Nanette Barragán

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the extraordinary life of Larry Itliong and to celebrate Larry Itliong Day on October 27, 2018 in California's 44th Congressional District. Whereas on October 25, 1913, Larry Itliong was born into a family of six children in Pangasinan Province of the Philippines; Whereas at the age of 14, Larry Itliong immigrated to the United States and became a farmworker who would travel between Alaska, Washington, Montana, South Dakota, and California; Whereas Larry Itliong led the Agricultural Worker Organizing Committee and organized 1,500 Filipinos to strike against grape growers in the Central Valley, in what became the famous Delano Grape Strike, which lasted for more than 5 years; Whereas in 1965, Larry Itliong and the Filipino workers joined forces with Cesar Chavez's National Farm Workers Association and merged into the United Farm Workers; Whereas Larry Itliong, also known as Seven Fingers, has been described as one of the fathers of the West Coast Labor movement; Whereas the City of Carson became the first city in the United States to recognize Larry Itliong Day; and Now therefore, I declare and hereby recognize the date of October 27, 2018 to be Larry Itliong Day in Carson, California, marking the 4th annual celebration of this remarkable man.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Leana Wen. Dr. Wen is the new president of Planned Parenthood. Dr. Wen is an immigrant. Her family came here from China, and they were granted political asylum when she was a child. She is a Rhodes Scholar, and she grew up poor in my congressional district in Compton, California. She has worked to close the racial health disparities that are happening in healthcare and to reduce infant mortality. She has been a voice against cuts to healthcare. And she is a champion for health clinic funding across the country, to make sure they can continue to serve low-income families. I am proud to say that she is a fighter, and I am proud to say that she grew up in Compton, California. With that, Dr. Wen, congratulations. I am looking forward to working with you and Planned Parenthood.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the extraordinary life of Bridgett ``Biddy'' Mason and to declare August 15, 2018 to be Biddy Mason Day in California's 44th Congressional District. Whereas on August 15, 1818, Bridgett ``Biddy'' Mason was born into slavery in Hancock County Georgia. Whereas at the age of 15, Biddy was given to the Smith family as a wedding present and moved from Mississippi to Utah, and eventually San Bernardino, California; Whereas with the help of friends in California and despite challenges, Biddy Mason gained knowledge of her rights and fought to be freed from slavery; Whereas 10 years after obtaining her freedom, Biddy Mason became a midwife, earning enough money to purchase her first piece of property on north Spring Street in Downtown Los Angeles where she served her community; Whereas Biddy Mason became one of the first real estate moguls in Los Angeles and a stellar businesswoman; Whereas in 1862 Biddy Mason, along with John Ballard, Jeremiah Redding, Charles Owens, Louis Green, John Hall and Samuel Johns founded the historic First African Methodist Episcopal Church in her living room; Whereas the date of August 15, 2018, marks the 200th Birthday of this remarkable woman; and Now Therefore I declare and hereby recognize August 15, 2018 to be Bridgett ``Biddy'' Mason Day in the 44th Congressional District of California.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, Whereas for over 50 years, community health centers have provided high-quality, affordable, comprehensive primary and preventive health care in our Nation's underserved communities, delivering value to, and having a significant impact on, America's health care system; Whereas as the country's largest primary care network, health centers are the health care home for 27,000,000 Americans in over 10,000 communities across the Nation, and 1 in every 12 people in the United States gets his or her care in a health center; Whereas health centers are a critical element of the health system, serving both rural and urban populations, and often providing the only accessible and dependable source of primary care in their communities; Whereas nationwide, health centers serve 1 in every 6 residents of rural areas; Whereas every day, health centers develop new approaches to integrating a wide range of services beyond primary care, including oral health, vision, behavioral health, and pharmacy services, to meet the needs and challenges of their communities; Whereas health centers are governed by patient-majority boards, ensuring that the patients of each health center are engaged in their own health care decisions; Whereas health centers are locally owned and operated small businesses that serve as critical economic engines, helping to power local economies by generating $45,600,000,000 in economic impact in some of the country's most economically deprived communities; Whereas health centers nationally employ more than 200,000 people, including physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and certified nurse midwives who work as part of multidisciplinary clinical teams designed to treat the whole patient; Whereas the health center model continues to prove an effective means of overcoming barriers to health care access, including geography, income, and insurance status, and in doing so, improves health care outcomes and reduces health care system costs; Whereas health centers reduce overall costs of care by helping manage patients' chronic conditions, which keeps them out of costlier health care settings like hospital emergency rooms; Whereas health centers are on the frontlines of emerging health care crises, providing access to care for our Nation's veterans, addressing the opioid epidemic, and responding to public health threats in the wake of natural disasters; Whereas National Health Center Week is an annual celebration that will be held from August 12, 2018, through August 18, 2018; Whereas National Health Center Week offers the opportunity to recognize America's nearly 1,400 health center organizations with over 10,400 service delivery sites, their dedicated staff, board members, patients, and all those responsible for their continued success and growth since the first health centers opened their doors more than 50 years ago; and Whereas during National Health Center Week, we celebrate the legacy of America's health centers, and their vital role in shaping the past, present, and future of America's health care system. Now Therefore that the House of Representatives recognizes the week of August l2-l8th as National Health Center Week; and Encourages all Americans to take part in this week by visiting their local health center and celebrating the important partnership between America's health centers and the communities they serve.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, on July 18, 2018, I mistakenly voted against amendment No. 51 to H.R. 6147, the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, offered by Representative Ruben Gallego of Arizona. I intended to vote in favor of the amendment.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Corporal Joseph Maciel, who was killed July 7 from injuries sustained while in Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel. Corporal Maciel was only 20 years old and is remembered by those who loved him for his infectious smile and love for his country. According to his father Jose, Corporal Maciel knew in high school that he wanted to serve his country. And when he enlisted in the Army, he made his family proud. Corporal Maciel was a beloved member of our community, admired by his family and those he served alongside. He gave his life for freedom, and we are forever indebted to his service and to him. I extend my deepest sympathy and condolences to the family of Corporal Joseph Maciel's friends and family in South Gate, California, in my district, and I thank him for his service and his family for their sacrifice. Cuts to EPA Funding

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, for the last year, in my congressional district, California's 44th District, which includes the communities of Compton, Watts, South Gate, and the Port of Los Angeles, we have been fighting to make sure we have access to clean air and to clean water. We learned several months ago that there is something called chromium-6 in the air, which is a deadly chemical that causes respiratory problems and can lead to cancer. Now, who oversees to make sure that these polluters are cracked down on and that we make sure that polluters are held accountable? The EPA, the Environmental Protection Agency. This week this House is expected to consider FY 2019--fiscal year 2019, the Interior-Environment appropriations bill as part of a two- bill minibus. Now, this Republican bill puts the health and safety of American people at risk. What does it do? It is going to cut the Environmental Protection Agency by $100 million. You heard me right. They are going to cut funding for the EPA. This is the agency that oversees at making sure that polluters are held accountable. That, my friends, will put the American people in jeopardy, and those polluters that are going around, across the country and polluting things, like chromium-6 that is killing our kids and our seniors and causing asthma and respiratory problems, it is going to make it easier for them to pollute. What else does it do? It slashes clean water grant programs by $300 million. In my community in Compton, California, we recently had a brown water crisis. It is still going on. There is brown water coming out of the faucets. We don't have to think too far back as to what happened in Flint, Michigan. To think that we are having a vote this week that is going to cut $300 million--money that is used to invest in America's water infrastructure--is appalling. When I heard about it this week, I thought it was important that the American people know about it. This is what should be on the front page of the newspapers. This is what the media should be reporting on, what is happening in this Congress and how the American people are put at risk when such cuts are happening to the very agencies that are put there to protect us, so that we ensure that we have clean air and clean water. As somebody who serves as the chair of two environmental task forces here in Congress, we cannot allow this to continue to happen without raising our voices, calling our elected officials, calling our offices, and speaking out about what the American people want. And this is one: Clean air and clean water is a basic right that everybody is entitled to. I believe this bill is going to take us backward. It is going to hurt us. And it really hurts our ability to make sure that we continue to look at things like climate change. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote against this, and I urge the American people to have their voices heard.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Long Beach Fire Department Captain David Rosa, who was killed July 2 after suffering a gunshot wound while responding to a fire at a senior living facility. Captain Rosa was a 17-year veteran of the Long Beach Fire Department assigned to station 10 in the heart of the city of Long Beach, California. During his tenure, David faithfully served the city of Long Beach and its surrounding communities, working as a paramedic and trainer. Last week, I attended his memorial service and saw an outpouring of love. He was a beloved member of our community and admired by his family and his firefighter family. I extend my deepest sympathy and condolences to the Long Beach Fire Department, station 10, and Captain Rosa's friends and family, especially his wife and two sons.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, yesterday President Trump signed an executive order, an order that he said was to stop separation of families at the border. This is a policy that he caused, and he has now taken a victory lap. It is ridiculous. My response: To stop family separation once and for all, President Trump must end his failed zero-tolerance policy. Replacing family separation with indefinite family detention is not the solution. We cannot continue to overwhelm our immigration system and incarcerate families who pose no threat to the United States to please immigration hardliners.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the Goodlatte bill and in opposition to the rule. Do you know how many Democrats were involved in crafting the Goodlatte bill? Zero. If they had included Democrats, we could have told them that this bill does nothing to resolve the humanitarian crisis happening at the border. Do you know how many hearings we had on the Goodlatte bill? Zero. If they had included Democrats, we would have told them that this bill does nothing to provide meaningful relief for Dreamers, and is dead on arrival in the Senate. How many Dreamers does this help earn citizenship? Zero. How many children does this bill put back in the arms of their parents? Zero. How much compromise does this bill show people in need? Zero. This administration likes to talk about zero tolerance. Well, we have zero tolerance for this President's anti-immigration agenda and the Republicans who enable it. Bottom line, Mr. Speaker, this bill is a sham. It is the Republican's attempt to make it look like they want to help Dreamers, but, in reality, it is a nonstarter, and it is another heartless action taken by this Congress. Oppose this bill. Oppose this rule.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Mr. Clifford Johnson, Sr., who will be 100 years old on June 7. Mr. Johnson, a Cherokee Indian Freedman, was born in Lenapah, Oklahoma, on June 7, 1918. He fought bravely during World War II, serving as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army. He began a lifelong career with the United States Postal Service in 1946. Mr. Johnson is a loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Mr. Johnson is a patron of Macedonia Baptist Church in Watts, California, and attributes his longevity to being close to God and treating other people the way he would want to be treated. I want to wish Mr. Clifford Johnson, Sr., a very happy birthday and thank him for his service to our country.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, on September 5, 2017, President Trump terminated the DACA program, disrupting the lives of nearly 800,000 hardworking DACA recipients. On that same day, the administration decided to no longer allow DACA recipients to travel abroad under the authority of advance parole. In the past, DACA recipients have been allowed to take short trips out of the country for humanitarian, educational, or employment purposes. This is no longer the case, and the consequences have been devastating. In January of this year, the father of my constituent, Mayra--a college student and Dreamer--died in Mexico. She immediately gathered the necessary paperwork, including her father's death certificate, and applied for advance parole. Her request was denied, and then denied again. Mayra was unable to pay her last respects to her beloved father due to the unconscionable decisions made by this irresponsible and heartless administration. Mr. Speaker, I urge the administration to immediately reverse this harmful directive.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Maryland for yielding. When we talk about SNAP, I often think about my own childhood. When I was a kid, I remember my parents needing some assistance. We would get a bag of groceries that had block yellow cheese in it; it had things we could use to make some food. It was temporary. It was to get us through a tough time. SNAP is our Nation's cornerstone antihunger program, providing millions of American households with access to food assistance. Children living in these households are also eligible to receive free school meals, ensuring that they are not worried about going hungry when they should be free to focus on their academics. In California alone, 4.1 million people rely upon SNAP, with 74 percent of participants being part of families with children and half of participants already being part of working families. In my district, California's 44th Congressional District that covers areas like Compton, Watts, and San Pedro, 17 percent of households depend upon SNAP to assist them in feeding their families. SNAP not only provides families in need with vital nutritional assistance; it also helps to stimulate local economies. For every dollar invested in SNAP, nearly $2 are generated in economic activity. That is why the current efforts to ``reform'' SNAP are so misguided. These include the recent Harvest Box proposal, which would reduce or eliminate a SNAP recipient's access to nutritious products like fresh produce and meats, taking away their right to choose how best to fulfill their family's specific nutritional needs. Additionally, the recently unveiled farm bill expands work requirements for SNAP. This would make it harder for our most vulnerable to access food assistance, knocking them back down when we should be offering them a hand up. I am proud to support SNAP, and I will continue fighting with my colleagues to ensure that no American has to struggle to put food on their table.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome my constituent, Hector Barajas, home. Mr. Barajas enlisted in the Army in 1995, served nobly for 6 years, and was honorably discharged in 2001. Hector was not a U.S. citizen. Despite being a veteran, he was deported in 2002 and separated from his family, despite his years of service and sacrifice for our country. Soon after his deportation, Mr. Barajas became a leader and role model for other deported veterans, establishing a safe house in Tijuana, Mexico, called the Deported Veterans Support House, or ``The Bunker,'' as they like to call it. Meanwhile, he continued to pursue his dream of returning legally to the United States and becoming a U.S. citizen. His dream has finally come true. On April 13, Mr. Barajas will return to Compton, California, as a United States citizen. Upon his return, let's work together to bring home our veterans. Welcome home, Hector, and thank you for your service.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Dr. Willie J. Hagan, who is retiring after a storied career as an educator and, most recently, served as president of the California State University Dominguez Hills, which is in California's 44th Congressional District. I am also proud that he is able to join us today in this Chamber. Dr. Hagan began his career at the University of Connecticut, where he earned a Ph.D. in psychology before moving to southern California to become the vice president of administration at Cal State Fullerton. During his time there, he somehow found time to earn a master of fine arts in screenwriting from UCLA and also to write a screenplay. During his tenure at Cal State Dominguez Hills, Dr. Hagan worked tirelessly to advance the goals of the university by providing quality education, scholarship opportunities, and services that have been truly transformative. Under Dr. Hagan's leadership, Cal State Dominguez Hills experienced continuous growth in graduation rates, enrollment, tenure-track faculty appointments, and enhanced student services, while bringing distinction to the university. Dr. Hagan led an unwavering commitment to students' success, which promoted highly impactful student-focused initiatives. Dr. Hagan is a well-respected and admired educator who has demonstrated his commitment to the advancement of higher education and community growth. Mr. Speaker, I wish Dr. Hagan the best of luck in his future endeavors, which I am sure will include spending time with his wife, Betty, who is also an educator.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. This type of cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Each March, we raise awareness about this terrible disease and spread the word about the importance of getting screened. If you are 45 years or older, please get yourself screened early. The disease poses an especially high risk to African-American men and women who have the highest rate of death and the lowest survival rate among all Americans. This is why I am proud to support funding for programs like the Colorectal Cancer Control Program, which was established specifically to address disparities in screening rates and to improve access to underserved populations. Along with the Affordable Care Act, which requires the coverage of screening tests, we can provide the healthcare that Americans need to stay cancer free.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bill, H.R. 5089, the Strengthening Local Transportation Security Capabilities Act of 2018. Mr. Speaker, in 2013, my home airport, Los Angeles International Airport, came under attack when a gunman opened fire at a TSA security checkpoint, killing TSA Officer Gerardo Hernandez and injuring many others. This shooting was just one of several recent attacks on relatively soft targets such as public airport areas and surface transportation systems. In the wake of the shooting at LAX, Congress passed the Gerardo Hernandez Airport Security Act of 2015, which made several important security improvements, including directing airports in high-risk surface transportation systems to install incident response plans and requiring TSA to provide active-shooter training to all of its screening personnel. Now, over 2 years later, it is time to take the next step in improving security for these soft targets. Enactment of my bill, H.R. 5089, is that next step. H.R. 5089 is focused on enhancing the capabilities of local transportation security stakeholders to prevent and respond to terrorist attacks and other serious incidents. State and local stakeholders, including transit system owners and operators and law enforcement agencies, play a significant role in securing surface transportation systems against threats; yet many stakeholders cite a lack of sufficient information from TSA and the Federal Government to adequately prepare for these threats. The Strengthening Local Transportation Security Capabilities Act of 2018 requires DHS to prioritize the assignment of officers and intelligence analysts to fusion centers in jurisdictions with a high- risk surface transportation asset, thus improving information sharing. Further, it directs TSA to make a framework available to stakeholders for establishing operation centers responsible for overseeing daily operations of transportation facilities, allowing for improved communications. Finally, it authorizes DHS to develop a training program through the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers to enhance the capabilities of law enforcement agencies operating at surface transportation assets. Taken together, the provisions build upon previous efforts to secure our transportation systems by enhancing protection, preparedness, and response capabilities of State and local partners working to protect these critical systems. Mr. Speaker, the shooting at LAX, along with attacks on surface transportation systems and public airport areas in New Orleans, Fort Lauderdale, New York City, and overseas have proven that acts of terror are not limited to the aviation sector. To effectively address threats to surface transportation systems, State and local stakeholders must be able to communicate not only with TSA and the Federal Government, but amongst themselves during an incident. My bill seeks to bridge potential gaps in communication and coordination capabilities. Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5089, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, on this International Women's Day, I rise to honor the life of the Honorable Doris A. Davis, who passed away last month, after providing decades of public service to the city of Compton. After serving as Compton's first African-American city clerk, Ms. Davis then went on to become the first African-American mayor of a major metropolitan city in the country. During her time in office, Mayor Davis worked tirelessly to increase tax revenues and job opportunities in Compton. Upon leaving office, she founded the Daisy Child Development Centers, a nonprofit organization that provided assistance to single parents and families in and around Compton. Mayor Davis was always an active participant in our community-- belonging to over two dozen organizations, including the NAACP, the Urban League, and the League of Women Voters--and her legacy of public service will live on.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, how many people must die for Congress to act and address the severe epidemic of gun violence in America? We were devastated by the massacres in Newtown; Las Vegas; Orlando; and most recently in Parkland, Florida. On the Hill today are the courageous students from the Parkland high school, Marjory Stoneman Douglas. They came to Washington with one message: for Congress to take action now on gun violence. Action doesn't mean holding moments of silence. Action doesn't mean tweeting thoughts and prayers. Action means passing meaningful legislation, like the overwhelming majority of Americans are pleading with us to do. We should start by banning weapons of war, like the AR-15 and high- capacity magazines. We should allow the CDC to once again research the causes of gun violence that can better protect our communities. And we should also act to pass legislation to require universal background checks. Yesterday, Democrats filed a motion to force a vote on universal background checks. Not a single Republican has signed on to the motion. I implore my Republican colleagues to sign up to call for action because inaction means that more people will die and more families will grieve and our students will continue to feel unsafe.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following proclamation to commend the USS Iowa for her seventy-five years of service to the United States of America; Saturday, February 24, will be her 75th anniversary: Whereas the USS Iowa is a national treasure to the United States, having protected the country during both World War II, and the Korean War; and Whereas the USS Iowa served our country over fifty years and designated as the ``World's Greatest Naval Ship''; and Whereas the USS Iowa has welcomed and escorted our nation's Commander in Chief on many occcasions, no other battleship has been host to more U.S. Presidents than the Iowa; and Whereas the USS Iowa has earned fourteen different ribbons and received numerous Command Excellence Awards over her fifty years of service; and Whereas the USS Iowa continues to serve the United States as a living monument that highlights our nation's rich naval history; and Whereas seventy-five years of continued service deserves the highest marks; and Now, therefore, I commend the USS Iowa and all who served and continue to serve on this beautiful vessel, for seventy-five honorable years.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce my guest for the State of the Union, Marco Chavez. Marco Chavez is a veteran who served this country honorably, came home, and was deported to Mexico. Mr. Chavez was born in Mexico. He was brought to California as an infant. He served in the Marine Corps as a lawful permanent resident before being deported. California Governor Brown granted him a full and unconditional pardon for a minor crime he had done, but he was separated from his family for 16 years. It is an injustice that our veterans can go and serve overseas and that this is how we treat them when they come home after serving this country, many of whom put themselves in harm's way. That is why I have introduced the Veterans' Pathway to Citizenship Act, which will make it easier for deported veterans to return to the United States and ensures that Active-Duty servicemembers don't leave the military without understanding their options for naturalization.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, the DREAMers issue, DACA recipients, is very personal for me. My district is 70 percent Latino, and I have an estimated 8,000 DACA recipients. I also have a cousin who is a recipient of DACA. It is heartbreaking to hear the stories of recipients who are living in uncertainty, living in fear, and who tell you firsthand of the sense of urgency that they feel. It is a sense of urgency that, frankly, I don't feel is happening here in Congress. Now, I will talk to my colleagues across the aisle, and they will tell me: ``I support a solution. I want to do something to help DACA recipients.'' But we can't get a vote. The leadership will not give us a vote on the Dream Act. They won't give us a vote on any legislation that involves DACA. Just today, we had White House Chief of Staff Kelly come in to meet with members of the Hispanic Caucus to talk about this issue. We continue to hear that the President is committed to finding a fix, yet he is using DACA recipients as a political pawn, a political pawn to get a wall that he said Mexico would pay for. Frankly, as a member of the Homeland Security Committee, I know that putting money into a wall is not the best use of our dollars. This issue is urgent; it is real. These are people's lives. They are doctors, they are nurses, and they are teachers. In my very district, I have a DACA recipient named Roque Pech. He was my guest for the State of the Union last year, somebody who is now teaching our children, somebody who is giving back to our community. DACA recipients are good folks. They are our neighbors. They are our friends. They are our family members. There is overwhelming support, on a bipartisan basis, to give them the protections that they need and deserve. Members of our military who are serving are also DACA recipients. I urge us all to come together to find a solution, so that we can deliver on providing the protections that DACA recipients so urgently need and so urgently want, and stop making this a political football so that we can also move on to other issues.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for yielding. We are in a critical and urgent time. People's lives are on the line. On September 5, the President suddenly and cruelly terminated the DACA program. Since that date, 13,000 DACA recipients have lost their status and their protections, and every day that Congress delays a vote, another average of 122 lose their status. That is why this is urgent, that is why this is important, that is why we need to act now. Congress should not wait any longer to act. It cannot turn its back on these youths, on these immigrants who are leading productive, positive lives, who are giving back to our communities and contributing immensely to the economy. Congress has an opportunity today to show the world our values, that we are going to protect DREAMers, that we are going to stand with these young men and women who enrich our country, who only know the United States as their home. The nearly 800,000 DREAMers are our doctors, our nurses, our teachers, our neighbors, and they serve in our military and are protecting us here at home. But because Congress has not acted and because this Chamber has failed to act on the DACA issue, DREAMers are living in fear and uncertainty of their future. They are afraid to go to school. They are afraid of losing their loved ones at a moment's notice. They are anxious about whether they will be able to continue to earn their paychecks and earn a living. DREAMers are feeling the pain now. They are experiencing the anxiety now. They are being detained now. These are real people. Now, I understand their fear and their uncertainty, because, for many of us, this hits real close to home. I have 8,000 DREAMers who live in my district. I also have a family member who is a DREAMer. Many are afraid of being deported to a place where they will be strangers, to a country they haven't lived in since they were children. Mr. Speaker, this is the 16th time since DACA's termination that Democrats are challenging Republicans to take real urgent action to protect DREAMers by bringing the bipartisan Dream Act to a vote on this floor. We must stand up for DREAMers. It is the right thing to do. It is what Americans want us to do. They want Congress to protect DREAMers from deportation by an overwhelming majority. It is the moral thing to do. Again, this is a bipartisan issue. I have talked to many of my colleagues across the aisle who want to see a vote on this. I believe we will pass it overwhelmingly if we could just get this vote. This is a moment of truth for our Nation. I ask my colleagues to vote against the previous question so that we can immediately bring the Dream Act to the floor and provide relief for the nearly 800,000 DREAMers in time for the holiday season.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3359, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act of 2017. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3359 would make long-overdue organizational changes within the Department of Homeland Security's National Protection and Programs Directorate, otherwise known as NPPD. I am a strong supporter of this measure that seeks to empower the DHS to carry out one of its most important and difficult missions: helping Federal agencies and critical infrastructure owners and operators secure themselves against physical and cyber attacks. Importantly, it would rename NPPD the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, to better communicate its mission to stakeholders, agency partners, and the cyber talent the DHS needs to come work in the Federal Government. Now, make no mistake, these are not mere administrative or bureaucratic changes. H.R. 3359 would transform NPPD into an operational agency on par with the TSA or Customs and Border Protection. It seems that, with each passing day, we learn of new ways adversaries and cyber criminals are looking to exploit the cyber weaknesses of Federal agencies and our Nation's critical infrastructure. Last year, we found ourselves in uncharted territory when we learned that our electoral system was under attack by one of the world's most sophisticated cyber actors: the Russian Government. Now, to respond to these evolving cyber threats, Congress has put its faith in the DHS; and, in turn, the DHS looks to NPPD, a small, under- resourced headquarters component established a decade ago to carry out a far more limited mission than the one it has today. Over the past few years, Congress has expanded NPPD's cyber authorities and responsibilities without elevating NPPD's standing commensurate with its growing mission. Further, as NPPD has gotten better at delivering cybersecurity assistance and other services to public and private sector partners, it has seen a surge in demand for its services. For example, in the wake of the Russian efforts to hack the 2016 Presidential election, State and local elected officials are now requesting DHS cybersecurity services. Secretaries of Homeland Security came to us during the Obama administration, and now under the Trump administration, to ask for our help in organizing the Directorate into an operational cybersecurity agency. It is time we grant this request. Reorganizing and rebranding NPPD should enhance the DHS' standing with respect to its Federal and international peers, clarify its organizational mission, and boost workforce morale. Our expectation is that, with higher moral and mission clarity, the DHS will be able to better compete with the private sector and Federal agencies, like the NSA and the CIA, for a short supply of talented cyber professionals. Finally, CISA will be in a better position to carry out its core cybersecurity and infrastructure protection activities, like risk and vulnerability assessments for hospitals, banks, the electrical grid, and now election systems. We need NPPD to carry out these activities swiftly, effectively, and in a way that respects privacy and civil liberties; and we cannot expect it to work with one hand tied behind its back. This bill is the result of bipartisan negotiations, and I want to thank Chairman McCaul and Chairman Ratcliffe for their commitment to see this through and working collaboratively to get this done. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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