Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I rise in support of H.R. 3494.

As the United States learned in 2016, there are few things more important to our democracy than ensuring that our electoral system is kept free from outside interference.

We also have a responsibility to educate our partners and our allies about the threat from foreign interference, as well as share our best practices with those nations that face similar threats.

Taiwan, one of Asia's most vibrant democracies, is acutely aware of the risks posed by foreign influence. The Chinese Communist Party, angry that another nation has the audacity to prove that a culturally Chinese democracy can thrive, will stop at nothing to degrade Taiwan's political independence.

This year's Intelligence Authorization Act requires the Director of National Intelligence to report on influence operations China conducts to interfere in Taiwan's upcoming 2020 elections and find out what assistance the U.S. government provided to counter these operations and provide a comprehensive list of the specific organizations that conducted these influence operations.

The U.S. is in a unique position to share the tools and techniques with others that we are implementing to safeguard our own democratic elections.

In line with our obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act, we urge the administration to do all it can to assist Taipei with creating conditions for a free, fair, and secure election that is free from interference.

This provision brings us one step closer to that goal.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the American Association of Law Libraries' legislative advocacy program. The American Association of Law Libraries (AALL), representing more than 4,100 members, is the only national association dedicated to the legal information profession and its professionals. Founded in 1906 on the belief that everyone--lawyers, judges, students, and the public--needs timely access to relevant legal information to make sound legal arguments and wise legal decisions, AALL members are problem solvers of the highest order.

In 1989, the AALL Executive Board appointed AALL members Robert L. Oakley of Georgetown University Law Library and Joanne Zich of American University Washington College of Law Library as the first Washington representatives for the Association. Since that time, AALL's advocacy efforts ranged from the creation and dissemination of government information to copyright to the privacy of library users. Its successes include ensuring permanent public access to official, authentic government information by advocating for the essential work of the Library of Congress, the Law Library of Congress, and the U.S. Government Publishing Office; contributing to the enactment of transparency laws including the E-Government Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-347) and updates to the Freedom of Information Act; and, most recently, supporting my own legislation to provide public access to Congressional Research Service reports that resulted in language included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of2018 (P.L. 115-141) directing the Congressional Research Service to make its nonconfidential reports available to the public on the internet.

The AALL Executive Board and its members will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Association's legislative advocacy program by convening on Capitol Hill today, July 12, 2019, for AALL Day on the Hill. AALL members will meet with their elected officials about the Association's legislative priorities that include greater access to government information, access to justice, government transparency, balanced copyright laws, and privacy for library users.

I congratulate AALL on three decades of effective advocacy and wish them many more years of success.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans who traveled to Washington, D.C. on July 10, 2019 with Honor Flight Chicago, a program that provides World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans the opportunity to visit their memorials on The National Mall in Washington, D.C.

These memorials were built to honor their courage and service to their country.

The American Veteran is one of our greatest treasures. The Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen who traveled here on July 10th answered our nation's call to service during several of its greatest times of need. Across the world, these brave Americans risked life and limb, gave service and sacrificed much, all while embodying what it is to be a hero. We owe them more gratitude than can ever be expressed.

I welcome these brave veterans to Washington and to their memorials. I am proud to include in the Record the names of these men and women for all to see, hear, and recognize, and I call on my colleagues to rise and join me in expressing gratitude:

John G. Aister, Victor J. Alvarez, Brownie J. Andrews, Jr., Joseph J. Arcara, William J. Arndt, Gordon W. Atkins, George E. Batson, Charles Bennett, John C. Bierman, James Terry Blue, Sr., John J. Borg, Walter L. Brooks, Robert A. Bryant, Patrick Butler, John W. Cannon, James M. Clemons, Leroy Cobb, Matthew W. Connor, William J. Dierks, Jack H. Doyle.

William Thomas Dzingel, Duane Arthur Foss, Charles W. Fruehe, Dennis W. Galloway, Richard Gardner, Philip L. Givens, Robert Wesley Godfrey, John P. Greaney, Robert L. Gurley, James A. Haegele, Sr., Ernest R. Hanna, Edwin W. Hendry, James John Hennessy, Thomas J. Henry, Superman J. Horn, Archie Hubbard, Jr., Michael M. Hughes, Holman B. Ingram, Angelo Irizarry, Nello D. Isabelli.

Ronald J. Janiak, Robert E. Jensen, Theodore B. Knapp, Harold B. Koenen, Ronald J. Konetsky, James J. Kosinski, Richard Kowalski, Joseph Kwak, Earl M. Laib, Andrew Leverenz, James O. Lewis, William R. Lindberg, Robert B. Locknar, Stanley R. Lokaj, Bernard LoMonaco, David L. Lowe, Stewart G. Margolis, Joseph Martinek, Dwight C. McConnell, Stuart W. McDowell.

Edward W. McQuiston, Robert J. Misevich, Fernando E. Montilla, Leonard W. Morris, Jerry I. Mosenson, Charles E. Nichols, Earl A. Nordmeyer, Harlan W. O'Cull, William O'Neill, Paul M. Obinger, Stanley J. Penczak, Steven L. Penczak, George L. Peso, Dennis R. Rokita, Kent Romanus, Ralph H. Schmalfeld, Terrence Lee Schmidt, James Schwartz, Robin P. Schwartz, Auberay L. Smith, Lynwood Smith, Gerald S. Snarski, Joseph J. Stachon.

Leroy E. Stahr, Willard Stockfisch, Myron I. Strepka, Albert F. Struska, Alexander C. Styrczula, Edward Sulita, Robert Sweeney, James J. Sykucki, Donald G. Tollefsen, Gregory B. Tweedy, Sr., John J. Valverde, Hector H. Villarreal, Robert W. Vogeltanz, Leonard A. Wantroba, Lawrence Weiss, Edward K. Weyna, Edward S. Weyna, James C. Wightman, Clyde Wilson, Samuel Wilson, Leo W. Wysocki, Ascher Daniel Yates, Daniel R. Yatsko.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans who traveled to Washington, D.C. on June 5, 2019 with Honor Flight Chicago, a program that provides World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans the opportunity to visit their memorials on The National Mall in Washington, D.C. These memorials were built to honor their courage and service to their country.

The American Veteran is one of our greatest treasures. The Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen who traveled here on July 10th answered our nation's call to service during several of its greatest times of need. Across the world, these brave Americans risked life and limb, gave service and sacrificed much, all while embodying what it is to be a hero. We owe them more gratitude than can ever be expressed.

I welcome these brave veterans to Washington and to their memorials. I am proud to inclue in the Record the names of these men and women for all to see, hear, and recognize, and I call on my colleagues to rise and join me in expressing gratitude:

John G. Aister; Victor J. Alvarez; Brownie J. Andrews, Jr.; Joseph J. Arcara; William J. Arndt; Gordon W. Atkins; George E. Batson; Charles Bennett; John C. Bierman; James Terry Blue, Sr.; John J. Borg; Walter L. Brooks; Robert A. Bryant; Patrick Butler; John W. Cannon; James M. Clemons; Leroy Cobb; Matthew W. Connor.

William J. Dierks; Jack H. Doyle; William Thomas Dzingel; Duane Arthur Foss; Charles W. Fruehe; Dennis W. Galloway; Richard Gardner; Philip L. Givens; Robert Wesley Godfrey; John P. Greaney; Robert L. Gurley; James A. Haegele, Sr.; Ernest R. Hanna; Edwin W. Hendry; James John Hennessy; Thomas J. Henry; Superman J. Horn; Archie Hubbard, Jr.

Michael M. Hughes; Holman B. Ingram; Angelo Irizarry; Nello D. Isabelli; Ronald J. Janiak; Robert E. Jensen; Theodore B. Knapp; Harold B. Koenen; Ronald J. Konetsky; James J. Kosinski; Richard Kowalski; Joseph Kwak; Earl M. Laib; Andrew Leverenz; James O. Lewis; William R. Lindberg; Robert B. Locknar; Stanley R. Lokaj.

Bernard LoMonaco; David L. Lowe; Stewart G. Margolis; Joseph Martinek; Dwight C. McConnell; Stuart W. McDowell; Edward W. McQuiston; Robert J. Misevich; Fernando E. Montilla; Leonard W. Morris; Jerry I. Mosenson; Charles E. Nichols; Earl A. Nordmeyer; Harlan W. O'Cull; William O'Neill; Paul M. Obinger; Stanley J. Penczak.

Steven L. Penczak; George L. Peso; Dennis R. Rokita; Kent Romanus; Ralph H. Schmalfeld; Terrence Lee Schmidt; James Schwartz; Robin P. Schwartz; Auberay L. Smith; Lynwood Smith; Gerald S. Snarski; Joseph J. Stachon; Leroy E. Stahr; Willard Stockfisch; Myron I. Strepka; Albert F. Struska; Alexander C. Styrczula; Edward Sulita.

Robert Sweeney; James J. Sykucki; Donald G. Tollefsen; Gregory B. Tweedy, Sr.; John J. Valverde; Hector H. Villarreal; Robert W. Vogeltanz; Leonard A. Wantroba; Lawrence Weiss; Edward K. Weyna; Edward S. Weyna; James C. Wightman; Clyde Wilson; Samuel Wilson; Leo W. Wysocki; Ascher Daniel Yates; and Daniel R. Yatsko.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Leor Torchman Auerbach for receiving the 2019 CityPAC Scoop Jackson Award.

Her service for over 20 years as an advocate and leader in Chicago's pro-Israel community make her an ideal recipient for this honor. Since the 2000s, Leor has served as a long-time CityPAC board member, and her organizational and fundraising approach set the standard that CityPAC continues to emulate.

She has served as the AIPAC Chicago co-chair of the Young Leadership Council and is AIPAC's Illinois council member. She leads Americans United in Support of Democracy which has organized more than 1,000 events to cultivate support for the U.S.-Israel relationship.

As a granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, Leor is a friend and supporter to the entire community, and her activism is an inspiration and model for us all.

Mr. Chair, pursuant to section 5 of House Resolution 460, as the designee of the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey), I rise to offer amendments en bloc which are at the desk.

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

Mr. Chairman, the amendments included in the en bloc were made in order by the rule, and they have been agreed to by both sides. They improve the bill.

I appreciate the collaborative approach that my friend from Georgia and I were able to take in constructing this package. I am particularly pleased to see amendments highlighting the important work being done with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, the CDFI fund, and the HIDTA and Model Acts programs at the ONDCP.

Importantly, the amendment also calls attention to unfortunate delays in placing Harriet Tubman's portrait on the $20 bill. This historic change in American currency would represent the first African American and the first woman featured on paper currency since Martha Washington.

Another amendment speaks to the importance of combating unwanted robocalls intended to scam seniors. This aligns perfectly with the committee's direction in this bill to the FCC to provide a detailed plan to create a robocall division dedicated to holding

fraudsters accountable as well as ensuring timely collection of penalties.

The package also includes an amendment that addresses growing concerns regarding tech companies abusing the privacy of their customers, including the collection of data from children under the age of 13.

Finally, I couldn't agree more with the importance of including postal delivery in rural areas. This is a priority that I also share and hope to continue having the cooperation of the Postal Service as we continue to rectify issues in my home district in Chicago and throughout the country.

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

Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Foster).

Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Mrs. Trahan).

Mr. Chair, I support the amendment, urge its adoption, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin.

Mr. Chair, this bill funds multiple programs that are not only necessary to the daily operation of the Federal Government but also have a direct impact on the lives and livelihoods of American families, businesses, and communities.

I stand in support of the bill on the floor today, which restores cuts proposed in the President's budget and finally invests in programs that have been starved for funding under Republican leadership for the past several years.

This amendment would not just cut these programs. It would do so in an arbitrary manner, without regard to the impact on particular programs.

In addition, this cut would take funding well below even the level proposed in the President's budget request. Let me say that again: It would bring the bill below the President's budget by many hundreds of millions of dollars.

It would reduce by 3.1 percent the funding available to the SBA to enable small businesses to access loans for working capital, fixed assets, and other assistance to establish, operate, acquire, and expand a small business.

It would reduce by 3.1 percent the funding available to the Department of the Treasury to counter terrorist financing and money laundering and to implement the expanded requirements that Congress placed upon the Treasury to review proposed foreign investment in U.S. businesses to ensure these transactions do not threaten our national security.

It would reduce by 3.1 percent the funding available to the Office of National Drug Control Policy to make grants to Federal, State, and local entities that are on the frontline combating the opioid epidemic.

Mr. Chair, for these reasons, I strongly oppose this amendment and urge my colleagues to do the same, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Chair, pursuant to section 5 of House Resolution 460, as the designee of the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey), I offer amendments en bloc.

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

Mr. Chair, the amendments included in the en bloc were made in order by the rule. This package includes amendments that cover a broad range of issues across the Financial Services and General Government bill.

Mr. Chair, I support the amendment and urge its adoption, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cohen).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutch).

Mr. Chair, I strongly urge support of this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. Chair, I always like being lectured on how I don't understand the debt and deficit.

As one of, I think, 38 Members of this House to vote for Cooper- LaTourette, I understand those concerns, but any attempts to be serious about our debt and deficit must include a big, balanced, and bipartisan effort to address those matters, not going after one of the 12 smaller spending bills and saying, See. There, we did it.

It would have to include appropriate revenues. It would have to include addressing all elements of this government, including the sacred cow of the defense budget. If you are going to address our Nation's debt and deficit, you have to look at the government as a whole.

This is a similar measure to the amendment offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin, only it is more destructive to the cuts it proposes to make across the board.

I will not repeat the same talking points that I previously stated regarding the harm that such indiscriminate cuts would have on American families, businesses, and communities. I would just note this amendment proposes to cut more than $2 billion from this bill. This reduction would bring the bill below the funding level provided in fiscal year 2012 under a Republican-controlled Congress.

Mr. Chair, this amendment is harmful. I urge my colleagues to oppose it.

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

Mr. Chairman, I know what to tell the people of Indiana: the same thing I tell the people of Illinois. I know what to tell my constituents about this matter. I am from Indiana. I tell them that I am serious about this and that I am willing to work with everyone on the floor and in both chambers and the President of the United States.

But any serious measure dealing with such matters as the deficit and the debt, must be, again, much bigger than this, much more balanced than this, and much more bipartisan than this, and it must recognize that it involves revenues and cuts, reforms, restructuring, and, of course, the Department of Defense.

Mr. Chair, any time anyone over there wants to address these matters in a serious way, I am more than willing to listen. As for this matter, though, I strongly oppose it and urge my colleagues to do the same.

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

Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

I object.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the motion to recommit.

Mr. Speaker, I am going to begin by quoting an eminent Republican from Illinois, Abraham Lincoln, because this argument and the timing of it reminds me of what took place in Illinois some time ago.

One morning, Abraham Lincoln argued before the Illinois Supreme Court, and he made a point on a case. In the afternoon, arguing for another client, he spoke in exact opposition to the point he had made in the morning.

When one of the justices pointed this out, he said: I have had time to reflect on that, and I changed my mind.

Mr. Speaker, we have just witnessed the same thing. How in the world can we take their MTR seriously? Just a few moments ago, on an amendment proposed by Mr. Banks from Indiana, they voted ``yes'' on two amendments that would cut this account by 14 percent, a cut of $23.5 million.

Apparently, they have had time to think about it and realized, perhaps, the error of their ways.

In addition, I would say--and I loved working with the ranking member when he was chairman last year--he funded the same bill, as the chairman, wrote the bill and funded it by millions less than we are proposing today in our bill.

Apparently, time changes our minds.

I don't know where the gentleman will be 5 minutes from now or whether his passion for this will be as strong as it was a half an hour ago, but the underlying bill includes an increase of $8.7 million above FY19, where my friend from Georgia proposed this.

I started with the President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. I am going to end talking about this bill with the eminent philosopher from London, who I saw last week in Chicago, Mick Jagger. He said: You can't always get what you want, but if you try real hard, you get what you need.

This bill isn't perfect, but it is a really good bill under trying circumstances. And what do you need if you try?

We are funding the IRS up to $12 billion. We included $600 million for election security. Rather than eliminating, as the President proposed, Community Development Financial Institution grant programs, we boost them by $50 million.

Instead of slashing funds for the Small Business Administration, we are increasing those funds.

We are also boosting the ability to protect consumers and police bad actors by providing sorely needed additional funding to the agencies that need them.

Finally, I think the most timely, important point is, when Mr. Mueller spoke to the American public for the first time about the report, he said this was a systematic attack on our democratic process by our adversary, and it has to be a bipartisan approach. This bill does that with $600 million to protect against an assault on who we are as a democracy.

My colleagues need to support this bill and oppose this MTR.

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

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the instructions of the House in the motion to recommit, I report the bill, H.R. 3351, back to the House with an amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that in the engrossment of H.R. 3055, the Clerk be authorized to make technical and conforming changes to reflect the actions of the House.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 3351.

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

As chairman of the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee, I first want to thank Ranking Member Tom Graves, the gentleman from Georgia, who I now have had the privilege of working with for a third year managing the bill. Our discussions have always been both valuable and productive, and I thank him for his partnership throughout this process.

Of course, I always like to take the opportunity to thank the staff on both sides for all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes. In my personal office, that includes Doug and Juan. On our committee staff on the majority side, that includes Laura, Marybeth, Elliot, Aalok, Parker, and Lisa, and for the minority, John Martens.

The committee staff, in particular, sacrificed many long nights and weekends to get us to this stage. I am truly grateful, and I know Members on both sides share the same sentiment.

The bill before us today provides $24.95 billion in total discretionary resources, including $400 million in adjustments for tax enforcement program integrity activities.

The FSGG bill encompasses a wide range of programs, everything from the Internal Revenue Service to the Federal courts to the District of Columbia to the Small Business Administration.

In total, the bill includes $12 billion for the IRS, an increase of more than 6 percent above the President's request, a good first step toward restoring cuts this agency has suffered for almost a decade.

Notably, the bill almost doubles the amount provided in FY19 to the systems modernization account to support the IRS IT modernization efforts.

Investing in the IRS will support more effective and efficient enforcement activities to help close the tax gap, improve taxpayer experience by reducing wait times, and increase support to those trying to navigate the complex Tax Code.

My friend across the aisle speaks a lot about deficit reduction, and as a fiscal moderate, I understand and agree. But underfunding tax enforcement for all these years has been penny-wise and pound-foolish. The IRS generates $4 in revenue for every $1 in enforcement expenses. That is fiscally sound policy that we should all support.

On the national security front, the bill also provides increases totaling $15.6 million for Treasury Department offices and programs focused on combating money laundering, enforcing sanctions, and countering the financing of terrorism.

The bill includes funding for numerous important independent agencies critical to the operation of the entire Federal Government, as well as communities throughout the country.

Let me highlight just a few of the many investments provided in this bill.

One of the top priorities this year has been to help States and local governments meet the challenge of restoring the security and integrity of our elections. To this end, the bill includes $600 million in funding the Election Assistance Commission.

Just last month, Special Counsel Robert Mueller described Russia's concerted attack on our political system in 2016, saying, ``There were multiple, systematic efforts to interfere in our election.'' He detailed the Russian efforts and specified that they were designed and timed to interfere with and damage a Presidential candidate.

It was a purposeful strategy involving sophisticated cyber techniques to influence the outcome of our election, the underpinning of American democracy whereby American citizens alone decide who represents them in government.

Mr. Mueller concluded with a call to action, that the efforts to interfere in our election ``deserve the attention of every American.''

I couldn't agree more. This is not a partisan matter. If anything, the challenge of securing our election systems should unite all Americans.

Another major priority in this bill has been to support the regulatory agencies funded in this bill, especially the financial regulatory agencies that protect consumers, taxpayers, and investors, and to help police Wall Street and prevent another financial meltdown.

We boost funding for the Securities and Exchange Commission by $148 million above 2019, $104 million above the budget request.

We also provide increases for the Federal Trade Commission to help refocus on preventing anticompetitive practices and for various inspector general offices that deal with financial matters.

We give an $8.5 million increase to the Consumer Product Safety Commission to better protect our families from potentially dangerous products.

The bill also makes targeted investments to make sure that small businesses on Main Street and low-income communities in too-often forgotten neighborhoods, both urban and rural, have access to the capital and assistance needed to thrive.

For instance, this bill increases entrepreneurial development programs at the Small Business Administration by $34 million above 2019, to $280 million.

Just as significant, this bill rejects the President's proposal to eliminate grant programs under the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, which directly supports the expansion of affordable housing, small business creation, and infrastructure growth in underserved and rural areas, in addition to supplying credit to revitalize neglected communities. Instead, the bill boosts funding by $50 million for this extremely successful and broadly bipartisan program.

Ultimately, I am a capitalist who believes in the power of the free market economy. But I also believe there needs to be reasonable measures and checks in place to make sure our economy is benefiting everyone and not just a select few at the top.

If you believe, as I do, that fraudsters shouldn't be able to manipulate markets and scam seniors of their hard-earned savings, and that you shouldn't have to be a Fortune 500 company to access affordable financing for your business, then you should support the investments this bill makes to empower everyday investors, consumers, and entrepreneurs.

Finally, the bill takes significant steps toward reducing undue congressional interference in local D.C. affairs and eliminating restrictions on the District that do not apply to other parts of the Nation.

Importantly, it ended the uniquely restrictive prohibition on the use of locally raised funds for abortion, thereby placing the District in the same position as the 50 States, in that regard.

It also discontinues the ban on Federal funds for local needle exchange programs and allows the District to implement local law legalizing marijuana, as has been done in most States.

In closing, I would like to reiterate how grateful I am to all the staff who helped put this product together. It is a bill that we all can be proud of, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

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

Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey), the distinguished chairwoman of the full committee.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano), the chairman of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee and a member of the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop), the chairman of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee and a member of the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee.

Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Cartwright), a member of the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Torres), a member of the Financial Services Subcommittee.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), a member of the Appropriations Committee.

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

Mr. Chairman, again, I want to restate that it has been a pleasure to work with my colleagues across the aisle, particularly the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Graves).

In response to a couple of the ranking member's comments, if all we did was write a bill that we were convinced the President of the United States would support, we would just say: Well, what do you want us to introduce and what do you want to us approve?

These are separate branches of government. It is our purpose to work on a bipartisan basis, recognizing where the President of the United States is on the issues, but to put together the best product we possibly can. When the Senate does the same, there will be differences, and that is what conference committees are all about. That is what, unfortunately, is somewhat lost in this town, is this sense of compromise and working together.

I want to stress a few things. Special counsel has only spoken to this country directly once since he revealed his 2-year work product. And that was to tell us that we need to protect this country from further attack by the Russians on a democratic process. I think this bill does that in an extraordinarily appropriate fashion.

As it references the school children of Washington, D.C., all we are suggesting in doing what we are doing, and providing extraordinary amounts of funding to do so, is that all the schools of Washington, D.C. that get Federal tax dollars have to follow the same rules. They have to play on the same level playing field. That is only fair to those children. It doesn't deny anyone access to the best education that is possible.

So with those things in mind, I think, in referencing the District of Columbia, the last thing we can say is, just because we can micromanage them doesn't mean we should micromanage them. Nobody here was elected to the D.C. City Council. Unless it has extraordinary national policy implications, let them run their own government.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I support this amendment.

USF is an important and effective funding mechanism to ensure that all Americans have access to the broadband services necessary to fully participate in modern life. Not only does the USF subsidize broadband build-out in areas that would otherwise be too expensive to serve, but it includes Lifeline, a support program that ensures that communication services are not just accessible, but affordable.

This FCC proposal was nothing but an unpopular and ill-advised effort to undermine the USF, even as the country continues to face deep and lasting disparities and access to modern communication service.

Mr. Chair, for those reasons, I support the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment offered by Mr. King.

Mr. Chair, this provision ensures that money from the Treasury Forfeiture Fund can continue to flow to other departments and agencies that rely upon this funding to augment critical operations and support emerging operational needs, such as computer, forensic equipment, title III wiretap intercepts, and anti-money laundering investigation.

It also ensures that the bipartisan, bicameral funding levels enacted by Congress and signed into law by the President are not clouded by executive action.

Article I, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution states: ``No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in consequence of appropriations made by law.'' Any construction of border infrastructure should be based on bipartisan agreement between both Chambers of Congress that is enacted in law, not by an impulsive directive from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue that disregards the will of Congress and undermines the ability of the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Homeland Security to address known threats against our financial system and the Nation.

Mr. Chair, for these reasons, I oppose this amendment and urge my colleagues to do the same.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment offered by the gentleman from Michigan.

Mr. Chairman, this amendment states that no funds may be used to force the SEC's conflict mineral rules which were required by section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Section 1502 was enacted to help support peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and combat a deadly conflict minerals trade that threatens the security of men, women, and children in eastern Congo.

This rule requires that SEC-regulated firms that use tin, tantalum, tungsten, or gold in their products to publicly report whether they obtain their supplies of these key minerals from the Central African Republic region. If so, these companies must report the due diligence they exercised to ensure that these purchases did not benefit armed groups in the Congo.

The conflict in this region has spawned numerous militias, some politically oriented and some primarily criminal, but all of which have been characterized by extreme human rights abuses.

Since the rule was adopted, we have seen a significant reduction in armed group activity in many mining areas in eastern Congo and unprecedented improvements in the transparency of corporate mineral supply chains. This amendment would reverse that progress while allowing some of the world's deadliest armed groups to profit from lucrative conflict minerals.

Let us not forget that conflict minerals are commonly used in the manufacturing of cellphones, jewelry, and airplanes. The goal of the rule is to prevent companies from buying these minerals from armed militant groups that kill and rape people in Congo and neighboring countries.

Mr. Chair, I oppose this amendment, I urge my colleagues to do the same, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Madam Speaker, in partnership with my colleague, Congressman Adam Kinzinger, I rise to recognize Leor Torchman Auerbach for being honored with the 2019 CityPAC Scoop Jackson Award. Her career and service for over 20 years as an advocate and leader in Chicago's Pro-Israel advocacy community make her an ideal recipient for this honor. She has devoted her personal time and professional career to strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship.

Since the 2000's, Leor has served as a longtime CityPAC Board member and her organizational and fund-raising approach set the standard that CityPAC continues to emulate. She has also served as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Chicago Co-Chair of the Young Leadership Council in addition to her continuing role as an AIPAC Illinois Council Member.

She leads Americans United in Support of Democracy, a political action committee which has organized more than one thousand community events for Members of Congress, cultivating bipartisan support for the U.S.-Israel relationship.

Leor's deep passion for Israel is reflected in her work. As a granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, she is a friend and supporter to the entire community, and her activism is an inspiration and model for us all.

Madam Speaker, we ask our colleagues to join us in recognizing Leor Torchman Auerbach for her receipt of the 2019 CityPAC Scoop Jackson Award. She is an inspiring figure in our community and we thank her for her years of service.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Alderman Margaret Laurino on her retirement from her position as Alderman of the 39th Ward of the City of Chicago.

Born and raised in the very ward that she served as Alderman, Margaret Laurino has dedicated her life to providing the strong, community-minded administration that our city deserves. She is an accomplished public servant who has demonstrated exemplary leadership in the City Council and worked hard to improve the lives of her constituents in Chicago's 39th Ward for 25 years.

Margaret ``Marge'' Laurino was elected by her colleagues to serve as President Pro Tempore of the Chicago City Council, bestowing upon her the responsibility to preside over City Council meetings in the Mayor's absence. She served as Chairman of the City Council Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety as well as the Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development, and was a member of the Committees on Budget and Government Operations; Committees, Rules and Ethics; Finance; Workforce Development and Audit; and Zoning, Landmarks, and Building Standards.

Alderman Laurino has been a champion for Chicago's youth and an advocate for quality education throughout her career. During her time in the ward, she successfully advocated for the building of new annexes in five existing schools, in addition to the construction of two new public schools. She also expanded healthcare access for students in the ward by opening new health centers in both the Albany Park Multicultural Academy and Roosevelt High School.

Alderman Laurino also oversaw numerous infrastructure improvements to benefit senior citizens in her ward. She worked in conjunction with the City's Department of Housing to fund the construction of a 97-unit senior building, secured funding for senior citizen home improvement grants, and played an instrumental role in the renovation of an outdated building on North Park Village's grounds, which will soon serve as a wellness center for seniors.

The improvement of the 39th Ward under Alderman Laurino's leadership did not just reach youth and seniors, but the entire community as well. In 2014 she oversaw the construction of the new Albany Park Library, which was built to the highest current environmental standards, and features more space and nearly four times as many free public computers as the neighborhood's previous library. Alderman Laurino also addressed public safety concerns within the ward by replacing the outdated 17th District Police station with new facilities that are home to state-of- the-art technology and community-oriented meeting spaces.

The City of Chicago is lucky to have been served by Margaret Laurino, who improved access to fresh, nutritious foods for Chicagoans by creating the Food Desert Task Force, championed government transparency by video streaming all City Council meetings and fought unethical practices in government by mandating ethics trainings for all City employees. Furthermore, Alderman Laurino made our roads safer and more accessible by banning texting while bicycling and advancing the first- ever Pedestrian Plan. Finally, Alderman Laurino created new opportunities for young Chicago residents to learn about City government operations and to follow in her footsteps by cultivating careers dedicated to serving the public through the Aldermanic intern program.

Marge would be the first to tell you that her family is her first priority and they have provided support during her entire career; her

husband Randy Barnette, her son John Hundrieser and his wife Maria, and their children, Oliver and Emma.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in applauding Alderman Laurino's years of service to the City of Chicago. I hope that her dedication and hard work inspire us all to see the difference we can make by serving our local communities. I wish her a happy and successful retirement and all the best in her future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans who traveled to Washington, D.C. on June 5, 2019 with Honor Flight Chicago, a program that provides World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans the opportunity to visit their memorials on The National Mall in Washington, D.C. These memorials were built to honor their courage and service to their country.

The American Veteran is one of our greatest treasures. The Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen who traveled here on June 5th answered our nation's call to service during one of its greatest times of need. From the European Campaign to the Pacific Asian Theatre to the African Theater, these brave Americans risked life and limb, gave service and sacrificed much, all while embodying what it is to be a hero. We owe them more gratitude than can ever be expressed.

I welcome these brave veterans to Washington and to their memorials. I am proud to include in the Record the names of these men and women for all to see, hear, and recognize, and I call on my colleagues to rise and join me in expressing gratitude.

Rudy L. Aguirre, Alva H. Allen, Robert Archibald, Douglas A. Askren, Werner J. Baeckelandt, Charles R. Bakutis, Jerome E. Barton, Edward J. Beck, Todd A. Bennett, Patrick R. Bergeron, Bernard W. Brogan, Daniel L. Brown, Robert J. Bruzek, Anthony T. Buckun, Edward D. Bush, Kenneth Cali, Miguel A. Camacho Jr., Thomas E Carls, Richard A. Carrigan, Jr., Raymond A. Carucci, Daniel R. Chiarito, Charles Louis Clark, William J Collins, Robert D. Copp Jr, Louis P. Covelli, George A. Cridland, John M. Decillo, Ralph DeSanctis, Harry E. Diezel, Salvatore C. DiPrima, Ronald L. Edgecomb, Philip Givens, Robert J. Goettert, Gordon N. Grassle, Alex H. Grayes KWV, E. Barry Greenberg, Gregory A. Grigas, John R. Hanson, Stephen Hier, George E. Hoganson, Anthony Isadore Sr.

John C. Jacobson, Paul Johnson, John C. Judge, Robert I. Kedzior, Anthony W. Kernagis, Patrick M. Kidd, Kenneth King, William F. King, Norbert Knight, Kenneth R. Knoll, Alan S. Kravits, Edmund J. Krupiczowicz, Joseph E. Lamy, Daniel E. Leimberer, Jim W. Lukas, Raymond S. Malinowski, Paul E. Marietta, Joel Martin, John M. Martinez, John McCarthy, Joseph Medina Jr, Alan Mendelssohn, Ronald C. Messner, John E. Miller, Maurice M. Misner, John F. Molenda, Robert Morales, Willard Muth, Terry Nelson, Raymond Nosal, Frank J. Notariano.

Stanley W. Olenjack, David C. Patterson, Donald J. Patterson, Ronald E. Pearson, Benjam in Pennacchio, Chester A. Perczynski, Joseph L. Perez, Kenneth Phillips, James L. Popik-Fiore, Peter A. Prosiliakos, Ralph W. Reetz, Carl J. Roback, Luis Obed Rodriguez, Alan W. Rolla, Richard J. Ruggiero, Terrence F. Ryan, R. William Ryden, Frank J. Schuster, Robert Seeger, David L. Sewnig, Charles A. Siefert, William J. Skowronski Jr., Donald B. Smith, Joseph A. Stupec, Richard L. Vachata, Anthony James Vinci, Donald Wagner, HD Washington, Jr., Dieter M. Werner, Edward Yarber, Robert T. Zavala.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Friends of the Chicago River as they celebrate their 40th Anniversary.

Since its founding in August of 1979, Friends of the Chicago River has promoted and protected the Chicago River system for

people, plants and animals. They have worked in areas of policy, on- the-ground projects and education on behalf of the river system. Friends has educated more than 400,000 students about science, nature and the environment; received over 200,000 visitors to its McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum and have taken over 20,000 individuals canoeing to build new and future advocates.

Each year, Friends Centennial Volunteers and River Action Days attract over 6,000 volunteers who participate in restoration activities instream and on adjacent lands. Also, each year, Friends' Chicago River Day attracts about 2,000 people to around 70 locations across the Chicago region for a clean-up effort that removes tons of litter from the waterway. The organization has worked on behalf of the Chicago River system to raise overall water quality, foster healthier wildlife habitat, reduce flooding, and raise public awareness of combined sewer overflows.

Friends has grown from a handful of people concerned about the neglect of the river system to an organization of 10,000 members, volunteers, and online advocates led by Executive Director, Margaret Frisbie, and Board President, Sally Fletcher.

Generations of Chicagoans now value the Chicago River system as an invaluable natural resource.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Friends of the Chicago River for a long tradition of advocacy on behalf of the Chicago River system and its 40th Anniversary.

Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the World War II and Korean War veterans who traveled to Washington, D.C. on May 8, 2019 with Honor Flight Chicago, a program that provides World War II and Korean War veterans the opportunity to visit their memorials on The National Mall in Washington, D.C. These memorials were built to honor their courage and service to their country.

The American Veteran is one of our greatest treasures. The Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen who traveled here on May 8 answered our nation's call to service during one of its greatest times of need. From the European Campaign to the Pacific Asian Theatre to the African Theater, these brave Americans risked life and limb, gave service and sacrificed much, all while embodying what it is to be a hero. We owe them more gratitude than can ever be expressed.

I welcome these brave veterans to Washington and to their memorials. I am proud to acknowledge these men and women for all to see, hear, and recognize, and I call on my colleagues to rise and join me in expressing gratitude:

DeWayne C. Adams; Ronald Allan; Dale A. Allen; Ralph R. Anderson; Robert A. Anderson; Albert A. Armellino; George T. Athanasiou; Warren N. Barr, Jr.; Marvin E. Becker; Robert W. Bennett.

Arthur Berg; William F. Bike; Joseph Booko; Patrick J. Boyle; Matthias A. Burger, Jr.; Jose Cervantes; Vincent P. Connor; Bernard T. Constantine; Frank M. Craven; Paul E. Crowe.

Reginald C. Darley; Herbert E. Davidson; Theodore De Graff; John J. Debnar; Jerome A. Denault; Irwin Lloyd Dickstein; George E. Dirkes; Clarence R. Downey, Jr.; Frank E. Fabian; Harve A. Ferrill.

Robert V. Fitzgibbon; James F. Frey; Chester Gola; Ronald Goldenstern; Seymour Gottlieb; William H. Grady; Reuben T. Grissette; Gerald Handler; Walter C. Hartmann; Forrest E. Hazard.

James Holdridge; Peter N. Holt; Michael E. Hopkins; Walter D. Huseman Jr.; Lawrence J. Huttel; Will Intoe; Donald D. Jones; Arthur B. Justice; George J. Lacien; John W. Lee.

Eugene F. Lewaniak Sr.; Herbert S. Lorman; Robert R. Machon; John S. Matecki; Mark W. McConville; Donald P. McCormick; James McEldowney; Richard McNulty; Kenneth R. Meisinger; Jack J. Micek.

Wayne C. Morganegg; Paul R. Napholz; Reynaldo Navarro; Edwin H. Nelson; John Edward Olson; Raymond F. Panek; Frank M. Pecoraro; Joseph A. Pecoraro; Harry N. Percianoff; Chester A. Perczynski.

Jerome R. Radecky; Robert Earl Reed; John L. Retterer; Frank P. Ring; Joseph F. Ring; Donald W. Rooks; Anthony C. Sabatino; George H. Sallman Jr.; Alex Saputa; Edward Schmitt.

Jerome H. Schuman; Robert V. Sharp; Kenneth Shelby; Kenneth L. Shoberg; Robert John Shouse; Ronald J. Singer; Donald E. Smith; Howard Willis Stalbaum; Howard Stark; Frederick T. Staron.

Ronald G. Steinke; Clarence B. Stone; Thomas E. Sucher; Eugene Szykowny; Robert M. Terzich; Henry Wabi; James Wagner; Cyrus T. Wax; and Thomas England Woods.

Mr. Speaker, last year was an abject failure in addressing the climate crisis. In both policy and real-world emission reductions in the U.S. and globally, we fell short. We cannot afford another year like it, and yet, 2019 is off to an ominous start.

The consequences of inaction on climate change are both dire and familiar. The lives and livelihoods of millions across the country and billions around the world are at risk.

Climate change is a national security threat, a food security threat, a housing issue, a transportation issue, an infrastructure issue, an immigration issue, a jobs issue, an energy issue, a financial issue, and a public health issue.

We cannot, in good conscience, claim to be adequately representing the people of our districts and our country and the world if we ignore or deny the dangers that climate change poses to the American public and the world.

I stand here in strong support of H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act, to reverse the shameful and dangerous course of the last 2 years and meet the challenge of climate change head-on.