Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, on his retirement in September 2021, I rise today to thank Kevin Harris for over 37 years of outstanding service to the House of Representatives as a distinguished wood finisher.

Kevin Harris first came to the Capitol as a 15-year-old to work on the grounds crew with the Architect of the Capitol on the Senate side. He was lucky enough to have an aunt who worked for the then Congressman Walter E. Fauntroy, who later hired him on the House side. He started working with the House restaurant system in 1984, which was eventually contracted out. He was able to secure a position with the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Labor Room, now known as CAO, Office of Logistics & Support. Kevin worked for the logistics department for three years, where he remembers being mentored by Bobby Small, Lew Maiden and Steve Janifer, who showed him the ropes.

Later, it was determined that since he had gone to trade school, Kevin would be a good addition to the finishing shop and he made the move when a position opened. Back then, the finishing shop not only finished the furniture but also moved the furniture between offices. Some of his most memorable bosses were Mr. Kelleher, who hired him into the shop, Walter ``Teenie'' Woodburn and Robert Lee.

One his most memorable pieces was a special gold leafing project he completed with the staff on a bookcase for Representative William Clay. He had learned this technique through special training on this intricate skill. Kevin recalls a table he finished for Speaker Tip O'Neill, a very special stripping technique using the ``old style'' to strip down the finish. The Speaker was most appreciative. Kevin was also among the staff who refurbished the entire House floor, stripping the chairs and seats in the House Chamber, caked with shellac from years of usage.

In his long career in the halls of Congress, Kevin has personally met five Speakers of the House--Speaker Tom Foley, Speaker John Boehner, Speaker Tip O'Neill, Speaker Jim Wright, and Speaker Paul Ryan. Kevin has also reflected on the many lifelong friendships he has made in his office, including Timothy ``Tim'' Magruder and Vincent Plowden, who all motivated each other on the job. He has also made special mention of his favorite and current manager, John Garcia, who came into the shop and really heard their concerns, made the necessary changes and motivated the crew. He felt that Mr. Garcia really cared

about their conditions. Because of the encouragement of Mr. Garcia, he had a newfound desire to perform his job at a new level and credits Mr. Garcia for the changes in the finishing shop.

Kevin felt lucky to be able to attend the first Inauguration of President Barack Obama, an opportunity afforded him since the finishing shop worked behind the scenes on the stage preparation.

Another fond memory occurred in 2004 when an unexpected celebrity made an appearance on Capitol Hill--musical superstar Michael Jackson. He had been summoned to a hearing to call attention to the AIDS crisis. As he tells it, Kevin and some of his coworkers were standing outside near the Rayburn Building in anticipation of his arrival. They had almost given up when they saw his motorcade pull up right beside the wall near Rayburn. Michael Jackson got out of the car and walked directly toward Kevin, Tim Magruder and others, wearing his iconic glitter gloves and boots. Kevin was starstruck and barely able to speak, but Michael Jackson engaged them briefly, shook hands and then he was off. Coworkers later teased Kevin about being so moved in that moment.

Kevin has witnessed many different events in his 37-year career. With a heavy heart, he remembers being present on 9/11. He will never forget being outside and seeing the smoke from afar, which was the moment the Pentagon had been hit by a plane. But like others, he did not know the implication at the time of this terrorist attack and how it changed our lives forever. He was also present during the anthrax attack, when he and his crew were called in to clean all the furniture that was exposed to the anthrax.

Kevin was working when the earthquake hit Capitol Hill in 2011. He was in the office when the buildings, doors and floors started to sway. After the buildings were evacuated, he had to shelter on the comer for several hours until the building inspections were concluded. He was present when two Capitol Hill police officers were. And most recently, he was at work during the insurrection on January 6, 2021. So many memories, both good and bad, because of his long career with Congress.

In retirement, he plans to pursue some of his hobbies, like boxing on a punching bag, traveling abroad, catching up on movies, a particular interest, and volunteering with the homeless community. He will continue to attend the church in Baltimore where his cousin is the pastor, which he has attended since childhood. Kevin is looking forward to spending more time with his wife and daughter and including them in his retirement activities.

On behalf of the entire House community, we extend congratulations to Kevin Harris for his dedication and outstanding contributions to the House of Representatives. We wish him many wonderful years in fulfilling his retirement dreams.

Madam Speaker, for his retirement in September 2021, I rise today to thank Bobby Small for over 47 years of outstanding service to the House of Representatives.

Bobby grew up in the District of Columbia, where he was enrolled in an experimental program at School Without Walls. Following graduation, he worked in construction for J. W. Bates & Son. It was through family members that he heard of an opportunity to work in Congress. He was hired by Ed Kelleher, and began work with the Labor Force, which eventually became the Logistics Group. Initially, the Clerk of the House oversaw this work, but when the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) was established, he began working for the CAO. Bobby's hands-on approach and rapport with the staff led to an Assistant Supervisor position. He would eventually become the Supervisor and will retire in a Manager's position with Logistics & Support, supervising up to 20 employees.

Some of his former bosses include Cosmo Quattrone, Jerry Bennett and Walt Edwards, to mention a few. Bobby remarked that these were some of his favorite bosses and credited Cosmo and Jerry for grooming him and helping him to navigate the Logistics world. He remarked that they always gave good advice, treated him fairly and mentored him.

Given his long House career, Mr. Small has witnessed and been involved in many events, notably his contribution during the October 17, 2001 ``Response Project'' related to the anthrax attack. All Members, committees and staff were able to be relocated to an alternate location, and Mr. Small and his team were among those responsible for all logistical aspects of this project. He and his team were commended for making it possible to ensure that everyone remained safe and that the legislative business of the House of Representatives continued uninterrupted.

Another big project that Bobby was involved with is the ongoing Cannon Renewal Project, which began in 2013. It is a 12-year project that he and the Logistics staff work on daily. While the oversight for this project remains with the Architect of the Capitol and the CAO Office Design and Move Services department, the Logistics group has an integral part to play in this multi-year renovation, moving and relocating furniture between offices.

After such a long career, Bobby has collected many fond memories of his time in Congress. Chief among them is meeting the Tuskegee Airmen when they were honored in the Rayburn Committee Room. He has said that the meeting with the late Representative John Lewis was one of the highlights of his career, noting what an impressive man he was and how moving it was seeing the Memory Wall in John Lewis's office showing the history of the Civil Rights Movement.

Years ago, Bobby met with a congressman from Cleveland, Ohio to discuss discrimination in Congress, making a case about diversity and highlighting a lack of opportunity in Congress. Bobby believes that following his meeting with the congressman, measures were taken to improve the House environment for diversity and inclusivity.

The list of people he has worked with is long and distinguished--too many to mention. He has known some of his coworkers for many years, including, Lewis Maiden for over 40 years, Kevin Allison for 35-plus years and Steven Janifer, recently retired, who he supervised and knew over his entire work career.

I have met Bobby on several occasions.

Bobby has lots of hobbies, including fishing, hunting and watching sports. He is known to have a bit of a green thumb, raising fruits and vegetables, an activity he shared with his dad on an acre of land. In retirement, he is looking forward to spending more time with his wife and children and continuing to take occasional trips to the Caribbean, Hawaii and Hilton Head, South Carolina. When not traveling, he hopes to get involved in more volunteer work.

On behalf of the entire House community, we extend congratulations to Bobby Small for his many years of dedication and outstanding contributions to the House of Representatives. We wish him many wonderful years in fulfilling his retirement dreams.

Mr. Speaker, the Build Back Better Act is historic, but I want to focus on two of its most important programs: climate change and much-needed social programs.

First, climate change, the most important issue facing the entire world, without exception. The U.S. can double its impact--reducing carbon emissions 50 percent while creating 2 million jobs annually over the next 10 years in clean technologies.

And the Build Back Better social programs respond to needs Americans have long prioritized. Among them, childcare and lower costs for Medicare and college tuition.

