Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of National Rural Health Month.

Everyone, no matter where they live, deserves access to high-quality healthcare, but I have heard so many stories from my constituents in rural areas who have to drive for hours to the nearest hospital or they don't have reliable internet for healthcare for telehealth.

Today, though, I will share a story celebrating the positive impact of rural healthcare. This mother and her family thrived because they had access to obstetric care in their rural hometown.

A local woman from Danville, a town in a rural county of my southern Illinois community, successfully delivered preterm twins because they lived by a hospital with a full labor and delivery unit. The mom and her babies remained at OSF Sacred Heart Medical Center with both of the babies in a level 2 nursery where they could receive 24/7 care.

The parents were able to spend the maximum time to bond with their babies while the mom recovered from the delivery. The dad was able to go to work because the hospital was close to their home. The mom could be with their newborns and focus on breastfeeding with one-on-one lactation support.

A nearby medical center was especially valuable to these parents who had limited resources and the additional challenge of a language barrier. If OSF Sacred Heart didn't have a birthing center, the mom's only choice would have been a hospital almost an hour away.

Imagine going into early labor with twins, driving to an emergency department, and then being told you have to drive even farther. No mother should have to go through that nightmare. I am so grateful that this mother was able to safely deliver her healthy babies.

We can hear more success stories when there is a greater access to maternal healthcare in every corner of our Nation. As co-chair of the bipartisan Maternity Care Caucus, I introduced the Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act to support the creation of rural healthcare facilities.

As a healthcare equity champion in Congress, I commit myself to deploying additional digital tools in Danville, across my district, and our Nation to supplement rural health in-person care.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Metra Commuter Railroad as it celebrates its 40th anniversary.

Whereas, for the past 40 years, Metra has dedicated itself to providing my constituents and other Illinoisans with reliable, affordable transportation options to connect them to greater Chicagoland;

Whereas, on February 15, 2022, Metra approved its second strategic plan, My Metra, Our Future. While the name indicates a transportation plan, the motto My Metra also illustrates the ethos of the agency;

Whereas, Metra is not solely a transportation provider. It is an essential and reliable service that is there when you need it. To get you and your loved ones' home, and everywhere else, safely and comfortably. It is about meeting its riders' expectations and understanding their values and priorities for the region;

Whereas, My Metra was adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic--to ensure that trains kept running. Metra provided valuable services to essential workers in the healthcare field and other sectors who didn't have the option to work from home or take leave. Metra's own employees are part of this group of essential workers who proved that Metra is a source of continuity and connection, and a vital cog in economic and social life in Illinois; and

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Ford Chicago Assembly Plant on its 100 years of operation this August.

For decades, Ford has crafted a legacy of excellence and resilience in Illinois' Second Congressional District. It has weathered economic storms, technological revolutions, and a global pandemic, emerging stronger with each passing year.

The cars that have rolled off these assembly lines are not just machines. They are testaments to the craftsmanship, innovation, and dedication of countless individuals.

As we celebrate this historic milestone, let us remember the past with pride, embrace the present with gratitude, and look to the future with excitement and resolve.

Here is to a century of achievement and to many more years of innovation, success, and Ford toughness.

On another note: Sheila Jackson Lee, you will be so missed.

Mr. Speaker, by the time I am done speaking, 11 people will have died from gun violence in our country.

By the end of the day, it will be 120. If we continue down this trajectory, more than 43,000 people will die from gun violence this year.

This legislative body needs to take more action beyond thoughts and prayers.

I introduced the Wear Orange Resolution this National Gun Violence Awareness Month in honor of Hadiya Pendleton. She would have turned 27 years old this month, but her life was cut short at 15 when she was shot and killed.

Every time I rise to urge Congress to pass commonsense gun safety laws, I remember Hadiya who should have been safe at a park.

Two years ago, we passed the first Federal gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years. We cannot wait another 30 years. It has only been a minute and 11 more people have died from gun violence.

Mr. Speaker, this week marks a somber anniversary in our Nation's history. Four years ago, our Nation watched in outrage, as yet another Black man was brutally killed by a police officer who betrayed his oath of service to his community.

George Floyd's murder sparked an ongoing national conversation that shone a bright light on the racism that exists in every corner of our society. As a Nation, we have a moral imperative to root out these injustices and build a better society.

In memory of George Floyd, I urge my colleagues to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which will deliver meaningful reform for our communities, hold rogue officers accountable, and save lives. Congress' inaction is unacceptable when we all recognize there is a problem and there are concrete steps we can be taking to save lives. I urge the passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and thank Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and the Congressional Black Caucus for their leadership to make our communities safer.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today because America has a gun problem.

Every week my constituents wake up to news of another shooting, another life cut short, another family torn apart.

Doing nothing about this crisis is not an option.

Year after year, the United States leads the developed world in gun deaths but lags far behind in meaningful policy solutions.

When I first came to Washington, I published the 2014 Kelly Report on Gun Violence in America. This first-of-its-kind report framed gun violence as a public health crisis and offered solutions that truly matched the scale of the epidemic.

Unfortunately, 10 years later, gun violence still claims tens of thousands of lives every year.

Since 2014, guns have become the number one cause of death for children and teens. Gun violence is killing a generation and robbing communities of future leaders, teachers, doctors, artists, and more.

Mr. Speaker, 10 years later, I am, once again, bringing together survivors, advocates, experts, and my fellow Members of Congress to say: Enough is enough.

I produced the 2024 Kelly Report to chart a path for the work yet to be done.

My wish is that this would be the last Kelly Report on gun violence I need to write. My wish is that our country will see a future where children can safely walk to the park, a high school student can safely pick up her friends, and a father can safely play basketball with his son in their driveway.

Americans should not have to live in constant fear of becoming another deadly statistic. Thoughts and prayers are not substitutes for policy and action.

I hope that this report not only sheds light on the public health crisis that is gun violence in America, but also provides a meaningful roadmap to create change and save lives.

Recognizing Meagan Thompson

Mr. Speaker, I also take this time to acknowledge Meagan Thompson.

Meagan has served in my office as senior health policy adviser and has done a remarkable job advancing health equity, access to care, and innovative treatment options during her time in this role.

Her contributions to my office have gone beyond policy expertise. Meagan's joy and enthusiasm brings light to our whole office. While we will miss Meagan in the office, I have no doubt that she will continue to excel in her next endeavor. I know that Meagan's work will continue to make a difference for years to come.

Last but not least, please fund Ukraine.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of Women's History Month and specifically in celebration of the Black women who have shaped the fabric of our Nation, often without much acknowledgment or praise.

As co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls, I am deeply committed to correcting these historical injustices and ensuring that Black women and girls are given the recognition and the resources that they deserve. Black women and girls deserve every possible chance to thrive in school, at work, and in all phases of life.

For centuries, Black women have been the hidden figures, the unsung heroes who have steered our Nation through social revolutions, critical periods of growth, and eras of innovation. From the civil rights movement to the labor movement, Black women have time and time again pushed the needle of progress forward.

I acknowledge two exemplary trailblazers who I often credit as inspiration for my own work to build a better world.

Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress and the first woman to run for the Presidency, embodied the spirit of courage and resilience.

She was truly ``unbought and unbossed.'' She fought back against racism and sexism and never listened when someone told her that she couldn't achieve her dreams. She was a beacon of hope for those of us with an unwavering commitment to justice.

Barbara Jordan, the first Black woman elected to the Texas Senate and the first southern Black woman elected to the United States House of Representatives, made history in countless ways.

She brought the issues of her communities to the forefront and ensured that Congress invested in Black women. She rose above partisanship and spoke truth in the Halls of power.

Today as I speak in this Chamber, I stand on their shoulders, but let us not forget, whether in the Halls of Congress, academia, the corporate world, or, in my case, my entrepreneurial grandmother and my activist mother, there are many shoulders that we can stand on.

Women's History Month serves as a poignant reminder that the contributions of Black women must be amplified and celebrated, ensuring their rightful place in the annals of our Nation's history.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this bipartisan effort to address the maternal health crisis.

One of the most glaring inequities in our country is the disparities in maternal health outcomes. In the richest country in the world, the United States is falling behind and failing our mothers and babies.

Over 1,000 women died in 2021 because of complications from childbirth. This is up from 861 deaths in 2020 and 754 deaths in 2019. What is even worse, as you have heard, is that Black women are nearly three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes as non- Hispanic White women, and that depends on where you live. The area I represent is six times as likely. Indigenous women are more than twice as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes as non-Hispanic White women. Again, it depends on where they live. This is just unacceptable.

I am proud to say that this legislation will bring us closer to a future where no mother has to worry that growing her family will cost her life. The Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act, that I co-led with Representatives Burgess, Cammack, Castor, Carter, and DeGette, will strengthen and expand Federal support for Maternal Mortality Review Committees, or MMRCs. State-fashioned MMRCs are tasked with identifying maternal deaths, analyzing the factors that contributed to those deaths, and translating those lessons into policy changes.

I am proud to say that a piece of my comprehensive maternal health legislation, the MOMMA's Act, is included in this legislation.

The Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act has received unanimous, bipartisan support from the Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Health and the full committee.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill and save moms' lives.

Mr. Speaker, I thank you for considering the Action for Dental Health Act that I am proud to co-lead with Representative Mike Simpson.

The Action for Dental Health Act was the first bill I passed when I arrived in Congress, and I am honored to see the continuing support for this important piece of legislation.

Oral healthcare is a critical part of our overall health, and preventive dental care can reduce costs for families and helps so many people live better lives.

Oral disease is a common risk factor with chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Oral health affects our ability to eat, speak, and show emotions. It plays a crucial role in shaping an individual's self-esteem, academic performance, and attendance at work or school.

Furthermore, many studies have shown a connection between poor oral health and increased mortality risk, showing that preventative oral healthcare not only enhances quality of life but also plays a pivotal role in promoting longevity and reducing mortality risk.

Additionally, oral health is an important part of perinatal health. Reducing bacteria in a woman's mouth during pregnancy can significantly reduce her risk of developing oral diseases and spreading decay-causing bacteria to her baby. Moreover, some evidence suggests that women with periodontal disease during pregnancy could be at greater risk for poor birth outcomes, such as preeclampsia, preterm birth, and low birthweight.

Regular preventive dental care is essential for good oral health, so one can find problems earlier when they are easier to treat and have better outcomes. Unfortunately, many don't get the care they need. More people are unable to afford dental care than other types of healthcare. Vulnerable populations, including children, low-income communities, minorities, and the elderly are particularly susceptible to experiencing limited access to dental care, leading to poorer oral health outcomes.

We must address the barriers to oral healthcare services. By prioritizing early diagnosis, intervention, and preventive dental treatments, we can significantly improve the well-being of patients and alleviate strain on our healthcare system.

I am proud the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, as well as the full committee, has recognized the urgent need to address this pressing challenge for so many Americans.

The Action for Dental Health Act passed the Health Subcommittee and the full Energy and Commerce Committee with unanimous, bipartisan support.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Black History

Month by honoring the organizations that have served as the training ground for many of our Nation's most extraordinary leaders. I am talking about the Divine Nine, the historically Black fraternities and sororities of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. They serve as a pipeline for Black leaders across business, academia, and, of course, right here in the Halls of Congress.

The Divine Nine organizations are:

Alpha Phi Alpha, whose colors are black and gold, founded in 1906 at Cornell University.

My colleagues who are a part of Alpha are: CBC Chair Steve Horsford; Congressman Emanuel Cleaver; Congressmen Danny Davis, Al Green, Gregory Meeks, David Scott, and Bobby Scott; the National Urban League president, Marc Morial; and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Their honorable general president is Dr. Willis L. Lonzer, III, my constituent.

Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, whose colors are salmon pink and apple green, was founded in 1908 at Howard University. Their sisterhood proudly boasts Vice President Kamala Harris; my colleagues Sheila Jackson Lee, Terri Sewell, Frederica Wilson, Alma Adams, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Lauren Underwood, Lisa Blunt Rochester, and Nikema Williams; the late, great Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson; civil rights leaders Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King; and my current and former staffers Meagan Thompson, April Williams-Luster, Evan Mitchell. Their honorable president is Danette Anthony Reed.

Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, whose colors are crimson and cream, was founded in 1911 at Indiana University. Among their notable achievers are: Our leader, Hakeem Jeffries; Congressmen Troy Carter, Glenn Ivey, and Bennie Thompson; former Congressmen Al Lawson and William Lacy Clay; the late Don McEachin, Alcee Hastings, and John Conyers; Atlanta mayor, Andre Dickens; tennis champion Arthur Ashe; and my former staffers, Brandon Webb and Brandon Garrett. Their former grand polemarch was Reuben A. Shelton, III.

Omega Psi Phi fraternity, whose colors are purple and gold, was founded in 1911 at Howard University. They include in their ranks: My colleagues, Assistant Leader Jim Clyburn; Congressman Hank Johnson and Congressman Kweisi Mfume; former Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr.; poet, playwright, and author Langston Hughes; Earl Graves, Sr., of Black Enterprise; and my former staffers Charles Bolden and Vaughn Roland. Their immediate past grand basileus is Dr. David Marion.

Delta Sigma Theta sorority, whose colors are crimson and cream, was founded in 1913 at Howard University. Delta counts as sisters my esteemed colleagues Yvette Clarke, Joyce Beatty, Stacey Plaskett, Lucy McBath, Summer Lee, Jasmine Crockett, Valerie Foushee, and Jennifer McClellan; HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge; former Congresswoman Val Demings; my former chief of staff Mia Keeys; Congresswoman Shirley Chisolm, the first African-American woman elected to Congress; Nikki Giovanni, Susan Taylor; as well as my current intern, Traniah Neal; my fellows, Ebony Caldwell and Cecilia Vaughn-Guy. Their current honorable president is Elsie Cooke-Holmes.

Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, whose colors are royal blue and white, was founded in 1914 at Howard University. Not only are the Sigmas the fraternity of my late husband, Dr. Nathaniel Horn, they also include my colleagues Adriano Espaillat and Maxwell Frost; the late Congressman and civil rights leaders John Lewis and Elijah Cummings; and civil rights pioneer and leader of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, A. Philip Randolph. Their honorable international president is Chris V. Rey.

Zeta Phi Beta sorority, whose colors are royal blue and white, was founded in 1920 at Howard University, the sisters of Phi Beta Sigma. Notable sisters include my colleagues, Congresswomen Sydney Kamlager- Dove and Rashida Tlaib; former Congresswoman Donna Edwards; the late Congresswoman Julia Carson; Anita Hill; author Zora Neale Hurston. Their honorable president is Stacie N.C. Grant.

Sigma Gamma Rho, whose colors are blue and gold, my sorority, was founded in 1922 at Butler University. The sisters of Sigma Gamma Rho include my colleague, Congresswoman Barbara Lee; my former colleague Corrine Brown; the late Congresswoman Lindy Boggs; the first African- American winner of an Academy Award, Hattie McDaniel; the first African-American woman journalist to cover the White House, Alice Allison Dunnigan; my current and former staff, Glennita Williams, Danielle Echols, and Mia Carter. Our esteemed grand basileus is Rasheeda S. Liberty.

Last, but not least, is Iota Phi Theta, whose colors are brown and gold, and was founded in 1963 at Morgan State University. Their notables include former Congressman Bobby Rush; Terrence Carson, star of ``Living Single''; and former NBA player Calvin Murphy. Their honorable grand polaris is Dr. Sean D. Housen, Sr.

The Divine Nine has helped to make our Nation a better place for all Americans.

As we prepare for the road ahead, I know that the Divine Nine will continue to foster a new generation of great leaders and help guide our Nation on its journey to equality.

Last, but not least, please, let's get money to Ukraine.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge National Diabetes Month.

As chair of the CBC Health Braintrust, I have long been focused on how diabetes disproportionately affects Black Americans.

From lack of investment to a racist healthcare culture, Black Americans face significant obstacles to treating and preventing diabetes.

Black Americans undeniably face unique and significant stressors because of racial discrimination. Research shows a clear link between social stress and health outcomes, emphasizing we must not only address the physical aspects of diabetes but also its underlying social determinants.

We can address risk factors from diabetes from the earliest moments. Exposures before birth, such as undernutrition, maternal stress, and maternal obesity, can substantially increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in adulthood.

Our efforts can continue outside of the traditional medical system by increasing access to healthy food, reducing food insecurity, and expanding opportunities for nutrition therapy and counseling. We can reduce the risk of diabetes without first turning to more costly and time-consuming treatments.

Let me give a special shout-out to Shontel Brown for bringing CBC members together to highlight this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Hoyer for his leadership, and I am a very proud member of the Regional Leadership Council, Region 4.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge one of the largest public health threats facing our Nation. Our Nation's children are returning to school and all they should be worried about is acing their next test. Instead, too many children live in fear of the constant threat of gun violence.

Gun violence does not need to occur inside a school to harm our children. The stress from living in a community impacted by gun violence has been proven to lower test scores and increase mental health conditions like anxiety and PTSD.

Just last week, I was in a place called Danville in the central Illinois part of my district with 25 young people. The stories I heard were devastating. One young man talked about how two brothers and his father were killed because of gun violence.

Just last week alone, there were 42 shootings in Chicago--a 15-year- old was shot in a park, a 14-year-old was shot while he was riding in a car, and an 8-year-old--think about that, 8 years old--was shot just walking on a sidewalk.

I am so happy that Congress has begun to make progress to combat this public health crisis. We got the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act done, the first time in 30 years that Congress took meaningful action on gun violence.

On August 31, Attorney General Merrick Garland directed the ATF to comply with the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act's licensing requirements for gun sellers. We have made progress, but there is so much more to do.

Democrats are prepared to take these next steps. The American people, young people, are asking us to deliver. We put people over politics when we passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. We can and must do more. We cannot afford to wait.

Mr. Speaker, for centuries, Black Americans have been denied the right to define our own existence. How we live, how we work, and how we raise our children have been judged, appraised, scorned, and dismissed. To this day, we must fight back against harmful stereotypes and brutal discrimination.

There are forces that seek to maintain the status quo that discriminates against Black Americans, and these forces don't just wear white hoods. Racism can be subtle. It persists because too many people fail to notice or don't want to notice how bias and discrimination infect the systems in which we live our lives.

They claim color blindness and deride wokeness when, in actuality, they fail to look out and see the world around them for what it is.

This is the failure that leads a Member of Congress to utter such an offensive phrase on the floor of this body, to insult me and my colleagues on the floor of this sacred Chamber.

This is why we refuse to back down when Republicans propose cutting programs that promote diversity and educate us on our history because it is not just about history. Black women are three times more likely to die in childbirth. Black Americans are more likely to be victims of gun violence. Black Americans are more likely to be denied the right to vote. Black Americans are more likely to be saddled with crushing student debt.

We face these disparities because of systems that were built to exclude us. When Republicans oppose diversity and inclusion, they are not just denying our history; they seek to resurrect the worst impulses of our history. We cannot and will not let them. Nothing less than the fate of our democracy is on the line.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today for Tori Bowie. Tori was once called the fastest woman in the world. She dazzled before international crowds with her remarkable speed on the track. She brought home Olympic medals. She was a role model for young Black girls who were just learning how to lace up their sneakers.

Tori was just 32 years old when she was taken from us. She was 8 months pregnant. She passed away due to complications that included respiratory distress and eclampsia.

Eclampsia is a rare and severe complication of preeclampsia. Multiple studies have shown that Black women are disproportionately at risk for preeclampsia.

Tori's story is unfortunately not unique. A Black woman can be well- off, well-educated, and well-connected, and she is still more likely to die from pregnancy or childbirth complications. This is a crisis.

Black mothers and babies are dying at intolerable rates. Every woman deserves the best quality of maternal care, no matter what they look like or where they come from.

I urge my colleagues to honor Tori's memory by committing ourselves to ending the Black maternal mortality crisis. Action is our only option.