Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to highlight the crucial investment my bipartisan amendment to the MORE Act will make to support local law enforcement and to protect our children, families, and communities.

My provision, which passed with a strong bipartisan majority, will invest $10 million for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to study technologies and methods that law enforcement may use to determine whether a driver is impaired by marijuana in their system.

We know that marijuana significantly impairs judgment, motor coordination, and reaction time. Studies have found a direct relationship between blood THC concentration and impaired driving ability. In fact, drivers under the influence of marijuana regularly cause traffic collisions.

We must give our law enforcement officers the tools to detect impaired drivers and get them off the road--and to always have their backs.

Safety is always my top priority, and I am proud to lead efforts that invest in our law enforcement and protect our families.

I strongly urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass my critically important provision, to ensure that law enforcement has the tools necessary to keep roads safe for our families.

This investment is crucial to protecting our families from the dangers of impaired driving.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today about an amendment that I think is critically important to this legislation. It addresses a topic that I am concerned about, and I know many are as well, to make sure that law enforcement has the tools they need to ensure that our roads are safe and that when they pull someone over for whatever purpose, they are able to actually have the tools they need to assess the situation.

My amendment would make sure the Secretary of Transportation can conduct a study on technology and methods that law enforcement can use to determine whether a driver is impaired by marijuana. The study will give the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration the resources they need to conduct this study.

I think it is important and will make this legislation even stronger.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Mr. Speaker, I want to reinforce what Ms. Jackson Lee said, the importance of making sure we invest in safety, which is always my top priority, and making sure that law enforcement has the tools they need.

We invest in law enforcement and ensure we have their backs. They take care of us every single day. I stand by law enforcement, and we will make sure they have the resources they need. This legislation helps in that effort to protect our families and our roads.

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

Madam Speaker, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 86.

Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress

Bilirakis (Fleischmann)

Bowman (Meng)

Buchanan (Waltz)

Cawthorn (Fallon)

Crist (Wasserman Schultz)

DeGette (Blunt Rochester)

Evans (Mfume)

Gosar (Gaetz)

Harder (CA) (Gomez)

Jackson (Fallon)

Johnson (TX) (Jeffries)

Joyce (OH) (Garbarino)

Kahele (Mrvan)

Lawson (FL) (Wasserman Schultz)

Luetkemeyer (Meuser)

Roybal-Allard (Wasserman Schultz)

Rush (Jeffries)

Salazar (Owens)

Sanchez (Gomez)

Sires (Pallone)

Suozzi (Beyer)

Taylor (Carter (TX))

Trahan (Blunt Rochester)

Valadao (Garbarino)

Wilson (FL) (Jeffries)

Madam Speaker, on H.R. 2116, the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act of 2021, I am not currently recorded as a cosponsor. It was my intention to serve as a cosponsor of this legislation, but because the bill has now been reported by the appropriate Committees and placed on the Union Calendar, I am not able to do so.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of Pete DuPre.

Pete, better known as Harmonica Pete around the world, was a true American hero, an advocate for veterans and a constant inspiration to all those who were touched by his music. Spending time with him was a true honor that I will never forget, nor will my 12-year-old daughter, Ellie. She met him for the first time 4 years ago. They became pen pals and good friends.

Pete recently passed at the age of 98.

Pete served for 3 years overseas as a U.S. Army medic in some of the most important battles of World War II, including the Battle of the Bulge, a true turning point in the war for Allied Forces.

Pete returned home and continued to represent our Nation, traveling the globe, performing as an ambassador for the Greatest Generations Foundation. He earned his nickname by playing our national anthem on his harmonica at

the United States Women's National Soccer Team game against Mexico in my home State of New Jersey, at the Vikings stadium in front of tens of thousands of people, on the USS Arizona Memorial to commemorate the 74th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, and nursing homes nationwide and so many more. Pete touched so many Americans.

As we mourn the loss of Harmonica Pete, we pray for his five children; Michael, James, Robert, Pierre, and Mary Ann; his late wife, Jane; and his grandchildren; and all the friends and family he touched.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering Pete DuPre.

Madam Speaker, on Roll Call No. 350, on motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, I am not recorded because I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 350.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Richard Trumka, one of the most dedicated champions of labor and working families in our Nation's history. Like so many others--I don't have a photo like Andy has--but I will tell you, my moments in time where I got to speak to and visit with a legend were ones that are seared in my memory because he just brought out the best in everyone around him. The lives he impacted and the people he moved will never be forgotten.

We all know that he started his career as a union man in the mines in Pennsylvania, like his father and grandfather before him, working his way through college and law school as a miner.

After law school, instead of leaving the world he knew behind, Rich decided to use his skills to fight on behalf of it and dedicated the rest of his career to the labor movement, to the hardworking men and women of labor,

eventually becoming the president of the largest labor union in the United States of America.

He had an unrivaled sense of grit and determination that was paired with a deeply-held belief in the dignity of all work, and the rights of all workers. It was this combination that led him to spend his whole life fighting to ensure that every American worker has access to the wages, safety, healthcare, and finances that they deserve.

Rich spent every day pushing to ensure that the American worker could build a good and honorable middle class life through their own hard work. You could feel it when you spent time with him. He was just somebody who cared deeply about the people around him, and then making sure everyone's best days were ahead of them.

He was innovative and forward-thinking, constantly working to build an AFL-CIO for the 21st century. In fact, I argue that the AFL-CIO and the modern labor movement are what they are because of Mr. Trumka. The hardworking women and men of labor are better off, and our country is better off because of the legacy that he leaves behind.

He, in many ways, is irreplaceable and will be deeply missed by so many men and women across our country for so many years to come. We will never forget him. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering a great leader, Richard Trumka.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4089, the Darren Drake Act, bipartisan legislation I introduced in the Committee on Homeland Security with my Republican colleague and co- chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick), to help prevent terrorist vehicle attacks and to protect Americans nationwide.

This legislation is named in memory of a constituent from my district, Darren Drake from New Milford, New Jersey, who was one of those tragically killed in the terrorist attack in Lower Manhattan on October 31, 2017, when an ISIS-inspired terrorist drove a rented pickup truck into cyclists and runners for one mile along the West Side Highway, killing eight.

The bill takes critical steps to stop these weapons of terror and help prevent terrorist truck attacks by requiring the Department of Homeland Security to develop and disseminate best practices for vehicle rental companies and dealers to report suspicious behavior to law enforcement.

These best practices will be developed and updated in consultation with State and local law enforcement as well as industry experts.

This crucial legislation will provide rental companies and car dealers with the vital information they need to flag and stop potential terrorist threats in their tracks. We can take no chances when it comes to terrorism, which is why this bill will help ensure all rental companies report suspicious behavior at every point of sale. No excuses. We simply cannot afford any excuses when it comes to a question of life or death.

The bill will also require the Secretary of Homeland Security to report to Congress regarding the implementation of these best practices and other ways they are helping improve coordination between the Department and rental vehicle providers.

This commonsense, bipartisan bill is aimed at stopping ISIS-inspired, lone wolf, and domestic terrorists from easily trucks and other vehicles to wreak havoc and cause mass destruction and health. It is an important addition to our arsenal as we work to eradicate threats of terror across our Nation.

I want to thank Darren's parents, Jimmy and Barbara Drake, who have become dear friends, for working with me on this effort. I thank them for their leadership. We will continue working to ensure this measure becomes law, in Darren's memory and honor, to help prevent future attacks and save lives. It is the least we can do.

Madam Speaker, I strongly urge all my colleagues to support this commonsense, bipartisan legislation to help our Nation fully combat terror wherever it rears its ugly head.

Madam Speaker, on Roll Call No. 282 On Agreeing to the Amendment, I am not recorded because I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 282.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of passing the historic bipartisan infrastructure bill on Thursday.

In August, all 220 House Democrats came here on the floor and voted to support opening debate and to vote on this once-in-a-century bipartisan infrastructure bill this week. Why? Because America simply can't afford to wait any longer.

In New Jersey, our roads are the third worst in the Nation. One-third of our bridges are considered unsafe. Our transit has the worst on-time record in the country. Our train tunnel, which is critical between New York and New Jersey, 20 percent of the GDP runs through that corridor, yet the tunnel is 113 years old and literally crumbling. Moms and dads wait hours in delays to get home every night. It is affecting our businesses and our productivity.

Hurricane Ida and climate change destroyed so many family homes in my community just weeks ago.

The unfortunate reality is this: We just haven't made the investments we need in this country in infrastructure.

China last year spent $3.7 trillion outside of China on infrastructure, and yet here we are year in and year out calling for infrastructure week and to get it done, and nothing happens. Now is our opportunity to get something done for our country.

This historic bill, $1.2 trillion, will turn that around and put two million hardworking men and women of labor to work every year for the next decade. It will invest in electric vehicle infrastructure and the Gateway Tunnel, in rebuilding that. The tunnel I talked about that is crumbling, this is going to help fix it. It invests in roads and bridges and transit. Clean water to make sure that we get lead water out and forever chemicals out. It invests in broadband.

After the Problem Solvers Caucus, which I proudly co-chair, worked for months with our Senate colleagues from both sides of the aisle--and so many of us worked on it here in this House--50 Democrats and 19 Republicans in the Senate voted for this bill. Everyone from Bernie Sanders to Joe Manchin to Mitch McConnell all voted for it and sent it to us early last month.

It is critical to the rest of the country and to New Jersey that we get it done. Not only because it makes these historic investments but because it is about the country coming together, Democrats and Republicans, to show that we can govern.

We need to get everyone on board this week, Democrats and Republicans, because this bill is simply too important for our country and our future. There is nothing partisan about fixing our roads and our bridges and tunnels. There is nothing partisan about investing in fighting climate change, which this bill does. There is nothing partisan about making sure that we have the resources we need for our economy to run and for people to get to work every day.

I urge my colleagues, every one of them, to come to this Chamber Thursday and to vote for this critical legislation. I know that working together, our best days as a country will always be ahead of us here in the greatest country in the world. And infrastructure is the best place to start; for our President, for our country, and for all of us.

Madam Speaker, on Roll Call No. 282 On Agreeing to the Amendment, I am not recorded because I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 282.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of critical legislation to support our key ally Israel on the Iron Dome technology we worked with them to develop.

For 73 years, the United States and Israel have fostered and strengthened a remarkable relationship rooted in our shared values of freedom and democracy.

We continue to see those values attacked today.

Israel's national security is key to America's national security and to our fight against terror.

Earlier this year, terrorists in Gaza including Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic jihad fired more than 4,500 rockets at innocent civilians in Israel in just 11 days.

We thank God each day for the Iron Dome, which intercepted 90 percent of the incoming rockets, saving countless lives.

Unfortunately, some of my colleagues recently used support for this defense system as a political football. They threatened to shut down the Federal Government, putting at risk hurricane disaster relief and help for Afghan refugees, all over support for Iron Dome. It was outrageous, but now we have a chance to act.

Let's pass this bill, support Iron Dome, and continue our historic, bipartisan support for the U.S.-Israel relationship. The Senate should then immediately take up this standalone measure and not let it get bogged down in the ongoing debt ceiling and continuing resolution debate.

Mr. Speaker, we must protect our ally, the only democracy in the Middle East. Our national security is on the line.

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 235 On Motion to Adjourn, I am not recorded because I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 235.

Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress

Aderholt (Moolenaar)

Carson (Butterfield)

DeSaulnier (Thompson (CA))

Fulcher (Meuser)

Grijalva (Stanton)

Horsford (Jeffries)

Katko (Joyce (OH))

Kelly (PA) (Keller)

Kirkpatrick (Stanton)

Lawson (FL) (Evans)

Lowenthal (Beyer)

Maloney, Carolyn (Velazquez)

McEachin (Wexton)

Meng (Jeffries)

Napolitano (Correa)

O'Halleran (Stanton)

Payne (Pallone)

Porter (Wexton)

Rush (Underwood)

Sires (Pallone)

Watson Coleman (Pallone)

Wild (Axne)

Wilson (FL) (Hayes)

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the en bloc packages.

My first amendment adjusts Federal investments for the Federal Highway Administration to defund an expensive, unsightly, and unnecessary 60-foot-high artificial rock wall on I-80 in Warren County in my district. I encourage, instead, a safer, smarter option.

The community which sits next to the beautiful Delaware Water Gap, one of Jersey's greatest natural treasures, believes this rock wall will be ineffective and that it will wreak havoc on the area's ecotourism. I couldn't agree more.

This amendment makes clear that congressional intent is for no Federal funds to be used for the construction of

an artificial wall between mileposts 1.04 and 1.45 along I-80 in Knowlton and Hardwick Townships, New Jersey. There are safer, better options.

My second amendment makes it clear that Federal investments for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration must help address the COVID-19-linked substance abuse and mental health issues affecting far too many children and young adults in our country. The pandemic has caused a historic rate of mental health issues, especially with our students, and we must help them get the support they need. It is just heart-wrenching.

My final amendment prioritizes clean drinking water because every child should have access to water at school that is free of lead that can cause great harm to them. This amendment adjusts the Federal CDC environmental health investment, creating congressional intent to help ensure that school drinking water is free of lead and dangerous chemicals. We must protect children in north Jersey and nationwide from dangerous chemicals and lead in their drinking water.

Madam Speaker, I urge support for this bipartisan en bloc set of amendments.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 226.

Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress

Aderholt (Moolenaar)

DeSaulnier (Thompson (CA))

Fulcher (Meuser)

Gonzalez (OH) (Timmons)

Graves (MO) (Wagner)

Green (TX) (Perlmutter)

Grijalva (Stanton)

Horsford (Jeffries)

Katko (Herrera Beutler)

Kelly (PA) (Keller)

Kirkpatrick (Stanton)

Lawrence (Beatty)

Lawson (FL) (Evans)

Lowenthal (Beyer)

Maloney, Carolyn (Velazquez)

McEachin (Wexton)

Meng (Jeffries)

Napolitano (Correa)

Payne (Pallone)

Porter (Wexton)

Ruppersberger (Brown)

Rush (Underwood)

Sires (Pallone)

Torres (NY) (Jeffries)

Watson Coleman (Pallone)

Wild (Axne)

Wilson (FL) (Hayes)

Amendments En Bloc No. 2 Offered by Ms. DeLauro of Connecticut