Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding, the chair of the Committee on Appropriations. I thank her for bringing this important legislation to the floor. It is the product of great, intense review of what is needed to go forward, and it is lean. There are many other suggestions that people have. This is what is urgent for us to do now.

I thank the Committee on Appropriations, which is one of the committees of jurisdiction, having a series of hearings on the subject, all of the subcommittees of jurisdiction--I think there are six on there--and then even the Legislative Branch Committee, which has the most responsibility, had maybe seven hearings.

In addition to that, let's start on that horrible day. Springing right from that, I called upon General Honore to review what has happened. I saw the work that he did in Katrina. That is how I got to know his work, and I knew that he would be an objective reviewer of what we needed. He put together a very blue ribbon committee of law enforcement and national security advisers--national security at the general level, generals in the military--and they put forth their recommendations of what we needed to do in the short term and in the long term. And many of those suggestions, in the short term, are in this legislation.

There are those who say, well, we can't wait till we do the commission report--when they vote against the commission report--until we do this, like next year or the end of the year. No, the need is immediate, and it is now.

So I thank Madam Chair DeLauro of the Committee on Appropriations, these subcommittee chairs for the multiple hearings that they have had on this subject, and I thank the chair of the House Administration Committee for the hearings that they have had in that committee as well to hone in on what is urgently needed now.

I also salute the chair of the Committee on Homeland Security, Chairman Bennie Thompson, working in a bipartisan way with Mr. Katko, to bring the legislation--so important--in a bipartisan way to the floor yesterday. And I salute the work that they did.

Madam Speaker, here we are, we have specific needs, honed to how we listened to the Architect of the Capitol as to what we need to harden the Capitol, the windows and doors.

There are Members who have said, ``Why are we doing that?'' It was just a normal day of tourism in the Capitol, while that same person who said that is pictured in the news pushing furniture up against the door to keep the brawlers out of this Chamber.

Normal day in the Capitol? Not so.

So we know what is possible now. Who could have imagined that the President of the United States would incite an insurrection? Should we have been prepared for that? Who would have imagined that? But could we have been prepared better? Yes. And we know what we must do now.

This has been an important week in the House as a revised gold medal legislation is being submitted. It is bipartisan. I am pleased to hear that the Republican leader, Mr. McCarthy, supports adding those who were attacked, assaulted, in fact, killed--the one killed, Billy Evans--on Good Friday. So that is in the works and we will take that up as soon as we come back.

Yesterday, we had a big, strong bipartisan vote on the commission. Today, we are saying this is what we need to do now. We may need to do more as the commission does its work, as the committees of jurisdiction continue their hearings. So today, we continue to defend the Constitution and the Capitol with an emergency supplemental bill.

Now much of what is happening in the Capitol in terms of restriction of visitors and the rest relates to COVID. And as that unfolds more favorably, we need to be sure that when we have children come and families enjoy and legislators passing laws and the press covering it all, and people coming to see the people's House in action, that they will be safe.

Madam Speaker, the legislation, again, builds on the action that happened yesterday, and hopefully, we can move quickly through the Senate and make the necessary appointments so that the product of that will be respected by the American people.

General Honore's report--I mentioned General Honore--he said, ``The breach of the Capitol on January 6 brought into stark relief the need to immediately improve the security of the Capitol complex and the security of Congressional Members and staff, and the workers who make our lives possible here. Immediate action is therefore required.'' Immediate action is therefore required: General Honore.

This supplemental, again, protects Members of Congress, of course, the Capitol, employees, visitors, including bolstering the physical security of the complex, creating a new reaction force for cases of emergency.

It responds to the direct costs of the attack on the Capitol. There were direct costs, including related to response and presence of the National Guard--that has to be paid for--District of Columbia and other Federal agencies, and to the prosecution of the insurrectionists.

Proudly, it recognizes the sacrifices of the Capitol Police; supporting them with overtime pay, bonuses, and trauma support, as well as specialized training and equipment. And it honors the late Officer Howie Liebengood by creating the ``Howard C. `Howie' Liebengood Center for Wellness.''

We are very pleased and proud of that, and we thank the Liebengood family for their involvement in that creation, and my colleague, Congresswoman Wexton of Virginia for her role in this.

Protecting the security of the Capitol so we can do our constitutional work on behalf of the American people should not be controversial. Four

months ago, multiple lives were lost. Over 140 law enforcement officers were physically harmed. Trauma and terror were inflicted on our colleagues, our staff, and ourselves.

Today, in passing this legislation, the House is taking a strong step forward to bring healing to our congressional community and to ensure that this horror can never happen again.

Let me close again by quoting General Honore's report:

``As you consider the recommendations of this task force, we must not forget it was the riotous actions of an angry mob that laid bare the vulnerabilities of the Capitol complex.

``We must not long endure any discourse that prevents or delays efforts necessary to strengthen the security of the U.S. Capitol complex and enhance the safety of those who serve the American people in Congress.''

Madam Speaker, I urge a strong bipartisan vote on this emergency security supplemental to respond. And as the gentlewoman from Washington pointed out, there are many more things that we need to do, but we have to prioritize. We have to sequence. We can't wait until we know every answer before we start with the solutions that we are well- aware and that we know of.

Again, some of this will depend on the resources in this legislation that will enable us to find out what it does cost to protect the Capitol in a way that is the least offensive to all of us, that says that this Capitol sits confidently, but assured that we will be protected when necessary, but that we don't need all of that protection outside, the fences and the rest, all the time. If we need it, we will have it when we need it.

Again, those are decisions that have to be made from a technical standpoint, as well as a security and safety standpoint, and this legislation enables that to happen.

There are those who say: Well, it didn't work then, so why is it going to work?

You know what, let's have confidence.

There is one word that I would say we need to rely on in all of this, and that is the word ``trust.'' Let us trust in each other that our purpose is the same; that we relied on the expert advice of generals and law enforcement and the rest, as to what we need immediately--to use their word, ``immediately.'' Let us trust that we can have the review that is necessary. We must have a review of the hierarchy of authority here.

What is this police board? How is that graded? Why can't we do that in a different way?

We have a search committee looking for a new chief of police. Our current chief of police may be in that mix, I don't know, because this is an objective search for a police chief.

So we look forward to working in a bipartisan way because that cannot be anything but nonpartisan. The House and Senate, Democrats and Republicans, honor our responsibility, our housekeeping responsibilities, to keep this place safe, and to have a chain of command that is clear.

Where is the responsibility for this? Is it in that police board, of which the police chief is not a member?

I agree with the gentlewoman, those kinds of issues are not resolved, but that should not hold up getting what we need in place right now. As the virus is relaxing some of the restrictions, we will be able, again, to function this summer as the U.S. Capitol, the welcoming beacon of democracy that it has always been, but with the assurance that it will be safe.

Madam Speaker, hopefully we will have a strong bipartisan vote on this. And I am very proud of what happened yesterday. I thank the gentlewoman for her leadership in that regard.

Madam Speaker, I praise the Appropriations Committee for bringing this to the floor. I thank the Homeland Security Committee for their great work and also as the authorizer. I also thank the House Administration Committee for the piece of this that they have.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I also thank him for his great leadership working with Ranking Member Katko on bringing this bipartisan legislation to the floor for a bipartisan commission.

Let's talk about where we are. Here we are in the Capitol of the United States. The dome of the U.S. Capitol has always been a beacon of democracy and hope to America and to the world. Under this dome, our Nation has abolished slavery; secured equal protections for all; ended a civil war; enfranchised women; established Medicare and Medicaid, voting rights and civil rights; and met the needs of the American people.

Under this dome, schoolchildren learn about their country's history and what we are doing to advance their future. They come here and see us honor those who have contributed to the success of our country: Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, et cetera. But they know that our Founders, those patriots, wanted us to be working for a better future as we honor our history.

Under this dome, when children learn about our country's history, they also learn about what we are doing for their futures. Legislators pass laws. The press engages with our democracy, reporting on it. Staff and workers enable all of this to happen.

This dome is a symbol of the determination of America. But this was not always so. Let us recall that the dome of the Capitol was built during the Civil War as our country was riven by brutal conflict. At the time, many said the iron and steel used for construction were needed for the war effort. They urged the President not to continue the work on the dome. President Lincoln said no. He knew that our country needed a symbol of strength and unity, a reminder of the shared ideals and common purpose that built our Nation.

It was a beacon of hope to guide us through times of darkness, and he knew that the work must continue as a sign of our strength and the unity of our country.

Mr. Speaker, on January 6, and in the days, weeks, and months after, the Capitol dome was, once again, such a beacon.

Would we prevail?

January 6 was the day called for in the Constitution to validate the Presidential election. It was not just another day in the life of Congress. That day, one of the darkest days in our history, our temple of democracy was under assault by insurrectionists.

The gleeful desecration of our Capitol resulted in multiple deaths and physical harm to over 140 members of law enforcement and terror and trauma among staff, workers, and even Members.

The insurrection was called for to impede our constitutional mandate, but the Congress returned to the Capitol that night to accomplish our purpose. We agreed in a bipartisan way that day that we would return to the Capitol, and that sent an important signal to the world.

The insurrection called for people to impede our constitutional mandate,

but we returned to the Capitol. Thanks to the courage of the Capitol Police, Members, and support workers, we showed the country and, indeed, the world that we would not be diverted from our duty and that we would respect our responsibility to the Constitution of the United States.

We take that oath to protect and defend the Constitution. Again, in a bipartisan way, we agreed to come back to the Capitol.

Today, over 4 months later, many questions regarding the circumstances of this assault on our democracy and response to it remain. It is imperative that we seek the truth of what happened on January 6.

To do that, Congress must, in a spirit, I believe, of bipartisanship and patriotism, establish an independent and bipartisan 9/11-type commission. Today, thanks to the leadership of Chairman Bennie Thompson and Ranking Member John Katko, legislation to create such a commission is on the House floor.

It is important to note, Mr. Speaker, that this is happening 4\1/2\ months after the January 6 insurrection. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues know, but many were not here at the time, legislation establishing the 9/11 Commission, 9/11/2001, was not signed into law until the end of November 2002, over 14 months after the attacks.

So, people have been saying: How come we don't have a commission?

It takes time to build bipartisanship and come to agreement. Let us hope that the leadership that Mr. Thompson and Mr. Katko have demonstrated will be leadership that we will follow and that we will continue in the most bipartisan way in order to seek the truth.

Today, 4 months later, many questions regarding the circumstances still exist. This commission is designed to be impartial and experienced. The legislation requires that the commissioners be ``prominent United States citizens with national recognition and significant depth of experience.''

It also indicates that they should not be Members of Congress or elected in another capacity. Commissioners will be appointed from the highest echelons of government service; law enforcement; civil rights, civil liberties, and privacy; Armed Forces; intelligence; counterterrorism; cybersecurity; technology; and law.

The commission will be, again, bipartisan and bicameral, with commissioners appointed by the majority and minority leadership in the House and Senate. It will be actionable and effective, culminating in a final report on the facts and causes of January 6, along with recommendations to prevent further attacks on our democratic institutions.

I heard earlier Chairman Thompson acknowledge the support and endorsement of the previous chairs of the 9/11 Commission, Governor Kean and Chairman Lee Hamilton from Congress, the co-chairs of the 9/11 Commission. They had written to us earlier about the need for such a bipartisan commission, but they also wanted not only to find out the truth so this doesn't happen again, but also to reinforce our commitment to democracy and take us on a path that is better and more unifying.

That is a responsibility we have, and that is a hope that I have emerging from this debate and this vote today, that we will be able to have a strong bipartisan vote that takes us down a path more unifying for our country. We have this opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, the press says to me: Why don't you just go do your own task force and your own select committee to investigate this? You have the votes, you have subpoena power, and you have this or that.

I said: I don't want to do that. We want this to be as it is shaped, bipartisan with shared responsibility and shared staff in a way that the public will have respect for the outcome.

To that end, 140 national security leaders have called for such a commission. This is what they have said: ``The events of January 6 exposed severe vulnerabilities in the Nation's preparedness for preventing and responding to domestic terrorist attacks. The immediate security failings that permitted a lethal breach of the Capitol complex by armed extremists raise serious questions and demand immediate solutions. . . . A failure to deploy the full suite of tools available to fully understand January 6 and address its causes will leave the Capitol, and the Nation, vulnerable to future attacks.''

This list is nonpartisan, 140 Democrats and Republicans. I don't even know what party some of them are.

I include their statement in the Record, Mr. Speaker.

Letter From Former Senior National Security, Military, and Elected

Officials Calling On Congress To Create a Bipartisan 1/6 Commission

Dear Members of Congress: We are former senior national

security, military, and elected officials who have

represented or served Democrats, Republicans, or

administrations of both parties. We write to encourage this

Congress to establish an independent and bipartisan national

commission to investigate the January 6th assault of the U.S.

Capitol Complex and its direct causes, and to make

recommendations to prevent future assaults and strengthen the

resilience of our democratic institutions.

We also write to you with great urgency in light of what we

collectively see as an exigent and growing threat. The events

of January 6th exposed severe vulnerabilities in the nation's

preparedness for preventing and responding to domestic

terrorist attacks. The immediate security failings that

permitted a lethal breach of the Capitol Complex by armed

extremists raise serious questions and demand immediate

solutions.

But January 6th was also the result of complex national

security threats. These include coordinated disinformation

campaigns, nontransparent financing of extremist networks,

potential foreign influences, and white supremacist violent

extremism, which the Department of Homeland Security

identified in an October 2020 report as among ``the most

persistent and lethal threat[s] in the Homeland.'' As FBI

Director Christopher Wray testified to you recently,

``January 6th was not an isolated event. The problem of

domestic terrorism has been metastasizing across the country

for a long time now and it's not going away anytime soon.''

Understanding how these forces culminated in an attack on the

infrastructure of our democracy is critical to preventing

future attacks.

In the wake of September 11th, the administration and

Congress jointly acknowledged that the attack's causes were

complex and that an independent and well-equipped national

commission was an essential tool to aid the federal

government. Congressional inquiries, law enforcement

activities, and a national commission not only worked in

parallel, but critically complemented each other's necessary

work. An independent commission should not supplant the

ongoing work by the legislative and executive branches, but

it can uniquely support them by providing comprehensive and

expert recommendations for Congress to act upon.

Commissions--properly empowered, resourced, and led--can

establish a full picture of events and an analysis of their

causes, from which nonpartisan recommendations can

authoritatively flow. With dedicated time, resources, and

expert staffing, they can also exclusively focus on the

matter at hand over an appropriate time horizon. Given the

gravity of January 6th as a national security matter--the

violent disruption to the transition of power and the

continuing threat of future attacks--a national commission

examining the lead up to the January 6th assault, and the

attendant security lapses, is not only appropriate, but a

critical component of the national response.

A failure to deploy the full suite of tools available to

fully understand January 6th and address its causes will

leave the Capitol, and the nation, vulnerable to future

attacks. In bipartisan fashion, we have successfully

marshaled these tools before, and we implore you to do so

once again.

Sincerely,

(Note: All titles are former positions or military ranks

held prior to retirement.)

Javed Ali, Senior Director for Counterterrorism, National

Security Council.

Thad Allen, Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard; Commandant of the

Coast Guard.

Wendy R. Anderson, Deputy Chief of Staff, U.S. Department

of Defense.

