Sheila Jackson Lee

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro).

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chairman, I am excited that, in 1986, we added the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program--we all remember him as a great astronaut who died in a horrific astronaut calamity--to foster doctoral degree attainment by students from underrepresented segments of society. But, Mr. Chair, a young man went to the Upward Bound program at the historically Black Texas Southern University. He graduated from Sterling High School, but he grew up in extreme poverty, stricken with food insecurities and difficult living conditions. Poverty is not only a state of being, but a state of mind. However, with the help of TRIO, he went on to acquire life skills, strategies, and the support he needed to follow the dream of attending the University of Texas at San Antonio, majoring in Construction Science Management. Not only did he graduate from UTSA, but he graduated with honors, and he plans to attend graduate school in the fall. He is one of many students that are impacted; and the more we focus on the at-risk students, the more America continues to ascend to her greatest level. We helped Terrance, who is a 40-year-old student that began working on his GED at Houston Community College in 2005. He ultimately achieved it 5 years later. My amendment, again, is to emphasize the doors of opportunity, from Ronald E. McNair, Student Support Services, Talent Search, the Training Program for Federal TRIO Programs, Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math and Science, and Veterans Upward Bound. It is encompassing of many aspects of young people and those returning to school. I ask my colleagues to support the Jackson Lee amendment, which focuses on those at risk, and turns that at risk into success. Mr. Chair, I wish to thank Chairman McGovern and Ranking Member Cole of the Rules Committee for making this Jackson Lee Amendment in order. I thank Chairwoman DeLauro and Ranking Member Cole for their hard work in bringing Division A, the Labor-HHS portion of this omnibus appropriations legislative package, to the floor. I thank them all for this opportunity to explain the Jackson Lee Amendment, which makes a good bill even better by providing $10 million more to help ensure that TRIO students at the greatest risk of not completing their degree program get additional assistance to finish their education. TRIO is a set of seven federally-funded educational opportunity outreach programs that help low-income, first-generation students and students with disabilities to pursue higher education. The Upward Bound Program, the first Federal TRIO Program, was created under the authority of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, as amended. A year later, Talent Search was created as part of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to assist students applying for newly authorized federal financial aid for postsecondary education. The TRIO name itself was born four years later when the Higher Education Act of 1965 was amended in 1968 to include the Special Services for Disadvantaged Students program--what is now called Student Support Services (SSS). Since 1968, TRIO programs have been expanded to provide a wider range of services. Today, nine TRIO programs are included under the TRIO umbrella, seven of which provide direct services to students. The 1972 amendments to the Higher Education Act created Educational Opportunity Centers (EOCs) to help adults select a postsecondary education program and obtain financial aid. Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) was also initiated in the 1972 as part of the Upward Bound program to serve returning Vietnam veterans. Amendments in 1986 added the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program (McNair) to foster doctoral degree attainment by students from underrepresented segments of society. In 1990 the Upward Bound Math and Science (UBMS) program was initiated as part of the Upward Bound program to address the need for specific instruction in the fields of mathematics and science. TRIO also includes a training program for project directors and other staff of TRIO projects (Training Program for Federal TRIO Programs, which was authorized in 1976). The TRIO programs are administered by the Student Service area of the Department's Office of Postsecondary Education. TRIO includes: Educational Opportunity Centers; Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement; Student Support Services; Talent Search; Training Program for Federal TRIO Programs Staff; Upward Bound; Upward Bound Math-Science; and Veterans Upward Bound. Currently serving nearly 790,000 students across America, TRIO provides academic tutoring, personal counseling, mentoring, financial guidance, and other supports necessary for educational access and retention. TRIO programs serve students from middle school and high school (Talent Search, Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math-Science) to college and postgraduate study (Student Support Services, Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement). TRIO also provides services to adult learners (Educational Opportunity Centers, Veterans Upward Bound). Jackson Lee Amendment No. 15, adds $10 million in funding to assist students at the greatest risk of not completing their degree program. TRIO students can include teens to older adults trying make a career move or complete a life goal of a GED or college degree. I ask my colleagues to support this Jackson Lee Amendment. LiTroy TRIO/Upward Bound program at Texas Southern University Story: Litroy Lambert graduated from Sterling High School in Houston Texas in 2014. He grew up in extreme poverty stricken with food insecurities and difficult living conditions. Poverty is not only a state of being it can too often become a state of mind where dreams fester and die. However, with the help of the TRIO/Upward Bound program at Texas Southern University LiTroy was able to acquire the life skills, strategies and the support he needed to follow his dreams of attending the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) majoring in Construction Science Management. Not only did LiTroy attend UTSA, but he also graduated with honors and plans to attend graduate school in the fall. LiTroy is one of many students whose lives have been dramatically changed by the efforts of TRIO/Upward Bound programming and staff. Stories from Houston Community College's (HCC) TRIO Educational Opportunity Center: Terrance, age 40 Terrance is a 40-year-old student that began working on his GED at Houston Community College in 2005. Upon meeting Terrance in his GED class, he explained that he had been working on his GED off and on and was unsuccessful at completing his GED because of the cost of the exam and his inability to pass certain portions of the exam. He is a father and has also worked odd jobs while attempting to complete his GED. TRIO offered Terrance an alternative to the GED exam, the HiSet, which is an approved high school equivalency certification recognized by the Texas Education Agency. In addition to offering him an alternative exam, HCC provided him with vouchers to cover the cost of the exam and within his first attempt of taking the HiSet exam, he successfully earned his high school equivalent certificate. We assisted Terrance with applying for college and financial aid and he is currently enrolled at and set to begin college classes this fall to earn a Communications degree. Stories from Houston Community College's TRIO Educational Opportunity Center. Eric, age 44 Eric is a 44-year-old student that began working on his GED in 1995, stopped attending and then returned to complete his GED in 2017 when he was unable to receive a promotion on his job because he did not have a high school diploma. After several attempts at the GED, Eric was unable to pass portions of the GED exam because of his work schedule that prevented him from attending class regularly. Eric struggled with portions of the exam and TRIO offered him tutorial services and the alternative HiSet exam. Eric successfully passed the HiSet exam and earned his High School Equivalent certificate. TRIO also assisted Eric with applying for financial aid and college admissions. Eric will begin working on his pre-nursing courses in the fall so that he can eventually apply to nursing school and receive a promotion at his job. Christina, age 65 Christina is a 65-year-old disabled student that contacted TRIO because she had problems finding a program that would lead to a job. She wants to get off disability and work in an office job so that she can take care of herself without the limited income that disability provides. TRIO was able to advocate for Christina to get financial aid reinstated because she was on probation when she attended previously, due to the demands on her time because of having to care of her sick husband, who died when she was in school. The TRIO Educational Opportunity Center was also able to connect her with free tuition that is offered by Houston Community College so that she can maximize her financial aid. We assisted Christina with finding a program that will give her the technology/computer skills she needs that will lead to a job. Christina is currently enrolled in summer classes and pursuing a degree in Business Technology. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2539, ``Strengthening Local Transportation Security Capabilities Act of 2019.'' H.R. 2539 requires DHS to prioritize the assignment of officers and intelligence analysts from TSA and DHS I&A to locations with participating State, local, and regional fusion centers in jurisdictions with a high-risk surface transportation asset. The tragic events of 9/11 thrust the issue of physical security into public domain as never before and set in motion responses that have re- shaped transportation in unforeseen ways. H.R. 2539 authorizes DHS to develop, through the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, a training program to enhance the protection, preparedness, and response capabilities of law enforcement agencies with respect to terrorism and other serious incidents at surface transportation assets. In addition, threats to health, such as the spread of pandemics, present significant challenges to transport planning and operations. Railway stations and airports are some of the most densely populated sites anywhere. From 2009, all the flights originating, bound to or flying over the United States had their list of passengers cross-referenced by a central no-fly list managed by the TSA. Security involves many steps, from restricting access to airport facilities, fortifying cockpits, the setting of no-fly lists, to the more extensive security screening of passengers. Screening now involves more rigorous inspections of passengers and their baggage at airports, including restrictions on what can be personally carried in airplanes such as gels and liquids. Considering the emergence of global supply chains, the emphasis in freight transport security is gradually shifting into a more comprehensive but complex approach. The large number of ports, the vast fleet of global shipping and the range of products carried in vessels, and the difficulty of detection has made the issue of security in shipping an extremely difficult one to address. The less regulated and greater international dimensions of the shipping industry have made it vulnerable to security breaches. We need appropriate security measures to protect the susceptibility of American lives against possible acts of violence and terrorism. The growth in the use of information technologies and their associated networks have opened new forms of vulnerability as control and management systems can be remotely accessed. This has resulted in complex interconnected corporate information networks that can be hacked and disrupted. Trained officials and security experts work arduously to assess and mitigate the safety of passenger flow at transportation hubs. Taken together, the bill's provisions enhance the capabilities of local transportation security stakeholders to prevent and respond to terrorist attacks and other serious incidents. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2539 to strengthen our nations' ports of transportation to prevent and respond to terrorist attacks.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 951, the ``United States-Mexico Tourism Improvement Act of 2019.'' H.R. 951 addresses the decline in tourist activity between the United States and Mexico. The bill aims to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the United States and Mexican tourism industries by advocating for increased cooperation through both government and non-governmental channels. Specifically, the legislation seeks to-- improve third-party tourism to both countries through joint international promotional efforts; prioritize exchange programs in various economic sectors; and promote cross-border medical partnerships. Mexico is the biggest source of international visitors to the United States after Canada. In 2016, Mexican tourism to the United States peaked at 18,990,585 visitors, constituting 1 in 4 (24.9 percent) of all tourists that year. Additionally, in 2016, spending by Mexican tourists in the United States totaled $20.3 billion, which represented a 3 percent growth from 2015. In 2017, international tourist arrivals totaled 76,900,000, up 0.7 percent from 76,400,000 in 2016. The same year, 77,000,000 international visitors spent a record $251.4 billion on hotels, travel, food, and souvenirs, a 2-percent increase over 2016. However, also in 2017, there was a 6.1-percent decline in visitors to the United States from Mexico, comprising a loss of 1,166,585 Mexican tourists from 2016. The Department of Commerce has not yet released 2017 spending totals by Mexican tourists in the United States, but a corresponding monetary decline would be approximately $1.24 billion in lost revenue. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 951 to promote bilateral tourism through the United States and Mexico.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2140, the ``Preventing Child Marriage Act of 2019.'' H.R. 2140 calls for an adoption by the United Nations of a definition of ``child marriage'' and develop a comprehensive strategy through the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations to address child marriage in refugee settlements administered by the United Nations. Child marriage occurs when a formal marriage or informal union takes place in which at least one person is younger than age 18. Illegal child marriage arises when a formal marriage or informal union involving at least one person younger than age 18 that is illegal under the laws of the country in which the child marriage occurs. It is critical that we better understand the presence of child marriages within refugee settlements in order to assess how they intersect with the rates of violence against girls including young children and infants. This bill calls upon the United Nations to adopt a comprehensive strategy including: Collecting and reporting data related to the number of known or suspected child marriages taking place inside each such settlement; Protocols for United Nations personnel regarding prevention and monitoring of child marriages inside each such settlement; A description of programs administered at such settlements that provide-- (A) physical, mental, and emotional rehabilitation and support to children who have extricated themselves from child marriage; and (B) alternatives to child marriage, such as education initiatives; and Protocols regarding how United Nations personnel should-- (A) report adults participating in illegal child marriages in each such settlement; (B) monitor the prosecution of such adults by the authorities of the country in which the 2 settlement at issue is located. When enacted, H.R. 2140 will develop a framework in gaining data on child marriages globally as well as create effective strategies to combat them in refugee settlements. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2140 to confront child marriages which pose a strong threat to young children especially girls living within these settlements.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 542, the ``Supporting Research and Development for First Responders Act of 2019.'' H.R. 542 amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) within the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate. The National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) is charged with testing and evaluating emerging technologies and conducting research and development (R&D) to assist emergency response providers in preparing for, and protecting against, threats of terrorism. The National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) conducts nuclear and radiological R&D in support of response and recovery as well as providing technical advisory services to emergency response professionals. It is critical that we better understand the technologies and research used to further develop and assist emergency response providers when dealing with threats of terrorism. This bill will allow the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory to-- 1. Conduct tests, evaluations, and assessments of current and emerging technologies. 2. Also, conduct tests regarding cybersecurity of such technologies that can connect to the internet, for emergency response providers; 3. conduct research and development on radiological and nuclear response and recovery; 4. carry out other such activities as the Secretary determines appropriate; 5. act as a technical advisor to emergency response providers. When enacted, H.R. 542 will create a better understanding of the technical advisory services that are being used to help emergency response professionals. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 542 to further evaluate emerging technologies as well as research radiological and nuclear response and recovery for the emergency response providers.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2590, the ``DHS Overseas Personnel Enhancement Act of 2019.'' H.R. 2590 is a continuation of an existing program that requires an overseas personal enhancement plan to be provided by the Department of Homeland Security. Current law mandates that the Department of Homeland Security have a three-year strategic plan for overseas deployment of DHS personnel (P.L. 114-328 (authored by Chairman Thompson)). The requirements currently state that DHS must provide Congress with a briefing regarding all DHS personnel with primary duties taking place overseas. H.R. 2590 will build on the existing Federal DHS mandate by strengthening congressional oversight. The resolution requires DHS to submit a plan to enhance the effectiveness of the overseas deployment of DHS personnel 90 days after their initial briefing. The DHS plan will be required to include proposals on how to improve efforts to develop foreign partnership capacity and further the United States' counterterrorism mission. The plan will also consider possible redeployment in response to evolving threats. The DHS plan will result in enhanced collaboration and improved communication between DHS personnel at home and abroad. A version of this bill passed the House 415-0 in the 115th Congress. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2590.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the Homeland Security Committee, I rise in support of H.R. 2609, the ``DHS Acquisition Review Board Act of 2019.''' This bill would establish the Acquisition Review Board to-- 1. strengthen accountability and uniformity within the Department acquisition review process; 2. review major acquisition programs; and 3. review the use of best practices. The Acquisition Review Board also determines whether best practices are incorporated in proposed acquisition strategies and if the strategies are aligned with Department strategic initiatives. Last, the Acquisition Review Board oversees the progression of major acquisition programs, confirming that the proposed acquisition has met key phases of the lifecycle framework, and conducting systematic reviews of the acquisition to ensure the program is progressing in compliance with approved documentation. I stand in support of fairness and transparency through the Acquisition Review Board. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2609 to establish the Acquisition Review Board as chaired by the Under Secretary for Management.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Maryland for his courtesy. Mr. Speaker, there is a document that I hold in my hand that covers the epidemic apparently that is taking siege over America. It contains the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. The Declaration of Independence paraphrases we are all created equal with certain inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I am honored to serve in this body and, with honor, walk through the halls and look at the historical depictions of the early years. Just coming back from D-Day in Normandy, I am reminded of the brave men and, certainly, women who served in the United States military, supporters in World War II, but, in particular, the men who stormed the Normandy beach. I am reminded, I am sure, of the words of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, who said: The world is watching, and they will join you in marching to victory. This Constitution has the Ninth Amendment, the right to privacy. It has the right to freedom of religion and freedom of access and freedom of speech. And all that is being done here today is to acknowledge not only the poor 15-year-old, 13-year-old, and 14-year-old that my good friend from Maryland talked about, but, all over the country, denying poor women access to health services that should really be based upon their faith, their God, their family, and their medical provider. In some of the bills in Missouri and in some of the bills that are being proposed in Georgia, Alabama, and in my own State of Texas, it is litigation that would get you healthcare. It is no respect of the individual human being, the person, who may have to go back to the antics of yesteryear, dealing with the tactics of coat hangers of which many of us are aware. Let me also say that underlying in this rule is the opportunity for the force of the authority of the Article I Congress to enforce individuals to come before congressional committees, such as the Committee on the Judiciary, which we will debate later. It is invested in this Constitution, because of Article I authority and the collegial response that the Founding Fathers wanted us to have, that there are no unequal branches--there is a number one branch--and one branch should not ignore and disrespect the other branch. Therefore, if Article I branch, which we are in, asks for witnesses and then is blocked by another branch that has no greater status--read the Constitution. In this rule, we have tried to correct the imbalance and inappropriateness that is occurring in this body and in this process, and so I ask my colleagues to support the rule and the underlying legislation to restore the Constitution.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I think it is appropriate to correct a number of statements that have been made on the floor. First of all, this is not the end. Director Mueller made this the beginning. When he concluded the report, he left a very large direction to the United States Congress. He recognized that he could not follow up because of policies at the DOJ regarding indictment in the process of the administration. So the Congress, in its due diligence, took the responsibility not to target anyone, but to simply uphold the rule of law. In upholding the rule of law, we had an empty seat by Attorney General Barr, an empty seat by Mr. McGahn, an empty seat by Ms. Hicks, Ms. Donaldson, and we hope not an empty seat of the author of the report. So all this resolution does is authorize the committee to seek civil enforcement of its subpoenas against Attorney General Barr, requiring him to provide Congress with the key evidence underlying the Mueller report as well as the unredacted report itself, and former White House Counsel Donald F. McGahn, requiring him to provide documents and appear for testimony. He is not covered by executive privilege. In fact, executive privilege does not cover--his duty is to the White House Office of the General Counsel, or the White House counsel's office, not to the individual officeholder, the President. He has personal lawyers. And we didn't break the law. 6(e), which is grand jury materials, our committee diligently said let's work with the Department of Justice, go to court, and decide what we can see. We are simply following this little book that many have died for, and that is the Constitution of the United States, and those words in the Declaration of Independence that said we all are created equal, with certain unalienable rights of life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. The American people would not want a Congress that turned its back on, frankly, the rule of law. For those of us who had the special privilege of going to Normandy this past week, we got a great sense of pride, of the courage of Americans, the bravery of those young men, and all I could think of is how important it is to all of us to adhere to those wonderful principles. So, again, there is no targeting here. This is not a way to do policy or legislation. We can fight that battle on the floor of the House. But if you read those volumes and end it in the last pages of Volume 2, you know that Director Mueller asked us to finish the task of looking into elements that he did not or could not and the underlying issues. Let me also say, as we do that, we do it forthrightly because, in 2020, we want to make sure that every American has the right to vote and every American is not undermined by a foreign operative interfering and taking the election away from you. I support the resolution. We must stand for the rule of law. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 430, authorizing the Committee on the Judiciary to initiate or intervene in judicial proceedings to enforce certain subpoenas and for other purposes. It is an honor to serve in this body. We are the successors and heirs to an august freedom earned centuries ago, expanded for successive groups and defended through the blood, sweat and tears of the nation's fighting forces. It is this debt that took me to the beaches of Normandy to pay my respects on the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day invasion. We are heirs to this legacy, and we are heirs to this ingenious system of separation of powers. The system they laid down presumes equality of power among the branches. As custodians of Article I, we have a duty to ensure the rigors of the Constitution are upheld. This includes that when the Second Branch, Article II, flouts the investigative prerogatives of the Congress, there must be recourse and accountability. As a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, I have to say that it is regrettable that we are here. This is because a hallmark of our constitutional republic is that no person is above the law. Congressional oversight has been the tradition going back to the first years of our republic. And the congressional prerogative of oversight has been a tool in the Article I arsenal as a way of asserting our power and protecting against the worst excesses of an executive. This comports with the founding of our government, which sought to prevent the concentration of power in an autocratic executive, which was anathema to the Founders. Which is why the events of the last many months have been so confounding. The decision by this executive to flout all lawfully authorized subpoenas has been unprecedented. This dispute between the political branches should work itself out, but because of this presidential obstinacy, we are in this predicament, which is why we must pass this H. Res 430, Authorizing Subpoena Enforcement Litigation. This Resolution, H. Res. 430, builds on the House Judiciary Committee's contempt finding against Attorney General Barr. The resolution authorizes the Committee to seek civil enforcement of its subpoenas against: (i) Attorney General Barr requiring him to provide Congress with the key evidence underlying the Mueller Report as well as the unredacted report itself; and (ii) former White House Counsel Donald F. McGahn, II requiring him to provide documents and appear for testimony. The resolution further affirms that all committee chairs, when authorized by the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group, retain the ability to seek civil enforcement of their own subpoenas. The resolution adds that when committees proceed to court, they have any and all necessary authority under Article I of the Constitution, ensuring that they have the maximum range of legal authority available to them. For example, on other key issues--such as the Department of Justice defying a subpoena to produce counter-intelligence documents relating to Russia's interference with the 2016 election, or the Commerce Department defying a subpoena to produce documents relating to the addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 Census--the committees can enforce these subpoenas without a floor vote. This resolution ensures the House can conduct meaningful oversight on issues critical to Americans' lives while continuing to deliver on pocketbook issues. The President's disregard for congressional oversight allows the Administration to cover-up his many disastrous policy decisions such as: attacking affordable healthcare coverage for millions of Americans including those with pre-existing conditions, tearing apart vulnerable immigrant families, misappropriating military funds for his ill- conceived border wall, and rolling back landmark civil rights protections for minorities. The information subpoenaed by various congressional committees, including documents and testimony, is information to which Congress is constitutionally entitled and that past Administrations have routinely provided. President Trump has prevented fact witnesses referenced in the Mueller Report from testifying or providing documents to Congress. This is despite the fact that the Report detailed the Russian government's sustained attacks on our elections; over 170 contacts between President Trump's campaign and associates and agents of the Russian government; as well as numerous efforts by President Trump to impede or thwart House investigations scrutinizing his own conduct and that of his Administration. In keeping with the President's sweeping public refusal to comply with congressional subpoenas, the White House and the Administration are fighting to keep the truth from the American people. This resolution ensures we can conduct oversight on issues that are critical to Americans' lives while continuing to deliver on pocketbook issues. The information subpoenaed by various congressional committees, including documents and testimony, is information Congress is constitutionally entitled to and which past Administrations have routinely provided. Congress not only is constitutionally entitled to the underlying evidence in the Special Counsel's Report and key fact witness testimony, it requires this information so that it can fulfill its legislative, oversight, and other constitutional responsibilities. This resolution follows past precedent used by Democratic and Republican Majorities while reinforcing an important principle in the House Rules. This Administration's disregard for the legislative and judicial branches has reached a tipping point. Despite representing a coequal branch of government, this Administration is flagrantly disregarding the role Congress and the Judiciary must play in our democratic system. Mr. Speaker, the foregoing has been the basis for this Resolution. It was my hope that this was not needed. But the President has proven me wrong, which is why this Resolution is needed. I urge passage of the Resolution.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3151, the ``Taxpayer First Act of 2019.'' H.R. 3151 aims to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modernize and improve the Internal Revenue Service, and for other provisions. The bill would create an independent means for taxpayers to appeal actions of the IRS, limits the capacity of private debt collectors to target low-income citizens, allows taxpayers to request an identification protection PIN number to protect themselves from identity theft, and creates a single point of contact so that taxpayer conversations with IRS agents can be documented and tracked. It is critical that we amend the Internal Revenue Code because we have a duty to our constituents to improve their contact with the Internal Revenue Service concerning appeals, identification protection, and financial inequity. This legislation also codifies the popular Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program and authorizes $30 million in matching grants for the program. When enacted, H.R. 3151 will create a better framework for the Internal Revenue Service which will in turn ensure that American taxpayers are at the forefront of our agenda. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 3151 to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 bringing it into the 21st century.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2476, the ``Securing American Non-Profit Organizations Against Terrorism Act of 2019.'' H.R. 2476 reauthorizes the Department of Homeland Security's Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP). The bill would fund the NSGP at $75 million through fiscal year 2024; where $50 million would be reserved for nonprofit institutions located within UASI jurisdictions, and $25 million would be reserved for nonprofit institutions located outside of UASI jurisdictions. This bill is caused by the recent increase in violence and threats of violence against nonprofit institutions. Examples of such violence against nonprofit organizations include: April 27--attack on the Poway synagogue that killed 11 April 21--a coordinated terrorist attack on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka that killed nearly 250 people and injured more than 500 people. March 15--the deadly New Zealand mosque shootings, where 5o people were killed. It is critical that we better understand the seriousness of such violent crimes as they impact not only the victims, but also their families, communities, and the generations of people to come. This bill will allow the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to--Target activities, including physical security enhancement equipment, inspection and the screening systems. Pay for security training relating to physical security and cybersecurity, target hardening, terrorism awareness, and employee awareness. Along with, any other appropriate activity, including cybersecurity resilience activities, as determined by the Administrator. When enacted, H.R. 2476 will create a better understanding on how we can manage and prevent terrorist acts towards non-profit organizations by targeting activities and increasing security training. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2476 to confront such violence against nonprofit institutions, which pose as a strong threat to the citizens of the United States.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1158, ``DHS Cyber Incident Response Teams Act of 2019.'' H.R. 1158 codifies DHS' National Cybersecurity and Communications Coordination Center (NCCIC) Hunt and Incident Response Teams which the Department currently deploys to provide intrusion analysis, identify malicious actors, analyze malicious tools, and provide mitigation assistance to entities requesting assistance after a cybersecurity incident. H.R. 1158 also requires the NCCIC to submit information to Congress regarding metrics for the teams, at the end of the first four years after enactment. In 2017, a malware named NotPetya was released from the hacked servers of a Ukrainian software firm servicing a management program used by some of world's largest corporations, causing an estimated $10 billion in damage. When this bill passes, it will assess and mitigate situations of cyberterrorism that undermine our nation's security and civil liberties such as our national elections. Cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated every day. Due to the vulnerability of corporations' operations, we need extensive measures to identify, analyze, and alleviate threats of cyberattacks. Affected asset owners and operators will receive critical information to improve their overall network and control systems security to lower cybersecurity risks, and other recommendations. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1158 to protect our nation from malicious attempts of cyberterrorism that strategically weaken our democracy.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2083, the ``Homeland Procurement Reform Act.'' H.R. 2083 would reform the . way the Department of Homeland Security procures uniforms and items related to national security interests. This bill seeks to encourage the procurement of domestically sourced uniform items to ensure higher-quality uniforms and equipment are issued to the Department. Specifically, this bill would allocate that no less than one-third of the funds obligated for uniforms and protective equipment are used for items that are manufactured in part or provided in the United States by entities that qualify as a U.S. small business. Additionally, H.R. 2083 will ensure that uniforms and protective equipment are purchased at fair and reasonable prices, and that uniform allowances provided to Department frontline personnel are adequate. Last, the bill mandates that suppliers-- store such covered item in a locked area; report any pilferage or theft of such covered item occurring at any stage before delivery of such covered item; and destroy any defective or unusable covered item bearing official DHS insignia not manufactured in the US. I stand to support this bill that will bring more opportunities for American small businesses. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2083 to reform the way the Department of Homeland Security procures uniforms and items related to national security interests.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, tomorrow, June 6, marks the 75th anniversary of Allied Forces' audacious amphibious landing at Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944. This joint undertaking to liberate the continent of Europe from the clutches of an evil aggressor enemy was the first and most emphatic demonstration of the invincible strength of democratic nations when acting collectively. For nearly seventy years, from April 4, 1949 to January 20, 2017, peace in Europe has been secured and no adversary, not the old Soviet Union or the contemporary Russian Federation, has dared to risk war by attacking a European ally of the United States because every American president has made clear that the United States is committed to Article V of the North Atlantic Treaty which holds that an attack on any NATO member is regarded as an attack on all of them. Madam Speaker, ``Operation Overlord,'' as D-Day was formally known, was the largest single amphibious assault in the history of warfare. The success of D-Day, which was far from certain at the outset, led to the liberation of Western Europe, signaled the death knell of the German Wehrmacht, and paved the way to unconditional victory by the Allied Forces over the evils of Nazism, fascism, and Japanese imperialism. It is no exaggeration to say that D-Day changed the course of human history. The aim of the meticulously planned D-Day operation was to open a second front in the European war theater from which the Allied Forces could attack the German army and push east to capture Berlin. With the Russian Army advancing from the east, coupled with the southern front opened by the Allied invasion of Italy from North Africa in 1942, the opening of a western front would set in motion the pincer movement that would catch the German Army in a trap from which there would be no escape. The formidable German Army expected that the Allied Forces would try to launch an invasion from the western beaches of France. They just did not know when or where. So, in anticipation of an Allied invasion, the Nazis constructed the infamous Atlantic Wall, an extensive system of coastal fortifications built along the western coast of Europe and Scandinavia. Under the direction of Field Marshal Rommel, the Atlantic Wall was reinforced by the addition of concrete pillboxes built along the beaches to house machine guns, antitank guns and light artillery. Mines and antitank obstacles were planted on the beaches themselves and underwater obstacles and mines were placed in waters just off shore. By the time of the D-Day landing, the Nazis had laid almost six million mines in northern France. And awaiting Allied soldiers who made their way onto and away from the beaches were gun emplacements and minefields extended inland. ``War is hell,'' said General William Tecumseh Sherman during the Civil War. And that is an apt description of what awaited the brave Allied warriors who set sail from England to the beaches of Normandy in the early morning of June 6, 1944, at the beginning of what has rightly been called ``The Longest Day.'' But they were buoyed in their resolve by the millions of prayers from Americans and others back home, of all races, religions, and creeds, invoking the Lord's blessing, mercy, and grace. With the outcome in doubt, President Franklin Roosevelt asked the nation to join him in this solemn prayer: ``Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity. ``Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith. ``They will need Thy blessings. ``For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. ``They fight not for the lust of conquest. ``They fight to end conquest. ``They fight to liberate. ``They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and goodwill among all Thy people. ``They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.'' The prayers were needed because the cost of D-Day was high; U.S. casualties on D-Day totaled more than 2,499 dead, 3,184 wounded, 1,928 missing, and 26 captured. Our British and Canadian allies suffered terrible losses on D-Day as well: approximately 2,700 for the British and 946 for the Canadians. German casualties are estimated at 4,000 to 9,000. In total, the number of combatants killed, wounded or missing in the Battle of Normandy for both sides exceeded 425,000, not including the estimated 15,000 to 20,000 French civilians killed. But the operation was a success . More than 156,000 troops or paratroopers came ashore on D-Day, 73,000 from the U.S., 83,000 from Great Britain and Canada. By the end of June 11, D-Day +5, 326,547 troops, 54,186 vehicles and 104,428 tons of supplies had come ashore. And with them came the seeds for the victory in Europe that would come less than a year later, on May 8, 1945, with the fall of Berlin and the unconditional surrender of the Nazis. On the eve of the Normandy invasion, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, addressed the soldiers, sailors, and airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Forces and said to them that they were about to embark upon a ``Great Crusade,'' and that the ``eyes of the world'' were upon them. He told them that their task would not be easy because the ``enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely.'' But, General Eisenhower said, ``this is the year 1944. The tide has turned. The free men of the world are marching together to victory.'' And march to victory they did, fully justifying General Eisenhower's ``confidence in their courage, devotion to duty, and skill in battle.'' Because of the heroism of these men who willingly risked their lives to be the tip of the spear of liberty, the war was won, and a world was saved for freedom. Madam Speaker, D-Day was, and remains, a day like no other in the history of man's sojourn on earth. We remember Gettysburg. There, President Lincoln paid tribute to those ``who gave their lives so that the nation might live.'' It is equally fitting and proper that we never forget D-Day and that we continue to honor those who risked all and gave all so that the light of freedom would never be extinguished in the world.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 988, the ``National Estuaries and Acidification Research Act of 2019.'' H.R. 988 provides a study by the Ocean Studies Board of the National Academies of Science examining the impact of ocean acidification and other stressors in estuarine environments. The bill would authorize the appropriation of $1 million for a report, to be completed in two years, that examines the challenges to studying ocean acidification, provides recommendations for improving future research, and identifies ways to apply science while mitigating and managing ocean acidification in estuarine environments. Ocean acidification occurs when there are changes in ocean water chemistry from the absorption of excess carbon dioxide, but the current understanding of ocean acidification impacts on estuarine ecosystems is inadequate to fully prepare and manage for changing environmental conditions in nearshore locations. It is critical that we better understand the interaction of multiple stressors, including salinity, pH, temperature, sea level rise, and nutrient input, within estuarine ecosystems so that the health, economic, recreational, and environmental impacts driven by these interactions can be effectively managed. This bill will allow the Ocean Studies Board of the National Academies to conduct a study that--examines the existing science of ocean acidification in estuarine environments; examines the challenges to studying ocean acidification and ocean acidification's interactions with other environment stressors in estuarine environments; provides recommendations for improving future research with respect to ocean acidification in estuarine environments; and identifies pathways for applying science in management and mitigation decisions relating to ocean acidification in estuarine environments. Through transportation, recreation, tourism, and other port activities, healthy estuaries are critical to the economy of coastal communities and contribute $320 billion to our nation's GDP. In addition, estuaries filter sediments and pollutants out before river water reaches the ocean and provide habitat for more than 75 percent of commercially caught fish in the United States. When enacted, H.R. 988 will create a better understanding of coastal acidification, so we can better manage and mitigate its effects on our nation's estuaries and other natural treasures. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 988 to confront ocean acidification, which poses a strong threat to the estuaries that America's coastal residents depend on for nutrition, employment, and recreation.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 393, a resolution ``Remembering the victims of Tiananmen Square.'' H. Res. 393 remembers the victims of the violent suppression of democracy protests in Tiananmen Square and elsewhere in China on June 3 and 4, 1989 and calls on the Government of the People's Republic of China to respect the universally recognized human rights of all people living in China and around the world. On June 4, 1989, a violent crackdown on peaceful demonstrations held in and around Beijing's Tiananmen Square was carried out by the People's Liberation Army, following orders given by the Government of the People's Republic of China. An estimated 1,000,000 people joined the protests in Tiananmen Square and citizens in over 400 Chinese cities staged similar protests calling for democratic reform, including not only students, but also government employees, journalists, workers, police officers, members of the armed forces, and other citizens. These peaceful demonstrations of 1989 called upon the Government of the People's Republic of China to eliminate corruption, accelerate economic and political reform, and protect human rights, particularly the freedoms of expression and assembly, issues that remain relevant in United States-China relations 30 years later. Although these activists' reform efforts continue to inspire the Chinese people, the Government of the People's Republic of China takes active measures to deny its citizens the truth about the Tiananmen Square massacre, including the blocking of uncensored internet sites and social media commentary on microblog and other messaging services, and the placement of misleading information on the events of June 3 and 4, 1989, on internet sites available in China. The Chinese government also continues to silence the voices and memory of these activists through gruesome attacks on demonstrators who recognize the false information being spread by the Chinese Government. On May 20, 1989, martial law was declared in Beijing, China, after authorities had failed to persuade demonstrators to leave Tiananmen Square, sending thousands of armed troops, supported by tanks and other armor, moved into Beijing and the surrounding streets where the forces fired into crowds of unarmed civilians. The ``Remembering the victims of Tiananmen Square'' Act promises to do this by expressing sympathy and solidarity to the families of those killed, tortured, and imprisoned for their participation in the pro- democracy demonstrations during the spring of 1989 in Beijing and in other cities across the People's Republic of China and verbally supporting the leaders of the Tiananmen demonstrations and all those who peacefully sought political reform, democratic transparency, the rule of law, and protections for universally recognized human rights in China. The resolution also renounces the practices of the Chinese government's actions during and after the Tiananmen Square Protest and calls on the government to take responsibility for the number of deaths that occurred during the violent suppression of the spring 1989 Tiananmen demonstrations, rehabilitate the reputations of those who participated in the demonstrations and those detained for seeking to commemorate the anniversary of the demonstrations, and cease the censoring of information and discussion about the Tiananmen Square massacre, including at Confucius Institutes worldwide. Through these actions, H.R. 393 promises to adequately relay the United States' disappointment with the violence towards Tiananmen demonstrators and aid the advocates and protestors in their quest for protected human rights. The Government of the People's Republic of China continues to actively suppress universally recognized rights by imprisoning or restricting the activities of pro-democracy activists, human rights lawyers, citizen journalists, labor union leaders, religious believers, members of ethnic minorities, and individuals in the Xinjiang and Tibetan regions, among many others who seek to express their political or religious views or their ethnic identity in a peaceful manner. Despite persistent, ongoing, and sometimes brutal repression, the desire of Chinese citizens to risk life, limb, and liberty to exercise universally recognized human rights, ensure the rule of law, and promote political reform cannot be extinguished, thus the legacy of Tiananmen Square lives on.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise to support the underlying bill and the rule that is presently before us. As I do so, let me thank my colleague on the Judiciary Committee. We have served for any number of years, and Congresswoman Lofgren has been on the front lines of reason and trying to address the question of comprehensive immigration reform. Together, respectively, and parallel to each other, we have introduced, over and over again, comprehensive immigration reform. We have watched it be refuted and rebutted by those who really could have helped us solve even the problem of the surge that we are seeing crossing the border today. Let me, as well, thank Madam Speaker, who has been engaged in a very important way, and my friend and colleague Lucille Roybal-Allard, who has clearly been leading on this issue and many others. Let me thank the Judiciary Committee as well, where we came together as a team. Let me reinforce what has been said over and over again, and that is that Dreamers are Americans. Those who are beneficiaries of TPS, they have been here 20 to 30 years because of the difficulty of their home countries. They have, likewise, shown themselves to love this country. There was a period of time when Dreamers had joined in and went to the Iraq war. They were not citizens, but they went there because they loved this country so much. They came as a child, and they realized the wonderment of this country. It is important to convince those who believe that we are opening the doors and that we are reckless. Let me be very clear. Besides the Immigration and Nationality Act that is already in existence, there are very clear parameters on dealing with people who are felons or a threat to national security, individuals who have committed DUIs, those who have misdemeanors. There are clear parameters of ensuring that the Nation is protected. But, as well, there is dignity and human rights. There is also the question of what investment in dollars you will lose, what you will throw away, $460 billion from the national GDP over the decade from 685,000 workers--in my own State, $8 billion annually in the State GDP. Immigrants are in the fabric of our society. We are immigrant and nonimmigrant. All of us have come from that history. Mine is different, having been brought here by, meaning those who are of African American heritage, as slaves. 386,300 immigrants are eligible under the American Dream and Promise Act, and 120,000 live in Harris County. But this is the story that I want to tell and dwell on. A Dreamer died trying to rescue Hurricane Harvey victims. That is Alonso Guillen, who came to help those in the darkest moments of our region, during Hurricane Harvey, the greatest and most significant disaster.

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her courtesy. He came from Lufkin, Texas. He loved Texas football and country music. He had fundraisers for any manner of needs in his area. When he saw the devastation and the people in water in Harris County, and we were in 51 trillion gallons of water, he came, with a little boat and a friend. He didn't ask whether they were immigrant or nonimmigrant, Dreamer or non-Dreamer, what their background was. As they were in the water, as they were on their rooftops, as they were desperate without food, he came. Tragically, his family had come to, ultimately, find him floating in the water, when his boat had toppled and, we believe, had been impacted by the wires in the water. This is the face of Dreamers. This is the face of those who would benefit from temporary protective status coming from Nepal, from El Salvador, and from countries that are under major devastation. Many times, there is crime in America, and I understand that. But people don't imagine what it is to flee from the natural disasters that these individuals have fled from, to have no relief from the government, and to compound that with the violence that is going on, knowing so much violence. I stand here today to ask for rational thought. With a multitude of organizations, I want to raise up one, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. It doesn't come lightly to this question. I would argue that, had we passed comprehensive immigration reform 10 years ago, 15 years ago, the question of surging across the border would not be an issue. Let me also be clear that we have built barriers across the border for more than a decade. I remember giving huge sums of money to ensure it, in certain spaces. What we are saying now is that that is not a sole solution. The solution is regularizing individuals with the safeguards of this legislation. I would hope my colleagues, Republicans and Democrats, as Americans, understand that this Nation was built with the sweat and tears and love of immigrants. Every American, except Native Americans, can point to coming from somewhere else, no matter what condition they were in when they came. I ask our colleagues to support this legislation, H.R. 6, because it is the American thing to do. Madam Speaker, as a senior member of the Committees on the Judiciary and on Homeland Security, and a representative of a state on the southern border, I rise in strong support of the rule governing debate of H.R. 6, the ``American Dream and Promise Act of 2019,'' and the underlying legislation. The American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 establishes a roadmap to U.S. citizenship for (1) immigrant youth and (2) current or potential holders of (a) temporary protected status (TPS) or (b) deferred enforced departure (DED). Ensuring a path to earned citizenship is a non-negotiable principle for me and the sine qua non of meaningful immigration reform legislation. Indeed, providing a path to earned access to citizenship has been a central feature of every comprehensive immigration reform bill I have co-sponsored or sponsored in the Congress since 2007 when I became Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and introduced the ``Save America Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, (H.R. 1525),'' which I have reintroduced in each succeeding Congress. Like H.R. 6, Section 501 of my legislation provides a path to earned legalization status to those undocumented immigrants who have resided in the United States for 5 years and meet other eligibility requirements. Madam Speaker, as we stand today on the precipice of passing the American Dream and Promise Act of 2019, I am thinking of the hundreds of thousands of young immigrants whose lives will be changed for the better by keeping our promise to them, so they can realize their dreams and making America better, stronger, and more prosperous. And at this moment, I am thinking of Alonso Guillen, an heroic DREAMER who lived in my congressional district, and who came to the United States from Mexico as a child and died when his boat capsized while he was rescuing survivors of the flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey in the Houston area. That is the type of courage, honor, and commitment to service we are talking when we speak of DREAMERS. Madam Speaker, Title I of H.R. 6, the Dream Act of 2019, contains provisions regarding relief for immigrant youth. Title II of the bill, American Promise Act of 2019, contains provisions related to persons eligible Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforcement Departure; the third and final title contains general provisions that apply to both Titles I & II). Madam Speaker, I support H.R. 6 because it keeps America's word to the more than 800,000 young people we asked to come out of the shadows and walk proudly and unashamedly as legitimate members of the American community. The legislation does this by providing conditional permanent resident (CPR) status and a roadmap to lawful permanent resident (LPR) status and, eventually, earned U.S. citizenship for immigrant youth who entered the U.S. before age 18, have four or more years of residency, and graduated from high school (or the equivalent). H.R. 6 also provides an opportunity to apply for LPR status for people who currently have or who may be eligible for TPS or DED and who have three or more years of residency. Madam Speaker, individuals who are eligible for protection under the bill have lived in the United States for much of their lives; the average Dreamer came to the United States at the age of 8, while the average TPS- or DED-eligible person arrived in 1997. Without permanent protections such as those in H.R. 6, these immigrants' and their families' futures in the United States--as well as the fiscal and economic contributions they make--are at risk. Passing this legislation is the right thing to do and now is the time to do it; in fact, it is long overdue. I am mindful also Madam Speaker that in addition to helping restore America's reputation as the most welcoming nation on earth, the legislation the House will pass also positions America to better compete and win in the global economy of the 21st century. According to expert studies, including one by the Center for American Progress, ending deferred action for childhood arrivals would result in a loss of $460.3 billion from the national GDP over the ensuing decade and would remove an estimated 685,000 workers from the nation's economy and workforce at a time when more, not fewer, workers are desperately needed. And 10 states, including my home state of Texas, would stand to lose more than $8 billion annually in state GDP. Madam Speaker, immigrants eligible for protection under H.R. 6 are part of Texas's social fabric. Texas is home to 386,300 immigrants who are eligible for protection under the Dream and Promise Act, 112,000 of whom reside in Harris County. These individuals live with 845,300 family members and among those family members, 178,700 are U.S.-born citizen children. Dreamers in Texas who are eligible for protection under the bill arrived in the United States at the average age of 8. TPS- and DED-eligible immigrants in Texas who would be eligible for protection under H.R. 6 have on average lived in the United States since 1996. Immigrants eligible for the Dream and Promise Act own 43,500 homes in Texas and pay $340,500,000 in annual mortgage payments. Eligible immigrants in Texas and their households contribute $2,234,800,000 in federal taxes and $1,265,200,000 in state and local taxes each year. Annually, these households generate $10,519,000,000 in spending power in Texas and help power the national economy. Madam Speaker, during general debate on H.R. 6, I will have more to discuss about the salient features of this long overdue legislation that fulfills the American promise that all of its residents who share our values and respect for the Constitution and laws have an opportunity to realize their dreams. But in the limited time I have now, let me highlight some of the more important provisions of the American Dream and Promise Act. H.R. 6 helps young persons in the following ways: 1. Extends the length of conditional permanent resident (CPR) status from eight to ten years to give applicants more time to fulfill requirements; 2. Stays the removal of minors who are not yet eligible for relief but may become eligible in the future and who temporarily unenroll from school; 3. Permits people with CPR to obtain legal permanent resident (LPR) status without satisfying the employment, military, or educational tracks if their deportation would cause ``hardship'' to themselves or immediate family members (instead of ``extreme hardship''); 4. Includes apprenticeship programs as a qualifying education to obtain CPR status; 5. Eliminates the costly medical examination for applicants; 6. Establishes a fee ceiling of $495 for immigrant youth applying for CPR status; 7. Clarifies that people with CPR can access professional, commercial, and business licenses; 8. Permits people with CPR who obtain a certificate or credential from an area career and technical education school to obtain LPR status; and 9. Updates the criminal background bars and inadmissibility requirements. Additionally, H.R. 6 provides LPR status to CPR holders who (1) serve in the uniformed services for two years; (2) complete two years at or obtain a degree from an institution of higher education; or (3) work 75 percent of the time in CPR. Another important feature of this legislation is that makes it easier for states to provide in-state tuition to immigrant students and establishes that CPR-holders are eligible for federal loans, work study, services, and grants. For persons with TPS or DED status, the American Dream and Promise Act provides much needed relief. First, H.R. 6 provides LPR status for people with TPS or DED (and those who were eligible but did not apply) who apply within three years from the date of enactment if they (1) had at least three years of continuous residence (as well as residence since the date required the last time that the person's nation of origin was designated) and (2) were eligible for or had (a) TPS on September 25, 2016, or (b) DED on September 28, 2016. This protection covers national of 13 countries: El Salvador, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Liberia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. I believe similar protections should be extended to Guatemalan nationals in our country, which is why I will soon reintroduce the ``Continue American Safety Act,'' which extends TPS status to Guatemala and I look forward to working with my colleagues to achieve this outcome. Second, H.R. 6 classifies people with TPS or DED as inspected and admitted for the purposes of Immigration & Nationality Act (INA) section 245(a), making it easier to obtain LPR status through existing channels (e.g., a family-based petition). Third, H.R. 6 stays the removal or deportation of an a individual while an application is pending. Fourth, the American Dream and Promise Act establishes a fee ceiling of $1,140 for people with TPS or DED applying for LPR status. Fifth, the legislation provides greater transparency by requiring the Secretary of the Homeland Security (DHS) to provide an explanation for and report within three days of publishing notice to terminate TPS designation for certain nationals. Madam Speaker, H.R. 6 is exceptional legislation and a welcome development but is not a substitute for undertaking the comprehensive reform and modernization of the nation's immigration laws supported by the American people. Only Congress can do that and passage of H.R. 6 shows that this House has the will and is up to the challenge. Comprehensive immigration reform is desperately needed to ensure that Lady Liberty's lamp remains the symbol of a land that welcomes immigrants to a community of immigrants and does so in a manner that secures our borders and protects our homeland. Madam Speaker, let us build on the historic legislation that is the American Dream and Promise Act and seize the opportunity to pass legislation that secures our borders, preserves America's character as the most open and welcoming country in the history of the world, and will yield hundreds of billions of dollars in economic growth. I urge all Members to support the rule governing debate of H.R. 6 and the underlying bill.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 1379, the ``Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2019'' (PAHPAI), which increases our essential efforts to ensure the United States is prepared to respond to national disasters and crises. After the horrific terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and the preceding anthrax attacks, Congress recognized that the United States was underprepared to respond to public health emergencies and national disasters and passed the original Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act, Pub. L. 109-417 to address this weakness. PAHPAI was reauthorized in 2013, but in recent years, the threats to our country have changed, and PAHPAI must be updated to ensure that we are prepared to respond to increasing natural disasters, emerging infectious diseases, and chemical, biological, and nuclear attacks. S. 1379 has been adapted to meet the mounting challenges that face us today and those that will face our children tomorrow. As a biodefense bill, PAHPAI will further protect our country from internal and external terrorists. As a health care response bill, PAHPAI creates and ensures coordinated healthcare efforts in the face of natural disasters such as hurricanes. This bill also addresses the nation's need for pandemic preparedness. Texas has experienced pandemics first hand--with the first diagnosed case of Ebola in the United States in 2014. Thomas Eric Duncan after traveling from Africa to visit family members in Dallas, Texas became ill. He went to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas for care but was not admitted after presenting with a 103-degree temperature, and Ebola symptoms. At the time the CDC had alerted all doctors, hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies with alerts to screen all patients for Ebola symptoms. Mr. Duncan's Ebola symptoms worsened over the days following his visit to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, and he returned by ambulance to the hospital and only then was he finally admitted for treatment. By that time his condition had worsened, and Mr. Duncan died from Ebola. His death was a tragedy and the two nurses who were infected while trying to care for him are heroes. Two years later, in 2016, the Zika Virus pandemic reached Texas carried by mosquitoes. This disease attacked babies while developing in their mother's womb, which destroyed brain tissue, resulting in severe brain and cranial deformities. Houston, Texas, has a tropical climate with many climatic similarities with other states along the Gulf Coast, parts of Central and South America as well as the Caribbean. Tropical climates are hospitable to mosquitoes that carry the Zika Virus. I have shared concerns among Federal, state, and local agency officials regarding a need to have a plan to address future pandemics our nation may face. This bill will pave the way for much needed work in pandemic preparedness. PAHPAI will ensure that more health care professionals can be hired and trained to prioritize vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. To incentivize and protect practitioners, this bill will also provide health care professionals who volunteer after natural disasters with liability coverage. To support disaster workers and devastated communities, PAHPAI will also ensure the availability of health care supplies by stocking the Strategic National Stockpiles, located across the United States, with vaccines, gloves, masks, and more. PAHPAI also renews and increases funding to the BioShield Special Reserve Fund and Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), which is invaluable to our response capabilities. S. 1379 is essential to ensuring that the United States is prepared to provide quality care to those in need after devastating events. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting S. 1379 to establish and strengthen the nation's emergency preparedness in the face of health crises and national disasters.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. I thank the gentlewoman from California, and I acknowledge all the dynamic leadership that has generated where we are today, including all the sponsors whose names I recognized earlier and, of course, the magnificent persons who have met with us over and over again, who met with me. I remember the roundtable that I had of Dreamers in Houston, and their stories are powerful. Let me say to my bipartisan friends, friends from Texas, let us work together. One gentleman was up speaking about the need for Border Patrol and CBP. As someone who has introduced comprehensive immigration reform, as a former ranking member of the Judiciary Committee's Immigration Subcommittee, I can tell you that we are ready to work. That work, of course, is done in the Homeland Security Committee. Let's fund and write the legislation for our leader there, Chairman Thompson, to be able to provide the resources that CBP is asking for, which the administration is not giving to them, and that is more staff, more health facilities, better physical plants, and more judges to help with the asylum cases. I am ready to work. Today, we have a job to do. We have a job to do for the 386,300 immigrants who are eligible in my State, the same State that my colleagues represent. These individuals live with 845,300 family members. Interestingly, they provide some $340 million in mortgage payments, $2 trillion in Federal taxes, and $1 trillion in State and local taxes. We are looking at people who are working. Let me also indicate that the economic opportunities for these individuals are enormous. One thing I want to indicate is that it is not DACA that is driving people. The surge is being driven by the violence in El Salvador and other places, not by DACA. It is also being driven by wrong-headed State legislators or State officials like the Texas attorney general, Ken Paxton, who threatened a lawsuit, which he did, if they didn't stop DACA. When they stopped DACA, they put millions of young people in jeopardy. They even ignored the tragedy of Alonso, who lost his life coming down to Houston, in Harris County, to save people who were suffering from Hurricane Harvey. Which of us on this floor went down to try and save anyone? Who sacrificed and lost their lives? What about the millions of young people who are doctors and lawyers and teachers in our districts or the paramedic whom I met in my roundtable discussion who is saving lives every day? These false premises are killing us because we are the land of laws and the land of immigrants. I am reminded of the Statue of Liberty. Let's pass this bill. Let's grant TPS. Let's be Americans who love this country and value the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the equality of all people. Madam Speaker, as a senior member of the Committees on the Judiciary and on Homeland Security, and a representative of a state on the southern border, I rise in strong support of the rule governing debate of H.R. 6, the ``American Dream and Promise Act of 2019,'' and the underlying legislation. Today's debate and consideration of this bill is a historic step for this vital piece of legislation. The American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 establishes a roadmap to U.S. citizenship for (1) immigrant youth and current or potential holders of (a) temporary protected status (TPS) or (b) deferred enforced departure (DED). Today's vote is not the end of the work we have to do. It is the beginning. We are here on behalf of all of the Dreamers all across the country and in each of our Congressional districts. For example, in the Eighteenth Congressional District, there are 13,600 Dreamers eligible for DACA protections. I have met with these individuals and heard the fear in their voices as they speak about the jeopardy they feel as a result of their unprotected status. Just a few weeks ago, I met with recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals--our nation's dreamers. This was one of many events I have had that engages residents of Houston. It is through these events that I meet advocates on this vital issue. I think of my good friend Cesar Espinoza, whom I know through a group called FIEL. Cesar has a younger brother and a younger sister. His brother was able to get citizenship because as a minor, his citizenship was automatic when his mother became a citizen. But Cesar himself is a recipient of DACA and so is his sister. With the President's rescission of this program, he has placed in peril families like Cesar's family. The Dream and Promise Act would add certainty to the lives of these individuals so that they can pursue their lives without having to account for a circumstances placed on them by their parents. Today's vote represents the first time that the Dream Act is being considered. It is the product of years of determination, grit, and perseverance. The bill is supported by the business community as well as human rights groups. The DREAM Act is supported by traditionally conservative groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the CATO institute. The bill is one of the most significant pieces of pro-immigrant legislation to be voted on--and passed--in years, and many advocates across the country spent the day watching the progress of the bill through committee. When we considered this bill in the Judiciary Committee, it was a markup that lasted over 8 hours. During that time, we did not consider any legislation that would strengthen the bill consistent with its charge to bring peace of mind and security to our nation's Dreamers. Instead, we sat there as members of the Committee from the other side of the aisle, tried to deny the country and the nation's hundreds of thousands of Dreamers the peace of mind that they are owed. Under the Dream Act, undocumented immigrants who were under the age of 18 upon arrival in the United States and have lived in the country for at least four years, would be eligible for a conditional permanent resident (CPR) status if they are enrolled in secondary school or have a high school diploma, equivalent, or industry recognized credential, and pass a background check. Under this bill, 1.8 million immigrants will be immediately eligible for this CPR status. Ensuring a path to earned citizenship is a non-negotiable principle for me and the sine qua non of meaningful immigration reform legislation. Indeed, providing a path to earned access to citizenship has been a central feature of every comprehensive immigration reform bill I have co-sponsored or sponsored in the Congress since 2007 when I became Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and introduced the ``Save America Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, (H.R. 1525),'' which I have reintroduced in each succeeding Congress. Like H.R. 6, Section 501 of my legislation provides a path to earned legalization status to those undocumented immigrants who have resided in the United States for 5 years and meet other eligibility requirements. Madam Speaker, as we stand today on the precipice of passing the American Dream and Promise Act of 2019, I am thinking of the hundreds of thousands of young immigrants whose lives will be changed for the better by keeping our promise to them, so they can realize their dreams and making America better, stronger, and more prosperous. And at this moment, I am thinking of Alonso Guillen, an heroic DREAMER who lived in my congressional district, and who came to the United States from Mexico as a child and died when his boat capsized while he was rescuing survivors of the flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey in the Houston area. That is the type of courage, honor, and commitment to service we are talking when we speak of DREAMERS. Madam Speaker, Title I of H.R. 6, the Dream Act of 2019, contains provisions regarding relief for immigrant youth. Title II of the bill, American Promise Act of 2019, contains provisions related to persons eligible Temporary Protected Stats (TPS) or Deferred Enforcement Departure; the third and final title contains general provisions that apply to both Titles I & II). Madam Speaker, I support H.R. 6 because it keeps America's word to the more than 800,000 young people we asked to come out of the shadows and walk proudly and unashamedly as legitimate members of the American community. The legislation does this by providing conditional permanent resident (CPR) status and a roadmap to lawful permanent resident (LPR) status and, eventually, earned U.S. citizenship for immigrant youth who entered the U.S. before age 18, have four or more years of residency, and graduated from high school (or the equivalent). H.R. 6 also provides an opportunity to apply for LPR status for people who currently have or who may be eligible for TPS or DED and who have three or more years of residency. Madam Speaker, individuals who are eligible for protection under the bill have lived in the United States for much of their lives; the average Dreamer came to the United States at the age of 8, while the average TPS- or DED-eligible person arrived in 1997. Without permanent protections such as those in H.R. 6, these immigrants' and their families' futures in the United States--as well as the fiscal and economic contributions they make--are at risk. Passing this legislation is the right thing to do and now is the time to do it; in fact, it is long overdue. I am mindful also Madam Speaker that in addition to helping restore America's reputation as the most welcoming nation on earth, the legislation the House will pass also positions America to better compete and win in the global economy of the 21st century. According to expert studies, including one by the Center for American Progress, ending deferred action for childhood arrivals would result in a loss of $460.3 billion from the national GDP over the ensuing decade and would remove an estimated 685,000 workers from the nation's economy and workforce at a time when more, not fewer, workers are desperately needed. And 10 states, including my home state of Texas, would stand to lose more than $8 billion annually in state GDP. Madam Speaker, immigrants eligible for protection under H.R. 6 are part of Texas's social fabric. Texas is home to 386,300 immigrants who are eligible for protection under the Dream and Promise Act, 112,000 of whom reside in Harris County. These individuals live with 845,300 family members and among those family members, 178,700 are U.S.-born citizen children. Dreamers in Texas who are eligible for protection under the bill arrived in the United States at the average age of 8. TPS- and DED-eligible immigrants in Texas who would be eligible for protection under H.R. 6 have on average lived in the United States since 1996. Immigrants eligible for the Dream and Promise Act own 43,500 homes in Texas and pay $340,500,000 in annual mortgage payments. Eligible immigrants in Texas and their households contribute $2,234,800,000 in federal taxes and $1,265,200,000 in state and local taxes each year. Annually, these households generate $10,519,000,000 in spending power in Texas and help power the national economy. Madam Speaker, during general debate on H.R. 6, I will have more to discuss about the salient features of this long overdue legislation that fulfills the American promise that all of its residents who share our values and respect for the Constitution and laws have an opportunity to realize their dreams. But in the limited time I have now, let me highlight some of the more important provisions of the American Dream and Promise Act. H.R. 6 helps young persons in the following ways: 1. Extends the length of conditional permanent resident (CPR) status from eight to ten years to give applicants more time to fulfill requirements; 2. Stays the removal of minors who are not yet eligible for relief but may become eligible in the future and who temporarily unenroll from school; 3. Permits people with CPR to obtain legal permanent resident (LPR) status without satisfying the employment, military, or educational tracks if their deportation would cause ``hardship'' to themselves or immediate family members (instead of ``extreme hardship''); 4. Includes apprenticeship programs as a qualifying education to obtain CPR status; 5. Eliminates the costly medical examination for applicants; 6. Establishes a fee ceiling of $495 for immigrant youth applying for CPR status; 7. Clarifies that people with CPR can access professional, commercial, and business licenses; 8. Permits people with CPR who obtain a certificate or credential from an area career and technical education school to obtain LPR status; and 9. Updates the criminal background bars and inadmissibility requirements. Additionally, H.R. 6 provides LPR status to CPR holders who (1) serve in the uniformed services for two years; (2) complete two years at or obtain a degree from an institution of higher education; or (3) work 75 percent of the time in CPR. Another important feature of this legislation is that makes it easier for states to provide in-state tuition to immigrant students and establishes that CPR-holders are eligible for federal loans, work study, services, and grants. I mentioned earlier that we sat through a marathon session of the Judiciary Committee. That's because some on the committee could not bring themselves to see our nation's Dreamers as anything other than criminals. They see the act that brought them here with their parents as nothing more than a crime. Indeed if you did not know better, and you listened to the parade of horribles put forth by the other side. You would think that if we merely deported all of our nation's Dreamers--hardworking young people seeking to make their lives in America--all crime in the nation would stop. In Committee we heard all sorts of dramatic stories. We heard of gang members who would feel liberated to take advantage of this program. We heard this was amnesty. We heard that this bill perpetrates a crisis. We heard this would enable a humanitarian crisis. We have heard that this legislation was a disgrace. We heard horror stories of criminals who would take the Dream Act to serve their own ends. This is wrong. They cannot see that these children are American in every way except for that piece of paper. For persons with TPS or DED status, the American Dream and Promise Act provides much needed relief. First, H.R. 6 provides LPR status for people with TPS or DED (and those who were eligible but did not apply) who apply within three years from the date of enactment if they (1) had at least three years of continuous residence (as well as residence since the date required the last time that the person's nation of origin was designated) and (2) were eligible for or had (a) TPS on September 25, 2016, or (b) DED on September 28, 2016. This protection covers nationals of 13 countries: El Salvador, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Liberia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. I believe similar protections should be extended to Guatemalan nationals in our country, which is why I will soon reintroduce the ``Continue American Safety Act,'' which extends TPS status to Guatemala and I look forward to working with my colleagues to achieve this outcome. Second, H.R. 6 classifies people with TPS or DED as inspected and admitted for the purposes of Immigration & Nationality Act (INA) section 245(a), making it easier to obtain LPR status through existing channels (e.g., a family-based petition). Third, H.R. 6 stays the removal or deportation of an individual while an application is pending. Fourth, the American Dream and Promise Act establishes a fee ceiling of $1,140 for people with TPS or DED applying for LPR status. Fifth, the legislation provides greater transparency by requiring the Secretary of the Homeland Security (DHS) to provide an explanation for and report within three days of publishing notice to terminate TPS designation for certain nationals. I have one the gentleman from North Carolina remarked on the bill--he indicated that legislation with great names does not make it great legislation and we should not pass a bill that does not have a chance of passage in the Senate. We cannot let the fact that this House of Representatives has passed countless pieces of legislation and that they have gone to the graveyard in the Senate. Acting for the people, in order to deliver a better deal, House Democrats have passed legislation to strengthen our democracy, with H.R. 1, the For the People Act. We have passed legislation to end anti-LGBT discrimination with H.R. 5, the Equality Act. We have passed a nonbinding resolution to pass the full Mueller Report. We have passed legislation to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, landmark legislation which--through policy reforms, interstate cooperation and grant allocation--has been pivotal in providing a national response to protecting half of the population. And, as this week dawned, it did so with flags at half-staff, a recognition of the 12 people who were shot and killed in just the latest incident of mass shootings. That is why the House of Representatives passed H.R. 8, the first piece of gun safety legislation, the first piece of gun safety legislation to pass the House in a quarter-century. Put simply we cannot accept Senate inaction as a reason not to do anything. The Senate must act for the American People, in not just passing the bills I just mentioned above, but also passing the Dream and Promise Act. Indeed, in a recent public opinion poll, protections for Dreamers received 83% support from Americans. Madam Speaker, H.R. 6 is exceptional legislation and a welcome development but is not a substitute for undertaking the comprehensive reform and modernization of the nation's immigration laws supported by the American people. Only Congress can do that and passage of H.R. 6 shows that this House has the will and is up to the challenge. Comprehensive immigration reform is desperately needed to ensure that Lady Liberty's lamp remains the symbol of a land that welcomes immigrants to a community of immigrants and does so in a manner that secures our borders and protects our homeland. Madam Speaker, let us build on the historic legislation that is the American Dream and Promise Act and seize the opportunity to pass legislation that secures our borders, preserves America's character as the most open and welcoming country in the history of the world, and will yield hundreds of billions of dollars in economic growth. I urge all Members to support the rule governing debate of H.R. 6 and the underlying bill.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2157, the Supplemental Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2019. This bill is a comprehensive emergency disaster supplemental bill I to help meet the urgent needs of American communities still struggling to recover from recent hurricanes, typhoons, wildfires, floods and other natural disasters. This bill would have been signed into law much earlier, had it not been thwarted by Republican House Members from the 21st Congressional District of Texas and from the 4th Congressional District of Kentucky who deprived the bill of the unanimous consent needed for passage. This robust disaster package includes $17.2 billion in long overdue emergency spending for disaster-stricken communities across our nation and territories. It builds on the legislation that passed the House in January-- including an additional $3 billion to address the urgent needs of those living in the Midwest (Nebraska, Missouri, South Dakota, Iowa and Kansas) and South (Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas) who have been devastated by flooding and tornadoes in recent months. This bill also provides some additional disaster assistance to communities continuing to recover from Hurricane Harvey. House Democrats are standing up and acting to help communities across the United States and in Puerto Rico, Texas, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa recover and heal from devastating disasters--these communities should not be held hostage because of this administration's benign neglect toward Puerto Rico. Senate Republicans should come to their senses and join Democrats in advancing this bill and speeding relief to millions of Americans. Included in this legislation is critical funding for: Infrastructure and community development to rebuild our transportation systems and repair housing, businesses and public infrastructure; Farmers and rural communities to bolster the farmer safety net and restore disaster-damaged lands; Social services, mental health, education and dislocated worker initiatives to invest in the well-being of children, workers and families in disaster-struck areas--including providing critical nutrition and Medicaid assistance for Puerto Rico and U.S. territories; DOD and Veterans Affairs to repair and rebuild hurricane-damaged bases and facilities; and Disaster resiliency to mitigate damage and costs from future disasters which are becoming more frequent as a result of climate change. American families hit by natural disasters deserve to know that (their government will stand with them throughout the road to recovery. Democrats are committed to delivering this assistance to our fellow Americans as they work to rebuild their lives and their communities. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2157, the ``Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2019,'' provides much needed and long overdue relief to Americans in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Texans who are still suffering from the ravages of Hurricanes Maria, Irma, and Harvey as well as provide relief to victims of Hurricane Michael which struck Alabama, Florida, and Georgia in October 2018 and to the victims of the Midwestern floods. Hurricane Harvey ranks as the second-most costly hurricane to hit the U.S. mainland since 1900, causing more than $125 billion in damage. Our residents need more money for single-family home repairs, whether it is disaster recovery or general housing dollars and I will continue to strive on behalf of the neighborhoods and on behalf of hard-working homeowners who deserve these funds, so they can continue on with their lives and return to their homes. Victims of natural disasters are entitled to know who to contact when issues related to FEMA arise and to be assured that their questions are answered, and complaints addressed. Allocating funding for measures such as Electricity Delivery for necessary expenses related to the consequences of Hurricanes Harvey, Maria, Irma, and Super Typhoon Yutu, is vital to negate the effects of these catastrophic events from significantly worsening. Hospitals, first-responders, and a number of other vital institutions that help our communities recover from the after-effects of natural disasters need access to electricity. Moreover, with the severity of natural disasters and the ranging of their locations, we must be proactive in our preparation for recovery. Alternatively, water is the most essential resource known to man. A human can go for more than three weeks without food--Mahatma Gandhi survived 21 days of complete starvation--but water is a different story. At least 60 percent of the adult body is made of it and every living cell in the body needs it to keep functioning. Under extreme conditions an adult can lose 1 to 1.5 liters of sweat per hour and if that lost water is not replaced, the total volume of body fluid can fall quickly and, most dangerously, blood volume may drop. We do not have the luxury of ignoring hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, mudslides, tornados or other natural disasters. With these events it is not a question of ``if'', but ``when.'' For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2157.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2940, which strengthens the ``Temporary Assistance for Needy-Families'' program. Specifically, H.R. 2940 extends the authorizations for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program (TANF) and the Child Care Entitlement to States (CCES) through September 30, 2019. The legislation passed by Congress to end the Trump Shutdown authorizes the TANF program through June 30, 2019. H.R. 2940 is necessary to ensure that the Department of Health and Human Services has the authority to pay fourth quarter allotments to states, tribes, and territories on time and in full, preventing any interruption of benefits to low-income parents and children. TANF is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and features four program goals: provide assistance to needy families so that children can be cared for in their own homes; reduce the dependency of needy parents by promoting job preparation, work and marriage; prevent and reduce unplanned pregnancies among 1 single young adults; and encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families. Under TANF, the federal government gives states a fixed block grant totaling $16.5 billion each year. This annual amount has not increased for inflation over the past two decades-and now covers only two-thirds of the purchasing power when it was created. TANF and SNAP are essential to provide nutritional and financial assistance to the nation's neediest families and children. Nearly half (48 percent) (3,375,666) of Texan children live in low- income families which is significantly higher than the national level of 41 percent. Texas needs to increase the amount of funding for needy families to support their livelihoods and prosperity. Many TANF families struggle with multiple barriers to self- sufficiency, such as disabilities, mental health issues, domestic violence and substance use disorders. As a result, these families may not always be able to meet the full participation requirements. States and counties should be given the flexibility to provide partial credit to these families with special needs. TANF funding should be increased annually by an amount commensurate with the rate of inflation to ensure that the program's actual value does not decrease each year. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) in Texas has supported 57,201 Texans in FY2018. Texas has reported March 2019 TANF expenditures of $3,371,717 for 18,195 cases. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Texas is listed as one of nine (9) states that spend less than 10 percent of TANF funds. Another families program that falls under assistance for needy is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides nutritional assistance to children and families. Texas has spent $357,125,771 over the span of 1,377,384 cases in April 2019. As of April 2019, Houston has 1,557 SNAP cases, which provides services to 3,168 people, of which 252 are elderly and 1,461 are children. In total, SNAP has funded $350,743 in food assistance as of April 2019 in Houston. Long-term reauthorization and adequate funding for this safety-net program are critical for counties, which invest over $58 billion annually in human services. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 2940 to support the extension of these critical programs for our needy families and children.

Ms. JACKSON LEE

Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I was saddened to stand alongside Congresswoman McBath to ask for a moment of silence for yet another innocent group of Americans who died. We must gather in this House and demand the Senate to pass our legislation on gun safety, but we must also stand together against making legal access for anyone to have a silencer. We just have to do better as relates to the lives of Americans. I stand, as well, to support the passage of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, very important to those of us in Texas. As I watched this past week all of the disasters that were happening, it was sad. It was disappointing to know that there were Members on the floor objecting to this bill. In particular, Houston, Texas, impacted by Hurricane Harvey, needed this money for its water treatment, its reimbursement, freshwater, and its sewage treatment. In addition, the people in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico territories are desperate for resources. Many of us who visited know that they are long overdue. Finally, I am supporting the extension of TANF, the very important nutrition legislation that provides for our children. It is expiring on June 30. We have to do better. We cannot, in essence, yield to people who believe that these kinds of solutions should be over.