Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I am very proud and so blessed to have been born in the greatest Nation on Earth, the United States of America, and I am a proud, proud American citizen, a proud husband, father, son, and grandfather.

I come to you today in the midst of the longest shutdown in the history of this country. I am disgusted that the issue here isn't about protecting veterans or Americans' healthcare or education. Instead, it is about the demand for Trump's wall.

Last week, I voted to end the shutdown. The bill passed this House, and it sits in the United States Senate. Last year, the Senate unanimously passed basically the same funding bill, so what is the difference now?

President Trump has taken over the United States Senate, and now he wants to punish the American people by attacking our national security, our safety, and the lives of the men and women who serve our great country, expecting them to work without a paycheck.

Trump's shutdown is hurting the Coast Guard, that, right now, is protecting our national security. No pay for their families. They are relying on food banks to feed their families.

The Trump shutdown is literally endangering the lives of workers like

Mallory Lorge, who, without pay, cannot afford the insulin she needs to stay alive.

President Trump, I demand that you reopen government and you stop your Trump shutdown.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of one of my constituents, Gene Greene.

Gene will be remembered as an icon of our community. As a Landscape Architect and Director of the Japanese Garden in Van Nuys, California, Mr. Greene oversaw the beautiful garden since its dedication in 1984, where he personally set the final 28 stones. Thanks to his work, The Garden has been published in several books, websites, and television programs. The Los Angeles Times once characterized the Japanese Garden as ``Gene's Garden'' because of his strong connection to the land.

A humble and generous man, Gene was known for giving credit and not taking it. He always commended the volunteers and docents for their roles in making the Japanese Garden such an iconic landmark of Los Angeles. Everything he did was a true testament of his love for his work, his family, and the community he served.

Gene dedicated his life to public service. He started his career as an intern for the Los Angeles City government before proudly serving in the U.S. Army, where he earned a National Defense Service Medal. Gene was an Eagle Scout, and he credits the training he received there with helping him become an expert rifleman in the military.

Gene attended the California State Polytechnic University at Pomona where he majored in Landscape Architecture. His gift for design and architecture led him to the Bureau of Engineering in the City of Los Angeles. There, he was assigned to work with Dr. Koichi Kawana, lead project architect of the Japanese Garden.

Gene is a fixture of the community and his legacy will never be forgotten. With his dedication to his work and family, Gene will continue inspiring generations of Angelenos. My prayers go to his wife Lynn, his four daughters, and his five grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of one of my constituents, Lee Adrian.

Lee was an active member of our community, serving as Block Captain for the Strathern Neighborhood Watch in North Hollywood, where he worked tirelessly with law enforcement agencies, private organizations, and individual citizens to reduce crime and improve our community. He was also involved with the Community Police Advisory Board for the Los Angeles Police Department Foothill Division that supports the Neighborhood Watch.

A proud patriot, Lee was known for displaying an American flag outside his home for pedestrians to admire. He was also a veteran of the United States Air Force. His love for country translated to Lee's involvement with community advocates, faith leaders, and government officials to make our community a better place for everyone.

He and his wife worked relentlessly on the Whitsett Avenue ``VINTAGE NORTH HOLLYWOOD'' mural until its dedication in 2014, with a drought- resistant garden on both sides of the mural. The large mural was a community effort, which can now be enjoyed by motorists traveling on Whitsett Avenue and on the 170 Freeway, north of Sherman Way.

I hope Mr. Adrian's legacy is never forgotten, and that his passion of giving back to the community inspires others to follow his lead.

Mr. Chair, I thank the authors for all the hard work coming to this moment to get this very important bill on the floor.

Mr. Chair, I rise today to say how glad I am that my bill, the At- Risk Youth Medicaid Protection Act, has been included in today's opioid package.

According to a June 2017 MACPAC report, the opioid epidemic disproportionately affects Medicaid beneficiaries. Therefore, State Medicaid programs are taking the lead in identifying and tailoring strategies to prevent and treat opioid use disorder. Among those affected are our most vulnerable American population, our youth.

Currently, most children who are covered by Medicaid and come into contact with the criminal justice system end up having their enrollment terminated by States. While some States are beginning to suspend instead of terminate their enrollment, only a few States and the District of Columbia suspend their enrollment for the exact duration of the incarceration. This results in unnecessary, costly delays.

I say again: When somebody is terminated rather than suspended, this results in an unnecessary, costly delay, delaying their coverage and preventing them from receiving timely and much-needed health and mental care upon the child's release.

The At-Risk Youth Medicaid Protection Act would require States to automatically restore the child's Medicaid enrollment upon their release. Further, States would be required to process applications for medical assistance by or on behalf of the child and make access to medical assistance for children under foster care consistent with the Affordable Care Act by extending the age of eligibility to age 26.

Mr. Chairman, we owe it to the American people to do everything in our power to decrease the already 64,000 families broken by this epidemic and restore faith in our government system. While this package covers many fronts, the inclusion of this commonsense bill, the At-Risk Youth Medicaid Protection Act, extends the effort to attack this epidemic from all angles, modifying the package's foundation.

Mr. Speaker, right now we have a human rights emergency at our borders. ICE agents are ripping children from their mothers' arms. These are babies as young as 11 months. They are holding these children in facilities that are so full that now Trump wants to build tent cities to house more children.

There are reports of ICE agents telling parents that they are taking their child to give them a bath, and then the parents don't see their baby again.

Think about that: No notice. No due process. Just silent, cruel separation.

This is happening on our American soil. This is the policy of the Trump administration. ICE has an $8 billion budget, and this is what our taxpayer dollars are buying: holding babies, cold and alone, in what are internment camps for little children.

My fellow colleagues, we are not a country that follows a selfish, coldhearted dictator. We are the United States of America.

Mr. Chairman, first I would like to thank Chairman Mac Thornberry and also Ranking Member Adam Smith for their fine work on this and allowing me to bring my amendment to the floor.

My mindfulness amendment would create a pilot program to train members of the Armed Forces in mindfulness stress reduction techniques before deploying to combat zones.

According to the VA, mindfulness practice has the potential to benefit individuals with PTSD. Using mindfulness to strengthen reaction to stress together with existing empirically supported PTSD treatments may allow patients to persevere through trauma processing.

Rather than waiting to apply these treatments after the traumatic event, why not prepare our brave young men and women who are being sent into combat zones ahead of time?

A prior study with the Marines suggested mindfulness training was beneficial for attention, working memory, as well as mood. My amendment would expand this training to all branches of the Armed Forces, including the Coast Guard. It would require a report on the success of this training with stress management and preventing PTSD.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to adopt this amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Illinois for yielding me this time, and I also want to thank her so much for her diligence, her efforts, and her sincerity in trying to make this issue and this bill, and many bills on this issue, as good as possible.

Although we may disagree on the final version of this bill, again, it is my sincere wish that we will continue to work together as this issue will never go away because nutrition and the understanding of that for every American is paramount for our individual health and for communities as a whole.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 772, the Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act of 2017. I am proud to colead this bill with my colleague, Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers. Americans increasingly realize the importance of having access to accurate nutritional information about the food we eat, and we need to make sure that businesses are providing this information.

However, no two food establishments, convenience stores, or grocery stores are identical, and the government

should take that into account as we implement guidelines on making nutritional information available.

As a former small-business owner myself, I know the costs and challenges associated with regulatory compliance. Not all businesses can afford a legal department to help them stay within the rules, despite their best intentions. This legislation would help businesses help consumers be smart about what they are eating.

The FDA's 2014 rule on nutrition disclosures is set to take effect in May of this year, though some issues remain unresolved. This bill will give FDA the authority to fix these issues and hold businesses to tough standards they can and shall meet.

Right now, the FDA rule exempts small businesses, but not those that sell to large suppliers. Those small businesses would have to undertake expensive nutritional analysis in order to comply with the law, even if they don't have the resources.

Another example is, right now, the FDA rule would require delivery restaurants to post nutritional information in their brick-and-mortar establishment instead of online, even though nobody would see it, especially those who go online to order their food. This bill fixes that.

Finally, this bill reins in out-of-proportion penalties in the current rule that would have severe, unintended consequences. No one should have to worry about losing their business if they mistakenly make sandwiches with too much meat or cheese.

Importantly, this bill makes sure the FDA is still able to enforce the law in situations in which businesses are misleading their customers. This bill doesn't include a time delay, meaning the FDA would be able to implement the nutrition disclosure rules sooner than later.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill to help the businesses in districts like mine to help our constituents eat healthier.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the tax scam that was voted for by 100 percent of Republicans and signed by President Trump.

We all know that this bill puts middle class families out in the cold. This tax scam raised taxes on 86 million American families. It robs our ability to help American veterans, children, and seniors. Republicans have slashed taxes on the wealthiest among us, and now they want us to slash, cut, decimate Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.

Some of my colleagues would have us believe that this bill is about prosperity for all.

Prosperity for whom?

It is a tax giveaway to billionaires and millionaires.

Does slashing tax revenue create prosperity for communities like Flint, Michigan, where American families continue to suffer through a water crisis, a crisis that my Republican colleagues claim they can't find the funding to help our American brothers and sisters who are suffering?

Republicans want us to believe this bill is fiscally responsible, but we all know there is nothing fiscally responsible about taking healthcare away from millions of Americans while ballooning our country's deficit by as much as $2 trillion.

Mr. Speaker, we need to fix our Tax Code, not leave American families out in the cold.

Mr. Speaker, just a few minutes ago, on the floor of the House of Representatives, we saw a vote on what has been called the middle class tax cut. Unfortunately, I am here to remind all of us, Mr. Speaker, that it really is a tax scam.

When we have looked into the many communities across America and seen families like the hardworking families in the district that I represent in California, the average family or household that files a tax return every April 15 makes an average income of about $69,000.

That family, according to what was just passed on this floor, is going to be leaving behind over $1,000 more than they normally would have when they do their taxes. That hurts. That family is a hardworking family. That family cannot afford to miss out on $1,000 of their hard- earned money.

I heard people say earlier that that is not going to happen. That is just not true.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask and highlight which Americans will see their taxes go up every April 15 under the Republican tax scam. Middle class families, teachers, firefighters, nurses, veterans, folks paying off student loans, seniors with medical expenses, small businesses, and every homeowner will pay more in taxes. Over 50 million Americans will see their taxes go up every April 15.

Both students and teachers are hurt by this tax scam. This tax scam will make it harder for teachers to afford supplies for their classrooms. The Republican tax scam eliminates medical expense deductions. The adoption tax credit goes away. Student loan deductions, gone. State and local tax deductions for homeowners, forget about it. This tax scam is just wrong.

Mr. Speaker, it hurts hardworking American families and it benefits the largest corporations.

Mr. Speaker, I have grave concerns with the so-called tax plan Republicans are peddling. It should be called the Republican tax scam. Working Americans are being sold a bill of goods. Let me be crystal clear: this plan will not cut taxes for working middle class families. This is a tax cut for Wall Street and a tax hike for Main Street. And what does your family get? More cuts to children's education, deep cuts to your healthcare, and deep cuts to lifesaving emergency services.

Over 50 million taxpaying households will pay more taxes every April 15, due to this tax scam. Let me repeat that another way. This tax scam gets rid of credits and deductions for the middle class and keeps loopholes for corporations to ship your jobs overseas.

Mr. Speaker, I am completely opposed to this tax scam that cuts taxes for big corporations, and it forces big cuts to Medicare, education, and Social Security. This tax scam is wrong.

Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege and an honor to represent the community of the San Fernando Valley here in the United States Congress. I think it is my duty and responsibility to make sure that when something is going on in Washington, people should know what is going to happen to them and how it affects them.

I think it is really important for everybody to understand that right now in the workings--and it is probably going to come to this floor in just a few days--is the Speaker Ryan-McConnell tax giveaways to big corporations, which will actually increase taxes for working families, working mothers and fathers.

I think it is important for people to understand that this is something that is being sold as a middle-income tax cut. Actually, what it is going to do is it is going to cut the take-home income to middle class families.

What it is going to mean is if you are a police officer or a teacher or a waitress, you are going to see less money every week. It might be $5 less a week, it might be $50 less a week, it might be $100.

Let me tell you, the opposite of what is going to happen should this become law is that the biggest corporations in America are going to see $1 million less in taxes a week, maybe $50 million less in taxes paid a week, maybe $100 million less per week paid in taxes.

Some people are thinking: Well, they earned it. They should keep it.

Well, okay. I understand what you are saying. But, see, this is the fundamental problem of this $1.5 trillion reduction in the ability for our Federal Government to fund things like Medicaid and Medicare. Because when we see less money, you are going to see Members on this floor and in committees throughout this House and in the United States Senate saying: Well, we don't have the money.

When they see a mother whose child has cerebral palsy and she is saying, ``I go to work every single day, and thank you, government, for allowing my child to be in a program so that he or she can be safe while I go to work,'' they are going to say, ``You know what? I agree with you, ma'am. We should fund that, but since we don't have the money anymore, we are going to stop funding that.''

This is a woman who just wants to work for a living. This is a person who just wants to make sure that she can have the dignity of work and have her child in a safe place, but we are going to cut those programs if we have this tax giveaway go through Congress and signed by this President.

You see, it is a multistep process. And what some of my colleagues-- and

so far, the only ones voting for this tax giveaway are my Republican colleagues. I say that accurately, not to be partisan, but just to be honest and accurate. They say we have to do this; it is going to stimulate the economy.

Well, also, in this package, this plan that they want to make into a law, basically what it will do, it will actually incentivize the biggest corporations in America, American corporations. It is going to incentivize them to go ahead and close up shop in your neighborhood and go set up shop somewhere else in the world.

And the only connection they are going to have with you, ladies and gentlemen, is they are going to want to sell those products to you, built by other than American hands in other parts of the world. The only other connection they are going to have is this: They are going to be able to bring their money, their profits, back to the United States, pretty much free and clear, and just count their money here, where they call themselves an American corporation.

I think it is important, ladies and gentlemen, that we recognize that this is something that is wrong. This is something that is going to hurt the middle class. This is something, again, if you are a teacher, if you are a police officer, if you are busdriver, this is going to hurt you.

If you are a single mother who is working every single day, proud to do that, you are going to see that you are not going to have the support you need to make sure that that childcare continues for your child.

If you are a family member that has a mother or father whose only income is Social Security, they probably depend on Meals on Wheels. They probably depend on programs like that. Some of that comes from your Federal Government. But when these Republican colleagues cut $1.5 trillion out of the United States budget, it is going to come out of you, ladies and gentlemen. The people who have worked hard, seniors who are finally retired and should have the dignity of having a dignified life and having at least one darned meal a day, that is where it is going to come out of.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am here to warn you, please call your Members of Congress. Please make sure that you let them know: I don't want that kind of giveaway.

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

Mr. Chair, this year, wildfires have devastated the American West. It has been particularly tragic in my home State of California. Entire neighborhoods are gone, and families have been left with nothing.

While we know that proper forest management requires burning, we need to be able to contain wildfires that threaten communities.

This month, wildfires killed 42 people, burned over 245,000 acres, and destroyed an estimated 8,900 structures, most of them people's family homes, according to Cal Fire.

The fires aren't just dangerous themselves, they produce thick smoke, toxic ash, and debris that pose long-lasting risks to our health and to the environment.

These wildfires continue to grow in frequency and ferocity. We must ensure that we are using all of the available tools to prevent and contain these fires. That is why I ask that this amendment, which promotes innovation in wildfire management, be adopted.

The amendment would require the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study evaluating the feasibility, safety, and cost effectiveness of using unmanned aerial vehicles, otherwise known as drones, for the purposes of fighting wildfires. It will also study the use of drones for forest restoration and management, which could be effective for replanting remote areas of forest.

The Secretary of Agriculture would have to work with several other agencies that also deal with wildfire suppression and aviation. This amendment would require consultation with the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure safety for our aircraft and the pilots flying in the same airspace.

It would also assess the impact of using drones on employment in the U.S. Innovation will take us into the future.

But we need to know, eyes wide open, how this affects the employment landscape of our communities. And that is why these studies are also important.

The Department is required to report to Congress within 2 years of enactment. If implemented, I look forward to seeing the results of this study. I believe it will help add another tool to the toolkit in protecting American lives, homes, property, businesses, wildlife, and forests from devastating fires.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to adopt amendment No. 4, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I like the kind words that my colleagues have said about this amendment, and I hope that it goes forward.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise to recognize the accomplishments and contributions of Mr. Johnny Marines.

Mr. Marines is actively involved in the betterment of his community, the Los Angeles region, and in neighborhoods across our great nation.

Mr. Marines has been recognized by countless local leaders in both New York and California for his tremendous support to the community and dedication to assisting those in need.

Mr. Marines, a native of the Lower East Side of New York, has been a great force in the rise of the popular Latin American group, Aventura and more recently, bachata star, Romeo Santos.

Johnny Marines founded JME, a diversified entertainment and media company with ventures in integrating music, film, television and philanthropy.

Johnny has made it his mission to grow the number of opportunities for Latino musical artists to be successful and make an impact on the community that listens to these artists.

Before becoming involved in the music industry, Mr. Marines dedicated his life to protecting and serving New York City residents. He attended John Jay College School of Criminal Justice until he was recruited by the NYPD on August 30, 1993.

In March 1994, Johnny graduated from the New York Police Academy in the top 10 percent of his class. Mr. Marines was promoted to the rank of sergeant in March 2003, retiring with that rank in February 2009.

He has not forgotten his humble roots and the neighborhood that had a profound impact on his upbringing.

Mr. Marines has committed to dedicating his time and resources to give back to his community.

Mr. Marines has worked with elected officials and music groups to provide holiday dinners to needy families, ship food and supplies to struggling families in the Dominican Republic, and visit sick children in hospitals in an effort to lift their spirits.

Mr. Marines has led the way in helping others in California in the City and County of Los Angeles, focusing on assisting Angelenos with developmental disabilities.

Mr. Marines has established himself as a leader and a charitable American utilizing his talents to create unique opportunities for all ages to thrive and impact the world.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Johnny Marines and applauding his contributions and philanthropic endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to oppose the inclusion of $1.6 billion that would be a waste of taxpayer money on this useless wall. The funds will go towards an unnecessary wall along the Southern border. This wall that the President promised voters that Mexico would pay for is now being put on the taxpayers' backs.

$1.6 billion can be used for better things. It can pay for thousands of jobs in the U.S. and workforce development programs and apprenticeships.

And one other thing: agents protecting our border don't even want it. They do not see themselves as defenders of a wall.

Mr. President, please come back to reality. This is not ``Game of Thrones.''

This administration needs to stop demonizing people outside of our borders. We need to fix our immigration system, and we can do it in a humane and pragmatic and effective way, and in a way that will supercharge our economy and actually create American jobs.