Jerrold Nadler

Mr. NADLER

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. DeGette).

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel), the chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett).

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, how much time do I have remaining?

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Shalala).

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Maine (Ms. Pingree).

Mr. NADLER

Mr. NADLER. Madam Chair, I move that the committee do now rise.

Mr. NADLER. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. NADLER. Madam Chairwoman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I rise in support of the gentlewoman's amendment. Representative Torres Small's amendment makes it clear that nothing in this bill impacts or changes any obligations or requirements to comply with our immigration laws. This amendment alleviates any potential concern or confusion about the intent of this legislation. It makes clear that the bill does not change any immigration law, nor does it affect any of the immigration obligations and requirements under current law. It is that simple, and I urge all of my colleagues to support it.

Mr. NADLER. Madam Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Madam Chair, I support this amendment which would increase the sexual assault services program authorization from $40 million to $60 million. This program assists States, Tribes, and territories to provide intervention, advocacy support, and related assistance to victims of sexual assault. Experts in the field have indicated that this program is underfunded for the depth and the breadth of the work it covers, despite the remarks of the gentleman from Virginia. It is underfunded. We need more money here. I support the amendment of the gentlewoman. Now, the gentleman from Virginia says there is no offset. That is true. We do not need an offset. Of course, we could take it away from President Trump's personal part of the tax, of the $1.8 trillion tax break that the Republicans voted for for the rich. But the fact is we don't need an offset. Under the rules, the appropriations bill has to deal with that. This simply makes funds available, and for a very worthy purpose. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. NADLER

Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that in the engrossment of H.R. 1585, the Clerk be authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, spelling, and cross-references and to make such other technical and conforming changes as may be necessary to reflect the actions of the House, including the changes now at the desk.

Mr. NADLER

Mr. NADLER. 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 H.R. 1585.

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Chair, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. NADLER. Madam Chair, I support this amendment, which would make entities found by the Attorney General to have fraudulently misused VAWA grant funds ineligible to apply for future grants for up to 5 years. This amendment tries to guard against the potential misuse of grant funds, but it does so in a way that safeguards due process, after reasonable notice and opportunity for a hearing. Any misuse of funds that does not rise to the level of fraud, or that is merely an error, is insufficient to make a grantee ineligible for funds and only places a temporary, but sufficiently lengthy, ban on receipt of funding. Because this is a commonsense measure, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. NADLER. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment, although I am not opposed to the amendment.

Mr. NADLER. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. NADLER. Madam Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I support this bipartisan amendment, which would ensure that entities focused on addressing sex trafficking maintain eligibility for CHOOSE grants. We know that sex trafficking is a serious problem in the United States. At this time, CHOOSE grants are available for the purpose of enhancing the safety of youth and children who are victims of or exposed to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or sex trafficking, and for preventing future violence. This amendment ensures that we continue to provide critical funding to address sex trafficking in our communities. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. NADLER. Madam Chair, I support this amendment because it improves and enhances the special Tribal criminal jurisdiction pilot project created by VAWA in 2013 specifically to benefit Alaska Natives. For over 5 years, the special Tribal criminal jurisdiction has given qualifying Tribes across the United States the authority to prosecute non-Tribal members for certain offenses. This year's reauthorization of VAWA would extend that jurisdiction to more crimes, including dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Tribes across the country have been effectively exercising their authority under VAWA and keeping their communities safe. This amendment would ensure that Alaska Native villages that qualify are also able to exercise this type of jurisdiction. It is only fair that they be allowed to do so. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. NADLER. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment, although I am not opposed to the amendment.

Mr. NADLER. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. NADLER. Madam Chair, I support this amendment which expands the types of grants that can be funded to combat violent crimes on college campuses. Evidence-based research on the neurobiology of trauma has shown the effectiveness of using victim-centered, trauma-informed interview techniques when investigating allegations of sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking. This amendment seeks to ensure that campus personnel who investigate these types of cases are trained in up-to-date, research-based methods for interviewing victims and handling cases in a sensitive manner. Madam Chair, I encourage my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. NADLER. Madam Chair, I support this amendment to improve the reporting requirements for States and localities that receive funding under the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program. As we all know, because of the increased awareness of the potential for DNA evidence to help solve criminal cases, the demand for DNA testing continues to grow nationwide. Crime laboratories now process more DNA than ever before. In recognition of this, H.R. 1585 reauthorizes the Debbie Smith Act, which I helped to originate. This amendment directs States and localities to report information to the Attorney General on best practices for reducing the backlog of DNA evidence. The emphasis on best practices is a good one, as it will help ensure that the backlog is cleared in as expeditious and efficient a manner as possible. Madam Chair, I encourage my colleagues to support the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. NADLER. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment, although I am not opposed to the amendment.

Mr. NADLER. Madam Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I support this amendment, which would direct the preparation of a report on the status of women in Federal incarceration. The amendment would also direct the Attorney General to work on a model of gender- responsive transition for incarcerated women, including the development of a national standard on prevention with respect to domestic and sexual violence. According to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, very little current data exists on the status of incarcerated women in Federal custody. This amendment will allow us to better respond to the needs of incarcerated women, and it will provide us with vitally important data, for oversight purposes. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.