Statements For the Record

Mr. Speaker, the House Republican majority has decided that appeasing radical Tea Party extremists is more important to them than providing necessary funding for the continued operation of the federal government, even on a temporary basis. Passing a common sense continuing resolution would ensure vital government services for millions of American families and business. These are the basic services provided everyday by federal agencies that keep our communities and country strong.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the 100^th anniversary of the Saint Paul Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and acknowledge their tremendous efforts to defend the ideals of justice and equality for all people. The origins of the Saint Paul NAACP are closely tied to those of the national organization, which is the oldest, largest and most recognized civil rights group in the country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to submit two articles into the congressional record. The first is an op-ed that I wrote about the importance of federal nutrition assistance that was published in the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The second is a powerful story published in the Star Tribune and written by Sue Bulger, a Minnesotan, whose family uses SNAP benefits.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the vital work of the Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) on the 20^th anniversary of its founding. Since its inception in 1993, this organization and its army of volunteers has dedicated itself to protecting America’s greatest river here at the head of navigation. Countless hours of hard work and dedication by FMR in partnership with many other organizations and individuals is making a difference for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to the staff, board, donors and volunteers of Books for Africa on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of this nonprofit organization based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Since its founding in 1988, Books for Africa has grown into the largest shipper of donated text and library books to the African continent, having shipped over 27 million books to 48 countries. In 2012 alone, Books for Africa shipped more than 2.2 million books to 22 African countries.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the inspiring career of Mr. Rick Shiomi, a leader for Asian-American actors and artists, as he retires as Artistic Director from Mu Performing Arts in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Mr. Speaker, last week The Hill published a column entitled “Don’t force an irresponsible vote on Iran sanctions.” The column started with the following two sentences: “The House of Representatives is under pressure to vote on a new Iran sanctions bill, H.R. 850, before members leave town for August recess. Scheduling such a vote would be irresponsible and highly counterproductive to U.S. strategy on Iran.”

Mr. Speaker, in the world’s poorest countries, nearly one billion people struggle with hunger every day. Chronic food insecurity limits a child’s ability to grow and to learn.

Across Africa and Asia, hard-working farmers need help producing enough food to feed their families throughout the year. Many of these farmers are women. In fact, it is estimated that 80 percent of these agricultural workers are women.