Mike Honda

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, this bittersweet victory comes at the end of a 50-year legislative battle which has seen thousands of veterans lose their lives due to the passage of time. This year we must send a clear message to the surviving 18,000 Filipino and Filipino American World War II veterans that we are honored by their spirit and moved by the heroism and their patience--the spirit that remained hopeful for many, many years that the American people, through their Representatives in this Congress, would do the right thing. This is the right thing to do. Join me in honoring all of the Filipino World War II veterans with the Congressional Gold Medal.

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague, Mr. Foster, and on the other side, Congressman Huizenga of Michigan, for bringing this up. It is an issue that has been a long time in coming forward. I thank Mr. Heck of Nevada, also, for the gentleman's comments regarding the Filipino veterans' history in World War II. Prior to this, we talked about the merchant marines. I think that the merchant marines are a long time past in being recognized for their bravery and their willingness to forge through the oceans to bring materiel and artillery to fight fascism in Europe. Today we stand here in 2016 to ask for support for the bravery, patriotism, and sacrifice of nearly 250,000 Filipinos and Filipino Americans to whom our Nation owes much. I ask this Chamber to show its commitment to those who have bled for our Nation's principles at a time of great adversity by honoring these brave souls with the Congressional Gold Medal. The Congressional Gold Medal is a symbol of our recognition of their service, but it does very little to recognize the sacrifice and patience that they had to endure since World War II, when, as it was mentioned earlier, this Congress passed two rescission bills in the Appropriations in 1946 removing the Filipino veterans from veterans' benefits and the kinds of promises that President Roosevelt and MacArthur had given to the Filipino veterans. The story of these proud veterans begins more than 70 years ago when President Roosevelt did ask Filipino and Filipino American soldiers to serve under U.S. authority during World War II. Under our flag, we drafted them and we asked for volunteers. We got both from them. The people of the Philippines valiantly stepped up to the challenge and played a vital role in securing a victory for the U.S. and its Allies in the Pacific theater. Historians have long since concluded that these valiant efforts by the Filipino and Filipino American soldiers in Bataan helped keep Midway and the coral islands in America's hands at a crucial time during World War II. Over 60,000 Filipino soldiers, alongside 15,000 American brothers in arms, were captured and forced to walk over 65 miles to the prison camps, which was called the infamous Bataan March--the infamous Bataan Death March--to the ships that would take them to Japan, where they became POWs. Several thousand Filipinos and Americans died along the way making the ultimate sacrifice in our mutual struggle against fascism and for the promise of democracy and self-determination. A lot of these Filipinos had interceded during the march to the ships, endangering themselves of being beheaded or losing their arms or their lives because they were going to offer water as sustenance to our POWs who were being marched to the ships. We have forgotten that. Hopefully, today, this Congressional Medal of Honor will help us remember the kinds of things that they have sacrificed. Congress shamefully passed the Rescission Act of 1946, as was mentioned earlier, betraying the promise of full eligibility of rights to Filipino soldiers turning their backs on these valiant souls. We did this consciously twice. In February of 2009, we were here in Congress and at long last passed legislation that included benefits for Filipino and World War II veterans.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, we know the Republican majority wants to adjourn and go home, but we shouldn't be going home until the work is done. Americans understand that concept. They stay and work until the job is done. So why don't the Republicans? Here we are, once again, voting on another continuing resolution just hours before a devastating government shutdown. The last shutdown in 2013 cost the American taxpayers $2 billion. Now, that is a lot of money that was wasted because Republicans refused to do their jobs. That was money that could have been used to tackle the Zika outbreak or the water issues in Flint or provide much-needed assistance to flood victims in Louisiana. In this last-minute CR, Republicans are finally letting us address Zika. That is after months of ignoring this serious issue. We could have--should have--done better. The pregnant women and children infected with Zika deserve better. The same goes for Flint. After thousands of children are poisoned by lead, we finally have some assurances that the contaminated water supply will be addressed. I am proud to have fought alongside my Democratic colleagues to make sure these children would not continue to be the victims of politics. Even the one job Congress is required to do--fund the government--the majority won't let us do. Today's CR does not actually amount to Republicans doing their job. We are simply kicking the can down the road and setting up for another eleventh-hour Band-Aid like tonight to, once again, avert a government shutdown in December. We can do better. We are elected to do better--and better will simply be doing our jobs. That is all the American people want from us.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the 226 million Americans who are eligible to vote and to recognize September 27 as National Voter Registration Day. However, this year is different. With the recent attacks on our democracy, unscrupulous actors seek to gain access to confidential and sensitive information and distort the outcome of elections. In Arizona, the secretary of state just took offline its voter registration database because of credible threats to its system. In Illinois, 15 million records were recently exposed and nearly 200,000 accessed by hackers. The Russian Government hacked the Democratic Party's emails and files in an attempt to distort our elections. Our elections should be free of foreign influence. As the representative for Silicon Valley, I value technology in our democracy. That is why I introduced legislation to declare our election technology as critical infrastructure, so we can give local and State officials the Federal resources they need to protect our votes and the purity of our democracy. On this National Voter Registration Day, too much is on the line for us not to act.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Bob Brownstein. I am joined by my colleagues Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo. Bob is retiring from his 17-year career as Policy Director of Working Partnerships USA, but his dedication and service to working families in the Bay Area has spanned over 40 years. His commitment to creating a better, more just future for Silicon Valley makes him a hallmark of leadership in our community. A native of the Bronx, Bob grew up admiring the towering photograph of President Franklin D. Roosevelt that hung in his father's hardware store. To the young boy and his father, President Roosevelt represented a higher echelon of politician and public servant--one who devoted his career to empowering the underprivileged and the underserved. It was in the manner and legacy of President Roosevelt that Bob embarked on his own career in public service, driven by his steadfast faith in and vision of societal progress. Bob Brownstein entered the California political scene in 1977, and his impact was immediately felt across the region. He changed local government and city politics as he led efforts to elect San Jose officials by district, giving greater representation for residents in City Hall. Later, he was instrumental in establishing the partnership between the city and San Jose State University to build the Martin Luther King Library. Bob, a lifelong advocate for workers, was the driving force behind the 1998 movement for living wages. He led two campaigns to raise the minimum wage and worked closely to reform San Jose's rent control laws. He played a significant role in passing the Living Wage ordinance, which raised San Jose's living wage to what was then the highest in the nation while still creating an infrastructure for job growth. Most recently, Bob led an initiative to ensure part-time workers receive fair consideration for increased work hours. As the Director of Policy and Research with Working Partnerships USA, Bob not only fought for the rights and agenda of the disenfranchised, but has become one of the most prominent voices in health care policy. He was the architect of Children's Health Initiative, making Santa Clara County the first in the country to provide health coverage to nearly every child. He has been the catalyst for profound reinvention in our community, bringing both tangible and institutional change--a rich legacy that will continue to impact lives for generations. Mr. Speaker, I commend Mr. Bob Brownstein for his years of dedication and commitment to our community both as an advocate for progressive values and as an outstanding public servant. His relentless pursuit to empower those in need will forever be remembered and appreciated by the many lives he has touched and will continue to influence.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui).

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lofgren).

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands (Mr. Sablan).

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I was going to start out by saying that I rise today in mourning, but I don't think it is about mourning. It is about celebrating Mark's life. We have heard all about Mark's character, his person, his presence in this Hall; and I think it is important for not only the family to hear this, but for Matthew and Kaila to hear it, too. For their short lives, they must have shared their dad intermittently. And while he was here, I used to ask him: Did you call home? Did you call your kids? Well, he always said yes, so I stopped asking him because I knew that that was part of the way he lived his life here. It is fitting that we talk about Mark here in the dome, the Capitol, because I think there are three places that Mark did his work. He did his work in church, under this dome, and his home, and he did it well. He did it according to, I think, the way his parents had raised him, both Erik and Naomi. I could tell because, when he used my car, he returned it better than I gave it to him: clean and with the tank full. I didn't know he was so much into sustainable energy, so I hope it didn't offend him if he drove the hybrid. But I certainly feel good every time I sit in the car right now, because I know he was there with Sami, his family, whenever he went to church or took the drive to Baltimore for treatment. I always told him that my prayers are with him because I believe in the power of prayer. But I suppose that there is a greater power, and that is the will of his Savior. I think he is with him right now. I tried to think of a way to describe Mark here in front of his family and his two youngsters, but I guess because church is such an important aspect of his life--I know that because he and Sami would go to church a lot, consistently, faithfully, to the First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu at Ko'olau and here in Virginia. So that told me that, between his upbringing and his faith, that everything that people talk about was a pure reflection of his upbringing and the kind of person he was. To Naomi and Erik, you have done good, and I know that he had followed your teachings, because when you were staying over, you left behind a lot of kakimochi, Hawaiian coffee. And I have to tell you, for the record, I never shared it because it was so meaningful and delightful to have eaten that stuff by myself, but I also know that that is part of aloha, that is part of being ohana. So those things I have learned from Mark. I am older than he is, but I still learned that, as a son, as a husband, as a father, as a brother, as an uncle, that how we live is the demonstration of a person's life. I think that someone said earlier: What would Mark do? What would Mark say? I suspect that Mark, when he would wonder what he had to do, he would probably say: What would Jesus do? And I think that that would be probably an accurate statement. Mark lived his life well, and he lived his life in such a way that it is something that I wanted to be able to copy, because I always look for something that makes me a better person. He was gentle, Christlike, thoughtful, kashikoi, and at peace with himself. And I think that sense of peace is the strength that we saw every day here. The day that he came back from the hospital, he was here on the floor, and the first thing he said to me, as he said to Tammy: How are you? He asked me how I was. He demonstrated to me that the way you are, the way you speak, the way you behave is another way of ministering to others of who you are and what you believe in. When he came down here with his friend Scott Nishimoto, they did borrow my car to visit another friend who was recuperating at the hospital from her battle wounds, Tammy Duckworth. So even though it was a short time that I had been able to know Mark, your dad, he was a wonderful example of someone that I would hope and imagine that you would be able to keep in mind and try to emulate also. There is nothing greater than children who would want to be like their parents, and I think that this is something that you might want to consider. Every day when I was a kid, my dad used to say: When you leave this house, be a mirror. I said: Be a mirror? He said: Yes, be a good reflection of who you are and where you come from so that you will always bring pride to our family. So, Matthew, Kaila, you shared your dad with us, and I hope that you get the sense that the idea of immortality is what my dad used to say: Immortality is sharing a bit of yourself with somebody else. They take that which was shared and pass it on to others, and that is an earthly immortality. But right now, he is with his own Savior, and he is waiting. And I think that our faith will sustain us and give us strength to move on and live life as he has taught us and has taught you. To the family, thank you for allowing me to be briefly part of your ohana and your friend. I will sign off from this floor to both you, Matthew and Kaila, as Uncle Mike. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Speier).

Mr. HONDA. I yield back the balance of my time. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to honor the memory of Jeanette Hernandez, a victim of gun violence who never received a moment of action on the House floor.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to voice my opposition to TPP, an unfair trade deal that will hurt our Nation's workers, our environment, and give corporations dangerous new rights. Through an alarming expansion of the Investor-State Dispute Settlement process, the ISDS, TPP will give corporations a legal weapon to enforce their agendas on sovereign nations. Corporations have already used ISDS to bring over 700 lawsuits against more than 100 governments around the world. When my home State of California banned the use of MTBE as an additive in gasoline because it was polluting the ground water, the Canadian company sued, costing the State and Federal Government millions of dollars to defend the case. TPP would extend these rights to 1,000 additional corporations owning more than 9,200 subsidiaries. We need to stop foreign corporations from suing the U.S. Government before unaccountable panels of corporate lawyers. And while giving these rights to corporations, TPP will provide little benefit to the American economy. The widely cited estimate of 0.13 percent growth in U.S. GDP under TPP is over 10 years. It is not an annual gain. A gain that benefits only a few is undone by the negative impact TPP will have on workers at home and abroad. Under NAFTA, 700,000 American jobs moved to Mexico to take advantage of Mexican workers making 30 percent less than American workers, even after adjusting for differences in living costs. While TPP requires nations to implement minimum wage laws, nothing in the language of the deal prevents them from setting the wage as low as 5 cents an hour. TPP is a small win for high-income earners at the huge expense of low-income workers. TPP also lacks strong provisions to deal with countries with repulsive human rights abuses, including human trafficking and intolerance of the LGBTQ communities. Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei criminalize consensual same-sex sexual relations. Rewarding them with a trade agreement is really very unacceptable. Throughout my tenure in Congress, I have evaluated each trade agreement based on whether it ensures strong, clear, and enforceable labor, environmental, and human rights standards. I do not believe that the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement that was sent to Congress meets my standards. It does not deserve to be considered during a lameduck session. As it is currently written, TPP should not be brought to a vote. It should not be brought to a vote, period.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, by the end of today, 90 people in America will have died from gun violence. That is beyond tragic. That is heartbreaking. That is 90 too many. While House Republicans shamefully stand idle, I am proud to say that, in my district in the Silicon Valley, my hometown community hereby says: enough. Several years ago, the city of Sunnyvale overwhelmingly passed critical, courageous, and commonsense gun violence prevention measures. Today, the city of San Jose is on the verge of adopting similar measures. I am proud that Silicon Valley is leading by example. It is time now for Congress to act. Mr. Speaker, we cannot allow one more day to go by, and 90 people to die, without doing all that we can to end the epidemic of gun violence. Enough is enough. Give us a vote, Mr. Speaker. Give America a vote.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, this week we return after an epic recess of House Republican inaction on stemming gun violence, and yet gun violence does not recess. Between Memorial Day and this past weekend, 4,100 Americans died from gun-related activities, and nearly 8,700 were wounded. Mr. Speaker, this week we return to the American people's ever- growing impatience for Congress to finally take measures that will reduce gun violence and save lives. Keeping guns out of the hands of suspected terrorists and criminals-- what can be more common sense about that? The vast majority of Americans certainly believe such policies are common sense. Give us a vote, Mr. Speaker. Give Americans a vote.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Minerva Crantz Allen, a bilingual Native American educator, linguist, and poet. It is my pleasure to commend Minerva for her lifelong commitment to preserving the Assiniboine (Nakoda) tradition, heritage, and culture. Her civic accomplishments for the Native American people truly make her the embodiment of leadership and service. Minerva was born in the spring of 1934 on the Fort Belknap Indian reservation, in North-central Montana. Her grandfather instilled in her at an early age the importance of education for her future. The daughter of a French Chippewa father and an Assiniboine-Gros Ventre mother, Minerva spoke her native languages, but also taught herself English by singing songs with the Presbyterian ministers' wife. Minerva's grandmother, aunts and uncles still conversed in the Sakoda language, because of their culture and belief system. Growing up was hard, not only because of the Great Depression. Minerva hid her language, culture and religion, and was scared of being turned into the law. Minerva thrived on following her passions, despite the sacrifices. At thirteen years old, she was sent to attend Indian Boarding School at Flandreau, South Dakota. Minerva was a very outgoing member of the student body--a cheerleader, Homecoming Queen, playing football and basketball. Despite the death of her grandfather and her parents' divorce, she went on to obtain a bachelor's degree from Central Michigan University, a master's degree from Northern Montana State College, and completed additional coursework a Weber State College. Minerva has proven herself time and again, holding various critical positions with the Hays' Lodge Pole school system. As the Head Start director for eight years, Minerva helped to establish the first Foster Grandparent Program, bringing grandmothers and grandfathers into the classroom to teach the students their language and culture. She has written several books that translate Indian history and folklore into English, and she has published two books of her own poetry which are used widely in Montana. Minerva is very active in her community, reservation, and state. Minerva has been invited to numerous schools in Montana, served as President and Vice-President of the Montana Association of Bilingual Education (MABE), as well as Montana Indian Education Association (MIEA). She is an Ambassador for Indian Education for All, telling stories about how all people can learn the truth about Native American history, culture and philosophy into their classroom, bridging the gap of racism and teaching about the richness of indigenous people's history and culture. Rarely does a single personal history reflect so vividly an individual's struggle and determination to make life truly meaningful. Minerva's strength and inspiring spirit match her drive to make the world a better place for her people. Today, as a widowed ranch woman, she still lives on her grandfather's land after three generations, next to the Little Rockies Mountains, where she was born.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Cleaver).

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, Omar Mateen should not have had access to a gun, yet he walked into the Pulse nightclub and murdered 49 people and injured many more. Syed Farooq and Tashfeen Malik should not have had access to guns, but were able to buy several weapons, which they used to kill 14 people in San Bernardino. Gerald Villabrille should not have had access to a gun, yet he shot two police officers in Fremont, California, early last month. That is in my district. These aren't isolated incidents. Rather, they represent an epidemic in this country. With most epidemics, we immediately set about trying to find a cure, or at least a treatment. But with gun violence, we have settled for moments of silence. Well, enough of that. A couple of weeks ago, Democrats got together and said, Enough is enough. We took to the House floor to demand House Speaker Ryan and Republican leadership bring bills that would counter this epidemic to a vote. In response, Speaker Ryan called our efforts to get a vote a stunt. Eighty-five percent of Americans support no fly, no buy gun legislation and more than 90 percent support universal background checks. Yet, Speaker Ryan has refused to bring these two measures up for a vote, shutting out the voices and views of the American people. He is opposing popular commonsense legislation. Mr. Speaker, you have the power to allow people to take the vote on the floor. Mr. Speaker, you have the power to make sure that people in this country will be safe with commonsense laws to prevent gun violence.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Madam Chairwoman, I thank Chairman Simpson and Ranking Member Kaptur for their hard work on this bill. It is an honor to serve with them on the subcommittee. This bill contains many positive things that I support, like funding for the Army Corps of Engineers' construction account and programs that provide the Corps with critical oceans and weather data. It also includes strong funding for energy storage technologies as well as provisions that support increasing access to solar and renewable energy and promote increasing energy efficiency through smart electronics. However, there are many cuts that are problematic, particularly those to the energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. We have an opportunity now to lead the world in innovating the next generation of energy technologies, but we are hamstringing our ability to be competitive by underfunding critical energy programs Furthermore, I oppose the prohibition on the Department of Energy and Army Corps participating in marine and coastal planning efforts that are components of the National Ocean Policy. This provision is misguided and reduces our ability to protect our oceans, Great Lakes, and waterways that support our Nation's blue economy. Coordinated ocean planning that encourages collaboration between stakeholders and Federal agencies will help improve the management of our marine resources, and it is unwise to stop those conversations from happening. Finally, I would also oppose the rider which would prohibit the Army Corps from enforcing the ban on firearms at water resources development projects. This provision unnecessarily creates an unsafe environment at these sites. Corps rangers are not authorized to carry firearms, and this provision also strips away the discretion that the Secretary of the Army currently has to enforce or revise the policy on a case-by- case basis. Ultimately, appropriations bills are an exercise in setting spending priorities, and I disagree with many of the prioritizations that this bill makes. I hope we can work together as this bill moves forward to develop a bill that will invest in clean energy.

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

Mr. HONDA. Yes, I yielded back the balance of my time.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the hateful and discriminatory legislation targeting transgender people that is sweeping through State legislatures. Right now, there is anti-transgender legislation pending before legislatures in Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Missouri, South Carolina, Washington, and Tennessee. Tomorrow, Tennessee lawmakers will vote in committee on House Bill 2414, a bill that would require students to go into gender-specific bathrooms that match the gender on their birth certificate. Yet, Tennessee is one of the few States that does not allow a transgender person to change their birth certificate. It is ultimately a lose-lose for transgender people. This bill would cause very real emotional harm and put transgender young people in physical danger if they are required to use gender- inappropriate restrooms and locker rooms. These anti-transgender bills in the States are rooted in fear, animus, and deeply misguided notions about who transgender people are. I speak today as a Member of Congress and as a proud grandfather of a granddaughter who is transgender. These laws do not make us safer. These laws stoke misguided fears. They divide us. We must stand up to these laws and promote our values.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 10th anniversary of the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) Washington Center. Located at 1660 L Street, NW, in the heart of the commercial center of the city, the building has played an important role in KITA's effort to promote trade and bilateral investment by providing facilities and services on a reciprocal basis. The KITA Washington Center is one of nine overseas branches in major global cities that are augmented by twelve domestic offices to comprise and consolidate KITA's position as the preeminent business organization in Korea. In Silicon Valley, the heart of my district, we've been at the cutting edge of innovation in nanotechnology, semiconductors, clean energy, telecommunications, cloud computing, digital media, and many other exciting frontiers. As Korea looks for more investment opportunities, and as we capitalize on synergies among institutions in the Bay Area and Korea, our economic relationship will get stronger and stronger. Korea has invested significantly in Silicon Valley to leverage our cutting edge innovation. From major global companies like Samsung Electronics to the KOTRA Silicon Valley IT Center in Santa Clara that boasts over 40 Korean firms seeking to network and seek potential funders, the economic synergy between Korea and my district has never been greater. That is why I have committed to continuing to foster this important bilateral economic and investment relationship. In December 2014, I had the privilege of visiting Korea to promote Silicon Valley ties to the country. I had the honor of a courtesy visit with President Park Geun-Hye and many Korean Government leaders to discuss a broad range of issues. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to participate in a business roundtable hosted by then Chairman of KITA and former Korean Ambassador to the United States, Duk-Soo Han. It was an important visit that helped to further the economic and trade ties between Korea and my district. The Korea International Trade Association was established in 1946 with the objective of advancing the Korean economy through trade and investment, and is currently the largest business organization in Korea with over 71,000 member companies. On July 31 of this year, KITA will auspiciously mark its 70th anniversary. Taking the opportunity, I wish to extend my congratulations to KITA's Chairman, In-Ho Kim. Since Korea's trade volume reached 1 billion dollars in 1967, the country has achieved remarkable economic growth over the past few decades, becoming the ninth country in the world in 2011 to attain a trillion-dollar trade volume. This has signified a new opportunity for Korea to engage in exports, imports and foreign investment. For nearly seven decades, KITA has organized various functions and events to enhance mutual understanding on trade issues, seeking to resolve private-sector disputes through dialogue. It has also worked together with its overseas counterparts and international economic organizations to provide member firms with opportunities to interact fully with the international community. Moreover, KITA places special emphasis on developing and maintaining cooperative relationships with overseas trade promotion. These cooperation activities include trade information exchange, organizing trade promotional events, joint research, business matchmaking, regional trade missions and the provision of facilities, such as the KITA Washington Office building on L Street. It's in both the United States and Korea's interests that we forge a strong economic relationship that ensures sustained and balanced growth for both countries through greater bilateral investment. To this end, KITA's role will continue to be both meaningful and necessary for our economies are tightly intertwined. With Korea's rapid economic growth since the 1960's, the emergence of business centers in new markets, and the rise of their middle class, Korea's demand for American goods will continue to break historic records. President Obama has made it a top priority of his administration to grow American jobs through increasing exports. About every $1 billion in exports creates about 5,000 jobs at home. If we double our exports, that would be 2 million new American jobs. Since the President made boosting exports a top priority in his 2010 State of the Union speech our exports are up about 33 percent across all sectors. Manufactured goods are up 33 percent, agriculture is up 34 percent, and services are up almost 20 percent in just about every country in which we trade. Ninety-five percent of U.S. exporters are small businesses. United States exports to South Korea supported more than 119,000 jobs across the U.S. in 2012. That's an increase of 28 percent over a decade. South Korea is our seventh largest bilateral trading partner, and the U.S. is South Korea's third largest. 29 U.S. States have more than doubled exports over the last decade. In fact, I am extremely proud that my congressional district leads the country in exports to Korea, with almost $900 million, as of 2012. Mr. Speaker, I want to again extend my good wishes and recognize KITA Washington Office on its 10th anniversary and I encourage my colleagues in the House of Representatives to do the same.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, on March 14th, my vote on Roll Call 112 was inadvertently not recorded. As a cosponsor of H. Con. Res 75, the resolution being voted on expressing the sense of Congress that those who commit or support atrocities against Christians and other ethnic and religious minorities and who target them specifically for ethnic or religious reasons are committing ``war crimes'', ``crimes against humanity'', and ``genocide'', I intended to vote YES.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the previous question. If we defeat the previous question, Mr. Polis will be able to offer an amendment to the rule to bring my Gun Violence Research Act to the floor for an immediate vote. My Gun Violence Research Act would lift the over 19-year-old ban on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with respect to objectively studying the health aspects of gun violence. Former Republican Congressman from Arkansas, the Honorable Jay Dickey, who was the author of the CDC ban, has gone on record regretting his decision--expressing that the prohibition was rooted in partisan politics, not sound public policy. With well over 32,000 Americans killed by gunshots per year and roughly 88 Americans killed every day--every day--gun violence is undoubtedly a public health crisis that necessitates attention. I represent Silicon Valley, and I have seen firsthand the role and value objective research plays in expanded knowledge and informed decisionmaking. Research on gun violence should not be controversial or partisan. It is a commonsense tool to help us understand why tens of thousands of our fellow citizens are being killed every year by gunshots. Without being able to adequately understand why the problem is occurring, we are unable to effectively tackle our Nation's gun violence epidemic and protect the American people whom we represent. This is why I urge my Republican colleagues to allow a vote on this critical legislation and lift the ban on desperately needed gun violence research. When we understand the problem, we can make informed public policy decisions to keep Americans safe without eroding the Second Amendment and demonizing the millions of law-abiding gun owners. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on the previous question.

Mr. HONDA

Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, we rise today to honor the life of Lauren Suzanne Smith. I am joined by my esteemed colleagues Doris O. Matsui, Jerry McNerney, Zoe Lofgren, Ami Bera, Julia Brownley, Lois Capps, Tony Cardenas, Judy Chu, Jim Costa, Susan A. Davis, Mark DeSaulnier, Anna Eshoo, Sam Farr, John Garamendi, Janice Hahn, Barbara Lee, Ted Lieu, Alan S. Lowenthal, Grace F. Napolitano, Linda Sanchez, Adam B. Schiff, Brad Sherman, Jackie Speier, Eric Swalwell, Mark Takano, Mike Thompson, Norma J. Torres, Juan Vargas, and Maxine Waters. Lauren Smith, a beloved daughter, sister, friend, Congressional staffer, and coworker, died on December 26, 2015 in her home in Washington, D.C. at the age of 37. Lauren was born on August 18, 1978, in Illinois. At the age of four, she attended her first Chicago White Sox baseball game--thus launching a lifelong love of the sport. Lauren was also a professional ballroom dancer and instructor. A self-proclaimed ``foodie,'' Lauren was an inspirational chef, who had her own website: ``One if By Food.'' She believed people should not have to compromise taste, flavor, and health--just because they were only cooking for one. Lauren thrived on following her passions, despite the sacrifices. That characteristic fueled her journey across the country multiple times, from the campaign trail to Capitol Hill. Her unabating dedication to progressive ideals was second only to her independent spirit. Her keen communications skills and doggedness served her well, bringing exciting opportunities and necessitating many a quick decision to say ``yes'' to pack up everything to go on to the next challenge. Lauren got her feet wet fresh from graduating from Cal State Fullerton with the All America PAC during the 2006 midterm elections, and worked her way up to become the Democratic National Committee's statewide communications director for Indiana during the 2008 presidential election. Lauren proved herself time and again, handling tough situations and high pressure through a decade on the Hill as Press Secretary for Rep. Cuellar (D-Texas), Communications Director for Rep. Matsui (D-Calif.), and Communications Director/Deputy Chief of Staff for Rep. McNerney (D-Calif.). After serving as Communications Consultant for John Walsh's bid for Montana's vacant Senate seat, Lauren served as the Deputy Communications Director for Sen. Walsh (D- Mont.) as well. In 2015, Lauren joined Rep. Honda's (D-Calif.) team. Lauren swiftly settled in, becoming a major asset to the entire staff--teaming with each staff member to increase effectiveness of all communication. She thoughtfully served as the Member's voice and ambassador to the media. Lauren was a media liaison extraordinaire, easily developing positive professional relationships with reporters. Lauren loved her job, and everyone knew it from her positive impact. Lauren changed the lives of everyone with whom she worked. A common denominator for all the offices where Lauren worked is that Lauren was viewed as dedicated, passionate, incredibly hard-working, and most of all, beloved. She would brighten up any office with her quick wit and cheery nature. She was also deeply caring and considerate. She was the first to ask how someone was doing and offer assistance. To her, relationships mattered most of all. Lauren always put herself last. Mr. Speaker, sometimes, we are simply lucky enough to be gifted with an amazing employee and colleague. Lauren had an infectious laugh, and an inspiring spirit that matched her drive to make the world a better and happier place. No doubt, Lauren is still giggling somewhere, and looking out for her loved ones. Lauren--you are beyond compare. You made it so easy to fall into love with you. We miss you so very dearly.