On the recordMarch 27, 2017
I thank the gentleman, Mr. Veasey, and also Mrs. Demings for their leadership in this hour. I know that our theme is ``What Do We Have to Lose''? That is something that the President, during his campaign, asked the African- American community: What do you have to lose? Why don't you think about voting Republican this time? So I was a part of the group that Mr. Clyburn referred to that went and met with the President last week. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus Executive Committee met with the President. We went over to the White House to answer the question: What do we have to lose? As my colleagues who have spoken before me mentioned, we believe that we have a lot to lose. I think that the budget is a reflection of all that we have to lose. As my colleague, Val Demings, said, a budget is a reflection of your values. It is a reflection of where you think taxpayers' money should be spent. So, in the opportunity that I had to speak with the President, I mentioned to him that I was sure that he was aware that, in the United States, over 2 million people are incarcerated. In fact, we incarcerate more people in the United States than any other country on the planet. What I told him that he probably wasn't aware of was that this was an issue--a bipartisan, bicameral issue--that Members of Congress in both Houses were looking at because we recognized, over the years, that incarceration is not the solution to communities that are experiencing crime.…
