Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 951) to promote bilateral tourism through cooperation between the United States and Mexico, as amended.

Madam 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 H.R. 951, as amended.

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

Madam Speaker, let me start by thanking the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cuellar), the recently-appointed chairman of the U.S.-Mexico Interparliamentary Group, for authoring this legislation, which sends a positive message from this Chamber to the Mexican people at a time when, frankly, it is needed more than ever in view of all the things that have been talked about with American belligerence toward Mexico and the unnecessary saber rattling.

I think it is important that we talk about positive things between our two countries, and tourism certainly is right there. It is one way to make a positive difference.

In recent years, bilateral tourism between the United States and Mexico has steadily declined. This is in sharp contrast to a rise in the broader international tourism industry in the United States.

In 2017 alone, there was a 6 percent decline in visitors to the United States from Mexico, and this decrease hurts our economy and American workers, specifically in the States along our southern border with Mexico where President Trump is still trying to build an ill- advised wall.

The legislation we are now considering would direct the State Department to expand tourism cooperation with Mexico, including by close collaboration with nonprofit organizations and the private sector. It also encourages expanded third-party tourism to the United States and Mexico through joint international promotional efforts.

But more than anything, this bill is about jobs. It is about creating American jobs and maintaining a robust partnership with our neighbor to the south.

Its consideration could not be more timely. Last month, the President again threatened to punish American workers and consumers for failures at the border, only to claim victory with a so-called deal that reverted to the status quo. The President has again managed to cause further harm to the U.S.-Mexico relationship for no good reason whatsoever, and tourists are staying home in response.

Today, the House of Representatives is choosing to go in a different direction. With this bill, we are once again coming to the House floor to build bridges with our neighbor to the south.

Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Cuellar for his continued persistence in promoting the U.S.-Mexico relationship. I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cuellar), the author of this bill, who also happens to be the chair of the U.S.-Mexico Interparliamentary Group.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume for the purpose of closing.

Madam Speaker, the U.S.-Mexico relationship is too important to be held hostage to petty politics, and yet here we are again for the last 2 weeks.

We don't want to hurt the U.S.-Mexico relationship. In fact, I was in Mexico City just a few weeks ago and met with the new Mexican President, who told us that he really wanted to have good relations and work closely with us. I was impressed with him because he has a steady hand.

I think that we should not be alienating our neighbors. We should be welcoming them, welcoming the partnership with them.

We don't want to undermine tourism; we don't want to hurt Americans; and we don't want to raise taxes on the working class while doing nothing to address the humanitarian challenges on the U.S.-Mexico border.

I am glad that we seem to not be going that way in terms of clashing with Mexico, but, again, this is a win-win bill: a win for us because it helps tourism, a win for Mexico as well.

Congress has chosen to pursue a positive agenda with Mexico instead. This legislation will play an important role in showcasing the mutually beneficial relationship Congress and most Americans want with Mexico.

Madam Speaker, I again thank Mr. Cuellar for his continued leadership and for wanting a stronger relationship between the United States and Mexico. I thank the ranking member, as usual, for working with us on this legislation.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2140) to prevent child marriage in United Nations- administered refugee settlements, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam 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 H.R. 2140, as amended.

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

Madam Speaker, let me start by thanking the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner) for offering this bill and for shining a light on the problem of illegal child marriage, particularly among vulnerable refugee populations. I am grateful for Mrs. Wagner's leadership on an issue that we should all support. It is really important to all get around it.

Child marriage, Madam Speaker, deprives young people of their futures and hinders the progress of development work all over the world.

UNICEF reports that 12 million girls marry before the age of 18 every single year. What does that mean for these girls? It takes away their right to make vital decisions about their well-being, about their health, their family, their future.

Child brides are also less likely to finish their education and are at higher risk for abuse, contracting HIV, and dying while pregnant or giving birth.

Refugee populations are particularly vulnerable to child marriage. Poverty, instability, and displacement pressure families into marrying off children, particularly young girls, at an early age.

For example, child marriage among Syrian refugees in Jordan increased from 15 percent in 2014 to 36 percent in 2018. One survey of Syrian refugees in Lebanon found that nearly a quarter of girls between 15 and 17 were married.

In Bangladesh, Rohingya refugees fleeing violence in Burma have reported marrying off young girls to protect them from sexual violence.

Stopping this cycle and ending illegal child marriage is critical to supporting refugees and empowering youth for a better future.

A number of U.N. agencies are doing important work to address child marriage among the populations they serve. For example, the U.N.'s Joint Program on Child Marriage, a joint effort between UNICEF and UNFPA, is gathering new data and evidence on this problem and helping to build resilience in vulnerable populations, including refugees.

But there is much more we can be doing, and this bill demonstrates American support for tackling this problem. It would require us to flex our muscles in the U.N. to come up with a comprehensive definition of child marriage. It would also require a new strategy to ensure that displaced populations have the protections and the tools to avoid illegal child marriage.

We want to empower young people to have a better future, and this bill will help us get at a problem that threatens far too many futures, so I am pleased to support this measure.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, first, I want to thank the author of this bill for her kind words.

As she pointed out, child marriage is a problem that befalls far too many young people around the world, especially among desperate families who, because of poverty or instability, feel they have no choice but to commit their children to marriage. Of course, when this happens, it starts another cycle of poverty and instability, of abuse and illness. It is just a tragedy.

This is one of those issues where we look at the situation and see a moral obligation to act. Dealing with this problem in our foreign policy is a reflection of our country's values, of our commitment to the rights and dignity of all people. This bill will help make sure our policy stays aligned with those values and that we are doing more to end the scourge of child marriage.

I again thank Representative Wagner for her work on this measure. I urge all Members to support it.

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

Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I recognize a dear friend and former long-time member of my staff, Ms. Cynthia Miller. Every Member of Congress knows they are only as good as the staff that surround them. I was very fortunate to have Cynthia standing with me for many years.

Cynthia was born in Harlem, New York but was raised in the Bronx. She attended schools in the Bronx and graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in 1971.

Cynthia's first job came in that same year, 1971, with Metropolitan Life, where she worked for 14 years. In 1973 she married Keith Miller and moved to Mount Vernon, New York. She then moved to Yonkers in 1981 to raise her three children, and she has been living there for the last 38 years.

I first got to know Cynthia some 24 years ago. She had been volunteering with Mary Gaines at the Nepperhan Community Center, dealing with children in the after-school program. With Mary's influence, I hired Cynthia as an Assistant Aide to help lead my team in Westchester.

Cynthia's work mainly focused on helping constituents with federal issues and problems. And help she did. Thousands of people over the course of two and a half decades were aided by Cynthia Miller, with problems ranging from immigration to Social Security and everything in between. In addition to her work in my office, Cynthia was also an active member in several community groups, including the Black Women's Political Caucus, Aquehung Women's Democratic Club and the Focus Group.

After recently retiring, Cynthia is now enjoying her volunteer work more than ever and loves traveling. This year, the Hudson River Community Association is honoring Cynthia at their annual Spring Dinner. Perhaps I'm a bit partial, but I don't believe they could have found a better honoree. Congratulations to Cynthia, and I thank her for her years of service to the community.

Madam Speaker, as a former resident of Co-op City for many years and an avid baseball fan, it is my pleasure to recognize the Co- op City Little League which this season will celebrate its remarkable 50th Anniversary.

Founded in 1969, Co-op City Little League has brought generations of families together for five decades, while providing children with great exercise and wonderful team building skills. In the early days, games were played at Pelham Bay Park, Haffen Field, and Seton Falls Park. In 1975, a plan was drawn up between New York City and the Co-op City manager, Riverbay Corporation, for the creation of the Co-op City Fields. The fields stand on the outskirts of the residential area, at the intersection of Co-op City Boulevard and Bellamy Loop, and consist of a pair of excellently maintained baseball diamonds. Both of the fenced fields contain dugouts and there is a walkway with bleachers, a small picnic area, and a comfort station for spectators.

Co-op City Little League began playing on the new fields several years after they were developed and have been going strong there ever since. The League has served as a launching pad for several professional players and has had over 25 District 22 champions over the years. In 1987, the District 22 championship team, coached by Bruce Lasky, made it all the way to the state championship game.

