Carolyn Maloney

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), the distinguished chair of the Committee on Appropriations.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from the great State of Oregon (Mr. DeFazio), the distinguished chair of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from the great State of California (Ms. Lofgren), the distinguished chairwoman of the Committee on House Administration.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly), the chair of the Subcommittee on Government Operations of the Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 838, I call up the bill (H.R. 5314) to protect our democracy by preventing abuses of presidential power, restoring checks and balances and accountability and transparency in government, and defending elections against foreign interference, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from the great State of California (Mr. Schiff), the distinguished chair of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from the great Commonwealth of Kentucky (Mr. Yarmuth), the distinguished chairman of the Committee on the Budget.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler), the distinguished chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I include in the Record a letter of support for the Protecting Our Democracy Act listing over 150 organizations supporting this important legislation. We have widespread support across this Nation. October 6, 2021. Over 150 Organizations Send Joint Letter Urging Congress To Pass the Protecting Our Democracy Act Dear Members of Congress: The undersigned organizations, on behalf of the millions of Americans our groups collectively represent, write to urge you to support and pass the Protecting Our Democracy Act. For decades, congressional authority has been undermined by the executive branch, diminishing the ability of Congress to fulfill its constitutional duties, to protect the rule of law, and to hold all presidents accountable for overreaches and abuses of power. The last time Congress passed significant reform to protect our democracy from abuses of executive power was after the Watergate scandal. The time has come for new guardrails to reassert Congress' role as a coequal branch of government. Today, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and in both chambers have an interest in restoring the checks and balances entrusted to them in our Constitution. The Protecting Our Democracy Act would do just that by restoring the powers the Founders vested in the legislative branch to serve as a check on the executive without infringing upon the president's constitutional powers. Among other reforms, this historic bill would: Strengthen Congress's ability to oversee the executive branch by fortifying congressional subpoena power by providing expedited consideration of subpoena enforcement by courts, so the executive branch cannot run out the clock on congressional oversight; Ensure inspectors general are qualified and empowered to hold federal agencies accountable without fear of reprisal by requiring the president to have ``good cause'' for removing an inspector general and enhancing reporting requirements when there is a vacancy; Ensure whistleblowers can continue shining light on corruption and abuses of power that betray the public trust by enhancing protections against retaliation, providing legal defenses for whistleblowers against civil and criminal liability, and allowing whistleblowers to have their day in court; Reinforce Congress's constitutional powers over spending and the power of the purse by requiring the Office of Management and Budget to make public basic information about the management of federal funds, and reporting to Congress to ensure those funds are spent in accordance with the law; Prevent political interference with the U.S. Department of Justice by putting a permanent, statutory requirement in place that will ensure transparency and accountability related to their communications with the White House; Strengthen the Hatch Act to protect federal agencies from being used for political purposes and ensure senior political appointees are held accountable under the law the same way other federal employees are. Prevent abuse of the president's pardon power by increasing transparency of the pardon process, prohibiting self-pardons by the president, and clarifying that pardons are ``official acts'' for the purposes of federal bribery statute; Provide for enforcement of the domestic and foreign Emoluments Clauses of the Constitution, to prevent a president from profiting from payments by foreign or domestic governments; and Secure our elections from foreign interference, by ensuring political campaigns are informed of the laws banning foreign interference and are prepared to comply and report any attempts of foreign interference. In this perilous moment for our republic, we believe it should be a top priority for this Congress to repair our democracy, including ensuring that no future president is permitted to abuse the power of their office. If enacted, the Protecting Our Democracy Act would protect against future presidential abuses of power, restore the integrity of our democratic institutions, and ensure transparency from the chief executive. Given the urgency of this crisis and for these reasons, we call on you to swiftly pass this critical legislation. Sincerely, 20/20 Vision, Academics Stand Against Poverty, Accountability Lab, Affiliation of Christian Engineers, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Oversight, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), Animals Are Sentient Beings, Inc., Arab American Institute (AAI), Asian Law Alliance, Asian Pacific American Labor alliance, AFL-CIO, Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, Beyond Pesticides, Blacks in Law Enforcement of America, Blue Wave Postcard Movement, Brave New Films, Brennan Center for Justice. Campaign Legal Center, Center for American Progress, Center for Common Ground, Center for International Environmental Law, Center for International Policy, Center for Media and Democracy, Center for Progressive Reform, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Clean Elections Texas, Coalition of Labor Union Women, AFL-CIO, Columbia Legal Services, Common Cause, Communications Workers of America, Community Research, Community Science Institute, Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety, Constitutional Alliance, Consumer Action, Corruption kills, Council for a Livable World, CovertAction Magazine. Demand Progress, DemCast USA, Democracy 21, Democracy Fund Voice, Democracy Matters, Demos, Disaster Accountability Project, Eco-Justice Collaborative, End Citizens United//Let America Vote Action Fund, Equal Justice Society, Equal Rights Advocates, Essential Information, Faith in Public Life, Fix Democracy First, Fix the Court, Food & Water Watch, Franciscan Action Network, Free Speech Coalition, Inc., Free Speech For People. Geos Institute, Global Integrity, Government Accountability Project, Government Information Watch, Green Delaware, Greenpeace USA, Hanford Challenge, Heart of America NW, Hip Hop Caucus, Human Environmental and Leadership Prevalent Center (HELP Center), Indivisible, Information Trust, Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection, Georgetown Law, International Association of Whistleblowers, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, Iowa Institute for Public Accountability, Keep Our Republic, Kentucky Environmental Foundation, Kentucky Resources Council, Inc. League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), League of Women Voters of the United States, Mainers for Accountable Leadership, Michiganders for Fair and Transparent Elections, Mid-Ohio Valley Climate Action, MoneyOutVA, Mormon Women for Ethical Government, MoveOn, Muslim American Law Enforcement Association (MALEA), National Center for Health Research, National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, National Education Association, National Employment Law Project, National Organization for Women, National Security Counselors, National Voter Corps, National Whistleblower Center/Whistleblower Network News, National Workrights Institute, Network for Environmental & Economic Responsibility of United Church of Christ, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice. New American Leaders Action Fund, New Moral Majority, Niskanen Center, No More Guantanamos, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, Open The Government, Our Bodies Ourselves, Pax Christi USA, People For the American Way, People's Parity Project, PRESS4WORD2020, Professional Managers Association, Project Blueprint, Project On Government Oversight (POGO), Protect All Children's Environment, Protect Democracy, Public Citizen, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, Public Justice Center. Republicans for the Rule of Law, Rock the Vote, RootsAction.org, S.T.O.P.--The Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, Secure Elections Network, Senior Executives Association, SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change, Sierra Club, SocioEnergetics Foundation, Sojourners, Stand Up America, Stand Up Republic, Strategies for Justice, BWMP LLC, Sustainable Energy & Economy Network, T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, The Digital Democracy Project, The Ecotopian Society, The National Air Disaster Foundation, The National Vote, The Press Freedom Defense Fund of First Look Institute. The Rutherford Institute, The Shalom Center, The Signals Network, The Workers Circle, Transparency International--U.S. Office, Truckers Justice Center, Tully Center for Free Speech, Un-PAC, Union of Concerned Scientists, Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice, UNITED SIKHS, Voices for Progress, Vote Vets, Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), WESPAC Foundation, Inc., Whistleblowers of America, Win Without War, Women's Action for New Directions (WAND), Women's International League for Peace and Freedom US, Workplace Fairness, Worksafe, X-Lab.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from the great State of Illinois (Mr. Danny K. Davis), the distinguished chair of the Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), the distinguished chair of the Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. (Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Quigley).

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Leger Fernandez), the distinguished chair of the Committee on Natural Resources and Subcommittee on Indigenous Peoples of the United States.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline), the distinguished chair of the Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Dean).

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Eshoo), the distinguished chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Porter), the distinguished chair of the Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Ross), the distinguished vice chair of the Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague. We came to Congress together, and I thank her for her outstanding leadership in this body and her beautiful statement today. Madam Speaker, may I inquire how much time remains.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers. I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, I would like to point out to my very good friend and colleague, Mr. Comer, that President Trump is no longer President. This bill is not about President Trump. If anyone, it is about President Biden and our future Presidents and having more oversight, accountability, and transparency. Now, addressed in this bill are past abuses that have occurred. This is not about the past; it is about the future. It is about the future of our democracy and the strength of our democracy. Democrats are not standing alone. The reforms in this bill have broad support from over 150 outstanding groups, including the Brennan Center for Justice, the Project On Government Oversight, and many others. I have included that list in the Record. Madam Speaker, the Protecting Our Democracy Act is a historic package of prodemocracy reforms to create or strengthen guardrails and prevent the abuse of executive power. Many of the provisions in our bill have broad bipartisan support and have literally been authored by Republicans. You yourself at the Rules Committee said that the President should release his taxes. You said that. These are issues that both sides of the aisle should be supporting. It is time for Congress to restore our authorities as a coequal branch of power. Madam Speaker, this is about the future, the strengthening of our democracy, and I urge strong support from all of my colleagues. I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to join us in strengthening democracy and urge them to vote with Republicans for this very important reform bill. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 838, I offer amendments en bloc.

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Dr. Hossam Maksoud for his outstanding career and dedication to creating accessible health services. For over twenty-five years, Dr. Maksoud has been at the forefront of providing affordable medication and healthcare. When Dr. Maksoud received his pharmaceutical degree in 1990 from St. John's University's School of Pharmacy, he already had an established family business and chain of pharmacies in Egypt. Dr. Maksoud used this entrepreneurial experience in the United States to establish Maksoud Pharm, Inc in 1993. Maksoud Pharm grew into a chain of independent retail pharmacies in the New York tristate area. With the revenues generated from Maksoud Pharm, Dr. Maksoud was able to launch his long-term care pharmacy company, Community Care Rx. Dr. Maksoud currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Community Care Rx. As a long-term care pharmacy, the company serves Adult & Pediatric Residential Programs, Assisted Living Facilities, Hospital Discharge Programs, HIV Programs, Hospital and Nursing Home Discharges and Skilled Nursing Facilities. Community Care Rx has a specific focus on nonprofit organizations that serve individuals unable to care for themselves. Dr. Maksoud's goal is to address pharmaceutical drug shortages, working with lists provided by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Over the years, Dr. Maksoud created additional healthcare companies to confront shortage concerns, such as Community Care Specialty Pharmacy, which is URAC and ACHC accredited, to address the difficulty in obtaining specialty disease state medications for patients. Dr. Maksoud also created Community Care Consulting, which reviews patients' medication charts in order to reduce patient and facility financial burdens. In 2017, Dr. Maksoud once again launched an initiative to address the drug shortage problem. With four partners, he created Dawah Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a drug manufacturing company. Dawah Pharmaceuticals aims to provide affordable medication to the market by producing generic versions of otherwise widely inaccessible medication. One of these generics is currently under review by the FDA and has a projected release in the second quarter of 2022. In partnership with Oakrum Pharma, Dawah Pharmaceuticals will market the medication through wholesale distribution across the United States, to the benefit of institutions such as hospitals and clinics. Dr. Maksoud is a board member of the Egyptian African Business Association (EABA) and is an active participant in many long-term care and nonprofit associations in the tristate area, such as IAC, ESAAL, NYAEMP, NYSACRA, HCANJ, and NJACP. Additionally, Dr. Maksoud, along with his family, established The Maksoud Foundation, which assists the elderly in obtaining medication they cannot afford. As a dual citizen of Egypt and the United States with extensive experience living and working in multiple countries, Dr. Maksoud brings a unique perspective to his work. His global experience has demonstrated to him the importance and the value of diversity and community philanthropy. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Dr. Hossam Maksoud for his community service, his generosity, and especially his commitment to providing affordable medication and increasing access to quality healthcare.