Frederica Wilson

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Barbara Carey-Shuler, a courageous community leader, dedicated public servant, sagacious mentor, inspiring educator, and loving mother, in honor of Women's History Month. Dr. Carey-Shuler has been a powerful force for positive change in South Florida for decades. She is a trailblazer who has paved the way for many successful professionals, entrepreneurs, and businesses. Her efforts have improved the quality of life for thousands of South Floridians. Dr. Carey-Shuler's life is founded on a spirit of generosity. Her unselfish character is only overshadowed by her loving spirit and acceptance of others. She considers her ability to empower and inspire others as her greatest accomplishment. Regarding her passion for helping young people she says, ``l want to exude my passion so that they will have the same passion to give back and help other young people.'' Dr. Carey-Shuler was first appointed to the Miami Dade County Board of Commissioners in 1979. She made a major impact through her progressive policies and legislative decisions. She initiated the groundbreaking legislation to create Affirmative Action and set-aside programs in Miami Dade County which are credited with creating more jobs and opportunities for minorities and women than any other legislation in the county's history. She also created the 15 miles per hour school zone in Dade County and was later adopted by the rest of the State of Florida. She made history in 2002 when she was selected as the first African American woman to serve as chairperson of the Miami Dade County Commission. Dr. Carey-Shuler has never shied away from an opportunity to help others or promote equality without regard to the popularity of her decisions. In 1990, she attended an event where the late South African President Nelson Mandela delivered a speech upon his release after being unjustly imprisoned for 27 years. The event was locally controversial but Dr. Carey-Shuler was among a small group of elected officials who attended because she understood President Mandela's importance to the international campaign for human rights. Her courage and vision earned the respect and admiration of her constituents and was a large part of the reason she was re-elected several times. Above all, Dr. Carey-Shuler values education as the key to a happy and healthy life. She was well-regarded as an administrator with Miami Dade County Public Schools. She was also credited with inspiring and advancing the careers of dozens of educators as an assistant superintendent. She has an impressive educational resume of her own: Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Florida A&M University, Master of Science in Communications from Ohio State University, Specialist Degree in Guidance from the University of Miami, and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Florida. Since retiring from elected office in 2005, Dr. Carey-Shuler has managed very successful family-owned funeral homes in Palm Beach County, Florida. However, she has continued her passion to help others and mentor young people. Her board memberships include Spady Cultural Heritage Museum, West Palm Beach Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Delta Heritage Foundation, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Educational Foundation, Pathway to Prosperity, among several others. Madam Speaker, in observance of Women's History Month, I urge my colleagues and all Americans to please join me in recognizing a great woman, a great public servant, a great businessperson, a great mother, and a great American, Dr. Barbara Carey-Shuler for her indelible contribution to our community and our nation.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and commend Mayor Daniella Levine Cava on the occasion of her historic election as the first female Mayor of Miami-Dade County, Florida. Daniella Levine Cava was sworn in as Mayor of Miami-Dade County on Tuesday, November 17, 2020, making history as the first woman to do so. Prior to her historic election, she served as the Miami-Dade County Commissioner representing District 8, first elected in 2014, and reelected in 2018. Her district included Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay, Homestead, and unincorporated areas of South Miami-Dade including Redland, Falls, Princeton, Naranja, Leisure City and parts of West Kendall. While a member of the Miami-Dade County Commission, she served on the following Committees: Transportation and Finance; Infrastructure and Capital Improvements; Public Safety and Rehabilitation; and the Community Disparities Subcommittee of the Chair's Policy Council. She also served on the Transportation Planning Organization and the Executive Board of the South Florida Regional Planning Council. Additionally as a Commissioner, her efforts focused on delivering on a variety of issues like: Fighting for a fair share of resources for South Miami-Dade, increasing the County police force by 80 officers, expanding economic opportunity, championing parks and the environment, advocating for transit improvements and better planning, and hosting the annual South Dade Solutions Summit. She secured over $30 million in funds for infrastructure projects in South Miami-Dade. Mayor Levine Cava came to elected office after having served as an advocate for South Florida families for over 30 years. She served special needs children and immigrants at Legal Services of Greater Miami, and then represented children in the child welfare system as Associate and Legal Director for the Guardian Ad Litem Program. Madam Speaker, in the aftermath of devastating Hurricane Andrew, she was recruited to create a new intake system for child abuse cases with the Florida Department of Children and Families. Her efforts were concentrated on the neighborhoods of Miami-Dade County's District 8, where she helped restore the lives and homes of those devastated by the storm. In 1996, Mayor Levine Cava founded the social service organization Catalyst Miami, to help low- and middle-income families through education and advocacy. Catalyst helps approximately 5,000 people each year to become more self-sufficient. The passionate work that Mayor Levine Cava has done in the community also includes service with notable organizations like the Florida Bar Committee on Legal Needs of Children; the boards of League of Women Voters, Orange Bowl Foundation, North Dade Medical Foundation, South Florida Health Information Initiative, and several national boards. She has been recognized and awarded for her impact on the community by numerous organizations including: the Commission on Ethics, Red Cross, American Society for Public Administration, ACLU, National Council of Jewish Women and AAUW, among others. Born in New York and raised partly in Latin America, Mayor Daniella received her bachelor's degree in psychology with honors from Yale University and graduate degrees in law and social work from Columbia University. She came to South Florida in 1980 to join her husband, Dr. Robert Cava, a Miami native, who returned home to join his father in medical practice. Mayor Levine Cava and her husband raised two children, Eliza and Edward Cava. Madam Speaker, I urge you, my colleagues in Congress, and all Americans to join me in honoring Mayor Daniella Levine Cava for her historic election as the first female Mayor of Miami-Dade County, Florida and her dedication and commitment to her community and our great Nation.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate Benjamin Crump, a nationally recognized civil rights attorney who seeks justice for families who've lost a loved one to police and racially charged violence, and a member of the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project. In 2012, Mr. Crump represented the family of my constituent, Trayvon Martin, 17, who was killed by neighborhood watch vigilante George Zimmerman. He also has represented the families of 12-year-old Tamir Rice, who was killed by a Cleveland Police officer while holding a toy gun; and Michael Brown, 18, who was shot dead by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. He is currently representing the family of George Floyd, who was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis, and Jacob Blake, who was left paralyzed after being shot by a police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Mr. Crump has collected millions of dollars for more than 200 victims and their families and his advocacy has significantly raised awareness of the racial inequities embedded in our nation's judicial system. Mr. Crump, who has been described as ``the hardest working attorney in the country,'' earned his bachelor's and law degrees from Florida State University. His grandmother, who helped raise him, once said, ``When you get a chance to speak truth to power, you do it.'' He remembers those words everyday no matter where he is and uses them as a guide. I have the utmost confidence that Mr. Crump will continue to serve underserved communities. He has exemplified his selflessness by dedicating a large part of his practice to pro bono cases, leaving low- income clients without debt. Because he is such an inspirational role model, Mr. Crump will be inducted into the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project at its 28th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Breakfast on Monday, January 18, 2021.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and commend Mayor Daniella Levine Cava on the occasion of her historic election as the first female Mayor of Miami-Dade County, Florida. Daniella Levine Cava was sworn in as Mayor of Miami-Dade County on Tuesday, November 17, 2020, making history as the first woman to do so. Prior to her historic election, she served as the Miami-Dade County Commissioner representing District 8, first elected in 2014, and re- elected in 2018. Her district included Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay, Homestead, and unincorporated areas of South Miami-Dade including Redland, Falls, Princeton, Naranja, Leisure City and parts of West Kendall. While a member of the Miami-Dade County Commission, she served on the following Committees: Transportation and Finance; Infrastructure and Capital Improvements; Public Safety and Rehabilitation; and the Community Disparities Subcommittee of the Chair's Policy Council. She also served on the Transportation Planning Organization and the Executive Board of the South Florida Regional Planning Council. Additionally as a Commissioner, her efforts focused on delivering on a variety of issues like: Fighting for a fair share of resources for South Miami-Dade, increasing the County police force by 80 officers, expanding economic opportunity, championing parks and the environment, advocating for transit improvements and better planning, and hosting the annual South Dade Solutions Summit. She secured over $30 million in funds for infrastructure projects in South Miami-Dade. Mayor Levine Cava came to elected office after having served as an advocate for South Florida families for over 30 years. She served special needs children and immigrants at Legal Services of Greater Miami, and then represented children in the child welfare system as Associate and Legal Director for the Guardian Ad Litem Program. Madam Speaker, in the aftermath of devastating Hurricane Andrew, she was recruited to create a new intake system for child abuse cases with the Florida Department of Children and Families. Her efforts were concentrated on the neighborhoods of Miami-Dade County's District 8, where she helped restore the lives and homes of those devastated by the storm. In 1996, Mayor Levine Cava founded the social service organization Catalyst Miami, to help low- and middle-income families through education and advocacy. Catalyst helps approximately 5,000 people each year to become more self-sufficient. The passionate work that Mayor Levine Cava has done in the community also includes service with notable organizations like the Florida Bar Committee on Legal Needs of Children; the boards of League of Women Voters, Orange Bowl Foundation, North Dade Medical Foundation, South Florida Health Information Initiative, and several national boards. She has been recognized and awarded for her impact on the community by numerous organizations including: the Commission on Ethics, Red Cross, American Society for Public Administration, ACLU, National Council of Jewish Women and AAUW, among others. Born in New York and raised partly in Latin America, Mayor Daniella received her bachelor's degree in psychology with honors from Yale University and graduate degrees in law and social work from Columbia University. She came to South Florida in 1980 to join her husband, Dr. Robert Cava, a Miami native, who returned home to join his father in medical practice. Mayor Levine Cava and her husband raised two children, Eliza and Edward Cava. Madam Speaker, I urge you, my colleagues in Congress, and all Americans to join me in honoring Mayor Daniella Levine Cava for her historic election as the first female Mayor of Miami-Dade County, Florida and her dedication and commitment to her community and our great nation.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of John Davis, the tenth secretary of the Florida Lottery and a member of the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project. With more than 20 years of service in the public and private sectors, Secretary Davis has developed a well-earned reputation as an exemplary leader. Before his appointment to the Florida Lottery in October 2020, he served as the executive vice president of the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce. During his tenure, he strengthened organizational structures that led to an acceleration in revenue and growth. In addition, he has served as president of the African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida, where he supervised organizations and businesses in six different counties. Secretary Davis also co-founded a private business that offers youth sporting programs and professional training services. He was named one of the Top 15 Leaders to Watch by Orlando Magazine in 2018. Secretary Davis earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Florida State University, where he was an exceptional safety for the Seminoles' football team. In his spare time, Secretary Davis enjoys volunteering for the United Way, Valencia College, Volunteer Florida, and the Kappa Alpha Psi Achievement Foundation. All of his leadership roles have been rooted in supporting students and helping younger generations fulfill their dreams. The Florida Lottery's mission perfectly aligns with his goals and experiences: increasing revenue for the betterment of Florida's education system. The organization has provided funding for more than 880,000 scholarships. In recognition of his distinguished career and record of public service, Secretary Davis will be inducted into the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project at its 28th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Breakfast on Monday, January 18, 2021. He will support the 5000 Role Models' goal of saving minority boys from the pits of destruction, drugs, and the criminal justice system. I am incredibly proud to honor Secretary Davis and welcome him to the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Lonnie G. Bunch III, secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, where he oversees 19 museums, 21 libraries, the National Zoo, numerous research centers, and several education units and centers. He is the first-ever African American to serve in this role. Mr. Bunch, who grew up in Belleville, New Jersey, discovered early on his passion for the study of history and was greatly influenced by his grandfather. He regularly cites a conversation with him as a pivotal moment that shaped his career trajectory. While surveying a photograph labeled Unidentified Children, Bunch's grandfather mused to young Lonnie, ``Isn't it a shame [for them] to live their lives, die, just to be listed as anonymous?'' Consequently, he challenges himself to ``make visible the invisible'' and ``give voice to the anonymous.'' From 1983 to 1989, Bunch served as the curator of history and program manager for the California African American Museum in Los Angeles, where he organized award-winning exhibitions highlighting black Olympians and African Americans in Los Angeles. Between 1989 and 2000, he held several positions at the Smithsonian, including associate director for curatorial affairs at the National Museum of American History, during which he oversaw the development of a major permanent exhibition on the American presidency. As president of the Chicago Historical Society from 2001 to 2005, Bunch developed an acclaimed exhibition on teenage life titled Teen Chicago and launched an outreach initiative to increase museum attendance by diverse communities. Before serving in his current role, Bunch was director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture. Under his watch, the museum grew from a project with no staff, collections, funding, or site, to become a cornerstone of American history and culture that has welcomed more than six million visitors since its opening and houses a collection of 40,000 objects. It is the largest museum devoted exclusively to examining and teaching African American history and its impact on the nation and the world. He has served on the advisory boards of the American Association of Museums and the American Association for State and Local History. In 2002, President George W. Bush appointed him to the Committee for the Preservation of the White House, to which he was reappointed by President Barack Obama in 2010. In 2005, the American Association of Museums named him one of the 100 most influential museum professionals of the 20th century. Bunch also received the Freedom Medal from the Roosevelt Institute, the W.E.B. Du Bois Medal from the Hutchins Center at Harvard University, and the National Equal Justice Award from the NAACP's Legal Defense Fund. In addition, he will be inducted into the 5000 Role Models at its 28th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Breakfast on Monday, January 18, 2021. Bunch has published numerous books, including tomes on the black military experience, the American presidency, and all-black towns in the American West. As Mr. Bunch has said: ``You can't be a historian of black America without being hopeful. Because this is a group of people who, in many ways, believed in a country that didn't believe in them. So, for me, there is always hope.'' Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring Lonnie G. Bunch III, who helps us all draw hope from our history, even its darkest moments, and has ensured that our great Smithsonian institutions give voice to stories that might otherwise would be lost to history.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate Kamala Harris on becoming vice president of the United States when she will be sworn into office on January 20, 2021, on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. Her journey to the White House is a path of many historic firsts. She is the first woman; the first black woman; the first Asian- American woman; and the first graduate of an historically black university and member of the black Greek- letter organization, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, to serve as vice president. She also was the first black woman to be elected district attorney in California and the state's first woman to serve as attorney general. In addition, she is the second black woman to win election to the U.S. Senate. Her motto, ``You may be the first, but make sure you're not the last,'' are words of wisdom passed down from her mother that helped mold her into a role model who is inspiring girls and women around the globe to shatter glass ceilings of their own. The vice president will, however, be both ``the first and last in the room'' as she and President Joe Biden address the converging crises our nation is currently facing: COVID-19, an economic downturn, and racial injustice. Vice President Harris's commitment to leveraging every aspect of the federal government to improve outcomes for men and boys of color also is commendable. During the 116th Congress, we joined forces to pass an historic, bipartisan piece of legislation that created the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys. I look forward to working with her to enact this legislation and form a thriving commission that will address pressing racial inequities and shape landmark legislation. She will be honored for being a champion for boys and men of color at the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project's 28th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Breakfast on January 18, 2021. The 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project is an in-school, dropout prevention and mentoring program serving thousands of boys of color. Vice President Harris's career in public service began long before she was elected to office. Thirteen-year-old Kamala successfully organized the children at her apartment complex to protest not being allowed to play in the building's grassy courtyard. She turned this burgeoning passion into a thriving career after earning a bachelor's degree in political science at Howard University and a law degree at the University of California's Hastings College of Law. It is an honor and a joy to call our vice president my Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority sister and dear friend.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Madam Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 71--H.R. 35; ``yea'' on rollcall No. 72--H.R. 4852; and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 73--H.R. 2490.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise in support of H.R. 2474, the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, or the great PRO Act. The Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions, which I am privileged to chair, conducted three long, riveting hearings in the 116th Congress. During these hearings, we assessed a multitude of legal obstacles workers face in securing union recognition and winning collective bargaining agreements. Some facts are indisputable. Collective bargaining gives America's workers an economic ladder and safer working conditions. There are so many unsafe working conditions all over America. During our first hearing, we heard testimony from Cynthia Harper, who suffered a severe injury in an Ohio assembly plant. Even though Cynthia was hurt, she did not give up. She fought for her rights. Cynthia was fired from her plant for organizing a union to win safer working conditions for herself and her coworkers. Incredibly, the National Labor Relations Act has no civil penalties that deter employers from violating workers' rights. Importantly, the PRO Act addresses this by establishing meaningful penalties for companies that violate their employees' rights. This important legislation cements into law the principle that workers deserve the right to negotiate for a fair share of the wealth, wealth that their hard work, sweat, and tears helps to create for this Nation. This bill makes every American man's, woman's, and child's life better. Make no mistake, anyone who has gotten a livable wage, equal pay for equal work, and a safe working environment should thank unions and support the PRO Act. Anyone who grew up in a middle-class home and is fighting to build a middle-class home for their own children should thank unions and support the PRO Act. Anyone who believes in growing wages, providing healthcare for all people, and protecting workers' rights should thank unions and support the PRO Act. Anyone who knows we should protect the right to organize and institute financial penalties on companies that interfere should thank unions and support the PRO Act. Every single Member of Congress, Democrats and Republicans, House and Senate, represents working people, and this is a working people's bill. Simply put, if you claim to fight for and support the interests of working people, you must support the PRO Act. I ask all of my colleagues, Democrats and Republicans, to support the working people of America and support the PRO Act.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the impeachment of Donald J. Trump. This is not a joyous moment. Impeachment ought to be an act that is exceedingly rare. Madam Speaker, this is one of those rare occasions because this President's abuse of power strikes at the very heart of our republic. I was initially one of the holdouts on impeachment, preferring first to see a strong, defensible case that Donald Trump had abused the power of his office before endorsing such a serious step. When it became clear that President Trump abused the power of his office by attempting to extort the Ukraine government by withholding military aid in exchange for a political investigation, our only choice was to move forward on impeachment. Mr. Trump attempted to use the power of the Presidency to subvert democracy itself. My Republican friends argue, in part, that no crime was committed because Mr. Zelensky claims he never felt pressure when asked to criminally investigate the political rival of the most powerful man in the world. I agree in part. These crimes were not committed against Mr. Zelensky. Donald Trump believes that the power of the Presidency is his personal tool to coerce the weak to do his bidding. If it had not been Mr. Zelensky, it would have been some other poor fellow compromised by need or greed. These crimes were committed against the Republic and the American people who belong to it. And the power of impeachment was given to this body to save us from small men entrusted with great power. In 1787, Benjamin Franklin was asked this simple question: ``What have we got, a republic or a monarchy?'' I hope that my colleagues will answer as Mr. Franklin did: ``A republic, if we can keep it.'' I will vote yes to impeach the President of the United States. I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Madam Chair, I am pleased to speak in support of this important and necessary piece of legislation. Through my work as chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions, and as former ranking member of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, I have worked extensively on protecting America's workers from unsafe conditions in the workplace. This legislation is an important step toward protecting our healthcare and social service workers from workplace violence. Unfortunately, it also is a very necessary step. We know that healthcare and social service workers experience the highest rate of serious injury due to workplace violence. They, literally, are jumped on and beaten up by their patients at work, thrown against walls and floors, suffering bone fractures and brain injuries. These workers have a lost time injury rate of 14.8 per 10,000 workers, compared to 3.1 for all other workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Currently, Federal efforts to protect workers from workplace violence depends solely on the use of OSHA's general duty clause. That part of the Occupational Safety and Health Act requires employers to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards. However, it is legally cumbersome to apply and is mostly applied after an injury occurs. What is needed are standards to prevent injuries in advance, not after-the- fact enforcement. While OSHA has adopted guidelines for preventing violence against healthcare and social service workers, these are only temporary and voluntary. This legislation will codify these guidelines and provide OSHA with the necessary authority to require healthcare facilities and social service providers to develop and implement a workplace violence prevention plan. Madam Chair, while these changes are important to the entire Nation, they are even more important to my district in Florida. Given the large population of senior citizens, the need for healthcare and social service workers is great. Performing these jobs can be both physically and emotionally draining, even without the threat of being attacked. The added danger of physical violence may lead many potential healthcare and social service workers to seek employment elsewhere, to leave the field altogether, or quit. Violence in the workplace has a cascading effect on everyone involved, from the workers who bear the brunt of the violent attacks, to the families they serve, to the patients who witness the violence, some in a very fragile state. What we do know from evidence and research is that healthcare facilities that have violence prevention plans have cut the rate of injuries and related workers' compensation costs.

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Chair, for these reasons, I urge every Member to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 1309, the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act. Mr. Chair, I include in the Record a letter in support of this legislation from the American Federation of Teachers. Washington, DC, November 19, 2019. House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Representative: On behalf of the 1.7 million members of the American Federation of Teachers, including 170,000 healthcare workers, I strongly urge you to vote YES on H.R. 1309, the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act. I also want to thank Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) for his leadership on this bill and for his steadfast commitment to protecting all healthcare workers. When healthcare professionals show up to work, they shouldn't have to worry about whether they are going to be injured in an assault. Sadly, healthcare and social service workers are nearly five times more likely to be assaulted while on the job than the rest of our workforce. The costs of this violence are high: in injury rates, in professionals being driven from doing the work they love, and in workers' compensation claims and staff shortages. H.R. 1309 would require hospitals and other facilities to develop and implement comprehensive violence prevention plans and provide whistleblower protections for nurses and other workers facing violence. Current federal workplace protections do not focus on healthcare and social service workers and don't cover those working in public facilities. This bill is a chance to make healthcare settings safer environments for staff and patients alike. As one of the largest healthcare unions in the country, the AFT has been striving to address workplace violence for years; this is our members' top healthcare priority. I hear from AFT healthcare members about violence all the time: A nurse was choked to the point of unconsciousness last year; a nurse was stabbed in 2017; members have suffered bone fractures and brain injuries from being thrown against walls and floors. The House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing on the topic of workplace violence earlier this year. In her testimony, the AFT witness described being attacked: He then spun around on his back and kicked his leg high into the air striking me in the neck, hitting with such force to my throat that my head snapped backward; I heard this ``bang'' and ``pop, `` and all the air just rushed out of me. . . . Since June 2015, I have been diagnosed with moderate to severe post-traumatic stress disorder, moderate anxiety, insomnia, depressive disorder and social phobia related to this incident. . . . I LOVED being a nurse. I have a huge problem still calling myself a nurse. I do not know what to call myself now. There is a deep loss when you used to make a difference in the lives of people, in your true calling and with passion. Now, that space is filled with extreme sadness and fear. . . . I lost my career. No one should face violence or intimidation, or fear for their safety, while working to heal others and save lives. Violence is not just ``part of the job,'' and studies show that prevention plans work. Many violent incidents can be predicted and minimized with the right staffing, policies and protocols, and this legislation builds upon well-established guidelines from the Department of Labor. I strongly urge you to support the nurses, social workers and other healthcare professionals in your district by voting YES on H.R. 1309. Sincerely, Randi Weingarten. President.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 3495.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Madam Speaker, as chairwoman of the Education and Labor Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions, I rise today to urge my colleagues to unanimously pass the Butch Lewis Act of 2019. Failure to do so will have dire consequences for at least 1.3 million Americans who did everything right. They put in decades of hard work to ensure that their retirement years would be secure, so many of them in physically grueling jobs in mining and construction and on ships and the Nation's highways. They often sacrificed wage increases, choosing instead a contribution to their pension plans so that they could live in their golden years with dignity and peace, a life well planned. Yet, after all of that, retired people and future retirees are now living in fear of losing everything they worked so hard for, and that is a shame. Failure to pass this legislation also will have dire consequences for tens of thousands of current workers and regional economies and could cost American taxpayers between $170 billion and $240 billion. There is a huge risk, so we must act now. This is an issue on which both Democrats and Republicans should agree. This issue has no party, no race, no religion. We are all in the same boat, and we are running out of time. Our failure to take action to protect retirees and American taxpayers, our constituents, is not an option. It is a necessity, and we must act now. There is no time to waste. Let's do the right thing and pass the Butch Lewis Act of 2019 today.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter in support of H.R. 582, the Raise the Wage Act of 2019, from the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce. U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce, Washington, DC, July 15, 2019. Letter in Support of H.R. 582, the Raise the Wage Act of 2019 My name is Margot Dorfman and I am the CEO of the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce. I represent women business owners across America, who support raising the minimum wage. Introduction The U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce was founded to support the continued economic advancement of women in America. The Women's Chamber has more than 500,000 members--most of them small business owners. We have members in every state. The business owners with whom I talk every day believe that, far from hurting their businesses, raising the minimum wage in fact helps small businesses, women workers and the broader economy. Raising the minimum wage reinforces their business strategies, while an inadequate minimum wage undermines them. It is vitally important to understand that the number one problem I hear from my members is that consumer demand is still weak. Raising the minimum wage helps directly with that by putting more money in the pockets of customers who will spend it at our local businesses. The migration of women from the workforce into business ownership has been one of the great economic achievements of the American dream. As women moved from employees to business owners, we have brought a new perspective to America's business leadership. Women now own about 40 percent of all privately held firms in the United States and are exercising the decision-making authority that comes with that role to effect positive changes in the workplace. My member business owners realize that most of the people working for low pay across the country--the waitresses, the health aides and the cashiers--are women. Many of my members were once employees themselves. They know that raising the minimum wage helps working women and families in their struggle to make ends meet. Our members know that a minimum wage of $7.25 an hour is much too low. As a matter of fact, large national chains that pay low wages may actually be competing unfairly with women-owned small businesses that work hard to assure that their employees receive fair pay. In short, keeping the minimum wage low keeps women and families down. For these reasons and more, the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce supports raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2024 and then indexing it to median hourly wages so that it doesn't erode again. And we also support gradually raising the minimum wage for tipped workers until it equals the regular minimum wage as called for in the Raise the Wage Act. Small Businesses Show That Paying Higher Wages Is Economically Realistic There are two roads to profitability: the high road and the low road. Businesses can invest in their workforces with decent wages and benefits, and enjoy the benefits of a dedicated workforce with lower turnover, higher productivity and better customer service. Or businesses can pay poverty wages and churn through employees. These businesses may save on immediate payroll, but they experience the significant expense of higher turnover, constant recruitment and training, higher absenteeism, and a less experienced, less productive workforce. Only one road to profitability delivers us a strong floor under our economy, a growing middle class, upward mobility and the promise of the American Dream. The business owners supported by the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce have chosen the high road strategy for building their businesses: they pay better wages and their businesses benefit as a result. They report to me that this approach attracts more stable, dependable, productive employees. That's not surprising since better wages enable workers to concentrate on their job without continually worrying about how they will put gas in their cars, pay for day care or keep up with their rent. At small businesses, the owners and employees work side by side on a daily basis, working together to offer the best goods and services to their customers. My members know they cannot generally compete with the big box stores or the chain restaurants on price. Instead, their competitive advantage is higher quality service and a real connection to the community and its residents. The reality is that my members and other Main Street businesses have a lot in common with low-wage workers: both are being squeezed by big corporations. The low wages that big retailers and restaurant chains pay are one of many factors that contributes to their price advantage over small and local businesses. Indeed, low-paying big chains count on responsible employers and taxpayers to subsidize them by providing food stamps and public health assistance to their workers who can't make ends meet on poverty wages. Raising the minimum wage to a more realistic level helps level the playing field for businesses like my members who believe in treating their workers fairly and investing in the communities they are rooted in. Weak Consumer Spending Is Hurting Small Businesses and Raising the Minimum Wage Can Give It a Boost My members see the stagnant wages and economic anxiety that most American families are facing as one of the major factors weakening the economy a decade after the Great Recession. And economists recognize that until we restore real wage growth for working and middle-class Americans, consumer spending will not be where we need it to be to help businesses thrive and grow into the future. Too many people forget that workers are also consumers. Consumer spending drives 70 percent of our economy, and we must repower broad-based consumer spending--backed by adequate wages rather than unaffordable debt--if we are going to repower our economy, create good jobs and reverse the decline in our middle class. Raising the minimum wage boosts the economy from the bottom up, which is exactly what we need. That's why local businesses support raising the minimum wage--because that additional money in the pockets of the lowest paid workers will be spent immediately in the local economy. These workers are not taking fancy trips abroad or speculating on Wall Street. They are spending pay increases at the grocery store, the pharmacy and the auto-repair in their communities. Raising the Minimum Wage Helps Working Women Finally, as a representative of women-owned businesses, I want to emphasize that working women represent the greatest percentage of workers to benefit from increasing the minimum wage. The typical low-wage worker is an adult woman. Think of your waitress at Applebee's, or the cashier who rings you up at the supermarket. Think of the childcare center worker who takes care of your son or daughter, or the health aide who helps your mother or grandfather. Many of the women business owners who belong to the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce left the workforce to start their own businesses because they felt that the jobs where women worked were not being fairly paid. In building their own companies and becoming employers, they have created working environments where they try to do better by paying and playing fairly. That's why women-owned businesses tend to pay above minimum wage. Women business owners understand and value security for families. In sum, a $15 minimum wage by 2024 would offer all of the benefits that I have outlined: it will help small businesses like my members by putting more money in the pockets of workers, which will boost spending and job creation on Main Street; it will help level the playing field for small businesses and big businesses; and it will bring fairer pay to American women, who hold the majority of the low-wage jobs that will see a raise. While some try to portray a minimum wage increase as a fight between business and workers, raising the minimum wage is in reality good for both. It is for these reasons that the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce supports the Raise the Wage Act of 2019. Thank you. Margot Dorfman, Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Women's Chamber of CommerceTM.

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is amoral that millions of people in this country are forced to work so hard for so little in return. Believe me, Congress knows, because there is a serious bipartisan movement afoot to provide Members of Congress with a cost-of-living raise. Congress realizes that they do not earn enough and, hopefully, they realize that people earning $7.50 an hour are definitely not earning enough. So today, I call on CNN, MSNBC, FOX News, to let the American people know that we are attempting to raise the minimum wage. Herald it from the loudest bully pulpit you have. Listen to the facts given today by Chairman Scott and my colleagues and share them. News outlets all over America, you have a responsibility to let the American people know that we hear them, we support them, and we understand. We are doing our very, very best to help them. We are fighting for them. Raise the wage, colleagues. Raise the wage today.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, 50 years ago, the Apollo 11 mission sent a crew of pioneering women on a journey of incredible significance. All were astronauts. Symbolically, it was a representation that with enough hard work, dedication, and will, America could achieve the seemingly impossible. The mission left lasting imprints, from the eternal footprints left on Tranquility Base to the values engraved into an entire generation. The Moon landing inspired all who watched it to believe in the power of innovation, dedication, and most especially, unwavering courage. But today, I want to draw attention to some of the unseen heroes of the Apollo 11 mission. I will refer to them as the ``hidden figures.'' Ms. Katherine Johnson, Ms. Dorothy Vaughan, and Ms. Mary Jackson have only recently been recognized for the incredible work they put into the mission that defined generations, thanks to the film ``Hidden Figures.'' Only Ms. Johnson is still alive today to receive our overdue gratitude for these women. Before we began carrying calculators in our pockets, Ms. Johnson, Ms. Vaughan, and Ms. Jackson did manual calculations of astronomical problems using only pen and paper. The stakes were incredibly high. The working conditions were segregated and tense. Yet, these women produced work at a caliber high enough to send men to the surface of the Moon. That is what I call some Black girl magic. Ms. Johnson, Ms. Vaughan, and Ms. Jackson each defied intense discrimination and overwhelming adversity. Their lifetimes were metaphorical Apollo missions: astronomically successful despite all odds. But they were hidden figures. We did not know them. I am proud to recognize them today on the floor as women of distinction with unrivaled talent. I am proud to know that their contributions are finally being recognized. On a very personal note, as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., I am proud to call them my sisters. Their legacy of Black female excellence and newfound recognition will undoubtedly inspire a generation of young people to pursue STEM careers, despite whatever odds may be against them. Black girls can learn about the Apollo 11 mission and know that there are heroes who look just like them. First-generation college students, low-income children, and children of color can discover how it is possible to defy the odds with STEM. To help make this possible, my long-term friend and colleague from Florida (Mr. Posey) and I worked together to pass H.R. 2726, the Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act, which honors the Apollo 11 crew, NASA scientists, engineers, astronauts, and Americans from every State who made the mission possible. The bill supports college scholarships for future scientists, engineers, and astronauts. Surcharges from the sale of the coins will help promote STEM education, space exploration, and scientific discovery. I am grateful that throughout my lifetime, these hidden figures have finally been brought into the light and celebrated in the manner they have deserved since 1969. They are no longer hidden. Now, we all know them, celebrate them, and thank God for their brilliance and magnificent contributions.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I was not present for the following votes because I had to travel to my congressional district. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall Vote No. 426, ``no'' on rollcall Vote No. 427, ``yes'' on rollcall Vote No. 428, ``yes'' on rollcall Vote No. 429, and ``yes'' on rollcall Vote No. 430.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Madam Chairwoman, I rise in opposition, although I am not opposed to the amendment. I am pleased to join my long-time friend and colleague from Florida, Congressman Bill Posey, in supporting amendment No. 11, which we coauthored. Our amendment equally increases and decreases NASA's exploration account by $1,969 to highlight the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission which occurred on July 20, 1969. This amendment is part of a year-long, bipartisan effort we have undertaken to commemorate the 50th anniversary and to honor the incredible women and men who contributed to the mission's success and empowered the next generation of astronauts and aerospace engineers. In the 114th Congress, we introduced and secured passage of the Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act which was signed into law by President Obama. Proceeds from the sale of the coin will support aerospace education and scholarships. When one thinks of the most awe- inspiring events of the 20th century, Neil Armstrong taking the historic first steps on the Moon and declaring: ``That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,'' certainly comes to mind. I want to especially acknowledge the work of Miss Katherine Johnson, a pioneering African American mathematician whose calculations ensured that the Apollo crew landed on the Moon and returned home safely. American space exploration continues to inspire our next generation of pioneers and innovators, through an ambitious array of missions and destinations and support thousands of jobs in my home State of Florida and throughout our Nation. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bipartisan amendment and thank Congressman Posey for his leadership on space issues.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Madam Speaker, I was not present for the following votes because I remained in my congressional district due to a death in the family. Had I been present, I would have voted: yes on Roll Call Vote No. 232; yes on Roll Call Vote No. 233; yes on Roll Call Vote No. 234; yes on Roll Call Vote No. 235; yes on Roll Call Vote No. 236; yes on Roll Call Vote No. 237; yes on Roll Call Vote No. 238; no on Roll Call Vote No. 239; and yes on Roll Call Vote No. 240.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Madam Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 7, the Paycheck Fairness Act. I thank Representative DeLauro for her efforts in continuing to push this bill to fruition. As chair of the HELP Subcommittee and as an African American woman, I feel very strongly about the issue of pay fairness. Our Nation cannot adequately improve labor conditions without addressing the stark inequities that exist along gender and racial lines. The fact that, on average, women currently earn just 80 cents for every dollar a man earns for the same position and amount of work is just plain wrong and is a disgrace. By passing the Paycheck Fairness Act and promoting wage parity, we can lift families out of poverty and keep harmful biases out of the workplace. There are too many poor working people in America working two and three jobs to keep their families whole. Research has shown that a woman's level of education and work experience or chosen industry do not necessarily shield her from unfair pay. This problem is widespread and can be found across all sectors of the economy, affecting even the most prepared women. Economically disadvantaged women are hit extremely hard, as are women of color. There are two Americas, a rich and prosperous America and a poor and struggling America. Black and Latina women earn 61 cents and 53 cents, respectively, for every dollar earned by men who perform the same job--such a discrepancy, such a stark statistic, such a shame. The wage gap is too wide and narrowing much too slowly for Congress not to act. I strongly support H.R. 7 as a positive step toward correcting this glaring injustice. I reiterate my strong support for H.R. 7, and I urge all my colleagues to vote ``yes'' for paycheck fairness. Madam Chair, I include in the Record a letter of support from the National Education Association. National Education Association, March 26, 2019. House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Representative: On behalf of our three million members and the 50 million students they serve, we urge you to VOTE YES on the Paycheck Fairness Act of 2019 (H.R. 7). Votes associated with this issue may be included in NEA's Report Card for the 116th Congress. Equal pay for equal work is NOT today's reality. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in 2017, the median weekly earnings of full-time, salaried female workers were 82 percent of those of full-time, salaried male workers. According to AAUW, the pay gap is even bigger for women of color with African Americans earning 61 cents, American Indian/Alaskan natives 58 cents, and Latinas 53 cents for every dollar paid to white men. The gender pay gap exists in all demographics, all parts of the country, and nearly all occupations--including female- dominated professions like teaching and nursing. The Institute for Women's Policy Research reports that closing the pay gap would cut the poverty rate for working single mothers in half and lift 2.5 million children out of poverty. The Paycheck Fairness Act of 2019 would help by: Requiring employers to demonstrate that gender is NOT the reason they pay employees different amounts to perform the same jobs. Prohibiting employers from asking job candidates about their salary histories. Protecting employees from retaliation if they discuss their pay with colleagues. Strengthening enforcement of equal pay laws by requiring employers to provide to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) data on salaries, promotions, and dismissals, broken down by race and gender. Putting in place robust remedies for discrimination. For all of these reasons, we urge you to VOTE YES on H.R. 7. Sincerely, Marc Egan, Director of Government Relations.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 787.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to address an actual national emergency. There are too many damn guns in America, and far too many lives have been lost. Last year alone 40,000 Americans were fatally shot, the most in 50 years. My county suffers from gun violence on a near-daily basis. In the last 5 years, we have lost 370 people to gun violence; 127 of these victims were children. Recently, a pregnant mother was killed, and her teenage daughter injured in a senseless shooting. The family had already lost a relative to gun violence. Almost as shocking as these statistics, for 25 years Congress failed to pass significant gun control legislation until today. I am comforted by how swiftly House Democrats began tackling this crisis, and pray that the Senate finds the courage to follow our lead. American voters sent us an urgent message last November; thoughts and prayers and moments of silence are not enough. Let us reassure them that passing the Background Checks Act of 2019 is just the first step of many more to come; and we won't stop until this national emergency is over.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Jacqueline Charles, who reports on the Caribbean for the Miami Herald and is a recent recipient of Columbia University's prestigious Maria Moors Cabot Prize for outstanding coverage on the Americas. Maria Moors Cabot Prizes are the oldest international journalism awards and are presented to journalists in the Western hemisphere who have made significant contributions to upholding freedom of the press in the Americas and Inter-American understanding. ``Charles' great contribution has been as a narrator of the agonies of Haiti, the hemisphere's poorest country, crippled by misgovernment and battered time and again by nature,'' the judges wrote in their citation. Charles was born to a Haitian mother in Turks and Caicos and grew up in Miami's Overtown neighborhood. As a child, she frequently traveled to Haiti to visit her grandparents and other relatives. She began her reporting career as a 14-year old intern at the Miami Herald. As a journalism student at the University of North Carollna Chapel Hill, Charles co-founded the Carolina Association of Black Journalists. Charles has worked as a journalist at the Miami Herald since 1994 and has covered the Caribbean for the Herald since 2006, with a special focus on Haiti. After the catastrophic earthquake in 2010, Charles was the first foreign reporter to reach Haiti. She remained in Haiti for the next 15 months to report on the reconstruction process and the ongoing struggles of those living in displaced persons camps. Her work on Haiti was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2011, the same year she was named the National Association of Black Journalists' ``Journalist of Year.'' Additionally, Charles co-produced a documentary on Haiti, titled Nou Bouke (We're Tired): Haiti's Past, Present and Future, which earned a regional Emmy Award and was broadcast nationally. In addition to covering ongoing humanitarian challenges in Haiti, Charles writes about Haitian politics, music, and immigration. As restrictive immigration policies have prevented many Haitians from seeking a better life in the United States, Charles has taken her reporting on the Haitian immigrant experience to Mexico, Canada, and Chile. Her work has greatly added to everyday Americans' knowledge and understanding of Haiti and its people. Haitian Americans form a vital part of our community in South Florida and we are fortunate to have an outstanding reporter like Charles covering Haiti-related issues at the Miami Herald. I wholeheartedly commend Jacqueline Charles for her outstanding journalism on Haiti and the Caribbean and congratulate her on receiving this honor.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Aminda Marques Gonzalez, vice president and executive editor of the Miami Herald and el Nuevo Herald, and a highly respected member of Florida's media community. On July 21, 2018, Marques was recognized by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and inducted into the NAHJ's Hall of Fame for her accomplished career and efforts to promote diversity in the newsroom. Born in New York City to Cuban immigrants, Marques has dedicated her entire career to journalism in South Florida. Marques graduated from the University of Florida in 1986 with a bachelor's degree in journalism and began her career at the Miami Herald, where she had previously interned. After covering a range of issues and rising from metro reporter to assistant city editor, she joined People magazine in 2002 as Miami bureau chief. In that capacity, she oversaw People's coverage of the southeastern United States, the Caribbean, and Latin America. Marques returned to the Miami Herald in 2007 as an editor and was promoted to managing editor in 2010. Under her leadership, the Herald has earned national recognition for its outstanding reporting. The Herald won two Pulitzer Prizes in 2017, one for work of the editorial cartoonist Jim Morin and one for the paper's series on the Panama Papers. The Miami Herald also has been a finalist for the Pulitzer three times under Marques' leadership, including for a 2012 investigation into the poor regulation of Florida's assisted-living facilities. In addition to her post at the Miami Herald, Marques is president of the Florida Society of News Editors and sits on the Pulitzer Prize Board. She also serves on the advisory councils for The Journalism and Women Symposium, and The Lillian Lodge Kopenhaver Center for the Advancement of Women in Communication at Florida International University. Marques has the distinction of being the Miami Herald's first-ever Hispanic and second female executive editor. Her colleagues credit her for recruiting reporters and editors of diverse backgrounds and for challenging the overall lack of diversity in journalism. I commend Aminda Marques Gonzalez for her trailblazing work in journalism, and I congratulate her on receiving the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Hall of Fame honor.