Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, it is my honor today to recognize the achievements of Mrs. Gracie Parrish, who is being honored by The Chamber of Northwest Douglas County as a ``Woman Who Soars.''

On December 31, 2017, Gracie was startled awake by `The Knock,' the nightmare of every law enforcement family member. Deputies proceeded to tell her that 29-year-old Deputy Zack Parrish, her husband of 8\1/2\ years and father to their 4-year-old Caroline and 18-month-old Everly, had been killed in the line of duty.

Upon reflecting on her journey as a police officer's wife, she recognized the need for brotherhood and sisterhood among those who are directly affiliated with the law enforcement community. This led her to start The Shelter Foundation, a non-profit organization to guide and assist the families of law enforcement officers through the trials often associated with a law enforcement career.

The foundation provides education to officers and their families, a protected and positive forum for social support, and a place for officers and their families to foster friendships and find community through like-minded social events and consistent connection. They firmly believe the best time to build a firm foundation is before tragedy strikes; however, if tragedy becomes reality, they will stand with those families.

Described as a pillar of strength for inspiring others with her courage, poise and perseverance, there are few others deserving of such an honor. I congratulate Mrs. Parrish for receiving recognition as a ``Woman Who Soars.''

Madam Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Douglas County, Colorado, being named the healthiest community in the United States by U.S. News and World Report.

With all due respect to all of my colleagues in this body, there is no State like Colorado. We are home to 300 days of sunshine, the Rocky Mountains, and the best breweries and skiing in the country. And it should be no surprise that it helped make us the seventh fastest growing State in the country.

But this year we have added another accomplishment to our list: community health.

With seven of America's top 25 healthiest communities in Colorado, Douglas County tops that list. Home to countless walking trails, community-building events, 63,000 acres of protected land, and innovative infrastructure, Douglas County is truly a great place to live.

Mr. Speaker, I welcome my colleagues to Douglas County and the rest of our incredible district to see for themselves what makes The Centennial State so great.

Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition.

Madam Chairwoman, I rise today in opposition to the amendment.

This amendment would strike a critical provision of H.R. 1 that cracks down on organizations that are flooding our elections with dark money. In the 2018 cycle, $150 million was spent by groups that did not have to disclose their donors. Voters had no idea who was spending this money to influence their vote.

What it does is create a system in Washington that leaves elected officials beholden to mega-donors, rather than the needs of their constituents. This is a direct threat to our democracy, and it is coming from within this Chamber.

This is a problem that is only getting worse. Since Citizens United, dark money spending has gone up by more than 8,000 percent. Part of the problem is the law isn't being enforced. Some so-called social welfare organizations are devoting too much of their time to political activity, yet they are allowed a tax-exempt status and don't have to disclose their donors. And the IRS can't do anything about it.

We must allow the IRS to move forward on the 2013 rule to define acceptable levels of political activity by these organizations. This will create a clear standard. If a group violates this standard, and it fails to adhere to its social welfare mission, then it should lose its tax-exempt status, and it should register as a PAC.

If you are going to spend millions of dollars to influence someone's vote, then you better have the courage to stand behind your words. Instead, mega-donors have taken advantage of a loophole that allows them to donate to a tax-exempt welfare organization while hiding their identity.

All Americans should care about the abuse of social welfare organizations. It undermines the sanctity of so many other valuable and necessary organizations.

Let's be clear about what is happening here. This amendment serves one purpose: to hide mega-donor support for campaigns. Let's pull back the

curtain and let Americans see who is really behind those negative ads.

Madam Chairwoman, I reserve the remainder of my time.

Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lofgren).

Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Sarbanes).

Madam Chair, how much time is remaining?

Madam Chair, this is more than one simple issue. This is about rule of law; it is about transparency; and it is about the democracy that we must become if we are to return power back to our communities.

This is already the law.

What my colleagues on the other side want to do is prevent the government from enforcing the law.

This is about rule of law and making sure we are enforcing what is already on the books, and we are prohibiting the abuse of social welfare organizations and we are bringing to light dark money.

The voters of this country deserve to know who is spending money, millions of dollars, to influence their vote. It should not be hidden. The people of our communities deserve to know who is spending that money to influence our vote, and that is why I ask folks in this Chamber, my colleagues, to oppose this amendment and let's restore our democracy and return power back to our communities.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call on my colleagues to support H.R. 1.

It is no coincidence that the largest freshman class since Watergate will also be the one to pass H.R. 1 this week. We are a class that is born of voters' frustrations with a broken system.

Americans have seen this Chamber pass bills that hurt the middle class, raise prescription drug prices, gut consumer protections, and fail to act on climate change. Why? Because the special interests have more power than the American people. It is the exact opposite of what should happen in the people's House.

In the Army, I was taught the values of servant leadership. As a captain, that meant leading by example. I jumped out of the plane first, and only then would my soldiers follow.

As a Member of Congress, it means we hold ourselves to the highest standards of ethics, accountability, and transparency. Servant leaders don't hold a tight grip on power; they empower those around them. The first step to doing that is to pass H.R. 1 and return power to the people who sent us here.

Let's show America that we are their Representatives, and that we are elected to serve them, not the mega-donors and not the special interests.

Madam Speaker, on February 11, 2019, I was unable to be present to cast my vote on the Social Media Use in Clearance Investigations Act (H.R. 1065) and the Creating Advanced Streamlined Electronic Services for Constituents Act (H.R. 1079). Had I been present for roll calls No. 76 and 77, I would have voted ``aye'' for both measures.

Madam Speaker, I rise in memory of the 17 students killed nearly 1 year ago today at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. They deserve more than our remembrance, though. They deserve action and the promise that we as a country will do better. I speak today as a father, as a soldier, as a sportsman, and as a resident of Aurora, Colorado.

I respect the Second Amendment and our heritage of responsible gun ownership, but I learned while serving our country that citizenship comes with duties to our fellow Americans. One of those duties is to ensure that our fellow citizens can live without fear and safely pursue their dreams and ambitions. I was sent here to speak the truth, and the truth is we are not fulfilling that duty to one another.

So let us be the generation who has the courage to stand up to the gun lobby and to the special interests. Let us be the generation that recognizes that citizenship comes with responsibility. I know we can be that generation.

The question is: Can we be that Congress?

I call on my colleagues to pass H.R. 8 and reinstitute the ban on assault weapons to keep our kids and our communities safe.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak out against the great harm this shutdown has on our Nation's veterans. I have often said, when politicians talk tough, real people get hurt.

Today, over 150,000 veterans are furloughed or working without pay. In Colorado, over 20,000 veterans who rely on SNAP food assistance are left wondering if they will be able to afford to feed their families.

This is more than just a delayed paycheck. It is about the denial of dignity and respect.

As one furloughed veteran in Colorado told me, when he took off the uniform, he wanted to continue serving our country by working for the government. We owe it to him and all others to honor that service by getting them back to work. There is a sacred promise in America that, if you step up to serve, we will be there for you when you take off the uniform.

After I returned from my third tour of duty, I was grateful that my country was there for me, and today, I stand before you to make sure we are there for them. It is time for the Senate to vote. It is time to reopen the government. And it is time to end this travesty.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 29.