Floor Statements

Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman very much for yielding.

Mr. Chair, I come to the floor as a cosponsor of H.R. 4. It is legislation that is long overdue in addressing the immediate and long- term needs of the FAA and our aviation industry. It includes a number of priorities that I fought for which are critical to my State of Nevada.

First, the legislation extends the authorization of the Nevada UAS test range to ensure completion of its critical work in coordination with the FAA and NASA on low-altitude air traffic management systems, commonly referred to as UTM.

It also includes my amendment with Congressman Webster from Florida to ensure that the Nation's largest airports, including McCarran in Las Vegas, participate in a streamlined approval process for passenger facility charge projects so we can modernize our crumbling airport infrastructure.

In addition, it includes, as you have heard, a number of critical provisions that enhance safety, protect consumers, and keep our aerospace industry number one in the world.

As the new ranking member of the Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee, I am also pleased that the language of the Disaster Recovery and Reform Act are included in this bill.

Last year's back-to-back-to-back massive hurricanes, followed by mudslides and devastating wildfires, demonstrate the growing challenges we face as we continue to grapple with global climate change. Lives were lost, individuals and animals were injured, and property damages were just outstanding. Many are still trying to get their lives back to normal. So it would be irresponsible and unacceptable for us to follow the Flat Earth Society's notion that this doesn't really exist. It indeed is a threat to our health and safety.

The act takes concrete steps towards making our communities safer. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. For every $1 you spend on premitigation, you save $6 in future disaster costs.

The DRRA addresses this by providing stable funding for the Emergency Management Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program and also additional funding for wildfire suppression.

In addition, it requires that communities build back to the latest model building codes. Since the Federal Government is paying for a minimum of 75 percent of major disaster costs, it is necessary for us to protect our investment by requiring stronger, smarter, and more resilient rebuilding.

Mr. Chair, I hope that the bill moves forward without any poison pills, because we need this legislation. It is a good bill, and I support it.

Mr. Speaker, after testifying before the Rules Committee last night on my amendment to this bill, H.R. 4, a worthy amendment that, by the way, was not made in order and will not be debated or voted on by this body, I felt compelled to speak about the broken process that dominates this Congress.

The Speaker promised us an open and inclusive process but, in reality, it has never been more closed. Members play very little role in legislating today. Instead, the agenda is dictated and the process is controlled by a failed leadership cabal.

Let me remind my colleagues on the other side of the aisle that majorities can switch and, when they do, previous mistreatment, unfairness, and disregard for the democratic process will be hard to forget.

In the meantime, we can reverse this destructive trend and better serve the American people by rejecting the rule before us, so I urge a ``no'' vote on the rule.

Mr. Speaker, I was absent April 16, 2018 due to unforeseen circumstances. If I were present, I would have voted on the following:

Roll no. 140--H.R. 146--On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill: Yea, and Roll no. 141--S. 167--On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended: Yea.

Mr. Speaker, I am here to once again remind my colleagues why the Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository is an unworkable project. There are design flaws that the NRC's own analysis show lead to radioactive waste leaking into the water table, and transportation plans would ship more than 70,000 metric tons of nuclear waste by train and truck through 329 congressional districts for years to come past your homes, your businesses, your schools, and your churches.

Now some of my colleagues want to make this bad situation even worse by busting the caps on the amount of allowable waste to be stored, increasing the danger and invalidating any existing studies.

If the proponents of Yucca Mountain and their industry donors are really serious about solving the problems of nuclear waste storage, they would follow the Blue Ribbon Commission's recommendations and pass my consent-based bill rather than dumping nuclear waste into a State that does not produce it and does not want it.

Nevada is not a wasteland.

Mr. Speaker, I was absent February 13, 2018, due to unforeseen circumstances. If I were present, I would have voted on the following:

Roll no. 71--H.R. 4979--On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended: Yea.

Roll no. 70--H.R. 4533--On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended: Yea.

Mr. Speaker, I was absent January 16, 2018 due to unforeseen circumstances. Had I been present, I would have voted on the following:

Roll no. 18--H.R. 4318--On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill: YEA, and Roll no. 19--S. 117--On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill: YEA.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 1, the Republican tax scam. I voted against this bill a few weeks ago and again when it was brought before the House on December 19.

This bill was crafted behind closed doors, without regular order, and without thorough public input. The result is legislation that would dismantle our health care system, add significant complexity to the tax code, and harm my district's seniors, students, and virtually every middle-class family.

Many of my constituents suffered great economic hardship and are just beginning to recover from the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. This tax bill is not a way to bolster the recovery effort; it is a red herring that relies on the myth of trickle-down economics in order to give top earners more breaks.

Another way the Republican tax bill callously demonstrates a lack of concern for the average American that has been left largely out of the conversation, is the taxation of our citizens living abroad. I often hear from my overseas constituents and American expats I meet around the world about the burdens they face with the American citizenship- based taxation system. Like my constituents in Las Vegas, many of our citizens residing overseas are teachers, small business owners, and middle-class and working families who would be excluded from the benefits of the tax bill. They discuss being dually taxed under the current system: first by the local tax authority where they currently reside and again by the United States. This is a legitimate problem and unfair for the roughly 9 million Americans living abroad. No other developed nation has such a system.

As a member of the Americans Abroad Caucus, I have continued to support taking action so that U.S. citizens living abroad are not left with the choice of being drained of savings or having to renounce their citizenship due to unfair double taxation. Unfortunately, Congress has neglected to help this minority constituency for far too long. It is discouraging that the tax-writing committees would rather prioritize tax cuts on the foreign income of U.S. corporations than provide assistance to individual citizens abroad with tax reform.

I condemn my colleagues who voted for the tax scam conference report that will shift money from hard working families in Nevada and around the globe to the wealthiest in the nation.

Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

I am opposed in its current form.

Mr. Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill. It will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final passage, as amended.

My motion to recommit is just a commonsense measure that I believe everybody in this House can support because it would prevent the bad actors from being able to use the exemptions in the underlying bill to dodge the consumer protections that are found in both the Truth in Lending Act and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act.

My motion says if a lender has committed or engaged in an unfair, deceptive, or abusive act or practice under Federal law in connection with any transaction with a consumer for a financial product or service, or if they have been convicted of fraud under Federal or State law in connection with a residential mortgage loan, they cannot avail themselves of the bill's decreased requirements.

As you know, Mr. Speaker, I represent the heart of the Las Vegas valley. More than 43 million visitors come to my district every year from all around the world to enjoy our first class resorts, hotels, entertainment, and the natural beauty around us. It is also, though, home to over 2 million people.

Less than a decade ago, southern Nevada, unfortunately, had the additional distinction of being at the epicenter of the foreclosure crisis that was caused by the Great Recession. At its peak, nearly 70 percent of all homes in the Las Vegas valley were under water, and the foreclosure rate was five times the national average. For 62 straight months, Nevada led the Nation in foreclosures and delinquent mortgages. This is the number--just think about this--219,000 foreclosures occurred during that period.

Newspapers from coast to coast read like obituaries as home after home was boarded up, homelessness skyrocketed, and major developments along the Las Vegas strip that were under construction went belly-up, leaving high-rise rusting skeletons in the middle of the desert. We lost 80,000 construction jobs during that period.

We were one of the first States to be hit so hard by the recession and one of the last States to recover. But housing prices are coming back and new construction is taking place.

Unfortunately, it seems that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle want to turn back the clock and go back to the abusive practices, including predatory lending, that contributed to the Great Recession.

Supporters of this legislation--you have heard them--say it is needed to provide relief for smaller sized institutions and smaller sized mortgage servicers. But that is really the red herring here. The CFPB has already, as you heard too, provided a targeted exemption to cover those folks.

This bill is really about protecting the large servicers that failed to provide necessary loan documentation and to communicate openly with their customers, in turn contributing to millions of unnecessary disclosures and settlements for abusive business practices during the financial crisis.

Nevada, in fact, had to bring lawsuits against financial institutions like Countrywide and Bank of America that engaged in this predatory lending.

My motion to recommit would ensure that such lending practices and loan servicing activities cannot resurface at the expense of consumers.

This is especially important also in light of the fact that at the same time we are eroding consumer protections put in place after the financial crisis, my Republican colleagues are also simultaneously taking away affordable housing from my constituents. The ``Job Cuts and Tax Act'' passed by this House eliminates tax-exempt private activity bonds, a move that will stifle investments in affordable housing.

The Nevada Housing Division, for example, has already suspended its mortgage credit certificate program which provides an average of $2,000 a year in Federal income tax savings to first-time home buyers and veterans because of the threat of this provision.

Furthermore, multifamily housing bonds make affordable housing possible for seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, and low- income families. Without the tax exemption on these bonds, Nevada can lose up to 7,000 rental homes.

