Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, June 17, 2014, I was unavoidably absent due to a spousal medical emergency. On rollcall vote No. 313, on H.R. 3375, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' On rollcall vote No. 314, on H.R. 1671, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, June 18, 2014, I unavoidably missed rollcall vote No. 315, on H. Res. 628 due to a spousal medical emergency. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. Speaker, today, NetJets Inc., a worldwide leader in aviation, is celebrating its 50th anniversary at its headquarters in Columbus, Ohio, in my congressional district. NetJets has made notable contributions to our community in central Ohio by providing transportation services during medical emergencies and natural disasters.

Through the generous efforts of the aircraft owners, the hardworking employees, and intuitive management, NetJets has become the industry standard, by having flown more hours than all other fractional aircraft companies combined. This organization has thrived in meeting the complex transportation needs of American business through safe, reliable jet service, while creating jobs and contributing to central Ohio's economy.

The legacy that NetJets continues to build will enrich the lives of generations to come and shape a bright future in aviation. I commend NetJets on its 50th anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2203, sponsored by Congressman Pat Tiberi, awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to Columbus, Ohio, native Jack Nicklaus. Jack Nicklaus--an alumni of Ohio State University--is a world-famous professional golfer who has amassed 120 victories in professional tournaments worldwide.

While well known for his athletic achievements on the golf course, Jack Nicklaus also has a long history of involvement in, and contributions to, numerous charitable activities. One example: last month I had the opportunity to attend the Legends Luncheon. While only a few years in existence, it has raised more than a half-million dollars in proceeds from his annual Memorial Tournament held in his home State of Ohio in support of Nationwide Children's Hospital located in my district, ensuring that central Ohio will continue to have one of the best children's hospitals in the United States.

In honor of Jack Nicklaus' sportsmanship and philanthropy, I urge my colleagues to join the 304 of us who have signed H.R. 2203 and pass

Mr. Speaker, thank you to my colleague. Thank you so much, Mr. Horsford from Nevada, for leading us in this Congressional Black Caucus Special Order hour, and also to my colleague from New York (Mr. Jeffries), thank you for your leadership.

It is an honor for me to be here, not only as a Member of Congress, but someone who lived through our topic tonight.

If we pause for a moment and could go back in history, that unanimous opinion written by Chief Justice Early Warren held that ``separate educational facilities are inherently unequal'' and that segregation of schools violates the 14th and Fifth Amendments of the United States Constitution.

This decision, Mr. Speaker, signaled an end to the State-sanctioned segregation of public schools in the United

States, making it unlawful to deny access to public facilities on the basis of race.

Striking down segregation in our Nation's public schools provided a major catalyst for the civil rights movement and made advances in desegregating housing, public accommodations, and institutions of higher education possible.

On the anniversary of this landmark decision, we acknowledge and applaud those who endured and lived through those days of crises so all Americans could enjoy the right to vote, the right to equal protection of law.

It is the Brown story, but it could have been, as we heard from Congresswoman Barbara Lee, the Barbara Lee story.

It could be the Congresswoman Joyce Beatty story because I grew up during this same era of time as a young child who, thank goodness, had a mother and father who understood the link of discriminating against African Americans, who understood the link between redlining in housing, to education; so they made a brave step and moved to an all- White neighborhood, so I could go to an integrated school.

It reminds me of how Oliver Brown probably felt on that day when his young daughter, Linda, had to walk some 21 blocks, through all kinds of elements and traffic and danger zones, to get to the segregated school, when just six blocks away from where they lived was an all-White school.

So you see, he took on this challenge because of his young daughter and, at that time, having another daughter that would follow and not knowing that there would even be a third daughter to follow.

At the age of 32, at the time of the suit against the school system, he--a Baptist minister, a welder, a person who was active in his community--decided that he would let his name be put on the lawsuit.

He testified that, many times, his daughter had to wait in the cold, to wait for a bus to take her to Monroe, even though, as I mentioned, seven blocks away from an all-White elementary school. That is the Oliver story.

So when we think of the Oliver Brown story and we think of Mr. Brown, who opened up the schoolhouse doors to Americans, regardless of race or color, it created an opportunity for millions of Americans.

Sadly, the promise of the Brown decision remains unfulfilled in many ways today. Millions of American families face trials and tribulations related to their color, creed, or religion.

Even today, 60 years after legally-sanctioned educational segregation ended, the legacy of this discrimination can still be found in our schools, if you look at graduation rates, in the university, and yes, in the workplace.

Today and every day, we must rededicate ourselves to raise a new generation that may seize their opportunities. It is incumbent upon us, as lawmakers, that we make sure that Americans are able to have a quality education, that they are able to exceed and succeed in all that they endeavor.

While we pause in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Brown decision, we should not rest on our laurels until equality for all is a reality in our great Nation.

Just this morning, a Columbus school board member reminded me, as Shawna Gibbs wrote me this note, she said, Mr. Speaker:

No longer separate, but still fighting for equality.

So as I close, I ask us to look at this visual and know that Oliver Brown's fight was for all of us, 60 years ago and today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the National Women's History Commission Act, HR. 863, introduced by my esteemed colleague from New York, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney.

Representative Maloney has worked diligently to get this important bill to the floor, and I thank her for her tremendous efforts.

H.R. 863 would establish a commission to report recommendations to the President and Congress concerning the establishment of a National Women's History Museum in Washington, DC.

The National Women's History Museum Commission would be at no additional cost to the taxpayer, as the commission is entirely paid for without the use of federal funds.

The Museum's mission would be to educate, inspire, empower, and shape the future by integrating women's distinctive history into the culture of the United States.

All too often, women's history is largely missing from textbooks, memorials, and museum exhibits.

Of the 210 statues in the United States Capitol, only nine are of female leaders.

Less than five percent of the 2,400 national historic landmarks chronicle women's achievement.

The museums and memorials in our nation's Capital demonstrate what we value.

This bill would provide women, who comprise 53% of our population, a long overdue home on our National Mall honoring their many contributions that are the very backbone of our country.

This effort is about bringing together women and remembering those women that came before us, who persevered and changed the course of history, and on whose shoulders we stand today.

These unique experiences, perspectives, and historic accomplishments deserve recognition in our nation's capital.

It is time for the women of our nation to be recognized with this landmark.

H.R. 863 is a critical step in advancing the National Women's History Museum by providing us with a blueprint of steps to take in order to finally tell the story of more than half of our country's population.

Let us honor our nation's foremothers and inspire present and future generations of women leaders.

I urge all Members of the House to vote in favor of this bill.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank Ranking Member Waters for all of her support and her leadership.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3584, the Capital Access for Small Community Financial Institutions Act, as amended.

Today I stand here, joining my colleague from Ohio, Congressman Steve Stivers, in support of final passage of this bipartisan legislation. I thank the gentleman for introducing this bill on which I partnered as the lead Democrat. In a show of bipartisanship, we were able to work together to have the legislation unanimously reported out of the Financial Services Committee, as it is certainly worth noting again, with a vote of 55-0.

Madam Speaker, H.R. 3584, if enacted, would permit privately insured credit unions to apply for membership in the Federal Home Loan Bank system. It would not, however, mandate that these privately insured credit unions become members of the Federal Home Loan Bank. Currently, out of roughly some 6,000 credit unions across the country, there are 132 privately insured credit unions operated in nine States. These States include Alabama, California, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Nevada, my home State of Ohio, and Texas.

In particular, this bill would improve access to home mortgage loans for members of the three privately insured credit unions that are based in my Third Congressional District of Ohio. H.R. 3584 is an extremely important piece of legislation for these privately insured credit unions because it will help give members and businesses greater access to credit in a tight credit market.

Additionally, this legislation would also benefit the exclusive insurers of privately insured credit unions across the country, which are based in central Ohio, just north of my congressional district, which provide employment for many Ohioans.

In addition, Madam Speaker, in order to ensure the best-drafted bill, Congressman Meeks and I offered amendments that were accepted during the committee markup.

My amendment does two things. First, it removes any language referencing the National Credit Union Administration from the text of the legislation--clarifying that this legislation would not grant any supervisory jurisdiction to the NCUA over privately insured credit unions.

Secondly, it created a Government Accountability Office study and report to Congress on the adequacy of insurance reserves held by the private insurer of these credit unions and also on the compliance of these credit unions with Federal regulations requiring consumers to receive disclosures explaining that such credit unions are privately-- not federally--insured.

These changes were supported by the NCUA and unanimously by the entire Financial Services Committee.

Indeed, H.R. 3584, the Capital Access for Small Community Financial Institutions Act, as amended, comes to the floor today because of the efforts of many members of the Financial Services Committee who worked to advance the legislation through regular order of the committee.

I would urge support of H.R. 3584 because this bipartisan legislation is good policy, it is good for small credit unions, and it is an easy and effective way to demonstrate bipartisan, nationwide support for local communities and businesses.

Madam Speaker, I believe this legislation is a perfect example of the type of regular order, committee-driven action that we should use as a template for bipartisan cooperation in the House, and which, if enacted, would bring real benefits to the national housing markets. I urge all of the Members to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 3584, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, owning a home is the cornerstone of achieving the American Dream for many Americans. Homeownership is a source of pride and develops robust and stable communities. However, for many prospective first-time homeowners, the process of purchasing real estate may be confusing and daunting and may leave uninformed buyers victims of unaffordable or predatory loans.

I believe that we must support access to homeownership and the financial literacy necessary to become a successful first-time homeowner. That is why today I am introducing the Housing Financial Literacy Act of 2014 which would provide a discount on Federal Housing Administration, or FHA, upfront mortgage insurance premiums of 25 basis points to first-time homebuyers who complete a housing counseling program certified by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD. This bill would encourage first time homebuyers to take advantage of these critical counseling resources that can increase their financial literacy skills and capabilities.

Currently, HUD's Housing Counseling Assistance Program provides counseling to consumers on the entire spectrum of housing counseling needs: from finding and financing, to maintaining and owning a home. Studies have shown that homebuyers who receive pre-purchase housing counseling courses are nearly one-third less likely to fall behind on their mortgage, and that housing counseling can improve prospective borrowers' access to affordable, prudent mortgage loans. Consequently, an additional anticipated benefit is a reduction in delinquencies and defaults by better-informed first-time homebuyers that should serve to strengthen the FHA's Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund.

Mr. Speaker, for many Americans, their home is the largest financial asset they will ever own. Ensuring that first-time buyers have the knowledge and tools necessary to be successful homeowners is an objective that we can all share. My thanks goes out to the bipartisan group of original cosponsors who recognized the importance of this legislation, including the Democratic and Republican Co-Chairs of the Financial Literacy Caucus.

I urge my colleagues to join in our efforts to increase financial literacy by cosponsoring the Housing Financial Literacy Act of 2014.

Mr. Speaker, today this Equal Pay Day, I rise to recognize the full value of women's skills, their significant contributions to the labor force, and acknowledge the gross injustice of wage inequality.

Women--who make up nearly half of our Nation's workforce--on average still make only 77 cents for every dollar made by men.

For black women, its 64 cents on the dollar.

At a time when families across the United States are struggling to make ends meet, ensuring a fair wage is more important than ever.

Equal pay is more than a basic right--it is an economic necessity.

That is why I will continue to fight for the When Women Succeed, America Succeeds economic agenda, which includes enacting the Paycheck Fairness Act, to ensure equal pay for equal work for our nation's women, children, and families.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my strong opposition to the Republican budget for fiscal year 2015.

This Republican budget is yet another attack on America, especially our seniors, students, workers, and middle class families.

Yet again, this irrational budget guts federal investments in education, research, innovation, and infrastructure.

It would dramatically slash the social safety net by privatizing Medicare, turning Medicaid into a block grant program, and cutting SNAP benefits.

With cuts like these, Mr. Speaker, everyone gets left behind and our economy only gets weaker.

Instead, our budget should present a blueprint toward prosperity.

Our government should be investing in programs that strengthen our economy, grow our middle class, lift people out of poverty, and help more Americans achieve the American Dream. This budget fails on all these fronts and should be rejected.

Mr. Speaker, today, the National Association of Letter Carriers Buckeye Branch 78 arrived in Washington for its national conference. I rise to honor these dedicated postal workers and thank them for the great service that they provide, bringing news during tragedy and triumph.

America's letter carriers have a long history of delivering the mail for well over 200 years. Their tireless commitment helps ensure the timely delivery of prescriptions, paychecks, Social Security checks, and other communications to countless Americans and keeps the stream of commerce flowing.

In light of the fiscal challenges faced by the United States Postal Service, a number of postal workers have been presented that they could potentially be downgraded; thus we would downgrade Postal Services, hurt postal workers, and shutter post offices.

As we continue these debates on this House floor, I wish to reassure the National Association of Letter Carriers Buckeye Branch 78 that they have an ally in me.

Thank you to my colleagues.

I would like to thank Mr. Horsford and Mr. Jeffries for hosting the Congressional Black Caucus' important discussion on celebrating Women's History Month. As we honor so many women who have shaped our history, let us also celebrate those who make progress in today's time.

Certainly, you will hear throughout this hour, ``When Women Succeed, America Succeeds.'' What an honor it was, Mr. Speaker, to hear our President of these United States say it before an audience of millions of people in his State of the Union address. More importantly than his saying it is how it was received. People received it in the spirit that he said it. Do you know why, Mr. Speaker? It is because, when women succeed, America succeeds.

As you have heard, in 1987, Congress declared March to be National Women's History Month, giving the Nation the chance to salute the trailblazers who paved the way for so many of us to have the rights that we have today. National Women's History Month gives us an opportunity to acknowledge the groundbreakers of the past, thank the heroines of today, and inspire the leaders of the future. It is a reminder that, if we believe in ourselves, we can really make a difference.

It reminds us of women like Rosa Parks--the mother of the modern civil rights movement--or the woman known for: I shall be unbought and unbossed. Yes, Mr. Speaker, Shirley Chisholm, who ran for President and who was the first African American woman elected to Congress, and, yes, Dorothy Height, who, if still living, would have just this week celebrated her 102nd birthday. There are so many more women we could talk about--women of the past or today--like our very own Congressional Black Caucus chairwoman, Marcia Fudge, from the great State of Ohio. Others are unknown outside of their own families and communities, people like my grandmother and my great-aunt and like my 90-year-old mother, who lives today and sets a great example, not only for her three daughters, but for women across this Nation. All of them are a part of our history, and their courage and dedication have helped to sustain the American spirit.

These pioneers and heroines have brought down barriers and have created new opportunities. We have now witnessed the first African American woman Secretary of State, the first female Speaker of the United States House of Representatives--a woman I get to sit with on a weekly basis, a woman who sets an example. Yes, she is Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi. There is now a record number of women serving in Congress, with 20 women serving in the Senate and 82 women serving in the House of Representatives. However, although women have made great strides, there is much more to do.

We continue to face discrimination in the workplace. We have a higher risk of sexual assault and an earnings gap that will cost the average woman hundreds of thousands of dollars over the course of her working lifetime. An average woman still makes 77 cents for every dollar made by men, and the gap is even wider for Black women. On average, Black women earn only 64 cents for every dollar earned by White men. In addition, women-owned businesses continue to lag behind male-owned businesses. The average revenue of women-owned businesses is only 27 percent of the average revenue by male-owned businesses.

In response to these and other challenges women are currently facing, in July 2013, House Democrats unveiled ``When Women Succeed, America Succeeds: An Economic Agenda for Women and Families.'' This platform addresses the need to ensure that women get equal pay for equal work. It helps to ensure work and family balance by allowing working parents to support their families and to care for their children. So many of us in this Chamber understand that. It also recognizes that expanding educational opportunities, increasing job training, and investing in women entrepreneurs is essential for women's success in our economy.

Federal investments have and continue to help ensure economic opportunities for women and girls. For example, earning a college degree remains one of the surest pathways to the middle class. Women with a bachelor's degree earn more than 80 percent more than those with a high school degree. Today, more than 11 million women are pursuing a postsecondary education, and average graduation rates for women exceed those of their male counterparts, but we certainly know everyone will not go to college, and that is okay. We have to continue to fight to make sure that there is a place for women in workforce development, in higher education, in the home, or in whatever work they choose to do. Women in STEM fields make, on average, 33 percent more than women in non-STEM fields, and certainly we know that technology and innovation in STEM--science, technology, engineering, and math--is the way of the future.

So let me just say to my colleagues: Thank you for hosting this evening on Women's History Month. Thank you for honoring women.

To all of the women--the mothers, the sisters, the aunts, the girlfriends--who are watching us: remember, when women succeed, America succeeds.

Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 102nd anniversary of the Girl Scouts of the USA.

On this day in 1912, Juliette `Daisy' Gordon Low officially registered the organization's first eighteen Girl Scouts in Savannah, Georgia.

Since that first meeting, more than 59 million young women have been inspired, challenged, and empowered as Girl Scout alumnae.

Thanks to Daisy Gordon's vision, millions of girls have learned the values of personal responsibility, conservation, friendship, community, and teamwork.

Girl Scouts carry these important lessons with them for the rest of their lives.

The Girl Scouts and I share a birthday and on this Girl Scout Day, I applaud the Girl Scouts for affording millions of girls across the country with the opportunity to be part of something much bigger than themselves.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of March being Women's History Month. I rise today to say thank you for all the services for the women in the Third Congressional District and to the 102 women who serve in the 113th Congress in the House and the Senate.

I rise because we know when women succeed, America succeeds. I ask you to join me in making 2014 a year of action by having equal pay for equal work, providing affordable child care and access to health care.

This afternoon, I am honored to join Swin Cash, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, as we initiate the Let's Move! initiative in honor of the First Lady's Let's Move! So to America, I say let's do this thing in honor of women.

Mr. Speaker, every February, we celebrate Black History Month by honoring the achievements and contributions of those African- Americans who have courageously challenged the status quo, pushed boundaries and moved our country forward in the name of justice and equality for all.

Rosa Parks, the Mother of the Modern Civil Rights Movement, embodied courage and strength when she refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus to a white passenger on December 1, 1955.

Her courage and perseverance continues to inspire me, my constituents in the third congressional district of Ohio, and our nation.

I was privileged to have met her and so proud to sponsor the legislation that made Ohio the first State to recognize December 1st as Rosa Parks Day.

This Black History Month, I am honored to reflect and celebrate the rich legacy of Rosa Parks and so many other African-Americans who have shaped our Nation's history.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong opposition to the Consumer Financial Protection Safety and Soundness Improvement Act,