[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 150 (Wednesday, December 10, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H8940]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   ENSURING GOVERNANCE OF THE NATION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. 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 Nation's 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.

                              {time}  1100

  I am fully aware that the President's 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 
hand-up. 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 40-plus 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.

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