Ted Lieu

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Madam Speaker, today I rise to celebrate the life of Mrs. Kathleen ``Kay'' Finer, who passed away on March 2, 2019 at the age of 68. Kay was a dedicated member of and leader in the business community in Los Angeles County's South Bay. Born on October 14, 1950, Kay grew up and attended school in Inglewood; after attending El Camino College, Kay started her career in the fashion industry before taking time off to raise her family. She was an active member in civic life, serving as a reserve officer for the City of Palos Verdes Estates and organizing a neighborhood watch group. Kay also devoted herself to promoting local businesses, as a volunteer with the Malaga Cove Business Association and President and CEO of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce from 2005 to 2010. She also involved herself with a myriad of nonprofit organizations; she served as director of Community Helpline, which offers a confidential, safe, and empathetic space to talk for individuals experiencing mental health crises. Her energy, commitment, and warm smile helped her make a difference in the community she loved. Kay is survived by her daughter, Jessica, and grandson, Colt. I hope that Kay's family takes comfort in knowing her memory will live on in the people, businesses, and organizations she touched through her work.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Madam Speaker, I rise to celebrate the life of Chen Ling Kou, a devoted wife, mother, and dedicated community member who passed away after battling cancer on April 6, 2019, at the age of 55. Chen Ling was born to En Kai Chang and Shu Chuan Yang Chang on November 5, 1963 in Cheongju-si, South Korea, the fifth of six children. Chen Ling was a brilliant student and a member of an elite study group in Seoul, South Korea, before immigrating to Los Angeles, California, with her family in 1982. She would go on to attend California State University, Fullerton and would later marry Mr. Ming Shin Kou on February 8, 1987 in Anaheim, California. Approximately 1,200 people attended the wedding. Chen Ling was an active member of the community of Palos Verdes Estates in my congressional district, devoting her time to various charitable causes but she was most proud of her three children and all their accomplishments. Dow Li was the first student in the history of Marymount High School to win the state of California Mock Trial competition and went on to graduate from the University of California, Berkeley. Dow Yi obtained degrees from the University of California, Berkeley and the National Taiwan University, and went on to work for Fox Entertainment. Dow Ken recently graduated from the Brentwood School, and has been accepted to the University of Southern California. A fighter throughout her life, Chen Ling bravely fought her battle with cancer for four years, accepting experimental cancer treatment in the hopes that it would help others suffering from cancer. Chen Ling is survived by her husband and their three children. She was truly a beautiful person inside and out. She will forever be remembered for her selflessness, incredible bravery, and meaningful impact on her community.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1585, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019, which was introduced by my good friend Representative Karen Bass. In 1994, Congress took the monumental step of passing the Violence Against Women Act to address violence against women and men and ensure they had access to justice and necessary services. Since its first enactment, Congress has reauthorized the law several times to provide critical updates and ensure that vulnerable persons, including Native Americans and LGBTQ Americans, are protected. While domestic violence has declined in the past two decades, it remains too high. One-quarter of women and one-ninth of men suffer from intimate partner violence or intimate partner stalking; moreover, every year one in 15 kids is exposed to such violence. That is why I am pleased that we are considering H.R. 1585, which reauthorizes and improves the Violence Against Women Act. Among other things, the bill increases the funding authorization for the Rape Prevention and Education Program, improves grant programs that serve domestic violence survivors with disabilities or who are elderly, and ensures that Native American survivors have access to justice Furthermore, H.R. 1585 recognizes the relationship between domestic violence and homelessness. In the Los Angeles Continuum of Care area, which includes my congressional district, nearly half of women who experienced homelessness reported that they had also experienced domestic violence and 14 percent stated that domestic violence was the reason they became homeless in the first place. We know that when women leave their abusers they are gravely concerned about finding safe and affordable housing and that too often they're forced to choose between staying with their abuser or facing homelessness. Critically, H.R. 1585 preserves and improves housing protections for survivors. I'd also like to respond to criticism from my Republican colleagues about firearms and transgender people. First, according to researchers from Johns Hopkins University and others, we know that the risk that a woman will die increases more than fivefold when her abusive partner has access to a firearm. H.R. 1585 acknowledges this reality and ensures that those convicted of stalking misdemeanors and dating violence or who are subject to ex parte orders do not possess firearms. Second, transgender people experience violence at disproportionately high rates--since 2013 more than 128 transgender Americans have been killed--and they deserve access to services for domestic violence survivors. I believe it is vitally important that the Violence Against Women Act is inclusive of trans people. The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act takes important steps to address violence against men and women in the United States. Thank you, Madam Speaker, for bringing this bill to the House Floor. I am proud to lend my support and vote in favor of it.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Madam Speaker, today I rise to celebrate the life of Mrs. Karyn Foley, who passed away on March 9, 2019 at the age of 82. Karyn was a founding councilmember and the first woman to serve as mayor of the City of Calabasas, the most recent city to be incorporated in Los Angeles County. Born in Detroit, Michigan on July 17, 1936, Karyn moved to California with her family as an infant, settling in Los Angeles. She attended local public schools in the Mid-Wilshire neighborhood before graduating from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she received her degree in physical education. Karyn married James Foley in July 1969, and with their minds focused on where best to raise their new family, they moved in 1976 to Calabasas, then part of unincorporated Los Angeles County. Karyn was a community activist and engaged citizen from the moment she arrived, whether as a volunteer parent and part-time substitute teacher with the Las Virgenes Unified School District or president of the Round Meadow Elementary Parent Teacher Association. She and James also played a crucial role in the early years of the Calabasas Park Homeowners Association, with both serving as president and organizing summer activities like lakeside races and pet contests. Karyn's leadership in the effort to push for cityhood for Calabasas was pivotal in the success of the campaign. This decade long effort culminated in the city's incorporation in 1991 as the 88th city in Los Angeles County and 466th in the State of California. She served on the Calabasas City Council from 1991 to 1997 and was the first woman to serve as mayor, from 1994 to 1995. Even after leaving office, Karyn remained involved in civic government and helped foster the city's cultural institutions, serving on the City's first Library Commission, as well as getting involved in the Art in Public Places Committee, Friends of the Calabasas Library, Friends of the Calabasas Orchestra, and the Calabasas Players Theatrical Group. Karyn is survived by her husband of 49 years, James; daughter, Megan and son, Patrick; and three grandchildren. I hope that Karyn's family takes comfort in knowing her passion for public service, visionary leadership, and remarkable compassion will live on in the unique identity that Calabasas has developed over the past three decades.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Madam Speaker, I rise to celebrate the life of Dr. Wing Mar, esteemed doctor, beloved husband, father, and former member of the Torrance-South Bay YMCA Board of Managers. Dr. Wing Mar was born on January 15, 1924 in China and immigrated to the United States as a very young child with his family. After serving with the 10th Army Corps as an intelligence member of the 711th Tank Battalion headquarters during World War II, he attended University of California, Berkeley, and later graduated from the University of South Dakota Medical School. Dr. Mar had a long and impressive career in medicine while also serving for many decades as a leader in his local YMCA. He has always been an important member of his community, working to improve medical care for the elderly, participating as a member of Physicians for Social Responsibility in the 1980s and becoming a charter member of the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California in Los Angeles. It was thanks to Dr. Mar's fundraising skills that the Chinese Historical Society was able to financially secure a Los Angeles headquarters in two beautiful historical homes in Chinatown. He will forever be remembered for his work as a doctor and volunteer with a desire to make an impact in his community and beyond. Dr. Mar is survived by his wife Joyce, their children Jeff, Gayle and Carolyn, six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren whom I hope take comfort in the way he lived his life as a healer, a community leader and compassionate citizen. May his memory be a blessing to us all.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Nadler for his leadership. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution requesting that Special Counsel Mueller's report be made available to the public. There are three reasons why this must happen. First, the taxpayers paid for this report. The American people funded this investigation. They have a right to see the contents of the report of the investigation. Second, internal bureaucratic Department of Justice policies do not apply to Congress, especially on matters of national importance. And third, if we don't get this report, it could amount to a cover- up. The United States Constitution does not say that a sitting President cannot be indicted. There is nothing in the Constitution that would prevent that. Unfortunately, the Department of Justice has taken the policy position that they are not going to indict a sitting President, which means that the only institution that can hold the President accountable is Congress. If we do not get this information, we cannot effectively do our jobs, we cannot hold the President accountable, and it is something that the American public wants to see. Over 87 percent of respondents in a recent poll say that this report should be made available to Congress and to the American public. If the Department of Justice does not do this, we all need to ask: What are they trying to hide?

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Chairman, let me first start off by commending Representative John Sarbanes for H.R. 1 and everyone who has worked on behalf of this historic bill. Today I rise in support of amendment 12 to H.R. 1. Last term, I introduced what is known as the SWAMP FLYERS Act to make sure that government officials don't abuse taxpayer funds for their luxury travel preferences. We did not get a vote on this bill last term. I am very pleased that now I am going to be able to offer it as an amendment to H.R. 1 This is a commonsense amendment. It would simply prevent government officials from using taxpayer funds to travel on a private, chartered, or noncommercial flight. If your official business needs you to go on one of those really expensive flights, you might want to think twice about why you are doing it. Eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse has long been a bipartisan mission of the U.S. Congress, and I can think of few more obvious candidates than paying for private jets for Cabinet officials to travel across the country. As every Member of Congress knows, you can reach any district of the U.S. just flying commercial. I think it is disturbing I even have to introduce this amendment, but let me just walk folks through some of the corruption we have seen in the last 2 years. Former HHS Secretary Tom Price spent more than $400,000 in travel on private jets. Former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke spent over $39,000 of taxpayer funds on a helicopter tour of national monuments in Nevada. He then spent an additional $12,000 of taxpayer funds on a private jet to go to Las Vegas, Nevada, to speak to a hockey team owned by a major donor. Former Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin spent over $122,000 in taxpayer funds to go with his wife to Europe for the primary purpose of sightseeing. Then we have got former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, who spent at least $58,000 on chartered flights. I could go on. If this had been law, they would not have been able to do this. Hardworking Americans deserve better. A vote against this amendment is really something that taxpayers would not appreciate. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this commonsense amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Chairman, I want to note that a number of these Cabinet officials defended the use of luxury travel preferences by saying that their travel was approved. So, clearly, there is not enough in the law to stop this abusive behavior of taxpayer funds. Again, if you just look at the abuse of travel, we know we can stop it. There is no justification for it. Mr. Chairman, I request that my colleagues vote for this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TED LIEU of California. In closing, this is a commonsense amendment. I appreciate, again, the historic nature of H.R. 1. Preventing travel abuse by Cabinet officials is something that we can all support on a bipartisan basis. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Madam Speaker, today I rise to celebrate the life of Mr. Alan Canter, who passed away on January 25, 2019 at the age of 82. Alan's stewardship of his family's restaurant in California's 33rd Congressional District, Canter's Deli, was crucial in making it a fixture in Los Angeles culture and a gathering place for people of all ages and degrees of fame. Born in Los Angeles on May 2, 1936, Alan started out as a mechanic, with a love for racing cars and tinkering with new ways to drive faster. However, on the advice of his newly pregnant wife, Alan turned to the restaurant business in the 1950s, just as the deli expanded from its original Boyle Heights location, opened in 1931, to the Fairfax district. Though he started as a pickle packer and delivery boy, Alan eventually took over his family's deli and dedicated nearly every waking minute over the next six decades to his customers, sometimes working 18-hour shifts in a day. Alan took on all of it, even the seemingly menial tasks, like cutting fruit, pickling, selecting ingredients, and tending to the kitchen equipment. Alan's mechanical expertise, learned from his years racing and fixing cars, kept the place running even when a machine acted up. As the family patriarch for so many years, Alan taught his children how to run the business just as his father taught him. Canter's Deli, ``the soul of Fairfax Avenue,'' served not only its neighbors, but also post-concert crowds, musicians, actors, and even presidents. Additionally, his selflessness and humor touched all who encountered him. Alan is survived by his wife; son, Marc; daughter, Jacqueline; and five grandchildren. I hope that Alan's family takes comfort in knowing that his family's legacy will live on in the memories of all the customers he served and the high standards he worked so hard to establish.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Chair, I thank Chairman Engel for his leadership. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of this resolution. I want to commend Congressman Khanna for offering it. It is another step in years of pressure that Congress has put on the executive branch to get us out of this bloody war in Yemen. In 2015, I wrote a letter to the Pentagon about what was then a little-known war in Yemen, asking why the U.S. was involved in war crimes committed by the Saudis in Yemen. I previously served in Active Duty in the military. It was clear to me that what the Saudi jets were doing in dropping bombs on innocent civilians was a war crime. In 2016, I introduced legislation to limit the transfer of air-to- ground munitions from the U.S. to Saudi Arabia. And then, working with other Members such as Representatives Pocan and Welch and others, we were able to cause the Obama administration to stop a shipment of air- to-ground munitions to Saudi Arabia. In 2017, I worked with Representative Ted Yoho, and we helped insert language into the NDAA requesting the administration to certify what the heck it was doing in Yemen. And then last August, I wrote a letter to the Pentagon inspector general asking for an investigation of whether U.S. personnel were aiding and abetting Saudi war crimes in Yemen. I am very pleased that a few months later, in November of last year, the Trump administration announced it was going to stop the U.S. refueling of Saudi jets in Yemen. Now we need to pass this resolution as another step in increasing the pressure on the administration to get us out of the war in Yemen. It is not a partisan issue. This started under Obama's watch, continues under Trump's, and at the end of the day, war crimes and humanitarian catastrophes are not partisan issues. Every Member of Congress should vote for this.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Madam Speaker, I rise to remember and celebrate the life of Mr. David Arian, a tireless defender of the rights of dockworkers and an invaluable member of our community. Over the course of his remarkable career, Dave rose to be the International President of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and later served on the Los Angeles Harbor Commission. Born and raised in San Pedro, California, Dave began working on the docks of the Wilmington waterfront when he was only 18 years old. Dave became involved with International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and served three terms as local president before being elected as the International President. Despite reaching the highest office of the union, Dave always described himself as a ``rank and filer,'' and maintained his open and down to earth demeanor. After his retirement, Dave was appointed to the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners, where he used his decades of expertise to reduce air emissions and set a record for cargo volume. Dave served on the commission until his death, all the while fighting for what was best for the dockworkers and maintaining a vision of the port's future. Dave is survived by his children, Sean and Justine, his sister Laraine, five grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Dave is also remembered by countless friends and colleagues on whom he left a lasting impression.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member McCaul for his support of this legislation and I thank Chairman Engel for his leadership of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my legislation, H.R. 328, which will strengthen cybersecurity at the State Department. This legislation is known as the Hack Your State Department Act. It is introduced with my colleague, Ted Yoho of Florida, and has received strong bipartisan support, and that is because there is no such thing as Republican cybersecurity or Democratic cybersecurity; it is just cybersecurity, and we are behind. American institutions are under constant attack from criminals, from foreign intelligence services, and from everyday hackers. That is why last term, I was very honored to have introduced legislation known as the Hack DHS Act, along with Senators Maggie Hassan, Rob Portman, Kamala Harris, and Congressman Scott Taylor. That legislation was signed into law last month. This legislation focuses on the State Department. It is something that we need to do, because we know that the State Department over the years has faced mounting cybersecurity threats from both criminal enterprises and state-sponsored hackers. In 2014, for instance, the Department was infiltrated by Russian hackers and had to temporarily shut down its email system. Last year, the State Department suffered another breach of its email system, exposing the personal information of a number of its employees. As a recovering computer science major, I recognize there are improvement tools at our disposal to improve cybersecurity that the State Department has not yet adopted, and one such tool is exactly what this bill will do. This bill does primarily two things. The first is to establish what is called a vulnerability disclosure process, which sets clear rules of the road so, when people outside the Department discover vulnerabilities on Department systems, they can report it in a safe, secure, and legal manner, with the confidence that the State Department will actually fix the problems. We cannot afford to allow vulnerabilities discovered in the wild remain known to hackers but unknown to the Department. This should be an easy fix. The second step is to actually pay vetted, white hat hackers to find vulnerabilities. The Department of Defense proved the success of the bug bounty program back in 2016. Over a 24-day period, the Pentagon learned of and fixed over 138 vulnerabilities in its systems. The DHS is now also going to start this very same program. Hopefully, the State Department will be able to do this, as well, when this legislation is signed into law. Let me conclude by saying that, today, with H.R. 328, the House of Representatives is taking these recommendations to heart and helping to improve cybersecurity at the Department of State.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the life of my friend, Barbara Yaroslavsky, who died on December 26, 2018, at the age of 71. Barbara dedicated her life to public service, activism, and supporting her community in as many ways as she could find. Born in Los Angeles on August 9, 1947, Barbara was raised with the belief that community involvement was the key to making a difference in the lives of those around her. She took a special interest in education and healthcare issues, championing the welfare of children and families. She also actively participated in the Jewish community, sitting on several boards at the Jewish Federation of Greater L.A., and ensuring the Jewish community's voice was heard in government and policymaking. Additionally, Barbara volunteered with many nonprofit organizations. She served on the L.A. Commission on Community and Family Services, the California Board of Registered Nursing, the Advisory Board for L.A.'s Best, and Friends of the Saban Community Clinic. She was also a past chair and member of the California Medical Board. Barbara and her future husband, Zev Yaroslavsky, met while he was a hall monitor at the L.A. Hebrew High School, and she was at the front desk of the American Jewish University. They married in 1971, 4 years before Zev was elected to the L.A. City Council. Zev then vacated it to run for the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, where he served for many years. Barbara is survived by her husband, Zev, two children, David and Mina, and four grandchildren. I hope that Barbara's family takes comfort in knowing that her memory will live on in the lives of people she helped throughout her life.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to offer my condolences to the families of the three individuals whose lives were cut tragically short because of gun violence in my district. Last Friday, a senseless shooting at a bowling alley in Torrance claimed the lives of Michael Radford, Robert Meekins, and Astin Edwards, while injuring four others. Gable House Bowl, where the mass shooting took place, is a staple in my hometown. It is a place where I have visited; where my kids have celebrated birthdays; where folks in my community go to spend quality time together, and it should have been a place last Friday where people of all ages could have had fun safely. My heart aches for the victims' families who lost their loved ones in a senseless, preventable manner. I am also dismayed that our community now joins an ever-growing cohort of communities touched by mass shootings. Gun safety reform is a complicated task, but I am grateful that the House, now under Democratic leadership, is taking this challenge on. Yesterday, we introduced H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019, which is an excellent place to start addressing gun safety reform. We must continue to push for sensible gun safety measures.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the people of Taiwan as they celebrate the 107th anniversary of its National Day on October 10, 2018. We just celebrated the 39th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) this past April. The TRA was intended by Congress to endure an important relationship between close friends and allies. I am heartened by the strengthening of ties that have taken place since the enactment of the TRA, notably Taiwan's admission to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program in 2012. Travel from Taiwan to the United States has since increased by 50 percent. Our close ties are underscored by our shared commitment to democratic values. With the success of its sixth direct presidential election in 2016, Taiwan continues to serve as a beacon of vibrant democracy in the Asia-Pacific region. There are now 150 sister cities between the United States and Taiwan. In 2017, Taiwan became the third in East Asia and twelfth worldwide whose passport holders are eligible for the U.S. Global Entry Program. In addition, Taiwan is the United States' seventh largest source of international students. Correspondingly, many of our students participate in study abroad opportunities in Taiwan. The United States has also forged an important bond with Taiwan in commerce. In 2017, trade in goods between the United States and Taiwan exceeded $68 billion, making Taiwan the United States' 11th largest goods trading partner. Just this past September, Taiwan sent an agricultural trade mission to the United States in pursuit of $300 million worth of soybeans purchases. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating our friend, Taiwan, on this significant occasion.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Engel for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my legislation, H.R. 5433, the Hack Your State Department Act, that I co-authored with my friend, Ted Yoho of Florida. Over the years, the State Department has faced mounting cybersecurity threats from both criminal enterprises and state-sponsored hackers. In 2014, for instance, the Department was infiltrated by Russian hackers and had to temporarily shut down its email system. Just last week, the State Department suffered another cybersecurity breach that exposed the personal information of a number of its employees. As an agency with a critical national security role, we must do more to protect the State Department's cybersecurity. If there is any doubt that diplomatic cables cannot be sent to Washington securely or if sensitive diplomatic subjects are revealed, it jeopardizes the whole operation. As a recovering computer science major, I recognize that there are proven tools at our disposal to improve cybersecurity that the Department has yet to adopt. One such tool is to enlist the help of America's top security researchers to find weaknesses in our cybersecurity. This legislation will bring that tool to the State Department after it has been proven successful in both the private sector, as well as at the Pentagon. My legislation will do two things. The first step of this bill is to establish what is called a vulnerability disclosure process, which sets clear rules of the road so that, when people outside the Department discover vulnerabilities on Department systems, they can report it in a safe, secure, and legal manner with the confidence that the Department will actually fix the problems. We cannot afford to allow vulnerabilities discovered in the wild remain known to hackers but unknown to the Department. This should be an easy fix. The second step is to actually pay vetted white-hat hackers to find vulnerabilities. The Department of Defense proved the success of their bug bounty program back in 2016. Over a 24-day period, the Pentagon learned of and fixed over 138 vulnerabilities in its systems. A 2017 report to the President on Federal IT modernization stated: ``Agencies must take a layered approach to penetration testing. . . . At a bare minimum, agencies should establish vulnerability disclosure policies. . . . Agencies should also identify programs that are appropriate to place under public bug bounty programs such as those run by the Department of Defense or GSA.'' Today, with H.R. 5433, the House of Representatives is taking these recommendations to heart and helping to improve cybersecurity at the Department of State. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Representative Yoho for partnering with me on this important legislation. I would like to thank Chairman Royce, Ranking Member Engel, and their staff for moving this bill through our committee.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise in remembrance of Brian Lewinstein, who served as an intern in my district office from December 2015 to March 2016. Brian was a bright young man who assisted my office's casework operations, conducted research for my staff and helped organize a constituent issue survey for thousands of my constituents. Brian planned to devote his life to social justice, equality, and civil rights. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of California, Los Angeles and would have started his second year at UC Berkeley School of Law this fall. After interning in my district office, Brian went on to intern at the Congressional Management Foundation in Washington, DC. Brian also worked as an intern in juvenile defense at the East Bay Community Law Center in Berkeley helping at-risk youth; he hoped to start a career in public interest law helping people in underserved communities. Everyone in my district office who worked with him spoke of his intelligence, work ethic, and professionalism, in addition to those who knew him outside the office for his sensitivity, compassion, and humility. His efforts helped ensure that my constituents received assistance from federal agencies and helped me hear directly from them about their policy priorities. Brian is survived by his parents, Marc Lewinstein and Felicia Lewinstein, and his sister, Jenna Lewinstein, who was his first and biggest fan. I want to thank Brian for his service to California's 33rd Congressional District and commitment to making our society more equal and just. Though Brian was taken from us too soon, I hope that his family is comforted in knowing that Brian made a difference in his community helping those in need. May he rest in peace.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the life of Mrs. Rickey Bloom, who passed away on July 19, 2018 at the age of 103. Rickey's long life saw her play an integral role supporting her family and helping her community. Born Ann Rickey Goldstein in Salem, Massachusetts in 1915 to Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe, she graduated high school, trained as a bookkeeper, and completed multiple Elderhostel programs, which aim to provide older individuals with opportunities to travel in an educational setting. Rickey was a bookkeeper for her parents' grocery and deli, where she met her future husband, Aaron Bloom, who was employed there as a box boy. They married on April 30, 1945. Bookkeeping stayed an important part of Rickey's life; she was bookkeeper for the Law Offices of Richard Bloom in addition to bookkeeper and operator for Beth Jacob Congregation gift shop in Beverly Hills. Deeply involved in her community, Rickey was a long-time volunteer with her husband at Cedars Sinai Health Center. She also co- founded with her husband ``Etta,'' a nonprofit that served people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and provided support for their families. Rickey is survived by her four children: Stuart, Bruce, Lydia, and Richard; 11 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. I hope that Rickey's family shares comfort in knowing that her contributions to our community will endure for years to come.

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in remembrance of young Lucas Soares Smith. I have had the honor of knowing Lucas and his family. Life doesn't always allow for the time allotted and Lucas departed this world suddenly and unexpectedly. But within that short span of fifteen years, Lucas--the beloved son of the family--made an impression on this world. Born in Rio de Janeiro, his family moved to Seattle, Washington where Lucas sang for the church choir, and played baseball and soccer. Lucas even earned himself a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. His family then moved to Redondo Beach, California when he was twelve. Lucas participated in activities such as surfing, swimming and Junior Life Guards. Lucas was a student at South High School in Torrance, California where he ran for Track and Field as well as Cross Country. His most passionate undertaking was his service as a Cadet Technical Sergeant in the Beach Cities Cadet Squadron 107 of the Civil Air Patrol at the Torrance Airport. Lucas was posthumously awarded the Red Service Ribbon for two years of being a cadet member in good standing. He loved to fly and constantly reminded his parents that one day he would become a pilot. Lucas is survived by his father, Philip Smith and his mother, Marianna Smith and his younger sister, Julia Smith and their dog Rocky. In memory of their son, his parents would like to say, ``Above the clouds and over our heads is where our dear son felt most at home. It is where we hope he finds his peace and continues to fly like a bird.''

Mr. TED LIEU of California

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, after reading these quotes, it seems like one thing is pretty clear--our colleagues across the aisle have forgotten how Congress works.

Mr. TED LIEU of California. I did know that. It is called congressional oversight authority.

Mr. TED LIEU of California. But Congressman Gallego, why haven't we seen more of these checks and balances in action?