Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I proudly rise today to acknowledge the Mutual Musicians Foundation for their tireless efforts in preserving Kansas City Jazz history. Jazz music has greatly influenced the history and culture of the United States and of Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which I am honored to represent. Located in the heart of the historic 18th and Vine Jazz District, the Mutual Musicians Foundation continues to bring the nostalgia of early jazz to the forefront of the music scene for generations to come.

Originally home to the Colored Musicians Protective Local Union #627, the historic venue opened its doors in 1930. Established in 1917, Local Union #627, then known as the ``Colored Musicians Union'' operated as a social center, engagement clearinghouse, and as a vehicle for grievances against unfair practices from booking agents and band leaders. Some of the jazz music's most influential musicians have walked through their doors, including Charlie Parker, Count Basie, Big Joe Turner, Hot Lips Page, and Mary Lou Williams.

In collaboration with the Historic Jazz Foundation, the Mutual Musicians Foundation has created an educational experience that will be relished for many generations to come. Through my support for congressional funding, the Film Archival Project has been made possible. This project will be beneficial in archiving historical photography, videos, and memorabilia of jazz music's most significant musicians. This project will also make the preservation of important film from jazz musicians possible.

Jazz has been played continuously at the Mutual Musicians Foundation since 1930, making it the longest running jazz location in the United States and in the world. Because it is the place where the Kansas City Style of jazz was born, it has been designated as a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and our colleagues in the House join me in honoring the Mutual Musicians Foundation for their years of dedicated service to Kansas City's rich jazz community. Continuing to support such a worthy institution is not a duty, but instead an honor.

Mr. Speaker, unless we act now, the highway and transit programs will expire in a few days, endangering our roads, bridges, transit systems; and everyone who uses them will experience a decline in what they view as America.

So I would like to list the reasons we need to move quickly to pass a highway bill that is not simply an extension. One, we must raise America's standing in the world of infrastructure from 24th place to first. Three months ago, the Senate passed a responsible, bipartisan 2- year transportation bill that would save or create 2 million jobs. We have 2.2 million construction and manufacturing workers out of work; $1,060 is how much we could save each family in transportation costs if we could come to an agreement. H.R. 7 was called by my friend Secretary LaHood ``the most partisan transportation bill that (he had) ever seen, the worst transportation bill.''

Mr. Speaker, I have more points. I will try to get them in later.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the extension of student loan interest rates. Student loans have been an essential tool for many students and families who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford the soaring costs of college tuition. However, in a few short weeks, Federal student loan interest rates are set to double from 3.4 to 6.8 percent, making the dream of attaining college even more difficult for millions of students and families.

We need to act now. It is our responsibility to ensure that all children have the ability to pursue higher education. The cost of attending college has gone up almost 30 percent in the last 10 years. We cannot afford to ignore struggling students across this Nation. In these uncertain economic times, we can make no greater investment than in education. More and more jobs require some sort of post-secondary education, and by 2018, just 6 years from now, 63 percent of employment opportunities will demand an education beyond high school.

It is pathological partisanship that is preventing us from dealing with this important issue.

Mr. Speaker, due to a commitment in my district, I had to miss votes on H.R. 5325. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall vote 315, ``aye'' on rollcall vote 316, ``no'' on rollcall vote 317, ``yes'' on rollcall vote 318.

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

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment to bolster the Army Corps of Engineers' ability to fight floods and to quickly begin repair efforts as the floodwaters recede. Last year, my constituents, as well as thousands of others living along the Missouri River, experienced a flood of historic proportions and catastrophic damages. Levees were overtopped or breached, fields were damaged, and hundreds of farmers, homeowners, and businesses had to evacuate. Over 400,000 acres of farmland were flooded along the river, including approximately 207,000 in Missouri. Total repair costs from the flood are estimated to reach $2 billion.

The Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies account provides funding to assist in the immediate flood-fighting efforts and the repairs. Historically, Congress has provided limited funding annually for this account, mainly relying on supplemental appropriations as emergencies arise.

Funding for this account the last 2 years has been lower than the 5- year average appropriation of $55 million. As was the case last year, after an emergency the Corps must wait on supplemental appropriations from Congress or they must transfer funds from existing appropriations for temporary emergency efforts. The Corps did this internal transfer last year during and after the 2011 flood. However, it takes time to transfer those funds and temporarily deprives other worthy projects of funding. This is especially burdensome given the Corps' long construction backlog of over $62 billion worth of projects.

This amendment is a straight transfer of funds to increase funding for the Corps' Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies account and in turn reduce funding for the Corps' expenses account. This transfer would increase the funding to equal the amount that the Senate Appropriations Committee allocated, bringing total funding for that account to $30 million for fiscal year 2013.

Mr. Chairman, ensuring adequate annual funding for emergencies will better prepare the Corps to respond and save time and effort in trying to reroute funds. And we all know that emergencies will continue to occur as our climate continues changing and development continues in flood-prone areas. It is incumbent upon us to provide the people who respond to these emergencies with the most resources possible. And so on behalf of the families living along the Missouri River who are in desperate need of help from this body, I ask for your support by adopting this amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly rise today in recognition of a dynamic lady who has had a strong influence in promoting our community's cultural legacy. As we celebrate the artistic achievement of our high school artists at the annual Congressional Art Competition, it is appropriate to honor a patron of the arts, Ms. Pat Jordan. She knows Kansas City, Missouri, as this is where she grew up, attending Southeast High School in the heart of the City. She obtained a degree from the University of Missouri in Journalism, which gave her the tools to investigate, promote and educate what she loves most, the arts.

The rich cultural history of African Americans who lived in a segregated Kansas City during the 1920's, 30's and 40's can be traced to the area centered on 18th and Vine. This is where the black community lived, worked, worshipped, and cultivated a unique lifestyle preserved in the arts, education and sports of the time. More than most, Pat realizes the importance of preservation of an era that was indigenous to the area but with time has faded. She understands that a culture uniquely African American must not be allowed to fade. Through the arts and education, this culture will be revealed and celebrated along with today's artist who expresses their interest through artistic discovery.

While I served on the Kansas City, Missouri City Council and later as Mayor, my goal was to preserve the history of 18th and Vine by restoring the area. This is when I met the enthusiastic Pat Jordan, who I enlisted to spearhead the renovation of the Gem Theater. She worked on the Gem Theater bond fund that was essential in making the renovation of the Gem Theater a reality. She continues to promote the area with the Gem Cultural and Educational Center that promotes visual and performing artists.

Presently, Pat serves as Co-Chair of the Mayor's Task Force for the Arts; Chairman of The Light in the Other Room for Kansas City African American Artists; Member of the Arts Committee for the Mayor's Google Task Force and President of Cross-Lines Towers, Inc. She has an amazing record of public service and has served on many advisory boards. She has been a long time supporter and member of the Advisory Boards of the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey, the William Jewel Fine Arts Series and the Department of Architecture, Urban Planning & Design of the University of Missouri at Kansas City.

This summer, Kansas City will host the 2012 All-Star Baseball Game. Pat is instrumental in efforts that will bring out-of-town guests to the heart of 18th and Vine. There, visitors will enjoy an iconic culture uniquely Kansas City at the Gem Theater, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and the American Jazz Museum.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in thanking Ms. Pat Jordan for seeing beyond a concept, working to achieve a goal, and proudly promoting cultural enhancement through the arts. Through her outreach and events, local artists are introduced and Kansas City talent is exhibited. Her accomplishments are many as she is one of the gems for our community.

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

Mr. Chair, I first want to acknowledge all 42 members of the Congressional Black Caucus who endorsed this presentation, but especially our Budget, Appropriations, and Taxation Taskforce and the FY13 Budget chairs, Congressman Bobby Scott, Congresswoman Gwen Moore, and Congresswoman Karen Bass, who is the emcee at a dinner and cannot be here with us.

This budget, Mr. Chair, itself, is a statement of our beliefs as a Nation. It is the way we choose to run government and help the people we serve. Our FY 2013 alternative Federal budget will address the deficit while protecting important safety net programs needed by our communities.

The CBC's top priorities for the 112th Congress are promoting job creation and economic development, providing lifetime educational opportunities, protecting access to health care, and protecting the right to vote and justice for all Americans. We can only make these priorities a reality by sustaining and strengthening the programs that invest in and protect all Americans, whether it is workforce investment, unemployment insurance, investment in unemployment, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, or with the onslaught of these voter laws across the country, proper funding of the Election Assistance Commission. These programs are vital to national interest because they train our workforce, stabilize our economy, and provide funding for our cities and States throughout the Nation.

I understand that now is the time for us, as Americans, to sacrifice in order to protect our children and our children's children. However, we struggle,

as a caucus, to understand how the proposed majority budget helps achieve this goal.

More recently, due to many strategic investments led by the President, the Nation's overall unemployment rate has been lowered; however, the African American unemployment rate remains nearly double the national average. In order to improve this dire situation and to ensure every American's full recovery, we must make smart and targeted investments for all America's vulnerable communities.

Government investment in people, education, infrastructure, and innovation can create jobs. Over time, the jobs created by these strategic investments pay for themselves and then some. Investments allow people to earn, learn, spend, and save. Cutting programs that assist hardworking Americans, help families with their most basic needs, maintain our crumbling infrastructure, and expand access to educational opportunities will only make unemployment statistics worse.

Our success as a Nation is interwoven in the success of all communities. Until we grasp that concept as a Nation, we will never see the full potential of the United States of America; and for that, I am truly concerned.

Mr. Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the chairman of our committee, Bobby Scott of Virginia.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore).

Mr. Chairman, may I inquire about the remainder of my time?

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from the U.S. Virgin Islands, Dr. Donna Christensen.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida, Ms. Corrine Brown.

Mr. Chairman, I would now like to yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlelady from California (Ms. Lee).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott).

I would like to thank the gentleman from Utah for his generosity and courtesy.

I now yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

I yield the gentlelady 1 additional minute.

Mr. Chairman, let me ask, with the generosity of the gentleman from Utah, how much time do we have?

Mr. Chairman, I would like to yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Richardson).

Mr. Chairman, let me close on our side by thanking the gentleman from Utah.

And first of all, let me call attention to one thing, and I think it's important. It may be more important than the discussion of the budget because I

think it helps us eventually reach budgets.

Not one speaker on this side called this the Ryan budget. I was in an interview this morning and someone asked me about what I thought about the Ryan budget. And I said, this is the Republican budget. And if I attack the budget, it seems as if I'm attacking the man whose name seems to be attached to it. This Institution is far too important for us to get down into that kind of thing.

We have some real differences in this budget. I believe, and our budget reflects, that budget is an x-ray of our innards. It is a moral document. It tells who we are. And I say, in another position in my life, if you show me your checkbook, I can tell you what you believe in.

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

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

You hear a lot about the Ryan budget. I've chosen not to call it the ``Ryan budget''--it's just my personal thing--because it becomes personal. So, when I criticize it, it seems like I'm criticizing a person when I'm not. I'm criticizing the Republican Budget Committee from which it came, and I'm criticizing it because 62 percent of all the cuts in that budget will be aimed at low-income individuals and seniors. The Medicare program is going to be threatened, and the AARP sent out a notice to all of its members explaining what would happen to Medicare if it is voucherized.

We are the only Nation in the history of planet Earth to give tax cuts as we enter and then are in the middle of a war--2003, 2005-- giving tax cuts in the middle of a war. Last year, the 22 largest hedge fund managers earned $22 billion, and they paid only 15 percent on the tax of the capital dividends. The people who are watching this pay 27 to 30 percent.

It's not right. We've got to reject this budget.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly rise today to pay tribute to Reverend Gwendolyn Boyd, a community leader, humanitarian and a woman of faith, whose legacy continues to enrich the lives of the people around her. Her dedicated community service has brought professionalism and compassion to every endeavor she has so graciously undertaken. Her dedication and commitment to Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and the public is the reason for this recognition and celebration.

Rev. Boyd served as the 22nd National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., from 2000 2004. She accomplished many things during her time as president including the building of a home for AIDS orphans in Swaziland, establishing the Delta Computer Training Center in Lesotho and establishing the Leadership DELTA training program. Also, she established project SEE, which promotes the learning of math and science for middle school African American girls.

Rev. Boyd is the perfect example of someone who continues to make a difference, as she has never backed away from a challenge that helps her community or those in need. Her imprint can be found in such worthy initiatives as Children's Research Institute, Children's National Medical Center and Education Across the Miles. She is also responsible for the coordination of HBCU initiatives.

As the first African American to earn a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Yale University, Rev. Boyd championed issues and worked for solutions. Over the years her stature continues to grow as she is an active member on numerous boards, foundations and committees. Her admirable work is as diversified as her many interests, resulting in a positive impact on the community and greater quality of life.

Rev. Gwendolyn Boyd demonstrates in her everyday actions and words that determination is the pathway to success. She is an ordained itinerant elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. She earned her Master's of Divinity degree with honors from Howard University and she serves as the Executive Minister for Church Operations at Ebenezer A.M.E. Church in Fort Washington, Maryland.

Rev. Boyd has dedicated numerous hours to developing and enriching the lives of our youth. She was nominated by President Obama and served on the Board of Trustees of the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. She is an advocate for young people interested in careers in the engineering, science, and math fields. Rev. Gwendolyn Boyd is a passionate, energetic and highly motivated individual and her public speaking has inspired many.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in saluting Reverend Gwendolyn Elizabeth Boyd, a distinguished ambassador for human rights, a role model for our youth and a true heroine for all of America. I salute her for a lifetime of achievement, and am both proud and honored to call her my friend. Thank you, Rev. Boyd, for all you have done, and for all you contribute to our lives.

Mr. Speaker, this is not one of the highlights of stepping into the well of the House. This is a moment that does not yield great joy, at least not for what just happened in terms of the death of my friend and my colleague, Donald Payne. There is, however, some joy, and the joy is related to the fact that I had the opportunity to know Donald Payne, and I believe that my life was enriched because of it.

During his final days here in Washington, I had a number of conversations with him at Georgetown Hospital where I tried to, and was successful at least on a couple of occasions, in getting him to laugh, even as he experienced excruciating pain in his hospital bed.

Donald Payne can be observed by all Members of the House, and from that observation, we can extract something that can make this place better. Donald Payne was about as good and decent a human being as has ever walked the Halls of this stately House.

At a time when many elected officials believe that acidic language, acrimony, and red meat discussions are the order of the day, Donald Payne was firm, soft-spoken, and respectful. No matter what happened, you could count on Donald Payne being calm through it, except on one occasion, which I will not talk about on the floor. We'll talk about it later, but not here.

But Donald Payne was a man who was as peaceful in private as he was in committee or even on the floor. He had a passion for the diaspora. And I joked with him that everywhere I've ever gone in the diaspora, people asked about him.

Just 1 week before he died, 1 week, I met with a representative from Brazil who was inviting members of the Congressional Black Caucus to come to Brazil to meet with their caucus and they would send members here. Before the meeting ended, as I knew would happen, he asked about Donald Payne. And I don't believe there is an elected official or a king or prince or a potentate in the diaspora who does not know the name of Donald Payne.

And what I hope will happen is one of the Members will pick up the mantle and delve into the issues and matters of foreign relations as has Donald Payne. Somebody needs to step up to the plate and do that.

My final comment is this: I hate cancer. I hate cancer. I can't think of a human being that I hate, but I hate cancer. And in my hatred of cancer, I have come to the realization that all of us are temporary, that we are not permanent creatures. No matter how

strong and healthy we feel we are, we are all temporary. And if we understand our temporariness, it might inspire us to be just a little better, a little kinder, a little nicer, a little more receptive to others, because we are temporary, at least in this place.

Now, I conclude by saying that life must end, but death is not a cul- de-sac. It leads somewhere. And if Donald Payne is not there, that door must be locked and the rest of us can give up. He was about as good and decent and loving a human being who's walked these Halls, and I'm glad that God gave me the chance to know him.

Mr. Speaker, due to a commitment off the Hill, I had to miss votes on H.R. 562, S. 1134, and H. Res. 556. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on H.R. 562, ``aye'' on S. 1134, and ``aye'' on H. Res. 556.

Mr. Speaker, due to a commitment in my district, I had to miss votes on H.R. 3408. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on Amendment 13, ``aye'' on Amendment 15, ``no'' on Amendment 16, ``aye'' on Amendment 17, ``aye'' on Amendment 18, ``no'' on Amendment 19, ``aye'' on the Motion to Recommit, and ``no'' on Final Passage.

Mr. Speaker, due to a commitment in my district, I had to miss votes on H.R. 3408. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on Amendment 12, ``aye'' on Amendment 11, and ``aye'' on Amendment 9.

I sat in my office and listened to this debate; and the one thing I know is that neither side is listening to each other. Everybody's just trying to say something. The people at home are probably trying to figure out if there is any sanity anywhere in Washington. We're having fact-free debates, and the truth of the matter is that we're putting ideology over logic.

I'm not going to be here on Christmas. You can get whatever people you want. You can send all kinds of things into my district. We're on the verge of the second holiest holiday in my religious tradition. I'm going to be home. I'm going to be in church.

This is sick. This is sick. And the people all over the country, the people in the gallery, they know that they are watching dysfunctionality at its best. I'm ashamed, ashamed that this kind of thing is going on and the world is watching.

All we need to do is wait until a better season so that we don't look as bad. Every minute we debate, our poll numbers drop. It's probably at a point now where they can't drop any further.

But can't we stop this and start trying to rationally deal with the business of the public?

We're not listening to each other. The media just wants to listen to see if anybody's going to say anything that's caustic. The red meat crowd is waiting for somebody to say something insulting to the other side.

We ought to be listening to our better selves. We ought to call the best in us out right now, solve this problem, and go home and be with our families.

I'm going to be with my family. You guys can stay here and scream at each other all you want. I'm going home.

Mr. Speaker, first, let me associate my comments with those of my colleague Mr. Westmoreland.

Mr. Speaker, on each Wednesday night for probably the last 10 or 12 years, our church has provided food for those who are struggling. Not long ago a gentleman came to our church, picked up food. And then later that night, as I was leaving the church, I ran into him at a 7-Eleven. You can imagine how troubled I was when I saw him buying a lottery ticket. I thought to myself, this guy has just ripped off the church and then is using his money for a lottery ticket.

So I waited for him outside the 7-Eleven. And when he came out, I said to him, Look, I'm a little concerned because you picked up a sack of groceries, and then you just spent money on a lottery, and those two just don't match.

And he said, Well, I probably shouldn't have spent the money on the lottery, but you know, Reverend, a man's got to have some hope.

And while I think that hope is misplaced, the truth of the matter is he was absolutely correct. It is virtually impossible to live any kind of productive life on this planet without hope.

There are millions of Americans who, unfortunately, cannot place their hope in this body. I think that I can state without fear of contradiction that the dysfunctionality of the United States Congress is helping to erase hope from the men and women in this country who are struggling. All of the back and forth and blaming each other has nothing to do with providing hope. And quite often, we allow ideology to trump logic.

We decide almost every day that no matter what, I'm going to take the position of the Republicans or I'm going to take the position of the Democrats, and, as a result, we have polluted the public.

This is one of the nastiest moments in U.S. history. Just look at television. Look at all of the so-called reality shows. The ones that are most popular are ones where people are doing things to each other or insulting each other; you're fired, or you've got to eat live spiders. That's what we are coming to.

A perfect example of what we're doing is not addressing the expiring unemployment benefits. At the end of this year, almost 2 million Americans--they have names, they have faces, they have families--2 million Americans will lose their unemployment benefits by mid- February.

A total of over 6 million Americans will lose benefits next year unless this body decides to become functional. In Missouri, my home State, 40,400 citizens depend on unemployment benefits. Many more are unemployed and not receiving any help at all. In Missouri, the unemployment rate is almost 9 percent.

I grew up in public housing. Yes, public housing. My father worked three jobs to get us out, worked three jobs to send me and my three sisters through college. And my mother started college when I was in the 8th grade. So I always resent any implication that people don't want to work.

So as we move into a holiday season, a season of hope, my hope is that the Congress of the United States will not snatch hope from over 2 million Americans.