Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of Teofilo ``Tio'' Archuleta Tachias. Arizona owes a debt of gratitude to Tio, who we lost at the age of 87 on July 6. Tio was an Arizona trailblazer, a champion for the Hispanic and Native communities, and a consequential leader who broke economic, social, and political barriers to forge a stronger path forward for our state.

Born in Cabezon, New Mexico, Tio and his family moved to Flagstaff, Arizona when he was six years old. He would soon find his passion for public service when he volunteered for former President Harry S. Truman's presidential campaign at only 12. Tio eventually ran for office himself and became the first Latino in Flagstaff who won a major election when he was elected to the Coconino County Board of Supervisors. He continued his public service career with the Arizona Board of Regents and was selected as its president in 1984.

Tio was always one to advocate for causes greater than himself, and he was regarded as a humble king maker who seldom spoke and was hard to dislike, even by his political adversaries. He showed people what ``boots on the ground'' really meant and made it his mission to reach people wherever they were. Tio channeled his talents to turn out historic numbers of Native American voters throughout Arizona and ensure thousands of people can exercise their right to vote. His organizing led to historic elections including that of former Arizona Governor Raul H. Castro, the first Hispanic governor of our state, as well as helping to elect the first Native American and African American to the Coconino County Board of Supervisors.

Tio mentored an entire generation of political leaders in Arizona, but above all, he cherished his role as a father, grandfather, great grandfather, and even great-great grandfather. Our community is fortunate to have bore witness to Tio's legacy and know that his impact will be felt by generations through the many lives he touched.

I thank you Tio, and Godspeed.

Mr. Chairman, Chairman Graves and Ranking Member Larsen are a great model of bipartisanship that we can learn a lot from in this institution. I thank them for their

leadership in crafting a strong, bipartisan FAA bill.

Air travel can be stressful, but for those with disabilities, it can be a nightmare. It is the only mode of public transportation that requires one to surrender their mobility devices before boarding and to place their trust in others to get safely to their seats.

This bill takes meaningful steps--many I was proud to help lead on-- to improve the flying experience for passengers with disabilities, including our disabled veterans.

It directs the Department of Transportation to gather data on disability-related complaints and make meaningful improvements based on that data.

It improves training for employees that assist passengers with boarding and deplaning, as well as those who handle mobility devices.

It requires airlines to issue refunds to those who are unable to travel when their wheelchair cannot be physically accommodated.

Finally, it includes my amendment to make sure passengers traveling with a personal care attendant are not charged extra for seating accommodations.

Mr. Chair, we still have a long way to go before air travel is fully accessible, but the steps we have taken in this bill are commonsense, necessary fixes that make significant progress.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Chairman, moving the National Defense Authorization Act forward has almost always been a bipartisan effort. This very bill, as originally drafted, passed out of committee with near unanimous votes from both Democrats and Republicans, 59-1.

That is why it is unconscionable that extremist politicians are willing to jeopardize our military readiness and our national security to push their unpopular partisan agenda.

In the dead of night, extreme lawmakers tacked on divisive, dangerous amendments, including one that would prevent servicewomen from accessing critical abortion care.

More than 400,000 women serve in Active Duty and in the Reserves. At great personal sacrifice, these servicewomen have sworn an oath to defend the United States and to live, train, and work at assigned duty stations often far from home.

Almost immediately after Roe was overturned last summer, States around the country began enacting draconian abortion bans and restrictions. Today, nearly half of the servicewomen no longer have access to abortion care, and many live hundreds of miles from the nearest provider.

Access to abortion should not depend on where someone lives or where they are stationed.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin rightly noted that the Dobbs decision would ``interfere with the U.S. military's ability to recruit, retain, and maintain the readiness of a highly qualified force,'' and announced earlier this year that the DOD would cover travel and lodging expenses for servicewomen and military family members forced to travel for healthcare.

My colleagues on the other side of the aisle would see that this policy is overturned.

Mr. Chair, I have voted for the NDAA every year that I have served in Congress, but I cannot in good conscience vote for this legislation in its current form. We must provide for our national defense.

This bill will egregiously harm nearly one-fifth of this country's fighting force. I will not turn my back on our servicewomen and military families.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and congratulate the Native American Basketball Invitational on 20 years of commitment to youth empowerment and fostering athletic talent within Native American communities. Since 2003, NABI has been the largest and most prestigious all Native American Basketball tournament in the nation, cultivating the spirit of competition and camaraderie among our youth.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 2. I am deeply frustrated by the administration's failure to adequately prepare for the end of title 42, and my constituents in Arizona are, as well. They know that the administration could have and should have done more to prepare for this day. That is the simple truth.

The bill before us today does nothing to make the border States like mine safer. It does not ensure an orderly and humane legal asylum process, and even makes it more difficult for refugees from countries like Cuba and Ukraine to seek asylum here.

It does not stop the flow of deadly drugs like fentanyl into our communities. In fact, it diverts law enforcement resources from going after drug traffickers and smugglers.

This bill demands much more from the Customs and Border Protection officers but does not provide the necessary funding for CBP to manage the surge of traffic, leaving our ports and our Nation more vulnerable and less secure.

My colleagues on the other side of the aisle even want to eliminate Federal funding that faith-based and local aid groups depend on to shelter, feed, and clothe migrants. Without those shelters, there would be even more street releases by Border Patrol into communities like Phoenix and Tucson. That is inhumane.

My amendment to strike that part of this bill, they wouldn't even give it a

vote. Make no mistake, if signed into law, H.R. 2 would hurt our economy, especially in my home State of Arizona.

Every employer that I have met with in the district, from farmers, to contractors, to high-tech manufacturing companies, tells me that they can't find enough skilled workers. This bill does nothing to strengthen workforce pipelines. It actually makes hiring more difficult.

All of these things, Mr. Speaker, show that this proposal is not a serious one. Instead of sabotaging an already broken immigration system, I invite my colleagues across the aisle to help us modernize it.

Commonsense reforms would help us rebuild our Nation's infrastructure, invest in domestic manufacturing, create jobs, improve trade with Mexico, and combat inflation.

Now, my colleagues across the aisle say our first priority should be securing our southern border. I agree.

Mr. Speaker, the situation at our border is dire. There is no getting around it, and Congress and the administration must do more.

One of the things we can do to secure our border is to modernize the immigration system. These are not incompatible goals. Any serious proposal must do both.

I am ready to work in good faith to find a path forward, and I will be at the table when my colleagues across the aisle are ready to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Alfredo Benjamin Tulle--a dedicated and distinguished airman whose service to our Nation will always be remembered. We lost Alfredo last month, and our thoughts are with his wife Brenda, their 2 children, their grandson as well as his brother.

Chief Tulle was born not far from the Panama Canal--and his time in the Air Force would bring him back to Panama and other nations where his fluency in Spanish helped him earn trusted assignments working with the allied air forces. He served as a Master Technical Training Instructor at the Inter-American Air Force Academy, he taught aircraft and engine maintenance in both Spanish and English to many Latin American senior air force officers and enlisted personnel, and he was entrusted with ensuring the flight safety of the helicopter for the President of Panama. Chief Tulle was even given an honorary promotion to second lieutenant by both air forces of Panama and Mexico. What an impact he made.

Stateside, he earned the toughest assignments--and did them well. There's no other way to earn promotion to one of the highest ranks in the Air Force over a 24-year career. After completing basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in June 1966, he was an in-flight refueling boom operator on board the KC-135 Stratotanker, a flight engineer for the UH-1 ``Huey,'' and a master training instructor. At Hill Air Force Base in Utah and Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, Chief Tulle was essential to the success of the F-16 program--as a Flight Line Expediter, Flight Chief, Production Superintendent, and Chief of Quality Assurance for the 58th Fighter Wing. He wrote checklist and inspection procedures that are still in use today.

Chief Tulle retired from the Air Force as the Cold War drew down, but he maintained his love for aviation and continued to serve in the field. He served at the Navy Fighter Weapons School, Lockheed Martin and United Airlines--and even returned as a civil servant to Luke Air Force Base. There is very little that Chief Tulle did not do with his life, and we are a more secure country because of his contributions.

We are grateful for this extraordinary American and the lasting legacy he leaves behind. I thank Alfredo, and Godspeed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of Irvin Lewis Coin--an educator, philanthropist, and community leader in my home state of Arizona. Irvin was a member of the Hopi Tribe and devoted his life to ensuring that young people, regardless of their background or social status, had the opportunity to pursue higher education. Throughout his 40- year career, he helped change the lives of many-and my state, and our nation, is a better place because of him.

Irvin grew up in a one-bedroom house just steps away from the railroad tracks along the historic Route 66 in Winslow. Early in life, he learned to play the trumpet--and he was good at it too. His musical talent helped him earn a scholarship to Arizona State University in Tempe, and he graduated in 1958 with a bachelor's degree in education. Irvin began teaching in public high schools in the Phoenix area, and after earning his master's degree, he became the first director of ASU TRIO, where he laid the groundwork for ASU's TRIO Programs at the university. Because of his work, thousands of low-income, first- generation college students and students with disabilities have been empowered with the tools to achieve their highest aspirations.

Irvin also served as the president of the Western Association of Educational Opportunity Personnel Board of Directors, where he worked to ensure educational opportunities through the members that represented the TRIO program personnel. He strived to create what he called ``an army of leaders whose purpose is to change the world.'' Today, students and teachers across the nation benefit from Irvin's philanthropy--and his visionary leadership has created intergenerational prosperity and opportunity for families in Arizona.

Arizona owes a debt of gratitude to Irvin, who we lost at the age of 82 on February 24. His commitment to making a difference in the lives of others will be felt for generations to come. In this spirit of gratitude and remembrance, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Irvin Lewis Coin.

On this Transgender Day of Visibility, I want to speak about a young constituent of mine, an 11-year-old girl from Mesa, Arizona.

She wrote me a few days ago to say that one day she wants to grow up to be a doctor or maybe even President. Her favorite color is pink. She loves cats and the yellow minions. She also wants to play on the local soccer team with her friends.

However, because of the wave of anti-LGBTQ legislation introduced in Arizona and other legislatures around the country and right here in Congress, she is afraid, and so is her family.

To that little girl, I want you to know that you are anything but. You are exceptional and you are deserving of every opportunity to pursue your passions and your dreams. Please know that you are loved and you are not alone, and that I and many of my fellow colleagues right here in Congress will continue to work to protect your rights.

Trans youth are kids and they should be able to spend their time being kids, not writing their Congressman to defend their basic rights.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 5060) to redesignate the Federal building located at 212 Third Avenue South in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as the ``Paul D. Wellstone Federal Building'', and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 5060.

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

I rise in support of S. 5060, a bill to designate the Federal building located at 212 Third Avenue South in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as the ``Paul D. Wellstone Federal Building''.

S. 5060 was introduced on October 25, 2022, 20 years to the day that Senator Wellstone; his wife, Sheila; his daughter, Marcia; his staff members, Todd Lapic, Mary McEvoy, and Will McLaughlin; and pilots, Richard Conry and Michael Guess, were killed in a plane crash near Eveleth, Minnesota.

Paul Wellstone was born in Washington, D.C., on July 21, 1944; attended Arlington, Virginia, public schools; received his BA from the University of North Carolina in 1965; earned a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina in 1969; taught political science at Carleton College in Minnesota for 21 years; served as a director of the Minnesota Community Energy Program; was elected to represent Minnesota in the United States Senate in 1990, was reelected in 1996, and served from January 3, 1991, until his death in a plane crash on October 25, 2002.

Paul Wellstone was a champion college wrestler and a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, a college professor for 21 years, a prolific legislator who sponsored 608 bills during his time in the U.S. Senate, and a mentor to generations of future public servants and advocates.

Upon introduction of S. 5060, Senator Klobuchar said, ``During his time as an educator, an activist, and a United States Senator, Paul Wellstone touched the lives of people throughout Minnesota and across the country. That is because he stood up for people, persistently fighting against injustices, small and large. From his passionate advocacy for better care and services for those suffering from mental illness to his leadership on civil rights and campaign finance reform, Paul showed how getting involved in public service can make a real difference in improving people's lives.''

Madam Speaker, I support S. 5060, and I urge my colleagues to join me.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. Omar).

Madam Speaker, in closing, this bill honors the life of a dedicated public servant, a United States Senator, Paul Wellstone.

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 (S. 4017) to designate the United States courthouse located at 111 South Highland Avenue in Jackson, Tennessee, as the ``James D. Todd United States Courthouse'', and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on S. 4017.

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

Madam Speaker, I support the passage of S. 4017, a bill to name the United States Courthouse located at 111 South Highland Avenue in Jackson, Tennessee, the James D. Todd United States Courthouse.

Judge James Todd was born in Scotts Hill, Tennessee, in 1943. He received a bachelor of science from Lambuth College in 1965 and his juris doctorate from Memphis State University, now the University of Memphis, Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 1972.

He was in private practice in Jackson, Tennessee, from 1972 to 1983, and served as a judge on Tennessee's Circuit Court from 1983 to 1985.

In 1985, Judge Todd was nominated and confirmed to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee where he served as chief judge from 2001 to 2007. Judge Todd assumed senior status in 2008.

Madam Speaker, I support S. 4017 to name a courthouse after the Honorable Judge Todd, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1082) to require ride-hailing companies to implement an enhanced digital system to verify passengers with their authorized ride-hailing vehicles and drivers, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1082, as amended.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1082, as amended. I applaud the gentleman from New Jersey, Representative Smith, for his tenacity for getting the bill to the House floor for its consideration today.

The gentleman and his staff have worked tirelessly through many iterations of this bill. We are here today to take the first steps toward ensuring the safety of passengers and drivers who utilize ride- hailing platforms. Specifically, we are here to pass Sami's Law, a bill to honor and remember Samantha Josephson.

Sami, a 21-year-old college student, was brutally murdered after she entered a car that she mistakenly thought was the Uber that she ordered.

Her parents, Seymour and Marcie Josephson, have shared their heart- wrenching story firsthand with so many of us on Capitol Hill.

Throughout their grief, they have been committed to working so that no other family will have to go through this kind of pain, and that millions of people who use ride-hailing services can do so with safety protections in place.

Mobility and transportation patterns in many cities have been upended in recent years by companies that through transformative technology platforms have revolutionized how we travel.

In a very short time, many people have come to rely upon transportation network companies, or TNCs, such as Uber and Lyft, as a regular transportation option.

These services, however, have operated with little transportation safety or regulatory oversight.

There are many aspects of TNCs that the Committee on Transportation has examined, including their impacts on congestion, on wages, and on public transportation used, as well as gaps in regulatory oversight of TNCs and drivers.

We held a hearing in 2020 where we examined a number of troubling aspects of the TNC model.

While the bill under consideration today is a scaled-back version of legislation as introduced, it marks an important step in oversight of TNCs.

H.R. 1082, as amended, prohibits the sale of any signage that is designed to help a passenger identify a TNC vehicle or that contains TNCs proprietary trademark or logo, unless authorized by the TNC.

The bill also directs the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study of the incidence of assaults, including sexual assaults, on TNC passengers and TNC drivers.

In addition, it directs GAO to study the type of background checks conducted on prospective drivers of TNC vehicles, including any State and local laws which may require such background checks.

Strong and thorough vetting of potential drivers is the first line of defense to ensure passenger safety. The study initiated by this bill will yield important data and will inform decisions on what more needs to be done to protect the ride-hailing community.

Lawmakers at the Federal, State, and local level will need to think beyond whether ride-hailing gets people from point A to point B, and work to ensure that TNC drivers deliver a public service safely and equitably.

Madam Speaker, I support this important legislation, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

House of Representatives,

Committee on Energy and Commerce,

Washington, DC, December 13, 2022.

Hon. Peter A. DeFazio,

Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,

Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman DeFazio: I write concerning H.R. 1082,

``Sami's Law.'' This legislation was additionally referred to

the Committee on Energy and Commerce and amended in such a

manner that would likely result in the Committee having

primary jurisdiction over this measure.

In recognition of the desire to expedite consideration of

H.R. 1082, the Committee agrees to waive formal consideration

of the bill as to provisions that fall within the Rule X

jurisdiction of the Committee. The Committee takes this

action with the mutual understanding that we do not waive any

jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or

similar legislation, and that the Committee will be

appropriately consulted and involved as this bill or similar

legislation moves forward so that we may address any

remaining issues within our jurisdiction. I also request that

you support my request to name members of the Committee to

any conference committee to consider such provisions.

Finally, I would appreciate the inclusion of this letter

into the Congressional Record during floor consideration of

the measure.

Sincerely,

Frank Pallone, Jr.,

Chairman.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, this bill honors the memory of Samantha Josephson and takes steps to ensure that a similar tragedy does not occur.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize and congratulate Native American Connections on 50 years of empowering our community and ensuring more people have access to health care, can overcome substance use disorders, and have a place to call home. Through services rooted in Native American culture, it has filled unmet need in our community and created opportunities for people beyond indigenous groups to thrive.

NAC has grown quickly from its days as a small grassroots organization. Thousands of lives have been improved by its programs, which range from helping families and individuals transition into permanent housing to helping people recover from substance abuse issues.

A constant figure in NAC's history is its president and CEO, Dede Yazzie Devine, who has led the organization for 43 years. Dede's work is intertwined in NAC's legacy and embodies the principles of stewardship, compassion, and tenacity. It is for her work and all those who have contributed their time and talents that NAC's vision has moved forward.

NAC has created an impact that's felt far beyond our indigenous communities and across our state. I join our community in celebration of 50 incredible years of this organization.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of Janet Arnold Rees. Janet was tirelessly devoted to our community and made it a better place to live through her work as a teacher, theatre producer, entrepreneur, and social worker.

Janet and her family moved to Phoenix in 1957, and she quickly immersed herself in the community. It was through her experience in Jewish youth organizations that she learned the value of making connections between people. She believed in the power of a community and made it a constant theme of her work.

Janet had a creative spirit that helped her inspire others, combat anti-Semitism, and create change. In 1988, she founded the award- winning Arizona Jewish Theatre Company, a point of pride in the Valley and where she served as producing director for 24 years. It was a staple in the performing arts scene and produced plays meant to reflect diverse views within Judaism. The AJTC brought people of all walks of life together--from its cast to its audience--and challenged us all to reject hatred.

Even after the AJTC closed its doors. Janet's boundless passion for serving her community continued, and she joined the Jewish Family & Children's Service. It was there that she continued to change peoples' lives by empowering them through resources that gave them stability and peace of mind. Janet worked closely with seniors, and after the COVID- 19 pandemic left many isolated, her creativity led seniors to the internet. It helped many reconnect with loved ones and continue to enjoy special moments with their friends and family.

Janet touched so many lives and leaves behind a legacy that will be felt by generations. We join her loved ones in grief and gratitude, thankful we bore witness to her work. Godspeed, Janet.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize and congratulate Tempe Sister Cities on its 50th anniversary. For five decades, this organization has empowered students and teachers through diplomacy, cultural awareness, and education. It has enriched the lives of hundreds of local families who have hosted international exchange partners.

Tempe Sister Cities serves as an enduring bridge that connects our people to 11 cities and countries throughout the world, including nine communities where high school students participate in exchanges with fellow students. Many of these exchanges create lasting lifelong friendships that transcend borders and transform how people in our community see and connect to the world.

It is no secret that Tempe Sister Cities is one of the leading sister cities organizations in the world--distinguished by an unyielding commitment to make sure that each generation of Tempe students can learn and grow. So many lives have also been improved through its humanitarian programs, which range from medical support for individuals with disabilities to empowering women and children through resources that elevate their status.

I want to recognize and thank every person who has dedicated their time and talents to make Tempe Sister Cities the tremendous change- maker that it is today. I join our community in celebration of 50 incredible years and wishes for many more.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me the time.

Today, I rise in support of H.R. 3843, the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022.

This bipartisan legislation will strengthen antitrust enforcement and better protect U.S. consumers, workers, and businesses. I support the full slate of bills in this package, and I am pleased that it includes legislation that I introduced with the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Fitzgerald).

Our bill, the Foreign Merger Subsidy Disclosure Act, will create a more transparent picture for our antitrust enforcers by requiring merging companies to disclose foreign government subsidies. We know that China continues to use state-owned entities to acquire our emerging technologies and intellectual property in an attempt to surpass and suppress United States companies.

Our bill provides an important guardrail so that China and other government-backed competitors can't discreetly buy up U.S. companies, unduly influence our free market economy, steal intellectual property, and stifle competition.

Our bill will ensure that these investments are not undermined. This is good, commonsense policy. It is a step in the right direction.

Mr. Speaker, I intend to vote ``yes'' on this package, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.