Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding and for her support of this bill that creates the RISE Award.

I would like to address the bill before you by telling you the story of Ms. Virginia Mills. Ms. Mills started her career as a security guard at William E. Orr Middle School in District One in Las Vegas over two decades ago.

Almost immediately upon getting to the school, she saw that children were going to school without backpacks on their shoulders to carry their books and equipment. She saw athletes trying out for the basketball team without having the proper shoes on their feet. She saw children who didn't have enough clothes to make it through the whole week without changing.

So in her very first month on the job, taking old items from her own daughter's closet, she started a clothes closet for middle school students in need. She first enlisted the help of friends, then teachers, and then community members. Eventually, the closet grew to include school supplies and even food for children to take home on the weekends, when they might otherwise go hungry.

Ms. Mills has watched these students grow over the years to become assemblymen and -women in the legislature, business leaders, and community organizers. She said: ``Giving a helping hand to these students has inspired them to become better adults . . . . They now understand the importance of paying it forward.''

Virginia Mills has improved the lives of so many middle school students in my district, and she has filled a gap that too many young people are in danger of falling into. And she wanted me to tell you that she didn't do it alone.

There are countless people in our schools, including security guards who do more than keep students safe; they keep them motivated. There are bus drivers who provide more than just a ride; they offer friendship. There are counselors and nurses and cafeteria workers who strive tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the success of our students in our schools. Yet, too often, their contributions go unrecognized.

That is why I introduced this bipartisan legislation to celebrate the critical role that school staff plays in helping our students learn and enabling our teachers to teach.

The contributions of these vital school employees can't really be measured, but they can and should be recognized.

It is in our children's interest and certainly in our national interest for the Department of Education to

present these RISE Awards to people like Virginia Mills who have made such a profound impact on our Nation's youth. So for those who work so hard to help our students become the best versions of themselves, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, I am honored to include in the Record the following excerpt in remembrance of my longtime friend, Bill Flangas. As you can tell from the following obituary which was printed in the Las Vegas Review Journal on December 30, 2018, Bill was a legend in Nevada. His courageous work at NTS, his generous philanthropy, and his contributions to the local Greek community and church leave a powerful legacy that long will be remembered.

William G. ``Bill'' Flangas, 91, reposed in the Lord

December 23, 2018, surrounded by his Family. Bill was born

June 4, 1927, in Ely, to Gust William and Poloxene Flangas,

both of whom were Greek immigrants from the area of

Thermopoly. Poloxene passed away when Bill was just six

months old, and Gust was killed about year later in a tragic

accident between his car and a train in the heart of Ely.

Bill was raised by his Aunt and Uncle, Alexander J. and

Fotene Flangas in Ely, along with their three sons, John, Gus

and Ernest Flangas. Bill was a lifetime resident of Nevada,

having moved to Las Vegas in 1958 from Ely. Bill proudly

served in the U.S. Navy in World War II, and was part of the

initial occupation force in Tokyo. Bill graduated in 1951

from the University of Nevada at Reno with a degree in

Metallurgical Engineering, and went to work for the Kennecott

Copper Corporation in South America and later in White Pine

County. In 1958, Bill completed his Engineer of Mines Degree

(E.M.), and was recruited and hired by the Reynolds Electric

& Engineering Company (``Reeco''), the prime contractor at

the Nevada Test Site in Mercury. After joining Reeco, Bill

led the initial efforts to move the atmospheric nuclear

weapons testing program at the Nevada Test Site underground.

He led the first reentry teams into the tunnels after

detonating an atomic device. One such reentry nearly cost him

his life. Bill also led the first ever underground recovery

of a ground zero after an atomic blast. Many of Bill's

efforts in moving the testing of atomic weapons underground

are memorialized in a book entitled: ``Caging the Dragon.''

Bill stayed at the Nevada Test Site for 37 years, serving as

Tunnel Superintendent and Department Manager, Division

Manager, and Vice President. After leaving the Test Site in

1995, Bill became an Underground Mining, Construction &

Management Consultant primarily working in Nevada. Bill also

served as an underground expert on the Treaty Monitoring

Teams for the Threshold Test Ban Treaty (TTBT) and Peaceful

Nuclear Explosions Treaty (PNET), and traveled to Russia in

that capacity on the U.S. Treaty Teams. He was also involved

with the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) efforts. Bill

was also very active in the Community. He was instrumental in

youth athletics and in developing baseball and basketball

leagues that allowed thousands of kids to play ball. In

conjunction with these efforts, Bill led the way in having 11

desperately needed baseball fields lit up by putting the

process in motion, putting together the volunteer labor

force, and getting all the equipment donated that was

necessary to dig power lines and set the power poles. Bill

also led the way in the construction of a multimillion dollar

gym facility, which was completed in 1976. Through his

efforts, the gym was constructed using only volunteer labor.

