Mark DeSaulnier

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of long-time community activist and leader, Larry Sly. Larry Sly graduated from UC Berkeley and quickly became an advocate and leader in Contra Costa County. Starting his career with the Food Bank as a truck driver, Larry became a prominent volunteer for the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Counties and in 1976 was elevated to Executive Director. During his decades of leadership, the Food Bank grew exponentially, distributing 36,000 pounds of food in his first year to over 20 million pounds of food in 2018. A food security advocate, Larry has been actively involved in organizations such as the Concord Rotary Club and has served on the Board of Directors for the California Association of Food Banks. Larry has served on state advisory committees on hunger and food security and has helped many California cities develop successful food banks. He has also used his advocacy and expertise to solve hunger issues on the national stage. Larry was a member of Feeding America and served as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors and as an elected member of the National Council (NAC). He has received numerous awards across the country for his commitment to providing accessible food and resources for those in need. Larry Sly is a champion of supporting families in his community and nationwide. Please join me in congratulating Larry for his dedicated service, and in wishing him great luck and joy in retirement.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and legacy of long-time justice advocate and community leader, Mark Morris, PhD. After receiving his bachelor's degree from Oberlin College in 1964, Mark went on to receive his master's and doctorate degrees from the University of California, Berkeley in 1965 and 1972, respectively. Dr. Morris focused much of his research and studies on the U.S. justice system and social welfare. In 1986, Mark founded Mark Morris Associates (MMA) with the goal of developing and reforming the justice system. MMA created projects and programs throughout California, including projects here in the Bay Area and Contra Costa County. These programs typically include analyses of offender populations, corrections interventions, and justice/behavioral health interactions. Under Mark's leadership, MMA has supported many people within Contra Costa County. His efforts have brought probation officers into schools with system-involved youth, built a volunteer mentorship network, and established a treatment program based on a partnership of various county agencies such as Probation, Mental Health, and Education. Dr. Morris was a dedicated advocate for social change and justice reform. Please join me in honoring Dr. Mark Morris for a life of service and his contributions to the Bay Area.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today with Congressmen Mike Thompson, Jerry McNerney, John Garamendi, and Eric Swalwell to recognize the service of long-time community advocate and veteran, Jeffrey Jewell. Jeffs commitment to service was apparent throughout his life and career. Upon graduating high school, Jeff enlisted in the Air Force. While stationed in Japan, he taught English to Japanese businessmen and volunteered for Big Brothers, Scouting Leadership, and the Suicide Hotline. After his service, Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in human relations and Master's in Public Administration from Golden Gate University in San Francisco. He also later received a Master's in Psychology from Chapman University. Jeff applied his education and experience in the armed services to aid veterans in the Bay Area. In 1991, he started as a volunteer with veteran organizations in Contra Costa and Solano Counties. Jeff was the past commander in Vacaville of the Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, United Veterans Memorial Association, and past chairman of the Vacaville Veterans Building Association. In 2001, Jeff began working for the Department of Veterans Affairs Concord Veterans Center as a therapist for combat veterans and for families that lost loved ones in Iraq and Afghanistan. Jeff also served on the Department of Veterans Affairs National Homeless Veterans Working Group and helped veterans find housing and integrate back into society. Jeff became the Director of the Sacramento Veterans Center in March 2010 and returned to the Concord Vet Center a few years later to serve as Director. Jeff has given so much back to veterans across the country and in Contra Costa County--something our community is incredibly grateful for. I join with Congressman Mike Thompson, Jerry McNerney, John Garamendi, and Eric Swalwell in thanking Jeff for his sacrifices for our nation and wishing him great luck and joy in retirement.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of esteemed public servant and community advocate, Joan Carpenter. A long-time resident of West Contra Costa, Joan graduated from El Cerrito High School and later earned her bachelor's degree in economics from the University of California, Berkeley. After graduation, Joan worked in Contra Costa County's mediation program and helped residents, businesses, and agencies with conflict resolution. In 1998, Joan joined the Office of Contra Costa Supervisor John Gioia, where she has continued to serve West County constituents for the past 21 years. She has worked tirelessly to improve and expand services for seniors, the homeless, infants, and individuals with HIV/ AIDS. Joan has served on various community boards such as the Contra Costa Home Health Agency Advisory Board, the West Contra Costa Unified School District School Attendance Review Board, and the Rehabilitation Services of Northern California Executive Board. An advocate in both her professional and personal life, Joan currently serves on the Executive Board of the West Contra Costa League of Women Voters, Contra Costa County Democratic Central Committee, the National Women's Political Caucus of California, and the California Alliance for Retired Americans. Additionally, she was a founding member of both the Richmond Juneteenth Celebration and the West County Democratic Club. Joan's colleagues and friends admire her passion for and dedication to the West County community. Please join me in congratulating Joan for her dedicated service, and in wishing her well in retirement.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Madam Speaker, I regret that I was unable to vote on Tuesday, September 17, 2019, as I was unavoidably detained in my district. Had I been present, I would have vote ``nay'' on Roll Call No. 531, On Motion to Instruct Conferees, S. 1790, and ``yea'' on Roll Call No. 532, On Closing Portions of the Conference, S. 1790.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and scholarship of long time Saint Mary's College professor, Dr. Hisham H. Ahmed. Hisham was born in 1963 at the Dheisheh refugee camp near Bethlehem, Palestine. Despite being born without eyesight, Hisham committed himself to his studies as a child and scored third in the Palestinian National Exams, enabling him to study in the United States. Hisham began his academic career at Illinois State University earning a bachelor's degree in political science in 1985. He went on to earn a masters and doctorate in political science from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1986 and 1988, respectively. Over the next 30 years, he would teach at Florida International University, the University of North Dakota, Bir Zeit University in Palestine, and ultimately here in Contra Costa County at Saint Mary's College of California. Hisham was a renowned scholar of Middle East politics and international relations, as well as an expert on terrorism and the Hamas movement. In 1993, he served as a Fulbright Scholar in Palestine. Hisham worked constantly to improve international understanding through teaching and research, and co-founded several international bodies to enhance peace, democracy, and human rights in the Middle East. Beyond his professional achievements, Hisham wrote poetry and was well-versed in Arabic literature. He was a loving husband and father, and had a wonderful sense of humor. As a teacher, scholar, and advocate, he spoke truth to power to remove walls, build trust, and empower others. Please join me in honoring the life of Dr. Hisham Ahmed. He will be sorely missed by his family, friends, colleagues, and students.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and service of Bay Area businessman and devoted philanthropist Kenneth Hofmann. Ken was born February 15, 1923 in Oakland, California. He graduated from Fremont High School in Oakland and later attended Saint Mary's College in Moraga before embarking on a successful career in home- building in 1948 as a plastering contractor. In 1957, Ken founded his real estate development company, Hofmann Company. By the mid-1980s, Hofmann Company had built more than 30,000 homes and apartments and more than $150 million worth of commercial and industrial properties. In recognition of this remarkable achievement, Ken was inducted into the California Building Industry Association's hall of fame class of 1986. Throughout his life, Ken used his success in real estate to enrich and give back to his community. A true philanthropist, Ken was a supporter of youth sports and education. For nearly 30 years, Ken donated millions to De La Salle High School, helping finance new facilities, and he opened the De La Salle Academy to provide food, books, and tutors to underprivileged students. Additionally, Ken was an ardent supporter and benefactor of the Saint Mary's Athletics Program. He was named SMC Alumnus of the Year in 1983 and severed as both a Regent and a Trustee over the course of two decades. Ken was an avid outdoorsman and provided the leadership and assistance necessary to jump-start the creation of the Pacific Flyaway Center, a project that is currently seeking final permits. Passionate about wildlife and waterfowl, Ken dreamed of creating the Center to showcase the story of the primary north-south route for migratory birds in the Western U.S. Ken is survived by Jean, his wife for 60 years, and their two daughters Lori and Lisa. Ken's contributions to the Bay Area will be cherished, and his devotion to sports, youth, and wildlife will long be remembered.