Ted Deutch

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the National League of Cities' (NLC's) Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Local Officials (LGBTLO) constituency group for their continuing service furthering the rights of the LGBTQ community. The LGBTLO constituency group advocates for the inclusion and full participation of LGBTQ municipal officials, and supporters, in the National League of Cities. Established in December 1993 by a group of municipal officials attending the Congress of Cities in Orlando, Florida, LGBTLO became a constituency group of NLC under the leadership of Councilmember Sherry Harris from Seattle, Washington. The members of NLC LGBTLO work to encourage equality, inclusiveness and non-discrimination, and have focused on several issues including: the Census, the HIV/ AIDS pandemic, both as a public health and a health care funding issue; domestic partnership policies and legislation; and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. I ask that my colleagues join me today in congratulating the current LGBTLO leadership: Vice Mayor Tom Green (Wilton Manors, FL), Mayor Jeffrey Slavin (Somerset, MD), Councilmember Victor Aguilar, Jr. (San Leandro, CA), Commissioner Andy Amoroso (Lake Worth, FL), Councilmember Chris Clark (Mountain View, CA), Commissioner Tim Lonergan (Oakland Park, FL, Councilmember Ty Stober (Vancouver, WA) and Councilmember Nancy VanReece (Nashville, TN) for their hard work and dedication to promoting equality for all and ensuring the voice of the LGBTQ community is included in municipal discussions.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Friendship Cafe, a restaurant created by the nonprofit The Friendship Circle of Fort Lauderdale. This cafe uplifts adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities by providing them with jobs and employment training in the food service, hospitality and customer service industry. According to the Department of Labor 80 percent of adults with disabilities do not enter the workforce due to various barriers to employment. The Friendship Cafe aims to lower that percentage by fulfilling a vital role in Fort Lauderdale as a safe, secure, and educational environment where adults with disabilities can earn a living wage. The cafe will serve a Mediterranean inspired menu curated by world renowned Israeli chef Yoram Getter. Bill Fienberg, the President of Allied Kitchen and Bath, donated his firm's labor and materials to build the cafe, International decorator Perla Lichi of Perla Lichi Designs helped the cafe complete their image with a French inspired interior design. Due to the leadership at the Las Olas Chabad Jewish Center and their support and partnership with the Friendship Circle adults with disabilities in Fort Lauderdale are now provided with resources to help them succeed in finding employment. Please join me in congratulating the Friendship Circle and their community partners on the opening of the Friendship Cafe.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this War Powers Resolution, and I thank my colleague from Michigan, Representative Slotkin, for leading this effort today to assert Congress' rightful authority and to defend our solemn constitutional duty. None of us want to see our brave men and women sent into another war. To be clear, this vote is not about telling the administration that the President can't defend this country. My colleagues know that. They understand it. I strongly reject any implication that somehow, by supporting this resolution, we don't take our national security and the safety of our servicemembers seriously. To the contrary, nothing we do today limits the ability to respond to a real and imminent threat or defend this country and our interests. To assert so is simply false and it is reckless. Today, we are telling the President that, if there is a serious threat to the United States, our national security requires that a solemn decision is made to engage U.S. Forces, and the elected representatives of this body, of the American people, need to have that case made to them.