In addition, through his efforts all the equipment for

construction was donated as well as a vast amount of the

construction supplies. The gym was sold to the Boys and Girls

Club in 1984 for one dollar, and is known today as the Lied

Boys and Girls Club, located on Lindell and Edna in Las

Vegas. Bill served as a member, and as Vice Chairman and

Chairman of the State Public Works Board from 1964 to 1985.

He served on the Mackay School of Mines Advisory Council,

whose efforts saved the school's accreditation and kept

Nevada's only mining school as one of the best in the

Country. He served on the UNLV Athletic Commission, and on

the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Las

Vegas. He was a Trustee for the University Medical Center

Foundation which raised over six million dollars for the

Medical Center. Foundation Projects included Southern

Nevada's sponsorship of the Children's Miracle Network. He

was also instrumental in establishing a monument in Ely to

honor those from White Pine County who perished while serving

their Country in the Armed Forces going back to 1898. He was

appointed by Governor Kenny Guinn to serve as a member of the

State Ethics Commission and served as its Vice Chairman. He

was the Nevada Engineer of the Year in 1976. He received the

Las Vegas Exchange Club Book of Golden Deeds Award in 1979.

He received the TV-3 Spirit Award in 1983. He was honored as

the 1984 Distinguished Nevadan by the University of Nevada

Board of Regents. He received the Award of Excellence in

Support of Nuclear Weapons Testing Program in 1992. He

received an Honorary Associate of Arts Degree in Human

Letters from the Community College of Southern Nevada in

1999, and was honored as the Mackay School of Earth Sciences

and Engineering Alumnus of the Year in 2007. Bill was a

member of St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church for

almost 60 years, serving over the years on the Church Parish

Council, Building Committee and Audit Committee, and working

on many other projects. Bill was an intensely devoted and

loving family man. He was preceded in death by son, Albert

(Trudi) Flangas. Bill is survived by his wonderful wife, of

over 62 years, Marilyn Flangas; his sons, Gus ``Billy''

(Tamara) Flangas and Gary (Amanda) Flangas; his 10

grandchildren; his brothers, John (Carmen) Flangas and Ernest

Flangas; and many other relatives and godchildren. Visitation

will be Fri., Jan. 4, at 4 p.m. with a Trisagion following at

5 p.m. Services will be at 11 a.m. Sat., Jan. 5, all at St.

John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, 5300 El Camino Rd.,

Las Vegas, NV 89118. At Bill's request, burial will be at

noon Mon. Jan. 7, in Ely. In lieu of flowers, donations may

be made in his honor to the St. John Building Fund. May his

memory be eternal.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life of an entrepreneur, innovator, and philanthropist who truly lived the American Dream.

In 1975, Nikos Mouyiaris received a $6,000 grant from his brother. He turned that small loan into a company that would become one of the world's most prestigious cosmetic manufacturers and developers.

A proud Greek American, Nikos dedicated his life to giving back to his community, and his spirit demonstrates that we all benefit when we open our doors to hardworking immigrants who believe in the promise of America.

Nikos said: ``We are successful not because we are smart; not because we worked hard; not because we were lucky; but because we had the good fortune of being able to stand on the shoulders of others.''

As his loved ones mourn this devastating loss, we can take comfort in knowing that an entire community will be standing on his shoulders.

Madam Speaker, I was absent January 8, 2019. If I were present, I would have voted on the following:

Roll No. 13--H.R. 269--On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill: Yea;

Roll No. 14--H.R. 251--On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill: Yea; and

Roll No. 15--JOURNAL--On approving the journal: Yea.

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

Mr. Speaker, I also support H. Res. 1063. This bipartisan bill designates room H-226 in the U.S. Capitol as the Lincoln Room.

As we all know, President Abraham Lincoln is commonly considered one of the greatest President's in the history of the United States. But what you might not know is that President Lincoln, at one point in his career, was a Member of the House of Representatives from the Seventh Congressional District of Illinois.

President Lincoln served one term in Congress, from 1847 to 1849, and was known for his opposition to the institution of slavery and the Mexican-American war. During his short time in Congress, President Lincoln spent a significant amount of his leisure time in the U.S. Capitol room now known as H-226.

This resolution, which names the room for President Lincoln, is an appropriate honor for a former Member of this distinguished body who led our country in one of its darkest hours. So I support the resolution and urge my colleagues to support it as well.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I also support H.R. 7318. This bill that is under consideration this morning addresses an outstanding issue that has emerged since Congress originally passed the Federal Assets Sale and Transfer Act, known as FASTA, back in 2016.

FASTA authorized an independent Board to make recommendations on real estate actions designed to dispose of unneeded Federal real estate and redevelop underutilized property. This bill amends FASTA and aligns the dates of the termination of the Public Buildings Reform Board created by FASTA with the appointment of those Board members.

I have worked closely with Chairman Barletta during his tenure as chairman of the Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management Subcommittee, and I appreciate his leadership in making the management of real estate more efficient.

I also look forward to continuing his work to help the General Services Administration scrutinize the real estate decisions of the Federal Government in order to find savings, promote energy efficiency, and ensure transparency. Towards that end, I look forward to conducting vigorous oversight of the GSA in the next Congress to ensure that the American taxpayers are receiving full value for their dollars that are being invested in Federal real estate.

Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I also rise in support of H.R. 7319. This bill addresses an issue which has come up since the enactment of FASTA in the last Congress. The change allows the Federal Government to temporarily lease back a piece of Federal property in order to facilitate the sale of that property. Ultimately, the goal of this provision is to allow the government to more readily dispose of underutilized property.

I look forward to working with the Public Buildings Reform Board, as I mentioned, once all of its members are appointed, and I urge Members of this body to support this legislation.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise also in support of this noncontroversial legislation that makes technical changes to the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act, which was just recently signed into law. I agree that it makes sense to enact these technical corrections at this time to ensure that the amendments contained in Public Law 115-282 are enacted and codified as accurately as possible.

I commend the sponsor for his initiative in introducing this legislation, and I urge its adoption.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, this bill makes changes to reporting requirements for the Department of Transportation, requiring various agencies to be more transparent to the public by making some of these reports available on DOT's website. Those would include the Northeast Corridor Safety Committee report and some Federal environmental reviews.

The bill also requires that any changes in fees or charges for attending the Merchant Marine Academy be posted publicly online as well.

The bill makes the results of State performance targets set in the State highway safety plans publicly available and directs GAO to review States' progress in achieving these performance targets, including how States are utilizing grants and problems that may be encountered in achieving their targets.

The review will be important to Congress when considering the next reauthorization of the surface transportation bill.

Finally, this bill sunsets the Northeast Corridor Safety Committee and the National Rail Cooperative Research Program Oversight Committee upon full completion of positive train control along the Northeast Corridor, and it makes technical changes in reorganizing the rail improvement grant section under title 49.

It does a lot of good things to improve transparency, both for the public and for Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, this week we mark the sixth anniversary of the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, which left 26 dead, including 20 children ages 6 and 7. In the years since, there have been 1,917 mass shootings, killing 2,175 men, women, and children and wounding more than 6,000.

The worst of these shootings occurred in the heart of my district at the Route 91 music festival when a gunman opened fire on the crowd, killing 58 and injuring more than 800.

The list of victims grows every day, and yet on this floor there is only silence. This past November, voters sent a strong message by rejecting those who stand in the way of commonsense gun violence prevention.

We can never bring back those who are lost to gun violence, but from universal background checks to a ban on bump stocks, come January, we can and will take action.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize that October marks 70 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and Sri Lanka.

I am proud to serve as Co-Chair of the Sri Lanka Caucus. U.S. development and humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka, totaling roughly $2 billion, has improved livelihoods and living conditions across Sri Lanka through substantial investments in agriculture, economic development, education, health care, energy, and humanitarian activities.

The 2015 presidential election in Sri Lanka paved the way for renewed engagement in support of Sri Lanka's commitments to reform and reconciliation. In December 2016, Sri Lanka was selected to develop a Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact. In August 2017, we celebrated the creation of the Sri Lanka America Association of Las Vegas to foster solidarity within the Sri Lankan community in Southern Nevada. In February 2018, Sri Lanka and the United States signed a bilateral agreement to have the Peace Corps re-establish programs in Sri Lanka. The United States is Sri Lanka's largest export market; and as a partner legislature of the House Democracy Partnership, Sri Lanka's Parliament has engaged in training and exchange programs with the United States.

It is my hope that the U.S. will continue to support Sri Lanka on a path of reform and development and continue to reinforce our shared goals of regional security and stability, good governance, and commitment to democratic values. In doing so, our relationship will continue to flourish.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand with my colleagues on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee today in support of this bill, which is the result of a lot of hard work over many years and includes a number of important wins for my constituents in Nevada and for users of our aviation system all around the world.

As chair of the House Travel and Tourism Caucus, I am happy to see provisions to improve our airport infrastructure; protect air travelers; and support our pilots, flight attendants, and aviation professionals. In addition, I am glad the bill includes an important extension of the work being done at the Nevada UAS Test Site, which will allow critical research being carried out with NASA and FAA to advance low-altitude air traffic management vital to the success of the commercial drone industry.

As ranking member of the Economic Development Subcommittee, I am also pleased to report that the bill includes the Bipartisan Disaster Recovery and Reform Act. These critical reforms will help communities become more resilient and better prepared to deal with the impacts of global climate change.

With our neighbors in the Carolinas reeling from the impacts of Hurricane Florence, our fellow citizens in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands still rebuilding from last year's devastating hurricanes, and numerous communities in the West facing wildfires, this can't come soon enough.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Kalle Konkkola, an international disability rights advocate and former member of the Finnish Parliament.

Mr. Konkkola passed away on September 11, 2018. He served from 1983 to 1987 as the first member of the Finnish Parliament with a disability, developing key pieces of legislation on disability inclusion and independent living. Konkkola was a fervent advocate for the ratification of the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in Finland.

Konkkola also helped to strengthen relationships between Finland and the U.S. in the area of disability policy. This relationship resulted in collaborative activities with the State Department's Special Advisor on International Disability Rights and our Embassy in Finland, including training on our Americans with Disabilities Act, joint efforts with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to advance the inclusion of disability, and discussions on conditions of disabled people in refugee camps.

Konkkola worked tirelessly for disability inclusion worldwide. He was active in global partnerships for disability and development, and his work emphasized the need for a robust human rights framework in disability policy. Konkkola was instrumental in the negotiations that led to the creation of the European Disability Forum in 1996, and he founded the Abilis Foundation, an organization that promotes human rights, equal opportunities, and independent living through grantmaking to disabled people's organizations in low income countries, in 1998.

Konkkola was a member of the Expert Group on Political Participation of Persons with Disabilities within the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. He brought a unique perspective to the working group, having firsthand experience of many aspects of political life, including running as a candidate, serving in elected office, and advocating with policymakers.

Here in the U.S. Congress, we can honor Konkkola's life by continuing his work to empower the one billion people in the world who have a disability, especially in political and public life. In partnership with the diverse disability community, we must remove barriers that prohibit the full participation of persons with disabilities as voters and candidates. When barriers are removed, voters with disabilities are afforded their full rights as citizens.

Today, in memory of Mr. Konkkola, I reaffirm my commitment to supporting persons with disabilities in their pursuit of equal rights. I stand with you today, and for all the days to come.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman, and also to my friend from Florida who sponsored this legislation.

I too rise in support of H. Res. 401. It is a resolution urging countries around the world to outlaw the dog and cat meat trade, and to recommit to enforcing existing laws against this horrible practice.

As you have heard, approximately 30 million dogs and tens of millions of cats are killed annually for human consumption; and many suffer from abuse and cruelty during their lifetime, facing painful deaths at the hands of these horrible meat dealers. We cannot afford to turn a blind eye to the extreme torment that they have to endure.

In the United States, we cherish dogs and cats, recognizing their many contributions as service and therapy animals, search and rescue assistants, and police dogs that aid with drug and bomb searches.

They provide airport security, are companions to our veterans, and are cherished family pets.

As a member of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, I am a proud cosponsor of this legislation, which enjoyed the support of 150 bipartisan cosponsors and passed the committee by a voice vote. I have worked hard in Congress to end the dog and cat meat trade, eliminate the use of dog leather, and protect our furry and feathered friends from undue harm and abuse.

Hundreds of constituents have written us about this issue, and they want the United States to speak up and set an example. Mr. Speaker, I believe this resolution does just that. I thank those who are responsible for bringing it, those who have lent their voice in support of it, and I look forward to seeing it pass today.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and I thank Ranking Member Engel for his leadership in this.

I, too, rise in support of H.R. 6197. It is a bill that will combat the illegal wildlife trade by authorizing rewards for information on wildlife traffickers through the State Department's Rewards for Justice program.

First, I want to thank the cosponsors, Representatives Donovan and Castro, for their work on this bipartisan legislation, along with Chairman Royce, who has dedicated his career to helping animals in faraway places.

Wildlife trafficking generates over $10 billion, annually, for transnational criminal networks. As such, it not only decimates endangered wildlife species, but it also threatens security and fuels corruption.

H.R. 6197 gives the State Department another tool to go after wildlife traffickers, and it positively complements the END Wildlife Trafficking Act, which recognizes wildlife trafficking as a serious crime.

Together, these two efforts will fuel a multipronged, coordinated approach to combating the illegal wildlife trade and will help to bring the perpetrators to justice.

As an advocate for wildlife protections, I am proud to cosponsor this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of it today and end this wildlife trafficking practice.