Date: 2014-12-10
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. it is my privilege as well to come to the floor of the House and pay tribute to our outgoing chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Before I do that. however. I believe it is important to say to this body that our charge and responsibility is to ensure the governance of this Nation. As the appropriations omnibus unfolded. I believe the continuing resolution that has been put forward is evidence of the nonresponsibility and the nonthought of those who have the obligation to govern this Nation. I believe it is important to raise the question of where is the objectivity. The continuing resolution is to fund the Nations homeland security. That means that we are saying to those who just lost their lives in Yemen. to the Americans who have been seen being beheaded by ISIL. to Boko Haram. al Shabaab. to al Qaeda. and many other franchise terrorists that America will stand bare and unprepared. that her national security will be in jeopardy. Mr. Speaker. it is crucial that we speak against a continuing resolution that funds homeland security partially. Let me also say that I believe in this great Nation. I believe in the Constitution. and I fully realize that the executive order that was issued by the President dealing with the humanitarian relief and the discretion by agencies. prosecutorial discretion. is within the context of his authority under article II. I am fully aware that the Presidents executive order was well vetted by constitutional specialists. White House counsel. and the Department of Justice. objectively looking as to whether or not the President was making new law. In this executive order on immigration. no immigration status was conferred. no citizenship was conferred. The only thing that was determined in those executive orders is prosecutorial discretion on deporting individuals and deferring deportation. I will tell you. Mr. Speaker. that the response is extreme. Not funding Homeland Security is extreme. I join with Secretary Johnson in standing against this discriminatory practice on an agency that is crucial to the security of airports and ports and the borders and protecting the American people. As I ask for a reconsideration. it allows me to speak of a lady who represents the best of the Constitution. and that is Chairwoman FUDGE. who understood the quality of all and the importance of guiding this caucus. the Congressional Black Caucus. around the issues of justice. Let me thank her for the considerations made during tragedies like Trayvon Martin. as we began with briefings and involvement in that case. and looked to support members of the Congressional Black Caucus who were fighting in their districts to bring about justice. her continued support of Members when the tragedies of Michael Brown and Eric Garner occurred. and many other incidents. her balance. as we all have. respecting and appreciating the service of law enforcement officers. including those whom we oversee on the Judiciary Committee: the DEA. the FBI. the ATF. and many others. but recognizing that the Constitution. as she so understands it. must be a document for all. Let me. particularly. thank Chairwoman FUDGE for her dedicated commitment to the nutrition of children across America. She is almost like Shirley Chisholm. who came to the Agriculture Committee. People wondered what she would do there. But she understood. as a local elected official. that food stamps were not a handout. they were a handup. I thank her for that. And then to lay a marker for the issues of all Members. her understanding of the energy industry. particularly in States like Louisiana and Texas. where she encouraged Members to introduce the energy industry to the Congressional Black Caucus in terms of giving information. That is what we are: we learn. we get information. And then. of course. her commitment to having an international presence. that people would know that the Congressional Black Caucus cares about the international community. That is an important step. As we move forward in 2015. I wish the incoming chair much success. I think it is extremely important that we say thanks where appreciation is due. and I want to say. "Thank you." Many people claim friendship. but I will say to you. Chairwoman FUDGE. you have now gotten 40plus new friends to your portfolio. and we will claim you as a friend because. as we worked together in this last Congress. as we worked with the United States President. President Barack Obama. as we worked with the Senate. as we worked with Federal agencies. as we worked with our community. you became a friend to us.