Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Today, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2062, the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act.

Fifty-four years ago, Congress passed the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. This law prohibits workplace discrimination against Americans over the age of 40, yet too many older Americans still face discrimination in the workplace.

In 2018, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission acknowledged that ``age discrimination remains a significant and costly problem for workers, their families, and our economy.'' This is corroborated by a 2019 AARP survey which found that roughly 60 percent of older workers have witnessed or experienced age discrimination.

Making matters worse, a misguided Supreme Court ruling in 2009 set a precedent which now requires a plaintiff in an age discrimination suit to prove that his or her age was the only motivating factor in an employer's adverse actions. This is, quite frankly, unacceptable.

Older Americans bring unrivaled experience and wisdom to their jobs. It is up to us to restore the workplace protections to what Congress intended.

I would also like to note that age discrimination affects many workers with disabilities. This is an added challenge for the disability community, which faces several other barriers to competitive, integrated employment.

Even more disheartening is that some courts have applied the same misguided 2009 Supreme Court standard of claims to disability-based employment discrimination. In doing so, these lower courts are undermining the key promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act and throwing the congressional intent to the wind.

H.R. 2062 will correct that record. In fact, the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act will restore vital employment protections to millions of older American workers and workers with disabilities.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me today in supporting its final passage. It is the right thing to do.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the importance of celebrating Juneteenth as a national holiday.

For a century after the last slaves were freed, Black Americans were denied the rights considered ``unalienable'' by the Constitution. Even after July 4, 1776, millions of enslaved people and their descendants would not experience independence for decades. Over the last 50 years, systemic racism has continued to hinder many who strive to live out the American Dream.

Despite the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, Black people would remain enslaved in parts of the Confederacy for nearly two and a half years. On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, delivering news of the end of the Civil War and of slavery.

The message he conveyed that day was simple. General Order Number 3 declared that ``. . . all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property, between former masters and slaves . . .''

The following year, the newly liberated people of Texas began celebrating Juneteenth as a celebration of answered prayers and new opportunities.

This tradition slowly spread throughout the country, eventually becoming a holiday or day of observance in 49 states and the District of Columbia. My home state of Rhode Island has observed Juneteenth since 2012.

While Juneteenth has been widely celebrated among African American communities since the end of the Civil War, the prominence of the holiday has grown significantly in recent years.

I am proud to have supported the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act when it passed in Congress and was signed into law last week. It is my hope that June 19th will serve as a day of reflection and an annual call to recommit ourselves to the American ideals of freedom and equality.

For far too long, our society has denied the promise of these ideals to many Americans.

From the Jim Crow era until today, Black Americans have been the target of racism and bigotry, treated as second class citizens, denied opportunity, and subjected to countless violent attacks by racist mobs and individuals.

Over the last year, the United States has experienced the most intensive reckoning with slavery and its legacy since the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.

The Black Lives Matter movement and nationwide protests following the death of George Floyd have cast a light on the disparate outcomes that persist for Black people in education, employment, interactions with the police, and numerous other aspects of everyday life.

These disparities contribute to--and are influenced by--the intergenerational racial wealth gap. Recent studies show that Black children face significantly higher rates of downward economic mobility and lower rates of upward mobility compared to white children.

For instance, a Black child born into a high-income family is as likely to end up in the bottom 20 percent of earners as an adult as they are to remain in top 20 percent. In contrast, a white child born to parents with the same income is five times more likely to remain in the top income quintile as they are to fall to the bottom of the income distribution.

The systemic racism ingrained in American society must come to an end. As Members of Congress, we need to face this challenge head on, with clear eyes, open minds, and full hearts. Making Juneteenth a national holiday is a start, but our constituents have shown us that sustained Congressional inaction is no longer an option.

This is the moment to pass comprehensive policing reform, protect and expand voting rights, and remove the vestiges of slavery from our social fabric for good.

