Rashida Tlaib

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, I really appreciate the leadership and guidance by Congressman Thompson as he leads our effort with the task force. I have learned so much about some of the work that has been done prior to getting here and knowing, again, we are taking steps, but we know that we need to move with urgency. I know 205 of my Democratic colleagues have signed a discharge position to bring the assault weapons ban to the House floor for a vote. I don't know how many more mass shootings it will take for Republicans to finally join us. These weapons of war have been used in many of the deadliest mass shootings in our history and are the weapons of choice for shooters to kill as many people as possible as quickly as possible. From 1994, Mr. Speaker, to 2004, while American families were protected by the assault weapons ban, there were 40 percent fewer shootings. Since the ban expired in 2004, gun violence has massacred our communities. A bullet fired by an assault weapon can tear a softball-sized wound into victims. Imagine a child. There is no reason that anyone needs a weapon that can fire up to 60 rounds per minute. Weapons of war designed to hunt human beings have no place in our communities, our schools, our places of worship, or on our streets. It is shameful that many Republican colleagues care more about securing funding from the NRA than saving the lives of our children. Their inaction has left our communities devastated and families torn apart. The trauma of being survivors of gun violence is real. We cannot afford to wait any longer. We owe it to the victims, to survivors, to our children. We must honor them with action by banning assault weapons. Maite, a 10-year-old child who was killed in Uvalde, deserves us to act today. She deserves us to do more to save lives.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, Israel's own President Herzog is going to come before Congress tomorrow. He has long advocated against interracial marriages. Did you all know that? Do you care? He said it on a news segment. Look it up. When he came to America, he said: ``I encountered something that I called an actual plague. I saw my friends' children married or coupled with non-Jewish partners.'' Israel is an apartheid state. The Israeli Government is deeply problematic in the way that they are proceeding in the structure of oppression. Mr. Speaker, just like I speak up against injustices here in America, this is about speaking up against violence. Congress must stop funding apartheid.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Chair, just to be clear, this amendment does not change the size of our nuclear forces. It merely allows for reasonable consideration and debate in the future, especially around de- escalation. Again, our history shows during the Cold War, it was critical. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer), my good colleague.

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Chair, I would like to begin by thanking Ranking Member Smith, Mr. McGovern, and their staffs for working with us on this critically important amendment and for their leadership throughout this NDAA process. As we know, Mr. Chair, with war criminals threatening to use nuclear weapons and serious tensions along NATO's eastern border and in the South China Sea, today's world is being redefined by escalating tensions between major nuclear powers. We don't have to look far back in history to see the danger here. The Cold War was full of near misses and numerous crises that could have gotten out of control and ended in nuclear war. We are now entering a period of dangerous nuclear competition. As such, we must remember one of the key lessons that the Cold War taught us about nukes: We must preserve the ability to quickly step back from the brink and clearly signal de-escalation when necessary. Unfortunately, the current draft of the NDAA includes a provision that prohibits our country from doing just that. Specifically, this dangerous provision makes it impossible for our country to reduce our stockpiles of intercontinental ballistic missiles, ICBMs, for any reason, with no exceptions. This inflexible policy was created and implemented by lawmakers in promotion of economic considerations and not national security priorities, Mr. Chair. Making national security decisions with the potential to end humanity based on so-called economic considerations is simply ridiculous. It is dangerous. While we preserve this insanely expensive weapon that is obsolete, many children in my district go to schools without clean drinking water. Maintaining this incredibly large stockpile of these weapons isn't even necessary in maintaining a credible deterrent. The U.K., France, India, and China all have very credible nuclear deterrents with much smaller stockpiles, Mr. Chair. The shortsighted policy places serious and concerning restraints on the President of the United States, the United States Congress, and the Department of Defense's ability to consider and modify the role ICBMs play in our nuclear arsenal and our national defense, and it unnecessarily wastes taxpayer dollars in the process. Preserving our ability to reduce our nuclear stockpiles proved key to reducing tensions, Mr. Chair, and achieving commonsense, planet-saving arms control agreements during the Cold War. Just as we have the ability to increase our nuclear defense in times of crisis, we must have the ability to reduce our nuclear forces when it is in our interest. To be clear, Mr. Chair, this amendment does not change the size of our nuclear forces. It merely allows for reasonable consideration and debate in the future. Mr. Chair, as the mother of two who dreams of a world where our children and families are freed from threat and fear of nuclear war, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time. I just want to be clear with my colleagues. This amendment gives our government more options that could avoid our world ending in nuclear war. It is that simple. It doesn't reduce. It doesn't increase. It literally allows for real consideration and debate and allows the President of the United States and the Department of Defense to make those decisions. It is a commonsense amendment. Really, I think it is incredibly important, especially, again, at a time of watching what is going on in our world right now and what happened during the Cold War. It is important for us to be able to de-escalate when needed, for us to be able to again make more thoughtful decisions, not based on this kind of scare tactic of let's do more, let's get this out there and everything without actually considering some of the really important factors that are around these very dangerous, again, world-ending weapons that we have that could end in nuclear war in our world. It is very, very important, again, for all my colleagues to understand: This is not about reducing. This is about actually having more options. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the achievement and historic accomplishment of these wonderful young people who are part of the Heroes' Alliance Vehicle Technology Team. This group of high school students from our district just won the 2022 National Solar Car Challenge within their division. Heroes' Alliance was founded in 2009 by the late Pastor Reggie Lane who established the organization to engage and create opportunities for underserved youth in Detroit. This vision now is being led by the dynamic Anika Smith. Right now, these young people are going to Texas to drive the vehicle from Texas to California and compete in the 2023 national competition. The Heroes' Alliance is a STEM program that challenges students to develop innovative technology focusing on renewable energy and automotive engineering. Today, the project serves as a capstone for students who participate in the Heroes' Alliance Cooperative Learning Center, which utilizes vehicle technology for the basis of bringing together education, innovation, and industry as students work together to design and engineer a solar vehicle. I am so proud of this hardworking, talented, group of young people from various schools all across the city of Detroit and want to congratulate them on their achievements. Please join me in recognizing them as we also cheer them on to victory. Recognizing Mother Patricia ``Pat'' Braxton

