Tulsi Gabbard

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, the American people have directly felt the cost of our Nation's interventionist wars, a cost borne by our Nation's sons and daughters who have served and by communities and people in every part of this country. We have spent trillions of dollars on regime-change wars in the Middle East while communities like mine in Hawaii face a severe lack of affordable housing, aging infrastructure, the need to invest in education, health care, and so much more. Our limited resources should go toward rebuilding our communities here at home, not fueling more counterproductive regime-change wars abroad. I have introduced the Stop Arming Terrorists Act, legislation that would stop our government from using taxpayer dollars to directly or indirectly support groups who are allied with and supporting terrorist groups like ISIS and al Qaeda in their war to overthrow the Syrian Government. The fact that our resources are being used to strengthen the very terrorist groups we should be focused on defeating should alarm every American. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation and stop this madness.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. ``But in all such cases the votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the persons voting for and against the bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively.''

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, on November 15, 2016, the Aloha State lost the Honorable Clift Tsuji, a soldier, a Hawaii State Representative, and a loving father. Born and raised in the plantation town of Papa`ikou, Representative Clift Tsuji served the people of Hawaii Island throughout his 75 years of life. After graduating from Hilo High School in 1959, Representative Tsuji served as a U.S. Army Reservist with the 442nd Infantry, Company B, out of Hilo from 1959-1965. He completed post-secondary degrees at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the University of Washington, Pacific Coast Banking School. In 1969, he began work at Central Pacific Bank, beginning a career with Central Pacific that spanned 34 years. After retiring from Central Pacific Bank in 2003, he served as the Vice President of the Hilo Candy Company until 2004, when he was elected to serve the people of Keaukaha, Pana`ewa, Waiakea, and parts of Hilo in the Hawai`i House of Representatives. In the State House, Representative Tsuji served as the Chair of the House Agriculture Committee, where he helped champion legislation to fight invasive species and strengthen Hawai`i's biosecurity. His dedicated service on the House Agriculture Committee was widely recognized, and among many other awards, he was named the Hawai`i Farm Bureau's Legislator of the Year in 2015. Representative Tsuji was known to his constituents as a passionate leader, a dedicated public servant, and an advocate for the Hilo community. In addition to his work in business and government, he was an active member of many local and statewide organizations including the Hilo Medical Center Foundation, Hawai`i Island Japanese Community Association, Tsunami Museum, Hiroshima Kenjin Kai, Hawai`i Island Chamber of Commerce, and the Kumamoto Kenjin Kai. One of the last conversations Representative Tsuji had with his son Ryan was about making sure he could continue to pass important legislation for his constituents in the next legislative session. Whether it was a construction project in Hilo, or a biosecurity bill benefitting the entire State of Hawai`i, Representative Tsuji was committed to delivering results for his constituents and the people of the Aloha State. Just a few days before his death, I saw Representative Tsuji at the Hilo Veterans Parade and, as usual, he was full of aloha, as he welcomed me to the community he loved so much. My heart is with his children, Ryan and Ashley, and all of Hawai`i Island. Clift, you are missed. Mahalo nui loa (thank you) for dedicating your life to serving our community in the spirit of aloha. Ke Akua me ke Aloha (God bless you).

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, under U.S. law, it is illegal for you or me or any American to provide any type of assistance to al Qaeda, ISIS, or other terrorist groups. If we broke this law, we would be thrown in jail. Yet the U.S. Government has been violating this law for years, directly and indirectly supporting allies and partners of groups like al Qaeda and ISIS with money, weapons, intelligence, and other support in their fight to overthrow the Syrian Government. A recent New York Times article confirmed that ``rebel groups'' supported by the U.S. ``have entered into battlefield alliances with the affiliate of al Qaeda in Syria, formerly known as Al Nusra.'' The Wall Street Journal reports that rebel grounds are ``doubling down on their alliance'' with al Qaeda. This alliance has rendered the phrase ``moderate rebels'' meaningless. We must stop this madness. We must stop arming terrorists. I am introducing the Stop Arming Terrorists Act today to prohibit taxpayer dollars from being used to support terrorists.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, under U.S. law it is illegal for any American to provide money or assistance to al Qaeda, ISIS or other terrorist groups. If you or I gave money, weapons or support to al- Qaeda or ISIS, we would be thrown in jail. Yet the U.S. government has been violating this law for years, quietly supporting allies and partners of al Qaeda, ISIL, Jabhat Fateh al Sham and other terrorist groups with money, weapons, and intelligence support, in their fight to overthrow the Syrian government. The CIA has also been funneling weapons and money through Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar and others who provide direct and indirect support to groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda. This support has allowed al- Qaeda and their fellow terrorist organizations to establish strongholds throughout Syria, including in Aleppo. A recent New York Times article confirmed that ``rebel groups'' supported by the U.S. ``have entered into battlefield alliances with the affiliate of al-Qaeda in Syria, formerly known as Al Nusra.'' This alliance has rendered the phrase ``moderate rebels'' meaningless. Reports confirm that ``every armed anti-Assad organization unit in those provinces [of Idlib and Aleppo] is engaged in a military structure controlled by [al-Qaeda's] Nusra militants.'' A recent Wall Street Journal article reported that many rebel groups are ``doubling down on their alliance'' with al Nusrah. Some rebel groups are renewing their alliance, while others, like Nour al-Din al- Zinki, a former CIA-backed group and one of the largest factions in Aleppo, are joining for the first time. ``The Syria Conquest Front--formerly known as the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front--is deeply intermingled with armed opposition groups of all stripes across Syria's battlefields.'' The CIA has long been supporting a group called Fursan al Haqq, providing them with salaries, weapons and support, including surface to air missiles. This group is cooperating with and fighting alongside an al-Qaeda affiliated group trying to overthrow the Syrian government. The Levant Front is another so-called moderate umbrella group of Syrian opposition fighters. Over the past year, the United States has been working with Turkey to give this group intelligence support and other forms of military assistance. This group has joined forces with al-Qaeda's offshoot group in Syria. This madness must end. We must stop arming terrorists. The Government must end this hypocrisy and abide by the same laws that apply to its' citizens. That is why I've introduced the Stop Arming Terrorists bill-- legislation based on congressional action during the Iran-Contra affair to stop the CIA's illegal arming of rebels in Nicaragua. It will prohibit any Federal agency from using taxpayer dollars to provide weapons, cash, intelligence, or any support to al Qaeda, ISIS and other terrorist groups, and it will prohibit the government from funneling money and weapons through other countries who are directly or indirectly supporting terrorists.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, my heart is in Hawaii today. At almost this exact time, on this very day 75 years ago, the first bombs were dropped in the attack on Pearl Harbor. More than 2,400 people perished on that fateful day that will forever live in infamy. We remember our brothers and sisters who paid the ultimate price and those who answered the call to serve in the months and years that followed, including our two former Senators Inouye and Akaka, and the more than 320,000 who gave their lives in that war. We remember the Japanese Americans whose lives were forever changed when, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, were thrown into internment camps; and the brave nisei who, in spite of these atrocities, volunteered to serve, forming the nisei-only ``Go for Broke'' 442nd Infantry Regiment, serving courageously and sacrificing greatly. May we never forget what happened at Pearl Harbor, the lessons learned, and the sacrifices of all who served.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I am rising today in strong opposition to H.R. 6392. It is a dangerous bill that puts the economic security of millions of Americans at risk. Let's not forget that just 8 short years ago, the lives of Americans all across the country were shaken and devastated by the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. The livelihoods of hardworking families were put at risk and millions of Americans lost their homes and saw their lifesavings wiped out all because of risky banking practices and the overgrown ``too big to fail'' banks. At that time, Republicans and Democrats railed against the travesty that these banks exacted on the American people. This bill threatens to unravel the very protections that were put in place to prevent a repeat of this economic crisis. It would gut the higher capital requirements on 27 banks that together hold over $4 trillion in assets--nearly one-quarter of all banking system assets in the United States--and water down the independent authority of the Federal Reserve to regulate large bank risk. Eight years ago, the failure of large regional banks like Countrywide, Washington Mutual, and Wachovia--major subprime mortgage lenders leading up to the crisis--created shock waves throughout our financial system and hurt the American people. This bill would scale back the Federal Reserve's ability to regulate these banks, placing greater risk and burden on the backs of the American people. I urge my colleagues to stand with the people and vote against this dangerous legislation.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, growing up in Hawaii, I learned the value of caring for our home, caring for our planet, and the basic principle that we are all connected in this great chain of cause and effect. The Dakota Access Pipeline is a threat to this great balance of life. Despite strong opposition from the Standing Rock Sioux and serious concerns raised by the EPA, the Department of the Interior, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and other Federal agencies, the Army Corps of Engineers approved permits to construct the Dakota Access Pipeline without adequately consulting the tribes and without fully evaluating the potential impacts to the neighboring tribal lands, sacred sites, and their water supply. Just one spill near the tribe's reservation could release thousands of barrels of crude oil, contaminating the tribe's drinking water. The impact of the Dakota Access Pipeline is clear. Energy Transfer Partners, the company that is constructing the Dakota pipeline, has a history of serious pipeline explosions, which have caused injury, death, and significant property damage in the past decade. The future operator of the planned pipeline, Sunoco Logistics Partners, has had over 200 environmentally damaging oil spills in the last 6 years alone, more than any of its competitors. Protecting our water is not a partisan political issue; it is an issue that is important to all people and all living beings everywhere. Water is life. We cannot survive without it. Once we allow an aquifer to be polluted, there is very little that can be done about it. This is why it is essential that we prevent our water resources from being polluted in the first place. Our Founding Fathers took great inspiration from Native American forms of governance and the democratic principles that they were founded on. Their unique form of governance was built on an agreement called the Great Law of Peace, which states that before beginning their deliberations, the council shall be obliged ``to express their gratitude to their cousins and greet them, and they shall make an address and offer thanks to the Earth where men dwell, to the streams of water, the pools, the springs and the lakes, to the maize and the fruits, to the medicinal herbs and trees, to the forest trees for their usefulness . . . and to the Great Creator who dwells in the heavens above, who gives all the things useful to men, and who is the source and the ruler of health and life.'' This recognition of our debt to the Creator and our responsibility to be responsible members of this great web of life was there from the beginning of western democracy. Freedom is not a buzzword. The freedom of our Founding Fathers was not the freedom to bulldoze wherever you like. Our freedom is a freedom of mind, a freedom of heart, a freedom to worship as we see fit, freedom from tyranny, and freedom from terror. That is the freedom this country was founded on--the freedom cultivated by America's native people and the freedom that the Standing Rock Sioux are now exercising. This weekend, I am joining thousands of veterans from all across the country at Standing Rock to stand in solidarity with our Native American brothers and sisters. Together, we call on President Obama to immediately halt the construction of this pipeline, respect the sacred lands of the Standing Rock Sioux, and respect their right to clean water. The truth is whether it is the threat to essential water sources in this region, the lead contaminated water in Flint, Michigan, or the threat posed to a major Hawaii aquifer by the Red Hill fuel leak, each example underscores the vital importance of protecting our water resources. We cannot undo history, but we must learn lessons from the past and carry them forward, to encourage cooperation among free people, to protect the sacred, and to care for the Earth, for our children and our children's children. What is at stake is our shared heritage of freedom and democracy and our shared future on this great Turtle Island, our United States of America.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I have the privilege of representing the Second Congressional District in Hawaii, a State that has deep cultural roots and ties to the contributions that Filipino Americans have made to our Nation throughout history, from driving Hawaii's plantation- based economy in the early 20th Century, serving in our Armed Forces, to becoming leaders in every industry and sector in our State and across the country. It is an honor to stand here today as a voice for the more than 200,000 Filipino and Filipino American soldiers that served our country during World War II. These loyal and courageous soldiers suffered, sacrificed, fought, and gave their lives alongside their American counterparts throughout the war. We have waited far too long to recognize these heroes, who deserve this honor, in standing alongside units like the Tuskegee Airmen and Hawaii's own 442nd/100th Infantry Battalion with being awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, our Nation's highest civilian honor. With just 18,000 of these Filipino World War II veterans still alive and with us today, we cannot afford to wait any longer. I would like to thank the 312 House Members, Republicans and Democrats, and 71 Senators that cosponsored this bipartisan legislation, representing nearly every State and territory in our country. I also want to say a special mahalo nui loa to my colleagues, Congressman Joe Heck, who is the Republican lead on this legislation; Congresswoman Judy Chu; and Congressman Mike Honda, for working with me to push this bill through the House; and my colleague, Senator Mazie Hirono, who is here today; as well as Senator Dean Heller, for championing this bill in the Senate; all of our staff; and both Democrat and Republican leadership for their efforts, commitment, and support to passing this legislation. I would also like to recognize Major General Antonio Taguba, who joins us today in the gallery, and the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project for their years of commitment to this historic effort and for continuing to fight to ensure we remember and recognize the legacy of our Filipino World War II veterans as a critical part of our American history. Major General Taguba's father, Staff Sergeant Tomas Taguba, was a soldier in the 45th Infantry Regiment Philippine Division that served alongside the U.S. Army during the war, where he fought in the Battle of Bataan. He survived the Bataan Death March. This legislation is a testament to Staff Sergeant Tomas Taguba, and the hundreds of thousands of Filipino World War II veterans who deserve a place of recognition amongst our greatest generation. Thank you very much to all of you: ``Miraming salamat sa inyong lahat.'' I urge my colleagues to join me in voting to pass this long overdue legislation today. Time is of the essence. We must honor these courageous men while they are still among us and recognize their dedicated service to our Nation and our history.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3286, a bill on which I am proud to have worked with my colleague and fellow veteran, the gentleman from California (Mr. Cook), whose service I honor very much. Every single day, we have roughly 500 veterans who return to civilian life, joining the more than 2.9 million veterans who have returned home just since 9/11 alone. Now, some choose to take advantage of educational benefits they have earned, and others choose to jump right back into the workforce. Unfortunately, for many of our veterans, making that move is not as simple as submitting a resume and waiting for a call back. Our veterans, unfortunately, often face sometimes an unfriendly job market or an unfriendly job culture that does not fully understand their needs and the unique challenges of transitioning from military servicemember life to civilian life. Now, we have taken some important steps to encourage employers to hire more veterans, and we have seen the total percentage of unemployed veterans drop by 1.5 percent over the past year. While this is progress, the fact is, we still have over 400,000 veterans unemployed today. This tells us that more must be done, not only to get them employed but to make sure that they are employed in meaningful, good- paying jobs. I recently hosted a panel of experts from both the public and private sector where we talked about how we can better empower our veterans in the tech sector specifically. The tech industry has experienced unprecedented growth over the past decade and is the fastest growing sector in our economy. Yet, so far, veterans remain largely underrepresented, making up just 2 percent of this fast-growing industry. Now, it is not because they are not qualified. It is not because they don't have what it takes to do the job. Through their service and training, our highly trained men and women develop the ability to lead, make decisions under pressure, act as a member of a team and accomplish the mission. The bottom line is they get the job done. These skills make them especially valuable to employers, whether it be in the tech industry or in any other business, nonprofit, or civic leadership position. That is why I am proud to join my fellow veteran and friend, Congressman Paul Cook, today in support of this important legislation because it incentivizes employers to hire and retain veterans by creating a standard of recognition for those who go the extra mile to recruit and retain veterans, and provide services that support our veteran community. I strongly urge our colleagues to pass this legislation and help serve and empower our veterans and businesses to thrive.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, the problem that this bill seeks to solve for our veterans is, unfortunately, not uncommon. I have heard from many of my fellow veterans, as has previously been explained, who have similarly not been able to access options widely available to their civilian coworkers because of the current limitations in the law; and that is what this bill seeks to do: correct it. The Veterans TRICARE Choice Act simply gives veterans and their dependents a choice: They can opt out of TRICARE and contribute to a health savings account with more flexibility and coverage options without fear of permanently losing their TRICARE coverage; and if their situation later changes, they will have the option to reenroll in TRICARE coverage, plain and simple. Our veterans and their families make tremendous sacrifices in service to our country, and that service should never limit their access to quality health care and their ability to make their own decisions about their own health and the health care for their families in the future. I would like to thank and congratulate my friend and colleague, Chris Stewart, for his leadership on pushing this issue forward, and I encourage my colleagues to join us in supporting H.R. 5458 today.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to personally congratulate and welcome back to Congress my colleague from Hawaii, Colleen Hanabusa, as she is sworn in to the 114th Congress today to fill the remaining term of our dear friend Mark Takai. Colleen has a decades-long history of service to the people of Hawaii. As a respected labor lawyer, Colleen was first elected to represent the leeward coast of Oahu in the Hawaii State Senate in 1998, where she served as the chairwoman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, majority leader, and eventually became the first female Senate president. She was elected to serve Hawaii's First Congressional District in 2010, serving in both the 112th and 113th Congress. Most recently, Colleen served the community in many different capacities, including as the board chairwoman for the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, overseeing the multibillion dollar rail project on the island of Oahu. I had the pleasure of serving with Colleen during my first term in Congress, where we worked together to ensure Hawaii's voice was heard here in Washington, and I look forward to continuing that work to address the many important issues that lie before us to serve Hawaii once again. Congratulations, Colleen, and welcome back. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Hanabusa).

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentlewoman from Hawaii, the Honorable Colleen Hanabusa, be permitted to take the oath of office today. Her certificate of election has not arrived, but there is no contest and no question has been raised with regard to her election.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, when most people think of Hawaii, my home State, they immediately think of our beautiful beaches, mountains, vistas, and wonderful people and culture, and they dream about when they might come and visit our home State. This contributes, no doubt, to our tourism industry being the major driver of our economy in Hawaii. But, along with our beautiful year-round climate comes a great opportunity for our agriculture industry. In fact, most people are not aware that agriculture is the third largest industry in our State, accounting for over $2.9 billion of our annual economy and at least 42,000 jobs, according to our State Department of Agriculture. So, like States all across the country, we are working within government and the private sector to diversify and strengthen our economy, specifically our agriculture sector. However, one of the greatest threats that we are seeing in Hawaii and across the country to agriculture are invasive species. The macadamia felted coccid is one of more than 4,300 invasive species that threaten our agriculture industry. In Hawaii alone, the invasive species costs our local farmers, landowners, and ag industry millions of dollars every year and puts hundreds of our local small farms and thousands of local workers and the future of one of our most important crops at risk. Just last month, I had the chance to visit multiple farms on Hawaii island in my district, an island that produces 80 percent of Hawaii's world-renowned macadamia nuts that are shipped and sold all around the world. I heard one story after another from our farmers about how this tiny, invasive insect is destroying farms and threatening livelihoods that really bring many of our communities together. At just one of these more than 620 macadamia growing farms in Hawaii, this insect destroyed 500,000 pounds of macadamia nuts in just 1 year. Like most things, you can't fix a problem that you don't fully understand. Very little is known about this invasive pest--from its lifecycle to its seasonal pattern to its basic vulnerabilities--that directly impacts our ability to fight back. That is why I have introduced the macadamia tree health initiative today. My bill would authorize much-needed research and development to combat the macadamia felted coccid and establish an area-wide integrated pest management plan in areas badly affected by this invasive pest. For years, these pest management plans have helped farmers across the country manage invasive pests in a sustainable, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective way. My bill would build off this pattern of success by bringing together local stakeholders, researchers, and other key players as we search for comprehensive solutions to keep the macadamia felted coccid and other invasive species from destroying our local farms and this important part of our domestic agriculture industry. In Hawaii, our macadamia nut industry employs thousands of people and is the economic lifeblood to many of our rural communities. Their jobs, their livelihood, and the vitality of our agriculture industry are at stake if we fail to act. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and empower our Nation's agriculture industry to fight back against these invasive harmful pests.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. This is why I strongly support and have cosponsored this critical piece of legislation, and I commend my colleague from Iowa for introducing it, H.R. 5392, the No Veterans Crisis Line Call Should Go Unanswered Act. This bill establishes quality standards and metrics to make sure that every call to the Veterans Crisis Line is answered quickly and by a live trained person. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in passing this legislation today because the lives of our veterans depend on it.

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, not too long ago, I was woken up abruptly one morning by a text message from a friend of mine that I had both served and trained with in the Army. His message was alarming because it came after many months of struggle in his life: nightmares, posttraumatic stress, many late nights staying up self-medicating with alcohol, troubles with his family, and a constant desire coming from him that the only way he knew how to deal with the challenges that he had was to deploy again and again and again. Finally, he was home and he got to a point where he felt comfortable asking for help. He summoned up the courage one day--he was at his civilian job during the day--finally to call his local VA hotline, and he got a voice-mail. This strong, battle-worn, courageous infantryman broke down in tears and ran out of the office building where he worked. His frustration and disappointment and even heartbreak was palpable that, even as he had spent so many years of his life answering the call to duty again and again and again, sacrificing so much, at that one moment that he made that very difficult decision to finally ask for help, no one was there. No one answered the phone. He detailed this in a text message to me. I immediately called him and spent a couple of hours on the phone with him talking things through. I thanked him--he said: Sorry for bothering you about this-- but I thanked him for making that call and letting me know what happened to him, giving me the opportunity to not only see how I could help him as my friend, but to see how we collectively can take action to help all of our brothers and sisters, unfortunately, many of whom are going through challenges that are not so different from his. Just a few days ago, a veteran in my district called the Veterans Crisis Line for the first time. Her psychologist had encouraged her to place a test call to the crisis line so she could feel comfortable with how it worked, she could see how it worked, and she would feel comfortable making that phone call in the future if she got to a point where she needed it at a point of emergency. So she called that number with her psychologist and they waited on hold for 24 minutes. It took 24 minutes before someone finally answered the phone. Now, I can tell you, when I call the airlines to change a reservation or when I call the bank to deal with an issue, I get frustrated when I get placed on hold for 5 minutes or 10 minutes. I feel like this is a waste of my time and I am going to hang up the phone. It is virtually impossible for most people to understand that, when someone has a bottle of prescription drugs in their hand or a gun or they are on the verge of taking their own life and they are sitting on hold for 24 minutes, what do we think the outcome will be? Sometimes we are seeing that the shortcomings and gaps of the VA and these help lines have been filled by phone call networks that have been slapped together by troops, whether they are soldiers or marines or airmen or sailors, who are looking out for their buddy, doing what they can to make sure that everyone has got each other's phone numbers so that, if you get to that point where you need help, you have got someone to call who is going to answer the phone, who is going to talk you down from the edge, helping to make sure that, after they have survived the rigors and horrors of war and combat, they have a chance to live in peace when they come home. With the average of 22 veterans who go through all of that and who do come home yet are still taking their lives every single day, we cannot afford to give up. We cannot afford 24 minutes on hold.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Torres).

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Duckworth).

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Beyer).

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Lowenthal).

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Brendan F. Boyle).

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from American Samoa (Mrs. Radewagen).

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), our leader.