Ed Perlmutter

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from northern California, and his points are really well taken. This investigation, rather than just sort of pushing some paper around, we have had other special counsel appointed from time to time and just in this--some of them take years. Whether it was the Contra affair, Watergate, or whatever, it takes years and years. Here, really in 1 year, we have had 13 Russian either agencies or corporations and individuals indicted. We have had at least six or seven Americans indicted in this whole process. Recently, I think within the last few days, or maybe it was even today, Paul Manafort, chairman of the Trump campaign, objected to the indictment that he found himself under. He went to court and said that Mueller had exceeded his authority by bringing the indictment. The judge said: No, that indictment stands. There has been a lot of smoke. We know that there is some fire creating that smoke. We have got to find that. We have got to find precisely what happened. Mr. Speaker, I yield to my friend from Connecticut (Mr. Courtney), who has joined us and has got some thoughts about this that he will share.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, my friend from Connecticut has reminded me of something. And I think something that has really infuriated me is the President's attacks on the FBI, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, our chief and top law enforcement agency in this country. Is it perfect? Absolutely not. But are they doing their job to the best of their ability to protect Americans, to protect America? Absolutely. And for the President to sort of just continue to chip away and to excoriate the FBI because it is undertaking an investigation that may implicate him in breaking laws of the United States of America, I think, is something that we haven't seen. This investigation needs to continue to do its work, to talk to witnesses, to determine what has occurred here. The Senate Judiciary today, or within the last day or two, released thousands of pages of testimony and information. One of the places that it talked about was what happened at a meeting--I think it was at the Trump Tower--in June of 2016, so 5 months, 6 months before the election, between a Russian attorney. I think another Russian was there; Paul Manafort, the chairman of the campaign; Jared Kushner, son- in-law of the President; and Donald Trump, Jr., his son. There is a lot of concern about what actually occurred in that particular meeting. There is a lot of material here that is very, very troubling. I know my friend from California has thought about this. He has thoughts about Mr. Giuliani saying that Donald Trump may take the Fifth Amendment, which I think came out of nowhere. But why would he want to take the Fifth Amendment? Again, the question is: What is he hiding? What is he afraid of? Let's just let law enforcement complete its work. Mr. Speaker, I yield back to the gentleman from California.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Oregon for those comments, who, as always, is very knowledgeable and passionate about the things that really matter to most Americans, and I thank him for being such an advocate for the environment, always, every day. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis), my friend. I know Mr. Polis has some things he would like to add to this conversation.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Yes, I yield to the gentleman from California.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman talked about quid pro quo, and the thing that I am worried about, I serve on the Terrorism and Illicit Finance Subcommittee of the Committee on Financial Services, where we deal a lot with sanctions: sanctions against North Korea, sanctions against Iran, sanctions against China, sanctions against Russia. With Russia having gone into Ukraine, Russia having gone into Crimea, and then Russia having interfered with our elections, a lot of sanctions are out there, but this administration seems to be using kid gloves in applying them.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Maine. The farm bill--and agriculture and the environment--is always something she cares a lot about, whether it is conversations about milk or eggs or local control, which is really sort of at the heart of her concern about this bill, that, you know, Maine, and its local governments and the State as a whole, cares about its environment and it cares about its agriculture. And she, as a Representative, makes that clear to the rest of us how important it is to her State. So I thank the gentlewoman from Maine, and I now yield to my friend from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I know my friend from Connecticut has some other thoughts, so I yield to him.

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Colorado for bringing up these important points, and I wish him well as he goes on about a campaign for Governor in the State of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Tonko), my friend, again, a tireless advocate for the environment. Obviously, New York produces, especially in his part of the State, a lot of farms and a lot of agriculture. This is a subject that he knows well.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Miguel Lopez for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Miguel Lopez is a student at Arvada High School and received this award because his determination and hard work have allowed him to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Miguel Lopez is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Miguel Lopez for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt he will exhibit the same dedication and character in all of his future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Nicholas Kulhanek for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Nicholas Kulhanek is a student at Arvada West High School and received this award because his determination and hard work have allowed him to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Nicholas Kulhanek is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Nicholas Kulhanek for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt he will exhibit the same dedication and character in all of his future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Exhauce Kumeso for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Exhauce Kumeso is a student at Arvada K-8 and received this award because his determination and hard work have allowed him to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Exhauce Kumeso is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Exhauce Kumeso for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt he will exhibit the same dedication and character in all of his future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Lukas Knight for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Lukas Knight is a student at Warren Tech North and received this award because his determination and hard work have allowed him to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Lukas Knight is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Lukas Knight for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt he will exhibit the same dedication and character in all of his future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Kyle McClelland for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Kyle McClelland is a student at Sobesky Academy and received this award because his determination and hard work have allowed him to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Kyle McClelland is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Kyle McClelland for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt he will exhibit the same dedication and character in all of his future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Dave Murphy for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Dave Murphy is a student at Drake Middle School and received this award because his determination and hard work have allowed him to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Dave Murphy is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Dave Murphy for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt he will exhibit the same dedication and character in all of his future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Michael Martinez for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Michael Martinez is a student at Standley Lake High School and received this award because his determination and hard work have allowed him to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Michael Martinez is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Michael Martinez for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt he will exhibit the same dedication and character in all of his future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Griffin McConnell for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Griffin McConnell is a student at North Arvada Middle School and received this award because his determination and hard work have allowed him to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Griffin McConnell is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Griffin McConnell for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt he will exhibit the same dedication and character in all of his future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Buffalo Bill Days for receiving the Golden Rotary Ethics in Business Award. The Ethics in Business Award was established by the Golden Rotary to honor for-profit and non-profit businesses. The recipients of this award must maintain integrity, conviction and possess high ethical standards demonstrated by the treatment of customers, employees, community and the environment. Buffalo Bill Days is a 100 percent volunteer run non-profit organization. They are responsible for putting on the largest community festival in Golden, Colorado. The event dates back to the 1940s and is an event the residents of Golden look forward to every year. Buffalo Bill Days is well known for their responsible management of finances and are a model for how organizations can work and cooperate with one another. I extend my deepest congratulations to the Buffalo Bill Days for receiving this well-deserved honor by the Golden Rotary. I thank them for their continued commitment to our community.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Jerry Pifer for her hard work and dedication to the people of the 7th Congressional District. Since I met Jerry in 2003, she has become a great friend and an instrumental member of my team. For more than 10 years, she has worked in my congressional office as part of the constituent services team and handled the issues of healthcare, Medicare/Medicaid, Social Security, labor and postal. Her wealth of experience with labor issues and in customer service made her a tremendous asset to our team and to the constituents we serve. Her relationships with local officials, liaisons at federal agencies, and within the community helped ensure she was always able to help answer questions, direct folks to the appropriate resources, and at times even secure money or benefits that were owed. Prior to serving in my congressional office, Jerry worked as a Flight Attendant for United Airlines for 30 years. After retiring from United Airlines, she got involved in the Colorado Democratic Party and helped run the Colorado campaign for John Kerry's presidential bid from 2003-2004. From there, she helped make my first congressional campaign a success and went on to help open my first congressional office in 2007. Jerry has a true gift for working with people, always able to make them feel comfortable and welcome with her good nature and sense of humor. I extend my deepest appreciation to Jerry Pifer for the difference she made in the lives of many people in our community. I will forever be grateful for her service to our team, the district, and the United States of America.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Tyler Pitera for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Tyler Pitera is a student at Arvada K-8 and received this award because his determination and hard work have allowed him to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Tyler Pitera is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Tyler Pitera for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt he will exhibit the same dedication and character in all of his future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Malik Jones for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Malik Jones is a student at Jefferson High School and received this award because his determination and hard work have allowed him to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Malik Jones is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Malik Jones for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt he will exhibit the same dedication and character in all of his future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Nicole Hensley for her role in the Women's Hockey Gold Medal finish at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games. This gold medal was the first win in over twenty years by the American Women's Hockey Team. A native of Lakewood, Colorado, Nicole attended Rooney Ranch Elementary, Dustan Middle School and graduated from Green Mountain High School. She went on to attend college at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri where she played goaltender on the hockey team. The position of goaltender is one of the toughest positions to play in all of sports. It requires incredible balance, endurance, hand-eye coordination and mental and physical toughness. After graduating in 2006, she became a full-time member of the U.S. women's national team. In 2017, she was part of the U.S. team as they won the gold medal at the World Championships. The dedication demonstrated by Nicole is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. Nicole is a role model for other athletes to pursue their passion, strive to make the most of their education and develop a strong work ethic to help them in all aspects of life. I extend my deepest congratulations to Nicole Hensley for her Gold Medal finish at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games and for proudly representing the great State of Colorado. I have no doubt she will exhibit the same dedication and character in all of her future endeavors.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud former Federal Heights Police Commander Patrick J. Murphy for his decades of service to the City of Federal Heights, Colorado. For over thirty years, Commander Murphy has been active within the Federal Heights community and police department. Commander Murphy started at the Federal Heights Police Department in 1980. He served in various roles at the department and worked his way up to a Commander, retiring from his extraordinary career on March 23, 2018. For nearly 40 years, Commander Murphy brought passion to his job and made a personal investment to the employees within the police department and the Federal Heights community. His hard work and dedication helped make Federal Heights a great place to live and work. I extend my deepest thanks to Commander Murphy for his service to the community. I thank him for his continuous dedication to serving the people and the City of Federal Heights.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Sutton Sparr for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Sutton Sparr is a student at Mandalay Middle School and received this award because his determination and hard work have allowed him to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Sutton Sparr is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Sutton Sparr for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt he will exhibit the same dedication and character in all of his future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Avryon Cardenas for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Avryon Cardenas is a student at Arvada K-8 and received this award because his determination and hard work have allowed him to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Avryon Cardenas is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Avryon Cardenas for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt he will exhibit the same dedication and character in all of his future accomplishments.

Mr. PERLMUTTER

Mr. PERLMUTTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and applaud Darrien Espinoza for receiving the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. Darrien Espinoza is a student at Arvada High School and received this award because his determination and hard work have allowed him to overcome adversities. The dedication demonstrated by Darrien Espinoza is exemplary of the type of achievement that can be attained with hard work and perseverance. It is essential students at all levels strive to make the most of their education and develop a work ethic which will guide them for the rest of their lives. I extend my deepest congratulations to Darrien Espinoza for winning the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth award. I have no doubt he will exhibit the same dedication and character in all of his future accomplishments.