Josh Gottheimer

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution expressing the sense of Congress Supporting the State of Israel. As the only vibrant, progressive, and inclusive democracy in the Middle East, Israel is a beacon of hope--a country where pluralism flourishes. Efforts to delegitimize the Jewish State and claims that the country has abandoned the democratic principles on which it was founded are unfair and false. In Israel, Arab parties serve in the Knesset, women serve at the highest levels of the military, and the country remains an oasis for LGBTQ+ people in a region hostile toward the community. The U.S.-Israel alliance is strong for a reason. Our nations were founded on these shared values, and those ideals keep our partnership ironclad to this day. Israeli security is critical to America's national security. Our bilateral defense and intelligence cooperation makes our two countries safer and plays a key role in the global fight against terror, I am proud to champion this relationship in Congress. We have no better partner in the region than the State of Israel and I will remain committed to ensuring that Israel has the resources it needs to defend itself. I have traveled to Israel twice this year alone, alongside Democrats and Republicans, and have many times visited the country to meet with senior level officials and civil society leaders. Each time I am reminded of the resolve and passion of the Israeli people. I am also reminded of the importance of the Jewish State. The United States was the first country to recognize Israel's independence 75 years ago, just eleven minutes after its founding. It has since become the ``Start Up Nation'', a leader in high-tech, sustainability, and innovation. The United States has stood with Israel every step of the way. Over the last 75 years, bipartisan support for the U.S.-Israel relationship has proven vital to protecting our national security, fighting terror, and intelligence collaboration. I look forward to celebrating Israel's next 75 years, and furthering the vital U.S.-Israel relationship.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I missed the following votes due to a family issue. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 249, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 250, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 251, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 252, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 253, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 254, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 255, and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 256.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bipartisan bill, the Senior Security Act, to help protect vulnerable seniors who are being targeted by fraudsters who seek to take financial advantage of them. I first thank my colleague, Republican Congresswoman Ann Wagner, for her friendship and her leadership. I am very grateful for her continued fight to have the backs of our seniors. Mr. Speaker, I also thank Senators Sinema and Collins, who have introduced the companion legislation to the Senior Security Act in the United States Senate. This legislation builds on Congresswoman Wagner's and my previous work this Congress when we advanced the Financial Exploitation Prevention Act that would give asset managers more tools to prevent suspected financial exploitation of seniors and vulnerable adults. Since I took office, I have been committed to helping seniors save their hard-earned money for retirement, help cut their taxes, afford prescription drugs, and protect Social Security and Medicare so that, at the end of the day, they can afford to stay where I live in northern New Jersey and enjoy their lives with their friends, children, and grandchildren. Unfortunately, far too many of our seniors have had their hard-earned retirement savings stolen right out from under them when a scammer calls or shows up at their door. Millions of seniors across the country, including my own late mother, have been the victims of financial scams, and far too many have been cheated out of their retirement savings. It is appalling. It is offensive. It is simply unacceptable. These senior scams cost older Americans more than $36 billion a year, often hitting their retirement nest eggs, not to mention the pain and anxiety you can't put a dollar figure on. Plus, senior scams have more than doubled since 2020. We are here today to do something about it by advancing the Senior Security Act to help protect American seniors from these shameless criminals. This bipartisan bill would create a senior investor task force at the Securities and Exchange Commission that will exclusively focus on how seniors are being targeted by fraudsters who seek to take financial advantage of them. Every 2 years, the task force will be required to submit a report to Congress outlining trends and innovations, like robocalls and voice spoofing, that are impacting senior investors, helping us stay ahead of changes in financial scams as they arise. Everyone should know they are incredibly sophisticated now. Literally through AI and other spoofing, it sounds like someone's grandchild calling when they scam them. The task force will give law enforcement stronger tools and information. The task force will coordinate with other Federal regulators, State regulators, and law enforcement to ensure we are doing as much as we can at every level of government to stop hucksters from scamming our seniors. The task force will be a cop on the beat to make sure we keep up with the changes in financial scams and, again, stay ahead of new issues. Our seniors have given us so much. We should always have their backs, look out for them, and help protect them from predators and innovative scammers who want to take advantage of them. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense, bipartisan legislation, the Senior Security Act. I thank my colleagues and Congresswoman Wagner, again, for her friendship and her leadership.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I missed the following votes due to a family issue. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 238, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 239, and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 240.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I missed the following votes due to a family issue. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 230, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 231, and ``nay'' on rollcall No. 232.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Pascrell for his leadership in the caucus, supporting law enforcement, and always being there for those in New Jersey. I am very grateful. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Rutherford for organizing this evening and for all he does and has done in his career for law enforcement and for his service, which continues today. We are incredibly grateful for him. I am grateful for my friendship with Mr. Bacon, who just spoke so artfully. He is vice chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus and also does a phenomenal job. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Police Week and to express my deep and unwavering support for the sacrifices our law enforcement officers make to keep our families and our communities safe. Every day, law enforcement officers put on bulletproof vests, kiss their loved ones good-bye, and then put their lives on the line to look out for us. That is why we must always get the backs of those who have ours. I am very proud to co-lead the bipartisan resolution that was just passed to recognize National Police Week and memorialize officers tragically killed in the line of duty. This week, as we are here with so many others recognizing National Police Week, Americans across our great Nation honor and remember the more than 26,000 law enforcement officers who have sacrificed their lives to protect our great country. We will always honor their memory. We must do all we can to support law enforcement. That is why I am honored to be leading bipartisan, bicameral legislation with my good friend and retired sheriff Congressman Rutherford called the Invest to Protect Act. Our bipartisan legislation that he referred to is also being co-led by the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressman Steven Horsford, and retired NYPD detective Congressman Anthony D'Esposito. Our bipartisan, bicameral bill will make critical investments in law enforcement, especially in small departments, training, recruitment and retention of officers, and mental health to protect our officers, our families, and our communities. The Invest to Protect Act was developed through many conversations with Republicans and Democrats in both Chambers and with a broad spectrum of stakeholders. I am proud the bipartisan legislation has been endorsed by key law enforcement organizations, including the National Association of Police Organizations, Fraternal Order of Police, New Jersey State FOP, New Jersey State PBA, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, National Troopers Coalition, New Jersey State Troopers Fraternal Association, Port Authority PBA, Peace Officers Research Association of California, State Troopers Non-Commissioned Officers Association, National Sheriffs' Association, Sergeants Benevolent Association, National Tactical Officers Coalition, and Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association. It is worth pointing out these organizations because it shows the broad support in our country to support law enforcement and to make sure we take care of those who take care of us. We have identical companion legislation in the Senate led by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada. We worked with the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and others across the spectrum because the point Sheriff Rutherford and I realize, as well as so many others who support this legislation, is that you cannot cut or defund your way to safer communities and better police departments. Instead, you need to invest to protect. That is the only way we strengthen our departments to make them even better. We have to stand by them. This idea that you cut all the way to the bone as the answer is absurd. It makes our communities weaker. We need to invest in them. I am so grateful for this across-the-aisle support to get the backs of those who risk their lives every day to protect us, not just on this bill but on so many other important pieces of legislation that we will be considering this week, National Police Week.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for organizing this Special Order. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Israel's 75th birthday and 75 years of the U.S.-Israel relationship. The bipartisan alliance is vital to America's national security and to our fight against terror, including the threat of Iran and its proxies. Last night, we witnessed the IDF neutralize dangerous PIJ in the Gaza Strip. Day after day, as Israel is threatened, the Iron Dome stands strong against those who seek to do its people harm, whether that is Hamas or Hezbollah or Palestinian Jihad. I remain in steadfast support of Israel's right to defend itself, because, as I said, Israel's security is key to America's national security. It is the democracy in the region. Over 75 years, Israel has emerged as not only a beacon of democracy, but also a leader of technologic, economic, and security, both in Israel and, of course, in great support to the United States. I have had the honor of visiting Israel many times and witnessed firsthand the country's beauty and the people's resilience. It is a homeland for Jews from around the world. In my most recent trip, you can see and feel the palpable excitement about the Abraham Accords as Israel continues to make history as it normalizes with its Arab neighbors, expanding opportunities across the region, security protection, economic opportunity. Over the past month, I joined two Congressional delegations to Israel with House leadership, showing Israel that our nations' strategic relationship is both bipartisan and stronger than ever. Mazel Tov to our most important Middle East ally, Israel. Mr. Speaker, I am very grateful to the gentleman for inviting me to be here this evening.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I missed the following votes due to a family issue. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 144 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 145.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Madam Speaker, I missed the following votes due to travel with the President related to the Gateway Train Tunnel project. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 95 and ``nay'' on rollcall No. 96.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk, No. 85.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Chairman, I believe my amendment is germane. It narrows the scope of the bill. I ask for the ruling of the Chair, please.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendment No. 85. My amendment imposes important limits on any Department of Energy plan so that our adversaries, including Iran, Russia, China, and North Korea, can't capitalize on American domestic energy production. We must take steps to ensure any plan involving a drawdown of our Strategic Petroleum Reserve and any increase in energy production does not benefit those doing business with or under the influence of nations like China, Russia, terrorist Iran, or North Korea. My amendment would put our national security first, ensuring that any plan created under this bill would not financially benefit companies owned by or contracted with these foreign entities. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this commonsense provision. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time. The Acting Chair. The gentleman may not reserve the balance of his time. Mr. GOTTHEIMER: Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time. Point of Order

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of Amendment 86. As Russia's war on Ukraine continues and the brutality of the Iranian regime remains on full display, I am concerned that H.R. 21 does not properly protect from the terrifying prospect of oil from our Strategic Petroleum Reserve ending up in the wrong hands. My amendment requires the Secretary of Energy consults with the Secretaries of Agriculture, Defense, and the Interior on a plan for Strategic Petroleum Reserve drawdown and ensures that any strategic reserve drawdown does not result in a sale to Iran, North Korea, China, or Russia. This amendment would allow for the Defense Department and other relevant agencies to have a say in any plan, given the national security implications. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Houlahan).

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, the House voted this week on the bipartisan Sami's Law, which I am proud to have co-led, to enhance safety for rideshare passengers. Sami's Law has been named to honor Samantha Josephson, a senior at the University of South Carolina, originally from New Jersey, who was kidnapped and brutally murdered by a man pretending to be her Uber driver. Under Sami's Law, all rideshare services will be required to adopt digital systems that allow passengers to verify the vehicle before they get into the car, make it illegal to sell ridesharing signs without authorization, and create a U.S. Department of Transportation council to ensure safety measures stay current. The bill also mandates State-issued front license plates for rideshare vehicles and illuminated windshield signs visible day and night. It will examine the prevalence of assault and abuse perpetrated by rideshare drivers and passengers. We must ensure our residents in New Jersey's Fifth District and nationwide are safe when using rideshare. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support commonsense measures like these to ensure the terrible tragedy that befell Samantha Josephson never happens again.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to strongly urge the Hackensack City Council to reconsider their decision to turn down a nearly $2.4 million Federal grant to hire new firefighters, which the Hackensack Fire Department and I worked very hard to claw back from Washington to New Jersey. This grant will hire new firefighters to better protect our first responders, families, and help lower property taxes by taking the financial burden off of Hackensack taxpayers. This week, I stood with the Hackensack Fire Department, the Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey, Hackensack IAFF Locals 2081 and 3172, and Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco to call on the Hackensack City Council to accept this Federal grant. We know that firefighters will be retiring in the coming years, and the public safety report calls for the city to hire new firefighters. Yet, the city council plans to reject the grant and resubmit it for fewer firefighters. I will do everything I can to support any revised grant application, but this is a very risky decision that could result in no new firefighters being hired with Federal investment, and that puts people's lives in danger. Mr. Speaker, we must always look out for our families and get the backs of those who protect us.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bipartisan, bicameral legislation, the Invest to Protect Act, to invest in good policing, to fight crime, and to protect our families and officers. We must ensure that local police departments across our country have what they need to recruit and retain the finest officers, provide necessary training, and invest in providing mental health resources for our officers. Across our country, we have seen a rise in crime, and this is at a time when it is harder than ever to hire, recruit, and retain officers. In fact, last year, public reports found a 44 percent increase in retirements and an 18 percent increase in resignations of law enforcement. It is clear: If you want to make something better, you don't get there by cutting or defunding. You need to make smart, targeted investments. We must fund, not defund, law enforcement. That is why I introduced the bipartisan Invest to Protect Act to make critical investments in local police departments and protect our communities. Work on Invest to Protect started more than a year ago through bipartisan police reform talks with Democrats and Republicans in the House, the Senate, and the States, including with members of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, who have overwhelmingly endorsed this legislation. I helped craft the bipartisan Invest to Protect Act with Republican Congressman, former sheriff, and my friend, John Rutherford, and it was developed through conversations with both sides in both Chambers, and with a broad spectrum of stakeholders. I, again, thank the sheriff for his work and leadership. I am appreciative of the support and input from the National Association of Police Organizations; the Fraternal Order of Police; our New Jersey law enforcement organizations and departments, including the New Jersey State PBA and the New Jersey State Fraternal Order of Police; and my Senate colleagues. This bill would not be where it is today without the support of Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Joyce Beatty, whose leadership and friendship have been critical. I also thank the Congressional Progressive Caucus for their constructive engagement in this process. I thank Caucus Chairman Jeffries and Speaker Pelosi for their work, as well. The Invest to Protect Act will invest in small and midsized police departments with fewer than 125 sworn officers, which make up more than 96 percent of local departments. First, it will invest in officer safety, de-escalation, and domestic violence response training, and it will offset overtime pay for officers who are training. Second, it will provide grants for departments to recruit new officers. It will also provide retention bonuses to help them keep their best officers on the job.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Finally, it will help departments provide mental health resources for their officers and include strong accountability measures. These are critical steps we must take. Going forward, I will continue to fight for additional equipment and training our officers need to protect our communities. The bottom line: You can't cut or defund your way to safer communities and better police departments. It is about investing to protect. We must always get the backs of those who risk their lives every day to protect us. Again, I thank Sheriff Rutherford for his leadership, law enforcement unions for working so hard on this legislation, and all of our colleagues on both sides of the aisle for putting country first and getting this legislation to the floor.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following letter of support of H.R. 6448, Invest to Protect Act, from the Fraternal Order of Police. National Fraternal Order of Police, Washington, DC, September 22, 2022. Hon. Nancy P. Pelosi, Speaker, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Kevin O. McCarthy, Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Steny H. Hoyer, Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Hon. Stephen J. Scalise, Minority Whip, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Madam Speaker and Representatives McCarthy, Hoyer and Scalise: I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to urge the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives to support the passage of H.R. 5768, the ``Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods (VICTIM) Act,'' and H.R. 6448, the ``Invest to Protect Act,'' which could be considered on the floor of the House as early as today. Homicide cases can be very difficult to clear--especially those committed via firearm--and non-fatal shootings even more so. Closing these types of crimes requires diligence, manpower, and a sustained investigative effort. Given the limited resources of law enforcement agencies, it's important to provide the significant, dedicated resources that clearing these crimes requires, especially given their oftentimes heinous nature, and the need to get justice for the victims and their families. The ``VICTIM Act'' would establish a grant program to help State, Tribal, and local law enforcement agencies improve their clearance rates for homicides, non-fatal shootings and other violent crimes. Agencies can use