Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to another tax giveaway to the wealthiest in this country who need it the least.

The Republicans' tax cut already has damaged the health of the Medicare trust fund. This bill is more of the same.

After decades of wage stagnation, when over 41 million laborers earn less than $12 an hour, when almost none of their employers offer health insurance, when more than one-quarter of Americans struggle to cover housing costs, this Republican bill helps millionaires giving an average tax cut of over $39,000 to the top 1 percent.

The Republican plan will permanently double tax over 40 million families due to the cap on the State and local income tax deduction.

The Republican plan permanently takes away critical personal exemptions from millions of families with children which we need to help. We need to help hardworking, middle-class citizens. We don't need to give $39,000 tax breaks to the wealthy.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague.

Mr. Speaker, only 39 percent of Americans have enough savings to cover an emergency costing $1,000. The median savings of workers earning the median income of $54,000 in my congressional district is only around $2,000. The median savings of women is $2,000. The median savings of African Americans is $1,000, and of Latinos, it is $1,500. Yet this bill bestows tremendous tax benefits on the wealthy who can stockpile tens of thousands of dollars in multiple savings accounts, leaving the working class out in the cold.

When hard work in one or two jobs isn't enough for most Americans to escape poverty because wages have stagnated for decades and because recovery from the Great Recession is concentrated in the small percentage of Americans who invest in the stock market, when we know that low- and moderate-income families have a harder time saving for college because they have less extra cash available to put away in a savings account, the Republican solution embraces the privileged and fails the working families.

What is absent from this bill is telling.

The 529 plan does not cover childcare for apprentices, one of the number one costs they face with training. This bill throws crumbs to apprentices by allowing 529 plans to cover minor training expenses like books and supplies.

Given that employers pay for the coursework of apprentices, the remaining education costs are relatively small. That is why apprentice advocates asked for and why the original bill included coverage for childcare, yet childcare is not covered in this bill.

What also is absent is the Jenkins-Kind provision to help middle- class families save for college by allowing employers to match up to $600 a year in 529 contributions, which could help families who can't afford to put much aside for college or increase their savings.

I cannot understand how, when our citizens are struggling under crushing student loan debt, the Republican solution is to allow the elite, with impressive 529 plans, to pay off their student debt while leaving the working class out in the cold.

Absent is a true investment in helping working and middle-class families pay for college. Rather than helping working families, this Republican bill additionally, ideologically attacks the reproductive freedom of women by unnecessarily defining unborn children as beneficiaries of 529s.

I agree that we should help families cover the cost of needed health services to help students learn, such as speech and language services, occupational therapy, or physical therapy.

Yet, rather than requiring that insurance companies cover these health services that help students learn, the Republican solution is to allow the privileged, with thousands of dollars in savings, to pay for these costs, while working and middle-class families must forego the services for lack of funds.

When 67 percent of Americans say that they will outlive their retirement savings, the Republican solution to helping families pay for expenses associated with a new child or adoption is to undermine these families' retirement security. The Republican tax approach gives corporations and millionaires tens of thousands of dollars directly, but working Americans must take money from their retirement.

Government should strengthen the economic security of working and middle-class Americans whose wages have stagnated, not the very wealthiest. This bill fails that charge.

Mr. Speaker, homicide is the leading cause of death among youth, especially among people of color between the ages of 13 to 34. The Center for American Progress reported 17 young people are murdered every day in America. Imagine if 17 of our nation's best doctors, lawyers, engineers, scientists, poets, and politicians lay waste everyday due to gun violence. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, the murder rate has declined by 3.4 percent from 30 of the largest cities in America. The murder rate in Chicago also declined by 12.3 percent in 2017, but remains more than 60 percent above 2014 levels. Some cities saw their murder rates rise in 2017, such as Baltimore (7.8 percent) and Philadelphia (13.1 percent). This is the daily reality of America, particularly for urban cities like Chicago and Philadelphia. This issue should outrage us all.

Mothers In Charge, Inc. (MIC) is one organization that is here today in our nation's Capitol to inform Members of Congress of the impact of gun violence. MIC is comprised of impassioned mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, and others who are committed to working towards saving lives and preventing another parent or guardian from having to experience their terrible tragedy. They advocate for families affected by violence and provide counseling and grief support services for families when a loved one has been murdered. One of the advocates is Mrs. Johnson-Speight, who is spearheading a movement to make the nation aware of homicide among young people. She works with juvenile offenders--some of whom are incarcerated for murder--using a cognitive skills development model titled, ``Thinking For A Change''. This program addresses the development of pro-social and proper decision making skills, violence prevention, and preparation for re-entry back into their communities.

I commend all of the organizations and institutions working hard to bring attention to homicide, and their efforts to eliminate the threat of gun violence. In honor of the many precious lives lost as a result of gun violence, Congress, in 2007, designated September 25th as the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims. On this day, every year, we are reminded of the lives lost, and the need to continue the fight against violence so their deaths are not in vain.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following Proclamation:

Whereas, the Almighty God has called to his eternal rest the Reverend Columbus Ewing, Pastor of Community Fellowship Baptist Church; and

Whereas, prior to organizing Community Fellowship, Reverend Ewing was a longtime loyal assistant to Reverend Matthew Thomas who organized the Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church where my wife's aunt, Aunt Hattie Harrell was one of the first fourteen members and my dear friend Mrs. Earline Lindsey and Deacon Davis may have been the persons who introduced me to Reverend Ewing; and

Whereas, Reverend Ewing was a Precinct Captain and political worker in the 37th Ward; and

Whereas, Reverend Ewing organized Community Fellowship and I was privileged to attend his first banquet; and

Whereas, Reverend Ewing and Community Fellowship have always opened their doors and been a part of community events, political meetings and everything I have been involved with to benefit the community for all of these many years; and

Whereas, Reverend Ewing loved and nourished all of his family, his wonderful wife Emma, all of his children, grandchildren and other relatives, he pointed out their achievements all of the time. I would not say that he had favorites but he was extremely proud of church and community activist, teacher, principal, Doctor, Reverend, Pastor Shirley Ewing of Community Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church; and

Whereas, both Reverend Ewing and I liked to eat and we shared many a meal together, both at the church and soul food restaurants throughout the city;

Therefore, we extend our condolences to Reverend Dr. Shirley Ewing, the Ewing Family and the Community Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Representative Ron Dellums, who, among other things, was known as one of the most outstanding, articulate, and eloquent persons to ever serve in this House of Representatives.

He was a political, social activist who used his voice and his mannerisms to educate millions of people throughout the world about issues, AIDS, HIV, Free South Africa.

He was an icon. He is an icon and will always be an icon, a great Member of this body.

Mr. Speaker, some of my Tamil American constituents brought to my attention the passing of an extraordinary man: Muthuvel Karunanithi who was born June 3, 1924 and passed away August 7, 2018.

Muthuvel Karunanithi became involved in social justice issues at age of 14, publishing a handwritten journal that has been published as a weekly ever since. He wrote regularly until he fell ill at the age of 92.

Muthuvel Karunanithi was a poet, writer, publisher, orator, novelist, and literary critic in the Tamil language. His books sold millions of copies and his movie scripts shattered old boundaries of political possibility, articulating a new vision of human relationships.

He ran for political office thirteen times and never lost over a seventy year period. He was chief minister of the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India five times. His career was marked by a lifelong commitment to breaking the barriers of the caste system, especially for the lowest caste people who handle human waste. Karunanithi led a successful effort for an affirmative action program for their admittance to medical schools and subsequent admission to the practice of medicine. He visited Chicago in 1972.

Muthuvel Karunanithi was a man from the lowest rung of the social ladder who climbed the highest political mountains, but kept his lifestyle simple and his thoughts and actions fixed on the highest aspirations for all of his people.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Master Sergeant Stephen Mallette on the occasion of his retirement from the United States Air Force. Chief Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force is the highest senior-level enlisted person in the U.S. Air Force. Chief Master Sergeant Stephen J. Mallette was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois and graduated from Proviso West High School and enlisted in the Air Force in 1988.

After joining the Air Force, Sergeant Mallette took courses in Korea 1989:

1990 Korean Cryptologic Analytic Technical Training Course (Distinguished Graduate)

1993 Airman Leadership School (Distinguished Graduate)

Davis-Monthan Graduate

2003 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Lackland Air Force Base in Lackland, Texas

Chief Master Sergeant Stephen Mallette has excelled at every level to which he has been assigned. Sergeant Stephen Mallette is exactly the kind of person our country would like to see in the military: well- trained, highly motivated and loyal to our country. He is the best,

and as he leaves the military he will continue to be the best.

I thank him for his many years of service, and may the good Lord continue to bless and keep him.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Mr. Robert ``Bob'' Von Drasek, as he is better known. Bob was the most dedicated, committed, and loyal Saul-Alinsky-trained organizer who I have ever known.

Bob came to the south Austin community during a time of great turbulence.

The community was in the throes of a great transition from being 80 percent White to becoming 80 percent Black within a 10-year period of time. Blockbusting, panic peddling, redlining, disinvestment, and all manner of malfeasance were taking place. Police brutality and other forms of law enforcement misconduct were rampant.

I met Bob during this period. It was also during this time that the Organization for a Better Austin, under the leadership of Gail Cincotta, was organized; the South Austin Coalition Community Council, SACCC, was formed with Bob as a lead organizer; and I decided to run for the city council.

Over the years, I have followed Bob's work without exception. South Austin is practically an all African American community, except for a few merchants who never left the area, a few White citizens, school teachers, and policemen. Of course, Bob is White or Caucasian, and yet he won the hearts of the

community and the trust of the people. He has developed intimate relationships with many of the residents and, to many, he is like a member of their family.

Through Bob's leadership, SACCC became known as the top grassroots community organization in the Chicagoland area. Bob was always a great strategist, but the members, like Mr. Ed Bailey, Mrs. Irene Norwood, Mrs. Lillian Drummond, and Mr. George Lawson, were the voices.

Many people don't know it, but it was SACCC who led community reinvestment. It was SACCC who organized senior citizens. It was SACCC who led the fight for LIHEAP. It was SACCC who kept the Austin Bank on its toes. It was SACCC who united block clubs. It was SACCC who got people to join local school councils. And it was SACCC who got churches to open their doors for community meetings.

I have been in buildings with Bob where there was no heat. I have been in homes where there was no food. I have been on streets where there were no lights. I have been with Bob in allies where there was no hope. I have been with Bob and families after their relatives were shot.

Bob has worked to bring help to the helpless and hope to the hopeless. Bob VonDrasek, you are a good man, and I thank you and your family, your wife and children, for what you have meant to our community and to our world.

True soldiers are always reluctant to come off the battlefield, but there comes a time when we must put away our swords and shields to practice war no more. When that time comes, Bob, just know that you have made a difference. When you came to south Austin, newspapers were writing that it would be the next big slum. They did not know you and they did not know the people of south Austin. South Austin is not a slum. It is a vibrant, forward-thinking, and forward-moving community.

Bob, you have done the Master's work. You have fed the hungry, clothed the naked, brought hope to the hopeless, and help to the helpless. You have lifted spirits and you have taught people how to love, how to live, and how to work together.

I close, Bob, by leaving these words with, and for, you.

If when you give the best of your service, telling the

world that the Savior is come, be not dismayed when men don't

believe you, He understands, and will say, ``Well done.''

Oh, when I come to the end of my journey, weary of life and

the battle is won, carrying the staff and the cross of

redemption, He'll understand, and say, ``Well done.''

If when this life of labor is ended, and the reward of the

race you have run, oh, the sweet rest prepared for faithful,

will be His blest and final, ``Well done.''

But if you try and fail in your trying, hands sore and

scarred from the work you've begun, take up your cross, run

quickly to meet Him, He'll understand, He'll say, ``Well

done.''

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague who demonstrates with regularity the intensification of real care for the people.

Today, we take up another bill that does nothing to make up for the long-term Republican sabotage of the Affordable Care Act. Tens of millions of working families also see their healthcare costs skyrocket due to the repeated Republican efforts to undermine the healthcare system.

Tens of millions of Americans with preexisting conditions will still fear the loss of guaranteed health protections with the horrible choice of loss of health insurance or untenable premiums.

The Republicans' sabotage will cost a typical family of four in my congressional district $2,250 more in insurance premiums in 2019. The Republicans' sabotage will cost a typical 55-year-old couple in my congressional district $3,570 more in 2019.

The 2019 premium hikes follow an average 37 percent increase in 2018. These premium hikes are especially disturbing when contrasted with the billions in tax cuts the Republicans gave to insurance companies in their tax law.

H.R. 6199 makes a small change to health savings accounts used exclusively by the wealthy. Many of my constituents have trouble paying for basic living costs like heat, food, and housing. They ask me regularly for a few hundred dollars to help their kids stay in college.

The vast majority of my constituents can't set aside tens of thousands of dollars to pay for their medical care out of pocket in a health savings account. This legislation does nothing to increase coverage, improve affordability, or change the skyrocketing costs of healthcare.

I urge my colleagues to reject this bill, and I urge my Republican colleagues to bring up meaningful legislation to improve coverage and lower costs to help the tens of millions of Americans in need.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Mr. Robert (Bob) Von Drasek the most dedicated, committed and most loyal Saul Alinsky-trained organizer that I have ever known. Bob came to the South Austin Community during a time of great turbulence. The community was in the throes of a great transition from being 80 percent white to becoming 80 percent Black within a ten-year period of time. Block busting, panic peddling, redlining, disinvestment and all manner of malfeasance were taking place. Police brutality and other forms of law enforcement misconduct were rampant. I met Bob Von Drasek (during this period. It was also during this time that the organization for a Better Austin was organized, the South Austin Coalition Community Council (SACCC) was formed with Bob as lead organizer, and I decided to run for the City Council. Over the years I have followed Bob's work with SACCC. South Austin is practically an all black community except for a few merchants who never left the area, a few white residents, school teachers and policemen, Bob is white or caucasian and yet he won the hearts of the community and the trust of the people. He has developed intimate relationships with many of the residents and to many he is like a member of their family. Through much of Bob's leadership, SACCC became known as the top grassroots community organization in the Chicago land area. Bob was always a great strategist but the members like Mr. Ed Bailey, Mrs. Irene Norwood, Mrs. Lillian Drummond and Mr. George Lawson were the voices. Many people don't know it, but it was SACCC who led community reinvestment. It was SACCC who organized senior citizens. It was SACCC that led the fight for LIHEAP. It was SACCC that kept the Austin Bank on its toes (best behavior). It was SACCC that united block clubs. It was SACCC that got people to join local school councils, and it was SACCC that got churches to open their doors for community meetings. I have been in buildings with Bob where there was no heat. I have been in homes where there was no food, and I have been on streets where there were no lights. I have been in alleys where there was no hope. I have been with Bob and families after their relatives had been shot. Bob has worked to bring help to the helpless and hope to the hopeless. Bob Von Drasek is a good man and I thank him and his family, his wife and children for what they have meant to our community and to our world. True soldiers are always reluctant to come off the battlefield, but there comes a time when we must put away our swords and shields to practice war no more. When that time comes, just know that he has made a difference. When he came to South Austin, some newspapers, urban planners and prognosticators were predicting that Austin would be the next slum. They did not know him, and they did not know the people of South Austin. South Austin is not a slum. It is a vibrant, forward-thinking and forward-moving community. Bob has done the Master's work. He has fed the hungry, clothed the naked, brought hope to the hopeless, and helped the helpless. He has lifted spirits and he has taught people how to love, how to live, and how to work together. I close with words of my favorite song:

``If when you give the best of your service, Telling the

world that the Savior is come; Be not dismayed when men

believe you; He understands; and say, ``Well done.''

Oh, when I come to the end of my journey, Weary of life and

the battle is won; carrying the staff and the cross of

redemption, He'll understand, and say ``Well done.''

If when this life of labor is ended, And the reward of the

race you have run; Oh! the sweet rest prepared for

faithful, Will be his blest and final ``Well done.''

But if you try and fail in your trying, hands sore and

scarred from the work you've begun; take up your cross,

run quickly to meet Him; He'll understand, he'll say,

``Well done!''

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 2069.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express strong opposition to this resolution, which is nothing more than political posturing. This nonbinding resolution does nothing to control increases in healthcare premiums.

Republican actions have wreaked havoc in the healthcare market, driving up healthcare costs for Americans, especially older Americans. This nonbinding resolution does nothing to limit skyrocketing drug prices after giving tens of billions of dollars in tax cuts to the drug industry.

The Chicago Fire Department was in to see me this week, and they talked about the high cost of drugs. For example, the cost of nitroglycerin tripled over 4 years from $37 to $120. The cost of naloxone more than doubled during this time period. If the Chicago Fire Department is having trouble paying for pharmaceuticals, then you can imagine what smaller entities would be experiencing.

This resolution does nothing to increase jobs, nothing to help parents afford the high cost of childcare and college. It is indeed a do-nothing resolution. That is exactly what it does. I will vote against it.

Mr. Chairman, I thank Mr. Neal for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, I support H.R. 6 as a step to the puzzle to address substance abuse. However, I think we need to expand this bill in an important way as it moves forward.

To prevent opioid addiction, we must address the social and emotional harm caused by trauma that often underlies opiate use.

Research demonstrates that exposure to four or more adverse childhood experiences, such as neglect, experiencing a parent battling addiction, witnessing violence, or observing domestic violence, makes an individual 10 times more likely to misuse illicit narcotics. These drugs serve as a coping response to traumatic life experiences.

The Senate's bipartisan Opioid Crisis Response Act included provisions from my Trauma-Informed Care Act with Senator Durbin to help improve the Federal response to trauma to help prevent opioid abuse. These provisions would expand the workforce capacity to help children exposed to trauma, they would improve our understanding of trauma by improving Federal data and best practices, and they would increase services for children exposed to trauma to help these young people heal.

Our efforts to prevent the opioid crisis will be insufficient unless we address the role of trauma in it, which is why 28 organizations supported my effort to amend H.R. 6 to focus on trauma--organizations like the Child Welfare League of America, the Jewish Child and Family Services, the National Association of Social Workers, Partners for Our Children with the University of Washington, and the YMCA USA--but my amendment was not made in order.

The science is clear that trauma has devastating effects on a child's healthy development well into adulthood. When children experience traumatic events, stress alters the developing brain, which harms them physically and mentally.

Mr. Chairman, I include in the Record this outline of the research by

the Society for Research in Child Development documenting the harm caused by trauma and parental separation.

[From the Society for Research in Child Development, June 20, 2018]

Statement of the Evidence--The Science Is Clear: Separating Families

Has Long-Term Damaging Psychological and Health Consequences for

Children, Families, and Communities

After the United States Department of Justice announced the

``Zero olerance Policy for Criminal Illegal Entry,''

Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE--an arm of the

Department of Homeland Security) separated approximately

2,000 children from their parents in April and May 2018 as

they approached the U.S. border. Children and parents were

placed in separate facilities as they were being processed

and were not told when or how they would be reunited. This

policy and its consequences have raised significant concerns

among researchers, child welfare advocates, policy makers,

and the public, given the overwhelming scientific evidence

that separation between children and parents, except in cases

where there is evidence of maltreatment, is harmful to the

development of children, families, and communities. Family

separations occurring in the presence of other stressors,

such as detention or natural disaster, only adds to their

negative effects.

Evidence on Harmful Effects of Parent-Child Separation

The evidence that family separation is harmful dates back

to studies on the effects of parent-child separations on

children's well-being during World War II. This research

documented far reaching effects of these separations into

adulthood, including increased risk for mental health

problems, poor social functioning, insecure attachment,

disrupted stress reactivity, and mortality (Pesonen &

Raikkonen, 2012; Rusby & Tasker, 2009; Mitrani, Santiste-ban,

& Muir, 2004). Other research similarly documents the harmful

effects of parental separation on child wellbeing in a

variety of other child populations including children in

Romanian orphanages (Zeanah, Nelson, Fox, et al., 2003),

children in foster care (Flannery, Beauchamp, & Fisher, 2017)

and children of incarcerated parents (Geller, Garfinkel,

Cooper & Mincy, 2009; Miller, 2006). More recent work has

documented the increased mental health risk faced by both

parents and children when they are separated in the

immigration process (Suarez-Orozco, Bang, & Kim., 2011; Rusch

& Reyes, 2013). Parent-child separation has long-term effects

on child well-being, even if there is subsequent

reunification. After being separated, reunited children can

experience difficulty with emotional attachment to their

parents, self-esteem, and physical and psychological health

(Smith, Lalonde, & Johnson, 2004; Gubernskaya & Debry, 2017).

For some children, time does not appear to fully heal these

psychological wounds (Shonkoff et al., 2012).

Parents Buffer Children from Adverse Effects of Toxic Stress

Parental separation is considered a toxic stressor, an

experience that engages strong and prolonged activation of

the body's stress-management system (Bridgman, 2014) The

physiological and psychological toll of early life stress,

including parental separation, changes how the body responds

to stress in the long term, disrupting higher-order cognitive

and affective processes as well as negatively altering brain

structures and functioning (Lupien, McEwen, Gunnar, & Heim,

2009; Pechtel & Pizzagalli, 2011; Kumar et al., 2014). Such

stressors put children at greater risk for a multitude of

health and psychological impairments, including anxiety,

depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, lower IQ,

obesity, immune system functioning, physical growth, cancer,

heart and lung disease, stroke, and morbidity (Granqvist,

Sroufe, Dozier, Hesse, & Steele, 2017, Heim & Nemeroff, 2001;

Mamam, Antornadis, & Morris, 2014; Pechtel & Pizza-galli,

2011; Shirtdiff, Coe, & Pollak, 2009; Taylor, 2010).

Children depend on their primary caretakers to successfully

navigate stressful and traumatic events. Children's

physiological responses to stress can be significantly

reduced by access to their primary caretaker (Hostinar,

Sullivan, & Gunnar, 2013). The separation of the family unit

under extreme conditions of stress worsens the psychological

and physiological ramifications of that stressor on children,

especially younger children (Masten & Narayan, 2012).

Conversely, ongoing contact with primary caregivers under

conditions of stress can protect against risk (Rodriguez &

Margolin, 2015).

Child-Separation from Parents Impacts Children at All Ages

Much of the research on family separation has focused on

the impacts on children early in development. However,

puberty is also an especially vulnerable time of rapid change

(Doom & Gunnar, 2013). Stressors during adolescence can have

lasting impacts--the effects of which may not become evident

until adulthood--(Humphreys, Gleason, Drury, et al., 2015;

Lupien, McEwen, Gunnar, & Heim, 2009). Further, the effects

of traumatic experiences are cumulative; children and

adolescents who have already faced previous adversity are

particularly susceptible to long term further negative

consequences (Brown, Anda, & Tiemeier, et al, 2009,

MacKenzie, Bosk, & Zeanah, 2017) Thus, the research shows

that across infancy, childhood, and adolescence, child-family

separations can be related to negative outcomes across the

lifespan.

Impact of Border Family Separations on U.S. Citizens

There is also evidence that family separations harm U S.

citizens whose family members experience border detention or

deportation. Parental separation increases the risk for these

U.S. children's mental health problems such as anxiety,

depression, behavior problems, and symptoms of post-traumatic

stress disorder (Allen, Cisneros, & Tellez, 2015; Rojas-

Flores, Clements, Hwang Koo, & London, 2017; Zayas, Aguilar-

Gaxiola, Yoon, & Rey, 2015). U.S. citizens of Latino descent

also report heightened worries and concerns for their

families and their communities as a result of changes in

implementation of immigration policies such as the Deferred

Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy (Roche, Vaquera,

White, & Rivera, 2018). Moreover, countries with supportive

integration policies are more likely to have child

populations with better overall health and mental health

indicators than those with less supportive approaches (Marks,

McKenna, & Garcia Coll, 2018). Thus, there is evidence that

policies about parental separations can negatively affect

American citizens.

The Policy Implications are Clear

The scientific evidence is conclusive. Parent-child

separations lead to a host of long-term psychological,

social, and health problems that are not necessarily resolved

upon reunification. In particular, the disruption of

biological stress regulation mechanisms in the body induced

by the need to seek refugee or asylum status are further

taxed by the absence of parental support. The science is

clear: policies that separate immigrant families upon entry

to the U.S. have devastating and long-term developmental

consequences for children and their families.

That is why the administration's intentional infliction of trauma on children by separating children from their parents is so cruel and inhumane. Causing intentional harm to children is a human rights violation and is un-American. We must stop this appalling policy immediately, reunite parents and children without delay, and provide intensive services to help these families heal.

Mr. Speaker, having grown up in the state of Arkansas, when I meet people from Arkansas I am generally glad to meet them, when I discovered that Mr. Minor Allen was from Blytheville I was ecstatic and we became great friends and we often would talk about Harrison High School. In addition to having a wonderful family and being a great friend, he was one of the smoothest and greatest business people that I have ever known. He exuded friendship and was as much of a social activist as I have known. I did not know that he was so closely connected to Bishop Willie James Campbell and his family. Bishop Campbell preached my ordination service when I became a deacon at a Baptist church (smile). Mr. Minor Allen was a true servant of God and of the people. May he continue to rest in peace. He and Bishop Campbell must have been cut from the same cloth, both are great humanitarians.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Ms. Bessie Alexander Russell who passed at the age of 86 on December 7, 2017. Bessie was born in Chicago on March 4, 1931 and raised in Chicago's ``Old Town'' neighborhood. She was a graduate of William H. Wells Community Academy High School, commonly known as Well's High School and began a life in administration, civics and organizing. I had the pleasure of knowing Bessie during several of my campaigns for the County Board and Alderman, block club meetings, community organizing activities and political rallies.

Bessie had a long and distinguished career in administration and is a dedicated servant of the community. Bessie served as secretary for Chicago City Colleges for 30 years before becoming a Bursar at Crane College (currently known as Malcolm X College). During her tenure with the City College's system, she served as the first African American president of the Local 1708 labor union. In addition, Bessie was also Chicago's first Human Relations Commissioner on Race, Gender and Sexuality, where she was appointed by Mayor Harold Washington and retained by Mayor Richard Daley.

Bessie was the wife of the late Paul H. Russell and devoted mother of Paula M. Russell and three late infant sons, all named Paul. Her sons all developed a similar fatal lung condition--Bessie donated their bodies to research. Because of this noteworthy and selfless act, this research was instrumental in a curable treatment in the utero for this lung condition.

A man once said, ``Death leaves a headache that no one can heal; Love leaves a memory that no one can steal.'' So, Mr. Speaker, I ask the Congress, the family and friends to continue to honor Ms. Bessie Russell's memory for love for the Chicagoland community.