Floor Statements

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Thompson for his partnership on this legislation, and Chairwoman Foxx and Ranking Member Scott for their leadership. Lastly, I thank our colleagues in the Senate for working hard to pass H.R. 2353 earlier this week. It has now been 12 years since Congress acted to update this critical program.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently reported a skills gap of 6.5 million unfilled jobs. Compared to this time last year, there are now an additional 1 million job openings where employers can't find applicants with the adequate skills or training to fill them. For the health of our economy, the prosperity of our workers, and the strength of our businesses, we must reverse this trend, and we must reverse it now.

Our bipartisan legislation, the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, implements critical reforms to ensure American technical education and training programs prepare students for high-wage, in-demand jobs in their communities.

This legislation aligns CTE programs to meet the needs of local labor markets, gives business and workforce experts a seat at the table when CTE curricula are crafted, and preserves robust accountability standards to protect American students.

This legislation also increases funding to Perkins CTE programs to record levels, ensuring that each State across the country receives sufficient Federal resources to build a dynamic, growing workforce and a thriving economy.

Congress hasn't made substantive reforms to career and technical education since 2006, before the invention of the iPhone and long before the current technological revolution. American students, workers, and businesses are depending on us today to reform and reauthorize Perkins CTE.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 2353, as amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Nolan).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Davis).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Courtney).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici).

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to say thank you, again, to Congressman G.T. Thompson, Chairwoman Foxx, Ranking Member Scott, all the members of the Education and the Workforce Committee, all the staff on the Education and the Workforce Committee, and a point of personal privilege, Sam Morgante and Brian Kaissi for their yeoman's work on my staff.

The CTE bill will begin a career and technical education revolution in this country. It will allow us to equip millions of young people and those in career transition with the skills to take the jobs of the future.

There are 6.7 million unfilled jobs that are waiting to be filled by motivated, enterprising, hardworking people who seek a middle class lifestyle, which is the American Dream.

Mr. Speaker, I urge strong support of this landmark legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, the release of the Carter Page FISA warrant makes it clear that the FBI was right to examine the connections between Page and the Trump campaign as well as their communications with Russian sources.

These warrants cast serious doubt on the credibility of the so-called Nunes memo, which is demonstrably inaccurate.

Earlier today, the President's press secretary announced that the administration was considering stripping top level former national security officials of their security clearances on the grounds that they, ``politicized public service.''

I would question whether any use of intelligence could be more political than writing a misleading document, namely the Nunes memo, to unjustifiably malign the integrity and competence of the FBI in order to shield the President.

It is clear that congressional Republicans are attempting to delegitimize the FBI and, through it, Special Counsel Robert Mueller's ongoing investigation.

We must protect the independence and integrity of this investigation, and I urge Speaker Ryan and the House leadership to do so immediately.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the Indian Business Association (IBA) for its outstanding achievements representing Indian-American businesses, and its service as the voice for thousands of Indian-Americans across the country. The IBA began as a group of concerned citizens in Edison, New Jersey, who found the courage to confront hate crimes and hate speech occurring in their communities. The values of fairness, solidarity and social activism drive its mission and objectives, as the members of the IBA continue their work to build a better America for all its citizens.

The IBA has promoted entrepreneurship within the Indian-American community, contributing to the creation of many small businesses and jobs. It has strengthened our democracy by working with elected officials and organizing non-partisan voter registration drives. It has supported our communities by aiding--both financially and through the donated expertise of its members--countless civic and charitable endeavors.

The IBA also continues to preserve and introduce Indian culture to Americans of all walks of life. Now in its 38th year, the IBA hosts the annual New Jersey India Day Parade, our country's largest parade honoring India's independence. Attended by more than 35,000 people and joined by more than 100 organizations, the New Jersey India Day Parade celebrates the rich cultural heritage of its members and their many contributions to our country.

Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize the great achievements of the IBA, and acknowledge its tireless efforts to support Indian-American entrepreneurs and the jobs they create, its contributions to our common good, and its work to protect the civil rights of all Americans, regardless of color or national origin.

Mr. Speaker, there has been an alarming surge of hate group affiliation over the past year. Even more alarming is the reality that people who belong to these groups have been able to obtain security clearances. The intersection of hate groups and access to our country's secrets is something that I did not expect to exist, and I am determined to make sure that this does not continue.

Federal agencies should be required to report on how many clearance holders and applicants are associated with hate groups, and what is the status of their approval. The American people deserve to know if our government has decided that those who espouse a hateful ideology have access to our Nation's secrets.

I have introduced legislation to provide answers and to hopefully prohibit those associated with hate groups and who possess hateful ideology from having access to our most sensitive information.

I urge my colleagues to consider this legislation, and to, hopefully, see it on the House floor.

Mr. Speaker, today I honor the Greater Elgin Family Care Center on the occasion of the Grand Opening of its Summit Health Center on July 12, 2018.

With the addition of the new Summit Health Center, the Greater Elgin Family Care Center now serves five counties with a total of nine health care facilities.

Since its establishment in 2001, the Center has made a great impact in Elgin and its surrounding communities. The Center employs more than 275 workers who, in 2017, provided assistance to more than 47,000 patients including 13,659 residents of the City of Elgin--14 percent of the City's population. Additionally, in 2017, Center professionals delivered 774 newborns. It provides care for patients regardless of their insurance status.

The Center is Elgin's largest not-for-profit organization (excluding the schools and hospital systems). In 2017, the Center was recognized as a Hypertension Control Champion by the Centers for Disease Control, the only community health center in Illinois to receive this honor.

For more than 17 years, the Greater Elgin Family Care Center has touched lives and provided exceptional care to residents in the Illinois 8th congressional district and beyond. I am grateful for its work, and I hope for its continued success.

I include in the Record this statement today to honor Greater Elgin Family Care Center in Elgin, Illinois on July 12th.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Her Holiness Yuga Nayaki Karunamayi Amma, known simply as ``Amma'' to her many admirers, for her exemplary efforts in bringing peace and understanding not only to the people of India, but to all nations.

Born as Sri Vijayeshwari Devi in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, Amma was drawn to a spiritual existence and spent most of her young adult life absorbed in prayer and meditation. After a period of intense reflection, Amma began a life of advocacy for the poor and disenfranchised, publicly speaking throughout India on the issues of nonviolence, equality, and respect for all people regardless of gender, religion, race or social status. Her teachings have led her across the globe, speaking to countless followers and performing humanitarian work wherever the need is greatest.

To realize her vision of a more just world, Amma and her organization offer a host of services to underserved men, women and children in the United States, India and Africa. These services include organizing and providing, among other things, free medical care, clean water, free education, free food, leprosy care, and wheelchair distribution. Amma believes in pursuing sustainable development that enable families trapped in poverty to give a better future to their children.

Amma is beloved by many as a Hindu saint, and has a large following in my district. Her

humanitarian efforts have been recognized and celebrated by, among others, Congressman Danny Davis, Congressman Bill Foster, Governor Pat Quinn, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, and President Jimmy Carter.

Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize Amma's selfless and compassionate devotion to all people, and her work to bring peace and understanding to our world.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to convey my strong concerns about President Trump's nominee for the Supreme Court, Judge Brett Kavanaugh.

If confirmed, Judge Kavanaugh will be in a crucial position to reshape the laws around a woman's right to make her own medical decisions, but also he will be in a position to affect the right to access quality and affordable healthcare for millions of Americans, and legal protections for LGBTQ citizens.

I am disturbed by Judge Kavanaugh's record on these issues and many others.

Millions of Americans rely on the Supreme Court to uphold these hard- won rights, and they are increasingly imperiled.

My colleagues in the Senate must be sure that Judge Kavanaugh continues to do what the Supreme Court has done for years: preserve, protect, and uphold these constitutional rights for all Americans.

