Dan Crenshaw

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Speaker, I rise today because our border is still in crisis. I rise today to bring attention to the dereliction of duty by this President occurring at our southern border. Most of all I rise to ask this: Can we all stop pretending? Can we stop pretending that this administration deserves any benefit of the doubt, pretending it is a tough situation beyond their control, pretending that this administration, and frankly, the entire Democratic Party have any intention of solving the border crisis. Stop pretending as if this isn't purposeful, because it is. When every single policy measure that you partake in results in more illegal immigration, well, then it stands to reason using the powers of deduction that maybe you want more illegal immigration. So let's stop pretending otherwise. And while we are at it, let's also stop pretending that more than a tiny fraction of those illegally crossing our border have any valid claims to asylum whatsoever. We all know it. We all know that they are coming because it is easy and because America is a pretty great place. We all know they were trained by their drug cartel handlers to repeat certain phrases that make them eligible for the asylum process so that they will be given a bus ticket and maybe a court date which they will never show up for. Let's stop pretending that this isn't just a giant scam, a giant abuse of our well-meaning and generous system. And also, let's stop pretending mass migration is America's fault. Let's stop pretending to listen to outlandish claims of climate change causing migration or the tired old refrain of, well, it is American imperialistic foreign policy or whatever, and so let's just let everybody in. And let's stop pretending that this isn't getting exceedingly dangerous for us. It is dangerous for our border agents. It is dangerous for our border communities. It is dangerous for the children being trafficked. It is dangerous for everyday Americans. At our border communities, crime is rising. There is greater insecurity. There is a spike in COVID cases. And the migrants, who I thought my friends on the other side of the aisle claim to care about, well, they are paying thousands of dollars to smugglers to take them on an exceedingly dangerous journey that often ends in children dead, stranded in the desert, or in the Rio Grande. The only people who benefit from all of this are the drug cartels. They make money off the human misery by using asylum-seeking migrants to tie down the border agents so they can move their drugs with little to no risk. These smugglers aren't just bringing your generic pot. They are bringing fentanyl, bringing enough fentanyl to kill every single American. Finally, let's stop pretending that the Democrats' pro-open border position has anything to do with compassion or kindness. There is nothing compassionate about tent cities, nothing compassionate about children being trafficked. There is nothing compassionate about firing American workers for not getting a COVID shot, putting them out on the street while illegal immigrants flood into our country without even a COVID test and then get treated to a bus ride or a hotel at the expense of the American taxpayer. And then, they probably get hired. And guess what? There is nothing compassionate about allowing hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants to cut in front of millions of law-abiding potential immigrants around the world. People with actual asylum claims and real persecution are told, well, they are out of luck if they can't just walk across our border. Sorry about your civil war or your religious persecution. We are out of space. The system is just too clogged up now. Let's stop pretending about all of it. Let's start telling the truth so we can actually solve this crisis.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Speaker, I rise today to highlight a dangerous implication of this bill and urge my colleagues to vote against it. There is no disagreement that the Federal Government has a role to play in cleaning up the most heavily contaminated sites and establishing standards so that our water is safe to drink. We are united in this, both Republicans and Democrats. While this bill shares the spirit of that, frankly, it got hopelessly lost along the way. Instead, it creates a mess of lawsuits. We could have fixed this. Republicans have pointed out the pitfalls. Democrats say those pitfalls don't exist. Experts say, yes, they do. We could fix this. In committee we discussed how this impacts a full suite of products, from medical devices to computer chips. But there is one element that is particularly concerning to me. Under this legislation, a police department that purchases one of the most popular bulletproof vests to protect its officers against rising crime would now be subject to environmental lawsuits. And here's why: A bulletproof vest becomes increasingly ineffective if it is exposed to moisture. As a result, it is protected by a waterproofing PFAS chemical to keep it dry and effective against bullets. By imposing a de facto ban--and it is a de facto ban--on all PFAS chemicals, even those that pose no risk to human health or the environment, this legislation will significantly reduce the availability of lifesaving equipment. Manufacturers, or others in the supply chain, will seek to avoid the PFAS liabilities created by this bill under CERCLA. So police departments, rather than worrying about protecting our communities, will now have to worry about whether or not they will be subject to an environmental lawsuit. Instead, police departments themselves will be forced to make impossible decisions; continuing to use PFAS-containing, lifesaving equipment or risk huge legal liability when the equipment is disposed of. This bill will bring entities like police departments, and anyone and everyone who is even remotely involved with PFAS material, under the wide dragnet of litigation that they don't have the resources to fight. As Democrats seek to defund police across the country, police departments are already strapped for cash. So under this bill, we are forcing police departments to decide whether to defend themselves against lawsuits or purchase the material they need to keep their officers safe. That is why I introduced a simple amendment that would limit the liability of police departments, first responders, and our military from being endlessly sued if they require these materials to protect themselves. My amendment didn't limit the EPA's ability to actually regulate these chemicals or even determine which ones are safe or unsafe. Nor did it allow police departments to dispose of these products in an unsafe way and be shielded from consequences. It just said, if a police department or first responder follows the letter of the law in dealing with these materials, they shouldn't be threatened with endless lawsuits. But, sadly, my colleagues didn't make my amendment in order. So while my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are desperately trying to prove that they support our police officers after a year of demonizing them, the bill shows that really nothing has changed. But there is one more chance to make this right. I will be offering my amendment as the motion to recommit for this legislation. Our police officers need to know that Congress has their back, especially now. This motion to recommit is a chance to do just that. I urge my colleagues to vote against this bill and vote for my amendment to protect our police and our military and our first responders. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to include the text of the amendment in the Record immediately prior to the vote on the motion to recommit.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Speaker, I rise today to support and encourage the brave men and women of Cuba. Last week we saw unprecedented images and videos from across Cuba. Tens of thousands of Cubans took to the street. They took to the street not because of COVID or vaccines or the embargo but because they demand their inalienable rights. They demand freedom. They chant: ``Libertad.'' They chant: ``Patria y vida.'' And they converged on the Communist Party headquarters responsible for 60 years of misery, abuse, and torture of the Cuban people. Cubans have rejected the failed ideology forced upon three generations--the failed ideology of Marxism that has brought suffering to hundreds of millions around the world, the failed ideology that deserves to be sent to the ash heap of history once and for all. As Communists often do, they concocted a conspiracy theory to explain the people's protests. The Communist dictator Miguel Diaz-Canel even claimed it was a U.S. plot. This is what Marxists do, of course. They lie. They will lie, they will commit violence against their own people, and they will try to suffocate the calls for freedom. But this movement will not be silenced. It cannot. It mustn't. For too long this once flourishing island has suffered under Communist rule, and now the calls for freedom must be heeded: freedom from oppression, freedom from abuse, and freedom from tyranny. The downfall of this regime has been a long time coming. No more is it patria o muerte--country or death--but as the people across Cuba know, it is patria y vida--country and life. As Americans--as a people who have inherited the greatest gifts of freedom the world has ever known--we must speak with one voice against the evils of Marxism. We must speak truth, a truth that not enough Americans are used to hearing. Instead, we have American politicians who openly advocate for the very same Marxist ideology that Cubans would die to escape from. This ignorant and foolish flirtation with Marxism must end, and we must make it clear that we will always support freedom-loving people around the world. Our message will be one of empowerment: empower the brave Cuban people as they begin to throw off the chains of Communism and seek their inalienable, God-given rights of life, liberty, personal property, and the right to pursue their happiness. So to the men and women of Cuba, I say this: (English translation of the statement made in Spanish is as follows:) We see you. We hear you. We are with you. Let us no longer shout homeland or death but homeland and life. And begin to build what we dream of. What they destroyed with their hands. Te vemos. Te oimos. Estamos con ustedes. Ya no gritemos patria o muerte sino patria y vida. Y empezar a construir lo que sonamos. Lo que destruyeron con sus manos. Madam Speaker, to the Communist regime in Cuba, I say this: Your lies are exposed, your foundations are shaken to the core, and your days are numbered.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank and honor a true public servant, the Executive Director of the Harris County Flood Control District, Russ Poppe. Russ is stepping down on July 2, 2021. During his five-year tenure as Executive Director, Russ made a lasting and significant impact to reduce the threat of flooding in Harris County. Russ's time at the Flood Control District was spent building solid relationships at the local, state, and federal levels. Russ's excellent network of contacts is partly responsible for the Flood Control District bringing in over one billion dollars in federal grants in the past few years. He has earned the trust of various agencies including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Natural Resources Conservation Services, and Federal Emergency Management Agency. Russ led the Flood Control District through the worst rainfall event in American history, Hurricane Harvey in 2017. In the aftermath of Harvey, Russ helped former County Judge Ed Emmett pass the historic $2.5 billion Harris County Flood Bond in August 2018. After voters approved the bond program, Russ became the head of a multi-billion- dollar enterprise, all with the purpose of helping his community in Harris County. Since that time, under Russ's leadership, the Flood Control District has started over 200 flood damage reduction projects and has increased project delivery volume over ten times. Russ's leadership and professionalism will be missed at the Flood Control District. Russ always practiced leadership by inspiration, not intimidation. Russ and his staff have spent countless hours working with my staff and me to ensure we understand the tremendous challenges the Harris County area faces when it comes to reducing flooding. I wish to thank him for his service and wish him all the best. I am certain that he will continue his success at the next stop on his career journey.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of legislation called the HOPE and ALLIES Act to support our interpreters in Afghanistan. I can't tell you how important this is on a personal level to me. In 2012, I was hit by an IED blast. That IED went off because one of our interpreters stepped on a pressure plate. His name was Raqman. He was responding to a call, responding to do his job, like they do day in and day out. They never get a break. And he stepped on that IED, about 10 to 15 pounds of explosives, and it ripped off all four of his limbs right away. I couldn't see him because I was blinded by the blast, but I could hear him. When someone gets hit by an IED--you have probably seen in the movies--you think they scream. But they don't scream. They don't have the energy to scream. It is more like a groan. It is the deepest kind of pain that you can imagine. And I will never forget that sound. Before he was hit, he expressed to us that one of his dreams would be to come back to San Diego, California, enlist in the military, and become a Navy SEAL. That was the kind of patriotism that he had. He wasn't even a citizen. Imagine if our own citizens loved their country the way that these guys did. And that story is not unique. Raqman later died, but that legacy lived on. These interpreters showed such dedication to the cause; it is unimaginable, really. And as military units rotate in and out, we get to go home, we see our families. The interpreters stay out there. It is just another day for them. Meanwhile, their families are under threat. They are receiving anonymous phone calls constantly, threatening their lives, calling them infidels all because they supported the United States. Now we are about to leave them. This administration is not doing enough to make sure that they don't get left to die. I am confident this body will do what it can, but it takes this administration to actually do something now before this hasty retreat occurs and before thousands and thousands and thousands of interpreters and contractors are killed; and they will be killed. They absolutely will be killed. Their families will be killed. The threats have already come, and it will happen if we don't do something about it. Mr. Speaker, I call on this administration to do something about it. I call on the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security to get this process going, to expedite this process as quickly as possible. These people are heroes and they need to come to their new home here in the United States.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Speaker, I rise today to note an odd philosophy that I have seen amongst my Democrat colleagues, and it is this: The belief that if one regulation is good, then ten must be better. Of course, that is not true, but it is actually worse than that. The Biden administration is proposing 2,500 new regulations; they call this ``the unified agenda.'' I am not sure what is unifying about suffocating American businesses and workers under D.C. bureaucrats. We are killing our economy by the death of a thousand cuts. Our products will be more expensive, and that is if their manufacturing isn't just immediately shipped off to China. Biden said he wouldn't ban fracking outright, but will make it impossible to build new projects, build pipelines, or export our clean American natural gas that would decrease global carbon emissions. These new regulations will take away our choices on healthcare, encourage illegal immigration, discourage the enforcement of our immigration laws, and more than that, this philosophy of regulate at any cost will result in silly regulations like this: Reducing disturbances to Hawaiian spinner dolphins from human interaction. This is not how we govern.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 1. I have always found it interesting that elections are the one thing my colleagues on the other side don't want to strictly regulate. You see, Madam Speaker, there is this mythology amongst Democrats that commonsense rules in an election are synonymous with voter suppression. They make it sound as if you have to go through an obstacle course to go vote. This isn't true. It is nonsense, and everybody knows it. The truth is that four out of five Americans support voter ID laws, and countless Americans have expressed concern because they received mail-in ballots for other people addressed to their homes. They want this fixed, and they don't want the problem to get worse. But this bill makes elections less trustworthy, not more. Trust is everything. When people can see the faults in the process, whether it is ballots at the wrong house or careless verification processes, they believe people are cheating. You can't just dismiss that, Madam Speaker. We have to fix it. But instead this bill makes permanent the problematic election practices that cause distrust. For example, Madam Speaker, ballot harvesting creates serious chain of custody issues, and universal mail-in voting without safeguards creates the kind of chaos where your ballot ends up in someone else's hands, as does forcing States to disregard their own voter ID laws and use sworn statements instead of an ID. The integrity of our elections must be self-evident, wherein the mere possibility of fraud is improbable because the process itself is airtight and secure. Many States today do not meet that standard. We should be working together to make elections more secure, not less. If that is indeed our mutual goal, and I pray that it is, then I implore my colleagues to work with us.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep disappointment on the bloated, partisan bill that my colleagues are calling a COVID relief package. That is the name on the bill, but the reality is far from it. The reality is that we just passed a $900 billion package in December. The package wasn't perfect, but it was bipartisan. This one is not. The reality is that hundreds of billions of dollars remain unspent. As of last week, there were unofficial estimates of unspent or non- disbursed relief that included $183 billion for another round of PPP; $199 billion for healthcare; $136 billion for expanded unemployment insurance; and $46 billion for direct stimulus payments. That is money we still have, unspent. The reality is that this administration can't or won't even give Congress an honest estimate of where that money is and what they will do with trillions more. The reality is that this bill is not for emergency relief, but for leftwing spending programs years from now. Nearly half of the funds under this bill won't be spent until 2022. There are billions of dollars for State and local governments, mostly to blue States that impose costly lockdowns, even though California is reporting a $10 billion surplus; billions to bail out multiemployer pension plans; billions for subsidies to cover the cost of rising ObamaCare premiums; and a massive expansion of Medicaid with no reforms to address waste, fraud, and abuse within the program. Meanwhile, a mere 1 percent of this is for vaccine distribution. Really? Maybe that is, perhaps, because the Trump administration, indeed, did have a plan for vaccine distribution. I don't know. Of the billions they provide for schools, less than 5 percent will be spent this fiscal year with zero requirements to get kids back in the classroom. The reality is that some provisions, like a $15 minimum wage will only hurt the small businesses that Democrats claim they want to help. Many in my district have already told me they are going to lay off workers or shut down. So I say this to my colleagues who seem to believe that the size of their heart is correlated to how much taxpayer money they are willing to spend: This is not how you help. This is not how you govern responsibly. This is not a contest to see how much debt we can rack up for whatever constituency or special interest you favor at the moment. Americans don't want handouts. They want a vaccine. They want their businesses open. They want their kids back in school because they know it is safe, despite what the teachers' unions are saying. And they don't want to be told to wear three masks after they get a vaccine. If you want to work with Republicans, assess what has been spent and what hasn't and focus on small business relief that increases jobs instead of killing them, then Republicans will be right there with you. Until then, expect some serious opposition. Recognizing the Tremendous Strength of the People in Houston

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I also rise today to recognize the tremendous the strength of the people in Houston, who I am honored to represent in Congress. As we all know, last week, an historic arctic blast hit most of the South, including the great State of Texas, plunging millions of Texans into darkness. In the middle of freezing cold temperatures, people weren't able to heat their homes or access water. I personally had to gather water from a swimming pool in our apartment complex after our water was shut off. I know that many had it much, much worse than I did. But through it all, the community came together. My friend Jim McIngvale, known as Mattress Mack, in Houston opened up his furniture store as a shelter last week to give people in need a warm place to sleep, eat or just get out of the cold for a few hours. There are countless others who stepped up. Plumbers helped their neighbors repair their pipes free of charge; food and water distribution centers opened up across the city, including in my district office; and people who had power used it minimally so electricity could flow back to their neighbors faster. This is what we call Houston strong. It got us through Harvey and Imelda, and it is what will get us through this difficult time as well. Happy Anniversary to Federal Protective Service

