Rashida Tlaib

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of impeachment. I learn so much every single day from my residents at home. Their common sense and understanding of what is right and wrong is centered on why they oppose any person using the most powerful position in the world for personal gain. We honor our veterans in this Chamber almost on a daily basis. Do we ever follow their lead, where we serve the people of the United States and uphold the Constitution, not as Republicans or Democrats, but as Americans? We should learn from their sense of duty and responsibility to country and democracy, not political party. Doing nothing here, Madam Speaker, is not an option. Looking away from these crimes against our country is not an option. This is about protecting the future of our Nation and our democracy from corruption, abuse of power, criminal coverups, and bribery. Madam Speaker, this vote is also for my sons and the future of so many generations. I urge my colleagues to please vote ``yes'' on these Articles of Impeachment.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I thank the good gentleman for all his incredible work as chairman. I know it is difficult and it was the best that we could do, especially with so much opposition on the Senate side. But as a voice and advocate for a district that encompasses frontline communities facing concentrated poverty, growing healthcare costs, decreasing education funding, and continuous assaults on our environment, I could not support and cannot support a bill that provides $738 billion for wars and defense contractors while, this year, we only provided $190 billion in discretionary funding for healthcare, education, antipoverty programs, and workforce development. After the House took action to end U.S. involvement in the war and humanitarian crisis in Yemen, this NDAA fails to include necessary provisions to end the U.S. support for military action in Yemen. This bill also keeps Guantanamo Bay open, provides for new nuclear warheads, and establishes the absurd Space Force. By removing the House's repeal of the Iraq war AUMF, we have also agreed to endless war abroad. By removing language that would have stopped, Madam Speaker, Pentagon spending at Trump hotels and properties, we are authorizing corruption. By removing critical PFAS protections, we have also left our communities at risk. So I am asking my colleagues to please not rubberstamp this annual increase of the world's largest military budget. We can do better.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Mother Clifford Mason, a long-time resident of Detroit, Michigan, as she celebrates her one hundredth birthday on December 13, 2019. Born in Macon, Georgia, Clifford Mason was raised as an only child by her grandparents. She was educated in Georgia public schools before marrying Millard Mason in 1944. They moved to Michigan in 1946 and established their home, where she eventually became a dedicated member on the Usher Board and Mothers' Board of Unity Baptist Church in Detroit. Mother Mason was employed at a clothing factory and as a short order cook for a restaurant. She enjoyed cooking and baking--cabbage and pound cakes are her specialties. She has remained an active member of a local social club for over 50 years and continues to enjoy their yearly celebrations and birthday parties, dressing up, eating good food, and playing cards. Still active in the community, Mother Mason spends her time at Patton Recreation Center in Southwest Detroit, where she once worked and volunteered. She received accolades from former Detroit Mayor Coleman A. Young for her volunteerism. The matriarch of her family, Mother Mason treasures her time spent with family. She is the proud parent to her grown son Gregory Mason and loves her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her compassion and kindness towards others have had a lasting impact on those around her. Her strong family values are reflected in the life she leads. Please join me in celebrating the one hundredth birthday of Mother Clifford Mason.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Operation Refuge, an outstanding charitable organization in Inkster, Michigan. Operation Refuge was officially founded in 2008, but the seeds of the organization were planted eight years before. In 2000, Mother's Pantry began operating out of Christ Temple City of Refuge Church and grew out of Mother Greenwood's vision to serve vulnerable communities. There was an increased need for food assistance after the nearby GM plant closed down. People were suddenly out of work and struggling to meet basic needs. As a pantry without borders and Inkster's only client-choice food pantry, Mother's Pantry continues to fulfill the emergency food needs of communities under Operation Refuge's umbrella. Staff and volunteers identified another pertinent community need and began tutoring youth. In 2008, Gap Dwellers after school tutoring evolved into Camp Inspire to address a lack of opportunity for girls of color in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) fields. Camp Inspire began as a summer program for girls that helps them recognize their potential through life-changing experiences and exposure to STEAM projects. Camp Inspire is one of Operation Refuge's most successful programs, drawing in more participants each year. In addition to its Leaders in Training (LIT) program which helps teens develop the skills they already have inside, Operation Refuge is making a huge impact among the young people of Inkster and Wayne County. Please join me in salute to Operation Refuge, its volunteers, and staff on more than a decade of service.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a proud granddaughter of a strong, loving Palestinian woman, my sity. For me to stand up for her human dignity, I must oppose H. Res. 326. This resolution not only endorses an unrealistic, unattainable solution, one that Israel has made impossible, but also one that legitimizes inequality, ethnic discrimination and inhuman conditions. Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Likud party have actively fought against a two-state solution and took steps to ensure its demise. They increased their illegal taking of Palestinian homes, imprisoned more Palestinian children than ever before, and are building walls right now to annex the West Bank and other Palestinian villages. Moreover, Israel's nation-state law, which states that only Jews have the right to self-determination, has eliminated the political rights of the Palestinian people and effectively made them second-class citizens. Separate but equal didn't work in our country, and I can't see that it is possible in other countries. Given our Nation's history of segregation, we should recognize when such injustices are occurring. We cannot be honest brokers for peace if we refuse to use the words: illegal occupation by Israel. Our country and the United States Congress must condemn these undemocratic actions. We must take bolder actions to ensure that human rights are upheld in Israel and that Palestinians and Black Israelis are treated with equality every human being deserves. To honor my Sity Mufteih who lives in the occupied West Bank, Palestine, I am unable to support this resolution today. She deserves better.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Gomez).

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, today, I am representing the Congressional Progressive Caucus in our Special Order so that we can push forward on a number of agendas, especially on economic justice issues. I am really proud to join many of my colleagues today as we talk about housing for all across the United States of America. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. Omar).

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I know from my district in Detroit and throughout the 11 other surrounding communities, for us, being the third poorest congressional district in the country, housing is critical, critical not only for economic stability, but also in providing a safe haven for many of our families across the district. Poverty is complex. A number of factors, including State and Federal policy failures and racial and gender inequities, have resulted in so much increased poverty, especially among children. Adjusting poverty requires that deep public investment in housing and other infrastructure, healthcare access, and public school investment, coupled with criminal justice reform policies designed to repair a history of segregation and continued exploitation. Less than a year, Madam Speaker, into its enactment, the opportunity zone program has already resulted in millions of dollars of wasteful spending and possible corruption. From cities like Chicago and Baltimore to the city of Detroit, billionaires were able to divert public tax dollars through a tax break called the opportunity zone that was supposed to lead to access to housing for our most vulnerable in communities like mine. Instead, Madam Speaker, what we heard from an investigative report-- ProPublica published an article, titled: ``How a Tax Break to Help the Poor Went to NBA Owner Dan Gilbert.'' The article contained disturbing details that suggest that opportunity zones that were in the Trump tax scam had designated census tracts that did not meet the legal criteria and that political donations and influence had overridden the law to reward donors with generous tax breaks supposedly intended to benefit the poor. Madam Speaker, in the article, billionaire Dan Gilbert's Quicken Loans company donated $750,000 to President Trump's inauguration fund, hosted Ivanka Trump in 2017 for a panel discussion, and last year Dan Gilbert watched the midterm election returns at the White House with President Trump, who has called Gilbert ``a great friend.'' In return, Madam Speaker, three census tracts in downtown Detroit where Gilbert owns valuable property were selected for these large tax breaks through the opportunity zones. According to ProPublica, multiple studies have found that property values in those zones increased because of this tax break. At least one of those census tracts did not meet the poverty requirement for being an opportunity zone and appears to have been designated solely due to political influence. So, if we are going to talk about housing justice, we are going to talk about impacting and helping ensure that housing is a human right, we also need to take out the corruption and the political influence. Email exchanges revealed Quicken executives working in concert with the White House to designate tracts with Gilbert's investments as opportunity zones. Madam Speaker, Quicken Loans lobbyists were directly involved in the selection process at every level, lobbying the city, State, and Federal officials to include Gilbert's investment zones in the opportunity zone law. So I am asking us as we stand for housing for all that we need to restore public trust in our Federal Government which has been eroded with the rules that have been applied unevenly here and seem to reward the wealthiest and the best-connected among us. It appears that a tax program supposedly designed to benefit the poorest among us is now being used to reward political donors and wealthy investors. I have asked the Committee on Ways and Means to investigate the actions by billionaire Dan Gilbert, and I have also asked the Treasury to respond to some of those questions. This is why instead of these tax breaks for the wealthy and for billionaire-led development, I have proposed the BOOST Act. The BOOST Act would give 3 to $6,000 to families making less than $100,000. It would instantly lift up 45 percent of Americans living in poverty now. Sixty-four million children would be instantly uplifted out of poverty. The BOOST Act would be paid for by repealing the Trump tax scam. In there, Madam Speaker, you saw not only the opportunity zones, but a number of tax breaks for the wealthy that only benefited the folks who are corporate-led who have actually been tainting our process to get access to affordable housing in this Chamber. So I ask my colleagues, as we propose many fixes to access affordable housing and to repair some of the historic segregation zoning laws and the continued exploitation among many of our neighbors, that we also make sure that we are ensured that corruption within our government is not expanding and that we are holding those accountable who are trying to taint that process. So I really appreciate my colleagues, members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, in standing strong for housing as a human right. Many of the proposals you see forward, Madam Speaker, will only depend on whether or not we can implement it in a way that is just and is very democratic and, again, has really clear oversight. Things like the opportunity zone are not the direction that we need our country to go in, and I am looking forward to introducing legislation that would not only ask for repealing the opportunity zone but actually use it for land trust and community trust funds, things that will be rooted within communities and help those who, again, are seeing homeownership among communities of color decrease, seeing increases between 30 to 50 percent of their income going towards rent. I think the way we have to do it is all those goals, not only proposals, but also making sure that we are implementing it in a way that is just and fair. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Green).

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Pressley), my good colleague.

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Garcia), my good colleague.

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Evans), my good colleague.

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer), my good colleague.

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Ocasio-Cortez), my good colleague.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today to give a hearty congratulations to our Panthers, the River Rouge High School football team on winning their first ever state championship. Thirteenth District strong is so incredibly proud. In a dramatic game, our River Rouge Panthers prevailed over setbacks early on to defeat a formidable opponent. This hard-earned victory is a testament to the countless hours of training put in by this dedicated team, as well as the support of its coaches and our parents. As legendary basketball coach Phil Jackson once said, ``The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.'' Please join me in recognizing our River Rouge High School football team, the Panthers, and Coach Corey Parker for their outstanding accomplishment. Congratulations, Panthers.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today to give a hearty congratulations to the River Rouge High School Football on winning their first-ever state championship. In a dramatic game, the River Rouge Panthers prevailed over setbacks early on to defeat a formidable opponent. This hard-earned victory is a testament to the countless hours of training put in by this dedicated team, as well as the support of its coaches and parents. As legendary basketball Coach Phil Jackson once said, ``The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.'' Please join me in recognizing the River Rouge High School football team, Coach Corey Parker for this outstanding accomplishment.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today in tribute to the Telegram Newspaper, a local paper serving the Wayne County communities of Detroit, Ecorse, and River Rouge. Founded in 1944, the Telegram is a multicultural community newspaper that is distributed weekly with the goal of connecting citizens within the region by publishing information that educates, enlightens, uplifts and empowers its readers. The Telegram has been in continuous publication since its inception and continues to be unique in its approach to providing news the community turns to for local, state and national information. We are especially proud of the Telegram's legacy as an African American-owned and run business and its outstanding commitment to the communities it serves. Their staff has developed partnerships with local schools, businesses, non-profit organizations, and city governments. They also participate in volunteer opportunities and provide media sponsorships for community events. The Telegram is helping to prepare the next generation of media personnel by establishing internship programs with local colleges & high schools. They expose youth to newspapers through the Newspapers in Education Program and Write Steps Internship Program. Please join me in saluting publisher Gina Steward and the Telegram Newspaper for seventy-five years of local reporting.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Ms. Jean West, a long-time resident of Detroit, Michigan, who will celebrate her eightieth birthday on December 11, 2019. Ms. West has always been an engaged and active member of her community. She draws her strength from her family and community. As the matriarch of her family, she has always strived to uphold values that reflect strength, dedication and community and serves as a role model for her children and loved ones. Her strong family values are reflected in the life she leads and her willingness to always do for others. Ms. West has never shied away from standing up for what she believes in. As an advocate, she doggedly pursues better for her community. She has remained active in the fight for civil rights, working with organizations like the NAACP to ensure equity for people of color and for her community. She continues to fight for a better community. Whether it's advocating for resources or uplifting her neighbors, it is clear that she believes in the good of people and future of Detroit. Please join me in wishing Ms. Jean West the happiest of birthdays.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today in tribute to Mr. Cedric Flounory for his many years of federal service to the Internal Revenue Service, on the occasion of his retirement. During his forty years of public service, Mr. Cedric Flounory has worked tirelessly within both the United States Air Force and the Internal Revenue Service. Mr. Flounory rose through the ranks ultimately becoming an Air Force Major. Throughout his military service, Mr. Flounory garnered awards for his steadfast dedication, earning the Air Force Good Conduct Award, the Marksmanship Award, and the Meritorious Service Medal with an Oak Leaf Cluster. After eight years in the Air Force, Mr. Flounory continued serving the public with a career that has stretched more than thirty years at the Internal Revenue Service. A caring professional, Mr. Flounory has been praised for his work at the IRS, receiving awards like Employee of the Month and a Performance Award. His service both on the ground through military service and in the office through the Internal Revenue Service, portrays his dedication to the nation. In short, Mr. Cedric Flounory has honorably served our country and the people of the 13th Congressional District. Please join me in honoring him for his forty years of federal service as we wish him well on his retirement.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Detroit's lower eastside communities for their ten years of engagement in the Lower Eastside Action Plan. The Lower Eastside Action Plan, known commonly as LEAP, started through community group engagement in order to address disinvestment and structure demolition in Detroit's east side neighborhoods. The program has successfully engaged more than five thousand residents to strengthen neighborhood ties and repurpose vacant land. Residents working hand in hand have been able to reduce blight, prevent tax foreclosure, enhance public green spaces, and so much more. Please join me in salute to the countless Detroit residents who have made the Lower Eastside Action Plan a successful community venture for the past ten years.