Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and memory of Alvin Francis Jones, a lifelong New Mexican judge, lawyer, and community leader.

Born in New Mexico in 1944, Alvin earned a bachelor's degree from New Mexico Tech and a juris doctor from the University of New Mexico.

He began his career in private practice and was later appointed to New Mexico's Fifth Judicial District in Roswell, where he served for 19 years, many as chief judge.

During his time on the bench, he founded the local chapters of CASA to help vulnerable children navigate the State legal system, and Character Counts, teaching children the value of good character.

After retiring from the bench in 2004, Alvin joined a private practice, where he specialized in water law.

For me, he was a personal example of character. He had a dogged work ethic, and he also dedicated time and resources to mentor New Mexicans.

A pillar of the community who was loved by his family and friends alike, Alvin leaves behind a legacy of selfless service to New Mexico.

We are grateful and will miss him dearly.

Madam Speaker, it is an honor to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle as Americans to address this issue and to recognize National Police Week, to support the brave men and women who protect and serve our communities every day, and to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

The work you do is extraordinary, and it makes me proud to be the granddaughter of a former Las Cruces police sergeant, Angel Torres. He didn't talk much about his work on the beat, but

throughout my life, I have been stopped by people who have told me the difference he made in their life because he showed he cared by holding people accountable. He was the true embodiment of what it means to be a selfless public servant, just like so many in New Mexico and across the country.

It means something, something I will never fully understand, to know that every day you risk your life because of what you do.

It means something, something I will never understand, to know that every day and every time you enforce the law, you could lose your life because you signed up to serve.

As you risk your life to treat people with humanity, dignity, and respect, that is superhuman. That is why, during National Police Week and every day, we support our law enforcement officers and work to ensure they have the resources they need to protect and serve our communities.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1594) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish a process to review applications for certain grants to purchase equipment or systems that do not meet or exceed any applicable national voluntary consensus standards, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1594, the First Responder Access to Innovative Technologies Act.

Our Nation's first responders put their lives on the line to ensure all of us are safe. These brave women and men should have access to the equipment they need to protect lives and property around the country.

One of the Department of Homeland Security's most important missions is to help ensure the effectiveness of our Nation's emergency services sector. Key avenues for such support are the Department's counterterrorism grant programs: the Urban Area Security Initiative and the State Homeland Security Grant Program.

Unfortunately, the grant guidance for these grant programs sometimes hinders first responders' ability to acquire innovative counterterrorism equipment. Today, each piece of equipment must meet or exceed national voluntary consensus standards.

Although FEMA will review requests to purchase equipment that does not meet consensus standards, the Committee on Homeland Security has learned from stakeholders that the process lacks uniformity, predictability, and transparency. The process for developing voluntary consensus standards for first responder equipment has not kept pace with the evolution of technology or the demands of first responders.

H.R. 1594 would direct FEMA to implement a standard process for reviewing applications to purchase equipment that do not meet consensus standards or for equipment not included on FEMA's authorized equipment list. H.R. 1594 seeks to ensure that the safety of our first responders remains a top priority.

As today's threats faced by first responders are constantly evolving, it is important that our technology evolve, too. Enactment of H.R. 1594 will help ensure first responders can do their job more safely and effectively.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, by passing this bill today, we can ensure first responders have a reliable and uniform process for acquiring technologies and equipment that will keep them and our communities safe. The House unanimously passed previous versions of this bill in the prior two Congresses.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support me in passing this legislation today. As the gentleman from Pennsylvania said, they have our backs, we should have their backs.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1313) to amend the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 to clarify certain allowable uses of funds for public transportation security assistance grants and establish periods of performance for such grants, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1313, the Transit Security Grant Program Flexibility Act.

Securing our Nation's transit systems is critical to keeping our country safe. Transportation systems are vital to the economic and social lives of everyday people all around the country. The emergence of so-called ``lone wolf'' domestic terrorists pose a threat to these critical systems and the people that use them.

In response to this and other threats to our surface transportation systems, Congress established the Transportation Security Grant Program to help State and local authorities enhance the security of their systems. By all accounts, the Transportation Security Grant Program is making a difference.

However, increasingly, we have heard that some of the aspects of this program need refinement for it to live up to its full potential. Specifically, the Committee on Homeland Security has received testimony from grant recipients that the period of performance is too short, especially when they are trying to undertake long-term security projects.

H.R. 1313 addresses these concerns and makes the program more flexible by lengthening the period of performance for these grants. With flexibility in mind, the bill also allows for the funding in this program to be used for backfilling officers to allow for security training.

Finally, it mandates a report by the Government Accountability Office on the Transportation Security Grant Program, including recommendations to improve the grant program. These commonsense fixes will increase the efficacy of the Transportation Security Grant Program to help bolster preparedness and response within our transportation systems.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my House colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I am prepared to close after the gentleman from Pennsylvania closes.

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

Mr. Speaker, today, the Transportation Security Grant Program is a meaningful tool to help communities improve the safety of our surface infrastructure, but, as discussed, there are areas where it could be improved. H.R. 1313 seeks to do just that.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman King for his bipartisan work on this legislation.

Before I yield back, I would like to note that this legislation is identical to a measure that the House approved last Congress by a voice vote on January 31, 2017.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1313, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1437) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Under Secretary for Management of the Department of Homeland Security to achieve security of sensitive assets among the components of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1437, the Securing DHS Firearms Act of 2019.

Mr. Speaker, this bill, authored by Mr. Correa of California, would require the Department of Homeland Security to take action to safeguard sensitive assets, such as firearms, badges, and immigration stamps.

According to the DHS Office of Inspector General, during a 3-year period between fiscal years 2014 and 2016, the Department lost track of more than 2,000 highly sensitive assets. Failing to safeguard these assets puts the public at risk.

This legislation, if enacted, would require the DHS under secretary for management to issue a department-wide directive for securing firearms, immigration stamps, badges, and other sensitive assets with reporting requirements for any assets that are lost or stolen.

It is a commonsense measure the House passed by voice vote a little over 1 year ago.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage this Chamber to again support this legislation and help safeguard the Department's most sensitive assets.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Correa).

Mr. Speaker, a robust and standardized policy on safeguarding DHS assets and other law enforcement equipment is not just an administrative matter. It is a matter of public safety and homeland security.

Additionally, clear requirements on the reporting of lost equipment are just as important. Official badges, immigration stamps, firearms, and other sensitive assets are issued by the Department to properly equip the frontline personnel of DHS who defend our homeland security every day. We must ensure that such equipment is well-protected and maintained and not accessible to bad actors.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 1437, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1912) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to provide for requirements relating to documentation for major acquisition programs, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this matter.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1912, a measure I introduced with the support of Congressman Dan Crenshaw to ensure the Department of Homeland Security effectively manages its largest acquisitions, those with an estimated lifecycle cost of $300 million or more.

Each year, DHS invests billions of dollars in its acquisition programs to help execute its many critical missions. However, since the Department was created, DHS has struggled to keep some of its largest programs on schedule and on budget.

For example, the Department's attempts to modernize and integrate its various financial management systems has been in the works for 15 years with little to show for its multimillion expenditures.

A plan to deliver a DHS-wide human resources IT system has faced similar delays, as has a decade-long attempt to consolidate the Department's headquarters at the St. Elizabeths campus in southeast Washington, D.C.

The Department's acquisition management challenges have been on the Government Accountability Office's high-risk list since 2005. GAO has identified shortfalls, including acquisition programs lacking key analyses and schedules.

H.R. 1912, the DHS Acquisition Documentation Integrity Act of 2019, would attempt to address some of these concerns by requiring DHS to maintain complete, accurate, timely, and valid documentation for all its major acquisitions. This includes documentation such as lifecycle cost estimates, cost-benefit analyses, and project schedules. Codifying these acquisition documentation requirements, which are already embodied in DHS acquisition policy, is necessary to safeguard against future cost overruns and schedule delays.

A previous version of this bill passed the House unanimously in the 115th Congress, and I urge my colleagues to pass it again today.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is not enough for the Department of Homeland Security to simply analyze the upfront costs of acquiring systems to fulfill capability gaps. DHS must also budget for the long-term operation and maintenance costs of a system.

Given the criticality and budgetary risks associated with major acquisitions, it is critical that requirements are created, alternatives are considered, a cost estimate is completed, and a schedule is developed.

It falls to us, the Congress, to ensure that the Department has reliable acquisition documentation in place. Enactment of H.R. 1912 will ensure that DHS does its homework and is a good steward of taxpayer dollars.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1892) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to make technical corrections to the requirement that the Secretary of Homeland Security submit quadrennial homeland security reviews, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1829, the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review Technical Corrections Act. This bill, authored by Mrs. Watson Coleman of New Jersey, will ensure that the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review, or QHSR, is a driving vision for the Department of Homeland Security.

Given the importance of DHS' mission, it is vital that the Department continually review its policy positions so that they, with Congress' help, can continue to stay ahead of the constantly changing threats facing our country.

By enacting this legislation, Congress can see that DHS carries out its long-overdue third QHSR and stays focused on the mission.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs. Watson Coleman).

Mr. Speaker, this legislation will see that the Department of Homeland Security remains focused on its primary mission.

It is important that the Department complete this review so that it, in partnership with Congress, can continue to evolve with the threats that face our homeland.

I would also add that this measure passed the House last Congress by a vote of 415-0, and I would hope my colleagues would do the same today.

Finally, I urge DHS to deliver the long-overdue 2018 QHSR to Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 1892, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2066) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish the Intelligence Rotational Assignment Program in the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, almost 18 years ago, Americans were horrified by the devastating September 11 attacks. While the perpetrator sought to bring us to our knees, we emerged more determined to protect our Nation.

In the years since the attacks, efforts to improve information sharing, interoperability, and coordination across all levels of government have been redoubled. H.R. 2066, the DHS Intelligence Rotational Assignment Program Act, continues in the same vein by providing DHS employees with the opportunity to complete a rotational assignment within DHS' Office of Intelligence and Analysis.

By establishing this program, officers and analysts across DHS who have a passion for keeping our Nation secure would be provided the opportunity to develop and broaden their intelligence and counterterrorism skills. Organizations with such programs find that they yield benefits far beyond what the individuals who participate learn.

As the threat landscape continues to rapidly change, ensuring that those charged with keeping us safe have ample opportunities to enhance their analytical skills must remain a priority. Mr. Speaker, I urge my House colleagues to support this bipartisan

legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, last year, H.R. 2066 passed the House of Representatives under a suspension of the rules. Authorizing this program will help to improve the effectiveness of DHS' intelligence analysis operations for years to come. As such, I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 2066, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise to call attention to the challenges rural communities face to access basic healthcare.

In New Mexico, I have seen, firsthand, health challenges these areas face. They include expectant mothers who have to drive for hours, often across State lines, for every single prenatal appointment.

They include veterans who have to get on the bus in the middle of the night for a doctor's appointment in Albuquerque the next day.

It includes teenagers in crisis facing a long waiting list for a much-needed mental health appointment.

And it includes rural and community hospitals on the verge of closing their doors. This is what rural America faces.

Even with these hardships, we are often the first to be forgotten when legislators and healthcare experts discuss healthcare quality, access, and affordability.

So as Congress begins discussing how to decrease the cost of healthcare insurance, to lower the cost of prescription drugs, to provide mental healthcare, and protect millions of Americans with preexisting conditions, I urge consideration of the pressure points that rural communities face. That is how we deliver better healthcare access to all our constituents.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my full support for H.R. 1759, the BRIDGE for Workers Act, led by Representatives Murphy, Walorski, LaHood, and myself.

Mr. Speaker, my State of New Mexico continues to suffer from one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. In one county in my district, the unemployment rate is 17 percent.

As lawmakers, we must prioritize policies that will help counties across the Nation like Luna County combat systemic problems that are preventing a swift return to the workforce.

Research shows that the longer workers are out of work, the harder it can be to maintain their skills and the more likely workers will fall out of the labor force entirely.

When I was in college, my dad lost his job to funding cuts. My parents and I had just taken out loans so that I could go to college. I remember sitting in class, worried. I was homesick, and I felt powerless to do anything to help my family through that difficult time.

My dad is one of the hardest working people I know. On his own, he got the training he needed to find a job in our hometown, but it took years. We all made sacrifices in the meantime.

I worked multiple jobs, and I graduated in 3 years to help limit that debt, and I took on my parents' loan payments to help out.

Now my dad is a schoolbus driver, and the kids he drives to school, the colleagues he serves as a union president, and our community are all better because of the work that he does. I just wish he had found his second calling earlier.

This bill will help. The earlier we retrain people, the earlier they find new careers. This helps people in their most vulnerable moments. It supports families, and it builds stronger communities.

That is why I am proud to help lead the BRIDGE for Workers Act, which will help unemployed individuals find a job faster so that they can provide for their families and get back on their feet as soon as possible.

This would fix a flaw in the current law that limits reemployment services to only those expected to remain unemployed after their benefits run out.

Reemployment services are essential, as they give people without a job the tools they need to get back to work through programs offering targeted job search assistance, career counseling, and interview and resume workshops. With greater access to these services, unemployed individuals will be more likely to find a job faster and rejoin the workforce.

This bill is also cost effective. Since it allows States to use their reemployment services grants more effectively, individuals will return to work quicker, which will generate more savings for our government.

When Americans who want to work hard get the support they need to do just that, we all succeed. I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this legislation and help unemployed Americans across our Nation get back on their feet.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor First Lieutenant James Clayton Flowers and wish him a very happy 103rd birthday.

Born on Christmas Day in 1915, Mr. Flowers has seen our great Nation through a century of progress, conflict, and change.

Enlisting in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II, Mr. Flowers was one of the few African American soldiers chosen to train as a Tuskegee Airman.

After World War II, Mr. Flowers started a family with his wife, Evelyn Flowers, and began teaching for New York City public schools, where he was a leader in the United Federation of Teachers.

When he and his wife retired, they found their new home in southern New Mexico. Even in retirement, Mr. Flowers continued to work for the betterment of his community. Leading by example, he taught future generations to serve their communities by building houses with Habitat for Humanity. He also invested in the local chapters of the NAACP and the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

Madam Speaker, please join me today in thanking First Lieutenant James Clayton Flowers for his service to our Nation and wishing him a happy 103rd birthday.

Madam Chairwoman, I have an amendment at the desk.

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

Madam Chairwoman, I rise to offer amendment No. 40 to H.R. 1585, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act.

My amendment is simple. It will ensure that everything in this bill complies with current immigration law. One in three women in the United States will experience domestic violence. That is unacceptable. It doesn't matter who you are. Domestic violence is unacceptable. This law protects all survivors.

It ensures that our Nation recognizes domestic violence and sexual assault as crimes. It provides crucial protections against domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. It provides survivors with the support they deserve.

It provides our law enforcement with everything they need to provide justice to these survivors, and it sends a clear message nationwide that our Federal Government will protect all survivors and condemn all domestic and sexual assault offenders.

That is why the reauthorization of VAWA should not be impacted by the current debate on our immigration system. That debate is for another day and it is a debate we should have soon in this Chamber. But I felt it was necessary to offer this amendment to acknowledge that as the House passes this legislation, it is also in accordance with the laws already enacted.

Again, this is all this amendment attempts to do. It is important that funding goes where it is intended. And the eligibility for VAWA grant funding is clear in this bill. VAWA is the cornerstone for safety and justice to survivors of violence and abuse. Our sole focus today should be to keep that cornerstone strong.

All of us know a survivor. She may be our mother, he may be our best friend. It may be ourselves. We, as a country, know what to do and we should do it together. Therefore, I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this essential legislation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chairwoman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the Speaker of the House.

Madam Chairwoman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler).

Madam Chair, I thank the chairman; the authors of this bill, Representative Bass and Representative Fitzpatrick; and the tireless advocates who have worked to bring this bill to the floor today for the safety and justice of all survivors of violence and abuse.

Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, please support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the food banks and organizations across New Mexico that supported Federal employees, contractors, and their families during the shutdown.

I especially want to thank Arlene Murillo and the Border Patrol Agent Family Network in Sunland Park, New Mexico. It was an honor to witness their collaborative work, to feed their neighbors who were affected by the shutdown, or otherwise fighting hunger for other reasons.

New Mexicans were among the hardest hit when the government stopped paying its bills, but these organizations showed what it is to be New Mexicans, and embody the value to always have your neighbor's back.

Now that the damage and disruption of the shutdown is over, we as a Congress have a responsibility to ensure it never happens again. That is why I joined fellow freshman and signed on to the Shutdown to End All Shutdowns Act yesterday, to keep hardworking Americans from paying the price for Washington's brokenness.

Madam Speaker, I invite my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do the same.