Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my deep gratitude to Sammie Moshenberg, who is retiring as Director of the Washington Operations of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW).

For more than 30 years, Sammie has represented NCJW in the halls of Congress, and she has been an influential advocate for economic and social justice. It is not just that Sammie herself is a powerful force--she is--but she also represents and coordinates NCJW's network of volunteers across the country. Through that role, Sammie is able to help NCJW members not just understand the legislative process but to show how they can mobilize to affect the outcomes and push for action on critical policy debates.

If there is a fight to improve the lives of children, eliminate discrimination and promote equal opportunities, end violence, or give women more control over their lives and their futures, Sammie Moshenberg is there. She is always eager to stand up what is just and what is necessary in order to end poverty, promote justice, and help women and families succeed. She embodies the Jewish creed of Tikkun Olam--repairing the world.

Sammie first came to NCJW in 1981, first working in the communications department in the New York headquarters. She came to the Washington office in 1983, where she has represented NCJW in dealing with all three branches of government and in coalitions working on judicial nominations, civil rights, reproductive rights, and economic justice issues. Sammie received her BA from Shimer College in Illinois and a master's degree from Loyola University in Baltimore, Maryland. She continues to use the skills she learned there and as a former magazine editor and teacher to train members of Jewish and other faith groups, students, and advocates.

Anyone who has the good fortune of knowing Sammie knows she is much more interested in empowering people to participate in critical national debates and getting the job done than taking credit for her own actions. That is why she and NCJW are so committed to their ``Promote the Vote, Protect the Vote'' initiative. But Sammie herself has received a great deal of recognition for her efforts. Sammie has appeared on the ``Forward Fifty'' list of the most influential Jewish individuals three times. She has also been named one of Women's Enews ``21 Leaders for the 21st Century'' and received the YWCA of the National Capital Area's Racial Justice Award, the Ruth Osborn Award from the Women's Studies Program at George Washington University, and NCJW's Hannah G. Solomon Award.

As if her work at NCJW isn't enough, Sammie is an active member of her community--fighting for housing and economic justice issues in Alexandria, Virginia where she lives and working to expand access to health care and social justice in Cape Town, South Africa, where she and her husband have a second home.

As a Jewish woman, a lifetime member of NCJW, and a Member of Congress, I have relied on Sammie for her wisdom, her knowledge of the ways of Washington, her strategic sense of pushing for progress, and her friendship.

Sammie, I am so appreciative of your leadership and your passion for justice. I know that you will continue to use your many talents to improve your community, our nation and the world.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the ranking member for yielding.

I want to begin by saying that I really appreciate the way in which our committee operates and has come to present this authorization bill to the floor, but I do want to raise some concerns.

One of the most controversial issues surrounding our national security is the use of the drone program. A number of us tried to introduce some amendments that would be considered on the floor of the House so that we, along with the American people, could have a conversation about that. These amendments were not made in order. And I want to express what my amendment would have done.

It would have prohibited elements of the intelligence community from engaging in so-called signature strikes. That is, lethal strikes in which the target is not specifically identified but whose so-called pattern of life fits the profile, or signature, of a terrorist.

In these situations, we don't know the identity of the target. Instead, we draw conclusions from surveillance about whether someone is affiliated with a terrorist organization, or engaged in terrorist conduct. The stakes are high, and inevitably mistakes will be made. There are reports from human rights organizations in past years that we have already made several grave errors, and innocent lives have been lost as a result.

We need to recognize that each mistake we make in these situations killing innocent people spawns more numerous and more determined adversaries, undermining our mission there in the first place.

How we are perceived abroad matters. Even if some of the strikes reported as mistakes are not mistaken, the fact is that the rest of the world perceives our activities as killing innocent civilians and painting all adult male Muslims in these regions as our enemies.

I understand the targeted use, but I think that we cannot kill our way out of this problem and our way to victory.

Mr. Speaker, the dedication of a Torah is always an extremely important occasion in the Jewish community. But next week's dedication of the Fox Torah at Ezra Habonim, the Niles Township Jewish Congregation in Skokie, is truly something special.

