Josh Harder

Mr. HARDER of California

Mr. HARDER of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the McHenry Museum & Historical Society. Through its work over the last five decades, the McHenry Museum & Historical Society has served as a center for cultural enrichment, learning, and inspiration for our community in the Central Valley. Located in the heart of downtown Modesto, the McHenry Museum welcomes thousands of visitors annually and works to preserve our local history. It's the continuation of a long tradition of public servants and committed community members working together to make sure that our community has a place to gather and celebrate its history. Modesto's first museum was opened in 1968 by the Citizens' Cultural Committee. By 1971, The City of Modesto recognized the success these efforts to chronicle early Modesto. It was then, that the vacated McHenry Public Library building converted into the McHenry Museum and Art Center. The Museum was dedicated on July 4, 1972, when it took residence in the McHenry Public Library. One room became the changing exhibit room, another to display historic paintings, and the third was devoted to ``permanent'' displays. The auditorium was also part of the museum and was used for a variety of events from musical presentations to city council meetings. To this day, the McHenry Museum & Historical Society continues to preserve our history and uplift the arts in a way that inspires our community. I thank the McHenry Museum & Historical Society volunteers, employees, generous donors, Board of Directors, Committee members, and public servants who give their time and energy to ensure that this incredible landmark will be around for decades to come.

Mr. HARDER of California

Mr. HARDER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today frustrated, and to be honest, just plain tired. For months now, my community has been paying over $6 a gallon for gas and $5 for a jug of milk. Prices are out of control, and it is crushing us. I talked to a neighbor the other day and she told me she is going to have to choose between picking her kids up from school and driving herself to work, if gas prices stay this high. Families in my neighborhood don't have the luxury of sitting around while politicians do nothing. Today, we have a chance to actually help by passing our Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act. This package includes my bill, which provides funding for farmers to implement nutrient management programs. These programs will help lower the cost of growing food for our farmers, so prices go back to normal at the grocery store. Helping farmers lower costs while cutting gas prices for our families is common sense. It is beyond time that Congress put politics aside and actually listen to what our communities need. This isn't rocket science. They are asking for the government to do its job and bring these prices back down to Earth. Mr. Speaker, I hope common sense prevails today, and let's pass this bill.

Mr. HARDER of California

Mr. HARDER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a long-overdue victory for our Vietnam veterans. For decades, tens of thousands of Vietnam vets haven't got the benefits that they deserve. Even though diseases like Parkinson's, hyperthyroidism, and bladder cancer are scientifically linked to Agent Orange, they still aren't covered by the VA. But, today, I am thrilled to say that veterans exposed to Agent Orange can finally stop fighting their own government because my bill, the Fair Care for Veterans Act, is on track to become the law of the land. I want to dedicate this effort to Joshua Melendez of Modesto, California, and Lyle Ducheneaux of Turlock, California, two local veterans who will personally be impacted by this change. Most of all, I want to dedicate this effort to my grandfather, First Sergeant Albert Z. Simmons, whose life was cut tragically short by Agent Orange. I wish he could be with us today to see this. These veterans fought for us. It has been my honor to fight for them. God bless you, and thank you for your service.

Mr. HARDER of California

Mr. HARDER of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask: What the hell is happening in Washington? I am not one to spend my time throwing bombs on this floor, but during this single minute, another American will die from COVID, and even more people are slipping into poverty because this town can't get its act together. I have had enough. Millions of people can't get to work. They can't put food on the table. They are missing rent or mortgage payments. Since we passed the CARES Act, which was a strong step forward, the best this town can do is finger-pointing. It is disgusting. Everyone believes we are incapable of doing our jobs, and right now, we are proving them right. The reality is, there is plenty of blame to go around, but Americans need another stimulus check. They needed it months ago. We need expanded unemployment back, especially now that cases are exploding at a higher rate than at any other point during this pandemic. It is time to grow up. It is time to do what we are paid for. It is time to do our jobs.

Mr. HARDER of California

Mr. HARDER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to encourage my colleagues to vote to protect my constituents who were scammed by for- profit colleges. Both the House and the Senate took bipartisan votes to protect these students, but the President overruled our votes, siding with Secretary DeVos and her billionaire donors. This issue hits home for me. I met a woman named Artemisa, who attended a corrupt college in my district. She studied to be a nurse and graduated with $40,000 in debt, but no one would hire her. She is still paying off that debt to this day. And it is not just Artemisa. Thousands of students at scam colleges across the country have similar stories. And if Secretary DeVos' new plan isn't stopped, these student borrowers may never get the justice they deserve. That is not what we do in this country. If Secretary DeVos is concerned about cost, she should talk to her billionaire friends in the corrupt college industry. The criminals should not be putting the financial burden on the victims of this fraud. I encourage everyone to vote to overturn the President's veto.

Mr. HARDER of California

Mr. HARDER of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and exceptional service of Mr. Martin Pohl. Martin dedicated his career to our Central Valley almond industry and his efforts have positively benefitted communities and farmers throughout California. Martin was known for many roles within the almond industry and will be remembered for his strong leadership and passion for the industry and the people he served. Martin remained active with the Almond Board of California throughout his career as shown though his service on the Board's Technical and Regulatory Affairs committee, where he served as chairman. Additionally, his contributions to the industry's world- renowned food safety programs are unparalleled. His guidance and care for the almond industry and those who worked in it can be seen though his role as a mentor for the Almond Board's Leadership program since its inception. In addition to his work with the Almond Board, Martin and his original founding partners, Ham Cunningham and Cleo Barth, developed Hughson Nut Inc. in 1985. His skills in engineering and design were considered critical to the company's success and reputation as a leader in the industry. His exemplary work was recognized in 2013 when he received the prestigious Almond Board of California's Almond Achievement Award and again in 2017 when he was recognized as the Almond Alliance's Member of the Year. Martin was a tremendous individual and had the love and respect of his peers in the community. His good nature and sincerity were infectious and many in the industry will tell you that Martin was the person they felt comfortable going to for guidance. His warmth and willingness to help everyone is an example of how Martin was a silent leader and strived to make the world a better place. I am honored to recognize the life and exceptional service of Mr. Martin Pohl. It is both fitting and appropriate that we honor Martin for his countless contributions to the almond industry and the State of California throughout his career.

Mr. HARDER of California

Mr. HARDER of California. Madam Speaker, today, I am proud to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the opening of Bonita Elementary School in Crows Landing, California. This campus and its educators have continued to provide amazing opportunities to students here in the Central Valley and should be applauded for the valuable work they have provided to our community over that past 150 years. Bonita Elementary School is one of six traditional schools in the Newman Crows Landing Unified School District. While it is the oldest campus in the district, it is also the smallest of four elementary schools creating a tight knit community where parents and teachers can work together to provide a quality education for their students. The continued achievements of this campus should be credited to the teachers, administrators, and staff who are dedicated to ensuring the academic success of every student and to provide a safe and comprehensive educational experience. I am honored to recognize the hard work and dedication of everyone who has contributed to the success of Bonita Elementary School over the past 150 years. I know we can look forward to more success for this campus and their students for years to come.

Mr. HARDER of California

Mr. HARDER of California. Mr. Speaker, we have two obligations in responding to this pandemic: first, to move quickly and urgently; and second, to put science and health ahead of partisan politics. Neither of those two things happened, but this bill is a step forward. It helps all the workers who have lost their jobs. It helps the businesses that are struggling with customers not showing up and staying home, and it helps the frontline nurses, doctors, and first responders who need more equipment. There is more to do. As soon as we pass this bill, we need to keep working to make sure that we are expanding paid leave, expanding access to healthcare, and making sure that we continue to protect each and every person who is out there as a first responder. Until then, I want to thank my friends from both sides of the aisle who are for working to get this done, and I urge us to pass it as soon as possible.

