Laura Richardson

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. This month is dedicated to raising awareness about the prevalence of child abuse and neglect as well as spreading knowledge on how to recognize and prevent its occurrence. Every child has the right to live in a safe and healthy home. Together, we can ensure that right by providing support for parents, recognizing the signs of abuse, and educating community members about the issue. Mr. Speaker, child abuse is defined as an act or failure to act which presents imminent risk of serious harm. It includes physical, emotional and sexual abuse as well as neglect. Child abuse occurs in every community and every district. It is reported at all socioeconomic and education levels and across cultural, ethnic, and religious lines. In 2010, there were 3.3 million referrals to Child Protective Services, involving 5.9 million children. In Los Angeles County alone, there were over 170,000 reported cases of child abuse or neglect in 2010. With over half of those referrals being made by mandatory reporters, those professionals required by law to report signs of maltreatment, I applaud our school officials and social service providers who are defending children's wellbeing. It is vital that we are all equally prepared to speak out for victims who are unable to seek help for themselves. The youngest children, in particular, are most vulnerable to abuse with almost 32 percent of reported victims under the age of four years. The effects of abuse and neglect can last a lifetime and include physical injuries, mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, increased risk for violent behavior, and lower levels of economic well-being. Such long-term effects hinder the ability to form healthy and positive relationships as adults. Abuse can truly become a cycle, harming generation after generation if nothing is done to intervene. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to recognize the extraordinary work of the Miller Children's Hospital in the 37th district and its commitment to promoting positive parenting. The hospital offers training for medical professionals to recognize more subtle signs of abuse as well as early learning opportunities for children and their families to develop healthy family relationships. Efforts aimed at prevention and early detection are critical in helping our nation's children grow up with the confidence and skills necessary to achieve the American Dream. These efforts can include programs in parent education and substance abuse treatment. Through these investments, we can target those specific circumstances and stresses that often lead to an increased likelihood of abuse. Mr. Speaker, as I rise today to observe National Child Abuse Prevention Month, I ask all communities to invest in preventative measures and programs to end the cycle of child abuse once and for all. This month will serve as a reminder of our moral responsibility to ensure a bright future for our children and our nation.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Madam Speaker, it's been 910 days and eight extensions since SAFETEA LU expired. Today we find ourselves kicking the can once again as we take up extension number nine because this House Majority has failed to act. Thankfully the Senate did act. Two weeks ago, Democratic and Republican Senators overwhelmingly voted, by a bipartisan majority of 74 22, to generate jobs, repair our roads and bridges, invest in our infrastructure, and strengthen our economy. Meanwhile, this body under Republican leadership has yet to put forward a credible highway reauthorization that puts Americans back to work. MAP 21, the surface transportation authorization bill, passed by the Senate is by far the biggest jobs legislation Congress will consider this year. It is imperative that the House of Representatives join the Senate in passing this bipartisan bill and send it to the President before the March 31st expiration of highway program funding or risk devastating job losses across the nation. Madam Speaker, H.R. 14 will save 1.8 million jobs and creates up to 1 million more jobs. The bill also provides consistency for states and maintains current funding levels for highways and public transportation, consolidates and streamlines highway programs, and establishes a national freight program. This national freight program will provide over $2 billion dollars to upgrade our nation's goods movement system. That equates to $336 million to the state of California alone over two years for freight infrastructure upgrades. These funds are critical to areas like my district where over 40 percent of our country's imports arrive each year via the Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach. In addition, the bill would authorize another $1 billion dollars in fiscal year 2013 for Projects of National and Regional Significance. In previous years, the Projects of National and Regional Significance provided funding to several projects that provide economic benefits by making it easier to move goods. Madam Speaker, these two programs and this bill are essential for our country to remain competitive globally. H.R. 14 also improves safety, and institutes performance measures and improves accountability for transportation infrastructure investments. Now is the time for swift action by the House action on the bipartisan Senate bill that will save or create 132,000 transportation jobs and 45,000 transit jobs in my home state of California. Transportation has long been a bipartisan issue--and the Senate continued this tradition. The House should follow suit and put America back to work by passing H.R. 14. I encourage my colleagues to stop kicking the can down the road-- start creating jobs--and defeat this extension.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the report released earlier this month by The White House Council on Women and Girls which provided a sampling of the policies, programs, and legislative initiatives that have resulted from the Administration's efforts to create an economy built to last for American women. I cannot stress enough how critical women are to our nation's economic success and how there still exists an ever-present need for us to continue our efforts to end discriminatory practices in the workforce. It is vital for us to work together to ensure women's economic security through all stages of life--from young women furthering their education and beginning their careers, to working women who create jobs and provide for their families, to seniors in retirement or getting ready for retirement. Many positive steps have been taken and much change has been effectuated, but there is much more that can be and should be done. Today, more than ever, women's efforts in the workforce are essential to sustaining a strong economy, not to mention that more women now are the primary income earners in most American families. Yet women in our economy and our work force are still earning just 77 cents on every dollar paid to men. Couple the gender gap with statistics on race and it is even worse. African American women earn a mere 64 cents on the dollar, while Hispanic women receive an appalling 56 cents on the dollar compared to men. How can this still be when women now make up nearly fifty percent of our workforce? Families are effectively losing part of their income every month due to this gender inequality. We must put an end to discriminatory practices in the workforce once and for all. Expanding economic opportunities for women is critical to building an economy that restores security for middle class families. We must promote such an economy by encouraging the advancement of women in education and the workforce and by rewarding their efforts equally and accordingly. We must ensure that women who want to continue their education and attend college and graduate school can do so. We must ensure that when a woman seeks higher employment she is able to attain it without being discriminated based on her gender and more importantly where she will receive equal pay as her male counterpart. We must ensure that fulfillment of such goals for women are not an improbability, but a guarantee. We no longer live in the 1950s where a sole income earner, historically a man, could support an entire family. We are living in an era where the want for a dual income is not a luxury, but a necessity to sustain a middle class family. I applaud President Obama's hard work to ensure that women are treated equally in the workforce and paid fairly for their work. From signing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, to creating the National Equal Pay Task Force, President Obama has fought for equality for women in the workforce, and there is no reason why this Congress should not work equally as hard to support and advance his efforts. There should be no second class citizens in our workplaces in the twenty-first century. In a time where women's labor force participation has increased dramatically and where families are becoming increasingly reliant on women's incomes due to the rising cost of living, how does it make sense that pay disparities between men and women still persist? Why must women face greater risk for income insecurity than men? The reality is that over the course of her lifetime, these pay discrepancies can cost a woman and her family tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost wages, reduced pensions, and reduced Social Security benefits. Why is it that the Republican majority is not concerned about these disparities? The statistics on this issue are very clear; we cannot have a vibrant society if women are not doing well. The success of American women is critical for the success of American families and the American economy. Consequently, when women still face barriers to participation in the workplace and marketplace, it affects all Americans. Unfortunately, rather than concentrating on eliminating such discrepancies and ensuring equality, the Republican majority has instead been fixated on limiting women's rights and freedoms. For over a year now the Republican majority has taken aim at denying women access to health care and restricting women's choices in the area of reproductive health altogether. This is an incredibly ill-guided waste of time, and makes no economic sense. When women are denied access to health care or have to pay more for their health care than men, it hurts entire families and in turn the economy as a whole. In 31 states, all of the best-selling plans engage in gender rating. And in states that permit this practice, 92 percent of the best-selling plans charge 40-year-old women more than 40-year-old men for identical coverage. In the aggregate, women spend an estimated $1 billion more than men for equivalent health coverage. We should be working together to eliminate these disparities, instead of fending off attacks by the Republican majority who have continuously brought forth anti-women's health legislation in the 112th Congress and attacked the Affordable Care Act which beginning in 2014 will prohibit insurance companies from charging women more for health insurance simply because of their gender. The Republican majority has taken minor breaks from attacking women's rights in this Congress only to work on stripping senior benefits and ending Medicare as we know it. All seniors should be able to retire with dignity, and live out their final years with security and access to healthcare. This should not be a privilege enjoyed by the 1 percent. We must work to ensure that senior citizens receive the care they need when they are most vulnerable; but instead the Republicans want to hand them a voucher and have them fend for themselves with insurance companies. The coverage Medicare provides is particularly critical for women, because of their greater life expectancies and partially because of costs related to preventive services such as mammograms and bone density tests. As a result of lower earnings during her time in the workforce, an elderly woman rarely has a significant income from her pension, as compared to the average elderly man. So it should not be surprising that elderly women rely on Social Security to a greater extent than men, and over half of America's more than 48 million Medicare beneficiaries are women. And this is where unequal pay throughout a woman's working lifetime comes full circle. Mr. Speaker, let us in Congress work together to pass legislation that outlaws gender discrimination, allows for prosecution of pay discrimination against women, invests in child care, and supports the advancement of women as they provide for their families and save for the future. It is through our hard work to ensure equal treatment of all women in the workforce, marketplace, and society as a whole that we can resoundingly voice our commitment to support American women and families.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, it is with deep sadness that I rise today to pay tribute to Mike Wallace, a man whose determination and tenacity shaped investigative reporting as we know it today. Mr. Wallace died on April 7, 2012, surrounded by family in New Caanan, Connecticut. He was 93. Mr. Speaker, Mike Wallace was one of the original correspondents for the news program, 60 Minutes, and his reporting helped to cement the show's reputation for hard-hitting but fair journalism. He interviewed world leaders and celebrities, never shying away from difficult and often confrontational lines of questioning. Nevertheless, his impeccable research and balanced approach made him as respected as he was feared. The list of persons interviewed by Mike Wallace over the past half century reads like a Who's Who of the leading figures of the twentieth century: reverend and activist Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; famed surrealist painter Salvador Dali; former Palestinian leader and Nobel Prize Laureate Yasser Arafat; former Iranian leader Ayotollah Khomeini; civil rights advocate Malcolm X; first lady Eleanor Roosevelt; president Ronald Reagan; former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger; then-Russian President Vladimir Putin. Despite his steely demeanor, Mike Wallace struggled with personal hardships, including the death of a son and bouts with depression. At a time when such vulnerabilities were often hidden from public view, Mike Wallace shared these challenges with American audiences. His bravery and openness helped to dissolve the social stigma around depression and made a tremendous impact on the lives of many Americans. Mike Wallace was honored with 21 Emmy Awards, five Peabody Awards, and the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award. He was also inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1991. His legacy continues through the Knight-Wallace Fellowship program at the University of Michigan, which gives mid-career journalists the opportunity to explore new subjects of interest. Mr. Speaker, as we reflect on the life and legacy of Mike Wallace, one can be certain that his memory will be an inspiration for a new generation of journalists as well as for every American who values such a strong commitment to integrity and truth.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, today, April 16, 2012, marks the fifth year anniversary of the Virginia Tech shooting in which 32 innocent lives were lost. Today I rise to observe the anniversary and I urge all Americans to join me in keeping all those who were injured, and the families of those who lost their lives in this tragedy in their thoughts and prayers. More than 30 members of the Virginia Tech family perished that day. Among them were future lawyers, doctors, teachers, engineers, soldiers, business men and women, mothers, fathers, and leaders. The loss of life at Virginia Tech is a tragedy that all Americans mourn. On this day, I salute the strength and resilience of the Virginia Tech community. Those belonging to ``Hokie Nation'' include nearly 30,000 students, 1,300 faculty members and 200,000 living alumni who take pride in their school and in their accomplishments as an institution. Days after the shooting, Nikki Giovanni wrote a moving poem about the events and her words still ring true today. We are Virginia Tech. We are sad today, and we will be sad for quite a while. We are not moving on, we are embracing our mourning. We are Virginia Tech. We are strong enough to stand tall tearlessly, we are brave enough to bend to cry, and we are sad enough to know that we must laugh again. We are Virginia Tech. We do not understand this tragedy. We know we did nothing to deserve it, but neither does a child in Africa dying of AIDS, neither do the invisible children walking the night away to avoid being captured by the rogue army, neither does the baby elephant watching his community being devastated for ivory, neither does the Mexican child looking for fresh water, neither does the Appalachian infant killed in the middle of the night in his crib in the home his father built with his own hands being run over by a boulder because the land was destabilized. No one deserves a tragedy. We are Virginia Tech. The Hokie Nation embraces our own and reaches out with open heart and hands to those who offer their hearts and minds. We are strong, and brave, and innocent, and unafraid. We are better than we think and not quite what we want to be. We are alive to the imaginations and the possibilities. We will continue to invent the future through our blood and tears and through all our sadness. We are the Hokies. We will prevail. We will prevail. We will prevail. We are Virginia Tech. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the horrible tragedy that occurred five years ago today and as we remember the events of that dreadful day, let us not forget those who lost their lives. I extend my deepest condolences again to the families of all the victims. On this five year anniversary of the horrible tragedy at Virginia Tech, let us extend our thoughts and prayers to all those who were injured or have suffered as a result of this senseless act of violence. Today, we are all members of the Hokie Nation. We are Virginia Tech.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Coalition for Autism Research and Education, I rise today to recognize April as National Autism Awareness Month. Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability in America, with 1 to 1.5 million Americans living with it each day. Every April since the 1970s we celebrate National Autism Awareness Month, which provides an opportunity to educate the public on autism and the issues affecting those people afflicted with the disorder. This disorder is universal, affecting children from all ethnic, racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. The latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that 1 in 88 children born in the United States will develop autism. Mr. Speaker, this increase is a clear call that more needs to be done in terms of research and education. Congress must call for more resources to be given to early screening and diagnosis programs. This can lead to improved educational and social outcomes and increases the chances of employment and independent living for those suffering from autism. My own State of California has seen a huge increase in autism diagnoses. In 1990, 6 out of every 10,000 children born in the State were diagnosed with the disease by the age of five. Only 11 years later that number had risen to 42.5 in every 10,000 children. Since then the numbers have only risen. Children diagnosed with this disorder will struggle with significant social, behavioral and communication challenges. For example, an activity as simple as going to the movies is impossible for many families with autistic children. However, autism is treatable. There is no permanent cure for the disorder, but studies show that early detection and intervention can lead to significantly improved outcomes. Mr. Speaker, the occurrence of autism is on the rise in our nation. This is why it is more important than ever that we continue to fund programs like the National Database for Autism Research, whose overall goal is accelerating scientific discovery in autism spectrum disorder though data and research sharing among ASD investigators. That is why it was so important that Congress passed H.R. 2005, the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act of 2011. I am proud to have been an original co-sponsor of this legislation, which authorizes more than $200 million in continued funding for the Centers for Disease Control's surveillance and epidemiological research programs for autism and other developmental disabilities and for the National Institutes of Health's respect to research program on autism spectrum disorders and possible environmental causes of autism. The bill also authorizes a robust autism education, early detection, and intervention program at the Health Resources and Services Administration, HRSA. Mr. Speaker, nowhere is autism's impact felt more than in underserved communities, where diagnosis is delayed on average two years. Given that early identification and intervention are paramount to the developing brain of children with autism, this two-year delay is especially devastating, as it denies thousands of vulnerable children the benefits of early diagnosis and intervention. This can mean the difference between a child who may someday live independently, and a child destined for a life of institutionalized care. The alarming delay in diagnosis becomes even more detrimental when compounded by issues of poverty, such as a lack of housing, employment, and transportation. This is the reality faced by families in underserved communities who are affected by autism and other developmental disabilities. That is why I also want to recognize, commend, and encourage organizations like the Special Needs Network, Inc., which serve the greater Los Angeles community for the great work and service they provide to families and individuals affected by the autism in underserved communities. This month, let us recommit ourselves to raising awareness about autism. We have a responsibility to continue to broaden our efforts to research this disorder, and increase awareness about the importance of early detection. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognition of National Autism Awareness Month, and ask all Americans to take time this month to find out what you can do to help the growing population of those afflicted with, or affected by, autism.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my shock and sadness at the untimely passing of Mark Ayers, President of the AFL CIO's Building and Construction Trades Department. Mark led the BCTD with great skill and amazing grace. He was a champion for worker's rights and worked tirelessly to raise the standard of living and quality of life for all working people and their families. Mark was an extraordinary leader who possessed an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of working families. Mark leaves big shoes to fill and will be missed by all who knew and loved him. But his legacy will live on. My thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong support of the Congressional Black Caucus Alternative Budget for Fiscal Year 2013. The budget plan outlined by the CBC takes a direct and balanced approach to restoring America's promise, achieves fiscal responsibility and sets a priority to invest in our future. The CBC Alternative Budget protects Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, Unemployment Insurance and other programs that are vital to the most vulnerable populations, which are in districts throughout this country. Although our nation's economy is showing positive signs of growth, this Congress must continue to make critical investments in communities to accelerate--not stagger--our recovery. To that end, the CBC Alternative Budget makes smart investments in education, workforce training, and transportation and infrastructure projects. These investments are necessary to ensure that America has a skilled and educated workforce that is prepared to tackle the challenges of the 2ist Century and compete with attempts to take American jobs overseas. Specifically, the CBC Budget will: invest an additional $25 billion above the President's budget in Education and Job Training in FY 2013 alone; provide an additional $5 billion above the President's Budget request for housing programs, foreclosure assistance, and other important programs for community development; invest an additional $50 billion in job creating transportation and infrastructure projects in FY 2013 alone and provide $155 billion above the President's budget over the next decade; and increase the maximum Pell Grant award by nearly $1,000 over the President's Fiscal Year 2013 budget request. The CBC Budget acknowledges the deficit and pays for domestic priorities by enacting tax reform measures to raise nearly $4 trillion in new revenue over the next decade through the Buffet Rule to ensure that millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share in taxes, and closes corporate tax loopholes and preferences for corporations that ship American jobs overseas. The $4 trillion in revenue raised from millionaires paying their fair share will allow us to pay for an extension of tax cuts for hard working, middle class Americans--providing them with more money to feed their families, pay their bills, send their kids to school and fill up their gas tanks. The budget would open an enormous hole in our country's social safety net by largely shifting healthcare costs to seniors on Medicare, while at the same time giving millionaires and billionaires a free pass by giving the rich an average tax cut of $150,000. In California alone, 5,252,371 seniors would be forced onto vouchers when they retire--a system that has been shown to be a sub-standard version of Medicare. The GOP budget will force seniors to pay higher premiums in order to access the same benefits they would receive under the current system. For a typical 67 year-old senior, the Ryan budget could increase out- of-pocket health care costs by $5,900. The GOP budget would decimate our primary assistance to the poor by cutting $3.3 trillion from needed programs like Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. In fact, a report conducted by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found that 62 percent of proposed cuts in the Ryan budget plan come from programs that assist low-income individuals. This is the Republican vision: to balance the budget on the backs of the seniors and the poor. The Ryan budget once again fails the test of balance, fairness, and shared responsibility. It takes a slash and burn approach to the budget, rather than going line by line to carefully examine where cuts and new sources of revenue should be implemented. The Ryan budget plan would weaken job growth. The Economic Policy Institute found that if we were to follow Chairman Ryan's proposal, 1.3 million jobs would be lost in 2013 and 2.8 million jobs would be lost in 2014. Mr. Chair, the CBC Alternative Budget has a better way. We understand that our current economic situation calls for a balanced and responsible approach that protects our fragile recovery and invests in our future. For these reasons, Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for the CBC Alternative Budget.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong support of the Congressional Progressive Caucus Alternative Budget for Fiscal Year 2013. The budget plan outlined by the CPC takes a calculated and balanced approach to restoring America's promise, and investing in our future. Unlike the House GOP Budget Resolution, the CPC Alternative Budget protects Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, Unemployment Insurance and other programs that are vital to the most vulnerable populations in our society. In my district, we suffer from rates of unemployment and home foreclosure that are significantly higher than the rest of the country. Although our nation's economy is showing positive signs of growth, we must continue to make critical investments in our communities to accelerate our recovery. To that end, the CPC Alternative Budget makes smart investments in education, job creation measures, and transportation and infrastructure projects. These investments are necessary to ensure that America has a skilled and educated workforce that is prepared to tackle the challenges of the 21st Century. Without these investments, the United States will lose its competitive edge. A $556 billion surface transportation bill would help meet the overwhelming need for repair and construction of our roadways and aging infrastructure. Lastly, the Budget for All outlines a plan for nearly $1.7 trillion in widespread domestic investment, getting badly needed funds to valuable programs that are scheduled for starvation under current law. This budget outlines a plan to put over 2 million individuals back to work over the next 2 years by hiring them for work in areas critical to our quality of life. This would create the School