David Cicilline

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I believe the Chair can entertain requests for unanimous consent at any time.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, the Modern Diner in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, was recognized last week for its legendary custard French toast, which the Food Network named the best diner dish in America. Rhode Island is the birthplace of the diner, with the first horse- drawn canteen established in Providence by Walter Scott in the year 1872. Since 1940, Mr. Speaker, the Modern Diner has been a landmark for the city of Pawtucket. Situated in a vintage Sterling Streamliner, the Modern Diner is known for its breakfast specials and great meals. In the late 1980s, it became the first diner to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Last week's award told the world what Rhode Island already knows--that the Modern Diner and its offerings are second to none. Mr. Speaker, as a regular patron of this noteworthy establishment, I want to applaud Modern Diner owner Nick Demou on this significant recognition. I look forward to celebrating with him and his staff on my next visit to the Modern Diner.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, we have a gun violence epidemic in this country. There have been nearly 50,000 incidents of gun violence in our country this year. More than 12,400 people have lost their lives. There have been more than 350 mass shootings in the United States this year, more than there have been days in the year. For many killers in these mass shootings, assault weapons are the weapons of choice. Right now, Mr. Speaker, someone who is on the terrorist watch list, someone law enforcement has deemed too dangerous to board an airplane, can walk into a gun store and buy an assault rifle. This is insane. H.R. 1076 will fix this. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman King of New York for introducing this commonsense bill, and I applaud him for actually working with the Democrats. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the bill. We need more people on his side of the aisle to stop kneeling at the altar of the NRA and actually do something about this urgent threat to public safety. Mr. Speaker, if we don't pass this into law, then shame on us for doing nothing while thousands of Americans are dying each year from gun violence. Instead of spending time on this Texas landgrab, as Mr. McGovern says, we should be focused on the urgent issues facing our country. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question so we can take up H.R. 1076 and do something to protect our constituents from gun violence in this country.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. I thank the distinguished gentleman from New York for yielding time. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3766, the Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act. I want to begin by recognizing my colleagues, the distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly) and the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe), for all of the work that they have done to get this important bill to the floor and to thank them for working, as they always do, in a bipartisan way on behalf of the members of our committee. I also thank Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for their leadership on this bill and for their creating an environment on the Foreign Affairs Committee, where we work together in a bipartisan way, and this legislation is a product of that work. Madam Speaker, the Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act will enhance the transparency and effectiveness of U.S. foreign assistance by requiring a framework for monitoring and evaluating foreign development and economic programs and for publicly disclosing the data and results. The United States carries out a wide variety of assistance programs overseas, and it is important that there is a clearly articulated strategy and monitoring apparatus for our assistance. It is just as important that the American people have access to the information about what activities their tax dollars are funding. This is critical to sustaining public understanding and support for our diplomatic work and our foreign assistance. I also want to take a moment to commend the Obama administration for making much of this information publicly available online on their Foreign Assistance Dashboard. I hope that my colleagues support this legislation so that we can continue to increase efficiency and accountability in our foreign assistance programs. The American people deserve this, and it will make our foreign assistance better understood and more impactful. I urge my colleagues to support this excellent legislation.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, just hours before last week's shooting, I stood in this very same spot and called on Congress to renew the assault weapons ban, which expired in 2004. Shortly after the shooting in San Bernadino, we learned that one of the weapons used was an AR-15, capable of unloading 800 rounds per minute or 13 rounds per second. Just a week earlier, a gunman in Colorado Springs used an AK-47-style weapon. We need to get these weapons of war out of the hands of terrorists and criminals. It is easy to say criminals and terrorists will always find a way to get a gun, but certainly we don't need to make it easier for these individuals to get guns capable of killing dozens of innocent people within seconds. There are simple steps we can take today to address this issue without denying a person's Second Amendment rights. We can start by making sure someone convicted of a violent crime can't buy a gun by exploiting a loophole and prevent someone on the terrorist watch list from buying a gun. If you are too dangerous to get on a plane, you are too dangerous to walk into a gun store and buy an assault weapon or any other gun. We need to start somewhere to address this epidemic if we have any hope of reducing gun violence in this country. Getting assault weapons out of the hands of criminals and potential terrorists is a good place to start.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, last Friday, a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs became the target of the 351st mass shooting in the United States this year. Three people were killed: an Iraq war veteran, a mother of two, and a local police officer. They are now among the more than 12,000 Americans who have died in gun-related incidents since the start of the year. The shooter in Colorado Springs is reported to have used a semiautomatic, AK-47-style firearm, an assault weapon that has its origins in Stalin's Soviet Army. This firearm and others like it are weapons of war, not tools for self-defense. They serve no purpose other than to kill. And we can no longer permit the proliferation of and easy access to these weapons in the United States. That is why, in the coming weeks, I will be introducing legislation that reauthorizes the Assault Weapons Ban. During the 10 years this ban was in effect, localities reported as much as a 72-percent decline in gun crimes involving assault weapons. Today, 59 percent of American voters support a ban on the purchase of semiautomatic and assault weapons. The only thing that stands in the way is Congress' failure to act. The time for action is now.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding and for her extraordinary leadership on this effort. I rise in strong support of this amendment. This amendment would require the Secretary to conduct a study of the feasibility, costs, and economic impact of burying power lines underground. According to Federal data, the U.S. electric grid loses power 285 percent more often than it did in 1984, when data collection efforts on blackouts began. According to the Department of Energy, that costs American businesses as much as $150 billion per year, with weather-related disruptions costing the most per event. Underground power lines make up just 18 percent of U.S. transmission lines, yet nearly all new residential and commercial developments opt for underground electric service. During Hurricane Irene in 2011, more than 6.5 million people in the United States lost power, including more than 30 percent of the residents living in my home State of Rhode Island, as well as Connecticut and Maryland. I urge my colleagues to support this simple, straightforward amendment so that we can begin to create a more reliable and resilient electric grid. I want to acknowledge the work being advanced by Scenic America to help restore and modernize the Highway Beautification Act that Congresswoman Hahn just made reference to. A group of us, including this extraordinary gentlewoman from California, have been in a working group trying to work on legislation to really restore and modernize the Highway Beautification Act, and Scenic America has really taken the lead in this work. I think the words of Lady Bird Johnson that the gentlewoman just recited are incredibly important. This is an important first step to just get information to understand the economic impact of burying power lines, what a difference it will make not only in terms of the scenic beauty of our highways, but also to businesses, and to prevent the economic loss that happens both to individuals and businesses. It is an excellent amendment. I thank the gentlewoman for her great leadership. I urge my colleagues to support the amendment.

Mr. CICILLINE. I would just ask the gentleman if he would commit to working with Congresswoman Hahn and I and a group of others that are really interested in restoring and modernizing the Highway Beautification Act so that we might work collaboratively on restoring some of those important provisions.

Mr. CICILLINE. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, it has been 34 days since the murder of nine men and women at Umpqua Community College in Oregon. It has been 140 days since the murder of nine parishioners at Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston, South Carolina. It has been 1,055 days since the murder of 20 children and 6 adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. In the time since then, Congress has done nothing to close loopholes in our background check system and make it easier to identify a dangerous individual before they are able to buy a gun. There are more mass shootings in the United States each year than in any other country, and six of the deadliest shootings in American history have taken place in just the past 8 years. It shouldn't be this way. It doesn't have to be this way. Congress has the responsibility to stand up to the powerful special interests and say, ``No more.'' There is no reason lawmakers in this body should continue to cower before the National Rifle Association. We are the people's Representatives, and it is time to get to work on commonsense reforms that will save the lives of thousands of Americans and put an end to the epidemic of gun violence in our country.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This month is a time for all of us to examine the work that must be done so that every American can live free from the fear of domestic violence. All of us would do well this month to consider the destructive role that guns can and do play in incidents of domestic violence. From 2001 until 2012, 6,410 women were killed by a gun wielded by an intimate partner. That number is nearly 1,100 more than the total number of American soldiers who were killed in Iraq and Afghanistan over the same time period. Despite this fact, many domestic abusers can still legally purchase a gun. There is no Federal prohibition to prevent the sale of a gun to someone convicted of a misdemeanor crime in a dating partner relationship or someone convicted of misdemeanor stalking offenses. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the Protecting Domestic Violence and Stalking Victims Act, which Congresswoman Lois Capps has introduced, to close these loopholes immediately. Let's get to work to end this epidemic and protect the lives of women across our country during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the reauthorization of the Ex-Im Bank. The Ex-Im Bank is a critical resource for Rhode Island manufacturers looking to expand into new markets. Over the last 8 years, the Ex-Im Bank has provided more than $20 million to Rhode Island companies for insured shipments, guaranteed credit, and disbursed loans. I am pleased that, after 4 months of inaction, the House is finally voting to reauthorize this critical institution. I thank my colleagues for their support.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, last Sunday, mass shootings inflicted violence on Elkhart, Indiana, and Fort Myers, Florida. There have been more than 300 mass shootings in the United States this year--more than in any other country in the world. One of the causes for this gun violence epidemic is that the NICS system, which is the background check system that we rely on to keep our communities safe, is not working. Over the last few years, shooters in Aurora, Charleston, and at Virginia Tech were all able to buy guns legally despite numerous red flags; and, as of last year, 11 States still were not even providing information to the NICS system. Congress needs to do more to bring them into the system. Right now, someone who has committed a violent crime could walk into a gun store and put an assault rifle on the counter, and if a background check is not completed within 3 days, there is no prohibition to selling that individual the gun. We need to extend this review period so NICS can thoroughly vet someone before he is able to buy a gun. These are commonsense solutions, and it is time for Congress to act and put a stop to an epidemic that is taking the lives of thousands of Americans each year.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 2015 Rhode Island Walk for Epilepsy, which will take place this Saturday, October 24, at Slater Memorial Park in Pawtucket. One in 26 people will develop epilepsy at some point in their lifetime. Today in the United States, there are 4.3 million adults and 750,000 children who are living with epilepsy or a seizure disorder. There is no known cure for epilepsy, and it is critical that we do more to support research that will help develop new forms of treatment for those suffering from this disease. I want to extend my deep gratitude to everyone who has been involved in planning this year's Rhode Island Walk for Epilepsy. I want to especially recognize one of my constituents, Robbie Thorp, whom I had the opportunity to meet with in April of this year when he was selected to serve as Rhode Island's ambassador for the Kids Speak Up conference in Washington, D.C. Robbie is an impressive young man who has already demonstrated himself to be a strong advocate for epilepsy awareness in Rhode Island. Again, I extend my best wishes for a successful event to him and everyone taking part in this Saturday's Rhode Island Walk for Epilepsy.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise to support H. Res. 348, supporting free elections in Ukraine. I want to thank Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for their strong support and cosponsorship of this legislation, which I was proud to introduce and which affirms Congress' unwavering support for free elections in Ukraine. I thank my many colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have signed on as cosponsors and contributed to the final language of the bill. Support of the democratic and economic development of Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression remains one of the most vital efforts the United States can undertake to combat Russian belligerence and demonstrates our unwavering commitment to promoting democracy and human rights around the world. Next week--next Sunday, in fact--the people of Ukraine will head to the polls to exercise their right to choose their own government. However, because of the continued defiance of Russian-led separatists, not every region of Ukraine will be able to participate in these elections. The illegal and forcible occupation of Crimea and the ongoing Russian support for separatists in eastern Ukraine are a clear violation of international law and diplomacy. The Minsk II agreement was a historic step toward potentially ending the violence and unrest in the country, and it is now upon the Governments of Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. and our European allies as implementing partners to ensure its successful execution. The existing cease-fire is a positive development, but one that must be accompanied by free elections and restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity. Ukraine has local elections scheduled for most of the country--except some separatist-controlled areas--for this Sunday, October 25. This resolution demonstrates this Congress' steadfast commitment to supporting the right of the people of Ukraine to freely elect their government and determine their future. It condemns any Russian attempts to interfere in Ukraine's elections in any way, including through intimidation, violence, or coercion. During Ukraine's last elections, these tactics were used to prevent Ukrainians from voting in certain regions. This cannot happen again, and any actions undermining these elections must be met with swift and uncertain international condemnation. At this delicate juncture in Ukraine's history, it is essential that the United States and our European allies continue to demonstrate firm support for Ukrainian territorial integrity, sovereignty, and the right of Ukrainian people to participate in free and fair elections. America has a long history of supporting free and fair elections and the right of people to decide their own future. This resolution was passed by the Committee on Foreign Affairs with overwhelming bipartisan support, and I urge my colleagues to support its passage today.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I do not have any more speakers, so I yield myself the balance of my time. First, again, I want to thank our chairman, Ed Royce, and our ranking member Eliot Engel for, once again, the bipartisan way in which the work of the Foreign Affairs Committee is conducted, evidenced again today with strong bipartisan support for this bill. I also want to acknowledge the great leadership of Congressman Smith, who has worked in this area for a very long time. Mr. Speaker, my home State, Rhode Island, was founded by Roger Williams, searching for a place that respects religious freedom. Rhode Island is home to the oldest synagogue in America, the Touro Synagogue, where President Washington famously wrote to the Hebrew congregation at Touro Synagogue to reassure them that this new, young Nation will be a place that respects religious freedom of all its citizens. It is this Commission that continues to promote that work around the world, to ensure that religious freedom is respected everywhere in the world. Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in strong support of S. 2078. Mr. Speaker, this bill will reauthorize the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, what we call USCIRF, and it deserves this body's strong support. I want to begin by thanking Senator Corker, Senator Cardin, and Senator Durbin for the work that they did in pushing this bill on the Senate side. I want to thank our chairman, Chairman Royce, and Representative Chris Smith for his strong leadership here in the House on matters dealing with religious freedom. This bill, which has been endorsed by all nine of the current Commissioners, would reauthorize the Commission for 4 years and require that the Commission agree on a bipartisan strategic plan to be submitted to Congress within 180 days. Moreover, the Commission will also be required to reach bipartisan agreement on personnel policies, which I hope they will see as an opportunity, as an organization dedicated to promoting freedom and tolerance, to include strong nondiscrimination protections for religion, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation, as well as the other federally protected classes. The right to practice religion and worship freely is a bedrock principle of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and, of course, of our own Constitution. This Commission on International Religious Freedom does so much to defend that liberty, whether through invaluable research, analysis, and reporting or efforts to guide lawmakers from the United States and elsewhere on the importance of this issue. Yet every day, religious communities around the world endure violence, persecution, and discrimination--and the problem, sadly, is escalating. In Nigeria, Christian and Muslim communities live in fear of the fanatical terrorist group Boko Haram. In Iran, the regime continues to persecute members of the Baha'i faith. In Vietnam, Christians are arrested and beaten by police. Pakistan has fallen down on the job of prosecuting violence against religious minorities, while at the same time convicting religious minorities for blasphemy. And, of course, people of all faiths are being massacred by ISIL as it attempts to wipe out any beliefs that don't align with its perversion of Islam. Mr. Speaker, this sort of intolerance has no place in the 21st century. Governments are obligated to respect the religious freedom of all citizens. It is the right thing to do, and it is also in their own interests. After all, when societies are more open, they become more prosperous. When citizens live freely without fear of persecution, they contribute more and help drive growth and stability. So the United States wants to see religious freedom thrive around the world. That is why we established the Commission on International Religious Freedom, and that is why we should vote today to support the Commission's vital continued work. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting S. 2078. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, last Thursday, on the campus of Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon, nine innocent men and women lost their lives. They were killed, as so many have been this year in communities across our country, because a person with evil in their heart was able to get his hands on a gun. This horrific event was the 294th mass shooting that we have seen in 2015, more than any other country in the world. So far this year, we have mourned nine parishioners who were killed during Bible study at their church in Charleston, South Carolina; two women who were killed and nine others who were injured at a movie theater in Lafayette, Louisiana; and a local television reporter and her cameraman who died covering a story outside Lynchburg, Virginia. But there were thousands of other victims of gun violence. Their deaths have garnered less media attention, but they too deserve to have their stories told. In the United States this year, more than 10,000 people have died and more than 20,000 have been injured during an incident that involved a gun. Each day an average of 92 Americans are killed in an incident involving a gun. Yesterday the victims included the supervisor of a food market in Houston who was killed by a disgruntled employee; a 21-year-old father of two in Louisville; and a 23-year-old man and an 18-year-old woman who were killed outside New Orleans during a drive-by shooting. Altogether, nearly 1.5 million Americans have lost their lives to gun violence since the year 1970. Mr. Speaker, I have no doubt that every one of my colleagues in this Chamber has spent much of the last few days thinking about and praying for the victims in Oregon and their families. I know I have. But to put it bluntly, our thoughts and prayers aren't good enough, not for those who have already been killed and not for the 92 Americans who are going to lose their lives today, tomorrow, and every day until we do something. Thoughts and prayers won't bring back the innocent men, women, and children who have been killed or heal the families that have been torn apart. Thoughts and prayers are no excuse for inaction and cowardice in the face of powerful special interests. It is on all of us to do better than thoughts and prayers. It is long past time to take actions to reduce the threat of gun violence and to do all we can to protect our constituents from the ravages of this epidemic. Earlier this year I introduced a package of three bills to get to the core of our country's problem with gun violence by focusing on keeping guns from children, criminals, and those who are severely mentally ill such that possession of a firearm would pose a threat to themselves or others. The End Purchase of Firearms by Dangerous Individuals Act, H.R. 2917, requires that States provide information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System on individuals who are committed to a mental institution or make a threat of violence to a mental health professional that demonstrates that this individual would present a danger to himself or others if armed with a gun. The Fire Sale Loophole Closing Act, H.R. 2916, ends the practice by which Federally licensed gun dealers who lose their licenses for misconduct can convert their entire inventory to a ``personal collection'' in order to liquidate it without conducting background checks on their customers. Under the law, such dealers could transfer their inventory only to other properly licensed Federal gun dealers. I also introduced a resolution, H. Con. Res. 59, to support the goals of National ASK Day, which falls on June 21 each year. National ASK Day encourages parents to ask other parents whether their children are playing in a house with an unlocked gun. In the United States, 1.7 million children are in homes with loaded, unlocked guns. This initiative is supported by Head Start, the American Public Health Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. In addition to these measures that I have introduced, I have also co- sponsored the Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device Act to ban the sale of large-capacity magazines and Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act to prohibit individuals suspected of ties to terrorist organizations from purchasing a gun, and H.R. 2380 and H.R. 3411, which fix our broken background check system. Any of these bills would immediately improve public safety in this country, a country that sees its citizens die at the hands of a loaded gun 297 times more than in Japan, 49 times more than in France, and 33 times more than in Israel. Any one of these rational, commonsense proposals would immediately make life safer for men, women, and children in cities and towns across America; yet, we are going to sit on our hands because Republican leaders would rather genuflect before the National Rifle Association than do anything that could help save the lives of thousands of Americans. The last time this institution passed a major bill to prevent gun violence was November 10, 1993, when the House approved the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act and President Clinton signed it into law. Mr. Speaker, I will end by saying I do not know what it will take for us to finally take action. But I do know what I will do. I will continue speaking out every week on the floor of this Chamber until we get something done that makes our communities safer and honors the lives of all the victims who have lost their lives in this country to gun violence.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, this Friday, October 2, is Manufacturing Day, a day to celebrate the American manufacturing industry that has made our country great and to highlight emerging opportunities in the field of advanced manufacturing. My home State of Rhode Island is the birthplace of the American industrial revolution. It was in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, where Samuel Slater opened our country's first successful cotton spinning factory that marked the beginning of a new era in American innovation. From the textile mills in Woonsocket to the shipyards in Newport, good-paying manufacturing jobs helped build a thriving middle class in Rhode Island and all across our country. Today, advanced manufacturing fields like 3-D printing, medical device production, and renewable energy offer the promise of new opportunities to a new generation of Rhode Island and American workers. It is critical that we seize these opportunities to help our country lead the world in manufacturing. Let's honor the great manufacturing history of America by investing in policies that create good-paying American jobs. I urge my colleagues to stand up for commonsense policies that will enable the American manufacturing industry to lead the world. Let's move forward in a bipartisan way with our Make It In America agenda.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Madam Speaker, today we are debating H.R. 3495, which should be called the Yet Another Radical Republican Assault on Women's Health Care Act. This bill undermines the longstanding Freedom of Choice providers provision of the Medicaid statute that protects the rights of Medicare patients to seek care from any willing, qualified provider. This bill contains language that is so broad that it gives States unchecked authority to deny access to any providers it defines as participating in the performance of abortion. This bill is the latest in a long line of radical Republican efforts to defund Planned Parenthood and deny women access to the high-quality health care services it provides. Madam Speaker, here are the facts: Each year Planned Parenthood provides essential care to 2.7 million men and women. One in five American women have visited Planned Parenthood at least once. There are 1.5 million young people and adults who participate in Planned Parenthood's educational programs on reproductive health. Each year 700 Planned Parenthood clinics across the United States provide 900,000 cancer screenings to help detect cervical and breast cancer, 400,000 Pap tests, and 500,000 breast exams. Madam Speaker, the cruel irony of this bill is that if it becomes law, these services, not abortion services, will be put at risk because Planned Parenthood is already prohibited from using Federal funds to provide abortion services except in very limited circumstances. In providing the critical services I just described, Planned Parenthood saves lives. Madam Speaker, I want to close by noting the very articulate and powerful testimony that Cecile Richards offered in the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee today. It was disturbing that so many Members of this Chamber treated her with such condescension and disrespect. At some point, Madam Speaker, the Republican Party will need to end this war on women and recognize that the question of whether women have a right to make their own healthcare decisions is a matter of settled law, and threatening to shut down the government unless we agree to deny millions of women access to high-quality health care is reckless and irresponsible. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, last month Rhode Island and the United States lost a hero when First Sergeant P. Andrew McKenna, an Army Green Beret serving in Kabul, Afghanistan, was killed during an attack on a NATO facility. He ran into danger so that the lives of hundreds of his fellow soldiers would be spared and, in doing so, lost his own life. During his 17 years of service, Sergeant McKenna completed five tours of duty in Afghanistan and one in Iraq. His patriotism, loyalty, and sense of duty embodied all of the best values of Rhode Island and our entire Nation. I was fortunate to meet Sergeant McKenna just 2 months ago at the Bristol Fourth of July parade, where he was presented with a flag flown over the United States Capitol. I am grateful that I had this opportunity to thank him for his service to our country. As we mark the 14th anniversary of the September 11 attacks today, it is important to remember there are still nearly 10,000 American troops serving in Afghanistan. We owe them and all of our men and women in uniform our gratitude for the sacrifices they have made so that we can all enjoy freedom and live safely. My thoughts continue to be with Sergeant McKenna's parents, Carol and Peter, and his entire family during this incredibly difficult time. It is my hope that the heartfelt gratitude of our entire Nation will be a source of comfort to his family.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, the question before us today is whether or not this body will approve the negotiated agreement to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. It is one of the most consequential issues of our time and requires serious and sober consideration by every single Member of this body. You would think, Mr. Speaker, that in a matter of such gravity involving the foreign affairs of our Nation and the safety and security of our allies, particularly Israel, we could set aside urges to score political points and avoid dangerous hyperbole and instead debate the merits of this agreement. I regret that the process for considering this agreement has sometimes devolved into a sad show of partisanship. Our Nation is better than this. Today, Mr. Speaker, I am mindful of President Kennedy's inaugural address, which he delivered from the east front of the Capitol, just a few hundred feet from this Chamber. Addressing the threat from the Soviet Union, President Kennedy said: ``Let us begin anew--remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness.'' He went on to say: ``Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.'' Those words still ring true today. This agreement shows the power of diplomacy to advance our national security interests and ensures that, before being required to send our brave men and women into a dangerous military conflict, that we have had the courage to exhaust every possible alternative. Like all of my colleagues, I have spent the last 2 months carefully studying the terms of this agreement that the United States and our negotiating partners reached to prevent a nuclear Iran; meeting with military, scientific, and nonproliferation experts; participating in dozens of classified briefings and committee hearings; meeting with the President and members of his administration, as well as meeting with my constituents. After a great deal of serious deliberation, I believe that the United States and the world are safer with this deal in place than without it. I fully recognize that this agreement is not perfect--far from it-- but like any decision in life, we have to confront the choices we face, not the one we would rather have before us or like to imagine. I believe approval of this agreement is the most responsible and effective way to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. By its very terms, it affirms that under no circumstance will Iran ever seek, develop, or acquire any nuclear weapons. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to consider what we will be giving up if we reject this deal. This agreement requires Iran to submit to the most intrusive and rigorous inspections regimen ever negotiated. This is in stark contrast to the complete lack of access currently available to the international community to monitor Iran's nuclear program. If Congress rejects the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, it will mean zero restrictions on Iran's nuclear ambitions, no limitations on their enrichment activities or centrifuge production, and no ability for international inspectors to monitor Iran's nuclear program. Many experts agree that rejection of this agreement would mean Iran could develop a nuclear weapon in just a matter of months, the worst possible outcome. Approval of this agreement does not end our responsibility, Mr. Speaker. Congress must work closely with the administration to ensure that we take additional steps to mitigate the risks reflected in the agreement, to discourage Iran from escalating its destabilizing activities in the region, and to enhance the likelihood that Iran complies with all the terms of the agreement. Additional resources have to be devoted to supporting, monitoring, verification, and intelligence gathering activities. Above all else, we must make it absolutely clear to Iran that any violation of the agreement will be met with swift and decisive action by the United States and the international community. I look forward to working with the administration and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make certain that all of this happens. In the end, this was not an easy decision or one I arrived at quickly. There is risk in accepting this agreement, and it contains real tradeoffs. No responsible person should claim otherwise. I am certain, Mr. Speaker, that rejecting this agreement would present even greater and more dangerous risks to our national security and our allies than the risks associated with going forward. Because of this, I intend to support the resolution of approval and urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, this week marks the 168th anniversary of independence for the Republic of Liberia. In 1847, after decades under the rule of the American Colonization Society, the Republic of Liberia declared its independence in order to establish a free, sovereign state in West Africa. Today, my home state of Rhode Island is home to a thriving Liberian- American community of 15,000 men, women, and children who help make our state such a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family. I am delighted today to celebrate this great country, its people, their traditions, its strong ties to the United States, and the lasting impact this community has made in Rhode Island and other places all across America. Last year, I had the honor of visiting Liberia with the United Nations Foundation and speaking with officials there about ways to strengthen ties between our two countries and support peacekeeping efforts in West Africa. I extend my best wishes and congratulations to Liberia's President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and to all those celebrating in Liberia and around the world this week.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow, July 30, marks the 50th anniversary of Lyndon Johnson's signing of the Social Security Act Amendments of 1965 into law and of creating Medicare and Medicaid in order to meet the healthcare needs of seniors, individuals with disabilities, and working families. Today, 55 million Americans receive Medicare benefits, and 69 million Americans rely on the healthcare safety net that Medicaid provides. One in three American children receives his health insurance coverage through Medicaid. In Rhode Island's First District, which I am proud to represent, more than 92,000 individuals receive Medicare benefits, and almost 100,000 receive Medicaid coverage. Mr. Speaker, health care is a necessity of life, and access to quality health care should be a right for everyone and never a privilege of the few. Over the last half century, Medicare and Medicaid have provided millions of Americans with access to quality, affordable health care. It is critical that we strengthen these essential programs, enhance benefits, and make sure that all Americans can live with healthcare security and dignity.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Chairman, this amendment to H.R. 427 would exempt rules concerning public health or safety from the onerous requirements of this legislation. It is simply an acknowledgment that, when a rule is necessary to protect public health and when it is beneficial and in the public interest, the rule be put into effect without unnecessary delay. If this legislation is enacted without this amendment, it will create a regulatory environment that will make it nearly impossible for agencies to safeguard the public well-being. For instance, the Department of Transportation implemented an economically significant rule for the implementation of positive train control systems on January 15, 2010. This safety feature is designed to correct operator errors and to slow or to stop a train in order to prevent train-to-train collisions and overspeed derailments. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board have said that this technology is necessary to prevent accidents like the derailment of an Amtrak commuter train in Philadelphia on May 12 of 2015, which killed 7 people and injured 200 more; yet, under the REINS Act, this vital technology would require a joint congressional resolution, with an unrealistic timeline for implementation, before being mandated, needlessly putting the lives of millions of Americans at risk who ride Amtrak every year. Proponents of this legislation may argue that H.R. 427 contains an emergency exemption which allows a major rule to temporarily take effect following an executive order stating that there is an imminent threat to public health and safety. However, as the positive train control system rule illustrates, not every threat to the public welfare will manifest itself overnight, and not every agency's rule is implemented as a reaction to a product recall or to a sudden tragedy. Even when a threat is not imminent, the fundamental responsibility to protect the public health and well-being remains. This legislation would substantially hinder the ability of agencies to fulfill this obligation, placing Americans at greater risk for the benefit of corporate interests. In its present form, the Coalition for Sensible Safeguards--an alliance of more than 150 consumer, labor, faith, and other public interest groups--has characterized the REINS Act as ``the most radical threat in generations to our government's ability to protect the public from harm.'' Echoing this analysis, 83 of our Nation's top administrative and environmental law professors describe this legislation as ``unnecessary to establish agency accountability and unwise as a matter of public policy because it undercuts the implementation of laws intended to protect people and the environment.'' While my amendment will not cure all the flaws in this legislation, it will address one of the most glaring problems and preserve the ability of agencies to protect public health and safety. I ask my colleagues to support my amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.