Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York for yielding.

Let me just say that we are better than this, and we have seen in this body where we have had Members attacked. We came together right here in this body, where we all held hands. We said that words have consequences, and we were going to do better. We were going to set an example. Before we could walk off the floor, there was a commercial running to attack the

character of our then-leader, Nancy Pelosi.

So hollow words mean nothing to me.

Booker T. Washington once said that we are as separate as the fingers, but we are as whole as the hand. We come together today, hopefully as whole as the hand, to condemn anti-Semitism, bigotry, racism, all of the phobias, Islamophobia, homophobia. What we do is push love, like Dr. King said.

But in the eulogy for Dr. King, Dr. Benjamin E. Mays blamed, in part, the American people for the assassination. He pointed out that the assassin heard enough condemnation of Dr. King and of Negroes to feel that he had public support.

When Dylann Roof murdered nine worshippers in Charleston, he thought he had public support.

The shooter at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh thought he had public support.

The neo-Nazis and the white nationalists who marched in Charlottesville thought they had public support.

The shooter of Gabby Giffords thought he had public support.

The shooter of Steve Scalise thought he had public support.

What we are doing here today is making it unequivocally clear to the public that no one has the support to engage in discrimination and racism and anti-Semitism.

Dr. Mays went on to challenge us as Americans to do better. He said: ``We, and not the assassin, represent America at its best.'' He said we have the power--not the prejudiced, not the bigoted, not the anti- Semite, not the assassin--to make things better.

We, too, in Congress have the power and the obligation to make things right. Though we come from dramatically diverse backgrounds and though we have lived very different lives, we must all, right now, stand together against bigotry.

We must make clear to those who traffic in all forms of hatred--neo- Nazis, white nationalists, racists of all kinds, anti-Semites, Islamophobes, homophobes, transphobes, and those who demonize and demean immigrants from Latin America and throughout the world--that they have no place in the public discourse.

For the record, this will be our third time on anti-Semitic measures. We voted against both of them. You all voted for one and then voted against the other.

Madam Speaker, I join former Congressman Cleo Fields and the entire Baton Rouge community today in honor of Reverend Jesse Bernard Bilberry, Jr. Rev. Bilberry has spent the entirety of his life dedicated to educational and community development. Revered as a trailblazer throughout his lifetime, Rev. Bilberry most recently retired after 34 years of pastoral service at Mt. Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church in Baton Rouge.

Rev. Bilberry was born on May 12, 1929 in Marion, Louisiana the oldest of ten children of Jesse Bernard Bilberry, Sr. and Joe B. Bilberry. He was baptized at the age of 14 at the Bloomberg Grove Baptist Church in Farmerville, Louisiana. Rev. Bilberry went on to earn his Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern University and A&M College. An Army veteran, Rev. Bilberry was honorably discharged from the United States Army after serving from August 18, 1951 to July 21, 1953.

After Rev. Bilberry' s return from the Army, he went on to marry Verta Lee Hamilton on December 23, 1953. The couple has one daughter, Cassandra Gail.

Rev. Bilberry began a new chapter in life after marriage that started his esteemed trajectory in educational and community development. He began his career as the principal of Tensas Rosenwald High School in St. Joseph, Louisiana from 1956 to 1969. During this time, he completed his Master of Education from Louisiana State University in 1957. He was also awarded the Human Rights Award for Creative Leadership in Education in 1968.

In 1969, Rev. Bilberry took his talents back to Southern University where he served as the Freshman Complex Director until 1971. He then implemented and directed the inaugural Office of High School Relations at Southern from 1971 to 1973. The following year, Rev. Bilberry was promoted to Director of Admissions of Southern University, where he served this role until 1984.

During his early years as Director of Admissions for Southern, Rev. Bilberry first became acquainted with Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church in 1975. He was later ordained a Deacon and asked to serve as the Chairman of the Finance Committee. By 1981, he became an Associate Minister.

Rev. Bilberry retired from Southern University and the State of Louisiana in 1984. That same year, he accepted the pastorate of Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church. Rev. Bilberry continued his studies of the church and graduated from Christian Bible College in 1988 with a Master of Theology and a Doctorate of Theology in 1990.

