Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 644, which strongly condemns ongoing slave auctions in Libya of migrants and refugees.

Mr. Speaker, it is critical that we swiftly and unequivocally condemn these acts of unspeakable cruelty that have no place in the civilized world.

According to reports, an estimated 150,000 people--refugees fleeing conflict and economic migrants in search of better opportunities in Europe--cross Libya's borders each year.

But a clampdown by the Libyan Coast Guard meant fewer boats made it out to sea, leaving the smugglers with a backlog of would-be passengers on their hands.

With estimates of 400,000 to almost one million people now stranded in Libya, smugglers have become masters and the migrants and refugees have become slaves who are sold for as little as $400 each.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to share with this chamber the story of a young man named Victory, a 21-year-old Nigerian who fled his village and spent a year and four months--and his life savings--trying to reach Europe.

Victory made it as far as Libya, where he says he and other refugees were held in grim living conditions, deprived of food, abused, and mistreated by their captors.

When his funds ran out, Victory was sold as a day laborer by his smugglers; after weeks of being forced to work, Victory was told the money he had been bought for was not enough.

He was returned to his smugglers, only to be re-sold several more times--the smugglers also demanded ransom payments from Victory's family before eventually releasing him.

We know of at least 9 sites in which these horrors reportedly are commonplace.

The open sale of humans into slavery exposed in Libya in 2017 shocked the world.

United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley denounced the practice, saying ``there are few greater violations of human rights and human dignity than this.''

However, without a capable government in the country, the practice has continued unabated while media interest ebbed.

Mr. Speaker, it is contrary to the values of this nation to stand by and watch these atrocities continue.

H. Res. 644 denounces the trafficking of--and violence against-- innocent migrants in Libya, and proposes several concrete measures to a lasting infrastructure that upholds basic human rights for migrants in Libya.

First, the resolution calls on the Libyan government to investigate and end the slave auctions, as well as provide for humane management of migration flows.

Second, the resolution calls upon the United Nations to investigate the allegations of forced labor and demands that Libyan authorities to allow the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to regularly monitor and publicly report on the situation of refugees and migrants in Libya, and impose sanctions against Libya if the nation fails to end forced labor.

Third, the resolution calls upon the African Union to conduct an independent investigation of forced labor in Libya, to assist migrants who wish to return to their homelands, and to impose sanctions against Libya should the forced labor continue.

Fourth, the resolution highlights the importance of adequately staffing, funding, and supporting the United States State Department and the Agency for International Development to provide humanitarian assistance for migrants and to develop a comprehensive strategy to address the political and security situation in Libya including issues related to migrants and refugees in detention centers.

I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for H. Res. 644 and standing true to our nation's commitment to advancing human rights in Libya, and around the world.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1700, the SCORE for Small Business Act of 2017.

H.R. 1700 amends the Small Business Act to reauthorize the SCORE program (Service Corps of Retired Executives) for FY2018-FY2019.

The program is renamed as simply the SCORE program.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) shall award a grant to the SCORE Association (or any successor group) in order to strengthen resources for entrepreneurs.

By passing this bill, we are ensuring that the program and each of its chapters develop and implement plans and goals to provide services more effectively and efficiently to individuals in rural areas, economically disadvantaged communities, and other traditionally underserved communities.

Such requirements includes plans for electronic initiatives, web- based initiatives, chapter expansion, partnerships, and the development of new skills by participating volunteers.

The SBA's SCORE program embodies the power of public-private partnerships and is dedicated to educating and assisting entrepreneurs and small business owners in the formation, growth and expansion of their small businesses.

I want to thank all the trained volunteers that serve as counselor's advisors and mentors to aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners.

Further, there are approximately 13,000 volunteer business counselors with 348 chapters across the country.

Established in 1965, the Houston chapter has more than 130+ volunteers covering the 9-county Greater Houston Area.

These services are offered at no fee, as a community service.

According to the SCORE Association, in FY13, SCORE estimates that it served over 400,000 clients, and helped to create more than 40,500 new businesses and more than 67,098 new jobs.

I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for H.R. 1700 as it is vital that we support.

Mr. Speaker, headlines of the New York Times: ``Conservatives Close in on Three-Decade Dream: Tipping Court to the Right.''

Mr. Speaker, no court should be to the right or to the left. It should be for the American people.

I ask the Senate, and I commit to my constituents, to fight for a thorough and long review of the nominee's record, and to determine whether we are now appointing to the court a political biased aficionado; a person who has worked in politics and as well has shown his bias by way of his extensive and detailed and over-the-top report in the Starr report.

It will be interesting to find whether Mr. Kavanaugh has concern about all of America, because the Supreme Court holds in his hands that responsibility.

The USA Today says, ``Family Separation Combines Cruelty and Incompetence.''

I ask for the Secretary of Homeland Security to immediately come to the House of Representatives, and I ask the Speaker to provide that opportunity for him to be able to speak to us about why he has lost children and why they are separated from their families.

We need to stop the shooting of babies by those who leave guns for 2- year-olds to shoot themselves.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my best wishes, prayers, and hopes for a speedy and complete victory to Michael McHugh in his battle against cancer.

Michael McHugh previously worked in my Houston Office as an intern where he made significant contributions to our efforts to serve the residents of the 18th Congressional District of Texas.

Raised in Friendswood, Texas and educated at the University of Houston, Michael McHugh earned the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America and played an active role in several civic organizations and volunteer groups in the Houston area.

Those of us who know Michael well know his dedication to democratic ideals and his commitment to fighting injustice.

That dedication and commitment will serve Michael well during this most challenging and difficult chapter in his life.

Michael McHugh lives the quote of Margaret Mead: ``Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.''

As a breast cancer survivor, I know how shocking, overwhelming, and unexpected a cancer diagnosis can be.

I know how easy it is for anxiety, anger, and depression to creep in as you adjust to life after the diagnosis.

However, as Lance Armstrong said ``we have two options, medically and emotionally: give up or fight like hell.''

Michael is a fighter.

As a Congresswoman who is also a survivor, I have and will continue to support funding medical research designed to cure cancer.

It is my hope that Michael McHugh will win his fight against cancer and will enjoy many more years with his loving family and friends and continue his history of service to our community and nation.

It is my prayer that Michael's battle against cancer will one day be a footnote in the book of his life, just another battle that he fought and won.

As the later ESPN broadcaster, Stuart Scott, stated, ``you beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4684, the Ensuring Access to Quality Sober Living Act of 2018.

Opioid abuse has become a public health crisis with devastating consequences, including; overdoses, rising incidence of neonatal abstinence syndrome, homelessness, and unemployment.

H.R. 4684 ensures that the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration has the resources to provide the best practices for operating recovery houses and to distribute the information to states, and to provide technical assistance to states seeking to adopt such practices.

It is undeniable that, to ensure their path to recovery, victims of substance abuse are in need of proper recovery housing that is free from alcohol and drug use.

People suffering from addiction are in dire need of healthy living environments to ensure a successful transition.

Recovering addicts coming from an environment that does not provide the proper assistance, face many challenges and problems when they later reenter society.

Every day, over 115 Americans die after overdosing on opioids, with more than 64,000 deaths reported in the year 2016.

In 2015, 2588 opioid overdose related deaths were reported in my home state of Texas with Harris County accounting for 318 of those deaths.

It has been reported that 91 percent of victims in recovery will experience a relapse, 59 percent of those will experience a relapse within the first two weeks of sobriety, and 80 percent within a month after discharging from a detox facility.

H.R. 4684 will not only provide addicts with qualified recovery homes but healthy family oriented settings.

Medical research suggests that recovery residencies should be structured like family home, a community living environment which is centered on peer support and connection to services.

These provisions of the bill will provide victims of opioid addiction with much needed guidance.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 4684 to show their support in this extremely critical moment in time and ensure that those who have fallen victim to the opioid epidemic are provided with qualified recovery housing.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5228, the Stop Counterfeit Drugs by Regulating and Enhancing Enforcement Now Act, or the SCREEN Act.

Mr. Speaker, one way the nation can express its concern for our citizens' health is by addressing the issue regarding counterfeit drugs and synthetic opioids.

Among other things, H.R. 5228 will strengthen the ability of the Food and Drug Administration to combat counterfeit drugs, illegal and synthetic opioids, and opioid-like substances.

Because the capabilities of counterfeit drugs and opioids are rapidly and continuously evolving, there is no single technology that provides long-term assurance of drug security.

H.R. 5228 will implement new, holistic technology to better protect our drug supply.

Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin.

All opioids are chemically related and interact with opioid receptors on nerve cells in the body and brain.

According to a recent study, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report there were 63,632 drug overdose deaths in 2016 in America, 42,249 of which were related to opioid overdoses.

This issue directly affects my state of Texas, because in 2016, there were 1,375 opioid-related overdose deaths, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

In the city of Houston alone, there were 364 drug-related overdose deaths.

Another issue that H.R. 5228 will address is the prevalence of counterfeits, or fake medicines which are produced and sold with the intent to deceptively represent its authenticity or effectiveness.

Fake medicine may contain harmful or inactive ingredients that harm users, or might have the right active ingredient but at the wrong dosage.

Counterfeit drugs are illegal and can be harmful to your health.

Mr. Speaker, critics of the FDA say the entire screening system is underutilized and filled with incomplete and late information.

By enacting H.R. 5228, the FDA will have the authority to combat the scourge of opioids and counterfeit drugs.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5228.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5002, the ACE Research Act.

It is undeniable that more money, resources, and research needs to go into solving the many addictions, diseases, and disorders that face our society today.

H.R. 5002 amends the Public Health Service Act by augmenting the National Institutes of Health's research initiatives, by introducing more critical research that will strengthen the understanding and yield cures to the myriad of health problems that are facing Americans today.

The ACE Research Act will provide the National Institutes of Health with the necessary authority, resources and support it needs to further research and increase the fundamental biological understanding of the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases and disorders.

Additionally, the research initiatives undertaken by the National Institutes of Health may be supported through transactions other than contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements under the ACE Research Act.

The ACE Research Act will provide the National Institutes of Health with the measures to implement high impact, cutting-edge research necessary to combat public health threats.

Further, the National Institutes of Health will be able to partner with companies that have the technology and resources to administer this cutting-edge research.

The National Institutes of Health conducts tremendous, groundbreaking research that investigates the causes and remedies of diseases, addictions, ailments, and other public health areas for all people.

Moreover, the National Institutes of Health is the leading government agency that is responsible for essential public health and biomedical research, which helps Americans combat the health concerns that arise daily.

The ACE Research Act will support the National Institutes of Health's research initiatives in finding cures to the growing opioid addiction in America today.

Opioid addiction, which includes the overuse of illicit and prescription drugs, is taking the lives of Americans across our nation each day.

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report cited 63,632 drug overdose deaths in 2016 in America, 42,249 of which were related to opioid overdoses.

In 2016, there were 1,375 opioid-related overdose deaths in Texas, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

In the city of Houston, there were 364 drug-related overdose deaths alone that happened in 2016 according to the Treatment Center, a highly respected drug and alcohol addiction treatment service center.

Therefore, it is vital that research is done concerning drug abuse and addictions, as it has been a long-term problem in our society.

According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, addiction is ``a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry.''

Addiction is not a choice, a moral feeling, or a lack of will-power; it is a disease of the brain that requires proper treatment.

Addiction is a longstanding mental and physical illness that many Americans are facing today, leading to their lives being compromised, and in some cases even leading to their death.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is overseeing important research to respond to this epidemic, and this bill responds favorably to its request for more flexibility in conducting research on treatments for opioid addiction and other disease areas.

This research may lead to scientific advances that may find solutions to the opioid crisis, as well as solutions to other addictions and public health threats.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5002, which will expand the National Institutes of Health's research initiatives to include valuable research that will address the multitude of health concerns facing Americans today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5587, the Peer Support Communities of Recovery.

H.R. 5587 provides for the establishment of regional assistance centers to implement addiction recovery support services throughout an individual's treatment.

Everyday, over 100 people in the United States die from opioid related drug overdoses, while over 11.5 million people misuse prescription opioids.

In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report cited 63,632 drug overdose deaths in the U.S., with a linearly increasing trend.

In Texas, there were 1,375 opioid-related overdose deaths and within Houston alone, there were 364 drug-related overdose deaths that happened in 2016 according to the Treatment Center.

The U.S. is going through a serious drug abuse epidemic and the resources available for recovering addicts are currently limited in variability.

Peer support services are unique in that they allow for individuals with common experiences to share their stories of recovery with the people who might be seeking help.

Through self-help and shared support, people are able to offer strength and hope to their peers, which allows for personal growth, promotes wellness, and encourages recovery.

Examples of peer support include: peer mentoring or coaching; peer recovery resource connecting; recovery group facilitation; and community building.

In Houston, we have peer support programs that exist for both adults and youth through the Houston Health Department and Houston Recovery Center.

H.R. 5587 authorizes programs, similar to the ones that are having a positive impact in

Houston, to be established across the country to serve other communities.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5587 to ensure that we are addressing substance abuse in the United States as efficiently as possible.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5197, the Alternatives to Opioids in the Emergency Department Act, or the ALTO Act.

Mr. Speaker, our nation faces an opioid crisis.

H.R. 5197, the ALTO Act, directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a demonstration program to test alternative pain management protocols to limit the use of opioids in hospitals and emergency departments.

Opioids contributed to the deaths of more than 42,000 people in 2016, more than any year on official record.

Forty percent of all opioid overdose deaths involve a prescription opioid.

The economic burden of prescription opioid misuse in the United States is estimated to be $78.5 billion dollars per year.

This figure includes costs stemming from health care, including addiction treatment, lost productivity, and criminal justice involvement.

Over 200 million opioid prescriptions are written in the United States each year, and 2 million Americans have the symptoms of substance use disorder.

Approximately 21 to 29 percent of patients prescribed opioids for chronic pain misuse them.

In Texas, 4 percent of the population reports using pain relievers for non-medical purposes.

Harris County, which contains my home district, has a pain medication misuse rate of 3.91 percent.

The time for action is now.

H.R. 5197, the ALTO Act, directs Health and Human Services to carry out a 3-year demonstration program which awards grants to hospitals and emergency departments to develop, implement, enhance, or study alternative pain management protocols and treatments that promote the appropriate limited use of opioids.

Emergency departments in several States, including in New Jersey and Colorado, have developed innovative programs to more widely utilize non-opioid pain treatments to reduce the use of opioids.

We must learn from these attempts and initiate a national program to limit the overuse of opioids in emergency settings.

However, it is important to realize that some groups, such as African Americans, are under-prescribed pain management medications.

We must balance these new programs that work to reduce over- prescription with our continued efforts to ensure that medically necessary treatment be provided to people in need.

H.R. 5197, the ALTO Act, is especially important for my district and the greater Houston area.

Houston is home to many world-renowned trauma centers including Ben Taub and Memorial Hermann.

These centers have extensive emergency medical services and they, along with hospitals around the state and the nation, will benefit greatly from the support this bill provides.

Mr. Speaker, it is time for Congress to intervene before opioids claim the lives of more Americans.

The Alternatives to Opioids in the Emergency Department Act, or the ALTO Act is a necessary step towards stopping this opioid crisis.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5197, the ALTO Act, to prevent opioid addiction at the source and ensure that this crisis is stopped.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5102, the Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Act of 2018.

H.R. 5102 would establish a loan repayment program for mental health professionals practicing in areas with few mental health providers or with high death rates from overdose.

Mr. Speaker, this bill will amend the Public Health Service Act to create a loan repayment program for individuals who complete a period of service in a substance use disorder treatment job in a mental health professional shortage area and counties where the drug overdose death rate is higher than the national average.

This bill authorizes $25 million per year over fiscal years 2019- 2028.

H.R. 5102 will strengthen America's substance abuse treatment workforce and provide for greater access to care for patients who need it the most.

Mr. Speaker, the current trends of substance abuse in the U.S. are startling.

A Columbia University study found that over 40 million Americans age 12 and over meet the clinical criteria for drug addiction and abuse.

As substance abuse rates and death from overdose rates increase, studies project a shortage of 85,000 physicians in 2020--the impact of which will be the most devastating in rural communities.

In my home state of Texas, 10.1 people die per 100,000 in the population from drug overdoses.

In 2016, in Houston there were 364 drug overdose related deaths reported.

H.R. 5102 addresses these critical issues by providing an additional path for health care providers to practice in rural and underserved communities, ultimately giving greater access to care for those suffering from substance use disorder.

This piece of legislation will strengthen rural health care systems and will improve access to care for patients in these rural communities.

Mr. Speaker, the Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Act of 2018 will help build a well-equipped workforce to combat the current rise in substance use disorders.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 449, the Synthetic Drug

Awareness Act of 2017, which requires the Surgeon General to report to Congress on the public health effects of the increased use since January 2010 by individuals who are 12 to 18 years old of drugs developed and manufactured to avoid control under the Controlled Substances Act.

The term synthetic drug means a drug which is developed and manufactured to avoid control under the Controlled Substances Act.

There are more than 200 identified synthetic drug compounds and more than 90 different synthetic drug marijuana compounds.

Many of these synthetic drugs are made in foreign countries and then smuggled into the United States.

These clandestinely-made drugs have no manufacturing safety standards that are normally required by the Food and Drug Administration.

Synthetic opioids have surpassed prescription opioids as the most common drug class involved in overdose deaths in the United States.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl-related deaths nationwide are up from previous years by 73 percent.

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid created using man-made chemical components rather than naturally occurring ingredients, is 50-100 times more potent than morphine.

Overall, drug overdose deaths involving fentanyl-type drugs in the United States rose from about 3,000 in 2010 to more than 19,400 in 2016.

The rate of teen drug overdose deaths in the United States climbed 19 percent from 2014 to 2015, from 3.1 deaths per 100,000 teens to 3.7 per 100,000.

The number of American teens to die of a drug overdose leapt by almost a fifth in 2015 after seven years of decline.

The opioid epidemic claimed more than 52,000 lives in 2015.

In Texas, Synthetic opioids account for almost one-fifth of drug related overdoses.

In 2016, there were 1,375 opioid-related overdose deaths in Texas specifically, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Last year, 364 drug-related overdose deaths happened in Houston.

Synthetic marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin top the list of drug-related problems in the Houston area.

Geographically, death rates from overdoses involving synthetic opioids increased in 21 states, with 10 states doubling their rates from 2016 to 2017.

No area of the United States is exempt from this epidemic--we all know a friend, family member or loved one devastated by opioids.

H.R. 449 is a positive step in the right direction, I urge my colleagues to vote Yes on H.R. 449, the Synthetic Drug Awareness Act of 2017.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5583, a bill to Amend Title XI of the Social Security Act to Require States to Annually Report on Certain Adult Health Quality Measures.

The United States must affirm its role as a leader in domestic care by guaranteeing access to plentiful and accurate information regarding the health of its most vulnerable citizens.

Mr. Speaker, over 67.4 million individuals are enrolled in Medicaid as of March of 2018.

In Texas, Medicaid covers 1 in 14 adults under the age of 65, 1 in 3 low-income individuals, 2 in 5 children, 3 in 5 nursing home residents, and 1 in 3 people with disabilities.

There are currently over 717 thousand open Medicaid cases in Harris County alone.

In addition, to doctor and hospital visits, Medicaid covers long-term services like nursing homes and community-based services that allow people with chronic conditions and disabilities to live independently.

Medicaid covers more than half of all nursing home residents.

H.R. 5583 requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to expand its core set of adult health quality measures for Medicaid- eligible adults to include measures specific to behavioral health.

A state Medicaid program must report annually on such measures.

This bill requires States to use all behavioral health measures included in the core set of adult health quality metrics, and any changes to such measures, to be reported regarding the quality of health care for Medicaid-eligible adults.

By passing this bill and instituting these reporting requirements, we can ensure equitable attention to healthcare for Medicaid-eligible men and women.

Americans, no matter their financial circumstances, deserve access to healthcare, and this bill will ensure that discrepancies in care among low-income Americans can be identified and addressed.

Safeguarding the health and healthcare of our citizens is the best way to concretely demonstrate our dedication to their safety and well- being.

It is not only the right thing to do for our citizens; it is the smart thing to do for our nation.

I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for H.R. 5583, a bill that will ensure the healthcare of all Americans can be addressed and improved by requiring annual reports on the health quality of Medicaid- eligible Americans.

Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentleman for yielding, and certainly, let me thank my good friend from North Carolina.

I think the Nation should understand that we have these stark political differences. We have these stark legal differences. But there is nothing that can undermine the rule of law and the truth.

My good friend who just spoke earlier wants to go to the extreme of holding the Nation's professional law enforcement officers in contempt for doing their job. What I hold in my hand is from the Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Justice, issued in June 2018. Besides these pages, Mr. Speaker, there are eons and eons of documents.

Right now, in the Judiciary Committee, Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein is there voluntarily. We have Director Wray there. Even if there was a subpoena, they have come. Both of them indicated that they canceled important trips to be here before the United States Congress.

I asked in that hearing: What was the reason for the emergency hearing? What was the good cause? And I don't know if my colleagues heard it. I could not decipher any good cause of why we are now thrown into this hearing room.

The reason I say that, which speaks to this particular resolution, is the fact that we have had now, under the Presidency of Mr. Trump, almost 2 years, and the Judiciary Committee has not answered one single inquiry offered by the Democrats. We have not had one legitimate hearing on the Russian collusion to have violated and made vile the 2016 election.

I do not speak to the results. I speak to the impact on the integrity of the election by the American people. We have not had one hearing.

Now we are in a rush to continue to reinvestigate and reinvestigate the findings of the inspector general and the investigators who indicated that they investigated this and, in essence, found no criminal behavior; that this is Secretary Clinton's email.

I think it is public knowledge that the item that she was being looked at for was the misuse of classified data. Minimal, at best. We don't want that to happen. She did not want it to happen. But she was cleared of any criminal intent or criminal actions by people that we would normally trust.

I believe in oversight. I don't want scandals at the Department of Justice. I want the Civil Rights Division to work well. Maybe somebody should ask the question why the Civil Rights Division is understaffed and barely working. Maybe somebody should ask the question why the Trump administration switched from being supportive of anti-voter ID laws that were discriminatory but did not.

So this resolution is redundant. It goes in the face of those who are already performing.

Mr. Speaker, it goes in the face of those who are already performing.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Justice has already produced about 850,000 documents at the request of this group of folk from Oversight and Judiciary. They are complying.

Why are we on the floor taking a hammer to a flea? That is unnecessary. Why are we not in the Judiciary Committee, probing the individuals who are now appearing?

I want the American people to understand this is a resolution that has nothing to do with the crux of protecting the November 18, 2018, elections, and it has nothing to do with reality. We have finished our work, and we need to go on to protecting the United States of America against bogus elections.

I feel like Yogi Berra--I have deja vu all over again.

In just the last week or so, we have had three hearings related to the actions of the Department of Justice and the FBI in the run-up to the 2016 election.

Over the course of that last week or so, the country has watched as thousands of children have been separated from their parents.

The Supreme Court has seen the resignation of the Court's swing vote.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court thought it wise to uphold a travel ban on nationals from Muslim majority countries.

And yesterday, the Supreme court gutted the labor rights of public sector employees.

With all of these pressing issues for this august body to determine, what are we talking about?

We're talking about Hillary Clinton's Emails.

Why are we talking about Hillary Clinton's emails?

We're here because one week after the Intelligence community briefed then president-elect Trump, that the Russians had interfered with the election to hurt Hillary Clinton and help Donald Trump.

At best, the timing of the announcement was done to draw a false equivalence between the actions of career law enforcement in investigating the Clinton email server and what would later become the Special Counsel's investigation; at worst, it suggests using the levers of law enforcement for political ends.

We are here well after the fact that the Special Counsel investigating Russia's attempts to meddle in the 2016 election and the extent to which associates of the Trump Campaign were complicit in this endeavor. The Special Counsel has already secured 23 indictments against companies and individuals, some of whom are Americans.

This includes the President's campaign manager, who is currently sitting in jail awaiting charges in two judicial districts.

This is after the Special Counsel has secured guilty pleas, including from:

The President's National Security Advisor;

A lawyer with ties to the President's former campaign manager;

The President's former Foreign Policy Advisor; and

The President's former deputy campaign manager.

All the while, while the Special Counsel was doing this report, the House GOP was salivating for this report to be released.

And then the OIG promulgated the report.

And after the OIG promulgated that report, the House GOP was disappointed, because they did not like what the independent investigation found: that the decisions by the DOJ and the FBI in the days and preceding the 2016 were not tainted by political bias.

Because the OIG's report does not conform with the House's GOP narrative, the House GOP has to muddy the waters, even if that means interfering with an active counterintelligence investigation.

But, before this tea party resolution, let's just recall what has the House Freedom Caucus so upset.

And now, they want information that is at the heart of an active counterintelligence criminal investigation.

And in an effort to aid their allies in the White House, the House GOP has gone to extraordinary effort to alchemize its oversight responsibilities into a line of information to the White House.

While this has happened over the year, the OIG has been preparing its report--and it was released earlier this month.

The OIG Report concludes that while former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey was insubordinate in the manner and content of his decision not to prosecute Hillary Clinton in her use of a private server, the decision was not done with political bias.

This conclusion definitely reignited strong emotions, but a clear eye focused on all operative facts supports the inference that the actions taken by federal law enforcement, out of an abundance of caution, had the effect of conferring significant advantage on the Trump Campaign.

I am a strong supporter of law enforcement.

They do a tough job under difficult circumstances.

This was no less true in the weeks and months preceding the 2016 election.

The confluence of facts and the public statements of then-candidate Trump likely complicated law enforcement's difficult job.

``From the outset, nothing in this report calls into question or undermines the Special Counsel's investigation into Russian interference into the 2016 election and whether and to what extent this endeavor was aided by associates of the Trump Campaign.

Next, while the OIG report released today concludes that former FBI Director Comey was insubordinate in the breadth and depth of his July 2016 press conference declining prosecution of Secretary Clinton, the decision was not done for political purposes or colored with political bias.

``Third, any suggestion that the actions of law enforcement in the second half of 2016 were done to support the Hillary Clinton Campaign to the detriment of the Trump Campaign is belied by the fact that both the decision to editorialize the declination of prosecution in July 2016 and the decision to reopen the Clinton email investigation in October 2016, eleven days before the election, revealed a double standard favorable to Trump and prejudicial to Clinton.

This is because that while the country was debating Secretary Clinton's judgment in setting up a private server for her emails, associates of the Trump Campaign were engaging in questionable--and possibly criminal--behavior with agents of the Russian government.

This disjunction undoubtedly benefitted Trump, however unquantifiably.

``Fourth, while the president may tout this report as supportive of his decision to terminate Comey from his position as FBI Director,

nothing in this report changes two facts: first, after the FBI reopened the investigation into the Clinton email issue in the waning days of the 2016 campaign, then-candidate Trump applauded Comey's announcement.

Given his tact at the time, and his change of heart now and his reasons for doing so, only one conclusion is supportable: that Trump's concern after the election for Comey's decision is more disingenuous than not.

Moreover, to the extent that the president tries to claim that his reasons for firing Comey were consistent with the findings of the OIG report, the president revealed his true motives for firing Comey in an interview with Lester Holt: that it was done because of the Russia investigation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition of H.R. 6136, the ``Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2018.''

This so-called compromise is anything but a compromise. There was not even a markup in the Judiciary Committee; only secret meetings with Administration officials known to author the worst immigration policy this nation has witnessed.

Perhaps H.R. 6136 was an attempt at compromising amongst the various factions that currently divide the majority and prevent Congress from accomplishing meaningful immigration reform.

But this ``compromise'' is a sham. H.R. 6136:

fails to cover Dreamers;

fails to provide a certain path to citizenship;

claims to ``end'' Trump's family separation policy by requiring long- term detention;

revokes critical protections for detained children and families;

makes deep cuts to legal family immigration;

revokes the approvals of over 3 million family members who have been waiting for years to legally reunify with U.S. citizens;

eliminates important asylum protections;

ends the Diversity Visa program,

makes immigrant communities less safe by forcing cooperation with immigration detainers.

At every step, this bill attacks family unity, immigrant communities, and common decency.

The United States of America is and will always be the land of opportunity, refuge, and safe haven for all.

The current Administration's policies of closing our doors and borders, by forcibly tearing apart families and eliminating lawful means of entering the United States, are simply inhumane.

H.R. 6136 would act as an overall deterrent to immigrants and people around the world finding refuge and opportunity here in the United States.

The bill would prevent many asylum seekers from even applying for asylum, and would eliminate the Diversity Visa Program, which has traditionally sent a diverse pool of educated immigrants who have contributed to America's success.

Moreover, the bill would needlessly attack sanctuary cities and immigrant communities, and would invest billions of dollars in President Trump's unnecessary border wall and military technology along the border.

Overall, the bill would simply dismantle families, detain innocent immigrants and children for prolonged, indefinite amounts of time, and closes our border and walls to people around the world who are ready to contribute to the American dream.

This is not what America is or has ever been. Our diverse nation was built by immigrants coming here to build for themselves and their families, along with other communities.

By adopting this bill, America would be acting inconsistent with its core values, and contrary to its reputation as the world's most generous and welcoming nation.

And for those reasons, I urge my colleagues to stand in opposition to H.R. 6136, the ``Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2018.''

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

Mr. Chair, my amendment indicates that no funding in this act shall be used or otherwise made available by this act to end Reserve Officers' Training Corps, ROTC, programs at HBCUs, Hispanic- Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities.

I want to emphasize this program because so many of us have these colleges in our congressional districts. Those ROTC programs provide training to college students to prepare them for future service in the branches in the U.S. military, the Army, Air Force, and Navy.

Coming from the State of Texas, I can assure you, Mr. Chairman, with my interaction with so many in the United States military, those who have said that it is a pathway to leadership and success, I know how important these programs are.

The Army ROTC alone provides $274 million in scholarship money to more than 13,000 students. It is interesting to take note of the fact, as it relates to African Americans and Hispanics, the leadership that has come from these programs: Andrew P. Chambers, lieutenant general, retired; George A. Alexander; Colonel Claude A. Burnett; Colonel Derrick W. Flowers; Colonel Senodja Sundiata-Walker, currently serving as the chief of program support branch.

These are all individuals who have been the beneficiaries of ROTC programs at HBCUs, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities.

Mr. Chair, I ask my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairwoman for her remarks and concern. I believe that the military has great interest in the ROTC program and particularly in recruitment in HBCUs and Hispanic-Serving Institutions.

Let me also say, however, Mr. Chairman, I want to rise to emphasize my commitment to PTSD funding. I want to ensure as we go forward that we will increase the PTSD funding. I am interested in it being increased in particular by $5 million, but I know there are other amendments that would increase it even more.

If we know the suffering from those who have PTSD as I have, this is something that I have worked for, fought for, and advocated for. The reason, Mr. Chairman, is I see it every day.

My amendment would focus on the needs of those who want to live a normal life with post-traumatic stress disorder. Our soldiers are still coming back from places like Syria. We know they have come back from Afghanistan and Iraq, but they are still fighting there. And PTSD, recently diagnosed in these wars, to give these people the ability to be with their family, to be able to have positions because the treatment is there, to regain their life because what they have seen from the bloodshed of IEDs and the tragedies of war warrant this support of post-traumatic stress disorder funding.

So I want to make note of that on the Record, of my support and the support for the increase. I close by saying I ask for those in support of the Jackson Lee amendment dealing with the ROTC, HBCUs, Hispanic- Serving and Tribal Institutions. It is a valuable program and a valuable use for that program to recruit more people from those communities.

Mr. Chairman, I ask support for the Jackson Lee amendment.

Mr. Chair, I thank the Chair and Ranking Member of the Rules Committee for making this Jackson Lee Amendment in order for consideration of ``H.R. 6157, the Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2019.''

I also thank Chair Kay Granger and Ranking Member Peter J. Visclosky for their work in bring the Defense Appropriations bill before the House for consideration.

This Jackson Lee Amendment is No. 1 on the Second Rule for H.R. 6157 and provides that no funding in this Act shall be used or otherwise made available by this Act to end Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) programs at HBCUs, Hispanic Serving Institutions and Tribal Colleges and Universities.

ROTC provides training to college students to prepare them for future service in branches of the U.S. military: the Army, Air Force, and Navy.

The Army, Navy, and Air Force ROTC programs are annual scholarship awards, which combined, are the nation's largest scholarship grantors.

The Army ROTC alone provides $274 million in scholarship money to more than 13,000 students each year, according to the U.S. Army Cadet Command.

Nationally about 12,000 high school seniors compete for about 2,000 Army ROTC scholarships.

About half of these are three-year scholarships, and the other half are four-year scholarships

Once students reach college, they can explore specific military branches by enrolling in ROTC programs provided by the Army, Navy, or Air Force.

ROTC programs train future officers to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.

To students who qualify, the ROTC programs offer scholarships that cover the cost of their education.

In exchange, students make a commitment to maintain academic excellence and later to fulfill active duty services in their chosen branch of the Armed Forces.

ROTC programs reward academic excellence to students attending HBCUs, Hispanic Servicing Institutions, and Tribal Colleges by providing a path to military service.

I ask my Colleagues in the House to support this Jackson Lee Amendment to the Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2019.

List of HBCUs With Navy ROTC Programs

Clark Atlanta University (Georgia)

Dillard University (Louisiana)

Florida A&M University

Hampton University (Virginia)

Howard University (Washington DC)

Huston-Tillotson University (Texas)

Morehouse College (Georgia)

Norfolk State University (North Carolina)

Prairie View A&M University (Texas)

Savannah State University (Georgia)

Southern University and A&M College (Louisiana)

Spelman College (Georgia)

Tennessee State University

Tuskegee University (Alabama)

Xavier University (Louisiana)

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) With Army ROTC

Alabama A&M University

Alcorn State University

Bowie State University

Central State University

Elizabeth City State University

Florida A&M University

Fort Valley State University

Grambling State University

Hampton University

Howard University

Jackson State University

Lincoln University (Pennsylvania)

Lincoln University (Missouri)

Morgan State University

Norfolk State University

North Carolina A&T State University

Prairie View A&M University

Saint Augustine's College

South Carolina State University

Southern University and A&M College

Tuskegee University

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

Virginia State University

West Virginia State University

Learn How People Have Gained From ROTC Leadership That Lasts a Lifetime

LTG (Ret) Andrew P. Chambers, Lieutenant General, U.S.

Army, Retired

LTG (Ret) Chambers graduated from Howard University and

Commission as an Infantry Officer in 1954. After 35 years of

service LTG Chambers retired from the Army in 1989. He then

held the position of Director of Industry Operations for the

Association of the United States Army, later assumed the role

of Director of Community Services for AmeriCorps and then

served as Vice President of University of Maryland University

College Europe, retiring in 2005

LTG (Ret) Chambers passed away on June 3, 2017 (age 86) and

was buried with full military honors at Arlington Nation

Cemetery.

MG (Ret) George A. Alexander, Former Deputy Surgeon

General, Office of the U.S. Army Surgeon General, HQS,

Department of the Army

MG (Ret) Alexander is an active alumni and strong supporter

of the Howard University Army ROTC Program. He graduated from

Howard University College of Medicine in 1977 and was

commissioned in 1979.

COL Claude A. Burnett

Currently serving the Chief of the Department of Obstetrics

and Gynecology and Acting Chief of the Division of Surgery at

Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany

COL Burnett graduated from Howard University with a BS in

Chemistry and received his commission in 1992. He went on to

obtain his medical degree from Meharry Medical College in

Nashville, TN.

COL Derrick W. Flowers

Currently the G-8/Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for

Resource Management, Headquarters, US Army Medical Command,

for Sam Houston, TX.

COL Flowers received his Bachelor of Business

Administration Degree in Accounting and commission as a

Medical Services Corps officer from Howard University in

1990.

COL Senodja F. Sundiata-Walker

Currently serving as the Chief of Program Support Branch,

Washington D.C.

COL Sundiata-Walker graduated and received her commission

from Howard University as a Military Intelligence Officer in

1995.

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

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk, Amendment No. 14.

Mr. Chairman, let me thank Chairwoman Granger and Ranking Member Visclosky for their devotion to the men and women of the Armed Forces who risk their lives to keep our Nation safe.

My amendment, and I appreciate the opportunity in presenting it, is identical to an amendment that I offered and was adopted last year to the Defense Appropriations Act of fiscal year 2018, H.R. 3219. My amendment increases funding for Defense Health Program research and development by $10 million. These funds will address the question of breast cancer in the United States military.

Mr. Chairman, I am a breast cancer survivor, and the relief of the care and cure is one that you cannot imagine. Just imagine being in the United States military and being diagnosed. These funds are important to increase that research to help our men and women in the United States military.

The American Cancer Society called several strains of breast cancer a particularly aggressive subtype associated with lower survival rates. In this instance, it is triple negative breast cancer. That is one that is deadly, more so than many other types, and I have seen close friends, my neighbor, succumb to triple negative breast cancer.

This increased funding should be and, hopefully, will be utilized to do important research in that area. This was evidenced by an article, ``Fighting a Different Battle: Breast Cancer and the Military.''

Breast cancer can affect both men and women. The bad news is that breast cancer has been just about as brutal on women in the military as combat. Breast cancer has been just about as difficult to overcome as well. More than 800 women have been wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the Army Times; 874 military women were diagnosed with breast cancer, just between the years 2000 and 2011. According to the same study, more are expected as it grows.

The good news is that we have been working on it and, therefore, much progress has been made.

The Jackson Lee amendment will allow the additional research on, as I said, devastating triple negative breast cancer. That research is particularly needed since women are joining the armed services in increasing numbers and serving longer, ascending to leadership.

With increased age comes increased risk and the incidence of breast cancer. Military people, in general, and, in some cases, specifically, are at a significantly greater risk for contracting breast cancer, according to Dr. Richard Clapp, a top cancer expert at Boston University who works with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on military breast cancer issues.

Dr. Clapp notes that life in the military can mean exposure to a witch's brew of risk factors directly linked to greater chances of getting breast cancer.

So I ask my colleagues to remember that there are many challenges for those who serve in the United States military. Health is one of them.

I ask my colleagues to support the Jackson Lee amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, let me thank the chairwoman for acknowledging the importance of the research that is already established. I want to reemphasize that, in the midst of breast cancer research, there will be a focus on many subtypes, if you will, one of them including triple negative breast cancer.

So with the expansion of women in the military, it is extremely important to move forward with this amendment to help ensure that the men and women who risk their lives to protect our freedom can live longer, healthier lives.

I ask my colleagues to support the Jackson Lee amendment.

Mr. Chair, I want to thank Chairwoman Granger and Ranking Member Visclosky for shepherding this legislation to the floor and for their devotion to the men and women of the Armed Forces who risk their lives to keep our nation safe.

Mr. Chair, thank you for the opportunity to explain my amendment, which is identical to an amendment that I offered and was adopted last year to the Defense Appropriations Act for FY2018 (H.R. 3219).

My amendment increases funding for the Defense Health Program's research and development by $10 million.

These funds will address the question of breast cancer in the United States military.

As a Member of Congress, a mother, a sister and a spouse, and a breast cancer survivor, I feel a special responsibility to do all I can to ensure every American can win in the fight against all types of breast cancer but especially triple negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Breast cancer can affect both men and women.

The bad news is breast cancer has been just about as brutal on women in the military as combat.

Let me say that sentence again.

Breast cancer has been just about as brutal on women in the military as combat.

More than 800 women have been wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the Army Times; 874 military women were diagnosed with breast cancer just between 2000 and 2011.

And according to that same study, more are suspected; it grows.

The good news is that we have been working on it, and I want to add my appreciation to the military.

Jackson Lee Amendment No. 14, however, will allow for the additional research.

That research is particularly needed since women are joining the Armed Services in increasing numbers and serving longer, ascending to leadership.

Within increased age comes increased risk and incidence of breast cancer.

Not only is breast cancer striking relatively young military women at an alarming rate, but male service members, veterans and their dependents are at risk as well.

With a younger and generally healthier population, those in the military tend to have a lower risk for most cancers than civilians-- including significantly lower colorectal, lung and cervical--but breast cancer is a different story.

Military people in general, and in some cases very specifically, are at a significantly greater risk for contracting breast cancer, according to Dr. Richard Clapp, a top cancer expert at Boston University who works at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on military breast cancer issues.

Dr. Clapp notes that life in the military can mean exposure to a witch's brew of risk factors directly linked to greater chances of getting breast cancer.

statistics on african american women and breast cancer

In 2013, the American Cancer Society Surveillance and Health Services Institute estimated that 27,060 black women would be diagnosed with the illness.

The overall incidence rate of breast cancer is 10 percent lower in African American women than white women.

African American women have a five-year survival rate of 78 percent after diagnosis as compared to 90 percent for white women.

The incidence rate of breast cancer among women under 45 is higher for African American women compared to white women.

Triple Negative Breast Cancer:

Accounts for between 13 percent and 25 percent of all breast cancer in the United States;

Onset is at a younger age;

Is more aggressive; and

Is more likely to metastasize.

Currently, 70 percent of women with metastatic triple negative breast cancer do not live more than five years after being diagnosed.

African American women are 3 times more likely to develop triple- negative breast cancer than White women.

African-American women have prevalence TNBC of 26 percent vs. 16 percent in non-African-American women.

African-American women are more likely to be diagnosed with larger tumors and more advanced stages of breast cancer.

Currently there is no targeted treatment for TNBC exists.

Some researchers theorize that higher rates of triple negative tumors among young African American Women may be explain, to some degree, the poor prognosis of breast cancers diagnosed.

Not knowing if you have Triple Negative Breast Cancer is the biggest threat to health.

Breast cancers with specific, targeted treatment methods, such as hormone and gene based strains, have higher survival rates than the triple negative subtype, highlighting the need for a targeted treatment.

There continues to be a need for research funding for biomarker selection, drug discovery, and clinical trial designs that will lead to the early detection of TNBC and to the development of multiple targeted therapies to treat this awful disease.

The dedication of funding for research into breast cancer is the right track, we're on the right road.

The expansion of women in the military, makes this area of DoD research particularly important to addressing the real breast cancer risk posed to our women in uniform.

Today women make up around 15 percent of all service personnel in the combined branches of the French military.

Women are 11 percent of the Army forces, 13 percent for the Navy, 21 percent of the Air Force and 50 percent of the Medical Corps.

In 2015, All U.S. military combat positions were opened up to women.

The fighting capacity of the military is linked to the health and wellbeing of women throughout the armed services.

We can offer another tool in the work to keep the women of the military healthy and free of breast cancer through development of test that can detect the disease in its earliest stages and treatments that increase survival rates should breast cancer be contracted.

I urge my colleagues to support Jackson Lee Amendment No. 14.

Mr. Chair, I want to thank Chairwoman Granger and Ranking Member Visclosky for shepherding H.R. 6157, the ``Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2019,'' to the floor and for their devotion to the men and women of the Armed Forces who risk their lives to keep our nation safe.

Jackson Lee Amendment No. 14 increases funding for the PTSD by $5 million.

These funds should be used toward outreach activities targeting hard to reach veterans, especially those who are homeless or reside in underserved urban and rural areas, who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Mr. Chair, along with traumatic brain injury, PTSD is the signature wound suffered by the brave men and women fighting in Afghanistan, Iraq, and far off lands to defend the values and freedom we hold dear.

For those of us whose daily existence is not lived in harm's way, it is difficult to imagine the horrific images that American servicemen and women deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other theaters of war see on a daily basis.

In an instant a suicide bomber, an IED, or an insurgent can obliterate your best friend and right in front of your face.

Yet, you are trained and expected to continue on with the mission, and you do, even though you may not even have reached your 20th birthday.

But there always comes a reckoning. And it usually comes after the stress and trauma of battle is over and you are alone with your thoughts and memories.

And the horror of those desperate and dangerous encounters with the enemy and your own mortality come flooding back.

PTSD was first brought to public attention in relation to war veterans, but it can result from a variety of traumatic incidents, such as torture, being kidnapped or held captive, bombings, or natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes.

People with PTSD may startle easily, become emotionally numb (especially in relation to people with whom they used to be close), lose interest in things they used to enjoy, have trouble feeling affectionate, be irritable, become more aggressive, or even become violent.

They avoid situations that remind them of the original incident, and anniversaries of the incident are often very difficult.

Most people with PTSD repeatedly relive the trauma in their thoughts during the day and in nightmares when they sleep.

These are called flashbacks; a person having a flashback may lose touch with reality and believe that the traumatic incident is happening all over again.

Mr. Chair, the fact of the matter is that most veterans with PTSD also have other psychiatric disorders, which are a consequence of PTSD.

These veterans have co-occurring disorders, which include depression, alcohol and/or drug abuse problems, panic, and/or other anxiety disorders.

Jackson Lee Amendment No. 14 recognizes that these soldiers are first and foremost, human, who live their experiences.

Ask a veteran of Vietnam, Iraq, or Afghanistan about the frequency of nightmares they experience, and one will realize that serving in the Armed Forces leaves a lasting impression, whether good or bad.

Jackson Lee Amendment No. 14 will help ensure that ``no soldier is left behind'' by addressing the urgent need for more outreach toward hard to reach veterans suffering from PTSD, especially those who are homeless or reside in underserved urban and rural areas of our country.

I urge all Members to support Jackson Lee Amendment No. 14.

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