Alan Lowenthal

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Madam Speaker, I was absent on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 due to illness. I would have voted aye on H.R. 22--Congressional Budget Justification Transparency Act of 2021, which was considered on the House floor that day.

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in memory of Mrs. Rosana Chanou, a Cambodian American community leader and constituent in my 47th Congressional District, who passed away on September 22, 2020 in Long Beach, California. Born in 1951 in the Kampong Cham Province of Cambodia, Mrs. Rosana Chanou spent her childhood in the capital, Phnom Penh. In 1972, she passed the Cambodian National Baccalaureate II Exam. Rosana dreamed about studying abroad in the United States with its world class education. Within a year, she successfully acquired a student visa, bid farewell to family and friends, and began a journey to pursue her ambition. Rosana arrived in the United States with just $200 in her pocket. She worked several minimum wage jobs to support herself while attending school and tirelessly practicing her English. In 1975, when the Khmer Rouge overtook Cambodia, she was granted asylum status to remain in America. Rosana attended Montgomery College in Rockville, Maryland, and then obtained a scholarship to study at the American University in Washington D.C. In 1979, she received her BS in Computer Science, married her college sweetheart Pasin, and moved to California to join her family who were able to escape the Khmer Rouge. Rosana became a U.S. citizen in 1984. She went on to achieve a long and illustrious career as a software engineer. As an Asian-American woman in the early years of the computer industry, she overcame barriers such as racial and sexual discrimination with her programming talents and tenacious personality. Rosana began working for the Boeing Company in Long Beach in 1986 and retired in 2015 after three decades with the company. Rosana and Pasin Chanou are proud parents to three children: Diana, Ryan, and Ronald. They instilled in their children the values of hard work, education, and family. They encouraged their children to be progressive and forward-thinking while also remembering the wise lessons of tradition. All three of their children completed their college education at the University of California, began their successful careers, and started families of their own. Rosana loved playing with her grandchildren, showing them how to make 3D origami, blowing bubbles, and picking exotic fruits and flowers together around the vast garden that she maintained. She also loved to travel to places all around the world such as Australia, France, Canada, the Bahamas, Alaska, Hawaii, and numerous countries throughout Asia. She has traveled back to Cambodia several times to visit friends and family, showed her children where she grew up, gave back to her home country, and witnessed the amazing development it has gone through despite its tragic history. In addition to her personal success and achievements, Rosana Chanou was a community activist and leader. She volunteered for events such as the Special Summer Olympics, Long Beach Marathon, NCCJ Peace Walk, and LA Heart-Walk. She ardently championed Cambodian arts and culture by inviting Cambodian artists to perform at the Asian Pacific Heritage Month celebration. She generously donated to various Cambodian community organizations such as Cambodia Town, Inc., Cam-CC, and Khmer Arts Academy. In 2001, she co-founded the Cambodia Town Initiative Task Force (CTITF), whose mission was to officially designate a section of the Anaheim street corridor in Lon Beach as Cambodia Town, in honor of Cambodian Americans who transformed the neighborhood into a vibrant community. In 2005, CTITF was restructured as a nonprofit known as Cambodia Town, Inc. Rosana served as the First Vice-Chair of the organization. Both Rosana and Pasin were major donors to the Long Beach Mark Twain Neighborhood Library's ``Cambodia Town'' Community Room, and proud sponsors sofa Cambodia Town street sign. Rosana was multi-talented. She provided tremendous support to Cambodia Town, Inc. at all levels. She designed pamphlets and booklets, organized parades, and conducted signature drives. She used her love of cooking to build team spirit, hosting meetings in her kitchen while serving her signature Cambodia Town Noodles. She was an active member of community organizations such a Cam-CC, which organizes the annual Cambodian New Year Celebration, and the Long Beach-Phnom Penh Sister Cities, which promotes trades, cultures, education, and humanitarian services between Cambodia and the United States. Rosana Chanou was a remarkable woman, mother, grandmother, and community leader. She would always warm the hearts of those around her with her creative passion, caring demeanor and infectious energy. With her passing, it is a true loss to the Cambodian American community. On behalf of the people of the 47th Congressional District, I offer my deepest sympathy and condolences to the family of Rosana Chanou, her husband Pasin, and all of their children and grandchildren. May we continue to serve the community in honor of the memories and dedication of Rosana Chanou.

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my deep sadness on the passing of my dear friend Sharon Cotrell. A voice of the progressive community in Long Beach for over 40 years, Sharon was a consummate professional who cared deeply about our community and making the world a better place for us all. She was the first woman dock worker on the West Coast, starting with SeaLand in 1974 at the Port of Long Beach, and eventually becoming the leader of Teamsters Local 692. Karen Harper, a longtime friend, told the Long Beach Press-Telegram that Sharon was ``. . . not welcomed by the men at first and was harassed mercilessly. But she won them over with her intelligence, work ethic, physical strength, sense of justice and expertise at organizing.'' Sharon was also a union organizer on the docks fighting for a greater voice for all port workers, cofounding the Long Beach chapter of the Teamsters for a Democratic Union. Because of her organizing against what she called the corruption of the Teamsters Union hierarchy, her life was threatened, and she was forced for a time to live in hiding. Despite such temporary roadblocks, Sharon remained a tenacious activist fighting for equality and justice, as well as an ardent community watchdog, for more than four decades. She served for many years as a member of Long Beach Area Citizens Involved (LBACI) and worked for the establishment of the Long Beach Citizen Police Complaint Commission. She was an early member of both the Black Lives Matter and Occupy Long Beach organizations. Karen Harper said Sharon saw the brutal treatment of African Americans on her family television ``and sought solutions for racism from then on. She loved working with young people and mentoring them on effective grassroots organizing.'' Sharon was also an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ rights and the homeless, which she fought for through her involvement with the Long Beach Area Peace Network, the Justice and Peace Committee for the South Coast Interfaith Council and Harbor Halfway House. According to the Press-Telegram, Sharon was born on Dec. 2, 1942, in San Francisco. But from 5 years old, she grew up on a dairy farm in the Lower Flathead Valley, near St. Ignatius, Montana, on the Salish- Kootenai Indian Reservation. Her family moved there after her father, Lewis Cotrell--a descendant of the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe and the Cherokee people--returned from World War II service in the U.S. Navy. Sharon's younger sister, Gretchen, said that from early childhood her sister was sensitive to the needs of others, reaching out to the left- out, excluded, and mistreated. ``These traits grew to a keen interest in the injustices of the world, the chief driving force throughout her life,'' Gretchen told the Press-Telegram. ``She possessed the courage of her convictions and lived them fiercely.'' Sharon's ancestry also led her to another area of activism--Native American and indigenous people rights. She was a tribal researcher for the Gabrielino-Tongva Tribal Council and was involved with the Puvungna Coalition to save the tribe's sacred land from development on the Cal State Long Beach campus. She also cofounded the People for Palestinian- Israeli Justice. Sharon attended Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, and the University of Montana, before moving to Long Beach in 1964. She went on to earn a bachelor's degree in anthropology from Cal State Long Beach. Her friend Karen Harper recalled to the Press-Telegram that Sharon also had a great sense of humor--even when jokes were directed at her. Karen remembered that she would often refer to Sharon as ``the historical figure'' because of her work on the docks. ``She would laugh,'' Karen said. ``She always got a kick out of that.'' But, to me, Sharon was not just a dear friend and fellow progressive; she was my campaign manager when I first ran for LB City Council in 1992 (in addition to running previous campaigns for former Mayor Tom Clark and former City Councilmember Wally Edgerton). Through our years together she was both my mentor and formative political conscience who I relied upon for her incredible insight and wisdom. Sharon touched so many lives and her passing is a loss for all of us. She was a role model and inspiration for all who met her, and she will be sorely missed by everyone who fights for a more just society and a better world.

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to offer this amendment, which specifies that $30 million dollars already provided within NASA's Science Mission Directorate should be set aside for NASA to procure dedicated small launch services for its small satellite missions. This amendment builds off report language included in the FY21 Commerce, Justice, Science bill that directs NASA to work with industry to procure tailored launch services for small satellite science missions. It does not increase spending or transfer money from other line items. I would like to thank my colleagues, Rep. Steven Palazzo and Darren Soto, for their leadership and support on this amendment. Small satellites are playing a big role in our country's space efforts. They are low-cost, easy to produce, and capably achieve a range of missions--including climate and weather monitoring and communications links that connect the world. They support our nation's soldiers in theater, provide hands-on research and learning opportunities for students across the country, and augment our deep space exploration. To support these satellite missions, a market has developed where companies building and operating small rockets to provide what is called ``dedicated launch''--taking these satellites where they need to be, when they need to be there. Long Beach, California, in my district, is home to several of these small launch companies. Together, they employ over a thousand individuals in high-skill, high-wage jobs. They are the future of our industrial ingenuity, technological leadership, and inspiration for the next generation to pursue STEM and aerospace careers. Dedicated small launch will maximize NASA's returns on small satellite science missions by lowering costs, increasing launch opportunities, and taking these satellites exactly where they need to be. I am pleased to offer and support this amendment, which will build off the momentum the Appropriations Committee has established to enable greater science, research, and education using small satellites and small launch. I urge my colleagues to also support this amendment, and our country's continued leadership in aerospace.

