Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a bill that will hopefully be the first step in ensuring that students from all backgrounds are able to take advantage of study abroad programs offered by their universities.

As we see a new class of students graduate, I've noticed that some of these students are lacking the global skills needed to excel in today's workplace. Exposure to the world's diverse cultures and traditions allows oneself to be more understanding and comfortable in a rapidly transforming world while also developing a greater appreciation for the United States and our shared culture.

Over 80 percent of incoming freshmen hope to study abroad as a part of the college experience; however, due to obligations such as coursework, employment and affordability, only 10 percent end up taking advantage of this incredible opportunity offered by many universities. Minority students are greatly underrepresented within this population.

The Passport Assistance for Disadvantaged Students Act of 2019 would establish a pilot program between the Department of Education, Department of State, and 3 public universities, including 1 HBCU and 1 Hispanic Serving Institution. Students at each of these schools who receive Pell Grants and are accepted for a study abroad program would have the opportunity to receive a United States Passport at no cost. The public university would cover the upfront cost and the Department of State would reimburse the institution after they've reported relevant information to the Department of Education.

With this bill, we take a step forward in breaking down systematic barriers that prevent certain students from studying abroad while in college. The opportunity to travel and learn in a foreign country offers students the chance to advance their studies in a globalized environment.

Madam Speaker, I believe that students should have equal access to opportunities like study abroad regardless of race or socioeconomic status, which is why I am proud to introduce this bill.

Madam Chair, I rise to speak on the Amendment offered by Mr. Babin.

Mr. Babin's amendment concerns the organization of space activities within the Department of Commerce and its National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

NOAA is organized at the Department of Commerce to include the Office of Space Commerce and the Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs Office.

Commercial space is a growing and vibrant sector of our economy. Federal government responsibilities on commercial space, including those of the Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs Office, should be evaluated and considered to determine if any changes are needed to support the Office's ability to meet the pace and innovation of the commercial remote sensing industry.

Mr. Babin's amendment would move the Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs Office and the Office of Space Commerce into a single organizational entity within the Department of Commerce.

Is this a good idea? What would be the implications?

I don't know, but I do know that these are questions that need answers. And I, as Chair of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology plan to address them as the Committee and its Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics turn to commercial space activities and issues.

These matters should be considered within the Committee of jurisdiction, not within a multi-agency spending bill where they cannot be debated or reviewed in the light of day.

Short-circuiting regular legislative order denies opportunities for Members of the Committee of Jurisdiction to legislate on policy issues they came to Congress to address. I trust that this amendment will be removed before this appropriations bill heads to the President.

Madam Chair, I wish to comment in support of the amendment to H.R. 3055 offered by Representative Lizzie Fletcher, Chair of the Environment Subcommittee of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. This amendment would require the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, to contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to undertake an inaugural decadal study of the U.S. weather enterprise.

Most Americans utilize weather forecasts on a daily basis. Increasingly, businesses across the country are relying on specialized weather forecasts to make business decisions. With climate change causing severe weather events to become more frequent and intense, like the hurricanes that impact my state, accurate and timely weather forecasts can be the difference between whether or not people need to evacuate their homes.

However, while the U.S. is a global leader in atmospheric and weather research, the nation is falling behind in weather modeling and forecast accuracy. These forecasts are essential for the protection of human lives and property. There is a need to understand how the members of the U.S. weather enterprise, which is comprised of public, private, and academic partners, can better define their roles to increase the overall efficiency of the enterprise, leverage and prioritize investments, and improve weather models and forecast accuracy.

A decadal survey would provide policymakers with the relevant information to prioritize investments in weather forecasting, modeling, and data assimilation over the next ten years; assess the current U.S. weather enterprise; and evaluate future potential federal investments in research, weather satellites, radars, and other observation technologies to ensure that all domestic users of weather information receive it in the most efficient and effective manner possible. The decadal survey would also evaluate the implementation of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 by NOAA, which is the most recent and comprehensive federal mandate aimed at improving weather forecasts.

The National Academies of Sciences, Medicine, and Engineering have previously conducted a number of important decadal surveys for various areas of science, including space and Earth sciences, which have been widely viewed as providing successful roadmaps for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and NOAA in prioritizing future research, observations, and missions. Similarly, a weather decadal survey would create a shared vision for the next generation of the U.S. weather enterprise. The need for a terrestrial weather decadal survey was a topic of discussion at the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology's Environment Subcommittee hearing on the U.S. weather enterprise in May.

Momentum and support for a weather decadal survey have been growing over the last couple of years, and I include in the Record a letter from the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) in support of this amendment. UCAR represents over 100 of the leading U.S. colleges and universities providing training in atmospheric sciences.

I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Office

of the President,

June 20, 2019.

Hon. Jose Serrano,

Chair, Committee on Appropriations,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Hon. Robert Aderholt,

Ranking Member, Committee on Appropriations,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Serrano and Ranking Member Aderholt: As

president of the University Corporation for Atmospheric

Research (UCAR) and on behalf of our 117 member universities,

I am writing to express our support for Representative

Fletcher's Amendment #110 for H.R. 3055, the Commerce,

Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act,

which would create an inaugural decadal survey of the U.S.

weather enterprise.

A decadal survey for the U.S. weather enterprise would help

policymakers and relevant agencies prioritize investments and

coordinate efforts more effectively in the near- and long-

term, as well as help industry and academia understand how to

best assist agencies in working towards common goals. This

decadal survey will assist the National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in achieving its

initiatives outlined in the Weather Research and Forecasting

Innovation Act of 2017, which include developing a formal

plan for weather research, developing an annual report on the

state of its weather models, improving its watch-and-warning

system based on recommendations from social and behavioral

scientists, and other provisions.

Between 1989 and 2000, the nation invested an estimated

$4.5 billion to modernize and restructure the National

Weather Service (NWS), and to improve severe weather warning

times and forecast accuracy. While the NWS has made

significant strides since that time and further bolstered its

supercomputing assets and modeling capabilities, it stands at

a critical juncture. It must decide how to replace numerous

weather satellite and groundbased radar stations, which are

rapidly aging and becoming obsolete, with new technologies

and capabilities. Advancements in digital radar technologies

from academia and other federal agencies, as well as numerous

industry and non-federally provided surface, boundary layer,

and satellite observations, need to be integrated into an

overall strategy, an effort whose value extends beyond its

direct benefit to the NWS.

The National Academies Board on Atmospheric Sciences and

Climate (BASC) has already announced plans to ``outline a

vision for the U.S. weather enterprise over the next 10-25

years'' but need funding to execute the study. The study

would aim to identify a community vision and framework for

coordination as well as critical investments, institutions,

and mechanisms needed to achieve them. Over the past year and

a half, BASC has worked to garner support from the U.S.

weather enterprise's three primary sectors: the federal

government, academia, and industry. The study would address

many of the challenges the weather community has grappled

with over the last decade, including the appropriate balance

and coordination of efforts between the three sectors.

The current study proposal describes the weather enterprise

as having entered ``a time of rapid change,'' with

technological advances in artificial intelligence, computing,

and sensors bringing new challenges and opportunities. It

also notes the community is ``on the brink of unprecedented

improvements'' in areas such as hyper-local, subseasonal-to-

seasonal, and impact-based weather forecasting. Meanwhile,

the growing and evolving role of the private sector continues

to generate opportunities for exciting innovations, but also

could create a more complicated landscape for the weather

enterprise. A decadal survey would create a process for

regular assessment of the weather enterprise, ensuring the

latest innovation, technology, and information are used to

design and operationalize weather data and forecast systems.

The boundaries of the weather enterprise operations have

been driven by the science into new forecast areas, and the

weather, water and climate enterprise needs to consider doing

what we have done in the area of earth observations, and

start planning over ten year periods. Given the implications

of water and weather, I urge this Committee to strongly

consider supporting Amendment #110 of H.R. 3055 for the

weather community. There is widespread recognition that with

limited resources our community must present Congress and the

Administration with priorities. A decadal process will allow

us to prioritize what has to be done and do so in recognition

of the current fiscal realities.

