Donald Payne

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as you heard, H.R. 3488 enjoys the support of members of the Committee on Homeland Security. Indeed, this bill has a bipartisan collection of 154 cosponsors. With that, Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support H.R. 3488, the Preclearance Authorization Act of 2014, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson), the ranking member of the Committee on Homeland Security.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of H.R. 4289, the Department of Homeland Security Interoperable Communications Act. Mr. Speaker, when I began my work on this subcommittee last year, I was shocked to learn how much money had been spent on interoperable communications since the September 11 terrorist attacks. Nationwide, we have spent over $13 billion to achieve interoperable communications at the State and local level, and we are not there yet. Given the degree of attention that the Federal Government, in general, and DHS, in particular, have devoted to interoperability, I was surprised to learn that DHS has not achieved Department-wide interoperability. Police officers and firefighters from Newark to Jersey City and across the 10th Congressional District of New Jersey never leave my office without reminding me how important interoperable communications are. Nevertheless, according to a November 2012 inspector general report, DHS has invested over $430 million into communications capabilities for its 123,000 radio users since 2003, but Department ``personnel do not have reliable interoperable communications for daily operations, planned events, and emergencies.'' Indeed, the inspector general testified before the committee in May that in 2012 it asked 479 DHS field radio users to access and use the specified channel to communicate. Only one of those 479 radio users-- one of 479--could get on the common channel. That is a 99.8 percent failure rate. The problem is not technology. Instead, the inspector general found that the Department had not established and implemented protocols to ensure that components put practices in place to achieve interoperability. H.R. 4289, the DHS Interoperable Communications Act, which I introduced with my colleague on the Emergency Preparedness Subcommittee, Chairwoman Brooks, requires that certain actions be taken by DHS leadership to drive components in the field towards interoperability. The legislation directs the Under Secretary for Management to issue policies and directives related to interoperability, develop a strategy to achieve DHS-wide interoperability, and report to Congress biannually on the Department's progress. Interoperable communications capabilities are critical to the mission DHS carries out and to first responders across the United States. DHS must lead by example. Toward that end, I was encouraged that the Department's acting Under Secretary for Management, Chris Cummiskey, expressed his commitment to addressing this issue when he appeared before the subcommittee last month. It is my hope that this legislation will bolster his efforts and make it clear to everyone in the Department that Congress is looking to DHS to achieve interoperability. Before reserving my time, I would like to thank Subcommittee Chairwoman Brooks for working with me on this measure. We have found that there are many issues in terms of this matter, and we have worked in a bipartisan manner to make sure that interoperability is achieved. I would also like to thank Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Thompson for their help in addressing this issue. Mr. Speaker, we have looked at this issue. We continue to talk to first responders throughout my district and throughout the Nation. We know that these issues around homeland security are bipartisan, and we have been able to work on this committee in a manner which we all have the same goal, which is to make sure this Nation is safe and the homeland is secure. I urge my colleagues to support improving the interoperable communications at DHS by voting for H.R. 4289. Our communities are safer when DHS has the capabilities necessary to effectively carry out its mission. Mr. Speaker, we always have to make sure that we keep our first responders safe. Mr. Speaker, interoperable communications capabilities are essential to DHS' ability to carry out its mission on a day-to-day basis when disaster strikes. H.R. 4289 would put DHS on the path to achieving cross-component interoperable communications, and I urge my colleagues to support this measure. We must protect our protectors. Our first responders deserve the ability to communicate with each other. With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, we are here today to celebrate two very different anniversaries. Fifty years ago, we enjoyed the Freedom Summer and the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that paved the way for voting rights in this country. Sadly, Mr. Speaker, 49 years later--and 1 year ago today--the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act, saying that it was outdated and unjustified. Since this decision, we have seen that the Voting Rights Act is needed more than ever now before. From 2000 to 2013, there were a recorded 148 violations in 29 States, meaning 29 States have actively tried to pass laws, such as requiring a photo ID or cutting out early voting, which limits access to the ballot. It is time we pass the Voting Rights Amendment Act, of which I am a proud cosponsor, and keep fighting until voting rights are reinstated in this country.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I follow the gentleman from New York. I rise today because I think it is absolutely unconscionable that after more than 6 months the House Republicans continue to fail to act to extend unemployment benefits. There are more than 3 million Americans who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own who are waiting for Congress to do something for them. I have heard from many of them, my constituents, about their struggles because of Congress' failure to act. Lily of Linden, New Jersey, has been out of work for 2 years. She and her husband have dipped into their entire savings just to get by. Because of her age and her illness, she has found it increasingly harder to find gainful employment. It has come to this sad point, Mr. Speaker, that Lily can no longer afford her medicine, and her family may soon be homeless. By failing to act, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have coldly turned their backs on millions of Americans and people like Lily. Turning their backs on people who have elected them is simply unacceptable, and I will not stay silent.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 193, please let the record show that my vote on final passage would have been a ``yes.'' Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.'' Personal Explanation

