Joe Neguse

Mr. NEGUSE

Mr. NEGUSE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff), the chairman.

Mr. Manager NEGUSE

Mr. Manager NEGUSE. Mr. President, distinguished Senators, counsel, like several of you, I am a child of immigrants. And as a son of immigrants, I believe firmly in my heart that the United States is the greatest Republic that this world has ever known. A hallmark of our Republic since the days of George Washington has been the peaceful transfer of power. For centuries, we have accepted it as fact. Unfortunately, sadly, we know now that we can no longer take that for granted because, as Lead Manager Raskin explained, on January 6, the peaceful transition of power was violently interrupted when a mob stormed this Capitol and desecrated this Chamber. As you will see during the course of this trial, that mob was summoned, assembled, and incited by the former President of the United States, Donald Trump, and he did that because he wanted to stop the transfer of power so that he could retain power, even though he had lost the election. And when the violence erupted, when they were here in our building, with weapons, he did nothing to stop it. If we are to protect our Republic and prevent something like this from ever happening again, he must be convicted. Now, I want to be very clear about what we will show you during the course of this trial. As my fellow managers present our case to you today, tonight, and tomorrow, it will be helpful to think about President Trump's incitement of insurrection in three distinct parts: provocation, the attack, and the harm. Let's start with the provocation. We will show, during the course of this trial, that this attack was provoked by the President, incited by the President, and, as a result, it was predictable, and it was foreseeable. And, of course, that makes sense. This mob was well orchestrated. Their conduct was intentional. They did it all in plain sight--proudly, openly, and loudly--because they believed, they truly believed that they were doing this for him; that this was their patriotic duty. They even predicted that he would protect them. And for the most part, they were right. In his unique role as Commander in Chief of our country and as the one person whom the mob was listening to and following orders from, he had the power to stop it, and he didn't. Now, some have said that President Trump's remarks, his speech on January 6, was just a speech. Well, let me ask you this: When in our history has a speech led thousands of people to storm our Nation's Capitol with weapons, to scale the walls, break windows, kill a Capitol Police officer? This was not just a speech. It didn't just happen. And as you evaluate the facts that we present to you, it will become clear exactly where that mob came from, because here is the thing: President Trump's words, as you will see, on January 6 in that speech, just like the mob's actions, were carefully chosen. Those words had a very specific meaning to that crowd. And how do we know this? Because in the weeks prior to, during, and after the election, he used the same words over and over and over again. You will hear over and over three things--you can see them on the screens--first, what Lead Manager Raskin referred to as the ``big lie,'' that the ``election was stolen, full of fraud, rigged.'' You will hear over and over him using that lie to urge his supporters to ``never concede'' and ``stop the steal.'' Finally, you will hear the call to arms, that it was his supporters' patriotic duty to fight like hell. To do what? To stop the steal. To stop the election from being stolen by showing up in this very Chamber. To stop you. To stop us. I respectfully ask that you remember those three phrases as you consider the evidence today--``The election was stolen,'' ``Stop the Steal,'' and ``Fight like hell''--because they did not just appear on January 6. Let me show you what I mean. Let's start with the ``big lie.'' You will see during this trial that the President realized, really by last spring, that he could lose, he might lose the election. So what did he do? He started planting the seeds to get some of his supporters ready by saying that he could only lose the election if it was stolen. In other words, really what he did was create a no-lose scenario: either he won the election or he would have some angry supporters--not all but some--who believed that if he lost, the election had to be rigged, and they would be angry because he was telling Americans that their vote had been stolen. And in America, our vote is our voice. So his false claims about election fraud, that was the drumbeat being used to inspire, instigate, and ignite them, to anger them. Watch this clip. (Text of video presentation.) President TRUMP. Because we are not going to let this election be taken away from us. That's the only way they are going to win this. We are not going to let it happen. (Applause.) It is the only way we can be--it is the only way we can lose, in my opinion, is massive fraud. We all know what happened after that. He lost. He lost the election. But remember, he had that no-lose scenario that I referenced earlier. He told his base that the election was stolen, as he had forecasted, and then he told them: Your election has been stolen, but you cannot concede. You must stop the steal. (Text of video presentation.) President TRUMP: You can't let another person steal that election from you. All over the country, people are together in holding up signs: `Stop the Steal.' The Democrats are trying to steal the White House. You cannot let them. You just can't let them. Now, while he is inciting his supporters, he is also simultaneously doing everything he possibly can to overturn the election. First, he begins with the courts--a legitimate avenue, legitimate avenue--to challenge the election, but he ignores all of their adverse rulings when all of his claims are thrown out. Then he moves on to try to pressure State election officials to block the election results for his opponent even though he had lost in their States. You will hear my fellow managers discuss that in detail. Then he tries to threaten State election officials to actually change the votes to make him the winner, even threatening criminal penalties if they refused. He had the Justice Department investigate his claims, and even they found no support for those claims. So he tried to persuade some Members of his party in Congress to block the certification of his vote with attacks in public forums. When that failed, he tried to intimidate the Vice President of the United States of America to refuse to certify the vote and send it back to the States. None of it worked. So what does he do, with his back against the wall, when all else has failed? He turned back to his supporters. He had already spent months telling them that the election was stolen, and he amplified it further. He turned it up a notch. He told them that they had to be ready not just to stop the steal but to fight like hell. (Text of video presentation.) President TRUMP. We are going to fight for the survival of our nation. And we are going to keep on fighting. We will never surrender, we will only win. Now is not the time to retreat. Now is the time to fight harder than ever before. We have to go all the way. We are going to fight like hell, I will tell you right now. We will not bend, we will not break, we will not yield. We will never give in. We will never give up. We will never back down. We will never, ever surrender. You will see that in the months the President made thes statements, people listened. Armed supporters surrounded election officials' homes. The secretary of state for Georgia got death threats. Officials warned the President that his rhetoric was dangerous, and it was going to result in deadly violence. And that is what makes this so different, because when he saw firsthand the violence that his conduct was creating, he didn't stop it. He didn't condemn the violence. He incited it further, and he got more specific. He didn't just tell them to fight like hell; he told them how, where, and when. He made sure they had advance notice, 18 days' advance notice. He sent this ``save the date'' for January 6. He told them to march to the Capitol and fight like hell on January 6, as Lead Manager Raskin said, the exact same day we were certifying the election results. What time was that rally scheduled for? The exact same time that this Chamber was certifying the election results in joint session. When did he conclude his speech? Literally moments before Speaker Pelosi had gaveled us into session. Many of us were in the House during that joint session of Congress. I was sitting two rows behind Leader Schumer and Leader McConnell. I remember it vividly. And as we were standing there fulfilling our solemn oath to the Constitution, the President was finishing his speech just a couple of miles away. How did he conclude that infamous speech? With a final call to action. He told them to march down Pennsylvania Avenue, to come here; that it was their patriotic duty because the election had been stolen. And when they heard his speech, they understood his words and what they meant because they had heard it before. Let's take just a minute and really look at his words on January 6 as he spoke at the Save America rally. Remember, I told you you would hear three phrases: ``The election was stolen,'' ``Stop the Steal,'' and ``Fight like hell.'' Let's start with that first phrase. (Text of video presentation of 1-6-2021.) President TRUMP. All of us here today do not want to see our election victory stolen. There has never been anything like this. It is a pure theft in American history. Everybody knows it. Make no mistake, this election was stolen from you, from me, and from the country. Now, of course, each of you heard those words before. So had the crowd. The President had spent months telling his supporters that the election had been stolen, and he used this speech to incite them further, to inflame them, to stop the steal, to stop the certification of the election results. (Text of video presentation of 1-6-2021.) President TRUMP. We will never give up, we will never concede. It doesn't happen. You don't concede when there's theft involved. And to use a favorite term that all of you people really came up with: We will stop the steal. We must stop the steal. Finally, the President used the speech as a call to arms. It was not rhetorical. Some of his supporters had been primed for this over many months. As you will learn, days before this speech, as Lead Manager Raskin noted, there were vast reports across all major media outlets that thousands of people would be armed, that they would be violent. You will learn that Capitol Police and the FBI reported in the days leading up to the attack that thousands in the crowd would be targeting the Capitol specifically, that they had arrested people with guns the night before the attack on weapons charges. And this is what our Commander in Chief said to the crowd in the face of those warnings, right before they came here. (Text of video presentation of 1-6-2021.) President TRUMP. We will not let them silence your voices. We're not going to let it happen. Not going let it happen. (People chanting: ``Fight for Trump.'') President TRUMP. Thank you. And you have to get your people to fight because you'll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength, and you have to be strong. And we fight. We fight like hell. And if you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country anymore. ``You have to get your people to fight,'' he told them. Senators, this clearly was not just one speech. It didn't just happen. It was part of a carefully planned, months-long effort with a very specific instruction: Show up on January 6, and get your people to fight the certification. He incited it. It was foreseeable. And again, you don't have to take my word for it. The President's former Chief of Staff--he is a retired marine, four-star general, was confirmed by this body to be the Secretary of Homeland Security, overwhelming vote--that man was John Kelly. On the day after the insurrection, he said this: (Text of video presentation.) Mr. KELLY. You know, the president knows who he's talking to when he tweets or when he makes statements. He knows who he is talking to. He knows what he wants them to do. And the fact that he said the things, he has been saying the things he has been saying since the election, and encouraging people, there is no surprise, again, at what happened yesterday. No surprise. Think about that. No surprise. The President had every reason to know that this would happen because he assembled the mob, he summoned the mob, and he incited the mob. He knew when he took that podium on that fateful morning that those in attendance had heeded the words and they were waiting for his orders to begin fighting. And that, of course, brings me, my fellow managers, to what happened here in this building. As Lead Manager Raskin stated, my colleagues are going to walk through the events of January 6 and the evidence in very great detail. They are painful to watch and to recount, and I am not going to repeat the evidence now. But I do want to be clear about what also happened during that terrible attack, and that is this: that President Trump, once again, failed us because when the violence erupted, when we and the law enforcement officials protecting you were under attack, as each of you were being evacuated from this Chamber from a violent mob, as we were being evacuated from the House, he could have immediately and forcefully intervened to stop the violence. It was his duty as Commander in Chief to stop the violence, and he alone had that power, not just because of his unique role as Commander in Chief but because they believed that they were following his orders. They said so. (Text of videotape presentation.) President Trump! President Trump! Fight for Trump! Fight for Trump! Fight for Trump! We were invited by the President of the United States! I thought I was following my President. I thought I was following what we were called to do. President Trump requested that we be in DC on the 6th. You heard it from them. They were doing what he wanted them to do. They wouldn't have listened to you, to me, to the Vice President of the United States who they were attacking. They didn't stop in the face of law enforcement, police officers fighting for their lives to stop them. They were following the President. He alone, our Commander in Chief, had the power to stop them and he didn't. You will hear evidence tonight, tomorrow, throughout the trial, about his refusal as Commander in Chief to respond to numerous desperate pleas on the phone, across social media, begging him to stop the attack. And you will see his relentless attack on Vice President Pence, who was at that very moment hiding with his family as armed extremists were chanting, ``Hang Mike Pence,'' calling him a traitor. You will see that even when he did finally, 3\1/2\ hours into the attack, tell these people to go home in peace, he added, as Lead Manager Raskin said, I will quote: You're very special. We love you. Think for a moment--just a moment--of the lives lost that day, of the more than 140 wounded police officers, and ask yourself if, as soon as this had started, President Trump had simply gone onto TV, just logged onto Twitter and said ``Stop the attack.'' If he had done so with even half as much force as he said ``Stop the steal,'' how many lives would we have saved? Sadly, he didn't do that. At the end of the day, the President was not successful in stopping the certification. That we know, thanks to the bravery of our law enforcement and to the bravery of the Senators in this room, each of you who still fulfilled your constitutional duty even under the threat of mortal peril. But there can be no doubt of the grave harm that he caused to our elected leaders; to us, our families; to all who work at the Capitol, our staff, your staff; to our brave Capitol police, who defend us tirelessly with little thanks, who believed that they had a Commander in Chief who would defend and protect them, instead put them in harm's way; to those killed for heeding his command; to our democracy and the system, which ensures that we have a President elected by the people; to our national security and our standing in the world. The harm was real. The damage was real. Five people lost their lives on that terrible, tragic day. A woman was shot dead 50 feet from where we later certified the election results. And for those who question just how bad it was, criminal complaints recently unsealed by the Department of Justice are more than revealing. You all see one of these documents on the screen. In the charging affidavit of one of the leaders of the Proud Boys, we learned that members of this group ``said that they would have killed . . . Mike Pence if given the chance.'' In another, we learned of the tweet in realtime while they were in the building stating: We broke into the Capitol . . . we got inside, we did our part. . . . We were looking for Nancy [Pelosi] to shoot her in the friggin' brain but we didn't find her. And for anyone who suggests otherwise, these defendants themselves have told you exactly why they were here. You will se this in the trial, that in the halls of the Capitol, on social media, in news interviews, and in charging documents, they confirmed they were following the President's orders. You can see some of the statements on that screen, one who said: Trump wants all able-bodied patriots. Another: President Trump is calling us to FIGHT! . . . This isn't a joke. Another: I thought I was following my President. I thought I was following what we were called to do. Our President wants us here. We wait and take orders from [the] president. He made them believe, over many weeks, that the election was stolen and they were following his command to take back their country. As I prepared for today--yesterday, this trial--one memory that I couldn't shake: It was on the night of January 6 and the feeling of walking back onto the House floor and seeing many of you there. I remember us finishing our task at 4 in the morning, and as I walked off the floor, I was so grateful--so grateful--for the opportunity to thank the Vice President of the United States, Mike Pence, for his actions, for standing before us and asking us to follow our oath and our faith and our duty. We only got a couple of hours of sleep that morning. Early the next day, I called my dad, who came to this country, as I mentioned, as an immigrant 40 years ago, and I told him that the proudest moment, by far, of serving in Congress, for me, was going back on to the floor with each of you to finish the work that we had started. I am humbled to be back with you today. And just as on January 6, when we overcame that attack on our Capitol, on our country, I am hopeful that at this trial, we can use our resolve and our resilience to, again, uphold our democracy by faithfully applying the law, vindicating the Constitution, and holding President Trump accountable for his actions.

