[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 43 (Monday, March 11, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H1086-H1091]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS

  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. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on the subject matter of the 
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. Madam Speaker, it is with great honor that 
I rise today to co-anchor the CBC's Special Order hour with Member 
Jonathan Jackson from the great Chicago, Illinois.
  For the next 60 minutes, we have the chance to speak directly to the 
American people on issues of great importance to the Congressional 
Black Caucus, Congress, the constituents we represent, and all 
Americans--the health and well-being of Americans, American Black men 
and boys.
  Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne), 
my honorable colleague.
  Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, let me first thank the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick) for allowing me the opportunity to 
speak today and also the gentleman from Illinois, her great partner, 
the Honorable Jonathan Jackson, who comes from a lineage of great 
service to this Nation.
  I am here tonight because of the topic. I was once a Black little 
boy, and so the topic is very important to me because, you see, in this 
Nation, Madam Speaker, it seems that there is a race going on. It 
appears that sometimes the young men in my community don't receive the 
same consideration, the same opportunities, the same benefit of the 
doubt that other young men are allowed to have. So, I am here to talk a 
bit about that.
  The young lady that has brought us here today, the honorable 
gentlewoman from Florida, Frederica Wilson, has been a consummate 
advocate for Black men and young boys. I thank my good friend, 
Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, for tonight.
  She is a strong supporter of efforts to improve the health of Black 
males. She created and now serves as chairwoman of the House caucus on 
the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys. She founded 
this caucus to uncover these social disparities that affect Black men's 
health in our country, and the caucus does exceptional work to address 
these issues that lower the life expectancy of Black men, such as gun 
violence, mental illness, and the lack of access to quality healthcare. 
In fact, Congresswoman Wilson has done more to improve Black men's 
health than most Black men.
  That is why I am honored to be here today to support her. The health 
of Black males is particularly important to me for two reasons.
  As a Black Congressman, I want to do everything I can to improve the 
health and well-being of Black men. I am the co-chair of three 
different congressional caucuses that deal with healthcare: the 
Congressional Men's Health Caucus, the Congressional Colorectal Cancer 
Caucus, and the Congressional Peripheral Artery Disease Caucus.
  I understand the disparities in healthcare that exist for Black men 
and all Black Americans. Studies show that Black Americans do not get 
the same healthcare, on average, as our counterparts in this country, 
and that causes too many members of our community to die from 
preventable diseases.
  Today, Black men born after 1960 have a life expectancy of 61. To 
quote Congresswoman Wilson: ``They do not even live long enough to 
collect their Social Security.''
  The second and most important reason is that I am diabetic, and I 
have to monitor my health on a daily basis. Unfortunately, too many 
Black men do not monitor their health on a consistent basis, and that 
is one reason the life expectancy of Black men is so low.
  They fail to get regular checkups and health screenings. They wait to 
see a doctor until they have a reason, and that can allow a minor 
health issue to become a major one.
  I could go on about this issue because it means so much to me as a 
Black man, but I would love to give my colleagues here the opportunity 
to express their concern about this very important issue.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
his comments.
  Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wilson).
  Ms. WILSON of Florida. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for 
yielding.
  I am honored to be here on the floor of the U.S. Capitol to kick off 
this Special Order hour on Black men and boys.

  I am Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, chair of the U.S. Commission on

[[Page H1087]]

the Social Status of Black Men and Boys and the Congresswoman 
representing Florida's 24th District, but you can call me Frederica 
``Prevention'' Wilson because that is what I do.
  I believe, as Frederick Douglass said: ``It is easier to build strong 
children than to repair broken men.'' Thus, as a woman and even during 
Women's History Month, I want to take a moment to talk about our 
fathers, our brothers, our uncles, and our sons. We have wasted far too 
much time allowing conditions to fester that work to break Black men 
and extinguish the lives of Black boys before they become men.
  I refuse to allow Black men to be among the highest mortality rates, 
who, on average, are dying before they can collect their Social 
Security checks. I refuse to let this happen on my watch. I have to 
speak up.
  As Members of Congress, we have to speak up. So, those of us who are 
here tonight are here to speak up for Black men and boys.
  This is such an important topic near and dear to my heart because of 
what we are doing, committing to make 2024 the year of Black men and 
boys.
  Let me take a moment to thank my fellow members of the Congressional 
Black Caucus and the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and 
Boys for being here tonight because we have so much work to do.
  Developing strong Black men is my life's work. Thirty years ago, I 
started the 5000 Role Models of Excellence, a mentoring organization 
committed to supporting all boys, but particularly Black boys.
  The 5000 Role Models of Excellence had an event just last month where 
we continued our work to improve the relationship between Black boys 
and our Miami-area police because we all know of the tension that 
exists between the police and Black men. We all know that, no matter 
how many laws we pass, they can only work when we change the tenor, 
hearts, and compassion of both sides because the tension has always 
existed long before we have all been alive. Since slavery, it has 
existed.
  Oftentimes, I ask people to raise their hand if they want to change 
places with a Black boy in America, and no one ever raises their hand. 
Why? Because we all know and see the issues they face.
  That is why I am so grateful to be standing on the floor of the 
House, talking to the people of the United States about how to break 
those tensions between our youth and the police. The relationship with 
police is one of the many issues that uniquely affect Black men, and it 
is something all of us, whether that be the White House, Members of 
Congress, or leaders in our community, must never stop addressing.
  At the start of my career as an elementary school teacher, I remember 
watching how my fellow teachers treated Black boys. I vividly remember 
that if a Black boy accidentally knocked a book off the desk, the 
teacher would be livid, scold him for knocking down the book, and 
punish him with detention. If anyone else other than a Black boy 
knocked a book off the teacher's desk, the teacher's response was 
completely different. They would say: ``It is okay. I am sure you 
didn't see it.'' Afterward, class would proceed. It was crazy.
  Then, Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander came to my school at the 
behest of President Bush to declare that the 5000 Role Models of 
Excellence was a model for the Nation. It was a great day in Miami-Dade 
County Public Schools. They labeled it a break the mold program.
  In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, President Clinton honored the program 
as part of America's Promise Alliance, and all the living Presidents 
were there. We were declared a teaching example for the Nation, and I 
went on to record commercials for HBO, explaining the importance of 
Black men becoming mentors for Black boys. The commercials were shown 
all over the world.

                              {time}  2015

  The 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project is a program that we must 
all remember. We are all over Florida; in Detroit, Michigan; headed to 
The Bahamas; Birmingham, Alabama; and Los Angeles, California.
  To date, the 5000 Role Models of Excellence has funded full college 
scholarships for nearly 2,000 young men and has uplifted many Black men 
who are now doctors, Capitol Police officers, lawyers, city 
commissioners, county commissioners, college presidents, members of our 
Federal agencies, and the leaders of today and tomorrow, and we have 
receipts.
  This is what I want for all Black men and boys: to level the playing 
field and open the doors of opportunities for them.
  I invite Members of Congress, other politicians, universities, school 
systems, philanthropists, artists, entertainers, and cities to start 
their own chapters of 5000 Role Models because I have a dream.
  I have a dream, just like Martin Luther King, Jr., had a dream. I 
have a dream that we can end mass incarceration. I have a dream that we 
can end gun violence. The list goes on and on. In my mind, I don't see 
an issue more important than this one because we can uplift Black men 
and boys and put them on a path to success. We can change the course of 
this country.
  I believe that if the Black voters of this country, especially the 
men, knew that there is a Commission on the Social Status of Black Men 
and Boys, we would not be talking about their vote.
  Just a couple of weeks ago, I met with the Commission on the Social 
Status of Black Men and Boys, including Councilwoman Kristen Clarke, 
who serves as United States Assistant Attorney General, Reverend Al 
Sharpton, and our new Gen Z Congressman Maxwell Frost, who all eagerly 
put forth ideas, bringing the weight of their essential work to this 
issue of Black men and boys.
  One thing was clear in that meeting. It is long overdue for us to 
address the disparities affecting Black men and boys. The crime bill, 
welfare reform, it is long overdue. Education, college scholarships, 
access to jobs and housing, and the number one issue is prevention. We 
must remember, prevention.
  My name is Congresswoman Frederica ``Prevention'' Wilson, and I 
approve this message. I thank all who have joined us this evening, and 
we look forward to them working with us and the Congressional Black 
Caucus to uplift Black men and boys.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Madam Speaker, I thank Congresswoman 
Frederica Wilson. I yield now to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Davis).
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for 
yielding, and I thank my colleague, Representative Frederica Wilson 
from the great State of Florida, for conceptualizing, dreaming up, 
thinking up, and putting into play not only the opportunity for a 
discussion, but the tremendous work and the great record she has 
achieved on behalf of African-American boys and men as she continues to 
represent her entire district.
  I trust that those who are watching are in good health and good 
spirits because our country is facing one of its most difficult periods 
in the history of America. There is tremendous friction, anxieties, 
different approaches to doing things, and I think about that every day 
as I try and represent the 759,000 individuals who live in the very 
diverse area called the Seventh Congressional District of Illinois.
  Some of the wealthiest people in America live along the Gold Coast, 
the Magnificent Mile. Some of the most disadvantaged individuals live 
on the south and west sides of Chicago, areas that were devastated 
during the period of movement action, especially after the 
assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
  As an elected official, I try to balance the concerns of all these 
different individuals, all of their hopes, their aspirations, 
recognizing their issues, their problems, and their concerns. While I 
represent every aspect of the district--Chinatown; what used to be 
called Jewtown; Little Italy, an Italian community; Ukrainian Village, 
a Ukrainian community; a large African-American community; suburban 
areas--lots of issues, lots of problems, tremendous needs, lots of 
hopes and aspirations.
  African-American males are at the forefront of these issues and these 
problems for many various reasons that I won't even attempt to really 
characterize or go into. Oftentimes,

[[Page H1088]]

when you look at quality of life and those things that are indicators 
of quality of life, the most disproportionate number of individuals 
incarcerated, African-American males; the individuals who drop out of 
school without graduating, African-American males; the unemployed. We 
brag about less than 4 percent unemployment in our country, but the 
highest level of unemployment is African-American males.
  Something has to be done beyond the average, beyond the norm. We need 
programs, but we really need to keep working on reducing poverty. Many 
of these individuals live in poverty-stricken areas, poverty-stricken 
homes, single-parent homes, areas where the schools are not as good as 
they might be in other areas.
  Therefore, we need special consideration, special treatment. We need 
to make sure that low-income families can get a real child tax credit 
like we enacted for the year 2021 where individuals who earned $75,000 
or less were able to achieve for their children under 6 $300 a month. 
That helped a great deal. Of course, if they were 6 and over, under 17, 
it was $250. That helped a great deal.
  What can we do that relates to the needs of African-American men and 
boys? We can enact a serious child tax credit. We have institutions 
called PBIs as well as historically Black colleges and universities. I 
attended one. I credit it with saving my life, my being, or putting me 
in a position.
  However, we can also do some things ourselves. Put more focus on 
reading. I think if a child, a young person learns to read and likes 
it, they then can fly as high as their understanding and imagination 
will take them. One of the reasons that I stand here tonight as a 
Member of the House of Representatives is because I learned to read 
when I was a little boy, and I loved it.