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, today I recognize Mother Patricia ``Pat'' Braxton, as we call her, ``Mother Pat,'' a legacy of our community, as she celebrates 75 years of life. In all the years I have known Mother Pat, she has been an active public servant and advocate. Her passion for our local and global community shines through in everything she does. She is known not only as the matriarch of her family, but also as a mentor for many women of color serving in public service. She is one of our legacy legends of the O'Hair Park community, and we absolutely adore her. Mother Pat never shies away from a challenge, Mr. Speaker. Her compassion and kindness toward others have had a lasting impact on those around her, including myself. We are grateful for her tireless energy and outstanding example. Please join me in recognizing Mother Pat Braxton for her advocacy, hard work, and dedication as we celebrate her 75 years of life.

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, here is a heartbreaking fact about the reality of war: Every single day in our country, about 17 veterans die by suicide. That is 17 families whose lives will never be the same. I am thinking of one of our mothers in the 12th Congressional District, Lisa Hicks-Clayton, who mourns her son, Damon, every day. We must work harder than ever to ensure that no veteran is left behind and those serving in our military receive the mental health support that they need to survive. We know that our servicemembers face mental health crises that are heightened by their experiences at war. The forever wars, Mr. Speaker, of the past decades have left behind immense trauma. Far too often, our own government and this Congress fail to provide our servicemembers and veterans with the support they need and deserve. If we cannot provide the necessary care and support for our servicemembers and veterans, then we should not be sending them off to war. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers free confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for those experiencing a mental health crisis or contemplating suicide. Veterans can use this new option by dialing 988 and pressing 1 to contact the Veterans Crisis Line. We must break the stigma surrounding mental health issues and create an environment where our veterans and servicemembers feel supported asking for help. My amendment ensures that information about the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is posted in commonsense locations to maximize awareness about this lifesaving resource among our servicemembers. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to please support this amendment. Suicide prevention should not be a partisan issue. If you are a veteran or a servicemember in crisis, please reach out for the support you need. You are not alone. Celebrating Heroes' Alliance

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the achievement the historic accomplishment of the Heroes' Alliance Vehicle Technology Team, a group of high school students from our district that won the 2022 national Solar Car Challenge within their division. Heroes' Alliance was founded in 2009 by the late Pastor Reginald M. Lane, who established the organization in response to the educational and residential climates existing in the city of Detroit at that time. The Heroes' Alliance is a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) program that challenges students to develop innovative technology focusing on renewable energy and automotive engineering. Today the project serves as a capstone for students who participate in the Heroes' Alliance Cooperative Learning Center, which utilizes vehicle technology for the basis of bringing together education, innovation, and industry as students work together to design and engineer a solar vehicle. This summer, their journey will culminate in the Solar Car Challenge, a cross-country race from Fort Worth, Texas to Palmdale, California. The students will face rigorous tests and evaluations to demonstrate the capabilities of their solar-powered vehicle. I am so proud of this hard-working and talented group of young people from various schools in Metro Detroit and want to congratulate them on their achievements. Please join me in recognizing Michigan's Heroes' Alliance Vehicle Technology Team, as we cheer them on to victory.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, today I want to recognize Mother Patricia ``Pat'' Braxton, a legacy of our community, as she celebrates 75 years of life. In all the years I have known Mother Pat, she has been an active public servant and advocate. Her passion for our local and global community shines through in everything she does. She is known not only as the matriarch of her family, but also as a mentor for many women of color who are in public office. She is one of the key members of the O'Hair Park Community Association. Mother Pat never shies away from a challenge. Her compassion and kindness towards others have had a lasting impact on those around her, including myself. We are grateful for her tireless energy and outstanding example. Please join me in recognizing Mother Pat Braxton for her advocacy, hard work, and dedication as we celebrate her 75th birthday.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, today I want to recognize Fire Chief Catherine Harman for her 40 years of fire service to the people of Garden City and Michigan's 12th District Strong. Chief Harman began her career as a firefighter and paramedic with the Detroit Fire Department, where she served for 10 years. She went on to serve the community of Garden City 30 more years, 13 of those as Fire Chief. As a fire service professional, Chief Harman is one of only 5 percent of women in the United States who have a career in fire service. In her role as fire chief, she has blazed the trail for countless women and sets an example for young people everywhere. Chief Harman has done an outstanding job of leading the 21 members strong Garden City Fire Department, including persevering through the challenges of serving the public through a global pandemic. Under Chief Harman's leadership, there has been tremendous improvement in improving fire safety across the community. Please join me in recognizing Garden City Fire Chief Catherine Harman for her outstanding service the people of Michigan's 12th District as we wish her well on her retirement.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, today I want to recognize Barbara Talley, a long-time resident of Southfield in Michigan's 12th District Strong, for her leadership in the civil rights movement and numerous contributions to the community. Known locally as the ``Mother of Civil Rights.'' Ms. Talley blazed the trail for women of color to pursue elected office by being elected as the first African American to serve on Southfield's City Council. She has worked tirelessly to elevate the voices of people of color and championed issues that would create a more equitable and better quality of life for all. During her two terms of service on Southfield's City Council, Ms. Talley initiated an Affirmative Action Plan for hiring more diverse police, fire, management personnel and elevating women in city government. In 1985. she founded the Southfield Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Task Force and held the first annual Peace Walk and Program, which continues to be one of the largest events honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King in the state of Michigan. In 2008, she coordinated a Peace Mission to Liberia, West Africa to meet President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and conducted several workshops aimed at helping to heal trauma of the Liberian Civil War on teen soldiers. She is the author of a book entitled Pathways to Interfaith Dialogue: An Innovative Model for Peace and Community Building. She formerly served as the executive director of Detroit Renaissance District Peace Center at Hope United Methodist Church. As a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Ms. Talley continues to promote their mission of service as a member of the Southfield Alumnae Chapter and as a Delta Dear. She remains active with the Task Force, Hope Church and the sorority. She is also a member of the National Congress of Black Women and Southfield Historical Society. Mother Talley has been a paragon of public service, a promoter of peace and equity, and a fearless leader in the civil rights movement in Southfield and beyond. Please join me in recognizing her leadership and dedication.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, I rise to uplift one of my LGBTQ+ neighbors. His name is Sergio Martinez. During this Pride Month, I recognize Sergio's activism and leadership in the immigrant rights movement in Detroit. Sergio is an inspiring DACA recipient. He came here at 5 years old, but that didn't stop him from giving back to the community. He grew up proudly in southwest Detroit and serves on the board of Michigan United, leading the Detroit Immigrants Rights Organizing Committee. He is a passionate advocate for legal protection of our undocumented neighbors and a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, TPS holders, farmworkers and essential workers. Sergio also believes that housing is a human right and was recently appointed to the new statewide housing advisory board by Governor Whitmer. This Pride Month, join me in honoring Sergio Martinez, a trailblazing LGBTQ+ leader in our community. We thank him for his commitment in advancing equality and justice in Detroit and across Michigan.

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, firearms are now the leading cause of death for our children in the United States. This is the reality that we are living with, and it is one that we should refuse to accept. Every day, over 100 Americans are killed from gun violence and more than 200 people are shot and wounded. These are not just statistics, Mr. Speaker, they are human beings with lives and futures, with mothers, friends and loved ones. It is sickening that the NRA and the gun lobby have bankrolled many of my colleagues in this Chamber into silence and inaction on this issue. Many of these deaths involve the accidental discharge of a firearm, often by a child, including a number of recent tragic incidents in southeastern Michigan. Just this month, there was a horrific incident where a 2-year-old gained access to an unsecured gun and was tragically killed. It is alarming that 4.6 million children in our country live in homes with loaded and unlocked firearms. This is Gun Violence Awareness Month, and I am proud to introduce the Safe Storage Saves Lives Act with colleagues like Rosa DeLauro, Max Frost, and Robin Kelly to reduce firearm deaths among our children. This legislation requires every firearms seller to provide a gun lock or a gun safety device every single time that a firearm is sold in the United States. Far too often, Mr. Speaker, gun owners fail to properly secure their weapons with tragic consequences leading to accidental deaths, preventable suicides, and on several occasions, school shootings and other mass violence. These deaths are preventable through proper gun storage and safety. When used correctly, a gun lock or secure gun storage or safety device makes it impossible for the gun to be fired. Gun locks, Mr. Speaker, like this one, have already saved countless lives, and requiring their use is key to combating America's gun violence crisis. This bill does work in tandem with Representative DeLauro's Ethan's Law, which mandates safe storage, requiring gun owners to secure their firearms in their home. However, this crisis must be tackled with even more urgency because our children's lives depend on it. Madam Speaker, this gun lock was $10 and $10 could save the life of a child. These gun locks are a commonsense solution that every Member of this body should support. This should not be controversial. Keeping firearms out of the hands of our children should not be a partisan issue. I will not stop fighting until Congress finally takes action to end the gun violence epidemic in our country. We must honor the lives of those killed with action. Our communities deserve better, Mr. Speaker. Our families deserve better, and our kids deserve so much more than prayers. Honoring Sergio Martinez

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Caribbean American Heritage Month to celebrate the contributions of Caribbean- Americans to Michigan's 12th Congressional District and all across our Nation. National Caribbean American Heritage Month was first recognized in 2005. This was the culmination of many years of efforts by organizations around the world to spotlight the numerous contributions to our Nation. Caribbean Community Services, a nonprofit organization based in Detroit, Michigan, has proudly uplifted that history. They routinely host numerous events that celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the Caribbean and its impact on our communities in southeastern Michigan. I am incredibly proud of the important work Caribbean Social Services undertakes to foster diverse and welcoming communities. I especially want to highlight their leadership in ensuring these contributions are recognized and valued as we celebrate Caribbean American Heritage Month. Please join me in recognizing National Caribbean American Heritage Month and the contributions of Caribbean Americans across our Nation and the 12th Congressional District.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, today I want to recognize Battalion Chief Brian Keith for his 24 years of service with the Dearborn Fire Department in Michigan's 12th District Strong. Battalion Chief Keith began his career as a firefighter with the Dearborn Fire Department in 1999. Over the past 24 years, he has served in numerous roles and has remained steadfast in his commitment to service and keeping our communities safe. Battalion Chief Keith has been recognized many times over the course of his career in Dearborn for his exemplary record, including lifesaving, valor and for his military service. He has also been awarded the esteemed John D. Dingell Medal of Freedom Memorial Commendation in 2019. Please join me in recognizing Battalion Chief Brian Keith for his 24 years of outstanding service to the people of Dearborn in Michigan's 12th District Strong as we wish him well in his retirement.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, for far too long for-profit charter schools have operated without accountability. Without the necessary oversight for charter schools, our children will continue to suffer while taxpayers bankroll charter school fraud, waste, and abuse. I know our children deserve better, and this is why this week I am introducing the Charter Oversight, Accountability, and Transparency Act, which we call the COAT Act. I am doing this with Representative Bowman and Representative Wilson to help strengthen our country's public education system by promoting the same type of accountability from charter schools nationwide that the law requires of our public school systems. Charter schools are publicly funded, Madam Speaker, but are managed by private charter management organizations. This bill would require these management organizations to file financial disclosures to the Department of Education in order to receive Federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act funds. Michigan's experiment with charters has led to a system of poor-run schools for for-profit companies, failing thousands of our students. The COAT Act is commonsense legislation that will increase transparency and accountability to ensure that charter schools provide necessary information to local, State, and Federal agencies to detect and prevent fraud and abuse. Ending Auto Insurance Discrimination

