Anthony Gonzalez

Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio

Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio. Madam Speaker, on November 2, 2019, the communities of Olmsted Falls and Columbia Township of northeast Ohio mourned the loss of firefighter Brett Wilson. Brett was off duty the morning of October 27 when a car struck a nearby utility pole, causing power lines to fall onto the roadway. Brett and his girlfriend, without hesitation, ran to help the victims of the accident. Brett was electrocuted after coming into contact with the electrified ground near the accident and passed away immediately. Both his girlfriend and the driver were injured but, luckily, survived. Our community honored Brett's heroism and life on Saturday, November 2, with a funeral procession held in his honor. Unsurprisingly, the community lined the streets, waving American flags and holding their hands over their hearts to honor the 2015 Olmsted Falls High School graduate. We are heartbroken by the loss of the Olmsted Falls resident and Columbia Township firefighter, Brett Wilson. Brett, the son of an Olmsted Township police officer, was a true hero and public safety servant. Brett will be deeply missed by his friends, family, and the community. We thank him and his family for their service, and we keep them in our prayers.

Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio

Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio. Mr. Chair, I thank Ranking Member McHenry for his leadership on this issue. Let me start by saying that I fully support the Export-Import Bank and recognize the important role that the Bank plays in supporting businesses and jobs across my district and State. This is my first time having the opportunity to vote on this and state that, and I want to state it emphatically. I appreciate that the majority leader and Mr. Heck have articulated what specifically is at issue here. And what is at issue here is that outside groups have captured this bill and objected to every single provision, no matter how small, dealing with the People's Republic of China. They objected, in particular, to an amendment that I offered that would require exporters receiving Ex-Im assistance to certify that they do not punish their employees for private communications on issues that China is so sensitive to, specifically, freedom in Hong Kong and human rights in Xinjiang and Tibet--not throwing China out of the WTO, though I am very, very happy to have a debate on that. But that is not what this was about. This was about preventing our companies from censoring their own employees, domestic employees, on their own time, in the comfort of their own home. Nothing in this amendment would have affected a company's policies in the workplace or its ability to manage business communications. But when employees are expressing themselves on their own time and if they want to stand by victims of oppression, an Ex-Im beneficiary wouldn't have been able to retaliate against them. I was disheartened that the majority would not allow this body to debate and vote on this commonsense amendment that would have protected the free speech of American workers. And a final point, because I have a feeling that somebody is about to read back to me what they believe they know about my district. We have a wonderful system, and in our system of government, we represent our own districts. Okay? We know our districts better than anybody else. That is why we are here. On behalf of northeast Ohio, let me tell you, China has absolutely decimated our manufacturing sector, and I am proud to vote ``no'' on this bill.

Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio

Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1424, the Fallen Warrior Battlefield Cross Memorial Act is the first piece of legislation I introduced as a Member of Congress, and it is fitting that we discuss it on the floor today, just one day after Veterans Day. This bipartisan legislation would protect the display of these memorials at our national cemeteries and bar the Department of Veterans Affairs from removing these tributes, as they did in national cemeteries across the Midwest in 2017. This legislation comes straight from the veteran community and my northeast Ohio district. Over the past several years, Elton Boyer, the president of the 555th Honors Detachment, made this bill his mission as he worked to erect a Battlefield Cross Memorial at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Seville. He and the honors detachments at Western Reserve collected the spent brass from the military funerals they oversaw at the cemetery with the goal to someday melt them down and form them into a heartwarming tribute to the fallen warriors laid to rest. When Battlefield Cross Memorials were removed from the cemetery in the fall of 2017, Elton's work was put at risk. Elton wrote my predecessor, Congressman Jim Renacci, for help, stating: ``It has been said that the soldier's cross is a symbol for caring, honoring, and remembering. `No one is left behind.''' Elton passed away last month, but I know that he is looking upon this House today, proud of the vote we are about to take. His efforts were not in vain. Battlefield Cross Memorials stand in cemeteries across our Nation as a tribute to the service of fallen soldiers who have given their lives for our country. They depict the soldier's boots, helmet, dog tag, and inverted rifle, and have been a noncontroversial, time-honored tradition since at least the Civil War. As Strongsville, Ohio, VFW Commander Tim Zvoncheck told me: ``It's imperative that this custom continues to be displayed for as long as the sons and daughters of this Nation are willing to give their lives in its defense.'' Michael Kuhn, a combat veteran from Massillon, Ohio, explained to me what this memorial means to him: The battlefield cross encapsulates so many of the most important things to a combat vet: the rifle, the boots, the tags, and, most of all, the fallen comrade. It's extremely important for us to have those things wrapped up in one memorial for us to kneel to, grieve with, and talk to our brothers in arms that have died the ultimate death in laying down their life for us and their country. As a combat vet, you relate to very little outside of that world and always feel like an outsider. Whenever you see that combat cross, it brings a somber, quiet feeling of peace for that moment that you have that direct line to your fallen comrade. I thank Chairman Takano and Ranking Member Roe for bringing H.R. 1424 to the floor today and recognizing how important this legislation is to our veteran communities, and I urge my colleagues to vote in support of the bill, H.R. 1424.

Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio

Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Aultman Hospital and Canton City Public Health in Canton, Ohio--winners of the 2019 American Hospitals Association Dick Davidson NOVA Award for their joint efforts to create the Stark County Toward Health Resiliency for Infant Vitality and Equity (THRIVE) program. THRIVE promotes women's health before, during and after pregnancy. After conducting a fetal infant-mortality review, the collaborating stakeholders selected interventions that would have the greatest possible impact on overall infant mortality and the disparity between white and black infant mortality rates. THRIVE's goals include raising awareness of the value of prenatal care, linking women to prenatal services, addressing barriers to prenatal care and meeting socio- economic needs. THRIVE also focuses on safe sleep education, policies and resources to stop the problem of infants dying at home because of unsafe sleeping conditions. While local hospitals provided the initial collaborative funding, additional funding was provided by the Ohio Department of Medicaid and the March of Dimes. THRIVE's strength is also due to other collaborative partners such as local school districts, community health providers and faith-based groups. It is THRIVE's stated goal that every baby born in Stark County has the opportunity to reach his or her First Birthday. I can think of no more noble goal. I applaud Aultman Hospital and Canton City Public Health for their leadership in developing THRIVE to address the pressing public health concern of infant mortality in Stark County. It is my earnest hope your efforts become the model for addressing Ohio's Infant Mortality Rates as well. I think we all look to the day when every child born in the great State of Ohio can reach their First Birthday. Congratulations on earning the 2019 American Hospitals Association Dick Davidson NOVA Award.

Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio

Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, and I thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters), chairwoman of the Committee on Financial Services, and the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McHenry), my friend and ranking member, for his kind words and all his work to bring this legislation to the floor today. The Advancing Innovation to Assist Law Enforcement Act is a bipartisan bill that I introduced along with the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Emmer), my friend, and it is supported by the gentleman from Utah (Mr. McAdams), my friend from across the aisle. This bill takes a stand to block a major tool used by cartels, terrorist organizations, traffickers and the like, to finance their illegal activities and put our Nation and the people living in it at risk. Money laundering enables the shipment of deadly drugs like opioids and fentanyl into communities like mine in Ohio that has been disseminated by the opioid crisis. Money laundering finances cartels who wreak havoc on our southern border and the communities that surround it, as I saw on my recent bipartisan trip to the border. And money laundering proliferates the horrors of human trafficking, which continues to exist across our country, despite government and private industry attempts to better identify victims and cut off trafficking routes. My bill makes sure that we are using the best technology we have available to find and stop the money laundering that makes all these crimes not only possible, but financially profitable for cartels, traffickers, and terrorists. My bill requires the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or FinCen, to study the implementation and internal use of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, digital identity technologies, blockchain, and other new and innovative technologies to better identify and prevent money laundering in our financial services industry. Additionally, this bill would require the study of how FinCen could better utilize these technologies to more quickly disseminate the information it collects to Federal, State, Tribal, and local law enforcement. It is my firm belief that we must leverage the use of emerging technologies in order to make our government operations more efficient and upgrade the toolkit that enables our law enforcement to effectively go after bad actors. Finally, H.R. 2613 would require that the Director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Service Network report to the House Committee on Financial Services and the Senate Banking Committee on policy recommendations. The recommendations would allow the private sector, FinCen, and other Federal agencies to improve coordination and communication through advance technologies. This will help Congress ensure that we are providing the necessary support for our law enforcement community to effectively fight illicit activity based on these recommendations. Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation, and I thank those who have helped push it forward.

Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio

Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 281, the Ensuring Diverse Leadership Act of 2019, a.k.a. the Beatty rule. I thank my friends, Mrs. Beatty and Chairwoman Waters, for their work on this legislation and for bringing it to the House floor today. My friend Mrs. Beatty has been a tremendous leader on the Financial Services Subcommittee on Diversity and Inclusion, and it has been a pleasure getting to know her in my first term in Congress and working with her on this very important issue. Frankly, when I am back in my district, the issue that most animates our business leaders, those working day-to-day in our community, is the work that we are doing on the Diversity and Inclusion Subcommittee. KeyBank, Huntington Bank, folks in Ohio, all have stories about the different initiatives that they have undertaken to expand diversity in the financial services community. Like many of my colleagues, I am concerned about the historic lack of diversity that we have seen at the highest levels of the Federal Reserve. I think this is an important piece of legislation that will help rectify that. As Mr. Stivers alluded to, I consider myself the direct beneficiary of the NFL's Rooney Rule. During my time in the NFL, I was fortunate to play for two men who I consider to be the most incredible and profound leaders with whom I have ever had a chance to work. Both are African American: Tony Dungy, who is in the hall of fame, and Jim Caldwell. The Rooney Rule has worked. From 1921 until 2003, the NFL had seven minority coaches--from 1921 to 2003, seven. From 2003 to the present, we have seen 18. This is a step in the right direction in furthering the promotion of increased diversity by taking a page out of the NFL's playbook and by implementing the Beatty rule for regional Federal Reserve banks when interviewing for a new president, modeled off of the successful Rooney Rule. By providing the opportunity to be interviewed and to showcase their individual talents, this legislation will open more doors for individuals from a diverse background while still being based on merit. This is about expanding opportunities and giving everybody a fair shot. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on this important issue, and again, I thank and congratulate Mrs. Beatty for her work on this legislation. I look forward to enthusiastically voting ``yes.''

Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio

Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Root Candles of Medina, Ohio on their 150th anniversary. Founded in 1869, this family owned, and operated company has consistently produced the highest quality candles our country has to offer. Now in its fifth generation, the Root family continues to uphold the same values that their founder, Amos Ives Root, first instilled: honesty, integrity, and diligent craftsmanship. Today, Root Candles continues to be a leader of industry; combining the latest technology in manufacturing with five generations of mastered craftsmanship to create unmatched fragrances and sophisticated color palettes. With their rich history, tradition of excellence, and commitment to customer satisfaction, the next 150 years are sure to be just as successful as the last. I am pleased to have this opportunity to share the history of Root Candles with the House and want to join in congratulating them and their fine employees as they prepare to celebrate 150 years of service to the people and communities of Northeast Ohio.

Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio

Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I was one of the first Republicans, I believe, to speak out once the comments became public on Sunday. I did it Sunday afternoon, and then I did it again on Monday. But I cannot, in good faith, support this resolution because I can't possibly overlook the partisan nature in which it was brought forward, and the number of issues that we have control over in the House that we are choosing to ignore and have continued to ignore since we were sworn in in January. We have Members of this body who have called detention facilities concentration camps; have supported people who are labeling our Border Patrol agents and our ICE officers as Nazis. The gentleman just mentioned some folks outside of this body of Congress who may, he believes, have been inspired by certain comments. Well, where is the condemnation of these? When are we going to stand up and condemn those who call Americans, who are doing their jobs, by the way, enforcing laws that we enact, Nazis? When are we going to push back on that? When are we going to push back on comments, after one of our Members was criticized, they said, and I quote: After the comments, ``I got a text message from a friend who's like, hey, next time, you know, really clarify. Maybe talk like a fourth grader because maybe the racist idiots would understand you better''? Am I a racist idiot? Do I read at a fourth-grade level? Do the Members of this body? Have we gotten so broken as a Congress, where a simple disagreement results in us labeling one another racist idiots? Is that who we are? Where's the condemnation? When are we going to speak out about that? And I don't have to remind this body about the last time we were here for a similar process, when one of our Members said: ``It's all about the Benjamins,'' implying that Members of both sides of the aisle are being purchased and bought by our Jewish brothers and sisters. When are we going to stand up and speak out against that? Because I have been here for 7 months now, and it is the same thing over and over again. And the people who lose--and we all know this--are the constituents who are relying on us to actually work to solve problems. We have done nothing to support USMCA, to bring it up for a vote. We have done nothing to bring down the cost of prescription drugs. We haven't done anything since we have been here, and the reason is because we have been focused on fighting each other online; biting back and forth; rushing in front of the cameras; boosting our Twitter followers; and inciting the very division that prevents us from seeking common ground. I, like I know most of my colleagues, came here to find common ground. We came here to fight for the ideals that make our Nation great. I am the son of Cuban immigrants, proudly.

Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio

Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I have been sitting here now for about 10 minutes listening to my colleagues on the other side saying this solves the problem, that this bill finally solves the problem. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is the poorest faith effort I have ever seen to solve the problem. The Senate has a bipartisan bill. It is not perfect. I don't love that bill. But it is a bipartisan bill that we could vote on tonight, and we could actually solve something. We could actually get something done. What happened instead? Instead, we, as Republicans, were completely shut out of the process, and they negotiated amongst themselves. That solves absolutely nothing. Not to mention there isn't a single person whom I have heard on the other side of the aisle who has been serious and honest about what is actually causing this problem, about solving the horrible incentives that we have in our immigration system that incentivize the most dangerous journey up through our southern border. I am the son of Cuban immigrants. My family escaped from communist Castro to come to this country and did it legally. I would love to see a good faith effort. My door is wide open to anybody anywhere who wants to have a serious conversation about how we reform our immigration system. I understand my colleagues on the other side of the aisle do not like the President. I get that, okay? But that doesn't change the fact that our immigration system has been broken for decades, and the only people on planet Earth who can solve that problem are the ones in this body. If my colleagues want to solve the problem, come find me. My door is wide open.

Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio

Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio. Madam Chair, I claim time in opposition, although I do not oppose the amendment.

Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio. Madam Chair, I rise in support of this amendment, and I am proud to work with my colleague, Representative Khanna, in the effort to increase research funding for food allergies. When my colleague asked me to join his efforts, I could not help but think of my 1-year-old son and his probability of developing an allergy later in life. The CDC reports the prevalence of food allergies in children increased by 50 percent between 1997 and 2011. In recent years, we have seen the prevalence of peanut or tree nut allergies more than triple in American children. Food Allergy Research and Education, also known as FARE, estimates 5 million children and more than 32 million Americans have food allergies in the U.S. Furthermore, State by State data shows that in my State of Ohio, food allergies and anaphylaxis increased by 169 percent from 2009 to 2016. Major foods causing anaphylaxis in Ohio were eggs, peanuts, shellfish, and tree nuts. About half of the food allergies occurred in kids under 13. Clearly, we need to do more to find the scientific causes for this spike in allergies. Madam Chair, our amendment is a step in the right direction. Last year, a local foundation, the Allison Rose Foundation in northeast Ohio, was launched to educate the public about the real risk that food allergies can pose to individuals who suffer from it. The foundation was established in the name of Allison Rose, a young college student who died as a result of a reaction due to her peanut allergy. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan amendment to increase research for food allergies and help us prevent future tragedies like Allison Rose. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio

Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the rule that would provide for consideration of H.R. 2740. This package provides funding for several items that would benefit my district in northeast Ohio, but it falls short in several key regards, including funding for key programs that would help keep our children safe. In particular, Mr. Speaker, this package fails to provide adequate funding for the School Safety National Activities program, which gives grants to schools to support safe learning environments, including programs to combat substance abuse and cultivate academic success. This bill provides $80 million less in funding than what the administration requested. I offered an amendment to raise that number by $10 million, but my colleagues in the majority blocked it from consideration. I think we can all agree that school safety is of the utmost importance and an area that is vital for Congress to invest in. I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will work with me to assure that programs to protect our children, like the School Safety National Activities program, remain a congressional priority.

Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio

Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to President Richard Jusseaume, who is retiring this year after 18 years of leadership at Walsh University. Ohio's second longest serving president of a four-year private university, President Jusseaume has ushered in unprecedented growth in almost every facet of the university's operations. In total, he has spent five decades at Walsh University in various roles including student, Dean of Students, Board of Directors member, and President. Through the tireless work and effort of President Jusseaume, Walsh University has cemented its status as a leading academic institution. During his tenure, full-time undergraduate enrollment has increased by more than 60 percent, the university has more than doubled its number of undergraduate majors and launched its first doctorate programs, and the number of buildings on Walsh's North Canton campus has more than doubled from 11 to 27 buildings. What happens at a university is richer than passing on intellectual knowledge. Classrooms shape our habits, thoughts, and practice, thus developing the future citizens of our liberal society. President Jusseaume has steadfastly dedicated himself to developing students into leaders in service to others and prepared a diverse student body to thrive, and positively impact local and global communities. As you and I know, strong leadership is critical to academic success. President Jusseaume's clear vision and unwavering commitment to students has shaped Walsh University into one of our nation's finest academic institutions, attracting the best and brightest. I congratulate and thank President Jusseaume for living out the passion and principle of the university's mission statement and wish him and his family all the best.

Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio

Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to an Ohio-based drug store chain, Discount Drug Mart on their 50th Anniversary. Small businesses are the heart of America. They not only create jobs and opportunities, but engineer vibrant communities to live and raise our families in. Like many small businesses in our country, Discount Drug Mart was established after somebody took a risk and poured their heart and soul into a visionary product. In 1969, Parviz Boodjeh opened the first Discount Drug Mart in Elyria, Ohio, combining a retail store with the personal care of a Pharmacist's office. By integrating disease management and screening services with necessities and convenience items, Discount Drug Mart has influenced businesses around the globe and continues to support thousands of Ohioans today. Mr. Boodjeh's leadership and compassionate touch have helped his family expand to over 70 stores and operate in over 20 Ohio counties. Discount Drug Mart, Inc., serves as a model for the American Dream and an example of what hard work and dedication can accomplish. I offer my sincerest congratulations to this valued business and celebrate with them for over a half-century of service to our communities.

Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio

Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 539, the Innovators to Entrepreneurs Act of 2019. I want to thank Mr. Lipinski, Chairwoman Johnson, Ranking Member Lucas, and Mr. Webster for all the hard work they have put into this important legislation. Entrepreneurship is hard; it is risky; it is the road less traveled; it is an all-encompassing journey that tests every ounce of strength and skill that those bold enough to pursue it have to offer; and its successful practice is essential to the future prosperity of our Nation. The bill we are considering today takes the breakthrough lessons of customer development first codified by Steve Blank, whose teachings are engrained in the conscience of many business school students--but less of our Ph.D. students--and forms the basis of the NSF I-Corps program, a program that has already proven its worth at turning breakthrough scientific research into successful commercial enterprise. Since this program was created in 2011, more than 600 startups have been formed through the various I-Corps sites, including in my home State of Ohio at the University of Akron, The Ohio State University, and the University of Toledo. As just one example, University of Akron I-Corps startup Fontus Blue provides decisionmaking software that helps water treatment plants to produce consistently excellent drinking water. The software is used by plants in 24 cities across the U.S., Canada, and Brazil. The bill before us today expands upon the success of the current program by opening up access to small business innovation research grantees and also private individuals. Additionally, this bill allows small business innovation research grants and the small business technology transfer grants to be used to access I-Corps training. Finally, this bill would require I-Corps to develop a course for commercialization-ready teams to help them learn the skills needed to attract investors, build a brand, and scale a business. As we confront the economic challenges of the 21st century, it will be our innovators and entrepreneurs who will create solutions to these seemingly intractable problems by channeling the entrepreneurial spirit and force of will that has driven our country to its greatest economic heights. The Innovators to Entrepreneurs Act safeguards our economy by empowering future generations of entrepreneurs in all corners of our country to turn their wildest dreams into our collective achievements. Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor of this bill, I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation.