[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 132 (Monday, July 27, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H3873-H3878]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





       COMMISSION ON THE SOCIAL STATUS OF BLACK MEN AND BOYS ACT

  Mrs. McBATH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (S. 2163) to establish the Commission on the Social Status of 
Black Men and Boys, to study and make recommendations to address social 
problems affecting Black men and boys, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 2163

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Commission on the Social 
     Status of Black Men and Boys Act''.

     SEC. 2. COMMISSION ESTABLISHMENT AND MEMBERSHIP.

       (a) Establishment.--The Commission on the Social Status of 
     Black Men and Boys (hereinafter in this Act referred to as 
     ``the Commission'') is established within the United States 
     Commission on Civil Rights Office of the Staff Director.
       (b) Membership.--The Commission shall consist of 19 members 
     appointed as follows:
       (1) The Senate majority leader shall appoint one member who 
     is not employed by the Federal Government and is an expert on 
     issues affecting Black men and boys in America.
       (2) The Senate minority leader shall appoint one member who 
     is not employed by the Federal Government and is an expert on 
     issues affecting Black men and boys in America.
       (3) The House of Representatives majority leader shall 
     appoint one member who is not employed by the Federal 
     Government and is an expert on issues affecting Black men and 
     boys in America.
       (4) The House of Representatives minority leader shall 
     appoint one member who is not employed by the Federal 
     Government and is an expert on issues affecting Black men and 
     boys in America.
       (5) The Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus shall be a 
     member of the Commission, as well as 5 additional Members of 
     the Congressional Black Caucus who shall be individuals that 
     either sit on the following committees of relevant 
     jurisdiction or are experts on issues affecting Black men and 
     boys in the United States, including--
       (A) education;
       (B) justice and Civil Rights;
       (C) healthcare;
       (D) labor and employment; and
       (E) housing.
       (6) The Staff Director of the United States Commission on 
     Civil Rights shall appoint one member from within the staff 
     of the United States Commission on Civil Rights who is an 
     expert in issues relating to Black men and boys.
       (7) The Chair of the United States Equal Employment 
     Opportunity Commission shall appoint one member from within 
     the staff of the United States Equal Employment Opportunity 
     Commission who is an expert in equal employment issues 
     impacting Black men.
       (8) The Secretary of Education shall appoint one member 
     from within the Department of Education who is an expert in 
     urban education.
       (9) The Attorney General shall appoint one member from 
     within the Department of Justice who is an expert in racial 
     disparities within the criminal justice system.
       (10) The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall 
     appoint one member from within the Department of Health and 
     Human Services who is an expert in health issues facing Black 
     men.
       (11) The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall 
     appoint one member from within the Department of Housing and 
     Urban Development who is an expert in housing and development 
     in urban communities.
       (12) The Secretary of Labor shall appoint one member from 
     within the Department of Labor who is an expert in labor 
     issues impacting Black men.
       (13) The President of the United States shall appoint 2 
     members who are not employed by the Federal Government and 
     are experts on issues affecting Black men and boys in 
     America.
       (c) Membership by Political Party.--If after the Commission 
     is appointed there is a partisan imbalance of Commission 
     members, the congressional leaders of the political party 
     with fewer members on the Commission shall jointly name 
     additional members to create partisan parity on the 
     Commission.

     SEC. 3. OTHER MATTERS RELATING TO APPOINTMENT; REMOVAL.

       (a) Timing of Initial Appointments.--Each initial 
     appointment to the Commission shall be made no later than 90 
     days after the Commission is established. If any appointing 
     authorities fail to appoint a member to the Commission, their 
     appointment shall be made by the Staff Director of the 
     Commission on Civil Rights.
       (b) Terms.--Except as otherwise provided in this section, 
     the term of a member of the Commission shall be 4 years. For 
     the purpose of providing staggered terms, the first term of 
     those members initially appointed under paragraphs (1) 
     through (5) of section 2 shall be appointed to 2-year terms 
     with all other terms lasting 4 years. Members are eligible 
     for consecutive reappointment.
       (c) Removal.--A member of the Commission may be removed 
     from the Commission at any time by the appointing authority 
     should the member fail to meet Commission responsibilities. 
     Once the seat becomes vacant, the appointing authority is 
     responsible for filling the vacancy in the Commission before 
     the next meeting.
       (d) Vacancies.--The appointing authority of a member of the 
     Commission shall either reappoint that member at the end of 
     that member's term or appoint another person meeting the 
     qualifications for that appointment. In the event of a 
     vacancy arising during a term, the appointing authority 
     shall, before the next meeting of the Commission, appoint a 
     replacement to finish that term.

     SEC. 4. LEADERSHIP ELECTION.

       At the first meeting of the Commission each year, the 
     members shall elect a Chair and a Secretary. A vacancy in the 
     Chair or Secretary shall be filled by vote of the remaining 
     members. The Chair and Secretary are eligible for consecutive 
     reappointment.

     SEC. 5. COMMISSION DUTIES AND POWERS.

