Will Hurd

Mr. HURD of Texas

Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Chair, I am proud to join my good friend and fellow former CIA officer, the gentlewoman from the Commonwealth of Virginia, to offer this bipartisan amendment that would direct the intelligence community to prioritize resources to address the humanitarian crisis at the border, in the Northern Triangle, and also in Mexico. I represent more of the southern border than any other Member of Congress. The root causes of this current crisis are violence, extreme poverty, and lack of economic opportunity in the Northern Triangle--El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Drug cartels, human traffickers, and human smugglers are making this crisis worse and putting innocent lives at risk. They profit while people in Central America suffer and entire nations are destabilized. Our intelligence community is not maximizing the use of our intelligence to deny and disrupt these operations. In June, we all know that 104,000 people were detained at our border. Almost every one of them had a phone number of a smuggler, a license plate of a bus that brought them here, or a pickup location in their home country. Understanding and disabling these smuggling and trafficking networks should be a national intelligence priority. This amendment would require the Director of National Intelligence to conduct a review of intelligence collection priorities in the Northern Triangle and Mexico and then provide quarterly briefings to Congress regarding the intelligence community activities in this region. These individuals and organizations threaten the security of the United States and the Western Hemisphere, and we should be using intelligence to stop them. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. HURD of Texas

Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues know I am the only Republican on the border. My colleagues know I am the only Member of Congress who has 820 miles along the border. My colleagues know that I have spent a good deal of my time up here working with them on things like stopping the separation of families along the border. My colleagues also know that I know that some Members are not for open borders. It is an understatement to say that our Nation's immigration docket is a matter of concern. The caseload has increased by nearly fivefold since the end of 2008, and now it stands at roughly 9,000 cases. The average wait for nondetained individuals is over 670 days, with many individuals waiting much longer for an immigration hearing. The net effect of this untenable backlog situation is to delay justice, in many cases, for years for those with valid claims. This is simply outrageous. The adjudication of immigration matters is essential to the proper administration of justice in our country. Congress must ensure that U.S. immigration laws are administered fairly, efficiently, and consistently with due process. This motion adds $75 million to our immigration court system. It will support additional immigration judge teams and the expansion of courtroom capacity. Now, some of my colleagues will say that there are already judges in this bill. There are. They meet the requests of, actually, this White House, but that is not enough. In 2016, the ACLU came out and said that to get to the backlog there, to address the backlog then, which was only 500,000, we needed 500 immigration judge teams. We need more. Many Members have already voted for more than this when they all helped me jam Republican leadership last year--or try to jam Republican leadership last year--on sorting out the immigration issue. Now, some of my colleagues will say that taking money away from Census to do that is not the right way to go. This underlying bill funds the Census 40 percent above the President's request. That is more than $2.3 billion. This bill includes $8 billion, with or without this amendment. Most importantly, this motion to recommit does not address or change the question that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have addressed in this bill, and that is whether or not the citizenship question can be added on the 2020 Census. This bill says it cannot. This motion to recommit does not change that. Let me repeat. This motion to recommit does not change that. We are taking money out of the Census reserve slush fund. This is money that may or may not be used. We can hold on to this funding for unforeseen problems, or we can use this funding now to help solve a problem we see loud and clear. Our current shortage of immigration judges delays justice for individuals who have valid immigration claims, while preserving many years of continued illegal presence for others who do not. Worse still, the allure of our weakened system entices migrants to undertake the incredibly dangerous journey north with young children. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on this motion to help reverse these regrettable and unsustainable trends caused by our broken immigration system, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HURD of Texas. I am in its current form.

Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mr. HURD of Texas

Mr. HURD of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 10th Anniversary of Texas A&M University-San Antonio. Since its establishment in 2009, A&M-San Antonio has transformed into a bustling, centralized University that has awarded over 8,000 degrees on the Southside of San Antonio, so students are prepared to take on the challenges of the 21st Century. Additionally, the University is reflective of the rich heritage of the community it serves, with a student body that's 60-percent female, 72-percent Hispanic and 77-percent first-generation college students. I am proud to represent a University that is playing a hands-on role in moving our country forward, and I know this is only the beginning. On behalf of the Twenty-third Congressional District of Texas, congratulations to Texas A&M University-San Antonio on this achievement and go jaguars.

Mr. HURD

Mr. HURD. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 50-year anniversary of Endeavors. Since its start in 1969 as Urban Ministries, Endeavors has provided comprehensive and effective support services for children, families, and our nation's veterans. As an organization, Endeavors aims to empower people to build better lives for themselves, their families, and their communities through services like career training, crisis intervention, homelessness prevention, childcare, emergency case management and employment assistance for individuals with disabilities. The organization provides critical support to over 16,000 people each year and makes a positive difference in communities across the country. On behalf of the Twenty-third Congressional District of Texas, congratulations to Endeavors on their 50th anniversary.

Mr. HURD of Texas

Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Joyce Meyer once said that ``teachers can change lives with just the right mix of chalk and challenges.'' For Amistad National Recreation Area Education Specialist Lisa Nielsen, her chalk is a trail, a shoreline, and a pair of binoculars. The 28-year National Park Service veteran has created several innovative and interactive programs that have educated tens of thousands of Texans I represent of all ages on the importance of conservation and maintaining our south and west Texas natural treasures for future generations to come. I am proud to rise today to honor Lisa and all of the women who are making an impact each day across the 23rd Congressional District of Texas as we continue to celebrate Women's History Month.

Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, my team and I are committed to fighting the bureaucracy for folks I represent across the 23rd Congressional District of Texas who can't battle it on their own. Recently, my team helped Kinney County in south Texas cut through Federal red tape to secure $4 million in funding and spare the county from financial ruin. The county was being punished simply for following orders, but due to conflicting information from Washington bureaucrats regarding how much to pay employees at the county detention center, they were told they owed the Federal Government $4 million. Once my office heard about this issue, we worked relentlessly with the U.S. Marshals Service to ensure these costs were covered. I thank Kinney County Judge Tully Shahan for informing me of this issue and the Department of Justice for working with my office to resolve this situation. Women's History Month

Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to spotlight Kinetic Kids, an organization in my hometown that helps more than 2,800 children with special needs in San Antonio, Schertz, and New Braunfels. A few weeks ago, I joined over 470 Texans in the cold and the wet to support these local children with special needs. In 2001, Kinetic Kids was founded by Tracey Fontenot and Kacey Wernli, pediatric physical therapists who saw that children with special needs needed more exercise. They needed motivation; they needed camaraderie; they needed the joy that comes from being part of a team. I am proud to be part of their team, and I will always be here to cheer them on. Congratulations on a great event, and thank you for the important work you do in the community. Fighting the Bureaucracy

Mr. HURD of Texas

Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his indulgence. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution because I want the whole truth and nothing but the truth to come to light in this matter; I want to know what Vladimir Putin did to our electoral process; I want to know the failures of the Obama administration in reacting to this attack in real time; I want any Americans complicit to face severe consequences; and I want the American people to know as much as they can and see as much as they can. As a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I support the efforts and the request for all information pertaining to this investigation to be open to the public. That includes all witness lists, every interview transcript, and every document provided. The taxpayers paid millions for this information, and they should get to see all of it and not just the assessment of one person. This resolution should have been broader; it should have been deeper; and it should have covered everything dealing with the investigation. But it is a step in the right direction. I hope my colleagues on the other side of the aisle accept the calls for all the information to be made public because full transparency is the only way to prevent future speculation. Full transparency is the only way to prevent future innuendo. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. HURD of Texas

Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, in 2019, there are more women serving in Congress than at any other point in American history. This is a tremendous achievement for our Nation and a trend I hope will continue, because while women are half the population, they still make up less than one-quarter of my congressional colleagues. I rise today to recognize an organization that is doing crucial work to bridge this gap. Since its inception in 2007, Running Start has trained over 10,000 young women to run for office. I am proud to be a congressional co-chair of Running Start because our elected leaders must better reflect the makeup of our country. With all the problems we face as a nation, the only way we are going to solve them is by working together, and that will require including more women in the conversation. Running Start is training the next generation of women leaders who do just that. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting the incredible young women in Running Start's network and encourage the young women in their lives and our lives to never let anyone ever tell them they are not capable of running for office.

Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the outstanding achievement of the San Antonio Christian School swim teams for winning both the girls and boys Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools Division 2 State Championships last week. This achievement is truly a testament to their dedicated work ethic and incredible talents. What a fantastic way to end an undefeated season. Hard work and practice paid off. Their parents, peers, and community are proud of them. Included in this group is a former intern of mine, a gifted athlete and rising star--Michael O'Brien of San Antonio, Texas. Well done, Michael. Enjoy these great moments. You will treasure them for the rest of your lives. Go Lions. Running Start

Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, those who have answered the call to serve our country can be found all across the 23rd Congressional District of Texas. From Monahans to Alpine, Fort Davis to Eagle Pass, my team crisscrossed the 29 counties I represent and heard from 23 of our Nation's heroes whose stories will be preserved for generations to come through the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project. From those who just finished serving in the military to veterans of the Vietnam war and Second World War, these men stood in the trenches overseas, flew aircraft over Nazi Germany, and put themselves in harm's way to protect our Nation from threats across the globe--from the Axis Powers to ISIS. They paved the way for today's servicemembers who keep us safe every single day. I thank the Library of Congress for preserving these stories so that we can learn about our past and teach future generations the value of selfless service. I thank all who have served, and God bless these United States of America. San Antonio Christian School Swimming Team State Title

Mr. HURD of Texas

Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join with my colleagues to introduce this bipartisan bill to reaffirm the commitment of Congress to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, as we know it. We call it NATO. For 70 years now, almost 1 billion people from Los Angeles and London, to Tallinn and Thessaloniki have lived in peace and prosperity, in no small part due to the security provided by NATO. As a CIA officer in Afghanistan, like my friend and colleague from California, I had the opportunity to serve side by side with NATO forces in the fight against al-Qaida and the Taliban. I saw every day the professionalism and dedication of these brave men and women who, like our soldiers, were fighting to protect their nations and way of life. More than 1,000 NATO soldiers paid the ultimate sacrifice fighting alongside the United States in Afghanistan. In the global fight against terrorism, NATO allies have stood with us time and time again. As my friend from the Commonwealth of Virginia noted, in NATO's entire history, 9/11 was the first time the alliance invoked Article 5, the commitment that an attack against one ally is an attack against all. In our darkest hour, every member of NATO answered the call to fight terror at home and abroad. In Europe, NATO countries continued to deter Russia from threatening our democratic partners. Through military exercises in forward deployments in Eastern Europe, we have demonstrated our shared resolve against the aggressive ambitions of Vladimir Putin. That includes a stronger commitment by our allies to provide for their own defense. They have spent over $2.8 trillion on defense in the last decade, with spending increasing for the fourth straight year in 2018. These partners, not Russia, are our true friends, and we must always stand with them. We face many shared challenges, and the only way we can overcome them is by working together and continuing the strong transatlantic bond that unites our Nations. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation. It is an honor to work alongside my friend from the great State of California, Mr. Panetta, the chairman, and the ranking member of this important committee.

Mr. HURD of Texas

Mr. HURD of Texas. Madam Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentlewoman for yielding time to me on this important piece of legislation. It should come as no surprise to anyone in this Chamber that technology is integrated into every facet of our daily lives. We have come a long way since the bill that established the role of the Federal Chief Information Officer, the E-Government Act, was originally passed. Less than 50 percent of the U.S. population had home access to the internet in 2001 when this was first passed. Now, nearly every American has access to the internet. Just 62 percent of Americans had cell phones when the original bill was passed. Now, 95 percent of Americans own cell phones, and 77 percent of those are smartphones. Mobile apps were nonexistent in 2002. Today, over 2.2 million apps are available to consumers. This bill recognizes how far technology has come. It codifies the position of the Federal Chief Information Officer and elevates the office to report directly to the head of the Office of Management and Budget. The bill also establishes the role of the Federal Chief Information Security Officer, FCISO, who reports directly to the Federal CIO and will lead OMB cybersecurity efforts. Empowering CIOs at the Federal agencies is consistent with the principles of one of the signature pieces of legislation on IT reform, the Federal IT Acquisition and Reform Act. The Federal CIO should be treated no differently. The Federal CIO must have the statutory and organizational authority to succeed, and this bill achieves just that. The bill does more than just rename the office. It makes a clear statement that the Federal CIO is in charge of coordinating IT policy across the government. This bill passed the House last Congress by a vote of 391-0, and I want to thank my friends--Representatives Robin Kelly, Mark Meadows, and Gerry Connolly--for their continued support for this important initiative. And I would like to thank Chairman Cummings and Ranking Member Jordan for making sure this important piece of legislation comes to the floor. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. HURD of Texas

Mr. HURD of Texas. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield myself the balance of my time to close. As the distinguished gentleman from the Commonwealth of Virginia said, we should make sure these Federal employees are made whole. These are men and women who are making their own sacrifices to ensure that our country continues to operate, and I would recognize and suggest to all my colleagues to support this piece of legislation that passed unanimously last night from the Senate. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HURD of Texas. Madam Speaker, I am looking forward to working with the distinguished gentleman from Maryland on making sure all employees are whole. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HURD of Texas. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HURD of Texas. Madam Speaker, I am going to continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HURD of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend, the distinguished gentleman from the great State of Maryland, for expeditiously bringing this piece of legislation to the floor, because this is an important piece of legislation that ensures all Federal employees receive backpay once this government shutdown is over. Last week, while flying back to Washington, I spoke with TSA agents who were concerned about their paychecks and the uncertainty created by this shutdown. Guaranteeing backpay is the least we can do to give more certainty to almost a million Federal employees, including many in my district, who are missing their first paycheck today. I understand their concerns, because my pay is being withheld during the shutdown in solidarity with Federal workers. We all need to come together and find a bipartisan and realistic solution to reopen the government. If we are going to talk about border security, then the brave men and women who are on the ground every day securing our border should get paid. Border security and immigration have been a contentious issue for a long time, but the only way we solve big problems here in Washington is by working together. We need to push ``Pause'' on requesting specific conditions before talks resume. We need to lay down our swords and be willing to find not a Democratic solution nor a Republican solution, but a solution for all Americans. I urge my colleagues to stand with Federal workers and join me in supporting this commonsense piece of legislation, which was passed unanimously by the Senate last night. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HURD of Texas

Mr. HURD of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the incredible life and contributions of the Honorable Paul Elizondo, Jr., of San Antonio. Paul's dedication to service was a lifelong commitment, beginning with his time in the United States Marine Corps. Following his military service, he attended St. Mary's University in San Antonio, graduating with a degree in music education in 1957. He then spent 16 years in the public school system, encouraging the musical talents of countless young people, before being elected to the Texas State Legislature in 1978. Paul first assumed the role of Bexar County commissioner for precinct 2 in 1983 and has been a fixture and force in the Bexar County government ever since. Paul Elizondo, Jr., passed away on December 27, 2018, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy and an amazing family. While we mourn the loss of this great man, his dedication to fiercely advocating for the West Side has made an incredible impact that will continue for generations to come. I would like to extend my most sincere condolences to Commissioner Elizondo's family during this difficult time, and I am proud to recognize all that he did for the great State of Texas and our hometown of San Antonio.

Mr. HURD

Mr. HURD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7327) to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a security vulnerability disclosure policy, to establish a bug bounty program for the Department of Homeland Security, to amend title 41, United States Code, to provide for Federal acquisition supply chain security, and for other purposes.

Mr. HURD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.