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act. This bill is the product of collaboration across House committees and takes a bold step to rebuild our infrastructure while reducing emissions and enhancing resilience in communities across the country. H.R. 2 makes key improvements that will address challenges we face in Southern California. It ensures that states can use more freight funds for multi-modal projects, critical improvements we need at freight hubs. It invests over $100 billion in transit and has a dedicated program to reduce congestion on our highways. And it devotes over $100 billion to affordable housing to help make sure every American has a place to call home. The bill also includes a crucial provision to examine the administration of a fee on freight transportation. I have advocated for years to implement this fee, which would provide a sustainable revenue stream to fund sorely-needed freight improvements. The Moving Forward Act tackles climate change in every title. It invests in zero-emission transit buses and port equipment, incentivizes the development of wind and solar energy, and emphasizes resiliency to help our communities adapt to rising sea levels. The bill also gives key federal support to expand broadband access and re-build schools across the country. This legislation is a bold step forward for our nation, and I urge all my colleagues to vote yes. I also wish to include in the Record a letter from the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Coalition for America's Gateways and Trade Corridors. Thank you for introducing the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST in America) Act. We appreciate the robust funding proposed in the INVEST in America Act and particularly support the freight investment provisions which, with proper implementation, offer the opportunity to strengthen our nationally and regionally significant goods movement infrastructure. While the COVID-19 pandemic has yielded a great deal of uncertainty, it has also shone a light on the essential nature of our nation's supply chain infrastructure. When much of the nation was asked to stay home, the U.S. supply chain continued working to deliver desperately-needed medical supplies and equipment, food, as well as everyday items previously taken for granted. The Coalition for America's Gateways and Trade Corridors (CAGTC) is a diverse group of more than 60 public and private organizations dedicated to increasing federal investment in America's multimodal freight infrastructure. In contrast to single mode interests, CAGTC's foremost mission is to promote a seamless national goods movement transportation system across all modes to enhance capacity and economic growth. As the legislation advances, we would like to highlight the following for your consideration: If top-line funding levels are adjusted as the bill moves forward, Congress should seek to increase--or at least maintain--the funding proposed for freight infrastructure programs, including the Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects program (INFRA), Projects of National and Regional Significance (PNRS), and the National Highway Freight Program. Annual funding levels proposed in the INVEST in America Act through these three programs would reach nearly $4 billion per year whereas $12 billion annually is needed for freight infrastructure based on previous INFRA application rounds. Decreasing the amount of funding available to freight projects would jeopardize our nation's ability to move goods through the supply chain quickly, cost effectively, and safely. Not only is an efficient national supply chain critical for COVID-19 relief--it will also be just as essential in supporting our nation's economic recovery. We applaud the proposal's continued investment in competitive grant programs, first through the INFRA program and subsequently under the PNRS program. Competitive grants are critical to funding large-scale freight infrastructure projects, which are difficult to fund through traditional distribution methods such as formula programs. We support the increased flexibility for funding multimodal freight projects, reflected in both the PNRS and the National Highway Freight Program. Freight does not move on highways alone--where public benefit is demonstrable, federal investment should be made available regardless of transportation mode. We have a concern with the PNRS program limitation that reads: ``the project will make a significant improvement to the movement of freight on the National Highway System.'' This limitation, which also appears in the INFRA program, challenges certain projects that are otherwise eligible and meet the listed merit criteria and other considerations. For example, port modernization projects that provide public benefit but do not have a rail component are disadvantaged. We appreciate the evaluation and rating requirements included in the INFRA and PNRS programs. Clearly-defined, consistent and transparent merit-based criteria as well as public disclosures of application scores are critical to the integrity of and confidence in competitive grants. We support the creation of a task force to study the establishment and administration ofa fee on multimodal freight transportation. In addition to participation by the Internal Revenue Service and the Departments of Transportation and Treasury, we recommend the task force incorporate public and private stakeholder participation, including perspectives offered by the supply chain industry. We commend the incorporation of several additional programs and policy advances that CAGTC and its membership have championed, including: establishment of the grade crossing separation grant program; increased funding for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grant program; designation of a final National Multimodal Freight Network (NMFN) and including in the NMFN designation ports with a cargo value of at least $1 billion annually; updates to the criteria for the National Freight Strategic Plan; and initiation of a National Cooperative Multimodal Freight Transportation Research Program.

