full equality, we cannot embrace this symbol. Eradicating symbols of hatred, violence, and cruel oppression steeped in racism is a critical step to confronting prejudice in our society. Now, Mr. Speaker, we have all heard complaints that this debate does not matter and that removing the Confederate flag and other symbols of hatred is a distraction from the larger problems facing our Nation, such as rampant gun violence. I agree that significantly more must be done to address racism and persistent inequality in our Nation. I agree that we need meaningful gun reform from expanding background checks to reducing unchecked online ammunition purchases. I agree that we need to create jobs, reduce wealth disparities, and expand educational opportunities. But symbols matter; symbols legitimize public opinion and, in doing so, entrench attitudes and beliefs. At the same time, they create a meaning, shape actions, and connect us to one another. Just as a symbol can connect us, they can tear us apart. Mr. Speaker, as I go to my seat, I was talking to my staff the other day about this and how much we were happy to see that flag lowered. The symbol is gone, but the sentiment remains.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 374 I would have voted ``no'' on passage. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Well, Mr. Richmond, let me just say, and we have discussed it in private before, that I am the product of a very blessed circumstance in my life. My mother died when I was 4, and my father raised us, my sister and me. All the things you talk about benefiting from, I have benefited from. But I have never lost the sight and was taught: There but for the grace of God go I. So I have had circumstances in my life where I have been stopped by the police and have been told by that officer using the N word that if I did not find my license, they would throw me so far under the jail they would never find me. Well, I was able to find my license after that and showed it to the police officer, and lo and behold, I become a human being again. Because, you see, my father was a councilman in that town. But prior to me showing my identification, there was the potential of someone never seeing me again because a police officer decided that that should be my fate. So now this police officer becomes nurturing and is parental and he is asking me: Well, don't you know you could get hurt by doing that? I had made a U-turn somewhere as a youngster I shouldn't have. But does my life have to end because I made a U-turn that I am thrown so far under the jail they will never find me until I become a human being because my father is a councilman in that city and now there is a concern for my well-being? No. What about the 1.5 million Black males that don't have that recognition that we have? That is why I do what I do every day, to make sure that in this Nation, the greatest country in the world, every man is playing by the rules, doing what he is supposed to do, has that equal opportunity, and the men that need that kick in the rump or that extra push get that. So my story is a little different, although it sounds the same. My father lost his mother at a very early age. He was 8. And the family got together to buy a house, some aunts and uncles and the grandparents, so they could bring my father and his siblings in so they wouldn't get bounced around anymore like they were. And I truly believe that is the reason my father never gave my sister and me up because of what he went through as a child and his experiences. So we have been very fortunate; and your articulation of your experience and us understanding that we have an obligation, being as fortunate as we have been and to have this bully pulpit, it is our obligation to speak out against the injustices that these 1.5 million missing Black men face every single day.

Mr. PAYNE. I want to thank the gentleman from Louisiana for his remarks, and I appreciate him being involved in tonight's Special Order. I am not surprised that he would be here on such an important topic. He has demonstrated numerous times his commitment to young people and their aspirations and motivating them to do the right thing and be successful, as he has been. One thing that comes to my mind, Mr. Speaker, is as we talk about this issue, what is it that we find these 1.5 million men missing? They are human beings. They are Americans. What is the difference about these 1.5 million men, that they are African American? Does it go back in our history of 300 years? Does it have something to do with us, as a race? I just wonder, sometimes, what is the difference; but I won't go there. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to thank the members of the Congressional Black Caucus here tonight for sharing their profound insights and observations. Your participation was greatly appreciated. Every Monday night in this House, we have a remarkable opportunity to speak about the important work of the CBC to advance full equality and justice for African Americans in all communities in this Nation. One of the most significant challenges our communities face is that of ``the missing black male.'' Once again, to quote The New York Times: ``More than one out of every six black men who today should be between 25 and 54 years old have disappeared from daily life.'' Many of these men are incarcerated. Others have died from homicide and from disease that disproportionately affects African American males. The consequences of these missing men are severe, not just for the men themselves, but for their families and for the entire society. Strong communities lay the foundation to strong societies, but when our criminal justice system emphasizes incarceration over rehabilitation, we make it increasingly difficult for those individuals to become productive members of society. We need a system that holds criminals accountable, while focusing on rehabilitation of nonviolent criminals. If we are truly to make our communities more secure, we also need to address health disparities among African American men. Health disparities are a burden to African American communities. African American men suffer from a number of disease, including colorectal cancer, at higher rates than their White counterparts. Part of the problem has to do with stigmas, and this is an area which I have been working hard to address in my capacity as co-chair of the Congressional Men's Health Caucus. Along those lines, we need to eliminate the stigmas around mental health and make sure that those suffering from mental illness have the resources they need. No one struggling with mental illness should feel isolated and that they have nowhere to turn. It is clear that we are not doing enough, as a society, to get them the help they need. We should not be seeing an uptick in the number of African American boys dying from suicide, that dreaded suicide rate. For these young boys and for others, we need to listen, and we need to encourage them not to be afraid to seek help. The problem of ``the missing black male'' is not going to be resolved overnight, but closing the gap is a goal we all need to aspire to for ourselves, for our community, and for our Nation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PAYNE. You know, the gentleman is absolutely correct. It reminds me of another story of some of those households where the circumstances are unfathomable. My sister is a kindergarten teacher of 25 years. I don't know if she would like me telling the length of time, but she had a child in one of her classes several years ago, and the child would sleep all through class. You know, once or twice, she let it go, but it became a persistent pattern. She calls the parents and finds out that the reason that the child slept in school was it was the only safe place to sleep because, in the evening, the rodents that came out of the walls would bite them at night, and they would stay up most of the night trying to keep this circumstance off of them. When the child got to school, it was the only place that they could rest. In this country, that is unacceptable, absolutely unacceptable. It is circumstances like that--now, how does that child get ahead? They are falling behind already, and this is kindergarten. The deck is stacked against a lot of these children when they show up to school. Head Start and these programs have shown and demonstrated the upward mobility that they have given generations of children that need this type of service; yet our colleagues continue to thwart efforts to increase efforts we know that work--really, just kind of just dismiss that any of these social programs that have been instituted have any benefit. That is not true. It is just not true. We need to continue to bring these stories up and explain to people why we fight every single day for these issues. The whole issue, once again, around mental health issues, people walking the streets that need help and end up doing something that they are really unable to control and end up incarcerated--how does that help them? How does that help the circumstance in this country? Is it that we are just hiding the issue? We don't want to deal with it, so we just lock it up? It is absolutely unconscionable, in this country, that we still act as if we are in the 1800s in this day and age.

Mr. PAYNE. I would like to thank my colleague from the Garden State of New Jersey. She has come to the Congress and hit the ground running. As great a legislator as she was in New Jersey, she is doing a magnificent job here in the Halls of Congress. Mr. Speaker, we have touched on many different topics, many different issues, and it is just really a difficult circumstance that these individuals face, you know; tremendous barriers to reentering society and pursuing education and gainful employment. When these men are incarcerated, their children suffer, too. Nearly 2 million children grow up in homes where one parent is in jail. Of course, lowering the incarceration rates means we need to reevaluate the war on drugs. One out of every three African American men will be incarcerated at some point in their lives. Most of these arrests are drug related. According to the National Urban League, mandatory minimums and disparities in crack cocaine sentencing incarcerates countless African Americans for an inhumane length of time, and that made the U.S. the world leader in prison population. Now, is that something that this country wants to be known for? This has created a modern-day caste system in America. The incarceration rate for African Americans convicted of drug offenses is 10 times greater than that of White Americans, even though Americans engage in drug offenses at higher rates. We need to focus on rehabilitating drug users instead of incarcerating them and making it nearly impossible to reenter society. Mr. Speaker, with that, I would like to introduce the hero from last week's game between the Republicans and the Democrats where he pitched a magnificent game. Once again, we were victorious. I don't believe that we have lost since he has arrived in Congress. It is the honorable gentleman from New Orleans, the honorable Cedric Richmond, also known as ``The Franchise.'' I yield to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Richmond).

Mr. PAYNE. I would like to thank the gentlewoman from Houston, who always brings clarity to these issues and is a great contributor to the conscience of this Congress. Mr. Speaker, the gentlewoman brings up a lot of good points in reference to incarceration and speaking about the young 16-year-old boy who spent that much time in solitary confinement and comes out and ends up committing suicide. What we have found in this country, as they have broken down the mental health institutions over the years, that what we are doing in this country is warehousing people who have mental health issues in prisons, and it is a way to warehouse and get the problem out of the way so we don't see it, but a lot of people who are in prison these days have mental health issues and should be dealt with from that perspective as opposed to incarceration. It is my honor and privilege to ask my colleague from New Jersey, the Honorable Bonnie Watson Coleman, who is known in New Jersey for her work around criminal justice in the State legislature and has joined us this year in the 114th Congress, for her remarks with respect to tonight's topic.

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, let me begin by thanking the members of the Congressional Black Caucus who are joining me here tonight. The topic of tonight's discussion is: the missing Black male. Tonight, as a caucus, we will address the issues affecting Black males, including incarceration, health, the increasing suicide rate among Black youth, and the missing Black male in our society. It was recently reported by The New York Times that 1.5 million African American men are missing. What do we mean when we say 1.5 million Black men are missing? As we speak, hundreds of thousands of Black men are sitting in prisons throughout this Nation. Others have died from homicide--the leading cause of death for young Black men--and from diseases that disproportionately impact African American males. Then there are others, like Freddie Gray, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, and Eric Garner, who are no longer with us because of excessive force by police which has cut their lives short. It is clear that our law enforcement system and criminal justice system aren't working for African Americans and other minorities. It is also clear that we need a new approach into other areas, including reducing health disparities among African American men and boys. Tonight, we will diagnose the problems behind America's 1.5 million missing African American men and help identify solutions to this national problem. While African Americans make up 14 percent of the U.S. population, they comprise 38 percent of those in the U.S. prison population and 60 percent of those in solitary confinement. In 2010, African American men were six times as likely as White men to be incarcerated in Federal, State, and local jails. Mr. Speaker, this is an issue that is plaguing the African American community, as we see a disproportionate number of African American men who are incarcerated in this Nation. We are trying to figure out why they make up 14 percent of the population and 60 percent of those incarcerated. It just doesn't add up. Right now, Mr. Speaker, I would like to introduce the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, who has allowed me to anchor this hour. It is my honor to yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield).

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the chairman for gracing us with his comments and for demonstrating true leadership in the Congressional Black Caucus. Next, we have a distinguished member of this caucus. She hails from Houston, Texas, and has always been on the right side of these issues and has brought light to them. I yield to the gentlewoman from Houston, Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my unwavering support to the people of the Republic of China Taiwan. The United States and Taiwan are two like-minded countries. The Taiwanese people share our same cultural values of respect for individual liberties, freedom of speech, adherence to the rule of law, and support for human rights. I would also like to take this opportunity to share a speech entitled ``True Friendship Lasts Forever'' delivered by Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou on June 2, 2015, at a video conference at Stanford University. In his speech, President Ma delineated the importance of future cooperation opportunities between our two countries. Below is the summary of President Ma's speech. For the full transcript, please visit the website of the office of the President of the Republic of China: http://www.president.gov.tw ``I am very happy to be here for today's videoconference. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, as well as the Republic of China's (ROC) victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan. In July 1937, two years before World War II broke out, ROC forces began fighting against Japanese aggression alone, and for four long years, they continued with virtually no outside help. It wasn't until the Pearl Harbor attack in December 1941 that the ROC joined forces with the Allies to declare war against Japan, Germany, and Italy. Although the ROC and U.S. severed diplomatic ties in 1979, barely three months later, the U.S. Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA). Under that Act, Taiwan is treated as a foreign government for purposes of U.S. law and in U.S. courts. The Act also requires the U.S. to provide Taiwan with defensive weapons. Since I came into office in 2008, mutual ROC-U.S. trust has been restored at the highest levels of government. And over the past two years, there have been frequent, reciprocal visits by high-level officials. In April 2014, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy visited Taiwan, and Charles Rivkin, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs is visiting Taiwan now. At the same time, heads of various ROC government agencies have visited the U.S., so there is a solid foundation of mutual trust there. In addition to strong security ties, Taiwan-U.S. trade relations have also made significant progress over the last few years. In March 2013, after a five-year hiatus, we reopened negotiations with the U.S. under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), a platform set up in 1994 to facilitate talks in trade and investment matters. We have continued bilateral consultations in a series of 12 work conferences, and have made significant progress. At the end of March 2015, the ROC is America's 10th largest trading partner, surpassing Brazil and Saudi Arabia, and the U.S. is Taiwan's third largest, after mainland China and Japan. Let me turn to cross-strait relations. Over the past seven years, Taiwan and mainland China have signed 21 agreements. During that same period, visitors from mainland China have made over 14 million trips to Taiwan, almost four million of them in the past year alone. So the cross-strait situation is more stable and peaceful than it has ever been in the past 66 years. In addition to seeking stable development in cross-strait and ROC- U.S. relations, Taiwan has also taken concrete actions over the past few years to be a regional peacemaker in both the East China Sea, and the South China Sea. Back in August 2012, I proposed the East China Sea Peace Initiative. That Initiative asks stakeholders to forgo conflict in favor of peaceful negotiations, and emphasizes cooperation in sharing resources. Eight months later in April 2013, Taiwan and Japan signed a fisheries agreement that embodies the spirit of that Initiative, and solved a fisheries dispute between Taiwan and Japan that has troubled both countries for 40 years. That agreement elicited widespread praise and support from the global community. Secretary of State John Kerry has publicly stated that the ROC-Japan fisheries agreement is a model for promoting regional stability, and that the principles at the heart of the East China Sea Peace Initiative apply to all of the waters in Asia. In the East China Sea, the East China Sea Peace Initiative encourages stakeholders to shelve their disputes, and cooperate to create win-win situations. Its success makes it a model for peaceful development in the South China Sea. On May 26, 2015, I formally announced the South China Sea Peace Initiative, hoping that the relevant parties will: ``shelve sovereignty dispute, pursue peace and reciprocity, and promote joint exploration and development.'' By upholding those principles, we hope that all the parties involved will work together to maintain regional peace and promote regional development. A U.S. State Department official stated that the U.S. appreciates the proposals in the South China Sea Peace Initiative. I sincerely hope that all of the outstanding scholars and experts gathered here will support the pursuit of peace.'' Mr. Speaker, this tribute recognizes the importance of the relationship between the United States and the Republic of China Taiwan as strategic partners under the Taiwan Relations Act.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I first want to start by thanking my colleague from Illinois, Congresswoman Kelly, for coanchoring this Special Order with me. Thanks also to the members of the Congressional Black Caucus that will be joining us, and a special thanks to everyone watching at home. It is wonderful to be here to talk about our shared priorities. Tonight, as stated by my colleague, we are going to address two of the most pressing issues for African American communities, jobs and economic development. Since the Recession ended, much of the United States has experienced economic recovery. However, African American communities continue to face significant challenges to securing jobs, escaping poverty, and accumulating wealth. It is a disturbing and unacceptable reality and a reminder that Congress has a moral responsibility to create avenues of economic prosperity for African American communities. Our focus must be on the economic issues that matter most to African American communities, including employment, income, and wealth. According to an April report by the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee, at 10.1 percent, the unemployment rate for African Americans is double the rate for White Americans. African Americans are 2.5 times more likely than White Americans to face long-term unemployment, and over 20 percent of African Americans in their early twenties are still unemployed. This hurts earning prospects and long-term employment. Given the higher rates of unemployment in African American communities, it is no surprise that African American communities also have lower incomes and less wealth, and African Americans are more likely to live and stay in poverty. According to the April Joint Economic Committee report, the median income of an African American household is only $34,600, almost $24,000 less than White households in this country. African Americans are almost three times more likely to live in poverty