Donald Payne

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, this week is Infrastructure Week. With every day that passes, the need for Federal infrastructure investment grows more and more urgent. Robust and reliable infrastructure is the foundation for economic success and security. But for too long, the United States has underinvested in our infrastructure. Today our bridges, our roads, our tunnels, our canals, and even our dams are crumbling. It is so bad that the American Society of Civil Engineers gives our Nation's infrastructure a grade of D. That is really a shame. All across this great country, our constituents are begging us to rebuild America's infrastructure. Instead of that, the President has put forth a plan that will sell off Main Street to Wall Street and his rich friends. Mr. Speaker, that is not going to work for the American people. My colleagues and I have a trillion-dollar plan that will rebuild bridges and roads. It would fix our airports and schools, and it would put 16 million people to work. That is what the American people deserve.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me as I rise to pay tribute to H.E. Ambassador Vasilios Philippou as he begins his new position as the High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus in Ottawa, Canada. Ambassador Philippou began his career in the National Guard for the Republic of Cyprus. He went on to receive his B.A. in Economics, Social Administration, and Political Science at University of Montpellier France in 1989, followed by a Master's degree in International Politics from Free University of Brussels in 1999, and most recently a Master of Arts in International Relations from Alliant International University in 2013. Ambassador Philippou served in the Foreign Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus in 1991. He was later appointed as the Consul General of Cyprus in New York, in addition to later being appointed Counsellor to Economic Affairs, Multilateral Affairs, and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Cyprus to various other countries. He also served as High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus to Antigua, Barbuda, St. Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago in 2016. Ambassador Philippou has been honored and recognized by many different government entities and organizations. The United States Congress honored him for his dedication to peace, understanding, and positive communication for human rights. Ambassador Philippou was awarded the ``The International Good Scout Award'' from the greater New York Councils of Boy Scouts of America. He has been honored by the Cyprus Children's Fund for his commitment to aiding the needy children of Cyprus, and the Ambassador is an Honorary Fellow of the Foreign Policy Association of New York. Ambassador Philippou has dedicated his life to the service of the country of Cyprus, its international relations, and the well-being of Cypriot children. Mr. Speaker, I know that my fellow members of the U.S. House of Representatives agree that Ambassador Vasilios Philippou deserves to be recognized for all of his hard work and dedication to the lives of others both in his country and internationally.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of America's teachers. In classrooms across the country, teachers are doing an excellent job in educating our children and preparing them for their future success. Teachers are much more than educators. They are leaders, and they are role models. Mr. Speaker, this week is Teacher Appreciation Week, and I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring our teachers not just today, but every day. On a personal note, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring three teachers in my life: My father, the late Congressman Donald Payne, Sr., was a high school teacher who used his time in Congress to fight for K-12 education at home and abroad; My sister, Wanda Payne, just retired last year from teaching kindergarten and pre-K and special needs children for 31 years; and My sister, Nicole Payne, who is director of alternative education for the Paterson School District in New Jersey. My father and sisters, like teachers across this country, help young people grow into strong, capable adults. For that, let's honor them.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor The Salvation Army for helping the residents of Newark, New Jersey, get through hard times for the last 138 years. Today, The Salvation Army operates five locations throughout Newark, serving each of the city's five wards. The organization serves more than 5,000 people in the city of Newark, helping them with their education, food, housing, and life skills. The Salvation Army's important work is boosted by the Federal Government's AmeriCorps program. AmeriCorps members, with The Salvation Army in Newark, provide after-school programs for young people as well. They work to develop the social and emotional health of Newark's young people, and they help strengthen children's education. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring the Salvation Army and AmeriCorps for their work and service to the city of Newark and the State of New Jersey and the United States of America.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, last weekend was the 30th anniversary of Global Youth Service Day. I spent Saturday morning at the Community FoodBank of New Jersey to meet with around 50 young people who had volunteered their day to serve others. Of course, young people have always been great leaders, but with social media and other technologies connecting people like never before, the power of diverse young minds coming together has taken on a new dimension. Young people are comparing notes across the country and around the world, and they are doing something to change the course of history. Young people are leading marches, they are running for office, and they are putting their minds and bodies to the service of others. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Community FoodBank of New Jersey and the young people across this country who participated in the 2018 Global Youth Service Day.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, New Jersey's 10th Congressional District is the home of the Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal, the largest port on the East Coast; Newark Liberty International Airport; Amtrak's Boston-to-D.C. line, the center of that line; I-95; and Route 78 going west in this great Nation. Transportation infrastructure drives my district's economic growth and the economy of States throughout the Northeast. The White House and congressional Republicans have spent the past year promising to rebuild America's infrastructure, but all the American people have gotten is a raw deal that would sell off America's infrastructure to Wall Street and leave Main Street to fill in all the potholes. The people who live in my district deserve a better deal than they are getting under this majority and this administration. My Democratic colleagues and I have a real plan to rebuild America. It is five times as big as the puny proposal by the White House. Democrats want to create 16 million new good-paying jobs, build bridges, clear roads, broadband, schools, water infrastructure, energy grids, and transit. That is what my constituents and the American people deserve.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I have never met a person who wakes up in the morning and says: I want to be poor today. That is just not the reality. Yet my colleagues across the aisle, and their friends in the White House, keep pushing this false narrative that people who rely on government assistance to make ends meet are moochers who take government handouts and buy drugs. Mr. Speaker, in my district, 17.9 percent of households rely on SNAP to feed their families. They aren't lazy. They aren't addicts. They are hardworking people, some of them with two and three jobs, just trying to make ends meet. The United States Government should be making it easier for Americans to maintain a decent standard of living. Let us end this administration's war on the working poor and help make better lives for all of our citizens.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to honor Bishop Cleveland Blash, Jr., on the occasion of his 44th year of serving God and the people of Newark. Bishop Blash began his long service when he was ordained in the late 1970s. He faithfully served churches in Connecticut, Florida, and New York, before being assigned to St. Paul Sounds of Praise PFM Church in Newark, New Jersey. Bishop Blash is truly a community leader. He is the founder of Operation CLEANN, which stands for Citizens Looking to Empower a New Neighborhood. He has given more than 10,000 hours of labor to the community around West Side Park in Newark, New Jersey. Bishop Blash also created a scholarship committee, founded the annual U.S. Marines Toys for Tots Drive in his neighborhood, and created a communitywide Thanksgiving dinner, among other great deeds. Last weekend, Bishop Blash celebrated his 68th birthday and 44th year in the ministry. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Bishop Blash for his lifetime of service to his community.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I rise this evening to honor Coach Lance Wigfall of East Orange, New Jersey, for becoming the 2017-2018 boys indoor track and field coach of the year. Coach Wigfall was a star track athlete at East Orange during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Now, as coach, he is helping a new generation of young men grow as athletes and leaders. During Coach Wigfall's tenure at East Orange, the school's track and field team has broken onto the national stage. But Coach Wigfall reminds his athletes to enjoy the moment, trust the process, and always put academics before athletics. Coach Wigfall is a mentor and a role model for his team. He is an asset to East Orange and to all young people in New Jersey's 10th Congressional District. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Coach Wigfall for becoming coach of the year.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Hillside fifth and sixth grade all-star basketball team for winning their championship game in overtime to become the 2018 Jersey Basketball Association Gold Division champions. This was the first year that Hillside had a fifth and sixth grade team at all. In fact, some of the players on this talented team had never even touched a basketball before signing up this year. Their raw talent, positive attitude, willingness to learn, and parental support helped drive the players toward victory. Under Coach Nikko Velez and his father, Coach Nick Velez, the team achieved a 13-1 regular season record and a 4-0 postseason record. The only team that they lost to in the regular season was the team they beat in the championship game. I ask my colleagues to join me to congratulate the Hillside fifth and sixth grade all-star team for its winning season.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I am ashamed that our national government seems to have abandoned American citizens of Puerto Rico. Yesterday marked 6 months since Hurricane Maria furiously blew ashore. In those 6 months, more than 1,000 Americans have died because of the storm. In fact, people are still dying in Puerto Rico from causes that are directly related to Hurricane Maria's impact, and more than 100,000 American citizens in Puerto Rico are still without electricity. Let me tell you, Mr. Speaker, we tend to forget how much we rely on electricity until it goes out. Without electricity, people who rely on respirators must choose between their homes and their health. The elderly, sick people, and newborn babies have to suffer through the heat and cold. Mr. Speaker, if this was happening anywhere else in our country, we would have riots. But instead of action, all Puerto Rico gets are excuses from the national government.