Pete Aguilar

Mr. AGUILAR

Mr. AGUILAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of Dr. Margaret Hill, who passed away peacefully last month at the age of 81. She was, for many who knew her, the heartbeat of San Bernardino. For 50 years, she devoted herself to ensuring all children have access to high-quality education. In 1971, she began as a high school teacher, and would go on to serve as principal, assistant superintendent for San Bernardino County, an adjunct professor and, finally, the last decade, when I have known her more as a school board member for San Bernardino City Unified. Through all her roles, Dr. Hill never wavered in her devotion to the children of our community. Her warmth, her wisdom, and her kind spirit will be missed, but her legacy lives on in the countless lives that she touched in the classroom and in the community. It was a privilege to know her, Madam Speaker. May she rest in peace.

Mr. AGUILAR

Mr. AGUILAR. Madam Speaker, I thank the vice chair for yielding. Last Tuesday, December 7, the select committee received a letter from Mr. Meadows' lawyer telling us that his client's appearance for a deposition had become, and I quote, ``untenable''. Something else happened last Tuesday. Mr. Meadows' book, ``The Chief's Chief,'' hit bookstores. This is a witness who is refusing to comply with the law and answer our questions, in part because the former President has instructed him to do so, he says. He says that as chief of staff he couldn't possibly disclose the conversations with the former President. But look at his book, and you get more information about his confidential conversations with the former President than our committee did. This is from a section dealing with the January 6 rally at the Ellipse. ``When he got off stage, President Trump let me know that he had been speaking metaphorically about the walk to the Capitol. He knew as well as anyone that we couldn't organize a trip like that on such short notice.'' That part is interesting because the select committee has a lot of questions about what the President said and did on January 6. We have a lot of questions about how protests that day escalated into a riot. And Mark Meadows says he can't discuss these details with us. But apparently, he can put them in his book. We have also learned from those very documents Mr. Meadows turned over that he was willing to discuss what the President was thinking with Members of Congress. On January 3, Mr. Meadows was exchanging text messages with a lawmaker about the pressure campaign to get State legislatures to overturn the results of the election. In one text message to a lawmaker, Mr. Meadows wrote, ``He,'' he presumably being President Trump, ``He thinks the legislatures have the power, but the VP has power, too.'' The power to do what? We could guess the power to overturn the election results, the power to reject the will of the voters. And days later a violent mob tried to get Vice President Pence to do just that. We would like to ask Mr. Meadows about that, about what the former President thought. Days before the violent attack, Mr. Meadows was willing to share what he, President Trump, thinks, but he won't tell us. That is why Mr. Meadows' testimony is so important. That is why his privilege claims are so outrageous, and that is why we need to adopt this resolution.

Mr. AGUILAR

Mr. AGUILAR. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding time. Sometimes what happens in Congress is complicated. It is wrapped in parliamentary procedure and language that is hard to understand. So let's be very clear about the legislation that we are discussing today. The Build Back Better Act is a tax cut for working families. It is an extension of the child tax credit and preschool access to help parents get back to work. It is the largest ever initiative to fight climate change. It is a tool to give every American a chance to succeed. Passing this bill will lift children out of poverty, expand our middle class, and make healthcare more affordable. It is simple. Madam Speaker, we need to pass this bill because the American people deserve this investment.

Mr. AGUILAR

Mr. AGUILAR. Madam Speaker, when an armed mob stormed the Capitol earlier this year, they did so under the belief that political violence was an acceptable means to an end. As leaders and as Members of this body, every one of us has a responsibility to stand up and to make clear that way of thinking is unacceptable. We have a responsibility here to work together to keep our colleagues, our staff, and all of the people who work in this building safe. That goal becomes more difficult when Members are making open threats of violence on social media. It is not acceptable for a Member of Congress to insinuate that they want to violently kill another Member, and we need to directly respond to this threat. Today, we have an opportunity to send a strong, unified, bipartisan message against this kind of conduct. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the resolution to ensure accountability and recommit ourselves to the safety of every Member and future Member of this body.

Mr. AGUILAR

Mr. AGUILAR. Madam Speaker, I thank the vice chair for yielding. Like many of my colleagues, I was right here on the House floor when the violent mob attacked our Capitol. I saw those doors shaking, nearly overrun with rioters attempting to enter. I saw my colleagues shed their jackets and roll up their sleeves preparing for the eventuality. And I saw Capitol Police acting quickly and thoughtfully to conduct a successful evacuation of Members from this Chamber. Their actions, undoubtedly, saved lives. What we didn't know at the time was that on the steps of the Capitol, the Capitol Police and the Metro PD officers were engaged in brutal hand-to-hand combat. Officer Michael Fanone told us he was grabbed, beaten, and tased, all while being called a traitor to this country. This is what officers dealt with to defend our democracy. Some lost their lives; many are still living with both the physical wounds and the trauma that they suffered that day. This is what our officers dealt with to defend democracy. Officer Harry Dunn told us more than 6 months later, January 6 still isn't over for me. These officers are heroes. I want to thank the chair and the vice chair for their leadership in making our first order of business hearing directly from those heroes in their own words. We wanted to hear and make sure that all of our colleagues and this country heard firsthand what we experienced on the ground that day. We asked them to explain the violence they had to endure to protect our democratic process, and in return, they made one simple request: to get to the bottom of this. They want answers, and, quite frankly, they deserve answers. So far, both the Metro PD and the Capitol Police have been excellent allies in this investigation. They have cooperated, shared their stories and expertise, and provided us with key evidence and accounts of the violence they endured that day. And we owe it to them to see this investigation through. The vote we take today is a crucial step toward removing a roadblock in our investigation. We owe it to every officer who put their life on the line that day and every day to protect us here in the Capitol. We owe them answers. And this committee intends to get to those answers by all means necessary. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this resolution.

Mr. AGUILAR

Mr. AGUILAR. Mr. Speaker, as Mr. Calvert can attest, Jerry Lewis was a larger-than-life figure. Over the course of his four decades of public service, Jerry was able to rise through the ranks here at the House to become the chair of the House Appropriations Committee. I notice a lot of appropriators here with us today, sharing their memories and paying their respects, as well. Mr. Lewis earned the respect of Members from both sides of the aisle and worked tirelessly to promote our national defense, care for our veterans, and ensure folks back home in my community and his community of San Bernardino County received our fair share of resources. Jerry was quick to remind people that he was a kid from San Bernardino. Maybe that is why he liked me a little more than he should have, because I was a kid from San Bernardino as well. But that kid went on to serve his community by advocating for it in Sacramento and eventually here in these halls. Too often, our region in California is an afterthought. Smaller than our neighbors to the west in Los Angeles and Orange County, the Inland Empire, my home, was always Jerry's home, and we have always had to fight for our fair share of resources. But Jerry dedicated his career to delivering resources for our community, and his impact can still be felt on the ground today and through the years ahead. He served as my family's representative in Congress for many years. Later, I had the opportunity to represent him, first as his mayor and then as his representative in Congress. He often called me ``my mayor.'' He would say: ``How is my mayor doing today?'' when he would see me around town, usually when he would see me at his favorite spot downtown where he was grabbing lunch with his bride. I have never shared this story with Mr. Calvert. Jerry and Arlene were the first individuals to call me after I was appointed to a city council vacancy a bunch of years ago. The council appointment happened in the evening, and they called early in the morning Pacific time. They didn't quite wake me up, but it was a morning hour on the West Coast. They congratulated me on the appointment, and Jerry talked about the importance of local government making an impact in our daily lives. He reminded me that serving was a huge honor but also an immense obligation and responsibility. While our politics, at times, were different, and he was quick to remind me of that, I will always be grateful for the advice, for the friendship, for the time he and Arlene spent with me over the years, meeting in his Rayburn office, back in town, or at community events. He was always measured; he was always professional; and he always put his community first. It is a testament to his legacy that his colleagues from both sides of the aisle are here today to remember him. My thoughts continue to be with Arlene and the family. I appreciate his contributions and his friendship. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for this Special Order.

Mr. AGUILAR

Mr. AGUILAR. Madam Speaker, by direction of the Democratic Caucus, I offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. AGUILAR

Mr. AGUILAR. Madam Speaker, today I want to honor Al Arguello, who is retiring after a 53-year career with Bank of America and will leave as President of Bank of America, Inland Empire. A Rancho Cucamonga resident, Al has worked tirelessly throughout his career to give back to our community. When the great recession devastated the Inland Empire, it was Al's leadership that helped form the Housing Opportunities Collaborative to support the thousands of families facing foreclosure in our region. Al has also been a strong supporter of the Inland Empire's local economy, working to encourage the development of micro-businesses and finding ways to help entrepreneurs gain access to the start-up funds they need to succeed. While he will continue to be involved as a key leader in our community, his friends and colleagues will surely miss him as he begins this new chapter. The lasting effects of Al Arguello' s leadership and philanthropic efforts can be felt throughout the Inland Empire, and I know our community is better off because of Al's decades of service.

Mr. AGUILAR

Mr. AGUILAR. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. AGUILAR. Madam Speaker, the cornerstone of the strategy is vaccinations. What the gentleman is asking is an important question. What the majority is saying is, let's follow the guidance of the Office of the Attending Physician. We have no interest in knowing individually what Members and what staff members are vaccinated. Our interest is in governing this House and the operations of this body, and we trust that Dr. Monahan will work with both parties and both sides of the aisle and will give us a report when this House is fully vaccinated. That becomes our guidance.

Mr. AGUILAR. Will the gentleman yield? We will talk about the Constitution.

Mr. AGUILAR. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. AGUILAR. The centerpiece of this strategy that the gentleman just acknowledged is vaccinations. It is important that we continue to get as many Members as we can vaccinated. That is the strategy that Dr. Monahan, Rear Admiral Monahan, a distinguished physician, the strategy that he has laid out.

Mr. AGUILAR. I appreciate the gentleman from Georgia yielding once again. I will try to be as clear as I possibly can. We will follow the guidance of the Office of the Attending Physician, a decorated rear admiral, who is hoping, with the Sergeant at Arms, to govern the Capitol complex. As the CDC guidelines mention--and I am sure my colleague has read the full CDC guidance, which specifically says government buildings and local governments and State governments may make separate----

Mr. AGUILAR. The gentleman knows I am happy to talk about HIPAA and your role with it.

Mr. AGUILAR. What I would say is, the CDC guidelines, as my colleague from Georgia understands, specifically mentions workplaces can set their own guidelines. We are following workplace guidance given by the Office of the Attending Physician and the Sergeant at Arms. Those are the processes that govern this body, whether Democrats are in control or Republicans are in control. We should be guided by public health guidance. That is exactly what we are doing here.

Mr. AGUILAR. And I appreciate the question. Because as the gentleman knows, we are a co-equal branch of government here in the Capitol. So I appreciate his love of the executive branch of government; I really do. However, we are governed by different rules. As a co-equal branch of government, we should be.

Mr. AGUILAR. Madam Speaker, that success that the gentleman talked about was fueled by this Congress last year and this year and by a science-based investment approach that the American Rescue Plan offered. As evidenced by this guidance, we are building back. But I want to call particular attention to the ``Dear Colleague'' letter that Dr. Monahan sent out to everyone on the Capitol complex campus. It says: ``The present mask requirement and other guidelines remain unchanged until all Members and floor staff are fully vaccinated.''

Mr. AGUILAR. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. On Monday, the House will meet at 12 p.m. for morning-hour debate and 2 p.m. for legislative business, with votes expected no earlier than 6:30 p.m. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the House will meet at 10 a.m. for morning- hour debate and 12 p.m. for legislative business. On Thursday, the House will meet at 9 a.m. for legislative business, with last votes no later than 3 p.m. We will consider several bills under suspension of the rules. A complete list of the suspension bills will be announced by the close of business today. In addition, we will consider bills rejecting hate toward the Asian- American and Pacific Islander community, including S. 937, the Senate- passed COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, which addresses the dramatic increase in hate crimes targeting the AAPI community since the start of the pandemic. H. Res. 275, a resolution condemning the horrific shootings in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 16, 2021, and reaffirming the House of Representatives' commitment to combatting hate, bigotry, and violence against the AAPI community. We will also consider H.R. 1629, the Fairness in Orphan Drug Exclusivity Act, which closes the loophole that blocks pharmaceutical competition and prevents innovative treatments for opioid use disorder from coming to market, and would help millions of Americans suffering from opioid addiction. Next week, the House will also consider the Emergency Security Supplemental to Respond to January 6th Appropriations Act, 2021, which addresses enhanced security needs for the Capitol complex; and House Resolution 3233, the National Commission to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol Complex Act, which establishes a commission to investigate the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6. This is bipartisan legislation. I want to thank Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member Katko for their leadership in announcing this bill, and I hope that it will have broad bipartisan support next week.

Mr. AGUILAR. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for the question and for acknowledging the extraordinary success of the Biden- Harris administration in putting millions of shots in arms at a historic pace.

Mr. AGUILAR. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. AGUILAR. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. AGUILAR. I appreciate the question, and this is such a timely and important topic that the country needs to address. I am incredibly pleased with the bipartisan success that the negotiations have led to, to date. As the gentleman knows, those conversations continue to be ongoing, but the majority believes that those conversations are progressing in a way that is hopeful toward addressing this issue. I think both sides realize, and I hope the minority realizes, the importance of making changes to protect our communities. I know the gentleman is a former mayor, as I am as well. So we have dealt with a lot of these issues at the local level. So what I would say is, Senator Scott, Congressman Stauber, and Congresswoman Karen Bass have been engaged in this discussion. We want to give them the latitude and the flexibility to continue those discussions. I wouldn't agree with the characterization that the gentleman from Georgia made about where the negotiations are, but I can tell you that we are committed to seeing this done. We are committing to getting this done and putting a bill on the floor that will have strong bipartisan support.

Mr. AGUILAR. As the gentleman knows, there was a lengthy Special Order hour led by our colleague from Florida, former police chief herself, talking about the importance of these issues, the importance of honoring heroes, the importance of honoring people who put themselves in harm's way each and every day and are behaving well. What I would ask the gentleman from Georgia is, in that similar vein, honoring police week, honoring those folks who helped us, who looked out for us January 6, I hope the gentleman will encourage the minority leader to meet with Officer Fanone from the Metropolitan Police Department, who has requested a meeting with the minority leader to talk about the events of January 6 and to talk about his experiences, which were so impactful as he shared them on national television and as he talked about the role that he played and the role that his colleagues played in protecting this temple of democracy. I hope that the minority leader has the time to meet with Officer Fanone. I signed a letter to the minority leader from my colleagues encouraging him to do so, and I hope that the gentleman from Georgia reiterates the importance to meet with law enforcement heroes.

Mr. AGUILAR. Will the gentleman yield?