Stephen Lynch

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to rise in support of H.R. 5, Mr. Cicilline's bill, the Equality Act. I rise today as a Christian. Mr. Speaker, this bill will extend the legal protections provided by the Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution as well as the Civil Rights Act against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. And may I say that it is about time. This groundbreaking legislation specifically bans wrongful, hurtful discrimination in housing, employment, education, and other business and government sectors based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Individuals from the LGBTQ community are our fellow Americans. Many of them are Christians. They are our brothers and sisters. And it is, indeed, shameful that it has taken this very long to provide them with equal protection under the law. The Declaration of Independence is, again, a guide. It is instructive as it reminds us: ``We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.'' In closing, none of that can happen without equal treatment under the law. ``All'' means all. ``Equal'' means equal. Let's vote for equality.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Chairman, I believe I have a couple of amendments at the desk.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Chairman, my amendment would extend by 1 year the deadline by which States may apply for Federal grant assistance to set up State-based health insurance markets, moving the deadline from December 31, 2022, to December 31, 2023. My amendment would also extend by 1 year the corresponding date by which the exchanges must be self-sustaining, from January 1, 2024, to January 1, 2025. Currently, 11 States and the District of Columbia have such health insurance exchanges. However, no health exchanges have been established since the ACA's original deadline of 2015. While I do support H.R. 987's language which provides an additional 2-year window for States to establish their own insurance exchanges, given the complexity of the current debate with the possibility of single-payer healthcare out there and also Medicare for All, it is my hope and expectation that, by extending these application periods from 2 to 3 years, more States will have the opportunity to weigh those outstanding options and explore the option to establish their own State-based exchanges. It was reported recently that the Governor of New Jersey, for example, has announced that his State would seek to establish its own State-based healthcare exchange for 2021. It is quite possible that other States that may have held off in setting up similar exchange marketplaces and are contemplating those other possibilities could also be reconsidering setting up an exchange, and that is the reason for my amendment. I believe that ensuring that States have the time to consider and plan for setting up such an exchange is the right thing to do. I would note that my amendment does not seek additional funding during that time period, so it will not increase the cost. It simply gives States additional time. I urge my colleagues to support my amendment as well as the underlying bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Chair, I think I have said enough. It is a technical amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Chairman, I have another amendment at the desk.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, my amendment directs the Government Accountability Office to prepare a cost-benefit analysis of the establishment of a State-sponsored public health insurance option for States that may want to offer public options in their State's health insurance exchanges. A State-run public option would allow individual States to offer very basic, low-cost insurance plans without the high cost of commercial advertising and other overhead costs that can sometimes add as much as 30 percent to the cost of some health insurance plans, or perhaps States could optimize the use of community health centers that we all love so much. Once these low-cost public option plans are on the market, private insurance companies would be forced to compete with that lower price by offering similar low-cost plans. State-sponsored public options could help address the lack of competition that is driving up the cost of healthcare in many States where one or two insurance companies are allowed to dominate the market due to the fact that the Affordable Care Act currently exempts insurance companies from antitrust laws. While State-run public options were a feature in the original version, the House version of the ACA, which I supported, Senate action deleted that from the final versions of the ACA which eventually passed and which I opposed. I believe that the information that the study will provide will be an important resource for States in regions looking to offer more healthcare options to their residents. Mr. Chairman, one of the loudest messages that came out of the last mid-term election was that, 9 years after the passage of the ACA, the American people still want us to fix their broken healthcare system. For many people, the Affordable Care Act is not affordable. But I believe it is fixable. Many fervent supporters of the ACA are also disappointed with the lack of success in reaching the goals of the ACA so that they are now supporting efforts to repeal the ACA in favor of single-payer or Medicare for All proposals. I believe there are some significant changes that could be made to the ACA to make it work. This study will be a simple way to provide our States with guidance that can help them determine whether a public option may be right for them. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support both this amendment and the underlying bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Andris ``Andy'' Jon Silins, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to working carpenters, their families and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and to commend him for over fifty years of dedicated service to his community. The son of Olga Silins and Rudolfs Silins, immigrants from Riga, Latvia, Andy was born on January 12, 1947, and immigrated with his parents and older sister to the United States and lived in Jamaica Plain. Andy attended Roslindale High School and graduated in 1965. Subsequent to his graduation, Andy enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served his country honorably in the Vietnam War. Ultimately, Andy graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. Upon completion of his distinguished service to our country, Andy joined Carpenters Local 67 in 1968. In 1979, he was elected General Agent and Executive Secretary of the Boston District Council of Carpenters, and President in 1989. In 1995, Andy was elected to the position of General Secretary--Treasurer of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) and served in that position until his retirement on April 1, 2019. He continues to serve the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a board member of the Massachusetts Housing Authority. He is also one of the founders of First Trade Union Savings Bank, in Boston, where he later served as Chairman of the Board. Andy has had the good fortune to be married to his wife, Diane for 37 years. He is the proud father of his son, Jake, and the master of his beloved German Shepherd, Sami. Madam Speaker, it is my distinct honor to thank Andris ``Andy'' Jon Silins for his remarkable service and dedication to the working carpenters and their families and all workers in the Commonwealth and across the United States of America.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Zorica Pantic, the first woman president of Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston and first woman engineer to lead an institution of technology in higher education in the United States. President Pantic is leaving her position at Wentworth at the end of May, following a 14-year-tenure that can only be described as transformative and historic in scope. Dr. Pantic's contributions to this 115-year-old institution have earned her respect far and wide. Just recently, while saluting Dr. Pantic during his keynote remarks at Wentworth's graduation on April 28, 2019, Charlie Baker, the esteemed Governor of Massachusetts, characterized President Pantic as, ``a gift to Wentworth and blessing to Massachusetts.'' Born in Serbia, Dr. Pantic first became interested in electrical engineering as a young girl, while watching her father work on repairing a radio. She went on to earn her B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Nis, Serbia, and became the founding dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Texas at San Antonio; director of the School of Engineering at San Francisco State University; a Fulbright fellow at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; and an associate professor at the University of Nis. As Wentworth's President, she has a been an important role model and tireless advocate for traditionally underrepresented students, particularly young women wishing to pursue a college education and career in the STEM arenas. Under her leadership, Wentworth has introduced its first seven graduate programs, becoming a master's degree-granting institution and achieving ``university'' status in 2017. Dr. Pantic has overseen the introduction of 10 new undergraduate programs (seven in engineering), a $300 million investment in state-of- the-art facilities, and a 20 percent enrollment increase on the school's campus. During her presidency, Wentworth has enhanced its experiential- learning educational model by implementing EPIC Learning (Externally- collaborative, Project-based, Interdisciplinary Culture for Learning), and is focusing on innovation and entrepreneurship. The Institute continues to earn annual recognition in the top national and regional college rankings. Applauding her ``energetic, entrepreneurial, and ambitious leadership style,'' the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, District 1, in 2017 honored Dr. Pantic with its Chief Executive Leadership Award. That same year, Dr. Pantic was inducted into the National Academy of Construction. In January 2018, Governor Baker appointed her to serve on the Massachusetts Cybersecurity Strategy Council. And more recently, the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce honored her as one of its Pinnacle Award winners for 2019. President Pantic has served on various boards and professional organizations, including the board of directors for the World Association for Cooperative Education, the American Association for Presidents of Independent Universities and Colleges, the New England Association for Schools and Colleges, the Massachusetts Workforce Investment Board, and the Presidents Council for the NCAA Division III. Madam Speaker, Zorica is known for her love of students and for helping to guide and serve thousands of young women and men who have attended Wentworth since she became president in 2005. She is the proud mother of one son, Daniel Tanner, who graduated from Wentworth and is busy building his own career. Madam Speaker, it is my distinct honor to thank Zorica Pantic for her incredible leadership over these past 14 years at one of Boston's oldest and most venerable educational institutions, and to salute her for her many contributions to higher education in the United States.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her leadership on the committee and on this issue and for yielding me this time. The opportunity that we have today here to present the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Rewards Act is a very important moment. I also want to thank my colleagues, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Budd) and also the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cohen), who have also contributed hard work in developing and cosponsoring this legislation. Foreign dictators who rob the treasuries of developing nations, where independent judiciaries are rare, and the rule of law is often weak, is not a new problem; but, unfortunately, it is a growing problem. It is now estimated that more than $1 trillion is lost to bribes and official corruption around the world each year. A significant portion of those illicit proceeds are used to support organized crime and terrorist organizations, further destabilizing the social institutions where this corruption occurs, often in developing countries who can least afford it. This undermines the local rule of law and contributes to the regional insecurity and instabilities in neighboring countries. Governments that are weakened by corruption have fewer resources to provide basic services, to establish a stable business climate, and to create jobs. They also have fewer resources to devote to building strong law enforcement and judicial institutions to combat exploitation by terrorists and criminal organizations. It is a sad fact that today much of this stolen money ends up here, in bank accounts right here in the United States. H.R. 389 fights back against the spreading influence of this corruption. The Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Rewards Act establishes a rewards program to incentivize individuals to notify law enforcement and authorities of assets stolen from foreign treasuries and illegally transferred to the United States. Now, I appreciate the gentleman's concerns about making sure that bad actors don't participate in this incentive program. This program replicates the incentives that have been utilized by the United States Department of Justice and the FBI for decades to take down criminal drug cartels with the help of paid informants. While the United States has many effective programs to reward individuals who provide valuable information toward curbing criminal behavior, none of our programs currently have been designed to take aim at recovering stolen assets linked to foreign government kleptocracy. Kleptocracy by foreign leaders can drain the hope and faith of struggling peoples around the globe who strive for social justice and equal rights. This bill recognizes that foreign corruption takes many forms and that individuals who come forward to expose corruption often do so at great personal peril to themselves and to their families. So, as transnational criminal enterprises persist, and terrorists adapt to the different mechanisms that we use, we must provide law enforcement with fresh tools to address these emerging threats. H.R. 389 does exactly that. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank, again, the chairwoman for her cooperation and leadership. I thank my colleagues on the other side, especially Mr. Budd, for his work on this bill as well. I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for working with me on this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from California for her leadership on this issue and also for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 206, a resolution that acknowledges the threat to our national security posed by loopholes in our financial transaction laws. Today, our anti-money laundering and antiterrorism finance laws are dangerously outdated. Billions of dollars in bribes are paid around the world every year, and the amount of money laundered globally is estimated to be 2 to 5 percent of global GDP. Far too much of this cash flow comes through the United States financial institutions. The international community agrees. The Financial Action Task Force-- the global standard-setting body--has said that we have significant gaps in our security laws. By passing this resolution, Congress can show it understands that illicit financing networks are the root and branch of any terrorist or criminal organization's operations. We can also show that we understand by addressing those gaps and loopholes in our laws. We can move toward a safer society and a safer world. Money laundering and other financial crimes support human trafficking, terrorism, and corruption around the world. These crimes endanger Americans every day, and we need to do more. I strongly urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support H. Res. 206. I want to thank the chairwoman, again, for her kindness.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I wish to honor a Massachusetts constituent, Mr. Shay Assad, who will be retiring this year after nearly 25 years of combined military and federal service to our country. He graduated with distinction from the U.S. Naval Academy; thereafter, he served two tours of duty aboard U.S. Navy destroyers and won recognition as the Outstanding Junior Officer, Fifth Naval District. He is an Aegis Weapons system and Arleigh Burke class plank owner having served as the Naval Procurement Officer who procured the Navy's first Aegis system for DDG-47 at the Naval Sea Systems Command. He commenced federal government civil service as the assistant Deputy Commandant, Installations and Logistics for Contracts at headquarters, the Marine Corps, Washington, D.C., serving as the senior civilian contracting official for the U.S. Marine Corps. Mr. Assad joined the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) in April 2006. During his tenure in OSD, Mr. Assad first served as the Director, Defense Pricing and Acquisition Policy (DPAP). As such he was the recognized functional leader of a workforce of 27,000 contracting and pricing professionals responsible for the procurement of approximately $300B in goods and services annually. In addition, from January 2009 through June 5, 2011 he concurrently served in other Acquisition, Technology & Logistics (AT&L) leadership positions. For a period of time he served as the Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology. He also performed the duties of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition. In June 2011, he left his role as Director, DPAP to serve in the newly established position of Director, Defense Pricing. In August 2017 through December 2018, he served as Acting Director, DPAP, concurrent with his duties as Director, Defense Pricing. His combined senior executive experience in the Defense industry (where Mr. Assad served for 25 years prior to joining OSD) and in Government was without peer among members of the Senior Executive Service. Among his most significant accomplishments for the Department of Defense, Mr. Assad led the development and implementation of the largest and most expansive plan in the Department's history that focused on improving both the size and quality of the acquisition workforce. This plan, known as the Defense Acquisition Workforce Development Force (DAWDF) initiative, still serves today as the cornerstone for improving the quality of the acquisition workforce. In addition, Mr. Assad developed and implemented the Department of Defense Contract Peer Review process which oversaw every sole source procurement in excess of $500 million dollars, as well as every significant competitive source selection within the Department of Defense over the past twelve years. The peer review process has been recognized to have enabled the savings of billions for the taxpayers through improving the quality of the Department's contract business dealings. Mr. Assad also led the OSD peer review team that oversaw the successful conduct of the largest single source selection in the Department's history--the KC-X tanker program resulting in saving billions for the taxpayers. He led the Department of Defense mediation and developed the successful strategy to resolve litigation associated with the Department's Space Launch Program, enabling an increase in the security posture of the United States, while saving hundreds of millions for the taxpayers. Over his tenure of federal service, Mr. Assad was the most decorated contracting and pricing professional in the career civil service having received numerous federal service awards. Principal among those awards were: 1) the Distinguished Service Medal with Bronze Palms; 2) the Distinguished Service Medal; 3) the Secretary of Defense Meritorious Service Medal; 4) the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Service Medal; 5) a Distinguished Presidential Rank Award; 6) a Meritorious Presidential Rank Award; 7) the Department of Defense Inspector General Joseph H. Sherick Award (the highest honor bestowed on non-OIG employees); and 8) the David Acker Award for Acquisition Excellence. He was inducted into the Defense Acquisition University (DAU) Hall of Fame in recognition of his leadership in the acquisition profession and for the establishment of the DAWDF initiative. He has been the Department's leading advocate for increasing employment opportunities for the blind and severely disabled; and has received numerous awards to include the E. Richard ``Dick'' Alley Career Achievement Award (Ability One Program's highest recognition) and the Osbourne ``Oz'' Day Award for those efforts. I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Mr. Assad for his distinguished service to our country and in wishing him a fulfilling and enjoyable retirement.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. As chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1065, the Social Media Use in Clearance Investigations Act, bipartisan legislation that I introduced earlier this month. It had passed this House previously, last session, with no opposition. I commend our full committee chairman, Mr. Cummings of Maryland, for his continued leadership on this issue of security clearance reform and for his work to advance H.R. 1065 to the floor today. I also thank the new ranking member of our subcommittee, Mr. Hice of Georgia, for his support as well. In order to enhance the Federal security clearance process, H.R. 1065 will require the Office of Management and Budget to examine the extent to which Federal agencies are reviewing publicly available social media profiles as they conduct background investigations for security clearance applicants. This bill will also require OMB to submit recommendations to Congress on how we can implement this examination of social media activity in clearance investigations across the Federal Government while also safeguarding individual privacy rights. Our bipartisan oversight of the security clearance process has already revealed that Federal agencies have too often missed red flags in determining an individual's eligibility to access classified information and facilities. We need only recall the tragic shooting at the Washington Navy Yard in 2013 to underscore the devastating impact of a failure to effectively vet security clearance holders such as Aaron Alexis, a defense contractor with a marked history of gun violence who was still issued a secret-level clearance. Chief among the recommendations offered by the interagency council that President Obama convened to identify lapses in security clearance reviews was the need for agencies to have ``access to relevant information from a variety of sources.'' As noted by William Evanina, the head of counterintelligence for the U.S. government since 2014, his quote is: Social media has become an integral and very public part of the fabric of many Americans' daily lives. And we cannot ignore this important open source in our effort to safeguard our national interests. Moreover, a public social media profile adds to the ``mosaic'' of a person and may reveal to background investigators evidence suggesting a change in ideology, ill intent, vulnerability to blackmail, and allegiance to another country. The integration of social media into security clearance background investigations falls in line with the unprecedented exploitation of Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, and other networking services by terrorist organizations, including the Islamic State. As reported by the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, the prolific use of social media by terrorist groups has not only facilitated the dissemination of propaganda, but also served as a primary global recruitment and financing tool. Foreign governments are also increasingly relying on social media to advance their espionage efforts. According to open source reports, Chinese spy agencies have routinely resorted to using fake LinkedIn accounts to try to recruit Americans with access to government and commercial secrets. ``60 Minutes'' recently reported that former CIA officer Kevin Mallory, who has been convicted on espionage charges, was first approached by his Chinese government handlers through the LinkedIn career networking site. In advance of our 2016 subcommittee hearing on this issue, then- Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, directed Federal agencies to integrate public social media reviews into the security clearance process. While this directive was a step in the right direction, it has been incorporated quite unevenly and on a limited basis. Our bill, H.R. 1065, will advance the full integration of this important reform to better ensure that our national security framework is adapting to evolving technologies much faster than the usual pace that is characteristic of the Federal Government. I would note that, according to the annual job recruitment survey issued by CareerBuilder, an online employment resource, seven out of 10 private sector employers have already incorporated social media reviews into their hiring process. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his kind remarks in reference to this bill, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support H.R. 1065.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman for yielding. I do agree that the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Meadows) has tried mightily to work with us on various issues. He is not a bad man, he is just wrong on this one issue, in my opinion. First of all, I rise in support of this very, very modest cost-of- living increase for Federal workers. My wife has a habit of reminding me from time to time. She says: When we first met, you were an ironworker. Then you went to law school and became a lawyer. Then you ran for office and became a politician. You know, it has been one disappointment after another. But I want to say, as an ironworker I was in a much better position than our Federal workers. When I was an ironworker--and I eventually became president of the union--if my job was unsafe or if the employer refused to pay my workers, as a union president, I would pull my men and women off the job. Under Taft-Hartley 1947, we changed that law for Federal workers, everybody in the Federal Government. We said, ironically, that these jobs are so important that we can't have the government shut down. We can't have the government shut down. So even though we have a President now in the White House who not only shut the job down, forced the workers to work without pay, and then--that was on the 22nd of December--on the 28th of December he signs an executive order that says no pay increase for all of 2019 for our Federal workers. I want to point out that the TSA workers--whom we walk by at least twice a week as we come and go from Washington--their base starting salary is $28,000 a year--$28,000 a year. I made more money than that when I was an apprentice boy for the ironworkers back in 1972--$28,000 a year. This would represent a $27-a-week cost-of-living adjustment for those workers.

Mr. LYNCH. In Taft-Hartley we said that as a government we were taking away the right of workers to strike. As an ironworker, I put my tools down if I thought it was unsafe or if somebody cut my pay. We don't allow Federal workers to do that. I am saying that this President has broken that covenant of treating our workers with respect. I think it is only fair that we consider giving back the right to strike to our Federal workers. Let them stand up for themselves and protest like we give every other human being in our society. Give them the right to protest. Give them the right to strike if we are not going to treat them right. I think that, unfortunately, we have come to this point. I certainly want to urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this very modest cost- of-living adjustment on behalf of our Federal workers.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 56. First, I would like to thank our chairwoman, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters), for her outstanding leadership in bringing this bill to the floor. I would also like to thank the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McHenry) for his energetic support as well. In addition, I would like to thank my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Budd), a colleague of ours on the Financial Services Committee, for working in a bipartisan fashion with me to get this bill to the floor in a better way to safeguard our emerging financial technology sector against its illicit use by terrorists and their financiers, money launderers, computer hackers, and other criminal actors. I would also like to point out, as evidenced in the course of our ongoing committee investigation to examine terrorist and money laundering activities, that continued innovations in digital currencies, peer-to-peer financing, mobile payments, and other emerging financial technologies--or in today's lingo, fintech--have been met with increasing efforts by malign actors to exploit these digital platforms and services for terrorist and other criminal purposes. According to the Combating Terrorism Center At West Point: ``Given the interest that terrorist organizations have shown in leveraging digital currencies, their use of such mediums for conducting financial transactions will only increase in the future.'' So the growing reliance on digital currency for terrorist financing recently manifested itself in the U.S. in the form of a complex bank fraud scheme perpetrated by a Long Island woman, Zoobia Shahnaz, who pleaded guilty in November of 2018 to providing material support to a terrorist organization. In an attempt to raise funds for the Islamic State, Ms. Shahnaz fraudulently obtained credit cards which she used to purchase more than $62,000 in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. After converting the currency to U.S. dollars and transferring the funds to her checking account, she proceeded to execute wire transactions totaling over $150,000 directed to top Islamic State-affiliated individuals and shell entities in Pakistan, China, and Turkey. The illicit use of digital currency systems has also extended to other criminal enterprises, including cybercrime. According to a six- count indictment returned by a Federal grand jury in Newark, New Jersey, two Iranian nationals engaged in a nearly 3-year international extortion and computer crime scheme involving the deployment of so- called sam sam ransomware against U.S. public and private entities. Acting from inside Iran, these cybercriminals forcibly encrypted the computer systems of more than 200 hospitals, municipalities, and public institutions in the United States, including the city of Atlanta, the city of Newark, and the Colorado Department of Transportation. In exchange for decryption keys, they demanded ransom to be paid in bitcoin. In total, the men collected over $6 million in ransom payments, to date, while causing more than $30 million in losses to their U.S. victims. Moreover, in July of last year, Special Counsel Bob Mueller indicted 12 Russian intelligence officers stemming from their involvement in cyber attacks against U.S. individuals and entities leading up to the 2016 Presidential election. According to the 11-count indictment, in order to ``facilitate the purchase of infrastructure used in their hacking activity . . . the defendants conspired to launder the equivalent of more than $95,000 through a web of transactions structured to capitalize on the perceived anonymity of cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin.''

Mr. LYNCH. So as we continue to witness and embrace rapid digital innovation in the traditional banking and finance sector, it is urgent that government and industry work together to adopt and deploy regulatory protocols such as blockchain technologies to protect the integrity of digital financial systems against abuse. To this end, our legislation, the Financial Technology Protection Act, would establish an independent task force consisting of both public and private stakeholders to address the threat of exploitation of new financial technologies by terrorists and other malign actors. It would also authorize innovative fintech grants to enhance the ability of U.S. companies, academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and other private-sector entities to develop new tools designed to protect against criminal use of cryptocurrencies and enhance U.S. competitiveness in global financial markets. Moreover, the bill would authorize a rewards program for individuals who provide information leading to the conviction of those who use digital currency systems for terrorist purposes. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support H.R. 56.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I thank and acknowledge the remarks of the gentleman from Georgia on this bill. As ranking member of the Subcommittee on National Security, I also express my strong support for H.R. 6893, the Secret Service Overtime Pay Extension Act, introduced by my friend Steve Russell from Oklahoma, who is the chairman of our subcommittee. In light of previous legislation reported out of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on a bipartisan basis, this bill would ensure that the United States Secret Service retains the ability to provide overtime pay to its dedicated workforce for the additional work that agents will be required to perform in 2019 and through the 2020 Presidential election process. The bipartisan investigation conducted by our committee during the 114th Congress examined how best to strengthen the core protective mission of the Secret Service. The Secret Service is our Nation's primary security force for the protection of the President, the First Family, Presidential candidates, and, when necessary, other elected officials and world leaders. The Secret Service currently faces serious administrative challenges. According to the bipartisan report unanimously adopted by our committee in 2016, chief among those challenges is a staffing crisis that poses perhaps the greatest threat to the agency and that allowed a series of brazen security breaches during both the Obama and Trump administrations. The safety and security of the Secret Service mission demands that the Congress provide sufficient funding to restore the agency to adequate staffing levels. At a minimum, we must first ensure that the agency retains the basic ability to compensate its agents with the overtime pay that they have earned and that they deserve. In 2017, we passed legislation on a bipartisan basis to retroactively authorize overtime pay for the thousands of additional hours worked by Secret Service employees in the midst of an extraordinarily taxing and extended 2016 Presidential campaign season. Recognizing that the agency now provides security details for a President with a larger First Family and multiple and extensive travel schedules, we subsequently passed legislation extending that authorization through 2018. As underscored by the Federal union representing rank-and-file Secret Service agents, the 2020 Presidential campaign season is expected to involve the participation of multiple candidates who may require earlier Secret Service protection than customary and include an extended Presidential primary cycle, thereby imposing further demands on the already understaffed Secret Service workforce. That is why our committee approved Representative Steve Russell's legislation to fund overtime pay for the Secret Service for calendar year 2019, as well as an amendment introduced by our full committee ranking member, the gentleman from Maryland, Elijah Cummings, to extend this authorization through the 2020 campaign year. I note that the 2- year authorization request was specifically supported by the Secret Service. The hardworking men and women of the Secret Service put their lives on the line every day and make tremendous personal sacrifices for our country. Congress has a fundamental responsibility to provide the resources that they need to do their jobs safely and successfully. While I believe Congress should also spend some time working together on a permanent fix to this problem, I, nevertheless, stand proud to join my colleagues in this bipartisan effort to support the Secret Service in this effort. Mr. Speaker, I also urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. Mr. Speaker, again, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of William J. ``Hank'' ``Skippy'' Miller and to recognize his outstanding contributions to his hometowns of South Boston and Quincy, Massachusetts, and to his over forty years of loyal service to the International Longshoreman's Association in Massachusetts and the labor movement of the United States of America. Mr. Speaker, Skippy Miller's life was dedicated to his family, his faith, his profession, and his service to the United States Marine Corps. Growing up in South Boston, he developed a strong Catholic faith that he cherished throughout his life. He was a longtime devoted parishioner at Our Lady of Good Voyage Chapel and served proudly as a United States Marine in the Korean War and was the former commander of the Michael J. Perkins American Legion Post No. 67 in South Boston. Skippy Miller was a longshoreman by trade and served as the past president of the International Longshoremen's Association Local 800. He was a business agent for 18 years and pension administrator from 1993 until 2017. He also served as vice president of the New England Dock and Marine Council. Skippy was the devoted husband of the late Priscilla ``Penny'' Miller. Together they raised four children: Michele, Michael, Colleen, and Billy; and both were blessed with their grandchildren: Casey, Madelyn, Caitlyn, Corey, Loren, Jordan, Viktoria, Makayla, and William. Mr. Speaker, on October 29, 2018, the Massachusetts Port Authority will officially dedicate and open the William J. ``Hank'' ``Skippy'' Miller Park in the South Boston Seaport. How fitting a tribute to locate this park along the docks and waterfront in honor of a man who worked and fought to make a difference in the daily lives of so many working families. This park will ensure that Skippy Miller's legacy will last for years and serve as an inspiration to those longshoremen and their families who continue to work to make a difference in their lives and our City. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor today to join with the family, friends and contemporaries of William J. ``Hank'' ``Skippy'' Miller to honor his remarkable service to his family, his faith, the labor movement, and the United States of America.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5036, the Financial Technology Protection Act. Before I begin, I would like to thank the Financial Services Committee Chair Hensarling and Ranking Member Waters for their support in helping to guide this bill through the committee process. I am very pleased that this legislation was passed through the committee unanimously when it was marked up back in July. I would also like to thank my colleague from North Carolina, Mr. Budd, for his good work on this important legislation. This has truly been a bipartisan effort. Mr. Speaker, by a strange coincidence, I was actually elected in the Democratic primary in Massachusetts on September 11, 2001, the day of the attacks on the United States in New York, the Pentagon, and in western Pennsylvania. Since my arrival here in Washington and throughout my time in Congress, I have taken an active interest in cutting off the flow of funding to terrorists and other illicit actors. I am very pleased to say that many of my colleagues, Democratic and Republican, have likewise approached this work with the deliberate and relentless sense of purpose that has lifted us above the petty squabbling that sometimes causes us to fall short of the high expectations of the American people. Over the years, this work has taken me dozens of times to many countries in the Middle East, to Amman, Jordan, a major banking center, where members of our committee urged and assisted that nation to establish its first financial intelligence unit. It must, of course, be noted that we had the robust and earnest cooperation of King Abdullah of Jordan in that effort. He is someone who, I believe, has, over the years, been the greatest friend that freedom-loving people have in the Arab world. Members of this committee also worked to expand geographic targeting orders to help the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network crack down on money laundering as part of the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. Similarly, in Afghanistan, Morocco, Tunisia, and throughout the Persian Gulf, our committee has coaxed and guided our international neighbors to adopt methods that secure the legitimate banking system from terrorists and criminal exploitation. From this work it has recently become clear to Mr. Budd and myself that terrorists and criminal actors are increasingly relying on digital currencies, including bitcoin, to fund their illicit activities. For example, in August of 2015, a Virginia man was sentenced to 11 years in prison for providing material support to ISIS. He admitted to using Twitter to provide instructions on how to use bitcoin to mask the transfer of funds to that terrorist group. Also, in December of 2017, a woman in New York was indicted for bank fraud and money laundering for supporting terrorists. She is alleged to have spent about $62,000 in digital currency to engage in a pattern of financial activity designed to ultimately benefit ISIS. I am very pleased that the legislation before us today helps address this emerging threat in multiple ways.

Mr. LYNCH. As my friend, Mr. Budd, has noted, this bill establishes a public-private sector task force to research terrorist and criminal uses of new financial technologies, including digital currencies, and then develops countermeasures to thwart such terrorist and illicit uses. The bill also establishes a fund to pay rewards to people who provide information leading to the conviction of an individual involved with terrorist use of digital currencies. Finally, the bill creates a grant program for the development of tools and pilot programs to detect terrorist and illicit use of digital currencies. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I thank the chairman and ranking member, as well as my Republican cosponsor, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Budd) and urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this important legislation.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and honor a true son of South Boston, John F. ``Jay'' Hurley, in recognition of over fifty years of dedicated service to the South Boston community. The son of Catherine (Murray) of South Boston and John Hurley of South Boston (via Medford, MA), Jay was born in Boston on September 1, 1954 and lived on East 4th Street in South Boston until he married his wife, Patricia (Farrell) ``Patty'' Hurley in 1979. They moved to Hart Place in South Boston, where they still reside. Jay attended Saint Brigid School at O Street and East Broadway and graduated in 1972 from South Boston High School. On June 5, 1974, Jay became a member of Ironworkers Local Union No. 7 (Book No. 922845). Upon completion of a three-year apprenticeship, Jay became a journeyman ironworker on June 1, 1977. Jay held various offices at Local 7 between 1988 and 2001, including: Recording Secretary, President, Business Agent, and as the first Business Manager in Local 7's then 101-year history. On December 1, 2001, Jay was appointed General Organizer for the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing Iron Workers, and was subsequently elected the President of the Ironworkers District Council of New England in September of 2002. Jay was elected as the 9th General Vice President of the International in May 2005 and retired as the 1st General Vice President on March 1, 2018. Over the course of his career, Jay poured his heart and soul into bettering the lives of all workers through the machinations of the labor movement. The admiration and respect of his colleagues and peers throughout the United States and Canada is unsurpassed. Along with providing distinguished service to the Ironworkers, Jay is also an active member of his community. He has won many awards over the years, most notably in 2006, when he won the Cushing Gavin award for outstanding service to the Labor community. In 2008, Jay wrote a novel, Irony . . . , and he has donated all proceeds to Julie's Family Learning Program, a South Boston non-profit organization. Jay is known as a loyal, hardworking leader in the labor movement; but also, a loving and caring family man. He has had the good fortune to be married to his wife Patty for 39 years, and they are the proud parents of John, Kaitlyn and Brian and proud grandparents to John (``Jack''), Michael and James. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to join with John F. ``Jay'' Hurley's family, friends, and contemporaries to thank him for his remarkable service to his union brothers and sisters and to his community of South Boston.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, let me first thank the gentleman from California for his kind words on behalf of my legislation and on behalf of John Adams in particular. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from Guam, Ms. Bordallo, for yielding this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express strong support for my bill, H.R. 1220, the Adams Memorial Commission Act. This bipartisan legislation establishes the Adams Memorial Commission, which, as the chairman recognized, will consider, formulate, report plans for a memorial here in Washington, D.C., honoring John Adams and his profound and lasting legacy in the history of the United States. The bipartisan Adams Memorial Commission will be composed of four Presidential appointees, four members of the Senate and four members of the House of Representatives. The commission will be required to report its recommendations for the nature, location, design, and construction of a fitting memorial to the President and the Congress and will then provide annual reports on the memorial's progress. Mr. Speaker, it is important to keep in mind the lasting legacy of John Adams' family and their service to our Nation and his prominent role in our Nation's history. John Adams was one of the most influential Founding Fathers of the United States. Born in 1735 in Braintree, Massachusetts, a section of which is now known as Quincy, John Adams was educated at Harvard and spent his early career as a lawyer. Later on as a leader of the American Revolution, John Adams served as a delegate to both the First and Second Continental Congresses, and was regarded as the leading voice championing independence from Great Britain. Adams' prominent role in our Nation's formation of laws is still recognized to this day. In fact, one great benefit I had as a Massachusetts legislator coming here to Washington, D.C., is John Adams drafted the rules of the House in Massachusetts, which we adopted here in our Nation's Capitol in this Congress, which still stand today. Adams not only helped draft the Declaration of Independence, but also authored the constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which is the oldest written constitution still in place today. After serving as U.S. representative to France and the Netherlands during the Revolutionary War, Adams became the first vice president under President George Washington. In 1796, Adams was elected the second President of the United States and in 1800 became the first occupant of the White House. John Adams' legacy was instilled through his entire family. John's wife, Abigail, is known as an advocate for women's rights, and his son, John Quincy Adams, later served as our Nation's sixth President, and his family legacy goes on. While commemorative works have been established for former Presidents, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln here in Washington, D.C., John Adams and his legacy are notably not represented in our Nation's capital, and that is a gap that we seek to cure. Mr. Speaker, this memorial is long overdue. President Adams was a remarkable leader and a steadfast public servant. It is a glaring oversight that there is no memorial in our Nation's capital honoring John Adams and his family for their role in shaping our Nation. H.R. 1220 would complement the important work that the Adams Memorial Foundation has accomplished over the years. So as Members of Congress, I ask that we should pass this bipartisan bill and begin the process of establishing the commemorative memorial that President Adams and his family rightly deserve, that they rightly, by their courage and service, have earned. Mr. Speaker, I thank the bipartisan cosponsors of this bill, I thank you, Mr. Speaker, for your courtesy, and the kind words by the chairman from California and Ms. Bordallo, and I thank the bipartisan sponsors of this bill, and urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stand in favor of and pass H.R. 1220.

Mr. LYNCH

Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from California for his words of support and also thank the gentleman from Arizona for the courtesy of yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express strong support for my bill, H.R. 1037, the National Emergency Medical Services Commemorative Work Act. This bipartisan legislation will create a National Emergency Medical Services Memorial Foundation to establish a commemorative memorial located here on Federal land in Washington, D.C., that will highlight and honor the commitment and sacrifice of emergency medical personnel across the United States. As the chairman noted, each year, there are 850,000 first responders of the emergency medical services who answer over 30 million calls while serving 22 million Americans who are in need of lifesaving care. Americans rely on the courage and selfless sacrifice of the men and women of the emergency medical services, and we all deeply appreciate their commitment to maintaining safety and medical security in our country. Mr. Speaker, this memorial will serve as a symbol of their sacrifice during the darkest moments in our Nation's history. For example, this September will mark the 17th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. On that day, within minutes of the attack, more than 100 EMS units and dozens of private ambulances raced to the site, setting up triage centers to treat the wounded. Of the nearly 3,000 victims that died on September 11th, 10 were courageous EMS personnel. More than a decade later, in my home city of Boston, Massachusetts, EMS providers were literally on site within seconds of the explosions during the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. As a result of their swift and well-coordinated rescue efforts, led by my dear friend and South Boston native, the late Boston EMS special ops director Captain Bob ``Sarge'' Haley, EMS personnel were able to treat the 260 people who were injured. Lauded for his skills in designing and implementing world-class special ops measures in the city of Boston, Captain Sarge Haley's leadership during the events of that day no doubt saved dozens of lives and is just another example of the sacrifice and heroism that H.R. 1037 seeks to memorialize. Lastly, Mr. Speaker, EMS personnel have been first on site for some of our Nation's deadliest mass shootings. During the Las Vegas shooting at the Route 91 Harvest music festival last fall, EMT Brittany Speer, who was attending the event with her family, set up a triage center after the shooting occurred. For years, EMS providers like Ms. Speer have treated and transported victims in a professional and compassionate manner. This efficient and effective response is a result of countless mass casualty exercises that EMS personnel undertake. Mr. Speaker, this memorial is long overdue. These examples are just a small fraction of the countless instances in which EMS personnel have sacrificed and served our Nation. Every day, EMS personnel are exposed to countless risks and dangers in order to provide critical care for those who are in need. It is proper to recognize the efforts of our dedicated EMS first responders and memorialize the personal sacrifice made by more than 600 members of the Nation's emergency medical service and, in turn, by their families and loved ones. As Members of Congress, we should pass this bipartisan bill and begin the creation of the commemorative memorial to EMS personnel. These individuals have rightfully earned this recognition, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stand as one and pass H.R. 1037. Again, I thank the gentleman from California for his support.