Peter J. Visclosky

Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure and sincerity that I take this time to congratulate the fifty-one individuals who will take their oaths of citizenship on July 4, 2019. In true patriotic fashion, on the day of our great Nation's celebration of independence, a naturalization ceremony will take place, welcoming new citizens of the United States of America. This memorable occasion, coordinated by the League of Women Voters of the Calumet Area and presided over by Magistrate Judge Andrew Rodovich, will be held at The Pavilion at Wolf Lake in Hammond, Indiana.

America is a country founded by immigrants. From its beginning, settlers have come from countries around the world to the United States in search of better lives for their families. The oath ceremony is a shining example of what is so great about the United States of America--that people from all over the world can come together and unite as members of a free, democratic nation. These individuals realize that nowhere else in the world offers a better opportunity for success than here in America.

On July 4, 2019, the following people, representing many nations throughout the world, will take their oaths of citizenship in Hammond, Indiana: Mounir Oumansour, Taimoor Syed, Johnson Y. Gah, Joseph Han, Alex Nguyen, Mubarak Bakhit Haroun, Naga Sudhakar Chodavarapu, Daniel Jaewon Kim, Elena Ugwoke, Brendan Chidobe Ugwoke, Rani Saxena, Sumesh Saxena, Zaira Nashley Velazquez, Giuseppe Mazzone, Nargis Natasha Yasir, Erika Anabel Saldivar, Rajesh Kumar Sharma, Maya Hamwi, Ibrahim Miss Lissane, Farouk Al Kurdi, Amparo Isabel Alban Montalvo, Ma Teresa Leon, Sikholisile Nyoni, Isabella Njeri Muturi, Lal Lian Mawi, Belinda Radiceska, Ljupco Radiceski, Milka Cocovska, Ananivi Apamba Komla, Blanca Estela Monsivais, Gianella Feoli Soto, Mauricio Leal, Mphasa Maria Mwanza, Sreelatha Chodavarapu, Rajko Vukobrat, Denise Alejandra Godinez, Antonio Manzo Gonzalez, Sirak Kifle Negash, Ahmed E. Khalil, Vidal Torres Alvarado, Eder Jahir Nunez Benitez, David Guillermo Barba, Ai Ong, Jagoda Petroska, Maria Julia Garcilazo, Gustavo Adolfo Osorio, Sergey Borisovich Leonov, Gisela Johanna Kreczmer, Marc Tuyizere, Muhammad Yasir Hanif Khan, and Francisco Javier Contreras Torres.

Although each individual has sought to become a citizen of the United States for his or her own reasons, be it for education, occupation, or to offer their loved ones better lives, each is inspired by the fact that the United States of America is, as Abraham Lincoln described it, a country ``. . . of the people, by the people, and for the people.'' They realize that the United States is truly a free nation. By seeking American citizenship, they have made the decision that they want to live in a place where, as guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution, they can practice religion as they choose, speak their minds without fear of punishment, and assemble in peaceful protest should they choose to do so.

Madam Speaker, I respectfully ask that you and my other distinguished colleagues join me in congratulating these fifty-one individuals who will become citizens of the United States of America on July 4, 2019, the anniversary of our Nation's independence. They, too, will be American citizens, guaranteed the inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We, as a free and democratic nation, congratulate them and welcome them.

Madam Chair, pursuant to section 3 of House Resolution 436, as the designee of the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey), I offer amendments en bloc, which are at the desk.

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

Madam Chair, the amendments included in the en bloc were made in order by the rule, and they have been agreed to by both sides. They improve the bill. I support the amendment and urge its adoption.

Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Madam Chair, I rise in opposition, although I am not opposed to the amendment.

Madam Chair, I appreciate the gentleman's persistence to provide robust funding for the Navy's electromagnetic railgun and recognize that he has offered a similar amendment on the fiscal year 2019 appropriations bill.

I would point out to my colleagues that the bill currently fully funds the budget request of the administration at $15 million for the railgun program.

While I do not think the additional $10 million investment will accelerate the development of a demonstrator mount and continued testing, I have no objection to the gentleman's amendment.

I yield to the gentleman from California.

Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Madam Chair, I rise in opposition, although I am not opposed to the amendment.

Madam Chair, I simply want to take the time to thank my colleague for the work he is doing to advocate and advance knowledge of our Nation's youth on the rights and duties of citizenship. Again, I thank him for his work.

Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Madam Chair, I appreciate the gentleman yielding, and I certainly do support his amendment.

The amendment expands the Hacking for Defense program, designed to provide students the opportunity to learn how to work with the Department and intelligence community to better address the Nation's emerging threats. It is an important activity, and he is absolutely correct.

Madam Chair, I would point out for my colleagues that, in the current fiscal year, this program was funded at $15 million. In the current budget--and I appreciate his advocacy on behalf of this program--that has now been increased to $40 million. Money is not everything, but it is important to this program to make sure it is adequately funded.

I, again, thank the gentleman very much for his work.

Madam Chair, I appreciate the gentleman yielding.

I would point out that the chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force and the Commandant of the Marine Corps testified that the inclusive policy adopted under the Obama administration has caused no readiness issues. A panel of retired military Surgeons General released a report finding the ban's rationale for inclusion is contradicted by ample evidence and that the ban ``harms readiness through forced dishonesty, wasted talent, double standards, and barriers to adequate care.''

Madam Chair, this is the right thing to do, and I would simply close by saying, with so much anger and so much hate in this world today, it is time to be kind to people.

Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman from Maryland for yielding.

Madam Chair, I rise in strong opposition to the gentleman's amendment.

Madam Chair, the proposed change inserts a new test for the certification of acquisition and is likely meant to make it more difficult for the NSA to target foreign nationals if the intended target is in communication with someone in the United States.

I would point out, however, to the gentleman that this is an appropriations bill. This is not an authorization bill. The amendment is a serious change in policy and deserves more than 10 minutes of debate in this Chamber on our bill.

The issue belongs in the authorizing committees. I do not believe that this amendment has benefited from the work of the authorization process, and I do believe it would potentially put American lives at greater risk.

I reserve the balance of my time.