these grant funds to train, hire, or retain additional detectives, investigators, or other police personnel to investigate, solve, and respond to these crimes. The grants can also be used to improve training for agency personnel to address the needs of victims and family members impacted by these crimes. By providing those important resources to law enforcement agencies across the country, we can improve the chances that murders, sexual assaults, kidnappings, and non-fatal shootings get cleared. This means ensuring punishment for the perpetrators, securing justice for the victims and their families, and providing peace of mind for the communities our members work so hard to protect. The FOP also urges Members of the House to support H.R. 6448, the ``Invest to Protect Act.'' Over the last few years, law enforcement officers have faced many challenges and threats to their well-being that have created a dangerous environment for those sworn to protect the public. These challenges have ranged from violence against officers, an increase in violent rhetoric against them, lagging technology, recruitment and retention issues, and mental health concerns. Smaller municipalities are experiencing increased strain on the men and women in blue. We believe that the ``Invest to Protect Act'' can help our nation's smaller agencies and departments combat these issues that plague law enforcement officers in smaller municipalities. This legislation would establish a grant program that would be used for training of officers from police departments and municipalities that employ less than 125 law enforcement officers. The funding appropriated would be $60 million over a five-year period. These trainings would include de- escalation, domestic violence response, and response calls to vulnerable populations like those involving persons with disabilities, mental health issues, or substance abuse disorders. This legislation is also designed to help these smaller agencies recruit new officers and to help address the retention issue of current officers. The funding could also be used by officers from eligible departments who are pursuing further education in mental health, public health, or social work. These officers could receive up to $10,000 in aid towards their tuition. Lastly, the funding could also be used for mental health services, treatments, and therapies for active police officers. On behalf of the more than 364,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, I urge the Members of the House to pass these two bills to support our nation's small departments and the communities they serve. If I can provide any additional information about this bill, please do not hesitate to contact me or Executive Director Jim Pasco in our Washington, D.C. office. Sincerely, Patrick Yoes, National President.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I ask that Representative Fitzpatrick be removed as cosponsor from H.R. 8824.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the House Appropriations Committee for their hard work on this important piece of legislation. I rise today in support of the passage of H.R. 8294, which contained a crucial amendment I introduced to help find and prosecute cases of fraud within COVID-19 economic relief. My amendment provides critical investment for the Small Business Administration Office of the Inspector General to ensure that they continue to hold Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Paycheck Protection Program fraudsters accountable. It is deeply disturbing to hear about the recent flurry of fraud convictions related to these two relief programs that provided vital resources to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. These are dollars that were meant for small businesses struggling due to the pandemic, and to help their families, not to help greedy cheats looking to profit off the backs of their neighbors. My amendment supports efforts for the SBA to identify and prosecute cases of EIDL and PPP fraud more aggressively. Applicants from businesses in my district may have been denied critical financial resources because of the actions of these crooks, and we owe it to all of our constituents to hold these bad actors accountable. I strongly urge all my colleagues in the Senate to pass this critically important provision.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of my amendment to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. First, I thank all of our brave veterans for putting their lives on the line to defend our freedom and our families. After sacrificing so much, no veteran should ever have to struggle to get the care and resources they have earned. We should always have their backs. My provision today will do just that, ensuring that veterans have access to high-quality job training, workforce development, and career navigation services. These skills will help our veterans transition back into civilian life, reach their career goals, and care for their families. We know that veterans have the skills to make them exceptional workers, but they often face barriers to employment. Data shows that unemployment rates are higher for veterans than nonveterans. My amendment will ensure that veterans are prioritized to receive Federal career resources, and it builds on the work I have helped lead, working across the aisle since I was elected to support our veterans and their families. The first piece of legislation I passed in Congress was to expand hiring of post-9/11 veterans. Today, we have the opportunity to fight for them like they fought for us. I urge all of my colleagues to support this amendment, and I thank the chairman for his leadership.