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, during Pride Month, I honor a trailblazer in our community, Mother Ruth Ellis, a former Detroit resident who was the oldest surviving open lesbian and an LGBTQ+ rights activist. She was born in 1899, living until the age of 101. She came out as a lesbian around 1915. She took in unhoused LGBTQ+ youth, and her home became known as a refuge for LGBTQ+ young people. We now lovingly call it the Ruth Ellis Center. Not only did she give shelter to our young people but provided books, food, even assistance with college education. Around 40 percent of our unhoused youth today are LGBTQ+. My team and I were proud to secure $1 million in Federal funding for the Ruth Ellis Center in our community to honor Mother Ruth Ellis and her lifesaving work. Mr. Speaker, the center provides safe, affordable, identity-affirming housing for those in need, especially, again, our LGBTQ+ young people. This month, as we celebrate Pride Month, we recognize and honor the legacy of Ruth Ellis and the incredible advocacy of the Ruth Ellis Center and their team.

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, I don't know what our education level, marital status, or credit scores have to do with how much our auto insurance rates should be. The Prohibit Auto Insurance Discrimination Act, PAID Act, that I introduced with Congresswoman Watson Coleman, who has led this effort, as well as Congressman Takano, would end insurance discrimination. It would prohibit auto insurance companies from using our education levels, occupation, employment status, credit scores, previous insurer information, ZIP Code, census tracts, or homeownership status in insurance rating or underwriting decisions. Auto insurance discrimination continues to keep our residents in the cycle of poverty, Mr. Speaker. Your education level, ZIP Code, and marital status don't determine whether or not you are a good driver; neither does your credit score. Yet our neighbors, especially in Detroit, regularly face higher auto insurance rates than other folks. Someone with a perfect driving record--no tickets, crashes, or claims--who has poor credit can pay hundreds of thousands of dollars more for auto insurance, sometimes twice as much. I read somewhere that somebody with a DUI, drinking under the influence, with a higher credit score was paying three times less than someone with a lower credit score but no DUI violation. We must stop the predatory discrimination practices by auto insurance companies. This is why I urge my colleagues to support the PAID Act to help level the playing field and eliminate factors, proxies to discriminate, that contribute to our growing inequality. Honoring Ruth Ellis

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, I don't think my colleagues on the other side are aware that it is Gun Violence Awareness Month, which should actually be every month. We have already had over 290 mass shootings this year. That is more mass shootings than days in the year. It is time for us to come together to try to address the horrific gun crisis. It is tearing our communities apart, Mr. Speaker, by our legislative inaction every single day. So how do we start Gun Violence Awareness Month? They are pushing a bill that would make mass shootings even more deadly. You heard that right, Mr. Speaker. The plan is for them to raise awareness around gun violence in our country, to make it more horrific and more deadly, and to ensure it impacts more American families than ever before by making it easier to access stabilizing braces that have been misused and that have been used for mass shootings. It is not just mass shootings, Mr. Speaker. It is everyday violence that doesn't even make the news anymore. It is a travesty that campaign cash from the NRA, gun manufacturers, and the pro-death lobby have blocked the major reforms we need to keep our communities safe. Our communities need an assault weapons ban. We need reforms on handguns and bold initiatives to reduce the number of firearms in our communities. Most of all, Mr. Speaker, we need accountability for the people who are causing this violence because the gun violence crisis is enabling more people in power unwilling to do anything to stop the mass murder of countless Americans, especially our children. I look forward to supporting future legislation that truly does fight the crisis with the urgency it deserves instead of pouring more fuel on the fire like this disgusting Republican bill.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I was blessed to have grown up in southwest Detroit. This is where over 20 different ethnicities live, and every neighborhood has their own flavor in how they show up for each other. This is why I am so grateful that I secured $1.5 million in funding for American Indian Health and Family Services as they expand their healthcare and mental health services to our families. This healthcare center is tucked in a residential street between homes where people can walk to get the services that they need. Expanding their efforts will change lives in a meaningful way, and I am so proud to have been part of that. Auto Insurance Discrimination