than White Americans. African American households have 13 times less wealth than White households. In my State of New Jersey, the statistics are equally as grim. In New Jersey, the poverty rate for African Americans hovers at 22 percent and is three times that of White Americans, at 6.6 percent. The unemployment rate for African Americans is 11.1 percent, and that is twice that of White Americans, at 5.5 percent. According to U.S. Census Bureau estimates, in New Jersey, in the 10th Congressional District, the unemployment rate for African Americans is 19.1 percent, which was 2.5 times that of White Americans, at 7.5 percent. These glaring disparities betray the American promise, that working hard leads to economic stability. African American women's unemployment today--more women are the primary breadwinners for their families than ever. In fact, 30 percent of women earn more than their husbands. Women make up nearly half of our Nation's workforce. However, on average, full-time working women earn just 77 cents for every dollar a man earns, and African American women earn just 64 cents for every dollar a man earns. African American women have been hit particularly hard by unemployment. According to the National Women's Law Center, in April, African American women's unemployment was at 8.8 percent, higher than the peak of total women's unemployment during the Recession. Compare that to the 4.2 percent unemployment rate for White women and to the national unemployment rate of 5.4 percent. We need a more widely shared recovery. We cannot strengthen our households or our economy when such large disparities exist. The Congressional Black Caucus is committed to tackling this challenge. The CBC has fought for much-needed investment in job training, in education, and in employment opportunities to equip people of color and people from low-income communities with the skills needed to compete in today's economy. Education is definitely key to this prosperity. It is best when we invest in it and make it possible for all youngsters--all Americans--to get a good education. Education is the path to success, but many people simply can't afford it. African Americans lag sharply behind White Americans in educational attainment as well. It is a consistent theme that we hear--whether it is poverty, education, wealth, job opportunities--that these communities lag behind. We need a strong nation, irrespective of what community you live in. Here in Congress and at this CBC, we fight every day to make sure that all Americans have an equal opportunity to prosper in this Nation. I see we have been very fortunate to be joined by several of our colleagues.

Mr. PAYNE. I thank the gentlewoman from Illinois and also the gentlewoman from Ohio for joining us this evening. Her thoughts and comments are always salient and to the point, and we appreciate her supporting us in this effort. We sophomores have to stick together. It is just always a delight for me to be able to hear what Mrs. Beatty has to say in terms of the topics that we discuss. She has demonstrated true leadership in the CBC since her arrival. Mr. Speaker, this is the greatest Nation on the face of the Earth, and there are many issues, many mottos, many sayings that go along with this Nation. And one of them is that all men are created equal. But why do we continue to find such gaps in all people being created equal and the circumstances some communities find themselves in? Like anyone, young African Americans would like to grow up, educated well, raise their families, and eke out an income that sustains them and creates a quality of life that all people deserve. But that doesn't happen. We have the haves and the have-nots, the 99 percent and the 1 percent. And too often it seems like that is what our Nation is built on. Sure, we talk about equality, we talk about equal rights, but for some reason, in many instances, it just doesn't seem to fit the circumstance. Wages for working people have stagnated, as my colleague from New York said, over 15 years, but we have watched the top 1 percent make more and more money. Their quality of life is something people would dream about, hear about in fairy tales. But, no, some people are living that well while others struggle every single day. And what would it be in a Nation if we were held to these different virtues, to these different mottos, to these different sayings? Well, it would mean, Mr. Speaker, that people needing food stamps wouldn't be going up. That is not something people look forward to. That is a last- ditch effort to feed your family. That is desperation. That is not a goal to aspire to. Too many times we feel that people in this country that have not made it or have found it difficult to be successful, well, they are just not doing what they need to do. There are systemic structural circumstances in this Nation that keep people from attaining success. And until we deal with those issues, we will continue to see what we see. And let me just say that why wouldn't we want more people to have prosperity? Why wouldn't we want more people to be doing well? That means they are paying into the system, that they don't have to rely on the system and take out of the system. The more people paying in, the more it reduces the burden of the rest of us. I don't see why that is not clear. I made the same example during our talks about the Affordable Care Act. The more people you have paying into the system, the less we have to pay because, guess what. When there is someone who is