Rashida Tlaib

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today in tribute to Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Jefferson, whose heroic service as a Tuskegee Airman in World War II was recognized this week in a rededication ceremony of Jefferson Field, and it was done on his 100th birthday. A graduate of Detroit public schools, Alexander Jefferson pursued a military career and completed pilot training at the Tuskegee Army Airfield. As a fighter pilot with the Red Tail, 332nd Fighter Group 301 Fighter Squadron, his unit escorted bombers headfirst into action, bravely providing protection from vicious enemy aircraft. They never lost a single plane. On August 12, 1944, Jefferson was shot down and captured by the Germans and kept as a prisoner of war for 9 months. He was liberated by the American forces on the 29th of April, 1945, and discharged from Active Duty in 1947. After serving our country, Lieutenant Colonel Jefferson continued his public service by becoming a science teacher in Detroit, where he would retire as an assistant principal in 1979. He has numerous awards for his bravery and I am honored to recognize Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Jefferson on this celebration of service to our country, and wish him also a beautiful, wonderful 100th birthday.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize numerous contributions of Hassan Jaber to the communities of Wayne County, Michigan, as he retires after more than 40 years of service to ACCESS. During his time in ACCESS, Hassan Jaber has been a leader in expanding its programming to include more than 100 platforms in 10 locations to assist residents across the region. He has created partnerships locally and nationally to advocate for policy initiatives to fight bigotry, advance civil rights, and create a better quality of life for immigrants and other vulnerable populations. I know Hassan Jaber personally. With every obstacle, he never wavered in leading with compassion and keeping the community at the center of his work. Hassan Jaber's leadership and forward-thinking approach have solidified his legacy as a community leader. His mentorship helped me grow into the passionate advocate I am today. Please join me in recognizing Hassan Jaber's work on behalf of residents of Michigan's 13th Congressional District and southeastern Michigan as we wish him well on the next chapter in his life.

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the memory of Batoul Alfadawi, a resident of Dearborn Heights in Michigan's 13th District. Her life was tragically cut short at the age of 6 years old from a hit-and-run. Batoul was a sweet girl with a beautiful soul. She had a huge enthusiasm for life and a joyful spirit. Batoul loved learning, spending time with her family, and playing with her friends. I know her parents and six siblings will miss her immensely. Mr. Speaker, please join me in paying tribute to the memory of Batoul, and please say a prayer for her family. Honoring Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Jefferson

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today in tribute to Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Jefferson, one of the most decorated pilots in Michigan, whose heroic service as a Tuskegee Airman in World War II is being recognized in a rededication ceremony for Jefferson Field, named in his honor in Detroit, Michigan. Born in Detroit, Michigan on the 15th of November 1921, Lieutenant Colonel Jefferson grew up flying model airplanes in the same field that is now named for him. He graduated from Detroit's Chadsey High School in Detroit and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Clark College in Atlanta, Georgia. He did graduate work in Chemistry at Howard University and earned a Master of Science in Education from Wayne State University in Detroit. Following three months of combat training in Selfridge Field, Michigan, Lieutenant Colonel Jefferson graduated from a pilot training course at the Tuskegee Army Airfield. He served as a P-51 fighter pilot with the Red Tail, 332nd Fighter Group 301st Fighter Squadron in Ramitelli, Italy. Over the course of 18 long range escort missions deep into enemy territory, he bravely provided protection from vicious enemy aircraft. His unit escorted bombers headfirst into the action. They never lost a single plane. On August 12, 1944, three days before the invasion of Southern France, Lieutenant Colonel Jefferson was shot down while firing at German radar stations on the coast. He was captured by the Germans and kept as a prisoner of war for nine months, ninety miles from Berlin. There, he witnessed firsthand the atrocities committed by the Nazis. He was liberated by the American forces on the 29th of April 1945 and was discharged from active duty in 1947. He retired from the reserves in 1969 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After the end of the war, Lieutenant Colonel Jefferson became an elementary school science teacher in Detroit, where he would retire as an assistant principal in 1979. A member of various church, educational, and alumni organizations, as well as one of the founders of the Detroit Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen. He is a member of the Tuskegee Airman Speaker Bureau, a life member of the Silver Falcon Association, and has served as an Admissions Counselor for the U.S. Air Force Academy. He has received numerous awards and accolades for his bravery and his selfless service for our country, including a Purple Heart Medal, an Air Medal, a POW medal, an Air Force Achievement Medal, and many, many more. On October 14, 1995, Lieutenant Colonel Jefferson was inducted into the Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame. Pleae join me in recognition of Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Jefferson on this celebration of his lifelong service to our country.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today in tribute to Rock of Ages Missionary Baptist Church, a house of worship in Detroit, Michigan, as its members celebrate the church's fiftieth anniversary, as well as fifty years under the leadership of Pastor Jerome R. McAfee. The church began in the humble home of Pastor and Sister Jerome McAfee. Starting with a small congregation of fourteen worshippers, the church has moved several times throughout the city of Detroit. Worshippers have found solace from Gratiot Street to Van Dyke, eventually growing large enough and moving to their current place of worship on Evergreen street. The church has continued to be inspired by the singular goal of spreading the gospel, and they have structured several ministries allowing their members to serve and carry out the mission of the church. Rock of Ages Missionary Baptist Church has enriched the lives of so many--whether that be the members of the congregation or the recipients of their volunteer work, the church has been an important part of the community. As the church continues to grow into the future, it will remain a welcoming environment full of prayer, praise, fellowship, and mutual aid, where every person is a valued member of a beautiful community. This legacy lives on in the inspiring longevity of Pastor McAfees service. Please join me in tribute to Pastor Jerome R. McAfee and the members of Rock of Ages Missionary Baptist Church as we recognize its fiftieth anniversary.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, today, I rise to recognize the numerous outstanding contributions of Hassan Jaber to the communities of Wayne County, Michigan, as he retires after more than 40 years of service from ACCESS. During his four decades at ACCESS, Hassan Jaber has been instrumental in shepherding its growth and expansion. He has been a leader in expanding ACCESS' programming to include more than one hundred platforms and ten locations to assist residents across Wayne County and southeastern Michigan. Hassan Jaber created partnerships locally and nationally to advocate for policy initiatives to fight bigotry, advance civil rights, and to create a better quality of life for immigrant and other vulnerable populations through access to human services. With every obstacle, he never wavered in leading with compassion and keeping the community at the center of the work. Hassan Jaber's leadership and forward-thinking approach have solidified his legacy as a community leader. In addition to his immense positive impact on the communities of Wayne County, he also served on many national and community boards, including the U.S. Census National Community Advisory Board on Race and Ethnicity and the Michigan Census Complete Count Committee; United Way for Southeastern Michigan; the Detroit Institute of Arts; and the Detroit Zoological Society. I had the honor of working with him for years and his mentorship helped me grow into a passionate advocate for my district. Please join me in recognizing Hassan Jaber's work on behalf of residents of Michigan's 13th district and southeastern Michigan as we wish him well on the next chapter in his life.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the Carr Center in Detroit, Michigan, as they celebrate 30 years of preserving, presenting, promoting, and developing African and African-American cultural arts traditions in southeastern Michigan. Founded in 1991 as the Arts League of Michigan, the Carr Center has worked to fulfill its mission of bringing artistic excellence by offering a wide array of programming. Building upon its initial creative placemaking, the Carr Center has become a destination and hub for the performing arts in the city of Detroit. The Carr Center has implemented three pillars of programming: Carr Center Presents, Carr Center Contemporary focus on performing and visual arts, while the Carr Center Arts Academy offers in-school and intensive summer arts education opportunities. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to please join me in recognizing the Carr Center's many contributions to southeastern Michigan over the past three decades as we wish them well in the years to come. They are a true gem of Michigan's 13th District.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the Carr Center in Detroit, Michigan as they celebrate thirty years of preserving, presenting, promoting, and developing African and African-American cultural arts traditions within our multicultural community in southeastern Michigan. Founded in 1991 as the Arts League of Michigan, the Carr Center has worked to fulfill its mission of bringing artistic excellence with a wide array of programming to the communities of Detroit. Building upon its initial creative placemaking, the Carr Center has become a destination and hub for the performing arts in Detroit. In order to bring outstanding artistry to the community, the Carr Center has implemented three pillars of programming--Carr Center Presents and Carr Center Contemporary focus on performing and visual arts, while the Carr Center Arts Academy offers in-school and intensive summer arts education opportunities. Please join me in recognizing the Carr Center's numerous contributions to southeastern Michigan over the past three decades as we wish them well in the years to come. Carr Center is a true gem in the communities of Michigan's 13th District Strong.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Kathy Aro for her 17 years of service to the families of southeastern Michigan through her work at the Accounting Aid Society. Kathy has led the Accounting Aid Society in fulfilling its mission to help put the residents of southeast Michigan on the pathway to financial stability. Her leadership has been a catalyst for massive growth of Accounting Aid Society's free income tax assistance program, which puts hard- earned dollars back into the pockets of many of our vulnerable families. Under Kathy's leadership, Accounting Aid Society has expanded its programming to include Accounting Aid Academy, which provides basic small business guidance and financial coaching. In short, Kathy has been an outstanding community leader, cultivating Accounting Aid Society into a trusted community partner. Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing Kathy's outstanding contributions to the communities of Michigan's 13th Congressional District as we wish her well in her retirement.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the many contributions of American Veterans (AMVETS) Post 910, named for Colin Powell, in the City of Detroit in Michigan's 13th Congressional District. The members of the Colin Powell Post came together with a purpose, to help the veterans and their families in creating a better quality of life and to make a positive change in the community. Post 910 has focused its mission on assisting homeless veterans across Detroit and Wayne County. They have hosted countless events in support of those who have served our country in the military. They have regularly offered a listening ear and fellowship to veteran patients at John Dingell Veterans Administration Hospital in Detroit. In addition to its charitable work, Post 910 has worked to strengthen its ties to local high school Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) programs. They have recognized ROTC students' achievements at schools across Detroit. Still, the Post 910 members devote countless hours to community events, participating in local parades and events honoring the service of our veterans. They dedicate their time all year round to giving back to the community by hosting holiday toy drives for local children, Thanksgiving meals for those in need, and so much more. Please join me in recognizing Detroit's Colin Powell AMVETS Post 910 for their many outstanding contributions to the communities of Detroit and 13th District Strong.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Alex Odeh, a peace activist who worked to promote civil liberties for Arab Americans in the United States and civil and human rights around the world. A Palestinian immigrant, a published poet, lecturer of Arabic language and Middle East history at Coastline College, Alex was someone who embodied the best America has to offer. Through his work with the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, he dedicated his life to achieving true equality and equity for all. And for daring to push for a better tomorrow, Alex was murdered on October 11, 1985, when a pipe bomb exploded as he entered his ADC office in Santa Ana, California. This horrific act of domestic terrorism targeting Arab Americans was not new, and I am proud to say it has failed to achieve its objectives. Arab Americans and Palestinian Americans are still here, loud and proud, speaking truth to power, and carrying on Alex's fight in his memory. Our politics of love are the only response. Those who support oppressive policies in Palestine that murdered Alex and those who continue to fearmonger and whip up hate against us to this day will not win. We will never give up, Alex. I am proud to be here because of you.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the Yemeni American Chamber of Commerce (YACC) for their work on behalf of the Yemeni American small business community in southeastern Michigan. Over thirty thousand Yemeni Americans live in Michigan, with a significant number residing in Wayne County. Many Yemeni immigrants were drawn to the area by work in automotive factories and have established their roots here. Immigration to Michigan is still occurring, with some studies indicating that Yemenis comprise nine percent of the area's Arab population and that Yemeni community have some of the largest families. However, the Yemeni community has some of the lowest rate of business ownership, only three percent compared to twenty percent for other Arab groups. This is why YACC is critical to our community. YACC has established a strong network for the small business community. They encourage growth through education and training, as well as collaboration among its member businesses. Beyond that, YACC works to create business owners who are also community leaders. They encourage their members to become actively engaged community partners who are truly the backbone of the local economy. Please join me in recognizing the many outstanding contributions of the Yemeni American Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the communities of Wayne County and southeastern Michigan.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Ms. Reasther Everett, a long-time resident of Westland in Michigan's 13th Congressional District, as we mourn her passing. Ms. Everett was best known in the community for her volunteer work. As coordinator for the Wayne County Retired Senior Volunteer Program, she recruited, trained, and assigned volunteers. She also served as family service advocate for Wayne County Family Center facilitating and expediting adaptation to independent living arrangements for residents and aided with placement in healthcare services. Ms. Everett spearheaded the ``no family without Christmas program,'' collecting donations for the homeless during the winter holiday season. Throughout her work with the Southeast Westland Homeowners Association, Ms. Everett founded the SWHA Community Center where, for many years, she operated an after-school program for young people. Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing the many contributions of Ms. Reasther Everett to Westland, Wayne County, and Thirteenth District Strong, as we honor her memory.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, we can't build back better without replacing every inch of lead service line in our country. In too many of our communities from Flint to Benton Harbor to the cities of Wayne and Hamtramck and across the State of Michigan and our Nation, the water is poisoned with lead. We have an opportunity now to change it, with a bold and clear investment to replace every single lead-contaminated service line in our Nation. Experts have already estimated that we need $60 billion to replace every service lead pipeline in America. But we know the Senate proposal--which was negotiated without a shred of input from frontline communities or their representatives--only devotes $15 billion. That is just simply not enough. People are drinking water with lead now, and we know which communities lose out when there isn't enough money to go around. They are communities that look like mine. It is environmental justice neighborhoods. We must--we must--do more, and we already have secured another $30 billion in Build Back Better to get us closer to our goal. Again, a clear way to bring us all together is making sure that we all have access to clean water. There are 2.65 million service lines in Michigan, and over 12 percent of those lines are contaminated with lead. To replace these lead pipes in Michigan alone, it would cost $1.65 billion. Again, I ask everyone, how can we build back better when children are being poisoned? Benton Harbor in Michigan needs $11.4 million to provide clean water to its residents. We just discovered new lead-contaminated issues in the cities of Wayne and Hamtramck in Michigan. That is why it is critical that the Federal Government, our government, steps up with bold and aggressive investment. In 2018 a report from the Natural Resources Defense Council revealed that between 2015 and 2018 about 5.5 million Americans in communities around the Nation got their water from a system that exceeded the EPA's lead action level of 15 parts per billion. That is just the stuff we know about. We know that there is more. The threat of lead-contaminated water is a longstanding one that has overwhelmingly impacted communities like mine, low-income communities, communities of color, for decades. And yet we have not done anything meaningful for a very long time to really, truly remove lead service lines. We continue waking up to stories about children being poisoned with lead and cities handing out bottled water because we have failed to invest in our water infrastructure. Folks are being forced to drink, bathe, cook, and wash dishes with water that is literally contaminated with lead because politicians have put their well-being on the back burner. On top of it all, the leaky, outdated infrastructure also means many of those same people can't even afford to pay for water that is being poisoned. Literally, they are paying money for water that is contaminated with lead. Some people in Washington like to pretend to worry about how we are going to pay for lead pipe replacement, but what we really can't afford is another moment of inaction. Clean, affordable drinking water is a human right. There are Flints and Benton Harbors and cities of Wayne and Hamtramck in every part of this country, communities right now where children are drinking water that can alter the course of their lives forever. So please join me in replacing lead service lines across the country. It is a moral imperative. We need to immediately pass the full $45 billion in the Senate proposal as well as the Build Back Better proposal. Again, there is no building back without it.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to please join me in recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of Wayne Metro Community Action Agency, a service organization based in Wayne County, Michigan, in my district. Today, they celebrate 50 years of assisting southeastern Michigan's most vulnerable populations, a truly remarkable milestone. Wayne Metro's staff and organizational leadership's holistic approach to serving our communities translates to exceptional service that has put many families on the path to a better quality of life. Whether it is connecting a resident to emergency housing, helping with utility payments, or financial coaching, Wayne Metro has been a trusted agency for so many of my residents. Their longevity is a testament to the trust in their reputation as a responsive and caring community partner in service. It has always been one of the main reasons I work very closely with them. Madam Speaker, I congratulate Wayne Metro Community Action Agency on 50 years of service and best wishes on many more to come.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding contributions of Ms. Reasther Everett, a long-time resident of Westland in Michigan's 13th Congressional District as we mourn her passing. Ms. Everett was best known in the community for her volunteer work. As coordinator for the Wayne County Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), she recruited, trained, and assigned volunteers to designated sites. She also served as Family Service Advocate for the Wayne County Family Center, facilitating, and expediting adaption to independent living arrangements for residents and aided with placement and health care services. Ms. Everett spearheaded the ``No Family Without Christmas'' program, collecting donations for the homeless during the winter holiday season. Prior to that work, Ms. Everett served in many other roles in the community, including as a representative on the Community Development Commission and as a Wayne County community liaison to prevent and assist homeowners facing mortgage foreclosures. Through her work with the Southeast Westland Homeowners Association (SWHA), Ms. Everett founded the SWHA Community Center, where for many years, she operated an after-school program for young people. She was an active member of the St. James United Methodist Church, where she served as chairperson of the Outreach Committee and on the Pastor Parish Relations Committee. Please join me in recognizing the many contributions of Ms. Reasther Everett to Westland, Wayne County, and 13th District Strong, as we give honor to her memory.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding contributions of Ms. Clara Doutly, a resident of Michigan's 13th Congressional District and one of our country's ``Rosie the Riveters,'' as she celebrates her one hundredth birthday. Ms. Doutly was raised in Detroit, as the youngest of six siblings and attended Cass Technical High School. At nineteen years old, she began working at Briggs Manufacturing, where she helped produced parts and riveting components for B-24 and B-29 bombers for World War II. Ms. Doutly was one of among 300,000 other women who worked as riveters, assembling warplanes across Michigan during the 1940s. Clara Doutly, Detroit's own ``Rosie the Riveter,'' contributed to our country to victory and became an icon of women's empowerment and strength. We owe our gratitude to Clara Doutly and the countless other Michigan women who stepped up to serve as the critical workforce and labor our country needed. Even now, Ms. Doutly continues to show up for her community and others through her many years of service work at the St. Patrick's Senior Center in the 13th Congressional District. Ms. Clara Doutly is a true example of Detroit's strength, resiliency, and power of its people. We recognize Ms. Doutly and all of our ``Rosie the Riveters'' across our state and country for breaking down barriers to women in the workforce and for their contributions to our history. Please join me in wishing Detroit's Rosie the Riveter, Ms. Clara Hunter Doutly, a happy one hundredth birthday as we recognize her contributions to our country and to our community in the 13th Congressional District.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize an African American-owned small business, the Alexis Company, based in Detroit in Michigan's 13th Congressional District, as they celebrate their thirty- fifth anniversary. The Alexis Company is the culmination of the hard work of its founder Regina Dubose. Born and raised in Detroit, Ms. Dubose dreamed of one day running her own business when she was a child. She credits her financial and business acumen to the mentorship she received in one of her earliest jobs working at a local accounting firm. Ms. Dubose was drawn to a career in psychology and counseling after earning her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Wayne State University, but she found herself drawn to entrepreneurship when she began working as a vendor at concerts and events in the mid-1980s. By 1986, Ms. Dubose was able to open the Alexis Company. Over the years, she has grown the business with expanded product lines and by engaging with local events and organizations. The early initial successes solidified the Alexis Company's reputation as a reliable partner in community events. Ms. Dubose was able to leverage this work into a distributorship for the company, which increased their access to promotional products and broadened their competitive edge in new markets at the local, state, national, and international levels. Under Ms. Dubose's leadership, the Alexis Company has adapted to the changing demands of the business. Most recently, she has shifted her focus to sharing her knowledge by writing and publishing a book about her experiences. Ms. Dubose and the Alexis Company reflect the grit and adaptability needed to succeed as an entrepreneur. Small businesses are the backbone of local economies, and it is especially meaningful when minority-owned businesses succeed and thrive. Please join me in recognizing Regina Dubose and the Alexis Company as they celebrate thirty-five years in business as we wish them well in the years to come.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, as someone who grew up in a community on the front line of the racist so-called war on drugs, I am proud to stand here today in support of the EQUAL Act to eliminate racial disparities in crack and powder cocaine possession. The war on drugs was designed as a racist project to target Black and Brown Americans--my neighbors--and the obvious racial disparities in enforcement show us that it still is at its core a racist effort targeting communities of color through over-policing, criminalization, and mass incarceration. Simply put, addiction is a health condition not a crime. Giving incarcerated people an opportunity to be resentenced will transform lives immediately. We need to be doing more to make reparations to those impacted by the so-called war on drugs. While this bill is a great step on the road to comprehensive drug and criminal justice reform, we must go further. Our goal must be to end this country's militarized ``jail first, ask questions later'' approach to addiction and stop trying to solve social problems with policing.

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to supporting the future legislation aimed at comprehensive decriminalization of possession for personal use of these substances and strongly encourage my colleagues to support this commonsense bill. Lastly, it is a personal honor to support and uplift Kandia Milton who approached me about this bill and who is with Dreams Corps JUSTICE in Detroit. Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for Kandia's work. It allows me to also fight for all of us today.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Jonathon Clark, an outstanding resident and community advocate in Michigan's 13th Congressional District. Jonathon Clark was known for his unwavering commitment to helping others in need and ministering to the spiritual needs of those who knew him. In 2019, Mr. Clark accepted his call to preach and did so many times from the pulpit at City Covenant Church in Detroit, where he quickly became a fixture in church leadership. From this place of faith, Mr. Clark demonstrated by example what a man should be. Whether tending to his beautiful family with whom he was gifted upon his marriage to Dawn Wilson-Clark, cooking gourmet meals at home or for a hundred at church, or giving his talents to a number of community works, he was a man who was always aware of the great responsibility we each hold to be good towards one another and of his role in the bigger role in God's plan. Jonathon was beloved by community members of all ages. He was a caring mentor to young people and he never shied away from offering a helping hand. Jonathon always followed through on any task he set his mind to. Young people loved him because of his direct honesty and unmasked concern for them. He served in many roles in various community-based organizations, including Chair of the Board for 482forward, board member of The Brightmoor Alliance, Brightmoor Soup, and he was the coordinator for summer camp at City Covenant, where he founded Talking is Teaching, an early children's literacy program, and he served as assistant director of the work experience program at Loyola High School. Jonathon's work in the community has touched the lives of many. In his advocacy on behalf of his neighbors in the Brightmoor community of Detroit, he was fearless in standing up for his community. Please join me in recognizing Jonathon Clark's outstanding contributions to the communities of Detroit and Michigan's 13th Congressional District, as we honor his memory.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this supplemental. I will not support an effort to enable and support war crimes, human rights abuses, and violence. We cannot continue talking only about Israeli's need for safety at a time when Palestinians are living under a violent apartheid system and are dying from what Human Rights Watch has said are war crimes. We should also be talking about the Palestinian need for security from Israeli attacks. We must be consistent in our commitment to human life, period. Everyone deserves to be safe there. The bill claims to be ``a replenishment'' for weapons apartheid Israel used in a crisis it manufactured when it attacked worshippers at one of the most holiest Islamic locations, al-Aqsa Mosque, committing, again, numerous war crimes. Yet, $1 billion in American taxpayer dollars that my colleagues want to give represents, to me, an absurd and unjustifiable 140 times increase to U.S. funding for the Iron Dome. I firmly believe our country must oppose selling weapons to anyone anywhere without human rights law compliance. The Israeli Government is an apartheid regime--not my words, the words of Human Rights Watch and Israel's own human rights organization B'Tselem. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues: Please stand with me in supporting human rights for all. I include in the Record this Human Rights Watch article. [From BBC News, Aug. 23, 2021] Israeli Strikes on Gaza High-Rises May Be War Crimes--Human Rights Watch No-one was hurt in the attacks, but a report by the campaign group says dozens of families were left homeless. The Israeli military said Palestinian militant groups were using the towers for military purposes and turning civilians inside into human shields. But HRW said it had not provided evidence to support those allegations. At least 256 people were killed in Gaza, according to the United Nations, and 13 people were killed in Israel during 11 days of fierce fighting. It began after weeks of spiralling Israeli-Palestinian tension in East Jerusalem which culminated in clashes at a holy site revered by both Muslims and Jews. Hamas--the militant Islamist group which rules Gaza--began firing rockets after warning Israel to withdraw from the site, triggering retaliatory air strikes. Between 11 and 15 May, Israeli strikes destroyed the Hanadi, Jawhara, Shorouk, and Jala towers in Gaza City. In each case, the Israeli military warned tenants of impending attacks, allowing for their evacuation, according to HRW's report. Israeli authorities said the buildings housed offices of Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups, including the headquarters of certain units and military intelligence. One tower included offices for ``the most valuable Hamas technological equipment'' for use against Israel, it says. HRW's investigation was based on interviews with 18 Palestinians who witnessed the strikes or were affected by them, along with analysis of videos and photographs. It found no evidence that members of militant groups involved in military operations had a current or long-term presence in any of the towers at the time they were attacked. Even if there were such a presence, the report says, the attacks appeared to cause foreseeably disproportionate harm to civilian property. The strike on the 12-storey Jala Tower, which housed the offices of the Associated Press (AP) news agency and the Al Jazeera broadcasting network, provoked widespread outrage. In June, Israel's ambassador to the US told AP executives that the building was being used by Hamas to develop an electronic jamming system against the Israeli military's Iron Dome missile defence system. But the AP's executive editor said it had never had any indication that Hamas militants might be in the tower. ``The apparently unlawful Israeli strikes on four high-rise towers in Gaza City caused serious, lasting harm for countless Palestinians who lived, worked, shopped, or benefitted from businesses based there,'' said Richard Weir, HRW's crisis and conflict researcher. ``The Israeli military should publicly produce the evidence that it says it relied on to carry out these attacks.'' In response to HRW's report, the Israeli military told the BBC: ``Hamas and the other terror organisations deliberately and unlawfully embed their military assets in densely populated civilian areas, in order to make it more difficult for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to attack their military assets.'' ``The assets Hamas tried to hide inside these multi-storey buildings . . . were often of particularly high military value, and successfully striking them was of strategic importance to the IDF,'' it added. The military stressed that it provided ``significant advance warnings and took efforts to ensure civilians had evacuated'' in all four cases. HRW has published two other reports on the conflict that accused both sides of carrying out attacks that apparently amount to war crimes. The first said an investigation into three Israeli strikes that killed 62 civilians found no evidence of military targets nearby, while the second said the firing of 4,000 unguided rockets and mortars towards Israeli cities and towns by Palestinian militants constituted indiscriminate attacks on civilians. Both the Israeli military and Hamas denied the accusations.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Jonathon Clark, an outstanding resident and community advocate of Michigan's 13th Congressional District. Jonathon Clark was known for his unwavering commitment to helping others in need and ministering to the spiritual needs of his neighbors. Whether tending to his beautiful family he shared with his wife, Dawn Wilson-Clark; leading worship at City Covenant Church in Detroit; or lending his talents to several community works, he was an unbelievably beautiful human being. In his work, he served as a mentor to so many of our young people, and he never shied away from offering them help and guiding them in the right direction. He also founded an early children's literacy program, called Talking is Teaching, as a coordinator for City Covenant's summer camp. In honor of his memory, please join me in recognizing his outstanding contributions to Michigan's 13th Congressional District.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, for many of our residents, the images of the United States Customs and Border Patrol officers on horseback whipping Black Haitian immigrants at the border were triggering. It was traumatic. It was a reminder of our country's ugly history and its decades of mistreatment of Black folks. What we all witnessed in Del Rio, Texas, was disgusting, not just because of the rogue, out-of-control CBP but also because the actions were a blatant betrayal of our human rights values. Those brave Haitian refugees have a legal right to seek asylum in our country, like all who are fleeing violence and repression. America is supposed to be a safe haven. Instead, Black asylum seekers at the border are being met with violence and deportation back to a crisis-stricken country. All Black Haitians deserve to be treated with human dignity, and we must do better. Our failure to act against Federal agencies, at least oversight of Black immigrants coming in, is going to enable these shameful acts to continue. We must act together to stop it.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of amendment No. 11 which would provide critical needed consumer protection to our servicemembers who hold medical debt. No one chooses to get sick, yet medical debt is the leading cause of personal bankruptcy in our country, and the pandemic has only made paid our medical debt crisis worse, especially for our veterans. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, servicemembers and veterans are nearly twice as likely to submit debt collection complaints as the general public. And medical debt concerns comprise nearly 13 percent of servicemember debt collection complaints. So this amendment is important because medical bills and reimbursements are often vague and confusing. Servicemembers often assert that the calculation of the underlying debt is inaccurate and unfair. Other times, bills go missing during deployment or are delivered to the wrong recipient. So this amendment would strengthen servicemembers' consumer protections regarding medical debt by preventing the collection of medical debt for 2 years from the date of medical billing, and prohibiting credit agencies from reporting all medical debt collections for a year. My amendment also requires medical debt collectors to provide servicemembers with their consumer rights upon contact. Together, these protections would provide servicemembers much-needed clarity to figure out what they actually owe and what the impact will have on their credit. So, Madam Speaker, debt collection particularly affects our young servicemembers and veterans who have little credit history upon enlisting. Among servicemembers with 3 or fewer years of service, the CFPB has found 5 percent had medical debts in collection just prior to separation from service, and that number doubles to more than 10 percent within a year of their separation from service. As a result, those same individuals with 3 years or less of service, on average, exit the armed services with subprime credit scores. So with that I really finally ask my colleagues to please help us ban medical debt also for medically necessary procedures from ever even appearing on servicemembers' credit reports. This amendment would not prevent States from implementing stronger protections for our servicemembers. It would not preempt existing consumer protections for our servicemembers already on the books. Again, I remind my colleagues that, again, this is really critical for our servicemembers. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.