Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the House bring up the Senate amendment to H.J. Res. 59, the clean CR, and go to conference on a budget so that we end this unnecessary Republican shutdown.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank my colleagues, Mr. Horsford and Mr. Jeffries, for leading the CBC's important discussion on Republicans' refusal to bring a clean continuing resolution to the floor and the resulting government shutdown.

The Republican course is a partisan path to nowhere, and it simply leaves our workers with fewer jobs, our families with less security, and our country with less certainty and stability.

The government shut down has left hundreds of thousands of Federal employees immediately and indefinitely furloughed.

Recruiting and hiring for Veteran jobs have ceased. Federal assistance to school districts, colleges and universities, and vocational rehabilitation agencies have been severely curtailed.

Important government research into life-threatening diseases, environmental protection, and other areas has halted.

This has all occurred because some Republicans do not like a law already enacted, that a majority of Americans support. A law that already has helped millions of American families, individuals, and businesses.

Reforming our nation's health care system is a historic opportunity to make health care more affordable and bring the kind of change we were all elected to achieve for the American people.

It's called the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and it secures affordable, high quality and accessible health care. It is about establishing healthcare as a right, not a privilege, for every American.

It is about wellness and prevention, economic security and entrepreneurship, and strengthening the middle class. This historic law is about creating a healthier America.

October 1st marked the first day the public could enroll in the Health Insurance Marketplace created by the ACA.

For many African-Americans, this date marked the beginning of fewer health inequities, increased access to quality care, more affordable health coverage, and greater investments in prevention.

African-Americans and other underserved populations often have higher rates of disease, fewer treatment options, and reduced access to healthcare.

The ACA addresses these overwhelming health inequities through several initiatives including data collection, prevention, workforce development, and quality improvement strategies.

Thanks to the ACA, 7.3 million African-Americans with private health insurance can now receive preventive services, like wellness visits, and diabetes and cancer screenings, at no extra cost, 4.5 million African-Americans who have Medicare coverage can now receive preventive services, like flu shots and blood pressure and cholesterol screenings, at no extra cost, 6.8 million uninsured African-Americans may be eligible for coverage through the new Health Insurance Marketplace.

The new Health Insurance Marketplace is healthcare, made simple. It builds on the last three years, during which many Americans have already seen lower costs and better coverage.

Because of the ACA, 105 million Americans have already received access to free preventive services, 6.6 million Seniors have saved more than $7 billion on their prescription drugs.

More than 100 million Americans no longer have a lifetime limit on their insurance coverage.

Mr. Speaker, we are talking about saving lives. In Ohio, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there will be lower than expected premiums in the new Health Insurance Marketplace.

Ohio consumers will be able to choose from an average of 46 health plans in the Marketplace.

For every 10 individuals who are uninsured in Ohio, 6 will be able to find coverage for $100 or less per month, taking into account premium tax credits and Medicaid coverage. As a lifelong healthcare advocate, as a stroke survivor, and as an African-American woman, I know the importance of protecting access to affordable healthcare coverage for all Americans, particularly those who are the most in need.

The new Marketplaces across the country will mean brand-new health and economic security for millions of Americans. It means a healthier, more prosperous nation.

I look forward to helping educate the American people about the benefits of the ACA and continuing to move forward with its implementation. But, with all of the benefits the ACA brings to our country, there are some who still refuse to see how the law helps the American people.

The ACA is the law of the land, which has been upheld by the Supreme Court and which

is currently being implemented to the benefit of millions of Americans.

I urge Speaker Boehner and the other House Republican leaders to follow the will of the American people--end their politically- manufactured government shutdown, and pass the clean Senate CR, so that the government can get back to helping the American people.

I thank you for the opportunity to speak on this important issue.

Mr. Speaker, I stand here at a time we should be celebrating the many freedoms bestowed upon us, but I am here in the midst of some Republicans crippling us.

