Jan Schakowsky

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Yes, I am opposed to the bill.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Chair, I want to say right now I believe--and it will be true, you will see--that Republicans will regret the repeal of ObamaCare. Hospitals in rural and underserved areas are panicking right now because they are finally getting paid through ObamaCare to serve low- income people. Jobs will be lost. Those hospitals could close. Thirty million people will lose their benefits. I want to tell you, on the Energy and Commerce Committee, I have been hearing for years ever since ObamaCare passed, all these horror stories that my Republican colleagues embrace as evidence that this thing isn't working. Never once have they been willing to sit down with us. We don't claim that the bill is perfect, but we know that there are millions and millions of people with preexisting conditions or who run out of insurance when they hit their lifetime caps. We know it has helped, and yet never has a Republican been willing to sit down with us and craft amendments that would make this legislation better. Repeal means that the Republicans will make Americans sick again.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I missed Roll Call vote numbers 26 through 31 because I was attending the President's farewell address. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: 26, H. Res 33, Previous Question, No; 27, H. Res. 33, Agreeing to the Resolution, No; 28, Journal, Approving the Journal, No; 29, H.R. 79, Velazquez of New York Amendment No. 1, Yes; 30, H.R. 79, Clay of Missouri Amendment No. 2, Yes; 31, H.R. 79, Passage, No.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize my friend Paul Booth for his lifetime of contributions to the progressive movement as an activist, organizer, mentor and leader. Throughout a remarkable career spanning more than half a century, his commitment to giving voice to the voiceless has been tenacious and unflagging. Born in 1943, Paul was raised in Washington, D.C. where he was imbued by his parents--a psychiatric social worker and a Social Security architect in the Roosevelt administration--with a public service ethic. While attending Swarthmore College, Paul also became an early leader, and eventually National Secretary, of Students for a Democratic Society, one of the most influential youth activism organizations in the nation's history. He was instrumental in crafting the Port Huron Statement, the clarion call of the student movement. In 1965, he organized the first march on Washington protesting the Vietnam War and the first sit-in at the Chase Manhattan Bank, bringing to light the bank's affiliation with the pro-apartheid regime in South Africa. As a young man, Paul brought his dogged activism to the labor movement, serving as a researcher at the Adlai Stevenson Institute and, beginning in 1966, as Research Director for the United Packinghouse Workers of America. Through Citizens Action Program, a major progressive organizing force in Chicago where I first got to know him, Paul co-chaired the first Metropolitan Alinsky Organization. It was in 1974 that Paul began his more than 40-year association with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). His innumerable contributions over the years--his strong leadership, organizing skills and strategic acumen--have made AFSCME a union powerhouse and fundamentally improved the lives of millions of working people. Paul helped organize and found AFSCME Council 31 in Illinois. As its Assistant Director, Paul's many accomplishments included securing the first union contract for 40,000 state workers and 7,000 city of Chicago employees. He also negotiated historic pay-equity provisions for city workers. And as an ally of Mayor Harold Washington, Paul helped defeat the old patronage machine and build a diverse, multi-racial union. In 1988, Paul brought his experience and expertise to AFSCME headquarters in Washington. There, as Director of Field Services, he laid the groundwork for the formation of AFSCME--United Nurses of America and AFSCME--Corrections United. As Assistant to President Gerald McEntee and Executive Assistant to President Lee Saunders, Paul helped shape the strategic goals of the union, as well as the labor movement as a whole. As he retires from AFSCME effective February 28, he leaves behind a rich legacy and a lasting record of achievement. Paul met his partner in life and work, Heather, 50 years ago at a University of Chicago anti-war sit-in that she helped organize. Always ardent in his pursuit of a goal, he proposed to her three days later. Together, they've channeled their shared interests into The Midwest Academy, a training institute committed to advancing the struggle for social, economic and racial justice. Paul continues to mentor the next generation of activists and fight for workers' rights through his leadership in numerous projects and organizations, including Jobs with Justice and Restaurant Opportunities Centers United. Paul has passed along his passion for social justice to his sons, Gene and Dan. They, along with his daughters-in-law and five grandchildren, are a source of unending happiness and pride. For Paul, I know that more time with all of them will be the best part of retirement. On a personal note, I want to express my gratitude to Paul for being an inspiration, teacher and, above all, a dear friend to me over the last many decades. For his devotion to family, progressive leadership and ceaseless advocacy for the dignity of all, I'm pleased to recognize Paul Booth and wish him the very best in life's next chapter.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Amendment XIV, section 1: ``All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; . . .''

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I stand here as a proud Jew and someone who, throughout my entire life, has been an advocate for the State of Israel, and I am standing here to oppose H. Res. 11. As a Member of Congress, I have been committed to maintaining America's unwavering support for Israel, which has lasted from the very first moments of Israel's existence. The U.S.-Israel bond is unbreakable, despite the fact that the United States' administrations have not always agreed with the particular policies of an Israeli Government. Contrary to the assertions of H. Res. 11, the U.S. has often expressed those differences in the context of the United Nations. Presidents, from Lyndon Johnson to George W. Bush, have each vetoed and sometimes voted for a U.N. resolution contrary to the wishes of Israel's Government at the time. Only the Obama administration, until 2 weeks ago, never, ever cast a vote against what Israel wanted. But opposition to the building of settlements on land belonging to Palestinians before the 1967 war--with the exception of the land, of course, that is going to be swapped, agreed to by both parties--has been the official U.S. policy for many decades, contrary, again, to the assertions of H. Res. 11. It has also been the policy of the United States to recognize that the only long-term solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict--the violence, the loss of life--is to create two states: one for the Palestinians and one for Israel. A two-state solution is the only way Israel can continue as both a democratic and a Jewish state, living in the peace and security that has eluded her from the very beginning. The building of settlements is an obstacle to achieving that goal. And, of course, settlements aren't the only obstacle to Israeli- Palestinian peace. The U.S. resolution reiterates the Palestinian Authority security forces must continue to counter terrorism and condemn all of the provocations.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. I urge a ``no'' vote.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman, both for yielding and for his kind words. I appreciate that. I also thank my colleague across the aisle for his support for this resolution. H. Res. 932 calls for action on unauthorized phone charges slipped onto consumer phone bills. As my colleague pointed out, that is called cramming. Charges listed on your phone bill don't necessarily come from your phone company. Phone companies allow third parties to place charges on phone bills. Sometimes that can be a convenience. If you are texting a donation, that charge may also be indicated on your phone bill. However, consumers may end up paying charges that they never authorized in the first place, and scammers can cram the bill with small fees that can add up to significant sums over time. The Federal Communications Commission estimates that the placement of unauthorized charges, known as cramming, has harmed tens of millions of Americans. Most of those phony charges go unnoticed. If you look at your phone bill, they may be listed as something vague like ``monthly fee'' or ``service charge.'' My resolution calls for action to stop this fraud. Consumer watchdogs have already taken some important steps. In 2014 and 2015, the Federal Communications Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Federal Trade Commission, and State attorneys general reached settlements with major wireless carriers on cramming. Under those settlements, wireless carriers must disclose and obtain consumer consent for third-party charges on their customers' wireless bills. While those settlements were an important step, we still have gaps in our consumer protections. The cramming settlement only covers wireless customers, and those protections are time-limited. Landline customers are only protected if their phone company takes action voluntarily. So consumers really do need strong, ongoing protections against cramming, regardless of which phone company they use and whether they purchase wireless, landline, or bundled phone services. That is why we offer this resolution expressing the sentiment of the House that protections against cramming should be improved and consumers should be empowered to stop unwanted charges. Again, this resolution is only a first step. I urge every phone company to ensure that their customers understand and consent to any extra charges placed on their phone bills. In the next Congress, I am hopeful that the Energy and Commerce Committee push for stronger cramming protections through hearings and, when necessary, legislation. As we take this important first step, I do want to thank my cosponsors on this resolution: Congressman Gene Green, a member of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee; Congressman Grijalva; Congressman Honda; and Congresswoman Bustos. I also thank Chairman Upton and Ranking Member Pallone on the full Committee, and Chairman Walden and Ranking Member Eshoo on the Communications and Technology Subcommittee for working with us to bring this resolution to the floor. Today I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and I look forward to working with all of you to realize this resolution's goal: No more phony charges.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler), the distinguished member on our team of the select panel.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I just find it so hypocritical that the majority is talking about putting peoples' private names out into the public when we have had people who have been attacked and lives threatened as a result of them putting names out there. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. DelBene), another distinguished member of our select panel.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. DeGette), not only someone who has been such a stalwart for women's rights and reproductive rights, but the co-chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus in the House of Representatives. (Ms. DeGETTE asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs. Watson Coleman).

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. Esty).

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for yielding the time to me, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to this legislation to fund the select investigative panel, the panel that we call the select panel to attack women's health. It really shouldn't come as any surprise that one of the very first things that the Republicans have done coming back now to Washington is to approve additional funding for this select so-called investigative panel, doubling its budget and putting it on track to spend nearly $1.6-million taxpayer funds by the end of this year. This investigation is essentially built on a pack of lies that are perpetrated by anti-abortion extremists and has never been and has no chance of becoming a fact-based investigation. The panel Republicans have continually relied on, even today, doctored videotapes, so-called evidence, even though that evidence and those videotapes have been discredited already by three House committees, 13 States, and a Texas grand jury. Throughout this investigation, Republicans have abused congressional authority, issuing 42 unilateral subpoenas in violation of House rules, demanding that clinics and universities name names of their doctors, students, and staff, and releasing some of these names knowing that doing so puts lives in danger, a truly McCarthyesque attack on individuals. They have compared researchers to Nazi war criminals and echoed the words of anti-abortion activists that were also used by a gunman who shot 12 people, killing 3 at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs. Despite Republicans' failure to find any evidence of wrongdoing, they continue to make inflammatory, grotesque allegations to justify the panel's existence, and, by their words and actions, have put lifesaving research and women's health care at risk. The panel has already had a chilling effect on research, drying up the supply of needed tissue for research on multiple sclerosis and threatening research on other diseases from A to Z, Alzheimer's to Zika. Fetal tissue research has historically had broad, bipartisan support. It is the basis for key vaccines that have saved, literally, millions and millions of lives, including the polio vaccine. That is why over 60 of our Nation's leading medical institutions released an open letter in support of scientific research using fetal tissue. We cannot afford to let a set of reckless and irresponsible claims stop this vital medical research. This panel and its investigation are a disgrace to this House of Representatives. We need to end this dangerous and unjustified witch hunt, and, instead of providing more funding for this divisive and dangerous inquisition, Congress should shut down this panel and put an end to its shameful proceedings. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, let me just say that bogus referrals do not a conviction make, and that StemExpress had offered many times to come in with its procurement officers and answer all the questions. They were denied that. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Clark).

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, if I could inquire how much time I have left.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of the amendment in the Record along with extraneous material immediately prior to the vote on the previous question.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee).

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Frankel).

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutch).