Debbie Dingell

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the grand opening of Malek Al-Kabob in Dearborn. The restaurant is a beloved institution in our community and the opening of its new location is cause for celebration. Malek Al-Kabob was founded by chefs Abu-Fahd and Abu-Snan whose culinary careers began at an early age. After growing up in the Republic of Yemen, both migrated separately to the United States seeking the American Dream. After beginning their careers in the food industry, the two met as sous chefs and developed a close friendship due to their shared backgrounds and love for Middle Eastern cuisine. After working side by side for years, Abu-Fahd and Abu-Snan decided to open an enterprise of their own. In the years that followed, the two opened several restaurants that have quickly become favorites in the communities in which they operate. In January of 2006, Malek Al-Kabob first opened its doors in Taylor. The location became a popular destination in the Downriver community and was quickly recognized as one of the best Middle Eastern restaurants throughout the entire Metro Detroit region. Today, I am proud to celebrate Malek Al-Kabob as it expands. The opening of its new location in Dearborn not only exemplifies the restaurants continued success, but is a testament to the hard work of its staff and the pride its chefs put in to each and every dish. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing the grand opening of Malek Al-Kabob's Dearborn location. The expansion represents a big step forward for the restaurant and will offer our community a new opportunity to come together to celebrate Middle Eastern cuisine.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 50th anniversary of SOS Community Services. SOS Community Services was founded on the campus of Eastern Michigan University in 1970. Seeing a need for drug-related crisis intervention in Washtenaw County, student and faculty volunteers came together to establish the organization to offer food, shelter, and emergency services to their struggling neighbors and peers. As the organization grew, SOS Community Services began to take a more central role in directing services toward families and individuals with housing hardships, establishing numerous assistance programs and opening several shelters to help people in need. Half a century later, SOS Community Services continues to be an important resource for many in the Washtenaw County community. Every year, SOS provides assistance and housing services to nearly 7,000 people and particularly strives to help parents become self-sufficient by connecting them with employment opportunities, local resources, and stable housing options. Through their comprehensive work in Washtenaw County, SOS Community Services has improved our community and transformed thousands of lives. Their critical services enable people to regain hope, confidence, and dignity. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating the 50th anniversary of SOS Community Services. For five decades, SOS Community Services has been a valuable resource to many in Washtenaw County. The organization's commitment to our community sets an example we all should strive to emulate.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 180th anniversary of Sumpter Township. Sumpter Township can trace its origins back to the revolutionary war era. As one of the original bounty land act areas off the Erie Canal, Sumpter's first settlers were revolutionary war soldiers looking for large land tracks and farm land out west. On April 6, 1840, the Township of Sumpter--named after revolutionary war General Thomas Sumter--was officially formed, home to a total of 228 residents. In the years that followed, Sumpter Township became a busy town with shopping districts, a town hall, the first producing oil well in Wayne County, and its own school district. Since its humble beginnings in the mid-nineteenth century, Sumpter Township has grown and transformed significantly. Today, Sumpter Township is a diverse community of 9,549 residents drawing from a variety of ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. Even 180 years later, Sumpter Township continues to be an important component of our Michigan community. Its woodlands, wetlands, prairies, parks, and abundant wildlife are natural treasures for all Michiganders to value and enjoy, and its welcoming, neighborly, and tight-knit community serves as a model that others should strive to emulate. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the 180th anniversary of Sumpter Township. As one of Michigan's earliest communities, it is my wish that Sumpter Township continues to be a pleasant place for people to live, work, and enjoy the vast beauty Michigan has to offer. Congratulations on this historic milestone, and best of luck in the years ahead.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Charles A. Lindbergh Elementary School as it is named a 2019 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. The school's impact on the children of our community is worthy of commendation. Located in Dearborn, Charles A. Lindbergh Elementary School is a cornerstone of our Michigan community. The school is dedicated to helping students reach their full potential as empathetic, balanced, and goal-oriented leaders who strive to effect change and make meaningful contributions to their communities. With a focus on cultivating strong relationships, Charles A. Lindbergh Elementary builds a positive and supportive school culture that helps students gain the confidence they need to embrace academics and accomplish anything they set out to achieve. The National Blue Ribbon Award is a prestigious honor, only bestowed upon the most outstanding schools. By inspiring children to achieve greatness by learning and leading every day, Charles A. Lindbergh Elementary School is a deserving recipient of this great honor. Charles A. Lindbergh Elementary has made a difference in our community and continues to be a place where students, educators, and families work together to create a safe, welcoming, and academically rigorous program that promotes success. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Charles A. Lindbergh Elementary School as it is named a 2019 National Blue Ribbon School. The award is a testament to the exceptional guidance of its teachers and staff who work every day to ensure quality educational experiences, achievement outcomes, and success for each and every student. I am grateful for the school's profound impact on our community and wish it continued success in the years ahead.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Cynthia Gray Hathaway on her retirement and recognize her years of distinguished service with the Third Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan. Her contributions to our community are worthy of commendation. Cynthia Gray Hathaway received her bachelor's degree in business administration from Wayne State University and earned her master's degree in criminal justice from the University of Detroit. While working toward her master's, Hathaway simultaneously was employed by the Detroit Recorder's Court Probation Department where she became intrigued about law. Later, Hathaway pursued this interest and received her law degree from the Detroit College of Law. Cynthia Gray Hathaway has become a cornerstone of our Michigan community. As a judge of the Third Circuit Court in Wayne County, Hathaway's commitment to justice and the residents of Michigan has made a difference. Beyond her work in a professional capacity, Hathaway has also been a dedicated community member who is active in the NAACP, Detroit Urban League, the Women's Economic Club, and the Reggie McKenzie Foundation, among many others. Hathaway is known for her high degree of professionalism, kind demeanor, and passion for helping everyone she encounters. She has demonstrated her commitment to the entire Michigan community, and it my honor and privilege to recognize her distinguished work today. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Cynthia Gray Hathaway as she retires from the Third Circuit Court. We thank her for her many years of service and leadership and wish her the best of luck in all future endeavors.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Rory Gamble's distinguished career and honor his remarkable work as he receives the Rainbow PUSH Let Freedom Ring Award. Gamble's contributions to our community are worthy of commendation. In 1974, Rory Gamble joined the UAW after he was hired at the Ford Motor Co. Dearborn Frame Plant. He quickly became active in UAW Local 600 and has since become a cornerstone of the labor union. Throughout his tenure, Gamble has served in numerous elected and appointed positions including plant trustee, alternate benefit representative, bargaining committee chair, and director, to name a few. Gamble's leadership and ability to work through difficult challenges were recognized by many, leading him to be elected a vice president of the UAW in June 2018. Most recently, Gamble was named President of the UAW by the UAW International Executive Board on December 5, 2019. As the UAW's first black president, Rory Gamble is recognized as a humble, compassionate, and honest leader who strives to effect meaningful change throughout all his work. Gamble took over the reins of the UAW at a critical moment in the union's history and has spent his first weeks instituting a series of ethics reforms and policy changes to set the UAW back on course. Despite the hardships, Gamble has remained optimistic and is dedicated to working together to navigate through the challenges. Gamble's work has truly made a difference, and his guidance will be imperative in the UAW's future success. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Rory Gamble. Gamble's tenacity for change and commitment to improving the lives of UAW members, their families, and the communities in which they live makes him a deserving recipient of the Let Freedom Ring Award. I am grateful for his impact on our community and wish him continued success in the years ahead.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Comcast Xfinity and their employees on the date of their store's grand opening in Taylor. Comcast Xfinity has become an important component of our Michigan community by utilizing our current infrastructure and workforce to deliver more affordable, efficient, and assessible internet services to consumers statewide. Originally established in April 1981 as Comcast Cable, Xfinity has grown significantly and transformed the southeast Michigan community. While employing thousands of individuals across Michigan, Xfinity has simultaneously developed new infrastructure to provide countless businesses and residents alike with quality cable and internet access. Their facilities have improved our region, showcasing it as a competitor in the market of technology and innovation. Xfinity's continued commitment to our state is exemplified in the company's expansion into the Taylor community. Comcast Xfinity's investment in opening a Taylor facility underscores the city's reputation as a center for growth, innovation, and advancement. With this new store, Xfinity will provide residents and businesses with the ability to access the latest technologies, products, and services. Xfinity's new store will significantly contribute to Michigan's telecommunications industry in the coming years. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Comcast Xfinity during the grand opening of the Comcast Xfinity Store in Taylor. This critical investment will provide Michigan's ambitious workforce and residents with access to the newest technologies in cable and internet services.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the distinguished career of Mark Gaffney as he retires from his position at Teamsters Local Union No. 214. As a lifelong Michigan resident, Mark Gaffney has become a cornerstone of the Michigan labor community. Upon receiving his bachelor's degree in Philosophy and master's degree in Labor Relations from Michigan State University, Gaffney launched a successful thirty- year career in workforce issues and labor relations. Beyond his role at Teamsters Local Union No. 214, Gaffney has also served as President of the Michigan AFL-CIO, an association of forty national labor unions representing over 700,000 Michiganders. In addition, Gaffney has directed the Economic Alliance of Michigan for twelve years as a co- chair, served as the Chair of the Board of Human Resources Development, Inc., was part of the Executive Committee of the Michigan Council for Labor and Economic Growth, and was appointed by Mayor Duggan to serve on the Detroit Workforce Board. Aside from his work with labor relations, Gaffney also has extensive healthcare experience and even served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. In 2016, Gaffney was elected statewide to serve an eight-year term on the Board of Governors of Wayne State University. Mark Gaffney's professional accomplishments demonstrate his unrelenting commitment to the people of Michigan. During his time at Teamsters Local Union No. 214, the largest Teamsters Local in Michigan, Gaffney has represented and negotiated on behalf of Michigan municipal and education workers from all walks of life. Yet, Gaffney's dedication is not exclusive to his role within the labor union. Instead, Gaffney has endeavored to represent Michiganders in all capacities, ensuring their needs are being properly met. Gaffney is recognized amongst his peers and colleagues as a compassionate, ambitious, and humble leader who strives for excellence without seeking praise or recognition for any of his significant accomplishments. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating Mark Gaffney's career with Teamsters Local Union No. 214. Mark Gaffney's unrelenting commitment to our state is remarkable and I deeply appreciate his continued leadership in our community.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the grand opening of Ozone House's youth facility. The Ozone House is a community-based, non-profit organization that has been devoted to helping youth in crisis for the past 50 years. In Washtenaw County, nearly 1,300 youth experience homelessness annually due to situations that arise from neglect, abuse, mental illness, or other crises. In 1969, Ozone House was established to address this problem and help young people in the community learn how to lead safe, healthy, and productive lives. Each year, the Ozone House provides refuge for over 800 young people and arranges over 4,000 hours of professional counseling services at two locations in Ann Arbor and a drop-in center in Ypsilanti. Today, we celebrate the opening of Ozone House's new youth facility. The opening of the newly-constructed 19,000 square-foot building demonstrates the organization's continued unrelenting commitment to youth in Michigan, as it allows the organization to improve its services and counsel more youth than ever before. The facility will provide more space and privacy to youth navigating trauma and crisis and will afford them a new sense of security, stability, and consistency. In addition to 16 private bedrooms that can sleep 32 young people, the facility will offer counseling rooms, an expanded food and necessities pantry, three kitchens, and laundry and shower facilities. Ozone House's new facility will positively impact the lives of hundreds of youth throughout our community and empower them to get though even the toughest of circumstances. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating the grand opening of Ozone House's new youth facility. In their commitment to providing a safe space for young people to help them grow and recognize their talents, the Ozone House continues to be an asset to the community. I am grateful for Ozone House's positive impact and wish the organization continued success in the years to come.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the opening of the Halal Metropolis exhibition at the Stamelos Gallery Center. Halal Metropolis celebrates our diverse Muslim population in Detroit, one of the largest and most diverse Muslim populations in the nation, and will facilitate a greater sense of understanding, unity, and respect for our Muslim neighbors statewide. Halal Metroplis is a traveling exhibition by artist Osman Khan, photographer Razi Jafri, and historian Sally Howell. The exhibition showcases the Muslim community and explores the Muslim narrative, a significant and important voice in our state's diverse identity. The exhibition will examine the facts, fictions, and imaginaries of Muslim populations and will adapt as it travels through different socio- political contexts and gallery spaces across the state. In the Stamelos Gallery Center, the exhibition will particularly highlight the role that food, fashion, and holiday celebration have played in augmenting Muslim visibility in the region. Halal Metropolis represents our community's desire to come together to challenge assumptions and celebrate the qualities that make us unique. Specifically structured to provoke conversation, the exhibition will be a conduit for change. Halal Metropolis will increase visibility for Muslims, lead to a greater understanding of their cultures, and generate a new appreciation for their role in our state's vibrant history. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating the opening of Halal Metropolis at the Stamelos Gallery Center. The valuable exhibition will offer a unique way to appreciate our Muslim community's important contributions to our state and recognize its deeply-rooted history.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the grand re- opening of the Michigan Union. The Michigan Union is a cornerstone of the University of Michigan. Opened in 1919, the Michigan Union is one of the oldest college unions in the country. For nearly a century, the Michigan Union has given students, faculty, and members of the Ann Arbor community a space to gather, study, and socialize. Throughout the years, the Michigan Union has undergone a great deal of transformation and witnessed some of our nation's greatest historical moments. On the morning of October 14, 1960, Democratic presidential nominee John F. Kennedy gave an impromptu speech that laid the groundwork for the Peace Corps. Later, during a visit to the University of Michigan, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. joined students in the Michigan Union to discuss his thoughts on discrimination and the future of integration in America. To carry on this impactful legacy and adapt to meet the needs of 21st century students, the Michigan Union closed in May 2018 to undergo an $85.2 million renovation. Today, we celebrate the Michigan Union as it opens its doors once again. While maintaining the architectural integrity of the 1919 original structure, Michigan Union has vastly remodeled internal features. Aside from technology upgrades and infrastructure renewals, the Michigan Union now includes expanded lounge and study rooms, a revolutionary idea hub, an enclosed courtyard, collaborative spaces, and a host of different food vendors. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating the grand re-opening of the Michigan Union. Through the historical renovation, the Michigan Union will continue to be an iconic symbol of the University of Michigan for generations to come.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.J. Res. 76 and in strong opposition to the Department of Education's change to the borrower defense rule. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to stand in defense of defrauded students nationwide from getting relief that they are entitled to. This significant step ensures that we hold the institutions accountable for their actions by blocking this rule from going into effect. Allowing this rule to move forward is a dismantling of student protections and would further exacerbate the student loan crisis in our country, which is a major crisis for our young people. We should not be protecting fraudulent institutions that prey on students. We should be working to prevent fraud in education in the first place. It is vital that defrauded students have a process that is fair and easy to understand, and this new guidance makes it substantially more difficult for these students to receive the relief that they desperately need. Denying debt relief to defrauded students is wrong. Mr. Speaker, I urge every Member to support this bill.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I have great respect for my colleague, but I oppose this amendment because it is really nothing more than a political stunt. This bill will protect communities across this country. The drinking water standard in this bill will be protective of the health of populations at greater risk, what we generally call vulnerable populations. That requirement was opposed by the Republicans. Mr. Shimkus had an amendment to strike that provision of the bill. He opposed protecting vulnerable populations. I deeply respect my colleague, but he opposed it every step of the way; and yesterday, he withdrew that amendment. If Republicans want to protect vulnerable populations, including pregnant women, infants, and children, they should support this bill. Let's be very clear: PFAS is an urgent health and environmental threat, period, and no one can deny that. The number of contamination sites, nationwide, is growing at an alarming rate, including our military bases--almost 400 military installations in this country. Developed in the 1940s, PFAS is a forever chemical. It is in the blood of more than 99 percent of Americans. It poses potential health risks. We know it. EPA has known the risk for decades and allowed this contamination to spread. EPA is not going to take care of this problem. Congress needs to act. The longer we wait, the worse the contamination becomes. The time is now to act on the PFAS Action Act. We have got to do it together. The American people count on us. The bill is a strong and serious package, and it is supported by some Republicans. It will jump-start cleanups. It will get PFAS out of our drinking water. It will limit PFAS in the air. It will limit PFAS in our rivers and streams. It will drive and require comprehensive testing for PFAS, and it will give our first responders and consumers tools to protect themselves. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this motion to recommit and urge Members to support the underlining bill so we can work together to enact laws that protect the American people. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the motion to recommit.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman from Maryland for yielding. I rise in support of the gentleman's amendment. By requiring the EPA to develop a national risk communication strategy surrounding PFAS, the Federal Government will be better able to educate Americans and inform the public about the danger of PFAS chemicals. Experts believe that 99 percent of Americans have some level of PFAS in their blood, and most of them don't even know it. I thank the gentleman for his strong leadership in addressing the PFAS crisis head-on and thank him for offering this amendment. Incorporating this amendment will make the PFAS Action Act stronger and communicate the urgency to more people. I am proud to support this amendment and urge all of my colleagues to support it as well.

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman for yielding and for his leadership, and Chairman Pallone's leadership on all of these issues. I rise in strong support of H.R. 535. Exactly 1 year ago, I introduced the PFAS Action Act, and have been joined by many of my colleagues in this effort in the last year. I promised my constituents that we would take serious steps to address that issue, and that is what we are doing today. Let us be very clear: PFAS is an urgent public health and environmental threat, and the number of contamination sites nationwide is growing at an alarming rate, including our military bases. PFAS chemicals are everywhere. They are in our nonstick cookware; they are in food containers; they are in carpet, clothing, cosmetics, and firefighting foams, just to name a few. PFAS is persistent. It accumulates in your body, and it is toxic. They are manmade, and they are known as a forever chemical. They don't break down in the environment; they don't break down in your body; and they don't break down in the wildlife. Exposure to PFAS, even at low levels, poses significant health risks, and we know that now. In a recent review, the CDC identified a number of health effects associated with PFAS exposure, including cancer, liver damage, decreased fertility, and an increased risk of asthma and thyroid disease. Experts believe that as many as 99 percent--some people say 97. I have an official source that says 99. Who cares what that number is, because most Americans at that level have PFAS in their blood, and they don't even know it. Michigan has been hit hard. It is ground zero for where PFAS has been identified. We have 74 sites, but only because, after Flint, we learned. We look and try to keep our citizens from being poisoned. According to the Environmental Working Group, PFAS has been detected in the drinking water of more than 1400 communities across the country; and those drinking water systems serve 19 million people in this country, including 300 military installations that have been identified. In my district, PFAS is in the water in the Huron River, and we can't eat the fish. I was at a townhall meeting and a man got up--he was older--and said to me: I used to eat that fish. I relied on it. When will I be able to eat it again? I didn't want to say this to him, but the fact of the matter is probably not in his lifetime. Most of these sites are not being cleaned up. And the number of sites is expected to grow across the country as more States do the testing they need to do to protect their citizens, to find PFAS. But the most troubling thing is that the manufacturing companies know the danger of PFAS and even tracked it in the blood of their employees, while the EPA has completely abandoned its responsibility to act swiftly and comprehensively. And our military is saying they don't have to clean it up. Why? Because it is not listed under CERCLA and because they are not required to do so. Here is the reality. We are not cleaning up the contamination. We don't even have a protective drinking water standard. And you talk about science, Governor Rick Snyder, a Republican, appointed a scientific community that said that the guideline--not a standard--isn't stringent enough to protect human life. Now, EPA keeps coming and testifying before our committee, and they say they are going to do it soon, but I sure don't see them doing it. Do you all realize that exposures to contaminated water, air, and soil that include PFAS and toxins kill more people than smoking, hunger, war, natural disaster, AIDS, and malaria together? Did the Flint water crisis not teach us in this Congress and the country something? Mr. Chair, I thank all of my colleagues who have worked on this issue. When you know the facts, I don't understand how anybody could let American people be poisoned, and it is time for us to act.

Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman from New York for yielding. Madam Chair, I rise in strong opposition to the gentleman's amendment. Superfund is a landmark environmental law and an essential public health program that works. There are contaminated sites all across this country that pose direct threats to human health and the environment because of pollutants like lead, mercury, PCBs, and asbestos. Superfund is the program that gets those sites cleaned up. Superfund does not regulate the use of chemicals; it does not block the use of chemicals; and it does not assign liability for the use of chemicals. It only applies to the release of chemicals into the environment. Some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have characterized Superfund as a de facto ban. They say that the industry will so fear liability that they will abandon PFAS chemicals. Experience shows that that simply is not true. There are hundreds of chemicals listed under Superfund that continue to be used in industrial and consumer products and by the Department of Defense. In fact, Superfund is designed to prevent releases of chemicals that are in continued use. When a chemical is listed as a hazardous air pollutant under the Clean Air Act, EPA sets emission limits for that chemical that are implemented through permits. Facilities continue to use and emit those chemicals. At the same time, those chemicals are automatically listed under Superfund. The same is true under the Clean Water Act. Madam Chair, the funny thing is that the two PFAS compounds covered by this bill, PFOA and PFOS, have already been phased out for more than a decade under a voluntary partnership between EPA and industry. We have heard many concerns from my Republican friends about the specter of Superfund liability for different groups. These concerns are largely unfounded. Drinking water utilities will handle PFOA and PFOS the same way they handle the hundreds of hazardous substances they currently remove from drinking water. The same will be true for wastewater utilities. Farmers will continue to be able to use biosolids as fertilizer, just as they currently do, because Superfund already exempts fertilizer use. Manufacturers of airplane door seals and heart stents will be able to continue using the PFAS they currently use--all while impacted communities, like Michigan, will get the cleanup that they need. The only change this bill makes in how Superfund operates is a limited exemption for federally required use of PFAS at airports. If this amendment were adopted, airports would lose that exemption. And if EPA eventually moves forward with listing PFOA and PFAS, as they have committed to do, EPA is not authorized to exempt airports. Only Congress can do that. So the airports need this amendment defeated, and they need this bill enacted. A Superfund listing is an essential provision to accelerate PFAS cleanup nationwide. It is the foundation of the PFAS Action Act. By gutting it, we cripple our ability to serve and protect the American people responsibly. Madam Chair, I join my colleague, the chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change, in urging a ``no'' vote on this amendment.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for all of his leadership. I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4500, the Promoting U.S. Wireless Leadership Act of 2019, which we are considering now. This bill, on which my colleague and good friend from Michigan, Mr. Walberg, has taken the lead, and my good friend from Indiana, Mrs. Brooks, the three of us have worked closely and in a bipartisan fashion to direct the NTIA to encourage participation by trusted American companies and other stakeholders in international standards-setting bodies. This is about American competitiveness. In short, it helps ensure that America's interests are protected, and that companies have a seat at the table, as the world is deciding what 5G is going to look like. The policy choices that are being made right now will have lasting implications for 5G technology development around the world. It is imperative that the United States have a strong voice in these decisions, so we can continue to lead in an increasingly competitive market. We cannot give up a competitive edge or give it to another country. The Energy and Commerce Committee advanced this bill, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support it today.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the grand re- opening of the Michigan Union. The Michigan Union is a cornerstone of the University of Michigan. Opened in 1919, the Michigan Union is one of the oldest college unions in the country. For nearly a century, the Michigan Union has given students, faculty, and members of the Ann Arbor community a space to gather, study, and socialize. Throughout the years, the Michigan Union has undergone a great deal of transformation and witnessed some of our nation's greatest historical moments. On the morning of October 14, 1960, Democratic presidential nominee John F. Kennedy gave an impromptu speech that laid the groundwork for the Peace Corps. Later, during a visit to the University of Michigan, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. joined students in the Michigan Union to discuss his thoughts on discrimination and the future of integration in America. To carry on this impactful legacy and adapt to meet the needs of 21st century students, the Michigan Union closed in May 2018 to undergo an $85.2 million renovation. Today, we celebrate the Michigan Union as it opens its doors once again. While maintaining the architectural integrity of the 1919 original structure, Michigan Union has vastly remodeled internal features. Aside from technology upgrades and infrastructure renewals, the Michigan Union now includes expanded lounge and study rooms, a revolutionary idea hub, an enclosed courtyard, collaborative spaces, and a host of different food vendors. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating the grand re-opening of the Michigan Union. Through the historical renovation, the Michigan Union will continue to be an iconic symbol of the University of Michigan for generations to come.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 112th anniversary of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. It is my honor and privilege to recognize its years of distinguished service to communities throughout Michigan. Since its founding on the campus of Howard University on January 15, 1908, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated has been steadfast in its mission ``to cultivate and encourage high scholastic and ethical standards, to promote unity and friendship among college women, to study and help alleviate problems concerning girls and women in order to improve their social stature, to maintain a progressive interest in college life, and to be of `Service to All Mankind.' '' The women of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority are known for their excellent academic prowess, dedicated leadership skills, and commitment to advocacy and community service. Through its wide breadth of programs, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority endeavors to develop innovative programs to address significant community issues regarding education, health, family, the arts, technology, and economics. Over a century later, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is still celebrated as one of the most distinguished Greek-letter organizations today. Its nearly 300,000 members are recognized as leaders who strive to make a difference and effect change. Today, chapters are active in the counties of Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, and Washtenaw and continue to provide essential programs and services to our community's youth and seniors. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in honoring the 112th anniversary of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. This significant milestone serves as a testament to the sorority's unrelenting commitment to community service, academic excellence, and empowerment. We are grateful for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority's impact and wish it continued success in the years ahead.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for all of his hard work on getting us here today. We have to be honest: This trade deal won't undo the deep damage NAFTA 1.0 has done to our American workers, American manufacturing, and our environment. Today, factories sit empty in Michigan and across my district, while workers are unable to compete with subpar nonunion workers in other countries. A new trade agreement is not just going to uproot those factories from overseas and bring them back home, but we fought hard to improve the original deal because what the Trump administration first proposed wasn't enough. Democrats fought for stronger labor and environmental standards and tougher enforcement mechanisms. This agreement has earned my vote because of the significant improvements made over the last year in NAFTA 1.0, but our work is still there to strengthen American manufacturing, protect our environment, invest in our workers, and make sure we keep America at the forefront of innovation and technology.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, no one enters Congress hoping to impeach the president. But when duty demands it, we have no other choice. Our founders included in the Constitution a provision for impeachment, a provision to be used only in the face of the gravest threats to our democratic republic. Deciding how to vote cannot be accurately portrayed in tweets or sound bites, so I welcome the opportunity to explain my thoughts. Unlike many others in the Democratic Party, I was, at first, hesitant about impeachment. As one of the few who predicted that Donald Trump could win the election, I made clear that I would work with him if he would help the hard-working men and women of my district in Michigan. I worked with his team on lowering drug prices, improving trade policies, addressing the opioid crisis and updating major conservation efforts. We made progress in some areas. I have also opposed many of this administration's positions, including threatening to take away protections for people living with pre-existing medical conditions, withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement, instituting a travel ban affecting Muslim-majority countries and tearing families apart at the border. These policies were wrong, but they were not impeachable offenses. Our democracy supports dissenting opinions, and I respect the office of the presidency. Pressure began early this year for me to call for impeachment. The billionaire Tom Steyer ran advertisements in The Detroit News and The Detroit Free Press and on news websites and social media calling for impeachment. People in my district had strong opinions everywhere I went, from the grocery store and farmers markets to church and my bagel place. At the time, my constituents were focused on the Mueller report into Russian interference in the 2016 election, which they hoped would provide a case for impeachment. But it wasn't clear. What the report did reveal--a finding that was often overlooked in the focus on the Trump campaign's contacts with Russians--is that Moscow is trying to divide our country. Then, in October, came reports that Mr. Trump and his administration withheld congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine while asking for a foreign government to investigate one of his political rivals. An inspector general appointed by Mr. Trump found that there was a credible, urgent and potentially immediate threat to our national security. No matter the party affiliation of the person occupying the White House or the party of the majority in Congress, our founders built our Constitution on a system of three equal branches of government, with very clear oversight responsibilities delegated to the Congress. The whistle-blower report required Congress to investigate the facts and follow the issue. News outlets seem to assume that House Democrats and Republicans have been as obsessed with impeachment as they are, and that every single Democrat had her mind made up from Day 1. But the truth is that many of us on both sides have remained focused on kitchen-table issues that matter to everyone. While the House Intelligence and Judiciary Committees undertook the job of gathering the facts, House leaders and other committees worked to lower prescription drug prices, protect the environment, restore voting rights to citizens and devise trade deals that level the playing field. A vote as serious as impeaching the president of the United States deserves thoughtful, reflective and deliberate attention. Each day, after attending my own committee hearings and markups, meetings and events with constituents, I would come home to start my own studies on the impeachment inquiry. I read testimonies from firsthand witnesses, parsed the majority and dissenting opinions from the committees' reports and listened to the voices on both sides. I spent weeks reading the Constitution, constitutional scholars, the Federalist Papers and papers from both the Nixon and Clinton impeachment processes. By the end, I was convinced: The facts showed that President Trump and his administration put politics over country by asking a foreign government to investigate a political rival while withholding military aid that affects our national security. Further evidence showed a clear obstruction of Congress. Blocking key witnesses from the administration from testifying and even intimidating sitting witnesses sets a dangerous precedent. If we don't address this abuse of power, we abdicate our constitutional and moral responsibility. Failing to address it would also condone these actions as acceptable for future administrations. Did President Trump's actions rise to the level of a threat to our democracy? Yes. Future generations and historians will judge us if we did not address these dangers. I will cast my vote to protect our Constitution, our democratic republic and the future of our country.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Chairman, I thank my colleague, Representative Kennedy, for adding an amendment to this bill that will tighten it even further. I also thank Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Pallone, Chairman Neal, and Chairman Scott for their leadership and efforts on this historic legislation, which brings desperately needed relief to America's patients and seniors from the high drug prices that are scaring too many of them. There is a reason that we pay nearly four times more for prescription drugs than other industrialized nations. They use negotiation to lower drug prices. We don't. Negotiating lower drug prices is a promise that the President, Democrats, and Republicans have made, and the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act makes good to this commitment. Representative Kennedy's amendment further strengthens this provision to ensure that the Secretary of Health and Human Services, who is responsible for these negotiations, is free from conflicts of interest. A public office is a public trust, and America's seniors and patients deserve to have confidence that the Secretary's interests are aligned with theirs. That is why this amendment is so important. It puts American people first when negotiating drug prices so that they receive the best deal possible. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, which will ensure that the American people, not special interests, are represented in drug price negotiations.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 729, the Coastal and Great Lakes Communities Enhancement Act. This strong, bipartisan package is a combination of months of work in the Natural Resources Committee. It includes many key priorities for the Great Lakes region, including Representative Quigley's Great Lakes Fishery Research Authorization Act. This bipartisan legislation will strengthen our understanding of Great Lakes fisheries and provide additional resources for research into the Great Lakes Basin's fisheries and biology. Cutting-edge technologies authorized by the Great Lakes Fishery Research Reauthorization Act will enable scientists to deliver near- real-time data on quickly emerging crises, such as potential fisheries crashes or new and very unwelcome invasive species like the Asian carp. Additionally, the package includes key sportsmen's priorities like the National Fish Habitat Conservation Through Partnerships Act, which builds off State- and locally led joint ventures to better conserve wildlife and fish habitats. As one of the co-chairs of the Great Lakes Task Force here in Congress, I urge all of my colleagues to support these important provisions and vote in favor of the Coastal and Great Lakes Communities Enhancement Act.

Mrs. DINGELL

Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mary Zatina and recognize her years of distinguished service with Beaumont Health. Mary Zatina was the Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Community Affairs at Beaumont Health. In this role, Zatina advanced Beaumont and Oakwood Healthcare's relationship with government leaders, significantly improving the well-being of patients community-wide. Zatina joined Oakwood from the Office of the Governor, where she served as an advisor to Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and chief of staff to First Gentleman Daniel Granholm Mulhern. Prior to her career in the state government, Zatina was the Senior Vice President and Director of Corporate Communications and Strategy at Campbell-Ewald and Director of Corporate Communications for the MichCon/MCN Energy Group. Throughout all her professional endeavors, Mary Zatina has been recognized as a dynamic, accomplished, and effective leader who strives to effect meaningful and lasting change. She has used all her experiences to enhance Beaumont's partnerships with local, state, and national officials, chambers of commerce, and community leaders at all levels, enabling Beaumont to strengthen its outreach and expand its services. Beyond this, Zatina has also been an active member of her local Michigan community. She is a member of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce, the Michigan Fitness Foundation Board of Directors, the Southwest Solutions Board and Development Committee of the Greening of the Detroit, and serves on the Citizens Advisory Committee for the University of Michigan-Dearborn. In addition, she was a founding member of the Arab-American Women's Business Council and the Chicago Boulevard East Block Club. Zatina's work has earned her widespread acclaim, evident in her designation as a Fall 2017 Arab American Business Woman of the Year and a Crain's Detroit Business ``40 Under 40'' Honoree. Still, Mary Zatina's accomplishments and accolades only scratch the surface. Put simply, Zatina is a good person with a kind heart. Despite her busy life, she is dedicated to uplifting everyone she encounters and is always willing to lend a helping hand. Zatina is known amongst her friends, family, and colleagues as an accomplished chef, master gardener, and friend who will always do the right thing. Moreover, she is a creative hostess who is welcoming of all, whether it be at spontaneous gathering or one of her famous annual parties. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mary Zatina for her accomplished career at Beaumont Health. We deeply appreciate her dedication to improving the lives of others and wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors.