Mike Levin

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to mark a tragic day for San Diegans, Californians, and all Americans. On the last day of Passover and exactly six months since the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, yet another attack took place, once again by an evil, hate-filled, anti-Semitic individual who was armed with an assault rifle. At the Chabad of Poway Synagogue located just outside of my district in Southern California, Mrs. Lori Kaye was senselessly murdered, and three other people were seriously injured. There were many heroes on that day, including an off-duty Border Patrol Agent and an Army veteran who helped stop the gunman, and I am so grateful to them for saving lives and helping their community. Our response to this attack cannot end now that the violence in Poway is over. It is up to each and everyone one of us--elected officials and everyday citizens alike--to confront the hate, bigotry, and anti- Semitism that persists in our society. We must also take strong and decisive action to end the epidemic of gun violence in this country. Earlier this year, the House passed HR8, which would put common sense gun safety measures in place. We know it will help end the plague of senseless gun violence, and I implore the Senate to take up this bipartisan legislation immediately. We need to bring together members of all religions, backgrounds, and political parties to address the hate and violence behind this attack, and that's what I intend to do over the coming weeks, months, and years.

Mr. LEVIN of California

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

Mr. LEVIN of California. Mr. Chair, I rise today to mark a monumental occasion for this body and offer an amendment to H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act. After years of denial, outright lies, and inaction on the climate crisis under Republican leadership in the House, we are finally taking meaningful steps to protect our planet for future generations. While the President denies climate change exists, promotes fake scientists who believe pollution is good, and pulls us backward, we are embracing the scientific consensus that climate change is real; it is driven by human action; and it is already having a detrimental impact on our health and our planet. There are a lot of myths about climate change that we must dispel. One of the biggest myths I hear is that we cannot combat climate change, invest in clean energy, and grow our economy at the same time. We know that isn't true. In California, we have seen strong GDP and per capita income growth while also leading the country in the fight to combat the climate crisis. We also know that renewable energy options are often more affordable for consumers than traditional fossil fuels. That is why my amendment to the Climate Action Now Act adds three key facts about our ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and maintain affordable energy options at the same time. First, the greenhouse gas emissions reductions spurred by the Paris Agreement have driven innovation for reliable and affordable forms of energy, which demonstrates that emissions reductions and affordable energy are not mutually exclusive. Second, the United States' long-term greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategy under the Paris Agreement touted energy efficiency improvements in buildings, appliances, and vehicles as a way to cost- effectively reduce emissions and lower energy bills. Third, this strategy has had the support of both industry and consumers. This amendment is very simple. It should not be controversial. Members of both parties should be able to agree that we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, invest in clean energy alternatives, and maintain affordable energy options at the same time. Mr. Chair, I strongly urge my colleagues to recognize this simple fact and support my amendment to H.R. 9. Ultimately, this is about the planet we leave behind for our children and our grandchildren. With a 5- and 6-year-old at home, I am proud to cosponsor the Climate Action Now Act and support bold and commonsense solutions to the climate crisis. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LEVIN of California. Mr. Chair, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel), the distinguished chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mr. LEVIN of California. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Phillips).

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

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the students and faculty of Fallbrook Union Elementary School District. Last month, my staff met with administrators from Fallbrook Union who brought dozens of letters and drawings from the students of Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary School. The students shared what they liked most about their school. Ashton said ``I love PE, when we play tug-of-war'' while Alina said she loves Mary Fay ``because we have a great librarian and a big library.'' Taelin said that ``at this school I like to help people that do not have a friend and help people in need.'' Mary Fay serves military-connected students living on Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base. These students have parents who are serving their country on base or deployed abroad. Mary Fay creates a safe learning environment for its students and encourages them to dream and succeed. These students are benefiting from a top-notch public education at an Impact Aid school. School districts across the country cross into land owned by the Federal Government, including military bases. These schools must operate with less local revenue because federal lands are exempt from local property taxes. It is our responsibility to ensure that schools like Mary Fay have the necessary resources to succeed by including sufficient funding for Impact Aid schools in the FY2020 budget. I was proud to join my colleagues in calling for the Appropriations Committee to support strong and continued funding for the Impact Aid Program. I am honored to represent Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary School and I thank them for serving our military community. I especially want to thank the teachers of the entire Fallbrook Union Elementary School District for their heroic work and for encouraging their students to engage in the democratic process at a young age.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor lawyer and friend Frank Barbaro for his many years of service to Orange County. Frank was born in Detroit, Michigan and moved to Orange County at the age of 11. He was raised by a single mother who taught him the importance of hard work and dedication to fighting for justice. At the age of 14, Frank hosted his own radio show to help young people find employment opportunities. After attending University of Southern California for his undergraduate and law degrees, Frank started his career as an insurance defense attorney at Rodiger, Graf, Dewberry, and Spriggs. However, he soon discovered his true passion for personal injury, medical malpractice and public entity liability. Frank has tried over 100 personal injury cases and has argued in front of appellate and supreme courts. In his landmark case Soule vs. General Motors Corporation, Frank argued in front of the California Supreme Court and won $1.65 million for his client Terri Soule in an automobile defect case against General Motors. Law schools across the country teach this case to discuss the consumer-expectation test for products liability. In 2018, Frank was inducted into the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association Hall of Fame. Frank has also been a leader in our community outside of the courtroom. He has fought for judicial independence through his work with the bipartisan Committee to Preserve a Responsible Judiciary. He has served on both the Governor's Judicial Selection Advisory Committee for Orange County and the Orange County Fair Board. Frank was also Chair of the Democratic Party of Orange County and Orange County Campaign Chair for several presidential campaigns, including President Jimmy Carter, President Barack Obama, and Secretary Hillary Clinton. Frank is a true inspiration to our community. I am honored to pay tribute to Frank and his work on behalf of Orange County.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Eric and David Groos, two constituents from San Juan Capistrano, as my Constituents of the Month for April. Each month, I recognize constituents who have gone above and beyond to help their neighbors, give back to their community, and make the country stronger. As co-founders of a non-profit that provides under- served and at-risk youth with outdoor recreational activities, there is no question that Eric and David are deserving of this recognition. The brothers' non-profit, Great Opportunities, has served over 3000 young people in my district, mainly coming from San Juan Capistrano's geographically identified gang induction zones where kids are most at- risk of being drawn toward gang activity. Organizations like theirs play a critical role in generating opportunity in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities, and I am extremely grateful for the services they provide. Eric and David provide kids in my district with more than just recreational activities--they are providing experiences that will help kids develop leadership and problem-solving skills, which will serve them well throughout their lives. I believe we must do more at the local, state, and federal levels to support organizations like theirs that provide under-served youth with the skills they need to succeed in life, and that will continue to be one of my priorities. I am proud to recognize Eric and David as my constituents of the month for April, and I am deeply grateful for everything they do to give back to our community.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th birthday of veteran, father, husband, and friend to many, Joseph Walsh. Joe was born on March 18, 1919 in East Orange, New Jersey. After graduating from high school, Joe was inspired by a family friend's stories of World War I to enlist in the Marines in April 1938. Joe was serving in the Marine Corps' Third Defense Battalion at the Navy Yard in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, one of the most pivotal days in American history. Joe was attending a morning color guard ceremony when the attack began. The next two hours were ``all confusion,'' as Joe characterizes it. His battalion fired anti-aircraft machine guns at the Japanese planes as they headed towards the Navy Yard. Joe never spoke about his experience at Pearl Harbor when his children were growing up. He is the last surviving member of the Pearl Harbor Survivor Association's North County Chapter 31 and served as the organization's president for many years. As President, Joe organized the annual memorial ceremony at Oceanside Harbor and campaigned for the installation of Oceanside's Pearl Harbor memorial monument in 2006. Joe met LaVonne ``Bea'' Phaneuf in 1945 at a friend's wedding. Many years later, Joe still remembers the baby blue dress Bea wore that night. Bea was one of 23,000 women who enlisted in the Marines during the war. She was a member of the Aviation Women's Reserve Squadron 21 at Quantico, Virginia. Joe and Bea have been married since 1946 and have six children. As parents, Joe and Bea instilled values of telling the truth, respecting others, and taking care of those in need. Joe was always giving away things that others needed even when his family had very little. Joe can talk to anyone and somehow make them laugh. Joe Walsh has lived an incredible and full life. He is a true inspiration for our community, and we cannot thank him enough for his service to his country. Joe Walsh will be celebrating his birthday on March 18 with friends and family in Vista, California. I am honored to pay tribute to Joe, and I wish him a very happy 100th birthday.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Mr. Speaker, as the Congress Member for California's 49th District, it is my distinct honor to represent over 700,000 Californians from North County San Diego and south Orange County. I have met countless constituents across the district who do incredible work to make our community stronger, and I am proud to serve them in Congress. With so many outstanding constituents, I thought it would be appropriate to start a new Constituent of the Month program to recognize individuals who have gone above and beyond to help their neighbors, give back to their community, and make our country stronger. For our first constituent of the month, I am thrilled to recognize Mr. Shelby Jacobs of Oceanside, a retired aerospace engineer who worked for 40 years on NASA's Apollo and Space Shuttle programs. Mr. Jacobs served in a number of roles, including project manager of the Apollo-Soyuz orbiter and designed a breakthrough camera used to capture iconic images of a rocket separation on Apollo 6 in 1968. As an African American in an industry with few people of color at the time, Mr. Jacobs faced significant difficulties, including unequal pay and, often, unfair treatment. Now Mr. Jacobs serves as the role model he never had for himself, showing young people of color what they can achieve in the face of racism, discrimination, and inequality of opportunity, and calling for action to address injustices that still exist today. He told the San Diego Union Tribune: ``It's important to be a pioneer, but I want people to understand that while we appreciate the progress, things need to be done to address the inequality. That's something that was there when I started and it's still happening today right up to the very top level of our government.'' Mr. Jacobs' story has helped highlight other ``Hidden Figures'' who have gone without recognition, particularly people of color and women, for their extraordinary contributions to our country. I have no doubt that Mr. Jacobs' efforts to touch the lives of young people and address inequality has had a profound impact on our community and will continue to do so. Shelby Jacobs is an inspiration to me and so many others, and I am proud to call him our first Constituent of the Month.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark a monumental occasion for this Chamber. For the first time in decades, this body will take up major legislation to address the epidemic of gun violence in this country. I am a proud cosponsor of H.R. 8, bipartisan legislation to require a background check on every gun sale or transfer. I know the vast majority of my constituents support this step, including Renae Greg, a woman from Carlsbad, who was simply trying to enjoy a country concert when she was forced to dodge bullets at a Las Vegas shooting. I know that Lonna Leghart, a constituent from Vista, supports this commonsense legislation. Her sister Kimberly, tragically, lost her life as a result of gun violence in my district. It is on their behalf and on behalf of all Americans who are impacted by daily gun violence in this country that I will support H.R. 8, and I hope all of my colleagues will stand with us. There is so much more that we need to do to fully address the epidemic of gun violence, but today it is a huge step for Renae, Lonna, and families across this country.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, last night we heard from a President who is clearly out of touch with the true state of our union. His rhetoric of compromise failed to meet the reality of the highly divisive policies he offered. The President failed to acknowledge that his tax scam has unfairly benefited big corporations, CEOs, and the wealthiest Americans at the expense of working people. He failed to acknowledge the severe shortcomings of his own administration when it comes to middle class families. He failed to acknowledge that his administration has ripped away protections for those with preexisting conditions. The President continued to use harmful rhetoric toward immigrants and declined to acknowledge that his anti-immigrant agenda has torn families apart, put kids in cages, and turned away those seeking asylum and safety. The President also failed to address one of the biggest crises we face, and that is the impact of climate change on our planet. We are witnessing more intense storms and stronger wildfires as a result of climate change, but instead of acknowledging those facts, the President denied climate science, nominated fossil fuel lobbyists to run the EPA and Department of Interior, and has undone critical environmental protection. We need a comprehensive agenda to combat climate change and a monumental shift to renewable energy, electric vehicles, and more energy-efficient buildings. While the President continues to deny science and common sense, I will continue to work with my colleagues on a Green New Deal to protect our planet for future generations. While the President's State of the Union address was out of touch, I welcome him to join Democrats in working For The People to lower health care costs, end the culture of corruption in Washington, effectively combat climate change, and serve the middle class.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, on my first day in office, I joined Democrats and Republicans in voting to reopen the government and end this senseless and now record shutdown. And we have passed Republican legislation. Make no mistake: this is the same legislation that Senate Republicans supported just last month to fund the Federal Government, but instead of taking that legislation up for a vote, Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans have joined President Trump in what can be best described as a temper tantrum. As the father of a 6-year-old and a 4-year-old, occasionally I know something about a temper tantrum. Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans have joined President Trump in holding 800,000 Federal workers hostage over a demand for an ineffective, wasteful wall, a fifth century technology for a 21st century problem. Don't get us wrong. Democrats continue to support strong, smart, effective border security solutions, including the following: First, we support new drug, weapons, and contraband scanning technology at official ports of entry; installing new technology to eventually scan all commercial and passenger vehicles for illegal drugs and other contraband at our ports of entry. According to both CBP and DEA, 90 percent of heroin, 88 percent of cocaine, 87 percent of methamphetamine, and 80 percent of fentanyl being smuggled into the U.S. are seized at official ports of entry, not areas between the ports of entry, where President Trump wants to build his wasteful border wall. Second, we support advanced technology to detect unauthorized crossings; cameras, sensors, and radar to spot moving people and objects in any weather or time of day that are mounted on towers and border patrol vehicles and on drones to surveil tough terrain. Third, we support more customs personnel, filling the more than 3,000 vacancies for customs officers who facilitate trade and travel at our land, air, and sea ports of entry, inspect commercial and passenger vehicles for illegal drugs and other contraband, and ensure that travelers are vetted and screened before entering the United States. Fourth, we support expanded port of entry infrastructure, building up our port of entry infrastructure to improve security and better facilitate trade and travel, ending the long delays for visitors and commercial shipments that cost our country billions in economic activity and thousands of jobs. We support all these measures, and we have for some time, and we will continue to support these measures, but we will not waste billions of taxpayer dollars on an ineffective, expensive wall that can be tunneled under, climbed over, or cut through, a wall that Mexico was supposed to pay for. A discussion about border security is no reason for President Trump to keep government shut down. Perhaps even more importantly, we cannot and must not allow this President or any President to hold our government and Federal workers hostage every time we have a disagreement. Federal workers in the communities I serve in California are being directly hurt by this shutdown, just as they are being hurt all across this country. I recently heard from a Fish and Wildlife Service employee whose coworkers don't know how they are going to pay their bills and make ends meet. I heard from members of the Coast Guard. And, yes, the Coast Guard is being impacted by this shutdown, because they are funded through the Department of Homeland Security. I heard from the Coast Guard. I heard from air traffic controllers, and they are being forced to work without pay, and this becomes a security issue. If this President and Senate Republicans truly cared about security, they would want to fund the Coast Guard and they would want to fund air traffic controllers and they would want to fund TSA agents at our airports. I have heard from veterans. I have a huge number of veterans in my district. One-third of the Federal workforce consists of veterans, both Federal employees and contractors, and they have been negatively impacted by this. So, Mr. President, you claim to care about veterans. How can you allow this to continue to hundreds of thousands of veterans who have served our country and who are working without pay? The solution that we Democrats support is simple. Let's reopen the government, and then we can talk about the best way to secure our border. Earlier today, I was honored to join some of my freshmen colleagues in trying to deliver a letter to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, simply asking him on behalf of the freshman class to end this shutdown. We couldn't find him, but we will keep at it. We have got to get this government back open again. We have got to get people back to work.

Mr. LEVIN of California

Mr. LEVIN of California. Mr. Speaker, when the people of California's 49th District elected me to represent them in Congress, I did not imagine that I would be sworn in during a partial government shutdown. However, on the same day that I raised my right hand and took the oath of office, I also cast my first votes to fund Federal agencies that have been shut down by President Trump. We have since voted on several similar bills, including earlier today. The bills we voted on were not controversial. In fact, they were the same exact bills that Senate Republicans supported just 1 month ago, and they have received bipartisan support here in the House. In fact, just today, 12 Republicans voted to fund and reopen Transportation and HUD, and 10 voted to reopen Agriculture and the SNAP program. One-third of the Federal workforce is comprised of veterans. The shutdown is hurting their credit rating and that of all Federal employees. How can President Trump claim to care about veterans while allowing this to continue? For those in my district back home who are impacted, I hear your voices. I have heard the voice of the Fish and Wildlife Service employee in my district who told me the other day that many of her colleagues are living paycheck to paycheck and can't afford to go any longer without the pay that they have earned and that they deserve. I have heard the grocery store owner in my district who can't get help with his food stamp eligibility because the appropriate USDA office is shut down. The Trump shutdown is hurting people in my district and every district who have done nothing but worked hard and played by the rules. We can end this today by reopening the government while we continue to debate border security. And make no mistake, we need smart, effective, and humane border security, but we do not need 5th century technology for a 21st century problem. I strongly urge Leader McConnell to bring up the bipartisan funding bills for a vote in the Senate, and I urge President Trump to do the right thing and sign them. Mr. Speaker, 20 days is far too long. The American people have had enough. Let's end this senseless shutdown, and let's end it now.