If they cannot be sure that Judge Kavanaugh will do so, they must reject his nomination.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize Sri Vijayeshwari Devi, known to her many admirers as Amma Sri Karunamayi or ``Amma,'' for her exemplary efforts in bringing peace and understanding not only to the people of India, but to all nations.

Amma was born in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. As a child, she was drawn to a spiritual existence, and spent most of her young adult life absorbed in prayer and meditation. After a period of intense reflection, Amma began a life of advocacy for the poor and disenfranchised, publicly speaking throughout India on the issues of nonviolence, equality, and respect for all people regardless of gender, religion, race or social status. Her teachings have led her across the globe, speaking to countless followers and performing humanitarian work wherever the need is greatest.

To realize her vision of a more just world, Amma and her organization offer a host of services to underserved men, women and children in the United States, India and Africa. These services include organizing and providing, among other things, free medical care, clean water, free education, free food, leprosy care, and wheelchair distribution. Amma believes in pursuing sustainable development that enable families trapped in poverty to give a better future to their children.

Amma is beloved by many as a Hindu saint, and has a large following in my district. Her humanitarian efforts have been recognized and celebrated by, among others, Congressman Danny Davis, Congressman Bill Foster, Governor Pat Quinn, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, and President Jimmy Carter.

Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize Amma's selfless and compassionate devotion to all people, and her work to bring peace and understanding to our world.

Mr. Speaker, this past weekend, my family and I spent a wonderful Sunday celebrating Father's Day, just like millions of other families across our country.

During our time together, I couldn't help thinking about the thousands of children who are unable to do the same because they have been separated from their own fathers and mothers by agents of our government. They are scared, they are lonely, and they are confused.

I am horrified by these actions, and I am determined to fight with my colleagues to end this cruel policy. It is our moral obligation to reunite these families, and it is imperative that we make sure this never happens again.

Fifty years from now, how will history judge those more committed to justifying this policy than ending it? We as a nation are better than this, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do what is right and end this policy of separating children from their parents.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

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

In order to successfully implement the many water infrastructure and conservation projects authorized under the Water Resources Development Act, Americans rely on the Army Corps of Engineers.

The Corps has approximately 37,000 dedicated civilians and military personnel delivering engineering services. They operate and maintain 13,000 miles of commercial ship channels, 12,000 miles of inland waterways, 700 dams, and have built 14,500 levees and works on more than 900 harbors.

Thus, our ability to build a robust infrastructure, to develop resources, and to implement environmentally conscious conservation projects, is inextricably linked to the strength of the Corps of Engineers' workforce. We should be doing everything we can to help the Army Corps of Engineers recruit, hire, and retain qualified employees to carry out duties that impact environmental sustainability and national security.

My amendment addresses this issue by requiring the comptroller general to provide recommendations to improve the capacity and preparedness of the Army Corps of Engineers' workforce in its report to Congress. In providing these recommendations, the comptroller general will evaluate many challenges, including, but not limited to, diversity, recruitment, retention, and on-the-job training.

I offer this amendment at a time when the national skills gap is at a record-high level. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 6.7 million unfilled jobs across the country, where employers have openings but can't find prospective employees with the adequate skills or training to fill them. Nearly 600,000 of these jobs are in government services alone.

Despite bipartisan efforts to address this issue, the skills gap continues to rise each month, up from 6.1 million this time in 2017. We need to do better.

I am confident that my amendment will help develop a 21st century Corps of Engineers workforce, which will, ultimately, benefit infrastructure, national security, environmental sustainability, and the overall American economy.

Mr. Chairman, for these reasons, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I thank Mr. Shuster for his support.

Just this morning, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that there are currently more job openings than people looking for work. This amendment is an important step to closing the skills gap, and I urge all of my colleagues to support it.

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

Mr. Speaker, in our increasingly competitive world, a 4-year college may not be for everyone, but a postsecondary education has to be.

As we address this reality, it is vital that we recognize the vital role of career and technical education. That is why I am proud to have served as the Democratic lead on the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act and to have worked with my colleagues from both parties throughout this process.

Our bill will bring the Carl D. Perkins grant program into the 21st century by increasing funding and bringing educators and business leaders together to develop curricula to prepare students for in-demand fields.

The House passed this bill unanimously last year, and now I want to encourage the Senate to take up this legislation. Through investing in our citizens and our economy, this bill will help families across the country join and stay in the middle class.

Mr. Speaker, the U.S. State Department uses maternal mortality rates as one of its key metrics for evaluating how much a country values its women. By our own standards, the United States is failing that test as we rank just 47th for maternal mortality rate--the highest of any developed nation--and we remain one of the few countries that is actually seeing its rate of maternal mortality increase.

Our medical technology leads the world, and we spend more on healthcare than any other nation, but what we need is a commitment--a national commitment--to bringing together the experts, stakeholders, and, yes, resources to end preventable maternal deaths.

That is why I am proud to have introduced the Ending Maternal Mortality Act with Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler. Our legislation requires Federal health officials to develop a national strategy to combat maternal mortality with the goal of halving the rate of maternal mortality in the next decade and eliminating preventable maternal deaths entirely in the next 20 years.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in consideration of H.R. 1496, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3585 South Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles, California, as the Marvin Gaye Post Office.

As Members know, Marvin Gaye is a national treasure. I join my colleagues in supporting this designation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in consideration of H.R. 4301, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 201 Tom Hall Street in Fort Mill, South Carolina, as the J. Elliott Williams Post Office Building.

James Williams led a life of service dedicated to our country. He served 20 years in the U.S. Navy and in both the Korean and Vietnam wars.

In addition to receiving every sea service award for heroism, James was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968.

After retiring from the military, James served as a U.S. marshal for 20 years.

Mr. Speaker, we should pass this bill to honor James Williams' lifelong service to his country. I urge the passage of H.R. 4301, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, my legislation would designate the U.S. Postal Service facility at 108 West Schick Road in Bloomingdale, Illinois, as the Bloomingdale Veterans Memorial Post Office Building in recognition of all the men and women who have served our Nation with distinction and honor.

I would like to thank Chairman Gowdy and Ranking Member Cummings for their help in moving this bill through the committee, as well as Majority Leader McCarthy for helping to secure floor time for consideration.

This is merely a step, one step, to help citizens in Bloomingdale and every part of my district recognize the sacrifices and celebrate the contributions of our friends, families, and neighbors who chose a life of service to the people of the United States.

Veterans in every community deserve our thanks and gratitude. The Bloomingdale Veterans Memorial Post Office will serve as a living reminder of the service of every soldier, sailor, coastguardsman, airman, and marine, whose sacrifices helped keep Americans safe. It is my hope that this small daily reminder will help us all to remember that we can and must do more to support our veterans, from those just returning home to those who fought long ago and still bear the scars of their service.

Mr. Speaker, we all agree that our Nation's veterans continue to face serious challenges. Today, an estimated 39,471 veterans are homeless, and the number of young veterans struggling with homelessness is increasing. In my home State of Illinois alone, 193 veterans took their own life in 1 year, a rate more than twice as high as the nonveteran population of Illinois.

Veterans are more likely to struggle with PTSD as well as substance abuse disorders than nonveterans. It is clear that we are failing those who never failed us. We have a solemn obligation to eliminate veteran homelessness, to improve access to essential health services, and ensure veterans are able to transition to the civilian workforce and secure family-sustaining jobs.

We need to prioritize mental health support and substance use prevention, and we need to exercise strong oversight over the VA to ensure that no veteran is ever denied medical care or support services.

For the men and women who have protected my own American Dream, I hope to make theirs easier to achieve. We must all do more to recognize those willing to give what Lincoln called ``the last full measure of devotion'' to their country.

It is my hope that the new Bloomingdale Veterans Memorial Post Office Building will foster both gratitude and understanding in our community, and I urge every Member to support this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Congressman Russell for those eloquent words and thank him for his service to our country as a veteran, as well, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I urge the passage of H.R. 4574, and I yield back the balance of my time.