Build Back Better pays over the long run with investments for reducing fast-rising climate change issues and pays right now with investments in much-needed social programs.

Madam Speaker, today, I rise to introduce a bill to redesignate the National Park Service (NPS)-owned Rock Creek Park in the District of Columbia as ``Rock Creek National Park.'' Renaming this park will highlight its significance to the nation, including visitors to the nation's capital, and will draw much-needed funding for the park's inviting trails, waterways and other unique features.

Rock Creek Park is already a ``national'' park, as it was established by Congress in 1890 ``for the benefit and enjoyment of the people of the United States.'' Rock Creek Park was the first federally managed urban park and the third federal park ever created, after Yellowstone and Sequoia. Rock Creek Park was designed to preserve animals, timber, forestry and other interests in the park, and to ensure that its natural state is maintained as much as possible not only for D.C. residents, but for all Americans. The park also preserves the ancient history of the land, as it was used for temporary settlements and as a quarry for weapons and tools by Native Americans from 7000 BCE until the 1600s.

Since Congress first designated Rock Creek Park, several structures and properties have been established or donated to further preserve Rock Creek Park, creating a vast connected park area that falls under a central NPS jurisdiction. In 1892, the federal government acquired Peirce Mill in Rock Creek Park, one of the mills used by local farmers during the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. In 1950, the Old Stone House located in Georgetown, with its great pre-Revolutionary War architecture, was acquired by the park. The building was restored and programs explain the house's rich history from the colonial period to the present day. The Fort Circle Parks were also acquired to interpret and preserve the Civil War Defenses of Washington, which created a ring of protection for the nation's capital during the Civil War. The Carter Barron Amphitheater, established in honor of the 150th anniversary of the nation's capital, became an integral part of D.C.'s live music scene, and has featured acts including Ella Fitzgerald, Diana Ross and Earth, Wind and Fire, as well as local artists. The redesignated ``Rock Creek National Park'' would encompass these later additions to the park.

Today, Rock Creek Park offers residents of D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia, as well as thousands of visitors, an escape from our increasingly urban environment. Residents and tourists alike enjoy many activities in the park's 2,000 acres, including hiking and biking on the historical trails, horseback riding, picnicking, tennis and other recreational activities in some of the open fields. Our residents have expressed their appreciation by volunteering to clean up and maintain the forests, trails and waterways.

In 1918, landscape architects John Charles Olmstead and Frederick Law Olmstead, Jr. wrote of Rock Creek Park, ``No matter how perfect the scenery of the park may be or may become, no matter how high its potential value, that value remains potential except insofar as it is enjoyed by large and ever larger numbers of people, poor and rich alike.'' Redesignating Rock Creek Park as Rock Creek National Park will help recognize the national status of the park and protect and revitalize this remarkable resource in our nation's capital.

I strongly urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Julius C. Jefferson, Jr., for his service this past year as the national president of the American Library Association (ALA). A fourth- generation native of Washington, D.C., Julius received his bachelor's degree in history from Howard University and his master's degree in library science from the University of Maryland. As a librarian, Mr. Jefferson has spent his career committed to advocacy, information policy, diversity, equity and inclusion and professional and leadership development. In recognition of his leadership and dedication to librarianship, the members of the ALA elected Mr. Jefferson to be their 2020-2021 president.

Like so many of us, libraries have had to adapt to changing circumstances during the pandemic, and Julius provided extraordinary leadership throughout this time. Mr. Jefferson began his term as ALA president with a virtual tour of 12 libraries. The ``Holding Space'' tour is what he called a series of virtual conversations that highlighted the innovation and impact of a diverse range of libraries around the nation. The ``Holding Space'' tour engaged stakeholders, including elected officials at every level of government, to advocate for libraries and the communities they serve.

I note that many of us in Congress benefit directly from the work of Mr. Jefferson, who serves as a section head of the Congressional Research Service at the Library of Congress. Mr. Jefferson has also served as president of the national Freedom to Read Foundation and of the Washington, D.C. Library Association. As a member of several boards, including the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, Mr. Jefferson has worked to diversify the profession of librarianship and elevate the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Once again, I want to congratulate Julius Jefferson on his term as President of the American Library Association.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Julius C. Jefferson, Jr., for his service this past year as the national president of the American Library Association (ALA). A fourth- generation native of Washington, D.C., Julius received his bachelor's degree in history from Howard University and his master's degree in library science from the University of Maryland. As a librarian, Mr. Jefferson has spent his career committed to advocacy, information policy, diversity, equity and inclusion and professional and leadership development. In recognition of his leadership and dedication to librarianship, the members of the ALA elected Mr. Jefferson to be their 2020-2021 president.

Like so many of us, libraries have had to adapt to changing circumstances during the pandemic, and Julius provided extraordinary leadership throughout this time. Mr. Jefferson began his term as ALA president with a virtual tour of 12 libraries. The ``Holding Space'' tour is what he called a series of virtual conversations that highlighted the innovation and impact of a diverse range of libraries around the nation. The ``Holding Space'' tour engaged stakeholders, including elected officials at every level of government, to advocate for libraries and the communities they serve.

I note that many of us in Congress benefit directly from the work of Mr. Jefferson, who serves as a section head of the Congressional Research Service at the Library of Congress. Mr. Jefferson has also served as president of the national Freedom to Read Foundation and of the Washington, D.C. Library Association. As a member of several boards, including the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, Mr. Jefferson has worked to diversify the profession of librarianship and elevate the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Once again, I want to congratulate Julius Jefferson on his term as President of the American Library Association.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to include in the Record a statement of a constituent of mine, Staff Sergeant Ashley Carothers, who is a veteran of the United States Air Force. Staff Sergeant Carothers served from 2005 to 2013, and thus was subject to the ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' policy for most of her service. I share her story as we commemorate 10 years since the repeal of ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'' Staff Sergeant Carothers was honorably discharged in 2013 and lives in the District of Columbia.

This is what she has said about her experience:

During my Air Force career, I lived a double life. I was an

actress portraying a straight Airman on a stage called life

and behind closed doors a very broken human being that

desperately just wanted to be herself. I was a lesbian in

hiding. I was the Airman that did it all, scored as high as

they could on tests, worked to know the job better than the

rest and volunteer for everything that I could in hopes that

my busy life would never uncover the truth. Behind the

curtain I dated but relationships couldn't really completely

build because there was always a sense of getting caught

especially in a mil to mil relationship. Supervisors

constantly questioning you and trying to set you up with the

new guy in the shop and always prying into why you constantly

denied any male advances. The worst part was the feeling of

always being alone while fending off the wolves (male airmen)

and dodging sexual harassment and assault as a woman just

trying to serve her country. I guess it made me stronger in a

weird messed up way as I was able to provide support to

others later in my career, support I never had.

While serving in Germany I had the privilege to be one of

the chapter leaders for the then-underground organization

known as OutServe. Prior to the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't

Tell we had a large number of LGBT service members all over

the European theater that relied on each other for support

and a sense of community. During this timeframe, multiple

individuals struggled further with their military leadership

as those opposed to the repeal expressed their views

verbally, leaving many with anxiety about the future. There

were many late-night phone calls trying to be the voice of

reason in moments of doubt and desperation when options to

turn to mental health professionals were nonexistent for fear

of discharge. Not being able to fight for them and speak

freely and openly to commands for support damaged individuals

beyond repair. If anyone went to speak to a mental health

professional and disclosed the fact that they identified as

gay, lesbian or bisexual, they would be on the chopping block

as they were serving under Don't Ask, Don't Tell. On top of

that, many served in career fields that they had to report

any visit to a mental health professional, further limiting

these individuals who desperately needed assistance. These

individuals had no one to turn to and suffered in silence.

Most even after the repeal couldn't come out as lesbian, gay

or bisexual for fear of mistreatment from their superiors.

Some suffered greatly by coming out to their commands, as

they had to work twice as hard to prove themselves and were

often overlooked for promotion and awards.

Balancing my own life struggles and the struggles of those

that looked to me for support was a pretty demanding time in

my career. My career and health did suffer, but I often think

about what life would have been like if I hadn't been able to

give so much or if the military would have just let humans be

humans by being their true authentic selves in the first

place. The constant jokes, ridicule and mistreatment from

superiors hasn't gone away. On this anniversary, I hope that

those in charge will finally take the right steps and change

the culture.

Madam Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to share Staff Sergeant Carothers' story and to remember the thousands like her who were harmed by Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Madam Speaker, today, I introduce the National Capital Planning Commission District of Columbia Home Rule Act. This bill would remove the authority of the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), a federal agency, to review or approve the development of District of Columbia-owned land. This bill would also remove the requirement that the Mayor of the District get NCPC's approval before selling D.C.-owned real estate, and would allow D.C. agencies to transfer jurisdiction over D.C.-owned land among themselves without NCPC's approval.

Under federal law, NCPC has approval authority for the development of D.C.-owned public buildings located in the central area, including the location, height, bulk, number of stories, and size of such buildings. The District is required to consult with NCPC on its buildings outside the central area, but NCPC has only advisory authority in those areas. The central area is defined by the concurrent action of NCPC and the D.C. Council and currently consists of the Downtown and Shaw Urban Renewal Areas.

This authority is unnecessary, as shown by the virtual absence of its use to disapprove sales or development, and violates D.C. home rule. This latent authority of the federal government should not be able to slow or block the development of D.C.-owned land or add to the cost of development. The District is not a federal agency and should not be treated any differently by federal law than other local jurisdictions, where local development proceeds without federal interference.

This bill is one more important step to increase home rule for the District, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Madam Speaker, today, I introduce the Protecting Independent Contractors from Discrimination Act, which would extend to independent contractors the same federal antidiscrimination protections enjoyed by employees. My bill would extend the following antidiscrimination statutes, which apply to employees, to independent contractors: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 505 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008.

In a Bureau of Labor Statistics 2005 analysis of the American workforce, approximately seven percent of workers were considered independent contractors. That number has surely only grown in the 16 years since that analysis with the growth of the so-called gig economy. A more recent poll estimates the number at 14 percent. Independent contractors, who often do the same work as employees, have almost none of the same protections, including health insurance, collective bargaining, retirement security, and even antidiscrimination. My bill focuses only on discrimination, such as discrimination based on race, age, and gender, from which every worker is entitled to be free.

I strongly urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Bayard Rustin Stamp Act. This bill would direct the United States Postmaster General to issue a forever stamp to commemorate the life and work of Bayard Rustin. I introduce this bill with Representatives Mondaire Jones and Ritchie Torres. We introduce the bill now to coincide with the anniversary of the March on Washington, which occurred on August 28, 1963, and the anniversary of Rustin's death, which occurred on August 24, 1987.

Born March 17, 1912, Bayard Rustin became one of the most important leaders in the 20th century civil rights movement. At a young age, Rustin learned the values of nonviolence and peacekeeping from his grandparents' Quaker faith, and he would continue to build these values into his life as a civil rights movement leader.

Rustin attended City College of New York, where he joined a progressive club that aimed to remedy racial issues during turbulent times. His time with the club was short-lived, but it inspired him to join the Fellowship of Reconciliation, an organization that became a champion for labor rights, equity and world peace.

Rustin's time with the Fellowship of Reconciliation led him to become a leader in the 1947 ``Journey to Reconciliation,'' where white and black people across the South rode buses together to challenge segregation laws, a precursor to the Freedom Rides.

Rustin was an advisor in Martin Luther King Jr.'s inner circle as King advocated pacifism and nonviolence for achieving equal treatment for African Americans. Rustin applied his brilliant strategic mind to execute aggressive, peaceful action in the civil rights movement and throughout his life as an activist.

His most important role was as the chief organizer of the historic 1963 March on Washington, the largest demonstration ever organized at the time, in which a quarter of a million people turned out to demand civil rights for African Americans.

In the years after the civil rights movement, Rustin, a gay man, inspired others to advocate for and to achieve LGBTQ rights. He remained a strategist and public speaker for workers' rights movements, including co-founding the A. Philip Randolph Institute for black trade union members. Rustin remained committed to promoting social good, and advocating for the disenfranchised, until his death.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Madam Speaker, today, I introduce the National Commission to Combat Workplace Sexual Harassment Act to establish a national commission to examine and combat sexual harassment in the U.S. workplace.

I have modeled this bill on legislation Congress has passed to address other national problems considered to be serious, such as gambling. The almost daily exposure of allegations of sexual harassment, including the recent allegations made against New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, more than qualifies sexual harassment for national attention and priority. This bill would create a national commission to focus on sexual harassment in major industries and workplaces throughout the United States.

Congress has adopted legislation that addresses harassment in the congressional workplace. It requires Members of the House and Senate to be personally liable for settlements and awards resulting from harassment and retaliation claims, removes mandatory counseling, mediation and ``cooling off'' periods for accusers that had been required, mandates publicly reporting awards and settlements and covers unpaid staff as well. These steps move in the right direction beginning where Congress should--right here in the Congress itself. However, nothing equivalent has been done for sexual harassment that affects the American people. We have largely neglected our own constituents, despite the increasing number of troubling reports in the news of sexual harassment claims.

A national commission would assure the American people that Congress takes sexual harassment affecting them--the typical worker--seriously, beyond the high-profile examples, such as allegations against Harvey Weinstein, Jeffrey Epstein, Governor Cuomo and the Congress itself, that have garnered the headlines. Most importantly, the commission would hear from a cross section of the public--from office and factory workers to retail and food service employees--whose experiences with sexual harassment have received almost no national attention. The commission could travel or invite witnesses to Washington from throughout the country to recommend changes in laws or regulations and best practices on preventing, training, investigating, responding to and penalizing sexual harassment in the private and public sectors.

Our constituents expect Congress, which represents every sector, to take on the problem of sexual harassment throughout our national economy, including private and public (Federal, state and local) workplaces. A national commission could help reach and reduce sexual harassment, a form of gender discrimination, where the average American works.

I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Madam Speaker, today, I introduce the District of Columbia Zoning Commission Home Rule Act. This bill would give the District of Columbia the authority to appoint all members of the D.C. Zoning Commission (Commission). Currently, the Commission consists of two federal officials (the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) and the Director of the National Park Service (NPS), or their designees), and three mayoral appointees, subject to D.C. Council approval. The federal officials are members even though the Commission has no authority over federal property.

Land use is a quintessential local matter in our country. Despite the D.C. Home Rule Act, which gave the District jurisdiction over its local matters, 40 percent of the members of the Commission are federal officials, who are unaccountable to the more than 700,000 residents who live in the District. The federal government would lose nothing as a result of this bill because the federal government's land-use interests in the nation's capital are protected by federal law and federal agencies.

The Commission creates the zoning maps and regulations, which must ``not be inconsistent with the comprehensive plan for the national capital.'' The mayor is responsible for the local elements of the comprehensive plan, subject to Council approval. The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), which is the central federal planning agency for the federal government in D.C. and approves federal projects here, is responsible for the federal elements of the comprehensive plan. This bill would not alter the comprehensive plan process or the authority of NCPC and the Commission.

This bill would immediately remove the AOC and the Director of the NPS from the Commission, and the Commission would, at least initially, consist solely of the three mayoral appointees. The District would have the authority to reconstitute the membership of the Commission through local legislation.

This is an important step to increase home rule for the District, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Madam Speaker, today, I rise to salute whistleblowers and to mark a day of appreciation for their critical contribution to American justice and to the safety and security of us all. Whistleblowers, among other things, keep companies that do business with the federal government honest and accountable. Working from confidential tips and insights provided by whistleblowers in qui tam cases, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recovers billions of dollars annually under the False Claims Act. Over a recent four-year period, the government recovered $11.4 billion in fraud prosecutions and distributed more than $1.54 billion in whistleblower reward payments.

For example, last year, a major toxicology laboratory was required to pay the government $12 million in a False Claims Act qui tam case when it was found to have paid unlawful kickbacks to a marketer and health care provider in exchange for referrals for urine drug tests. The whistleblower-inspired investigation also led to a criminal indictment of individuals involved in the scheme and the establishment of a five- year Corporate Integrity Agreement with the Department of Health and Human Service's Office of Inspector General, which required the company to retain an Independent Review Organization to monitor its arrangements with individuals and other entities and to routinely report to the Office of Inspector General.

Those who blow the whistle on federal contractors are typically awarded 15 to 30 percent of the funds recovered by DOJ. One whistle blower collected $4 million in a False Claims Act qui ram case on behalf of the government against two contractors that knowingly failed to comply with federal and state prevailing wage laws. The contractors agreed to correct their compensation practices, and their employees were paid back wages.

In these cases, whistleblowers brought the fraud to light, companies were held accountable, taxpayer funds were recovered, future misconduct was averted, and workers were made whole.

I want to thank my constituent Renee Brooker, partner at Tycko & Zavareei LLP and former Civil Frauds Assistant Director at DOJ for sharing her expertise on whistleblower law with my office.

Today, on National Whistleblower Appreciation Day, I ask my colleagues to recognize whistleblowers and to encourage more individuals to become whistleblowers.

Madam Speaker, today, I introduce the District of Columbia Courts Vacancy Reduction Act. This bill would allow local District of Columbia court nominees to be seated after a 30-day congressional review period unless a resolution of disapproval is enacted into law during that period. Currently, nominees cannot be seated without affirmative Senate approval. The congressional review process for nominees would be the same as used for legislation passed by the D.C. Council. It is therefore a reliable process, long- recognized by Congress. My bill is prompted by the unique requirement that judges for the local D.C. courts be confirmed by the Senate, where nominees for the federal courts and executive branch, understandably, get the primary focus and priority. There has been a longstanding vacancy crisis facing the District's local criminal and civil courts, and the local D.C. courts have raised serious concerns about these longstanding vacancies.

Whether Democrats or Republicans control the Senate, the local D.C. courts regularly face vacancy crises, which harm the operations of the local judicial system in the District. Congress created the D.C. Judicial Nomination Commission (JNC) to recommend candidates to the President, and Congress should generally defer to its judgment. This bill is a compromise, useful to all concerned, that retains a congressional role while saving the Senate time by removing the need for committee and floor action on local judges and increasing the odds that D.C. will have a full complement of local judges.

Currently, there are 12 vacancies out of 62 authorized judges on the D.C. Superior Court and three vacancies out of nine authorized judges on the D.C. Court of Appeals.

Both pre- and post-home rule, the District has never had control over the nomination and approval of local D.C. judges. My bill would not alter the role of the JNC or the President in the nomination process. Under the Home Rule Act, the JNC recommends to the President a list of three candidates for each vacancy on the Superior Court and the Court of Appeals. The President must nominate a candidate recommended by the JNC within 60 days to the Senate for advice and consent. If the President fails to nominate such a person within 60 days, the JNC must nominate a recommended person directly to the Senate for advice and consent. The Senate has no obligation to provide its advice and consent. Under this bill, once a nomination has been transmitted to Congress, the nomination would be deemed approved unless a resolution of disapproval is enacted into law during a 30-day review period.

I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, with a detailed poll showing that 54 percent of the American people now support statehood for our Nation's capital, the District of Columbia, we are optimistic about passage in the Senate of H.R. 51.

I thank the House for passage of our statehood bill, for that passage has spurred the American majority that now supports D.C. statehood. The recent hearing in the Senate helped further educate Americans about our statehood bill, noting that our country is the only democratic country that denies equal representation for the people of its capital.

With continuing success with our D.C. statehood bill, we look forward to reporting progress on our bill on becoming the State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth.