Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Quinn Michael Pfender, on the day of his Twenty-Second birthday. Quinn is a shining example of a young man, whose characteristics of hard work, determination, and faith exemplify everything we hope to see in our future generations. It is my privilege to recognize him on the Floor of the House of Representatives in our nation's capital.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share the story of a young man from my district whose tragic passing underscores one of the biggest issues facing our community and facing our Nation.

Carlos Castellanos of Falls Township, Bucks County, graduated from Pennsbury High School. He always loved sharing his talents and love of music by playing the guitar and drums at school and also for local church groups. However, like so many around the Nation, Carlos got involved with drugs during his time at school and even spent some time in jail. But with the strength and support of his family, he began receiving treatment, and his life improved.

He helped others by volunteering at a recovery house. He brought people suffering in similar situations into treatment programs.

In early December, Carlos walked his mother, Pamela, down the aisle for her wedding. He was getting ready to go back to school. He had a steady job, and he had a girlfriend. It would seem to so many that Carlos' battle with addiction was heading in the right direction--a needed point of hope in a war that has caused so much devastation.

Then on December 23, just 2 days before Christmas, two police detectives showed up at Pamela's door to tell her the devastating news that no mother can prepare for: Carlos had overdosed on a drug laced with fentanyl, and he was unable to be saved.

Mr. Speaker, Carlos' life and his death cast light on the fact that addiction is nothing short of a chronic disease.

I share this story with Members of this Chamber because last week Carlos' mother, Pamela, visited the White House to share her family's personal experience as the President established the Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis, a worthy effort that deserves our support.

The fact is our Nation's opioid crisis transcends politics, and so must our response. I applaud the President's executive order to investigate the roots of this epidemic and outline tangible actions we can take to fight back.

Any response to this challenge must treat the whole person, not just the addiction. We must focus on the underlying issues driving people to seek opioids, while increasing the accessibility and affordability for prevention, for education, for treatment, and for recovery of this disease.

As Pamela shared, every life is a precious life, and every life is worthy of being reclaimed. I agree. I believe everyone in this Chamber agrees as well.

Let's get to work together to support these brave families that need our help.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of my constituent, Karen Delaney Shideleff of Ottsville, who passed away this January after a courageous fight with ALS.

During her 6 years with ALS, Karen did everything to make a difference and serve as an advocate for individuals and families living with ALS. She participated in the Ride to Defeat ALS; the Phillies Phestival benefiting research efforts; served as a board member for the Greater Philadelphia ALS Association Chapter; and she lobbied her representatives both in Washington and in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, all the while undergoing numerous drug and other research trials.

The strength, compassion, and zest for life exhibited by Karen is an inspiration for those dealing with the diagnosis of ALS and those individuals and community members committed to defeating this uncompromising disease. It is with Karen's legacy in our minds that the fight against ALS continues, and must continue.

Our thoughts and our prayers as a nation and in this Chamber go out to Karen's husband, Bob, and her family and friends.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of my constituent, Zach Maiorana, and his ongoing battle with cystic fibrosis. At birth, Zach was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis and has been courageously battling this condition for the past 2\1/2\ years.

Cystic fibrosis is a complex, genetic disease that primarily affects the lungs and digestive systems. Those diagnosed with CF require intensive daily treatment and regular physician visits to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Despite this diagnosis, Zach and his family have channeled their determination into becoming advocates for those impacted by cystic fibrosis--a true testament to their perseverance and will to live their lives to the fullest extent possible.

Now it is up to us. This Congress can be the one to prioritize research and

funding to combat this disease and continue making progress. In 1955, children born with CF likely would not make it through elementary school. Today, more than half of those living with CF are older than age 18, and many are living into their thirties, forties, and beyond. Investment into new therapies for this disease and continuous focus on improvement have made promising gains for those suffering with CF.

I commend Zach and the entire Maiorana family for their strength, and I hope that my colleagues will stand up to cystic fibrosis and advocate for all those who are affected in this country.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Gallagher), my colleague, for his leadership on this issue, and to all the Members of our class who have joined together in the shared belief that this institution is one of, by, and for the people, not one belonging to a class of professional politicians or partisan elites. Since being sworn in earlier this year to serve the people of Bucks and Montgomery County, I have made it my mission to advance commonsense bipartisan government reform agenda that includes, perhaps, the single most important thing that I believe we need to do in this Nation, and that is institute term limits.

For 14 years, serving as an FBI agent, most of that time being in the political corruption units throughout the country, there was one commonality that I saw very frequently--there was an unmistakable correlation between the length of time in office and the instances of corruption, and that the lines that were very bright for elected officials coming into the system on day one weren't so bright in year 7, 8, or 9, and certainly not in year 15 or 20.

Even the most well-intended backbone individuals oftentimes can be corrupted by a system that has the power to change some people. Those lines become blurred over time. And it is with this background and these real-world experiences that myself and my colleagues are pushing this issue, in this House of Representatives, in this Chamber, for the 115th Congress.

I, myself, introduced House Resolution 7 on my first day, among other reform-minded measures, on my first day in Congress. This was a constitutional amendment that would, once and for all, set term limits for Members of the House and the Senate.

As tonight shows, there is a wide range of support for this need of reform. And, in a time of deep political division and distrust between citizens and their government at an all-time high, term limits can be the first step towards restoring the essential bond between the American people and Congress.

So I urge my colleagues to join us in transitioning power away from the political class here in Washington, D.C., and sending it back to its rightful place--in the hands of the American people.

I thank my colleague, Mr. Fitzpatrick, not only for his leadership on this issue, but on a host of issues related to congressional reform, whether it is no budget, no pay, or a series of other bills that he has introduced; and I look forward to working with him.

Mr. Speaker, just to show that this is an issue that transcends parties, that transcends ideological divide, I am honored to yield to my colleague from the great State of California (Mr. Khanna).

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in commemoration of National Rosie the Riveter Day, an effort to raise awareness for the 16 million women working during World War II.

These women left their homes to work or volunteer full-time in factories, farms, shipyards, banks, and other institutions in support of our military. These brave women worked with the USO and the Red Cross. They drove trucks, riveted airplanes, collected critical materials, rolled bandages, and served on rationing boards.

These Rosie the Riveters embodied the ``we can do it spirit'' forever connected with them by Norman Rockwell's iconic painting.

As we mark the contributions and triumphs of women this Women's History Month, I am proud to join the effort and recognize these brave heroes with a National Rosie the Riveter Day.

I am especially proud to represent a ``Rosie'' and Bucks County native, Mae Krier, for her efforts in advocating for this long-deserved recognition. Mae was a riveter on Boeing aircraft in Seattle. She was a builder of B-17s and B-29s, which went off to fly missions over Europe.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize National Rosie the Riveter Day and have the pleasure of welcoming Rosies from around the Nation here at the Capitol today.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1249) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require a multiyear acquisition strategy of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

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

I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1249, the DHS Multiyear Acquisition Strategy Act of 2017.

The Department of Homeland Security spends billions of taxpayer dollars annually on a variety of systems to secure our borders, protect our aviation system, safeguard our shores, and shield our cyberspace, among other critical missions. Unfortunately, watchdogs at the Government Accountability Office and the DHS Office of Inspector General have found longstanding problems with how DHS has managed these programs. DHS continues to be on GAO's high-risk list for acquisition management, meaning these programs are susceptible to fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement.

In addition, the Department has failed to have a strategic vision for its major purposes. The result has been wasted effort and taxpayer money gone, with little to show for it. Look at the TSA puffer machines from a few years ago as a past example.

Without a comprehensive strategy, industry also does not have the needed information to best support DHS in making smart investments in executing its mission.

My bill will require DHS to establish this much-needed strategy to ensure taxpayer dollars are safeguarded and frontline operators receive the tools they need to successfully protect Americans.

My bill will also ensure that DHS works collaboratively with the private sector to fully leverage their innovative solutions. As a former FBI agent, I know how important it is to get critical tools out to the field to help agents and officers secure our Nation.

I urge all Members to join me in supporting this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I once again urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1249, and I want to thank my colleague from New Jersey (Mrs. Watson Coleman) for her bipartisan leadership on a bill that will surely help keep our country safe.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 123.

Amendment No. 3 Offered by Ms. Jackson Lee

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about Bristol Borough, Pennsylvania, a picturesque town in my district situated along the Delaware River midway between Philadelphia and New York. Since 1824, Bristol Borough has embraced the motto ``Welcome Friend'' after a sign greeted Marquis de Lafayette on his ``Farewell Tour of America.'' Bristol Borough continues to welcome newcomers to an incredibly caring community of residents and leaders pushing the town into the future.

Bristol Borough's history closely parallels the economic, commercial, and industrial history of the United States. In the late 1960s, U.S. Steel Corporation closed their facilities just up the road, and thousands of employees lost their jobs. In turn, downtown Bristol Borough lost an incredible amount of traffic. But what the people did not lose was their passionate desire to improve their town, restoring its former glory with an eye to an even brighter future.

Mr. Speaker, the people of Bristol Borough are tough, resilient, and they have grit. Small-business owners in downtown Bristol are revitalizing their town, and they have been noticed. As a finalist in the nationwide Small Business Revolution, Bristol Borough shines a spotlight on the vital impact small businesses have on our economy, our communities, and our daily lives.

As a member of the House Committee on Small Business, I pledge my commitment to pursue policies that protect and foster these small businesses and that make Bucks County truly a great place to live.

Opioid Epidemic

Mr. Speaker, heroin and prescription opioid abuse are devastating communities across

our Nation. From Levittown to Lower Salford, no part of my district is left unaffected by this epidemic. Last year in Bucks County, opioid- related deaths rose by 50 percent. In Montgomery County, opioid overdoses claimed a staggering 240 lives.

Mr. Speaker, every fatality represents a family crushed by the overwhelming loss of a loved one. As lawmakers, we have the responsibility to act. Passage of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act and the 21st Century Cures Act were monumental first steps in countering the opioid crisis, but we must continue to press the issue from all sides, from the trafficking of narcotics across our border to preventing the overprescribing of painkillers.

Congress alone cannot solve this problem. We must be ready and willing to work with State and local leaders, law enforcement, healthcare professionals, and educators in our districts. We are all stakeholders in this challenge. Together, we can eradicate this epidemic, we can protect our families, and we can free our communities from this menace.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank all the members of the freshman class--members of both political parties and of every political background--who have joined us tonight in signing the commitment to civility pledge: love thy neighbor, no exceptions. Seeing 46 Republicans and Democrats make this public commitment is encouraging for this Chamber and for the constituents that we serve.

We can all agree that our Nation is facing some serious challenges. From increasing opportunity in an evolving economy to keeping our families safe from threats at home and abroad, the list in front of this body is heavy enough, and the last thing we need is to make that problem-solving even tougher. A statement made on the Senate floor last week offered a stark message: it is simply not possible to exist as a nation when half of its citizens hate the other half. If we are willing to end friendships or block our family members because of Facebook posts, we are not heading in the right direction.

Despite the incredible responsibility entrusted to each of us by those whom we represent, this Congress has not been immune to the hardening of political division. However, we must not accept our current discourse as the new normal.

Yet there is hope. There is hope because the Members standing with me tonight and those who have joined our pledge are willing to say, first and foremost, we are Americans, and the person I may disagree with-- even vehemently--is still an American. Just because someone has different viewpoints or policy priorities or a different letter next to their name does not make them our enemy.

This Congress can and must play a part in restoring the civility and respect that makes productive dialogue possible. I am not saying we'll agree on everything, but a spirit of mutual understanding, mutual respect, and mutual cooperation is the bedrock for making our government and our communities work.

Whether we are elected officials, moms, dads, neighbors, community leaders, students--or anyone--we must remember that there is more that unites us than divides us. That is a commitment I am willing to make my colleagues and constituents this evening.

Again, I want to thank my colleagues, the gentleman from Louisiana and the gentlewoman from California, for all their work. I look forward to working with our awesome freshman class going forward.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Polish Legion Motorcycle Riding Club. Since 2011 this organization has brought together members of our community of all ages who share a passion for riding motorcycles. I would like to give special recognition to the group's President, Szymon Moskal. Millions of citizens in the United States own and ride motorcycles, making ridership an American tradition. The Polish Legion Motorcycle Riding Club continues the proud tradition of motorcycle ridership and enthusiasm found in my district, and across our great nation. It is my privilege to assist them during their trip to our nation's capital.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Polish Legion Motorcycle Riding Club. Since 2011 this organization has brought together members of our community of all ages who share a passion for riding motorcycles. I would like to give special recognition to the group's President, Szymon Moskal. Millions of citizens in the United States own and ride motorcycles, making ridership as much a part of our identity as baseball or apple pie. The Polish Legion Motorcycle Riding Club continues the proud tradition of motorcycle ridership and enthusiasm found in my district, and across our great nation. It is my privilege to assist them during their trip to our nation's capital.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the millions of Americans who receive the devastating news of a terminal diagnosis each year. Even with the amazing work done in American medical research and development, for too many families, access to these potentially lifesaving treatments will come too late, if at all.

It is time for this body to come together with Federal regulators and industry leaders to clear the path forward to take care of those brave Americans who are fighting simply for a chance to live. A bill introduced today jointly by myself and Congressman Biggs will offer these brave Americans a chance to extend their lives.

Mr. Speaker, the Right to Try Act would ensure that terminally ill patients, together with their physicians and pharmaceutical manufacturers, will have the right to try investigational treatments where no alternative exists. In fact, this bipartisan idea is already the law of the land in 33 States of our Nation.

For patients and their doctors, the Right to Try Act affords them an opportunity to try therapies where the benefits far outweigh the risks. Whether it is a father courageously battling ALS or a brave child living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, all those fighting for their lives deserve a right to try. They deserve a right to live.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today for the very first time in this Chamber as a servant of Pennsylvania's Eighth District--the good people of Bucks and Montgomery Counties--serving as their independent voice. The weight of this responsibility should not be lost on any of us. It is my sincere hope that each one of us here--regardless of where we come from or what our past experiences have been or how long we have been here--will do what the American people are demanding of us at this time: to work together as problem-solvers, not work against each other as ideologues.

Our Founders envisioned citizen legislators chosen from their peers to work on their behalf and to serve honorably with a focus on solutions, and then return home and live under the laws they helped pass, making way for a new generation of leadership with new ideas and a fresh perspective. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, we as a nation have strayed from that vision.

Today too many Americans feel left out. They see a system that does more to preserve the status quo than it does to solve our most pressing challenges. They see a class of career politicians and elite insiders. I wish I could tell my constituents--my bosses--that this problem is exaggerated and that this mess in Washington doesn't affect them or their families or their businesses.

But as a former anticorruption FBI special agent, I have seen the brokenness in our system, and I know the real-life impact that it has, which is both soft and hard corruption that tilts the legislative agenda towards special interests, electoral complacency that allows lawmakers to focus on accumulating power rather than serving their constituents, and an entrenched partisanship that grinds the gears of government to a halt.

Mr. Speaker, this does not have to be the fate of this Congress. It does not. The 115th Congress can be remembered as the one that buried party labels for good and focused on fixing the system. To that end, I have introduced legislative proposals to begin that process: a constitutional amendment enacting term limits for all Members of Congress and a constitutional amendment preventing Members of Congress from being paid unless a budget is passed.

This is not just withholding payment for a period of time; this is a complete forfeiture.

I propose a balanced budget amendment so we are forced to stop kicking the can down the road and will create a fiscal path that will allow the next generation to thrive.

I also have a bill I call the Citizen Legislature Anti-Corruption Reform Act, or CLEAN Act, a bill that ends congressional pensions for life and requires this body to debate and act on single-issue legislation, codify that all laws passed by Congress apply to all of its Members, reform the broken gerrymandering process by moving all redistricting to independent, nonpartisan, citizen commissions, and to expand access to political party primaries to include both independents and nonaffiliated voters.

Is there anyone in this Chamber who does not believe that these measures will make our country a better place? Is there anyone in this Chamber who does not believe these measures will result in a healthier democracy and a system of government where our people have more faith and trust in? Is there anyone here who believes that more citizens serving in this body and more citizens participating in their government would not be a breath of fresh air for our Nation?

If you agree with our ideas, I urge you to join me and cosponsor these measures, join the Congressional Citizen Legislature Caucus, and advocate for these reforms. Share your vision with your constituents because they need to know that our Nation is not resigned to the status quo.

Mr. Speaker, Washington needs fewer politicians and more independent voices focused on serving the American people. That is the reason we are here. Let's not let them down. The time is now to answer their call to fix this system so we can start addressing the challenges that we face as a nation.