So, Mr. Speaker, I ask you: How can this body pass a bill that eliminates affordable rental homes; makes ownership more expensive for first-time home buyers; and opens the door, again, to predatory lending practices that target low-income borrowers and put them at risk of foreclosure?

This mix of anticonsumer and antiaffordable housing policies does not bode well for a country that suffered a housing crisis just a decade ago, so I would urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this motion to recommit.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the Republican's tax scam that has been jammed through this Chamber without normal order, without public debate, and without consideration for our Nation's future.

I represent the heart of Las Vegas, a city that was one of the hardest hit during the financial crisis. Many of my constituents are just beginning to recover from the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, and this tax bill will greatly hinder their progress.

Some 20 percent of my constituents itemize their deductions, the vast majority of whom earn under $75,000 per year. These families will all see a tax hike if this bill becomes law because the deductions for student loans, medical expenses, sales tax, and some mortgages will all disappear.

The sad reality is, they won't just feel the hit on April 15, tax day. They will feel it every single day. The deficit that this bill will create will lead to State and local governments missing out on needed Federal funding, and they will either have to slash vital programs or raise taxes at that level. If the Senate has its way, they will cut Medicare by $25 billion and repeal the ACA. This is not a tax reform. It is a system that will be rigged.

Mr. Speaker, I rise, once again, to honor, mourn, and demand action for victims of gun violence.

On October 1, a gunman armed with semiautomatic weapons equipped with bump stocks fired hundreds of rounds in a matter of minutes at concert goers in my Las Vegas congressional district, killing 58 and injuring 489 others in attendance.

During my tenure in Congress, I have stood for too many moments of silence on this House floor to remember lives lost to senseless gun violence.

Many of my colleagues and I know all too well about the senseless loss of life in our streets, movie theaters, schools, and, now, concert venues. We have pleaded, we have watched, we have mourned as more and more victims suffer, and we have seen nothing from congressional Republicans.

This just can't go on. We can't ignore the lives lost due to gun violence in my district or in any other for any longer, and if we don't act soon, we will just be here doing it again.

So I want to call the names, say the names, remember the names of the 58 casualties who lost their lives in my district. Let us honor their memory, and let these 58 names give the Republicans 58 more reasons why we must take action now.

Hannah Ahlers; Heather Alvarado; Dorene Anderson; Carrie Barnette; Jack Beaton; Steve Berger; Candice Bowers; Denise Burditus; Sandy Casey;

Andrea Castilla; Denise Cohen; Austin Davis; Thomas Day, Jr.; Christiana Duarte; Stacee Etcheber; Brian Fraser; Keri Galvan; Dana Gardner; Angela Gomez; Rocio Guillen Rocha; Charleston Hartfield, a police officer off duty; Chris Hazencomb; Jennifer Topaz Irvine; Teresa Nicol Kimura; Jessica Klymchuk; Carly Kreibaum; Rhonda LeRocque; Victor Link; Jordan McIldoon; Kelsey Meadows; Calla-Marie Medig; James ``Sonny'' Melton; Patricia Mestas; Austin Meyer; Adrian Murfitt; Rachael Parker; Jenny Parks; Carrie Parsons; Lisa Patterson; John Phippen; Melissa Ramirez; Jordyn Rivera; Quinton Robbins; Cameron Robinson; Tara Roe; Lisa Romero-Muniz; Chris Roybal; Brett Schwanbeck; Bailey Schweitzer; Laura Shipp; Erick Silva; Susan Smith; Brennan Stewart; Derrick ``Bo'' Taylor; Neysa Tonks; Michelle Vo; Kurt von Tillow; and Bill Wolfe.

These are the 58 people who lost their lives from gun violence in my district in Nevada; 58 more reasons why we shouldn't stand silent, but we need to take action now.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the on-call and off- duty first responders whose training, instincts, and valor saved lives and prevented further tragedy on October 1st in Las Vegas.

Southern Nevada's police, firefighters, and medical professionals rushed into gunfire, suppressed an active shooter, and prepared the community for its recovery. As bullets rained down and innocent victims lay in need of assistance, crews from Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson, and Clark County entered a situation without hesitation, despite knowing few details about the scope of the attack. Off-duty officials who attended the concert went from enjoying a night of music to selflessly acting under fire.

Amid the report of firearms, the whiz of bullets, and the screams of horror, first responders risked their lives to shield the helpless, provide medical assistance, and secure an area that was the target of an unspeakable event.

Their service did not stop after the shooting. Many went home for a few minutes to change their blood-soaked clothes and hug their family members. Then they returned to a grieving community. Not all of Las Vegas' heroes were lucky enough to go back to their families. Some, like Las Vegas Metro Police Officer Charles Hartfield, lost their lives. Others left the scene with gunshot wounds and various injuries. They were all Nevada's Guardian Angels that night. Those heroes and their family members cannot be thanked enough for their service and sacrifices.

Likewise, our ambulance services, American Medical Response and Community Ambulance, not only assisted the injured on the scene but rapidly transported hundreds to local hospitals. Our two trauma centers, designed to accommodate a fraction of the patients they received in the hours after the shooting, were able to treat a nonstop flow of victims. Our charities immediately set up blood drives and other donation centers to meet the needs of victims. On their own accord, good Samaritans opened their car doors to fleeing concertgoers, turned their belts into tourniquets, and imparted countless acts of kindness in the hours and days following the tragedy.

Through it all we were guided by the leadership of LVMPD Sheriff Joe Lombardo, LVMPD Undersheriff Kevin McMahill, Clark County Fire Chief Greg Cassell, University Medical Center CEO Mason VanHouweling, Sunrise Hospital CEO Todd Sklamberg, and Special Agent Aaron Rouse of the Las Vegas FBI.

These were among the first Nevadans to take action on October 1st. They have had sleepless nights, skipped meals, and borne the weight of the world on their shoulders. Thanks to their guidance and sacrifice, the community has been able to mourn and recuperate in peace. On behalf of Nevada's First Congressional District, I want to thank these leaders and all the local heroes who jeopardized their own lives to make sure that so many in Southern Nevada would be able to face a new day.

They made Las Vegas Strong.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to mourn the loss and celebrate the life of my dear friend and colleague, Dr Andrew C. Tuttle. I met Andy upon my arrival at UNLV where he served as member and chair of the Political Science Department from 1968 until his retirement in 2008. Dr. Tuttle was a beloved teacher, a respected scholar, and a valued colleague. He was a specialist in national security policy and was often sought out by policy makers and the press alike for his analysis of world events. He had a great Irish sense of humor and was a loyal and loving family man, who put his wife Helen and sons Mark and Matt above all else. I will miss his wise counsel and that twinkle in his eye.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 3440, the DREAM Act, to protect DREAMers like Victor, who arrived when he was 7 years old and now works as an IT support analyst.

Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. Chairman, I, too, rise in support of this bipartisan amendment. I thank my colleagues, Mr. Brat, Mr. Poe, and Mr. Khanna, for introducing it.

We want to prohibit funds from being used by the Department of the VA on studies that cause significant pain and distress to dogs.

As a former member of the House Veterans Affairs' Committee and a longtime advocate of animal protection, I firmly believe we should not be using taxpayer dollars to fund painful and unnecessary experimental procedures when we have technological advances that can move us toward alternative methods.

We have seen the NIH in their chimpanzee research, and they said that available technologies are more accurate, faster, and less expensive than animal testing.

The U.S. military is moving away from using live animals in trauma medical testing. We have seen that when the Coast Guard gave up their live tissue training program.

The Los Angeles VA just recently announced it is suspending controversial and gruesome experiments on a colony of narcoleptic Dobermans. It is now time for the rest of the VA to do the same thing.

This amendment is supported by the Humane Society, the Animal Welfare Institute, and the White Coat Waste Project.

It is estimated that 44 percent of all households--and you heard my colleagues mention this--in the United States have a dog. In our culture, they are considered cherished pets, and they are a member of the family. They are not to be used for experiments. Even veterans themselves depend on dogs on the battlefield and at home for therapy.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support the amendment, and that is just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, today, Energy and Commerce's Environment Subcommittee advanced a bill that would ram Yucca Mountain down the throats of Nevadans. Among its many faults, the bill usurps the State's water rights. Now, this is unethical, it is certainly intellectually dishonest, and it is probably unconstitutional.

Republican lawmakers have long touted states' rights as a basic tenet of our democracy. What they must really mean is states' rights apply to their States but not to Nevada.

They also took great pride in opposing the waters of the U.S. regulations, saying it was Federal overreach and outrageous power grab. Well, so much for principle. Now it is a different story.

Taking a state's water rights sets a dangerous precedent. If they can do it to Nevada, they can do it to you. If they can take our water, they can take your water.

In the West, we say that water is worth fighting for. Whiskey is for drinking. Well, we are not giving up this fight.