Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, it is with great honor that I rise today to anchor this CBC Special Order hour. I would like to thank the CBC chair, Chairman Richmond, for his leadership in this effort.

For the next 60 minutes, we have an opportunity to speak directly to the American people about issues of great importance to the Congressional Black Caucus and many of the constituents we represent.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, I am going to do something highly unusual today, because my colleague who is here from the District of Columbia knows an awful lot about this subject. I have watched her; I have observed her. She has taught a few classes and a few people on this subject matter, and she is an expert.

So I think the best way to start off is with a person who was a former law professor who teaches, who really understands what our Supreme Court means as the third element, with the legislative and the chief executive. I have heard her in Congressional Black Caucus meetings.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton.

Mr. Speaker, I would ask my good colleague from the District one or two questions, if I could.

I listened very intently. One of my favorite decisions that came down was May 17, 1954, Brown v. Board of Education.

Mr. Speaker, the President asked Black Americans, after he came to the city of Philadelphia, he said: What do we have to lose? I think, ``what the hell do we have to lose?''

So I ask the gentlewoman that question in the context of Brown v. Board of Education, and that is over 64 years ago now. And for where we are, I just heard her very succinctly say about his ability to chip away and not, you know, be able to fully overturn.

So I would ask her to talk a little bit about how would she see anything relating to Brown v. Board of Education and his ability in any of his writings relating to that particular decision that came down.

Mr. Speaker, I would ask one other question.

The gentlewoman also laid out the percentages of numbers. Does the gentlewoman think there is some sort of philosophical packing taking place here when she describes the 8 percent versus the 2 percent. But just the 8 percent, is there some type of strategy

going on here relating to packing the Court, the Highest Court in the land, at least in some way influencing for years, 25, 50 years down the line? Is there something going on here that the public should know and be aware of?

The gentlewoman has obviously studied the court system, the judicial system herself over many, many years. Has the gentlewoman ever seen-- and I heard her make the comparison of President Bush, and I understood the comparison she made.

It seems like there is something else going on here besides just putting individuals on the Court, but there is something like some type of philosophical strategy going on here.

Am I missing some point in what the gentlewoman just laid out to us?

Mr. Speaker, the one last question I would ask the gentlewoman: The Congressional Black Caucus gave a document, as a matter of fact, to the President that said we have a lot to lose.

In asking that question--and the gentlewoman has again done an excellent job in laying out historical perspective for where we are-- obviously, as African Americans, it seems like, to me, there has to be a huge fear factor because, if the only check and balance, obviously, is the Congressional Black Caucus being the conscience of the Congress, and the United States Senate, you know, is that check and balance, what would you say to African Americans, Latinos, others relating to where we are, because this is a very crucial time.

What would the gentlewoman say when he says, ``What the hell do you have to lose?'' and we say, ``We have a lot to lose''? What would you say? What would you say to the people?

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from the great District of Columbia, where we need to make sure that she has a right to vote in this body is also something that needs to take place in terms of the District of Columbia and representation, and I thank her for that knowledge and information that she has provided to us.

I have someone else, Mr. Speaker, who I have grown deeply in understanding her thoughts and her comments. I had the chance of visiting the Seventh Congressional District in the great State of Alabama. She is moving and making a lot of things happen there in Alabama. She definitely said: ``I have to speak on this.'' I heard her give some comments before on this, and she has some real thoughts about what is taking place in the courts.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Alabama (Ms. Sewell).

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask my colleague from the great State of Alabama a question.

This President talked about cleaning up the swamp. She may recall he talked about that issue. From listening to her just now, it appears that we know how it was taking place with his Cabinet, but we are talking about something very sacred, and that is the courts. Can she talk a little bit about, does she see cleaning up the swamp taking place here relating to the courts? Because as I listened to her, it sounds like the courts are not being cleaned up.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask my colleague another question, but before I do that, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.

Mr. Speaker, in the past, Judge Kavanaugh has emphasized the importance of ``checking political alliances at the door.''

So I ask the gentlewoman that question relating to what she just said because, in addition to the dark future for landmark decisions like Roe v. Wade, voting rights, affirmative action, Brown v. Board of Education, accessibility to affordable healthcare could be greatly diminished, the gentlewoman said that has consequences. And this is his quote. He said ``check political alliances at the door.''

So tell us now, we have got about 4 minutes, tell us, can we believe that he will check the political alliances?

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Alabama, and I really appreciate her comments and help.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, the Congressional Black Caucus, with both of my colleagues, all of them today, really have shown how we need to be very conscious of this decision that the Senate is about to make. This is extremely important in talking about the future in America, and we need to understand that we must operate under the Constitution and the rule of law.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I want to lend my voice to this very important essential legislation. Nothing is more important than mentoring, particularly in small businesses. I know in the particular case of the city of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, SCORE is an important asset.

I thank the gentlewoman from North Carolina for her leadership on something that is extremely essential, something that transcends parties. It is about economic growth and economic opportunity, and I thank her for her leadership that she has shown in understanding the importance of mentoring.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2655, the Small Business Innovation Protection Act of 2017.

I want to thank my colleague Congressman Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania for working with me to help American small businesses via this critical piece of legislation.

H.R. 2655 directs the Small Business Administration and the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and the Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to enter into a partnership agreement; one, to develop high quality training for small business concerns related to domestic and international protection of intellectual property and how such protections should be considered in small business concerns' business plans and growth strategies.

Number two, to leverage existing training material already developed to educate inventors as well as small business concerns.

In addition, section 4 of this bill provides that the agencies must use the training material that they already have at their disposal.

I think that Members of the Congress have a special duty to try and ensure that our small businesses have all the tools in the toolbox they need to succeed.

We know that small businesses are critical to the economic strength of our country, especially new and growing tech-based economies.

That is why we should create programs like this to assist entrepreneurs in starting their own businesses, providing structure, and helping them with their progress.

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, where there are already 1 million small businesses, which, according to the Pennsylvania SBDC, employ 2.4 million workers that make up 47 percent of the private sector labor force, it is critical that these businesses be able to protect their intellectual properties so that they will feel free to continue growth and innovation and prosper.

This bill is a step in the right direction by expanding intellectual property education and training for small businesses. And frankly, Mr. Speaker, this bill is an example of how we can use the power of government to create narrowly tailored solutions to problems in the current public/private partnerships in Pennsylvania and around the Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to the support of my colleagues.

In addition to that, Mr. Speaker, there is a letter from the Biotechnology Industry Organization written in support of this particular bill I ask that my colleagues support.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of this Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for allowing me to lead this critical Special Order to speak about the lack of family values demonstrated by the Trump administration and the GOP, their choice to mismanage, and to offer a counternarrative to the wayward path they are leading us down.

Black people have no permanent friends or permanent enemies or permanent interests, as so eloquently stated by former Congressman William Lacy Clay, Sr.

Mr. Speaker, the President asked Black Americans: What do you have to lose?

The Congressional Black Caucus responded with a document that was hand-delivered to him that is titled, ``We Have a Lot to Lose.''

