Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1468) to amend title 40, United States Code, to eliminate the leasing authority of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1468, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Securities and Exchange Commission Real Estate Leasing Authority Revocation Act, which I introduced, will revoke the independent real estate leasing authority of the Securities and Exchange Commission and direct the Government Accountability Office to update its 2016 report on independent real estate leasing authority in the Federal Government. While a number of Federal agencies have independent leasing authority, the SEC has a history of egregious real estate practices.

In 2005, the SEC disclosed that it had unbudgeted costs of approximately $48 million for the construction of its headquarters near Union Station. In

2007, after moving into the headquarters, the SEC shuffled its employees to different office space at a cost of over $3 million without any cost-benefit analysis or justifiable explanation.

In 2010, the SEC conducted a deeply flawed analysis to justify the need to lease 900,000 square feet and to commit over $500 million over 10 years, overestimating its space needs by over 300 percent. In addition, the SEC failed to provide complete and accurate information and prepared a faulty and backdated justification and approval after it had already signed the lease.

In August 2016, the General Services Administration and the SEC entered into an occupancy agreement to authorize the GSA to secure a new 15-year lease. In December 2016, the GSA, with the approval of the SEC, submitted a prospectus to Congress for approximately 1.3 million square feet, which Congress approved in 2018. By July 2019, the GSA had received final bids, resolved all protests, and even selected a final bidder. A month later, the SEC canceled the occupancy agreement, citing concerns about the value of the purchase option, which the SEC refused to document to Congress. The SEC effectively vetoed the entire 3-year procurement process, despite not having the authority or funding to exercise the purchase option without the GSA's involvement.

Finally, after much back and forth between the two agencies, the GSA entered into a lease for a new SEC headquarters in September 2021. The SEC says it will continue to have the GSA do its leasing in the future, but the SEC's history of egregious leasing conduct, having squandered hundreds of millions of dollars, makes this bill necessary.

These public blunders also risk undermining the reputation of the GSA and the Federal Government among the developers and building owners that participate in Federal lease procurements and ultimately driving up the costs of all GSA real estate procurement due to the threat of uncertainty.

It is time for Congress to return the SEC's leasing authority to the GSA, the Federal Government's civilian real estate arm. As the SEC has demonstrated over three decades, it is incredibly inefficient, wasteful, and redundant to have the SEC involved in real estate procurements when the GSA exists for that very reason. Like other Federal agencies, the SEC would continue to have input and involvement in the real estate decision-making process, but the GSA will have the ultimate authority.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1066) to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to provide flexibility with the cost share for fire management assistance, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1066, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1066, the Wildfire Recovery Act, a bill introduced by Mr. Neguse from Colorado. This legislation will remove some of the financial burdens communities face after suppressing a wildfire.

Wildfires are causing an unprecedented amount of damage to the natural and built environment. This bill will require the Federal Emergency Management Agency to cover at least 75 percent of the costs to suppress wildfires that qualify for a Fire Management Assistance Grant. Local officials have said that this fix would allow them to speed up the recovery process and invest more money in mitigation efforts.

Rural communities that typically receive this type of grant assistance will benefit most from this legislation. Providing more Federal assistance in the wake of the worst fires will assist stretched local budgets.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2293) to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to provide certain employment rights to reservists of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 2293.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2293, the Civilian Reservist Emergency Workforce Act of 2021, which extends Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act protections to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's reservist workforce.

Reservists assist disaster survivors and first responders on an on- call basis. They are prepared to deploy when disaster strikes and make up the majority of FEMA's workforce. While reservists are critical to Federal disaster response, these essential personnel are only paid by FEMA during deployments and have no protections that prevent them from losing their full-time jobs when called to a disaster.

FEMA's workforce has been stretched to its limits by increasingly

frequent and intense disasters, climate change, and the coronavirus pandemic. A larger reservist workforce is required to meet the current challenge, but FEMA has reported that it is difficult to retain reservists and recruit a diverse workforce without being able to offer them basic protections. FEMA Administrator Deanna Criswell has stated that the ability to recruit and maintain a skilled reservist workforce is necessary if the agency is to fulfill its mission of helping people before, during, and after disasters.

This bill will help FEMA continue to fulfill that mission and ensure that these brave women and men do not have to worry that they could lose their livelihoods when they are called by their country to serve.

It is time we give reservists the respect they deserve and provide them protections. I would like to express my gratitude to reservists who have answered the call and to those who will do so in the future.

I ask my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 4205) to require the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to establish a working group relating to best practices and Federal guidance for animals in emergencies and disasters, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 4205.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 4205, the Planning for Animal Wellness Act. The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee marked up the companion bill, H.R. 7789, introduced by Representative Titus earlier this summer.

This bill requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency to establish a working group of experts to review and, if necessary, update its guidance for addressing the needs of animals and pets before, during, and after disasters.

Animals are among the most vulnerable when disaster strikes. Like people, they may be displaced or require evacuation and sheltering. However, disaster shelters are often unable or unwilling to accommodate animals. Pets are beloved members of the family, and owners should not have to choose between abandoning their animals and getting to safety. When individuals are forced to make this terrible decision, they often refuse to evacuate before a natural disaster.

This bill will remove barriers to ensure animal welfare is properly considered in emergency planning so that all members of the family-- human and pet--are safe during disasters.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I urge my colleagues as well to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 442) to amend title 40, United States Code, to require the Administrator of General Services to procure the most lifecycle cost effective and energy efficient lighting products and to issue guidance on the efficiency, effectiveness, and economy of those products, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 442.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 442, the BRIGHT Act. The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee marked up the companion bill, H.R. 7636, introduced by Representative Titus, earlier this summer.

This legislation encourages the General Services Administration to use the most up-to-date and efficient lighting for all routine maintenance, alterations, and construction and gives GSA the flexibility to choose the most efficient option for each installation.

Additionally, this bill asks that GSA provide guidance to Federal agencies and State, local, and Tribal entities on how cost-effective and energy-efficient lighting systems can help achieve broader efficiency goals.

While the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 did include guidelines for energy-efficient light bulb utilization, GSA managers are not incentivized to choose the most energy and cost-efficient options in procurements.

By directing GSA to acquire and use the most cost-and energy- efficient lighting systems practicable over the life cycles of the systems, this legislation aims to maximize resource conservation and use of taxpayer dollars in all GSA lighting procurements.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5952) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 123 East Main Street, in Vergas, Minnesota, as the ``Jon Glawe Post Office''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5952, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located in Vergas, Minnesota, as the ``Jon Glawe Post Office.''

Jon Glawe was born on January 9, 1949, in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. He grew up on a farm near Vergas and graduated from Perham High School in 1967. After graduating, he moved to California and went to Ventura Community College for 2 years, obtaining his associate's degree.

In 1970, Mr. Glawe was drafted into the U.S. Army and was a sergeant in the 3rd Armored Division station in Frankfurt, Germany. After being honorably discharged in March of 1972, he married his high school sweetheart, Darla Olson, in June of 1973.

As a kid, during snowstorms, Mr. Glawe would ride along with his brothers and dad, who was the rural mail carrier in Vergas, to help shovel snow every time their vehicle stopped or became stuck along the mail route.

He officially began his career with the U.S. Postal Service in Minneapolis in 1975. After the passing of his father, he added a second full-time job, taking over the rural mail route delivering mail for Vergas and the surrounding areas for 36 years, until his retirement in 2011.

Mr. Glawe became well-known and revered by many on his route and served as a lifeline for many in the community. Through Minnesota's harshest winter storms, he was known to not only deliver mail, but would often bring medicine, food, and other goods to those in need.

I encourage my colleagues to join me in honoring Mr. Jon Glawe by supporting H.R. 5952.

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

Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman has no further speakers, I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman from Florida has no further speakers, I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 5952, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5650) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 16605 East Avenue of the Fountains in Fountain Hills, Arizona, as the ``Dr. C.T. Wright Post Office Building''.

I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5650, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 16605 East Avenue of the Fountains in Fountain Hills, Arizona, as the ``Dr. C.T. Wright Post Office Building.''

Dr. C.T. Wright was raised in a family of sharecroppers as a native of Social Circle, Georgia. He went on to graduate from Fort Valley University before earning his master of science from Clark Atlanta University and his Ph.D from Boston University.

He was a teacher and administrator, devoting much of his time to education and working for many historically Black colleges and universities, including Morris Brown College and Talladega College. In 1982, he became the president of Cheney University, the first HBCU.

Dr. Wright also focused his efforts on community service, founding the Light of Hope Institute that promotes human rights around the world.

For the last 21 years of his life, he lived in Arizona, serving as a community leader. He was chair of the Arizona Board of Clemency, president of the Fountain Hills Kiwanis Club, and president of the Arizona African Society. In addition, Dr. Wright served as a delegate for the Electoral College and met six Presidents.

I encourage my colleagues to join me in honoring the life of Dr. C.T. Wright by supporting H.R. 5650.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 5650, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5865) to designate the facility of

the United States Postal Service located at 4110 Bluebonnet Drive in Stafford, Texas, as the ``Leonard Scarcella Post Office Building''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 5865.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5865 to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4110 Bluebonnet Drive in Stafford, Texas, as the Leonard Scarcella Post Office Building.

Mayor Leonard Scarcella was a lifelong resident of Stafford. He graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.B.A. in accounting in 1962. He then went on to attend the University of Houston Law School and was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1967.

From 1963 to 1969, Mayor Scarcella served in the Texas National Guard with Active Duty in the United States Air Force, where he attained the rank of sergeant.

He was first elected as mayor of the city of Stafford in 1969 and was the longest continuous-serving mayor in the United States.

During his tenure as mayor, he fought for 6 years to create and implement the Stafford Municipal School District, the only breakaway school district in the Nation to gain the approval of the Federal courts and the only municipal school district within the State of Texas.

In addition, Mayor Scarcella initiated the Stafford Municipal Educational Television Station to bring vital, current, and informative programming about the city to citizens and businesses via cable and internet video streaming.

As well as serving as mayor, he held various positions, such as president of the board of directors of the Fort Bend County Industrial Development Corporation, chair of the Home Rule Charter Commission, and president of the Stafford Economic Development Corporation.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in honoring the accomplishments of Mayor Scarcella by supporting H.R. 5865, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 5865, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, today, I introduce the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board Inspector General Act of 2022, which would create an independent Inspector General (IG) for the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB). The FRTIB administers the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), the retirement savings and investment plan for federal employees.

On June 1, 2022, FRTIB launched a new system with the goal of modernizing TSP's recordkeeping, improving customer service and bolstering cybersecurity. There have been widespread problems with the new system, including account access, account balances, missing or incomplete information in accounts and hours-long wait times to reach customer service.

As of December 2021, TSP had approximately 6.5 million participants and $838,052,933,000 in assets, making it the world's largest defined contribution plan. Federal employees dedicate their careers to serving our country, and they deserve a retirement savings and investment plan that provides top-tier customer support and security.

While the Employee Benefits Security Administration has the audit responsibility for the FRTIB, as it does for all private sector 401(k) plans, there is currently no IG for the FRTIB. The problems with the new TSP system are evidence enough that the FRTIB needs an independent

Madam Speaker, I introduce the Congress Leads by Example Act of 2022, which would subject the legislative branch to many of the laws that protect employees in the private sector and the executive branch. Congress should abide by the laws it imposes on others. In 1995, Congress passed the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA), which applied 13 existing civil rights, labor and workplace safety and health laws to the legislative branch. In 2018, after reports of sexual harassment in Congress and in light of the #MeToo movement, Congress passed the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 Reform Act (Reform Act), which changed the name of the Office of Compliance to the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights (OCWR), revised the process to resolve workplace claims and extended CAA protections to unpaid staff, interns and fellows. It also made Members of Congress personally liable for their own violations of workplace harassment and retaliation laws.

The CAA and the Reform Act were important steps in making the legislative branch accountable for its employment practices, but they did not finish the job. As noted, the CAA brought the legislative branch under 13 civil rights, labor and workplace safety and health laws but it omitted important substantive and procedural protections. In its two most recent Section 102(b) biennial reports to Congress, OCWR identified additional federal workplace laws and procedures that should be applicable to the legislative branch. OCWR's recommendations for the 116th Congress included making the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 applicable to the legislative branch. The OCWR's recommendations for this Congress included allowing the OCWR Board of Directors to authorize the OCWR General Counsel to seek appropriate temporary relief after filing an unfair labor practice charge, amending the confidentiality provisions of the CAA to exclude proceedings under the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute and the public access provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act and requiring mediation upon the request of the claimant. This bill takes into account OCWR's recommendations, and seeks both to apply the standard of fairness to employees of the legislative branch that Congress requires for other employees and provide a safer work environment for the legislative branch and visitors by bringing the legislative obligations in line with the legal requirements of the private sector and the executive branch.

This bill provides general whistleblower protections and anti- retaliation measures and makes additional Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) retaliation provisions applicable to the legislative branch. This bill also provides subpoena authority to OCWR to conduct inspections and investigations into OSHA violations.

This bill also furthers the CAA's goal of preventing workplace discrimination in the legislative branch by prohibiting the legislative branch from making adverse employment decisions on the basis of an employee's wage garnishment or involvement in bankruptcy proceedings pursuant to the Consumer Credit Protection Act and Chapter 11 of the bankruptcy code.

Finally, this bill bolsters the CAA's recordkeeping requirements. It applies to the legislative branch the obligation to maintain accurate records of safety information and employee injuries, as otherwise required by OSHA, as well as employee records necessary to administer anti-discrimination laws.

This bill would help restore the public's trust in Congress by redoubling our efforts to exercise leadership by example. I urge support for this important measure.

Madam Speaker, today, I rise to introduce a fiscal year 2022 supplemental appropriations bill to provide $50 million to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) for humanitarian assistance for migrants. The funding would remain available until expended.

Since mid-April, the governors of Texas and Arizona have exploited and harmed approximately 4,500 vulnerable people fleeing desperate and dangerous situations in their home countries for political gain by busing them to the District of Columbia and New York.

In fiscal year 2022, Congress provided $150 million to the EFSP for humanitarian assistance for migrants. As of July 21, 2022, approximately $85 million of this funding remained available. However, the busing of migrants to D.C. and New York has increased funding requests and the EFSP may exhaust its funding.

Supplemental funding would ensure that the EFSP can continue to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Madam Speaker, today, I introduce the Increased Transparency in 501(c)(4) Organizations Act of 2022. This bill would require the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to make publicly available the forms organizations that self-declare under Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) file with the IRS. Americans have the right to know which organizations are operating under this section of the IRC.

To be eligible for tax-exempt status under 501(c)(4), organizations, often referred to as ``social welfare organizations,'' must be ``devoted exclusively to charitable, educational, or recreational purposes.'' They can apply for 50l(c)(4) status, or they can self- declare. Previously, organizations seeking to self-declare were not required to notify the IRS of their existence. In 2015, however, the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 (PATH Act), which required an organization seeking to self-declare to file a notice with the IRS, was enacted into law. The PATH Act did not, however, make the filed notices, Form 8976, subject to public disclosure.

The IRS has opined that Form 8976 cannot be made available under the Freedom of Information Act or other disclosure laws. This opinion creates a discrepancy between those organizations for which the IRS must make publicly available information--all Section 501(c)(3) organizations and 501(c)(4) organizations that applied for that status--and self-declared 501(c)(4) organizations. This discrepancy appears to have been inadvertently created by the PATH Act.

My bill would fix this discrepancy by requiring the IRS to publicly disclose any filed Form 8976 upon request, thus allowing the public to know which organizations operate under 501(c)(4), as they do with organizations that operate under 501(c)(3). In the aftermath of the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, which allows unlimited expenditures in political campaigns by these ``social welfare'' organizations, greater transparency is needed.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Eli on his recent selection to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions (NAFCU).

Mr. Vazquez currently serves as the President and CEO of Bank-Fund Staff Federal Credit Union, which is comprised of approximately 90,000 members and headquartered in the District of Columbia.

Mr. Vazquez previously served on the American Airlines Federal Credit Union board for eight years and later in senior leadership roles for seven years. He was a board member of the SW Regional Payments Association for three years and chair of the NAFCU Share Insurance Committee. He is active on advisory panels for CUNA Mutual, engageFI and Visa and is a supporter of various philanthropic organizations.

Mr. Vazquez has a wealth of financial services and leadership knowledge. His vision and decision-making skills will be a valuable addition to the NAFCU board and credit unions for years to come.

Mr. Vazquez holds an MBA in Finance and a BS in Chemical Engineering. He is an experienced, active and passionate supporter of credit unions and their mission.

I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Eli Vazquez and wishing him the very best in his new role on the NAFCU Board of Directors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Andrew Pierce for his exceptional leadership and service as the Acting Chief Financial Officer, Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Director of Accounting and Financial Reporting at the Peace Corps.

During his nearly 7 years at the Peace Corps, Mr. Pierce played a vital role in ensuring resources were effectively and efficiently managed to support the important mission of the Peace Corps. He provided solutions during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, when global evacuations of thousands of Peace Corps volunteers were necessary.

Mr. Pierce was instrumental in ensuring that the Peace Corps received a clean audit opinion during his entire tenure. This is particularly remarkable because of the inherently transient nature of the Peace Corps workforce and the global footprint of the agency's financial operations. He was highly respected by his colleagues for his keen intellect, professionalism; kindness, dedication to service and being a consummate team player.

President Kennedy said that by establishing the Peace Corps, ``[W]e intend to make full use of the resources and talents of private institutions and groups. Universities, voluntary agencies, labor unions and industry will be asked to share in this effort--contributing diverse sources of energy and imagination--making it clear that the responsibility for peace is the responsibility of our entire society.'' Mr. Pierce answered the call and did his part, enabling the Peace Corps and our nation to strengthen bonds of friendship and foster global peace.

I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Andrew Pierce for his service and wishing him continued success in his role as the Executive Director for Budget and Analysis for Maryland.

Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.

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

Mr. Speaker, this amendment would give the District of Columbia mayor control over the D.C. National Guard. Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney and Congressman Anthony Brown are co-leads of this amendment.

The Governors of the States and territories control their National Guards, while the President controls the D.C. National Guard. This amendment would give the D.C. mayor the same control over the D.C. National Guard that the Governors of the States and territories have over their National Guards.

The President would have the same authority to federalize the D.C. National Guard that the President has to federalize the National Guards of the States and territories.

The attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, and the events at Lafayette Square on June 1, 2020, are prime examples of why the D.C. mayor should control the D.C. National Guard.

During January 6, the Trump administration delayed deploying the D.C. National Guard to the Capitol for several hours, likely costing lives and prolonging the attack.

At Lafayette Square, the Trump administration used the D.C. National Guard to forcibly remove peaceful protesters for a President photo op.

National Guards are generally deployed for natural disasters and civil disturbances. The D.C. mayor, who knows D.C. better than any Federal official, should be able to deploy the D.C. National Guard to protect D.C. residents.

In the event of a large-scale attack on a Federal facility in D.C., the D.C. mayor would almost certainly deploy the D.C. National Guard to protect the facility. However, in the unlikely event that the D.C. mayor did not do so, the President would have the authority to federalize and deploy the D.C. National Guard to do so.

This is no different from the division of authority today between a Governor and the President in the event of a large-scale attack on a Federal facility in a State or territory.

Moreover, Presidential control over the D.C. National Guard creates a loophole in the Posse Comitatus Act which limits the military's involvement in civil law enforcement.

The Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel has opined that when the D.C. National Guard is operating for non-Federal purposes, even though it is an exclusively Federal entity, it may be used for civilian law enforcement without violating Posse Comitatus.

I urge my colleagues to support this amendment which would be a historic advance in D.C. self-government and improve public safety in the Nation's Capitol.

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

Mr. Speaker, the gentleman fails to understand that the deployment of the D.C. National Guard would have to take place no matter who controls the National Guard, whether the President or the mayor.

If the mayor controls the National Guard, she would have to deploy it. She would have to make sure the National Guard is ready to proceed. So the gentleman's objection would have no merit.

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

Mr. Speaker, I remind the gentleman that this House has twice passed the D.C. statehood bill, and that the bill that I have put before you will give the President the same authority to federalize the D.C. National Guard that the President has to federalize the National Guards of the States and territories, so it would pose no issue for deployment of the National Guard.

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

Mr. Speaker, nothing more than what we saw on January 6 educates us to why it is important for the mayor of the District of Columbia to have control of the National Guard.

That period during which the National Guard was held up because the mayor had no control accounted for much of the problems that we are still fighting that came out of January 6.

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