Floor Statements

First, let me thank Congressman McGovern for your tireless leadership and for hosting this Special Order today. For many years, you have been raising the level of awareness with regard to the responsibilities of Congress, our duties as it relates to war making, as well as the impact of these tragic wars on our brave men and women. So thank you for once again coming forward with now a privileged resolution that directs the President to remove all United States military forces stationed in Iraq within 30 days or by the end of the year.

Mr. Speaker, this is a very reasonable resolution. It is very consistent with what I believe the American people--we know, based on what the American people have said over and over and over again, they are war weary. And Mr. McGovern has really given us an opportunity to vote the views of the American people.

This resolution exempts, of course, troops necessary for the security of the United States diplomatic post and personnel.

We are all familiar with the reports coming out of Iraq about the horrific sectarian violence taking place. We hear many of the same voices who championed the unnecessary war in Iraq once again beating the drum for a renewed war in Iraq today. So we must not let history repeat itself. We must remember history. We must not be dragged back into a war in Iraq. This must be rejected.

Many of my colleagues agree. And I want to remind us that over 100 Members of Congress now from both parties have signed a letter, Congressman McGovern, myself--many--Scott Rigell from Virginia, we are calling for the President to come to Congress for debate on an authorization before any military escalation on Iraq.

Last month, during the consideration of the 2015 Defense Appropriations bill, over 150 bipartisan Members supported our amendment that would prohibit funds from being used to conduct combat operations in Iraq.

Mr. Speaker, there is no military solution in Iraq. This is a sectarian war with longstanding roots that were inflamed when we invaded Iraq in 2003. Any lasting solution must be political and take into account all sides. The change that Iraq needs must come from Iraqis. They must reject violence in favor of a peaceful democracy that represents everyone and respects the rights of all citizens.

The future of Iraq is in the hands of the Iraqi people. Our job is to continue to promote regional and international engagement, recognition of human rights, women's rights, and political reforms. Only through these actions can Iraq and, of course, the United States, and the rest of the world, begin supporting a process of reconciliation and help the Iraqis secure long-term national stability.

Mr. Speaker, after more than a decade of war, thousands of American lives, and billions of dollars, the American people are rightfully war weary. The American people are looking for Congress to act. We must heed their call and bring this privileged resolution to the House floor for an immediate up-or-down vote.

As our President told the American people in May:

United States military action cannot be the only, or even

primary, component of our leadership in every instance.

This is one of those instances.

Before we put our brave servicemen and -women in harm's way again, Congress should carry out its constitutional responsibilities and vote on whether or not to get militarily involved in Iraq. But we must vote on this resolution immediately because I think this would give the American people a clear understanding of what this administration and Congress intends to do, and that is remove all military forces stationed in Iraq.

So I want to thank, again, Congressman McGovern for his leadership for bringing this forward. It is time that we have a clear up-or-down vote on this. I want to thank Congressman Jones for cosponsoring this.

Also, I will finally conclude by saying sooner or later--sooner or later--we have got to go back and repeal the Authorization for Use of Military Force which has become a blank check for this war this past decade. It sets the stage for perpetual war. We need to repeal it. The American people deserve a vote on this resolution, and they deserve a vote for repealing this authorization.

So thank you again for your leadership, and let's move forward and vote the will of the American people.

Mr. Speaker, it has been three long painful months since nearly 300 schoolgirls were kidnapped from their classrooms in Borno State, Nigeria, by the terrorist group Boko Haram.

Since the kidnapping, these terrorists refer to these girls as slaves and threaten to sell them in the market.

Congresswomen Wilson, Jackson Lee, and Frankel were brave and bold enough to visit Nigeria, and I thank them for continuing to beat the drum to bring our girls back.

While some of these girls have escaped, tragically, more than 200 are still missing, and Boko Haram continues to terrorize villages across northern Nigeria and surrounding countries.

Today, I stand here, as a mother and as a grandmother, to reaffirm our demand to bring our girls back and to make it clear that mass kidnapping and threat of human trafficking are human rights violations that cannot be ignored.

Every child has a right to live. Every child has a right to receive an education in a safe and protected environment.

Maifa Dame, Ruth Kollo, Esther Usman, Awa James are but a few of these girls being traumatized and terrorized by Boko Haram.

We call on the international community, especially African nations and the African Union, to work together to find these girls and bring our girls back.

I thank Congressman Heck for yielding and for his really bold and tremendous leadership on this.

I am proud to join you, Mr. Perlmutter and Mr. Rohrabacher, in cosponsoring this bipartisan, commonsense amendment.

Mr. Chairman, this amendment would provide important certainty to business owners, employees, government agencies, and financial institutions in 34 States and jurisdictions that have passed marijuana reform laws.

By prohibiting Federal agencies from unduly penalizing financial institutions for providing basic banking services, like opening a checking account, this amendment would ensure that legitimate business owners can comply

with State regulations and that regulators and law enforcement can hold businesses accountable.

I recently had a chance to visit one of these small businesses in my home district of Oakland, California, and know how big an impact the access to financial services can have.

When these businesses are unable to access financial services, they are forced to use unsatisfactory cash-based transactions that lack transparency, accountability, and create a threat to public safety.

I was proud to cosponsor a similar amendment to the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill that passed the House. I want to thank Mr. Heck again for his leadership and hope this passes.

Mr. Chair, let me thank the Chair and our Ranking Member Lowey and of the subcommittee, Congresswoman Kaptur for their very hard work on this bill.

This appropriations bill is intended to provide the Department of Energy, Army Corps of Engineers, Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other offices with the funds they need to safeguard our natural resources.

Unfortunately, instead of adequately funding these critical agencies, this bill has been turned into a vehicle for Republican efforts to cut protections that keep our drinking water safe, protect our rivers and oceans from toxic dumping, and to protect critical wildlife.

The Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act are proven public health tool to reduce dangerous pollution known to make people sick and cut short lives.

That is why I am opposed to the Republican policy riders included in this bill that are designed to block or weaken clean air protections, specifically the EPA's proposed limits on carbon pollution from existing power plants.

This bill also cuts Federal investment in innovative clean energy research and development (R&D) at a time of significant global competition and progress.

Mr. Chair, as a member of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, I know spending bills are difficult enough to pass without weighing them down with toxic policy riders.

We need to continue this Appropriations process in good faith, and I am disappointed that the bill in front of us today does not reflect that.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of Ms. Frances Dunham Catlett. Known throughout the Bay Area as a writer, painter, social worker, poet and devoted mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great-great grandmother, Ms. Catlett has left an indelible mark on our community. With her passing on April 22, 2014, we look to the outstanding quality of her life's work.

Born on July 3, 1908 in Hartford, Connecticut, Ms. Frances Dunham Catlett was raised with an acute awareness of slavery in America. Her mother was formerly enslaved and her father was the son of a white slave trader. As the youngest of ten siblings, Ms. Catlett always proved to be an excellent student. Graduating high school in 1926, she received a four-year scholarship to the University of Chicago.

In 1945, Ms. Catlett and her two sons, Kaye Lawrence and Michael Andrew, moved to San Francisco, where she worked at the Welfare Department. Breaking racial barriers, she was known as one of the first African American social workers in San Francisco. In addition, she later enrolled in Mills College and was one of the first African Americans to earn a graduate degree from that university. Ms. Catlett went on to teach social welfare at California State University, Sacramento.

After moving to Berkeley, California, Ms. Frances Dunham Catlett enrolled in an art class at the de Young Museum in San Francisco and discovered her love of painting. Her artwork was showcased at the Oakland Museum of California and other galleries in Oakland and San Francisco.

In addition, she published her third person autobiography in a compilation of stories entitled ``Black Women Stirring the Waters.'' Her entry, ``Soft Colors, Bold Statements,'' acknowledged the strong role her family and supportive church community played in her success in life.

Ms. Frances Dunham Catlett was an inspiration to many African American women. At the age of 103, Carolyn Schlam painted Ms. Catlett's portrait to share her character and life story with others. This portrait, ``Frances at 103,'' was displayed in the National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC and will move to the National Museum of African American History and Culture when it opens in 2015.

With an adventurous spirit, Ms. Catlett traveled extensively, hiked with the Sierra Club, did Tai Chi into her 90's and bowled and painted until she was 102. She was featured as one of six women in the documentary ``Still Kicking: Six Artistic Women of Project Arts & Longevity,'' which challenged the perception and attitudes about aging. She was truly a woman for all seasons.

Several years ago, I visited Frances at her apartment in Berkeley. We talked about many things, including politics and art. She showed me many of her beautiful paintings, which inspired me to purchase one and hang in my office for my constituents to admire. This painting is a reminder of her artistic genius, her lively and beautiful spirit and her big heart.

Today, California's 13th Congressional District salutes and honors an outstanding individual, Ms. Frances Dunham Catlett. Ms. Catlett's contributions have truly impacted so many lives throughout the Bay Area. I join all of Frances' loved ones in celebrating her incredible life. She will be deeply missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the exceptional life of Mr. Sylester Flowers. Known as a hardworking and long-standing public health advocate, and a visionary in the field of pharmaceutical services, Mr. Flowers has left an indelible mark on Bay Area communities. With his passing on June 21, 2014, we look to Sylester Flowers' legacy and the outstanding quality of his life's work.

Born on June 30, 1935 in High Point, North Carolina, Mr. Flowers grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Howard University in 1958 and moved to California after serving in the military. He worked as a pharmacist at St. Luke's Hospital in San Francisco from 1961 to 1963 before opening his first retail pharmacy, The Apothecary, in East Oakland in 1964. He opened other pharmacies in working-class neighborhoods that grew into a successful chain, all while primarily serving underrepresented communities. In 1967, Mr. Flowers founded the Ramsell Corporation (Ramsell) as a holding company for his pharmacies. His business later flourished as he expanded into managing pharmaceutical services. In addition, he served as the Pharmacy Director for the San Francisco County Mental Health Department's methadone treatment program from 1971 to 1982, and also held teaching positions as an adjunct professor of pharmacy at the University of the Pacific in Stockton and as an assistant clinical professor of pharmacy at the University of California, San Francisco School of Pharmacy.

Headquartered in Oakland, Ramsell serves as the parent company to four healthcare-related businesses including Ramsell Public Health Rx, Ramsell Pharmacy Solutions, Ramsell Information Technology and Ramsell International. In 1997, Ramsell won a competitive bid to administer the State of California's AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), and the company operates similar programs in Oregon, Texas, Washington, Colorado and Delaware. Active in 14 states, Ramsell provides forty percent of HIV/AIDS medications nationally with a mission to ensure that underserved communities receive access to prescription drugs and quality health care services. Ramsell has expanded services to include drug administration program management, medication therapy management, patient assistance programs tools and re-entry solutions for Corrections. Mr. Flowers served as CEO and President of Ramsell until 2008, when he stepped down and his son Eric Flowers took the reins. He served as Chairman of the Board until his passing.

Throughout his prolific career, Mr. Flowers was also keenly committed to community leadership. With a strong passion for giving back to his community and finding solutions to bridging the gaps in care and treatment in marginalized populations, Mr. Flowers and his family established the Flowers Heritage Foundation in 2003 with an educational grant to Howard University. The Flowers Heritage Foundation became a non-profit organization in 2005 and is dedicated to working closely with community partners and stakeholders to achieve successful outcomes of the unmet needs in the healthcare system, which includes identifying and addressing disparities in HIV/AIDS care and prevention as well as other burgeoning health crises.

Mr. Flowers also earned myriad accolades, including recognition by the California State Senate and then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2007, and receiving the California Pharmacy Hall of Fame Award in 2008 by the California Pharmacists Association. In 2009, Mr. Flowers received the Pinnacle Award from the American Pharmacists Association Foundation for his leadership on enhancing healthcare quality. Additionally, he was honored by Howard University and received the Alumni Award for Distinguished Postgraduate Achievement for his accomplishments in business and public health service. In 2013, the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce honored Ramsell with the Oscar J. Coffey Small Business Award for its vital contributions to improving the lives of Oakland and Alameda County residents.

Today, California's 13th Congressional District salutes and honors an outstanding individual and community leader, Mr. Sylester Flowers. His invaluable service to improving the lives of the underserved will live on in the endless legacy of his life's work. I offer my sincerest condolences to his many loved ones, friends and colleagues he touched over the course of his incredible life. May his soul rest in peace.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank my colleague from Wisconsin, Mr. Pocan for organizing this important special order to highlight LGBT Pride Month. Thank you for your leadership as a Co- Chair of the LGBT Equality Caucus and really on so many other issues affecting our underserved communities.

Let me just say how proud I am to be a founding member and Vice Chair of the LGBT Equality Caucus. Our Caucus is stronger than ever and is really beating the drum for equality, ending discrimination and violence, and promoting the health and well-being for LGBT people here in the U.S. and around the world.

It makes me very proud to be here today during Pride Month as we commemorate the anniversary of last year's landmark Supreme Court decisions that struck down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act and brought marriage equality back to my home state of California.

These decisions were strong and decisive steps forward in the march towards full equality for all.

Following those decisions, I had the privilege of officiating weddings for same-sex couples at Oakland City Hall--and let me tell you, they reflected the diversity of my district, the diversity of this country, and the diversity of the LGBT community.

Across the nation, some 2.8 million African Americans, Latino Americans, and Asian and Pacific Islanders identify as LGBT.

The Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law has produced studies that provide us with critical data and analysis of these LGBT communities and their unique features, challenges, and needs.

The full reports can be found at http:// williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/.

One of the most striking disparities as we know for LGBT people of color is in HIV/AIDS rates. In 2010, African American gay and bisexual men between ages 13 and 24 accounted for more than twice as many new infections as their white or Latino peers.

These numbers show clearly that as we close out the month of June with our celebration of Pride Month, we must not lose sight of the hard work that remains to be done, in this country and around the world. Discrimination, unemployment, and even physical violence continue to be the daily reality for far too many LGBT people and it needs to stop.

Congress needs to act. We must pass ENDA, SNDA, my bill, the REPEAL HIV Discrimination Act, and other critical pieces of legislation that create real protections for LGBT people and full equality under the law.

I close by reiterating how proud I am to represent a district with a strong and diverse LGBT community and join my LGBT Equality Caucus colleagues in staying the course and fighting for what's right.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and offer my personal congratulations to the 2014 graduating class of the Latin American School of Medical Sciences. They have all traveled a long way to earn Medical Doctorates in Havana, Cuba.

These dedicated doctors overcame immense hurdles to complete their medical educations. They not only had to face six years away from home, but also had to pursue their education in Spanish after attending a 12- week intensive language program. They had to complete their studies cut off from their families and uncertain about their futures due to the draconian Cuban embargo that continues to threaten this excellent program.

After a visit to Cuba in 2000, I was proud to have helped initiate the scholarship program, along with the other members of the Congressional Black Caucus. I am also proud to take advantage of this incredible opportunity to bring access to healthcare back to those who need it most.

The 2014 graduating class includes 20 students from the United States, bringing the total of young physicians to 104 who are either completing residencies or practicing medicine in underserved areas of the United States. These students should be recognized not only for the many challenges they had to overcome, but also for their dedication to service.

The Cuban government devoted scholarships, covering tuition, dormitory room and board, and textbooks, to students from the United States who are willing to commit to serve in medically underserved communities. This expensive and humane gesture allows students, who might otherwise not have the resources to pursue medical degrees in the United States, to become doctors and to serve the uninsured and underinsured who too often fall through the cracks of our for-profit healthcare industry. It also reduces the concern that health care for all is not attainable because there are not enough doctors to meet the need.

It is my hope that what these doctors have achieved will not only bring desperately needed healthcare to the underserved, but will also serve as an example to the healthcare industry, the American people and the members of Congress, that healthcare is a basic human right, not a privilege.

On behalf of California's 13th Congressional District, I salute the graduates of the Latin American School of Medical Sciences. I look forward to seeing all that you accomplish and I wish you all the very best in your future endeavors.

Madam Chair, I have amendment No. 31 at the desk, preprinted in the Congressional Record.

Madam Chair, I rise today, remembering 12 years ago when I stood on this floor and offered an amendment with the same purpose as the amendments I offer this evening: to prevent a war with Iraq; to keep our young men and women--our troops--out of harm's way; and to be prudent with taxpayers' hard-earned dollars, as well as ensuring our national security.

We are all familiar with the reports coming out of Iraq about the horrific sectarian violence taking place. We must not let history repeat itself. Calls to be dragged back into a war in Iraq must be rejected because the reality is there is no military solution in Iraq.

I want to applaud the President for reiterating that again today and for making it clear that he does not want combat troops on the ground in Iraq.

This amendment would not allow funding for combat operations. This is a sectarian war with longstanding roots that were inflamed, unfortunately, when we invaded Iraq in 2003. Any lasting solution must be political and take into account respect for the entire Iraqi population.

The change Iraq needs must come from Iraqis, rejecting violence in favor of a peaceful democracy that represents all and respects the rights of all.

Our job is to continue to promote and support regional and international engagement, recognition of human rights and political reforms, support for women and children, and religious freedom.

Madam Chair, after more than a decade of war, thousands of American lives, and hundreds of billions of dollars, the American people are rightfully war weary. The American people are not interested in repeating the mistakes of the past. A recent poll found that 74 percent of the public is opposed to sending combat troops into Iraq.

This amendment would not impact the President's ability to protect U.S. personnel or our Embassy. We must do that. It does not impact the President's ability to act if there is a direct or imminent threat to our national security. As the President cited in his recent notification to Congress, doing so would be consistent with his responsibilities to protect U.S. citizens both at home and abroad.

Finally, it does not impact the President's ability to send assistance to gather intelligence or advisers and trainers.

Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, just to clarify, all this amendment does is it would not fund the combat operations in Iraq.

I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Nolan).

Madam Chair, how much time do I have remaining?

I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva).

Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute now to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ellison).

Madam Chair, in closing, let me just underscore the fact that combat operations will not solve the problems in Iraq. This amendment would not fund combat operations. We should not repeat these terrible mistakes of the past.

Let me once again clarify. This amendment would not impact the ability of the United States personnel and our Embassy. We want to protect the United States personnel and Embassy.

Secondly, it would not impact the President's ability to provide unmanned intelligence gathering and assistance. It would not impact the President's constitutional authority to protect U.S. citizens both at home and abroad.

I urge for a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of her time.

Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chair, this amendment would simply prohibit funding for any operations or activities pursuant to the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force in Iraq.

Why is this amendment necessary? Well, more than 2 years since the United States troops withdrew from Iraq, the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force remains on the books.

Two years ago, President Obama declared the war in Iraq as over. Just yesterday, according to press reports, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney stated that the 2002 AUMF is ``no longer used for any United States Government activities.''

Further, in our Appropriations Committee, our chairman confirmed that this bill does not contain any funding to implement the 2002 authorization. That is good news, and it should make supporting this amendment an easy thing to do for Members on both sides of the aisle.

The American people need an affirmative vote that the war in Iraq that began over 11 years ago through the military operation--shock and awe, which took over 2,000 lives--has come to an end and none of their hard-earned tax dollars are being spent.

Some of us agree that it is well past time that we remove this authorization totally from the books, but on this appropriations bill, we only state very clearly that no funds may be obligated or expended for the authorization.

Congress should never allow war-funding authorizations to remain on the books in perpetuity. We don't do this for the farm bill. We don't do this for the transportation bill.

Madam Chair, we are all familiar with reports coming out of Iraq about the horrific sectarian violence taking place there. Once again, I want to applaud President Obama for reiterating again today that there is no military solution to the sectarian war there and also for his clear position that the United States is not going to be returning to combat in Iraq.

This amendment does not limit the President's authority under the Constitution or War Powers Act to act if there is a direct or imminent threat to our national security.

As the President cited in his recent letter to Congress, doing so would be consistent with his responsibilities to protect United States citizens both home and abroad. This amendment does not take away that authority.

Further, this amendment fully allows for the protection of the United States Embassy and its personnel and would not impede any of those efforts by the United States military.

Given that there is no funding in this bill for the 2002 AUMF, supporting this amendment is just plain common sense. The American people deserve this vote. It is long overdue. We should vote primarily also to ensure that our constitutional role is reasserted in war- making.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Visclosky), the ranking member.

I want to thank the ranking member for his comments and for reasserting and reassuring Members that our constitutional role is extremely important in matters of war and peace.

I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett).

Madam Chair, I yield 45 seconds to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt).

Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Chairman, I have amendment No. 34 at the desk, preprinted in the Congressional Record.

Mr. Chairman, my bipartisan amendment is straightforward. It is cosponsored by Congressman Broun of Georgia and Congressman Sanford of South Carolina.

It will prohibit any funding in this bill pursuant to the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force after December 31, 2014.

This date is set as the official end of combat operations in Afghanistan. Furthermore, it gives the President and Congress sufficient time to determine what, if any, authorization would be needed to replace the 2001 AUMF.

The fact of the matter is the world has changed dramatically in the aftermath of the horrific tragedy of September 11.

On September 14, 2001, I could not vote for the resolution, an authorization that I knew would provide a blank check to wage war any time, anywhere, for any purpose, and for any length. Thirteen years later, this authorization is still on the books.

According to the Congressional Research Service, there are over 30 known instances of the executive branch invoking authority to engage in hostilities or deploy Armed Forces under this AUMF.

The report, which is on my Web site, lists 30 instances where the AUMF has been invoked by President Bush and President Obama, including to deploy troops in Ethiopia, Djibouti, Georgia, Yemen, justify detentions at Guantanamo Bay, and conduct military commissions, among many other uses, for which this resolution served as the legal justification for.

No executive office, not President Bush, not President Obama, nor any future President can be handed such broad authority to wage war with no oversight.

In fact, President Obama has stated that he looks forward to engaging Congress and the American people in efforts to refine and ultimately repeal the AUMF's mandate, and he will not sign laws designed to expand this mandate further.

We need to take up the President's suggestion. There was very little debate on this resolution. I was here 12 years ago, and so year after year, I have introduced legislation to repeal this resolution.

It is long past time for Congress to have a meaningful debate. I remember that night. There were five or six maybe on the floor, maybe a few more, and we had probably an hour's debate that evening.

We need to have a real debate about our constitutional role in declaring war and our obligation to conduct rigorous oversight, accountability, and to demand transparency and accountability for the American people for their tax dollars. I ask Members to support this amendment.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ellison).

Mr. Chairman, first of all, let me say I don't know how much time--how much more time the opposition to this amendment wants to see this authorization on the books and continue to fund it. There is no reason that a 13-year authorization should continue to be funded.

I just want to read you this, as I close, what this authorization said 13 years ago, which totally has abdicated our constitutional responsibility and authority as Members of Congress. We are abdicating our constitutional authority by not going back to the drawing board and debating any further efforts as it relates to military force.

The President is authorized to use all necessary and

appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or

persons he deems planned, authorized, and aided the terrorist

attacks that occurred on September 11.

That is 2001. Again, the Congressional Research Service has cited 30 instances. We know there are more. Once again, we need to come back and have a debate. We need to talk about how far removed now we are from 2001.

If we think this needs to be brought up to date, bring it up to date, but we definitely need to stop the funding.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, my straightforward bipartisan amendment is cosponsored by Representatives Walter Jones and Jim McGovern.

What this amendment does is prohibit any funding for combat operations in Afghanistan after December 31, 2014. Even though some of us would rather have all of our troops returned, the President announced in May that the United States would end the U.S. combat mission in December 2014.

This simple amendment codifies and clarifies the President's position. It would also allow Congress to determine and reauthorize any further combat operations in Afghanistan should the President deem it necessary.

By reinserting Congress' constitutional authority, this amendment would ensure that we have a debate and a vote in this body for the future of combat operations in Afghanistan.

Last month, I joined Congressmen McGovern, Jones, Garamendi, and Armed Services Ranking Member Adam Smith in offering an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would have required a congressional vote to continue deployment of U.S. combat troops in Afghanistan after December 31, 2014.

Unfortunately, that amendment was not allowed to come to the floor.

Instead, to date, the Republican leadership of this House has failed to allow the American people any say in the future of America's longest war. It is really unconscionable that the Afghan public through the Afghan parliament has ample opportunity to weigh in on the future presence of United States combat troops in Afghanistan, while the American public has been given no such opportunity through this Congress.

For many years, we have known there is simply no military solution in Afghanistan, and our constituents are sick and tired of this endless war.

This war has cost taxpayers over $750 billion, and promises to cost tens of billions more for every year our troops remain in Afghanistan. We have lost thousands of our young men and women. They conducted themselves in a way that everything we asked them to do they did, and so it is time now to honor them by ending this endless war.

This war, again, when you look at the human cost, the lives of I think it is 2,321 soldiers, and tens of thousands injured, it is really time to end this. It is time to look out for our veterans, our brave young men and women, bring them home, not fund any more combat operations, and ensure their job security, their health, their mental health, and their future.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, first of all, this amendment says we are not going to fund combat operations after December 31, 2014. That is what it says. That is what it will do. That is what the President has indicated.

For the life of me I don't understand why the opposition really believes that there is a military solution in Afghanistan. We have been there 13 years. History shows that the United States military is not going to continue to have a military presence and support what has taken place in Afghanistan. It is now up to the Afghan government and people to secure their own future.

Of course, we are not taking away any authority from the President. We have taken away our authority here, our constitutional duty and responsibility. We can't allow funding for combat operations beyond December 2014. The President has said that will not happen. So what in the world are we talking about by saying, yes, here is the money, we want you to continue funding these combat operations?

He said they would end in December of 2014, so we should do what we need to do here in Congress. We should end it, we should not allow any more funding. If, in fact, the President believes, and if you believe, that we want to engage in more combat action and operations--which, of course, the American public I believe are telling us in no uncertain terms they are war-weary--but if you believe that, then come back to Congress and exercise your constitutional duty and responsibility, and vote for whatever it is that the President is asking for. This doesn't make any sense--13 years. Again, we sunset in the farm bill, the transportation bill. Here we have got an authority now and funding for the last 13 years. It doesn't make any sense. We want to do what the President has said he is going to do.

This Congress needs to reassert itself and do our constitutional duty, engage in our constitutional authority and responsibility, and say in no uncertain terms: no funding for combat operations after December 31, 2014.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of Mr. Odell H. Sylvester, former Chief of Police of Berkeley, California and devoted husband, father and friend. Known throughout the Bay Area for his firmness, fairness and compassion, Mr. Sylvester has left an indelible mark on our community. With his passing on January 25, 2014, we look to the outstanding quality of his life's work.

Born on November 3, 1924 near Dallas, Texas, Mr. Odell Sylvester and his family later moved to Kansas City, Missouri. After his first year of undergraduate study at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, he enrolled in military service. For three years, he served as a military policeman in North Africa and Italy.

After returning to the United States, Mr. Sylvester attended the University of California, Berkeley and graduated with a degree in Business Administration in 1948. Mr. Sylvester went on to complete a Master's Degree in Public Administration at the University of Southern California.

Mr. Odell Sylvester began his long career in law enforcement by working with the Oakland Police Department in 1949. Progressing through the ranks by competitive examination, he became Sergeant in 1957, Lieutenant in 1961, moving up to Captain two years later and ended as Deputy Chief in 1971. After he left the Oakland Police Department in 1977, Mr. Sylvester accepted his appointment as Chief of Police in Berkeley.

Breaking racial barriers, Mr. Sylvester became the first African American Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, and Deputy Chief in the Oakland Police Department, as well as the first African American Police Chief for the City of Berkeley.

In addition to his prolific career, Mr. Sylvester was an active member in the community, including the Oakland Boys' and Girls' Clubs, Goodwill Industries, the YMCA, the NAACP and the Church by the Side of the Road. He was also a founding member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives and was the Director of the Bay Area Minority Recruitment Project, involving the San Francisco, Berkeley, Richmond and Oakland Police Departments. Mr. Sylvester received numerous awards for community and professional service, as well as in recognition of his lifetime achievements.

Today, California's 13th Congressional District salutes and honors an outstanding individual, Mr. Odell H. Sylvester. As an Oakland-resident, Mr. Sylvester's efforts have truly paved the way for minorities and impacted so many lives throughout the Bay Area. I join all of Odell's loved ones in celebrating his incredible life. He will be deeply missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 50th Anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Since its passage on July 2, 1964, this landmark legislation ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin.

After the Civil War, three Constitutional Amendments were adopted to abolish slavery, grant former slaves citizenship and allow all men the right to vote regardless of race. Following a brief period of Reconstruction, Congress did not pass any civil rights legislation until 1957 when the Civil Rights Section of the Justice Department and a Commission on Civil Rights were established.

Following the conclusion of the Birmingham Bus Boycott in May 1963, President John F. Kennedy proposed a comprehensive civil rights bill in June 1963. He stated then that the United States ``will not be fully free until all of its citizens are free.''

Passing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 required the masterful legislative savvy of President Lyndon B. Johnson. In his first State of the Union address he urged, ``Let this session of Congress be known as the session which did more for civil rights that the last hundred sessions combined.'' The ban on employment discrimination against women was introduced as an amendment thought to be a mischievous attempt to kill the bill. The amendment passed.

The bill was debated on the Senate floor and one of the longest filibusters in Senate history took place. Never before in history had the Senate been able to raise enough votes to end a filibuster on a civil rights bill. Once the votes had been secured to end this filibuster, Minority Leader Senator Everett Dirksen, an Illinois Republican noted that the cloture vote was occurring on the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's nomination to a second term.

There was also ``street heat'' on Congress from ordinary citizens, civil rights organizations and churches. In June 1964 Senator Dirksen estimated that he had heard from at least 100,000 people about the bill. Telegrams, petitions and letters all urged passage and increased pressure on the Senate to pass the Civil Rights Bill. The NAACP, CORE, the National Urban League, SCLC and others represented organized African-American support for passage of the Bill.

The 1964 Civil Rights Act debate continued for 83 days, slightly over 730 hours and had taken up almost 3000 pages in the Congressional Record. Finally, on July 2 within a few hours of the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, President Johnson signed it into law on national television, using more than 70 ceremonial pens.

On behalf of California's 13th Congressional District, I would like to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act as the most important civil rights legislation since Reconstruction. I join together with California Attorney General Kamala Harris, Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, Black Elected Officials and Faith Based Leaders of the East Bay, the Equal Justice Society, NAACP, City of Oakland, Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Center, East Oakland Youth Development Center and labor organizations to celebrate this important milestone and continue the important work to ensure justice, equality and opportunity for all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of Mayor Peggy Thomsen. Known throughout the San Francisco Bay Area as the Mayor of Albany, California, a consummate public servant, and as a dedicated wife and mother, Mayor Thomsen has left an indelible mark on our community. With her passing on June 8, 2014, we look to the outstanding quality of her life's work and the inspiring role she played in our community.

Born on February 28, 1940 in St. Louis, Missouri, Mayor Peggy Thomsen and her family moved frequently around the United States, including to Denver, Colorado and Beaverton, Oregon, before settling in Fresno, California. Mayor Thomsen was passionate about education. After earning her Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Arts degrees at California State University, Fresno, she went on to earn a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from the University of California, Berkeley.

Meeting her husband, John, at California State University, Fresno, they moved to Albany where Mayor Thomsen began her career teaching in Albany and Richmond schools. She also was an instructor, curriculum planner and seminar presenter at Heald College in San Francisco.

Mayor Peggy Thomsen was deeply committed to helping others. Prior to being elected as Mayor of Albany, her civic service and leadership manifested in various ways. She served on the Albany Unified School District School Board for 16 years and spent 14 years on the City Council. Additionally, she was President of the Parent Teacher Association Council, Albany Girl Scout Leader and a School Resource Volunteer Coordinator.

Dedicated to leadership in her community, Mayor Peggy Thomsen served on the Social and Economic Justice Committee, Albany Waterfront Committee and the Albany Charter Review Committee. Mayor Thomsen also served on numerous regional committees, including the California Elected Women's Association for Education and Research and the California School Board Association Delegate Assembly.

In addition to Ms. Thomsen's prolific career, she received numerous awards for her work in the community. She was the recipient of Service Awards from the Albany Unified School District, March of Dimes, California State Parent Teacher Association and Albany Jaycees. Furthermore, her commitment to her students was demonstrated in the Teacher Enrichment and the Teacher of the Year Awards she received from Heald College.

Today California's 13th Congressional District salutes and honors an outstanding individual and community leader, Mayor Peggy Thomsen. As a 47 year resident of Albany, her dedication and efforts impacted so many lives throughout the Bay Area. Her legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of all of those whom she inspired. I join all of Peggy's loved ones in celebrating her incredible life. She will be deeply missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the remarkable life of Mrs. Blanche Ione Jones, a loving and compassionate parent, sister, aunt and friend to many throughout the country, and particularly in Jackson and Detroit, Michigan. I am joined in this tribute by Representative John Conyers of Michigan. Mrs. Jones was a strong, kind and gentle woman who cared for others and deeply loved her family and community. With her passing on June 11, 2014, we look to her contributions to others, both big and small and remember her with great joy.

Blanche Jones graduated from Jackson High School in Jackson, Michigan in 1949. She continued her education at Jackson Junior College and received the Associate of Arts Degree from Mercy College in Detroit, Michigan. Following graduation she became a dental hygienist for her cousin, Dr. Archie Millben, Sr., then the first and only African American dentist in Jackson, Michigan.

In 1958 she met and married Mr. George W. Jones, Jr. and moved to Detroit. Blanche Jones demonstrated on a daily basis, her compassion and devotion to her late husband of 34 years and their children. She admired and was especially proud that her cousin, Dr.

Ethelene Jones-Crockett, Michigan's first female African-American obstetrician and gynecologist--who was also the wife of former Congressman George W. Crockett, Jr.--delivered her youngest three children.

Mrs. Jones devoted her career at Detroit Public Schools as a para- professional teaching assistant to ensuring that all children have the opportunity to receive a quality education. She was raised in the Church of Christ and remained an active member throughout her life teaching Bible class and serving on numerous committees.

Mrs. Blanche Jones was a close confidant to my mother, Mildred Massey and me. Regardless of her health condition, she was always positive and upbeat. There was no question about her love and she generously shared it with everyone.

Blanche Jones was a ``woman of distinction and grace''. She loved clothes and I will always remember wearing a white wool coat and hat that she loved. I shopped all over the country looking for one to give her and regrettably could not find one. I did give her a white wool jacket--and my hat. The twinkle in her eyes and her words of gratitude were reminders of her thankfulness for the small things in life.

Blanche was a brilliant woman. She read, kept up on current events and politics and had her own very strong opinions about issues which we discussed many times. Her family describes her as the Chairwoman on BNN: the Blanche News Network.

There is a tremendous void in my life now and I will miss her deeply. She touched the lives of many and leaves a legacy with her work and compassion that will long endure. In her memory, let us live our lives as Mrs. Blanche Jones did and would want us to do--as loving and supportive human beings.

Today, California's 13th Congressional District joins Michigan's 13th Congressional District to salute and honor a remarkable woman, Mrs. Blanche Ione Jones. We will miss her tremendously and know that her legacy and spirit will live on forever.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of Dr. Edward W. Wright. Known throughout the Bay Area as a physician, mentor, active community member, and devoted husband and father, Mr. Wright has left an indelible mark on our community. With his passing on May 29, 2014, we look to the outstanding quality of his life's work.

Born on June 2, 1922 in Fayette, Howard County, Missouri, Dr. Edward Wright was the fourth child born to William Marion Wright and Lunie K. Cameron. When Dr. Wright was five years old, he caught scarlet fever and was hospitalized for a long period of time. At this young age, Dr. Wright was inspired to become a doctor. He later moved to El Paso, Texas to live with his aunt and uncle after losing both of his parents in an unfortunate tragedy. In El Paso, he graduated Douglas High School with honors, and he then went on to attend Sam Houston College in Austin, Texas. In 1943, Dr. Wright graduated Magna Cum Laude as a Pre- Medical student with a Bachelor of Science Degree.

In 1945, Dr. Edward Wright attended Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, where he partook in an accelerated program in Internal Medicine. At the age of 25, he graduated with honors and went on to complete his residency at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Tuskegee, Alabama. He became Chief Resident and served as a full-time staff physician until 1955.

Dr. Edward Wright and his family relocated to California in 1955, where Dr. Wright served as a Medical Officer for the Armed Forces at Ford Ord. After he completed his service, they relocated to Oakland, where Dr. Wright began a private practice in December 1958. Seven years later, he established and built a medical facility to serve families throughout Oakland.

In addition to his prolific career, Dr. Wright was an active member in the community. He volunteered at the East Oakland Boys Club, providing physical exams, counseling and financial assistance for camperships and uniforms. For the next 40 years, Dr. Wright served as a physician, mentor and father-figure to more than 1,200 boys at the North and East Oakland Boys Clubs. Dr. Wright was also active with the Oakland Chapter of the Lions Club, providing countless hours of Loyal Lions Service.

In 1969, he joined the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Club and then served as President of the Board from 1980 to 1982. He was presented with the Man and Boy Trophy Award for his work with the Boys and Girls Clubs in 1964. Later, he received the Boys and Girls Clubs Service Award Medallion and then was honored during a formal tribute in 2000 at the First Annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner.

On a personal note, I have known Dr. Wright, or ``Piggy'' as my mother, Mildred Massey, called him, since I was a child. He and my mother attended school together and were very close. We loved ``Piggy'' and will miss him tremendously. He was one of my earliest supporters when I first ran for public office in 1989 and, for that, I am deeply grateful.

Today, California's 13th Congressional District salutes and honors an outstanding individual, Dr. Edward W. Wright. As an Oakland resident, Dr. Wright's contributions have truly impacted so many lives throughout the Bay Area. I join all of Edward's loved ones in celebrating his incredible life. He will be deeply missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of Dr. Maya Angelou. Her vast body of work, which spans over six decades, as a dancer, actress, author and activist has stood the test of time.

As a leader in the civil rights movement, a poet laureate, a college professor, Broadway actress and the first female African American cable car conductor in San Francisco, Maya Angelou was the spirit and conscience of generations. With her passing on May 28, 2014, we continue to be inspired by her life's work.

Born on April 4, 1928, Dr. Maya Angelou was raised in Stamps, Arkansas and St. Louis, Missouri. At a young age, Dr. Angelou experienced the brutality of racial discrimination which drove her passion for justice and equality.

In the early 1950s, Dr. Maya Angelou began her career as a performer. She toured with the production Porgy and Bess through Europe for two years. While living in Ghana, Dr. Angelou met with Malcolm X who encouraged her to move back to the United States to help him build the Organization of African American Unity. After the assassination of Malcolm X, Dr. Maya Angelou worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., serving as the Northern Coordinator for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Her autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, was nominated for a National Book Award in 1970 and remained on The New York Times paperback bestseller list for two years.

In addition to Dr. Angelou's prolific career, she has been honored with many prestigious awards. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Arts in 2000 and received over 50 honorary degrees. President Bill Clinton asked her to compose a poem for his inauguration in 1993, making her the second poet to ever read a poem at a Presidential Inauguration.

President Barack Obama bestowed Dr. Maya Angelou the 2010 Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award of the United States of America.

I will forever cherish the private moments I had the privilege to share with Dr. Maya Angelou. I was very moved when several years ago Maya called me and invited me to her beautiful home to talk. We spoke in her living room as sisters, about our lives, our struggles and our passion for improving the human condition. I confided in her about the many challenges I faced after voting against the Authorization for the Use of Military Force following the 9/11 attacks. I can never repay the encouragement and affirmation she gave me during that trying time as she reminded me that we all embody attributes of scripture's Proverbs 31, virtuous woman. And that our worth is far beyond rubies, we speak with wisdom and are clothed with strength and dignity.

I was humbled that she insisted I write my autobiography. Once I finally garnered the courage to do so, she invited me to discuss it on her radio show and encouraged me to speed up the release of my paperback edition so that more people, especially young women, could have access to my story.

Dr. Maya Angelou was passionate about helping young women achieve their fullest potential. Her example of grace, class and humility will continue to inspire young women to define themselves through a lens of self-love, humanitarianism and how they use their talents to change the world.

She lived life to its fullest and shared with the world the essence of a purposeful life. I will hold her words, ``. . . be certain that you do not die without having done something wonderful for humanity'' close to my heart, knowing that she was one of humanity's greatest gifts.

Today, California's 13th Congressional District salutes and honors an outstanding individual and leader, Dr. Maya Angelou. While the world grieves in Dr. Maya Angelou's passing, we can take comfort in the fact that her words and her legacy live on in the generations of people who have been touched, challenged and inspired by her work. We will miss her tremendously, but Dr. Maya Angelou's legacy and spirit will live on forever.