opportunity to do that much more and really motivate young people, whether it is democrat or republican. that is what we have heard all morning. i think elected officials and candidates ought to connect with them as soon as possible. host: we appreciate your time and explanation. [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2015] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] host: now we bring you to the house. live coverage on c-span. aptimade possie the nionaptiong insttute, c. coopetion th thenited states hou of presentativ any usof the ccaned coveragef e hous procdings for potical commercial purpos is expresohibity the u.s.ouse opresens.]

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the speaker pro tempore: the house will be in order. the chair lays before the house a communication from the speaker. the clerk: the speaker's room, washington, d.c., april 30, 2015. i hereby appoint the honorable earl l. carter to act as speaker pro tempore on this day. signed john a. boehner, speaker of the house of representatives. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to the order of the house of january 6, 2015, the chair will now recognize members from lists submitted by the majority and minority leaders for morning hour debate. the chair will alternate recognition between the parties with each party limited to one hour and each member other than the majority and minority leaders and the minority whip limited to five minutes but in no event shall debate continue beyond 11:50 a.m. the chair recognizes the gentleman from oregon, mr. blumenauer for five minutes.

mr. blumenauer: thank you, mr. speaker. may 31, a looming deadline, the highway trust fund extension expires. you know, i actually could have dusted off the speech i gave last summer arguing against this ill-advised measure to slide it in to this spring. as i pointed out then, we'll be right back in the same spot we'll be stuck, we won't have a long-term proposal, we won't have a short-term proposal, we'll look at another extension. mr. speaker, it's time for us to stop the stalling. everyone ought to make a commitment that this will be the last extension that we take before we give america what it needs, a robust six-year

re-authorization of the critical highway trust fund. please focus on making sure this does not slide beyond the end of this federal fiscal year. because congress doesn't act absent some sort of deadline, and what we do best is stall, study and sidestep. if we would actually start working now, the five months between now and the expiration of this federal fiscal year, we can actually give the people legislation they deserve. it's not that hard except if you never start, if you don't know how big the program's going to be, if you don't get down to business it's difficult. now, i hear that the simplest approach, the most direct approach raising the gas tax

for the first time in 22 years is somehow too hard, too difficult for congress. it's been pronounced dead on arrival. it's off the table, according to our distinguished majority leader and the chair of the ways and means committee. why exactly is it off the table? why is this too hard for congress? if it was good enough for dwight eisenhower to start the interstate freeway system, if it was good enough for ronald reagan to call congress to come back during his thanksgiving day speech november 29, 1982, to more than double the gas tax, if it is good enough for 19 states, including this year five republican states to raise the gas tax, why is it too hard for us? maybe it's because we've never given the people who care

deeply about this a chance to make their case. the republicans have been in charge for 52 months. we have not had a single hearing on ways and means on transportation finance. what if we allowed the chamber of commerce, the afl-cio, the american trucking association contractors, local governments engineers, environmentalists, mayors to come in and make the case why they support raising the gas tax? maybe if congress did its job, if they listened to the people, if they had the broadest coalition you've seen on capitol hill on any major idea to come in, take a couple days, work with congress, explain the issues dive into the details actually show politicians that even the public supports it, maybe we could do our job.

maybe we could have a six-year re-authorization. maybe we could put hundreds of thousands of people to work at family wage jobs all across america making our families safer, healthier and more economically secure. deadline is september 30. get down to work, have some hearings, do our job produce the bill and america will be better off. thank you and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. the chair recognizes the gentleman from texas, mr. williams for five minutes. mr. williams: i ask unanimous consent to address the house for five minutes, mr. speaker. mr. speaker, i rise today to discuss a matter that is frankly getting out of hand. it's more than a matter. it's a problem. this is a problem that has expanded beyond the borders of

american individual cities and into the national spotlight. it's a problem that's no longer a localized issue but a national one that's spiraling out of control. this week we watched in horror as baltimore burned. we watched in disgust as low lives destroyed their own communities as local government helplessly stood by. we watched in anger that some could even think to justify this sort of behavior. i applaud president obama for calling those responsible for the destruction who they really are, criminals and thugs. mr. speaker, everyone has the right to participate in peaceful demonstration and i thank and respect those in baltimore who exercised their constitutionally granted right. but when the actions of a few infringe on the rights of others we have a problem. when the actions of a few violent protestors dominate the 24-hour news cycle, it takes away from the importance of the

