Clay Higgins

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4402, the Inland Waters Security Review Act sponsored by my friend and colleague, the ranking member of the Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee, Representative Debbie Lesko. H.R. 4402 will improve the security awareness of the Department of Homeland Security and the United States Coast Guard for threats and vulnerabilities on America's inland water systems. These important arteries for commerce face unique challenges related to illegal drugs and smuggling. It is important that the Coast Guard continues to work diligently with relevant stakeholders to address these challenges. This legislation would also ensure that Federal authorities are working in close partnership with their State, local, Tribal, territorial, and private sector partners to identify and address security issues related to America's inland waters. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Lesko for her leadership on this bipartisan legislation. I urge my colleagues to support the bill; I urge adoption of the bill; and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 3669, the Weatherizing Infrastructure in the North and Terrorism Emergency Readiness Act--the WINTER Act--of 2019. This legislation seeks to better position the United States government and relevant State, local, and private sector agencies to be able to respond to a terrorist attack during an extreme cold weather event. An extreme weather event, such as a polar vortex, has the potential to severely impact our daily lives, damage our critical infrastructure, and leave America incredibly vulnerable to terrorist attack. H.R. 3669 requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop and conduct an exercise to respond to terrorism during extreme weather events. The bill also requires the Secretary to produce an after-action report to Congress, presenting the findings of the exercise and plans for quickly incorporating those lessons learned for future operations of the Department. As the threat of terrorism continues to evolve, we must be prepared to respond to any scenario. I thank the gentlewoman from Michigan for her leadership on this bill. I urge all Members to join me in supporting the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I would like the Congresswoman to be aware that I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close. I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, the Democrats' entire case against the President is built on hearsay, unverified third-party accounts, and opinion. No cop in America could righteously make any arrest with that degree of evidence, not even a misdemeanor, much less something as sobering as the impeachment of our duly elected President. They tread upon the very colors of our flag. Contrary to our constitutional oath, they are conducting a secret investigation disguised as an impeachment inquiry, calling forth only prosecutorial hearsay demonstration, hearsay testimony deemed most likely to condemn the President, witnesses selected and screened by Adam Schiff. True investigators interview everyone, not just those who lead to a predetermined conclusion. Democrats are handpicking witnesses and selectively releasing information to mislead the American people. This is dangerous, it is wrong, and we the people grow weary.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I missed votes on October 16 due to illness. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on Roll Call No. 556, and ``yea'' on Roll Call No. 557.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I was on official business in my district (LA-03). Had I been present, I would have voted yea on Roll Call No. 541; nay on Roll Call No. 542; nay on Roll Call No. 543; yea on Roll Call No. 544; yea on Roll Call No. 545; nay on Roll Call No. 546; nay on Roll Call No. 547; yea on Roll Call No. 548; nay on Roll Call No. 549; nay on Roll Call No. 550; yea on Roll Call No. 551; nay on Roll Call No. 552; nay on Roll Call No. 553; yea on Roll Call No. 554; and nay on Roll Call No. 555.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Chair, on rollcall No. 539, I mistakenly voted ``no'' when I intended to vote ``yes.''

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a pillar of Louisiana, Iberia Parish icon, Jerry Shea, Sr., who recently passed away at the age of 93. Jerry was born in Louisiana and lived some young years in Texas. He has been a resident of New Iberia, LA, since 1942. After serving three years in the Air Force and graduating from Louisiana State University with a degree in petroleum engineering, he went to work for his father's welding company, Bayou Welding Works. Eventually Jerry and his late brother Edward ``Buddy'' Shea, Jr. went on to start several offshoots of Bayou, including Bayou Pipe Coating in 1971. Jerry was inducted into the National Association of Pipe Coating Applicators Hall of Fame in 1996 and retired from Bayou in 2000 after providing 55 years of leadership in the family business. In addition to his family business, he served as chairman of the board of New Iberia National Bank during the 1980s. Despite his business success, Jerry is even more well-known for his commitment and dedication to his community. He and his wife, Harriet, have received numerous recognitions for their community involvement, including receiving the ``Distinguished Citizen Award'' from the Boy Scouts Evangeline Area Council in 2001 and the 2013 Leaders in Philanthropy Award from Community Foundation of Acadiana for Iberia Parish. They also founded a scholarship at Catholic High School. Most recently, Jerry was the Grand Marshall of the local St. Patrick's Day Parade and a former King of the Krewe of Andalusia. In fact, Jerry was so active in New Iberia, people would often refer to him as the ``unofficial mayor of New Iberia.'' Jerry's impact on New Iberia, Louisiana, will never be forgotten and he deserves great recognition. His passing is a true loss to his family, his community and to Louisiana. Jerry and his bride, Harriet, have six children, 21 grandchildren, and 33 great grandchildren. I join his family in mourning his passing and celebrating his life.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentlewoman from Michigan's efforts on this bill. I admire her for her compassion. I respect her intent and the spirit behind this bill, and I hope that we can work together to move forward. My concern is with the letter of the law written within this bill. I know firsthand that showers are being provided and that personal hygiene products are immediately available to the unprecedented number of people in Customs and Border Protection custody, both from visits to the border myself and from regular communication with brothers and sisters of law enforcement who work the border, who are tasked with securing our border. I see regular emails, messages, videos, et cetera. My concern with this bill is that it does not solve the problem, in my opinion. Customs and Border Protection processing facilities are outdated. Many facilities were built decades ago. They were neither designed to process children and families nor the massive numbers of illegal immigrants arriving at our border on a daily basis. Without providing funding for new Customs and Border Protection facilities, I am concerned that this bill would not fix the real problem, despite its obvious compassionate intent. Instead of forcing Customs and Border Protection to provide a long list of amenities to illegal immigrants, we should be focused on quickly processing migrants and moving them out of Customs and Border Protection custody. Unfortunately, many of my colleagues across the aisle have resisted providing funding for additional Immigration and Customs Enforcement bed space. People are being held at CPB much longer than was ever envisioned. My colleagues across the aisle have supported policies that, in my opinion, have exacerbated the crisis by refusing to provide ICE with the resources it needs to get people out of short-term detention and into more suitable facilities for long-term holding. This bill is attempting to solve problems that, some would argue, are caused by a Democratic policy decision to restrain funding for ICE and degrade its ability to hold illegal immigrants. We should provide ICE the resources it needs to conduct its mission rather than imposing those responsibilities on Customs and Border Protection, men and women who are tasked with a completely different mission. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would like to share with the gentlewoman, for whom I have deep respect, that I believe that the humanitarian standards that the gentlewoman referred to are alive in the hearts of the men and women, the American men and women, who serve in Customs and Border Protection on the border. These Americans struggle to accomplish their mission despite overwhelming, almost impossible conditions and situations, masses of humanity, wave after wave of children of God. Indeed, the role of this body, as envisioned by our Founders and supported through the generations, is to allow the American spirit to manifest itself without regulation and enforced traditions and principles that are exhibited by the very Americans whom we serve. I deeply respect the intent of this bill, although I have voiced my concern regarding the letter of the language of this bill and the purposes of my concern. I would share with Congresswoman Slotkin that I am prepared to close. I have no further speakers. Mr. Speaker, I deeply respect her effort, while standing in opposition, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I regretfully missed votes from July 11 through July 15 due to Hurricane Barry. Had I been present, I would have voted: nay on Roll Call No. 438; nay on Roll Call No .439; nay on Roll Call No. 440; nay on Roll Call No. 441; nay on Roll Call No. 442; nay on Roll Call No. 443; nay on Roll Call No. 444; nay on Roll Call No. 445; nay on Roll Call No. 446; nay on Roll Call No. 447; nay on Roll Call No. 448; nay on Roll Call No. 449; nay on Roll Call No. 450; nay on Roll Call No. 451; nay on Roll Call No. 452; nay on Roll Call No. 453; nay on Roll Call No. 454; nay on Roll Call No. 455; nay on Roll Call No. 456; nay on Roll Call No. 457; nay on Roll Call No. 458; nay on Roll Call No. 459; nay on Roll Call No. 460; yea on Roll Call No. 461; nay on Roll Call No. 462; nay on Roll Call No. 463; nay on Roll Call No. 464; nay on Roll Call No. 465; nay on Roll Call No. 466; nay on Roll Call No. 467; nay on Roll Call No. 468; nay on Roll Call No. 469; nay on Roll Call No. 470; nay on Roll Call No. 471; yea on Roll Call No. 472; nay on Roll Call No. 473; yea on Roll Call No. 474; yea on Roll Call No. 475; yea on Roll Call No. 476; and yea on Roll Call No. 477.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 962, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. I urge the Speaker and the majority leader to immediately schedule the born-alive bill.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, during these votes, I was with the President in Louisiana. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 203; YEA on Roll Call No. 204; NAY on Roll Call No. 205; NAY on Roll Call No. 206; NAY on Roll Call No. 207; NAY on Roll Call No. 208; and YEA on Roll Call No. 209.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize American men and women who put on a badge every day, men and women of every color and creed, ethnicity, heritage, and background, of varied ideology and political affiliation. They are American patriots, one and all. As a police officer, our job begins with an oath. That oath is not to a chief or a sheriff or a marshal. It is to the constitutional principles that represent the badges that we wear, badges like this. In this body, we stand within the people's House. We serve within the parameters of our ability. We wear a small pin upon our lapel to designate our status as Congressmen and Congresswomen. In humble service and an honor, yes, it is. But forget not, America, the men and women in your community, unseen, unheard, far too frequently unappreciated and unrecognized, who patrol your streets, your neighborhoods, your counties, your States, and the parishes in my State of Louisiana. For they serve unknowing if they shall return home. They do so willingly. They place great faith in their Lord. The Word tells us that the Lord is my strength and my shield. In many ways, we should recall that this small shield that we wear begins with faith, that this Chamber began with faith, and that the shield that officers wear from sea to shining sea maintains itself by faith. This week, we honor the Thin Blue Line. You are known. You are loved. You are recognized. We honor you. Madam Speaker, I thank the sheriff for allowing me to speak.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 173.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, in air flight delay. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on Roll Call No. 157 (H. Con. Res. 19); ``nay'' on Roll Call No. 158 (H.R. 1331); and ``yea'' on Roll Call No. 159 (Journal).

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 157; NAY on Roll Call No. 158; and YEA on Roll Call No. 159.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 160.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of American tradition and heritage, American law enforcement, and the sovereignty of our Nation. I stand here in the Chamber of the people's House, a 57-year-old American man who has never witnessed such division and insanity as I have observed here in D.C., where right is wrong, where American traditions are rejected, where Christian principles are ridiculed, where many of my colleagues across the aisle envision an America with no sovereign borders, no fossil fuels, and no Second Amendment, a land where no airplanes fly, where police cannot arrest, and where jails do not exist. I remind my colleagues that we are here to serve the best interests and security of the American people. We were not elected by citizens of foreign soil, nor should we allow our bicameral, bipartisan Congress to become infected with anti-American sentiment.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague, Congresswoman Rice from New York, for introducing this bill. Over the past 12 months, there has been growing concern by administration officials, as well as security and financial experts, about potential threats associated with cryptocurrencies. In July 2018, a Department of Justice task force reported noted criminals are using virtual currencies to collect, hide, and launder funds, as well as purchase illegal goods and services. Both the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service have ongoing efforts to review registered digital currency providers and identify illicit use. The legislation we are considering today, sponsored by the gentlewoman from New York (Miss Rice), adds to this effort by directing the Department of Homeland Security to develop and disseminate a threat assessment of threat posed by individuals using virtual currencies to carry out activities in furtherance of terrorism, including the provision of material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization. The bill also requires DHS to share the threat assessment with State and local law enforcement. As the threat of terrorism evolves, so do the methods to finance and support the actors who plot to attack the United States. The Federal Government must evolve as well to meet these novel and technologically based challenges. This bill positions the Department to detect the new, digital-based methods in terrorist financing and support that have already occurred and to prepare for those that are sure and soon to follow. The potential of terrorist organizations to use virtual currencies to carry out an attack, or a smuggling network to launder illicit proceeds through cryptocurrency markets, should be a major concern to the Department of Homeland Security. Requiring the Department to conduct a threat assessment is appropriate and timely. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Rice for bringing this bill forward, and I urge a ``yes'' vote. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, it is part of DHS' statutory mission to support State and local law enforcement, and the Office of State and Local Law Enforcement has the responsibility of proactively identifying ways in which the Department can support these important stakeholders. The Pathways to Improving Homeland Security at the Local Level Act, sponsored by the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Demings), will ensure that State and local law enforcement receive vital information on available DHS resources and programs. Under the bill, the Office of State and Local Law Enforcement will annually produce and disseminate a catalog that details the Department of Homeland Security training, publications, programs, and services available to non-Federal law enforcement agencies. The office must disseminate the catalog within 30 days of production to State and local law enforcement entities. This catalog is currently being produced by the office, and the bill requires them to continue its production. DHS also is required to share the catalog through the Homeland Security Information Network. Using this existing information-sharing platform will expand, hopefully, the number of State and local law enforcement partners who receive it. This bill is intended to increase awareness of DHS tools and resources available to assist State and local law enforcement. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar).

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for introducing this important bill to ensure State and local law enforcement are aware of the resources DHS can provide to them. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana

Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 504, the DHS Field Engagement Accountability Act. The Committee on Homeland Security has long supported the role and mission of locally owned fusion centers across the United States. These hubs for assessing and sharing threat information are important links for the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, and other Federal, State, and local stakeholders. The legislation before us today directs the Department of Homeland Security to develop a forward-looking strategy to improve engagement efforts with fusion centers and establish metrics for both DHS personnel and technology deployed to fusion centers. Clear performance metrics for fusion center personnel are needed to ensure fusion center directors understand what to expect from DHS personnel detailed to their centers. This effort will also allow DHS to better track the value fusion centers are providing to the national information-sharing environment. Lastly, the bill addresses a need for improvements to DHS information sharing utilized by fusion centers and other stakeholders by requiring training modules and feedback mechanisms. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Don Bacon for his work on this legislation and his overall commitment to Federal, State, and local information sharing. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.