Daniel Baer, U.S. Ambassador; Deputy Assistant Secretary of

State.

Brian Baird, U.S. Representative, 1999-2011.

Daniella Ballou-Aares, Senior Advisor to the Secretary of

State.

Rand Beers, Acting Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland

Security; Deputy Homeland Security Advisor.

John Bellinger, Legal Adviser, U.S. Department of State;

Legal Advisor, National Security Council.

Tatyana Bolton, Cyber Policy Lead--Senior Policy Analyst,

U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Charles Boustany, U.S. Representative, 2005-2017.

Steven Browning, U.S. Ambassador; Principal Deputy

Assistant Secretary of State.

Todd F. Buchwald, U.S. Ambassador, Office of Global

Criminal Justice, U.S. Department of State.

Sharon Burke, Assistant Secretary of Defense for

Operational Energy.

Daniel Byman, Professional Staff Member, 9/11 Commission.

Piper Campbell, U.S. Ambassador; Head U.S. Mission to

After the bipartisan agreement on this commission was reached, the respected bipartisan chairs of the 9/11 Commission, Thomas Kean and Lee Hamilton, endorsed it, as was mentioned by the chairman and as I referenced earlier.

I want to repeat it because I think it bears repetition:

We very strongly urge House Members to support H.R. 3233,

the bipartisan National Commission to Investigate the January

6 Attack on the United States Capitol Complex bill that would

create a 9/11-style commission to investigate the January 6

assault on the U.S. Capitol. That was a dark day in American

history, one of the darkest.

As chairman and vice chairman of the 9/11 Commission, unity

of purpose was key to the effectiveness of the group. We put

country above party, without bias, the events before, during,

and after the attack. We sought to understand our

vulnerabilities in order to prevent future acts of terrorism.

The chair and vice chair went on to say:

Today, democracy faces a new threat. The January 6 attack

on the U.S. Capitol was one of the darkest days in the

history of our country. Americans deserve an objective and

accurate account of what happened.

Mr. Hamilton and Governor Kean said:

As we did in the wake of 9/11, it is time to set aside

partisan politics and come together as Americans in common

pursuit of truth and justice.

As I said earlier, Mr. Speaker, the Capitol of the United States has always been a glorious beacon of democracy for the American people and for the world.

This legislation is about something larger even than the commission, vital as the commission is. This legislation is about our democracy, about ensuring that the Capitol dome remains a symbol of freedom and about preserving America's role as an emblem of resilience, determination, and hope to the world.

Indeed, creating this commission sends a resounding message to terrorists both at home and abroad: The commitment of the United States Congress to the Constitution and to the American people is unshakeable.

In establishing the truth of January 6, this commission will protect our temple of democracy and our democracy itself. It will ensure that such an attack shall never happen again.

Can we just not wait, Mr. Speaker, for a time very soon when children come here to learn, where the press can cover in a more open way, and where the American people can come into the people's House?

That is what this Chamber has been called, the people's House. They come to witness the debate that affects their lives. And whatever our disagreement about policy, they are assured that we are unified in our commitment in honoring our Constitution and respecting the institution in which we serve.

Mr. Speaker, I urge a strong bipartisan vote for H.R. 3233 to establish the national commission to investigate the January 6 attack on the United States Capitol complex. I do so with the greatest appreciation and respect to Chairman Bennie Thompson and to Ranking Member Katko, and I hope, again, that the spirit of bipartisanship that they engendered in bringing this legislation to the floor will only grow as we go forward with the commission and with its recommendations.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership in bringing this important legislation to the floor. It really is representative of his lifetime of service to our country for liberty and justice for all, the term that our distinguished leader mentioned in his comments--liberty and justice for all.

I want to spring from that and talk about e pluribus unum. When our Founders established that as a principle, as a guide, e pluribus unum, from many, one, they could never have imagined how many we would be or how different we would be from each other, but they knew we had to be one, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Madam Speaker, I thank the leader for framing it in that way, and I thank the chairman for bringing us together around this legislation put forth by Representative Grace Meng, a real champion in Congress, who has long led the charge against anti-AAPI bigotry, and all forms of bigotry and violence, and who sees this impact firsthand in her district in Queens. I have visited her there, seeing the beautiful diversity of her community, even diversity within the Asian-American community, as diverse as it is, and the trust that they place in her, well-placed.

And I salute CAPAC chair, Judy Chu, an historic leader, who every day is ensuring that the AAPI community has a powerful voice and strong representation in the United States Congress.

Madam Speaker, I was listening to the gentleman's comments, and I was recalling when this resolution came to the floor last year, and the leader on the other side said: Nobody in the kitchen tables of America is talking about this. Another Member said that I was wasting the Congress' time, as Speaker, to be addressing this AAPI violence, or any of the hate COVID initiatives. It was ridiculous to say we were wasting time. It is important, it is the work of the Congress. This is an issue for us, it is a value. It is a value that is reaffirmed by overwhelming vote in a bipartisan way in the United States Senate.

I know that Representative Meng considered it a happy day when we were on the Senate side, in the leadership of Chuck Schumer, with Senator Mazie Hirono, Senator Tammy Duckworth, our colleague, Andy Kim, and, of course, our lead sponsor, Grace Meng, as that bill was being brought forward on the Senate side, which, as we all know, received very strong, overwhelming bipartisan support.

So, today, in the House, we see representation in action as we bring to the House floor important legislation to address a grave and growing crisis to the AAPI community and our entire country, the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act.

And, again, I will salute Mazie Hirono and Tammy Duckworth, our leaders in the Senate, where the legislation passed almost unanimously, a clear sign of the Congress' unity on this priority.

I, too, am blessed to represent a district that is blessed with a large AAPI population. And I have seen, as have some of our other colleagues, firsthand, the hate crimes exacted against them, intensified since last year. Over 6,600 incidences of anti-AAPI discrimination and violence from March of last year to March of this year, in all 50 States, have been reported: businesses vandalized, seniors attacked, families living in fear, and hundreds more occur unreported in the shadows. This is what we know.

These attacks are even more shameful in light of the heroism of our AAPI community during the pandemic, against which 2 million Asian- Americans and Pacific Islanders are fighting on the front lines as healthcare providers, as first responders, our police and fire, and other essential workers.

As a Californian, again, I have seen firsthand the pain in my community at an AAPI-serving healthcare clinic in Chinatown last month, and in conversations with the AAPI groups. We have these regular conversations at this time, sadly, taking this form.

This epidemic of anti-AAPI bigotry is a challenge really, Madam Speaker, to the conscience of our country, which demands bold, effective, and immediate action.

As the House prepares to pass this legislation today, I also join my colleagues in support of Chair Judy Chu's resolution condemning the deadly attack targeting the AAPI community in Georgia last month. These shootings were a vicious and vile act that compound the terror and pain that Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders face each day.

This bill that we have on the floor today, the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, will strengthen our defenses against any anti-AAPI violence, speeding our response to hate crimes, supporting State and local governments as they improve reporting, and ensuring that hate crimes information is more accessible to the Asia-American communities.

This legislation also includes bipartisan measures to further improve hate crimes reporting and promote a better response to those hate crimes of any kind.

Madam Speaker, it is really important if we are going to address the matter, if we are going to help solve the problem, we have to have an accounting of what it is. As I said, 6,600 in the past year, a lot of it intensified toward the end of that year.

Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Don Beyer for his leadership in the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act, now as an amendment to this bill. This bill also builds on steps taken by President Biden, including his day one executive order to marshal Federal resources to combat xenophobia against Asian-Pacific and Pacific Islanders, and his March 30 announcement of additional steps to combat anti-AAPI bigotry.

Together, these steps would make a significant difference to address hate crimes in America, not only during this pandemic, but for years to come. This month, May, is AAPI Heritage Month, and in this month we celebrate the many blessings that the AAPI community has bestowed on our Nation over the generations.

As we do so, let us honor those contributions with action: ensuring that every Asian-American and Pacific Islander and their families and loved ones can live with safety, dignity, and pride.

Madam Speaker, I urge a strong bipartisan vote for the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, and ask for the Chu resolution condemning the shootings of Georgia, when that comes up. I look forward to seeing the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act go directly to the President's desk, as it has already passed the Senate, and be swiftly signed into law in a strong, bipartisan way.

Madam Speaker, I urge a strong ``aye'' vote.

Mr. Speaker, with great solemnity and prayerfulness, I rise to join my colleagues in recognition of National Police Week: observed by this Congress and Country for nearly sixty years.

Thank you, Rep. Val Demings, former Orlando Police Department Chief, a police officer for nearly 30 years, for providing us with this opportunity.

This week, we honor the thousands of heroes who don the uniform each day, as they honor their patriotic pledge to defend our Democracy.

They do so often in the face of grave danger--including the coronavirus pandemic, which has forced many to risk their lives as they work to save the lives of others.

We especially salute our U.S. Capitol Police heroes, including those who lost their lives in defense of the Capitol.

Following the January 6 assault, they have met horror with heroism; agony with action. We are awed by their resilience and grateful for their courage.

As President Biden wrote in his Proclamation on Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week: ``Every morning, our Nation's law enforcement officers pin on a badge and go to work, not knowing what the day will bring, and hoping to come home safely.''

Solemnly, we honor the sacrifice of those who did not ``come home safely.''

Today--and always--we pay tribute to our fallen officers, including the 394 officers added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial this past year. Fourteen Californians received this sad recognition.

The service of each of these heroes reminds us of our duty: to build a future worthy of their sacrifice.

May the memories of the fallen live always in our hearts, as a reminder of that responsibility. And may it be a comfort to the families of the fallen that so many mourn with and pray for them.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for the recognition and for his leadership, and that of the committee in bringing this important bipartisan legislation to the floor.

I salute the gentleman; I salute Jerry Nadler, an author of this legislation, the chair of the Committee on the Judiciary; Mr. Katko for his lead cosponsorship; among other Republican members, to make this strongly bipartisan.

Mr. Speaker, I am excited about this legislation as a mother of five children--four daughters, one son--nine grandchildren. This is about a recognition of being family-friendly in our legislation, as more women are a part of the economic success of our country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, a strong bipartisan step to ensure that women are no longer forced to choose between maintaining a healthy pregnancy and paycheck--a choice that, for many, has serious health consequences.

This landmark legislation advances the health of women and children, the financial security of families, and, really, the dynamism of our American economy. And its passage--while long overdue--is particularly urgent, as the lives and livelihood of so many are under threat from the coronavirus.

Again, I thank the chairman and Mr. Katko, Mr. Nadler, and so many others for their leadership in passing this bill. And I thank all the cosponsors.

Again, as a mother of five, I am especially proud to support the bill. And I want to salute all the mothers and women who have spoken out, often risking professional retaliation, to end pregnancy discrimination in the workplace.

This is what this means: It means that too often when a pregnant worker asks for a temporary job-related accomodation, she will be fired or pushed onto unpaid leave, deprived of her paycheck and health insurance when she needs them most.

This is particularly true in many physically taxing jobs, which tend to be low wage and traditionally dominated by women. And that is why we must pass the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, putting in place a clear, explicit pregnancy accommodation framework, similar to the standard that has been in place for decades for workers with disabilities, which I was proud to be part of. Our distinguished leader, Mr. Hoyer, has been a major leader in that regard.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation is also a matter of justice. As nearly 300 groups from the ACLU to Zero To Three recently wrote to Congress-- from A to

Z--``Discrimination affects pregnant workers across race and ethnicity, but women of color and immigrants may be at particular risk.

``Latinas, Black women and immigrant women are more likely to hold certain inflexible and physically demanding jobs that can present specific challenges for pregnant workers. . . . This can make reasonable accommodations on the job even more important, and loss of wages and health insurance due to pregnancy discrimination especially challenging.''

I think it is important to note that this legislation is important also from the standpoint of hiring. We want to make sure that employers who are hiring someone know there is a level playing field should the woman of childbearing age--or even already blessed with a pregnancy-- that this is a positive initiative for their workplace and their treating that person with respect is not placing them at any disadvantage if the playing field is level.

This comes at a time when--I mentioned about the pandemic--around 2 million women were pushed out of the labor force. One out of four women report they are still worse off financially than a year ago. Studies show it will take 18 months longer for the women's employment to rebound from the pandemic than for men's. And the reduction of women's work hours and labor force participation is said to erase tens of billions of dollars from our economy.

American women are part of the engine of America's economy and the key to building back better after this crisis. And again, as we all say: When women succeed, America succeeds.

And we can apply that to say: When women of childbearing age succeed, America certainly succeeds.

And for mothers and women who are pregnant, the challenges are even graver because our Nation still lacks sufficient workplace protections against pregnancy discrimination.

Mr. Speaker, that is why this legislation is so very important and is consistent with what we pledge--liberty and justice for all women.

I am very excited about this because, as we all know, pregnancy is a blessing to any family, and we do not want any intervention that can be avoided in terms of accommodating the needs of women who are pregnant.

Mr. Speaker, I salute all of you. I am very excited about this legislation and I am so glad it will have strong bipartisan support.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and some emotion that I rise to honor an outstanding and longstanding member of my staff who has been a pillar of my office for nearly 15 years, my Senior Advisor and Director of Member Services, Michael Long.

To Members of Congress and all who work and serve in this Chamber, the name Michael Long is synonymous with excellence.

Michael is a coalition-builder and a communicator, a liaison and a leader with an extraordinary talent for forging enduring, effective connections, both within and outside the Capitol. I have watched him with great pride over the years as he welcomed young people to the Capitol, including the Boy Scouts, as an Eagle Scout himself, showing his leadership from early on, whether it is his communication with his many friends and admirers in the Congressional Black Caucus or with the Members across the Congress on both sides of the aisle.

We all know and are grateful for his unwavering patience and perseverance and his remarkable ability to anticipate and meet the needs of Members.

Michael comes from a family that is committed to the civil rights movement. He has it in his DNA, although he is younger than the movement.

For this and other reasons, many of us were privileged that Michael came with us, under the leadership of Karen Bass and the Congressional Black Caucus, to Ghana.

Mr. Whip, you were a leader in that delegation, and you know how moving it was.

But Michael brought, in his DNA, the spirit of his father, Isaac, who was watching down from Heaven and saw Michael be part of that historic trip. The whole time, he wore Isaac's cufflinks as Isaac looked down with pride, and his mother, Naomi, and sister, Veronica, looked on with love from here, taking great pride in Michael.

Mr. Whip, it is such an honor that you are in the Chair as I pay tribute to Michael, a real tribute to him and his work.

Michael has been a tremendous asset to the Speaker's Office and my leadership team over the years, and to the entire Democratic Caucus and the entire Congress, ensuring that we can deliver progress For the People.

He can take pride, as I do, in knowing the key role that he has played in our passing legislation to lift up working families across America. That happened because of his leadership.

While Michael's trusted presence on this floor and on Capitol Hill will be missed, we are grateful for his service, as well as for his work as a mentor and leader to forge a path for others to follow. Indeed, his tenure has been both historic and impactful.

On behalf of the House of Representatives, I thank Michael Long and wish him the best in the next stages of his journey.

With great admiration and appreciation, thank you, Michael Long.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the authorities vested in the Speaker of the House by law and the Rules of the House of Representatives, commencing at 5:00 PM on April 28, 2021 and ending at 11:59 PM on April 28, 2021, the corridors and passages of the Capitol under control of the House shall be restricted to those Members and staff who have an office in the House wing of the Capitol, invited Members, and individuals who possess the appropriate credentials for presence in the Capitol as issued by the Office of the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives, and those who are issued a credential in support of the joint ceremonial session. The Office of the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives and the United States Capitol Police shall deny admittance to the Capitol except to those listed above.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Madam Chairwoman Maloney for yielding, and I salute her for her leadership in bringing this historic legislation to the floor.

All of us join in saluting Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, who has been the patron saint of D.C. statehood since she came to Congress. She has been tireless, persistent, and dissatisfied as she has built historical support for this bill, which passed in the previous Congress with 235 votes.

I rise as Speaker of the House to join my colleagues on this momentous day for American democracy as we right a historic injustice by passing legislation to finally grant Washington, D.C., statehood.

Statehood for the District of Columbia is about showing respect for our democracy, for the American people, and for our Constitution. That Constitution begins with our preamble, ``We the people,'' setting out our Founders' vision of a government of, by, and for the people.

Yet, for more than two centuries, the people of Washington, D.C., have been denied their right to fully participate in their democracy.

D.C., as Congresswoman Norton mentioned, pays more Federal taxes per capita than any other State. Its budget is larger than 12 States. Its population is larger than two States. Its people have fought in every American war since the Revolution.

D.C. residents have been fighting for voting rights and autonomy for 220 years, with a full 86 percent recently voting for statehood.

It is well past the time to grant them the rights that they have been fighting for and that they deserve.

As I said, Mr. Speaker, I rise as Speaker of the House on this momentous occasion. It is an official honor to do so, but it is also a personal privilege to join Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton; the distinguished chair of the committee of jurisdiction, Congresswoman Maloney; many of my colleagues; and the distinguished majority leader, Mr. Hoyer, who has made this part of his life's work in the Congress to join in this fight for statehood.

It is a personal privilege because when I was born, my father was a Member of Congress from Baltimore, Maryland, Thomas D'Alesandro, Jr. He served as chairman of the District of Columbia Appropriations Subcommittee. That position made him the unofficial mayor of Washington because of the authority that the committee had over the District of Columbia and their every decision.

However, my father did not agree with that. He was a proponent for what was then called ``home rule.'' They often say that statehood for the District of Columbia is in my DNA. It went from home rule, then to finally having a mayor, and now we want statehood. We have always wanted statehood, but now we finally are able to pass it in the Congress.

There is nothing theoretical or abstract about statehood. For example, last summer, the country watched in horror as Federal agents and out-of-State National Guard troops were deployed against peaceful protesters in the District without residents' approval. Then, on January 6, as our Capitol was being defiled, our Capitol Police assaulted and killed, and our Members and staff terrorized, D.C. leaders did not have the authority to call the National Guard to protect its people.

Granting D.C. statehood means ensuring that its leaders have the tools they need to keep people safe. The Governor of any one of our States has the authority to call in the National Guard. That is not an authority that is

afforded to the Mayor of Washington, D.C. If that were the case, we would have had protection much sooner.

Statehood is also a matter of civil rights. The residents of the District have a right to self-governance and control over their lives and futures.

It is particularly meaningful that we pass this legislation just days after the anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln signing the District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act, freeing enslaved people in the District.

Today, by passing H.R. 51 to admit the State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth into the Union, the House will finally address this unjust, unequal, and undemocratic situation.

We look forward to a swift vote in the Senate on this essential legislation so that we can send this important legislation to the President's desk.

At the same time, House Democrats will continue our work to protect every American's right to be heard at the ballot box. I urge a strong vote for D.C. statehood, H.R. 51--the 51st State, easy to remember--and for its citizens' civil liberties, security, and right to have a say in our democracy.

I want to once again commend Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton for her long dedication to justice for every person in our country, starting with the people she represents in the District of Columbia, hopefully soon to be the 51st State of the Union. I urge an ``aye'' vote.

Madam Speaker, I thank the distinguished chairman for yielding and for his leadership. What a busy time in the Committee on the Judiciary, bringing two bills to the floor today, with all the work that went into them under Chairman Nadler's leadership.

Madam Speaker, here we are, under the gaze of our patriarch, George Washington, right there in this Chamber.

Madam Speaker, 230 years ago, our patriarch, George Washington, who watches over us in this Chamber, famously wrote to the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, Rhode Island. In that letter, he made a promise that would be our Nation's guide for centuries to come.

He wrote: All possess ``liberty of conscience. . . . It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights.''

He went on to say: ``For happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens.''

Today, by passing the NO BAN Act, the House is upholding that fundamental promise--``to bigotry no sanction''--by taking action to ensure that no President or administration can ever again abuse its authority by waging discrimination on the basis of religion.

Madam Speaker, thank you to Chair Judy Chu of CAPAC, our sponsor of this legislation and a national champion in combating discrimination and xenophobia, who has helped lead the Congress' response to recent anti-AAPI attacks.

The NO BAN Act strengthens the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion, and it restores the separation of powers by limiting overly broad executive action to issue future religious bans, which are fundamentally un-American.

As Justice Sotomayor wrote, echoing President Washington, in her dissent in the shameful Trump v. Hawaii Supreme Court case upholding the last administration's Muslim ban: ``The United States of America is a Nation built upon the promise of religious liberty. Our Founders honored that core promise by embedding the principle of religious neutrality in the First Amendment. The Court's decision today'' to uphold the Muslim ban ``fails to safeguard that fundamental principle.''

Madam Speaker, I want to mention that when this happened 4 years ago, and the President came and did his Muslim ban legislation, we had a hearing. It wasn't an official hearing because we weren't in the majority, and the majority wasn't interested in having it, but we had a hearing on it.

What we saw in that hearing were leaders of the security community saying that if this stays in place, it is going to hurt our national security because we will not be able to keep promises that we made to those who helped us in Afghanistan and Iraq. We won't be able to because many of them are Muslim.

Madam Speaker, a thousand diplomats from the State Department--and this is highly unusual--signed on in opposition to what this did to us diplomatically in the world. Our rank-and-file men and women spoke directly to the problem that this would create, the danger it created, in people trusting our word when we asked them to help us and that we would help keep them safe.

Madam Speaker, you have heard me quote, and Pramila has heard me quote, again and again in that same hearing because many of the people who come here for asylum and refugee status because of religious persecution where they are from, the National Association of Evangelicals testified the following: ``The United States' refugee resettlement program is the crown jewel of American humanitarianism.'' They were speaking in terms of religious refugees.

Again, we cannot allow any President to abuse the power of his or her office in this regard.

Madam Speaker, if I may, I would like to also address another piece of legislation, and I thank the chairman for bringing it to the floor, the Access to Counsel Act, protecting the civil liberties of those who face prolonged detention as they seek legal entry into the United States. Some of them are little children.

This is a commonsense step to close a serious and dangerous gap in our immigration law that too often prevents the vulnerable from accessing not only legal counsel but also medical attention or contact with their families.

I am always proud to salute Representative Pramila Jayapal, the sponsor of the Access to Counsel Act and a champion for the dignity and rights of all newcomers to our Nation--in fact, everyone in our Nation; and I thank her for her efforts.

Passage of these bills, the NO BAN Act and the Access to Counsel Act, should not be controversial. Over 400 immigrants' rights bills organizations, faith-based organizations, business groups, and civil rights organizations support the NO BAN Act, and many more support the Access to Counsel Act.

These bills are about honoring our Nation's promise that, as President Washington said, we will give ``to bigotry no sanction; to persecution no assistance.''

Madam Speaker, I urge a strong vote for both of these bills honoring the vision of our Founders, and the aspirations of so many people in our country.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his very moving and profound statement on democracy and democratic freedoms in Hong Kong. I thank the chairman for his leadership for bringing this important legislation to the floor. I thank the ranking member, Mr. McCaul, for his leadership, as well, on an ongoing basis on this important issue and for his courtesy for yielding back.

It is always an honor to be with Chris Smith, we have been working on these issues together for 30 years--a very long time--to demonstrate the bipartisan nature of the support that we have for democratic freedoms in Hong Kong, in the House, and in the Senate, bicameral and bipartisan.

Mr. Speaker, Friday was a sad day and a disturbing day for the people of Hong Kong and for all freedom-loving people as sentences were handed down to Martin Lee, a global champion of human rights, and to other pro-democracy leaders for engaging in peaceful protests.

This afternoon, 3 days after that distressing development, I had the privilege to speak with activists from the Hong Kong Democracy Council. It was an inspiration to hear how they and the people of Hong Kong are responding to China's crackdown with great courage; how the dream of real autonomy cannot be extinguished by injustice or intimidation.

In our conversation earlier today--and in all my communications with Hong Kongers--they asked that the United States Congress continue to speak out to support their aspirations for the freedoms that they were promised. We were there when they promised them.

Today, with this resolution, Congress is honoring that call. I thank Chairman Meeks, Ranking Member McCaul, again, Representatives Bera and Malinowski, and the distinguished chair of the China Executive Commission, Mr. McGovern, for their work on this important legislation.

H. Res. 130 condemns the continued violation of rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong by the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

It states that Communist China continues to ``disregard its international legal obligations under the joint declaration'' which mandates, among other pledges, that ``Hong Kong would enjoy a high degree of autonomy'' and ``the personal rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong would be protected by law.''

This resolution today makes clear that China has trampled on its promises, including its draconian so-called national security law used to target and round up peaceful protesters under the guise of terrorism; disqualification of pro-democracy candidates from participating in the September 6 legislative council elections; the indictments and arrests for six Hong Kong activists living overseas--as the distinguished chairman pointed out, including here in the United States--and the arrests and sentencing of dozens of pro-democracy activists, including, as was mentioned, Joshua Wong, Agnes Chow, and Ivan Lam--and opposition leaders, the Hong Kong 12, of this past December and January. Again, I mention Martin Lee.

The United States Congress has always supported Hong Kong on a bipartisan and bicameral basis, and we remain laser-focused on efforts to support Hong Kong's efforts to maintain and grow the rule of law and freedom of speech in their home, and we are determined to hold China accountable.

Our response must include further strengthening our work with international coalitions--this has to be multilateral--passing legislation in addition to this resolution, to support Hong Kong, building on the passage of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act in 2019.

Our legislative response must also address the plight of the Uighurs and Tibetans and the violation of their rights in China; and we must continue to use our platform to speak out about Beijing's crackdown on the global stage and ensure that the voices that the Chinese Government are trying to silence are heard.

In response, our focus must be on human rights. As I always say, if we do not speak out for human rights in China because of commercial interests, then we lose all moral authority to speak out on human rights anywhere in the world.

That is what I have been stating and fighting for--as we have together--since 1991 when I went to Tiananmen Square and unfurled a black-and-white banner reading: To those who died for democracy.

Ever since, many of us have fought to ensure that human rights and trade are firmly linked, from sponsoring the U.S.-China Act in 1993 and in 1994 urging Congress to deny China most-favored nation status to goods made by the PLA in the prisons.

Mr. Smith and Mr. Frank Wolf went there and saw the evidence of prison labor goods being sent to the U.S. and corporate America just ignoring the whole thing.

Then in 2000 we fought efforts to give China a blank check when it failed to comply with its market commitment under the WTO, and they still continue to do that.

We cannot allow economic interests to blind us to moral injustices committed by China.

On Friday in a speech to court, the storied Hong Kong attorney, Margaret Ng, quoted Sir Thomas More, the patron saint of the legal profession, who was tried for treason because he would not bend the law to the king's will. Margaret Ng ended her statement by paraphrasing his final, famous words:

I stand the law's good servant, but the people's first. For

the law must serve the people, not the people the law.

With that, I support an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote for this resolution and for the Congress' continued bipartisan and bicameral work to support the people of Hong Kong in the face of Beijing's exploitation of and assault on the law. It is a very important piece of legislation, and I am so glad it is going to have bipartisan support.

Mr. Speaker, I urge an ``aye'' vote, and I thank the chair and the ranking member of the committee for their leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership in bringing this important legislation to the floor of the House.

This is about building back better with women, not stifling innovation and entrepreneurship, but reaping the benefits of all that women have to offer in our country.

Mr. Speaker, nearly 60 years ago, President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act into law, lauding it as ``a measure that adds to our laws another structure basic to democracy.''

Today, I rise in support of a similarly momentous measure for our democracy, the Paycheck Fairness Act, which will strengthen that law and reaffirm this pledge: equal work deserves equal pay.

We all salute Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro, the guardian angel of this legislation, and so much of what Democrats' work on behalf of women and families. Chairwoman DeLauro is relentless, introducing this bill in each of the last 13 Congresses and securing bipartisan support and the support of the entire House Democratic Caucus. And now, because of her leadership, we have a chance for it to become law.

Many of us, with Chair DeLauro at the helm, have helped lead the charge for equal pay for many years now. Twelve years ago, House Democrats passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to protect women's right to challenge unfair pay in the courts. We are proud that President Obama made this bill the first bill he signed into law. You talked about it earlier, Mr. Chairman.

Exactly 10 years later, when Democrats retook the majority, we were honored to stand with Lilly Ledbetter, that courageous woman, as we took another step forward for pay equity by again introducing Congresswoman DeLauro's bill, the Paycheck Fairness Act.

Today, a Democratic Congress led by over 120 women in the House; with an administration led by President Biden, a longtime champion of women; and the first woman Vice President, Kamala Harris; and with a record number of women in the Cabinet, those are great advances for women.

We will pass this landmark bill once more, send it to the Senate, and then, hopefully, to President Biden to sign into law.

I am the mother of four daughters. I don't know anybody who has a daughter, a wife, a sister, a mother who can say to them, You are not worth it; your time is not worth the time of your brother, your father, your whoever else.

What father, brother or son would not want the women in their lives to have equal pay?

Sadly, equal pay is not yet a reality in America. Nearly six decades after the passage of the Equal Pay Act, women working full time year round are paid only 82 cents for every dollar paid to men.

And for women of color, the disparity is even greater. It is almost sinful. For Black women, it is 63 cents; Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, American Indian, and Alaska Native women, 60 cents; and a Latina is making just 55 cents for every dollar for the same work as men.

Equal work, equal hours, equal efforts, but not equal pay. And this is not just about cents on a dollar. This pay

gap can add up to about $400,000 in lost wages over a career.

What does that mean to a woman's pension?

At the same time, the need for action has been accelerated by the pandemic, which has worsened economic disparities for women. Last year, women lost a net 5.4 million jobs during the recession, with losses disproportionately experienced by women of color.

This unjust, uneven toll on women is expected to widen the wage gap by up to 5 percentage points. Widen the gap by 5 percentage points, even as the economy recovers.

As the House passes this landmark legislation, let us stand proudly, unapologetically for what this does for the economy of our country. We continue to work to advance progress for women and families. With the strong support of President Biden, the House Democrats are proud to have passed and sent to the Senate our bipartisan VAWA reauthorization led by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee; legislation to remove the arbitrary deadline for ERA ratification led by Congresswoman Jackie Speier; and to have enacted the American Rescue Plan, which is helping many women to return to the workforce.

And we will continue this drumbeat of action ensuring that the Senate passes the Paycheck Fairness Act and advancing legislation to strengthen women's access to childcare, healthcare, workplace safety, and more.

And as we move forward to ``build back better,'' President Biden's alliterative phrase for how we have job creation in our country, we can only build back better if women are central to that effort. Advancing an economy in a country that works for all of the people in America is very important to America's families and America's children.

I urge a strong and, hopefully, bipartisan vote on H.R. 7, the Paycheck Fairness Act. Fairness is an all-American quality. Fairness for women is essential because we know that when women succeed, America succeeds.

I thank Congresswoman DeLauro and Chairman Scott for their leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the outstanding service of the Reading Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, Joe Novotny, as he prepares for his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, as Reading Clerk, Joe Novotny has served as the voice of the House, and his trusted leadership and valued presence on this floor will be missed by Members and staff on both sides of the aisle.

Joe Novotny has dedicated his entire career to the people's House. First serving as a congressional page at age 16, Joe returned to the House after college, where he worked for the House Education and Labor Committee for 15 years, rising to become chief clerk.

His service was respected by all, including my friend, Chairman George Miller, who lauded Joe as ``an incredibly valuable asset to my staff whose unparalleled integrity and dedication helped our committee advance major policies that are making a difference in the lives of working families.''

Mr. Speaker, I just learned from our colleague Dan Kildee that his uncle, Dale Kildee, a leading member of the Education and Labor Committee, was also a good friend and benefited from

the service and leadership of Joe Novotny.

In 2010, it was my great and proud honor as Speaker of the House to name Joe Novotny Reading Clerk, the first openly gay man to hold this position. I am proud of that.

His historic service has made our Congress more inclusive, diverse, and representative of the people we serve.

As the child of immigrants, Novotny's ascendance in the halls of the U.S. Capitol is, as he has proudly said, the story of the American Dream.

As Reading Clerk, Novotny has been vital in engaging the people of our country with their democracy. Each day, he ensures that measures debated in this House are clearly articulated not only to Members but to the American people and to people around the world.

His commitment to making Congress more accessible and efficient has been particularly important during this time of pandemic, as our institution has adjusted to remote and virtual operations.

Since day one, Joe has brought his steady presence, professionalism, and institutional expertise to the House floor. In doing so, he has helped advance the ability of the people's House to do the people's work.

I am taking this additional time, Mr. Speaker, because so many Members have told me what Joe means to them, and I wanted to express some of that in my remarks.

While Joe Novotny's service will be missed, his great love for the House and his dedication to our democracy stand as an inspiration for all who will follow in the path that he has blazed.

On behalf of the United States House of Representatives, I wish him the best in the next stages of his journey, and I thank Joe for his patriotic service.

Thank you, Joe Novotny.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and once again, I salute him for his leadership.

This is the third bill in 2 days that he has brought to the floor, yesterday for the ERA and Violence Against Women Act, and today, here we are with this legislation for the Dreamers.

Madam Speaker, this issue is near and dear to my heart but, more importantly, to my head. This is so important for our country.

Three years ago, I came to the floor and spoke about our Dreamers for 8 hours and 6 minutes. Have no fear, I will not use my Speaker's minute to that extent today. But I wish I could because I have so much to say about what Dreamers mean to America.

I rise with tremendous pride, joy, and hope this day as the House prepares to take this momentous step forward for our democracy by passing H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act.

I want to salute some of our leaders in Congress. As I acknowledged Mr. Nadler, the distinguished chair of the committee, let us also acknowledge Lucille Roybal-Allard, the godmother of this legislation, who carries forth a commitment to the newcomers to our country in her DNA, the same commitment of her father, the late Chairman Ed Roybal, as he championed newcomers to our Nation.

She has been with this legislation for 20 years that I know of, and it was she and Howard Berman who introduced it initially a generation ago. Ten years ago, she authored this legislation, and we were successful on the floor. We were successful in passing it in the House because of the leadership of Congresswoman Roybal-Allard but also Chairwoman Nydia Velazquez, who at the time was the chair of the Hispanic Caucus. The Hispanic Caucus really led the way and taught the Congress about what Dreamers mean to America, in case that had not been within the experience of our Members.

In this legislation today, Nydia Velazquez has the ``promise.'' This is Dreamers and promise. She has the promise, TPS and DED--again, very important to our country.

Yvette Clarke, from the Congressional Black Caucus, who is very much a part of all of this today, has the TPS piece of this.

I was so pleased to hear this morning CAPAC, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, have Congresswoman Strickland, of African- American and Korean descent, speak in terms of what this means to the Asian Pacific American community, something that Chair Judy Chu reminds us of every day.

This has now gone beyond the Hispanic Caucus, the Black Caucus, the Asian Pacific Caucus, and to all of us in the Congress. This legislation is protecting Dreamers and TPS and DED recipients and honors the truth that immigrants are the constant reinvigoration of our country. When they come here with their hopes and dreams and aspirations, these parents bringing their children, their hopes and dreams and aspirations for a better future for their children, that courage, that determination, those aspirations are American traits. They all make America more American with all of that.

Indeed, they are true and legitimate heirs, these Dreamers are, of our Founders. E pluribus unum, from many, one, we talk about that all the time. Many in this Chamber have been part of the fight to protect our patriotic Dreamers for years.

As I said, when I stood here for 8 hours and 6 minutes, the longest speech on record in the House in history, I was reading letters that Members were handing me about the story of the Dreamers. As Mr. Stanton mentioned, they are teachers, professionals, CEOs, entrepreneurs. They contribute to our community in every way. I was so pleased to hear him talk about that because one of the first meetings I ever went to about Dreamers was under the leadership of one of the predecessors of our Members from Arizona, Congressman Ed Pastor. Chairman Pastor, Mr. Grijalva, and Harry Mitchell, all three, had a meeting at Arizona State University about helping these young people. That was in 2007.

So, this has been going on for a while. Next month, as I mentioned, marks the 20th year since the Dream Act was introduced by Congresswoman Roybal-Allard, and it was on a bipartisan basis. When we passed it 10 years ago, it was on a bipartisan basis. Sadly, we couldn't prevail with 60 votes in the Senate. But since then, millions of Americans have come together to organize and mobilize for Dreamers: labor leaders, the business community, faith organizations, national security officials, law enforcement, and more.

We often talk about Dreamers having the support of the three Bs: badges, in terms of law enforcement; Bible, in terms of faith-based; and the business community.

The true VIPs of the moment are the Dreamers and immigrants who have spoken out with great dignity and eloquence, refusing to be forced back into the shadows.

This determination has made a difference. It is their courage that is sending this legislation to the Senate and then to the President's desk.

Before I close, I want to acknowledge the work of Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, the chair of the Immigration Subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee. Zoe Lofgren is also the chair of House Administration, so I call her Madam Chair-Madam Chair. She has taught immigration law. She has been an immigration lawyer, and she chairs the Immigration Subcommittee. We could not be better served than by her intricate knowledge of immigration law, both on this legislation and legislation we will take up later, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. I thank Zoe Lofgren for that.

Again, Dreamers and TPS and DED recipients are American in every way. They have lived and worked in our country for decades, if not their entire lives. They are an integral thread in the fabric of our Nation. For the Dreamers, it is less time, for others more.

Dreamers power our businesses, our economy, and are CEOs and taxpayers, all of them. They advance innovation and America's technological edge as entrepreneurs and researchers. They protect our national security, military might, and servicemembers and civilian experts.

That is why I am so grateful to Chair Roybal-Allard, Chair Velazquez, Chair Judy Chu, and Congresswoman Strickland for advancing this legislation to help Dreamers and TPS and DED recipients.

So many on the front lines of the pandemic are frontline healthcare workers and first responders; transportation, sanitation, and food workers; and teachers. They give so much to our country.

These immigrant communities strengthen, enrich, and ennoble our Nation, and they must be allowed to stay. There is nothing partisan about protecting Dreamers and TPS and DED recipients.

The Dream Act has long had bipartisan support in both Chambers. Support for TPS and DED recipients is also bipartisan in the country. Nearly three-quarters of the public support a path to citizenship.

I always love to quote President Reagan. In his last speech as President of the United States, this was his last message as President to the American people. He said: ``Thanks to each wave of new arrivals to this land of opportunity, we are a nation forever young, forever bursting with energy and new ideas, and always on the cutting edge, always leading the world to the next frontier. This quality is vital to our future as a nation. If we ever closed the door to new Americans, our leadership in the world would soon be lost.''

I urge a bipartisan vote.

Madam Speaker, I salute the gentleman for the excellent work of his committee, bringing this important legislation, H.R. 1603, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, to the floor. I thank the chairman for this critical victory for farmworkers and growers, who have come together in support of this legislation, this legislation which ensures that America can continue to feed the world.

Thank you to Chair Zoe Lofgren, chair of the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship, for her years of relentless leadership on behalf of farmworkers, without which this bill would not be possible. I sang her praises earlier as a former teacher of immigration, immigration lawyer, and chair of the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship. She knows of what she legislates.

I think that it is clear to see there are a number of Californians involved in this. I want to salute Mr. Costa and Mr. Carbajal, who are an important part of this. They represent farmland in California. They know the needs of the workers. They respect the involvement of the growers.

This, again, is a wonderful bill. We salute many Members, representing every corner of the country, whose vision and values have strengthened this bill that has truly been a caucus- and Congress-wide effort.

Thank you to the United Farm Workers for their outstanding organizing which made this possible. In addition to our work internally, their outside mobilization is so important.

We are also inspired by the immortal words of our beloved Dolores Huerta: ``Yes, we can,'' ``Si, se puede.'' Yes, we can; yes, we will; and, yes, we are doing it. It was an honor last year at this time to celebrate her 90th birthday in the Rayburn Room, the last event we had before COVID took over. So here we are a year later. This is probably a better celebration.

Passing the Farm Workforce Modernization Act and doing so on a bipartisan basis was a source of pride in the last Congress, and it is now. With a Democratic majority in the Senate and President Biden in the White House, when we pass it again, it is with better assurance that it will become law.

The bill honors the millions of farmworkers who are the backbone of our economy, quietly persevering through harsh working conditions and low wages as they power the farm economy and put food on our tables.

As the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has written:

Recognizing the dignity of work of farmworkers and their

families is a central concern.

Farmworkers produce the food that we eat and contribute to

the care of our community.

This legislation, while long overdue, is urgently needed now, in light of the coronavirus crisis, which is forcing our essential farmworkers to live and work under a cloud of fear and uncertainty about their health and their jobs.

At the same time, the pandemic has accelerated a labor crisis in the farm economy that endangers farmers and producers and requires action. This action today is an agreement between the growers and the farmworkers.

This legislation supports workers and the farm economy with strong, smart reforms.

This bill provides a path to legalization for more than one million currently undocumented farmworkers. No one who works to feed our country should be condemned to permanent second-class status.

This bill establishes the agricultural workforce of the future by modernizing the H-2A initiative to ensure that farms have stable, secure workforces.

Critically, it demands fair, humane treatment for farmworkers by securing fairness in pay, improving access to quality housing, and ensuring robust safety and heat illness protections.

Any of us who have visited farmworkers in the fields--and some of our Members have been farmworkers themselves or children of farmworkers-- know the environment, the heat, the chemicals, and the rest, are a challenge.

This legislation is a critical step forward for our workers, for our growers, and the farm economy, but our work is not done.

Congress will continue to stabilize the farm economy, protect workers and families, and maintain America's agricultural preeminence in the world.

Under the leadership of President Biden, we will continue our work to fundamentally, fully fix our broken immigration system so that we can honor

America's proud immigrant heritage and advance a better future for all.

Earlier, I quoted President Reagan. I want to do so again more fully. Earlier, when I spoke on the floor about Dreamers, I did so for 8 hours and 6 minutes. I promised earlier today to be shorter, and so I didn't give as much of President Reagan's speech.

This is what he said: ``And since this is the last speech that I will give as President, I think it's fitting to leave one final thought, an observation about a country which I love.''

He went on to talk about the Statue of Liberty, Madam Speaker. He said: ``The torch of Lady Liberty symbolizes our freedom and represents our heritage, the compact with our parents, our grandparents, and our ancestors. It is that lady who gives us our great and special place in the world. For it's the great life force of each generation of new Americans that guarantees that America's triumph shall continue unsurpassed into the next century and beyond. Other countries may seek to compete with us; but in one vital area, as a beacon of freedom and opportunity that draws the people of the world, no country on Earth comes close.''

As I said earlier, he said: ``This, I believe, is one of the most important sources of America's greatness. We lead the world because, unique among nations, we draw our people--our strength--from every country and every corner of the world. And by doing so we continuously renew and enrich our Nation. While other countries cling to the stale past, here in America we breathe life into dreams. We create the future, and the world follows us into tomorrow. Thanks to each wave''-- President Reagan said--``Thanks to each wave of new arrivals to this land of opportunity, we're a Nation forever young, forever bursting with energy and new ideas, and always on the cutting edge, always leading the world to the next frontier. This quality is vital to our future as a Nation. If we ever closed the door to new Americans, our leadership in the world would soon be lost.''

This being the last speech that I will give as President, President Reagan said, ``I think it's fitting to leave one final thought, an observation about a country which I love.''

As we remember the words of President Reagan, I also recall the words of the late Cesar Chavez, whose birthday we celebrate later this month. He said: ``To make a great dream come true, the first requirement is a great capacity to dream; the second is persistence.''

Thanks to all of our bipartisan Members for their persistence on this legislation for which I urge a strong bipartisan ``aye'' vote.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise to recognize the outstanding service of an esteemed member of my staff known and respected by all here: our deputy floor director, Latrice Powell.

In her 13 years on Capitol Hill, Latrice's name has become synonymous with cool-headed leadership and institutional expertise. We all know her as a maestro of the floor, masterfully directing legislative procedures and voting schedules, all while anticipating and managing the diverse needs of our Caucus.

Indeed, her skills as a coalition-builder and communicator help our Democratic Caucus honor this proud truth: Our diversity is our strength, but our unity is our power.

Members are particularly grateful for Latrice's calm and trusted presence this past year as she helped our Caucus and the Congress navigate this time of pandemic, and she has done so with equanimity and excellence.

Throughout her tenure on our floor team, Latrice has helped guide the passage and then the enactment of hundreds of bills for the people. While she has helped advance this great progress, she has made history as the first African-American assistant manager of the Democratic Cloakroom and then again at the start of the 116th Congress when it was my honor to appoint her to be the first African-American deputy floor director.

A Jackson, Mississippi, native, Latrice first came to the Hill to work under the leadership of our chairman--that is you, Mr. Speaker-- Bennie Thompson. She then joined the staff of the Congressional Black Caucus under Chairs Emanuel Cleaver and Marcia Fudge before serving as assistant Cloakroom manager. In each of these positions, she acquired a sterling reputation for her ability, and I know that each of these Members take great pride in her success.

While Latrice's trusted presence on this House floor will be missed, we are grateful for her service and for her work to forge a path for others to follow.

On behalf of the House of Representatives, I thank Latrice Powell and wish her the best in the next stages of her journey.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).

Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I thank the gentleman for his wonderful remarks, and I want to join him in acknowledging the leadership of Shuwanza when she served here for all that time, and now we are very proud of the fact that she is in the administration. But every chance we get, we should acknowledge the great service that she provided here as we acknowledge and say thank you to Latrice Powell and wish her well as she goes forward. She made us all so very, very proud and continues to do so.

Thank you so much, Latrice.