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge each of my colleagues and the American people to talk to their doctors about getting screened for colorectal cancer. Each year, I sponsor a resolution to recognize March as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. By raising awareness about this preventable cancer, we can save lives. During this Congress, Representative Charlie Dent and I introduced H.R. 1017, the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act of 2017. This bill would eliminate surprise out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries who have polyps removed during colonoscopies. I also introduced H.R. 1578, the Donald Payne Sr. Colorectal Cancer Detection Act of 2017, which would expand Medicare to cover certain blood-based colorectal cancer screening tests. Named after my father, who passed away from colorectal cancer, this bipartisan legislation would significantly increase colorectal cancer detection and treatment. Each year, I lead the appropriations letter to increase the funding for CDC colon cancer research. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me on these important bills. Together, we can save lives from colorectal cancer.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Newark Community Solutions for its continued work on reducing crime and strengthening connections between courts and the community. Newark Community Solutions works with young people who are at risk of being victims or perpetrators of gun violence. They provide job training, counseling, and peer mentorship. The organization also develops support networks for crime victims and provides mental health counseling for veterans and schoolchildren to avoid expulsion. Mr. Speaker, Newark Community Solutions produces real results, and they are felt throughout Essex County. In cities throughout my district, we are seeing safer streets, reduced incarceration, and improved neighborhood perceptions of justice. The program at Newark Community Solutions can be a model for cities throughout the country. Newark Community Solutions shows that, by investing in the community, we can build a foundation for sensible and thoughtful criminal justice reform.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, let me first thank Representative Clarke and Representative Lawrence for hosting tonight's Special Order hour. These are two dynamic colleagues of mine. Ms. Clarke, as she stated, is right across the river from me and has really been a mentor to me since my arrival here in Congress. There is never anything that I have ever asked her to do that she hasn't done. I just want to acknowledge the great support that she has been for me since I have arrived at this body. She is a true leader from across the river. Also, Mrs. Lawrence, who is from the great State of Michigan, has joined us in her second term here in Congress. She has demonstrated her leadership day in and day out as well. Mr. Speaker, of course, every year is the year of the Black woman for me. Just as Black women like the late great Shirley Chisholm and Barbara Jordan paved the way for other Black women to run for office, the work that these gentlewomen do has inspired a new generation of Black women to change the course of our Nation. For that, we are all grateful. Throughout American history, Black women have been undervalued and undercompensated. Nationally, Black women who work in full-time jobs make only 64 cents for every dollar a White man makes. In New Jersey, Black women only make 58 cents for every dollar a White man makes. Black women both in New Jersey and nationally make persistently less than White women, despite the fact that Black women have the highest labor force participation rate in the United States among women. Regardless of their educational level, Black women are less likely than other workers to be employed in higher paying careers. They are more likely than other groups to be employed in service-industry jobs with low pay, no benefits, and outside the scope of the labor laws of this country. Black women are key to building long-term success in our communities, yet they are disproportionately incarcerated. They are more likely to face employment discrimination and housing discrimination. They are more likely to be disciplined at school, and they are still undervalued and underrepresented in our society. What should we be doing in Congress and in our communities? First, we should be strengthening Black women's political participation. We need more Black women in office at all levels of government. Each of us should mentor young Black women who want to serve. We should uplift their voices, give them the microphone, and build infrastructure that gets them into office. Secondly, we must protect the right to vote for Black women and all people of color. Over the past 5 years, the Supreme Court has gutted the Voting Rights Act. Legislators in States like Texas and South Carolina have passed voter ID laws that disproportionately restrict the right to vote for people of color, and Russian social media accounts have targeted the Black community to sow division and discord in our elections. As Members of Congress, we have the power to restore the Voting Rights Act, protect the right to vote, and ensure our elections are secure from foreign interference. Third, we need to support increased employment and higher earnings for Black women. That includes raising the Federal minimum wage to make it a liveable wage. That means strengthening collective bargaining. Mr. Speaker, there are many examples of women in New Jersey who have made great accomplishments. Throughout 2018, the Year of the Black Woman, it is vitally important that we elevate