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and legacy of a groundbreaking professional baseball player, Richmond native, and longtime El Cerrito resident, Elijah ``Pumpsie'' Green. Born in 1933 in Oklahoma, Pumpsie's parents moved to Richmond, California, where they raised their five children. Pumpsie attended El Cerrito High School where he was an accomplished three-sport athlete who would later earn distinction as an inductee into the school's inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame class. He ultimately chose to pursue baseball, starring at Contra Costa College before joining the Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League. In 1959, 12 years after Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball's color barrier, Pumpsie became one of the game's true trailblazers when he became the first African American player ever to play for the Boston Red Sox. Despite facing continued discrimination and segregation, he went on to play five seasons for the Red Sox before being traded to the New York Mets and retiring in 1963. After retiring as a professional baseball player, Pumpsie moved with his family to El Cerrito, where he devoted the rest of his life to education. He served as a student supervisor and baseball coach at Berkeley High School, and during his 20-year tenure became a mentor to countless students. Pumpsie will forever be remembered for his role in helping to end segregation in professional sports and paving the way for other athletes of color. Please join me in honoring Elijah ``Pumpsie'' Green for his lasting impact on professional baseball and his dedication to youth. He is truly an inspiration for his Bay Area home.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and service of longtime Danville resident, Mr. Ken Behring. Mr. Behring was born June 13, 1928 in Freeport, Illinois. He spent his youth on his family's farm during the Great Depression. By twenty- one Ken had opened the doors to his first business, Behring Motors, a used car dealership in Monroe, Illinois. Six years later, Mr. Behring had grown his small dealership to have $1 million dollars in assets. After relocating to Florida, Ken began work developing communities. By the early 1970s having cemented himself as one of the nation's most successful developers, he moved to California and purchased a four- thousand-acre tract of land near Danville. After donating almost half of the land to the Mount Diablo State Park, Ken molded the remaining 2,500 acres into the nationally renowned Blackhawk housing development. Ken's design for Blackhawk helped establish the standard for upscale development design nationwide. Eventually, Ken created additional developments resulting in over seven thousand new homes and contributing to the growth of East Contra Costa County. In addition to Ken's housing development career, he was an active philanthropist. Millions of Mr. Behring's earnings have been donated to universities, museums and charities across the country, including the largest single donation ever to the Smithsonian Museums. In 2000, Mr. Behring founded The Wheelchair Foundation as a branch of the Behring Global Health and Education Foundation. In its first six years, the foundation provided wheelchairs to individuals in 144 countries and reached one million wheelchairs donated in 2015. Ken Behring was a cherished member of the Contra Costa Community and he will be missed.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and service of long-time Concord resident, Diane Lorenzetti. Diane, affectionately known as ``Miss Diane,'' was born in Concord, California in 1943 to loving parents Ettore and Emily Lorenzetti. While attending Holy Names College, Diane worked part-time as a pre-school teacher for the City of Concord. In 1974, she left the classroom and became the Director of the Concord Senior Center. Over the next 29 years, Diane worked tirelessly to ensure a pleasant and engaging experience for all visiting seniors. It is said that she made the center feel like a second home and challenged herself to remember the names of everyone she met. During her tenure as Director, Diane was an important and reliable figure in the Concord senior community. As the executive producer of the Concord Senior Citizen's Club, Diane directed a number of shows such as Talent Recycled, which played to hundreds of fans at the Senior Center, the Willows Theatre, and the Concord Pavilion. It was important to Diane to allow the seniors who participated to express themselves creatively and feel a sense of community. On top of her work with the senior community, Diane was very active with the Druids of California and was a member of the local chapter starting in 1960. She also served as a member of the Young Ladies institute where she worked to support the Catholic faith, encourage apostolic and charitable works, and celebrate Italian American heritage. Diane will be sorely missed, and her lasting impact will long be remembered in the Concord community.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, on this day in 1944, at 10:18 p.m., a cargo vessel exploded at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine located in my district in California, resulting in the deadliest home-front disaster of World War II. All of the men loading ammunition at the site that day were African American. When the surviving sailors, understandably, hesitated to return to those unsafe conditions of loading, 50 were discriminately convicted of mutiny. Congress and the administration have repeatedly recognized the injustice these men suffered. Congress directed the creation of a memorial, the executive branch pardoned one of the 50, and the then- Secretary of the Navy said he strongly supported executive action in favor of the Port Chicago 50. To commemorate this anniversary, the House of Representatives passed, just this week, our measure that directs the Secretary of the Navy to finally exonerate the Port Chicago 50. On the 75th anniversary today of the explosion, let us remember the words of Thurgood Marshall when he traveled to San Francisco to defend these innocent men. The future first African American Supreme Court Justice said: What is at stake here is more than the rights of the Port Chicago 50. It is the moral commitment stated in our Nation's creed.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Port Chicago 50. In 1944, a cargo vessel exploded at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine, located in my district, resulting in the deadliest home front disaster of World War II. The men loading ammunition at the site were African American. When the surviving African American 258 sailors understandably refused to return to those unsafe conditions, 50 were discriminately charged with and convicted of mutiny. Congress and the Administration have repeatedly recognized the injustice the Port Chicago 50 suffered. Congress directed the creation of a memorial, the Executive branch pardoned one of the 50, and then- Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus recognized the ``well-documented challenges associated with uniformed service by African Americans during that era'' and said he ``strongly support[s] executive action in favor of'' the Port Chicago 50. An amendment I filed to the National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 2500) calls for the Navy to exonerate them, a process used in prior NDAAs for wrongfully convicted service members. As we near the 75th anniversary of the explosion, let us follow President Obama's Port Chicago tribute: ``may we carry forward their legacy by renewing our resolve to tackle injustice in our time.'' I would like to particularly thank the Friends of Port Chicago, including Reverend Diana McDaniel, Professor John Lawrence at the University of California Washington Center, former Congressman George Miller, and Congresswoman Barbara Lee for all of their work and support for this cause. I am grateful to my colleagues for their support of this amendment and look forward to working with our colleagues in the Senate to ensure this important provision remains in the bill that is ultimately signed into law.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of long-time educator and community leader, Dr. Nellie Meyer. Dr. Meyer has dedicated her career to improving education on various levels, ranging from working as a middle school and high school teacher to holding an array of leadership positions, most recently as the Mount Diablo Unified School District Superintendent. Throughout her career, Dr. Meyer has advocated for supporting at-risk youth, improving student achievement, and giving students the best education possible. As the Mount Diablo Unified School District Superintendent for the past six years, Dr. Meyer focused on innovation and problem solving. She was a leader in the California City School Superintendents organization and has written multiple articles in professional education publications. Dr. Meyer has also presented at numerous national conferences on school turnaround, dropout prevention, and best practices for school systems. Dr. Meyer's colleagues admire her sharp mind, empathetic nature, ability to think outside the box, and her insistence that a district has the responsibility to provide high quality education to every student. On June 24th, Dr. Meyer is transferring her skills to the Los Altos/ Mountain View Union High School District to carry on her passion for improving education for young people. Please join me in wishing Dr. Meyer good luck in her transition and thanking her for continuing her commitment to the youth of our community.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of social justice advocate and student, Jocelyn Villalobos. Jocelyn is a first-generation student at Los Medanos College and plans to pursue a Master's Degree in public health or nursing. In addition to her work on student government on issues such as education equity and improving graduation rates for minority students, Jocelyn also works with groups to prevent sexual violence and to promote safe educational environments for undocumented youth. Jocelyn is involved in many clubs and organizations including La Raza Unida, Outreach Ambassador, Puente, Interfaith Space Committee, and Public Safety Committee. She recently completed her one-year term as the Student Trustee on the Contra Costa Community College Board, which allowed her to weigh in on important decisions for the District. She has served on the Associated Students at Los Medanos College for two years and just completed her term as Commissioner of Campus Events. In 2017, Jocelyn's commitment to the community and advocacy for underrepresented students were recognized when she received the Jefferson Award twice for her public service as well as the Antioch Youth of the Year award alongside her twin sister, Jacqueline. Please join me in wishing Jocelyn Villalobos good luck with her endeavors in college and beyond, and thanking her for her commitment to the students of our district.

Mr. DeSAULNIER

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Chair, the bill before us today goes a long way toward improving the health of our country. I commend the distinguished chairwoman, once again, for her tireless leadership for the health and well-being of all Americans. One particular area where increased investments have been made in this bill is mental health. I could not agree more on the importance of addressing this vital component to a person's well-being. Mr. Chairman, at a time in our history where we are having transformative interventions and innovation in discoveries when it comes to mental health, we have a challenge to provide more infrastructure and more resources. I have been told that we have 75 percent more requests for services in behavioral health since the ACA was passed with parity in it, but a 25 percent decrease in the number of young people going into professions. So we clearly need to do more when it comes to mental health, and there is no place better to do more than with young people, to get them involved in understanding that there isn't a stigma, that, like cancer, behavioral health and mental health should be addressed with evidence- based research, and if people seek that kind of treatment, they will be able to live full and successful lives and will get away from generations of stigma against people who have legitimate behavioral health issues that can be treated just as medical treatments can. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, approximately one in five adults in the United States--almost 50 million Americans-- experience mental illness in a given year. Millions of children also suffer every year from traumatic experience and mental illness. Mr. Chair, approximately one in five young people age 13 to 18--more than 21 percent--experience a severe mental disorder; 13 percent of children age 8 to 15 experience a severe mental disorder at some point in that timeframe; yet only about 50 percent of children with mental health conditions receive the services they need. Children who get the treatment and support they need can learn to successfully control their symptoms, perform better in school, and have better social and emotional outcomes throughout their lives. When children go without treatment and support, their symptoms can become harder to control as they grow older. In fact, adults who do not get proper treatment as children face an increased risk of having other chronic conditions and die, on average, 25 years earlier than others from preventable causes--25 years because they are not getting the treatment they need. That is why it is so important that we address mental illness at a young age. Children and their families must know that it is okay to ask for help and should be taught where to look. My amendment would improve access to mental health support for children in a school-based environment to meet students' needs onsite. This funding will help children who might not otherwise get mental healthcare get the support they need in a setting they know and trust. NIH research shows that children promoted to the next grade increases by almost 13 percent and the average number of days children are suspended decreases significantly as children participate in mental health services offered at their schools. Our teachers are already underpaid and overworked, and many teachers report that they are the first and only support children receive for their mental and behavioral health problems. By increasing services to students directly in schools, we can help reduce the mental healthcare crisis and decrease the stigma at the same time. I urge passage of this amendment. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), my friend and colleague.

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Chair, our economy and our Nation's workforce are at a critical juncture. The introduction of new technology and easier flow of people and information from one location to another have transformed our economy and our workforce in ways that were unpredictable and have created both benefits and risks. We need to be careful, however, that we are not leaving Americans behind. Several years ago, I worked with a number of colleagues to go across the country to ask researchers and have townhalls in communities, from California to New Jersey, what the effect on technology, in particular, and what the future of work wages in the labor movement would be as our work transforms. One common theme that we heard over and over again across the country--whether it was California, Wisconsin, Michigan, New Jersey, or Massachusetts--was the impact that technology is having on jobs, both good and bad, and potentially having both enormous benefit and risk. Technology can be a huge benefit to workers and communities alike, but it also has the potential to displace or eliminate jobs. California labor unions have an impressive past of partnering with industry to ensure that any disruption to the workforce, like technology, is done in coordination with and in consultation with workers. One major problem we face when trying to assess whether automation will be good or bad for our workforce is a lack of data. This amendment simply encourages the Bureau of Labor Statistics to start collecting this important data on the impact that technology is having on our workforce. We can use this data to inform policymaking to fight for workers and the U.S. economy and create programs and policies that will support job creation, retention, and the continued growth to our economy, but for everyone to benefit. Similarly, this amendment would allow for data collection on mass layoffs. We often hear arguments that blame major job losses on regulations, trade decisions, and other unsubstantiated claims. With this data that we are asking for, we will be able to collect and be able to clearly and honestly evaluate the effects of mass layoffs and how we can avoid them, or at least how we can help the workers who are affected. The common theme for this amendment is workforce protection. It is something we agree about on both sides, I believe. We want to create and promote good-paying jobs for Americans and protect those jobs that can be and should be protected. U.S. workers deserve our best efforts to create policy that is in their best interest. This amendment would help give us the data to do just that, and at no extra cost. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), my friend and colleague.

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Chairman, I ask for the House's support. I think it has been said over and over again that information is power. In this instance, this gives us the power to protect and anticipate challenges to the American workforce. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully ask for support for this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Chairman, the bill before us today goes a long way to improving the health of our country. I thank the chairwoman for her leadership and dedication to the health and well-being of all Americans. I am particularly pleased to see over $6 billion in funding for the National Cancer Institute. As we all know, probably too well, cancer affects all of us in some way. All of us have a family member, a friend, or a neighbor who has had to go through the challenge of being told they have cancer. Nearly 1.8 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer in 2019. With recent advancements, however, there has never been a better time in history to go through treatment if one has to be diagnosed with cancer. New treatments with ever-greater outcomes are being developed constantly, many of them at NCI. The research done at NCI contributes to saving countless lives each year and helps keep millions more healthy, including myself as a cancer survivor of a form of leukemia that, while not curable, is manageable. Because of the groundbreaking research done at and funded by NCI, by 2016 there were over 15.5 million cancer survivors in the United States alone. By 2026, this number will go over 20 million survivors. However, despite the high quality of care, many patients lack the information they need to understand their treatment and be full participants in their care. As a cancer survivor, I am all too familiar with the uncertainty that follows the words, ``you have cancer.'' Doctors and health professionals start talking at you, using terms you have never heard, all of which matter, but little of which you understand. Research tells us that when someone is told, and family members are told that a family member has cancer, they only retain one in four words. While more than two-thirds of patients surveyed are satisfied with the care they receive, the vast majority lack knowledge about treatment, options, and details. In fact, a recent study by NIH states that only 45 percent of patients reported being adequately informed about their diagnoses when told they have cancer by their physicians. In a study in 2016, the Journal of Clinical Oncology stated that 38 percent of patients could never even remember talking with their doctor about life expectancy. Cancer treatment is complicated, and I can tell you it is emotional for the people who are being treated, for their family, and for their loved ones. Yet 73 percent of patients do not search for additional information about their diagnoses. That is why it is so important that cancer care providers communicate clearly and often with patients and survivors. This amendment will set aside $1 million for NCI to perform a study on how to use best practices to improve communications between cancer care providers and patients and survivors. When people have the information they need, they can more successfully navigate treatment and life as a survivor. A cancer diagnosis will always come with uncertainty, but providers can and must do more to communicate clearly to help patients, their families and friends, and survivors to fully understand their diagnosis, their treatment, and their lifelong care expectations. It will allow patients to do what patients should do: fight cancer. I thank the cosponsors of my amendment, Congressman Buddy Carter from Georgia, who is also the co-chair of the Cancer Survivors Caucus with myself, and Congressman Jamie Raskin, who is a member, for coauthoring this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), my friend and my neighbor.

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Chairman, I urge the passage of this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Chairman, I am grateful for the support in this bill for the Statewide Family Engagement Center Program, and I also thank the chair of this subcommittee for supporting the program. This is an extremely valuable program that facilitates meaningful family engagement for States, school districts, schools, and parents to foster positive school environments and improved academic achievement. Specifically, grantees are nonprofits that carry out parent education and provide comprehensive training and technical assistance to schools to support family-school partnerships. Research is clear that the more involved families are in a student's education, the better the student performs. If a parent understands the value of the curriculum, develops relationships with teachers and administrators at their child's school, and feels involved in the local community as a result, the student reaps the benefits. I was proud that a bipartisan provision I authored with Congressman G.T. Thompson led to the creation of Statewide Family Engagement Centers. Unfortunately, due to an administrative oversight at the Department of Education, a $1 million shortfall for financial year 2019 has been created in this program. If it is not fixed, current grantees will have to cut their budgets by 9 percent. This shortfall will mean the 11 centers will have to cut staff or reduce services. This will reduce the number of families, States, schools, and school districts that these centers can serve in the 12 States across the country that have grantees. My amendment would make these deserving grantees whole and ensure that students and their families continue to receive the services they deserve to help students thrive in and out of school. This amendment truly is an easy fix to an unintended problem created by a simple oversight. It is a commonsense amendment. I thank my friend, Mr. Thompson, for working with us on this, and for his support for this amendment and the program. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).

Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Chair, I just want to thank my colleague from northern California, and I want to thank my colleague from Pennsylvania. It has been a pleasure working with them when I was in the minority, and it is a pleasure working with them in the majority. This really should be nonpartisan, bipartisan. It creates a real vehicle to improve the quality of life for children and families and schools, and I would urge support for the amendment. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.