Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friend and my colleague for yielding me this time.

Mr. Speaker, it is a shame and a disgrace. Furthermore, it is really, really sad that the government of the most powerful country in the world is closed. It is closed. It is unbelievable. It is unreal. It is downright embarrassing.

I wonder--I wonder what the rest of the world thinks of us. We go all around the world preaching democracy--one person, one vote--and we will not even give the Members, all of the Members of the House of Representatives, an opportunity to vote on a clean effort, a continuing resolution, to end the shutdown.

Give the Members--please, give the Members, all of the Members, Democrats and Republicans--an opportunity to cast a vote, a free and open vote. That's what our Founding Fathers struggled for. People died for the right to participate. And in the House of Representatives, in this House, the people's House, we will not be provided an opportunity for all of the people to vote.

We must end the shutdown and put our people back to work and keep our economy growing and moving. We don't want to go back, my friends, or stand still. We want to go forward. Let's come together, all of us, Democrats and Republicans, come together and end this shutdown for good. We can do it. We made hard and tough decisions before and we can do it again, and we must do it because it's the right thing to do.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank my friend and colleague for yielding.

This is unbelievable. I cannot believe we are here again. With so much to be done, so much good that we could do, this Republican Congress wants to stop the country, to deny the people a chance to see a doctor. How many times are we going to do this? What is next? Medicare? Medicaid? Social Security? This is not right; it is not fair; it is not just.

Madam Speaker, the voters have spoken; the Supreme Court has ruled. The Affordable Care Act is the law of the land. It is constitutional, it is compassionate, it is what is right, it is what is necessary.

So much progress has been made. Young people can stay insured under their parents, more people will have coverage, coverage to help them see a doctor when they need to, coverage that covers.

The American people are counting on us. We must fulfill our constitutional responsibility to fund the Federal Government. We must keep the promise of health care to the American people. We will not go backwards. We have come too far and we cannot turn back.

Madam Speaker, health care is a right. It is not a privilege for the wealthy. Every citizen of the United States should be able to see a doctor when they need to. Every single one. This is a resolution that would stop that. It is not the American way. It is not the America that we believe in.

We should care for each other. We should look out for one another. We are one family, one house--the American House--and we should not pull the roof down on our heads to win political points.

Vote ``no'' on this backward deal. Vote for what is right, what is fair and just.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to cast rollcall votes on May 23rd. Had I been present, I would have cast the following votes:

On rollcall 180, I would have voted ``no;'' on rollcall 181, I would have voted ``no;'' on rollcall 182, I would have voted ``yes;'' on rollcall 183, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to cast rollcall votes on July 17th. Had I been present, I would have cast the following votes:

On rollcall 357, I would have voted ``no''; on rollcall 358, I would have voted ``no''; on rollcall 359, I would have voted ``no''; on rollcall 360, I would have voted ``yes''; on rollcall 361, I would have voted ``no''; on rollcall 362, I would have voted ``yes''; and on rollcall 363, I would have voted ``no''.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to cast rollcall votes on August 1st. Had I been present, I would have cast the following votes:

On rollcall No. 428, I would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall No. 429, I would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall No. 430, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall No. 431, I would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall No. 432, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall No. 433, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall No. 434, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall No. 435, I would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall No. 436, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks in strong opposition to the farm bill rule and the underlying bill because it takes the safety net away from America's poor families.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share my concerns about the future of an essential cancer research program which suffered dreadful cuts from sequestration.

As you know, our country made great strides in overall cancer research efforts, but we must do more. There is a long way yet to go in the pancreatic cancer battle in particular. There is still no way to detect the disease early, or to treat it effectively after diagnosis. Pancreatic cancer is the only major cancer where less than ten percent of those affected live for five years, and this is heartbreaking.

Last year, Congress passed the Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act, a bipartisan bill which I was proud to support. In doing so, we tasked the National Cancer Institute with the responsibility of developing a strategy for fighting pancreatic and other deadly cancers. The Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act will support new research programs and will help find diagnostic tools and more effective treatments for pancreatic cancer and similar diseases.

Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, none of that progress will be realized without protecting the resources which allow the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute to accomplish this law's life- saving goals. With sequestration in effect, the NIH has already lost $1.55 billion in funding necessary for grant programs and other projects.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to protect these resources. We must come together to fight one of our greatest health challenges, and finding a positive, sustainable solution to sequestration. Too many people, too many families are praying and expecting a solution. Sequestration must come to an end. We must come together, and we must end this terrible reality now.

Mr. Speaker, I ask--I beg--of all of our colleagues, Democrats and Republicans, to come together and save the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

I wish somehow, in some way, that members of the United States Supreme Court could come and walk in my shoes. I have seen hundreds and thousands of people stand in a movable line, asked to count the numbers of bubbles in a bar of soap, the number of jellybeans in a jar. I've seen too many of my sisters and brothers denied the right to register, denied the right to vote, simply because of the color of their skin.

We've come too far. We've made too much progress, Mr. Speaker, and we cannot go back--for the vote is precious. It is almost sacred. It is the most powerful, nonviolent tool we have in a democratic society, and no one, but no one--African American, Latino, White, Asian American, Native American--should be denied the right to participate in the democratic process. So let's come together and do what we should do, and what another generation of elected officials did.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to cast rollcall votes on the afternoon of May 16th and all day on May 17th. Had I been present, I would have cast the following votes:

On rollcall 153, I would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall 154, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall 155, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall 156, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall 157, I would have voted ``no.''

On rollcall 158, I would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall 159, I would have voted ``yes.''

On rollcall 160, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today with my good friend, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), to introduce the Every Child Deserves a Family Act in honor of National Foster Care Awareness Month. Our colleague, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Gillibrand) will sponsor the companion legislation in the Senate.

First, I would like to thank my friend, my sister, Congresswoman Ros- Lehtinen for being my partner in this important fight. I would also like to pay tribute to our former colleague, Congressman Stark, and the hard work of his staff, Jeff Hild, in first championing this important bill. I am fully committed to moving this landmark legislation across the finish line.

Last week, our constituents--including Philip McAdoo and his son Zaden from Atlanta--came to Washington, DC to highlight how essential a loving home can be to a child in need of support and understanding. Philip, his partner Sean Cavanaugh, and Zaden are a beautiful, loving, globe-trotting family; simply being with them just warms your heart. Their story is the happy ending which every foster care youth and potential parent should have the opportunity to experience.

Today, there are more than 400,000 children in our foster care system, with over 104,000 of them waiting for a permanent family. There are ample ``qualified'' adoptive and foster parents who are overlooked. As result, far too many youth ``age out'' without any family to support and love them. This bill would fix this problem--saving money and heartache and restoring hope and happiness in the process.

The Every Child Deserves a Family Act is a simple and straightforward proposal. It would prohibit any entity that receives federal child welfare funds from discriminating against prospective adoptive or foster parents on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender identification, or marital status. This bill also prevents discrimination against foster care youth on the basis of the sexual orientation or gender identity.

Mr. Speaker, I fought too long and too hard against discrimination of every kind. This is a problem that is fixable. Our common-sense legislation is supported by nearly 100 child welfare, civil rights, GLBT advocacy, and faith-based organizations because it places the best interest of every child first.

Today, we are joined by over 50 Members of Congress in introducing this bill, and I hope all of my colleagues will join us in support of this good will effort. Simply said, the Every Child Deserves a Family Act is just the right thing to do.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Nurses Week. I am proud to honor the tireless work of the more than three million men and women who form the core of the American healthcare system.

Nurses are at the forefront of patient care in our hospitals and clinics, our schools and workplaces, in the military, and throughout our communities. They handle the daunting responsibility of caring for millions of unique patients with unparalleled grace. From bedside care to university classrooms, nurses are the leaders in promoting and maintaining our Nation's health. As equal parts caretakers, advocates, researchers, and educators, nurses work selflessly to protect the safety and well-being of all Americans. They are truly some of our Nation's most devoted professionals.

As our population ages, and our healthcare industry focuses increasingly on preventative care, the demand for nursing services will be greater than ever. We must do everything we can to support nursing students, and ensure that our healthcare system is able to meet growing patient needs for years to come.

Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring nurses across the country. We should all be tremendously grateful for their invaluable work, not just this week, but every day of the year.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank my friend, Mr. Levin, for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the Pay China First Act. We are the United States of America, and we pay our bills. Madam Speaker, I cannot believe that this body would even entertain or consider a bill that puts the Social Security check of 56 million seniors and people after China. How can we justify putting 2 million American military personnel, many of whom are in harm's way, after China? That is not right. That is not fair. As a Congress, we can do better, much better.

Let me be crystal clear. Default is not an option. The United States of America pays all of its bills as they come due. This is the American way.

Let's stop playing games and do what is right; do what is just; do what is fair. Let's do what every American citizen has to do, pay our debts. I urge each and every one of my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the Pay China First Act. We have a moral obligation to do what is right.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the hard work and contributions of Miguel Martinez, a valued member of my staff.

For the past four years, Miguel has served as my tax and benefits counsel; he is my key staff person for Ways and Means Committee tax, retirement, and pension policy. In addition to handling financial services and small business issues, Miguel is a passionate advocate and advisor on LGBT issues and immigration reform. It is rare to find a person who not only understands these complicated issues, but can also simplify their importance for the average person. He is an intellectual with a soul.

We were lucky to find Miguel, who treats every one of my constituents with dignity, respect, and welcomes them with true southern hospitality. An Atlanta native with Caribbean roots in Puerto Rico, Miguel graduated from Emory University and American University's Washington College of Law. Before joining my office, he practiced tax, employee benefit, and commercial transaction at Paley Rothman Law Firm.

Together, we have worked on countless successes--like a tax relief bill for workers affected by airline bankruptcies, improvements and extensions of the homebuyer tax credit, fighting for small businesses and low-income individuals in the tax code. Simply said, Mr. Speaker, Miguel is one of the best congressional staffers with whom I have ever had the privilege and honor of working.

Although Miguel is leaving my office to become the Director of Government Relations and Tax Counsel for the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), he will always remain a part of the John Lewis family. I wish him continued success and happiness in his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Mrs. Michaeleen Earle Crowell on her recent promotion from legislative director to chief of staff to Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT). It is a well-deserved honor.

For eight years, Michaeleen served as my legislative director, managed my legislative staff, and strategized successful initiatives like health care reform, the Voting Rights Act reauthorization, and the crafting of the Voter Empowerment Act. When Michaeleen joined my staff in 2005, she brought balance, leadership, and practical experience to our Ways and Means Committee health care and Oversight Subcommittee work.

A native of Lowell, Massachusetts, Michaeleen is a seasoned policy expert and strategist. She grew up in a family engrained in progressive politics, and Capitol Hill was a natural fit. Nearly 20 years ago, she began her congressional career as a research assistant on the Committee on Labor and Human Resources to my good friend, Senator Edward M. Kennedy.

Michaeleen went on to earn undergraduate and law degrees from Boston University. She then gained first-hand experience with health care law in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, before moving to Atlanta to practice health care, business, and civil law. She also returned to her public service roots--providing counsel during the transition and inauguration of Mayor Shirley Franklin and serving as legislative director and counsel for the newly-elected Congresswoman Denise Majette (D-GA) who served the congressional district which neighbors the one I represent.

Although we miss Michaeleen and her beautiful family--her husband James and children Jac and Ellie--I wish them continued success and happiness, and I congratulate her from the bottom of my heart on her recent promotion.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friends, Congresswoman Sewell and Congressman Bachus.

It is true that I grew up in Alabama, and I represent Georgia, but Alabama is in my blood.

I want to thank the two of you for bringing this resolution forward to honor these four beautiful little girls killed by a bomb while attending Sunday school on September 15, 1963, at the Sixteenth Street Baptist church.

On that Sunday, when I heard about the bombing that morning, I traveled to the city of Birmingham and stood outside of the church with my friend and my coworker, Julian Bond. We stood and we looked at the church. Later, I had an opportunity to attend the funeral of three of the little girls.

That bombing took place 18 days after Martin Luther King, Jr., had stood here in Washington and said: ``I have a dream, a dream deeply rooted in the American Dream.''

That was a sad day. It tore out the essence of our hearts. But we didn't give up. We didn't become bitter. We didn't become hostile. We continued. Because of what happened in Birmingham, it inspired us to go to Selma to fight for the right to vote.

I think we're doing the right thing today by honoring these four little

girls. They must be looked upon as those who gave their very lives, gave their blood to help redeem the soul of America and move us closer to a beloved community.

I wonder sometimes why, what, and how. We're a different country and we're a better country because they gave their all.