Josh Gottheimer

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Suozzi for putting together this Special Order hour.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Pritam Singh Grewal, one of North Jersey's most compassionate community leaders. Raised in India, Pritam immigrated directly to the Fifth District in 1972 and dedicated himself to our community ever since. He was truly an unselfish and deeply caring man who made an impact on everyone who crossed his path. As a founding member of Glen Rock's Sikh Gurudwara, Pritam helped build a safe space for North Jersey's Sikh community to come together and worship. Having personally visited several times, I can attest to the special atmosphere he instilled in this important Glen Rock establishment. Pritam always felt a calling to promote quality education throughout his community. He taught mechanical engineering at Fairleigh Dickinson University, and later partnered with his brother, Amarjit, to establish the Grewal, Harchand Singh and Jagir Kaur Memorial Scholarship of Ramapo College, in memory of his late parents. Pritam was also widely known throughout Hackensack University Medical Center where the trauma team took care of him after an accident in 2012. He even has an award named in his honor, the Pritam Singh Grewal Good Samaritan Award, to recognize outstanding staff at Hackensack who share his sense of compassion and dedication to service. A loving husband, father, and grandfather, Pritam cared deeply about his family. He was loved and cherished by many people including his spouse Paramjit Kaur Grewal and his children Shivpreet and Balpreet. I join them not only in their grief and in celebration of Pritam's incredible life. While Pritam is no longer with us, his spirit, legacy, and impact on North Jersey will live on forever. I know his loving family will continue to honor him by leading the kind of life that he did--one grounded in compassion, service, and an understanding of the importance of lifting up one's community.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, as a member of the Committee on Homeland Security, in strong support of H.R. 3233, Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member Katko's bill to form a bipartisan, independent commission to investigate the January 6 domestic terrorism attack on the United States Capitol. On January 6, the world witnessed an attempted insurrection against our government to overturn the will of the American people. I know that because I was right here in this House Chamber that day as doors were barricaded and Members and staff were forced to evacuate. The mob that stormed our Capitol, resulting in the death of a Capitol police officer, tore down the American flag and desecrated the seat of our democracy. These lawless thugs, led by members of extremist groups like the Oath Keepers, and Proud Boys, and Stop the Steal, attempted an insurrection. In the end, they failed. We gathered back together here, uncowed, and the electoral college was certified. Mr. Speaker, but true healing cannot come without a serious investigation and real accountability. I am very proud that last night, the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, 29 Democrats and 29 Republicans, came together to endorse this legislation, putting aside politics to get to the bottom of what happened that day. This bipartisan commission, modeled on the 9/11 Commission, will undertake an investigation into the facts and what caused the attack. Mr. Speaker, this legislation will help us deter further would-be extremists, and provide the law enforcement homeland security community with the tools needed to protect the Capitol and our country from future attacks. I thank Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member Katko for their extraordinary leadership and months of hard work together on the bill, the way governing should occur. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join in support of securing and protecting the very foundation of our democracy.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as millions of Israeli citizens are reeling from a barrage of more than 1,500 rockets fired throughout the country by the terrorist group Hamas in Gaza. In case there was any confusion, Hamas is a terrorist organization designated by the United States, dedicated to the destruction of Israel, in which Congress has and must condemn for killing innocent civilians and using women and children as human shields. No one here should make excuses for a terrorist organization. Who is the next target of their sympathy? ISIS? Al-Qaida? Hezbollah? Even though we may not always agree about Israel's policies, we should be very clear that nothing, nothing justifies a terrorist organization firing rockets at our ally. And between terrorists and a democracy, we should always choose the democracy. Our commitment to Israel's security and its right to defend itself from terrorists is ironclad. I am glad President Biden, the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of Defense have stood with our key democratic ally, insisted that Hamas stop firing rockets, and engaged regional partners to end this crisis. No matter our disagreements, there should be no false equivalences or excuses made by anyone on behalf of a foreign terrorist organization. As we stand together with our historic ally, Israel, we continue to call for an end to the violence and for calm in the region for the sake of our children and families and for the sake of peace.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Demings for hosting this Special Order hour in honor of our brave law enforcement officers. I am proud to serve with her as a member of the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus co-chaired by our dear friend and colleague Bill Pascrell. Mr. Speaker, we are here today to commemorate Police Week and to honor all the brave law enforcement officers in New Jersey and across the country who put their lives on the line every single day to protect our communities. We especially honor the more than 124 police officers who have died in the line of duty across the United States this year, including 64 who we lost to COVID-19. We will never forget their bravery, sacrifice, and service. Mr. Speaker, police officers are our heroes, and I am deeply grateful to all law enforcement--Federal, State, and local--for what they do day in and day out. They never fail to get our backs, and we have a responsibility to get theirs. That is why, in Congress, I am committed to fighting for all of our sworn officers and first responders by making sure they have the resources, equipment, and training they need to do their jobs safely and effectively. Our police departments have been tested and challenged during the pandemic over the year, but they have risen to the occasion, continuing to help our State and our people recover. I was very proud to lead the New Jersey delegation in requesting critical support for PPE and staffing at the very start of the pandemic, and I fought hard for and ensured a presumption for Public Safety Officers' Benefits for those on the front lines of COVID. I thank all of my colleagues for working across the aisle for those who have served and having the backs of our first responders every day. Most of all, I thank every law enforcement officer for their solemn commitment to protect and to serve. God bless.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Madam Speaker, I am honored to rise in support of the bipartisan Senior Security Act, which will help protect vulnerable seniors from hucksters and scam artists. I would like to thank my good friend, Congressman Trey Hollingsworth, for working with me on this crucial bill, and also Senators Susan Collins and Kyrsten Sinema, who have introduced companion legislation in the Senate. Since I took office, I have been committed to helping seniors save their hard-earned money for retirement, helping them cut their taxes and afford prescription drugs, and protecting Social Security and Medicare so that, at the end of the day, they can afford to stay 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. There are millions of seniors across the country who have been the victims of financial scams and abuses. It is appalling; it is offensive; and it is unacceptable. Older Americans lose approximately $3 billion each year to financial scams and abuse. Approximately 7 million Americans have been victims of exploitation, and that is only what is being reported. Only 1 in every 24 cases of elder abuse actually gets reported. IRS impersonation calls and fraudulent tech support calls are among the most widely used and costly scams targeting older Americans. In fact, more than 2.5 million Americans have been targeted by scammers impersonating IRS officials, costing more than 15,800 taxpayers at least $80 million since 2013. More than 3 million Americans are victims of tech support scams or scammers pretending to be with a reputable tech company who persuade seniors to provide personal bank account information. My mom was even a victim of one of these scammers. Someone claiming to be an IRS agent threatened her. I remember she called me and thought that I had messed up her tax return, but it was a scammer. COVID scammers are also now targeting older Americans with promises of quicker access to vaccines or pandemic relief benefits, preying on those whose only wish is to hug their family members again. We are here today to do something about it by voting on the Senior Security Act to help protect American seniors from scams. My bipartisan bill creates a new senior investor task force at the SEC to fight back against these hucksters scamming our seniors. The task force will also identify challenges that senior investors encounter and areas within the SEC or self-regulatory organizations where senior investors would benefit from changes. The task force will also coordinate with other Federal regulators, State regulators, and law enforcement to ensure that we are doing as much as we can at every level of government to stop this. Our legislation will also make antifraud enforcement even more common by giving law enforcement stronger tools and information via the new senior investor task force. The task force will submit regular reports to Congress, outlining trends that are impacting senior investors. This will be a cop on the beat to make sure we keep up with the changes in financial scams and to be ahead of new issues as they arise. Our seniors have given us so much. We should always have their backs and help protect them from predators who want to take advantage of them during their twilight years. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense, bipartisan bill.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a fixture in our northern New Jersey community, Fred Space. Fred was born in Beemerville, a community where he lived in, raised his family, and dedicated himself to improving throughout his entire life. As the second-generation owner and zookeeper of Space Farms Zoo & Museum, and a 77-year member of the Beemerville Fire Department, Fred's commitment to his community was legendary to those who knew him. As part of his more than seven-decade career with the Beemerville Fire Department, Fred served as Fire Chief from 1951 to 1953. He was also a founding member of the Kittatinny Recreation Association, which would go on to become the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce. An avid outdoorsman, Fred translated his love of hunting, fishing, and trapping into the Beemerville Hunting Club, as its founding member. He continued his passion for the outdoors by becoming a Lifetime Member of the Sussex County Board of Agriculture, serving as its President. He was Director of the NJ Farm Bureau and served on the New Jersey Fish and Game Council from 1963 to 1971, including a three-year stint as Chairman from 1969 to 1971. Fred's remarkable legacy will live on in the business he helped grow, and which bears his family name. For three generations now, Space Farms Zoo and Museum has been a wonderful attraction here in our community. Fred loved working with the animals at the zoo, from the famous Kodiak bear named Goliath, with whom he shared a particular bond; or the 16- foot-long, 250-pound python, with whom he had an infamous run-in. There was nothing that could dissuade Fred from his hands-on work at the zoo. Fred was a loving husband to Mira for 46 years, and proud father of Parker, Eric, Lori, and Renee. Fred's devotion to community engagement and love for the outdoors will continue on through his beloved nine grandchildren and twenty-one grandchildren. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Fred Space's extraordinary life, his service to our community, and the legacy he leaves behind.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of Anthony Gallopo--a dear friend, a wonderful, caring family man, a leader in Sussex County, and a tireless fighter for his fellow veterans--who recently passed from COVID-19 complications. A Navy veteran, Tony served as vice commander of the New Jersey American Legion and commander of Post 86 in Newton. For more than 5 years, Tony and I worked together to deliver the care and services that our veterans deserve: securing the long-awaited goal of the community's first VA outpatient clinic, boosting in-person psychiatric care at the clinic, and serving on our district's service academy selection committee, all focused on improving access to care for those who fought for our great country and preparing the next generation. Tony lived a life of service that will truly never be forgotten. We are indebted to this selfless patriot, all of us in northern New Jersey and the country. As we mourn Tony's loss, we think of his daughters, Sarah, Alexandra, and Ashley, and we pray for his beloved wife, Betsy, who remains in the hospital. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering my friend, Tony Gallopo.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in memory of one of the finest North Jersey residents I have come to know. Anthony Gallopo was a dear friend, a leader and a role model in Sussex County, and a tireless fighter for his brothers and sisters in arms--his fellow veterans. As we mourn Tony's loss, our hearts go out to his wife, Betsy, and his daughters, Sarah, Alexandra, and Ashley Gallopo. He always spoke to me about them, how much he loved them, and how proud he was of their accomplishments. We are all thinking of them as we extend our deepest condolences for their terrible loss. At this time, we are also praying for the recovery of Tony's beloved wife, Betsy, who remains in the hospital. Madam Speaker, getting to know Tony was one of the great joys and true honors of my career in Congress. I remember when we first met, when I visited Sussex County Community College for a roundtable with local student veterans. There was no one who knew more about what veterans in Sussex and Warren needed, or who cared more about how they were going to get the attention and care and services that they deserved. For more than five years, Tony and I worked shoulder-to-shoulder to deliver on that promise. Tony was instrumental in securing the long- awaited goal of the first VA community outpatient clinic to serve veterans in Sussex and Warren Counties, so that those who fought for our country could access care close to home. I was so proud to stand with him and others who helped make it happen on the day the clinic finally opened in 2017. Tony continued the fight for lifesaving in- person psychiatric care for veterans at the clinic in Newton, hosted roundtables for better jobs and opportunities for students and returning veterans, and was always there to commemorate and remember the sacrifice of generations of his fellow servicemembers throughout the Fifth District. As a leader on our District's Service Academy Nomination Selection Committee, he helped evaluate young student applicants so that I could nominate the very best of the next generation to represent North Jersey at our nation's great Service Academies. Tony served as a Seaman in the United States Navy, and as a former New Jersey Department of the American Legion Vice Commander, member of the Legion's Department Executive Committee, and as Commander of Post 86 in Newton. He was also a retired senior officer with the New Jersey Department of Corrections. Madam Speaker, we owe our nation's veterans a deep debt of gratitude; they do not owe us anything. And yet, every day, I am inspired by veterans like Tony, who always wanted to help more people, to give back to his community, and to look after other veterans young and old who could use a hand. And in doing so, he provided a profound example of how to lead a life of service. Like so many in North Jersey, I was crushed when I heard that tragic news that Tony was in the hospital. In New Jersey, we have lost so many friends, neighbors, parents, and grandparents during the coronavirus pandemic. But it is difficult to capture just how painful the tragic news of Tony's passing was for all who knew him, but especially for his fellow Legionnaires and veterans. While Tony is sadly no longer with us, he lived a lifetime of service that will never be forgotten. North Jersey is deeply indebted to this selfless patriot who touched so many lives, and a true hometown hero who walked among us. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering my friend, Tony Gallopo.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding and for standing with me and with all of us. Tom Reed is my co-chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus. He is a Republican, and I am a Democrat. When it comes to policy views, we often disagree. But at the end of the day, we are united as Americans. My good friend, like me, always puts country first. Today, a group of lawless thugs sought to upend the Constitution and the peaceful transition of power because they didn't like the outcome of the Presidential election. So, they tried to nullify it using improvised explosives, shattering windows, breaking down doors, injuring law enforcement, and even tearing down the American flag that rises above this beacon of democracy. But their attempt to obstruct democracy failed. Their insurrection was foiled. The American people and the greatest democracy the world has ever known won. Abraham Lincoln, who served in this very body, famously said: ``A house divided against itself cannot stand.'' That is why, for the sake of this country, we must stand together, united, and celebrate a peaceful transition of power. In 14 days, President-elect Biden will be sworn in. And despite all of our differences, I have faith that, for the American people, we will come together, Democrats and Republicans, committed to unity, civility, and truth. We will recognize our higher purpose to help America through these dark days. That is the only way we will beat COVID, rebuild our economy, and stand up to threats at home and abroad. Working together as Democrats and Republicans, I know our best days will always be ahead of us.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Madam Speaker, they said it couldn't be done, that Democrats and Republicans could actually come together, not only in the House, but in the Senate, too, and pass a COVID-19 emergency relief package. But, finally, after 9 months, it is about to happen. We are about to cross the finish line. This is as close to a Christmas miracle as you can find in a normally polarized Washington. With the virus raging across the Nation, the 50-Member strong bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus put country over party and helped craft a package that will help put food on the table, distribute vaccines to our communities, save our struggling small businesses, put money in the pockets of American families, and help keep families in their homes. This emergency relief package wouldn't have happened without the weeks of hard work from the Problem Solvers Caucus and a bipartisan group of Senators who put country ahead of party to help our families, small businesses, and communities. This was truly a model for how we should govern in Washington. This marks a critical downpayment in our ongoing fight against COVID. If you look in New Jersey, where 1 in 500 have lost their lives, and 30 percent of small businesses are out, we clearly have more work to do. Madam Speaker, I urge support for this bipartisan, bicameral legislation, which is a critical step forward.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Madam Speaker, unfortunately, I was unavoidably detained from the floor on Tuesday, September 15, 2020. I missed roll call vote No. 186. Had I been present to vote on roll call No. 186, I would have voted `YEA.'

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Visclosky for his hard work here. I rise in support of this en bloc package, which contains two amendments I introduced. My first amendment will give all of Congress access to weekly updates on inventory in our Strategic National Stockpile. We all need current information on our Nation's supply chain and our inventory of PPE, vaccine materials, and supplies as we respond to this crisis, especially for my district, which has been hit so hard in northern New Jersey. My second amendment prioritizes clean drinking water, because every child should have access to lead-free water at school. I am proud my other two amendments were included in other en bloc packages to increase investment for broadband infrastructure, so we can address the challenges facing underserved areas, especially as families are working and learning online. My final amendment, which has been adopted, supports improving our Nation's manufacturing supply chain to address the challenges caused by COVID. I have worked closely with the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program as we help ensure small and mid-size manufacturers in New Jersey have the equipment they need. Madam Speaker, I urge support for this bipartisan en bloc set of amendments.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, my fourth amendment would increase investment for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum's outreach services so more Americans can learn about the history of the Holocaust, anti-Semitism, and other forms of hatred, bigotry, and intolerance. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this bipartisan en bloc set of amendments.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I rise in support of this package, which contains four amendments I introduced. My first amendment supports the family-owned dairy farms, backbones of the rural economy in northwestern New Jersey, which are facing major challenges from the pandemic. Dairy farmers have suffered more than $5.7 billion in losses from the crisis, and my amendment calls for support for the dairy farmers. My second amendment provides more resources for the inspector general of the VA to investigate and ensure proper compliance of the State-run veterans homes, like the disaster-stricken State-run New Jersey veterans home in Paramus, where 81 residents and one staff member tragically died from the coronavirus outbreak. My amendment will make much stronger Federal oversight of these facilities possible, which we need to protect our veterans. My third boosts investment for medical care at non-VA facilities to continue our fight for greater access to healthcare for veterans in north Jersey. And my fourth would increase investment for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum's outreach services.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding and for her incredible leadership. I rise in support of this package, which contains two amendments I have introduced. My first amendment addresses the harmful algal blooms impacting many north Jersey lakes and harming our ecotourism, local businesses, and residents. We need the U.S. Geological Survey to report to Congress on ways to combat toxic HABs like those in Greenwood Lake and Lake Hopatcong. My second amendment prohibits any funds in the bill being used to promote the sale of vaping and dangerous e-cigarette products, which can harm our children. We must do everything we can to help save lives and protect families by combating the youth vaping epidemic. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this set of amendments.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Madam Speaker, as someone who was on the battlefield of nearly every civil rights fight of the last century, Mr. John Lewis taught us that our Nation is always a work in progress, always perfecting our Union. Through it all though, regardless of what he faced, John Lewis always walked gracefully with the wind, following the words of Isaiah: ``They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.'' My friend, our hero, John Lewis never grew weary, no matter what the fight, including his last. It was a remarkable blessing, as we heard tonight, from so many, to serve with your hero, to have him meet and hug your children, to meet a true American hero. There was none like him in this Chamber, and I think there never will be. I will never forget the last hug that I got from him when I told him how much he meant to me; how much I appreciated his counsel; when he visited, how much I appreciated him coming to my district to speak with my community, and just all he did for all of us. And he whispered back, as he said to so many others, ``Just stay strong, my brother.'' Mr. Lewis, that is the least we can do for you is to always stay strong. Congressman Lewis was an American icon, as we all know. But he was a gentle giant, and his life's work will live on forever. His presence, his humble kindness will always loom large over this House and over our great Nation. As Congressman Lewis said: ``If you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have a moral obligation to do something about it.'' And I think we all need to remember that, especially now. I know that I will. Thank you, Congressman John Lewis, our friend. God bless you.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Madam Speaker, I urge support of this package, which contains four amendments I have introduced. My first requires the Secretaries of Defense and State to investigate the use of social media platforms by foreign terrorists and to report to Congress on the homeland security threats posed by online radicalization of violent extremists. Just last week, public reporting detailed that Facebook accounts linked to ISIS are still on the platform, letting them spread extremist content online. My second amendment looks out for our brave National Guard members on the front lines of COVID-19, including disaster-stricken long-term care facilities like the State-run New Jersey veterans home at Paramus, by providing 2 weeks of housing to quarantine safely before returning to their families and communities. My third amendment ensures that the Secretary of Defense publicly reports lead and copper testing of drinking water at K-12 schools on military bases, because parents and families deserve to know the facts. Madam Speaker, to ensure we are standing up for military families, my final amendment requires an annual report to Congress analyzing nationwide costs of living for members of the Department of Defense, particularly those in New Jersey who have been whacked by the gutting of the SALT deduction. Madam Speaker, I urge support for this bipartisan set of amendments.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Madam Speaker, unfortunately, I was unavoidably detained from the floor on Monday, June 29, 2020. I missed roll call vote No. 129. Had I been present to vote on roll call No. 129, I would have voted YEA.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my amendment to the Moving America Forward Act. The train tunnel underneath the Hudson carries 200,000 people daily between New Jersey and New York. It is literally crumbling after damage from a century of use and flooding during Superstorm Sandy. It is in imminent danger of being shut down. They are literally patching up cracks. It is outrageous. Part-time fixes aren't enough. It is time we actually do something about it. Building the Gateway Tunnel is the most pressing infrastructure need in our country. It is crucial to our economy. This tunnel connects 20 percent of America's GDP. If we don't fix it, it will literally be a doomsday. The Department of Transportation must explain why they have downgraded this project to low priority. What is their secret backup plan when we have to shut down the tunnel? What are we going to do for the economy? We deserve to know. My amendment requires the DOT to develop and publish their contingency plan within 60 days. We want to know their doomsday plan because we have the right to know how they will address this urgent crisis. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes''. I thank Chairman DeFazio. It is time we fix this doomsday before it occurs.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairwoman for allowing me to speak today on behalf of my bipartisan legislation, H.R. 5332, the Protecting Your Credit Score Act of 2020. Madam Speaker, since I took office, I have been committed to helping protect seniors and other vulnerable communities from fraud and to protect their financial well-being. Like many of my colleagues, constituents in my district are feeling the economic pain caused by the ongoing pandemic. Just this week, in fact, a constituent of mine, Patricia from Wantage, New Jersey, reached out to me to ask: What can we do as policymakers to help protect people's credit during this crisis? Madam Speaker, I am proud that we were able to provide Americans with debt and credit relief as part of the bipartisan CARES Act, protecting homeowners in forbearance and Federal student loan borrowers. We were able to continue to work to do so with the bipartisan HEROES Act, which has yet to become law. It is in the Senate now waiting action. And that act, including suspending negative credit reporting during the pandemic, giving Americans time to recover economically before there is a risk of being hit on their credit reports. It is also time that we look at the way hardworking Americans are able to track and ensure accuracy in their credit reports so that their scores are where they need to be as we progress into our economic recovery. Madam Speaker, I really want to thank Chairwoman Waters for her impactful leadership and partnership on this bipartisan bill and her incredibly supportive and smart team. I also thank Ranking Member McHenry for spending so many months working with me in such a constructive and cooperative manner. My bill reflects a lot of his wise input. I, too, am sorry we weren't able to find ultimate common ground. I also want to thank my good friend and co-chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus, Tom Reed, for his work cosponsoring this important legislation. Madam Speaker, after working on this bill for a year, I was proud when the bill was reported favorably out of the Committee on Financial Services on December 11, 2019. I am also proud the House last night passed the landmark George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. We must continue to come together as a country to fight for racial justice on all fronts, and to combat inequalities that have plagued this Nation for too long, which includes the ability to access credit. Credit affects all communities, impacting what Americans pay for a car, whether they can get a mortgage for a house, the rates on a credit card, and how much they can receive for a small business loan. The impact it has is especially strong on communities of color. And experts have testified to the Committee on Financial Services that the credit reporting system is biased, particularly against these communities. Running this crucial part of our economy are three companies in the United States that literally hold the keys to the kingdom. It is an oligopoly. They decide Americans' credit fate and whether they should get access to credit, and it is all done in a closed-off system behind the drapes. And we don't know what goes on, how they develop those scores. I am very glad the ranking member is interested in trying to get more competition into that process. And I am very eager--and I am sure the committee is, too--to work together on that front. I am also glad that there are areas that he would like to go further on overall when it comes to access to credit. And I am also eager to sit down as well. Madam Speaker, the bottom line is these three credit bureaus come up with their own magic number: Your credit score. Houdini, himself, could not figure out how these credit scores are calculated. They have their own secret formula. It impacts every aspect of your life, as I said, from your car loan to your mortgage, and it is up to you to track it and beg them to fix inaccuracies when they arise, which is far too often, and most often not your fault. The best way to discover whether there are errors on your credit report is to check your three reports from these companies, and FCRA currently only gives consumers the right to view their report for free once every 12 months. Otherwise, you have got to pay out of your own pocket and chase down these three credit bureaus--anywhere from $9.95 a report to $15.95 a report. Experts recommend that you check your report before applying for any new line of credit or making a large purchase or renting or buying a home because a mistake can easily seriously affect your credit. It could lead to more costs and things like rising interest rates that would affect your loans, and even worse, you may be ineligible to qualify for financing altogether. The Federal Trade Commission has previously found that one in 5 consumers have verified errors in their reports, not of their own making. And one in 20 consumers have errors so serious that they would be denied credit or need to pay more for it. That adds up to 42 million Americans with errors in their credit and 10 million with errors that can be life-altering. We also now live in a world where data breaches are a constant threat. Unfortunately, every year 15.4 million Americans are victims of credit card fraud--42,000 people every single day. According to the Merchant Risk Council, 80 percent of all credit cards are compromised. And the Identity Theft Resources Center has reported that as of June 11, there have been 475 reported data breaches already this year, exposing more than 5 million records. And once you are a victim, almost immediately the criminals, they start in. They apply for new cards, for mortgages, for loans, for cars--anything else they can get their hands on, all under your name--affecting your credit score within these three credit bureaus. And it is vital that these fraudsters be caught immediately and not be allowed to cause further damage undetected between the one free annual report. It has happened to my sister, to my constituents, to people I know. And I am sure everyone out there knows someone this has happened to. And when someone is the target of this fraud right now, it is up to the victim to fix these issues. They receive all of the burden of chasing after these three companies with their own systems and procedures and beg them for help. And that can take 3 to 6 months. Madam Speaker, my bipartisan legislation with Congressman Tom Reed from New York asked the private sector, not the government, to help fix this. And this is a big distinction here that I want to point out to the ranking member, this is driven by the private sector, not the government, to fix this issue. My bipartisan bill sets up a one-stop shop online portal to check your credit report for free at any time. It allows victims to shut off the ability of credit crooks from using your information to apply for credit under your name. The portal will also provide the ability to initiate and resolve disputes between you and the credit bureau, and you will be able to see who the bureaus have sold your data to in the prior 2 years. Because, yes, they take your data and they go make money on your information. Madam Speaker, the bill strengthens cybersecurity safeguards of information held by consumer reporting agencies, to help prevent a repeat of the 2017 Equifax data breach. The bill also asks the GAO to examine the most secure and accurate marker to track your credit, whether it is your Social Security number or another Federal identifier. And this is very important. I am glad the ranking member raised this issue, because I agree. We should find the best possible identifier that is most secure, and that is exactly what this study is all about because we need to make sure we keep your identity secure. By creating this one-stop portal, all three credit bureaus will now have to work together to help protect you and make your lives better, not the other way around. And I understand the issue that is raised about the security and making sure that this is not handed off to someone. That is why, again, as I say, the private sector will develop these websites. And to a point about this that was raised: If my friend is actually really concerned, and he thinks that these three bureaus don't have secure websites now, well then we better get them here immediately and find out why he is worried about that and if they actually should be more secure. Because what we are asking them to do is develop a website just like they have now, which I hope--and I will ask the companies again--I hope that they are doing everything possible to keep their own websites secure. Madam Speaker, well, my own sister had her credit hacked last year. She told me she was lucky to get a day off from her job to figure all this out. She had to sit on the phone and chase everyone. But what if you don't have the ability to take a day off to sit on the phone with each credit company and chase down every single issue? Our bipartisan legislation will help fix this and help Americans protect what they spent a lifetime building, and that is their credit. Madam Speaker, I am also proud, lastly, to have the support of several businesses and consumer groups. Vince Malta, the President of the National Association of Realtors, sent a letter to me this week on the bill, which states: ``Access to free credit scores, transparency in the reporting process and use of consumer credit information high standards for vetting credit information, and a reliable method for contesting and correcting inaccurate information are critical to a vibrant housing market and economy.'' Other supporting groups include the National Consumer Law Center, the Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Action, and World Privacy Forum. Madam Speaker, while we did not earn the support of every group--and I recognize that--I am proud that even among those who disagree with us acknowledged the efforts that we took in order to work towards a bipartisan agreement. I will continue to work to make every effort to reach consensus, and I appreciate their acknowledgment of that effort. Madam Speaker, finally, let me say that during an economic downturn and throughout the years we are going to spend recovering from it, Americans' financial security will and must be paramount. We have already seen spikes in fraud throughout this pandemic, especially related to direct payments and different types of loans. And the chairwoman has worked overtime in all of our bills to make sure we do everything possible to protect Americans during this time. I am grateful for her leadership. Madam Speaker, as we recover from this crisis, I want to make sure Americans can protect their credit and resolve disputes that may arise. As SEC Chairman Clayton testified just yesterday to the House Committee on Financial Services, for a consumer, the best thing you can do for yourself is understand your credit and get your credit under control. We need a modernized system that empowers all consumers, especially those facing new challenges with this new pandemic, with transparency and the ability to correct errors to their credit reports, and to make sure everyone can have access to credit so that they can have a home, a car, and enjoy everything that everyone who works hard should have access to. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense bipartisan bill, which will help every American.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Reclaiming my time. Yes, they also have a period of time to develop the site. It is not going to happen overall. In that period of time, we will get direction on what the best outcome is in terms of using a Federal identifier, and we will execute against that as we develop this site. Back to the site. If the oligopoly of the three bureaus--if right now our concern is that their sites are not secure, then we better have them in immediately and have them take us through their sites again. Because if you are still concerned about this--

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Right, right. I remember that.