Improvement Corps for public school rehabilitation projects, the Park Improvement Corps made of youth ages 16 to 25 for restoration on public lands, the Student Jobs Corps of college students for part-time work study positions, among others. Priority hiring is given to the unemployed and veterans. Domestic investments create jobs and lay the foundation for exceptional American industries competing in the global economy. The creation of an infrastructure bank would attract private investment toward critical infrastructure projects and facilitate private-public partnerships with our states and localities. Some projections estimate that the iBank could mobilize up to $625 billion in funding for infrastructure. The revenue raised from tax reform measures in the CPC budget will allow us to pay for an extension of tax cuts for hard working, middle class Americans--providing them with more money to feed their families, pay their bills, and fill up their gas tanks. Mr. Chair, the CPC Budget will do all of this while managing to be able to reduce the deficit by $6.8 trillion. Instead of working to strengthen Medicare, the Ryan budget would end Medicare as we know it, turning the guarantee of retirement security into a voucher that will shift higher and higher costs over time to over 45 million seniors. In California alone, 5,252,371 seniors would be forced onto vouchers when they retire. The GOP budget will force seniors to pay higher premiums in order to access the same benefits they would receive under the current system. For a typical 67 year-old senior, the Ryan budget could increase out- of-pocket health care costs by $5,900. The GOP budget would decimate our primary assistance to the poor by cutting $3.3 trillion from essential programs like Medicaid and SNAP. In fact, a report conducted by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found that 62 percent of proposed cuts in the Ryan budget plan come from programs that assist low-income individuals. This is the Republican vision: to balance the budget on the backs of the seniors and the poor. The Ryan budget plan would weaken job growth. The Economic Policy Institute found that if we were to follow Chairman Ryan's proposal, 1.3 million jobs would be lost in 2013 and 2.8 million jobs would be lost in 2014. Mr. Chair, the CPC has a better way. We understand that our current economic situation calls for a balanced approach that protects our fragile recovery and invests in our future. For these reasons, Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for the CPC Alternative Budget.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong support of the Congressional Black Caucus' alternative budget for fiscal year 2013. This budget should be considered and made in order by all of our colleagues. Minority communities took the hardest hit during the economic recession. In my district, we suffer rates of unemployment ranging as high as 25 percent and home foreclosures that are significantly higher than the rest of the country. The CBC alternative budget deals with these issues, helping us to have a skilled, educated workforce that can tackle the 21st century. It increases the maximum Pell Grant award, which we desperately need; invests an additional $25 billion of the President's budget in education and job training; invests an additional $50 billion in job- creating transportation infrastructure projects; and provides an additional $5 billion for the President's budget to help people in our communities with foreclosures. Mr. Chair, I stand in support of the CBC budget and urge my colleagues to support it as well.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the Progressive Caucus alternative budget. This budget, as a member on the Transportation Committee, would help us to be able to create, once and for all, the infrastructure bank that we desperately needed that would allow us to attract private and public partnership. The Progressive budget would also outline a plan to put over 2 million individuals back to work. And my colleague just before me highlighted what some of those would be. Some of them would include the Improvement Corps for public school rehabilitation projects, Park Improvement Corps for young adults, and Student Job Corps, one of which I was able to take advantage of as a young individual. Mr. Chairman, the CPC budget will assist us to be able to responsibly act to reduce our budget deficit, but to also maintain our domestic priorities. This budget is the right budget. It will protect our fragile recovery, and it will invest in our future.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Now is the time for swift action by this House on a bipartisan Senate bill that will create and save at least 132,000 jobs in my area alone. Transportation has always been bipartisan. Let's keep it that way in this House. I urge the support of H.R. 14.

Ms. RICHARDSON. I thank the gentleman for yielding so that I might speak to the House companion bill to MAP 21, or H.R. 14, of which I'm a cosponsor. MAP 21, which we call H.R. 14 going forward, will generate jobs, repair roads and bridges, and invest in our infrastructure. This surface transportation authorization bill passed by the Senate with a majority and with bipartisan support. I come before you today to urge my colleagues to bring this bill forward, H.R. 14, so that we might establish some consistency, unlike what we saw with the FAA reauthorization, consistency for States, for companies, for workers, for projects that need to get done. This bill will maintain current funding levels for highways and public transportation; it will consolidate and streamline highway programs; and will establish a much-needed national freight program, which is something I've been advocating for my entire time in Congress. This bill will authorize $1 billion for projects of national significance, which many of us feel in our own particular districts. H.R. 14 also improves safety, institutes performance measures, and improves accountability for transportation infrastructure investments.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the second anniversary of the enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. In the two years since its enactment, the Affordable Care Act has been good for seniors, good for women, good for small businesses, and good for all Americans. As the Affordable Care Act is implemented, it will continue to expand access to affordable, quality health care for over 30 million Americans and will work to reign in the ever-escalating costs of health care. Passage of the Affordable Care Act was a major step toward fulfilling the promise all Americans were pledged: the promise of unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness which quality healthcare embodies. For the people I represent in the 37th District of California, the Affordable Care Act will improve coverage for 299,000 residents who already have insurance. It will give tax credits and other assistance to up to 146,000 families and 15,100 small businesses to help them afford coverage. Health care reform will also improve Medicare for 63,000 beneficiaries in my district, including closing the prescription drug ``donut hole'' once and for all. In 2010, the Affordable Care Act made it possible for 354,592 Medicare beneficiaries in California to receive a $250 rebate to help cover the cost of their prescription drugs when they hit the donut hole. In 2011, 319,429 Medicare beneficiaries received a 50 percent discount--an average savings of $538 per person--on brand-name prescription drugs when they hit the coverage gap. That's a total savings of over $171 million for seniors in California alone! In my district, 3,200 seniors received prescription drug discounts worth $1.5 million, an average discount of $460 per senior. The Affordable Care Act extends coverage to 92,500 uninsured residents of the 37th District and will guarantee that 17,500 residents with pre-existing conditions can obtain the health insurance they need. Since enactment, health care reform has extended insurance coverage to 5,599 Californians through the new Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan. The Affordable Care Act protects 1,100 families from bankruptcy due to unaffordable health care costs and currently allows 59,000 young adults to obtain coverage on their parents' insurance plans. The new law provides millions of dollars in new funding for 11 community health centers in my district. And finally, it will reduce the cost of uncompensated care for hospitals and other health care providers by $125 million annually. Mr. Speaker, as we approach the two year anniversary of the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, an attack on women's access to affordable, quality, and necessary healthcare services is underway. From the comments made by Rush Limbaugh about Georgetown Law Student Sandra Fluke, to Republican attempts to roll back coverage and restrict access to birth control, the GOP's war on women stands in stark contrast to the Administration's goal of ensuring that women have access to the healthcare services they need to remain healthy. As a female Member of Congress, I understand that women have unique health care needs, and are often the ones who make health care decisions for their families. I voted for and strongly support the Affordable Care Act because it provides important benefits for women and their families. The Affordable Care Act helps women by eliminating the discriminatory gender rating system, making sure that insurance companies do not consider pregnancy grounds for denying coverage, and doing away with all pre-existing conditions. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, all Americans joining new insurance plans have the freedom to choose from any primary care provider, OB-GYN, or pediatrician in their health plan's network, or emergency care outside of the plan's network, without a referral. Under the Affordable Care Act, women joining a new health care plan can receive recommended preventive services, like mammograms, new baby care and well-child visits, and an annual wellness visit with no out-of- pocket costs. In 2011, over 6 million people with private insurance coverage in California gained preventative service coverage with no cost sharing as a result of the Affordable Care Act. Before enactment of the Affordable Care Act, women could be charged more for individual insurance policies simply because of their gender. A 22-year-old woman could be charged 150 percent the premium that a 22- year-old man paid. In 2014, insurers will not be able to charge women higher premiums than they charge men. The law takes strong action to control health care costs, including helping states crack down on excessive premium increases and making sure most of your premium dollars go toward your health care. The Affordable Care Act also allows young adults under the age of 26 to stay on their parents' health insurance plan. This provision has expanded access to health insurance coverage for 2.5 million young people nationwide. In my district, 7,000 young adults have taken advantage of this provision and are now covered under their parents' plan. This week, the House will consider a bill to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board established under the Affordable Care Act. Having previously garnered bipartisan support, the majority's decision to attach a medical liability provision to the underlying piece of legislation amounts to nothing short of a partisan ploy to score points with their base. The language attached to the bill would place caps on medical malpractice awards for pain and suffering at $250,000 and would override most state tort laws. Unfortunately, the majority's decision to include tort reform language on a completely unrelated measure demonstrates their refusal to work with Members across the aisle in order to further strengthen the Affordable Care Act. Mr. Speaker, the Affordable Care Act provides American families with stability and peace of mind. Never again will they have to choose between their health and their livelihood. As a result of the Affordable Care Act, 23,000 children and 90,000 adults in my district now have health insurance that covers preventive services without paying any co-pays, coinsurance, or deductibles. I am proud to be a part of this historic health care policy change, and to be part of the days ahead in which we will work to further strengthen it.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to remember the life and mourn the loss of our beloved colleague, the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey, Congressman Donald M. Payne. For twelve terms, Congressman was an effective advocate for the interests of constituents, a trusted expert on international affairs and Africa policy to his colleagues, and a tireless champion for poor, vulnerable, oppressed, and marginalized people everywhere on earth. But above all, Donald Payne was a good and kind man, who with unfailing good cheer enriched the lives of all he met and served. Born in Newark, New Jersey, on July 16, 1934, to William Evander Payne and the former Norma Garrett, this son of a chauffeur and a dockworker went on to graduate from Seton Hall University, teach English and social studies and coach high school football, and serve as the first black president of the National Council of YMCAs before his election to Congress in 1988 to succeed Peter W. Rodino, another legendary figure in New Jersey politics and the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee during Watergate. Donald Payne holds the distinction of being the first and only African American elected to represent New Jersey in the Congress of the United States. Throughout his congressional career, Donald Payne championed educational and economic opportunity and human and civil rights, both here and abroad. From his work in furtherance of the Northern Ireland peace process, to his efforts to bring attention and an end to the genocide in Darfur, as well as his indispensable work to secure full funding for PEPFAR to combat the HIV/AIDS and malaria in Africa, Donald Payne made a difference and his impact has been felt around the world. As a former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Donald Payne mentored and provided wise counsel to many of his colleagues, including me. I valued his counsel and his friendship and I will miss him very much and I extend my deepest sympathies to his family and loved ones.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. In this month of March, as we celebrate Women's History Month, I would like to take a moment to recognize some of our great female leaders who, throughout history, have persevered in the face of monumental opposition and successfully have accomplished great things on behalf of the American people. From the words of the great poet, Maya Angelou, from the beautiful singing voice of Marian Anderson, from the tireless activism of Dolores Huerta, to the groundbreaking leadership of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins, and, of course, our own Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, these women and many more have played an integral role in the history in this Nation. Madam Speaker, every day, women take great strides to help others and to improve the quality of life for everyone. Unfortunately, in matters involving health care, women are still facing these challenges. Whether it's on the Senate floor last week during a debate on the Blunt amendment or whether it's during a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing, women continue to face unwarranted attacks on their reproductive health rights and their access to contraceptives. More disconcerting, these debates and veiled attacks have escalated beyond misguided attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Now they've taken aim at restricting women's choices in the area of reproductive health altogether. This is wrong. Medical decisions about a woman's health must leave the political arena and be left to the discretion of the patient and their doctor, not employers, and certainly not the government. It is astonishing and disappointing that more than 50 years after the landmark Supreme Court decision in Griswold v. Connecticut, a decision which found that women have a constitutional right to use contraceptives, continued attacks on women's rights of privacy and health care still persist, and at an alarming rate. The American people want us to work towards addressing their top priority: creating jobs, not their reproductive rights. However, this Congress seems to be more focused on bringing forward legislation that targets women's access to basic health care. In this Congress alone, we've taken eight votes on antiwomen health legislation. A 2011 Guttmacher Institute study found that over 90 percent of women, and over 90 percent of Catholic women, between the ages of 15 and 44 have used some sort of birth control at some point during their lives. Birth control can cost up to $600 a year. So for a college student, a woman who's had multiple children and is still in childbearing years, low-income women or those who are underinsured, insurance coverage means the difference between accessing contraceptive services or not. Quite simply, Madam Speaker, all women should have the choice and access to contraception and have the resources no matter where they work, where they live, or where they go to college. This is why I'm proud to support President Obama's Affordable Care Act, which I voted on, which will make a positive impact on women and children in their access to health care and greatly decrease the number of women and their families who are uninsured or underinsured. Studies have shown that women who have health insurance don't always receive the medical care they need because their policies don't cover certain services or the women simply can't afford the high deductibles and copayments. The Affordable Care Act changes this unfortunate reality by assisting women in gaining access to basic preventive health care in order to prevent life-threatening diseases in the future. Our country is facing great challenges. People need jobs. Students need affordable education. Seniors and working families need affordable health care. But one thing we don't need is to continue to waste time debating extreme legislation that is dangerous to women's health, disrespects the judgment of American women, and is nothing less than the most comprehensive and radical assault on women's health in our lifetime. Madam Speaker, as people all over America pay tribute during the month of March to the generations of women who have committed to progress and have proved invaluable assets to our society, let us in Congress renew our commitment to support women--not with certificates at banquets, but by working to ensure equal treatment of all women in society, providing women with equal access to health care, and protecting women's rights, and their families, to choose once and for all their own health care.