Floor Statements

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment to H.R. 1500, the Consumers First Act.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is an essential agency that has protected millions of consumers and put more than $12 billion back in Americans' pockets.

I worked in the Obama administration, in the United States Department of the Treasury, when the CFPB was first established in the wake of the financial crisis and saw firsthand how this agency has grown to serve as a force for accountability, transparency, and fairness on behalf of working Americans. That is why it is so important to restore and protect the CFPB from the attempts to weaken this critical agency.

My amendment to the Consumers First Act ensures that community banks, credit unions, small business owners, or economic growth experts are appointed to serve as members of the Bureau's Consumer Advisory Board.

The Consumer Advisory Board is a resource for the CFPB, providing the agency with expertise, analysis, and recommendations.

We must keep the channels open to small businesses, smaller banks, credit unions, and community advocates. This amendment gives community- oriented small businesses a seat at the table when it comes to the CFPB's decisionmaking, while furthering the goal of ensuring our financial system works for everyone.

We need that on-the-ground information. We need to hear from our small businesses.

In my district, credit unions and community banks offer helpful resources to individual borrowers as they look to purchase a home, start a small business, or expand a manufacturing order.

These institutions have invaluable knowledge that we should take advantage of as we work to protect consumers from fraud and abuse.

My district, Michigan 11, is also home to several thousand small businesses, including manufacturers and the country's most robust automotive supply chain.

We have got retail, we have got restaurants, and we have the capability to continue to unlock the channels of innovation, but we need a CFPB that works for us, and we need the voice of the small business at the table.

Our small business owners contribute so much to our communities, and they have a finger on the pulse of our economy more than anyone else. We should welcome the expertise of these key stakeholders at the CFPB as they continue to do incredible work for the American people and our economy.

I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I thank my colleague from North Carolina for his celebratory remarks. This is an important day in Congress because this is the role that we play; overseeing agencies, strengthening their work and delivering for the American people.

I have got to applaud our chairwoman of Financial Services for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau work that she has done, particularly with this act. It is long overdue.

We are thrilled to introduce this amendment that will bring the voice of small business to the table.

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

Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in a jubilant manner, because every American deserves to be treated equally under the law.

I rise today in support of the basic and common principles enshrined in our Constitution, of liberty and justice for all, that no person shall be denied or be discriminated by their sexual orientation.

I rise today in support of the Equality Act that we must proudly pass today led by my friend, David Cicilline.

For in this country, in this year, 2019, we must choose acceptance to grow our economy and to promote the general welfare.

I rise because it is time to pass the Equality Act for full civil rights protections for all LGBTQ Americans. So many sacrificed so I could stand here today and speak these words. Passing this bill will send a powerful, bipartisan message to members of the LGBTQ community that they are not second-class citizens.

Today we must vote to pass the Equality Act.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Village of Milford's 150th anniversary of incorporation on April 12, 2019. Located in southwest Oakland County, Milford began with the building of a sawmill by Elizur and Stanley Ruggles in 1832 and was incorporated in 1869. Hydropower made it possible for Milford to become one of the first communities to have electric lights in 1892.

Known for its small-town charm and rich history, the North Milford Historic District was entered into the National Register of Historic Places on April 21, 2000. Downtown Milford is recognized for its lively events and entertainment as well as its local shopping and dining.

Milford is also home to the General Motors Proving Ground, the world's first dedicated automobile testing facility. The Proving Ground has been used to introduce industry-leading safety features such as front center air bags. The facility has also helped create a global standard for frontal crash test dummies and was the first rollover test facility.

I encourage everyone to come to Michigan's 11th congressional district and, as we say, ``meet me in Milford.'' On its 150th anniversary, the Village of Milford has much to celebrate. I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating this tremendous milestone.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Garamendi), my friend.

Recognizing Brigadier General Thomas E. Kunkel

Madam Speaker, we are here today to recognize the accomplishments of the freshman class of the 116th Congress as we approach the 100th day since we were sworn into office. History is before us. Congress is 230 years old.

As co-president of the freshman class, alongside my colleague, Representative Colin Allred of Texas, we ring with a dutiful pride, deeply humbled by this opportunity to serve in a legislative session that will mark the conclusion of a decade and the beginning of another. We take stock of new representation, new voices, people, that the likes of this body have never seen before, what the American people called for in their voting booth, and all that this great body represents.

This class of freshman Democrats, 67 Members strong, from every corner of our great Nation, is the largest in nearly 45 years. Our class represents several historic firsts. With 42 new women in Congress, the House of Representatives is more female than at any point in the Chamber's deep history.

Representative Davids of Kansas and Representative Haaland of New Mexico are the first Native American women to serve in this Chamber.

Representative Omar of Minnesota and my fellow Michigander, Representative Tlaib, are the first Muslim women in Congress.

We now have more African American women and men serving in this body than ever before.

Nearly two-dozen new Members, from both sides of the aisle, have served our country as members of the military or Central Intelligence Agency.

Representative Ocasio-Cortez of New York is the youngest woman to ever serve in the House, and Representative Finkenauer of Iowa is the second youngest.

Representative Van Drew of New Jersey is a dentist.

Representative Schrier of Washington is a pediatrician.

Representative Underwood of Illinois is a nurse.

Representative Hayes of Connecticut was the Teacher of the Year.

And Representative Shalala of Florida, the longest serving health and human services secretary in history. Representative Mucarsel-Powell, also of Florida, is the first South American immigrant Member of Congress.

This freshman class brings its brilliant diversity, experience, and unity, a broad array of skills and life experience, to the Halls of Congress, generating a commitment to address legacy issues and usher in opportunities for the common good to promote the general welfare for all American people.

President Lincoln's words bear down on us. He, who was once a Member of this very body, said: ``Fellow citizens, we cannot escape history. We of this Congress and this administration, will be remembered in spite of ourselves. No personal significance, or insignificance, can spare one or another of us. The fiery trial through which we pass, will light us down, in honor or dishonor, to the latest generation.''

The issues of today are complex, enormous, and often frustrating, but we do not bemoan. We bring a commitment to serve, to problem solve, and create opportunity. We are reminded that this very body saw us through western expansion to become a land of sea to shining sea, through pain, by the way. And we did reconstruction following a brutal Civil War.

And now, in the year 2019, in the first 100 days of the 116th Congress, we have been hard at work. We have passed the For the People Act, a historic bill to clean up corruption and restore ethics in Washington, putting voters at the center of elections.

We passed the Paycheck Fairness Act, to finally fulfill gender economic equality in the workplace and bring more people into the middle class.

We passed a universal background check bill, to keep firearms out of the hands of those who seek to do evil, and we will do more commonsense gun safety legislation to put the safety of all communities at the top of the priority list.

We have held hearings, long overdue, on climate change and outrageous prescription drug prices, on Government oversight on human rights abuses at our border, and we have led on matters of safety and security.

And we are evaluating all the ways to meet our country's infrastructure needs.

We, the people, for the people, a country in a new moment.

As a representative from the great State of Michigan, I have been privileged to introduce my first piece of legislation, the bipartisan Building Blocks of STEM Act, which promotes STEM education and pathways to education in the sciences, particularly for young girls.

As the chairwoman of the Research and Technology Subcommittee, I have had the opportunity to preside over hearings on bioengineering and advanced manufacturing, essential to regional economic development, particularly in places like southeastern Michigan.

I passed a bipartisan amendment to the Rebuilding America's Schools Act and led an effort to maintain funding for advanced technological educational training programs, an important initiative with active grants in my district.

This was all in the first 100 days: multiple townhalls, coffee hours, and Manufacturing Mondays.

The question before us, the Moon shot of 2015, what will usher in new scientific advancements in the workforce to help us achieve them? It is for those who dare to create a vision.

There are 18 freshmen currently serving as subcommittee chairs, holding informative hearings and driving important policy discussions on issues like veterans' healthcare, small business advocacy, trade assistance, and for justice and equality, for the individual hardworking Americans residing and fueling the energy in the towns throughout suburban metro Detroit, where I represent, and their young children dreaming of their future. They are eagerly, and sometimes quietly, counting on us to wage great discussion, to think deeply and penetratingly, to seize the duty at hand.

Congress often feels like being on a great ship, each side weighing side to side, sometimes in stormy weather, but we have all taken the oath to reside on this ship, to come together for the remainder of our service, to improve the outcomes for the next generation and for those to come, the whispers of time and time.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Allred).

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Haaland).

Madam Speaker, we are so proud of our freshman class.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Garcia), someone whom her constituents know as ``Senator Sylvia'' from her great service in her State's capitol, but whom we knew as the great Congresswoman from Texas.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Wild), my friend.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin), my friend and fellow Michigander.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman, and I yield to the gentlewoman from Oklahoma (Ms. Kendra S. Horn), my dear friend.

Madam Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Horn for showing us what leadership looks like.

It should also be noted that our presiding Speaker this evening, Ms. Xochitl Torres Small, the Congresswoman from the great State of New Mexico, is also a member of our freshman class.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Neguse), my friend.

Well, I am delighted to be among the freshman class, and I am so proud of all of our accomplishments, particularly that we have 18 freshmen chairing subcommittees from all of the various great committees, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, the Veterans' Affairs Committee, and the Small Business Committee.

Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Neguse for sharing some of his time with Congresswoman Hill from California.

This Special Order hour has truly been special, and what a delight to reflect on these first 100 days with a historic freshman class in a new season here in the Nation's Capital.

Madam Speaker, I would like to conclude this Special Order hour of the freshman class of the 116th Congress, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am here today to recognize Katherine Johnson, Dr. Christine Darden, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and the hundreds of women in STEM who made incredible contributions to our country and to the cause of scientific research and exploration.

Katherine and her team of mathematicians and engineers were pivotal to one of our Nation's greatest triumphs: landing the first man on the Moon. Yet, as Black women in America, they faced pervasive discrimination. They were subjected to segregated facilities and their careers were stifled by an explicit and implicit culture of racism and misogyny.

I will also note that today is Equal Pay Day and that the gender pay gap is even more stark for women of color. It takes a Black woman 7 months longer to earn what a man takes home in 1 year, which is why I have been a strong supporter of the Paycheck Fairness Act.

I will further note that we were supposed to send the first all-woman space walk on March 29 up into outer space, but we had to cancel that trip because of lack of proper suits for women. We must do better.

Katherine Johnson, Dr. Christine Darden, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and the hundreds of other women in STEM were never properly recognized for their brilliance and determination, which is why I, as a Member of Congress, am a cosponsor of the Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Colin Allred and his wife Alexandra on congratulating them for their newborn son, Jordan Eber Allred.

As Co-Presidents of the Democratic Freshman Class, Colin and I have bonded during this remarkable time in our lives. Colin's successes as an athlete, as a civil rights lawyer, and now in Congress have prepared him to be a remarkable father. Colin's commitment to put others before himself transcends every professional action he has taken. It is my honor and that of our vibrant freshman class to be working by his side at such a special time for his family.

The beauty of life is embodied in Jordan and reminds us of what we're all here for--to make this country a better place for our next of kin, our loved ones, and our fellow citizens. Let us reflect on this miracle and work to make this country a better country for Jordan.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in welcoming Jordan into this world. I couldn't be happier.

Mr. Speaker, it is with profound honor and great humility that I rise on this historic floor to recognize and honor the great Chairman John Dingell--the day after the birthday of the great President Lincoln, might I add.

It is clear that John Dingell's life manifested Michigan. He depicted that rich legacy that our State symbolizes. Mr. Dingell was a veteran, a man of dignity, honor, and great fortitude. He most assuredly represented a great America, that great generation. It was his life, this long life, that is compounded by its beginning and its end and that arc of progress that he certainly represents.

Mr. Dingell loved life, and he loved this body. He loved this House of Representatives. He was the man of the House. He was the dean of the House. I lovingly referred to him as ``The Dean.''

As we remember the Honorable John Dingell and reflect on what he meant to this body, to this Nation, and to our great State of Michigan, as somebody who is now representing parts of southeastern Michigan that touched the auto industry he so loved, we can remember his steadfast support of our domestic automakers over the decades.

John Dingell understood the fate of the auto industry and the fate of southeastern Michigan and Michigan as a whole as being forever intertwined, that so many Michigan workers depend on the success of our auto industry, from General Motors to Ford, Chrysler, all the way down the supply chain.

I had the privilege, not as a Member of the House of Representatives, but as a White House appointee in the administration of Barack Obama in the United States Department of the Treasury, on the team that was responsible for saving General Motors and Chrysler--we were called the auto rescue team--10 years ago when Mr. Dingell was raising his voice and leading conversations in standing up for that auto industry. Just as he always has been a ferocious advocate, he was then a ferocious advocate for the Federal initiative to save our automakers from liquidation, to save over 200,000 Michigan jobs, and to stand up for Michigan and everything we represent.

Today, there are thousands of families in Michigan who have kept their jobs because of John Dingell, whose value of work is respected and understood because of John Dingell. To him, that was just another day of work. To him, public service and doing right by his constituents was simply second nature.

Any elected official in our country--and there are 535 of us who sit in the House of Representatives and the Senate--would all be wise to study John Dingell's passion, his mastery of legislating, his dedication to public service.

In an era that has sometimes felt very polarizing, somehow this man, this great dean of ours, is the great unifier. And we saw that in his passing. We saw that when we welcomed his casket to the Capitol, and we will see that tomorrow at his funeral in Washington, D.C.

John Dingell knew how important it was to bring industry and labor to the table during the policymaking process. He knew that the auto industry needed a friend, needed a champion for everything that was right by our country and, frankly, our State's origin. He made our Big Three stronger by pushing them to adopt fuel emission standards.

You see, complicated policymaking brings all the stakeholders to the table, and John Dingell knew how to do that. He knew how to do that for the environment; he knew how to do that on safety; and he certainly contributed to a safer, more sustainable industry that has its moonshot views of the future, the visions of the future around zero emissions and zero accidents that are now being shepherded by the workers and innovation and the talent in our State.

John Dingell also strived to do the most good. He understood what service meant. He understood what doing the most good for the most people meant. He fought for our water; he fought for our infrastructure guarantee; and he fought for universal healthcare every day he was here.

He had such a profound respect for his colleagues, even when he disagreed with them. And he loved his wife. He loved his wife for all 40 years.

And we heard howlings from this Michigan delegation. We celebrate and we share that love for the great Debbie Dingell, who has been such a pillar of strength, of openness, of vulnerability.

I told Congresswoman Dingell: You are every woman today. You are every woman in your grief.

And as we recognize her incredible husband, as we recognize him here

today in this codified moment and as we carry his torch forward-- because that is what we do through the generations is we pick up the torch and keep carrying it forward--we will also continue to carry Congresswoman Dingell forward in her grief and in her adjustment and in the memory of her husband.

As such, John Dingell most assuredly will also be remembered in our great State of Michigan, watching the people come to pay their respects, the servicemen and -women, the thousands of people who felt connected to his life and his life's work. It is what Vice President Biden referred to as his great dignity: his respect for his friends, for his neighbors, for his fellow man.

His contributions to this Nation will not be forgotten, and they will certainly be felt for generations to come.

So today, in a very official way, I say good-bye to the chairman, to the dean, to the Congressman, to the veteran John Dingell.

Thank you. We will miss you dearly.

Madam Speaker, I rise today for the people suffering the consequences of this shutdown. I rise today for our great country and for the belief in our great government. I rise for our neighbors, our friends, and all our taxpayers.

The impact of this unprecedented shutdown, the longest in our history, has had real and deeply concerning impacts on our families, particularly in Michigan. It is also posing serious threats to our national security and safety.

Tim Mach of Waterford, Michigan, a professional aviation safety specialist, has been working diligently throughout this shutdown. He is doing the best he can with the materials he has to ensure our airplanes are safe, but he is unable to access the parts for the planes that are damaged.

The longer this shutdown drags on, the more dire these types of operations become. For the well-being of our public servants and the safety of our country, the government must open today.

Madam Speaker, I rise today from this body as his voice, imploring the less than 600 among us who have been elected to this Federal Government to open this government now.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the worker. I rise in support of the nearly 15,000 laid-off auto workers.

I rise in support of anyone who has ever been called a racial epitaph. I stand with you.

I rise today for the American taxpayer. Your government is shut down.

I rise for every Federal employee.

I rise for Tim Mach of Waterford and all other aviation safety specialists.

I rise for the TSA agent who was questioned about how he would put gas in his car on Monday. It is now Thursday.

It is now day 27 of this unreasonable shutdown. The American worker and the American taxpayer is wondering when their government will reopen.

I rise today because this is unacceptable. I have acted and acted and acted to reopen the government, and now, I, from this great body, this U.S. House of Representatives, I implore my colleagues from the Senate to do the same.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Abbas family.

This beloved family perished last week in a car crash as they were heading back home from Michigan on a family vacation.

Northville and the Metro Detroit area have lost a cornerstone of our community. Issam and Dr. Rima Abbas were loving parents to their three beautiful children: Ali; Isabella; and their youngest, Giselle, who was only 7 years old.

As the children of immigrants from Lebanon, Rima was the granddaughter of the founder of the prominent mosque in which their memorial services were held, the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn.

They touched the lives of their neighbors of all faiths, and the interfaith community has come out in solidarity with the Abbas family.

My prayers are with their family and our community. They will always remain in our hearts, and we will cherish their lives for all time. We must act to make sure this never happens again.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call on my colleagues and the President to reopen the government.

Too many lives are being impacted. Too much is at stake. I cannot sit idly by and watch the impasse that continues to plague our country. I have been in constant discussions with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to come to agreement, but to no avail.

This shutdown is hurting our economy, causing distrust in our sacred democracy, and putting the lives of hundreds of thousands of Federal employees in limbo. This is unacceptable.

There are currently 5,730 Federal employees in Michigan who are out of work. This shutdown is seriously impacting our country's safety and health.

There are FDA labs in Detroit that inspect for food and drug safety and oversee the interdiction of items coming into our country. They must be allowed to continue, this work.

The House just voted on the final appropriations bill to reopen the government. I urge my colleagues in the Senate and the President to put an end to this for once and for all, and to pass these bills.