Frederica Wilson

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Chair, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 508.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall 502 and ``yea'' on rollcall 503.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, today, at 12:30 p.m., I will be convening an emergency press conference from the U.S. Capitol on Zika. This is a bipartisan press conference of Floridians, Democrats, and Republicans who are concerned about their State. Please join us. We will send out a clarion call to our fellow Members of Congress to help Floridians by passing a clean Zika bill--no riders, no poison pills, just a clean Zika bill. Our Governor, Governor Scott, will visit Congress tomorrow, and I hope he will urge Congress to act. Life is too precious, and we should not be playing political football with unborn children and whatever else science will reveal to us about Zika. There is so much yet to be discovered, but we do know this: we are gambling with the developing brain of an unborn fetus. Florida's 24th Congressional District, which I proudly represent, is the epicenter of the Zika epidemic in America. The district's small boutique community was where they discovered the first local mosquito- borne transmission. A travel advisory has been put in place to warn pregnant women against coming to this American neighborhood. This is the first time in a long time that an American city has received a travel advisory. It is hurting businesses. It has a huge economic impact that is devastating to this robust business district in Miami. Tourism is down, restaurants are on the verge of closing, and the crowded tourist attractions are literally abandoned. This public health crisis has grown so serious that one of Florida's major newspapers, the Miami Herald, has created a daily tracker to monitor the virus' spread across our State. I spent most of our 7-week recess working to educate residents in my district about how to protect themselves against this terrible and rapidly spreading virus. Whip Hoyer joined me on an occasion. So Miami is the epicenter. It has evolved into an open laboratory where the CDC is working closely with local health officials and county officials. For weeks, a CDC response team has been on the ground in Miami working to control, contain, and defeat the virus and to educate the community on mosquito control. The CDC is literally using Miami to teach the Nation how to cope with the Zika virus. They have said to me: We have to use every tool in the toolbox, and that requires adequate funding. They have said: We cannot lose this battle; it is too dangerous. Determining what works and what doesn't work requires adequate funding. It is sexually transmitted, but how long does the virus live in semen? How long does the virus live in the blood? Should we stop blood donations in affected areas? The Zika virus has been found in tears and saliva. Research shows that it causes blindness and brain disorders and could cause Alzheimer's in adults. So many questions. So many questions. We cannot afford to delay much-needed scientific research, but that requires adequate funding. We need resources to help develop a vaccine, to develop medications to stymie the virus. We need resources to find out how long it takes for a pregnant woman to get results from her Zika test. They need to determine how long the Zika virus lives in the body. The fever, the chills we can deal with, but we can't gamble with the developing brain of an unborn fetus. The bottom line is: the threat of Zika is grave to pregnant women. There are so many unanswered questions, and it requires funding. We need a clean Zika bill--no poison pills, no riders, just a bill addressing the Zika virus. Many people who live in Florida are living in fear because there is so much more to be learned about the virus. It is my State now, my beautiful State of Florida. There are 27 of us serving in the House. Many of us have taken votes to help you when your State needed help. I ask you today, my colleagues, to help my State, my district. And please note, this epidemic has already begun to start in other States. We cannot pretend it does not exist. Please bring a clean bill to the floor. The people of America are depending on each of us. The unborn children of America are depending on each of us. Let's put our children's future first. Mosquitoes carrying Zika must be dealt with now, and that requires the political will to do the right thing.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to welcome the very gracious and accomplished Pastor Wayne Lomax to the House floor as our guest chaplain. Pastor Lomax is the founder and senior pastor of the mega church, The Fountain of New Life, located in Miami Gardens, Florida. He is also a proud member of the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project, a mentoring program for boys of color. Nearly 20 years ago, in his living room, with just 8 people, Pastor Lomax founded The Fountain of Pembroke Pines, now The Fountain of New Life. Today, it is one of the largest churches in Florida and is an indispensable community partner. The church's humble beginnings and continuous growth are testaments to Pastor Lomax's unwavering leadership and strong faith. He is truly a man of all seasons--a true man of God who tackles issues, including hunger, poverty, and crime, in the Miami-Dade County community. Pastor Lomax also served as pastor of the York Street Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, and as assistant pastor of the Mount Olive Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He graduated from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the proud husband of his beautiful wife, Teresa. They have three beautiful children: Christopher, Marcus, and LeReine. Mr. Speaker, I ask everyone to join me in thanking Pastor Lomax for leading today's opening prayer and to thank him for his outstanding service to the south Florida community.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. Dave Ali Fils-Aime on the third anniversary and success of Basketball to Uplift the Youth (BUY). Using basketball as a tool, BUY provides year-round mentorship for school-aged boys and girls in Haiti. The program combines basketball and education to encourage teamwork, promote healthy lifestyles, build leadership skills, and promote the value of service. Fils-Aime, a graduate of Yale University and Harvard University, left Haiti for the United States at the age of twelve. As a former participant of the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project, a drop-out prevention and mentoring program I started nearly 25 years ago in South Florida, Fils-Aime is a walking embodiment of what it means to be a role model. Using his experience with 5000 Role Models and his passion for Haiti's youth, he created Basketball to Uplift the Youth in July 2013. Since its inception, BUY has engaged youth from some of Port-au- Prince's most disadvantaged neighborhoods. The program works to mold young, well-rounded individuals in Haiti. There are also plans to expand the program by establishing a scholarship fund. Fils-Aime's leadership and commitment to excellence have allowed the program to flourish in its three years. Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me in congratulating Dave Ali Fils- Aime for his success and commitment to serving Haiti's youth, and the achievements of Basketball to Uplift the Youth.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, have you ever heard of a travel ban on an American city? Now, we have one in the beautiful boutique district called Wynwood, in the heart of my district. It is time to lift that ban. District 24, Miami, Florida; and the entire State have been besieged by the Zika virus. We are in the epicenter of this growing epidemic and living in fear of the damaging impact a single mosquito bite can have on an unborn fetus. The vibrant, bustling millennial area of Wynwood has the best restaurants, the best trendy art galleries, museums, antique shops, hat stores, and tourist attractions. Tourists flock there from all over the world. Now, with the travel ban in place because of Zika, people are being laid off; businesses are on the verge of closing. In comparison, it is a ghost town. The unborn babies are not the only ones affected by the virus. The economy is suffering immensely. We need your help, Mr. Speaker. Zika is taking a huge bite out of Florida's booming economy and is devastating the tourism industry. Mr. Speaker, please bring a clean Zika bill to the floor with no riders, no poison pills; just a clean bill. The unborn, families, and the businesses of America are depending on you. Zika is an ever- evolving nightmare and we must do that. When this travel ban has been lifted, I am looking forward to saying: Business as usual in Wynwood.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, we have a long to-do list before you can leave for the summer recess: we have got to pass legislation to prevent gun violence; we have got to pass legislation to fight the spread of Zika; we have got to pass legislation to address the Flint water crisis and to fund the opioid treatment plans. The clock is ticking--tick, tick, tick--and none of these will get done because you are getting ready for the longest summer recess in at least 60 years without addressing the very pressing issues that Americans really care about. Republicans' inaction will not prevent Democrats from reminding the entire American Republic that we have got to do the right thing. During the next 7 weeks, we will continue to demand a vote on commonsense measures to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and terrorists. Hashtag, there are too many damned guns in America today.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor the memory of Trayvon Martin from my district, a victim of gun violence who never received a moment of silence on this House floor. And to all the mothers of murdered children in Miami-Dade County and Broward County, I extend to them a moment of silence now.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Florida International University on the grand opening of the FIU In D.C. office located just steps from the U.S. Capitol. Since opening its doors in 1965, FIU has grown to become the number one university in awarding bachelor's and master's degrees to Hispanic and other minority students. With the new expansion, FIU has ensured that students seeking opportunities in our nation's capital have the resources they need to succeed. In the past five years, hundreds of FIU Panthers have come to D.C. as interns and fellows to work for non-profits, federal agencies and private firms. From the White House to the halls of Congress, FIU students have also been an integral part of the executive and legislative branches of government. As the faces of FIU in D.C., interns and fellows learn about federal policy and expand their professional network. I am sure that my colleagues agree when I say our congressional FIU interns are Worlds Ahead. Blocks away from Capitol Hill, FIU's new office will bring together ideas, connections and solutions through speaker series and research seminars. Local alumni and visiting faculty will connect and learn in the brand new 3,500-square-foot space that includes classrooms, conference areas and a multi-purpose tech center. Under the leadership of President Mark B. Rosenberg, FIU has seen exponential growth in both the student body and its facilities. In promoting a strong alumni network, he has ensured FIU's future is as bright as its students. I am especially proud of the work the FIU faculty and administration do to promote exceptional learning and professional development. The opening of this D.C. office is a testament to FIU providing ladders of opportunity to graduates and others. Congratulations on the new office and I look forward to FIU making an even greater impact in our nation's capital.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, today is Wear Something Red Wednesday to bring back our girls. My heart is overflowing with joy. I am very happy to report that one of the Chibok schoolgirls who had been abducted by the Nigerian terrorist group Boko Haram has been found. She was found last week by a vigilante group in the Sambisa Forest, close to the border of Cameroon. The young girl has been reunited with her family after having spent 2 years in captivity, an experience that will haunt her for the rest of her life. Sadly, according to several media accounts, the young girl reported that six of the 219 have died since being held by Boko Haram and that the rest are alive and are being held in the forest. Last week we celebrated the return of this precious young girl, but we cannot stop working until the 212 who are still being held hostage are safely returned to their families, away from these evil, Islamic insurgents. Mr. Speaker, time is of the essence, and the governments of the Multinational Joint Task Force, alongside our government, must fight as hard as possible to find these girls. We cannot stop until we find them all. I urge my colleagues to join me today in wearing red on Wednesday until Boko Haram is defeated and all of the kidnapped girls have rejoined their families. Please continue to wear something red on Wednesday. Please continue to tweet, tweet, tweet #BringBackOurGirls and to tweet, tweet, tweet #JoinRepWilson.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor to speak in recognition of the one-year anniversary of the Bipartisan HBCU caucus and highlight the great impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. HBCUs continue to stand as a bastion of learning and advancement for so many students of color. About 20 percent of African American students earning their bachelor's degrees do so from HBCUs. HBCUs serve a disproportionate number of low-income, first-generation students. More than 75 percent of HBCUs students rely on Pell Grants and almost 13 percent of students rely on PLUS loans. It is clear that, for many students who would otherwise find higher education out of reach, HBCUs provide a strong pathway to success. HBCUs also provide a strong value to students and their families, allowing for a small- college experience with lower tuition and fees than comparable institutions. This includes schools like Florida Memorial University, located in Florida's 24th district. Florida Memorial has the distinction of being the only historically black university in southern Florida and one of the oldest academic institutions in the entire state of Florida. Under the leadership of Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, Florida Memorial continues to provide students with the quality education, leadership skills, and heart for service they need to become strong global citizens in our changing world. As a proud graduate of an HBCU, I am proud to work with my colleagues to advance policies that benefit HBCUs. I want to thank Congresswoman Alma Adams of North Carolina and Congressman Bradley Byrne of Alabama for their strong leadership on this bipartisan caucus over the past year. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues for the betterment of HBCUs in Florida and across the country.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted: On rollcall No. 176, ``nay.''

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is Wear Something Red Wednesday to Bring Back Our Girls. I thank Leader Pelosi for her unwavering support, as well as all of my other colleagues. I thank Representative G.K. Butterfield, Curt Clawson, Karen Bass, Trent Franks, Barbara Lee, Gregory Meeks, and Sheila Jackson Lee for joining me and the escaped Chibok schoolgirls for a candlelight vigil in front of the State Department last Wednesday all in red. At the very same time in Nigeria, United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, met with other escaped Chibok girls and praised them for their bravery. Ambassador Power promised that President Obama had not forgotten and America will not give up until the thousands of women and girls kidnapped by Boko Haram were freed. You can watch a piece featuring the candlelight vigil and Ambassador Power's trip at 12:35 a.m. on ABC Nightline tomorrow night. We will continue to highlight this issue through our words and our actions. Please wear red tomorrow. Please continue to tweet, tweet, tweet #bringbackourgirls. Tweet, tweet, tweet #joinrepwilson.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted: Rollcall No. 164--``nay.''

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, we stand to remember the nearly 300 Chibok girls who were kidnapped by Boko Haram on April 14, 2014--2 years ago--from their school in Nigeria. Mr. Speaker, Boko Haram has no regard for human life, and it is wreaking havoc on the citizens of northern Nigeria. As Boko Haram commits acts of genocide that will take generations to recover from, the world stays silent. Their daily horrors include killing Christians, killing Muslims who do not agree with them, beheading and slaughtering boys, kidnapping and raping women and girls, selling them as sex slaves, and using them as suicide bombers. Human trafficking is their specialty. Boko Haram believes that Western education is sin. We will never forget the schoolgirls. We will never forget the Chibok girls. We will tweet, wear red, and we look for them no matter how long it takes. We will never give up until we find them. Let us bow our heads in a moment of silence.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, today is Wear Something Red Wednesday to bring back our girls. This week marks the second anniversary of the April 14, 2014, kidnapping of the Nigerian Chibok schoolgirls, 730 days. This week and next, Members of Congress will join us in commemorating the tragic event that captured the world's attention and calling for increased action to defeat Boko Haram, the world's deadliest terrorist organization. Members of Congress--Republicans and Democrats, men and women--have all galvanized behind this cause. House leadership, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, have joined us in wearing something red on Wednesday to bring attention to this cause. I urge my colleagues and everyone to continue to lend their voices to this cause and join us. We should never forget. We must never forget the Nigerian Chibok girls. For almost 2 years we have tweeted to raise awareness to this issue in Congress, and we will continue to tweet, tweet, tweet #bringbackourgirls. Tweet every day. Tweet, tweet, tweet #bringbackourgirls.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, congratulations to Scheck Hillel Community School Men's Soccer Team on its historic 1A State Championship win on February 9, 2016. Forging past the defending state champions Maitland Orangewood Christian, the Scheck Hillel Lions were able to secure an almost perfect season with 19 wins, one tie, and no losses. It is likely the first win of its kind for a Jewish school in the U.S., and Scheck Hillel can now boast its first state championship in any sport. After losing the championship game on the same field three years ago, this group of Lions was more determined than ever to redeem themselves. The entire student body packed the stands to support the team's final fight. With an exciting but scoreless first and second half, the players advanced to a dramatic round of penalty kicks. After five nail-biting rounds of penalty kicks, the teams were tied. It was only after senior Lion Salo Lapco beamed a shot past the Orangewood goalie, and senior Lion goalie Alan Landau blocked the final shot from their opponents, that their fans stormed the field in celebration and the team was able to cement its victory. It is a privilege to recognize the perseverance and dedication of this group of young men. This win is a testament to their hard work and devotion on and off the field. The true commitment of head coach Ben Magidson, and the sacrifice of each and every player will be remembered for years to come. With this achievement, they have become an enduring source of pride for their community and the entire city. Please join me in congratulating the Scheck Hillel Community School Men's Soccer Team on its thrilling victory.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 102 on Feb 29, 2016, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is Wear Red Wednesday to Bring Back Our Girls. Right now, many female victims in Nigeria escaped the sexual violence of Boko Haram only to face ill treatment and mistrust in their communities. Even worse, the children who are the result of rape are scorned, deemed born of bad blood. We must do what we can to ensure that the next generation of Nigerians is free of Boko Haram. I am pleased I will be joining the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade of the Committee on Foreign Affairs tomorrow as it holds a hearing on Boko Haram. I hope the rest of the Congress will also wake up to Boko Haram's atrocities. The girls are still alive, but are still missing. Please continue to tweet, tweet, tweet #bringbackourgirls and to tweet, tweet, tweet #joinrepwilson. Remember to wear something red every Wednesday. It can be shoes, a belt, a flower, a tie, a handkerchief, jewelry--anything. Just wear something red. We cannot forget the violence in Nigeria by Boko Haram.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is Wear Something Red Wednesday to bring back our girls. Boko Haram is burning children alive. This heartbreaking and, yes, unsettling picture is of Sani, a victim of Boko Haram's terror. Sani's home was destroyed when Boko Haram set his village on fire, killing his parents. The rest of Sani's family survived only to be viciously gunned down in front of him. Sani represents the millions of children and women who are being raped, kidnapped, mutilated, and killed by the world's deadliest terrorist organization, Boko Haram. If you are not outraged, then you are not paying attention. Africans killing Africans: the world has ignored this unparalleled level of violence. I pray that our country and this Congress awaken to these unquestionably horrific acts and take up efforts to defeat Boko Haram. Please continue to tweet, tweet, tweet #bringbackourgirls. Please wear red tomorrow and every Wednesday. Tweet, tweet, tweet #bringbackourgirls, #joinRepWilson.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 44 on January 13th, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.'' Personal Explanation

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, today is Wear Red Wednesday to bring back our girls. As millions here in America prepare for the holidays, we must think of the Nigerians whose celebrations will be tempered by fear and sorrow. Think of the Nigerian Christians fearful of fully celebrating Christmas and attending their places of worship, haunted by the Boko Haram Christmas Day church bombings of years past. Think of the families that were devastated 611 days ago by the kidnapping of the Chibok girls. For these families, Christmas is a sobering reminder that their precious sisters and daughters are gone. Please include these 219 girls and their families in your Christmas prayers this year. Pray that next year they will enjoy a peaceful and joyous Christmas together. Please continue to tweet, tweet, tweet #bringbackourgirls. Tweet, tweet, tweet #joinrepwilson.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I stand in support of the Every Student Succeeds Act. I want to thank Chairmen Alexander and Kline and Ranking Members Murray and Scott for their yearlong work on this bill. At its heart, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act is a civil rights law based on a simple, yet powerful, promise made to all American children. It is a promise that, no matter where you live, what you look like, or what resources you have, you deserve a quality education. Unfortunately, No Child Left Behind's one-size-fits-all approach derailed the fulfillment of this promise by creating an untenable environment of excessive, high-stakes testing that undermines educators' ability to serve their students. While not perfect, the Every Student Succeeds Act is a substantial improvement that takes us one step closer to delivering on the promise of a quality education. ESSA will provide schools with the resources and guidelines they need to deliver on this promise by directing resources to the children most in need and allowing school districts the flexibility to use title IV funds in a way that best works for their students. As someone who has dedicated my life to dropout prevention, I am overjoyed to see this bill includes my amendment allowing title IV funds to be used for dropout prevention and reentry programs. But this is just the first step for our children. It is the champions of our children's education--the teachers, the parents, the principals, and the mentors--who will create an environment of learning. That environment will ensure that our children's hearts and minds are positively shaped by our collective wisdom, our support, and our love. I want to thank the teachers and parents across our Nation and especially in Florida for their work and commitment. I urge my colleagues to support this conference report and stand united for a single purpose: our children.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is Wear Red Wednesday to Bring Back Our Girls. Boko Haram has been declared the world's deadliest terrorist organization. Boko Haram has actually murdered more people than ISIS. This means that Boko Haram's attacks are more lethal and more devastating than anything we have seen in the history of modern terrorism. Mr. Speaker, Boko Haram's January attack on Baga was the second deadliest terrorist attack in modern history after 9/11. An organization capable of this level of death and destruction must be eradicated. I urge Congress to pass my bill, H.R. 3833, which would require the U.S. Government to develop a regional strategy to assist Nigeria in defeating Boko Haram. Please continue to tweet, tweet, tweet #bringbackourgirls and remember to wear something red tomorrow, Wednesday, a tie, a pin, a flower. Just wear something red and tweet, tweet, tweet #bringbackourgirls, #joinrepwilson. Tweet, tweet, tweet.

Ms. WILSON of Florida

Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, as a lifelong Episcopalian, I am filled with pride over the installation of Bishop Michael Curry, the first African-American leader of the U.S. Episcopal Church. His historic election comes at a challenging time in history for both the nation and the church. In response, Bishop Curry has valiantly pledged to take up ``the serious work of racial reconciliation'' in his new role and to strive for the ``beloved community,'' envisioned by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. At a time when all denominations are struggling to rebuild declining memberships, his focus on both evangelism and inclusion marks an exciting new chapter for our church. I am supremely confident that he is up to both tasks. I recently had the honor of welcoming to my Capitol Hill office the Right Rev. Peter Eaton, who is the new bishop coadjutor of the Episcopal Diocese in Southeast Florida. He met with me and our own House of Representatives chaplain, my friend, the Rev. Patrick J. Conroy. Bishop Eaton comes to us from St. John's Cathedral in Denver, Colorado, and I look forward to helping him get to know our church community. May God shine His light on both Bishop Curry and Bishop Eaton as they embrace their new vocations.