Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman.

Mr. Speaker, as a freshman, I have learned to be brief, and I will be brief. Coming from Michigan and growing up in a political family and actually succeeding my own uncle, Dale Kildee, in this seat, one would think that Dale is the first Congressman that I really knew, but if you are from Michigan and you were born any time after the middle of the 1950s, John Dingell is the first Congressman that we knew.

He was a strong voice for our State, and he was really the picture of a Member of Congress for so many years. His longevity is obviously remarkable, but it is what John did and stood for that is most remarkable over his long tenure.

He first was a witness to history in this place when 73 years ago this past Monday, his father was here and he was a page, he sat and watched Franklin Roosevelt give that famous speech on December 7.

He made history in this body. I remember just a few months ago watching on C-SPAN, as I do occasionally, and watching the signing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and watching John Dingell stand there and receive a pen from President Johnson as that act was signed into law. I sat with him the next day and discussed that time in our history and realized what an amazing privilege I have been given to serve in the same body with John Dingell.

He is a witness to history, and he made history, but more importantly, for 59 years, John Dingell was on the right side of history. Look at his record. Look at what he has stood for. He has always been ahead of the rest of the country.

The one thing I do hope is that we can take a lesson from his service and realize that there has been a time in this body when you can be a strong and passionate voice, when you can hold to principle, but still find ways to work across the partisan divide and find compromise and get things done. That is the lesson of his legacy, and it is one that I think we all have an obligation to try to live up to.

Mr. Speaker, here we are just a few days short of the end of the 113th Congress, and this Congress has yet to take up the big questions facing the American people.

We are 10 days away from a budget deadline, and there is still talk among some on the other side of using the sanctity of the budget--the economy of this country--as a tool to fight against actions taken by this President that the Congress, itself, is unwilling to take up.

Rather than taking up unemployment insurance, for example, despite the fact that we have seen a significant reduction in unemployment across the country--in my home State, unemployment is still above 7 percent--we haven't taken that up.

Instead of taking up the jobs program, like our Make It In America agenda, which would reenergize our manufacturing sector, we have set that aside and haven't taken it up.

Instead of taking up the very subject that has driven some to threaten to shut down government--comprehensive immigration reform--we haven't even seen a bill come to the floor of the House--not the Senate bill, not another bill--that even the Republicans, themselves, could put together.

While we talk a good game about being willing to take on these big questions, when it comes time to put something on the floor for us to legislate, to vote on, we see no action at all.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore) for her great work on this legislation and her kind words, as well as Ranking Member Waters, and to Mr. Pearce who has pursued this legislation relentlessly, Mr. Young, and others, I think this is a fine moment for us. It is an exercise in bipartisanship which we don't see enough of around here.

This is important legislation that has taken too long for Congress to bring to the floor. I think we all agree that it is long overdue. Our responsibilities, our trust relationships to the tribes has to be adhered to.

I will say no bill is perfect, and I do support this legislation with some concerns primarily around, as I voiced in committee, the demonstration project that is included in this bill which is, by some, viewed as a step toward privatization of the NAHASDA program.

I know most don't feel that way, but some feel it might lead to that. Tribes already have the ability to contract with nonprofit or for- profit private developers in building and rehabilitating tribal housing.

This particular program, the demonstration program, is not included in the National American Indian Housing Council's NAHASDA recommendations, and I think it is important that we listen to Indian Country and those in the tribal communities because the very name of this bill has to do with self-determination, and I think it is important that we adhere to the interests of those sovereign tribes that will be administering this program.

There are other provisions that will be exempt from the NAHASDA requirements if in fact the privatization effort goes forward, so I would just be cautioning those tribal organizations and housing authorities that will be implementing under this law to take care to examine those relationships that they might enter into before pursuing the pilot program.

I will finish by saying that it is important that this legislation move forward. No bill is perfect. This is a very good step forward. I commend leaders on both sides of the aisle for bringing this to the floor, and I look forward to it becoming law very soon.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the United States House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Dr. Shafi Ahmed, President of the Genesee County Medical Society, for his outstanding service and unwavering commitment to community.

Dr. Ahmed lived in several countries before moving to the United States of America, where he now practices internal medicine at Court Street Family Medicine. Dr. Ahmed is a kindhearted individual who has lived a broad life.

After graduation from medical school, he worked in the capital of Bangladesh and completed two years of surgical residency. He then went to Algeria to practice in a government clinic for four years. He was recruited to Saudi Arabia, Libya and Iran but political chaos eventually landed him in Algeria.

Dr. Ahmed's wife, Ruqsana, became pregnant while the Ahmeds were living in Algeria. She returned to Bangladesh to stay with his parents and joined Dr. Ahmed eight months later in the United States where he had begun studying for Masters in Public Health in Dallas. Dr. Ahmed then switched to a research associate position in a cancer research institute in Dallas for three years. His ``big break,'' as he refers to it, occurred when Dr. Norwood Hill took him under his wing along with a Pakistani oncologist, Dr. Amanullah Khan, helped him get a permanent visa and a residency at Hurley Medical Center in Flint, MI.

