Wm. Clay

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly).

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the distinguished majority leader.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume. Mr. Speaker, I am sure my friends on the other side will agree it does no one good, it does this country no good, when we shut down government. I don't know about you, but my friend from North Carolina, I believe he goes through airports sometimes. I will say this: Over the last 5 weeks, it was quite difficult for me to look in the eyes of my constituents who happen to be TSA agents and tell them: ``I am sorry, but you are going to miss a payday,'' or, ``You are going to miss another payday.'' We are better than that. We are better than that as a Congress, as an institution, and as a government. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms. Wexton), the sponsor of this legislation and my friend.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, Missouri, like it is spelled.

Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I am relieved and grateful that the longest government shutdown in our Nation's history has ended. I am sure that many people share these same feelings, including my colleagues. The American people, and especially, the 800,000 Federal employees who were furloughed or forced to work without pay for 35 days, have to be relieved. I hope that the one positive thing to come out of this experience is universal recognition that government shutdowns are almost always pointless exercises that are harmful to our country and our constituents. The Federal Government should be open for business and not closed. That is why I strongly support H. Res. 79, the measure before us today. Even though the recent shutdown affected only part of the Federal Government, its impact was deeply felt throughout the country. The Departments of Homeland Security, State, Treasury, Commerce, Justice, Agriculture, the EPA, and NASA, were shuttered. Operations at these agencies essentially came to a screeching halt: Phone calls went unanswered as Federal workers were furloughed; Safety inspections of industrial sites, factories, and power plants, were halted because EPA inspectors were sent home; Food inspections at the FDA ceased; Scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Fish and Wildlife Service were furloughed. Law enforcement officers at the FBI, DEA, Secret Service, and Customs and Border Protection were the lucky ones. They got to work without pay. These dedicated men and women, many of whom make only $60,000 a year, missed more than a month's pay. Just like other middle-class families, Federal employees have bills to pay also: food, mortgages, rent, medical bills, student loans, and car payments. And like so many other Americans, many live paycheck to paycheck. It is simply cruel to inflict such financial hardship and unnecessary stress on workers who just want to do their jobs serving the American people. The greatest irony of the last shutdown is that immigration enforcement and border protection suffered as a result, despite the President's fixation on a wall, a brilliant 14th century solution to a 21st century problem. The shutdown closed the immigration courts, contributing to an already significant backlog of cases and delays in deportation. The harm ripples through our economy, touching everyone from Federal employees to Federal contractors, to private sector businesses, and, most importantly, to every American who relies upon the vital services Federal workers provide. The CBO estimated that the economic cost of the shutdown is $11 billion--that is $11 billion--almost twice the cost of the funding the President seeks for his wall. We must learn from this recent shutdown. We must not let it happen again in a few short weeks. We can and must do better and work together to prevent any future shutdowns, which I am certain my friends and colleagues from North Carolina and Ohio want to do. I am sure they will have a short response to opening statements and will probably join in with us. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. 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 H. Res. 79.

Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 79) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Government shutdowns are detrimental to the Nation and should not occur, as amended.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, the U.S. Government, the greatest Nation on Earth, should never shut down. Never. It is outrageous, it is totally unnecessary, and it must end immediately. Today, 800,000 Federal workers who go to work every day to serve this Nation and the American people won't get paid, not because they did a bad job, but because of a temper tantrum from a President whose first allegiance is not to the national interest, but to protecting his fragile ego, and keeping his racist campaign promise to build a wall that no one with an ounce of common sense wants. The U.S. House has passed legislation to open the government, pay our employees and contractors, and get on with the people's business. It is up to Leader McConnell and the President to do their jobs and end this ridiculous Trump shutdown.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that the House is taking up S. 2765, a bill that shows once again that Democrats support investment, job creation, and the development of wealth in rural areas. The bill is simple. It extends the exemption from registration in the Dodd-Frank Act to certain advisers to small private funds known as Rural Business Investment Companies, which are regulated by the USDA and are required to provide significant financing to rural area small businesses. Mr. Speaker, I support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I have no football team in St. Louis, but we do have the Kansas City Chiefs, who are doing pretty well. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I urge Members to vote for this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2652 and its House companion sponsored by my friend, Representative Cedric Richmond, which awards a Congressional Gold Medal to Stephen Michael Gleason, whose tireless work for people living with ALS should be honored. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Richmond), the sponsor of the House version of this bill.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ms. Lee for teeing that up, our good friend Congresswoman Barbara Lee who succeeded my friend Ron Dellums. Ron was a giant, and I truly admired him. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight in honored memory of a great American who served with distinction in this House for 27 years, the late gentleman from California, former Congressman Ron Dellums. Like my father, former Congressman Bill Clay, Congressman Dellums will forever be revered as one of the founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus, and he was also a founding member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Ron was a legendary figure. Whatever task he took on, he excelled in it. I first met Congressman Dellums when I was a very young man in college and I was assigned to this Chamber as an assistant door keeper. My door was what is known as the west door, and I had to know Ron. I remember two instances where one time Ron Dellums portrayed the iconic figure of Frederick Douglass in a play, and I was so impressed with that. He was also a member of the congressional baseball team and played first base. Whatever he did, he did it well. Our families became close, and when I came back to this body as a Member, our professional relationship continued. When I first met him, I was immediately impressed, not just with his powerful intellect, but with his fearless advocacy to end the war in Vietnam, protect the right to vote, speak truth to power in defense of our most vulnerable citizens, and his unyielding demand that America must be a beacon for human rights around the world. During his first run for Congress in 1970, former Vice President Spiro Agnew branded Ron Dellums as a ``dangerous radical'' for his vigorous opposition to the Vietnam war. In response to that, Ron Dellums said, ``If it's radical to oppose the insanity and cruelty of the Vietnam war; if it's radical to oppose racism and sexism and all other forms of oppression; if it's radical to want to alleviate poverty, hunger, disease, homelessness, and other forms of human misery, then I'm proud to be called a radical.'' Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand on the shoulders of Ronald Dellums as we continue the unfinished struggle to make America live up to all that we promise as a great nation, and I hope all Members will join me as we send our deepest condolences to the family and give thanks for his courageous leadership.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Chairman, let me thank my colleague from Virginia for yielding as well as for his leadership on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to once again strongly oppose H.R. 50. I consider it a misguided bill that will cost American consumers, potentially, millions more in tax dollars, while making it easier for bad actors and certain industries to continue their abusive practices as they attempt to stonewall appropriate regulation. Make no mistake: H.R. 50 is a frontal assault on the Nation's health, safety, and environmental protections, and it would erect new barriers to give selected industries a built-in advantage to evade or eliminate vital rules that protect the American people. For instance, this bill would require agencies to consult with private sector entities ``as early as possible, before issuance of a notice of proposed rulemaking, continue through the final rule stage, and be integrated explicitly into the rulemaking process.'' Now, I agree that Federal agencies should consult with regulated industries regarding proposed rules, but they should not receive an insider, prewired advantage in the regulating and rulemaking process over other stakeholders. H.R. 50 would also expand judicial review under UMRA and would allow a court to review the inadequacy or failure of an agency to prepare a written statement under UMRA. UMRA currently prohibits courts from using the law to stay, invalidate, or otherwise affect an agency rule. H.R. 50 would eliminate this prohibition. I thought the majority strongly opposed judicial activism, but perhaps that only applies to protecting the President. We don't have to choose between protecting the health, welfare, and safety of Americans and promoting economic growth, job creation, and innovation. We can do both. H.R. 50 advances neither of these worthy goals, and that is why I urge my colleagues to reject this deeply flawed act that will stack the deck against the American consumer.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, let me first thank the ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee, Representative Maxine Waters, for calling us together to honor someone whom I consider to be a great American. I rise today to honor this great public servant, a trailblazer in this House, the longest serving female Member in the history of the U.S. House of Representatives, my great friend, the gentlewoman from Ohio, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur. Congresswoman Kaptur is more than just a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee. She is a mentor to many of us, including me. The Congresswoman rose from a humble, hardworking family in Toledo to become a champion for jobs with justice, women in the workplace, children's healthcare, and strengthening Social Security and Medicare. She also is one of the most respected voices for human rights and freedom around the world, especially for Ukraine as it faces military aggression and constant threats from the Russian Federation. Congresswoman Kaptur also shares my absolute commitment to protecting wilderness areas, our national shorelines and forests, and standing strong against those special interests who would sacrifice clean air and safe water for short-term profit. Finally, Congresswoman Kaptur shares my lifelong interest in history and helping Americans understand that we all stand on the shoulders of the brave men and women who came before us. That is why she was one of the earliest advocates for the World War II Memorial, a long overdue tribute to the Greatest Generation who defended freedom at its moment of greatest peril and saved the world. Congresswoman Kaptur continues to stand tall for seniors, veterans, working families, and the core values of the people of Ohio. Her hard work is greatly respected on both sides of the aisle, and I am truly blessed to call her my good friend. There is one story I would like to relate on a personal note, and we discussed it today at her reception earlier. During my college days, I was a full-time worker in this body. I was a member of the staff of the Office of the Doorkeeper. My door was the west door on the Republican side because Tip O'Neill did not want me to congregate with my dad who was a Member of this body. Our job was to memorize the picture book of every Member, especially the incoming freshmen. In the winter of 1982, I had to memorize her picture to know who she was to be able to identify her. Back in those days, life was simpler because we were the security for this floor. So that is how I first met Marcy Kaptur. I will always call her my friend. Congresswoman, congratulations on reaching this historic milestone in service to your constituents and our country. God bless you.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am pleased to join my friend from the great State of Virginia (Mr. Garrett) in urging passage of H.R. 3183, the U.S. Navy Seaman Dakota Kyle Rigsby Post Office. The youngest servicemember killed in the collision on the USS Fitzgerald, Seaman Rigsby is remembered today by his family and friends for his sense of humor and true passion for public service. Mr. Speaker, we should pass this bill to honor Seaman Rigsby's memory and service to his country. Mr. Speaker, I want to inform the gentleman from Alabama that I have no further speakers on this bill. I urge its passage, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to also join my colleagues in consideration of S. 831, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 120 West Pike Street in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, as the Police Officer Scott Bashioum Post Office Building. Scott Leslie Bashioum was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and joined the U.S. Air Force in June of 1996, as a member of the 911th Airlift Wing's Civil Engineering Squadron. Scott served in both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Following 29 years of service in the Air Force, Senior Master Sergeant Bashioum became a full-time police officer in the Canonsburg community. On November 10, 2016, Officer Bashioum was killed in service to his community while responding to a domestic violence call. Mr. Speaker, we should pass this bill to commemorate the life of public service lived by Officer Scott Bashioum and honor his memory. I urge the passage of S. 831, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin), my good friend.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am also pleased to join my colleagues in consideration of H.R. 4685. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline) to tell us about the heroism of First Sergeant Andrew McKenna, Jr.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I urge passage of H.R. 4685, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to urge the passage of this legislation for Lance Corporal Rivers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in consideration of H.R. 4646, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1900 Corporate Drive in Birmingham, Alabama, as the Lance Corporal Thomas E. Rivers, Jr. Post Office Building. Born in Hoover, Alabama, Lance Corporal Thomas Rivers, Jr., held a deep love and dedication to both his faith and his country. Mr. Rivers dreamed of becoming a marine from a young age and enlisted following his graduation from Briarwood Christian School in 2007. Tragically, on April 28, 2010, Lance Corporal Rivers was killed by an improvised explosive device while serving in Afghanistan. He was just 22 years old. In order that they might honor and continue their son's love of country, Lance Corporal Rivers' parents now run a nonprofit organization that sends care packages to soldiers. Mr. Speaker, we should pass this bill to commemorate Lance Corporal Thomas Rivers, Jr., and the ultimate sacrifice he made for the country he so loved. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 4646, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I urge the passage of H.R. 2673, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in consideration of H.R. 2673, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 514 Broadway Street in Pekin, Illinois, as the Lance Corporal Jordan S. Bastean Post Office. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Bustos) to tell us more about Lance Corporal Jordan S. Bastean.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I urge the passage of this bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in consideration of H.R. 4406, as amended, to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 99 Macombs Place in New York City as the Tuskegee Airmen Post Office Building. As we know, the Tuskegee Airmen had an impeccable record of saving American lives during World War II. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Espaillat) to tell us the history of the esteemed Tuskegee Airmen.