Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and work of Jarin Feldstein, who was born on June 4, 1943, and died at the age of 78, on May 4, 2021, from pancreatic cancer. He was the son of Harold Feldstein and Edna Cooles Feldstein, and a graduate of John Marshall High School in Los Angeles.

He earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from U.C. Berkeley, and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Southern California.

Jarin Feldstein had a prolific and highly successful career in engineering with the widely known companies General Dynamics, TRW Systems and Hughes Aircraft. He retired from his position as founder, managing director and a member of the board of directors from COMSAT (U.K.) Ltd., COMSAT's subsidiary in London, in 1984.

Jarin's life, particularly after retirement, was devoted to the Boy Scouts of America, which honored him with the Silver Beaver Award for his exceptional character and distinguished service. Jarin was often honored for his leadership in food drives to help feed the hungry, was a devoted member of Congregation Beth Am, and a serious jazz aficionado.

Madam Speaker, Jarin Feldstein was a good man and a person of great integrity. I highly valued his friendship, as did everyone privileged to be his friend. He was a true gentleman; a patriot; a distinguished business executive; a generous donor of his time and many talents to others; and, above all, a man devoted to his family. I ask my colleagues to extend their most sincere condolences to Jarin's beloved wife, Carole; his children Patti Reed and Daniel Feldstein, and their spouses; and to his grandchildren Megan and Hannah Reed and Ethan and Zachary Feldstein. His memory will always be a blessing.

Mr. Speaker, I remove my name as a cosponsor of H.R. 1127.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 937, which brings perpetrators of recent hate crimes against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community to justice, and H. Res. 275, which mourns the targeting and killing of AAPI women in recent shootings in Atlanta.

American history documents many dark periods of racism against the AAPI community. In 1854, the California Supreme Court ruled that Asian people were unfit to testify against White people in court. In 1871, seventeen Chinese men and boys were publicly lynched in Los Angeles. The convictions of the perpetrators were overturned and no one was punished. Starting in 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act prohibited immigration from China. In the 1940s, the U.S. military imprisoned tens of thousands of Japanese Americans during World War II over unfounded fears of immigrants aiding the enemy, even though no spies were ever found. This is but a short list of horrific acts of anti-AAPI racism in our country's history.

Over the last year, there has been an exponential increase of anti- Asian rhetoric and hate crimes directed against the AAPI community. We had a president who placed blame on Asian Americans for the coronavirus, fanning the flames of intolerance and hatred. This intolerance is unAmerican and we cannot accept it.

Between March 19, 2020, and February 28, 2021, there were nearly 3,800 reported cases of anti-Asian discrimination related to COVID-19, with 68 percent of reported incidents of anti-Asian hate targeted toward Asian-American women. These include violent attacks on innocent Asian Americans, including the most vulnerable among us, like pregnant women, children, and the elderly.

We must fight this bigotry and prosecute perpetrators of hate crimes. The COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act does this by directing the DOJ to expedite review of hate crimes; strengthening hate crimes reporting by local, state, and Tribal agencies; and raising awareness about COVID-19- related hate crimes.

I'm proud to cosponsor H.R. 1843, the House companion to S. 937, and I thank Senator Mazie Hirono, Senator Tammy Duckworth, and Representative Grace Meng for their important leadership in authoring this critical legislation.

One of the worst instances of anti-AAPI hate occurred on March 16, 2021, when a shooter killed eight people at three Asian-owned spas in the greater Atlanta area. Six of the victims were Asian-American women. In H. Res. 275, the House mourns the victims of this horrific shooting, and I'm a cosponsor of it.

I wish to acknowledge the names of the victims because we must never forget them: Xiaojie ``Emily'' Tan, Daoyou Feng, Delaina Ashley Yaun, Paul Andre Michels, Yong Ae Yue, Soon Chung ``Julie'' Park, Hyun Jung Grant, and Sun Cha Kim.

I thank my colleagues who led this resolution, Reps. Judy Chu, Carolyn Bourdeaux, Nikema Williams, and Lucy McBath, together with Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock, who led the Senate resolution.

I am exceedingly proud to represent a vibrant community of hundreds of thousands of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in California's 18th Congressional District which celebrates diversity as a strength and uses it as a source of our collective power.

Over the last several weeks, I've attended rallies throughout my District where hundreds have gathered to stand against AAPI hate and celebrate the APPI community. I've stood arm-in-arm with my AAPI brothers and sisters, colleagues, constituents, neighbors, and friends to fight xenophobia, and I will continue doing so.

I urge my colleagues to swiftly and unanimously pass S. 937 and H. Res. 275 to speak out, stand up, and fight Asian hate in all its ugly forms.

Madam Speaker, I'm proud to sponsor H.R. 1631, the Community Broadband Act, a bicameral bill that empowers communities in every state to bridge the digital divide by deploying their own local broadband networks.

Tens of millions of Americans lack access to broadband or can't afford it. This digital divide is a national embarrassment, and we must do everything we can to solve it. One part of the solution should be community broadband, a proven model that works to provide fast broadband at affordable speeds to millions of Americans today.

Over 900 municipalities, Tribes, co-ops, public-private partnerships, and nonprofits across the U.S. administer broadband networks in their own communities. These are communities in urban, suburban, rural, and Tribal regions of our country spanning 120 Congressional Districts.

Unfortunately, 22 states have enacted laws to limit or ban such networks. These state laws shield incumbents from competition and harm consumers. Importantly, research by New America's Open Technology Institute shows that community broadband produces higher quality service at lower costs.

For this reason, Senator Cory Booker, Representative Jared Golden, and I introduced the Community Broadband Act which preempts protectionist state laws to enable community broadband. The Community Broadband Act was originally introduced in the 109th Congress by Senators Lautenberg and McCain, and I've been proud to carry this legislation with Senator Booker since the 114th Congress.

The Community Broadband Act is supported by a long list of well- respected organizations, including the National League of Cities; the National Association of Counties; Next Century Cities; the Southern California Tribal Chairmen's Association; National Urban League; Consumer Reports; Electronic Frontier Foundation; New America's Open Technology Institute; Public Knowledge; Free Press Action; the Center for Democracy & Technology; Access Now; the National Digital Inclusion Alliance; National Rural Electric Cooperative Association; the Utilities Technology Council; the Institute for Local Self-Reliance; and the Coalition for Local Internet Choice.

Last Congress, the House passed the Community Broadband Act as part of H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act. The legislation is included in H.R. 1783, Majority Whip Clyburn's Accessible, Affordable Internet for All Act and H.R. 1848, the Energy and Commerce Committee's LIFT America Act, and I thank Whip Clyburn and Chairman Pallone for including my legislation in theirs.

I'm also very pleased that the Biden-Harris Administration's American Jobs Plan proposal includes the need for ``lifting barriers that prevent municipally-owned or affiliated providers and rural electric co-ops from competing on an even playing field with private providers,'' which can be achieved by enacting the Community Broadband Act.

At a recent hearing of the Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, three witnesses made a strong case for the importance of community broadband, and each endorsed the Community Broadband Act. They testified about successful networks of many types that I wish to recognize as well:

The City of Wilson, North Carolina, operates a successful fiber-to- the-home network for its residents. The City of San Rafael, California partnered with a nonprofit to develop a mesh network to provide free wi-fi to residents. EugNet is an open-access network in Eugene, Oregon that has experienced major societal returns to their investment in a community network. The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority is a highly successful Tribal broadband network. The City of Lafayette, Louisiana launched LUS Fiber to offer affordable, high-speed broadband for all of its residents. The City of Chattanooga, Tennessee, invested in a fiber network in 2009. That network isn't just economically viable, it turns a profit for the city even after offering low prices.

I also wish to recognize two community networks in my California's 18th Congressional District. A group of residents of the City of Los Altos Hills formed a mutual benefit organization called the Los Altos Hills Community Fiber Association to offer high-speed internet where other fiber options are sparse. The City of Palo was a pioneer when it became one of the first cities in our country to deploy a dark fiber network in 1996. This has enabled high-quality

connectivity for countless businesses. Residents are now organizing to expand this network for fiber-to-the-home offerings.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1631 and urge the House to pass this legislation swiftly.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Eugene Mullin, known to all as Gene, who died on April 5, 2021, three years after being diagnosed with cancer. He was born in the San Francisco Bay Area on April 21, 1937, and lived most of his life in South San Francisco.

Gene Mullin gave generously of his time and considerable talents in service to our country, serving in the Judge Advocate Corps of the U.S. Army from 1959 to 1960, and earned a Bachelor's degree and a lifetime secondary teaching certificate from the University of San Francisco (USF).

A lifelong teacher, Gene Mullin taught Social Studies at South San Francisco High School for 32 years. He was named the San Mateo County Teacher of the Year in 1991, was honored as Alumnus of the Year 2011 by USF's School of Education, and Riordan High School's first Alumnus of the Year in 2010. He coached basketball for two decades, served as President of the SSF CTA, and made educational videos on social studies topics. Thousands of South San Francisco students benefitted from his complete dedication to them and his commitment to their education.

Gene Mullin began his career in local public service in 1972 when he was appointed to the South San Francisco Planning Commission. He served seven years on the South San Francisco City Council, two of them as Mayor. He was elected to the California State Assembly in 2002, representing California's 19th Assembly District, and served for three exemplary terms. Gene wrote several books about local government and received numerous well-deserved awards and honors for his public service. He will be remembered for his devotion to the people of South San Francisco, and particularly to the youth of the community and his role in getting them involved in government. He was a hardworking legislator who set the gold standard for public office with his integrity and commitment to his constituents.

Gene Mullin was preceded in death by his beloved wife Terri. He leaves his son, Kevin Mullin, who is currently the Speaker Pro Tempore of the California State Assembly, his daughter Jennifer, and five adored grandsons.

Gene's son Kevin said ``His legacy on civic engagement lives on through the lives of his legions of students, as well as his children and grandchildren. He was our proverbial north star and we'll never be the same with him gone.''

Madam Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in extending our condolences to Gene Mullin's family. Gene was a cherished friend and I had the deepest admiration and respect for him. He was a great and good man, a superb educator, a highly effective legislator and a mentor to many. He made his community better by the way he lived, led and worked, and he strengthened our nation immeasurably.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Charles Geschke, known to all as Chuck, a pioneer and a giant in Silicon Valley, who died on April 16, 2021, at the age of 81, at his home in Los Altos, California. He was born on September 11, 1939, and grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, where his father was a photoengraver and his mother a paralegal.

Chuck was a deeply faith-filled man who once considered entering the Catholic priesthood. He attended a Jesuit high school and studied liberal arts at Xavier University in Cincinnati. He earned a master's degree in mathematics there and later earned a Ph.D. in computer science at Carnegie Mellon. He worked as a math professor, then at the Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency. He was hired by Xerox to work at its Palo Alto Research Center where he met John Warnock, Ph.D., and they joined together in leaving Xerox to found what is now Adobe Inc.

Chuck created a highly successful and important company, one of Silicon Valley's greatest, that enabled desktop publishing which has had worldwide impact. The New York Times, (4/20/2021) opened its obituary of him by asking,

``If you sent a PDF on your computer today, thank him. In

1980, he and a colleague created a way of sending digital

documents to a printer, starting a company, Adobe.'' In the

same piece, the Times quoted him as saying this regarding his

immense success; ``Engineers dream of building something that

millions of people will use; that's their ultimate goal.

I don't think many engineers are motivated by money.

They're motivated by having an impact.''

Chuck was a gentle person with a self-deprecating sense of humor and was unrelentingly generous. With his wife Nan, they donated millions to non-profits and universities. He was a fair-minded boss and with Dr. Warnock, employed the ``golden rule'' in the treatment of employees. He was a man of great faith and a model for corporate leaders to emulate.

He received numerous well-deserved awards, including the National Medal of Technology and Innovation Award in 2009, with Dr. Warnock, and served on many foundation boards. He was proud of what he created in business, but his family was his greatest treasure.

I had the privilege of knowing Chuck for decades and shared an enduring friendship with him. I sought his wise counsel and practical advice, always learning from him and appreciating his depth of knowledge and integrity.

Madam Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in extending our condolences to Chuck Geschke's wife Nan, his sons Peter and John, his daughter Kathy Orciuoli, and his seven beloved grandchildren. We are a better, stronger nation because of this great and good man.

Madam Speaker, I was unable to be present during roll call vote number 130. I would like to reflect how I would have voted.

On roll call vote number 130, I would have voted YES.

Madam Speaker, I was unable to be present during roll call vote number 106. Had I been present I would have voted YES.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my support of the Paycheck Fairness Act, a bill I'm proud to have voted for in the previous Congress.

Today, women make up the majority of the college-educated workforce, yet only earn approximately 82 percent of what men earn. For women of color, the pay gap is even worse.

This legislation is critical because it makes significant progress in eliminating pay discrimination against women by providing them the necessary protections and tools to combat sex-based pay discrimination.

Simply put, ensuring that one half of the workforce is paid as much for the same job as the other half is a matter of basic rights and fairness. Women deserve better, and I look forward to voting for this bill once again.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Claire Cullen Earley, a San Carlos, California resident, who died on March 28, 2021, Palm Sunday, at the age of 85.

Claire Cullen was born on May 29, 1935, in Larchmont, New York, to Colonel William Joseph Cullen and Alice Cunningham Cullen. She was raised in Larchmont and Manhattan and earned a degree in Mathematics from Rosemont College. She worked as a computer programmer at Union Carbide in New York City where she met and later married Martin Vincent Earley. In 1971 they moved to San Carlos, where she began her lifelong commitment to her community.

Claire Earley was the former President of the San Mateo County Association of Realtors, Director of the California Association of Realtors, a member of St. Charles Church in San Carlos and the San Carlos Rotary Club.

She was predeceased by her husband Martin and her parents. She leaves her four beloved sons and their wives, and 11 adored grandchildren. She will be sorely missed by each of them as well as the many people who were blessed by her loyalty and generosity. I was blessed with her friendship for almost five decades.

Madam Speaker, I ask the entire House of Representatives to join me in expressing our condolences to the family and friends of Claire Earley. She was a woman of great faith, a force of nature and always a force for good. We are a better community because of her and a stronger country.

Madam Speaker, March 23, 2021 marked the 50th anniversary of Congressional passage of the 26th Amendment to the Constitution, which extended the right to vote

to 18-20-year-olds. This bipartisan amendment was the culmination of young activists of all political parties and backgrounds coming together to fight for their democratic right.

It was reported that some in Washington called the effort a ``children's crusade.'' But those naysayers quickly learned one of Washington's most important lessons: never doubt America's youth.

With the proud support of California's former Members of Congress Don Edwards, Jerry Waldie, Pete McCloskey, Ab Mikva and others, the Amendment passed the House 401-19, after Senate approval by a 94-0 vote, and gave more than 10 million 18-to-20-year-olds the right to vote.

Since then, youth activism has remained a driving force to address our nation's biggest issues. The global climate crisis, gun violence and police brutality have sparked worldwide movements for change led by young organizers.

Half a century after Congress passed the 26th Amendment, young voters face many roadblocks to registering to vote and actually being able to cast their ballots. Many young Americans aren't educated on how to vote or register to vote, face challenges to voting absentee while studying away from home, and face the burden of having to go to class or work on Election Day.

For young people of color, the challenges are even greater, as the overcriminalization of youth leads to adult felony convictions that bar them from voting in many states, fees that must be paid before voting, and arrests for low-level offenses that deter potential voters from showing up to the voting booth.

H.R. 1, the For The People Act, which the House passed this month, would strengthen the 26th Amendment by requiring online voter registration, making absentee ballots more accessible, sending federal funds for colleges and universities to appoint a ``campus vote coordinator'' to educate students on how they can vote and improve voter participation on campus, and ensure formerly incarcerated individuals have their right to vote restored when they reenter society. The bill also allows 16- and 17-year-olds to preregister to vote, engaging future voters at a young age to encourage higher participation in the future.

America's youth are ambassadors to our future. March 23rd is an anniversary to celebrate extraordinary progress made by visionaries whose shoulders we stand on today.

Mr. Speaker, Women's History Month is a time to appreciate the achievements of women and the many strides we've made to create a more equal society and an inclusive world for our children.

Women's History Month began as a designated week in California in 1978. It soon became a week nationwide, and a decade later it was expanded to include the entire month of March.

Women have had to fight for voting rights, equal treatment, equal pay, and much more, often at great costs, but we have achieved so much. In the 1970s, women were not allowed to get credit or loans in their own name. Today, women make up the majority of the college-educated workforce.

Because of the actions and sacrifices of those who came before us, the new Congress has 144 women serving in it, the highest number in American history and we have the first female Vice President in our history.

While much has been accomplished, there's so much more to be done. We must reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, secure equal pay, tackle maternal mortality rates, stop the relentless attacks on reproductive health, and guarantee paid family leave.

The pandemic has had a devastating and disproportionate impact on women. In September of 2020, more than a million Americans left the workforce, with 80 percent being women. Three months later, 140,000 jobs of women were lost.

To all the women who are struggling during this pandemic, I see them. I stand with them and I will fight for them always.

Madam Speaker, I voted with great pride for the Violence Against Women Act when it originally passed the House in 1994. Since then we have made great strides to end gendered violence, but our work is not done.

This reauthorization supports critical efforts to end the scourge of violent acts committed against women by bolstering resources for survivors, strengthening healthcare for survivors, improving conditions for women in custody, closing the law enforcement consent loophole, and much more.

We are debating this bill during a particularly difficult time for women because the pandemic has forced victims to be home with their abusers.

This reality underscores the urgency with which Congress must act by fully funding and reauthorizing VAWA.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 134, Condemning the military coup that took place on February 1, 2021, in Burma and the Burmese military detention of civilian leaders, calling for the release of all those detained and for those elected to serve in Parliament to resume their duties, and for other purposes. I'm proud to be an original cosponsor of this important resolution.

On February 1st the Burmese military shocked the world when it launched a coup against the democratically elected government of State Councilor Aung San Suu Kyi, declared a national state of emergency, and arrested civilian members of the government.

Since the coup, chaos has gripped the country. The military shut down the internet and imposed martial law. The Burmese people, insistent that their country continue down the path toward democracy, have taken to the streets to protest the military's actions, and the military has responded by killing at least 200 civilians, including more than 60 on Sunday, March 14th, and arresting thousands.

As the oldest democracy in the world, the United States must clearly and unequivocally condemn the Burmese military's brutal and authoritarian crackdown and violence against its own people. Burma has made significant progress in transitioning toward democracy in recent years, and it is heartbreaking to see this progress squandered in the blink of an eye.

I echo President Biden's call for the Burmese military to immediately relinquish power, release detained officials, and refrain from using violence against peaceful protesters. I also support President Biden's decision to impose sanctions on military leaders in Burma

and freeze $1 billion of their assets that are held in the U.S., denying them access to these funds.

This resolution not only condemns the Burmese military, it sends a powerful message that the House of Representatives, the people's house in the United States Congress, stands firmly behind the courageous people of Burma as they struggle to wrest democracy and freedom from the hands of their authoritarian and corrupt military.

I'm proud to support this resolution and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Madam Speaker, I'm proud to support H.R. 6, the American Dream and

Promise Act to ensure that millions of young Americans can remain in the only country they've ever known and loved.

The bill provides a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, young people who came to the U.S. as children without legal status. It provides conditional legal status for ten years to those with a high school diploma or equivalent credential, and they must pay a fee and pass a background check. They can also earn permanent legal status if they attend college, work lawfully, or serve in the military.

I supported President Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program which provided temporary legal status and work permits to over 650,000 young people, but only Congress can provide permanent legal status and a pathway to citizenship through statute. After putting their faith in the government when they registered for DACA and enduring the Trump Administration's three-year legal battle to end this program, these young people deserve the certainty of a permanent solution.

The American Dream and Promise Act also provides permanent legal status to recipients of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED), programs that provide temporary legal status to immigrants from countries experiencing war, natural disasters, or other ongoing crises.

Many of the individuals I've described are longtime U.S. residents who contribute to their communities and our economy and are Americans in all but name. Our legislation provides them with an earned pathway to citizenship so they can be legally recognized as full members of society and no longer live in fear of deportation. They deserve this, and I urge all Members to support the American Dream and Promise Act.