Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I stand here this morning for Nicole, Miriam, Antonio, Karen, Leo, Adriana, and hundreds of thousands of other young Americans who dream and pray for only one thing: that this esteemed body of elected Representatives, endowed with a solemn responsibility to enact laws, will see a piece of themselves in them; that they will see beyond the circumstances by which they came to call America home and, instead, see the American values that they hold deep in their heart of hearts.

I would surmise that there isn't one congressional district that isn't home to a DREAMer, and, by God, we are all lucky for it because, to our kids, DREAMers are their friends; to our students, DREAMers are their teachers; and to our seniors and elders, DREAMers are, in fact, their caretakers.

DREAMers are entrepreneurs with the grit and determination to do something with nothing, following in the footsteps of intrepid explorers who forged new paths that led us to amazing discoveries.

To our economy, DREAMers are a well-oiled engine of valedictorians, doctors, software engineers, and technicians hoping to give back to their communities. Their imagination and determination is a driving force in the offices of Fortune 500 companies and the Main Streets of our towns and cities.

And every year, for the next decade, DREAMer ingenuity and tenacity will quite literally pump billions into our economy. Their efforts help America grow faster and stronger. And collectively, for our Nation, they represent our future and are a reflection of our values.

DREAMers are wide-eyed American optimism. They work so hard because they are so grateful and, despite setbacks, they persevere. Despite struggles, they overcome, just as Americans always have. And in the face of unbelievable adversity, DREAMers beam the hopefulness and dynamism that gives meaning to the American promise.

Our Founders knew that our democracy wasn't perfect, but they believed that, as lawmakers and representatives, we would work every day to live up to the ideals they set forth. And today, we have an opportunity to do just that.

All we have to do is enshrine the promise that unlocked the incredible potential of these young Americans by passing the Dream Act now. With one vote, we have a chance to unite our country around young people who embody our belief that hard work actually pays off.

So I ask my colleagues to vote against the previous question so that we can immediately bring the Dream Act to the floor and provide certainty for Americans like Nicole, Miriam, Antonio, Karen, Leo, and Adriana who want to continue to contribute to the country that they love, the only country they have ever known. We cannot afford to wait another day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge Michele K. LaMontagne, who currently serves as Chief of Staff for the New Mexico Air National Guard and was recently promoted to Brigadier General.

Brig. Gen. LaMontagne began her military career as a student at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Right after graduation, she set in motion her interest in aircraft and munitions maintenance during an officer course at Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois. When she was being commissioned, she had to select the job she would eventually like to do. After speaking with officers about the opportunities to lead as many people as possible, they recommended maintenance.

Her assignments, over the last 24 years, have taken her to South Carolina, Republic of Korea, Nevada, Colorado and finally Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico. At each of these bases, she served primarily in maintenance operations, eventually becoming a Maintenance Squadron Commander and a Wing Inspector General for the New Mexico Air National Guard.

In 2012, Brig. Gen. LaMontagne served as Director of Staff for the New Mexico Air National Guard, was promoted to Director of Support, Maintenance Group Commander and today serves as Chief of Staff. Her responsibilities include planning and executing employees during contingency and domestic operations in federal and state emergencies and developing positions and recommendations on issues, including mission requirements, placement of units and future missions.

Throughout her career, Brig. Gen. LaMontagne has received many awards and decorations including a Meritorious Service Medal, an Air Force Commendation Medal, a National Defense Service Medal and a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Brig. Gen. LaMontagne also works as a business coach at Rio Grande, a Berkshire Hathaway Company, and specializes in project management, people development, human resources management, distribution operations, IT Strategy, and many other challenging areas. In both of her careers, she insists that the people that depend on her drive her to do her best.

I would like to congratulate Brig. Gen. Michele K. LaMontagne, one of very few women who have been bestowed with the rank of Brigadier General, for her many years of service to our nation as a member of the Air Force and her continued commitment as a member of the New Mexico Air National Guard.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to a question of the privileges of the House and offer the resolution previously noticed.

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

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 2(a)(1) of rule IX, I rise to give notice of my intent to raise a question of the privileges of the House.

The form of the resolution is as follows:

Resolution

Condemning Representative Paul Gosar

Whereas, on January 30, 2018, Representative Paul Gosar tweeted a series of statements that included ``Today, Congressman Paul Gosar contacted the U.S. Capitol Police, as well as Attorney General Jeff Sessions, asking that they consider checking identification of all attending the State of the Union address and arresting any illegal aliens in attendance.'';

Whereas Representative Gosar went on to tweet ``Any illegal aliens attempting to go through security, under any pretext of invitation or otherwise, should be arrested and deported,'' said Congressman Gosar;

Whereas Representative Gosar's comments explicitly targeted the DACA recipients that Members of Congress brought as their guests to the State of the Union;

Whereas DACA recipients have been granted deferred action, are contributing to this country, and have been thoroughly vetted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services;

Whereas Representative Gosar's actions to inappropriately pressure the U.S. Capitol Police to detain and deport Dreamers, who are staying in the country according to U.S. Department of Homeland Security regulations, intimidated these young people who are already facing fear and uncertainty;

Whereas Representative Gosar abused the power in an attempt to interfere with and politicize the United States Capitol Police's efforts to provide for a safe, secure, and open environment during the State of the Union;

Whereas Representative Gosar has violated clause 1 of rule XXIII of the Code of Official Conduct which states that ``A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer or employee of the House shall behave at all times in a manner that shall reflect creditably on the House'': Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, that the House of Representatives strongly condemns Representative Paul Gosar for his inappropriate actions that intimidated State of the Union guests and discredited the House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor State Representative Nick L. Salazar who is retiring at the end of the 2018 legislative session after 46 years of outstanding and selfless service to New Mexico.

Representative Salazar was born on April 18, 1924 in Chamita, New Mexico. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Air Force where he attained the rank of sergeant. Representative Salazar attended the University of New Mexico and the University of California-Santa Barbara. He and his wife, Mari Ana Abeyta, have three wonderful children, Yvonne, Earl, and Gregory, as well as three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Representative Salazar started his long and storied political career as a commissioner for Rio Arriba County. In June 1967 while commissioner, he was held hostage by Reies Lopez Tijerina in the infamous courthouse raid in Tierra Amarilla. Representative Salazar also worked at Los Alamos national laboratory as a fusion and thermonuclear researcher where he continues to serve as a member of the lab's board.

In 1972, Representative Salazar was first elected to New Mexico House of Representatives for District 40 where he has served diligently and with distinction ever since. Throughout his career, Representative Salazar has proven a staunch advocate for Native American issues and constantly traveled throughout the State to visit tribal communities. Additionally, Representative Salazar championed senior issues throughout his career. For years, he has set aside funds in the annual budget to increase support services for New Mexican seniors. Representative Salazar

has also been one of the strongest advocates to increase funding for New Mexico's colleges and universities, especially for Northern New Mexico College.

Mr. Speaker, the New Mexico House of Representatives will not be the same without Representative Salazar who has been a fixture and an institution for over 4 decades. He is the longest-serving legislator in New Mexico's history and one of the ten longest-serving members of any legislature throughout the country. It amazes me to think about just how many lives Representative Salazar touched and improved throughout his decades of public service, and I am certain that his numerous accomplishments will be felt for generations to come. Representative Salazar's service to our state is unmatched, his integrity is second to none, and he will be sorely missed by his colleagues, constituents, and friends.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 42.

Mr. Speaker, a few years ago, New Mexico decimated its behavioral health system when it terminated nearly every behavioral health provider in the State.

In fact, thousands of New Mexicans did not have access to medicine, counselors, or treatment, increasing their risks of substance abuse, health issues, and homelessness.

Many New Mexicans suffered, were incarcerated, or died because of the State's negligence. Today, we are potentially seeing an even more catastrophic State-created crisis in the making.

Just a few weeks ago, the State announced it intended to cancel its contract with the Non-Metro Area Agency on Aging, which manages and oversees critical services like adult daycare, meal services, caregiving, transportation, and respite care for vulnerable seniors and their families.

Decimating the current system without public hearings, due process, or having a public plan to ensure the continuity of services will disrupt these lifesaving safety net programs that serve nearly 80,000 seniors; and these seniors are going to suffer because of this reckless and hasty decision.

I have written to HHS demanding that they immediately investigate the State's negligent behavior.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of Sergeant Taylor Scott Affentranger. Affentranger joined the United States Army in 2011 and proudly served his country in Afghanistan and Italy until 2017.

After returning home from duty he went back to school at the Central New Mexico Community College. Taylor was focused on his coursework and excited to work towards a bachelor's degree in Video Game Engineering. He was dedicated to his family, community, and country.

Affentranger passed away on December 22, 2017 He was the husband to Courtney Affentranger and father to their son, Rownan, who recently turned two. He will be remembered as a loving husband and father, and as a hero who bravely defended our country. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Taylor Scott Affentranger for his service to our nation.

He is survived by his father, Scott Affentranger and wife Miriah; his mother, Pamela Gonzales and husband Ken; his wife Courtney and son Rownan; Treva Affentranger, his grandmother; his siblings, Ashley and Bracton; and stepsiblings, Dallen and Ashlyn Fluitt.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Melody Wattenbarger, the CEO and President of Roadrunner Food Bank of New Mexico. Ms. Wattenbarger has worked tirelessly to fight hunger for over 30 years.

As CEO and President of Roadrunner Food Bank, Melody created innovative approaches to aid families facing hunger across New Mexico. Her leadership enabled the food bank to assist 70,000 people each week. She created and strengthened key partnerships across communities, including partnerships with schools, doctors, private industry leaders, senior centers, and food pantries. Melody was the founding President of the board for the New Mexico Association of Food Banks from 1999 to 2004 and continues to hold a seat on the board

Melody Wattenbarger's leadership in hunger relief has not only helped New Mexicans; she was the founding executive director of the High Plains Food Bank in Amarillo, Texas, she worked for the National Food Bank Network (Feeding America), and she regularly served on a variety of Feeding America committees. Melody was named the 2017 John van Hengel Fellow by Feeding America. The award ``recognizes the recipient for their leadership, local impact, national influence, commitment, and entrepreneurial spirit in the area of hunger relief.''

I am proud to honor Ms. Melody Wattenbarger for her leadership in the fight against hunger. Her efforts are inspirational to the entire community in New Mexico. I am confident that even in retirement she will remain an advocate for families experiencing hunger and her community will be better for her involvement.

Mr. Speaker, I would love to vote for a bipartisan tax reform that supports middle class families, ensures the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share, invests in the next generation, and protects small businesses.

However, I can't vote for legislation that would raise taxes for 13 million middle class households next year; or that would give the top 0.1 percent of Americans an average tax cut of over $320,000 while raising taxes on 36 million families by 2027; or that would provide more tax benefit to the richest 1 percent than the lower 95 percent of Americans combined.

Saddling the next generation with $1.7 trillion in debt while prioritizing millionaires and billionaires at the expense of everybody else is irresponsible and cruel.

Mr. Speaker, I could spend countless hours describing how this bill harms middle class families, students, the elderly, and businesses in my home State of New Mexico, but since I only have 1 minute to address the floor today, I will be back tomorrow to talk about how this bill devastates investment and job creation in the quickly growing renewable energy industry in my home State of New Mexico.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Landon Vranes, a 10-year-old Albuquerque student who represents the spirit of learning and innovation. As a 5th grade student, Landon has dedicated much of his time learning about, and building robots.

Landon recently built a robot that is able to solve any combination of the popular Rubik's Cube puzzle. His creation was part of a class project led by Albuquerque Public Schools teacher, Ms. Amy Nevitt. Landon's robot was featured during recent TV news broadcasts, which highlighted his passion for technology and robotics.

During an interview with KOB-4, Landon explained, ``Any scramble out of the 43 quintillion can be solved in 20 moves or less and it's trying to find out the quickest possibility.''

As the home to three federal research laboratories and distinguished research universities, New Mexico has a reputation for fostering innovation and exploration. It is my hope that students like Landon Vranes continue to have opportunities to thrive and succeed in New Mexico.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate Landon on this achievement and wish him all the best in his future scientific endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the heroism and bravery of Albuquerque native, Anthony Chavez, also known as the ``Red Hat Hero''. He helped five women escape gun fire during the deadly attack in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 1, 2017.

Chavez was among thousands in the crowd at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival when a gumnan fired at the crowd from the 32nd floor of the nearby Mandalay Bay Casino and Hotel. Chavez did not hesitate to help the women who were standing near him.

He made a selfless and courageous decision to help his significant other and four strangers over the fence in front of them so they could retreat to safety. Without his help, it is likely that the women would not have gotten out unharmed.

Chavez then stayed in the area for an additional hour, helping direct people to ambulances and safe locations. He won't refer to himself as a hero, but it is undeniably clear that without his help many could have been injured or killed.

Chavez was dubbed the ``Red Hat Hero'' because one of the women he saved recognized his unique, red Albuquerque Dukes hat in a photo on social media.

Chavez was one of many heroes during an otherwise tragic night in Las Vegas. As such, he deserves our gratitude for his actions.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Albuquerque's Alex Bregman for his stand-out performance in the 2017 World Series. Bregman's heroics on the baseball diamond helped the Houston Astros win its first World Series in franchise history. Alex also made his hometown and the state of New Mexico proud as he fulfilled his childhood dream and showed the entire world the value of hard work.

Bregman's baseball talent was the stuff of legend in Albuquerque, where he played for Albuquerque Academy. During his sophomore year at the Academy, Bregman was named USA Baseball Player of the Year.

Bregman took his talent to Louisiana State University, where he played baseball with the Tigers from 2013 to 2015.

The Astros drafted Bregman as the 2nd Overall pick in the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft. He quickly rose through the Astros system and during his first full year in the Major Leagues, Bregman hit .284 with 19 home runs and 71 RBI.

In the World Series, Bregman produced 5 runs, 7 hits, 2 home runs, 5 RBI and a stolen base. He produced his biggest moment in what may be the most exciting game in the history of the World Series. With the score tied in the bottom of the 10th inning, Bregman hit a walk-off, RBI single that gave the Astros a pivotal, 13-12 win and the momentum they rode to the championship.

While his offensive prowess contributed to the team's record-breaking statistical performance, Bregman's brilliant defense helped give

the Astros an edge throughout the playoffs. He made several critical plays at third base, including an aggressive catch and throw to home plate in Game 4 to prevent a run.

Following the end of the World Series, the Baseball Hall of Fame announced that Bregman's glove is one of three artifacts from the Series that will be enshrined in Cooperstown.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. David Seely who is retiring as the President and CEO of Kirtland Federal Credit Union (KFCU). Throughout his 27 years at the head of the lending institution, Seely oversaw tremendous success as the credit union grew from $80 million in assets to nearly $800 million. KFCU now serves more than 48,000 clients, including many men and women in uniform.

Seely also earned a reputation for combatting predatory lending practices and promoting financial education. When the federal government shut down for several days in 2013, Seely ensured his members had access to services such as extended loan due dates and fee waivers while they were furloughed.

In addition to his work with the credit union, Seely volunteered his time to help promote economic growth, as well as support military personnel serving at Kirtland Air Force Base. He served on the Kirtland Partnership Committee, the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce and the New Mexico Association of Commerce & Industry. Recently, Seely received a Humanitarian award from the Jewish Community Center of Greater Albuquerque for his service to non-profit organizations and leadership at Kirtland Federal Credit Union.

His work at the credit union and support for Kirtland Air Force Base was also recognized by Col. Michael Duvall, 377th Air Base Wing Commander, who singled out KFCU as the ``Best in the Air Force'' for its commitment to improving the quality of life of Kirtland personnel.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to commend Mr. David Seely for all of his success and his contributions. We wish him well in his retirement. I thank David. He is an inspiration to us all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of a woman who was dedicated to public service and advocacy. Susan Popovich focused on the needs of her community throughout her life and was a source of hope for many in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Susan began her career as an educator in Pennsylvania and taught in Arizona for 14 years. After teaching, she continued her career in education by working for the National Education Association, where she worked for 23 years in several roles. She started out as an organizer and moved into the position of Regional Executive Director. She was also a Negotiations and Organizational Development Specialist with the NEA. Eventually, political activism became an important part of her life.

Susan participated in political campaigns and completed hundreds of hours canvassing. In doing so, she became a friend to many in Santa Fe and deeply understood hardships the community faced.

I also admire Susan for her work as a caregiver for her mother and brother through the end of their lives. She was selfless and giving, proven by the work she dedicated herself to and her care for others.

Her life will continue to inspire educators, activists, and politicians. A life led by such a devoted woman will be remembered and felt in the community for many years to come.