Sincerely,

Antonio J. Busalacchi,

President, University Corporation

for Atmospheric Research.

Madam Speaker, today I am joined by my Science Committee colleague, Representative Gonzalez Colon, in introducing the Vera Rubin Survey Telescope Designation Act.

Dr. Vera Cooper Rubin was a renowned astronomer and a staunch advocate for women in science. She was also a trailblazer. Born in 1928, Dr. Rubin's interest in astronomy was ignited early. As a young girl, she would rather stay up and watch the stars through her bedroom window than go to sleep.

After graduating from Vassar College in 1948 as the only woman astronomer in her class, Dr. Rubin hoped to pursue her doctoral studies at Princeton. However, the Princeton astrophysics graduate program did not admit women at the time and declined to send her a course catalog.

Dr. Rubin persisted and earned her master's degree at Cornell and her Ph.D. at Georgetown University before joining the Carnegie Institution's Department of Terrestrial Magnetism.

As her career progressed, Dr. Rubin continued to face barriers because of her gender. For instance, after becoming the first woman to be officially permitted to observe at the prestigious Palomar Observatory in 1965, she discovered that the building had no women's restroom. Undeterred, Dr. Rubin created her own women's restroom by pasting a skirt cutout over the stick figure of a man on the observatory bathroom.

While Dr. Rubin was breaking down barriers, she was also revolutionizing our understanding of the universe. In 1970, Dr. Rubin and her collaborator Dr. Kent Ford published some of the best evidence of the existence of dark matter. This groundbreaking work changed the conventional view of the universe from one dominated by light-emitting matter to one dominated by dark matter.

Dr. Rubin went on to become the second woman astronomer elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1981. She received the National Medal of Science from President Clinton in 1993, and she received many other honors and awards throughout her career.

Motivated by her own battle to garner respect as a woman in a male- dominated field, Dr. Rubin worked tirelessly to encourage girls interested in astronomy to pursue their dreams. She advocated for more women members of the National Academy of Sciences and for more women on review panels and academic search committees. She also advocated for more opportunities for girls in science. In her address to the University of California, Berkeley class of 1996, Dr. Rubin said ``science is competitive, aggressive, demanding. It is also imaginative, inspiring, uplifting. You can do it, too,'' urging the students to ``devise your own paths''.

Dr. Rubin has a well-deserved place in history. This bill will honor her legacy by designating the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), jointly funded by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy and set to begin operations in 2023, as the Vera Rubin Survey Telescope. The LSST was designed, in part, to probe the nature of dark matter. As a tribute to the woman whose pioneering work made this pursuit possible, this bill would ensure that it bears her name.

I urge my colleagues to join us and help us move this legislation forward into law.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1237) to amend the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 to establish an Ocean Acidification Advisory Board, to expand and improve the research on Ocean Acidification and Coastal Acidification, to establish and maintain a data archive system for Ocean Acidification data and Coastal Acidification data, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous materials on H.R. 1237, the bill now under consideration.

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

I rise in support of H.R. 1237, the COAST Research Act of 2019. Our Nation is facing an invisible but growing threat: ocean acidification. For the last 200 years, the oceans have soaked up about one-third of the excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels causing the oceans to become more acidic.

The science is clear. As spelled out in the Fourth National Climate Assessment and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report, ocean acidification is causing the chemistry of the oceans to change at an unprecedented rate.

Ocean acidification makes it more difficult for shelled organisms like oysters, mussels, clams, and corals to build their shells and skeletons and has potentially devastating effects on marine ecosystems.

The effects of ocean acidification are already being seen and felt today in our coastal communities around the Nation.

Congress acted and passed the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act in 2009, which catalyzed research and monitoring efforts

to better understand ocean acidification and its impacts. While this bill has successfully increased our understanding of ocean acidification, the Federal investment in research has been relatively small compared to the size of the problem.

H.R. 1237 updates and reauthorizes our Federal ocean acidification response and expands the scope of the Federal efforts on this important issue.

H.R. 1237 also designates the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as the lead Federal agency, which formalizes the leadership role it has played in conducting ocean acidification research and monitoring over the last decade.

Ocean acidification threatens the vitality of our coastal economies. We need to get ahead of the problem of ocean acidification before it causes even greater economic harm to our coast. We need to have a much better understanding of ocean acidification in order to mitigate and adapt to its effects.

H.R. 1237, along with the three other ocean acidification bills being considered today, offers a path toward solutions. If we don't act now, we risk going down an irreversible path.

June is World Oceans Month, and I see no better time for the U.S. House of Representatives to pass legislation to support the health of the oceans than now.

I want to take a brief moment to recognize the efforts of the sponsor of the bill, the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici). She has been a champion of this issue during her time here in the House and has been relentless in her efforts to authorize this program.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters from Earthjustice, Ocean Conservancy, the Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems, the Integrated Ocean Observing System Association, and the Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association in support of this bill.

Earthjustice,

June 4, 2019.

Re Earthjustice supports H.R. 1237, the Coastal and Ocean

Acidification Stressors and Threats Research Act of 2019.

Hon. Suzanne Bonamici,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Dear Congresswoman Bonamici: On behalf of our supporters

and staff nationwide, we are writing to voice our strong

support for the Coastal and Ocean Acidification Stressors and

Threats (COAST) Act of 2019 (H.R. 1237). Ocean acidification

is a serious global threat, as our oceans calibrate our

atmosphere and maintain the conditions that have supported

human life for millennia. This vital legislation leads us

towards solutions that secure our ecosystems, our economies,

and our health.

Ocean acidification has devastated coastal communities by

eroding the sources of their livelihood and protection

against ocean events. Acidic waters imperil everything from

cod larvae and lobsters, to plankton and coral reefs. The

process acidification sets into motion will cause

increasingly expensive damage on scales larger than we've

already seen in our Pacific Northwest shellfish farms.

Americans will take the hit, either in the grocery store,

or--for coastal regions--in their jobs and their homes.

However, immediate action can halt plunging pH levels and

promote resilience in changing temperatures.

The COAST Research Act jumpstarts ocean recovery and helps

communities cope with ocean acidification by updating the

Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act

(FOARAM) to face current threats. Funding FOARAM through 2023

ensures we don't backslide in protecting ourselves against

ocean acidification, just as the danger is increasing.

Incorporating the best available data on the full effects of

ocean acidification, including socioeconomic and regional

variations, ensures our national response to the problem

works for the whole nation. Establishing an advisory board

that represents and coordinates the diverse stakeholders

impacted by ocean acidification ensures interests at all

level--including industry, recreation, and conservation--are

accounted for in federal action.

Bipartisan support for the COAST Research Act speaks to the

seriousness of the problem and the efficiency of this

proposed solution. Neither Democrats nor Republicans are

willing to watch our blue economy dissolve in increasingly

acidic waters. Both parties support urgent action to

stabilize our oceans and fortify them against future changes.

This bill provides the funding and strategy to do just that.

Without action, our ocean ecosystems and dependent

economies may be barren by the end of this century. Congress

has the opportunity to reverse this trend and keep our coasts

and oceans vibrant and bountiful. We greatly appreciate your

leadership in crafting the bill that can make such reversal

possible.

Sincerely,

Marjorie Mulhall,

Legislative Director for Lands,

Wildlife, and Oceans, Earthjustice.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this bipartisan bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici).

Mr. Speaker, I would simply urge the passage of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1716) to direct the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to conduct coastal community vulnerability assessments related to ocean acidification, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous materials on H.R. 1716, the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1716, the Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2019, which is sponsored by the gentlewoman from Maine (Ms. Pingree).

The bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, to conduct vulnerability assessments to study socioeconomic impacts of ocean acidification on coastal communities across the country.

As more coastal regions across the U.S. are negatively impacted by ocean acidification, it is critical that we work to understand these impacts and to develop mitigation and adaptation strategies. These strategies can help these communities adequately prepare and respond to a more acidic coastal environment.

In order to be successful, these assessments must involve all coastal communities in the U.S., which this bill does by including indigenous groups and Tribal governments.

The bill also includes language that ensures that all U.S. territories, which are highly reliant on coastal and marine resources, can also take advantage of NOAA's coastal vulnerability assessments. This will allow these island communities to protect their vibrant coastal economies in the face of an acidifying ocean.

The vulnerability assessments in this bill also include the economic impacts on commercial fisheries and outdoor recreation. These industries are significant contributors to many coastal economies, and it is important that they are part of the discussion when developing strategies to deal with ocean acidification.

I am glad that this bill passed out of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology in a bipartisan fashion, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this legislation to better prepare our coastal communities and economies against the growing threat of ocean acidification.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the distinguished gentlewoman from Maine (Ms. Pingree).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici).

Mr. Speaker, I ask for support of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1921) to authorize Federal agencies to establish prize competitions for innovation or adaptation management development relating to ocean acidification, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous materials on H.R. 1921, the bill now under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1921, the Ocean Acidification Innovation Act of 2019, and I thank Mr. Kilmer for introducing this important legislation and working with our committee.

Additionally, I thank the Science, Space, and Technology Committee members on both sides of the aisle for their work to advance this bill.

Ms. Bonamici; Ms. Herrera Beutler; Mr. Crist; the Environment Subcommittee chair, Mrs. Fletcher; the Environment Subcommittee ranking member, Mr. Marshall; and my friend, Ranking Member Lucas.

Ocean acidification, as we have discussed today, is a serious problem. This bill would create Federal prize competitions to spur innovation in understanding ocean acidification and developing management strategies for responding to ocean acidification.

Federal prize competitions, while not a replacement for federally funded research, allow the government to transfer risk to prize participants and stimulate private-sector investment. This could enhance and augment our understanding of this important issue.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1921, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Kilmer), the sponsor of the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I would simply urge the support of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 988) to provide for a study by the Ocean Studies Board of the National Academies of Science examining the impact of ocean acidification and other stressors in estuarine environments, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous materials on H.R. 988, the bill now under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 988, the National Estuaries and Acidification Research Act of 2019, or the NEAR Act.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to thank the sponsor of the legislation, Mr. Posey, for his work on this bill and his general support and understanding in addressing the serious problem of ocean acidification.

Mr. Posey's bill takes a focused look at a unique part of our coastal environment estuaries. Our estuaries are valuable and part of our marine community, both from an economic, as well as an ecological perspective. These environments are complex and the effects of ocean acidification on them is well understood.

H.R. 988 would address the gaps in our knowledge by commissioning a review by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on the impacts of ocean acidification on estuaries.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this good, bipartisan bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici).

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the American Dream and Promise Act. For too long, Congress has failed to take action in providing certainty to members in our community whose immigration status has been thrown into question because of the actions of this erratic administration. With the passage of this important and substantial piece of legislation, we will be sending a clear message to these individuals that they are valued members of our communities.

This bill provides certainty to the roughly 14,600 DREAMers in my district, including people like Juan Carlos Cerda. Juan Carlos came to the United States at the age of 7 with his mother from Mexico. Juan Carlos didn't understand completely what was going on at the time--all he knew was that he and his mother were leaving Mexico to join his father in the United States. Juan Carlos worked hard through school and eventually earned a B.A. at Yale University. He returned to North Texas as a kindergarten teacher in the Pleasant Grove neighborhood in my district to contribute back to the community that gave him so much. Because of the uncertainty surrounding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and the Trump Administration, Mr. Cerda's work authorization had a cloud of uncertainty. This bill would lift that cloud and allow people like Mr. Cerda to centime to be contributing members in our diverse communities.

Furthermore, roughly 2,400 individuals under Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Enforced Departure within my district will also be protected under this legislation. These individuals were granted refuge in the United States while their home countries dealt with issues such as natural disasters or civil unrest. These individuals have been in the United States for an average of 22 years and have already set down roots within my district. We know them as small business owners, educators, community leaders, and friends. These individuals along with DREAMers are Americans, just like myself, the only difference is what is written on a piece of paper.

Overall, up to 2.5 million people who have spent most of their lives in the United States will have a door of opportunity opened so that they too can fulfill their vision of the American dream. These individuals make our country stronger and make valuable contributions to it every day. As a cosponsor of this bill, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and for the Senate to take it up immediately upon passage in this chamber.

