Raja Krishnamoorthi

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Mr. Speaker, today I honor the work and community engagement of the organizers of and participants in Hindu Heritage Day on Sunday, July 23 in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Hinduism is one of the world's oldest living religions, and the faith is richly diverse with traditions stretching back thousands of years. Hinduism is a religion that prides itself on plurality, inclusion, tolerance, non-violence, and the embrace of diversity. These same values line up with our shared American values, and it is without question that in these times, we must defend these values. When people try to divide Americans or separate us, we need to remember that all of us belong together and that diversity and inclusion make us stronger as a country. Every time I visit with members of the Hindu community, I am inspired by their devotion and their commitment to making our communities stronger all over the nation. Mr. Speaker, as a Hindu- American, I am also proud to support my many friends and family who celebrate their religion and culture throughout the country. I honor Hindu Heritage Day on July 23, 2017 in the metropolitan Chicago area.

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Mr. Speaker, over the Fourth of July district work period, I met with my constituents across Chicago's west and northwest suburbs. Despite the range of our groups and communities I spoke with, there was one theme that was on everybody's mind: the urgent need for Congress to take action that puts hardworking families first. Across the country, working families are counting on us to invest in infrastructure, modernize our Tax Code, and help their children get the skills necessary for rewarding careers. Earlier this summer, the House unanimously passed the Thompson- Krishnamoorthi Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act. This bipartisan legislation will modernize and expand career and technical education programs across the country by increasing funding and local control while expanding the cooperation that exists between educators and employers. The House has done its part to advance this legislation and support working families. Now the Senate must act and send it to the President for his signature.

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Mr. Speaker, Donald Trump, Jr., has documented that he, Jared Kushner, and former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort met with a Russian lawyer with the understanding that she was a Russian Government agent and would provide damaging information on Hillary Clinton as part of Moscow's effort to help President Trump's campaign. The attempt by these top advisers to solicit the support of a hostile foreign power to win the American Presidency is unprecedented in our history. When an American political campaign is approached by a foreign source promising information on an opponent, they should contact the FBI. Unfortunately, the Trump campaign, instead, scheduled a meeting. All those who participated in the Trump Tower meeting must testify under oath before Congress. Mr. Trump, Mr. Manafort, Mr. Kushner, Mr. Goldstone, and Ms. Veselnitskaya must disclose to Congress the nature and details of their conversations, including any sources in the Kremlin. Special Counsel Mueller's investigation must continue, and so must ours.

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Mr. Speaker, today I honor His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the new spiritual leader and guru of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha (BAPS)--a global Hindu socio-spiritual organization--as he makes a historically important visit to BAPS devotees across North America. BAPS is an impactful organization, aiming to preserve the values of family unity, selfless service, interfaith harmony and peaceful coexistence. They reach these goals through various activities and endeavors centered around spirituality, character-building, and human welfare. This often includes large-scale charitable events, community outreach activities, and in-depth educational programs for young people. His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj is now the sixth guru of BAPS, having being blessed by Pramukh Swami Maharaj as his successor. His Holiness has been an enthusiastic devotee of BAPS since his youth, having taken diksha (i.e. being appointed a saint) in 1961. Over time, his outstanding virtues of austerity, self-control, devotion, humility and service have earned him his affectionate title. Following in Pramukh Swami's footsteps, Mahant Swami has pledged to propagate peace, especially in a time of unrest in the world. Every time I visit the beautiful BAPS Mandir in Bartlett, Illinois and visit with their devotees and volunteers there, I am reminded of the excellent virtues that BAPS represents and that America should celebrate. I honor His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader and guru of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha organization.

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Mr. Speaker, today I honor His Holiness Gurudev Rakeshbhai Jhaveri, spiritual leader of the Shrimad Rajchandra Mission in Dharampur and living embodiment of Jainism -- a dynamic religion which exemplifies the highest and noblest values, moral upliftment and spiritual elevation -- as he makes a historically important visit to Jain devotees across North America. The Jain Society of Metropolitan Chicago was founded in 1970 to provide a temple for religious services and a community center for the social, cultural and educational needs of the Jain community in northern Illinois. The Jain Society engages in various activities and endeavors centered around spirituality, character-building, and human welfare. Born in 1966, His Holiness Gurudev Rakeshbhai Jhaveri realized his calling early in life and since a very early age has dedicated himself to service and to the spiritual practice of Jainism. Over time, his outstanding virtues of austerity, self-control, devotion, humility and service have earned him the affectionate title Pujya. Following in the footsteps of his guru Shrimad Rajchandra, Pujya has pledged to propagate peace and perform acts of service, especially in this time of such unrest in the world. Every time I visit the Jain Society and witness the beautiful work of its volunteers, I learn more and reaffirm my admiration of Jainism and its values. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support my many friends who follow the path of Jainism throughout the country, especially under the guidance of such an influential leader. I honor His Holiness Gurudev Rakeshbhai Jhaveri, spiritual leader of the Shrimad Rajchandra Mission in Dharampur, on the occasion of his visit to the Jain Society of Metropolitan Chicago in July of 2017.

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Mr. Speaker, Prime Minister Modi's visit this week serves as an occasion to celebrate the growing bonds of friendship between India and the United States. India is a key partner for the United States and Asia. Both our economic and strategic posture in the region are strengthened by investing in the bilateral relationship between the world's two largest democracies. India and the United States have pledged to collaborate on energy security, combating climate change, and growing the green economy-- opportunities that will create jobs in both countries. This visit is an opportunity to celebrate the work our countries have accomplished and all that we can do together in the future. I am happy that we are continuing to build on this nearly 70-year-old partnership and are laying the groundwork for an even stronger relationship in the decades to come.

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of my bipartisan amendment. I would like to thank my good friend, Congressman Lloyd Smucker of Pennsylvania, for helping me to introduce this amendment. Right now what is being taught in classes doesn't necessarily align with what is needed to get a job. Yesterday, the House passed a bipartisan bill unanimously that would make sure that there is stronger alignment and collaboration between career and technical education programs and the employers that will be hiring. Our amendment would require that States report the percentage of subsidized individuals whose jobs match their previous experience. Incentivizing States that opt into this pilot program expands on yesterday's bill to ensure that resources are being used as efficiently as possible by guiding students towards the jobs they were trained for. Mr. Chairman, I hope everybody will support passage of our amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for his support. I urge all Members to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Clark).

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2353. H.R. 2353 is a bill introduced by my good friend Congressman Thompson and myself to modernize and take career and technical education into the 21st century. A persistent complaint I hear from employers throughout the State of Illinois is that CTE programs have not kept pace with the changing demands of industry. This bill would address the skills gap by aligning CTE programs to meet the needs of the labor market, giving stakeholders more autonomy in developing curricula, while ensuring robust accountability standards. I hope everybody will support passage of H.R. 2353. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott), the ranking member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, someone who has dedicated his career, in part, to this issue.

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin), the chair of the CTE Caucus.

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Rhode Island.

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. I yield an additional 15 seconds to the gentlewoman.

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Nolan).

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Courtney).

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wilson).

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici), who is the vice ranking member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time I have remaining.

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Adams).

Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. DeSaulnier).