Sheila Jackson Lee

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, this is a somber and solemn time. I rise in support of H. Res. 660, a resolution establishing procedures for the impeachment of the President. I do it with a heavy heart. But today we choose our beloved Nation over individual self-interest and political party. We choose due process, regular order, and fairness. We choose this little document called the Constitution, lasting for over 200 years. We are reminded of the words of James Madison who argued in favor of impeachment, stating that some provision was indispensable to defend the community against the incapacity or negligence of the chief magistrate. We do not do this in a rush, and we do not do it eagerly. We are reminded of Lieutenant Colonel Vindman who came here at 3 years old. He said he had dedicated his entire professional life to the United States of America. And he said about the call that he was on: I realized that this was troubling, that if Ukraine pursued an investigation into the Bidens, it would be heavy and wrong. I do not think it is proper to demand that a foreign government investigate a U.S. citizen. Again, we stand on the Constitution. We must do it right and do it fairly. This is a somber and solemn time. Today we choose our beloved nation over individual self-interest and a political party. We choose due process, regular order and fairness. And as the founding fathers crafted a document, which 230 years later, from 1789 to 2019, we can abide by, we choose the Constitution. When the Framers of our Constitution designed our government, they bifurcated power between the federal and state governments, and divided power among the branches. Indeed as the Framers debated ratification of the Constitution, they knew of the need to remove an individual who breached the public trust. James Madison of Virginia argued in favor of impeachment stating that some provision was ``indispensable'' to defend the community against ``the incapacity, negligence or perfidy of the chief Magistrate.'' With a single executive, Madison argued, unlike a legislature whose collective nature provided security, ``loss of capacity or corruption was more within the compass of probable events, and either of them might be fatal to the Republic.'' They wrote Article I and vested in the Congress the capacity to make the laws. They wrote Article II, and in the Executive vested the power to faithfully execute those laws. Because the House enjoyed a natural superiority, as most representative of the passions of the populace, the Framers vested in the House of Representatives the sole power of impeachment, and made the Senate the judges. In Article II, they specified the standard by which a president or any constitutional officer is to be removed from office: for High Crimes and Misdemeanors. It is against that backdrop that we debate this resolution. I support this resolution because it protects our interests, holds us responsible, protects the American people and gives the president ample opportunity to try to justify his conduct. In September, members of the House of Representatives learned of a complaint filed by a whistleblower within the Intelligence Community. The whistleblower alleged that on July 25, 2019, in a telephone conversation with the President of Ukraine, the American President sought to withhold foreign military aid from the besieged and beleaguered nation of Ukraine unless and until the Government of Ukraine produced or manufactured produced political dirt against a person he deemed his most formidable political rival. The allegation suggests an effort and intent to extort the assistance of a foreign power to help the current president retain his office. This is similar to the allegations surrounding his 2016 election victory, which were at the heart of the Special Counsel's Report regarding Russian election interference. After the whistleblower's details were made public, the White House engaged in a series of untenable defenses, all designed to discredit the courageous whistleblower's account, which the Intelligence Community Inspector General found credible. First, the White House indicated that the whistleblower should not be trusted because it referenced secondhand information, forgetting that much of the information in the Whistleblower's complaint was corroborated by the White House itself. Next, the White House claimed, without proof, that the whistleblower was a liar. Then, the White House spread a lie that it was a ``perfect'' call between the two leaders. Outrageously, the White House then claimed that Chairman Adam Schiff is lying and had helped the Whistleblower draft his complaint. That was before the President said that the whistleblower's complaint is a lie made up by the ``Deep State.'' And that was before the President said that he made the call at Rick Perry's urging and that the phone conversations with the Vice President are more problematic than his. The President and his last defenders are now trying to denigrate the life and accomplishments of Ambassador Bill Taylor, a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, and decorated soldier, and dismissing him as a Never Trumper, as if that is a demerit. This past Tuesday, Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman, a member of the National Security Council who immigrated from Ukraine when he was three-years old and was dismissed by the President as insufficiently loyal to him, before one of the President's acolytes suggested Lt. Col. Vindman held a greater loyalty for Ukraine over the United States. Lt. Col. Vindman has loyally served our country and our Constitution. He was injured in the war in Iraq, for which he was awarded the Purple Heart. It is thus fitting that when Lt. Col. Vindman appeared to testify in this impeachment inquiry, he did so wearing his Army class A uniform, and had inside his leg shrapnel from the attack that wounded him, and won him the commendation of his superior officers in the Army. And when he began his testimony, he indicated just what service to this nation meant. He stated: I have dedicated my entire professional life to the United States of America. For more than two decades, it has been my honor to serve as an officer in the United States Army. As an infantry officer, I served multiple overseas tours, including South Korea and Germany, and a deployment to Iraq for combat operations. In Iraq, I was wounded in an IED attack and awarded a Purple Heart. And immigrant to this country, Lt. Col. Vindman stated: The privilege of serving my country is not only rooted in my military service, but also in my personal history. I sit here, as a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army, an immigrant. My family fled the Soviet Union when I was three and a half years old. Upon arriving in New York City in 1979, my father worked multiple jobs to support us, all the while learning English at night. He stressed to us the importance of fully integrating into our adopted country. For many years, life was quite difficult. In spite of our challenging beginnings, my family worked to build its own American dream. I have a deep appreciation for American values and ideals and the power of freedom. I am a patriot, and it is my sacred duty and honor to advance and defend OUR country, irrespective of party or politics. When Lt. Col. Vindman testified, he spoke of the horror he felt when he realized that our country's national security apparatus was being manipulated for the president's personal and political gain. He stated in his testimony: On July 21, 2019, President Zelenskyy's party won Parliamentary elections in a landslide victory. The NSC proposed that President Trump call President Zelenskyy to congratulate him. On July 25, 2019, the call occurred. I listened in on the call in the Situation Room with colleagues from the NSC and the office of the Vice President. As the transcript is in the public record, we are all aware of what was said. I was concerned by the call. I did not think it was proper to demand that a foreign government investigate a U.S. citizen, and I was worried about the implications for 6 the U.S. government's support of Ukraine. I realized that if Ukraine pursued an investigation into the Bidens and Burisma, it would likely be interpreted as a partisan play which would undoubtedly result in Ukraine losing the bipartisan support it has thus far maintained. This would all undermine U.S. national security. Following the call, I again reported my concerns to NSC's lead counsel. Throughout the last five weeks, Congressional Republicans have presented a series of strawman arguments designed to deflect but not delve into the very serious charges against the President. Congressional Republicans' claims that the whistleblower complaint was hearsay are specious because its contents have been independently and repeatedly confirmed. Similarly, there is no merit to the claim that there was no quid pro quo when the evidence adduced to date confirms there was. In their perverse logic, Congressional Republicans decried the lack of due process for a man who once suggested that the Central Park Five should be summarily executed for a crime for which they were later exonerated, and could shoot someone in broad daylight with impunity. Despite these specious arguments, it is likely that these process arguments are only made because the substance of the president's allegations are utterly indefensible. The American people and their elected representatives cannot be distracted; they are paying close attention to the substantial wrongdoing emanating from this White House. They know what the President, which is why a clear majority support impeachment and removal of this President. As the House of Representatives continues its impeachment inquiry, H. Res. 660 is an especially timely piece of legislation, which squarely addresses the concerns of the President's most fervent supporters. Specifically, this legislation reaffirms that the six investigating committees--including the House Judiciary Committee, of which I am a senior member and which has exclusive jurisdiction to draft Articles of Impeachment--announced by Speaker Nancy Pelosi have been engaged in an impeachment inquiry and directs them to continue their vital work. That we have been engaged in an ongoing impeachment inquiry was ratified by the Article III branch when Judge Beryl Howell, the Chief Judge for the United States District court for the District of Columbia, recently held that the House is conducting an impeachment inquiry, which does not require a formal floor vote. Second, H. Res. 660 authorizes the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) to make public transcripts of recent depositions with appropriate redactions made for classified or other sensitive information. This legislation, too, establishes procedures for all investigating committees to transmit their evidence to the Committee on the Judiciary for use in their proceedings. The resolution is also prospective, as it relates to these hearings moving from secure intelligence facilities to public view. H. Res. 660 also serves to enable effective public hearings as it permits staff counsels to question witnesses for up to 45 minutes. This is consistent with precedent established in 1998 of having staff counsel conduct initial questioning, followed by Member questions, by Republicans used to question Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr in 1998. The resolution also continues the precedent of giving the minority the same rights to question witnesses that was afforded the majority. This has been true at every step of the inquiry. Additionally, H. Res. 660 also permits the President opportunities to participate in this inquiry, in a manner consistent with past participation by Presidents. The resolution establishes opportunities for the President or his counsel to participate in impeachment proceedings held by the Committee on the Judiciary, including to present his case and respond to evidence. The President can submit written requests for additional testimony or other evidence. The President can attend hearings, including those held in executive session, raise an objection to testimony given and cross-examine witnesses. But, if the President unlawfully refuses to cooperate with Congressional requests, the Chair shall have the discretion to impose sanctions to enforce appropriate remedies, including by denying specific requests by the President or his counsel. H. Res. 660 explicates the procedure that applies after testimony is adduced in the HPSCI. H. Res. 660 directs the Committee on the Judiciary to review the evidence and, if necessary, to report Articles of Impeachment to the House. Following the precedent of every modern impeachment inquiry, the Committee on the Judiciary will decide whether Articles shall be reported to the House. H. Res. 660 is important legislation that specifies the parameters and the terms this body will follow as it undergoes its solemn and constitutional task. It affords equal time to the Chairman and Ranking Member to question witnesses and it treats the President and his counsel fairly. And, importantly, it lays out for the American people the manner in which this inquiry will proceed to the House Judiciary Committee--the committee of jurisdiction for impeachment--and where I will bring to bear my decades of experience on Capitol Hill, including the lessons learned in the impeachment of 1998. Unlike that occasion, the allegations at the heart of this matter are serious, and damning of the president's conduct and fitness to serve and his ability to safeguard our national security. These allegations represent a violation of his oath, a betrayal of our national interests, a repudiation of Americans' cherished Democratic Values, and a violation of federal campaign finance laws. When the President stated that Article II permits him to do whatever he wants, he was invoking a fear of Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence. As the author of one of our nation's enduring documents, Jefferson was well-versed with what troubles would merit the erosion of public trust in its leaders. After all, the Declaration of Independence was a list of grievances of a lawless King, who felt impunity. But, almost 50 years after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson wrote to another of our nation's founders: Nathaniel Macon. In 1821, Jefferson wrote: ``Our government is now taking so steady a course, as to shew by what road it will pass to destruction, to wit, by consolidation first; and then corruption, it's necessary consequence.'' It is clear that the consolidation that Jefferson feared--and the corruption which he said would be its necessary consequence--has now been realized in the actions of this President. We will not permit this to continue and we will put a stop to it. The President will be held to account. H. Res. 660 is the first step towards that accountability. Madam Speaker, as a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee and one of only 5 members and one of three Democrats to serve on that House Judiciary Committee during the impeachment of 1998, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 660, a resolution directing committees to continue their ongoing investigations as part of the existing House of Representatives inquiry into whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to exercise the constitutional power, solely vested in the House of Representatives, to impeach Donald John Trump, the current President of the United States of America.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2423, the ``Women's Suffrage Centennial Commemorative Coin Act, as amended.'' H.R. 2423 directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue up to 400,000 $1 silver coins that are emblematic of the women who played a vital role in rallying support for the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott organized the first Women's Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, New York. Sixty-eight women and 32 men signed the Declaration of Sentiments at the Convention in July 1848. The Declaration of Sentiments was modeled after the Declaration of Independence and declared that ``all men and women are created equal'', linking women's rights directly to the founding ideals of the United States. On August 18, 1920, Tennessee became the 36th and final State needed to pass the 19th Amendment, ensuring its ratification pursuant to Article V of the Constitution of the United States. The 19th Amendment was ratified on August 26, 1920, when Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby issued a proclamation announcing it has become part of the Constitution of the United States. The ratification of the 19th Amendment marked the single largest extension of voting rights in United States history, enfranchising 27,000,000 American women in the United States. This act is a way to honor and commemorate the work of women's suffrage activists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It will increase public awareness and appreciation for the history of the women's suffrage movement. Ultimately, it will encourage all women in the United States to exercise their hard-won franchise and to become involved in civic life, if they so chose. Without these pioneers for social change and justice, women like me and my fellow colleagues would not have gotten to where we are today. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2423 to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in 19th commemoration of ratification of the Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, giving women in the United States the right to vote.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4334, the ``Dignity in Aging Act of 2019.'' H.R. 4334 reauthorizes the Older Americans Act (OAA), which authorizes funds to state and local programs to ensure aging seniors have access to food, transportation, and other basic services they need to live independently and with dignity. The number of Americans over age 65 is expected to reach 70 million by 2030, representing a 71 percent increase from today's 41 million older adults. Elder and long-term care is rapidly becoming one of the most daunting healthcare challenges of our day. By 2050, the global population of people older than 60 is expected to jump to two billion. In the United States, the number of Americans over the age of 65 is expected to double from roughly 50 million today to nearly 100 million by 2060. While the United States is currently ranked among the top countries in the world for the elderly, there are significant variations across the country in access to healthcare and quality of life. On average, the older adult population spends $18,424 annually per person, with more than one-third of those expenditures occurring after the age of 85. The Medicaid program accounted for more that 40 percent of overall U.S. nursing home costs in 2012, and 65 percent of these costs in graying states like Pennsylvania. Together with Medicare, these programs comprise more that 31 percent of all U.S. health expenditures. An aging America will experience increasingly severe and complex health conditions. Almost half of the U.S. population is expected to have at least one chronic disease by 2020. The number of aging individuals with three or more chronic conditions has also increased significantly within the last ten years, and this is expected to grow to 40 percent among the 65 and over population by 2030. By 2050, the number of Americans needing long-term services and supports (LTSS) will more than double to 27 million. Our approach to caring for the aging is fiscally unsustainable for taxpayers and consumers alike. Absent changes to a fragmented system of care delivery which rewards high-cost rather than high-quality care, the burden of healthcare spending for the aging population will soon become unsustainable for taxpayer-funded programs like Medicare and Medicaid, as well as individual consumers paying out-of-pocket. Between 2015 and 2025, annual Medicare spending is projected to double to $1.2 trillion dollars. The median annual out-of-pocket costs for Americans age 65 will rise to $6,200, nearly double what it was in 2010. Unless policymakers act now, aging Americans and their loved ones will soon experience unsustainably high costs for healthcare coverage as well as significant declines in the access to and quality of care. As Medicare and the Older Americans Act reach their fiftieth anniversaries continue to improve aging America's access to affordable, high-quality care, it will be necessary to identify, evaluate, and scaleup policy interventions that work. Today's health care workforce is inadequate to meet the needs of older Americans, many of whom have multiple chronic physical and mental health conditions and cognitive impairments. 10 percent of Harris Counties population is 65 years and older. It is critical for the United States Congress to stand with aging seniors who need access to food, transportation, and other basic services. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 4334 to help older ensure that aging seniors are provided with essential services they need to live independently.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1306, the ``Federal Disaster Assistance Coordination Act.'' H.R. 1306 amends the Disaster Recovery Reform Act to help federal agencies streamline and consolidate information collection and Preliminary Damage Assessments following disasters. H.R. 1306 also establishes a federal working group to identify areas of overlap in performing the assessments used to administer disaster assistance for individuals, households, states, tribes, and territories. It is critical for the United States Congress to stand with the women and men who have been affected by disasters across the United States. In 2017, Hurricane Harvey dumped a record 275 trillion pounds of rain on the Houston area. An estimated 13 million people were affected, nearly 135,000 homes damaged or destroyed in the historic flooding, and up to a million cars were wrecked. This year, Tropical Storm Imelda has dumped 10 inches of rain in Houston, and at least 40 inches of rain in other parts of southeast Texas, making it one of the wettest storms in history. These natural disasters represent the importance of H.R. 1306 to properly mitigate disaster relief services and provide appropriate assistance to impacted communities. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1306 to help federal agencies streamline information collection and damage assessments following disasters.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2781, the ``EMPOWER for Health Act of 2019.'' H.R. 2781 reauthorizes funding at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for health professions workforce, education, and training programs. This legislation expands efforts to increase diversity, improve geriatrics education and training, and grow the pediatric health care workforce. The legislation also creates a new authorization of $5 million to increase workforce diversity in the professions of physical therapy, occupational therapy, audiology, and speech-language pathology. By 2032, the United States may face a shortage of over 100,000 physicians; If health care access were equitable across race, health insurance coverage, and geographic location, we would require almost 100,000 more physicians today. Groups such as the National Black Nurses Association have been advocating for a more diverse workforce to ensure access to the highest quality of healthcare for persons of color. The Kinder Institute at Rice University in Houston has determined that the greater Houston area is becoming increasingly diverse. The Kinder Institute noted that in 2010, the Houston metropolitan area became the nation's most racially/ethnically diverse large metropolitan area in the nation. While the largest growth has been among Latinos, other racial/ethnic groups in the metropolitan region have also either increased or remained the same. This growth and expanding racial/ethnic diversity can bring social, economic and health system challenges that exacerbate disparities. Efforts to increase diversity in the work force will lead to more respect and understanding, more creativity and innovation, less of a language barrier and social challenges, and an overall better patient outcome and satisfaction. This act will ensure that patients in Harris County and around the country have access to skilled physicians and medical professionals-- regardless of where they live. By reauthorizing key Title VII funding, it will increase access to physicians and other providers in underserved areas, and promote training opportunities for physicians to maintain and improve their skills. I applaud Rep. Schakowsky for introducing this legislation to help to better support the health of the citizens of the United States. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2781 to amend title VII of the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize certain programs relating to the health professions workforce, and for other purposes.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2115, the ``Public Disclosure of Drug Discounts Act.'' H.R. 2115 will require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to publish certain payment information regarding pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and prescription drugs. H.R. 2115 also requires the CMS to publish certain information, as reported by PBMs, relating to generic dispensing rates, drug discounts and rebates, and payments between PBMs, health plans, and pharmacies, in accordance with specified confidentiality requirements. In Harris County, 17.7 percent of the population is on Medicaid and 7.5 percent of the population is on Medicare. H.R. 2115 will increase transparency within the aggregate rebates, discounts, and price concessions that pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) negotiate with drug manufacturers. This bill will also implement an electronic, real-time benefit tool that can integrate with at least one prescriber's electronic prescribing system or electronic record so beneficiaries can have better information about their drug plan at the point of prescribing. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 2115 to help federal agencies streamline information collection to beneficiaries of Medicare and Medicaid.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2440, the ``Full Utilization of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund Act.'' H.R. 2440 creates a discretionary spending limit adjustment for full utilization of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund to ensure that funds are used to support navigation and maintain federally authorized harbors. This bill makes certain amounts in the trust fund available, without appropriation, to pay 100 percent of the eligible operations and maintenance costs of specified portions of the Saint Lawrence Seaway and up to 100% of the eligible operations and maintenance costs assigned to commercial navigation of all U.S. harbors and inland harbors. The Harbor Maintenance Tax and the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund were established in 1986 to fund the operation and maintenance of Federal ports and harbors. The Harbor Maintenance Tax is charged against the value of imports and domestic cargo arriving at U.S. ports that have federally- maintained harbors and channels and deposited into the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund. Appropriations from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund are primarily used for maintenance dredging, dredged material disposal areas, jetties, and breakwaters. Since 2002, there has been a growing gap between the annual amount of Harbor Maintenance Tax collected and the annual amount of appropriations from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund. According to the Department of Commerce in 2012, Texas exports totaled $265 billion. In Houston, one of the greatest engines the local and national economy is the port. The Port of Houston is a 25-mile-long complex of diversified public and private facilities located just a few hours' sailing time from the Gulf of Mexico. As a senior member of the Homeland Security Committee, and the former chair of the Transportation Security Subcommittee, I understand that the challenge of protecting our nation's vital assets such as transportation infrastructure requires the finest technology and the highest levels of intelligence. With the nation's largest petrochemical complex supplying over 40 percent of the nation's base petrochemical manufacturing capacity, what happens at the Port of Houston affects the entire nation. The Port Commissioners and the Port Authority staff are keenly aware of their role in ensuring that this investment in human ingenuity and economic power receives the protection it needs. We have the best emergency response vessel available to Houston to protect this national asset and treasure. While the Port of Houston generates between $70-$100 million per year in HMT revenues and needs $50-$60 million for maintenance dredging per year, the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) is typically allocated only $30 million for dredging in the Houston Ship Channel, causing severe draft restrictions which greatly effects ship traffic negatively in the Ship Channel. It is critical for the United States Congress to address this issue and ensure that funds are spent to support navigation and maintain federally authorized harbors. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2440 to ensure that monies collected into the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund are able to be spent for our critical port and harbor needs.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, yesterday evening, I joined Ambassador Etienne at the French Embassy to acknowledge the DC JazzFest. But I also was there, more importantly, to pay tribute to the Honorable John Conyers. Yesterday, I took a minute on the floor to indicate that I would be speaking about him over a period of days and weeks because his 53 years as a mentor and beloved colleague deserve that tribute. But yesterday, I was probably at a place John Conyers enjoyed the most. Many people may not know that he was a jazz enthusiast and maybe prepared to become a jazz musician in his early years as a young, young man. His father, a strong union organizer, a UAW worker, thought that might not be the best approach for his young son, I believe the oldest of their four children. John, being a dutiful son, went on to Wayne State and graduated from its law school as well. That was our gift to the American people. I want to take a moment to be able to highlight the very undercore, if you will, the underpinnings of the leadership of John Conyers, a progressive before the term could even be defined. I don't believe that he looked at himself in that way, but I think he looked at himself as one who would break through doors that others could not. Of course, he was one of the original cofounders of the Congressional Black Caucus. But he rose to be chairman of two committees, the Committee on Oversight and Reform and the Committee on the Judiciary, and he became the dean of this House, this entire House of Representatives. I don't think that would be what his own desire of tribute would be. I use the terminology that he not only spoke for the voiceless, but he spoke for persons who were actually silenced. That means that they tried to speak, but they were silenced. They were rejected. They were pushed back. They had not the power to be heard. How amazing it is to have found someone of the African American heritage and tradition who had gone through life in a segregated America to be able to speak for voices that were varied and different, who needed to hear that someone cared about them, from Native Americans to Latinos, to the disabled, to those in the LGBTQ community and beyond. He was a champion of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He got into Congress in 1964. He understood the value of giving people, no matter who you were, the right to vote. I will talk about that more extensively in the days to come, but I remember when we sat and reauthorized that legislation with a Republican President, what a wonderful experience of coming together around voting as we wrote legislation that George W. Bush signed enthusiastically, with an overwhelming vote in the House and an overwhelming vote in the Senate. We even honored many different people from around the Nation, including naming it after the Honorable Barbara Jordan and many others in that timeframe to reinforce the value of voting. John did that in a bipartisan manner, a lesson that we can learn even today. He never compromised his principles, but he stood for the idea of bipartisanship for justice. He was here for the Legal Services Corporation Act. Can you imagine that if you were poor 50 years ago, you wouldn't have any representation, not in the criminal system or sense, but in the civil system--being evicted, having problems with healthcare and dealing with your health insurance, or having a matter that required legal representation so that you could have justice. The Legal Services Corporation was something very near and dear to John Conyers. Let me move quickly to talk about his work dealing with the PATRIOT Act after 9/11. Yes, we wanted to be protecting ourselves against terrorists, but John Conyers was a voice that said that civil liberties of the American people are crucial, and we will not trample in this committee, the Committee on the Judiciary, on their rights of privacy and their rights of liberty. He believed in that. Let me also say that in the bankruptcy bill, when so many people were pushing to get a bill done that would leave out women and children, divorcees, leave out the poor who also needed to have some way of organizing their debt, in fact, he was a champion for that. Finally, Mr. Speaker, a champion for the reparations bill that most people don't understand, an idea they would understand later, he was our champion. He spoke for those who were silenced.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman and acknowledge Mr. Schiff and my dear friend, Anna Eshoo, and all of those, Mr. Pallone, and of all the Members who have stood tall and strong, Mr. Smith and Mr. Engel, for this very important statement. Let me, as a member of the Armenian Caucus, indicate that I rise with a heavy heart, but I rise with an appreciation and an excitement that we have come to this point. It is important to acknowledge that as this was occurring, the United States' record on the Armenian genocide goes back more than a century, in fact, to July 16, 1915, when Henry Morgenthau, United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1913 to 1916, organized and led protests by officials of many countries against what he described as the empire's campaign of race extermination. He was instructed on July 16, 1915, by United States Secretary of State Robert Lansing that the ``department approves your procedure . . . to stop Armenian persecution.'' I rise in support of finally having this Nation take this stand. Bloodshed and genocide should not be tolerated no matter how long we have come to that. And so I stand with the words that we now, therefore, will commemorate as the United States of America the Armenian genocide through official recognition and remembrance. We will reject efforts to enlist, engage, or otherwise associate the United States Government with the denial of the Armenian genocide or any other genocide.