Zoe Lofgren

Ms. LOFGREN

Ms. LOFGREN. Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close and yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, this is another example of how the Science Committee can successfully follow our history of bipartisan work for the well- being of our country--two freshmen coming together for something that is important. Madam Speaker, I also will mention that Representative Caraveo is not just Representative Caraveo. She is Dr. Caraveo. She comes with significant expertise to this body and especially to the Science Committee. We are grateful to her constituents for sending her to us. She, like Mr. Collins, has only been here several months, but she has already shown leadership, a focus on law enforcement and health, and a real willingness to work on a bipartisan basis to solve problems that face our country. Madam Speaker, I thank Representatives Collins and Caraveo for their hard work, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LOFGREN. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Stevens), a valued member of our committee.

Ms. LOFGREN

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, while I will vote in favor of this resolution and support the advancement of the Abraham Accords and normalization of relations with Israel, I am disappointed that the resolution does not mention the longstanding U.S. policy of supporting a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as past U.S.- Israel relationship anniversary resolutions have. I continue to strongly support a sustainable two-state solution, with a democratic, Jewish state of Israel and a demilitarized, democratic Palestinian state living peacefully side-by-side. This resolution's omission of this policy is concerning given the current far-right Israeli governing coalition under Prime Minister Netanyahu, which has seriously undermined the prospects for a two-state solution. Further, as hundreds of thousands of Israelis have been protesting in opposition of an anti-democratic judicial overhaul, it's important for U.S. policymakers to recognize that a negotiated two-state solution requires a robust democracy in Israel. America must insist that Israel not only remains committed to the two-state solution but committed to democracy in Israel.

Ms. LOFGREN

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Lucas for organizing this Special Order. Honoring Jenn Wickre is really a privilege. I know Jenn from the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, and I know her as an organized and capable person. Today, even more than speaking for myself, I am here to speak for the Democratic staff of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee who know her even better than I do. Many of them have worked with Jenn closely for many years. They really appreciate her and her excellence as a congressional staffer serving this institution and our Nation and how valued she is as a colleague on both sides of the aisle and how respected she is in the greater science and technology stakeholder community. Prior to coming to the Hill, Jenn had not worked on science policy, but she has a keen intellect, and she understands and cares deeply about the issues that come before our committee. She has become such an expert on these issues that most people just assume that Jenn came from a lifelong science background. Staff on both sides have benefited from her institutional knowledge, her thoughtfulness, and her perspective. The mutual trust and respect she shared with Democratic staff has allowed them to find common ground on almost every topic that came before them. It also even enabled them to tag team in difficult negotiations with the Senate and external stakeholders, especially during the CHIPS Act. Jenn's sharp sense of humor also helped ease the tension in these long and acrimonious negotiations with the other body. Jenn played an essential role in the CHIPS and Science Act, a bill we celebrate as being a once-in-a-generation accomplishment, and she did that while going through treatment for her cancer. That is just remarkable. Staff on the Democratic side count Jenn as more than just a colleague. She is their friend, and they are praying for her and pulling for her at this moment. I believe that their friendship speaks further to the special person that she is. Jenn is the best of what our Nation should expect from people dedicating their careers to the work of this institution. I am honored to lend my voice to the celebration of her career today and to be the voice of the Democratic staff who love her so much and who are praying for her recovery. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Lucas for allowing me to participate.

Ms. LOFGREN

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and thank, upon her retirement, Sandra Soto who served for 22 years as Chief of Staff in my San Jose District Office. During these years our country faced many challenges. From Y2K, 9/11, the Great Recession, January 6th, droughts, floods, earthquakes . . . you name it, Sandra provided steady, practical leadership for my staff and in service to my constituents. Sandra provided important mentorship for many young staffers who, with her important guidance, went on to important professional careers both inside and outside of government. Her dedication was particularly admirable when it came to the needs of children, seniors and veterans and members of our community who lacked opportunity. Sandra Soto is both wise and kind. If there was an elderly vet who just needed to be heard, she was always ready with a fresh cup of coffee and a sympathetic ear. She is a fierce advocate for those who have been mistreated, overlooked, or let down. As federal agencies in Region IX can attest, Sandra--and, under her leadership our District Office staff--got results when a bureaucratic snafu damaged a constituent. Because of these qualities Sandra is beloved by my District Office staff, by my constituents and by the staff of other Bay Area elected officials. Since her retirement I have heard from many how they admire Sandra and miss her. I admire Sandra as well. She was not only a valued employee, but also a friend to all . . . including me. I wish Sandra and her wonderful family well during her well-deserved retirement. I look forward to continuing to see her around the community we both call home.

Ms. LOFGREN

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the many contributions of Dr. Paul Berg to the science community. Dr. Berg passed away on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, at age 96. This loss is deeply felt across our community. Paul Berg was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1926 to a Russian Jewish immigrant couple, Harry and Sarah Brodsky Berg. While he grew up in modest circumstances, his mother encouraged his passion for science. He graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in 1943. Penn State University in 1948 with a B.S. in Biochemistry, and from Case Western Reserve University for his PhD in Biochemistry in 1952. After his graduate work, Dr. Berg became a postdoctoral fellow with the American Cancer Society from 1952 through 1954. He worked at the Institute of Cytophysiology in Denmark and the Washington University School of Medicine. From 1955 through 1959, he was an assistant professor at the Washington University. Then, he was asked to help open a new biochemistry department at Stanford University. He was a professor at Stanford, where he was named Robert W. and Vivian K. Cahill Professor of Cancer Research Emeritus. He taught from 1959 through 2000. While he was a professor teaching biochemistry to graduate students, I was an undergraduate who was a friend to some of those grad students. Dr. Berg inspired them, tremendously. I remember well the optimism and excitement his teaching inspired his students, my friends. While at Stanford, Dr. Berg helped raised $50 million to build the Beckman Center for Molecular and Genetic Medicine, of which he was the director from 1985 through 2000. Furthermore, in 2004, he became a leading advocate for CA Prop 71 which replaced federal stem cell research dollars with state taxpayer money when it was passed. Dr. Berg's dedication to research changed both the drug production industry and the overall biotechnology industry, as well as the advancement of cancer research. He played an instrumental role in the 1975 Asilomar Conference on Recombinant DNA on the potential biohazards of recombinant DNA molecules, as well as leading research on gene- splicing and stem cells. Especially as the first scientist to use the gene-splicing technique using two different species' DNA, Dr. Berg paved the way for modern-day genetic engineering. One of his highest achievements, however, was earning a Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1980 alongside Walter Gilbert and Frederick Sanger for their research on nucleic acids. His contributions to science will continue to impact research and continue to save lives. When I served on the Board of Supervisors of Santa Clara County, we were asked to approve a land use designation for a research facility on the Stanford Campus over which the County had land use authority. There being some community concern over the proposal, Dr. Berg came to meet with members of the Board (and public) to provide information. We were treated to a multi-hour personal seminar on biotechnology which is one of my treasured moments from my service on the Board of Supervisors. Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to recognize and commend Dr. Paul Berg for his awe-inspiring achievements. His legacy will endure for generations.

Ms. LOFGREN

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Mr. Charles ``Chuck'' Alexander, whose lifetime of service and commitment to California's South Bay warrants special recognition. Chuck had a relentless commitment to bettering others and his community. His loss will be profoundly felt by myself and so many others in the South Bay. Born in Vernon, Texas, Chuck and his family made their way to Stockton, California in 1950. A few years later, Chuck graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School and moved to San Jose State University on a football scholarship. He was one of the founding members of San Jose State University's Kappa Alpha Psi-Delta Rho fraternity. During this era of great unrest and long overdue calls for racial justice, Chuck operated the Good Brothers home in San Jose, which ensured Black students and Black student-athletes had housing. Chuck graduated from San Jose State University after meeting the love of his life, Ms. Saphrona Williams. Chuck's dedication to his community did not end with completion of his undergraduate studies. Instead, he embarked on a career with the Santa Clara County Probation Department. Serving first as a counselor for one of the Juvenile facilities, Chuck assiduously worked his way up in the department, eventually becoming head of the County's Juvenile Hall. Chuck was a crucial member of the South Bay's civil rights movement. Chuck's spirit, character, and gregariousness made him one of the area's most beloved historians. Among many others, Chuck captured iconic photographs from his time at the Good House in the 1950's and at the San Jose Woolworth sit-ins in the 1960's. On the occasion of his passing, I join Chuck's many loved ones in mourning his loss, while also celebrating and honoring his extraordinary life.

Ms. LOFGREN

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to address a Resolution the House is considering that, and I quote, ``denounces the horrors of socialism.'' In reading the various ``Whereas'' clauses it's pretty clear that the authors have conflated ``socialism'' with ``totalitarianism.'' Further, they apparently believe that ``socialism,'' which they have not defined, is the political philosophy of notorious communist dictators. For example, Lenin, Stalin, Mao, Fidel Castro all described themselves as communists, not socialists. Why does this resolution ignore that? Why does it fail to condemn communism? It's obvious that the purpose of this vote is political in nature. For the duration of my career (in Congress and before that), I have been a proud member of the Democratic Party. Not the Socialist Party. Not the Communist Party. Not the Republican Party. Not affiliated with any dangerous group or conspiracy theory, including but not limited to white supremacists or Q-Anon. I oppose and I have, on many occasions, spoken out strongly when there are anti-democratic atrocities around the world. I oppose totalitarianism. Curiously, the resolution doesn't condemn fascism nor condemn Hitler. Yet by focusing solely on socialism and conflating socialism with communism and totalitarianism, H. Con. Res. 9 paints a distorted picture of the world. A rising tide of violent, anti-democratic forces, many from the far-right, also challenge us. Vladimir Putin (who is suspiciously not mentioned in H. Con. Res. 9) and his war of aggression in Ukraine, democratic backsliding Hungary and other far-right governments that commit human rights abuses and threaten democracy are weirdly given a pass by the authors. Sadly, the United States is not exempt from the growing threat of far-right extremism. From drastically increased rates of hate crimes to the violent attempt to overthrow the government on January 6, 2021, our society and democracy are threatened by growing extremism and violence of the far-right. Some Republicans have called public education socialism, Social Security and Medicare socialism. I don't agree that these basic programs, loved by Americans, are socialism. This Resolution does not address the challenges we face today. American families want solutions and policies that will help the middle-class, grow our economy, and protect our democracy--not empty political gestures. Take, for example, the ongoing crisis in Venezuela. Mr. Speaker, it seems the current Majority would rather score cheap political points than pass actual policies to address challenges involving Venezuela. I would know. In 2019, while I condemned the Venezuelan regime on the Floor, I was simultaneously advocating to designate TPS for Venezuela so those Venezuelans in America would not be forcibly sent back to that oppressive communist regime. I bring up this example because it highlights how Democrats in recent congressional sessions focused on how we could help people--not accuse people. We need to provide results instead of rhetoric. I strongly urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to focus less on ``gotcha'' Resolutions and more on measures that actually accomplish something. This resolution, if passed, does absolutely nothing.

Ms. LOFGREN

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today also in support of H.R. 290, the Commercial Remote Sensing Amendment Act of 2023. I am pleased to be an original cosponsor of this legislation, along with the chairman, and I am pleased to serve as ranking member of the committee, a new assignment for me. It was all the way back in 1992 when Congress authorized the Secretary of Commerce to license and regulate commercial remote sensing space systems. Commercial remote sensing is now a vibrant and growing industry. As the chairman has said, data and imagery from commercial remote sensing satellites are used widely in agriculture, disaster monitoring, energy, mapping, and national security applications. In fact, commercial remote sensing has been an important information source for fighting the devastating Western wildland fires, including those in my home State of California. Companies from around the world are launching commercial remote sensing systems and selling the data. According to the Satellite Industries Association, globally, these services reached an estimated $2.7 billion in revenue in 2021. Congress needs to ensure that the United States remains at the cutting edge of this industry and that is why it is important that we have the transparency and insight we need to oversee the licensing and regulation of private remote sensing systems. In order to accomplish this, the Commercial Remote Sensing Amendment Act modifies the timeline for completing licenses to conform with updated regulations. It requires additional details on licensing information to be included in reports to Congress, and it extends a sunset clause for the annual report on commercial remote sensing licenses until 2030. As the chairman has mentioned, an identical version of this bill passed this House on suspension during the 117th Congress, and I am pleased that Chairman Lucas and I can kick off our work this session by continuing the Science, Space, and Technology Committee's strong tradition of bipartisan work and our track record with this good bill. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. Mr. Speaker, I hope that we all support this good bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LOFGREN

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I join the chairman today in supporting H.R. 342, the Cost-Share Accountability Act of 2023. I am pleased that today we are considering this bill. Many of the clean energy technologies deployed throughout the Nation today have benefited from financial support from the Department of Energy. The bipartisan Cost-Sharing Accountability Act of 2023 would strengthen the reporting requirements related to certain cost-sharing requirements at DOE. Specifically, the bill would require the Secretary of Energy to report on the use of the statutory authority to reduce or eliminate cost-sharing requirements for research, for development, for demonstration, as well as commercial application activities. As the chairman has noted, better reporting on financial assistance will help us to ensure that taxpayer dollars are being spent wisely. As mentioned, we passed a matching version of this bill under a suspension of the rules in the last Congress. It is time, we hope, for the Senate to take this bill up and pass it this year after the House passes this again. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from California (Mr. Obernolte) for introducing this bill. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Foster), the cosponsor of this bill and last year's chair of the Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee.

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, let me close by urging everyone to support this good bill, and let's celebrate carrying on the fine tradition of bipartisan legislative action in the Science Committee. I look forward to the rest of this Congress. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LOFGREN

Ms. LOFGREN. Madam Speaker, on December 22, 2022, I instructed via email communication that my proxy record a NAY vote on the passage of S. 3773. However, the proxy inadvertently voted different from my instructions on Roll Call No. 541, the passage of S. 3773. I was recorded as voting YEA, when I instructed a NAY vote.

Ms. LOFGREN

Ms. LOFGREN. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the many contributions of Don Christopher to our Gilroy community. Don passed away on Monday, December 12, 2022, at age 88, surrounded by his family. This loss is deeply felt across our community. Don Christopher was born into a prune-farming family in San Jose in 1934. According to Mercury News archives, Ole Christopher had emigrated from Denmark, purchased 15 acres in South San Jose, and planted his first trees in 1896. The orchard expanded to hundreds of acres over the decades, and family members eventually sold their land in the 1950s to IBM for its facility. Don attended Oak Grove Grammar School, Live Oak High School, and San Jose State Universjty. In 1956, after receiving a gift of acreage. he founded the Christopher Ranch company. He planted lima beans, sugar beets. and 10 acres of garlic. From these beginnings, Christopher Ranch, while always remaining a family operation, evolved to become the nation's largest garlic processor. Although Christopher Ranch now grows garlic throughout California, all of it is processed in Gilroy. The company is the largest private employer in Gilroy. Don and Christopher Ranch were instrumental in creating our renowned Gilroy Garlic Festival. In 1979, a handful of volunteers, including Don, staged a festival celebrating garlic with the goal of raising money for charity. They expected several thousand people from the surrounding communities. This turned out to be an underestimation: 15,000 people attended the first Gilroy Garlic Festival. The festival became a momentous, three-day event. It drew visitors from around the world annually from 1979 to 2019. Don Christopher's hard work turned Gilroy into the Garlic Capital of the World. He also contributed extensively to our community, including the Gilroy Unified School District, through philanthropy. I first met Don in the 1980s when he built a child development center at his expense and opened it for the benefit of the children of his employees. Don was someone who cared about others. He was generous and devoted to his family, his employees, and his community. Madam Speaker, it is a privilege to recognize and commend Don Christopher for his awe-inspiring achievements. His legacy will endure for generations. We miss him greatly.

Ms. LOFGREN

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 5229) to direct the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library to remove the bust of Roger Brooke Taney in the Old Supreme Court Chamber of the Capitol and to obtain a bust of Thurgood Marshall for installation in the Capitol or on the Capitol Grounds, and for other purposes.

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure under consideration.

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of this bill. This bill, which passed the Senate by unanimous consent last week, directs the Joint Committee on the Library to remove the bust of Chief Justice Roger Taney, which now sits in the Old Supreme Court Chamber and to add a bust of Justice Thurgood Marshall here in the Capitol complex. S. 5229 is the Senate's version of H.R. 3005, a bill which, for the second Congress in a row, passed the House in an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote. The United States Capitol is a beacon of democracy, freedom, and equality. It is visited by millions of people each year. What and who we choose to honor in this building should represent our values. Chief Justice Taney, who in the infamous Dred Scott decision declared that African Americans could never be citizens of the United States and had no constitutional rights, does not meet this standard. As Senator Charles Sumner said during the 1865 debate on the bill originally authorizing the Taney bust, and I quote Senator Sumner, ``I speak what cannot be denied when I declare that the opinion of the Chief Justice in the case of Dred Scott was more thoroughly abominable than anything of the kind in the history of courts. Judicial baseness reached its lowest point on that occasion.'' More than 150 years later, those words still ring true. Who better to add to the Capitol complex than Justice Thurgood Marshall? Justice Marshall was a pillar of the civil rights movement and a tireless fighter for justice and equality. From his early days as a litigator, fighting to end Jim Crow and school segregation, to his appointment as the first African-American United States Supreme Court Justice, Justice Marshall is among the most important figures of American history. Although I am disappointed that S. 5229 does not go as far as the House-passed bill did to rid the Capitol of statues and busts of white supremacists and those who served the Confederacy, we should not allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good. Let's take this opportunity to rid our Capitol of the bust of the man who does not deserve the honor and add one of a man who unquestionably does. Now, some may argue that this action is an attempt to erase and forget our history. Nothing could be further from the truth. We must never forget our Nation's shameful periods of slavery, segregation, and racism, but this is about who we choose to honor, who we choose to literally put on a pedestal and display as emblematic of our values. I urge all my colleagues to join me in supporting S. 5229, and I reserve the balance of by time.

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I will note that I currently chair the Joint Committee on the Library, and I welcome the bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), our majority leader.

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Green).

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), my colleague on the Committee on the Judiciary.

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas.

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I would simply ask that all Members support this bill. There have been a lot of really bad Supreme Court cases over the years, but I don't think it can be said better than Senator Charles Sumner said all the way back in 1865: The Dred Scott decision was more thoroughly abominable than anything of its kind in history. Chief Justice Taney, the author of this dreadful decision, is really a scar on America and should not be in a place of honor in our Capitol. Support this bill, and we will remove that stain. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LOFGREN

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the proceedings during the former Members program be printed in the Congressional Record and that all Members and former Members who spoke during the proceedings have the privilege of revising and extending their remarks.

Ms. LOFGREN

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1508, I call up (H.R. 3648) to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the per-country numerical limitation for employment-based immigrants, to increase the per-country numerical limitation for family-sponsored immigrants, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.