Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, despite Republicans' conviction to defund, dismantle, and shut the Federal Government down because they want to deny health care to millions of Americans, exchanges have opened across the country with overwhelming response. In fact, in my home State of California, Covered California, which is California's exchange, reported 5 million page views to their Web site by 3 o'clock in the afternoon, exceeding expectations.

Women can no longer be charged more for just being a woman. Victims of domestic violence can no longer be denied coverage for having a preexisting condition, and insurance companies can no longer increase premiums to increase profits while delivering less health care to consumers.

Mr. Speaker, the American people are tired of this. Hostage-taking is a deplorable tactic. Shutting down the government in exchange for denying health care for millions is morally wrong.

Let's reopen the government. We should do it now. The American people deserve us to do our job to keep government functioning. That's our patriotic duty.

Mr. Speaker, here we are day three of the manufactured Republican government shutdown and Republicans still have no viable proposal to reopen the government.

The Republican refusal to back off their extreme, ideological demands has taken our country down a dangerous path that is threatening to derail the Department of Veterans Affairs' progress on the claims backlog.

How in the world can veterans claims be processed when their counterparts at the Department of Defense and the Social Security Administration are furloughed. These furloughed employees are essential to process veterans claims. This is another cynical ploy.

Mr. Speaker, individual agencies do not operate in a vacuum, which is why we need to fund the entire government.

Members of Congress are elected to make sure our government functions.

Yet, some in this chamber are taking that fundamental responsibility and holding it hostage, hoping that by doing so they can be certain that people are denied health care.

If my colleagues would really like to help veterans--rather than trying to score political points--they need to fund the entire federal government.

As the daughter of a veteran, let us honor our veterans by reopening our government.

Mr. Speaker, here we are, day two of the Republican shutdown. The Tea Party extremists are really achieving their goal of dismantling government. Their shutdown is step one.

It's no secret that the Tea Party Republicans came here not as public servants, but to destroy and decimate our government. Now, millions of families, children, seniors, Federal employees, and our economy are paying the price. The Republican refusal to back off their extreme, ideological demands has taken our country down a very dangerous path that will surely push millions more into hunger and poverty.

In my congressional district and throughout the State of California families are already feeling the impact of the Republican government shutdown. The California Women, Infants, and Children program is on the brink of turning away low-income pregnant women and new mothers if this shutdown continues. How ruthless can you get?

The California National Guard, the largest in the Nation, is forced to furlough technicians and aviation mechanics, even as the fire season is still upon us. And throughout the State of California, eighth graders, like my constituents from Oakland who wrote to me yesterday, are cancelling field trips to national parks and monuments which are closed to visitors. What are they going to do now?

To add insult to injury, Republicans have shut down the government because they are obsessed with destroying the Affordable Care Act, which is the law of the land and which the Supreme Court upheld. Most Americans continue to see how senseless and wrong it is to shut down the government because you want to deny health care to millions. Two wrongs don't make a right.

Despite the Republican government shutdown, health care exchanges established under the Affordable Care Act have successfully opened for enrollment, and now millions of uninsured Americans are just 3 months away from having the health care coverage they so desperately need.

California, the first State to commit to establishing its own exchange, launched the Covered California exchange. Covered California's exchange includes health care options for individuals and small businesses. In my congressional district alone, there are nearly 100,000 uninsured constituents, and the opening of the exchanges means that they are one step closer to health care coverage that can literally--mind you, literally--make the difference between life and death.

Hostage taking really is a deplorable tactic. Members of Congress are elected to make sure our government functions. Time and time again, Democrats have reached across the aisle to try to negotiate a budget plan that is fair and that ensures that the government pays our bills on time. Yet, instead of working together to do our jobs, Republicans continue to double down on the Tea Party plan to destroy and decimate our government.

Instead of working on a serious option to reopen the government, Republicans' latest strategy now--and this is really cynical--is to exploit our veterans and to exploit the people of the District of Columbia by voting on piecemeal bills that will not end impacts of a shutdown that extend across the country.

Mr. Speaker, of course we support our veterans and of course we support our national parks and of course we support the District of Columbia to use its locally raised funds, but let's not use them to score political points to advance an ideological agenda.

How do Republicans vote this week to allow the District to use its discretion on local funds during a shutdown--that they created--yet next week block the same funds being used for saving reproductive health care services or badly needed needle exchange programs to fight HIV and AIDS?

Again, this is so cynical and it is so wrong. The American people deserve a functioning government. This hostage taking must end.

Mr. Speaker, here we are day two of the hurtful Republican Government Shutdown.

We still don't have a viable solution to reopen the government.

The Republican refusal to back off their extreme, ideological demands has taken our country down a dangerous path that will surely push millions more families into hunger and poverty.

Mr. Speaker, while all of us believe it is important to keep the government functioning, hostage taking is no way to run federal departments and agencies.

Members of Congress are elected to make sure our government functions.

Yet, instead of working on a serious option to reopen the government, Republicans latest strategy is to exploit cancer patients and the staff who work at the National Institutes of Health by voting on piecemeal bills that will not end impacts of a shut down that extend across our country.

Mr. Speaker, of course we research and funding for the NIH, But let's not use them to score political points to advance an ideological agenda.

The Senate passed continuing resolution would fund the government for an additional six weeks and all this House has to do is pass that bill to end this manufactured crisis.

This hostage taking must end.

Mr. Speaker, here we are day two of the hurtful Republican Government Shutdown.

We still don't have a viable solution to reopen the government.

The Republican refusal to back off their extreme, ideological demands has taken our country down a dangerous path with no solution in sight.

Mr. Speaker, while all of us believe it is important to keep the government functioning, hostage taking is no way to run federal departments and agencies.

Members of Congress are elected to make sure our government functions.

Yet, instead of working on a serious option to reopen the government, Republicans latest strategy is to exploit our National Parks and the staff who work to keep them open by voting on piecemeal bills that will not end impacts of a shut down that extend across our country.

Mr. Speaker, of course we want to keep our National Parks open. But let's not pretend this is not part of a strategy to score political points and advance an ideological agenda.

The Senate passed continuing resolution would fund the government for an additional six weeks and all this House has to do is pass that bill to end this manufactured crisis.

I want to thank the gentlelady for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, first, let me just say: here we go again, Mr. Speaker. It's really no secret that the Tea Party Republicans came here not really as public servants but to destroy and to decimate our government. We are only hours away from Tea Party extremists achieving their goal of shutting down the government. This is their dream goal. They want to shut down the government and declare victory.

Frankly, Mr. Speaker, this is shameful, and it is downright wrong. Their dream of shutdown will create a nightmare for millions. What about the government workforce, who have families to feed and mortgages or rent to pay? What about small businesses that stand to pay the costs of these Tea Party antics? And yes, what about women and children who will lose nutrition assistance? This is downright mean.

Make no mistake, the unnecessary GOP shutdown will have serious consequences for millions. And it's entirely unnecessary. It's not enough that the Republicans already voted 45 times to repeal all or parts of the Affordable Care Act. It's not enough that the Affordable Care Act is the law of the land and was upheld by the Supreme Court. Tea Party extremists now want to violate this law in a very sinister way.

It's not enough that their shutdown will hurt families and our economy. This Tea Party obsession--and it's an obsession--to kill the government and to deny health care to millions of Americans must end. They need to do their job and keep the government open.

As President Obama said this afternoon:

You don't get to extract a ransom for doing your job.

This hostage-taking must end. We must vote ``no.'' We must keep the government open. I urge all of us to think about those people who will wake up tomorrow morning with their lives in such disarray and the uncertainty that's going to exist. We should not do this. The American people don't deserve this. We need to keep the government open. We're pleading with the Tea Party extremists, Do not shut the government down.

I want to thank the gentlelady for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the Republican amendments that are designed, quite frankly, to shut the government down.

It's no secret that the Tea Party Republicans came here not as public servants but to destroy and decimate our government. And to add insult to injury, they want to destroy and dismantle the Affordable Care Act, which is the law of the land and was upheld by the Supreme Court. This is morally wrong and is lawless, quite frankly. And not to mention that they want to put insurance companies, once again, back in charge of the health care decisions that should be made by our constituents. This hostage-taking must end.

Mr. Speaker, why in the world would any Member of Congress want to jeopardize the jobs of our dedicated government workers who provide desperately needed services to millions of our constituents--and who, by the way, have their own families to feed?

Today, the Tea Party extremists who came here to shut down the government will see their dream come true. These dangerous amendments would hurt children, seniors, and families--yes, the most vulnerable-- and would create havoc and uncertainty in so many lives. But it's their first step to create a country, quite frankly, based on a free-for- all--survival of the fittest--that none of us will recognize. That's what happens when there is no government, Mr. Speaker.

We should reject these irresponsible, dangerous, and un-American amendments. They will shut down the government. And the American people, quite frankly, do not deserve this.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert into the Record the story of Steven, a father from San Francisco, California, the face of hunger in America.

Mr. McGovern, I thank you so much for yielding, and let me say I rise in strong opposition to this rule and the underlying bill.

The $40 billion cuts to the anti-poverty SNAP program are immoral, they're heartless, and they really are un-American. These cuts do not reflect the compassion of the American people. The so-called ``reforms'' in this bill will only dramatically reduce access to vital nutrition assistance all across America in rural and urban communities and every single one of our congressional districts. In my own district, over 22,000 households will be impacted and more than 1.6 million homes throughout California. Not only does SNAP help put food on the table for struggling families, it also helps stimulate economic growth.

Mr. Speaker, 76 percent of SNAP recipients are children, seniors, and persons with disabilities. This is a cold-blooded cut. The majority of people on food stamps want to work. I haven't seen the majority bring any bill to the floor that really creates jobs for people, and I just have to say, yes, I was on food stamps during a very difficult period in my life, and I thank the American people for that lifeline as a bridge over troubled waters.

Let me just conclude by saying that while we're recovering from this devastating recession, we cannot and should not cast the most vulnerable aside.

There are many in the majority who are people of faith. I want to remind you of the Scriptures which require us to feed the hungry. There's something fundamentally wrong when we pray on Sunday and vote to take away food from hungry people on Thursday.

Mr. Speaker, I was not present for rollcall votes 460-462. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on all three.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the ongoing Republican war on the poor--and that's what this is--and their attempt to gut our Nation's critical safety net against hunger one more time.

This past June, the Republican leadership failed millions of farmers and millions of struggling families when they could not pass a farm bill. They allowed the extremist Tea Party fringe of their party to poison the farm bill with amendments and so-called reforms that, in fact, would only increase hardship and hunger in America.

Yet instead of working across the aisle to find a better solution that would create jobs and protect families, the Republican leadership has chosen to bring an even more hurtful, toxic, and heartless nutrition bill to the floor. This new bill includes all of the extremist amendments that killed the first farm bill. It also piles on even more restrictions and so-called reforms that only serve to increase hardship for hungry families, children, seniors, and veterans.

These false reforms will dramatically reduce access to vital nutrition assistance all across America--rural and urban--in every single one of our congressional districts.

This bill would also end critical flexibilities for our States and would cripple smart and targeted programs that allow States to efficiently deliver nutrition assistance to the neediest. For example, the Republican nutrition-only bill would end categorical eligibility for all of our States.

We created this to streamline the delivery of social services so that we can lower administrative costs and put more of these dollars directly into the hands of needy families. This Republican bill would end those efficiencies, raise costs for our States, and make it harder for families to get the help they need.

This bill also claims to create work requirements for able-bodied adults. Let me remind my colleagues that the SNAP program already has very restrictive work requirements. The current SNAP program cuts off able-bodied adults after just 3 months of benefits right now. We only allow States to adopt waivers for when unemployment in their States rises high enough that this restriction is clearly unreasonable. The new so-called ``reforms'' would cut everybody off, no matter what the unemployment rate is in their State. This is just heartless. These cuts would come at a time when the Republicans have blocked every single effort to pass a real jobs bill in the House and cut job-training and job-placement assistance. Let me tell you, as a former food stamp recipient myself, I know that people don't want to be on food stamps. They want to work. If we're going to put work requirements on people, why in the world don't we pass a jobs bill so they can work?

At a time when our Nation should be creating opportunities for all, the House Republican leadership proposed to cut SNAP by $40 billion. This will surely create a bleaker future for our children, our seniors, and our overall economy. If this bill ever becomes law--and I hope it doesn't--at least 4 million to 6 million low-income children, seniors, and families will be cut from this economic lifeline and pushed into poverty.

Similar to about 29 of my colleagues, I have taken the food stamp challenge about three times and ate off of $4.50 a day. It was unhealthy and very difficult; yet I knew it would only last a week for me. Yet millions of Americans see no end in sight. And now, mind you, they have to worry that this meager benefit, this pittance, is going to be cut even more.

Instead of gutting SNAP, we need to strengthen it. Not only does SNAP help put food on the table for struggling families; it also helps stimulate economic growth. For every $1 in SNAP benefits, we generate $1.70 in economic activity. So Congressman Conyers and I have introduced new legislation that would extend the SNAP benefits that were increased as a part of the stimulus package. Otherwise--and many don't know this--on November 1, every single family or individual who receives SNAP benefits now will see an automatic cut of about $29 per month for a family of three. This will happen regardless of this $40 billion nutrition cut.

In 2011, SNAP lifted 4.7 million Americans out of poverty. Without SNAP, millions more would fall into poverty, millions more of Americans would suffer hunger, and our economy would create even fewer jobs and be worse off.

I just have to say, our values as Americans and who we are as a country recognize that these despicable cuts are immoral and un- American. We need to provide opportunities to help lift families out of poverty, grow the economy, and create economic stability for

all. Let's restore a unified farm bill, and let's put an end to these draconian cuts to SNAP.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary career of the Honorable Elihu Harris as we celebrate over 30 years of his dedicated public service and accomplishments. Mr. Harris continues to be a celebrated individual, and we join together in praise of his remarkable contributions to the Bay Area, California, and our great nation.

Born Elihu Mason Harris in Los Angeles, California on August 15, 1947, Mr. Harris grew up in Berkeley, California and graduated from Berkeley High School in 1965. He received his B.A degree in Political Science at California State University, Hayward (East Bay), and went on to earn an M.A. from the Graduate School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley. Mr. Harris received his J.D. from the University of California, Davis in 1972.

Mr. Harris' esteemed career has spanned over four decades as an attorney at law, politician, and community college administrator. He became a senior partner for the firm of Harris, Alexander and Burris in 1978 for twelve years. He was an instructor teaching at various higher education institutions in the Bay Area, and later served on staff for Congresswoman Yvonne Burke and Assemblymember John Miller. In 1975, he was appointed as the Executive Director of the National Bar Association before forging his legacy in California politics. In 1978, Mr. Harris was elected to the California State Assembly to represent the 13th District. During his thirteen year tenure, he chaired the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, served as Chair of the Select Committees, and was a member of the Judiciary Committee as well as the Transportation, Health, Labor and Ways and Means, subcommittees on Education and Finance. In 1981, Mr. Harris authored the historic legislation that designated Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday a California state holiday. The Oakland Elihu M. Harris State Office Building was dedicated in his honor in 1998.

From 1991 to 1999, Mr. Harris served as Mayor of Oakland. In that role, Mr. Harris helped to restore and strengthen Oakland following the devastating aftermath of both the Loma Prieta earthquake and Oakland Hills Firestorm. He developed Oakland Sharing the Vision, a community strategic plan involving Oaklanders setting goals and objectives for the City. He also established community policing for Oakland neighborhoods, and created new city programs and initiatives to improve the community such as Oakland Healthy Cities and Camp Read-A-Lot, one of the many education endeavors he supported in office.

In 2000, Mr. Harris was appointed by Governor Gray Davis to serve as a board member on the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board. From there, Mr. Harris was appointed in 2003 as interim Chancellor of the Peralta Community College District before receiving the post on a permanent basis in 2004. During his term as Chancellor, Mr. Harris was a strong supporter for students and championed equal access to education for all. He served in this capacity until 2010.

Throughout his prolific career, Mr. Harris has been an ardent advocate for social justice and civil rights. The Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center and Merritt College has recognized Mr. Harris' contributions and aptly named its lecture series program as ``The Barbara Lee and Elihu Harris Lecture Series.''

On a personal note, Elihu has been my brother and my friend since the early 70's. He has been my trusted confidant and provides honest feedback and constantly ``watches my back''. For this and so much more, I am deeply grateful.

Therefore, on behalf of California's 13th Congressional District, the Honorable Elihu Harris, I salute you. Your over 30 years of public service have made an indelible mark in our community. Best wishes to you and your loved ones in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, CHCC, as it celebrates its 35th anniversary at its annual convention being held at Oakland, California. I commend CHCC for their choice to hold this important event in my congressional district, known for its spirit of diversity and innovation, as well as its proud history of Hispanic and Latino entrepreneurship.

In 1978, a group of local Hispanic chamber leaders from throughout California convened to discuss the lack of representation of Hispanic businesses in State government. These leaders also recognized the need for an organization that would effectively represent the interest of the rapidly growing number of Hispanic-owned businesses in California. From those beginnings, the CHCC has grown into a network of over 65 Hispanic chambers and business associations throughout the State of California. Through its network, the CHCC represents the interest of over 700,000 Hispanic business owners in the State, making it the largest ethnic business organization in the Nation.

As a longtime advocate for the advancement of disadvantaged and minority-owned businesses, I applaud the CHCC's mission to promote, support, and encourage the advancement and development of Hispanic and minority-owned businesses, and to provide an organizational forum for the exchange of ideas, information, technical assistance, procurement opportunities, and any other form of business opportunities that enhance the Hispanic and minority business communities. I also commend its development of a program of advocacy in order to inform and educate elected and appointed officials, legislative bodies, agencies, and public and private organizations about the concerns, needs, and opportunities which affect the Hispanic and minority business communities of California, and to foster unity and communication between organizations, corporations, and individuals who support the goals and objectives of the CHCC.

CHCC's numerous programs are making real impacts in this State. Through their

Project Homeowner initiative, CHCC has worked to help borrowers understand their financials, and in some cases reach agreements on home loan modifications. The ABC/ETP program works to connect minority and women-owned firms with tools and non-traditional capital streams, while providing educational opportunities to bolster budding businesses through an innovative, original curriculum.

Since 2008, the CHCC Foundation has worked to promote charitable programs to create and develop educational and economic development programs to increase adult leadership for CHCC and its members, and to provide scholarship opportunities for qualified students to attend educational institutions to study business and economic development. The Foundation also partners with the United Health Care Foundation to provide scholarship opportunities to promising students entering the medical field.

Therefore, on behalf of the residents of California's 13th Congressional District, I would like to salute the CHCC, and all of those who have contributed to its 35 years of success. Thank you for your long-term belief in entrepreneurship and for your contributions to our community. Once again, congratulations, and I wish you the very best as you strive for another 35 years of excellence.

Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, July 31, 2013, I cast a ``no'' vote on the Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 1911--Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act of 2013 (roll call vote 426). While I was pleased that there was a bipartisan effort to maintain low interest rates on subsidized student loans, unfortunately this compromise will ultimately increase interest rates on all Federal Direct Loans, including subsidized loans. As a proud original co- sponsor of H.R. 1979, the Bank on Students Loan Fairness Act, I believe students should be allowed to borrow funds at the same low rate that banks borrow from the Federal Reserve. It's essential that our students come out of college with not only good skills, but without the burden of manageable debt so that they can get good jobs and truly thrive. I look forward to working to make college more affordable and financial aid more accessible for students.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the Safe Climate Caucus to once again direct our attention to the serious threat of climate change. Republicans continue to ignore this issue and instead waste our valuable time once again attempting to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

Yesterday, our Interior appropriations markup ended up with no real timetable for when we can finish this bill. Worse yet, the funding levels in the Interior bill were absolutely irresponsible. The Republican bill would abandon our commitment to the environment, to our national parks, to the public health and safety, and most important to climate change mitigation programs.

It is sad and shameful that we are about to adjourn for a 5-week district work period leaving critical business to create jobs, pass comprehensive immigration reform, and fight climate change.

The time to act is now. I encourage my colleagues to begin to address this issue right away.

Mr. Speaker, I agree with the goals of H.R. 850, the Nuclear Iran Prevention Act of 2013, to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and establishing clear controls and transparency so that it cannot move toward becoming a nuclear weapon state. Despite that, I have grave concerns with the timing of this vote as well as amendments made to the bill in Committee.

As marked up in Committee, H.R. 850 places inappropriate and counter-effective restrictions on the President's authority to waive sanctions in exchange for Iranian concessions that would be in the national security interest of our Nation and in the security interests of our ally Israel. By attempting to hobble the President's Article II authority to engage in foreign policy on behalf of the United States, the bill would limit the President's negotiating ability and thereby undermine our diplomatic efforts; this is particularly concerning given that the White House has signaled willingness to restart direct negotiations with Iran.

It is especially counterproductive to vote on this measure before Iran's new president is inaugurated on August 4, 2013. In fact, experts have argued a vote on new sanctions ahead of the inauguration would only benefit Iranian hardliners opposed to compromising their goal for a nuclear Iran.

Lastly, this bill should include language explicitly stating that nothing in its provisions is intended to or may be used as a basis for authorization for war with Iran. The bill as currently written is too open to interpretation and I strongly oppose this Congress granting an implicit authorization for war, especially in the wake of the two wars we have so devastatingly waged over the past decade.

Because of these flawed provisions, I voted against H.R. 850. I look forward to working with colleagues to amend it as it moves through conference.