Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairwoman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this very important resolution.

For too long, criminals and terrorists have used our financial system to launder their dirty money and to hide all of their assets.

This issue is incredibly important to me because I have been working on legislation to crack down on anonymous shell companies for about 10 years, and Chairwoman Waters has always been a strong supporter and is, in fact, an original cosponsor of my legislation.

So I want to highlight one particular passage from this resolution which talks about the pilot program that FinCEN conducted in 2016 where they collected beneficial ownership information in certain real estate transactions in Manhattan and Miami.

The findings from the pilot program were shocking. They found that about 30 percent of the transactions involved a beneficial owner that had previously been the subject of a suspicious activity report from a bank, which strongly suggests that criminals and other bad actors are using anonymous shell companies to launder or hide money.

Requiring companies to disclose their beneficial owners would provide transparency to law enforcement. It would also protect Americans from terrorism financing by cracking down on the ability of terrorists to get financing in our country. And it would also help financial institutions keep the bad actors out of the financial system.

That is why I have been working so hard to pass my beneficial ownership bill, and I look forward to continuing to work in a bipartisan way with Ranking Member McHenry and others to address this important issue.

I must say that this issue was brought to me by law enforcement, and they told me they will be tracking money that they think is terrorism financing. They hit an LLC; they cannot get any more information about who owns this real estate or company in our country. We have to stop that.

So I strongly urge support for the chairwoman's resolution, and I urge my colleagues to support it as well and to support the bipartisan beneficial ownership bill which will shortly be on the floor.

Madam Speaker, today, Congress made clear that there is no place for anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim, or any other hate-based rhetoric in America. In doing so, we are echoing the words of George Washington who pledged to the Jewish community in Newport, Rhode Island, that `the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.'

The language of anti-Semitism is often subtle, but it is very painful to Jewish Americans: they hear the implied threat and the `othering' of them as Americans. We all must be mindful of the impact of our words. All hatred on the basis of religion is abhorrent, including the suggestion that all Muslims are terrorists or that Catholics owe allegiance to the Pope, accusations that have tarnished our political discourse in recent memory.

We are currently witnessing an alarming spike in anti-Semitic rhetoric and hate crimes. Just a few months ago, we witnessed the deadliest attack on American Jews in our nation's long history, with 11 worshippers murdered while praying at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. In my community in New York City, we've had a 72 percent increase in hate crimes against Jews with Jewish men being attacked and beaten on the street; schools and walls defaced with Nazi symbolism; and synagogues vandalized. Elsewhere in the U.S., attacks on Jews are growing.

Last year, we heard the shameful chants of white supremacists in Charlottesville saying, `Jews will not replace us.' Recently, we've heard the suggestion that Israel hypnotizes the world into overlooking its actions. We've heard that pro-Israel groups purchase U.S. support for Israel, as if the only reason American politicians would support Israel is campaign contributions and not because of our shared values and interests. We've heard the ancient anti-Semitic trope of dual loyalties--one that goes back thousands of years.

Words and ideas lead to action. Anti-Semitic language and hate-filled rhetoric have no place in this country and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms, which is why I was proud to join my colleagues in voting for today' s resolution.

But we also need to be proactive, and not just reactive, in our fight to combat hate and anti-Semitism, which is why I have introduced the Never Again Education Act, H.R. 943, so that all Americans can learn about the Holocaust and the impact of anti-Semitism. We must do everything we can to eliminate anti-Semitism in the United States.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to World Lymphedema Day. World Lymphedema Day is committed to increasing awareness of a disease that affects up to 10 million Americans and as many as 200 million people worldwide.

Lymphedema is an extremely understudied yet common disease that occurs when the body's natural lymphatic drainage system is underdeveloped, blocked, or damaged. The lymphatic fluid, unable to properly drain, becomes trapped in a particular area of the body like the arms, legs, torso, head, or neck. The resulting swelling can hinder mobility and impair proper bodily functions. In many cases, the swelling can cause extreme pain dramatically reducing quality of life.

Stanford University estimates that 10 million Americans are affected by Lymphedema; however, Lymphedema research continues to be chronically underfunded. This has led to an unfortunate number of misdiagnoses and under-treatment of the disease, which add significant costs to patients and the healthcare industry.

Lymphedema can be inheritable or result from a trauma or health complication later in life. Secondary Lymphedema is reported to develop after health experiences such as cancer treatment, radiation therapy, major surgery, and severe burns. Combat injuries sustained by the brave men and women who serve our country significantly increase the risk of developing Lymphedema.

Lymphedema affects an estimated 15 percent of all cancer survivors and 40 percent of all breast cancer survivors. This is particularly concerning as one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives.

In 2016, the New York State legislature became the first legislative body in the world to recognize March 6 as Annual World Lymphedema Day and the U.S. Senate commemorated the day in the last Congress.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the amazing dedication and strength of the advocates, patients, and health care providers calling for increased awareness of and research funding for Lymphedema as we mark World Lymphedema Day.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Zeldin), my friend and colleague, for initiating this Special Order and for bringing us together to speak out in support for the bipartisan Never Forget the Heroes Act, which we must pass in this Congress.

On September 11, 2011, we lost 2,997 people. But the death tolls from 9/11 may be far higher. It seems like every week I hear about the passing of another first responder and survivor. Soon the deaths from 9/11-related illnesses may outnumber those lost on that horrific day.

Thousands more are living with the effects of 9/11, with chronic diseases, with cancer, with a whole host of other 9/11-related illnesses.

Over 10,000 responders and survivors have been certified as having 9/ 11-related cancers. These are the men and women who rushed in and spent months combing through the wreckage. They are the residents and the workers who were told by the Federal Government, they were told that the air they were breathing was safe when, in fact, it was filled with toxic pollutants.

They are firefighters, police officers, Federal and local law enforcement,

medical workers, construction workers, and other heroes. All of them are victims of 9/11 as well.

The 9/11 attacks caused one of the biggest public health crises our country has ever faced. And those aren't just my constituents. They aren't just from New York or New Jersey. They are Americans.

We were attacked because we were a site of economic strength in America. Then they attacked our Pentagon, a symbol of the strength of our military. And then they were coming to the Capitol, a symbol of strength of our democracy.

These people live in every single State. We documented, and the GAO documented, 434 of the 435 congressional districts had someone who was harmed by 9/11.

Our whole country owes them a debt. On 9/11 we counted on them, and in return, we made a promise never to forget.

This needs to be more than a slogan and more than a bumper sticker. It is our sacred duty to make sure that they get the support they so justly deserve.

In 2010, after years of tireless effort, Congress reaffirmed its commitment to never forget the sacrifices made on September 11 by passing the bipartisan James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.

We established the World Trade Center Health Program and the Nationwide Provider Network and reopened the Victim Compensation Fund to provide the thousands of injured and ill 9/11 responders and survivors with medical treatment for 9/11 health-related conditions and economic compensation for losses resulting from the attack.

In 2015, we permanently authorized the World Trade Center Health Program and reauthorized the Victim Compensation Fund until 2020.

So now we need to get to work again. The problem is bigger than expected. The number of cancer cases has jumped.

Cancer claims now account for one-third of claims--up from one-fifth just a few years ago. Death rates have gone up.

This January saw a 235 percent surge in death claims to the Victim Compensation Fund compared to the end of 2015, most of which are the result of cancers.

More and more 9/11 first responders and survivors are in need of the Victim Compensation Fund. Increased enrollment has led to a need for more funding. And in February, the special master of the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund announced that the fund was running out of money and would have to cut compensation awards by 50 percent to 70 percent because of budget shortfalls. These cuts went into effect on February 25, and have already devastated first responders, survivors, and their families.

This is unacceptable. We cannot let this stand, and we won't.

Last week, with my colleagues, Representatives Nadler, King, and I introduced the Never Forget the Heroes Act. Already, we have an unprecedented 150 cosponsors in 1 week. This was a joint effort, along with Congressman Zeldin, Congressman Rose, Congressman Gottheimer, and many others.

Our bill will restore any cuts to awards, ensure that future eligible recipients are fully compensated, and make the Victim Compensation Fund a permanent program for the lives of the recipients.

We promised sick and injured 9/11 first responders and survivors that we would fully compensate them for the losses they have suffered. They shouldn't have to come begging for us to do our job, come begging back over and over again to Congress.

For some, 9/11 is a distant memory. For them, they remember this and 9/11 with every breath, with every cough, with every doctor's appointment, and with every death in their families.

They are counting on us. They are counting on Congress, just like we counted on them on that terrible day and in the weeks afterwards.

Never Forget is a promise. I urge my colleagues to join us in ensuring that we honor it.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Zeldin), my distinguished colleague, for organizing this important remembrance.

Will the gentleman yield?

Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Zeldin, Congressman Rose, and Congressman Gottheimer for really helping to achieve the 150 cosponsors that we have.

I have asked, and the gentleman has joined me in asking, Chairman Nadler to schedule hearings as quickly as possible. We hope to continue getting cosponsors. Hopefully, we will get everyone in this body to make a firm statement in support of the survivors and the heroes.

I thank the gentleman and others so much for all that they have been doing.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize and include in the Record remarks made by State Street Global Advisors CEO, Cyrus Taraporevala, at the unveiling of the ``Fearless Girl'' statue at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on December 10, 2018. The ``Fearless Girl'' was commissioned by State Street to draw attention to the small number or women in leadership positions on Wall Street. She was moved from her original location opposite the ``Charging Bull'' statue near Bowling Green to a permanent place in front of NYSE:

``Thank you Lori. It is so exciting to be here to unveil Fearless Girl at her new home where she will have an even bigger stage to make an even bigger impact.

``I want to thank everyone who helped make this day happen: Mayor de Blasio and his team; the Department of Transportation; the Landmarks Preservation Commission; the New York Stock Exchange, in particular Betty Liu and the Exchange president Stacey Cunningham--who are here today; Congresswoman Maloney; the thousands of women in leadership; and, the millions of Fearless Girl fans worldwide.

``Throughout this campaign, even today, many people have asked: Why is State Street Global Advisors--one of the largest investment managers in the world--so focused on an issue like gender diversity? l'd like to explain.

``Our clients are businesses and organizations serving millions of people across the globe. They're pension plans helping to fund a teacher or policeman's retirement. They're foundations investing in scientific and environmental breakthroughs. And advisors helping moms and dads figure out how to make the numbers add up so they can pay for their children's college education. Our goal is to ensure the investments we manage on their behalf perform for the long-term.

``Now, on our active management side of the business--where portfolio managers pick the stocks they want to invest in--if they don't like a company or the way it is behaving, it's quite simple: they sell the stock. On the index side, our portfolio managers don't have that luxury. They just can't sell the stock. As long as that company is in the index we have to hold the stock. We can't give our clients the returns of the S&P 499, when they expect the S&P 500. That's not how it works.

``That means we actually have to engage those companies with our voice and vote as a large shareholder--to push them to take seriously the issues we believe are important to their long-term sustainability, issues like climate change or cybersecurity. And, yes, gender diversity.

``There is a growing body of data that suggests cognitive diversity contributes to better decision-making at the board level. These studies show that gender-diverse boards pay more attention to risk management, and are less inclined toward cronyism and groupthink. In other words, all other things being equal, these companies tend to be better managed. So, for us, advocating for gender diversity is not part of some kind of political agenda. It's part of our long-term performance agenda. This is about value, not values.

``Yet in early 2017, one in four companies in the Russell 3000--the 3,000 largest public companies in the U.S.--still didn't have a single woman on their board. Not one, despite evidence that shows it is in their best long-term interest.

``Then, Fearless Girl came along--a symbol of our efforts to get more women on corporate boards. Since her installation, 301 of the companies identified as having no women at all on their boards have added a female director. And another 28 have committed to doing so. In addition, many other investment managers and institutions have stepped forward to advocate for greater gender diversity on boards as well.

``All told, $15 trillion in total shareholder assets now publicly back greater gender diversity on boards. And while there's still a lot more work to do, the number of companies in the Russell 3000 without a female board director has now actually dropped by a third. It's gone from 24% to 16%.

``But for me, there's also something deeply personal about Fearless Girl's new location here at the New York Stock Exchange. Nearly 30 years ago I was fortunate to have a summer internship right here at the Exchange. I worked as a specialist on the floor of the Exchange in 1989. It was the first job in America for this immigrant. Every day I would grab my lunch and sit on those steps at the Federal Building, next to George Washington's statue, and I'd look at that powerful symbol of capitalism that the New York Stock Exchange facade represents.

``Now Fearless Girl will be part of that powerful image to inspire the next summer intern, the next public leader, and the next business leader of one of the companies traded on this Exchange.

``That's why I believe Fearless Girl is not only reinventing the way we invest, she is also changing the way we see the world.

``Once again a big thank you to everyone who made this possible.''

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Cyrus Taraporevala's remarks and the inspiring message of the ``Fearless Girl'' statue.

Madam Speaker, it is time to end this shutdown, which is hurting working Americans and damaging the overall economy.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce says that the shutdown is harming the American people, American business, and the economy.

So far, it has cost the United States economy about a half percentage point of overall economic growth. That is about $25 billion.

JPMorgan Chase estimates that the shutdown is now reducing economic output up to $10 billion each week.

Even the administration has doubled its estimate of the economic cost. It says that, if the shutdown lasts through March, we could have zero growth this quarter. Some forecasters even project that growth could turn negative.

Mr. President, open this government for the people. The people are hurting. Enough is enough.

Madam Speaker, today, we had an important victory for democracy. A Federal judge in New York ordered the Trump administration to remove a planned citizenship question from the 2020 Census in response to a lawsuit filed by the State of New York, which was joined by 17 other States in support. I am proud to have led an amicus brief of 126 Members of Congress, also in support of this lawsuit.

The court affirmed what we already knew: adding a citizenship question was driven by partisan politics, in violation of the law. The Constitution requires that the Census count every person living in our country, and the administration's attempt to add a citizenship question was a deliberate effort to scare away noncitizens and their families in order to undercount this community.

Fortunately, the court agreed, but there will likely be an appeal. That is why I will be introducing legislation to remove the citizenship question. We must act quickly.

Our democracy depends on a full and accurate count of our Nation, and we cannot allow the Trump administration to compromise that

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize my dear friend Carole King, arguably the most prodigious singer-songwriter of our century, for the fifth anniversary of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical which is based on her life and career.

Beautiful: the Carole King Musical opened on Broadway on January 12, 2014. After its first season the show won a GRAMMY for Best Musical Theater Album as well as two Tony awards. In 2015, it opened on London's West End, garnering 2 Olivier Awards. The show is now entering its sixth year.

Carole King launched her extraordinary musical career as a hit songwriter at the young age of seventeen with the song ``Will You Love Me Tomorrow,'' co-written with her then-husband Gerry Goffin. With Goffin and others, she went on to write dozens of chart-topping songs throughout the 1960's. King made her breakthrough as a musical artist in her own right when she released her era-defining album Tapestry in 1971, which stayed on the charts for over six consecutive years and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.

To date, King has composed more than 100 hit singles and amassed numerous prestigious musical awards, including four Grammy Awards. She was the first woman to receive the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, which she was honored with in 2013. She has also been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame as well as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and was a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2015.

In addition to her prolific musical career, King has also dedicated her exceptional abilities towards environmental activism and ensuring the conservation of American wildlife, parks, and wild places. King is a long-time resident of Idaho and began working with the Alliance for the Wild Rockies in 1990, testifying on Capitol Hill against legislation that would harm Idahoan natural spaces. She has also been a stalwart and outspoken advocate of the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act (NREPA), a bill I have introduced in every Congress since the 103rd Congress. King testified in favor of NREPA in 2009 before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the extraordinary contributions of Carole King, whose environmentalism and musical talents have bettered New York and our nation and inspired a Broadway musical.

Mr. Speaker, Democrats in Washington continue to urge the President to reopen the government, end the crisis of his own making, and get Federal employees back to work.

Despite this unfortunate situation dragging on, we can celebrate good news out of Richmond, Virginia. Wednesday marked the first day of Virginia's State legislative session. And on day 1, a Senate committee passed a resolution to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment.

Thirty-seven States have voted to ratify the ERA since it passed Congress in 1972, two in the last 2 years. Thirty-eight States must ratify a constitutional amendment, and Virginia could get it across the finish line.

I am thrilled to witness this energy to enshrine women's equality in the Constitution where it belongs. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this incredible State effort, in Virginia and elsewhere, to amend the Constitution to finally ensure equality for all women and men in this country.

Madam Speaker, I regrettably missed a floor vote on H.R. 264, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act of 2019, on January 9, 2019. Had I been present, I would have voted yes. I was proud to support an appropriations package that included similar provisions and strongly support the provision in H.R. 264 to ensure that federal workers are fully compensated once the partial government shutdown is over. I will continue to call for the passage of bipartisan spending bills like this one to reopen the government.

Mr. Speaker, we are paying a high price for the President's demand for more than $5 billion to fund his wall.

The shutdown not only hurts those directly affected, it has begun to spread to the broader economy.

The shutdown slows economic growth, weakens business confidence, softens consumer spending, and depresses lending.

