Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2345, the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act, and I want to thank Mr. Stewart and the committee leaders for the hard work in presenting this on the floor today.

This bipartisan legislation asks the Federal Communications Commission and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to study the designation of a three-digit dialing code similar to 911. Even 3-year-olds can remember 911. When a family is in crisis, an 800 number sometimes is difficult to remember.

The suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system makes it all American because we are faced with these kinds of incidences many times every day. The bill also requires them to perform a cost- and-benefit service analysis of using a three-digit dialing code for a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system and examine the overall effectiveness of the current National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Veterans Crisis Line and recommend ways to improve the current system.

Each year, 45,000 Americans take their own life, an average of 123 completed suicides every day, and an additional 1 million-plus Americans attempt suicide each year. While there are many resources for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis, it can be difficult to find these resources during this extreme time of need.

The current National Suicide Prevention Lifeline has increased access, but the dialing code can be cumbersome to remember, 1-800-273- TALK. Just try to remember dialing that many digits.

Unfortunately, in many States where there are numerous entities providing services, there is not always one consolidated number to call. The National Suicide Prevention Hotline Improvement Act is an important step to achieve that end. This legislation will build upon the success of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to increase access to lifesaving services while evaluating new and innovative ways to improve the current system. It is critical that we move quickly on this bill so that we can begin saving more lives each day.

Mr. Speaker, the judicial branch serves as one of the key pillars of our democracy, charged with restraining both the legislative and executive branches from reaching beyond their constitutional authority first envisioned by our Founding Fathers. The importance of having qualified judges on the bench is not only vital to the judiciary, but also to the proper functioning of our system of checks and balances--and by extension, our democratic system. By stacking the courts with biased, unqualified judges, President Trump and Senate Majority Leader McConnell are choosing party over their country in a manner that will cause enduring harm to the process and principles that we hold dear as a democratic nation.

The nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court is already a dangerous threat to longstanding precedent on matters regarding civil rights, abortion, and government oversight. However, the lower federal courts are equally as important to the judiciary's ability to protect the fundamental rights that we enjoy as Americans. President Trump has demonstrated time and time again through his nominations of extreme candidates that he has little to no regard for due process, and has every intention of leaving behind a lifelong legacy of stacking the courts to favor radical right-wing conservatism.

Mr. Speaker, the nominees being put forth by this Administration and the process by which they are being vetted is a wild and dangerous departure from regular order. Senate Republicans are knowingly sidestepping traditional vetting protocols in order to rush right-wing judicial nominees through the process before the American people can react. It is a misguided practice that places partisan politics over the needs of the American people, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to oppose any unqualified nominee at every opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, today marks 100 years since the birth of famed political leader and philanthropist, Nelson Mandela. Often referred to as the ``Father of the Nation,'' Mandela is best known for serving as South Africa's first black head of state and using his administration to dismantle the strict system of apartheid that existed in South Africa from 1948 until the mid-1990s. Since that time, Mandela has become a global icon of democracy and social justice, which is relevant even today as we continue to wrestle with our own issues of divisiveness and racial disparities.

Mandela began his activism at a relatively young age. While studying law at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, Mandela quickly became involved in a movement fighting against racial discrimination. In 1944, Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC) and worked to establish its youth league, the ANCYL, in order to help foster new leaders and call for civil disobedience against the new laws that came with apartheid.

By 1961, Mandela co-founded an armed wing of the ANC once the government would not respond to peaceful demands for equality. Mandela was ultimately imprisoned for nearly three decades, where he was subjected to inhumane punishment and other atrocities.

Once Mandela was released from prison, he quickly moved to lead the ANC in negotiations with the governing National Party to bring an end to apartheid. By May 10, 1994, Mandela was elected and sworn in as the first black president of South Africa--a position he would use to bring peace and equality to the nation. After leaving office, he continued to help address global issues through direct intervention and through the Nelson Mandela Foundation. Nelson Mandela died on December 5, 2013, after a long and fruitful life.

Mr. Speaker, Nelson Mandela left behind a lasting legacy that will continue to inspire generations to come. It is fitting that even after one hundred years, as our society continues to overcome challenges to our democracy and social justice, that we honor such a timeless figure in our history. Even in death, his selfless dedication to equality and democratic ideology serve as a reminder that we must always be fighting to defend the values that we hold dear as a nation. It is in the absence of such a strong defense of our values that we succumb to the tyranny and oppression of the past.

Mr. Speaker, while the Trump administration has clearly taken steps to reunite immigrant children with their families, there are still 100 children under the age of five in the government's custody. The court ordered deadline to reunite all of these children with their parents was yesterday. The Departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services must continue to make it a top priority to locate these children's parents and reunite these families in a timely manner.

The Trump administration's inhumane ``zero-tolerance'' policy was finally stopped by the President, but the terrible effects of this policy continue. DHS' poor recordkeeping has resulted in the prolonged separation of these children. Twelve of these children's parents have already been deported, making it much more difficult for them to reunite with their children. The Department of Homeland Security has had to resort to DNA testing to ensure that children are properly reunited, a costly and tedious process that prolongs the trauma these children are experiencing. This excess cost to American taxpayers could easily have been avoided had the Trump administration thought about the reunification process rather than solely focusing on separating children from their parents.

These children have already endured an incredibly dangerous journey from their home countries, and the Trump administration has subjected them to even more suffering. The American Medical Association has stated that separation from parents can cause lifelong psychological trauma for these children, particularly children who are under the age of five. Sadly, there are already reports of children who no longer recognize their parents after these prolonged periods of separation.

The Departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services must take immediate action to expedite the process of reunification, and Congress must use its legislative authority to hold these departments accountable and ensure that these human rights violations are corrected. Children have been taken from their parents, and it is all of our responsibility to ensure that this administration are reuniting them as quickly as possible.

Mr. Speaker, today I am very pleased to support H.R. 5906, the ARPA-E Act of 2018.

Even though the agency is still relatively young, ARPA-E has already demonstrated incredible success in advancing high-risk, high-reward energy technology solutions that neither the public nor the private sector had been willing or able to support in the past. This was highlighted in a Congressionally mandated National Academies review of the agency released last year. Industry leaders like Norm Augustine and Bill Gates have repeatedly called for tripling this agency's budget given the unique role that it is now playing in our energy innovation pipeline.

ARPA-E's impressive track record includes over $2.6 billion in private sector follow-on funding for a group of 136 ARPA-E projects since the agency's founding in 2009. Equally notable, 71 projects have formed new companies and 109 projects have shown enough promise to result in partnerships with other government agencies for further development.

And I'd be remiss if I didn't refer my colleagues to DOE Secretary Perry's address to the ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit in March, where he said, and I quote, ``ARPA-E is one of the reasons DOE has had and is having such a profound impact on American lives.'' I couldn't have said this better myself.

The ARPA-E Act of 2018 maintains the structure and nimbleness of this critical agency while also enabling it to help tackle one of the Department of Energy's most expensive, intransigent problems, which is managing and remediating the legacy waste sites from our nation's past production of nuclear weapons. The bill also includes language from the bipartisan ARPA-E Reauthorization Act that I introduced last year which would ensure that sensitive business information collected by the agency remains protected. This will enable even greater private sector engagement in future ARPA-E projects and programs.

I would like to thank Mr. Lucas and Chairman Smith for working with me to introduce this bill, and I hope that all Members will support this critical investment in our nation's clean energy future.

Mr. Speaker, House Republicans continue to profess that ``family values'' form the bedrock of their decision making. Yet, time and time again there is action being taken to the contrary. We have seen that the same ``family values'' that Republicans claim to have are not evident in the debates here on the floor, the legislation brought forth, and ultimately what is voted on in Congress.

Whether the topic is food nutrition for our children, Supplemental Security Income benefits for older Americans, or immigration policies, the average American family does not stand to benefit from many of the proposals considered by my Republican colleagues. Even when it comes down to the physical well-being of our citizens, Republicans have shown through their actions that they value profits more than lowering the cost of health care for millions of Americans. In fact, the recent corporate tax bill passed by the Republican party is have directly associated with a 15% spike in premiums at the expense of middle- and working-class Americans. The nonpartisan CBO also reported that another 3 million will be pushed off their coverage altogether.

I have even greater concerns as to how House Republicans are strengthening families while the GOP Farm Bill that passed last week will kick at least 2 million people off food stamps, and cut total food stamp benefits by more than $23 billion. Meanwhile, Republicans refused to include limits on subsidies provided for crop insurance--one of the few federal programs without eligibility caps or payment limits. Moreover, Supplemental Security Income is truly a provider of last resort and is vital for those who depend on it, yet my colleagues continue to impose devastating cuts to a program that benefits our most vulnerable. On the immigration front, Republicans are unwilling to allow migrant families to remain together and are instead separating them at our southern border.

Mr. Speaker, these are just a few examples of how what we do here impacts millions of families all across the country. I believe many of my colleagues will agree with me that strong families form the foundation of a strong nation. Any decision on policy, whether economic or social, should be made to the overall benefit of the everyday American family. However, we must be extremely careful not to do so at the expense of millions of middle and lower class Americans who are already struggling to get by.

Mr. Speaker, during a 2-week period in May, 658 immigrant children were separated from their families by Customs and Border Patrol agents at our southern border. The number of immigrant children held in custody by the United States government is now 10,773, an increase of 21% since the end of April. Sadly, this practice of family separation continues to be applied by the Trump administration today. It must be stopped immediately.

The high majority of families crossing our southern border come from Central America, where rampant violence threatens the lives of women and children in particular. These families come to the United States in hopes of finding safety. Instead, this inhumane policy enforced by the Trump administration ensures that parents and children will face additional psychological and emotional trauma.

Separation from parents is particularly damaging for young children, who have already endured a long and dangerous journey from their points of origin. Aside from the obvious emotional toll of parental separation, a report released by the American Civil Liberties Union last month details pervasive abuse of unaccompanied children by the Customs and Border Protection agency. Instances of this abuse include CBP officials repeatedly punching a child's head, verbally abusing detained children, and denying a pregnant minor medical care, which resulted in a stillbirth.

Congress must come together to end the Trump administration's practice and to ensure that these migrants are treated humanely. Attorney General Jeff Sessions' recent announcement that this administration will not grant asylum to victims of domestic and gang violence will only exacerbate the problems these families face, and at the very least, we must ensure that they are able to stay together as they face their uncertain futures.

Mr. Speaker, no matter where they come from, parents and children belong together, Congress must use its legislative authority to prevent the Trump administration from ripping them apart.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the ranking member for her help on this issue.

I appreciate the opportunity to speak about an issue that is very important to my constituents and, of course, to me. I began my career as a nurse, where I provided hands-on patient care for 15 years at the Dallas Veterans Administration Hospital. I actually opened the psychiatric service.

I rise today regarding an issue that is prevalent in my district and, more likely, is coming around the country: the Department of Veterans Affairs delaying, sometimes for years, payments for services that have been authorized by the VA and performed subject to their requirements.

Small business vendors depend on timely payments in order to pay for their services, pay their employees, and conduct business that they have agreed to perform for the price the VA has agreed to pay.

Veterans and their care are very important to me, and one thing I have noticed in my career, both at the VA and

here in Congress, is that it is important that getting the payment, whatever and wherever it is owed, and whether that is the veteran, a physician, or a contractor, is important.

I could talk about a number of things about the VA, but one of the things that is really hurting veterans is the delay of payment of vendors that render service.

The other week, one of the small vendors came into my office and said he was still waiting for payment from 2015. These vendors, for the most part, offer services to the veterans away from the hospital. It should not take that long for them to be paid.

It is ruining the home healthcare program because they cannot continue, year after year, to deliver this care without getting paid; and many of the small vendors have stopped servicing the veterans because they never see payment in sight. So that is a major issue which I came to speak about today.

Fee-basis care is preapproved by the VA, and the veteran, VA facility, and provider are all aware of the costs of the care being performed. There should not be a delay in delivering payment for essential services provided to the veteran.

Many of these small businesses have to file lawsuits and get attorneys to retrieve their money. Many of them have been put out of business and made up their mind they cannot service veterans because they cannot get paid in a timely manner. Two or 3 years late for payment is a long time for small businesses.

My concern is this slow-walking of claim payments is endemic throughout the VA, and veterans are being held responsible for the delay. Not all contractors are as savvy as my constituent and might not know what the next step should be to resolve these issues.

My amendment is designed to encourage the VA to report on the number of vendors who are being held hostage to slow payment around the country and how much money is being tied up in these delays. These small vendors cannot survive these long delays in getting paid.

We need to know how big the problem is and how we can figure out how to fix it.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I really appreciate the comments of the ranking member, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, and Chairman Dent agreeing to look into this issue.

I yield back the balance of my time.

I rise today in support of H.R. 8--the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2018. As the most senior Texan on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and former chair of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, I am pleased to support this bill which represents a bipartisan effort to authorize critical water infrastructure projects and develop our nation's future water resources.

Our ports, inland waterways, locks, dams, flood protection, and other water infrastructure are vital to our nation and its global competitiveness. Water infrastructure forms a critical backbone in support of our overall infrastructure needs and H.R. 8 will ensure that the United States can provide not only basic water resources for its people, but also promote commerce along our nation's waterways.

One element of the WRDA bill that I wish had been addressed is the full use of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF). The HMTF was established to cover the operation and maintenance (O&M) expenses of our waterways and harbors. As Harbor Maintenance Taxes (HMTs) are collected, it is the responsibility of Congress to appropriate its spending for dredging and other O&M activities. A sufficient amount of HMT revenue is collected each year to meet our nation's annual authorized harbor maintenance needs. It is critical that we remain open to the idea of fully utilizing the HMTF for harbor maintenance purposes.

Mr. Chair, I look forward to working with Congress to continue authorizing these important projects and sticking to a two-year authorization cycle. Doing so will ensure that we are able to advance water resources development projects in a timely manner and provide the predictability and support that is so desperately needed.

Mr. Speaker, today the House is expected to consider H.R. 5682--the Formerly Incarcerated Reenter Society Transformed Safely Transitioning Every Person Act or FIRST STEP Act. This bill represents a good faith effort to improve the reintegration of incarcerated individuals back into their communities and reduce recidivism. In this political climate, we must always strive to achieve meaningful reforms wherever possible. I believe that the FIRST STEP Act will do just that and I intend to vote for this measure when it is considered on the floor.

I acknowledge that this is not a perfect bill. Very few are, if any. However, the STEP Act will offer a new opportunity for incarcerated individuals to participate in evidence-based programming to reduce their likelihood of recidivism. It is a bill that is supported by prominent civil rights and criminal justice reform organizations such as the National Urban League and the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition. It passed the House Judiciary Committee on a 25-5 vote, and I feel even more confidently about its passage on the House floor.

Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that this Congress can do more to not only reduce recidivism through ``back-end reform,'' but also engage in ``front-end reform'' to keep individuals out of prison in the first place. However, we must consider a bill entirely on its merits and not just oppose a measure because it does not go far enough in its reforms. The FIRST STEP Act is exactly that--a first step to make meaningful and impactful changes to our prison system.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mental Health Awareness month.

Every May since 1949, we have observed Mental Health Awareness Month.

To begin, I want to share my understanding of what is entailed when we say ``mental health.''

Many of the disorders include, but are not limited to: Eating Disorders, Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Addictions Alcohol and drug abuse, Alzheimer's Disease, Anxiety Disorders, Bipolar Disorder, Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), Conduct Disorder, Depression, Eating Disorders, Excoriation Disorder (Skin Picking), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Tardive Dyskinesia, Learning Disabilities, Maternal Depression, Multi-infarct Dementia, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Panic Disorder, Paranoia and Delusional Disorders, Schizophrenia, Seasonal Depression, Self-injury (Cutting, Self-Harm or Self-Mutilation), Social Anxiety Disorder, Social Determinants of Health, Stress, Substance Abuse, Suicide and Tardive Dyskinesia.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, Mental illnesses are common in the United States. One in six U.S. adults lives with a mental illness. That is almost 45 million people in 2016.

Mental illness is separated into two major groups: Serious Mental Illness and Any Mental Illness.

Any mental illness is defined as a mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder. Serious Mental Illness is defined as a mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder resulting in serious functional impairment, which substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities.

In 2016, among the 10.4 million adults with Serious Mental Illness, 6.7 million, almost 65 percent, received mental health treatment in the past year.

More women with Serious Mental Illness received mental health treatment than men with Any Mental Illness.

The percentage of young adults aged 18 to 25 years with Any Mental Illness who received mental health treatment was lower than adults with Any Mental Illness aged 26 to 49 years and aged 50 and older.

Let me say that again. Fewer young adults with mental illness were getting treated than any other age group. It is not that fewer have mental illness, but that fewer are getting treated.

This should concern us greatly.

If anyone feels they have a mental illness or has a loved one they believe has a mental illness, there are resources available to help them.

For immediate help if the person is in crisis, they can call National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

In addition, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) runs a Treatment Referral Helpline at 1-800- 662-HELP (4357). SAMHSA also has a Behavioral Health Treatment Locator on its website that can be searched by location.

The thing to remember is that no one is alone and there is help available for those who seek it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a passionate civil rights activist, committed community servant, and my dear friend--Doris Margaret Ward. She embodied the ideal of what it means to be a true public servant and to selflessly give of her time and talents for the betterment of others.

The Honorable Doris Ward graduated from Froebel High School, of Gary, Indiana, where she mastered the art of debating, helping her debate team win a championship while serving as team leader. She, later, earned both her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Education from the University of Indiana. She continued her education by earning a Master's Degree in Counseling from the San Francisco State University of California. It was there that her passion for social activism blossomed as she joined other students during sit-in protests. This experience led her to become the President of the Indianapolis National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's (NAACP) Metropolitan Council.

Doris also taught in the Indianapolis School District before marrying a law student by the name of John Ward. After moving to San Francisco in 1968, she became a Trustee of the San Francisco Community College District. Later on, in 1979, Doris was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Eleven short years later, she became the San Francisco Board of Supervisors' first African American President.

In 1996, Doris was first appointed to, and then elected as the San Francisco County Assessor Recorder. She retired in 2006 with a remarkable, long-term record of political activism. Doris is a Founding Member of the San Francisco Chapter of 100 Black Women Incorporated, and Black Women Stirring the Waters. She led the African-American Action Network and served as Board Vice President of the Black Coalition on AIDS, which later became the Rafiki Coalition for Health and Wellness. Of Mrs. Ward's numerous accomplishments and accolades, what brought her the most joy was her sponsorship and co-sponsorship of legislation governing minority businesses, rent control mandates for San Francisco apartment vacancies, and the divestiture in South Africa' s apartheid.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Ward family, Mrs. Ward's friends, and her admirers. There are many whose lives were greatly enhanced by the endless service, the profound graciousness, and the pure love that she carried in her heart and soul. It is my hope that the outpouring of love that surrounds her loved ones gives you all the strength to embrace each coming day with a spirit of strength and peace.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to again formally recognize Mrs. Doris Ward's 86 years of life and the tremendous impact she has had throughout. Her record of political and social activism is only superseded by her incredible compassion to fight for those that could not fight for themselves. I ask all my colleagues to join me in celebrating her life and in honoring the outstanding legacy she has left for all of us to remember her by.

Mr. Chair, the United States maintains the world's safest and most complex aviation system in the world. The last multi-year FAA reauthorization bill expired in 2015. Since then, Congress has taken a patchwork approach to regulating Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operations and programs, which I believe has threatened the safety and efficiency of our airways. Today, as we consider reauthorizing the programs and regulations that dictate how we manage our nation's airspace, I am encouraged that we are making real progress on a long-term bill that will reauthorize FAA operations through FY 2023.

Overall, this bill represents an important first step to providing the long-term assurances and reliability that we need at the federal level to support FAA operations in Texas and across the country. Dallas is home to the fourth busiest airport in the world by aircraft movements, the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, and the largest hub for American Airlines. Having the certainty of a long-term authorization bill will help solidify the Dallas metroplex as a major hub for domestic travel and commerce, and allow it to flourish as an international gateway to every part of the world. The longer we delay passage of a long-term bill, the more expensive and more time consuming it will be to modernize our airspace for a 21st Century economy.

This measure is not without criticism. I am disappointed to see that the underlying bill includes dramatic cuts to the Research, Engineering, and Development (RE&D) title that is lowered than the amounts appropriated in the FY 2018 Omnibus. I offered an amendment to restore critical RE&D funding for environmental sustainability, but I was disappointed that the Rules Committee would not make that language in order. Furthermore, I introduced an amendment to ensure transparency and accountability in FAA investment decisions by requiring performance-based standards to drive the evaluation and adoption of new aviation technologies, rather than arbitrary deadlines set by special interests.

Mr. Speaker, while not perfect, H.R. 4 represents a discernible improvement over the piecemeal approach that Congress has taken with its series of short-term extensions over the years. Our nation's aviation stakeholders need the long-term certainty of federal involvement that only comes with a multi-year reauthorization of FAA programs. H.R. 4 would largely achieve that goal to provide the support and resources for the aviation community all across the United States. Therefore, barring no gross changes to the legislation, I offer my support to this legislation and urge my colleagues to support the underlying bill.

Mr. Speaker, I want to express my appreciation for the leadership of Representative Culberson in setting this special time to give recognition to Mrs. Bush.

We honor the life and legacy of First Lady Barbara Pierce Bush, a great Texan and a great First Lady, a remarkable woman.

For her 92 years on this Earth until her taking her last breath on April 17, she demonstrated constant examples of radiant elegance, abundant courage, and brilliant intellect. When the news of her death was announced, people from every political party, religious faith, background, color, and creed mourned her with the Bush family.

She transcended the differences that are all too often exploited and gave us a living example of goodness that can bring people together as human beings. During times of trouble in the administration of both her husband and her son in Washington, she remained a beacon of hope, standing firm against the most horrific of storms. Even those who violently disagreed with the policies of both Presidents found comfort in the wisdom and compassion of Mrs. Bush.

I always admired Mrs. Bush's charisma, her true patriotism, and the leadership she demonstrated in advocating for stronger literacy programs. As our Nation's First Lady, Mrs. Bush made sure our young people were better off through her commitment to charitable causes and passion for service. She was a strong advocate for both civil and women's rights and policies during her husband's administration, which spoke volumes to her character and the legacy she leaves behind.

Four living Presidents, including her husband and her son, paid homage to Barbara Bush at the memorial service celebrating her life and legacy. Nearly 1,500 friends and admirers came to be with the Bush family and to say good-bye to a woman who had befriended many of them.

Hours after the internationally televised service concluded, she was laid to rest in a grave located on the grounds of the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station. She was buried next to her daughter, Robin, who passed away from cancer when she was just 3 years old.

We all have been blessed to bear witness to a truly exceptional woman who embodied what she believed: those who have been blessed with abundance have a responsibility to assist those who were not as fortunate.

There are many whose lives were enhanced by the service, graciousness, and the love that First Lady Barbara Bush carried in her heart and soul.

Mrs. Bush took pride in her family and taught them to love and serve others. I hope her family can take solace in knowing that she is in a better place watching over them.

All of us will miss Barbara Bush. Her truthfulness, her fairness, her elegance, and her passion. The Nation and the world is a better place because she lived amongst us, giving all that she could without malice or animosity.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the life of Barbara Minor James, a dedicated civic servant, mentor and humanitarian, who touched the lives of many.

A steadfast Dallasite, Mrs. James lived a life devoted to the service of others, especially the young women of our city through her tireless work with the YWCA, a non-profit with a mission to eliminate racism, empower women, stand up for social justice, help families and strengthen communities. This is a cause that Mrs. James believed in deeply, and her efforts led to her becoming the first African-American woman to serve as the President of this valuable institution.

A graduate of the storied Booker T. Washington High School, and later Wiley College of Marshall, Texas, and San Francisco State University, Mrs. James was affectionately referred to as `The General', because she strived her whole life to ensure that young women would not be limited to traditional roles, but instead be trained to be leaders in their communities and be granted professional equality. These are values that we continue to strive for, and that we can be sure touched the lives of countless young women who will be the leaders of tomorrow.

She is also a deeply valued member of he church community at New Hope Baptist, for whom she gifted 50 years as a Sunday School Instructor, as well as numerous other board positions and directorships, including as a Trustee of American Baptist Women for 15 years.

Her service was not confined to these institutions, as she also dedicated herself to the greater Dallas Community of Churches, Jack and Jill of America, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Clinic and National Society of Fund Raising Executives.

Mr. Speaker, Mrs. James said it best when she remarked that service ``makes getting up every morning exciting because I can work for the betterment of Dallas, the city I love.'' Simply put Barbara Minor James was involved in every way possible to dedicated her life to her church, her community, and her values, and I believe we should honor her legacy for that commitment.