ms. jackson lee of texas. the chair: pursuant to house resolution 287, the gentlelady from texas and a member opposed each will control five minutes. the chair recognizes the gentlelady from texas. ms. jackson lee: let me thank the chairwoman and let me thank the ranking member, mr. price, and his staff and the chairman, mr. diaz-balart about a lart, for their work on -- mr. diaz-balart, for their work on something that's near and dear to many members' hearts. this amendment was passed last year. so i am grateful to have the opportunity this year to restate the fact that this amendment indicates that none of the funds made available by this act, under the heading federal transit administration transit grant, may be used in contravention of 6309. this is an amendment identical to the jackson lee amendment and might i just briefly speak to this amendment. it affirms the importance of nation -- to the nation of projects that create economic development, particularly in a transportation area, it particularly says t

ms. jackson lee of texas. at the end of the bill, before the short title insert the following, section, none of the funds made available by this act may be used in contravention of the authority of the president pursuant to article 2, section 2 of the constitution. the chair: pursuant to house rule 303, the gentlewoman from texas and a member opposed each will control five minutes. the gentlewoman from texas. ms. jackson lee: responsibilities of the president, thank you very much mr. chairman, and the responsibilities of the defense department continue in this new climate to grow. this has been a long journey in the defense appropriations process and amendments on the floor and i'd like to at this hour thank the chairman and the ranking member of the defense appropriations committee for their patience and as well their participation in the list of amendments that we've had the opportunity to present. i'm a member of the homeland security committee and therefore see a lot of the new approaches -- i'd be happy t

ms. jackson lee: i have an amendment at the desk. number 176. the chair: the clerk will report the amendment. the clerk: amendment offered by ms. jackson lee of texas. page 13, line 18, after the dollar amount insert reduced by $1 million. page 36, line 1, after the dollar amount insert, increased by $1 million. page 36, line 9, after the dollar amount insert increased by $1 million. the chair: pursuant to house resolution 303, the gentlewoman from texas and a member opposed each will control five minutes. the chair recognizes the gentlewoman from texas. ms. jackson lee: again, i want to begin by thanking the chairman of the subcommittee and the ranking member of the subcommittee and their staff, because i've worked on this in the past appropriations and had the privilege of receiving the support of both the chair and the ranking member on this question of posttraumatic stress disorder that i've worked on since. i heard the chairman mention, both chairman young and chairman measure that. i've had the privilege of working with them on this questio

ms. jackson lee: mr. speaker, i ask for a recorded vote. he speaker pro tempore: does the gentlelady ask for the yeas and nays? ms. jackson lee: i ask for the yeas and nays. the speaker pro tempore: the yeas and nays are requested. all those in favor of taking this vote by the yeas and nays will rise and remain standing until counted. a sufficient number having arisen the yeas and nays are ordered pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, further proceedings on this question will be postponed. pursuant to clause 12-a of rule 1, the chair declares the have raised questions about the leadership and staff of local law enforcement organizations. and the president has been pretty clear as the head of the federal government. he has limited influence over those particular organizations. but the influence particularly in a way that supports, as you pointed out the vast majority of men and women until law enforcement who work really hard and do a really good job of protecting communities across the country and doing it in a fairway. these are professionals wh

ms. jackson lee: i wish to rise. the chair: the gentlelady from texas is recognized. ms. jackson lee: i would like to take this moment to thank the chairman and the ranking member and their staff for working with me on this matter, hoping to be able to revise or to resubmit this but at this time if the chairman would allow me i'd like to ask unanimous consent to withdraw this amendment. mr. frelinghuysen: we will accept the withdrawal, mr. chairman. and thank the gentlelady for hered a vow cassy. the chair: without objection, the amendment is withdrawn. the clerk will read. the clerk: military personnel, marine corps $12,586,679,000. military personnel, air force, $26,226,952,000. reserve personnel, army, $4463,164,000. reserve personnel navy $1866,891,000. reserve personnel, marine corps $705,271,000. reserve personnel air force $1,689,333,000. national guard personnel, army, $7,980,413,000. national guard personnel, air force $3,202,010,000. title 2, operation and maintenance, operation and maintenance, army, $28,349,761000. the chair: the clerk will suspend. for what pu

ms. jackson lee. ms. jackson lee: let me thank the chair and thank the ranking and the chairman of this appropriations process for the interior and the environment. for their indulgence and their understanding of how much a part of the lives of americans this legislation is. from my amendment dealing with the culture and history of this nation to that of clean water, clean air, our federal parks, our forestry, this is a vital piece of the livelihood and life of america. among other agencies that the legislation funds is the mythsonian institution which operates our national museums including air and speas, the museum of african art, the national portrait gallery. it also operates the national tri- the national zoo. my amendment is simple. it sends an important message from the congress of the united states to infuse into the people culture and appreciation for the respect and holding of wild animals, for the forests, for the number of assets that we should hold very dear. it increases the smithsonian insti

ms. jackson lee. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady from texas is recognized for one minute. ms. jackson lee: i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend. let me thank -- the speaker pro tempore: without objection. ms. jackson lee: ranking member levin for always standing in the gap with a creative mind for trade but for workers. let me acknowledge my colleague from wisconsin and indicate that those of us who stand here today have several reasons for doing so. 1997 i traveled to the continent of africa and looked at the rich resources of people and product and understood that that developing nation needed a bridge of opportunity. i am not against a bridge of opportunity and thereby i vote in support -- and support the african growth and opportunity act and those african nations who have extended their hand of friendship to the united states to create jobs. at the same time, i have to represent some of the most impoverished and some of the largest working people in the south in the state of texas. oh, i know that there is benefit. texas is a state that fits appropriately for benef

ms. jackson lee of texas for today, mr. jeffries for today and mrs. mrs. napolitano: for today and the balance of the week. mr. russell of oklahoma for today. and mrs. wagner of missouri for today. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. the requests are granted. under the speaker's announced policy of january , 2015, the gentleman from california mr. garamendi is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader. gar i ask unanimous consent that all members have five days to revise and extend their remarks on the special order. i was just looking outside the nation's capitol wf before i came in to make this presentation and it is raining and it's a downpour. for those of us from california, it's been a long time since we have seen a downpour. the golden state, the seff vent largest combhi in the world is in the th rmp oes of a historic drought and it is a world of hurt in california. we are not complaining about the economy. many parts are moving along. but for everyone in the state of california whether you are near mount shasta or in

ms. jackson lee: dr.ly, thank you so much for the hospitality and graciousness of this great historic institution. might i first of all thank all of the students from all over the city but in particular the great students of texas southern university and the student government association. [cheers and applause] your work and easy and quick enthusiasm made this a very fine day even before we finished. allow me to as well thank those who every day go and stand in a gap as elected officials and public servants. could you please stand at this time. would you please stand. give them a rousing applause. [applause] you know i love children. i chair the congressional children's caucus and you know as i begin to absolute this very fine american -- salute this very fine american, her work on children's issues. i'm so excited for the dynamic presentations that have been made by the wall trip senior high school band. they have been playing the music for you this entire time. [applause] let's hear it for the houston c

ms. jackson lee, for five minutes. ms. jackson lee: i thank the speaker. i'm very pleased this morning to speak about a topic that i really believe there is a strong pathway forward. i have saved often as the ranking member on the crime subcommittee that as we look at the criminal justice system with their myriad of issues that have come to our attention from the american public. asset forfeiture, to a number of issues dealing with police interaction with community this is a significant moment in america's history. we are a nation of law and we pride ourselves with understanding the very words of the declaration of independence that clearly says that we all are created equal with certain unalienable rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. the beginning words of the constitution says that our founding fathers although imperfect in many of the aspects of the constitution based upon rights not given to women, rights not given to african-americans, did say that they formed this government to create a more perfect union. now in 2015 we have an opport

ms. jackson lee: i ask unanimous consent to dress the house for one minute, revise and extend. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. ms. jackson lee: this hour, this minute, this second ace actually a gift to the american people. i thank the proponents of this resolution because it recognizes first and above all that this little document the constitution, albeit small creates mountains of responsibility on behalf of the american people. this moment, this minute, this second we are giving the american people their due and their respect, and that is to acknowledge that there must be a full debate on sending our treasure continuously to iraq and syria. there is no divide between us on the vialness of isis and the terrorist groups and the willingness of american people to be sympathetic and helping the iraqis and syrians and those who are suffering and bleeding. but after 6,000 wounded, hundreds who have been killed, particularly in my state, and thousands more across the nation, that we have to find the pathway where all of us know what we're doing. this is an important resol

ms. jackson lee. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman from texas is recognized for two minutes. ms. jackson lee: i thank the gentleman from florida. let me thank the gentleman for the astute question that you asked which is one that i'd like to follow up on. mr. speaker let me say to the gentleman from georgia, he is quite right there are very serious and important components of the intelligence bill covered by this rule. and as many of us have experienced over the last couple of days, we are in and out of intelligence and security briefings because that is the era which we live. in most instances, members draw their concern from the responsibility they have for protecting the american people. i am on the homeland security committee. and have continued on that committee since the tragedy evenous act of 9/11 and before when the select committee was in place. so i have no karl with some of the important el-- quarrel with some of the important elements of this legislation. the gentleman from georgia should recognize this is an aberration. there are three points i would like to make. fir

ms. jackson lee: i ask unanimous consent to dress the house for one minute, revise and extend. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. ms. jackson lee: this hour, this minute, this second ace actually a gift to the american people. i thank the proponents of this resolution because it recognizes first and above all that this little document the constitution, albeit small creates mountains of responsibility on behalf of the american people. this moment, this minute, this second we are giving the american people their due and their respect, and that is to acknowledge that there must be a full debate on sending our treasure continuously to iraq and syria. there is no divide between us on the vialness of isis and the terrorist groups and the willingness of american people to be sympathetic and helping the iraqis and syrians and those who are suffering and bleeding. but after 6,000 wounded, hundreds who have been killed, particularly in my state, and thousands more across the nation, that we have to find the pathway where all of us know what we're doing. this is an important resol

ms. jackson lee: i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. bjection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. ms. jackson lee: thank you very much mr. speaker. before leaving my district, i had the great excitement of presiding over or introducing a new medical center to the acres home community and to the community of houston, the u.m.c. center. organized by committed and dedicated doctors, this facility is formally the doctor's hospital on tidwell in thes who iric -- historic acres home community. but the real value and significance are two things. one americans need access to good heament care. and with the affordable care act we have been able to sizeably bring down the 25% of texans who were uninsured. we've been able to expand with community health clinics and for those states who have accepted the expanded medicaid which includes ohio under governor kasich, a former member of this body, they have seen, and as well the state of kentucky, they have seen a sizable dent in those who are uninsured. i want to thank those doctors working

ms. jackson lee: i ask unanimous consent to dress the house for one minute, revise and extend. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. ms. jackson lee: this hour, this minute, this second ace actually a gift to the american people. i thank the proponents of this resolution because it recognizes first and above all that this little document the constitution, albeit small creates mountains of responsibility on behalf of the american people. this moment, this minute, this second we are giving the american people their due and their respect, and that is to acknowledge that there must be a full debate on sending our treasure continuously to iraq and syria. there is no divide between us on the vialness of isis and the terrorist groups and the willingness of american people to be sympathetic and helping the iraqis and syrians and those who are suffering and bleeding. but after 6,000 wounded, hundreds who have been killed, particularly in my state, and thousands more across the nation, that we have to find the pathway where all of us know what we're doing. this is an important resol

ms. sheila jackson lee. ms. jackson lee: let me thank the gentlelady from new jersey for her consistent leadership and particularly her friendship her passion for her district and her commitment to policies that will lift all of us together as americans. this is the first time, mr. speaker, that i have had the opportunity to speak on the floor of the house since the moving and horrific tragedy that occurred in charleston, south carolina. to be able to first publicly express my deepest sympathy to the families that now mourn. i think this may be the longest period of time that i have had the chance to speak. my recollection may be that i offered sympathies last week, but to take a moment to explore the heinousness of the acts of the perpetrator, who knocked on a door that was not closed into a sanctuary that did not reject him. walked down some stairs to historic basement that reminds all of us our church basements across the nation, being houses of worship and particularly african-american churches or have sabbat

ms. jackson lee: thank you very much, mr. speaker. over the last couple of hours, we had the opportunity to discuss some important issues that, as they were framed, many americans might not understand. they're called trade issues or trade legislation, to discuss the interactions between the united states and its future world trading partners. no vote here should be maligned. i stand here to emphasize that whatever the ultimate results are, if these bills do not generate into actual jobs for our local districts, then we have all failed. that is the question for this congress and that is the question for those who are working so intently and for those of us who raised the question, whether jobs are created. we will only move forward if we can determine a pathway of a structure that actually addresses the question of documented jobs nonlost jobs or substituting jobs for the american people. trade, yes, it is business. but it is also the business of the american people and the constituents of the 18th congressional district in areas like

i am delighted to be here with my friend, sheila jackson lee, she has been -- \[applause] ms.linton: she's been a tireless champion for the people of the 18th district and the state and the country. i have to say, though, i expected her to tell you the most important news coming out of the congress, and that is, she is finally a member of the grandmothers' club. [applause] and a member of now a little over eight months, it is the best club you'll ever be a member of, sheila. i also have to confess, i was excited about coming here and to talk about an issue that was important to barbara jordan and should be important to all of us, but to do so in front of dr. friedman is a little daunting. i mean, anyone who knows what this man has meant, not just to barbara jordan but to so many who have studied here, who have been in any way affected by his brilliant teaching of elocution and delivery would be a little daunted too. i notice that both dr. rudley and sheila got off before dr. freedman came up. i also want to say my thoughts and prayers are with the families in houston and acros