[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 86 (Monday, May 22, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H2486-H2491]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     CBC HONORS AMERICA'S VETERANS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 9, 2023, the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Cherfilus-
McCormick) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority 
leader.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
and include any extraneous material on the subject of this Special 
Order hour.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I 
rise today to coanchor the CBC Special Order hour along with my 
distinguished colleague from Illinois (Mr. Jackson).
  For the next 60 minutes, members of the CBC have an opportunity to 
speak directly to the American people on Black veterans and their 
contributions to America, an issue of great importance to the 
Congressional Black Caucus, Congress, the constituents we represent, 
and all Americans.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Horsford), the 
honorable chairman of the CBC.
  Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for 
her tremendous leadership in serving as co-chair not just for tonight's 
Special Order hour on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus, but 
every time that Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and 
Representative Jonathan Jackson are able to lead in this time.

[[Page H2487]]

  Mr. Speaker, I rise with my colleagues of the Congressional Black 
Caucus to thank and recognize our Active-Duty servicemen and 
servicewomen and to honor Black veterans from around the Nation, those 
who have returned to civilian life and those who are serving here in 
Congress. I also thank all of their families who also serve alongside 
them in the freedoms that we hold dear. I rise today to honor them for 
their service, their patriotism, their courage, and, of course, their 
sacrifice in keeping our Nation safe and free.
  Unfortunately, the stories of Black veterans are too often untold. 
Even now, the very history of their service is under threat of being 
taken out of our schools. It is important that we never forget the 
unique history and contribution of our Nation's Black veterans, like 
the Tuskegee Airmen, and we cannot ignore inequities Black veterans 
have faced over generations, like being denied benefits in the GI Bill 
following World War II, something that our assistant Democratic leader, 
Mr. Clyburn, and members of the Congressional Black Caucus are working 
to address.
  Black veterans account for nearly a third of our Nation's unhoused 
veteran population, and Black veterans are nearly two times as likely 
to live in poverty.
  As a Congress, we must fulfill our responsibility to repay our 
veterans for their service, including to the Black servicemen and 
servicewomen who are still making contributions to our Nation today.
  Mr. Speaker, there are a few veterans from Nevada's Fourth 
Congressional District who represent the best that Nevada and our 
country have to offer whose stories I will share.
  One of those constituents was a servicemember named Kelley. Toward 
the end of her service in the Air Force, Kelley's health began to 
deteriorate. After consulting with doctors, she was diagnosed with 
untreated fibroids, which caused her immense pain and forced her to 
rely on pain medications.
  In the early years, there were no women's clinics and Kelley had only 
male doctors attending to her care. However, the VA's renewed focus on 
addressing the unique needs of women veterans means there is now a safe 
space where Kelley can feel comfortable alongside fellow women veterans 
who share similar experiences.

  Christina is another Black woman from my district who was in the Air 
Force. She served from 2002 until her medical retirement in 2008. 
Tragically, during her service, she fell victim to sexual assault, 
which caused her immense trauma and impacted her mental health.
  After leaving the military, she grasped her need for help and turned 
to the VA, where she engaged with programs such as cognitive behavior 
therapy, cognitive processing therapy, and dialectical behavior 
therapy. She was set on a path to recovery which affirmed her strength. 
Her story serves as a reminder that we must ensure that we provide the 
support and the resources our servicemembers need.
  I was recently honored to help document the story of the Montford 
Point marines through an interview with Henry Franklin Jackson and the 
family of Isaac McMickens. They were among the first Black Americans to 
enlist in the Marine Corps, and they trained at Montford Point. By 
preserving their stories for generations to come, we can ensure that we 
honor their sacrifices.
  We will never be able to fully repay our veterans, given the 
sacrifices that they have made for our country; but as a Congress, we 
can make sure that we do all that we can to ensure that they have what 
they need when they return home.
  Mr. Speaker, it is because of the challenges that our veterans face 
that I was so proud to support the PACT Act, which is one of the most 
significant expansions of benefits and services for toxic-exposed 
veterans in more than 30 years. This historic piece of legislation is 
helping to deliver more timely benefits and services to more than 5 
million veterans, including thousands from Nevada, who were impacted by 
toxic exposures while serving our country.
  Mr. Speaker, again, I thank my colleagues from the Congressional 
Black Caucus for their commitment to supporting our Nation's veterans, 
for recognizing the role Black veterans play in American history, and 
for sharing stories of veterans in their districts.
  I thank our CBC colleagues who were able to join us for this 
important topic tonight and to our co-chairs for their extraordinary 
leadership and managing this Special Order hour.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield now to the gentlewoman 
from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida 
and the gentleman from Illinois, and I join Mr. Horsford in expressing 
my appreciation to them both for their continuing leadership.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a particularly important Special Order, honoring 
our veterans far and wide; and then telling the stories of our Black 
veterans, who often have been at the wrong end of the history of this 
country.
  It should be noted that African Americans, some enslaved, have fought 
in every war since the Revolutionary War, and it is extremely important 
to recognize that sometimes their stories have not been told.
  I was very pleased today to support the legislation that supported a 
veterans' COLA, cost of living increase. As I indicated previously, we 
all know that veterans have been victims of homelessness, been 
discriminated against in terms of not being appreciated for their 
service, taking their service where they are commanding thousands and 
giving them an entry-level job. I think it is important that we 
recognize the importance of their work.
  We also know that there have been many who have had service-related 
injuries who have not been fully compensated. We continue to fight for 
those who have had exposure to Agent Orange. Certainly, we are more 
than excited about the passage of the PACT Act brought in the House, 
where I introduced the Jackson Lee amendment, which would require a 
report on the feasibility of modifying the individual longitudinal 
exposure record. That act, of course, even without changes, was, in 
fact, to add to providing protection to our veterans.
  Mr. Speaker, tonight I emphasize the stories of veterans who have 
fought and who have been in every war, and that includes the wars of 
the 1800s, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean war, 
and Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
  I acknowledge our friend and colleague, the Honorable Charlie Rangel, 
who was a Korean war vet in the worst of time, and the coldest of time, 
and an ugly war. He reminded us during his tenure here that the Korean 
war was not a conflict. It was, in fact, a war.
  We honor the generals who fought in World War II and who still came 
home to a segregated America, and we must remember those individuals, 
some who fell out of the skies in World War I and World War II.
  We have come full circle. There were 50,000 who died in the Vietnam 
war, with large numbers of African Americans who lost their lives. 
General Colin Powell fought in that war. He was wounded, and I pay 
tribute to him tonight. He ultimately became the Chairman of the Joint 
Chiefs and, as well, ultimately Secretary of State. He had a passion 
for peace. He believed in peace. Though he was a warrior and a combat 
leader, he understood the value of peace. We thank him for his service.
  My own constituent, Sergeant Williams, he is a Buffalo soldier who 
fought in the Vietnam war, who lives today exhibiting the bravery of 
that time. I thank him for his service.
  Now we have come full circle in Iraq and Afghanistan, where many 
African-American men and women rose to the ranks of lieutenant and 
major. Globally, I thank them. There are many of them who served in my 
congressional district.
  This is an important moment, as we approach the Memorial Day weekend, 
for those who wore the uniform unselfishly and then lost their lives.
  Also, as I supported this COLA increase for our veterans, I remind 
everyone that there are many homeless veterans, many of whom are Black. 
I particularly say to them that their status today does not diminish 
their bravery and service to this Nation.
  It should be our commitment that we should not leave any veteran 
behind and not any veteran homeless. That

[[Page H2488]]

will be my commitment, that we continue to fight against that scourge 
of homeless veterans who want to be reunited with their family members 
who are in need of the services that will make them whole.
  Finally, let me say this: As this Nation deals with default, we 
cannot forget the veterans who will lose 30 million healthcare 
appointments and will, in fact, suffer and not have a COLA. Remember 
what happens when there is no bipartisan effort, and our friends 
continue to insist on hostage taking. The people who lose out will be 
the people who are, in fact, our very special veterans. I thank the CBC 
for honoring our veterans in this way.

                              {time}  1945

  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman 
from California (Ms. Waters).
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for 
affording me this time.
  I am very pleased to join with all of my colleagues in the 
Congressional Black Caucus to honor the veterans, African-American, 
Black veterans, who have served this country so honorably.
  We could talk all night about the contributions that have been made, 
the sacrifices that have been made, and we take this time to point out 
not only the contributions but individuals who have played an important 
role as Blacks in the military.
  First, I would share that, in 1994, I introduced legislation, H.R. 
3013, to create the Center for Women's Veterans. That bill became law 
under Sonny Montgomery, who was the chair of the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs at that time. I think that overall bill was the Veterans' 
Benefits Improvements Act.
  I am very pleased that that center has paid attention to some of the 
concerns that we have had about the treatment of women, Black women in 
particular.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize someone from my district, an 
extraordinary woman who happens to be a veteran.
  Patricia Jackson-Kelley is a military veteran of the United States 
Air Force and United States Army and Navy Reserves, having served our 
Nation collectively for 26 years, where she rose to the top rank of 
lieutenant colonel after serving honorably on both Active Duty and in 
the Reserves.
  Lieutenant Colonel Jackson-Kelley recently completed a 4-year 
impressive term as the national president of the National Association 
of Black Military Women, with chapters across the United States.
  While serving our Nation in the Armed Forces and post-service, 
Lieutenant Colonel Jackson-Kelley served as the program manager for a 
40-bed substance abuse ward and as the women veteran program manager 
with the Department of Veterans Affairs, West Los Angeles.
  During her term on executive staff, she was instrumental in 
implementing programs, and she increased funds and resources for women 
veterans. During her time at the veterans hospital, she also served as 
one of the initial board members during the inaugural formation of U.S. 
VETS.
  Patricia Jackson-Kelley is also a commissioner for the County of Los 
Angeles, Second District, Military and Veteran Affairs, and commander 
for The American Legion Jackie Robinson 252 Post.
  Most recently, she was appointed by the Secretary of the Department 
of Veterans Affairs Sexual Assault and Harassment Prevention Task Force 
Working Group, covering national concerns and issues.
  Lieutenant Colonel Jackson-Kelley has received awards and 
commendations from President George Bush, the California Governor's 
Office 2006 to 2009, NAACP, Blacks in Government, and many top 
community organizations.
  In 2010, she was selected as Southern California Women Veteran of the 
Year by the California Department of Veterans Affairs, and she was the 
inaugural recipient of the PFC Gladys Schuster Trailblazer Award in 
August 2012.
  Jackson-Kelley was recognized by former Department of Veterans 
Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald for her service on the National 
Center for Minority Veterans committee from 2015 to 2017.
  In 2017, Lieutenant Colonel Jackson-Kelley was awarded the Lifetime 
Legacy Award by Connected Women of Influence.
  In 2018, she received the Crystal Eagle Award from Los Angeles County 
African American Employees Association. Also in 2018, Lieutenant 
Colonel Jackson-Kelley was honored with the Holeman Community 
Development Corporation Quiet Champion Award, the City of Los Angeles 
Hall of Fame Award, and was named UCLA Veteran of the Year.
  In 2019, she was the Hollywood Business and Professional Women Black 
History Month honoree.
  Lieutenant Colonel Jackson-Kelley was one of the honorees of the 
National Daughters of the American Revolution Women in American 
History, 2021 to 2022.
  On August 20, 2022, she received the prestigious African Focus 
Goodwill Lifetime Achievement Award.
  Mr. Speaker, I highlight that she is one of many African-American 
women who have served this country honorably, and she deserves to be 
recognized.
  This evening, I hope that by giving her this recognition, she will 
understand that we appreciate her so very much.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Waters) for her remarks.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore).
  Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for 
yielding me the time. I also thank Representative Cherfilus-McCormick 
and Representative Jackson for hosting this Special Order hour.
  Mr. Speaker, I can tell you that as a member of a family whose 
relatives and brothers and dad and uncles have served in the service, 
Memorial Day weekend is very important to me.
  As our Nation prepares to celebrate this Memorial Day, I am so 
pleased to join my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus on the 
floor to recall the great sacrifice of all that we ask of those who put 
on the uniform.
  Memorial Day is a stark reminder of the cost of that service and the 
sacrifice that comes with taking that oath. There are few other 
callings in life as humble or as selfless as the sacrifice of a member 
of the military. We owe them so much.
  Because of this sacrifice, this distinguished body is able to gather 
today, tomorrow, and the next day under the ``E pluribus unum'' in this 
Chamber. Because of their sacrifices, there are so many more who are 
inspired to put on the uniform and will do so in the coming days.
  Mr. Speaker, while Memorial Day reminds us to celebrate those who 
have given the ultimate sacrifice, Memorial Day also urges us to do 
something active for those veterans that are serving now, that are 
standing up for our freedoms and liberties. I am so tremendously proud 
of the work that House Democrats have done to continue in this regard--
efforts like the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our 
Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics, the Honoring our PACT Act, 
that is being aggressively implemented by the administration to ensure 
it fulfills a promise to provide generations of veterans with the care 
and benefits that they have earned and deserve.

  This new law creates a strong framework for expanding and extending 
eligibility for VA healthcare for veterans exposed to toxic substances 
during their time in uniform. For too long, Mr. Speaker, veterans have 
had to fight just to get benefits that they earned for exposure to some 
dangerous toxins while they were in uniform.
  More than 3.3 million veterans have received the new toxic exposure 
screening set up by this new law, and I am grateful that while many of 
them have passed on, those who are alive will get some remuneration for 
their suffering.
  On this day, I especially want to remember other veterans who did not 
necessarily die in combat but died even so as a result of their 
service--someone like my constituent Corey Adams.
  Corey Adams wanted to serve his country and follow in his father's 
and grandfather's footsteps, so he joined the Air Force right after 
high school. This week, I intend to introduce a bill named after him.
  Corey served 4 years on Active Duty, and then he joined the Air Force 
Reserve. He had overseas deployment, including 6 months in Afghanistan 
in 2009.

[[Page H2489]]

  Sergeant Corey Adams was later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress 
disorder and moved into his parents' home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a 
very fragile veteran.
  On March 20, 2017, the Adams family was changed forever. Sergeant 
Corey Adams was missing, and they knew he was vulnerable. His family 
tried to file a missing report soon after he went missing. It took 8 
days before the police determined that he met the criteria of a missing 
person, a crucial delay.
  Mr. Speaker, 18 days after his disappearance, Sergeant Corey Adams' 
body was found in a pond and recovered from Dineen Park, 1 mile from 
his mother's home. Last month marked the sixth year since his body was 
found.
  Mr. Speaker, no family should suffer like this. Out of this tragedy, 
his family took action and went to the Wisconsin Legislature. 
Therefore, due to their advocacy, Wisconsin became the first State to 
enact a green alert system to find veterans who are reported missing. 
That system has already worked to help successfully locate missing 
veterans.
  Delaware, Tennessee, and Texas have since enacted laws to do the 
same, and other States are currently looking to do the same.
  The legislation that I will be introducing this week in his honor 
will help establish a national program at the Department of Justice to 
help create a strong and robust green alert network across our country 
to help ensure that when a veteran goes missing, we do all we can to 
find them. We will leave no soldier behind.
  With legislation like the Corey Adams Searchlight Act, the Honoring 
our PACT Act, and so many other thoughtful bills that have been 
introduced so far by my colleagues in this Congress, we make sure that 
Memorial Day is also a time to act and to make sure that we enact 
policies that make clear to our veterans and our servicemembers that we 
will always have their backs--always.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank each and every one of the men and women in 
uniform today and all of our veterans.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Moore 
for her remarks.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne).
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for the 
opportunity to speak tonight in this Special Order, and the gentleman 
from Illinois, for showing great leadership in what is a wholesome and 
honorable responsibility to lead these Special Order hours.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor our fallen African-American 
veterans in the week before Memorial Day and discuss what the Honoring 
our PACT Act will do to help all surviving veterans.
  Almost 200,000 Black Americans died while fighting to protect U.S. 
freedoms. They fought in every major U.S. conflict, from the 
Revolutionary War to the Iraq war. In fact, the first person to die in 
the Revolutionary War, our war for freedom, was Crispus Attucks, an 
African American.
  The names of the regiments are emblazoned in American history, names 
like the Buffalo Soldiers, the Tuskegee Airmen, and the Harlem 
Hellfighters. In my district, they continue to make a difference in 
local industry and local politics.
  Black soldiers are America's forgotten heroes. They fought in foreign 
wars to protect our Nation, then they fought oppression, racism, and 
hatred when they returned home--not welcomed in the restaurants, not 
welcomed in the hotels, not welcomed to drink from certain fountains, 
but fought far and wide away from this Nation.
  They deserve more than the usual ``thanks for your service'' they 
receive across the country, and I am proud to support a law that helps 
them get more support.

                              {time}  2000

  The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to 
Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, or the Honoring our PACT Act, could 
be the largest veterans' healthcare and benefits expansion in American 
history.
  The Honoring our PACT Act expands and extends eligibility for 
Veterans Administration healthcare to veterans who have suffered toxic 
exposure, and it does the same for veterans of the Vietnam war, Gulf 
war, and other post-9/11 conflicts that we have engaged in. That means 
five million veterans could be eligible for benefits, thanks to this 
act.
  Also, the Honoring our PACT Act adds more than 20 health conditions 
to the list of eligibility for VA health benefits, such as exposure to 
Agent Orange, burn pits, and other toxins. It requires the VA to 
provide toxic exposure screening to every veteran enrolled in the VA 
healthcare system.
  But local veterans and advocates are excited about more than these 
benefits. They are telling district veterans that the Honoring our PACT 
Act will allow them to get physicals in order to find service-related 
ailments and disabilities. These physicals could allow more eligible 
veterans to enroll in VA healthcare and help them register as an 
American veteran for health-related or other benefits nationwide.
  But the VA has to do a better job in contacting veterans to encourage 
them to participate. Some veterans in my district said the VA has a 
version of the notorious don't ask, don't tell policy. They say, if you 
don't ask the VA about the benefits directly, they won't let you know, 
and that seems to be a theme that runs across the Federal Government.
  There are so many projects and plans and opportunities for people 
across this Nation, just everyday, normal Americans, but if you don't 
know the right question to ask, the information is not forthcoming.
  Now, nobody will mislead you, but you have to ask the right question 
and then they are forthcoming with the information. That has to change.
  As we honor our Nation's fallen heroes, we must do more to support 
veterans and other American heroes. That way, our dedication to the men 
and women who protect our country and keep us safe will be more than 
words. It will be a direct action. I am just delighted to be here to 
raise this issue.
  There shouldn't have to be an acknowledgment separately of African-
American veterans, but this country, in some ways, has forgotten them 
and so we have to raise the issue. We don't want it. We want to be a 
part of the collective of this great Nation, but there are so many 
instances where the contributions of this population are left out. So 
we are here to make sure it is clear, and to correct the history.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor our Nation's 
brave Black servicemembers. I rise not only for our veterans who served 
our Nation with honor and integrity, but also for those who gave the 
ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country.
  Black soldiers have fought and given their lives in every American 
conflict since the Revolutionary War fighting for democracy at home and 
abroad, while being treated like second-class citizens on American 
soil.
  In 1944, this very body passed the GI Bill to provide free education, 
unemployment pay, and home loans for millions of veterans returning 
from World War II. These benefits helped to expand our American middle 
class after the war, but Black veterans were excluded from these 
benefits due to our Nation's original sin.
  This exclusion helped to widen the already existing wealth gap 
between White and Black Americans, the same gap that we feel and see 
today. The wide disparity in the bill's implementation increased 
wealth, education, and civil rights gaps. The inequitable 
implementation of the GI bill shut the door for 1.2 million Black 
people, veterans who bravely served the country during World War II in 
segregated ranks.
  The willingness on the part of African-American soldiers to serve and 
sacrifice their lives for a country that treated them as second-class 
citizens is beyond remarkable. It wasn't until President Truman's 
executive order 9981 that the Armed Services were forced to 
desegregate, but by this time the damage had already been done.
  In the South, the GI bill exacerbated rather than narrowed the 
economic educational attainment of Black veterans. After World War II, 
Black veterans who wanted to attend college in the South were 
restricted in their choices of about 100 public and private 
institutions. Only 6 percent of African-American veterans of World War 
II earned college degrees, compared to 19 percent of White veterans.

[[Page H2490]]

  For over 200 years, Black soldiers have endured individual and 
institutional racism while fighting for their country. It is time to 
honor every Black veteran and soldier who paid the ultimate sacrifice 
while fighting for a more perfect union at home. May their memory be a 
blessing, and may this Congress rectify injustices committed on this 
very floor.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Jackson).
  Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank my distinguished 
colleagues, the Honorable Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and the Honorable 
Gwen Moore for their comments.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give special consideration to the 
contributions and bravery of Black soldiers and veterans.
  Veterans in this country deserve far more than we have thus far been 
willing to give them and, certainly, Black veterans are more than 
eligible for the kind of dignity and respect too long denied to them, 
both in and out of the armed services.
  Let us never forget that, in several instances, the enemies of 
America were treated better than Black soldiers fighting for America. I 
remember my grandfather today, Charles Henry Jackson, who was working 
three jobs for a man in South Carolina who, after having been 
disrespected, told the man he could keep his jobs; although our family 
needed the money, needed the work so that we could feed the family.

  The young man then went on to turn my grandfather into the Army 
recruiting office and had him enlisted, drafted into World War II.
  Having fought in World War II and being honorably discharged he 
recounted the story for me when he came back from New York City, down 
on the train in first class, down to Union Station, not far from here. 
By the time they were heading down south to the Jim Crow era of the 
south, he had to go to the second class coach cars in the back of the 
train so that Nazi POW prisoners could sit in first class, right here 
in Washington, D.C., right here in America.
  Let us never forget the kind of bigotry and hatred the Black soldiers 
had to endure simply because of the color of their skin.
  It would be a tragedy of the worst kind for us to no longer remember 
the intrinsic, systemic evils that prevented African Americans from 
receiving equity in healthcare and the distribution of benefits, once 
again, simply because of the color of their skin.
  There have always been gross inequities in how Black veterans have 
been treated and, regrettably, this has always been the case.
  A recent internal document from the Department of Veterans Affairs 
obtained by NPR revealed that Black veterans are less likely to get 
approved for benefits associated with conditions like PTSD.
  According to NPR, an internal report developed by the Veterans 
Administration found that Black veterans who filed claims for PTSD were 
rejected, on average, 12 percent more often than their White 
counterparts. Thankfully, the VA's equity task force has been alerted 
to this problem and is dedicated to making improvements.
  This is not the first time Black veterans have been treated with 
indifference and disrespect. Black soldiers were never allowed to have 
full and unfettered access to the benefits enshrined to them in the GI 
bill.
  In some cases, Black veterans could not take advantage of the GI bill 
simply because they were not granted an honorable discharge. In other 
cases, even when Black veterans properly qualified for the full range 
of benefits, they were denied them because of segregation and anti-
integration policies.
  In fact, one Congressman I researched in particular, Congressman John 
Rankin, a southern Dixiecrat, did everything in his power to exclude 
Black veterans from receiving the unemployment benefits enshrined in 
the bill. We were thick on words and thin on deeds.
  When those benefits could not be legally denied in the legislation 
itself, local postmasters conspired in an effort not to deliver the 
forms Black veterans needed to fill out in order to receive their 
unemployment benefits.
  In 1947, only 2 of the more than 3,200 VA guaranteed home loans in 13 
Mississippi counties went to Black veterans. This was not just a 
southern problem. In New York and in the northern New Jersey suburbs, 
fewer than 100 of the 67,000 mortgages insured by the GI Bill supported 
the home purchases of African-American veterans. That is 100 out of 
67,000. It means that less than .15 percent of the loans in that area 
went to Black veterans.
  The list goes on and on. The kind of inequalities, inequities and 
indignities that Black soldiers and Black veterans have had to endure 
amount to a cacophony of slights, the full list of which I do not have 
the time to fully mention.
  Yet, Black people have fought in every major war that this country 
has ever had because we are a brave and an honorable people. And when 
we fought, nobody was doing us a favor.
  I will call the roll: from the Revolutionary War, to the Battle of 
1812, to the Civil War, to the Spanish American War, to World War I, 
World War II, the Korean war, the Vietnam war, the war in Iraq, and the 
war in Afghanistan, Black people have always been willing to serve.
  Today, we honor Black veterans because of their bravery and what they 
had to endure, and because of what they accomplished in spite of it 
all. We honor their sacrifices and their service. We honor their 
dignity and determination.
  Without Black veterans, there could be no Colin Powell. Without Black 
veterans, there could be no Lloyd Austin. Without a long history of 
brave Black veterans, there is no such thing as a Black Commander in 
Chief.
  The Governor of Florida can act like Black history isn't important to 
America, but there would be no American history without Blacks in our 
history.
  Our thoughts are with Black veterans today because history remembers 
the men and women who put their shoulders to the wheel of progress and 
push until one dies and another world is born.
  We will never forget the contribution of Black veterans because they 
did what racism said could never be done. They proved to the world that 
Black people are as brave and innovative as anyone else. They proved to 
the world that when the game is fair, and the rules are public, and the 
playing field is even, Black people can do anything.
  I must tell you, Mr. Speaker, that I am proud to be a part of a 
caucus and a party that does more than just send thoughts and prayers 
to our veterans.
  During the last Congress, under the leadership of the Honorable Nancy 
Pelosi, and the Honorable Steny Hoyer, and the Honorable  Jim Clyburn, 
and our current leader, the honorable Hakeem Jeffries, Democrats in the 
House of Representatives led the way to passing the Honoring our PACT 
Act. This important law expands VA healthcare benefits for veterans 
exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances.
  I am grateful to be a part of a party and an institution that 
continues to find ways to honor its commitments to our veterans. It 
should not have taken us this long to decide that if we expose the 
brave men and women of our armed services to toxic conditions, the 
least we could do is make sure they have access to all of the 
healthcare they need to recover.
  From the Vietnam war to all of our post-9/11 conflicts, our soldiers 
have been exposed to all kinds of horrific substances and, yet we could 
not find the political will to dedicate specific resources to this 
particular aspect of modern war.
  The devastating effects of dangerous toxins have been an albatross 
around the necks of our brave men and women for far too long.

                              {time}  2015

  But as the old saying goes, better late than never. Several members 
of the Congressional Black Caucus, who were part of the 117th Congress, 
were instrumental in the passing of this restorative law, and that is 
how I view the PACT Act.
  This law widens the path that leads to greater restoration for the 
men and women we ask to risk their lives in defense of this country. 
This law deepens the validity of the promise we made as a country to 
these honorable soldiers. Call me a dreamer, but I just may happen to 
believe that when we ask people to do extraordinary things, it is 
altogether fitting that your response and our response collectively 
should be to

[[Page H2491]]

make sure that they are treated equally and in an extraordinary manner.
  We can simply never do enough for our veterans. We love our soldiers, 
but we turn our backs far too often on our veterans. It is with the 
best of intentions that we call on the Veterans Administration to make 
sure that Black veterans are not excluded from the important care and 
restoration they need afforded to them in the PACT Act.
  We call on the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Denis McDonough, to 
personally commit his attention and time to making sure that none of 
the past injustices and disparities reveal themselves in the practical 
application of this law.
  I must say to all my colleagues, my Democratic colleagues, and my 
fellow members of the Congressional Black Caucus who were members of 
the 117th Congress, on behalf of all of the veterans, and particularly 
of all the Black veterans, who make their home in the First 
Congressional District of the State of Illinois, I extend to you my 
most sincere gratitude for your hard work in making this law a reality.
  Millions of people will be positively affected by what you have 
accomplished. Millions of people find relief and some measure of 
restoration because of what you have done in the 117th Congress. 
Millions of veterans will be able to sleep a little sounder at night 
from the care that they receive because of what you did in the passing 
of this law. Future veterans will owe much of the improvements we will 
make in taking care of them to all of you.
  Well done, good and faithful servants. You have honored this country 
by caring about the people of this country and nothing is greater than 
that.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the time 
remaining.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from Florida has 14 minutes 
remaining.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise, again, today to be the 
voice of Black men and women who have selflessly dedicated their lives 
to the country, but now find themselves on the street.
  These veterans represent the heart and soul of our Nation, serving a 
country that did not always serve them, and yet we are failing to help 
them again. Homelessness is felt acutely by Black veterans. Black 
individuals made up around 12 percent of Active-Duty military personnel 
in 2018 but were 33 percent of the homeless veteran population.
  Throughout the pandemic, the VA reduced veteran homelessness by 11 
percent and permanently housed over 40,000 veterans. This decrease can 
be directly attributed to the flexibilities that were found because of 
the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, but now with the PHE having 
ended, many veterans may soon find themselves out on the street.
  Unfortunately, Republicans decided to vote against my proposal, H.R. 
645, the Healthy Foundations for Homeless Veterans Act, which would 
have helped put roofs over veterans' heads. It is shameful.
  Our brave veterans willingly stepped into the line of fire and 
accepted the looming shadow of danger all to safeguard our cherished 
liberties. To honor that sacrifice, it is our duty as a Nation and as 
Members of Congress to ensure they return home to a Nation that 
provides opportunities for them and their families.
  We must equip our VA with the necessary tools to directly engage with 
and provide care for Black veterans grappling with housing insecurity. 
This isn't a partisan issue.
  For each day that we, as Congress, fail to authorize and address 
veterans' homelessness, we condemn another veteran to a night of 
needless suffering on the street. The time to act is now. For every 
night delayed is a night too long for those who have worn our Nation's 
uniform.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues from across the aisle to work with 
House Democrats so we may serve those who served us. A Nation's 
greatness is not measured by its military might or its economic power 
but by how it treats its most vulnerable citizens, especially those who 
have served our country so bravely.
  My Democratic colleagues and I will not leave our veterans behind on 
this very soil they volunteered to protect and defend. As a member of 
the Veterans' Affairs Committee and ranking member of the Subcommittee 
for Modernization, I ask all of us to think about this Memorial Day not 
in the same reference, but to pledge ourselves to do more for our 
veterans and to ensure that they are not living in homelessness or 
housing insecurities and that they are having access to their benefits.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise, again, today to pay tribute to the brave men and 
women who have dedicated their lives to serving our great Nation. As a 
member of the House Veterans' Affair Committee, I pledge to fight for 
our veterans from all walks of life. Their stories of courage, 
resilience, and commitment demonstrate a legacy of service and 
sacrifice.
  According to the U.S. Census Bureau, post-9/11 veterans are becoming 
more and more diverse than previous generations. Today, women represent 
a remarkable 17 percent, while African Americans make up 15.3 percent 
of our current veteran population. We recognize the trailblazers who 
have not only served our Nation, but also enriched the diversity of our 
Armed Forces.
  I am fortunate to count among my constituents many such heroes. One 
of Florida's 20th Congressional District heroes is Ms. Shenetria Moore, 
a resident of West Palm Beach. A United States Army veteran, Ms. Moore 
is a beacon of self-discipline and leads a life guided by her deeply-
held principles.
  Ms. Moore graduated with a diploma from the prestigious Academy of 
Health Science at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and was later honored with 
an Army accommodation award by her commanding officer.
  Once retired from Active Duty, she continued to serve by launching a 
nonprofit, Sha's Community Initiative, Inc., which provides mentorship 
and scholarships for young Black men. Ms. Moore's service-oriented 
philosophy has its roots in her family military experience.
  Today, as a proud veteran and a dedicated community advocate, she 
continues to serve with the same excellence she displayed while she was 
in uniform. I thank Ms. Moore for her service to this great Nation and 
to Florida's 20th Congressional District.
  Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize my father-in-law, Corlie 
McCormick, Sr., who is no longer with us, who served as a Vietnam vet.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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