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Madam Speaker, today the House will consider the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, crucial legislation to deliver resources our small businesses and health care providers need to confront the coronavirus outbreak. I will not attend House proceedings today but if present would have voted YEA on H.R. 266 and YEA on H.Res. 935 to establish a Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis. This public health crisis has upended businesses in my community and across the country. Additional resources for the Paycheck Protection Program will ensure these businesses can retain employees and are ready to participate in our economic recovery. Further, additional resources for our healthcare system--including $825 million for Community Health Centers--will make sure these essential organizations can continue to serve our communities during this pandemic. I am proud of the efforts of House Democrats to strengthen this legislation, including securing key resources for testing and allocating small business loans to community-based lenders that have strong relationships with local small businesses. While I am proud of this bipartisan agreement, we must re-double our efforts in the weeks ahead to develop a relief plan that paves the way for our economic recovery.

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, the House considered the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. I would vote YEA on this important measure. As the coronavirus spreads throughout our country, the devastating impact of this pandemic becomes clearer each day. The bipartisan CARES Act makes an important down payment on needed economic relief for Americans and their families, especially in California. It provides critical cash assistance to people who need it. It grants crucial resources to small businesses, helps prevent layoffs, and delivers urgently needed funds to hospitals, schools, and local governments. This bill is huge, by any measure. It will provide critical assistance. I am proud of the tireless efforts by House Democrats to secure the best possible deal for working families, and proud that we can reach a bipartisan agreement. We simply cannot afford to declare victory, though. More will be needed. We're just beginning to understand the full scope of the impacts. This is the third relief bill Congress will pass related to the coronavirus outbreak, and while they have each been critical in helping us in this fight, we know they are just first steps. Many families, workers, small businesses, first responders, and health care professionals will need more assistance, and we are already working on additional help to address this unprecedented public health threat. The American people need and deserve a coordinated, fully-funded, whole-of-government response to keep them and their loved ones safe from the coronavirus epidemic, and to protect our economy. I will continue to work relentlessly to put families, workers, and small businesses first.

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues, Representatives Tlaib and Pressley, for yielding and allowing me to speak. As we all know, this morning the Supreme Court heard the oral arguments in Medical Services v. Russo, a case that challenges the unconstitutional abortion restrictions in Louisiana. The Louisiana law would require abortion providers to obtain admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles or else they must stop providing care. Let's be clear what this is about. This restrictive law is meant to eliminate access to abortion care. In fact, if this law were allowed to stand, all but one of Louisiana's abortion clinics would be shut down. This should be a straightforward decision for the Supreme Court. Three years ago, the Court struck down an identical Texas law in Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt. Americans overwhelmingly support abortion access. Nearly 80 percent of Americans do not want to see Roe v. Wade overturned. Polling consistently shows that there is not a single State in the Union where residents want to outlaw abortion. Not one. Reproductive rights are central to individual liberties. What we are talking about are deeply personal decisions that should remain up to the woman, not be decided by politicians. These rights enable women to decide if or if not and how they should start to grow their family. This right should be an absolute right and solely up to women to make their own decisions about their health and their future, and we should respect them for making that decision. Reproductive rights also allow women to control their economic security and make the best choices for themselves and their families. It is not our place--any of us--to decide whether a woman should or should not get an abortion. Abortion remains one of the safest outpatient medical procedures. However, placing the burden of admitting privileges on abortion providers threatens the safety of these procedures. Nearly every professional medical association has said having admitting procedures will not make women safer. But let's be honest. We know there is no medical reason for these outrageously restrictive laws. There are only political reasons behind these moves. Admitting privileges, as we know, are often difficult for abortion providers to obtain, solely because of the ideological opposition to abortion. Therefore, it is imperative that we protect individual liberties and that we protect reproductive rights and reproductive education in order to build healthy communities.

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Bonnie Lowenthal and her career of public service. Ms. Lowenthal began her public service to the Long Beach, California community nearly five decades ago, serving as a licensed family counselor, mental health consultant, and as an educator. Her work in the Long Beach community began a life-long focus on affordable housing and the problem of homelessness. She was appointed as Vice Chair of the Mayor's Task Force on Homelessness in 1987 and worked to find mechanisms to house people and prevent homelessness. Her community work also led Ms. Lowenthal to a deep involvement with the Long Beach Cambodian community and in 1989 she was named Director of Planning for the United Cambodian Community organization while also serving as the Arts Manager representing a group of Cambodian musicians and founding the Cambodian Children's Orchestra. In 1991, Ms. Lowenthal traveled to Cambodia with a national Red Cross group to investigate the proliferation of landmines left behind during the decades of war that had engulfed the country. She also helped initiate a sister-city relationship between Long Beach and Phnom Penh and would go on to be an official observer during Cambodia's first municipal elections in more than 40 years. Ms. Lowenthal has also served as Clinical Director for the Cambodian Association of America and as a participant on the Cambodiatown Advisory Board. In 1994, Ms. Lowenthal was elected to the first of two terms on the Long Beach Unified School District Board. Her dedication and commitment to students helped Long Beach earn a national reputation as one of the country's best urban school districts. After winning a 2001 special election for the 1st District of the Long Beach City Council, Ms. Lowenthal would go on to win two full terms for the seat in 2002 and 2006. Selected by her colleagues as Vice Mayor in 2006, she was also elected by 27 regional cities to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board. She has stated that her mission on the Long Beach City Council was to make sure that the residents of her working-class district were as well represented at City Hall as residents of the city's wealthiest neighborhoods. In 2008, Ms. Lowenthal was elected to her first of three terms in the California State Assembly. Her district, encompassing what is now the 70th Assembly District, remains one of the most ethnically diverse populations in the state. During her three terms in the State Assembly, Ms. Lowenthal's district included the Long Beach/Los Angeles port complex--the busiest container complex in the Western Hemisphere. As an Assemblymember, she was instrumental in helping create more than 18,000 transportation- related jobs, while also protecting the employment rights of thousands of other port workers. In addition to transportation issues, during her tenure in the State Assembly she focused on standing up for children, seniors, and the environment. She authored laws that protected coastal waters from invasive species; made it easier for older adults to stay in their homes; encouraged state workers to blow the whistle on wrongdoing; and made it easier for school districts to provide children with a safe ride to school. She also authored important legislation that brought additional federal funds to foster youth, protected injured workers from unjust medical bills, and reduced the cost of prison healthcare by millions of dollars a year. Her leadership positions in the State Assembly included chairing the Legislative Women's Caucus, the Assembly Committee on Transportation, the Joint Committee on Emergency Management, and the Select Committee on Ports. She served as a member of the committees on Accountability and Administrative Review, Environmental Safety & Toxic Materials, Health, and other select committees. For her service in the State Legislature, Ms. Lowenthal was named Legislator of the Year by the California Assisted Living Association, the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, and the California Chiropractic Association, among many others. In 2017, Ms. Lowenthal was named to the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners by Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, and elected President of the Board in July 2019, following a year of service as Vice President of the board. As a member of the five-member board, Ms. Lowenthal is responsible for the management and oversight of City's Harbor Department which operates the Port of Long Beach, the nation's second-busiest port. She was unanimously confirmed by the City Council as the 68th appointee to the Board since the current Commission was established in 1925. Her appointment made her the seventh woman to serve on the Commission and marked the first time in the port's history that the five-member Board had four female members at the same time. Besides serving on various Commission sub-committees, Ms. Lowenthal also represents the port on national and international trade missions and serves as the board representative or alternate to a variety of port-related leadership organizations. In addition to her work on the Board of Harbor Commissioners, Ms. Lowenthal serves her community on the St. Mary's Medical Center Governing Board, the U.S. Vets Advisory Board, the Children Today Board of Directors, the LINC Housing Board of Directors, and the Jewish Family and Children's Service Board of Directors. I want to thank Ms. Lowenthal for her nearly five decades of commitment to her community and for the dedication to public service that has allowed her to give so much to that community.

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Madam Speaker, I rise in observance of Gun Violence Survivors' Week. For all those who have lost their lives due to gun violence, there are thousands more who experience trauma, loss, and suffering. In a recent poll, 58 percent of American adults reported that they or someone that they care for have experienced gun violence. That statistic is shocking, and it is also shameful. No other wealthy country faces a gun violence epidemic on this scale. The House has passed strong bipartisan bills to reduce gun violence. Majority Leader McConnell and the gun lobby continue to block this legislation. The obstruction is outrageous. It fails to honor the legacy of the survivors that we honor this week. I know we can do better. We simply must do better.

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Madam Speaker, I want to recognize the leadership and accomplishments of Mr. Terry Geiling, who has, after 12 years serving as President and CEO of the American Gold Star Manor, announced his retirement. Located in Long Beach, California, the Gold Star Manor is a one-of- a-kind 25-acre retirement community providing affordable housing for 400 Gold Star Mothers, fathers, veterans, and other eligible seniors. During Mr. Geiling's leadership tenure, he oversaw a major expansion and renovation of the facility, marshalling the resources of state, federal, county, and city agencies through his tireless efforts. He showed unparalleled determination in building important partnerships and developing the necessary financial plans to ensure the completion of the $55 million rehabilitation project. By the completion of the work, Mr. Geiling had built the Gold Star Manor into a nationally recognized housing facility for veterans and their families. In the midst of the Gold Star Manor rehabilitation project, Mr. Geiling also played a key role in the development and construction of a Fisher House at the Tibor Rubin Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Long Beach. While his leadership at American Gold Star Manor will be dearly missed, he will continue to support the organization as a consultant for another major expansion project that will develop 150 additional housing units at the manor. Mr. Geiling is a pillar of the Long Beach community, a tireless advocate for our veterans and their families, and his name is synonymous with honorable public service. I want to offer my deepest appreciation to Mr. Geiling for his service to our country, his dedication to our veterans and their families, and his deep commitment to the Long Beach community. I wish him the very best of luck in future.

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Madam Speaker, the facts in this case are as simple as they are tragic. Witness after witness attested to these facts. No one has credibly refuted them. President Trump tried to coerce Ukraine to interfere in the 2020 elections. He used the power of his office for personal political gain. By withholding aid to Ukraine, the President has endangered our ally Ukraine and undermined our own national security. When he got caught, the President attempted to cover up the crime and shut down any investigation by obstructing Congress. We have overwhelming evidence that this President poses an urgent threat to our elections, to our national security, and to the rule of law. Congress must vote to impeach him to protect our constitutional Republic. There is no alternative.

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge my colleagues to join me in voting to affirm a longstanding, bipartisan, and fundamental principle of American foreign policy. I believe we should pass this resolution today because it states facts which have been true for decades and which are true today. A two-state solution represents the only path to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, and it is the only way to safeguard Israel as a secure Jewish and democratic state while also upholding the rights and the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people. We will never compromise on Israel's security, and we will not turn our backs on the Palestinian people's desire for dignity and justice. Some ask why Congress should speak out now or in this way. To them, I say this: When peace appears most remote, our voices become more critical, not less. The ongoing conflict can only inflict more suffering on innocent people on both sides. We cannot let the possibility of a just peace slip away, and we cannot accept any action that undermines a two-state solution. We must speak out against policies that could put peace out of reach: unilateral annexation, unilateral pushes for statehood, violence, or settlement expansion. Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank many of my colleagues who have worked tirelessly to bring this legislation to the floor, including Congresswoman Bass and Congressman Connolly, Congressman Price and Congresswoman Schakowsky, Chairman Engel, Congressman Pocan and Congresswoman Lee, Congressman Deutch and Congressman Gottheimer, the 192 cosponsors who supported this important effort, and Leader Hoyer and Speaker Pelosi. Mr. Speaker, I also want to thank another one of my colleagues, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib. We spoke yesterday, and although she is not a supporter of H. Res. 326, I left our meeting feeling optimistic. If a Jewish American from Queens and a Palestinian American from Detroit, both proud Americans, can find common ground about the need for all people, regardless of whether they are Californians or Michiganians, regardless of whether they are Jewish or Muslim, Israeli or Palestinian, if we can find common ground to live in peace and security with the same rights to self-determination and dignity, that fills me with hope.

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, that fills me with hope. Mr. Speaker, this resolution affirms the principles that have guided our foreign policy under Democratic and Republican administrations. We know that a two-state solution is the only path to a just peace. Mr. Speaker, this is not a partisan bill. I urge my Republican colleagues to join me in voting to pass H. Res. 326.

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 81 Airborne Soldiers of the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces, whose remains will finally be laid to rest on Saturday, October 26th, in Little Saigon, Orange County, California, part of my 47th Congressional District. In 1965, an American C-123 carrying four American crew members and 81 South Vietnamese Airborne soldiers was shot down in a remote and contested area during the Vietnam War, killing all those onboard. In 1974, the crash site was visited, and the remains were recovered, however, they were commingled together. The American crew members were later identified and were given a proper burial. The remains of South Vietnamese soldiers were never identified, and they were believed to have been members of the 72 Company of the elite 7 Airborne Battalion of the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces. These unknown heroes are now ``Men Without a Country,'' for that the Republic to which they gave their lives on behalf of no longer exist. Their remains have been sitting at the U.S. military's POW/MIA lab in Hawaii since 1986 and the current regime in Vietnam has twice declined to accept their return. It was unclear how these 81 unknown soldiers could receive proper honor and burial until the efforts of former Navy Secretary and Senator Jim Webb, who served as a Marine infantry officer in Vietnam. Senator Webb has spent the last two years working intricately with both diplomatic and legal fronts to successfully arranged for the proper honoring and interment of these heroes. Finally, these Airborne soldiers will be laid to rest with full military honor and proper protocols of the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces. They will be remembered and honored with a ceremony at the Vietnam War Memorial, also known as Freedom Park in the City of Westminster, California and interned at the Vietnamese Boat People Cemetery inside the Westminster Memorial Park, one of the largest Vietnamese American cemeteries in our nation. This marks an end to an epic journey of soldiers who fought and died for the ideals of freedom and democracy to be rested with the people whom they defended. I thank Senator Jim Webb, the Lost Soldiers Foundation, the Republic of Vietnam Airborne Association's National and Local Chapter, and everyone involved for working together to finally honor these 81 soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Vietnam after 54 years of their sacrifices. The United States honor the sacrifices of our ally, the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces.

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, in late 1965, a C-123 transport was shot down over Vietnam. The flight's four American crewmen were identified and their remains returned home. The 81 South Vietnamese soldiers also on board were never identified, their remains never properly interred. The current Vietnamese Government has twice refused to allow the soldiers' remains to return home. This Saturday, October 26, the remains of these 81 soldiers will be finally laid to rest in the Little Saigon community of Orange County, California, in my district. I thank Senator Jim Webb, the Lost Soldiers Foundation, the Republic of Vietnam Airborne Division's national and local chapters, and everyone involved in making it possible to finally honor and properly inter these 81 soldiers.

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Madam Speaker, today, I am here again, once more, to speak about an American citizen, Michael Nguyen, who is currently in prison in Vietnam on vague allegations and charges. I thank my colleague, Representative Katie Porter, for her tireless advocacy on this matter, and the men and women at the State Department, including Ambassador Dan Kritenbrink, for their work and continued support. It has been over a year since Michael was arbitrarily detained, hastily tried, and harshly imprisoned on claims that he plotted to overthrow the Government of Vietnam, which no one--and I repeat, no one--has seen any evidence of. Earlier this year, Michael was convicted, along with two Vietnamese men, after a half-day trial. Michael was sentenced to 12 years in prison, which is longer than the two Vietnamese men received for the same charges. Michael's family has struggled emotionally and financially with his imprisonment. His wife and four daughters only want him to come home. He is currently appealing the length of his sentence. As a co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Vietnam, I call upon the Vietnamese Government to do the right thing: quickly close this case and return Michael back to the United States and to his family.

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Chair, I thank Representative Huffman for his leadership on this very, very important bill. I would like to discuss briefly one idea, and that is the idea that you hear around that if we are going to protect ANWR, that somehow is going to hurt our ability to become energy independent, that we cannot be energy independent unless we open up ANWR, and that right now, we have to really worry because we are going to become, by not opening ANWR, more beholden to the Russians, to Saudi Arabia. This is all going to be whether we open up ANWR or not? This is absolute nonsense. Republicans and this administration no longer care about energy independence. Let's be clear. They do not care about energy independence, and they haven't for years, ever since they voted to lift the oil export ban. For so many years, we said that we care about energy independence, and we are not going to export our oil and gas. If energy independence was the goal, we wouldn't be letting companies send American-produced oil all over the world, particularly when we are still importing from other countries, yet that is exactly what is happening today. We export over 3 million barrels a day. Yet at the same time, we are importing 7 million barrels a day. If oil development, what we are hearing today, is really about making America energy independent, instead of exporting those 3 million barrels, we could keep them here at home. If Republicans want to put the export ban back in place, then we should have a real discussion. I would love to have that discussion, but they know that their friends in the oil and gas industry would never let them have that discussion because this is all about profits.

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Chair, this is all about profits. It is not about energy independence.

Mr. LOWENTHAL

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to insert extraneous materials on H.R. 1941.

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The first question is, what do all governors, Republican and Democratic, along the entire East Coast and along the entire West Coast of the United States and over 330 municipalities and counties from these States all have in common? You know what they have in common? They are all opposed to expanding offshore oil and gas development off their shores. Today we are here to ensure that these coasts, the Atlantic and the Pacific, receive the assurance and the protection that they deserve. H.R. 1941, the Coastal and Marine Economies Protection Act would permanently protect the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts from offshore oil and gas drilling. From Maine down to Florida, from Washington to California, over 3,000 miles of the United States' coasts are threatened by the fossil fuel industry-driven agenda, which is driven by the Trump administration. One of President Trump's first actions upon taking office was mandating the development of a new and totally unnecessary 5-year plan for offshore oil and gas lease sales. In January 2018, former Interior Secretary Zinke released a draft of that plan, which proposed opening more than 90 percent of the Outer Continental Shelf to oil and gas development. This proposal included the entirety of America's Atlantic and Pacific Coasts, and if enacted, drilling could endanger more than 72,000 miles of U.S. shorelines. Expectedly, there was immediate pushback from citizens, elected officials, governors, business leaders, all who understood that their coastal communities are incompatible with offshore oil and gas. The public knows that bringing in industry as risky and as dirty as oil and gas to the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts is dangerous on many levels. Our oceans sustain a rich diversity of marine life, and they provide immense value to America's coastal communities by helping to generate billions of dollars in economic output and by supporting millions of jobs. For example, thriving fish stocks and healthy marine mammals off the coast of New Jersey, Maryland, and Florida support tackle shops, whale watching tours, and a massive seafood industry. And oil-free beaches and bays in Virginia and the Carolinas drive business for local restaurants, for vacation rentals, and for outfitters. But coastal residents are not the only ones who will benefit from protecting these areas. Some of our Nation's most majestic national park units belonging to all Americans are along our coast, including Acadia, Biscayne, Cape Hatteras, and Point Reyes. People from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds and from both political parties cherish these special places, and they rely on healthy oceans, clean beaches, and the abundant fish and wildlife that come with them. The inevitable spills and the variety of other onshore and offshore impacts from oil and gas drilling have no place along our East and West Coasts. Over one million people are employed by the tourism and recreation industries along the East Coast. These are real jobs that exist now and will only grow if we continue to treat our oceans and coasts with care. That is over four times as many jobs as the industry-generated fantasies that come with opening the entire Atlantic seaboard to drilling rigs. Four times as many jobs would be at risk from the industrial facilities that would be built along the coast. Four times as many jobs would be at risk from the chronic pollution and pipeline spills that are widespread with offshore oil and gas. And four times as many jobs would be at risk from a catastrophic blowout, like the one we saw in the Gulf of Mexico only 9 years ago. None of these facts or the outcry from concerned citizens have influenced a Trump administration that is laser-focused on doing the bidding of the oil and gas industry. Instead of protecting our coasts, President Trump and Secretary Bernhardt have played politics and now are hiding their plan to drill near our communities. In January 2018, immediately after the release of the draft leasing program, then-Secretary Zinke met with then-Governor of Florida Rick Scott at the Tallahassee airport and tweeted that he was removing Florida from the leasing program. However, it turned out that this was nothing more than a ploy meant to boost the political prospects of a Republican Senate candidate. First Florida was in, then it was out, then it was in again, and now nobody except Secretary Bernhardt and President Trump knows for sure. For 2\1/2\ years, this administration has based its offshore drilling decisions on politics, not on the needs or the concerns of coastal communities. In April, the administration announced that its offshore leasing plans are now on hold due to a recent court decision that is related to Alaska. But that is only a short-term reprieve. At any moment, the administration can restart its efforts to auction off our Nation's marine resources, which will undoubtedly happen if the President were to get a second term. Coastal communities need assurance that their businesses, beaches, and way of life will not be sacrificed to the fossil fuel industry by the Trump administration. H.R. 1941 provides our Atlantic and Pacific constituents, including those along Florida's Atlantic Coast, the necessary protections from the dangers of offshore oil and gas, and it deserves this body's full support. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Chair, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Cunningham).

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Chairman, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone).

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Levin).

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline).