Michelle Lujan Grisham

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Jeremy Reynalds, who passed away last week at the age of 60. Dr. Reynalds touched so many members of our community over the years as Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Joy Junction, New Mexico's largest faith-based homeless shelter. After growing up in England, Dr. Reynalds immigrated to the United States in 1978. He struggled at first after moving to our country, and was homeless for some time. However, he turned his difficulties into a positive for the community, and founded a coffeehouse in Santa Fe that eventually became the city's only facility for the homeless. In 1986, Dr. Reynalds moved to Albuquerque and founded Joy Junction. Today, the organization provides assistance to as many as 300 people each night and serves more than 200,000 meals every year. In addition to addressing the physical needs of guests by providing food and shelter, the ministry also provides counseling programs that tackle their emotional and spiritual needs. In the 32 years since its founding, Joy Junction has expanded to several buildings sitting on over 50 acres, including a new 55-room apartment building that will soon be completed. While serving as CEO of Joy Junction, Dr. Reynalds also earned a Master's Degree in Communication from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and a Ph.D. in Intercultural Education from Biola University in Los Angeles. In addition to his work at Joy Junction, Dr. Reynalds traveled to the Middle East to focus on social justice issues in that part of the world. He was also a prolific writer who authored several books on the topic of homelessness. Mr. Speaker, I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to all of Dr. Reynalds' loved ones including his wife Elma, who has been named Interim CEO of Joy Junction. I am confident that his organization's extraordinary work for our community will continue for years to come

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I missed two votes on 7/16/2018. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 329 and YEA on Roll Call No. 330.

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember Juan Jose Pena, who passed away this month at the age of 72. Mr. Pena was a dedicated community leader who committed much of his life to fighting for the civil rights of veterans and Hispanics. Mr. Pena spent most of his childhood in the town of Las Vegas. He went on to receive Bachelor's and Master's Degrees from New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, where he studied a range of topics including Spanish Language, Literature, and Political Science. Mr. Pena was drafted into the Army in 1969 and went on to receive a multitude of decorations including a Bronze Star Medal for Valor. He was the most decorated member of the Fourth Infantry Division when it returned to the United States. After serving our nation, Mr. Pena became a Spanish Professor at New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas. He went on to work as a supervisory interpreter at the United States District Court in Albuquerque for more than two decades. Mr. Pena continued to work as a freelance interpreter after he retired. Mr. Pena was an active member of our community whose reach extended to a number of influential organizations. He was a leader in Partido Raza Unida, Commander of the Albuquerque and New Mexico branches of the American GI Forum, Chairman of the Hispano Round Table, and founding member of Dads Against Discrimination. Mr. Pena's tireless fight against discrimination earned him numerous honors including the City of Albuquerque Human Rights Award. Mr. Speaker, I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to Mr. Pena's partner of 23 years Ann Tran, his brother Fernando, his daughter Margarita, his grandchildren Shar and Mariana, as well as the rest of his loved ones. I hope they are comforted by cherished memories of Mr. Pena, and by the fact that so many in our community mourn his loss and celebrate his life with them.

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate New Mexico native Mike Smith on completing horse racing's Triple Crown earlier this month. Mr. Smith deftly rode his horse Justify to victory in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes to become just the twelfth Triple Crown winning jockey. Furthermore, at the age of 52, Mr. Smith is the oldest person to achieve this feat. Mr. Smith was born in Roswell, New Mexico and spent his childhood in the nearby town of Dexter. Horses were an integral part of life for Mr. Smith, who spent much of his time working with them on his grandparents' farm. Mr. Smith's professional jockeying career began when he was just a teenager and included races at tracks like Ruidoso Downs in Southern New Mexico. Since the early 1990's, Mr. Smith has cemented himself as one of the top jockeys in the world. His long list of accomplishments includes seven victories in Triple Crown races as well as a record 27 Breeders' Cup wins. His success at these top races has earned Mr. Smith the nickname ``Big Money Mike''. In recognition of his impressive career, Mr. Smith was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2003. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the state of New Mexico, I want to congratulate Mike Smith on winning the Triple Crown. He has brought our state great pride and we wish him the best of luck in the future.

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. I am opposed in its current form.

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill, which will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final passage, as amended. When DACA was terminated in September, this Chamber promised hundreds of thousands of young people and the American public that we would have a public debate and vote to protect Dreamers. We gather here today, instead, to vote on legislation that fails to protect these young people, radically changes our immigration laws, and derails the bipartisan queen-of-the-hill effort that would give us a solution. H.R. 4760 is a hyperpartisan, sweeping bill which would fundamentally change our legal immigration system and negatively impact our economy, which is why it is opposed by the majority of the Republican Conference, faith groups, businesses, chambers, and, quite frankly, everyone in between. If enacted, these policies would undermine local law enforcement, hurt businesses, and rip apart communities through mass deportation, while telling hundreds of thousands of American Dreamers that they can only be a guest in the only country most of them have ever known, but that they will never truly be American. The truth is that this bill is a poison pill-ridden effort that does nothing to get us closer to passing a bipartisan, narrow, and targeted solution for Dreamers. Congress--that is each and every one of us--has a responsibility to address this Trump-created crisis in a bipartisan, rapid, compassionate, and meaningful way. This is what the American people want us to do. But since the start of the Trump administration, a divisive and twisted narrative has been perpetrated to villainize, scapegoat, and hurt immigrant families. This week, the pain of immigrant families was felt by each and every person in America who heard the terror and cries of children being torn from their parents. This week we have experienced the horror many immigrant families feel every single day, and we have seen how ugly it is to use vulnerable immigrant children, mothers, and fathers as political pawns. But we have also seen Americans stand up for these families. We saw them rebuke the President and his heinous policy. Today we must do the same thing by standing up for Dreamers. We must meet our responsibility as Members of Congress by voting for legislation that fixes this Trump- created DACA crisis, not by voting for legislation that makes it worse. Every time that a bipartisan fix for Dreamers is within our reach, this chaotic Republican Conference caves to those who aim to exploit Dreamers in order to impose radical changes to our immigration system. The provisions in H.R. 4760's partisan anti-immigrant bill betray our most fundamental American values. It is a reflection of the xenophobic agenda of the Trump White House which prioritizes billions upon billions on a wasteful wall, cuts legal immigration, and ends our obligation to protect Dreamers. This is the latest example of Republicans putting Trump's anti- immigrant demands above moral decency, families, Dreamers, and the will of the American people. It is indefensible and immoral that this House continues to derail bipartisan efforts to protect Dreamers. The antics that we are witnessing are why the American people have lost faith that their Representatives can find bipartisan solutions to our Nation's most pressing issues. But as a Member of Congress in the minority party at a time of deep political division and instability, I still believe it is possible for us to work together to improve the well-being of families, children, and young people. Mr. Speaker, that is why I am asking and I am imploring you to join me in voting for the bipartisan Dream Act that upholds our values and fulfills our promise to protect Dreamers and their families. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Madam Speaker, this past week, my colleagues and I traveled to different parts of the border to see firsthand how children, mothers, and fathers are being terrorized by the most anti-immigrant, xenophobic, and racist administration of my lifetime. We did this because we cannot stand by, cannot stand idly by, and watch the most powerful country in the world tearing children from their mothers and their fathers at their most vulnerable and desperate moments. The stories of babies and toddlers being torn from the arms of their mothers and fathers, the heartbreaking audio of children crying and screaming for their parents, the account of a distraught father taking his own life after his own child was wrestled from his arms, and of a mother who was deported before she could recover her son from detention, these are the atrocities perpetrated by President Trump, and they must stop. Families fleeing violence deserve and have a right to petition their claim for asylum, for that is the law of the land. I am here with two children today to call on this administration to stop this cruel, inhumane practice that betrays who we are as a country. The President could make the decision to end this practice right now and do the right thing. Failing that, Congress must act. Madam Speaker, I yield to my distinguished colleague from Washington (Ms. Jayapal).

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Gutierrez).

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, this is opioids week, yet we are not considering any bill that would rein in the pharmaceutical companies, whose greed caused and perpetuated the epidemic. Many of these companies have used unethical and illegal practices to generate record-setting profits. They have bribed doctors, lied to patients about the effects of opioids, and ignored millions of illegally trafficked pills. Meanwhile, the costs of the epidemic fall on States, cities, counties, hospitals, courts, and local communities that do not have the resources to keep up. I have introduced legislation that would make pharmaceutical companies part of the solution by imposing a small 1-cent fee on opioid production. The estimated $2 billion in revenue raised could be used to fund a variety of prevention, treatment, and research programs that would save countless lives. Mr. Speaker, it is time to finally hold these companies accountable for their role in the opioid epidemic and make them give back to the communities and families that have been destroyed.

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember a great American hero, Mr. Ralph Rodriguez, Jr., who passed away this month at the age of 100. Mr. Rodriguez bravely served our country in World War II and survived years of inhumane treatment as a prisoner of war. Born to Mexican immigrants, Mr. Rodriguez was sent to train in the Philippines prior the United States' entrance into the war, but was ambushed by Japanese forces on December 8, 1941, just hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor. After months of intense fighting, Mr. Rodriguez and his fellow servicemen were ordered to surrender. They were then forced to walk more than 60 miles to Camp O'Donnell in what became known as the Bataan Death March. For almost three years, despite facing malnutrition, torture, and forced labor, Mr. Rodriguez did his best to provide medical care to his fellow soldiers without the use of proper supplies. He also kept handwritten records of his fellow prisoners, many of whom succumbed to a range of ailments. He was finally liberated and returned to New Mexico in January 1945. After returning home, Mr. Rodriguez worked for a variety of lumber businesses in the Albuquerque area. Additionally, he served in leadership roles at the Bataan Veterans Organization and the American Ex-Prisoners of War Organization. He also met his wife, Elizabeth, and had three children, Mona Lisa, Ralph III, and Charles. Mr. Speaker, I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of Mr. Ralph Rodriguez, Jr., and honor Mr. Rodriguez for his valiant service to our country.

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Madam Speaker, I thank my incredible colleague from California, Congressman Aguilar. This is a really personal issue to so many Members not only in this Chamber, but in our neighboring Chamber, the U.S. Senate: the notion that, after more than 6 months of bipartisan, bicameral efforts, this body cannot hold an effort to have just a debate in an environment where we clearly have the will of the entire body focused on the will of our constituents in this Nation to find a permanent solution for Dreamers, who, as my colleague so artfully stated, have no other country than this one as their own and the fact that that effort will not be undertaken because the leadership of this House refuses to do its job by allowing us the opportunity to debate bills and to share ideas and to move forward on pieces of legislation that truly make a difference in the lives of our constituents and the lives of Americans in every single community. It is days like this I really appreciate that I have colleagues who keep their hope and their faith, and they have got my commitment to do the same. But the nicest thing I can say is that it is really unfortunate that we find ourselves here at nearly 9:30 p.m. because we don't have the courage of Members to stay the course and do what is right, particularly now in an environment where instead of moving forward on the issues where more of us agree than not, in fact, we are seeing even more draconian, anti-American, probably, unconstitutional efforts at preventing asylum and refuge to others around the world, which is our constitutional basis in this country. And this was an opportunity to not only begin to deal with these issues, but to do what is right for these young people. For those folks who are watching us tonight in this situation, I want to highlight who they are again. In New Mexico, and, in fact, in my district, which is Albuquerque, New Mexico, the teacher of the year is a Dreamer. In a country where 20,000 educators are Dreamers, in a State where 5,000 young men and women are doctors, engineers, lawyers, educators, nurses, entrepreneurs, long-term care caregivers, providing the very supportive work for which this country has a serious shortage, because they are so committed to their communities and their families that they are taking on the challenges that too many of us are unwilling to do, yet this body, this Chamber refusing to allow the majority to take an action that would provide those young people with a protected, positive, productive future, the same thing that they have done for our communities, all of our communities, I find incredibly disheartening tonight. But I, too, want to add my voice that I will continue to fight and work to find whatever pathways for a solution make the most sense in a body that makes no sense, particularly now. I thank my colleague and my Republican colleagues who had the courage to work to force the debate when leadership refused to provide that avenue, who had the courage to force the debate when leadership did not hold their commitments to meet with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, including myself, who failed to hold meetings so that we could work on ideas and strategies before getting to this point, who failed to provide any meaningful legislative idea, effort, text, any legislative solutions or strategy. I want to thank Members like my colleague from California, and, actually, I assume that my colleague from California will yield to our colleague from Texas. There are so many Members of this body who worked so incredibly hard to do, finally, the work that we were elected to do. I certainly want to give them my gratitude and my commitment that I will continue to do everything in my power to force this Chamber to do the job that we were all elected to do.

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Chairman, 99.9 percent of New Mexico is under drought conditions, including over 60 percent of the State which is suffering from extreme drought or worse. It is so dry that more than half the State is at significant risk for dangerous and destructive wildfires, and long stretches of the Rio Grande riverbed are already dry as a bone. As I speak, there are wildfires raging across the state, including a massive fire in Ute Park, which is threatening multiple communities and hundreds of buildings. On top of that, last winter's mountain snowpack was the second lowest on record, creating significant issues for New Mexico's agricultural industry. Farmers are leaving fields unplanted and ranchers are downsizing their herds. Many farmers and ranchers, including families who have worked their land for generations, are worried that they will not have the water to grow their crops or the hay to feed their livestock in the months and years ahead. Extreme drought is the new normal in large parts of the American Southwest and we have to develop innovative technologies and management practices to both preserve the water resources we have and increase access to previously unusable water. My amendment intends to prioritize $15 million for the Bureau of Reclamation's water research and development programs. It is critical that we make new investments to develop innovative methods to recycle, reuse, and purify water for agricultural, environmental, residential, and industrial uses. This funding also supports the Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility located in Alamogordo, New Mexico, that develops more cost-effective and efficient ways to desalinate and purify water. This cutting-edge facility brings together researchers from a range of Federal agencies, universities, private companies, and State and local governments to work collaboratively on sustainability using billions of previously untapped brackish groundwater in New Mexico. Mr. Chairman, if we don't develop innovative water management strategies to do more with less, we won't have the water we need to plant our fields, feed our livestock, or grow New Mexico's economy. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a talented group of students from the Albuquerque High School STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) Team, which placed third overall and was the top placing United States team at the 2018 RoboRAVE International Entrepreneurial Challenge. This impressive team, made up of Asael Diaz, Mary Cherino, and Dante Van Orten, created a robotic dog intended for fun and companionship. They also created a logo, brochure, and 30-second commercial video in order to present their invention to judges and competition attendees. This competition represents an outstanding opportunity for students to gain valuable exposure to STEM disciplines, and I am so pleased that high schoolers from Albuquerque were able to participate and perform so well. I am hopeful that New Mexico will continue to be a leader in STEM fields and that our students will continue to apply their skills through outlets like this competition. I would also like to recognize the team's sponsor, science teacher Valerie Kovach, as well as educational assistant Jean Hart, for the sacrifices they made in order to provide the team with valuable supervision and guidance. Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the students and staff from the Albuquerque High School STEAM Team on their impressive performance at the 2018 RoboRAVE International Entrepreneurial Challenge. I wish them the best of luck in all their future endeavors.

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I missed three votes on 6/5/2018. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 231; YEA on Roll Call No. 232; and YEA on Roll Call No. 233.

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I missed three votes on June 6, 2018. Had I been present, I would have voted: ``Nay'' on rollcall No. 234, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 235, and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 236.

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I missed three votes on 5/21/2018. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 207; YEA on Roll Call No. 208; and YEA on Roll Call No. 209.

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Chairman, New Mexico is home to the Kirtland Air Force Research Laboratory that develops groundbreaking technologies that support our men and women in the Armed Forces. These technologies often have a range of commercial applications that can re-energize domestic manufacturing, create high-paying jobs, and increase economic development in our State, which has the second highest unemployment rate in the Nation. High-speed internet servers, GPS, electric vehicles, and even microwave ovens are just a few of the examples of transformational technologies that were originally developed by the Federal Government. My amendments would help facilitate the commercialization of innovative DOD-developed technologies by investing in the scientists, engineers, and mathematicians serving in our military laboratories. By providing laboratory personnel with business education, entrepreneurial sabbaticals, and new opportunities to partner with universities and businesses, we can make cutting-edge technologies more widely available to American businesses and consumers, grow our economy, and ensure that the United States leads the world in innovation. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support my amendments.

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I missed a vote on 5/16/2018. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 184.

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I missed a vote on 5/8/2018. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 169 and NAY on Roll Call No. 170.

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I missed a vote on 4/10/2018. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 130; YEA on Roll Call No. 131; and YEA on Roll Call No. 132.

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I missed a vote on 4/16/2018. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 140 and YEA on Roll Call No. 141.

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I missed a vote on 5/7/2018. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 167 and YEA on Roll Call No. 168.

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I missed three votes on May 15, 2018. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 181; YEA on Roll Call No. 182; and YEA on Roll Call No. 183.