Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the El Segundo Little League All-Stars, a baseball team from the City of El Segundo, who won the 2023 Little League Baseball World Series on the 27th of August. El Segundo defeated the Pabao Little League of Willemstad, Curacao in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

This year's championship win is the first for a team from Los Angeles County since 1993 and is the first for a team from the City of El Segundo.

The El Segundo Little League All-Stars--Lennon Salazar, Finley Green, Quinn Boehle, Lucas Keldorf, Colby Lee, Max Baker, Brody Brooks, Declan McRoberts, Ollie Parks, Louis Lappe, Crew O'Connor, and Jaxon Kalish-- should be proud of their accomplishment, as they have secured the 8th total title for the State of California, the most of any State in the union. The El Segundo Little League team won 5 consecutive elimination games to compete in the championship and took home the win in a 6-5 game. Louis Lappe hit a legendary walk-off home run to win the game in the sixth inning. The team was led by Manager Danny Boehle and Coaches Tim Abrams and Eddie Lee.

I am happy to know that this team had the full support of their city behind them, and residents gathered across the city and Southern California to cheer them on in a wonderful display of community. Their achievements are made all the more special by the hard work and the team effort made by every player, coach and supporter along the way.

On behalf of California's 36th Congressional District, I would like to sincerely congratulate the El Segundo Little League All-Stars team on winning the Little League World Series and wish them best of luck in their future efforts. Their performance was a sight to behold, and they have made us all proud. Go Gundo.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th anniversary of the unofficial formation of the Palos Verdes Peninsula community. One hundred years ago, a small real estate rally took place that is credited with the inception of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Today, the Palos Verdes Peninsula is comprised of 4 beautiful cities. The first city to be incorporated on the peninsula was Palos Verdes Estates in 1939, followed by Rolling Hills and Rolling Hills Estates in 1957, and most recently Rancho Palos Verdes in 1973.

On June 17, 1923, real estate developers hosted a rally to encourage individuals to buy property on the peninsula. This event invited people to hear about the development plan for the Peninsula and led to one of Nation's first planned communities. The original site of the rally is where the offices of the Palos Verdes Unified District now stands. What was once empty land with rolling hills and scenic views has transformed into a beautiful community with an amazing school district, businesses, and homes. Today, the Peninsula is home to roughly 80,000 residents-- all of whom are my constituents.

The illustrious history of the Palos Verdes Peninsula was celebrated on June 17, 2023, with Doors Open Peninsula 2023: Celebrating 100 Years of History on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Community leaders, residents, elected officials, and business owners worked in conjunction to honor the Peninsula's history. On behalf of the residents of California's 36th Congressional District, I would like to congratulate the Palos Verdes Peninsula community on their 100-year anniversary and wish the cities a prosperous future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor the life of Mr. William Friedkin, who passed away on August 7, 2023. Mr. Friedkin was a master filmmaker who is best known for directing such hit films as The French Connection (1971) and The Exorcist (1973), which went on to become highly-acclaimed. Mr. Friedkin was born on August 25, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois. His parents, Louis and Rachael Friedkin, were Jewish emigrants who fled their dangerous home country due to religious persecution. Mr. Friedkin attended public schools in Chicago, where he developed a fascination with movies and television. He began his career in entertainment and television working with WGN TV immediately after graduating high school.

William moved to Hollywood in 1965 and shortly thereafter began to direct hit television programs like The Alfred Hitchcock Hour and his first feature film, Good Times, which starred Sonny and Cher. Mr. Friedkin released his first acclaimed film in 1971, The French Connection, which depicted two NYPD officers who attempt to uncover a large smuggling ring. This film was described as one of the best films of its time and is widely considered one of the greatest movies of all time, having been selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2005.

Following the success of his previous film, Mr. Friedkin released The Exorcist in 1973. The film was based on William Petter Blatty's novel which depicted the possession of a young girl. It is known today as one of Hollywood's top-grossing horror movies of all time. At a moment in history where horror movies were not considered critically acclaimed, The Exorcist elevated audiences' attitudes towards the entire movie genre. Mr. Friedkin rose to be a sought-after director in Hollywood after the success of both films. William's work has continued to be a strong influence on American and international filmmakers and he continued to direct into the final year of his life, directing a film adaptation of author Herman Wouk's The Caine Mutiny.

Mr. Friedkin is survived by his wife of 32 years, Mrs. Sherry Lansing, the chairwoman of Universal Music Group; and two sons, Cedric Friedkin, a successful production manager and Jackson Friedkin, an accomplished film editor. May his memory be a blessing to all who knew him.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a Statement of Administration Policy about protected airspace over major sporting events. Temporary Flight Restrictions over stadiums and related facilities have been in effect for over 20 years, since Congress first enacted them into law in 2002. Congress acted not to protect the stadiums themselves, but the millions of fans who attend events and the athletes who compete in them. I submit as well a letter from the security directors of the National Football League, Major League Baseball, the National Collegiate Athletic Association and NASCAR, in which they affirm that the Temporary Flight Restrictions. which Congress created, form an essential part of the security architecture that protects these events. Section 813 of the pending bill opens up this airspace, putting those fans and athletes at undue risk. There is no valid public policy reason for it. I urge that before this legislation becomes public law, the decision to weaken these restrictions be reversed and the current law be left undisturbed.

Statement of Administration Policy

H.R. 3935--Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation

Act

July 17, 2023

The Administration supports enactment of a Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill and applauds the

bipartisan work of the House Transportation and

Infrastructure Committee. The Administration is focused on

ensuring that the aviation sector works well for the American

people, and reauthorizing the FAA in a timely manner will

help achieve that goal. H.R. 3935, the Securing Growth and

Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act, would enhance

aviation safety; invest in, and improve on-the-job safety

for, our aviation workforce; integrate into the national

airspace system new entrants such as Advanced Air Mobility

and Commercial Space operators; strengthen passenger rights;

and improve our aviation infrastructure.

The Administration looks forward to working with the

Congress to address the Administration's concerns with this

legislation, a number of which are outlined below.

Protection of Aviation Consumer Rights and Promotion of Competition.

The Administration is strongly committed to protecting the

rights of aviation consumers and promoting competition in the

aviation industry. The Administration opposes provisions in

the bill that would reverse important gains made by this

Administration to combat junk fees in the airline industry

and would eliminate longstanding consumer protections. The

Administration believes that the disclosure requirements

currently in place for passenger tickets are necessary to

help consumers comparison shop for a ticket. The

Administration encourages the Congress to include the

Administration's proposals to expand consumer protections by

banning family seating junk fees, requiring up-front

disclosure of add-on fees, and requiring automatic refunds

and additional compensation for controllable flight

cancellations and delays. The Administration further supports

opening up airport gate access and preventing anticompetitive

practices that block new entrants.

International Commitments.

While the Administration appreciates the language aimed at

ensuring continued U.S. implementation of Open Skies

agreements while promoting labor standards for U.S.-based

aviation sector workers, the Administration also urges the

Congress to add provisions to implement U.S. international

commitments and ensure our aviation partners follow suit. The

bill should be amended to include provisions for U.S.

implementation of global market-based measures of the

International Civil Aviation Organization, and to establish

U.S. leadership relating to the understanding and mitigation

of the non-Greenhouse Gas climate impacts of aviation.

Agency Restructuring.

While the Administration supports the goal of improving the

efficiency of the organizational structure of the FAA, it

does not support the proposed changes in FAA rulemaking

review and the weakening of the Administrator's ability and

authority to determine the appropriate size and allocation of

the air traffic controller workforce. The Administration also

has concerns with provisions that would make fundamental

changes to the agency's structure, eroding the discretion of

the Administrator to manage the agency in the most efficient

manner.

Implementation Timelines and Program Changes.

The legislation includes multiple rulemakings, reviews,

reports, and other requirements with aggressive time lines,

along with the creation of numerous programs that are not

conditioned on the availability of appropriations.

The Administration is also concerned that proposed major

structural changes to airport infrastructure programs are

untested, and may be difficult to implement depending on the

level of resources made available. The bill would also reduce

the amount of competitive airport grant funding, which would

reduce the FAA's ability to address important safety and

capacity issues.

Standards for Airport Service Workers.

The Administration urges the Congress to include provisions

that will improve job quality for, and therefore aid in the

recruitment and retention of, those who clean planes, handle

baggage, assist passengers who use wheelchairs, and provide

other services critical to safe, stable, and timely

operations for aviation customers.

Age Standards for Pilots.

The bill includes a provision that would raise the

retirement age for pilots in commercial operations. Making

this change without doing research and establishing any

necessary policies would be outside the international

standard.

Maintaining Safe and Secure Airspace During Major Sports Events.

While the Administration supports the goal of providing

accessibility to and public use of the national airspace, it

is concerned that provisions proposed in the bill could

introduce unnecessary risks to those attending major sporting

events if the effectiveness of safety and security buffers

currently provided by temporary flight restrictions were to

be decreased. To the extent that the proposed provisions are

intended to accommodate airshows, the Administration urges

the Congress to consider alternative methods to deconflict

airshows and major sports events rather than potentially put

aviation operations in close proximity to events attended by

millions of Americans each year.

July 18, 2023.

Dear Members of Congress: We write to urge you to oppose

the weakening of a law that protects the millions of sports

fans and spectators who attend professional and collegiate

sporting events each year. The current statutory ban on

aircraft--including unmanned aircraft systems (``UAS'') or

drones--flying over large stadium sporting events throughout

the country provides necessary safety and security

protections against real and potential threats.

We are deeply concerned about section 813 ofthe House

version ofthe Federal Aviation Administration (``FAA'')

Reauthorization Act. If adopted, the language would establish

a broad and complex waiver program that would permit

countless aircraft to fly near and over stadiums during

games, putting millions of fans at risk, and unnecessarily

so. Congress wisely eliminated a similar waiver program back

in 2003, after discovering troubling and persistent failures,

gaps, and vulnerabilities in the process for conducting

background checks and issuing waivers.

The FAA first established flight restrictions over large

stadium sporting events immediately following the terrorist

attacks of September 11, 2001, in response to concerns about

terrorists using aircraft as weapons. Congress subsequently

twice codified and strengthened these restrictions, providing

specific criteria for aircraft operations permitted within

the flight restricted area. Section 813 would effectively

eliminate the specific criteria and replace it with an open-

ended waiver program.

The long-standing, congressionally mandated flight

restriction enhances the safety and security of large stadium

events, while minimizing the disruption to the National

Airspace System (``NAS''). Specifically, airspace over large

stadiums--with a seating capacity of 30,000 people or more

and where a NFL, MLB, and NCAA Division I football games or

major motor speedway events, such as NASCAR and INDYCAR

races, are taking place--is closed to all aircraft from one

hour before until one hour after a major sporting event. The

flight restrictions extend to three nautical miles from the

center of the stadium and from the surface to 3,000 feet

above the stadium. The flight restrictions do not apply to

authorized aircraft, such as Department of Defense, law

enforcement or air ambulance flight operations, or those in

contact with air traffic control for take offs and landings

at nearby airports, among others.

Having devoted substantial resources to secure our stadiums

on the ground, we regard the stadium flight restriction as

essential to safeguarding the airspace overhead. Moreover,

given the proliferation of UAS in our NAS, as well as the

continuing need to remain vigilant to other current and

emerging risks, the stadium flight restriction is as vital

now as ever to our national security and public safety. We

believe section 813 complicates the airspace over stadiums,

compromises public safety and security, and courts potential

disaster.

We, therefore, urge you to uphold current law and maintain

existing flight restrictions that protect the safety and

security of millions of fans who attend large stadium

sporting events every year.

Sincerely,

Cathy Lanier,

Chief Security Officer, National Football League.

David Thomas,

Vice President, Security and Ballpark Operations, Major

League Baseball.

Bill Rhodes,

Managing Director, Security, National Association for Stock

Car Auto Racing.

Dan Gavitt,

Senior Vice President, National Collegiate Athletic

Association.

Mr. Speaker, today Bloomberg reported that U.S. GDP growth accelerated to 2.4 percent blowing past economists' estimates.

Consumer confidence is also at the highest level in over 2 years, and inflation has now declined for 12 consecutive months to a low of 3 percent. The United States has the highest GDP growth and the lowest inflation of all the G-7 countries.

So growth is up, consumer confidence is up, and inflation is down. This is Bidenomics, and it did not happen by accident.

When Democrats were in control last term, we passed numerous laws to grow our economy from the bottom up and the middle out. We passed the American Rescue Plan, the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the infrastructure law. All those laws have now grown our economy and grown the middle class.

What are Republicans focused on?

Putting women in jail for concealing abortions.

Artificial Intelligence

Mr. Speaker, as a recovering computer science major, I am excited about artificial intelligence. AI has moved society forward and will continue to do amazing things in the medical field and many other fields.

At the same time, there are potential risks to artificial intelligence, and we need to make sure we can harness the benefits of AI and reduce these risks.

That is why I have proposed a national AI commission that is a bipartisan blue ribbon commission that will make recommendations to Congress as to what kinds of AI we should regulate and how we might go about doing so.

This legislation is coauthored by Republican Congressman Ken Buck with Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, and on the Senate side it will be carried by Senator Schatz.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the Speaker to put this legislation on the floor for a vote.

In addition, AI can also destroy the world. We can never ever let AI control nuclear weapons. I have also introduced bipartisan legislation that would

prevent AI from ever launching a nuclear weapon by itself. We need to have meaningful human control.

Mr. Speaker, I also request the Speaker to allow that bill to be voted on on the floor.

Mr. Speaker, on July 19, 2023, Federal Judge Lewis Kaplan rejected Donald Trump's request for a new trial and confirmed that Donald Trump raped E. Jean Carroll.

I must submit this court ruling into the Congressional Record, and I will read what the judge found. On page 43, the judge wrote: ``Ms. Carroll testified that the sexual assault--the `rape'--of which she accused Mr. Trump involved especially painful, forced digital penetration. . . . ''

The judge further writes: ``The testimony of the outcry witnesses, [Mses.] Birnbach and Martin, corroborated the essence of Ms. Carroll's account of a violent, traumatic sexual assault.''

On page 44, the judge wrote: ``The jury's finding of sexual abuse therefore necessarily implies that it found that Mr. Trump forcibly penetrated her vagina.''

The judge further writes: `` . . . in other words, that he raped her. . . . ''

Mr. Speaker, Judge Kaplan's memorandum opinion denying defendant's rule 59 motion can be found at: https://storage.courtlistener.com/ recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.590045/gov.uscourts.nysd.590045.212.0.pdf.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Representative Connolly, for his leadership.

I am a proud coauthor of the Taiwan International Solidarity Act. Taiwan is a critically important partner to the United States, and Taiwan has made significant contributions to the international community.

Unfortunately, the actions of the government of the People's Republic of China have prevented Taiwan from being a part of important international organizations that help not only the United States but also helps their international community and helps the PRC.

For example, the PRC blocks Taiwan from being a part of the International Civil Aviation Organization. That is just really stupid because there are people from the PRC flying into Taiwan and flying out; there are people from the United States flying into Taiwan and flying out.

Why wouldn't you want Taiwan to have safer air travel? You absolutely would. The PRC also, unfortunately, blocked Taiwan from being in the World Health Assembly. Factually, it turns out that Taiwan got it right. Taiwan told the entire world that COVID could be passed through human transmission. The PRC lied to the entire world and said that that was not true.

Taiwan got it right and yet, the WHO excludes Taiwan. The WHO should be ashamed of themselves and should let Taiwan in.

Taiwan is also excluded from INTERPOL. Why wouldn't you want Taiwan to help with fighting crime and

terrorism around the world? You absolutely would.

This bill would require the State Department to report to Congress every year on any efforts by the PRC government to undermine Taiwan's participation in international organizations.

It would also require the State Department to report on any PRC government effort to undermine Taiwan's relationships with other countries. This information we receive will be critical to holding the PRC government accountable for any efforts to undermine Taiwan's contributions to the international community.

Madam Speaker, recently, Speaker McCarthy stated that if the Department of Justice can prosecute Donald Trump, then ``they can do that to any American.''

Speaker McCarthy is absolutely correct. If the Department of Justice can prosecute Donald Trump for unlawfully retaining top secret, classified documents that put American lives at risk and sharing those documents with random people, then yes, the Department of Justice can prosecute you for unlawfully retaining top secret, classified documents and sharing them with random people, because you are not above the law and neither is Donald Trump.

Mr. Speaker, today we learned that it wasn't just Clarence Thomas on the Supreme Court who accepted lavish gifts from a conservative billionaire and didn't disclose it, violating ethical rules.

We learned that Justice Samuel Alito also accepted lavish gifts from another conservative billionaire and didn't disclose it.

In addition, both Justices Thomas and Alito failed to disclose the private jet travel that they received from conservative billionaires. That is a violation of Federal law.

Americans used to respect the United States Supreme Court. Now I think the American people can rightfully ask: Is it turning into a cesspool of corruption? That is why I ask the Speaker of the House to put on the floor the bill authored by Democrats to put ethical standards on the United States Supreme Court.

Every Federal judge has to follow ethical standards except for these nine people. Who do they think they are?

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Los Angeles Times newspaper, based in the 36th Congressional District of California, which won two Pulitzer Prizes this year for excellence in photography and investigative journalism.

A strong Fourth Estate is essential to our democracy. Good journalism shines light on injustice, holds power accountable, and informs the public. Since 1881, the Los Angeles Times has been a critical source of news for our community, and I want to congratulate them on these two recent honors. The staff of the Los Angeles Times, as well as our community in general, should be extremely proud of the Times' exceptional journalism.

We have seen a tumultuous decade for the journalism industry in general--from a changing business landscape to growing hostilities directed at journalists. Despite these challenges, the Los Angeles Times and its reporters have worked diligently to provide Southern California and the rest of the country with impactful journalism. I commend Los Angeles Times photographer Christina House for her Pulitzer for Feature Photography this year. I also congratulate the entire staff of the Times for their Pulitzer for Breaking News Reporting.

I often quote Abraham Lincoln, who once said: ``In this age, in this country, public sentiment is everything. With it, nothing can fail; against it, nothing can succeed.'' No pillar of democracy is more important in providing information to the public than a free press. I want to thank the Los Angeles Times for its consistent dedication to the necessary and difficult work of informing the public. I am proud to honor Los Angeles Times leadership, reporters, and staff as they celebrate their Pulitzer Prizes.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the men's volleyball team from the University of California, Los Angeles. They took home the 2023 NCAA Men's National Collegiate Volleyball Championship on the 6th of May. UCLA defeated the men's volleyball team from the University of Hawaii at EagleBank Arena on the campus of George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.

This year's championship is the program's 20th national title win and the 121st overall NCAA title win by a UCLA Bruin team in any sport.

The men's volleyball team should be proud of their achievement in earning the distinction of being national champions, amongst the more than half a million student-athletes who participate in NCAA events each year. The team ended their season with 12 straight wins, which marked the longest streak by the program since their last 2006 national title win. With guidance from Coach John Speraw, the team was able to defeat the two-time defending champions, Hawaii, with a 3-1 win.

I would like to sincerely congratulate the UCLA's men's volleyball team once again on winning the national championship and wish them the best of luck next season. This win is a special moment in the collegiate athletic careers of each individual UCLA player and marks an exceptional accomplishment and historic achievement for the UCLA community. Go Bruins.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize May 14th as IgA Nephropathy Awareness Day. IgA Nephropathy (IgAN) is a rare autoimmune disease that causes a person's immune system to attack the kidneys. Fewer than 200,000 people are diagnosed with this incurable condition per year in the United States, yet it is one of the most common diseases affecting the kidneys other than those caused by high blood pressure or diabetes.

IgA Nephropathy is a condition characterized by an abnormal build-up of a protein called immunoglobulin A (IgA), which causes the immune system to attack the kidneys, often leading to kidney damage or failure. The deposits of IgA cause a breakdown of the normal filtering mechanisms in the kidney, leading to hematuria, proteinuria, and a progressive loss of kidney function. The cause of abnormal IgA build-up in patients with this condition is unclear, although genetic factors likely play a role. While IgA Nephropathy impacts women and men of every ethnicity, it is most prevalent in those of Asian ancestry. In fact, kidney failure among Asian Americans is 5 times more likely to be the result of IgA Nephropathy than among Caucasians, and 15 times more likely compared to African Americans. It is fitting that IgAN Awareness Day occurs during Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Although IgA Nephropathy can develop at any age, the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) notes that it most often affects younger Americans, usually appearing between the teen years and the late 30s. Tragically, according to the IgAN Foundation, as many as half of those affected by IgAN will develop end-stage kidney disease and eventually require dialysis or a kidney transplant. Sadly, IgAN can recur in the transplanted kidney and, after a period, of increased quality of life families find themselves in yet another familiar battle.

As is often the case with rare diseases, the diagnostic journey to IgA Nephropathy tends to be long. There are usually little or no immediate signs and symptoms. The disease causes inflammation that can trigger complications, including high blood pressure and chronic kidney disease. In fact, many patients are not diagnosed until they show some of these complications and blood or protein in the urine.

IgA Nephropathy was first identified in 1968, and it is viewed as a condition without a cure. While some patients have been able to delay kidney decline and failure through lifestyle changes, supplements, and medication, many others have seen no effective treatments for almost four decades.

However, this is all beginning to change, and IgAN patients finally have the tangible hope of new treatments here today. The number of clinical trials is growing, and the FDA approved the first-ever medication for IgA Nephropathy in late-2021. Earlier this year, the FDA approved another new drug therapy which proved to demonstrate rapid and sustained proteinuria reduction--a key to maintaining healthy functioning of the kidneys.

These advancements in IgA Nephropathy treatment and hope for more therapies on the horizon provide life-changing options for patients struggling with this chronic disease. It's important we raise awareness of this condition to counter the fear and uncertainty that can come with an IgA Nephropathy diagnosis. More must be done to develop the means for patients to manage their conditions and live normal lives, even while dealing with this cruel disease.

I also want to salute by name the IgA Nephropathy Foundation. On May 14, 2004, Bonnie Schneider and her husband established the IgA Nephropathy Foundation from their home. Eddie, their 13-year-old son, had been recently diagnosed with the condition, and they saw firsthand the unmet need for answers, resources, and a supportive community for individuals with IgAN.

In addition, I am proud to say that California's 36th Congressional District is fully engaged in this effort, as IgA Nephropathy Foundation Board Secretary Mary Schneider is from Venice in my district.

So on May 14th, the 19th anniversary of its founding, the IgA Nephropathy Foundation and the entire IgAN community and partners will come together to raise awareness about this disease, while also celebrating the strength of the patients and caregivers who battle the condition every day. Their hope is that this important day will drive people to assess their risks and recognize symptoms. With improved awareness among physicians, a strong network of support for patients, and further research to build on existing therapies, we can improve the lives of IgA Nephropathy patients--and one day find a cure.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the IgA Nephropathy Foundation for creating this important day of awareness. I am proud to stand with the brave Americans and their families who must battle this disease and who continue in their efforts to educate the public on IgA Nephropathy. On May 14th, we honor them and all their efforts as we once again recognize IgA Nephropathy Awareness Day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of East West Bank, and to honor the achievements of its CEO Mr. Dominic Ng.

Since they opened in Los Angeles in 1973, East West Bank has served the banking needs of people throughout the United States and across the world. When many banks closed their doors to the Chinese American community due to bigotry and discrimination, East West Bank stepped in to provide access to important financial services.

For five decades, East West Bank has been building bridges of opportunity. In 1994, East West Bank enhanced ATM services to offer the first trilingual language services (English, Chinese, and Spanish) in the country. East West also expanded services to offer trilingual, 24- hour automatic phone banking services. In 2000, East West Bank launched the first bilingual (English/Chinese) website and Online Banking Services in the U.S. to support clients seeking new paths to success.

In 1992, Dominic Ng was appointed President and CEO of East West Bank. Mr. Ng has been a resident of Southern California for over 30 years. As CEO, Mr. Ng transformed East West Bank from a small savings institution into a global full-service commercial bank with over $64 billion in assets.

In 2022, President Biden recognized Mr. Ngs leadership in the business world and substantial contributions to America by naming him Chair of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Advisory Council. In this role he advises APEC leaders on issues affecting the continued growth of the Asia-Pacific economy. Mr. Ng continues to work to bring economic prosperity to our immigrant communities. His efforts today fulfill East

West's mission, and the promise of the American Dream, by helping communities in Los Angeles and around the world. Mr. Ng is a patriotic American who epitomizes what it means to be an American.

Today, East West Bank is the largest independent bank headquartered in Southern California and is celebrating its 50th anniversary. I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to East West Bank on this important milestone, and to Dominic Ng for his long and successful tenure as CEO.

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow, Congress is going to vote on a bill that would ban some transgender kids from participating in sports. To be honest, I haven't thought about this issue very much. I don't actually know any transgender students.

I think many of you may not have thought of this issue either. You have busy lives.

If you still have an open mind on this, I would like to read to you part of a letter that the Republican Governor of Utah wrote. This letter is the veto message of Governor Spencer Cox of Utah where he vetoed a similar State bill regarding transgender kids.

He writes: ``I must admit I am not an expert on transgenderism. I struggle to understand so much of it, and the science is conflicting. When in doubt, however, I always try to err on the side of kindness, mercy and compassion.''

It goes on to say: ``Here are the numbers that have most impacted my decision: 75,000, 4, 1, 86, and 56.''

What does he mean by those numbers? Well, this is what he writes:

``75,000 high school kids participating in high school sports in Utah.

``Four transgender kids playing high school sports in Utah.

``One transgender student playing girls' sports.

``86 percent of trans youth reporting suicidality.

``56 percent of trans youth having attempted suicide.''

He goes on to write: ``Four kids and only one of them playing girls' sports. That's what all of this is about. Four kids who aren't dominating or winning trophies or taking scholarships. Four kids who are just trying to find some friends and feel like they are a part of something. Four kids trying to get through each day. Rarely has so much fear and anger been directed at so few. I don't understand what they are going through or why they feel the way they do. But I want them to live. And all the research shows that even a little acceptance and connection can reduce suicidality significantly.''

Like the Republican Governor of Utah, I also am not an expert on transgenderism, but I do know this: We are all Americans, and these are kids. Most of them wake up every morning living in fear that they are going to have a bad day, that they are going to be shunned, made fun of, discriminated against and bullied.

Mr. Speaker, we are the United States House of Representatives. We should not be bullying kids.

In Solemn Remembrance of the 108th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in solemn remembrance of the Armenian genocide. April 24 marks the 108th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, one of the most horrific losses of life in modern history.

The Ottoman Empire's brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing led to the deaths of roughly 1.5 million Armenians in the period between 1915 to 1923.

Despite this tragedy, the Armenian-American community today is strong and vibrant. Remembering the atrocities like the Armenian genocide is crucial to ensuring that this never happens again. A key part of this process is education.

I am proud to co-lead this year's Armenian Genocide Education Act with Representatives Anna Eshoo, Gus Bilirakis, and David Valadao, which we will introduce on April 24.

This legislation will authorize $10 million in funding to the Library of Congress over 5 years to develop Armenian genocide education programs and resources which can be used by educators across the country. Those resources will ensure that future generations learn about and never forget about these atrocities.

Mr. Speaker, I stand with the Armenian-American community in my district and across the U.S. as they honor and remember those who perished during the genocide.

Madam Speaker, extreme MAGA Republican policies on education resulted in the following: A Florida principal lost his job because they wanted to teach classical artworks like Michelangelo's classic, ``David.'' A school in Florida banned ``Ruby Bridges,'' a Disney movie that talks about desegregation. You have textbooks with Rosa Parks but not describing her race.

What is going to end up happening is that MAGA students are going to be so sheltered and unprepared for life. When they start work or go to a 4-year college or a trade school, they are going to be made fun of. They are going to be disrespected because they would have been kept ignorant.

Don't keep your kids ignorant. Teach them classic works of art. Teach them about civil rights. Teach them about slavery. Teach them about desegregation.

They are going to learn it anyway when they grow up. Don't shelter them.