Steven Horsford

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I stand here today to share the story of Laurie Wall, a Las Vegas resident, a mother of three, and a Federal employee denied a paycheck because of this government shutdown. Like many of Nevada's Federal employees, Laurie is still reporting to work every single day, doing her job on behalf of the American people. But because she is not getting paid, Laurie also has to add trips to the local food bank to pick up needed food and diapers for her family. Because of this shutdown, 3,520 Nevada-based Federal employees are being denied a paycheck; 30,000 southern Nevadans are at risk of homelessness because of reduced housing assistance; and 34,000 people in my district could lose their nutritional assistance. The House has already voted 11 times to reopen the government. It is long past time that the Senate does the same and stops holding Nevadans like Laurie Wall hostage.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I stand here today on behalf of the hardworking Nevadans hurt most by this recent shutdown: The 3,512 Federal workers in Nevada who are missing out on paychecks; the 34,000 people in my district who could lose their nutritional assistance; the 1.1 million Nevada families whose tax refunds could be delayed; the air traffic controllers and TSA agents at McCarran International Airport who are forced to work without pay. It is time to reopen the government and stop this shutdown from taking even more money out of their pockets. That is why I voted for bipartisan legislation to end this shutdown on the very first day of this new Congress. It is time to reopen the government and get back to work on behalf of the American people and the people of Nevada's Fourth.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the ranking subcommittee chairman, Mr. Grijalva, for his leadership and the chairman for the House Natural Resources Committee. It is my honor to be here in support of this legislation today. With this bill, the city of Yerington, which is one key provision of this bill within this measure, will be allowed to purchase at fair market value over 10,000 acres of land from the Bureau of Land Management. It is a very technical bill but has tremendous impacts to the State of Nevada at large. This is a true benefit for Lyon County, and it is in no way a giveaway. This project will generate between $15 to $25 million in annual revenue for Lyon County, Lyon County schools, South Lyon Hospital District, the Mason Valley Fire Protection District, and the State of Nevada. Nevada Copper, the relevant mining company, already owns roughly 95 percent of the minerals to be mined, and it is contained on 1,500 acres of privately-held land. We expect that the total economic impact of this development will create approximately 3,000 to 4,000 jobs when you include indirect employment. The mine itself will directly employ approximately 800 to 900 people, providing high-quality wages for nearly two decades. This is in addition to the more than 500 people who will be employed during the construction phase. In this comprehensive development, up to 63 percent of the acquired Federal lands will be used for infrastructure, other economic development, and local recreation. We further anticipate that the city of Yerington will be able to draw in additional economic activity due to these infrastructure investments which include power, roads, water, and sewer infrastructure; additionally, this project is environmentally sound. In fact, the legislation includes the creation of the Wovoka Wilderness Act which will protect old growth pinyon pine and unique archeological sites and preserve this region for future generations of Nevada. This is a commonsense bill that will create jobs for one of the most economically depressed counties in our country; and, while it took time for this legislation to move, it reminds me that with hard work, determination, and a little bipartisanship, we can get things done. This is a bill that has unanimous support from the local community. It has unanimous support from the Federal delegation of the State of Nevada, and it passed without objection out of the House Natural Resources Committee. Let's use the passage of a noncontroversial bill out of the House as a lesson that there is a place for Congress to help the American people. There is good that government can do, and something that appears to be a small achievement in the constellation of national politics will mean a lot to Lyon County, particularly the city of Yerington. In addition to moving this important job-creating bill, I am looking forward to working with my colleagues to move the Tule Springs national monument bill considered for action next. On top of the national park designation, this bill would transfer land from the BLM to the cities of Las Vegas and North Las Vegas for two 600-acre economic development zones. It would also transfer land across the street from the southern Nevada veterans hospital. Mayor John Lee and I envision this as space for a new medical complex that could be the anchor for a new medical school in southern Nevada. Let's keep working. We have great momentum right now. Nevadans today see that we can get things done here in Washington and Washington can solve problems; and, while today's bill is just a tiny crack in the dam of congressional gridlock, if we keep moving forward where we have consensus, we can achieve great things for our constituents. I want to especially thank my colleague, Representative Mark Amodei, for all of his hard work on this important legislation. Our congressional districts both contain parts of Lyon County. He fought hard for this bill during previous sessions of Congress. His support has been critical to getting this entire package of bills through this House, and I want to continue working with him and our entire Nevada delegation to put our State first. I also want to thank the ranking member, Mr. DeFazio, for helping make this bill a top priority for our side of the aisle, as well as to the subcommittee chairman, Mr. Grijalva, for advocating for this bill to move quickly through the process. Last but not least I want to thank Chairman Doc Hastings and the chairman of the subcommittee, Mr. Bishop, for working across the aisle and making this bill a priority. Since I have arrived in Congress, you both have been willing to work with me on important public lands issues for my home State, and I am grateful to you both for your service and for your stability in working together on the House Natural Resources Committee. Again, Mr. Speaker, this is an important bill that would create jobs that are desperately needed in a portion of Nevada's Fourth District, and I would like to thank this body for their consideration in passage of this important legislation.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of H.R. 4939, a bill that designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2551 Galena Avenue in Simi Valley, California, as the Neil Havens Post Office. For Charles ``Neil'' Havens, working for the Postal Service was a family tradition. After his grandfather became Simi's first rural letter carrier in 1912, Neil's uncle and father both followed, becoming carriers on the same route. In 1953, Neil's father, Charles, took on the job of Simi postmaster, a job Neil himself would hold for 30 years, beginning in 1958. Neil was known for going out of his way to help his community, be it through mentoring young postal workers or his involvement in the local Masonic Lodge, the Rotary Club of Simi Valley, and the Simi Valley Historical Society. Regardless of the situation, Neil could always be found smiling and ready to lend a helping hand. Sadly, on July 16, 2004, Neil Havens passed away peacefully at his home at the age of 74. In addition to his wife, Pat, their children and four grandchildren, Neil is survived by the many residents of his community whom he made feel like family. Madam Speaker, we should pass this bill to pay tribute to the life of Neil Havens and recognize the dedication with which he worked to better the lives of those around him. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I am also pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of H.R. 2819, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 275 Front Street in Marietta, Ohio, as the Veterans Memorial Post Office Building. This legislation recognizes the service of the many men and women from Marietta, Ohio, who have so courageously dedicated their lives to protecting this country. Every day members of our Nation's military risk their lives to defend the many freedoms Americans enjoy. We must never forget the sacrifices made by these servicemembers and their families. Madam Speaker, we should pass this bill to honor the brave veterans who have given so much to this great country. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, at this time, I am pleased to yield as much time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), the ranking member of the Rules Committee.