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. I would like to thank the gentleman from New York for that kind introduction. I want to also say that we are here tonight on a very serious issue in tonight's Special Order. As so aptly put by the gentleman from New York, it feels like pneumonia in a lot of communities that we represent. I would dare to say that we might even need to call it an epidemic, because it has risen to epidemic proportions. Mr. Speaker, this Nation is supposed to be the land of opportunity, the land of equality. We are a Nation that says that if you work hard and you do the things you are supposed to do and you do everything that we ask you to do, you too can be successful and provide a better life for you and yours. That is the promise of America. Unfortunately, for too many in this country, this promise has been broken. Generation after generation, millions continue to experience generational poverty in this country--and this is especially true for people of color. Too many of the people in the district I represent in New Jersey have worked their entire lives. They have endured hard labor. They have worked two or three jobs. They have made minimum wage their entire lives. Yet they are still in poverty. The same is true for their parents before them and their grandparents and their great- grandparents. Unfortunately, for too many people of color, the opportunities to succeed and move beyond circumstances of poverty are too little and far between. This leads to the wealth gap we see today. That wealth gap, Mr. Speaker, is unconscionable. In the 21st century, African Americans own just 5 cents for every dollar of wealth Whites own. More than 62 percent of African American households do not have assets in a retirement account. The median income of an African American is just over $33,000, barely above the poverty line. And African Americans are less likely to own homes, with just 44 percent of African Americans owning homes compared to 74 percent of Whites. In New Jersey alone, the poverty rate has grown to a staggering 28 percent. Many economists believe that this is an underestimate of the number of people falling into poverty in New Jersey. How can those who are clawing just to get by even begin to think about creating wealth for their children or future generations? How can a single mother who works 40 or more hours a week still find herself in poverty? How does she begin to dream about saving for her children's college education or to save for a home or to plan for her retirement? The simple answer is they can't. And the racial wealth gap will continue to grow even wider. Mr. Speaker, there is so much Congress can do to change the course of this country and to help those who are working hard and playing by the rules. The priorities we place within our national budget determine whether we strengthen our economy and grow our middle class or whether we create a greater wealth gap between the haves and the have-nots. This Nation has a clear choice, Mr. Speaker. The Ryan Republican budget cuts hundreds of millions of dollars in vital education investments, ends the Medicare guarantee for seniors, and it will cost this country more than 1 million jobs next year alone. And if that is not bad enough, the Ryan Republican budget asks working and middle- class Americans to pay for the thousands of dollars in tax breaks given to the wealthiest among us. That is why, in good conscience, I cannot support such a budget. At a time when too many people are still desperately struggling to make ends meet, I know that the people in my home State of New Jersey deserve better. I believe that all Americans should demand better as well. In contrast, the budgets that the Democrats and the Congressional Black Caucus have proposed recognize the dangerous course this country is on and work to move us forward rather than divide us deeper. The Democratic budget builds ladders of opportunities to grow our middle class by investing in education, strengthening Social Security and Medicare, and protecting the 8 million people who, for the first time, now have access to affordable, lifesaving health care. The proposals within the Democratic budget would restore the American promise that if you work hard, you can succeed. And not only can you succeed for yourself, but you can generate wealth and create a better life for your children and your grandchildren. That is the choice that each Member in this Congress has to make, and it is a choice every American has to make. This choice will determine the direction of this country, not only for this generation, but for generations to come. Mr. Speaker, it is not a zero-sum game. We all can be winners with the right kind of focus and investment; and in doing so, we will strengthen this country for future generations. As I stated and made clear, we are talking about people that have played by the rules and have worked hard, working 40 hours-plus, and yet still find themselves on the margins. We are not even talking about the hundreds of thousands of citizens that I represent that we don't even want to help with programs such as SNAP anymore. I am not even talking about the needy in this country, Mr. Speaker. I am talking about the people that play by the rules and that are doing everything that they have been asked to do in this great Nation and still find themselves on the margin. So we will continue to raise these issues. We will continue to talk to the American people and get them to understand that we cannot continue down the path that we are headed. It is bleak. It is grim. It is a total U-turn in where this country has gone. I can only think of the statements that have been made by several individuals in this country that are distasteful and disgusting over the past several weeks. We need to keep the American Dream alive for everyone.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, with the deadline to sign up for the Affordable Care Act approaching, I want to encourage everyone, especially young people and people in my district, to sign up for health insurance. For those who think the process is too cumbersome or you won't get an affordable rate, listen to this story from a 29-year-old woman from New Jersey, Fawziah Qadir. She said: My employer agreed to provide $300 a month towards any health plan I could find. Unfortunately, trying to find an affordable insurance plan on her own in New Jersey where she lives, she said, was insane. One quote was over $700; others provided flimsy coverage. Full of frustration, Fawziah's mother told her about the health care insurance marketplace. She says that when she logged onto healthcare.gov, she was surprised to find out how easy it was to enroll. With her employer's contribution, she has a comprehensive plan that costs just $63 a month. That is less than a cell phone bill or a cable bill, and we are talking about something much more important--our Nation's health. Don't wait. Go to healthcare.gov and find a plan that works for you.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, I thank my colleague for allowing me the opportunity to speak. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to H.R. 1459 because it could have severe unintended consequences for the 10th Congressional District of New Jersey, which I represent. This is yet once again an attack on the President's authority, but in this case, H.R. 1459 would create unnecessary obstacles regarding the President's ability to conserve lands and protect our country's most notable destinations. The Antiquities Act has been used to protect a site in my district that commemorates the outstanding achievements of a great American inventor, Thomas Edison. This great innovator produced many of the inventions loved across the world--silent and sound motion pictures, the motion picture camera, phonographs, and the electric storage battery. For more than 40 years, Thomas Edison's laboratory complex located in West Orange, New Jersey, was cranking out innovation after innovation. The laboratory employed at one time over 100 people, working on various projects from chemistry to physics to metallurgy. In 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower used his authority under the Antiquities Act to establish the Edison Laboratory as a national monument. One year prior, in 1955, Congress had established Thomas Edison's home as a national historic site. Six years later, the Edison National Historic Site legislation combined the two into a unit of the National Park System. Recently, the laboratory complex underwent an extensive renovation and had a grand reopening in 2009 to welcome America to explore two new floors of the laboratory that were previously closed to the public. The museum collections at Thomas Edison National Historical Park are by far the largest single body of Edison-related material in existence, and it is the third largest museum collection in the National Park Service.

Mr. PAYNE. I don't believe Thomas Edison would appreciate this partisan bill which could turn out the lights on our future national monuments that honor innovators such as him. I ask my colleagues to vote ``no'' on H.R. 1459.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Missouri and the gentleman from Texas for giving me this opportunity to speak on a true hero in our community. In New Jersey, Ms. Tolentino is someone that is looked to with great esteem. She led the way on many issues moving women and minorities forward and showing that they had a rightful place at the table of power, the ability to serve, and the distinction to lead. I rise today in support of H.R. 1376, to name the postal facility located at 369 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Jersey City, New Jersey, after the late Honorable Shirley A. Tolentino. Shirley Tolentino was born in Jersey City, served as a distinguished jurist in Hudson County for over 26 years, and was a trailblazer for women and African Americans as public servants in New Jersey. She was a product of the local public school system in Jersey City, where she was an honor student, graduating from Snyder High School. She then earned a scholarship to attend the College of St. Elizabeth in Morristown, New Jersey, graduating with a degree in Latin with honors. To put herself through law school, Judge Tolentino worked as a high school Latin and English teacher while attending Seton Hall University School of Law, graduating as the only African American female in the class of 1971. After law school, she became a deputy attorney general in the State of New Jersey, where she remained until she rose to the bench in Jersey City in 1976. She became the second African American woman to be named as a municipal court judge in New Jersey, and the first to be appointed to the Jersey City Municipal Court. In 1980, Judge Tolentino earned her master of laws degree in criminal justice from NYU Graduate School of Law, while continuing to serve in the municipal court. In 1981, she continued to blaze a trail for others, becoming the first African American presiding judge of Jersey City Municipal Court. Her successes didn't stop there. In 1984, when she was appointed by Governor Thomas Kean, Judge Tolentino became the first African American woman to ascend to the Superior Court of the State of New Jersey. Later, she was appointed to the original Coleman Commission, which would later be called the New Jersey Supreme Court Task Force on Minorities. During her time on the Commission, she became the chair of the Subcommittee on Juvenile Justice, and also served as a Supreme Court chair of the Committee on Criminal Justice and Minority Defendants. With all her professional achievements, she viewed her appointment and time served on the Commission as her greatest accomplishment. Over the years, Judge Tolentino's career was highlighted by many firsts, and she accomplished much during her years on and off the bench. As a member of the Jersey City Hudson County Urban League, the Hudson County Girl Scouts board, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Hudson County CYO, the Visiting Homemakers of Hudson County board, and a host of other local organizations, she was an integral part of her community. Throughout her success, Judge Tolentino always called Jersey City home and actively participated in community service in the city that bore and raised her. Judge Shirley Tolentino passed away on October 31, 2010, and is survived by her husband, Dr. Ernesto Tolentino, children, and grandchildren. It is not a coincidence that the post office to bear her name would be located on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. There is no better way to honor the achievements of Judge Tolentino and at the same time provide a permanent monument of possibilities and hope for young women, African Americans, and the citizens of Jersey City. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill in honor of her legacy.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the robust U.S.-Taiwan relationship and mark the 35th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, TRA, of 1979. The TRA set in motion a bond between the people of the United States and Taiwan that continues today. It is more critical now than ever before that we understand the value of that bond and work to promote it at every opportunity. Members of Congress who have been here long enough to see the benefits of the TRA in action know that it is an integral part of sustaining the mutual security and commercial interests of our two governments. Our commitment to Taiwan has remained steady in times of amity and times of crisis. In July 1995, when Beijing conducted a series of missile tests in the Taiwan Strait in a brazen attempt to intimidate the Taiwanese people, the U.S. deployed the largest military fleet in Asia since the Vietnam War. Thankfully, disaster was averted. Today, an atmosphere of peaceful coexistence is maintained across the Taiwan Strait. But our nation's choices during that tense period were a potent symbol of our steadfast support of Taiwan. The United States recognizes Taiwan's unfailing determination to promote a free and fair democratic society. We, as a nation, have supported their efforts over the last three and a half decades by providing military assistance and fostering commercial exchange. Today, Taiwan is a close ally and collaborator in global efforts to combat terrorism. Recently, Taiwan was invited for the first time to attend the 38th assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO, as a special guest of Council President Roberto Kobeh Gonzalez. Through their active engagement with ICAO, Taiwan provides a multiplier effect to our own efforts to ensure safe and secure air travel and protect air passengers from the threat of hijackings and terrorist attacks. Such collaboration among partners would not have been possible without the TRA. Today, 35 years after the passage of the TRA and nearly two decades since the Taiwan Strait Crisis, I would like to reassert our nation's role in maintaining peace and stability abroad. Our ongoing engagement with Taiwan and preservation of the TRA demonstrates our commitment to all of our allies in the Asia-Pacific region. While we recognize the TRA, it is also important that we recognize the departure of Ambassador King Pu-tsung who has fostered the U.S.- Taiwan relationship for the last 18 months as their chief envoy to the United States. Ambassador King will soon return to Taiwan to serve as Secretary-General. Under the guidance of Ambassador King, the U.S. and Taiwan have enjoyed a very successful era. I have enjoyed the opportunity to work with Ambassador King and look forward to working with his successor in the future as we continue to strengthen our unique relationship.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud President Barack Obama for signing the Presidential proclamation recognizing March 2014 as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. I would also like to give a special thanks to the 146 Members of Congress who signed onto the letter I authored and sent to the President requesting the issuance of this proclamation. Finally, but more importantly, thank you to the colorectal cancer community who have given their time, sweat, and tears to raise awareness about prevention and early detection. Our efforts have not gone unnoticed. This month, the highest office in the land, the President of the United States, brought national attention to our fight. What better way to pay tribute by remembering those who have lost their battles to colon cancer, such as my late father, the honorable Congressman Donald Payne, Sr., who I followed into Congress, who lost his battle with cancer 2 years ago today. This proclamation honors his memory and it honors those who are fighting the battle against colon cancer today.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. I thank my colleagues, the gentleman from New York and the gentleman from Nevada for their continued leadership on these CBC Special Orders. I am honored to join them once again on a topic that is paramount right now in our Nation's history, and also a situation that we must deal with in a manner to keep this Nation moving forward. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my friends on the other side of the aisle to do one simple thing. It is something that we expect from every American, and every person in this country expects it from us. That simple thing I am asking for, Mr. Speaker, is for Congress to pay our Nation's bills on time. There should be no resistance, no strings attached, no threats of default. Americans deserve better than to have the full faith and credit of the United States of America held hostage so that some of my Republican colleagues can demand ransom for their radical agenda. Mr. Speaker, the full faith and credit of the United States is nonnegotiable, period. So I am urging this Congress to raise the debt ceiling swiftly and to do it with no strings attached. Only recently in our Nation's history has the debt ceiling been used as a reckless bargaining chip. In fact, since the great hero of the other side, Ronald Reagan, took office, the debt ceiling has been raised 45 times. It is nothing new, and it is nothing radical. Now the allegations put out there about what raising the debt ceiling will do to our deficit are misleading at best. The debt ceiling does not grow our deficit by one single dime. Rather, what it does is permit the government to pay what this Congress has already decided to spend. We had the credit card. We used the credit card. Now it is time to pay our Nation's bills and pay them on time. So, Mr. Speaker, raising the debt ceiling is in fact the fiscally responsible thing to do here. If we default, the cost to American families will be significant: 26 million Americans won't get their Social Security checks on March 3. I will repeat that: 26 million Americans will not get their Social Security checks on March 3. There are 1.5 million seniors, children, and disabled New Jerseyans who receive Social Security to help make ends meet, and many of them will not see their checks if this is not followed through. Nearly 4 million Americans may not receive their disability benefits, including 50,000 veterans in New Jersey. Now the other side of the aisle needs to take these things seriously. They talk about supporting veterans. They talk about supporting working families. They talk about all of these values, but if the debt ceiling is not raised, these families will not get the support and the benefits that they need to make ends meet. So, Mr. Speaker, it is incumbent upon the Members on the other side of the aisle instead of just talking the talk, walk the walk. New Jersey families will have to pay higher interest rates for mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and credit cards. Many families in my district already can't afford to send their children to college. A default would put a college education even further out of reach. I am hopeful that my Republican colleagues have learned their lesson from the last default threat in 2011 and from shutting down the government last year. The last time we threatened to default in 2011, the economy flew into a tailspin. Consumer confidence took a nosedive, and our credit rating was downgraded. Our economic recovery came to a screeching halt because of it. In an already fragile recovery, we cannot afford another possible meltdown of our economy. So I am urging my Republican colleagues to help try and set an example, hoping that they have learned their lesson from last year, when they shut down the Federal Government. Let's pay our Nation's bills on time, Mr. Speaker. If we demand this kind of responsibility from the American people, then we should demand it from ourselves.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to remind every Member of this Chamber that just over a year ago this Congress voted to provide $50 billion in much-needed Hurricane Sandy relief, including to my home State of New Jersey. I fought very hard for that money, and now this Congress has the responsibility and obligation to ensure that the Federal Sandy recovery funds are being distributed properly to the people who need it most. Constituents from my district are still displaced from their homes and are awaiting much-needed help. According to a report released by the Fair Share Housing Center of New Jersey, low-income individuals are being denied claims at a higher rate than wealthier individuals. There is a need for more transparency on the standards being used to distribute these funds. Also, a report on where and whom the funds are going to is obviously needed. I urge my colleagues to make sure that proper oversight is conducted and that the funding gets to those communities who are in most dire need.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, let me just acknowledge my colleagues from the freshman class, the gentlewoman from Ohio and the gentlewoman from Illinois, for anchoring this hour, When Women Succeed, America Succeeds. I now am one of two members of the freshman class that has not had the opportunity to anchor this hour. Mr. Horsford and Mr. Jeffries have done such an exceptional job in that. As Mr. Jeffries pointed out, Mrs. Beatty is always ready for the challenge and has demonstrated and, as was mentioned earlier, has stepped up to the plate and hit the ground running in the Halls of Congress and has demonstrated her leadership on numerous occasions. With that, Mr. Speaker, let me just say that we know we have made great progress in this country closing the gender wage gap; but women still, as it has been stated, and we need to continue to let it resonate, earn just 77 cents on every dollar a man earns for the same work. And for women of color, unfortunately, naturally, I am not surprised, the gap is even wider, with women of color earning just 64 cents for every dollar that a man makes. In New Jersey, the gap has even grown worse. In just 1 year, women in New Jersey earn, on an average, $13,000 less than their male counterparts. Now, that is shocking. That is absolutely incredible that the gap, the margin is that wide, because over the course of that woman's lifetime, that adds up to more than $434,000. Now, what could a family over their lifetime do with another $435,000? Probably could own a nicer home, send all their children to college, live in a manner in which all Americans deserve to live in. What we have is working poor. $434,000--that is a significant amount of money over the course of someone's life. That is not the America that I was raised to believe in. The home of the free, the land of the brave. Equality is always discussed, but there are always underlying factors in why those words are not lived up to for some people-- particularly in this case, women. Mr. Speaker, we live in the 21st century. Women now make up more than half of our workforce. As President Obama said last week in his State of the Union Address, paying women less is just plain wrong. In 2014, it is an embarrassment, and we all agree with him in that respect. This gross gender pay inequality doesn't hurt just women. It hurts families, and it hurts our local economy as well. I don't know in my case of a husband who is happy that his wife is working that hard and making 77 percent of what she deserves to make. Any way you look at it, it is lost revenue coming into the home, and it could make such a difference on small things--vacations, education, groceries, food, sustenance to make it through the week, the month, the year. On top of that, a woman shouldn't have to feel like she may lose her job if she takes time off to care for her sick children. Now this is something that I know all too well, Mr. Speaker. I know that my wife and I were very fortunate to have the FMLA while we were raising our triplets, you see, because one would get sick, then the next one would get sick, then the next one would get sick, then I would get sick, then my wife would get sick, and it would start all over again. There is no way either one of us could care for them while worrying about whether she is going to have a job to return to, but still today, too many women have to choose between being employed and caring for their families. It is just not right, and it is just not fair. Finally, Mr. Speaker, in the greatest nation on Earth, no one who puts in a 40-hour workweek should be living in poverty, ever. They are playing by the rules. They are getting up every day, working hard, two and three jobs sometimes, and still not making ends meet. No one in this Nation that plays by the rules should find themselves in that condition. In this country, it is just not about having a job, but it is about having a good job. More than two-thirds of minimum wage earners are women. We owe it to them to pay them a wage that they could actually live on and provide for their families because we know, Mr. Speaker, in many cases, that woman is the wage earner in the home, the only wage earner in the home, and to have them find themselves in that condition is unfathomable in the 21st century. I was very encouraged by the President's actions to raise the wage for new government workers. It makes sense. It makes sense in this day and age to have a living wage, something you can take care of your family on. Congress needs to follow that example. There are many things that this Congress could do to ensure that women succeed. Pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, pass the Family Act, and raise the minimum wage for all. All of these measures have been blocked by my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, but the success of women in America cannot and should not be bipartisan as an issue. We must put our political differences aside and show this country that we care and we understand. We owe it to our mothers, we owe it to our wives, and we owe it to our daughters to provide them with the quality of life that they deserve. So I implore my fellow Americans that are watching this tonight, whether your Member is a Democrat or a Republican, to see where they stand on this issue, to check how they are voting in your interests, and if they are not voting in your interests, then you should remove them. Because when women succeed, America succeeds. I yield back.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I urge passage of this measure as a small step to address gaping needs at the State and local level when it comes to medical preparedness. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1791, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1791 the Medical Preparedness Allowable Use Act, and I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1791 would formally authorize grant recipients under the State Homeland Security Grant or Urban Area Security Initiative programs to use the funding to enhance medical preparedness and medical surge capacity. Although the Federal Emergency Management Agency already permits grantees to use these funds to enhance medical preparedness, this measure will give some predictability to grant recipients as they struggle to rebuild and maintain a robust medical response capability at the State and local level. Additionally, I am proud to support this effort to provide resources that will equip our first responders with home medical kits. When disaster strikes, we have an obligation to protect our protectors. We also have an obligation to protect the most vulnerable in our communities. During the full committee markup of H.R. 1791, the committee unanimously approved an amendment I offered. This amendment would ensure that resources are available to develop plans to distribute countermeasures to schools and child care facilities, the elderly, individuals with special needs, and low-income communities in the event of a biological incident. I would like to thank the full committee chair, Mr. McCaul, and the subcommittee chairwoman, Mrs. Brooks, for supporting my amendment. I also look forward to continuing to work with both of you in the future on other initiatives such as H.R. 3158, the SAFE in our Schools Act, to ensure that the needs of our schoolchildren and other vulnerable populations are adequately addressed in emergency preparedness and response plans. On behalf of the ranking member, Mr. Thompson, I would also like to thank Chairman McCaul for working with us to reauthorize the Metropolitan Medical Response System, the MMRS. This program provided targeted grants to 124 highly populated jurisdictions to support the integration of emergency management, health and medical systems into an organized response to mass casualty events. The program has not been funded since fiscal year 2011 and its authorization has lapsed. I sincerely hope that the next time we meet here on the House floor to address medical preparedness, it will be to consider bipartisan reauthorization legislation for the MMRS. As State and local governments continue to stretch their budgets to make up the reduced Federal support across many programs, we must make sure that the public health community is prepared and equipped to keep our constituents safe. I look forward to working with my ranking member and the majority to ensure that MMRS remains a priority for this committee. In the meantime, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1791. With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, let me begin by thanking the dynamic duo of the CBC's freshman class, Mr. Horsford and Mr. Jeffries, for their tireless leadership in the 113th Congress, and now the Second Session of the 113th Congress. They have demonstrated that they have hit the ground running and understand the issues that are important to the people of the United States. Mr. Speaker, the gap between the rich and poor in this country has really become staggering, and that gap is increasing every single day. Nowhere is that more true than in my home State of New Jersey. The number of wealthy families has doubled. Meanwhile, the poorest income brackets have increased sharply. In my district alone, more than a quarter of the people live in poverty, and this is likely really underestimated due to the high cost of living in New Jersey. Not only is there a growing gap, but unemployment is high, the minimum wage is stagnant, and there is a lack of opportunity throughout this Nation for people to find the jobs that they need to have their families live in the manner in which they should. This, in the richest country in the world, the greatest Nation in the world, is absolutely unacceptable. All of these contribute to growing income inequality. The gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) was correct. We are not saying that everyone should have the same standard of living or the same salary or income, but the opportunity to rise to those salaries and incomes is the issue of today. One thing that the Congress can do to help lessen this inequality is to extend unemployment insurance right away. Mr. Speaker, it is interesting how some of this issue is couched in: maybe people just don't want to get up and look for a job, and if they take that menial job, then what is the problem? The problem is: you can't feed your children; you can't buy the clothes they need to go to school; you can't educate them. Therein lies the problem. We are in a time now where there are more than 1 million long-term unemployed who literally have been left out in the cold. You see, Mr. Speaker, I know what it is like to be unemployed. I know what it is like to be down on your luck. At one time, a company that I worked for for a decade, which I thought would be my career, I would retire from there, get the gold watch, the proverbial gold watch, well, Mr. Speaker, it didn't work out that way. The company closed its doors and I found myself unemployed, going down to the Unemployment Office to get the paperwork needed, and trekking across my community to attempt to get a job. That is the other thing that people don't understand about this, Mr. Speaker. You see, you can't just sit around and not look for a job in order to collect unemployment insurance. That it has not been extended is almost a crime because, you see, some of these people have paid into this system for 5 and 10 and 20 years, and now that they need it, we are saying to those people that have played by the rules and done the things that we said they should do, that it is over for you. I know what it is like not to have a paycheck, to go paycheck to paycheck. Now, I was fortunate. In my situation, I was able to move back home. But what I understand, Mr. Speaker, is that everyone does not have that opportunity. So I will continue to fight for what is right and what this Nation should stand for. Take it from me, being unemployed, out looking for a job, is hard work, and it wears on you mentally and emotionally, because a job isn't just a paycheck. It is not just about one's livelihood. A job defines your purpose in life. The hundreds of thousands of unemployed in New Jersey remain hopeful and optimistic that, if they keep working hard, they keep playing by the rules, they will be rewarded one day and find their new purpose in life. We must fulfill that promise that we have made to them. The faces of the unemployed, of those living in poverty in New Jersey are numerous and diverse. Mr. Speaker, there is another dynamic. We have the dynamic of people who have great qualifications not being able to find a job because it is an employer's market. And, apparently, the bottom line is what is the most important thing for people. To lose a percentage on their gains or the percentage of income they make for their shareholders is the most important thing. So they are willing to let people lose their income to keep those numbers where they are. There are middle-aged workers who, after decades at a company they have loved, find themselves unemployed. There are young people with college and master's degrees, as I said, who did everything right but can't seem to find a job no matter how qualified they are. So I am asking my friends on both sides of the aisle to look at the faces of the long-term unemployed, to look at the faces of minimum wage workers, to look at the faces of the men and women and children living in poverty. I am asking my friends on both sides of the aisle to leave behind their political agendas and move forward with a human agenda, because, ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Speaker, there is no reason that, in the greatest Nation on the face of the Earth, we have these issues to the degree that we do. So I just want to close by saying that there are people in this Nation that play by the rules. There are people in this Nation that have done everything that we have asked them to do. So it is our obligation in this Nation, as its leaders, to find those opportunities for people to live and continue the type of life they have had in the American way. I am just here to say that I will continue to fight for the less fortunate because I will not turn my back on any American that wants to play by the rules and have done what we have said in this Nation you need to do. The land of the free and the home of the brave--that still should mean something.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, last week, we marked the 50th anniversary of President Lyndon Johnson's war on poverty, which began to pave the way for many of the programs that provided basic human dignities that every American deserves. Fifty years ago, this Congress began to work together on a war against poverty. Unfortunately, today, some of my Republican colleagues have led a different kind of war. Instead of a war to eliminate poverty, it has grown into a shameful war against those living in poverty. These attacks are numerous, from slashing nutrition assistance to cutting unemployment insurance to attacking Social Security, Medicare, and attempting to dismantle health care. Fighting the war on poverty should not be a Democratic or a Republican idea. Not only are we all in this together, but poverty does not discriminate between political parties. According to the Brookings Institution, there are more than 21 million people living in poverty who live in Republican congressional districts. Equally, there are over 21 million people living in poverty in Democratic congressional districts. So the burden is on both parties, equally, to recommit ourselves to creating solutions. The gap between the rich and poor is wide, and it is growing at an alarming rate. Nowhere is this more true than in my home State of New Jersey. In my district alone, the number of households at the top 1 percent have doubled, while the poverty rate has grown to 28 percent. This is no way for the world's greatest country to lead. We can do better. And we must do better. We must return to the values that have, and always will, make this country great. We must make investments in education and job training, because how can a man find work if he does not have the skills to enter the workforce? We must make investments in nutrition assistance, because how can a child learn if he or she is too hungry to focus? We must make investments in health care, because how can a mother provide for her children if she can't afford to pay her medical bills? And most importantly, we must make investments in our fellow Americans, to provide them with the opportunities to fulfill their own potential. My colleagues focus a discouraging amount of energy on cutting the very safety net programs that have lifted millions out of poverty, both in our urban centers and our rural areas. But these programs work. Without our safety net programs, poverty numbers would be double. So although there is still much more to do, we have come a long way. Turning our backs on the millions of Americans living in poverty is simply not an option. Nothing is more important to the people I represent in New Jersey than having a decent job that pays a decent wage. My Republican colleagues are kidding themselves if they think these people are lazy or content. Believe me, no one is content living in poverty. No one. These people want to work. They want economic security. And more than anything, they want to create a better life, not only for themselves, but for their children, so that they can forever be free from the clutches of generational poverty. So, Mr. Speaker, we must remember that the war on poverty declared 50 years ago is an unconditional one. As President Lyndon Baines Johnson said: Our aim is not only to relieve the symptom of poverty, but to cure it and, above all, to prevent it. Congress must renew this commitment by extending unemployment insurance, strengthening Social Security and Medicare, raising the minimum wage, investing in education, and, above all, creating jobs. Let's work together so that one day we can say that we have won the ultimate war of our time--the war on poverty.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, before I start, let me thank the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Horsford) for his leadership through the first session of the 113th Congress and into the second session of the 113th Congress. I am honored to be one of the freshmen--actually the ranking freshman in the CBC, if I can take that liberty--but the gentleman from Nevada and the gentleman from New York have distinguished themselves in the leadership of the Congressional Black Caucus in the first session of the 113th Congress, and I am honored to serve with them. Mr. Speaker, I rise today for the 90,000 New Jerseyans who lost their unemployment insurance on December 28 and the 89,000 more New Jerseyans set to lose unemployment benefits in the first half of the new year. The people back in my district can't understand how out of touch some of my Republican colleagues have become to think that cutting off this assistance will force the unemployed to get a job. Well, I have news for my colleagues: these people are not lazy, quite the opposite. These people are out every single day searching desperately for work, but the fact of the matter is there just aren't enough jobs for the amount of people unemployed. It is up to Congress to pass a jobs bill to put these people back to work, but this Congress has not done that. Until that time comes, we have a moral obligation to help our fellow Americans out and give them the economic security that they need to put food on the table, to keep a roof over their head, and to pay their bills so that they have the ability to continue to look for a job. Mr. Speaker, it is called insurance for a reason. These people have paid into this fund, and they must be actively searching for work to receive this critical lifeline. They might have paid into the system for 5, 10, and even 20 years to receive this assistance, and now we talk about cutting them off. They are filled with anxiety as they compete against hundreds of others for a job. I know, I have heard their stories. A young man by the name of Adam, an arts teacher from Montclair, New Jersey, who holds a master's degree from Columbia University, recently lost his job--through no fault of his own--because of funding cuts in education. Despite his best efforts, he, like so many others, has been unable to find work. With every passing day, anxiety for the well-being of Adam's family grows. Through no fault of his own, he finds himself in this predicament. Another young man from my district, Jeffrey from Bloomfield, New Jersey, is now gainfully employed, but was fortunate enough to have unemployment when he lost his job. When he hit hard times during the recession, Jeffrey was thankful that he had at least some money coming in to make ends meet. In his letter to me Jeffrey wrote: I am concerned for my friends and neighbors who might not have been so lucky, who will be devastated by the sudden loss of income. The ability to pay for a roof over one's head and basic living expenses may seem a small measure of dignity, but it means the world to someone who has lost their job that they have devoted years of their life to. So I urge my Republican colleagues and the leadership to listen to people like Adam and Jeffrey, to understand this is not about people who are lazy or who are sitting around or who are just biding time and taking in a stipend that they haven't paid into or deserve. These are Americans, your friends, your neighbors, people we all know, relatives, that find themselves in this situation. We must do something for them. We must continue to make sure that they can meet their needs on a minimum basis to keep them afloat until they can find a job. So I urge the Republican House leadership to listen to people like them. Mr. Speaker, we need to put a bill on the floor that extends unemployment insurance right away; otherwise each and every week my Republican colleagues delay, more than 3,400 more New Jerseyans are kicked off unemployment and find themselves in devastating circumstances. It is unconscionable, it is unacceptable, and we must as the Congress of the United States of America do something about it.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, today I come to the floor to honor the life and legacy of an icon, poet Amiri Baraka, who died yesterday in his hometown of Newark, New Jersey, at the age of 79. Born during a time when racial tensions were at their peak, Amiri Baraka used poetry to empower and enlighten. He eventually founded the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s and '70s in Newark and around the country, and received countless awards for his contributions to the arts. My father and he attended high school together, and I will never forget, as a youngster, hearing Amiri Baraka's poetry and recognizing the power his written words had over a person, regardless of race, age, or gender. Amiri Baraka was not only a poet, he was an activist. In 1969, he organized the Black and Puerto Rican Convention, which brought those communities together at a time when it looked bleak. He also was one of the main organizers and the keynote speaker of the 1972 Black Political Convention in Gary, Indiana. His profound words were influential as many searched for meaning in some of the most troubling struggles of our time, like civil rights, war, oppression, and poverty. My heartfelt condolences go out to the entire Baraka family, including my former colleague, Newark City Council Member Ras Baraka, and his brother Amiri Baraka, whom I have come very close to over the course of the past 4 or 5 years. To their mother, who has brought me in as almost a son as well, my deepest sympathy. I know where you are. I have been there just a short while ago. But let it be known, today the Nation is in deep mourning at his passing.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, Nelson Mandela, as we know, was a hero for social justice and a model of leadership for me and leaders around the globe. Born during the years of apartheid, he was a resilient democratic leader, a peacemaker, and inspiring fighter for racial equality. As it has been stated and is a well-known fact, Mr. Mandela spent 27 years in prison. Let's look at that time in a little more detail. He was jailed as a young man, with two young children, one of them being only 3 years old. He wasn't able to touch her again for 27 years. While in prison, his mother passes away and his first-born son dies in a tragic car accident, never being able to say good-bye. Also, during that time, his wife was subjected to both physical and mental abuse. She was locked up in prison for 16 months in solitary confinement. So how does a person after all that strife and all that grief come out of prison and talk about reconciliation? President Mandela never let his 27 years in prison deter him from doing what he knew was right by ending apartheid and bringing democracy to the country that he loved. Even in the face of extreme diversity, he has proven that, with a noble cause and internal will, one person can change the tide of oppression. One person can change an entire country and, in turn, the entire world. Although I did not have the pleasure of meeting President Mandela, he has always been a role model to me. Likewise, he was an inspiration to my father, the late Congressman Donald Payne, who toiled on the continent of Africa for equal rights and humanity for all people, and especially in South Africa. So I am thankful for his tireless years of service and for being an example to true leadership. My condolences and prayers go out to the Mandela family and to the country of South Africa as the entire world mourns such a great loss. Although Madiba is gone, his work and the imprint he has made on this world will never be forgotten.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of over 90,000 unemployed New Jerseyans at the risk of losing their unemployment benefits on December 28 if Congress fails to act before the end of the year. Despite what my colleagues on the other side think, unemployment insurance helps during hard times, and people forget that we are still recovering from the worst recession since the Great Depression. Patrick, a carpenter from Rahway, New Jersey, struggles to find employment through no fault of his own. His family will not be able to afford their mortgage if this critical lifeline is cut. Malene from Maplewood, New Jersey, is an educated professional, but has been unable to find work since February. In her letter, she wrote: When do my elected officials start caring for me and the millions of other people struggling to survive--not living, but scraping by? Vote to extend the unemployment benefits which equate to hope for many families in the new year. I urge the House leadership to address this looming expiration of the unemployment benefits for millions of Americans before leaving this year.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, for millions of Americans, the dream of access to affordable health care is becoming a reality, thanks to the Affordable Care Act. In New Jersey, 2.2 million people have already gained access to free preventative care. Premiums will be 20 percent lower in 2014. Seniors on Medicare already received a 50 percent savings on prescription drugs, and more than 70,000 young adults in New Jersey are able to see a doctor because they can stay on their parents' insurance. Sadly, though, out of purely selfish political motivation, my Republican colleagues are obsessed with making this law fail and are working overtime to take away the benefits millions of people are already enjoying. I challenge my Republican colleagues to channel that same energy into making the law work so that millions can get the lifesaving care that they deserve. Look around your districts. How many of your constituents could benefit from access to lifesaving health care, to free cancer screenings and reduced prescription drug costs? They don't need a 47th, 48th, or 49th vote to repeal the law. They need the affordable, quality care that the ACA provides. And they are counting on their leaders to make it work, not to work against them to make it fail.