Bonnie Watson Coleman

Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN

Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from New Jersey and fellow member of the Committee on Homeland Security, Mr. Payne, and obviously my senior for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Ranking Member Payne's legislation, H.R. 615, the DHS Interoperable Communications Act. This commonsense, bipartisan legislation builds upon recommendations made by the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security by requiring DHS to develop a strategy for achieving interoperable communications among the Department's components. During an emergency, be that a terrorist attack or natural disaster such as Superstorm Sandy that devastated my home State of New Jersey, it is essential that first responders are able to communicate. It is also essential that components of the Department of Homeland Security are able to communicate with one another at all times. H.R. 615, as introduced by my colleague from New Jersey and before us on the floor today, seeks to make that aspiration a reality. Sadly, Mr. Speaker, in the 14 years since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, we have still not reached the day where interoperable communications is a universal reality among State, local, and Federal agencies. Ranking Member Payne's bill puts us on a path to fixing that reality as it relates to the Department of Homeland Security. Importantly, the bill clarifies and enhances the Department's Under Secretary for Management's responsibility for achieving and maintaining interoperable communications among the components of DHS. By doing so, the bill focuses this important mission and will aid Congress in conducting the oversight necessary to see that the policy goals of the bill are achieved. As ranking member of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency, I look forward to conducting robust oversight of DHS' operations in many areas, including interoperable communications. Mr. Speaker, I applaud the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) for his work on this legislation and urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 615, the DHS Interoperable Communications Act.

Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN

Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlelady from Ohio for yielding to me. I want to thank both the gentlelady from Illinois and the gentleman from New Jersey for providing this opportunity here to speak tonight on something that I think is very important. As a member of the CBC, a very proud member, I am here because we rise to commemorate a slice of American history that speaks to the spirit that is America. We rise to acknowledge the sacrifice and the forethought of a generation whose risks were ultimately America's reward. We rise to recognize the American heroes and sheroes of Selma on the 50th anniversary of this Bloody Sunday. From Selma, we learned that sometimes protests and objections that are deemed un-American today may later be considered the greatest manifestation of American democracy. From Selma, we learned that because of a young person's protests today, he may be called an outside agitator, a troublemaker, or even a provocateur, but that same young person, because of that same activity, may later be called courageous, a hero, or even a Congressman. Yes, from Selma, we learned that ordinary people can do extraordinary things when they are on the side of righteousness. Selma taught us, as Dr. King suggested, that it is always the right time to do what is right. But at the time of that fight, the likelihood that this generation of young dreamers would be successful in transforming an entire society seemed slim. They persevered anyhow. In the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, these young people fought for what was right no matter the consequence. Today we must learn from their example; we must persevere in the fight for working families, despite those that believe that there should be no floor for the poor and no ceiling for the rich. We must protect the precious right to vote for all people. We must persevere despite the fact that there is little reward for fighting for people who cannot fight for themselves, and we must fight for what is right and not what is popular. We must remember that it is our legacy to fight on the side of righteousness when we debate giving access to health care, access to education, access to the right to marry, and access to just plain old justice. I look forward to this collective will and this collective commitment of the CBC because I know that we can never forget Selma. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlelady from Ohio.

Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN

Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. I thank the gentlelady for yielding. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert my statement in the Record that the the House should vote for bigger paychecks and better infrastructure instead of attacking women's access to health care.

Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN

Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 3, I was detained in meeting. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.'' personal explanation

Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 6, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''