Jim Langevin

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in celebration of National Infrastructure Week. Here in Washington, meetings have brought together planners and civil engineers, builders and innovators, labor unions and developers--all dedicated to modernizing our American infrastructure. And it does need modernizing. In my home state of Rhode Island, for example, one in four bridges is deficient, the worst rate in the country. They are battered by storms and suffering from aging concrete and steel. Families and businesses alike suffer from this infrastructure debt. That's why this week I introduced the ``SAFE Bridges Act,'' which will provide a renewed focus on the safety of bridges across the country. It will create a discrete new way to prioritize those bridges most in need. Mr. Speaker, it is ``Time to Build.'' We need to invest in bread-and- butter projects, highways and transit that Americans depend on every day.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate and recognize our Department of Defense laboratories. I am pleased to introduce a bipartisan resolution to designate May 18 as Department of Defense Laboratory Day 2017. Mr. Speaker, Defense labs have played a unique role in countless innovations that have enhanced and strengthened our national security. Defense-supported research and development has yielded many game- changing state-of-the-art weapons systems and technologies, ensuring that we never send our men and women in uniform into a fair fight. Our Defense labs also contribute to American economic growth by spurring the creation of new industries, companies, and jobs across the country, guaranteeing that America leads the way in cutting-edge science and technology. Mr. Speaker, in celebration of all the work and accomplishments of our national network of Defense laboratories, and most especially the incredibly talented scientists, researchers, and support staff who support them and staff them, please join me in honoring their contributions to our security.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the MGT Act and of continued efforts to improve the federal government's cybersecurity posture. I would like to thank Mr. Hurd for his tireless efforts advocating for this bill and his partners on the Oversight Committee, Mr. Connolly and Ms. Kelly for their cybersecurity leadership. I also must acknowledge the House's Minority Whip and my good friend, Mr. Hoyer, for his work pushing for IT modernization. The idea for the kind of revolving fund included as part of the MGT Act grew out of President Obama's Cybersecurity National Action Plan, itself issued in direct response to the massive breach of the Office of Personnel Management. OPM was yet another wake up call to the government about the lax attitude toward security present at many agencies, but, to the prior administration's credit, the CNAP contained a number of needed policy shifts, including the creation of a federal Chief Information Security Officer and the use of DHS's authority to conduct a government-wide review of high value assets. Central to the CNAP, though, was the realization that attempting to secure antiquated federal IT systems was a losing proposition. Just as the Internet--developed in the 1970s--was not created with security in mind, so, too, are many older government systems devoid of even basic security controls. When we think about the fact that the iPhone turns ten next month and the huge improvements that have been made from the first generation model to today's, it's easy to see how systems that are two or three decades old can hamper security. Using outdated software also compromises efficiency. There's a reason businesses keep up to date with technology--it saves them money. The cleverness of the revolving fund approach is that it uses these savings to drive further upgrades in a virtuous cycle. I hope that the MGT Act is viewed as a pilot program, as there is a lot more technical debt we have incurred than will be solved by $250 million per year. But it is a very important first step, and I commend the sponsors for their work. And I hope that federal agencies view this bill as license to be innovative in their upgrade planning and to bring us a more efficient-- and secure--government.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Bishop Hendricken High School's Academic Decathlon team, the Division II winners of the United States Academic Decathlon National Competition. The team consists of Mitchell Boyer, Ryan Brady, Darragh Harkin, Steven Huang, Jaidan Idarraga, Connor Milson, Cory Morris, Alden Pratt, and Dylan Temel. They spent countless hours studying and, on April 22, their hard work paid off. Led by Coach Sister Carol Ann Murray, they won an impressive 12 gold, 8 silver, and 11 bronze medals and became the first Rhode Island team to win their division at the national competition. The students' dedication and scholastic abilities have made Bishop Hendricken, my alma mater, and the whole State of Rhode Island extremely proud. Mr. Speaker, they have shown the vast academic potential of Rhode Island students, and I congratulate them on this great accomplishment.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the Republicans' latest plan to dismantle the Affordable Care Act. After Republicans failed to earn the votes to pass their American Health Care Act in March, I thought that we could finally move forward to find bipartisan solutions to improving health care in America. Instead, Republicans have revived their partisan goal of ACA repeal by adding provisions that have made a bad bill even worse. Mr. Speaker, make no mistake about it; the bill before us today will make Americans' health care worse in this country: This legislation will cause 24 million people to lose coverage, while drastically increasing healthcare costs on everyday families; It eliminates Federal safeguards that prevent insurers from charging older Americans higher premiums; It guts essential health benefits, like maternity care and prescription drugs; Further, it removes crucial patient protections that prevent discrimination against people with preexisting conditions, leaving our most vulnerable populations with a false promise of sufficient coverage through these failed high-risk pools. Mr. Speaker, I am saddened that so many Republicans appear willing to place hollow partisan victories above the health of their constituents. I oppose the Republican AHCA in the strongest possible terms and urge all of my colleagues to put the health of Americans first.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and memory of General Amedeo ``Armie'' Merolla--a dedicated patriot, a passionate legal mind, a community leader in Rhode Island, and someone who I was proud to call a dear friend. Armie Merolla was a man of service in every aspect of his life. He spent much of his time giving back to his community, serving his state and his country with distinction. Armie's time in uniform began when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps while still a student at Brown University. After graduating in 1951, he enlisted in the Rhode Island Army National Guard (RIARNG) and received a direct commission as a First Lieutenant in the Judge Advocate General Corps. His long and distinguished military career included posts in the Military Police, JAG, Field Artillery, and Military Intelligence, during which he earned numerous decorations, such as the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Rhode Island Cross for Valor. Among his commissions with RIARNG, he served as State Inspector General, State Staff Judge Advocate, Brigadier General, and Assistant Adjutant General and Deputy Commanding General--Army. In his retirement, he was appointed as Commander of the Rhode Island State Defense Force and attained the honorary rank of Major General in the Rhode Island Militia. As an attorney, Armie experienced great success and took on many roles after receiving his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1954. At the time of his passing, he was a senior managing partner at Merolla, Accetturo & Lough, where he practiced alongside two of his children, Katherine and Steven. He served as Judge Advocate General and Assistant Providence City Solicitor, and contributed his legal expertise to the Rhode Island Secretary of State, the Rhode Island Public Buildings Authority, and the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Administration. The Rhode Island Supreme Court appointed him to the Alternate Dispute Resolution Task Force, the Rules of Evidence Committee, the Committee for Admission to the Bar, and the Committee on Clerkships. Armie also held leadership positions in several legal associations, including the Rhode Island Trial Lawyers Association. In his community, Armie demonstrated an even deeper commitment to others. He was a Chairman of the Warwick School Committee, Chairman of the Warwick Bicentennial Committee, President of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Warwick, trustee of his church, president of the alumni association of his class at Brown, Commodore and Perpetual Member of the East Greenwich Yacht Club, and Co-Founder of Warwick Figure Skaters. He also held leadership positions in local chapters of the United Way, the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Charities Fund, and John F. Kennedy's 1960 presidential campaign. Armie devoted himself to a large and loving family, and is survived by his wife, Norma, his brother, John, his four children, Katherine, Julie, Sandra, and Steven, nine grandchildren, four nieces, one nephew, and seven grandnieces and grandnephews. It is an honor to remember Armie on the Floor today, just as it was to consider him a trusted friend and advisor. He made a difference, and he will truly be missed.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the omnibus spending agreement that is before us today, which will finally fund the government for the remainder of fiscal year 2017. The bill before us is not a perfect bill, but it represents a good bipartisan compromise. Mr. Speaker, we need to engage in good faith discussions about our values and priorities, not participate in posturing to social media. It is my hope that my congressional colleagues on both sides of the aisle will continue the constructive tone that this agreement represents. This fiscal year 2017 agreement delivers on many priorities important to Rhode Island. It restores the year-round Pell Grant Program or summer Pell eligibility, allowing summer students to receive Pell grant funds to help them finish their degrees on time. Rather than slash funding as the President had requested, this compromise also adds $2 billion in funding to the National Institutes of Health, which conducts vital research in our efforts to treat and cure catastrophic diseases and drives innovative economic development. On the defense side, this agreement funds vital national security programs, including the continued procurement of Virginia class submarines and ongoing development of the new Columbia class, work that I am proud to say happens at Quonset Point in my district. I want to thank all those involved in these negotiations on both sides of the aisle for their commitment to achieving a good faith compromise that will keep the government open and working for the American people. I hope we can continue on a similar bipartisan agreement as we plan for the next fiscal year.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and memory of General Amedeo ``Armie'' Merolla--a dedicated patriot, a passionate legal mind, a community leader in Rhode Island, and someone whom I was proud to call a dear friend. Armie's distinguished military career spanned 36 years, during which time he served in the United States Marine Corps and the Rhode Island National Guard. He served as assistant adjutant general for the State and retired as the first brigadier general of Italian heritage in the history of the Rhode Island National Guard. As an accomplished attorney for more than 60 years, he provided legal counsel and advice to several public officials--myself included--and maintained a very successful private practice. As a tireless community leader, he served as chairman of the Warwick School Committee and held leadership positions in local branches of charities and children's organizations. Above all, he prioritized his family, whom he loved dearly and to whom he devoted his life's work. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to remember Armie on the floor today, just as it was to consider him a trusted friend and adviser. Mr. Speaker, he made a difference, and he will be greatly missed.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, today I introduced the PLUS Loan Disability Forgiveness Act, a bill to relieve the burden of student loan debt on parents whose children become permanently disabled. While most student loans are forgiven if a student becomes totally and permanently disabled, parent PLUS loans are not. It is simply wrong that a parent struggling with a child's disability is not afforded the same loan forgiveness as other borrowers. My bill would extend disability discharge to parent PLUS loans. It would allow families to focus on healing, not servicing debt. It would help lighten the $1.4 trillion owed by student borrowers and their families. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting these parents, who are just trying to help their children succeed.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Autism Awareness Month. It is shocking to know that at least 1 in 68 children have been identified with autism spectrum disorder in the United States. My own family has been affected by this situation with my nephew Joshua, who is now 20 years old, a bright and energetic young man who is autistic. Mr. Speaker, early detection and treatment plans are crucial to the development of a child's social, behavioral, and communications skills. As such, we must invest in the research of new interventions, provide support to families and caregivers, and fund programs that assist those living with autism well into adulthood. Right now, especially when they age into adulthood, those resources are not there. Mr. Speaker, Sesame Street recently introduced a character with autism named Julia to teach audiences about inclusion. This month is part of a larger conversation about autism derived from a place of positivity. I am hopeful that Julia can help convey such a message to our youth, and I will continue supporting programs that help people with autism and their families by providing the tools they need to succeed.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, like my colleagues, I too have stories of the impact that the National Endowments for the Arts and the Humanities have back home, and some of these stories are small and deeply personal. I would like to thank the wonderful leaders of the Rhode Island Arts and Humanities Council for helping to collect them so that I can share them with everyone here today. The State of Rhode Island is deeply indebted to Randy Rosenbaum and Dr. Elizabeth Francis for their work in promoting the arts and humanities. The State councils are an essential component of the Endowments' efforts, and we are incredibly lucky in Rhode Island to have Elizabeth and Randy heading up our initiatives. One of the stories they shared comes from FirstWorks, an NEA- supported organization that helps connect students experiencing new types of performance with artists premiering new pieces. FirstWorks recently helped bring together a Philadelphia hip-hop group with high school students in downtown Providence. The students participated in a workshop with one of the dancers one day and followed it up with a lecture and a matinee performance the next. FirstWorks had just created a Spanish-language version of their student survey, which they administered after the matinee performance. Students were asked to rate their enjoyment and explain why they gave their answer. Two Spanish-speaking students responded that they loved the performance because it was ``the first time they went to one.'' The FirstWorks team weren't exactly sure what the students meant. Was it the first matinee? Was it the first time seeing the hip-hop group? So they followed up with the teacher, who wrote back: ``These students have never been to a live performance. It just goes to show you how important these opportunities are for our population. They will remember this forever.'' This is the kind of impact the arts can have on our communities. Another story comes from an artist who has, with the help of State Arts Council funding, been working with underserved communities for 6 years. She helps students learn to apply themselves to art projects in a way that builds self-confidence and helps them learn the power of their imaginations. About an elementary school student named Danny, she wrote: ``When I first started working with him, he did nothing but whine and cry and insist he couldn't do anything. With my encouragement, he took his own ideas and went with them--in a puppet workshop, he made three stuffed animals instead. He sleeps with them every night now. They make him feel safe.'' There are hundreds of these stories in Rhode Island alone, and they would simply not be possible without the support of the Endowments. Of course, some projects supported by NEA and NEH are on a much larger scale. It is virtually impossible right now to find a Rhode Islander who, today, doesn't know about WaterFire, Providence's massively successful creative placemaking project. I have experienced this wonderful WaterFire many times myself. For those of my colleagues who have not had the pleasure of attending a WaterFire--and, Mr. Speaker, I am happy to extend an invitation to all of my colleagues to come and to visit--it is a dynamic sculpture, basically, with dozens of these metal baskets or metal braziers transforming the rivers of downtown Providence. This groundbreaking artwork has completely transformed Saturday nights in Providence, with tens of thousands of people flocking downtown for each lighting and the performances, music, and camaraderie that accompany it. It is hard to describe it in words, but it has been transformative. WaterFire really has fundamentally altered the way Providence is viewed and the way the people of Providence view themselves. Support from NEA is helping WaterFire further explore creative placemaking, and it is incredibly meaningful. A final thought to share comes from Professor Touba Ghadessi, a board member for the Rhode Island Council on the Humanities. Professor Ghadessi was asked to share her thoughts on why NEH matters for all Rhode Islanders, and I truly cannot improve upon her words. This is what she had to say: ``The Rhode Island Council for the Humanities uncovers beautiful stories about individuals and places and brings them to life--these stories become our history and make us understand that we, too, write the narratives that construct culture. The intentionally diverse programming that RICH supports builds communities that, eventually, will view diversity as normalcy--this normalcy is the one I aspire to construct for the next generation. RICH allows for our best selves to come forward and celebrate together what culture teaches us--from the struggles of social justice, to the legacy of first peoples, to the craft of filmmaking for children. All of these things matter. All of these things make us better human beings. All of these things turn us into ethical and engaged citizens of the world. Without an understanding of the humanities, opinions become facts and truth is debatable. History has offered us a roadmap to behaving with integrity--we can't ignore it or ignorance wins.'' Mr. Speaker, I cannot think of more important words for these times, and I would ask all of my colleagues to reflect on what it will take to view diversity as normalcy and why it seems today that the truth is debatable. Mr. Speaker, I thank all my colleagues for being here today. I am proud to share my thoughts on why it is so important that we not zero out the National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities and the incredible impact they have on our communities. I have one more story from my district about the impact of the arts and humanities that I'd like to share. It, too, relates to the legacy of Senator Pell, but it also points to the broader cuts to arts and humanities in the President's budget outline. A decade after the passage of the National Foundation for the Arts and Humanities Act, Senator Pell was again at the forefront of cultural preservation and promotion when he sponsored legislation creating the Office of Museum Services. While the Office was eventually rolled into the Institute of Museum and Library Services, it continues to support great work, which I saw firsthand last year in my district when the Tomaquaq Museum in Exeter was awarded the prestigious National Medal for Museum and Library Service. Recently, we in Rhode Island have been celebrating the 350th anniversary of our charter and Roger Williams's respect for the Indigenous People he lived among. But far too often, this story treats Rhode Island's tribes as bit players rather than delving into their rich culture and history. The Tomaquag Museum's founders recognized this flaw in the narrative in the 1950s, and while I'm disappointed it took the rest of us so long to catch up, I'm incredibly proud of all the recognition it's received of late. The Tomaquag Museum remains the only Rhode Island institution dedicated solely to the history and culture of the state's indigenous population, and I have experienced its power to start conversations and change attitudes in our communities. Unfortunately, IMLS, too, is slated for defending under the President's budget outline. We are very lucky that my home state Senator, Jack Reed, has taken up Senator Pell's mantle in pushing for its reauthorization and full funding. But it is important that all of my colleagues join together to protect the NEA, the NEH, IMLS, and support for the arts and humanities throughout the federal budget. We must do so because of the lives touched and forever altered by these organizations. We must do so in order to achieve a better understanding of the past, a better analysis of the present, and a better view of the future. We must do so because it is good policy. I hope that hearing the stories shared today has helped cement that fact in the minds of my colleagues, and I look forward to working with them to continue to promote the arts and humanities. With that, I again thank all my colleagues who joined me this morning. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I know everyone is on a tight time schedule, but I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell) for staying and contributing his thoughts and his support to this effort. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline). I know that he is on a tight schedule to try to catch a train at noon.