Mr. HARDER of California

Mr. HARDER of California. Madam Speaker, people see swamp rats all the time roaming the halls of D.C., but I believe this is actually the first time in American history that we have a taxidermied swamp creature on the actual floor of the House of Representatives. This here is my good friend, Nellie the Nutria. She has nacho-cheese colored teeth, can weigh up to 40 pounds, she can eat 25 percent of her body weight every single day, and she has an exponential rate of growth. She may look cute to some people, but Nellie and her friends are a real menace, and farmers across California's Central Valley and residents of the Louisiana swamp can tell you, too, how serious of a threat these giant swamp rats pose. Nutria can destroy crops, irrigation canals, wetlands and native species. And their exponential growth rate makes them a real problem. One female, like Nellie here, can lead to 200 offspring in a single year. The State of California estimates that if we don't do something about this problem, there are going to be 250,000 nutria in our State within the next 5 years. Nellie's family in Louisiana have already caused an immense amount of damage over the last 100 years. And my Republican colleagues on this bill, Mr. Graves and Mr. McClintock, can attest to the real havoc these swamp rats cause. My bill would simply revive a program that the State of Maryland used to almost entirely eliminate the infestation in the Chesapeake Bay, where Nellie here came from originally. That program uses a variety of strategies to control and eradicate this invasive species. It ended up saving a lot of money in the long run, and my bill is going to bring back that proven program and make more States eligible for help. This is a tiny investment compared to what will be necessary if we wait any longer. I want to thank all my colleagues on the other side of the aisle who joined me on this bill and ask for support in stopping this invasion. There is a lot of bickering that goes on in this Chamber, but I am proud that this is something Mr. Graves, Mr. McClintock, and myself could find something that unites us, which is draining the swamp, not just in Washington, but also in California and Louisiana, and the rest of the country.

Mr. HARDER of California

Mr. HARDER of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak directly to White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney. Recent reports suggest you personally intervened to stop Vietnam vets from getting healthcare, all just to save a buck. It sounds crazy, and it is. Thousands of veterans were affected by exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam war and deserve to have healthcare. The VA Secretary tried to add four medical conditions caused by Agent Orange to the list VA would cover, but Mick Mulvaney intervened to stop it. This issue is personal for me. My grandfather served in Vietnam, was exposed to Agent Orange, and died from lung cancer. Sadly, his story is not uncommon. I refuse to stand by and let other veterans die because they didn't get the healthcare they need. That is not who we are. Our veterans fought to keep us safe, and many sacrificed life and limb. The last thing they should have to do is come home to fight another battle for the healthcare they earned. There is still time to turn this around, Mick, and I beg you to reconsider.

Mr. HARDER of California

Mr. HARDER of California. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. HARDER of California. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chair, my amendment is going to ensure that nothing in this act shall be construed to limit or prevent healthcare workers from reporting violent incidents to appropriate law enforcement. This is really critical because, obviously, this amendment is going to really put some new restrictions on workplace violence. It is so critical to ensure we do that. But we also want to make sure that there are safeguards in place to make sure that reporting is not only going to the law enforcement agencies but also around the rest of the community. That is why our amendment is so critical here. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HARDER of California. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Courtney).

Mr. HARDER of California. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HARDER of California. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. HARDER of California

Mr. HARDER of California. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to remove my name as a cosponsor for H.R. 3495.

Mr. HARDER of California

Mr. HARDER of California. Madam Speaker, I rise in frustration for my constituents in California's Central Valley. Folks across my community are reeling from blackouts caused by greed, corruption, and mismanagement at our State's largest utility, PG&E. I am not the only one who is fed up. More than 1,000 people in my district had their power cut by PG&E, some for days. Now the company is saying more blackouts could be coming this week and that it could be the new normal for the next decade. I refuse to accept that. Regular people can't choose to not pay their bills, and PG&E shouldn't be able to abuse that fact by refusing to invest in their grid. These blackouts are happening because rich executives decided to give themselves millions of dollars in bonuses instead of investing in their crumbling infrastructure. Hundreds of thousands of people lost power because of these executives' greed. PG&E even proposed handing out another $16 million in additional bonuses this year. It took a judge to stop their plan. Meanwhile, their shutoffs are estimated to cost our families more than $2 billion.

Mr. HARDER of California

Mr. HARDER of California. Madam Speaker, Modesto Junior College (MJC)'s thirty-sixth annual Hispanic Education Conference welcomes students from across the Central Valley. This conference celebrates the achievements of Latinx education while exploring the amazing opportunities available to students in the Central Valley. This conference is a time for current students to explore their educational and career paths, and for prospective students to see the best of what Modesto Junior College has to offer. A tradition started in 1984 by Dean Juan Alvarez and the Modesto Hispanic Leadership Council lives on today as the largest youth conference in the Central Valley. It serves our Central Valley community and promotes enrichment and success in higher education. Its workshops and lectures have inspired many generations of high school students, and are sure to inspire another generation to come. With a student body that's 52 percent Hispanic, Modesto Junior College is one of California's premier Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and no event better celebrates this impressive status than the Hispanic Education Conference. I am proud to have taught at MJC, and I am proud to dedicate this record to an event that recognizes the opportunity and possibility offered by higher education, the dedication and creativity of its students and faculty, and Latinx achievement in the Central Valley. I'm also proud to recognize the Legacy Award recipient, whose contributions to making this event a reality and a success have been immeasurable. I'm happy to be part of this tradition that's more than three decades old, and I know I can look forward to more successful conferences in the years to come.

Mr. HARDER of California

Mr. HARDER of California. Mr. Chair, had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 528.

Mr. HARDER of California

Mr. HARDER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate August 7, Assyrian Genocide Memorial Day. Many Americans are already familiar with the horrors of the Armenian genocide. But not nearly as many know about the genocide of innocent Assyrian civilians by the Ottoman Empire; which is why I am leading a resolution to finally recognize the genocide of Assyrians in the Middle East. Many of my Assyrian friends and neighbors in California's Central Valley still carry the weight of this horrific event. Beginning in 1914, the Ottoman Empire is estimated to have slaughtered 300,000 innocent Assyrians; but some experts believe the true death toll is much higher. On August 7, Shovah b'tabakh, we remember those who were lost, and we say never again. My resolution would take simple steps to do both. It would assert that Turkey, the inheritor of the Ottoman tradition, must recognize the genocide; and it would condemn any efforts to associate the U.S. with genocide denial. My resolution would recognize the resilience of the Assyrian people who endured the genocide, the Simele massacre, and are now threatened once again by holdouts in ISIS. And they have survived all of this without a homeland to call their own. Today, we remember the Sadih, the martyrs. We think of their families. We recommit ourselves to upholding the rights of all people to live freely and in safety.

Mr. HARDER of California

Mr. HARDER of California. Madam Chair, during rollcall Vote number 462 on the Turner Amendment No. 386, I mistakenly recorded my vote as ``yes'' when I should have voted ``no''. Amendment No. 423 Offered by Mr. Khanna

Mr. HARDER of California

Mr. HARDER of California. Madam Chair, during Roll Call Vote number 375 on H.R. Banks Amendment No. 99, I mistakenly recorded my vote as yes when I should have voted no. Amendment No. 105 Offered by Mr. Pence

Mr. HARDER of California

Mr. HARDER of California. Madam Speaker, I demand that the Senate take action with respect to the Dream Act.

Mr. HARDER of California

Mr. HARDER of California. Madam Speaker, Dr. Bishop dedicated the past fourteen years to serving those who served our country. As a Lead Physician at the Modesto VA, he served more than a thousand veterans in the Modesto area, delivering world-class care and helping fulfill our nation's promise to support everyone who serves. Dr. Bishop went above and beyond the job description of a physician, bringing hope to his patients and building trust in the VA system. According to one of his patients, ``Dr. Bishop is one of those incredible providers who can bring an incredibly disgruntled patient into his exam room who is upset at the VA and the world, and two minutes later have the same person laughing and with a better outlook on life.'' His lifetime of dedication made an enormous impact on his patients and his community, and there are many in the Modesto community whose lives would not be the same without him. Even as he caps off his career, he will still be serving Modesto veterans as a home-based primary care physician. I commend his commitment to Central Valley veterans, and I wish him a happy retirement.

Mr. HARDER of California

Mr. HARDER of California. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.