Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Walter Dukes and the 1953 National Invitational Tournament champion Seton Hall University Pirates basketball team.

Walter Dukes was Seton Hall's 7-foot, African-American center. He was the team's indisputable leader who pulled down 734 rebounds that year. It was an NCAA record that still stands.

He and his team dealt with discrimination and violence for having a Black player on the team, but they continued to win and beat St. John's University, 58-46, to win the 1953 NIT title, which was the big tournament at the time.

Dukes and his Seton Hall teammates are legends in New Jersey's basketball lore. Their magical season shows us the importance of character, faith, and success.

As a longtime Seton Hall fan, going to Seton Hall games for 55 years, I am proud to highlight them on the floor today.

Mr. Speaker, I begin by thanking Congresswoman Cherfilus- McCormick and Congressman Jackson for holding the CBC Special Order hour on gun violence in America.

Last week, our Nation was shocked by the acts of horrific violence in Allen, Texas, where eight souls were lost unnecessarily.

How many killings must we endure?

We are here tonight to send a message that we must keep guns out of the hands of criminals and would-be terrorists, and we must expand background checks for individuals looking to purchase guns. We must pass some commonsense legislation that provides avenues to get guns off of our streets.

Legislation like my Safer Neighborhoods Gun Buyback Act would utilize Federal grants to get guns out of the hands of criminals. Programs like it have been proven to work all over this Nation, from coast to coast. We need to act on this bill and others like it to protect American lives.

It is unacceptable that countless Americans continue to die senselessly from gun violence and Congress stands idly by. They do nothing.

I came up with a phrase back after Newtown. The NRA, which is really who pushes this: The NRA stands for ``no Republican action.''

Here we are once again. Yes, we stood up for a moment of silence tonight once again. Then once the gavel hit the rostrum, everybody walked away and that was the end of that. My colleagues on the other side feel good after that, after they stand up and acknowledge that. But that is the extent of what they are willing to do, just stand up to honor these people for a moment. That is all they can spare. That is all they can give to the American people who are suffering, children suffering.

This issue is so pervasive that it impacts us everywhere: movie theaters, churches, schools, banks, post offices, businesses, everywhere. That is an epidemic. COVID was everywhere. That was an epidemic. This gun violence is everywhere. That is an epidemic.

But what do we do? Stand up, quiet for a moment, and then onto the next thing.

I see it at home in New Jersey in my district, New Jersey's 10th Congressional District. The 10th Congressional District, unfortunately, has one-third of the State's total gun deaths in New Jersey. I know my constituents know the destruction that gun violence inflicts. This is a problem that will continue to grow without swift legislation and action.

But my words are just going into the wind. My colleagues on the other side don't hear this. The American people want real action on gun violence. The NRA endorsed Republicans, which is practically the entire party, and has offered no substantive legislation to keep our communities safe from gun violence.

My colleagues are the majority now. Let's see what we implement. I can answer that now: nothing.

So many of our constituents are haunted by the gun violence that is taking their loved ones, and that is why Democrats are in favor of stronger gun laws to keep these weapons out of dangerous hands.

We are not asking to take anybody's guns, but we can't have enough mindset to say: Hey, there is a problem here? I don't know where my colleagues on the other side are listening and getting this from. Eighty-seven

percent of this country says that we need stricter gun laws, but you don't hear them.

Too many lives have been stolen, too many children killed. Can't Republicans feel the pain of the survivors of these victims' families?

The American people are calling for passage of meaningful legislation to address gun violence. They are calling for action to stop mass killings in this country. They are calling to stop the taking of innocent children's lives in their schools.

I couldn't imagine sending my children to school these days and wondering if they are going to make it home. I am sending them there to be educated. I am not sending them there to do armed drills. What happens if there is an active shooter? That is what they are learning?

I look at my colleagues across the aisle and ask: Is there nothing that we can do together to stop this?

When children cannot go to school without fear of being shot, when innocent Americans cannot go to a nightclub or a movie theater or church without fear of being executed, then it is time for a new approach. The Congressional Black Caucus, with our Democratic colleagues, stands ready to deliver that approach.

Mr. Speaker, I want to read to you from a letter sent to me by a student at Cranford High School in Cranford, New Jersey, named Alessandra, who puts into words the thoughts of most Americans. She wrote: ``Although the Second Amendment of the Constitution protects the right to gun ownership, this does not mean that Congress cannot pass more laws to restrict the kinds of firearms and people buying them. As a high school student from Cranford High School, this issue affects me daily as the number of school shootings increases.''

Mr. Speaker, I will close and say that we have a responsibility to our constituents, like Alessandra. We have a responsibility to ensure our Nation's laws keep us safe and to ensure that we hear their voices and act on their behalf.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the importance of treating immigrants in a humane way.

In a hearing in the Homeland Security Committee recently, we discussed an incredibly offensive collector's coin called a challenge coin being sold online.

It depicted a Border Patrol agent on horseback chasing a Black Haitian migrant with a whip. The coin celebrated the incident, and it was claimed to be circulating with Border Patrol agents.

It disgusted almost everyone in the hearing, except for a prominent MAGA Republican who laughed about it. No one should find the abusive treatment of human beings funny.

It is a national embarrassment. These migrants are trying to better their lives and the lives of their families.

We need to have an effective immigration policy in this country, but we also need to make sure all migrants, regardless of status, are treated humanely and fairly.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise Bobbi Wilson and her attempts to rid our neighborhoods of the invasive spotted lantern flies.

Bobbi Wilson is 9 years old and a young lady from Caldwell, New Jersey. When she learned about the dangers of spotted lantern flies, she made it her mission to collect and kill as many of them as possible.

This invasive species is so dangerous to local plants and trees that ecologists urge residents to squash them on sight.

Unfortunately, a local Republican Party leader called the police on her. He said that he was scared when he saw a young, 9-year-old Black female in his neighborhood.

I am livid that even Black children doing good deeds are subjected to the abject racism that infects this country.

Luckily, Bobbi Wilson was praised locally and nationally for her efforts. She earned recognition during a city council meeting and even from Yale University. No child in America should have to face the police for doing good deeds in their community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss H.R. 2811, the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023.

This bill is more proof of the Republicans' anti-American agenda. It would create more water and air pollution nationwide. It would cost the country trillions of dollars in taxes from corporations and the richest 1 percent. It would deny food assistance to hardworking American families who need it. And it would deny American college students and schoolchildren a quality education.

Republicans only care about budget cuts during Democratic administrations. They said nothing when Donald Trump added $8 trillion to the national debt. Thankfully, Democrats put people over politics.

President Biden's budget saves trillions of dollars and helps American families. It benefits all Americans, and it is the plan we need right now.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Roselle Active Seniors group. It began in 1983 when a group of Roselle residents took trips to local places of interest. The connections and conversations between the residents soon sparked talk of a formal group.

Today, the Roselle Active Seniors group provides fun activities, trips, and outreach opportunities for local seniors, and it is an important part of our community. Group members provide Easter baskets for children with disabilities, baby supplies for single mothers, toy drives and winter clothes for children in need, and food baskets for families during Thanksgiving.

I attended a recent gathering of the group, and I was extremely impressed with the members and their organization. It is an incredible group that I am proud to have in my district.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, or H.R. 734. This bill is yet another attack by the Republicans on a vulnerable population in America. It is nothing more than an attempt to score cheap political points and bully transgender youth. I question why the Republicans are so eager to pass this bill now.

Do you remember what the Republicans said before the last election? They told Americans that they would work with President Biden to lower inflation, that they would work with the President to lower gas prices, they would protect the economy, support a rise in the debt ceiling, and offer an alternative budget.

Now that they have the House majority, they have done none of those things. The Republican priorities are not aligned with the needs of the American people, and the American voters are paying attention to it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to denounce the MAGA Republicans' failure to support Americans. They want to remove an FDA- approved medication and control women's rights to their own healthcare choices. They deny the freedom of speech and the freedom of assembly to minority elected officials, and they support putting guns in the hands of people with severe mental issues.