not paying into the system, guess who picks up the burden--the rest of us. If you disburse that cost over more people--it is basic economics-- guess what happens? It reduces it for everyone. Here we are in the greatest nation in the world--no question about it--and at times, we are talking around the world about how other countries should treat their people. You have to look inside, and people are able to point back at us and say: Wait a minute. Why do you have communities such as that? Why is there such disparity? How can you tell us when we see what is happening in your nation? Mr. Speaker, we can't talk out of both sides of our mouths. If we are going to be the greatest nation, then we have to act like it and stand up and do the things that make it a great nation. There is no reason we cannot find a way out of this problem. We are able to create jobs as we have smart businesspeople throughout this Nation if there were an incentive for them to do it, but the status quo is all right with them because their value continues to go up, that of the 1 percent, so why should they change? If it ain't broke, don't fix it. That is their motto. They are doing better and better while, for the rest of us, our quality of life goes down or remains stagnant. Mr. Speaker, this has had an adverse impact on African American businesses, and in an increasingly connected economy, it is also detrimental to the broader economic growth in this country in that all people are not able to have a living wage or to take care of their families. I want to thank my colleague, Congresswoman Kelly, for her leadership and for leading tonight's Congressional Black Caucus' Special Order hour. In closing, as we welcome the continued recovery and growth of our economy, we must keep in mind that work remains to build an equal society and to expand opportunities for African Americans across the country. African American communities are not sharing in the economic recovery. We have a moral obligation to tackle the economic challenges facing Black communities and to create avenues of economic prosperity for all Americans. The CBC will be at that fight for as long as necessary. It is our agenda that works for all Americans, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, White Americans.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida and the gentlewoman from New Jersey for affording me this opportunity to discuss a tragedy, as the gentlewoman from New Jersey stated, that has hit very close to home. And the reason I say that is, as stated by the gentlewoman from New Jersey, the Northeast corridor is the way we are able to travel back and forth from our home to Washington, D.C., to do the people's business. And so it is not uncommon that I could have been on train 188. I have taken it on numerous occasions. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this horrific Amtrak train derailment and their families at this difficult time. I am grateful for the first responders who put themselves in harm's way to rescue passengers, and I wish all those injured a full and speedy recovery. This tragedy, as we stated, has hit so close to home. Sometimes weekly, I travel, as do many of my constituents and colleagues, on this rail line. I have taken Amtrak's 188 and had my wife and children on that specific train leaving here going back home. As a Member of Congress, we have a responsibility to ensure and enhance the public safety. The derailment of Amtrak train 188 serves as an important reminder that if we are to meet this responsibility, we need to invest in our infrastructure. There is no doubt that our Nation's infrastructure is crumbling. The American Society of Civil Engineers has rated it as a D-plus Now, Mr. Speaker, I know all of us find education important. If you were given a D-plus on the work that you do, on the quality of your service, what would that say? There is no doubt that we are falling behind other nations in the quality of our infrastructure. Long-term investments in our Nation's infrastructure are essential for achieving economic growth and competitiveness throughout the world. Yet, Republicans refuse to address this very real crisis. This only compounds the problem, costing American jobs and undermining our economy. We don't need shortsighted thinking. We need to stay competitive, boost commerce, invest in economic growth and job creation, and protect our communities. These are the benefits of modernizing our Nation's infrastructure. One day after the derailment of Amtrak train 188, my Republican colleagues voted to cut Amtrak funding. While the Amtrak investigation remains ongoing, we know that slashing funding will hamper safety improvements and upgrades. We shouldn't stand in the way of this wise infrastructure investment. Let's commit to ensuring modern, safe, and reliable infrastructure that reflects the greatness of this Nation. And as I go to my seat, I just want to, once again, thank the gentlewomen from Florida and New Jersey respectively for giving me the opportunity to have several moments to discuss what is an issue that impacts the safety, the productiveness, the competitiveness of our Nation and our infrastructure.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, we heard a common thread about diversity. At the bottom of the Statue of Liberty, there are words on it and it says: ``Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.'' That has allowed many diverse people come here and look for the freedom that this Nation can extend to you and prosper. We need to continue that great tradition. I hear a lot these days about the borders and eliminating pathways to come here, and that has not been our tradition, so I do not believe, at this point in time in this Nation's history, that we should talk that way, or else, we should remove those words from the bottom of Lady Liberty. Equality and diversity is the center of criminal justice concerns. The inequality force is distrust which erodes relationships between police and communities. Baltimore and other police-related tragedies over the past year speak to the broader challenges. Unfortunately, racial discrimination persists throughout our Nation, undercutting the gains of African Americans in their communities. As we work to reform our criminal justice system, we must also work in support of equality in all context. This is the only way to fully meet the needs of our communities. As a caucus, the Congressional Black Caucus is committed to ensuring that the increasing diversity of the Nation is reflected in American business. To that end, we will make sure that American businesses receive the government contracts and tax preferences and taking concrete steps to improve diversity in efforts at all levels. Diversity in the workforce means diversity in all sectors, including technology industries where there is a lack of African Americans. We need to engage the tech center in increasing African American representation and inclusion in the industry. The American promise that we all are created equal must guide our efforts at all levels, from policing in our communities, to expanding opportunities for minorities in the workforce. Madam Speaker, there has to be balance in everything. We see the issues that towns such as Ferguson and Baltimore and Long Island, New York, have suffered with the tragedies of losing people in those communities, but we also know that police organizations have a difficult job, and they are trained to protect and serve. We must make sure that that is the goal, to protect and serve. Unfortunately, at times, we find circumstances or situations where they are in a position where they are not protecting and serving, but more like an occupying force. That is not what we need from our law enforcement officers. We need for them to engage in the community and understand what is going on in that community and have a good enough relationship that, when and if there is a circumstance where they need information, that the community feels comfortable enough to go to them with the information they need in order to serve the issue. There is good and bad in everyone, Madam Speaker. There are good public servants and bad public servants; there are good teachers and bad teachers; there are good speakers and bad speakers, poor speakers, but, when it comes to law enforcement, we need to have them serve the community. I stand here to say I thank them for the difficult task that they have every single day, to go into the community, and their families say good-bye to them and hope they return from that shift that evening. I don't take it lightly. There is enough responsibility on all sides, from law enforcement and from the community, that has a responsibility to law enforcement, but we need to continue to strive to make this a more perfect union. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Kelly).

Mr. PAYNE. I would like to thank the gentleman from Texas who, as I said, has had a distinguished career to this point and will continue to show great leadership in this House of Representatives, and I thank him for his friendship. General Leave

Mr. PAYNE. I would like to thank the gentlewoman for her thoughtful comments. Madam Speaker, it is true, we have come to a point in this Nation where one side has gone to one corner and the other side has gone to another corner not to meet in the middle to solve issues and problems. There was a time when this great body would compromise. You didn't get everything you wanted, and I didn't get everything I wanted. So that means we compromised and came to a decision. The gentlewoman also makes a good point about working with Members on the other side of the aisle. The gentlewoman from Arizona, the Speaker pro tempore this evening, has become a great collaborator with myself on the Homeland Security Subcommittee which she chairs, and we have worked extensively together on legislation that we both support. We need more of that. We need more of that to happen. We need to take the time to hear each other, to listen, and to see where we don't agree on everything but there are common threads that we can build and bind together. So with that, I am proud to see her sitting in that chair. I get to sit next to her in committee, so it puts me closer to the Speaker's chair, and I feel privileged for that. Right now, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas, the Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee. She is one of the most thoughtful Members of the United States House of Representatives. She hails from Houston, Texas, and she always has great words of wisdom, thoughts, and ideas on the issues that we face in this great Nation.

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PAYNE. I really appreciate the always thoughtful and timely remarks by the gentlewoman from Texas. Madam Speaker, at this time I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions), a gentleman who has served this House with distinction. He served with my father, and now I have the great opportunity to work with him.

Mr. PAYNE. Thank you, Ms. Kelly. We appreciate your comments. In closing, I would like to thank you for cohosting the Special Order on criminal justice reform, accountability, and diversity. It is through these Special Orders that we are able to speak directly to our constituents about the valuable work the Congressional Black Caucus does to reduce injustice and promote equality for all African American communities. Our criminal justice and police systems are in a state of crisis. Too often, under these systems, Black lives are treated as though they don't matter. We saw this last month, when Baltimore's Freddie Gray died in police custody from a brutal spine injury. Such tragedies erode trust between our communities and the police. This problem is compounded by a wide range of factors, from disturbing gaps in incarceration rates to racial disparities in sentencing. We need a system that holds criminals accountable and protects law enforcement while, at the same time, ensuring the safety and equal treatment of all communities. This includes implementing police body cameras in order to promote transparency and accountability while deterring wrongdoing. At the same time, we need to make sure that law enforcement officers don't resort to discriminatory policing practices. It is undeniable that racial profiling remains an ongoing crisis in our Nation. There is a clear and growing need to ensure a robust and comprehensive Federal commitment to ending racial profiling by law enforcement agencies. The End Racial Profiling Act, which I proudly support, would do just that. It was constructed after a law in New Jersey, authored by my uncle, Assemblyman William Payne. It was the first racial profiling law passed in the United States, a law of which I am very proud. I took that idea and brought it Federal. Of course, real accountability means that we will, at times, need independent investigations of police-related deaths. We are glad to see, finally, Attorney General Lynch launch an investigation into the Baltimore Police Department, with the stated goal of assisting police departments across the country in developing their practices. In less than 1 month on the job, Attorney General Lynch is already making a difference, and we thank her for that. As we reflect on the dire need for the reform of our criminal justice system, we need to advance the cause of equality in all contexts. This means expanding diversity in the workforce, in health, and in all aspects of life--from the mailroom to the boardroom, from the manufacturing industry to the technology sector. Many of these challenges we face today are great, but as a caucus, we remain committed to solving them.

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I am glad to be joined by my colleague and friend, the gentlewoman from Illinois, Ms. Robin Kelly. Thank you, Congresswoman Kelly, for joining me in coanchoring this Special Order hour tonight. Thank you also to the members of the Congressional Black Caucus and to all those watching from home. Madam Speaker, last month, Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old man Baltimore man, died in police custody from a spinal cord injury. His death, ruled a homicide, has drawn ongoing national attention to the increasingly frayed relations between police and communities throughout the United States. Tonight we come together as a caucus to address the urgent need to reform our criminal justice system and promote police accountability and also to talk about many different issues of diversity in our Nation. Our Nation is at a crossroads. Failure to make meaningful reforms to our criminal justice system risks damaging relations between communities and police beyond repair. But real commonsense reforms that enhance transparency, advance public safety, eradicate discrimination, and instill trust can create a system that works for all Americans. Currently, our law enforcement system and criminal justice system aren't working for African Americans and other minorities. As a result, a meaningful dialogue between law enforcement and the communities they are charged with protecting remains illusive. Tonight we will speak to the urgent need to reform our criminal justice and police systems so that we can breathe new life into the American promise of full equality and justice for all. With that, Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Kelly).

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order tonight.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, once again, we are seeing a dose of demagoguery from the Republican leadership, who continue to threaten the elimination of the Export-Import Bank. The Ex-Im Bank ensures that American companies of all sizes have access to financing for the export of American goods, from electronics, to medical equipment, to smartphones and cases of soap. These exports contribute to the strength of the economy and support millions of American jobs. In fact, since 2009, the bank has supported 1.3 million private sector jobs. Republican threats to eliminate the bank are threats to American workers, manufacturers, and our economy. Last year, New Jersey exported $36.8 billion in merchandise. Failure to reauthorize the Ex-Im Bank would put billions of dollars in New Jersey exports at risk. I urge my colleagues to reauthorize the Ex-Im Bank.