Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a mother, as a senior member in the Homeland Security Committee which was created in the backdrop of the horrific tragedy of 9/11.

Today, the President and America confronts a heinous group in Iraq, ISIS, that is beheading persons and proclaiming one religion over another. And again, an op-ed appears in The Wall Street Journal from the former Vice President, who wants to blame everything on President Obama whose administration has just brought into justice one of those who perpetrated the violence and killed our Americans at Benghazi.

This is not an American issue in Iraq. We gave them that opportunity. We gave 4,000 in treasure. This is really an international issue that calls upon the United Nations and the nations surrounding Iraq and Maliki to be able to have a coalition government.

It is the same in Nigeria with Boko Haram that is beheading persons, kidnapping girls. We need a coalition that faces down these terrible, horrific, tragic terrorists--these are thugs--and it cannot be on the shoulders of Americans. We have given our treasure.

We can protect our Embassy and we should. Thank you, Mr. President. We can give resources, but there needs to be a strong coalition. Those who come back from the ghost of yesteryear and blame this administration should be silenced. America should stand united together, and others need to work together to stop this tragedy.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman, and I certainly appreciate the gentleman's very expansive assessment on the two underlying bills that we are about to address today.

Let me, first of all, say that I live in a community of a very major veterans hospital. In fact, I carried the legislation to name it after Dr. Michael E. DeBakey, who created the MASH units in World War II. We care about veterans, as do my colleagues across the aisle in both the House and the Senate.

I believe that it is important to move the Veterans' Access to Care Through Choice, Accountability, continue through the process, and to make sure that our veterans, after the many audits that we have received on the individual hospitals, know that there is a long period of time for those veterans newly accessing veterans health care.

Who does that include? That includes the recent returnees of Afghanistan veterans or Iraq veterans or even those veterans who have maintained good health and now find themselves in senior years, such as Vietnam veterans, and are coming to the system for the first time. It is intolerable for them to have to wait. I believe this is a very important initiative. If we are to send soldiers overseas or in the line of battle, as many are promoting now in light of the violence in Iraq, can we not without shame stand and provide them the kind of health care for them and their families?

I rise as well to comment on the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, and I am glad that there has been attention to PTSD. I intend to offer an amendment addressing resources for PTSD and resources for the epidemic of breast cancer among military women in the Appropriations Act.

But I do think it is important that again we have a prohibition against the transfer of Guantanamo detainees to the United States. That means that this facility continues to be open.

Then, of course, we have appropriations for the overseas contingency operations, for which the President has not yet made a request. But I think in the context of providing an increase in wages for our military personnel, I congratulate the chairman and ranking member for working so cooperatively.

But I raise a point in the backdrop of the crisis in Iraq, the ISIS, and all of the disjangled chords of calling for troops on the ground and to do airstrikes when in actuality we live in a world family, we live in a family with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Jordan, we live in a family with NATO alliances, and we need to be able to work together to demand why an untoward leader in Iraq, who was given an opportunity for a consensus government, never made any effort. Yes, these individuals are horrific, they are radicalized, they are vicious, they are vile. But there are Sunnis and Shiites who have worked together, there are Sunnis who are moderate, who want to be in the government, who want their children to have an opportunity for education, they want their young people to have jobs, they want an Iraq where they can pledge allegiance to their flag, a united Iraq. Where was the leadership, the selfish leadership of Maliki, to be able to do that--and now we must clean up his dirty kitchen? I think not.

I thank the gentleman.

This must be a unified effort. Frankly, the President is right to be deliberative. We yet do not know, as I speak--there may be some news announcement--what his decision may be. But I do believe he has done the right thing by providing security and safety for the thousands of Americans that are in Baghdad and protecting our Embassy. That is the right thing to do. He has done the right thing by finding one of the perpetrators of Benghazi.

I would ask we do the right thing by not ignoring again another terrorist threat, Boko Haram in northeast Nigeria, that is fueling the flames, taking over municipalities, ready to pounce on places other than the northeast. These are threats that need the collective body of the United Nations--in this instance, the African Union, the ECOWAS, and all the states surrounding Nigeria, and, of course, the Nigerian government, of which we are friends with.

But I will say that America cannot continuously go it alone. We have given our treasure. Our young men and women never say ``no.'' When they are called to duty, they go, reservists and all.

I believe it is time to be responsible, respectful, and cautious in the way we move forward using our troops around the world. I ask my colleague to consider this as we deliberate on this appropriations bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak on the rule for H.R. 4860, the ``Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2015'' and the underlying bill.

I thank Chairman Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member Visclosky for their work on this legislation to the floor and for their devotion to the men and women of the Armed Forces who risk their lives to keep our nation safe.

I also want to extend thanks and appreciation to the men and women in and out of uniform who defend our nation and serve honor and distinction.

My work in the 18th Congressional District of Texas has allowed me the privilege of working with men and women in the military, the workers in aeronautics and space industries that contribute to our nation's defense as well as those in the Department of Defense who work in and around our nation's capital.

Through my work as a Member of Congress I know those who have served and returned home to a tough economy, struggles with physical disabilities and life changing injuries associated with their service to our nation.

The men and women who serve in the military are collection of statistics and data points, but individuals with names and faces--real people who depend on us to ensure they are the best trained, best equipped, and best led defense force in the world.

I appreciate the Committee's continued support for providing funding that assists military men and women's ability in operating in unconventional and irregular warfare and countering unconventional threats, supports capacity-building efforts with foreign military forces, and supports ongoing operations, as well as programs that will improve the health and well-being of the force, including sexual assault prevention.

This bill before us does much but not enough to recognize the sacrifices of the men and women serving in the military.

The fiscal year 2015 Department of Defense military personnel budget request was for $128.95 billion. The Committee appropriated $128.127 billion, nearly $800 million less the request and less than the need.

While we watch Al Qaeda-inspired terrorists in Nigeria in the form of Boko Haram and ISIS in Iraq carry out terrible acts of violence, it is important to ensure that military has the resources needed to respond to any threat to our nation or its allies.

The bill recognizes that the military is changing due to the expanded roles for women who pursue careers in the armed services and it is essential that this change not lead to a diminution of rights or opportunities from what women would enjoy had they pursued a different career path.

