Jim Langevin

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the en bloc which includes my amendment, #10, to increase funding for the Capitol Grounds account to prioritize the removal of accessibility barriers. Madam Chair, the Capitol Complex was not built with accessibility in mind, and as the first quadriplegic to serve in Congress, I'm reminded of this every day. For the past two decades, I've worked closely with the Architect of the Capitol to address these barriers, and I'm grateful for the progress we've made so far. Yet many physical barriers still remain, and we need to remove them proactively so that all Members of Congress, our staff, and visitors from across the nation can navigate the Capitol with ease. I thank Chairman Ryan and the Legislative Branch Subcommittee for including report language under the Capitol Grounds account directing the Architect of the Capitol to prioritize the removal of accessibility barriers. Yet the reality is, proactively achieving this requires dedicated funding, which is what my amendment provides. l thank the Chair and Ranking Member for supporting it, and I urge my colleagues to support the en bloc and the underlying bill.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of my amendment to increase funding for the Adoption Opportunities Program in the fiscal year 2022 Labor-HHS appropriations act. On any given day, 424,000 children are living in foster care in the United States, more than a quarter of whom are waiting to be adopted by a loving, supportive family. Unfortunately, 20,000 young people age-out of foster care each year without a permanent family connection. How sad and tragic that is. That needs to change, and with the right support it can. The Adoption Opportunities Program provides a unique funding stream for States, counties, Tribes, and private organizations to invest in evidence-based solutions to find families for these youth and provide them with the support they need to thrive. From adoptive family recruitment to post-adoption services and caseworker training, these programs help foster youth build permanent family connections. Now is the time, Mr. Speaker, to invest in solutions to improve permanent placements for foster youth. I thank Chairwoman DeLauro and the committee for supporting this amendment and for her tremendous leadership in crafting this year's appropriations bills. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the en bloc package and the underlying bill.

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the en bloc package which includes my amendment, Langevin No. 129, to the Financial Services and General Government Division. I would like to begin by thanking Chairman Quigley of that subcommittee for his support of the amendment and my good friend and fellow Cyberspace Solarium Commissioner, Congressman Mike Gallagher, for cosponsoring the amendment. Mr. Speaker, this is a simple amendment. It increases funding for the Office of the National Cyber Director to $25 million, the full amount recommended by the Cyberspace Solarium Commission which was created in last year's NDAA. Its charge was to create an overarching strategy to better protect the United States against cyberattacks of significant consequence. Creating the position of the National Cyber Director has been a passion of mine for more than a decade. It finally happened last year, and I have long argued that we need a head coach to coordinate all of the various cyber players in the Federal Government, and the NCD does just that. Chris Inglis, who started earlier this month, is the Nation's first Senate-confirmed National Cyber Director, and he is exactly the right person to ensure that we effectively implement a national cyber strategy to protect us from the ever-growing threats that we face in cyberspace. But, Mr. Speaker, he can't do his job without an office to support him. So this amendment will ensure that Director Inglis has the staff he needs to fulfill his statutory obligations to review agency cyber budgets, lead the development of cybersecurity policy, and coordinate incident response. So I appreciate, again, the support of Chairman Quigley and the overall Appropriations Committee led by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. Mr. Speaker, this is an important amendment, and I urge my colleagues to support the amendments en bloc and the underlying bill.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 2382. As the author of the National Cyber Director Act, I commend Senators Portman and Peters for offering this important legislation to clarify the authorities of this new office. I said it before and I will say it again: Cybersecurity is the national and economic security challenge of the 21st century. For 30 years we have been increasing the number of connected devices, processes, and services connected to the internet at an exponential rate. We can now instantly communicate with people half a world away and use data repositories to drive advances in medicine, clean energy, and commerce. With this connectivity comes vulnerability. For these three decades, the United States has struggled to develop a coherent cybersecurity strategy and to implement it to better protect the country and cyberspace. While we have seen the results of this failure in breaches ranging from the devastating, the tens of billions of dollars in damage caused by, for example, NotPetya, to the mundane, as companies fend off daily cyber probes. Just in the last half century we have witnessed the Russian Government target us through ransomware attacks through SolarWinds; the Chinese Government break into instances of the Microsoft Exchange Server, and criminals wreak havoc on the Colonial Pipeline, JBS, and customers of Kaseya through ransomware attacks, so we are not where we need to be. Congress recognized this fact in 2018 when it created the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, a distinguished body that I had the privilege of being appointed to by Speaker Pelosi. Through a year of deliberation, we developed a strategy of layered cyber deterrence, and had more than 80 recommendations to make that strategy a reality. Those recommendations run the gamut from changes to our military to regulations on private companies. But underlying all of them is the recognition that the U.S. Government itself is still not organized for success. Now enter the National Cyber Director. This key recommendation called for a Senate-confirmed leader within the Executive Office of the President with the policy and budgetary authority to develop a national strategy, oversee its implementation, and coordinate response to significant cyber incidents. With the help of Congressman Gallagher, the Solarium Commission's co- chair, and through the leadership of Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney and her staff, my National Cyber Director Act made it into last year's NDAA. Earlier this month, the President had appointed and the Senate confirmed our inaugural National Cyber Director, my fellow Solarium Commission member, Chris Inglis, to take office as the first Director. Chris' confirmation represents nothing less than a sea change in how the government will coordinate cyberspace policy. Once this office is fully staffed up, there