Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to stand against the vile war for reproductive rights of the women in America.

Just under 50 years ago, Roe v. Wade established that every woman holds autonomy over her own body and her reproductive choices. To reject this critical ruling one-half century later at a time when America's maternal healthcare standards are so disgracefully abysmal, particularly for Black and Brown women, is as hateful as it is cruel.

We will not stand for this blatant and brazen attempt to control women. We will not stand for yet another assault that diminishes women by taking away their autonomy of their bodies. We will not stand by and watch extremists erase us from our Constitutional protections.

No. We will not stand for it today. I and my Democratic colleagues will pass the Women's Health Protection Act of 2022 and the Ensuring Women's Right to Reproductive Freedom Act of 2022.

Madam Speaker, I urge our Senators to find the compassion, courage, and their humanity for the women of America by doing the same.

Madam Speaker, due to a personal matter, I missed votes on July 12, 2022. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 300, and YEA on Roll Call No. 301.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a proud New Yorker deeply troubled by the epidemic of gun violence that has plagued our Nation for too long, leaving a wake of sorrow and grief that extends from generation to generation.

I cannot overstate how yesterday's reckless and detrimental Supreme Court ruling that struck down a 100-year-old New York State law puts innocent Brooklynite lives at risk.

What is more, there are no gun manufacturers in New York City. Yet, despite removing thousands of guns from our streets, illegal guns are arriving by car, train, and bus every single day through the Iron Pipeline.

That is why today's vote on the Safer Communities Act is an imperative. It addresses the issue of straw purchasing and the gun trafficking that is prevalent across New York City.

Let me take this opportunity to thank and give honorable mention to Congresswoman Robin Kelly and Congresswoman Lucy McBath for their courageous and unwavering fight to stop this sea of gun violence in our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, we must pass commonsense gun legislation, and I am proud to vote ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentlewoman from Houston, Texas, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, for anchoring us this evening as we commemorate Caribbean American Heritage Month.

Let me acknowledge our chairwoman, Joyce Beatty, and, of course, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, who speaks for me.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a proud Caribbean American and on behalf of my fellow Americans of Caribbean descent in celebration and recognition of the National Caribbean American Heritage Month.

Let me take this opportunity to thank Congresswoman Barbara Lee for her vision in establishing this designation of Caribbean American Heritage Month in June 2006.

I rise today to honor the tremendous contributions Caribbean Americans have made and continue to make in the building of our great Nation.

Mr. Speaker, our contributions are not just reflected in the tapestry of American culture. They are brightly reflected in the heritage of this Nation's first woman Vice President, Kamala Harris. It is reflected in the first African-American woman to serve in Congress, my predecessor, the Honorable Shirley Chisholm.

Mr. Speaker, the list of noble Caribbean Americans is too long to list, and so I rise today as a proud Caribbean-American representative of our sheer glory and significance in American history.

I rise today to remind the world of the continued excellence demonstrated by Caribbean Americans in every sector of our civil society. From government to the private sector, to entertainment and sports, Caribbean Americans continue to exemplify a unique distinction of creativity, innovation, and excellence that engenders a deep sense of pride in our accomplishments.

Let me be clear: We essentially represent our homes of origin as de facto goodwill ambassadors while, simultaneously, we represent some of the best talent that the United States has to offer.

Having a month to highlight our tremendous contributions gives us a special perspective on the collective benefit of such a diverse people of African descent, Latin, Asian, and the European diaspora.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give honorable mention to one of the Founding Fathers of our Nation, Alexander Hamilton, born in the Caribbean nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

I rise today to sanctify the Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey, a proud Caribbean man from the island nation of Jamaica who formed one of the largest Pan-Africanist movements in our Nation's history. I rise today to call for justice, his exoneration, and his rightful place in our American history.

I rise today on behalf of our ancestors of Caribbean descent, in recognition and in celebration of National Caribbean American Heritage Month.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to mark this moment on June 22, 2022, to honor and reflect on the lives and contributions of all those who planted the seeds of freedom and prosperity, knowing that they would never live long enough to feel the liberating power of the freedom they fostered. Their fight, now our fight for justice, fairness, equality, and equity, is certainly not over, but thanks to their legacies, the perpetual contributions of Caribbean Americans manifested through us in this generation, we are on our way to fulfilling the American dreams of our ancestors.

Mr. Speaker, as we mark the 16th anniversary of the National Caribbean American Heritage Month, it is with a profound sense of gratitude that we will finally have this opportunity to celebrate our history, heritage, and unique place on our American journey and in our American journey.

During the month of June, we are blessed to celebrate the freedom of Juneteenth and commemorate the lives sacrificed through the indignities of human bondage. But we reclaim the human dignity afforded to the waves of Caribbean immigrants who have been a beneficiary and significant part of the battle from the very foundation of our Nation's existence.

We use the month of June to educate and acknowledge our rightful place in American history.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the American people to express my support for the maintenance of effort of the robust housing provisions of the Build Back Better Act that is before us as a body.

I would like to thank the chairwoman of the Financial Services Committee, a champion for all of us in the United States of America, but particularly for the poor and disenfranchised.

I rise on behalf of all our American families who are directly impacted by our affordable housing crisis, and I rise today, Mr. Speaker, because despite the proposed solutions Democrats fought to secure in the bill to address our housing crisis head-on, they are at risk of being eliminated, negotiated away from the revised package.

The housing crisis in America is real and growing exponentially each and every month. Housing insecurity is very real in the lives of far too many American families.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of my constituents in central and south Brooklyn who continue to struggle due to the lack of affordable housing and for whom overdevelopment of market-rate units has created a gentrification juggernaut that has swollen the ranks of the homeless in New York City and across this Nation, working families stuck who can't afford to stay in their apartments but can't afford to leave their towns.

The effects of gentrification and COVID-19 have truly compounded this crisis, causing many to be evicted from their homes and experiencing homelessness at a rate we have never seen, all due to the lack of real and sustained investment in affordable housing.

Madam Speaker, due to a personal matter, I missed a vote on September 20, 2021. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 262.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3138) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize a grant program relating to the cybersecurity of State and local governments, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

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

Madam Speaker, the recent Colonial Pipeline, JBS, and Kaseya ransomware attacks have brought the Nation's attention to the tremendous national security threat posed by ransomware.

The Colonial Pipeline breach alone disrupted the supply of gasoline for a

large portion of the Nation and contributed to gas shortages across much of the Southeast. It also spurred conversations about how much of our Nation's critical infrastructure is privately owned and operated.

Lost on many Americans is how much vulnerable critical infrastructure is actually in the public sector. Today, emergency services, public schools, hospitals, and agencies involved in providing essential services or regulating important industries are all housed in our State and local governments. In recent years, we have seen communities, big and small, that lacked dedicated cybersecurity resources fall victim to ransomware attacks.

The types of incidents we have seen include a ransomware attack on Baltimore that cost city taxpayers $18 million; a hack on the D.C. police department that resulted in leaked sensitive personnel files; and a cyberattack against a Massachusetts school district that forced it to cancel its first day of in-person instruction earlier this year.

In May, my subcommittee held a hearing on the ransomware crisis where experts shared their views on the policy solutions that the Federal Government can consider to address this challenge. Our witnesses uniformly urged greater investment in prevention, particularly at the State and local levels.

We cannot just focus on responding to cyber incidents. We must help our communities reduce their vulnerability and better mitigate incidents when they occur.

In the long term, front-end cybersecurity investments save money, protect infrastructure, and prevent disruption to our economy and in our communities.

That is why I introduced the State and Local Cybersecurity Improvement Act. It authorizes $500 million annually for grants to State, local, territorial, and Tribal governments to upgrade their cybersecurity. It requires States to pay a graduated cost share to incentivize them to budget better for cybersecurity, and it requires them to develop cybersecurity plans so we ensure these funds are well- spent.

My bill also requires DHS to create a plan to improve the cybersecurity posture of State and local governments to ensure that States have goals and objectives to which they align their own cybersecurity plans.

We have spent considerable resources enhancing the security of our Federal networks, and President Biden's recent executive order, along with investments included in the American Rescue Plan, demonstrate a continued commitment to strengthening Federal cybersecurity.

These actions are incredibly important, but we need to do more to address the vulnerabilities at the State and local levels, where there has been inadequate investment in cybersecurity for years.

It is essential for the Federal Government to be a partner in protecting State and local digital infrastructure. As Congress considers ways to invest in our Nation's infrastructure, State and local digital infrastructure must be a part of that conversation.

As we have seen in recent months, the gap between the digital world and the physical one is smaller than ever. I appreciate the bipartisan recognition of that and the strong support this investment in our infrastructure security received in the Homeland Security Committee.

In particular, I want to thank Chairman Thompson, Ranking Member Katko, Ranking Member Garbarino, and Representatives McCaul, Ruppersberger, Kilmer, and Slotkin for cosponsoring this legislation.

By passing the State and Local Cybersecurity Improvement Act today, we can demonstrate to the American people that Congress can work in a bipartisan way to make a meaningful difference in addressing our Nation's cybersecurity risk.

Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this important bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

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

Madam Speaker, while cybersecurity threats are not new, this year has highlighted the serious impact cyber incidents can have on our national security.

The United States has as much cybersecurity expertise as any country. But without adequate resources, State and local governments cannot implement the policies and practices we know will make their digital infrastructure more secure.

Enactment of the State and Local Cybersecurity Improvement Act will ensure that they have the funding, planning, and support to adequately invest in securing government networks and reducing risk.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3138, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1833) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to provide for the responsibility of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to maintain capabilities to identify threats to industrial control systems, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1833, the DHS Industrial Control Systems Capabilities Enhancement Act.

This bill seeks to give the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, a stronger hand in securing industrial control systems and would help to clarify its central coordination role across the Federal Government.

The importance of securing industrial control systems cannot be overstated. We rely on these systems to provide vital services, like water treatment, energy distribution, and critical manufacturing.

As control systems have grown more and more connected to business and IT networks that rely on the internet, we have seen systems become more vulnerable to cyberattacks.

Industrial control systems have been targeted by groups closely aligned with nation-states like China and Russia who seek to undermine the United States and advance their own geopolitical interests.

We have also seen criminal groups, like the perpetrators of the ransomware attack on the Colonial Pipeline, create great economic disruption while extorting companies.

It doesn't take a criminal mastermind to infiltrate an industrial environment, either. Earlier this year, an unsophisticated, unknown perpetrator was able to breach a water treatment plant in Oldsmar, Florida, and manipulate chemical levels in ways that could have poisoned nearby residents.

H.R. 1833 will strengthen CISA's authority as the lead Federal coordinator for securing industrial control systems and empower CISA to hunt for threats, respond to incidents, and to promote strong cybersecurity for critical infrastructure.

The Department of Homeland Security has been working on control system security since 2004. H.R. 1833 recognizes that role at a pivotal time as cyber threats to critical infrastructure reach new heights.

Importantly, this bill also includes a GAO review of whether CISA has the resources, staffing, and authorities it needs to effectively implement these provisions. Such oversight will be key, given that these systems are complex, diverse, and there are a limited number of skilled cyber experts capable of securing them.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1833, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close after the gentleman from New York closes. I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

I would like to start by thanking the gentleman from New York for his outstanding leadership in this regard.

Industrial control systems are a rich target for cyber adversaries looking to disrupt, extort, and simply wreak havoc. These systems underpin the functions and services we rely on for our day-to-day lives, and the threats they face have never been higher.

Successful disruption of one of these systems could have dire consequences for public health and safety, public confidence, and even the national and economic security of the United States.

CISA is well-positioned to help owners and operators better understand risks to operational technology and work with them to close security gaps.

I again want to congratulate the gentleman from New York (Mr. Katko), my committee colleague and ranking member, on authoring this bill to codify the role that CISA plays in leading Federal efforts to secure industrial control systems.

Enactment of H.R. 1833 will help to raise our cybersecurity posture across the board.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2980) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to provide for the remediation of cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam 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.

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

Madam Speaker, 5 years ago a Government Accountability Office survey found that 12 out of 12 Federal agencies used obsolete information technology. In other words, 12 out of 12 Federal agencies were using software or hardware for which vendors no longer provided support, updates, or patches.

The Federal Government is hardly alone. It has been widely reported that State and local governments and critical infrastructure owners and operators across the country rely on legacy technology.

We have seen malicious cyber actors wreak havoc by exploiting known vulnerabilities.

H.R. 2980 would authorize CISA to develop and distribute playbooks to provide procedures and mitigation strategies for the most critical, known vulnerabilities, especially those affecting software or hardware that is no longer supported by a vendor. The playbooks would be available to Federal agencies, industry, and other stakeholders.

The bill, as introduced by the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), also authorizes the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate, in consultation with CISA, to establish a competition program for industry, individuals, academia, and others to provide remediation solutions for cybersecurity vulnerabilities that are no longer supported.

Importantly, in response to recent cyberattacks, H.R. 2980 prioritizes efforts to address vulnerabilities of industrial control systems of critical infrastructure that may be targeted, like water systems and pipelines.

H.R. 2980 is no substitute for investing in new technology, but it will provide important support to government and private sector entities that cannot replace legacy technology or rapidly patch known vulnerabilities because of resource limitations or other system complications.

Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 2980, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Madam Speaker, I yield the gentlewoman an additional 1 minute.

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

Madam Speaker, our adversaries are showing no signs of slowing their efforts to undermine U.S. interests in cyberspace.

Most often, hackers exploit known vulnerabilities. The Federal Government can and should support efforts to address and mitigate known vulnerabilities.

H.R. 2980 would do just that.

I thank the gentlewoman from Texas for her foresight, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules

and pass the bill (H.R. 3223) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish in the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency the National Cyber Exercise Program, and for other purposes.

Madam 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.

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

Madam Speaker, as Americans prepared for their 4th of July holiday weekends, a Russian-based cybercrime crime group launched a ransomware attack that would affect up to 1,500 small- and medium-sized businesses and local governments.

The Kaseya ransomware attacks followed a series of cyberattacks, including one that resulted in the shutdown of 5,500 miles of pipeline on the East Coast.

The unfortunate reality is that the rate and ferocity of cyberattacks show no signs of ebbing.

State actors and cybercriminals alike use cyber tools to advance their goals, regardless of whether they are driven by geopolitical considerations or profiteering.

Together, the Federal Government and its State, local, and private sector partners must do everything in their power to defend our networks while deterring and raising the cost of cyberattacks.

At the same time, we must have tested, exercised cyber-incident response plans in place in the event a malicious hacker successfully gains access to a victim network.

Last year's National Defense Authorization Act included language directing DHS, in coordination with interagency partners, to conduct four exercises over the next 12 years to test the resiliency, response, and recovery of the U.S. to a significant cyber incident impacting critical infrastructure.

Such exercises are critical to understanding our national resilience to cyberattacks and where we need to invest in improving capability.

H.R. 3223 would complement the capstone exercise program authorized last year.

It directs the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, together with sector risk management agencies, to develop an exercise program that is designed to more regularly test and assess systemic preparedness and resilience to cyberattacks against critical infrastructure.

The authorization includes requirements for the development of model exercises that State and local governments or private sector entities could readily adapt.

Our collective resilience to cyberattacks demands that we regularly assess and improve our ability to respond to cyberattacks.

The exercise program authorized by H.R. 3223 will help State and local governments and private sector critical infrastructure entities to do just that.

So I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3223, and I reserve the balance of my time

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Slotkin).

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

Madam Speaker, the country is experiencing an unprecedented number of significant cyberattacks.

From hospitals to schools to pipelines and a meat processing plant, nothing is immune.

The key to ensuring we are resilient to cyberattacks is to ensure that we have trained and tested cyber incident response plans.

H.R. 3223, the CISA Cyber Exercise Act, is critical in that effort.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3223, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3264) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require research and development to identify and evaluate the extent to which critical domain risks within the United States supply chain pose a substantial threat to homeland security, and for other purposes.

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

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 3264, the Domains Critical to Homeland Security Act. America's economy depends on diverse and resilient supply chains that ensure an uninterrupted flow of goods and services to the Nation.

Disruptions, whether caused by natural disasters or manmade events, can reduce the availability and integrity of critical supplies. This has significant Homeland Security implications.

For example, the COVID-19 pandemic revealed vulnerabilities in the Nation's medical supply chains, which caused persistent shortages for personal protective equipment and testing supplies; most of which is manufactured overseas. And the recent ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline showed how a brief shutdown of a major gas pipeline can drive up prices and lead to gas shortages.

H.R. 3264 would authorize DHS to conduct research and development into supply chain risks for critical domains of the U.S. economy. The research would include a risk analysis for each critical domain to identify weaknesses that pose a substantial homeland security threat.

The bill would also require DHS to report on the results of its research annually through fiscal year 2026. This report will allow the public and private sectors to take meaningful action to mitigate risk and to ensure the long-term economic security of the United States.

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

Madam Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 3264 to improve America's economic and homeland security, and I thank the gentleman from New York

for his forward-leaning legislation in introducing this bill.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1850) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 relating to the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory, and for other purposes.

Madam 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.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1850, the Supporting Research and Development for First Responders Act.

First responders across the Nation are facing unprecedented challenges. Over the past year, the unrelenting demands of COVID-19 have placed great strain on our hometown heroes. In the West, first responders have had the added challenge of battling devastating wildfires; and in the East, they are in the midst of a dangerous hurricane season.

Compounding these challenges is a terrorism threat landscape that, according to the Department of Homeland Security, has ``evolved significantly and become increasingly complex and volatile in 2021.''

Given the complexity of the challenges our men and women on the front lines face, it is critical that they have the most reliable and effective technology and equipment to respond. When it comes to delivering innovative technological solutions, the first responder community looks to the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory in New York City.

NUSTL, as it has come to be known, serves a unique mission in the Federal Government. It is the only Federal lab that is solely dedicated to researching and developing technology to help first responders safely and effectively respond to emergencies that range from natural disasters and industrial incidents to active shooters and terrorist attacks.

New innovative emergency response technologies are constantly being deployed, but to keep our first responders safe, they must first be tried and tested.

Enactment of H.R. 1850 would ensure that NUSTL can continue to carry out this vital role in Homeland Security. Specifically, it would ensure that NUSTL could continue to conduct simulated scenarios with first responders to test new emergency systems, support research for innovative technology, and assist first responders in evaluating new tools.

In recent years, despite NUSTL's recognized value to the Nation, we saw the Trump administration repeatedly propose shuttering it. Thankfully, Congress rejected those shortsighted proposals and redoubled its support for this vital institution.

Looking ahead, we must not only permanently authorize NUSTL by enacting H.R. 1850, but we must also continue to prioritize funding for the lab so it can continue its critical work.

Once again, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

House of Representatives, Committee on Science, Space,

and Technology,

Washington, DC, July 8, 2021.

Hon. Bennie G. Thompson,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,

Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Thompson: I am writing to address the

jurisdictional interests of the Committee on Science, Space,

and Technology (``Science Committee'') in H.R. 1850, the

``Supporting Research and Development for First Responders

Act.''

While the Science Committee has claimed jurisdiction over

versions of this bill introduced in previous Congresses, I

recognize and appreciate your desire to bring this

legislation before the House in an expeditious manner, and,

accordingly agree not to insist on a sequential referral.

This is, of course, conditional on our mutual understanding

that nothing in this legislation or my decision to forgo

sequential referral waives, reduces, or otherwise affects the

jurisdiction of the Science Committee, and that a copy of

this letter and your response will be included in the bill

report to be filed by the Committee on Homeland Security and

included in the Congressional Record when the bill is

considered on the House Floor.

Finally, I ask that you support the appointment of Science

Committee conferees during any House-Senate conference

convened on this, or similar legislation. Thank you for your

attention on this matter.

Sincerely,

Eddie Bernice Johnson,

Chairwoman.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Miss Rice).

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1850 is a bill to protect our protectors. At the very least, those on the front lines deserve to go to work with the certainty that their equipment will work when they need it the most. They should not have to ask themselves: Will it function under pressure? Can it take the heat?

We owe it to the nearly 2 million Americans who put their lives on the line to protect us to ensure that NUSTL is operational and resourced to test their equipment.

This fall, we will be observing the 20th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks that shook this Nation to its core. The 9/11 attack was not only the single deadliest terrorist attack in human history, but it was the deadliest incident ever for firefighters and law enforcement officers in the United States.

Mr. Speaker, 343 New York City firefighters, 23 NYPD officers, and 37 Port Authority officers died that day. By enacting H.R. 1850, we can ensure that as threats continue to grow and change, NUSTL will be there to provide critical technical support to our first responder community.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from New York (Miss Rice) for this legislation, and I ask that my colleagues support this bipartisan legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3263) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish in the Department of Homeland Security a medical countermeasures program, 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 include extraneous material on this measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3263, the DHS Medical Countermeasures Act.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3263 seeks to establish a medical countermeasures program to facilitate the readiness and protection of personnel and working animals in the event of a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or explosives attack; disease outbreak; or pandemic.

H.R. 3263 requires DHS' chief medical officer, or CMO, to provide programmatic oversight of the medical countermeasures program and establish a medical countermeasures working group comprised of relevant DHS components.

Additionally, the bill requires the CMO to utilize DHS chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear risk assessments, and CDC guidance, to determine the types and quantities of medical countermeasures to stockpile.

H.R. 3263, first introduced in the 114th Congress, was developed due to concerns about the possibility of a severe pandemic that could cause illnesses and fatalities and destabilize the operations of DHS. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought these concerns to the forefront.

DHS is responsible for protecting our homeland, but the Department can only do that if it has a safe workforce. Many of the more than 240,000 employees are out on the front lines due to the nature of their responsibilities.

Furthermore, critical supply shortages of personal protective equipment earlier in the pandemic, which affected the Federal Government and State and local governments, also severely impacted DHS operations.

H.R. 3263 is informed by an August 2014 DHS inspector general report. It is also informed by testimony provided during multiple House Homeland Security Committee hearings.

Enactment of this bill will improve DHS' ability to protect the well- being of DHS personnel so they can fulfill their mission: protecting our homeland.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my 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 New York closes.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3263 is a measure that this country needs.

I believe all of us in this body can agree that protecting the health and safety of DHS personnel is critical to homeland security, and to that end, we must pass this bill.

Enactment of H.R. 3263 would strengthen medical countermeasure protocols within the Department and help DHS prepare for and respond to homeland threats.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 3263, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the American people, our Republic, my colleagues, congressional staff, Capitol Police officers, and the late Officer Brian Sicknick, in support of H.R. 3233, the National Commission to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol Complex Act.

Let me be very clear: What took place on January 6 in the United States Capitol Building was an act of domestic terrorism. To witness this hallowed place, the seat of our democracy, being breached and invaded by a mob of incensed blood-thirsty individuals, sycophants, all as we barricaded ourselves in our offices and on this floor, fearing for our lives, was devastating beyond belief. It was an attack on our democracy. Full stop.

This commission is necessary to ensure all parties involved are brought to justice and the American people are made aware of the facts and causes that led to this heinous act of domestic terrorism.

Madam Speaker, I rise today with profound sadness to mourn the loss and celebrate the life of Ms. Mary Bishop, director of constituent services for the Ninth District of New York and my dear friend.

Mary has been with our office and me for more than 15 years. She was extraordinary and compassionate, with a heart of gold. She embodied what it meant to be an advocate for the people, and her passing has been felt across our district.

On a personal note, I will dearly miss Mary. We celebrated together, laughed together, and shared a passion for the people of the Ninth District together. Mary Bishop worked hard, played hard, and was a God- fearing Caribbean American woman who loved her family immensely.

On behalf of the people of the Ninth District and the Clarke family, I want to extend my thoughts and prayers to the family, loved ones, friends who were touched by the life and legacy of the incomparable Mary Bishop.

In closing, when I think of Mary, I am reminded of Mahalia Jackson's ``If I Can Help Somebody.''

If I can help somebody as I travel along,

If I can help someone with a word or a song,

If I can help somebody from doing wrong,

Then my living shall not be in vain.

My dear friend Mary, your living was not in vain. You will be dearly missed.