Grace Meng

Ms. MENG

Ms. MENG. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. MENG. Mr. Chair, this amendment seeks to increase funding for HRSA's Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program by $4 million, restoring program funding to the current enacted level. I am thankful to the chairman for the funding amount already provided for in this bill, but I am hopeful that we can go one step further and fully fund this program again in the coming fiscal year. The Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program improves healthcare for older Americans by providing clinical training opportunities to students, medical faculty and providers, direct service workers, patients, families, and caregivers that integrate geriatric and primary care delivery systems. In the 2015-2016 academic year, grantees provided training to 18,451 students and fellows participating in a variety of geriatrics-focused degree programs, field placements, and fellowships. Of these trainees, 11,824 graduated or completed their training during the most recent academic year, and grantees partnered with 365 hospitals, long-term care facilities, and academic institutions to provide clinical training experiences to trainees. America's population is aging, and it is imperative that new generations of healthcare professionals and providers have the skills needed to care for older Americans. Every person in this Chamber at some point in their life will wish their healthcare provider had this training. I hope we will all recognize that fact today and do what is prudent. I hope we will unanimously support this amendment, plan for the future healthcare of our Nation, and restore funding to the HRSA Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program account. Mr. Chair, I urge support for this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. MENG. Mr. Chair, again, this amendment requires that the program be fully funded. I do look forward to working with the chairman, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. MENG

Ms. MENG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today along with the support of my colleague, Congressman Crowley, to honor the life and exceptional service of New York State Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz. Mike passed away on Saturday, September 2, 2017, at the age of 46, after battling a long illness. Mike was a dedicated public servant, a devoted family man, and a truly remarkable individual. Mike began a lifelong career in public service as chief of staff to former New York State Assemblywoman Nettie Mayersohn more than twenty years ago. He was later elected to fill her seat after her retirement in 2011. A long-time active member of his community, Mike volunteered with the New York Police Department's auxiliary program at the 107th Precinct in Flushing, Queens, for 15 years, and was its commanding officer for nine years. And as one of only a few Orthodox Jews in the New York State legislature, Mike was proud of his faith and was a strong voice for the Queens Jewish community. When speaking to Mike's constituents, you will hear nothing but words of praise for his passionate commitment to his district and community. Congressman Crowley and I counted Mike as a great friend, and we join the entire New York community in mourning this terrible loss. Congressman Crowley and I offer our deepest condolences to Mike's wife and four children, his parents, and all of his friends, colleagues and constituents. We continue to keep Mike's family in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Ms. MENG

Ms. MENG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of former New York State Assemblywoman Nettie Mayersohn, and her landmark law, commonly known as the ``Baby AIDS'' bill, that was enacted in New York State On June 26, 1996. The Baby AIDS bill requires mandatory testing of infants for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and HIV antibodies, and authorizes disclosing the results to infants' doctors and guardians. Before the Baby AIDS bill became law, infants born in New York State were tested for the HIV antibody through studies that the New York State Department of Health initiated in 1987. But confidentiality laws at the time required these tests to be anonymous. Therefore, the guardians and doctors of the infants who tested positive were kept in the dark about the results. This caused nearly sixty percent of the 1,500-1,800 infants who tested positive per year to be sent home without diagnosis or treatment. As a mother myself, I cannot imagine the horror of being legally barred from knowing the health status of my child. That is why I am proud to recognize Assemblywoman Mayersohn for her relentless efforts on the behalf of New York families. When Assemblywoman Mayersohn was informed that existing New York State law was preventing babies with HIV from being treated, she immediately took action by introducing the Baby AIDS bill in the New York State Assembly in 1993. As lawmakers, we all know that bills can go through multiple versions and can face criticism from the community. The Baby AIDS bill was no different. Assemblywoman Mayersohn worked tirelessly to show opposition groups that the Baby AIDS bill would allow infants to receive the treatment that they desperately needed and their guardians and doctors to be informed about their condition. As Assemblywoman Mayersohn said, ``I went to bed with it, and I woke up with it.'' Assemblywoman Mayersohn's efforts paid off, and it is no wonder that Assemblywoman Mayersohn's colleagues gave her a standing ovation after the final version of the Baby AIDS bill passed in the assembly in 1996. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to say that due to Assemblywoman Mayersohn's hard work, every infant in New York State is legally required to be tested for HIV and require hospitals to inform the infant's parent or guardian of the results. Statistics gathered soon after the law was enacted showed a 98.8 percent success rate in the number of HIV infants identified and connected to treatment. According to the New York State Health Department, from 1998 to 2013, Assemblywoman Mayersohn's Baby Aids law saved an estimated 900 infants from a lifetime of HIV. I am truly honored to recognize Assemblywoman Mayersohn, fondly known as ``Nettie'', and her law that truly improved the quality of life for so many New Yorkers.