will be a well of expertise within the White House to ensure that the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, sector risk management agencies, the United States Cyber Command, the intelligence community, and all of the other disparate elements of the government are working in concert to improve our cybersecurity. However, the Office of the National Cyber Director is very much a startup at the moment. While we will be voting on a full budget for this office later this week, including, I hope, an amendment to provide the full $25 million yearlong appropriation recommended by the Solarium Commission, we can't wait until the full fiscal year 2022 budget is passed to get Director Inglis on his feet and up and running. After all, our adversaries certainly aren't constrained by our budgetary calendar. In drafting the bill, we anticipated that the NCD might need to call upon the personnel, facilities, or services of Federal departments and agencies, with their permission, of course. However, there seems to be some ambiguity within the White House about whether this includes the ability of the Office to accept the services of nonreimbursable detailees. While I think the language and the congressional intent of the original statute are quite clear, this bill should clear up any misunderstanding once and for all by explicitly authorizing nonreimbursable detailees. This legislation will help Director Inglis get a staff vanguard in place and ensure he and his successors can take advantage of the expertise resident at the various agencies that contribute to our success in cyberspace. Mr. Speaker, let me again thank Senators Portman and Peters and Chairwoman Maloney for moving so quickly to address this urgent issue. Congress has already shown tremendous support for this Office, and I think the speed at which this bill moves is a testament to our commitment to its success. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support S. 2382.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, this morning, I had the privilege of joining President Biden at the White House to celebrate the 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This landmark civil rights law has drastically improved the lives of people with disabilities across our Nation, including mine. In 1980, an accidental gunshot left me paralyzed, and for 10 years, I experienced firsthand the adversity that the disability community faced before the ADA. Since its enactment, this law has helped break down barriers and stamp out discrimination. It has opened doors to new opportunities for people with disabilities and allowed members of our community to reach previously unattainable places in society. In fact, I can say with confidence that without the ADA, I would not be a Member of Congress proudly representing the people of Rhode Island. Madam Speaker, though we have made tremendous progress with the ADA, we can't stop fighting yet. I will continue working closely with advocates and lawmakers like my dear friend, our Majority Leader, Steny Hoyer, to advance meaningful legislation to support and protect the rights of people with disabilities.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise in support of the INVEST in America Act, which will help rebuild America's infrastructure. I especially rise today in strong support of my amendment and other disability provisions in the INVEST in America Act. It has been more than three decades since the ADA became law. Yet, people with disabilities still face substantial barriers to transportation. The INVEST in America Act includes provisions from the Disability Access to Transportation Act, a bill I authored to break down barriers in transportation for people with disabilities. These provisions, among other things, include establishing a one-stop paratransit pilot program so that riders can schedule an intermediate stop during their trips, reauthorizing and increasing funding for section 5310 mobility grants, and streamlining the reporting process for accessibility complaints. The bill will also require the Department of Transportation to adopt the U.S. Access Board's proposed ``Public Rights-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines'' as enforceable standards, and my amendment will require the Department of Justice to follow suit. Mr. Speaker, this amendment and the INVEST in America Act will help make our Nation more accessible for Americans with disabilities. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this amendment, and I thank the chairman for his leadership on this outstanding bill.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak in strong support of the INVEST Act, which contains nearly $19 million in funding for three infrastructure projects in Rhode Island's Second District. This legislation will improve roads in Westerly and Charlestown to increase accessibility along the Scenic Highway, repair roads in Cranston to smooth the commute for Rhode Islanders traveling across the State, and connect a key stretch of the East Coast Greenway in Coventry to boost tourism, create jobs, and spur economic development. Madam Speaker, Rhode Island's roads and bridges desperately need repair. According to the White House, 148 bridges and over 860 miles of highway are in poor condition in Rhode Island, earning our State the grade of C-minus on our infrastructure report card. Investing in our aging infrastructure will create good-paying jobs and make our roads safer and less congested. That is true of Rhode Island and every State across the country. Supporting the INVEST Act and the important projects within it is a no-brainer. As my New England Patriots always say: Do your job. To my colleagues, let's do our job so Americans can get on with theirs.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Today, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2062, the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act. Fifty-four years ago, Congress passed the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. This law prohibits workplace discrimination against Americans over the age of 40, yet too many older Americans still face discrimination in the workplace. In 2018, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission acknowledged that ``age discrimination remains a significant and costly problem for workers, their families, and our economy.'' This is corroborated by a 2019 AARP survey which found that roughly 60 percent of older workers have witnessed or experienced age discrimination. Making matters worse, a misguided Supreme Court ruling in 2009 set a precedent which now requires a plaintiff in an age discrimination suit to prove that his or her age was the only motivating factor in an employer's adverse actions. This is, quite frankly, unacceptable. Older Americans bring unrivaled experience and wisdom to their jobs. It is up to us to restore the workplace protections to what Congress intended. I would also like to note that age discrimination affects many workers with disabilities. This is an added challenge for the disability community, which faces several other barriers to competitive, integrated employment. Even more disheartening is that some courts have applied the same misguided 2009 Supreme Court standard of claims to disability-based employment discrimination. In doing so, these lower courts are undermining the key promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act and throwing the congressional intent to the wind. H.R. 2062 will correct that record. In fact, the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act will restore vital employment protections to millions of older American workers and workers with disabilities. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me today in supporting its final passage. It is the right thing to do.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the importance of celebrating Juneteenth as a national holiday. For a century after the last slaves were freed, Black Americans were denied the rights considered ``unalienable'' by the Constitution. Even after July 4, 1776, millions of enslaved people and their descendants would not experience independence for decades. Over the last 50 years, systemic racism has continued to hinder many who strive to live out the American Dream. Despite the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, Black people would remain enslaved in parts of the Confederacy for nearly two and a half years. On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, delivering news of the end of the Civil War and of slavery. The message he conveyed that day was simple. General Order Number 3 declared that ``. . . all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property, between former masters and slaves . . .'' The following year, the newly liberated people of Texas began celebrating Juneteenth as a celebration of answered prayers and new opportunities. This tradition slowly spread throughout the country, eventually becoming a holiday or day of observance in 49 states and the District of Columbia. My home state of Rhode Island has observed Juneteenth since 2012. While Juneteenth has been widely celebrated among African American communities since the end of the Civil War, the prominence of the holiday has grown significantly in recent years. I am proud to have supported the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act when it passed in Congress and was signed into law last week. It is my hope that June 19th will serve as a day of reflection and an annual call to recommit ourselves to the American ideals of freedom and equality. For far too long, our society has denied the promise of these ideals to many Americans. From the Jim Crow era until today, Black Americans have been the target of racism and bigotry, treated as second class citizens, denied opportunity, and subjected to countless violent attacks by racist mobs and individuals. Over the last year, the United States has experienced the most intensive reckoning with slavery and its legacy since the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. The Black Lives Matter movement and nationwide protests following the death of George Floyd have cast a light on the disparate outcomes that persist for Black people in education, employment, interactions with the police, and numerous other aspects of everyday life. These disparities contribute to--and are influenced by--the intergenerational racial wealth gap. Recent studies show that Black children face significantly higher rates of downward economic mobility and lower rates of upward mobility compared to white children. For instance, a Black child born into a high-income family is as likely to end up in the bottom 20 percent of earners as an adult as they are to remain in top 20 percent. In contrast, a white child born to parents with the same income is five times more likely to remain in the top income quintile as they are to fall to the bottom of the income distribution. The systemic racism ingrained in American society must come to an end. As Members of Congress, we need to face this challenge head on, with clear eyes, open minds, and full hearts. Making Juneteenth a national holiday is a start, but our constituents have shown us that sustained Congressional inaction is no longer an option. This is the moment to pass comprehensive policing reform, protect and expand voting rights, and remove the vestiges of slavery from our social fabric for good. In the last two years, the House has passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and the Voting Rights Advancement Act. The Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys Act was signed into law in December after passing both chambers with overwhelming bipartisan support. This is the kind of legislation we need to begin unwinding the political, economic, and societal policies that have disadvantaged Black Americans since Reconstruction. This Juneteenth, I hope my colleagues join me in reflecting on the myriad barriers to opportunity that exist for far too many Black Americans and in promoting concrete actions Congress can take to remove them.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of our newest Federal holiday. Juneteenth marks the critical point in our Nation's history when the final enslaved Americans were freed from the evil bondage of slavery 156 years ago. Honestly, as a student growing up in Rhode Island, surrounded by mostly White classmates, I was never taught about Juneteenth. As much as I hate to admit it, Juneteenth was simply not a part of my education. Some of my colleagues have suggested that we should ignore our history, as inconvenient or uncomfortable as it may be. Well, that is wrong. As a nation, we must own up to our mistakes and celebrate our ability to overcome them, not attempt to sweep them under the rug. Juneteenth is every bit a part of American history. It is a time to honor those who fought so hard to end slavery and to reflect on the work that remains before true racial justice is achieved. As we celebrate last week's vote, let us recommit ourselves to rooting out the systemic racism that still plagues our Nation.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3233. On September 11, 2001, I was a freshman in Congress. We suffered attacks that day because of a failure of imagination. Since then, I have dedicated myself to getting ahead of the curve, to seeing over the horizon, to preventing another such devastating surprise. Yet, on January 6, I, along with so many others, was caught by surprise. In the past 5 months, I have reflected. What signs did we miss? Were we unprepared for a tide of American rioters? Why were some citizens actually taking the big lie about the election seriously enough to actually commit violence? The January 6 commission will answer these and many other difficult questions and deliver a complete record for posterity of what could possibly have happened to bring about such a betrayal of our democracy. We will not defeat darkness with darkness. We need light. We will not defeat lies with lies. We need truth. This commission will bring forth the truth and it is only the truth that can truly heal the rift that is tearing our country apart. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member Katko for their leadership.