Marc Veasey

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the legacy of Dr. Maxwell Scarlett--the first Black graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington and a Fort Worth physician who specialized in emergency medicine. Dr. Scarlett grew up in Fort Worth's historic Stop Six neighborhood surrounded by a family of educators. His mother was a teacher, as were both of her grandparents. So, while growing up, Dr. Scarlett always knew that he would attend college. But what he didn't know was that his graduation would break racial barriers. He initially enrolled at the University of North Texas (known then as North Texas State), and almost instantly began to break barriers. He was one of the first three African American men to live in a dorm there. Then, he integrated the school's biology honor society and later became the first Black student to grade papers and teach in the school's Science Department. Dr. Scarlett transferred to UTA his senior year--three years after the school first integrated. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in biology in 1966. Looking around at his graduation ceremony, he wondered if he was the only Black graduate that year. In fact, he was the first Black graduate in UTA's entire history, a fact he did not learn until 1997--about 30 years after his graduation. After graduating, Dr. Scarlett enrolled in medical school at Howard University. He later returned to Fort Worth to start his medical practice because he noticed there was a need for doctors back home. He even continued seeing emergency medicine patients after retiring from his Fort Worth practice in 2014. Dr. Scarlett never set out to break barriers, but through his hard work and dedication, he did just that. He helped open doors for so many young African Americans, and many others who faced exclusion. Today, we honor his legacy, and may we continue to follow his lead in creating a more equal America.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the legacy of Devoyd ``Dee'' Jennings--a hardworking and dedicated member of our Fort Worth community. Dee dedicated his life to ensuring the success, strength and mobility of the Black community in Fort Worth. Dee was born in 1947 in Fort Worth. After graduating from I.M Terrell High School in 1966, he attended Tarrant County College and continued his education at Texas Wesleyan University where he graduated with a marketing degree in 1971. He began his nearly 30 years of service for North Texas with TXU as a Community Affairs Specialist, and served as the first Black lobbyist for Texas Electric. Dee used his own experiences to help others. He quickly became an influential mentor to minorities pursuing careers in business as he served on numerous boards including the Texas Association of Business, the North Texas Commission, the Texas Association of African American Chambers and as a chairman of the NTTA's Business Diversity Advisory Committee. The pinnacle of Dee's career came when he began his most recent position as president and CEO of the Fort Worth Black Chamber of Commerce. He left a powerful legacy by using this position to fight for economic opportunity for the Black community in Fort Worth. Dee also assisted with the creation of two stand-alone organizations that directly serve to benefit minority development--the William Mann Community Development Corp and Southeast Fort Worth Inc. Because of his work with local government bodies, he was able to establish minority and women-owned business enterprise goals. His long and appreciated service to the community of Fort Worth has been honored as he was a proud receiver of the Minority Leaders in Business Award in 2017 and was recognized with a proclamation for Devoyd Jennings Day. Devoyd ``Dee'' Jennings--a public servant, successful businessman, and strong leader--will be deeply missed by our Fort Worth community.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to urge my colleagues to pass the National Medal of Honor Monument Act. This is bipartisan legislation, as was mentioned, that I introduced with Representative Moore of Utah. This bill honors our Nation's brave servicemembers by paving the way for the creation of a monument in our Nation's Capital recognizing the Medal of Honor and its more than 3,500 recipients. Our Nation's Medal of Honor recipients are patriots. They have put their lives on the line to ensure we can live freely and prosperously in the greatest nation on Earth. That is why I am happy to have spearheaded this from the beginning and pay homage to the values the Medal of Honor represents--courage, patriotism, citizenship, integrity, commitment, and sacrifice--and the brave individuals who earned it in service to our country. The National Medal of Honor Museum will actually open in my district in Arlington, Texas, in the next few years, and it will also serve as a beacon for these values. My hope is that we are able to pass this legislation to honor these individuals because this is a very, very prestigious award for our Nation's veterans and for those that have sacrificed. We want to make sure that we do everything we can to rally around this and honor the bravest individuals who serve in our country by having a monument here in Washington, D.C.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart and solemn remembrance that I rise today to pay tribute to a longstanding stalwart from Fort Worth, Texas, Howard Henry Miles. It's his birthday today, and I'd like to share how Howard's contributions to our community have helped shape us for the better. Howard Henry Miles committed much of his life to his family and his community, when the family of seven were forced to relocate to the city after an unfortunate event by an angry White mob. The family went on to become influential pillars in the African-American community as they opened various businesses in which Howard took ample pride. Howard is a graduate of the historic I.M. Terrell High School. As a student, Howard ran track, and played the clarinet in multiple bands at the school before graduating in 1951. Howard then earned a science degree in chemistry in 1958 from Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, where he was also a cherished member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Amidst his educational journey, Howard served as a supply clerk for the U.S. Army in the United Kingdom from 1954 to 1956 due to the Korean War. Howard Henry Miles returned to his high school, I.M. Terrell, as a Science teacher and beloved coach while he simultaneously earned a master of science degree in biochemistry from Syracuse University. Howard continued his teaching and coaching career at Amon Carter- Riverside High School in 1970 and Polytechnic High School in 1975 where he spent more than 20 years doing what he loved most: teaching AP science courses and coaching sports teams. He is respectfully remembered and admired by many students as ``Coach Miles,'' one who helped break down racial barriers for them between the 60's and 70's. Howard is also recognized for his tough love teaching style and ``painstaking drills'' which resulted in his girls track team winning two state championships for which he was recognized by the Texas State House representatives. Howard was given many opportunities to move up in his career, however his heart belonged to the city of Fort Worth where he retired in 1999. Howard's long and varied service to Fort Worth also includes playing in the Fort Worth Civic Orchestra and Arlington Band, religiously attending St. Andrews United Methodist Church serving as a youth leader, Sunday school teacher, male chorus member and youth choir director. Therefore, I am honored to have had Howard Henry Miles as my constituent in Texas' 33rd District.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Madam Speaker, few can be heralded as being the impetus for one of this country's national holidays. Fort Worth's own Opal Lee is one such person. It is not an overstatement to say that without Opal Lee, June 19 would not have been made a national holiday. Juneteenth, as it is known, now is. Invited by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Opal Lee stood next to him in the White House on June 17 as the President signed into law the legislation making June 19 a Federal holiday; and she's been jetting, literally, around the country ever since to be recognized for this monumental achievement. Opal Lee has committed much of her life to celebrating June 19, the day in 1865, when Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the war had ended and that enslaved Africans were now free. Quoting from General Orders Number 3, Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger announced that ``[t]he people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. . . .'' Opal Lee has been the face of Juneteenth in Fort Worth for decades. By the early 2000s, she began advocating for making Juneteenth a national holiday. And in 2016, at age 90, she started a walking campaign across the Nation to bring attention to and awareness of the need for a National Day of Observance for Juneteenth. Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. Opal Lee is a graduate of the Historic I.M. Terrell High School, class of 1943. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1953, from Wiley College, now Wiley University. She returned to Fort Worth to teach at Amanda McCoy Elementary School for 15 years, where she was regarded as one of the best educators in her field. She later obtained her master's degree in Counseling and Guidance from North Texas State University, now University of North Texas, and served as Home/School Counselor for Fort Worth Independent School District until her retirement in 1977. With Lenora Rolla, another of Fort Worth's legendary icons and treasures, as its inspiration, Opal Lee, along with 19 other charter members, founded the Tarrant County Black Historical & Genealogical Society in the 1970s. The Tarrant County Black Historical & Genealogical Society is dedicated to archiving and preserving the historical contributions of Fort Worth and Tarrant County's Black citizens to be able to educate and empower future generations through art, history, and culture. Opal Lee's long and varied service to Fort Worth also includes serving on the Historic & Cultural Landmarks Commission, AIDS Outreach committee, Evans Avenue Business Association, and Riverside Neighborhood Advisory Council, among many others. For more than 30 years, Lee has served as Precinct Chair for District 8. She is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, lncorporated; the Grandmother's Club; the Ethel Ransom Humanitarian & Cultural Club and remains an active member of Baker Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, where she serves as a Missionary, church school teacher, assistant teacher and Deaconess. That is why I am honored to have her as my constituent in Texas' 33rd District, and proud to honor her as a Civil Rights leader for North Texas.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Madam Speaker, as a Texan, this is obviously a very important day for me, and I am going to tell you what Juneteenth symbolizes for me. Juneteenth symbolizes 100 years of oppression that we faced after June 19, 1865, after General Granger made his announcement in Galveston, Texas. It symbolizes Barbara Jordan coming to the United States House of Representatives, the first Black woman from the south, 100 years after June 19, 1865. It symbolizes three teenagers who died, handcuffed by law enforcement, in a boat in Mexia, Texas, at a Juneteenth gathering after they were arrested for celebrating this day with their family in 1981; over 100 years after June 19, 1865. It symbolizes Opal Lee, from Fort Worth, Texas, long known as the mother of Juneteenth in Fort Worth, and now known nationally for her endeavors to help make today possible. Someone mentioned the George Floyd Policing Bill earlier. And I want to tell you, Madam Speaker, things aren't perfect. That police officer who handcuffed those teenagers and put them in that boat, he just retired a couple of years ago from law enforcement. George Floyd fixes that. So while we celebrate what is about to become, with the Juneteenth holiday today, we know that we have a long way to go. But hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, June 19, 1865, finally being enshrined in our national heritage.

Ms. VEASEY

Ms. VEASEY. Madam Speaker, today, I urge my colleagues to pass the Fairness in Orphan Drug Exclusivity Act, which will close a loophole that blocks pharmaceutical competition and prevents innovative treatments for opioid abuse disorders from coming to the market. The opioid crisis in this country, as you know, is very serious, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the problem. Because the pandemic and all of its underlying issues--fear of the virus, increased economic hardship, and the challenges of staying at home and maintaining a safe distance--opioid abuse disorders are skyrocketing, and the epidemic has taken a toll on communities in every corner of the country. I am proud to co-lead this piece of legislation and that our Democratic majority pushed ahead with bringing it to the floor again for a vote amid last week's partisan attempts to hold this legislation hostage, because fighting the opioid epidemic cannot wait any longer. In the past 20 years, we have seen a drastic increase in opioid addiction, with nearly every State in the Nation seeing a spike in overdose deaths. Passing our Fairness in Orphan Drug Exclusivity Act will help curb the senseless loss of life by expanding treatment options and driving down costs of new medicines.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, the sacred right to vote is under attack for Black and Hispanic people in the State of Texas. Dangerous Jim Crow 2.0 voter suppression laws are rapidly advancing across the country and in the Lone Star State right now. During the 2020 elections, we saw 17 million Texans go out there and risk their lives, especially during the primary when there was still a lot of uncertainty about COVID to go out there so they could cast their ballot. Now only mere months later, Texas leaders in the State legislature are silencing the voices of these very voters by pushing some of the most restrictive voting measures in the entire country. This legislation will do everything from prohibiting local officials from sending out mail-in ballot applications to empowering poll watchers to actually be able to harass people with cell phones and video. It is crazy, Mr. Speaker, what is going on. It is completely backwards, it is embarrassing, and for me as a Black American, it is embarrassing, because the big lie is being perpetuated by historic racist tropes that Black people are cheating and stealing at the polls. It is uncalled for, it is unnecessary, it is racist, and it must end. I implore Texas leaders to stop this nonsense and get back to the business of helping families deal with the pandemic and help our State to keep growing.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to retiring UAW member Karen Rohrssen. Karen is the Administrative Assistant for the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agriculture Implement Works of America Local 276 in Grand Prairie, TX. With 36 years of faithful service to UAW Local 276, Karen Rohrssen is the conscience and heartbeat of the organization. Her dedication to supporting its members goes above and beyond expectations. She is an essential member of Local 276 who has given her time and talents to helping others. Madam Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating Karen Rohrssen and extending our best wishes to her for continued success. Her leadership will be greatly missed, but I know she will continue to be an active member of our community and continue to support local union members.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a friend and the retiring Mayor of Arlington, Texas. Warren Jeff Williams is a dedicated public servant and an advocate for Arlington. His leadership will be missed but I know he will continue to be an active member of our community. Jeff grew up in Sherman, Texas but often visited relatives in Arlington and attended Texas Rangers games as a child. His father and grandfather worked in the construction business but Jeff had a plan to go to law school until he got to Texas Tech University where he became interested in engineering and ultimately received his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 1981. Texas Tech is also where Jeff met his wife, Karen, a photography student. Jeff and Karen, now have 3 adult children, Natalie, Suzanne, and Ryan, and 7 grandchildren, all under the age of 6. They moved to Arlington in 1984, and their children grew up attending Arlington public schools. Jeff is the President and CEO of Graham Associates, a civil engineering and surveying firm based in Arlington. He has been the Civil Engineer on many landmark projects including AT&T Stadium, Globe Life Park, Parks Mall, IH-30 Three Bridges, and River Legacy Living Science Center. Jeff has been recognized as a Distinguished Engineer by his alma mater and is a member of the Civil Engineering Honor Fraternity at both Texas Tech and the University of Texas at Arlington. In addition to his success as an engineer, Jeff is also dedicated to serving his community. He has served on the boards of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, the Cotton Bowl Association, the Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Arlington YMCA, River Legacy Foundation, and Project Restore Hope Foundation; as a co-chair of the Salvation Army annual luncheon; as a committee chairman and Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Church Arlington; and as chairman of the 2014 Arlington school district bond committee. Jeff is completing his final term as Mayor of Arlington in June 2021, drawing to a close a remarkable tenure of civic service that has spanned six years, between 2015 and 2021; and Mayor Williams came into office with a message that it was time for change and, during his tenure, played a vital role, championing municipal projects such as the Abram Street rebuild, a new Downtown Library and City Center, and two new recreation centers (the East Arlington Branch Library and The Beacon); downtown development including Urban Union, East Main, and the Levitt Pavilion expansion; and innovation including on-demand transit, high speed solutions, and an Envision Center. He supported important economic projects including redeveloping the old Six Flags Mall into the Arlington Logistics Center; opening Summit Racing, Rent the Runway, a UPS regional hub, and Nanoscope Technologies in Arlington; and relocating the national headquarters of DR Horton, Texas Health Resources, and Six Flags Hurricane Harbor to Arlington. And, over the past six years, the entertainment district exploded. Texas Live, Live by Loews, and the new Globe Life Field opened to the public. Globe Life Park was repurposed. The National Medal of Honor Museum chose Arlington to be its future home. Mayor Williams helped to safely bring the World Series, Professional Bull Riders World Finals, and National Finals Rodeo to town during the pandemic. He worked to establish a Unity Council to study equity and equality in our community and Unite Arlington Weekends to serve those in need. Mayor Williams's efforts have not gone unnoticed across our nation. He was selected by the U.S. Conference of Mayors to serve as the Chairman of the prestigious U.S. Metro Economies committee for his incredible results and experience in economic development. He was also selected as 1 of 20 Mayors to participate in the Harvard Bloomberg Leadership program as well as the Yale School of Management for CEO's and Mayors. Mayor Williams worked tirelessly to seek pandemic relief funding on a national scale. Mayor Williams's adept and forward-looking leadership has helped guide Arlington through a transformative period in its history, and his many valuable contributions will continue to resonate in the years to come. Jeff has a gift of empowering citizens, fostering partnerships, and encouraging us to all Dream Big. Madam Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in congratulating Mayor Jeff Williams and extending our best wishes to him for continued success in his future endeavors. He has given his time and talents to Arlington, which is a better place because of his service.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, 1 year ago, almost to this very day, is the day when COVID-19 was officially declared a pandemic. One year ago, we didn't know that this pandemic would infect millions of Americans or kill thousands of Texans in my home State and hurt so many disadvantaged communities. But after a year of darkness, we are finally seeing the light because the House will pass, tomorrow, the American Rescue Plan, a comprehensive plan that the Biden-Harris administration and our Democrat-led House and Senate has crafted which will give constituents in the district that I represent, and all Americans, the chance for some relief. Our plan will help crush the COVID-19 virus and get the economy moving again by getting vaccines into arms across the country. Because in places like my home State of Texas, where Greg Abbott, who is the Governor, is prematurely lifting COVID-19 restrictions, the best thing we can do to combat a potential surge against the virus is to make sure that everybody has a vaccine. Mr. Speaker, that is why I am a proud supporter and will vote for the American Rescue Plan tomorrow, because we need a bold solution like this one for our country and economy to get back on the right track and to get back to normal.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the legacy of a pillar of our Fort Worth community--Father Jasso. Father Stephen Jasso was a Man of God who used his position to advocate for the city's poor and powerless even during his last years when he fought a debilitating disease. Father Jasso served the North Side Catholic parish of All Saints in Fort Worth faithfully and tirelessly for 23 years before his retirement in 2018. Born in Waco, Texas, Father Jasso was one of several children born to the late Domingo and Leonor Jasso, who came to Texas from Mexico. Before entering the Franciscan order in 1957, he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, earning the rank of sergeant first class. After completing his seminary studies in Mallorca, Spain, and Rome, Italy, he was ordained a Catholic priest in 1965. During his early years in the priesthood, he traveled to Peru where he spent four years as a missionary. His next assignment took Father Jasso to Mexico where he spent 24 years serving parishes. In 1994, at 62 years old, he was named pastor of All Saints Catholic Church in Fort Worth in 1994, where he also served on many local boards and commissions, including the United Way board and the Task Force on Racism. During this lifetime, Father Jasso also served as a vigilant advocate for immigrants and the disenfranchised in our North Texas community. Let us live up to Father Jasso's legacy and ensure we spend every day living a selfless life devoted to those less fortunate.