Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of service led by the late Delores Hadden Smith. Delores, fondly known as ``Dee'' was a resident of Gowanus Houses and always looking for a way to give back to the community she cherished.

For 44 years, Delores served as an educator in the New York City public school system. Her passion for teaching was contagious, as she was adored by her students and recognized for the ``Who's Who Among American Teachers'' national honor.

Delores was also active in public service outside the classroom. By engaging with Parent Teacher Association boards, South Brooklyn Colony House board, Community Board 6, Gowanus Old Times Day Committee and many others, she coordinated local events, much to the delight of her fellow community members. In 2010, she was honored with an Honorary PhD in Humanities from Cathedral Theological Seminary.

Described by those who loved her as someone who brightened every room she filled, Delores' memory will be cherished forever. A faithful member of the Bethel Baptist, she taught Sunday School, Youth Choir and more.

I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Delores Hadden Smith and her family for her lifetime of hard work, joy and service.

Mr. Speaker, it is with much sadness that I rise today to honor the passing of the Venerable Elder Si Chen, a passionate spiritual leader and teacher. I offer my sincerest condolences to his family and friends who will remember him as a tireless advocate for kindness, freedom and justice.

Elder Si Chen was born in 1932 in Panxian, China and came to the United States in 1971 to spread Buddha-Dharma. He became the abbot of the Mahayana Buddhist Temple of New York in 1974. Three years later, Elder Si Chen founded the Burmese-Chinese Buddhist Association at Wonderful Enlightenment Temple in Chinatown, New York, New York, which continues to welcome everyone.

In 2000, he purchased 199 acres of land in Thompson Ridge, New York and established the Guardian of Nation Temple to create a space for Buddhist-American multicultural exchanges and spread Mahayana Buddhism. He brought together the Buddhist community of New York through classes, summer camps, monastic retreats and spiritual trips to China, Thailand, Myanmar and India.

Today, members of New York's Buddhist and Asian American community are inspired and grateful for his service, wisdom and leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Venerable Elder Si Chen for a life of extraordinary leadership and advocacy in New York City and globally.

Madam Speaker, look at these young, innocent faces. I suspect many of these children are seeing the House floor for the very first time.

It is unfortunate that their first experience in this temple of democracy, the people's House, is to be here as we call our government to stop terrorizing children on the U.S.-Mexico border.

This past weekend, Madam Speaker, I traveled with Leader Pelosi and the

chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. What we saw there was heart-wrenching. We have heard the audio of children crying: ``Mami, papi.''

Madam Speaker, it begs the question: Has our Nation lost its way? But nothing is as heart-wrenching as seeing children's faces in person, kids who were just taken from the arms of their parents, and children in cages crying for their parents. This is child abuse.

Let's be clear, Madam Speaker, this travesty could end today. Donald Trump could end this today by a single phone call.

To my Republican friends on the other side of the aisle, I simply say this: What happened to the party of family values? History will remember this moment.

Mr. Chair, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the ranking member for her leadership on this issue.

Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to H.R. 5735, the THRIVE Act.

H.R. 5735 has a worthy goal. Helping individuals struggling with addiction to access treatment and recovery services is certainly important, but despite these intentions, H.R. 5735 has significant flaws which, in the end, make the bill unworkable.

My primary concern is that H.R. 5735 carves out 10,000 existing Section 8 vouchers for use in this pilot program without authorizing new funding for any additional vouchers. This essentially decreases the number of Section 8 vouchers in circulation and increases wait times for millions of other households already seeking a voucher. Those forced to wait will include low-income families, seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, and those experiencing homelessness.

You cannot just change words in the law. You need to open your checking account or your checkbook.

Currently, only one in four households who are eligible for Federal affordable housing assistance receive it. In New York City, we have more than 150,000 people waiting for a voucher.

While I fully support helping all people with substance abuse disorders and recognize the important role affordable housing plays in an individual's recovery process, providing affordable housing for individuals with substance use disorders should not come at the expense of others in need.

HUD's Affordable Housing and Section 8 programs are woefully underfunded. Instead of providing Section 8 vouchers to just those with substance use disorders, we should be providing significantly more resources and expanding the Section 8 program to help all those in need.

Additionally, this bill places arbitrary time limits on the individuals participating in the demonstration program. This is counterproductive and out of step with other existing supportive housing programs.

Finally, while H.R. 5735 seeks to help individuals suffering from substance use disorders, it does nothing to address the fact that many people with these disorders lose their housing because of the harsh eviction policies in Federal housing assistance programs.

I support the ranking member in her continued effort to ensure those individuals with substance use disorders face fairer eviction procedures and ban one strike policies that cause tenants to lose their assistance for a single incident of drug use.

Mr. Chair, again, H.R. 5735 has a worthy goal. However, this bill is plagued with a number of problems, and I urge my colleagues to oppose it unless you provide the resources to make this legislation work.

Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

I am opposed in its current form.

Mr. Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill which will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final passage, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, as we debate today, Puerto Rico continues to reel from the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, a once-in-a-generation disaster that fueled a humanitarian crisis. Nearly all 3.3 million residents of Puerto Rico lost power following the hurricane. Drinkable water and adequate food supplies became scarce throughout the island. Many have since endured the longest blackout in U.S. history.

We all remember when President Trump went to Puerto Rico last September. While he was there, he said that--based on the then-reported 16 deaths--Maria was not ``a real catastrophe. . . .''

Every day it becomes increasingly clear how out of touch that statement was, and every day the magnitude of this disaster becomes clearer, as does the incompetence of this administration's response.

Just last week, the Harvard School of Public Health released a new estimate suggesting the death toll is staggeringly higher than previously thought. The Harvard study is just an estimate. However, if the number most often cited from that report--4,645--proves accurate, then Maria would rank as the second worst natural disaster in U.S. history. No matter what the President said, that is a real catastrophe.

Now, as Puerto Rico continues struggling as thousands still do not have electricity and as we still do not know the total number of lives lost, we are entering another hurricane season. Yet Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands remain vulnerable should another storm come barreling out of the Atlantic into the Caribbean and make landfall.

We should remember the 2017 hurricane season was not just devastating for the Caribbean. We cannot forget how the Houston area suffered under Hurricane Harvey. Houston's layout and the city's infrastructure also proved vulnerable to the flooding, causing $125 billion in damage. Yet despite 2017 being one of the worst in history for natural disasters and even though we are entering another hurricane season, our public infrastructure systems remain vulnerable.

The motion to recommit is very straightforward. It would ask the Secretary of the Army Corps to work to restore and strengthen the resiliency of public infrastructure in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and in the mainland for areas damaged by Maria, Irma, and Harvey. This is common sense. It will mean we are better prepared for the next major hurricane. It could potentially save lives.

In Puerto Rico, for instance, this would allow needed upgrades to the Guajataca Dam. The 90-year-old dam, located on the northeastern shore of the island and owned by Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, was severely damaged after Maria. While the Corps did good work preventing the collapse of the dam, this was a temporary band-aid. American families living in Puerto Rico still face imminent danger. The Corps should invest in this critical infrastructure project seeking to prevent future damage from another storm.

In other areas throughout Puerto Rico, rivers, lakes, and wetlands serve literally as sinks for water to drain into. To control massive flooding in the next hurricane season, the Corps needs to make the necessary investments for flood control, something else this motion will help advance.

Mr. Speaker, sadly, the administration largely abandoned Puerto Rico after Maria. Now we are learning the death toll from this tragedy will be heartbreakingly high. This Congress has a moral obligation to do everything possible to prevent future deaths and to protect our fellow citizens. That

is what this motion to recommit will do.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this motion to recommit, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and achievements of Maria A. Thomson who was a tireless lifelong leader and advocate for the community of Woodhaven, Queens which she dearly loved. On January l0th of 2018, Mrs. Thomson passed away, leaving behind a lifelong legacy of community service and civic engagement. She earned the respect of city and state leaders, in fact she was known as the unofficial ``Mayor of Woodhaven''. With over 40 years of community activism, Mrs. Thomson's accolades and accomplishments are numerous. I hope to highlight some of her life's work today.

Mrs. Thomson was a dedicated public servant who cherished public safety and quality of life. Early in her career she was elected President of the 102nd Precinct Community Council, bridging the gap between law enforcement and the community. She later founded the volunteer local Civilian Patrol. As a result of her leadership, she earned the unique distinction of being the first and only civilian to be recognized as the 102nd Precinct's Honorary Police Officer of the Month. Furthermore, she annually honored the fallen heroes of 911 and our nations veterans.

To better ensure the delivery of government services to Woodhaven, she joined Queens

Community Board 9 where she served for three decades. In addition, Mrs. Thomson served as the Executive Director of the Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation for more than two decades and led the Woodhaven Business Improvement District (BID). She understood that small and independent businesses are vital to boosting the local economy, creating walk to work jobs and shaping a neighborhood's identity. Mrs. Thomson enjoyed promoting and showcasing Woodhaven's Jamaica Avenue business corridor by hosting the yearly ``Wonderful Woodhaven Street Festival'' and other events.

Whether she advocated for small businesses or led the fight to landmark the cherished Forest Park Carousel, her passion emanated from her strong sense of civic pride and duty. Her advocacy, passion and dedication to the betterment of Woodhaven was immeasurable. Mrs. Thomson truly set the bar for what it means to be a community activist and leader.

I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Maria A. Thomson's distinguished life of public service and accomplishments. Our neighborhoods are enriched because of her vision and leadership. We mourn her passing and cherish her legacy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Loisaida Inc. Center Festival Committee on its 31st Annual Celebration in the Lower Eastside of Manhattan, New York. The festival was initially founded by grassroot leaders in the LES and led by Puerto Rican activists and Latino residents in the 1970's during a dark period in the community. Its goal was to provide a festive local fair for underserved families who could not afford to go away for the holiday weekend.

Loisaida Inc. was formally incorporated as a local development corporation in 1978. Throughout the years, a once single block event is now a major cultural celebration attracting more than 30,000 visitors. The fair features the Nuyorican--Latin American cultural contributions to the historic immigrant tapestry of the LES. It is a chance for locals and visitors alike to enjoy day long theater, craft, music and delicious food.

This year's theme is Bridging Resurgence: From Sandy to Maria, an urgent reminder of the continuing struggles of the Puerto Rican people and New Yorkers who suffered after Sandy. The Loisaida Center remains committed to the Island's recovery as an affirmation of the neighborhood's Puerto Rican heritage.

I also want to recognize and congratulate this year's VIVA Loisaida honorees for their tireless lifetime commitment to social justice and bettering the community: Damaris Reyes, Executive Director of GOLES; Dr. Manuel Moran, Founder of Teatro SEA; Aixa O. Torres, community leader and President of Alfred E. Smith Housing Residents Association; and Luis and Abigail Rivera owners and son and daughter of Adela Fargas, beloved community icon and founder of Puerto Rican restaurant Casa Adela.

I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the rich history and legacy of The Loisaida Center Festival.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to S. 2155, which strips back and weakens many of the regulatory tools and safeguards we enacted in Dodd-Frank.

Make no mistake, Mr. Speaker: this bill will make our financial system more vulnerable to a financial crisis.

The bill undermines important safety and soundness protections like stress tests and capital requirements, key reforms that Democrats put in place following the financial crisis that prevent the risk of bank bailouts and protect our economy and taxpayers.

The bill also weakens critical consumer protections like Dodd-Frank's enhanced HMDA data monitoring and reporting requirements. Under this bill, 85 percent of depository institutions are excused from these important requirements.

While many financial institutions say that these reporting requirements are too onerous and too difficult to comply with, S. 2155 will make it harder to determine if lenders are serving the credit needs of minority borrowers and to identify harmful and discriminatory lending patterns.

Instead of eliminating important tools like HMDA, we should be finding ways to eliminate discrimination in lending.

Mr. Speaker, as ranking member of the House Small Business Committee, I support targeted reforms that provide relief for community banks and local credit unions, but this bill does none of that. It is a solution in search of a problem that harms consumers.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this dangerous bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend the happiest of birthday wishes to Mrs. Eladia Velez, a resident of the Lower East Side, New York, and a centenarian, who celebrated her 100th birthday on May 19, 2018. Eladia has lived a life characterized by hard work and unyielding selflessness, and is a pillar of her community. From an early age, Eladia exhibited an outstanding work ethic and profound concern for others.

Eladia Velez was born in 1918 in Carolina, Puerto Rico and was one of three children. She later married and had four children. She was a stay-at-home mom and also cared for her ailing mother. When her mother passed, her brother encouraged her to earn her high school degree which she proudly accomplished.

In 1948, Eladia and her husband came to New York City to work and build a new home for her family, leaving their children back in Puerto Rico. In 1950, she reunited with them in the Lower East Side. Eladia worked as a seamstress and after a year of hard work, she was promoted to supervisor at the factory. In 1989, she returned to Puerto Rico due to a family matter. She remained there and pursued her interest in human services to become a social worker. For three years she provided services to the children and families of Carolina, Puerto Rico. She then subsequently returned to New York City where she has been living since with her family.

Eladia symbolizing decades of longevity and hard work, this occasion reflects an important milestone in a growing segment of American life: the Centenarian. Over the years, special individuals like Eladia have contributed to our nation and witnessed remarkable changes and extraordinary progress. She has lived through some of the most exciting times in our nation's history.

Today, Eladia enjoys the company of her beloved children, grandchildren and community. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Ms. Velez on this special occasion of her 100th year birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize a trailblazer and pionera of community arts and education, and a friend, Frances Lucerna, who was bestowed the title of Doctor of Humane Letters (Honoris Causa) by the Bank Street College of Education on May 10, 2018.

Frances is the Co-Founder and Artistic Executive Director of El Puente, a non-profit Brooklyn based community and youth development organization that promotes the arts, leadership, peace and social justice. This organization was founded at the height of the gang and drug epidemic in the Williamsburg, Brooklyn community. Frances, a former dancer believed that arts and culture could be spiritually healing and transformational for young people and their families. Since inception in 1983, El Puente has positively transform the lives and future of hundreds of underserved and low-income at risk-youths with its arts, dance and literacy-based after school programs. It has introduced and opened the doors to the theater and film for many young people. In addition, the holistic approach to art combined with academic enrichment programming and activities is unique and has positioned El Puente to be one of the most celebrated Latino cultural organization's in my district.

Without a high school for participants to further their interest and education in the arts and social justice, in 1993 she championed and founded El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice High School. It was the first school in the country dedicated to human rights and a national model for community based schools serving students from 9th through 12th grade.

In 2012, Frances spearheaded the development of the Global Justice Institute, El Puente's training, research, and development center, which engages individuals and organizations from around the world in learning about El Puente's social justice practices while creating strategies for sustainable, community-driven change for a more healthy, vibrant, livable community.

Her advocacy, passion and dedication to strengthening the human condition is immeasurable. She has earned the respect of leaders, both local and global. Although she is the recipient of numerous awards, being conferred the title of Doctor of Humane Letters (Honoris Causa) reaffirms her life's work and significant contribution to society.

I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Dr. Frances Lucerna for a distinguished life of public service and accomplishments. My district is enriched because of her vision and leadership.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the contribution of seven centenarian residents of Everlasting Pine HDFC on Chung Pak Local Development Corporation ' s Elderly Appreciation Day, and in recognition of Older American's Month and Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Built in 1993 through a HUD senior supportive housing program, Everlasting Pine HDFC has provided a home and a community to low-income seniors. Safe and affordable housing is essential to low-income seniors and allows residents to live independent and vibrant lives.

Symbolizing decades of longevity and hard work, this occasion reflects an important milestone in a growing segment of American life, the Centenarians. Over the years, these special individuals have contributed to our nation, witnessing remarkable changes and extraordinary progress. They have lived through some of the most exciting times in our nation's history.

Li Keng Tsuei, Hai Liu, Mark Chan Sze, Rong Guo Xin, Ng Kwa Ying, Wu Siu Ying and Yee Mee Ting are all lifelong residents of Chinatown who are 100 years of age and older. They have individually contributed to the fabric and welfare of their neighborhood and New York City. They have earned the respect and affection of people from all walks of life.

I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring these remarkable centenarians and wish them continued health and happiness.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize and extend my sincerest wishes to a remarkable woman, Ms. Florence Bass. Florence was born in the heart of Brooklyn, New York and throughout her life, broke down gender barriers in education and military service.

Growing up in the early 20th century, Florence remembers a life in Brooklyn filled with horse-drawn fire trucks, unpaved roads and time helping at her family's neighborhood candy store. Raised in a family that valued education, Florence was fortunate to attend many great schools, including New York University.

Later moving to New Orleans to attend Tulane University, Florence earned a Masters Degree in Social Work. At the start of World War II, she returned to New York City serving as a social worker to the Auxiliary Military Hospital Services. As one point, she was stationed at the historic Brooklyn Navy Yard, a pivotal site that's importance to the American's efforts earned it the nickname ``the Can-Do Yard.''

After the war, Florence worked for the Jewish Family and Children's Resettlement program to help refugees. Now at 104, Florence is a beloved community member living in Brooklyn Heights. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Florence Bass for her lifetime of hard work and service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the leadership and staff of Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation (CHLDC) on their 35th anniversary. This non-profit organization located in the Cypress Hills and East New York community was created in 1983 at the height of a nationwide grassroots movement to preserve and improve urban communities.

Today, after thirty-five years of dedication and commitment, CHLDC has helped transform Cypress Hills into a robust and thriving community. CHLDC works to provide crucial services such as: economic development; homeownership and housing development; entrepreneurship; education services; public safety; and open space. CHLDC has championed many projects from helping to create the first dual language school to developing more than 400 affordable housing units across the neighborhood. Thanks to their help, numerous hardworking local families have been able to realize the American Dream of homeownership.

On this 35th anniversary, I would like to take the opportunity to commend Michelle Neugebauer, Executive Director, Mr. Harold Green, Board President, staff and members for their tireless and unconditional commitment to our community.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize and extend my sincerest wishes to Presiding Judge George B. Daniels of the United States District Court of Southern District in New York on the occasion of his 65th birthday and life of service.

Judge Daniels began his legal career as a criminal defense attorney for the Legal Aid Society of New York, one of the oldest non-profit providers of legal aid across the nation. Judge Daniels earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies from Yale University in 1975. In 1978, obtained a law degree from the University of California, Berkeley. Among other accomplishments in a distinguished career, in February of 2000, he was appointed to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, where he serves today.

Judge Daniels is an adjunct Professor at Brooklyn Law School, serves on numerous boards and commissions and is engaged with many law and professional organizations. The members of New York's legal community are grateful for his service and are inspired by his lifelong contributions towards strengthening our judicial system to protect and uphold the rights and liberties of all Americans.

I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Judge George B. Daniels for his life-time of public service and to wish him a memorable 65th birthday.

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

Let me take this opportunity to thank the chairman, Mr. Chabot; his staff; and all the members of the Small Business Committee for working in a bipartisan manner.

Mr. Speaker, we continue to hear about cyber breaches and unauthorized data collection. Cybersecurity must be our Nation's top priority, especially as it pertains to the health of our small business community.

The Small Business Committee has taken steps to leverage the Small Business Administration's network of resource partners to assist in education and development of cyber infrastructure. Clearly, we must do more to combat rogue nation-states and cybercriminals.

The key lies in a properly trained workforce at our small business development centers who are tasked in educating, developing, and implementing cybersecurity measures for small companies of all kinds.

H.R. 3170, the Small Business Development Center Cyber Training Act does this by creating a certification program at SBDCs to develop staff who are prepared to combat cyber attacks. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to vote for this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Evans), who is the ranking member on the Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax and Capital Access.

Mr. Speaker, does the chairman have any further speakers?

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

Mr. Speaker, expanding access to a skilled cyber workforce focused on small businesses has been a top priority for both sides of the aisle. We cannot let our Nation's job creators go without the assistance they need to develop, implement, and monitor their online presence.

H.R. 3170 will help boost SBDC's ability to engage and protect their small-business clients, and, therefore, also protect the interests of American workers and consumers.

This legislation ensures that our national efforts combating cyber attacks can be utilized by our Nation's most vulnerable businesses. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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