Mr. NEGUSE

Mr. NEGUSE. Madam Speaker, so often the safety of our communities falls to the responsibility of just a few. Today, I rise to honor one of those few: Chief Tom DeMint of the northern Colorado's Poudre Fire Authority. In addition to his nearly 33 years with the Fire Authority, Chief DeMint served for 11 years as E.M.S. personnel, culminating in 44 years of dedicated service to our community. Now, he is heading into a very well-earned retirement. A leader with a steadfast work ethic, caring demeanor, and a great sense of humor, Chief DeMint's service is concluding after assisting the Fire Authority in adapting to the pandemic while also battling one of the most long-lasting and devastating wildfire seasons in our state's history. The chief partnered with Poudre's 220 Fire Authority personnel to combat these fires and ensure the safety of our civilians. His leadership and expertise were irreplaceable during these trying times and will be sorely missed by all those who served alongside him. Let us remember today and all days that our communities are able, not only to survive, but also thrive, because of those who run into the fire for us. I share my endearing gratitude to Chief DeMint for his tireless service and wish him a happy and relaxing retirement.

Mr. NEGUSE

Mr. NEGUSE. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. President Trump's actions--encouraging, inciting a mob that stormed the United States Capitol for the sole purpose of stopping the constitutionally mandated counting of electoral votes--cannot go unanswered by this body. He must be impeached. If Congress does not act, if we shrink from our constitutional responsibilities to defend our Republic, it will undoubtedly undermine the vision of America as ``the last best hope of earth,'' as Abraham Lincoln so eloquently said so many years ago. To the millions of Americans watching today: I hope that you understand that we are proceeding on this path out of love for our country. I will honor my oath today. I will vote for impeachment, and I pray that my colleagues will muster the courage to do the same.

Mr. NEGUSE

Mr. NEGUSE. Mr. Speaker, I had planned remarks here, but I have to respond to my colleague. His words are simply too much to bear. The gentleman talks a lot about the mob and culpability. Who summoned the mob? Who encouraged the mob? Who incited the mob? You know as well as I do that the President did. I stood here 6 days ago in this exact same spot, and I quoted Lincoln's admonition that ``we shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last best hope of Earth.'' Less than 10 minutes later, a violent mob breached the Capitol, the first breach of this hallowed building, the citadel of liberty, since the War of 1812. Congress must respond. Our undertaking here is not about politics. It is a matter of conscience. I support the distinguished gentleman from Maryland's resolution. I pray the Vice President will honor his oath and reconsider and invoke the provisions of the 25th Amendment.

Mr. NEGUSE

Mr. NEGUSE. Madam Speaker, today is an important day. In 1862, during the depths of the Civil War, President Lincoln submitted his annual message to Congress, to this body, and in it, he wrote the following: ``Fellow citizens, we cannot escape history. We, of this Congress and this administration, will be remembered in spite of ourselves. . . . The fiery trial through which we pass will light us down, in honor or dishonor, to the latest generation. . . . We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last best hope of Earth.'' Madam Speaker, we gather today to ensure the survival of our grand American experiment, the greatest democracy this world has ever known, and there are millions of people watching today's proceedings. The eyes of the world are on us now, my colleagues, wondering if we will keep the faith, wondering if our constitutional Republic will hold. Will we adhere to our Constitution, that solemn visionary document that has guided us so well for so long and enabled the peaceful transfer of power for the last 230 years? Will we continue to be a country premised on the consent of the governed, a Congress that respects the will of the people, and a Republic that will endure? Madam Speaker, those are the questions before us today. With respect to my new colleague from Colorado, the question is not whether Joe Biden was elected the 46th President of the United States. He clearly was. The people of Arizona, like so much of the country, spoke clearly and resoundingly. They voted in record numbers, and over 81 million Americans selected Joe Biden as the next President. Now, today, we hear from some in this Chamber--not all, but some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle--vague claims of fraud. No substance. No evidence. No facts. No explanation for why over 88 judges across this land have rejected the very same claims. Madam Speaker, the bottom line is this. As my colleague, Representative Raskin, so eloquently put it, the people have spoken, and that is why, on December 14, the electoral college met to certify the election of a duly elected President, just as they have done for centuries during terrible world wars, recessions, depressions, plagues, and pandemics. They met their duty, and they once again rose to the occasion and certified the election. And the question now is, will we do ours? Now, I know there are many textualists among us, many of my colleagues who would understand that the Constitution must guide our work today. And the Constitution is crystal clear: Our duty today is a narrow one. Article II, Section 1, Clause 3 reads: ``The President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates, and the votes shall then be counted. The person having the greatest number of votes for President shall be the President.'' That is it, period. Our job is not to replace the judgment made by the American people with our own. Yet, that is precisely what so many of my House and Senate Republican colleagues ask this body to do, to substitute their judgment for the expressed will of the American people. In America, we don't do that. In the United States, we accept the results of free and fair elections. Madam Speaker, we don't ignore the will of the voters and attempt to install a preferred candidate into power. That doesn't happen here. Madam Speaker, I will close with this. Our duty, our task, is a very simple one: to honor the voice of the people, to honor our Constitution, to count the votes, to certify this election, and begin to heal this great country of ours. I pray each of us may find the courage to do so.

Mr. NEGUSE. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the objection.

Mr. NEGUSE. Madam Speaker, to my colleague from Pennsylvania, I will say this: I carry the same Constitution that you do. And the Constitution, sir, does not allow you, me, or any Member of this body to substitute our judgment for that of the American people. It does not allow us to disregard the will of the American people. Because under this Constitution, under our Constitution, Congress doesn't choose the President. The American people do. And they have chosen in resounding numbers, as every single Member of this body well understands. Madam Speaker, I have been at a loss to explain what happened today, but there is a statement that I found that largely summarized my thoughts on the matter. ``The scenes of mayhem unfolding at the seat of our Nation's government'' are a ``sickening and heartbreaking sight. This is how election results are disputed in a banana republic, not our democratic Republic. I am appalled by the reckless behavior of some political leaders since the election and by the lack of respect shown today for our institutions, our traditions, and our law enforcement. The violent assault on the Capitol, and the disruption of a constitutionally mandated meeting of Congress, was undertaken by people whose passions have been inflamed by falsehoods and false hopes. Insurrection could do grave damage to our Nation and our reputation. ``In the United States of America, it is the fundamental responsibility of every patriotic citizen to support the rule of law. To those who are disappointed in the results of the election: Our country is more important than the politics of the moment.'' Those are not my words. Those are the words of former Republican President George W. Bush. To my colleagues, it is after midnight tonight. It has been a long day for our country, a long day for our Republic. Let us dispense with this. Let's do the right thing. Let's honor our oath. Let's certify the results, and let's get back to the work of the American people. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lofgren).

Mr. NEGUSE. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the objection.

Mr. NEGUSE

Mr. NEGUSE. Madam Speaker, today I wish to recognize the accomplishments of an incredible public servant. Since 2012, Gail Watson has served as a County Commissioner for Gilpin County. During her time in office she has proven that hard work and determination are the cornerstones of implementing change. As a County Commissioner, Gail has been a huge proponent of environmental protection. She has spent endless hours ensuring that Gilpin County's public lands remained free of invasive plant species and protected from development. Commissioner Watson has been a huge asset to her community and her work has positively impacted the people she has been so proud to serve. She has shown a passion for maintaining the safety and wellbeing of her constituents. During her time as a County Commissioner, Gail prioritized access to broadband internet and phone service in Gilpin County, emphasizing that access to broadband service is a necessity in cases of emergency and for education. She also ensured that Gilpin County was well prepared for any natural disaster that might hit and focused on bolstering Gilpin's emergency preparedness. I am grateful for Gail's dedicated service as a Gilpin County Commissioner, and I know that the impact of her work will continue to be felt for many years to come. I wish her a restful and well-deserved retirement.

Mr. NEGUSE

Mr. NEGUSE. Madam Speaker, today I wish to recognize the accomplishments of an incredible public servant, County Commissioner Elise Jones. Commissioner Jones has proudly served as a Boulder County Commissioner since 2013, and has shown throughout her impressive career a passion for helping those in need. She has fought for social justice and advocated for measures that would help combat climate change and protect our treasured public lands and open spaces. During her time as a County Commissioner, she also represented Boulder County on the Denver Regional Council of Governments, and as the Representative to the Statewide Transportation Advisory Committee. She has served as a member of the Metro Area County Commissioners, which she chaired in 2016, and was recently appointed by the Governor of Colorado to the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission. In this latter position, Commissioner Jones has been able to utilize her extensive experience to fight for cleaner air for all Coloradans. She has helped her community through countless disasters, including the 2013 flooding, historic wildfires, and the immense challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic this year, and I am thankful for her leadership. I am grateful that Commissioner Jones plans to continue her environmental work. While she leaves enormously big shoes to fill, her legacy will not be forgotten. On behalf of the people of Colorado's 2nd Congressional district, I would like to express my deepest gratitude for her service.

Mr. NEGUSE

Mr. NEGUSE. Madam Speaker, today I wish to recognize Ms. Deb Gardner, who has served the people of Boulder County for over a decade, and since 2012, has tirelessly devoted herself to serving her community as a Boulder County Commissioner. Over the past eight years, Deb has worked hard to make Boulder County a better place. In light of Deb's retirement, I want to take the opportunity to commend her distinguished career in public service. Deb has never been afraid to stand up for what she believes in. Her work in Boulder is a reflection of her passion for equity, education, and the environment. A truly indispensable community member, she has fought to maintain Boulder County's natural beauty and ensure that everyone feels welcome in the community. Prior to becoming a County Commissioner, she represented Colorado's 11th district, and the people of Boulder County, in the Colorado State Legislature as a State Representative, where she served on the House Transportation, Legislative Audit, Business and Economic Development, and Health Benefit Exchange Review committees. She has helped her community through countless disasters, including the 2013 flooding, historic wildfires, and the immense challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic this year, and I am grateful for her leadership. For the entirety of her career, Deb has led by example and inspired countless others along the way. I am grateful for her distinguished record of service, and I thank Commissioner Gardner for her service to her community. I wish her a restful and well-deserved retirement.

Mr. NEGUSE

Mr. NEGUSE. Madam Speaker, today I want to honor an extraordinary leader and colleague of mine who has worked tirelessly for his constituents, Colorado State Senator Mike Foote. After serving 5 years in the Colorado House of Representatives, Senator Foote then served an additional two years as State Senator for District 17 in the Colorado Senate. The time and effort Senator Foote put into representing his community is a testament to his ability and dedication to his constituency. Senator Foote worked hard to generate bipartisan agreements on legislation, putting his constituents above politics. He worked tirelessly to represent the values of his constituents, especially as a leader in critical efforts to fight climate change and preserve our environment for generations to come. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he authored legislation that was signed into law to protect consumers from price gouging and other deceptive business practices, and he has long worked to protect consumers all across Colorado. Senator Foote has been a dedicated public servant to the people of Boulder County for many years, and he has made a tremendous impact on his community. I am grateful for his work, and I am sure that he will leave a lasting legacy in our great state. I thank him for his service and contributions to the state of Colorado and wish him a restful and well-deserved retirement from public service.

Mr. NEGUSE

Mr. NEGUSE. Madam Speaker, today I wish to recognize and honor the work of retiring Summit County Commissioner Karn Stiegelmeier. Karn has continuously devoted much of her time and energy to maintaining our beautiful public lands and environment in Summit County, Colorado--a community I am so proud to represent. Prior to serving as a County Commissioner, she worked for the National Forest Service and National Park Service, where she served in the crucial roles of wildland firefighter and park ranger, and also taught students in Summit County. During her time as a Summit County Commissioner, Karn continued to advocate for the protection of our environment and was fiercely determined to preserve the precious quality of life we enjoy in Colorado. She also continuously advocated for forest health and wildfire prevention, both of which have helped Colorado's Second Congressional District in incalculable ways. She has truly shown an incredible determination to better her community, and I thank her for her many years of service as County Commissioner. I am grateful for all the work Karn has done during her time as a Summit County Commissioner and wish her a restful and well- deserved retirement from public service.

Mr. NEGUSE

Mr. NEGUSE. Madam Speaker, today I wish to recognize the incredible work and achievements of Larimer County Commissioner Steve Johnson. For 24 years, Steve has devoted himself to serving his community and the State of Colorado, including spending 12 years serving in the Colorado Legislature and 12 years serving as a Larimer County Commissioner. Prior to becoming a Larimer County Commissioner, Mr. Johnson served in the Colorado House of Representatives for 6 years, during which time he served as the Majority Caucus Chairman. He followed that service with an equally long 6-year stint in the Colorado Senate, serving on the Joint Budget Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee. While serving as Larimer County Commissioner, he helped the county's recovery efforts as Larimer County faced some of the largest natural disasters in the county's history. The High Park Fire in 2012, the One Hundred Year Flood in 2013, and the Cameron Peak Fire and COVID-19 in 2020 have caused extensive damage and posed great challenges to the county's leadership. Commissioner Johnson helped steer the community through these disasters with level-headed determination and a commitment to the people of Larimer County. He was also instrumental in helping to pass the Behavioral Health Initiative, a measure which led to Larimer County being a leader in Colorado for providing mental health services and substance abuse care and increased available resources for his community. After 24 years of public service, Commissioner Johnson certainly deserves a happy and restful retirement. On behalf of the people of Colorado's 2nd Congressional district, thank you Commissioner Johnson for your outstanding dedication to public service.

Mr. NEGUSE

Mr. NEGUSE. Madam Speaker, today I seek to highlight the career of an exemplary public servant from Colorado's Second Congressional District. For fourteen years, Summit County Commissioner Thomas Davidson tirelessly devoted himself to the betterment of his community. Thomas has never strayed during his public service from his commitment to health, safety, and equity. As the Chairman of the Combined Housing Authority, he advocated for affordable housing for all. He spent 13 years on the board of Early Childhood Options which started the County's Head Start program--providing critical resources to low-income families in this mountain county. In 2013, he was appointed by the Governor of Colorado to the State's Early Childhood Leadership Commission, and in 2015, was called on by the Governor once more to serve on the State Board of Human Services--a testament to his leadership and tenacity. As Summit County's first openly gay County Commissioner and a vocal advocate for LGBTQ rights, Commissioner Davidson has broken barriers for the next generations and set an excellent example for his community. I am so proud to represent such a dedicated public servant and member of his community. I am grateful for all the work Commissioner Davidson has done as a Summit County Commissioner and am glad that he will continue his involvement in his community even after his time as a County Commissioner is over. I wish him a restful and well-deserved retirement from public service.

Mr. NEGUSE

Mr. NEGUSE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Huffman for his leadership. I am proud to speak in support of two of my bills being considered today, H.R. 5458 and H.R. 5459. As you have heard, these bipartisan bills would extend Rocky Mountain National Park and ultimately create more opportunities for Coloradans and visitors to our State to enjoy outdoor activities. H.R. 5458, the bill before the House right now, the Rocky Mountain National Park Boundary Modification Act, as has been articulated previously, would formally codify a generous donation into the park boundary made by former astronaut and Longmont, Colorado, native, Vance Brand. Mr. Brand bravely served our country in the Armed Forces and then served as an astronaut, and he has now so generously agreed to donate roughly 40 acres to Rocky Mountain National Park. This expansion would add additional protections for the park's high elevation ecosystem and provide recreational access to literally hundreds of miles of trails. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have introduced both of these legislative proposals, which came at the request of local communities that I have the honor of representing back in Colorado and that ultimately seek to protect the public lands that they love. The bills enjoy the support from the town of Estes Park, Larimer County, and the Rocky Mountain Conservancy. As one of the Nation's most historic parks, Rocky Mountain National Park remains one of the top-visited public lands in our country, attracting over 4.6 million people, annually, in recent years. Given the park's breathtaking scenery and iconic significance, these numbers are only anticipated to rise. I know my good friend from the Fifth Congressional District of Colorado, Representative Lamborn, knows Rocky Mountain National Park well. I am sure, like me, he and his family have had countless opportunities to enjoy the park and its breathtaking scenery. It is an honor to be able to represent Rocky Mountain National Park here in the United States Congress. People from all over the world are drawn to the park, each for their own reasons, to experience nature, seek solitude, watch wildlife, and partake in outstanding recreational activities. I, myself, hold a number of treasured memories growing up in Colorado and enjoying Rocky Mountain National Park: hikes with my father and now being able to take my daughter on those same trails. It is something that holds deep meaning for many Americans, and especially for Coloradans. As we collectively seek healing during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, our public lands offer both a mental and physical refuge as well as an economic stimulus for the local communities that rely on them. Additionally--and this bears mentioning--this year, devastating wildfires have occurred across Colorado, forcing evacuations, threatening air and water quality, and destroying homes and businesses. Three of the State's five largest fires in the history of Colorado occurred in 2020. While the bulk of these fires were on lands surrounding Rocky Mountain National Park, nearly 30,000 acres burned within the park's boundary. When the East Troublesome fire grew over 100,000 acres in 1 day and swept through a portion of the park, a number of park structures were lost. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to thank the superintendent of the Rocky Mountain National Park and her wonderful rangers and all of the personnel at Rocky Mountain National Park who work tirelessly to protect the park and the communities that surround it. Given the devastating nature of these wildfires, in addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, fulfilling the requests of local Colorado communities that have been impacted by, not one, but two, historic disasters is an even greater imperative. Mr. Speaker, for that reason, I respectfully urge my colleagues to support both H.R. 5458 and H.R. 5459, bipartisan bills that will protect our treasured public lands.

Mr. NEGUSE

Mr. NEGUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my heartfelt gratitude to our Colorado firefighters and first responders. This year in Colorado, in my district, we have experienced a devastating and relentless wildfire season; the Cameron Peak fire in Larimer County, the East Troublesome fire in Grand County, the Calwood fire, and the Williams Fork fire. With over a half a million acres burned, Colorado has experienced great loss, damage, and destruction. For months, our firefighters and first responders have worked around the clock to save lives, save homes, and to protect our communities. We know this work is not easy, especially in the midst of a pandemic, and we are so grateful for the service, the sacrifice, and the commitment of our firefighters, our first responders, our local emergency management officials and law enforcement in Grand County, in Larimer County, in Boulder County, and across the State of Colorado. Together, we will rebuild and we will continue to work together. Thank you for your work. We are so incredibly grateful.

Mr. NEGUSE

Mr. NEGUSE. Mr. Speaker, how much do I have remaining?

Mr. NEGUSE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, today I rise in strong support of the Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act, legislation that I introduced with Chairman Nadler, Chairman Cicilline, and Ranking Member Sensenbrenner that would extend whistleblower protections to private-sector employees who report criminal antitrust violations to the Federal Government. Just by way of background, the Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act is based on recommendations from a 2011 Government Accountability Office report. The legislation will protect private-sector employees for simply doing the right thing and ensure that those who retaliate against whistleblowers are held accountable. Under the legislation, an employee who believes that he or she is a victim of retaliation can file a complaint with the Secretary of Labor, and it allows for that employee to be reinstated to their former position if the Secretary finds in his or her favor. Mr. Speaker, antitrust violations often result in higher prices, less innovation, and fundamentally less choice. Private-sector employees are integral in maintaining the integrity of our antitrust laws, without whom violations such as price and wage fixing would go unreported. Since our Nation's founding, our country has had a rich tradition of working to protect whistleblowers. Today, more than ever, honoring that history is tremendously important. No employee should fear for their job or face retaliation for exposing illegal, anticompetitive behavior, such as price fixing. Mr. Speaker, I want to again thank Chairman Nadler, Chairman Cicilline, and the majority leader for bringing this bill to the House floor. I also want to thank Senator Grassley and Senator Leahy for spearheading this effort in the Senate and for working so persistently to get it passed in that Chamber. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. NEGUSE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2258) to provide anti-retaliation protections for antitrust whistleblowers.

Mr. NEGUSE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline), the chairman of the Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law Subcommittee.

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

Mr. NEGUSE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I thank the chairman of the Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law Subcommittee, Mr. Cicilline, for his leadership, his thoughtfulness, and for making consumer protection the central focus of his work and the Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law Subcommittee's work over this past Congress. I also thank Mr. Armstrong, my colleague on the other side of the aisle. I would lend my voice, as well, to those who have rightfully praised the work of Mr. Sensenbrenner who, for many years in the United States Congress, has served with distinction representing the people of Wisconsin. And I know that this bill was certainly important to him, and we appreciate his efforts on that front. Finally, I would close with this: It can be lost on the American public as we talk about things like price fixing and the antitrust laws that are currently on the books how that connects to the everyday life of Americans. Fundamentally, this bill is about consumer protection. It is about protecting the public. Before I came to Congress, I served several years in the cabinet of then-Governor John Hickenlooper, leading our State's Consumer Protection Agency, the Department of Regulatory Agencies' 600-person department with a $100 million budget, civil servants from across our State working hard each and every day to protect the consuming public and the people of the State of Colorado, the same work that folks do at the FTC and the Department of Justice in the Antitrust Division each and every day. This is another tool that can be used in the toolbox of regulators here in Washington as we work to make consumer protection a priority and ultimately partner with those in the private sector who wish to report abusive and anticompetitive conduct that might be happening in the broader marketplace. Again, I am thankful to the sponsors of this bill in the Senate, to the leadership in the House for bringing this bill forward to the floor. Mr. Speaker, I would urge a ``yes'' vote on the legislation before the House, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. NEGUSE

Mr. NEGUSE. Madam Speaker, I rise today for Jai Rajagopal, a beloved son, brother, friend, and organizer who is lost to us far soon. On behalf of so many who loved Jai, I stand here to mourn. Jai was not your ordinary young person, nor community member: he was outstanding in everything he did. When he was only-just old enough to vote, Jai dedicated himself to civic engagement, beginning with that time honored tradition of progress in our nation: voter registration. When he was 19, he worked on my campaign for Congress, where he was adored by and inspiring to every member of that team, myself included. I am a member of Congress today, because of Jai. Ever since, Jai worked ceaselessly for candidates, for causes, for the Colorado state legislature, even running for office himself. He was seemingly never short of energy for the things he believed in. His impacts on our community will be felt for years to come. And, let me tell you, to see Jai's passion for our nation's progress, in engaging other young folks in the democracy his generation is inheriting, it was literally awe-inspiring. He was brilliant, full- hearted, and courageous, and it was an honor to know him. Through endless willpower and dedication, Jai moved mountains, motivated through the assured belief that people were always, always worth fighting for. I count myself incredibly lucky to have known Jai. I share my deepest condolences with Jai's mother and brother, to whom he always credited his intelligence and motivation: my thoughts and prayers are with you. To all that are mourning Jai, let his memory be your motivation in the continued fight for justice. Rest peacefully, my brother.