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask the House to join me in extending warm wishes to Mr. Harry Belafonte, a great American who celebrates his 85th birthday today. Harry Belafonte is not only the consummate entertainer, but he is a tireless civil rights advocate. He has used the fame and wealth that he earned early on in his career as a musician and actor to support and advance the cause of civil and human rights. Harry Belafonte was born Harold George Belafonte, Jr., at Lying-in Hospital, New York City, New York. He was the son of Melvine, a housekeeper, and Harold George Belafonte, Sr., a Jamaican who worked as chef in the Royal Navy. From 1932 to 1940, he lived with his grandmother in the village of Aboukir in her native country of Jamaica. When he returned to New York City he attended George Washington High School after which he joined the Navy and served during World War II. At the end of the 1940s, he took classes in acting at the Dramatic Workshop of The New School in New York with the influential German director Erwin Piscator alongside Marlon Brando, Tony Curtis, Walter Matthau, Bea Arthur, and Sidney Poitier, while performing with the American Negro Theatre. Belafonte started his career in music as a club singer in New York, a job he took to help pay for his acting classes. The first time he appeared in front of an audience he was backed by the Charlie Parker band, which included the great Charlie Parker himself, Max Roach, and Miles Davis among others. At first he was a pop singer, launching his recording career on the Roost label in 1949, but later he developed a keen interest in folk music, learning material through the Library of Congress' American folk songs archives. With guitarist and friend Millard Thomas, Belafonte soon made his debut at the legendary jazz club The Village Vanguard. In 1952 he received a contract with RCA Victor. His first wide-release single, which went on to become his ``signature'' song with audience participation in virtually all his live performances, was ``Matilda,'' recorded April 27, 1953. His breakthrough album Calypso (1956) became the first LP to sell over 1 million copies. The album introduced American audiences to Calypso music and Belafonte was dubbed the ``King of Calypso.'' Belafonte was also the first African American man to win an Emmy, with his first solo TV special Tonight with Belafonte (1959). More than a musician and entertainer, Belafonte was a civil rights activist and tireless leader. Belafonte's political beliefs are greatly inspired by the man that he still views to this day as his mentor: singer and activist Paul Robeson. He strongly opposed racial prejudice, segregation, and discrimination in the United States. Like Robeson and other black entertainers, Belafonte's success in the arts did not protect him from racial discrimination, particularly in the American South. As a result, Belafonte refused to perform in the South from 1954 until 1961. Also in the 1950s, Belafonte met a young Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the latter's historic visit to New York. From that eventful first meeting until the day Dr. King was assassinated, Belafonte and Dr. King maintained a deep and abiding friendship. Dr. King, Jr., said of Belafonte, ``[his] global popularity and his commitment to our cause is a key ingredient to the global struggle for freedom and a powerful tactical weapon in the Civil Rights movement here in America. We are blessed by his courage and moral integrity.'' Mr. Belafonte could always be counted on to be there when the need was greatest. He was there to provide the money to secure Dr. King's release from Birmingham City Jail. He raised thousands of dollars to post the bail needed to release other jailed civil rights protesters. He financed the Freedom Rides, supported voter registration drives, and helped to organize the March on Washington in 1963. During ``Freedom Summer'' in 1964, Belafonte financed the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, SNCC, flying to Mississippi that August with $60,000 in cash and entertaining crowds in Greenwood with his ``Banana Boat Song.'' In 1968, Belafonte appeared on a Petula Clark primetime television special on NBC. In the middle of a song, Clark smiled and briefly touched Belafonte's arm, which made the show's sponsor, Plymouth Motors, nervous. Plymouth wanted to cut out the segment, but Clark, who had ownership of the special, told NBC that the performance would be shown intact or she would not allow the special to be aired at all. American newspapers published articles reporting the controversy and, when the special aired, it earned high ratings. Belafonte has continued his involvement in the civil rights struggle to this very day. Recently, Belafonte spoke at the 50th SNCC Anniversary Conference. Belafonte did not limit his fight for justice to the United States. He has spent his life and career advocating for human rights around the entire world. For example, disturbed by cruel events unfolding in Africa as a result of war, famine and drought, Belafonte set in motion the wheels that led to ``We Are the World,'' the iconic song and music video organized by Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie, that raised millions in support of famine relief efforts in Africa. In 1987, Belafonte accepted the appointment as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador--the second American to hold this position--the first was Danny Kaye. Belafonte has continued to devote himself globally to civil and human rights issues, focusing in particular on the United States and Africa. ``My social and political interests are part of my career. I can't separate them,'' said Belafonte. ``My songs reflect the human condition. The role of art isn't just to show life as it is, but to show life as it should be.'' Belafonte's international civil rights accomplishments also include his contribution to ending the oppressive apartheid in South Africa and securing the release of his friend, Nelson Mandela, imprisoned for twenty seven and a half years. Belafonte was appointed by President John F. Kennedy Cultural Advisor for the Peace Corps, a position he held for five years. He has been honored many times by such diverse groups as the American Jewish Congress, the NAACP, the City of Hope, Fight for Sight, The Urban League, The National Conference of Black Mayors, the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, the ACLU, the State Department, the Boy Scouts of America, Hadassah International and the Peace Corps. He has received awards from the Bronx Community College for his work with children, the Albert Einstein Award from Yeshiva University, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace Prize and the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors for excellence in the performing arts. He was the first recipient of the Nelson Mandela Courage Award and was honored at the White House with the 1994 National Medal of Arts from President Clinton for his contributions to our nation's cultural life. He has received honorary degrees from City University of New York, Spellman College in Atlanta, Tufts University, Brandeis University, Long Island University, Bard College and most recently Doctor of Humane Letters from Columbia University. In 2010, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation honored Mr. Belafonte with its prestigious Phoenix Award. Mr. Speaker, Harry Belafonte has devoted his life to the cause of freedom, justice, equality, and human dignity. His has been an important and consequential life. And he is still going strong. So on the occasion of his 85th birthday, I rise to say Mr. Belafonte: Happy birthday and thank you for your active faith, your lifetime of service, your tireless devotion to human rights and freedom.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, this March as we celebrate Women's History Month, I would like to take a moment to recognize all the great female leaders of our past and present. Throughout history women have persevered in the face of great opposition and successfully broken barriers in the arts, education, government and corporate America. This year's theme focuses on women's education and empowerment. It is important to note that the equal opportunity for women to learn alongside men is owed much to Title IX of the Education Codes of the Higher Education Act Amendments which passed in 1972 and was enacted in 1977. This legislation prohibited gender discrimination by federally funded institutions, and allowed women to fully participate in all aspects of education effectively transforming the educational landscape of the United States. Mr. Speaker, women have taken great strides throughout the years to gain equal treatment. Unfortunately, in matters involving healthcare, women still face challenges. Very recently, women faced attacks by the House Republican majority regarding access to birth control. More disconcerting, these attacks escalated beyond misguided attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and deny women access to contraceptives, to restricting women's choices in the area of reproductive health altogether. Medical decisions about a woman's health must be left to the discretion of the patient and her doctor, not employers or the government. This is why I am proud to support President Obama's Affordable Care Act which will make a positive impact on women's access to health care and greatly decrease the number of women who are uninsured or ``underinsured.'' Studies have shown that women who have health insurance don't necessarily receive certain types of medical care because either the services they need are not covered by their policies, or they cannot afford the high deductibles or co-payments. The Affordable Care Act changes this unfortunate reality by assisting women in gaining access to basic preventive health care in order to prevent life-threatening diseases in the future. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand here in celebration of women and their immeasurable contributions to this great Nation. As we pay tribute to the generations of women whose commitment to progress have proved invaluable to society, let us also renew our commitment to support women and the equal treatment of all in society, regardless of gender, race, or religion.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the Carson Women's Club, based in my congressional district, for the wonderful work it has accomplished over the years and their unwavering commitment to our local community. The Carson Women's Club was founded in 1968 as a non-profit, non- political organization with a mission to serve as the official hostess of the City of Carson by supporting and promoting scholarships, and by engaging in community service activities focused on making Carson stronger. The Carson Women's Club plays an active part in local charity work. For example, each year on the 4th of July, Club members bring food to the on-duty firefighters at all stations in Carson. The Club also sends Thanksgiving baskets to 15 adopted Carson elementary schools and organizes a Christmas toy drive for the children at the El Nido Center. Mr. Speaker, the Carson Women's Club is a shining example of civic commitment, mutual trust, respect, and equal treatment without regard to race, sex, or ethnicity. The Club promotes mutual cooperation between individuals of different backgrounds through its diverse membership and informative community engagement events. This past weekend, I had the opportunity to attend a Carson Women's Club event in my district honoring members of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first black military airmen in the United States. This heroic group of 13,000 young African American men overcame institutionalized racism to become one of the most distinguished fighter units in World War II. At the meeting, we were fortunate enough to be graced with the presence of Mr. Edward Tillmon, a surviving Tuskegee Airman who reminded us of the remarkable accomplishments of the Tuskegee Airmen-- both in and out of combat. Through his experience growing up in a segregated America, Mr. Tillmon learned that hard work and perseverance are the key to overcoming obstacles that seem impenetrable. Mr. Tillmon expressed his appreciation for the challenges and opportunities that accompanied his time at war, and his firm beliefs that the successes of the Tuskegee Airmen would not have been possible if it were not for the strong sense of camaraderie between the members. They were truly a band of brothers. Edward Tillmon continues to serve his nation by preserving the Tuskegee Airmen legacy through his association with the Los Angeles based ``Tuskegee Airmen Scholarship Foundation'', which was established in 1979 to provide annual scholarships to exceptional young students in their quest for academic excellence. Mr. Speaker, Edward Tillmon served his nation with pride, even at a time when African Americans were treated like second-class citizens. The legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen is one of courage and heroism in the face of adversity and their story has provided many with the inspiration necessary to achieve their goals. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize the contributions of the Carson Women's Club and Edward Tillmon and to thank them for their service to our community and our nation.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, today we honor enslaved African Americans with the unveiling of this great stone and marker once quarried by them for The Capitol of the United States. This dedicated marker will serve as a reminder to all who enter The Capitol of the hands and hearts that built this great place that fosters democracy at the highest level. I include a poem penned in honor of those enslaved African Americans by Albert Caswell. The poem is entitled, And From These Hands And . . . And from these hands . . . As now so stands A Temple to Liberty so very grand One of Freedom, for every child, woman, and man From these hands For out of their blood, sweat, and tears As upon this Hill as now so appears Is but a shrine to democracy so very clear From these hands Whether Captain Pointer, pointing the way Guiding those ships, As upon them this most sacred marble and stone so lay Or at the very top, How poignant, Reid so helped Freedom to keep watch Now both night and day So listen so closely here, As to heart speaks so clear Of what it took to build this great temple here And To Be Free Much effort and sacrifice indeed And as you enter your heart skips a beat Into the great Rotunda at night, as like a prayer Can you but not feel their very souls in there? All because these fine men, who once so persevered Oh how ironic as was this fate That this Temple of Freedom, Was so once built by slaves! From . . . These . . . Hands . . . which gave! As their souls are so now etched everywhere But look at what they so made As generations have so come to pass And new hands in this temple have labored steadfast All in our nation's struggle to so ask The ones, who have so fought against hatred so clear Trying to vanquish discrimination year after year Can you but not feel Martin's tears? And today, if they could all be here Would they but not so shed a tear? All at what they so see here So say a prayer, and all of these Who but with their hands and hearts, And souls so built this great Temple of Liberty The ones who so placed this great stone All in that fight All in Freedom's home, So one day we could all be here Free So on this day This marker of remembrance we now place All for what they so taught us, So gave As we see their great efforts all etched into this stone They made Like quarried stone, Freedom too does not come so easy! Only through such blood, sweat, and tears can this all be! In our lives, what have we made From . . . these . . . hands . . .

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, it is with a deep sadness and heavy heart that I rise today to pay tribute to Whitney Houston, a woman whose extraordinary voice touched the heart of America. Ms. Houston died on Saturday, February 11, 2012 in Beverly Hills. She was 48 years old. Ms. Houston's musical career began in 1985, when her debut album, Whitney Houston, was released and she became an instant musical sensation. She produced some of the most memorable music of her generation, including her signature hit, ``I Will Always Love You.'' Whitney Houston was one of the biggest names in the music industry and her accomplishments as a singer are many. In 2009, the Guinness World Records cited her as the most-awarded female act of all time. Her awards include two Emmy Awards, six Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, and 22 American Music Awards, among a total of 415 career awards in her lifetime. Houston was also one of the world's bestselling music artists, having sold over 200 million albums and singles worldwide. She will always be remembered as one of the greatest voices who ever graced the Earth. To have heard the voice of Whitney Houston was to have witnessed singing perfection. My heart goes out to her daughter, Bobbi Kristina, and all of her family and friends who are mourning the loss of this remarkable woman. Mr. Speaker, where do broken hearts go? Millions of hearts broke at the news that with her passing, we lost one of the greatest gifts of all; the pure joy we felt whenever Whitney sang one of those songs that made us get up and want to dance with somebody. Yes, we almost had it all. Whitney Houston left us too soon, but her remarkable voice will live in our hearts as one moment in time we will never forget. I request a moment of silence in her honor and memory.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor, remember and celebrate the life of Don Cornelius, the legendary creator and host of ``Soul Train,'' the ground-breaking television program that helped define my generation and revolutionized the way Americans--and millions of others around the world--learned, experienced, and loved soul music. Don Cornelius passed away on February 2, at the age of 75. ``Soul Train,'' which he hosted from 1971 to 1993, exposed African American recording artists and groups to national audiences and boosted the reach and popularity of every artist who appeared on the show. The list reads like a who's who of musical giants: Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5; James Brown, the ``Godfather of Soul,'' Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight and the Pips; the Temptations, the Supremes, Earth, Wind, and Fire; Marvin Gaye; Al Green; Chaka Khan, and the mighty, mighty Dells. Don Cornelius joined the Marines and was stationed in South Korea during the height of the Cold War. He later became a television journalist reporting on civil rights and urban issues. This background prepared him to conceive and make real ``Soul Train,'' which succeeded in using the love of good music to help bridge racial and social divisions in our country. As one of the millions of young girls who tuned in every week to ``Soul Train'' to sing and dance along with that week's musical guests, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to Don Cornelius for the sheer joy and happiness he brought to so many people and for ``Soul Train'' 's positive impact in bringing people of diverse backgrounds together around their shared love of good music and dance. We will always remember ``Soul Train,'' the iconic television show best known for its flamboyant colors, striking fashion, great music, revolutionary dance moves, and the famous ``Soul Train Line.'' Don Cornelius lived a consequential life. He made a difference. And for that, I conclude by wishing him, as he always concluded each ``Soul Train'' show by wishing us, as always, ``love, peace and soul!''

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, this February we recognize and celebrate the 36th commemoration of Black History Month. This month we celebrate the contributions of African Americans to the history of our great Nation, and pay tribute to trailblazers, pioneers, heroes, and leaders like Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, U.S. Senator Blanche Kelso Bruce, U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, Astronauts Dr. Guion Stewart Bluford Jr. and Mae C. Jemison, Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, James Baldwin, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, and Gwendolyn Brooks just to name a few of the countless number of well-known and unsung heroes whose contributions have helped our Nation become a more perfect union. The history of the United States has been marked by the great contributions of African American activists, leaders, writers, and artists. As a member of Congress, I know that I stand on the shoulders of giants whose struggles and triumphs made it possible for me to stand here today and continue the fight for equality, justice, and progress for all, regardless of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. Mr. Speaker, I particularly wish to acknowledge the contributions of African American women in shaping our Nation's history. As such, this Black History Month we honor groundbreaking ``Black Women in American Culture and History'' like U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Jordan; activists Harriet Tubman and Rosa Parks; astronaut Mae C. Jemison; authors Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, and Gwendolyn Brooks; all of whom have each in their own way, whether through courageous activism, cultural contributions, or artistic creativity, forged social and political change, and forever changed our great Nation for the better. As we celebrate Black History Month, let us pay tribute to those who have come before us, and pay forward to future generations by addressing what is the number one issue for African American families, and all American families today: preserving the American promise of economic opportunity for all. Our immediate focus must be job creation, and enacting legislation that will foster and lay the foundation for today's and tomorrow's generation of groundbreaking activists, leaders, scientists, writers and artists to continue contributing to the greatness of America. We must work to get Americans back to work. We must continue to preserve the American Dream for all. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand here in celebration of the heroic and historic acts of African Americans and their indispensible contributions to this great Nation. It is through our work in creating possibilities for today and future generations that we best honor the accomplishments and legacy of our predecessors.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Madam Chair, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 1173, a bill that would repeal the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports program (CLASS). Instead of repealing the CLASS Act and leaving millions of Americans in need of long-term care with the status quo, Congress should be working together to improve the program. Madam Chair, the CLASS program was designed to provide Americans with a voluntary long-term care insurance program that would make long-term care more affordable and accessible. Statistics show that there are currently over 10 million Americans in need of long-term care; by 2020, that number is expected to grow to 15 million. We have an obligation to ensure that those in need of long-term care have affordable options available to them. The United States is facing a long-term care crisis. With the Nation's baby boomers nearing retirement, we can expect to see the number of seniors in need of long-term continue to rise in the coming years. Due to the high costs of obtaining long-term support services, it is estimated that there are 52 million unpaid caregivers--mostly relatives of those in need--providing long-term care in the home. In my district, there are over 115,000 seniors and 12,557 residents collecting Social Security disability insurance--most of whom will most likely need long-term care services at some point in their lifetime. In addition, there are 85,444 of my constituents who are nearing retirement age and would benefit from the peace of mind of having insurance coverage for long-term care. Each year, families pay more than $50 billion out-of-pocket to provide long-term support services to loved ones. Many of these families are already hard-pressed financially, but do not have any other options available to them. Working to fix the CLASS program will provide working adults a national, voluntary, and premium-financed insurance program for the purchase of long-term care services and supports. Instead of working to fix the CLASS Act, the Republican majority is trying to repeal this important program in its entirety. Madam Chair, it is estimated that about 70 percent of people over 65 will require long-term care services at some point during their lifetime. Medicare covers only minimal long-term care services such as short-term skilled nursing care and limited home health services. Medicaid now accounts for nearly 50 percent of all long-term care spending nationwide. Unfortunately, Americans wishing to utilize Medicaid for long-term care services must impoverish themselves in order to qualify. In many cases, families are left with no choice but Medicaid after they are forced to spend down their income and assets to pay for costly long-term care services. Insurance policies in the private market which cover long-term care services are often too expensive for most Americans, and currently pay for only about 7 percent of spending on long-term care. Approximately only nine percent of Americans aged 50 or older have private insurance policies that cover long-term care services. The CLASS Act seeks to address the lack of available coverage by making long-term care services more accessible and affordable for working families. The CLASS Act provides a framework with which to build a viable long- term care program. Repealing this much needed program brings us back to square one in our effort to provide working families with a national insurance program that enables them to plan for their long-term care needs. Madam Chair, this is just another GOP attempt to dismantle the Affordable Care Act one piece at a time. The American people deserve better and Congress needs to work together to ensure that Americans of all income levels have access to long-term care services in the event that they become necessary. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote against passage of this misguided legislation that simply ignores the need to address our Nation's long-term care crisis.

Ms. RICHARDSON

Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the late Rosa Parks, whose extraordinary deeds and achievements performed with great moral and physical courage and quiet determination, make her one of the most consequential persons of the 20th Century. Rosa Parks, who was born 99 years ago today in Tuskegee, Alabama, ignited the modern civil rights movement in the United States in Montgomery, Alabama on December 1, 1955, when she refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man. Rosa Parks stood up for justice and equality by this simple act of sitting down. And her quiet courage and dedication to the cause of justice and equality led her to join Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and others in launching the Montgomery Bus Boycott, an act of civil disobedience that changed America, and forever coined Ms. Parks as the first lady of civil rights. Ms. Parks' act of quiet civil disobedience inspired similar protests, demonstrations, sit-ins, marches, and other non-violent direct action across the segregated south, including the ``Little Rock Nine'' in Little Rock, Arkansas in September 1957, where nine black students were blocked from entering the formerly all-white Central High School leading to government intervention; the famous ``Greensboro sit-in'' on February 1, 1960 where four black students refused to leave a Greensboro, North Carolina Woolworth's lunch counter after being refused service; the Freedom Rides during the Spring and Summer of 1961 in which young black and white students, referred to as ``freedom riders,'' began taking bus trips through the South to challenge Jim Crow practices banning integration in interstate transportation; and the 1965 ``March from Selma to Montgomery'' for voting rights, during which occurred ``Bloody Sunday,'' the event that shocked and horrified the Nation and led directly to the passage of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965. As a leading activist for civil rights and equality, Ms. Parks actively advocated for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and was present at the signing into law of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by President Johnson. Ms. Parks continued her work for civil equality and rights and served on the staff of U.S. Representative John Conyers. Her strong belief in the constitutional principles of equality and freedom led her to establish the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self-Development in 1977. The institute strives to teach children throughout the U.S. about the history of their country and of the civil rights movement. Her efforts in the fight for civil rights earned her the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1996, and the Congressional Gold Medal in 1999. Upon her death in 2005, Rosa Parks was the first woman and second non-U.S. government official granted the posthumous honor of lying in honor at the Capitol Rotunda. Hundreds of thousands of mourners came to pay their final respects to the ``First Lady of the Civil Rights Movement.'' Now, a year before the anniversary of her 100th birthday, her work lives on as we continue to fight for justice and equality in this Nation. As Ms. Parks once said, ``As long as there is unemployment, war, crime and all things that go to the infliction of man's inhumanity to man, regardless--there is much to be done, and people need to work together.'' Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand here in honor and remembrance of Rosa Parks, a heroine of courage and a pioneer for civil rights in the history of this Nation. I ask my colleagues to join me for a moment of silence in memory of the great Rosa Parks.