Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, on March 1, 2017, I missed one roll call vote. Had I been present, I would have voted:

NO on Roll Call Vote 116, H. Res. 156, Providing for consideration of H.R. 1004, the Regulatory Integrity Act of 2017; and H.R. 1009, the OIRA Insight, Reform, and Accountability Act.

I would have cast my vote in opposition to this resolution because the Rules Committee rejected a motion by Ms. Slaughter of New York to consider both H.R. 1004 and H.R. 1009 under open Rules. The Rules Committee also rejected a motion by Mr. McGovern of Massachusetts to strike the waiver of all points of order against consideration of H.R. 1009 which includes waiver of CUTGO, statutory pay-go, and sections 303 and 311 of the Congressional Budget Act.

Mr. Speaker, on February 28, 2017, I missed one roll call vote. Had I been present, would have voted:

NO on Roll Call Vote 104, H. Res. 150, On Agreeing to the Resolution--Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 998) SCRUB Act, and providing for consideration of (H.J. Res. 83) disapproving the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to Clarification of Employers Continuing Obligation to Make and Maintain an Accurate Record of Each Recordable Injury and Illness.

I would have cast my vote in opposition to this resolution because the Rules Committee rejected a motion by Mr. Hastings of Florida to strike the waiver of section of 311 of the Congressional Budget Act for H.J. Res. 83.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to call to your attention the outstanding achievements of Gerardo Montone, a hardworking and dedicated member of the Roma Club of Woodland Park, NJ, who will be honored at the Roma Club Dinner Dance on Sunday.

Gerardo was born and raised in a small town in Italy called Punta Licosa. He lived there with his parents, Valentino and Rosa Montone, brother Antonio and sister Antoinette, but at the age of eighteen Gerardo's family decided to make the big move to the United States. After months of living with his aunt and uncle in New York, Gerardo, with his mother Rosa and sister Antoinette, moved to my home town of Paterson, New Jersey, where he still lives today.

Gerardo has been an extremely hard worker his entire life. After just one day of living in the United States he got a job working at Lembo Textile Shop. Gerardo worked making rollers for textile printers. After living in the United States for some time, Gerardo picked up a second job. He worked the night shift at Master Screens in Clifton, NJ. Gerardo quickly saw himself thriving at Master Screens, and eventually became the manager of the entire location, making it his primary job for seven years.

Finally, after a year of being in the United States, Gerardo's brother Antonio and sister-in-law moved to Paterson, NJ and began working with Gerardo to build their own two-family home. Gerardo lived on one floor with his mother Rosa and sister Antoinette, while his brother Antonio and sister-in-law lived on the second floor with their two children. As you can tell, Gerardo is a self-made man who achieves everything he sets his mind to.

Aside from building houses and managing a textile shop, he loves fishing and eating seafood. Whenever he has downtime he gets his rod and heads to go fishing. Because of his passion for fishing he decided to open his own seafood market. He named it San Marco's Fish Market, and it was located on 21st Avenue in Paterson, NJ. He kept the business in the family and employed his brother Antonio, sister Antoinette, and sister-in-law. His market became incredibly successful, and he eventually began supplying seafood to many local restaurants. Gerardo succeeded in the seafood industry for 12 years, when he decided to begin achieving some of his other dreams.

After years of being out in the workforce, Gerardo decided to go back to school so that he could begin doing what he truly loved. In 2000, Gerardo opened up Montone Remodeling and Construction, Incorporation. Gerardo still runs and operates his company, and has had much success with his business. Asides from fishing and being at the company, Gerardo loves to spend time with his son Gerardo, Jr, and his wife of 14 years, Julia. Gerardo is an extremely hard working man, and I do not see him slowing down at any time in his future.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, family and friends, all those whose lives he has touched, and me, in recognizing the work of Gerardo Montone and his hard work and dedication to the Roma Club of Woodland Park, NJ.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to call to your attention the outstanding achievements of Rev. Patricia Bruger, her contributions to CUMAC and all those in need.

Patricia has a Master of Divinity degree with over 25 years of experience in social and civic ministries. She is an ordained Elder of The United Methodist Church, a certified Mentor for the Board of Ordained Ministry, a certified counselor for the Clergy Partnership on Domestic Violence, and a member of the Bishop's Task Force on Urban Minorities.

Prior to attending seminary and coming to CUMAC, Patricia worked for the Girl Scouts of America and was a public school teacher. She is a committed social servant dedicated to the eradication of hunger and poverty through direct source and broad advocacy efforts. She was a founding member of, and remains active in the Emergency Food Coalition of Passaic County (newly operating as a CUMAC program), the NJ statewide Anti-Hunger Coalition, and the Paterson Alliance. Pat has been a leading voice for her community, advocating for hunger to be addressed in the state budget, as well as rallying support for SNAP benefits and Breakfast after the Bell, to feed hungry students so that they can have a proper education.

Patricia has been the Executive Director of CUMAC for over 26 years. She has led the organization through a tremendous period of growth from operating out of an abandoned church to purchasing its own 28,000 square foot facility and from a small food pantry to a multiservice agency serving over 40,000 people in need every year, providing food assistance, disaster relief, job training, supportive housing, and hope to a community facing pervasive poverty.

Patricia's forward-thinking and leadership abilities has encouraged and inspired staff and volunteers to partake in CUMAC's mission of taking care of others. She has raised awareness about pervasive poverty through this organization, and strives to fulfill the needs of people who do not have the adequate resources to function in their daily lives. She has worked closely with other feeding programs throughout Passaic County and northern New Jersey to bring about change in the community, and to assist in eradicating poverty.

Through a lifetime of service and leadership, she has aided, encouraged and inspired many. Her vision and strength have had a profound impact on the movement to fight hunger, poverty and injustice in Passaic County and beyond.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, family and friends, all those whose lives she has touched, and me, in recognizing the work of Rev. Patricia Bruger and her strong desire to help those in need across the world.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 2(a)(1) of rule IX, I rise to give notice of my intent to raise a question of the privileges of the House.

The form of the resolution is as follows:

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the President shall immediately disclose his tax return information to Congress and the American people.

Whereas, in the United States' system of checks and balances, Congress has a responsibility to hold the executive branch of government to the highest standard of transparency to ensure the public interest is placed first;

Whereas, according to the Tax History Project, every President since Gerald Ford has disclosed their tax return information to the public;

Whereas, tax returns provide an important baseline disclosure because they contain highly instructive information including whether the candidate paid taxes, what they own, what they have borrowed and from whom, whether they have made any charitable donations, and whether they have taken advantage of tax loopholes;

Whereas, disclosure of the President's tax returns could help those investigating Russian influence in the 2016 election understand the President's financial ties to the Russian Federation and Russian citizens, including debts owed and whether he shares any partnership interests, equity interests, joint ventures or licensing agreements with Russia or Russians;

Whereas, The New York Times has reported that President Trump's close senior advisers, including Carter Page, Paul Manafort, Roger Stone, and General Michael Flynn, have been under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their ties to the Russian Federation;

Whereas, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Interfax, a Russian media outlet, on November 10, 2016 that ``there were contacts'' with Donald Trump's 2016 campaign, and it has been reported that members of President Trump's inner circle were in contact with senior Russian officials throughout the 2016 campaign;

Whereas, according to his 2016 candidate filing with the Federal Election Commission, the President has 564 financial positions in companies located in the United States and around the world;

Whereas, against the advice of ethics attorneys and the Office of Government Ethics, the President has refused to divest his ownership stake in his businesses;

Whereas, the director of the nonpartisan Office of Government Ethics said that the President's plan to transfer his business holdings to a trust managed by family members is ``meaningless'' and ``does not meet the standards that . . . every president in the past four decades has met'';

Whereas, the Emoluments Clause was included in the U.S. Constitution for the express purpose of preventing federal officials from accepting any ``present, Emolument, Office, or Title . . . from any King, Prince, or foreign state'';

Whereas, according to The Washington Post, the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., has hired a ``director of diplomatic sales'' to generate high-priced business among foreign leaders and diplomatic delegations;

Whereas, according to The New York Times, the President used a legally dubious tax maneuver in 1995 that could have allowed him to avoid paying federal taxes for 18 years;

Whereas, the most signed petition on the White House website calls for the release of the President's tax return information to verify compliance with the Emoluments Clause, with 1,074,000 signatures as of date of this resolution;

Whereas, the chairmen of the Ways and Means Committee, Joint Committee on Taxation, and Senate Finance Committee have the authority to request the President's tax returns under,Section 6103 of the tax code;

Whereas, the Joint Committee on Taxation reviewed the tax returns of President Richard Nixon in 1974 and made the information public;

Whereas, the Ways and Means Committee used IRC 6103 authority in 2014 to make public the confidential tax information of 51 taxpayers;

Whereas, the American people have the right to know whether or not their President is operating under conflicts of interest related to international affairs, tax reform, government contracts, or otherwise:

Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the House of Representatives shall, one, immediately request the tax return information of Donald J. Trump for tax years 2006 through 2015 for review in closed executive session by the Committee on Ways and Means, as provided under section 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code, and vote to report the information therein to the full House of Representatives; two, support transparency in government and the longstanding tradition of Presidents and Presidential candidates disclosing their tax returns.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, I offer my resolution.

Yes, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, under rule IX, clause 1, questions of the privileges of the House are ``those affecting the rights of the House collectively, its safety, dignity, and the integrity of its proceedings.''

There is nothing more of a threat to the integrity of this House than ignoring our duty to provide a check and balance to the executive branch. To restore the dignity of the House, we must use our authority to request President Trump's tax returns and give the American people the transparency they deserve.

The American people demand, Mr. Speaker, to know the full scope of the President's financial background. Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution includes a clause prohibiting foreign emoluments to the President.

The Office of Government Ethics--I can't stress this enough--has warned us about the President's decision not to divest or set up a blind trust. And there is a need to fully understand the President's ties to Russia.

The resolution I am offering can provide the transparency to help ease the concerns of Americans across the Nation. The Internal Revenue Code includes language laying out a path for the Ways and Means Committee to obtain the tax returns and review them in a respectful manner, and there is the precedent of that provision being used.

Mr. Speaker, that decision to put this into the code in 1924 was a result of the very famous scandal of 1923, the Teapot Dome, from Teapot Rock, Wyoming, under President Harding. He died, unfortunately, and never saw the end of this scandal.

People committed murder in this scandal. People sold off American reserves in this scandal. So, they put it into the IRS Code for a very, very specific reason, so the people have a right to know.

A growing number of Members and Senators from both parties have been saying we should have the President's tax returns. The House must demonstrate--and this is my deep feeling here, not as a Democrat, but as an American citizen, Mr. Speaker--we must demonstrate that its Members are listening to our constituents' concerns. The House must demonstrate that it cares about protecting the integrity of our government, of our Constitution, of our system of checks and balances.

Let's shine a bright light on the President's conflicts together, together, as we, as a Congress, and the broader American public can judge whether his decisions are being made for himself, his business interests, or for the greater good of the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I thank you for your indulgences, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I appeal the ruling of the Chair.

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Madam Speaker, there are stark similarities between what happened in the 1850s and now. You judge for yourself.

In 1856, former President Millard Fillmore ran for President as part of the Know-Nothing group. A year after the failed attempt, most of the Know-Nothing supporters joined the newly formed Republican Party. You can't make this up.

A primary concern of the Know-Nothing movement in the 1850s was the large number of Irish and German Catholics who were coming to the United States. A concern they repeatedly professed was a worry that the character of the country would be changed because they were coming here.

Lincoln said this: ``As a nation, we begin by declaring that `all men are created equal.' We now practically read it `all men are created equal, except Negroes.' When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read `all men are created equal except Negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' ''

When it comes to this, I should prefer immigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty. Russia--oh, the similarities are unbelievable--where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy. That is the difference. But there are a lot of similarities.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to call to your attention the outstanding achievements of Chief William G. Fraher as he prepares for his retirement today as Chief of Police from the Paterson Police Department.

Chief William Fraher is an Alumnus of Rutgers University, where he received his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and Government. Chief Fraher then went on to receive his Master's Degree from Rutgers University in Public Policy Analysis. He is also a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Police Honor Society.

Chief Fraher was appointed to the Paterson Police Department in January of 1975. He has served my hometown of Paterson for over 42 years.

It came with no surprise that on February 1, 2012 William G. Fraher was appointed Acting Chief of Police for the City of Paterson, where he has lead the men and women of the Paterson Police Department in the third largest city in the State of New Jersey. Chief Fraher makes it a point to work with the Police Director, Administration and community activists to make the City of Paterson more safe and secure.

Under Chief Fraher, the Paterson Police Department became the largest accredited municipal agency. His dedication to the job and the city has resulted in numerous accomplishments, including being a founding partner in the development of CORESTAT, a law enforcement partnership within the Passaic River corridor, which includes police departments from Bergen County, Hudson County, Passaic County, Essex County, and the NJ State Police. His presentations at the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) have encompassed numerous affiliations with the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS), American Society of Criminology (ACS), and the Integrated Justice Information Systems Institute (IJIS). Currently, Chief Fraher is an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City.

Today, I take pride in recognizing and commemorating the achievements of an extraordinary individual. Chief William G. Fraher is a man of exceptional character and is truly deserving of this esteemed acknowledgement. Chief Fraher is very well respected by all law enforcement officials throughout the tri-state area and beyond. I am forever grateful for the service, dedication, and the security Chief Fraher has provided to my hometown of Paterson.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, family and friends, all those whose lives he has touched, and me, in recognizing the work of Chief William G. Fraher's years of service, dedication, and excellence to the City of Paterson.

Mr. Speaker, I remain committed to a two-state solution, where a Jewish state of Israel and a Palestinian state can co-exist in peace. The best path to ultimately achieving this peace is through direct, bilateral negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, not imposed solutions by international organizations. Instead of this Administration concluding its strong Israel record with the single largest pledge of military assistance in U.S. history, it chose to end on a perplexing note by choosing not to veto United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334.

The expansion of settlements in occupied territory has been long recognized on a bipartisan basis and in U.S. policy for decades as doing little to improve the confidence of Arabs that a final outcome can be freely and fairly negotiated. United Nations action does not help advance the cause of peace, nor does it bring about direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians so they might resolve their complicated differences and find a much needed, lasting two-state solution, which I have supported my entire career.

Any action, whether coming from the United Nations or the Congress, must provide a complete picture of the facts on the ground and full appreciation for the challenges confronting all sides. Like the one- sided resolution from the United Nations Security Council, H. Res. 11 too ignores the reality of the conditions on the ground. While I don't believe either resolution is balanced, I am voting in favor of H. Res. 11 to express my displeasure with the actions of the UN, which make direct negotiations all the more difficult to resume. I will continue to speak out in support of efforts that lay the foundation for peace in the Middle East and vigorously oppose those that undermine a lasting two state solution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Father Kevin Corcoran who, after 16 years of support and service to the Department for Persons with Disabilities will be honored as Person of the Year on Sunday, February 22, 2015 at the 45th Annual Murray House Dinner Dance in Paterson, NJ.

Father Kevin Corcoran is a native of Dover, New Jersey. In 1986, he graduated from Morris Catholic High School in Denville, and upon graduation dedicated the next four years of his life to serving in the United States Air Force. He demonstrated remarkable courage and dedication to serving his country, and would continue to exemplify core Air Force values: ``Integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do''.

During his time in the Air Force, Father Kevin was stationed in Texas, Colorado, and Korea. While in Korea, he received a Black Belt in Taekwondo from the University of Seoul.

In 1999, Father Kevin answered the call to a vocation in priesthood, and enrolled in St. Mary's seminary and University in Baltimore, Maryland. Specializing in theological studies, he received both a B.A. and M.A. in theology.

His first assignment as a priest was at St. Anthony Parish in Hawthorne, where he served as a parochial vicar from 1999-2007. As such, Father Kevin carried out the functions of teaching, sanctifying and leading the people of St. Anthony's parish. He and his colleagues worked tirelessly to guide and lead the community of St. Anthony's through faith and fellowship.

For several months in 2010, while assisting his mother who was ill, Father Kevin did priestly ministry at St. Mary's Parish, in Goldsboro, North Carolina.

From 2007-2012, as well as 2011 to the present, Father Kevin has served as priest-secretary to Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli of the Diocese of Paterson, in addition to being Vice Chancellor and Master of Ceremonies for Episcopal Liturgical events. Father Kevin has had the privilege to work with Bishop Serratelli, who has shown exemplary leadership within his community, serving on multiple boards such as the Committee on Divine Worship and Chairman of the Ad hoc Sub-Committee for the Review of Scripture Translations.

Through the Department for Persons with Disabilities, Father Kevin and Bishop Serratelli have greatly assisted adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities by providing residential, vocational, spiritual, and social services. Their involvement has empowered persons with disabilities to become active, contributing, and valued members of their community, and have helped them to live life to the fullest with dignity and respect.

The Department for Persons with Disabilities is an organization that is near and dear to my heart. I have attended the Annual Murray House Dinner Dance, and have had the privilege of watching their organization grow and flourish throughout the years. Father Corcoran is an exceptional man and I commend him on his achievements.

The job of a United States Congressman involves much that is rewarding, yet nothing compares to recognizing and commemorating the achievements of individuals such as Father Kevin Corcoran.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, Father Kevin Corcoran's coworkers, family and friends, all those whose lives he has touched, and me, in recognizing the work of Father Kevin Corcoran.

Mr. Speaker, a five-alarm fire ripped through 240 apartments in Edgewater, New Jersey. The fire completely destroyed the complex and displaced nearly 1,000 residents. You could see and smell the flames and ashes for miles around.

I rise today to extend my sympathies to the families and recognize and honor the brave men and women of the Edgewater Volunteer Fire Department who responded to this devastating blaze, as well as over 500 first responders from 35 municipalities who came to Edgewater, rescued victims, and battled flames that blazed for 7 hours.

Under the leadership of Fire Chief Tom Jacobson, firefighters rescued people from three floors and miraculously managed to prevent any loss of life or severe injuries.

Thanks to the quick response by the American Red Cross and other aid organizations, the more than 1,000 displaced people were able to take refuge in the Edgewater Community Center.

On behalf of my constituents, Mr. Speaker, in Edgewater, I want to once again extend my gratitude to all the first responders who answer to the call every day and helped prevent further damage in this particular travesty.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 596.

You would think that if my friends on the other side cobbled together all of the time they have spent trying to undermine the ACA, they should have been able to come up with an alternative for this law, the law they can't find anything good to say about, but I am not holding my breath for that.

While we have been here 55 times before, including my Republican colleagues shutting down the government over ACA--let's not forget that. You shut the place down in trying to stop ACA. Oh, by the way, you don't know how much that cost, the billions of dollars in jobs. But we will overlook that today. Today is different because they are now repealing the law after the major coverage expansion provisions have gone into effect.

Today's vote to repeal the ACA means taking away health insurance for the 19 million Americans who receive coverage under ACA, including 213,000 people from my home State of New Jersey; second, ending the tax credits 85 percent of Americans with coverage through the exchange are using to help offset the premiums and requiring them to pay back the tax credits they already received; and third, among the many reasons, seniors losing the new Medicare benefits the ACA created, such as lower drug costs and free preventive services.

I want to be there when you tell the seniors in your district that are covered under this plan that they don't have it anymore. I want you to tell them how much it is going to be increased on prescription drugs. You stand there. Don't pontificate on this floor. Go to your district. Tell the people what you are doing.

Before the ACA, many people were paying for plans that didn't provide them with the coverage they needed. The plans they purchased had high out-of-pocket costs and artificially low caps on coverage.

Through the Chair, my friend from Texas--I call him my friend, I think, sincerely--I agree with him that we want results from what we are spending on health care. We want to see the results, results-oriented, absolutely. That is what health care reform and the ACA are all about.

We are removing ourselves from the fee-for-service, which had made patients prisoners of hospitals. The gentleman from Texas agrees with me on that, I believe. Make the ACA better. Help us improve it for a change. The gentleman knows there are good things in this bill and in this law. Help us make it better for the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Honorable Aaron T. Ford who, after 30 years of service to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, was honored for his retirement on Thursday, January 29, 2015.

Mr. Ford began his career with the FBI as a Special Agent in August 1985. Following New Agents training, he was assigned to the St. Louis Division, primarily working Violent Crime and Organized Crime matters. He also served on the SWAT team where he participated in the execution of numerous high-risk threats, search warrants and protective details.

In June 1989, Agent Ford was transferred to the Newark Division. He served as Team Leader on the SWAT Team. In August 1998, he was promoted to Supervisory Special Agent on a drug squad.

In January 2000, he was named the supervisor for the Public Corruption/Civil Rights squad. In August 2005, he was assigned as SSRA of the Red Bank Resident Agency, where he supervised all criminal matters.

In February 2006, Agent Ford was assigned as a Team Leader in the Inspection Division at FBI Headquarters in Washington D.C., where he served until August 2007. During this time, he participated in the auditing of all programs throughout the FBI. In October 2007, Agent Ford was designated as Assistant Special Agent in Charge in the Newark Division, first overseeing the Administrative Branch and later the Criminal Enterprise Branch.

As an inspector in the Inspection Division at FBI Headquarters from August 2010 to November 2011, Agent Ford oversaw field office and headquarters inspections, shooting incident review teams, audits and special inquiries.

Prior to his FBI career, he served as a special agent with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation where he investigated a variety of violations including Violent Crime, Fugitives, Drugs, and Corruption.

On April 8, 2013, Director Robert S. Mueller III announced that he has naming Agent Ford as Special Agent in Charge of the Newark Division. Agent Ford most recently served as the special agent in charge of the Memphis Division.

Agent Ford is a native of Atlanta, Georgia. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology from Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee, and a Juris Doctorate degree from Rutgers School of Law In New Jersey.

Agent Ford truly lived up to the FBI's motto of ``Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity'' by protecting Americans from all threats, both foreign and domestic. As Chair of the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus, I value the sacrifice and dedication of law enforcement officials like Agent Ford, who selflessly serve the great people of the United States of America.

The job of a United States Congressman involves much that is rewarding, yet nothing compares to recognizing and commemorating the achievements of individuals such as Aaron T. Ford.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join our colleagues, Aaron T. Ford's coworkers, family and friends, all those whose lives he has touched, and me, in recognizing the career of Aaron T. Ford.

Madam Chair, I just want to report to the other side that you are already on retreat. As a party, you have retreated from our solemn oaths, camouflaged by pious, empty, pyrrhic acclamations of patriotism and liberty.

These are not stick people you are talking about. These are real people. They are not despots. They are not moneychangers. They are not felons. They are human equals to you and me.

You have a bumper sticker mentality without the bumper.

For years and years, all we heard is ``read the bill.'' Well, we have read the bill and, in fact, I helped write the ACA. I am proud of that.

There is nothing in the ACA or the President's executive order that treats people who have temporary status under DACA differently than U.S. citizens for the purposes of triggering the employer mandate.

The whole purpose of this amendment is to play into fears that, by allowing immigrants to come out of the shadows and work legally and pay taxes, you are undermining American workers. That is a lie. Admit it.

Nothing in this ACA incentivizes employers to hire undocumented immigrants over American citizens. In fact, just the opposite, as you heard the speaker before me. Specifically, it prohibits employers from firing a citizen employee because they receive a premium tax credit. Read the bill.

My colleagues on the other side of the aisle are simply trying to obscure what the President did here with this executive order: provide responsible solutions to prevent families from being torn apart even further.

I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment--and have a nice retreat.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose this rule.

Let us be perfectly clear about what is happening here today. House Republicans are holding our national security hostage to the extreme policies of their most radical Members. I speak from experience, having been one of the three or four that started this committee back after 9/ 11. You know that.

A vote for this rule and the poison pill amendments that will follow is a vote to shut down the Department of Homeland Security, plain and simple. It is a vote against the brave men and women in our Border Patrol, Secret Service, Coast Guard, and local public safety departments who put their lives on the line every day.

As the cochair of the Congressional Fire Caucus and the Public Safety Caucus, I am outraged that this stunt will jeopardize important funding under the Fire and SAFER grants programs. It provides community firefighters with the equipment they need and the ability to hire additional firefighters to help keep the risk of loss of life and property damage at a minimum.

I welcome a debate about immigration, but this is another ruse. This is an exact ruse. Whether you are talking about border security or whether you are talking about ``amnesty,'' it is a ruse. It doesn't matter whether it is this or something else to stop immigration, House Republicans have done nothing but run from that conversation.

Speaker Boehner has been sitting on a bipartisan comprehensive immigration bill since June of 2013. He has done nothing to move the bill through the House. He hasn't proposed an alternative. And if you don't like the President's executive actions to help address our broken immigration system, why haven't you put your own on the table?

Policies like the President's executive order provide responsible solutions to prevent families from being torn apart. Don't we want family unification? Don't we support that? In the bowel of our values, don't we support that more than anything else: keeping families together?

Republicans have no solutions for these families--and they are out there. They are all over. It is quite simply unbelievable that they are willing to put politics before national security and shut down the Department of Homeland Security to block the President from implementing his solutions.

Let's end this charade now. You want to have a debate about immigration? Great. We welcome it. But we will not play along with this dangerous plan to jeopardize the safety and security of the American people. I urge my colleagues to oppose this rule.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Law Enforcement Appreciation Day and honor our brave law enforcement officials who put their lives on the line day in and day out and keep our communities safe. The millions of state, local and federal law enforcement officers nationwide constitute both our first and last line of protection for the American people.

As a former mayor, I know how important having well-staffed and properly equipped public safety departments is to protecting our communities. Our law enforcement officials work tirelessly to protect our families and business, and I am committed to ensuring that they have access to the resources they need to uphold the public's safety. That is why I have long been a supporter of the federal Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Technology Grants program as well as for the COPS Hiring program, which provides invaluable resources and technical assistance to state and local law enforcement agencies in an effort to keep our communities safe.

Finally, I want to recognize my friend, colleague and former sheriff Congressman Reichert for all his work to honor and support law enforcement officers across our country. Protecting the American people must be the number one priority of our government. It is our brave law enforcement officers who protect our streets day and night who are the very essence of our national security and deserve our utmost gratitude and thanks.