message and it tears apart already fragile communities. when businesses are trashed, those responsible must be brought to justice. when the national chain pharmacy is set aflame, we ask if they will ever risk doing business in that community ever again. as a business owner, i can tell you, mr. speaker, it would take a whole lot of convincing to get me to invest my sweat, energy and treasure in a city that has demonstrated the type of lawlessness we have seen in recent days and that is a tragedy. it's a tragedy because these communities so desperately need structure, stability support and jobs. mr. speaker, as a law enforcement that will help reassure businesses that they will be able to safely operate in these communities, it is law enforcement that will reduce the risk that is currently holding back job creators from setting up shop. mr. speaker, communities must have law and order to succeed

and prosper. and i applaud those in law enforcement who have worked so hard to ensure that. in god we trust, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back his time. the chair recognizes the gentleman from illinois, mr. gutierrez. mr. gutierrez: thank you, mr. speaker. what would it be like if the chamber and this government reflected the diversity of the american people? they would be a lot more portraits of women alongside all the portraits of committee chairmen of the past decades. in 2015 it wouldn't be news worthy when a competent intelligent person who happens to be african-american is hired for a job which she is supremely qualified, which happened this week when loretta lynch was sworn in as our 83rd attorney general. and we wouldn't still be talking about unequal pay for equal work. i believe that if there is a country that truly believes in equality, it's time to put our money where our mouths are

literally, and express that sense of justice on the most widely used currency in international transaction. last week i introduced the put a woman on the 20 act to build on the grassroots campaign working to bring gender equality to our currency. their public campaign has garnered more than half a million votes in support of putting a woman on a 20 dollar bill. i love the idea and was brought to me by a smart young woman on my staff, kay johnson. it's not just a woman's issue, it's an american issue. my bill directs the secretary of a the treasure to solicit recommendations from the public for a woman to be placed on the 20 dollar bill. women have inspired generations of americans for their courage by challenging this nation to protect the civil rights of all americans. women have advocated for voting rights and equal protection under the law and for programs that serve the most vulnerable members of our communities. women let us out -- led us out

of slavery on the underground railroad showed us what the phrase all men are created equal, have led in all sectors in all society. when i go to the bank, when i use an a.t.m., when i travel overseas, the 20 dollar bill is already widely used and in the purses and wallets of hundreds of millions of americans. we all know that the almighty dollar speaks, but what if it had a woman's voice? consider for a moment the powerful message to be sent to a young woman in chicago if she saw a portrait celebrating rosa parks or harriet tubman when she reached into her wallet to make a purchase. and what about a young man in a country far away who may hear damaging messages about the role of women in his country, the portrait of wilma, eleanor roosevelt on the united states bill that represents power and success to him provides a new opportunity to show our common values about equality and

inclusion and farah -- in farahway places. the women on 20 shows rosa parks, wilma mankiller harriet tubman, eleanor roosevelt. that's a great list. the initiative has sparked conversations about the many great women who have contributed in significant ways to strengthening our nation. i have certainly benefited from the passionated a vow casey of women who have fought for civil rights and equality as have my daughters and constituents in chicago. many whom are debating and weighing in on the candidates for this incredible honor. roosevelt university has championed eleanor roosevelt for the honor and not because they were named after her. as a result of the campaign, students are participating in a national dialogue about her work advocating for child labor laws to protect kids and all workers from unsafe conditions and long hours, for gender equality and safe housing. now, i don't know who will be chosen. she could be one of the women

suggested already or any one of many other talented, impressive women. my mother, who was an amazing woman, is not there because she's still alive. a woman's place in the board room chairing the committee, in the laboratory, in the oval office and yes, even on our currency. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. the chair recognizes the gentleman from california, mr. mcclintock, for five minutes. mr. mcclintock: mr. speaker, it's sad that when the plan for the -- said when the plan for the ancient city of alexandria was sent to alexandria, it was a way to honor the city's namesake. all of the water's supply would be channeled to one great

central fountain featuring giant statue of alexander and then flow from it to the surrounding city. when alexander seemed unimpressed, the architectured said that the water would flow from alexandria to alexander. he implied, water is not the life's blood of the city. commerce is the life's blood of a city. . the statue was placed at the entrance of the port. as it is with city states it is with nation states. every nation that engages in trade prospers from it. every nation that fails to trade fails to prosper. today international trade agreements are the means by which nations establish the terms of their commerce. this often requires intricate negotiations with trading partners and our trading partners must be confident that the united states

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this country hpped on apri 25 more than 5,00 peopleaveos their . more than 10,000 ha bn injure 2.million pele dpla eit million afe. fomericansconfmed dead. the uned states of aricaas coitted 5 million reief. forhis co nay ll but th's n i believe we can do more. because 4 $415 million will be needed for humanitarian purposes alone, mr. speaker. i am proud to say that a good many organizations are pitching in. one such organization is in my district in houston texas. the nepal ease -- nepalese association of houston. the chairperson of that association, the president, has called a meeting and i was

honored to be in attendance along with the secretary, mr. nepal, and about 100 or more other people. they are doing what they can to make sure they do their share to help in this time of need. and i want you to know that we in the congress want to make sure that we do our share to help in this time of need. yesterday we heard from the prime minister of japan. and one of the things he said that stuck out in my mind is that america provides hope for the world. america is emblematic of hope for people who are hopeless. help for those who are helpless. america's always there for the rest of the world. we cannot allow this situation to become anything less than what america has always been for the rest of the world. but to have the hope that they need, help has to be on the way. there has to be the help that

can engender the hope that people so desperately need. to give them the hope they need there is a bill that we have filed in the congress of the united states of america, h.r. 2033. this bill provides temporary protected status for the people of nepal who happen to be in the united states of america under a legal status. if they are here and they are here legally they will be allowed to stay for an additional 18 months. they won't be sent back to harm's way in a time of crisis. this is what america can do. this is to provide hope by providing help by allowing those people to stay in this country, they can continue to work. they can continue to send money home. and we have found from our research that $248 million in remittances were sent to nepal

in 2014. $248 million. we need to allow the nepalese people to continue to work in this country and send that money back to their countrymen. and women. america can do this. this is not a heavy lift. this is not immigration reform. this is something that we have done before. we did it in 1998 under the clinton administration for the people of month a rhett after the volcanic eruption. we did it in 1998, for the people of honduras and nicaragua after the hurricane. did it in 2001 under the bush administration for the people of el salvador after two earthquakes. then in 2010 under the obama administration for the people of haiti after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. we can do it for the people of

nepal. this is not a heavy lift. does not give anyone any kind of permanent immigration status. does not change the laws that relates to immigration. it only says we will do what we can to help people acquire the hope that they need by allowing people who are here to continue to work, send money back to their home country, and not put them back there in harm's way having to live in the circumstances that might be detrimental to them. the united states has sent in many relief teams, and these relief teams are bringing with them some temporary housing, which is important. this is important. but the real hope that we can help provide would be to pass h.r. 2033 so that people who are here can continue to stay. i thank you for the time, mr. speaker. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the

gentleman's time has expired. the chair recognizes the gentleman from north carolina, mr. holding, for five minutes. mr. holding: mr. speaker, i rise today to honor the life and accomplishments of an important man of america's greatest generation. dr. thomas frank johnson. he faced life's challenges head on and throughout all of of this vast change, he always saw america's promise above all else. dr. johnson, military veteran, and i flue wention economist passed away last december at the age of 94 and was recently buried at arlington. he served as a lieutenant commander in the navy in the pacific from 1943 and 1945 and remained in the rainfall until 1980. he was born december 27, 1920, in lynchburg virginia, and a child of the great depression which affected his economic and personal outlook. his philosophy was simple as he would tell his children, time marches on. so must we. dr. johnson was extremely proud of his military service. however, as a humble man, he only displayed one picture of

himself and that was on his patrol craft 1191 in the pacific escorting aircraft carriers. after the war, he remained u.s. navy, traveling by train, bringing soldiers and sailors home. some to their families, some to hospital, some to their final resting places. very proud of his service, he rarely every spoke of his time there. simply moved on to the next phase of his life. in post-world war ii america. after concluding active duty he completed studies in economics and was a member of the thomas jefferson society. he moved to washington in 1949 and began his professional career at the department of agriculture specializing in sugar weight industry. -- sugar weight industry. following the agriculture department the chamber of commerce. in the mid 1950's he served as the assistant commissioner of the federal housing authority in charge of research and legislation. he concluded his tenure at the housing authority as acting commissioner. then joined the american

enterprise institute where he influenced economic thought and public policy for another three decades. for those three decades dr. johnson held senior leadership roles at the american enterprise institute, including director of economic policy studies. in his last year he was the acting c.e.o. a man who did not seek the limelight, he had an uncanny ability to recruit and cultivate the foremost economic thinkers of our nation. dr. johnson fostered the talent of at least three noble prize winners in economics including milton friedman, jim buchanan, and gary becker. dr. johnson influenced economic policy during seven presidential administrations. he established a lunch time forum for envelope discussion -- informal discussion for ambassadors and even president george h.w. bush would attend. mr. speaker, dr. johnson was a humble and very forward-looking man. while engaging with many world leaders and policymakers, he was always a very private person,

very seldom talking about himself. he always -- he also taught economics nearly his entire professional life at the university of virginia, george mason university, and george washington university. throughout his career, dr. johnson was active in professional societies such as the national association of business economists, serving as chapter president in 1971. the institute for social science research, the rural economic society, the national tax association, american finance association, southern economic association, and the cost mose club -- cosmos club here in washington where he often took his children. mr. speaker, dr. johnson was also deeply engaged in his local community. serving on the zearneda hospital board of directors, including a term as its president. he also proudly served on the alexandria school board and vesttry of st. paul's episcopal church and emanuel church in

alexandria. mr. speaker, my thoughts and prayers are with his wife of 63 years, margaret ann, his three children, thomas william, and reverend sara nelson and seven grandchildren. dr. thomas frank johnson will surely be missed. mr. speaker, i ask to submit into the record an additional account of dr. johnson's life. with that i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. the speaker yields back his time. the chair recognizes the gentleman from north carolina, mr. butterfield, for five minutes. mr. butterfield: i ask unanimous consent to address the house for five minutes. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. butterfield: mr. speaker the congressional black caucus will present eight or nine speakers on the democratic side in just a few minutes. i am the first of many who will be speaking. we come to the floor today to express our deepest sympathy and support to the family of freddie

gray and to the citizens of baltimore, maryland. mr. speaker, the events in baltimore are not just about police misconduct. it's about pervasive poverty. it's about unemployment, lack of community, hopelessness, and despair. since death of michael brown in ferguson nearly nine months ago more than 25 billions have been introduced by members of the c.b.c. that address the need for law enforcement accountability. . today i call on my house and senate colleagues to take up some or all of these bills. this issue has an impact on all of us. we must address economic disparities that face black communities all across the nation. baltimore, mr. speaker is not unique. the economic climate in black america that divide -- and the divide that has persisted for generations is due largely to our country's history of despair treatment of

african-americans and lack of opportunity. while much of the country has experienced an economic recovery over the last six years, it has not yet reached the african-american community. recently the c.b.c. and the joint economic committee released a report on the economic challenges facing african-americans. african-americans are struggling and continue to face high rates of persistent poverty, unemployment, long-term unemployment as well as significantly lower incomes and slower wealth accumulation. more than 400 counties in the united states suffer poverty rates greater than 20%. these rates have persisted now for more than 30 years. the median income of african-american households is $34,000, $24,000 less than the median income of white households. the median net worth of white households is 13 times the level of black households. black americans are almost three times more likely to live in poverty at 10.1% the current unemployment rate for black

americans is double the rate for white americans. black americans currently face an unemployment rate higher than the national unemployment rate reached during the recession. african-americans are less likely to obtain education beyond high school than white students. they're less likely to earn a college degree. even among college graduates, blacks face worse job prospects than whites. the unemployment rate for black workers with at least a bachelor's degree is 5.2% compared to 2.9% for white workers. 42% of white -- black people own a home. in my state, unemployment rate is 9.9%, the poverty rate for african-americans is 27.5% while for whites it's 12.6%. right here mr. speaker, in the district of columbia the median household income for african-americans is $38,300 for whites and $115,000, 900

for blacks -- for whites, a $77,000. the d.c. poverty rate is 27.4% for african-americans compared to 7.6% for whites. colleagues, these statistics tell the story. these numbers are staggering, troubling and problematic. it's time for renewed focus for blacks in america and a need for real solutions for issues that have plagued our communities. i'll end mr. speaker, by quoting some excerpts from a state of the union speech. he said, unfortunately, many americans living on the outskirts of hope. some because of their poverty and some because of their color. all too many because of both. our task is to help replace their despair with opportunity. this administration today he said, here and now declares unconditional war on poverty in america. and so i urge this congress and

all americans to join with me in that effort, he said. it will not be a short or easy struggle. no single weapon or strategy will suffice, but we shall not rest until the war is won. president johnson said the richest nation on earth can't afford to win it. we cannot afford to lose it. $1,000 invested in salvaging an unemployable youth today can return $40,000 or more in his lifetime. president johnson said poverty is a national problem, requiring improved national organizations and support. but this attack, to be effective, must also be organized at the state and local level, most be supported and directed by state and local efforts. he said for the war against poverty will not be won here in washington. it will be won in the field, in every private home and every public office from the courthouse to the white house. the program i shall propose, i said will emphasize this cooperative approach to help that 1/5 of all american

families with incomes too small to even meet their basic needs, end of quote. president lyndon baines johnson, january 6 1964, from this chamber. thank you, mr. speaker. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the chair recognizes the gentleman from florida, mr. jolly, for five minutes. mr. jolly: thank you mr. speaker. it is silly season again in washington. it's that time of year when we have our annual budget debates and when we realize that only in washington can an increase actually be considered a decrease. later today we will vote on a bill to fund the department of veterans affairs. that bill increases the department's funding in real dollars from last year by 5.6%. and yet my colleagues on the other side of the aisle claim that it's a decrease. when in fact it's the highest level of v.a. funding ever provided to the department. but even worse we have a secretary of the veterans affairs administration is peddling the same dishonest line as well.

in which negligence in the past year contributed to the deaths of veterans. those are the words confirmed by the office of the inspector general. and yet despite the failure of the department, the secretary earlier this week had the audacity to go behind closed doors with members of only one party and claim that somehow the 6% increase being provide by our committee will in fact further the v.a.'s failures of the past. well mr. speaker, the secretary has exhibited a level of audacity only seen in washington. and if we are honest it's an audacity that reflects a style of leadership likely to fail fail the v.a. but most importantly it's going to fail veterans across the united states because you see, here is the real story we still have hundreds of thousands of veterans waiting for health care, for benefits. we know there's malfeasance in v.a. construction and we know the v.a. continues to declare veterans' independence dead when they're in fact alive. but here's the most important -- most offensive part of the secretary's messaging. in the midst of all this, this body has actually continued to trust the secretary.

you see, when the v.a. secretary came before our subcommittee, i asked him point blank, what will it take to clear the veterans' benefits backlog? and he said resources. we need over 700 more employees. we need an increase in resources. now, i requested that. i'll be honest. -- i questioned that. i'll be honest. i think there's infrastructure that needs to change, i.t. needs to change. he said resources. so we trusted him. our bill, our bill provides full funding for his request to clear the backlog. and yet he continues to say that our side of the aisle somehow in providing the request that he made of our subcommittee is going to fail his administration. it is a despicable display of partisanship at the helm of the department that has no place for partisanship. and so a department that last year was defined not by its successes but by its failures is now needlessly defined by its politics. you know he did not ask for additional funding for the

office of the inspector general, the department that reported to congress on the negligence. zero increase in funding was requested. our subcommittee stepped in and provided an additional $5 million for that office. very importantly, we have to acknowledge this gamesmanship, this leadership failure should not reflect on the men and women who serve our veterans on the front lines every day. we have great men and women who serve in the v.h.a. and the v.b.a. i had the opportunity to visit with them just last week at our local v.a. hospital. an elderly veteran was brought to tears telling me how much he appreciated the loving care he was receiving from the employees of the hospital. we must acknowledge their service, their contribution every day just as we acknowledge the failure of leadership in washington, d.c. and so you see, this week's intellectually created dishonestly, this audacity is washington's small ball peddled by this administration but with real consequences that undermines the confidence of

the american people. mr. speaker, only in washington is a 5.6% increase actually a decrease. it is appropriations season. it is indeed silly season again in washington, d.c. mr. speaker, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back his time. the chair recognizes the gentleman from south carolina, mr. clyburn, for five minutes. mr. clyburn: thank you mr. speaker. i request permission to address the house for five minutes and to revise and extend. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. clyburn: thank you very much mr. speaker. mr. speaker, i want to join my friend and chair of the congressional black jacques, g.k. butterfield, in offering condolences to the parents and family members of freddie gray. i also want to say to mr. tonya graham -- ms. tonya graham that i feel and can appreciate her

anguish and the pain that she showed the world a few days ago . i want to say to her son, michael, that i have also felt his pain and anguish having been on the receiving end of such discipline from my mother. but i want to say to him that he can rest assure that the love of his mother her passion for his future will pay great dividends if he continues to show the deference to her love and affection and her concern that he showed when he was the object of her frustrations. mr. speaker, responding to the situation in baltimore, several

days ago president obama said, and i quote, we can't just leave this to the police. i think there are police departments that have to do some soul searching. i think there are some communities that have to do some soul searching, but he went on to say i think we as a country have to do some soul searching. i want to join president obama in calling for the country to do some soul searching. let's take a look at just a few of the institutions of learning in the baltimore community.

i call attention to one school, frederick douglass high school a school that lists among its graduates the likes of cab calloways, thurgood marshall, a school that i understand that the father of the current mayor of baltimore also attended. i understand there are 789 students at frederick douglass high school today. 83% of them are listed in u.s. news and world reports index as economically disadvantage, and only 53% of them are listed as proficient in english. only 44% proficient in algebra.

i understand that carver vocational technical high is 100% minority with 79% of the students economically disadvantage. carpin academy 100% minority with 77% economically disadvantaged. now, as we listen to all of the pundits editorial writers reflect on what is taking place or has taken place in baltimore , i would like to call attention to their lack of soul searching that's taken place here in this body as we represent the people of america

. we have just seen the conference report of the budget being proposed by the house republicans. that conference agreement guts strategic investments in education, work force training, public health, scientific research advanced manufacturing and the public safety. it does nothing to help those americans who are looking for jobs. it does nothing to boast paychecks of working americans. it disinvests in america. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. mr. clyburn: mr. speaker, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back his time.

the chair recognizes the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. rothfus, for five minutes. mr. rothfus: mr. speaker at the beginning of the last century, a godless totalitarian ideology moved and a global war against freedom began. this ideology slaughtered millions what was the soviet union. they brought another reign of terror that killed millions more and still today limits freedom for the chinese people. also in the 1940's, communists moved into vietnam. those living in northern vietnam were its first victims, like other lands under communism's iron grip, the ruler killed hundreds of thousands of their citizens. those who desired and had the means fled to the south. . throughout the 20th crntry americans fought people who

defeated humanity. indeed, well into the cold war, president kennedy proclaimed to the world that we would pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship support any friend, oppose any foe in order to survive to assure the survival and success of liberty. the cold war at times flaired hot and in southeast asia, more than 58,000 americans gave the last full measure of their devotion fighting for the freedoms for which their nation stands. today we mark the 40th anniversary of the tragic fall of saigon. in doing so, we remember the sacrifices made by our vietnam veterans and their families. sacrifices that continue to today such as when a gold star mother or wife looks at the photograph of a son or husband who never came home. or when a veteran makes a trip to the local v.a. for chemotherapy for cancer caused

by age orange. or when a congressional colleague notices he did not have a full use of a limb because of the torture he endured as a p.o.w. or when a 65-year-old veteran has the same repeated nightmares. or one of 40-something son or daughter envisions the father he or she never got to know. the sacrifices are noble but painful. the cause they fought for lives on will continue so long as humanity dreams of freedom. freedoms of those who fought to escape vietnam, including the boat people president reagan spoke of in 1982. when they were picked up, they cried, hello, american sailor. hello, freedom man. since the last helicopter left the u.s. embassy roof in saigon 40 years ago vietnam has been under communist control. with communist control has come a shameful human rights record. what was the hot spot in the cold war is a cold spot for

people aspiring to walk, to borrow a phrase from hubert humphrey, in the warm sunshine of human life. hundreds of thousands of refugees escaped, many died in the pros is he. many survived. some made it to america where they pursued the american dream. they have undertaken diverse endeavors from running small shops in orange county, virginia fishing operations in louisiana, to practicing medicine in places like pittsburgh pennsylvania. for those still under the communist regime, they must be ever fearful of a government all too willing to crush freedom. political freedom, religious freedom, freedom of the press, freedom of family life. in vietnam catholics buddhists, falun gong, and other religious minorities have been harassed and persecuted for their faith. in vietnam hundreds of political prisoners are held in jail or under house arrest. the vietnam government continues to restrain the oppressed. never forget our service members fought and many died to

prevent the tragedies communist rule would impose upon them. the latter of which suffered genocide that killed millions. we are grateful our service members were able to save thousands of vietnamese. to the veterans who took operation win 40 years ago in the chaotic days before saigon fell, be proud you res. cued the americans. god knows the history their having escaped will cause. let us have a full accounting, final accounting for all our m.i.a.'s. let us insist if vietnam desires to integrate further with the community of nation, then it must follow much greater freedom for its people. let us hope that the people of vietnam will not have to endure another four decades of oppression and one day, perhaps this decade, the freedom for which our service members died, will finally take root by the south china sea. thank you. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back his time. the chair recognizes the

gentlewoman from texas ms. jackson lee, for five minutes. ms. jackson lee: i thank the chair very much. let me also thank my colleague, congresswoman barbara lee for her courtesy. i join today in standing with my chair, congressman butterfield congressional black caucus and as well i am overwhelmed with the pain that we have seen. not only in baltimore, which we have seen most recently, but in cities like ferguson, north charleston, in new york where we have seen the convergence of poverty and the need for criminal justice reform converge. i, too, want to offer my sympathy to the family of freddie gray. we watched them over the past couple of days. in the midst of their mourning to be able to stand up and call for peace, nonviolence, nonhaven't protests, they should

be honored. and to those in baltimore, particularly my colleague i'll call him congressman cummings with the bullhorn politics, the bullhorn leadership, he should be commended for the outstanding engagement that he touched the hearts and minds of his constituents. walked those streets to be able to acknowledge the pain, the poverty, but that there is a better way. that there is a way toward the stars that we all want our children to have. and, yes to ms. graham who wanted better for her son michael, i want him not to be embarrassed. but to be proud that he had a mother with such deep love that she wanted to take him away from doing it wrongly. not against protest, not against the quiet marching of the spirit of dr. king, but to know that engaging in violence is intolerable and will not allow him to reach the very high

heights that he can reach. today i stand here to acknowledge the convergence of the need of criminal justice reform and the deep and abiding poverty in the african-american community. one in every six americans living in poverty, totaling 46.2 million people. this is the highest number in 17 years. children represent a disproportionate amount of the united states' poor population. it falls heavily on the african-american community. in my district, there are 190,000 plus living in poverty. it falls heavily on the african-american community. mr. speaker, this is not a standing for the door to open. let's blame president obama. president obama has been a stellar leader on the questions of realizing the investment in people. from the stimulus that brought us out of the depths of collapse, of the markets and a complete imploding of the capitalisticcies terges he provided the stimulus that moved

us an economy where we were creating jobs. but here we have in congress this dastardly sequester that is cutting head start, not investing in infrastructure, not creating jobs, providing opportunities for our young people. so today i say that there needs to be a call for action. that call for action is that this congress must get rid of sequester and must look at the baltimores and look at the fergusons and houstons and l.a.s and new yorks, and cities across america and realize that we are coming upon a summertime. and if we don't act to invest in our children and to begin to give an agenda to release ourselves from poverty, we will have doomed ourselves. i would offer to say that the inertia of moving toward criminal justice reform in this congress is unacceptable. i call upon members to come together collectively to be able to pass legislation, the cadet bill i introduced, the build trust bill. more importantly i'm calling

upon our government to invest in our youth. to get rid of the poverty. to prepare them as they go into higher education, as they go into upper grades, we must have a program of summer jobs this summer. and we must have a collaborative effort with corporate america. wake up, corporate america. wake up, corporate baltimore. wake up, corporate new york. wake up, corporate houston. there must be an investment in summer jobs, collaborating with the federal government, to make a difference to lift families out of poverty. we do know that summer jobs with young people elevate families' ability to pay their bills and to provide resources for their family. if the story of baltimore is any, it is one don't jump to conclusions. don't jump to conclusions that freddie gray tried to hurt himself. don't jump to conclusion that is these young people don't mean well. don't jump to conclusions that they shouldn't have done what they have done. jump to the conclusion that these are young people who are hungry and looking for leadership and are in pain as

congressman cummings said, look for the opportunity for them, help rebuild baltimore, help give them jobs, help tell them that the improved relationships between police and community are going to be moved forward as a number one agenda for the united states congress. and this government that they call the united states of america. let us have a call to action not a condemnation, but of action. i want to thank the young people who nonviolently march all over america indicating black lives matter and all lives matter. the congressional black caucus stands to stamp out poverty and we stand, mr. speaker, to bring opportunities to young people. i thank you for your indulgence. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady yields. the chair recognizes the gentleman from kentucky, mr. barr, for five minutes. mr. barr: mr. speaker, i rise today to recognize the university of kentucky's sanders brown center on aging. which was established in 1979 and is one of the original 10

national institutes of health funded alzheimer's disease research centers. the university of kentucky alzheimer's disease center ablely led by dr. linda and her outstanding team of scientists and investigators supports and facilitates research with a long-term goal of enabling more effective translation of complex scientific discoveries to intervention strategies that improve the lives of patients. the sanders brown scientists are focused on understanding the mechanisms involved in development and progression of age related neuro degenerative diseases such as alzheimer's disease and related dimensionas and stroke and seeking new knowledge -- dementias and stroke and seeking new knowledge. this center also promotes education and outreach, provides clinical and neuro pathological

diagnoses, and care of patients with cognitive impairment and runs an active clinical trials program to test potential new therapies. these activities are critical because with the aging of the population worldwide and in this country, age related cognitive disorders such as alzheimer's disease are reaching epidemic proportions, requiring a desperate need to identify strategies for effective, therapeutic intervention. according to a recent report, an estimated 5.3 million americans have alzheimer's disease and that's in 2015 alone. this includes an estimated 5.1 million people age 65 an older, and approximately 200,000 individuals under the age of 65 who have younger onset alzheimer's disease. barring development of medical breakthroughs, the number will rise to 13.8 million by the year 2050. almost half a million people age

65 or older will develop alzheimer's in the united states this year alone. to put that into perspective, every 67 seconds someone in the united states develops alzheimer's. by mid century, an american will develop the disease every 33 seconds. alzheimer's disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the united states, and fifth leading cause of death for those age 65 or older. and there is an enormous cost and financial impact of this disease. alzheimer's is, in fact, the costliest disease to society. total 2015 payments for caring for those with alzheimer's and other dementias are estimated at $226 billion. total payments for health care, long-term care hospice, and others are repro-jeblingted to increase to more than $1 trillion in 2050. when we talk about reforming medicare when we talk about

doing the things we need to do to save medicare and keep our promises to our seniors, we have to recognize the critical importance and the return on investment that investment in the national institutes of health can have. i say in the debates about medicare reform, these are important debates, let's pay attention to investment in the national institutes of health and particularly the under investment in the research that goes on in places like the sanders brown center on aging. this can have an enormous impact on our ability to keep medicare solvent and also improve the lives of so many americans. so i hope and i call on all of my colleagues here to join me in thanking everyone at the university of kentucky, sanders brown center on aging, for their contributions to continue the fight against alzheimer's and other diseases of the elderly. with that, mr. speaker, i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the

gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the chair recognizes the gentlewoman from california, ms. lee, for five minutes. ms. lee: thank you, mr. speaker. 7 i rise first to send my thoughts and prayers to the family of freddie gray and the entire city of baltimore. today another family is greefing another young life needlessly shut cut short, and again a community is searching for answers in the face of tragedy and injustice. my own community knows this all too well. . oscar grant, a bright young man, was murdered on the rapid transit platform in oakland. our community look to the streets demanding justice. freddie gray, oscar grant mike brown, trayvon martin, and the list goes on, all lives cut short. today, their stories compel us to come to the house floor to join millions of americans around our nation in saying that like all lives, black lives also do matter. make no mistake, the issues