A. Ferguson

Mr. FERGUSON

Mr. FERGUSON. Please.

Mr. FERGUSON. Could the gentleman answer one question: Is President Biden wrong? Or is Dr. Monahan wrong? I yield to the gentleman from California.

Mr. FERGUSON. Madam Speaker, I rise for the purpose of inquiring to the majority the schedule for the week to come. I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Aguilar), my friend and colleague, the vice chair of the Democratic Caucus.

Mr. FERGUSON. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the majority for those remarks on the schedule. I also want to take a minute to thank the leader, and others over there, for helping pass H.R. 2877, the Behavioral Intervention Guidelines Act. It is a really good bill that will go a long way in supporting school safety. I know there were many questions about it, and everybody worked to get it to a good spot. I would like to, again, extend my appreciation for all of the help from my Democratic colleagues. Turning to the operations of the House, as the gentleman knows, the CDC has now lifted all mask and social distancing requirements. President Biden has lifted the mask requirements for the White House staff. But, amazingly, here in the House of Representatives, we still must wear the mask, stagger the vote times, have these long vote times. We should be going back to a 5-minute and a 2-minute schedule so we can do the work of the House. When can we expect these restrictions to be lifted? Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California.

Mr. FERGUSON. Madam Speaker, reclaiming my time. We, as Americans, should all celebrate Operation Warp Speed and the work done by the administration to be able to do that and to follow through. We greatly appreciate the Biden administration's following up on the really great work of Operation Warp Speed and the Trump administration.

Mr. FERGUSON. I yield to the gentleman.

Mr. FERGUSON. I will say this before we move on to the next topic. It does appear that many of us are governed by different rules along the way. So let's move on to one final thing. As you know, this has been police reform week. I was happy to see that President Biden set the deadline for May 25 to sign a police reform bill. I was also extremely happy to see that Democrat leadership has dropped its request to eliminate qualified immunity. I thought that was a very strong statement and very positive. As the majority whip said on May 9: I know what the perfect bill will be. We have proposed that. And I want to see good legislation. I know that sometimes you have to compromise. And if we don't get qualified immunity now, we can come back and try to get it later. But I don't want to see us throw out a good bill because we can't get a perfect bill, good legislative action. Now, in order to get this bill done by the May 25--that is a fairly short timeline. I know that Representative Pete Stauber has a bill ready to go--a really good bill--that addresses the things in a very bipartisan way that I think we would like to see. Based on the schedule that you laid out, do you anticipate that the majority would take up Mr. Stauber's bill so that we can meet President Biden's deadline of May 25?

Mr. FERGUSON. I yield to the gentleman.

Mr. FERGUSON. Reclaiming my time. I implore the majority to put Mr. Stauber and Mr. Scott's bill onto the floor as soon as possible so that we can reach a bipartisan vote and consensus on this. I just want to make one other observation here, knowing that it is police week. We have got men and women around this country--you and I, again, both as mayors, had the honor of being involved in that, seeing the sacrifice that they make, whether it is local police officers or deputies out patrolling our country roads in many parts of my district; the men and women of the Customs and Border Patrol Agency who are down there putting their lives on the line every single day to stop the grossness of human trafficking and the horrors of narcotic trafficking; or looking around this very building that we are in right now, looking at the men and women who have been here, that will continue to be here to serve us and protect us. What I found very interesting about this week is that the silence from the majority is deafening. Not bringing a resolution to honor our men and women in law enforcement says an awful lot about how you feel. And I will say this: I think the majority should come back in--and I think we would all agree to do this next week--to put a resolution on the floor to honor the men and women of law enforcement, because I can't imagine which group is not worthy of that. I yield to the gentleman.

Mr. FERGUSON. But, again, I want to go back to it, with the morale of the officers here in the Capitol as low as it is right now, the tremendous stresses that they are under, the staffing problems that they have, wondering whether or not this entire body at times has their back.

Mr. FERGUSON. No, not yet. I think it is important that this body bring a resolution to the floor supporting the men and women in law enforcement around the Nation, but particularly right here in this Capitol. I will be the first one, along with the rest of my colleagues, to support that resolution. And, so again, it is very simple. A lot of words. And I do appreciate the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Demings), for leading the Special Order. She certainly knows, as a former law enforcement officer and leader of a department, how tough that is. But, again, the silence here is deafening. With that, Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FERGUSON

Mr. FERGUSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a remarkable individual from my district, Colonel Ralph Puckett, a 94-year-old veteran who will soon receive the Nation's highest award, the Medal of Honor. Colonel Puckett is a Georgia native and a graduate of West Point. Soon after graduating, he was deployed to fight in Korea in the 8th Army Ranger Company. In November of 1950, he heroically led his Ranger company on a freezing day at the Battle for Hill 205. His platoon was overcome by an onslaught of Chinese attackers and a barrage of artillery fire. Colonel Puckett sustained severe injuries during this attack. Although his injuries incapacitated him, Colonel Puckett selflessly ordered Private First Class Billy G. Walls and Private First Class Davis L. Pollock to leave him on the battlefield. He could see the Chinese soldiers within yards of attacking his Rangers, but his comrades returned to carry him to safety, despite the danger. Colonel Puckett went on to serve honorably in Colombia, Germany, and Vietnam until his retirement in 1971. Though his Active Duty has ended, he continues to serve as Honorary Colonel of the 75th Ranger Regiment, and he still inspires young people in his community today. Colonel Puckett was inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame and received a Distinguished Service Cross for his actions at Hill 205, in addition to two Silver Stars, five Purple Hearts, various awards from Vietnam and Colombia, and a Distinguished Graduate Award from West Point. His bravery is a testament to his strength and patriotism, and he is an inspiration to the people of the Third District of Georgia, as well as our country. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Colonel Puckett and extending our sincere appreciation to him and all of our men and women in uniform. As a nation, we are forever grateful for their service and their sacrifice.

Mr. FERGUSON

Mr. FERGUSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2877, the BIG Act. Without question, we have all seen how the mental health issues in America have been growing, and they have been exacerbated by the COVID- 19 pandemic. The urgency to address this crisis has become more dire as we are seeing how fear, anxiety, financial problems, and particularly isolation have compounded these issues. We see this across the board but particularly with our young people. We must tackle these issues head-on, and that is why I am honored to support the BIG Act. This straightforward bill works to provide local communities and educational systems with the tools that they need to help identify mental health needs before it is too late. As a healthcare provider, I can tell my colleagues that early intervention is vitally important, and putting teams together that recognize the needs and see the problems with students before it is too late is important. The last thing that we want to see our students go through is the process of dropping out of school because of issues or problems with behavior or with their classmates. Most importantly, we never want to see them do harm to themselves or to others. This bill provides the resources and the best practices from around the country in one site where school districts and different organizations can come together to put together the programs that will work best for them. Congress must step up to confront this challenge, but doing so successfully will require input from an awful lot of people. That is what this bill does. This is a bipartisan, bicameral bill. It has widespread support from places like Texas A&M; as you mentioned, the University of California; and in my home district, Columbus State University. It has the support of mental health organizations, mental health providers, and other individuals across this country. Together, we can and should increase the mental health well-being of our fellow Americans. National Mental Health Awareness Month is going on, and it is so important that we act to improve access across our country to high- quality, evidence-based mental healthcare services. That is why I ask my colleagues to join in supporting the BIG Act.

Mr. FERGUSON

Mr. FERGUSON. Madam Speaker, I missed the vote on H.R. 3384, the MORE Act on December 4, 2020 to leave to care for a sick family member. If I had been present, I would have voted ``Nay'' on H.R. 3384, the MORE Act, Roll Call No. 235

Mr. FERGUSON

Mr. FERGUSON. Madam Speaker, I recently had the opportunity to meet with India's Consulate General Dr. Swati V. Kulkarni to discuss the bilateral relationship between India and the United States, and I rise today to recognize the critical importance of this relationship with our ally, India. In any part of the world, Madam Speaker, individuals and families need to feel safe when they leave their homes and go to work. Terrorist groups need to be strongly opposed in all forms. Without question, India is a strong partner in the fight against international terrorism. As a part of this pursuit, the Indian Government recently repealed Article 370--a temporary Article of the Indian Constitution that forced citizens of Jammu-Kashmir to live under different laws than all other Indians. It was meant to be a stopgap measure since this region's government had yet to be formed. Madam Speaker, this measure hindered the application of progressive federal laws of the Indian Government. As a result, Pakistani-based terrorist organizations conducted terrorist activities that accounted for thousands of innocent lives being lost and detrimentally impacted economic opportunities in the region. In August of 2019, both Houses of the Indian parliament voted to end the temporary status of Article 370 in order to bring peace, stability, and the opportunity to chart out better futures to the people of the region. I applaud the current steps taken by Prime Minister Modi to boost economic development, fight terrorism, and fight corruption. These steps forward are good for the long-term stability of Jammu-Kashmir and we should support the Indian Government in this endeavor.

Mr. FERGUSON

Mr. FERGUSON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the chairman and the ranking member for this opportunity, and I rise to support H.R. 3539. Every American wants to live in a safe community, and children deserve to be able to go to safe schools. But all too often, that safety has been ruined by violence to self or others. The Behavioral Intervention Guidelines, or BIG, Act combats this mental health epidemic head-on by providing local communities and school systems with the tools they need to help identify those most in need. All across the country, schools like Columbus State University in my home State of Georgia and Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas, have implemented behavioral intervention programs following the 2008 tragedy at Virginia Tech. Dr. Chip Reese at Columbus State University and other university leaders, like Dr. Billy Phillips at Texas Tech, report that, as a result of these programs, they have seen universities' culture change and are helping to get at-risk students back on the right track. This important legislation would foster this approach by providing Federal guidance in the form of best practices. Once established, these best practices will be disseminated on the HHS website, and HHS would provide technical assistance for elementary, secondary, and higher education institutions that are looking to create their own behavioral health intervention teams. Now more than ever, our students should have the proper resources and a supportive community around them to benefit their mental health. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this important piece of legislation.

Mr. FERGUSON

Mr. FERGUSON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to wish my mother a happy birthday. Happy birthday, mom. I wish I were there to celebrate with you. But instead, I am in D.C., voting on a senseless bill that was designed strictly for political purposes and will put your beloved grandchildren further into debt. Now, I have watched my colleagues on the other side of the aisle come up with some intellectually dishonest stuff in the past. I have seen it happen more times than I care to count, but this effort takes the cake. Just look at what Postmaster General DeJoy said when he testified before the Senate last week and clearly addressed the litany of baseless claims. First of all, he stated that no reforms would be implemented between now and the election. Overtime will not be cut between now and November. And the very thing the USPS needs more than anything else, reform, is going to be delayed. He said the removal of the drop boxes will cease, something that I remember well because it happened when I was mayor of my hometown of West Point, Georgia, and our town was furious about it then. I just wish my colleagues on the other side of the aisle had found religion about this issue back then instead of sitting up here fighting over what color to paint the fire hydrants while Rome burned. This bill calls for 25 billion additional dollars. The postmaster has already testified there is over $13 billion cash on hand, another $10 billion in loans they won't need. I want someone to explain to me how you are going to spend $25 billion between now and November. We know how this place works. On an unauthorized appropriation, we all know that before you spend money here, you have to have a plan, and I haven't seen one. Then, that plan has to be reviewed and then commented on and reviewed again. Then one more time, it probably has to be reviewed. Then, there is the whole procurement process, bid process on equipment, background checks on new employees, the lawsuits on the procurement process because the special interest group said that they weren't notified in time so they could get preferential treatment on the government contract. And surely, there will be the customary environmental review.

Mr. FERGUSON. Mr. Speaker, surely there will be the customary environmental review to understand the impact on the spotted blue tail south Georgia armadillo being run over by all the new mail trucks. This bill is a sham. It is a shame. It is not needed right now. We are piling up money. We might as well put it on The National Mall, have a bonfire, invite Americans to bring their lawn chairs and a cooler of beer to watch the bonfire, so they can see firsthand how this place wastes money. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote.

Mr. FERGUSON

Mr. FERGUSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Walker) for allowing me to do this. I rise tonight to honor the life and legacy of John Lewis. John dedicated his life to equality and justice, and the Nation we are so blessed to live in is better because of his work and his sacrifice. John was driven by his deep faith, his servant heart, and his love of his fellow human being. While John was always right to fight for legal changes to make America better, he ultimately knew that how you treated your fellow human being was a matter of the heart. John led by example. He led by showing love and grace to all people. He showed love and grace even to those people who disagreed with him or showed him contempt. John was always willing to offer forgiveness to those who had done him wrong, knowing that forgiveness was fundamental to building a relationship built on trust and love. Two of my most vivid memories and treasured experiences here in my time in Congress involved John. One was a dinner at his house. He invited the Georgia delegation over, and he retold the story of his life and experiences in the civil rights movement. What a cherished memory and experience. The second was the night that we honored another Georgia giant here, former House Member and former U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson. I remember the night that Johnny Isakson and John Lewis met in the center and embraced in true love, friendship, and respect. It was truly an amazing moment. John was an amazing man, and I believe that the only thing John Lewis ever hated was hate itself. Rest in peace, our dear friend.

Mr. FERGUSON

Mr. FERGUSON. Madam Speaker, I rise for the purpose of inquiring of the majority leader the schedule for the week to come. I yield to my friend from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the majority leader.

Mr. FERGUSON. Madam Speaker, I very much appreciate that update. Question: Does the gentleman expect to consider amendments to H.R. 2, the transportation bill, on the floor next week? I yield to the gentleman from Maryland.

Mr. FERGUSON. Madam Speaker, I am happy to hear that. But it seems kind of odd that this week, when we were considering the police reform bill, there were no amendment considerations. I believe the majority leader, Madam Speaker, said on the floor that we have constraints on amendments because of the coronavirus. So I ask, if there were amendment constraints this week, do those same constraints exist next week?

Mr. FERGUSON. Well, I certainly appreciate that, but I was a little disappointed this week, in the fact that I thought we had a chance to make the police reform bill better. It was a genuine effort on both sides of the aisle to have this discussion. But once again, the Republican voice was left out. There were some really good amendments and ideas from my side that simply did not gain consideration on the floor, and they should have. One such example was the Cline amendment that really would have discouraged collective bargaining agreements with organizations that really kind of had poor officer disciplinary tactics, something that could have fundamentally changed how departments operate in big cities. But anyway, it is a disappointment. I hate that we did not get to do that.

Mr. FERGUSON. I yield to the gentleman.

Mr. FERGUSON. Reclaiming my time, those words are fine now. But when we talk about having agreement and talk about having those discussions, Madam Speaker, clearly, the committee and this body should be considering it as an entire body. The opportunity for us to consider those amendments here on the floor of the House is really important. But we understand that the minority in the Senate blocked debate and continuation of Mr. Scott's bill, Senator Scott's bill, which was, quite candidly, an excellent piece of legislation. If anyone has not seen his remarks on the Senate floor and his speech, I would highly encourage you to do it. That was a disappointment. But then, to hear the majority leader say that we are going to eliminate debate in this House simply to do it in conference, I think we deserve a better opportunity than that. But I understand. You are in the majority, and that is the way that you all have chosen to do that. But, hopefully, we can get to that point where we can have those honest debates right here on the House floor.