Steve Cohen

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Chair, I would just continue to urge a ``no'' vote. You don't have to be woke. You just don't have to be asleep. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember a devoted public servant and dear friend, former Tennessee State Senator Roy Herron, who died on Saturday after injuries sustained in a jet ski accident at the age of 69. Roy was a multi-faceted man of the people--a lawyer and Methodist minister, who served in the state House and Senate for 26 years and was the Democratic nominee for the 8th Congressional District in 2010. He also wrote three books about the role of faith in politics and a fourth book about Tennessee political humor, co-authored with his friend Cotton Ivy. A gifted politician, Roy was first elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 1986 to fill the seat vacated when Ned McWherter became governor. He served in the House in the 95th through 99th Tennessee General Assemblies and in the Senate in the 100th through 107th, where he served as floor leader and then chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus. He was my Senate colleague from 1997 until I left the state Senate and came to Congress in 2007. He also chaired the Select Committee on Children and Youth, the Senate General Welfare, Health and Human Resources Committee, and the Joint Tenncare Oversight Committee. He was a member of the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee, the Senate Government Operations Committee, the Joint Committee on Charitable Gaming, and the Joint Select Committee on Education. I was hopeful that we would be colleagues in Washington when he declared his candidacy for Congress in 2009 after John Tanner announced his retirement. Roy campaigned throughout the 8th District in his old red Ford pickup. Despite receiving the endorsement of every major Tennessee newspaper, he lost the general election to Stephen Fincher, a cotton farmer who refused to debate him, as Tennessee took a hard right turn. In 2011, he was seriously injured in a bicycling accident while training for an Iron Man competition. He later served as chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party from 2013 to 2015. Roy graduated at the top of his class at the University of Tennessee at Martin in 1975 and was chosen as a Rotary Scholar and spent a year studying religion at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Returning to Tennessee, he received both a master's degree in Divinity and a J.D. from Vanderbilt University in 1980. Besides his accomplishments and dedication to public service, Roy will be remembered as a truly nice guy. I extend my deepest condolences to his wife Nancy and his sons John, Rick and Ben, and his many friends and supporters. His was a life well lived, and he will be missed.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Nadler for the time. I served the first 3\1/2\ years of my legal career in the police department. I had a badge and a gun. I know policemen as well, if not better, than almost anybody in this body. I tried to give them a gun yesterday because there was a bill on the floor to let them take their revolvers with them when they retired in good standing, but the Republicans had it amended to where they could also take automatic weapons and didn't have to be in good standing. We can't do things purely for the police. In this situation, I offered an amendment to advocate the positions of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and other police organizations to say that we should have limits on weapons on the streets, on armor-piercing bullets, and on assault weapons. Police don't want those on the streets against them. Yet, it wasn't allowed to be heard. It was offered twice again by Mr. Cicilline. It wasn't allowed to be heard. Just like when children are killed, when people are killed in clubs, when people are killed in churches, when people are killed in Las Vegas on the streets, this is thoughts and prayers because the NRA and the concern of people having guns and bullets comes before police and their protection. This is thoughts and prayers, and it is police memorial week lite.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, this weekend, I had the honor of going to Kyiv, Ukraine, with the chairman of the Helsinki Commission, Joe Wilson. I am the ranking member. Our commission is responsible for the security and cooperation of governments in Europe. The sovereign country of Ukraine is threatened in every part of the Helsinki Accords which created our organization. All violations were committed by Russia, which is a member of the group but not a participating member in terms of following its precepts. The Ukrainian people are courageous and show great valor. They have defeated the Russians in every military aspect that exists except for airpower. The Russians have the sky. Our allies and our country must do all we can to get Ukraine sufficient additional weapons to protect the skies, to protect their soldiers, to protect democracy, to protect freedom, and to protect the rule of law in that country and in the rest of Europe because Putin will not stop at Ukraine. ``Slava Ukraini.'' ``Glory to Ukraine.''

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recall Margot Stern Strom, a pioneer in Holocaust history teaching and a powerful advocate of anti- bigotry education. Ms. Strom passed on March 27 at her home in Brookline, Massachusetts. In 1975, as a seventh- and eighth-grade language arts teacher in Brookline, she and a colleague, Bill Parsons, attended a lecture on the Holocaust and realized how little they knew about it, and how little was being taught to adolescents. They founded Facing History and Ourselves which has developed curriculum on the Nazi atrocities before and during World War II. It has also taught about Jim Crow racial discrimination and Ku Klux Klan violence in the United States, the Armenian Genocide, apartheid, and other forms of bigotry and antisemitism, including more recent tutorials on the Tree of Life Synagogue massacre in Pittsburgh and the George Floyd murder in Minnesota. Facing History has reached tens of thousands of students and teachers over the years. The daughter of parents who operated a furniture store in my hometown of Memphis, Ms. Strom graduated from the University of Illinois--Champaign-Urbana in 1964 and eventually moved to Massachusetts to teach. She retired as executive director of Facing History in 2014. I extend my condolences to her daughter, Rachel, her son, Adam, her extended family, and her many inspired colleagues, supporters and friends.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, I am the only Democrat Congressperson from Tennessee, so in some ways I represent the entire State on issues of concern to Democrats and people of progress. Tennessee and New York, unfortunately, have been shameful in their conduct recently in the way they relate to government and in the lack of the way they relate to meaningful gun reform to protect our citizens from mass shootings. In Tennessee there was the Tennessee Three. Three legislators who went to the well to protest the fact that after a murder, a terrorist act killing six citizens at the Covenant Presbyterian Church, there was no response from the supermajority Republicans in the general assembly, nor at the time from the Republican Governor. They went to the well, while the galleries were full of people protesting the lax gun reform laws or gun laws in Tennessee, to protest and say, we should have some gun laws to protect our children and to protect people all over our country who are victims of mass shootings. They expelled two of the members and tried to expel three for simply raising an issue that otherwise would not be raised by a supermajority and that was favored by a majority of the people in Tennessee by far-- red flag laws. No more weapons of war should be sold, the weapons that people used to do mass shootings at Covenant Presbyterian Church; in Louisville, at the bank; and almost everywhere where there are mass shootings in this country. That was shameful for the Tennessee General Assembly to try to expel three and to expel two, and not to take up gun reform. Governor Lee later took up gun reform and said he was for red flag laws, but a red flag law was proposed this week, and it didn't even get a motion or a second. In New York, the House Judiciary Committee adjourned to New York, a recess there, to have a hearing yesterday allegedly concerning a State official, the DA, Mr. Bragg, and his record that they call pro-crime and anti-victim. What they really went to New York to do was to act as Donald Trump's public relations firm and defense firm, something the United States Congress is not empowered to do for any individual. They are not empowered to go into another jurisdiction where federalization laws say that the States have their own prosecutors, and the Federal Government is not supposed to go in and ask for information that they can then give to the defense, and attack Mr. Bragg. The facts were well-pointed out that New York is a safe city, and safer than most of the major cities in Mr. Jordan's State of Ohio. They attacked Mr. Bragg and said he was supported by George Soros. What does that have in common with Tennessee? The people they went after were minorities. Mr. Bragg, the first African-American-elected DA in the borough of Manhattan and in Tennessee the two youngest members of the general assembly who happened to be African American, a minority group by far in Tennessee and the Tennessee General Assembly. They accused Mr. Bragg of being supported by George Soros, which he was. We know that is a trope for anti-Semitism. They go after a minority religion, a minority DA, and try to appeal to their base and try to help Donald Trump. That is shameful, as well. Shame on the Judiciary Committee of this House. Shame on the General Assembly of Tennessee. Do your job. Protect your citizens. Pass meaningful laws to restrict weapons of war and impose red flag laws, so we can stop people from committing crimes--mass murders in this country, which have become too commonplace. Let's uplift our political dialogue to where we don't attack minorities to get away with obfuscating our real purpose, which is supporting Donald Trump, who committed two of the worst crimes in this country: one, trying to steal the 2020 election and telling people it was a steal, fraudulently, and getting campaign contributions; and, two, in 2016--if Mr. Bragg is right--covering up payments to a porn star to win the 2016 election illegally. Madam Speaker, the worst crime in New York was 9/11. Then there was the Central Park Five. Five Black youths who were alleged and convicted of killing a jogger in Central Park. This was back, I think, in the 20th century. Mr. Trump took out full-page newspaper ads in three papers and said all of those five should get the death penalty. They got sentences, they didn't get the death penalty. Later they were exonerated, and it was shown that somebody else committed the crimes--but not after they spent 41 years in prison, an average of 8 years a piece, and not after the State had to pay $41 million for their time in prison. Did Donald Trump apologize? No, he doesn't apologize. Shameful.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Fred Smith and FedEx as we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the start of the company's operations in Memphis. Overnight delivery was the subject of an undergraduate term paper for Mr. Smith who notes that it earned an average grade. But he put the idea into Federal Express Corporation in Little Rock in 1971. On April 17, 1973, the company began operations in Memphis with 389 people and 14 planes and delivered 186 packages to 25 cities. Over the years, Federal Express became ``FedEx'' and became one of the largest and best known American-headquartered companies in the world. Many of my constituents, friends and colleagues go to work at its operations in Memphis every day, where it is the state's largest private employer. FedEx's work as a supporter of charities is legendary. It is a model for what a company can do for its community. I congratulate current and former FedEx team members and look forward to commemorating another 50 years--in Memphis.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the John K. and Katherine Johnson Auxiliary serving the Regional One Health Medical Center, the Memphis-based acute care hospital for the Mid-South region. On November 8, 1972, 54 women of what is now the Presbytery of the Mid-South met to discuss how they might best address the health care needs of women in our community, touring medical facilities to assess the situation. On April 9, 1973, 39 people gathered at Idlewild Presbyterian Church in Memphis to sign the charter forming the John K. and Katherine Johnson Auxiliary, named after Idlewild's late pastor, a hospital chaplain, and his wife. Its mission was ministering to the needs of patients, assisting staff, promoting community health and welfare, and providing a bond of understanding and service for people of all races and creeds. Starting off with just a cart of snacks and magazines for hospital patients, the auxiliary grew to provide volunteers in the pediatric clinic, offer CPR classes, provide teen pregnancy counseling, and assist sickle cell patients. Over time, the auxiliary supported purchase of neo-natal equipment, orthopedic clinic waiting rooms, and staff education and training. In 1978, the auxiliary created the Mary Love Clothes Closet for the families of patients who arrive in Memphis with only the clothes on their backs. In 1983, the auxiliary created a gift shop which has generated more than $557,000 for various Regional One projects. One of the early initiatives of the auxiliary was a 1973 request to create a chapel for prayer and meditation. Eight years later, in 1981, the Alice H. Davies Chapel, named for one of the early founders of the auxiliary, was dedicated. I want to commend the generations of supporters of the John K. and Katherine Johnson Auxiliary for their selfless commitment to meeting both the critical needs and the incalculable hopes of patients and their loved ones. I also want to congratulate all associated with the auxiliary and its mission on this anniversary milestone.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I was quarantining after testing positive for COVID-19 and was unable to vote on March 27-29, 2023. Had I been present, I would have voted Nay on the following: H. Res. 260--Roll Call No. 165; H. Res. 260--Roll Call No. 166; Boebert of Colorado Part B Amendment No. 2--Roll Call No. 167; Hern of Oklahoma Part B Amendment No. 5--Roll Call No. 168; Jackson of Texas Part B Amendment No. 7--Roll Call No. 169; Molinaro of New York Part B Amendment No. 9--Roll Call No. 170; Palmer of Alabama Part B Amendment No. 10--Roll Call No. 171; Perry of Pennsylvania Part B Amendment No. 11--Roll Call No. 172; and Perry of Pennsylvania Part B Amendment No. 12--Roll Call No. 173. I would have voted Yea on the following bills: H.R. 1154--Roll Call No. 163; and H.R. 1107--Roll Call No. 164.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, on Monday, the horror, the terror, and the insanity of mass shootings came to our capital city, Nashville, Tennessee--most directly, the Covenant Presbyterian School. Six innocent victims passed. Three were children: Evelyn Dieckhaus, William Kinney, and Hallie Scruggs. All were 9 years old. All were loving students, friends, brothers, sisters, and parents. The three adults were Mike Hill, a beloved custodian of 14 years, a father, and a grandfather; Katherine Koonce, the headmaster referred to as a saint; and Cynthia Peak, a substitute teacher who had a light that shone wherever she appeared. Madam Speaker, for all those victims and the other victims--the classmates, the friends, and the staff of Covington Presbyterian and the city of Nashville--I ask that we have a moment of silence in their memory and their honor.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great civic-minded American hero and Marine Corps veteran, James Milroy ``Jim'' Brown, who passed earlier this month at the age of 92. Mr. Brown joined the Marines in Charleston, West Virginia, shortly after graduating from Clay County High School. While in the Marine Corps, he served as a machine-gunner in the Korean War, at the Pusan Perimeter, Inchon Landing, Wonsan Landing, the Chosin Reservoir and Hanhung in North Korea. Mr. Brown received the Purple Heart with Gold Star, Korean Service Medal with three Gold Stars, the Presidential Unit Citation with two Bronze Stars and the Combat Action Ribbon with three Gold Stars for his actions in the Korean War and often spoke of his participation in the historic Battle of the Chosin Reservoir during the strategic retreat of United Nations forces from North Korea. Mr. Brown regularly attended funerals for veterans in his full military uniform, honoring the fallen servicemen for their service, which was greatly appreciated by their families and friends. It was his way of giving back to his fellow veterans and the community. After Korea, he was transferred to Marine Corps Aviation and trained as an Aviation Structural Mechanic in Millington, Tennessee. After that training, he served as an instructor in that school from 1951 to 1955. Mr. Brown served with the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Okinawa, Japan, until 1956 and returned to Millington as an Instructor. In 1960, he was transferred to Beaufort, South Carolina, where he served until 1964. From 1964 to 1967 Mr. Brown was the Curriculum Supervisor in Millington. Mr. Brown served briefly in the Republic of Vietnam as the Wing Analyst Chief at the DaNang Air Base before returning to Millington. He retired from the Marines Corps as a Master Sergeant in August of 1970. In 1967 Mr. Brown graduated from Memphis State University with a B.S. degree in Secondary Education. He earned his Master's Degree in Educational Administration and completed all the course work for his Doctorate in Education from the University of Memphis. From 1970 to 1995 he served as an educator with Memphis City Schools, including as a Vocational Teacher, Administrator, and Vocational Evaluator. From 1995 to 2001 Mr. Brown served as a Commissioner of the Board of Education, Memphis City Schools. He was elected as Vice President in 1998 and President in 1999. In addition to his civic and educational activities, Mr. Brown was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Fleet Reserve Association, Marine Corps League, Optimist Club, Exchange Club, the Raleigh Masonic Lodge, and Memphians for America, an employer support organization for the Guard and Reserve. America has lost a steady and reserved public servant and a grateful Nation takes note. I extend my condolences to his wife, Betty Sue; his sons, his grandchildren, his siblings, and his many friends and admirers.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, February 26 marks the 31st anniversary of the massacre of hundreds of people in the town of Khojaly, Azerbaijan. Khojaly, which is in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, was once home to 7,000 people. This was the largest killing of ethnic Azerbaijani civilians during the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. On February 26, 1992, Armenian armed forces massacred over 600 unarmed people--including 106 women, 63 children and 70 elderly people--and left less than 2,000 survivors. Hundreds more became disabled due to their injuries. More than 100 children lost a parent and 25 children lost both parents. At least 8 families were entirely killed. Although a cease-fire was negotiated in 1994, it is my hope that Armenia and Azerbaijan can come together and find peace. Escalation of conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region is not in the interest of the South Caucuses. Long-term peace, security, and regional cooperation would greatly benefit the region and the world. Azerbaijan has been a strong partner of the United States and its allies. This cooperation has included sending significant humanitarian aid to Ukraine during the ongoing war with Russia; playing a leadership role in non-proliferation issues; providing troops to serve shoulder- to-shoulder with U.S. forces in Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan; allowing transit of non-lethal equipment used by coalition forces through Azerbaijan to Afghanistan; construction of the Southern Gas Corridor from the Caspian Sea to Italy, thereby providing Europe with an alternative to Russian energy sources; and supplying 40 percent of Israel's oil. Azerbaijan also has a thriving Jewish community and has outstanding relations with Israel. As Azerbaijanis throughout the world commemorate the massacre and continue to grieve the loss of loved ones, I hope they can find peace amidst this tragedy.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Chair, my friends on the other side of the aisle seem unconcerned about the threat the COVID-19 virus poses to public health. They have shown that consistently over the time of the pandemic. They have dismissed the severity of the virus. The previous Republican Party President dismissed it, too, and tried to claim that you could just solve it with a light bulb going into your body somewhere or drinking some type of Clorox. They have dismissed the science behind masking and social distancing. They have dismissed vaccinations. They have dismissed peer-reviewed science. They have condemned Dr. Fauci, who is an American hero who guided us through this pandemic that cost the lives of over 1 million Americans dying of COVID over the last 3 years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that there are over 500 Americans dying each day from COVID. I believe in science. I believe in specialists. I believe in doctors. CDC is the specialist here. My colleagues on the other side are very concerned about China, but now they are not concerned about China--which has one of the biggest COVID problems of any place in the globe--having visitors come to our Nation without having been vaccinated. This is a threat to the health of the American people directly from China. They are concerned about China, but not now. I would submit most of my colleagues on the other side are vaccinated against COVID, vaccinated against polio, vaccinated against all types of diseases, but all of a sudden, they don't want to give any authority to the CDC to protect us from countries that don't have vaccination requirements. Science first. Dollars and sense, s-e-n-s-e. That is what we ought to have.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I was attending the funeral of my constituent Tyre Nichols in Memphis and was unable to vote. Had I been present, I would have voted Nay on the following bills: H. Res. 83--Roll Call 101 and Roll Call 102; H.R. 139--Roll Call 103; H.J. Res. 7--Roll Call 104; and H. Res. 76--Roll Call 105. I would have voted Present on the following bill: H. Con. Res. 9--Roll Call 106.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Chair, my amendment would prevent any new oil and gas production under the proposed plan if those activities will have a negative effect on the air quality. I am a strong proponent of efforts to lower energy costs, promote energy independence, and create a stronger, more secure economy. I recognize this will take a multifaceted approach, but it must include more investment in renewable energy sources and a smart transition away from oil and gas. The fact is, for the past couple of decades the Federal Government has issued far more drilling permits than oil and gas companies have acted upon. Nearly 80 percent of offshore oil is in areas that are already open for exploration, according to the National Resources Defense Council. Oil and gas drilling is a dirty business, and we should think long and hard before we invite more of it on our Federal lands. Drilling releases several pollutants that are making our air more smoggy and more dirty and harmful to breathe. The toxic particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, ozone, and volatile organic compounds released by oil and gas drilling can lead to many poor health outcomes, including premature births, asthma, and heart disease. It is often low-income and minority communities that bear the brunt of these awful effects. We should continue the work of the Inflation Reduction Act and create a new clean energy economy and not move backward with an empty political gesture that will ultimately do little to address oil and gas prices and our energy security and independence. I might note that Exxon did a study in the early 1970s on these issues, and their scientists found that what has occurred with fossil fuels and the effect on our climate and our air was accurately predicted 50 years ago, but they didn't release it. It has been found that what they predicted was almost exact, 50 years ago, on what this would do to our world climate, but they didn't release it. We must protect our environment and the health of our current and future generations from the toxic effects of fossil fuel production. Mr. Chair, I urge all of my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I am the Congressman who represents the great city of Memphis. Right now much of the national media is looking at Memphis, as there was an awful killing of a 29-year-old African-American man by five police officers within the last few weeks. The five police officers have been fired by the police department for violating their oath. The DA will announce charges in a few hours. It could be a situation where people want to exercise their First Amendment rights to protest the actions of the police department, and people should, but they should be peaceful and calm. We have a new DA, we have a new U.S. Attorney, and we have a new police director. They are the right people at the right time to bring about reform and to deal with this case to see that justice is rendered. I grieve for the life of Tyre Nichols whose life should not have been extinguished. He was an outstanding young man, and it is extremely sad that he was killed. I pray for my city.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in profound sadness to mark the passing of a daughter of Memphis and a world-renowned ambassador of American music and culture, Lisa Marie Presley. Lisa Marie passed on January 12 at the age of 54. Her life was celebrated this past Sunday at Graceland, in Memphis, where she is buried with her father, Elvis, and her 27-year-old son, Benjamin Storm Keough, in the mansion's Memorial Garden. Lisa Marie was born in Memphis on February 1, 1968, and the event made headlines around the world. She remained in the limelight throughout her life, bestowing her charm on her hometown by unveiling the U.S. postage stamp honoring her father in Memphis, leading her own musical career, nurturing her father's legacy, and remembering Graceland as a place of refuge even though she was there when her father passed away in 1977. As befits a rock 'n roll legend with 3 well-regarded studio albums, she was given a star-studded send off on a cold and dreary day with her mother, Priscilla, reciting a poem; Sarah, the Duchess of York and a friend, remembering her lost son; and Alanis Morissette, Billy Corgan, the Blackwood Brothers Quartet, and Axl Rose offering musical tributes. The service was bookended by Jason Clark and The Tennessee Mass Choir, who began with ``Amazing Grace.'' It was an honor to attend the celebration of her life in front of Graceland along with ``Elvis'' director Baz Luhrmann; actor Austin Butler, who portrayed Elvis in Luhrmann's film; Jerry Schilling, one of Elvis' closest friends and a family confidante; former Memphis and Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton; Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland; and an estimated 5,000 fans. I wish to express my deepest condolences to Lisa Marie's mother, my friend Priscilla, Lisa Marie's daughters, actress Riley Keough and twins Harper Vivienne Ann Lockwood and Finley Aaron Love Lockwood, and all who knew and loved her.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend a great American for her inspiring clarion call to support refugees. Jackie Autry, the widow of the crooning cowboy singer and film actor Gene Autry, placed an advertisement in Tuesday's New York Times, warning that denying entry to refugees at the Southern Border will give the United States ``another black eye.'' She compared the errors being made today to the slaughter of Native Americans, the enslavement of Africans, and the denial of entry to the M.S. St. Louis with more than 900 Jewish refugees during World War II. ``The current tragedy at the Southern Border will rank up there with these three,'' she wrote. Gene Autry gave up a career in Hollywood and international stardom to fight for our country in World War II, Mrs. Autry noted, and he would be offended at the treatment of refugees ``turned . . . away in the freezing temperatures of Christmas Eve.'' She added: ``We can't find workers in this country, but Congress will keep refugees out who want to work.'' She called on all who can ``to protect those who need protection and do what is right.'' I could not say it better and am proud to amplify her thoughtful and courageous statement. Thank you, Mrs. Autry.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the 33rd anniversary of the ``Black January'' killings in Azerbaijan. On the night of January 20, 1990, approximately 26,000 Soviet troops stormed Azerbaijan's capital city of Baku in tanks and armored vehicles. The Soviet military bulldozed and open fired on innocent Azerbaijanis and peaceful protestors, including women and children. The attack resulted in 147 people killed, around 800 injured, 841 arrested, and 5 missing. I offer my thoughts and prayers to the families of those who gave their lives for the independence of Azerbaijan. Despite these merciless acts, the Azerbaijani people continued to fight for their freedom and became independent in 1991. The United States was one of the first countries to recognize Azerbaijan's independence and fully established diplomatic relations on February 28, 1992. As the co-chairman of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus, I recognize the sacrifices of the Azerbaijani people in their steps toward a free-market economy and encourage a recommitment to the democratic values for which many Azerbaijanis sacrificed their lives.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Vincent Astor, an early ``out'' gay activist, theatre historian and organist and a true icon of Memphis' distinct place in American cultural history, who passed last week at the age of 69. A flamboyant drag queen in his signature white wedding dress, Mr. Astor led Memphis gay pride events as ``Lady A.'' A 1989 founder of OUTMemphis: The LGBTQ+ Community Center of the Mid-South, Mr. Astor was a well-known supporter of events promoting local history, including the screening of vintage movies, lectures and heritage events. A native Memphian and a quick wit, he graduated from what is now Rhodes College and was for decades the organist at the keyboards and peddles of the Orpheum Theatre's 1928 Wurlitzer organ. He often gave tours of the historic theatre on South Main Street famed for its ghost ``Mary,'' killed by a trolley outside the theatre in the 1920s. Mr. Astor was also a large influence though a quiet voice in efforts to save the Orpheum and have it refurbished to its present glory hosting Broadway plays and musicals, concerts and other major public events. Gifted with a charismatic nostalgia, he literally wrote the book on Memphis' theatre legacy with Images of America: Memphis Movie Theatres (2013). In 2019, after advocacy by Mr. Astor, the Shelby County Historical Commission unveiled a marker outside Midtown's Evergreen Theatre recognizing the 50th anniversary of public drag pageants held there, and protesting a city ordinance against cross dressing. Mr. Astor will be buried in the historic Elmwood Cemetery under an obelisk he designed identifying him as both Vincent Astor and Lady A. I express my condolences to his many friends, colleagues and collaborators, and to the Mid-South LGBTQ+ community, all mourning their loss.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the late Gerald ``Bud'' Chittom, a larger-than-life restaurateur, musician and promoter of Memphis' iconic blues throughfare--Beale Street--and my friend. Bud passed in 2018 after a career opening and managing dozens of Memphis area restaurants and night clubs. He was awarded a Beale Street Brass Note in 2011 with the inscription ``A Man You Don't Meet Everyday,'' putting him in the company of fellow Brass Note honorees, B.B. King, Isaac Hayes, Elvis Presley and Sain Phillips. Bud will be honored this week by the Downtown Memphis Commission with its Vision Award, which will be received by his daughter, Caitlin. It's well- deserved. Bud was instrumental in the renewal of Beale Street, creating the Blues City Cafe at Second Street, founding Jerry Lee Lewis' Cafe and Honky Tonk at 310 Beale, and driving business to other venues on Beale and his restored Earnestine and Hazel's on South Main Street, now world-renown as the Nation's best dive bar. He didn't rest until the area's revival as a mecca for tourism and music lovers was assured. A bass player himself, he often sat in with bands playing venues up and down the street. After I successfully passed the Tennessee Education Lottery as a Tennessee state senator, Bud and Blues City Cafe co-owner, Wilbur Hensley sold me the first lottery ticket in Tennessee in 2004. The Vision Award recognizes Bud's contribution to our community, and I commend the Downtown Memphis Commission for saluting him, and congratulate his family and friends for making him a part of our lives.

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, first, I would like to note what is profound hypocrisy going on in this Chamber. Last week, we heard from the Republicans about the importance of an open process and the ability to offer amendments on all bills or resolutions, but there were no hearings on this resolution, no markups, and amendments are prohibited. If they were allowed, we could have discussed, and Mr. Jordan could have made his statement that he believes the Justice Department says this would affect all types of facilities, but we didn't have that, so it is not here. Every Democrat, and I hope every Republican, rejects and condemns political violence. We settle our disagreements at the ballot box and through the rule of law, not by violent actions. Republicans say this resolution is about condemning violence and enforcement of laws, yet it only condemns those of their favorite organizations and facilities, the pro-life crowd. They should be aghast that they don't include the murders of the 11 people killed at abortion care providers since 1993: Dr. George Tiller, killed entering his church in Wichita, Kansas, shot in the back; David Gunn, shot in the head at his clinic in Pensacola, Florida; Just this past New Year's in Knoxville, a Planned Parenthood clinic was destroyed by arson. Sadly, there are too many property crimes at Planned Parenthood and other facilities that help people with abortion needs to mention. None are mentioned. We should condemn all murders and serious violence. This House did not hear from Republicans condemning the violence of January 6 when this Chamber was under attack, and we should do that in all cases. They are trying to undermine and obstruct the Department of Justice, as well. This is just some of the other hypocrisy. They are having a committee to look into the attacks on America from the FBI, the Justice Department, and other security services. Those are law enforcement. That is defunding Federal law enforcement, and it is wrong. We should support all law enforcement and fund all of it and its activities. If you want to know about the Republicans, you ask them about the bill on the IRS. If they wanted to help the middle class, they would have brought a resolution to direct the IRS to do more audits, or even all of its audits, on people earning over $1 million and save the middle class and get the money where it is. They did not. We should listen to what they do, not what they say. I will vote ``no.''

Mr. COHEN

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, after 4\1/2\ days and 15 votes to find a Speaker, we started with our business by passing rules. The Republican rules and first day's activities were to help the rich and the powerful avoid taxes. The government, like any entity, just like any business, has to have revenue. When people don't pay their fair share, they are cheating. They are committing crimes. They are defrauding their fellow citizens because their fellow citizens either have to pay more money to make up the differences or they don't get services that they otherwise would be provided through the government. By revoking all of those monies to the IRS to hire new employees, they are giving wealthy corporations and wealthy individuals, like Donald Trump, who had only one auditor looking at his return, which was not looked at within the time period it was supposed to be looked at under the law, the policy of the government at the time, they are giving those people an open door to continue to make their IRS payments--really not payments but their first offers. That is what they do. It is not filing your return. It is filing your first offer. So if they get away with that, which I don't think they will in the Senate, they are depriving the middle class who they said they are trying to support, services and fairness, and the middle class will have to pay more money because it is the wealthy and the higher corporations that get away with fraudulent returns. Then they are talking about banning or protesting, through H. Con. Res. 3, violence against pro-life centers, anti-abortion centers. I hope everybody in the House is against violence against those facilities. But there is nothing in there about violence against Planned Parenthood or abortion provider facilities. Both are equally as anti-American and wrong as the other, but there is nothing about that. So we are seeing a very slanted agenda, and there is no opportunity to amend that resolution. Even though they talked about an amendment process to give everybody an opportunity, it is really kind of transparency-ish but not transparency and not open. It is not openness; it is open-ish. You have got to look closely at what is going on here. There are a lot of things that look good on the front but really aren't fair and right to the majority of the people. Much of what is projected here is to try to maintain the status quo in the name of freedom. It is the freedom of people not to comply with Federal Government laws and regulations. It is the freedom to basically live independent of the law and independent of the Federal government and attempts to starve the Federal Government of the revenue it needs. The bill yesterday would increase the debt by over $100 billion. That is not fiscal conservativeness. That is trying to starve the Federal Government.