Dr. Ahmed decided to stay in Michigan to raise his family and make a living practicing medicine. He is honored to be a resident of Genesee County, and we are grateful to have him. Our community is made better because of people such as him.

Mr. Speaker, I applaud Dr. Shafi Ahmed for his resilience, strong leadership, and unwavering commitment to our community.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in recognizing the 25th Anniversary of the Donald Riegle Community Service Awards. For the past 25 years the Flint Jewish Federation has utilized this event as a vehicle to recognize individuals in the Flint area who have displayed an exceptional commitment to community.

As Michigan's former senior United States Senator, Donald W. Riegle, Jr., retired after three terms in the U.S. Senate, and ten years of service in the U.S. House of Representatives. Throughout his federal legislative career, Senator Riegle served as a champion of Soviet Jewry. In addition, he co-sponsored major legislation pertaining to freedom of immigration issues and personally intervened with the leadership of the former Soviet Union on behalf of Jewish Refuseniks.

This year's award recipients, Debra Golden-Steinman, Philip Shaltz and Ernelle Taylor, have worked hard to make our community a better place. The proceeds from the event will provide funding for the necessary acculturation of social programs, as well as the continuation of services, such as transportation, interpreters, meal services and citizenship preparation for Genesee County residents.

Mr. Speaker, I applaud the Flint Jewish Federation for upholding the life, legacy and leadership of Senator Donald W. Riegle, Jr. and applaud them on this milestone celebration.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Flint as they celebrate 70 years of dedication and service to children and families in Genesee County. Since 1944, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Flint has provided a no-cost mentoring program to thousands of youth and families facing adversity.

To celebrate 70 years of service, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Flint will hold a Platinum Jubilee--Royal Gala. The anniversary celebration will honor the volunteers that have helped shape this institution throughout the past 70 years and highlight the future direction of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Flint as they provide life-changing relationships through mentorship. Chris Broussard, American sports analyst for ESPN will also join in the celebration as a celebrity guest.

For 70 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Flint has operated under the belief that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life. As the nation's largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, Big Brothers Big Sisters makes meaningful, one-to-one, monitored matches between adult volunteers (``Bigs'') and children (``Littles''), ages 6 through 18, in communities across our great country. Their presence in our community is invaluable. Genesee County, as well as the entire State of Michigan, is better because of this agency.

Mr. Speaker, I applaud Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Flint for 70 years of quality mentoring services, fulfilling their mission of creating relationships that change lives for the better, forever.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in recognizing and congratulating the National Job Corps Association on their 50th Anniversary. Over the course of 50 years, millions of at-risk youth have been forever changed by Job Corps' comprehensive residential, academic and career preparation programs.

In my hometown, the Flint Genesee Job Corps Center provides a vital service to our community by serving hundreds of disadvantaged youth between 16 and 24 years of age, inclusive, by providing high school diplomas and career technical education to young men and women.

In addition to academic and employment training, these Job Corps Centers throughout the country provide social skills training and other services to empower young men and women to obtain and hold a job, enroll in advanced training, attend college, or enter the Armed Forces to defend the interest of the United States around the world.

It is timely and appropriate that we join Flint and Genesee County in celebrating the National Job Corps Association and its accomplishments, including reducing the cycle of

poverty, strengthening our local community, and improving the quality of thousands of lives.

Mr. Speaker, I applaud the National Job Corps Association, and the Flint Genesee Job Corps Center, for their unwavering commitment and service to our great country.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Rev. Dr. Roosevelt Austin, Sr., a spiritual pillar in the city of Saginaw, with more than 60 years of dedicated service to his community.

Rev. Dr. Roosevelt Austin served as Pastor of Zion Baptist Church in Saginaw for 44 years. He has also served as Interim Pastor for St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Saginaw, Foss Ave. Baptist Church in Flint and Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Flint.

Rev. Dr. Austin received his primary education in Opelousas, Louisiana. He went on to receive his Bachelor of Theology from McKinley Roosevelt College in Chicago, Illinois; a Master of Theology from Ohio Christian College in Columbus, Ohio; a Doctor of Divinity Degree from American Divinity School in Chicago, Illinois; and a Doctor of Humanities from Saginaw Valley State University.

Rev. Dr. Austin is a vital voice that has embraced our community through the spirit of service. He has served through many entities, some including Saginaw City Council, Opportunity Industrial Center, Pastors Concern for the Poor, Saginaw Public Schools, and as member of the Board of Directors for Citizens Bank.

Rev. Dr. Austin also holds the honor of Past President, Saginaw Valley District Congress of Christian Education; Past President, Michigan Wolverine State Congress of Christian Education; Seminar Leader, National Congress of Christian Education; and Moderator for the Saginaw Valley District Association.

Now retired, Dr. Austin enjoys spending time with his wife, Dr. Nurame Austin, his children, grandchildren, and great grandchild.

Mr. Speaker, I applaud Rev. Dr. Roosevelt Austin for his strong leadership and unwavering commitment to our community.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent and would ask my friend to allow the bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform bill, H.R. 15, to be considered. It is a bill that I proudly cosponsor, and it would more than adequately address this humanitarian crisis at the border.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to immediately bring up H.R. 377, the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would jump-start the middle class, instead of this partisan lawsuit attacking the President of the United States.

Mr. Speaker, so there are just 3 legislative days left before we go on recess, and the most pressing issue that the House Republican leadership has decided that we need to devote our legislative time to is a resolution to sue the President of the United States.

Not to bring up a jobs bill, not to deal with comprehensive immigration reform, not to extend emergency unemployment benefits for the millions of people who have lost their benefits, but to debate a dangerous and unprecedented lawsuit with the House of Representatives suing the President. What is next--the Senate suing the House? I mean, this is really ridiculous.

And after all that is done, what we are going to do is recess for 5 weeks. Instead of taking up the issues that the people have sent us here to deal with, we are going to leave for 5 weeks after taking action--presumably, the majority will vote to sue the President of the United States.

It is a waste of our time. It is a horrible waste of money. It is unconscionable. We ought to stay here and do the work of the American people that we were sent here to do.

Madam Speaker, creating opportunity for hardworking American families and reigniting the American Dream should be the top priority of this Congress, but instead, we are about to embark on a 1- month legislative recess as the House Republican leadership continues to block action on legislation to create jobs and to grow the middle class.

Legislation awaiting action in an up-or-down vote is piling up: legislation to raise the minimum wage; to renew emergency unemployment insurance; to pass comprehensive immigration reform; to rebuild our crumbling roads, bridges, and ports; enacting a manufacturing policy so that we can make things in America; and voting on paycheck fairness to ensure that women receive equal pay for equal work.

Passing all these policies would jump-start the middle class and expand opportunity for all Americans. But instead, instead of taking those up, we are about to leave town for a month of undeserved time off.

We should get to work on the work of the American people. They expect that from us, and they deserve nothing less.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Reverend Matthew Schramm, Pastor of Bay City's Westminster Presbyterian Church in my district, who delivered this morning's opening and very inspiring prayer.

I am pleased to welcome Pastor Schramm and his family to the U.S. Capitol, and to thank him for his continued service to our community. Westminster Presbyterian Church is one of the oldest churches in Bay City, helping to share love, faith, and hope with its congregants and others across Michigan.

In addition to serving his congregation, Reverend Schramm served as the youngest-ever chair of the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board, the ministry agency and the board of trustees for the Nation's largest body of Presbyterians.

Reverend Schramm not only serves at the church altar, but also in the community as well. He serves on Bay County's Federal Emergency Food and Shelter Board, the Do-Care Family Enrichment Center advisory board, and the McLaren Bay medical region's Medical Ethics Advisory Board.

Pastor Schramm, on behalf of the U.S. Congress, thank you for being here today. I hope that your uplifting words that you shared with us will give us the courage to work together in pursuit of the common good for all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, today, millions of Americans across the country need emergency unemployment insurance to support their families--to provide for their very basic needs--as those hardworking Americans have lost their previous jobs and are simply in search of their next opportunities, through no fault of their own.

Somehow, this issue has been turned into a partisan issue. It is not a partisan issue back home. There is no such thing as a Democratic or a Republican unemployed person. They are unemployed, and they are looking for all the help they can get.

The week before last, I and three of my Democratic colleagues and Mr. LoBiondo--a Republican--and three of his colleagues introduced a bipartisan unemployment insurance extension. It is a mirror image of the language that has been introduced by Mr. Reed and Mr. Heller in the Senate. This is a bipartisan bill. We can take this up right now.

Is it the bill that I would have written by myself? No. In fact, I did submit an extension of unemployment that the House has not taken up, but we have compromised. We ought to do the work of the American people.

We have a bipartisan bill to extend unemployment insurance. The House should take it up immediately. Millions of Americans need it, and it is upon us to take this action.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing Mrs. Lucetia Manwaring as she embarks upon 20 years of service as a congressional staff member. As a Senior Constituent Services Representative in my office, Mrs. Manwaring has established herself as a distinguished professional with a demonstrated record of achievement.

Lucetia holds a unique blend of experiences having also served in the U.S. Navy from 1989-1993. During this time, she served on the U.S. Navy Submarine Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Nuclear Repair Division; Served honorably in U.S. Desert Storm Campaign; and was a member of the U.S. Ready Reserve from 1993-2000. In addition, she has received several awards, including the Navy Wide Command Award, the National Defense Service Medal for Desert Storm, and a Naval Citation.

Lucetia received her Master of Science in Human Services from Capella University, and her Bachelor of Business Administration from Davenport University. She was a member of the Dean's List upon completing both degrees.

Since 1994, Mrs. Manwaring has displayed leadership and commitment, engaging with thousands of constituents throughout the State of Michigan. Her tenure began as a staff member for my uncle, retired U.S. Congressman Dale Kildee. She met Dale Kildee while serving in the Navy, and began her career as a staff member shortly thereafter. Upon his retirement, I was grateful to have her join my staff as well. I am grateful to be represented by such dedicated employees who work hard to make our community and nation a better place.

Mr. Speaker, I applaud Mrs. Lucetia Manwaring for her unwavering commitment and extend my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to her for her years of service to our great country.