Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for organizing this Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Israel's 75th birthday and 75 years of the U.S.-Israel relationship.

The bipartisan alliance is vital to America's national security and to our fight against terror, including the threat of Iran and its proxies.

Last night, we witnessed the IDF neutralize dangerous PIJ in the Gaza Strip. Day after day, as Israel is threatened, the Iron Dome stands strong against those who seek to do its people harm, whether that is Hamas or Hezbollah or Palestinian Jihad. I remain in steadfast support of Israel's right to defend itself, because, as I said, Israel's security is key to America's national security. It is the democracy in the region.

Over 75 years, Israel has emerged as not only a beacon of democracy, but also a leader of technologic, economic, and security, both in Israel and, of course, in great support to the United States.

I have had the honor of visiting Israel many times and witnessed firsthand the country's beauty and the people's resilience. It is a homeland for Jews from around the world.

In my most recent trip, you can see and feel the palpable excitement about the Abraham Accords as Israel continues to make history as it normalizes with its Arab neighbors, expanding opportunities across the region, security protection, economic opportunity.

Over the past month, I joined two Congressional delegations to Israel with House leadership, showing Israel that our nations' strategic relationship is both bipartisan and stronger than ever. Mazel Tov to our most important Middle East ally, Israel.

Mr. Speaker, I am very grateful to the gentleman for inviting me to be here this evening.

Mr. Speaker, I missed the following votes due to a family issue. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 144 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 145.

Madam Speaker, I missed the following votes due to travel with the President related to the Gateway Train Tunnel project. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 95 and ``nay'' on rollcall No. 96.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk, No. 85.

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendment No. 85.

My amendment imposes important limits on any Department of Energy plan so that our adversaries, including Iran, Russia, China, and North Korea, can't capitalize on American domestic energy production.

We must take steps to ensure any plan involving a drawdown of our Strategic Petroleum Reserve and any increase in energy production does not benefit those doing business with or under the influence of nations like China, Russia, terrorist Iran, or North Korea.

My amendment would put our national security first, ensuring that any plan created under this bill would not financially benefit companies owned by or contracted with these foreign entities.

I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this commonsense provision.

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

The Acting Chair. The gentleman may not reserve the balance of his time.

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

Point of Order

Mr. Chairman, I believe my amendment is germane. It narrows the scope of the bill. I ask for the ruling of the Chair, please.

Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of Amendment 86. As Russia's war on Ukraine continues and the brutality of the Iranian regime remains on full display, I am concerned that H.R. 21 does not properly protect from the terrifying prospect of oil from our Strategic Petroleum Reserve ending up in the wrong hands.

My amendment requires the Secretary of Energy consults with the Secretaries of Agriculture, Defense, and the Interior on a plan for Strategic Petroleum Reserve drawdown and ensures that any strategic reserve drawdown does not result in a sale to Iran, North Korea, China, or Russia.

This amendment would allow for the Defense Department and other relevant agencies to have a say in any plan, given the national security implications.

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

Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Houlahan).

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

Offered By: Mr. Gottheimer

Amendment No. 85: Page 3, strike lines 1 and 2 and insert

the following:

``(2) Limitation.--

``(A) In general.--The plan required by paragraph (1) shall

not provide for--

``(i) a total increase in

Page 3, line 5, strike ``percent.'' and insert ``percent;

or''.

Page 3, after line 5, insert the following:

``(ii) the financial benefit or participation of any entity

that has a contractual relationship with, or is owned,

controlled, or under the influence of, a foreign entity of

concern.

``(B) Definition.--In this paragraph, the term `foreign

entity of concern' means--

``(i) the People's Republic of China;

``(ii) the Democratic People's Republic of Korea;

``(iii) the Russian Federation;

``(iv) the Islamic Republic of Iran; and

``(v) any other country the government of which is subject

to sanctions imposed by the United States.

Offered By: Mr. Gottheimer

Amendment No. 86: Page 3, beginning on line 6, amend

Offered by: Mr. Gottheimer

Amendment No. 40: Page 3, after line 9, insert the

following:

``In consultation with these agencies to ensure any such

plan will not result in the sale of Strategic Petroleum

Reserve reserves to Iran, China, North Korea, or Russia.''

Mr. Speaker, the House voted this week on the bipartisan Sami's Law, which I am proud to have co-led, to enhance safety for rideshare passengers.

Sami's Law has been named to honor Samantha Josephson, a senior at the University of South Carolina, originally from New Jersey, who was kidnapped and brutally murdered by a man pretending to be her Uber driver.

Under Sami's Law, all rideshare services will be required to adopt digital systems that allow passengers to verify the vehicle before they get into the car, make it illegal to sell ridesharing signs without authorization, and create a U.S. Department of Transportation council to ensure safety measures stay current.

The bill also mandates State-issued front license plates for rideshare vehicles and illuminated windshield signs visible day and night. It will examine the prevalence of assault and abuse perpetrated by rideshare drivers and passengers.

We must ensure our residents in New Jersey's Fifth District and nationwide are safe when using rideshare.

I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support commonsense measures like these to ensure the terrible tragedy that befell Samantha Josephson never happens again.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to strongly urge the Hackensack City Council to reconsider their decision to turn down a nearly $2.4 million Federal grant to hire new firefighters, which the Hackensack Fire Department and I worked very hard to claw back from Washington to New Jersey.

This grant will hire new firefighters to better protect our first responders, families, and help lower property taxes by taking the financial burden off of Hackensack taxpayers.

This week, I stood with the Hackensack Fire Department, the Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey, Hackensack IAFF Locals 2081 and 3172, and Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco to call on the Hackensack City Council to accept this Federal grant.

We know that firefighters will be retiring in the coming years, and the public safety report calls for the city to hire new firefighters. Yet, the city council plans to reject the grant and resubmit it for fewer firefighters.

I will do everything I can to support any revised grant application, but this is a very risky decision that could result in no new firefighters being hired with Federal investment, and that puts people's lives in danger.

Mr. Speaker, we must always look out for our families and get the backs of those who protect us.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bipartisan, bicameral legislation, the Invest to Protect Act, to invest in good policing, to fight crime, and to protect our families and officers.

We must ensure that local police departments across our country have what they need to recruit and retain the finest officers, provide necessary training, and invest in providing mental health resources for our officers.

Across our country, we have seen a rise in crime, and this is at a time when it is harder than ever to hire, recruit, and retain officers. In fact, last year, public reports found a 44 percent increase in retirements and an 18 percent increase in resignations of law enforcement.

It is clear: If you want to make something better, you don't get there by cutting or defunding. You need to make smart, targeted investments. We must fund, not defund, law enforcement.

That is why I introduced the bipartisan Invest to Protect Act to make critical investments in local police departments and protect our communities.

Work on Invest to Protect started more than a year ago through bipartisan police reform talks with Democrats and Republicans in the House, the Senate, and the States, including with members of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, who have overwhelmingly endorsed this legislation.

I helped craft the bipartisan Invest to Protect Act with Republican Congressman, former sheriff, and my friend, John Rutherford, and it was developed through conversations with both sides in both Chambers, and with a broad spectrum of stakeholders. I, again, thank the sheriff for his work and leadership.

I am appreciative of the support and input from the National Association of Police Organizations; the Fraternal Order of Police; our New Jersey law enforcement organizations and departments, including the New Jersey State PBA and the New Jersey State Fraternal Order of Police; and my Senate colleagues.

This bill would not be where it is today without the support of Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Joyce Beatty, whose leadership and friendship have been critical. I also thank the Congressional Progressive Caucus for their constructive engagement in this process. I thank Caucus Chairman Jeffries and Speaker Pelosi for their work, as well.

The Invest to Protect Act will invest in small and midsized police departments with fewer than 125 sworn officers, which make up more than 96 percent of local departments.

First, it will invest in officer safety, de-escalation, and domestic violence response training, and it will offset overtime pay for officers who are training.

Second, it will provide grants for departments to recruit new officers. It will also provide retention bonuses to help them keep their best officers on the job.

Finally, it will help departments provide mental health resources for their officers and include strong accountability measures.

These are critical steps we must take.

Going forward, I will continue to fight for additional equipment and training our officers need to protect our communities.

The bottom line: You can't cut or defund your way to safer communities and better police departments. It is about investing to protect. We must always get the backs of those who risk their lives every day to protect us.

Again, I thank Sheriff Rutherford for his leadership, law enforcement unions for working so hard on this legislation, and all of our colleagues on both sides of the aisle for putting country first and getting this legislation to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following letter of support of H.R. 6448, Invest to Protect Act, from the Fraternal Order of Police.

National Fraternal Order of Police,

Washington, DC, September 22, 2022.

Hon. Nancy P. Pelosi,

Speaker, House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Hon. Kevin O. McCarthy,

Minority Leader, House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Hon. Steny H. Hoyer,

Majority Leader, House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Hon. Stephen J. Scalise,

Minority Whip, House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Dear Madam Speaker and Representatives McCarthy, Hoyer and

Scalise: I am writing on behalf of the members of the

Fraternal Order of Police to urge the Members of the U.S.

House of Representatives to support the passage of H.R. 5768,

the ``Violent Incident Clearance and Technological

Investigative Methods (VICTIM) Act,'' and H.R. 6448, the

``Invest to Protect Act,'' which could be considered on the

floor of the House as early as today.

Homicide cases can be very difficult to clear--especially

those committed via firearm--and non-fatal shootings even

more so. Closing these types of crimes requires diligence,

manpower, and a sustained investigative effort. Given the

limited resources of law enforcement agencies, it's important

to provide the significant, dedicated resources that clearing

these crimes requires, especially given their oftentimes

heinous nature, and the need to get justice for the victims

and their families.

The ``VICTIM Act'' would establish a grant program to help

State, Tribal, and local law enforcement agencies improve

their clearance rates for homicides, non-fatal shootings and

other violent crimes. Agencies can use these grant funds to

train, hire, or retain additional detectives, investigators,

or other police personnel to investigate, solve, and respond

to these crimes. The grants can also be used to improve

training for agency personnel to address the needs of victims

and family members impacted by these crimes. By providing

those important resources to law enforcement agencies across

the country, we can improve the chances that murders, sexual

assaults, kidnappings, and non-fatal shootings get cleared.

This means ensuring punishment for the perpetrators, securing

justice for the victims and their families, and providing

peace of mind for the communities our members work so hard to

protect.

The FOP also urges Members of the House to support H.R.

6448, the ``Invest to Protect Act.'' Over the last few years,

law enforcement officers have faced many challenges and

threats to their well-being that have created a dangerous

environment for those sworn to protect the public. These

challenges have ranged from violence against officers, an

increase in violent rhetoric against them, lagging

technology, recruitment and retention issues, and mental

health concerns. Smaller municipalities are experiencing

increased strain on the men and women in blue. We believe

that the ``Invest to Protect Act'' can help our nation's

smaller agencies and departments combat these issues that

plague law enforcement officers in smaller municipalities.

This legislation would establish a grant program that would

be used for training of officers from police departments and

municipalities that employ less than 125 law enforcement

officers. The funding appropriated would be $60 million over

a five-year period. These trainings would include de-

escalation, domestic violence response, and response calls to

vulnerable populations like those involving persons with

disabilities, mental health issues, or substance abuse

disorders.

This legislation is also designed to help these smaller

agencies recruit new officers and to help address the

retention issue of current officers. The funding could also

be used by officers from eligible departments who are

pursuing further education in mental health, public health,

or social work. These officers could receive up to $10,000 in

aid towards their tuition. Lastly, the funding could also be

used for mental health services, treatments, and therapies

for active police officers.

On behalf of the more than 364,000 members of the Fraternal

Order of Police, I urge the Members of the House to pass

these two bills to support our nation's small departments and

the communities they serve. If I can provide any additional

information about this bill, please do not hesitate to

contact me or Executive Director Jim Pasco in our Washington,

D.C. office.

Sincerely,

Patrick Yoes,

National President.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that Representative Fitzpatrick be removed as cosponsor from H.R. 8824.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the House Appropriations Committee for their hard work on this important piece of legislation.

I rise today in support of the passage of H.R. 8294, which contained a crucial amendment I introduced to help find and prosecute cases of fraud within COVID-19 economic relief.

My amendment provides critical investment for the Small Business Administration Office of the Inspector General to ensure that they continue to hold Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Paycheck Protection Program fraudsters accountable.

It is deeply disturbing to hear about the recent flurry of fraud convictions related to these two relief programs that provided vital resources to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. These are dollars that were meant for small businesses struggling due to the pandemic, and to help their families, not to help greedy cheats looking to profit off the backs of their neighbors.

My amendment supports efforts for the SBA to identify and prosecute cases of EIDL and PPP fraud more aggressively. Applicants from businesses in my district may have been denied critical financial resources because of the actions of these crooks, and we owe it to all of our constituents to hold these bad actors accountable.

I strongly urge all my colleagues in the Senate to pass this critically important provision.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of my amendment to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

First, I thank all of our brave veterans for putting their lives on the line to defend our freedom and our families. After sacrificing so much, no veteran should ever have to struggle to get the care and resources they have earned. We should always have their backs.

My provision today will do just that, ensuring that veterans have access to high-quality job training, workforce development, and career navigation services. These skills will help our veterans transition back into civilian life, reach their career goals, and care for their families.

We know that veterans have the skills to make them exceptional workers, but they often face barriers to employment. Data shows that unemployment rates are higher for veterans than nonveterans.

My amendment will ensure that veterans are prioritized to receive Federal career resources, and it builds on the work I have helped lead, working across the aisle since I was elected to support our veterans and their families.

The first piece of legislation I passed in Congress was to expand hiring of post-9/11 veterans. Today, we have the opportunity to fight for them like they fought for us.

I urge all of my colleagues to support this amendment, and I thank the chairman for his leadership.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to section 10 of House Resolution 1097, I rise to offer an amendment.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of my amendment to the bipartisan Community Services Block Grant Modernization Act.

Before I begin, I thank all the veterans back in my home district in northern New Jersey and nationwide from the bottom of my heart for putting your lives on the line to defend our freedom, our families, and the greatest democracy the world has ever known.

Please know this: After sacrificing so much, no veteran should ever struggle to get the care or recognition he or she has earned. We should always get their backs.

My amendment to the legislation we are considering today will do just that. It will add critical support for our brave veterans, particularly homeless veterans, to the list of allowable purposes on which State governments, including my State of New Jersey, may deploy Federal community services block grant program investments.

The bipartisan community services block grant program helps to reduce poverty, revitalize communities, and empower families and individuals to become fully self-sufficient. It helps individuals, like veterans, to get and keep a good job, a good education, housing, healthcare, and emergency assistance and, above all, to participate more actively in their communities.

In New Jersey, the program annually serves more than 200,000 individuals and 130,000 families through the work of 25 community action agencies. These agencies are typically private nonprofit organizations, public agencies, or local government entities, like Greater Bergen County Community Action, which provides education and training, financial counseling, and more; or Bergen County's government, where our county executive and commissioners have focused like a laser beam on successfully helping combat veteran homelessness.

The bipartisan legislation on the floor today will make important updates to the community services block grant program. My amendment will add support for veterans and, in particular, as I said, homeless veterans to the list of investments States like New Jersey can make through the program.

With this amendment, community action agencies will work alongside State and local agencies to raise

awareness among veterans of housing programs and help those who bravely served our country to secure the housing they need. Once stable housing is secured, community action agencies will work with veterans and other eligible individuals to ensure the full range of community resources, including workforce training, health resources, and opportunities for peer support, are available to those veterans who need it most.

Supporting our Nation's veterans with the community services block grant program is the least we can do. After serving our country and putting their lives on the line to defend our freedom and democracy, our Nation's veterans should not struggle to get the resources they have earned. But far too often, our veterans face issues finding housing and employment. It is unacceptable.

On any given night, the Federal Government estimates that more than 40,000 veterans are homeless. On top of that, data shows that the unemployment rate of veterans ages 18 to 65 is higher than the unemployment rate of nonveterans.

Today's amendment builds on the work I helped lead, working with both sides of the aisle in recent months and since I was elected, to support our servicemembers, veterans, and veteran families.

The first piece of legislation I passed in Congress was to expand hiring of post-9/11 veterans. Just weeks ago, I was proud to join my colleagues in passing a 2.7 percent pay raise for members of the military to ensure we are getting the backs of those who bravely have ours.

Late last year, the House passed the bipartisan Student Veterans Counseling Centers Eligibility Act, which will expand access to mental health services for veterans utilizing their GI benefits at colleges and universities through established vet centers.

In March, we passed the bipartisan Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act to help expand access to GI benefits for members of our military who serve in the National Guard and Reserves, as they don't receive the same access to vital GI benefits that they deserve as well.

Also in March, working with the members of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, we passed the Honoring our PACT Act here in the House to help veterans exposed to burn pits, covering veterans dating back to 1991 and Operation Desert Storm and through our more recent post-9/11 conflicts.

This included my key provisions to address the mental health impacts for toxic exposure for veterans and to ensure VA information on toxic exposure illnesses is published in multiple languages, like Korean and Spanish, to help even more of our veterans.

Back home in New Jersey, I have been fighting for expanded access to healthcare services, and I helped establish the mental health services at the VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in Newton in Sussex County, New Jersey. I am working to cut through red tape with the VA Community Care Network to ensure eligible north Jersey veterans are able to receive referrals for community care at ImageCare Centers across the Fifth District. We have made critical progress on that front. Now, more veterans in my district have greater access to healthcare that they deserve.

Let me just say, these are not Democratic or Republican issues. They are red, white, and blue issues. They are issues core to protecting our great democracy, the ones our veterans have always fought for.

There is nothing more important in this job than our responsibility to have the backs of those who have served our great Nation, whether that is at the VA, a mental health issue, or helping veterans find housing or get jobs when they come back home.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote in favor of my amendment to add support for veterans to the list of eligible community services block grant investments.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I thank the ranking member for her comments and for the support of veterans.

Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici).

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

Madam Speaker, I include in the Record remarks I gave before the Armenian National Committee of America and the Armenian Assembly of America.

It's an honor to speak with you today. I'm Josh Gottheimer,

representing New Jersey's Fifth Congressional District, and

I'm also the Co-Chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers

Caucus. Throughout my time in Congress, I've always been

proud to fight for our great Armenian American community in

North Jersey--one of the largest in the country.

Tonight, I want to thank my friends with the Armenian

National Committee of America and the Armenian Assembly of

America, and also acknowledge any clergy and faith leaders

joining us.

We are gathered here today to remember April 24th, 1915:

the painful day when hundreds of Armenian intellectuals were

rounded up and ultimately murdered at the beginning of the

Armenian Genocide. May their memory be a blessing to us all.

By coming together to commemorate this atrocity, we not

only mourn the lives lost, but we continue to rededicate

ourselves to recognizing and speaking out against genocide

around the globe and ensuring that we stand united in

condemning hatred and violence.

I believe that it is our duty to speak out honestly about

historical facts and recognize the massacre of 1.5 million

Armenians, as well as Greeks, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs,

Arameans, Maronites, and other Christians by the Ottoman

Empire.

As the husband of someone who lost entire parts of her

family during the Nazis' attempt to exterminate European

Jewry, the need to recognize genocide is a deeply personal

one.

I know that it is never the wrong time to bear witness and

tell the truth, and that the United States should never be

complicit in denying genocide.

For too long, this genocide has been denied, and the

victims and their families denied full justice.

In October 2019--nearly three years ago--thanks to the

tireless efforts of activists and community leaders like all

of you, as was said, we were able to achieve the historic

passage in Congress of H. Res. 296--a resolution I was proud

to cosponsor and vote for--affirming the United States'

recognition of the Armenian genocide.

I was also proud to work with my colleagues in the

bipartisan Congressional Armenian Caucus to write to

President Biden urging him to recognize the Armenian

Genocide.

And last year, as was talked about, for the first time, the

sitting President of the United States formally declared the

truth.

As we continue to see a rise in acts of hate and targeted

violence against ethnic and religious minorities around the

world, it is vital that we not conceal or be bystanders to

evil.

By recognizing the Armenian Genocide, we pay tribute to the

perseverance of the survivors and the dedication and

contributions of the Armenian Americans who do so much to

strengthen our communities and our nation.

I will continue to stand strong with our ally Armenia, in

the face of threats and continued attacks from its neighbors,

as we unfortunately have continued to see, even just in the

last couple months. That includes continuing our call for the

release of Armenian prisoners of war detained by Azerbaijan,

as well as continued support for critical humanitarian

assistance to Artsakh.

Know that you have an ally in Congress, and that my door is

always open to you.

Today, we solemnly commemorate the genocide committed

against the Armenian people. It is only by raising our voices

to acknowledge and remember these horrific crimes against

humanity, that we can look clearly into the future committed

to pursue justice and eradicate hate.

Thank you, and God bless America.