Floor Statements

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer an amendment to H.R. 1585, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act.

My amendment is simple. It would increase the authorized funding level for grants that support the development of culturally specific services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and abuse.

Domestic violence is a devastating reality for many women, and this is particularly the case in our AAPI communities. A survey done in 2015 estimated that 40 to 60 percent of AAPI women experience physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.

However, the unfortunate stigma of these events within the AAPI community means that a lot of these survivors do not seek help afterwards or even report these incidents in the first place.

Yet when I think about my own community, the South Asian community and Native American community, we have had some devastating cases.

You have generational divides here where there is an older generation that doesn't allow folks to talk about this. You have arranged marriages where a bride may travel thousands of miles and have no family resources, have no ability to talk about it.

We have got to address this issue. We have got to make it okay for folks to come out of the shadows.

That is why, while it is important to expand access to these services, it is just as critical that the person can feel comfortable seeking out these services. Often, that means they are able to get help from someone who looks like them and understands their cultural background.

Providing these resources in a culturally appropriate context can help survivors feel supported and heard.

My amendment would increase the funding for grants that support organizations that provide critical services and resources to communities of color.

Lastly, I want to thank my colleague, Congresswoman Karen Bass, for her work on this reauthorization. I am pleased that we have the opportunity to strengthen these programs.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment and support the underlying bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I am prepared to close.

My amendment would increase support for communities of color who face domestic and sexual violence in our country and allow them to access critical support services in a culturally appropriate context.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment and the underlying bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.J. Res. 37, and applaud Chairman Engel, as well as my colleague from California, Mr. Khanna, on their leadership.

This joint resolution would direct the removal of U.S. forces from supporting the Saudi and Emirati that campaign in Yemen. We will still be supporting our fight against ISIS and al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, which Congress has specifically authorized. We are not debating that.

We are also not debating, as some might suggest, setting a precedent when it comes to cooperating with our allies. This is about hostilities we are engaged in because we are supporting a coalition in war.

We have not authorized our military to act in the Yemeni civil war. This is about reclaiming the jurisdiction of Congress in making a war. That is our job. That is what we were elected to do. I would say that if there were a Democrat or a Republican in the White House.

Now, if the administration wants to be involved there, they need to come to Congress and make a compelling case. But let's have that discussion.

For that reason, I support this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to join me in helping to move this resolution out of the House.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize WellSpace Health for their commitment to high quality comprehensive health care in the Sacramento region and congratulate them as they celebrate over 65 years of service in 2019.

The Family Service Agency of Greater Sacramento (FSA) opened in 1953 as a mental health treatment and prevention organization. FSA provided treatment services, child abuse prevention, and a suicide prevention crisis line. In 2005, FSA merged with The Aquarian Effort (The Effort), a free clinic designed to address substance use disorders. The Effort became a community clinic as their programs drew more high need persons to preventive health care. FSA's emphasis on mental health care has continued through its merger with the Effort and in 2013, the Effort was renamed WellSpace Health after their mergers with several health care providers concentrated on the underserved.

WellSpace Health's development has focused on serving our region's low income populations alongside integration of services to provide comprehensive health care for its patients. Between 2009 and 2017, WellSpace increased its primary care service population from 3,000 to 70,000 patients through 15 Community Health Centers in the Sacramento region. Along with primary care for all ages, WellSpace also provides adolescent dental care, women's health and prenatal care, and behavioral health treatment.

I've known the great work WellSpace has done for the region for many years as I had the privilege to work with WellSpace back when it was the Aquarian Effort Clinic. WellSpace's work is critical to achieving first rate regional health care in Sacramento. I extend my sincere congratulations to the frontline employees, staff, and all the nurses and doctors at WellSpace. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this organization and all it has done to provide access to health care for all in the Sacramento region.

Mr. Speaker, today, on Twitter, President Trump threatened to withhold FEMA disaster money from California.

Mr. Speaker, maybe the President doesn't know what FEMA disaster funding goes for. It helps rebuild homes. It helps folks rebuild schools, hospitals.

Maybe the President doesn't know that we have suffered devastating wildfires in California. We have lost close to 28,000 structures. We have had billions of dollars of damage. Close to my district, 14,000 homes were lost.

Mr. Speaker, what makes America great is when our neighbors, our fellow countrymen suffer a tragedy, we come together as a Nation.

Mr. Speaker, what I find disgusting is that the President seems to lack the compassion to know that fellow Americans are suffering right now.

Mr. Speaker, we can do better than that.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of title III of the House rules package. A district court recently ruled that the entire Affordable Care Act was unconstitutional, and, sadly, President Trump's Justice Department did nothing to defend the Affordable Care Act. They even urged the judge to strike down protections to those with preexisting conditions.

Now, I have heard and I understand my colleagues on the other side of the aisle don't like the Affordable Care Act, but not to defend it, not to talk about the benefits, is not defensible. I have heard many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle talk about how they want to protect those with preexisting conditions. Well, this is one way to protect those with preexisting conditions.

I see this as a doctor. I don't want to go back to the days when I would see patients who had cancer, had diabetes, had heart conditions, and through no action on their own, lost their health insurance. I don't want to go back to the days where the health insurance companies could deny people those coverages--often necessary lifesaving therapies and coverage. This is about doing the right thing for America's patients. That is why we are here.

Now, what title III of the rules package does is it says that the House of Representatives should intervene in Texas v. United States. If this lawsuit succeeds, it is going to repeal the Affordable Care Act with no solution. None. Millions of Americans are going to lose their health insurance coverage.

The American public spoke loud and clear. They want this body to sit down, to come together to provide coverage for America--affordable coverage. That is what we need to do as Democrats and Republicans. I urge my colleagues to vote for title III and to make it clear this Congress will protect those with preexisting conditions.

I have got friends on the other side of the aisle. I heard many of them talk about how they want to protect those with preexisting conditions. A vote against title III of the rules package is a vote against protecting those Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Sacramento Groundwater Authority on celebrating their 20th anniversary and their continued commitment to managing water resources in the Sacramento region.

The Sacramento Groundwater Authority (SGA) was formed in 1998 to manage the groundwater basin located north of the American River and is made up of the major water agencies and water users in the region. One of the first groundwater management agencies of its kind, SGA's work has been instrumental to implementing the Water Forum Agreement of 2000 which aims to provide a reliable and safe water supply for Sacramento through 2030. SGA is committed to balancing the use of groundwater and surface water to meet regional needs, while reducing water diversions from the American River to protect the natural resources of the Sacramento community during times of dry water years.

Over the last 20 years, SGA has coordinated with other authorities in the region to protect groundwater quality. Their achievements include developing and implementing a Groundwater Management Plan, and creating the Water Accounting Framework, which developed conjunctive use and groundwater banking programs that enhance the sustainability of the basin.

I extend my sincere congratulations to the Sacramento Groundwater Authority for the great service it provides to Sacramento County and the State of California as they celebrate 20 years of operation. I wish them well in their continued efforts to provide quality water resource management for our region.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mather Field as they celebrate their centennial anniversary in Sacramento County.

During World War I the Army activated Mills Air Field, east of Sacramento. It was renamed Mather Field in honor of 2nd Lieutenant Carl Spencer Mather, killed in 1918 during a training flight collision in Texas, at the request of his classmates. Following World War I, Mather was temporarily shut down as a military base but reopened in 1925 and hosted the first annual ``Aerial Circus'', featuring 90 airplanes demonstrating aerobatic stunts and displays. Two years later, Charles Lindbergh and the famous The Spirit of St. Louis visited Mather Field following his first solo transatlantic flight.

In 1930, Mather was reactivated as a training center for the U.S. Armed Forces and later played an important role preparing the Army for the fight in the Pacific Theater. With an Allied victory in sight, Mather Field's training activities ended in 1944 and it became a major stopover point for troops and aircraft headed to and from the Pacific. Following U.S. victory in the Pacific, Mather returned to its status as a training base and ownership was transferred to the U.S. Air Force as part of the Air Training Command.

The Department of Defense moved all of its navigator training to Mather AFB in 1964 and navigator training became Mather's specialty for several decades. In 1976, the Interservice Undergraduate Navigator Training was established at Mather to serve Navy, Marine and Coast Guard students and trained the first female navigators.

While Mather AFB was decommissioned in 1993, Mather Field continues to support the Sacramento region. The Former base now hosts Sacramento's Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Mather Business Park and Mather Airport, which is an important regional cargo hub.

I am incredibly proud to represent Mather and the surrounding community. As Mather Field celebrates its 100th birthday at the 2018 California Capital Airshow, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this historic landmark for all it has provided our region and our country over the last century.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the UC Davis School of Medicine.

Since 1968, the UC Davis School of Medicine has played an important role in health care in Northern California. UC Davis is consistently among the top ranked medical schools for primary care training and research.

From its inaugural class, UC Davis School of Medicine has shown a commitment to the community outside of the classroom. Through its student run community health clinics, the school has demonstrated a dedication to service by providing free and convenient care to underserved populations in the greater Sacramento area.

In both coursework and curriculum, UC Davis School of Medicine helps create a diverse physician workforce that is responsive to societal needs. The Community Health Scholars program trains students in understanding and serving the unique primary care health needs of California's rural, agricultural, and urban communities.

The School of Medicine provides the opportunity to participate in cutting edge research and the skills to translate those breakthroughs into benefit for patients.

Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in congratulating the UC Davis School of Medicine on 50 years of educating the next generation of doctors.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure, and let me thank Mr. McCaul and Ms. Kelly, both members of the Foreign Affairs Committee, for authoring this important legislation and Chairman Royce for bringing it to the floor.

One of the most important things that we deal with on our committee is protecting the lives of the brave American citizens working at our embassies and consulates abroad. This legislation will help us improve the way we provide embassy security.

This bill would also authorize the embassy security, construction, and maintenance account for the next year at $2.3 billion, the same level appropriated for the account this year.

Now, what has me concerned is the Trump administration has asked Congress to slash embassy security by $700 million. That just isn't right.

Mr. Speaker, the clearest indication of an administration's priorities is its annual budget. Frankly, it is astounding to me that the Trump administration has proposed such massive cuts to embassy security funding for 2 years in a row.

On the campaign trail, President Trump spent a lot of time blaming Secretary Clinton for the tragic attacks on our consulate in Benghazi. He did so with little regard for the facts. Secretary Pompeo, as a Member of this body, especially during the time of the absurd Benghazi Select Committee, expressed a great deal of outrage over the handling of diplomatic security. Now they have tried to cut funding for embassy security at every opportunity.

My message for them is simple: There is no cost too high to protect the lives of our diplomats and their families. I wish the President and the Secretary understood that.

Fortunately, Congress has the last word on these issues. We have come together in a bipartisan way for the past 2 years and rejected President Trump's draconian cuts to embassy security funding. This bill represents another rejection of the Trump administration's dangerous proposal.

Additionally, I would like to highlight two provisions in the bill. The first requires that all U.S. Government employees traveling abroad on official business receive a written or oral security briefing from the State Department on potential threats. This is a commonsense measure, and it is, honestly, bizarre that it isn't already required.

Second, I also want to thank Mr. McCaul and Ms. Kelly for including language that requires the State Department to provide our committee with a strategy for establishing a physical diplomatic presence in countries in which we currently have no physical diplomatic presence.

Lastly, I strongly support a universal approach to U.S. representation abroad, and I continue to be disappointed that we have no embassies in several countries in the Eastern Caribbean where Venezuela, Cuba, and others are present and active. Being absent significantly weakens U.S. leadership in the Caribbean and elsewhere around the globe.

Finally, let me say, while I am pleased that we are advancing this legislation, I am disappointed that it is moving as a standalone bill and not as it was originally intended, as the title of our committee's State Department authorization bill. Given the chairman's hard work on the State Department authorization bill, I am sure that the gentleman shares my concern. I hope that we can breathe new life into the legislative effort by the end of this Congress.

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

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

I will close by again thanking Chairman Royce for bringing this legislation to the floor.

We have no greater duty on our committee than to protect Americans serving abroad. I am very pleased that we are making several essential fixes in our approach to embassy security in this legislation and authorizing the embassy security, construction, and maintenance at a robust level.

We live in a dangerous time, and the Trump administration's budget would put our diplomats at even greater risk than what they have already faced on a daily basis, so I am glad that the House is stepping in to do what is needed.

Finally, let me say again, while I am pleased this bill is moving forward, I don't believe the window has closed on getting a comprehensive State Department authorization bill to the President's desk, and I continue to stand ready to work with the chairman to do just that.

Mr. Speaker, I support the chairman's motion; I urge all Members to do the same.

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

Mr. Chairman, I thank my good friend from Arizona (Mr. O'Halleran) for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of our amendment to H.R. 1635. Our amendment is simple. It would ensure that student borrowers are provided information about the full range of income-based repayment options. This will help students get a full picture of what college is going to look like and give an estimate of what they might owe on a monthly basis over their anticipated career. This additional transparency will make sure students are not caught off guard about their student debt after graduation.

As the co-chair of the California Public Higher Education Caucus, one of my priorities here in Congress has been working to improve the affordability, accessibility, and quality of higher education.

Think about it. I paid $393 a quarter to go to medical school. That meant I could go to 4 years of undergraduate school, 4 years of medical school, get some help from my folks, work part time, a few scholarships, and graduate with less than $10,000 of debt. That is amazing.

Now, I am not that old. We might not be able to get to that place, but the truth is that education has allowed me to do what I have done throughout my life, and that is an investment that pays off.

Let's make sure we make higher education affordable and accessible to our students in that next generation. Let's make sure we keep making those investments, and, again, let's make sure that those students have that transparency and the information that they need to make reasonable decisions.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Cordova Recreation and Park District.

Established by popular vote of the residents in 1958, the Cordova Recreation and Park District (CRPD) now serves approximately 120,000 residents in Sacramento County. In 1962, the CRPD opened Cordova Community Center within Cordova Community Park, one of its first three parks.

Both the park and the center were renamed after Paul Hagan, the first Administrator of the CRPD. It was Mr. Hagan's idea to open a community center located close to schools in the area so that the center could be mutually supportive of the schools with their programs and facilities. Under Mr. Hagan's leadership, the CRPD expanded from three parks to six, doubling in size. The co-location of schools and parks became a model for California and the rest of the country.

The CRPD currently operates over 40 parks and facilities and they most recently opened Heron Landing Community Park in 2017.

Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Cordova Recreation and Park District on 60 years of outstanding contributions to our community, and wish them luck as they continue to grow and provide safe spaces for future generations of Sacramento County residents.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, as a doctor, I know that understanding and managing infectious diseases is one of the most important parts of our security and our national security. The intelligence community has found that a country's health is directly linked to their stability and their well-being. We are reminded of this every few years through mass pandemics that are not going away.

In 2014, we saw the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, and just 2 years ago, we witnessed the Zika outbreak in Central and South America. And, unfortunately, as a doctor, I know we are going to continue to see these and other diseases again and again, and we need to be prepared.

So we offer this amendment as a way of getting the intelligence community to help us with that preparedness, to inform us and make sure we are not just protecting lives overseas, but we are also protecting our national interests and our national security.

Mr. Chairman, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff), the ranking member.

Mr. Chairman, I have no additional comments, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the 100th birthday of Jean Gaba from Carmichael, California.

Ms. Gaba was born in June 1918, in Oakland, California. She first worked at her father's law office, and at dinner with a friend in 1938 she met her future husband, Bill. In 1940 they were married and started a family, welcoming their daughter, Carolyn, in 1942.

While raising her daughter and working as an insurance agent, Jean also managed to squeeze out time for charitable activities, volunteering at Children's Hospital in Oakland and becoming a Brownie and Girl Scout leader for her daughter's troop. She is a skilled bridge player and avid reader--since getting her first library card at age 7 she has never been without a book or two close by.

In her 100 years the social, cultural and political fabric of her world has changed dramatically. She has traveled extensively, including visiting her granddaughters in Malaysia and Chile in her eighties.

As Ms. Gaba and her daughter, two grandchildren and two great grandchildren celebrate her 100th birthday, I am delighted to send her my best wishes and congratulations.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the retirement of Rob Roscoe.

Mr. Roscoe is retiring from the Sacramento Suburban Water District (SSWD) as General Manager after 15 years of service.

As General Manager of the Sacramento Suburban Water District, Mr. Roscoe remained committed to ensuring government transparency and providing sustainable water resources to much of Sacramento County. Under his leadership, SSWD's credit ratings rose from an A- in 2003 to its current rating of AA+.

In addition to being General Manager of SSWD, Mr. Roscoe has been a longtime advocate of water infrastructure and held several other leadership roles with both regional and statewide organizations during his 40 years in public service.

He has been the recipient of numerous awards over his notable career, such as the Regional Water Authority's 2007 ``Statesperson of the Year'' and the 2017 ``Distinguished Service Award.''

He also received Association of California Water Agencies' 2017 Emissary Award for ``remarkable and visible contributions to the enhancement, protection or development of water resources in California.'' In March 2018, he was awarded the American Society of Civil Engineers Region 9 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in congratulating Mr. Roscoe on 15 years of outstanding service to Sacramento County and wish him the best in his next stage of his life.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2809, the American Space Commerce Free Enterprise Act of 2017. As the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Space, I support a robust and successful commercial space industry, and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on policies that facilitate our Nation's contained growth and leadership in space.

The bill before us today, H.R. 2809, would provide a regulatory framework for U.S. innovative and emerging nongovernmental space activities.

Commercial space launches, space-based remote sensing, and space communications are currently authorized under existing frameworks in the FAA, the Department of Commerce, and the FCC. However, proposed activities such as commercial operations on the Moon, asteroid mining, satellite servicing, and privately owned space habitats are not covered.

The bill establishes a certification process at Commerce for those emerging commercial space activities and, in so doing, provides important certainty for commercial companies and investors in these planned space activities. The bill also makes some updates to the licensing regime for commercial space-based remote sensing systems.

Further, the bill moves the regulatory oversight of commercial space- based remote sensing systems to the Office of Space Commerce under the Secretary of Commerce. The Office of Space Commerce would also have authority for the certification of nontraditional commercial space activities.

Mr. Speaker, I have often spoken about the importance of building a rules-of-the-road framework that does not stifle innovation and provides guardrails for proper government oversight. No bill is perfect, but I believe that this bill strikes a fair balance in achieving the goal of certifying these nontraditional commercial space activities that don't fit within the current regulatory structure.

That being said, while I support moving the bill forward, there are several aspects of H.R. 2809 that deserve further discussion, including ensuring that:

Relevant Federal agencies can weigh in on whether proposed commercial space activities could affect the physical safety of U.S. Government space operations, including human space flight operations;

Making sure that relevant government expertise and measures to perform harmful contamination of planetary surfaces are taken into account;

Making sure that any remaining national security and intelligence agency concerns are addressed;

And making sure additional information is provided on how the consolidated Office of Space Commerce will be properly funded and staffed so it can carry out the additional responsibilities for authorizing commercial space activities and commercial space-based remote sensing under the bill.

I am hopeful that these and other aspects of the bill will be addressed as the bill proceeds, both in the Senate and in any House- Senate conference.

Space is an area that should have bipartisan support from Congress. NASA and the commercial space industry can only benefit when we work together as Democrats and Republicans. As a result, I support passage of this bill, and I ask my colleagues to join me in helping to move this bill out of the House.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Perlmutter), my good friend and all-around champion of human space travel to Mars by 2033.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I think you have seen the genuine enthusiasm that Democrats and Republicans and all Americans have about space. It is in that spirit of national pride and American leadership that I urge all my colleagues to pass this bill, and, again, to continue to foster American leadership in space and meet that goal that my colleague Mr. Perlmutter often talks about, getting to Mars by 2033.

Mr. Speaker, it has been a pleasure working with the chairman of the full committee and the subcommittee, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.