Martha McSally

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Let me close with just this example. I served in the Air Force for 26 years. In that time, I held a Top Secret/SCI clearance with access to compartmentalized programs as well, some of the most sensitive information that our government possesses. I was entrusted to fly a $12 million aircraft, command a squadron, run counterterrorism operations and combat search and rescue operations, retiring as a colonel, yet I have never taken a polygraph exam like the one required if I wanted to be a Border Patrol line agent after I retired, but I was subjected to periodic, very detailed background checks, background investigations, now called a tier 5 investigation, which is one that every single one of these agents and officers will also have to go through. It is a very invasive and thorough investigation. They talk to your neighbors, your coworkers, look in your financial records, your employers, you name it, to make sure that you are qualified. So this example is a mismatch of public trust and it doesn't make any sense, and we need to give the CBP Commissioner discretion on a narrow case-by-case basis to fully vet applicants in the way that makes the most sense to fill these positions while preventing corruption. I would like to thank Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Thompson, and especially my ranking member, Mr. Vela, for his support and work with us on this important bill.

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, the man who has served as a father figure to me for the past twenty years has taken a turn for the worse in his battle against cancer and his health is rapidly deteriorating. As such, I have returned home and will miss votes today, Thursday, May 25. Had I been present, I would have voted: ``NAY'' on rollcall No. 283, ``YEA'' on rollcall No. 284, and ``YEA'' on rollcall No. 285.

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Captain Amy Lynn Svoboda, my friend, A-10 squadron mate, and pioneer. Amy grew up in Illinois and graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1989, serving as a co-captain of the volleyball team. She attended pilot training, then served as a T-37 instructor pilot before coming to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base to become an A-10 pilot in 1996. Amy was 1 of only 14 female fighter pilots in the Air Force at the time, and I got to know her when she joined me in the 354th Fighter Squadron Bulldogs as the second female pilot ever in that unit. Amy was quickly well-respected as a pilot and an officer, and well liked by so many. Her positive personality was infectious, and her dedication to excellence was a model to us all. She specifically inspired me as an example of how to be a woman warrior without losing herself in the tough environment of a fighter squadron. It was a relief and a blessing to finally have a wing woman. On the dark, moonless night of May 27, 1997, during a tactical training mission with night vision goggles on the Barry Goldwater Air Force Range, Amy paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving her country. I was on the range that night, and I remember like it was yesterday the deafening silence when I called her repeatedly on the radio in the hopes that she ejected before her A-10 crashed. Our hopes were dashed, and Amy's extraordinary life was snuffed out with so much potential ahead. Her service and sacrifice is not forgotten. After the tragic accident, the Air Force finally invested in changing the lighting in all A-10 cockpits to be fully NVG compatible, likely saving lives. Those of us who served with her continue to be inspired by her example and her legacy. Generations of young girls will fly in the jet stream that she forged as a pioneering aviator. I cannot believe that it has been 20 years since that night. On Saturday, we will honor Captain Svoboda's service, bravery, and sacrifice with her family and friends, just 2 days before Memorial Day. Thank you, Amy, for your willingness to fight for our freedoms. We will never forget the price that you paid.

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, the man who has served as a father figure to me for the past twenty years has taken a turn for the worse in his battle against cancer and his health is rapidly deteriorating. As such, I will be returning home and will miss votes today, Wednesday, May 24, and for the balance of the week. Had I been present, I would have voted: ``yea'' on rollcall No. 274, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 275, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 276, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 277, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 278, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 279, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 280, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 281, and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 282.

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2052) to amend the Uniform Code of Military Justice to prohibit the wrongful broadcast or distribution of intimate visual images.

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2052, the Protecting the Rights of Individuals Against Technological Exploitation Act, or the PRIVATE Act. This act would amend the Uniform Code of Military Justice to prohibit the wrongful broadcast or distribution of intimate visual imagines. Recent revelations that nude photographs of servicemembers were nonconsensually posted to social media websites like Marines United is abhorrent. This repugnant behavior is unacceptable, and we must work to prevent this deplorable behavior from occurring again. The Neanderthals who committed these acts are not emblematic of the vast majority of decent and honorable servicemembers who serve our Nation. However, the notion that any servicemember would think it is acceptable to upload, view, or comment on nude photos of their fellow servicemembers is a serious problem that must be fixed. This bill will help hold perpetrators of these types of crimes accountable. It will strengthen the Uniform Code of Military Justice by establishing an enumerated, punitive article that clearly prohibits the wrongful, nonconsensual sharing of intimate visual images, even when those images were initially given with consent. While the Uniform Code of Military Justice currently contains two general articles under which these crimes can already be prosecuted, this new provision will give commanders an additional specific tool and send a clear message to servicemembers that this behavior is unacceptable and is, in fact, a crime. The PRIVATE Act is designed to protect our servicemen and -women and is supported by 26 different military and veterans organizations. While there are many divisive issues facing Congress today, as a retired colonel and 26-year combat veteran of the Air Force, I am heartened that this bill enjoys such significant bipartisan support. I wish to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, including Ms. Speier for her leadership, for her cosponsorship, and for her devotion to our servicemembers. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. If the gentlewoman from California has no further speakers, I am prepared to close once the gentlewoman does. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. As a 26-year combat veteran, I am deeply disturbed, but not surprised by the scandal. As a former commander, I know that you need to give commanders all the tools they need to hold perpetrators accountable. This is not just about good order and discipline. This is about the military mission. This bill gives commanders an additional tool in order to address this culture and to hold people accountable for their abhorrent behavior. I want to say that I appreciate the strong support across the aisle and our side of the aisle. This is strong, bipartisan support. I would urge all of my colleagues to support the PRIVATE Act.

Ms. McSALLY. I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas.

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Thornberry for his leadership on this issue. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate National Police Week and to applaud the 900,000 law enforcement officers nationwide. Last year, Arizona lost some of our finest, those who paid the ultimate sacrifice to keep our communities safe: Officer David Glasser of Phoenix PD was killed in the line of duty last May, leaving behind his wife and two children; Senior Officer Leander Frank of Navajo Nation PD was killed while responding to a call last August, and he is survived by his wife and children; Officer Darrin Lee Reed of Show Low PD was shot in the line of duty this past November, just weeks away from his retirement, leaving behind his wife, his son, and his daughter. We can never fully express our gratitude or repay the debt for their service. I would also like to honor those who serve in law enforcement along our border. While not every community in America has the proximity to the border that my district does, we all benefit from the courage of CBP officers and Border Patrol agents. Last August, we lost Border Patrol Agent Manuel Alvarez, who is survived by his wife and four children. Just over a week ago, we lost CBP Officer Edgard Garcia, who was well loved by our Tucson community. We owe these men and their families for their ultimate sacrifice, and we owe a debt of gratitude to those who serve us today and every day in uniform.

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Rabbi Thomas Louccheim, who led us in the opening prayer. He is a rabbi at the Congregation Or Chadash in Tucson, Arizona. Rabbi Louccheim moved to Tucson with his wife, Marcia, in 1989 and has been a pillar in our community ever since. Having served as a rabbi at Temple Emanu-El and as an executive for Handmaker Hospice, he is a strong advocate for peace and religious harmony. He worked closely with the Muslim community in the aftermath of September 11 and has continued to promote understanding by organizing annual Muslim-Jewish peace walks. He founded the first Jewish-Christian-Muslim Scriptural study group in our community and has contributed to interfaith literature. In a world where religion too often divides us, Rabbi Louccheim has shown that we are all stronger together. Rabbi Louchheim's influence extends past southeastern Arizona. In fact, his influence reaches beyond this Earth. The rabbi is a namesake for the only space object in the universe named after a rabbi, Asteroid 9584 Louccheim. I was honored to join Rabbi Louccheim in a Holocaust Remembrance walk last year. I have personally witnessed his compassion and leadership in the faith community in southeastern Arizona. I am honored to welcome him to the House of Representatives today and to personally thank him for offering this morning's prayer.

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 2192, a measure that eliminates double standards by preventing Members of Congress from being exempt from the State waiver provisions of the American Health Care Act, as amended. Due to very arcane Senate procedural rules within the budget reconciliation process, the MacArthur amendment to the American Health Care Act does not and cannot apply to Members of Congress. To address this, I have introduced this simple, standalone, two-page bill that would appeal the exemption for Members of Congress should the American Health Care Act become law. In the military, the same code of conduct and standards apply to the entire chain of command. Now, in my role as a lawmaker, I believe that any law we pass that applies to our constituents must also apply equally to Members of Congress. Individuals who are stewards of the public trust must abide by the rules that they make. My bill, H.R. 2192, will ensure that Congress abides by the laws they pass and is treated no differently than other hardworking Americans. Regardless of your vote on the AHCA, this is a bill that each and every single Member of Congress should support.

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague. And yes, I just came over from a hearing on the Armed Services Committee; first panel with some victims, and second panel with the superintendents of the different military academies. As the only female veteran on my side of the aisle, and having been an academy graduate myself, I thought it was very important for me to be there and continue to help to lead on these issues that are near and dear to my heart. I know there has been much discussion. I want to say thank-you for helping to organize this and manage it and all the people who came down to speak on this very important issue. As was likely mentioned before, we came upon this issue on Saturday, March 4. The Marines United Facebook page discovered individuals linked with this private group were posting nude, intimate photos of women, as well as personal information, their names, and duty stations, without their consent or their knowledge. The next day, the NCIS started to launch an investigation and, 1 week later, discovered, unfortunately, this was not an isolated activity. Sharing intimate photos without a consent is a problem that now we are seeing in the other branches of the military. Such degrading behavior from troops in uniform is disgusting. As a veteran and a former commander myself, it is infuriating. In some ways it is not surprising, but it is intolerable, and we rise on both sides of the aisle today to say that we are standing together to help on our part, in our appropriate role to stop this. Our servicemembers enlist to serve this country and protect it from our enemies. They should not have to watch their backs among individuals who are to be their teammates. Sharing explicit photos of fellow servicemembers undermines women and destroys trust and morale. It decreases effectiveness of our Armed Forces, and it embarrasses America. United States troops must be warriors. What it means to be a warrior is to embody courage, commitment, honor, trust, and respect. In all the services we have our core values. They are on and off duty. That is what it means to stand up. We stand in the gap for others. We are not the perpetrators. We are supposed to be the protecters. We are supposed to be the ones who are embodying and leading in those values that we hold dear. The unearthing of this widespread problem has highlighted the difficulty in prosecuting Active Duty military members, though, who do this, who share private, intimate photos of their teammates without consent. This action is harmful, and it destroys the bonds of trust in the unit that are so critical for our warfighting capabilities. So to look at the UCMJ, the Uniform Code of Military Justice, again, I am pretty familiar with this having been a commander and a retired colonel. We have a couple of articles, article 133 and article 134. Article 133 is conduct unbecoming of an officer. Article 134 is what we call anything that is prejudicial to good order and discipline. This is one I would say as a commander we often use as the catchall article. When we could not prosecute someone under another article, we go to article 134 because we knew their behavior was degrading good order and discipline. Civilian law faces challenges in prosecuting this crime. Thirty-five States and the District of Columbia have statutes against sharing private, intimate digital media without consent, but the State laws vary in their proof, the elements, and the punishment. The Marines recently created a regulation where they can charge these Neanderthals who commit these violations, but creating regulation isn't the same thing as strengthening the law. That is why I introduced the PRIVATE Act. Again, this is a bipartisan bill. My bill provides clear, unambiguous charge that gives commanders a sharper tool in the UCMJ for targeting and prosecuting this behavior. It clearly defines this behavior as a crime, and it also addresses the issues of intent and free speech. These actions are a symptom of a larger issue: why we must change the culture that promotes this behavior. While these blatant, disrespectful actions have been committed by a specific subset of our military, this is indicative of a larger cultural problem. I just came from speaking about that in our Air Force Academy hearings--I'm sorry, not just Air Force, all the academies. This is not the first time that behavior like this or culture like this has really been addressed, nor will it be the last. Myself, as the first woman in the U.S. to fly in combat in a fighter aircraft and to command a squadron, I have personally experienced, confronted, and overcome sexist behavior in the military. I have been there, I have seen it, I have lived it, and, quite frankly, I am sick of it. We need to do what we can together to stop it. We must confront the underlying issues that inculcate resentment toward women in our services. We need to address the topic now and send a clear message this behavior has no place in our military. The issue is developing at the speed of broadband, but our solutions are often stuck at the speed of bureaucracy. I have met with the commandant of the Marine Corps, General Neller, immediately after this news broke. We had a very productive conversation, and I look forward to continuing work with him and the other service chiefs to address this issue. We also can't allow this to turn into victim blaming, though. According to one victim who tried to have a video removed: ``I went to the police to get them to take it down, and they told me, because I didn't live in North Carolina, they couldn't do anything. I then went to his command, and they said: Why don't you stop making sex tapes?'' This is not a matter of free speech on the internet. This is a matter of military members who have infringed on the rights, the duty, and the basic respect of others. We can't afford to let another military member become a victim of this crime. I appreciate everyone stepping up for this Special Order today. I appreciate the bipartisan support of the PRIVATE Act. It is not going to solve it by itself, but it is going to give the commanders another tool. I promise I am going to tirelessly be working and leading on this issue to protect our troops and make sure we have the best, most respected, and most trusted warfighting force. I want to thank my colleague for giving me the opportunity to speak.

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, since the passage of the Equal Pay Act in 1963, it has been illegal for an employer to pay a woman less than a man for the same work. But the unfortunate reality is that today, over 50 years later, women are still making less than men, and that is unacceptable. Labor Department statistics cite, when comparing median salaries for all annual full-time jobs, women are making 81 cents on the dollar compared to men. Some of this is from blatant bias and discrimination, which is illegal and unacceptable. But most of the pay gap comes from factors like women going into lower-paying career fields; seeking flexibility since they are still primary caregivers for children and, increasingly, parents; or not being able to afford child care. Here in the House, I am working on putting forward ideas and solutions to empower women to close this pay gap. Last year I joined my colleagues to create and lead a Working Group on Women in the 21st century workforce. It is examining the challenges women still face and working to expand equal opportunity and improve outcomes for all women. Mr. Speaker, I have been fighting for women my whole life. I know we still have work to do, and I am committed to making equal opportunity for women a reality. After all, this is America and we pick the best man for the job, even if she is a woman, and that means making sure she is getting paid what she deserves.

Ms. McSALLY

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1302) to require an exercise related to terrorist and foreign fighter travel, and for other purposes.

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1302, the Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel Exercise Act. This legislation furthers the efforts that I and several of my colleagues on the House Homeland Security Committee engaged in last Congress as members of the bipartisan Task Force on Combating Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel. For 6 months, our task force investigated our security vulnerabilities and the threat posed by ISIS. Our work produced 32 key findings and over 50 recommendations to make Americans safer. In our findings, the task force found that the growing complexity and changing nature of the foreign fighter phenomenon may be creating unseen gaps in our defenses. Yet, it has been years since any large- scale stress test has been conducted on U.S. Government protection and prevention programs against terrorist travel. The last major government exercise on terrorist travel occurred in 2009 when the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, conducted an exercise focused on the aftermath of a national terrorist event outside of the United States and how to prevent subsequent efforts by the terrorists to enter the United States and carry out additional attacks. The objective of the exercise was to determine how government agencies at all levels would respond in such an environment. However, the threat environment has changed considerably and relying on information gathered during an exercise that took place nearly a decade ago is simply unacceptable and puts American lives at risk. The exercise conducted in 2009 also focused primarily on terrorists attempting to infiltrate the United States. However, our task force found that officials today should be just as concerned about Americans leaving the country to train overseas with terrorist groups as foreign fighters and then come back. The ability of these hardened fighters to return to the United States is a legitimate security threat to the homeland. Catching individuals who are looking to join the ranks and train with ISIS and other terrorist organizations prior to their initial departure is equally important and should be a goal for law enforcement as well. As such, H.R. 1302 would require that the executive branch conduct an exercise to evaluate the Nation's preparedness against all phases of foreign fighter planning and travel. Carrying out such attacks would be beneficial in understanding how partners at all levels of government and abroad are currently responding to these scenarios. We must take decisive action to defeat the threat of ISIS and other terrorist organizations. The findings of the exercise required by this legislation will identify weaknesses at home and abroad that may be exploited by terrorists and foreign fighters, particularly to infiltrate the United States to conduct attacks. These findings will also be provided to Congress and Federal law enforcement and intelligence officials to provide information on how we can best address these weaknesses. Passage of the Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel Exercise Act today represents continued action by this body to fight against ISIS and ensure we keep Americans safe. I urge all Members to join me in supporting this commonsense, bipartisan bill. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in supporting this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, March 10, 2017. Hon. Michael T. McCaul, Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman McCaul: I write concerning H.R. 1302, the ``Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel Exercise Act of 2017.'' This legislation includes matters that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. In order to expedite Floor consideration of H.R. 1302, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will forgo action on this bill. However, this is conditional on our mutual understanding that forgoing consideration of the bill does not prejudice the Committee with respect to the appointment of conferees or to any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in the bill or similar legislation that fall within the Committee's Rule X jurisdiction. I appreciate you working with us on the base text of the bill and request you urge the Speaker to name members of the Committee to any conference committee named to consider such provisions. Please place a copy of this letter and your response acknowledging our jurisdictional interest in the Congressional Record during House Floor consideration of the bill. I look forward to working with the Committee on Homeland Security as the bill moves through the legislative process. Sincerely, Bill Shuster, Chairman.

Ms. McSALLY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Correa) on the Committee on Homeland Security for supporting this bill, and I urge the rest of my colleagues to support H.R. 1302. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.