Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of First Sergeant Margaret Barker, an honored veteran who passed away just last week. Sergeant Barker was a highly-respected service woman and a loved community member, and she would have been 100 years old this August.

Raised in Boston, Massachusetts, Sergeant Barker was the third eldest in a family of nine children. When World War II broke out, Sergeant Barker felt called to serve this nation she loved and enlisted in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps in 1942.

She was sent out to Angel Island just off the coast of San Francisco and moved on to Fort McDowell, where she served until the War ended as a First Sergeant in charge of one of the first all-female, all-black companies in the Army. In 2015, Mrs. Barker traveled to Washington, D.C. with 19 other World War II veterans to view the national war memorial and be honored, and she was the only woman in the group.

Sergeant Barker was a trailblazer and a maverick, serving with grace and distinction in a time when forces were still segregated and gendered. Her devotion to duty and her Company earned her the nickname ``Top'' in the Military, a name usually given to Sergeants for their commitment to especially caring leadership. This is just one instance of her selflessness, and how highly she valued those around her. Sergeant Barker was known for her warmth and resilience, which is reflected in the close relationships she shared with her family.

After serving in the Military, Mrs. Barker returned to her home in Boston, where she then married longtime friend, Vernon Barker, who was a fellow service member. Together, they decided to move to California, where they started their family and made their home in our community.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring and remembering Sergeant Margaret Barker, whose strength and steadfastness identifies her as a role model to us all. Her generous and always kind spirit will live on in the hearts and lives of everyone she touched, and I extend my deepest condolences to her children, Gail and Beverly, and the rest of her family. May God bless her soul and her family.

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I thank all of our veterans for their service and sacrifice for our great country.

I come from California, the home of the greatest number of veterans in this great country. On their behalf, I would like to thank Chairman Roe and Ranking Member Walz for their tremendous job and leadership in addressing the needs of all of our veterans.

I am pleased that we reached the bipartisan agreement, and I hope the rest of this place learns from the work the Veterans Affairs' Committee has done. I hope that tomorrow, when we wake up and open up those newspapers, this is a front-page story, because it deserves to be. Democrats and Republicans, everybody coming together to work for our veterans, that is the way it should be done.

Three years ago, Congress created the Choice Program. This was an alternative to make sure that our veterans didn't have to wait to get the health services they needed.

This bill will provide additional funding and short-term sustainability for this program called the Choice Program. This bill will also allow the Department of Veterans Affairs to open up more clinics and to hire additional doctors to make sure that our veterans get the service they deserve.

Again, I am glad that we are here today and that we could work to make sure that our veterans get the services they earned. I urge all my colleagues to support this bipartisan measure.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of amendment No. 8 offered by Mr. Langevin to provide funding for the Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship Program.

Our country is facing a severe shortage of trained cyber professionals, a shortage that includes about 10,000 cybersecurity experts in government alone, and estimated to be about 1 million shortages throughout our economy by 2019.

We need to give young people the incentive to follow careers in cybersecurity to learn skills such as computer coding and ethical hacking. This amendment provides $10 million for scholarships for associate degrees at community colleges and assists with program execution from DOD and NSA.

I cosponsored this amendment, and I want to thank Congressman Langevin for offering this important piece of legislation. I urge all my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. Speaker, on Friday we are voting on a crucial funding program for armed services. Yet somehow it also includes $1.6 billion to begin funding the construction of an unnecessary border wall. Without discussion, the funding for the border wall was added.

This wall won't make us safer, and it won't stop drug smugglers, and it will not keep out the bad hombres.

If we are serious about protecting our borders, then let's invest the $1.6 billion in programs that have a proven record of success. Let's invest in drug detection canine teams. Let's rebuild our Coast Guard. And let's strengthen our partnership with Canadian and Mexican law enforcement.

These are the proven methods that will keep America safe.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of a special person that gave greatly to our community, Joseph Granados Elias, who passed away July 6, 2017 at the age of 81. Mr. Granados Elias was a respected business owner, a loved community member, and a selfless husband and father.

Born in Corpus Christi, Texas, Mr. Granados Elias moved to California where he was the longtime owner of Fiesta Juice in downtown Santa Ana. A fierce advocate for Latino businesses, Mr. Granados Elias was known in our community as a fearless warrior and loving friend.

Mr. Granados Elias truly had a heart for others, and he spent his life serving those in greater need than him. One of the first Latino members of Kiwanis, Mr. Granados Elias was heavily involved with the organization, always thinking of how best to offer his time. When a community park needed more money to build a playground accessible for children with special needs, Mr. Granados Elias was instrumental in working with Kiwanis to raise sufficient funds.

This is just one example of how greatly Mr. Granados Elias cared for his community and how strong the relationships he built were. Mr. Granados Elias was known for his warmth, generosity, and incredible joy, which is reflected in the close relationships he shared with his family.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring and remembering Mr. Joseph Granados Elias, whose innovative entrepreneurship and loving spirit will live on in the hearts and lives of all those he knew and loved. He is an example to us all of what it means to be a public servant, and I extend my deepest condolences to his children, Suzanne, Sharon, Elizabeth, David, Paul and Albert; his ten grandchildren, and his seven great grandchildren. May God bless this family.

Mr. Speaker, today, I am introducing a House Resolution supporting the development of programs that prepare students for careers in cybersecurity.

As a Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, I have come to understand that we need to invest in our nation's students to make sure our country is prepared to combat the cyber challenges of the 21st century. It is critical that the United States develop cybersecurity programs that allow students to keep up with the demands of rapidly evolving technology and to address the risks associated with cyber threats.

The United States faces a critical shortage of trained cybersecurity professionals, a shortage that includes an estimated 10,000 cybersecurity employment openings in the Federal Government alone. This number is likely to grow to as many as one million unfilled positions throughout the United States by 2019. Educating and training our students is vital to bolster the cyber capabilities of our government, military, and private sector.

By encouraging students to develop cyber skills, we can begin to work towards building robust cybersecurity education. It is well known that early exposure to skills such as computer programming and ethical hacking increases accessibility to higher education and can encourage students to pursue a career in cybersecurity.

Over the years, the United States has become a target of a growing number of malicious cyber attacks, including large-scale breaches that compromise the personal identities and personal information of millions of Americans. These cyber threats pose a significant risk to the protection of our critical infrastructure, privacy, and national security.

It is essential that our country continues to support the development of cybersecurity education programs to ensure the United States is protected from cyber attacks. Our students are the key to the future, and we must do everything we can to make sure they are equipped with the skills necessary to combat the cyber challenges of the 21st century.

Mr. Speaker, today, I am introducing a House Resolution recognizing the accomplishments and contributions of Vietnamese Americans.

I represent part of one of the largest Vietnamese communities in the United States, and I am proud to recognize the valuable contributions of 1.7 million Vietnamese Americans currently living in the United States. The United States is home to the largest number of individuals of Vietnamese descent outside of Vietnam. Additionally, Vietnamese Americans make up the fourth largest Asian American population. Currently, more than 70,000 reside in California's 46th Congressional District.

In the aftermath of the Vietnam War, approximately 800,000 Vietnamese refugees fleeing persecution resettled in the United States. Today, Vietnamese Americans contribute to American society through their work in business, education, science and technology, engineering, mathematics, literature and the arts, gastronomy, the armed forces, and public service at every level of government.

Vietnamese Americans add to the rich cultural and religious diversity of our Nation. As a member of the Congressional Vietnam Caucus, it is critical that we continue to represent and celebrate our Vietnamese families, friends, and neighbors, and recognize their significant contributions to American society.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my amendment in en bloc package 3, amendment 53, that would require the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence, to provide Congress a report of any cyber attack attempts by the Russian Government and other Russian actors targeting the Department of Defense within the past 2 years.

These Defense Department systems are the foundation of our Nation's defense and security, and it is crucial that they are protected. Despite this understanding, our Nation is still not fully aware of the magnitude of the problems, and Congress is not appropriately advised of these past breaches.

My amendment would require a report from the Secretary of the Defense to Congress so that we can begin to properly address the strength of our Nation's security.

I thank Congresswoman Shea-Porter for supporting my amendment, and I urge all of my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my amendment No. 88 of 228, H.R. 2810.

This amendment would call upon the Department of Defense to update its cyber strategy, requiring the President to draft guidance for offensive cyber capabilities, and to authorize international cooperation, including building of our NATO partner allies' cybersecurity.

World war III is raging in cyberspace now. It has become one of the most crucial homeland and global security issues. Our Presidential election came under cyber attack, possibly compromising the American electoral system. But the U.S. is not alone. There were press reports of massive cyber attacks of French President Emmanuel Macron's campaign as well.

My amendment will increase our offensive cyber capabilities to prevent our adversaries from engaging in cyber espionage like we witnessed during the past election cycle and recent global cyber attacks.

Protecting our network is vital to the security of our Nation and allies, and my amendment works to that end.

I thank Congresswoman Rosen for supporting my amendment as well, and I urge all my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a special person in my district, Teresa Reynoso de Gonzalez.

Mrs. Reynoso de Gonzalez and her family have contributed enormously to our community through their efforts in founding and expanding the Northgate Gonzalez markets in California. This month, Mrs. Reynoso de Gonzalez celebrates her 90th birthday.

Mrs. Reynoso de Gonzalez was born in Jalostotitlan, Jalisco Mexico on July 2, 1927 and emigrated to the United States in 1976, where she has served as a loving figure and role model to our community as the co- owner of Northgate Market.

Her leadership of Northgate Market has allowed her family to serve the larger Latino population of Southern California, providing affordable and quality foods and services at over thirty locations and offering a taste of home for the many families that visit Northgate Market with Latino products, culture, and language.

Mrs. Reynoso de Gonzalez and her family's philanthropic efforts extend even further through the Gonzalez Reynoso Family Foundation, which supports neighborhood schools, sports teams, and other events. They have also been instrumental in uplifting the hard-working immigrant community and fostering invaluable memories, such as organizing Christmas gifts for children and hosting reunion meals for local families.

I want to thank Mrs. Reynoso de Gonzalez for the love she has offered so freely. Today, I join my district in recognizing the impact Mrs. Reynoso de Gonzalez has made on the lives she has touched, and wish her a very happy and blessed 90th birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month this June and to honor the over five million Americans that are currently living with this disease right now.

Alzheimer's is a progressive neurodegenerative brain disorder that disables the memory of individuals and causes cognitive decline. Of the top ten leading causes of death in the United States, Alzheimer's is the only disease that cannot be prevented, cured, or even slowed. On top of that, more than 15 million Americans are currently providing unpaid care for loved ones that suffer from Alzheimer's.

As a nation, we have a duty to serve all members of our community. We cannot allow this disease to progress unchecked, which is why I ask my fellow Members of Congress to join me in honoring Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month and ensuring that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has the necessary funding to continue Alzheimer's research. When it comes to the health of Americans, we cannot afford to take shortcuts.

Though Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month has come to an end, our efforts must continue. Mr. Speaker, it is with situations like this that our nation must come together. I am honored to help raise awareness for this worthy cause and invite my colleagues in Congress to join me on this fight.

Mr. Speaker, I want to speak about H.R. 3004, but let me first talk about two of my constituents, Officer Jose Vargas, one of the most decorated police officers in the State of California, and the other, Jose Angel Garibay, a young marine that made the ultimate sacrifice for America.

In 1977, Jose Vargas was named as 1 of the 10 most outstanding police officers in America by the International Association of Chiefs of Police. But it wasn't always that way. At age 16, Jose Vargas headed north to the border for a better life.

Officer Vargas crossed the border 15 times over 4 years. Officer Vargas was probably the only police officer who we know that spent time in a Federal holding cell. America today is better because of Jose Vargas. Jose Vargas added to the greatness of this country and to the security of this country.

Jose Angel Garibay, a young marine, was the first soldier from Orange County, California, to make the ultimate sacrifice in the Middle East. He also came to this country undocumented and became a U.S. citizen posthumously.

Mr. Speaker, yes, we must keep out the bad hombres. We don't welcome those who would do us harm, but America must continue to welcome those who come to America to work hard and to contribute. This bill fails to make this critical and important distinction.

At the end of the day, we are all immigrants and we are all part of this great country, and I urge my colleagues today: do not brand millions of immigrants as criminals when their only crime is searching for the American Dream.

I urge Members to vote ``no'' on H.R. 3004.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2131, the DHS FIRM Act, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2131, or the DHS FIRM Act, seeks to ensure greater consistency and transparency in how discipline is administered across the Department of Homeland Security. Discipline administered in a fair and equitable manner has a huge implication on job satisfaction.

Since 2003, DHS, a diverse, multimission Federal Department, has struggled with low morale. At the end of the prior administration, there was evidence that the DHS workforce was starting to feel a more fair and cooperative and supportive DHS. In 2016, the Office of Personnel Management reported a 3 percent increase in the annual Employee Viewpoint Survey, which indicated that DHS supported fairness and protection of employees from arbitrary action.

While the OPM survey results are positive indicators, more must be done by the current DHS leadership. This bill seeks to give the Department's Chief Human Capital Officer a more prominent role in ensuring that discipline is handled in an equitable and fair manner. Specifically, this bill charges the Chief Human Capital Officer with oversight of how employee misconduct is managed across all components.

To ensure fairness and transparency, the bill requires each component to accomplish a matrix of offenses and penalties that is tailored to the needs of that organization, and upon approval by the Department's Chief Human Capital Officer, such information to be shared with the workforce.

While it is essential that senior-level human capital personnel at DHS have a structure to address discipline, it is equally important that such discipline be administered in a fair and equitable manner. This is what this bill actually does.

Mr. Speaker, the implementation of a Departmentwide discipline and adverse action policy should improve employer and employee relations and communication. Enacting this legislation will send a message of support for the Department's workforce who, every day, do things big and small to guard our country against terrorists and other bad actors. These Department personnel are entrusted with the security of our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 2131, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1282, the DHS Acquisition Review Board Act of 2017, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, in recent years, the Department of Homeland Security has strengthened the management of its major acquisition programs, which historically has been weak.

H.R. 1282 authorizes the key mechanisms from the previous administration to ensure acquisitions valued at more than $300 million, which account for over $7 billion of DHS' annual budget, receive ongoing scrutiny--let me repeat, receive ongoing scrutiny.

Since 2008, the Acquisition Review Board has brought leaders together from across the Department to validate foundational acquisition documents such as cost and schedule estimates and performance requirements. The Department has had to learn the hard way about the importance of adhering to its acquisition best practices, including the establishment of realistic requirements in cost estimates that take into account the life cycle of costs.

An example is the SBInet program, started in 2006, that was supposed to bring together integration of systems of infrastructure and technology to secure the border. This program was terminated in 2011 only after $1 billion had been spent. Let me repeat that. This program was terminated in 2011, but only after $1 billion had been spent.

The acquisition went wrong because CBP bypassed required processes and awarded a multimillion-dollar contract without having laid the foundation to oversee contractor performance, cost controls, and scheduling.

Just last week, the Department was forced to cancel its $1.5 billion Agile Services contract, or the FLASH contract, due to significant errors and missteps in the procurement process.

Many of us are concerned that, in the Department's haste to deliver the President's campaign promise to build a wall, critical steps in the acquisition process will be short-circuited, leaving Americans with a bill for a bad investment.

At this time, a centralized oversight body for DHS major acquisitions is more important than ever.

This bill provides for the board to convene when a major acquisition program requires authorization to proceed from one decision event to another, or is in breach of its approved requirements, or requires additional review.

Efficiency and effectiveness in the acquisition process is imperative for the DHS mission of procuring goods, services, and supplies in support of its national security efforts. The Committee on Homeland Security unanimously approved this measure earlier this Congress, and similar language was approved by the House in October 2015.

By establishing this board into law and laying out its responsibilities, Congress can ensure that this vital oversight will continue and that DHS will continue to show progress in its management of acquisitions.

I urge passage of this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, first, I want to thank my colleague from Virginia for bringing forth this most important accountability measure.

This bill enhances the Department's accountability and provides greater acquisition oversight to intercede before programs fail to meet important cost and schedule milestones.

Given DHS's limited budgetary resources and the importance of its mission, it is critical that DHS improves its management of major acquisition programs. Although the Department has made some progress in its major acquisition programs, DHS cannot afford to neglect the day- to-day management of the agency and how it procures essential goods and services.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take some time today to honor one of my constituents, Mr. Tony Napoli, for his immense dedication to serving Santa Ana's youth.

Mr. Napoli is an accomplished businessman with a background in technology, having graduated from the Connecticut College of Electricians as an electronic technician. But Mr.

Napoli is far more than just a businessman. In his spare time, Mr. Napoli volunteers as a Chamber Ambassador to the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce, and his great service earned him the Ambassador of the Year Award in 2011.

Mr. Napoli fully embodies the value of community service in all aspects of his life. Concerned with local high school graduation rates and skill level of recent graduates, Mr. Napoli with the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce partnered with the Santa Ana Unified School District to start the High School Incorporated Program, a unique collaboration that seeks to provide vocational training and career advice to high school students.

Passionate about investing in youth, Mr. Napoli chose to give even more of his free time to this program, especially the Automotive and Transportation division. Mr. Napoli also serves as a Business Advisor, advising the division on budget matters and providing valuable mentorship while also consistently visiting the inspirational students in class.

Mr. Napoli's dedication and service has helped raise the graduation rate for the program to 95 percent with many students already fully certified and well equipped for their bright futures.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Napoli is an example to us all of the incredible value found in community engagement. I am honored to recognize Mr. Napoli for doing his part in bridging the gap, and thank him for the positive impact he has made on the Santa Ana and Orange County community.

Mr. Speaker, World War III is raging in cyber space right now. It has become one of the most crucial homeland and global security issues.

In May, there was a global cyberattack--most likely by the North Koreans--that was reported to have hit 200,000 computers in more than 150 countries.

Last year, our Presidential elections came under cyber attack, possibly compromising the American electoral system. According to a January report of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, ``Russian efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election represent the most recent expression of Moscow's longstanding desire to undermine the US-led liberal democratic order.'' The United States is not alone. There were press reports of a massive cyber hack of French President Emmanuel Macron's campaign.

This is an issue that impacts the security of the United States and our allies. We cannot wait for the next attack. Instead, we must have a comprehensive, proactive cybersecurity strategy. That is why I am introducing legislation today.

First, my legislation will call on the Department of Defense to update its cyber strategy. Second, it will require the President to draft a strategy for offensive cyber capabilities. Finally, it authorizes international cooperation, including building up NATO partner cyber capabilities.

My legislation will increase our offensive cyber abilities to help prevent our adversaries from engaging in the types of cyber espionage we witnessed during the past election and in recent global cyber attacks. Protecting our networks is vital to the security of our nation and allies, and my legislation works towards that end.