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Louis Ayala, a beloved member of our north Fort Worth community, who died of COVID-19 and pneumonia last week. Mr. Ayala was known for his dedication to the barber shop industry and was honored by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation last year as the oldest active barber in Texas. At the age of 14, while still in middle school, Louis learned how to cut hair. Years later, he opened Ayala's Barber Shop on North Main Street in the same neighborhood where he grew up and where our community went for decades to get a good haircut. Since 1945, Louis Ayala has kept our community happy and looking sharp. Louis Ayala's hard work and spirit is an outstanding example of American ingenuity and perseverance. His commitment to his small business and community must be commended and remembered.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Madam Speaker, let's be clear about one thing. If we were on the eve of a Republican President being sworn in and his Democratic predecessor had said the same thing that this President said and incited his followers, his mob, to descend upon the Capitol, we would be joining them, not making comparisons. Because guess what? I don't care about no base. I care about this democracy and this country, and what happened the other day should never happen again. We need to stand up and do the right thing.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Madam Speaker, Hazel F. Wilson taught school in Houston Independent School District from 1954 until 1968 and in Fort Worth from 1969 until 1990. She earned two degrees from Texas Southern and remained an active alumnus of both TSU and Jack Yates High School. She was a board member of the South East Areas Churches (S.E.A.R.C.H) and volunteered for Sickle Cell Anemia Association, Cook Children's Medical Center and the Susan G. Kamen Cancer Center. Most of her time was divided between St. Mark Cumberland Presbyterian Church, NAACP, Greater Fort Worth Area Negro Business and Professional Women's Club and Zeta Phi Sorority, Psi Zeta Chapter. She was an ordained Elder of her church since 1984, a Southern Region Director for Zeta Phi Beta from 1965 to 1972, President of the Greater Fort Worth Area Negro Business and Professional Women's Club and has won countless honors and awards which include 1000 Volunteer Hours Pin from Cook Children's Medical Center. She was recognized as Outstanding Women of Zeta in 1980 and African American Legislative Summit Public Service Award in 2017. Hazel F. Wilson was founder of the Zeta Amicae Auxiliary of Fort Worth, Texas (Friends of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority) and Sponsor of the Amicae Auxiliary since its' inception in 1975. She was also the Co- Founder of the Greater Fort Worth Area Negro BPW Club which started in August 1975. She worked within her community through several organizations, held many offices and received numerous awards and recognitions for her volunteerism, community involvement and activism. Her favorite quote was ``Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.''-- John Wesley

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Anthony Sampson, a local business owner and influential financial advisor, for his exemplary service and commitment to the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex. Anthony is an active figure in the North Texas community. His achievements span decades, and his ongoing involvement in the community is visible in many aspects. Beginning his professional career with Allstate in 1983, Anthony quickly rose through the ranks and held several management positions. While growing with Allstate, he achieved over two dozen prestigious awards. In 1993, Anthony opened Sampson Financial Services, Inc./Allstate Insurance Agency in Arlington, TX and continues to lead his team to bring reassurance and stability to our community. Anthony is an active leader in the African American community and is committed to empowering youth through volunteerism and community service. He helped found ``100 Black Men of Greater Dallas- Fort Worth'' to show young people how great their future can be. The hard work and spirit shown by him is an outstanding example of American success and ingenuity. Anthony is a dedicated leader and mentor in our community; his commitment to the development of North Texans should be commended and remembered. By honoring Anthony Sampson, our Dallas Fort Worth, Texas residents will recognize his leadership and commitment to the betterment of our North Texas community and country.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to pass the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act. Because we are in the middle of a global pandemic that has killed almost 130,000 Americans and is ravaging my home State of Texas and has left our hospitals overwhelmed right now, it is now more important that we do everything that we can to strengthen the ACA. This important legislation has already given access to millions of people that now have lifesaving healthcare, many who could not previously access it. Madam Speaker, this legislation that I am working on now pushes critical provisions, like lowering healthcare costs, strengthening protections for people with preexisting conditions, negotiating for lower prescription drug prices, and expanding healthcare by pressing for Medicaid expansion. Madam Speaker, let me tell you something: You don't want to get sick in Texas right now. You don't want to get sick in Texas right now. Our hospitals are overwhelmed because of the inaction of our Governor. It is shameful. Anything that we can do here to help the crisis that we have back in our State, which is also about to grip other States in this Nation, we need to act on it now. Time cannot wait.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Madam Speaker, I was unable to vote due to extenuating circumstances. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call No. 79; YEA on Roll Call No. 80; YEA on Roll Call No. 81; YEA on Roll Call No. 82; YEA on Roll Call No. 83; YEA on Roll Call No. 84; YEA on Roll Call No. 85; and YEA on Roll Call No. 86.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to vote due to extenuating circumstances. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 87, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 88, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 89, and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 90.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to bring this resolution to the floor today which will fight against the Trump administration's harmful Medicaid block grants. I would like to take a moment to thank the chairman and the committee and their staff for working hard to protect healthcare for all Americans. Today, we are here to shine a light on yet another one of the harmful and irresponsible policies designed by the Trump administration. These block grants are just the latest in a slew of attempts by his administration to gut the Affordable Care Act and the numerous coverage expansions that have been offered to millions of Americans of all ages and all backgrounds who were unable to gain coverage before, and the millions more who could gain coverage if States like mine would be smart and expand Medicaid in our own States. They have been talking about these block grants in Texas for a while, and they are a hee-hee, ha-ha joke. Everybody knows that these are harmful. People in the healthcare industry in Texas know that these are harmful, and block grants would be harmful for the Nation. This resolution on the floor today demonstrates our majority's strong opposition to removing the expanded protections that the Affordable Care Act provided to primarily childless adults and those parents who are living at or below the poverty line. Millions of hardworking Americans have finally been able to gain affordable health insurance. Now the Trump administration wants to take away the progress made by these Americans and undercut their access to healthcare. They also want to chip away at the access to healthcare for millions of Americans who have and will be able to gain coverage through State Medicaid expansions. That is why I am proud to lead this resolution today because affordable and accessible healthcare is a right. It should not be a privilege, Mr. Speaker. It should be a right for all.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Madam Speaker, today I rise to commemorate and dedicate this time to one of our local activists in Tarrant County, Linda Cozzen, who was a great friend of mine. Linda was born in Canada and became a U.S. citizen at the age of 8 when her grandparents immigrated to the United States. Linda and her brother were orphans, and their entry into the country in Texas would not have been possible were it not for the great work of the President and Senator from Texas, Lyndon Johnson, who was one of her heroes. President Johnson had a huge impact on Linda's life, which is one of the reasons why she was so active in politics in Fort Worth and Tarrant County. Over the years, she served on a lot of different committees: The 820 Corridor Democratic Club, the Southwest Democratic Club, Tarrant County Democratic Party, Tarrant County Democratic Club, League of Women Voters. She was a precinct chair, and so many others for over 20 years. She also served as campaign manager for numerous candidates in local and State elections. And she was a proud alumna of Texas Christian University also in Fort Worth, TCU. Ms. Cozzen's story highlights the importance of incorporating immigrants into our democracy and providing them with an opportunity to participate in our political system. Linda was a great friend, and someone who always just had encouraging words for me and so many others. She was at literally every single Democratic event in Tarrant County. It has really been a sad week when everybody found out about her untimely passing, and our blessings go out to her family and all of her friends who will miss her.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to take a stand against Governor Abbott of Texas and his decision to end our refugee resettlement in my home State of Texas. This decision is going to welcome xenophobia and bigotry and is contrary to the values that we hold dear in Texas. Texas, as some of you may or may not know, has historically led our Nation in refugee resettlement. Our State has always opened its doors to people in need and welcomed refugees with open arms to provide an opportunity for refugees to contribute to the general common good of all Texans. Texas has now become the first State--I say that with shame--to bar resettlement of those fleeing violence and religious persecution. This isn't what we stand for in Texas. Mr. Speaker, I urge the Governor to look at Tarrant County, which is the county that I live in, and the decision that they made to continue taking refugees. As of today, the courts have stayed this heinous order. This decision still sets a dangerous precedent. I urge him to reverse his decision and show the rest of the Nation that Texas stands for inclusion, and let these churches--evangelical churches, liberal churches, Black churches, White churches--work together on these refugee programs. Let's let them continue to work together for the greater good of the country.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Madam Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 5130, the Capturing All Small Businesses Act, bipartisan legislation that I sponsored to protect our Nation's small businesses against being prematurely forced out of the small business category due to sudden growth. This legislation lengthens from 12 to 24 months the time period used by the SBA to determine the average number of employees a business has. Alongside revenues, the calculation of the average number of employees is one of the size standards used by SBA to determine if a business is still small. By extending SBA's calculation period for employee-based size standards, Congress recognizes that the current 12-month timeframe can have detrimental effects on small businesses that experience temporary spikes in employment. These additional 12 months recognize that many factors, including large contracts or seasonal contracts and seasonal employment, can cause a small business to take on extra employees but only take them on temporarily while, in fact, they are still a small business for the majority of year. In my home State of Texas, which has a great economy, small businesses make up 99.8 percent of all businesses and employ 4.7 million Texans. When I am back at home, one of things that I do is a program called Marc Means Business, where I go and visit businesses to learn about what other people do in their jobs. It has been great for me to be able to do this. I have had this experience working alongside constituents and employers and employees in the area. Small business is really the lifeblood of our economy, so anything that we can do to help them will be a benefit for the entire State of Texas and the economy. I want to end my remarks by giving a special thanks to Congressman Hern from Oklahoma for being a colead of this legislation, and I want to give a special thanks to Chairwoman Velazquez for really taking small business seriously. As the chair of this committee, she came down to Dallas/Fort Worth and had an opportunity to talk in person with small businesses about some of the things that they need. I just really want to thank her and Ranking Member Chabot for taking the time to really take small businesses in this country seriously.

Mr. VEASEY

Mr. VEASEY. Madam Chair, I thank the chairman for really helping deliver on the promise to work for the people by bringing down the costs of prescription drugs for all Americans. This is a historic and much-needed piece of legislation, and I am proud to be a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and Congress to bring this bill to the floor. This past summer, William from Arlington, Texas, came into my district office because, like so many Americans, William was enrolled in a Medicare plan and was concerned with the price of his lifesaving prescriptions. William was worried about the price of his generic cholesterol medicine. He had been paying $600 a month--$600 a month-- when he went to his local pharmacy to fill his prescription. I am hearing all this whooping and hollering about all these other things, protecting these pharmaceutical drug companies, but why is no one talking about people like William who are having a hard time making ends meet and they just want some relief when it comes to these prescription drug prices? That is who we need to be taking care of and defending in this debate. Many seniors across the country are living like William. They are on fixed incomes. They are really having a hard time making ends meet, and forcing them to choose between paying for their prescription drugs and their daily necessities is really unacceptable in our country. That is why I am proud to stand here with my colleagues today to voice support for H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act. I am proud this legislation will ensure Medicare beneficiaries will be covered on things like vision, dental, and hearing benefits.

Mr. VEASEY. Madam Chair, I thank the chairman very much for yielding me additional time. Again, I am just proud that the version of this bill that will help our low-income residents all across this country will be passed into law. There are so many other things that I could talk about, but I just have to tell you, in closing, there are people who are out there hurting. They are making life-and-death decisions every day and having to choose between whether or not they are going to eat or pay for their prescription drugs. This is unacceptable in this country.