Madam Speaker, Co-op City Little League has been a staple in the community for almost as long as Co-op City has existed. Thousands of children and their families have enjoyed a day at the ballpark thanks to this wonderful, well run league, and I want to congratulate all involved on 50 great years. Here's to 50 more.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the Veterans of Foreign Wars James Daly Post 200 in Hastings-on-Hudson as they celebrate their 100th anniversary. Our veterans truly are our nation's greatest heroes. For a century now, Post 200 in Hastings has been an invaluable center and resource for veterans in my Congressional District, and has provided a strong sense of community for its members.

Post 200's exemplary commitment to veterans and the community is truly inspiring. Their annual Memorial Day parade in Hastings is a staple of the community that year after year does a beautiful job of honoring our service members. The event brings veterans, friends, families, and community members together from across my district to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.

Members of James Daly Post 200 risked their lives to serve our country overseas. I am thankful for their service, and the vital role Post 200 plays in connecting veterans throughout my district. It is my absolute honor to commemorate their centennial anniversary.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2116) to enhance stabilization of conflict-affected areas and prevent violence and fragility globally, and for other purposes.

Madam 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 H.R. 2116.

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

Madam Speaker, on the Foreign Affairs Committee, we focus a great deal on the importance of diplomacy and development as pillars of American foreign policy. The reason why we to do this is simple: diplomacy and development advance our interests and values in a way that saves lives, that prevents war, that stops crises before they start, and helps stabilize countries where conflicts have occurred.

These efforts strengthen old friendships and build new bridges of understanding with people and cultures and governments throughout the world.

We will always need a strong military, but sending our servicemembers

into harm's way should, likewise, always be a measure of last resort. So, on our committee, we look for ways to make our diplomacy and development more effective. We try to give our diplomats and development experts the tools and resources they need to carry out their critical work.

Today, the House is taking up six bills aimed at doing just that. The first is a bill of mine that I am glad is moving forward.

Let me thank our ranking member, my friend, Mr. McCaul of Texas, for joining as a cosponsor. This legislation gets at the heart of what we want to see from our diplomatic and development efforts around the world: helping places already torn apart by violence to recover and preventing the start of violence in other places where factors are ripe for its outbreak.

Over the past two decades, we have learned a great deal about what drives violence and instability in what are called fragile states. We know that it takes clearly defined goals and strategies. We know that it takes strong, sustained investment over the long term. We know that it takes serious research and analysis. And we know that it takes agencies across government working together toward the same goals.

This bill takes all that knowledge and establishes an overarching policy framework for the United States Government. It will help ensure that our government is working in lockstep to prevent violence and extremism and that we are working closely with civil society groups to assess internal and external drivers of instability, to implement these initiatives on the ground, and to constantly monitor and evaluate the work.

This bill takes into account the fact that no two countries are alike. Some will be willing partners in this work; others will require more rigorous engagement to get them on board. For this reason, the bill requires the selection of priority countries and regions based on a number of indicators, such as the challenges at hand and the commitments of respective governments.

The bill also establishes and authorizes the Stabilization and Prevention Fund and authorizes the Complex Crises Fund for the next 5 years, important steps in making sure this initiative has the resources needed for success.

This bill will make a real difference in the lives of some of the world's most vulnerable people and communities, and it will do so in a way that serves U.S. interests.

The United States must get ahead of the extremist threat if we want to ensure our own security. This bill helps us to do just that. I ask for the support of all Members to pass this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, the United States works to prevent and stop violence when we help to build stronger, more secure communities around the world; when we try to make the most vulnerable regions more stable and prosperous, we are improving the lives of large numbers of people. We are also advancing our own interests by eliminating the root causes that allow extremism to fester and drive threats to our own security.

That is the aim of my bill. That is the aim of this bill we are considering today. It is a smart approach to a serious foreign policy challenge.

The House passed it in the last Congress. I hope the other body will take it up soon so we can get it to the President's desk.

Madam Speaker, I again thank the ranking member, Mr. McCaul.

Policies like this should always be bipartisan. As I always stress, as does Mr. McCaul, we try to work in a bipartisan way on the House Foreign Affairs Committee because, after all, the work we are doing is work for all Americans. It helps all Americans. It helps our great Nation.

So I again want to thank the ranking member, Mr. McCaul. I ask all Members to support this effort, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 615) to provide women and girls safe access to sanitation facilities in refugee camps.

Madam 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 H.R. 615, the Refugee Sanitation Facility Safety Act 2019.

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

Madam Speaker, first of all, I want to thank Ms. Meng and Mr. Zeldin for authoring this important bipartisan measure.

We are facing a devastating refugee crisis around the world right now. Over 25 million people are currently refugees having fled from violence, conflict, and crisis. Many of these people are now living in refugee camps.

And let me be clear, we need a foreign policy that addresses the root causes of this crisis.

So I am pleased we just considered my Global Fragility bill, which works to prevent the kind of conflict and instability that leads to these refugee crises.

The United States also needs to open its doors to more of these families who have fled violence in search of a better life. America should be leading the world to help in relocating these displaced people, so they can find new homes and start anew.

And we need to make sure that when people are living in refugee camps, they are cared for and treated with dignity.

Sadly, far too many women and girls in these camps face danger right now. Bathrooms and shower facilities have often become dangerous places with predators taking advantage of poor lighting to stage attacks.

After facing the trauma of being driven from their homes, women and girls in refugee camps should not have to worry about being sexually assaulted, period.

We need to do what we can to make sure that refugee camps have safe, accessible sanitation facilities for everyone. So I am pleased that we are considering legislation today that works to do just that.

Madam Speaker, with H.R. 615, the State Department, when providing overseas assistance for refugees, will seek to ensure safe access to sanitation facilities, especially for those most vulnerable.

Madam Speaker, this is a good bipartisan bill. I am proud to support it, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, in closing, let me say that we are facing a refugee crisis around the world. Wars, violence, instability--millions of people have fled their homes in search of safety.

We need to do what we can to help these people find new homes and start anew. And while they are living in temporary refugee camps, we need to make sure they have the tools to stay safe and healthy.

The Refugee Sanitation Facility Safety Act of 2019 provides refugee women and girls with safe access to sanitation facilities.

This is one clear, straightforward way we can help those most vulnerable people. It is a good, commonsense bill; I am pleased to support it. And I thank Mr. McCaul as well for his support.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1359) to promote Internet access in developing countries and update foreign policy toward the Internet, and for other purposes.

Madam 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 H.R. 1359.

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

Madam Speaker, when we talk about our development efforts around the world, we often focus on very big concepts, promoting democracy and human rights, making governments more open and accountable, expanding economic opportunity.

Those are, of course, very important ideas, and we need to keep those big-picture goals in mind. But we also need to be working constantly to develop the specific day-to-day tools and efforts that will help us advance towards those goals.

In the 21st century, a lot of those tools have to do with technology. Think of the way the internet has changed the global economy; the way technology has improved communication; the sharing of information; the ability of people to participate in worldwide markets and conversations.

Now, think of the fact that 4 billion people around the developing world do not have access to the internet; think of the untapped potential, the number of people who cannot participate in a constantly expanding online marketplace of goods and services and ideas.

The number of people with stories to tell, whether they are about life in remote communities or the corruption of a repressive government, but who cannot get their hands on the modern-day tools we use to communicate with one another; the number of people who cannot get information about a new opportunity or an impending disaster because they don't have a laptop or a smart phone.

As technology continues to rush forward in so many aspects of modern life, unfortunately, far too many people are being left behind. This bill aims to help close that so-called digital gap.

This legislation would push the State Department, USAID, the Peace Corps, and American representatives in international bodies to incorporate internet access into development planning.

There are a number of ways we want to do this:

Through diplomacy, advising other governments to prioritize this issue; through development, by incorporating this priority into our work on the ground, especially with respect to women, minorities, and other marginalized groups; and in the international and multilateral groups conducting assessments and evaluations of development progress, we want to see access to the internet as an important goal and metric.

This legislation builds on our country's longstanding leadership role in this area.

Let's not forget, the United States created and advanced the internet in the first place, and Congress has been working on this for decades, starting with the High Performance Computing Act of 1991, which is credited for helping create the first internet browser.

It is an important legacy to build on. And it coincides with an important foreign policy goal.

So I want to thank Mr. Wright of Texas, this bill's author, along with

Ranking Member McCaul and Representatives Lieu and Bera, two able members of the Foreign Affairs Committee for their hard work.

I am glad to support this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, the internet is an incredible tool that has shaped the world in the last generation.

It allows entrepreneurs in emerging markets to sell their products in global markets. It allows citizens and journalists living under oppressive regimes or in war zones to get information out to the world.

This bill will establish that our foreign policy is to help advance these positive developments.

I urge its passage. It passed the House in the last Congress, and I hope the other body will take it up soon.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5, the Equality Act.

Currently, it is legal to fire an individual, prevent access to credit, and even deny or evict someone from their home just because they are LGBTQ.

The Equality Act will guarantee Federal protections by ensuring the LGBTQ community is provided full protections under Federal civil rights laws. No longer will our fellow Americans be deprived from buying a home, fired from their job, or denied a meal in a restaurant just because of who they are.

I am as pleased to help pass this landmark bill today as I was back in 1996 when I voted against the discriminatory DOMA, or, so-called, Defense of Marriage Act.

I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor an extraordinary Albanian- American family and my constituents, the Bajraktaris, and their journey of struggles and triumphs. Long before they came to the United States, this family earned its place in history books with acts of great bravery and generosity. The Bajraktaris originally hail from their hometown of Vranoc, located on the outside of Peja, a city in Kosova. Throughout history, they were locally recognized leaders who led more than 40 villages in the struggle for the freedom of Kosova.

Empires came and went, but the Bajraktaris remained. Their famous family towers and homes were burned down at least five times by various groups such as the Ottomans, the Serbs, the Montenegrins, the Fascists, the Nazis and then by the Communists. Each time they stood up to the invaders, chased them out, and rebuilt their communities. They were proud of their freedom, their Albanian heritage and tradition, and they were proud defenders of their homeland.

This is the context in which, Harry Bajraktari, a well-known Albanian-American leader, was born and grew up. Throughout his life, Harry was inspired by the stories of struggle for the survival of the Albanian nation and the perseverance of his ancestors.

In 1969, the life of his family reached a turning point. Facing political oppression by the Yugoslav government and economic hardship, his parents, Mete and Ziza Bajraktari, decided to journey to the United States of America, together with their four children, including Harry, and his siblings, Nurija, Litafete and Hateme.

They traveled by train to Italy, where they applied for political asylum in the United States. After nine months away from home, their application was approved, and on February 24, 1970, the Bajraktari family arrived in New York. They had no money and spoke no English. Through their new community, they found help from other families and friends who had previously immigrated to the United States. At the beginning, they lived at the home of Musli and Hysen Mulosmani and their family, who hosted them with generosity in The Bronx, NY.

Over the last 50 years, I can personally attest that the Bajraktari family have achieved the American Dream. They have been hard-working and dedicated, and they have made the most of the opportunities that their new homeland has had to offer. Still, like many immigrants, life was not easy. Mete Bajraktari worked as a maintenance worker during the day and his wife Ziza as a janitor during the night. Through sacrifice and determination, Mete and Ziza strived to give their children a chance for a better life.

Their sacrifices soon paid off. At the early age of 20, my good friend, Harry Bajraktari, exhibited extraordinary entrepreneurial skills and spirit, when he began to purchase real estate in The Bronx. Alongside his uncle, Rrustem Gecaj, they founded Bajraktari Realty and, in the following decades, expanded their business ventures throughout New York and Kosova.

Harry's entrepreneurial achievements had a major impact that extended well beyond the reach of the Bajraktari family. His accomplishments contributed to the revival in the Bronx and, in turn, made it possible for him to help an abundance of people in need. Bajraktari Realty's success created jobs and stimulated growth for other businesses around his properties, ranging from real estate, restaurants, and more. Once again, the Bajraktari family legacy brought real change to the lives of people in their community.

Though the family was experiencing success in their new home, they never forgot the people and the country they left behind. Their birthplace, Kosova, descended into dark times under the oppression of the Serbian strongman, Slobodan Milosevic. At the same time, and for over 50 years, Albania was under the iron fist of communist dictator, Enver Hoxha. The Bajraktari family answered the call to help their homeland and began to mobilize the people of Kosova and Albania.

Harry Bajraktari soon became an Albanian-American community leader and worked hard to educate politicians, diplomats, and experts on the issue of Kosova and Albania.

The Kosovar crisis was part of the larger Yugoslavian implosion, with genocide and massive war crimes ravaging the now-dissolved country. With waves of refugees and a spreading instability in southern Europe, it was clear that American leadership was desperately needed.

Fortunately, the cause for Kosovar independence found broad bipartisan support in Congress and throughout the country. With Harry's guidance, I helped found the bipartisan Albanian Issues Caucus more than 25 years ago. I'll never forget traveling to Kosova in 1996 with Harry and raising the American flag at the opening of the United States Information Agency office in Kosova's capital, Prishtina.

Through his efforts fighting for freedom in Kosova, Harry and many of his friends in the Albanian American community came to know and work closely with leaders in the Senate and House. Across the American political spectrum, Harry led his community in meetings with key leaders, including Senator Bob Dole, Vice President Biden, Mitch McConnell, Alfonse D'Amato, Tom Lantos, Susan Molinari, and many others.

In his advocacy for independence in Kosova and democracy in Albania, Harry Bajraktari contributed to community organizations, wrote-op-eds, met with American and international officials, testified in the U.S. Congress and spoke at many rallies. In 1991, he founded Illyria, a modern and professional Albanian-American newspaper. Based in New York, it had subscribers throughout the United States and overseas. To this day, Illyria remains a voice for Albanian-Americans and continues to inform the community and the American people.

In 1992, President George H.W. Bush issued what is known as the Christmas Warning to Milosevic, threatening military intervention if Serbia provoked a war in Kosova. In March 1999, after Belgrade's tanks rolled into Kosova, President Bill Clinton fulfilled that promise, and the United States led NATO in war against Yugoslavia. They stopped a humanitarian catastrophe and the ethnic cleansing of more than a million Albanians, and liberated Kosova.

This represented the end of the wars of Milosevic's Balkan wars and, one year later, he fell from power, ushering in a new era of relative peace and stability in the region. In 2008, Kosova became the newest independent country in Europe with the support and the recognition of the United States. It is now recognized by more than 110 nations.

Harry Bajraktari followed the example of other great Albanian- American leaders of the early 20th century like Bishop Fan Noli and Ambassador Faik Konitza, who worked to forge the special relationship and historic friendship between ethnic Albanians and the United States of America. He was also inspired by a great Albanian American leader in business and politics, Anthony Athanas, in Boston.

Harry and many others from such states as New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, Texas, Illinois, Michigan and other states worked together and became instrumental in making the voice of Albanian Americans heard in Washington. They founded the National Albanian American Council, which was the leading Albanian American organization in Washington, D.C. for many years.

Although Mete Bajraktari passed away in 1998 and did not live to see his dream of a free and independent Kosova come true, his family continues remember him as they continue to fight for their homeland. Today, a major shopping center in Peja is dedicated to him, fifty years after he fled Belgrade's oppression. That shopping center stands strong in the heart of the city and I am honored that a street in my name borders that facility.

For his great work in support of Kosova's independence, advocacy for democracy in Albania, and human rights throughout the Balkans, Harry Bajraktari has been recognized with the highest medals and honors. These awards are high honors from the President of Kosova, the President of Albania and recognition from the White House. When the story of Kosova is finally told, let us always recall the commitment of Harry Bajraktari and his family.

Here in the United States, Harry Bajraktari is recognized for his support for humanitarian and community initiatives. He and his family are proud, patriotic, Americans with a deep gratitude for what their new home, the United States, has given to them, and, in exchange, their hard work and success has made New York and this country a better place to live.

When they arrived on these shores, the Bajraktaris were only six people. A seventh, the youngest sibling, Miftar, was born during that first year in America. Today, Harry Bajraktari is the proud father of four children and has eight grandchildren. His sister, Nurije (Bajraktari) Osmani has four children and three grandchildren. Litafete (Bajraktari) Gega has four children and one grandchild. Hateme (Bajraktari) Nezaj has three children. Miftar Bajraktari has three children.

Mete and Ziza have passed away, but their memory lives with their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. The continued story of the Bajraktari family will live on as a singular example of achieving the American dream. And today, their vision has become a reality, and their promises have been fulfilled. Harry has told me on many occasions his family's journey to America and the opportunities afforded to them through this journey was worth their many sacrifices. These are the kind of stories and people that add depth and humanity to our country's rich heritage. And, for myself, I am proud to call Harry Bajraktari and his family close personal friends and to honor the 50th anniversary of their arrival in the United States.

Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I recognize an institution that has helped children and families in my district for an astonishing 120 years, the New Rochelle YMCA.

On January 15, 1899 a group of New Rochelleans gathered at 56 Woodland Ave. in New Rochelle to discuss the possibility of creating a YMCA. On February 3, 1899 the New Rochelle YMCA received its article of incorporation.

The original home of the Y was located at 480-482 Main Street where a building committee was established to create a permanent home. Twenty- six years later the YMCA purchased the Hendricks property at the comer of Division St. and Burling Lane (now Memorial Highway) and began raising money to build a new site. Fallowing the economic uncertainty of the stock market crash, the new building was completed in 1931.

A true charitable organization, the Y was involved with the soldiers at Fort Slocum during both world wars, providing them with room and board while on leave from their base, as well as providing room for the American Red Cross. Several local community organizations used the Y facility as meeting halls for their respective groups. Over the years the Y provided many programs for the New Rochelle community, with the pool being the most popular feature and by 1939 had a membership of over 2,200 people. Over the years, the Y developed a rich history in diversity.

In the 1980's they moved into its current home on 50 Weyman Avenue, a space it shared with the Boys and Girls Club.

The YMCA's presence in the community has continued to increase over the last ten years, as the focus of the Y shifted from a ``swim and gym club'' to a community based charitable organization, which offers affordable programs, in addition to providing financial aid for children and families in need. Currently the YMCA serves close to 5,000 members, with a great majority of seniors and children. The YMCA has developed a Universal Pre-K program in partnership with the New Rochelle school district.

The New Rochelle YMCA has served the community for 120 years. On the occasion of their anniversary, I'd like to congratulate and thank their entire team for all they have done.

Madam Speaker, I want to take a moment to recognize April as National Arab American Heritage Month, a time to honor all of the incredible achievements the Arab American community has made here in America.

For over a century, Arab Americans have been making valuable contributions to virtually every aspect of American society: in medicine, law, business, education, technology, government, military service, and culture. Since migrating to America, men and women of Arab descent have shared their rich culture and traditions with neighbors and friends, while also setting fine examples of model citizens and public servants. They brought with them their resilient family values, strong work ethic, dedication to education, and diversity in faith and creed that have added strength to our great democracy. Arab Americans have also enriched our society by sharing in the entrepreneurial American spirit that makes our nation free and prosperous.

Unfortunately, the history of Arab Americans in the U.S. has been marred by misconceptions, bigotry, and anti-Arab hate speech and violence. As such, Arab American concerns, such as civil rights violations, harmful stereotyping, and bullying must be combatted through education, awareness, and, if necessary our criminal justice system. We must all join together to see a peaceful and diverse

society, where every individual is treated equally and feels safe.

Madam Speaker, the substantial contributions and rich cultural heritage of Arab Americans have helped us build a better, stronger nation for everyone. As someone who represents a significant Arab American population in my district, I am honored to help celebrate and recognize National Arab American Heritage Month here in Congress.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of a remarkable milestone reached by a wonderful constituent in my district. On May 8, 2019 we will celebrate the 100th birthday of Ms. Ethel Mae McCullum. It is my distinct honor to help celebrate the occasion.

Ethel was born in Dunn, North Carolina to her parents Slona Streeter and Grant Bullard Streeter. She had two siblings, John Streeter and Beulah Lee. For 23 years, Ethel worked for the State of New York, and for 33 years she has been a resident of Tilden Towers II in the Bronx.

