[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 185 (Tuesday, November 19, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H8963-H8964]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Ohio (Mrs. Beatty) for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent the Third 
Congressional District of Ohio. Unfortunately, my district, the State, 
and the Nation are no stranger to senseless gun violence, lack of 
affordable housing, and quality healthcare.
  I rise today, again, to say enough is enough.
  I rise to mourn the 13,200 men, women, and children who have been 
victims of gun violence this year.
  The time for only thoughts and prayers is over. It is time for 
serious, hard-hitting policy and change. I call on my colleagues to 
support my legislation, H.R. 287, the SAFER Now Act.
  Safer America for Everyone Right Now is comprehensive and pulls 
together the most forward-thinking policies in one package. It would, 
Mr. Speaker, require background checks, prohibit the sale of 
semiautomatic assault weapons, make trafficking in firearms a stand-
alone criminal offense, prohibit the possession of firearms by a person 
who has been convicted of stalking, and bans bump stocks.
  Let's pass this bill and the two gun reform bills already waiting on 
Senate action.
  My first-ever floor speech, when elected to Congress, was on gun 
violence. Since then, I sponsored and helped sponsor and pass 
commonsense gun laws, proudly received an F rating from the NRA, 
participated in the 24-hour gun reform sit-in, marched with Moms Demand 
Action and stood with Students Demand Action for gun reform, and more.
  I am calling on the Governor of Ohio, city mayors, State 
representatives, city council, community leaders, and others to demand 
action to make our communities safer, get guns off the street, train 
and put neighborhood police back in our communities, call upon the 
soon-to-be new police chief of Columbus to first patrol our inner-city 
neighborhoods, know our community, hold police officers accountable, 
and support reducing gun violence--because enough is enough.


                       Lack of Affordable Housing

  Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, lack of affordable housing is an issue.
  The Columbus area is the most expensive region for housing in Ohio. A 
person would have to work a minimum wage of over $18 per hour to afford 
a two-bedroom apartment. We are fighting to only get a $15-per-
hour minimum wage.

  I recently convened an Affordable Housing Summit to discuss this 
critical issue with 36 stakeholders, toured the district, and, in that 
evening, was joined by some 400 constituents to have a community 
conversation, hearing firsthand from them about affordable housing 
issues.
  We know that young people and African Americans are 
disproportionately affected by this housing shortage. Too many young 
people, too many seniors, too many veterans, and too many families are 
facing homelessness.
  Columbus and our suburban areas are continuing to grow. We need to 
ensure that all of our residents can grow and prosper.
  Call to action: I recently passed a bill for FHA first-time home 
buyers to get a reduction on their mortgage insurance for taking a 
financial literacy course. It passed the House. Now let's call on the 
Senate to pass it.
  We must increase the supply of equitable opportunities to access 
affordable housing, call on the banks to design CRA projects with their 
bank-owned houses, raise bond financing, expand abatement housing 
buyouts, increase Federal funding, hire a housing czar in my district, 
and support State housing tax credits.
  I will continue to work with stakeholders to address this affordable 
housing crisis.


                     Affordable Quality Healthcare

  Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, lastly today, I rise for access to 
affordable and quality healthcare for my constituents and all 
Americans: Too many

[[Page H8964]]

constituents do not get the care they need due to skyrocketing costs. 
Too many seniors can't afford their prescriptions, and they are cutting 
their pills in half to stretch their medicine. Too many young people 
cannot afford the insurance premiums to even get access to a doctor.
  At the beginning of this Congress, I met with stakeholders in my 
district to solicit their help. I will continue to support the 
Affordable Care Act and oppose Republicans' attempts to dismantle this 
critical legislation, because if Republicans had their way, nearly 30 
million Americans would lose their healthcare--an unconscionable and 
sobering statistic.
  I am proud to cosponsor H.R. 3, the Lower Drug Costs Now Act.
  Mr. Speaker, I am fighting for the people of the Third Congressional 
District of Ohio.

                          ____________________