David Cicilline

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I just returned from overseas. I led a delegation of our colleagues, a bipartisan delegation, to visit our troops during the Christmas holiday; and, of course, we all were struck by the extraordinary service of these brave men and women who are serving our country. One of the things they shared about was, of course, their concerns about things back at home with their families. It reminded me that the agenda that we develop to address the urgent priorities of the American people remains important: to drive down the cost of healthcare, to raise family incomes and rebuild the crumbling infrastructure of our county, to take on the corruption and self-dealing in Washington, and to get the government working for the people again. That is what Democrats have been working on in a bipartisan way. We have passed over 400 pieces of legislation; 275 of those bills are bipartisan. Sadly, 80 percent of those bills are stuck on Mitch McConnell's desk. So, as we return from this trip, I am reminded that this is an opportunity to call on the Senate majority leader. We are working hard to prevent war with Iran. We are working hard to hold the President accountable for his misconduct. But our most important priority is to deliver on those promises we made to the American people: to drive down the cost of healthcare, to raise family incomes, to rebuild the infrastructure of our country, and to get government working for the people again. It is time for the Senate majority leader to take those bills up and give them a vote. Our men and women deserve nothing less.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 83. Our single greatest responsibility is the safety and security of the American people; and as the elected representatives of the American people, it is our solemn duty to ensure that our country only engages in armed conflict that is necessary and that, when we do, there are clear objectives and a strategy for achieving those objectives. The Trump administration has presented neither evidence that military action is necessary nor a clear outline of their goals and a strategy with respect to Iran. Any decision to put American troops in harm's way should be debated openly and honestly so that the American people have a say in their future. Nothing in this resolution prevents the administration from seeking authorization for future actions, but it does guarantee, as the Constitution requires, that the American people, through their elected representatives, have a voice in that decision. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Articles of Impeachment against Donald J. Trump, the 45th President of the United States. Mr. Speaker, no one runs for Congress to impeach a President. But this President has left us no choice. President Trump abused the enormous powers of his office when he solicited foreign interference for the purpose of helping him in his reelection campaign in 2020. The President betrayed our national security and undermined the security of our elections when he put his own personal political interests ahead of the interests of our country. He tried to cheat to win reelection. This wasn't an attack on Vice President Biden. This was an attack on our democracy. If we do not hold the President accountable today, we will no longer live in a democracy. We will live in a dictatorship where any future President will be free to abuse their office in order to get reelected. Today, every Member of this Chamber faces a choice: whether to do what the Constitution demands and the evidence requires or to turn a blind eye to the President's grave misconduct, a blind eye to the overwhelming evidence of high crimes and misdemeanors. To my friends on the other side of the aisle, I say this: This is not about making history. This is about holding a lawless President accountable in the way our Framers intended. This is a time to put our country over your political party. Do not seek safety in the high grass of a vote against these articles. We are all Americans. Show the American people your devotion to your country is more powerful than your loyalty to your political party. United, we can defend our democracy from all enemies, foreign and domestic. Divided, we risk losing our democracy. All you have to do is look at the evidence because it will leave you with only one answer: The President of the United States must be impeached. Remember these facts: He tried to cheat. He got caught. He confessed. Then, he obstructed the investigation into his misconduct. For our democracy, for our Constitution, for the people you represent, and for all who will inherit our country from us, I pray you will do the right thing.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H. Res. 326, the Lowenthal resolution, to support a two-state solution to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. I thank my good friend, Alan Lowenthal, for the hard work he has done to support the State of Israel and to bring this resolution to the floor today. This resolution strongly reaffirms longstanding, bipartisan U.S. policy regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This includes support for a two-state solution and expresses opposition to efforts that undermine the prospects for a lasting peace. I, like so many in this Congress, have been a longtime and passionate supporter of Israel and the U.S.-Israeli relationship. We know that a strong Israel is good for America. But I have been increasingly concerned that this administration's decision to unilaterally change American policies towards Israel outside of any negotiation are detrimental to the long-term prospects for peace. This resolution makes clear that the best and only real solution to achieving peace is the two-state solution. And, again, I thank Mr. Lowenthal and Chairman Engel for bringing this resolution to the floor, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, it has been less than a year since Democrats took back the majority in the House. In that short time, we have passed nearly 400 bills to get government working for the people again, by increasing access to quality, affordable healthcare and protecting coverage for preexisting conditions; by raising family wages; by making bold investments in rebuilding our Nation's infrastructure; and by cleaning up corruption in Washington and getting the government to work for the people again. We have sent more than 275 bipartisan bills to the Senate, where Mitch McConnell is refusing to vote on them. These bills include legislation to protect and strengthen coverage for preexisting conditions, to ensure equal pay for equal work, and to fight back against the debilitating effects of climate change and ban offshore drilling. We also voted to give 33 million Americans a long-overdue pay raise by raising the minimum wage, provide Gold Star families with much- needed tax relief, and secure our Nation's elections. Yet, Mitch McConnell has described himself as the ``grim reaper'' and won't take up any of this legislation. We are busy doing the work of the American people. We have passed over 375 bipartisan bills that are sitting in the Senate. It is time for the Senate to take up these bills and address the urgent priorities of the American people.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 565) to include Portugal in the list of foreign states whose nationals are eligible for admission into the United States as E1 and E2 nonimmigrants if United States nationals are treated similarly by the Government of Portugal, as amended.

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the AMIGOS Act is a bipartisan bill that I introduced, along with the gentleman from California (Mr. Costa), my colleague, to encourage greater investment and trade between the United States and Portugal. H.R. 565 makes Portuguese nationals eligible for E-1 and E-2 nonimmigrant visas if the Government of Portugal provides similar nonimmigrant status to U.S. nationals. Access to these investor visas will allow Portuguese investors to support projects in the United States, which will benefit our economy as well as that of Portugal. As one of the first countries to recognize the United States after the Revolutionary War, Portugal is one of our closest economic partners and strongest allies. Today, the United States maintains that longstanding relationship as the fifth largest export market for Portugal and its largest trading partner outside of the European Union. I am proud to represent the First District of Rhode Island, home to one of the country's largest and most vibrant Portuguese communities, a community that has made outstanding contributions in the arts, culture, business, and public service in this country for many decades. From 2010-2015, we saw a 30 percent increase in trade between the United States and Portugal. 2015 also marked the year that the United States became Portugal's largest trading partner outside the European Union, with bilateral trade reaching $4.2 billion. Bilateral trade in goods and services between the United States and Portugal has continued to grow, with a 9 percent increase from $8 billion in 2018 when compared to just a year earlier. There are currently over 130 American companies operating in Portugal in a wide range of economic sectors, including pharmaceutical, chemical, technology, banking, and health sectors. In 2018, the United States' direct investment position in Portugal was $2.8 billion, an increase of 37 percent from 2017. The direct investment position from Portugal in the United States, however, experienced a 3.5 percent decrease to $1 billion from 2017 to 2018. While the majority of the countries within the European Union had preexisting bilateral investor treaties with the United States before joining the EU, Portugal did not and is one of the only five EU countries whose citizens are not currently eligible for E-1 or E-2 visas. In the absence of a bilateral treaty, which Portugal cannot enter due to the rules of the European Union, Congress has the power to authorize E-1 and E-2 benefits to other countries; and we have exercised our authority to do so for both Israel in 2012 and New Zealand just last year. I am pleased to lead the effort to do the same for Portugal. Foreign direct investment plays a significant role in the U.S. economy. One of the most important factors in encouraging investments in the United States is the availability of business-related visas, like nonimmigrant E-1 and E-2 visas. Allowing Portuguese citizens access to conduct substantial trade between the United States and Portugal or invest a substantial amount of capital in the United States to qualify for nonimmigrant E-1 and E-2 visas will help strengthen U.S.-Portugal ties and promote an increase in Portugal's investments in the United States. Extending visas to Portugal not only gives Portuguese businesses an opportunity to invest in the United States, but it is a mutually beneficial relationship that promotes jobs in both countries and growth in United States businesses and our economy. I am proud to lead this effort to support our ally and friend, Portugal. I want to thank Chairman Nadler for his strong support of this legislation and for bringing this bill to the floor today. I encourage all of my colleagues to support H.R. 565, the AMIGOS Act. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, which will strengthen the really important and historical relationship between the United States and Portugal, which will help to promote economic growth in both of our countries, lead to the creation of good paying jobs, and really strengthen the long and important economic relationship between our two great countries. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to highlight the tremendous progress House Democrats have made to get government working for the people. In less than a year, we have passed nearly 400 pieces of legislation, including more than 275 bipartisan bills that are currently sitting on Mitch McConnell's desk. We passed legislation to protect coverage for preexisting conditions, to build on the progress of the ACA, and to drive down the cost of prescription drugs. We fought to get hardworking folks the good-paying jobs they need to put food on the table by passing legislation to raise the minimum wage; to ensure equal pay for equal work; and to invest more than $70 billion in green, job-creating infrastructure projects. We fought to clean up corruption in Washington by passing the most comprehensive anticorruption bill since Watergate. Yet Mitch McConnell would rather tout himself as the grim reaper than vote on these bills that will help his constituents and the American people. I have a message for you, Senator McConnell: Do your job, or your constituents will pick someone who will.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remind our Republican colleagues how much work has been done by the House Democrats. There has been a lot of discussion about the ongoing impeachment inquiry. While that work is being done, we have been hard at work, delivering on our agenda for the people of this country: driving down healthcare costs, driving down the cost of prescription drugs, raising family incomes with a real emphasis on rebuilding the crumbling infrastructure of America, taking on self-dealing and corruption in Washington, and getting the government to work for the people of this country again. In that effort, we have passed over 300 pieces of legislation: 10 healthcare bills, 4 that will reduce the cost of prescription drugs; raising family incomes by raising the minimum wage for 33 million Americans and providing equal pay for equal work; universal background checks; restoring net neutrality; preventing our separating out of the Paris climate accord; a new veterans tax credit; and on and on. Eighty percent of those bills are sitting on Mitch McConnell's desk, awaiting action. Maybe most importantly, we passed H.R. 1, the biggest anticorruption bill passed by Congress since Watergate. Again, 80 percent of those bills are awaiting action in the Senate. The Senate doesn't have to pass the version we passed. This is a legislative process. Bring it to the floor, amend it, send it back, but do your job. The American people are expecting us to deliver on the promises that we made to get government to work for the people of this country again.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, on opening day, we take an oath of office. We take an oath not to a king, not to a President, but to protect and defend the Constitution. It is our solemn duty. In fact, this resolution sets forth the procedures for the next phase of our impeachment inquiry. We know substantial evidence has been presented that the President abused his power, undermined our national security, and undermined the integrity of our elections. We are duty-bound to proceed. It is a sad day, but not because Congress has the courage to stand up for our democracy, but because the President's conduct has forced this action. I urge my colleagues to approve this resolution.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, since January, House Democrats have gotten to work, passing legislation that brings down healthcare costs and protects the benefits of the Affordable Care Act. We have gone to court to fight against the Trump administration's efforts to gut protections for folks with preexisting conditions. We have already sent a package of legislation to the Senate that will drive down the price of prescription drugs. We are still waiting on Mitch McConnell to take up these bills, but we are not stopping there. In the coming weeks, we will also bring to the floor the Elijah Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, H.R. 3, the single most significant piece of legislation to reduce drug costs, that empowers patients and consumers against the powerful pharmaceutical cartels in this country. This legislation levels the playing field of working people in this country, a country that pays more for prescription drugs than anyplace else in the world. Our constituents want a government that works for the people of this country. It is time for my Republican colleagues and Leader McConnell to get the message: Stop standing in the way. Work with us so we can get the job done and pass this important legislation that will address this very serious issue, the rising cost of prescription drugs.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 296, a resolution introduced by my friend Mr. Schiff to recognize the horror of the genocide perpetuated against the Armenian people by the Ottoman Empire between 1913 and 1925, killing 1.5 million martyrs. There is no question that the Ottoman Empire carried out a systemic campaign of persecution, forced removal, starvation, and murder against Armenians, along with other Christian minorities living under Ottoman rule. This campaign was documented in realtime by American diplomats and has been acknowledged in various forms by previous administrations and Congresses, the last in 1984. In order to prevent future genocides and mass atrocities, it is vital that we never forget those that have already occurred. For too long, we have allowed foreign interests to lobby the United States in favor of turning the other way and not wholly recognizing the truth of the Armenian genocide. That ends today. In Rhode Island, we have a very proud Armenian community that has demonstrated extraordinary resilience. They deserve for Congress to acknowledge the history of their people and the truth of the Armenian genocide. That will happen today. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. I rise today with a heavy heart. Ten days ago, President Trump sealed the fate of our Kurdish partners in Syria when he gave President Erdogan of Turkey the green light to invade. I believe this callous and reckless decision will go down in history not only for its disregard for human life but for the strategic malpractice of placing American troops in harm's way, allowing thousands of ISIS prisoners to go free, and ceding influence over the region to Russia and the Assad regime. It was truly an unbelievably dangerous and stupid decision that undermines our national security and diminishes our moral authority in the world. I am pleased that this resolution has widespread bipartisan support. We need to pass it and get it on the President's desk as quickly as possible. But resolutions--and sanctions, when they come--can't bring Kurdish children back to life. They can't reclaim our American military positions and equipment seized by the Russians. They can't restore our credibility, which has been squandered as we have betrayed the trust of our Kurdish allies. I am sickened by this administration's actions. We need to do everything we can, as a Congress, to make this right. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan resolution. I thank Mr. McCaul and Mr. Engel for working together, in a bipartisan way, to send a very strong message that the Congress of the United States does not support this horrific decision that betrayed our allies and undermines American leadership in the world.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to stand before you today to memorialize the remarkable life and legacy of Elizabeth Buffum Chace, a leader of the abolitionist and suffrage movements in Rhode Island, by naming a post office in her honor in the city of Central Falls. Born in 1806, Elizabeth Buffum Chace was raised by Quaker parents outspoken about their opposition to slavery, often harboring fugitive slaves in their home seeking refuge in Rhode Island. Elizabeth soon became an activist herself, passing around petitions, organizing groups of abolitionists, and even later opening her own home as a station in the Underground Railroad. Chace spent most of her life in Smithfield, Rhode Island, and was steadfast in her dedication to advancing women's rights, prison reform, and the abolitionist movement. She became known as the Conscience of Rhode Island for her passion for creating social change and her leadership in the face of adversity. During her later years, she settled down with her husband in Valley Falls, near the present-day city of Central Falls. She was committed to bettering the lives of others, serving as president of the Rhode Island Women's Suffrage Association, and helped organize a Female Anti-Slavery Society in Massachusetts. She also served on the Ladies' Board of Visitors to the Penal and Correctional Institutions of the State, which examined conditions in the State prison. Chace's tireless, lifelong activism embodies the best of Rhode Island's values and remains an inspiration for progress still to come. Elizabeth Buffum Chace continued fighting for women's rights and prison reform in her later years. She eventually passed away on December 12, 1899, and was buried in Providence, Rhode Island. Her legacy was memorialized in 2002, when a bronze bust of Chace was displayed at the Rhode Island State House, the first woman to receive this honor, in recognition of her extraordinary accomplishments. The dedication of the Central Falls Post Office will serve to commemorate her impact and advocacy for women, children, and communities of color. Her legacy lives on today through the Elizabeth Buffum Chace Center, founded in 1977 by the Warwick Junior League Women's Club to serve as a shelter offering support and services for women and children suffering from domestic violence. Rhode Island has been forever changed by Elizabeth Buffum Chace and her life's work creating social change. She was a legendary suffragist and abolitionist in the 19th century, and her importance to the State of Rhode Island should be honored by dedicating the Central Falls Post Office in her name. I am proud to have had the opportunity to honor such an icon as Elizabeth Buffum Chace. I would like to extend my gratitude for the support from my friend and colleague Congressman Jim Langevin and also to thank the mayor of the city of Central Falls, Mayor James Diossa, who generated this idea, for his leadership. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 1423, Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal Act, or the FAIR Act.

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1423, the Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal Act, or the FAIR Act. Buried deep within the fine print of everyday contracts, forced arbitration deprives American consumers and workers of their day in court when they attempt to hold corporations accountable for breaking the law. This private system lacks the procedural safeguards of our justice system. It is not subject to oversight, has no judge or jury, and is not bound by laws passed by Congress or the States, but it has become a requirement of everyday life. Consumers and workers must surrender their rights to corporations through forced arbitration clauses, which are unilaterally imposed by companies before disputes even arise. When forced arbitration is combined with nondisclosure agreements, it effectively silences the victims of rampant corporate misconduct. This shameful, humiliating, and corrupt system has isolated and silenced people who are ultimately deprived of their right to hold wrongdoers accountable through their day in court. Few instances of this silencing effect are as stark and disturbing as the experiences of victims of sexual harassment and assault, who are routinely exploited by forced arbitration. Forced arbitration has also eroded the fundamental rights of our Nation's men and women in uniform, veterans, and their families. These brave Americans have sacrificed much in service to our country. They have fought to protect the fundamental idea that we are a Nation of laws and institutions that guarantee the rights to every American and that every American should have the freedom to enforce these rights meaningfully. But for too long, arbitration has eroded these fundamental protections by forcing servicemembers' claims into a private system set up by corporations. The Military Coalition, which represents 5.5 million current and former servicemembers, The American Legion, and 29 other military service organizations, notes that forced arbitration has funneled the claims of servicemembers, veterans, and their families into ``a rigged, secretive system in which all the rules, including the choice of the arbitrator, are picked by the corporation.'' Let me give an example. Lieutenant Commander Kevin Ziober, who testified in support of the FAIR Act earlier this year, has served in the U.S. Navy Reserves since 2008, but in the fall of 2012, he was called into Active Duty for deployment to Afghanistan. Kevin notified his employer and conveyed his desire to resume work upon his return, but after over 2 years with the company, on the last day of work, right before his deployment to Afghanistan, following a farewell party with a big cake with a symbol of the United States flag on it, he was fired by his employer for serving his country. When he tried to hold his employer accountable for violating his rights under USERRA, his company forced his claim into arbitration, citing an arbitration clause in Kevin's employment contract that he was required to sign 6 months into his employment waiving his constitutional right to a jury trial. This outrageous practice is nothing short of a corporate takeover of our Nation's system of laws, and the American people have had enough. The overwhelming majority of voters, including 83 percent of Democrats and 87 percent of Republicans, support ending forced arbitration. It is time to act. H.R. 1423, the FAIR Act, does just that. This important legislation ends the use of forced arbitration in everyday consumer, employment, antitrust, and civil rights abuses. It is supported by a broad coalition of groups dedicated to advancing the rights of women, servicemembers, veterans, consumers, and hardworking Americans. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Chair, I would just remind the gentleman that this is a bipartisan piece of legislation, and the most recent polling shows 87 percent of Republicans and 83 percent of Democrats support it. So it is broadly bipartisan all across the country. It is bipartisan in terms of its introduction and sponsorship. It is just not bipartisan in the Republican caucus, apparently. Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Johnson). He is not only a distinguished Member; he is the lead sponsor and author of the FAIR Act.

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Chair, I yield an addition 30 seconds to the gentleman.

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Georgia (Mrs. McBath), who has been a fierce advocate for workers and consumers.

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chair, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have argued that forced arbitration is cheaper or easier than litigation and that consumers and workers should have a choice. The FAIR Act doesn't take away anybody's choice. It restores choice. It restores choice that has been taken away from the American people by big corporations that don't want to face liability or public scrutiny for their actions. This is a complete misrepresentation of what the bill does. The FAIR Act does not ban arbitration. It eliminates forced arbitration that is imposed on everyday consumers and hardworking Americans before a dispute even arises. And the notion that you have a choice, most consumers don't even know it is happening. When you check that box on the contract for your phone or your cable, you have given away your right to have your claims heard. It is very widespread in consumer employment contracts. These clauses are hidden, very often, from consumers and workers. They appear inside of envelopes and delivery boxes in the fine print of privacy policies, which often span dozens of pages. In most cases, people aren't even aware that they have signed away their right to a day in court, simply by using everyday goods and services. Companies still have the option to use arbitration, but only on a voluntary basis after a dispute arises and not by unilaterally imposing it on people by big corporate entities. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutch), the distinguished senior member of the Judiciary Committee.

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Chair, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Florida.

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Chair, I would point out the family law cases that my friend just referenced, of course, are voluntary arbitration proceedings post dispute. This bill has nothing to do with that. This is pre-dispute forced arbitration. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), a champion for women, and a Member of Congress who has fought to be sure that women have their rights vindicated against powerful corporations for a very long time.

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Speier), perhaps Congress' strongest champion for women, particularly women as it relates to their employers, and someone who has been an advocate for this for a very long time.