Transcripts For CSPAN U.S. House Of Representatives U.S. Hou

Unfortunately, they have to work harder than anyone else to have access to the same opportunities afforded to their friends and classmates in the same country that we all love. Hat is the case of aliz beth a 23yearold dreamer from my district and also from my neighborhood from Little Village in chicago. He liz beth is paying her way through college by making and selling tamales. She started helping her mother sell them on the streets of chicago. Since elementary school, she has been waking up at 3 30 in the morning to make the tamales. She will graduate from college next he year and we could say r story is a hallmark of are success. This ignores the dark reality of and her story is a pictureperfect example of america spirit and hard work and she deserves that credit. Her story is far from a feelgood story. Yet, it is another example of how our political system has failed. He liz beths success is hers along. Our government continues to fail her by maintaining an antiimmigrant policy that fails to account nor children brought here against their will. The dream and promise act passed in the house of representatives must be passed in the senate immediately. Up to 2. 5 Million Immigrants across the country, they would be eligible for protection under House Resolution 6, including 137 immigrants in chicago. Through the dream and promise act, over 85,000 people in my city who live in mixed status families would have legal certainty. I applaud elizabeths determination to fulfill her dream of graduating from a fouryear university. But i also hope that the members of the senate are hearing the cries of aspiring Young Americans who want to continue to contribute to our country to lead our country, to be exemplary citizens to give them a path to legalization and citizenship. Madam speaker, there is one more member, the gentlelady from texas, congresswoman Sheila Jackson lee would like to join me tonight. I recognize the gentlelady for as much time as she needs. Ms. Jackson lee first, i would like to congratulate the gentleman from illinois not only for his legacy and leadership here in the United States congress, but really for the work of reconciliation and friendship in the great city of chicago working with so many different groups and understanding the issues dealing with immigrants. I rise today to say to my fellow americans something utilized by president johnson and i would think as he said it many, many years ago. I use it now because it is important in a nation that is enormously diverse that we use the words fellow americans so we cannot pit one group of americans against another. These immigrants against those who are here or those who have been immigrants that have come now or gotten status or been here for a long time. Let us not let the administration pit one against the other. When i think of immigrants, i think of every Single Person who has come to this nation and they have come in many different colors and Different Air as. Native americans were already here. Africanamericans came here as slaves the there were people as african descent, there were people from britain and germany and people from south asian asiapacific and those who have come from the southern border. Why do we have the right to demonize individuals who have come in a recent time, individuals who want an opportunity to work, to contribute and yes, to put on the uniform. Im reminded of captain khan. He was a pakistani who died in the recent war in iraq. He came here to this country. His family came here to this country. I join with my colleagues to say we must pass the legislation, the comprehensive Immigration Reform and pass the legislation that includes the promise act and must recognize that we have to confront the issue of dealing with the treatment of those who have come most recently. How do we deny, when those of us who have been to the border, for example, literally talk to persons who have said they watched their father being beat to death and ms13 come to make them a member. How are you going to challenge that . How do you challenge a woman who got on the road and had a baby on the road because people said she owed them money and were going to kill her. How about an aunt to came back and found her nieces and nevada fuse drugged and all they had to do was escape for their lives. I believe that standing here today is recognizing there must be a solution. Let me share with you just some of the comments from a hearing that we had on the oversight of family separation and c. B. P. Shortterm custody. In march, 2017, former secretary john kelly announced that d. H. S. Was considering a proposal to separate families as a mines of detering migration and that is what they did. Today, it was indicated that they had not reunited every one of those children. Who of us in america would welcome the idea of children being snatched from you. This wasnt a situation of abuse and you find out they could not find you or the child to reunite. In september, 2018 report, the Inspector General found that the d. H. S. Was not prepared to implement to deal. Can you imagine that . They just didnt have the facilities to deal with this sri detrimental policy . What about the policy. That is International Law. That is a law that allows individuals fleeing persecution o come to any country and seek asylum. Under our law, you could seek asylum. Those administrations that were reasonable recognize that Domestic Violence could be taken into consideration. Let us realize where we are. This Trump Administration are eliminated Domestic Violence right out and wanted to eliminate the right of individuals to file for asylum. A lawsuit said no, mr. President , you cannot do that. You cannot do that and deny the right under International Law and national for these individuals to be use the process that has been used to so many before this. This. And this report that in actuality, a report was made public on july 2, although it was given to the department of Homeland Security much earlier than that, but i think this was report on the c. B. P. And b. P. Facilities at the border. We voted on a 4. 6 billion appropriations at the beginning of july to help and provide better resources, but one of the things that was said was to the secretary of Homeland Security, d. H. S. Needs to address dangerous overcrowding at El Paso Processing Center and d. H. S. Needs to address dangerous overcrowding and prolonged detentions in the rio grande valley. This isnt Sheila Jackson lee, but this is the Inspector General report. We are our brothers keeper. Africans are coming across the border seeking relief and all we ave to do is follow our law to allow the aseal usm process and rerpped if they can stay or not say and use our humanitarian agencies to either help settle them in the United States or resettle them back out of the United States and having an agreement that after the a seal umh has failed, that they can remain and mexico which was originally spoken of. Since i have been to mexico at e the policies mexico the border does not have the resources or the housing or the jobs to take care of these individuals who are there. I want to make it very clear, my fellow americans, on this floor, this particular Democratic Congress in the majority has recognized the importance of americans. We passed legislation to protect against eliminating preexisting conditions and bring down insurance costs we passed 15 an hour wage increase as federal law, we are working other gun safety and working on issues dealing with americans but must call our higher angels and recognize the responsibility to address the concerns of our people. As i conclude my remarks, let me say i hope we will be able to work on the 9,000 children that are held by health and Human Services of what we call shelters. Let me state it publicly, those i worked with, that the shelt i. R. S. Do not belong to you, but belong to the people of the United States and that means the members of the United States congress. No member of congress should be blocked from going into the facilities or talk to them that they have been in the centers for 100 days and not supposed to be there that long. There needs to be a system to expedite a young steer. And so, i want to put health and Human Services on notice, on notice, not to block any of us and facilitate toll sbrling act to provide them comfort and move their cases. Not pull them out, but to help the system, not concern to move forward on behalf of these young people. Congressman garcia, i thank you to share some of my thoughts about how we have to face the broken immigration system to recognize that many people who are working, paying taxes and paying a mortgage, and their families, who seek opportunity. I believe that together in a bipartisan manner, we could do this as we have done this for 1800s and om the 1900s. Let me thank you for your leadership and im happy to yield back. Mr. Garcia thank you, congresswoman jackson lee. To close this evening, i want to call our attention again, what we are seeking to do in this special order hour was to again highlight and shed a spotlight on the administrations assault on immigration and Asylum Seekers that is taking place. I do it seeking to express the sentiment, the concerns, and he aspirations of especially immigrant groups in my district that i represent. Who are they . They are people who have come from asia, who have come from germany, who have come from ireland, who have come from eastern europe, who have come from africa and the caribbean as well as latin america and even other countries. It is my hope that as the house of representatives begins its summer recess, that this congress and the white house will reflect on the nations great history of welcoming people who are fleeing oppression and as congresswoman jackson lee noted that we allow ur better angels to impact, to inspire, and to move us. As we continue our path, striving to become a more Perfect Union there isnt a better way forward than by embracing those who are fleeing persecution, those who are fleeing violence, and those who are fleeing terrible conditions in the countries that they were born in. I want to thank the congressional progressive caucus for its assistance in arranging for this special hour. I want to thank those who have joined me tonight to share their stories. Madam speaker, we can and we must do better and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. Members are reminded to refrain from engaging in personalities toward the president. With that, under the speakers announced policy of january 3, 2019, the gentleman from florida, mr. Yoho is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader. Mr. Yoho thank you, madam speaker. I have a threepart series and i would like to open at this moment and yield as much time as needed to my good friend, mr. Scott perry, from pennsylvania. Mr. Perry i thank the gentleman from florida for offering me just a moment to talk about something thats very important to me. I rise today at a time when the United States and the International Community must step up efforts to combat Money Laundering. Money laundering is a critical source of funding for terrorist organizations, drug cartels, like the ones that my good friend from florida might be talking about tonight. Drug cartels and other organized crime rings. Its used to disguise profits from or financing for ill list activity. Money is moved in a variety of ways across borders and through the Global Financial markets to evade detection by Law Enforcement. Global Financial Markets just like ours. While exact numbers cant be determined, estimates suggest that annual sums of Money Laundering is in the trillions of dollars. Trillions. Money laundering facilitates a broad range of serious underlying crimes including the financing of north koreas Irans Nuclear Proliferation Networks and the activities of terrorist organizations. Money laundering also plays a significant role in drug, human, and wildlife trafficking. In todays world in todays world, money launderers rely on new and old methods. The crime is conducted through shell company, cash smuggle, gamble, cyber related methods and investments in mobile commodity, including dwhroings might not think about like gems and real estate. Yes, real estate. For example, we have recently seen a rise in Money Laundering through Luxury Real Estate purchases. Some people come to me and say theres a housing crisis. When money launderers are raising the cost of housing by overpaying for a property, thats a problem for vulnerable populations in the United States. These real estate purchases happen in major u. S. Cities as well as International Cities like london and dubai. Mr. Speaker, madam speaker, Money Laundering threatens political stability, democracy and free markets around the globe and we must take steps to counter it right now. I thank the gentleman for the time. I yield back the balance to him. Mr. Yoho madam speaker, im entering into the second fez of our special order. I rise today to honor the memory of rosewood and reflect on the tragedy that happened in 1923. Rosewood was a small, rural town in my district. It is in North Central florida, North Central florida, west florida, in between otter creek, chiefland and cedar key. It was build around the pencil mill and turnen tine industry, a mixed town of blacks and whys. In 1915 it had a population of approximately 355 people. The town had started to become seg regate. The neighboring town of sumner developed at the time and was primarily white. In january of 1923, a yuck white woman claimed a black hand assaulted her. The accusation started a riot, ultimately resulting in the burning of the entire town and e death of countless nombs rosewood community. Within thoifers violence starting, many survivors fled to the surrounding woods where they hid and wait forward rescue train sent there to take people out of the area of violence. At the end of the week, only one build regular mained standing, and to this day, the death toll is still unknown. And no buildings remain. The story by the young white woman was found to be a lie. She was the black mans loverful her significant other beat her and she lied and blamed the young black man to save face. The rosewood massacre, which occurred just outside of my district, is one that went nearly forgotten for over 60 years because of the destructive nature of prejudice and hatred caused by the survivors who lived in fear. Rarely sharing their stories, even with families and close friends. I firmly believe that in order to learn from our history, we have to make an effort to remember it. We should memorialize these events and thats why we put up plaque we put up markers or statues. Lest we forget it and within a generation or two, the mistakes of the past are repeated because the next generation will grow ignorant of the struggles of the past. From the store roifs when the stories of rosewood started recirculating in the 1980s, it brought a new level of awareness to the state of florida and the understanding that we as a society can in the be complacent in senseless acts of violence. It even inspired a movie in hollywood to illustrate the ugliness of the past hatred and violence. Violence and prejudice that have no place in our society and we have a duty to ensure that this tip of tragedy never happens again. Today in rosewood, a marker ands just off the highway, memorializing the town that never returned. Survivors and their descendants have shared their stories, hoping that rose wds memory would not be erased. One of these is a constituent of mine, ms. Lizie jenkins. Who has been working on this tragedy for the last 25 years. Her goal, and ours, is for individuals to remember and to never forget the hatred, the racism of the past, and to honor those who suffered in the past so future generations do not repeat the pain, suffering, and mistakes of the past. She has a dream to accomplish this and that is to create the rosewood museum. Madam speaker, its been almost a century since the erosewood massacre. Itll it will be by remembering and learning from this tragedy we can work toward a future full of acceptance and knowing ms. Jenkins, i can confidently say there will be a rosewood museum. Madam speaker, id like to move on to the third portion of our special order. And with it, we are going to talk about how to solve the problem at the southwest border and how to move beyond Border Security. But i just listened to an hour of people ranting, putting blame on this president for the hatred, the racism hes caused, i heard the member on the other side talk about the ban on muslims. We cant move forward and fix things if we use false narratives. There was not a ban on muslims. President trump put a ban on countries, in fact, the same six countries that president obama put a ban on. And recommended to put a ban on. There was never a ban on muslim countries. I want to i went to indonesia on a codel, a bipartisan one, and there was a member of this congress from the other side that asked the indonesian Prime Minister at the time what is the sentiment