It is fatal for the Congress to overlook the urgency of the moment and to underestimate the desires of the American people who want the doors of government open, ending the whirlwinds of piecemeal, cherry- picking funding.

Paraphrasing Martin Luther King: When the architects of our Republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir.

Instead, citizens are sitting at home, waiting for Congress to open the doors of government because bills are due, mortgage payments, rent, car loans, services are needed. So I request the Republican leadership to end this debate, because the American people are asking Congress to let them get back to work so they can cash their checks.

Mr. Speaker, this is no way to run the government.

Mr. Speaker, so often we hear our colleagues saying, We come here to Congress to protect and to represent the American people. Well, the American people have spoken. They have asked us to open the doors of government, not shut them.

Mr. Speaker, I say to you that we cannot let you have a few of your Republican Members hold the government hostage because they dislike this President or they dislike the Affordable Care Act.

We cannot piecemeal this funding cycle, because fairness is not letting children starve. Eleven States will not be able to have grants for Head Start. The NIH has announced that they are not going to be able to have clinical trials for hundreds of patients. Thirty of those cancer patients are children.

Fairness is not starving small businesses. Fairness is not piecemealing it. It's like having a large family and asking the parents to pick three children to feed and let the others starve before their eyes.

We are starving America, we are starving government. And I say to my Republican colleagues, fairness is not shutting down the government.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the House bring up the Senate amendment to H.J. Res. 59, the clean CR, and go to conference on a budget that will end this Republican government shutdown that is delaying home loans.

Mr. Speaker, I oppose this politically-manufactured government shutdown.

By shutting down the United States government, House Republicans have proven that they are willing to gamble with both the economic security of hundreds of thousands federal employees and of our nation.

A government shutdown is a serious matter, with real-world consequences.

While Social Security checks will go out to current recipients, the 180,000 people who visit a Social Security office will find that they are understaffed. Their questions will go unanswered.

The Small Business Administration's approval of loans will be put on hold indefinitely. Some 28 million American small businesses will no longer have access to federally-assisted loans or technical assistance.

This government shutdown has forced us to shut the door on the American people. The most vulnerable among us, our seniors, veterans, and our children, will suffer the most.

It is time for Republicans to put aside partisan politics and work with Democrats so that we can re-open the federal government for business and put our nation back on the road to economic prosperity.

I strongly urge the House to adopt the Senate-passed Continuing Resolution without delay.

Mr. Speaker, Congress is faced with much unfinished business--a budget that needs to be passed, a sequester that needs to be repealed, and a debt limit that needs to be lifted.

I remind my Republican colleagues that citizens want us united. They want compromise, not to be shut down.

If the United States defaults on its debt, the results could be devastating. A default could mean 3.4 million veterans not receiving disability benefits; drug reimbursements for Medicare could stop; and in the first week, 10 million Americans would not receive their Social Security--but in these frightening times, all hope is not lost.

John Hogan, founder of TeenForce, which is an enterprise dedicated to solving the youth employment crisis in America, recently received the White House Champions of Change award--from the President of these United States--for contributions to the administration's Youth Jobs program.

John and his family are here today. Let John and other ``champions of change'' serve as an example to us all--that in hard times, if we work together, if we compromise, we can make a difference.

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately on September 19, 2013, I missed rollcall vote No. 473 on H. Res. 352. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay''.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition of H.R. 3102, the Republican Nutrition Reform and Work Opportunity Act.

America should be uncomfortable because this bill would cut $40 billion in critical nutrition assistance programs, denying SNAP benefits to at least 4 million low-income Americans, affecting children, seniors, the disabled, and veterans.

America should be uncomfortable because this Republican deal affects unemployed adults with an average income of just $2,500 per year who would immediately lose their SNAP benefits.

America should be uncomfortable because this bill hurts Americans living in rural, urban, and suburban areas. For many, SNAP benefits are the only thing that keeps them from living with hunger and malnutrition and sickness.

America should be uncomfortable. We should not cut these funds. These are extreme cuts of one of the most effective programs we have combating hunger.

Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor for me to join and thank my colleague, Mr. Jeffries, for leading the Congressional Black Caucus' important discussion on achieving economic security through the labor movement.

Labor unions played an important role in the civil rights movement. Today, the labor movement continues to be an important issue for African Americans, just as important as it was 50 years ago during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

The labor unions and civil rights groups share the struggles of fighting for better pay and equal rights. The overall goal of this movement remains the same. We must invest in education, fair wages, and workers' rights. We must continue to fight for those in our community who are denied economic opportunity and equality. Labor unions are at the forefront of these endeavors. They ensure the gains that workers have made in the past are maintained and that workers' rights will be protected in the future. Union members have played a critical role in the civil rights movement, and their involvement continues today.

Historically, the path of the middle class for African Americans was through a union job, and today unions continue to provide African Americans with economic security. You see, 13.3 percent of all union jobs in the United States are African American, despite African Americans only making up 11.4 percent of the overall domestic workforce. African American union jobs earn up to $10,000, or 31 percent, more per year than nonunion workers.

If we really want to rebuild America's middle class, we need strong unions. Labor unions play a major role in our economy and on behalf of workers. The essence of what labor unions do is to provide workers with a strong voice so they receive a fair share of the economic growth that they help create. They have always been an important player in making sure that the economy works for all Americans.

Labor unions have paved the way for middle class people, for millions of American workers, and pioneered benefits such as paid health care and pensions along the way. Even today, union workers still maintain more benefits and job protection than nonunion workers.

Union jobs continue to offer higher salaries, pensions, health care, and benefits that give families the economic security that they deserve, the security to be able to send their children to college or trade schools. I know this firsthand because my dad was a

union worker. Oftentimes I say that I was able to go to college because of union dollars. This is the American Dream, and unions have helped ensure that more Americans have a chance to live it.

In central Ohio, the Third Congressional District of Ohio that I represent, labor unions are strong and a significant part of the community. During my August recess, I had the opportunity to visit the Sheet Metal Workers Union, Local 24, located in Columbus, Ohio. I also had the opportunity to have a labor town hall meeting where I had the opportunity to speak. Whether it's a teacher educating our children, a skilled tradesman improving our infrastructure, police and first responders keeping us safe, electric workers, those working in transportation, the Postal Service, nurses, automotive workers, local, State, Federal, and municipal government employees, these individuals assist us every day and their work improves our communities and our local economy.

It is so important for us to come here today as Members of Congress and, yes, as members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Let me tell you why. In our current economic climate, unions are more important than ever before. We need fair wages. We need a higher minimum wage. As our economy continues to recover from the worst recession in 80 years, many workers are experiencing decreased wages, forcing them to spend their savings or try to figure out how to make ends meet.

Yes, unions are a vital part of our society and so important as we continue to rebuild America. We must ensure that workers can retire with dignity. We must preserve the ideals and the principles of the middle class. We must make sure that we preserve the values of that civil rights movement 50 years ago and that labor movement that defines our country. When unions are strong and able to provide a voice to American workers, our communities, our States, and our Nation grows.

So tonight I say ``thank you'' to all my friends in labor, because you are making us have a better America.

Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to the devastating funding cuts to the Transportation and Housing initiatives in this appropriations bill, and particularly the cuts to the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG).

Established nearly forty years ago, the CDBG program provides State and local governments across the country with the funding and flexibility to most effectively target resources to local community development needs.

The only Federal program of its kind, since 1974, the CDBG program has invested $135 billion in local communities.

And, in addition to being a critical factor in national economic growth, this program has assisted States and local governments in achieving the kinds of infrastructure projects, job creation and poverty elimination that our communities so desperately need.

In this Chamber, there is often talk of the need to make government more efficient, and reduce wasting taxpayer dollars.

Well, I'm happy to report that this program does just that--it continues to be one of HUD's most efficient programs--with grantees devoting on average 94 percent of CDBG funds directly to efforts that provide benefits to low-to moderate-income families.

Within my district in Franklin County Ohio, CDBG funding has been used for housing rehabilitation, micro-enterprise assistance, ADA compliance, and revitalization of downtown Columbus. These developments have made a real difference in my community.

The City of Whitehall has removed and replaced about thirty-three- hundred feet of curb and gutter along Bernhard Road, enhancing water runoff management in the area--preventing pooling water and possible disease or outbreak.

Recent projects have provided 650 households with access to public transit--public transit that many families use to get to and from work and stores all of which improves the local economy as a whole.

And CDBG funds have given 1400 families in Franklin County, Ohio access to clean, safe drinking water--a project that would have been nearly impossible otherwise because local revenues were just not available.

I'm proud to say that Franklin County continues to leverage $5.30 for infrastructure development for every dollar of CDBG funding it receives, but with the draconian cuts to CDBG contained in this bill, there's simply no way that we can make up the difference.

That's why the National Low-Income Housing Coalition, the National Housing Trust, the Community Development Finance Authority, the National Association of Counties, the National Association of Development Organizations, the YWCA, Rebuilding Together, the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, the American Planning Association, and the Council of State Community Development Agencies have all written in strong support of CDBG funding and the programs it sustains.

And yet, here we are considering an appropriations bill that would literally cut the program in half.

The proposed funding level would be less than when CDBG was first authorized in 1974.

This would tip many low- to moderate-income Americans over the brink into poverty and would negatively impact our communities and our country.

So I stand here today--with my colleagues--strongly opposed to the funding level cuts contained in this appropriations bill.

The Chairman of the T-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee, Representative Latham, has said ``cutting over $7 billion in programs was very challenging.''

I say this to my Republican colleagues, if cutting these programs was hard--I can assure you, the children, seniors, and families directly helped by CDBG programs will have a much more challenging time dealing with the effects of over $7 billion in cuts.

I urge opposition to this bill.

Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, July 24, 2013, due to unforeseen illness, I missed rollcall votes No. 411, on the Pompeo amendment, and No. 412, on the Amash amendment. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on the Pompeo amendment, and ``nay'' on the Amash amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the deep and drastic cuts to the Transportation-HUD appropriations bill.

In existence since 1974, the CDBG program has invested $135 billion to local communities. In this Chamber, it is often said that we need to make sure that government is more efficient and reduces wasting taxpayers' dollars. Well, I am happy to report that this program continues to be one of HUD's most efficient programs, with grantees devoting on average 94 percent of CDBG funds directly to efforts that provide benefits to low- and moderate-income families. The Republican chairperson has said, ``Cutting over $7 billion in programs was very challenging.''

Well, Mr. Speaker, I say if this Chamber cuts these programs that provides jobs and infrastructure development, I can assure you that the children, the seniors, and the families helped by these programs will find it much more challenging dealing with $7 billion in cuts.

I urge you to oppose these cuts.

Mr. Chair, on rollcall Nos. 411--Pompeo amendment #99, ``yes'' and 412--Amash amendment #100, ``No.''

Personal Explanation

Mrs. NEGRETE McLEOD. Mr. Chair, on rollcall Nos. 411, ``yes'' and 412, ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of standing up for women and celebrating the 100-year anniversary of my sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, a sorority of more than 200,000 Black college- educated women founded in 1913, an organization where 22 African American women were the only women of color to participate in the women's suffrage march.

I thank Delta Kappa Chapter, where I was made, and the Columbus and Dayton alumni chapters, where I serve, for standing on their shoulders and continuing the legacy because they understand that we must continue to stand up for women in health care, in education, and in the workplace, because when women do better, our children do well; when women do well, our families do well; when women do well, our men do well; and yes, when women do well, America does well.

Thank you, women, and thank you, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.