  The more I read, the more I wanted to read.
  The more I learned, the more I wanted to learn.
  Of course, my father used to tell us, the more you learn, the more 
you realize how little you know.
  Education is the cornerstone, the key, and that is one of the reasons 
that I just love Representative Frederica Wilson, because she has been 
an outstanding educator and has taken what she knew, brought it here to 
us in the House of Representatives, brought it from Florida to 
Washington, and now people all over the country are trying to emulate 
her 5000 Role Models of Excellence for African-American males; boys who 
were put into special programs and special activities. I commend her 
for that.
  The last thing that I will say is in order to deal effectively with 
the problems associated with being an African-American male, I have 
been told that where there is righteousness in the heart, there is 
beauty in the character. Meaning, that if there is righteousness where 
we make decisions here in Washington, D.C., our activities will follow 
that righteousness. We will come up with the laws, appropriate the 
money, and make sure that every individual in our country has the 
opportunity to grow, develop, to become whatever their manhood/
womanhood, hardworking ambition combines to make them. That is the 
promise of America.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Davis 
for his words. I yield to the gentlewoman from Georgia (Mrs. McBath).
  Mrs. McBATH. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Cherfilus-
McCormick and Representative Jonathan Jackson for presiding over this 
critical hour this evening.
  I thank my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus as well as 
the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys, but in 
particular, our chairwoman, Frederica Wilson. As a proud commissioner 
and a founding member, I am always grateful for the opportunity to 
speak in support of the vital work that this commission is undertaking.
  Just last week, President Biden stood in this very Chamber, and he 
spoke of the transformational moment that happened 59 years ago in 
Selma, Alabama, as brave, nonviolent activists marched for justice and 
equality. We remembered our late friend and former colleague John 
Lewis, whose presence and influence this legislative body just really, 
really misses every single day.
  The world has changed for Black men and boys in America since John 
Lewis was beaten and bloodied on a bridge in Selma, Alabama, but it is 
no secret that Black men and boys continue to face unjust hurdles in 
this country.
  The reality is that life expectancy for Black men is among the lowest 
in the country. Most Black men do not live long enough to even collect 
Social Security. Black men are incarcerated at the highest rates, and 
Black men suffer disproportionately from income and education 
inequality, unemployment, health disparities, police violence, and gun 
violence.
  I know these realities all too well. My son, Jordan Davis, was a 
victim of a culture of implicit bias and racism, a culture that teaches 
to shoot first and ask questions later, a culture that claimed the life 
of my son before he was even 18 years of age.

                              {time}  2030

  I think about the trajectory of my son's life and what his future was 
supposed to look like. I dreamed of watching him graduate from high 
school, going on to college, and starting a family of his own. Jordan 
should be living out his life and shaping his own legacy right now. I 
should never have had to bury my son.
  I never should have had to bury my child and carry out a legacy in 
his name that works to save as many lives as I possibly can, but that 
is why I am here as a Congresswoman--to fight for the rights of young 
boys that look just like my son Jordan, to provide policy solutions 
that will keep them safe and allow them to grow into adulthood, to 
prevent mothers from having to answer the same phone call that I did 
when I was told that my son would never ever come home again. That is 
why I am a founding member of this commission.
  Since its inception, the commission has searched for ways to address 
these inequities, from education to employment, housing to healthcare, 
justice to civil rights. I am very proud of the work that we are doing, 
lifting up the stories of Black men and boys who desperately need our 
support.
  In particular, I am heartened by the progress that we are making on 
gun violence prevention and accomplishments that I helped to pass such 
as the historic Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the first 
comprehensive gun violence prevention package passed in almost 30 years 
in this country.
  That package included aspects of my Federal Extreme Risk Protection 
Order Act, and it also includes $750 million in crisis prevention 
funding over 5 years and $250 million for community violence 
intervention funding to give our communities the resources that they 
have been crying out for.
  Millions of dollars have already been provided to nonprofits and 
community groups to keep our neighbors safe and whole, but we need to 
continue to do so very much more.
  Last fall, I was honored to speak from the White House Press Briefing 
Room the day after President Biden announced the creation of the first-
ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, which is overseen 
by Vice President Harris. This is a direct result of our sustained 
advocacy to President Biden and members of this administration. I am 
very pleased that I was able to advise President Biden and his 
administration on two close allies to help lead this office: Rob Wilcox 
with Everytown for Gun Safety and Greg Jackson with Community Justice 
Action Fund.
  I have held many roles in my life. I am the daughter of civil rights 
leaders. I have been a flight attendant. I am a wife and a mother. At 
this moment, I am still a mother who is deeply concerned about the 
future generations of Black men and boys, and this cause, I will say, 
belongs to all of us.
  Just last week, as distinguished guests arrived to hear the 
President's address, I was heartbroken and disheartened to hear 
firsthand from a young Black man being discriminated against in his 
school over his locs. For those of you who don't know what locs are, 
that is hair. He has not been allowed to learn alongside his peers in 
the classroom and is instead being separated and held for in-school 
suspension.
  Even with the progress that we have made, our young Black boys face 
increasing hate on the streets and in our communities every single day. 
Places

[[Page H1089]]

that should foster learning and help them to flourish are attempting to 
break down their souls and tell them that they are not worthy of their 
own bright futures.
  This is absolutely unacceptable. We must work harder than ever before 
to speak in one voice and demand the change that is so desperately 
needed in this country.
  I am grateful to my colleagues in this Congress. I am so grateful to 
the Congressional Black Caucus and the Commission on the Social Status 
of Black Men and Boys to stand in the gap as elected lawmakers and 
loving parents and aunts and uncles of young Black men.
  One thing I do know: There is nothing more powerful than a Black 
mother on a mission. As a Black mother, I will never falter in our 
work.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative 
McBath for her remarks.
  Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Jackson), 
my honorable colleague.
  Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I thank my honorable 
colleague from the great State of Florida (Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick).
  I thank the Honorable Frederica Wilson for her outstanding work. I 
thank my honorable friend from the great State of New Jersey (Mr. 
Payne) for his consistency and caring for this truly significant cause.
  Madam Speaker, tonight, as we gather to discuss what is, for me, a 
most important area of concern, I am reminded of how overdue and 
necessary the concern for Black men in this Chamber happens to be.
  If it is true that Black women are the most marginalized, overlooked, 
and economically oppressed group in America, then it is the case that 
Black men are, without question, the most criminalized and 
misunderstood.
  No other community in America has had to deal with the detrimental 
effects of the prison industrial complex as Black men have.
  Let me remind my colleagues that one in three African-American 
children, boys born after the year 2001, will spend time in prison over 
the course of their lifetime in America.
  It is still the case that 1 in 230 Black boys are detained in 
juvenile facilities across this country. It is still the case that 1 in 
1,000 Black boys will die at the hands of the police in our country. It 
is still the case that one in three Black children live in poverty.
  The vulnerabilities abound. The misunderstandings amalgamate. The 
suffering continues. There is simply no other group in America more 
commodified and policed than the bodies and souls of young Black men.
  Yet, compared to almost any other group, Black men have been some of 
the most dedicated devotees to the principles of America. Black men 
have fought and died in every war this country has ever had. From the 
Revolutionary War in 1776 to the war in Afghanistan, Black men have 
stood up for what it means to be an American. Black men have died on 
the beaches of Normandy and in the killing fields of Vietnam. Black men 
gave their lives in Korea and in both World War I and II.

  Let us not forget the recent deaths of three U.S. Army Reserve 
soldiers, men and women who were killed in Jordan near the Syrian 
border.
  Most of the time, when Black men were dying for America, America was 
about the business of denying them both their humanity and their 
rights. For most of the 248 years of this country, the relationship 
between Black men and America has been one of unrequited love.
  When Black men stood up for American independence, America persisted 
in keeping Black men in slavery and counted them as three-fifths of a 
person.
  When Black men fought for the western expansion of this country, 
America rewarded Black men by then denying them 40 acres and a mule and 
access to the homestead grants.
  When America went off to war in Europe to fight for liberation of 
England and France against the demonic assault of Hitler and the Nazis, 
Black men fought for the liberation of other people--and then came home 
to segregation, Jim Crow, and second-class citizenship.
  America rebuilt Europe but did nothing for Black communities. America 
rebuilt Japan and left Black men and boys suffering without a national 
agenda. America defended South Korea but left Black men completely 
defenseless in the face of unregulated racial violence and Jim Crow 
economics.
  After the Holocaust, America rightly supported the creation of Israel 
and a homeland for persecuted Jewish people but left the South Side of 
Chicago, Harlem, parts of Detroit, and all throughout the South, all 
the places where Black men seek refuge and live, without proper 
political and economic consideration.
  The single greatest factor in the creation of the middle class in 
this country was the GI Bill, but even after Black men fought in the 
same war that made White men eligible for the GI Bill, Black soldiers 
were consistently denied and impeded from receiving what they deserved 
as a result of their sacrifice.
  This is the unbroken chain of disappointing events. This predictable 
pattern of historical contradictions of unrequited devotion has 
peppered and persecuted the humanity of Black men unjustly.
  Today, Black men and boys stand as the lone group in America still 
waiting for the Nation to understand their development to be an 
indispensable part of the future of this Nation.
  As I stand here tonight, I ask my colleagues: Where is the national 
development plan for Black men and boys? If the Nation made a concerted 
effort to lock up two generations of Black men and boys in the criminal 
industrial complex, then surely this Nation should dedicate intentional 
efforts to the restoration of Black men from that kind of brokenness. 
It is unnatural.
  I think it is about time that the Federal Government intentionally 
put Black men on the agenda. How is it that the Nation can have a plan 
for everyone else, but it is completely bereft of ideas when it comes 
to the restoration of Black boys?
  Black children are the only people in America who live in a country 
that has second-class schools, first-class prisons, and third-class 
water infrastructure.
  We need a legislative agenda that will enhance the lives and future 
of Black men and boys. We need to set aside resources and enact 
policies that will facilitate the uplifting of a community, the 
community of Black men.
  We need to enforce an agenda that will prosecute those who use their 
power, status, and influence to harm and criminalize those without 
justification or cause and one that will recognize the dignity and 
safety of Black men as a national priority.
  We can start by passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. We can 
start by passing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020.
  I call on every Member of the United States Senate to stop playing 
with the future of Black men because Black men are not pawns to be 
played with on the battlefield of identity politics but are, rather, 
the children of God, just like everyone else in this country.
  Thankfully, because of President Biden's stewardship of the economy, 
Black unemployment is the lowest it has ever been, but more needs to be 
done.
  Madam Speaker, one out of three Black families still has negative 
wealth--or no money, meaning they are in debt, living paycheck to 
paycheck. One out of every four Black children born in 1990 will 
experience the incarceration of their fathers in their lifetimes. One 
out of every six Black boys is suspended from school. It is still the 
case that one in nine Black children will enter the foster care system 
and have to live with the devastation that comes along with that.
  This should not be done at the expense of any other community but 
should happen in concert with how we address the needs of the 
disinherited and marginalized amongst us.
  We have already seen what Black men can do when the game is fair and 
the rules are made public. Black men can excel at sports, not merely 
because we are physically gifted but, rather, because the game cannot 
be rigged. When the rules are clear and everyone has the opportunity to 
play by the same standards, we can win. When the playing field is even 
and nobody gets to tilt the game in their favor, Black men can thrive.
  Madam Speaker, I say to my friends today that we need Black men to

[[Page H1090]]

thrive in America. We need all the genius and creativity that Black men 
have to offer.
  This Nation would be unlivable without the genius of Frederick 
Douglass and the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.

                              {time}  2045

  What would America be without the literary power of James Baldwin and 
Ralph Ellison?
  This Nation would be an incomplete project without what Black men 
have given to this country. Let us recommit ourselves to the expanding 
future of Black men and boys. In doing so, let us reaffirm our 
commitment to one another.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman 
from Louisiana (Mr. Carter), my honorable colleague.
  Mr. CARTER of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative 
Cherfilus-McCormick for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, the treatment of Black men and boys in our society is 
not a new issue. It demands our urgent attention and decisive action. 
The statistics paint a grim picture.
  The life expectancy of a Black man in our country remains staggering 
low. Black men are disproportionately affected by mass incarceration, 
trapped in a vicious cycle that perpetuates inequality and injustice.
  Our boys are funneled into a school-to-prison pipeline at an alarming 
rate, their futures stolen before they can flourish.
  Gun violence, health disparities, police brutality, unemployment, 
educational and income inequalities: These are just some of the burdens 
that Black men and boys disproportionately shoulder in our society.
  Despite these challenges, we have shown remarkable resilience. We 
have risen as icons in culture, education, fashion, sports, music, and 
politics, proving that our potential knows no bounds. However, we 
cannot be complacent. We must confront the systemic injustices that 
continue to oppress us and work tirelessly to dismantle the chains of 
racism and inequality. We must invest in education, healthcare, 
economic opportunity, and criminal justice reform to ensure that every 
Black man and boy has a chance to survive and, more importantly, to 
thrive.
  I fought tirelessly to end healthcare inequities for Black Americans, 
and part of that is taking care of our mental health in the same way we 
take care of our physical health.
  I introduced the Medical Health Workforce Act to increase the number 
of culturally competent mental health care providers in the United 
States, and I will keep fighting to reduce the stigma surrounding 
mental health care.
  It is okay to sometimes not be okay. You are not alone. Stand firm 
and know that if you need help, help is there for you.
  Recognize that we are a people and we all have a responsibility to 
care for each other.
  Additionally, I am an original cosponsor of the PSA Screening for HIM 
Act. This bill requires health insurance providers to offer screenings 
without any cost-sharing requirements for Black men or men with a 
history of prostate cancer between the ages of 55 and 69; those 
individuals that are at the highest risk.
  Prostate cancer affects Black men in the United States at an alarming 
rate but it does not have to be a death sentence.
  Every year, the Black community is disproportionately affected by 
prostate cancer. Moreover, Black men are twice as likely to die from 
prostate cancer as White men, but when we are diagnosed early enough, 
the survival rate is 97 percent. When diagnosed early enough, 97 
percent survival rate.
  When the engine light in your car goes off, you pull over. You check 
the oil. You check the fluids.
  You make sure your car is all right because you don't want your 
precious engine to be damaged. But when our bodies tell us something is 
going wrong, we ignore it, whether it is mental or physical. We have to 
learn to pay attention to that light that indicates something is wrong, 
and then we have to be bold enough and bad enough to seek help and to 
know that sometimes it is okay to not be okay. There is nothing wrong 
with it.
  The stigma associated with mental health is too great, and we as a 
community have to build beyond it. We saw what happened with the young 
people after COVID. Isolation, our babies, sitting at home with nothing 
to do but the internet and the dangers, and what we see happen as a 
result of that.
  You are not alone. The attack is real, and we as a community must do 
something about it.
  The Congressional Black Caucus is doing just that.
  When we stand up and we fight for our young men and boys to tell them 
that: You will not be a lost cause, that are not alone, that we believe 
in you. We know that you can be successful, and we know that you can be 
great. We are going to stand with you through thick and thin.
  We know erasures are on pencils for a reason because sometimes we 
make a mistake. It is not the mistake; it is how you recover from it.
  Our society must do better. We must provide better educational 
opportunities, better economic opportunities and higher wages so people 
can enjoy a greater quality of life.
  Supporting Black men and boys is not just a moral imperative, it is 
essential for the prosperity and well-being of our entire Nation. 
Together, let's advocate for change and build a future where every 
Black man and boy could reach their full potential and their God-given 
talents.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
Louisiana (Mr. Carter).
  Madam Speaker, today I rise to discuss a pressing issue that has long 
lingered in the shadows of society, which is the reality of health 
disparities that disproportionately impact Black men and boys in the 
United States.
  It is of grave concern that requires our collective attention, 
empathy, and most importantly, action.
  The staggering health disparities faced by Black men and boys in the 
United States demands concrete legislative action.
  As Members of Congress, it is our duty to fight tirelessly to end 
these disparities through comprehensive and long-term policies that 
address the root causes of these injustices.

  We cannot ignore the profound and harsh truth that health and well-
being of Black men and boys are in jeopardy. We see this truth manifest 
in the life expectancy gap that persists between Black and White men in 
America.
  Studies have shown that Black men are more likely to experience 
significantly shorter lifespans than their White counterparts. This is 
both at birth and at the age of 65.
  According to the CDC, for White men, life expectancy at birth is 
about 6 years longer than at 65. However, for Black men, that gap is 
over 9 years, showing that Black men are more likely to die 
prematurely. This is not merely a statistical anomaly but a symptom of 
a system that does not address the root causes of these disparities.
  Such studies have shown that the burden of chronic disease, such as 
hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease, disproportionately affect 
Black men and boys. This is not a result of a mere circumstance but, 
rather, a consequence of systemic issues, including limited access to 
quality healthcare, economic disparities, and racism.
  Furthermore, diseases like obesity impact Black men and boys at 
alarming rates. Obesity-related health disparities are felt most 
acutely by underserved populations, including populations and 
communities of color, low-income communities, and those who live in 
rural areas.
  That why I introduced H. Res. 1047, a resolution alongside my CBC 
colleague, Gwen Moore, recognizing the urgent need to prevent and treat 
obesity as a disease to reduce the risk of related diseases and 
comorbidities amongst the Black community.
  We must acknowledge that healthcare is a fundamental human right, not 
a privilege dictated by one's racial or ethnic background. To bridge 
the gap in life expectancy and to address the prevalence of chronic 
diseases, we must prioritize this issue and allocate resources for 
preventive care and community health programs in underserved areas.
  The mental health crisis amongst Black men and boys is also of major 
concern. The stigma surrounding mental health in the Black community 
often prevents individuals from seeking the health they desperately 
need.

[[Page H1091]]

As a result, Black men and boys are more likely to suffer in silence, 
leading to higher rates of untreated mental health issues and, 
tragically, a greater risk of suicide.
  We must champion comprehensive legislation, expanding access to 
mental health services by allocating funds for mental health awareness 
campaigns, destigmatization initiatives, and community-based mental 
health clinics. We can create an environment where Black men and boys 
feel comfortable seeking help when they need it.
  We cannot turn a blind eye to these horrific disparities any longer. 
It is our moral imperative to confront the root causes of this crisis 
and work collectively toward a more equitable and just healthcare 
system.
  We must advocate for policies that address socioeconomic 
inequalities, improve access to education, increase employment 
opportunities, and eliminate the racial biases that exists within the 
healthcare system.
  All these things are possible if Members of Congress commit to 
changing the trajectory of our Black men and our boys.
  I have been fortunate to raise a Black boy, and I pray every day that 
he can actually live beyond the odds. That is going to take more than 
prayer. That will take actions from all of our colleagues to make sure 
that all of our children have the same opportunities, regardless of 
their race, where they live, and where they are from.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues today to start supporting, 
allocating funds, and taking affirmative steps to change the trajectory 
of our Black men and boys, starting with health inequalities, 
specifically mental health and obesity treatments and comorbidities.
  Madam Speaker, you have heard from my distinguished colleagues on 
Black men and boys, all issues of great importance to the Congressional 
Black Caucus, our constituents, Congress, and all Americans tonight.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                          ____________________