Thankfully, the Democrats put people over politics and address the country's real issues. We are lowering inflation and protecting the right to vote. We have created 12.6 million new jobs for hardworking Americans in the last few years. We are lowering prescription drugs to help American seniors. We are fixing highways and bridges nationwide to help Americans travel.

Clearly, we are the party that cares about America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to condemn the decision to shut down the last Washington, D.C.-based bureau for New Jersey media.

In March, NJ Advance Media closed its Washington news bureau forever. It was the last Washington news bureau to focus on New Jersey-related content.

This closure robs New Jersey readers of critical political information, and it undermines the media outlet's responsibility to keep its readers informed.

Now, New Jersey readers will not know how congressional funding benefits their communities, and they will not know how they will be affected by legislation and possible political corruption.

The bureau had one reporter, the excellent Jonathan Salant, so it was a cost-effective way to provide this information. Instead, NJAM betrayed the very purpose of a news outlet to increase the bottom line.

I hope NJAM will reopen this bureau soon and provide effective coverage of national politics to its New Jersey readers.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 106th anniversary of Abyssinian Baptist Church.

For 106 years, the Abyssinian Baptist Church has helped thousands of people find salvation and spiritual health. It

serves the community through faith-based initiatives and brings hope to residents who need it. The spirit of this congregation is represented in one of the church's original names.

In 1939, the church was called Friendship Baptist. It is through friendships that this congregation shows how much it cares about people.

In addition, it inspires the community with a strong dedication to serving the Lord our Savior. In the process, it has helped thousands of people who have walked crooked roads to find a straight path.

Congratulations again to Deacon James Destin and the pious congregation of Abyssinian Baptist Church. It is an exceptional faith- based community in my district.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida and the gentleman from Illinois for leading this Special Order hour, which is a great responsibility given to them by the chairman of this body.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the recent expulsion of two elected members of the Tennessee Legislature and the threat this action poses for American democracy.

On April 6, two Black elected officials, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, as we all know, were expelled from the Tennessee State Legislature. They were involved in peaceful protests to demand legislators pass stricter gun laws in the State.

Why they were engaged in that peaceful protest is because their colleagues had tried to silence them so many times during normal debate, in committee, and on the floor of the Tennessee Legislature that they finally had to take these actions in order to be heard. They were expelled because of that protest.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud of those young men. They stood up for what they felt was right, and they took their opportunity, as elected officials of that body, to be heard. If it took rebellion to be heard, a megaphone to be heard on the floor, then that is what they had to do.

I was honored to be part of something similar that the Congressional Black Caucus led on this floor not too many years ago. I see my colleague Joyce Beatty and my colleague Yvette Clarke here. They were both part of that rebellion. We sat down on the House floor, which is against the rules.

We sat down because of the same issue these young men spoke up for: gun violence. We were tired. John Lewis led us, as he had done so many times before, and we sat right down on that floor and held the House of Representatives for over 24 hours.

Our colleagues tried to come back and disrupt us and scare us, but we were unbowed. We continued to hold this floor until we had people understand that we were serious about this.

Our children are being killed all over this Nation, and the unfortunate thing that happens with so many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle is that, until it happens in their community, until it happens to their friends, until it happens to their family, they don't want to talk about it. Let it happen in their community and to their friends and to their family, and then we have to do something.

It is just like the fentanyl problem, a major problem in this country now.

Urban communities screamed about the opioid issue for 20 years, and nobody did anything. Now that it is impacting their families, it is a major health issue.

We have to understand that all issues in this country should be looked at in that manner. These young men were brave and articulate. It made sense for them to protest the horrible and unnecessary gun violence that occurs every day in this country.

In March, a former student entered the Covenant School in Nashville and killed three students and three adults. The school was part of Nashville's Covenant Presbyterian Church. Like millions of Americans, Tennessee residents are sick and tired of gun violence.

I have many Members behind me, so I will not belabor the point, but, Mr. Speaker, when are we going to address this issue?

The majority of the people in this country say they are willing to have reasonable gun background checks to make sure criminals or people with mental illness do not have these weapons because we are finding many times those are the people that are having these issues.

Why can't we deal with that? It is not unreasonable. Every American has a Second Amendment right to own a gun, but we should make sure we keep guns out of certain people's hands. That is what we need to do.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss the Lower Energy Costs Act, or H.R. 1.

That is a joke. Once again, the title of a Republican bill does not match the content.

This bill does not save Americans one dime in energy costs. Instead, it will cost them at least $2.4 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

It will pollute drinking water and poison the air we breathe. It eliminates Federal funds to decrease greenhouse gases, and it increases dangerous drilling on Federal lands and in national parks.

It was Republican President Richard Nixon who started the Environmental Protection Agency. Back then, Republicans cared about the health and safety of the environment and Americans. Clearly, this bill shows they could care less about both.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Walter Dukes and the 1953 Seton Hall University National Invitational Tournament (NIT) Championship team. It was exactly 70 years ago that Dukes led the Seton Hall Pirates to the NIT championship. It was a remarkable achievement for Dukes and his teammates, who fought racism and segregation during their historic championship season.

Walter Dukes was Seton Hall's seven-foot tall, African-American center during that magical 1952-53 season. Like most championship teams, the 1952-53 Seton Hall was well-coached with strong players at every position. The Pirates won 31 games that season and lost only two games. They remain the only New Jersey college basketball team to have won a national tournament championship. Dukes was their indisputable leader who pulled down a remarkable 734 rebounds that year, an NCAA Division 1 record that still stands.

Yet, many college basketball fans didn't approve of his presence on a basketball court dominated by white players. At the time, Life Magazine wrote about the experience for Dukes and the Seton Hall Pirates under the headline: ROUGH GAME. ROUGHER SEQUEL. In a four-page article, the magazine memorialized one of the ugliest, race-related moments in college basketball history- an angry mob attacking Dukes and his teammates following a loss against the University of Louisville Cardinals.

At the end of the 1952-53 regular season, the Pirates chose the NIT instead of the NCAA Tournament in order to avenge their loss to Louisville. Unfortunately, they never had that opportunity as Louisville was eliminated from the tournament. But, the Seton Hall Pirates continued to win and beat St. John's University, 58-46, to win the 1953 NIT title. Walter Dukes, Seton Hall's star center, was named NIT Most Valuable Player.

Walter Dukes continued to play basketball professionally for a few years with the Harlem Globetrotters and then in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the New York Knicks, Minneapolis (now Los Angeles) Lakers, and the Detroit Pistons. After his basketball career, Dukes became a civil rights lawyer to protect the rights of African Americans. He died in 2001 of natural causes at the age of 70.

Walter Dukes and his Seton Hall teammates are legends in New Jersey and college basketball lore. They are a team that should inspire all of us for their courage as they battled racism in their pursuit of a championship. Their 1952-53 championship season bears witness to the importance of character and faith to success.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Benevolent Protective Order of Reindeer.

This organization is one of New Jersey's oldest African-American fraternal organizations. It was founded in 1923 in response to the prejudice in other animal lodges.

Early organizations named after animals would not let African Americans become members, so the Benevolent Protective Order of Reindeer was formed and invited everyone to join.

Today, the organization's principles of service, unity, and charity are represented in its exceptional social work. In addition, it provides scholarships for worthy students and engages in community activism to fight for social justice.

The Benevolent Protective Order of Reindeer is an outstanding organization in my district, and I am proud to celebrate its 100th anniversary on the House floor today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise Theresa Maughan.

The East Orange Educator is New Jersey's 2022 State Teacher of the Year. She teaches 10th grade social studies at East Orange STEM Academy, and she is an inspiration to everyone in my district.

Ms. Maughan was born in Belize and immigrated to America when she was in elementary school. In her childhood, she was inspired to teach by her own social studies teacher. She has worked in education for 40 years.

Ms. Maughan tells her students that she tries to learn something new every day, and her commitment to my district's teachers and students has helped her win numerous awards, such as the 2021 Essex County Teacher of the Year.

Congratulations, again, to New Jersey's 2022 Teacher of the Year, Theresa Maughan. She is a great example of how teachers benefit our lives and communities every day.