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Shawn Friedkin, a passionate advocate for people with disabilities, whose life was cut short after a courageous battle with cancer. John Friedkin was my friend, and we were kindred spirits. At the age of 27, Shawn was in a car accident that left him paralyzed. Instead of allowing that experience to defeat him, he used it to help others overcome their own obstacles and reach their full potential. In 1997, he founded Stand Among Friends, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with spinal cord injuries, and more broadly, improving employment outcomes so that people with disabilities can live ``life without limits.'' That was Shawn's philosophy, ``a life without limits,'' and he applied it to everything he did. Whether providing assistance through Stand Among Friends, establishing a disability resource center at Florida Atlantic University, or advocating for legislation in Congress, Shawn demonstrated his unwavering commitment to improving the quality of life for individuals with disabilities everywhere. Mr. Speaker, I was proud to call Shawn a friend. Although his life was cut far too short, his legacy will live on through his work and his loving family.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, I rise to mourn and honor the victims of the massacres against Armenians of Sumgait on February 27-29, 1988; of Kirovabad on November 21-27, 1988; and of Baku on January 13-19, 1990. During these events, attackers tortured and killed hundreds of Armenian residents. I condemn these pogroms and subsequent aggression by the Azerbaijanis against Armenian civilians and their culture. As we approach the anniversary of the attacks in Sumgait 33 years ago and reflect on Azerbaijan's ruthless aggression in Artsakh last fall, I urge the U.S. to take a leading role in achieving a fair, just, and lasting peace settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has shed innocent blood for far too long, and its actions are a clear violation of the international order. I call on the Biden Administration to take a different approach from the previous administration when it comes to holding bad actors accountable. The U.S. must uphold human rights for everyone, everywhere.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, this Sunday, February 21, 2021, marks the 100th anniversary of Boy Scout Troop 1 Conimicut, the oldest scout troop in my hometown of Warwick, Rhode Island. Over the past century, Troop 1 Conimicut has served its community, fostered lifelong friendships, and helped its members grow into confident and upstanding citizens. On February 21, 1921, three adults and five young men founded Troop 1 Conimicut at the Woodbury Union Presbyterian Church in Warwick. The Troop quickly grew, so much so that by the 1930s, it was the second largest in the Narragansett Council. By the 1950s, Troop 1 Conimicut had more than 150 scouts, and in 1952, produced its first Eagle Scout, Mr. Robert L. Richardson, who remains the namesake of one of the Troop's most distinguished awards. By the early 1970s, the Troop reached another milestone when Mr. Alan J. Whittaker, a Troop 1 Conimicut Eagle Scout, became its first ``homegrown'' scoutmaster. Mr. Whittaker's passion for the Troop is evident from his continued involvement to this day. Throughout its century of existence, Troop 1 Conimicut has engaged in many meaningful service projects. Some notable examples include collecting food for the Rhode Island Food Bank and other pantries, compiling toiletry kits for homeless veterans, and packing backpacks with supplies to distribute to foster families. Scouts have also refurbished Warwick's Sand Pond Trail, repaired the band room at Pilgrim High School, and constructed a fire pit to properly retire American flags at a local American Legion Post. Today, Troop 1 Conimicut continues to meet weekly at the Woodbury Union Church and remains an organization committed to mentorship, service, and growth. I congratulate Troop 1 Conimicut of Warwick on its centennial and commend its positive contributions to our community.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, January 6 was a horrific day for our country, for our democracy. The Capitol was breached, the blood of our defenders spilled, all because of a lie that the elections were stolen, a lie that has infected this Nation as perniciously as the pandemic. President Trump is the source of that lie. He has perverted and betrayed his oath to defend the Constitution, attacking the foundation of our democracy by inciting his supporters to violence. He is not fit to serve and is a danger to our country while he does. I too pledged to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. I will uphold that oath.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bid farewell to a vital member of my team and my right-hand man in Rhode Island for the last 7 years. Seth Klaiman joined my staff as district director and then my Rhode Island chief of staff after working for several cycles on my reelection campaign. The people of Rhode Island's Second District could not have asked for a more dedicated public servant. Seth worked nonstop, and he embodied the phrase ``underpromise and overdeliver.'' His organizational skills are unparalleled, and he was instrumental in helping me manage my most valuable resource, my time, on behalf of the people of Rhode Island. Seth is leaving to serve as chief of staff to our State Treasurer, Seth Magaziner. It is a terrific opportunity for him to continue to serve the Ocean State. And while I am sad to see him go, I wish him the very best of luck in his new role. To Seth, his wife, Ann, and their new son, Sebastian, I offer my sincerest thanks for your years making me look good and all the work you have done on behalf of the people of Rhode Island. I often say that we are only as good as the people around us, and I am lucky to have had a decade spent with you.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the conference report to accompany H.R. 6395, the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. I have served with Ranking Member Mac Thornberry for nearly 20 years, and I thank him for his service to the Nation and for his bipartisan leadership. Mac, it has been an honor, and you will be missed. I congratulate my colleagues, particularly Chairman Adam Smith, for his leadership in crafting the National Defense Authorization Act for the 60th consecutive year. The portions of the NDAA under my purview provide direction and oversight for Special Operations Forces and the defense intelligence enterprise. The bill supports scientists and funds STEM programs that will diversify our workforce. It also advances several policy priorities in artificial intelligence and cyberspace, including 27 recommendations from the Cyberspace Solarium Commission on which I serve. Among the most important, notably, this bill establishes a long- overdue provision that I authored, the Senate-confirmed national cyber director within the Executive Office of the President. The national cyber director will be the singular point of strategy development and implementation and will provide vital coordination to keep us safe in cyberspace. This bill also funds two Virginia-class submarines and the first Columbia-class submarine. I was proud to work with Chairman Courtney to fight cuts to the President's budget that would have eliminated a Virginia-class submarine. I am equally proud to represent the workers in Rhode Island who make such important and unique contributions to building the most sophisticated weapons systems ever built, which are vital to our national security. In all of my efforts on the NDAA, I have been privileged to serve with my ranking member, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, by my side. I thank her for her contributions and her commitment to bipartisanship. I also want to thank my colleagues and the staff on the Intelligence and Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee and my personal staff for their tireless efforts to get the NDAA across the finish line. Finally, this bill provides a 3 percent pay raise for our men and women in uniform, although no price can ever be put on their invaluable service. Every day, servicemembers put their lives on the line to protect our way of life and keep us safe at home, and we owe them an enormous debt of gratitude that we can never repay. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan commitment to national security.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson) for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 578, the ALS Disability Insurance Access Act, which ensures that individuals who are diagnosed with ALS are not forced to wait to receive the Social Security Disability benefits that they have earned and they so desperately need. The onset of a disability can be a difficult, challenging, and often disorienting time. However, by eliminating the 5-month waiting period for ALS patients to receive disability benefits, we can help families facing this difficult diagnosis focus on their health and well-being instead of worrying about how to keep a roof over their head or put food on the table. Madam Speaker, I applaud my good friend and colleague, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, for championing this bipartisan effort in the Senate. He has been a strong voice for the ALS community as co-chair of the Senate ALS Caucus, and I have been proud to work with him on this legislation. Madam Speaker, I also recognize our colleague here, Representative Seth Moulton, for his leadership as well. Madam Speaker, I also want to recognize one of my constituents, Christa Thompson, who has been a dedicated crusader for the ALS community. Christa knows the struggle all too well, as she has watched her husband, Olin, battle this devastating disease. Christa, a proud mother of three boys, made it her mission to engage with me and my delegation colleagues early on, and it is in large part due to her efforts and the efforts of ALS advocates everywhere, including my good friend, J.R. Pagliarini, who has been such a champion of ALS back in Rhode Island, that we will be able to provide some important relief to families. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important measure. Let's make a difference for these families and those diagnosed with ALS.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the Conference Report to accompany the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2021 that we will be considering tomorrow. Mr. Speaker, this is my 20th NDAA, and as ever, I am incredibly proud of the bipartisan work that went in to creating it. Amidst all the 1300 provisions, however, I want to focus on section 1752. Section 1752 is based on my bill, H.R. 7331, the National Cyber Director Act, and it is the result of more than 10 years of deliberative thought and advocacy. The provision is simple enough. It creates an Office of the National Cyber Director within the Executive Office of the President. The office is led by a director who will be Presidentially appointed and confirmed by the Senate. The National Cyber Director is charged with being the President's principal adviser on matters of cybersecurity policy with developing and overseeing implementation of the national cyber strategy. He or she will also be responsible for coordinating government response to serious cyber incidents. And as I said, simple enough, but this represents a complete sea change in the way cybersecurity is handled in the Federal Government. The need could not be more urgent. Of course, cyber operations, whether carried out by criminals or nation states, continue to threaten us as a Nation. Hardly a day goes by where we don't read about a new ransomware attack taking down an entire hospital system or shutting down businesses. Our adversaries target our elections to strike at the heart of our democracy. They target our defense industrial base that gives us our competitive edge. They are even targeting vaccine research that may be the key to ending the terrible pandemic that we are living through. Mr. Speaker, cyberspace is a new domain, and the first that has been created entirely by humankind. We would not expect that emerging security challenges in cyberspace would be easy to tackle, and, of course, they have proven to be quite difficult. After all, many security paradigms that developed about borders are virtually meaningless when it is as easy to attack a computer across the room as it is to attack one half a world away. While decidedly thorny, these challenges are not insurmountable. However, the Federal Government has not risen to the challenges as well as we could hope. There are many reasons for this, but probably the most important of which is that nobody really is in charge. Cybersecurity is often passed off as an IT problem, best left to the geeks to handle, instead of being recognized as an operational risk that needs attention from senior leadership. Most Federal agencies do not have cybersecurity in their core missions, so investments in cyber capabilities can fall by the wayside. Computer systems also pervade every aspect of the Federal Government's work, so coordination is required across the entire interagency. The failures to rise to address these challenges poses real risk to the government. Sensitive government data, such as clearance information stored at the Office of Personnel Management, has been stolen. U.S. corporations suffer billions of dollars in damages each year from cyber incidents, and other adversaries increasingly view the cyber domain as ideal for conducting asymmetric warfare in the ``gray zone,'' below the level of armed conflict. Mr. Speaker, for more than a decade, I have been involved in numerous efforts to root out underlying causes of the government's inability to get its arms around the cybersecurity problem. Most recently, I had the distinct privilege of serving on the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, a 14-member body chartered by Congress to develop a strategic approach to protect the United States from cyber incidents of significant consequence. One of the things that these efforts have universally uncovered--a finding endorsed recently by the Government Accountability Office--is that a lack of centralized leadership in the White House is holding the government back. Mr. Speaker, only the White House has the ability to compel interagency cooperation and ensure that cybersecurity efforts are synergistic and deduplicated. Only the White House can ensure that budgets are adequate, both for internal cyber defense and external cybersecurity programs aimed at protecting the private sector. Only the White House can effectively coordinate