Gregory Meeks

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, my home State of New York has become the epicenter of this terrible pandemic. This bill brings financial support to increase the number of hospital beds and equip our brave doctors, nurses, EMTs, and other medical providers who are our front line of defense and should not be asked to risk their lives to save others. This crisis will pass and our economy will recover, but American families and workers who lost their jobs by the millions, through no fault of their own, desperately need this financial support now. This bill provides important grants and loans to small businesses which will be critical to our economic recovery. There is more for us to do, but this bill is an important first step to secure American families and workers.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, the President should not be able to commit the U.S. recklessly and flagrantly to war. That is the reason there are constitutionally mandated checks and balances. The President escalated hostilities with Iran and did not demonstrate any imminent threat nor strategy as to why. He clearly did not make our country safer. Quite the opposite. It is not a sign of strength as some of my colleagues suggest. It was an unchecked sign of more disarray and lack of strategic thinking. We have seen what happens when we don't have a plan for what comes next when we take out a bad actor without thinking through long-term consequences. We have lost too much blood and tears and treasure to ever allow that to happen again. I support, and implore my colleagues to support, this resolution for the sake and the state of future generations. I love this country. This is the greatest country in the world because we have checks and balances.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the US-Mexico- Canada Agreement Implementing Act. Updating NAFTA is crucial to America's workforce and our economy. Our vote today is not just about a trade bill. For our nation, trade has never been singularly about the exchange of goods and services across borders. This bill is about making monumental progress in the fundamental framework of trade negotiations. It is about America's competitive edge, the rights of our workers, the stewardship of our environment, and so much more. Millions of American jobs depend on trade with Canada and Mexico. NAFTA is a 25-year-old agreement that has long needed an upgrade to meet the demands of our times. American workers and American businesses deserve the best possible update that we can negotiate, I believe that is precisely what we have here. As a member of the New Democrat Coalition, and a strong supporter of international trade, I have for years fought for the advancement of key New Dem priorities to be included in trade bills. With USMCA I am pleased that under Speaker Pelosi's leadership Democrats negotiated for many of these priorities and they are in this agreement. I am proud that we fought for and secured stronger labor and environmental provisions and the elimination of language in the implementing bill that would have allowed the administration to unilaterally lower the U.S. de minimis threshold. The great state of New York shares a border with Canada. New York's connection with its top trading partner, Canada, is strengthened in this agreement. With USMCA, New York's sixteen billion dollars in exports to Canada can increase, jobs are secured, and we lay the groundwork for deeper economic ties while making progress in the best interest of citizens throughout North America. America's strength has always been undergirded by our prowess in trade. New York has a special place in American history in that regard. With USMCA we safeguard our nation's ability to compete, while being caretakers of our environment and upholding the rights of our workers. After 14 months of negotiations, I am proud to support this bipartisan agreement, and push forward the framework for trade agreements in the years to come. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5430--The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, the decision to impeach a President of the United States is of enormous magnitude and utmost significance. There are few issues that so deeply reflect upon the Constitution and the American system of governance. As a senior member of the United States House Foreign Affairs Committee, I have spent years trying to promote American values of democracy and the rule of law in other parts of the world, including Eastern Europe. Because I have been so steeped in Ukrainian issues for so long, I know how damaging President Trump's actions were. But the President's damage does not end there. He has consistently obstructed at every turn of this investigation. This Nation's Founding Fathers fought to end unaccountable rule. We did not free ourselves from a King to turn the President into a monarch. The camera of history is rolling, and I will cast my vote consistent with the principles of democracy, the rule of law, and our Constitution for the impeachment of President Donald J. Trump. I do so because I could not look my granddaughter or any member of future generations in the eye having condoned actions that undermine our democratic system, and I urge all of my colleagues to do the same. May God bless the United States of America. I stand before you on a serious and solemn day in the House of Representatives. The decision to impeach a President of the United States is of enormous magnitude and the utmost significance. There are few issues that so deeply reflect upon the Constitution and the American system of governance. My ancestors were African slaves, forced on a transatlantic journey from the coasts of Sierra Leone to the plantations of South Carolina. I know full well that the designers of our Constitution, who embedded an economy of human bondage into the fabric of our political institutions, were not perfect men. Yet they wrote a malleable document that allowed American society to adjust to changing times while laying down eternal principles: democracy, freedom of speech, freedom of belief, open markets, and a separation of powers. Indeed, they laid the foundation for a nation that would allow men and women like myself, who are descended from slaves, to become Members of Congress with the right and duty to weigh in on the most important questions confronting our republic. I will exercise that responsibility here today. Given my background as a lawyer and former prosecutor, I believe we must look at the relevant law in question before casting a vote. That language comes directly from the Constitution: ``The President . . . shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.'' The two articles of impeachment brought against President Trump concern his abuse of power and his obstruction of Congress. As a senior Member of the United States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee with a particular focus on Europe, I have spent years trying to promote American values of democracy and the rule of law in other parts of the world including Eastern Europe. Other nations have not been blessed with political institutions that promoted civil liberties and the rule of law. Today, in Ukraine however there are leaders keen on anticorruption initiatives, invested in following the Western democratic model, and inspired by the American example. Nearly 13,000 Ukrainians have been killed since 2014 because of the conflict provoked and sustained by Russia, who opposes this vision of liberty and opportunity. Over the years, I have pushed for the U.S. government to fund and protect these Ukrainian freedom fighters from Russian aggression. As the leader of the United States, President Trump has responsibility to help Ukraine lay the ground work for a more sustainable system of governance, one that promotes the rule of law and free and fair elections. This duty is inextricably linked to American national security interests. Because I have been steeped in these issues pertaining to Ukraine for so long, I know how damaging President Trump's actions were. Based on witness testimony and the overwhelming evidence presented, I am forced to conclude that the President abused the power of his office for his own personal gain rather than the public interest and that this was in fact an impeachable offense. The second article of impeachment concerns President Trump's obstruction of Congress. Our constitutional system was designed to promote checks and balances among the different branches of government, with a particular focus on ensuring that the judiciary and the legislature could check the President. We did not free ourselves from a King to tum the President into a monarch. In the case of our current President, he has shown his disdain for separation of powers unrelentingly and unrepentantly. This pattern of behavior evidenced throughout the Mueller investigation and repeated itself again as the President has continually defied any oversight initiatives from the legislature. This is in complete contravention of our Constitutional system. And it is an impeachable offense. In sum, the founders knew from the very beginning that the insertion of domestic political interests into foreign policy would be an existential threat to the United States. Indeed, confidence in our electoral system at home has been indispensable to the strength of our republic while the absence of quid pro quo corruption from our foreign policy has been essential to American leadership abroad. President Trump's misconduct has betrayed both of these vital principals, weakening our democratic institutions at home and our standing abroad. The camera of history is rolling. Today's vote is not about one man, but instead about the foundations of our republic for the years, decades, and centuries to come. I will cast my vote consistent with the principles of democracy, the rule of law, and the American constitutional system and for the impeachment of President Donald J. Trump. I do so because I could not look my granddaughter or any member of future generations in the eye having condoned actions that undermine our democratic system. I urge all of my colleagues to do the same. May God bless the United States of America.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4634, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2019. Mr. Speaker, let me take my hat off to Chairwoman Waters and Ranking Member McHenry for working closely together to make sure that this is a bipartisan bill, bringing us all together in that regard, as well as the other chairs of the subcommittees that worked very hard on this bill. Terrorism risk remains real and present. It is a present risk. This is especially true for my beloved city of New York, which terrorists seek to target not only for its large population and notable landmarks but also because they seek to disrupt the New York capital markets, which are the financial nervous system of America and the world. In October, I had the privilege to participate in a New York Police Department counterterrorism unit briefing on the continuing terrorism threats to New York City. There have been dozens of foiled plots and a handful of realized attacks. We cannot let our guard down. TRIA deserves, and in the House has won, broad bipartisan support. Companies and residents of cities and States that are at risk of terrorism urgently need Congress to finalize passage of a clean, long- term reauthorization of TRIA to provide the certainty that they need for long-term planning. That is exactly what the chair and ranking member have worked so hard to accomplish. As we consider this legislation, it is critical to keep in mind that terrorism insurance is a covenant in many business and real estate loans and contracts. As such, as we saw after the 9/11 attacks on New York, any lapse risks triggering defaults or freezing commerce and housing markets. Capital markets and insurance policies are typically written on long- term contracts, so new insurance policies are already being written today that extend beyond the potential expiration date of the current TRIA authorization. As we look at the U.S. economy, we must make sure to not allow any lapse in TRIA, which could exacerbate a slowdown by freezing funding in the real estate market and funding to business and markets considered most at risk, such as in New York. Mr. Speaker, I close by simply saying, as I started, to the chairwoman, who relentlessly worked together with Mr. McHenry to make sure that this is a bill that we could work closely together on, because this is a bill that benefits all of us in the United States of America, that that job is a job well done, and I thank the chair and ranking member very much for pulling us together and getting this bill across the finish line.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, today, I am especially proud to rise in support of a bill that has been worked on very hard. I want to first thank Chairwoman Waters and Ranking Member McHenry; of course, my colleague, the chair of the Subcommittee on Investor Protection, Entrepreneurship, and Capital Markets, Carolyn Maloney; Chairwoman Beatty; and, of course, the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner) for all of their support in working to pull this bill together, the Improving Corporate Governance Through Diversity Act of 2019. This legislation is the culmination of years of methodical work and the continuation of priorities dating back to our Wall Street reform work following the financial crisis. Indeed, as my colleagues who were here in Congress in 2009 and 2010 will remember well, many of us, in the wake of the financial crisis, were vocal about how the lack of diversity and inclusion across corporate America and, in particular, at senior levels and on boards of financial institutions helped contribute to the financial crisis. Corporate America should reflect the diversity of the markets they seek to serve. This is the right thing to do and the smart business decision to make. H.R. 5084, the Improving Corporate Governance Through Diversity Act, focuses on disclosures and transparency. I firmly believe that transparency is the first step to accountability. Specifically, the bill does the following. Public companies will be required to publish diversity data annually in their proxy statements, based on voluntary self-identification, on the racial, ethnic, and gender composition of their board of directors, the nominees for the board of directors, and executive officers. Similarly, companies will publish data on those who voluntarily self- identified as veterans. Public companies will also have disclosure requirements on the adoption of any board policy, plan, or strategy to promote diversity. The bill directs the Director of the Office of Minority and Women Inclusion of the SEC to publish, every 3 years, best practices for compliance with the disclosure requirements of this bill, including Federal solicitation of public comments. The bill also directs the Office of Minority and Women Inclusion to establish an advisory council, which includes issuers and investors, to advise on these best practices. This is a simple, effective, and impactful bill that, through transparency and reporting, informs markets, investors, and employees about the status of diversity and inclusion across corporate America. This bill has earned support that is very broad, from civil rights groups, such as the NAACP and the National Urban League, as well as from the Chamber of Commerce, the Council of Institutional Investors, and LPL Financial, the Nation's largest independent broker-dealer. It is rare for a bill to have such broad support from civil rights groups, corporate America, and the investment community, but this broad support is evidence of the urgency and commonsense nature of this legislation. This bill will also gain the support of many of our Republican colleagues across the aisle, both in the committee and here on the floor. Mr. Speaker, I ask, therefore, that all Members vote in support of this bill.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, there has been a rapid and dramatic shift in the legal treatment of cannabis, led by voters at the local and State levels. Nearly every American now lives in a State where cannabis has been decriminalized to some extent and legal business activities permitted to varying degrees, including in my home State of New York. But Federal drug laws and bank regulations have not evolved to reflect this new reality. We need clear, harmonized laws, which the SAFE Banking Act provides. Without passage of this bill, the legal cannabis industry is forced to operate mostly in cash, depriving law enforcement of important financial data and creating avoidable security risks for companies and their employees. With the passage of this bill, entrepreneurs, employees, and financial institutions operating legally within the bounds of State and local laws will no longer bear the burden of a punitive Tax Code, high compliance hurdles, the lack of all basic financial services, and significant security risks. I am proud of the work Mr. Perlmutter has done on this bill, and I compliment him.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of H.R. 241, the Bank Service Company Examination Coordination Act. As chair of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions, I am very focused on the appropriate oversight of our banking sector and effective coordination among our bank regulators in overseeing the integrity and stability of individual banks and the banking system as a whole. We learned in the most painful way possible during the financial crisis that failure to properly coordinate and gaps in regulatory oversight allow systemic risks to emerge. In particular, with the enactment of this bill, State and Federal regulators will be directed to coordinate their work in auditing and monitoring technology solution providers in banking and the use of such technology. This type of coordination is key to giving consumers and average Americans faith in the stability of the banking system, security of the technology solutions used in banking, and will streamline regulatory oversight without cutting corners. So I am pleased to join with my colleague, Mr. Williams, who has been a strong advocate of making sure that we have this kind of transparency in working together, and I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``aye'' on H.R. 241.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Thursday Luncheon Group, an organization that serves as an effective platform to help African-Americans play an equitable role in the formulation, articulation, and implementation of U.S. foreign policy. When I travel the world, I witness firsthand the importance of having an inclusive diplomatic corps reflecting the American people's rich cultural tapestry. As the U.S. Department of State's oldest Employee Affinity Group, TLG has been instrumental in leading the charge to promote diversity within the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development. In 1973, two senior USIA Officers, William B. Davis and Roburt A. Dumas, urged their friends at USIA, the State Department, and USAID to consider what could be done to encourage a significant role for African-Americans in foreign affairs. These foundering members began meeting regularly on the first Thursday of every month to discuss issues affecting the careers of African American Foreign Service and Civil Service personnel and to create space for open exchanges with guest speakers. This group of trailblazers understood then, as we fully appreciate now, the struggle for representation is often long but begins with a dedicated few. Nearly five decades later, the Thursday Luncheon Group has over 500 members, including retired and current Department of State and USAID employees, and dedicated members from five other federal agencies. Their members have taken prominent roles in the development and execution of U.S. foreign policy, including Chiefs of Mission, Career Ambassadors, and Assistant Secretaries. TLG members monitor recruitment, assignments, employment practices, training and other matters of vital interest to minorities at the State Department and USAID. In addition, TLG works to improve the career development and networking opportunities among their members. The organization is committed to mentoring entry-level and mid-level officers in an effort to prepare them to become the future leaders in international affairs. What is most impressive is their commitment to giving back. The organization sponsors two paid summer internships at the Department of State. TLG also established the Terence A. Todman Book scholarship (named after the first African American to be named Career Ambassador, the highest rank among the diplomatic corps) for students at eight Historically Black Colleges and Universities. With the Thursday Luncheon Group's strong commitment to diversity and excellence in international affairs, TLG has set the standard for all other affinity to follow. I congratulate the members of the Thursday Luncheon Group for forty-five years of service to our country. Our country is better because of your service.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Brazilian Ambassador to the United States, Sergio Silva do Amaral, whose invaluable commitment to the bonds of friendship between Brazil and the American people has left an indelible mark on our bilateral and hemisperic relations. As Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Brazil, I have worked on numerous occasions with Ambassador Amaral to deepen our bilateral relations, and build upon the great history of partnership between Brazil and America. In September 2016, Sergio Amaral was appointed Ambassador of Brazil to the United States in Washington, D.C. Since then, Ambassador Amaral has worked tirelessly to promote a closer U.S.-Brazil friendship, as well as to promote the expansion of our economic, political, defense, and cultural relations, bringing a message of friendliness and cooperation during his travels through our country in furtherance of his mission to spread Brazil's message of peace and prosperity for all people. On June 1, when he retires from his Ambassadorial role in the U.S., he will conclude nearly 45 years of service to Brazil. His time as Brazil's Ambassador is thus an appropriate capstone to his long and distinguished career. Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and as a graduate of the University of Sao Paulo and the University of Paris, France, Ambassador Amaral has served in a number of senior official posts in the Brazilian public service over five decades. Prior to his appointment as Ambassador to the U.S., he served as Ambassador to London and Ambassador to Paris, as well as Minister of Development, Trade and Industry, and Chief-Minister for Social Communication of Brazil's Presidency. His other notable positions include Vice Minister of Environment and the Amazon, Secretary for International Affairs of the Ministry of Economy, President of the Council of Brazil's Chamber of Foreign Trade, and President of the Brazil-China Business Council. Ambassador Sergio Amaral has continuously reminded us of the great potential that lies ahead of Brazil and the United States as two of the largest democracies and economies in the Western Hemisphere. We must build upon the common beliefs that have historically connected the peoples of Brazil and America: our commitment to democracy, our commitment to the rule of law, and our commitment to the dignity of all people in our own countries and around the world. Today, I thank Ambassador Sergio Amaral for his service to these ideals, and wish him a long and happy retirement.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, The Honorable Valerie Brathwaite Nelson, a justice of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, Second Department, which is the intermediate Appellate Court in New York State, was appointed in February 2016 by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, making history as the first African-American female from the County of Queens to be elevated to Associate Justice of the Appellate Division. Justice Brathwaite Nelson was educated in the New York City Public School System, is a graduate of Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and received her Juris Doctor degree from the George Washington School of Law. Having married the greatest joy of her life Nicholas J. Nelson, adding to that union three children whom she considers her most important and greatest achievement. Justice Brathwaite Nelson began her distinguished career as a Law Clerk with U.S. Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, as well as serving in a variety of public and private legal capacities prior to establishing her private practice of law. Her approach to leadership is exemplified by her firm belief in the concept of teamwork and empowerment. Her focus has been to lead by example, while re-energizing and transforming the culture of the judicial institutions she has led. Credited with making tangible changes in the lives of women of color and their families both domestically and abroad through meaningful partnership, her commitment to the Judicial System and her respect for the value of our law resulted in her receiving numerous honors and recognition; Therefore, be it That I, Gregory W. Meeks, Member of the 116th Congress, representing the Fifth Congressional District of New York, congratulate Valerie Brathwaite Nelson for her dedicated service to quality legal practice. On behalf of the 723,000 residents of the Fifth Congressional District, I thank Valerie Brathwaite Nelson for her outstanding and ongoing commitment to making positive contributions to our society's wellbeing.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, through a Charter by the U.S. Congress, Howard University School of Law began as Howard University Law Department on January 6, 1867, during the Reconstruction Era, to provide legal education to students committed to the protection of the rights of African Americans. During this time, there was a great need to train lawyers who would have a strong commitment to help black Americans to secure and protect their rights and well as the rights of other marginalized communities. Howard Law also has significant ties to the Civil Rights Movement and other social movements that fought for civil rights throughout American history. Howard Law was the first school in the nation to have a nondiscriminatory admission policy, admitting both black and white male and female law students. Howard Law's mission is to: Educate and enable students to develop their highest capabilities and skills as lawyers; Engage as an institution in the active pursuit of solutions to domestic and international legal, social, economic and political problems that are of particular concern to minority groups; and Imbue its students with dedication to excellence and commitment to the solutions to those problems. Famous alumni and faculty of the school include Dean Charles Hamilton Houston--``the Man Who Killed Jim Crow,'' Thurgood Marshall--argued Brown v. Board of Education and the first African-American Justice, multiple Congressmen, senators, district judges, governors, mayors, and the former Prime Minister of Jamaica. We begin the celebration of the 150th Anniversary of its founding with a Sesquicentennial Convocation. I, Gregory W. Meeks, Member of the 116th Congress, do hereby congratulate Howard University School of Law on its 150th Anniversary, on January 7, 2019.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, Juliette Alkins Hansen was born in Washington Heights, reared in Harlem, educated in the New York City public school and university system--Juliette Alkins Hansen is a New Yorker. Her Barbadian parents instilled in her an appreciation and pride in her heritage. Their participation in church activities (St. Ambrose in Harlem) gave her grounding in learning how to ``give back'' to your community/organization. In their 47-year marriage, Richard and Juliette, individually and collectively, were involved in civic and community life. Juliette's non-political organizational activity included Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the Girl Scouts of America, Jack and Jill of America, The Greater Queens Chapter of the Links, Juliette was the organizer for the Queens Chapter of the Links, York College Community Quilt, various scholars hip committees, and Magnet School Mentoring Program. Her board member participation included the American Lung Association; Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning, (JCAL). After several decades of JCAL board participation, Juliette retired. She was named the board's first Emeritus Board Member and remains active in many of the board's activities. This association gives her a continued ability to participate in the growth of this invaluable asset to our borough and city. She also served on the boards of Jamaica Service Program for Older Adults (JSPOA) and Jamaica NAACP. Being the Organizer of The Greater Queens Chapter of the Links brought her a sense of pride and accomplishment. Juliette feels blessed that God granted her the years to become a ``Golden'' 50-year Soror in her dear Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She is an Emeritus member of the New York Chapter of the CARATS. Juliette and her family are members of Saint Albans Congregational Church. Politically, her late husband, Richard led the way. During his tenure as President of the Jamaica branch of the NAACP in the early 1970's, the chapter continued its tradition of activism. As second vice president, Juliette was at his side when the chapter fought for Rochdale, the establishment of York College in our community, fair housing in Forest Hills and NAACP reform, et al. After his term ended, the couple became associated with the political campaigns of several local, city, state, and national aspirants. They worked with others in major fund raising activities for several candidates. Through her various organizations, Juliette continued her connection with youth. She joined Dr. Gerald Deas in his campaign against ``Quarter Water''. These sweet colored water drinks have been cited as being asthma ``triggers'' for young Black and Latino children. As a board member of the American Lung Association and part of the Links Chapter, she addressed New York legislators in Albany regarding the need for regulatory legislation against such products. Unfortunately, these drinks are still on the shelves. Now retired, Juliette had 23 years of varied experience in the field of education. As a charter faculty member of the Queens Bridge to Medicine program, she maintains an extended family of former students, who have kept her in their lives through graduate/medical schools, marriages and children. Juliette was honored with a nomination and placement to Who's Who Among American Teachers. Juliette's other honors include the Martin Luther King Scholarship--St. John's University; The Many Faces of Queens Women--Newsday; Community Service Award--Borough President Claire Schulman; Community Service Award--Borough President Helen Marshall; Community Service Award--Guy R. Brewer United Democratic Club, City Councilman Leroy Comrie's ``Unsung Heroes'' and the Queens Chapter of Jack & Jill honored her as one of their past chapter presidents. ``The greatest joy in my life has been my devoted late husband, Richard, our loving, statuesque daughters, Greer and Dionne and husbands, Manuel and Michael. My three munchkins (grandsons): Blake, Spencer, and Richard are my supreme joy! I feel honored to have received several awards from my community and to be blessed with many dear and true friends . . . thanks for giving me my roses while I can smell them.''

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, the Honorable Howard G. Lane, Supreme Court Justice, Queens County, 11th Judicial District (Retired) was elected Judge of the Civil Court in Queens County in November 2003, after 24 years of practicing law. A graduate of Manhattan College where he was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree and awarded a Juris Doctor degree in 1978 from Hofstra University Law School and the recipient of Fredrick Douglass National Moot Court Competition, ``Best Oralist'' Northeast Regional Competition Award and admitted to practice law in the state of New York in 1979. From 1979 to Judge Lane's election to the Civil Court, he served as Law Clerk and Principal Court Attorney for Supreme Court Justice Leslie G. Leach in the Queens County Court prior to serving as a sole practitioner engaged in the private practice of law and hearings. In his long and distinguished career, he also served as a Hearing Officer for the Transit Adjudication Bureau and staff attorney for Community Action for Legal Services, Inc. Justice Lane's approach to leadership is exemplified by his fervent belief in the concept of teamwork and empowerment. His aim has been to lead by example, re-energizing and transforming the culture of the judicial institutions he has led through a partnership between administrators and front-line staff. His commitment to the Judicial System and his respect for the value of our law resulted in his legal opinions and rulings being recognized as exemplary of the finest legal analysis and thinking. That I, Gregory W. Meeks, Member of the 116th Congress, on behalf of the constituents of the Fifth Congressional District of New York, congratulate Howard G. Lane for his twenty-four years of service to quality legal practice. On behalf of the 723,000 residents of the Fifth Congressional District, I thank Judge Lane for his outstanding and ongoing contribution to our Judicial Institution's integrity and local and global community's wellbeing.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor European Union Ambassador to the United States David O'Sullivan, whose invaluable commitment to the bonds of friendship between Europe and the American people has left an indelible mark on the transatlantic alliance. As Co- Chair of the Congressional EU Caucus, I have worked on numerous occasions with Ambassador O'Sullivan to strengthen that alliance, and build upon the great history of partnership between Europe and America. In November 2014, David O'Sullivan was appointed Ambassador and Head of the European Union Delegation to the United States in Washington, DC. Since then, Ambassador O'Sullivan has worked tirelessly to promote transatlantic unity, emphasizing people to people contacts during his travels to all 50 of our states in furtherance of his mission to spread the European Union's message of peace and prosperity for all people. In February of this year, when he retires from his Ambassadorial role, he will conclude nearly 40 years of service to the European Union. His time as EU Ambassador is thus an appropriate capstone to his long and distinguished career. Born in Dublin, Ireland, and as a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin and the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium, Ambassador O'Sullivan has served in a number of senior official posts in the European public service over five decades that saw monumental changes on the European continent. Prior to his appointment as EU Ambassador to the U.S., he was the Chief Operating Officer of the `European External Action Service', responsible for establishing this new EU diplomatic corps. His other notable positions within the European Commission include Director General for Trade, Secretary General of the European Commission, and Head of European Commission President Prodi 's Cabinet. The transatlantic community has always been a community of values, and this is more important now than ever before. Ambassador O'Sullivan has continuously reminded us that we cannot take the transatlantic alliance for granted. We must build upon the common beliefs that have connected the peoples of Europe and America over the past century: our commitment to democracy, our commitment to the rule of law, and our commitment to the dignity of all people in our own countries and around the world. Today, I thank Ambassador O'Sullivan and his wife Agnes O'Hare, for their service to these ideals, and wish him a long and happy retirement.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman and the ranking member from California for their understanding. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Chair, I rise to offer an amendment.

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Chairman, I am offering an amendment to expedite the Army Corps of Engineers' study of Superstorm Sandy recovery efforts, allowing a faster response to dangerous and economically damaging beach erosion in my district and the Rockaway Peninsula. To this day, my constituents suffer from the after-effects of Hurricane Sandy. Though coastal recovery has contributed to positive economic development, the very same jobs created are now threatened by emergency beach closures. Two weeks ago, only days ahead of beach season, of the beaches opening, 11 of our beaches' central blocks were deemed unsafe due to erosion, by the city of New York and all of the lifeguards therein. As a result, it will be crippling to the vendors, whose entire livelihood depends on their seasonal income. Last year alone, there were four nor'easters that further devastated our beachfront. We have already allocated funding for the Army Corps of Engineers to begin constructing coastal protections and prevent further erosion. However, construction is not due to begin until 2019. In that time, beaches will be left vulnerable to coastal erosion, threatening more closures, and impacting more jobs and economic activity in my district. This should be of concern to all taxpayers. After Sandy, the Army Corps of Engineers dumped two Empire State Buildings' worth of sand on our beach for coastal recovery. Stalled efforts to address resiliency issues, such as this study, are allowing millions of Federal dollars to be literally washed away. Mr. Chair, my constituents cannot wait until 2019 for construction of reinforced dunes, groynes, and jetties. The studies must be allowed to be improved and completed in a timely manner so as to not leave our beachgoers unsafe or our economy vulnerable. While I will continue to push for a remedy for this summer--I am going to push to try to save some of it--it is my hope that by expediting this process, the beaches will be made safe and operational for my constituents as soon as possible, and certainly no later than spring season of 2019. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Franklin Thomas Sylvester, Jr., on his recent graduation from the University of Connecticut Medical School, where he excelled in his clinical training. Franklin, at 25 years old, is now preparing to embark on the next phase in his preparation for life as a medical doctor. I am proud to say that the city of New York will be welcoming Franklin as he heads to Mount Sinai Kravis Children's Hospital, where he will do his residency training in pediatrics. I commend Franklin and all those who are graduating this spring from medical school. As an African-American male, Franklin's accomplishment has an additional significance. Research shows that diversity in the medical field is critically linked to better outcomes, and we also know that there isn't enough diversity in a profession that so often makes a difference between life and death. Franklin recently said: ``Pediatrics is where I can make the most difference. From children's health to their social issues, that is where I want to make an impact where I can.'' With that kind of compassion and commitment to his profession, Franklin will serve the children of New York and this Nation in ways that make us all proud. I hope that today some young person listening to my remarks will look to Franklin as an inspiration and strive to similar accomplishments.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning because the camera of history is rolling. It is rolling and it is recording. It is recording the fact that the NRA continues to distort the meaning of the Second Amendment, that the NRA continues to incite its members with propaganda and then threatens my Republican colleagues, and that my Republican colleagues, in fear, hover down to their wishes and do nothing to prevent mass shootings in the United States of America. The camera of history is rolling, Mr. Speaker, and the camera will record the fact that we have a President of the United States who believes in reality TV shows. In fact, he had an open press reality show-type meeting where he made big promises of improving gun safety. The President declared, in that meeting, that Republican lawmakers are so scared of the NRA. He said that and admitted that the Republican lawmakers are scared of the NRA, but he said that he was not. Then, just a short time thereafter, what did he do? He didn't have an open show meeting with the NRA. He didn't want the American public to see how he hovered down and gave in to the wishes of the NRA. It wasn't an open press meeting. If he was so strongly against the NRA or could stand up to them, he should have had a meeting in the Oval Office and had the same press coverage so that we could hear what he was saying to them and they were saying to him. But all we know is what the results were. The results were that, after he had this behind closed doors meeting with NRA, he didn't come out so strong anymore. He started to back down. He started to say--well, he was so strong about, hey, it didn't make sense about 18 to buy a gun, 18 to 21. That was not in his plans anymore. We saw that he had changed his whole demeanor. Something took place. We say, Mr. President, if you are not afraid of the NRA, then you do an open meeting with the NRA with the same press as you have done with Members of Congress. This is the 30th day since we have had that terrible shooting in Florida, and we have got young people now outside who are saying enough is enough. Some think young people don't have an effect on American history and the camera. Well, I dare say to you, I can recall a young person who was only about 17 years old who stood bravely and took beatings to say he wanted America to go in a different direction. That young man is now a Member of Congress and someone whom we admire. He goes by the name of John Lewis. He was only 16, 17 years old, and it changed America. And I dare say, there are some 16- and 17-year-olds who are outside today who will change America and make it a better place, and we need to join them. We have got to stop the kinds of letters that I have been receiving in my office. I have been receiving letters from individuals from the Jack and Jill Association, a large association of young people who want a better America, one named Jeremy Chavez, who said: ``My mother has been forced to discuss with me my fear of safety while at school in light of the mass murder of children our age in a place that should be a safe haven for our education.'' This is a conversation that neither Jeremy's mother nor any mother should need to have. Yet, with 7,000 innocent children killed since Sandy Hook in 2012, it is one that parents across America are forced to have with their children. Parents have to instruct their kids to hide under the desk as I did as a child when I was afraid or we were afraid of a nuclear weapon when we were in the arms war. We used to have to have shelter drills. Here we are, in 2018, and our children have to have shelter drills because of Americans and others who can come in with an assault rifle and take lives in a matter of seconds. No, that is not the United States we want. That is not the United States that these young people want to live in, and they will stand and fight and change the course of America.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Chair, since we know of the President and his will to withdraw from multilateral organizations and not work with others and just work by himself, we know what his position is. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on H.R. 3326.

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding time. Today, I rise in opposition to H.R. 3326, the World Bank Accountability Act of 2017. Let me start by stating how important our Nation's contributions are to the World Bank's International Development Association, IDA. Those funds support the largest source of development finance for the world's poorest nations, including those in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. That is why, at the committee level, I voted in favor. Both Democrats and Republicans agreed that funding the World Bank's development finance for poor nations represented America's highest ideals and interests. And, naturally, I would support a bill like this, but we had agreed that it wasn't the last word, that we would work and there would be additions thereto and/or subtractions in reviewing the bill. In my estimation, looking at the bill, it also cedes too much authority to the executive, and those concerns have not been addressed in the final bill. For me, particularly in light of this administration's statements just a few days ago, it is troubling that it could be misused by this administration. As written, the President, who has indicated a complete disdain for poor nations and people of color, could withhold foreign assistance if the World Bank does not conform to his administration's policies. It would be a mistake to allow the President to coerce the World Bank to fit his flawed world view, especially this President whose world view is inconsistent with America's past leadership around the globe, and that is whether it was a Democrat or Republican President. Furthermore, the procedures in this bill do little to rebuild the world's faith in our Nation because we are having a problem with all of our allies, particularly the poor nations of the world, as to where we stand. So, clearly, our vision, this Nation, has deteriorated under the current administration. Under this bill, our Nation could lose further credibility around the world during a time when countries, especially our allies, are uncertain about where our country stands on fundamental democratic values. Ultimately, the procedures in this bill could punish millions of children and the vulnerable families in Africa, Latin America, and Asia who could go without food and basic resources.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. This should not be a partisan issue, Mr. Chairman; not at all. Americans from the East, from the West, from the North, from the South, from middle America; Americans who are Democrats, Republicans, and Independents have all suffered as a result of what the Justice Department has done by fighting to make sure that we correct this wrong by fighting and winning decisions on making sure that those who have no voice, have a voice. Many of the individuals who were funded here were giving a voice to the voiceless. Without that voice, those who have will continue to do and perpetuate the fraud that is committed upon many. So this should not be a red issue; this should not be a blue issue. Just as former President Barack Obama said, this should be a red, white, and blue issue. It is a red, white, and blue issue where justice should be given a fair chance to prevail for all of America's people.

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I wish what the gentleman from California was saying was right, but as I listen to these tax cuts that are being talked about, many of these fine programs that help individuals from being thrown out of their house or in need of illegal aid are being cut back. Each time I have seen on the floor the priorities of the party of the gentleman from California, I see that these essential, consumer- oriented not-for-profits are losing their funding. So I rise today to urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on H.R. 732. This bill would tie the hands of prosecutors that go after financial fraud, including the mortgage schemes that led to the 2008 crisis. Apparently, my Republican colleagues have forgotten that not just Democrats, but all Americans, faced the negative effects of the mortgage fraud that led to the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Americans lost nearly $13 trillion in wealth, the unemployment rate reached a high of 10 percent, and 11 million Americans lost their homes. We all saw business opportunities evaporate in our communities and good-paying jobs wither away. To reverse these wrongs, the Obama administration reached record settlements with firms that engaged in fraud. Through these settlement agreements, the Department of Justice directed billions of dollars toward: number one, affordable housing initiatives, including downpayment programs that would help young people enter the housing market; number two, financial counseling programs that would help consumers avoid unsafe financial products; and number three, community development initiatives that would spur economic growth in rural and urban communities alike. So I am baffled that my colleagues would want to prevent our prosecutors from ensuring fraudulent firms to right their wrongs.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Chair, the agencies listed in this amendment are by no means perfect, and on multiple occasions I have condemned some of their actions, both publicly and behind closed doors. But I do believe we lose the ability to influence both agencies' agendas towards the United States' priorities if we cut off all U.S. funding. Despite my past criticisms of their significant shortcomings, I continue to believe that each of these agencies plays a pivotal role in providing critical services for the Palestinian people. We should never lose focus on helping the people who need aid the most. We should also think strategically about U.S. interests. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency is an effective alternative to Hamas. Each year, the agency provides health services to more than 3 million individuals, and education to half a million students in the West Bank and Gaza. Cutting off funding will simply strengthen Hamas by driving countless individuals into Hamas-controlled schools and services. Additionally, the Human Rights Council and the High Commissioner for Human Rights highlight the voices of the oppressed and underserved globally and have elevated the rights of women and sexual assault victims. As human rights are increasingly threatened around the globe, now is not the time to walk away from these agencies. I oppose the amendment because I strongly believe that here in Congress we must do all we can to preserve and advance U.S. interests and influence. This amendment would diminish U.S. influence at a time when our Nation's global standing is already slipping. Mr. Chair, how many minutes do I have remaining?