Ruben Kihuen

Mr. KIHUEN

Mr. KIHUEN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember the life of Stacee Etcheber. She attended the Route 91 festival in Las Vegas on October 1. I would like to read a poem written for Stacee by a friend:

Mr. KIHUEN

Mr. KIHUEN. Madam Speaker, today I rise to remember the life of Christiana Duarte. Christiana attended the Route 91 Festival in Las Vegas on October 1. She had recently graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in business marketing. While in college, she interned with the Arizona Wildcats and was a member of the sorority Sigma Kappa. After graduation Christiana worked for the Los Angeles Kings as a fan services associate. Friends and family remember Christiana as a bright, beautiful young woman who was full of life and energy. I would like to extend my condolences to Christiana Duarte's family and friends. Please know that the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the whole country grieve with you.

Mr. KIHUEN

Mr. KIHUEN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember the life of Austin Davis, who visited Las Vegas to attend the Route 91 concert on October 1. Austin was an only child who was very close to his parents. He lived in Riverside, California, and worked as a pipefitter. During his free time, Austin loved to play softball. All of those who knew him remember Austin for his contagious smile and hardworking nature. I extend my condolences to Austin Davis' family and his friends. Please know that the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the whole country grieve with you.

Mr. KIHUEN

Mr. KIHUEN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember the life of Thomas Day, Jr. Thomas loved spending time with his four kids, Whitney, Candice, Kelsey, and Nolan, and his two grandkids. He loved boating with his family, cheering for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and coaching Little League baseball. He worked as an estimator for Portrait Construction for more than 20 years and was very personable and friendly with everyone he met. His children's friends called him ``Daddy Day''. Thomas will be remembered by all those who knew him as a fun-loving and amazing family man. I would like to extend my condolences to Thomas Day's family and friends, and please note that the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the whole country grieve with you.

Mr. KIHUEN

Mr. KIHUEN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember the life of Denise Cohen. Denise was a loving mother of two. She worked as a property manager in Santa Barbara, California, and always made everyone around her feel good. She attended the Route 91 music festival in Las Vegas with her boyfriend, Bo, to celebrate her 56th birthday. Denise was a huge country music fan, and she loved concerts and was a vibrant and positive woman. She is remembered by her son, Jeff, as a strong and beautiful person who made a difference in the lives of the people she knew. She always had a vibrant and positive attitude. I would like to extend my condolences to Denise Cohen's family and friends. Please know that the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the whole country grieve with you.

Mr. KIHUEN

Mr. KIHUEN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember the life of Andrea Castilla. Andrea was a daughter, sister, and a friend. She went to the Route 91 music festival in Las Vegas to celebrate her 28th birthday with her friends, her family, and her boyfriend, Derek. Derek had planned to propose to Andrea that night. She had a passion for makeup and hoped to use this passion to help cancer patients feel beautiful. Andrea will always be remembered for her free spirit and positive outlook. I would like to extend my condolences to Andrea's family and friends. Please note that the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the whole country grieve with you.

Mr. KIHUEN

Mr. KIHUEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak about the Expanding Access to Capital for Rural Job Creators Act. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman and ranking member for their leadership in including this important and bipartisan piece of legislation in the package the House is considering today. Nevadans and all Americans deserve the opportunity to have a good job that will help them provide for their families. Unfortunately, rural communities across the country have been hit particularly hard by shifts in population as people move to bigger cities in search of employment opportunities. The changing demographics have made it harder for small businesses in these areas to get started and to survive. Far too many Nevadans, especially in our rural areas, have been left out and left behind from the economic growth we have seen in other areas of the country. I am proud to sponsor the Expanding Access to Capital for Rural Job Creators Act, which will help expand economic opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses in Nevada's rural areas. This bill will help identify and examine the unique challenges that these businesses face when trying to secure access to capital. By supporting job creators in our rural communities, we can create a path to good-paying jobs for all Nevadans and help make sure that they have the tools to work towards a better life for themselves and their families. Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this piece of legislation.

Mr. KIHUEN

Mr. KIHUEN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember the life of Sandy Casey. Sandy had a great impact on the students and family she worked with as a special education teacher at Manhattan Beach Middle School. She was passionate about her work and was committed to continuing her own learning. Sandy would take on new projects that came her way, and she was devoted to all of her students. Sandy attended Route 91 Harvest Music Festival in Las Vegas with her fiance, Chris, and her friend. She is remembered by her community as a fun-loving, free spirit who was a compassionate and loyal friend. Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my condolences to Sandy Casey's family and friends. Please know that the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the whole country grieve with you.

Mr. KIHUEN

Mr. KIHUEN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember the life of Denise Burditus. Denise was a mother of two and a grandmother of three. She was looking forward to the birth of her fourth grandchild. She had recently left her job, after 30 years of working at a bank, so she could return to school and spend more time with her grandchildren. She went to the Route 91 Harvest music festival in Las Vegas with her high school sweetheart and husband of 32 years, Tony Burditus. Denise is remembered by her friends and family for being full of life, for always being positive, and for her devotion to her family. I extend my condolences to Denise Burditus' family and friends. Please know that the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the whole country grieve with you.

Mr. KIHUEN

Mr. KIHUEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise to briefly speak about H.R. 3326, the World Bank Accountability Act, which the House is voting on this afternoon. Mr. Chairman, last summer, I joined my Democratic and Republican colleagues in supporting H.R. 3326 in the Financial Services Committee to authorize the United States to participate in replenishing the International Development Association, the IDA. However, Democrats made it clear during consideration of this bill in committee that our support depended on changes to certain provisions. Specifically, we believe that prohibitions in the bill put the U.S. funding at risk and make it too easy for the administration to cut off funding for vulnerable nations. Mr. Chairman, I am disappointed that my Republican colleagues have chosen not to uphold our agreement and address these concerns. Given the recent events and remarks by President Trump degrading developing nations and the people who live in them, we should be concerned about giving the administration this power. It is critical that Congress provide moral leadership and demonstrate to the world that the United States will not ignore or punish countries that are struggling with poverty or conflict. We must send a strong signal that the United States Congress respects people of all backgrounds and nationalities. Mr. Chairman, for these reasons, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Mr. KIHUEN

Mr. KIHUEN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember the life of Candice Bowers. Candice was a single mother to her three children: Kurtis, Katie, and her recently adopted daughter, Ariel. She was a hardworking waitress who was selfless and always ensured she was able to take care of her family. Candice had a loving heart, a big smile, and an infectious laugh. She went to the Route 91 music festival in Las Vegas with her best friend so she could take some rare time for herself. Candice was known for her strength, fierce loyalty, and generosity. She would give her last dollar to anyone who was in need. I would like to extend my condolences to Candice's family and friends. Please know that the city of Las Vegas and the whole country grieve with you.

Mr. KIHUEN

Mr. KIHUEN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember the life of Steven Berger, a loving son, brother, and father of three. Growing up in Wisconsin, Steven was active in many sports. At 6'6", Steven was a standout basketball player in high school and later played in college. Steven lived in Minnesota where he worked as a financial adviser and was a loving father to his three children. His friends and family describe him as charismatic, full of energy, and larger than life--the type of man who breathed life into every room. He was also an avid fisherman and loved talking about stocks and competitive sports. Steven traveled to the Route 91 Harvest music festival in Las Vegas with friends to celebrate his 44th birthday. Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my condolences to Steven Berger's family and friends. Please know that the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the whole country grieve with you.

Mr. KIHUEN

Mr. KIHUEN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember the life of Jack Beaton, a loving husband and father from Bakersfield, California. Jack traveled to the Route 91 music festival with his wife, Laurie, to celebrate their 23rd wedding anniversary. Jack died a hero, shielding Laurie from the gunfire. Laurie said Jack made her feel loved every single day. He was also a loving father to his two children. He always had a smile on his face and was a kid at heart. Jack was known as a hard worker who was always willing to give someone a helping hand. He was the type of person who had literally given someone the shirt off his back. His children's friends said that he, Jack, was a role model to them both as a father figure and as a best friend. I would like to extend my condolences to Jack Beaton's family and his friends. Please know that the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the whole country grieve with you.

Mr. KIHUEN

Mr. KIHUEN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember the life of Carrie Barnette, a woman who was known for her love of pickles, hummingbirds, and willingness to help others. Carrie loved country music, and she grew up listening to it at her grandparents' house. She frequently went to country music concerts and had traveled to the Route 91 Harvest music festival with her childhood friend, Jenn. Carrie was a lifelong Californian who had just celebrated her 10th anniversary as a culinary team member at Disney California Adventure in Anaheim. Carrie loved the children of her relatives and friends like her own, and friends say that she would have made a great mother. She also had the nickname of Aunt Carrie because all the children loved her. I would also like to extend my condolences to Carrie's family and friends. Please know that the city of Las Vegas, the State of Nevada, and the whole country grieve with you.

Mr. KIHUEN

Mr. KIHUEN. Madam Speaker, Wednesday marked the 1-month anniversary of the terrible shooting that happened in my hometown of Las Vegas. Today I rise to remember the life of Dorene Anderson from Anchorage, Alaska, a woman who was known for her kindness and her smile. Dorene was a loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, and friend who always went above and beyond for everyone in her life. Not only was she a dedicated mother to her two daughters, she was known as a mother to her community. Dorene loved hockey and was the treasurer of the Cowbell Crew, a nonprofit hockey organization that supported hockey at all levels. Her friends describe her as an all-around wonderful Alaskan who had a heart of gold, a person who was friendly to everyone. I would like to extend my condolences to Dorene's family and friends. Please know that the city of Las Vegas and the State of Nevada and the whole country grieve with you.

Mr. KIHUEN

Mr. KIHUEN. Mr. Speaker, today marks the 1-month anniversary of the terrible shooting that happened in my hometown, Las Vegas, on October 1. I rise to remember the life of Heather Alvarado, a woman who was known for her hugs, her love of hot pink, and her beautiful green eyes. Heather lived for her kids, Syrus, Albie, and Charlie, and had traveled to Las Vegas to attend the Route 91 concert with her daughter. Heather loved going on vacation with her family and spending time outdoors. She loved planning parties for her children and friends, including hosting elaborate Halloween parties every year. She was known for her caring nature and kindness. Heather's husband, Albert, said that she saw the good in everyone and would do almost anything to help others. I would like to extend my deepest condolences to Heather's friends and family. Please know that the city of Las Vegas and the State of Nevada and the whole country grieve with you.

Mr. KIHUEN

Mr. KIHUEN. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, I plan to speak on this floor about each victim who lost their life during the terrible shooting on October 1 in Las Vegas. My goal is to honor their lives and to ensure that they will never be forgotten. Today I rise to remember Hannah Ahlers, a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend, whose life was taken far too soon. Hannah lived in Beaumont, California, and had traveled to Las Vegas with her husband, Brian, and three other couples to attend the Route 91 Harvest music festival. Friends and family have described Hannah as a beautiful person inside and out, who was full of joy, and always went out of her way to help her friends and family. Her commitment to her friends, family, and community was felt by everyone. She could light up the room at any moment she walked in. Her father-in-law described her as a young Mary Tyler Moore. She was also an amazing and devoted mother to her three children, Briannah, Brice, and Hailey. Her kids' friends thought she was the cool mom, and they loved to be around her. She lived her life to the fullest, and enjoyed both the simple pleasures and outdoor thrills, like the skydiving community she was a part of. I would like to extend my deepest condolences to Hannah's friends and family. Please know that the city of Las Vegas in Nevada and the whole country grieve with you. This is a tragedy that should have never happened.

Mr. KIHUEN

Mr. KIHUEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the tragedy that happened in my home town of Las Vegas last Sunday, October 1. Last week, a horrific mass shooting took place in the community that I grew up in. Immediately when I heard the news on Sunday night, like so many people, I felt helpless, and I rushed to the hospital to see how I could help. This shooting was the deadliest in modern U.S. history: 58 innocent people have died, and over 500 were injured. The 58 innocent victims came from all walks of life. They came to Las Vegas from all over the United States of America. Some were there to celebrate their birthdays, their favorite country singer, a night out with friends and family, and even celebrating their wedding anniversaries. Even though these families will never get another Christmas, another Thanksgiving, or another birthday with their loved one, they will never forget them, and we won't either. As we grieve for those who were killed or injured, and pray for their families, I want to recognize the heroes who bravely and selflessly rushed to help: law enforcement officers and first responders, including some who were off duty and attending the concert, who ran toward the gunfire to protect the concertgoers and provide desperately needed care for victims; people at the concert who shielded those around them, gave them medical care, and led others to safety, exposing themselves to the hail of bullets while they tried to save others; people driving by who used their cars to help take shooting victims to the hospitals; strangers helping strangers; the healthcare professionals, doctors, nurses, support staff, and volunteers who have been working tirelessly around the clock to care for the more than 500 injured people; hospitality industry employees, who rushed to help however they could; and the Las Vegas businesses and residents, who have generously donated their money, time, and blood to help the victims. To all of these heroes, I say: Thank you. Thank you so much. Over the coming days and weeks, I plan to speak on this floor about each individual victim to honor their life and to tell their story. I will also be speaking out about what Congress needs to do to prevent another tragedy like this from happening. We should never forget the victims of October 1, 2017, but as we embark on the long process of healing, I am forever grateful for the incredible heart and spirit shown by the Las Vegas community. I have never been prouder to be a Las Vegan, and I have never been prouder to be a Nevadan, and I know that my city is and will always be Vegas Strong.

Mr. KIHUEN

Mr. KIHUEN. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to defeat the previous question so we can consider H.R. 3440, the Dream Act, introduced by my friend, Representative Roybal-Allard. Aside from being a Member of Congress, I am the proud son of a farmworker and a housekeeper. My family came to America when I was 8 years old, and they came here in pursuit of the American Dream. They came here because they knew that, in America, if you worked hard, sacrificed, played by the rules, stayed out of trouble, and got a good college education, that you could become anything or anyone because America had compassion, America had empathy, because America was the land of opportunity, and my parents wanted a piece of that land of opportunity. Less than 30 years later, their son, who came here with no money, no contacts, no friends, is a Member of the most powerful legislative body in the world. That is the American Dream. And when I got elected last year, in 2016, I became the first DREAMer in American history to get elected to this body, and also the first former undocumented immigrant to ever serve in this body. So when we are talking about the Dream Act, we are talking about real lives. We are talking about 800,000 young Americans, 800,000 young Americans who are going to our universities, our colleges, who are our teachers, our doctors. Some of them are protecting our country, our liberties, and our freedoms in the military. It is time for Congress to put their political games aside and start putting the interests of these young Americans first. There are currently, right now, a few DREAMers out on the lawn who are fasting because they want that opportunity at the American Dream, that opportunity that was given to me and my family, that opportunity that has been given to so many immigrant families for so many years because, look, let's face it, at the end of the day, unless you are Native American, we all come from somewhere else. We are all descendants of immigrants or immigrants ourselves. And it is not right for us to come here and then close the door behind us. That is not what America stands for. That goes against all American values. So I encourage my friends, forget about the tweets and the Facebook posts that you feel sorry for these DREAMers, that you love these DREAMers. If you really do, let's bring up that bill for a vote today, and I guarantee you that the votes are there so we can get it passed. At the end of the day, if we take away this DACA status from these young Americans, we are going to have a potentially close to $500 billion adverse economic impact. There are currently 3,200 entrepreneurs who are DREAMers. These DREAMers are paying taxes. We educated them K-12, and now we are telling them that they can't go to universities or colleges. That is un-American. That is not the America that I know. I encourage my friends today, on both sides of the aisle, Republican and Democrat, to come to the table and let's pass the Dream Act.

Mr. KIHUEN

Mr. KIHUEN. Mr. Chair, I thank the ranking member and the chairman for accepting my amendment. Mr. Chairman, veterans have made an incredible sacrifice for our country, and they deserve the highest quality treatment and care when they return to their civilian lives. The Department of Veterans Affairs has the obligation to provide critical services to veterans and ensure that America's veterans have access to high-quality and affordable healthcare in their communities. Recently, the VA decided not to renew its contract with the Ely Community Clinic in my district, and it is forcing veterans in Ely and the surrounding communities to rely solely on the Choice Program to access care. We owe it to our veterans not to use the Choice Program as a crutch, but to make the proper investment in the healthcare of our veterans and the healthcare that they deserve. Veterans have already fought for their country. They shouldn't have to fight to keep their VA clinic in Ely. The intention behind my amendment is to remind the VA that they have the responsibility to continue operating the healthcare clinic in Ely, Nevada, and to emphasize the importance of continuing to provide care in rural communities across the country. The Choice Program was not intended to allow the VA to shirk its responsibility for certain veterans; instead, it was supposed to help veterans who have nowhere else to turn. I was sent to Congress by the people of the Fourth Congressional District to fight for Nevada's veterans, and I will continue fighting to ensure that veterans in rural Nevada and communities across the country do not lose access to the VA and make sure that they receive the healthcare that they have earned and deserve.

Mr. KIHUEN

Mr. KIHUEN. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. KIHUEN. Mr. Chairman, my amendment strikes language in the bill that would prohibit the closure of the Yucca Mountain project, which includes the storage of high-level nuclear waste in my district. As you may know, in 1987, Nevada was targeted as our Nation's nuclear waste dump through the ``Screw Nevada'' bill. In the 30 years since the bill passed, Congress has wasted $3.7 billion of taxpayer money. Yucca Mountain sits in a seismically active area less than 100 miles away from Las Vegas, which holds an urban area with over 2 million residents. Mr. Chairman, just last week, there was an earthquake 33 miles away from Yucca Mountain. This place is not safe for our nuclear waste. Moreover, the city sees tens of thousands of visitors traveling to Las Vegas each and every year, many of whom are your constituents from your districts. In 2016 alone, over 40 million visitors traveled to Las Vegas. I have grave concerns with the transportation of nuclear waste to Yucca Mountain should this project continue against the will of my constituents. This project will not just impact my constituents. It impacts constituents in 329 congressional districts in 44 different States and Washington, D.C. Putting a nuclear repository in our backyard means that this high-level nuclear waste must travel through your backyards first. Your constituents will see high-level nuclear waste transported through their communities on rail and truck. A simple car crash or train derailment would leave your constituents at risk and cost our taxpayers more money to clean up the mess. As it stands, Mr. Chairman, this transportation plan also damages our national security and the ability of the Nevada Test and Training Range, the largest air and ground range in the contiguous United States, to meet and train our servicemembers. Mr. Chairman, I have been to Yucca Mountain. I have driven through the desert that is home to the bighorn sheep and desert tortoises and ancient petroglyphs and relics of the westward expansion. It is clear that reopening Yucca Mountain threatens the health and safety of Nevadans and Americans from across the country. Our State, which has no nuclear energy-producing facilities, should not be the dumping ground for the rest of the country's nuclear waste. And the bottom line is this: If any of my colleagues would support this bill to bring Yucca Mountain nuclear waste to our State, then I am sure you support bringing it to your State. I am sure we can find a location in your State, and I would love to work with you on that. I am sure you wouldn't like your neighbors bringing their trash to your backyard. Don't bring it to my backyard either. Don't bring it to my constituents. Don't bring it to Nevada. I urge your support for my amendment. Prevent billions and billions of dollars, taxpayer dollars, being wasted by continuing to pursue the Yucca Mountain project. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KIHUEN. Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Rosen), my esteemed colleague.

Mr. KIHUEN. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KIHUEN

Mr. KIHUEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Rebuilding America's Schools Act. Every day, students attend schools that put their health and safety at risk. The average school building is nearly 50 years old, and teachers and children struggle to learn in classrooms without heat, leaking ceilings, and no working internet. Mr. Speaker, our children deserve better. Research shows that poor school facility conditions impact teaching and learning, and disproportionately plague schools that serve low-income and minority students all throughout America. Regardless of their ZIP Code, all children should have access to a quality education, and no child should have to learn in an unsafe or dilapidated environment. The Rebuilding America's Schools Act would provide critically needed investments in Las Vegas and rural Nevada to improve our school infrastructure, helping teachers teach and children learn. President Trump has repeatedly promised to rebuild our Nation's infrastructure. Passing the Rebuilding America's Schools Act would be the first step in making this happen. We must make an investment in our future generation to guarantee their shot at success. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this piece of legislation.