Over the course of the 2016 Presidential election, time and time again, then-candidate Donald Trump asked the Black community a larger question: ``What do you have to lose?''

The inquiry presupposes that the experience of all African Americans is destitute and that we live in fear. In fact, President Trump declared some African Americans' communities are

worse than war zones, demonstrating a lack of understanding of both constituencies.

The election has come and gone, and the time for the campaign calls is over. Now President Trump represents all Americans and must govern this Nation for the good of all Americans, whether they are Black or White, rich or poor, conservative or liberal.

So as the conscience of the Congress, the voice of the 78 million Americans and 17 million African Americans, the Congressional Black Caucus is obligated to answer President Trump's questions.

The answer: The African Americans have a great deal to lose under the Trump administration, and we have already lost a lot.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank our chairman, Chairman Richmond, for allowing me this opportunity to conduct this Special Order.

Over the next hour, we will speak about some of the issues that have faced the Congressional Black Caucus and Black people in this Nation. I say that to you because of this document I have in my hand, ``We Have a Lot to Lose.'' In this document that was presented to the President of the United States, it outlines those various issues.

What are we losing?

Based on last week's passage of the farm bill here in the House, we have lost benefits under the SNAP program. Thank God for the Senate, Mr. Speaker, because the Senate has passed a different version. I hope, Mr. Speaker, that that version will be the version that becomes the law of this land.

The Senate passed a version 20-1 out of committee, and they will bring that up for a vote because, Mr. Speaker, I believe that represents better the views and values of Members of this body. I do not believe the version that we passed in the farm bill represents this body.

I am disappointed that the GOP leadership had the unmitigated gall to bring this highly partisan and warped bill to the House floor for a second vote, posing as a farm bill. Nothing changed in the bill since the last time it came to the floor, so you have to wonder what was offered or said to those Members who voted ``no'' just a month ago to change their votes.

The partisan approach of the majority has produced a bill that will hurt thousands of people in the city of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Agriculture Committee, I submitted letters from the mayor of the city of Philadelphia. In that letter, the mayor of the city of Philadelphia laid out specifically the impact that that particular bill that came out of the House Agriculture Committee would have on the people of the city of Philadelphia. You are talking about affecting over 200,000 to 300,000 people in the city of Philadelphia.

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 1.8 million people can be affected. In Montgomery County, in the county I represent, 50,000 people are affected.

So, Mr. Speaker, it is clear that that bill that passed this House by only two votes was misguided and was heading in the wrong direction.

It is also clear, Mr. Speaker, that people who are on SNAP do not fight to be on SNAP. They understand clearly about the challenges that they face.

Forty-two million Americans are on SNAP. No, Mr. Speaker, those people are not fearful of work. They understand if there is a great opportunity available for them, they would take advantage of the opportunity.

I think it is clear to me, Mr. Speaker, that, again, this administration and the GOP were lacking some sense of connection to what people's values are. As a result, you saw that vote that took place last week. It again sends us in the wrong direction. It raises serious questions about the lack of family values from a party that is always talking about family values; but now, all of a sudden, Mr. Speaker, it seems like family values have gone out the window. Under this version of the farm bill, people will go hungry in my city and around the Nation.

As the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities notes, the House bill breaks with the long history of bipartisan efforts to improve and reform SNAP. It is clear, Mr. Speaker, there were 23 hearings on the issue of SNAP, and not one single time in the 23 hearings did they suggest that there should be a different direction in terms of SNAP.

Mr. Speaker, Democrats are for work. We are very clear. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus understand the importance of work. We know what it means to work. But to me, Mr. Speaker, that was a wrongheaded policy in terms of the farm bill. It did not justify that action, and it should not have even gone anywhere.

But as usual, Mr. Speaker, some people don't realize the election is over. We need to work together--Democrat, Republican, conservative, liberal, whoever it may be--because hunger is a problem, Mr. Speaker. It is not a problem just in certain communities; it is a problem across this Nation.

In spite of the employment numbers and in spite of what is told to us about the economy, there are a lot of people who are hungry. There are a lot of people who are left out of the process. This is not something that we should take lightly.

This is something that we would recognize and something we should work together on.

So, Mr. Speaker, I say to you today that it is clear to me that the Republicans and the Trump administration have gone in the wrong direction. When you talk about the issue of families and what needs to take place, this is not about family values.

I stress to you, Mr. Speaker, at the end of the day, millions of Americans who receive SNAP are consumers and are important parts of the economy who our farmers and ranchers depend on as a part of our farm and food economy.

Mr. Speaker, I have consistently said that food is medicine. Food is medicine and food policy is foreign policy. It is not something we should take lightly.

So today, the Congressional Black Caucus is going to talk about the importance of values, and particularly family values, and how all of a sudden there is amnesia when it comes down to the question of values.

We are saying to you today, Mr. Speaker, we want to make sure that people understand that the 42 million people who are on SNAP across this Nation are of all colors, of all races. It can happen to any of us. It is not something that we should sit back and all of a sudden think that this couldn't happen to anyone. This could happen to our brothers and our sisters. And we are our brother's and sister's keeper. It is not something that we should just willy-nilly suddenly say to ourselves that we shouldn't worry about. Yet, the GOP not only failed them, they failed America last week.

In addition, healthcare is one of the most important issues for our country, as seen by the mass rejection of the efforts by the GOP to repeal the Affordable Care Act last year.

Think about this, Mr. Speaker. Healthcare. Everybody has the right to a healthy life, regardless of age, race, gender, or preexisting condition. Medical issues are personal matters. Whether it affects physical or mental health, it should not result in financial ruin. We all should know and recognize that it is clear that any of us can have a health episode. No one is above it. It is something that we should not take lightly.

Mr. Speaker, we as the Congressional Black Caucus know and understand. And that is why we have fought so hard for healthcare. We have stressed over and over again that this, too, can happen to you.

We understand that, with preexisting conditions and the challenges that we have in our community of high blood pressure, diabetes, and other types of diseases, this is something we should address. We should make sure that people know and can take advantage of a healthcare system that is open and available. We should not be bankrupting people, Mr. Speaker, on the issue of healthcare.

Mr. Speaker, when the President and the GOP talk about family values, they seem to forget that when it comes down to the question of healthcare, that is something that we all should be ensuring everybody has. That is not a Democrat or Republican issue. That is an American issue. That is something right up there that we all should recognize that healthcare should be available to everyone. When we look at it and think about it, this is something we have to work for.

There is no simple answer to dealing with the question of healthcare, but we do believe the Affordable Care Act is a great foundation. We believe that the Affordable Care Act basically laid a tone and a foundation for this entire country.

As we all know, we have healthcare here in this House, in the United States Senate, and the President of the United States has healthcare. And that is provided for by the taxpayers of this country.

So it is not something we should take lightly. It is something that we should all understand that health issues can affect us all. When you really think about it, in terms of getting a job, how can you do that if you are not healthy? How can you take care of your family if you are not healthy? How can you do anything if you are not healthy?

This is something we believe is a family value and this is something that we all have said over and again. I believe healthcare is a fundamental right and not a privilege. No one should ever be afraid that taking care of their physical or mental health will cause financial hardship or be inaccessible to them for any reason.

I want to repeat that again, Mr. Speaker. I believe that healthcare is a fundamental right and not a privilege. No one should ever be afraid that taking care of their physical or mental health will cause financial hardship or be inaccessible to them for any reason at all. We need to think about that. We need to carefully think about exactly what that means.

When we talk about it in this day and age of family values, what is more important to a family than the health of the breadwinner, male or female? What is important to someone who is looking for an opportunity and they are prepared to go on that job?

It is very important, Mr. Speaker, that under the Affordable Care Act it allowed people to stay on their parent's healthcare until age 26. Also, the part about preexisting conditions. Don't take that lightly, Mr. Speaker. That is something that we all could be affected by.

It seems to me that over and over again in this House we seem to neglect to think about the conditions that we all face. Mr. Speaker, in healthcare, we have those moments where it can be with anyone and any condition they could be under. It is something that we should really understand and recognize. It is something that we shouldn't take lightly.

Healthcare is, to me, the most essential issue we face today. It is something that we all should be fighting for, no matter what party we come from, no matter what part of the country we come from. We should all understand what it means.

I will continue to be a voice for the voiceless to ensure adequate healthcare for all. That is something I believe is extremely essential, Mr. Speaker.

When I thought about giving these words, I basicall said, again, we are going to speak about the lack of family values demonstrated by the Trump administration. The Trump administration and the GOP talk about family values a lot. How can you talk about family values when you want to eliminate the SNAP program? How can you talk about family values when you want to reduce people's healthcare?

You can't talk about family values when, in the very same breath, you are talking about destroying people's healthcare and access to food. There is something fundamentally wrong with that.

So, Mr. Speaker, I stress to you today that this is not a partisan issue. Feeding people and healthcare is not Democrat or Republican. It is not conservative or liberal. It is something that we all need to be concerned with. If we are talking about moving America forward, then we will move it forward when we bring others along. I stress this is something that we all should be concerned with.

Turning to more hypocrisy from the party of family values, the Trump administration's unilateral decision to separate migrant children from their parents at the Southern border is just the latest example of the majority party refusing to practice what it preaches.

Just think abut it. Migrant children. Migrant children. Migrant children. Migrant children. I said that four times. I said that four times because I think it hasn't gotten through.

When you talk about separating children from their families, there is something wrong with that, Mr. Speaker. When you talk about using that for a political purpose and you talk about using them as an example of children and families, there is something wrong with that, Mr. Speaker. That is not the kind of America we want. We do not want an America where we are going to separate children and families. Children and families should be united. We should bring them together.

Mr. Speaker, when we hear the statement that Democrats want to basically just let anybody in the country, we know that is just for political rhetoric. Remember, I said earlier, going back to when we passed this book out that says we have a lot to lose, we said, Mr. Speaker, in the very beginning of this book, that the election is over.

I understand in 132 days there will be an election. Well, let the election speak for itself, Mr. Speaker. Let the results speak for themselves.

But there is no way you can talk about separating families. There is no way you can talk about separating children. There is no way that 2,300 to 2,500 children who are spread wherever they maybe, that is not the kind of America we want. That is not family values.

So if you talk about reducing SNAP and you talk about reducing healthcare and you talk about separating families, there is something wrong with that, Mr. Speaker. There is something wrong when we are now at a point where we are separating families.

Mr. Speaker, there have been a number of Members who have gone to the various borders and seen for themselves firsthand what is taking place. This is not the kind of America we want.

For a party that professes to understand the importance of advancing policies that promote family values, we now have a preponderance of evidence to the contrary.

I just ticked them off: SNAP, healthcare, and now separating families. If you take those three areas, there is something wrong with the context of talking about family values.

It is clearly that whether it is an excessive punitive immigration policy, changes to the free lunch program eligibility, proposals to cut Supplemental Security Income, or the refusal to adopt comprehensive criminal justice reform, the Republican policy agenda deliberately targets families, especially those in underserved communities of color.

Mr. Speaker, we are, in my view, in a very challenging time. We are probably, in my lifetime, in the most challenging time I have ever seen. This requires a different kind of leadership. It requires a leadership that puts America first. And in order to put America first, that means we must work together. We must work together on a farm bill that is bipartisan and that doesn't reduce SNAP. We must work to ensure healthcare is available. And we must be clear, Mr. Speaker, that we have an opportunity to make these things happen.

So I stress to you with the things that I have just stressed, that clearly we have got a chance to do something about these things. These problems persist even in the wake of the administration's immigration policy reversal and the so-called executive order.

Several members of the CBC have expressed concerns about the Republicans' inability to devise a coherent reunification plan for the children and parents separated by the President's misguided policy.

An American crisis is happening right now in front of us. Children, from the toddlers at the border to Dreamers losing DACA to American- born children of immigrant parents, have become the victims of Trump's America.

Let me repeat that. An American crisis is happening right now in front of us. Children, from the toddlers at the border to Dreamers losing DACA to American-born children of immigrant parents, children have become victims in Trump's America. This is not what should be happening in America.

Mr. Speaker, yes, we have our challenges, but the fact of the matter is that we need to work together. So as a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, I stand here, Mr. Speaker, saying to you that the Congressional

Black Caucus is ready to work together to make a difference.

The practice of punishing parents who are trying to save their children's lives and punishing children for being brought to safety by their parents by separating them is fundamentally cruel and un-America. That should not be accepted, Mr. Speaker.

For this next hour, we, as members of the Congressional Black Caucus, are standing up to shine light on this situation.

We are determined to make sure, Mr. Speaker, that people understand that this should no longer be acceptable; we should not continue to pit this section against that section; and that we all understand, when it is all said and done, that we are in this together. Although, as Dr. King said, we may have come over on different boats, we are in the same boat now. That is called America--an America that is inclusive.

The Department of Homeland Security denied that they were breaking the sacred bond between parents and children until The New York Times reported that more than 700 children have been separated from their moms and their dads since October.

Family unity is recognized as a fundamental human right enshrined in international law. The Trump administration's proposed action to separate immigrant families flies in the face of this law. It must stop. It must stop, Mr. Speaker. The practice of separating children from parents as a deterrent to seeking asylum is inhumane and cruel. Seeking asylum is not illegal. In fact, it is written into U.S. immigration law to ensure that those with a credible fear of persecution that they can present their case.

The American Academy of Pediatrics opposed DHS's proposal that would separate mothers from their children arriving at the border, saying that, in a time of anxiety and stress, children need to be with their parents, family members, and caregivers.

I stand here tonight, on the 6-month anniversary of the tax bill. But before I speak on that, I have a colleague of mine from the great State of Texas. She has been in the forefront. I have watched her in the short period of time I have been here. When she speaks, there are many who listen to her.

She is relentless. I have watched her be relentless, driven, purposeful, and focused. She is the great lady from the State of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.

Mr. Speaker, can you tell me how much time I have remaining?

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask one quick question then.

Ms. Jackson Lee has visited some of these locations. Can she describe--because I haven't been there, or maybe for people who haven't--exactly what is going on in those centers.

Mr. Speaker, I want to end with that comment by the great gentlewoman from the State of Texas on Chairman Richmond's leadership of the Congressional Black Caucus. There is no better way to end than that comment.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a hard-working and influential member of the Philadelphia business community, Mr. Kenneth Woodson. Kenneth has served as Vice President of Community and Government Relations of the Philadelphia Zoo for 25 years.

In his role, Kenneth works with the President and CEO of the Philadelphia Zoo to develop and maintain relationships with civic and community organizations and government officials. He is also responsible for managing the implementation of strategic projects, such as the Zoo Balloon and the recently completed Centennial District Intermodal Transportation Center (IMTC).

For the past 35 years, Kenneth has held several senior management positions in government, banking, and the not-for-profit housing sector. Prior to joining the Philadelphia Zoo, he served as Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of the Philadelphia Department of License and Inspections and has also served as a senior manager of Philadelphia Housing Development Corporations' Home Improvement Program.

In addition to his position at the Philadelphia Zoo, Kenneth is an ordained Baptist preacher and serves as an Associate Minister and Executive Minister to the Pastor at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Philadelphia, PA.

As evidenced through Kenneth Woodson's experience, he has dedicated his life and career towards serving the citizens of the City of Philadelphia. The 2nd Congressional District of Pennsylvania extends gratitude to Kenneth Woodson for his dedicated support to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise with great honor to salute the Philadelphia Orchestra on its upcoming historic tour through Europe and Israel. I have had the privilege of working to support them over the years during my time in the Pennsylvania Legislature, and now here in Congress. I can't think of a better cultural ambassador for our country, the Commonwealth, and our great city, than the finely-tuned Philadelphia Orchestra.

With support from Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf's Department of Community and Economic Development and State Department diplomats, and more than 150 Pennsylvania musicians, non-profits, and business leaders, this historic journey starts in Brussels, Belgium, and will wind its way through Luxembourg, France, Germany, and Austria. These historic countries are iconic in their musical backgrounds, having given birth to artists such as Beethoven, Brahms, Poulenc, Wagner, and Mozart.

I take special pride in the Philadelphia Orchestra's visit to Israel, in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. This visit not only confirms and solidifies the distinct and unique cultural, political, and humanitarian bond amongst the City of Philadelphia, the Jewish community, and the State of Israel. Israel and its people have been continually under siege for ages from the time of Judea to Samaria, and by recognizing their dignity, honor, and courage, the Orchestra's visit serves to underscore how important Israel is to the Middle East writ large, and to America. And let me add that the Philadelphia Orchestra should be noted for the diversity of its musicians and staff orchestra's diversity complements.

I would like to give special recognition to the Philadelphia Orchestra's director, Yannick Nezet-Seguin, the chairman, Richard Worley, and the leadership at the top who have helped forge ties both near and far, Philadelphia Orchestra Interim Co-Presidents Ryan Fleur and

Matthew Loden. And I also wish to salute Naomi Adler, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and Director of Government Affairs, Robin Schatz for their leadership, and special role in informing us on the unwavering dignity and humanity of Israel.

I am proud to represent a city that boasts some of the most iconic music heard around the world. I salute our well-traveled Philadelphia Orchestra and look forward to my next symphony.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise with great honor to salute the Philadelphia Orchestra on its upcoming historic tour through Europe and Israel. I have had the privilege of working to support them over the years during my time in the Pennsylvania Legislature, and now here in Congress. I can't think of a better cultural ambassador for our country, the Commonwealth, and our great city, than the finely-tuned Philadelphia Orchestra.

With support from Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf's Department of Community and Economic Development and State Department diplomats, and more than 150 Pennsylvania musicians, non-profits, and business leaders, this historic journey starts in Brussels, Belgium, and will wind its way through Luxembourg, France, Germany, and Austria. These historic countries are iconic in their musical backgrounds, having given birth to such artists such as Beethoven, Brahms, Poulenc, Wagner, and Mozart.

I take special pride in the Philadelphia Orchestra's visit to Israel, in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. This visit not only confirms and solidifies the distinct. and unique cultural, political, and humanitarian bond amongst the City of Philadelphia, the Jewish community, and the State of Israel. Israel and its people have been continually under siege for ages from the time of Judea to Sumeria, and by recognizing their dignity, honor, and courage, the Orchestra's visit serves to underscore how important Israel to the Middle East writ large, and to America. And let me add that the Philadelphia Orchestra should be noted for the diversity of its musicians and staff orchestra's diversity complements.

I would like to give special recognition to the Philadelphia Orchestra's director, Yannick Nezet-Seguin, the chairman, Richard Worley, and the woman at the top who has helped forge ties both near and far, Philadelphia Orchestra Interim Co-Presidents Ryan Fleur and Matthew Loden. And I also wish to salute Naomi Adler, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and Director of Government Affairs, Robin Schatz for their leadership, and special role in informing us on the unwavering dignity and humanity of Israel.

I am proud to represent a city that boasts some of the most iconic music heard around the world. I salute our well-traveled Philadelphia Orchestra and look forward to my next symphony.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Congresswoman Clarke, for leading this critical Special Order to speak about the national epidemic of gun violence, an important topic to all of us.

Sadly, though, Mr. Speaker, it seems that most Members only need to dust off their talking points from the last mass shooting, which was in Florida at Parkland. As the Grammy-winning artist, Kelly Clarkson, noted over the weekend, the same script plays out: vigils are held and the dead children are in our thoughts and prayers and life goes on, with most of the rest of us hoping and praying that our loved ones will not become a victim.

Let me repeat that, Mr. Speaker. The same old script, which we play the same old game over and over again, we have these vigils, we come to this floor, we make these prayers, and the reality of it is, we hope and pray that someone will not become a victim.

Yet nothing gets done because the GOP leadership refuses to do anything about gun violence. The Black community is at a critical time because we have a lot to lose, because too many of our neighborhoods, unfortunately, have been subject to gun violence at a consistent rate, crimes which often goes unpunished because of unreliable and reluctant witnesses.

And the same President who asked what do we have to lose, twitters away his time in a tunnel. It seems like he has no conscience when it comes to these children dodging bullets, because he does nothing but cower and duck responsibility.

On February 14, this Nation once again witnessed a horrific tragedy that took place at a high school in Florida. Seventeen lives were taken at the hands of a gunman with too much firepower. And now, another shooting, 3 months later after Florida and 7 months after Las Vegas in October. The horror and the tragedy that shook the Florida high school should have been the last.

Yet, tragically, our Nation has lost too many loved ones at the hands of gun violence, at the point where we often see the same reaction: hand-wringing, blaming going around, but nothing is being done to stop the violence. And now in a small town in Texas, it is being done again.

The city of Philadelphia knows all too well the lives lost at the hands of gun violence. In 2017, we saw our city experience its largest homicide epidemic since 2012. There were over 317 homicides in Philadelphia, according to data from the Philadelphia Police Department. And with the continued surge of gun violence in Philadelphia, last year I handed a letter to the Pennsylvania attorney general, Josh Shapiro, outlining our Commonwealth needs to use all resources possible to advocate for commonsense gun reform.

Since I handed that letter to our Commonwealth's attorney general, we have had more heartbreak in America,

including the unspeakable tragedy at a church, a place of worship and refuge in Texas, and a mass shooting at a concert in Las Vegas, Florida, and now Texas.

Too often these tragedies occur because there is unimpeded access to guns. There are over 300 million guns in America. Most are owned by law-abiding citizens without harmful or dangerous intent, yet a gun in the wrong hands can lead to the horrific situations witnessed most recently in Las Vegas, Texas, and Florida.

Nearly 1.7 million children live in a home with a loaded, unlocked gun. Every year, thousands of kids are killed by firearms as a result. Our goal here in Congress must be to make sure our communities and our churches and our children are safe.

When we hear from the President on these matters, you listen to a voice that does not sound like the Commander in Chief or the soother in chief, but a President who, frankly, does not understand his job and too often lacks empathy, which was the case shown last week.

We are in the business of doing no harm. As elected officials, we are here to help move our neighborhoods forward, not backwards. I stand before you today to tell you, just as I have always done, I will continue to advocate for commonsense gun reform to keep everyone in our neighborhoods safe. It is evident that we must do more than the current status quo.

I say to you, Mr. Speaker, today, under the leadership of our chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus and the leader of this Special Order, Congresswoman Clarke, that we are determined--we are determined to stay as long as we have to and continue to be in everyone's face about this issue.

Enough is enough. You have heard Members this evening say it about their districts, but it is not just in our districts. It is all across the country. Enough is enough. We all have to collectively recognize that this is not Democrat or Republican, but this is about the people in America.

So, Mr. Speaker, I say to you and to my colleague, who is leading this effort--and I thank her for showing the kind of leadership that is necessary in this effort, and she is doing a fantastic job in the great State and city of New York--in Brooklyn, that is. I want to make it very clear. She is leading this effort.

Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 2, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018. When Ranking Member Peterson, who has done four Farm Bills and is one of the most moderate in our Caucus, is upset with the process and the result, it tells you that the well has been poisoned. But let me tell you a little about me and why I chose to be on the Agriculture Committee.

I came from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania where I was proud to serve as Chairman of the state legislature's Appropriations Committee for twenty years.

There, I was able to secure billions of dollars for state programs that addressed urban and rural needs, roads and bridges, schools, the first Healthy Food Financing Initiative, and most importantly, many, many Agriculture programs around the entire state of Pennsylvania.

We should be in the business of first doing no harm, but here we are trying to pass off the Farm Bill as bipartisan, when in fact, this is an assault on the working poor, the disadvantaged, seniors, and veterans.

Mr. Speaker, in Pennsylvania that would translate to an additional 199,000 individuals between the ages of 50 to 59 who would face cuts to their SNAP benefits. It is more difficult for older individuals to find work when unemployed and many people want to work more than 25 hours, but simply cannot due to lack of available hours, children, or age.

Almost 2 million Pennsylvanians benefit from the SNAP, with over 215,000 in my District alone, and with the majority of benefits going to those in great need. This bill before us is unworkable for Philadelphia. It fails them, the process fails them, and for that I give this bill an F.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained due to pressing business in my Congressional District. Had I been present on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, I would have voted ``yes,'' on H.R. 613, Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Correctional Officer Self-Protection Act of 2017, ``yes,'' on H.R. 4854, the Justice Served Act, and ``yes,'' on H. Res. 285.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding to me. I rise in strong support of H.R. 3170, the Small Business Development Center Cyber Training Act. As a member of the House Small Business Committee, we look to find solutions to problems and address gaps in policy relating to small businesses.

H.R. 3170, which was introduced last year, is yet another example of a tool in the toolbox for small businesses and illustrates the important role that government can play in areas of cybersecurity, which continues to develop and is ripe for direction and collaboration.

This is an extremely important bicameral bill. Our small-business owners and entrepreneurs are the engines that drive people to live, grow, and succeed in our neighborhoods. We know that our small business community faces increasing cyber threats in our ever-changing global economy.

As seen by the glaring number of cyber attacks on American businesses in the past few years, it is critical that we work with the private sector to ensure that these businesses are not stiffed. Many large companies have the resources to fight these attacks by cybercriminals, but a lot of small businesses just do not have the time, money, or expertise.

Every day we hear about issues relating to national security and cyber attacks. They are threats to us all. We are all a part of cyberspace, and we have to ensure that proper safety precautions are in place.

We know that small businesses are especially at risk as it relates to cyber attacks; therefore, we must ensure that all small businesses have the ability to invest in the protection needed, but we must ensure proper coordination. I look forward to working with the chairperson and the ranking member.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1702, the Small Business Development Centers Improvement Act of 2018.

I want to thank my colleague, Congressman Blum of Iowa, for working with me to help American small businesses via this critical Small Business Development Centers bill.

The small business development centers provide assistance in Philadelphia and nationwide to small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs throughout the United States and its territories. SBDCs help entrepreneurs from Ogontz Avenue to Broad Street to realize the dream of owning a business and help existing businesses remain competitive in a complex, ever-changing global marketplace.

SBDCs are hosted by leading universities and State economic development agencies and funded, in part, through a partnership with SBA. SBA advisers provide aspiring and current small-business owners a variety of free business counseling and low-cost training centers and business development plans, manufacturing assistance, financial packaging, lending assistance, exporting and importing support, disaster recovery assistance, procurement and contracting aid, market research help and program support, and healthcare guidance.

Mr. Speaker, last week, at the Enterprise Center Minority Business Development Center in Philadelphia, run by an incredibly capable woman by the name of Della Clark, I had the honor of hosting the gentlewoman from New York, Ranking Member Velazquez, at a roundtable for women entrepreneurs.

I want to take a moment to thank the participants, the audience, and the community, as this is the type of collaboration necessary to ensure that we use small businesses and the SBDCs as another tool in the toolbox to help revitalize our city and remake it. Roundtables like those last week in Philadelphia are where entrepreneurs can share information, resources, and expertise, like background on small business development centers, with those who may not be aware of them.

Access to capital is key for entrepreneurs in Philadelphia that look to start new business ventures and expand existing ones. Economic development, both long- and short-term, is a by-product of small businesses receiving affordable financing to help them create jobs in their local communities.

This is an example of small business firms utilizing other financial programs, but this is where SBDCs are so critical because they help us make the connection to financing that otherwise would be missing. Traditional lending sources often ignore many communities around the country, resulting in small business utilization of other financial programs.

SBDCs began in 1976 with only eight participating universities. In fiscal year 2017, 188,225 entrepreneurs now receive business consulting, over 245,000 entrepreneurs are trained, and 14 million new businesses were created because of SBDCs.

Sometimes small businesses will utilize traditional sources such as their local banks, but many small bank owners will attest, sometimes avenues are not available, and that is where the SBA can be a lifesaver. Among the improvements we can make, we can work to make SBDCs better through the grants, loans, and other assistance to make SBDCs the garage of today, so that when an entrepreneur from North Philly has a dream, guts, and moxie to walk into one, they are not laughed at and turned away or spurned away. Let's face it: many of the people who have that dream and inspiration are not experts at spreadsheets, invoice management, and contract jargon.

This is a goal, as a member of this important committee, to ensure that any American can use the SBDC as a garage, like the Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Angela Riches of the world. Mr. Speaker, that is what the American Dream is all about.

I look forward to working with my colleague, Congressman Blum, and other members of the committee. I especially want to thank all of the members of the committee working together because, when areas such as North Philly, West Philly, South Philly, Narberth, Bala Cynwyd, or Ardmore have investment and capital needs, they know where to go and whom to ask for the SBA assistance.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues, and I encourage them to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 1702.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of this Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues for holding this Special Order hour, the CBC Special Order hour this evening, as we discuss SNAP and other efforts by the President and the GOP to shed the social safety net.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, Chairman Richmond, for allowing me to have this opportunity to lead what we call the ``Conscience of the Congress'' of the Congressional Black Caucus, who is the one who has led this and come up with this idea for us.

As we paint a picture of the Black community in 2018, it is clear that we have a lot to lose. Too many of our neighborhoods are, unfortunately, still plagued by rampant poverty, dysfunction, and crime. These are very serious issues that our community has to deal with.

But instead of the GOP Congress working with us side by side in a bipartisan manner, we have a group, Mr. Speaker, hell-bent on enacting jaded, outdated, economic backwards legislation in the form of SNAP that would throw thousands of recipients off the roles. According to the nonpartisan Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, SNAP is the country's most effective antihunger program helping one in five Americans afford a basic diet.

For over 15 years, State and Federal policymakers have worked on a bipartisan basis to strengthen SNAP. The GOP would take a large step backwards, reducing or eliminating benefits for more than 1 million households with more than 2 million people. And let me be clear, it is not just about programs, policies, and laws being enacted by the GOP and President Trump, it is about the overall tone that has been set by this President, who regularly raises insults, instead of engaging in meaningful policy discussions.

The President's review of welfare programs is an immoral attempt to get the programs that provide a basic standard of living for Americans struggling to make ends meet, all to pay for the massive tax cuts for himself and the richest 1 percent. Instead of taking food out of the mouths of poor children or kicking the elderly off of Medicare, President Trump and congressional Republicans should work with Democrats to put more money in the pockets of hardworking Americans.

Let me be clear: this executive order is a thinly veiled attempt to restrict access to healthcare, housing, food, and many other basic living programs by adding onerous so-called work requirements.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Alabama (Ms. Sewell), a person who I admire and had the chance of visiting with her in the great State of Alabama. She has a lot of experience firsthand and knows and understands what it means to be close to the people.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask my colleague from Alabama (Ms. Sewell) one quick question.

She raised a very good point about promise. Does she have any last thought about the element of promise; could she just take a minute or so, just really from her own experience and her own constituents, what the meaning of that promise means today?

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from the Seventh District of Alabama. I really appreciate her comments.

Mr. Speaker, throughout this next 45 minutes, I am going to be introducing

some of my colleagues, but I want to read a letter that was sent to me on April 27, 2018.

As the gentlewoman from Alabama said, I am from Pennsylvania; and being from Pennsylvania, our Governor wrote a letter, and this is what he said:

``I write today to express my concerns regarding the text of the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018, or the farm bill released last week. The importance of the farm bill to Pennsylvanians cannot be overstated. As you know, Pennsylvania farmers are facing the same challenges impacting the agricultural industry throughout the country. With trending towards lower farm incomes and a recent market loss for 42 Pennsylvania dairy farmers, the farm bill should be an opportunity to support our Commonwealth's most vulnerable agricultural industry. Unfortunately, the House Agriculture Committee has released a partisan bill that will punish struggling Pennsylvanians--especially seniors, individuals with disabilities, and working families in all your congressional districts.

``The farm bill has always been a bipartisan effort because hunger is not a political issue. For more than 40 years, Pennsylvanians have relied on the SNAP program to help put food on the table during tough times. Nearly 14 percent of our State's population is experiencing food insecurity. Cuts to SNAP will only increase that number.''

Mr. Speaker, the exact number in my congressional district, the Second Congressional District, is 215,195 individuals. In the new district, the Third Congressional District, it is 207,441 people who will be affected by these cuts.

``Let's be clear--SNAP recipients already face work requirements. This bill increases them and institutes lengthy ineligibility periods for individuals who are noncompliant just for 1 month. In this bill, by 2021, all nondisabled individuals ages 50 to 59 would face work requirements and by 2026, the required number of work hours per week will increase from 20 to 25. Yet this legislation does not include adequate funding for States to provide job training or allow individuals a period of time to engage in educational activities to help residents meet these new threshold requirements. In Pennsylvania, that would translate to an additional 199,000 individuals who will be affected. Let me repeat that. In Pennsylvania, that will translate to 199,000 individuals between 50 and 59 who would face cuts to SNAP. It is more difficult for older individuals to find work when unemployed, and many people want to work more than 25 hours but cannot due to lack of available hours, children, or age.''

Time limits on SNAP, Mr. Speaker, believe me, would have a devastating affect in Pennsylvania.

``SNAP is a critical social net for our seniors and families'' and veterans. ``SNAP recipients receive on average of $126 per month, which translates to around $1.40 per meal,'' Mr. Speaker. ``According to Feeding America, the average meal in Pennsylvania costs $2.93. These cuts are an attack on our most vulnerable citizens. If the goal of the House leadership''--that is, the Republican leadership--``is to decrease the amount of money the Federal Government spends on SNAP, I suggest''--this is Governor Wolf--``you raise the Federal minimum wage to $12 per hour'' so that people can have a real chance.

Mr. Speaker, I think it is clear from the Governor of Pennsylvania that there is an attack on poor people, and the Governor of the great State of Pennsylvania has gone on record in saying that we are moving in the wrong direction.

Someone whom I have a lot of respect for, and she has served in the great State of Wisconsin in the State legislature, and I have known her before I had this opportunity to come to Congress, is a person who is not shy about the things that she expresses. She speaks truth to power. That is the great woman from the Fourth District of Wisconsin, Mr. Speaker, Congresswoman Gwen Moore.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore).

Mr. Speaker, how much time do I have remaining?

Mr. Speaker, I want to respond to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore). I will give her something that is firsthand from a mayor who is on the forefront.

I have a letter here from the mayor of the city of Philadelphia, which Philadelphia has about 1.5 million people. It is one of the biggest poor cities in America, so I am going to give you somebody specifically who can state that he wrote a letter, and I want to read what he has said.

He said: ``In Philadelphia''--remember, where America started, the Liberty Bell, the Constitution Center, Ben Franklin. You remember that, right? That is where it all started, right?

This is what he said: ``In Philadelphia, approximately 480,000 individuals receive SNAP to help buy food they need to survive and feed their families.''

There are more SNAP recipients who can work and do not work and would prefer to work, more than if they could.

``SNAP is critical to helping low-wage and part-time workers who can't find steady employment, veterans''--those who fought for our country, those who have been out on the forefront--``people who are homeless. . . . ''

The number that came from HUD in the city of Philadelphia was in the ballpark of 6,000 to 15,000 people homeless. Now remember, that is where the Liberty Bell is, Independence Hall is, Betsy Ross' house. You remember all of that, right?

So it is clear that SNAP is critical.

``It also helps families with children, seniors, and people with disabilities put food on their table.'' And think of this: ``It doesn't cost much--the benefits average about $1.34 per person per meal--but it helps Philadelphians fulfill basic needs. And it also has been found to have long-term positive impacts on health, as well as on children's educational attainment. SNAP also contributes to the Philadelphia economy. Every dollar spent on SNAP generates $1.70 in economic activity in Philadelphia's grocery stores,'' grocers who depend a great deal on the importance of this initiative.

Remember, where America started, in Philadelphia, this is occurring. So here there is a letter from the mayor stating very clearly that cutting off SNAP will not help Philadelphians get their jobs but will just make it harder for them to pay for their food they need.

So, in other words, those work requirements and the things the gentlewoman described, we have an evidence-based letter of a mayor who is on the front line, who has to deal with these things every single day.

And the fact of the matter is you can document the statistics. In the congressional district that I represent, which is a part of the city of Philadelphia, there is 26 percent poverty, 195,000 people. There is a food bank in one of our major universities in the city of Philadelphia.

In the suburban district, which I have a letter from Montgomery County, which is supposed to be one of the richest counties outside of Philadelphia, I say to you, Mr. Speaker, that you ask the right questions and you raise the right issues all on the basis, as you described, on that framework and what you described, paying for that giveaway or taxes.

It is not an accident that that tax issue was H. Res. 1 and the farm bill is H. Res. 2. So you think about the order of that, you think about H. Res. 1, H. Res. 2, you see for yourself.

So the gentlewoman's whole theory is definitely not incorrect, and what she has laid out is very clear that this is an attempt to beat up on poor people, beat up on people in these communities.

Mr. Speaker, I say to you that we, as the Congressional Black Caucus, are not just going to sit silent. We are going to make sure people hear us. We are going to make sure people know that we are just not going to accept this.

So I say to the gentlewoman, I heard her message and I have described it to her.

I yield to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from the great State of Wisconsin for her comments.

I want to introduce someone else who is also on the Budget Committee, who I have watched a long time in the short period of time that I have been here. She has been a real fighter, and she speaks to the issues. I have not seen anyone intimidate her, and she is from the great 18th District of Texas.

I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good colleague from the great State of Texas in the 18th District for her comments adding to this discussion.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from the Governor of Pennsylvania, who indicated 1.8 million people are on SNAP; the city of Philadelphia, where it all started here in terms of America, 400,000 individuals on SNAP, a letter from the mayor of the city of Philadelphia; and a letter from the chair, Chairwoman Arkoosh, who is chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, the third largest county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, where 50,000 people are on SNAP.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,

Harrisburg, PA, April 17, 2018.

Hon. Dwight Evans,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Dear Congressman Evans: I write today to express my

concerns regarding the text of the Agriculture and Nutrition

Act of 2018 or the Farm Bill released last week. The

importance of the Farm Bill to Pennsylvanians cannot be

overstated. As you know, Pennsylvania farmers are facing the

same challenges impacting the agricultural industry

throughout the country. With trending low farm incomes and a

recent market loss for 42 Pennsylvania dairy farmers, the

Farm Bill should be an opportunity to support our

commonwealth's valuable agricultural industry. Unfortunately,

the House Agriculture committee has released a partisan bill

that will punish struggling Pennsylvanians especially

seniors, individuals with disabilities, and working families

in your congressional district.

The Farm Bill has always been a bipartisan effort because

hunger is not a political issue. For more than 40 years,

Pennsylvanians have relied on the Supplemental Nutrition

Assistance Program (SNAP) to help put food on the table

during tough times. Nearly 14 percent of our state's

population is experiencing food insecurity. Cuts to SNAP will

only increase that number. In February of this year, over 1.8

million Pennsylvanians were enrolled in SNAP, including

215,195 individuals in the 2nd Congressional District and

207,411 in the new 3rd Congressional District. Over 80% of

SNAP dollars are distributed to households with children,

seniors, or an individual with a disability according to the

US Department of Agriculture.

Let's be clear--SNAP recipients already face work

requirements. This bill increases them and institutes lengthy

ineligibility periods for individuals who are non-compliant

for just one month. In this bill, by 2021 all nondisabled

individuals ages 50 to 59 would face work requirements and by

2026 the required number of work hours per week will increase

from 20 to 25. Yet this legislation does not include adequate

funding for states to provide job training or allow

individuals a period of time to engage in educational

activities to help residents meet these new threshold

requirements. In Pennsylvania that would translate to an

additional 199,000 individuals between 50-59 who would face

cuts to SNAP. It is more difficult for older individuals to

find work when unemployed and many people want to work more

than 25 hours but cannot due to lack of available hours,

children, or age. Time limits on SNAP would now apply to

parents of children older than 6. Over 20% of Pennsylvania's

SNAP recipients have children in the household. These parents

already face significant barriers to meet the current work

requirements. Increasing them makes it more likely their

children will face hunger which creates barriers to academic

success and results in poorer health outcomes and a higher

risk of chronic conditions. Combined, each of these things

contributes to a cycle of poverty that can be almost

impossible to break.

Cuts to SNAP do not just affect those who receive SNAP

benefits. In the 2017 fiscal year, SNAP recipients in

Pennsylvania spent more than $2.7 billion in benefits. These

dollars do not only benefit the recipient but flow to local

business that provide jobs and economic stability to the

commonwealth. SNAP spending currently accounts for more than

10 percent of all spending on food purchased to be eaten at

home. It is estimated that each SNAP dollar spent provides

nearly double the impact in local communities. Cuts to SNAP

are cuts to cuts farms, food processors, and grocery stores

as well.

SNAP is a critical safety net for our seniors and families.

SNAP recipients receive on average of $126 per month, which

translates to around $1.40 per meal. According to Feeding

America, the average meal in Pennsylvania costs $2.93. These

cuts are an attack on our most vulnerable citizens. If the

goal of House leadership is to decrease the amount of money

the federal government spends on SNAP, I suggest you raise

the federal minimum wage to $12.00 per hour and lift millions

of Americans out of poverty that way instead of taking food

off the table for Pennsylvanians. I urge you to reject this

partisan legislation and instead work together on a bill that

can pass both chambers with bipartisan support. My

administration is ready and eager to engage in conversations

on legislation to benefit all Pennsylvanians. Thank you for

the opportunity to weigh in on this issue.

Sincerely,

Tom Wolf,

Governor.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to read a little bit from Ms. Arkoosh's letter.

``In Montgomery County, more than 50,000 residents receive SNAP benefits, and more than 21,000 of those recipients are children. Another 8,000 are senior citizens, and more than 7,500 are disabled adults. For these residents, the SNAP program makes the difference as to whether or not these vulnerable individuals have a meal each day.

``With an average monthly benefit of $123.51 for SNAP recipients, it is already difficult for recipients to receive proper nutrition. Not only that, but Montgomery County has a large population that is food insecure, but earn just enough to disqualify them for SNAP benefits. An estimated 58 percent of those who experience hunger in our county are ineligible for assistance. We need to extend SNAP benefits, not shrink them, for our most vulnerable county residents.

``In Pennsylvania, 1 in 12 workers use SNAP to supplement their nutritional needs. Many of the workers on SNAP earn low wages, have unstable schedules, and cannot rely on enough hours to feed their families each week. . . . ''

This is a major county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Speaker, I give this as further evidence that clearly we are going in the wrong direction. So let's be clear. With the President's executive order, which is a thinly veiled attempt to restrict access to healthcare, housing, food, and many other basic living programs, by adding on onerous work requirements, it is not surprising that this President is ordering a mass review of the social safety net programs that help the poorest of the poor the same week that the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projected a massive deficit as a result of the Republican's tax scam.

Let's be clear, Mr. Speaker. Democrats sounded the alarm months ago when the Republicans passed a massive $1.9 trillion tax cut. That is because Republicans employed this terrible three-step process before.

First, cut the tax rate for top income earners and corporations. Claim that it will magically pay enough through economic growth. We have heard that before.

Second, balloon the deficit when economic growth does not pay for the tax cut and pretend to be shocked.

Third, insist on massive cuts in critical programs that provide a basic standard of living for all Americans, like eliminating Meals on Wheels for seniors and benefits for Americans with disabilities.

Mr. Speaker, we have seen this plan before, and it is very unfortunate. We all need to understand, as Dr. King talked about, a beloved community. We are our brothers' and sisters' keeper.

What is worse, Mr. Speaker, the President's budget and executive action to make it harder for struggling Americans to get the help they need is officially step three.

The President and the conservatives who control this agenda paint a racist and inadequate portrait of poor people as lazy welfare queens who would rather depend on the government than pull themselves up by the boot straps.

But nothing could be further from the truth. It is a reality that a million Americans face. Everybody would like to work, Mr. Speaker. So let's be very clear. Everybody, if they have a good, decent job and a decent income, no one--no one, Mr. Speaker--wants to be on the SNAP program.

However, Mr. Speaker, understanding the cyclical nature of our economy, there is a need. Food banks cannot do it alone. We all know, the reality is there is a direct connection between what is happening in our economy.

So let's be clear. Our Nation's societal safety net already has failed to help the families they need. Already, in

the State of Pennsylvania, nearly 14 percent of our population, many of them in Philadelphia, are hungry. And, unfortunately, they will be joined by more Pennsylvanians if this farm bill is to pass.

Mr. Speaker, this is not something to be taken lightly. This is not something that we should smile and joke about because this is no joke. There are an awful lot of people out here, Mr. Speaker. And the Congressional Black Caucus stands today to work with anyone who is trying to move us forward and not backwards.

So it is clear, Mr. Speaker, in terms of the effects that we are having, this is something that we shouldn't take lightly.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to make a little announcement about the person who does all the staff work, because it is important to recognize staff.

She has been the guiding force behind these Special Orders, and I want to thank her personally and go on the record that Caren Street has been a fantastic person. She is just leaving the Congressional Black Caucus, but she will still be around and be available.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Caren for all she has done for the people of this country and particularly for the Congressional Black Caucus.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, the GOP is consumed by chaos and confusion. My fellow Democrats and I are focused on delivering better jobs, better wages, and a better future for hardworking Americans in Philadelphia and neighbors nationwide.

When it comes to childcare, the Republicans are offering a raw deal for our future leaders. We must protect, defend, and provide for the American children. That means better childcare, healthcare, and education. I am a firm believer that quality pre-K for our kids is an investment in the continued success of our cities.

That is exactly what we have seen in the city of Philadelphia, a city I have been proud to call home my entire life. Mayor Kenney's pre-K initiative in our city is making quality, reliable pre-K a reality for all kids. I have visited several early education providers: KenCrest, the Parent Infant Center, and Smart Beginnings. I can tell you firsthand that the services they offer are building a stronger city.

As your voice in Congress, please know I am working hard to deliver a better deal for our children and families, and that means to ensure pre-K for our children. Together we can build and level the playing field for a stronger Philadelphia block by block and a better place for all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Edward McLaughlin, military historian, for his dedicated voluntary service to our veteran community.

Edward McLaughlin has dedicated the last four years researching and cataloging the internment of over 1,000 Civil War Soldiers and Sailors of African American descent, who are buried at Philadelphia National Cemetery, within the Second Congressional District of Pennsylvania. They were soldiers of the United States Colored Troops, a fierce force of nearly 180,000 men that made up one-tenth of the Union Army during the Civil War.

As a volunteer historian, Edward McLaughlin spent a year downloading approx. 25,000 records, mostly from the National Archives as well as other sources. He then copied, sorted, and compartmentalized these records, and then had the information transferred into a book form. Edward McLaughlin's research contains a 2 to 5-line history of all the African American Civil War soldiers and sailors at the cemetery, photographs of each headstone, as well as a name to plot number. What makes this achievement all the more remarkable is the fact that this history had never been uncovered, until now.

After a study of the information for the first year, Edward McLaughlin realized that a storyboard needed to be erected to tell this story and went on a local speaking tour at libraries, historical societies and veteran's groups requesting letters of support for a story board, of which I lent my support. Because of his efforts, the National Cemetery Administration has constructed and installed a storyboard dedicated to the memory of the United States Colored Troops interned at Philadelphia National Cemetery. The storyboard is installed in Section C, which along with the bottom half of Section G, contains the burial plots of the United States Colored Troops interned at Philadelphia National Cemetery.

This storyboard joins three others that were installed three years ago at the Philadelphia National Cemetery. One chronicles the 155-year history of the cemetery, founded to receive the bodies of Civil War veterans already interred in nearby graveyards. The other two are dedicated to soldiers buried there: Valley Forge native Galusha Pennypacker, at 20, the youngest-ever brigadier general, and 184 Confederate soldiers wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg who died at nearby hospitals. Without Edward McLaughlin's expertise and tireless efforts, this proud chapter in American History would surely have been lost.

The 2nd Congressional District of Pennsylvania extends gratitude to Edward McLaughlin for his dedicated support and service to the Second Congressional District of Pennsylvania.