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I support the passage of this bill to honor the courage exhibited by this young man in the face of danger. Because of Specialist Glende's brave actions, five American lives were saved on the battlefield. He deserves our respect for his honorable service. I thank our colleague, Representative Slaughter, for bringing this legislation. I urge the body's adoption of H.R. 5019, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel), who represents the fabulous community of Harlem, and in support of H.R. 4443.

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Again, we support the passage of this bill to honor the ultimate sacrifice that Corporal Juan Alcantara made for this country. He and so many other servicemen and -women risk their lives every day to protect the freedoms that we hold so dear, and it is only right that we recognize and respect their great courage. We thank Representative Charlie Rangel for bringing this important legislation to us and ask the body's full support of H.R. 4443. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, S. 231, the Multinational Species Conservation Fund Semipostal Stamp Reauthorization Act, would require the United States Postal Service to continue issuing the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp for 4 more years. The conservation fund is a small initiative, run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, that supports a variety of conservation efforts that benefit several species, including great apes, rhinoceroses, tigers, and marine turtles. Because semipostal stamps cost more than typical stamps, they allow members of the public to donate to a particular cause encouraged by the stamp. Passage of this bill is a way to raise revenue for the Multinational Species Conservation Fund without increasing its appropriations. We have no objections to the passage of S. 231, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. I thank the gentleman from Missouri, and I thank you for really putting your heart and soul into serving your constituents and the outpouring of compassion that was shown following this unfortunate death of Michael Brown. At the funeral, the one remark that really stayed with me was that Michael Brown wanted the world to know his name. I think out of this unfortunate situation, there is this opportunity now, as you indicate, Representative Clay, for us to have a discussion, an action, to take action on a pattern of practices that are not limited to just Ferguson, Missouri. And as you just indicated, this is an issue that has happened in other places, whether it is John Crawford in Beavercreek, Ohio; Ezell Ford in Los Angeles, California; or Eric Garner in Staten Island, New York; or Dante Parker in Victorville, California; or constituents in my home State in Las Vegas, Nevada. This is a pattern that must end. And for Michael Brown, for him to have the world know his name, the best outcome could be to change and improve the community-police relationship so that all people are treated fairly and equally under the law. That is our hope and aspiration here tonight as we bring attention to this very important issue during this Special Order hour. I would like to now yield time to the gentlewoman from Florida, Representative Frederica Wilson, for her to add comments to this very important topic and to bring her perspective, as well.

Mr. HORSFORD. I thank the gentlewoman from Florida. Thank you for providing the information about the resources that are available to young people to know their rights, to understand how they need to approach the situation. I just had the privilege of participating at a ``Know Your Rights'' townhall that was hosted in my congressional district by the National Bar Association, the Las Vegas chapter of the National Bar Association. We had approximately 100 attendees, many of them young people, who do need this information. Regardless of whether there is a parent in the house or not, every young person needs to understand their rights and the best practices on how to interact with law enforcement when and if that does occur. We want to encourage young people to know their rights. I think working with the Congressional Black Caucus, we will find opportunities to post that information, to share it with organizations in our local communities, to help connect young people and adults alike, so that we can improve on the relationship between police officers and our community. I would like to now turn to our next Member for the Congressional Black Caucus for this hour, the gentleman from Texas--I was very delighted to join with him and other Members at the funeral, to pay our respects to the family and the community. I would like to now yield time to the gentleman from Texas, Representative Al Green.

Mr. HORSFORD. I thank the gentleman from Texas for his comments. I would like to yield now to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin, the great State of Wisconsin, and to extend whatever time she may need. I appreciate, again, her leadership, compassion, and dedication on so many issues, but particularly on bringing the voice and perspective of people who aren't always heard in this institution. I have great respect and admiration for her. I would like to yield time now to Representative Gwen Moore.

Mr. HORSFORD. I thank the gentlewoman from Wisconsin for your very compassionate remarks and the perspectives of so many people who are expecting this Congress to act. We will take heed of your words and your recommendations. general leave

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject matter of this Special Order.

Mr. HORSFORD. May I inquire as to how much remaining time we have left?

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman, my coanchor, for this Special Order hour, and for your bringing to this body a reminder of the Kerner report, which is very instructive on what should be done as a model to move community policing approaches forward. I think that is one of the absolute objectives that must come from any action that this body takes. And there is a role for Congress to play. Absolutely, there is a responsibility for the Department of Justice, which has a statutory objective, a responsibility to ensure profiling does not occur in our Nation's law enforcement. In addition to the example of the Kerner report, I would also like to bring to attention the work of the U.S. Department of Justice, the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, the COPS office, which is working to develop an initiative known as the collaborative reform model. Now, they came to my home State of Nevada in January of 2012, following growing community concern and scrutiny of its use of deadly force practices, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, under the leadership of our sheriff, voluntarily agreed to have this review by the COPS department in order to identify areas of improvement. So I believe that this report and this program, along with the Kerner report, are examples of what we could do to make sure that every local law enforcement agency has high standards and is not practicing profiling. Mr. Speaker, I know our time has expired. I would like to thank my colleagues for this Special Order hour, and the gentleman from New York for coanchoring. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HORSFORD. The material I previously referred to is as follows: Executive Summary Background In January 2012, under growing community concern and scrutiny of its use of deadly force practices, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) agreed to take part in an initiative sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office), known as the ``Collaborative Reform Model.'' As part of this initiative, LVMPD agreed to an in-depth assessment of its use of deadly force policies and practices. In support, the COPS Office and CNA would assist the LVMPD in adopting national standards and best practices as they relate to officer-involved shootings (OIS), while ensuring that LVMPD's implementation was comprehensive and integrated. CNA conducted the assessment, focusing on four issue areas: (1) policy and procedures, (2) training and tactics, (3) investigation and documentation, and (4) external view. CNA completed the assessment in November 2012, which documented a total of 75 reforms and recommendations. These included both new recommendations from the assessment team and reforms that LVMPD initiated before and during the assessment process. CNA published the final report Collaborative Reform Model: A Review of Officer-Involved Shootings in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (referred to as the ``2012 report'' throughout the remainder of this report) in November 2012. The publication of the 2012 report did not complete the process. Sustainable policy and organizational change requires careful planning, implementation, and monitoring. The COPS Office, CNA, and LVMPD have continued in their collaboration throughout 2013. The COPS Office asked CNA to document reforms previously completed by LVMPD and to actively monitor those that resulted from the 2012 report. In September, CNA and the COPS Office published Collaborative Reform Model: Six-Month Status Report of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. The six-month report showed that LVMPD had made significant progress. A total of 56 reforms had been completed by the department and another 15 were in progress. This report is the final assessment of LVMPD with respect to the Collaborative Reform Model. It has been two years since the beginning of the reform process, and one year since the reforms were recommended. The purpose of this report is to inform all stakeholders and interested parties of the progress made toward reforming LVMPD's policies and practices with respect to OISs. Approach CNA undertook a multifaceted approach in assessing LVMPD's progress, including site visits, direct observation, document reviews, and interviews. The assessment process was a holistic, comprehensive approach to assessing LVMPD's reforms that places an emphasis on the quality of the implementation as well as technical completion. The goal of the assessment was for the assessors to fully understand the steps the department had taken toward implementing the reforms, and to collect as much evidence as necessary to confirm that those steps had been completed. Over the past year, LVMPD submitted for review more than 500 documents and files, including investigative reports, internal bulletins and memoranda, training videos and lesson plans, attendance records, evaluation plans, policies, audio recordings of review board hearings, and section manuals. The assessors critically reviewed these files for relevance and consistency with the recommendations, as well as for clarity and quality of the documents. In this report, each recommendation is assigned one of five statuses, defined in Table 1.

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join with my colleague, the coanchor, Mr. Jeffries from New York, to lead this Special Order hour on this, the first day back after the August congressional district work period. We are here for a very important reason tonight, Mr. Speaker, because on August 9, in Ferguson, Missouri, a young boy, an unarmed young boy by the name of Michael Brown, had his life tragically taken. He was taken from his friends and his family. That community was devastated and has left behind so many questions of how this could have happened. I was honored to join with other colleagues at the invitation of the Representative from that area, Mr. Clay, to attend Michael Brown's funeral. It was an incredibly powerful service in which a city and a Nation came together to mourn. But out of that mourning and frustration, we have an obligation to act. And so tonight, members of the Congressional Black Caucus will use this Special Order hour to discuss the challenge of profiling, of militarizing our local law enforcement agencies, and the need to build community policing approaches that work. I am honored to work with my cochair and to lead this Special Order hour because it is a very significant moment that will allow us to heal and to move forward as a Nation. I would like to start by yielding time to the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, who provides so much leadership and direction to the 43 members of the CBC each and every day. This is an issue that we have been working on far before Michael Brown lost his life. There are a pattern of issues and young people who have been profiled, and we are committed to making sure that this does not continue. I would like to yield now to the gentlewoman from Ohio, the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, Chairwoman Marcia Fudge.

Mr. HORSFORD. I thank the gentlewoman, the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, for your ongoing commitment and leadership on these important issues and the recognition that there is so much more work that needs to be done. And while there are local law enforcement agencies and police officers who do a good job every day and who put their life on the line, we know that there are individuals who are not necessarily living up to those standards of public safety and trust, and so we look forward to improving that. I would like to now yield to the gentleman from Missouri, Representative Lacy Clay, who provided the leadership on the ground, on the scene, particularly following the days after Michael Brown's shooting. He represents the community of Ferguson in St. Louis, Missouri.

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to also include for the Record the fact that the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination recently issued a 14-page-long scathing report on the United States' failure to fully comply with our obligations under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination in numerous areas affecting racial and ethnic minorities. While the report commended the Obama administration for steps it has taken to combat racial discrimination, it highlighted the gaps stated commitments and the glaring reality of laws and practices that continue to discriminate against and disproportionately impact people of color and indigenous communities. I think it is rather important for this body to know, particularly tonight, because I know there will be some who will ask: Why are they doing this Special Order on this topic? Why are they bringing attention to the need for reform? Well, whether it is in your local community, in your State, or federally, we have an obligation to make sure that people are treated fairly and equally under the law, and where our laws or our practices fail to meet that standard, we have an obligation to change it. For the United Nations to call into question the United States' failure in these areas I think speaks to the fact that this is not just a local issue, but it is also an international one. So I hope that my colleagues understand that that is, in part, why we are bringing attention to it. I would like to thank the gentlewoman from Wisconsin for recognizing the fact that many Members have proposed legislation well before the Michael Brown case. Mr. Conyers, the ranking member of the Judicial Committee, called for the End Racial Profiling Act. Representative Hank Johnson's legislation calls for greater accountability and a fundamental review of the militarization of our local law enforcement agencies. I am honored to be one of the sponsors for the Universal Respect Act, to have a review and meaningful change, again, of our local law enforcement so that their practices meet the intent of our laws. I would like to now yield to my good friend and a fellow freshman Member. He is actually a redshirt freshman because he came in a little earlier than the rest of us. He has been a dynamic leader that came to this Congress with the commitment to serve his constituents from the great State of New Jersey. I yield to my friend, Representative Donald Payne.

Mr. HORSFORD. I thank the gentleman from New Jersey. Thank you for sharing your own personal experience. I know each of us can probably recall an incident where we have felt that we were being profiled, targeted, singled out, not because it was warranted necessarily, but because of some characteristic. And that is part of what we are here to bring attention to tonight. So thank you for your honesty and for your genuineness in expressing that personal story. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the Empire State, New York (Mr. Jeffries), my fellow coanchor. I have great respect for this gentleman. We have gotten to know each other very well, and I know that this is an issue, in particular, that he has provided direct leadership on because of the communities in which he serves in New York. And the comment by the gentleman, the previous comment about ``stop and frisk'' is something that you have worked to challenge, and because of that there is a change that is underway. That is what we are hoping to bring tonight.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I support the passage of this bill to honor the passion, dedication, and love with which Larcenia Bullard legislated. I urge this body's adoption of H.R. 2678, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I am proud to join with my colleagues in the consideration of H.R. 2678 and would like to yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida, Representative Garcia, my good friend who has sponsored this legislation.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in the consideration of H.R. 5089, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2000 Mulford Road in Mulberry, Florida, as the Sergeant 1st Class Daniel M. Ferguson Post Office. A Mulberry native, Daniel Ferguson graduated from Mulberry High School, where he lettered in five sports, including football, baseball, and track. He joined the Army in 1993 and served almost 21 years, completing tours of duty in Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan. In March of 2013, after returning from his deployment, Sergeant 1st Class Ferguson was stationed as an Army transportation supervisor at Fort Hood, Texas. On April 2, 2014, Sergeant 1st Class Ferguson was working on base when a shooting rampage broke out. In a final act of courage and service to his country, Ferguson held himself against an unlocked door, using his body as a shield to block the shooter from firing into a room full of his colleagues. Although Ferguson was tragically killed that day, his valiant actions saved the lives of many other soldiers. Ferguson is survived by his fiancee, fellow soldier Kristen Haley, and is remembered for his loyalty, fearlessness, and heroism. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Meritorious Service Medal, among others, for his honorable military service. Madam Speaker, we should pass this bill to recognize the bravery and courage exhibited both at home and on the battlefield by Sergeant 1st Class Daniel Ferguson and to commemorate the great sacrifice made by him and his family. I urge adoption of H.R. 5089, and I yield the balance of my time.