David Price

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague and friend, Chairwoman Lowey. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bill, particularly the division involving Transportation, HUD appropriations for fiscal year 2021. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and the former chairman of our subcommittee, Mario Diaz-Balart, for his kind words this morning and for his cooperation throughout this process. We do work well together, and we share many, many goals for this legislation. We have a bill that reflects that collaborative work. My heartfelt best wishes to Chairwoman Lowey. Your leadership has been exceptional, as many have said--your friendship, even more so. We are going to miss you, and we are happy to see these tributes today. And also, to other retiring Members: Mr. Visclosky, Mr. Serrano, Mr. Graves; all colleagues who have contributed greatly, and whom we will miss. This year's T-HUD appropriations bill represents a renewed commitment to address our Nation's housing crisis and to modernize our aging transportation infrastructure. Throughout the bill, we focus on improved safety, on the needs of underserved people and communities, and on resiliency in the face of a changing climate. Overall, the bill includes $75.9 billion in discretionary funding. That is an increase of $1.6 billion over the Fiscal Year 2020 level, and it is $16.7 billion above the President's budget request. It also includes major increases for highway and transit formula funding, consistent with Chairman DeFazio's INVEST Act, which passed the House on July 1, 2020. On the housing side of the ledger, we provide increases of $100 million for the Community Development Block Grant program and $350 million for HOME, to help spur the creation of new affordable housing. We fully renew all Housing Choice Vouchers. We provide $250 million for new vouchers targeting homeless families and those at risk of homelessness, and we increase homeless assistance grants by approximately 23 percent over last year's level. That is the largest increase in over a decade. Our bill includes an 11 percent increase in the Public Housing Capital Fund and new set-asides within that fund to address urgent health and safety issues. We continue to provide new resources to create more housing for the elderly and disabled and for the Choice Neighborhoods program, formerly known as HOPE VI. The bill also does right by transportation. All modes receive robust funding, including highways, transit, rail, aviation, bike and pedestrian projects, and ports. This includes $1 billion for the popular BUILD program; more than $2 billion for Amtrak; a very deliberate 50 percent increase for intercity passenger and freight rail improvements in the CRISI program; and a funding boost for highways, bus fleet replacement, and the Federal Transit Administration's Capital Investment Grants, or ``New Starts'' transit program. This division of the bill also includes emergency funds. It provides an additional $75 billion for infrastructure investments to revitalize transportation networks, jump-start affordable housing production, and further reduce the disgraceful public housing capital backlog. Some may object to this use of emergency spending, but to them I ask: What is the cost of continued inaction for our economy, for our communities? ``Infrastructure Week'' shouldn't be a punch line. We need to mean it. This funding is necessary for our future prosperity, especially as we transition from this pandemic to recovery. I want to underscore that the funding in the bill deliberately promotes equity and resiliency in our communities. We set aside funding for areas of persistent poverty, provide dedicated funding for DOT and HUD to offer technical assistance, especially to rural and low-income areas, and to fund programs that promote opportunity. The bill seeks to protect taxpayer dollars by incorporating resiliency principles into DOT and HUD programs. That means building smarter, requiring all-hazards mitigation, and the use of updated building codes. Importantly, the bill prevents HUD from implementing mean-spirited and harmful rules that would split up immigrant families in Federally assisted housing and allow homeless shelters to discriminate against LGBTQ individuals.

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I join in the tributes to John Lewis with great personal appreciation for his extraordinary life and work and for the opportunity to have served alongside him as friend and colleague for more than thirty years. My wife Lisa and I first got to know John and his late wife Lillian as new members of the House, classmates first elected in 1986. I have seen him advance to a senior position on the Ways and Means Committee, fighting especially to secure good, affordable health care for all. He has also invested great effort in protecting, and then restoring, the Voting Rights Act after the Supreme Court eliminated the crucial preclearance process. From the start, however, John used his position to interpret and educate as well as to legislate. Most famously, he led the annual Faith and Politics pilgrimage to that bridge in Selma, the site of Bloody Sunday, where John almost lost his life, among other civil rights sites. But a day did not go by that he did not recount to colleagues or constituents or total strangers the history and meaning of the Movement. He was never too busy--I expect all of us have witnessed this--to stop whatever he was doing to greet a school group with a word of inspiration or to answer a visitor's questions. While John's place in history is secured by his bold and visionary civil rights leadership, exemplified by his courage to press forward on that bridge, his greatness also consists of a lifetime telling and retelling the story and calling our country and all of us to our better selves. His leadership had biblical qualities, evoking both the call to justice of the Hebrew prophets and the love ethic of the Sermon on the Mount. We often say that someone was ``one of a kind'', but of John it was really true. John's death leaves a huge void. His memory leaves us profoundly grateful to have shared some portion of his journey and also compels us to carry forward his vision of justice that ``rolls down like waters'' and the struggles it requires.

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, now, more than ever, America must remain a global leader. We cannot afford to ignore what is happening outside our borders. As we have learned from the Ebola and Zika crises before, and now the new coronavirus pandemic; infectious disease respects no borders and it has no political ideology. No matter how successful we are in combating COVID-19 here at home, we will never neutralize the pandemic's threat unless we also fight it abroad. As Congress continues to address the urgent domestic health and economic crisis, we also must maintain our nation's commitment to providing emergency resources to confront COVID-19 around the world. Such assistance must address both the immediate health crisis and the long-term effects of this pandemic. Furthermore, the spread of the novel coronavirus has the potential to undo decades of American investments in democracy, health, education, agriculture, and security around the world. Only a robust, comprehensive response from the United States can ensure these investments are not lost and can prevent the exacerbation of second- order intractable social, economic, and political crises in communities ravaged by COVID-19. As chairman of the House Democracy Partnership (HDP), a bipartisan congressional commission that works to strengthen parliaments in emerging democracies, I have seen first-hand the success of U.S. development assistance programming on the ground. We cannot and should not abandon these hard-fought development gains or withdraw our leadership and leave our partners in the lurch at this critical time. HDP is organizing virtual round tables with our parliamentary colleagues, starting with Tunisia and Kosovo, to keep up the dialogue and show support. Combating COVID-19 requires a bold, complex, and comprehensive response that must include coordination with and support for allies, partners, and developing countries, as well as multilateral international institutions, such as the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO is at the forefront of conducting vaccine research, distributing resources, and sharing best practices with governments around the world. Whatever criticisms we may have, this is not the time to cut funding to the very organization that may have the largest global impact on combating COVID-19. The United States has a proud history of global leadership that is rooted in our country's founding purpose and in our strategic interests. We must build on that legacy and join with our partners at home and abroad to respond to this pandemic. The stakes could hardly be higher.

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and work of Robert B. ``Bob'' Jordan III, North Carolina's former Lieutenant Governor, a civic and business leader, and a longtime friend. Bob's death on February 16, 2020 has been met with an outpouring of fond recollections, fulsome tributes, and expressions of affection and respect that attest to his life of service and the impact it had on our state. Lisa and I want to express our sympathy to Bob's wife Sarah, their family, and Bob's many friends and admirers. A native of Mount Gilead, North Carolina, Bob attended North Carolina State University (NCSU), graduating with a degree in forestry, and was then commissioned Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He served two years in Europe and rose to the rank of Captain. Bob then returned to Mount Gilead and began a long career as head of Jordan Lumber and Supply. He also showed a knack for politics and was asked at age 24 to serve on the town board. Four years later he was appointed to what is now called the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina system. Bob's career in state politics began with his election in 1976 to the N.C. Senate, where he served for eight years, representing Montgomery, Anson, Richmond, Scotland, Stanly and Union Counties. He was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1984 and almost became governor, running a valiant race in 1988. Bob had a remarkable ability to bridge divides and find common ground. He brokered a major agreement to increase investment in North Carolina's highways, and another to finance statewide school construction. The N.C. Rural Economic Development Center is a monument to his leadership, as is the N.C. Biotechnology Center, the first state-funded economic development organization of its kind. Bob Jordan provided educational leadership throughout his career, helping established the Basic Education Program, a comprehensive plan to equalize access to education, and the Teaching Fellows program, a highly successful scholarship program for prospective teachers. He was instrumental in the creation of the present UNC governance structure and served on the Boards of Trustees for UNC-Charlotte and NCSU as well as the state community college system. I first got to know Bob through my mentor, N.C. Senator Russell Walker, and was serving as state Democratic Chairman in 1984 when Bob was elected Lt. Governor (his election was about the only good news Democrats got that night). He was one of the most conscientious and well-motivated people I have known in politics. I agree with his friend and mine, Former N.C. Senator Gerry Hancock, who described Bob to a reporter as ``one of the most honorable, decent, hard-working people we've ever known.'' We are indeed better for having known him, and our state is better by virtue of his steady and visionary leadership. Bob Jordan's contribution lives on in those whose opportunities have been broadened and horizons have been extended by virtue of his dedicated service.

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Madam Chairman, I thank my colleague for yielding. I am happy to rise in support of this amendment. This amendment highlights the importance of prioritizing funding for renewable energy projects that will enhance the long-term resilience of Puerto Rico's infrastructure. A reliable and resilient power grid is critical to Puerto Rico's ability to withstand and quickly recover from future disasters. Madam Chairwoman, if I might, I want to take just a moment also to highlight section 304 of the bill. Section 304 requires HUD and other Federal partners to finish the consultation on the $2 billion provided in the Bipartisan Budget Act for electrical grid improvements in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands within 30 days and for HUD to issue a notice in 60 days.

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Madam Chair, I thank my colleague for yielding. I am happy to rise in support of this amendment. It is a very well- considered amendment, one that is an important addition to this bill. Access to linguistically appropriate materials, understandable materials, in the CDBG-DR program is vitally important. Meaningful access to program materials is essential for transparency, for public input, and for knowledge on how you take advantage of these benefits and these programs and what is available under the disaster assistance programs. While HUD currently requires all grantees to provide meaningful access, this puts a finer point on it, and we need to do that. It is important to underscore HUD's responsibility and the grantee's responsibility to provide access in dispensing this aid. I thank my colleagues for this amendment.

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Madam Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment. I know the amendment doesn't fully address the Member's concerns, but it addresses them substantially, and I look forward to working with them further to engage both HUD and the Texas Land Office to work toward a solution for this issue. So I thank both of my colleagues for putting this constructive amendment forward, and their effort to highlight this issue that is of great importance. I am happy to offer my support.

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Madam Chair, I thank my colleague for yielding, and I am pleased to rise in strong support of this supplemental appropriation. This bill provides $4.7 billion for disaster assistance, including $3.3 billion for HUD's Community Development Block Grant program and $1.25 billion for emergency highway repairs. This funding will provide substantial help to the people of Puerto Rico, where devastating earthquakes have compounded earlier damage from Hurricanes Maria and Irma, as well as other States and territories still recovering from major disasters. I would remind colleagues that CDBG money from earlier disasters cannot be used for earthquake relief. We need this bill. The bill also provides targeted resources for Puerto Rico's school system, as well as nutrition assistance and tax relief for low-income families and small businesses. When it comes to disaster relief, we should be putting politics aside. There should be widespread consensus that the Federal Government should be there as an active partner in the recovery effort. Unfortunately, for far too long, the Trump administration has erected arbitrary barriers that have hindered Puerto Rico's recovery. They have contributed to desperate conditions to many places on the island. For example, HUD refused to provide more than $16 billion in already appropriated recovery funds for nearly 700 days. HUD officials admitted during a hearing before our subcommittee that they willingly ignored a statutory deadline requiring them to move forward. Now, HUD is imposing special grant conditions and other requirements on Puerto Rico, which will slow down the recovery effort even further. While the island has clearly been singled out for disparate treatment, numerous States from Florida to Texas to my home State of North Carolina have also waited longer than they should for HUD to publish Federal Register notices governing the use of disaster recovery funds. This bill responds to the unacceptable administrative delays by including new accountability measures, new deadlines--actually, not so new deadlines; they were included in legislation already passed by this body--deadlines requiring HUD to publish notices, review and approve action plans, and sign grant agreements within a fixed timeframe. Those provisions were included in the bipartisan Reforming Disaster Recovery Act, which passed the House back in November, but unfortunately, like so much else, it is still languishing in the Senate. Madam Chairman, enough is enough. We must provide the vital assistance to Puerto Rico and other communities that are struggling to recover, and we need to send a signal to the administration that Congress, not the White House, holds the power of the purse. I urge all my colleagues to support this emergency disaster supplemental.

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I, too, urge passage of H.R. 4279, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to rise in support of this legislation, H.R. 5037, supporting the designation of the Walter B. Jones, Jr. Post Office in his hometown of Farmville, North Carolina. The late Walter Jones was a treasured colleague and a personal friend, and I am glad to join others in the North Carolina delegation and in this Chamber in this fitting tribute. Walter, I think we would all agree, charted a path uniquely his own. His warmth and sincerity earned him respect and affection on both sides of the aisle and across the entire spectrum of political attitudes and beliefs. The same was true in North Carolina among his constituents. Walter was perhaps best known for his devotion to our men and women in uniform and their families. He was attentive, of course, to the needs of our military bases in North Carolina, but for Walter, this was very personal. He sent more than 10,000 letters to the families of fallen troops, and he memorialized those who died from North Carolina's Camp Lejeune with photos outside his office, all of this demonstrating his genuine dedication to those who serve. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join in support of this resolution so that Walter's memory can be honored in Farmville, a community he loved dearly and served tirelessly.

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, the moment our Founders anticipated in establishing the power of impeachment has arrived. The evidence is clear: President Trump abused his power by asking a vulnerable foreign leader to investigate both his political rival and a baseless Russian conspiracy theory, while withholding congressionally appropriated defense aid and a coveted White House visit. He then blocked congressional investigation into these abuses. These abuses threaten the integrity of our elections, they corrupt our diplomacy, and they undermine national security. We sometimes regard constitutional checks and balances as the indestructible underpinnings of our democracy. In fact, they're not fixed. They're not indestructible. The President has demonstrated this beyond all doubt. It's up to the Congress, the first branch of government, to apply the remedy that the Constitution prescribes, because the threats to our democracy are real and present. With this vote, we affirm that no one, including the President, is above the law. Madam Speaker, impeachment was designed by our framers as the ultimate constitutional protection against presidential misconduct, reserved, as North Carolina's James Iredell put it, for ``acts of great injury to the community.'' The impeachable acts the framers envisioned were not disputed policy positions, as disastrous as they might be, nor flaws in character, as deep as those might be, but acts that threaten the very foundation of the country and Constitution we vowed to protect. In this moment, the future of our democracy hangs in the balance. The evidence is abundantly clear: President Donald Trump abused his power by asking a vulnerable foreign leader both to investigate his political rival and to validate a baseless conspiracy theory propagated by Russia, while congressionally appropriated defense aid and a coveted White House visit hung in the balance. He then blocked Congressional investigations into his abuses. These abuses threaten the integrity of our elections, corrupt our diplomacy, and undermine our national security. Underlying it all is the President's often-expressed conviction that his powers are constitutionally unlimited. We often regard constitutional ``checks and balances'' as indestructible underpinnings of our democracy. In fact, they are neither fixed nor unbreakable. President Trump has demonstrated this beyond all doubt. When constitutional boundaries are broken, it's we--living, breathing people within our institutions who must rise to defend our democracy. It is this accountability that prevents creeping authoritarianism and protects our representative democracy, where no one, including the President, is above the law. It's up to the Congress, the first branch of government, to apply the remedy that the Constitution prescribes, because the threats to our democracy are real and present. The eyes of history are upon us.

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise in strong support of H.R. 1865. I want to first thank our chairwoman, Nita Lowey, and also Ranking Member Kay Granger for their leadership and cooperation. I want to thank my good friend, Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, for his collaborative approach. I couldn't ask for a better ranking member and partner in our subcommittee's work. The T-HUD section of this bill invests in America's transportation and housing infrastructure with a particular stress on safety, on addressing the needs of the most vulnerable, and on mitigating the impacts of climate change. It includes $74.3 billion in discretionary funding. That is an increase of $3.2 billion above the 2019 level, and it is $15.8 billion above the President's budget request. On the housing side of the ledger, all Section 8 vouchers are renewed. The HOME program and Community Development Block Grants each receive $100 million in increased funding, and there is a $95 million increase for public housing capital expenditures to address the maintenance backlog. Vital transportation programs are also robustly funded, including $1 billion for BUILD, formerly TIGER, grants. We provide more than $3 billion in discretionary resources above authorized levels for highways, transit, and aviation projects for every State and territory in this Nation. Amtrak, competitive rail grant programs, and port infrastructure also receive strong funding. These investments support a renewed commitment to safety. The FAA receives additional resources to bolster aircraft certification, including dedicated funding to hire new safety inspectors, engineers, and data scientists. Every State will receive new funding to repair aging and deficient bridges. And resources are provided to address hazards in Federally-assisted housing, such as carbon monoxide, radon, and lead. Vulnerable populations are targeted in our bill. We prioritized assistance for them, for example, for the construction of new housing units for the elderly and disabled, new vouchers for veterans, as well as resources for the homeless, people with HIV/AIDS, domestic violence survivors, and at-risk youth. Finally, I am proud that this legislation lays the groundwork to integrate resiliency principles into the full range of programs under the bill's jurisdiction. For example, we require in this bill HUD grantees to think ahead about storm and hazard mitigation as part of their planning process. So, in closing, we are proud of this bill, and we urge its support. It makes forward-looking investments while boosting safety and protecting vulnerable populations. It will benefit and serve all American communities, urban and rural, and lay the foundation for economic growth and prosperity. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, this is an Article I moment. The President has sowed doubt about this country's historic commitment to two-state diplomacy, diplomacy that aims at a secure, democratic, and Jewish future for Israel, and that aims at a state of their own and self-determination for the Palestinian people. It is extremely important for this Congress to assert itself as a coequal branch of government at a time when this historic American commitment is being questioned and undermined. This resolution makes clear that Israeli settlement expansion is unhelpful and that unilateral annexation of the territory is destructive of the prospects for peace. The resolution also reaffirms U.S. support for the security of Israel. And it makes clear that it is unacceptable for the President to cut off Palestinian aid, as he unilaterally has done, despite this aid being duly appropriated by this body. This is unacceptable. We need to assert ourselves as an institution and reaffirm support for the two-state solution, which is really the only reliable path forward.

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th Anniversary of the University of North Carolina's Kenan- Flagler Business School. Over the course of the last century, Kenan- Flagler has set a high standard for business education, becoming one of the top ranked business schools in the country. Originally founded as the School of Commerce, its doors were opened in 1919 with a class of only 12 students. The school continued to grow: the first Ph.D. was awarded in 1928 and the MBA and executive programs were introduced in 1952. Now, 100 years later, Kenan-Flagler graduates more than 3,000 students every year, ranging from undergraduate to Ph.D.s. Kenan-Flagler is constantly evolving and improving the way it teaches the next generation of business leaders. For example, the school has shifted its teaching model to focus on understanding the contours of international business. By offering immersive study abroad and international internship opportunities, the school reaffirms its commitment to global education. Additionally, through the UNC-IDB Strategic Studies Fellows Program, Kenan-Flagler partners with the Institute for Defense and Business to educate Defense Department and national security professionals about the foundations of national security through a strategic thinking and innovative lens. While not every student studies abroad, Kenan-Flagler finds alternative ways to bring the global experience into the classroom. Last year, with the use of virtual reality goggles, students were transported to a boardroom in the central African country of Cameroon. Kenan-Flagler pushes the envelope on traditional teaching methods, serving as an example for professional schools across the world. Kenan-Flagler's commitment to global education and diversity go hand in hand. With over 37,000 living alumni spanning 86 countries, the impact of the Kenan-Flagler Business School is evident all over the globe. In 1973, the school became the first southern institution and sixth nationwide to join the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, a network of universities committed to providing minority populations the education and tools needed to succeed in business and industry. This dual commitment is symbolized by the multitude of flags greeting you upon entrance into the McColl Building, which houses the business school on campus. These flags represent the many different nationalities of Kenan-Flagler students and the affinity groups represented by the community. Madam Speaker, as an alumnus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I am immensely proud of the Kenan-Flagler Business School's commitment to the future generations of business leaders. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Dean Douglas Shackelford, the entire leadership, and the student body of Kenan- Flagler on this momentous anniversary.

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3702, the Reforming Disaster Recovery Act of 2019. I want to thank the bill's bipartisan sponsors: Mr. Green, and Mrs. Wagner, and also Chairwoman Waters, and Ranking Member McHenry for their leadership. I approach this as a Representative of a disaster-prone State. Citizens in my State of North Carolina have a special reason to appreciate this bill. We have been hit hard by national disasters. Hurricanes Matthew and Florence made landfall in 2016 and 2018, just 2 years apart. The storms upended lives, destroyed homes and businesses, and caused billions of dollars in damages. Many communities in my State are still recovering more than 3 years after these storms. As the chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, I have worked with colleagues in our delegation, and colleagues from other impacted States and territories, to secure tens of billions of dollars for HUD's CDBG-DR program. We have worked on this for years. We know the need for this legislation. These flexible funds help facilitate long-term recovery. They can be used to repair and rebuild housing, to improve infrastructure, and to revitalize local economies. Unfortunately, Congress has never formally authorized this program but this bill fixes that. The absence of an authorization has contributed to lengthy delays and a complicated patchwork of requirements laid out in numerous Federal Register notices that grantees must follow anew every time we have a disaster. This legislation is overdue. It makes essential reforms to this program. Specifically, it eliminates the need to issue those Federal Register notices and creates clear statutory deadlines to get the funding out the door as expeditiously as possible. It ensures that assistance goes to low- and moderate-income people who need it the most. It boosts transparency and public input, and it requires HUD and grantees to collect and use data to improve program outcomes. I am especially pleased that the legislation will formally incorporate ``mitigation'' funding that we have included in appropriations bills after recent disasters. Mitigation dollars will allow communities to strengthen resiliency and protect against future hazards, which has long been a priority of mine and North Carolina's Governor Roy Cooper. Again, I want to thank my colleagues for their leadership and for working collaboratively and cooperatively with the Appropriations Committee to advance this bipartisan legislation. I urge all Members to support the bill.

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ambassador John O'Keefe, who is retiring after a distinguished diplomatic and public service career including, most recently, eleven years at the helm of the Open World Leadership Center at the Library of Congress. Open World is a unique exchange program for emerging democracies, particularly former Soviet and communist states. This program leverages the energy of Members of Congress and their constituents, bringing current and rising foreign leaders to Washington and other communities throughout our country for dialogue and cultural exposure. Open World now maintains a vast network of more than 29,000 alumni. As a member of Open World's Board of Trustees, I have seen firsthand the impact of Ambassador O'Keefe's visionary leadership. As Chairman of the House Democracy Partnership, I have worked with him to increase the synergy between our two programs, greatly increasing the number of Parliamentarians with whom we can interact. Under Ambassador O'Keefe's leadership, Open World expanded to seventeen countries and created direct agreements with fourteen American embassies in Open World program countries, thus strengthening the United States legislative branch's relationship with U.S. missions abroad. Open World also expanded programming to bring Members of Parliament from Central Asia to the United States by virtue of Ambassador O'Keefe's knowledge of the region. John O'Keefe became ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic in 2000. As Ambassador, he made lasting contributions to the country and the region. He negotiated the treaty that established a military base in Kyrgyzstan that could be used by Coalition forces in support of operations in Afghanistan. He worked with the President of Kyrgyzstan to establish an investment advisory council to attract foreign capital to the country, and he worked with the Minister of Education to ensure merit-based university acceptance for students. Ambassador O'Keefe also helped to create an outreach program to the Kyrgyz Muslim community. After serving as Ambassador, Mr. O'Keefe returned to the State Department, where he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of the Director General, Bureau of Human Resources, and head of the Office of Career Development and Assignments. He served as Acting Director General in 2006 and then as Deputy Director of the Foreign Service Institute of the Department. Ambassador O'Keefe's commitment to diplomacy earned him many awards and accolades for his service throughout his career at the State Department, including the Distinguished Honor A ward and the Presidential Performance Award. He was later recognized with the prestigious Replogle Award for Management Improvement, the Presidential Meritorious Service Award, and the Secretary of State Award for Lifetime Achievement. Madam Speaker, I am privileged to know John O'Keefe as an exemplar of our country's values, an accomplished diplomat, and a valued partner in many endeavors. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring him for his long and dedicated service to the State Department, to the Open World Leadership Center, and to our country.

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the North Carolina Courage for their second straight National Women's Soccer League Championship and their third title in the past 4 years. Their four-goal win was the largest margin of victory in NWSL history. The Triangle area that I represent in North Carolina has truly embraced this team with a record-setting crowd attending Sunday's match. Now, this was really a team effort, but I do want to give a special shout-out to Coach Paul Riley, MVP Debinha Miri, and the retiring great--Heather O'Reilly. I must also mention the four members from the Courage who also led us to victory in the 2019 Women's World Cup: Crystal Dunn, Sam Mewis, Abby Dahlkemper, and Jessica McDonald. Thank you for making North Carolina proud. And congratulations again to the North Carolina Courage.

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Augustus Burns Elkins II, an Administrative Law judge in my district, who on September 30, 2019 retired after 35 years of public service. Judge Elkins' service is one of dedication to his home state of North Carolina and the nation. He worked as Staff Judge Advocate in the United States Air Force Reserves at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, North Carolina, achieving the rank of Lt. Colonel. He also served as the Deputy Director of the North Carolina Department of Administration Motor Fleet Management and as Senior Managing Attorney for North Carolina's Governor's Council for Persons with Disabilities. His retirement from the Office of Administrative Hearings marks the conclusion of 19 years of service to that office. Judge Elkins' tenure was distinguished by a commitment to ensuring accessibility to services and support for people with disabilities. He is regarded as a leading expert in North Carolina on both the Americans with Disabilities Act and Individuals with Disability Act. Recently, he was honored with the 2018 Distinguished Service Award by the Exceptional Children Division of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Judge Elkins is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association and was certified as a Judge Advocate by the Air Force Management and Leadership School. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was inducted as a member of Phi Beta Kappa before earning his Juris Doctor from Wake Forest University School of Law. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Judge Augustus Burns Elkins II on his retirement and exemplary service to North Carolina.

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mary E. Perry, a long-time community leader and advocate in Wake County, North Carolina, who is celebrating her 90th birthday on October 15, 2019. Mrs. Perry has served as President of the Wendell-Wake County Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for 41 years, amplifying the voices of underrepresented community members. She also was elected the first African American to chair the Wake County Democratic Party and served for 20 years on the East Wake Advisory Council. Mrs. Perry's service is marked by a resolve to fight injustice--from the early days of the civil rights movement to the present fight for voting rights and equity in education, health care, and housing. In Jim Crow North Carolina, she endured threats as she challenged the practice of segregation at restaurants in Zebulon. This difficult and formative experience strengthened her determination to speak out and stand up for underrepresented communities. More recently, she served as a plaintiff in a NAACP lawsuit against North Carolina's discriminatory voter ID laws. Mrs. Perry also helped empower the next generation of youth leaders to follow in her footsteps by reactivating the Wendell-Wake County NAACP youth council. Her dedication earned her numerous accolades. The NAACP recognized her as the President of the Year in addition to granting her the Charles McLean Award and the Political Action Trailblazer Award. She received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine from then-North Carolina Governor James B. Hunt and the Zeta Sigma Chapter of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Social Act Award. Additionally, she is widely recognized for her devotion to community service, receiving the North Carolina Human Relations Council Community Involvement Award and the East Wake Community Service Award. In her hometown, Mrs. Perry has attended and offered leadership at the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church for over 70 years. She served as President of the Usher Board, Finance Committee Chair, and Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees. Mrs. Perry was educated in the Wake County Public School system and received a bachelor's degree from Shaw University in Raleigh, NC. She is the proud mother of four children and has five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. Mary E. Perry for her long and fruitful life of service and in sending her best-wishes for her 90th birthday.

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Linda Birnbaum, Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the National Toxicology Program (NTP), who is retiring in October. Dr. Birnbaum has served as director of NIEHS, located in North Carolina's Research Triangle Park, for the past 10 years. She is the first woman and first board-certified toxicologist to serve in this position. Dr. Birnbaum always had a clear vision for the NIEHS/NTP, evidenced by her implementation of two strategic plans over the course of her tenure. Under her leadership, NIEHS has become a world leader in environmental health and toxicology research. For example, scientific studies, such as the annual Report on Carcinogens, which analyzes substances in our environment that may cause cancer, have ignited changes in health policy and safety standards in the U.S. and across the world. The creation of the Children's Health Exposure Analysis Resource, a grant program that established a network of exposure assessment laboratories across the country, paved the way for policy changes that protected the health of children. Dr. Birnbaum's team also established the NIEHS Clinical Research Unit, allowing the NIH to partner with top biomedical teams at our RTP Universities: Duke, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and North Carolina State. In the wake of environmental disasters, Dr. Birnbaum and her team led critical research projects following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the 2014 West Virginia chemical spill. Dr. Birnbaum and her team worked in coordination with scientists across the NIH and with the residents of affected areas, recruiting over 33,000 participants for the Deepwater Horizon study. Dr. Birnbaum has received numerous accolades for her outstanding achievements in the field of science. In 2010, she was elected to the Institute of Medicine, now known as the National Academy of Medicine. She also was awarded the North Carolina Award in Science in 2016, the state's highest civilian honor given by North Carolina's Governor. For her work in toxicology she was named the Distinguished Toxicology Scholar by the Society of Toxicology in 2018 and earned the Mildred S. Christian Career Achievement Award from the Academy of Toxicological Sciences. Dr. Birnbaum's work as a federal research scientist spans nearly 40 years, including 19 years directing research at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. She also currently serves as an adjunct professor in the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and held a similar position in Toxicology and Environmental Health at Duke University. She has maintained her research program even while serving as NIEHS/NTP director, and at last count had over 700 published articles and reports to her credit. Fortunately, she plans to continue her laboratory research part-time. Madam Speaker, it has been my privilege to know and work with Dr. Birnbaum during much of her tenure at EPA and NIEHS. I was delighted to see her--an accomplished, practicing scientist--appointed to the directorship of NIEHS, and she has been a trusted source of advice on the Institute's needs and the state of the research enterprise. She has a passion for the NIEHS/NTP mission and has inspired a generation of scientists with her vision of what well-designed research can contribute to public health and environmental quality. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Dr. Linda Birnbaum as she reaches this milestone. We thank her for her years of dedicated service and the contributions she has made toward the health and well- being of millions of people.

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Murphy).

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Bishop).

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, as dean of the North Carolina delegation, it is my privilege to introduce our two newest colleagues, Representatives Greg Murphy and Dan Bishop. Representative Murphy was born in Raleigh, our capital city, before attending Davidson College and UNC Medical School. He is a urologist by training, and he has served in the North Carolina House of Representatives since 2015, focusing on healthcare policy. Representative Bishop was born in Charlotte and also graduated from the University of North Carolina as an undergraduate and from the law school. He has an extensive record of public service in North Carolina, initially elected as a commissioner in Mecklenburg County in 2005 before serving in both the North Carolina House and Senate. Madam Speaker, I want to welcome both of these new Members to the people's House. They are experienced legislators who have traveled long and sometimes unexpected paths to get here, and they both face special challenges. The Ninth District has been without a House Member for 257 days following evidence of election fraud in the 2018 election. The Third District was represented by one of the most independent-minded and well-liked Members of this institution, our friend, the late Walter Jones, Jr. Madam Speaker, our new Members had hard-fought campaigns, and the people of North Carolina have spoken. On behalf of our entire delegation and this entire body, I want to welcome them to the House of Representatives. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx), who is the senior Republican in our delegation.

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentlemen from North Carolina, the Honorable Dan Bishop and the Honorable Greg Murphy, be permitted to take the oath of office today. Their certificates of election have not arrived, but there is no contest and no question has been raised with regard to their elections.

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina

Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Madam Chair, I rise in support of the en bloc amendment, which includes my bipartisan World Language Advancement and Readiness amendment cosponsored by Representatives Don Young, Gil Cisneros, Rick Larsen, Jimmy Panetta, Jim Langevin, and Seth Moulton. Our amendment would direct the DoD to award three-year competitive grants to Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools and to local education agencies (LEAs) that host a Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program for the establishment, improvement, or expansion of world language programs in elementary and secondary schools. The future national security and economic well-being of the United States will depend substantially on the ability of our citizens to read, speak, and understand the languages and cultures of other nations. Unfortunately, multiple studies and GAO reports have found that ``by several measures, the United States has neglected languages in its educational curricula, its international strategies, and its domestic policies.'' The U.S. puts itself at a disadvantage in our inability to communicate with our international peers. Research has shown that the ``critical window'' for language learning is from ages 10-18, making investment in our elementary and secondary schools a top priority. DoDEA schools and school districts with J-ROTC programs are uniquely positioned to reach children who are likely to join the military or work for our intelligence communities. Language comprehension is not just a luxury: it is vital to our economic interests, to our diplomacy, and to our national security. I urge adoption of this critical amendment.