Barbara Comstock

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 4375, the bill now under consideration.

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ms. Johnson for her work on this legislation in moving this forward. I know as I go around my district and I see young people, and I see the engagement of a very diverse population in STEM, this is really going to be the future of our workforce. It is exciting to be able to know that we will be able to have a small role in that today, to make sure that we are reaching everybody, because we cannot leave anybody behind with our need for more STEM resources, and to be able to make sure that we have that workforce of the 21st century. I know in Virginia alone, we have 34,000 or so cyber jobs that we are still looking for people for. So this will help with that pipeline. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his leadership on this important issue. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 630, my legislation to begin to deal with the sexual harassment issue. Thirty years ago, in 1988, a 34-year-old legislative aide named Dorena Bertussi faced a very lonely fight when she decided to stand up to a powerful Congressman, Jim Bates from California, who repeatedly sexually harassed her and others in his office with questions, comments, and actions such as asking her what type of sex she liked and saying different things that he would imagine. He talked about her breasts. He humped her leg in front of the staff and said vulgar things that are really too unpleasant to talk about in this body. Dorena didn't get a lot of press attention or some of the support that victims get today. She got little support from this body. She went on her journey alone. She received nasty phone calls and even threats. She was warned they would release damaging information about her. Fortunately, she prevailed. Men and women in the workplace should know her name and know she was the first woman to win a sexual harassment case against a Member of Congress. Let's remember, as we see all these headlines about men leaving their jobs and things going on, behind all of them are women who are victims like Dorena. There is a lot of pain in dealing with such a situation. In speaking with her recently, I could hear that pain even 30 years later. As a mom, former intern here in this body, former congressional staffer and counsel, and a Justice Department employee, I do believe this is a watershed moment. I have a female chief of staff. I have a female district director. But we also need to have men and women involved in this process. I am so happy with the men who are coming forward, because this is a workplace issue, a human rights issue, and an issue that addresses all of us and our daughters and sons in the workplace. When I was working in Congress in the nineties for Congressman Wolf, just a few years after Dorena, there were Members like ``Good Time'' Charlie Wilson, who openly bragged about hiring staff based on their looks and breast size, famously saying: You can teach them to type, but you can't teach them to grow breasts. He used a more vulgar term. At the same time, Senator Bob Packwood--and this is a bipartisan problem--assaulted over a dozen women. He kept a diary of his debauchery that had been ignored for years. It wasn't acceptable then, and it certainly shouldn't be acceptable now. Yet we have stories of Members still in this body today that my colleague, Ms. Speier, and other victims are bringing forward. I told one such story, and I am pleased that Members have responded to say there is no place for that type of sexual action in this body. This legislation promotes the essential principles of accountability and personal responsibility. It is bipartisan legislation because bad behavior transcends party labels. Men and women--all of us--are coming together. You are seeing this beyond this body. Obviously, it was in the corporate world just today. This resolution sends the message, as Peggy Noonan wrote in The Wall Street Journal: ``The Sexual-Harassment Racket Is Over.'' I include in the Record her op-ed from this past week. [From the Wall Street Journal, Nov. 23, 2017] The Sexual-Harassment Racket Is Over (By Peggy Noonan) This Thanksgiving I find myself thankful for something that is roiling our country. I am glad at what has happened with the recent, much-discussed and continuing sexual-harassment revelations and responses. To repeat the obvious, it is a watershed event, which is something you can lose sight of when you're in the middle of it. To repeat the obvious again, journalists broke the back of the scandal when they broke the code on how to report it. For a quarter century we had been stuck in the He Said/She Said. Anita Hill and Clarence Thomas gave their testimonies, each offered witnesses, and the fair minded did their best with the evidence at hand while sorting through all the swirling political agendas. In the end I believed Mr. Thomas. But nobody knows, or rather only two people do. What happened during the past two years, and very much in the past few months, is that reporters and news organizations committed serious resources to unearthing numbers and patterns. Deep reporting found not one or two victims of an abuser but, in one case, that of Bill Cosby, at least 35. So that was the numbers. The testimony of the women who went on the record, named and unnamed, revealed patterns: the open bathrobe, the running shower, the ``Let's change our meeting from the restaurant to my room/your apartment/my guesthouse.'' Once you, as a fair-minded reader, saw the numbers and patterns, and once you saw them in a lengthy, judicious, careful narrative, you knew who was telling the truth. You knew what was true. Knowing was appalling and sometimes shocking, but it also came as a kind of relief. Once predators, who are almost always repeat offenders, understood the new way of reporting such stories, they understood something else: They weren't going to get away with it anymore. They'd never known that. And they were going to pay a price, probably in their careers. They'd never known that, either. Some great journalism, some great writing and thinking, has come of this moment. Ronan Farrow's New Yorker pieces have been credible and gutsy on all levels. Masha Gessen's piece in the same magazine last week warned of moral panic, of a blurring of the lines between different behaviors and a confusion as to the boundaries between normal, messy human actions and heinous ones. Rebecca Traister of New York magazine has argued that it is a mistake to focus now on the question of punishments, that maybe the helpful thing is to focus on what's going on in our society that predators think they can get away with this. Caitlin Flanagan in the Atlantic wrote the most important political piece in `` Bill Clinton: A Reckoning.'' What is striking about this moment, she argued, is not the number of women who've come forward with serious allegations. ``What's remarkable is that these women are being believed.'' Most didn't have police reports or witnesses, and many were speaking of things that had happened years ago. ``We have finally come to some kind of national consensus about the workplace; it naturally fosters a level of romance and flirtation, but the line between those impulses and the sexual predation of a boss is clear.'' What had impeded the ability of victims to be believed in the past? The Bill Clinton experience. He was ``very credibly'' accused, as Ms. Flanagan wrote, of sex crimes at different points throughout the 1990s--Juanita Broaddrick said he violently raped her; Paula Jones said he exposed himself to her; Kathleen Willey said she went to him for advice and that he groped and assaulted her. These women ``had far more credible evidence'' than many recent accusers. ``But Clinton was not left to the swift and pitiless justice that today's accused men have experienced.'' He was rescued instead by ``a surprising force: machine feminism.'' That movement had by the '90s devolved into a ``partisan operation.'' Gloria Steinem in March 1998 wrote a famous New York Times op-ed that, in Ms. Flanagan's words, ``slut- shamed, victim-blamed, and age-shamed'' the victims and ``urged compassion for and gratitude to the man the women accused.'' This revealed contemporary feminism as ``a weaponized auxiliary of the Democratic Party.'' Ms. Steinem characterized the assaults as ``passes,'' writing: ``Even if the allegations are true, the President is not guilty of sexual harassment.'' Ms. Steinem operated with the same logic as the skeeviest apologist for Roy Moore: Don't credit any charges. Gotta stick with our team. Ms. Flanagan: ``The widespread liberal response to the sex- crime accusations against Bill Clinton found their natural consequence 20 years later in the behavior of Harvey Weinstein: Stay loudly and publicly and extravagantly on the side of signal leftist causes and you can do what you want in the privacy of your offices and hotel rooms.'' The article called for a Democratic Party ``reckoning'' on the way it protected Bill Clinton. It was a great piece. I close with three thoughts. The first springs from an observation Tucker Carlson made on his show about 10 days ago. He marveled, briefly, at this oddity: Most of the accused were famous media personalities, influential journalists, entertainers. He noted that all these people one way or another make their living in front of a camera. It stayed with me. What is it about men and modern fame that makes them think they can take whatever they want when they want it, and they'll always get away with it, even as word, each year, spreads. Watch out for that guy. Second, if the harassment is, as it seems to me, weirder and more over the top now than, say, 40 years ago, why might that be? Third, a hard and deep question put quickly: An aging Catholic priest suggested to a friend that all this was inevitable. ``Contraception degenerates men,'' he said, as does abortion. Once you separate sex from its seriousness, once you separate it from its life-changing, life-giving potential, men will come to see it as just another want, a desire like any other. Once they think that, then they'll see sexual violations as less serious, less charged, less full of weight. They'll be more able to rationalize. It's only petty theft, a pack of chewing gum on the counter, and I took it. In time this will seem true not only to men, but to women. This is part of the reason I'm thankful for what I'm seeing. I experience it, even if most women don't, or don't consciously, as a form of saying no, this is important. It is serious.

Mrs. COMSTOCK. She noted the patterns of the various infamous predators of late and how their victims were now coming forward. These are the same kind of victims that we see in human trafficking or child abuse. She writes: ``Once predators, who are almost always repeat offenders, understood the new way of reporting such stories, they understood something else: They weren't going to get away with it anymore. They'd never known that. And they were going to pay a price, probably in their careers. They'd never known that, either.'' Sexual predators--and we need to understand the predator behavior-- has no place in this body. Today's education effort is just the first step. In the weeks going forward, we need to revise our process.

Mrs. COMSTOCK. In the weeks going forward, we need to revise the process to make it easier for women to come forward and provide them an advocate, ombudsman, or counsel, as Dorena recommended; we need to have a prohibition on any kind of Member-staff relationships with subordinates; no taxpayer funding for settlements of sexual harassment by Members of Congress; and transparency and accountability about who the harassers are. Mr. Speaker, I also thank the business community for their support.

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the bipartisan H.R. 3441, the Save Local Business Act, and the 1.7 million jobs it would save on enactment. This common-sense legislation, which I cosponsored, restores the proper relationship which served small business owners for decades-- providing stability for employers and employees. By enacting this legislation, small business owners in Northern Virginia can again exercise control over the operations of their business rather than dealing with additional legal complexity layered on by the National Labor Relations Board. With all members' support for this legislation to help Main Street, Congress can correct the misdirected regulatory policies of the past which were overly harmful for business operators, restrictive on entrepreneurs, and resulted in increased cost's for consumers. There are over 2,000 locally owned franchise businesses in my district. After hearing the concerns of many of them at Abrakadoodle headquarters in Sterling this past year, I am proud to stand up for these job creators and support this legislation today. I will continue to advocate for policies which promote local ownership and control--and permit my constituents to strive for the American dream. I urge my colleagues to do the same--support the rule and vote in favor of the underlying bill, H.R. 3441. I commend the distinguished gentleman from Alabama, Mr. Byrne, and the Committee on Education and the Workforce for their work on this great bill.

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I, along with my colleague Representative Robert Wittman, rise today to recognize the twenty-five years that Master Sergeant Paul Contreras has served in the United States Marine Corps. MSgt Contreras is a true patriot who has significantly contributed to the defense of our Nation. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in April, 1992 and was assigned to Recruit Training Center, San Diego, CA. He subsequently attended Marine Combat Training before being transferred to Marine Corps Logistics Base, Albany, GA where he trained as a Packaging Specialist. Lance Corporal Contreras' first assignment was to Supply Company, 1st Supply Battalion, 1st Service Support Group, Camp Pendleton, CA. Within his first month of this assignment, LCpl Contreras volunteered to deploy in support of OPERATION RESTORE HOPE in Mogadishu, Somalia. Upon completion of this deployment, he was selected to attend Marine Security Guard training, transferring to Marine Security Guard Battalion, Quantico, VA. Upon graduation from this rigorous course, LCpl Contreras' first assignment was to U.S. Embassy Abidjan, Ivory Coast. In July 1995 Cpl Contreras was transferred to U.S. Embassy Santiago, Chile for his second post. Upon departure from Chile, Sergeant Contreras served with 1st Supply Battalion until early 1998 when he began the process of applying for the Marine Corps' Counterintelligence/Human Intelligence (CI/HUMINT) occupational specialty. Staff Sergeant Contreras was competitively selected to train as a CI/HUMINT Marine, attending school from January to June, 1999. SSgt Contreras' first assignment was with 1st CI/HUMINT Company where he served until being selected to deploy with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. During this deployment, SSgt Contreras participated in recovery efforts following the bombing of the USS Cole in Aden, Yemen. In 2000, SSgt Contreras returned to 1st CI/HUMINT Company where he served until June, 2001 before being reassigned to 2nd CI/HUMINT Company, Camp Lejeune, NC. During this assignment, SSgt Contreras supported various exercises including BATTLE GRIFFIN in 2002, and deployed in support of combat operations to Kabul, Afghanistan in 2002 and Babil, Iraq in 2004. In 2006, Gunnery Sergeant Contreras completed his active service to pursue a civilian career but remained committed to the Marine Corps, joining the Select Marine Corps Reserve later that year. His first reserve assignment was with the Marine Forces Pacific G2X office. From 2006 to 2008 Master Sergeant Contreras supported exercises and operational requirements for Marine Forces Pacific. During this same time, MSgt Contreras was a part owner of a small defense contracting company dedicated to the further development and training of Department of Defense CI/HUMINT professionals prior to their deployments into Iraq and Afghanistan. In the fall of 2008, Master Sergeant Contreras returned to the CI/HUMINT school to provide support to the training staff. His next assignment in March 2009 was with Marine Forces Command G2X office. Due to his excellent reputation, MSgt Contreras was requested by name to mobilize with Marine Forces Europe from November 2011 until August 2013 where he served as Counterintelligence Operations Chief. He returned to the United States for assignment to Intelligence Support Battalion, Marine Forces Reserve in Quantico, VA. In his civilian career, MSgt Contreras also joined the Defense Intelligence Agency's Counterespionage Division. He remained on Marine Reserve duty with Bravo Company until November 2014, upon which time he transferred to Individual Ready Reserve Status intending to retire. Recognizing the immeasurable contribution that MSgt Contreras had made to the CI/HUMINT profession, the senior leadership of Intelligence Support Battalion compelled MSgt Contreras to consider withdrawing his retirement request in order to serve one final tour with the Battalion and in February 2016 MSgt Contreras returned to Bravo Company. He subsequently participated in a US Army exercise at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and served as both Company CI/HUMINT Chief and Senior Enlisted Advisor until his retirement in November of 2017. During this same time, MSgt Contreras was hired by the Marine Corps Intelligence Activity in the Office of the Counterintelligence Coordinating Authority where he is able to continue to support his beloved Corps by influencing the development and direction of counterintelligence activities for the Marine Corps into the future. Mr. Speaker, few can match the dedication and Esprit de Corps that Paul Contreras has displayed over his twenty-five years of service to Corps and country. We wish Paul continued success in his future endeavors. Many thanks to Master Sergeant Contreras. Our Nation has benefited from his outstanding leadership

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great American and my constituent, Mr. Merrill O. Naylor, of Stephens City, Virginia, who is a recipient of the 2017 Carnegie Medal for Acts of Extraordinary Civilian Heroism. This year, eighteen individuals from throughout the United States and Canada will receive the Carnegie Medal for risking their lives and showing outstanding courage in saving the life of another person. Through fire and smoke, Mr. Naylor answered the call for help from his neighbor, Ms. Sheryl C. Lewis, on the evening of November 4, 2015, rescuing her from a burning building that she was trapped in. Mr. Naylor's heroic actions and valor are an inspiration to us all, and serve as an example of the qualities of service and selflessness that we should all aspire to have. The determination and resolve he displayed that day speaks volumes about his character and shed light on the definition of true courage. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and our colleagues to join me and the people of Virginia's 10th Congressional District in honoring Mr. Merrill Naylor for his brave service to the people of Stephens City, Virginia. We Americans are so fortunate to have heroes like Merrill Naylor who are willing to put their lives at risk to protect their neighbors, and we honor him on being the recipient of a 2017 Carnegie Medal for Acts of Extraordinary Civilian Heroism.

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2105. When I travel around my district, which is rich with technology workers, the thing that I hear repeated concern about is the increasing need for individuals with the skill set, education, training, and knowledge of cybersecurity matters. With the recent events with Equifax, WannaCry, and OPM breaches, it is clear that our cybersecurity infrastructure needs to be strengthened. In December 2016, the Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity specifically recommended that the administration should ``develop concrete efforts to support and strengthen the cybersecurity of small- and medium-sized businesses.'' With small businesses accounting for most of the U.S. economy's jobs and sales, it is imperative that we provide guidance to help them identify, assess, manage, and reduce their cybersecurity risks. By making these resources readily available to small businesses across the country, this commonsense legislation will help them protect their sensitive data and business from cyber threats so they can grow our economy and provide more jobs instead. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this measure, the NIST Small Business Cybersecurity Act, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on its passage. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Florida (Mr. Webster) for his leadership on this legislation.

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the entire Tenth Congressional District of Virginia, I would like to honor Emerick Elementary School in Purcellville, Virginia for being named a 2017 Exemplary High Performing National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. Now in its 35th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed recognition on more than 8,500 private and public schools across the United States. This coveted award affirms the hard work of educators, families and communities of Emerick Elementary School, in creating a safe and welcoming environment where students can cultivate and master challenging and engaging curriculum in all subjects. Based on their vision, ``Today's Learners . . . Tomorrow's Leaders,'' Emerick Elementary School nurtures a strong academic foundation, incorporating library and computer lab visits, as well as a wideset number of opportunities from sports to crafting to computer coding, robotics, art nights, math club, Odyssey of the Mind and environmental classes. The 2017 National Blue Ribbon School Honor, recognizes Emerick Elementary School as an Exemplary High Performing School because of their graduation rates, as well as their exemplary performance amongst Virginia's schools measured by state assessments and national tests. In addition to the recognition from the National Blue Ribbon School, for the past three years, Emerick Elementary has placed 90 percent or higher for each core subject tested in the Virginia Standards of Learning, and in 2016, emerged with scores of 97% percent or higher in all subjects tested. These results are remarkable and based on these recent successes, it is clear that Emerick is committed to developing productive problem solvers in the 21st century, who will become the future leaders of the Commonwealth. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Principal Dawn Williams, Loudoun County Superintendent, Dr. Eric Williams and the entire Emerick Elementary School community on this achievement in being named a 2017 Exemplary High Performing National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. I can say in great confidence that this elementary school has been an irreplaceable part of this district and has had an exceptional impact on cultivating America's youth.

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and congratulate an excellent high school in the 10th Congressional District of Virginia, Frederick County's Sherando High School, while the school community is celebrating its 25th Anniversary. The school's slogan, ``where one person can make a difference,'' summarizes the caring, respectful culture that has been created at Sherando High School during those 25 years. Central to this special culture are the guiding words of the Mission for the staff, wherein they accept responsibility for providing ``a safe and supportive environment that encourages intellectual, emotional, physical and social growth'' and ``a positive educational atmosphere which will encourage students to maximize their learning opportunities.'' The Sherando community is proud of the fact that the entire community supports students with learning differences and that these students are encouraged to be an important part of the school and to benefit from the daily educational and social activities of the school. This caring attitude also extends to other students, including those struggling with severe depression. Hundreds of members of the Sherando community have participated in Out of the Darkness walks, raising funds for suicide prevention programs. Another important aspect of Sherando High School's culture is summed up in the third sentence of the staff mission statement: ``We will promote the active participation of parents and the community in the educational process.'' This welcoming attitude of the school has provided the community the opportunity to cheer on Sherando students in a variety of pursuits, including dramatic productions, D.E.C.A and FFA activities, choir concerts, The Widget Cup, a design/build interscholastic competition that shows off the talents of Career and Technical Education students, and the marching band, which recently took first place in General Effect, Drum Major, and Color Guard disciplines at the Hylton High School Marching Band Competition. The motto of the school, ``Once a warrior, always a warrior'' certainly rings true in the area of athletics, where community residents and alumni get caught up with Sherando football and other athletics, and even travel long distances to see their athletes compete at regionals and at state championships. And at the very event that took place on October 7, 2017, several athletes from the past are going to be recognized as the first inductees into the Sherando Athletic Hall of Fame. Congratulations to Tyler Gaines, Kelley Washington, Emily Budnyk-Putt, Robyn Ritter-Browne, Zach Franz, Pepper Martin, and Jason Barbe for this special recognition. In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me and our colleagues in congratulating Principal John Nelson, his dedicated staff and the entire Sherando High School community, on 25 years of extraordinary success and in wishing them a continuation of this success in the years to come.