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today in tribute to Firefighter Michael Perry for his twenty-three years of service to the Melvindale- Dearborn Consolidated Fire Department, on the occasion of his retirement. For more than two decades, Firefighter Michael Perry has persevered in his dedication to public safety and the well-being of his neighbors. In 1996, Perry joined the City of Melvindale's Fire Department as a fire fighter. Shortly after, he was promoted to Firefighter II, and was ultimately promoted to Firefighter III. With an unimpeachable record of service, Michael Perry has been acknowledged for his flawless attendance record, exceptional driving record, and has earned countless honors by his peers, including a Certificate of Special Recognition. His commitment and outstanding service have been recognized by Department Commendation, Meritorious Company Commendation, Fire Chief Company Citation, and Unit Commendation awards. Please join me in recognizing Firefighter Michael Perry for his years of public service as we wish him well on his retirement.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today in tribute to Melvindale- Dearborn Firefighter Michael Brannon as he retires after eighteen years of service. During his eighteen years of public service, Firefighter Michael Brannon has garnered accolades for his bravery and dedication to safety along the way. In 2001, Brannon joined the City of Melvindale's Fire Department. From there, he was quickly promoted to Firefighter II, and ultimately, Firefighter III. A hardworking public servant, Michael Brannon has been acknowledged for his military service, exceptional driving record, and has spent countless hours advancing his certification, including rope rescue operations. Beyond this, Michael Brannon has been recognized for his courage in the line of duty both in military service and as a firefighter receiving awards like the Meritorious Company Commendation and the Fire Chief Unit Commendation. Firefighter Michael Brannon has spent nearly two decades tirelessly working to ensure safety for the community. Please join me in saluting him for his years of public service as we wish him well on his retirement.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Ms. Emercity Chapital, a resident of Detroit, Michigan, who will celebrate her one hundred fourth birthday on November 29, 2019. Emercity Chapital is a caring individual who is an active member of the community. The matriarch of her family, Ms. Chapital treasures her time spent with family. She is the proud parent to her grown children Leonard, Edith, and Deborah, and loves her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her compassion and kindness towards others has had a lasting impact on those around her. Her strong family values are reflected in the life she leads. Ms. Chapital maintains an active life, which can in part, be attributed for her longtime affinity for playing bridge. She began playing organized bridge when she retired in 1978. She has especially fond memories of playing the game with early partners, co-worker Ann Sweeting, Walter Forbers, and Jimmy Irvin. Ms. Chapital was an energetic and tireless player, never pausing for rest or substitution at the local, sectional and national levels. Her team achieved success winning seven consecutive Knock-Out Championships from 1983 to 1990. Each win propelled the team to a higher level and the success continued as they moved throughout the fields. Ms. Chapital owes her longevity to her active lifestyle and lively social life with keeping her fit and healthy. She has always strived to uphold her values. She also credits her daddy with providing her wisdom for life. Sharing the ritual with her dad from the age of ten onward, she has a teaspoon of bourbon to start the day. She feels blessed that she has never had any major illness and enjoys command of her faculties. Please join me in wishing Ms. Emercity Chapital the happiest of birthdays.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I rise today in tribute to the Islamic Center of Culpeper on the occasion of the ground breaking of their new mosque. Culpeper, Virginia is home to a growing, close-knit Muslim community known as the Islamic Center of Culpeper, (ICC). For many years the ICC community has been worshiping in a very small space lacking proper heating in the brutal winters and air conditioning in the scorching summers. The facility even lacked an adequate washing facility to perform ablution before prayers. The ICC searched for nearly five years before finding and purchasing a parcel of land in January of 2016. Immediately, they made plans to begin constructing a brand-new mosque to serve as a place of worship and a place for community. The ICC had no idea of the challenges they would face. Since 1995, every pump and hall permit application submitted to the Culpeper County Government by a house of worship had been approved, but in April of 2016, the County denied ICC's permit application. The County also ordered a moratorium on any new pump and haul applications, which barred ICC from any attempts to re-apply, and in advance of one of the local zoning hearings, protesters hung a banner stating, ``NO ISLAMIC CENTER!'' in big black letters. The ICC fought back. Muslim Advocates and Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer filed a lawsuit against the County on behalf of ICC, following a lawsuit by the Department of Justice and one month later, the ICC and the County reached a settlement. The ICC could move forward with their plans to build a mosque, and the County issued a statement welcoming the ICC and compensated the community for their expenses. Please join me in honoring the ICC and their resilience as they celebrate this milestone project.

Ms. TLAIB

Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Chairman, my amendment would require that Ex-Im provide an annual report to the United States Congress on the agency's activity in economically disadvantaged areas and efforts that they are taking to support those areas. Government must be about people first, so when we talk about economic opportunity, Mr. Chair, we must ensure that we are using every tool possible to uplift communities that are struggling like my district. After the Great Recession of 2008, the country experienced an economic recovery from 2011 to 2015, but already vulnerable communities missed out on most of that growth and opportunity. There is no question that some communities suffer more and take longer to recover, and sometimes it takes decades longer, but it shouldn't be this way. There is evidence that adequate reporting and proper investment may be able to speed that pace of recovery for these kinds of communities. According to the Economic Innovation Group, 52.3 million people, or 17 percent of the American population, experienced an average 6 percent drop in the number of adults working and a 6.3 percent average drop in the number of business establishments. Specifically, Mr. Chair, workers and their families living in especially hard-hit communities face challenges such as unemployment that often arises from mass layoffs associated with declines in specific industries and businesses. For communities like mine, 13 districts strong, the impact on employment and income can be extremely persistent. Currently, Detroit is one of the five cities with the greatest number of people in distressed ZIP codes and it ranks number ten as the most distressed city in the United States of the country's 100 largest cities. Wayne County, Michigan, which I represent, ranks second in the Nation for inequality with job creation. Addressing the economic and social costs associated with persistent localized economic distresses requires adequate reporting, as it is essential to addressing the causes and the costs of long-term economic distress for workers, their families, and the communities. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment to help ensure that we have the tools to uplift every community across the country like mine. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.