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E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 115 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION Vol. 164 WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 2018 No. 75 House of Representatives The House met at 10 a.m. and was housing. Now, in my district, in the ownership is out of the question. Even called to order by the Speaker pro tem- East Bay in northern California, the as a dedicated public servant, I can’t pore (Mr. COMER). average renter in Oakland would be afford to work in urban schools in the f forced to spend a staggering—mind Bay area. you, staggering—70 percent of their in- A former student wrote me: I had to DESIGNATION OF SPEAKER PRO come on housing if they were to move withdraw from classes at UC Berkeley TEMPORE today. That is 70 percent. Clearly, the so I could find stable housing and The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- affordable housing crisis is off the scale enough income to afford my monthly fore the House the following commu- in my district. rent. nication from the Speaker: In April, I sent an email to my con- Mr. Speaker, our community, our WASHINGTON, DC, stituents asking for their stories and country, cannot function without May 9, 2018. suggestions on how to address this very nurses, teachers, or young people living I hereby appoint the Honorable JAMES important issue. Today I would like to in decent affordable housing. We need COMER to act as Speaker pro tempore on this share just a few of those stories which to solve this crisis before it is too late. day. really touched my heart. These stories represent just a small PAUL D. RYAN, One woman shared how, being unable number of the responses I received. I Speaker of the House of Representatives. to afford a place to live, she had to put heard from many constituents who are f herself in harm’s way to have shelter. delaying having children and passing MORNING-HOUR DEBATE She said: I stayed in an unsafe and up opportunities to open a business or shared housing situation much longer switch careers because they cannot af- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- than I would have had I been able to ford to move or to live where they ant to the order of the House of Janu- find an affordable place to move. I have want to live. ary 8, 2018, the Chair will now recog- found a place now but no longer have I heard from some residents who live nize Members from lists submitted by any disposable income. I worry that an in cars, on couches, or on the streets the majority and minority leaders for unexpected event could lead to being because the cost of rent has soared. morning-hour debate. unhoused. I have many friends who are Now I see, sadly, homeless camps with The Chair will alternate recognition single mothers with children who are sofas, chairs, and tables. So many peo- between the parties. All time shall be sleeping in cars or bouncing from ple have been evicted with nowhere to equally allocated between the parties, couch to couch. go. and in no event shall debate continue The housing crisis has also taken a Believe you me, there are many more beyond 11:50 a.m. Each Member, other devastating toll on seniors in my dis- in my district and across America who than the majority and minority leaders trict. One woman wrote: Many of my are homeless right now: seniors, vet- and the minority whip, shall be limited longtime friends and acquaintances erans, single moms raising children. to 5 minutes. have been forced to move out of the They have nowhere to sleep at night. f State. My husband and I have lived in We must do better so that no one is an old place for a long time, and the forced to live on the streets. We must AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS rent is relatively low; but the building do better to ensure that no child is The SPEAKER pro tempore. The may be sold, and I don’t know what we homeless. And we must do better to en- Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from would do. I am a cancer survivor and sure that no senior has to choose be- California (Ms. LEE) for 5 minutes. fear moving out of the State would tween food and rent. We must do better Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today make me lose my health insurance. I because there is no option. The afford- on behalf of every family struggling to would also have a hard time finding a able housing crisis is tearing apart pay rent, every student facing home- new job at 62. We have applied at nu- families and communities. This is not a lessness, and every city that is seeing merous senior housing apartments, but partisan issue; it is a human one. historic communities displaced. all have long waiting lists. That is why I hope my colleagues on We are facing an affordable housing These stories also highlighted the both sides of the aisle will cosponsor crisis, and we cannot ignore this epi- impact of the housing crisis on public my affordable housing resolution which demic. Over 38 million families strug- sector workers and students in our I introduced yesterday, H. Con. Res. gle to pay rent and put food on the community. 120, and affirm that all people deserve table every day because they spend One gentleman wrote: As a teacher, I access to basic living standards. We more than a third of their income on cannot afford to stay in Oakland. Home need to begin this debate, and it needs b This symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., b 1407 is 2:07 p.m. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. H3837 . VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:47 May 09, 2018 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A09MY7.000 H09MYPT1 dlhill on DSK3GLQ082PROD with HOUSE H3838 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE May 9, 2018 to be bipartisan. People deserve to hear that they do. Those first nine teachers bers, veterans, and military families that from their representatives. who taught me, they saw something in receive the resources, the justice, and And I hope that these stories which I me and in thousands of students whom the benefits that they have earned. shared will inspire all of my colleagues they have taught. You know what: These are our true American heroes. to ask their constituents about this they made a difference. They made a f crisis and convince them to join me in difference in thousands of lives, as bolstering Federal resources for afford- teachers across the country do every LIMIT MUELLER INVESTIGATION able housing. We can’t delay any day. So we should—it is fitting and ap- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The longer. propriate—honor the teachers of our Chair recognizes the gentleman from Mr. Speaker, as a person of faith, Nation. Alabama (Mr. BROOKS) for 5 minutes. there is no way that I can stand by and MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speak- watch so many people living on the Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today er, today I am sending a joint letter to streets without shelter, without food. to commemorate Military Apprecia- Attorney General Jeff Sessions asking They deserve a chance at the American tion Month. This is a time that we him to limit the Mueller investigation Dream, also. dedicate throughout the month of May in two respects. The letter to Attorney f honoring and celebrating those who General Jeff Sessions states: HONORING MARTIN TWENHAFEL have served our Nation, sacrificed; We, the undersigned, urge you to, one, those of our military servicemembers, limit Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation The SPEAKER pro tempore. The their families, both past and present, to, A, alleged Russian interference with the Chair recognizes the gentleman from because families are a key part of those 2016 Presidential election, herein referred to Illinois (Mr. BOST) for 5 minutes. who have served our Nation. Their as ‘‘Russian interference,’’ and, B, alleged Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I rise today courage and their sacrifice, therefore, collusion between the Trump campaign and to honor an Illinois hero who passed Russians with respect to the alleged Russian should never, ever be forgotten. interference, herein referred to as ‘‘Trump away this last week. As a nation, on Memorial Day, later Martin Twenhafel of Gorham, Illi- collusion.’’ this month, we will honor and remem- Two, terminate the investigative phase of nois, passed at the age of 92. He joins ber the men and women who have given Mueller’s authority no later than July 5, his wife, Katherine, who passed in their lives to serve our great Nation. 2018, which is the 2-year anniversary of the March. Martin was a U.S. Army vet- Every year I join in the Memorial Day date on which the FBI began investigating eran and served in Europe during World ceremonies across California’s San alleged Russian interference with the 2016 War II. He was a life member of the Joaquin Valley. This year I will par- Presidential election. American Legion Paul Stout Post 127 ticipate in the Memorial Day ceremony We respectfully request that you consider the following reasoning for our request. and VFW Post 7190 in Murphysboro for at the San Joaquin Valley National over 70 years.

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