David Cicilline

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of holding Steve Bannon in contempt of Congress for refusing to answer a Congressional subpoena and in support of truth, transparency, and the rule of law. January 6 was one of the most heinous attacks on American democracy that our country has ever seen. We have mountains of evidence that these rioters, encouraged by and organized by some of our country's highest officials, intended to overthrow our democracy at the behest of Donald Trump. We must get to the bottom of what happened, not only to hold these insurrectionists accountable, but to prevent something like this from ever happening again. Steve Bannon clearly had inside knowledge of what was going to happen that day. He even said on January 5 that ``all hell was going to break loose'' on January 6. He has information that must be shared. The January 6 commission is a bipartisan effort to get the truth. This goes beyond party politics--this is about the safety and security of our democracy. I urge all my colleagues to join me in voting to hold Steve Bannon in contempt for his refusal to comply with the Committee's subpoena. Vote for yes.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, as we mark nearly 2 months since the bombing that killed more than 116 innocent Afghanis and American military personnel at the Hamid Karzai International Airport, I rise in strong support of this legislation to award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal to the 13 U.S. servicemembers who gave their lives that day. Those individuals are Sergeant Johanny Rosario Pichardo, Sergeant Nicole Gee, Staff Sergeant Darin Taylor Hoover, Corporal Hunter Lopez, Corporal Daegan Page, Corporal Humberto Sanchez, Lance Corporal David Espinoza, Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz, Lance Corporal Rylee McCollum, Lance Corporal Dylan Merola, Lance Corporal Kareem Nikoui, Navy Corpsman Maxton Soviak, and Staff Sergeant Ryan C. Knauss. Mr. Speaker, as we recognize these extraordinary heroes and also understand that this honor cannot come close to filling the void left by their loss, I cannot think of anyone more deserving of such a distinction. These brave servicemembers represent the very best of America, knowingly putting themselves in harm's way to help evacuate thousands from the region, a true embodiment of the American spirit. Their legacies live on in the thousands of Afghan refugees they saved, who now have an opportunity to live lives free of violence and persecution. And so as we remember these extraordinary American heroes and recognize them with the Congressional Gold Medal, let us all live lives worthy of their sacrifice and service to our great Nation. I urge all my colleagues to vote ``yes'' and to join me in honoring these great American heroes.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act--known as the PUMP Act. All too often, the workplace is not an equal place for women as they face unequal pay for equal work and other forms of gender-based discrimination. Mothers face even greater barriers. Mothers who choose to breastfeed should not be forced to choose between returning to work and breastfeeding. And they certainly should never have to pump in a place that is not safe, private, or comfortable. The PUMP Act takes the long-overdue step of ensuring that every employee who chooses to breastfeed will have the time and a designated, private space to pump without penalty. Nine million American workers will be covered by these new protections, ending unfair, discriminatory practices and allowing more mothers and infants to receive the scientifically proven health and nutritional benefits of breastfeeding. I want to thank Chairwoman Maloney for her leadership on this important, bipartisan bill to support working mothers, and her historic leadership on supporting working women and families. I am proud to support this vital legislation, and I urge all of my colleagues to support it as well.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Across the country, the opioid epidemic is devastating families and communities. In Rhode Island, the COVID-19 pandemic is only worsening this crisis. In 2020 alone, accidental overdose deaths in Rhode Island increased by 25 percent, with most involving opioids. State Opioid Response funding has been critical to combating this deadly epidemic and helped provide Rhode Islanders with the resources we need to combat drug abuse, prevent overdoses, and save lives. The majority of Rhode Islanders who lost their lives to an opioid overdose in recent years had a history of substance abuse without treatment, and we need resources to intervene now. State Opioid Response funding has helped provide the support and treatment people suffering addiction need so desperately. It means access to naloxone and training on how to use it. It means paths to recovery. And it means saving lives. I thank Representative Trone for introducing H.R. 2379, the State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act of 2021 to support States in their fight against this opioid epidemic. I urge my colleagues to support this critical legislation and save lives.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the EQUAL Act which eliminates the discriminatory sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine. I want to thank Chairman Nadler for his leadership in bringing this bill before our committee and its quick passage. And, of course, I thank Chairman Jeffries and Mr. Armstrong and Chairman Scott for their leadership on this issue. As you know, Mr. Speaker, 35 years ago, Congress passed the Anti-Drug Abuse Act, which created this drastic sentencing disparity between two types of cocaine; the same substance, just in a different form. And as has been explained, under the disparity you needed 100 times the amount of powder cocaine than crack cocaine to get the same sentence. There was no scientific basis for this, no empirical evidence that there was any difference. The harm that this caused was devastating to so many. For more than three decades defendants have suffered under this disparity with highly disproportionate impacts on communities of color. That has led to mass incarceration and, as I said, the destruction of so many lives unnecessarily. In 2010, Congress changed the sentencing disparity from a 100:1 to 18:1. And while that was some progress, in 2018, we improved on that even more under the extraordinary leadership of Mr. Jeffries by making it retroactive. But while it was a step in the right direction, making the disparity smaller did not make the sentencing fair. And today we finally do that. I served as a public defender and a criminal defense lawyer for many years, and I have seen, unfortunately, how often our criminal justice systems fails to deliver justice. And this disparity is just one of those examples. This vital legislation will at last fully resolve the discriminatory sentencing disparities between crack and powder cocaine and correct this injustice for so many. Our prisons are overcrowded and lives are unfairly harmed every day, especially in communities of color, because of unjust and discriminatory sentencing laws resulting in mass incarceration and other harms. The EQUAL Act is one important step of so many that we have to take to end this cycle. I want to end again by thanking Mr. Jeffries for his extraordinary leadership on this bill. I thank Mr. Nadler for bringing this bill to the floor, and I am delighted it is bipartisan. And if Mr. Gohmert is right, that Texas did this some years ago, 1:1, I will say words that I never expected to say on the House floor in my life: We need to follow the lead of Texas.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Women's Health Protection Act. If we truly value women, we must protect their right to control their own bodies and their freedom to make their own healthcare decisions. This includes the right to safe abortion, guaranteed by the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade almost 50 years ago--not more, nothing less. But this right is under fierce attack. We have seen wildly restrictive abortion bans, a $10,000 bounty on people who help women who are seeking abortion care. This is unconstitutional and dangerous. This bill will guarantee women all across this country the freedom to make their own healthcare decisions, a basic and well-established constitutional right. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Iron Dome Supplemental Appropriations Act. Israel has the right to defend itself against any assault on its sovereignty and its people. This funding will help replenish Israel's Iron Dome to safeguard the Israeli people from Hamas rocket fire and other terrorist threats. It is unfortunate, Mr. Speaker, that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have decided to politicize such an important and serious issue even after the recent deadly hostilities between Israel and Hamas. They tried to play political games with something as deadly serious as Iron Dome by claiming we should have included this in a different vehicle, which every single Republican voted against. Too much of a risk. Today's vote is a reminder that the United States will always stand with our ally Israel, and we have always supported funding for Iron Dome, we will continue to do so. Enough with the politics. Israel wants bipartisan support. This political gamesmanship must end. Today's vote will help do that.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 3 minutes. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of my amendment, which makes clear that the statutory rights of servicemembers and their families under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, or SCRA, cannot be waived through forced arbitration unless it is agreed to by the servicemember after a dispute arises. Americans who serve in our military, our veterans and their families sacrifice much in service to our country. Often they have fought to protect the fundamental idea that we are a Nation of laws and institutions that guarantee the rights and prosperity of every American. Since the Second World War, Congress has created many laws, including the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, to expand and strengthen the rights and protections of servicemembers and veterans. These laws are essential protections that guarantee every veteran and active duty servicemembers, including the Reserves and National Guard the right to be free from workplace discrimination on the basis of their military service, and the right to their day in court to enforce these provisions. We are a stronger and better Nation because of these rights. SCRA prevents landlords from enacting eviction proceedings, mortgage holders from foreclosing on a home, and lenders from repossessing a vehicle while a member of our armed services is on active duty. However, forced arbitration clauses embedded in mortgages and titles prevent accountability for bad actors taking advantage of our servicemembers while they are protecting our country. For too long, forced arbitration has eroded these fundamental protections by funneling servicemembers' claims into a private system set up by corporations. Buried deep within the fine print of everyday contracts, forced arbitration clauses block the brave men and women in uniform, as well as their family members, from having their day in court to hold corporations accountable for breaking the law. Charles Beard's story is an example of how forced arbitration impacts our servicemembers. While Charles, a former sergeant in the Army National Guard, was on tour in Iraq, the bank repossessed his family car in clear violation of SCRA. It was the only vehicle his wife and five children could rely on. When they attempted to hold the bank accountable for violating his rights, they forced his claim into arbitration citing a clause in Charles' contract that he was required to sign to purchase the car, which waived his constitutional right to a jury trial. This private system does not to have the same procedural safeguards of our justice system. It is not subject to oversight, it does not have a judge or jury, and it is not bound by laws passed by Congress or the States. These clauses allow companies to choose the arbiter and venue while denying servicemembers any right to appeal. This is nothing short of corporate takeover or 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. My bipartisan amendment would end this shameful practice by clarifying that arbitration clauses are only enforceable if agreed to by servicemembers or their family after a dispute arises, thereby protecting their rights under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. As a Nation devoted to protecting our brave men and women in uniform, we have to ensure that their rights are actually enforceable in court. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues, Guy Reschenthaler, Jared Golden, Anthony Brown, and Veterans Affairs Chairman Mark Takano for their strong, bipartisan support for this amendment to protect our men and women in uniform. This provision was incorporated in both the 2020 and 2021 NDAA. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues, again, to support this amendment and protect American servicemembers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano), the distinguished chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee.

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, may I inquire how much time remains?

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, when my friend said that the arbitration generally works, he is right, it generally works for big, powerful corporations, employers, financial institutions, but it doesn't work for servicemen and women who are serving our country in the military. It makes it harder, it is more difficult, it is more costly. And, by the way, if you want to go to arbitration, you can elect to do it, you just can't be forced into it if this amendment passes. We hear our friends all the time say to stand up for the men and women in uniform, show it by voting for this amendment. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, it is a great honor to be part of this Special Order hour, and I thank Chairman Takano, who is not only a leader in the Equality Caucus but also chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee for organizing our Special Order hour. I know we are joined by several other members of our caucus, including one of our new members, an extraordinary gentleman from New Hampshire, Chris Pappas, who we will hear from in just a moment. As chair of the LGBTQ-Plus Equality Caucus. I am very proud to be here tonight to stand alongside my colleagues as we mark this very important anniversary. Ten years ago, a, historic wrong was corrected when Don't Ask, Don't Tell was repealed. I wish I could say it is hard to remember when members of the LGBTQ community had to push for their right to serve our country openly. But we continue to struggle for full equality in our military and in many other areas of our lives. A few years ago, President Trump imposed a ban on transgender people serving their country in the military. Thankfully, President Biden reversed that move and just in the past days his administration has taken additional steps to ensure equal access to services for those unfairly discharged. Thousands of members of the LGBTQ community have served and continue to serve in our Nation's military, and we are grateful for their service. We understand that military service is inherently stressful and dangerous, and those who serve are heroes for putting themselves in harm's way to protect us all. Now imagine conducting that service knowing that your very identity must be kept hidden at the risk of being thrown out with a dishonorable discharge. And we know that LGBTQ servicemembers had more to fear than separation. They had to face discrimination and potentially violence within their ranks should their identity be known. The problems facing LGBTQ servicemembers did not vanish immediately upon repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. I am proud of my colleagues who continue to push to create a level playing field for those discharged under this discriminatory policy. I particularly want to acknowledge Congressman Takano and Congressman Pocan. But there is still more work to be done, and the LGBTQ-Plus Equality Caucus is committed to continuing this fight alongside those who have served. Today, as Chairman Takano mentioned, my colleagues and I will read some firsthand accounts from people discharged under Don't Ask, Don't Tell so the American people can really understand the story of their lives. My story is from John Hegwood, who served in the Army and identifies as a gay, bi-racial cisgender man. He writes: ``I joined the military knowing, at least intellectually, that I couldn't be my authentic self. However, it would take several years of introspection to realize what impact this would have on my life. I told myself it would be easy to navigate as a gay man since I grew up in the very rural and antigay western part of Texas. I thought this would be a proverbial `walk in the park.' ``When I first heard that Don't Ask, Don't Tell would be repealed, I was incredulous and nearly in tears. It was almost unimaginable that this would occur within my lifetime. My then-partner and I were both military and couldn't even acknowledge our relationship in the workplace. The darker side of this otherwise heartening news is that the coming months until it was fully repealed would feel like an even more hostile environment. ``With Don't Ask, Don't Tell as the status quo for over a decade, I had the privilege of mostly flying under the radar of most of my colleagues who deemed LGBTQ soldiers as a benign part of the fighting force. Now with the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell at the forefront of the military's collective consciousness, it all but painted a target on my back as I became the focus of everyone's ire if they disagreed with the repeal that was looming on the horizon. ``I now carry with me a sense of resentment towards the military because of the harassment, hazing, bullying, and discrimination I encountered while serving from those that I was supposed to trust my life with. I had to choose between serving my country and my relationship. ``Now, we might have made some progress as a society. Last month I celebrated 10 wonderful years with that same man I couldn't even acknowledge in the workplace 10 years ago. He is now my husband, and the military that would have discharged him a decade ago now honors our marriage and was very accommodating in granting a compassionate reassignment of duty location when I was diagnosed with stage III non- Hodgkin's lymphoma. ``This doesn't mean that homophobia simply disappeared, or that everyone suddenly had no issues with us simply existing as we are. To this day it is not entirely safe for us to hold hands in public, and members of the LGBTQ community are still facing discrimination in our Armed Forces and in society as a whole.'' Madam Speaker, those words powerfully written are really a call to action as we celebrate 10 years of the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell to recognize we have much more work to do to ensure that all members of the LGBTQ community can live full lives free from discrimination of any kind.