Anthony Brown

Mr. BROWN of Maryland

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

Mr. BROWN of Maryland

Mr. BROWN of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, President Trump's strategy to counter Iran has failed. He has allowed Iran to restart its nuclear weapons program, disrupted our operations countering ISIS, continues to undermine our relationship with NATO allies, and has led America to the brink of a new and unnecessary war. As someone who served in Iraq, I understand the costs of war, how our soldiers put their lives on the line, and the impact these decisions have on military families. Our Founders entrusted Congress with the responsibility to declare war. Congress owes it to the American people and our men and women in uniform to carry out that responsibility. It is time for Congress to declare that war with Iran is not in the best interest of the American people. It is time for Congress to repeal the 2002 AUMF and dramatically restrict the 2001 AUMF. And until we can do that, we must prevent the President from unilaterally committing the United States to another war in the Middle East.

Mr. BROWN of Maryland

Mr. BROWN of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Representative Torres for yielding me the time and also my good friend from New York, Congressman Suozzi, for his work on this important legislation. Mr. Speaker, this bill fixes several alarming defects in President Trump's tax giveaway to the wealthy. It also takes steps to make our tax code fairer for working people. In 2017, my Republican colleagues tried and failed to eliminate a $250 tax deduction for teachers buying school supplies for their children in their classrooms. Smaller education budgets have forced too many teachers to buy supplies to fill the gap. More than 90 percent of public schoolteachers are not reimbursed for these expenses. Nearly 80,000 educators in Maryland claim this deduction on their taxes. The average teacher spends $479 of their own money buying supplies for our kids, so I am pleased that this legislation incorporates language from my standalone bill that I filed in the 115th Congress and again in this Congress, the Educators Expense Deduction Modernization Act, which increases the deduction from $250 to $500. It is a small benefit for educators who make a financial sacrifice. It is critical for local school districts and States to better fund education and pay educators. In Congress, we can do more to ensure classrooms are stocked with the supplies that our students, our children need.

Mr. BROWN of Maryland

Mr. BROWN of Maryland. Madam Speaker, when I was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Army, I swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution, and I have done so 13 times in my 35 years of public service. That oath means everything: to serve and fight for our country and to protect and promote our values. Yet, President Trump betrayed his oath. He abused his power, the immense power of the Presidency. He threatened our elections by inviting foreign interference. He chose investigating a political rival over defending our national security. So, today, we must use our power, the extraordinary power endowed by our Constitution and entrusted by the people: the power to impeach. We must hold President Trump accountable or else we will be complicit in undermining our democracy, our security, and our dignity. His conduct demonstrates his unfitness to serve as Commander in Chief and warrants removal from office. The oath I took as a Member of Congress is the same I took as a soldier, an oath that reminds me values matter, that duty, honor, and the rule of law matter. To keep my oath to the people I serve, the country I love, today I will vote to impeach the President of the United States.

Mr. BROWN of Maryland

Mr. BROWN of Maryland. Madam Speaker, on December 12, 2019 I was absent from the House of Representatives. Had I been present, I would have voted ``YEA'' on Roll Call No. 659, on Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, FUTURE Act. Historically Black Colleges and Universities make substantial contributions to the nation's economic strength. A recent report by the United Negro College Fund found that HBCUs generate $15 billion in annual economic impact, and created over 134,000 jobs. HBCUs enroll on average, 24 percent of all black undergraduates pursuing a bachelor's degree, graduate 26 percent of all black bachelor's degrees and 32 percent of STEM degrees earned by black students. Having a degree from an HBCU lifts the lifetime earnings of a graduate by nearly a million dollars. This legislation provides permanent funding for HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions attended by over 2 million students, recognizing the value of their missions and academic offerings. Furthermore, the bill takes an important step in simplifying the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for 20 million working families.

Mr. BROWN of Maryland

Mr. BROWN of Maryland. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Smith for his hard work, as well as the committee staff on an NDAA that affirms our values and delivers progressive wins for the American people. The NDAA tackles the pressing security challenges facing our country and makes important investments in our warfighters and their families. We confront Russian aggression by bolstering the European Deterrence Initiative and providing our allies in Ukraine with additional military support. We make a commitment to a diverse and inclusive military by: Increasing defense spending at historically Black colleges and universities; incentivizing more minority and women-owned businesses to be part of our defense industrial base; and finally, gender integrating basic training for the Marine Corps. This NDAA makes good on the commitments to address serious problems with private military housing; and give military families a pathway to seek justice, if they suffer from medical malpractice. Yet, this NDAA is also a compromise. I am disappointed that we couldn't reverse the President's ban on transgender servicemembers or force Congress to reconsider the 2001 AUMF. But ultimately, this NDAA gets the job done, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. BROWN of Maryland

Mr. BROWN of Maryland. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. BROWN of Maryland. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I want to first recognize the hard work of Chairman Grijalva and the sponsors of the underlying pieces of legislation. This package reflects a bipartisan collaboration between Members dedicated to conserving our natural resources. In the face of changing climate, extreme weather patterns and events, rising tides, disappearing species, and habitat destruction, it is critical we act now to preserve and protect our coastlines, and the communities and local economies that depend on the continued health of our water resources. This includes the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the country, in my State of Maryland. The bay is critically important as an economic engine that attracts millions of tourists and supports thousands of jobs. For decades, oyster harvesting was one of the bay's most important industries. Yet today, we are seeing an alarming decline in the bay's oyster population, a decline caused by climate change, years of overharvesting, ocean acidification, nutrient reduction, denitrification, habitat destruction, and oyster-debilitating disease. However, there is still much we don't know as to why the depletion is occurring and how best to conserve oysters. Mr. Chairman, my amendment strengthens the underlying bill by providing research grants to those working to reverse the depletion and decline of oysters in the Chesapeake Bay. These grants support collaborative partnerships to research the long-term conservation, restoration, and management of oysters in the Chesapeake Bay. This program will encourage collaborations between the academic community, the seafood industry, nonprofit organizations, and State agencies to develop new innovative solutions. These grants will help us better understand why oyster hatcheries are crashing and to develop best practices in mitigating habitat destruction. My amendment will provide us more tools to strengthen the oyster population and the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Mr. Chairman, I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment and the underlying bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BROWN of Maryland

Mr. BROWN of Maryland. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. BROWN of Maryland. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chair, I want first to recognize the hard work of my colleague from Connecticut, Congressman Joe Courtney, on the underlying bill and for making workplace safety a priority. Workplace violence is a serious problem and occurs more often than we may realize. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, incidents of serious workplace violence were 12 times higher among healthcare and social service workers, and 70 percent of nonfatal workplace assaults occurred in the healthcare and social assistance sectors. Nurses, physicians, emergency responders, medical assistance, and social workers care for our families in our times of need, and violence against them has reached epidemic proportions. The range of patients, clients, and demands these workers encounter on any given day can expose them to occupational risks with little training on what they should do if those interactions turn violent. With uneven Federal enforcement, States are leading the way to address this issue, establishing a process for recording, responding to, and tracking incidents of workplace violence and requiring regular workplace violence prevention training. Similarly, the underlying bill addresses training needs for employees who may be exposed to workplace violence, hazards, and risks. However, each situation is not always the same. Not all circumstances and patients are the same. We must adjust our training to reflect all communities and situations that professionals may face on the job. My amendment ensures additional training for employees who work with victims of torture, human trafficking, and domestic violence. As a result of trauma, many survivors develop emotional and mental health problems that require timely, comprehensive, and compassionate treatment, even if the situation involved physical or psychological assaults. These factors necessitate a different approach from our medical professionals and must be a part of workplace violence trainings, particularly in healthcare settings. Proper training on best practices like de-escalation can help ensure the safety of both the patient and the healthcare worker. In doing so, we can prevent further trauma that could be detrimental to the survivors' recovery. I have long been a champion for survivors of abuse and will continue to do so. Safe work environments and quality care are mutually reinforcing; both must be considered in order to promote positive outcomes for patients in our communities. I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this amendment and the underlying legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BROWN of Maryland. Madam Chair, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Courtney).

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

Mr. BROWN of Maryland

Mr. BROWN of Maryland. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. BROWN of Maryland. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to recognize the hard work of my colleague from California, Chairwoman Maxine Waters, on the underlying bill and the outstanding effort of the gentlewoman's entire committee to bring this bill to the floor. The Export-Import Bank plays an important role in helping U.S. businesses maintain and expand their presence in the global economy, increasing exports and creating jobs at no expense to American taxpayers. Ninety percent of customers supported by the Export-Import Bank are small businesses, not counting the tens of thousands of companies in the supply chain of larger exporters. The Export-Import Bank helps create a level playing field for American businesses by countering more than 100 foreign export credit agencies. China alone provides $130 billion in financing to bolster its exports. Without Ex-Im, U.S. companies and workers will be left at a significant disadvantage when facing foreign competitors and will struggle to enter competitive markets. This diminishes both our economic and national security. The underlying bill reauthorizes the Bank for 10 years, increases the agency's lending capacity to $175 billion, and gives U.S. companies the tools they need to have a fair shot in today's increasingly competitive trade environment. Mr. Chairman, H.R. 4863 also makes workforce and supplier diversity a priority by establishing an Office of Minority and Women Inclusion at the agency. A diverse workforce and an inclusive workplace have been shown to enhance financial performance and the ability to accomplish the mission. However, there continues to be a trend of low representation of minorities and women in the financial services industry and disparities in access to credit, capital, and banking. Chairwoman Waters was one of the original authors of a section of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act that created an Office of Minority and Women Inclusion at most Federal financial service agencies. Now, the new Export Finance Agency will have such an office as well. These offices have the important responsibilities of overseeing all diversity matters in management, employment, business activities, and procurement. My amendment would build on the existing model by requiring the agency to offer inclusion and diversity training to ensure employees understand the specific challenges facing minority- and women-owned businesses. This will allow for the agency to adopt the best and most up-to-date processes and practices to ensure we are increasing contracting opportunities and services available to minority-owned and women-owned businesses. Women- and minority-owned business exporters is one the fastest growing market segments, and my amendment will help more of these firms turn export opportunities into real sales that will maintain and create American jobs. Now, more than ever, we must work together to ensure that there are diverse perspectives at the table and that these historically disadvantaged businesses have the opportunity to grow and be successful. I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this amendment and the underlying bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BROWN of Maryland

Mr. BROWN of Maryland. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. BROWN of Maryland. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to start by recognizing the hard work of Chairman Grijalva, and perhaps even more important, Congressman Neguse, my good friend, for his work on the underlying bill and the amount of time, energy, passion, and commitment that he devotes to the conservation and, yes, the preservation of Colorado's public lands. They are, in fact, iconic features of our American landscape and crucial engines for its recreational industry and State economy. It is our duty to protect these treasured lands and to be responsible stewards so that future generations can enjoy them as much as we do today. We recognize how irreplaceable and rich these lands are, not simply for the value they bring to our country's vast ecological diversity but, also, for their contribution to our Nation's history. One such area is Camp Hale. Decades ago, Camp Hale served as a base for our servicemembers to train in mountain warfare. I am sure the Chair is excited to know that the training campground gave us the 10th Mountain Division, the famed and heroic mountain fighters, who, through their dedication, service, and sacrifice, helped our country achieve victory in World War II. And, upon returning home, it was these veterans who drew upon their training and experiences to help build Colorado's flourishing outdoor industry. The legislation recognizes the significance of Camp Hale and, as such, designated it as a National Historic Landscape, the first such designation of its kind. Yet, to fully honor Camp Hale's legacy, we should take every measure to ensure today's veterans are provided the opportunity to actively participate in the stewardship of this unique landscape. As I sit here today in the Chamber, I hear a call, a loud call, for a bipartisan amendment that everybody can get their arms around, so, Mr. Chair, I offer mine. My amendment strengthens the underlying legislation by including veteran outreach and engagement activities as part of the management plan for Camp Hale. Public lands are important vehicles to connect veterans to our national heritage and history. Many initiatives and programs have demonstrated the unique opportunities that the outdoors offer veterans to reconnect, recover, and heal after they return from the battlefield. We should ensure today's veterans are a part of the management of Camp Hale. By doing so, we honor not only the legacy of Camp Hale and the servicemembers who trained there but, also, those who continue to serve this country today. While I am not from Colorado, I recognize that veterans across the country will flock to this wonderful, historic-designated area and engage in the activities and the outreach for veterans. Mr. Chair, I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment and the underlying bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BROWN of Maryland

Mr. BROWN of Maryland. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. BROWN of Maryland. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chair, I want to recognize, first, the hard work of Chairwoman Lofgren. Your hard work and your leadership on this important issue and the underlying bill. It is clear that our foreign adversaries have and will continue to interfere and influence our elections and attempt to erode confidence in our government and destroy our democratic system. The Mueller report made clear that the Russian Government interfered in the 2016 Presidential election in a sweeping and systematic fashion. And Mr. Mueller testified earlier this year that many more countries have developed misinformation campaigns since 2016 targeted at the United States, our democracy, and our system of elections. Facebook on Monday disclosed that it had taken down four new foreign interference operations originating from Iran and Russia. Soliciting or accepting foreign interference doesn't just violate our democratic norms; it clearly violates our laws. Yet, in June, President Trump said there would be nothing wrong with accepting from a foreign government incriminating information about an opponent and saw no reason--the President saw no reason--to call the FBI if it were to happen. He went one step further and said it was wrong for FBI Director Chris Wray to say that public officials or campaigns should contact the FBI if they are contacted by other nations seeking to influence or interfere with our elections. The President's remarks mirrored one given by his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who also said he was not sure he would call the FBI if a foreign government offered damaging information about a political foe. That is why it is critical that we pass this legislation, to protect the integrity of our elections. The underlying bill requires public officials, candidates, and campaigns to report to the FBI when foreign governments and their agents contact them and holds them responsible when they fail to report. Madam Chair, my amendment strengthens this legislation by requiring the FBI to confirm receipt of any notification of possible foreign interference operations. Additionally, the FBI must also notify both the House and Senate Intelligence Committees guaranteeing that Congress, as a coequal branch of government, is made aware when foreign agents and hostile nations are attempting to undermine our democracy. Finally, my amendment would require the FBI to submit an annual report to Congress related to all the notifications it has received and the corresponding actions the Bureau has taken in response. The FBI cannot be passive to these threats to our national security but must take decisive action to respond to election interference. Madam Chair, I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this amendment and this underlying bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BROWN of Maryland

Mr. BROWN of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, as we mourn our dear colleague, Elijah Cummings, I rise today to say farewell to a good man, a faithful servant, and a true friend. During the past 2 days, much has been said about Elijah. His life was well documented, although his humility prevented him from seeking the attention or the limelight, either in life or in death. I admired and respected Elijah. I looked up to him. When I was first elected in 1998 to the Maryland House of Delegates, Elijah was one of the first calls I got. He didn't call to say congratulations, although his kind words meant a great deal to me. Rather, he called to tell me about my responsibility to the people whom I serve. Elijah told me, if you are going to be your best, you can only be so if you focus your work on empowering the people we serve. Years later, when I struggled with the decision to run for Lieutenant Governor, I called Elijah for his advice. During our conversation, he didn't tell me what to do. Rather, Elijah challenged me to do that which best positioned me to empower the people. For Elijah, everything we did was about empowering the people we serve. In Elijah's first floor speech delivered 23\1/2\ years ago, after winning a special election, he told us that he was on ``a mission and a vision to empower people, to make people realize that the power is within them.'' Elijah, you did your job. You fulfilled your mission. Elijah was not an ordinary man who lived an extraordinary life. No, Elijah was an extraordinary man who did extraordinary things during his life, things to empower people. Raised out of poverty and through adversity, he achieved many successes despite the odds and the obstacles. The son of sharecroppers, he earned not only a law degree but received 12 honorary doctoral degrees, all of which represent his dedication to empowering people. I, like so many in this Chamber, was the recipient of Elijah's generosity. His greatest gift to us was the ability to challenge all of us to do better and not just to accept things as they are. Elijah would always say, ``We are better than this.'' He led by example, taught us by doing and showing, not just talking--although his talk, his speech, his quiet advice, and most memorably, his powerful oratory were truly inspiring and matchless. When I ran for Governor, Elijah supported me. What I will always remember is not that he stood by my side on the stage on the evening of my primary election victory, but, rather, that months later, he was standing by my side late into the night as I experienced a difficult general election defeat. That was Elijah. His support was unwavering, his friendship unconditional, and his encouragement uplifting. When I successfully ran for Congress, Elijah and Maya were there for me and Karmen, ready and eager to help us prepare for the rigors of Congress. I thank both Elijah and Maya from the bottom of my heart for always picking up the phone, answering my texts, lending an ear, and offering a word of encouragement, advice, and support. Mr. Speaker, Elijah was distinguished. He not only mastered the science and statecraft of governing, but he was also conspicuous in the art of understanding and representing his constituents, the people of the city of Baltimore--their dreams and aspirations, their challenges and frustrations. Elijah possessed a keen intellect and understanding of government as a vehicle to empower the people. He possessed a radiant, remarkable passion that was both commanding and, when necessary, calming, as only Elijah could accomplish. Whether Elijah was wielding the gavel from his elevated positions as chairman of the Oversight and Reform Committee or when Elijah was wielding a bullhorn on the streets of Baltimore city, the community that he cherished and that adored him, Elijah was always leading at the intersection of intellect and compassion, bringing just the right mix, at the right moment, to address the right issues, and moved us and his people in the right direction. And that direction was always toward righteousness. History will be kind to Elijah, even when others were not, because Elijah did his work with kindness and compassion, and with moral clarity. Mr. Speaker, Elijah closed his floor speech in April 1996 with a poem. He said: I only have a minute, 60 seconds in it. Forced upon me, I did not choose it. But I know that I must use it, give account if I abuse it, suffer if I lose it. Only a tiny little minute, but eternity is in it. Elijah, what you did with the minute that God gave you will last an eternity. Rest, my dear friend. Rest well.

Mr. BROWN of Maryland

Mr. BROWN of Maryland. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. BROWN of Maryland. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to thank my colleague from California, the chairwoman of the committee, Chairwoman Waters, for her leadership on the Financial Services Committee. And I want to recognize the hard work of my colleague and friend from New York, Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney, on the underlying bill. I also want to thank you, Representative Maloney, for inviting me last Congress to visit several European countries to explore and better understand how those countries address the problems that this bill seeks to address. Currently, no state requires companies to provide the identities of their true beneficial owners. This lack of oversight and transparency makes it easy for criminals, dictators, and kleptocrats to launder money, hide their illicit activities, and invade law enforcement through anonymous shell companies. These anonymous shell companies can be used for everything from funding terrorist organizations, supporting human traffickers, and helping corrupt foreign leaders evade sanctions and threaten our national security. These so-called companies have no employees, no physical offices but are established simply to access our banking system. The 2016 Panama Papers leak exposed just how powerful and corrupt these anonymous shell companies are. And the United States is the only advanced economy in the world that doesn't already require this disclosure. To combat this, this bill requires corporations to disclose their beneficial owners at the time the company is formed. This is a commonsense requirement, considering you often need more documentation to get a library card than to start a company or an LLC. This bill provides much needed transparency without being burdensome on legitimate businesses. The bill also protects the privacy of Americans by ensuring law enforcement officials at the State and Federal level with access to this new information are properly trained, have an existing investigatory basis before searching, and maintain an audit log. Mr. Chair, my amendment strengthens and builds upon these protections. It requires law enforcement officials tasked with handling a beneficial owner's personal information to go through retraining at a minimum of every 2 years. This will ensure they are keeping up with the latest rules, systems, and processes and will lower the risk of misuse or improper disclosure. The retraining is critical to ensuring that our law enforcement officials, at all levels of government, are undertaking best practices when handling sensitive information during their investigations. Together we can finally tackle the issues surrounding shell companies and their opaque beneficial ownership structure and give law enforcement the tools they need to track the money that threatens our national security. I strongly encourage my colleagues to support the underlying bill and my amendment. I yield back the balance of my time

Mr. BROWN of Maryland

Mr. BROWN of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I rise to once again oppose the President's outrageous decision to declare a national emergency. President Trump repeatedly promised that Mexico would pay for his border wall, but now he is diverting money, $3.6 billion, away from our servicemembers, military families, and their children. Two projects were canceled in my district at Joint Base Andrews. Joint Base Andrews is home to Air Force One. It is the cornerstone of military security in our Nation's Capital. President Trump canceled a much-needed new childcare facility for families at Joint Base Andrews. We have been working on this for over a decade. The current childcare center, which I visited 2 weeks ago, 2 years ago, was constructed during World War II. It is too small to serve the children on base. There is a 200-child waiting list. It suffers from sewage backup. That is right, classes are canceled when the sewer backs up. The kitchen closes when the sewer backs up, and that happens every other month. It has got mold and rodent infestation, a leaking roof that collapsed 5 years ago, and a failing heating and air-conditioning system. Servicemembers will be forced to use more expensive and lower quality off-base programs. The Department of Defense studied it; they estimated it; and it will cost military families $10,000 a year, each, money that is coming out of their pocket. Why? To build a wall. The families at Andrews have been waiting for years for a modern, safe building, and now we are telling them to wait. We are telling kids to go without so President Trump can build his wall before 2020. Servicemembers that defend our Nation should never have to worry about the safety and well-being of their children while they are serving our Nation. This isn't the only project being canceled at Andrews. The President canceled a hazardous material cargo pad necessary to load ordnance and munitions onto planes. The Pentagon said that, without this project, Andrews will have ``enduring systemic weaknesses in its ability to support required military activities.'' Think September 11, 9/11. We relied on fighter jets from Andrews, and now we are risking their mission with this cut. The President is also canceling dozens of essential projects that would provide relief in Puerto Rico and in Europe against Russian aggression. It hurts morale among the men and women who sacrifice more and more every year. Voting to end this national emergency is the only way to restore funding that the President has taken from our troops and their families. The administration should not build this ineffective, xenophobic, vanity project on the backs of the military. When we face critical challenges at home and abroad, this kind of action hurts our ability to respond to real-world emergencies.

Mr. BROWN of Maryland

Mr. BROWN of Maryland. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Louis Miller of District Heights, MD on his retirement on September 30, 2019 after more than 31 years of service to the United States House of Representatives. During Lou's tenure of 31 years, he has worked for the House Catering Office, the Office of the Clerk and the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). He is retiring as a Purchasing Agent for the Office of Acquisitions Management within the CAO. Lou began his House career in 1986 to 1990 as an employee of the House Catering Office. He left the Hill a couple years and returned in 1992 as a Helper with the Department of Furnishings for the Office of the Clerk. With the creation of the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) in 1996 the Furnishings Department was moved from the Office of the Clerk to the CAO. Lou held various positions within the Furnishings Department, including Laborer, Inventory Control Clerk and Logistics Distribution Specialist. In 2009, Lou began working for the Accountable Equipment & Assets as an Acquisition Counselor. He remained in this position until his retirement. Lou's official title upon his retirement is a Purchasing Agent for Acquisitions Management which falls under the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). As a Purchasing Agent for the Office of Acquisitions Management, Lou was responsible for the process required to efficiently purchase quality equipment, furniture, office supplies and related items for the House community at-large. In retirement, Lou has plans to do some more travelling. In addition, he hopes to do some volunteer work with his church. Lou also plans to relax and cheer for his beloved Dallas Cowboys on their road to future Super Bowl victories. On behalf of the entire House community, we extend congratulations to Lou in grateful recognition of and appreciation for his many years of dedicated service and outstanding contributions to the U.S. House of Representatives. We wish him many wonderful years in fulfilling his retirement dreams.

Mr. BROWN of Maryland

Mr. BROWN of Maryland. Madam Speaker, on roll call no. 437, I mistakenly voted ``nay'' when I intended to vote ``aye.'' I was a cosponsor of H.R. 1044 in this and the previous Congress. I firmly believe that our immigration system needs comprehensive reform and this legislation is a small but important first step to alleviate the decades-long backlogs in our outdated employment and family-based immigration systems.

Mr. BROWN of Maryland

Mr. BROWN of Maryland. Madam Chair, I rise in support of the amendment, which is the product of hard work from my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. The administration does not have authorization to take military action in or against Iran and must come to Congress for that authority, and this amendment makes that crystal clear. Many members of the administration have been trying to make a case for a war with Iran for months, if not years, going so far as to try to speciously tie Iran to al-Qaida and claim the 2001 AUMF passed in the aftermath of the attack on 9/11 might authorize war against Iran. Congress must reassert our constitutional authority. There is no question that Iran is a bad actor and they have been for a long time, but if the administration believes that armed conflict is the way to keep us safe, then the administration must make the case to Congress and the American people, because it will be their sons and daughters who will be on the front lines of that brutal war. We cannot be a Congress or a nation that accepts going to war on a whim as the status quo. I firmly believe it is time for Congress to repeal and replace the 2001 AUMF, but until we can do that, we must pass this amendment now.