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I am reminded of the time both Mr. Engel, Mr. Smith, and I traveled to the Sudanese Embassy to protest the genocide in Darfur. We can do no less. It is not just 10 years ago, it is more than 100 years ago, at least, that we saw this genocide. There is no embassy that maybe will arrest us now, but I say to Turkey: It is finally time for you to acknowledge this genocide. Tragically, you have restarted and reignited the dastardly acts of genocide against the Kurds. I am glad today on this day that we are acknowledging that one genocide can be no worse than another genocide. Silence on one genocide is silence on all genocides. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today to support H. Res. 296 to acknowledge the Armenian genocide by the United States of America. Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the Committees on the Judiciary and on Homeland Security, and as a sponsor of the legislation, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 296, a resolution ``Affirminq the United States Record on the Armenian Genocide,'' and I thank Mr. Schiff, the gentleman from California and the Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and Mr. Engel, the Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs for their collaboration and hard work in bringing this important legislation to the floor. Mr. Speaker, the United States record on the Armenian Genocide goes back more than a century, in fact to July 16, 1915, when Henry Morgenthau, United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1913 to 1916, organized and led protests by officials of many countries against what he described as the empire's ``campaign of race extermination'', and was instructed on July 16, 1915, by United States Secretary of State Robert Lansing that the ``Department approves your procedure . . . to stop Armenian persecution.'' The United States has a proud history of recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide, the killing of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923 and providing relief to the survivors of the campaign of genocide against Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs, Arameans, Maronites, and other Christians. Mr. Speaker, the Armenian Genocide represents the first genocide of the 20th Century, where Ottoman Turkish authorities ordered the systematic annihilation of more than 1.5 million Armenians, and which Turkey carried out from 1915 to 1923 through massacres, deportations, and death marches where hundreds of thousands were herded into the Syrian Desert to die of thirst and starvation. Sadly, to this day this chapter of history has yet to be admitted by the Government of Turkey. Many international observers, including then Ambassador and later U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau, witnessed the nightmare firsthand and reported detailed accounts of the atrocities to their governments. Respected organizations and eminent scholars and historians agree and recognize the Armenian Genocide, including the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity and the renowned International Association of Genocide Scholars. Their judgments are supported by 53 Nobel laureates who signed an open letter to the Government of Turkey on April 9, 2007. Mr. Speaker, the historical record is clear, and the Armenian Genocide is a tragic fact. It must be acknowledged and remembered so that it will never be repeated. As a member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, I know that the refusal of modern-day Turkey to acknowledge one of the worst examples of man's inhumanity in the 20th Century haunts survivors of the Armenian Genocide, as well as their families. As a Member of Congress, I believe this is not only an affront to the memory of the victims and to their descendants, but it does a disservice to the United States as it seeks to stand up for the victims of violence today. The issue of recognizing the Armenian genocide and helping the Armenian people is neither a partisan nor geopolitical Issue. Rather, it is a question of giving the Armenian people the justice they deserve. In doing so, we affirm the dignity of humankind everywhere. It has been said that ``all it takes for evil to triumph, is for good men to do nothing.'' This is one of the reasons I am proud to have joined with so many of my colleagues in cosponsoring the resolution affirming the occurrence of the Armenian genocide throughout my career in Congress and I will continue to do for as long as it takes. In recognizing the Armenian Genocide, we do not seek to persecute any person or state; we seek to build a path that will lead to reconciliation between Armenians and Turks. In doing so, we will remain true to our nation's highest aspirations for justice and peace. It was President Lincoln who called upon the ``better angels of our nature'' when he said in his Second Inaugural Address that all Americans should ``do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.'' Mr. Speaker, the Armenian Genocide has been officially recognized by 42 states, which have gone on public record rejecting any claim or assertion that denies the occurrence of one of history's worst crimes against humanity. I believe it is time for us to join these nations in that endeavor by passing H. Res. 296, the ``Affirmation of the United States Record on the Armenian Genocide Resolution.'' Mr. Speaker, I ask for a moment of silence in memory of the millions of silenced voices and interrupted lives of those Armenians who perished between 1915 and 1923 in the genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire. I urge all Members to join me in voting for this critically important resolution, H. Res. 296.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I again rise with appreciation for the chairman of this committee and the ranking member of this committee and echo the importance of this bipartisan resolution. I would like us to go down memory lane, for those of us who have had the privilege of being here, including Mr. Engel. We are reminded of a secular Turkey, a Turkey where all were welcomed. We remember visiting some of the beautiful and wonderful treasures of Turkey, as we met with government officials and heard them reinforce their commitment to democracy, to the idea of freedom of religion, and that is appropriate for a 70-year member of NATO. We are very grateful for their commitment to NATO. There are many who continue to advocate for Turkey's presence in NATO so that NATO could be comprehensive and unique. But we find ourselves now in the grips of a single-minded individual who does not see the beauty of democracy, does not see the beauty of diversity and the welcoming of those from many places to Turkey, or the orderly process and the strong role they can play in the Mideast. Yet, on a midnight call or a late-night call on a Sunday night, speaking to this administration, the Turkish President didn't consult or maybe offer options. What we have gleaned from the media is that they said: We are coming into Syria. In the midst of them coming into Syria, they created a humanitarian crisis with fleeing women and children, destroying homes, taking people away from their homeland, and just doing havoc. There must be order in the world, respect and dignity, and a respect for the sanctity of life. I am glad to rise in support of this legislation, to target Turkey for sanctions that will not be lifted until Turkey withdraws from northern Syria. The bill requires concrete strategies from the administration for combating ISIS and protecting Syrian Kurdish communities and an analysis of human rights violations committed by Turkish forces, as well as a refugee program. It goes with my earlier designation that this is a humanitarian crisis in response to the needs of the people. This is not an act of war. This is to seek peace. This bill freezes assets and imposes a mandatory visa ban against senior officials of Turkey, including the Minister of National Defense, who apparently would not listen. Additionally, the PACT Act prohibits all arms transfers that Turkey could use in Syria--bloodshed against the people, not peace. Finally, the PACT Act imposed targeted sanctions on Halkbank, a Turkish bank with ties to President Erdogan. We would have wished to be around the diplomatic table to resolve the issues in Syria. We might have been on the verge of doing that. There was a calmness on the border, the northern border. We had a certain number of troops. Great opportunities remained before Turkey, but unwise and unilateral decisions were made. Part of that was the withdrawing of our Armed Forces from northern Syria. But I think it is clear to those of us who do want peace that there was a way of doing it. These sanctions should send a very strong message to Syria that we are, one, recognizing the Kurds.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. These sanctions should send a strong message to Syria that, one, we in the United States take seriously the intrusion of Turkey into the Kurdish area. It should send a strong message to President Erdogan to recognize that he cannot bully his way through in the region. It should also send a strong message to Iran and Russia and to our ISIS foes that America is serious about peace, but doing it in a manner that provides as safe a pathway for peace as possible. I would hope and would have wanted the decision that the President made on the phone call never to have occurred. It did occur. Unfortunately, President Erdogan was a partner in this, and we must make a very strong statement that the United States will not stand for this kind of bullying and that we will ensure that we will find peace, but in the right way. Mr. Speaker, with that, I support H.R. 4695. Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the Committees on the Judiciary and on Homeland Security, and as a sponsor of the legislation, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4695, the ``Protect Against Conflict By Turkey'' or PACT Act, and I thank the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs for their bipartisan collaboration and hard work in bringing this important legislation to the floor. I strongly support the PACT Act because it holds Turkey accountable for its brutal invasion of northern Syria and imposes against it tough, targeted sanctions and highlights the negative consequences of Turkey's invasion and the President's acquiescence to this act of aggression. Under the legislation, most of the sanctions will not be lifted until Turkey withdraws from northern Syria and the bill requires concrete strategies from the Administration for combatting ISIS, protecting Syrian Kurdish communities, an analysis of human rights violations committed by Turkish forces as well as a refugee program designation for Syrians who partnered with or worked directly for the U.S. in Syria. Specifically, the PACT Act freezes assets freezes and imposes a mandatory visa ban against senior officials of Turkey, including the Minister of National Defense, the Chief of General Staff of Turkish military, the Commander of Turkish 2nd Army, which has led the Syrian incursion; the Minister of Treasury and Finance, who by the way is Turkey President Erdogan's son-in-law); and additional senior Turkish defense officials involved in the invasion of Syria and anyone committing human rights abuses. Additionally, the PACT Act prohibits all arms transfers that Turkey could use in Syria and makes unavailable the use of the emergency provision of Arms Export Control Act (AECA) that the President might otherwise have used to get around congressional holds on arms sales to Turkey. Finally, the PACT Act imposed targeted sanctions on Halkbank, a Turkish bank with ties to President Erdogan, and additional Turkish banks facilitating transactions for the Turkish military's operations in Syria. Mr. Speaker, I have devoted my congressional career working to advance initiatives that will bring peace to troubled regions of the globe. For example, I strongly supported the two-state solution to bring peace between Palestinians and Israelis. Similarly, I worked with my colleagues and the executive branch to end the genocide and bloodshed in Darfur and for peace, stability, and reconciliation in Afghanistan. About this time two years ago, I had just returned from important meetings in the Middle East where I was part of an eight-member congressional delegation to the United Arab Emirates and Egypt. Mr. Speaker, the unwise and unilateral decision to withdraw U.S. armed forces from Northern Syria and abandon the Kurds, perhaps our most indispensable ally in the region is a mistake of incalculable damage. Instead of furthering United States interests, the decision to withdraw American troops from Northern Syria undermines them and emboldens Russia, Iran, Syria, and ISIS, all implacable foes of the United States. At the same time the decision squanders the progress made to date by the United States, working with the Kurds, to defeat ISIS and destroy its caliphate and props up the bloody Assad regime in Syria and puts at risk thousands of innocent men, women, and children. Mr. Speaker, the President's decision weakens the United States because trusted allies will no longer rely upon the commitment of our country to defend freedom or keep its word, and worst of all, it consigns the Kurds, our devoted and dedicated friends, to certain death and carnage at the hands of the Turkish military under the leadership of autocrat President Recep Erdogan. I urge the President, as Commander-in-Chief, to reinstate and resume the tried and true practice of orderly and systematic consultation with national security professionals, specifically the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the intelligence community, our key allies and foreign policy experts. For nearly 75 years, since the end of World War II, the United States has been the indispensable nation in the world and because of the leadership asserted by the United States, international peace has been preserved and global conflagration avoided. This task has never been easy or inexpensive, except when compared to the alternative of violence, bloodshed, and chaos. President Kennedy recognized this and observed in his 1961 Inaugural Address that ``In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility--I welcome it.'' I urge all Members to join me in voting for this critically important bipartisan legislation, vote to pass the PACT Act.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, the State of Texas has a large number of Active-Duty men and women and veterans. I rise today to salute Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, who appeared in uniform today to the United States Congress to tell the truth. Unfortunately, there were those who wanted to analyze Lieutenant Colonel Vindman's early beginnings. As a 3-year-old, he came from another country. But I think it is important to say what he is: a patriot. I read his testimony. It was straightforward, detailed. It certainly was without exaggeration. You could clearly see that this man cared about his Nation. We should respect the men and women of the United States military, particularly a Purple Heart recipient, a wounded warrior who fought for his country and was wounded. I thank him for coming forward as a patriot, as a man in the United States military, as one who has no issue with any person. He simply wants to tell the truth. Since we need just a little bit of expression here today, I conclude my remarks by saying: Go Astros. I wish them well. That is what America is about.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus and the many Members of the United States Congress in honoring John Conyers. I look forward, over the next couple of weeks, to paying tribute to him on this floor, for he is deserving of the honor and recognition of the service of 53 years in the United States Congress. John Conyers, throughout newspapers across America, is called a civil rights icon, a man who won reelection time after time with 80 percent of the vote. I offer my deepest sympathy to his beautiful wife, Monica, and his sons, John and Carl, but most of all, I say to America: Those who are voiceless, John Conyers was there; but those who were silenced, who tried to be heard, John Conyers was there. In every important piece of legislation for the last half century, John Conyers was there: voting rights, fair housing, the Clean Air Act, and the Clean Water Act. Yes, he is an icon, but he is a person of this Nation. An honored servant and former military, he is to be honored, and I look forward to saluting him in days to come. May he rest in peace.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Congressional Black Caucus for convening anchoring this Special Order in remembrance of Chairman John Conyers, Jr., the tireless fighter for justice and equality, Chairman of House Committees on Oversight and on the Judiciary, founding member of Congressional Black Caucus, Member of Congress, Member of Congress from Michigan for 53 years, my mentor, a beloved colleague, and dear friend who died on Sunday, October 27, 2019, at his home in Detroit, Michigan at the age of 90. Mr. Speaker, John Conyers, Jr. was a statesman and strong and supporter of equality, economic and social justice, civil rights, and human dignity for all. John Conyers, Jr. was born May 16, 1929 in Highland Park, Michigan to Lucille Janice and John Conyers, Sr., a union organizer in the automotive industry and an international representative with the United Auto Workers. After graduation from Northwestern High School, John Conyers dutifully served his country in the Michigan National Guard from 1948 to 1950, the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1954, and the U.S. Army Reserves from 1954 to 1957, serving during the Korean War and as an officer in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers where he was awarded combat and merit citations. Following his military service, John Conyers earned his Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor from Wayne State University and was admitted to the Michigan State Bar. Chairman Conyers began his legislative career on the staff of the late Congressman John Dingell and during this time he also served as counsel to several Detroit-area labor unions and was referee for Michigan's workmen's compensation department. In 1964, John Conyers was first elected to represent the First Congressional District of Michigan and was reelected to the succeeding 90th Congress and the following 15 Congresses until he retired on December 5, 2017. On the retirement of Congressman John Dingell at the end of the 113th Congress in December 2015, John Conyers became the longest-serving Member of the United States Congress, serving as Dean of the House from January 3, 2015 until December 2017. Mr. Speaker, John Conyers was also the third longest-serving Member of the House in history and the sixth longest-serving Member of Congress in history; the second-longest serving Member of either the House or Senate in Michigan history, trailing only his former boss, Congressman Dingell; and was the last member of the large Democratic freshman class of 1964 to serve in the House of Representatives. In the more than half century he served in Congress, John Conyers was at the forefront of most of the seminal moments in American political history, such as working to enact into law this partial list of landmark legislation: Voting Rights of 1965, Title XVIII of the Social Security Act (Medicare), Fair Housing Act of 1968, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Help America Vote Act, Affordable Care Act, Dodd-Frank Act, Americans With Disabilities Act, Assault Weapons Ban, Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1982, Drug Kingpins Act, Fair Chance Act. Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Social Security Amendments of 1965 (including Medicaid and Medicare), Voting Rights Act of 1965, Housing and Urban Development Act of 1965, National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act, Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, Heart Disease, Cancer, and Stroke Amendments, Freedom of Information Act, Child Nutrition Act, National Historic Preservation Act, National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act, Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act, Cuban Adjustment Act, Public Broad casting Act of 1967. Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, Bilingual Education Act, Civil Rights Act of 1968, Consumer Credit Protection Act, National Trails System Act, Gun Control Act of 1968, National Environmental Policy Act, Organized Crime Control Act, including the Racketeer, Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (``RICO''), Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1970, National Cancer Act, Federal Election Campaign Act, Equal Employment Opportunity Act, War Powers Resolution, Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act, District of Columbia Home Rule Act, Endangered Species Act, Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, Legal Services Corporation Act, Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974. Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, National Mass Transportation Assistance Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Privacy Act of 1974, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Copyright Act of 1976, Federal Land Policy and Management Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Water Resources Development Act of 1976, National Forest Management Act. The proposal to expand Medicare to all, a political idea gaining increasing popularity daily, was first introduced by John Conyers in 2003 as the United States National Health Insurance Act. John Conyers served on the Judiciary Committee that investigated Watergate and voted articles of impeachment against President Richard Nixon in August 1974. John Conyers marched in the historic March from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and later employed civil rights legend Rosa Parks in his congressional office until her retirement in 1988. John Conyers was loved by his constituents, regularly winning reelection with 80 percent of the vote or more. John Conyers is one of the 13 founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus in 1971, which has worked diligently to strengthen African-American lawmakers' ability to address the legislative concerns of African American and minority citizens and has now increased to 55 members in the House and Senate, including myself. While in Congress, John Conyers chaired the prestigious House Judiciary Committee from 1989-1995 and Oversight from 2007-2011, the first African American to hold these coveted positions. Throughout his career, John Conyers used his influence to push civil rights; in 1968, only days after the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Chairman Conyers began a long and ultimately successful effort to make Dr. King's birthday a national holiday, which was enacted in 1983. John Conyers also cosponsored and worked tirelessly to pass the Anti- Apartheid Act of 1986, which help topple South Africa's system of apartheid and free Nelson Mandela from prison. In the 101st Congress, John Conyers introduced legislation to study the issue of reparations for slavery and was the original sponsor of H.R. 40, the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act. I am proud to have assumed principal sponsorship of this piece of landmark legislative proposal and continuing the fight for justice. John Conyers was dedicated to justice for all, he supported legislation to generate the Justice Department's national study on police brutality. John Conyers was opposed to the imposition of the death penalty and began a series of hearings on police brutality. As Judiciary Committee Chairman, John Conyers also worked to create and enlarge federal death benefits for police officers and firefighters who died in the line of duty. Mr. Speaker, John Conyers dedicated his life to serving his constituents and the citizens of the United States; his persistence for justice and his fight for equal rights is a testament to his character. Chairman John Conyers will live forever in the hearts of the people of Detroit, his State of Michigan, and the United States. John Conyers was a legislative lion whose presence will forever be missed, and we all mourn his loss and extend our deepest sympathies to his wife Monica, his children, and family and friends who loved him so dearly, my deepest sympathies go out to and I hope you find consolation in the certain knowledge that John is now resting peacefully.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Thomas Ludwig John D'Alesandro III, the Mayor of Baltimore from 1967 to 1971, a champion of civil rights and equal treatment for all persons, the son of a former Member of Congress and Mayor of Baltimore, and the older brother of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the first and only woman to ascend to the height of national legislative power. Thomas Ludwig John D'Alesandro III died October 20, 2019 at his home in North Baltimore at the age of 90. Thomas Ludwig John D'Alesandro III was elected president of the Baltimore City Council in 1963 before winning election as Mayor of Baltimore in 1967 and served until 1971 and whose patience and care ushered Baltimore through a very difficult period. Thomas Ludwig John D'Alesandro III was born on July 24, 1929, in Baltimore, the first of seven children of Thomas Jr. and Annunciata (Lombardi) D'Alesandro. Thomas Ludwig John D'Alesandro III graduated from Loyola High School and Loyola College, and the University of Maryland School of Law, before serving in the United States Army from 1952 to 1955. When Thomas Ludwig John D'Alesandro III was elected mayor, Baltimore's public housing was in a state of terrible disrepair, crime was rising, and the middle class was retreating to the suburbs. Under the mayoral leadership of Thomas Ludwig John D'Alesandro III, things changed as civil rights laws were enacted in the city, neighborhood centers were opened, and a housing and community development department was created. He stood for justice and he wasn't afraid to fight for equal rights. He was privileged to meet Dr. Martin Luther King. He wanted all to live the American dream. During his first four months in office, Thomas Ludwig John D'Alesandro III appointed more African American persons to governmental offices than any predecessor did over an entire term. Once, at a neighborhood meeting with a conservative civic group in northeast Baltimore in 1967 and right before becoming mayor, ``was the only person in the room to speak in favor of equal housing.'' According to his sister and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, ``Tommy dedicated his life to our city'' and was a ``champion for civil rights,'' who ``worked tirelessly for all who called Baltimore home.'' Thomas Ludwig John D'Alesandro III leaves to cherish his memory his beloved wife, Margaret; his children, Thomas, Dominic, Nicholas, Patricia and Gregory; a brother, Nicholas; 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and countless neighbors and friends who will always remember this family man and transformational mayor who opened up the City of Baltimore politically. My deepest sympathy to his entire family.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his leadership. I thank the House Administration Committee, both the chairman and ranking member. I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma for managing this rule. I want to emphasize, particularly to the gentleman from Florida, for his recitation of the number of hearings that were held, but I want to emphasize that time is of the essence. Right now, in many of our jurisdictions, there are local elections going on. In just a couple of weeks or more, many will begin to engage in either primaries or the signing up of candidates for the 2020 election. We have taken an oath to protect and serve and to uphold the Constitution of the United States. Everyone knows what happened in 2016. Everywhere you go, local officials and State officials are asking us, the Federal Government: What are you doing to protect the sanctity of the 2020 election? There is no doubt that, in volume 1, there is clarity of the number of Russian operatives contacting and interacting with the Trump campaign in 2016. There is no conflict or disagreement with the bias of those that participated, Russian operatives, in this campaign, Russian bots. Time is of the essence. One of the most important elements of this bill that I applaud is the inclusion of my language in H.R. 2353, Duty to Refuse and Report Foreign Interference in American Elections. I don't think one American would disagree, not respecting any party affiliation, that if an operative from another country came to you to give you information, it is your responsibility to report it to the FBI under the Federal election laws, which was my bill, Duty to Refuse and Report Foreign Interference. We don't disagree in that. I hope we don't disagree that it is inappropriate to seek foreign assistance for a campaign, because one of the things of the Founding Fathers that I think is very clear in the Constitution and is very clear in the papers that surround it--the Federalist Papers and the comments of Benjamin Franklin when the audience was waiting, wondering whether we had a monarchy or a republic, and he said a republic, if we can keep it--that is that this Constitution and this process of elections was supposed to be unfettered, one vote, one person. That is why we have had to perfect it with the Voting Rights Act that we are trying to reauthorize, certain aspects of it. That is why we have written laws to protect voters and election laws wherein we protect voters--one vote, one person. So, I support the underlying bill, H.R. 4617, Stopping Harmful Interference in Elections for a Lasting Democracy. Remember, Benjamin Franklin said it is a republic, if we can keep it. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Rule for H.R. 4617, the ``Stopping Harmful Interference in Elections for A Lasting Democracy Act,'' or SHIELD Act and the underlying legislation. I support this legislation introduced by my colleague, the Chairwoman of the Committee on House Administration, the gentlelady from California, Chairwoman Lofgren, because it: 1. Creates a duty to report illicit offers of campaign assistance from foreign governments and their agents; 2. Helps prevent foreign interference in future elections by improving transparency of online political advertisements; 3. Closes loopholes that allow foreign nationals and foreign governments to spend in U.S. elections; 4. Restricts exchange of campaign information between candidates and foreign governments and their agents; and 5. Prohibits deceptive practices about voting procedures. Madam Speaker, earlier this year FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before the Congress that foreign interference in on our democracy is ``a 365-day-a-year threat.'' This is outrageous; American elections are to be decided by Americans. That is why I am particularly pleased that H.R. 4617 incorporates the key provisions of H.R. 2353, the ``Duty To Refuse And Report Foreign Interference In Elections Act'' that I introduced in April of this year. Madam Speaker, our friends across the aisle voted against Republicans voted against H.R. 1, the ``For The People Act of 2019,'' which, inter alia, would secure our elections, and then against H.R. 2722, the ``Securing America's Federal Elections Act'' or SAFE Act, which closes dangerous gaps in our voting security into the 21st Century. Today our Republican colleagues have another chance to demonstrate that they take seriously their oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign or domestic. Madam Speaker, on January 6, 2017, representatives of the Intelligence Community advised the President-Elect that the Russian Federation conducted a sophisticated campaign to subvert our democracy with the goal of electing Donald Trump and defeating Hillary Clinton. The Report issued by Special Counsel Robert Mueller on March 22, 2019 revealed that the Russians effectuated their goals by selectively disseminating stolen emails, with the end of maximizing the adverse impact this would have on Secretary Clinton's electoral prospects. The Mueller Report further indicated that Russia's misinformation efforts also included the proliferation of fake online profiles on social media platforms, with the goal of echoing and amplifying politically divisive messages, so as to sow discord within the electorate and suppress the vote for Secretary Clinton. As the Mueller Report lays bare, the Trump Campaign knew what Russia was doing and welcomed that assistance, did nothing to discourage it, did not report it, denied its existence and knowingly and happily accepted the benefits of the hostile foreign interference. While some may tolerate this as awful but lawful conduct, none of the bill's sponsors or supporters do because it is deeply corrosive of our democracy. In April of this year I introduced H.R. 2353, the ``Duty to Refuse and Report Foreign Interference in American Elections Act of 2019,'' to impose an affirmative duty to refuse any offer of election campaign assistance from any agent or entity acting on behalf or in the interest of a foreign government and to report to the Federal Bureau of Investigation any such offer of assistance from an agent or entity acting on behalf or in the interest of a foreign government. This duty to refuse and report applies to candidates and any person working for, or volunteering with, a candidate for election to federal office. The legislation also requires the Federal Election Commission to require that a candidate for election to federal office must certify quarterly that he or she is compliance with the above requirements on penalty of not more than 5 years in prison and a fine of not more than $250,000. Madam Speaker, the threat to our country is real, as documented in detail in the report issued by Special Counsel Mueller, confirmed by the unanimous assessment of our nation's Intelligence Community, and affirmed most recently by FBI Director Wray who testified in Congress that foreign interference in on our democracy is ``a 365-day-a-year threat.'' It is past time to write into the books of law the sensible and self- protective principle that American elections are to be decided only by American citizens, and not influenced by foreign adversaries. I encourage all members to join me in voting to keep Americans in control of our electoral process and elections by voting to pass H.R. 4716, the SHIELD Act.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York for yielding, and I express my appreciation to the manager of our friends on the other side of the aisle, my colleague from Arizona, and my colleague on the Judiciary Committee. Let me say, first of all, to Carolyn Maloney, if we go down memory lane, we have been together on this issue from the very start. We know when you had Debbie Smith come when she was willing to speak at a time that, I would say, was most concerning in the early stages of this. She was willing to come to the United States Congress and to share her story. And, Congresswoman Maloney, let me thank you for crafting the legislation, working with any number of bipartisan cosponsors, some of whom are no longer in the United States Congress, but I remember as a member of the Judiciary Committee being very closely aligned and supporting this bill. And so we have made great strides. And the over 140,000 cases that have been solved is a testament to the great need of this legislation. There is no doubt. And, of course, as we know from 2004--that is 15 years ago--that at that time, and continuing to a certain extent, the enormity of the backlog. Those of us who interact with law enforcement and interact with our district attorneys, we know that that has been an atrocious Achilles heel in providing comfort and justice to those who have been violated. I am reminded of the forensic lab that we had in Houston; we had to do a completely massive overhaul for the Harris County lab to ensure that we were in compliance or that we were going after the backlog. That is the word that we should be focused on, the ``backlog.'' Backlog means injustice or no justice. And certainly, as I have heard stories--just as recently as last night, I was on the phone with a constituent with a story that was just overwhelming, and she was trying to craft her next direction. And so this legislation is answering the pain of individuals who have come forward--and even those who are not able to identify a person immediately, and the DNA provides that opportunity--and it reauthorizes the bill. It ensures that grantee states and localities prioritize DNA analysis of crime scene samples, rape kits, other sexual assault evidence, and also carries cases without an identified suspect. I am glad that this bill is on the floor. But let me be very clear, we wrote a Violence Against Women Act starting in 2017 that was a monumental tribute to this month, in fact, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. We know that there are many around the Nation who have experienced and suffered this. In fact, there was a recent trial in Houston with a family that was killed in totality, except one member, because of domestic violence. We need the Violence Against Women Act. And I might take an exception to the fact that this bill is a holistic bill. It is a law enforcement bill. It is a bill of improving services to victims of domestic violence and dating violence and sexual assault.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, we have some very unique aspects in that legislation. We have counseling for men and boys, something very unique. I can't view that as controversial. We, likewise, have extended the protection of the arm of justice to Native American women. And, let me just speak to law enforcement, because I speak to them almost every weekend that I am at home: $291 million; and the creativity of prosecutors, local prosecutors, and law enforcement is amazing with those dollars. So I believe that we can do both. We can continue to affirm and complement the enormity of the work of Carolyn Maloney, the years of work that we have worked with her and attacked the backlog, which none of us ever want to hear or see. We want no backlog. We hope that this bill moves in the Senate, but it is not accurate that this bill, the Violence Against Women Act--there are active supporters of this legislation in the Senate, and I am looking forward to what we do best, working in a bipartisan manner to pass the Debbie Smith DNA bill and pass, to give relief to victims of domestic violence and others, the Violence Against Women Act. Madam Speaker, I ask Members to vote for Debbie Smith.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, as a senior member of both the Judiciary Committee and a co-sponsor, I rise in strong support of H.R. 777, the ``Debbie Smith Reauthorization Act of 2019,'' which reauthorizes the Debbie Smith Act and the Debbie Smith Backlog Grant program for an additional five years, through FY 2024. These grant programs to address DNA backlogs and provide DNA training and technical assistance on local, state, and federal levels. It is essential that these programs be reauthorized so that the backlog of unprocessed rape kits can be reduced and then eliminated, and perpetrators of sexual assault crimes can be prosecuted and convicted. There is an ever-present need to continue robust funding for programs such as the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program in order to make sure victims do not fall through the cracks of the system. Women who have been raped have a right to expect police to thoroughly investigate the case and prosecute the offenders; however, many rape kits across the country are never even tested, and the perpetrators never face justice. Under the Debbie Smith Act, not less than 40 percent of the total amount awarded in grants must be used for DNA analyses of samples from crime scenes, rape kits and other sexual assault evidence, and in cases that do not have an identified suspect. Madam Speaker, the number of backlogged DNA samples was in excess of 100,000 nationwide as recently as January 2014. H.R. 777 reauthorizes for five years (until the end of fiscal year 2024) the following programs: 1. ``Debbie Smith Reauthorization'' grants for state and local DNA crime laboratories to address DNA backlogs and enhance their capacity. 2. DNA training and technical directed to law enforcement, courts, forensic scientists, and corrections. 3. DNA training and technical assistance directed to sexual assault nurse examiner/(``SANE'') programs. In my congressional district, these grant programs have resulted in forensic laboratories being hired to clear much of the Houston Police Department's backlog of untested DNA benefit from this type of legislation. Just within the past year, decades-old rape kits that sat untested in Houston have identified at least one-third of potential offenders in cases where there was sufficient DNA, according to the Houston Police Department. In my district more than 6,600 rape kits have been cleared because of the funding made possible by the grant programs that H.R. 777 will reauthorize. This record of success highlights the importance and continuing need to provide adequate funding so law enforcement agencies can conduct necessary DNA testing and training. Madam Speaker, when enacted in 2004, the Debbie Smith Act was the first piece of legislation aimed at ending the backlog of untested rape kits and other unanalyzed DNA evidence. Debbie Smith grants have played a critical role in states across the country. The importance of the Debbie Smith Act is highlighted by the fact that delays in processing DNA evidence can result in delays apprehending or prosecuting violent or serial offenders or it can result in wrongfully convicted individuals serving time in prison for crimes they did not commit. Law enforcement has increasingly recognized that the backlog of DNA evidence awaiting entry in state databases can prevent law enforcement officials from solving many heinous crimes--which has made the Debbie Smith Act recognized as such a crucial program. Madam Speaker, the DNA Initiative is an invaluable tool for law enforcement today, and it will continue to be a legislative priority of mine. That is why I am pleased to co-sponsor H.R. 777 and urge my colleagues to join me in voting to approve this critically important legislation. Why We Also Need the Enactment of the Entire Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act Although the country needs the provisions of the Debbie Smith Act, survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault need and deserve more. The Senate must pass the full VAWA Reauthorization, which includes: Improving services for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; Giving law enforcement enhanced tools to combat domestic violence and sexual assault; Making vital new investments in prevention; Helping to better protect Native American women; Preserving and improving housing protections for survivors; Strengthening the health care system's response to domestic violence and sexual assault.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chair, let me thank the gentlewoman for her leadership. Maybe my friends have gotten a little bit of absentmindedness. This is volume I and II of the Mueller report, a distinguished veteran of the Vietnam war. Page 174, volume I, it says specifically, well-documented: ``On February 16, 2018, a Federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned an indictment against 13 Russian nationals and three Russian entities--including the Internet Research Agency, IRA, and Concord Management and Consulting LLC, Concord--with violating U.S. criminal laws in order to interfere with U.S. elections and political processes. The indictment charges all of the defendants with conspiracy to defraud the United States . . . three defendants with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud . . . and five defendants with aggravated identity theft, Counts Three through Eight. Internet Research Agency Indictment. Concord, which is one of the entities charged in the Count One conspiracy, entered an appearance through U.S. counsel and moved to dismiss. . . . `' They were indicted on the basis of their interference in the 2016 election. Let me be very clear. I rise to support this legislation, grateful that in this bill is H.R. 2353. Duty to refuse or report foreign interference was language that I had that said that you cannot accept information from a foreign operative. With that in mind, I thank the gentlewoman from California for her leadership. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4617, the ``Stopping Harmful Interference in Elections for A Lasting Democracy Act,'' or SHIELD Act and the underlying legislation. I support this legislation introduced by my colleague, the Chairwoman of the Committee on House Administration, the gentlelady from California, Chairwoman Lofgren, because it: 1. Creates a duty to report illicit offers of campaign assistance from foreign governments and their agents; 2. Helps prevent foreign interference in future elections by improving transparency of online political advertisements; 3. Closes loopholes that allow foreign nationals and foreign governments to spend in U.S. elections; 4. Restricts exchange of campaign information between candidates and foreign governments and their agents; and 5. Prohibits deceptive practices about voting procedures. Mr. Chair, earlier this year FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before the Congress that foreign interference in on our democracy is ``a 365-day-a-year threat.'' This is outrageous; American elections are to be decided by Americans. That is why I am particularly pleased that H.R. 4617 incorporates the key provisions of H.R. 2353, the ``Duty To Refuse And Report Foreign Interference In Elections Act'' that I introduced in April of this year. Mr. Chair, our friends across the aisle voted against Republicans voted against H.R. 1, the ``For The People Act of 2019,'' which, inter alia, would secure our elections, and then against H.R. 2722, the ``Securing America's Federal Elections Act'' or SAFE Act, which closes dangerous gaps in our voting security into the 21st Century. Today our Republican colleagues have another chance to demonstrate that they take seriously their oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign or domestic. Mr. Chair, on January 6, 2017, representatives of the Intelligence Community advised the President-Elect that the Russian Federation conducted a sophisticated campaign to