Ted Lieu

Mr. LIEU

Mr. LIEU. Madam Clerk, I rise today to nominate Hakeem Jeffries for Speaker of the House. Vote after vote, Democrats stand united and ready to work on behalf of the American people under the leadership of Hakeem Jeffries. Vote after vote, nomination after nomination, Democrats are united, just like we were united when we passed the American Rescue Plan to get our economy back on track; united when we passed the infrastructure law to rebuild America; united when we capped insulin at $35, passed historic gun safety legislation, and passed the PACT Act to help our Nation's veterans; united when Democrats passed the CHIPS and Science Act to bring manufacturing back to America; united when Democrats passed the Inflation Reduction Act to reduce our deficit and protect our environment. Democrats are unified to tackle the climate crisis while Republicans are mired in their own leadership crisis. Madam Clerk, House Democrats are ready, willing, and able to get to work for the American people. We will do so under the leadership of Hakeem Jeffries, who has a plan for the American people. Therefore, as vice chair of the Democratic Caucus, I am directed by the vote of our Caucus to present for election to the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 118th Congress, Representative-elect from the State of New York, Hakeem Jeffries.

Mr. LIEU

Mr. LIEU. Madam Speaker, I rise to celebrate the life of Dr. Chen Ching Ying, who passed away on October 2, 2022. He was a beloved husband, father, and grandfather and an outstanding leader for the professional world of medicine. Chen Ching was born on May 6, 1930, in Qingdao, China, to Mr. Gua Ying and Mrs. De Zhen Li. After graduating from the National Defense Medical Center in Taipei, he served for 10 years in the Taiwanese military. After two years of service as a general medical officer, Chen Ching completed his residency training in Pediatrics for three years at Taichung Hospital. Following the completion of his residency in 1966, Chen Ching became a staff physician at the Taipei Veterans General Hospital. On May 6, 1967, Chen Ching married his wife, Lily Fan. In 1968, their first son, Steve, was born. Chen Ching soon began studying for the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates and passed the infamously difficult exam. In 1972 their second son, Alan, was born. In 1973, Chen Ching began his internship in Internal Medicine at the University of Miami in Miami, Florida. After various residency programs, Chen Ching obtained his license to practice medicine and was able to settle down with his family in Ohio. His life is an excellent example of achieving the American dream. Chen Ching dedicated his life to the medical profession and his family. His upbringing and life in Taiwan brought forth an ethic of perseverance and service. With 63 years of experience under his belt, Chen Ching proved to be an essential asset to the medical world. While his passion for treating and healing patients drove him. Chen Ching was known for his love of family and a passion for table tennis, history and music. He was loved by so many people and touched so many lives with his giving spirit and caring heart. The loss of Chen Ching will be felt by his friends, family, and the many communities he has treated and served. Chen Ching is survived by his sisters, Lai-Ching and Ching-Ehr; brother, Chen-Zhe; and sons, Steve and Alan; and his grandchildren. May Chen Ching's memory live on in his many contributions to his community and family.

Mr. LIEU

Mr. LIEU. Madam Speaker, I rise to celebrate the life of Mr. Ernest Saul Cowell, a longtime community member and veteran leader in California's 33rd Congressional District, who passed away on July 26, 2022 at the age of 95. Ernest passed away after a short battle with lung cancer with his loving wife, Patricia, by his side and is preceded in death by his daughter. Ernest was born in Los Angeles in 1927 to Ernest and Beatrice Cowell and was raised in San Francisco. At the age of 16, with his mother's permission, Ernest joined the United States Army and served in the Pacific Theater with the Army Infantry as a Private First Class. Ernest was on active duty during the Korean and Vietnam Wars and was a former Prisoner of War. He was honorably discharged on November 3, 1946, then served in the Army Air Corps reserves until September 11, 1949. Following his discharge from the Army, Ernest served in the United States Navy Reserve from March 15, 1950, to October 2, 1982, and retired a Lt. Commander from the Inactive Reserve in 1984. Ernest received several medals and citations during his service to our county, including the Bronze Star with ``V,'' two Purple Hearts, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Korean War medal. After World War II, Ernest attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he received his bachelor's degree in Business in 1950. Ernest later obtained his master's degree and a certification in Urban Planning. Ernest began his career by working for an international lighting company, then later developed and managed his own company, Lighting Designs Inc., where he provided architectural lighting designs for residential, commercial, and institutional properties. During his career, Ernest was invited to lecture on architectural lighting at UCLA. Throughout the years, Ernest became a vigorous supporter of veterans' rights and benefits. For over 15 years he volunteered at Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense office which promotes cooperation and understanding between Reserve Component Service members and their civilian employers. For his years of support, Ernest was recognized as the ESGR's ``Top Volunteer.'' To further honor veterans, Ernest was an early, if not founding member, of the Los Angeles National Cemetery Support Foundation. Ernest was the foundation's first President Emeritus and served as President numerous times. Ernest's other philanthropic efforts include his support to the American Legion Ronald Reagan--Palisades Post 283, Ronald Reagan Division--United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps, Los Angeles Police Department, and the Valley Forge Freedom Foundation. Ernest and his wife of ten and a half years, Patricia, had an active life together. They enjoyed traveling, entertaining at home, and gardening. Ernest and Patricia were inseparable, they enjoyed each other's company, and were very happy together. Ernest was beloved by his comrades in the American Legion, his co- volunteers at ESGR, the Los Angeles National Cemetery Support Foundation, and by the many organizations he aided over the decades. His passing leaves a hole that cannot be filled. Ernest is survived by his wife Patricia, two sons in Denver, and cousins in San Francisco. May Ernest's legacy as a veteran and community advocate live on through his work and all those he touched throughout his life.

Mr. LIEU

Mr. LIEU. Madam Speaker, in the first 15 months of the Joe Biden Presidency, over 8.3 million jobs were created, the most in U.S. history. For the last 6 weeks, because of the relentless efforts of the White House and of Joe Biden to reduce gas prices, those gas prices have fallen every day for 6 weeks. That is because Democrats are focused on putting people over politics, and we want to lower costs, have better paying jobs, and safer communities. What are Republicans focused on? They want to end Social Security; they are attacking our democracy; and they want to criminalize women's healthcare decisions. In fact, just last week, House Republicans voted ``no'' on providing access to birth control pills. Let me just repeat that again. We are in the 21st century, and House Republicans want government to ban birth control pills.

Mr. LIEU

Mr. LIEU. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Larson for yielding. Democrats are focused on putting people over politics by lowering costs, increasing American jobs, and having safe communities. What are Republicans focused on? Ending Social Security. How do we know that? They put it in writing. They want to end Social Security in 5 years. We need to not only end the Republicans' ability to end Social Security; we need to expand Social Security. That is why I am so proud to be here to support John Larson's Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust. In my district alone, there are nearly 120,000 Social Security recipients who receive an average, in total, of $209 million of monthly benefits. This is a vital, critical program, lifesaving for millions of Americans. Why is it called a sacred trust? It is called a sacred trust because our government promised, over 85 years ago, that if you contribute to Social Security with each and every paycheck, you can retire with dignity. President Biden has called that a sacred trust. Chairman Larson's sacred trust bill is how we need to make Social Security stronger and even better. I think it is important to talk about how awesome this bill is. Let me talk to you about some of the provisions. It has a benefit bump for current and new Social Security beneficiaries of 2 percent. In addition, it has protection against inflation, and it does that by improving the outdated COLA formula that currently is in Social Security. The bill also improves Social Security benefits for widows and widowers. This bill repeals the windfall elimination provision. It ends the 5-month waiting period to receive disability benefits. The bill also provides caregiver credits toward Social Security. It extends Social Security dependent benefits. It increases access to Social Security dependent benefits for children who live with grandparents or other relatives. The bill also requires the Social Security agency to mail annual statements to all workers, and it improves access to legal representation for people seeking long-term disability benefits. This is an awesome bill. This is exactly the kind of legislation that we need to move off the floor, and it is in stark contrast to what Republicans are doing. Again, Republicans want to end Social Security in 5 years. How do we know that? They put it in writing. Not just one Republican, but multiple Republicans. It is a severe danger to our Nation if we wipe out this lifesaving program. It is important that we not only make sure that that doesn't happen but that we expand Social Security, especially coming out of a pandemic where people are facing all of these challenges and obstacles. Folks on fixed incomes cannot often get additional income, and that is why the only way to do this is to increase Social Security. We do that by passing John Larson's Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust.

Mr. LIEU

Mr. LIEU. Mr. Speaker, Donald Trump lost the 2020 Presidential Election by over 7 million votes. Trump lost Arizona by over 10,000 votes. Trump lost Georgia by over 11,000 votes. Trump lost Wisconsin by over 20,000 votes. Trump lost Nevada by over 30,000 votes. Trump lost Pennsylvania by over 80,000 votes. Trump lost Michigan by over 150,000 votes. Trump lost the Electoral College 232-306. Donald Trump lost the 2020 Presidential Election.

Mr. LIEU

Mr. LIEU. Mr. Speaker, Democrats and Republicans are not the same. While Democrats are working to pass this gun safety legislation for the people, Republicans have whipped their Members to oppose it. Democrats and Republicans are not the same. With the Supreme Court handing down radical decisions, you have extreme MAGA Republicans working to eliminate gun safety laws, while Democrats are working to expand gun safety laws. You have extreme MAGA Republicans calling for a nationwide criminal abortion ban while Democrats are working to preserve Roe v. Wade. Democrats and Republicans are not the same. I urge all Americans to remember that this November.

Mr. LIEU

Mr. LIEU. Madam Speaker, today is one of my favorite days in Congress because it is National Foster Youth Shadow Day. I have a foster youth shadowing me. His name is Joseph Mariscal. He just graduated from community college, and now he is going to go to Cal State LA. He is watching how Congress works. He has overcome so many obstacles, and because of the amazing things he has done to overcome his obstacles, I am confident he can do anything he wants in his future. I thank Karen Bass and other members of the National Foster Youth Institute for all they do for our foster youth and for having this shadow day today.

Mr. LIEU. Madam Speaker, under the American Rescue Plan, we created jobs, we got vaccines into people's arms, we reopened schools, and we helped get the economy back on track. In the first 15 months of the Biden Presidency, over 8.5 million jobs were created, the most in American history. Democrats are for the people, and we put people over politics. We also passed an infrastructure law that is going to rebuild roads, bridges, and highways, get lead out of water, and put broadband everywhere, from rural areas to inner cities to everywhere in between. What are Republicans doing? I don't know, but I know a number of Republican Members of Congress sought a pardon from the White House for inciting an insurrection. National Foster Youth Shadow Day

Mr. LIEU. Madam Speaker, abortion is a highly and deeply personal decision. It is very complicated. You have dramatic effects for the family, for the woman. It can have health effects. Some pregnancies are fine in the first month, and then they are not fine in the fourth month for medical reasons. Some pregnancies are the result of rape or incest. Some religions support abortion. Some religions oppose abortion. This is a very complicated issue, very personal, and it is exactly the wrong issue for government. Republicans want to criminalize abortion. Keep government out of your doctor's office. Democrats support Roe v. Wade. I urge the American people that if they want to have Roe v. Wade upheld, they cast their vote at the ballot box this November. Democrats' Accomplishments

Mr. LIEU. Madam Speaker, Donald Trump lost the 2020 Presidential election's popular vote by more than 7 million votes. Trump lost the State of Oregon. Trump lost Washington. Trump lost California. Trump lost Nevada. Trump lost Arizona. Trump lost New Mexico. Trump lost Colorado. Trump lost Hawaii. Trump lost Minnesota. Trump lost Michigan. Trump lost Illinois. Trump lost Wisconsin. Trump lost Georgia. Trump lost Nebraska District 2. Trump lost Virginia. Trump lost Pennsylvania. Trump lost New York. Trump lost Maine District 1. Trump lost Washington, D.C. Trump lost Maryland. Trump lost Delaware. Trump lost New Jersey. Trump lost Connecticut. Trump lost Rhode Island. Trump lost Massachusetts. Trump lost Vermont. Trump lost New Hampshire. Trump lost the electoral college 306-232. Trump lost the 2020 Presidential election. Keep Government Out of Your Doctor's Office

Mr. LIEU

Mr. LIEU. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. LIEU. Madam Speaker, S. 4160 is a straightforward bill that will protect the families of the Justices. Democrats also fought to try to protect the families of Supreme Court employees. Republicans objected and won't do that, so this is the best we can get. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LIEU. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Texas.

Mr. LIEU. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Escobar).

Mr. LIEU. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I condemn violence whether it is from rightwing groups or leftwing groups or white supremacist groups or any other group. Democrats say this all the time. I will tell you why Republicans don't hear it. Because they are in their bubble watching just Fox News, who won't even show the January 6 hearings. That is why they don't hear any of this stuff because it is never played to them or their base. Democrats condemn violence all the time. By the way, last year--I am just going to tell you the headline of this article again: ``Justice Sonia Sotomayor was targeted by gunmen . . .'' Did Republicans jump up in outrage? No, no, they didn't. So let's just be clear here what we are talking about today, once again: Supreme Court Justices get law enforcement protection right now, as we speak. This is actually a dispute about employees. So I am going to ask Republicans a question, and I bet you they will not answer it: Why do they not want to protect the employees and their families of the Supreme Court? Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LIEU. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am going to respond to that because what he just said is a lie. The fact that he is saying Democrats think there is nothing wrong, there is no danger to Supreme Court Justices, is a lie. Why? Because we are the majority party, and we just put this bill up, and we are about to vote on it. We clearly care about Supreme Court Justices. But we also care about the families and employees of the Supreme Court, and that is what we are talking about today. Again, I just want to remind you, Republicans are misleading you. Supreme Court Justices right now have law enforcement protection details. They are protected by law enforcement. This bill has to do with the families of Supreme Court Justices. I support protecting them. I also support protecting the employees and their families of the Supreme Court. That is the dispute. The Democrats want to also protect the employees and families who are getting threats from rightwing activists, intimidation from the far right. Do you want to talk about intimidation? I will tell you what intimidation is. It is Trump supporters assaulting the Capitol on January 6, brutalizing 140 police officers. That is intimidation. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LIEU. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LIEU. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LIEU. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The Republicans are misleading you. Supreme Court Justices already have protection. Let me say that again. Supreme Court Justices already have protection. This is about families of Supreme Court Justices, which I support them having protection, and Democrats are fighting for families of law clerks and employees of the Supreme Court. They should have protection, too. Let me tell you the threats to employees of the Supreme Court. Soon after the draft decision leaked, a rightwing activist posted the personal details of a law clerk who he baselessly claimed had leaked Justice Alito's draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade. This rightwing activist even posted the clerk's wedding announcement and singled out the clerk's spouse. Republicans don't want to protect that person or their family. After another Republican strategist claimed a different law clerk had leaked the opinion, an extremist anti-abortion rights group issued a press release targeting that clerk and the Justice the clerk worked for. The author of the press release had served years in prison for conspiring to blow up an abortion clinic. Referring to the people in the Justice's office, the group's leader said that he could smell their fear. Republicans don't want to protect the families of Supreme Court employees. Shame on them. Recently, a news outlet obtained a DHS intelligence report identifying threats to murder Justices and their clerks. Why don't Republicans want to protect the families of Supreme Court employees? Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LIEU. Madam Speaker, let me tell you why it took us a few weeks rather than just 1 week to pass this legislation. It is because Republicans refused to protect the families of Supreme Court employees who are at risk. Shame on you for not doing that. And, by the way, there are threats to Justices across the board. I support this legislation. I just note that recently there was an article on CNN titled ``Justice Sonia Sotomayor was targeted by gunman, Federal judge tells `60 Minutes,' '' dated February 19, 2021. Intimidation goes on both sides. Madam Speaker, I support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LIEU. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 4160, the Supreme Court Police Parity Act of 2022. While the Supreme Court police force is currently authorized to provide protection to the Justices of the Supreme Court, this bill would unequivocally extend their authority to provide protection to family members of Justices if there is reason to believe they are at risk. It is imperative that the Justices are free from fear of violence or physical intimidation to make decisions based on the Constitution and law as applied to the facts of the cases before them. This is essential to the rule of law. Assailants like the man arrested recently for allegedly plotting against the life of one of our Justices are a threat to our democracy, but with the right security, they can also be stopped before they inflict harm. I thank Senators Coons and Cornyn for their work on this issue in the Senate, and Representatives Stanton, Correa, and Issa for their work in the House, likewise introducing bills that would extend protection to the families of Justices. I also thank Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee as well. I further note that Mr. Stanton's bill would have also extended protection to the families of Court employees. We understand that there was Republican opposition to that aspect of the bill, and in the interest of protecting the Justices' families, we could no longer delay in passing the only version of the bill they would apparently agree to. But I hope we will swiftly move another bill to extend protection to families of employees as well. I hope my colleagues will join me in passing this straightforward measure to ensure that the families of Supreme Court Justices have the necessary protection from any threats they may face. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LIEU. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 4160) to amend title 40, United States Code, to grant the Supreme Court of the United States security-related authorities equivalent to the legislative and executive branches.

Mr. LIEU. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 4160.

Mr. LIEU

Mr. LIEU. Madam Speaker, Donald Trump lost the 2020 Presidential popular vote by over 7 million votes. Trump lost the electoral college 306-232. Trump lost the State of Arizona. Trump lost Nevada. Trump lost Georgia. Trump lost Minnesota. Trump lost Wisconsin. Trump lost Michigan. Trump lost Pennsylvania. Donald Trump lost the 2020 Presidential election.