Ted Deutch

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the work of NephCure Kidney International. Roughly 31 million Americans live with kidney disease, and 3 in every 100,000 people suffer from nephrotic syndrome. Nephrotic syndrome is not a disease itself; rather, it is an umbrella term for the signs and symptoms that result from damage in the kidneys' filtering units. NephCure Kidney International is the only organization committed exclusively to supporting research into finding the cause of the kidney disease focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, or FSGS, and nephrotic syndrome. I am proud of the work of this organization and their leaader, Dr. Irving Smokler, NephCure's president and founder and a constituent of mine. In 1999, Dr. Smokler launched the NephCure Foundation, inspired by his son, Matthew, who was diagnosed with FSGS when he was just 11 years old. Dr. Smokler has since dedicated himself to the fulfillment of the foundation's mission: to find the cause of and cure for FSGS and nephrotic syndrome. Mr. Speaker, today I call on all of our colleagues to recognize and support the goals of this important organization and to support robust funding for research at NIH to help find a cure for FSGS and nephrotic syndrome.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in recognition of Melody Herzfeld from Parkland, Florida, for being named the fourth recipient of The Tony Awards and Carnegie Mellon University's Excellence in Theater Education Award. Under her guidance, her students have been able to turn to music and theatre to combat the tragedy that they suffered. Ms. Herzfeld is the director of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Drama Department, where she has been teaching drama since 2003. In that time, she has been responsible for putting on over 50 productions. Her theatre program, Children's Theatre Project, has received numerous Critics Choice awards and South Florida Cappies, which celebrate excellence in regional student theatre and journalism. On February 14, as the tragic events unfolded at their school, Ms. Herzfeld hid 65 of her students in her office for two hours. Since then, we have seen her students demand their own space on the national stage. While some began to speak out and call for reforms, others turned to theatre and music to make their voices heard. Ms. Herzfeld's students performed their original song titled, ``Shine,'' for national audiences at the CNN Town Hall on February 21 and at the March for Our Lives on March 24. Mr. Speaker, the Excellence in Theater Education Award recognizes a K-12 theatre educator in the U.S. who has demonstrated monumental impact on the lives of students and who embodies the highest standards of the profession. This is why it is no surprise to us that Ms. Herzfeld was selected to receive this award by a panel of judges comprised of the American Theatre Wing, The Broadway League, Carnegie Mellon and other leaders from the theatre industry. Mr. Speaker, today I ask this body to recognize Ms. Herzfeld for her endless dedication to both her students and the arts. Melody Herzfeld represents the kindness and warmth that I see from teachers across the State of Florida. We thank her for her outstanding leadership and guidance during such a difficult time.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to welcome my constituent, Pastor Eddie Bevill, to offer the opening prayer today. Eddie is the founding pastor of Parkridge Church in Coral Springs, Florida, where he has served since 1992. Pastor Bevill's leadership and service has been recognized with tenures on the Florida Baptist State Board of Missions as well as the Gulf Stream Baptist Association Board in Broward County, Florida. He is a pillar of our community. I am honored to welcome him to Washington today. After the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School, our community was gripped by unspeakable pain, confusion, frustration, and anger. In the moments, days, and months since, Pastor Bevill has offered a voice of peace, arms of comfort, and a guiding hand to surviving families, students, teachers, and others in our community. At a time when it was so easy to be lost in despair, our community has been so fortunate to have Pastor Bevill lead us toward a place of hope and solace. Pastor Bevill is joined here today by his wife Laura. They have been married since 1988 and have four children. I know that my wife Jill joins me in welcoming Laura today in support of Eddie as he offers today's opening prayer.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Broward Education Foundation and its 2018 scholarship award recipients. The Broward Education Foundation continuously works to engage the broader community to make the Broward County Public School system one of the best in the State of Florida. These men and women have served Broward County with distinction through their efforts, and they have demonstrated a commitment to improving our public schools in South Florida. The Broward Education Foundation helps to provide the students of Broward County with an exceptional education, enabling them to reach their greatest potential. The Foundation provides support for innovative teaching, educational materials for Title I schools, and Fiduciary oversight for community members who join in our educational mission by establishing Foundation agency funds. The Foundation also provides students with scholarships that enable them to pursue higher education. These scholarships are awarded to graduating seniors who have exhausted all other avenues for financial aid, but still fall short of the financial means necessary to attend state or community college, university or vocational school. This year, the Foundation will provide over 200 of these scholarships to Broward County students. Congratulations to all of the 2018 Broward Education Foundation scholarship recipients. Mr. Speaker, I express my deep appreciation for the Broward Education Foundation's work in our community. Their dedication has transformed the lives of students by providing them with the educational tools necessary to achieve. I them for their work and service.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today along with my colleagues, Representative Alcee Hastings, Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Representative Frederica Wilson, to recognize 50 years of service to our Veterans in South Florida. The Miami VA Medical Center, renamed the Bruce W. Carter VA Medical Center in 2008, held its ribbon cutting on May 5, 1968. Originally a 630,000 square foot facility, the facility has nearly doubled in size to care for more than 57,000 Veterans per year in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe Counties. The Miami VA Healthcare System is an accredited comprehensive medical provider, providing general medical, surgical, inpatient and outpatient mental health services. Recognized as a Center of Excellence in Spinal Cord Injury Research and Substance Abuse Treatment, it also houses an AIDS/HIV center, a prosthetic treatment center, spinal cord injury rehabilitative center, chest pain center, and Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC). Additionally, the Miami VA Medical Center was home to the first nursing home in the VA System. Mr. Speaker, as a parent facility, the Bruce W. Carter VA Medical Center supports 8 VA clinics from Key West to Deerfield Beach. These include two major satellite Outpatient Clinics, five Community Based Outpatient Clinics, and four Readjustment Counseling Centers, or Vet Centers. These Miami VA Healthcare System facilities serve our Veterans through their more than 750,000 visits each year. We join together to recognize the Miami VA Healthcare System and its continued service on behalf of our Veterans. We support the Miami VA Healthcare System in its mission to honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and wellness.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate the five outstanding honorees of the 2018 Diversity Honors Gala. The Diversity Honors Gala is an annual event where the community can come together to honor men and women who, in their extraordinary lives, remind us all of the diversity of the human spirit and the values that define us. The gala will benefit the Harvey Milk Foundation and The Pride Center at Equality Park. Mr. Speaker, Dolores Huerta, recipient of the Harvey Milk Foundation Honors Medal, is a preeminent leader of the Latino, Labor, and Women's Civil rights movements and co-founder of the United Farm Workers of America. Emma Gonzalez, recipient of the Harvey Milk Foundation Milan Rozsa Youth Award, is a youth activist and advocate for LGBT rights, gun control, and an international leader for the current generation of students. She is a survivor of the massacre that took the lives of 17 students and faculty at Marjory Stoneman Douglas in Parkland, Florida. Mayor Dean Trantalis of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is the recipient of the Alan Schubert Award of Excellence. Mayor Trantalis has a long track record of public service, beginning with his involvement in the fight for equal rights. In 2012, Florida State Representative David Richardson became the first-elected openly gay state legislator in Florida's history. Mr. Richardson quickly earned the respect of his colleagues for his work on criminal justice and prison reform, sensible gun violence prevention measures, promotion of traditional public schools, and steadfast commitment to civil liberties and equal rights for all. Craig Stevens, a NATAS Silver Circle recipient and Emmy Award winner, is a fixture of the South Florida Community. Craig is active in several charities and organizations. He spent several years as vice-president of the Suncoast Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences where he also chaired a committee that mentored young TV professionals throughout the southeastern United States. Again, congratulations to these outstanding individuals. I look forward to hearing of their continued service activities.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member and the chairman for their leadership. I thank Congressman Jeffries and Congressman Collins for helping to shepherd the bill to this point. It is a pleasure to vote on these much-needed consensus reforms. Consensus on copyright has been difficult. It has been difficult to forge between the various interests represented in the content and the tech communities but, fortunately, we now have consensus. Much of that has been borne out of true necessity, the technological demands of licensing tens of millions of songs and streaming services, and much of it has been borne out of basic fairness. Recording artists, songwriters, producers, and engineers deserve to be paid for their creativity and genius; and digital services deserve more certainty in their operations. The current system is broken. As someone who cares deeply about music and the incredible people who are a part of making it and who understands the importance of the intersection of technology and creative works that benefit all American music fans, I really feel privileged to be part of this process of modernizing our copyright laws. The Music Modernization Act does not include everything that I have supported to bring fairness and 21st- century sophistication to the copyright laws, but it takes big steps forward toward those goals. I am hopeful that, with this bill, it will help to ensure that we all continue to benefit from the amazing artists of yesterday and today and the innovative technologies that bring them into our lives. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Music Modernization Act.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Ranking Member Engel, for his hard work on this bill and for yielding. I thank Chairman Royce as well. I want to thank the many Members of Congress who have shown their unyielding commitment to caring for Holocaust survivors and ensuring that their needs are met, including the cosponsors of this bill, and, of course, the House bill's sponsors, Congressman Crowley and Congressman Smith. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my friend and colleague, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, for her tireless efforts throughout her career on behalf of Holocaust survivors in our community in south Florida and everywhere they live. Two weeks after we marked Yom HaShoah, it is fitting that Congress would consider this bill. I hope that the world is watching, because every year that we move away from the horrible atrocities of the Holocaust, we lose more and more survivors. They are the people who survived Auschwitz, Treblinka, Sobibor, and other Nazi death camps. They are the people who survived the attempted genocide against them. Six million Jews perished. We must remember that every single victim, those who perished and those who survived, had a story. They had homes, they had businesses, family heirlooms, and personal possessions. As the Nazis stormed through Europe to wipe out European Jewry, they stole everything they could as they sent Jews to their death. While no amount of money will ever erase these horrors, these survivors, their families, and their heirs deserve compensation for confiscated property, including Jewish communal, private, and heirless property. In 2009, the United States joined 46 other countries and agreed to the Terezin Declaration on Holocaust Era Assets. This was a commitment by these countries to provide for the restitution of confiscated property. But 9 years later, many European countries have still failed to meet their commitments in this agreement. Some countries still haven't passed legislation to create for private property restitution, and we should call out their failures. As we speak, thousands of survivors are in need of immediate and urgent care and assistance. I am proud to represent a large community of survivors, and I see their critical needs going unmet day after day. This bill can be a tool to help us understand where the gaps lie in restitution programs, but it does not address, nor is it meant to address, the urgent need of survivors now. As they age, their needs grow. It is essential they receive the care they deserve. We must do everything to ensure that those needs are addressed. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Engel and Chairman Royce for their support of this legislation, and I give special thanks to my colleague, Chairman McCaul, for his leadership in recognizing the need to take action. We must work together to stop the brutal Iranian regime's human rights abuses and demand the release of American hostages that Iran is using as pawns for political leverage. I am proud to partner with Mr. McCaul in this effort The Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act sends a clear message to the Iranian regime and to the rest of the world: this Congress, this country will not tolerate the flagrant disregard of the most basic of human rights. My colleagues have explained the merits of this bill, and I know it is difficult for many Americans to imagine, but we are here today to show our resolve in the face of really unbelievable circumstances. For my constituents, the family of Robert Levinson, this is a nightmare that they have lived for 11 years. Bob Levinson is the longest held American hostage in history. He disappeared in Iran on March 9, 2007. Imagine 11 years without your husband or your father. Imagine having grandchildren who have never had the chance to meet their grandfather. Imagine 11 anniversaries, dozens of family birthdays, and holidays that pass by without Bob, just an empty place where Bob should be sitting. Bob's wife, Christine, and his seven children--Susan, Stephanie, Sarah, Dan, David, Samantha, and Doug--have been tireless advocates for their father. They have traveled to Iran themselves looking for answers. They have made the trip to Washington, D.C., countless times to meet with government officials and Members of Congress. They have fought for action all the way to the Oval Office, directly appealing to President Bush, President Obama, and President Trump. They have watched as others have returned home to their families. They have listened with hope as Iran's leaders have promised cooperation. They have been disappointed more times than they can count as promises go unfulfilled year after year after year. Iran has become adept at this cruel game, because that is what it is to this rogue Iranian regime. They say that hostages are not hostages, but these people are not detained under a legal order. They have lost their freedom; they have been separated from their families; and they have been held under shamelessly trumped-up and false charges. Any attempt to show due process or trials has been a sham. To the Levinsons, to the Namazi family, the Zakka family, the Wang family, and the other families whose loved ones are being held, we stand with you. Today, we speak clearly and loudly with one bipartisan voice to send a message that no country, no rogue regime will use American lives as leverage to further a dangerous agenda. This bill isn't about the nuclear deal. Nothing in this deal precludes our continued participation in the JCPOA. But this bill makes clear the importance of closely coordinating with our allies and partners whose citizens have also been held hostage by Iran to apply pressure on the regime. If we are going to counter Iran's abuses, Iran's terrorism, Iran's threats to our troops and our national security interests, we must work in tandem with our partners around the globe. We will stand together against repression and the violation of human rights. We will stand together against religious persecution. We will stand together for the rule of law and democratic values. Taking hostages and violating the most fundamental values that cut to the core of our dignity as human beings is unacceptable to this Congress and to members of the international community. I urge all of my colleagues to stand up to Iran's rogue regime, to stand up for human rights and for the people of Iran, to stand with the Levinsons and the other families whose loved ones are missing from their lives, and to fight for their return home by supporting this bill. Please support H.R. 4744, and together we will stand for basic human rights.