Mr. LANGEVIN. I thank the gentlewoman for her presence here today but, most especially, for her outstanding words and participation in this effort. Thank you for what you have contributed here today, your wonderful perspective. I hope it catches the President's attention and, hopefully, reverses this effort to zero out funding for the National Endowments for the Arts and the Humanities. Mr. Speaker, some may think of the arts and humanities as just luxuries or extras, but they are not. They are central to who we are. It is also about the jobs they create and how the artists and the folks from the humanities contribute to our economy, people who earn a living and pay taxes and, again, are a vibrant part of our communities, our States, and our country. So that is something else that is important to remember. Mr. Speaker, I am very proud now to yield to my colleague from New York (Mr. Tonko), who has an important perspective to offer.

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to yield now to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Foster).

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join a number of my colleagues in strong support of the National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities. These venerable institutions, which both recently celebrated their 50th anniversaries, are a cornerstone of American cultural expressions. Sadly, they are also under attack. The President's recent budget outline called for the defunding and dismantling of the Endowments. So I have gathered here with my friends and colleagues in the hope that we can help the President change his mind and demonstrate to him the immense benefit that the NEA and the NEH bring to our districts, our country, and, in fact, the world. Being a Rhode Islander, I have always felt a special connection to the arts and humanities. Rhode Island was founded as a colony that welcomed free expression of religion, and that freedom of thought quickly translated into an independent mindedness that drove creative endeavors. It is no wonder, then, that into such an environment was born one of the 20th century's great statesmen and a champion of the arts, our late senior Senator, Senator Claiborne Pell. Senator Pell was a mentor of mine, and I actually had the privilege of interning with him twice at one point. He is rightly lionized for many of his legislative achievements, including the Pell grants that bear his name. But I believe that no issue was closer to his heart than that of preserving and promoting American art and culture. Anyone who knew the Senator knew that his own passion was reflected and redoubled by his wife, the indomitable Nuala Pell, one of the great supporters of the arts that my State and our country has ever seen. The National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities can trace their beginnings to the passions of the Pells, the vision of President Kennedy, and the determination of President Johnson. President Kennedy began his term with a focus on American culture, when he invited Robert Frost to read a poem at his inauguration. He soon followed this up by appointing August Heckscher his Special Consultant on the Arts. Heckscher's report entitled, ``The Arts and the National Government,'' led to the creation of the President's Advisory Council on the Arts. Meanwhile, Senator Pell, the chairman of the Senate Special Subcommittee on the Arts and Humanities, was hard at work. He began his first hearing in 1963 with this statement: ``I believe that this cause and its implementation has a worldwide application; for as our cultural life is enhanced and strengthened, so does it project itself into the world beyond our shores. Let us apply renewed energies to the very concept we seek to advance: a true renaissance--the reawakening, the quickening, and above all, the unstinted growth of our cultural vitality.'' So over the next 2 years, working with legislators including Senators Hubert Humphrey and Jacob Javits and Representatives Frank Thompson and William Moorhead, Senator Pell crafted President Kennedy's vision into a reality. With the full support and assistance of President Johnson, the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act was signed into law on September 29, 1965. The first Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, incidentally, was another Rhode Islander, Barnaby Keeney, then president of Brown University. Mr. Speaker, I begin this hour with a survey of history for a couple of reasons. First, I think that it is vital that both Members and the President understand the care and consideration that went into creating the Endowments. So years of deliberation by some of our finest legislators went into the determination made in the arts and said: While primarily a matter for private and local initiative, the arts and humanities are also appropriate matters of concern of the Federal Government. So there is no doubt that private foundation and corporate philanthropy are the bedrock of artistic funding in this country. Nonetheless, there is an important role for government at all levels to play, and the Endowment serves as the catalyst for governmental involvement. Second, looking back helps remind us of the aspirations that drove the creation of the Endowments in the first place. Last week, we learned of the death of Yevgeny Yevtushenko, a Soviet poet who defied his totalitarian government. When President Kennedy brought poetry to his inauguration, it was in direct contrast to the Soviet Union, where literary dissidents were imprisoned or exiled and not given freedom to create. What a message to send to the world in the 1960s, that the United States prized artistic expression, celebrated scholarly inquiry, and believed in the strength and progress embodied by multiculturalism. So the playwright in New York was not censored. He was cheered. A historian in North Carolina was greeted not with accusation, but acclaim. The painter in Nevada was not imprisoned; she was empowered. Placed in context, the message sent by the creation of the Endowments was that America's culture was not just an asset to be protected, but a powerful tool for promoting freedom worldwide. Just as importantly, the 1965 act recognized that American culture was not static. Rather, its evolution over time was the source of its power. However, I believe the most important reason to begin with the history of the Endowments can be found in the Arts and Humanities Act itself: ``An advanced civilization must not limit its efforts to science and technology alone, but must give full value and support to the other great branches of scholarly and cultural activity in order to achieve a better understanding of the past, a better analysis of the present, and a better view of the future.'' Why do we study the arts and humanities? Why do we promote them in the Halls of Congress? ``To achieve a better understanding of the past, a better analysis of the present, and a better view of the future.'' Mr. Speaker, I co-chair the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus, a caucus that owes its very name to the work of an artist, William Gibson, who first coined the phrase ``cyberspace'' in 1984. Gibson helped create the lexicon that we use today to describe the internet as we know it and, in so doing, helped to shape its development and growth--a better view of the future, indeed. For years, I promoted the STEM to STEAM movement, the concept of adding art and design to the STEM disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Incidentally, this movement is another product of my home State, courtesy of the brilliant minds at the Rhode Island School of Design, in particular, as I understand it, then former President John Maeda, who, as I understand, coined the term ``STEM to STEAM.'' Incorporating principles of art and design in STEM helps foster creativity, encourages collaboration, and can engender sudden, inspired breakthroughs, all by helping to better analyze the present. So in my role in the Armed Services and Homeland Security Committees, I am presented daily with new threats brought on by the advent of new technologies or fast-moving global events. The temptation to act quickly is strong, and sometimes immediate reaction is warranted; but more often than not, it is through examination of the past that I find a path forward. These United States have weathered many crises over the centuries-- some of our own making--but by better understanding of them, I can better analyze the present and better see a future of America peaceful, prosperous, and free. Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues have stories to tell of the great works that the NEA and NEH have supported in their districts, and I will share some of those stories as well. But I hope my words on the history of the Endowments have helped shape our understanding of their incredible purpose and ideals of President Kennedy, President Johnson, Senator Pell, and their colleagues. America is better for the Endowments existing. The world is better for it. To cast them away in a budget outline that zeros them out without even a word of justification is a tragedy. It dismisses the ideals of our forbearers as insignificant. It ignores the half century of work that many of my colleagues here have done to promote our culture through the Endowments. And in the cruelest of ironies, it does so without engaging with the very disciplines it dismisses as unneeded. It cannot and will not go unchallenged. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price). The gentleman has co-led this effort with me, and he proudly co-chairs the Caucus on the Humanities.

Mr. LANGEVIN. I thank the gentleman from Illinois for his great comments and for his participation here today. It is very deeply impactful, and I am grateful. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time remains?

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Cicilline from Rhode Island for his comments and also for his partnership in helping to support the arts and humanities back home in Rhode Island and in our country as a whole. As the gentleman said, we have a special connection to the arts and humanities, given the leadership of our late senior Senator Claiborne Pell who created the National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities in the first place, along with the support of his wife, Nuala Pell, who David and I both know very well. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Adams).

Mr. LANGEVIN. I thank the gentleman from New York for his comments and for his leadership on this issue. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time we have remaining?

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his outstanding comments, his insights, and his leadership on the arts and humanities issues. As co-chair of the Humanities Caucus here in the Congress, I appreciate his efforts in helping me organize and colead this effort to speak out against the effort to zero out the National Endowments for the Arts and the Humanities budget. We hope it will not stand, and we hope that the President will reconsider his initial budget proposal. I am proud to yield to a number of my colleagues and want to begin with the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell), no shrinking violet himself, someone who is artistic and colorful in his own right, but it is no surprise to me that being from New Jersey he would be here since it was one of his late colleagues, the former Congressman from New Jersey, Frank Thompson, who was the House sponsor of the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, today I recognize Lieutenant Colonel Christopher L'Heureux of the United States Army for his extraordinary dedication to duty and service to our Nation. Colonel L'Heureux will soon transition from his current assignment as an Army Congressional Liaison in the House of Representatives to serve as the Commander of 2d Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment. The unit is currently leading a multinational battle group in Poland deterring adversaries and reassuring allies of America's continued commitment to the region. A native of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, Colonel L'Heureux began his military career as an enlisted infantryman in the Rhode Island Army National Guard. He was commissioned in 1999 through the Providence College Army ROTC Program and subsequently assigned to a tank battalion in Germany. While in Germany, he deployed twice to Kosovo and again to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Since then, Colonel L'Heureux has served in multiple leadership and staff positions in combat units, including two additional deployments to Iraq and one to Afghanistan. In 2015, Colonel L'Heureux was selected to serve as a Congressional Liaison in the United States Army House Liaison Division. As the primary liaison between Members of the House of Representatives and the Army, Colonel L'Heureux has provided insight and a deep understanding of Army policies, actions, operations, and requirements. His first-hand knowledge of the military, its culture, and traditions has been of tremendous benefit to Congressional offices. Chris was especially effective in his service to Members and staff as he escorted them on fact-finding and oversight delegations within the United States and to multiple countries in South America, Europe, and the Middle East. I have had the privilege to travel with Colonel L'Heureux on several occasions, including to Israel and to various military exercises in the United States, and I found him to be a thoughtful, intelligent, and dedicated Soldier in the best traditions of America's Armed Forces and the men and women called to serve from the great state of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, it has been a pleasure to work with Colonel L'Heureux during his time as an Army Congressional Liaison Officer in the House of Representatives. On behalf of a grateful Nation, it is my honor to recognize the selfless service and sacrifice of Lieutenant Colonel Christopher L'Heureux, his wife, Danielle, and their children, Ella and Jonathan. I wish them the very best as they continue their journey in the United States Army and thank them for dedicating their lives to the service of our Nation.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, it is my solemn privilege to recognize the late World War II veteran Private First Class (PFC) Robert Liebrich of Rhode Island. Tomorrow, it will be my honor to present Carol Liebrich, his widow, a Purple Heart with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for PFC Liebrich's meritorious service with the Army after being shot in the arm during an engagement with opposing forces. This is the second Purple Heart for PFC Liebrich, who was first injured after being shot in the abdomen in events leading up to the Battle of the Bulge, which began in December 1944. He was only 18 years old when he sustained both injuries. We owe our Soldiers who fought in World War II an enormous debt of gratitude, and PFC Liebrich is no exception. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank PFC Liebrich and his widow, Carol, for dedicating their lives to the service of our Nation and for defending humanity and human dignity during one of our world's most pressing crises. It will be a great and humbling honor to present this award to Mrs. Liebrich for her husband's heroism.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, dozens of Syrians suffered yet again at the hands of Bashar al-Assad when he employed chemical weapons in an attack that left children gasping for air and suffering in the middle of the streets. In the deadliest chemical attack in Syria since 2013, the death toll has now surpassed 70 and continues to rise. This attack was morally reprehensible, but let's be clear: this attack is the fault of President Assad, and it is a war crime. He must be held accountable for his actions, as must the Russian regime that continues to enable his acts of carnage. Such barbarism is an attack on our collective humanity, and a chemical attack of this nature must never happen again in Syria or anywhere else in the world, and the world must not look the other way. Mr. Speaker, I condemn this attack and these actions in the strongest possible terms. I am grateful to the humanitarian groups and the medical personnel who are tending to these wounds today. My heart breaks for the victims who were injured and killed in Syria. Let us speak out as a world with one voice to condemn this attack and say: Never again.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this resolution of disapproval, which would repeal broadband privacy rules being implemented by the FCC. As co-chair of the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus, I hope I can offer some additional perspective on this debate. Studying the many threats our country faces in cyberspace, I have become deeply aware of how ingrained the internet is in every aspect of our lives and our economy. And that has also helped me understand the unique role of broadband service providers to grant access to the great potential of the Information Age. By necessity, ISPs see every bit of traffic that leaves your network for the broader internet. Even when you use encryption, ISPs can still capture data about whom you are talking to or what sites you are visiting. These data are sensitive, and consumers have a right to decide whether or not they can be shared or monetized. Unfortunately, the resolution of disapproval under consideration would strip consumers of that right and presumptively allow sharing and selling without your permission. Mr. Speaker, the resolution before us today that the Republicans have proposed is downright creepy. It is going to allow potentially unprecedented abuse of personal or private information be shared without your permission. This cannot stand. I urge my colleagues to oppose it.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the Republican effort to gut the Affordable Care Act, an effort that will result in millions of people across the country and tens of thousands of my constituents in Rhode Island to lose their health coverage, and it will ultimately result in costs rising. Before the ACA was passed, the House held 79 hearings over the course of a year. Today's Republican plan was pushed through three committees without a single hearing and with substantial changes being made behind closed doors in the dead of night. Mr. Speaker, I am a veteran of many healthcare debates, and I can tell you this is not how sound policy is made, especially policy that will have real consequences for hardworking Americans. Since the passage of the ACA, I have had faith that Republicans and Democrats could come together to strengthen the law and further improve healthcare for all Americans. There is still that opportunity to come together, Mr. Speaker, but the rule, along with the underlying bill, has shaken that faith. Supporting the rule means putting ideology above the well-being of the American people. This does not have to be a zero-sum game. I know that we can come together. Let's defeat this rule and the bill. Come together in a bipartisan way to fix the problems of the ACA.

Mr. LANGEVIN

Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the Republican effort to gut the Affordable Care Act. Twenty million people, including 100,000 Rhode Islanders, receive health coverage under the ACA. Because of the proposed plan to repeal the ACA that the Republicans are proposing, they are now threatened with losing that coverage. Instead of working in a bipartisan manner to improve the law, this bill will eliminate coverage for 24 million people, while drastically increasing healthcare costs on hardworking middle class Americans. Over the next 5 years, Rhode Island officials estimate Medicaid cuts would cost the State $595 million to make sure that 75,000 low-income adults don't lose coverage. Now, this is a burden that my State or others cannot afford to bear, and it will decimate services and supports for low- and middle-income adults, children, seniors, and especially people with disabilities. Mr. Speaker, we are better than this as a country. Americans' health will be jeopardized if consumer protections and comprehensive coverage developed under the ACA are cast aside in a partisan push to repeal. Let's not do this. Let's join together instead and make improvements to the ACA to make it better. Let's not work against us to repeal it. I urge my colleagues to oppose this unconscionable bill.