Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of Martin ``Mich'' Matsudaira. Mr. Matsudaira was a pillar for Asian American advocacy in Washington State. He dedicated his life to increasing awareness for the history and challenges of those in the Asian American community.

Mr. Matsudaira was an influential voice in Washington State. Serving as the first Director of The Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs (CAPAA)--he helped create one of the first and most successful commissions of its kind. His work with CAPAA has touched thousands of people's lives. From his advocacy on behalf of Vietnamese Refugees during the transition process after the Vietnam War, to leading the charge for the redress of Executive Order 9066 and Japanese Internment, Mr. Matsudaira was a champion for Asian-American rights and a political advocate.

Mr. Matsudaira personally understood the challenges that Asian- Americans face in our country. Growing up, he and his family spent three years in a Japanese internment camp. After his service in the United States Air Force from 1955 to 1960, he graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in economics and went to work for Boeing. He worked tirelessly to promote social justice throughout his career, and became a champion for diverse communities in Washington State. On top of his critical work in public service, he ran a small business called Mich's Mens' Shop, and raised four children. Mr. Matsudaira will be remembered for his groundbreaking efforts in civil rights, and his commitment to the community around him.

Madam Speaker, it is with great honor and humility that I recognize the life of Mich Matsudaira, a staple of the Seattle Community, and a leader in civic service.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 252, I call up the resolution (H. Res. 124) expressing opposition to banning service in the Armed Forces by openly transgender individuals, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Res. 124.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 5 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, this resolution is very straightforward. The Department of Defense, in cooperation with the White House, recently issued a policy, which will be implemented in a couple weeks, that would, effectively, bar transgender people from being able to serve in the military. We have this resolution to reject that policy. It is that simple and that straightforward.

We believe the policy that the Pentagon is putting forward is unfair, based on ignorance and bigotry, and will actually harm national security. We ask the House, in this resolution, to express the sense of Congress that we oppose this policy from the Pentagon.

Again, what this policy is primarily based on is ignorance and bias against the transgender community. The policies being implemented will make it virtually impossible for them to serve in the military. This is unfair discrimination, and it is also harmful to national security.

The Army last year failed to meet its recruitment quotas. It is a constant challenge in the military to find the people who have the character, the capability, and the ability to serve in our military.

We have the best military in the history of the world. We need high- qualified people to serve. To single out a particular group of people, to discriminate against them and say that they cannot serve, not because they can't meet the qualifications--it is not because they can't run fast enough or shoot straight enough or work hard enough--to be a member of the military, but because of something that literally has nothing to do with their ability to do their job, is bad for national security and is unfair discrimination.

We have heard a lot from people about how difficult it is for unit cohesion to have transgender people in the military, a whole bunch of arguments. The only problem with that is the military leaders who have actually been responsible for this--and I am just going to read one quote. There are many, and some of my colleagues will say it as well.

Army Chief of Staff Milley, who is about to become the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, last year said

there are precisely zero reports of issues of cohesion, discipline, or morale as a result of transgender people serving.

There is no issue in terms of readiness, despite what the proponents of this policy will say. It is discrimination, pure and simple, and it is unnecessary.

We also hear opponents say that the policy doesn't ban transgender people from serving and, under certain circumstances, they can. But those circumstances, as described, are so limiting and restricting. Worst of all, as I will explain in a minute, in certain parts, it allows them to serve only if they are willing to deny who they are. That amounts to a ban. If you cannot be who you are and serve in the military, then that is a choice nobody should have to make.

Let's start with the fact that, right now, under this policy, anyone who wants to join the military, if they have transitioned to a different gender, either gone through the surgery or began hormone therapy, this ban says they cannot join. Again, this doesn't say anything about their fitness to serve, in terms of their physical ability or anything. If they have simply had transition surgery or gone through hormone therapy, they are barred from serving.

Worse than that, the people who are already in the military who are transgender are, to a certain extent, grandfathered in. In many different places throughout this policy, it says over and over again that they have to serve in their biological sex. A lot of people go: Well, what the heck does that mean? That gets at the essence, at the very heart, of what it means to be transgender.

This is not something that is just in people's minds. It is a physiological condition that people are born into in which they decide they are more comfortable being in the opposite gender. That is one of the cornerstone difficulties that all these people have to go through: Who am I? What gender do I want to be?

Working with therapists and working with other people, they make that determination. They decide: I know who I am, and this is who I am going to be.

This policy now says: Sorry, we don't care what your doctor says. You cannot be the gender that you know that you are. You have to deny who you are in order to stay in the military.

In many places throughout this policy, that is a consistent theme and points out what is so totally and completely wrong about this policy.

You have also heard, undoubtedly, that there are higher healthcare costs for people who are transgender. There are a number of studies out that show that actually isn't true. Yes, healthcare expense is part of people who serve in the military, and, regrettably, people who join the military have all manner of different healthcare expenses that we do have to pick up, but there is no evidence that this has an increased cost over an average servicemember.

Furthermore, we know that the purpose of this policy is not about cost because one of the first points that I made was about how they are not now going to be allowed to join the military even if they have already gone through transition surgery or hormone therapy. So even if they are all done with that, and there is no additional medical cost to come, this policy says that they are barred and banned from joining the military.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself an additional 15 seconds.

It makes it perfectly clear that this policy is unfair discrimination based on bigotry and ignorance, and I urge this House to reject it.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, just briefly, I will agree, this is a messaging bill, and the message is this is a bad policy. That is what the House is doing.

I will also agree that, when it comes to crafting the right policy in this area, it should be done in committee, and it will be done in committee. That is why we didn't bring that out here on the floor.

But I think it is important for the House of Representatives to make it clear how wrong we think this policy is.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Kennedy).

Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman from Massachusetts an additional 1 minute.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the Speaker of the House.

Mr. Speaker, I am sorry, at some point someone has got to tell me what ``engaging in personalities'' means. I have served in this body for a long time. I still don't know what that means.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Davis).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Speier).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the distinguished majority leader.

(Mr. HOYER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Carbajal).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Brown).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Cisneros).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

I am prepared to close at this time, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Let's remember one important point. There was no problem. This was not an issue. It was not talked about until the President decided that, in his words, he wanted to ban transgender people from serving in the military.

I hope that is not engaging in personalities. It is simply saying what he said and did. He sent out a tweet saying we should ban people who are transgender. Then the military has had to backfill that tweet with a policy. I feel bad for the members of the military who have had to do that, who have had to waste their time for the last year trying to accommodate the ignorance and bigotry of this presidential policy.

There was no problem. Every single service chief testified there is no impact on unit cohesion. We weren't talking about that until the President decided that he wanted to discriminate against transgender people.

I think the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee is 100 percent correct. Every eligible person who can perform the duties should be allowed to serve.

This policy violates that principle in a whole bunch of different ways, but I will simply mention two.

Even if you have already transitioned, even if you have already gone through all of the healthcare needs and have fully transitioned to a new gender, this policy says you will not be allowed to serve if you are transgender.

That means that fully qualified people--not ones who have potential future surgery or anything--are being banned from serving.

It also says, if you are serving now, you cannot be who you are. And this is where the ignorance comes in.

Wow. What do you mean?

You have got to be the gender you were born in.

That is not the way it works. That is ignorance talking. This policy saying that, No, sorry, you have to be in your ``biological sex'' means you have to deny who you are. And that will also ban people from serving who are otherwise 100 percent qualified.

Without question, trans men and women who are fully qualified to serve in the military will be banned by this policy.

We have already seen the other two arguments: Well, the healthcare costs will go up.

No, they won't. The stats, the evidence, the facts show that transgender people have no greater healthcare costs than the average person serving in the military.

And the unit cohesion argument is an absolute joke. This debate, this policy, prompted by the President, inserting discrimination where it did not belong, is the only thing that has caused any of this issue.

As General Milley said: zero evidence of any unit cohesion issue.

So, let's be 100 percent clear here. This policy is based on ignorance and bigotry.

And why are we doing it on the House floor instead of down in some press conference somewhere? Because the vote of this House matters more than just the individual words of a few Members.

I, as a Member of the United States House and as a citizen of the United States of America, want my Congress to go on record that we will not stand for ignorance and bigotry in our military or anywhere else.

A vote of this House makes it clear just how wrongheaded this policy is. And make no mistake about it, this is not the military that wanted this. The President drove it, and he is causing problems that do not need to be caused. We should reject this policy.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, on Monday, February 25, 2019 and Tuesday, February 26, 2019, I was unable to be present for recorded votes due to a doctor's appointment. Had I been present for these votes, I would have voted: ``yes'' on roll call vote No. 88 (on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 539); ``yes'' on roll call vote No. 89 (on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 276); ``yes'' on roll call vote No. 90 (on ordering the previous question on H. Res. 145); ``yes'' on roll call vote No. 91 (on agreeing to the resolution H. Res. 145); ``yes'' on roll call vote No. 92 (on ordering the previous question on H. Res. 144); and ``yes'' on roll call vote No. 93 (on agreeing to the resolution H. Res. 144).

Madam Speaker, I would have voted ``yes'' on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 995, as amended, which was considered on Wednesday, February 13, 2019.

Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate Dr. Susan Enfield, Superintendent of Highline Public School District on being named the 2018 National Superintendent of The Year by the National School Foundations Association (NSFA). The award recognizes superintendents who through visionary leadership and collaboration, develop partnership with their education foundation which grants all students the opportunity of success.

Dr. Enfield has extensive experience in education leadership, having served in several leadership roles across three states since 2003. She is a former high school teacher of English, Journalism, and English Language Learning. Dr. Enfield attended University of California, Berkeley before earning master's degrees from both Stanford and Harvard University. In addition, she holds a doctorate in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy from the Urban Superintendents Program at Harvard University. Prior to joining Highline Public Schools in 2012, Dr. Enfield served as the Chief Academic Officer, and the Interim Superintendent for Seattle Public Schools.

NSFA selected Dr. Enfield based on her advocacy efforts, commitment to her students, and work with the Highline Schools Foundation. During her tenure as Superintendent, Dr. Enfield has overseen the renovation of school facilities, promoted technology and media literacy, and developed a strategic plan to make all Highline public schools inclusive and culturally responsive.

Dr. Enfield's commitment to the students is clear. She has made it her mission to know every student by name, strength, and need. Under her leadership Highline Public School's high school graduation rates continue to improve. Dr. Enfield promotes the teaching of critical thinking and problem-solving skills and has made it her mission to properly prepare all 19,000 Highline Public School students for the future.

Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I recognize Dr. Enfield as the 2018 National Superintendent of The Year and celebrate her longtime commitment to education.

Madam Speaker, I respectfully submit the Rules of the Committee on Armed Services for the 116th Congress, as adopted by the committee on January 24, 2019.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of Barbara Bailey, an extraordinary leader who will be remembered for her tireless advocacy for LGBTQ communities and communities of color.

Barbara was a prominent Seattle presence, having run the independent bookstore Bailey/Coy Books for many years. Over that time, her Capitol Hill bookstore served as a key safe haven, and an inclusive space for LGBTQ individuals--particularly, during an era when prejudice, stigma, and discrimination against the LGBTQ community remained rife.

During the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis, Barbara was part of a courageous group of activists who founded the Pride Foundation, with the vision of creating a community of shared humanity and expanding opportunities for LGBTQ peoples. With her passion, volunteerism, and conviction, Barbara helped lead the Pride Foundation at a critical moment in history, and helped to cultivate it into one of the leading LGBTQ organizations in the Pacific Northwest. To date, the Pride Foundation has remained on the forefront of pursuing equity and positive systemic change in our society.

Barbara remained resolute in her tireless advocacy for equality throughout her life. Whether fundraising for organizations, supporting local candidates who shared her values, advocating on the Lambda Legal Board of Directors, or serving as a member of the Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA), Barbara Bailey's activism and principles paved the way for LGBTQ people in the region. Her legacy lives on through the Barbara Bailey Scholarship Fund, which will empower a new generation of leaders.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor and humility that I recognize the life of Barbara Bailey, a champion of civil rights in the Seattle area and whose impact will endure through the many lives which she inspired.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to section 1051 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115-232), I hereby appoint Eric Horvitz as the individual to serve as a member of the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend, David Rolf for his years of dedicated work as founding president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 775. After 15 years of impressive work, David is handing off the presidency of SEIU 775. In the years since David has led the union, he has been an indispensable force for labor issues in the State of Washington, and has been recognized nationally. I am certain he will continue to be in the years to come.

David started his union career as an SEIU organizer where he worked hard and, over the years, rose through the ranks to become the Vice- President of SEIU International. There are few in my community who don't admire the work he has done, and it is not hard to see why. David and SEIU 775 are a strong force motivated by the interests of the workers they represent.

Whether it be winning raises for the caregivers his union represents, expanding SEIU 775 to represent more workers, or leading the movement for a fifteen dollar living wage in the cities of SeaTac and Seattle--a movement that spread throughout the nation, David's passion for helping members of his community is astounding. His contribution to the fight for working people has changed the lives of so many, and earned the respect of many more.

David will still be active and remain president of Working WA and the Fair Work Center. I look forward to hearing about his upcoming achievements.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize David Rolf for his diligent work representing working Americans. I congratulate him on all of his success, and wish him all the luck in his future endeavors.

Mr Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Franklin High School's Mock Trial team on winning the 2018 National High School Mock Trial Championship.

The 2018 championships saw teams from high schools all across the country. Passionate students from over 40 states, the Mariana Islands, Guam, and South Korea met in Nevada, and presented their meticulously crafted legal arguments to a judge in hopes of convincing a jury to sympathize with their side.

These students prepare for weeks in advance to put together their case and, given the importance of the justice system, it is encouraging to see teenagers show such enthusiasm to participate in it. Having worked as a prosecutor myself, I know the amount of preparation that is needed to effectively present your argument. The fact that these students have been nationally recognized for their ability to do so speaks to the bright future ahead of them.

This is the third time a mock trial team from Washington State has earned the national title--two of those times have been Franklin High School. I have no doubt that these students all have promising careers to look forward to.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize Franklin High School's extraordinary achievement, and its students for their dedication to the legal system.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate The Lighthouse for the Blind on 100 years of dedicated service to the deaf, DeafBlind, and blind residents of the United States.

The Lighthouse for the Blind is a not-for-profit, social enterprise originating in Seattle and expanding to multiple locations throughout the nation. Founded with the goal of empowering the blind, deaf, and DeafBlind community members, they have acted as a crucial employer for many people in my Congressional District, and throughout Congressional Districts across America. They work closely with both public and private entities, like The Boeing Company and the Department of Defense, to provide them with quality machine parts and equipment.

The Lighthouse for the Blind stands as a beacon welcoming people into their safe harbor. They promote an environment of support,

whether it be providing computer workstations for the visually impaired, or employing staff mobility instructors to ensure DeafBlind employees are able to travel independently with a white cane or service dog. The Lighthouse for the Blind has steadfastly stood by their main philosophy of supporting the workplace needs of all their employees.

They are the largest employer of DeafBlind people in the nation, as well as the largest employer of blind people on the West Coast. The Lighthouse for the Blind goes above and beyond to support its employees. It does not surprise me that they got their start near my district--as they reflect our key values.

It is critical that all members of our community feel uplifted, and that they are given the tools they need to have successful and fulfilling lives. When we hold each other up, as clearly shown by The Lighthouse for the Blind, everyone benefits.

The Lighthouse for the Blind will be celebrating their centennial on September 15th where they will reflect on the last 100 years, and look forward to the next 100 years.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I congratulate The Lighthouse for the Blind on 100 years of success, and commend them for the vital role they play in our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate International Community Health Services (ICHS) on 45 years of dedicated service to the community.

ICHS was founded in the 1970s when a group of advocates emphasized one of the City of Seattle's underserved populations. These advocates recognized elderly, low-income, Asian immigrants did not have a place where they could receive healthcare, and be properly informed about their health decisions. This small group of advocates, took it upon themselves to create change, and opened a small clinic--the Asian Community Health Clinic. They started this clinic with the goal of providing culturally and linguistically appropriate services to those who needed it.

As the years went by, their small clinic grew both in size and in the range of services they offered, and changed its name to International Community Health Services. Today, ICHS is larger than ever, having expanded to provide dental care and a vision clinic. Not only have they expanded, but they have also stayed true

to their founding priorities, and offer healthcare services to an ever growing list of minority populations providing in-language medical services for elderly citizens in over 50 languages.

ICHS reflects some of the best elements of our community. They took a problem that affected a large group of underserved people, and decided to take it upon themselves to work towards resolving it. Healthcare in this country is an area where there is still a lot of work to do. Good healthcare is still unattainable to many in this country which is why I am grateful to ICHS for making a difference in this area.

This February marked the 45th anniversary of the founding of ICHS, and I look forward to hearing about the important work they do in the coming years.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize ICHS for their essential work in the 9th District and the surrounding area, and I wish them continued success in their mission.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Seattle Credit Union's CEO, Richard Romero, for his work helping low income and immigrant families in and around Seattle.

Mr. Romero is an example of the American dream in practice. He and his mother immigrated to the United States from Peru when Mr. Romero was just four years old. He began kindergarten unable to speak English, but through perseverance, he received his Bachelors of Science in Organizational Management from La Verne University. Starting his career as a bank teller, Mr. Romero worked his way up through the banking system, and made a name for himself as Chief Operating Officer of the LA Firemen's Credit Union. Today, Mr. Romero serves as CEO of Seattle Credit Union (SCU) where he has led the cooperative to massive growth and expansion.

In his time as CEO, Mr. Romero has directed SCU according to the values of community engagement that he grew up with. Under his leadership, SCU has opened two new branches in low income neighborhoods, and begun to offer a variety of resources for immigrants and the underbanked. These resources include: a citizenship loan program and emergency financial planning information for immigrant families. Mr. Romero's empathetic approach to running a credit union has not gone unnoticed, as he was named Trailblazer CEO of the year by the Credit Union Times--an honor he has more than earned.

Mr. Romero's story serves as a reminder of the importance of perseverance and community involvement. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize the work that Mr. Romero, and the Seattle Credit Union have done for the Community

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Paul Scott. He has been recognized as the 2017 employee of the year by the City of Kent, for his hard work and dedicated commitment to go above and beyond what is asked of him.

Selected from a pool of over 600 people, Mr. Scott is the Public Works Accounting Manager for the City of Kent where he oversees the city's financial policies, labor agreements, accounting, and reporting systems. Mr. Scott has been a dedicated employee for over 25 years.

In the City of Kent, the Employee of the Year award is entirely peer nominated and peer selected, which speaks to the level of respect Mr. Scott has fostered in the community. The amount of support Mr. Scott's peers have shown for him highlights the remarkable work he does. He can be regarded as an important example of what a devoted employee looks like, and his achievement serves to motivate civil servants all over the community.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize Mr. Paul Scott for his years of dedicated work for the City of Kent, and congratulate him on his well-deserved award.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Odle Middle School students: Ishan Bansal, Eric He, Neil Chowdhury, Eric Liu, and Clarance Zheng for their win at the National Science Bowl (NSB), held this past April 26 to April 30 in Washington, D.C.

The Department of Energy (DOE) created the National Science Bowl in 1991 to encourage students to excel in mathematics and science, and to pursue careers in these fields. More than 290,000 students have participated in the National Science Bowl throughout its 28-year history, and more than 14,000 students compete in the NSB every year.

Coached by Rina Chowdhury with guidance from Interlake High School teacher Michael O'Bryne, the Odle Middle School team was among 48 middle schools from around the United States that competed for the national title. Winning this title is not an easy feat, and their perseverance is truly remarkable. In addition to being named the 2018 National Champions, the team's diligence and dedication earned Olde's Science Department $1000, courtesy of the U.S. Department of Energy.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I recognize the enormous achievement of Odle Middle School and its students Ishan Bansal, Eric He, Neil Chowdhury, Eric Liu, and Clarance Zheng. Their impressive potential to thrive in a range of scientific and mathematical fields is demonstrated by their victory at the 2018 National Science Bowl, and I wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors.