Gerald Connolly

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2662, the IG Independence and Empowerment Act. I want to thank the chairwoman of the committee for her leadership, especially in bringing forward this important legislative package to bolster the independence and protection of oversight of Federal inspectors general while holding them more accountable to Congress and the American people at the same time. Our Subcommittee on Government Operations held a hearing in April that highlighted the need for this legislation. At the hearing, we discussed how the former President, Mr. Trump, exploited statutory loopholes repeatedly to attack Federal IGs, firing well-respected IGs for investigating policies of political allies he liked. President Trump also appointed political agency officials to serve as acting IGs, this double-hatting Ms. Porter just talked about. This legislation would address that. We cannot allow these actions to be repeated. IGs are unique in the Federal Government, serving to root out waste, fraud, abuse, and gross mismanagement. They report both to the executive and legislative branches of government. This bill bolsters IGs on both fronts. Importantly, the bill ensures the President or an agency head can remove an IG only for documented cause, and I think that is a very important new standard. This measure will ensure that IGs can be removed when appropriate and cannot be removed simply because they speak truth to power. I authored two additional provisions included in this legislation. The first, the Integrity Committee Transparency Act, is a bipartisan provision I drafted with my ranking member, Mr. Hice. This provision would codify and enhance administrative reporting reforms at the Integrity Committee. Just this week, we saw how important that can be. It would also require the Integrity Committee to report immediately any particularly serious and flagrant problems, abuses, or deficiencies at the Office of Inspector General to the IG of that office. Importantly, the provision also expands the membership of the Integrity Committee to include a former inspector general, increasing acumen and accountability and some distance. These are critical measures necessary in the wake of cases in which the Integrity Committee has sometimes fallen short in its reporting to this body, to the Congress. In one recent allegation of wrongdoing, it took nearly 4 years for the Integrity Committee to complete its investigation, and employees at that office continued to struggle under an IG who conducted herself with clear negligence. That case got resolved today with the announcement that that IG is going to retire. IGs cannot afford to be poor leaders, nor can we afford to have them be poor leaders. They must be model Federal employees if their credibility and integrity are to be trusted. We also champion title VII of this bill, the Enhanced Whistleblower Engagement Act. This provision requires OIG employees to undergo whistleblower training, mandates engagement between a designated whistleblower coordinator and the Integrity Committee, and requires CIGIE to identify best practices for the timely and appropriate handling of alleged reprisals within an OIG.

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, this measure is nearly identical to a bipartisan provision in the Senate crafted by Republican Senator Grassley from Iowa. In addition to these provisions, the bill includes several other important measures to bolster the independence of our nonpartisan watchdogs. This bill is an important bill in reasserting the independence, accountability, and transparency of IGs. They are a critical part of making this government work and rebuilding American trust in its government. I thank the distinguished chairwoman for her leadership in bringing this bill before us. I urge Members on both sides of the aisle to support this bill.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my dear friend, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee; and my good friend, the ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, for their generous remarks, for their leadership, and for bringing yet again a bipartisan bill to the floor of the House, which many people think we can't do, but we, in fact, do do. I also want to thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot), my good friend, for being my partner in this legislation for 3 years now. Our legislation, the Global Health Security Act, reaffirms the United States' commitment to promoting global health security. Prior to COVID-19, there was a dearth of leadership and strategy around U.S. planning for a global health security emergency. Now, as we start to emerge from the worst of the pandemic, we understand just how important planning is. COVID-19 has underscored not only the need for a robust Federal response, but also the importance of investing in global health security and pandemic preparedness throughout the world. Diseases do not stop at national borders. I am honored and pleased the House Foreign Affairs Committee has coalesced around this legislation, which offers a bipartisan solution that addresses deficiencies in the current pandemic response effort. It also demonstrates, I think, a commitment to a comprehensive and sustainable approach to global health security moving forward. The bill establishes a Global Health Security Agenda Interagency Review Council overseen by a National Security Advisor, whose membership includes the heads of agencies relevant to carrying out the Global Health Security Agenda. It establishes a U.S. Coordinator for Global Health Security responsible for coordinating interagency responses. It requires the President to develop a global health security strategy with specific and measurable goals, benchmarks, and performance metrics to improve U.S. leadership on global pandemic preparedness. Finally, it establishes an international Fund for Global Health Security and Pandemic Preparedness. Mr. Speaker, I also appreciate both Chairman Meeks' and Ranking Member McCaul's willingness to work to strengthen this bill as it passed through the committee during our markup. We made improvements, with their suggestion, in elevating the participants of the interagency review council in a manner commensurate with the scope of the work. We strengthened the scope of the global health security strategy with lessons learned; and we added a multilateral Federal fund. These improvements are consistent with the Biden administration's National Security Memorandum on United States Global Leadership to Strengthen the International Response. This statutory framework is not overly prescriptive, and it does not prejudge the outcome of the current response framework offered by this administration. Republican and Democratic Presidents alike have recognized the critical importance of global health security; from President Obama's role in launching a global health security agenda to President Trump's National Security Strategy and National Biodefense Strategy. Global health crises are ongoing and increasing, and they affect national security. Saving lives from the next global pandemic starts now, by investing in preparedness before it strikes. Diseases, as I said, don't respect borders, and global health crises have immense security, economic, and humanitarian consequences as all too tragically we have learned from the one we are still going through. I am proud that the Global Health Security Act has passed the House three times already, and I hope the Senate will act swiftly on this piece of legislation.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. Members of the Bush administration seized on our fear at that time to persuade Americans that Saddam Hussein posed a grave threat to the United States, and Congress passed an Authorization for Use of Military Force without any limitation on how long it could be in effect. Nineteen years later, and ten years after we formally ended ground operations, it is still law. This is an abrogation of Article I responsibilities and duties of the Congress of the United States. There is no more profound power vested in us in the Constitution than to send our young men and women into combat. It is long past time that we dealt with this AUMF and righted the imbalance between the powers of Article I, which are exclusively those of Congress, and the powers of Article II for a Commander in Chief only after Congress has acted. I am proud to support this measure today.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairwoman for her leadership. I also want to salute our colleague, Congresswoman Chu, for her persistent advocacy and her moral clarity on the subject we address today. I commend the House for passing the resolution to condemn the horrific shootings in Atlanta on March 16 and to reaffirm the House's commitment to combating hate, bigotry, and violence against the AAPI community. Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, we have seen racist sentiment, discrimination, and hate crimes targeting Asian Americans skyrocket to alarming levels. Members of the AAPI community have been calling out for help for over a year now. They should not have to live in fear of facing discrimination, hate, or violence while walking in their neighborhood, going to the grocery store, or going to work. Since the pandemic's outbreak, there was a 1,900 percent increase in violence against this community in 2020 alone and a 150 percent increase in hate crimes against AAPIs in America's major cities. There were 3,800 reported cases of Asian-American discrimination related to COVID-19 over the past year, 68 percent of which targeted Asian-American women. Three in five Asian Americans have experienced discrimination during the pandemic. Let me be clear: These events do not occur in a vacuum. America has a dark history of vilifying minorities, including targeting the Asian- American and Pacific Islander community, in particular, and using Federal law to enable that discrimination and even violence. Look no further than the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882, the first Federal law to bar an entire group of people from immigrating purely based on their race, and the internment of Japanese Americans in 1942. No one should feel unsafe in America ever. We all play a role in stopping the spread of violence and racism against the AAPI community. Solidarity is greater than racism. Today, we are all Asian Americans.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, the distinguished chairwoman of our full committee, for yielding, and I thank my good friend, Eleanor Holmes Norton, the Congresswoman from the District of Columbia, who soon I hope will have the right to vote on the floor of the House. Today, Mr. Speaker, we come together to right a wrong. 750,000 fellow Americans are denied the right to representation in their Congress in the very place in which Congress is located, ironically. It is the only capital in the democratic world that denies its own citizens the right to vote and be represented. We heard a lot of subterfuge here today, and we will hear more about the Constitution, the Constitution that clearly gives Congress the right of admission of a State. Mr. Comer comes from Kentucky. Kentucky was composed of territory claimed by my State, Virginia, and there were a bunch of Whigs. We didn't object. Congress, not a constitutional amendment, admitted Kentucky into the Union, and they elected Whigs, if you can think about that, Mr. Speaker. We didn't make how you might vote a condition, but we do in this case. I have to say that there is a lot of smokescreen to cloak what is really at stake here. When some say this is not about race or partisanship, you can be sure it is about race and partisanship. A city with a minority-majority population that apparently might vote in a different way from some? So what. How somebody votes cannot be a test of whether they have the right to vote in a democracy. Will we right this wrong today? Will we rise above our petty partisan perspectives and fears and empower and enfranchise people who are fellow citizens? Simply because of their race, their party identification, or their geographic location, that is not the America I know and love. It has gone on too long. When the Constitution was written, this place didn't exist, nor did the Founders and the writers of the Constitution know that it would. The first Capital was New York. The second Capital was Philadelphia. And there was a lot of back and forth about where it would finally be. It ended up here. Let's right this wrong after 200 years and give our fellow Americans voting representation here in the United States Congress by granting statehood.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. I thank, again, my good friend Mr. Meeks, the distinguished chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee; Mr. McCaul, the ranking member; and my good friend from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner) for their support on this bipartisan effort. We cannot sit idly by in this body and watch an American resident, my constituent, brutally murdered and dismembered in the consulate of Saudi Arabia in Istanbul, Turkey. We cannot allow that to go unaddressed. The human rights abuse that represents is all too characteristic of the methods used by certain forces in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia against dissidents. America remains the beacon of hope for those who seek freedom, basic simple freedoms to express themselves politically, religiously, and to be able to assemble peacefully. This bill ends the impunity against those voices of dissent. This bill provides that beacon of hope for so many who look to this body for protection and safe harbor. I urge passage of H.R. 1392, Protection of Saudi Dissidents Act, which passed our committee unanimously, with the enlightened leadership of our distinguished chairman, Gregory Meeks, who has always committed himself to human rights. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 1392, the Protection of Saudi Dissidents Act of 2021. Let me start by thanking my friend and the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Gregory Meeks, for his leadership in bringing this important bill to the floor. In February of this year, more than two years after the cold blooded murder of Washington Post journalist, and my constituent, Jamal Khashoggi, the Director of National Intelligence released a previously classified U.S. intelligence report. The report clearly stated: ``We assess that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman approved an operation in Istanbul, Turkey to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.'' It continued: ``We base this assessment on the Crown Prince's control of decision making in the Kingdom, the direct involvement of a key adviser and members of Muhammad bin Salman's protective detail in the operation, and the Crown Prince's support for using violent measures to silence dissidents abroad, including Khashoggi.'' Finally, it concluded that ``since 2017, the Crown Prince has had absolute control of the Kingdom's security and intelligence organizations, making it highly unlikely that Saudi officials would have carried out an operation of this nature without the Crown Prince's authorization.'' We've always known, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman directed the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi. We also know that this operation is part of a broad and ongoing effort to use violence to intimidate and silence dissidents abroad. And yet, the previous administration shielded Crown Prince MBS and Saudi Arabia from accountability, signaling this kind of abhorrent behavior was somehow ok, inviting further atrocities. That impunity ends with this bill. The Protection of Saudi Dissidents Act will stop the Kingdom and the Crown Prince from acting with impunity to commit gross human rights abuses like these. My bill is targeted and does four specific things: One: It limits arms exports to Saudi intelligence, internal security, or law enforcement entities if the President finds that Saudi Arabia has engaged in the following activities: Forced repatriation, intimidation, or killing of dissidents in other countries; The unjust imprisonment in Saudi Arabia of United States citizens or residents or the placing of travel restrictions on them or their family members; and The torture of detainees in the custody of the Government of Saudi Arabia Two: It requires the closure of one or more Saudi diplomatic facilities if the President finds that Saudi Arabia is using diplomatic or consular personnel to harass or harm Saudi nationals in the United States. Three: It requires a report on whether Saudi Arabia has been engaged in a consistent pattern of acts of intimidation or harassment directed against individuals in the United States. Four: Finally, it requires a report on whether the U.S. intelligence community fulfilled its duty to warn Jamal Khashoggi of threats to his life. These provisions are long overdue. This bill comes after years of fighting for the victims of Saudi Arabia's war on dissent. I have spoken out on behalf of Dr. Saad Aljabri and activist and former political prisoner Loujain Al-Hathloul. I am currently fighting for my constituents, Salah Al-Haider and Aziza Al-Yousef, as they battle political persecution in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia will not change their ways unless we act. I ask my colleagues to join me in sending a message to human rights defenders, dissidents, and journalists worldwide and reaffirm the unshakeable American commitment to basic rights and freedoms. I ask my colleagues to end the ``two-year pageant of impunity'' by finally holding Saudi Arabia accountable for Jamal Khashoggi's brutal murder. I ask my colleagues to support the Protection of Saudi Dissidents Act of 2021.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise on behalf of Ms. Bass, the author of this legislation, the Young African Leaders Initiative Act of 2021. The chairman has described the bill. This is an important piece of legislation, as we help try to nourish and develop the next generation of African leadership. This is an important initiative for the United States to build on those ties, to build those bridges. I commend Congresswoman Bass for her leadership on the YALI program and for this legislation. I urge its passage. I will include the full statement of Ms. Bass in the Record.

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 965, the Young African Leaders Initiative Act of 2021, introduced by my good friend and Chairwoman of the Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights Subcommittee, Congresswoman Karen Bass. Her leadership both on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and on this bill is unparalleled, and I am honored to speak on her behalf today. I also wish to thank Chairman Meeks and ranking Member McCaul for bringing this important legislation to the House floor. The YALI Act of 2021, is a bipartisan bill that seeks to build the capacity of young African leaders in Africa in the areas of civic engagement, entrepreneurship, and business development by: Offering professional development and a global network to share expertise, including in the areas of civic leadership, elections, human rights, good governance, and public management; Providing increased economic and technical assistance to young leaders and entrepreneurs; and strengthening business and economic ties between the United States and the continent; Awarding Mandela Washington Fellowships to young leaders who have had a positive impact in their communities and demonstrated strong capabilities in entrepreneurship, innovation, public service, and leadership; Establishing regional leadership centers in sub-Saharan Africa allowing young leaders to strengthen their skills and aptitude in entrepreneurship, innovation, public service, and leadership. The YALI program has two vital components that will be carried out by participants in the program. The U.S.-based component led by the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Administrator for USAID will include the following: The Mandela Washington Fellows will participate in a six-week Leadership Institute at a U.S.-based university or college focusing on business, civic engagement, or public management. The sessions will include professional networking opportunities, community service, cultural activities, academic learning, and leadership training. The Mandela Washington Fellows will also participate in the annual Mandela Washington Fellowship Summit held in Washington, D.C., which will provide an opportunity to meet with U.S. leaders from the private, public, and NGO sectors. The YALI program was built on the premise of young leaders strengthening their knowledge and skills at U.S. institutions, connecting with other Africans from different regions and countries in Africa, and ensuring young leaders can harness their skills and take them back to their home countries while strengthening their own business, public, and civic spaces. The YALI Act of 2021 would also continue to allow the United States to support and help strengthen the Africa-based component of the program including: Quality leadership training, professional development, networking, and online courses for Mandela Washington Fellowship alumni when they return to their home countries; Opportunities for networking with alumni of the Mandela Washington Fellowship; alumni of participants at the YALI Regional Leadership Centers; and American and African professionals and experts; and Opportunities through the United States Africa Development Foundation to facilitate professional development and sharing of expertise in the home countries of Mandela Washington Fellowship alumni and throughout the African continent. Through the implementation of the YALI Act of 2021, the United States will: Promote U.S. policy goals in Africa by providing tools and resources to help young African leaders develop important skills and connections through online campaigns and public diplomacy initiatives; and establish a system for monitoring, evaluating, and continued improvement of the YALI program. The bipartisan support of H.R. 965 shows that this bill is critical to U.S. national security. It also highlights that our relationship with Africa is a priority, and we want to continue to rebuild and strengthen our partnership in trade and investment, peace and security, and human rights and good governance, because it is in the best interest of the United States and Africa.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I thank my distinguished friend for the wonderful work he is doing as our new chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. And I thank my friend, Mr. McCaul, the distinguished ranking member. Madam Speaker, this is an important bipartisan statement. Lives are at stake. It is urgent this House speak with one voice about what is happening in Myanmar, formerly Burma. The current crisis in the wake of a military coup in which violence is escalating by the day and protestors are being killed by the dozens demands a timely response. I was pleased to introduce this bill in collaboration with the House Democracy Partnership chairman, Mr. David Price, and our Republican colleague, Mr. Vern Buchanan of Florida. On February 1, the Burmese military seized control of Burma's Government in a coup d'etat by detaining democratically elected leaders from the National League of Democracy, NLD, just hours before the country's new parliament was set to meet for its first session. And that was following an overwhelming election result in that country. Among those detained were State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi; President U Win Myint; and other senior NLD leaders. In one fell swoop, the military plunged this national democracy into renewed political turmoil just as it was emerging from five decades of military rule and isolation. In 2015, more than 30 million voters elected the NLD and its leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, to power in the country's first general election. The country's first peaceful transfer of power from military rule to a civilian government was celebrated around the world. Pictures of voters proudly raising their ink-stained fingers after the voting in the country's 2015 and 2020 elections had been replaced tragically by images of anger and tears and bloodshed. The military takeover has jeopardized hard-won progress on everything, from infrastructure or education investments to the country's fragile peace process. It seeks to snuff out the hopes of the Burmese people for a better future. At least 149 people, including children, have been killed by the security forces. Mass funerals have been conducted all across the country. More than 2,100 individuals--civilians, students, journalists, unionists--have been detained. Millions have poured onto the streets all across Burma to demand a return to democracy, putting themselves at grave risk for the sake of their own freedom. A civil disobedience movement has emerged with medics, bankers, lawyers, teachers, engineers, factory workers, students, leaving their jobs and their study as a form of resistance against the coup. Despite military orders to shoot to kill, they have not backed down. While we cannot be on the streets of Yangon or Mandalay or Nay Pyi Taw, we must stand in solidarity with those brave people in their peaceful protests against this coup. That is what this bill seeks to do. The Protect Democracy in Burma Act would establish that it is the policy of the United States Government to engage with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and their member states to condemn the coup, urge unconditional release of detained leaders and civil society members, and support the immediate return to a democratic transition. It instructs the United States Government to use its voice, vote, and influence in the U.N. to hold accountable those responsible for this coup. Finally, the legislation states, as the sense of Congress, that the Burmese military has effectively nullified its participation with the House Democracy Partnership--a partnership here at the House that has been in place for the past 5 years. Madam Speaker, I was privileged, along with our chairman, Mr. Price, to travel to Burma and meet with Aung San Suu Kyi as part of that partnership delegation back in 2016, a visit that reinforced our commitment to supporting Burma's democratization and development. The Burmese military must respect the results of democratic elections and allow the democratic transition in Burma to continue. Madam Speaker, with this bill, with one voice, Congress will send a clear signal to the military junta that its unlawful seizure of power will not be accepted and there will be hope for the Burmese people.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, my amendment would strengthen the Sexual Assault Survivors' Bill of Rights by providing survivors the right to be informed of the status and location of their sexual assault evidence collection kit. The Survivors' Bill of Rights was enacted in 2016 and provides fundamental protections to survivors, including: the right to receive a free medical forensic examination; the right to have a sexual assault kit preserved and to be informed of any results related to the examination including a DNA profile match or toxicology reports; the right to be informed of any disposal of a kit; and the right to prevent such disposal if desired. These are important protections that can be funded through Federal grants made available through the Victims of Crime Act. This amendment would add one additional and critical protection to that bill of rights. It would entitle survivors to know the status and location of their kits, providing greater transparency to how kits are handled and tracked by hospitals, forensic professionals, and law enforcement. My home state of Virginia launched just such a tracking program in 2019. In Virginia, each kit has a unique bar code and each survivor is provided with a PIN that allows them to track the status of their kit online. Privacy concerns are allayed by the fact that no personally identifying information is included in the tracking system, and it is entirely up to the survivor whether or not they want to report their assault to law enforcement. This is a transformative transparency regime for a process that has far too long been kept in the shadows, which has given rise to backlogs and anxiety among survivors about the status of their kits and whether they are being used to hold their attackers accountable. The amendment is about empowering survivors, and I urge its adoption.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I will remind my friend on the other side of the aisle, the God-given right every one of us has, according to the Declaration of Independence, is life, and that is what we are arguing about here today. Are we going to take protective measures that save lives? This bill does that. I talk about the ABCs of gun control. A, reinstate the Assault Weapons Ban; B, universal background checks; and C, closing the gun show loophole. Those three practical measures will save lives. And because I support ABC, I get an F every year from the NRA, and I am proud of that grade every year. Point of Order

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, this bill isn't about what we just heard. This bill is a moment of potential redemption for a country riven by racial division, riven by a history of racism going back to slavery, the Reconstruction era, post-Reconstruction, Jim Crow, the violent oppression of people because of the color of their skin. We, in this body, have an opportunity to redeem our country and its history. Let us unite behind that cause and that opportunity at redemption. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1280, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021. The peaceful protests for racial justice last summer compelled a long overdue reckoning for our country to take action to fulfill America's promise of equality no matter the color of your skin. That is why I am proud to cosponsor this proposal to end police brutality and address the systemic racism that has marred American law enforcement for generations. With this legislation, we finally say enough is enough: We've had enough of racial and religious profiling; Enough of no-knock warrants and chokeholds; and Enough of police using military-grade equipment on our American streets. We are a country crying out for an end to the centuries-long scourge of racist brutality that has stolen so many black lives from our communities. The Justice in Policing Act will help erode the culture of impunity within too many of our police forces by bringing much-needed accountability and transparency to our law enforcement institutions. I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my dear friend for yielding to me and for his leadership. Mr. Speaker, when I served in local government, I helped write and pass 14 consecutive budgets--all balanced. And what the budget writing process taught me was that a budget is a values document. So what does the budget reconciliation process tell us about our respective values? Well, the last two times the budget reconciliation process was used by Republicans, they used it on a $2 trillion tax giveaway to the wealthiest Americans and corporations and to take away healthcare for more than 20 million Americans. That was their value. The budget we are debating today shows the Democrats in Congress are going to use every bit of a fight we have in us to take decisive and comprehensive action to finally end this pandemic and alleviate the economic pain Americans are experiencing. We will not wait and see if another 100,000 Americans die in a single month in order to deliver vaccines and testing that we need. We will not wait and see if the United States loses another 20 million jobs, or if the American economy experiences another record-breaking year of GDP contraction. We will not wait and see if the U.S. loses another 10 million jobs, or people continue to go hungry at record numbers. We will enact an American rescue plan that saves lives and livelihoods. Those are our values.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding. The American people are asking: Is there any depravity too low? Is there any outrage too far? Is there any blood and violence too much to turn hearts and minds in this body instead of the usual justification, rationalization, and enabling in false equivalence we have to hear? This is a moment of truth, my friends. Are you on the side of chaos and the mob, or on the side of constitutional democracy and our freedom? It is that simple. That is what this vote for impeachment represents. Madam Speaker, I will not turn a blind eye to the President inciting an armed insurrection against Congress. In the leadup to the election and in its aftermath, the President peddled outrageous lies to overturn a free and fair election. When that didn't work, he launched an armed attack on a coequal branch of government. As the mob closed in, I will never forget it, the banging got louder. (BANG) The President watched the violence unfold on television. (BANG) Republicans begged him to call off the mob. (BANG) Instead, the President attacked his own Vice President whose life was already in danger. (BANG) Now five people are dead, and some of my colleagues are calling for unity. I support unity, but unity cannot be a subterfuge for avoiding accountability. And today, I vote for accountability.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my dear friend and District Director, Sharon Stark, on her retirement after more than a decade of dedicated and faithful service to our community. Mrs. Stark's strong work ethic started at a young age when she got her first job selling shoes at the age of 15. After college, she began her career as a bank teller and worked her way up to be a Vice President of Operations by the time she was 29. She then started a second career as Vice President of a Top 25 title company for residential and commercial real estate. In 2005, Sharon was selected to be a member of Virginia's 11th Congressional District Democratic Committee where she served as the Treasurer for many years with our dear friend Chairman George Burke. Two years later, in 2007, she was named finance chair for George Barker's campaign for the Senate of Virginia. The success of the Barker campaign flipped control of the Senate and helped Democrats secure the majority. Sharon has managed my Congressional district offices since 2009. Under her leadership, the office has established a stellar reputation for constituent services and community engagement. It was during the depths of the 2008 financial crisis and the subsequent collapse of the housing market that Sharon demonstrated just how hard she was willing to fight for constituents. She put her considerable talent and expertise to work for our constituents. People came to our office at risk of being foreclosed upon, having their utilities turned off, not knowing where they would be sleeping the next night, and Sharon took up their cause. She fought with the banks, gave people hope where they saw none, and even went to the courthouse steps to prevent foreclosures. She saved people's homes and changed their lives for the better. Since 2011, our offices have kept track of the financial assistance we have been able to secure for our constituents. This assistance includes helping constituents receive their refund from the IRS or benefits from the Veterans Administration, helping someone resolve their Social Security Disability Insurance claim, and other efforts that result in constituents receiving financial assistance owed to them. Over the past 9 years, Sharon and her team have helped our constituents obtain nearly $20 million in one-time or retroactive benefits plus $9 million per year in recurring benefits. Sharon has organized countless events for the benefit of our constituents. She has established an Open Season event that brings together various health plan providers and industry experts to educate thousands of federal employees, retirees, survivor annuitants, and veterans on their health plan options for the coming year. Sharon spearheaded the annual Congressional Art Competition for VA-11 and has grown the event into something truly memorable for the participants and their families. Students compete for more than $1,000 in scholarship prizes and have the opportunity to see for the first time their own artwork in a professional gallery setting. Sharon has also coordinated countless town halls, roundtables, fairs and festivals outreach booths, and numerous other community engagements. The events often grapple with serious topics such as gun control, the opioid epidemic, health care, and she has always striven to ensure that they are meaningful exchanges of information and viewpoints for attendees. One particular area into which Sharon has thrown herself and her considerable energy is the Military Service Academy nomination process for VA-11. She organizes and coordinates the advisory boards from each service academy, sets the interview calendar, supports the deliberations, and in the end helps nominate the future military leaders of our nation. Under Sharon's leadership, our district is routinely in the top three nationally for having the most students accepted into one of the prestigious U.S. Military Academies. For Sharon, it is a labor of love and service to both our country and the promising young students who seek to serve their nation in uniform. This past year as we endured the COVID-19 pandemic, Sharon once again stepped into the breach, deferring her retirement by working tirelessly to help constituents who have faced personal tragedies and financial hardships. During the pandemic, Sharon has helped small businesses secure desperately needed grants and loans, helped families resolve issues with economic impact payments, and made every effort to ensure that our constituents who were stuck abroad were able to make it back to the United States safely. In 2020 alone, Sharon and our staff were able to help more than 1,800 individuals overcome personal crises directly related to the global pandemic. Madam Speaker, Sharon Stark is a model public servant and I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing Sharon Stark health and happiness as she concludes a distinguished career in service to her country and community. There are people who have their health, a roof over their head, or food on the table thanks to Sharon. I am proud to have had her lead my district offices for the past 13 years and represent me in our community. Our office, constituents, and district will miss her immensely; as will I, and I wish her nothing but the best in retirement in which she will be able to spend more time with her husband Seth, her daughter Christine, and her granddaughter Jacqueline. Job well done Sharon Stark.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished chairwoman of our committee for her graciousness in not only bringing this bill back to the floor, but making it the first legislative bill we are going to consider in the new Congress. I thank my good friend from New York. I also thank my friend from Alabama for his gracious words and his partnership on so many issues on our committee on a bipartisan basis. I want to thank the majority leader for bringing this bill to the floor. I also want to thank the ranking member of the full committee, Mr. Comer; and the ranking member of our subcommittee, Mr. Hice, for cosponsoring this bill, making it as bipartisan as we get. H.R. 21, the FedRAMP Authorization Act, would finally provide a statutory framework--which we currently lack--for the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program, FedRAMP. FedRAMP is a standardized approach to certifying and assessing in an ongoing manner the security of cloud computing technologies used across the Federal Government. FedRAMP seeks to reduce the redundancies of Federal cloud migration by creating a ``certify once, reuse many times'' model for cloud products and services that provide cost- effective, risk-based approach to cloud adoption. Enabling the efficient and secure procurement of cloud computing technology is an important part of Federal IT modernization efforts and essential to the Federal Government's transition to a more virtual posture amid the pandemic. In the first 4 years of FedRAMP, the program authorized only 20 cloud products. Today, there are 211 FedRAMP authorized cloud products that Federal agencies can use and more than 240 cloud service providers participating in FedRAMP, 30 percent of which are small businesses-- female-owned, minority-owned, and veteran-owned businesses. In fiscal year 2020, FedRAMP saw a 50 percent increase in agencies reusing authorized cloud products. This bill already passed the House in the last Congress with bipartisan support not once, but twice; once under suspension by voice vote and once as an amendment to the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act. After incorporating technical assistance that the chairwoman mentioned from the General Services Administration and other key stakeholders, I rise again to offer the FedRAMP Authorization Act. For nearly 4 years, we have worked with the Office of Management and Budget, GSA, industry stakeholders, and our friends on both sides of the aisle to make the needed improvements so FedRAMP can be codified in law. This bill is essential, and it will demonstrate a universal commitment to FedRAMP and the accelerated adoption of secure cloud computing technologies, a vital component of the broader Federal IT modernization effort. And we know it is needed after the cyber hack, probably led by the Russians, in the last few weeks. The FedRAMP Authorization Act would codify the program and address many of the concerns raised by industry and government stakeholders. First, the bill reduces duplication of security assessments and other obstacles to agency adoption of cloud products by establishing a presumption of adequacy for cloud technologies that have received FedRAMP certification. This is important so that companies are not spending millions of dollars simply to get the same certification over and over again. The bill would also facilitate agency reuse of cloud technologies that have already received an authorization-to-operate by requiring agencies to check a centralized and secure repository. It requires that GSA work toward automating their processes, which will lead to more standard security. It will establish a Federal secure cloud advisory committee to ensure dialogue among GSA, agency cybersecurity and procurement officials, and industry representatives for effective and ongoing coordination. Finally, it authorizes $20 million in annual appropriations for the program, providing sufficient resources to increase the number of secure cloud technologies available and to allow free and fair competition, especially for our small and minority-owned businesses. Mr. Speaker, I urge that the House act on this first bill on the first day of our legislative activity. Again, I thank our distinguished chairwoman for being so generous in bringing this bill up again.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the recipients of the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce Annual Chamber Excellence (ACE) Awards. These awards are presented to individuals, organizations, and businesses whose extraordinary efforts make our community a better place. I have been proud to represent this community since my days as Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. The level of civic engagement celebrated by these awards is a testament to the community spirit of Reston. I have often said that civic engagement is a key indicator of a healthy community and every year Reston proves to be one of the healthiest communities in all of Northern Virginia. That is due in no small part to the actions of those honored this year, and I extend my congratulations to all those honorees. It is my honor to include in the Record the recipients of the 2020 ACE Awards: Small Business of the Year--Steven Toole, Toole & Associates Medium Business of the Year--M & T Bank Large Business of the Year--Leidos Member of the Year--Kevin Taylor, CBD-x New Member of the Year--Linda Graziano, AppQueen LLC Committee of the Year--Reston Chamber Cup Golf Committee, (Co-chair) Tom Madden, Visual Impact Productions, (Co-chair) Kevin Taylor, CBD-x Contributor of the Year--Iris Britt, Iris Britt Consulting, LLC Young Professional of the Year--Eric Zutler, Pearson Smith Realty Innovation Award--KME Digital Pinnacle Award--Tom Madden, Visual Impact Productions President's Award--Dee Kakar, M&T Bank Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating the 2020 ACE Award honorees for their tremendous contributions and in thanking them for their service. I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce and all its members for lending their time and energy to the betterment of our community.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the 2020 recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Woman in Sales Leadership Award, IES Member of the Year, and the Rising Star Award presented by the Institute for Excellence in Sales & Business Development (IES). IES was created to foster excellence in business sales and development practices and to help sales professionals and organizations maximize their efforts. IES conducts a variety of workshops and programs designed to provide the knowledge and tools necessary to advance the careers and growth of those who attend. Each year, IES recognizes individuals, teams, and organizations throughout the United States who demonstrate exemplary performance through leadership, risk taking, innovation, vision, and customer development. The Sales Excellence awards seek to promote and advance corporate and organizational sales excellence by recognizing organizations that have demonstrated outstanding leadership and strategic vision in Enterprise Sales. These honorees will each respectfully fall into the award categories of the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Woman in Sales Leadership Award, the Member of the Year Award, and the Rising Star Award. The recipient of the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award is Mr. Craig Abod, President of Carahsoft. In just 15 years, Craig has grown the company from $0 to more than $6.5 billion in bookings by providing federal, state, and local governments and academic institutions with IT solutions that best fit their needs and budgets. As a top-ranked GSA schedule and SEWP contract holder, Carahsoft now employs more than 1,300 people. The recipient of the 4th Annual Women in Sales Executive Leadership Award is Ms. Tamara Greenspan. Tamara is responsible for a team of account executives that deliver software solutions for complex business problems. The team assists the Federal Government, the International Agency community and Canada with their digital transformation. Darrell ``DG'' Gehrt is the IES Member of the Year. He is a sales leader at Cvent and a member of the IES Advisory Board. Darrell's professional career has been defined by taking on a series of entrepreneurial ventures that have grown rapidly. The last twelve years have seen Darrell pioneer sales organizations at DC based SaaS companies and produce no less than 35 percent year-over-year growth rates. Andrew Bailey is the first recipient of the IES Jay Nussbaum Rising Sales Star Award. A former Marine, Andrew has transitioned into an exceptional young sales professional with a deep and abiding commitment and appreciation for his customers. He's quickly become a top sales performer at SAP NS2. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Craig Abod, Tamara Greenspan, Darrell Gehrt, and Andrew Bailey for their exceptional dedication and leadership within the business community.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the Fairfax County History Commission on the occasion of the 16th Annual Fairfax County History Conference. Since 1969, the Fairfax County History Commission has worked to identify, document, record and preserve the historic past of our region. Few areas in the country are as rich in history as ours. Indeed, the history of this region is the history of our country. The History Conference provides an opportunity to reflect on the accomplishments of the past year and to recognize our neighbors who have made significant contributions to preserving and promoting our local history. Through the dedicated efforts of the History Commission and its many volunteers, we are assured that our history will not be lost and will be available for future generations. This year, several of these dedicated individuals are being honored for their commitment to the preservation and education of history. I am proud to include in the Record their names: Ms. Todi Carnes for her design, research, script authoring and graphic production of the video now currently used at Historic Huntley by the Fairfax County Park Authority to describe the Mt. Huntley viewshed. Ms. Heather Bollinger for her monthly publication of the Historic Records Center, Fairfax County Circuit Court (2014-present) called ``Found in the Archives''. Ms. Katrina Krempasky for her 13 years of leadership as Manager, Historic Records Center, Fairfax County Circuit Court (2006 through 2019). Mr. John Ryan, for his work in orchestrating both the 2019 Shouse Village Oral History & Archive Project and the Village's 50th Anniversary Committee. The Shouse Village 50th Anniversary Committee, co-chaired by John Ryan & Mary Ann Hampton for their yearlong work in compiling, sorting and framing historical pictures and documents and orchestrating the anniversary, culminating in an Anniversary Reception and as such have preserved and honored the historicity of this important community in Fairfax County. I commend the Fairfax County History Commission for helping to ensure that the abundance of history that is available to our community will be preserved far into the future. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating all the honorees and thanking the Fairfax County History Commission for the important work they do for the Northern Virginia community.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituent, Ms. Angele Gilroy, and to congratulate her on her retirement following 47 years of dedicated service to the U.S. Congress and our nation as an analyst with the Congressional Research Service. Ms. Gilroy began her federal service in 1974 and has since become CRS's principle analyst on telecommunications policy. In this role, she has served all 541 Congressional offices and multiple committees who have all benefited from her expertise gained through decades of research. Ms. Gilroy has consistently provided accurate, nonpartisan analysis to Congressional Members and staff to inform policy decisions during high-profile events including broadband deployment for COVID-19, Net Neutrality debates, the landmark Telecommunications Act of 1996, and the Bell telephone system dissolution in 1984. But one of the most important services that Ms. Gilroy has provided is what she has given to the future generations at CRS. Ms. Gilroy has formally mentored new employees and provided informal guidance to others on writing, briefing, and research, ensuring CRS will continue to provide the highest-quality policy analysis to Congress. The standard of excellence she set will be upheld and her legacy will go on through the continued efforts of those she trained counseled. Ms. Gilroy has served under eight U.S. Presidents, continuing to excel in her professional duties as the country progressed into new ideals, advanced technologies, and increased security measures. The changes that Ms. Gilroy has been a part of have been instrumental, and her dedication to accurate data and robust nonpartisan policy analysis have been pillars for others to emulate. I am proud to represent Ms. Gilroy in Congress, and I thank her for the invaluable contributions she has made during her distinguished career. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in commending Ms. Gilroy and in thanking her for her nearly half a century of public service.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise to celebrate the life of Joseph ``Joe'' Alexander, a pivotal Northern Virginia leader who passed away peacefully at home on August 30, 2020 at the age of 90. Joe Alexander was born in Pittsburgh, PA on December 21, 1929 to Celia and Milton Alexander. When Joe was young, the family relocated to Northern Virginia where Joe would spend his life. In 1956, Joe married the love of his life Davina, and together they raised their two daughters Cathy and Cheri. Joe dedicated his life to bettering the community in which he grew up by serving others. He was a veteran of the Korean War and served in the Air Force where he was promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant. Afterwards, Joe returned to the Franconia section of Fairfax County where he owned and managed Franconia Hardware. He was urged by other local business owners to run for the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and began his first term in office in 1964. He served a total of 32 years, finally stepping down when his 8th term ended in December 1995. During Joe's years of service on the Board, he was affectionately known as ``Pothole Joe'' because no level of constituent service was too small for him to personally address. He shaped the transformation of his district from one of un-regulated gravel pits to an area known for its vibrant planned communities. Joe believed that an integrated transportation network was critical to the continued growth and prosperity of the region. In 1964, Joe was a founding member of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission on which he served for 25 years representing our region in mass transit systems such as WMATA, VRE, and the Fairfax Connector. Working with others he was instrumental in transforming four separate privately owned bus companies into the Metrobus system. In recognition of his immeasurable contributions to public transportation, the Joe Alexander Transportation Center (commonly referred to as the Franconia- Springfield Metro Station) was named after him, and in 2008 after serving as its Chair, Joe was inducted into the American Public Transportation Association Hall of Fame. Public service was at the core of who Joe was. In addition to his contributions in transportation and community planning, Joe was a volunteer with the Franconia Volunteer Fire Department. His love for his community and its history led him to donate his time as a volunteer and a Board Member with the Franconia Museum. Joe also had an adventurous spirit--he loved to travel, enjoyed good food and wine, and football. But above all Joe was a dedicated and loving husband, father and grandfather. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life and legacy of Joseph Alexander. His leadership and commitment to public service helped lay the foundation for the county and he will be missed by all who knew him. I also extend my deepest condolences to his wife of 64 years, Davina; his daughters, Cathy Stevens (Ed) and Cheri Roth (Rich); and granddaughter Stephanie Roth. May his memory be a blessing.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Russell Bryant for his 44 years of selfless service to our nation and to congratulate him on his upcoming retirement. Mr. Bryant attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, receiving a ROTC scholarship after his first semester. Though he initially studied Aeronautical Engineering, he switched to Nuclear Engineering following his ROTC midshipman cruise. After obtaining his Bachelor of Engineering in Nuclear Engineering, he received his commission as an Ensign in the United States Navy on May 13, 1976. He was first stationed on the USS Mississippi and later served on both the USS South Carolina CGN-37 and the USS Texas CGN-39, serving in various capacities of increasing responsibility. Mr. Bryant left active duty on September 30, 1987, at which time he held the position of Ship Maintenance Manager for the USS Carl Vinson CVN 70 on the Commander Naval Air Forces Pacific Fleet Staff in San Diego, VA. His active duty awards include Meritorious Unit Commendation and the Naval Expeditionary Medal, and two Sea Service ribbons. After his discharge from active duty, he joined the Naval Reserves where he served with distinction, again earning numerous medals and awards. Mr. Bryant continued his service to our nation beginning November 11, 1987, as a civil servant in the Aircraft Carrier Program Office, PMS 312, of the Naval Sea Systems Command. In 1994, he took a new position in the Program Executive Office for Ship Self Defense Systems (PEO SSDS), which is now the Program Executive Office for Integrated Warfare Systems. Mr. Bryant has contributed greatly to the Navy through his involvement in the realm of electronic warfare and decoys from 1994 to present day. Even while balancing the demands of a top-level civil service position and his responsibilities in the U.S. Naval Reserves, Mr. Bryant still found the time to complete courses at the Naval War College, receiving his diploma in 1997. He also completed the USDA Executive Potential Program and was recognized as the Outstanding Alumni for 2000. He went on to take other graduate level courses and received his Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in 2003. A recognized expert in various aspects of technical, social and organizational components of Command and Control, Mr. Bryant has published numerous peer-reviewed papers since 2000. Mr. Bryant has also contributed to his local community. He served as his Prince William County Supervisor's Budget Advisory Committee Chair for two years. He subsequently served as Prince William County Woodbridge District Planning Commissioner, advising the Prince William County Board of Supervisors on land use and development issues in the County. Mr. Bryant remained in this position until December 31, 2018 after serving on the commission for 16 years, including 12 as Chairman. At the end of December 2020, Mr. Bryant will retire following 44 years of exemplary service as a Naval Officer and a Civil Servant. I congratulate Mr. Bryant and commend him for his outstanding service to the protection of our great nation and the betterment of our local community. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating Russell Bryant on his retirement and in wishing him and his wife Janelle continued health, happiness and success.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Langley Residential Executive Director Betsy Schatz for the service she has provided to our developmental disability community for more than three decades. The Langley Residential Support Services is a non-profit organization and was founded in 1983 by three churches in McLean, Virginia. It has since continued to expand its reach across the county to help as many people as possible. In fact, Langley now has 15 fulltime employees, 14 part-time employees and approximately 30 volunteers who provide support and services to adults with developmental disabilities and their families. For the past 36 years, Langley has been helping families ensure that their adult child, sister, brother or other loved one with a developmental disability has a home to call his or her own. Langley Residential Support Services is dedicated to the mission that all people, regardless of developmental disabilities, have the right to live in dignity and as independently as possible--allowing all to participate as fully as possible in our society. Since 1988, Betsy Schatz has been at the forefront of the great work and growth of the organization. For 31 years she has been a passionate advocate for people with developmental disabilities and is a true leader in our community. Under her stewardship Langley has been able to expand their assistance to six residential homes, several community drop-in services, and provides numerous other resources to benefit its clients and their families. Langley is a pioneer in this field and assisted more than 50 individuals in the last year alone. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in commending Langley Residential Executive Director Betsy Schatz and in thanking her for her tireless efforts and dedication. She and her team strive to ensure that those with developmental disabilities have fair opportunities and a quality of life that all people deserve. I wish Executive Director Betsy Schatz and Langley Residential Support Services continued success in fulfilling their admirable mission.

Mr. CONNOLLY

Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) and their continued dedication to the elimination of impaired driving and underage drinking in the Washington metropolitan area. WRAP is a public-private partnership that works with law enforcement, community stakeholders, and advocacy groups in Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland. Through educational and innovative public programs, WRAP is credited with keeping Washington area alcohol related death rates historically below the national average. Programs and resources include Youth Outreach, Adult Outreach, and Public Education programs designed to educate students and the general public on the dangers of alcohol and drugs, particularly driving while under the influence. WRAP offers unique programs such as the WRAP Holiday SoberRide program, where individuals who are impaired can request a free safe ride home. In 1982, the year that WRAP was founded, 26,173 people in the United States lost their lives in alcohol-related car crashes; 60 percent of all traffic fatalities involved drunk driving. Due to the tireless efforts of WRAP, other organizations such as MADD and SADD, local and state police, and enforcement of more stringent anti-drunk driving laws, alcohol-related traffic fatalities decreased to 9,878. WRAP continues to work tirelessly to ensure these statistics are not repeated. In fiscal year 2020, WRAP was successful in removing 2,243 potential drunk drivers from Greater Washington's roadways during only two, pre-COVID WRAP SoberRide campaigns. WRAP also experienced a record level of ridership for Halloween which was the highest in Sober Ride's 27-year history. In addition, WRAP reached the ``80,000-served'' level of total ridership for its Sober Ride program; in fact, total ridership nearly tripled between 2016 and 2019. Since 1997, WRAP has sponsored an annual Law Enforcement Awards Ceremony to honor local law enforcement professionals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in the fight against drunk driving. It is my honor to include in the Record the names of the 2020 Law Enforcement Award of Excellence recipients: Officer Anggelo Suarez--City of Alexandria Police Department Officer Anthony Gatto--Arlington County Police Department Officer Bryce Cooper--City of Falls Church Police Department Private First-Class Zachary Davis--City of Fairfax Police Department FCPD GROUP--Fairfax County Police Department Private First-Class Jonathan Heavner--Town of Herndon Police Department Deputy First Class Mark Sarrichio--Loudoun County Sheriff's Office Trooper First Class Anthony Wallace--Maryland State Police Officer Roderick Saunders--Metropolitan Police Department Corporal Patricia Cox--Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Officer Patrick Kepp--Montgomery County Department of Police Corporal Thomas Kosakowski--Prince George's County Police Department Officer Chad Mason--Prince William County Police Department Officer Aram Karapetyan--United States Capitol Police Officer Christopher Gogarty--United States Park Police Trooper Jordan Corvin--Virginia State Police Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in commending the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) and congratulating each of the honorees of the 2020 Law Enforcement Award of Excellence recipients. I wish all of them great success in their future endeavors.