Black women's voices and their experiences. Here are just a few Black women from my district who are making a difference. Ibtihaj Muhammad, a Black woman from Maplewood, New Jersey, became the first American Olympian to wear a hijab during her event. She was also a model for the first hijab-wearing Barbie doll. Ibtihaj Muhammad is a trailblazer. She fenced in this year's past Summer Olympics. Sheila Oliver, as Ms. Clarke intimated, a Newark native, just became the first African-American Lieutenant Governor in New Jersey's history. She had already broken the glass ceiling by becoming the first African- American woman to serve as assembly speaker in New Jersey, and only the second African-American woman in the country to lead a State legislature. The first, of course, was our colleague from California, Karen Bass. Sheila Oliver and Karen Bass are trailblazers. Mattie Holloway from Hillside, New Jersey, has spent nearly 40 years helping young women in her community. For the past three decades, she has led Hope, Inc., a community service organization that helps pregnant teens and young mothers stay on track during and after their pregnancy. Mattie Holloway is a trailblazer. In Bayonne, New Jersey, there is a young woman named Jae Wilson. She is 9 years old. Jae was at the mall one day when she noticed a homeless man wasn't wearing socks. Jae saw a need and stepped up to fill it. This young woman now spends her spare time collecting socks and shoes to distribute to people in need. Jae Wilson is a trailblazer. There are countless Black women whose contributions to our collective freedom have gotten us to this point today. Too often, they have been sidelined and, as I stated, undervalued and disrespected. Let's do a better job to celebrate, uplift, and empower our sisters this year and every year.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, today begins the best time of the year. March Madness is in full effect as of noon today, and I am here to support a team that I have followed for 50 years in college basketball, the Seton Hall Pirates from South Orange, New Jersey. Thirty years ago, Madam Speaker, they played for the championship in the Final Four against a Michigan team and lost by 1 point. Today we have another team that has the potential of going all the way. I would just like to acknowledge the Seton Hall Pirates as they start their journey for a national championship against the North Carolina State Wolfpack and ask that we honor seniors Ismael Sanogo, Khadeen Carrington, Angel Delgado, and Desi Rodriguez as they start their trek. Go, Pirates.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, the NRA--the NRA--the NRA stands for ``No Republican Action.'' It has been a month since 17 children and their teachers were gunned down while at school in Parkland, Florida. It has been more than 5 years since 26 children and their teachers were slaughtered in Sandy Hook. In both of these instances, the same weapon was used: an AR-15 semiautomatic assault rifle. And Congress still has taken no action to end gun violence. Mr. Speaker, there have been more than three dozen moments of silence related to gun violence since the Sandy Hook massacre. There have been zero moments of action. As those of us who are married or have children know, the silent treatment doesn't work at home. Well, it surely isn't working in Congress. There are dozens of reasonable gun safety bills pending in this esteemed legislature, but the majority party is giving the American people the silent treatment. NRA: No Republican action. Meanwhile, between the moments of silence, around 7,000 children have been killed by guns since 2012. NRA: No Republican action. Let us take action on Mr. Cicilline's assault weapon ban to end the flood of new semiautomatic assault weapons onto the streets. Let us take action on Mr. Thompson's bill to strengthen the background checks. What is the problem with making sure that we check each person's background? Does the NRA say that that is wrong, too? There is no Republican action. Let us take action on my Safer Neighborhoods Gun Buyback Act to encourage people to safely, freely make the economic decision to self- disarm and dispose of most of their violent weapons. Mr. Speaker, the NRA spends tens of millions of dollars in our elections. I received a grade of F. It is the first F that I have ever gotten that I was proud of. What do the American people get? They get no Republican action. Let us end the silence of inaction.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the country's only African- American owned Christian television network, the IMPACT Christian TV network. Over the weekend, at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey, I joined IMPACT for the celebration of their launch onto the Altice family of programming. The launch is a big step for Altice and people across the Nation. The partnership between IMPACT and Altice means that the country's only African-American owned and operated Christian television network will now reach more than 85 million homes around the world. As we have seen with the ``Oscars So Black'' movement and spotlight on inequality in film and television, people across the country are demanding increased diversity in programming. IMPACT's launch on Altice is another step in the right direction. It is a historic pairing that will bring diversity and ministry to millions of homes. I would like to point out that, in my district, the 10th Congressional District of the State of New Jersey, I want to commend two local heroes for helping move this effort forward. I want to commend Reverend Dr. David Jefferson of Metropolitan Baptist Church and the IMPACT team, and Marilyn Davis and the Altice team for what they did to make this launch happen.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao testified before the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Secretary Chao acknowledged that President Trump is personally intervening to prevent Federal funding of the Gateway Project, which is the Nation's most critical infrastructure project. Mr. Speaker, the Gateway Project would rebuild the crumbling rail infrastructure that connects New York and New Jersey, a key point in Amtrak and the Northeast corridor's rail line between New Jersey and New York and, also, 415 trains that go through those tunnels each day. New York and New Jersey have promised billions of dollars towards the project, but President Trump is actively undermining Gateway. As anyone who had plans to travel by Amtrak or by rail during last week's cyclone knows, the trans-Hudson track infrastructure connects not just the two States, but the entire region between Boston and Washington, D.C. Because Gateway is so important to everyone in the Northeast, a substantial Federal commitment is necessary to make this project a reality. The Gateway Project is far too important to be left unfunded. Gateway should not be sacrificed because of President Trump's political animosity.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death for men and women combined. It is a silent killer because the disease often has no signs or symptoms. Each year, more than 50,000 Americans die from colorectal cancer even though it is mostly preventable and treatable if caught early. Six years ago today, my father, the late Congressman Donald Payne, died from colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer screening just wasn't something people of his generation did. Mr. Speaker, my father might have lived had he gotten tested for colorectal cancer. That is why each year I sponsor a resolution to recognize March as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, a time to educate the public about the disease and the need for screening. By educating people, increasing research funding, and making Medicare coverage better for seniors, we can save tens of thousands of lives each year. I would rather not have to make this 1-minute speech every year, to have my father still be a Member of Congress from the 10th Congressional District.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from the Keystone State for hosting tonight's Special Order hour. He has demonstrated great leadership during this time, and the issues that we are tackling during these Special Order hours are very important to this country as we move forward. As has been stated today, it has been 50 years since the Kerner report warned us that the Nation was headed into a separate and unequal future. The Kerner report was supposed to be a wake-up call for the United States to break the cycle that kept African-Americans in poverty. It called for government to invest in job creation programs, to expand public housing, and to guarantee minimum family incomes. The Kerner report understood that such actions were necessary for the United States to confront its legacy of race and inequality. Unfortunately, 50 years later, the same problems persist. The rate of child poverty in the United States today is greater than it was in 1968. The percent of Americans who live in the depths of poverty has grown as well. Welfare reform has failed. African-American unemployment is still nearly double the rate of our White counterparts. Labor unions, once a great equalizer for workers, have shrunk, and inequality has grown. Rich people in the United States are healthier than poor people. They live longer. They go to better schools, get better jobs, and generate more wealth. They are also more likely to be White than to be Black. Our schools are more segregated than they were in the 1980s. Our prisons are darker. The Voting Rights Act, a landmark achievement of the civil rights movement, has been gutted. These and other barriers to equality threaten our democracy. The resegregation of our schools means that people of color and those who struggle with poverty are often forced to go to underfunded schools. Their education suffers. They aren't given adequate preparation for college or a trade school, and they ultimately make less money than their White counterparts. A recent Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco study found that Black men and women earn persistently lower wages compared to their White counterparts, a gap that cannot be fully explained by differences in age, education, job type, or location. So what can Congress do? We need to invest in housing programs that help desegregate communities once again. We need to make it easier for people of color to get federally backed loans to buy homes and finally do away with red lining. We need to invest in public schools. We need to expand preschool education. We need to spend money on job training programs and public universities. We need to increase the minimum wage, and we need to strengthen oversight of mortgage lenders. We need to restore the Voting Rights Act, because people who cannot vote cannot lead.

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I would say that, as we have all stated tonight, it apparently appears that we are going backwards in this country, and so why wouldn't the Voting Rights Act be under attack? It was finally the opportunity for African-American citizens to be full citizens. The only right you are born with in the United States of America is the right to vote as an American citizen. You are born with that right, and yet it is stripped away through the gutting of the Voting Rights Act. So what does that say to people who fall under the Voting Rights Act? It says that you are not equal, that you don't deserve the same rights as other Americans, that somehow you are less than a first-class citizen in this country, yet you can go to war for us, you can do other things, contribute to this society, but not be able to vote. The three- fifths compromise, we can go all the way back to that and talk about the inequality. So we need people of goodwill on both sides of the issue, on both sides of the aisle, to understand how equality is arrived at and come together and do the things that we need to do in order to make this a more perfect Union. I believe in that. I have not always seen it, but I believe that we need to continue to strive to make this a more perfect Union, to live out the mantra of this great Nation. This is the greatest country in the world, no question about it, absolutely incredible, but let's live up to it. Let's really live up to what this Nation stands for, because you don't need people who are citizens here that don't believe in what you are saying. Every day, we get up and we pledge allegiance to the flag like every other resident, every other citizen in this country, but every once in a while it fails us. We need to stay vigilant. We at the Congressional Black Caucus will be the voice and be vigilant on this floor in this House for people throughout this country who seem to be on the wrong side of this issue.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, 6 months ago, the White House shamefully rescinded the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program without having legislation in place to protect Dreamers. That is just wrong. The overwhelming majority of Americans support a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, yet Republican leadership refuses to let Congress vote on a clean Dream Act. A few months ago, after ending DACA, the President began rolling back immigration from Black and Latino countries he thinks are s---holes. After that, he went on a Twitter rant to attack the Diversity Immigrant Visa program, which helps people from Africa immigrate lawfully to the United States. Eliminating DACA without a plan for Dreamers is just another antiminority move. Removing the Diversity Immigrant Visa program is more of the same. The administration has shown itself to be hostile to people of color. Mr. Speaker, racism is not a good policy.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I was not present for the following Roll Call votes. I would like to reflect how I would have voted, had I been present. Had I been present, I would have voted the following: ``YEA'' on Roll Call No. 81; ``YEA'' on Roll Call No. 82; ``NAY'' on Roll Call No. 83; ``NAY'' on Roll Call No. 84; ``NAY'' on Roll Call No. 85; ``NAY'' on Roll Call No. 86; ``NAY'' on Roll Call No. 87; ``YEA'' on Roll Call No. 88; ``NAY'' on Roll Call No. 89; ``NAY'' on Roll Call No. 90; and ``YEA'' on Roll Call No. 91.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. There was a time when moments of silence, and thoughts and prayers meant something. That time has long passed. The Columbine High School massacre was nearly two decades ago. Sandy Hook was over five years ago. The Sutherland Springs and Las Vegas shootings were last year. Yet Congress did nothing to end gun violence in the United States. How many lives must be sacrificed at the altar of the gun lobby before Congress says enough is enough? Mass shootings have become all too common, and ordinary acts of violence are perpetrated on the streets every day. In fact, more Americans have died from guns in the United States since Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated than in all the wars this country has fought--starting with the American Revolution. Each day in this country, ninety-six Americans are killed with guns. Seven of those people are children and teenagers. And Black men are thirteen times more likely than a white man to be shot and killed with a gun. Gun safety is a civil rights issue. It is a human rights issue. Congress needs to take immediate action on the dozens of reasonable gun-safety bills pending in this legislative body. We must ban semiautomatic assault weapons. We must stop the online sale of bulk ammunition. And we need to strengthen and mandate universal background checks. But there's something else Congress can and must do. Congress must find creative ways to encourage people in the United States to voluntarily disarm. Research has shown that greater numbers of firearms result in higher numbers of firearm-related deaths. Over the past two weeks, reports and viral videos have shown many law-abiding gun owners expressing buyers' remorse and destroying their firearms. There is a movement underway in this country among gun owners to purge their firearms--particularly semiautomatic assault weapons-- before they can be used to harm people. That's why I introduced the Safer Neighborhoods Gun Buyback Act of 2017 (H.R. 3613) last year--to encourage people to voluntarily disarm. Gun buyback programs have proven their worth in communities across the United States. Law enforcement supports safe gun buyback programs. And research has shown that fewer guns means fewer gun deaths. By providing grants to fund gun buyback programs, Congress can incentivize Americans to do the right thing and safely dispose of their semiautomatic assault weapons. There are dozens of gun safety bills active in this body that would make our streets, our schools, and our homes safer. It's time for us to declare never again. Congress cannot continue to do nothing. People are dying. We must do better by our children.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, what will it take? What will it take for this body to finally grapple with this issue? Columbine wasn't enough. West Virginia wasn't enough. Colorado, in a movie theater, wasn't enough. A nightclub in Orlando wasn't enough. Newtown wasn't enough. Mr. Speaker, this has become a national disgrace. Ninety-five percent of the American people say that they believe in sensible gun reform, gun laws that make sense. Ninety-five percent. The minority party does not represent 95 percent of this Nation. You are in that number as well, yet you still turn your back on the American people. The NRA stands for ``no Republican action.''