JPMorgan Chase estimates the economic costs to be $1.5 billion per week during the shutdown.

Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's, says that if the shutdown lasts into February, economic growth could be reduced by $8.7 billion.

President Trump's own Council of Economic Advisers projects that economic growth will slow every week that the shutdown continues.

In addition, the rating agency Fitch has warned that a prolonged shutdown could lead to a downgrade of U.S. debt. This will raise borrowing costs for companies and consumers across the country.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce states that the shutdown is harming the American people, the business community, and the economy.

Mr. President, you are playing a very dangerous game, and we all will pay the price.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize my dear friend Carole King, arguably the most prodigious singer-songwriter of our century, for the fifth anniversary of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical which is based on her life and career.

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical opened on Broadway on January 12, 2014. After its first season the show won a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album as well as two Tony awards. In 2015 it opened on London's West End, garnering 2 Olivier Awards. The show is now entering its sixth year.

Carole King launched her extraordinary musical career as a songwriter at the young age of seventeen with the song ``Will You Love Me Tomorrow,'' co-written alongside her then-husband Gerry Goffin. She continued to cowrite dozens of subsequent chart-topping songs until she wrote her first solo song, ``Baby Sittin,'' in 1967. She made her breakthrough as a musical artist in her own right when she released her album Tapestry in 1971, which stayed on the charts for over six years and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.

To date, King has composed more than 100 hit singles and amassed numerous prestigious musical awards, including four Grammy Awards. She was the first woman to receive the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, which she was honored with in 2013. She has also been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame as well as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and was a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2015.

In addition to her prolific musical career, King has also dedicated her exceptional abilities towards environmental activism and ensuring the conservation of American wildlife, parks, and wild places. King is a long-time resident of Idaho and began working with the Alliance for the Wild Rockies in 1990, testifying on Capitol Hill against legislation that would harm Idahoan natural spaces. She has also been a stalwart and outspoken advocate of the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act (NREPA), a bill I have introduced in every Congress since the 103rd Congress. King testified in favor of NREPA in 2009 before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the extraordinary contributions of Carole King, whose environmentalism and musical talents have bettered New York and our nation and inspired a Broadway musical.

Mr. Speaker, on May 21, 2018 the House took roll call votes on a series of bills which included, H.R. 4451, the Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Programs Reauthorization Act of 2018. Unintentionally, I voted no on this legislation when I meant to vote yes. My recorded vote does not reflect my position on the important programs and support services for homeless veterans that were reauthorized in H.R. 4451 and I look forward to working with my colleagues to expand services that help our veterans thrive as civilians after their brave service to our country has concluded.

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

Mr. Speaker, improving government interactions with the public must be a constant goal of Federal agencies and Members of Congress. I support this bill because it moves us toward that objective.

The House bill before us is the companion measure to a bill introduced by Senator Claire McCaskill which passed the Senate unanimously last year.

H.R. 2846 would require Federal agencies to collect voluntary feedback from the public, a common practice in the private sector. Agencies would have to report the results of this feedback to the Office of Management and Budget and post it on agency websites.

Importantly, agencies would be required to ensure that this information is anonymous and protect their privacy.

However, using customer satisfaction sources to demonize certain agencies or agency personnel is not an appropriate use of this information. This feedback should be used for constructive purposes.

Measuring the public's satisfaction with the service agencies provide is a good step toward improving services overall and will hopefully provide insight into how agencies can improve their operations. The aim is to create a virtuous cycle, not a vicious one.

Congress must also recognize its role in improving agency performance and customer satisfaction. Agencies will inevitably receive low satisfaction scores from the public if they are woefully underfunded and are not able to hire and adequately train employees, as this has, unfortunately, been the case at some agencies over the past few years.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers on this bill on this side, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, the All-American Flag Act is a commonsense bill that all Members should support. It would simply require all Federal agencies to purchase American flags that are manufactured in the United States, using materials grown or produced in the United States.

Under current law, this requirement applies only to the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. It should be extended to all Federal agencies.

As under current law, the bill would provide certain limited exceptions and allow agencies to purchase American flags made elsewhere if they are not available in sufficient quantity or quality from American manufacturers.

Mr. Speaker, I intend to reserve my time eventually, but first, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Bustos), my distinguished colleague.

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate my friend and colleague on this excellent, patriotic bill, of which I am a cosponsor.

I have no further speakers on this side of the aisle, so I yield back the balance of my time.