Floor Statements

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and as a compliment to my colleagues who just left the floor, I'd like to compliment them for the bipartisanship that was shown. And perhaps bipartisanship is becoming in vogue because this is a bipartisan effort as well.

It is my firm belief that our Nation, while we have some differences on many issues, we do want to unite

around issues that are crucial and critical to all of us. I salute what they have done, and I look forward to this hour of bipartisanship as well.

I'm honored to be joined today on the floor by my colleague, the Honorable Ted Poe from Texas. He and I have been sponsoring this resolution on domestic violence for some years--since 2005, I believe-- and I am honored that he is here with us today. I will be giving a statement. And after my statement, I will yield to my good friend from the State of Texas, in the Houston area. Thereafter, we have other Members who are present who would of course want to weigh in on this subject. But before I do, let me just thank the leadership on both sides of the aisle for making this time available to us. It's important that we have this opportunity to address this issue not only here in Congress, but address it in such a way as to make it clear to our friends and our constituents at home that this is something that is exceedingly important to us, the issue of domestic violence.

So Mr. Speaker, I thank you for the time. I thank the leadership for the time. And I thank all of the Members who will be appearing today for the time that they will share with us.

I'd like to, at this time, present my opening statement. Thereafter, I will yield as I have indicated.

Mr. Speaker, there are several Federal actions that have been instituted over the past 20 years to combat the issue of domestic violence. I shall highlight some of the many actions that have been taken.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month was first observed 22 years ago in the month of October. This month provides an opportunity for our communities to recommit themselves to keeping the victims and the families of domestic violence safe while holding the perpetrators accountable for their actions.

I'm honored to say that the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, which was championed by then-Senator Joe Biden, has created a new culture for police officers, judges, and those who work in the courthouse to treat this crime as the serious crime that it is, and it is a serious crime. I look forward to supporting the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. And I want to say, by way of a little bit of commentary, that I was a lawyer practicing before we had a change in this culture. And I saw how this culture that existed at that time devastated the lives of many persons who were victims of domestic violence because there was this thought that this was something that was a family issue, that it was something that people should resolve themselves, they should try to work things out. I thank God that that attitude no longer exists, and that if it does exist in some quarters, we are working to change it. I would also add that the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act supports emergency shelters, crisis intervention programs, and community education about domestic violence.

This Congress has done much to try to reach out not only to the victims, but also to the various communities against the length and breadth of the country to make sure that communities are well prepared and equipped to help those in need of some assistance.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided law enforcement with the tools it needed to protect families. It specifically included $225 million for Violence Against Women programs and $100 million for programs that are a part of the Victims of Crime Act. These funds will supplement Federal dollars so that local providers can retain and hire the personnel to serve victims and hold offenders accountable. We also provided critical funding for law enforcement to keep cops on the street and to support law enforcement programs and services through the Byrne Grant program. In 2010, 854 local domestic violence programs received stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which allowed them to maintain or create 1,384 jobs.

Awareness of domestic violence is growing. All over this country and over the last several decades the work of many individuals and organizations has created a sea of change in the way we as a society look upon the issue of domestic violence. Police, courts, and the public used to consider it a private family matter, as I indicated previously. Not surprisingly, domestic violence was close to, if not the, number one underreported crime in this country. Today, there is much more awareness. And we have started to pass critical legislation at both the State and Federal levels so that we can combat domestic violence properly.

We have made a substantial impact on the lives of domestic violence survivors through laws, programs, services, and funding, but our jobs are not yet done. We have seen much progress. However, there is still much more to be done. In the year 2010, a survey was done by the National Network to End Domestic Violence. This survey found that in one day, while more than 70,000 people received help from domestic violence programs, over 9,000 requests for help went unanswered because of a shortage of resources.

Many victims continue to suffer in silence, and for many others who do come forward, there simply are not enough resources available. Victims of domestic violence should have access to medical and legal services, counseling, transitional housing, safety planning, and other supportive services so that they can escape the cycle of abuse.

The problem of domestic violence is not confined to any one group of people but crosses all economic, racial, gender, educational, religious, and societal barriers, and it is sustained too often by societal indifference. Make no mistake about it, when domestic violence occurs, it has a long-term damaging effect. And it has this effect on the victim, but not only the victim; it also leaves a mark on the family of the victim, the friends, and the community at large.

In my home State of Texas, according to the Texas Council on Family Violence--and this is a special report; it indicates that 37 women in Harris County, a county where my district happens to be--37 women lost their lives due to domestic violence in 2010. One hundred forty-two women were killed by their intimate partners in 2010. There were 56 occurrences of murder-suicides in Texas in 2010, which often left children without one or both of their parents. Three 17-year-old high school students were murdered in Texas in 2010. Five pregnant women were murdered in Texas in 2010. No year is a good year for the victims of domestic violence, and 2010 was no exception.

The current statistics are staggering. One in every four women will experience domestic violence during her lifetime. Three women are killed by an acquaintance or former intimate partner each day in America, on average. The cost of intimate partner violence exceeds $5.8 billion each year, including $4.1 billion in direct health care expenses. Domestic violence has been estimated to cost employers in the U.S. up to $13 billion annually.

Sexual violence is intolerable in our society because it creates a cycle of violence.

As many as 15.5 million children witness domestic violence every year in our country. Children who are exposed to this sort of violence are more likely to attempt suicide, abuse drugs, run away from home, engage in teenage prostitution, and commit sexual assault crimes.

Men exposed to physical abuse, sexual abuse, and adult domestic violence as children were almost four times more likely than other men to have perpetrated domestic violence as adults, according to a large survey that has been reported.

This is a call to action. Let us rededicate ourselves to the goal of ending violence against women and helping heal the lives of domestic violence survivors and their families. No one should have to live in fear in their own home, and we must continue to work to eliminate these acts of violence from our society.

Nearly 1.3 million women will confront violent acts this year. America's leaders and our Nation's families must not let this stand. Let us continue to work to end domestic violence and make every home a safe home.

I urge my colleagues to stand with us and support the survivors and their families by supporting the programs that target this insidious ill of domestic violence.

At this time I am honored to yield to my colleague and friend from Houston, Texas (Mr. Poe).

Mr. Speaker, would you please make me aware of the amount of time that remains to us.

I yield to the gentleman from Georgia.

I thank the gentleman for his comments.

At this time, I am honored to bring to the floor a very dear friend from the State of California who has been an outspoken supporter of all of these bills to help victims of domestic violence, the Honorable Lynn Woolsey.

I thank you for your words, and I trust that you will continue the fight. You have been an outstanding champion for women's rights.

At this time, I am honored to yield to the Honorable Barbara Lee, the former chairperson of the CBC and a great Member from the State of California.

I thank the gentlelady from California.

How much time do we have remaining, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you very much.

At this time, I yield to another Californian, the Honorable Jim Costa.

I thank the gentleman for his words.

I now yield to the gentlelady from Texas, who is a colleague, and we share a common boundary in the State of Texas--our districts are adjacent to each other--the Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee.

I thank the lady.

I now yield to the gentlelady from California (Ms. Speier). I would also add that this is a colleague who served with me on Financial Services, and I found that she has been a strong advocate for the rights of women.

I thank the lady, especially for citing the statistical information. It is important for our Nation and our country to understand that these are real people who are being harmed and that this is not something that occurs in some segments of society. This crosses all lines--economic lines, gender lines, political lines--and it's up to us to have bipartisan efforts to end this.

I'm honored that my friend, Mr. Poe, has joined us today, as this has been a bipartisan effort. But we've got to get this message back to the communities because indifference is what allows this to continue to a certain extent. No one should be indifferent. Everybody has a duty to report it, everybody has a duty to condemn it. And if we do this, then we can make every person who performs an act of violence persona non grata in our communities.

I want to thank the Speaker for the time. One hour is never enough to cover all that we should cover, but I'm grateful to the leadership for giving us the 1 hour that we've had.

I thank the gentleman for yielding. I especially thank you for placing things in a proper historical context. It's greatly appreciated.

Having taught a class myself in trial simulation, one of the things that we discussed was the origin of the concept of the State. And it evolved to the extent that you've called to our attention, but it also became a ``we the people'' country. Our country is a ``we the

people'' country. And sometimes if we substitute for the State ``we the people,'' because it becomes the people in many places against the defendant, and I think it's appropriate that it be the people against the defendant.

I think we as a society have some things that we will not tolerate, and, as a result, we have codified these things into laws that carry penalties with them. And these penalties, in my opinion, have to be imposed so as to maintain an orderly society.

I would mention, to my friend, this. You have said $82,000 for rape. I just have to make sure that I go on record saying I agree with you; $82,000, I cannot imagine how someone managed to conclude that $82,000 was the worth of a person having been raped or that crime itself.

I support the notion that we must compensate victims. Victims ought to be compensated appropriately, which is one of the reasons why I have supported the Violence Against Women Act; and I'm hoping that we'll get it reauthorized, because it does establish a fund so that victims of crimes of this nature can have their perpetrators pay money into this fund so as to make sure that victims are properly compensated.

I think you and I together, today, want to make sure that the people--we the people--are heard, and we the people in the courts of this country can take the necessary steps to not only prevent but also to compensate the victims of these dastardly deeds.

I thank the gentleman for his comments. I greatly appreciate the time that you took from your time to continue to elaborate on this. It means a lot to the people that we both represent, and I thank you again.

Mr. Speaker, it's time for this House to act on the American Jobs Act. It not only makes good sense, it makes dollars and cents for businesses. Businesses that hire persons who have been looking for work for more than 6 months will get a $4,000 tax credit. If that person happens to be a veteran, it becomes $5,600. If that veteran happens to have a disability that is service connected, it becomes $9,600.

It's time to act on the American Jobs Act. It makes good sense. It also makes good dollars and cents for business.

Mr. Chair, today I was unavoidably detained and missed the following vote:

Welch (VT)/Rush (IL) Amendment to H.R. 2401. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on this amendment.

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

H.R. 2076--Investigative Assistance for Violent Crimes Act of 2011. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on this bill.

H.R. 2633--Appeal Time Clarification Act of 2011. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on this bill.

H.R. 1059--To protect the safety of judges by extending the authority of the Judicial Conference to redact sensitive information contained in their financial disclosure reports, and for other purposes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, today it is my honor to pay tribute to Bernice Friedlander, who will mark her 90th birthday on Saturday, July 30, 2011, in Houston, Texas. On this special day we will all look back and see the hallmarks of a life well lived. Her quiet determination, unfailing kindness, and unyielding spirit have made her a pillar not only of a proud and loving family, but of all that have come to know her.

Beneath a humble and quiet exterior lies a generous and kind soul. She is beloved not for a litany of accomplishments, but simply for who she is. With such an uplifting and giving nature it is easy to see why she inspires so much love and warmth in others.

For decades she was the dedicated wife of her beloved husband, the late Silas Friedlander. She has been a wonderful mother to her adoring daughters Nancy and Susie, and a generous and doting grandmother to Kevin, Nick, Tyler, and Ashley.

We throw modesty aside today so that we can give the heartfelt thanks that Bernice is long overdue. Her unending love and devotion to those who have the privilege of calling her family have made their lives so much richer for having had her there. Happy birthday Bernice, may you enjoy yourself in happiness and good health for many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, today I was unavoidably detained and missed the following vote: H. Res. 363--Rule providing for consideration of H.R. 2584--Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on this resolution.

I rise to claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) and reserve the right to close.

Mr. Chairman, this amendment is indicative of why we are in opposition to much of what is being said today. This amendment assumes that there is some sort of onerous regulation or some sort of invidious discrimination that has taken place within the CFPB when, in fact, the CFPB has not issued one regulation, not one. And because it has not issued one regulation, one can only assume that much of what is happening today is onerous speculation and invidious prognostication because there seems to be this notion that this agency is going to be harmful, but it hasn't done one thing. There is this concept of throwing out the baby with the bathwater, but there is no bathwater. There is no bathwater to throw out because the baby hasn't done anything.

The CFPB has done absolutely nothing, and we are now trying to overregulate it before it has an opportunity to pass a single regulation. It was not the CFPB that created the crisis. It did not create 3/27s and 2/28s. It did not create prepayment penalties that coincide with teaser rates. It did not create negative amortization. It did not create the dastardly yield spread premium which allowed people to qualify for prime mortgages and be forced into subprime mortgages. The CFPB has done nothing. It is an effort on our part to make sure that many of the onerous actions that took place, that caused us to be in the position that we're in, that these actions cannot happen again.

I stand in opposition to this amendment. I also stand in opposition to the bill because the bill would weaken the CFPB to the extent that it can't do what it is intended to do, and that is protect consumers. Somebody, some agency ought to stand there for consumers. This agency is that agency. It's the watchdog. We do not need a watchdog without any bite. Let's keep the bite in the CFPB. Let's make sure that it can protect consumers and make sure that we don't get the products back on the market that we had before.

This amendment would allow persons who are on the board, who do not have a vote to petition, in a sense, they

would become empowered by this ability to petition, even if it doesn't impact the industry that they happen to represent. I stand in opposition to it. I think the CFPB, as presented, is the best way for us to proceed.

Madam Speaker, C.A. Tindley was right when he proclaimed, ``Harder yet may be the fight.''

When they tried to privatize Social Security, we fought and held them back. We fought the good fight. When they tried to minimize the CHIP program, Children's Health Insurance Program, we fought the good fight and we held them back. When they tried to destabilize Medicaid, we fought the good fight and we held them back.

They are now trying to minimize and voucherize Medicare. We will fight the good fight. We will hold them back because C.A. Tindley is right:

``Harder yet may be the fight;

right may often yield to might;

wickedness a while may reign;

Satan's cause may seem to gain.

But there's a God that rules above.

with hand of power and heart of love.''

When we're right, He'll help us fight. Harder yet may be the fight, but we will hold them back.

Madam Chairwoman, I move to strike the last word.

Madam Chair, it is just a matter of time before we will rue the day that we did not build out the infrastructure across the length and breadth of our country. Our President has proposed that we have an infrastructure bank such that we can take care of the needs on this side as well as the needs on this side. We will rue the day that we did not build out our transportation infrastructure.

One example, in 2005, in Houston, Texas, Rita hit the gulf coast. We had thousands of people being evacuated from a major urban area, and as they were moving away, the highways became clogged. They were stopped on the highways. People spent nights on the highways. Trains are a part of the emergency evacuation system in this country, and we need more rail so that we can evacuate people in times of emergencies.

9/11/01, who can forget? The skies were clear. There was a full ground stop. More than 4,000 planes were grounded. No one could fly. Trains became a part of the emergency evacuation system so that people who could not fly could still make their destinations.

It is time for us to wise up and realize that the President is right. It is time for us to, in the parlance and vernacular of those in the streets of life, to 'fess up and tell the truth. We should not put Peter ahead of Paul. We should not rob one to pay the other. It is time for us to take a holistic approach and show some vision.

Let's move to create jobs across the length and breadth of the country with this infrastructure program. Let's give architects who have offices and business and laborers and engineers jobs. Let's give them jobs to do.

And the good news is you cannot export these jobs overseas. You don't have to worry about them being outsourced, because they will all be done right here in the United States of America.

Let's rebuild this country.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, in these times of great difficulty and uncertainty, our senior citizens want to know where we stand, and I want the senior citizens to know that I stand with them. I will not vote to voucherize Medicare, and I will not vote to socialize to the extent that we privatize Social Security.

Medicare has been there for millions of our senior citizens. It is a program on which they can depend. In their minds, Medicare is better care. We have 40 million seniors depending on Medicare. We cannot take that from them. Many of the seniors in my district depend on Social Security to the extent that, if they don't have Social Security, they do not ``have.''

These two programs mean a lot to the people that I represent. No privatization of Social Security and no voucherizing of Medicare. I will vote to sustain them and protect them.

Madam Chair, today I was unavoidably detained and missed the vote on: Flake Amendment No. 2 to H.R. 2112. Prohibits the use of funds to be used for the construction of any ethanol blender pump or any ethanol storage facility. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on this bill.

Amendment Offered by Mr. Lipinski

Mr. Chair, today I was unavoidably detained and missed the votes on:

Polis (CO) Amendment (#1). Requires review of permits by the Interior Department to take into consideration all applicable safety, environmental and fisheries laws, such as the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no''' on this amendment.

Garamendi (CA) Amendment (#2). Implements the independent BP spill commission's recommendation by requiring that in reviewing a drilling permit, the Secretary consult with an independent drilling safety organization not affiliated with the American Petroleum Institute. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no''' on this amendment.

Markey (MA) Amendment (#3). Implements offshore drilling safety reforms recommended by the BP Spill Commission and would set specific new minimum standards for blow-out preventers, cementing and well design. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no''' on this amendment.

Madam Chair, the American people are confronting a dilemma, and the dilemma is simply this: to privatize or not to privatize. When all is said and done, that's the dilemma that we face based upon what the opposing party proposes.

The simple solution to education is to simply privatize and to give them vouchers. The simple solution to Social Security is to privatize and to place it in the stock market. The simple solution to health care is to privatize and to give them vouchers. For every complicated problem, there is a simple solution that's usually wrong.

As the economy continues to emerge from the worst recession in generations, the CBC budget understands the increased need for income security programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Unemployment insurance, Medicaid, and Section 8 housing vouchers.

As a member of the House Financial Services Committee, I have worked hard over many years to ensure adequate funding levels for housing and community development programs, such as the Fair Housing Initiatives program and the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program. I am pleased that the CBC budget supports investment in these key programs.

For Fiscal Year 2012, the Administration has requested $75 million for new HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers, which will end homelessness for an estimated 11,538 of our nation's veterans.

HUD-VASH combines tenant-based voucher assistance for homeless veterans with case management and clinical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) at its medical centers in local communities.

Public housing authorities who are awarded HUD-VASH vouchers develop partnerships with VA medical centers to help homeless veterans find permanent supportive housing.

It is estimated that approximately 60,000 homeless veterans will need HUD-VASH vouchers. A recent report issued by HUD and the VA indicated that on a single night in January 2009, 75,609 veterans were homeless.

Over the past three fiscal years, Congress has appropriated $75 million a year for 10,000 new vouchers--for a total of 30,000 vouchers.

To continue moving towards the goal of ending veterans' homelessness, Congress should provide an additional 11,538 vouchers in FY 2012.

I am pleased that the CBC Budget makes homeless veterans a priority by providing additional funding to Section 8 which will ultimately ensure adequate vouchers in FY 2012.

The CBC Budget also provides additional funding for community and regional development programs. I am pleased that the Fair Housing Initiatives Program is listed among programs targeted to receive additional support.

This week marked the forty-third anniversary of the signing of the federal Fair Housing Act which was signed into law because of the efforts of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to bring civil rights and justice in housing to all Americans. The Fair Housing Act outlawed discrimination in housing based upon race, color, religion, and national origin.

Despite its passage more than 40 years ago, approximately 4 million fair housing violations are estimated to occur each year, many of which involve veterans and military personnel.

However, according to the National Fair Housing Alliance, just 30,000 are reported to federal, state, and local fair housing authorities and only a handful are investigated with less than 120 actually resulting in charges.

This number appears low given that housing discrimination is perceived to be one of the root causes of the current foreclosure crisis.

Fair housing education and enforcement, primarily provided by private, non-profit fair housing organizations, play an important role in fighting housing discrimination and predatory lending.

With support from the federal Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP), these organizations investigate over half of the nation's reported housing discrimination complaints, counsel people who have been victims of housing discrimination, and enforce fair housing laws through housing testing programs.

The President's Budget proposes $42.5 million in funding for the FHIP program in FY2012 which provides level funding from the previous year.

FHIP is a key federal program that provides funds to enforce the nation's fair housing laws, combat housing discrimination and ensure equal housing opportunities at the state and local level.

Given the ongoing foreclosure crisis, which has forced many families to enter the rental market, strengthened fair housing programs are more important than ever.

As the housing market slowly recovers, the need for sustained funding for fair housing enforcement is critically important. I am pleased that the CBC budget recognizes the importance of this program by providing additional funding for it as well.

In addition, I have introduced H.R. 284, the Veterans, Women, Families with Children, and Persons with Disabilities Housing Fairness Act of 2011, which aims to provide the necessary enforcement to guarantee equal opportunities and prosecute housing discrimination, as well as to be a deterrent for this kind of behavior.

It is my hope that these combined efforts will bring us closer to ending housing discrimination, especially against disabled persons and particularly against our veterans.

I ask my colleagues to vote ``aye'' on final passage of the Congressional Black Caucus Alternative Budget for Fiscal Year 2012.

Mr. Speaker, today I was unavoidably detained and missed the following vote: Motion to Recommit H.R. 910 (rollcall No. 248). Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on this motion.