Throughout his lifetime, Rev. Bilberry has received numerous awards and recognition, including Minister of the Year in 1989 from the Early Risers Kiwanis Club, two-time recipient of the M.S. Tally Walk on the Water Award from the Department of Christian Education in 1991 and 1992, and the Frontiersman Award from the Sunday School Publishing Board of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. in 1993 for his work leading a mission trip to Dominica, West Indies.

Rev. Bilberry has also dedicated his time to a plethora of scholastic and service-oriented organizations, including the Southern University and A&M College Board of Supervisors, supervisor and instructor for the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education, and a member of East Baton Rouge Parish Ministers Conference, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, and Phi Delta Kappa Honorary Society.

Rev. Bilberry's trajectory in leadership continued as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Crestworth Learning Academy, President of the Fourth District Missionary Baptist Association, and State Director of the Louisiana Missionary Baptist Congress of Christian Education.

Rev. Bilberry has led a life of exemplary service, leadership, and compassion that has resonated throughout the entire Baton Rouge community and the state of Louisiana. His lifetime body of work should be well known and celebrated not only by those he has influenced throughout the years, but by all who seek to make a difference in this world through the vocation of ministry and education.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to honor the life and work of Rev. Jesse Bernard Bilberry, Jr. and wish him luck in his retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of Mr. Frank Robinson, a trailblazing figure who was a Major League Baseball (MLB) Hall of Famer, the first black manager in Major League Baseball, and had an amazing career that spanned 21 seasons. Mr. Robinson passed away on Thursday, February 7, 2019 at the age of 83.

Starting out in an era when Mays, Aaron, Mickey Mantle and Ted Williams were the big hitters, Mr. Robinson more than held his own more than 2 1 seasons. He finished with 1,812 RBis, hit .294, played in the World Series five times and homered in each of them. Additionally, he had a .389 on-base average boosted by 1,420 walks against 1,532 strikeouts. Extremely alert on the bases, he had 204 steals.

Mr. Robinson was born August 21, 1935 in Beaumont, Texas. He was the youngest of Ms. Ruth Shaw's 10 children. His parents separated when he was an infant, and he accompanied his mother to Northern California when he was 4. Mr. Robinson attended McClymonds High School in Oakland, California. At 14 years old, he began playing for local coaching legend George Powles, and won an American Legion national championship.

In the days before the Major League Draft, Robinson was signed by the Cincinnati Reds out of McClymonds in 1953 for a $3,500 bonus and made his Major League debut three years later. He won the NL Rookie of the Year Award and made his first All-Star appearance that season.

During 10 seasons with the Reds, Robinson averaged 32 home runs and was a six-time All-Star. He won the 1961 NL Most Valuable Player Award and finished fourth in NL MVP Award voting in 1962 and 1964.

In December 1965, Robinson was the centerpiece in what would ultimately be one of the most lopsided trades in baseball history, going to the Baltimore Orioles for pitchers Milt Pappas and Jack Baldschun and outfielder Dick Simpson. Robinson became an instant hit with the Orioles in 1966 as the unanimous AL MVP and a Triple Crown winner.

On May 8, he became the only player ever to hit a home run completely out of Baltimore's home park, Memorial Stadium. The drive came against Cleveland ace Luis Tiant and the spot where the ball sailed over the left-field wall was marked by a flag that read ``HERE'' that remained in place until the Orioles left for Camden Yards in 1991.

Mr. Robinson batted .316 with 49 home runs and 122 RBIs during his first season in Baltimore. He then homered in the first inning of the 1966 World Series opener at Dodger Stadium and capped off the four-game sweep of Los Angeles with another homer off Don Drysdale in a 1-0 win in Game 4.

Mr. Robinson hit two home runs against the Reds in teaming with future Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson to win another crown for the Orioles in 1970.

Mr. Robinson was an All-Star in five of his six seasons with Baltimore, reaching the World Series four times and batting .300 with 179 home runs. He was traded to the Dodgers before the 1972 season and played for the California Angels in 1973 and was dealt to Cleveland late in the 1974 season.

Mr. Robinson hit 586 home runs and was a 14-time All-Star and the only player to win Most Valuable Player Awards in both leagues--1961 for the Reds in the National League and 1966 for the Orioles in the American League.

Mr. Robinson managerial debut came 28 years after Jackie Robinson broke the MLB color barrier as a player. He became Major League Baseball's first African American manager on April 8, 1975, as the manager of the Cleveland Indians. Mr. Robinson, still an active player, celebrated the occasion with a home run in the Indians' 5-3 victory over the New York Yankees.

Mr. Robinson also managed the San Francisco Giants, the Orioles and the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals over the course of his career.

Mr. Robinson served as manager of the Orioles from 1988-91. In 1989, he was named the American League Manager of the Year for guiding the Orioles to an 87-75 record, 33 more victories than the previous season.

Three teams--the Reds, Orioles and Indians--have retired Robinson's No. 20. All three teams honored Robinson with statues. And he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush in 2005.

Aside from being one of the great home run hitters, Mr. Robinson was innovator in his involvement of the development of the youth aspect of the game. In 2012, he was hired by MLB as the vice president of player development. He managed to emphasize important aspects such as the Urban Youth Academy and the Future Game, as well as the Civil Rights Game. He was given the special position to become Honorary President of the American League.

Mr. Robinson was not hesitant to give appreciation to the Negro League players who came before him. His youth academy emphasized expressing to future generations the importance of the game outreach to urban areas to keep the youth in the game.

Mr. Robinson was a trailblazer and had a huge influence on Major League Baseball. His legacy will forever be a part of Major League Baseball and his dedication to community embodies the spirit of America. We cannot match the sacrifices made by Mr. Robinson, but surely, we can try to match his sense of service. We cannot match his courage, but we can strive to match his devotion.

Mr. Robinson's survivors include his wife Barbara, and daughter Nichelle.

Madam Speaker, I celebrate the life and legacy of Mr. Frank Robinson.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the work of Mrs. Millie Ruth McClelland Charles, a legendary social worker and native of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Mrs. Charles was born July 25, 1923 in New Orleans, Louisiana to Rev. Williams McClelland, a Baptist preacher, and Frankie Little, a school teacher.

Mrs. Charles entered Dillard University when she was only 15 years old and graduated with a degree in secondary education. However, after a few years of teaching in north Louisiana and loving the children in her classes, she realized she could find more fulfillment in social work because she would be able to help children and their families find ways to solve problems. Therefore, she earned a master's degree in the subject at the University of Southern California in the mid-1950s.

Millie McClelland Charles has greatly impacted the field of health and mental health through her leadership in the founding and guiding of the Southern University of New Orleans School of Social Work (BSW and MSW programs) into fully accredited programs providing opportunity for professional development to countless students. She is currently Dean Emeritus and founder of the School of Social Work. The founding of Southern University in New Orleans was a highly political event when it took place at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, reportedly to discourage black students from attending the predominately white University of New Orleans, located less than a mile away.

Millie Charles' ability in ultimately taking the handful of social work courses taught at the University of New Orleans, which were transferred to Southern University of New Orleans, and subsequently expanding on them and developing them into fully accredited BSW and MSW programs is considered somewhat of a miracle in New Orleans. The high caliber Programs have attracted a well-credentialed, culturally diverse faculty; the student population is now well integrated also.

Dean Charles' interests in social work education go far beyond just working in the state of Louisiana. She has served as the Co-Chair, Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Annual Meeting; a Member of the CSWE Committee on Undergraduate Curriculum Standards; and a Site Visitor for the CSWE Accreditation Commission. In addition, since 1972, she has consulted with numerous Undergraduate and Graduate Social Work Programs around the U.S., advising them on Curricula.

Millie Charles has received numerous awards. Some of them are: National Social

Worker of the Year (NASW), 1975; Humanitarian of the Year, Federal Women Employees Association, 1975; Founders Award, New Orleans Chapter, National Association of Black Social Workers, 1979; Doctor of Humane Letters, Dillard University, 1993; and she also was one of four women honored by the New Orleans YWCA for lifetime of service to the community. Millie Charles was hailed as a lifelong crusader for equality during a ceremony in which she was presented The Times- Picayune Loving Cup on Tuesday June 24, 2013. Throughout her life, Charles, a native of New Orleans' Central City, has said consistently that anything she might have accomplished was the result of a group effort.

Madam Speaker, I honor the work of Mrs. Millie Ruth McClelland Charles.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of Mrs. Millie Ruth McClelland Charles, a legendary social worker and native of New Orleans, Louisiana. Mrs. McClelland passed away at the age of 96.

Mrs. Charles was born July 25, 1923 in New Orleans, Louisiana to Rev. Williams McClelland, a Baptist preacher, and Frankie Little, a school teacher.

Mrs. Charles entered Dillard University when she was only 15 years old and graduated with a degree in secondary education. However, after a few years of teaching in north Louisiana and loving the children in her classes, she realized she could find more fulfillment in social work because she would be able to help children and their families find ways to solve problems. Therefore, she earned a master's degree in the subject at the University of Southern California in the mid-1950s.

Mrs. Charles was married briefly, to Charles Carrol Charles, in 1950, while she was working in the City Welfare Department, Children and Family Services Division. He died while she was pregnant with her only child, who goes by the name H.M.K. Amen.

In or about 1965, Dr. Emmett W. Bashful, asked an energetic, passionate 42 year old Mrs. Charles to start a social work program at Southern University in New Orleans (SUNO). In its beginnings, it was a department of Social Work. Under the leadership of Mrs. Charles, the department transformed into a fully-accredited school of social work offering baccalaureate and masters level degrees.

Mrs. Charles's work has been recognized nationally. The National Association of Social Workers named her Social Worker of the Year. SUNO has a Millie McClelland Charles Endowed Chair of Social Work, and the Louisiana Legislature passed a special resolution to name SUNO's School of Social Work building after her. The building opened in 2016.

Mrs. Charles served as Co-Chair of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Annual Meeting; a Member of the CSWE Committee on Undergraduate Curriculum Standards; and a Site Visitor for the CSWE Accreditation Commission. In addition, since 1972, she has consulted with numerous Undergraduate and Graduate Social Work Programs around the U.S., advising them on curricula.

Mrs. Charles has received numerous awards: National Social Worker of the Year (NASW), 1975; Humanitarian of the Year, Federal Women Employees Association, 1975; Founders Award, New Orleans Chapter, National Association of Black Social Workers, 1979; Doctor of Humane Letters, Dillard University, 1993; and she also was one of four women honored by the New Orleans YWCA for lifetime of service to the community. Mrs. Charles was hailed as a lifelong crusader for equality during a ceremony in which she was presented The Times-Picayune Loving Cup on Tuesday, June 24, 2013.

Mrs. Charles loved the city and the people of New Orleans. Her legacy will forever be a part of the city and her dedication to community embodies the spirit of New Orleans. We cannot match the sacrifices made by Mrs. Charles, but surely, we can try to match her sense of service. We cannot match her courage, but we can strive to match her devotion.

Madam Speaker, I celebrate the life and legacy of Mrs. Millie Ruth McClelland Charles.

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chair, I rise today to offer a simple bipartisan amendment. This amendment would ensure the language in the bill conforms with current law.

All of us who represent areas around the country that have experienced natural disasters know how difficult and complicated the recovery process can be.

Last Congress, we came together to pass the Disaster Recovery Reform Act, a bipartisan bill that made key changes to improve how we respond after disasters and also make recovery an easier process.

One of those changes was a provision outlining a better way to handle concerns over duplication of benefits after a disaster. It created a process that allows greater flexibility to respond to the unique situations that occur after every disaster.

It is important to my constituents and anyone dealing with the effects of a natural disaster that this administration has clear instructions and that they can readily act on what Congress has instructed them to do. The language of this amendment eliminates the risk of any confusion over what process the administration should follow.

Madam Chair, this is just another attempt by my colleague and me from Louisiana who have, unfortunately, had the benefit of surviving through a number of natural disasters and just trying to make it easier for our constituents to navigate the process and difficulty of FEMA and recovery. So what this amendment does is helps every area that will have a disaster deal with the question of duplication of benefits.

Madam Chair, I urge adoption of the amendment.

Madam Chair, I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price), who is the chairman of the subcommittee.

Madam Chair, I would just offer support for the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of Mr. Gregory J. Lucien Sr., a native of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Mr. Lucien was raised in the 9th ward in New Orleans. He graduated from George Washington Carver Sr. High School. After completing high school, he moved to Lafayette, Louisiana to attend the University of Southwestern Louisiana (USL), which is now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. While attending USL he enlisted in the United States Army Reserve. In 1990 he returned to New Orleans. Upon his return, he was hired by the Orleans Parish Sheriffs office, where he has been employed for twenty-eight years.

In 1991, Mr. Lucien was activated to serve in Operation Desert Storm. Upon completion of his duty he again returned to New Orleans and the Sheriffs office. He was promoted to Sergeant within three years and then to Lieutenant.

Mr. Lucien was eager to make an impact in his community. He joined the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure club. In 2009, he became an associate member and the next year became a full member. Once in the Zulu club, he joined the Ambassador's Krewe. Additionally, he joined the Safety, Election, Carnival Activities and the Coronation Committees.

Mr. Lucien is an avid sports fan and was not fulfilled watching sports on television, therefore, he decided to become a high school referee. In 2012, he be came a football referee for the Louisiana High School Officials Association (LHSOA) and in 2013 a basketball referee for LHSOA.

Mr. Lucien has been married to the 2019 Zulu Ambassadress, Talana M. Suarez-Lucien, for 19 years. Their loving family consist of three children--Jasmine, Tayler, and Gregory Jr--and their first grandchild, Jaxson.

Madam Speaker, I celebrate the life and legacy of Mr. Gregory J. Lucien Sr.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of Father Jerome LeDoux, a beloved Catholic priest who pastored St. Augustine Catholic Church in New Orleans. Father LeDoux passed away on Monday, January 7, 2019 at the age of 88.

Father LeDoux was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in 1930. He attended Sacred Heart Elementary School and at the age of 13, he traveled to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, to attend high school at St. Augustine Seminary. This was the only seminary in the nation that trained African-American men for the priesthood. His spiritual training continued in Illinois and Iowa, and be returned to St. Augustine Seminary for further study.

Father LeDoux was ordained to the Catholic priesthood on May 11, 1957. Following ordination, he studied for four years in Rome, where he earned a master's degree in sacred theology and a doctorate in church law. He returned to St. Augustine Seminary in Mississippi and taught theology and church law for six years. In 1969, he began teaching at Xavier University in New Orleans and continued in this role for more than a decade.

In 1981, Father LeDoux became pastor of St. Martin de Porres Church in Praire View, Texas. He moved back to Louisiana in 1984 to lead Baton Rouge's St. Paul the Apostle Church. And in 1990, his 16-year pastorship began at St. Augustine Parish in New Orleans.

In 2006, Father LeDoux accepted an assignment from his order, the Society of Divine Word, to become pastor of Our Mother of Mercy Parish in Fort Worth, Texas. Since 1969, Father LeDoux would write a weekly column entitled ``Reflections on Life,'' syndicated in several Catholic weeklies, Louisiana Weekly in New Orleans, and Seacoast Echo in Bay St. Louis.

Father LeDoux loved the city and the people of New Orleans. His legacy will forever be a part of the city and his dedication to community embodies the spirit of New Orleans. We cannot match the sacrifices made by Father LeDoux, but surely, we can try to match his sense of service. We cannot match his courage, but we can strive to match his devotion.

Father LeDoux survivor's include a sister and two brothers.

Madam Speaker, I celebrate the life and legacy of Father Jerome LeDoux.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the accomplishments of Ms. Alsie R. Dunbar, a lifelong resident and native of Gonzales, Louisiana whose tireless dedication to her community should inspire us all.

Ms. Dunbar is the daughter of Allen ``Jubilee'' and Rhonda Dunbar. Her mother,

Rhonda, is a retired librarian with the Ascension Parish School Board with 40 years of service. Her father, Allen, is a retired professional football player. Ms. Dunbar is a dual-degreed scientist and engineer with 19 years of experience in the areas of process and plant design, research and development, product quality management, and environmental regulation.

In 2013, Ms. Dunbar used her experience from her professional career as a senior scientist and process engineer to form the STEMS GEMS Mentoring Project, which highlights Girls Excelling in Math and Science. Through this program, Ms. Dunbar mentors girls who excel in math and science and encourages them to pursue careers and advanced degrees in STEM majors where women and minorities are underrepresented. This program has mentored more than 650 girls in conjunction with the Ascension Parish School Board, with six participants receiving Student of the Year distinctions. The program has since expanded to several surrounding parishes including Iberville, St. Helena, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist and East Baton Rouge.

In addition to recently being selected to be a part of the 2019 Baton Rouge Area Chamber's Leadership Class and the highly competitive Greater Baton Rouge Business Report's Executive Leadership Academy, Ms. Dunbar was appointed to serve on the Regional Council for STAR (Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response) and the Advisory Board for Emerge Louisiana. The 2017 LSU Esprit de Femme Honoree was also selected to serve as the 2018 LSU Esprit de Femme Honorary Chair this past Spring for her continued professional accolades and community endeavors.

Ms. Dunbar also serves on the executive Board of Directors for the Ascension Fund, Volunteer Ascension, the Louisiana Coalition for Healthier Communities, APEX STEM Collegiate Academy, the chartering chapter of The National Coalition of 100 Black Women for Metropolitan Baton Rouge, and the Arc of Ascension.

During Ms. Dunbar's tenure as President-Elect for the Arc of Ascension, she was instrumental in helping the Arc raise over $100,000 last year for its annual Dancing for a Cause fundraiser.

Madam Speaker, I celebrate the work that Ms. Alsie R. Dunbar has done to make her community a better place.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Cummings for bringing this important legislation to the Floor.

In 2005, shortly after Hurricane Katrina, a group of New Orleans police officers opened fire on a handful of unarmed African American civilians walking across Danziger Bridge, killing two and injuring four.

This occurred during the heart of the Hurricane Katrina aftermath and left deep scars on our community.

Years later five officers were convicted on a variety of charges for these actions.

However, their convictions were vacated in 2013 due to misconduct by Department of Justice prosecutors.

In my efforts to find out what happened and why, and to also get transparency for my constituents, I received a DOJ report that was heavily redacted and missing crucial facts.

I also learned that the DOJ Inspector General lacked the authority to investigate those actions.

The DOJ was being left to investigate itself in situations like this and the American people were being left without the full story.

That ultimately led to the victims and their families never receiving the full measure of justice they were owed.

This bill grants the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Justice the authority to investigate alleged misconduct committed by Department of Justice attorneys when they act in their capacity as lawyers.

Currently, the OIG has jurisdiction to review alleged misconduct by non-lawyers in the DOJ, but the DOJ's own Office of Professional Responsibility exercises jurisdiction over alleged misconduct committed by DOJ attorneys when they are litigating, investigating, or providing legal advice.

From fiscal year 2002 through fiscal year 2013, Office of Professional Responsibility documented more than 650 infractions, including allegations that federal attorneys intentionally misled courts and alleged abuses of the grand jury or indictment process.

In most of these matters--more than 400--OPR categorized the violations at the more severe end of the scale: recklessness or intentional misconduct as opposed to error or poor judgment.

However, the DOJ does not make public the names of attorneys who acted improperly or the defendants whose cases were affected. As a result, the DOJ, its lawyers, and the internal watchdog office itself are protected from meaningful public scrutiny and accountability.

This simple change in jurisdiction will ensure that people facing federal charges get a fair day in court and that the U.S. government is properly represented in disputes with corporations where taxpayer dollars are on the line.

We must ensure that innocent people are not wrongly convicted and sent to prison, and that tainted cases do not cause convictions of guilty parties to be thrown out.

With stakes as high as these, it is essential that DOJ attorneys be held to highest possible standards of accountability.

While the Office of Professional Responsibility's investigations and actions are notorious for their secrecy, the OIG's independence and transparency will enhance the public's confidence in DOJ's operations.

For these reasons, and for the victims of the Danziger Bridge shootings and their families, I encourage my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman for his leadership on this issue before and now.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 251 to extend the DHS Chemical Facilities Anti-Terrorism Standards, CFATS, program for a period of 2 years.

Like many of my colleagues in the House, my district is home to a number of chemical facilities. They play a crucial role in the local economy, but with that comes a risk. The CFATS program helps address that risk and makes communities like mine safer, without being overly burdensome.

Twelve years ago, the Bush administration issued a call to action to address credible terrorist threats to high-risk chemical facilities across the country. At the time, chemical facility security was one of the biggest security gaps we faced, and Secretary Chertoff asked Congress to ``pass a balanced, risk-based security measure for the chemical industry.''

Within the year, Congress attached language to the DHS appropriations bill, giving DHS temporary authority to implement a chemical security program. CFATS survived on annual authorizations through the appropriations process for 8 years, and the lack of certainty and stability stunted the program's growth.

In 2014, after the tragic explosion at the West, Texas, chemical facility, Congress finally passed a 4-year authorization bill. Since then, the CFATS program has invested in better tools, better trained personnel, and a better strategic vision for the future. In short, the CFATS program has matured.

Today, the program has the buy-in of industry and bipartisan support on the Hill. And although I think we can do more to advance the objectives of the program, it is clear that CFATS has made us safer.

Authorization for CFATS expires in a matter of days. If Congress does not act, we will lose a valuable antiterrorism program, and we will forfeit the hard-earned progress that has been achieved.

This bill would allow DHS to continue its work to secure chemical facilities, and it would give Congress an opportunity to hear from stakeholders and the department about the improvements we should make.

In the last Congress, Chairman Thompson and I made repeated requests to prioritize CFATS through hearings and markups. Unfortunately, at this point, with the program staring down expiration, it is simply too late for that.

Passing H.R. 251 would allow us to continue the conversation around this important national security program without leaving chemical facilities more vulnerable to attacks.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues in the House to support H.R. 251, and I hope the Senate will follow suit.

Mr. Speaker, I commend Representative Collins for success on this very important issue. Oftentimes people ask what is required of us, and it is to do justice and love mercy, and that is exactly what the First Step Act does.

Is it a perfect bill? No, it is not. Is it a first step? Yes, and it is a good first step. For too long, we have been passing the law of diminishing returns on our criminal justice system. Every dollar that we spend on incarceration actually makes our neighborhoods and our communities less safe.

So does this bill address the strained relationships between police and the communities that they serve? Yes. Does it address the criminalization of poverty? No, and it leaves many unjust sentences in place.

However, there is no doubt in my mind that this bill is a positive step in the right direction. It expands safety valve provisions that allow judges to block unfair sentences. It rolls back stacking rules that allow defendants to be charged with multiple crimes for a single incident. It prohibits the shackling of pregnant prisoners.

It would also provide $75 million per year for programming to help prisoners prepare for life after incarceration, and it will also allow early release to some prisoners who participate. More than 4,000 prisoners will be eligible for release under this program.

This bill also includes an amendment I introduced in the Judiciary Committee that will ensure that the prison reform provisions of the bill would apply retroactively to all prisoners sentenced after 1987. But what it does is it restores many of our family units and corrects the overcorrection we made during the crack epidemic in the early nineties.

And, also, what it does is send a message to the country that we realized our mistake in how we handled crack cocaine and substance abuse. And now we see the opioid epidemic, and we are adjusting our approach to that: more loving, more substance abuse, more of a mental health crisis when we talk about it, and we are going to go back and do the same for the cocaine and crack addiction.

So with that, let me thank all of the parties involved: Congressmen Jeffries, Collins, Goodlatte, Ranking Member Nadler, Sheila Jackson Lee, and other committee members for bringing this legislation to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, let me thank my colleague, Mr. Clay from St. Louis, and my colleague from Michigan. I understand the difficulty in saying very loud the ``New Orleans

Saints,'' but I just want to also thank Senator Bill Cassidy, and Senator Patty Murray for authoring this bill and working so hard to get it across the finish line. I would also like to thank Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Representative Steve Scalise for working with me in the House.

The Congressional Gold Medal is a special award, and today we are coming together to support giving it to a special person. This is an award for people who dedicate themselves to causes bigger than themselves and for those who work tirelessly to help the lives of others. Both of those describe the son of Who Dat Nation, Steve Gleason.

Steve, after being diagnosed with ALS, came together with his team to form Team Gleason, and he declared then that there would be no white flags in dealing with ALS. Steve is a selfless individual who has used his life to raise awareness of ALS and who has been instrumental in developing technology in order to combat this disease.

He has done so much that has tangibly improved people's lives now and will continue to do so for years to come. That is why I am proud to introduce this bill in the House and to be standing here today concurring in the Senate bill to honor Steve's contributions to society.

Mr. Speaker, I would urge my colleagues to support giving the Congressional Gold Medal to our son of Who Dat Nation, Steve Gleason.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of Mrs. Georgia M. Gaines, a native of Lutcher, Louisiana and retired school teacher. Mrs. Gaines passed away Thursday, November 29, 2018 at the age of 96.

Mrs. Gaines was born in 1922. Her parents were the late Mr. George Chriswell, an entrepreneur and insurance agent, and Mrs. Alma Berry Chriswell, an elementary school principal and education pioneer. She attended McDonald #35 High School in New Orleans, Louisiana because there were no local high schools in St. James Parish for African- Americans.

In 1944, Mrs. Gaines earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics from Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. While a student at Southern University, she was a proud member of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated and a student assistant to the wife of Southern University President Dr. Felton G. Clark.

Upon graduation, Mrs. Gaines taught in the Lake Charles public schools. She later returned to St. James Parish and began teaching locally. In 1949, she married Mr. Leroy Gaines, a Texas transplant to the Lutcher area.

After thirty years of teaching at St. James High School, Mrs. Gaines retired from the St. James Parish School System. She also worked for the State of Louisiana as an Assistant Director of the Lutcher Day Care Center.

Mrs. Gaines was an individual of vision, integrity, pride in family and an endearing asset to her community. Her legacy will forever be a part of the city and her dedication to community embodies the spirit of Louisiana. We cannot match the sacrifices made by Mrs. Gaines, but surely, we can try to match her sense of service. We cannot match her courage, but we can strive to match her devotion.

Mrs. Gaines's survivors include daughters: Debora Gaines, Karen Gaines and Wanda (Danny) Manuel. Sons: Randal Gaines, Darrel (Tilda) Gaines and Daren (Vanessa) Gaines. Ten grandchildren, seven great- grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, including Edna Berry Anderson, and other relatives and friends, including Martha Ray Branch. She was preceded in death by her parents, George Chriswell and Alma Berry Chriswell, her husband, Leroy Gaines, and her granddaughter, Tene' Lemar.

Mr. Speaker, I celebrate the life and legacy of Mrs. Georgia M. Gaines.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of Mrs. Gloria Blanche Taylor Gorrell affectionately known as ``Bo'' or ``Bo Peep.'' Mrs. Gorrell passed away Saturday, November 24, 2018 at the age of 87.

Mrs. Gorrell was born on September 10, 1931 to the late Blanche Taylor Williams and William Taylor in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was a devoted Christian, choir member and active in many ministries within the church.

Mrs. Gorrell was educated in the Orleans Parish Public Schools. She attended Albert Wicker Elementary, Booker T. Washington High School and McDonough No. 35 High School. She was an active student. As a majorette in high school she entertained many with her baton twirling and high stepping dance moves. After graduation she enrolled at Leland College near Baker, Louisiana.

In 1995, Mrs. Gorrell retired from Charity Hospital and began a new chapter in her life. Retirement afforded her time to travel with family and friends. She immensely enjoyed her bus trips, Women's Conferences and family vacations. She was an avid reader, but more content when talking to her friends, sharing thoughts and prayers.

Mrs. Gorrell loved the city and the people of New Orleans. Her legacy will forever be a part of the city and her dedication to community embodies the spirit of New Orleans. We cannot match the sacrifices made by Mrs. Gorrell, but surely, we can try to match her sense of service. We cannot match her courage, but we can strive to match her devotion.

Mrs. Gorrell's survivors include her sons, Rudy Gorrell, Jr. and Kevin Gorrell; daughter Karen Gorrell Johnson; son in law, Harry E. Johnson, Sr.; beloved sister, Joyce Chambers and devoted brother in law Lawrence Chambers. Granddaughters: Jennifer Johnson, Damonica Gorrell, Brideisha Harness. Grandsons: Tyeast Robinson, Damien Gorrell, Sr., Harry Johnson, Jr. (Angela), Nicholas Johnson, Tyris Dauphin, Kevin Harness. Great-Granddaughters: Eriel Gorrell, Kennedi Parker, Kaelyn Dauphin. Great-Grandsons: Isaiah Gorrell, Damien Gorrell, Jr., Elijah Gorrell, Erin Gorrell, Johnathan Gorrell, Ian Gorrell, Chase Dauphin.

Mr. Speaker, I celebrate the life and legacy of Mrs. Gloria Blanche Taylor Gorrell.