Ms. MENG

Ms. MENG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my report language that was included in the Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill to prevent and mitigate flood damage associated with ice jams. I'd like to thank Chairman Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member Lowey, as well as Chairman Simpson, Ranking Member Kaptur, and the entire subcommittee for their work on this bill. I offer a special thank you to the Energy and Water subcommittee staff for working with me to include this necessary language to encourage the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to pursue projects to prevent and mitigate flood damage associated with ice jams in regions comprised of cities whose historic flooding has been caused predominantly by winter snowmelt and ice floes. Every year, flooding that results from the piling up of frozen ice in rivers across the United States costs our economy millions of dollars. When free-floating ice catches on obstructions, such as bridge pilings, rocks, or logs, flooding can result upstream from the blockage and, again, downstream when the ice finally releases. During my time in the New York State Assembly, I can remember hearing horrible stories from my colleagues in upstate New York and wondering what more could be done to prepare for these events. In my home state of New York, the Mohawk River Basin is particularly susceptible to flooding associated with ice jams. I am pleased that the bill encourages the Army Corps to pursue projects and technologies to mitigate the damage caused by flooding associated with ice jams in areas, like the Mohawk River Basin, that truly need this support. I appreciate the time today to highlight this problem, and I thank my colleagues for their support on this issue.

Ms. MENG

Ms. MENG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in welcoming President Moon Jae-in to the United States for his first State visit this week. The United States and the Republic of Korea share a long history of friendship and cooperation based on shared values and interests. Our ties are based on common values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. Our two countries work together to combat regional and global threats and to strengthen our economies. In fact, the Republic of Korea is the United States' sixth largest goods trading partner overall, and the 13th largest economy in the world. President Moon's visit will reaffirm our strong bilateral relationship at an important time, as our countries work together to address mutual security threats and improve regional security. This is especially important now as the Democratic Republic of Korea's external aggression increases, and as the Republic of Korea's role as a regional and global leader continues to grow. President Moon's visit will continue our partnership and I am sure his visit will lead to new areas of cooperation between our countries.

Ms. MENG

Ms. MENG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of the legislation before us. Of course, this bill might not look like what it might if we had written it by our individual selves, but I think it is a good example of what genuine and honest compromise looks like. I thank Ranking Member Lowey, Chairman Frelinghuysen, and their respective staffs for their months of hard work in producing this omnibus. Because of their joint efforts, the NIH will receive $2 billion in increased funding, America's coal miners will continue to receive the health benefits they have earned, an additional $600 million is provided to combat the opioid epidemic, needy students will be able to receive year-round Pell grants, $3.4 billion in LIHEAP funding will be distributed to our seniors, and $838 million will be made available for seniors' nutrition programs. This is what responsible governing looks like. As a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, I look forward to working together in this manner in the future. Thank you again, Ranking Member Lowey and Chairman Frelinghuysen, for your hard work in crafting this bill. I support it, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Ms. MENG

Ms. MENG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today along with the support of my colleague, Congressman Suozzi, to honor the life, service, and bravery of New York City firefighter William Tolley, who was killed in the line of duty on April 20, 2017. Congressman Suozzi and I are saddened that New York has lost such a beloved hero. William Tolley was a courageous firefighter with Ladder Company 135 in Glendale, Queens and a respected community member on Long Island. Thousands attended his funeral at St. Martin of Tours Church in Bethpage, Long Island, and many Long Island residents decorated their streets with red ribbons in remembrance. William's memory was also honored in Queens as the flag at the firehouse of Engine Company 286/Ladder Company 135 was flown at half-mast on the evening of his death. In addition, many Queens residents paid their respects with a makeshift memorial outside the firehouse on Myrtle Avenue. We believe that William's dedication to protecting Queens citizens from harm and his service to the Queens community will never be forgotten. As a heroic New York City Fire Department (FDNY) veteran for fourteen years, William not only risked his life in the line of duty for his profession, but he also volunteered at the Bethpage Fire Department on Long Island. Congressman Suozzi and I commend William's unwavering selflessness that led him to dedicate both his career and free time to protecting fellow community members. William was not only a hero in the FDNY, but he was a beloved father, husband, brother, friend, and neighbor. Outside of the uniform, William enjoyed being the drummer in a heavy metal band and being an active presence in his daughter's school. William is survived by his wife, Marie, and his 8-year old daughter, Isabella. Congressman Suozzi and I offer our deepest condolences to William's family, friends, and the FDNY during this difficult time.

Ms. MENG

Ms. MENG. Madam Speaker, I am so pleased to be here today to celebrate the 100th anniversary of women serving in Congress. I thank the Speaker for allowing this legislation to come to the floor. And I thank my good friend and former colleague, Secretary Zinke, for authoring this legislation with me. His support has been instrumental in ensuring the consideration of this bill, and I am deeply grateful to him. One hundred years ago, Jeannette Rankin was sworn in as a Member of the United States House of Representatives. She was the first woman elected to Congress, and was elected before passage of the 19th amendment which granted women the right to vote. Jeannette Rankin was a trailblazer her entire life. In 1902, she graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in biology. Afterward, she became active in the women's suffrage movement, moving to New York City and assisting in the founding of the New York Women's Suffrage Party and working for the National American Woman Suffrage Association. Rankin would eventually return to her home State of Montana, and was elected to office in the congressional election of 1916. Upon winning, she declared: ``I may be the first woman Member of Congress, but I won't be the last.'' I am happy to say that she was right. In recognition of Congresswoman Jeannette Rankin's many accomplishments, and in celebration of the centennial anniversary of her service in Congress, Secretary Zinke and I introduced the 100 Years of Women in Congress Act. Because Jeannette Rankin was a woman of science more than 100 years before our current push to have more women enter STEM fields, we felt it appropriate to rename the Department of Agriculture's Women and Minorities in STEM Fields Program after her. This program currently supports collaborative research projects at institutions of higher education, and seeks to increase the participation of women and minorities from rural areas in STEM fields. It will continue to do so in the future, but now it will also recognize the many contributions Jeannette Rankin made to American life. Madam Speaker, thank you again for allowing this legislation to the floor today, and thank you again to Secretary Zinke for partnering with me on it. I urge all of my colleagues to support this measure.

Ms. MENG

Ms. MENG. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. MENG. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. MENG. Mr. Chair, I thank Representative Wenstrup for his thoughtful amendment, and I thank Chairman Roe and Ranking Member Walz for bringing it to the floor today. Clearly, there are staffing shortages within the Department of Veterans Affairs, and, clearly, something must be done. Personally, I think this legislation is a good first step toward improving the VA's ability to identify staffing shortages, recruit and retain high-quality employees, and onboard new hires. The amendment I am offering today speaks to the identification of staffing shortages portion of this bill. Under current law, 38 U.S.C. 7412 to be exact, the inspector general of the VA is required to submit a report to the VA Secretary annually highlighting the five personnel occupations with the largest staffing shortages throughout the Department. After receiving this report, the Secretary is then permitted to recruit and directly appoint qualified individuals to fill those vacancies. Section 2 of the bill before us does something important to current law. It will require the IG to report on not just the five occupations with the largest staffing shortages, it will require the IG to report on the five clinical and five nonclinical occupations with the largest shortages in the VA. Additionally, it will require this reporting to be done for each medical center. Mr. Chair, I think this is a wonderful change, one that is sorely needed. What my amendment would do is add to this expanded reporting requirement a simple clarification: the IG must report on, at minimum, the five clinical and nonclinical occupations with the largest staffing shortages at each facility. It would allow the IG to report on more than the five occupations with the largest shortages, should his findings require it. This amendment is not an additional reporting requirement. It simply makes clear that should the IG find additional staffing shortages, he may highlight those so that the Secretary may fill them more quickly. It is a simple attempt to avoid the necessity of passing similar legislation 2, 3, or even 4 years from now. Our veterans need the care that they have earned and that they deserve. They need it now. The first step in that endeavor is making sure that the VA staffing levels are adequate. Again, Mr. Chair, I am pleased to see this amendment on the floor today and to do my small part in ensuring that veterans get the care they need. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, which would allow the VA inspector general to highlight additional staffing shortages within the Department. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. MENG. Mr. Chairman, I urge support for this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. MENG. Mr. Chairman, this amendment would require the VA Secretary to establish a program encouraging members of our Armed Forces serving as health professionals to pursue jobs with the Veterans Health Administration upon discharge or separation from the military. As we all know, the VHA has existing shortages of health professionals. We also know that our servicemen and -women sometimes have difficulty transitioning back to civilian life after serving. What would be better than having a servicemember with healthcare training and experience transition into employment with the VHA serving their brothers and sisters? Mr. Chair, I believe that everyone wins with this amendment. This program would be completely optional to participate in, would help reduce staffing shortages at the VHA, and would provide job opportunities to recently discharged servicemembers. I urge support for this commonsense amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. MENG

Ms. MENG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in strong support of my bill, H.R. 423, the Anti-Spoofing Act of 2017. I am honored to have authored this bill with Congressman Barton and Congressman Lance once again, and I thank Amy Murphy and Ryan Farrell of their respective staffs for working so closely with mine. I also thank the COMET Civic Association from my district for first bringing this problem to my attention. This legislation seeks to combat spoofing, which is when phone call recipients are tricked into answering the phone due to inaccurate caller ID information. Criminals have used this technique to scam thousands of Americans and steal millions of dollars. Recent spoofing attempts have included scam artists pretending to be sheriff's offices, hospitals, and even the IRS. The bill before us this afternoon expands spoofing protections to calls that originate outside of the country as well as text messages. It is often stated that a measure of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable. Almost every day, I receive new reports of spoofing that harm the most vulnerable in my district, including immigrants, seniors, veterans, and those in need of help from law enforcement. That is why this legislation is endorsed by senior citizens, law enforcement, and consumer protection groups. The Anti-Spoofing Act of 2017 is a bipartisan bill. It passed the House in both the 113th and 114th Congresses under suspension of the rules, and it is my sincere hope that this bill will continue to be noncontroversial and that we will do everything in our power to combat telephone scams against our constituents. In closing, I thank Representatives Blackburn and Doyle for their support this afternoon, as well as Energy and Commerce Chairman Walden and Ranking Member Pallone. Without their support, this legislation would not be on the floor. I urge the Senate to quickly take up this legislation. I urge all of my colleagues in this Chamber to support it once again.

Ms. MENG

Ms. MENG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the 114th Congress. To be honest, I feel we failed the American people at times. When calls were made for sensible gun reform after the Pulse nightclub tragedy, the majority in this body refused to listen. When the American people clamored for policy solutions that would mitigate the effects of climate change during the warmest year on record, the majority refused to listen. When workers demanded increased wages, seniors called for the protection of retirement security programs, and the poor simply asked to be treated with a bit more dignity in the face of assistance cuts, the majority failed to listen. Despite these disappointments, however, there were opportunities for good that were seized. We recently passed the ``21st Century Cures Act'', we shepherded through multi-year water resource development and surface transportation reauthorizations, we began to address the opioid epidemic, and we finally replaced ``No Child Left Behind''. In each of these instances, there were opportunities for Members to improve these pieces of legislation, and I feel fortunate to have had several opportunities to do so successfully on behalf of my constituents. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to read into the Record some of the legislative achievements that were signed into law this Congress on behalf of the people of the Sixth Congressional District of New York: (1) H.R. 4238, ``To amend the Department of Energy Organization Act and the Local Public Works Capital Development and Investment Act of 1976 to modernize terms relating to minorities'', which struck the outdated and offensive term ``Oriental'' from the U.S. Code in each place it appeared referring to a person. (2) Section 111 of H.R. 3700, the ``Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016'', which requires the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to publish model guidelines for minimum heating requirements for public housing units. This effort originated in response to reports of New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) residents receiving inadequate unit heating when outside temperatures were well below freezing. (3) Section 5511 of H.R. 22, the ``Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act'', which requires a national review of existing federal and state rules covering the transportation of elementary and secondary school children on school buses, and mandates the creation of best practices for ensuring safe and reliable school bus transportation. (4) Section 6025 of H.R. 22, the ``Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act'', which requires the U.S. Government and Accountability Office to publish a report detailing the organizational readiness of the U.S. Department of Transportation to address autonomous vehicle technology challenges, including consumer privacy protections. This provision mirrors H.R. 3876, the ``Autonomous Vehicle Privacy Protection Act of 2015'', which was the first federal legislation ever introduced dealing solely with autonomous (driverless) vehicle concerns. (5) Section 24407 of H.R. 22, the ``Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act'', which requires improved data collection and reporting of child car seat performance during vehicle crashes, and a national study to be published on the topic within three years. (6) Section 565 of S. 2943, the ``National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017'', which reauthorized the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program, an expiring suicide prevention and resilience program for members of the National Guard, Reserves, and their families. (7) Section 1291(a) of S. 2943, the ``National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017'', which authorizes the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State to enter into water resource agreements with foreign governments. Pursuant to this provision, the United States will be permitted to partner with nations such as Israel to research and develop initiatives that will ensure access to water for U.S. troops stationed in regions of the world that experience water scarcity, such as the Middle East. (8) Section 5301(a) [Sec. 856. Art. 56. (b)(2)(F)] of S. 2943, the ``National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017'', which makes conspiracy to commit rape or sexual assault an offense that requires dismissal or dishonorable discharge under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. (9) Section 1814(a) of S. 2943, the ``National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017'', which requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide annual training to the Defense Acquisition University, the Federal Acquisition Institute, and other federal entities regarding regulations altered by the SBA during the prior year that affect federal acquisition procedures. This provision of law mirrors H.R. 4337, the ``Education for Contracting Personnel Improvement Act of 2016''. (10) Section 1150 of S. 612, the ``Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act'', which authorizes the Army Corps of Engineers to pursue projects and technologies that prevent and mitigate flood damage associated with ice jams. (11) Section 704(a) of S. 1635, the ``Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017'', which strengthens the Department of State's Rewards for Justice Program by authorizing the Secretary of State to pay rewards to individuals who provide information about persons aiding or abetting war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and other criminal acts. (12) Page 43 of House Report 114-497--``Female providers.'' (Incorporated by reference into the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying H.R. 5325, the ``Continuing Appropriations and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017, and Zika Response and Preparedness Act''). This provision urges the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ``to seek to hire more female health care professionals in order to provide female veterans greater opportunities to choose the gender of their healthcare provider.'' (13) Page 46 of House Report 114-497--``Medical opinions from non-VA health care providers.'' (Incorporated by reference into the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying H.R. 5325, the ``Continuing Appropriations and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017, and Zika Response and Preparedness Act''). This provision encourages the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) ``to accept medical opinions from non-VA health care providers when the evidence is sufficient for rating purposes'' in order to ``conserve VA's resources, enable faster rating decisions, and reduce the number of appeals.'' (14) Page 54 of House Report 114-497--``Placement of emblems of belief on headstones of unclaimed, deceased veterans.'' (Incorporated by reference into the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying H.R. 5325, the ``Continuing Appropriations and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017, and Zika Response and Preparedness Act''). This provision encourages the VA ``to permit the placement of emblems of belief on headstones of unclaimed, deceased veterans if reliable . . . documentation of the veteran's beliefs can be produced (such as through dog tags or other military identification documents).'' This provision will make it possible for the Queens County American Legion to bury veterans who die without any living family in a manner consistent with the burial of other veterans. (15) Page 56 of House Report 114-497--``Asian American representation on the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans.'' (Incorporated by reference into the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying H.R. 5325, the ``Continuing Appropriations and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017, and Zika Response and Preparedness Act''). This provision encourages the VA ``to consider appointing, in keeping with the demographic make-up of America's veteran community, an additional Asian American to the Advisory Committee [on Minority Veterans] in the coming year.'' This provision led to the appointment of Flushing, New York resident Fang Wong to the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans in August of 2016. Additionally, Mr. Speaker, I would also like for my constituents to know that the following legislative items were passed through the U.S. House of Representatives in their name, and that I am committed to ensuring each of these items are signed into law during the 115th Congress: (1) H.R. 2669, the ``Anti-Spoofing Act of 2016'', which would make it illegal for scam artists to purposefully disguise telephone numbers displayed on caller ID, or over texts, in order to lure unsuspecting victims into answering the phone. This bill would significantly deter the rise in fraud being perpetrated by individuals claiming to represent a government agency, bank, hospital, or credit card company who then demand unwarranted payments over the phone. (2) H.R. 4570, the ``100 Years of Women in Congress Act'', which seeks to rename the Women and Minorities in STEM Fields Program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture the ``Jeannette Rankin Women and Minorities in STEM Fields Program'' in honor of the 100 year anniversary of the election of the first woman to Congress--Jeannette Rankin. (3) Section 2(5) of H.R. 6303, ``To designate facilities of the United States Postal Service, to establish new Zip Codes, and for other purposes,'' which would designate a single, unique ZIP Code for Glendale, New York. This section stems from H.R. 657, ``To direct the United States Postal Service to designate a single, unique ZIP Code for Glendale, New York'', an effort whose origins begin with former- Representative, and Vice Presidential candidate, Geraldine Ferraro almost 40 years ago. (4) Amendment No. 63 to H.R. 5293, the ``Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2017'', which would increase funding for the Peer- Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) by $8 million. These additional funds would be used to combat bladder, brain, colorectal, liver, pancreatic and stomach cancers, as well as lymphoma, melanoma and other skin cancers, mesothelioma, and cancer in children, adolescents and young adults. Unfortunately, the federal government will instead be funded pursuant to a continuing resolution through the New Year. (5) Amendment No. 117 to H.R. 5538, the ``Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017'', which would increase funding for the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center (APAC) by $300,000, tripling APAC's federal funding. Unfortunately, again, the federal government will instead be funded pursuant to a continuing resolution through the New Year. (6)Amendment No. 66 to H.R. 5485, the ``Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2017'', which would increase funding for Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) by $5 million for a total funding amount of $130 million, an amount sufficient to place a new SBDC assistance center in New York's Sixth Congressional District. Again, unfortunately, the federal government will instead be funded pursuant to a continuing resolution through the New Year. (7) Section 1259R of H.R. 4909, the ``National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017'', which would renew for three years an expiring Iranian sanction that requires monitoring and tracking of certain ships and airlines traveling to and from Iran. (8) Section 568 of H.R. 4909, the ``National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017'', which would require an independent U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on the admissions practices and gender composition of each U.S. service academy in order to ensure adequate female and minority representation (which would ten directly translate into a more diverse officer corps in the U.S. military). (9) Amendment No. 6 to H.R. 2406, the ``Sportsmen's Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act'', which would permit U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Law Enforcement Officers to be placed in U.S. diplomatic and consular posts in African nations in order to assist local wildlife rangers in the protection of elephants. (10) Section 597 of H.R. 1735, the ``National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016'', which would require directors of underperforming VA regional offices to explain why their regional office did not meet minimum national standards for claims processing and accuracy in a given year, describe what additional resources would be needed to meet such standards in the following year, and describe what new actions they will implement in response to their poor performance. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with you on behalf of the American people in the coming Congress.

Ms. MENG

Ms. MENG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the life of my constituent Leonard Rothstein, who passed away on September 16, 2016. Mr. Rothstein bravely served in the Korean war as a private first class, contributing to the war effort as a radioman. Mr. Rothstein was honorably discharged from the Army on October 23, 1953. He received a National Defense Service Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, and the Korean Service Medal, with two Bronze Stars for his service. Mr. Rothstein took great pride in his service to our country and requested to be buried with his military medals. He received a military funeral at the Sinai Chapel in Fresh Meadows, Queens. After being discharged from the war, Mr. Rothstein brought his work ethic to Local Union 3 IBEW and the New York Hotel Trades Council as an electrician. Anyone would be proud to know someone as dedicated to their community as Leonard. Mr. Rothstein has been described as an unassuming, kindhearted person who rarely had a bad thing to say about anyone. He traveled with his wife, Gus, to every State in the Nation by bus, train, or plane since they didn't drive. Mr. Rothstein was beloved by his family, and is survived by his wife, his sister, his two sons, his five grandchildren, and great grandson. I am happy to stand here today as Mr. Rothstein's representative to express my gratitude for his bravery in service and his hard work as a union member. I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing one of our Nation's veterans, and offering condolences to his family during this time.

Ms. MENG

Ms. MENG. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Mr. Lynch, for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6303, which includes a section to establish a new ZIP Code for the community of Glendale, New York. This section is identical to legislation I introduced last February, H.R. 657. I thank Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Chaffetz for authoring this legislation, and I thank Ranking Member Cummings for his support. For almost 30 years, the residents of Glendale, New York, have sought to obtain a unique ZIP Code for their community in Queens. They have experienced mail and service-related problems due to sharing a ZIP Code with the neighboring community of Ridgewood. These problems include medications that were spoiled or not received due to mail processing errors, delays in first responder services to residents in need of care, and inaccuracies with GPS devices. Roughly one-quarter of Glendale's population is eligible to receive Medicare, or will become eligible in the next decade. Many use a mail- order pharmacy to receive their prescription drugs, and many more will use such services in the years to come. A single, unique ZIP Code for Glendale will ensure that mail delivery will be improved in the future. Creating a new ZIP Code for Glendale has been an ongoing and bipartisan challenge for Members of Congress who previously represented the area. I commend them for their efforts on behalf of the community, especially my predecessor, Representative Bob Turner. When I took office in the 113th Congress, the only recourse left to address this matter was through legislation. I am grateful to Chairman Chaffetz for including Glendale in this legislation. It has been a long fight for the community of Glendale to receive its own ZIP Code. Mr. Speaker, before I close, I would like to thank the local elected officials, civic associations, and community activists who have voiced their support for this issue over the years. In particular, I would like to thank Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, New York State Senator Joseph Addabbo, New York State Assemblymen Michael Miller and Andrew Hevesi, and New York City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley. I would also like to thank Dori Figliola, the Glendale Property Owners Association, Glendale Civic Association, and Citizens for a Better Ridgewood for their advocacy. Mr. Speaker, I thank you for allowing this legislation to the floor for a vote today, and I urge all of my colleagues to support this important measure.

Ms. MENG

Ms. MENG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2669, the ``Anti-Spoofing Act of 2015''. I am honored to have authored this bill with Congressman Barton and Congressman Lance, and thank Amy Murphy and Ryan Farrell of their respective staffs for working so closely with mine-- particularly my former Legislative Director, Michael Fleischman, who first brought this problem to my attention. This legislation seeks to combat ``spoofing'', which is when phone call recipients are tricked into answering the phone due to inaccurate caller ID information. Criminals have used this technique to scam thousands of Americans, and steal millions of dollars. Recent spoofing attempts have included scam artists pretending to be sheriff's offices, hospitals, and even the IRS. The bill before us this evening expands spoofing protections to calls that originate outside of the country, as well as text messages. It is often stated that a measure of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable. Almost every day, I receive new reports of spoofing that harm the most vulnerable in my district, including immigrants, seniors, veterans, and those in need of help from law enforcement. That is why this legislation is endorsed by senior citizen, law enforcement, and consumer protection groups. The ``Anti-Spoofing Act of 2015'' is a bipartisan bill. It passed the Energy and Commerce Committee by voice vote less than two months ago, and in the 113th Congress H.R. 3670, the ``Anti-Spoofing Act of 2014'' passed the House by voice vote under suspension of the rules. It is my hope that this bill will continue to be non-controversial, and that we will do everything in our power to combat telephone scams against our constituents. In closing, I wish to thank Representatives Burgess and Schakowsky for their support this afternoon, as well as Energy and Commerce Chairman Upton and Ranking Member Pallone. Without their support, as well as the support of Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Walden and Ranking Member Eshoo, we would not be here today. I urge the Senate to quickly take up this legislation, and I urge all of my colleagues in this Chamber to support it once more.

Ms. MENG

Ms. MENG. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. MENG. Mr. Chairman, first, I thank my partner in offering this amendment, Representative Elise Stefanik. Our bipartisan amendment is simple. It is identical to language in the Senate-passed WRDA that allows the Army Corps of Engineers to pursue projects and technologies that prevent and mitigate flood damage that is associated with ice jams. Every year, flooding that results from the piling up of frozen ice in rivers across the United States costs our economy millions of dollars. When free-floating ice catches on obstructions, such as bridge pilings, rocks, or logs, flooding can result upstream from the blockage and, again, downstream when the ice finally releases. During my time in the New York State Assembly, I can remember hearing horrible stories from my colleagues in upstate New York and wondering what more could be done to prepare for these events. I know that my friend Representative Stefanik's district has been directly impacted by such floods in the recent past, and I am glad that we could come together today to offer this amendment. Currently, research is ongoing regarding the best practices in planning, design, and construction of Army Corps projects that would help alleviate future ice jam flooding. I support those efforts and look forward to new technologies and designs that are being developed by local universities, State and local agencies, and even private industry. Together, I know that we can do more to combat the hardships that are created in American communities every year by ice jam flooding, and I appreciate the time today to highlight this terrible problem. I urge the Army Corps to continue its efforts at the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory in Hanover, New Hampshire, and I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. MENG. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for his support. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. MENG

Ms. MENG. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Voting Rights Advancement Act, H.R. 2867, introduced by my friends and colleagues Representatives Terri Sewell, Linda Sanchez, and Judy Chu. It is long past time that we take up their bipartisan bill, which would restore the protections of the Voting Rights Act. Mr. Speaker, I think it surprises few of us that following the Supreme Court's misguided decision in Shelby County v. Holder, the right to vote has been increasingly attacked in states across the country. The court's decision invalidated the coverage formula in the Voting Rights Act by which certain states and jurisdictions with a history of discrimination were required to preclear election changes with the U.S. Department of Justice. The results have been grave. Since 2010, twenty-two states have implemented new voting restrictions that make it more difficult for students, seniors, those with disabilities, and minorities to vote. This past summer alone, federal courts struck down new prohibitive voting laws in five different states. Federal protections, such as preclearance, prevent these pernicious laws from being passed in the first place, and this recent surge of court cases only underscores the importance of restoring the Voting Rights Act. Disenfranchisement and voter discrimination are realities that Americans face across the country, including in my district in New York City. To further investigate the effects of voter discrimination, I hosted a Voting Rights Forum this past May through the leadership of the Democratic Outreach and Engagement Task Force with my colleagues Representatives Velazquez and Jeffries. We were fortunate to host voting rights experts to talk about the effects of the Shelby County decision on our constituents. I invited Jerry Vattamala from the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund to talk about the particular barriers that the Asian- American community faces to participating in the electoral process, and why Congress needs to restore the Voting Rights Act. I include in the Record his testimony from the event: Statement of the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund Jerry Vattamala, Esq. Director, Democracy Program Hearing ``Fragile at Fifty: The Urgent Need to Strengthen and Restore the Voting Rights Act'' Before Hon. Nydia Velazquez, Hon. Grace Meng and Hon. Hakeem Jeffries, New York City May 20, 2016 The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) is a 42-year-old national civil rights organization based in New York City that promotes and protects the civil rights of Asian Americans through litigation, legal advocacy, and community education. Enforcement of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) has been critical in preventing actual and threatened discrimination aimed at Asian Americans in national and local elections. As a result of the Supreme Court's decision in Shelby County v. Holder, Asian American voters have suffered a serious rollback in their right to vote. AALDEF submits this testimony to elucidate the precarious landscape of Asian American voting rights in wake of the decision in Shelby County v. Holder. AALDEF has monitored elections and conducted annual multilingual exit polls since 1988. Consequently, AALDEF has collected valuable data that documents the continued need for the VRA's protections. In 2012, AALDEF dispatched over 800 attorneys, law students, and community volunteers to 127 poll sites in 14 states to document voter problems on Election Day. The survey polled 9,298 Asian American voters. In 2014, AALDEF surveyed 4,102 Asian American voters at 64 poll sites in 37 cities in 11 states. Many voting problems that we observed in 2012 have persisted through 2014 and beyond. Operating without the preclearance provisions, the most effective tool of the VRA, the Department of Justice has lost its ability to block voting changes before they occur. As a result, AALDEF and other organizations and individuals have had to engage in more affirmative litigation to protect the fundamental right to vote. AALDEF has previously submitted testimony to Congress, filed amicus briefs in the Supreme Court of the United States, and released detailed reports regarding Asian American voting problems and the continued need for the full protections of the VRA, including Section 5 preclearance. Asian Americans continue to face pervasive and current discrimination in voting, particularly in jurisdictions that were previously covered for Section 5 preclearance. For example, in the 2004 primary elections in Bayou La Batre, Alabama, supporters of a white incumbent running against Phuong Tan Huynh, a Vietnamese American candidate, made a concerted effort to intimidate Asian American voters. They challenged Asian Americans at the polls, falsely accusing them of not being U.S. citizens or city residents, or of having felony convictions. The challenged voters were forced to complete a paper ballot and have that ballot vouched for by a registered voter. In explaining his and his supporters' actions, the losing incumbent stated, ``We figured if they couldn't speak good English, they possibly weren't American citizens.'' The Department of Justice (DOJ) investigated the allegations and found them to be racially motivated. As a result, the challengers were prohibited from interfering in the general election, and Bayou La Batre, for the first time, elected an Asian American to the City Council. Also in 2004, New York poll workers required Asian American voters to provide naturalization certificates before they could vote. At another poll site; a police officer demanded that all Asian American voters show photo identification, even though photo ID is not required to vote in New York elections. If voters could not produce such identification, the officer turned them away and told them to go home. Overt racism and discrimination against Asian Americans at the polls persists to the present day and will worsen without Section 5 to combat such behavior. Prior to the Supreme Court's decision, voting rights advocates used Section 5 to protect Asian American voters in redistricting, changes to voting systems, and changes to polling sites. The following are recent examples of harmful actions against Asian American voters that were stopped by Section 5. Now that the coverage formula has been struck, and many jurisdictions are no longer covered by Section 5, Asian Americans are once again vulnerable to nefarious discriminatory actions such as these that will weaken their voting rights and power. For example, redistricting plans continue to be drafted with discriminatory intent in states with large Asian American communities. As shown in Perry v. Perez, 132 S. Ct. 934 (2012), the Texas Legislature drafted a redistricting plan, Plan H283, that would have had significant negative effects on the ability of minorities, and Asian Americans in particular, to exercise their right to vote. Since 2004, the Asian American community in Texas State House District 149 has voted as a bloc with Hispanic and African American voters to elect Hubert Vo, a Vietnamese American, as their state representative. District 149 has a combined minority citizen voting-age population of 62 percent. Texas is home to the third-largest Asian American community in the United States, growing 72 percent between 2000 and 2010. In 2011, the Texas Legislature sought to eliminate Vo's State House seat and redistribute the coalition of minority voters to the surrounding three districts with larger non- minority populations. Plan H283 would have thus abridged the Asian American community's right to vote in Texas by diluting the large Asian American populations across the state. In addition to discrimination in redistricting, Asian American voters have also endured voting system changes that impair their ability to elect candidates of choice. For example, before 2001 in New York City, the only electoral success for Asian Americans was on local community school boards. In each election--in 1993, 1996, and 1999--Asian American candidates ran for the school board and won. These victories were due, in part, to the alternative voting system known as ``single transferable voting'' or ``preference voting.'' Instead of selecting one representative from single-member districts, voters ranked candidates in order of preference, from ``1'' to ``9.'' In 1998, New York attempted to switch from a ``preference voting'' system, where voters ranked their choices, to a ``limited voting'' system, where voters could select only four candidates for the nine-member board, and the nine candidates with the highest number of votes were elected. This change would have put Asian American voters in a worse position to elect candidates of their choice. Furthermore, the ability of Asian Americans to vote is also frustrated by sudden changes to poll sites without informing voters. For example, there have been numerous instances of sudden poll site closures in Asian American neighborhoods in New York City, where the Board of Elections failed to take reasonable steps to ensure that Asian American voters are informed of their correct poll sites. Voters have been misinformed about their poll sites before the elections or have been misdirected by poll workers on Election Day, thus creating confusion for Asian American voters and disrupting their ability to vote. In 2001, primary elections in New York City were rescheduled due to the attacks on the World Trade Center. The week before the rescheduled primaries, AALDEF discovered that a certain poll site, I.S. 131, a school located in the heart of Chinatown and within the restricted zone in lower Manhattan, was being used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for services related to the World Trade Center attacks. The Board chose to close down the poll site and no notice was given to voters. The Board provided no media release to the Asian-language newspapers, made no attempts to send out a mailing to voters, and failed to arrange for the placement of signs or poll workers at the site to redirect voters to other sites. In fact, no consideration at all was made for the fact that the majority of voters at this site were limited English proficient, and that the site had been targeted for Asian language assistance under Section 203. With Section 5 no longer applicable in most jurisdictions, disruptive changes to polling sites, voting systems, and redistricting plans can now occur unfettered, wreaking havoc on Asian American voters' ability to cast an effective ballot. American citizens of Asian ancestry have long been targeted as foreigners and unwanted immigrants, and racism and discrimination against Asian Americans persist to this day. These negative perceptions have real consequences for the ability of Asian Americans to fully participate in the electoral and political process. Section 5 of the VRA was an effective tool in protecting Asian American voters against a host of actions that threaten to curtail their voting rights. However, the Supreme Court's recent decision dismantling the coverage formula has left a large gap in protections for Asian American voters that requires Congressional action. We look to Congress to work in a bipartisan fashion to respond to the Court's ruling and strengthen the VRA, as it did during the 2006 reauthorizations and each previous reauthorization. We respectfully offer our assistance in such a process.

Ms. MENG

Ms. MENG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great sadness to honor a colleague and a friend, Congressman Mark Takai. Even though I only had two short years to work with Mark, that's all I needed to gain a sense of his overwhelming passion for public service. He served Hawaii as a state representative for 20 years, and defended our freedoms as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Hawaii Army National Guard. Mark honorably represented his constituents in the House of Representatives, and was a model to those who put service to others before themselves. He always talked about his wife Sami, and kids, Matthew and Kaila. He beamed with excitement when they were coming to visit or when he was going back home. Mark was very humble--when he was curious about something he didn't hesitate to ask questions. He was a fierce advocate for Hawaii, small businesses, and veterans, and was always thinking of ways to help. We are all better for having known him, and he will be missed.