[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 13168]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          STORIES IN THE NEWS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great privilege, first of 
all, to speak about the first item of interest to America and to many 
of us as certainly when the President represents the United States of 
America overseas. I had the privilege of traveling with the President 
for a most dynamic, unique, and historic mission, and that was to Kenya 
and Ethiopia.
  Let me congratulate him for a stupendous diplomatic success and 
interaction with a continent that will be the largest populated land 
area in the 21st century. What an amazing experience to be able to 
engage with businesses and see the opportunity for economic empowerment 
and cooperation between the United States and the many nation-states of 
the continent of Africa.
  It was exciting to see new, young businesspersons seeking an 
opportunity to work in their countries, but work with the United 
States, eager to work with U.S. businesses, welcoming U.S. investment, 
creating jobs in Africa, creating jobs in America--in particular, a 
broadcasting company that had been there for 50 years creating jobs in 
the United States, creating jobs in Kenya.
  Let me indicate what a success this story was. Along with the 
regional security issues, there was a commitment with the African Union 
to stand against Boko Haram and a commitment to establish civility and 
peace in South Sudan by demanding that there be a resolution of this by 
August 17--not the President standing alone, but working with the 
African Union, representing the tens upon tens of African nations, it 
was a resounding success, and I congratulate the President.
  As I come home and as a member of the Committee on the Judiciary, I 
am reminded of the tragedy of a young woman who had all of her life 
before her, and that was Sandra Bland.
  My commitment still is to offer my appreciation to the law 
enforcement officers across America and, as we all do, respect law and 
order; but in the instance where there is a tragic result, the death of 
this young woman, 28, with two undergraduate degrees and a master's 
degree, her death was the result of malfeasance.

                              {time}  1115

  We must walk together in a respectful manner with law enforcement and 
civilians. We have done it before. We must do it again.
  I believe that it is crucial for the Department of Justice to take 
over this investigation on a number of aspects, including patting down 
and other practices of law enforcement in Waller County and Hempstead, 
and certainly the question of this young lady's civil rights.
  I ask that they look seriously, because even though there are alleged 
good intentions by the local authorities in establishing committees to 
review this, this is not regular order, this is not a procedure that 
works. No one understands the decision of a district attorney--unless 
he yields to an independent prosecutor, which this district attorney in 
Waller County is not--to have a committee of individuals with no 
authority whatsoever review this matter.
  People and families are in pain. Certainly, we can do better as law 
enforcement and civilians working together.
  I also want to recognize that this is the 50th year of the Voting 
Rights Act. I join the leadership of Nancy Pelosi, Mr. Hoyer, and Mr. 
Clyburn in celebrating and acknowledging this exciting time that opened 
the doors of voting for everyone. One vote, one person.
  On August 6, I call upon my community in the 18th Congressional 
District in Houston to have a voting day--registering people to vote in 
a nonpartisan manner, bringing them out and celebrating the right to 
vote, when many countries do not have it.
  Let's make the Voting Rights reauthorization the cause of this 
Congress. Let's have Americans celebrate voting rights.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, let me say this. While I was in Africa, one of 
the headlines was the killing of Cecil, a beautiful lion. The nations I 
visited were falling to their knees because they believe in wildlife 
preservation. We enjoy it here in our Nation's zoos. We haven't had 
that privilege of seeing these wonderful animals--giraffes, lions, 
tigers, and a whole array--in the wild.
  It was an American who killed this beautiful lion. What a disgrace. 
That individual is a disgrace. This individual had the responsibility 
for knowing of his guides and of the procedures of doing this kill for 
sport. He lured the animal out of the park.
  America must stand with Kenya, Ethiopia, and the other African 
nations in showing its outrage. Sadly, it was a citizen of the United 
States who was more interested in his personal privilege and pleasure 
than he was in understanding this iconic lion--the last male species of 
this kind, with a black mane and a giant of a personality--and helping 
to preserve this species. He couldn't find any other joy than killing 
Cecil. I am saddened by this, and America should be saddened as well.

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