Tulsi Gabbard

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, finally, this is a historic moment that so many here and across the country have been working toward, to take this step to end America's destructive and costly war on drugs that has turned everyday Americans into criminals and torn families apart, ruining so many people's lives. This legislation removes cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act, frees States to regulate it as they choose, and encourages research into the medicinal qualities of this plant that we all already know are changing people's lives and saving people's lives. It also applies retroactively, expunging prior convictions and records, freeing a generation of people from the shackles of this failed war on drugs. Mr. Speaker, the bottom line is this vote is about freedom. It is freedom of choice for every American to make their own decisions for themselves without fear of the government coming and arresting them. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. The Senate should pass it quickly so we can send it to the President for his signature.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Madam Speaker, on August 22, 2020, I was unable to be present to vote due to my service in the Army National Guard, and I did not request a Member to cast my vote out of an abundance of caution and respect for the Resolution that authorized proxy voting only during a public health emergency caused by the coronavirus. I missed Roll Call votes Nos. 179 through 182. Had I been present, I would have voted: Roll Call No. 179: YES--On Ordering the Previous Question; Roll Call No. 180: YES--On Agreeing to the Resolution; Roll Call No. 181: NO--On Motion to Recommit with Instructions; and Roll Call No. 182: YES--On Passage.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague from Michigan for his leadership on this very important bipartisan issue. There should not be much dispute around the constitutional basis for the need of this change. In plain language, civil forfeiture basically allows police to seize, keep, or sell any property they allege is involved with a crime. Owners of that property may never be arrested or convicted of a crime, but they will see their money or their cars or their homes be promptly taken away permanently. Now, in 2017, the Department of Justice expanded civil asset forfeiture, allowing local law enforcement to bypass State laws and seize property from people with the lowest possible burden of evidence, again, regardless of whether or not that person was ever convicted or even charged with a crime. Furthermore, it puts the burden of proof on the private citizen to go through the bureaucracy and the red tape to attempt to reclaim their property, which is extremely difficult to do. This violates the very principle of our justice system: innocent until proven guilty. It is a violation of the Fifth Amendment, which says: ``No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation.'' Mr. Speaker, this is a commonsense, bipartisan measure. I am proud to stand in strong support and urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition, although I do not oppose the amendment.

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this en bloc and my amendment that is included in it. I am speaking on behalf of our rural communities that face many challenges in making sure that goods and services are accessible to residents and small businesses and that they actually remain affordable. Communities like mine are no different where, in many cases, air travel island-by-island is the only means of access available. For things such as medical appointments, visiting family, getting to school, commuting to work or meeting local business needs and more, air travel is a lifeline. A national one-size-fits-all regulation on Essential Air Service fails to acknowledge our unique travel needs and geographic realities. This amendment extends protections for communities in Hawaii and Pennsylvania that Congress has long recognized and ensures our rural populations maintain access to critical transportation resources. This bipartisan effort eliminates the cost-sharing requirement and makes sure that our local communities in rural areas remain connected. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this amendment.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, the Trump administration has withdrawn from historic international treaties and agreements that previous leaders of our country have negotiated where, instead of walking away from what were deemed impossible agreements at that time, they actually did the work necessary to make our country and the world a safer place. The Open Skies Treaty was negotiated by President George H.W. Bush to reduce the chances of accidental nuclear war by providing transparency and confidence. President Trump's withdrawal from the Open Skies Treaty has made our world a less safe place. In addition to his withdrawal from the INF treaty and his failure to renew the START treaty, he has pushed us into a new cold war that has led the American people to the brink of nuclear catastrophe. Mr. Speaker, these consequences are unacceptable for the American people, and I urge my colleagues to support this important amendment.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, we are living in very dangerous times. Yes, we are in the midst of a global pandemic, which should be inspiring our Nation's leaders to deescalate tensions with other countries, work with world leaders to defeat this disease that threatens us all, but that is not what we are seeing. Instead, we are seeing increasing tensions and a new cold war being waged on two fronts between the U.S. and China and Russia, with thousands of nuclear missiles at the ready. Instead of deescalating tensions, the Trump administration is making things worse by tearing up the INF Treaty, ending the Open Skies Treaty, making no effort to renew the New START treaty, and dangerously moving to violate the nuclear test ban treaty, which, if allowed, would only encourage other countries like North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and many others to develop or to increase nuclear weapons capabilities, rapidly increasing the proliferation of these nuclear weapons and a nuclear arms race around the world. Mr. Speaker, this puts us all at risk because there is only one outcome to this escalation of tensions and a nuclear arms race, and that is total destruction of our world. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this critical amendment.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Madam Speaker, President Trump has committed an illegal and unconstitutional act of war, pushing our Nation headlong into a war with Iran without any authorization from Congress, a war that would be so costly and devastating, it would make our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan look like a picnic. In doing so, he has undermined our national security in two critical ways: number one, Iran is no longer complying with the Iran nuclear agreement and is quickly speeding forward in developing their nuclear weapons capability, putting us and the world at greater risk. Number two, our troops in Iraq are no longer focusing on preventing a resurgence of ISIS and al-Qaida. Instead, all of their efforts are now focused on Iranian forces and Iranian-backed Shia militias. Congress must act today to stop further escalation of this war. Vote ``yes'' on H. Con. Res. 83 to uphold the Constitution which we all took an oath to support. Vote ``yes'' to stop Trump's war with Iran.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Madam Speaker, the history of the United States has been intertwined with that of the Armenian people and the Armenian genocide. It was American missionaries and diplomats who let the world know that the Ottoman Empire was attempting to cleanse itself of the Armenian and Christian populations. The U.S. became home to many survivors. Their experience inspired Raphael Lemkin to create the term ``genocide,'' only to see his Jewish family suffer the same fate at the hands of Nazi Germany. The denial of the Armenian genocide has had contemporary consequences. I have visited both Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. I saw that a Turkey which denies genocide has no fear of committing it again. In fact, Turkey has begun an ethnic cleansing of the Syrian Kurds in northern Syria. I have long called for our government to officially recognize the Armenian genocide. I am an original cosponsor of H. Res. 296. The House has spoken with a clear voice, breaking the silence, recognizing the Armenian genocide. We call on the Senate and President Trump to do the same. We cannot allow history to repeat itself.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Madam Speaker, right now, the United States continues to support Saudi Arabia's genocidal war in Yemen. This support has been ongoing since 2015 yet has never been authorized by Congress. It must end now. U.S. support for this war has resulted in dire consequences. Just last week, the Saudi coalition bombed a hospital. They have bombed school buses, weddings, markets, funerals--tens of thousands of Yemen civilians killed. Millions more are in dire need of humanitarian aid, starving and sick, without access to food and water or basic medicine. This has created the worst humanitarian disaster in the world. We are voting later today on an important resolution to finally end U.S. support for Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen. We need to put politics aside. Lives are at stake. We cannot afford to delay. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to recognize the urgency with which we must act, to vote against any attempts to delay or block this resolution, and to vote to pass S.J. Res. 7 today.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, today in Yemen, there are millions of Yemeni people who are on the brink of death from famine and disease, lack of access to food and water, basic medicine and healthcare. Thousands of Yemeni civilians have died in this genocidal war being waged by Saudi Arabia with support from the United States. They have been living under the looming threat of death at a moment's notice. This must end. Not another day can go by with U.S. support for this genocidal war. Saudi Arabia is not our ally. They spend billions of dollars spreading the Wahhabi-Salafist ideology that fuels terrorist organizations like ISIS and al-Qaida. They take the weapons that they get from the United States and provide them to al-Qaida. Enough is enough. Mr. Speaker, today, the Senate is taking an important vote, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to hear the pleas of the Yemeni people who are begging for their lives. Vote today to end the unconstitutional U.S. support for Saudi Arabia's genocidal war in Yemen.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of my friend, Congressman Walter Jones, Jr., a man who was known by all of us throughout his many years serving in this chamber for his kindness, his southern charm, and his big heart, his fierce independence, and his pursuit of peace. Walter left us on February 10, his 76th birthday. He lived a long life of service: four years in the North Carolina National Guard, ten years in the North Carolina General Assembly, and nearly 25 years serving in these halls. Walter stayed true to himself throughout this time, following his heart. He was never afraid to challenge the status quo, often to the chagrin of his party leaders. We found a common bond and friendship around shared ideals, of putting people before politics, putting service above self. He knew that when we see each other as people, as public servants, not just as Republicans and Democrats that this is when we have the opportunity to find common ground and work toward our common goal of serving the people of this country. Now, in 2002, Walter voted for the Iraq war, the war that I served in, the war that took the lives of my brothers and sisters in uniform, the war that took the lives of over 4,000 U.S. servicemembers and over 100,000 Iraqis. Walter shared with me, as he shared with many others, that this vote that he took was the biggest regret of his time in public service. He shared how when he attended a funeral at Camp Lejeune for a 31- year-old marine that was killed in Iraq in March of 2003 while evacuating wounded troops, everything changed for Walter, because he sat there and he heard this marine's widow, in front of their three children, read the final letter that this marine sergeant sent home, and he saw those three kids, knowing that they would never see their father again. This impacted him so deeply, and maybe for the first time caused him to realize the cost of war and who pays the price. So Walter started writing. He wrote over 12,000 letters to families who lost their loved ones in both Iraq and Afghanistan and shared how he begged God to forgive him for his mistake. He memorialized those who died from North Carolina's Camp Lejeune, as you see here, with photos that he displayed for all to see before they could come inside his office here in Washington. He became a leading voice not just in his party, but in Congress, pushing for additional oversight over matters of war and peace. He called for ending illegal regime-change wars that put our troops' lives on the line, leaving their families behind. He pointed out that our taxpayer dollars should not be used to be the policeman of the world. Walter and I didn't agree on many things, but we also found many opportunities to work together on things that we strongly believed in. We cosponsored and co-led the No More Presidential Wars Act, which rightly put the responsibility back in Congress' hands to declare war, as the Constitution provides. He cosponsored my bill, the Stop Arming Terrorists Act, to make sure that taxpayer dollars are not being used to directly and indirectly fund terrorist groups, as we have seen done in both Syria and Yemen. We cosponsored the Weekend Voting Act to strengthen voting rights. We worked together to strengthen civil liberties and privacy, upholding our Fourth Amendment rights. Walter was courageous. He didn't care about party politics, and as a result, he suffered the consequences in tough primary elections, but he didn't care. He never hesitated to stand up for what he believed in. So while Walter and I were two very different people coming from two very different places, Walter was my dear friend, fellow servicemember, and my brother. He will be deeply missed. My heart and prayers go out to his family, his friends, and his loved ones. We all know that Walter's legacy of service and his principles and values will continue to live on in Washington, in the Halls of Congress, and in the lives of the many people who he touched.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman and the sponsor of this important legislation for the incredible leadership and continuing to be a resolute voice. The United States support for Saudi Arabia's genocidal war in Yemen, with no authorization from Congress, has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Yemeni civilians. The U.S.-Saudi coalition has dropped bombs on children in school buses, on people in markets, and on families who are celebrating weddings. They have left millions of Yemeni people on the brink of death from famine, disease, starvation, a lack of access to clean water, sanitation, and healthcare. This has created the worst humanitarian crisis in a generation. Earlier this week, the Trump administration threatened to veto this critical legislation should it pass Congress, this legislation that would end U.S. support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen, by spreading blatant lies. They have said that this legislation draws ``constitutional concerns,'' and they say it would ``affect our ability to prevent the spread of violent extremist organizations.'' But here is the truth. First, the United States' support for this war in Yemen is unconstitutional. Congress has not authorized it. Second, Saudi Arabia is not our ally, and continued U.S. support for this war in Yemen is strengthening terrorist groups like al-Qaida. A recent CNN report documented how Saudi Arabia is literally taking the U.S. weapons that have been provided to them in this war in Yemen and handing them off to al-Qaida on the ground in Yemen, the very same terrorist group that attacked us on 9/11. Or to speak of the fact that Saudi Arabia is continuing to spend billions of dollars spreading their Wahhabi-Salafist ideology that is fueling terrorist organizations like ISIS and al-Qaida, causing them to grow stronger. Congress must take action today. We must reclaim our constitutional responsibility and pass this legislation to stop supporting Saudi Arabia's genocidal war in Yemen and strengthening these terrorist groups that threaten us.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Madam Speaker, it has been nearly 100 years since women fought for and won the right to vote. Yet, we still do not have equal rights and protection under the United States Constitution. There are too many examples in our everyday lives where women still do not get equal pay for equal work and where we still face discrimination simply for being women. In 1923, the Equal Rights Amendment was introduced in Congress to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex and was reintroduced every session until it finally passed in 1972. However, with an arbitrary deadline in 1982, by that time, only 35 States out of the required 38 had ratified the amendment. In the past 2 years, we have inched forward with successful votes in Nevada and Illinois, and now we are just one State away from finally passing the Equal Rights Amendment. This is not about politics. It is about equality. It is about humanity. It is long overdue that we pass the Equal Rights Amendment and include equality between men and women in the United States Constitution

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Madam Speaker, burn pits are the Agent Orange of post-9/ 11 veterans. Over 165,000 veterans have registered their names into the burn pit registry, something that is voluntary, but there are millions more of our troops who have been exposed to these toxic burn pits during their deployments. They deserve recognition. They deserve care. And they deserve the services they have earned. So far, our government has failed to fulfill its responsibility to them and to recognize the toxins that they have been exposed to, just like what happened to our Vietnam veterans decades ago, when our government ignored their exposure and the ensuing illnesses that came from Agent Orange. When I was deployed to Iraq, the cloud of toxic smoke and fumes from the massive burn pit in our camp was a daily reality. I know the damage they cause. I have seen the devastating toll they have taken on my brothers and sisters in arms who survived combat, came home, but are now suffering from rare cancers, lung diseases, neurological disorders, and more. Today, my colleague and fellow veteran, Brian Mast, and I are reintroducing our burn pit legislation to address this travesty, joined by Senators Klobuchar and Sullivan, to make sure they get the treatment services that they earned.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Madam Speaker, 2018 was a tough year for so many Americans. We had families and farmers and people all across California whose homes were destroyed, people who lost their lives, lost their farms, lost their businesses. In other parts of the country, there were storms and hurricanes that similarly devastated communities. My home State of Hawaii was one of them. We were battered by natural disasters of all types last year on nearly all of our islands, from major flooding and landslides on Kauai and Oahu in April, an erupting volcano throughout May and June, and flooding and wildfires on multiple islands in August. But, time and again, in Hawaii and across the country, people have proved their resilience and strength, living aloha, taking care of each other, even when they have lost everything. Today, we are voting to pass funding that is sorely needed by communities like mine, where people are still struggling to get back on their feet with limited resources. This bill provides funding for things like crop insurance, reconstructing facilities, water infrastructure projects, crisis counseling, rebuilding homes, small businesses, and more. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to pass this necessary funding bill and provide a helping hand to those whose lives will never be the same because of these disasters

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Madam Speaker, it has been 25 days, 25 days since over 800,000 Federal employees have either been going to work without pay or have been furloughed, all of them wondering: How am I going to pay my rent or my mortgage? How am I going to afford the bills that I need to pay to take care of my family? I heard recently from Jay from the island of Maui, in my district of Hawaii, who is a TSA employee who has been working this entire time without pay, wondering how he is going to pay his mortgage, car, credit card payments, and lifesaving medical care that he needs to provide for his daughter. Jay is not alone. Our national parks are filling with trash. Our Coast Guard members are working without pay, being told they should hold garage sales or start babysitting to help pay the bills while the government is shut down. Food stamps for tens of millions of Americans are at risk, while low- income housing subsidies aren't being renewed, impacting over 340,000 elderly and disabled veterans who depend on that rental assistance. The safety and security of our country is at risk. We cannot turn our backs on our brothers and sisters. These are real people, real families, real lives, and real futures. Senator McConnell and President Trump must pass the bipartisan legislation we have already passed and reopen the government now.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Madam Speaker, 100 days ago today, the Saudi regime ordered the assassination of a journalist named Jamal Khashoggi. This atrocity brought the world's attention to Saudi Arabia, a radical Wahhabi theocracy where the oppression of women and the persecution of Christians, Hindus, atheists, and other religious minorities, as well as the LGBT community, is a norm. Since 2015, the United States has supported Saudi Arabia's genocidal war in Yemen that has killed tens of thousands of civilians, causing millions of Yemeni people to suffer, starve, and get sick, creating the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. They spend billions of dollars spreading the extreme Wahhabi-Salafist ideology that fuels terrorist groups like ISIS and al-Qaida around the world. Contrary to what President Trump believes, Saudi Arabia is not our friend. Here we are, 100 days later, and this Congress still refuses to take action to stop U.S. support for Saudi Arabia, to stop arms sales to Saudi Arabia. Congress must act now to end its support for Saudi Arabia's genocidal war in Yemen, exercise our constitutional authority over matters of war, and stop putting the profits of the military- industrial complex before the lives of the American people and people in the world.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, today I am rising to recognize Special Olympics Hawaii celebrating 50 years of service to our community. Since its founding in 1968, Special Olympics has changed lives and served as an indispensable source of strength and empowerment for so many people. Across our State today, it is serving 4,700 participants with the support of nearly 12,000 coaches and volunteers delivering 10 Olympic- type sports and more than 50 competitions throughout the year. They have taken on issues like inactivity, injustice, intolerance, and social isolation by encouraging and empowering people with intellectual disabilities. They have had an impact on our entire community and our State. They are combating negative stereotypes, bringing joy and a sense of achievement and creating a culture of respect and inclusion. Mahalo to Special Olympics Hawaii and congratulations on reaching this 50th anniversary year.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent in the House Chamber on November 16, 2018. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on roll call vote 420.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, last night, House Republicans on the Rules Committee voted to undermine our democracy by blocking the American people and Members of Congress from having a debate and the ability to vote on a bill that would end U.S. support for Saudi Arabia's genocidal war in Yemen: a war that has created the world's worst humanitarian disaster in generations, leaving 22 million people in dire need of humanitarian aid, tens of thousands of civilians killed, and many more vulnerable to mass starvation, famine, and cholera outbreaks. Don't be fooled. If Congress and this administration truly were concerned about the plight of the Yemeni people and peace, all U.S. support for Saudi Arabia's atrocities would end now. Instead, last night, on the Rules Committee, Republicans voted to shut down debate to prevent a vote that would end U.S. support for Saudi Arabia in Yemen. Later today, Congress has the opportunity to do the right thing. We are faced with a choice. I urge my colleagues to vote no on House Resolution 1142 so that Congress can fulfill our constitutional role, debate, and vote on this critical issue. It is long overdue that we end U.S. complicity in Saudi Arabia's atrocities. We must end all U.S. support for Saudi Arabia's genocidal war in Yemen now.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, 2 days ago, President Trump and Vice President Pence delivered solemn speeches about the attacks on 9/11, talking about how much they care about the victims of al-Qaida's attack on our country, but they are now standing up to protect the 20,000 to 40,000 al-Qaida and other jihadist forces in Syria, threatening Russia, Syria, and Iran with military force if they dare attack these terrorists. This is a betrayal of the American people, especially the victims of al-Qaida's attack on 9/11 and their families, first responders, and to my brothers and sisters in uniform who have been killed or wounded in action and their families. For the President, who is Commander in Chief, to act as the protective big brother of al-Qaida and other jihadists must be condemned by every Member of Congress.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, for too long, the United States has turned a blind eye to the atrocities being committed against civilians in Yemen by the Saudi-U.S. coalition. Just last month, the Saudi-led coalition dropped a U.S.-made bomb in a devastating attack on a schoolbus that killed 40 children, just the latest in the long string of horrors in this genocidal war that has killed tens of thousands of Yemeni civilians with bombs and mass starvation, creating the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. Yet today, in Yemen, our military continues to wage this interventionist war alongside Saudi Arabia, unauthorized by Congress. The time for crocodile tears and baseless platitudes is over. Enough is enough. The U.S. must end its support for Saudi Arabia and stop waging interventionist wars that increase destruction, death, and suffering around the world, drain our resources here at home, and threaten our own national security.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, on January 13, earlier this year, there was a text message that was sent out to over a million phones across the State of Hawaii that read: ``Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill.'' Now, this turned out to be a false alarm, but this message terrified residents and visitors all across our State and revealed deep gaps within an alert system, preparedness measures, and communication channels at every level of government. In the months since, my colleagues from Hawaii and I have introduced several pieces of legislation to address the problems that led to and contributed to this false alert going out so that we can try to prevent something like this from happening again, not only in Hawaii but anywhere in the country. We have introduced the READI Act to expand delivery of critical emergency alerts to cellphones, TVs, and radios; recognize, with technology, the new ways that people are getting information; and see how we can get alerts through streaming services like Pandora, Spotify, Netflix, and others. Ensuring that we take these steps now, ahead of any future disaster, is critical for every community across this country, and I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting and passing this timely and important legislation.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, for decades, bad data and misinformation have fueled the failed war on drugs that has wasted billions of taxpayer dollars, incarcerating Americans for nonviolent marijuana charges. Our outdated marijuana policies have turned everyday Americans into criminals, strained our criminal justice system, cost taxpayers tremendously, and torn families apart, all for a substance that is proven to be far less harmful and dangerous than alcohol. Our Federal policy should be based on actual science and fact, not misplaced stigma and outdated myths. However, the fact that marijuana is currently classified as a schedule I drug, the same category as heroin and cocaine, restricts and even discourages scientific research on marijuana, limiting our ability to create science-based policies. I will be introducing the bipartisan Marijuana Data Collection Act with my colleague Congressman Carlos Curbelo so that we can get studies to set the record straight. Our bill would authorize a nonpartisan evidence-based report that analyzes current marijuana policies across the country and their effects on our communities. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation.