Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank all of my colleagues from the Congressional Black Caucus for coming out and speaking out.

I rise today to express concern and strong opposition to President- elect Trump Cabinet nominations for Attorney General, Secretary of Education,

and Secretary of Health and Human Services. President-elect Trump chose not to practice what he preached, and he didn't drain the swamp. Instead, he nominated politically divisive individuals to serve in his administration.

Throughout a public service career spanning more than 30 years, Senator Sessions used the power of the courts to discriminate against civil rights leaders. He allegedly used racially charged language to disparage minorities, expressed support for the KKK, and then tried to dismiss it as a joke. He celebrated the gutting of the Voting Rights Act and opposed same-sex marriage. He denied the constitutionality of Roe v. Wade and voted against greater access to health care for veterans. He blocked the Paycheck Fairness Act and voted against the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. He does not respect the rights of minorities or women, and he has proven himself to be unfit to serve as United States Attorney General.

Education is the great equalizer. One of the most important investments families make is in their children. The Secretary of Education must be committed to providing a free, world-class education to all students regardless of race, gender, ability, status, financial means, or geography.

Unfortunately, Betsy DeVos has consistently fought for private school vouchers that divert funds from public schools, our communities, and our children who need these investments the most. She has even used her personal wealth to lobby against important transparency and accountability measures that would have provided necessary safeguards for Michigan students.

DeVos' track record of undermining public education and her lack of commitment to defending the civil rights of students causes me great pause in her quest to become Secretary of Education. I can't support it. Betsy DeVos, absolutely no.

Finally, Chairman Price. He has made it clear that his budget priorities are highly partisan. We can expect that if he is confirmed, he will strip 20 million people of affordable health care, women would be denied their right to contraception and reproductive health care, and devastating cuts would be levied against Medicaid funding. We can't go back to a time when being a woman is a preexisting condition for insurance coverage. Chairman Price's nomination offers just that.

These folks will not unite the American people, and they cannot be trusted to advocate for our most vulnerable populations, so I urge my Senate colleagues to oppose the confirmations of Senator Jeff Sessions, Betsy DeVos, and Chairman Tom Price.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to S. 1.

Here we go again. For the 11th time, House Republicans are falsely promoting the idea that Keystone will improve the economy.

They say Keystone will create 42,000 jobs. False--Keystone will create 35 permanent jobs. Republicans say the pipeline will guarantee U.S. energy independence. False--there is no concrete assurance that oil produced by the pipeline will remain in the U.S.

Along with these economic shortcomings, U.S. taxpayers will bear 100 percent of the risk if a catastrophic spill occurs. America needs job growth, reliable energy, not hypotheticals. We must be focused on investments in clean energy and infrastructure projects that create jobs and boost our economy.

With no real impact on job creation or energy security, this bill is a losing deal for everyone except the foreign company, TransCanada.

The American people and our environment deserve better than to be collateral damage for an unfounded project. I stand opposed to the Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 431, a bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the foot soldiers who participated in Bloody Sunday, Turnaround Tuesday, and the final march from Selma to Montgomery, which was a catalyst for the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

I am proud to cosponsor this bill and to stand with Congresswoman Sewell and her delegation and one of the greatest leaders in the civil rights movement, Congressman John Lewis.

It is important that we recognize the civil rights titans whose sacrifice is an essential part of American history. As we honor yesterday's foot soldiers with a Congressional Gold Medal, let us remember that we are still in the fight.

In my home State of North Carolina, we are battling a new rollback on voters' rights. It was one of the most regressive laws we have passed. To fully honor the foot soldiers' sacrifice, we must keep fighting and restore the important protections that have been stripped from the Voting Rights Act.

Mr. Speaker, thank you for joining me in honoring these American heroes.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I rise today in support of the Affordable Care Act.

One year after implementing the health care exchanges, the number of uninsured in this country has decreased dramatically. Implementing the health care exchanges has provided health insurance access to 208,000 individuals in my district, with Charlotte accounting for one of North Carolina's highest number of subsidized health insurance enrollments.

Young adults can now stay on their parents' plans until age 26, resulting in nearly 10,000 young adults retaining health insurance in my district. Seniors in my district have saved $11.1 million through Medicare part D prescription drug discounts.

The Affordable Care Act has also created 9.6 million private sector jobs. My district's unemployment rate is 13.9 percent, so for me, this is not just about health, but jobs and our economy.

These tangible benefits cannot be ignored. I urge my Republican colleagues to end talks of repeal and instead work with Democrats to strengthen the law.

The Affordable Care Act would have meant a lot to my sister who I often had to take to the emergency room for primary care for sickle cell. She died at age 26, but I know she would have been grateful for the coverage provided by the Affordable Care Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a voice for the thousands of human trafficking victims both abroad and in this country.

Sadly, these voiceless victims are often beaten, starved, and forced to work as prostitutes or to take grueling jobs as migrant and domestic workers. Time and time again, we hear terrible stories of violence, death, and trauma against innocent men, women, and children who have been trafficked through organized crime rings and even terrorist organizations.

As Members of Congress, we must stand up for justice and human dignity. The bills we are considering today will improve collaboration between government agencies, will cut down on human trafficking, and will better protect victims. Ending human trafficking is a bipartisan issue that must remain a priority.

Our country was founded upon the notion of ``equality and justice for all.'' That is why I cosponsored a bipartisan bill with my North Carolina Republican colleague, Mark Walker. H.R. 460, the Human Trafficking Detection Act, prioritizes training for the prevention and the detection of trafficked victims, and it brings us one step closer to finding a solution to this terrible tragedy of human trafficking.

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

Madam Speaker, absolutely outrageous, that is what Republicans' attempt to repeal Roe v. Wade on its 42nd anniversary is, absolutely outrageous.

A blatant attack on women and their families, their first attempt, H.R. 36, failed because women of both parties spoke out to let our male Republican colleagues know they have gone too far.

The women of this House know that a woman cannot call herself free who does not own or control her own body. We are free, Madam Speaker.

Here we go again, H.R. 7, another attempt to attack women's rights. It especially impacts women of color--not on my watch.

Women of the House, let's do it again. Let's prevent this legislation from moving forward, and let's vote ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today against H.R. 36, a bold attack on reproductive freedom. While in the North Carolina House, I fought tirelessly for women's reproductive choice. As the 100th woman in Congress, I will do the same in the U.S. House. The fight begins with speaking against this unconscionable bill.

Mr. Franks, women's health decisions are personal. They should be between a woman, her family, and her doctor--not the North Carolina House and not the U.S. House.

H.R. 36 would add barriers for women who often face complicated, heart-breaking circumstances. I join other women who adamantly oppose this bill, including many of my Republican colleagues.

Today, I stand with Senators, Representatives, and NARAL activists in delivering 150,000 American signatures opposing this bill. I respectfully urge my colleagues not to support this legislation.

A woman cannot call herself free who does not own or control her own body.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my Republican colleagues to stop toying with our Nation's security. Disrupting funding to the Department of Homeland Security is an extreme and reckless form of partisan politics. Even Senate Republicans have expressed concern over the tactics used by their House colleagues.

Defunding key security infrastructure is unacceptable. Republican Senator Mark Kirk said it best: cooler heads must prevail, and we must defend critical security infrastructure.

In recent days both France and Nigeria experienced tragic terrorist attacks. These attacks highlight the threat here at home. Now is not the time to weaken our defenses.

Mr. Speaker, shutting down any government agency is irresponsible. House Republicans should have learned their lesson in 2013. When will they stop the partisan politics and start legislating?

Madam Speaker, I come to the floor of the U.S. House today to pay tribute to the memory of Shanda LaVie McAllister, a native North Carolinian, admired daughter, sister, and friend who departed this life suddenly on December 12, 2014, in Cumberland County, where she lived and worked as a teacher.

Shanda was an outstanding educator of more than 20 years, a well- respected advocate for children, a leader in her church and community, and someone who valued all people.

Genuinely concerned for the welfare of each student, she truly believed that if given the opportunity and resources, every child could succeed. She had a good heart, glowing personality, and she left an indelible impression on her community and her State.

For her many tireless efforts on behalf of children, I join with her parents, Freddie and former State Representative Mary McAllister, and all the citizens of our State in honoring Shanda's memory and her legacy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend and colleague, a distinguished congresswoman with a sweet name, Marcia Fudge, as her tenure as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus ends.

First of all, I want to thank Marcia Fudge for welcoming me to Capitol Hill, for being such a good friend and mentor. In my short time in Congress, she has been an invaluable resource to me, and I truly appreciate that.

As a servant of the people, I have long admired her as a woman for not just talking the talk, but for walking it, too.

Secondly, I want to thank Marcia Fudge for her phenomenal leadership. She has successfully guided the Congressional Black Caucus in promoting some of the most pressing issues and concerns of the people in our communities. She has been the collective voice of the caucus, bringing light to necessary issues of social and economic justice.

As we have seen with the recent events in the Michael Brown and Eric Garner cases, it is absolutely critical that we have a strong and collective voice to shed light on these injustices

and to make positive change in our communities.

She has certainly put the caucus on a solid foundation, which I know my North Carolina colleague, G.K. Butterfield, will continue.

On behalf of the residents of North Carolina's 12th Congressional District, I salute Congresswoman Marcia Fudge on her great leadership as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, and I say, ``Thank you, thank you, thank you.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Affordable Care Act. One year after implementing the health care exchanges, the number of uninsured in this country has decreased dramatically. North Carolina had one of the top five highest enrollments; and in my congressional district alone, the number of uninsured has declined by 14 percent, not to mention the incredible impact this legislation has had on the lives of working families.

Through the Affordable Care Act, 208,000 individuals in my congressional district now have access to health insurance. Young adults and college students can now stay on their parents' plans until age 26, which resulted in nearly 10,000 young adults retaining health insurance in my congressional district. Additionally, seniors in my district have received Medicare part D prescription drug discounts worth $11.1 million, and being a woman is no longer considered a preexisting condition.

The Affordable Care Act has had a dramatic effect on unemployment, creating 9.6 million private sector jobs. My congressional district's unemployment rate is 13.9 percent. So, for me, this is not only about health, but jobs and our economy.

These tangible benefits cannot be ignored. I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to end talks of repeal and, instead, work with Democrats to strengthen the law to provide even greater access to health insurance. States like North Carolina must reconsider their decision to reject the Medicaid expansion. This purely political decision has had real effects, leaving half a million North Carolinians uninsured. As legislators, we should make the lives of our constituents better; and, Mr. Speaker, the Affordable Care Act is making the lives of our citizens better.

So I urge folks in my congressional district and around the country to take advantage of the open enrollment period and get insured. There are 77 new insurers offering coverage in 2015, and the deadline to sign up is February 15, 2015. Let's continue the progress that the Affordable Care Act has made and get more people covered.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Coble, Congressman Price. As we all know, the journey to Congress is not made alone, and I could not have made it here without my faith, my family, and my friends.

So I want to take a moment to give special thanks to my mother who could not be here today; to my children, Billy, Jeanele; and my son-in- law, Ty; to my four grandchildren, one who is on the floor with me tonight; to my siblings; and to everyone who made the trip to share in this momentous occasion with me.

I stand here on the shoulders of the fearless women who shattered the glass ceiling by coming to Congress and representing our country with pride, tenacity, and integrity. It is with great honor that I stand before you tonight as the 100th woman in the 113th Congress. The women who have served before me have proven that when women succeed, we all succeed.

As I traveled across the 12th Congressional District, I heard the calls for us to work together, to create jobs, invest in education, and to be a voice for the working men and women struggling to make ends meet.

I am answering their calls by pledging to work with the Members of the North Carolina delegation and each and every Member of this Chamber. To the people of the 12th Congressional District, 10 months of no representation stops now. I am here, and I am rolling up my sleeves, and I am getting to work.