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to wish a happy 50th anniversary to the Federal Protective Service. I thank the 1,400 members of FPS, the men and women who protect the more than 9,500 Federal facilities, and the 1.4 million employees who work in those buildings on a daily basis. All too often, you only gain attention when tragedy strikes, whether it is the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing or, just last year, bravely defending the Federal courthouse in Portland. I wish to remind Americans that it is every day that they are there holding the line. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to tell you we are thankful and we are appreciative of their service, and their commitment to keeping our Nation safe. Mr. Speaker, I thank the members of the FPS and I wish them a happy 50th anniversary.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Speaker, another hero laid to rest here in Arlington Cemetery. I know this place well. Some of my dearest friends are here. This is a place for America's best. It is not just that these men and women are heroes, of course they are, it is that they are our best. And in my experience, we always seem to lose the best of us. Brian lived with purpose. He lived asking what he could do for his country, for his community, and small animals. Sandra tells me he was the type of guy that would get out of the car and run across the parking lot to move a small turtle to safety. He was a real man, because real men are comfortable owning two small Dachshunds, as Brian did. I am not saying that just because I also have two small Dachshunds, I am saying it because it's true. Real men don't need to prove anything with big dogs. Everyone has purpose in this life, I firmly believe that. You're here for a reason. But not enough of us act as if that is true. Brian did. He lived for his family, his mother, Gladys, his father, Charles, his brothers, Ken and Craig, and his girlfriend, Sandra. He joined the Air Force with a mission to serve our nation's defense. He lived for others. After he was injured on January 6th he spent his last remaining hours texting fellow officers and checking in on them. People needed Brian, because he was a good man, because he was one of our best. There is another common thread that links those buried here at Arlington with Brian. These are protectors. These are the men and women that stand in the breach. That gap between the helpless and the aggressor, between right and wrong, between good and evil. Many like to think they too could stand in that gap, but they'd be wrong. So many these days think they know better, think they could do it better, and they'll be the first to tell you so. But this job is not for the weak and loud, it is for the strong and silent. It is for the brave, those like Brian that quietly and professionally carry out their duty. Because that gap that they stand in isn't always so clear. It's messy. It's complicated. It's not always obvious what is right and what is wrong, who the victims are, or who is good or bad. And so, we take our best, and we say go forth and stand in the breach and figure it out. Be there to make those split-second choices so that we don't have to. Be there to keep our families safe so that we don't have to. Go overseas and make sure the enemy doesn't come here so that we don't have to. You be there, and the rest of us will be here waiting, to judge you and second guess you. We ask them to do the impossible, we don't even ask that nicely, and they do it with pride and with honor. If I may be so bold as to guess what Brian might have asked of us. I think that he, and the heroes buried here with him, might simply ask us all to be better. I think they appreciate our gratitude and our deference to their memory, but I think most of all they just want us to be better. And I don't mean trying to make others better, or even our country better. I mean I think they want us to start with ourselves. To make ourselves better. Because that is in fact the hard work. He might ask us to ask ourselves what went so wrong--in our country and in our hearts--that fellow Americans did what they did to Brian on that day. He might ask us to reflect for a moment before we lash out at each other, before we blame, before we chastise, before we judge, before we lose patience. He might ask us to recall that the greatness of the American spirit lies in a sense of responsibility, of accountability, and perhaps a bit of appreciation for freedom. Being better means decency. It means citizenship. Living with the duty that Brian exemplified. It means running toward danger not because there is glory in doing so but because you must. It means trying to live up to the memory of the heroes buried here, to be worthy of their sacrifice. This past year has been a low point, no doubt, but it is men like Brian that remind us of the grit and tenacity and good character that America was built on. He may not be with us anymore, but if we are to honor him then we should do so by using his memory as a reminder of what this country can be. A reminder that there are indeed more like him. A reminder that the bravery and love inside of Brian Sicknick is not peculiar to him, but part of the American DNA. A reminder that our duty is to make these heroes proud, prove to them that their sacrifice was for a country worth sacrificing for. That we are a people worth sacrificing for. With men like Brian standing in the gap, it is hard to imagine that we are not. This is still the greatest country on earth. This is still the great American experiment that has done more good for mankind than any other civilization in history. We will not forget that fact just because times are hard. We will persevere and strive to be better and do justice to the memory of those buried here. May Officer Brian Sicknick rest easy here on these hallowed grounds. He is in good company. He has undoubtedly earned his place here amongst America's best. God bless him. God bless this great country. Never Forget.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 12, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 13, and ``nay'' on rollcall No. 14.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to unequivocally condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the actions of the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. Just last week, referring to her obstruction of bipartisan targeted relief bills that we could have voted on on this floor, she said: ``Don't characterize what we did before as a mistake. . . . That was not a mistake; it was a decision.'' When asked what had changed, why she is finally coming to the table on COVID relief, her response was simple: A new President. We have known for months that Speaker Pelosi was holding the American people hostage for political gain. I have said it; my colleagues have said it. While Americans suffered under unscientific, foolish lockdowns, Pelosi withheld relief for political purposes--not policy purposes, but political purposes. But we now have a full admission. She said the quiet part out loud. This was never about what was best for the American people, never about honest policy disagreement. It was about preventing President Trump from getting any credit. It was about politics. Speaker Pelosi made a simple calculation. She bet that, if she could keep Congress from reaching a deal on COVID relief, that would hurt President Trump and Republicans and give her more power. Even when Members of her own party asked her to bring commonsense, standalone bipartisan relief measures to the House floor that would easily become law, she refused. She would say over and over again that nothing is better than something. She was being honest. She honestly believed that nothing was better than something. But better for who? Not for the American people, that is for sure. She believed that nothing was better than something for her and her party. It is hard to imagine a more awful and heartless strategy. What is worse, Speaker Pelosi does all of this while people in her home State suffer from unscientific, unconstitutional lockdowns that Democrat leaders in California are forcing upon their citizens. These lockdowns are not based in science, never have been. Study after study shows they yield little, if any, benefits, but they impose extreme costs on the small businesses suffering under them. Do you know what else? The Democrat leaders making these executive orders, they know this, too, because they are violating their own guidelines. The Speaker of the House couldn't even let a pesky little lockdown get in the way of a haircut appointment, even though those same lockdowns destroy the lives of her constituents. We have all seen the heartbreaking video of Angela Marsden, the owner of the Pineapple Hill Saloon and Grill in Los Angeles. Everyone should have to watch that testimony, as Democrats shut down her outdoor-- outdoor--dining while a Hollywood studio sets up shop right next door. She represents millions of Americans suffering who have taken note of the hypocrisy of these lockdowns, of the double standards as big businesses can operate freely while small businesses are shamed into submission and told, wrongly, that they are the ones who must sacrifice to slow the spread, that the demise of the business they spent their whole lives building is the price to pay because ``if it just saves one life.'' But this is unscientific nonsense and we all know it. Study after study shows outdoor dining is safe, that outbreaks are not occurring because of our small businesses: our gyms, our restaurants, our salons. And yet these small businesses are in the crosshairs of the cowardly politicians across the country. This madness has to stop. This arbitrary application of executive orders is deeply, deeply unconstitutional. Justice Gorsuch recently stated: ``There is no world in which the Constitution tolerates color-coded executive edicts that reopen liquor stores and bike shops, but shutter churches, synagogues, and mosques.'' Americans have had enough. It is time to stand up against the hypocrisy of these so-called leaders deliberately harming the citizens they claim to represent and to condemn the deeply partisan actions of the Speaker of this House.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of my bill, H.R. 5804. Human trafficking is modern-day slavery. It is one of the most heinous crimes imaginable. It deprives its victims of their inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. While DHS and the Department of Justice are the lead Federal agencies in the fight against trafficking, State and local law enforcement frequently encounter victims and their traffickers. Individuals and employees of certain industries, such as medical professionals, educators, and airline employees, among others, are also more likely to encounter victims and need to know how to identify and respond to them. This is where the Blue Campaign has come in to fill an important gap. ``Blue Campaign is a national public awareness campaign, designed to educate the public, law enforcement, and other industry partners to recognize the indicators of human trafficking, and how to appropriately respond to possible cases.'' In the 10 years since it began, the Blue Campaign has helped raise awareness of trafficking. Materials developed by the Blue Campaign have helped individuals outside law enforcement recognize the signs of trafficking and helped those at risk of being trafficked. It has fostered communication and partnerships between industry, law enforcement, and nongovernmental organizations. My bill, H.R. 5804, the DHS Blue Campaign Enhancement Act, amends the Homeland Security Act to expand the reach of the Blue Campaign through the use of online educational videos and the creation of a Blue Campaign Advisory Committee within DHS to provide support and guidance for future development, training, and outreach. It expands on the great work of the Blue Campaign and the fight against human trafficking. It is another step toward ending the cruel and inhumane exploitation by traffickers and rescuing those caught in its grasp. I appreciate my colleagues' support of this bill.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Kenneth L. Mattox upon his retirement from public service at Harris Health System's Ben Taub Hospital after 31 years as its Chief of Staff, having proudly served the sick and injured people of Harris County, Texas for nearly 60 years, as a medical student, resident, surgeon and faculty member of Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Kenneth L. Mattox is responsible for much of what Ben Taub Hospital is known for today, including being one of only two elite Level I Trauma Centers serving the adult population of Harris County, with an emphasis on serving its most vulnerable residents. As a faculty instructor, he was crucial in training both the present and future generations of surgeons serving southeast Texas and beyond, especially surgeons from the military branch who trained through the Joint Trauma Training Center established and operated at Ben Taub Hospital by the U.S. Department of Defense from 1998 to 2000. Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure to recognize the culmination of a stellar career. I ask all of my distinguished colleagues to join me in recognizing his service to the community and people of Houston and Harris County, Texas.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this bill, which is unfortunate because it doesn't have to be this way. There is actually a lot of agreement on much of this bill. Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised when I read it, and if we voted on this section by section, I believe there are some areas where there would be an overwhelming bipartisan majority for some necessary and crucial reforms. There are other parts where, if we just worked together and made some changes, we would likely get to yes on a lot of these. But as it stands now, it doesn't directly defund the police, but it certainly will result in less policing. Needless to say, that hurts the communities we are trying to help the most. There isn't a community meeting out there that is asking for less police. Minority neighborhoods or high crime neighborhoods want more police. Now, they want better policing, but they want more of it. In the Senate, Democrats wouldn't even debate Senator Scott's bill. Here in the House, Democrats won't let Republicans offer a single amendment. What reason could the majority possibly have for refusing to work with us? When Americans are demanding that we work together toward common goals, why won't Democrats do so? This is sad, cynical politics. The Speaker of the House would rather call Republicans murderers than work with us on solutions. But it was never really about police reform. The majority's eyes and actions are fixed on November, not police reform. It is not too late. I urge my colleagues to do the right thing and work with us to send a bill that the President will sign.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Speaker, I rise with deep sadness to mourn the loss of Gregory Thompson, who passed away on Tuesday, May 19, 2020 in Woodbridge, Virginia. Gregory sadly joins countless Americans who fell victim to the COVID- 19 pandemic. At just 56 years old, his full life was cut far too short. Gregory served our country in the United States Air Force and was a Security Officer at the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C. for more than 15 years. A self-made man, Gregory was the owner of Made to Measure, a custom tailor clothing business that he owned with his partner Howard Wallace. That's how I knew Gregory. Gregory was kind, warm, and I always enjoyed our time together. Gregory always took on the difficult task of making me look my best with a smile, and I am grateful that I had such a talented craftsman to take care of me during my first year in Washington. But much more than a tailor, Gregory was a father to Giovanni and a brother to Elizabeth, Veneda, Michael, and Walter. He was a cherished friend and beloved family member to many, all of whom are grieving this profound loss. I ask the whole House to join me as we mourn the loss of Gregory Thompson and offer our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time. Never Forget.