Floor Statements

I greatly appreciate your yielding the time, and I greatly appreciate your work in the Congress of the United States of America to bring equality to all persons, regardless of who they are, where they are from, or where they happen to be at a given point in time.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that one God created all of humanity to live in harmony, regardless of sexuality. I believe that human rights are not conferred by a State. I don't think they are accorded by a constitution. I think that human rights are birthrights, and these are rights that one acquires simply by being born a child of God.

As such, I believe that all human beings deserve dignity and respect and that all human beings deserve equality under the law, regardless of who you are, regardless of your race, creed, color, national origin, familial status, or sexuality.

I believe that we, who hold ourselves out as people of goodwill, should do all that we can to make sure that every person on the planet Earth is treated fairly and with a great degree of dignity.

To this end, I am proud to have filed in the Congress of the United States of America H. Res. 416, which recognizes the month of June and celebrates it as LGBT Pride Month.

I am proud to say that this resolution has been cosponsored by 25 Members of Congress, including all seven cochairs of the Equality Caucus. I am also proud to tell you that the Honorable Barney Frank, who was an openly gay Member of Congress and chaired the Financial Services Committee, is an honorary sponsor of this legislation.

I would like to, if I may, my dear friend and brother, I would like to just give some indication as to what the resolution does, so that persons who may not be familiar, who may not have an opportunity to peruse certain records and documents, will at least hear some of what it does.

This resolution specifically recognizes the protesters who stood for human rights and dignity at the Stonewall Inn, on June 28, 1968, as some of the pioneers of the movement.

It celebrates the creation of gay rights organizations in major cities in the aftermath of the Stonewall uprising. It highlights the importance of the American Psychiatric Association removing homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses in December of 1973.

It recognizes Elaine Noble as the first LGBT candidate elected to a State legislature in 1974 and Barney Frank as the first Representative to come out as an openly gay Member of Congress in 1987.

It highlights the importance of the Civil Service Commission eliminating the ban on hiring gay persons in most Federal jobs in 1975.

It celebrates Harvey Milk making national news when he was sworn in as an openly gay member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors on January 8, 1978.

It praises the thousands of activists who participated in the National March on Washington for Lesbian and

Gay Rights to demand equal civil rights in 1979 and the National March on Washington to demand that President Reagan address the AIDS crisis in 1987.

It highlights the importance of the 1980 Democratic National Convention, where Democrats took a stance in support of gay rights. It highlights the importance of the Supreme Court ruling in Romer v. Evans, in May of 1996, which found a Colorado constitutional amendment preventing the enactment of protection for gays and lesbians unconstitutional.

It celebrates Vermont becoming the first State to legally recognize civil unions between gay and lesbian couples in 2000.

It highlights the importance of the Supreme Court ruling in Lawrence v. Texas, in June of 2003, which found that, under the 14th Amendment, States could not criminalize the private, intimate relations of same- sex couples.

It goes on to do many other things, but I want to focus now on something that I think the resolution should do. It is my hope that I will live to see the day that this resolution will not only be spoken of in Congress in the month of June, but that it will actually come to the floor of the Congress of the United States of America and that it will pass the Congress of the United States of America because, on that day, we will have taken one more step toward equality for all of humanity.

Mr. Speaker, on that day, we will have taken another step toward making real the great and noble American ideal of liberty and justice for all.

On that day, we will have taken a step toward making real the concept that all persons are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

On that day, when we pass this resolution in the Congress of the United States of America, we will have said to the world that the United States of America understands and recognizes the human rights of persons, regardless of their sexuality.

I thank the gentleman for the opportunity to give these expressions, and I pray to live to see the day that this resolution will pass the Congress of the United States of America.

I thank you very much, and I look forward to working with you and other Members of Congress to give us the opportunity to have a vote on the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to recognize the holiday of Juneteenth, or as it is also known Juneteenth Independence Day, Freedom Day, and Emancipation Day. Juneteenth commemorates a huge step toward the emancipation of African American slaves in Texas from the morally abhorrent institution of American slavery.

On June 19, 1865, after the Union's victory in the Civil War, Major General Gordon Granger arrived with Union troops on the island of Galveston, Texas. The celebration of Juneteenth recognizes that day, when Major General Granger publicly read ``General Order No. 3,'' ostensibly freeing Texas slaves. Granger said, ``The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and free laborer.'' The order ostensibly freed 250,000 slaves in the former Confederate state of Texas, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

``General Order No. 3'' was another marker on our nation's long road toward the full realization of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all our fellow citizens. We are still traveling down that road but because of the extraordinary courage and compassion of some of our greatest citizens, we have come further than many ever imagined.

We traveled further down that road when in 1979, my friend, Texas State Representative Al Edwards introduced the bill that officially made Juneteenth a state holiday in Texas. In 1996, the House of Representatives and the Senate officially recognized June 19th as ``Juneteenth Independence Day.'' As of today, 43 states observe Juneteenth.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, Juneteenth remains the oldest known celebration of slavery's emasculation in the U.S. On this Juneteenth, I encourage all my colleagues to join with me in recognizing the historical significance of this holiday, which celebrates a huge step toward the extension of the American Dream to African Americans and encourages multicultural respect for all.

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Mr. Chairman, I want to thank Ms. Lee for her efforts and her work in trying to restore funding.

Mr. Chairman, this does not bring it back to the FY14 funding level, but it does help. I am so grateful that Ms. Lee took the lead to get this done. She worked with the ranking member and the chair of the committee. I want to compliment and thank both of them for working with Ms. Lee to get this done.

Let me mention this about this program. The Fair Housing Initiatives Program, affectionately known as FHIP, has been of great benefit to persons who are being discriminated against, especially veterans now. We have a good many veterans who are coming back. They don't return the way they left, and they are disabled. Many times when persons are discriminating against people, they don't know that the person is a veteran because the person happens to be in a wheelchair.

This initiative allows for housing entities--NGOs--that are qualified and certified to actually do testing to ascertain whether or not this kind of invidious discrimination exists. When they do find that there is discrimination, most of the cases, about 70 percent, are resolved by way of reconciliation. There is not a lawsuit filed. There is a means by which people become educated, and they abide by the law.

This opportunity for us to continue the program, notwithstanding the fact that it is not at the Senate level, it is not at the level that the President requested, but it is at an additional $10 million, and I am grateful to Ms. Lee for what she has done.

Ms. Lee, I compliment you, and I am grateful that you took the time to work with our colleagues to show some bipartisanship in getting this done.

Mr. Chairman, thank you for your bipartisanship on this effort. Mr. Ranking Member, I thank you as well.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to honor the memory of an exceptional individual whom I had the distinct pleasure to meet-- a great artist and compassionate intellectual, Dr. Maya Angelou. With extraordinary compassion, Dr. Angelou used her art to portray communities, conditions, and individuals that were often overlooked by mainstream society.

Dr. Angelou's wisdom and eloquence inspired countless people around the world to better understand themselves and their neighbors. Dr. Angelou was also an influence and friend to many leaders throughout her life; an unyielding advocate for tolerance, equality, justice, and integrity in the face of intractable intolerance.

Mr. Speaker, we bid farewell to a singular voice and world renowned poet. However, we can all find solace in the certainty that Dr. Angelou's timeless works and example will inspire generations to come. Her spirit will continue to animate her words and her life will remain a testament to the power of perseverance.

Mr. Speaker, I missed the following votes:

1. Pompeo amendment to H.R. 4660. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on this amendment.

2. McNerney amendment to H.R. 4660. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on this amendment.

3. Bridenstine amendment to H.R. 4660. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on this amendment.

4. King (IA) amendment to H.R. 4660. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on this amendment.

5. Cohen amendment No. 1 to H.R. 4660. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on this amendment.

6. Cohen amendment No. 2 to H.R. 4660. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on this amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I missed the following votes:

1. Moran Amendment to H.R. 4660. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on this amendment.

2. Blackburn Amendment No. 14 to H.R. 4660. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on this amendment.

3. Blackburn Amendment No. 15 to H.R. 4660. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on this amendment.

4. Bonamici Amendment to H.R. 4660. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on this amendment.

5. Rohrabacher Amendment to H.R. 4660. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on this amendment.

6. Holding Amendment to H.R. 4660. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on this amendment.

7. Massie Amendment to H.R. 4660. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on this amendment.

8. Southerland Amendment to H.R. 4660. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on this amendment.

9. Ellison Amendment to H.R. 4660. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on this amendment.

10. Grayson Amendment to H.R. 4660. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on this amendment.

11. Duffy Amendment to H.R. 4660. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on this amendment.

12. Garrett Amendment to H.R. 4660. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on this amendment.

13. King (IA) Amendment to H.R. 4660. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on this amendment.

14. Meadows Amendment to H.R. 4660. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on this amendment.

15. Democratic Motion to Recommit H.R. 4660. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on this measure.

16. Final Passage of H.R. 4660. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, today I missed the following votes:

1. Thompson (CA) Amendment to H.R. 4660. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on this amendment.

2. Polis Amendment to H.R. 4660. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on this amendment.

3. Cicilline Amendment to H.R. 4660. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on this amendment.

4. Smith (TX) Amendment to H.R. 4660. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on this amendment.

5. Austin Scott Amendment to H.R. 4660. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on this amendment.

Mr. Speaker, today I missed the following votes:

Democratic Motion to Recommit H.R. 4681. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on this bill.

H.R. 4681--Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2014 and 2015. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, every Memorial Day, Americans come together to honor the brave individuals who have selflessly given their lives for our continued prosperity, founding ideals, and democracy. Every American is indebted to their service and should be inspired by these exemplars of courage.

The month of May is also Military Appreciation month. As we honor our fallen veterans, we must not only speak to their accomplishments, but actively reaffirm our appreciation and commitment to the veterans among us. Throughout our nation's history, veterans have contributed to the strength and resilience of our great democracy like no other group. We must express our gratitude by ensuring that they as well as their families receive the benefits they need, deserve, and have earned. Therefore, we must continue to support, assist, and hold the Department of Veterans Affairs accountable. The assistance and medical treatment the agency provides to our veterans as well as their families must always be accessible and of the highest standard.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, as we honor our veterans on this Memorial Day, I call on our entire nation to reaffirm its commitment and leave no veteran behind. This is the least a grateful nation can do.

Mr. Speaker, on May 17, 2014, we marked the 60th anniversary of the historic Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision, which overturned legalized racial segregation. The importance of this decision for our jurisprudence and overall society cannot be understated. It was no less than a full-throated affirmation of the Fourteenth Amendment, granting all Americans full and equal citizenship.

Any account of the history and enduring legacy of Brown v. Board of Education would be incomplete without an acknowledgment of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Legal Defense and Educational Fund under the leadership of their Executive Director, and future Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Thurgood Marshall. Marshall successfully argued that separate accommodations and treatment based on race necessarily leads to inequality.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I believe the 60th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education is an opportunity for our nation to reaffirm our dedication to full and equal citizenship for all and to reexamine the enduring inequalities in our society. As a nation, we must never stop striving to better realize the ideals in and promise of our Constitution.

Mr. Speaker, I stand in solidarity with the families of the approximately 300 young women kidnapped by a radical Nigerian Islamist group. I lend my voice to the chorus of outrage and condemnation directed at this extremist group, which has forcefully separated young women from their families and devastated an entire community. There is no place in our world community for a group that displays such disregard for the tenets of Islam, human dignity, and international law.

All people and governments of good will should do all that is appropriate to assist Nigerian authorities in the safe recovery of these young women. I am heartened that Secretary Kerry has announced that a U.S. security team will be sent to Nigeria to assist in the efforts to bring these young women home to their families.

As a Member of Congress, I will continue to monitor this situation and speak out against such atrocious acts. The outcry against this gross human rights violation must not fade before these young women are recovered and all guilty parties are brought to justice.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the 100th birthday of a respected educator and community leader, Amos Charles Haston. Born in Denison, Texas on this day in 1914 to Tilmon and Mary Haston, Mr. Haston rose from humble beginnings to become a respected leader.

Tragedy struck early in Mr. Haston's life when his father was murdered in his presence in 1919. He and his mother subsequently moved to Wewoka, Oklahoma. He excelled in school, graduating as the salutatorian of his high school and achieving the status of all-state half-back for his football team. Mr. Haston worked, played varsity football, and sang on the college's travelling a capella choir while putting himself through college at Langston University. In 1934, he became a member of his beloved Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. at Langston. In 1937, Mr. Haston graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Science and Mathematics. He later attended the University of Colorado for post-graduate work; Texas Southern University, where he received his Masters of Education in Secondary Administration degree; and the University of Oklahoma, where he did course work toward a doctorate.

In 1937, Mr. Haston took his first job out of college as a teacher in a one-room schoolhouse, simultaneously teaching grades 1-8. He eventually resigned and moved to Hugo, Oklahoma to accept a position as a math teacher, as well as the head football and basketball coach. During the summers, Mr. Haston worked as a porter for the railroad, traveling from Portland, Oregon to Seattle, Washington to earn extra income. He met his wife of 73 years, the former Doris E. Sampson in Hugo. They married Christmas day in 1941 and remain married to this day.

In August 1942, Mr. Haston was called to the service of his country for a period of 46 months, 27 months of which were served in combat in the Pacific Theater of World War II. Though his service began as a Buck Private in the Army, he was separated from the service as a Second Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers. Mr. Haston's wife looked after his mother who became ill during his absence in the war.

In September 1946, Mr. Haston was hired as a teacher in Ardmore, Oklahoma, where he also served as the assistant coach of the football and basketball teams. In February 1952, Mr. Haston and his wife had their son William, who presently serves as Counsel in the Legal Division of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in Washington,

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I, too, rise in support of H.R. 4488. I would like to thank my colleague across the aisle for his support. I would also like to thank the Honorable John Lewis for being a sponsor of this legislation.

This is important legislation, as it does embrace two Congressional Gold Medals that have already been awarded.

As fate would have it, Mr. Lewis was the original sponsor of the bill awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to Ms. Coretta Scott King and the Honorable Dr. Martin Luther King. Both of them are honorable people.

I would also say that Mr. Lewis has been a champion for human rights and civil rights. It is very difficult to have him in your presence and not acknowledge all that he has done.

So, today, I am honored to support the Gold Medical Technical Corrections Act of 2014.

I am also honored to mention one other colleague, the Honorable Corrine Brown. She worked on the bill that accorded a Congressional Gold Medal to the Montford Point Marines of the United States Marine Corps. She was an original sponsor of this legislation.

These two giants have brought us this far. It will take this legislation to take us the final steps along the way.

The legislation merely indicates where these Congressional Gold Medals may be displayed. It seems to do what we could have done earlier, but we have found that it is not too late to do now.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I am honored to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia, the Honorable John Lewis, our civil rights icon right here in the United States House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I am so honored to be a part of this, and I would thank, again, the Honorable John Lewis for his efforts to not only accord the Congressional Gold Medals to Dr. King and Mrs. King, but also his efforts to make sure that they are properly located, so that they can be displayed properly.

I would also want to, again, reiterate the efforts of the Honorable Corrine Brown, with reference to the Montford Point Marines of the United States Marine Corps. I believe this bill is one that can be embraced by all of our colleagues.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, today I was unavoidably detained and missed the following votes:

1. Mulvaney Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on this bill.

2. Moore Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on this bill.

3. Grijalva Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on this bill.

4. H.R. 4414--Expatriate Health Coverage Clarification Act of 2014. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, it is said that what you don't know won't hurt you. What you don't know won't hurt you. I disagree.

What you don't know about health care can hurt you. What you don't know about a treatable condition that can harm you, possibly kill you, what you don't know about it can hurt you.

I don't believe in the idiom, the adage, what you don't know won't hurt you. I believe you should know the truth because the truth can set you free.

So let us take a moment now and look at just one aspect of what is called the Ryan budget. Let's look at health care. The Ryan budget repeals the Affordable Care Act. It repeals it without replacing it.

What you don't know can hurt you. But if you know the truth, it can liberate you. We need to get the truth to the masses so that the masses can understand the impact of repealing without replacing.

Let's reflect upon 2009, when we embarked upon the task of developing an Affordable Care Act. In 2009, we were spending $2.5 trillion per year on

health care. $2.5 trillion is a very large number, and it is difficult to get your mind around it. However, $2.5 trillion is $79,000 a second. $79,000 a second is what we were spending.

17.6 percent of the GDP, $100 billion being spent on persons without insurance in various venues, emergency rooms, and other places. It was projected that by 2018 we would spend $4.4 trillion per year.

Know the truth. It can liberate you.

$4.4 trillion is $139,000 per second; estimated that it would be about 20.3 percent of GDP.

In 2009 we had 40 to 50 million people uninsured, depending on who is counting and how you count. In 2009 we had 45,000 people per year dying because they didn't have insurance. This is per Harvard University. One person dying every 12 minutes.

In 2009, in the State of Texas we had 6 million people uninsured, and 20 percent of the children in the State of Texas uninsured.

We had to do something about health care if, for no other reason, to simply bend the cost curve. And the cost curve is bending. It is projected that, in the first 10 years, it would bend the cost curve about $100 billion, and in the next 10 years, $1 trillion.

Know the truth, and the truth can liberate you, my dear friends. The truth is this: if the Ryan budget repeals the Affordable Care Act and it is not replaced--and there is no replacement provision in that budget--seniors who are on Medicare are going to see the doughnut hole expand rather than close.

The doughnut hole is that point at which seniors have to pay more for prescription drugs, more than many can afford. What you don't know can hurt you, seniors, when the doughnut hole starts to expand.

The budget would cause those who are 26 years of age, under 26 years of age, who are on policies of their parents, to come off.

Young people are invincible until they have an accident and get hurt and need health care. They are invincible until they find out they have a condition that is curable and they need health care.

Young people, what you don't know can hurt you. But the truth can liberate you so that you can do the right thing as it relates to this budget and let people know that you are opposed to what can happen to you.

This budget will cause preexisting conditions to become an uninsurable circumstance in your life. There are people who are born with preexisting conditions. These people will not be insurable. The Affordable Care Act eliminates preexisting conditions as a reason not to ensure people.

We would go back to people being born with preexisting conditions, many of whom would have to wait until they can afford or get to Medicare before they could get insurance. Medicare is a type of insurance.

This budget would cause women to, again, have to go back to a circumstance wherein they, by virtue of their condition of being a woman, would have a preexisting condition.

Mr. Speaker, I will put a ``to be continued'' in this message. But what you don't know can hurt you. The truth can set you free.

God bless you.