Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, the San Mateo Daily Journal, an independent daily newspaper that covers San Mateo County, California, is in its 25th year of publication, covering local news, community events and youth sports. It has become an essential part of the daily life of San Mateo County, and its residents look to it for accurate, fair, relevant and impartial local news. The paper features extensive coverage of high school sports, and offers a variety of opinions from local columnists, such as my long-time friend Mark Simon, as well as a forum for Letters to the Editor and longer perspective pieces. It is an essential source of information for local government, and steadily and responsibly fulfills the watchdog role inherent in a good local newspaper. It is the only local newspaper published in San Mateo County that publishes a daily edition Monday through Friday, and a combined weekend edition that appears Saturdays and Sundays.

The Daily Journal was launched on August 18, 2000, with a news staff of two, plus advertising, production, and circulation staff. Its first edition contained 8 pages and its initial circulation was 5,000. Today, the staff includes up to 20 full-time and part-time employees and contract workers. The Daily Journal averages 28 pages and the circulation ranges from 21,000 to 30,000 daily editions. It is available in local cafes, stores, businesses and public and community gathering places and its digital edition, smdailyjournal.com, averages 750,000 views a month.

Co-Founder Jerry Lee has been the publisher since day one as part of a Berkeley-based organization that expanded its local news model to San Mateo County. In 2006, Lee bought the paper from the founding organization which went out of business, and has been the owner since.

In an era when local newspapers are rapidly disappearing, Lee said, ``We were able to jump out of the gate and be profitable from the beginning,'' a trend that has continued throughout the paper's 25 years.

Editor Jon Mays came to the Daily Journal as Managing Editor in October of 2000 and has served as Editor in Chief since December 2001. Sports Editor Nathan Mollat has been with the newspaper since its founding. His sports pages and the special recognition given to individual athletes weekly, every sports season and annually creates lifetime memories and keepsakes for high school students and their families.

The success of the paper is ``a testament to the people we have here, and the paper owes its success to the unique nature of San Mateo County. The market is more conducive to what we do, and it is one of the most advanced educational areas of the world, but it is still very much a small town--a big city in small-town clothing. The mom-and-pop nature of the paper fits the mom-and-pop nature of the community,'' Lee said.

The Daily Journal contributes to ``the creation of community, bringing people together in an age where there are not enough institutions working to do that. A good local paper is important to have a thriving democracy,'' Lee said.

The paper provides a forum for small to medium-sized advertisers who don't find a place for themselves in larger daily newspapers or see online advertising as too scattered. And the advertising is very much in keeping with the paper's mission as a local resource that promotes a sense of community.

``Local people want to know about services. Advertising is another form of information. A quarter of our advertisers don't need advertising, they just want to support us,'' Lee said.

Here is the stated mission of the Daily Journal:

It is the mission of the Daily Journal to be the most accurate, fair and relevant local news source for those who live, work or play on the San Francisco Peninsula. By combining local news coverage, analysis and insight with the latest business, lifestyle, state, national and world news, we seek to provide our readers with the highest quality information resource in the local area.

Our pages belong to our readers, and we choose to reflect the diverse character of this dynamic and ever-changing community.

The Daily Journal's slogan is: We report to you.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring a jewel in the crown of my Congressional District. The San Mateo Daily Journal is a cherished community asset and I am exceedingly proud of all they've accomplished and continue to do as they serve the people of San Mateo County.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Karen Chapman, my District Chief of Staff and leader of my exceptional District office team upon her retirement from the federal government.

Karen grew up in San Mateo County and attended local schools. A graduate of Castilleja in Palo Alto, she went on to receive her BA in history with a focus on comparative political systems from the University of Colorado in Boulder. For her senior thesis she conducted research at the University of Kent in Canterbury in conjunction with Cornell University, with the focus of her studies centered on political propaganda. While working on various political campaigns, including my first congressional campaign and later, former Governor Jerry Brown's campaign for State Party Chair, Karen also participated in the Practical Politics Master's Program at San Francisco State University.

During my service on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, Karen served as my Executive Assistant and Legislative Aide. At the each Supervisor had only two staff members, demanding that Karen had to do essentially everything. She also managed my schedule, planned events, staffed commission meetings and conducted casework and field work.

When I was elected to Congress in l992, Karen joined me in Washington, D.C. as a senior staffer and helped set up the best office on the Hill. She returned to Palo Alto two years later to be my District Director.

Karen brought her superb leadership and diplomatic skills to the District Office operations and established the best Congressional constituent services operation in the Nation, an organization known for getting things done right, solving difficult problems and treating each constituent with dignity, respect and kindness. My District operation includes Co-Deputy Chiefs of Staff Anne Ream and Patty Kim, Senior Field Representatives Nicholas Hargis and Justin Jeong; and Communications Director Katrina Rill, all of whom are seasoned, engaged and highly professional.

There are many examples of Karen's drive and dedication throughout the years. When the CZU fire devastated parts of my District in Santa Cruz County, Karen led her colleagues in the field, working alongside FEMA and our other partners in government. They worked nights and weekends along with tremendous help from Brian Perkins of Congresswoman Speier's office, staying in the field during the pandemic until all constituents had opened cases with FEMA and received local, state and federal help. Karen builds bridges between people, organizations and agencies, bringing everyone together to find solutions that are practical and that reflect my values.

My Congressional District includes four federal facilities which require consistent support. Karen carried out this support in this ongoing work including advocating for USGS and NASA Ames when each was threatened with significant cuts by various Administrations. Karen staffed me, together with her D.C. counterparts on the fight to preserve the iconic Hangar One and retain the 129th Rescue Wings both located at Moffett Federal Airfield.

Karen has been highly involved in several key projects, including the soon to open National Monument, Cotoni-Coast Dairies near Davenport in Santa Cruz County. She also worked with her D.C. counterparts to staff me for decades of work in the District to electrify Caltrain. This game changing project was completed this year for the Bay Area and will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 176,000 metric tons annually.

In true Silicon Valley spirit, our District Office operation has always had an innovative approach toward representing over 740,000 people. We were the first District Office to conduct casework using digital signatures as a result of my legislation establishing their legality. This legislation allowed us to conduct casework via the Internet, reducing processing times and promoting greater efficiency, and saving significant tax dollars. We were the first Congressional Office in the Nation to become a `Green Congressional Office' having worked with property owner Premier Properties. The Eshoo office invested in renewal energy resources, with 100 percent of the energy used by the Eshoo office derived from renewable resources and the office exceeding established green standards. Our office was the first where the Member of Congress established a Congressional Student Advisory Board (SAB) for high school students, giving voice to students about the legislative process. Karen and my team made sure the SAB was robust and every year graduated more than 100 students, while providing resources and information to ensure their success. Each year SAB became more professional and the staff time devoted to it was a significant and worthwhile investment.

During the entirety of the pandemic, Karen's innovative work continued as she remained in the office full time, and staffed me while I ran the Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Health from my home in San Mateo County. Karen adapted quickly in order for us to remain resilient and nimble, and through her innovation she increased responsiveness and productivity for committee work, casework and fieldwork during the pandemic and beyond in ways that kept my staff safe and healthy while keeping up with the unique challenges of a pandemic and multiple wildfires.

Karen Chapman is a public servant's servant. She's humble, loyal, generous, disciplined, resourceful, and steadfast. Often sought after for her discretion and wise counsel, Karen has also advised campaigns and supported local candidates. She cares deeply about making a difference in people's lives and improving their circumstances. She staffed me on some of my most challenging cases including seeing success for Carl Clark who had been denied by the Navy for his heroism due to racism during World War II, protecting Dr. Christine Ford's identity before she decided to tell her story in public, and making sure my late friend Hank Sciaroni's package was complete to receive the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his courageous heroism when his plane was shot down behind enemy lines during World War II.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today to honor and thank Karen Chapman for her extraordinary dedication and exemplary service on behalf of the people I've represented for over three decades. I'm unendingly grateful to her for her sterling leadership, her 32 years of devoted service, and for the gift of her friendship.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an extraordinary member of my congressional staff, Na Young Patty Kim, on the occasion of her retirement after serving as a member of my staff for over 26 years.

Patty was born Na Young Kim in Seoul, South Korea, in 1976 to Chong Seung Kim and Young Suk Kim. In 1985, her parents decided to immigrate to the United States to pursue the American dream for their young daughters, Na Young and Jee Young. Landing first in San Francisco, they eventually settled in Newark, California. Na Young became Patty in the process of learning English and she learned about being a bridge for immigrants like herself while helping her parents navigate the unfamiliar system in America.

Patty graduated from Newark Memorial High School in 1994 and went on to study at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Although she was initially interested tn pursuing Business Economics, Patty developed a passion for political science and opted to study abroad in South Korea at Yonsei University to learn about international relations. She also participated in the University of California Washington Center (UCDC) program and interned with the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice in the special litigation section. These experiences helped her develop her passion for public service and in 1998, Patty graduated with a B.A. in Political Science and a specialization in Business Administration from UCLA.

Following her graduation from UCLA, Patty joined our Palo Alto District Office for the 14th Congressional District of California in the heart of Silicon Valley where she began as a Staff Assistant, moved to be a Scheduler, then a Caseworker, a Constituent Service Director, and now Deputy District Chief of Staff and Senior Counsel. Patty opted to work full time while attending Santa Clara University School of Law, as a part time student. During this time, she studied abroad at Oxford University to obtain a Certificate in International Law and also spent time working for the Federal Public Defender's office in San Jose on a case to help acquit a defendant on death row. After graduating in May 2005, Patty passed the California Bar exam in November and decided to remain in public service as my Counsel. In 2010, she married Steve Yu, a Marine Veteran and entrepreneur, and they have two beautiful children; Gloria and Michaela. While raising her two young children, she continued to work tirelessly to serve constituents in a diverse district encompassing Silicon Valley.

Patty is an exceptional professional who truly understands the important connections between legislative work and constituent services. She works quietly behind the scenes to use her deep knowledge of immigration, tax, telecommunications, and high-tech issues to help those in need. Patty has helped thousands of constituents navigate the federal bureaucracy, has led a casework operation second to none, and been a trusted advisor in times of crisis. Over all the years, Patty has worked effectively with community stakeholders, federal agencies, and constituents to get results. Through it all, she has always been positive, never losing sight of the fact that we are in the business of hope.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the work of Patty Kim as she begins the next exciting chapter of her life. From the 105th Congress to the 118th Congress, Patty Kim has proven herself to be a dedicated public servant and leader by working tirelessly to serve the people of the 14th, 18th, and 16th Congressional District through five administrations. Like so many women, Patty has juggled family commitments with work obligations to make this world a better place for the next generation. The American dream that Patty's parents envisioned for their daughters has been realized and exceeded through her extraordinary life of service. How proud and grateful I am to have had her by my side.

Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to give valedictory remarks as my service as a United States Representative comes to a close.

Nearly 32 years ago, I arrived in this Chamber after the people of the most distinguished congressional district in our country gave me the honor of a lifetime to serve as their Representative in the Congress.

Over those years, I have worked to live up to that sacred trust that they placed in me and I can say that I have given it my all.

In 1993, I was sworn in as a Member of the largest freshman class since World War II with 110 new Members and one of the 47 women elected in the House in that ``Year of the Woman.'' I was the first Democrat and the first woman in the history of my congressional district to represent it.

During that time, I had the honor to serve among the giants of the bay area delegation: Congressman George Miller, Congressman Norm Mineta, so many from the bay area known as the conscience of the House of Representatives, and my forever Speaker, Nancy Pelosi.

They gave me the guidance I needed to accomplish my goals for my first term. In my second term, I became a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, one of the oldest House legislative committees and the committee with the broadest of jurisdictions.

From that powerful position of enormous privilege, I was determined to be an ambassador to the future from the Silicon Valley District, drafting and passing 68 bills into law signed by five Presidents.

I didn't do this alone. Nearly every single bill was bipartisan and many had more than 200 cosponsors. I am proud of this body of work and what we achieved together.

During my tenure, I have witnessed much. We have witnessed much together: the horror of September 11, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, a painful and deep recession, the loss of over a million American souls to the pandemic, and January 6th.

However, there were so many high points: The passage many years ago in 1995 of the Telecommunications Act, the Affordable Care Act where finally we had a national health plan, a real health plan for the American people, the Violence Against Women Act, the end of over 100 years of silence by the United States with the passage of the Armenian genocide resolution, and the election of the first woman Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.

Each weekend I have flown home to be with my constituents, and I have seen the words of the laws that we have written walk into people's lives. In my community, as in so many others, Federal grants paved new bike paths, created ADA accessibility, and unveiled the 21st century transportation system of electric trains.

I heard from my neighbors about small improvements, like my law many years ago to lower the volume of loud TV commercials, and big improvements like children whose lives were saved because of new pediatric treatments at Stanford's Lucile Packard Children's Hospital.

I am especially proud to have created two new Federal agencies to bring lifesaving research to the American people: the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority--we call it BARDA--and the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, ARPA-H. That agency is at work to pursue the cures for those diseases that are death sentences today.

During my tenure, I had the privilege to serve on the House Intelligence Committee, where I worked to protect and defend during the challenging times of the Iraq war, and to visit our courageous troops in the war zones where they were serving. I still picture them in the places that they were, these young men and women who answered the call of our country.

One of the most memorable events, for me, that took place right here in this Chamber was the visit of Pope Francis in 2015. I recall his words: ``A nation can be considered great when it defends liberty, as Lincoln did; when it fosters a culture which enables people to `dream' of full rights for all their brothers and sisters, as Martin Luther King sought to do; when it strives for justice and the cause of the oppressed, as Dorothy Day did by her tireless work. . . .''

My brother-in-law carries forward that work at the Catholic Worker House in Redwood City, California.

To my staff, you have been a brilliant team, a team that has crafted and negotiated the legislative legacy that I am so proud of and who have successfully helped thousands upon thousands of constituents with immigration issues, housing needs, Social Security benefits, and other important Federal issues. You heard them, you saw them, you served them, and you gave them hope. I thank you.

To all who work in this Chamber and throughout the Capitol, cleaning, cooking, repairing, and administering, I thank you for your labors.

To all of my colleagues, I am grateful to you for your friendship and your support over all the years. I will miss working with you and seeing you every day.

To my beloved California delegation, to say that I will miss working with you and being with you doesn't begin to describe it. Thank you for keeping our State the golden one in our country, and I know that you will continue to. For your precious friendships, I can never thank you enough. To the Connecticut delegation, thank you for adopting me. I was born in Connecticut.

To the people of California's 16th Congressional District, you have my unending gratitude for choosing me to be your voice in Congress.

To my family, thank you for your love, your support, most of all your patience. You have sustained me every single day of my service.

While it may be customary to end these farewell speeches with advice or warnings about the future, I am not going to do that.

What I have carried with me throughout my public service are the words of my grandmother. When I was a child and I would walk past her bedroom every morning, there wasn't a time that she didn't lean over and kiss the ground. When I asked her, ``Nana, why are you doing that?'' this was her answer: ``To thank God for this country, for what it represents, and what it has given to us.''

My colleagues, love our country, defend her, make her stronger and better to serve its good and decent people.

I thank God for the blessings that have come to me, and I say farewell to all of you, my colleagues. This has been the joy, the privilege, and the pleasure of my life, and I thank you for it. May God continue to bless the United States of America.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an extraordinary public servant for his superb service to the people of Santa Cruz County, California, Sheriff-Coroner Jim Hart.

A native of Scotts Valley, Jim Hart has served our community with the County Sheriff's office for 36 years, beginning as a Deputy in October, 1988. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1998; to Lieutenant in 2006; became Chief Deputy of Corrections in 2011; and was elected Sheriff- Coroner in 2014. On August 7, 2024, he announced that he will retire on December 6, 2024.

Sheriff Hart proclaims Santa Cruz County as a wonderful place to live and work and says he wouldn't trade his career as Sheriff for any other, calling it an honor and privilege to serve. During his tenure, his leadership brought us through many difficult times including the CZU Fire, the COVID-19 pandemic, the killing of Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller and the protests following the killing of George Floyd. He served at the onset of the fentanyl crisis and formed a team to respond to it, and he instituted community policing in the County, advocated for bail reform and supported immigrant communities.

When Sheriff Hart saw the U.S. Capitol being attacked on January 6, 2021, he called me to make sure I was safe, bringing me great comfort as l was hiding with colleagues on that fateful day. I will never forget his kind words.

Sheriff Hart and his wife Jackie are the proud parents of four children: Samantha, Elle, Nadene and Noah. He is a graduate of the University of Nevada-Reno and has been an adjunct faculty member at Cabrillo College and Bethany University.

Mr. Speaker, l ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in honoring this great man of enormous integrity and professionalism and wish him every blessing in his retirement. We are a better community and a stronger country because of Sheriff Hart's leadership, making him a national treasure.

Mr. Speaker, today, the House will vote on my legislation, H.R. 3433, the Give Kids a Chance Act.

My thanks to Reps. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), the chairwoman of the Energy and Commerce Committee Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-NJ) for their very hard work on this important effort.

H.R. 3433 is the most comprehensive legislation to improve and address childhood cancer and rare disease in over a decade.

As medicines become more sophisticated and we improve our understanding of the

deadliest diseases facing children in our country, our laws must keep up.

This legislation will ensure children have access to the most innovative treatments and therapies for cancer and rare disease, and it does that by doing the following.

It reauthorizes the FDA's pediatric priority voucher program for five years. The program expires September 23, 2024 and we cannot let critical tools to encourage the development of drugs for children to lapse.

It directs companies to conduct pediatric trials with combinations of drugs. More than 40 combination therapies are approved for adults, but only 2 are approved for children. This legislation fixes that inequity. Every member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and 392 Members of the House voted for this provision as part of the user fees package last Congress.

It brings the FDA's enforcement capabilities for children on par with that of adults, giving the FDA new options to ensure pediatric studies are completed on time. Today, the FDA can only remove a drug from the market if pediatric studies are not completed. This bill gives the FDA more flexibility to ensure companies follow the law.

The bill dedicates existing funds for pediatric research through the NIH's Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act Program over the next three years, the program's first funding update since it was authorized in 2002. Zero new funding will be used.

This bill was advanced by the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously last week.

Children are not little adults. They deserve effective medicines, just as adults do. The Give Kids a Chance Act will get children what they deserve and save lives.

I urge my colleagues to vote for this critical legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8333, the BIOSECURE Act which is critical legislation to prohibit federal contracts with biotechnology companies connected to foreign nations of concern to protect the U.S. national security, economic security and privacy.

Companies with ties to foreign adversaries, in particular the People's Republic of China, pose threats to the privacy and security of Americans. Under PRC law, any entity owned by or affiliated with Chinese companies could be compelled by the Chinese government to provide data on Americans.

The legislation addresses concerns about foreign nations' access to sensitive data on Americans by prohibiting federal contracts with biotechnology providers connected to foreign adversaries such as BGI, a PRC-affiliated company, its subsidiary MGI Americas, Complete Genomics, WuXi AppTec, and WuXi Biologics.

The legislation prevents funding from federal agencies to be spent on equipment or services provided by biotechnology companies of concern, including (1) entities subject to the jurisdiction, direction, control, or operated on behalf of the government of a foreign adversary, (2) entities involved in the manufacturing, distribution, provision, or procurement of a biotechnology equipment or service, and (3) entities which pose a risk to U.S. national security based on specified activities.

This legislation is an important step to protect American patients, our nation's biotechnology industry, and our national security from exploitation by hostile foreign entities, and I urge all my colleagues to support this bill and vote yes so we can pass this bill today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and work of an extraordinary American, Narsai Michael David.

Narsai David, the child of Assyrian immigrants, was born in South Bend, Indiana on June 26, 1936 and grew up in Turlock, California. He died in his home in Berkeley on June 20, 2024 from injuries suffered as a result of a fall.

Narsai David graduated from Turlock High School and the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied math and pre-med. He worked in a restaurant during college and after owning a printing company for two years, he worked at a restaurant in Berkeley where he eventually became a partner. In 1970 he launched a catering business and one of his first clients, rock impresario Bill Graham, introduced him to many of the legends of the era.

In 1976 Narsai opened his eponymous restaurant in Kensington, California, and was in the vanguard of the food revolution of the 1970's. He also owned a vineyard in the Napa Valley where he produced Cuvee and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Narsai David's inviting smile, warm voice and passion for food and travel made him a widely beloved and highly regarded writer of a cooking column in the San Francisco Chronicle and commentator on KCBS radio and television for many years.

Reminiscing about Narsai, his colleagues at KCBS remember his signature bow ties, and how he would begin with ``I'm Narsai David to say . . . .'' and launch into his news reports. He never said anything negative on the radio or television about a restaurant or chef, and when he was hosting a dinner he would tinkle his fork on a glass and say ``good evening, good evening and a very good evening,'' all with a sparkle in his eye.

Narsai was a generous philanthropist who was affiliated with the Assyrian Aid Society of America and Alameda County's Meals on Wheels program. His pride in being an Assyrian American was evident to all, and his gourmet enterprises all reflected the culture.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in honoring the life of a great and good man, Narsai David, and in extending our most sincere condolences to his wife Venus and his son Daniel. We are a better Nation because of this exceptional man who was a dear friend and mentor to me.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4510, the NTIA Reauthorization Act, bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), update the statutory mission and policy of the agency, authorize certain offices and activities of the agency, and provide greater Congressional oversight of the NTIA. H.R. 4510 also contains two bills I introduced regarding Cybersecurity, the Understanding Cybersecurity of Mobile Networks Act, and the American Cybersecurity Literacy Act.

The Understanding Cybersecurity of Mobile Networks Act

Every day Americans make calls, send texts, and access data on 2G, 3G, and 4G networks, yet we lack a comprehensive assessment of what vulnerabilities exist on these networks, what issues have been resolved, and where mobile cybersecurity policymaking should be focused. Since cellphones became common in the 1990s, government agencies, academics, think tanks, industry associations, and independent researchers have discovered various Cybersecurity vulnerabilities in our wireless networks. Wireless network companies, mobile device manufacturers, and other companies have responded to many of these vulnerabilities, but recent cybersecurity developments depict that vulnerabilities continue to exist in mobile cybersecurity. For example, Stingray's cell site simulators continue to intercept calls, texts, and mobile data of unwitting victims; SIM swaps are increasing as a means of identity fraud; and mobile spyware made by NSO Group and others have threatened the safety of journalists, activists, dissidents, and government officials around the globe. In each of these instances companies have taken certain actions to mitigate threats, but we lack a sophisticated, comprehensive, and independent assessment of what vulnerabilities persist, what issues have been resolved, and where mobile cybersecurity policymaking should be focused.

The Understanding Cybersecurity of Mobile Networks Act solves this lack of information. The legislation requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to conduct a comprehensive study on the cybersecurity vulnerabilities of our 2G, 3G, and 4G networks.

Specifically, the study will include an assessment of responses to known vulnerabilities and deployment of best practices, an estimate of the prevalence of effective encryption and authentication techniques,

along with a discussion of barriers to adopting more efficacious techniques; a discussion of the prevalence, costs, availability, and usage of cell site simulators and other surveillance and interception technologies.

In addition to coordinating with DHS, the NTIA is required to consult the various federal agencies with relevant expertise . . . academic and independent researchers, multistakeholder and international organizations, and industry groups. While the report will be public, it will include a classified annex so details about vulnerabilities that could aid our adversaries are not publicized.

The American Cybersecurity Literacy Act

Cyberattacks and data breaches are increasingly common, costing private companies and consumers billions of dollars and exposing the private information of countless Americans. As attackers become more sophisticated, Americans must have the tools to identify risks and protect themselves from attacks.

The American Cybersecurity Literacy Act requires the NTIA to conduct a public education campaign to improve cyber literacy of the American populace by providing information about common cybersecurity risks and best practices that can mitigate those risks. When the government or private businesses identify Cybersecurity risks, they are only fighting half the battle. Consumers have to be able to protect themselves from those risks, and this bill will give them the information to do so.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to be present during Roll Call vote No. 186 on May 7, 2024. Had I been present, I would have voted

Mr. Speaker, as the only Member of Congress of Armenian- Assyrian descent, I rise to commemorate Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, which will be observed next week by the Armenian community in the United States and around the world.

On this solemn occasion, we remember the 1.5 million Armenians and hundreds of thousands of Assyrians, Greeks, Chaldeans, Syriacs, Arameans, and Maronites who were systematically slaughtered by the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1923. What all the victims had in common is that they were Christians, and among them members of my own family.

To honor my ancestors and all who perished, I worked with so many other Members for nearly three decades to pass a resolution recognizing the Armenian genocide. For many years, the conventional wisdom in Washington was that a misguided policy of genocide denial served U.S. geopolitical interests.

However, thanks to the determined advocacy of the Armenian-American community, we overcame this entrenched opposition, and in October 2019, the resolution passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 405-11, ending over 100 years of official U.S. silence. As the vote total was announced, I thought my parents, grandparents, and extended family were applauding from Heaven.

Now nearly 5 years later, it is important to acknowledge that the fears of the resolution's detractors never materialized.

Rather than diminishing America's standing in the world, our recognition of the Armenian genocide has done the opposite: strengthening American global leadership by affirming our commitment to human rights. I am proud of the progress we have made, but we have more work to do to combat the lasting effects of genocide denial, which has left many Americans unaware of this dark chapter of history.

My legislation, the Armenian Genocide Education Act, addresses this issue by establishing a program within the Library of Congress to develop educational resources on the Armenian genocide to be used in American schools.

With nearly 90 cosponsors, this legislation is the most cosponsored bipartisan bill pending before the House Administration Committee. I urge Chairman Steil and Ranking Member Morelle to report this bill out of committee as soon as possible. I am confident that it would pass with a large bipartisan vote when it comes to the floor of the House. This bill is critical because it is so often said that those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.

Alarmingly, it felt as if history were repeating itself last September when Azerbaijan perpetuated an ethnic cleansing campaign against the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh that bore a disturbing resemblance to the mass displacements committed by Ottoman forces a century ago. This atrocity was preceded by a grueling blockade that deprived civilians of food, medicine, and other essentials for over 9 months, bringing them to their knees.

We must not wait another century to hold Azerbaijan accountable for the crimes it has committed against the Armenian people. That is why I once again call on the State Department to end U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan, sanction Azerbaijani officials for human rights abuses, and provide desperately needed aid for the 120,000 Armenians who were forced from their homes at gunpoint last year.

The best way to honor the legacies of those who perished in the Armenian genocide is by using our voices to prevent atrocities today.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to be present during Roll Call vote No. 120 through 123 on April 15, 2024 because my flight to Washington, D.C. was diverted due to weather conditions. Had I been present: on Roll Call vote No. 120, I would have voted YES; on Roll Call vote No. 121, I would have voted YES; on Roll Call vote No. 122, I would have voted YES; and on Roll Call vote No. 123, I would have voted

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the work of Bill Somerville, an extraordinary philanthropist, maverick grant-maker, advisor and a generous, creative, and devoted advocate for those in need. He retired as President of the Philanthropic Ventures Foundation (PVF) on December 31, 2023 and is being honored for his work on April 12, 2024.

Bill Somerville served for 17 years as the highly regarded Executive Director of the Peninsula Community Foundation. Eager to exercise his creativity he established PVF in 1990, with funding by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Since that time PVF has given nearly $250 million in grants, and in 2023 made grants totaling $23.6 million, with a lean staff of 8 people. PVF gives grants of $500 to $10,000, without requiring the usual proposals or paperwork.

Among his many accomplishments, Bill Somerville proposed placing Stanford graduates in a year-long fellowship to bring more young people into philanthropy. He created the Parent Involvement Worker Program which places recent ESL graduates into classrooms to ease the transition for students. He wrote Grassroots Philanthropy with Fred Setterberg to show other foundations how to use wealth to improve the world. He is a consultant and advisor at Stanford and other area universities and has shared his approach to philanthropy with more than 400 community and family foundations.

Larry Purcell, the beloved Director of the Catholic Worker House in Redwood City, said recently that, ``everywhere I look as a Catholic Worker in Redwood City, I see the footprints of Bill Somerville. He organized entire communities by targeted grants to the poor `` Somerville funded the first truck that the Catholic Worker House used to pick up and distribute free fresh food to the poor. Bill helped establish a food bank which is now the San Mateo County Second Harvest Food Bank which serves tens of thousands of families a month.

Mr. Speaker, as I did on August 2, 2019, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in honoring the transformational work of an extraordinary man, Bill Somerville, and thank him for his unique leadership. He has strengthened our communities and bettered our Nation through his vision/ passion, and integrity, and he stands as a role model of what a citizen can do to create change in the lives of so many.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Peter Andrew Sturrock, Ph.D., who celebrates the centennial of his birth on March 20, 2024.

Dr. Sturrock grew up in Essex, England and studied at Palmers School, Grays, Essex, where his favorite subject was mathematics. He studied mathematics at Cambridge University, then helped develop radar systems at what is now the Royal Radar Establishment. He earned a scholarship to St. John's College where he was elected to a fellowship.

Dr. Sturrock then pursued work in electron physics at the Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge, the National Bureau of Standards, and the Ecole Normale Superieure at the University of Paris.

In 1951, Dr. Sturrock earned his Ph.D in astrophysics. He researched nuclear physics at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment; plasma physics at St. John's College, Cambridge; microwave tubes at Stanford University; and accelerator physics at the European Organization for Nuclear Research. He invented a number of implements, including a novel microwave tube later dubbed the ``Free electron laser.''

In 1961, Dr. Sturrock was appointed Professor of Applied Physics at Stanford University, where he lived for nearly 40 years with his wife Marilyn. He is Emeritus Professor of Applied Physics at Stanford and Emeritus Director of the Center for Space Science and Astrophysics. In 1990, he was awarded the Arctowski Medal from the National Academy of Sciences. Dr. Sturrock founded and then served as president for many years at the Society for Scientific Exploration. He also served as Chairman of the Plasma Physics Division and the Solar Physics Division of the American Astronomical Society.

In 2009, Dr. Sturrock published his autobiography, A Tale of Two Sciences: Memoirs of a Dissident Scientist, which covered both his research in conventional physics and his less mainstream investigations.

In 2013, he published AKA Shakespeare: A Scientific Approach to the Authorship Question. In this book, he lays out a method for weighing evidence which he developed for studying pulsars. Dr. Sturrock then invites the reader to apply the method to tabulate their own ``degree of belief'' in three different candidates for authorship of the works usually attributed to Shakespeare.

He was elected a Legacy Fellow of the American Astronomical Society in 2020 and has a deep interest in unidentified flying objects.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in honoring Peter

Sturrock on achieving this extraordinary milestone and in thanking him for his lifetime of superb scientific endeavors. He is, indeed, a national treasure.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.

This bill will ensure the divestiture of TikTok from its People's Republic of China-controlled parent company, ByteDance.

Why is it essential for Congress to do this?

It is because the PRC controls ByteDance, and this presents a serious national security threat to our country.

TikTok has 170 million-plus U.S. users, and it collects tremendous amounts of sensitive data. They also collect substantial background data that may be proprietary which may only be available to TikTok.

The national security law of the PRC requires all Chinese organizations to ``support, assist, and cooperate with national intelligence efforts.'' Under this law, ByteDance could be compelled by the Chinese Government to provide data on every American TikTok user. They can weaponize this data to exploit and manipulate Americans through surveillance and disinformation.

This legislation separates TikTok's data, algorithms, and source code from ByteDance.

Importantly, this bill does not ban TikTok, something I do not support.

I support divestiture because our first and most important responsibility as Members of Congress is to defend our Constitution and protect and defend the United States of America. The bill would also give Americans secure ownership of their data, including posts, photos, and videos, and give this administration and future administrations the authority to respond to future national security threats.

For all these reasons, I urge all my colleagues to vote for this legislation in the name of our national security.