Ethel was always very involved with Tilden Towers II, working diligently with the Board for decades. But she was also involved in a host of other organizations. She is a lifetime member of the local chapter of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), participating in many of the group's fundraisers, annual luncheons, and other events. She is also a longtime member of Abyssinian Baptist Church--over 80 years to be precise--and her first ever Pastor was Rev. Adam Clayton Powell III.

Ethel's stories about growing up in rural North Carolina have always been a hit with the seniors living in the community. Her personality is, and always has been, loving and caring to all she encounters, and it shows.

Many people refer to Ethel as ``everyone's Nana.'' And while she is beloved by all, she is

in actuality the matriarch of an astounding 5 generations. Ethel loves her family deeply, and always made sure to send every one of her grandchildren and great grandchildren cards on their birthdays.

Madam Speaker, it's hard to put into words what Ethel Mae McCullum has meant to our community. Everyone knows what a warm and caring individual she is, and everyone knows just how many lives she has touched. 100 years is a remarkable milestone, and Ethel is an equally remarkable person. On this very special occasion, I want to congratulate Ethel and personally send her my warmest wishes.

Madam Speaker, I read from the Mueller report, volume II, page 107: ``At some point after the May 17, 2017, appointment of the special counsel, then-Attorney General Sessions recalled, the President called him at home and asked if Sessions would `unrecuse' himself. According to Sessions, the President asked him to reverse his recusal so that Sessions could direct the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute Hillary Clinton, and the `gist' of the conversation was that the President wanted Sessions to unrecuse from `all of it,' including the special counsel's Russia investigation.''

Again, the Mueller report, volume II, page 107.

Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding. On behalf of both the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee, we support this amendment. It is a good amendment.

I also thank the gentleman for working with the committees on this amendment.

Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman from Texas for yielding to me.

On behalf of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee, we support this amendment. It is a good amendment, and I thank the gentlewoman for working with the committees on the amendment.

Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding to me. Let me say, with pleasure, on behalf of the Foreign Affairs Committee and also the Energy and Commerce Committee, we support this amendment. It is a good amendment, and I thank the gentlewoman for working with the committees on this amendment.

Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding to me.

Let me say with pleasure, on behalf of the Foreign Affairs Committee and also the Energy and Commerce Committee, I support this amendment. It is a good amendment, and I want to thank the gentlewoman for working with the committee on this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I want to, first of all, thank the gentleman for yielding and say unequivocally, on behalf of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee, we, both committees, support this very good amendment. I also want to thank the gentleman for working with the committees on this amendment.

Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding and say, on behalf of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee, we support this amendment.

New York, which is just up from New Jersey, also suffered tremendously from Superstorm Sandy. In fact, a lot of the repairs that we are doing now to the New York City subway are a direct result of that, so I certainly appreciate the gentleman's words and concern.

This is a good amendment, and I thank the gentleman for working with the committees on this amendment.

Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me and want to gladly say, on behalf of the Foreign Affairs Committee and also the Energy and Commerce Committee, we support this amendment.

It is a very good amendment, an important amendment. I thank the gentleman for working with the committees on this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, I am happy to say that on behalf of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee we support this amendment. It is a very good amendment. I also thank the gentleman for working with our committees on this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, as the designee of the gentleman from California (Mr. Cox), I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I want to say very strongly that on behalf of the Foreign Affairs Committee and also the Energy and Commerce Committee, we support this amendment. It is a very good amendment.

The Paris Agreement, signed in 2015, is the first truly universal agreement among nations to tackle climate change. Rarely is there consensus among nearly all nations on a single topic. But with the Paris Agreement, leaders from around the world collectively agreed that climate change is driven by human behavior, that it is a threat to the environment and all of humanity, and that global action is needed to stop it.

It also created a clear framework for all countries to make emission reduction commitments. At present, 197 countries--every nation on Earth, with the last signatory being war-torn Syria--have adopted the Paris Agreement. This agreement includes a series of mandatory measures for the monitoring, verification, and public reporting of progress towards a country's emission reduction targets.

The emission reduction targets themselves are voluntary. Each nation sets their own, respectful of national sovereignty, and there is no penalty for missing the targets. The idea is to create a culture of accountability and maybe some peer pressure to get countries to reduce emissions.

Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Cox), the author of this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.