Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of James ``Jim'' Vincent McGrail, IV. We lost Jim on April 29, 2018, one day shy of his 64th birthday. Jim lived in

the Bay Area his entire life, and he worked tirelessly to serve his community.

Jim grew up in San Lorenzo, California, and he attended San Lorenzo High School. Following graduation, Jim began serving his community with the Alameda County Sheriff's Office. In 1976, Jim became a deputy sheriff and spent 14 years protecting and serving our community.

During his time with the Sheriff's Office, he was promoted to sergeant and was assigned to the Santa Rita Jail, Regional Training Center, the Eden Township Substation Patrol and the Detective Division.

While Jim successfully investigated multiple homicide cases during his tenure with the Sheriff's Office, he also was busy furthering his own education. Jim earned a bachelor's degree from the University of San Francisco and a law degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Law. Upon passing the California Bar, Jim left law enforcement to pursue a career as a prosecutor with the Alameda County District Attorney's Office. He served as a prosecutor for two years before opening his own law practice in Livermore, California.

Even after moving to private law practice, Jim continued to give back to his community through his work on the Alameda County Fair Board, Livermore Rodeo Foundation Board, as the Vice President of Zone 7 Water Agency, and at his family winery, McGrail Vineyards. When four Oakland police officers were killed in 2009, Jim named his most popular wine after them and donated proceeds from every sale in their honor.

Throughout his career Jim was dedicated to serving Alameda County. I am grateful to have known Jim, and his legacy of kindness and service is survived by his wife Ginger, his daughters, Heather and Shannon, and his son, Alameda County Sheriff's Office Captain James McGrail. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, and he will forever be remembered for his invaluable contributions to our community.

Mr. Speaker, I missed votes on April 24. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: Roll Call Vote Number 148 (Passage of H. Con Res. 111): YES; Roll Call Vote Number 149 (Passage of H.R. 5086, the Innovators to Entrepreneurs Act of 2018):

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Dublin Vice Mayor Don Biddle. We lost Don on February 21, 2018 at the age of 80. Don lived in the city of Dublin, California for 44 years and worked tirelessly to serve his community.

After serving four years on the Dublin Planning Commission, Don was appointed as a member of the Dublin City Council in 2008 and retained his seat in subsequent elections. It was my privilege to serve alongside Don on the City Council from 2010 to 2013. His colleagues repeatedly recognized Don's character and commitment by nominating him to serve as Vice Mayor on multiple occasions.

His achievements as a city councilmember received national acclaim. One of Don's proudest achievements was the redevelopment of the former federal housing project, Arroyo Vista, into the region's largest mixed- income housing development, Emerald Vista. He was a consistent champion of affordable housing who also worked to develop an apartment complex tailored to the needs of active military members, veterans, and their families. Don's leadership led Dublin to be named an ``All American City'' while he was on city council.

Don also was steadfast in his commitment to children, serving as a school board trustee for 12 years. As a trustee, he was instrumental in the creation of the Dublin Unified School District and was a leader in the rebuilding and improvement of the city's aging schools. Beyond the school board, he remained passionate about education, serving the Dublin Partners in Education for nearly two decades, including as president and board member.

Don served as an active representative of the Dublin community, on a variety of commissions throughout Alameda County. Additionally, Don supported the growth of non-profit organizations within Dublin such as the School of Imagination, Dublin Rotary Club, Dublin Integrity in Action, the YMCA, the American Cancer Society, and Hope Hospice.

Throughout his life, Don selflessly served the greater Tri-Valley community. I am grateful to have known Don Biddle, and he has left behind an unforgettable legacy of kindness, charity and service. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, and he will forever be remembered for his invaluable contributions to the community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ricky Le, who just concluded over five years as my chief of staff.

Ricky's story is truly an inspirational and American one. He was just four years old when his family fled communist Vietnam as refugees in a raft and came to the United States, seeking freedom and opportunity.

Ricky grew up in San Jose, California, raised by his parents Tan Xuan Le and Kim Phi Luu. With the help of a local mentor, he was the first in his family to go to college. With the help of scholarships and grants, he graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz. As someone appreciative of the opportunities he was offered by our country, Ricky has devoted his career to public service.