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, today's theatrics are shocking. Thirty-five million jobs are lost. Businesses and livelihoods are ruined. While American grocers, nurses, and workers kept America going, Democrats kept Congress in hiding for the past 3 weeks. Hiding is fear; it is not leadership. When we finally reconvened, we get this--Politico summed it up best: ``Neither this bill nor anything resembling it will ever become law--it is a Democratic wish list filled up with all the party's favored policies.'' Is this a joke? Because it certainly isn't based on reality. Reality would be working here for the last 3 weeks, examining each problem our Nation faces, and working together to find the best solutions. That shouldn't be all that difficult since, I would presume, we still have the same goal: mitigate the virus and save our economy and society. Right? That is still our goal, isn't it? If it is, then stop playing games. Mr. Speaker, $3 trillion of virtue signaling to your base is no way to govern in the midst of a crisis, and you know it.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Madam Speaker, I rise today where we should have been a week ago when the Treasury warned us that the small business program needed refunding. It is a program we already authorized. It is a program that Americans need desperately to keep their payrolls whole during this crisis. But, in predictable fashion, it was delayed. My colleagues will claim victory for this delay, claiming ``wins'' for additional funding. But they know that this vote today could have easily been agreed to last week. We are asking our grocers to stock our shelves, truckers to drive, and nurses and doctors to risk their lives, but Congress can't even bother to vote to help small businesses in time. In fact, many want to vote from home or by proxy. If you think that is leadership, then I would encourage you to rethink what it means to be a Representative. Leadership is courage to lead from the front. It is steadfast judgment free from cynical opportunism. Leadership means acting worthy of the people we represent. If we are to survive this historic crisis, we might collectively stiffen our spines and demonstrate to the American people what that looks like.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, businesses large and small, through no fault of their own, are failing. We told them to shut down and workers are losing their jobs. Let me clear something up for everyone. A loss of a job is a loss of a job whether from a large business or a small business, and it is devastating for families. Americans need help. Thankfully, this bill covers it all, from direct aid to accelerated loans. But when every day counts in a crisis, this bill was delayed by Democrats unnecessarily for a totally unrelated progressive wish list. I don't get mad, but this made me mad. And, in the end, the final bill today is barely different than last weekend, and the Record will show that. But we have it now, and we should pass it now. It will soften the upcoming hardship. But we must not be complacent, for we have more difficult decisions ahead: How will we balance the opening of society with the pandemic? It is a tough question, and we won't be able to answer that question if the antics of this week continue. The country will move forward together as Americans, not as petty, opportunistic partisans.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 1494, the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Homeland Security Partnerships Act. H.R. 1494 seeks to increase partnerships and opportunities between historically Black colleges and universities, or HBCUs, and the Department of Homeland Security. The bill requires DHS to develop a departmentwide strategy to enhance partnerships with HBCUs and minority-serving institutions and seeks to further such partnerships, specifically in relation to the research and development activities of DHS. I applaud my colleague, the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, for his efforts to bring this bill forward. I think this is an important undertaking that will improve the work of DHS. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CRENSHAW

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of S. 2107, the Protecting America's Food and Agriculture Act of 2019. As we know, much of the food and agricultural goods we consume come from all over the world, whether it be fruit, vegetables, herbs, or cut flowers. As food and other agricultural goods arrive at our ports of entry, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agricultural specialists have a tremendous responsibility. They inspect those products to safeguard the U.S. food supply, the economy, and agriculture from potentially harmful or dangerous pests, pathogens, invasive plants, and agroterrorism. CBP has advised Congress that there are hundreds of agriculture- related position vacancies at the agency on top of thousands of Border Patrol, customs officer, and other law enforcement vacancies. S. 2107 encourages CBP to hire, train, and assign agriculture specialists and associated support staff, technicians, and K-9 teams, and authorizes appropriations to do so. The bill requires CBP to consider quantifiable inspection data, seasonal surge volumes, and projected changes in commercial forecasts at each port of entry when determining staffing needs. The bill also directs the Comptroller General to conduct a review of Federal efforts to address risks to the agricultural supply that analyzes interagency coordination, effectiveness of inspections, and training and working conditions. While I support this bill, I also encourage my colleagues to work across the aisle to provide CBP with the resources necessary to fill all of their sensitive position vacancies, including those at Border Patrol. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support S. 2107, and I reserve the balance of my time.