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, Congress needs to have a robust debate about any authorization for the use of military force. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.'' I urge my colleagues to uphold the Constitution.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Madam Speaker, despite the new provisions intended to protect working families and support various industries in the USMCA, there is one very important group that has been left behind--authors, artists, and other creators. America's arts and entertainment industry is an important economic engine, with motion pictures and television alone accounting for $17.2 billion in annual U.S. exports, representing 2.5 times the level of imports. It's also an important medium to share and celebrate American history, values and culture with the world, to lift up overlooked stories, and to bring us together. So, it is unfortunate that the USMCA includes a provision that makes it harder for working families in this industry to make a fair return on their work. That provision is Article 20.89 (Legal Remedies and Safe Harbors). Article 20.89 (Legal Remedies and Safe Harbors) should be excluded from future trade deals. It potentially allows online service providers to profit from copyright infringement to which they turn a blind eye. Article 20.89 is styled after Section 512 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) known as the copyright safe harbor provision. Section 512 of DMCA became law in 1998, and to some, it seemed a good idea at the time--a way to help an infant industry grow. But after several bad court cases and technological advances, Section 512 minimizes the responsibility of the big internet platforms to cooperate with rights holders to protect their livelihoods. That infant industry is now one of the world's biggest. And Section 512 undermines creative professionals instead of supporting them and enriches the big internet platforms at the expense of competitors who do not enjoy the same loophole. Today, the web consists of more than 6 billion pages, and on a high- speed connection, it takes less than a minute to download a high definition movie. Illegal streaming, illegal downloading, and other forms of online piracy cost an estimated $29.2 billion and $71.0 billion annually to the U.S. economy. Our trade agreements should help us combat international copyright theft instead of locking in a giant loophole that tilts the playing field against creative professionals. Section 512 has been under review by the Copyright Office since 2015, with a report expected soon. Congress should insist that Section 512-style rules should be omitted from future trade deals.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, some say this impeachment is about eight lines in a call transcript, but there is so much more. This was about a scheme that lasted months and involved dozens of Trump administration officials. Look at the evidence, look at the direct evidence: text messages, emails, calls, and meetings. Way back in May, the President told his team: ``Talk to Rudy'' Giuliani. The President's message? No White House meeting unless Ukraine helped him in the 2020 election. Ambassador Sondland said there was a ``prerequisite of investigations'' into the Bidens and announcement of investigations was a ``deliverable.'' Ambassador Volker said the most important thing for the Ukrainian President to do was commit to an investigation of the Bidens. Just before the July 25 call, Volker told the Ukrainians: ``Assuming President Z convinces Trump he will investigate . . . we will nail down date for visit to Washington.'' The direct evidence kept coming after the call, more texts, more emails, and more calls, all with the same message: If Ukraine didn't announce an investigation into the President's political rival, then they wouldn't get the White House meeting that they had been promised, and they wouldn't get the aid that they needed in their war against Russia. American Presidential power comes from the people through elections. The Constitution requires that we protect those elections. But when the President abused his power to solicit foreign interference, he was cheating American voters before they even had a chance to vote. Mr. Speaker, President Trump's actions force us to protect our elections and the Constitution. I urge my colleagues to defend the Constitution, support these Articles of Impeachment, and remind the world that, in America, no one is above the law.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Wayne and Julie Huthmaker of Clearly Loved Pets and Gloria Duran and Shuky Conroyd of Boca Kitchens & Baths. These two small businesses have been selected as this year's SCORE of South Palm Beach Small Businesses of the Year. SCORE is a nationwide nonprofit organization dedicated to helping small business get started, grow, and achieve their goals. They provide free mentoring and tools and offer workshops on vital business issues. The South Palm Beach Chapter has twice been voted the No. 1 Chapter in America. Clearly Loved Pets has created a patent-pending clear enclosure for pets designed to decrease stress and improve aesthetics in your home. Boca Kitchens & Baths is a full interior design-build team that offers numerous professional services and designs. These two businesses represent the myriad of high-quality products and services provided by small businesses in our community. Please join me in congratulating Clearly Loved Pets and Boca Kitchens & Baths on their success and well-deserved recognitions.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Engel, and I rise in support of a resolution that speaks to a two-state solution that enhances the security and stability of Israel, a two-state solution that recognizes the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for a state of their own and one that will come about only through the direct negotiations of Israelis and Palestinians. The words in this resolution matter. The words that reaffirm that it is in the national interest to continue to stand by our ironclad commitments under the MOU, which seeks to help Israel defend itself against a wide range of threats, is a critical statement at this moment in our Nation's history. Those are the words that are the language of this resolution. That is why I support it.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4018) to provide that the amount of time that an elderly offender must serve before being eligible for placement in home detention is to be reduced by the amount of good time credits earned by the prisoner, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4018 is a modest, but important, bill that I introduced with Ranking Member Collins to address an inadvertent drafting error in the Second Chance Act, one that has prevented elderly offenders who qualify for early release under a pilot program for compassionate release from receiving credit for the good conduct time they have accrued while in custody. Our Nation's Federal prison population is rapidly aging. Of the 1.5 million adults currently in State and Federal prisons, there has been a 300 percent spike in the elderly population since 1999. By 2050, it is estimated that one-third of the prison population of the United States will be over age 50. Today more people die of old age in U.S. prisons than ever before, and from 2001 to 2007 alone, nearly 8,500 people over age 55 died behind bars. The Federal prisoner reentry initiative, a pilot program created under the Second Chance Act, allows offenders who are elderly and have served at least two-thirds of their sentence to petition for release from prison and to serve their remaining term of imprisonment in a halfway house. This program is not only humane, it is fiscally responsible. The increasing number of elderly prisoners is leading to soaring costs for the Bureau of Prisons. With a more elderly prisoner population, prison infrastructure must be outfitted or equipped to accommodate the unique needs of elderly prisoners. Prisons need to be outfitted with ramps, lower bed heights, bunk beds eliminated, handrails installed in showers, and other structural changes. Also, prison staff need to be trained to work with elderly prisoners and move elderly prisoners around the facilities. We imprison too many elderly inmates unnecessarily for far too long, and the data reveals that the recidivism rate is reduced dramatically as the population ages. Good conduct time is provided to all prisoners who have satisfactory behavior in the Bureau of Prisons. A prisoner can earn 54 days of good conduct time or days off their sentence per year, however, due to an inadvertent error in the Federal prisoner reentry initiative, elderly inmates are not permitted to receive credit for good conduct. Elderly inmates, who otherwise have satisfactory behavior, should not lose the good conduct time they have earned solely as a result of this drafting error. Such an unjust result was not the intent of Congress when drafting the Second Chance Act, as the intent behind this compassionate program is to release a vulnerable population from prison when they present little risk to their communities. H.R. 4018 would correct this problem, and therefore, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Cline, Chairman Nadler, Ranking Member Collins, and Mr. Jeffries for their leadership on this effort. Mr. Speaker, the process for earning time off for good conduct in prison is important as a matter of fairness and also effective prison administration. Individuals who earn good conduct time should not lose credit for this time because of an error in a statute, and elderly, nonviolent offenders should receive credit for the time they have earned. Therefore, H.R. 4018 is required to address an unfortunate, inadvertent error. I am glad that it will. I appreciate the support, and for all of these reasons I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this good, bipartisan bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of our country's veterans on the 81st observance of Veterans Day as a national holiday and the 101st anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I. I would specifically like to recognize the Vinkemulder family. Philip C. Vinkemulder proudly served in the US Army infantry during WWI. He went on to marry his wife Frances, start a family of 6 sons and 2 daughters, and move to the area known today as Coconut Creek, Florida. Following their father, all six of the Vinkemulder sons served honorably in the U.S. military when their time came. I thank Phil, Paul, Bob, Neal, Gordon, and Dale, for their service to our country. Several members of the Vinkemulder family will dedicate trees planted in Veteran's Park in their honor. I would also like to recognize the seven veterans who participated in the Honor Flights this year. Bernard Hurowitz, Navy, WWII. John DeChant, Marines, Vietnam. Stanley Hirsch, Navy, Korea. George Waldspurger, Air Force, Vietnam. Martin Pines, Army, Korea. Stephen Del Gaudio, Army, Korea. Angelo Campione, Army Air Corps, WWII. I thank them all for their service. As a country, we are eternally grateful for all our active duty troops and veterans who sacrificed everything for our freedoms. Please join me in recognizing the Honor Flight Veterans, the Vinkemulder Family, and all veterans on this holiday.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Atlantic Technical High School of Coconut Creek, Florida as a 2019 National Blue Ribbon School. Atlantic Technical was recognized as an exemplary high performing school by the Department of Education. At Atlantic Technical, the use of technology is incorporated into every aspect of education. Small class sizes and encouraging teachers embrace personalization among students. As upperclassmen, students can also select from a wide array of technical programs and even receive college credits. Atlantic Technical has been rated an ``A'' school for the past eight years. It also had the honor of being recognized by The Washington Post as one of ``America's Most Challenging High Schools.'' The school's credentials surpass Florida's state academic requirements and its unique design enables students to immerse themselves in a rigorous learning environment that encourages them to pursue their interests. I ask that my colleagues today join me in thanking Director Robert Crawford and the staff at Atlantic Technical High School for the amazing work they have done over the years to educate, as well as the student body for striving to be next generation of movers and shakers in the community.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor 30 years of exemplary service to South Florida by Camp Live Oak and its Founder, Ken Evans. Under Ken's direction, Camp Live Oak has been a leader in children's environmental education since 1989. As the only American Camp Association accredited camp in Broward County since 1990, Camp Live Oak believes that every child is gifted and designs a challenging curriculum to keep young minds sharp during school breaks. It employs certified Broward County teachers to help instill a sense of environmental stewardship in its campers through beach cleanups, sea turtle education, native plantings, , and recycling initiatives. Beyond the valuable services it provides to its campers, Camp Live Oak continues to provide direct benefits to the local economy and the environment. It draws employees and families from around the world, ensuring more dollars are spent at businesses in our community. In this role, Camp Live Oak has also been instrumental in the revitalization and preservation of Hugh Taylor Birch State Park by bringing awareness, funds, and families to the park for the last 30 years. I ask that my colleagues join me in thanking Ken Evans and Camp Live Oak for the amazing work they have done over the years to educate the public and to help our environment.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 724) to revise section 48 of title 18, United States Code, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 724, the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act, or the PACT Act. I give special thanks to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Buchanan), my colleague. He is a longstanding friend of animals in Congress, and I am thrilled that he agreed to introduce this bill with me to create a Federal law punishing those who abuse animals. I also would like to acknowledge Congressman Holding and the hard work by groups like the Humane Society and Humane Rescue Alliance, who have helped collect 290 bipartisan cosponsors for this bill. There are so many groups and people from across the country who have supported this bill--people like Lisa Vanderpump, who added her passion and commitment to animals to our effort, and groups who rescue animals, literally, in every corner of our country every single day. I would also acknowledge and thank one person in particular, Mr. Speaker--a high school student, one who is so committed to helping animals, caring for animals, that when she learned about the PACT Act, she started an online petition hoping to collect a few thousand signatures. That petition urging Congress to pass this bill gathered over 729,000 signers. And I am thrilled that that young activist, Sydney Helfand, is with us in the gallery today. Now, of all the divisive issues here in Washington, the PACT Act is one on which we can all agree, we must make animal abuse a Federal crime. This bill has received so much bipartisan support, because Americans care about animal welfare. We form deep relationships with our companion animals and are rightfully outraged by cases of animal abuse. Animal rights activities stand up for living things that do not have a voice. That is what the PACT Act does. Americans expect their law enforcement agencies to crack down on this horrific violence against animals, and law enforcement officers agree, which is why the PACT Act has been endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Sheriffs' Association, the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, and local law enforcement agencies across the country. They have asked for this Federal law to bolster their efforts to target animal abusers, because they understand the direct link between animal abuse and violent crimes. This link is why the FBI now collects data on acts of cruelty against animals for their criminal database, right alongside felony crimes like assault and homicide. When I first came to Congress, one of the first bills I voted on was the Animal Crush Video Prohibition Act, a bill that passed nearly unanimously and that it made it a crime to create or distribute animal crush videos, which depict horrific acts against animals. This bill today takes the next logical step and criminalizes those acts underlying that crime as well. The Senate passed the PACT Act by unanimous consent in the last two Congresses, and I am proud the House is finally doing its part to pass this important legislation. Today, anyone who inflicts serious bodily injury on animals will be committing an act for which they should be condemned. When the PACT Act passes, they will also be violating Federal law. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the PACT Act, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Iowa (Mrs. Axne).

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer), the chairman of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, an original cosponsor of the PACT Act, and a great voice for animals and animal rights.

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Stevens).

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, we should do everything we can to prevent the torture of animals and take steps to hold accountable those who would engage in such horrific acts. The PACT Act is a significant Federal measure to help put an end to the abuse of animals. I am thankful to be on the House floor at this incredibly gratifying bipartisan moment, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bipartisan bill. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge every companion animal that has brought love to my staff members since the PACT Act was first introduced. Those would be Thomas Jefferson, Desi, Stella, Dock, Bubba, Maple, Hazel, Cheech, Ollie, Frodo, Theo, Johnson Tiki, Tankford, Littleman, Natale, Enzo, Dino, Virgil, Rooney, Maybeline, Prudence, Peppermint, Nazca, Poseidon, Gus, Sansa, Tony, Dwyane Wade, and my dearly departed Jessie. For all of them and for every animal who brings joy to everyone in this Chamber, let's do our part to prevent animal cruelty and torture, and let's pass the PACT Act. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the work of the ministers, pastors, and priests in my district for Clergy Appreciation Day. Also known as National Pastor Day, this annual celebration falls on the second Sunday of each October. On this day, congregations around the country recognize the clergy and take up special offerings to bless them. Members of the clergy provide their congregations spiritual guidance with words of wisdom, healing, and inspiration. But they also serve their larger communities, especially those of us who find ourselves most in need. It is an honor to recognize their leadership in promoting our shared values of love, service, and community. I ask that all my colleagues join me today in thanking the members of the clergy in your districts for the selfless work they do. I look forward to continuing to work together with the clergy in my district to improve the lives of everyone in our community.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of my mother-in-law, Saragale Weinstock, on the occasion of her 80th birthday. Saragale lives with her husband Frank in Boca Raton and is an incredibly loving wife, mother of three, and grandmother of nine. Saragale was born October 12, 1939 in Chicago, IL to Cele and Dr. Samuel Reinglass. She was raised in Canton, OH and later went on to study at the University of Michigan for two years and graduated from Indiana University. After graduating college, she met Frank Weinstock at University Hospitals, in Cleveland, and the two married in 1962. Since then, they have enjoyed a beautiful 57 years together and raised their children Michael, Jill, and Jeffrey. The family has had the opportunity to travel the world and spend over thirty Summer vacations in Chautauqua, NY with four generations of family. Saragale loves spending time with her family and her friends at Boca Pointe. We join in wishing ``Happy Birthday'' to my wonderful mother-in-law Saragale. We also wish her and her family the best in health and happiness on this special day and moving forward.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Madam Chair, I thank my friend from Rhode Island, a great champion for consumers, for yielding. Madam Chair, I rise in support of the FAIR Act to protect Americans from forced arbitration agreements. These agreements, too often, are the result of power imbalances that block claims from judicial remedies in employment, consumer, antitrust, and civil rights disputes. The FAIR Act is critical for protecting the rights of women, in particular, who have faced gender discrimination and sexual harassment in the workplace. We have all heard the disturbing reports of tens of thousands of women employed at one large company who alleged that they were paid less than their male colleagues. They were passed over for promotions to management positions multiple times in favor of men with less experience. They faced unwanted sexual advances and attempted assault at company meetings. At least one Floridian was fired after she reported one of her superiors tried to kiss and touch her against her will. Employees who face mistreatment deserve justice and they deserve their day in court. Making forced arbitration a condition of employment takes away their day in court and it frustrates the pursuit of justice.