subvert our democracy with the goal of electing Donald Trump and defeating Hillary Clinton. The Report issued by Special Counsel Robert Mueller on March 22, 2019 revealed that the Russians effectuated their goals by selectively disseminating stolen emails, with the end of maximizing the adverse impact this would have on Secretary Clinton's electoral prospects. The Mueller Report further indicated that Russia's misinformation efforts also included the proliferation of fake online profiles on social media platforms, with the goal of echoing and amplifying politically divisive messages, so as to sow discord within the electorate and suppress the vote for Secretary Clinton. As the Mueller Report lays bare, the Trump Campaign knew what Russia was doing and welcomed that assistance, did nothing to discourage it, did not report it, denied its existence and knowingly and happily accepted the benefits of the hostile foreign interference. While some may tolerate this as awful but lawful conduct, none of the bill's sponsors or supporters do because it is deeply corrosive of our democracy. In April of this year I introduced H.R. 2353, the ``Duty to Refuse and Report Foreign Interference in American Elections Act of 2019,'' to impose an affirmative duty to refuse any offer of election campaign assistance from any agent or entity acting on behalf or in the interest of a foreign government and to report to the Federal Bureau of Investigation any such offer of assistance from an agent or entity acting on behalf or in the interest of a foreign government. This duty to refuse and report applies to candidates and any person working for, or volunteering with, a candidate for election to federal office. The legislation also requires the Federal Election Commission to require that a candidate for election to federal office must certify quarterly that he or she is compliance with the above requirements on penalty of not more than 5 years in prison and a fine of not more than $250,000. Mr. Chair, the threat to our country is real, as documented in detail in the report issued by Special Counsel Mueller, confirmed by the unanimous assessment of our nation's Intelligence Community, and affirmed most recently by FBI Director Wray who testified in Congress that foreign interference in on our democracy is ``a 365-day-a-year threat.'' It is past time to write into the books of law the sensible and self- protective principle that American elections are to be decided only by American citizens, and not influenced by foreign adversaries. I encourage all members to join me in voting to keep Americans in control of our electoral process and elections by voting to pass H.R. 4716, the SHIELD Act.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Congressman Horsford of Nevada for anchoring this Special Order in remembrance of Chairman Elijah Cummings, the indefatigable champion of justice and equality, the Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight, the Member of Congress from the Seventh Congressional District of Maryland since April 16, 1996, and above all, the devoted and beloved son of Baltimore. Chairman Elijah Cummings died Thursday, October 17, 2019 at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland; he was 68 years old. Mr. Speaker, our friend Elijah Cummings was in every sense of the word a statesman and a gentleman who believed in bipartisanship and treated everyone equally and respectfully. Born January 18, 1951 in Baltimore, Maryland, to Robert and Ruth Cummings, South Carolina sharecroppers, who followed the Great Migration north to factory jobs in Baltimore, Elijah Eugene Cummings was the third of seven children. After graduating from Baltimore City College High School in 1969, Elijah Cummings attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he was elected President of the student government and graduated in 1973 with a degree in political science, earning honors as Phi Beta Kappa. Mr. Speaker, you may be interested to know that Elijah Cummings went on to earn a law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law. Elijah Cummings' matriculation and graduation from the University of Maryland School of Law was poetic justice because a generation before it had denied admission to another son of Baltimore, the legendary Thurgood Marshall, who then went to the Howard University School of Law and later became the greatest social engineer and the architect and instrument of the strategy that defeated Jim Crow and toppled de jure segregation at the University of Maryland School of Law. Elijah Cummings practiced law for 14 years in Baltimore and in 1982 he was elected to the House of Delegates of the Maryland General Assembly where he served for 14 years. In the Maryland General Assembly, he served as Chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland and was the first African American in Maryland history to be named Speaker Pro Tempore, the second highest position in the House of Delegates, earning a reputation as a champion of progressive and liberal causes and constituencies and as a skilled census-builder. Mr. Speaker, in 1996 when Congressman Kweisi Mfume resigned to assume the presidency of the United Negro College Fund, Elijah Cummings ran in and easily won the special election created by the vacancy with 80 percent of the popular vote. Elijah Cummings was re-elected to the 105th Congress and each of the succeeding Congresses until his untimely death, never winning with less than 70 percent of the vote. In Elijah Cumming's maiden address as a member of Congress he vowed that he would make use of his limited time in Congress: I only have a minute. Sixty seconds in it. Forced upon me, I did not choose it, But I know that I must use it. Give account if I abuse it. Suffer, if I lose it. Only a tiny little minute, But eternity is in it. Mr. Speaker, Elijah Cummings made good on that prophetic promise from the start. As a Member of Congress, Elijah Cummings served on the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and on Oversight and Government Reform. As a freshman member, Elijah Cummings championed and supported health care and labor legislation. In 2003, Elijah Cummings was elected as Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. In the 112th Congress, Elijah Cummings was elected by his colleagues to be Ranking Member of what is now known as the Committee on Oversight and Reform and in the 115th Congress was appointed by the Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi to the Benghazi Committee. One of my proudest moments was working with Elijah Cummings to secure passage of H.R. 1076, the Fair Chance Act, which would ``ban the box'' in federal hiring by restricting federal employers and contractors from asking about the criminal histories of applicants until the conditional offer stage. The Fair Chance Act would give formerly incarcerated people a fair chance at a job and a piece of the American dream. I was proud to have been able to work with Chairman Elijah Cummings in support of this legislation and other legislative goals of mutual interest and concern like reducing gun violence and eliminating unfair policing in communities of color. Mr. Speaker, Elijah Cummings dedicated his life to serving and uplifting others and empowering the people he was sworn to represent; he was a man for and of the people, going to the streets and ensuring that their voices were heard. Elijah Cummings received national attention in 2015 when he walked the streets of Baltimore, his notable bullhorn in hand, and pleaded for calm after riots erupted in his neighborhood after the funeral of Freddie Gray, a young black man who died in police custody. Elijah Cummings took the issues of his constituents to heart; many of us recall how he fought for meaning in the death of young Deamonte Driver, a 12-year-old Maryland boy who died from an untreated tooth infection. Elijah Cummings often said that ``our children are the living messages that we send to a future we will never see'' and was committed to ensuring that the next generation had access to quality healthcare and education, clean air and water, and a strong economy defined by fiscal responsibility. Elijah Cummings had a servant's heart and was imbued with an ethic of service and inspired countless numbers of persons fight for their beliefs. Unsurpassed was this native of Baltimore's love for his hometown. That could also be seen by his response to the current President's belittling Baltimore and his congressional district as a ``disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess'' to which Elijah Cummings invited the President to join him in the important work of ensuring that all Americans had accessible, affordable, high quality health care. Elijah Cummings' passion was not reserved for his district and the city of Baltimore; he also deeply loved his country. As Ranking Member and the Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, Elijah Cummings brought his intellect to what he called ``the fight for the soul of our democracy.'' Elijah Cummings deeply believed in our democratic system and values and worked tirelessly to preserve them and exhorted everyone to the same: When we're dancing with the angels, the question will be asked, in 2019, what did we do to make sure we kept our democracy intact? Did we stand on the sidelines and say nothing?'' In the words of his widow, Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, Elijah Cummings ``worked until his last breath because he believed our democracy was the highest and best expression of our collective humanity and that our nation's diversity was our promise, not our problem.'' Mr. Speaker, the life of Elijah Cummings is a testament to what a person of goodwill can accomplish with a servant's heart and the understanding that in the passion play of life you only have a minute, but all eternity is in it. Elijah Cummings did not waste his minute of eternity. Elijah Cummings will live forever in the hearts of the people of his hometown Baltimore, his state of Maryland, and the United States. To his widow Maya, his children, and family and friends he loved and who loved him so dearly, my deepest sympathies go out to them, and I hope they find consolation in the certain knowledge that our beloved Elijah is now dancing with the angels.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I accept the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia's--my dear friend--challenge. While I congratulate the historic once-in-a-century-win of the Nationals, let me be very clear: The Houston Astros have won the most games of any of the Major League Baseball teams. Let me thank the owner and management, but also the team, the unifying team, the team that does not have one icon, one star, but all of them are stars. Let me thank them for the great work they do in charity throughout our community helping our young people. Madam Speaker, might I take you down memory lane, when the Astros-- can you imagine that late-night game on Saturday night when you thought there was not any hope and there was going to be another game with the Astros and the Yankees? But what happened? My friend, Altuve--what happened? You didn't even see the ball go. He hit a home run and two came in. I know this is going to be a great game, and the new world champions of baseball will be the Houston Astros. Go `Stros. Go Astros. I accept, Madam Speaker, and if we win, she will wear this shirt with her staff.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 835) to impose criminal sanctions on certain persons involved in international doping fraud conspiracies, to provide restitution for victims of such conspiracies, and to require sharing of information with the United States Anti-Doping Agency to assist its fight against doping, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.