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize the generosity of a family in Virginia's 10th Congressional District, Colleen and Richard Davis. The Davis' have provided a loving home to two beautiful twin boys, and, this year, I am pleased to congratulate them on being the Tenth District Angels in Adoption Awardee. Colleen and Richard had three biological children of their own, as well as one special needs adopted child, raising them in a warm and loving home in Winchester, Virginia. During Colleen's service to the New Eve Maternity Home, a home for expectant women in crisis pregnancy in Winchester, she met a young mother and her twin newborn boys. Upon seeing the traumatic situation, when the young mothers' drug abuse and other mental health problems caused Child Protective Services to plan on placing the newborns in a temporary foster arrangement, Colleen and Richard offered to take the twins into their home and care for them until the young woman was able to provide a stable upbringing. What was expected to be a few weeks of care was extended to months, and now about two years. While the last two years have surely been filled with joyous moments, it has not always been easy. Colleen and Richard have seen the young mother through many hardships and crises, always encouraging her to maintain a close relationship with her sons, even though it means frequent transporting of the twin boys to the mother's new home in another city. By opening their home and their hearts, Colleen and Richard have demonstrated the most sincere form of love possible. I am grateful to Colleen and Richard for helping the mothers and children who live at the New Eve Maternity Home and for the incredible generosity and sensitivity they have displayed in caring for the twins as though they were their own, as well as their willingness to return them to their natural mother, if she becomes able to care for them. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Colleen and Richard's tireless dedication to foster care, making these parents not only stand out in Virginia's Tenth Congressional District, but earning our recognition as deserving of the 2017 Angels in Adoption award.

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, last weekend we recognized National Suicide Prevention Week in Northern Virginia. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention National Capital Area chapter hosted their 10th annual signature fundraising event, Out of the Darkness on Saturday, September 16th in Fairfax County, Virginia. Over the past ten years, Out of the Darkness has been vital to the rehabilitation of the human spirit here in Northern Virginia, and has been an integral part of the changing attitude towards suicide prevention and mental health awareness, allowing individuals from all backgrounds and stages of grief to come together in support of each other. The success of this year's walk, bringing together over 860 attendees and raising over $90,000, attests to the meaningful impact of this chapter in support of Northern Virginian neighbors and their families. We have lost 1,122 precious lives, perhaps more, due to suicide in the last 12 months in Virginia, including children and veterans. The National Capital Area chapter's extensive work in providing community resources, including crisis numbers for the Veteran Combat Call Center, Veteran's Crisis Line, Suicide Prevention Line, and a texting option, have immensely benefited those who are seeking immediate assistance and support. These services are crucial, and especially helpful to those who are fearful in seeking assistance, and I thank you for all your efforts in supporting these programs. Out of the Darkness was supported by a variety of partners in prevention from across Fairfax County that shared resources to people and their families in various stages of grief, including the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, Fairfax County Police Department, Fairfax County Sheriff Stacey A. Kincaid and the Department, INOVA Fairfax Hospital, International Association of Fire Chiefs, Virginia Professional Firefighters & Paramedics--IAFF Local 2068, IAFF Financial Corporation, Fairfax County Employee Advisory Council, Fairfax County Live Well Program, Interstate Van Lines, Shirley Contracting, 29 Diner Restaurants, JV's Restaurant, Austin Grill, Everymind.org, Trevor Project, Divine Elements Healing Home, Virginia Academy of Clinical Psychological Services, Abiding Hope Counseling Services, Yava Yoga, David J. Cobb Foundation, Youth for Tomorrow and many other local community businesses and elected officials. I thank them again for working to support the lives of Fairfax County families as well as those in the surrounding region. I am pleased to represent the National Capital Area chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and its partners in the 10th District, and I wish them the best as they continue to bring awareness to suicide prevention and behavioral health. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Virginia's Tenth Congressional District, I ask that you join me in recognizing the positive impact of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention National Capital Area chapter Out of the Darkness Community Walk these past ten years.

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the motion to recommit.

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, early this summer, on a Friday night, just about 30 miles from this Capital, I went on a ride-along in my district with our Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force. A young boy standing on the sidewalk along Sterling Boulevard in Sterling, Virginia, caught the eye of a veteran member of our task force. The young man on the street looked about 15 or 16 years old, but he was actually a 22-year-old member of the transnational violent street gang known as MS-13. He was covered in MS-13 gang tattoos--on his chest, his back, his feet. It turned out, he had been in jail in El Salvador for murder as a teenager, and he had already been deported from the U.S. twice for engaging in violent crimes here. Three other of the estimated thousands of MS-13 gang members that are just here in our Capital region were also picked up that night. There have been cases in northern Virginia where a suspected member of the MS-13 gang has been deported five times, yet returned again to continue their gang activity. At a town festival in Herndon this year, the gang task force identified--because they go to these events and they see these people-- an estimated 200 to 300 suspected gang members milling about among the families who were getting cotton candy and hot dogs for their kids. They are right there looking to recruit in their own communities. Mr. Speaker, since November 2016, at least eight murders have been committed and tied to MS-13 and other gangs in our area, representing a 166 percent increase over the last year in the northern Virginia region. An MS-13-linked vicious murder occurred in November 2015. Of course, I should acknowledge that they are all vicious when you are talking about MS-13. This happened on an Alexandria playground in the evening just about 8 miles from this Capital, and it resulted in the death of 24-year-old Jose Luis Ferman Perez. He was nearly decapitated in the machete attack. His body was left on the playground and was found by a woman walking her dog the next morning. It could have been one of the kids playing on the playground finding that. The Washington Post has highlighted how the 2014 border surge has contributed to the MS-13 problem, saying: ``The violent street gang is on the rise in the United States, fueled, in part, by the surge in unaccompanied minors.'' A recent Washington Post article documented the case of gang members who videotaped the murder of a 15-year-old girl, Damaris Reyes Rivas, who was savagely beaten by multiple people, and repeatedly stabbed by all of these gang members. The video of this was intended to be sent to MS-13 gang leadership in El Salvador to confirm that this greenlit murder had been carried out. Tragically, MS-13 targets and preys upon their own community, on young people who may not have much of a family structure around them. Sadly, these children and young people were actually fleeing MS-13 in their own countries of El Salvador, Honduras, or Guatemala, only to come here and be targeted. There was one case that, fortunately, the Norther Virginia Regional Gang Task Force was able to intercept, where a brother was trying to enlist his own brother to join the MS-13 gang. And when he refused to, he put a hit out on him. Fortunately, the gang task force was able to stop that. We cannot allow this to stand. Mr. Speaker, the Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force is battling this problem in our region, but they still need more resources. In our appropriations process, we have directed more resources for our regional task forces. I have personally talked to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who is very familiar with this MS-13 problem, having been a U.S. attorney in the Maryland region. Our regional task force is comprised of 13 local, State and Federal law enforcement agencies, and the task force has a three-pronged approach: education, intervention and prevention, and enforcement. We need to provide support on all three of these fronts. I witnessed firsthand the exhausting work of the task force; the technology they utilize on the streets that was able to immediately identify just with fingerprints the background of this gang member that they were able to arrest; the detailed knowledge they have of our communities and our neighborhoods; the positive relationships they have with the people in these communities, the very people that are being victimized; and the challenges they face with this problem that has returned to our area. That is why I sponsored H.R. 3697, the Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act, with my colleagues, so it will provide additional tools to law enforcement. It will ensure that when ICE positively identifies a known alien gang member, they may act immediately. This legislation identifies gang membership and participation in gang activity as grounds for inadmissibility and removability. We don't have to wait until these brutal killers wield their machetes or leave another body on a children's playground.

Mrs. COMSTOCK. This is a marked improvement over current law where ICE must wait for specific convictions before removal proceedings can commence. The bill preserves, as my colleague has already identified, all the due process and appellate rights afforded to any alien facing deportation. An immigration judge must be convinced that the evidence in the record supports the finding. I encourage support of this legislation today, which will strengthen and enforce our laws against known violent gang members. I also will continue to work with my colleagues on other matters, such as the bill I introduced earlier this summer, to provide additional resources to our regional gang task forces for their education, intervention, and enforcement efforts.

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Madam Speaker, in 2015, at an Alexandria playground in Mr. Beyer's district, 8 miles from this Capitol, the body of a 24-year- old man was left nearly decapitated in a grisly murder by one of the thousands of MS-13 gang members in our country. I should also mention that that victim was also an MS-13 gang member. This very Capital region has the second highest number of MS-13 gang members. Criminal alien gang members are growing in numbers in our region around the country and wrecking havoc in my district and in this very region. Without stronger tools to specifically target those specific aliens--this bill targets them--that terrorize our streets, gangs like MS-13 will then continue to grow in numbers and strength if we aren't targeting them. The time has come to take action and provide a path for deportation for violent criminal gang members. ICE has found that membership of these violent transnational gangs is comprised largely of foreign-born nationals. Often bearing the brunt of these gangs' violence are the very immigrant communities in which they reside. They target their own communities. We have seen that in my region and in my district, and that is why this is so troubling. The Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act will address this. Those gang members who have successfully evaded prosecution through witness intimidation, employing the tactics of fear and violence will now be within ICE's reach. The new grounds of removability provided by H.R. 3697 will help get criminal gang members off our streets. ICE's recent Operation New Dawn has resulted in almost 1,100 arrests of gang members. Had this bill been enacted prior, that number could have increased. This bill is only starting the removal process, however. Make no mistake, regular immigration proceedings will still apply. The government must prove its case and provide evidence to convince an immigration judge. This bill preserves all due process and appellate rights afforded to any alien facing deportation. The time for this bill is long overdue. It was introduced to target criminal gangs, as that term is commonly understood, and that is what it will do once it is enacted. I urge my colleagues to vote down this motion to recommit, to vote for the base bill, H.R. 3697, and to provide ICE with the tools it needs to keep dangerous criminal alien gang members off our streets, out of our communities, and out of our country. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the grand opening of Oakcrest School's new campus in Virginia's 10th Congressional District on Saturday, September 9th in Vienna, Virginia. Together with the opening, the first annual Inaugural Homecoming reunited classmates, faculty and friends in celebration of this wonderful expansion. Oakcrest is an independently-owned, all-girls school, grades 6 to 12, that develops strong young women of character, inspiring these individuals to challenge, lead, and serve others through an instilled faith. Founded in 1976 in Washington, D.C. with twenty-two students, Oakcrest has grown to serve over two-hundred-twenty-five young women, making each student well-rounded, through their mission to educate the whole person, in intellect, character, faith and leadership. This new campus in Virginia's 10th Congressional District, will offer Oakcrest the ability to grow to 330 students and eventually 450 students when they complete the second phase of campus construction. Currently this 70,000 square foot building includes a three story Virginia manor house, housing two academic wings. Students will enjoy learning in the vibrant environments of the two science labs, two music rooms with acoustic treatments, art room, and large library with a fireplace and a media center. In addition, Oakcrest will continue to build their athletics program with a brand new natural grass and softball fields. Inspired by the teachings of the Catholic Church and the spirituality of Opus Dei, Oakcrest School develops deep love in faith and strong learning abilities, through a rich liberal arts curriculum, character development, one-on-one mentoring and service to create an encouraging environment that graduates confident and courageous young women. I appreciate the role your educators have held in shaping the future of our nation. While teaching can be an arduous task, I know it comes with its share of fulfilling moments, both inside and outside the classroom, which now includes an annual school spirit Homecoming celebration. It is due to the tireless efforts of our educators that we are able to foster a positive and nurturing learning environment for our children, and this year, able to come together as an entire Oakcrest community in celebration of our past and future achievements. More than 1,200 friends, families, current and former faculty and alumnae joined to celebrate this exciting chapter in Oakcrest's history in bringing together the largest group of Oakcrest alumnae with over 120 graduates in attendance. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring the Head of School, Mary T. Ortiz and the entire faculty, student body and alumnae at Oakcrest School for opening their new campus and working to unite Virginia's 10th Congressional District through this lifelong sisterhood. I wish Oakcrest a joyous year in support of lifelong faith, friendships and learning.

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 2288) to amend title 38, United States Code, to reform the rights and processes relating to appeals of decisions regarding claims for benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment.

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 339) to amend Public Law 94-241 with respect to the Northern Mariana Islands, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment.

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to bring to your and our colleagues' attention an important ribbon-cutting ceremony in Winchester, Virginia, on Friday, August 4, 2017, officially announcing the renaming of the former Old Court House Civil War Museum to the ``Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum''. The ceremony was also an opportunity to honor a great civic leader of the Shenandoah Valley, Jim Wilkins, Jr., with the presentation of the Graves Family Philanthropic Leadership Award, in recognition of Mr. Wilkins' leadership on behalf of civil war battlefield preservation and other worthy causes, including the Frederick County/Winchester Law Enforcement Foundation, which he helped establish. This name change signals a continuation of the energetic expansion of the preservation and enhancement of civil war sites by the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation, on whose Board of Directors Mr. Wilkins is an active member. Under the visionary leadership of CEO Keven Walker, the new name of the museum, coupled with new and renovated exhibits that will include youth activities and interactive learning tools, will make the museum a compelling attraction for Civil War enthusiasts and their families. The foundation will be able to tell the broader story of the Civil War in the entire Shenandoah Valley that will include Union, Confederate, civilian and African-American perspectives. These initiatives of the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation and its partners have had a significantly positive economic impact on my Valley constituents. The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District is an important driver of the regional economy, contributing hundreds of millions of dollars annually and sustaining thousands of jobs. Mr. Speaker, I ask you and our colleagues to join me in thanking CEO Keven Walker, Jim Wilkins, Jr. and the Board of Directors and staff of the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation for the extraordinary energy and commitment they have brought to preserving the vitally important story of the Civil War in the Shenandoah Valley, including the newly named Shenandoah Valley Civil War Museum which promises to become a driver of the regional economy as it emerges as an important center of the history and culture of the Shenandoah Valley.

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to commemorate the life of Mr. John Christopher LaMonica. Mr. LaMonica's career in broadcast journalism is a catalogue of the major events of 20th century history. From Central Asia to the Middle East to Southern Africa; from the secret nuclear cities of Siberia to New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina; he used facts to tell stories with moral truths. Originally from Rye, New York, Mr. LaMonica attended Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. In 1979, he became an Adjunct Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He cut his teeth as a consultant for Henry Kissinger and became a newsman with Ted Koppel, working for decades as an investigative producer for ABC News Nightline. In 2006 he took the legacy of journalism from that program with him to Discovery, where he produced cutting-edge documentaries with Mr. Koppel on subjects ranging from the history of race relations in America to surviving cancer. Mr. LaMonica continued that work as an executive producer at Al Jazeera America. The sum total of years spent away from his family in Russia and Iran and some of the most dangerous places on earth rewarded Mr. LaMonica with numerous National Emmys, several Dupont-Columbia and Peabody awards, the Overseas Press Club Edward R. Murrow Award, and the Global Health Council Excellence in Media Award. In 1987, he earned the Benton Fellowship in broadcast journalism from the University of Chicago. But what meant the world to Mr. LaMonica was that it can be said of him that he was a great father, the best grandfather, and, quite simply, a good man. In addition to his journalistic endeavors, Mr. LaMonica continuously gave back to our community. His philanthropic efforts included his involvement with the Knights of Columbus, HOPE in Northern Virginia and the Zambia Orphans of AIDS, and the St. Peter Claver Society. Mr. LaMonica died peacefully in his bed at home in Virginia on March 13, 2016, after battling cancer for nearly a year. He is survived by his wife, Teresa; her son; their three children; and four grandchildren, who still miss the man they called ``Papa Jay.'' Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in celebrating the life of, and bidding farewell to Jay LaMonica. May he rest in peace, and his family be comforted.

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Sergeant Major Ronald E. Johnson, who departed from his role as Command Sergeant of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Transatlantic Division, on July 14, 2017 and will be retiring from the United States Army after over thirty years of honorable service. Sergeant Major Johnson has dedicated his career to keeping this nation safe, and I am grateful for not only his exemplary service to our nation, but also his service to the residents of Virginia's 10th Congressional District in his position as Command Sergeant of the Transatlantic Division, located in Winchester, Virginia. Sergeant Major Johnson entered the Army in November of 1986 from Terre Haute, Indiana. Over the course of his illustrious career, he has served in a plethora of different capacities, including as a team leader, squad leader, platoon sergeant, drill sergeant, Equal Opportunity adviser, noncommissioned officer-in-charge of Directorate of Public Works, first sergeant and command sergeant major. Additionally, Sergeant Major Johnson has completed a multitude of tours of duty abroad, including in Germany, Honduras, Thailand, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom I and Operation Enduring Freedom IX and XI. His steadfast commitment to defending this nation and courageous service are evident by the immense amount of awards and decorations that have been bestowed upon him. These honors, among others, include two Legions of Merit, three Bronze Stars, three Meritorious Service Medals, a Joint Service Commendation Medal, six Army Commendation Medals, five Army Achievement Medals, nine Good Conduct Medals, two National Defense Service Medals, three Southwest Asia Service Medals, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, three Afghanistan Campaign Medals, United Nations Medal, NATO Medal, Kuwaiti Liberation Medal, four NCO Professional Development Ribbons, Overseas Service Ribbon, two Meritorious Unit Citations; Combat Action, Drill Sergeant, and Parachutist Badges; Bronze Order of the de Fleury Medal, and the German Physical Fitness Proficiency (Sportsman) Badge. Mostly recently, under his guidance as Commander Sergeant of the Transatlantic Division for the past three years, Transatlantic Division organizations have completed more than $1.7 billion in construction projects in the combat regions of Afghanistan. These efforts have included large scale military installations and utility projects, which have been vital to training Afghan security forces and providing the area with a reliable source of power. In addition to his work crucial to enhancing our national security, Sergeant Major Johnson has always been solicitous about the welfare and professional development of his soldiers and established a formal military professional development program and a very active mentoring program. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the entire 10th District, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Sergeant Major Johnson for his dedicated career of service, and I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing a highly venerated figure. I wish him all the best as he moves on to the next phase in his life.

Mrs. COMSTOCK

Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Major General Robert D. Carlson, who departed from his role as Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Transatlantic Division, on July 14, 2017. Major General Carlson has dedicated his life to keeping this nation safe, and I am grateful for not only his outstanding service to our great nation, but also to the citizens of Virginia's 10th Congressional District in his capacity as commander of the Transatlantic Division, located in Winchester, Virginia. At a young age, Major General Carlson chose to pursue a career of service in defense of the freedoms that we cherish. This led him to attend the United States Military Academy where he earned a Bachelor of Science in general engineering. Upon graduation, Major General Carlson was commissioned into the Engineer Regiment and later received a Master of Science in engineering management from the University of Missouri and a Master of Arts in strategic studies from the United States Army War College (USAWC) at Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Throughout his distinguished career, Major General Carlson has served in numerous command and staff positions from company-to division-level units. Before assuming his current position, some of Major General Carlson's assignments include commanding the 372nd Engineer Brigade and the Contingency Response Unit, 416th Theater Engineer Command, and serving as the Chief of Staff, U.S. Agency for International Development. The colossal amount of prestigious awards and decorations that he has attained are illustrative manifestations of his heroic service and devotion to this nation. These honors, among others, include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Department of State Meritorious Honor Award, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Bronze Service Star, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terror Service Medal, NATO-SFOR (Balkans) Medal, NATO-ISAF (Afghanistan) Medal, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and the Engineer Regiment Bronze DeFleury Medal. Under his esteemed leadership as commander of the Transatlantic Division, he oversaw both the USACE Contingency Construction Program and the Associated Foreign Military Sales Construction Programs, which provided vital facilities for U.S. Forces and our allies throughout the Middle East. Additionally, Major General Carlson has also been a proponent of increasing awareness of and expanding opportunities for today's youth in the Science, Engineering and Technical career fields and has been involved in STEM-related events, such as National Engineer Week and TAM-sponsored STEM events in the Winchester area. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the entire 10th District, I would like to express my gratitude to Major General Carlson for his dedicated career of service, and I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing such a truly commendable figure. I wish him and his wife, Valerie, and their three children, Cody, Chad, and Camie, all the best as he moves on to his next assignment.