The Fox Torah was underwritten by Martin Fox, who found some comfort from the terrors he experienced during the Holocaust in knowing that he could make such an enormous contribution to his faith and to his synagogue.

Martin Fox was 34 years old when the Nazis marched into Poland in 1939. He watched as his wife and three daughters were murdered. Then he was herded onto a train and sent to Auschwitz. He survived, came to Chicago, settled in Chicago's West Rogers Park Community, and became a successful businessman. But while he remarried, he never again had children, and the horrors of what he experienced during the Holocaust never left him.

Martin Fox joined Ezra Habonim but was emotionally unable to say the Kaddish, the prayer for the dead. After many conversations with Rabbi Shlomo Levin, then the congregation's rabbi, Mr. Fox was finally able to say Kaddish for his lost family and light the Memorial Candle at the synagogue's Kristal Nacht service.

The spiritual and personal support that Mr. Fox received from Ezra Habonim, Skokie's oldest synagogue, made a powerful difference in his life. It provided him with a safe and nurturing place, and gave him the emotional strength to recite the Kaddish in remembrance of his lost family. He in turn helped others by becoming a ``gabbai'' or ``trustee'' of the synagogue.

Today, Ezra Habonim continues its commitment to creating a warm, caring and supportive community under the leadership of Rabbi Jeffrey Weill. In addition to maintaining the tradition of giving each individual and family the personalized attention they need, the synagogue provides for the educational, religious and social needs of the Jewish community. And, as it did with Martin Fox, it gives members of the congregation the opportunity not just to take part but to give back.

While Martin Fox died in 1981, the Torah that he funded and that will be dedicated on June 1 is a true gift. As Rabbi Weill says, ``This Torah symbolizes not only Martin Fox's story, but the remarkable story of the Jewish People. It represents continuity, bravery, fortitude, and the indomitable human spirit.''

I want to join the Jewish community in Skokie in celebrating the completion and dedication of the Fox Torah and in thanking Ezra Habonim for the important role it plays in our community.

Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor of the USA FREEDOM Act and a member of Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I have been committed to reforming these laws.

No bill is perfect, including this one. The USA FREEDOM Act we are voting on today is quite different from the original bill I cosponsored. It has changed significantly from the version recently passed by the House Intelligence and Judiciary Committees.

On its path to the floor, several of the bills' proposed reforms have been watered down and many of us would like to see stronger more meaningful change.

However, we must not let the perfect be the enemy of the good, and I want to congratulate all those who have been part of this bipartisan compromise.

The bill we are considering today includes real reforms, and the intent of Congress is clear: we are putting an end to the bulk collection of metadata, establishing meaningful prior judicial review, and ensuring that important FISA Court decisions are declassified for public consumption. These reforms are important, and future interpretations of FISA must reflect our intentions here today.

I support the act, and I look forward to the opportunity to continue to work with my colleagues to make even more improvements in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, JCUA, on the occasion of its 50th Anniversary.

From its inception in 1964, the enduring mission of JCUA has always been to combat poverty, racism, and anti-Semitism, working in partnership with Chicago's diverse communities. Guided by the Jewish principles of ``tzedek'' (justice) and ``tikkun olam'' (repairing the world), JCUA has reached across faith, race, and class to pursue social and economic justice for those most affected by poverty and discrimination.

JCUA has been an active and leading voice in Chicago for five decades. During that time, JCUA has facilitated the development and preservation of thousands of units of affordable housing, advocated for public policies that address the root causes of poverty, and educated and mobilized a Jewish constituency to create a more just Chicago.

During JCUA's 50 years of working in Chicago's diverse communities, it has also fostered deep relationships and built an understanding and trust with the organizations with which they partner. By bringing Jewish voices and Jewish participation to their issues--as partners and allies--JCUA continues to tackle root causes of injustice to create positive systemic change.

While the specific campaigns, issues, and challenges in Chicago have changed, poverty and racism continue as modern day plagues, creating enormous obstacles and threatening the humanity of everyone. Today, JCUA pursues social and economic justice through issue-based campaigns, community investment, and building bridges between the Jewish community and communities challenged by poverty and discrimination.

JCUA's Community Ventures Program provides zero-interest loans to spur the creation of affordable housing and economic development projects. One loan recently allowed St. Leonard's Ministries to help open the doors of Gracie's Cafee in partnership with St. Leonard's Ministry, providing jobs and training for formerly incarcerated men and women.

Through ongoing solidarity and partnership with grassroots community groups, JCUA demonstrates that effectively addressing the root causes of social injustice in partnerships and in coalitions with those directly impacted is the most effective way to combat systemic oppression.

JCUA's Jewish Muslim Community Building Initiative, in partnership with Muslim groups, continues to build strong bridges between Jewish and non-Jewish communities. These relationships help to dissolve barriers of potential bigotry and ignorance and to foster a culture of genuine understanding and respect.

And finally, JCUA plants seeds for a better future through its teen social justice program, Or Tzedek, engaging youth as active leaders and organizers in current social justice campaigns. Or Tzedek provides teens with inspiration and the know-how to be powerful and effective agents of social change.

The Jewish Council on Urban Affairs remains as relevant today as it was 50 years ago--serving as an essential Jewish voice for social justice. I join others in the Chicago area offering my gratitude for JCUA's five decades of service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety on the occasion of its 25th anniversary. I want to congratulate Advocates and thank its wonderful president, Jackie Gillan, for her leadership and guidance.

Each year, auto accidents claim the lives of tens of thousands of Americans and injure millions of others. Founded in 1989, Advocates brings together consumer, medical, public health, and safety groups to fight for safer roads and automobiles. Advocates is dedicated to protecting lives, preventing injuries, and reducing costs. Some Americans may be unfamiliar with its name, but we all benefit greatly from its efforts.

Advocates works at the federal and state levels on issues such as impaired and distracted driving, teen driving, speed limits, vehicle crashworthiness, road safety, motor carrier safety, and many others. It combines technical expertise with policy knowhow and the passion needed to win safety improvements.

Advocates was instrumental in the passage of H.R. 1216, the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act, which was signed into law in 2008. I was the sponsor of that legislation, and I had the privilege of working closely with Jackie Gillen and Advocates to get it passed and implemented. Earlier this year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finalized a rule called for in the law to require visibility behind new model cars, trucks, and buses--a rule that will save 58 to 69 lives each year, according to NHTSA. Many of the lives saved will be children, who have been the victims of unintentional backovers. Advocates played a central role in helping us avoid these senseless tragedies by raising public awareness, helping enact the law, and urging NHTSA to finalize its rule.

I know that Advocates will continue its efforts to improve the lives and safety of all Americans, and I look forward to working together with them in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my sorrow at the deaths of three Illinoisans, killed in an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan last week. The three--John Gabel, Gary Gabel, and Dr. Jerry Umanos-- were shot at CURE International's Hospital, which provides critical medical care to the people of Afghanistan.

John Gabel, a visiting lecturer at Kabul University's information technology department, was shot along with his father, Gary Gabel. Both were from Palatine, Illinois and members of the Orchard Evangelical Church in Arlington Heights. Pastor Colin Smith of the church described John as a ``computer genius with a perfect mind'' who was living out his faith through his service in Afghanistan. Amy Dillman, who worked with John while he was at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, said, ``I think John just had a calling and he could see where the work he was good at--the programming and the information technology--could be useful and of service to other areas and other parts of the world that really needed that infrastructure.''

Like his son, Gary Gabel was an active member of his church, working with youth groups and leadership teams. His wife, Teresa, was wounded in the attack but is recovering.

Dr. Jerry Umanos, a pediatrician who had practiced at the Lawndale Christian Health Center in Chicago, was serving at CURE's Hospital. Dr. Umanos was dedicated to providing essential medical care to Afghan children. According to his colleague Dr. Art Jones, ``. . . you can't count the number of children that Jerry's impacted, the lives he's saved on his own, and with the doctors he trained. That's who he was. He was driven by the kids.''

As we mourn the loss of John Gabel, Gary Gabel and Jerry Umanos, we also reflect on their dedication to working to improve the lives of others. I want to send my condolences to their families and friends.

Mr. Speaker, I want to join today with so many who are remembering the life of Tim Carpenter, a life-long advocate for social, economic and environmental justice.

Tim was a believer and an activist. He believed that we could create a world where every person has the right to quality health care, to a clean environment, to a good job, and to peace. And he knew the only way to achieve that just society is to empower people to take action.

Tim's activism took many forms. As co-founder of Progressive Democrats of America, he helped design and implement an ``inside- outside'' strategy that allowed people around the country to advocate with their elected officials and gave members of Congress real insight into the daily challenges facing our constituents. He didn't just talk about problems, he pushed for solutions--expanding voting rights, winning health care for all, and investing in people.

Tim made the most of his too-short life. There wasn't a progressive fight where you couldn't find Tim--strategizing, organizing, and mentoring new recruits to the cause. Tim was tough as nails when it came to pushing for results, but he was also a gentle and kind soul who connected personally to each person he met.

Tim will be greatly missed, but he has left us a powerful legacy by teaching us never to stop pushing our progressive principles through practical and effective organizing.

I offer my deep condolences to Tim's family, friends and fellow organizers.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the courageous actions taken throughout March and April by women participating in the Women's Fast for Families. Representatives of this group held a series of events on the National Mall earlier this month, marking the end of their month long campaign to raise awareness about the need for comprehensive immigration reform that addresses the needs and includes the voices of women and families.

Beginning on International Women's Day, over 1,200 women across the country engaged in a series of 24-hour fasts to raise awareness about and push for change related to these important issues. In early April, over 100 of these women were present on the National Mall here in Washington D.C., to end their campaign with a 48-hour fast.

I had the privilege of meeting with several of these fasters on the National Mall during their fast, and I was inspired by each and every woman I had the privilege of speaking with. I believe that their devotion to the cause of meaningful immigration reform that treats women and families fairly will keep this issue moving forward until we are able to pass a comprehensive solution into law.

I would like to thank each and every one of them for taking a stand and working to make the change that they believe in a reality.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize April as Fair Housing Month. April 11, 2014 marked the 46th anniversary of the passage of the U.S. Fair Housing Act, which enunciates a national policy of fair housing and bars discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status or disability. Decent, safe, and affordable housing is part of the American dream and a goal of all Illinois residents.

This year also marks the 35th anniversary of the Illinois Human Rights Act, which bars discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, physical or mental disability, familial status, age, ancestry, marital status, disability, military status or sexual orientation (including gender-based identity).

Acts of housing discrimination and barriers to equal housing are repugnant to a common sense of decency and fairness. Federal and state laws affirm the right of every person to equal housing opportunity. Economic stability, community health, and human relations in all communities and the State of Illinois are improved by diversity and integration. Stable, integrated and balanced residential patterns are threatened by discriminatory acts and unlawful housing practices that result in segregation of residents and opportunities in Illinois communities.

The hard work and commitment of grassroots and non-profit organizations, housing service providers, housing professionals, financial institutions, elected officials, state agencies and others must be combined to promote integration, fair housing, and equal opportunity and to address the immense challenge of ensuring that every person in Illinois has access to affordable housing.

Again, I would like to recognize April 2014 as Fair Housing Month in commemoration of the signing of the U.S. Fair Housing Act and the Illinois Human Rights Act. These critical laws help establish the United States as an open and inclusive country committed to fair and equal housing opportunities for all.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to congratulate Coach Trenkle and the Maine South High School Constitution Team for their achievement in winning the Illinois State Title of the ``We the People: the Citizen and the Constitution'' competition. This fantastic accomplishment marks the twenty-second time in twenty-three years that Maine South's team has won the title.

The ``We the People: the Citizen and the Constitution'' program, sponsored by the Center for Civic Education, promotes civic competence and responsibility through course study and mock Congressional hearings. Students study the fundamentals of our Constitutional Democracy and learn applied critical thinking, debate, and teamwork. The ``We the People'' program encourages civic engagement and promotes a next generation of leaders, a mission that the Maine South team accepted and achieved.

Congratulations to all the members of the 2013-2014 Maine South Constitution team: Coach Andrew Trenkle, Hope Allchin, Peter Barac, Meg Boyce, Molly Butler, Alex Campbell, Ryan Curry, Ryan Dysart, Max Edsey, Lily Elderkin, Brendan Faley, Hannah Ferstel, Jenna Galuska, Danielle Gomez, Nicole Hassman, Jordan Helms, Brain Johnson, Kian Khalili, Frank Lally, Cara Laskowski, Taylor Martell, Emilie McGuire, Katherine Miles, Hayley Miller, Peter Mocarski, James Mroz, Madeline Schulze, Samantha Smart, Lauren Smith, Amanda Sremac, and Amanda Svachula.

On behalf of the Ninth Congressional Distinct of Illinois, I congratulate you on your success, and wish you the best of luck in the national competition.

Mr. Chair, we hear over and over again from Republicans about how we can't afford to make investments in education and infrastructure and science and medical research, and we can't keep our promises to seniors; but at the same time, over the past 5 years, we have raised less Federal revenue, as a percent of GDP, than in any 5-year period since 1941.

But this country, my colleagues, has never been richer. The Wall Street Journal said last month:

U.S. wealth rises, but not all benefit.

The top 1 percent of earners have received 95 percent of the income gains in this country since 2009, and at least eight Americans earned more than $5 billion in income last year.

So what is the disconnect? Why are we richer than ever before, but unable to invest in basic priorities?

The answer is that Paul Ryan and the House Republicans refuse to raise a dime from the millionaires, billionaires, and multinational corporations that dodge their fair share of taxes. It would even pad the pockets of the wealthiest Americans. The Ryan budget says, if you make $1 million next year, that budget would give you a $200,000 tax break.

Our budget presents a stark contrast to the austerity proposals peddled by this Republican Congress. In order to add 8.8 million jobs to the economy over the next 3 years and provide Americans an opportunity to get a good education, find a job, live in a safe and secure home, and afford decent food, we raise revenue that is needed. We do so by asking millionaires and billionaires to pay their fair share--yes, we do--and by closing egregious corporate loopholes, including incentives to ship jobs overseas. We would also cut $4 trillion from the deficit over the next decade.

Look, we can't build the economy for the many--not just the monied-- unless we make significant investments in our future. Those investments can and should be made by raising revenue and growing our economy.

I urge my colleagues to support the Better Off Budget.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Rev. Mark A. Dennis, Jr., Senior Pastor of the Second Baptist Church in Evanston, Illinois.

Ten years ago, this visionary leader took his place as the eleventh Senior Pastor of the historic Second Baptist Church, Evanston's first black Baptist Church, organized in 1882. He was called to provide greater leadership in spiritual formation, strategic visioning, community development, and pastoral care.

Reverend Dennis came with outstanding academic and professional credentials. He holds several degrees including a Master of Divinity, cum laude, from Howard University School of Divinity; a Master of Music from Bowling Green University; and a Bachelor of Arts from Morehouse College. Many honors have been bestowed on him, including admission to the prestigious Preacher's Hall of Fame at Morehouse College.

Second Baptist is a highly-respected Church in the Evanston community with a dedicated congregation whose vision is to be ``A beacon of light: A Christ-centered Church celebrating faith, freedom, stewardship and the social responsibility of caring for souls.''

Reverend Dennis has more than lived up to that mission, reaching well beyond the walls of Second Baptist to become an inspiring and energetic leader in all aspects of the religious and civic life of our community.

Under Reverend Dennis's leadership, Second Baptist partners with my synagogue, Beth Emet, on meaningful youth programs including a joint Civil Rights Pilgrimage to the Southern United States to visit civil rights landmarks. Along with Temple Beth Israel in Skokie, Second Baptist hosts a weekly soup kitchen. Reverend Dennis has spearheaded programs at Second Baptist that lift our entire community, such as ``Cradle to Career,'' which helps young people to take full and equal advantage of the opportunities before them and Pioneering Healthier Communities, a partnership with the City of Evanston, the YMCA, and health providers, which is improving individual lives and community well-being. Reverend Dennis serves as a leader in Interfaith organizations and efforts in our region.

Reverend Dennis has been a treasured friend and mentor to countless people inside and out of his congregation, including me. I congratulate him on his tenth anniversary as Senior Pastor at Second Baptist Church and wish him many more years in the pulpit and the community.

Mr. Speaker, there has actually been a debate on this floor by all of my colleagues, women, coming down from the Republican side, talking about how wonderful this bill is for women and how bad ObamaCare is for women.

I want to make this point, which is that, before the Affordable Care Act was passed, there was gender discrimination against women. The standard body was clearly the male body because women were paying about 48 percent more for health care before this law went into effect, a law that said there would be no more gender discrimination, that women could not be charged more because things like pregnancy might take place. Women became among the biggest winners under the new Affordable Care Act.

In talking about protecting women, it is interesting to me that the Republicans, including my women colleagues, oppose the raising of the minimum wage. Two-thirds of minimum wage workers are women. They oppose the Paycheck Fairness Act. Isn't it time in 2014 that women get paid equal pay for equal work? They oppose the funding of preschool. They support a budget that would cut Pell Grants for colleges. They oppose making sure that the Affordable Care Act will provide contraceptives as a preventative service to women.

I am also hearing about the economics of freedom. Under the Affordable Care Act, now you don't have to be locked into a job because you need the health insurance. That is what I call freedom. Suddenly, entrepreneurialism is unleashed because women, and men are able to say, I am going to take a risk, but I am going to still be able to find health insurance.

The other thing I hear is that it is a job killer. Actually, H.R. 2575 would force 1 million people to lose their employer-provided coverage, and it would increase the number of uninsured up to 500,000. This is not a number that has come out of some Democratic think tank. This is a number that comes from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

Ask the workers themselves, and this is what they will tell you. The National Education Association says, We oppose this bill because we believe it would create a disincentive for employers to provide health coverage.

They act like we are changing what full-time employment is, from 30 to 40 hours.

Here is what we are changing. We are saying, if you work 30 hours, your employer should provide you with health insurance.

What this bill says is, now, if you work 39 hours, your employer can deny you health care coverage. So it actually raises the bar and says that workers can no longer get coverage between the 30 and 39 hours that they work. This is not a good thing.

The American Federation of Labor represents millions of workers. This bill not only fails to address the problem it was intended to solve, but it makes the problem worse. Raising the threshold of how many hours will only move the cliff and will actually increase employers' incentives to reduce workers' hours. The Communications Workers of America say the threshold from 30 to 40 hours per week doesn't help. It would actually encourage employers to lower the number of hours.

There has been some implication, I think, that the Teamsters Union is supporting this bill. That is not true. The Teamsters are not supporting this legislation. I would urge my colleagues to oppose it as well, and I encourage my women colleagues to stand up for women.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my condolences to the friends and family of a great spiritual leader and someone I am proud to say was my cherished friend, Rabbi Daniel Moscowitz. Rabbi Moscowitz passed away earlier this month, and his absence leaves an enormous hole to fill in our community.

Rabbi Moscowitz was born on the north side of Chicago and settled in Northbrook to raise his family. The impact that the Rabbi had on our local community is enormous, and the ripples of his influence will continue to be felt for years to come. He founded what is known today as the Tannenbaum Chabad House, which serves Jewish students attending Northwestern University in my home town of Evanston, Illinois. While he served as the Regional Director for Chabad-Lubavitch for the state of Illinois, the organization saw enormous growth--today, it encompasses dozens of centers in over twenty cities all over the state. Rabbi Moscowitz's efforts have meaningfully improved the state of the Chabad- Lubavitch movement in Illinois, in the United States, and around the globe. I am sure that his tremendous leadership will inspire others to continue working to further his vision.

Rabbi Moscowitz distinguished himself time and time again. He served as head of the Chicago Rabbinical Council, and he was an important part of Chabad-Lubavitch's educational division. Rabbi Moscowitz accomplished a great deal in his 59 years, always with a contagious spirit of job, enthusiasm and optimism. In the end, he was taken from us much too soon--I know that he had so much more planned. Rabbi Moscowitz leaves behind a loving wife and nine children, in addition to his parents and siblings.

On behalf of myself and a grateful nation, I want to thank him for all that he's done for the Jewish Community in Illinois and elsewhere. We will miss you, Rabbi.