Madam Speaker, I rise today along with my colleague, Congressman Colin Allred, to recognize and pay tribute to the life and legacy of Debby Hay Spradley, who passed away on Sunday, May 19, 2019.

A native Texan, Debby graduated from Southern Methodist University and spent the entirety of her professional career in the Dallas area, first as President of the Hay Agency, Inc., and then as the Director of Development and External Affairs at the Hockaday School. She was respected in the Dallas community for her wisdom as a mentor, her generosity as a volunteer, and her leadership as an administrator.

She began her work with the school in the early 1980s as a parent volunteer before eventually joining the administrative team. During her tenure, Debby served as both a Member and the Chair of the Board of Trustees; was a Member of the Leadership Team for the Hockaday Tomorrow Capital Campaign and the Campaign Executive Committee for the Centennial Campaign; Co-Chaired the 2004 HP A Benefit; Chaired the Annual Fund Campaign; and was rightfully named an Honorary Alum in 2000. We admire and honor Debby's selfless dedication to the Hockaday School.

Debby is survived by her husband Webb; daughter Jessica Werner Epperson and her husband Doug Epperson; daughter Rachel Hay Spradley and her fiance Jonathan Ben-Horin; and three wonderful granddaughters Kathryn, Virginia, and Margaret.

I ask my colleagues to join us in remembering Debby and her contributions to her family, her community, and the Hockaday School. The Dallas community is better off because of her. We will miss her dearly.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 354, which celebrates the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment passing this body. This centennial is a moment to celebrate the women who fought to make the right to vote a reality for all women and to honor their dedication to our nation. As we gather to reflect on this important cause, it is important to recognize that because of generations of women's commitment to our democracy, today I serve along with a record number of women in the United States Congress.

As a Member of Congress, I recognize that the right to vote is the most precious right of any American citizen. It is the collective responsibility of all today to preserve what generations of women before us fought to earn, and I am committed to continuing this great legacy for the sake of this country and the future of our democracy.

Even with these historic moments, our work is far from over as women still struggle for the right to equal pay and the right to affordable health care. Today, let us reaffirm our commitment to removing barriers that prevent women in America and around the world from achieving their full potential.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution honoring the centennial of the House passage of the 19th Amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize The Honorable John J. Conyers, who celebrated his 90th birthday on May 16th.

Mr. Conyers is a distinguished public servant who represented the people of Michigan in the U.S. House of Representatives for 52 years. During his tenure, he held a number of reputable positions, including Chairman of the House Oversight Committee, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and the 44th Dean of the House of Representatives. Mr. Conyers was an effective legislator who was known among the Halls of Congress as champion of justice and judiciary issues.

As the longest-serving African-American member of Congress, Mr. Conyers was a trailblazer for civil rights during his time in Congress and is credited as one of the 13 original founders of the Congressional Black Caucus. He was the first to introduce a bill calling for the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. to be recognized as a national holiday dedicated to his life and legacy.

I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Mr. Conyers as he celebrates this momentous achievement. I also wish him many more happy birthdays in the future.

Madam Speaker, as the representative of the 30th District of Texas, I'd like to recognize the passing of The Honorable Damon Jerome Keith, Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Judge Damon J. Keith, one of the nation's longest-serving federal judges, was a tireless champion of civil rights and civil liberties. Born in Detroit in 1922, Judge Keith was the grandson of enslaved people. He went on to become the sixth African American in U.S. history to serve on the federal court of appeals. During his time on the bench, he made a series of landmark decisions that changed the social and legal landscape of the country.

Judge Keith graduated from West Virginia State College in 1943 before serving in a segregated army during World War II. He would go on to receive his J.D. from Howard Law School in 1949, pass the Michigan bar exam in 1950 and earn an L.L.M. from Wayne State University School of Law in 1956.

By 1967, Judge Keith was on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. By 1975, he was chief judge, and in 1977 he was nominated by President Jimmy Carter to succeed Wade McCree on the federal court of appeals.

Judge Keith's legacy was cemented when he famously ruled in 1971 that President Richard Nixon's Attorney General John Mitchell had to disclose the transcripts of illegal wiretaps Mitchell had authorized without first obtaining a search warrant. Judge Keith's decision was upheld by the Court of Appeals. The Supreme Court's landmark decision in United States v. U.S. District Court also known as ``the Keith Case,'' contributed in 1978 to President Jimmy Carter signing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

In one of the federal judiciary's longest and most prolific careers, Judge Keith was a fountainhead of regional rulings with national implications. He attacked racial segregation in education, housing and employment; conservative efforts to limit African-American voting; and after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, secret hearings to deport hundreds of immigrants deemed suspicious led by Attorney General John Ashcroft.

America is a better country because she had Judge Keith to help safeguard our civil liberties. I want to honor Judge Keith for his tireless commitment to providing equality and justice to all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to voice my support for H.R. 5, the Equality Act. This landmark legislation would prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ individuals across key areas of life including employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally funded programs, and jury service.

We must address the fact that, in 30 states, LGBTQ people are at risk of being fired, refused housing or denied services simply because of who they are. Far too many students face bullying or worse because of their sexual identity, and far too many Americans--teachers, nurses, and state employees--face uncertainty and discrimination in the workplace and in their day-to-day lives. In fact, nearly two-thirds of LGBTQ Americans report having experienced discrimination in their personal lives.

Our nation's civil rights laws protect people from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, and, in most cases, sex, disability and religion. Unfortunately, federal law does not provide consistent nondiscrimination protections based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The need for these protections is clear: We must put an end to this type of discrimination immediately.

We know from our nation's rich history in advancing the rights of citizens that strong federal laws are often needed to protect vulnerable groups of people. Because H.R. 5 explicitly prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in fundamental areas, it will finally give LGBTQ people the long-overdue protections and rights under federal law.

The reality is that our country is strongest when all Americans can be who they are, without fear of bias, discrimination or inequality in their workplaces or communities. I am pleased that the House is taking the much-needed action to ensure the core American values of equality and fairness are applied to members of the LGBTQ community in all circumstances. I urge my colleagues of the House to pass this critical legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to voice my support for the 7th annual Infrastructure Week, which runs May 13 through 20. America's businesses, workers, citizens, and elected leaders from all levels of government are all united around one message: America's future will be shaped by the infrastructure choices we make today.

In the 116th Congress, my fellow Transportation and Infrastructure Committee colleagues and I are working across the aisle to achieve key objectives for the people, including creating and sustaining family- wage jobs, improving the daily lives of Americans, preserving and protecting our environment, building sustainable and resilient communities, and ensuring U.S. economic competitiveness.

Specifically, in my home state of Texas, we have worked to establish milestones such as laying the groundwork for the Texas Central high- speed passenger rail line, which will connect the fourth and fifth largest economies in the country in less than 90 minutes. In Dallas, there are currently over $2 billion dollars in active highway projects and an additional $1.5 billion in design-build projects. In Congressional District 30 alone, there are $1 billion dollars' worth of projects under construction. Other investments include a new 26-mile regional transit passenger rail line, an airport runway realignment project, and expansions of one of the largest inland ports as well as major interstates and highways. These efforts have contributed to a $70-billion-dollar economic impact and nearly 67,000 jobs.

While we are focused on the need for sustainable infrastructure, we must also highlight

the need for diversity and inclusion as well. We must recognize the importance of having individuals with various backgrounds at the table, creating innovative solutions to address new transportation needs that truly help all communities. Programs such as the U.S. Department of Transportation's Women & Girls in Transportation Initiative (WITI) or the Small Business Administration's 8(a) Business Development Program are great opportunities to foster an inclusive environment that encourages, supports, and celebrates our similarities and differences.

Above all, Infrastructure Week highlights the apparent need for investment. Our nation's infrastructure is crumbling, and we can't wait another day to act. At this critical juncture, it is imperative that Congress moves with expediency in addressing these pressing issues, as it is essential to the quality of life of our citizens and the vitality of our economy