Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, no 9-year-old should be sentenced to a death sentence. No grandmother shopping at a grocery store should get a death sentence. No mother who testified today should lose her son.

Vicious gun violence that has no rhyme and no reason. Yes, I am excited about this historic moment. H.R. 7910, the Protecting Our Kids Act, is, in fact, a solution to horrible and vicious problems.

It is clear, as I stand next to the children, they should not have died. As I stand next to those from Buffalo, they should not have died. As we know about those who were seeking medical care in Tulsa, they should not have died.

I have no problem with saying that we build on this, and as Ronald Reagan said to us, he at the time saw no reason for an AK-47 to be used for hunting or defending one's home.

Dr. Guerrero, a pediatrician, said that he raced to the hospital, and as he raced to the hospital, he found parents outside yelling children's names in desperation, sobbing as they begged for news of their related children. Or the mother who ran barefoot all the way to Robb Elementary School, begging and crying for a child. Or Miah, who had the wherewithal to watch as her teacher was shot dead, she marked herself with blood because she was attempting to save her life.

These children, these Americans, our loved ones, this should not happen again. So, this bill that has a package of storage bills, that has a package of munitions, that deals with the age, deals with a number of items, trafficking, ghost guns, bump stocks, this is a way to go.

I hope, as we go in the future, we are not afraid of a 7-day waiting period or an assault weapon ban. This is the way to go.

Madam Speaker, this is the way to go.

I thank Chairman Thompson and Chairman Nadler.

This is the way to go. Should they be given a death sentence? Where is the responsible gun owner that can stand with me and declare that they should live? You are out there.

Madam Speaker, we need humanity and courage.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7910, the ``Protecting Our Kids Act.''

Our country is experiencing a crisis of gun violence. It is critical that Congress act now to protect our children and our communities by supporting H.R. 7910. This multifaceted legislation is a combination of humanity, courage, decency, and action.

I traveled to Uvalde and listened to the grieving parents and families of children and teachers slaughtered at Robb Elementary. We can no longer standby idly as our children suffer such life-changing trauma.

As I stand here today, I am reminded of the immortal words of the conscience of Congress, Representative John Lewis, following the 2016 Pulse Nightclub massacre. He said:

``This is the fight. It is not an opinion. We must remove the blinders, the time for silence and patience is long gone.''

He asked--``Where is the heart of this body? Where is our soul? Where is our moral leadership? Where is our courage?''

Far too many have died by gunfire since Representative Lewis asked, ``Are we blind?'' I ask this body today: Where is our courage? Are we still blind to this horror? What will it take for us to act?

As a Texan, I understand how deeply guns are embedded in our culture. Though, I equally understand how our children are impacted by the presence of guns in our communities.

My heart was touched by Kimberly Vaughan, a 14-year-old student, was the youngest victim to die along with eight schoolmates and two teachers, at Santa Fe High School in Texas in 2018. The shooter gained access to his father's shotgun and pistol, kept in a closet, to carry out the murders.

To commemorate Kimberly Vaughan, I introduced a provision of H.R. 7910 that expands the requires safe firearm storage devices to be made available at the point of sale--for both rifles and shotguns--which will train new gun owners on the value of safe storage and remind seasoned gun owners that safe storage goes hand-in-hand with responsible gun ownership.

There are now more guns held legally and illegally in the U.S. than there are people. While gun violence touches every corner of America, Texas has suffered some of the deadliest mass shootings in history.

Despite the escalating gun violence statistics, which have left innumerable families and communities broken and afraid, Congress has still failed to act.

Instead, lawmakers in several states, including in my state of Texas, have reconvened after mass shootings to soften gun laws, most notably, passing permit-less carry legislation.

I have been dismayed by those who repeatedly offer thoughts and prayers, then fail to act. Our top priority as lawmakers should be protecting our communities. Yet, we have relinquished that duty through inaction.

Now is the time for action. We cannot wait any longer. I call upon each of my colleagues, on both the right and left, to muster your courage and join me in support of H.R. 7910--life-saving legislation, which represents the hard work of so many dedicated members of Congress.

I thank House Judiciary Committee Chairman Nadler and Representative Mike Thompson, Chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, for working with me on this bill and recognizing the urgency and necessity of bringing it to the floor.

Madam Speaker, I could not sit idly by to hear the abuse of the Second Amendment that Judge Scalia would not recognize; and that is, that there are no restrictions.

I believe Judge Scalia would look at these dead babies and realize that the Constitution and the Second Amendment that is protected, untouched, would ask you the question, is there no sense of responsibility to be able to provide restrictions to save lives?

How dare you suggest that we cannot provide the kind of laws in Protecting Our Kids Act that provides the incentives and guidelines to save lives?

Ask the mothers and fathers of these babies. The Second Amendment is not absolute. It does allow restrictions; just as President Reagan said: He sees no reason for an AK-47, at that time, to be used for sport or to be used for anything else.

Support our babies and vote for this act. Where is your responsibility and courage?

Mr. Speaker, I come tonight to pay tribute to the Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, celebrating its 60th anniversary--its diamond anniversary--and to thank the senior pastor, Dr. Marcus Cosby, and, of course, the pastor emeritus, the world renowned Rev. Dr. William A. Lawson.

The leadership of Pastor Cosby is founded in his own spiritual grounding and as well his commitment, dedication, and respect for Pastor Lawson and his family.

It is an interesting church now called the cathedral, and it is a place where people can come for refuge. It is a place of intellect and genius because of its many members of great talent.

But, oh, they are the Good Samaritans. They are reminded as a church body that it is their goal and their responsibility to feed the hungry and those without clothes, those who need housing, and as well to open its doors to civic participation.

This is a place that was founded by Pastor Lawson and his wife, the late Audrey Lawson, in their living room 60 years ago as Pastor Lawson was, in fact, being the Pastor for TSU's, Texas Southern University, students.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church because they are a church of action, service, and love of God. Bless them for their 60th anniversary.

Buffalo, Tulsa, Philadelphia. Mr. Speaker, I won't be talking about guns. I will be talking about saving lives.

My deepest sympathy to my colleague in Texas that represents Uvalde, and to the people of Texas. And I am going to be repetitive this week. It is going to be about saving lives and explaining to the American people that people take guns to kill. It may be suicide, but it is certainly mass murders. We are up to 200 mass murders up to this date.

But the most stark of what we see is that grocery store shoppers in Buffalo, killed by white supremacy and guns, automatic weapons; here in Uvalde, these precious children, killed by guns, automatic weapons.

We have to pass protecting our children's act, and we must also pass a 7-day waiting period, which I will be introducing to deal with automatic weapons because guns kill.

And the question that all of my colleagues must ask: Do you believe in humanity? Do you have courage? And can you act? That is the only question to save lives.

Madam Speaker, as a steadfast ally of the men and women serving in the federal government, I rise in support of H.R. 6087, the ``Improving Access to Workers' Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act.''

This bill allows for injured federal workers to consult with nurse practitioners or physician assistants for the diagnosis and treatment of injuries covered by workers' compensation.

H.R. 6087 will make a needed correction to the Federal Employees Compensation Act, increasing the accessibility of healthcare for nearly three million federal employees.

Nurse practitioners and physician assistants represent a growing portion of American primary care providers, especially for medically underserved communities.

We must prioritize the needs of our invaluable federal workers. Lowering the bureaucratic obstacles blocking federal workers' access to benefits is a necessary measure to protect them.

When Congress has an opportunity to remedy real-world issues with bipartisan action, especially when it improves the lives of government employees, it is our responsibility to act.

H.R. 6087 is especially critical in the face of the increasing workplace risks associated with COVID-19, in which situation an expanded list of approved medical providers can help fill the coverage gap.

The pandemic has already stressed the health and wellbeing of federal workers. Amending the Federal Employees Compensation Act is imperative to lessen that burden.

According to the Office of Personnel Management, Texas has 143,087 federal workers. I will always fight for these workers by standing up for their access to healthcare.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7352--the ``PPP and Bank Fraud Enforcement Harmonization Act of 2022'' extends the statute of limitation and provides a timeframe in which criminal charges can be filed against those accused of fraud in connection with the ``Paycheck Protection Program'' and ``Paycheck Protection Program Second Draw Loans'' program.

The Paycheck Protection Program commonly known as the ``PPP'' loan was created as a part of the CARES Act--the Covid Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act--of March 2020.

The PPP loan was established to help small businesses survive through the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, so that they may be able to pay their employees and keep their businesses operating during the tumultuous challenges imposed by COVID-19.

I urge everyone to remember the times before the recent reemergence of a ``business as usual'' stance that many have now taken, and remember the omnipresent news reports about the horrific and ever- increasing death toll.

Any person who was willing, for their own financial gain, to take advantage of that situation and the emergency funding that was intended for those who needed it most during the gruesome pandemic deserves to be punished for their heinous actions.

H.R. 7352 would extend the statute of limitation for prosecution of loans classified within the PPP and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) categories under the Small Business Act.

As it stands now, bank-originated PPP fraud is being prosecuted as bank fraud which carries a 10-year statute of limitations.

In contrast, loans that originated through financial technology avenues--known as Fintech--are currently subject to only a 5-year statute of limitations because they are governed by wire fraud laws.

H.R. 7352 will ensure that we are doing our duty to uphold justice and gather all necessary information and evidence, while extending the reach of the law against these violators.

PPP fraud comes at the expense of all Americans, tax-paying Americans who work hard for the money they earn.

H.R. 7352 will ensure that there's ample time allotted for special attention to the complex nature of PPP loan fraud.

Ensuring that the timeframe is fair and commensurate with the severity of the nature of loan fraud, H.R. 7352 will make sure that justice is served in every regard.

I ask that each of my colleagues joins me in support of H.R. 7352.

Madam Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 5879 ``Hubzone Price Evaluation Preference Clarification Act''.

The Small Business Act is instrumental in allowing small businesses to remain competitive amid complex markets.

Small businesses are the engine of our economy and exist as the backbone of local communities across the nation. They are essential contributors to our society, as we must support their growth and progress.

The Hubzone program supports small businesses that are part of historically underutilized business zones. These zones are low-income communities that have increased levels of poverty and high unemployment rates.

The program works to target inequities that make it at times difficult for small businesses within these economically distressed communities to compete.

Within the Small Business Act, preferential price evaluations are given to small businesses participating in the Hubzone program.

Price evaluation preferences ensure that a price offered by a qualified Hubzone small business entity is deemed lower than the price offered by another offeror if the qualified Hubzone business's price is not more than 10 percent higher than the price offered by the otherwise lowest offeror.

These price evaluation preferences are a key feature which allow Hubzone contracts to act as an economic boost for small businesses within high unemployment and low-income areas.

These price evaluation preferences help level the playing field for small businesses that are often minority-owned. In Houston alone, nearly 35 percent of small businesses are minority-owned.

The Hubzone program gives these businesses a chance to compete in competitive markets. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, these small businesses need institutional support more than ever.

H.R. 5879 is necessary to clarify how small businesses can be eligible for price evaluation preferences outlined in the Small Business Act.

The number of Hubzone locations, or areas with historically underutilized business zones, has nearly doubled in the past 20 years according to the Small Business Administration.

Small businesses and the communities they benefit depend on the success of the Hubzone program. It is vital to detail how small businesses can receive benefits from the program.

I ask my colleagues to join me in voting for passage of H.R. 5879.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7622, ``The Small Business Workforce Pipeline Act of 2022.''

This bill's purpose is to amend the Small Business Act requirements relating to apprenticeship program assistance for small business development centers, and other purposes.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a labor shortage, that affected businesses in unimaginable ways, especially small businesses. Alarmingly, 23 percent of small businesses closed due to the pandemic and 20 percent of small businesses that were in their first year of operation also failed.

This is why now, more than ever, small businesses need our support by updating the laws that support them and to encourage apprenticeships.

I support this bill's effort to establish a clear and concise plan of action for programing and other resources from which small businesses and their employees can benefit.

I am in favor of this legislation because apprenticeships are tangible opportunities for successful workplace development. They enable young workers to gain on-the job training with educational resources that deliver practical experience and skills, equipping them for future career opportunities.

This ``learn as you work'' style gives access to people who may not be able to purse traditional educational routes.

Historically, apprenticeships focused on skills for a narrow range of industries that could also benefit from the academic credit and mentorship opportunities. For employers finding a hard time hiring qualified employees, apprenticeships are a direct investment that small businesses realize will successfully impact them.

Madam Speaker, this bill will provide much needed assistance to businesses and enable them to continue their good work of providing training skills that will allow opportunities for employees to succeed in the workplace. This legislation will prepare workers for the 21st century workforce, while helping businesses find the skilled employees they need to compete.

I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting passage of H.R. 7622.

SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 7622.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7664, the ``Supporting Small Business and Career and Technical Education Act of 2022.''

This bill would amend the Small Business Act to include requirements relating to graduates of career and technical education programs, and programs of study for small business development centers and women's business centers.

H.R. 7664 would assist small businesses in hiring graduates from career and technical education programs, and would assist graduates of these programs in starting up a small business.

Small businesses are the engine of our economy, creating two-thirds of the new jobs over the last 15 years, accounting for 44 percent of U.S. economic activity.

According to the U.S. Small Business Association (SBA), small businesses of 500 employees or fewer make up 99.9 percent of all U.S. businesses and 99.7 percent of firms with paid employees.

Not only do small businesses provide millions of jobs, they also advance careers and opportunities.

Successful small businesses put money back into their local community through paychecks and taxes, which can support the creation of new small businesses and improve local public services.

Small business is the portal through which many people enter the economic mainstream.

Business ownership allows individuals, including women and minorities, to achieve financial success, as well as bolster pride in their accomplishments.

While most small businesses are still owned by white males, the past two decades have seen a substantial increase in the number of businesses owned by women and minorities.

The more we create opportunities for career growth and development from a wide array of diverse backgrounds, the more opportunities we create for ourselves and our economy.

A critical workforce challenge currently in the United States is the skills gap, particularly among jobs that require either a high school diploma, postsecondary certificate, or associate's degree.

Jobs requiring these ``middle skills'' outnumber the adults in the workforce who possess them, and this gap presents a barrier to American economic competitiveness.

Due to global shifts in technology, automation and other sectors that had been occurring long before the pandemic, employers were raising alarms over a growing number of vital skills they noticed to be in short supply from incoming applicants.

Graduates from career and technical education (CTE) programs are perfectly suited to fill this gap.

CTE programs help students see the relevance of their studies for their future and motivates them to attend classes and study hard.

In 2019-20 there were 11.1 million CTE participants; 7.6 million at the secondary level and 3.5 million at the postsecondary level.

According to the Texas Education Agency's 2016-2017 Academic Excellence Indicator System State Profile Report, 1,523,779 secondary students in Texas (46.3 percent) were enrolled in Career and Technical Education programs.

We must make sure our legislation reflects the importance and value of small business, CTE program graduates, and the role they will play in growing our economy.

I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 7664, the Supporting Small Business and Career and Technical Education Act of 2022.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 7670, the ``Women-Owned Small Business Program Transparency Act.''

H.R. 7670 is a bipartisan effort to amend the Small Business Act to require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to submit to Congress a report on small businesses owned and controlled by women including:

Information as to the amount of contracting dollars awarded through the program,

The number of certifications being issued,

The amount of program examinations being conducted,

The number of companies being decertified, and

The number of contracts incorrectly awarded to industries within the North American Industry Classification System or NAICS codes ineligible for the program, as well as any actions taken by SBA to properly train agency personnel.

The SBA's report to the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate will equip Congress with transparency into the effectiveness of the program that will enable future improvements to the program.

Established in 2000, the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) program leveled the playing field by providing an opportunity for women-owned small businesses to attain federal contracts in industries where the SBA had determined that women entrepreneurs were underrepresented.

Unfortunately, due to administrative neglect in the application review and the application backlog from eligible businesses, many women were shut out from attaining contracts.

Following the U.S. Government Accountability Office's investigation into this matter, they concluded that ``By not improving its oversight of the WOSB program, SBA is limiting its ability to ensure third-party certifiers are following program requirements'', meaning that several contracts that WOSBs had applied for were inaccessible to women.

When enacted, H.R. 7670 will reform the oversight of the WOSB program to ensure that transparency and accountability are high priorities during the contract distribution process.

I applaud the efforts of my colleagues Rep. Chrissy Houlahan and Rep. Claudia Tenney for elevating the voices of all female entreprenuers across America, including over 125,000 female small business owners from Houston.

There has been a long history of women-owned small businesses being excluded from consideration for federal contracts and participation in subcontracting. The progress that women-owned small businesses had made was curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and that lost ground must be reversed so that women-owned businesses are able to remain competitive.

Now more than ever, it is critical for Congress to stand with America's small business owners to whom we owe a great deal for our economic prosperity.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 7670.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 7694, the ``Strengthening Subcontracting for Small Businesses Act of 2022.''

This legislation would amend the Small Business Act to ensure that companies awarded government contracts utilize small businesses in their subcontracting plans.

H.R. 7694 would ensure that small businesses are not excluded from the government contracting process, which is an important concern in Congress.

With more than 65 percent of small businesses having experienced at least a moderately negative impact from the COVID-19 pandemic according to Statista Research, it is more vital than ever that we continue to strengthen small business.

This legislation will provide that urgently needed support.

As small businesses account for 44 percent of U.S. economic activity, they are the powerhouse behind the American workforce, creating two- thirds of the new jobs over the last 15 years.

Small business is vital in times of crisis, giving our economy the ability to be more flexible, innovative, and productive.

In my home district in Houston, there are over 600,000 small businesses engaged in industries across the spectrum.

Many of these small businesses received subcontracts following the devastation of Hurricanes Ike and Harvey, and their work helped rebuild Houston as well as restore local economic growth.

Just this week, there was a briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic response that underscored how important small business subcontracts were, and continue to be, to our capacity for COVID testing, quarantine, and much more.

Small businesses are always serving our communities, and this legislation on subcontracting will allow them to do more of what they're already doing: improving life for us all.

We need legislation that reinforces the value and capability that small businesses provide to the American economy, especially through contracts with the federal government.

I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 7694, the Strengthening Subcontracting for Small Businesses Act.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished member of our committee, Mr. Neguse, for his leadership joining with the Senate, and I thank him for yielding, Mr. Speaker.

This is a fresh start. This is a new opportunity in important bipartisan, bicameral legislation that Mr. Neguse has nurtured and introduced and will ensure, under his leadership, that our bankruptcy system works for the entrepreneurs, small businesses, homeowners, and American families, who are the backbone of this country and of the communities where they live and work.

Having the privilege of having served on the Judiciary Committee for some time, I am reminded of the work that we have done, almost like a puzzle putting together a better matrix for the American people to be able to renew their lives even as they may have the necessity of filing for bankruptcy.

If there is one fundamental principle of American bankruptcy law, it is the promise of a fresh start, and the fresh start is quintessentially an American idea. It is a promise that even when your best efforts have failed, you are not a failure, and you will have a chance to get back up and try again. It is a promise that your debts will not destroy you.

Increasing the debt limit for small businesses electing to file for bankruptcy under subchapter V of chapter 11 to $7.5 million is long overdue.

Mr. Speaker, I particularly thank Mr. Neguse because really small businesses across America have been raising this question, making the point that it is impossible for them to survive with the previous cap for individual chapter 11 filers of $2.75 million.

This legislation will provide much-needed certainty that the bankruptcy system will be responsive to hardworking Americans and their families trying to stay afloat in a world that can be turned upside down by global economic shocks.

Just as I started, again, the filing of bankruptcy should not cause one to never renew again. This legislation, with the leadership of Mr. Neguse, gives our American businesspersons, homeowners, and others a fresh start.

I ask my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I give great accolades to the chairman for his years of service.

This bill, H.R. 7776, deals with water resources infrastructure, makes communities more resilient, and helps indigenous minority communities, but urban areas as well.

The first longstanding impact that we have had in Texas over the years, one of the big ones was Hurricane Ike; 195 dead, 143 miles per hour and, of course, $38 billion. It was, in fact, the seventh most expensive hurricane.

We have continued with the devastation through Hurricane Harvey. This helps us with the Ike Dike and the coastal spine. We are saving lives and helping people.

I support this bill because we can live on the Gulf Coast.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7776, the ``Water Resources Development Act of 2022.''

This is the bill costal regions await because it outlines what critical infrastructure projects will be funded by or in part by the federal government.

I rise to speak on behalf of the city of Houston, which was shortchanged by the General Land Office of Houston, which has not received a single dollar out of $4.3 billion in Hurricane Harvey funding appropriated by this body for flood mitigation.

Houston experienced 25 percent of the damage caused by Hurricane Harvey which occurred in the city of Houston and twenty-five percent occurred in Harris County.

Harris County did receive its Hurricane Harvey Flood mitigation funding, while Houston did not receive funding for the billions in damage caused by flood water.

As the Member of Congress representing the 18th Congressional District of Texas, a senior member of the House Homeland Security Committee, and the person who led the successful effort in the House of Representatives to secure the federal disaster funding needed to mitigate and recover from the epic damage caused by Hurricane Harvey, I address this body to say if this has happened to the fourth largest city in the Nation, it can happen to any community.

When Congress appropriates, there should be no light between our decision and the expending of disaster mitigation funding.

The funds provided to insure that the same level of damage given the same factors are not repeated in the future.

Because of the inexplicable decision by the Texas General Land Office (GLO) refusing to award to the City of Houston or Harris County any of the nearly $1 billion in funding for flood mitigation projects from the $4.2 billion grant it received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development are not ready for another storm of the size and intensity of Hurricane Harvey.

I requested that the Department of Housing and Urban Development review the propriety and legality of the action and Texas GLO and suspend it from distribution any of $4.2 billion tranche, until after HUD completes its review.

The review should include a determination of whether the decision of the Texas GLO complies with Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the Department's regulations.

HUD found that there was nothing it could do because of the agreement that the Trump Administration entered into with the State of Texas.

It is impossible to justify the decision not to award a single dollar out of the $1 billion funding tranche to the City of Houston and Harris County, which are the economic hub of Texas and the southwest United States, and which accounts for 16.3 percent of the state population and more than 44 percent of the population directly affected by Hurricane Harvey.

Hurricane Harvey did not impact all jurisdictions equally. Houston has experienced 5 major flood events in 5 years, with Harris County as the only county affected by disasters in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2019. The cost per-capita of damage in the City of Houston is much greater than in rural areas because of the infrastructure and density of residential and business structures.

The Texas GLO appears to have forgotten or disregarded the damage to Houston and Harris County as a result of Hurricane Harvey, which dropped 21 trillion gallons of rainfall on Texas and Louisiana, most of it on the Houston Metroplex.

To put in perspective the devastation wrought by Hurricane Harvey, the volume of water that fell on Houston and other affected areas of Texas and Louisiana could fill more

than 24,000 Astrodomes or supply the water for the raging Niagara Falls for 15 days.

Houston received more than 50 inches of rainfall and whole sections of Houston, Beaumont, Bayou City, Port Arthur, and other cities were underwater for days.

More than 13,000 people were rescued in the Houston area and more than 30,000 persons were forced out of their homes due to the storm. In just the first three days of the storm, more than 49,000 homes that had suffered flood damage and more than 1,000 homes were completely destroyed in the storm. The cost of removing debris dwarfed the $70 million spent by Houston removing debris after Hurricane Ike in 2008.

Given these facts, it is irrational and unconscionable that Texas GLO awarded nearly $1 billion in U.S. Housing and Urban Development funds to other local governments in 46 Southeast Texas counties but none to the City of Houston.

I am in support of this bill because it renews America's commitment to our environment by funding U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to carry out critical infrastructure projects, especially in our Nation's coastal areas and waterways. It also prioritizes climate change in the research and implementation of the Corps' work.

H.R. 7776 will implement long-overdue modernization of the Corps' procedures and ensure that the economic benefits associated with a revitalized infrastructure are specifically advancing disadvantaged groups. Section 224 of this legislation mandates a report on the distribution of funds to Small Disadvantaged Businesses.

Those businesses include the thousands of small companies owned by people of color and indigenous people. This legislation gives us the opportunity to recenter our Nation's infrastructure development around black and brown business owners who have been perpetually left behind.

I am pleased that this legislation requires a report to Congress by the Secretary of the Army--who oversees the Army Corps of Engineers-- that specifies the amount of contract and subcontract dollars awarded by the Corps to ``small and disadvantaged businesses''.

I hope to work with the Senate to further reinforce the Army Corps, putting in place reliable strong programs and outreach for use of MWBE in this work.

The programs for economic assistance and inclusion of MWBE by the Army Corps in these infrastructure programs must be done. MWBE and stopping flooding work together.

This transparency will help ensure that small businesses owned by people of color are given a fair opportunity to compete for contract and subcontract dollars in water projects. Furthermore, the report will enable Congress to hold the Corps accountable if the share of dollars to small disadvantaged businesses is inadequate.

Projects to research and mitigate flooding are critical to my constituents in Houston, as flood waters present a perpetual risk to my district and the surrounding community. Levees, bayous, reservoirs, and watersheds must all be maintained and reinforced to protect Houston from flood risks. Minority-owned businesses, who face these perpetual risks, must be included in the contracts to protect our communities from those risks.

In 2017, when Hurricane Harvey wreaked havoc on Houston and the entire coast of Texas, it caused more than $125 billion dollars in damage and killed 68 Texans.

As time passes, hurricanes become more intense as our planet warms. Funding the Corps' projects will not only help protect communities in Houston by reducing flooding, but also by lessening America's carbon footprint. That will make these natural disasters less likely to occur.

H.R. 7776 funds projects in Houston like the removing of sediment from the Addicks and Barker reservoirs, restoring our coastal regions, and expanding the Houston Ship Channel. These are critical to the economic viability and well-being of millions of people in South Texas.

It is time for Congress to act to save lives and protect our communities. This funding will dually promote a greener America while also working to lift marginalized groups. In doing both, we make our Nation a more prosperous and equitable place.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 88, ``authorizing the use of Capitol grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby.''

This bill calls for support to hold the traditional Soap Box Derby association's free, public event on the Capitol grounds.

The Soap Box Derby international nonprofit organization, whose mission is to ``build knowledge and character, and to create meaningful experiences through collaboration and fair and honest competition,'' prides itself for allowing the race to take place on the most powerful hill in the world, Capitol Hill.

For 88 years, this event has been an opportunity in which the community comes out to support our youth. Annually, our youth get the opportunity to participate in the international nonprofit's biggest event.

Participants who compete range from ages 9-16 years old and come from the Greater Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area. They could potentially have the honor of representing D.C. in the National Soap Box Derby competition.

This completely sponsored soap box derby event will be free of charge for the public and has a flexible date that will ensure it does not interfere with the needs of Congress.

In Texas, anytime we can celebrate our youth and their accomplishments, while also bringing the community together, it is an opportunity fellowship and relationships through friendly competition.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Con. Res. 88, to host the traditional, Greater Washington Soap Box Derby on our nation's Capitol grounds, an event that will bring the community together for a wonderful celebration.

Madam Speaker, as a member of the Law Enforcement Caucus and the Chairwoman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations, I rise to commemorate Police Week, which runs from May 16 through May 22.

It is essential that we honor our fallen heroes each year who gave their lives in service to their communities.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial is the nation's monument to law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.

Dedicated on October 15, 1991, the Memorial honors federal, state, and local law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the safety and protection of our nation and its people.

Nearly 23,000 officers have been killed in the line of duty throughout U.S. history, dating back to the first known death in 1791.

According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, 458 federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement officers died in the line-of-duty in 2021.

In 2021, Texas experienced the largest number of law enforcement officer fatalities of all U.S. states with 84 line-of-duty deaths.

Today there are more than 900,000 law enforcement personnel serving the people of our country, the highest amount ever.

About 12 percent of them are female.

These brave men and women risk their lives to keep the peace and keep us safe but they are too often taken by the violence they are working to prevent.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to represent the people of the 18th Congressional District of Texas in paying tribute to the 220 fallen heroes who will join the gallant men and women who previously gave the last full measure of devotion to the communities they took an oath to protect and serve.

Among the fallen Texan law enforcement officers are those who served the people of Houston and Harris County, including:

Richard Anthony Sepolio Sr., Harris County, Texas, District Attorney's Office, End of Watch: 1/13/2021.

Kareem Anthony Atkins, Harris County, Texas, Constable's Office, Precinct 4, End of Watch: 10/16/2021.

Tomas Infante Sr., Harris County, Texas, Constable's Office, Precinct 6, End of Watch: 8/22/2021.

Joshua James Sieman, Harris County, Texas, Sheriff's Office, End of Watch: 10/21/2021.

Shaun Christopher Waters, Harris County, Texas, Sheriff's Office, End of Watch: 8/1/2021.

Alexander David Gwosdz, Harris County, Texas, Sheriff's Office, End of Watch: 4/22/2021.

Robert Perez, Harris County, Texas, Sheriff's Office, End of Watch: 2/2/2021.

William John Jeffrey, Houston, Texas, Police Department, End of Watch: 9/20/2021.

John David Wilbanks, Houston, Texas, Police Department, End of Watch: 10/13/2021.

Madam Speaker, I rise in memory of the 220 officers whose names will be added to the National Peace Officers Memorial Wall of Honor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2992, the bipartisan TBI and PTSD Law Enforcement Training Act, that would require the Bureau of Justice Assistance to develop training for law enforcement officers on how best to respond to crisis calls involving individuals suffering from the effects of traumatic brain injuries and posttraumatic stress disorder.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were approximately 2.9 million TBI-related emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States in 2014 and TBI's were identified in 25 percent of all injury-related deaths in 2017.

More than 430,000 U.S. service members were diagnosed with a TBI between the year 2000 and 2020.

With the prevalence of TBI and PTSD among the general population, and particularly among military service members, there is a need to increase training for law enforcement officers to recognize the unique challenges of TBI and PTSD and more effectively respond to crisis calls.

TBI and PTSD can have a significant impact on an individual's ability to make decisions, control impulses, or think clearly.

Many of the symptoms of TBI and PTSD, such as confusion, inability to follow directions, and impaired thinking or memory, can be misinterpreted or mistaken for intoxication.

And individuals who suffer from TBI or PTSD may also appear agitated or exhibit impaired emotional functioning, which can be misunderstood as aggression.

These impairments can impede proper communication and cause interactions between law enforcement and civilians to escalate, posing potential safety risks to both parties--when officers are not trained to recognize the signs and symptoms.

Many officer-involved encounters could have led to better outcomes if the officers involved had known: 1) how to recognize that these individuals were in crisis and suffering from the effects of traumatic events; 2) the best forms of interaction with them; and 3) how to maximize officer and subject safety.

H.R. 2992 would require DOJ, through the Bureau of Justice Assistance, to solicit best practices related to recognizing and responding to individuals with TBI and PTSD and to develop Crisis Intervention Training tools for law enforcement agencies to better respond to these potentially catastrophic encounters.

This legislation would incorporate TBI and PTSD training--once developed--into the existing Police Mental Health Collaboration toolkit, a proven, no-cost online resource for law enforcement agencies, made available by the Bureau of Justice Assistance.

It would further require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to study and understand the prevalence of concussions and Traumatic Brain Injury, specifically, among law enforcement officers and first responders.

Recognizing that Crisis Intervention Training programs have yielded significant benefits for law enforcement agencies, including limiting the need for higher levels of police intervention, reducing officer injuries, and redirecting people in crisis away from the criminal justice system and toward mental health services, this legislation would provide additional resources and support for agencies working to improve public safety and ensure that individuals in their communities receive the care they need.

This legislation would also build upon existing best practices to provide officers, through Law Enforcement Mental Health Learning Sites, additional tools they need to continue to protect the communities they serve and save lives.

I commend Representatives Bill Pascrell, Don Bacon, John Rutherford, and our colleague, Representative Val Demings for introducing this critical, bipartisan legislation and urge my colleagues to join me in support of this bill.