In the last two years, the House has passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and the Voting Rights Advancement Act. The Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys Act was signed into law in December after passing both chambers with overwhelming bipartisan support.

This is the kind of legislation we need to begin unwinding the political, economic, and societal policies that have disadvantaged Black Americans since Reconstruction.

This Juneteenth, I hope my colleagues join me in reflecting on the myriad barriers to opportunity that exist for far too many Black Americans and in promoting concrete actions Congress can take to remove them.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of our newest Federal holiday. Juneteenth marks the critical point in our Nation's history when the final enslaved Americans were freed from the evil bondage of slavery 156 years ago.

Honestly, as a student growing up in Rhode Island, surrounded by mostly White classmates, I was never taught about Juneteenth. As much as I hate to admit it, Juneteenth was simply not a part of my education.

Some of my colleagues have suggested that we should ignore our history, as inconvenient or uncomfortable as it may be. Well, that is wrong. As a nation, we must own up to our mistakes and celebrate our ability to overcome them, not attempt to sweep them under the rug.

Juneteenth is every bit a part of American history. It is a time to honor those who fought so hard to end slavery and to reflect on the work that remains before true racial justice is achieved.

As we celebrate last week's vote, let us recommit ourselves to rooting out the systemic racism that still plagues our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3233. On September 11, 2001, I was a freshman in Congress. We suffered attacks that day because of a failure of imagination. Since then, I have dedicated myself to getting ahead of the curve, to seeing over the horizon, to preventing another such devastating surprise. Yet, on January 6, I, along with so many others, was caught by surprise.

In the past 5 months, I have reflected. What signs did we miss? Were we unprepared for a tide of American rioters? Why were some citizens actually taking the big lie about the election seriously enough to actually commit violence?

The January 6 commission will answer these and many other difficult questions and deliver a complete record for posterity of what could possibly have happened to bring about such a betrayal of our democracy.

We will not defeat darkness with darkness. We need light. We will not defeat lies with lies. We need truth. This commission will bring forth the truth and it is only the truth that can truly heal the rift that is tearing our country apart.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member Katko for their leadership.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Shawn Friedkin, a passionate advocate for people with disabilities, whose life was cut short after a courageous battle with cancer. John Friedkin was my friend, and we were kindred spirits.

At the age of 27, Shawn was in a car accident that left him paralyzed. Instead of allowing that experience to defeat him, he used it to help others overcome their own obstacles and reach their full potential.

In 1997, he founded Stand Among Friends, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with spinal cord injuries, and more broadly, improving employment outcomes so that people with disabilities can live ``life without limits.'' That was Shawn's philosophy, ``a life without limits,'' and he applied it to everything he did.

Whether providing assistance through Stand Among Friends, establishing a disability resource center at Florida Atlantic University, or advocating for legislation in Congress, Shawn demonstrated his unwavering commitment to improving the quality of life for individuals with disabilities everywhere.

Mr. Speaker, I was proud to call Shawn a friend. Although his life was cut far too short, his legacy will live on through his work and his loving family.

Madam Speaker, I rise to mourn and honor the victims of the massacres against Armenians of Sumgait on February 27-29, 1988; of Kirovabad on November 21-27, 1988; and of Baku on January 13-19, 1990. During these events, attackers tortured and killed hundreds of Armenian residents. I condemn these pogroms and subsequent aggression by the Azerbaijanis against Armenian civilians and their culture.

As we approach the anniversary of the attacks in Sumgait 33 years ago and reflect on Azerbaijan's ruthless aggression in Artsakh last fall, I urge the U.S. to take a leading role in achieving a fair, just, and lasting peace settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has shed innocent blood for far too long, and its actions are a clear violation of the international order. I call on the Biden Administration to take a different approach from the previous administration when it comes to holding bad actors accountable. The U.S. must uphold human rights for everyone, everywhere.

Madam Speaker, this Sunday, February 21, 2021, marks the 100th anniversary of Boy Scout Troop 1 Conimicut, the oldest scout troop in my hometown of Warwick, Rhode Island. Over the past century, Troop 1 Conimicut has served its community, fostered lifelong friendships, and helped its members grow into confident and upstanding citizens.

On February 21, 1921, three adults and five young men founded Troop 1 Conimicut at the Woodbury Union Presbyterian Church in Warwick. The Troop quickly grew, so much so that by the 1930s, it was the second largest in the Narragansett Council. By the 1950s, Troop 1 Conimicut had more than 150 scouts, and in 1952, produced its first Eagle Scout, Mr. Robert L. Richardson, who remains the namesake of one of the Troop's most distinguished awards. By the early 1970s, the Troop reached another milestone when Mr. Alan J. Whittaker, a Troop 1 Conimicut Eagle Scout, became its first ``homegrown'' scoutmaster. Mr. Whittaker's passion for the Troop is evident from his continued involvement to this day.

Throughout its century of existence, Troop 1 Conimicut has engaged in many meaningful service projects. Some notable examples include collecting food for the Rhode Island Food Bank and other pantries, compiling toiletry kits for homeless veterans, and packing backpacks with supplies to distribute to foster families. Scouts have also refurbished Warwick's Sand Pond Trail, repaired the band room at Pilgrim High School, and constructed a fire pit to properly retire American flags at a local American Legion Post.

Today, Troop 1 Conimicut continues to meet weekly at the Woodbury Union Church and remains an organization committed to mentorship, service, and growth. I congratulate Troop 1 Conimicut of Warwick on its centennial and commend its positive contributions to our community.

Madam Speaker, January 6 was a horrific day for our country, for our democracy. The Capitol was breached, the blood of our defenders spilled, all because of a lie that the elections were stolen, a lie that has infected this Nation as perniciously as the pandemic.

President Trump is the source of that lie. He has perverted and betrayed his oath to defend the Constitution, attacking the foundation of our democracy by inciting his supporters to violence. He is not fit to serve and is a danger to our country while he does.

I too pledged to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. I will uphold that oath.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

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

Mr. Chairman, my amendment funds ongoing efforts to assess the viability of using low-enriched uranium fuel in naval reactors, including those in aircraft carriers and submarines, something this Congress has supported for many years now.

The United States has demonstrated strong leadership to minimize, and wherever possible all but eliminate, the use of highly enriched uranium for civilian purposes. Doing so reduces the risk of nuclear terrorism and makes clear that the accumulation of HEU is solely for nuclear weapons purposes, undercutting any nation's argument that they need it for anything else.

Using low-enriched uranium, or LEU, in naval reactor fuel can bring significant national security benefits with respect to nuclear nonproliferation, lower security costs, and put naval reactor research and development at the cutting edge of science. Pursuing the development of LEU fuel offers the opportunity to achieve transformational progress on fuel technology.

Additionally, unless an alternative using low-enriched uranium fuel is developed in the coming decades, the United States will have to resume production of bomb-grade uranium for the first time since 1992, ultimately undermining U.S. nonproliferation efforts.

Using LEU for naval reactors is not a pipe dream. France's nuclear Navy already has converted from using HEU to using LEU fuel for its vessels. We must evaluate the feasibility of a similar transition for the U.S. Navy and take into account the potential benefits to the U.S. and international security of setting a norm of using LEU instead of nuclear bomb-grade material.

As America confronts the threat of nuclear terrorism and as countries continue to enrich uranium for naval purposes, the imperative to reduce the use of HEU will become increasingly important over the next several decades.

As such, as I said, Congress has sought to advance these efforts in a bipartisan, bicameral way over the last several years by evaluating the potential of utilizing LEU fuel in reactors for U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and submarines.

Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, let me say that we can't fear the future. We must invest in research and development.

I want to point out that the then-chair, the Naval Reactors Director, Admiral Richardson, testified before the House Armed Services Committee. He said, with current technology, ``the potential exists that we could develop an advanced fuel system that might increase uranium loading and make low-enriched uranium possible while still meeting some very rigorous performance requirements for naval reactors on nuclear-powered warships.''

To address the concerns of my colleague, I want to mention that this House has already included $20 million for this research in the Energy and Water appropriations package that passed the House on June 19, which also included a $15 million increase to NNSA Federal salaries and expenses over fiscal year 2019.

These spending levels have already been set by the House. This amendment simply matches the authorization level with the House-passed appropriations level.

Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, may I inquire how much time remains on both sides.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support the amendment.

Mr. Chair, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Foster), who is the House's only nuclear physicist.

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

Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this en bloc package, and I would also like to speak in favor of en bloc package No. 10, which includes four of my amendments.

The first would mandate that the President provide Congress with a copy of National Security Presidential Memorandums related to military operations in cyberspace.

Congress has a vital role to play in ensuring that offensive cyber operations do not inadvertently undermine stability in cyberspace. Unfortunately, the White House has continuously stymied our efforts and attempts to conduct this constitutionally-protected oversight, refusing to provide important policy documents that took effect nearly a year ago.

Ironically, I have largely supported the administration's more forward-leaning posture, but regardless of my feelings towards the underlying strategy, it is unacceptable that the White House continues to stonewall our attempts to oversee sensitive operations. This amendment will stop that obstruction.

A second amendment ensures that new software acquisition pathways will include cybersecurity metrics. I strongly support updating how the Pentagon buys software, but it is important that we have explicit measures of the security of the code that we are buying.

Now, I hope that this amendment will both drive the adoption of metrics related to common software weaknesses and lead to broader changes, such as increased use of type-safe programming languages.

Finally, this package includes two amendments related to our Special Operations Forces.

The first extends by 3 years a relatively new irregular warfare authority, which is designed to address threats in the gray zone below the level of armed conflict in order to gauge its use and effectiveness.

The second would strengthen requirements that the Department notify Congress before exercising a counterterrorism authority referred to as 127 Echo. This authority has proven its worth over the last decade, but I believe that we must continue to improve our rigorous oversight to ensure appropriate use.

Mr. Chairman, I urge adoption of this en bloc package and my amendments in en bloc package No. 10.

Mr. Chair, I want to thank the gentleman for yielding.

Today I rise in strong support of the fiscal year 2020 NDAA, and I would like to thank Chairman Smith for his work on this important legislation.

I am particularly pleased with the provisions in the bill that were reported out of the Intelligence and Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee, which I chair.

Mr. Chair, I want to also begin by thanking my subcommittee ranking member, Ms. Stefanik, for her contributions to this bill and her bipartisan partnership throughout the process.

Befitting our focus on emerging capabilities, this bill provides for additional investments in cybersecurity as well as 5G technology, and additive manufacturing, and supports education programs to grow the STEM workforce.

Recognizing the challenges of foreign intelligence services targeting academic institutions, the bill establishes a public-private partnership at the National Academies to address counterintelligence concerns, while maintaining an open and collaborative research environment.

Provisions are included also to synchronize efforts and leverage best practices across the Department relating to network, industrial base, military installation, and weapon system cybersecurity. We strengthen oversight of military operations in cyber operations to ensure the administration's more assertive posture continues to promote stability in cyberspace.

Several provisions in the bill also reflect my priority that Special Operations Forces remain a professional, agile, and ready force postured for high-end missions. In recognition, though, of the tragic three-fold increase of SOF suicides in 2018, the bill increases funding for suicide prevention. This bill also maintains a focus on professionalism and ethics of the force.

The NDAA places significant emphasis on ensuring the Defense Intelligence Enterprise also is oriented to provide maximum support to Department requirements.

The bill also requires more rigorous reporting on the progress of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center and the technical achievements of Project Maven.

Further, this legislation includes critical investments in our submarine fleet. I hail from the great State of Rhode Island, and we are deeply proud of our Nation's submarines, all of which start their journey being built at Quonset Point in my district. Thanks to the leadership of Congressman Joe Courtney from Connecticut, this NDAA recognizes the unique contributions of our undersea vessels, and for the first time includes a third Virginia-class submarine.

It also makes sustained investments in game-changing technologies, like electromagnetic railgun and directed energy weapon systems, positioning our warfighters to continue to dominate the battlefield for decades to come.

Finally, the fiscal year 2020 NDAA makes measured investments that reflect both our many national security challenges and the fiscal realities that we face. It reflects the hard choices that our constituents demand on us when spending their tax dollars and it enhances congressional oversight to ensure those dollars are used wisely.

Now, I have heard my colleagues across the aisle decry it as underfunding the military. Well, I fundamentally disagree.

This is my 17th NDAA, and if this bill put our troops at risk, I would be the first to say so and I would not support it. It does not.

Mr. Chair, our military is the finest in the world, but there must be accountability and the Department must live within its means.

Mr. Chair, I commend Chairman Smith for striking an appropriate balance with this NDAA, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise with deep sadness to remember a luminary in the field of cybersecurity.

Michael Assante passed away last Friday. The many tributes that have poured in from people in the ICS security community are a testament to his pioneering work and his kind soul.

I, too, have been touched by Mike's work. Mike and his colleagues at Idaho National Laboratory first briefed me many years ago on the Aurora vulnerability that showed how a bad actor could use malware to cause physical damage to the electric grid and potentially knock out power to millions.

That brief first piqued my interest in cybersecurity and led to my cofounding the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus with Congressman McCaul.

Mike was many things--a brilliant researcher, a loving husband, a ferocious fighter of the cancer that eventually claimed his life--but I will always remember him, as will so many who went through his SANS Institute courses, as an educator.

I cherished my time with Mike because I knew he would help me understand how Congress could better secure the operational technology underlying our daily lives.

Michael Assante made a difference. He can never be replaced, but I will continue to honor his legacy by fighting to improve our Nation's cybersecurity.

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

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

Madam Chair, I would like to begin by thanking the Rules Committee for making my amendment in order, as well as Chairman Visclosky and Ranking Member Calvert for their hard work on this division of the appropriations package.

Madam Chair, I offer this bipartisan amendment with my good friends and colleagues, Mr. Lamborn and Mr. Lieu, in support of electromagnetic railgun, a technology that has been described as ``revolutionary'' and a potential multimission ``game changer.''

The electromagnetic railgun truly transforms naval power projection. This technology can rapidly launch high-velocity projectiles capable of precision strikes at a range of more than 100 miles, all without the need for combustible propellants or motors. Ships deploying with this system will have longer ranges, deeper magazines, and lower cost-per- shot than conventional naval artillery.

This technology has already received initial investments; however, current and future investment is absolutely vital to ensure the railgun module being designed is built to meet the needs of the Future Surface Combatant specifications and can be tested aboard existing naval vessels.

The additional $10 million provided by this amendment will help keep delivery of an integrated prototype mount system on its original timeline of being ready by 2021. Continued investment in this program will also support live-fire engagement testing using hypervelocity projectiles and the next generation of shipboard compatible pulsed power.

While I believe the United States continues to lead the way, our adversaries are not resting on their laurels, as they are also investing, researching, and developing these groundbreaking technologies. Earlier this year, for instance, reports emerged of the Chinese Navy fielding an electromagnetic railgun. So it is absolutely critical that we not allow them or anyone to beat us to the punch.

Given the maturity of the technology and the urgency impressed upon us by our competitors, I hope the House will send a well-funded railgun program to the Senate.

Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close. I yield myself the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, first of all, I want to thank Chairman Visclosky and Ranking Member Calvert for their comments and their support and for their hard work on the consideration of this division of the appropriations package and all they have done and continue to do to advance our national security and make sure that our warfighters never enter a fair fight.

This bipartisan amendment supports game-changing technology that is already demonstrating tactically relevant capability. Just last month at White Sands Missile Range, the Navy fired a railgun on a 34-degree trajectory at 6 megajoules and will be firing at 20 megajoules in September.

By building upon years of development and investment, the Navy railgun will be tested as early as next year aboard surface vessels, firing explosive and nonexplosive projectiles at air- and sea-based targets.

Along with my colleagues Mr. Lamborn and Mr. Lieu, I urge support of this amendment.

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

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

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

Madam Chair, my amendment would provide $2 million for civics education grants under the Department of Defense National Defense Education Program as authorized by the House fiscal year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act that was reported out of the Armed Services Committee last week.

Madam Chair, it is not an exaggeration to say American democracy is under attack, and we need to shore up our defenses. Foreign governments, particularly Russia, are actively engaged in efforts to undermine our democracy and sow seeds of discord among the electorate, and they have been frighteningly successful.

In the special counsel's report on Russian interference in the 2016 Presidential election, Director Mueller described Russia's election- meddling operations as ``sweeping and systemic.''

Russia systematically waged a misinformation campaign to weaken our confidence and participation in the democratic process, including by discouraging voting, undermining confidence in our institutions of government, promoting false political narratives, and widening social divisions.

Madam Chair, we need to increase our resilience to these attacks on our democracy, and I believe civics education must be a major part of this strategy. Civics programs provide students with an understanding of American law, how government works, and the skills to participate in democracy.

A citizenry armed with a civics background, I believe, is absolutely crucial to a healthy democracy; and in the context of the threats that we face today, I believe it is vital to the stability of our democracy.

Unfortunately, only 17 percent of Americans say they can trust the Federal Government to do what is right at least most of the time; only 26 percent of Americans can name all three branches of government; and less than 30 percent of fourth, eighth, and twelfth grade students scored proficient on the 2014 National Assessment of Education Progress civics test.

Furthermore, in 2016, only 56 percent of the United States voting-age population voted in the Presidential election, a number lower than most other developed democratic nations.

It should come as no surprise that we are vulnerable to misinformation campaigns. Too many of us do not fully understand or engage in the democratic process.

Madam Chair, I believe that we need to increase participation and improve civic knowledge, and education is, I believe, the way to do it.

$2 million for civics education is just a start, but it will fund the development of innovative, evidence-based civics programs at the Department of Defense schools to start with.

Working with colleges and universities or expert nonprofits, DOD schools will help pilot new curricula targeted to improving longitudinal metrics, including democratic participation and media literacy. This will allow us to build new programs, test their efficacy, and, from there, chart a broader path forward.

Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and encourage the development of more effective civics education programs.

Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I have no further speakers, and I will close by just thanking Chairman Visclosky and Ranking Member Calvert for their work on the Defense Subcommittee portion of this package and for their commitment to our national defense.

As I said, I am troubled by the work of our enemies and adversaries to try to undermine confidence in government, sowing divisions among the electorate. I am hoping that by strengthening our civics education, starting with our young people, we will build resiliency into protecting our democracy and everything that we love about this country.

Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

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

Madam Chair, my amendment supports the 43 million family caregivers nationwide who provide long-term services to their aging or disabled loved ones.

These individuals provide the vast majority of long-term care in our country. In fact, AARP, if you had to put a dollar figure on it, has estimated that family caregivers provide some $470 billion a year in uncompensated care.

Respite care services provide short-term relief for these family caregivers and is one of the most frequently requested services.

Let's face it, if a caregiver can't take care of their own health or get a break and look out for their well-being, they certainly will have a very hard time providing the very best care for their loved ones in need.

Access to respite care has been shown to improve caregiver health and well-being, promote family stability, and avoid or delay the need for admission to costly institutional settings, resulting in significant savings for both the healthcare system and taxpayers.

The Lifespan Respite Care Program is the only Federal effort that provides respite care services regardless of age or disability. The Lifespan Respite Care Program is often the only open door for families affected by conditions with an earlier onset, like multiple sclerosis, since other Federal programs are focused on children or seniors.

Madam Chair, 37 States and the District of Columbia have used Lifespan Respite Care grants to coordinate and streamline respite services as well as provide direct resources to help families pay for planned or emergency respite care.

Providing an additional $4.5 million for the Lifespan Respite Care Program will allow the Administration for Community Living to award additional grants to States and allow existing grantees to reach more families.

By investing in the Lifespan Respite Care Program, we support family members who perform the rewarding but demanding task of caregiving and empower individuals to live at home, where they are most comfortable, while reducing costs to the healthcare system.

Madam Chair, in closing, let me thank my good friend Ms. DeLauro, the chair of the subcommittee, for her years of leadership fighting to improve the healthcare system for the underprivileged.

By adopting this amendment, we will be setting the appropriation at the highest level since the program was authorized in 2006 by legislation authored by myself as well as Congressman Mike Ferguson. It was a bipartisan bill.

I deeply appreciate the chairwoman's attention to this issue, among many others, and I would again like to thank her and the ranking member for their work on this bill.

Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to show their support for family caregivers by voting in favor of this amendment.

Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro).

Madam Chair, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Connecticut.

Madam Chair, I yield myself the balance of the time.

Madam Chair, I want to, again, stress the importance of providing respite services to our Nation's 43 million family caregivers. Respite care has been proven to save both the healthcare system and taxpayers money, and the lifespan respite care program is the only Federal effort that provides these services regardless of age or disabilities.

We can make a difference for these family caregivers by giving them additional support and respite. It is the right thing to do. It will help them to preserve their own health and preserve the family unit so that they can stay strong to provide further care for their loved ones.

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

Madam Speaker, in the wake of yet another tragedy, I rise to recognize the month of June as National Gun Violence Awareness Month.

On Friday, yet another 12 people lost their lives to gun violence, this time in Virginia Beach. Twelve more families were ripped apart, another community forever changed.

I know firsthand the devastation a gun can cause. The accidental shooting that left me a quadriplegic was life-shattering. And yet the pain of losing a parent, a child, or a friend is forever unimaginable.

I have said too many times to count that we must address the gun violence epidemic head-on. We owe it to the family members, the friends, and the neighbors who lost their lives in Virginia Beach and the thousands more who will die this year.

We know the policies that work. Now we must have the courage to enact them.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1952, the Intercountry Adoption Information Act, and thank my colleague from Georgia, Representative Collins, for his partnership on this bipartisan effort. I would also like to thank Chairman Engel and Ranking Member McCaul for working together to ensure its expeditious consideration by their committee and by the full House.

Whether adopting at home or abroad, every family should have the information they need to navigate the process successfully. Yet, families hoping to adopt from foreign countries can be unaware of political and legal obstacles that may prevent them from doing so.

Russia's adoption ban in 2012 and the Democratic Republic of Congo's intercountry adoption ban in 2013 are just two examples of policies that left families in limbo while they were already in the process of adopting.

More recently, more than 200 American families and Ethiopian children with pending adoptions were stuck in heartbreaking uncertainty--unable to unite their families--when

the Ethiopian government halted all foreign adoption processing.

As countries like Russia and Ethiopia change intercountry adoption processes, or ban adoptions to the United States altogether, families must have up-to-date information regarding policies that could make the adoption process difficult, or even impossible. No family members should be left in the dark, oceans away from each other, wondering if they'll ever be united.

Under the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000, the State Department is required to provide an annual, public report on intercountry adoptions. H.R. 1952 is simple. It would ensure that this report also includes information on policies that may prevent or prohibit adoptions to the United States.

This information would help families navigate the adoption process successfully. I'm proud to lead this effort with Congressman Collins, and I urge my colleagues to support it.