Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember the life of Kurt von Tillow.

Kurt attended the Route 91 festival in Las Vegas on October 1. Kurt enjoyed owning his own trucking company in northern California. He would often go to concerts and was happy to be going to the Route 91 festival with a number of his relatives.

Kurt and his wife loved to take golfing trips to Scotland and Ireland, and they loved to boat. He was fun, friendly, and liked to enjoy good beer. Kurt is remembered as being very patriotic and a big family man.

I would like to extend my condolences to Kurt von Tillow's family and friends. Please know that the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the whole country grieves with you.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember the life of Derrick ``Bo'' Taylor, who attended the Route 91 festival in Las Vegas on October 1.

Bo was devoted to his two sons, Gregory and Kyle, and his girlfriend, Denise Cohen.

Bo worked for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for 29 years, where he rose to the rank of lieutenant.

Bo and Denise dated for several years and attended the Route 91 festival together, where, tragically, they both died.

Bo is remembered by his friends and family as being very well liked and respected, and a leader. He was dedicated to everyone in his life and was known as a true friend.

I would like to extend my condolences to Bo Taylor's family and friends. Please know that the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the whole country grieve with you.

Madam Speaker, today, I rise to remember the life of Brennan Stewart.

Brennan attended the Route 91 festival in Las Vegas on October 1. He was an aspiring country musician who loved to sing while he played his guitar. He enjoyed hunting; taking trips to his family's cabin in Moab, Utah; and watching his favorite teams, the Atlanta Braves and the San Francisco 49ers. He loved riding dirt bikes and is remembered as being the life of the party.

Brennan would always put others before himself. He died at the Route 91 festival while he was shielding his girlfriend from gunfire and helping others to safety. He is also remembered as a man who could give anyone the shirt off his back and for being a genuine man.

I would like to extend my condolences to Brennan Stewart's family and friends. Please know that the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the whole country grieve with you.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for this opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, I am here to urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6135, the Keep Families Together Act.

Mr. Speaker, it is immoral, it is inhumane, and it is un-American to separate children from their parents. You know, I was at the border just a few weeks ago, and I got an opportunity to see firsthand and talk to these children. And these are children who are in jail cells. These are children who should be out in a playground, not in a prison. These are parents who left their home country because they were being persecuted because gangs and cartels were looking to assassinate them, and they were coming to America to say: I need help. Me and my children need help.

They were coming to America, the most powerful country in the world, asking for help, a country that has traditionally been made up of immigrants. Because let's face it, unless you are Native American, we all come from somewhere else. This country is made up of immigrants. These folks, all they wanted was an opportunity to succeed and to achieve the American Dream, and, today, they are in prisons.

These parents are away from their children. That is immoral. It is inhumane. And now we have an administration who made a promise to reunite these families, and the deadline passed, and yet these children are still not reunited with their parents. And those few children who are having that opportunity to see their parents again, the parents are complaining that their children don't even recognize them anymore. That is inhumane, it is immoral, and it goes against all American values.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6135, the Keep Families Together Act.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember the life of Susan Smith.

Susan attended the Route 91 festival in Las Vegas on October 1.

Susan was a wife and a mother of two. She worked as an office manager at Vista Fundamental Elementary School in Simi Valley, California.

Susan loved traveling, scrapbooking, and documenting countless memories for her family.

Susan had a contagious laugh and a great sense of humor. She was patient, strong, and kind.

Susan is remembered for her love of her family, her drive, and the beautiful way she treated others.

Mr. Speaker, I extend my condolences to Susan Smith's family and friends. Please know that the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the whole country grieve with you.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to remember the life of Erick Silva.

Erick was a security guard at the Route 91 festival in Las Vegas on October 1. As soon as gunshots went off, he immediately began selflessly helping people and was, unfortunately, shot in the process.

Erick's life goal was to help others by becoming a police officer. He would buy burgers for homeless people, treat relatives to dinner, and help his mom pay her bills by working long shifts and holding yard sales in his free time.

Erick was humble, pure, and real. He was known for being funny and always cracking jokes. He would go above and beyond what was asked of him and would put others first. He is remembered as being the epitome of integrity, service, and excellence.

I would like to extend my condolences to Erick Silva's family and friends. Please know that the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the whole country grieve with you.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember the life of Laura Shipp.

Laura attended the Route 91 festival in Las Vegas on October 1.

Laura was a single mother to her son, Corey, who is a Marine Corps reservist.

Laura and her son had a strong relationship, and she had even moved from California to Las Vegas so she could be closer to him.

Laura loved the Los Angeles Dodgers and country music. She was protective of those that she loved and had a big heart.

Laura is remembered as being a smart woman who would always make sure to buy her son and nephew a toy or a snack, even when she didn't have a lot of money.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my condolences to Laura Shipp's family and friends. Please know that the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the whole country grieve with you.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to remember the life of Bailey Schweitzer.

Bailey was a kid at heart who loved playing around at her father's speedway racetrack in Bakersfield, California.

Bailey was at the Route 91 Harvest festival on October 1 in Las Vegas, attending the concert with her mother and other friends. She had a smile that could light up the room and was capable of making everyone laugh.

Bailey was a natural born leader and an amazing aunt to her brother Dakota's two kids. Bailey is remembered as being a master at being friends to everyday people and to everyone she met.

Mr. Speaker, I extend my condolences to Bailey Schweitzer's family and friends. Please know that the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the whole country grieve with you.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Garamendi) for organizing this hour to discuss a humanitarian issue that we are confronted with right now here in the United States of America. I thank him for his leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I just came back from the border this morning, and I am heartbroken. I am emotionally drained, and I am saddened for this country, the United States of America. Who would have ever thought, in the greatest, most powerful, richest country in the world, that we would be tearing kids apart from their mother and their father and putting them in cages?

That is not the America that I know. I came to this country when I was 8 years old. I crossed that same border that I visited. My parents came here in pursuit of the American Dream. They came here because they knew if they worked hard and sacrificed that they would have a shot at the American Dream.

That is all these kids and these families want, and just being there at the border and looking at those mothers straight in the eyes and them looking back at you with watery eyes, asking for help, this is not a Republican or Democrat issue. This is a humanitarian issue. This is about the future of America. This is about humanity. This is about kids. And it hurts me to see that in the United States of America we are putting these same kids in cages.

We made a call to the President to rescind this zero tolerance policy because we want to keep these families together. These are not criminals. These are innocent families who are leaving persecution, who are trying to achieve a better life for their kids.

Any family, any parent in the country or anywhere else seeking a better life for their kids would do everything and anything to pursue a better life for their kids.

So I am disappointed in our President. I am disappointed in my colleagues who refuse to speak up when we are seeing these images on TV of children in cages being treated like animals. That is not the America that I know. That is not the America that gave me and my family an opportunity to succeed.

So, Mr. Speaker, I got emotional yesterday being there at the border and remembering very vividly those moments when my family crossed the border. I remember it as if it was just yesterday. And I couldn't help but think that if somebody were to take me away from my father and mother at that precise moment, what would I do? Who would I trust? Where would I go? I couldn't even speak a word of English. I was 8 years old. I needed that love and those hugs from my mother and my father.

So today I came back and I made a promise that I would fight for these

families, that I would fight for these kids, that I would fight for the future of America; the principles and the values that make this country strong. That is the reason why I ran for office in the first place. That is the reason why we are serving in office in the first place.

So I am here to call on the President to rescind the zero tolerance policy that is cruel, inhumane, and un-American.

I will.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember the life of Brett Schwanbeck. Brett attended the Route 91 festival in Las Vegas on October 1. Brett was a retired truck driver who was engaged to be married to his fiancee, Anna.

Brett was a father of three and a grandfather of five. He was a kind and loving man who treasured the time he spent with his family. Brett loved lake trips, family gatherings, hunting, and camping. His favorite thing to do was go out into the middle of the woods and purposely get lost. Brett would do anything for anyone who needed help. His family remembers Brett as being funny, generous, and full of joy.

I would like to extend my condolences to Brett's family and friends. Please know that the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the whole country grieve with you.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember the life of Christopher Roybal. He was a decorated U.S. Navy veteran who had survived two shootouts while serving in Afghanistan. He attended the Route 91 festival in Las Vegas on October 1.

Christopher served in the Navy for 7 years before he left on a medical discharge after he had become mostly deaf in his left ear from all the explosions that happened near him. After leaving the Navy, he began working with Crunch Fitness gyms, where he managed new facilities as they opened around the country.

Christopher went to the Route 91 festival with friends and family to celebrate his upcoming 29th birthday.

Everyone who knew him remembers him as a man who could always put a smile on everyone's face. His favorite thing to do was serenading his friends with Spanish ballads and going out to sing karaoke.

I would like to extend my condolences to Christopher Roybal's family and friends. Please know that the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the whole country grieve with you.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember the life of Lisa Romero-Muniz.

Not only was Lisa the mother to her son, Anthony, but she was also known as a second mother to all the children she worked with. Lisa attended the Route 91 festival in Las Vegas on October 1.

Lisa was a discipline secretary at Miyamura High School in Gallup, New Mexico. The students she worked with remember her as a woman who looked out for children dealing with personal issues and for never turning her back on a kid who needed help.

Lisa would give anyone the last dime she had with no questions asked and would treat everyone like they were family.

Lisa loved purses, Jason Aldean, and Las Vegas. She was always smiling, outgoing, kind, and considerate.

Lisa is remembered as being incredibly generous and always wearing her heart on her sleeve.

I would like to extend my condolences to Lisa Romero-Muniz' family and friends. Please know that the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the whole country grieves with you.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the Vegas Golden Knights for their monumental accomplishments this past season.

Mr. Speaker, who knew there would ever be a winning hockey team in the desert? Never underestimate the people of Las Vegas and the State of Nevada.

The story of the Vegas Golden Knights is truly inspiring and symbolic of the strength and perseverance and unity in the Las Vegas community.

Following the October 1 shooting, a unique bond was created between Nevadans and the Golden Knights that helped mend a city that was torn apart by a devastating massacre. The community rallied around a hockey team made up of players from teams around the country. They called them the ``Golden Misfits.''

These players fostered relationships that led to a magical season that will never ever be forgotten. The Golden Knights set an NHL record for an expansion team with 51 wins, along with a trip to the Stanley Cup finals.

I would like to congratulate and thank the owners, the players, the coaches, and the fans, as well as the Washington Capitals on their first Stanley Cup championship.

Mr. Speaker, Las Vegas and the Golden Knights will always be Vegas born, Vegas strong. Go Knights go.

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

Mr. Chairman, I come to the floor to discuss the State of Nevada's fierce opposition to using Yucca Mountain as a nuclear waste dump.

While I appreciate having the opportunity to speak to you today, I am extremely frustrated with the recent actions Congress has taken to revive this project.

Mr. Chairman, Yucca Mountain lies in my congressional district. In the 30 years since Congress passed the ``Screw Nevada'' bill, Congress has wasted $3.7 billion of taxpayers' money on a project that Nevada has repeatedly said will not happen.

And now, this Congress wants to continue to egregiously spend money on this failed project in fiscal year 2019 appropriations.

So once again, I am here to fight to prevent nuclear waste from ever coming to my home State of Nevada. That is why I have introduced an amendment to H.R. 5895, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2019.

My amendment, Mr. Chairman, would strike $190 million for the licensing of the nuclear waste depository at Yucca Mountain.

I routinely hear from my Republican colleagues on the need to reduce our deficit and debt. I fully agree with the sentiment. Congress should not waste another $190 million of taxpayer money on a project that will not come to fruition.

But you should support my amendment not just on the fiscal basis. Mr. Chairman, my home State of Nevada, which has no nuclear energy- producing facilities, should not be the dumping ground for the rest of the country's nuclear waste.

And this is not just an issue facing Nevadans. It is an issue that impacts constituents from 329 congressional districts in 44 States and Washington, D.C.

Putting a nuclear repository in Nevada's backyard means that this high level nuclear waste must travel through your backyards first as well.

Your constituents will see high level nuclear waste transported through their communities on rail and by truck. A simple car crash or train derailment will leave your constituents at risk and cost our taxpayers more money to clean up the mess.

It is clear that reopening Yucca Mountain is fiscally unsound, presents threats to people across the country, and is unwanted by the people of Nevada. That is why I encourage you to support my amendment to prevent nuclear waste from ever coming to Nevada.

Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Rosen), my colleague.

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

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

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

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment to H.R. 5895, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2019.

This amendment, Mr. Chairman, is very simple. It would strike language that would prohibit the closure of Yucca Mountain.

This site sits in my congressional district, less than 100 miles away from Las Vegas, a city that sees 42 million visitors each year, with many of these visitors coming from your districts. Nevada depends on these visitors. Nevada's economy depends on these visitors.

Putting a nuclear repository this close to millions of Americans is simply irresponsible. And I have grave concerns with the transportation of nuclear waste to Yucca Mountain should this project move forward against the will of Nevadans.

Mr. Chairman, Nevada has no nuclear-energy-producing facilities, and it should not be the dumping ground for the rest of the country's nuclear waste. The bottom line is this: If your State generates nuclear waste, then you should keep it in your backyard.

Or if any of my colleagues are okay with sending nuclear waste to my State, then maybe they should consider keeping it in their own State. I will be more than happy to work with them on an amendment.

So, again, Mr. Chairman, the people in Nevada do not want this nuclear waste stored in their backyard. Yucca Mountain needs to close, and that is why I encourage my colleagues to vote in support of this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus), my colleague from the First Congressional District.

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