incident response across two dozen agencies with some cybersecurity responsibility. Now, Presidents Bush and Obama both made strides in improving cybersecurity policy coordination within the White House, changes that were at first carried forward by President Trump and his Homeland Security adviser. But none of them gave the position they created the gravitas and authority it needed to be successful. And eventually, then-national Director John Bolton, eventually eliminated the cybersecurity coordinating position altogether. Congress needed to step in and provide strategic direction with the National Cyber Director Act that we have here. Finally, we will have the accountability that comes from having a leader within the Executive Office of the President that we can interrogate about cyber strategy writ large, and that we, as the Congress, will in turn be accountable to our constituents for ensuring the strategy is executed and resourced properly. This NDAA will be an incredibly important bill in the history of cybersecurity legislation, and I am honored to have played a key role in advancing it. Mr. Speaker, like any bill a decade in the making, many hands have gotten us to this point with the National Cyber Director Act. First off, I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Speaker Nancy Pelosi for appointing me as her designee to the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. Developing and implementing the commission report has been one of the highlights of my congressional career, and much of the progress that we have made on the National Cyber Director is due to my fellow commissioners. I want to start with Congressman Patrick Murphy as my original ally on this proposal, based on his experience in these Halls and in the executive branch. Tom Fanning brought his expertise as a major utility executive in crafting a recommendation that ensures accountability. Frank Cilluffo focused relentlessly on appropriately scoping the authorities of the office, while Suzanne Spaulding fought to ensure that the National Cyber Director will have insight into all U.S. operations in the cyber domain. Dr. Samantha Ravich's initial scepticism was essential to making sure the final recommendation reflects the realities of working within the Executive Office of the President. Finally, Chris Inglis's invaluable feedback means that the bill we vote on tomorrow will fit squarely within the strategic vision laid out by the commission. Despite my years working on this proposal, I was always impressed by Chris's ability to elegantly connect the National Cyber Director recommendation with our broader mission. I would never have been exposed to the idea of a stronger coordinating authority within the White House were it not for my time on the Center for Strategic and International Studies' Commission on Cybersecurity for the 44th Presidency, which I was proud to co-chair. My fellow co-chairs, General Harry Raduege, Scott Charney, and especially Congressman Michael McCaul, all helped shape my thinking during my first deep dive on this topic. And, of course, we would have been lost without the expert guidance of CSIS's Jim Lewis, the commission's executive director. After 9 years of trying to pass a bill to codify a cybersecurity role within the White House, what changed this year? Well, quite frankly, John Bolton and his poor decisionmaking changed the equation. Given the ever-increasing threat in cyberspace, I don't think anyone realistically thought that somebody would dare eliminate the cyber coordinator at the White House. Yet, in one of the worst cybersecurity policy moves ever seen, Bolton did just that, making clear the need for congressional action to establish a permanent cyber director. That need was well understood by Chairman Adam Smith, who has backed the inclusion of Solarium recommendations in the NDAA since day one and who has consistently supported the National Cyber Director Act. Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney also provided vital support. When I first spoke to her about the Solarium report, she immediately got why leadership in the White House was so important. In addition to joining the National Cyber Director Act as an original cosponsor, she convened a legislative hearing that teed up consideration on the House floor. The witnesses at that hearing--former House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, former Obama Cybersecurity Coordinator Michael Daniel, Tenable CEO Amit Yoran, and Suzanne Spaulding--made a clear and compelling case for an expedited consideration of the bill. Chairman Jim McGovern and his Rules Committee colleagues took up this charge, ruling in order an amendment consisting of the text of H.R. 7331 during our floor debate on the NDAA. As my colleagues well know, passing the House is only half the battle. Here is where my fellow legislative commissioners really carried the day: Senator Ben Sasse, who authored the legislation to create the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, made more efficiently organizing the government a central part of his push for improved cybersecurity. Our colleague and Solarium co-chair, Congressman Mike Gallagher, has been with me every step of the way, on the National Cyber Director and the 16 other Solarium provisions we moved through the NDAA process. Anyone who claims bipartisanship is dead in Washington has not met these two exemplars of comity and serious policy deliberativeness. In the Senate, my counterpart, the chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee's Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Senator Mike Rounds, has been a negotiating partner without equal. Senator Rounds came to the table with an open mind, asked tough but fair questions, requested additional information about our proposal, and, at the end of the day, helped to strengthen it and push it through the conference process. I also thank Congressman Katko, who went to bat for the National Cyber Director in conversations with the White House. A special note of thanks is reserved for our other Solarium co-chair, Senator Angus King. Senator King has been the soul of the Solarium Commission, and I continue to be in awe of his steady leadership throughout the process. Senator King's maxims--whether that ``sloppy structure leads to sloppy policy'' or that we needed ``one throat to choke'' in the executive branch--perfectly encapsulate the central theme and issues at stake. I can say for a fact that no one fought harder to ensure that the Senate accepted a strong version of the National Cyber Director Act in the conference process. Finally, Mr. Speaker, as all of my colleagues know, we would be lost in this institution without the staff that supports us. I never would have begun this journey in cybersecurity policy if it were not for Jake Olcott, my former staff director on the Committee on Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cyber Security, and Science and Technology. Likewise, my then-MLA Davis Hake helped draft and introduce the Executive Cyberspace Authorities Act of 2010 that provided the scaffolding for the National Cyber Director Act; and his successor, Michael Hermann, further refined the concept. The Solarium Commission staff has been, frankly, extraordinary to work with and a great testament to the commission's executive director, Admiral Mark Montgomery. From day one, Mark challenged us to draft a report that would be actionable, not just a doorstop, and this NDAA is a realization of his vision and his unflagging work ethic. My fellow legislators' Solarium liaisons--Steve Smith on Senator King's staff, Chas Morrison on Congressman Gallagher's, and Brett Fetterly on Senator Sasse's--stepped up to ensure that all of the oars stayed rowing in the same direction, no matter how choppy the waters. We would never have had a hearing on the bill were it not for Emily Burns of Chairwoman Maloney's staff. Lori Ismail was our critical link at the Rules Committee to ensure the bill would have the opportunity to be debated and voted upon. On the Senate side, Jeff Rothblum from Ranking Member Peter's staff helped us navigate the jurisdictional hurdles that come with any piece of cybersecurity legislation and offered insightful comments and guidance throughout the process. During the conference process itself, we relied heavily on Katie Sutton and Kirk McConnell, two true pros on the Senate Armed Services Committee staff; and Eric Snelgrove, staff lead for Ranking Member Elise Stefanik. Lastly, but surely not least, I want to acknowledge my own staff. My MLA, Caroline Goodson, ably assisted by our defense fellow, Captain Mike Lake, thrived in her first NDAA and expertly balanced the many priorities I have within my IETC portfolio and for my constituents in Rhode Island. My cybersecurity fellows David Wagner, Eric Saund, and particularly Allison Browning, have all been brilliant minds and wonderful team players who have helped me get the most out of the Solarium Commission. At the end of the day, though, this bill never would have gotten done without my IETC cyber lead, Josh Stiefel. Josh immediately understood the importance of the National Cyber Director, based on his time working on cybersecurity in the interagency. Using that experience and his skill at negotiating, he definitely steered the National Cyber Director Act--and more than two dozen other Solarium recommendations-- through the NDAA. One of the hardest things to do is to entrust someone else with something of great value to you, but I never had any hesitation letting Josh work the staff-level discussions. I am incredibly lucky to have him on my team. Finally, and most importantly, the National Cyber Director Act, the dozens of other Solarium recommendations, and countless other cyber initiatives that I have developed over the years would never have existed were it not for my legislative director, Nick Leiserson. Nick has been the engine on my cyber policy work for 6 years. His legislative expertise and commitment to advancing effective cybersecurity policy have elevated the cyber discussion on Capitol Hill and kept our country safer. He has worked tirelessly for many years, and I am deeply grateful for how he has turned the National Cyber Director idea into legislation and finally into reality. Mr. Speaker, this year's NDAA is one of the most important pieces of cybersecurity legislation ever to be considered by Congress. There are so many cyber provisions--from creating the Joint Cyber Planning Office at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to requiring a cyber force structure assessment--that we had to create a new title for the bill. But the crown jewel is the National Cyber Director Act. I look forward to working with President Biden, Vice President Harris, and the new administration to stand up this office. I have often said that there are no silver bullets in cybersecurity policymaking, and I still believe that. But I know that I will sleep more soundly knowing that there is a central coordinating figure in the White House empowered to protect the country. I hope that the legacy of this bill will be safety, security, and stability in cyberspace for decades to come. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Madam Speaker, Postmaster General DeJoy's attempts to push forward operational changes that delay the mail are simply unacceptable. My constituents depend on the U.S. Postal Service. In the past week alone, I received over 1,000 constituent letters expressing confusion and anger over these changes that he has planned and implemented. A senior from Coventry wrote to me, expressing her alarm over what might happen if her diabetic husband failed to receive his medications on time. A constituent from Wakefield, who has not missed an election since 1956, emailed me to ask if he should vote in person, despite being 85 years old with health concerns. Madam Speaker, no one should have to wait for lifesaving medications or risk their health to cast a vote. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Millions of Americans are counting on us, and we cannot let them down.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, 30 years ago this Sunday, President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act into law and ushered in a new era of equality and justice for people with disabilities. This law was ushered through Congress with the great leadership of people like Senator Tom Harkin; Congressman Tony Coelho; our current majority leader, Steny Hoyer; Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner; and countless others who rallied behind this cause, including from the private sector, people like Justin Dart. This was an extraordinary grassroots effort from around the country. The ADA guaranteed that the one in four Americans living with a disability have the right to learn, work, and live in their communities, free from discrimination. As someone who has lived with a disability since the age of 16, I have witnessed the transformation we have made into a more accessible and inclusive society. In fact, without the ADA, I quite possibly wouldn't have the privilege of representing Rhode Island's Second Congressional District in the United States Congress. However, our work is not yet finished. We must strengthen the promise of the ADA to ensure that all people with disabilities can pursue the life that they choose. Accessible transportation, comprehensive home and community-based services, inclusive workplaces, and universally designed technology are only a few of the challenges that we must tackle moving forward. Madam Speaker, inclusivity benefits us all, and we must continue fighting for a world where accessibility is the default, not an afterthought. Happy 30th anniversary to all those who have been a part of this effort to include all those with disabilities in achieving a more active and inclusive life in our country.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the amendment offered by my friend and colleague from Massachusetts. This amendment would effectively prevent the Department of Interior from moving forward with a decision to revoke tribal lands from being held in trust. Although I appreciate my colleague's advocacy on behalf of the tribe in his state, the tribal land trust process is based on complex legal precedent and has no business being included in a bill to fund the federal government. We are familiar with the complexities of tribal law in Rhode Island as the Supreme Court's decision in Carcieri v. Salazar had implications for our state. But any legislative remedy for Carcieri shouldn't lie in an ad hoc approach that favors one particular tribe. What's more, this amendment could cause serious economic harm to Rhode Island. It effectively preserves the opportunity for the construction of a new casino in Taunton, Massachusetts, by putting pending administrative decisions on hold for the next year. My colleagues in the Massachusetts delegation are hoping for a last minute judicial or administrative reversal that would allow the stalled casino project to begin. The project would be in direct competition with established casinos just over the state line. Twin River and Tiverton casinos have been important economic drivers in my state, generating hundreds of millions of dollars each year. We are already feeling the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic in Rhode Island, as I know our neighbors are in Massachusetts. If this amendment becomes law, it could compound the economic pain for our businesses, their workers, and our state. I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, from the moment I arrived in Congress, the aura of John Lewis loomed large. He will rightfully be remembered as a giant of the civil rights movement and the conscience of the Congress. To me, though, he will always be remembered as a man who I felt privileged and honored and humbled to call colleague and friend. He will always be remembered as the kind, humble, approachable gentleman from Georgia, a tireless fighter who rallied our Caucus at pivotal moments to make positive change, to stand for what is right, to give a voice to the powerless, to protect the rights of the disenfranchised. Of course, he was well-known for making noise and getting into good trouble, necessary trouble. It was one of the great privileges of my life to join John Lewis in making some good and necessary trouble when he organized a peaceful sit-in on the House floor to demand action on gun violence. John Lewis made a difference in the lives of millions, and his presence was always felt in Congress, but his absence will be felt even more. Rest in peace, my friend.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6395, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. I want to begin by congratulating Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Thornberry for the strong bipartisan bill, which was unanimously passed by the committee 56-0. I am particularly pleased with the provisions in our Intelligence and Emerging Threats and Capabilities portion of the bill. My subcommittee's provisions reflect key national security interests and critical defense oversight areas, including intelligence, cyber, science and technology, and Special Operations Forces. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Ranking Member Stefanik for her bipartisan cooperation, and I want to thank the other members of the subcommittee for their extraordinary input that make this mark so strong. Sound collaboration is what sets this committee apart as we maintain the now 60-year tradition of passing an annual defense authorization bill to support members of the military and provide for our national security. The ranking member, the vice chair, Mr. Crow, and my IETC colleagues exemplify this spirit. I would also like to thank, of course, the staff, who without their input and work, this would not be possible. Committee staff Shannon, Josh, Jessica, Bess, Eric, Jason, and Caroline; my military legislative assistant, Caroline; and fellows Matt and Allison were instrumental in its development, and my legislative director, Nick. Mr. Speaker, our subcommittee mark aligns intelligence and security capabilities to the National Defense Strategy, and I am particularly proud that it incorporates recommendations from two commissions comprising some of our Nation's most forward-thinking defense experts. The National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence's work will lay the foundation for the country's workforce, ethics, and security requirements as machine learning and artificial intelligence tools become more prevalent. The Cyberspace Solarium Commission, which I had the pleasure to serve on with my colleague, Congressman Gallagher, who co-chaired the commission, has provided a strategic vision of layered cyber deterrence, and this bill includes nearly 20 recommendations to implement it. This bill enriches the Department of Defense science and technology ecosystem. We add over $600 million in science and technology funding to confront rising science powers. We restore $135 million to the cooperative threat reduction account, fixing a devastating cut in the President's budget. We add over $1 billion in a pandemic preparedness and resilience national security fund. Mr. Speaker, great power competition also is a race for talent. This bill diversifies the Department's workforce and emphasizes collaboration with historically Black colleges and universities and minority institutions. It will also protect foreign students at our great universities from being deported. It also ensures that Special Operations Forces remain the most talented, professional, agile, and ready force postured for high-end missions. Finally, our bill funds the Navy's number one procurement priority, the Columbia-class submarine, and it restores funding for two Virginia- class boats, one of which had been cut by the President. I know what amazing capabilities these submarines provide because they are built in my district in Rhode Island by the hardworking men and women of Electric Boat, and I was proud to work with Chairman Courtney on these provisions. Mr. Speaker, this bill demonstrates our commitment to national security while increasing oversight and reducing redundancy to ensure our taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently and effectively, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the en bloc package and speak in favor of the 11 Cyberspace Solarium Commission-related floor amendments that my colleagues and I have offered. Created in the fiscal year 2019 NDAA, the Solarium Commission was charged with developing a strategic approach to stop cyber incidents of significant consequence, and we did so through our strategy of layered cyber deterrence. Importantly, we also put forth recommendations on how to implement that strategy. One of our most important recommendations is the establishment of an Office of the National Cyber Director within the Executive Office of the President. We need to coordinate across the interagency on a truly whole-of-nation strategy. This long-overdue policy change will finally be accomplished in this NDAA. We also implement a recommendation to clarify the roles and responsibilities of sector risk management agencies, and, thanks to Congressman Richmond, we will also create a Joint Cyber Planning Office at CISA at the Department of Homeland Security to ensure we get ahead of incidents before they happen. Taken as a whole, these amendments will materially alter our cybersecurity posture for the better. I am incredibly grateful to all the commissioners of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, particularly to our co-chairs, Mr. Gallagher and Senator King, and I look forward to our continuing work.