       (a) Study.--
       (1) In general.--The Commission shall conduct a systematic 
     study of the conditions affecting Black men and boys, 
     including homicide rates, arrest and incarceration rates, 
     poverty, violence, fatherhood, mentorship, drug abuse, death 
     rates, disparate income and wealth levels, school performance 
     in all grade levels including postsecondary education and 
     college, and health issues.
       (2) Trends.--The Commission shall document trends regarding 
     the topics described in paragraph (1) and report on the 
     community impacts of relevant government programs within the 
     scope of such topics.
       (b) Proposal of Measures.--The Commission shall propose 
     measures to alleviate and remedy the underlying causes of the 
     conditions described in subsection (a), which may include 
     recommendations of changes to the law, recommendations for 
     how to implement related policies, and recommendations for 
     how to create, develop, or improve upon government programs.
       (c) Suggestions and Comments.--The Commission shall accept 
     suggestions or comments pertinent to the applicable issues 
     from members of Congress, governmental agencies, public and 
     private organizations, and private citizens.
       (d) Staff and Administrative Support.--The Office of the 
     Staff Director of the United States Commission on Civil 
     Rights shall provide staff and administrative support to the 
     Commission. All entities of the United States Government 
     shall provide information that is otherwise a public record 
     at the request of the Commission.

     SEC. 6. COMMISSION MEETING REQUIREMENTS.

       (a) First Meeting.--The first meeting of the Commission 
     shall take place no later than 30 days after the initial 
     members are all appointed. Meetings shall be focused on 
     significant issues impacting Black men and boys, for the 
     purpose of initiating research ideas and delegating research 
     tasks to Commission members to initiate the first annual 
     report described in section 7.
       (b) Quarterly Meetings.--The Commission shall meet 
     quarterly. In addition to all quarterly meetings, the 
     Commission shall meet at other times at the call of the Chair 
     or as determined by a majority of Commission members.
       (c) Quorum; Rule for Voting on Final Actions.--A majority 
     of the members of the Commission constitute a quorum, and an 
     affirmative vote of a majority of the members present is 
     required for final action.
       (d) Expectations for Attendance by Members.--Members are 
     expected to attend all Commission meetings. In the case of an 
     absence, members are expected to report to the Chair prior to 
     the meeting and allowance may be made for an absent member to 
     participate remotely. Members will still be responsible for 
     fulfilling prior commitments, regardless of attendance 
     status. If a member is absent twice in a given year, he or 
     she will be reviewed by the Chair and appointing authority 
     and further action will be considered, including removal and 
     replacement on the Commission.
       (e) Minutes.--Minutes shall be taken at each meeting by the 
     Secretary, or in that individual's absence, the Chair shall 
     select another Commission member to take minutes during that 
     absence. The Commission shall make its minutes publicly 
     available and accessible not later than one week after each 
     meeting.

     SEC. 7. ANNUAL REPORT GUIDELINES.

       The Commission shall make an annual report, beginning the 
     year of the first Commission meeting. The report shall 
     address the current conditions affecting Black men and boys 
     and make recommendations to address these issues. The report 
     shall be submitted to the President, the Congress, members of 
     the President's Cabinet, and the chairs of the appropriate 
     committees of jurisdiction. The Commission shall make the 
     report publicly available online on a centralized Federal 
     website.

     SEC. 8. COMMISSION COMPENSATION.

       Members of the Commission shall serve on the Commission 
     without compensation.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Brown of Maryland). Pursuant to the 
rule, the gentlewoman from Georgia (Mrs. McBath) and the gentleman from 
North Dakota (Mr. Armstrong) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Georgia.

[[Page H3874]]

  



                             General Leave

  Mrs. McBATH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Georgia?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. McBATH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, today, we remember the life and legacy of Congressman 
John Lewis. We mourn his passing, but we celebrate his incalculable 
contributions to our country. The world is truly a better place because 
John dedicated his life to make it so.
  I rise in front of this Chamber as we vote to create the commission 
on the social status of Black men and boys. This commission is only 
possible because of the barriers broken by Black men like John Lewis. 
It is only possible because of the tireless efforts of Black women like 
Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, who has led the introduction of this 
bill.
  The world has changed for Black men and boys in this country since 
John Lewis was beaten and bloodied on a bridge in Selma, Alabama. We 
have come a long way, but it is no secret that Black men and boys 
continue to face unjust hurdles in America. The commission will search 
for ways to address these inequities, from education to unemployment, 
housing to healthcare, justice to civil rights.
  As John once said: We have a moral obligation, a mission, and a 
mandate to do what we can to make our country and our world a better 
place and to help usher in a loving community where no one is left out 
or left behind.
  I believe this commission will help us do just that. I believe that 
it will help us create a better future for our children and for our 
grandchildren because while we have come so far, we still have a long 
way to go.
  I know that you can do everything right as a parent and still see 
your child, a young Black man, taken away from you for reasons that are 
far out of your control.
  When I got pregnant with my son, Jordan, he was a miracle for me. I 
wasn't sure I was ever going to be able to have children. I dreamed of 
who Jordan would become. I dreamed of watching him walk across the 
stage at his high school graduation, full of love and full of hope for 
the future.
  But almost 8 years ago, Jordan was sitting in the back seat of a car 
with his friends at a gas station. A man pulled up, parked next to 
them, and complained about the loud music that they were playing. He 
pulled out a gun, and he fired 10 shots into the car, hitting Jordan 
three times, killing my only son. And then, he simply drove away.
  I believed I had done everything right, but at the end of the day, 
Jordan was a young Black man. And I felt that injustice.
  So while I look back at the life and legacy of John Lewis, and I 
remark how far we truly have come, I must also look toward a future 
without my son, and I see how far we still have to go.
  As we vote today to create the commission on the social status of 
Black men and boys, I hope we can go forward in strength and in hope 
because there is always hope. It is what brings us together.
  We can work toward a future that we all believe in, and I am proud to 
take the next step on that journey today. I urge my colleagues to stand 
with me in supporting this bipartisan bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1100

  Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2163, the Commission on the 
Social Status of Black Men and Boys Act.
  I want to thank Senator Rubio for his leadership on this bill in the 
Senate and Representative Wilson for her leadership in the House. I 
want to say a special thanks to my friend, Congresswoman McBath, for 
utilizing such a personal and tragic story toward a positive outcome. 
It is great to be here with the gentlewoman this morning.
  This bill establishes a commission within the U.S. Commission on 
Civil Rights dedicated to studying conditions and disparities that both 
Black men and boys face. The commission will study issues such as 
arrest and incarceration rates, poverty, homicide, school performance, 
disparate income levels, and health issues.
  Congressional leadership, the President, and the executive agencies 
will appoint at least 19 members to serve on this bipartisan 
commission. Those members are charged with developing policy 
recommendations, documenting trends, and issuing an annual report aimed 
at reducing the adversity confronting Black men and boys across this 
Nation. These reports and recommendations will assist Congress and the 
rest of the Federal Government in creating policies to address these 
issues. The bill mandates political parity among the members of the 
commission in an effort to reduce the potential for political 
partisanship and bias.
  Our founding document, the Declaration of Independence, declares that 
all men are created equal, and the eastern facade of the Supreme Court 
pronounces equal justice under the law. However, we all know inequality 
still exists. As a defense attorney, I saw how sentencing disparities 
on drug crimes, minimum mandatory sentencing, school zone sentencing 
enhancements, and pretrial release policies often had disparate racial 
impacts.
  By creating a bipartisan commission to study inequality in government 
programs, we take the necessary steps to identify and address 
disparities for Black American men and boys. This bill will help ensure 
that we make meaningful progress in creating a more free and equal 
country.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this bill, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. McBATH. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague, Mr. 
Armstrong, for such passionate and committed words toward truly making 
sure that we have a just and fair society for everyone.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. 
Jackson Lee), who is my good friend.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her 
leadership, and I particularly rise today to thank all of my colleagues 
who joined in this historic moment with Congresswoman Frederica Wilson. 
Let it be known how hard and consistently she worked and with much 
perseverance and determination. We give her tribute today. We thank 
Senator Rubio for joining and helping with the Senate, because it is a 
bipartisan bill. We, likewise, acknowledge the Commission on the Social 
Status of Black Men and Boys. We acknowledge these words that she said 
to me this morning: It will help save lives.
  That is why we stand on the floor today, because we recognize that 
systemic racism exists and the encounters of our young boys with people 
who determine that they are not human or equal wind up in the great 
loss of life or their encounter with each other. So I am delighted that 
members of the Judiciary Committee, members of the Education and Labor 
Committee, and other committees focus on how we can do well.
  This Scripture reminds me of where we are today: `` . . . this is the 
kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten 
the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and 
remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, 
and give shelter to the homeless.''
  This is a time where we are doing what we need to do for Black boys 
and men. This is a time when we stand up and be counted to end systemic 
racism as it impacts them and this Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask support for this outstanding and historic 
legislation.
  Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. McBATH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished 
gentleman from New York (Mr Jeffries).
  Mr. JEFFRIES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this 
legislation which will create a long-overdue Commission on the Social 
Status of Black Men and Boys.
  We have come a long way in America, but we still have a long way to 
go. Slavery was not a necessary evil. It was a crime against humanity 
anchored in kidnap, rape, torture, lynching, and the systemic 
oppression and

[[Page H3875]]

enslavement of people of African descent century after century after 
century. We are still living with its legacy today.
  Frederick Douglass once said: ``It is easier to build strong children 
than it is to repair broken men.'' So it is my hope that this 
commission can begin the real process of repairing broken boys, broken 
men, broken families, and broken communities as a result of the 
systemic racism that has been in the soil of America for 401 years.
  I thank the distinguished gentlewoman from Florida, Frederica Wilson, 
for her tremendous leadership.
  Vote ``yes.''
  Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee and 
a cosponsor of the House companion to this bill, I rise in strong 
support of S. 2163 ``The Commission on the Social Status of Black Men 
and Boys Act of 2019'', which establishes a bipartisan commission that 
will examine the social disparities that disproportionately affect 
black men and boys in America.
  I want to thank my friend and colleague, Frederica Wilson, for 
introducing this crucial piece of legislation.
  As we have seen time and time again, the reality of being Black in 
America today is characterized by facing insurmountable and unjust 
challenges in every aspect of day-to-day life as well as living in 
constant fear for your life.
  From Trayvon Martin to Tamir Rice to Ahmaud Arbery to George Floyd, 
our Black brothers are targeted and murdered for the color of their 
skin.
  We are all too familiar with the overwhelming hardships and 
significant societal disparities that face Black men every day in 
education, criminal justice, health, employment, and so many other 
areas.
  The low rate of high school retention among black male students is 
directly related to the high rates of joblessness and incarceration in 
the African-American population.
  It's no secret that mass incarceration has unfairly and 
disproportionately affected the lives of Black men in the United 
States.
  African Americans are incarcerated at more than 5 times the rate of 
their white counterparts.
  And 1 out of every 3 Black boys born today can expect to be sentenced 
to prison, compared 1 out 6 Latino boys; one out of 17 white boys.
  These barriers to quality employment further exacerbate the cycles of 
poverty that in turn lead to severe inequities in the areas of health 
and quality health care.
  We must find ways to disrupt and end this cycle and instead empower 
and uplift the Black community.
  With this in mind, this bill enables our nation to better understand 
and eventually eliminate the educational and social chasms that have 
made it extraordinarily difficult for black males to become upwardly 
mobile.
  This bipartian commission will recommend actionable policies and 
practices to improve upon or augment current government programs to 
alleviate and remedy the underlying causes of the adverse social 
conditions that are a reality for too many black men and boys.
  I ask all members to join me in voting for S. 2163, ``The Commission 
on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys Act of 2019.''
  Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline).
  Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by acknowledging the extraordinary 
leadership of Frederica Wilson, who has spent her entire life dedicated 
to the well-being of young Black men and boys and has decades and 
decades of incredible support of young people in her community. This 
commission is a reflection of that commitment.
  Merely because of the color of their skin, Black men and boys are 
criminalized, separated from their families and communities, and 
targeted for police violence at alarmingly high rates. Black men are 
250 percent more likely to be killed by police than White men. That 
fact is a stain on the soul of this country.
  But America's sins extend far beyond the deadly disparities in 
policing. Racism touches nearly every aspect of our lives, oftentimes 
in the most insidious and subtle of ways, yet still in plain view in 
the areas of healthcare, education, and economic opportunities.
  We must address the sins of America's past that have revealed 
themselves in the inequalities of America's present. The Commission on 
the Social Status of Black Men and Boys moves us one step closer to 
building a more perfect Union where all Americans, regardless of race, 
have an equal opportunity, not just to get by, but to get ahead.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his courtesy, and I strongly 
urge my colleagues to support this excellent bill.
  Mrs. McBATH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Lee), who is our great fighter for justice.
  Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, first, let me thank the 
gentlewoman for yielding and for sharing her story about her beautiful 
son, Jordan, and using her tragedy to ensure not only the survival, but 
the thriving, for African-American boys and men.
  Also, to Congresswoman Wilson, I have to thank Frederica for her 
extraordinary leadership and determination to ensure that the 
disparities affecting our Black men and boys are finally being heard 
and addressed within our Federal Government.
  While serving in the California Legislature, I initiated and chaired 
the California Commission on the Status of African-American Males. 
Those findings sparked a difficult but necessary discussion in our 
State, which is still relevant today, and were implemented as 
legislation and funding priorities.
  This commission at the national level is long overdue. All too often, 
Black men and boys face structural challenges that threaten their 
chance at a good education, harm their health, and limit their 
employment potential. Additionally, the low rate of high school 
retention among Black male students is directly related to the high 
rates of joblessness and incarceration in the African-American 
population.
  In this moment, the horrors of systemic racism are front and center, 
and the manifestations are before us each and every day.
  This commission brings hope. It will transform the lives of young 
Black men from infancy to adulthood and will begin to remove so many of 
the barriers that have led to shattered lives and hopelessness. It is 
about hope.
  Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. McBATH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
Massachusetts (Ms. Pressley), who is an extraordinary warrior for 
justice in America.
  Ms. PRESSLEY. Mr. Speaker, today I rise on behalf of every Black man 
and Black boy who has been dehumanized, surveilled, and targeted by the 
policies drafted and debated within the walls of this very institution 
and institutions of power throughout our Nation.
  I rise today to offer my unwavering support and to thank 
Congresswoman Wilson for laboring in love to see the Commission on the 
Social Status of Black Men and Boys Act become a reality. It is long-
overdue legislation that will push our Nation one step closer to 
grappling with the systemic racism and structural barriers that have 
robbed us of the lives of our Black husbands, our Black brothers, and 
our Black sons.
  Passage of this bill today is a testament to the longstanding calls 
and efforts in communities, including in my own Boston. When I was on 
the Boston City Council in 2014, we attempted to establish a commission 
like this, and that effort was vetoed. So it feels so good to see this 
happening on the Federal level.
  The passage of this bill today is a testament to the longstanding 
calls and efforts throughout our Nation to examine and combat the 
systemic inequities and disparities impacting Black boys and men from 
education and employment to health and to housing and to incarceration.
  With this bill's passage today, we declare on the floor of the House 
of Representatives, the people's House, that we are our brother's 
keeper, that Black lives matter, that Black men matter, and that our 
Black boys matter.
  Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. McBATH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer), who is my good friend and comrade.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentlewoman's courtesy 
and her courage, and I welcome this commission's coming forward. It is 
part of a dynamic that is playing out across American cities. In my 
community, the cries for racial justice and the recognition of the 
challenges that have been faced by Black men and boys in this 
commission is a step in that direction.

[[Page H3876]]

  But I would say this Congress can take another step. We have the MORE 
Act which would legalize cannabis. The selective enforcement of the 
prohibition of marijuana against Black men and boys has been a tragedy. 
It has ruined hundreds of thousands of lives.
  This Congress can take action. The bill has already passed out of our 
Judiciary Committee with a bipartisan majority. We ought to include 
that in our next package and start to right the wrongs and pry away the 
cold hand of Richard Nixon's misguided war on drugs that has had such a 
vicious impact on Black men and women.
  We ought to start with that now.
  Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  We also have the STATES Act, which enjoys a huge bipartisan 
cosponsorship among members of the Judiciary Committee.
  I think it is unfortunate that sometimes we choose partisanship and 
gamesmanship over passing what I think is one of the most criminal 
justice reform-minded and drug reform-minded Congresses that has ever 
set foot in Washington, D.C., and there is a bill that actually would 
have the potential to possibly become law.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. McBATH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), who is a good friend and a committed 
Member from the Sunshine State of Florida.
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this 
important legislation authored by my friend and colleague, 
Congresswoman Wilson.
  Since serving on Miami-Dade's School Board and seeing too many young 
Black men drop out of school with lifelong repercussions, Congresswoman 
Wilson has worked tirelessly to intervene. She single-handedly began 
the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project, a highly successful 
mentorship and leadership program that continues to transform countless 
young Black men's lives.
  In the wake of George Floyd's murder, millions of voices have 
demanded justice and a dismantling of the oppressive systems that 
harmed Black men for generations.
  In America, Black children are three times more likely to be born in 
poverty than White children. School districts where the majority of 
those enrolled are students of color receive billions less than mostly 
White districts, while disciplinary policies in classes 
disproportionately impact Black students.
  After school, Black male unemployment is consistently almost double 
that of their White counterparts. Black men represent 12 percent of the 
population but approximately 33 percent of the prison population.
  This legislation makes righting these wrongs a priority by creating 
this national commission to recommend major changes to policy to 
dramatically improve the lives of Black men and boys.
  Congresswoman Frederica Wilson has made this her life's work. She has 
literally carried thousands of young men on her shoulders to success.
  As we honor the legacy of John Lewis, there is no more appropriate 
tribute than to pass this bill and continue the long march toward 
racial equality.

                              {time}  1115

  Mrs. McBATH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Meeks), a stalwart for justice and hope.
  Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I first thank Congresswoman Wilson, and, of 
course, Congresswoman McBath.
  Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today to speak on the creation of a 
Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys at the U.S. Civil 
Rights Commission. Racial inequality in this country remains stark and 
stubborn. Black men are 40 percent more likely to be unemployed today 
than White men; twice as likely not to own the home they live in; 2\1/
2\ times as likely to be killed by police officers; and 5 times as 
likely to be locked behind bars.
  Mr. Speaker, we cannot ignore these problems. We can't waive away 
what is right before our eyes. Racial inequality in this country must 
be confronted. The time has come to address this most painful of 
issues. Indeed, the time has long past, but justice delayed is better 
than no justice at all.
  ``To those who have said, `Be patient and wait,' we have long said 
that we cannot be patient. We do not want our freedom gradually; but we 
want to be free now. We are tired. We are tired of being beaten by 
policemen. We are tired of seeing our people locked up in jail over and 
over again. And then you holler, `Be patient.' How long can we be 
patient? We want our freedom, and we want it now.''
  These are the words of John Robert Lewis at the March on Washington 
in 1963, and we need to heed them today.
  Mrs. McBATH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Judy Chu), who is a good friend and colleague fighting 
on behalf of communities of color.
  Ms. JUDY CHU of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong 
support of Senate 2163, a bill to address the root causes of inequality 
for Black men and boys in America.
  Mr. Speaker, today, as the civil rights icon, John Lewis, is laying 
in state just a few feet in the Capitol rotunda, I am so moved to know 
that the banner of equality, which he waved his whole life is being 
picked up by the next generation.
  As chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I have 
seen Americans of all backgrounds and ethnicities united in filling the 
streets to demand reforms to a criminal justice system that does not 
value Black lives and to an economy that does not give Black boys an 
equal chance of success.
  The people have had enough with the systemic inequalities that have 
persisted since our founding. But we cannot fix them unless we 
understand them. That is what this commission will do by looking at the 
obstacles and policy and culture that keep Black youth from having the 
same opportunities that Whites do. We must listen to the demands of a 
country that is saying ``no'' to racial inequality.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''
  Mrs. McBATH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Danny K. Davis), the gentleman from my original home 
State.
  Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman 
from Georgia for giving me the opportunity to speak on this important 
bill.
  As a matter of fact, Representative Frederica Wilson has made this 
her life's work. As a matter of fact, I am wearing her 5000 Role Model 
tie, where for many years she established one of the most effective 
programs in public education with the Dade Miami school board, where 
5,000 young males are taught and trained.
  Mr. Speaker, we have had many efforts. Eleanor Holmes Norton and I 
created the Caucus on Black Men and Boys. We have been all over the 
country with conferences. And I remind us that what we say is one 
thing, but what we do is something else.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope that we take into consideration all of the things 
that we know that has caused the disparities among African American 
males and do something that is going to really make a difference. Put 
them into action.
  Mrs. McBATH. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time is remaining?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from Georgia has 6\1/2\ 
minutes remaining. The gentleman from North Dakota has 16\1/2\ minutes 
remaining.
  Mrs. McBATH. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the gentlewoman from Florida 
(Ms. Wilson), I read into the Record a statement.

       Mr. Speaker, the Commission on the Social Status of Black 
     Men and Boys is a bill that is long overdue. The Commission 
     will review police brutality, gun violence, fatherhood, 
     recruiting and training Black male teachers, and even 
     speakers, which play an important role in the lives of Black 
     boys. Welfare reform and the 1994 crime bill--which includes 
     the controversial ``Three Strikes'' provision and harsh 
     sentencing guidelines--will also be revisited. These Federal 
     policies left a devastating impact on Black men and boys in 
     America.
       The underlying goal of the commission is to interrupt the 
     school-to-prison pipeline and to better understand and, 
     eventually, eliminate the educational and social chasms that 
     have made it extraordinarily difficult for Black males to 
     become upwardly mobile.
       Perhaps, the most dangerous issue facing Black boys in our 
     country is racism itself. Too often, they are perceived as 
     criminals by

[[Page H3877]]

     the time they reach the age of 5. They are labeled 
     delinquent, not rowdy. They are hardened criminals, not 
     misguided youth. Their very existence is often seen as a 
     threat. It is a tragic reality that Black males in America 
     are treated as their own class of citizens.
       We see this treatment reflected in social outcomes in such 
     areas as education, criminal justice, healthcare, and 
     employment. The numbers are staggering. More than 1 out of 
     every 6 Black men, who, today, should be between the ages of 
     20 and 54 years old have disappeared from our daily lives. 
     Low rates of high school retention among Black male students 
     directly relates to the high rates of joblessness and 
     incarceration.
       More than two-thirds of Black male dropouts end up serving 
     time in State or Federal prison, and while Black males 
     overall make up roughly 13 percent of the United States 
     population, they represent nearly 40 percent of all men 
     serving time in State and Federal prisons.
       Mr. Speaker, I am confident that the Commission on the 
     Social Status of Black Men and Boys will change the world for 
     so many people and create the paths to success that they have 
     been denied for generations, and, ultimately, close societal, 
     economic, and cultural divides.
       Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues.

  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ARMSTRONG. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I am not an 
expert on all of these issues, but I do know quite a bit about criminal 
justice. It is important to recognize that a lot of things we are 
talking about in these bills are delivered at the local level, whether 
it is criminal justice, whether it is education, whether it is any of 
those types of things.
  This isn't about percentages and data points. This is about 
communities, and this is about people. But at no time in history have 
we been better able to collect information in a more usable way. When I 
served in the State senate in North Dakota, I was the chair of what we 
call our Justice Reinvestment Committee. And what we found out very 
shortly was that our data was all over the place. In order to make 
smart, effectuating change and provide localities and States and 
communities with the proper information so they can target where they 
can really do the most good--oftentimes on strained budgets and just 
different areas--it is important that studies like this come out 
because there are things we can do in Congress.
  To be quite frank, we are behind the game. Conservative and liberal 
States all across the country have started on this, and they started 
before us--States like North Dakota, States like Colorado, States like 
Mississippi. It is our job to get in the game. It is our job to provide 
them with the information we can. And, yes, we will make reforms here, 
but we will also give them the tools and the data so they can really 
take a deep dive into their own communities and figure out where they 
can best serve their constituents and where they can start getting rid 
of these institutional racial disparities that exist, whether it be in 
the criminal justice system, whether it be in education, whether it be 
in healthcare.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. McBATH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member, Mr. Armstrong, and my 
colleagues on the other side of the aisle for supporting our need to 
really make systemic change in the country.
  I also thank Congresswoman Wilson. If it had not been for her 
legislation, I wouldn't be standing before you today.
  Congressman Richmond and also Congressman Jeffries, Senator Rubio, 
Senator Harris, and Senator Booker; it has been an honor to work with 
each of them in bringing this bipartisan legislation to a vote.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for their support for this very, 
very critical bill, and I look forward to the important work that this 
commission will accomplish on behalf of all Black men and boys and on 
behalf of my son, Jordan. I am so grateful to this body for finding 
this so critically important, so that no one will ever have to feel the 
pain of losing their Black child, their Black male son to the 
disparities and inequities that face communities of color each and 
every single day. I thank every one of my colleagues. I thank the 
thousands and thousands of parents that I have spoken to over the 
years, and all of the survivors of the families who have lost their 
loved ones. I thank them for finding this important. I thank them for 
standing up and finding this timely in a world that doesn't always see 
young Black males as human.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Georgia (Mrs. McBath) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, S. 2163.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mrs. McBATH. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3 of House Resolution 
965, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 368, 
nays 1, not voting 61, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 167]

                               YEAS--368

     Adams
     Aderholt
     Aguilar
     Allen
     Allred
     Amash
     Amodei
     Armstrong
     Arrington
     Axne
     Bacon
     Baird
     Balderson
     Banks
     Barragan
     Bass
     Beatty
     Bera
     Beyer
     Biggs
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (GA)
     Blumenauer
     Blunt Rochester
     Bonamici
     Bost
     Boyle, Brendan F.
     Brindisi
     Brooks (IN)
     Brown (MD)
     Brownley (CA)
     Buchanan
     Buck
     Budd
     Burchett
     Burgess
     Butterfield
     Calvert
     Carbajal
     Cardenas
     Carter (GA)
     Carter (TX)
     Cartwright
     Case
     Casten (IL)
     Castor (FL)
     Castro (TX)
     Chabot
     Cheney
     Chu, Judy
     Cicilline
     Cisneros
     Clark (MA)
     Clarke (NY)
     Clay
     Cleaver
     Cline
     Cloud
     Clyburn
     Cohen
     Cole
     Comer
     Conaway
     Connolly
     Cook
     Cooper
     Correa
     Costa
     Courtney
     Cox (CA)
     Craig
     Crawford
     Crenshaw
     Crist
     Crow
     Cuellar
     Cunningham
     Davids (KS)
     Davidson (OH)
     Davis (CA)
     Davis, Danny K.
     Davis, Rodney
     Dean
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     DeLauro
     DelBene
     Delgado
     Demings
     DeSaulnier
     Deutch
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Doyle, Michael F.
     Duncan
     Dunn
     Emmer
     Engel
     Escobar
     Eshoo
     Espaillat
     Estes
     Evans
     Ferguson
     Finkenauer
     Fitzpatrick
     Fleischmann
     Fletcher
     Foster
     Foxx (NC)
     Frankel
     Fudge
     Gabbard
     Gaetz
     Gallagher
     Gallego
     Garamendi
     Garcia (CA)
     Garcia (IL)
     Garcia (TX)
     Gianforte
     Gibbs
     Gohmert
     Golden
     Gomez
     Gonzalez (OH)
     Gonzalez (TX)
     Gooden
     Gottheimer
     Granger
     Graves (LA)
     Green (TN)
     Green, Al (TX)
     Grijalva
     Grothman
     Guest
     Guthrie
     Haaland
     Harder (CA)
     Harris
     Hartzler
     Hastings
     Hayes
     Heck
     Hern, Kevin
     Herrera Beutler
     Hice (GA)
     Higgins (NY)
     Hill (AR)
     Himes
     Holding
     Horn, Kendra S.
     Horsford
     Houlahan
     Hoyer
     Huffman
     Hurd (TX)
     Jackson Lee
     Jacobs
     Jayapal
     Jeffries
     Johnson (GA)
     Johnson (LA)
     Johnson (TX)
     Jordan
     Joyce (OH)
     Joyce (PA)
     Kaptur
     Katko
     Keating
     Keller
     Kelly (IL)
     Kelly (MS)
     Kelly (PA)
     Kennedy
     Khanna
     Kildee
     Kilmer
     Kim
     Kind
     Kirkpatrick
     Krishnamoorthi
     Kuster (NH)
     Kustoff (TN)
     LaMalfa
     Lamb
     Lamborn
     Langevin
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Latta
     Lawrence
     Lawson (FL)
     Lee (CA)
     Lee (NV)
     Lesko
     Levin (CA)
     Levin (MI)
     Lieu, Ted
     Lipinski
     Loebsack
     Lofgren
     Long
     Lowenthal
     Lowey
     Lucas
     Lujan
     Luria
     Lynch
     Malinowski
     Maloney, Carolyn B.
     Maloney, Sean
     Marshall
     Mast
     Matsui
     McAdams
     McBath
     McCarthy
     McCaul
     McCollum
     McEachin
     McGovern
     McHenry
     McKinley
     McNerney
     Meeks
     Meng
     Meuser
     Mfume
     Miller
     Moolenaar
     Moore
     Morelle
     Moulton
     Mucarsel-Powell
     Murphy (FL)
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal
     Norcross
     Norman
     Nunes
     O'Halleran
     Ocasio-Cortez
     Omar
     Pallone
     Palmer
     Panetta
     Pappas
     Pascrell
     Payne
     Pence
     Perlmutter
     Perry
     Peters
     Peterson
     Phillips
     Pingree
     Pocan
     Porter
     Posey
     Pressley
     Price (NC)
     Quigley
     Raskin
     Reed
     Reschenthaler
     Rice (NY)
     Rice (SC)
     Richmond
     Riggleman
     Roby
     Rodgers (WA)
     Rogers (AL)
     Rose (NY)
     Rose, John W.
     Rouda
     Roy
     Roybal-Allard
     Ruiz
     Ruppersberger
     Rush
     Rutherford
     Ryan
     Sanchez
     Sarbanes
     Scalise
     Scanlon
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schneider
     Schrader
     Schrier
     Schweikert
     Scott (VA)
     Scott, Austin
     Scott, David
     Sensenbrenner
     Serrano
     Sewell (AL)
     Shalala
     Sherman
     Sherrill
     Simpson
     Sires
     Slotkin
     Smith (NE)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (WA)
     Smucker
     Soto
     Spanberger
     Spano
     Speier
     Stanton
     Stefanik
     Steil
     Stevens
     Stivers
     Suozzi
     Swalwell (CA)
     Takano
     Taylor
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Thompson (PA)
     Thornberry
     Tipton
     Titus
     Tlaib

[[Page H3878]]


     Tonko
     Torres (CA)
     Torres Small (NM)
     Trahan
     Trone
     Turner
     Underwood
     Upton
     Van Drew
     Vargas
     Veasey
     Vela
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Walberg
     Walden
     Walorski
     Waltz
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters
     Watkins
     Watson Coleman
     Weber (TX)
     Welch
     Wenstrup
     Westerman
     Wexton
     Wild
     Williams
     Wilson (FL)
     Wittman
     Womack
     Woodall
     Wright
     Yarmuth
     Yoho
     Young
     Zeldin
       

                                NAYS--1

       
     Brooks (AL)
       

                             NOT VOTING--61

     Abraham
     Babin
     Barr
     Bergman
     Bishop (NC)
     Bishop (UT)
     Brady
     Bucshon
     Bustos
     Byrne
     Carson (IN)
     Collins (GA)
     Curtis
     DesJarlais
     Diaz-Balart
     Flores
     Fortenberry
     Fulcher
     Gosar
     Graves (GA)
     Graves (MO)
     Griffith
     Hagedorn
     Higgins (LA)
     Hollingsworth
     Hudson
     Huizenga
     Johnson (OH)
     Johnson (SD)
     King (IA)
     King (NY)
     Kinzinger
     LaHood
     Loudermilk
     Luetkemeyer
     Marchant
     Massie
     McClintock
     Mitchell
     Mooney (WV)
     Mullin
     Murphy (NC)
     Neguse
     Newhouse
     Olson
     Palazzo
     Roe, David P.
     Rogers (KY)
     Rooney (FL)
     Rouzer
     Shimkus
     Smith (MO)
     Stauber
     Steube
     Stewart
     Tiffany
     Timmons
     Wagner
     Walker
     Webster (FL)
     Wilson (SC)

                              {time}  1230

  Messrs. CUELLAR and YOHO changed their vote from ``nay'' to ``yea.''
  So (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and 
the bill was passed.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
  Stated for:
  Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Vote No. 167, I am not recorded 
because I was not present in the House. Had I been present, I would 
have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 167.
  Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Vote No. 167, I was 
unavoidably detained and unable to cast my vote. Had I been present, I 
would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall Vote No. 167.
  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 167, I am not recorded. 
Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 167.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I am unable to attend today's vote series 
due to events in my district. Had I been present, I would have voted 
``yea'' on rollcall No. 167.
  Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to be present for a 
recorded vote on S. 2163, the Commission on the Social Status of Black 
Men and Boys Act. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on 
rollcall No. 167.


   MEMBERS RECORDED PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 965, 116TH CONGRESS

     Boyle, Brendan F. (Lamb)
     Castro (TX) (Escobar)
     Cleaver (Davids (KS))
     DeSaulnier (Matsui)
     Deutch (Rice (NY))
     Doyle, Michael F. (Cartwright)
     Frankel (Clark (MA))
     Garamendi (Sherman)
     Hastings (Wasserman Schultz)
     Higgins (NY) (Sanchez)
     Johnson (TX) (Jeffries)
     Kelly (IL) (Raskin)
     Khanna (Sherman)
     Kind (Beyer)
     Kirkpatrick (Gallego)
     Kuster (NH) (Brownley (CA))
     Langevin (Lynch)
     Lawson (FL) (Evans)
     Lieu, Ted (Beyer)
     Lipinski (Cooper)
     Lofgren (Jeffries)
     Lowenthal (Beyer)
     Lowey (Meng)
     McEachin (Wexton)
     Moore (Beyer)
     Moulton (Rose (NY))
     Nadler (Jeffries)
     Napolitano (Correa)
     Pascrell (Sires)
     Payne (Wasserman Schultz)
     Pingree (Cicilline)
     Pocan (Raskin)
     Porter (Wexton)
     Serrano (Jeffries)
     Watson Coleman (Pallone)
     Welch (McGovern)
     Wilson (FL) (Hayes)

                          ____________________