E256 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks March 5, 2018 was raised by her mother, Dorothy Clark, who WHY WE CAN WAIT NO LONGER logically advanced weaponry is far more dan- worked to support her and instilled in her a AND THE FIERCE URGENCY TO gerous to public safety than ever before. love of music. Starting with classical piano les- ENACT NOW RESPONSIBLE GUN At no point in our nation’s history has a sin- sons, Elaine grew as a songwriter and eventu- VIOLENCE PREVENTION LEGIS- gle human been more capable of inflicting ally moved to Los Angeles to pursue music as LATION AFTER PARKLAND, massive death and misery, and our society is a career. FLORIDA MASS SHOOTING producing more individuals who seek to em- ploy such means to carry out their ill inten- In LA, she engaged with the civil rights tions. movement, and after the assassination of Mar- HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE Far too often, the tool of choice for would- tin Luther King, Jr., Brown was motivated to OF TEXAS be killers are military-style assault weapons join the Black Panther Party. As a party mem- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES with high-capacity magazines. ber, she helped establish the groundbreaking Monday, March 5, 2018 Every day, on average, 92 Americans are Free Breakfast for Children Program, Free Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise victims of gun violence, resulting in more than Busing to Prisons Program, and Free Legal today to call upon the President and the Con- 33,000 deaths annually. Aid Program. gress of the United States to act without delay In raising this issue, we recognize and re- In 1968, Brown was commissioned by David and pass legislation to prevent gun violence spect other cultures that exist in America; law- Hilliard, the Party Chief of Staff, to record the and mass casualties from shootings. abiding citizens who are responsible in their album ‘‘Seize the Time,’’ which includes the The community of Parkland, Florida—along ownership of firearms. anthem of the Black Panther Party. The Par- with the rest of the country—is still reeling Many of these citizens are responsible with ty’s co-founder, Huey P. Newton, later com- from the horrific tragedy that took place at the respect to the lethal capacity of their firearms, missioned her to record a second album, Marjorie Stoneman Douglass High School on opting not to obtain assault weapons or to ‘‘Until We’re Free’’, to promote the party’s Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2018. equip assault weapons with 30, 50, 75, or message, ‘‘All Power to the People.’’ Our hearts still ache with sadness and dis- 100-round magazines. belief for the families and loved ones of the 17 In August of 1974, Elaine Brown took over Here is what I think the Congress can and students—sons and daughters, brothers and must do to reduce gun violence without as the chair of the Black Panther Party—the sisters—who lost their lives in this senseless, abridging the Second Amendment rights of first and only woman to lead the revolutionary horrific act of domestic terrorism. law-abiding Americans. organization. Under her leadership, the party It is safe to say that America is sick and Extend the waiting period to purchase or focused on electoral politics and community tired of being sick and tired of gun violence. transfer dangerous weapons like the AR–15 service. In 1977, she managed Lionel Wilson’s That is why we must act now to stop gun vi- pending completion of background checks to 7 victorious campaign to become Oakland’s first olence, protect citizens, and save lives. days. black mayor. That same year, I was proud to Here are the top 6 actions the President That is why I have introduced H.R. 4268, work on her trailblazing campaign for the Oak- and the Congress can and must take now to the ‘‘Gun Safety, Not Sorry Act.’’ land City Council. protect our communities: Raise the minimum age to purchase or After leaving the party in 1977, she wrote Require universal background checks to transfer dangerous weapons like the AR–15, her memoir ‘‘A Taste of Power: A Black Wom- keep guns out of dangerous hands; high-capacity magazines, ammunitions, and si- Extend the waiting period to purchase or an’s Story’’ in 1982 and returned to her work lencers from 18 to 21 years of age. transfer dangerous weapons like the AR–15 on the struggle of black liberation and prison That is why I have introduced H.R. 5088, pending completion of background checks to 7 reform. In 1996, Brown moved to Atlanta, the ‘‘No Mass Atrocities with Guns Act’’ (‘No days; MAGA Act’). Georgia, and founded Fields of Flowers, Inc., Raise the minimum age to purchase or Reinstate and strengthen the federal ban on a non-profit committed to providing edu- transfer dangerous weapons like the AR–15, assault weapons. cational opportunities for impoverished African high-capacity magazines, ammunitions, and si- I am an original co-sponsor of H.R. 3947, American children. lencers from 18 to 21 years of age; legislation that will reinstates the assault Elaine also founded Mothers Advocating Ju- Ban military-style assault weapons; weapons ban that has been introduced by my venile Justice and the Michael Lewis Legal Limit high-capacity magazines; and colleague, Congressman DAVID CICILLINE of Defense Committee, where she spent nearly Increase access to mental health services. Rhode Island. two decades supporting the legal appeal of We can take action without infringing on the Reinstate a federal ban on bump stocks and Michael ‘‘Little B’’ Lewis, who was wrongly ac- 2nd Amendment rights of Americans. high-capacity magazines holding more than cused of murder and tried as an adult at 13. We need to make it harder for criminals to ten rounds and allowing a shooter to inflict Elaine wrote The Condemnation of Little B, obtain guns by strengthening the background check system. mass damage in a short period of time without exposing racism that affects millions of poor reloading will save lives. African Americans and the barbarity of trying We need to ensure that mental health pro- fessionals know their options for reporting I will soon be introducing the ‘‘Stop Abuse, children as adults. In 2003, Brown co-founded threats of violence—even as we acknowledge Violence, and Ending Lives Act of 2018,’’ leg- the National Alliance for Radical Prison Re- that someone with a mental illness is far more islation to ban the sale and possession of form and has continued her advocacy by fre- likely to be the victim of a violent crime than bump stocks. quently lecturing at colleges and universities the perpetrator. Require a background check for every gun throughout the country. We must also make safe gun storage a pri- sale, while respecting reasonable exceptions Elaine continues to co-author many books ority. for cases such as gifts between family mem- and serves in leadership roles for various As the founder and Co-Chair of the Con- bers and temporary loans for sporting pur- committees, and is the CEO of a non-profit or- gressional Children’s Caucus, a senior Mem- poses. ganization, Oakland & The World Enterprises, ber of the Judiciary Committee, and the Rank- I am an original co-sponsor of H.R. 4240, Inc. which is dedicated to launching and sus- ing Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the ‘‘Public Safety and Second Amendment taining for-profit businesses for cooperative- Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, I Rights Protection Act of 2017,’’ legislation that ownership by the formerly incarcerated and have listened far too often to the testimony of requires universal background checks and those facing monumental social barriers. individuals who have survived tragedies or lost closes the gun show loophole that has been introduced by my colleague, Congressman On a personal note, Elaine has been a loved ones as a result of gun violence. In the words of President Obama after the MIKE THOMPSON of California. ‘‘comrade’’ and friend since the early 1970’s, 2013 Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, It is estimated that four out of ten gun buy- whose friendship, intellect, and life’s work I ‘‘We’re going to have to come together and ers do not go through a background check deeply appreciate and admire. take meaningful action to prevent more trage- when purchasing a firearm because federal Today, on behalf of California’s 13th Con- dies like this, regardless of the politics.’’ law only requires these checks when someone gressional District, it is my honor to celebrate While it is certainly true that violent crime buys a gun from a federally licensed dealer. Elaine Brown and her accomplishments, advo- and homicide rates in this country have been That would be like allowing four out of ten cacy and contributions for the underrep- declining in recent years, they are still far people to choose if they would like to go resented. Her work toward the empowerment above those in other industrialized nations. through airport security. of women and minorities, especially African There exists a culture of violence in Amer- This loophole allows felons, domestic abus- Americans, is a true inspiration to many. ica; a subculture that with today’s techno- ers, and those prohibited because of mental

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:19 Mar 06, 2018 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A05MR8.013 E05MRPT1 March 5, 2018 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E257 illness to easily bypass the criminal back- Congress should fund scientific research on receiving the Civil Air Patrol’s highest cadet ground check system and buy firearms at gun the relationship between popular culture and honor, the Spaatz Award and the rank of shows, through private sellers, over the inter- gun violence, while ensuring that parents have cadet colonel. She and her family deserve to net or out of the trunks of cars. access to the information they need to make be extremely proud. Strengthen the National Instant Criminal informed decisions about what their families f Background Check System (NICS) database watch, listen to, and play. to ensure it is up to date by requiring federal Here is what I think neither the President, COMMEMORATING THE 165TH ANNI- and state agencies to transfer important the Congress, nor state and local govern- VERSARY OF STEINWAY & SONS records to the database expeditiously since ments should not do to reduce gun violence. without the information, the reliability of a We should not arm teachers because they HON. JOSEPH CROWLEY background check is questionable. are not trained to handle weapons; this is not OF NEW YORK Pass legislation aimed specifically at crack- what they signed up for. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ing down on illegal gun trafficking and straw- We must not surrender to NRA even though Monday, March 5, 2018 purchasing which often puts guns in the hands the gun lobby has long enjoyed tremendous of people who are prohibited from having influence over congressional Republicans and Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to them. some Democrats. recognize the 165th anniversary of a Queens Straw-purchasing is when a prohibited buyer Persons who live in fear of gun violence and treasure, and one of the world’s most iconic has someone with no criminal history walk into mass shootings at schools, theaters, places of brands—Steinway & Sons. a gun store, pass a background check and worship and work, and public spaces are not Steinway makes world-renowned pianos, purchase a gun with the purpose of giving it afraid of the NRA. distinguished for their grandness and master- to the prohibited buyer. What they are afraid of is an AR–15 in the ful craftsmanship. Each piano consists of more Restore funding for public safety and law hands of a mentally unstable person. than 12,000 individual parts, and is said to enforcement initiatives aimed at reducing gun Americans are a can-do people; we do not have its own musical character as unique as violence. bemoan our problems and accept terrible out- the individual who plays it. These magnificent Congress should fund law enforcement’s ef- comes. works of art, I am proud to say, are made in forts to reduce gun violence, while supporting We act to solve them. my district. federal research into causes of gun violence. We have made our cars and trucks and The Steinway legacy dates back to 1853, There is no reason the Centers for Disease roads safer and reduced traffic fatalities. when Heinrich Engelhard Steinway founded Control (CDC) or the National Institute of We have virtually eradicated polio, small Steinway & Sons in New York, a few years Health (NIH) should be prohibited from re- pox, and other debilitating and life-threatening after emigrating from Germany. The high qual- searching the causes of gun violence. diseases. ity and meticulous craftsmanship of Steinway’s That is why I have co-sponsored H.R. 1832, We respond immediately to natural disasters pianos led to rapid growth for the business legislation that authorizes the appropriation of caused by hurricanes, earthquakes, tornados, and the opening of a factory in Queens. Along funds to the Centers for Disease Control and floods, and man-made disasters caused by with the factory, the Steinway family estab- Prevention for conducting or supporting re- acts of terrorism. lished a company town, Steinway Village, search on firearms safety or gun violence pre- When it comes to reducing or preventing which spurred development in the neighbor- vention. gun violence, we must summon that same hoods that are today known as Astoria and I have also co-sponsored H.R. 1478, the spirit of American resolve and know-how and Long Island City in Queens, and they spread Gun Violence Research Act, which repeals the get the job done. their family values of investing in community. provision that in practice prohibits the Depart- We can do it; after all, we are Americans. The philanthropic work of the Steinway family ment of Health and Human Services from f endures today throughout Queens and New sponsoring research on gun violence. York City. And there is no reason for the restrictions IN HONOR OF TASHA MCKELVEY That same factory, which first opened in the federal law places on our law enforcement of- FOR EARNING THE SPAATZ early 1870s, continues to operate today. The ficers’ ability to track and combat the spread AWARD AND RANK OF CADET historic factory has been producing the world’s of illegal guns. COLONEL IN THE CIVIL AIR PA- finest pianos, virtually uninterrupted, for more Close the holes in our mental-health system TROL than 145 years. Today, the factory employs and make sure that care is available for those over 300 union craftspeople, and many more who need it. HON. LIZ CHENEY people in management, administrative and Congress must improve prevention, early OF WYOMING sales roles in New York and throughout Amer- intervention, and treatment of mental illness IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ica. Steinway & Sons is an American success while working to eliminate the stigma associ- Monday, March 5, 2018 story, integral not only to the history of the ated with mental illness. borough of Queens and New York City, but Ms. CHENEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to Access to mental health services should be also to the cultural story of the United States congratulate Cadet Colonel Tasha McKelvey improved, the shortage of mental health pro- of America. It is a jewel that elevates Amer- on earming the Spaatz award and the rank of fessionals should be addressed, and funding ican craftsmanship and innovation throughout cadet colonel in the Civil Air Patrol. should be made available for those programs the world. The Spaatz Award is the highest cadet that have proven to be effective. As a lifelong musician and a son of Queens, honor in the Civil Air Patrol, given to less than That is why I have co-sponsored H.R. 1982, it is with great pride that I celebrate the 165th one percent of all cadets. It acknowledges the ’’Mental Health Access and Gun Violence anniversary of the world’s number one piano, those who have demonstrated excellent lead- Prevention Act,’’ legislation that authorizes the New York’s very own Steinway & Sons. Department of Justice, the Department of ership, character, fitness, and aerospace f Health and Human Services, and the Social knowledge in the CAP Cadet Program. During Security Administration to: (1) increase access her time in the Wyoming Wing of the CAP, IN RECOGNITION OF JOHN to mental health care treatment and services, Ms. McKelvey has done just that. Among her PALLONE and (2) promote reporting of mental health in- peers, she is a leader and source of inspira- formation to the National Instant Criminal tion for inspiration during trying times. Her de- HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR. Background Check System. termination and grit also resulted in her pass- OF NEW JERSEY Help local communities get unwanted and il- ing the Spaatz exam on her first try, a rarity IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES legal guns out of the hands of those who across the nation. Monday, March 5, 2018 should not have them. Ms. McKelvey is the first female and the Congress should help support and develop sixth cadet within the Wyoming Wing to re- Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, it is with great local programs that get unwanted guns off our ceive the Spaatz Award. I thank her for her pleasure and pride that I rise today to con- streets, such as gun buy-back programs that commitment to serve our great nation. Her gratulate my brother, Long Branch Councilman proved so effective in Australia. bravery, sacrifice, and resolve are truly admi- John Pallone, on his selection as the Amerigo Finally, we must address our culture’s glori- rable. Ms. McKelvey has set an excellent ex- Vespucci Society Man of the Year. I joined the fication of violence seen and heard though our ample to her family, friends, and peers. Amerigo Vespucci Society on March 3, 2018 movie screens, television shows, music and Again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to con- at their 125th dinner gala to celebrate John video games. gratulate Cadet Colonel Tasha McKelvey on and recognize his outstanding work.

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