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Mr. Joseph Graubart and his efforts investigating and researching cold case homicides. Mr. Graubart has rendered extraordinary service in these efforts, which have helped provide answers to relatives and communities in cases where official action has long ago been terminated. Mr. Graubart, and his team of fellow volunteers, have relentlessly pursued answers, disclosure, and justice. Devoting thousands of hours to the public interest of not allowing homicide cases to be forgotten because they are old, cold, or related to corruption or organized crime. His efforts, lauded by local law enforcement, have shined a bright light on the coordinated efforts of organized crime and the relationship amongst over three dozen cold case homicides. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Joseph Graubart for his efforts in seeking truth and justice on behalf of victims, communities, and our nation.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate ten exemplary men and women from Broward County who will be inducted to the Broward Senior Hall of Fame today. These outstanding citizens are individuals from all walks of life who have contributed greatly to the vibrancy and well-being of South Florida. Several have provided distinguished service on boards of organizations that benefit our communities and make Broward County the outstanding place that it is to live, raise a family, and retire. The twelve distinguished inductees are Lillian Bergstein of North Lauderhill, Bruce A. Blitman of Palm Beach Gardens, Elizabeth Dawson of Coral Springs, Shelly Greenberg of Delray Beach, Ann Harsh of Fort Lauderdale, Council Member Caryl Hattan of Davie, Linda Houston Jones of Pompano Beach, Gary ``Lee'' Lawson of Fort Lauderdale, Julia Ruiz of Deerfield Beach, and Renee Smoley of Weston. Again, congratulations to these outstanding individuals. I wish them the best of luck with their induction and continued service to Broward County. It is with great pleasure that I honor them, and I look forward to hearing of their continued service activities.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the twenty-two outstanding teachers in South Florida who have been awarded the Teacher of the Year award from the Rotary Club of Boca Raton Sunrise. For the past 32 years, the Rotary Club of Boca Raton Sunrise has offered this annual distinction to one teacher at each of the twenty- two schools in the greater Boca Raton area. Each awardee is selected by the school's principal. These teachers have dedicated their time to inspiring, empowering, and bettering the next generation of youth in our community. Their passion in this effort is truly worthy of our recognition. These twenty-two exemplary teachers have made a profound impact on their students through their caring, commitment, and professionalism. They are a cohort defined by integrity, excellence, and the highest marks in all they do. The City of Boca Raton is fortunate to have such outstanding faculty. Congratulations to Chayane Oliveira, Irene Gonedes, Patricia Fusco, Kerry Maione, Jaqua Lewis, Alexandra Mangogna, Meghan Mooney, Melissa Pierce, Thomas Simone, Gary Aronson, Joni Webster, Robyn Jones- Crockett, Deborah Straus, Susan Mallardi, Tara Clair, Josephine Saldana, Mary Shanty, Marcela Mendoza, Kathleen Loeffler, Karen Richards, Stephanie Stiepleman, and Danielle Alarcon on being nominated for this year's teacher of the year award. I am pleased to honor them, and I thank them for their continued service.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, according to a FOX News poll from March 25, 91 percent of voters want background checks on all gun buyers. Another poll from Quinnipiac last November found that 94 percent of owners in gun-owning households support universal background checks. Yet, as the American people ask for stronger gun laws, the majority would rather talk about mental health instead. That is fine, Mr. Speaker. Want to talk about mental health? The vast majority of people with mental illness aren't violent and are more likely to be the victims of violence than the perpetrators. And more than half of the Americans who need mental healthcare don't get it. We have a mental health access crisis in this country, and gun violence is only a heartbreaking sliver of that problem. Merely 43 percent of psychiatrists accept Medicaid, compared with 73 percent of other physicians. But what does this have to do with the balanced budget amendment we are voting on today? Mr. Speaker, this amendment is an attempt to tie our hands, an attempt to force us to dismantle programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. It would force cutting benefits, reducing coverage, slashing payments, or all of the above. The most vulnerable Americans rely on these programs for a secure retirement, to stay healthy, and to make ends meet when a breadwinner is disabled or dies. And Medicaid is the single largest payer for mental health services, meaning that forcing constitutionally required cuts on Medicaid will plunge our mental healthcare system into even further disarray. This amendment is just the latest example of mental health hypocrisy of the Republican caucus. It is a standard page out of the shameful GOP playbook whenever there is a mass shooting. Step 1: Talk exclusively about mental health until people stop paying attention. Step 2: Undercut and jeopardize access to mental health services, making the problem worse. I am not going to let this Congress stop paying attention. I refuse to let my Republican colleagues use those who need mental healthcare as excuses and scapegoats. And if Congress can't move forward with a policy supported by more than 90 percent of voters, something is wrong. Congress isn't representing the people. It is representing the bottom line of corporations that sell guns. If we want to amend our Constitution, let's amend it to get money out of politics. Let's stop gun corporations from flooding our elections with money to protect their profits. Let's overturn Citizens United. Let's give the voices of the American people more power than wealthy special interests. The Democracy for All Amendment, H.J. Res. 31, is supported by over 160 Members of Congress and voters across party lines, and it would do just that. That is the constitutional amendment we should be considering today, one that will put the American people in charge of the agenda of this House. Instead, we are voting again to put profits above our health, above our safety, above our democracy. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Massachusetts for yielding. Mr. Speaker, today we are seeing that the GOP tax scam is one long con. Last year, they gave away trillions of dollars to the very wealthiest Americans and the largest corporations while bragging about letting an extra $1.50 trickle down to hardworking public school employees. It is clear what they really intended. It was a setup. Who is going to take the fall? Seniors, the disabled, children, and those who are sick. The GOP tax scam exploded the deficit by nearly $2 trillion, and now this balanced budget constitutional amendment is laying the groundwork for an attack on Medicare, on Medicaid, and on Social Security. Now we are considering a constitutional amendment, a change to our Nation's founding document. For all of the pocket Constitution wagging from the GOP, in light of their recent action, this amendment amounts to little more than a political farce. If the GOP wanted a balanced budget, they should propose one. Instead, President Trump's budgets have threatened the poorest Americans with the biggest cuts--slashing $500 billion from Medicare, $1.4 trillion from Medicaid, and $72 billion from Social Security disability--and it still doesn't balance. This week, the Congressional Budget Office released the devastating impact of the GOP tax scam. Fiscal year 2018 deficits will increase by $139 billion to a total of $804 billion. Republicans have put our national debt on track to eclipse the size of our economy by 2028. Let me say that again. Our national debt, because of these reckless policies, will put our debt on track to eclipse the size of our economy. The idea that the GOP tax scam would pay for itself has been exposed as a lie. Now we know what is at risk to help pay for these handouts to billionaires and large corporations: our seniors, disabled Americans, children, and those who are sick. Over 55 million Americans rely on Medicare. More than 67 million Americans depend on Social Security. These programs represent the bedrock of the secure retirement that is too often challenged by high prices at the doctor and pharmacy. Social Security is already off budget. It never has added a penny to the deficit. Mr. Speaker, this balanced budget amendment would threaten the 120,000 retirees, over 13,000 disabled workers, and more than 5,000 kids in my home district who are depending upon this Congress to keep their promise to not cut their hard-earned benefits. Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are more than just the most successful and popular government programs to ever exist; they are solemn promises that we make to one another as Americans. This constitutional amendment would break those promises, and it would put the hard-earned Social Security and Medicare benefits of tens of millions of Americans at risk. I urge my colleagues to vote no on the previous question so that we can protect the promise that we made to vulnerable Americans by exempting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid from the balanced budget amendment. Our constituents deserve nothing less than our standing up for them, for the promise that we have made to them, and for those who depend upon these vital programs. The way we can do that is to vote no on the previous question and pass legislation that will enable us to do exactly that.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in recognition of Dr. Dennis Frisch and his induction as the President of the American Podiatric Medical Association. Dr. Frisch has dedicated his life to serving both his profession and his community. Dr. Frisch began serving on the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) Board of Trustees in 2007 and has served on multiple APMA committees during this time. Before being elected to the APMA Board, Dr. Frisch served at all levels of leadership in the Florida Podiatric Medical Association (FPMA), culminating with his presidency from 1995-1996. He was honored by the FPMA in 2005 when he received the Florida Podiatric Physician of the Year Award for his many years of service. Dr. Frisch is also very active in the Boca Raton Rotary Club and has served 2 separate terms as president. He volunteered with a variety of youth sports organizations and served for 8 years as a Commissioner for the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Parks District. He is currently an appointed Board member to the City of Boca Raton Parks and Recreation Department Advisory Board. Today I ask this body to recognize Dr. Frisch as he assumes his new role as President of the American Podiatric Medical Association. Dr. Frisch exemplifies the hard work and dedication that I see throughout Palm Beach County and the State of Florida. I thank him for his service and congratulate him for this accomplishment.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, today marks 1 month since the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida; 1 month since we lost 14 students and 3 teachers in yet another senseless act of gun violence; 1 month since the survivors inside those hallways have seen their lives changed forever. The survivors and the grieving families are not just grieving their loss. They are helping to change the direction of this Congress and the direction of this country. Mr. Speaker, I am leaving from here to go join the thousands of students who have descended upon the Capitol today, whose leadership will help guide the direction of this country, and who understand that 1 month after the horrific shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School--1 month in--and this Congress has failed to act. There are thousands out there today. There will be hundreds of thousands and millions more in the weeks ahead. The community that I represent, Mr. Speaker, will not be defined in the future by the tragedy that happened at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. It will be defined by the leadership of the student survivors who are inspiring a nation and helping to take us to a place where children can feel safe going to school in the morning and parents can know that when they take their kids to school in the morning, they will be able to pick them up safely at the end of the day. That is the result of this tragedy. That is what this is going to mean for our country. We are going to follow the lead of these student leaders. They are an inspiration to us. They are an inspiration to all of us, and I am off to join them now.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from New York. Mr. Speaker, the trauma that my community in Parkland, Florida, experienced was not unique. Gun violence tears apart American communities on a daily basis. So, no, what happened on February 14 when 14 students and three teachers were hunted in their schools with an AR- 15 assault rifle by a former student, that wasn't unique. But the problem of gun violence in America is a uniquely American problem. It is an epidemic. It is a complex problem. There are many facets. But we know what we need to do, and I am committed to taking any step to getting any new policy across the finish line that will make our kids safer. This bill, the STOP School Violence Act, is a good bill. It will not solve our gun problem. It won't ban bump stocks or require Americans to be 21 to buy a gun, fix our broken background check system, or get weapons of war--the weapons of choice for mass shooters--off our streets and out of our communities. But it will help troubled students who need help get help, and it will help teachers and law enforcement identify potential threats before it is too late. Before we vote, I would like to make a few things clear. First, this isn't a response to the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas. In fact, Congressman Rutherford and I introduced this bill a week before the shooting. The programs in this bill are based on rigorous, evidence- based evaluation. They are proven to help reduce isolation and identify kids who need help. We had no idea at the time that we wouldn't be able to move fast enough to stop this tragedy. We had no idea that we would have an urgent need to help get more American schools access to these programs. But since Congress has failed the American people by ignoring the deadly scourge of gun violence, since we failed the families of Stoneman Douglas just like we failed the families of Sandy Hook, Columbine, and so many others, we owe it to students and teachers across this country to at least give them tools to help identify dangerous behavior. The failure of Congress to take action in response to gun violence has left the American gun violence debate in a ridiculous place. Armed teachers in every hallway? Is that what we want education to be in America? No. I am glad this bill includes a specific prohibition against the use of grant dollars to arm school personnel, including teachers, or to train school personnel to use firearms. Since Congress has failed the American people by ignoring the scourge of gun violence and failed the families of Stoneman Douglas, the failure of Congress to take action has left us in this position of debating gun violence where we are hesitant to even take small steps. This is a small and important step. I have heard civil rights concerns related to racial profiling and discrimination associated with threat assessments in anonymous reporting, and I am sensitive to those. Congress should never be in a position to make this serious problem worse with new programs to expand the discrimination already entrenched in our school system and society as a whole. I know the evidence shows that discriminatory discipline in schools can have dramatic, long-term effects on academic performance and wide- ranging impact. But this bill, Mr. Speaker, does not perpetuate discriminatory policies. Zero tolerance and other questionable discipline policies are not evidence based, and, as such, would not be considered a proper use of grant funds. STOP School Violence program grants are not intended to be used to discipline students. Instead, threat assessment intervention protects potential victims and addresses the underlying problems to make schools safe for everyone. Finally, studies on evidence-based school threat assessment intervention practices have shown that these programs actually decrease racial profiling, bullying, suicides, and suspensions. I am proud of the bipartisan work that has gone into this bill, and once we have taken this step--this astonishingly modest yet important first step--we must finally do our jobs and work together to make meaningful changes toward stopping the epidemic of gun violence in this country. I know that this does not go far enough in terms of what we need to do. I understand that. I believe it deeply. But it is an important, bipartisan step that we should take today. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Texas for yielding. Mr. Speaker, many veterans face extraordinary obstacles when they return home, especially in retirement. Too often, one of the obstacles to a safe and secure retirement for our veterans are so-called pension poachers. These are people who create high-pressure sales pitches that directly target older veterans. They make big promises, knowing they have no intention of ever delivering on them. These are criminals who not only prey on our veterans, they prey on every American taxpayer who wants to do right by those who have served our country. They prey on the fact that we try to take good care of our veterans. They try to do it for financial gain. It is despicable, and we need to take action to stop it and make them pay for it. It is our job to ensure that they can't get away with it. That is why I am proud to have partnered with my colleague, fellow Floridian, a veteran and my friend, Mr. Rooney, to draft the Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act. This bill will give Federal prosecutors the tools they need to target criminals who actively work to avoid current mail and wire fraud statutes, all while targeting our veterans. It is time to crack down on pension poachers and fraudsters. I am thankful for Chairman Goodlatte, Ranking Member Nadler, and my Judiciary colleagues for their support in helping to get this bill to the floor. I thank every Member of this House who voted unanimously to pass this legislation in the last Congress. Finally, I would like to thank Veterans Service Officer Greg Dover from Palm Beach County, Florida, who has helped to alert my office of these schemes and has worked tirelessly on behalf of our veterans to stand up for their rights and the benefits they deserve. I ask all of my colleagues to support our veterans and to vote ``yes'' on the Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, it has been just 20 days since the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida; but when you spend those days going to funerals and memorial services and vigils, and when you spend those days meeting with grieving parents who don't know what life is without their loved one, and when you spend those days demanding that this House take action, it feels a lot longer. Life moves on, new headlines fight to push our pain aside. One Parkland student, starting her first full week back at Marjory Stoneman Douglas since the shooting, said this on Twitter: ``There are no media trucks in sight. Don't forget about Parkland.'' Mr. Speaker, the fight is not over. Mr. Speaker, this Congress cannot and will not just move on from this tragedy. The Nation will not forget Parkland, because this time, we join with the Marjory Stoneman Douglas students in declaring: ``Never again.''

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in recognition of the accomplishments and the public service record of Palm Beach County's Chief Deputy Supervisor of Elections, Charmaine Kelly. Ms. Kelly began her career with the Supervisor of Elections office as an election day worker, her earnings donated to a local charity in which she was active. Noticing the talent and excitement of this young volunteer, the Supervisor of Elections office recruited her to work part-time, and then full-time, as an elections specialist. That was 35 years ago. Ms. Kelly oversaw voting and voter registration in Palm Beach County, the third largest county in Florida and the 28th most populous in the nation. As the Chief Deputy Supervisor of Elections, she is the highest ranking non-elected public servant in the office. She has served under four elected Supervisors through nine Presidential elections, 17 congressional and state elections and countless municipal and local district elections. Ms. Kelly has mentored a generation of young people in the importance of protecting the process of voter registration and voter participation. If any Supervisor or Supervisor of Elections employee has a question from around the state, Ms. Kelly is on their speed dial and will always help find the answer or solution. Today I ask this body to recognize Ms. Kelly as she begins her well- deserved retirement. Ms. Kelly represents the best of public servants and I, along with the citizens of Palm Beach County and the State of Florida, thank her for her service protecting our right to vote and assuring that our vote counts.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of 17 members of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School community in Parkland, Florida, and do so in the presence of some of their classmates: Alyssa, Chris, Meadow, Scott, Luke, Helena, Martin, Cara, Alex, Nicholas, Gina, Carmen, Aaron, Joaquin, Peter, Jaime, and Alaina. On February 14, 2018, they were killed in yet another senseless act of gun violence. As we bow in silence, I ask that we remember those we lost, I ask that we lift up the families who are grieving, and I ask that we offer prayers of healing for those who were injured and prayers of peace for the 3,300 survivors. I ask that our quiet contemplation stir courage within the Members of this body--the courage to take action to ensure the freedom of our students, the freedom to learn without fear, and to take action to secure the freedom of all Americans to live in communities without gun violence.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, opioids are prescribed to reduce acute pain and are used as anesthesia during surgery. But, as we are all too aware, they have a high potential for abuse. Approximately 2.4 million Americans are currently battling an opioid-use disorder. In 2015, over 33,000 Americans died from an opioid-related overdose. In 2016, this number jumped to over 42,000. These tragic numbers show a worsening epidemic, which has been declared a national public health emergency. Mr. Speaker, this epidemic significantly impacts our nation's youth, with the rate of nonmedical use of opioids by adolescents and teens doubling from 1991 to 2012. The rate of teen drug overdose deaths skyrocketed 19 percent from 2014 to 2015, with 772 drug overdose deaths reported nationwide for teens aged 15 to 19. Students throughout Palm Beach County, Florida have responded to this emergency in an effort to save lives by raising community awareness of the epidemic and by reaching out to elected officials to urge them to action. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing these students and the work they have done to address this national public health emergency.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, last year, American culture experienced a moment of reckoning. It doesn't matter what political party; it doesn't matter what industry; it doesn't matter when or where: sexual harassment and sexual violence are unacceptable. America has been willfully blind to abuses of power for far too long. The bravery of survivors of sexual assault and harassment has changed that, has changed our country, and it is time for Congress to follow their lead. I am grateful to introduce this bill with my colleagues: House Administration Chairman Harper and Ranking Member Brady; my counterpart on the House Ethics Committee, Chairwoman Susan Brooks; all of whom worked so hard to develop these reforms. I am going to thank Representative Byrne for his commitment to this effort, sharing his experience. And my colleague and friend, Congresswoman Jackie Speier, deserves particular appreciation and acknowledgment for her strong leadership not just in crafting this bill, but throughout her career in standing up for the rights of women; but, in this case, for crafting a bill that will produce lasting change for the United States Congress. This bill will allow survivors to speak out, ensure that legal resources are available to them, and offer justice without fear of retribution. This bill will not only strengthen our out-of-date workplace protections, but it will send an important message to the entire country that Members of Congress will be held accountable. Also with this legislation, the Office of Compliance must provide the House Ethics Committee with all of the information required for the transparent pursuit of full accountability. It is time to end protections for powerful abusers and to empower survivors. Each survivor must be heard, allegations must be taken seriously, and abusers and harassers must be held accountable. Every congressional employee and every American deserves an equal chance at success in their careers, free from sexual harassment and free from retaliation for defending themselves and asserting their rights. Mr. Speaker, it is time to do the work necessary to change our culture. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill and ensure that Congress does its part in that important work.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Pennsylvania, and I greatly appreciate the chairman for his unanimous consent request. I want to thank Chairman Ros-Lehtinen for her tremendous leadership in helping advance H.R. 2646, the United States Jordan Defense Cooperation Extension Act. This bill is important because our partnership with Jordan is important, and I want to quickly explain why my constituents back home believe that this is important. Those good-news headlines that we have read about, U.S. military success against ISIS, are, in part, thanks to Jordan. Jordan is a key partner in the international coalition to defeat ISIS and has fought airstrikes right alongside us. Just last week, the U.S. finished delivery of Black Hawk helicopters to Amman that are used to take terrorists off the battlefield, helping to keep both our nations safer. The bill before us today ensures that Jordan continues to get this critical military assistance, but it does more than that. It also ensures that Jordan gets the economic support it needs to care for over 1 million Syrian refugees now living in Jordan as a result of the war next door. This influx has taken a huge toll on Jordan's resources. Today, we are helping ease that burden with emergency services, education, and access to clean water. In fact, Chairman Ros-Lehtinen and I had an opportunity just a few years ago to see firsthand a USAID project: a wastewater treatment facility that, today, is providing access to clean water for millions of Jordanians. This is the right thing to do both for America's strategic interests and for American values. Jordan's stability is vital to regional stability. Our commitment to an enduring strategic partnership with Jordan is critical to our mission of defeating ISIS, caring for the victims of war, and pursuing end-of-conflict agreements throughout the Middle East. Mr. Speaker, I want to again thank my colleagues for their bipartisan support of this piece of legislation, and I urge all of us to vote ``yes'' for H.R. 2646.

Mr. DEUTCH

Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from the Philadelphia area who has introduced this important piece of legislation with Mr. Fitzpatrick, another fine Representative from the Philadelphia sports- loving area, which gives me the opportunity on the House floor to claim my Pennsylvania roots and to congratulate the Philadelphia Eagles. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the U.S.-Ukraine Cybersecurity Cooperation Act introduced by Mr. Boyle and Mr. Fitzpatrick. I thank Chairman Royce for his ongoing leadership on this issue. The director of the CIA, Mike Pompeo, said last week that he has every expectation that Russia will again try to meddle in our elections. That should concern us. It should also concern us that the President has decided to ignore Congress and not impose sanctions against Russia. But Russia's attacks on the United States follow a playbook that they have used in their own region, most recently against Ukraine. In addition to rampant disinformation campaigns and political interference, Russia has launched numerous cyber attacks against Ukraine, including knocking out large swaths of its electrical grid in massive attacks. Those capabilities could one day be used against us here at home. That is why the U.S.-Ukraine Cybersecurity Cooperation Act is so important. The United States has an interest both in defending Ukraine from Russian aggression and in securing our own defenses. Helping Ukraine actually teaches us best practices for hardening our own defenses against potential Russian attacks on our critical infrastructure. That is why I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1997, the U.S.- Ukraine Cybersecurity Cooperation Act.