Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, on May 31, the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General published an alarming report that confirms the terrible consequences of the Trump administration's failure to truly address the humanitarian challenges we face at our southern border.

Instead of working with Congress and leaders in our hemisphere on addressing root causes and policy that represents America's values of compassion, the administration, instead, chooses cruelty.

As a result, agents and officers are overworked, exhausted, and frustrated. Communities like mine are stretched beyond capacity, and migrants are in inhumane conditions.

The photos and description of the conditions at the Paso Del Norte Processing Center in my district are beyond disturbing:

Migrants standing on toilets to make room and gain breathing space;

A cell with a maximum capacity of 35 holding 155 migrants;

Detainees wearing soiled clothing for days or weeks;

The list goes on.

I visited the PDN Processing Center when I was home this weekend, and one thing is clear: Congress must establish, and DHS must abide by, humanitarian standards. Not doing so is immoral and un-American.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act of 2019.

This bill would provide Dreamers, TPS holders, and DED recipients with the relief and certainty that they and our country need in order to thrive.

I would like to congratulate the architects of this bill, Representatives Roybal-Allard, Velazquez, and Clarke, who worked so tirelessly, as well as our Judiciary Committee Chairman Nadler, and our Immigration and Citizenship Subcommittee Chairwoman Lofgren for the tireless work that they put into this.

This bill has the potential to help hundreds of thousands of hardworking individuals who are American in every way except on paper.

I am so proud that Texas has the second highest Dreamer population in the Nation, including the more than 9,000 Dreamers in the safe border community of El Paso, Texas.

My colleagues on the other side of the aisle vacillate between arguments intended to stall this legislation that range from get in line, to build a wall, to painting all undocumented immigrants as dangerous criminals that Americans should fear. One of my colleagues even said that this bill would destroy America.

I would like to remind them that America is a nation of immigrants. Dreamers, TPS holders, and DED recipients are our friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Some have even bravely served in the military, and others are pillars within communities across the Nation.

They have built good lives here, started families, created small businesses, employed thousands of people, paid their taxes, made our country better.

I stand with Dreamers and TPS holders and will do all I can to ensure that they are shielded from deportation and have a pathway to citizenship.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to be on the right side of history and support this bill.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 11 a.m. tomorrow.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of an El Paso hero, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Eugene Chisolm, who was inducted yesterday into the 82nd Airborne Division's All American Hall of Fame.

Colonel Chisolm, known affectionately as Colonel Bob back home, is a true role model of service to our Nation.

A combat veteran of three wars, Colonel Chisolm has a storied past. He made a combat parachute jump into Normandy on D-day and another into Holland, where he would assume command of more than 80 men after higher ranked officers fell, earning him the only Legion of Merit awarded to a noncommissioned officer in World War II.

He sustained grave injuries during the Battle of the Bulge and went on to command a company in the 31st Infantry during the Korean conflict. He later led soldiers in the Joint U.S. Military Advisory Group in Thailand and as Chief of the War Games Branch at Fort Leavenworth.

The All American Hall of Fame at Fort Bragg preserves the legacy of service and the iconic contributions of the 82nd Airborne Division. It is fitting that this courageous, lifelong soldier be honored.

To Colonel Chisolm, whom I am so honored to know, we thank him for his incredible, courageous leadership and service, and I offer him my heartfelt congratulations.

Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Chair, I would like to thank Congresswoman Waters for her incredible work and leadership on this bill, which will help restore trust in Federal consumer protections and ensure those protections extend to all communities.

I also thank my colleague, Representative Golden, for cosponsoring my amendment. This amendment would direct CFPB to include representatives of military- and veteran-serving financial institutions in their advisory committees.

There are over 18 million veterans in America today and nearly 3 million Department of Defense employees. Many in these communities choose to bank with financial institutions that cater to their unique needs. These over 20 million Americans deserve a voice at the CFPB from technical experts who know how to best serve our veterans and military.

We know that many military members pick a financial institution and stick with it. That is because these organizations have the skills and experience to help servicemembers with challenging circumstances, like frequent moves and deployments, that the average civilian customer won't face.

These organizations help support our veterans and military at critical life moments, providing early capital to help start a business, helping finance a new home, and even partnering with educational institutions to provide technical assistance to veteran entrepreneurs.

They know the unique needs and concerns of their clientele, including identity theft during deployments, VA loan issues, and improper credit reflections that occur when the VA experiences administrative delays.

And they can share key industry insight to help CFBP ensure vets and servicemembers are protected as they move through financial systems.

On a personal note, I share my home, El Paso, with nearly 50,000 veterans and am neighbors with more than 45,000 military and civilian personnel at Fort Bliss. At Fort Bliss, we also train units from every U.S. State and territory, so our amenities end up benefiting many outside our immediate community over time.

Communities like ours deserve to be heard, and my amendment will help ensure that that happens.

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

Madam Chair, I have no further speakers or comments. I urge all of my colleagues to support my amendment and the underlying bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, today, we recognize a historic day in our Nation, the 100th anniversary of the House passage of the 19th Amendment, which, once ratified, granted most women the right to vote, bringing them one step closer to equality with their male peers.

That ratification was 10 years in the making. Sadly, this pace of progress, this slow pace, is still all too common. Throughout history, women have had to fight for the same rights automatically afforded to men. Today, that fight continues.

As we stand on the shoulders of all the women who challenged convention, who fought and refused to quit so that we could be here in a moment where some 68 million women vote in America and the first two Latina women represent Texas in the people's House, our responsibility is to continue that fight against the erosion of women's rights that we are witnessing today and to fight for equal treatment and opportunity for all.

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

Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent that my amendment be modified in the form that I have placed at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise today to offer an amendment to H.R. 987, the Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act.

The navigator program is crucial to communities like El Paso, where we have one of the highest uninsured rates in the State of Texas.

Navigators provide free assistance to my constituents as they maneuver through the marketplace to find a healthcare plan that is right for them. When funded adequately, these programs help decrease the uninsured population across the country.

However, the Trump administration has sought to cut funding for the navigator program in its plan to systematically undermine the Affordable Care Act.

By slashing the program's funding by 84 percent over the last 2 years, the total funds allotted for it now stands at $10 million.

To exemplify these draconian cuts, consider this:

In 2017, there were nine navigator programs funded in Texas and two operating in El Paso County.

In 2018, the number of navigator programs in Texas dropped to just two, with only one now operating in El Paso County. This presents a challenge to States and districts like mine that have seen their populations increase over the past decade.

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services has coupled these deep cuts with a rule overturning a requirement for navigator programs to train their assisters to help individuals with chronic illnesses and limited English proficiency.

While the Trump administration claims this will give navigators more flexibility to tailor their training for the populations they serve, it is really another attempt to scale back what has proven to be a successful program.

By cutting funds and reversing this requirement, navigator programs will be forced to choose between extra training for their assisters or hiring more of them to cover counties now lacking operational programs.

Navigator programs that do not provide proper training could result in their assisters being underprepared when a consumer from a vulnerable population comes to them for assistance. Enrolling in the marketplace can be complex for anyone, especially for those whose primary language is not English.

While H.R. 987 restores funding to the navigator program, we must ensure these programs continue to train their assisters to help underserved populations.

My amendment does just that by requiring Navigators to provide training for their assisters to serve vulnerable populations, including individuals with chronic illnesses and limited English proficiency.

In my home county of El Paso, there are almost 25,000 uninsured individuals who are not English proficient. This amendment will ensure navigator programs are able to help all El Pasoans find suitable healthcare plans.

Simply put, Mr. Chair, access to affordable healthcare is a right, and my amendment ensures we make every attempt to leave no one behind.

I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I thank Representatives Torres and Porter for their cosponsorship.

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

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

Madam Speaker, climate change is a major threat to our national security; and military leaders agree.

Last year, the Department of Defense studied 79 mission-critical bases and found that climate change threatened most of them. In the past year alone, three of our military installations suffered significant damage from natural disasters, and they are still not fully recovered.

It is clear that the scale of this challenge is great. That is why today I am introducing the Department of Defense Climate Resiliency and Readiness Act to help tackle this challenge.

By setting clear goals and ensuring regular dedicated resources, my bill gives military leaders the tools and flexibility to implement policies that work best for their missions. We will also ensure the DOD budgets for resiliency and maintains a focus on cutting-edge technologies like hybrid microgrids and additive manufacturing.

As one of the world's largest energy consumers, DOD can offer invaluable leadership toward addressing the global climate challenge, while bolstering U.S. national security; and that starts today.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a father, son, and public servant, Sheriff's Deputy Peter John Herrera, who passed away at the age of 35 on Sunday, March 24, after being fatally shot at a traffic stop.

A lifelong El Pasoan, Sheriff's Deputy Herrera proudly served the El Paso County Sheriff's Office for 11 years. His leadership was exemplary. He was widely commended by his fellow officers for always wearing his badge with pride. He was the epitome of a public servant who loved his community and demonstrated it every day.

He was highly respected, supported, and loved by many as a devoted father, husband, brother, and friend. The community of El Paso mourns his untimely death, but we are endlessly thankful for his unwavering service and contributions to our community. It was a privilege to stand alongside so many El Pasoans last week as he was laid to rest.

Sheriff's Deputy Peter Herrera's memory will live on among us for dedicating his life to protecting and serving with integrity and purpose.

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

Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chair, I thank Representatives Bass and Fitzpatrick and Chairman Nadler for their work on this bill, which will provide critical support to women.

My amendment has two components to help ensure our work reaches women in every corner of society.

The first requires an annual report on the status of women in Federal incarceration. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, women account for approximately 7 percent of the Federal inmate population. As of March 28, the U.S. had 180,181 Federal inmates. This means that the number of female prisoners in America is about 12,613.

Women in prison face unique challenges. For example, they are more likely to have their children taken away from them while they are incarcerated, more likely to have trouble accessing basic hygiene products, and more likely to suffer from mental health problems.

A report done by the Center for American Progress found that 75 percent of incarcerated women suffer from substance abuse problems, while 68 percent experienced physical or sexual abuse at some point in their lives.

This commonsense amendment would compile more comprehensive, badly needed data to help us better understand the needs of incarcerated women and help us deliver the services they need.

The report on women would include data points such as sexual orientation and gender identity, exposure to sexual and domestic violence, whether the woman was pregnant at the time of her incarceration, and length of sentence. The report would also collect data on all Federal facilities where women are incarcerated to determine best practices and the availability of trauma treatment.

This information can then be used by Congress to develop policies that would better serve women and their families.

The second component of my amendment directs the Attorney General, in coordination with the Chief of U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services and the Director of the Bureau of Prisons, to collaborate on reentry planning and services for incarcerated women, including the development of a national standard on domestic and sexual violence prevention.

Reentry and planning services are vital because reentering society is a difficult process for many and represents a critical point of transition that may help solidify rehabilitation or may, if poorly managed, pose new risk to success.

This is especially the case for women because of the unique circumstances I mentioned previously. Many are caretakers for their children, victims of abuse, and have addiction issues.

For example, finding a place to live is especially difficult. Formerly incarcerated individuals are nearly 10 times

more likely to become homeless. Data from the Prison Policy Initiative show that formerly incarcerated women face homelessness at much higher rates than men. For women of color, the rate of homelessness only increases. Further, many shelters are reluctant to accept women with children.

When developing reentry plans and services, the Department of Justice officials are required to address gender-collaborative services; housing; previous exposure to and risk for domestic and sexual violence; and the need for parenting classes, securing childcare assistance, and assistance securing jobs that afford flexibility.

Finally, the establishment of a national standard on domestic and sexual violence prevention will ensure that the government sets the bar for protecting vulnerable women from abuse. Affirmatively including incarcerated women in the reauthorization of VAWA will enable the government to treat these women with dignity and respect and ensure we are doing all we can to prevent future victims of violence.

I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I thank the distinguished gentleman from Georgia, and I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler).

Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I come from El Paso, Texas, which is right on the U.S.-Mexico border. I live on the border. My family has lived on the border for more than 100 years. I can assure my colleagues that the border has never been safer; the border has never been more secure.

In fact, what I am more worried about today than what is happening on the U.S.-Mexico border, than those vulnerable asylum-seekers coming to our front door asking for help, is I am more worried that people in this Chamber are willing to ignore the oath of office that we took on the day that we were sworn in, that we would violate the Constitution that we promised to uphold.

I am also far more worried about the fact that they are willing to divert funding that is going to our U.S. military in favor of a political prop, a monument to xenophobia, a campaign promise. In fact, Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, stands to potentially lose $275 million.

Why didn't they get it done when they had an iron grip over the House, the Senate, and the White House? Because there was no emergency.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of an American hero, Bloyce Bradford, who passed away at 90 years old on Tuesday, January 29, 2019.

Mr. Bradford was born Christmas Day in 1928. He went on to enroll in the Army, where he served during the Korean War. While in Korea, Mr. Bradford was wounded multiple times and, at one point, was considered missing in action. According to Mr. Bradford's son, for more than 30 days, Mr. Bradford avoided capture and eventually was able to find his way back to the American forces. Mr. Bradford received the Purple Heart and several other military awards for his distinguished service. After his retirement from the Armed Forces, Mr. Bradford started his own business in Northeast El Paso, showcasing his entrepreneurial drive and his commitment to the community.

Mr. Bradford will be remembered as one of the oldest-living veterans in El Paso and beloved by many across the city who will miss his mentorship and kindness. His legacy lives on through his sister Gwendolyn, his five children and their families, as well as his companion of 43 years and her family. The El Paso community mourns his loss and thanks him for his contributions to our nation.

Madam Speaker, I am here to correct the Record, to bust the myth, to make sure that Americans know the truth about my wonderful, generous, incredible community, El Paso, Texas.

Last night, in this Chamber, as I was seated in the audience listening to the State of the Union Address, I heard our President misinform the American public. He said that El Paso, Texas, was once one of the most dangerous cities in America, and then a wall was built.

Well, Madam Speaker, that is not true. El Paso is one of the safest cities in America. However, we have been a safe community; we have been a safe city. We are right on the U.S.-Mexico border, and we have been safe for decades.

The wall was built in El Paso, Texas, in 2008. Our ranking as one of the safest communities in America dates back to the 1990s.

Many people wonder why El Paso is so safe. Why is El Paso, which is, again, right on the U.S.-Mexico border, one of the safest communities in America? Last night, in those conversations, I pointed to my guest at the State of the Union Address, Senaida Navar, who is a Dreamer; she is a teacher; she is an activist; she is exactly the kind of community member, constituent, citizen who makes El Paso and the country great.

As these debates over comprehensive immigration reform, over border security, continue to get louder and, in fact, uglier here in Washington, D.C., El Paso has been, in many ways, at the center of those debates and those discussions.

I will tell you, they should be. El Paso should be at the center of that debate.

The reason why El Paso should be at the center of that debate is not because we were the site of the President's zero-tolerance policy, not because we were the site of the tent city at Tornillo, not because our processing center is the site where detainees are right now being force-fed through a nose tube against their will. We should be at the center of deciding the future of this country in terms of comprehensive immigration reform because of our generosity, because of our goodwill, because of our kindness.

El Paso has absolutely set an example for our country, and we have done it with the way that we have opened up our arms to everyone and treated people with the dignity that they deserve.

Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Sablan for the opportunity to correct the Record.

Madam Speaker, today, on the 26th day of the Trump

shutdown, I rise on behalf of Lauren, an El Pasoan in my district on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Lauren is married to one of our DEA agents, and he is one of nearly 10,000 Federal employees in El Paso. Every day, her husband puts his life on the line to serve El Pasoans and our Nation, and, last week, he missed his paycheck.

Lauren describes the shutdown as discouraging and scary. They are struggling to make ends meet for their family of three small children.

Lauren and her family, and the hundreds of thousands of Federal employees in America, should not have to face this dire reality and don't deserve this treatment.

We must reopen the government now and give our public servants the pay they have earned for their honorable work.

And I will repeat what I know to be true: The border has never been more secure or safer.

Madam Speaker, we, in the House, have voted on a number of bipartisan bills to reopen the government. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to come together, end this absurdity, have some compassion, and do the same.

Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Raskin for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule for H.R. 268, the Disaster Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2019.

This bill would provide over $12 billion in necessary funds to help affected communities recover from natural disasters, including Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and farmers who lost crops due to Hurricanes Michael and Florence.

I would like to thank my colleagues for introducing the underlying bill and for making in order an amendment to prevent these funds from being used to plan, develop, or construct a new border barrier.

Sadly, this amendment is necessary because this administration wants to divert critical disaster aid meant for other projects to go toward border wall construction.

The reality is that our country needs help recovering from some of the greatest natural disasters we have seen in our lifetimes. Puerto Rico is still recovering from the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Maria, a storm that claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people.

I am glad to see that the underlying text provides $600 million in disaster nutrition assistance to the island where over 3 million U.S. citizens reside.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure, the underlying text, and this important amendment. Let's hold this administration accountable and ensure they do not deceive the American people by pulling a bait-and-switch.