Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, here we go again, another week, another bill, another missed opportunity to extend emergency unemployment benefits for 1.4 million Americans.

Today, the House will be voting on the 2014 omnibus spending bill, but one key part is missing: an extension of emergency unemployment benefits. To add insult to injury, on Friday, this body will adjourn for another week of recess without addressing this issue, leaving 1.4 million Americans without this critical lifeline, a number that grows every day. It is terrible for these families and for our economy.

Just yesterday, I spoke with a constituent, Margaret, a mother of four who is suffering with Parkinson's disease whose benefits were cut. She has worked her whole life. This is the first time she has ever had to ask for help. She is among more than 4,900 Rhode Island families and 1.4 million Americans who are struggling to find work and need this insurance to help them survive.

We should not adjourn before resolving this issue, and I urge my colleagues to press the Speaker to bring a bill to the floor to extend emergency unemployment insurance today.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

In the last 12 days, nearly 1.4 million Americans have been cut off from their emergency unemployment benefits. Thousands more Americans will lose their benefits every week without congressional action.

It is unforgiveable that this Congress will adjourn tomorrow without addressing this crisis. Instead of offering a solution to extend emergency unemployment benefits, this rule does not allow us to address this critical issue of extending unemployment insurance immediately.

The longer we wait to fix this problem, the more serious it becomes for the long-term unemployed and their families. Punishing unemployed Americans and their families who have been hit hard in this tough recession through no fault of their own is just plain wrong.

My home State Senator, Senator Jack Reed, has offered a proposal in the Senate. It is a critical step in the right direction to preserve this critical lifeline while we work on a long-term solution, and we should do the same thing here.

Surely my colleagues on the other side of the aisle want the opportunity to vote on extending unemployment insurance. So I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the previous question, to defeat the previous question, so we can take up the issue of extending unemployment insurance for many Rhode Islanders and Americans all across this country who desperately need these benefits.

Mr. Speaker, it has been 11 days now since 1.3 million Americans have been cut off from their unemployment benefits, an important safety net, and this House has yet to address this crisis. Instead of offering a solution to extend emergency unemployment benefits, House Republicans keep moving the goal posts and changing their position.

What on Earth are we waiting for? Every week that goes by, more and more Rhode Islanders lose their emergency unemployment benefits. The longer we wait to fix this problem, the more serious it becomes for the long-term unemployed.

Fifty years ago today, President Johnson announced his war on poverty. To commemorate that anniversary, this Congress is willing to write off and forget about 1.3 million Americans who are struggling to find work.

What kind of public servants have we become when we take away the last safety net for struggling families 3 days before Christmas? This is shameful.

Mr. Speaker, I urge you to bring a bill to the floor to extend emergency unemployment benefits; 1.3 million Americans can't wait another day, another week, or another month for this Congress to act. Let's do the right thing and end this nightmare for those we serve.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Human Rights Day, an occasion to recognize the struggles of individuals all around the world who fight for their basic rights of life, liberty, and security of person.

On March 2, 2011, Jean-Claude Roger Mbede of Cameroon was arrested for, ``homosexuality and attempted homosexuality'' and sentenced to 3 years' imprisonment.

Jean-Claude is one of the individual cases of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission's Defending Freedoms Project, which seeks to have Members of Congress adopt the case of an individual like Jean-Claude and work for their rights and freedom.

Sadly, cases such as these are far too common in areas of the world where people can be imprisoned for simply exercising their basic human rights.

I call upon the Cameroonian authorities to live up to their obligation to respect and protect the rights of Jean-Claude Mbede and all Cameroonians.

I pledge to continue to follow his story and do what I can to secure his safety. I hope my colleagues will join me in taking up cases from the Defending Freedoms Project, and that, together, we can ensure justice for wrongly imprisoned individuals all across the world.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

The budget deal that we are voting on today is a step in the right direction because it blunts some of the painful cuts caused by sequestration. But a critical piece is missing: extending unemployment benefits that are due to expire at the end of this year.

It is an absolute disgrace that this body would even consider leaving town without finishing our work and ensuring that we address the needs of the long-term unemployed. Just 3 days after Christmas, 1.3 million Americans struggling to find work will immediately be thrown out into the cold and lose their unemployment assistance, including 4,900 Rhode Islanders who will lose their benefits on December 28. Much of the economic gain achieved in this budget deal will be nearly wiped out by failing to extend unemployment insurance.

Mr. Speaker, how do you plan to explain to your constituents your 3- week vacation when you have constituents who won't be able to keep the heat on or put the next meal on their dinner table because Congress failed to do its job?

We should, every day, but especially during this time of year, be thinking of others and taking care of one another, not walking away from our responsibilities and ignoring the challenges facing our fellow citizens.

We have 15 days to figure this out. What is the rush to leave town? It won't take much time to resolve this problem because we already have the answer.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the House call up H.R. 3546 for immediate consideration. This will extend unemployment benefits for 1.3 million Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote against this rule and to stand up and fight for the 1.3 million Americans who will lose their benefits on December 28.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 250th anniversary of the Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, the oldest synagogue in America. Dedicated in 1763, the Touro Synagogue has been a monument to the history of religious tolerance in Rhode Island and the legacy of religious freedom in America.

Before construction even began, the design of the building was conceived as a balance between European architecture and traditional Jewish worship. This synagogue became a symbol of the freedom to worship in peace widely

promoted across our new Nation in the 17th century and championed by Roger Williams.

In 1790, in a letter reassuring the members of the Hebrew congregation of their right to the free exercise of religion, George Washington famously declared the values of our Nation at its start, pledging that the United States would give ``to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.''

This weekend, it was my honor to attend the rededication of the Touro Synagogue, which remains a testament to the enduring freedoms of our Nation and the tradition of religious freedom that began in my home State and that is now deeply embedded in the American experience.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the centennial celebration of Saint Ephraim's Syriac Orthodox Church in Central Falls, Rhode Island.

In the late 19th century, a small, close-knit group of Syriac families living in Turkey and Iraq arrived in America after fleeing the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.

After coming to Rhode Island, this small faith community chartered Saint Ephraim's Syriac Orthodox Church--a parish center and chapel for worship that have remained strong symbols of the strength of Rhode Island's Syriac Orthodox residents.

The church claims a wealth of theological, liturgical, and musical traditions. Indeed, to this day, every Sunday the parishioners in Central Falls, Rhode Island conduct liturgy in the original Aramaic that was spoken during the time of Jesus Christ.

The parish of St. Ephraim's has contributed mightily to our community in northern Rhode Island. Whether newly arrived immigrants fleeing persecution or just yearning to live the American dream, or multi-generational and fully assimilated Americans, parishioners of St. Ephraim's church are patriotic Americans.

Like anyone else, they work hard, value education and appreciate and enjoy the freedoms they are offered.

In return, they have been industrious citizens and have served our country in numerous positions of distinction, including university educators, engineers, leaders in law, medicine, and commerce.

Many have also served in the Armed Forces, dating back to the early 20th Century, and some have made the ultimate sacrifice for the defense of our country.

Today, as we celebrate the centennial anniversary of Saint Ephraim's, we are also mindful of the ongoing persecution facing Christian Syriac families in the Middle East and especially in Syria where two Orthodox bishops were abducted earlier this year.

And as we hope for the safe return of these and other victims of recent violence, all of us stand united in praying for peace in Syria and throughout the Middle East.

I thank Father Mattias Alan Shaltan for his continued leadership of this parish and salute all the members of Saint Ephraim's on their centennial celebration this year.

Mr. Speaker, earlier this year I welcomed Rhode Island volunteers from the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network to the United States Capitol and discussed their concerns about our commitment to fighting this terrible disease.

According to the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health, 45,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer will be diagnosed this year. About 38,000 men, women, and children across our Nation will die from this disease over this same period of time.

While our scientific and medical communities have made enormous strides in the fight against other forms of disease, the fact is that more than 90 percent of pancreatic cancer patients will die within 5 years of diagnosis.

We have to do more to make it easier for doctors to catch this disease early and develop treatments that will improve the prognosis for patients with pancreatic cancer. I applaud the men and women of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network today for their ongoing work in the fight against this disease, and I look forward to working with them to support continued research and the development of new forms of treatment that will benefit all those whose lives are touched by cancer.

I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank Chairman Royce, Ranking Member Engel, Leader Pelosi, and my colleague Congresswoman Lee for their strong leadership.

Mr. Speaker, as a longtime advocate for a strong government response to the HIV/AIDS public health crisis in my home State of Rhode Island and now as a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I rise today to strongly support the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief reauthorization.

This year, we mark the 10th anniversary of PEPFAR, which has always enjoyed broad bipartisan support. First, in 2003, there was bipartisan support for addressing this public health emergency; then, in 2008, in response to some progress, PEPFAR transitioned into a more sustainable program with greater country ownership.

Over the past decade, PEPFAR has significantly expanded access to antiretroviral therapy for those suffering from HIV and AIDS, which has led to a decrease in deaths from this devastating disease all around the world. We have made real progress because of PEPFAR, and we must remain vigilant and build upon this progress.

The fight is not over. According to the World Health Organization, to date, almost 70 million people have been infected with the HIV virus, and about 35 million have died of AIDS. It is critical that the United States continue to be a leader in an increasingly international effort to eradicate this disease.

Mr. Speaker, the role of the United States remains critical to combating the worldwide HIV/AIDS epidemic, and the PEPFAR Stewardship and Oversight Act is a necessary and commonsense piece of legislation. This bill extends vital authority and strengthens oversight of the PEPFAR program. Most importantly, the bill would also extend the expired 33 percent limitation on U.S. contributions to the Global Fund. This cap has proven to be an effective tool for leveraging funding from other donor countries.

Just 30 years ago, we knew almost nothing about HIV and AIDS, and we were not able to treat those who were suffering from this disease. To have made such progress since then is remarkable, and it is a real testament to what we can achieve when we work together in a bipartisan way.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' and to continue our efforts toward an AIDS-free generation which, for the first time, may be within our reach.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the achievements of the Rhode Island Nurses Institute Middle College Charter High School, the first middle college established in Rhode Island, and the first American charter school that is dedicated to the nursing profession.

My grandmother Lucy Cicilline was a proud nurse at St. Joseph's Hospital for many years.

As a 4-year program, this institution helps to bridge the gap between high school and college, providing students who have graduated ninth grade with an innovative learning experience that allows them to graduate with a high

school diploma and nursing credentials so they can enter the workforce successfully.

The Rhode Island Nurses Institute Middle College Charter High School first opened its doors 2 years ago and today provides a quality education for 272 young people from my home State of Rhode Island.

If we are serious about getting our economy back on the right track, we need to find new, innovative ways to make sure that young people have the opportunity to go to college or begin their careers equipped with the skills they need to compete in a global economy. The Nursing Institute Middle College is showing us one way to achieve this goal.

I want to applaud the work of Chief Executive Officer Pamela McCue, their entire faculty, staff, and all of the students.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, it is beyond time for Congress to focus on getting Americans back to work. If we want to get things back on the right track, we have to start making things again in this country.

Job creation should not be a Democratic issue or a Republican issue; it is an American issue. At some point, the gridlock in Washington needs to end and we need to take advantage of the opportunities we have to reinvigorate this critical sector of our economy.

That is why I urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question today, so we can consider the Make It In America Manufacturing Act, legislation that I have introduced that would facilitate the creation of unique public-private partnerships, bringing together Federal, State, local, and regional stakeholders to develop comprehensive manufacturing enhancement strategies and deliver targeted resources to strengthen the manufacturing sector, which has proven vital to our country's economy.

It will provide small- to medium-sized manufacturers with the resources they need to retool and retrofit their operations and train their workforce in order to transition to the manufacturing of clean energy, high technology, and advanced products. It would enhance the competitiveness of the industry, including through increased exports and domestic supply chain opportunities.

Mr. Speaker, it is time for Congress to work together to make things again so that Americans can make it again; and this is about strengthening the manufacturing sector, which helped build the middle class of this country, which helped build one of the strongest economies in the world. This would allow manufacturers who are beginning to see a resurgence, a revival, because of some market conditions. Because of the great innovations and the great quality of our workforce, it would allow us to strengthen this sector and grow jobs at a critical time for my State and for our country.

So I urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question so that we can consider the Make It In America Manufacturing Act, something we should be able to come together on that would create job growth in this critical sector of our Nation's economy.

Mr. Speaker, last week, Congress finally took action to end a painful, unnecessary government shutdown that cost our economy $24 billion, forced hundreds of thousands of Federal workers to stay home, and brought us to the brink of defaulting on the full faith and credit of the United States.

While the hardworking men and women I serve in Rhode Island's First District are relieved that Congress finally did its job, they want all of us to get back to work on addressing the urgent challenges facing our Nation--creating jobs, strengthening the economy, fixing our broken immigration system, repairing our crumbling infrastructure, and finding responsible ways to reduce the Federal debt.

Like all Americans, Rhode Islanders want their elected officials to get beyond the political battles of the moment and work together on implementing effective policies and innovative solutions that will put our country on the right track and get Americans back to work.

Over the past several years, the House has voted over and over again on bills that would repeal ObamaCare, restrict reproductive freedom for women, weaken critical environmental standards, and limit collective bargaining rights for workers, even though there is no chance these divisive proposals would ever be signed into law. It is time now to get things done.

Each of us should commit to abandoning the partisan rhetoric and working as colleagues to overcome the challenges facing our country and those we have the privilege to represent here in the Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I rise with a sense of cautious optimism that we are nearing the end of this financial crisis. Our colleagues in the Senate are showing all of us that we can have disagreements on the issues and still work together to find common ground to tackle the challenges facing our Nation.

After so many weeks of this painful and unnecessary Federal Government shutdown, I urge all of my colleagues in the House to come together to support the commonsense, bipartisan Reid-McConnell proposal emerging from the Senate.

The past few weeks have taken away valuable time and attention from the many challenges facing our country. Once we reopen the government and avoid default, I hope that all of us will redirect our energies toward building consensus on solutions for comprehensive immigration reform, rebuilding our roads, bridges and ports, growing our economy, reducing our debt in a responsible way, and, most urgently, promoting job creation.

I hope every Member of this House will commit themselves to getting back to the work we were sent here to do and delivering real results for our constituents.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the House bring up the Senate amendment to House Joint Resolution 59, to open the government and go to conference on a budget so we can end this Republican shutdown now and get the American people back to work.

Mr. Speaker, today marks the ninth day of the Republican government shutdown. There are only 8 more days until we hit the debt ceiling.

I was back home in Rhode Island this past weekend, and heard from many of my constituents who are disgusted with what they are seeing here in Washington. The American people expect their elected leaders to work together to get things done for our country, but there has been absolutely no cooperation since this shutdown began from our friends on the other side of the aisle who are committed to ending ObamaCare.

If the House voted right now on a clean funding bill, it would pass with support from both parties, and the government would reopen immediately; but instead, we are spending another day trading political rhetoric instead of working on the serious challenges facing our country.

Just yesterday, the U.S. Department of Education released a study of 23 industrialized nations that found Americans fall below international averages in basic problem-solving and reading and math skills. This problem demands a solution, but Congress can't work on this and so many other important issues until the partisan games end.

Let's open the government, raise the debt ceiling, commit to addressing the long-term budget challenges facing our country, and get back to work for the men and women who sent us here.