Sean Maloney

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the West Point Association of Graduates. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent the cadets, faculty, Active Duty soldiers, and the many alumni of the United States military academy at West Point in New York's Hudson Valley. In fact, I live right across the river, and I hear the cannon every morning and every night. It is a wonderful way to wake up and go to bed. Just take a few steps on the grounds at West Point and it will be clear to you that West Point is much more than a school. It is a community of devotion made up of the best and brightest of our Nation's past, our Nation's present, and our Nation's future. Think of the legends and heroes who have graduated from West Point. Such a pantheon clearly deserves more than a run-of-the-mill alumni association. Accordingly, the West Point Association of Graduates has fulfilled that need. It goes above and beyond, and it deserves the recognition we are giving it tonight. I want to thank my friend, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus), a member of the association himself, for leading this Special Order to honor the organization for the services and fellowship opportunities it provides to graduates of all ages. Our country's premier military academy has produced generations of leaders in all fields, including 2 U.S. Presidents, 18 astronauts, 19 Rhodes scholars, 76 Medal of Honor winners, and countless numbers of the Fortune 500 CEO's list, Cabinet secretaries, Governors, Senators, and, for those who didn't do very well, Members of Congress. These men and women are connected by ``The Long Grey Line,'' the affectionate reference to the unique ties that bind all graduates. They are linked by their commitment to living and, at times, even dying in service of the motto ``Duty, Honor, Country.'' But they are also connected through the tireless work of an exemplary alumni association. For 150 years, the West Point Association of Graduates has fostered these connections by allowing generations of graduates to grip hands with one another. In some ways, the association is like other alumni associations, but like all things West Point, it is much more. The association provides mentorship and fellowship for younger alums, but often these alums are also returning veterans who need a hand when they come back. It supports local chapters across the country and around the world. But for a group as far-flung as West Point grads, these connections give graduates a sense of community when they are far from home. It also helps graduates who have been hurt by hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, and other natural disasters. And it even offers a professional memorial services coordinator to help grieving families navigate the funeral process at West Point when that difficult time arrives. These are the kind of people who make up The Long Grey Line in the West Point Association of Graduates. They are fiercely committed to our country and to each other. During times of division, West Point graduates still rally around their shared values and experiences to build bridges and remind all of us what it is to be an American. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the West Point Association of Graduates for 150 years of connecting distinguished alumni and providing a helping hand to folks in need. I thank them for their service, and here is to another 150 years.

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a young man from my district in New York's Hudson Valley who passed away last week while serving his country. Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer Michael Kozloski, originally from Mahopac, New York, was only 35 years old. Michael died as a result of injuries sustained during a crane accident while serving in Alaska. Mike leaves behind his wife of 13 years, Brie, and four young children. He dedicated his entire adult life, 17 years, to protecting our country as a member of the Coast Guard. We all owe Mike and his family an enormous debt of gratitude for his service and for making the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country. I spoke to Mike's wife earlier today, and she told me that the community of Homer, Alaska, has rallied to her side, even as a dozen family members have flown in. At a time when we ask so much of our Coast Guard families, how fitting to be reminded that as Americans, we still rally to our heroes and their families at these difficult times. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of us to join in prayer for Michael and his family. We will be closely monitoring the ongoing investigation in this incident and offering our assistance as needed. Our hearts go out to Michael's family, his friends at Mahopac, and the entire Coast Guard community. We thank them for their service. We remember Michael for his sacrifice, and we pledge that he will not be forgotten.

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, at a time of dysfunction and rancor, it is useful to remember a time when America led the world because of the heroism of everyday Americans. I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Sergeant Joseph Farina of New Windsor, New York. Joe was a regular guy who ran a bowling alley in Newburgh, New York. He was a 20-year-old and a member of the National Guard when America was attacked at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. That very night, Joseph volunteered for service. During war, he was deployed to the Philippines and New Guinea, where his service earned him four battle stars, numerous other medals, and two Presidential citations. Joseph passed away at his home last month at the age of 97. Next to him was his wife of 76 years, Elizabeth, whom he had married in Brisbane, Australia, at the height of the war in 1942. Joseph would actually work in Australia for many years and pioneer the sport of bowlin there. But his legacy is far broader than that, not only to his country during his service in World War II, but also to the veterans community in the Hudson Valley and across America. He was active in many veterans organizations, the Catholic War Veterans, and he helped to cofound the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in New Windsor, New York. The Hall of Honor is dedicated to collecting and sharing the stories of Purple Heart recipients. No comprehensive list of Purple Heart recipients exists, and the hall acts as an important archive and monument to their service. Joseph, like so many in his generation, knew what it meant to serve others. Like so many in his generation, he worked in his community and was a person dedicated to something bigger than himself. What a powerful lesson for all of us to recall today. He was a model American citizen, and he will be missed.

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to memorialize Martin Martinez and to draw attention to his story and his struggle. Martin lived for over 30 years here in the United States. He worked hard, paid taxes, learned English. He had two beautiful American children, one of them, Maria, worked for the people of the United States, the House of Representatives, and for me. Martin was a good American, but he was also an undocumented immigrant, and even though he was putting himself at risk and he knew it, he and his wife self-reported to the government to declare their status. They followed every instruction they were given, and they stayed out of any kind of trouble, but they were still deported. Soon after the deportation, Martin paid the ultimate price and lost his life on February 27. Now, he had existing heart problems, but his daughter, Maria, will tell you, ``This administration separated my family and my dad died of a broken heart.'' Maria and her brother are now forced to grieve alone, for their mother was also deported and has been barred from reentering the United States for a decade. Maria and the rest of the Martinez family are forced to suffer the real human cost of this administration's policies. And it is stories like Martin's that so clearly demonstrate the need for comprehensive immigration reform. Martin's story is the story of millions of immigrants. It is our story. And it is our responsibility to learn from it and to act. We can't bring back Martin Martinez, but we can do something to heal our country.

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I offer this amendment in honor of a young man called Daniel Keegan. Daniel served in the Army's 82nd Airborne as an intelligence analyst for 8 years. He was deployed to Afghanistan twice. In 2009, Daniel was named Soldier of the Year of the 7th Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg. He was a remarkable young man. Like many of our heroes, he came home with PTSD. It took too long to get him hooked up at the VA. There were a bunch of dropped balls. So he began to self-medicate. He did that with drugs that he found online. He could order the drugs right from his own couch. Daniel lost his life in January of 2016. His mother, Stephanie, came to my office not long after. Stephanie Keegan has now dedicated her life to improving services at the VA and fighting the heroin and opioid epidemic, particularly as it relates to our men and women in uniform. Just a couple of months ago, Stephanie joined me in Hudson Valley to announce the Stop Online Opioid Sales Act, and that is what is in this amendment. We started looking at this issue, and we found out that we are losing the information battle in the fight to stop online drug sales. In fact, we don't even know exactly how much is coming into our country, or where it is coming from. Earlier this year, the Senate released a report suggesting that $800 million of opioids were coming just from China alone and being sold online. I am told that 50,000 doses of fentanyl can be fit inside a business size envelope. We need to get on top of this problem. These statistics are alarming. The trend is alarming. We don't know what is happening. We need the DEA to get in the game on this, and we need to know how much of an issue this really is. It is really hard to keep up with the constantly evolving tech landscape when it comes to drug sales. But the first step in stopping the problem is understanding the scope. What we know is that drug addicts, right now, can conduct their online habit without leaving their home. The drugs come in the UPS truck, or the FedEx truck, or the U.S. mail, and they can sell drugs to people who come to that location. I have spoken to recovering addicts who never left their house, who conducted, for years, an online drug business out of their own house and fed their own habit with it. We need to get on top of this problem. That is what is in this amendment and what it would allow us to do. We would simply require the DEA to compile a comprehensive report on the sale of drugs online within a year, and then be required to continue to issue annual reports containing this information. Under the amendment, the reports would include the types and amounts of controlled substances and analogues sold online, the name of each entity and person selling them, and an estimate of the revenue being generated through these illegal channels. This opioid crisis has impacted folks from every State, every party, and every walk of life, and it certainly doesn't care what party you belong to. Mr. Chairman, I ask all of my colleagues, on both sides of the aisle, to join me in support of this amendment so that we can fight back against this scourge and stop burying young American heroes like Daniel Keegan. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for his support. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York. I thank the gentlewoman for those comments. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill. If adopted, it will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, we will proceed to final passage, as amended. I offer the motion to recommit on behalf of farmers and rural communities who are confronting threats to their livelihood, sadly, that are included within this bill. Mr. Speaker, the communities I represent rely heavily on agriculture. Hudson Valley farmers feed New York and America, they create thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity, and they preserve the cultural heritage for generations of farmers who have done the same. I was raised in a small town surrounded by family farms, and I am proud to say I still live in one today. Agriculture drives the economy of my district. Suffice it to say, I didn't think I would ever oppose a farm bill. I was proud to be part of the bipartisan team that wrote the last one. That bipartisan bill was a huge win for farmers in my part of the world, but this farm bill is very different, and I am disappointed to say that we are following the best farm bill ever for the Hudson Valley with the very worst farm bill ever for the Hudson Valley. It claims to create efficiencies, but really just ends up going after people who need a hand, the ones we are supposed to focus on in this bill. One instance is simply the mandate that parents pay their child support or lose their SNAP benefits. Now, that, on its face, sounds like it makes sense: You don't pay your child support when you have kids, that should be a problem, but this bill goes about it in all the wrong ways and it ends up hurting the very children who rely on that child support, and it would actually end up costing more than it would save us. It also goes after critical trade programs just as millions of our farmers are reeling from a trade war and the renegotiation of NAFTA. Earlier this week, my Hudson Valley district was slammed by a series of storms, which destroyed acres and acres worth of crops. My office has been inundated with calls from farmers whose very livelihoods are in jeopardy as a result. One farmer named Josh Morgenthau, who runs the famous farm called Fishkill Farms, may have lost $1 million worth of crops. That is just one farmer in Duchess County. So the very same week when we faced these deadly storms, we are now talking about responding to millions of dollars in crop damages without improving the very crop insurance programs that farmers like Josh depend on today, right now. That is a kick in the teeth to the guys I represent. But the problems with this bill don't stop with crop insurance, as bad as those are. This bill eliminates America's largest conservation program, and that is a killer for rural New York because of growing urban sprawl and the loss of farmland around New York City. In fact, in New York State, we lose 10 times more farmland than we preserve every single year. Now, you don't need your slide ruler to figure out that is a big problem for us. This bill does too little to help small, diverse family farms like I represent, but it is a huge win for corporate industrial agriculture. It doesn't add a penny to the very research foundation that is funding local efforts in my part of the world to fight invasive species like the allium leafminer, which threatens the entire onion crop of the black dirt region, one of the Nation's largest. This is all happening against the backdrop of aging farmers, and that fact threatens the sustainability of the industry. New farmers can't get access to crop insurance or farmland they need to start a viable business. The land costs too much. These kids are loaded up with student debt. Don't take my word for it. The National Young Farmers Coalition adamantly opposes the Republican bill. We can't wait for the next farm bill to fix these problems. The average age of our farmers is going up all the time. It used to be 50; today it is 60 years old, the average farmer. It keeps going in the wrong direction. We should be doing more in this bill to support young and beginning farmers and to incentivize careers in agriculture. I promised my farmers, including my agricultural advisory board, on which Josh Morgenthau and other young farmers sit, that I would fight for them in Washington. In our motion, we provide almost $400 million for the Market Access Program, Foreign Market Development, and Technical Assistance for Specialty Crop Farms over 5 years. For the scholarships at 1890s institutions and Historically Black Colleges that help to prepare our next generation, we provide $95 million, and we fund the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Program at $120 million. We provide $80 million for organics research. We commit $140 million to promote farmers markets and local foods, and we invest $125 million in outreach and assistance for socially disadvantaged farmers. For research on specialty crops to advance the fruit, vegetable, flower, and nut growers that contribute the largest portion of our Nation's farm gate value, we provide $175 million. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York. I am opposed in its current form.

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to memorialize two beloved elected officials from the Hudson Valley who passed away this weekend: Assemblyman Frank Skartados and Newburgh mayor, Judy Kennedy. First, Assemblyman Frank Skartados represented a number of communities up and down the Hudson Valley. He lost a battle with cancer early Sunday morning. Even though he was struggling through his sickness, Frank still fought relentlessly for his neighbors up in Albany. Frank was an immigrant from Greece, grew up on a small Greek island, came to America as a teenager, learned English, paid his way through school, and built a successful business. He went on to represent the people of the Hudson Valley and the State Assembly for nearly a decade. Now, if that is not the American Dream, I don't know what is. My heart goes out to the Skartados family and to everyone else grieving his loss. We will miss Frank sorely. I would also like to memorialize Judy Kennedy, the mayor of Newburgh, New York. Judy and I shared a love for the city of Newburgh. Judy also passed away from cancer this weekend. She fought through her sickness to serve the people she cared so much about and the city she loved. She was a relentless warrior for the people she represented. She brought the city of Newburgh through an economic crisis and presided over a real revitalization throughout that city. Our thoughts are with the Kennedy family as well, and, of course, the entire Newburgh community that will miss her leadership. The public servants we lost this weekend were truly special people. They dedicated their lives to the people they served, and the best way for us to honor their legacy is to finish their work, to look out for the communities they represented, and to make sure they stay the wonderful places to live, work, and raise a family that they are. Frank and Judy, thank you for all you have done for us. I hope everyone in the Hudson Valley joins me in saying a prayer in remembrance of their service, and, of course, we will see them; we will see them whenever we see the government doing something right. We will see them when we see the city of Newburgh continue to thrive. We will see them when we see the State government improving our environment-- looking out for working families, fighting for people without a voice. That is where we will see their legacy, when we continue the work they fought so nobly and so long to advance. Rest in peace.

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Colorado for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question so we can turn our attention to the issue that is so critical for this body to address right now. I speak of the Federal Communications Commission's decision and its assault on net neutrality. The FCC is expected to vote tomorrow to eliminate the rules that protect our internet. They are about to fix something that is not broken. Now, maybe the words ``net neutrality'' make your eyes glaze over, but this issue is critical to anyone who uses the internet, which is really all of us, and it is not that complicated. We call the rules that protect the current internet ``net neutrality'' because they, more or less, keep the internet neutral for everyone. A neutral internet means we all have access to the same legal content and services no matter where or how we get our internet. These rules aren't new, and they are working. In fact, when you think about it, one of the last places where quality really reigns in our society is on the internet. We don't discriminate against the content or the intellectual creations of one young entrepreneur versus a big business or an established entity. It is one of the few places left in America where we are all on equal footing. That is the current net neutrality system that we must protect. The folks who want to end net neutrality say they need to rewrite these rules to spur innovation. Really, Mr. Speaker? It is hard to look at the internet as it has blossomed in America and say we lack innovation. Innovation is everywhere. Look at all the new apps, websites, devices, and services that we all rely on every day. This innovation exists not in spite of net neutrality. This innovation exists, in large part, because of net neutrality. Net neutrality is not a bug, Mr. Speaker. Net neutrality is a feature, and that is why we must protect it. Of course, the real reason that people want to end net neutrality is money and profitability. Getting rid of net neutrality would expose consumers to all sorts of practices that, right now, are banned; practices like throttling, which means the internet company doesn't have to provide the same access to all companies. So they don't like one company, they can slow down your access to that site. They could block the site entirely. They could tell a streaming service, like Netflix, that they have to pay more or make their site work differently. These extra costs for Netflix are going to get passed on to all of us, the consumers. While some of us have a few choices when it comes to internet service providers, most of us don't. How many have more than one option when it comes to internet in your home or office? These companies have a functional monopoly, so many of them can do basically whatever they want and not lose customers. That is why we need some commonsense rules in place to protect consumers. These rules are called net neutrality. So what can we do to stop the FCC from harming this free internet? Well, I have introduced legislation in just the last couple of days that would block this proposal and protect the internet. H.R. 4585, the Save Net Neutrality Act, would simply prevent the FCC from relying on this process they have used to roll these rules back. It is really that simple. And we know the FCC's rulemaking process was so messed up, so corrupted, so screwed up that it is being investigated right now by the New York attorney general. So I urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to defeat the previous question so we can move to debate my bill, the Save Net Neutrality Act, and address this critical issue. This is our chance to protect the internet, as it has always existed, an internet that is working fine as it is. To the FCC, we say: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to suggest a new rule. All my life, I have heard the Republican Party preach family values and fiscal discipline, but in the course of a single week, Mr. Speaker, we have seen the Republican Party in this House vote to add more than $1 trillion of new debt because tax cuts for rich people matter more. We have seen the Republican President and the Republican Party in the Senate choose to support a credibly accused pedophile because power matters more. So, I will tell you what, Mr. Speaker, new rule: After today, the Republican Party can choose to support massive new debts and politicians who abuse kids, but it cannot lecture the rest of us about it. The rest of us have listened to our last lecture from Republicans about family values or fiscal discipline. From now on, that party has no credibility on either issue. So I will tell you what. When it comes to family values or fiscal responsibility, please keep it to yourselves. We have heard enough of it.

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a giant of the Hudson Valley, former Congressman Maurice Hinchey. Mr. Hinchey passed away last week, but 21 years ago, I had the opportunity to be a young volunteer on his campaign for Congress. A few days ago, I attended his wake with hundreds of my neighbors in the Hudson Valley. When you met Maurice Hinchey, you met, first and foremost, a real, live, flesh-and-blood human being who was strong, principled, and passionate. That person became a real hero to many of us in the Hudson Valley. We celebrate his life of service in the Navy, in the New York Assembly, and, of course, here in the Congress. I am blessed to represent a district that includes many of the same communities that Maurice Hinchey represented. When I took office, I heard the same thing again and again: if you want to succeed, just do what Maurice Hinchey did. That advice is easier said than done, but I have tried. He was one of a kind: a leader, a fighter, a gentleman, and a statesman. He was a tireless advocate for the Hudson River and for the larger environment. We are all blessed to have been served by him, and he will be sorely missed.

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of thousands of DREAMers across the country. This week, as you know, President Trump threatened to kick these children out of the only country they have ever known. In New York, we have over 40,000 DACA kids who work hard and contribute to our communities. And if the President or anyone thinks these DREAMers are somehow a threat to our country, well, I would like you to meet Laura Garcia. Laura is a neighbor of mine who lives in Orange County, New York. She was brought here from Mexico at 8 years old. She has lived here for nearly her entire life and done everything the right way, right here in the United States. Laura was elected vice president of her high school. She works three jobs to pay her way through Dutchess Community College. In the few spare moments she has, she volunteers to help others. Laura has DACA status, which means she is registered with the program. She paid a fee, she passed a criminal background check, and she has stayed out of trouble. She has done everything we have asked her to do, and she has done it the right way. All of us would be proud to have a daughter like Laura. America has hundreds of thousands of sons and daughters just like Laura. These are our children. So for those who say that DREAMers like Laura should go home, I say they can't go home because they are home. This is their home.

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, last week, we learned the terrible news that we had lost 16 of the very best and brightest members of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Navy when the plane they were traveling on crashed in Mississippi. I stand here with my colleagues who lost citizens of their districts, in particular, the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Palazzo) and the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones). This is, of course, a national tragedy, though. The gentleman from North Carolina represents Camp Lejeune, where six marines and one Navy corpsman were stationed. Those seven servicemembers include Staff Sergeant Robert Cox, Staff Sergeant William Kundrat, Sergeant Chad Jenson, Sergeant Talon Leach, Sergeant Joseph Murray, Sergeant Dietrich Schmieman, and Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Lohrey. I, of course, represent Stewart Air National Guard Base, where nine marines who lost their lives in that terrible crash were stationed. In my time in Congress, I have had many opportunities to visit with the brave men and women who serve our country and were based at Stewart Air National Guard Base. As you know, they are all truly American heroes. Those we lost are as follows: Major Caine Goyette, Captain Sean Elliott, Gunnery Sergeant Mark Hopkins, Gunnery Sergeant Brendan Johnson, Staff Sergeant Joshua Snowden, Sergeant Julian Kevianne, Sergeant Owen Lennon, Corporal Daniel Baldassare, and Corporal Collin Schaaff. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my colleagues standing behind me, all of our communities, and our Nation, I ask for a moment of silence for these 16 brave servicemembers who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chair, I would note to my colleague from California that perhaps the members of their family are supposed to decide on all their future medical care, because this relates to their healthcare, and not just to the servicemembers'. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to the Hartzler amendment. No one in the Pentagon has called for this. In fact, we know right now Secretary of Defense Mattis is running a review of this issue. He does not need to be micromanaged by Members of this body to advance their own agenda. Until last night, all of us had worked in good faith across the aisle to keep this important Defense bill free from political booby traps and land mines, but if you are feeling deja vu, well, don't worry, because I am, too. You may remember that I stood here last year and fought against a similar amendment, again to the Defense bill. That amendment would have allowed Federal contractors to fire LGBT workers under the pretense of religious observance. I told you then that my dad was a disabled veteran, that he taught me to support and honor the military, but also to speak the truth and know the difference between right and wrong. I told you that I had never voted against the Defense bill, and I never imagined I would. And then, after a lot of twists and turns, 43 of our Republican colleagues joined with us to vote down that discriminatory amendment, and I want to publicly thank them for their courage. Well, here we go again. The Hartzler amendment would single out and rob a small group of military servicemembers and their families of their healthcare merely because these folks or members of their family experience gender a little differently. Mr. Chair, it is that simple. We are talking about Americans who right now are risking their lives to keep us safe, and we should not undermine their military service.

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York. Amendment XI: ``The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by citizens of another State, or by citizens or subjects of any foreign state.''

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, on October 10, the people of Taiwan celebrate the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of China (Taiwan). As we approach this important day, we should take the time to commemorate Taiwan, an important economic partner and vital ally in Asia. This past year, the world witnessed Taiwan's third peaceful transition to power as the first woman was elected in Taiwan. The 23 million people on the island represent the only democracy in the Chinese speaking world. Taiwan has been a reliable partner in East Asia. According to the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, U.S. trade in goods with Taiwan reached US$ 66 billion last year. For a population of only 23 million, Taiwan became the United States' 9th largest trading partner in 2015. Also, Taiwan is the state of New York's 6th largest export market in Asia. It happens that the 39th Triennial Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) will also be taking place in Montreal, Canada, beginning on September 27, 2016. The U.S. Congress passed a bill in 2013, which was later signed into law, for supporting Taiwan's participation in the triennial assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in the capacity of an observer. Taipei Flight Information Region (FIR), administered by Taiwan government, provided over 1.53 million instances of air traffic control services and handled 58 million incoming and outgoing passengers in 2015, serving as an indispensable part of the global air transport network. Taiwan sent a delegation to the ICAO assembly in 2013. We will be happy to see that Taiwan to be invited again this September. On Taiwan's National Day, we reaffirm the strength of the U.S.- Taiwan relationship and the United States commitment to the Taiwan Relations Act. It is an honor and privilege to support our friend and partner Taiwan and highlight the bonds that connect us.

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, on October 10, the people of Taiwan celebrate the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of China (Taiwan). As we approach this important day, we should take the time to commemorate Taiwan, an important economic partner and vital ally in Asia. This past year, the world witnessed Taiwan's third peaceful transition to power as the first woman was elected in Taiwan. The 23 million people on the island represent the only democracy in the Chinese speaking world. Taiwan has been a reliable partner in East Asia. According to the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, U.S. trade in goods with Taiwan reached US$ 66 billion last year. For a population of only 23 million, Taiwan has become the United States' 9th largest trading partner in 2015. Also, Taiwan is the state of New York's 6th largest export market in Asia. On Taiwan's National Day, we reaffirm the strength of the U.S.- Taiwan relationship and the United States commitment to the Taiwan Relations Act. It is an honor and privilege to support our friend and partner Taiwan and highlight the bonds that connect us.

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and legacy of the late James O'Neill. James was a giant in the law enforcement community in my home district in the Hudson Valley. We lost him suddenly on Sunday, July 17, at the age of 59, of an apparent heart attack. On that day, though, we didn't just lose a friend but we also lost a father, a husband, and an icon in the New York City and Putnam County police communities. Jimmy was born and raised in the Bronx. He was a graduate of Visitation School and of Cardinal Hayes High School. He joined the NYPD in 1979. He lived a life devoted to service and dedicated nearly 30 years to the New York Police Department before retiring as a detective and squad supervisor in 1999. He went on to become a founding member of the New York Shields and president of the Fraternal Order of Police in Putnam County. He was an outspoken leader whose efforts involved working with officers suffering from mental and emotional effects of serving in the force. He was an icon in the police community, and he was the consummate cop's cop. He not only devoted his own career as a police officer and a detective to serving others but, even after his retirement, he devoted himself in so many ways to helping other officers and their families in times of need. I want to send my personal condolences to Jimmy's wife, Kathy, and his son, James, along with their dear friends, Joanne Viola, Henry Primus, John McCardle, and Paul Curtin, all of whom have joined us here today. We are honored by your presence. The law enforcement community, Hudson Valley, and New York have lost one of their finest, and he will be sorely missed. The beauty of Jimmy's life can be summed up by this: he loved his family beyond all measure, gave all to his friends and community, and was the most humble and decent man anyone can say they ever knew. His absence is a chasm that we will never fill.

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring H.R. 1217, the bipartisan expanded background checks legislation, to the floor to honor the memory of David Washington. David Washington is a victim of gun violence. He can't speak for himself anymore, and he never received a moment of silence or a moment of action on this House floor, but he deserves one.

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize the contributions of Professor Cara Drinan in the development of H.R. 5124, the Equal Justice Under Law Act of 2016. It was her law review article, The National Right to Counsel Act: A Congressional Solution to the Nation's Indigent Defense Crisis, that initially proposed introducing a cause of action for Sixth Amendment violations prior to conviction. Her efforts were instrumental to the introduction of the bill, and her guidance was invaluable to its development.