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this vital legislation. This is one of the most important bills we will consider this Congress. Voting rights are the foundation of our democracy, ensuring that every American gets a fair say in who represents them and who makes the laws governing their lives. Voting rights have been under attack all across this country. This year alone, 30 new discriminatory voting restriction laws have targeted communities of color, young people, and working people across 18 States. We cannot allow this in America. This critical legislation will restore voting rights protections and provide the tools necessary to ensure discriminatory voting laws cannot stand. There is nothing more American than protecting the right to vote. I want to thank my colleague, Congresswoman Sewell, for her leadership. I thank Chairman Nadler, Speaker Pelosi, and all the leadership for the important work they are doing to ensure that voting rights are protected for all Americans. I want to end by taking a moment to recognize and remember the late Congressman John Lewis, our colleague and friend, one of history's greatest fighters for equality and voting rights, after whom this legislation is so appropriately named.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, during Roll Call Vote number 230 on Rep. Ocasio-Cortez Amendment, I mistakenly recorded my vote as nay when I should have voted aye.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to this amendment. We know that decades of Federal disinvestment have failed the American people. Yet, this amendment attempts to gut the seven appropriations bills included in this package that will deliver critical funding and services to the American people. Coming from a coastal State, Rhode Island's roads and bridges cannot withstand rising sea levels and more violent storms. College students are struggling to afford both textbooks and groceries, and thousands of Americans do not have internet access at home. These projects will be addressed by the historic investments in working people and families included in this minibus, but the drastic cuts included in this amendment will derail this progress. This legislation will provide students receiving the maximum Pell grant with an additional $400 next school year, establish a civilian climate corps to promote conservation and fight the climate crisis, and create thousands of well-paying jobs rebuilding our Nation's infrastructure. Notably, it will address some of the most pressing challenges facing Rhode Islanders by providing over $9 million for nine community projects in the State. I thank Chairwoman DeLauro and members of the Committee on Appropriations for the extraordinary work they have done. This is the set of appropriations bills we can be very proud of because it is investing in working families. I just heard one of my Republican colleagues squawk about spending money. This is the same group of people who voted for $1.2 trillion tax cuts for the richest people in this country, the biggest corporations-- unpaid for--and they were all happy with that. Madam Speaker, this is different. We are investing in working people, in creating jobs for middle-class families, making sure of the investments that are necessary to get people back to work. This is something we should all be proud of. I urge everyone to defeat this amendment and pass this bill without delay. Madam Speaker, again, I end with deep gratitude to the extraordinary chair of the Committee on Appropriations for putting together appropriations bills that reflect the values of our great country.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2668, the Consumer Protection and Recovery Act. This critical legislation restores the authority of the Federal Trade Commission to hold wrongdoers accountable under section 13(b) of the FTC Act. Until recently, this statute authorized the Commission to obtain monetary relief when a corporation has harmed consumers or businesses by breaking the law. For more than four decades, the FTC used this critical enforcement tool to secure billions of dollars in relief for consumers that were harmed by anticompetitive conduct or unfair or deceptive practices. In the past 5 years alone, the FTC has secured $11.2 billion in refunds to consumers through this enforcement tool. As Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter recently testified, these important cases involved combating anticompetitive practices by pharmaceutical companies that contribute to the soaring costs of prescription drugs, abusive scams targeting veterans and older Americans, and numerous other examples of harmful conduct. However, the Supreme Court severely weakened this tool in a recent decision where it narrowed the scope of section 13(b) to cases involving ongoing harms. H.R. 2668 will reverse this disastrous ruling by reinstating FTC's authority to obtain both injunctive and monetary relief for all violations of the law that it enforces. And what is really interesting when I listened to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, every single speaker said, of course, consumers should get their money back. Of course, the FTC should have this power. And then they express their intention to vote against the bill to do exactly that--restore the power of the FTC to in fact provide that kind of relief. I thank Congressman Cardenas for sponsoring this bill. I thank Chairman Pallone and Chairwoman Schakowsky for their extraordinary leadership. This bill is about protecting competition across our economy from Big Tech to Big Pharma. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to stand with consumers and those that have been harmed by deceptive, unfair, anticompetitive practices, and let those consumers and small businesses be made whole. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this bill.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, our infrastructure is stuck in the 1950s, and it doesn't have to be this way. It is long past time for America to bring our bridges, roads, public transit, and water infrastructure into the 21st century. The INVEST in America Act provides $715 billion to accomplish this goal through bold investments in modern, sustainable infrastructure. This legislation will create millions of good-paying jobs while combating climate change and investing in the well-being of our cities and towns. I worked with Chairman DeFazio and the committee to secure nearly $20 million in funding for four high-priority infrastructure projects in Rhode Island. The quality of roads and bridges is particularly important. That is why I introduced amendment 19, to bring funding for the National Scenic Byways Program in line with historic funding levels, adjusted for inflation. This will allow the Secretary of Transportation to designate new National Scenic Byways and All-American Roads; and allow already designated roads, including the Revolutionary Heritage Byway in Bristol, Rhode Island, to apply for competitive grants. I urge the House to adopt the en bloc package 4, which includes my amendment No. 19, and to pass the underlying bill without delay.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of ending the cap on State and Local Tax deductions--better known as the SALT deduction. For more than 100 years, an idea dating back to Abraham Lincoln, the SALT deduction has allowed families to deduct taxes already paid to state and local government from their federal tax returns. Many middle-class Americans benefit from this commonsense tax policy every year. In past years, almost a third of Rhode Islanders have claimed the SALT deductions, including almost 60 percent of people in my district who make between $75-100,000 per year. The destructive 2017 Trump tax cuts, however, imposed a $10,000 cap on SALT deductions, meaning that if a family pays more than $10,000 in state and local taxes, the taxes paid in excess of that $10,000 can no longer be deducted from federal returns raising those families' tax liability significantly. It just doesn't make sense to have Americans, especially middle-class families living in states with high tax rates, pay extra taxes on the taxes they have already paid. Most middle-class Americans living in high tax areas are there so their children can go to high caliber public schools or receive better programs. Many of them made 10, 20, and 30-year investments in home ownership in these high tax areas, relying on the SALT deduction that had been in place for more than 100 years when budgeting for this big expense. Then they had the rug pulled out from under them and were told they were suddenly liable for thousands of dollars more in taxes per year. For many of these people, that extra tax is a significant portion of their annual income. These Americans are working hard to give their families the best life possible. Putting a secondary tax on the taxes they have already paid will force many middle-class Americans to struggle. In fact, middle-class Americans have said that the SALT Cap will, quote: ``wipe them out'' by forcing them to pay those extra federal taxes in addition to state and local. This is why I cosponsored H.R. 613, the SALT Deductibility Act, this Congress. This bipartisan bill would reverse the 2017 law and allow Americans to use the SALT deductions when paying federal taxes without a $10,000 cap, keeping money in the hands of American working families. I applaud Congressman Suozzi for introducing this important legislation. It will have a significant impact to help American families, which is especially important after the devastating economic effect of COVID-19 that has left so many middle-class Americans struggling financially, including many Rhode Islanders. The 2017 law was more than a mistake, it was bad policy, and I hope that this body does the right thing by taking action to correct it.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, nearly two decades ago, Congress passed a resolution authorizing military force against the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein. That resolution--aided in its passage by deeply flawed intelligence that we now know had no basis in fact authorized the use of force for two express purposes: to defend the national security of the United States against the continued threat posed by Iraq and to enforce all relevant UN Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq. It has been 18 years since Saddam Hussein was deposed. It has been a decade since the United States declared a formal end of operations in Iraq. The Iraqi government is a regional partner and the UN Security Council resolutions referenced have been fulfilled. In short, there is no virtue in allowing the 2002 AUMF to lay dormant but active. The only possible outcome is for a future administration to wield it as a legal loophole to bypass the need to confer with Congress before engaging in military operations. Each of us here understands that the nature of modern warfare has changed--it is murkier, dirtier, and involves a variety of state- and non-state actors. But that fact should not compel Congress to forfeit its constitutional responsibility to directly authorize the use of force. It should not preclude any administration from receiving direct authorization from the Congress to engage in global conflicts. Earlier this year, the House Foreign Affairs Committee had a productive hearing where each of the three expert witnesses testified that this AUMF is not necessary. It does not enhance our national security. It does not make Americans any safer. It does not make the mission of our men and women in uniform any easier. To repeal this resolution would not tie the hands of the current administration or any future administration in their responsibility to preserve the national security of the United States--it would instead ensure that it could not be manipulated to take us into a war that Congress did not authorize. If we fail to act, we run the risk of opportunistic legal interpretations leading to a slippery slope until our country finds itself on a permanent war footing. Congress did not authorize that in 2002. We shouldn't tacitly authorize it by failing to act. Let's do our jobs--we owe it to the American people and to our men and women in uniform.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, everyone--regardless of their financial situation--should be able to fully and fairly defend themselves in court. Unfortunately, however, many defendants who live very far away from the court trying their case cannot afford to get to and from their court appearances to defend themselves. The costs can be simply insurmountable. This situation often makes poverty the difference between winning and losing a case, regardless of the facts. That is not justice. This bill helps make courtroom justice available to everyone by ensuring that travel and lodging costs are covered for low-income defendants. This will help ensure justice for all defendants, not just those wealthy enough to afford it. This bill also makes courtrooms more effective. It allows magistrate judges to rule on certain post-judgment issues that they previously could not adjudicate on cases that they handled at the trial level. This is common sense. If a case has been with a judge through the entirety of the trial, that judge knows the case best and should be able to handle post-conviction issues. As a former litigator, I believe this bill will help ensure that justice prevails and make our overburdened court system more efficient, and I thank Congressman Jeffries for introducing this important legislation.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, reports estimate that as many as 1 in 10 elders are abused every year, but less than half of these incidents are actually reported, and the COVID pandemic has left seniors isolated and more vulnerable to fraud and abuse. All over, we are seeing scammers deceive a grandparent that their grandchild is in trouble and needs money. We see imposters pose as IRS agents to trick an elder into paying money they do not owe. We see fraudsters offer tech support assistance and collect money for fraudulent services. We must hold these criminals accountable for taking advantage of and abusing our seniors. Protecting and caring for our loved ones--who once supported and cared for us--is one of our most honorable responsibilities. The Elder Abuse and Protection Act promotes justice for vulnerable seniors by making the Elder Justice Initiative a permanent office within the Department of Justice, which works to combat elder abuse, neglect, and financial fraud and scams that target our nation's seniors. I thank Congresswoman Garcia for introducing this important legislation to protect our seniors, and I am proud to be a cosponsor and support it today.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, our prison systems are ideally meant to rehabilitate, but all too often, they do exactly the opposite. They are frequently home to widespread, horrible abuse, including physical and sexual violence and unsanitary living conditions. It is unacceptable to subject any person to such conditions--but, particularly, our youth to this kind of mistreatment. Our system makes it incredibly difficult for young people to file a legal complaint with huge burdens imposed if they want to file a lawsuit, and major barriers to legal representation. Mr. Speaker, I was a public defender here in Washington, D.C., at the start of my career, and I am certain that this is no way to treat children that we are trying to rehabilitate and prepare for society and prepare for success in their communities. These circumstances only make it more difficult for young people and children and, in fact, they keep them in abusive and delinquency cycles. This legislation, however, will remove some of those barriers for incarcerated juveniles to take their abusers to court and to seek remedies for mistreatment by their correctional institutions. This bill will take us one step closer to desperately needed reform in our criminal justice system and will help to protect our incarcerated youth. Mr. Speaker, I really thank and applaud Congresswoman Scanlon for this important and bipartisan legislation, and it is my honor to support it today.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York, the chair of the Judiciary Committee, for bringing this bill to the floor. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2571, the Advancing Mutual Interests and Growing Our Success Act, or the AMIGOS Act. The AMIGOS Act is a bipartisan bill that I introduced along with my colleagues Mr. Costa, Mr. Keating, Mr. Valadao, and Mr. Khanna to encourage greater investment and trade between the United States and Portugal. H.R. 2571 makes Portuguese nationals eligible for E-1 and E-2 nonimmigrant investor visas. 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. The United States has no better friend than the country 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. The United States is Portugal's largest trading partner outside the European Union, with bilateral trade reaching $6.6 billion in 2019. 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 2019, the United States' direct investment position in Portugal was $2.3 billion, an increase of 6 percent from 2018. The direct investment position from Portugal in the United States, however, experienced a 1 percent decrease to $1.4 billion from 2018 to 2019. Portugal is one of 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 visa benefits to other countries. We have exercised our authority to do so for both Israel in 2012 and New Zealand in 2018. I am proud to lead this effort to support our ally and friend, Portugal. I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 2571, the AMIGOS Act, and I again thank Mr. Nadler for bringing the bill to the floor.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, to Mr. Roy, I look forward to our debate tomorrow and I think a good resolution on a number of important issues before the committee. Madam Speaker, I rise this evening to honor Pride Month. I want to begin by saying that we are grateful to the members of the Congressional LGBTQ-plus Equality Caucus, who continue to be champions for full equality for our community. Each year, we gather as a community in June to celebrate the progress that our community has made, that is the LGBTQ-plus community, and also to reflect on the work ahead and how much remains to be done. It is an opportunity each year to really celebrate the progress we have made and recommit ourselves to the work that remains. This year is no different. In 2021, we come together on the floor of this House to celebrate Pride Month with some very great highs and some very deep lows. Our community was deeply impacted by COVID, both because preexisting conditions added to people's vulnerabilities, but also because segments of our population already face isolation, which was made even worse during the pandemic. Like all communities, we have been shocked at the efforts to undermine our democracy and restrict the right to vote, restrictions that we know will impact our community, particularly people of color, trans people, and those with disabilities. Of course, this year alone we witnessed a historic number of anti- transgender laws being introduced around the country, many of them passing. Opponents of equality have decided to zero in on the most vulnerable within our community, the community that is subject to the greatest amount of violence and the worst kind of discrimination, and we must stand up in force against this. But it wouldn't be Pride Month without a celebration, and we have much to celebrate this year. In the last 6 months, Congress passed the NO HATE Act, which strengthens hate crimes reporting; we passed the Pulse Night Club Memorial bill. Now the Senate has passed it, and it goes to the President's desk for his signature. In February, I proudly introduced H.R. 5, the Equality Act, with 224 original cosponsors. It passed the House with bipartisan support. President Biden has challenged Congress to do everything in its power to get him the bill, get it to his desk for his signature. We are rolling up our sleeves to get the bill passed in the Senate. I am particularly proud that the House of Representatives did its part in passing this critical piece of legislation. No American should be forced to live in fear of legal discrimination simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and they certainly shouldn't have to worry about whether or not the person in the White House or the State legislature will undermine what few protections they do have. The Equality Act is a commonsense piece of legislation that gets to the core issue of equality by expanding the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other existing laws, to ensure that LGBTQ Americans can live their lives free from discrimination. Equality is a founding principle of this great country, and I hope that by the time I stand before you for Pride Month next year, we will have turned this bill from a hope into a reality. I am very proud to have the support of so many Members of Congress and so many colleagues. In fact, every single Democrat is an original cosponsor of the Equality Act, including, of course, you, Madam Speaker. So I am proud to be a part of a caucus that understands the fundamental importance of recognizing the dignity and value of every person, and Pride Month is about expressing that and affirming that to all LGBTQ-plus people all across this country and all across the world. Tonight, I am proud to have one of the co-chairs of the Equality Caucus, Mark Takano, Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, a member of the LGBTQ community, a very close friend, a deeply respected colleague, and a great champion for the equality of our community. I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) to share his views on the celebration of Pride.