That is why I will be offering an amendment (Jackson Lee No. 1) to provide $5 million in increased funding and support for medical research related to breast cancer research. The identical amendment was offered and adopted by the House last year.

This additional funding will be made available for Triple Negative Breast Cancer research. TNBC is one of the most deadly forms of the disease that is extremely difficult to detect, and has an extremely high mortality rate.

I will also be offering an amendment (Jackson Lee Amendment No. 2) to reprogramming $500,000 toward outreach programs targeting hard to reach veterans, especially those who are homeless or reside in underserved urban and rural areas, who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). An identical amendment was offered by me and adopted by the House last year.

PTSD, along with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), are the signature wounds of the Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The need for treatment and support of those afflicted will be with us long after the conflict ceases and our heroes have returned home.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, this is a daunting time to be on the floor of the House during Defense Appropriations, and I add my appreciation to the chairman and to the ranking member for the bipartisan approach with which they have treated our men and women.

As we speak, there are soldiers who have left our soil, and they are in Iraq protecting our men and women at our embassy. There is never a time that we do not call upon our soldiers to stand and to defend our Nation or our citizens. My amendment recognizes that.

My amendment is a budget-neutral amendment. It adds $500,000 by reducing another account by $500,000 for an emphasis on PTSD, for outreach toward hard-to-reach veterans, especially those who are homeless or reside in underserved urban and rural areas.

Let me congratulate the committee for its hard work in recognition of the crisis of PTSD, but let me also cite that Houston is the third largest military retirement community in the United States, exceeded only by San Antonio and San Diego, California.

Houston is the second highest military recruiting district in the United States for all Armed Forces, to include the Coast Guard, and many return back to Houston. Twenty-three percent of the Houston adult homeless population are veterans, and nearly 2,500 men and women. I see them every day in my district. I have several homeless facilities that are particularly for veterans. As I interact with them, I see the clear signs of PTSD.

Over the years, I have had the privilege of working with this committee in establishing a PTSD center in one of our hospitals that was not a veteran facility. An estimated 7.8 percent of Americans will experience PTSD at some point in their lives, with women 10.4 percent and men 5 percent to develop PTSD; as well, estimates of PTSD from the gulf war as high as 10 percent; estimates from the war in Afghanistan are between 6 percent and 11 percent; and current estimates of PTSD in military personnel who served in Iraq range from 12 percent to 20 percent.

Posttraumatic stress disorder is of course something of great concern, and many times I have seen, again, these individuals who are in these very facilities. My amendment will help to ensure that no soldier is left behind and the urgent need for more outreach toward hard-to-reach veterans suffering from PTSD, especially those who are homeless and reside in underserved areas.

Mr. Chairman, I have been to what we call stand-downs. We have a number of them in our community. I started going to stand-downs way before I came to the United States Congress. These are street events that soldiers, retirees, or veterans come together, and particularly those who are homeless. I would say to you they are the most moving experiences that I have ever seen. The soldiers, the veterans are glad to see people who care. Many of them are suffering, but many of them-- all of them--put on that uniform and served us.

Joe, for example, saw a good deal of active combat during his time in the

military. Some incidents in particular have never left his mind, like the horrifying sight of Gary, a close comrade and friend, being blown up by a land mine. Even when he returned to civilian life, those images haunted him. Scenes from the battle would run repeatedly through his mind and disrupt his focus on work. Filling up at the gas station, for example, the smell of diesel immediately rekindled certain horrific memories. At other times, he had difficulty remembering the past, as if some events were too painful to allow back into his mind. He found himself avoiding socializing with old military buddies, as this would inevitably trigger a new round of memories. His girlfriend complained that he was always pent up and irritable, as if he were on guard, and Joe noticed that at night he had difficulty relaxing. When he heard loud noises, such as a truck backfiring, he literally jumped as if he were readying himself for combat. He began to drink heavily.

I am glad that this committee has recognized the importance of providing these services for our soldiers, no matter the long range of time that they have been out, that they are now veterans, that they are still important and they still were willing to put on the uniform.

In light of our crisis with the Veterans Affairs, I would ask my colleagues to support this amendment providing extra outreach to those veterans who did not think for one moment to put on that uniform and defend their Nation. Let's now provide them with that extra comfort.

I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey.

Mr. Chairman, as I said earlier, I don't know if you heard, I thanked you for your caring response, along with the ranking member, putting together a bill that really recognizes service to our veterans.

With that, let me conclude and ask my colleagues to support the Jackson Lee amendment. I indicate that Mr. Conyers of Michigan joins me in this amendment.

I thank you, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I want to thank Chairman Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member Visclosky for shepherding this legislation to the floor and for their devotion to the men and women of the Armed Forces who risk their lives to keep our nation safe.

Mr. Chair, thank you for the opportunity to explain my amendment, which is virtually identical to an amendment that I offered and was adopted in last year's Defense Appropriations Act (H.R. 2397).

My amendment increases funding for the PTSD by $500,000. These funds should be used toward outreach activities targeting hard to reach veterans, especially those who are homeless or reside in underserved urban and rural areas, who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Mr. Chair, along with traumatic brain injury, PTSD is the signature wound suffered by the brave men and women fighting in Afghanistan, Iraq, and far off lands to defend the values and freedom we hold dear.

For those of us whose daily existence is not lived in harm's way, it is difficult to imagine the horrific images that American servicemen and women deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other theaters of war see on a daily basis.

In an instant a suicide bomber, an IED, or an insurgent can obliterate your best friend and right in front of your face. Yet, you are trained and expected to continue on with the mission, and you do, even though you may not even have reached your 20th birthday.

But there always comes a reckoning. And it usually comes after the stress and trauma of battle is over and you are alone with your thoughts and memories.

And the horror of those desperate and dangerous encounters with the enemy and your own mortality come flooding back.

PTSD was first brought to public attention in relation to war veterans, but it can result from a variety of traumatic incidents, such as torture, being kidnapped or held captive, bombings, or natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes.

People with PTSD may startle easily, become emotionally numb (especially in relation to people with whom they used to be close), lose interest in things they used to enjoy, have trouble feeling affectionate, be irritable, become more aggressive, or even become violent.

They avoid situations that remind them of the original incident, and anniversaries of the incident are often very difficult.

Most people with PTSD repeatedly relive the trauma in their thoughts during the day and in nightmares when they sleep. These are called flashbacks. A person having a flashback may lose touch with reality and believe that the traumatic incident is happening all over again.

Mr. Chair, the fact of the matter is that most veterans with PTSD also have other psychiatric disorders, which are a consequence of PTSD. These veterans have co-occurring disorders, which include depression, alcohol and/or drug abuse problems, panic, and/or other anxiety disorders.

My amendment recognizes that these soldiers are first and foremost, human. They carry their experiences with them.

Ask a veteran of Vietnam, Iraq, or Afghanistan about the frequency of nightmares they experience, and one will realize that serving in the Armed Forces leaves a lasting impression, whether good or bad.

My amendment will help ensure that ``no soldier is left behind'' by addressing the urgent need for more outreach toward hard to reach veterans suffering from PTSD, especially those who are homeless or reside in underserved urban and rural areas of our country.

I urge my colleagues to support the Jackson Lee Amendment.

PTSD Anecdotes

Anecdote #1: (Veteran)

Joe saw a good deal of active combat during his time in the

military. Some incidents in particular had never left his

mind--like the horrifying sight of Gary, a close comrade and

friend, being blown-up by a land mine.

Even when he returned from to civilian life, these images

haunted him. Scenes repeatedly through his mind and disrupt

his focus on work.

Filing up at the gas station, for example, the smell of

diesel immediately rekindled certain horrific memories. At

other times, he had difficulty remembering the past--as if

some events were too painful to allow back in his mind. He

found himself avoiding himself socializing with old military

buddies, as this would inevitably trigger a new round of

memories.

His girlfriend complained that he was always pent-up and

irritable--as if he were on guard, and Joe noticed that at

night he had difficulty falling asleep.

When he heard loud noises, such as a truck back-firing he

literally jumped, as if here were readying himself for

combat. He began to drink heavily.

Anecdote #2: (as told by a Military Spouse)

My husband's PTS manifested itself in different ways. I

remember Fourth of July at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., when we were

all standing outside listening to the band, enjoying the

picnic and listening to fireworks.

The fireworks bothered Adrian because they sounded so much

like gunfire.

It made other soldiers upset too, and we all went inside. I

thought it was ironic because the celebration was supposed to

be for the American soldiers; they couldn't even enjoy it.

He'd see a can on the side of the road and swerve, thinking

it was an improvised explosive device.

When he'd go out to dinner with other soldiers, I'd say it

looked like a ``The Last Supper'' painting because they'd all

sit there with their backs against the wall.

If a room became too busy, he'd want to leave. He'd

suddenly become unfriendly or unapproachable.

At first, I confused his behavior with depression, or I

thought maybe he was just tired. I also couldn't help but

think it had to do with me; I'm only human.

I was fortunate that Adrian was willing to get help once he

got back. Once he was diagnosed, I knew we'd know better how

to deal with his symptoms. I educated myself on PTSD; I went

to his group therapist and reached out to the Real Warriors

Campaign for information. But the most important thing I did

was listen to Adrian.

Anecdote #3: (teen-aged girl)

Maria was only 15 when she was attacked by a group of men

on the way home from school. They took turns screaming abuse

at her and then they each raped her. Finally, they tried to

stab her to death and would almost certainly have succeeded

had the police not arrived on the scene.

For months after this horrifying event, Maria was not

herself. She was unable to keep the memories of the attack

out of her mind. At night she would have terrible dreams of

rape, and would wake up screaming.

She had difficulty walking back from school because the

route took her past the site of the attack, so she would have

to go

the long way home. She felt as though her emotions were

numbed, and as though she had no real future. At home she was

anxious, tense, and easily startled. She felt ``dirty'' and

somehow shamed by the event, and she resolved not to tell

close friends about the event, in case they too rejected her.

Anecdote #4: (civilian woman)

A 35-year-old lady was riding a bicycle in a carpark when

she was hit from behind by a car.

Six months after the accident, she still had frequent vivid

and intrusive memories of the incident.

She described seeing the car's wheels stopping just in

front of her face and hearing the screeching sound of the

brakes.

It felt as if it were happening again each time she

recalled it. She jumped whenever she heard loud traffic

noises and especially when she heard car brakes screeching.

She stayed in her room much more than usual, avoided using

the bicycles at all and avoided travelling in any vehicle as

much as she could.

She felt helpless and useless to overcome her symptoms even

though her family were warm and encouraging to her.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I, again, add my appreciation of the chairman and ranking member of the Appropriations Defense Subcommittee and add my appreciation of their concern for the health and welfare of the men and women of the United States military. Their appropriations bill evidences that.

I thank them again for working with me and their staff for working with me on this amendment dealing with increasing the funding for breast cancer research by $5 million, offset by a reduction of like amount in funding for procurement. Equally important is that this amendment has been supported by this committee.

I would say that my fellow survivors and those in the United States military would appreciate the emphasis that we are making on addressing this phenomenon of breast cancer. My amendment, as indicated, increases the opportunity for research. The American Cancer Society calls several strains of breast cancer particularly aggressive subtypes associated with a lower survival rate. In this instance, it is called a triple negative. But I raise an article that says: ``Fighting a Different Battle; Breast Cancer and the Military.''

This triple negative strain has killed many individuals in a very quick manner.

I yield to the gentleman from Indiana.

I thank the ranking member very much. I would like to conclude, but I thank you for this support and make this statement as I conclude.

Breast cancer has been just about as brutal on women in the military as combat. More than 800 women have been wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the Army Times, and 874 military women were diagnosed with breast cancer between 2000 and 2011. According to that same study, more are expected as it goes.

So, in conclusion, let me thank the chairman and the ranking member for their focus on this amendment. I will conclude by saying that breast cancer is striking relatively young military women at an alarming rate, but male servicemembers, veterans, and their dependents, are at risk, as well.

So I ask my colleagues to support this amendment. Again, those of us who are survivors recognize that the more research and the more intervention, the more lives we can save.

With that, I ask the committee to support the Jackson Lee amendment, and I thank the ranking member and chairman.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I want to thank Chairman Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member Visclosky for shepherding this legislation to the floor and for their devotion to the men and women of the Armed Forces who risk their lives to keep our nation safe.

Mr. Chair, thank you for the opportunity to explain my amendment, which is identical to an amendment that I offered and was adopted in last year's Defense Appropriations Act (H.R. 2397).

My amendment increases funding for the Defense Health Program's research and development by $5 million. These funds will address the question of breast cancer in the United States military.

The American Cancer Society calls several strains of breast cancer as a particularly aggressive subtype associated with lower survival rates; in this instance, it's a triple negative. But I raise an article that says: ``Fighting a Different Battle; Breast Cancer and the Military.''

We all know, by the way, that breast cancer can affect both men and women. The bad news is breast cancer has been just about as brutal on women in the military as combat.

Let me say that sentence again. Breast cancer has been just about as brutal on women in the military as combat. More than 800 women have been wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the Army Times; 874 military women were diagnosed with breast cancer just between 2000 and 2011. And according to that same study, more are suspected. It grows.

The good news is that we have been working on it, and I want to add my appreciation to the military.

The Jackson Lee Amendment, however, will allow for the additional research.

That research is particularly needed since women are joining the Armed Services in increasing numbers and serving longer, ascending to leadership. With increased age comes increased risk and incidence of breast cancer.

Not only is breast cancer striking relatively young military women at an alarming rate, but male service members, veterans and their dependents are at risk as well.

With a younger and generally healthier population, those in the military tend to have a lower risk for most cancers than civilians-- including significantly lower colorectal, lung and cervical--but breast cancer is a different story.

Military people in general, and in some cases very specifically, are at a significantly greater risk for contracting breast cancer, accrording to Dr. Richard Clapp, a top cancer expert at Boston University who works at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on military breast cancer issues.

Dr. Clapp notes that life in the military can mean exposure to a witch's brew of risk factors directly linked to greater chances of getting breast cancer.

So, I am asking that we do the right thing. We are on the right track, we're on the right road.

But with the expansion of women in the military, I can assure you, for long life, a vital service that these men and women give, it is extremely important to move forward with this amendment.

Researchers point to a high use of oral contraception that's linked to breast cancer among women that would ensure that this particular amendment would be a positive step forward.

I urge my colleagues to support the Jackson Lee Amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 100, which authorizes the use of the Rotunda of the Capitol for a ceremony to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It is fitting and proper that the Rotunda of the Capitol is the venue for the commemoration for one of the consequential governmental actions since the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation.

On July 2, 1964, fifty years ago next month, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the act that profoundly changed our country and brought about the greatest reduction in economic and social inequality among Americans in history.

Mr. Speaker, today it is difficult to imagine there once was a time in our country when blacks and whites could not eat together in public restaurants, use the same public restrooms, stay at the same hotels, or attend the same schools. It is hard to believe today that just 50 years ago, discrimination on the ground of race was a legal and socially accepted practice.

But the Civil Rights Act of 1964 changed that.

The Civil Rights Act outlawed discrimination and segregation in employment, public accommodations, and education on the ground of race, gender, religion, or national origin. This act became the soil from which our country flourished; opportunities were bred and dreams were born.

This change did not happen overnight or by accident. It took hard work and courage and an unwavering faith that America could live up to the true meaning of its creed. Fortunately for our country, there were such men and women who had that faith and courage. People like the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Whitney Young, Rosa Parks, and John Lewis are just a few of the many noble leaders who took a stand for freedom and risked their lives

to make real the promise of America for all Americans.

Today, 50 years later, we continue to preserve the rights and freedoms that so many fought for and could only dream of before the Civil Rights Act.

On the evening of June 11, 1963, President John F. Kennedy addressed the Nation and uttered the words that would echo in history:

It ought to be possible for every American to enjoy the

privileges of being American without regard to his race or

his color. But this is not the case.

We are confronted primarily with a moral issue. It is as

old as the Scriptures and is as clear as the American

Constitution.

The heart of the question is whether all Americans are to

be afforded equal rights and equal opportunities, whether we

are going to treat our fellow Americans as we want to be

treated.

One hundred years of delay have passed since President

Lincoln freed the slaves, yet their heirs, their grandsons,

are not fully free. They are not yet freed from the bonds of

injustice. They are not yet freed from social and economic

oppression. And this Nation, for all its hopes and all its

boasts, will not be fully free until all its citizens are

free.

Now the time has come for this Nation to fulfill its

promise.

And a better country, we have become.

Although we have come a long way, we must not become complacent on the issues of civil rights. Our Nation is a growing melting pot, and we must continue to make sure American citizens, regardless of their religion, race, or gender, are granted the right to freedom and equality.

This Nation prides itself on the abundance of individual freedom. Through the Civil Rights Act of 1964, we have nurtured a land where every American citizen is born free, and with the opportunity to chase their own American dream.

Mr. Speaker, before signing the Civil Rights Act of 1964, President Lyndon Baines Johnson addressed the Nation on the significance of the bill he was about to sign:

We believe that all men are created equal. Yet many are

denied equal treatment.

We believe that all men have certain unalienable rights.

Yet many Americans do not enjoy those rights.

We believe that all men are entitled to the blessings of

liberty. Yet millions are being deprived of those blessings--

not because of their own failures, but because of the color

of their skin.

The reasons are deeply imbedded in history and tradition

and the nature of man. We can understand--without rancor or

hatred--how this all happened.

But it cannot continue.

Our Constitution, the foundation of our Republic, forbids

it. The principles of our freedom forbid it. Morality forbids

it.

And the law I will sign tonight forbids it.

It is most fitting that the Rotunda of the Capitol be venue of the ceremony commemorating the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which was passed by the Congress of the United States and has for 50 years ensured and protected the right of all Americans to live their dreams in a land where equal opportunity is the birthright of all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of National Men's Health Week from June 9-15, 2014.

Men's Health Week is a time to focus attention and heighten awareness of preventable health problems affecting men and boys and encourage early detection and treatment.

On May 24, 1994, Congress passed S.J. Res. 179, a joint resolution establishing National Men's Health Week (NMHW). The joint resolution was signed into law (Pub. L. 103-264) by President William Jefferson Clinton on May 31, 1994.

Men's Health Month is celebrated across the country with screenings, health fairs, media appearances, and other health education and outreach activities.

I encourage all men, young and older, and their families, to develop positive and proactive attitudes toward health and wellness, engage in preventive behaviors, lead healthy lifestyles, and seek timely medical advice and care.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, afflicting 1 out of every 11 American men and killing 34,000 men every year.

For African-American men, the rate of affliction is even worse; African-American men have the highest incidence of prostate cancer in the world.

In the past 5 years, the death rate for prostate cancer has grown at almost twice the death rate of breast cancer.

National Men's Health Network has encouraged the development of thousands of health awareness activities as corporations, hospital systems, clinics, faith-based communities, the public sector, and others use the month of June to highlight their services and reach out to men and their families.

Mr. Speaker, much progress has been made in the past 20 years with improvements in the health and well-being of men and boys, with a dramatic improvement in life expectancy and surprising drops in key mortality indicators.

There has been a steep drop among males in overall mortality, and corresponding improvements in the mortality rates for cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

Our goal this month should be to raise awareness about men's health in our communities and to support National Men's Health Week and to rededicate ourselves to providing support for our men by further educating ourselves and our communities on Men's Health and effects.

Recognizing and preventing men's health problems is not just a man's issue because it impacts wives, mothers, daughters, and sisters.

Men's health is truly a family issue.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in the recognition of National Men's Health Week, and ask all Americans to take time this month to find out what you can do to help the growing population of the men around you.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute and remember the great Ruby Dee, one of the most talented and influential actresses in American history and a committed activist for social and economic justice for more than 60 years.

Ruby Dee passed away peacefully in her New Rochelle, New York home on June 11, 2014. She was 91 years old.

Born Ruby Ann Wallace in 1922 in Cleveland, Ohio, Ruby Dee moved to New York's Harlem as a small child where she was raised by her father, Marshall Wallace, and his wife, Amelia, a schoolteacher and stickler for elocution and the person who introduced Ruby Dee to poetry, music and dance.

It was in her Harlem school where Ruby Dee first read a passage from a play for her class mates and was met with applause, sparking her passion for acting.

After graduating from Hunter College in 1945, she embarked upon a truly remarkable stage and screen career, one that lasted nearly 70 years. She was a member of the American Negro Theatre where she acted alongside other legends such as Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte, and Hilda Simms.

In 1946, Ruby Dee appeared in her first movie, a musical called ``That Man of Mine.'' She went on to star in several acclaimed films including ``The Jackie Robinson Story,'' ``The Incident,'' ``Purlie Victorious,'' ``Do the Right Thing,'' and ``American Gangster,'' for which she was nominated for the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award, the second oldest person ever to be nominated.

Ruby Dee is perhaps best known for extraordinary portrayals of Ruth Younger in the stage and screen productions of Lorraine Hansberry's timeless classic, ``A Raisin in the Sun,'' for which she received the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Playing the wife of the main character, Walter Lee Younger (played by Sidney Poitier), Ruby Dee's Ruth Younger was, as the New York Times put it: ``a character with far too much on her plate: an overcrowded home, a troubled husband, a young son, an overbearing mother-in-law, a wearying job and an unwanted pregnancy, not to mention the shared burden of black people everywhere in a society skewed against them.''

Over her illustrious 70 year career, Ruby Dee was the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the Emmy, the Grammy, the Obie, the Screen Actors Guild, and the Drama Desk Awards.

In 1995 President Clinton awarded her the National Medal of Arts and in 2008 she received the Spingarn Medal, the highest honor bestowed by the NAACP. That same year she also received the Eleanor Roosevelt Val- Kill Medal in recognition for her active engagement and ``personal presence at pivotal moments in the tumultuous history of American civil rights.''

In 1946, Ruby Dee joined the cast of the Broadway-bound play, ``Jeb,'' where she met Ossie Davis, the play's lead character, and the man who would become her husband and soul mate in 1948.

Over the next 59 years Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis performed together on stage and screen numerous times and were united in their protests against injustice, whether it was speaking out in the 1950s against the executions of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg; McCarthyism; or the revocation of Paul Robeson's passport.

They protested the Vietnam War and marched for civil rights, voting rights, women's rights, environmental justice, and against South African apartheid. In 1963, at the March on Washington, the couple served as the masters of ceremonies at Washington Monument entertainment event preceding the march to the Lincoln Memorial.

Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis counted among their close friends both the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X; Presidents Carter, Clinton, Obama; and Nelson Mandela.

Throughout her life, the husky-voiced Ruby Dee was a profile in courage. She bravely stood up for her beliefs and spoke truth to power when many did not out of fear that association with controversial causes would have an adverse effect on their careers.

But because of her courage and steadfastness, the doors of opportunity would later be opened to future generations of performing artists of all races, creeds, and backgrounds.

It truly can be said that Ruby Dee was an inspiration for African- American performers and women around the world.

Mr. Speaker, Ruby Dee lived a long, fulfilling, storied and consequential life. She made her mark in the world. More important, she made a difference in the lives of untold numbers of girls aspiring to realize their dreams.

I hope that Ruby Dee's family and loved ones are comforted by the fact that so many people all around the world are mourning with them at this difficult time.

So today one of our nation's greatest actress has taken her final bow and the curtain has come down on the extraordinary passion play that is and was the life of the legendary, talented, and supremely beautiful Ruby Dee.

Her next play will be in Heaven, accompanied by a chorus of angels.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak on H.R. 4453, The Permanent S Corporation Built-In Gains Relief Act of 2014.

Identical to a provision contained in the discussion draft of the ``Tax Reform Act of 2014'' released on February 26, 2014, the bill, H.R. 4453, reported by the Committee on Ways and Means, provides a permanent five-year recognition period for built-in gains of an S corporation.

I support sound tax policy which allows small businesses in Houston to grow and invest in their people--which is exactly what this bill would do.

And supporters of the bills argue that they would eliminate a significant deterrent that can discourage C-corporations from electing to be S-corporations and will provide additional flexibility for S- corporations to access capital by selling unproductive assets to finance expansion of their businesses.

Of course Democrats support permanent treatment of S-corporation taxes but we must again take our Republican friends to task for not offsetting the cost of the bill, noting again that permanently extending six tax provisions that GOP leaders want to act on would add $310 billion to the deficit. That's $310 billion which could go to Head Start, Student Loans, or feeding the needy.

Because we are the party of Small Business, Democrats understand that by making the provision permanent, businesses have more certainty and they can make better, more fluid decisions--but the process by which we are doing it is unseemly.

But the GOP has made paying for every bill a prerequisite--except in this case. Where is the consistency, I ask?

In moving forward with a permanent extension of a select group of tax extenders, the Majority is once again leaving to an increasingly uncertain fate critical provisions like the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, the American Opportunity Tax Credit, the New Markets Tax Credit, the Mortgage Relief Debt Forgiveness and the renewable energy tax credits, as well as the long-range status of the EITC and the Child Tax Credit.

The Democrat's Motion to Recommit would extend the S Corporation shorter Built-in Gains Recognition Period and Charitable Contribution Adjusted Basis for only two additional years, through the end of 2015, as opposed to the underlying bill's permanent extension. It would prevent these tax cut extensions from permanently adding to the deficit, undermining comprehensive tax reform, and putting further pressure on the United States' discretionary priorities.

Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to vote for a two-year extension but these bills must be paid for--because if they are not--future generations will suffer because of the unsustainable debt. Let us get back to being fiscally responsible.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak on H.R. 4457, America's Small Business Tax Relief Act Of 2014.

H.R. 4457 permanently sets the IRC Section 179 small business expensing maximum limit at $500,000. In order to remain profitable and be competitive, small business like limousine owners as represented by the National Limousine Association, farmers and ranchers, and others must continually upgrade and replace equipment, buildings, and storage facilities.

A This is a very important provision due to its immediacy for small business owners.

With provisions like Section 179, businesses are able to reduce maintenance costs, take advantage of labor-saving advances, become more energy-efficient and adopt technology that is environmentally friendly.

Section 179 allows a taxpayer to deduct the cost of new or used business property rather than depreciating the cost over a longer period of time. The immediate expensing provided by Section 179 allows these businesses increased cash flow for purchases that might otherwise be delayed or that would require them to incur debt expense.

The bill would make permanent rules that allow small businesses to expense capital investments in new equipment and property, making permanent provisions that provide that the maximum amount that a taxpayer may expense is $500,000.

Unfortunately Mr. Speaker, this bill is estimated to cost $73.1 billion over 10 years and it is not paid for, which means that the deficit will necessarily go up as a result.

The Congressional Research Service has reviewed quantitative analyses of the tax

break and found that, ``. . . accelerated depreciation in general is a relatively ineffective tool for stimulating the economy.''

Mr. Speaker, I understand the point that supporters of the bill argue: that it is necessary to ensure that small businesses can continue to make new investments in property and equipment even as costs rise, affecting more than 10 percent of small-business tax returns.

They say it lowers the cost of capital for tangible property used in business, eliminates depreciation record-keeping requirements with respect to expensed property and removes a disincentive to buying more efficient cooling and heating equipment.

Democrats generally support increased expensing under Section 179 but we cannot sit idly by while the party which has made deficit reduction their rallying cry--refuses to offset the cost of the bill.

It must be noted that permanently extending six tax provisions that GOP leaders want to act on would add $310 billion to the deficit.

With the bills on the floor today, Republicans are continuing their gross double standard of adding billions to the deficit to fund permanent tax breaks for businesses, while insisting on fully offsetting the cost of initiatives for middle class and working Americans, including veterans benefits, student loans, and unemployment insurance.

The Democratic Motions to Recommit would put the brakes on Republicans' deficit-busting spending spree, and shorten these tax extensions. Democrats have always strongly supported expanded ``Section 179'' expensing for small businesses and tax relief for S-Corporations, but permanent extensions of tax breaks that cost hundreds of billions are hypocritical and irresponsible.

We need comprehensive tax reform that addresses the tax needs of middle class families as well as businesses. In the meantime, Republicans shouldn't be punching hundred billion dollar holes in the deficit.

It is time for Republicans to stop ignoring hard working American families, and work with Democrats to create jobs, invest in innovation, and build an economy that works for everyone not just the wealthy.

Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to vote for a two-year extension but these bills must be paid for--because if they are not--future generations will suffer because of the unsustainable debt.

Let us get back to being fiscally responsible.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate and honor our fathers--fathers of this country--who have provided the stable, loving atmosphere for children all over the Nation.

I thank, in particular, my late father, the first African American comic cartoonist, Ezra Jackson, who provided me with such stability and love and inspiration; my father-in-law, a Tuskegee Airman, who served in World War II; certainly, my own husband, Dr. Elwyn C. Lee, who integrated the faculty of the University of Houston and its administration.

But the real tribute is to the many fathers across America who have taken children and treated them with love and dignity and who have given them, even if they did not have it, some semblance of comfort-- fathers who have adopted, fathers who have foster cared, fathers who are incarcerated but who still try to maintain the love and connection with their children, poor fathers, working fathers--those who have found their way to claim Sunday as the day when we say, ``Happy Father's Day.''

We honor the fathers of America. We thank you for the foundation that you have given to this Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the service of Colonel La'Tonya Lynn of

the U.S. Army for her extraordinary dedication to duty and service to our Nation. Colonel Lynn distinguished herself through exceptionally meritorious service from August 13, 2012 to June 20, 2014, while serving as the Chief of the Army House Liaison Division.

During this period of extraordinary change, continued combat operations in Afghanistan, significant fiscal constraints and challenges facing the Army, Colonel Lynn fostered a strategic partnership with both the 112th and 113th Congress. She clearly understood the importance of Congressional oversight and did a truly outstanding job managing some of the most complex issues the Army faced during the last three legislative cycles.

A native of Glen Burnie, Maryland, Colonel Lynn began her career in the Army in 1986. She was commissioned as a Military Police Officer upon graduation from Hampton University.

Her assignments include Chief, Prisoner Services; Platoon Leader; Assistant Operations Officer; Company Commander; Budget Officer; Executive Officer; Deputy Division Provost Marshal, 1st Armored Division; Division Provost Marshal, 1st Infantry Division, Operation Iraqi Freedom; Battalion Commander, 10th and 91st Military Police Battalions, Fort Drum, New York; Commander, Task Force Vigilant, Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan and Brigade Commander, 8th Military Police Brigade, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

She also served as Chief, Military Police Enlisted Branch, Human Resources Command and Executive Officer for the Director of Strategy, Plans and Policy, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G3/5/7, in the Pentagon.

Colonel Lynn has attended numerous Army and civilian schools and training programs. She earned a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from National Defense University (ICAF), a Master of Business Administration degree from Bowie State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Hampton University.

Colonel Lynn is an Army Airborne Paratrooper whose military awards include, among others, the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, multiple Kosovo Campaign Medals, multiple Afghanistan Campaign Medals, and Kuwait Liberation Medals. She received the Parachutist Badge, Army Staff Identification Badge and also earned the prestigious Military Police ``Order of the Marechausee.''

In light of her achievements, the Army has recognized her outstanding potential and has assigned her to serve as the Chief of the Ethics/ Character Task Force at Headquarters, Department of the Army, Pentagon. Colonel Lynn's outstanding leadership, strategic vision, and keen judgment are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon her, the Office of the Army Legislative Liaison and the U.S. Army.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize the selfless service of Colonel La'Tonya Lynn as she proceeds to the next chapter in her remarkable career and continues to serve our great Nation.

Mr. Speaker, this past weekend, I had the privilege of joining the President of the United States in the official delegation to the 70th commemoration of D-Day.

It was not a normal experience of an international codel, the opportunity to interact with our colleagues and allies in Europe, but it was a testament and a testimony to the continuing strength, determination, and value of the United States of America. It was a moving experience. It was an experience based in reality.

We listened to the recounting of the deliberations of General Montgomery, General Eisenhower, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and many others. We listened to the stories of young men, many of whom signed up at the age of 15 or 16, 17, wanting to serve their country, not knowing where they would go, now in their late 80s and early 90s, and some would say the sweetest men that you had ever seen, showing pictures, telling stories, and shedding a tear about the comrades that were left on Omaha Beach or Sword Beach, soldiers that didn't speak the same language but understood the words of liberation and freedom.

I would only say that I hope this challenges this body called the House of Representatives, that they didn't wear the armor of Republicans or Green Party or Tea Party or Independent Party or Democratic Party; they wore the armor of an American.

What wonderful words of General Eisenhower, who said that he needed the unity, the strength of all, or the sadness of those who ploughed their way onto the beach, seasick and nauseous as they were, losing tons of equipment, and, unfortunately, at times coming and falling over bodies of bleeding soldiers, losing some 10,000 in the first day.

Where is the America of that time, prepared to take up comprehensive immigration reform or prepared to take up serious gun regulations to stop this unending violence in America, even the shooting of two law enforcement officers? What has America come to?

Where is its greatness? Where is the reality that we are the generations that have inherited those young men's lives--and young women's, the Rosie Riveters--who left their homes, sacrificing? Where is the placement of the Voting Rights Act reauthorization, which is a bipartisan bill? Why haven't we passed that to show that liberty is real in the United States of America?

I had moments where tears fell--of joy--and the privilege of talking to and meeting these men, watching them receive the honor from the French people, and as we walked through the streets even today, the people of France were saying thank you with a degree of emotion that knew that they would not be free, they would not be liberated, they would not be France if it had not been for those boys who left the soil of this United States; or those who came from Guadeloupe and Martinique, men of color who came and were trained from Fort Dix and then fought on the shores; or my uncle, who fought in Tunis and Ethiopia; and others who left my widowed grandmother, her three sons, leaving one behind--all of us have been touched.

So it is important that, even as we look to the status of Sergeant Bergdahl, that we look at it in a spirit of fairness, not grandstanding, not partisan politics, but finding out the facts and realizing that America is greater than divisive politics when you look to the Greatest Generation of which we have now been given the gift of their life, their sacrifice.

No one will be the same after they have walked amongst the white crosses that represent the blood shed by America, not to conquer Europe, but to free Europe. That is our mantra, and that is what we should do for the American people, not to conquer them, but to free them from violence, from inconsistent policies, and certainly from the inability to vote.

I pay tribute to the 70th commemoration of the brilliance of America and the spirit of her youth, and I tell everyone that that brilliance and that spirit is not lost upon us today.

I am happy because I know that embedded in all of those who walk the streets of this Nation and call themselves an American have that same spirit, and we can make a difference in this country for all of those who need us.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall vote No. 286, I voted ``yes'' inadvertently. I would like the Record to reflect that my vote would have been ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise in humble gratitude to commemorate the 70th anniversary of D-Day, the Allied Forces' audacious amphibious landing at Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944.

``Operation Overlord,'' as D-Day was formally known, was the largest single amphibious assault in the history of warfare.

The success of D-Day, which was far from certain at the outset, led to the liberation of Western Europe, signaled the death knell of the German Wehrmacht, and paved the way to unconditional victory by the Allied Forces over the evils of Nazism, fascism, and Japanese imperialism.

It is no exaggeration to say that D-Day changed the course of human history.

The aim of the meticulously planned D-Day operation was to open a second front in the European war theater from which the Allied Forces could attack the German army and push east to capture Berlin. With the Russian Army advancing from the east, coupled with the southern front opened by the Allied invasion of Italy from North Africa in 1942, the opening of a western front would set in motion the pincer movement that would catch the German Army in a trap from which there would be no escape.

The formidable German Army expected that the Allied Forces would try to launch an invasion from the western beaches of France, they just did not know when or where. So in anticipation of an Allied invasion, the Nazis constructed the infamous Atlantic Wall, an extensive system of coastal fortifications built along the western coast of Europe and Scandinavia.

Under the direction of Field Marshal Rommel, the Atlantic Wall was reinforced by the addition of concrete pillboxes built along the beaches to house machine guns, antitank guns and light artillery. Mines and antitank obstacles were planted on the beaches themselves and underwater obstacles and mines were placed in waters just off shore.

By the time of the D-Day landing, the Nazis had laid almost six million mines in northern France. And awaiting Allied soldiers who made their way on to and away from the beaches were gun emplacements and minefields extended inland.

``War is hell,'' said General William Tecumseh Sherman during the Civil War. And that is an apt description of what awaited the brave Allied warriors who set sail from England to the beaches of Normandy in the early morning of June 6, 1944, at the beginning of what has rightly been called ``The Longest Day.''

But they were buoyed in their resolve by the millions of prayers from Americans and others back home, of all races, religions, and creeds, invoking the Lord's blessing, mercy, and grace. With the outcome in doubt, President Franklin Roosevelt asked the nation to join him in this solemn prayer:

Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have

set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our

Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free

a suffering humanity.

Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms,

stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.

They will need Thy blessings.

For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace.

They fight not for the lust of conquest.

They fight to end conquest.

They fight to liberate.

They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and goodwill

among all Thy people.

They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to

the haven of home.

The prayers were needed because the cost of D-Day was high. U.S. casualties on D-Day totaled more than 2,499 dead, 3,184 wounded, 1,928 missing, and 26 captured.

Our British and Canadian allies suffered terrible losses on D-Day as well: approximately 2,700 for the British and 946 for the Canadians. German casualties are estimated at 4,000 to 9,000.

In total, the number of combatants killed, wounded or missing in the Battle of Normandy for both sides exceeded 425,000, not including the estimated 15,000 to 20,000 French civilians killed.

But the operation was a success. More than 156,000 troops or paratroopers came ashore on D-Day, 73,000 from the U.S., 83,000 from Great Britain and Canada.

By the end of June 11, D-Day+5, 326,547 troops, 54,186 vehicles and 104,428 tons of supplies had come ashore.

And with them the seeds for the victory in Europe that would come less than a year later, on May 8, 1945, with the fall of Berlin and the unconditional surrender of the Nazis.

On the eve of the Normandy invasion, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, addressed the soldiers, sailors, and airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Forces to let them know that they were about to embark upon the ``Great Crusade,'' and that the ``eyes of the world were upon you.''

He told them that their task would not be easy because the ``enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely.'' But, General Eisenhower said, ``this is the year 1944. The tide has turned. The free men of the world are marching together to victory.''

And march to victory they did, full justifying General Eisenhower's ``confidence in [their] courage, devotion to duty, and skill in battle.''

Because of the heroism of these men who willingly risked their lives to be the tip of the spear of liberty, the war was won and a world was saved for freedom.

Mr. Speaker, D-Day was, and remains, a day like no other in the history of man's sojourn on earth.

We remember Gettysburg. There, President Lincoln paid tribute to those ``who gave their lives so that the nation might live.''

And it is equally fitting and proper that we remember D-Day. And that we continue to honor those who risked all and gave all so that the world could remain free.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate LGBT Pride Month and the remarkable progress that has been made in making our country more diverse and tolerant and embracing of differences in the 45 years since the infamous Stonewall Uprising in 1969 in New York City.

Our country made progress with the repeal of ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'' which I was proud to support. Our nation is now stronger and our people are safer thanks to the sacrifices made by these brave Americans, who no longer need to choose between service and silence.

There have been other changes for the better. In July 2011, President Obama and his administration concluded that a critical section of the Defense of Marriage Act is no longer constitutionally defensible. The Supreme Court agreed and on June 26, 2011, handed down the landmark decision in United States v. Windsor, 570 U.S. 12 (2013), which struck down Section 3 of DOMA because it violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment by treating relationships that had equal status under state law differently under federal law.

That decision accelerated the movement for marriage equality and today 19 states now recognize same-sex marriages.

Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, brilliantly shepherded to passage by one of the greatest Texans, President Johnson, which outlawed discrimination in public accommodations, education, and employment on the grounds of race, creed, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

The Civil Rights Act has made our country better.

I am pleased to report that progress is being made at the local level as well. Last month, the Houston City Council approved the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, which extends the right to seek and hold employment, obtain housing, and enjoy public accommodations free from discrimination to all individuals in Houston without regard not just to sex, race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin but also to age, familial status, marital status, military status, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity or pregnancy.

The HERO Ordinance represents another giant step forward in our nation's and my city's continuing efforts to form a more perfect union. I believe the anti-discrimination protections Houstonians now enjoy should be extended to all persons in our country, which can be done this year were Congress to pass the Employee Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).

Although more remains to be done to realize the full promise of America that all are equally treated and protected by the law but it is undeniable that America is closer to realizing that promise than it was during the dark days of Stonewall.

So there is much reason for joy and optimism when my home city of Houston celebrates Houston Pride Week later this month, from June 20- 29.

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the 16th largest LGBT community in the nation is located in the Houston metropolitan area, which I am privileged to represent. This dynamic community is culturally diverse and economically and artistically vibrant.

Houston Pride Week has been an annual event for the last 35 years, since 1979, held to promote the individuality of Houston's ever-growing LGBT community. The Pride Festival and Parade are at the center of the Celebration and are annually attended by more than 400,000 people from Houston and around the world.

Mr. Speaker, progress is made through the efforts of courageous leaders who actively engage their communities and face adversity to

ensure that the rights of all are clearly defined and protected.

People like the legendary Bayard Rustin, who organized the 1947 Journey of Reconciliation which inspired the Freedom Rides of the 1960s and helped Dr. King organize the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and who was the driving force behind the 1963 March on Washington.

Other members of the LGBT community whose contributions have made enriched American culture and made our country better include the great poet Langston Hughes; Billy Strayhorn the musician and gifted composer whose 30-year collaboration with Duke Ellington gave the world some of the greatest jazz music ever; and James Baldwin, one of the towering figures in the history of American literature.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to acknowledge the achievements of just a few of the countless number of Americans who overcame prejudice and discrimination America be a more welcoming place for succeeding generations of LGBT community members.