He began by serving as an intern for my California colleague, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, before assuming the role of scheduler and staff assistant. Following a break to earn a law degree from Santa Clara University School of Law, Ricky went back to Congresswoman Lofgren's office as a policy advisor and eventually deputy chief of staff. He also worked for her on the House Administration Committee and as executive director of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation.

His wealth of congressional experience, knowledge of California, and policy expertise is why I was grateful when Ricky agreed to be my chief of staff when I was first elected to Congress in 2012. He is believed to be the first Vietnamese American congressional chief of staff and has served as a mentor to dozens of congressional staffers from the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.

Ricky did a remarkable job in setting up my office. He assembled a great team, provided able counsel to me on the innerworkings of the House, and strived tirelessly to

help fulfill my vision of bringing new energy and ideas to Congress.

For over five years Ricky has continued that great work. Day or night he has always been there to see that I am doing the best job I can to represent the East Bay. The residents of the Fifteenth Congressional District and I will be forever indebted for his service.

On a personal level, I have come to deeply value Ricky's friendship. My staff and I will truly miss his presence in our office.

I know I speak for all of us as I wish Ricky all the best as he takes on his next challenge.

Mr. Speaker, in this Chamber last week, the President came and touted that the stock market was roaring and the unemployment rate was down. Today, he called us traitors for not applauding those numbers.

A couple of days later, Speaker Ryan said a secretary at a public high school noticed that her pay had gone up $1.50 a week because of the GOP tax cuts.

Mr. Speaker, the economy is not the stock market. It is not the unemployment rate. It is us. It is how we are doing. The stock market only matters if you are able to invest in it; and the unemployment rate only counts if you have a job you can count on, where your paycheck grows and you can plan for retirement and save for a better future.

Mr. Speaker, the measurement of the economy is how we are doing. If you are only getting six quarters from a tax cut that gives millions to the richest among us, you are not doing very well. You deserve a much better deal.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Pleasanton resident Edwin Hawkins on the occasion of his passing on January 15, 2018.

Edwin was born and raised in Oakland, California, and began his musical performances early in life, performing on the keyboard in local church groups. In 1967, he helped co-found the Northern California State Youth Choir with his friend Betty Watson.

In 1968, as part of a fundraising effort for the Youth Choir to attend a competition in Southern California, Edwin composed, and led the Edwin Hawkins Singers in recording, Let Us Go into the House of the Lord, the album that included his first musical hit, ``Oh, Happy Day.'' That song won a Grammy for Best Soul Gospel Performance in 1970, having reached a top-5 spot on both the Billboard pop and R&B charts the year before, and helped launch Edwin's national career.

Edwin would continue to compose and record gospel music, often pushing the limits of the genre by incorporating elements of other styles, including rap, into his music. ``To My Father's House,'' ``Give Me a Star,'' and the Grammy-winning hits ``Every Man Wants to Be Free'' and ``Wonderful!'' are among his many later works. Edwin also toured around the world, including with his late brother Wayne Hawkins, and he was voted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame in 2007.

Many artists would come to reference Edwin and his works as inspiration for their own performances. ``Oh, Happy Day'' was recorded by numerous singers, including Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley, and Johnny Mathis, and George Harrison said it was the inspiration for his work ``My Sweet Lord.'' Edwin also sponsored the Edwin Hawkins Music and Arts Seminar to teach music business practices to new artists.

Services in celebration of his life will be held on February 6 and 7 at the Harbor Light Church in Fremont, California. In keeping with Edwin's altruistic legacy, the Hawkins family has asked that donations be made to the Music and Arts Seminar in lieu of flowers.

Edwin's contribution to the musical world was truly extraordinary. I want to acknowledge him for his remarkable work and pass along my condolences to his family and friends.

Mr. Speaker, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi as well as Representatives Mark DeSaulnier, Anna Eshoo, John Garamendi, Jared Huffman, Ro Khanna, Barbara Lee, Zoe Lofgren, Jerry McNerney, Jackie Speier, Mike Thompson, and I rise to recognize Ronn Owens for his lifetime of service to the San Francisco Bay Area as a radio journalist of the highest caliber.

Ronn, a resident of San Francisco, launched his daily radio talk show on KGO 810 in 1975. He has covered everything from politics to pop culture, and his show has been called the ``ultimate town hall meeting.'' He became known as a voice of reason, balancing

issues so that listeners can make up their own minds. In an era of divisiveness and shock radio, Ronn gave listeners a space in which both sides could be heard and have productive discussions.

His thousands of guests have included Presidents Barack Obama and Jimmy Carter, Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, Gov. Jerry Brown, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Steve Martin, John Oliver, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Martin Short, Sam Donaldson, Bill Maher, Condoleezza Rice, Madeleine Albright, Benjamin Netanyahu, John McCain, Joe Montana, Tony Bennett and Willie Mays.

Ronn has won numerous awards over the years and was inducted into the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame in December 2007 and the National Radio Hall of Fame in Chicago in 2015. The National Association of Broadcasters presented him with the prestigious Marconi Award for Major Market Personality of the Year Award in 2003 and again in 2010.

Talkers Magazine named Ronn one of the Top 25 Greatest Radio Talk Show Hosts of All Time, ranking him 13th and the top local personality in the country. His book, ``Voice of Reason: Why the Left and Right are Wrong,'' was published in 2004.

By bringing newsmakers into his studio in a friendly but probing way, Ronn Owens has vastly enriched the Bay Area's knowledge and culture for more than four decades. His incisive analysis has helped generations of Californians and online listeners around the globe better understand and enjoy the world around them.

It was my great honor to be the guest during his last full show on Friday, January 12. He will continue on the air with a 10-minute ``Ronn Owens Report'' each weekday.

We congratulate Ronn on his fine work and many accomplishments, and we wish him the very best with his newest endeavor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Noah McMoyler of Dublin, California, for his amazing talent and unwavering determination that led to his recent selection and performances as a contestant on NBC's ``The Voice.''

Better known by his stage name, ``Noah Mac,'' this Dublin High School senior is truly a self-taught musician, though he got his start in the most heartbreaking way. When Noah was seven years old, his 19-year-old sister, Stevie--a big inspiration to him--lost her battle with brain cancer. Stevie loved music, which inspired Noah to sing one of her favorite songs at her funeral. He shocked his family and friends with the clarity and quality of his voice.

In the years that followed, Noah spent a great deal of his time teaching himself piano, guitar, and drums, and writing and recording music in a studio he built himself in his family's backyard shed.

Noah quickly gained local attention after his performances at local cafes and school talent shows, and he also starred as Benny in Dublin High School's successful 2016 production of Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical ``In the Heights.''

In 2017, Noah released his first EP, ``Light,'' and months later, his blind audition for ``The Voice'' blew the judges away.

With performances of songs including ``In the Air Tonight,'' ``Hold Back the River,'' ``Speed of Sound'' and ``Ordinary World,'' Noah warmed the nation's heart and made his family, friends and neighbors extremely proud.

Noah, now 18, describes his passion for the musical process: waking up with a melody in his head, writing lyrics, composing, arranging, and bringing the song to life in production. For him, he says, every song is like a unique painting full of color and meaning.

Noah's unrelenting drive and the beautiful music he creates are an inspiration to his fellow students, his neighbors in our 15th Congressional District, and now to the entire nation.

I am honored to count Noah among my constituents, and I wish him even bigger successes in the future.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am opposed.

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

My amendment would add an additional certification requirement from the Treasury Secretary for financial institutions.

Mr. Speaker, I agree with my colleagues across the aisle. Iran is a threat to our national security, and we should seek to hold them accountable, protect Americans, and defend our allies. The first major step in the last decade to do so was with the Iran nuclear agreement taking a nuclear power off the table. But we should also seek to hold accountable Iran's chief enabler and best friend in the world, Russia, which my amendment will seek to do.

My amendment would add a requirement that the Treasury Secretary certify that an institution financing the export of commercial aircraft to Iran did not engage in business with any foreign entity which engaged in or authorized cyber attacks targeting American elections. This is a commonsense provision to ensure that companies are aware of the effects their financial dealings have on supporting those who engage in election interference.

We should think carefully about letting financial institutions do business with countries that choose to conduct this new cyber warfare. While it may have been unthinkable before 2016 that a foreign adversary would interfere in one of our elections, we know now that the threat is all too real.

Our intelligence community concluded that Russia interfered in our 2016 elections; and it also concluded that this was ordered by President Vladimir Putin, with the goal of helping its preferred candidate, Donald Trump. Why this is something that the President and some of my colleagues across the aisle still question is beyond shocking. It is also a slap in the face of the dedicated men and women who serve and toil for our intelligence communities.

The 2016 election, Mr. Speaker, is behind us. We shouldn't relitigate it. We should learn, though, from how a foreign adversary, a friend of Iran, sought to influence the American voter. This is not a Democratic Party or Republican Party issue. It is about our freedom of choice: who gets to choose when we go to the ballot box.

Iran is not our friend. Guess who else is not our friend? Iran's friend Russia. But if you don't believe me, if you are cynical enough, as the President is, to dismiss the findings of our intelligence community, then believe the Russians. Believe their own declarations.

In September, a Duma parliament member, Nikonov Vyacheslav, stated that the United States intelligence community slept while Russia elected a new United States President of the United States.

Does anyone in this House want to do something about that?

In this attack, did Russia work with the Trump campaign?

That is a serious question that remains outstanding. Every day seems to bring new revelations about the connections between the Trump campaign and Russia. We must do all we can to allow Bob Mueller and his team to pursue that evidence unimpeded by Presidential obstruction.

We also must be able to conduct our investigations on the House Intelligence Committee to do all we can to get to the bottom, to tell the American people how we were so vulnerable, who in the United States was responsible, whether the U.S. Government response was adequate, and what we can do to make sure it never happens again.

I fear, Mr. Speaker, that the President and many of his own enablers in Congress are seeking to fire Bob Mueller, which would set us back and greatly affect our ability to prevent another attack by Russia. But what we can do with this amendment today is not only stand up to Iran, but also stand up to their chief enabler, someone who finances them and assists the terror that they enact across the globe.

Vote for this motion to recommit, and, by doing so, Members will show their concern not only about Iran, but also about their chief enabler. Members will show their concern for our democracy and the interference that Iran's best friend, Russia, carried out in our last election.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, along with my colleague, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, I rise to recognize Si Si Han in celebration of her life.

Si Si was born in Burma on November 16, 1971. She came to the United States in 2002 when she married her husband, Ryan Saw. San Lorenzo would eventually become home for Si Si, Ryan, and their 10-year old daughter, Ashly.

Si Si worked for Caltrans for more than 10 years. Members of the Cal Trans team who worked with Si Si closely said that, rain or shine, she always had a smile on her face.

Early in the morning on December 2, 2017, Si Si was collecting tolls on the eastern span of the Bay Bridge. Only a few minutes into her shift, a box truck collided with the toll booth in which Si Si was working, killing her.

Si Si was not scheduled to work that morning, but she was always willing to help out when needed. Si Si tried to work mornings often so that she had more time to spend with her family. Those closest to Si Si said that she worked tirelessly to provide her daughter with the best opportunities available.

Si Si was a dedicated mother, wife, and daughter. She was a valued friend and colleague among her Caltrans District 4 family as well. One colleague described Si Si as ``the light of the bridge.''

Today, we stand to honor the memory of Si Si Han. Her generosity and kindness will never be forgotten. We are grateful to have had Si Si as a member of our Bay Area community. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends, and may her warm spirit forever light the bridge she tended.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2228, the Law Enforcement and Mental Health and Wellness Act of 2017.

Our nation's law enforcement officers put their lives on the line each and every day to keep us safe. The resulting stress can take a tremendous toll on their mental health, and this bill seeks to address that problem. I am the son of a retired police officer and the brother of two others currently serving in law enforcement, and so I am particularly appreciative we are considering this bill today.

In the Judiciary Committee markup of H.R. 2228, I offered an amendment which would have required the Attorney General to study the specific effects of gun violence on officers' mental health as well as provide recommendations to reduce such violence. Gun violence is an epidemic in our society, and law enforcement officers are not immune. In fact, in 2016, 64 police officers died in firearm-related incidents. That was up 56 percent over 2015, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. The potential of facing deadly violence at every turn only adds to the stress faced by law enforcement.

I withdrew my amendment during our markup after Chairman Bob Goodlatte agreed to include language in the Judiciary Committee's report on the bill reflecting the goals of my amendment. I want to thank him for following through on that commitment and including the following language in the committee report: ``In conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Justice must develop educational resources for mental health providers regarding the culture of law enforcement agencies and therapies for mental health issues common to law enforcement officers. In developing these resources, the Department of Justice should examine the effect of gun violence on the mental health of officers and what can be done to solve those aspects of gun violence.'' Incorporating how law enforcement officers' mental health is affected by gun violence and proposing ways to reduce such violence as directed by this language will only improve the resources for law enforcement developed as a result of this bill.

Again I want to thank Chairman Goodlatte for putting this directive regarding gun violence in the committee report. I encourage all Members to support H.R. 2228.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Wells Middle School in Dublin, California for its designation as a 2017 National School of Character.

Wells Middle School is the only school in California to receive the 2017 National School of Character Award. The administration of Wells Middle School has worked diligently to meet the stringent standards necessary to receive this distinction. It has minimized incidences of cheating and bullying while maximizing student and parent engagement.

At Wells Middle School, character education is made a priority by the administration and teachers. The character education program focuses on bringing relevant, engaging and versatile resources directly to the students. The school makes an extensive effort to prioritize the success of its students.

One example is the Response to Intervention program. This program provides a network of instructional sessions for teachers and students, which work to address academic and behavioral concerns. This programming stresses inclusivity and adaptability as it seeks to meet the needs of all Wells Middle School students.

In addition to the National School of Character designation, Wells Middle School was named a 2017 California Gold Ribbon School by the California Department ofEducation and a 2017 California School of Character.

I am honored to have such an incredible school within my district, and as a Wells Middle School student, benefited myself from its focus on character. The continual effort of Wells Middle School to promote the success of its students both academically and behaviorally, serves as a statewide example of an ideal institution for holistic student growth. Our community is better and stronger as a result of its tireless dedication.

I want to congratulate Wells Middle School on receiving the 2017 National School of Character Award, and I wish the school and its students continued success in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I missed Roll Call Number 581, on October 24, regarding the question of passage of H.R. 3898, the Otto Warmbier North Korea Nuclear Sanctions Act. Had I voted, I would have voted ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Ruby's Place on the celebration of its 45th anniversary, to take place on Thursday, October 19.

Ruby's Place is a nonprofit organization founded in 1972 in Hayward, California. It was a pioneer in California in recognizing the need to provide shelter to victims of domestic violence.

Ruby's Place today provides services and shelter to homeless individuals and families, with a focus on helping victims of domestic violence and human trafficking. These services include a 24-hour crisis hotline, case management, mental health treatment, and children's programming. As this shows, Ruby's Place helps people both in their time of immediate need and provides assistance so they can get back on their feet.

Just as one example, during the 2015-2016 fiscal year, the counselors at Ruby's Place answered over 4,500 calls on its crisis hotline and provided 724 individual counseling sessions. One hundred seventy of these sessions were with children who have been affected by domestic violence.

I had the honor of recognizing Ruby's Place on the House Floor in October 2013, in support of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I am committed to continuing to fight domestic violence and working with organizations on the front lines, like Ruby's Place.

Over an amazing 45 years, about 6,000 adults and children have benefitted directly from Ruby's Place. I am incredibly grateful for its commitment to securing stable housing and supportive services for those in need, and I am honored to represent it in Congress. Our community is better and stronger for its tireless efforts.

I want to congratulate Ruby's Place on stabilizing the lives of individuals and families in the Bay Area for the last 45 years, and I wish it continued success in the future.

Mr. Speaker, America has again been rocked by a mass shooting, and our hearts ache and our hands pray for the victims and those who are recovering. You can't help but watch the countless scores of video accounts and not feel an urge to act.

My constituents ask: Are we helpless to stop the next mass shooting?

We are only helpless once the trigger is squeezed and you are in the pathway of a bullet, but we are not helpless in this House. In fact, if we come together, we are more powerful than any weapon.

Aren't the dead owed a dialogue, a conversation about whether we should have background checks, a talk about whether people who have weapons of war should only be warriors, and what about talking about restrictions on ammunition purchases?

I refuse to accept the tradeoff that we must allow and accept that a mass shooting is going to happen in this country for an unfettered access to firearms.

If the police officers who went into that building so blindly and were so brave could do that and show that courage, we can come into this building and have the courage to have a dialogue for those victims.