Donald Payne

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 876, the Aviation Employee Screening and Security Enhancement Act for 2017. Mr. Speaker, last month, the Transportation Security Administration issued a directive prohibiting travelers flying out of 10 airports in eight countries from carrying laptops and other large electronic devices aboard airplanes. That decision was informed by intelligence that ISIS and other terrorist organizations may have developed innovative ways to plant explosives in electronic devices that TSA may not be able to detect. This swift action highlights the importance of TSA's being able to adapt quickly in response to the ever-evolving terrorist threat landscape. Here, in the United States, we have been fortunate that there has never been a case where an airport worker has exploited their position to carry out a deadly attack on an airport, but we have seen such incidents abroad. Accordingly, Congress has given particular attention to the airport insider threat risk, and, in the 114th Congress, we enacted measures to enhance access controls at airports and improve security vetting for airport workers. Today, we consider H.R. 876, a bill that seeks to address this risk by requiring TSA to carry out a cost and feasibility study of incorporating new approaches to bolster access controls to a diverse range of airports. In an effort to help airports better understand the effectiveness of their current airport worker screening systems, the measure also directs TSA to increase covert testing of such systems. One feature of the bill that I want to highlight is a provision targeted at fostering greater vigilance and awareness among airport workers regarding the insider threat risk. Specifically, it directs TSA to work with airport operators, air carriers, and unions to develop insider threat security awareness training for airport workers within 180 days of enactment of the bill. H.R. 876, which was introduced in February and approved by the full committee in March, has bipartisan support, including the support of Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman, the top-ranking Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee's Transportation Security Subcommittee. Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of H.R. 876, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, 100,000 people in South Sudan are at risk of starvation. Turmoil in the country could push another 5.5 million people into life-threatening hunger by summer. This hunger crisis in Sudan is manmade, the result of a civil war that has decimated the agriculture and destroyed the economy, and it will take humanitarian action to fix it. I am proud to be a cosponsor of H. Res. 187, introduced by Congresswoman Karen Bass. This resolution aids the people of South Sudan by increasing emergency assistance to address the famine, and it calls on the Government of South Sudan to allow unrestricted humanitarian access to displaced and starving populations. I urge my colleagues to pass this resolution. It is essential that the South Sudanese Government and opposition forces cease their inhumane blocking of humanitarian workers and permit the delivery of assistance to the South Sudanese. Millions of lives are at stake. As my late father, Donald Payne, the Member in this seat prior to me, fought for this Nation to exist over a decade of work here in the Congress, to now see what is going on, he was able to get the situation in Darfur labeled a genocide. I hope the next generation of Paynes does not have to do the same thing in South Sudan.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 38th Anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), which has played an essential role in advancing the shared interests and values of the United States and Taiwan. Taiwan has become the United States' 10th largest trading partner and is a beacon of democracy in East Asia. Along with the TRA, the ``Six Assurances'' have also guided our relationship with Taiwan. Three years after the TRA was enacted, President Reagan issued the ``Six Assurances,'' reaffirming our nation's support for Taiwan. There is one area that, because of China's intransigence, needs further consideration. China has blocked Taiwan's entrance into international organizations where Taiwan could play a meaningful role. In addition to security, the United States and Taiwan have a close economic partnership. In 2016, bilateral trade was slightly over $65 billion. Taiwan and New Jersey also have very close trade ties. In 2015, Taiwan was New Jersey's 6th largest export market in Asia, with New Jersey's exports to Taiwan reaching $491 million. This week, Chinese President Xi visited the United States and met with President Trump. While this meeting presented a constructive opportunity, the interests must in no way be marginalized. The commitments made in the Taiwan Relations Act and the ``Six Assurances'' must never be compromised. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to be a friend of Taiwan and her people, and to recognize the anniversary of the TRA.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia's leadership throughout the years on many of these issues. Mr. Speaker, confirmation of Judge Gorsuch to the Supreme Court would be detrimental to the interests of working Americans, particularly African-Americans and other vulnerable communities. Just as President Trump's agenda prioritizes special interests, Judge Gorsuch's record shows that he favors powerful interests and businesses over regular people. His hostility to class action lawsuits would threaten protections for workers, especially African-Americans and other minorities. What is particularly of concern to me is Gorsuch's opinion in what is known as the ``frozen trucker'' case. Gorsuch ruled against an African- American truck driver who, after breaking down in freezing weather, ignored his supervisor by unhitching the broken trailer from his truck and driving away in search of assistance. In freezing cold weather, the truck driver is nearly freezing to death. He has a truck that won't work with frozen brakes. They are telling him to move--to use the truck and drive away. If he takes his truck with frozen brakes, the harm potentially to other citizens is great. An 18-wheeler truck with no brakes, that doesn't seem logical. Gorsuch believed that the employee should have followed the orders, even though the driver's life was at risk. Gorsuch was the sole vote against the driver, who was put in the position of having to choose between freezing to death, driving an unsafe vehicle and endangering the lives of others, or unhitching his trailer and seeking help. Judge Gorsuch's record is also troubling when it comes to issues around police accountability. Gorsuch believes in granting police qualified immunity, which protects law enforcement from being held liable for any excessive use of force. Now, this is deeply concerning given the widespread use of excessive force against African Americans by police and the increasing number of police shooting deaths of unarmed African Americans. This is particularly concerning to me. I come from Newark, New Jersey, and the police department is being overseen by a Federal monitor following a 2014 review that determined officers repeatedly violated citizens' civil rights. Additionally, Gorsuch's record on civil rights is deeply troubling. The National Bar Association, our Nation's oldest and largest national association of predominantly African-American lawyers and judges, notes that Gorsuch has shown a strong tendency to be biased in favor of powerful corporate interests and unapologetically biased against workers and victims of civil and human rights violations. The confirmation of Gorsuch would threaten the protections and the rights of African Americans. Gorsuch is in lockstep with the President, favoring the wealthy over ordinary Americans. This is why I oppose his confirmation. Even those who disagree that Gorsuch would bring a biased view to the Court should see the necessity in delaying consideration of Gorsuch, given the ongoing controversy over the Trump-Russia connection. It is inappropriate to rush forward with a lifetime appointment made by a President who is under investigation by the FBI and trapped in scandal. The Senate should delay consideration of Gorsuch until an independent commission investigates Russia's election interference and any ties between Trump and Russia. Let me just say that Judge Gorsuch has put on a very good show in front of the Senate, seeming to be very confident and thoughtful, but never really answering a lot of the questions that were asked of him. We feel that this jurist should not sit on the highest court in the land because of the bias that he has shown against working people and regular citizens in this country. Justice is supposed to be blind, but it seems that this jurist has a bias against the American working class person, the normal Joe, the minority looking for an equal break, and to have him sit on the highest court in the land would be a grave, grave mistake.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, on March 8, 2017, I inadvertently recorded a vote of YEA on H.R. 1301, making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2017, and for other purposes (Roll Call 139). I oppose H.R. 1301, and my vote should be recorded as NAY.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Rutgers men's basketball team on a tremendous accomplishment. With their win last night over The Ohio State University, the Scarlet Knights celebrated their first Big Ten Tournament victory since joining the conference in 2014. Their hard work this season has paid off, and they now advance to play Northwestern tonight. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the team, first-year head coach Steve Pikiell, and the entire Rutgers program. Following their win, Coach Pikiell said that the team learned how to compete this year. Well, last night it certainly showed, and I look forward to watching the Scarlet Knights play tonight and wish them continued success in the tournament.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, it took 7 years, but it is finally here: the House Republican plan to make America sick again. Under this plan, millions of Americans will lose their health insurance, and millions of other families will pay more for worse coverage. At the same time, the Republicans' bill rolls back Medicaid expansion and allows insurers to charge older enrollees more. We always knew that the House Republican plan would harm the most vulnerable Americans, but we still do not know how much this bill will cost and how many Americans it will cover. Now, House Republicans prefer it this way. They know that their bill will cover far fewer people than the Affordable Care Act does. They want to hide this fact from the American people and rush this bill through committee. Mr. Speaker, this is an obvious and embarrassing display of cowardice from the House Republicans. The American people deserve to know the consequences of this bill just as they deserve quality and affordable access to health care. With the Republican plan, it looks like the American people will get neither.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor all those lost in the Khojaly Massacre. On February 25, 1992, a little more than 25 years ago, over 600 people were brutally murdered in Khojaly, Azerbaijan. These were mostly elderly men, women, and children--innocent victims that should have never been part of such a heartbreaking tragedy. It is essential that we take the time every year to remember those who lost their lives during this horrific event in Azerbaijan. Their unwilling sacrifice continues to serve as a reminder to hold fast to the principles of democracy. Azerbaijan is a strong partner of the United States in a strategically critical and compound region of the world. I ask my colleagues to join me and our Azerbaijani friends in commemorating the tragedy that occurred in the town of Khojaly.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize March 2017 as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. This month offers us an opportunity to raise awareness about colorectal cancer and to recommit to taking action against this disease. Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable forms of cancer, yet it remains the second leading cause of cancer death among men and women, combined, in the United States. This year, more than 130,000 individuals in the United States will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Approximately 50,000 more will die from it. Too often, individuals are forced to forego screening because of high insurance costs. In order to get more people screened and save lives, we need to break down the financial barriers to treatment. Last month, I joined the Congressman Charlie Dent and Leonard Lance to introduce the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act. Our bill eliminates colonoscopy cost-sharing for Medicare patients so that every patient has access to this lifesaving treatment. Mr. Speaker, we cannot let cost stand in the way of care. I urge Congress to quickly advance this legislation. Patients are counting on it.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the newly formed partnership between the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and University Hospital, located in Newark, New Jersey. This landmark agreement, designated by the National Cancer Institute, brings Rutgers' NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center services, as the only one in the state of New Jersey. This will expand the offering of advanced cancer-related services for residents of Newark and the greater Essex County--which includes many constituents in the 10th Congressional District of New Jersey. The partnership expands the offering of advanced cancer-related services, including clinical trials only available at NCI-designated cancer centers, community outreach and education programs focusing on cancer prevention, and early detection including increased screenings. The focus on early detection and preventions is very important as March is National Colorectal Cancer Month. Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer in men and women in our country. According to the American Cancer Society, it is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States when men and women are considered separately, and the second leading cause when both sexes are combined. In 2016, it was estimated that 134,490 new cases would be diagnosed, and that 49,190 people would die from colorectal cancer. The availability of the latest treatment options and clinical trials at the Rutgers Cancer Institute at University Hospital are expected to improve patient outcomes and increase awareness of early detection and prevention to help reduce cancer incidence and burden in the 10th Congressional District. This partnership embraces University Hospital's patient-centered care model, and will create a multidisciplinary team of experts that will include: medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists, oncology certified nurses, patient navigators, social workers, registered dietitians, pharmacists, and other specially trained support personnel. The Cancer Institute is also physically connected to University Hospital, which allows patients to access additional clinical services, clinical research opportunities, screening and education programs and administrative offices. Additionally, the new partnership will create educational opportunities for community partners in the Newark area to work with University Hospital to identify cancer-related needs and develop culturally appropriate education. These activities will form the basis for future cancer-focused outreach initiatives, which will focus on improving cancer literacy and communication between patients and healthcare providers. This collaboration is essential to expanding comprehensive cancer services, including prevention, education, early detection, increased screenings, and clinical trials in Newark and Essex County, New Jersey and I am honored to recognize this exciting partnership between the Rutgers Cancer Institute and University Hospital.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, last night President Trump delivered a speech that was long on campaign themes but short on specifics. It seems the President is more interested in political theater than leadership, and it showed. He was very vague on every topic he discussed, from health care to trade, to tax reform. The campaign is over, but it is clear President Trump hasn't moved on. Where is his interest in governing and in leading this Nation? I don't see it. Just the day before, in his speech, he discovered that health care is unbelievably complex. Every day since the inauguration President Trump has shown that he is ill-prepared, ill-tempered, and ill-informed, and he does not understand what governing is about. His speech did not change that. It is time for President Trump to stop talking about bringing this country together and actually make an effort to do so. He needs to engage Congress, including the Congressional Black Caucus. He needs to move from platitudes to plans, and he also needs to act on the priorities of the American people.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I ask my Republican colleagues to think about the message that President Trump's Muslim ban sends to our young people. What the President is telling them is that our doors are closed, that the tired, the poor, the persecuted, and the oppressed are no longer welcome. I reject that message, and I am glad to say that I have heard from many young people who reject that message. I want to read from a letter sent by a middle school student from West Orange, New Jersey, in my district. Her name is Calixta. Calixta wrote: ``Immigrants are basically what America is made of. . . . Immigrants work very hard in the country, they get things done. These people fight for their lives.'' I am glad that Calixta recognizes President Trump's ban as a threat to American values, but I am concerned that other young people will see it and think it is okay to reject others based on how they look, how they worship, or where they come from. Mr. Speaker, the President's ban is illogical, it is dangerous, and it sends a terrible message to the young people of this Nation.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I was not present for the following Roll Call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted the following: 1.``NAY'' on the Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule providing for consideration of both H.R. 428 and H.J. Res. 42 2. ``NAY'' on H. Res. 99 3. ``NAY'' on the Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule providing for consideration of both H.J. Res. 66 and H.J. Res. 67

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I was not present for the following Roll Call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted the following: 1. ``NAY'' on the Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule providing for consideration of H.J. Res. 43 and H.J. Res. 69. 2. ``NAY'' on H. Res. 123.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, are we witnessing the first Manchurian presidency in the history of the United States? This resignation of President Trump's National Security Adviser, Michael Flynn, has done nothing to end the controversy surrounding the administration's relationship with Russia. I am calling for an independent investigation into Flynn's actions. The White House knew for weeks that Flynn misled about his secret communications with the Russian Ambassador, but apparently that was not a problem for the Trump administration as long as it was hidden from the public. Did the White House authorize Flynn's secret communications? Did the President? Why wasn't Flynn gone sooner? We don't know yet the answers to these and other questions. What we do know is that the Trump administration is not prepared to protect this Nation. For all their talk of national security, Republicans are giving President Trump a pass. An independent investigation into Flynn's actions is needed. The investigation must determine if improper relationships between the Trump administration and the Russian Government exist. Mr. Speaker, the American people are demanding to know, and they deserve to know just how tight Russia's grip is on the Trump administration.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I want to read a letter from a Syrian refugee to the interfaith coalition sponsoring his family, which settled in Bloomfield, New Jersey, last month. Muhammad is a father of four. His family was one of the last to arrive prior to the signing of President Trump's ban. Muhammad wrote: I feel ashamed when I repeat the words: Thank you. I feel it's very few and very weak in front of your interest and your generosity. The first thing I want to learn in the English language is how I can thank you more and more. America is beautiful because you live in it. These are the kind of families the Trump administration wants to turn away. They are the oppressed and the persecuted, the kind of people this country was founded for. I understand the need to vet people coming to our country, and the importance of protecting our Nation's security. No one questions that at all. But we cannot close our country to refugees like Muhammad and his family. We cannot sacrifice what it means to be American. Muhammad is right, America is beautiful, and we can keep it that way by remaining a beacon of freedom and hope.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I am glad to join my colleague, Congressman Markwayne Mullin today in introducing a resolution designating the week of February 13 as National Health and Wellness Coach Recognition Week. Lifestyle-related chronic diseases are causing a health crisis in this country. Chronic diseases are the leading cause of preventable deaths and disabilities, and they cost the U.S. economy more than $1 trillion per year. This crisis is so severe that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has deemed chronic disease to be ``the public health challenge of the 21st century.'' We can reduce lifestyle-related chronic disease and end this crisis, but that means improving and sustaining health-related behaviors. That is where the health coaches come in. They step in to fill the gap between healthcare provider recommendations and sustainable lifestyle changes. By helping to improve individual health and wellness, health coaches get to the root of this Nation's health crisis. I want to give my deepest thanks to the health and wellness coaches who are making the people of this Nation healthier. We should all support them in their efforts.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, earlier today I joined members of my community to discuss the impact of President Trump's Muslim and refugee ban. I wanted to read from a statement given by one of my constituents who participated in the discussion today. Her name is Nureed. She wrote: I have always been grateful for being an American and for the sacrifice my parents made to afford me my American Dream. Yet, every day, since the Republican nominee for President was announced, I have feared for my safety and the safety of my little children. I hold my breath every day praying that the day will not come that I need to flee my home for fear of retribution or, worse, because of my faith. Mr. Speaker, Nureed is an American who realized the American Dream. She is not a threat to this Nation, nor are her young children a threat to this Nation. President Trump wants to shut the door to the American Dream. He is tearing apart the fabric of this Nation before our eyes. I urge my Republican colleagues to remember Nureed's words and to oppose the President's unconstitutional ban.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 687, the First Responder Access to Innovative Technologies Act. Mr. Speaker, in my time serving as ranking member of the Committee on Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, I have come to learn a great deal about the very important, very challenging job of first responders. These brave men and women run toward danger with our safety as their number one priority. Since the September 11 attacks, the private sector has redoubled its efforts to develop innovative technologies for first responders to use and to carry out their vital missions. Yet, through our subcommittee's oversight, we have seen where, in some instances, industry standards have failed to keep the pace with breakthroughs in technology. As a result, we have found that first responders cannot always access the most up- to-date equipment because they cannot use Homeland Security grant funds to purchase equipment and technology that does not meet or exceed voluntary industry standards. H.R. 687 would require FEMA to develop a transparent process for reviewing requests to use grant funds to purchase technologies that do not meet or exceed voluntary industry standards and/or that are not on the authorized equipment list. The bill has the support of the Security Industry Association and unanimously passed the House last September. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter from the Security Industry Association. Security Industry Association, Silver Spring, MD, January 27, 2017. Hon. Dan Donovan, Chairman, House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications, Washington,

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, our first responders are on the front lines of emergency response. In recognition of their bravery and sacrifices they make every day, in and out, we must make sure that they have the access to the most up-to-date technologies to help them do their jobs better and safer. To that end, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 687. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 549, the Transit Security Grant Program Flexibility Act. As the threats to our homeland continue to evolve, transit systems, domestically and abroad, have become a leading target for terrorists. Last year, the Committee on Homeland Security's Subcommittee for Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications held field hearings in New Jersey to assess how transit owners and operators and local first responders were coordinating efforts to secure domestic mass transit and to determine what the Federal Government could do to assist those efforts. At the hearing, transit operators repeatedly praised the transit security grant program, although they raised serious concerns about funding, which has decreased dramatically since its peak in 2009. Witnesses also testified that the period of the performance for the transit safety grant program was too short to support infrastructure- hardening projects. Under H.R. 549, the period of performance for security-hardening projects would be extended from 36 months to 55 months in order to make it possible for transit agencies to complete projects that may take longer than the time period allowed under current law. This bipartisan bill was passed in the House last Congress, and I urge my colleagues to again support this measure. It is very important that we give transit professionals the flexibility that they need to keep our transit systems safe and secure. H.R. 549 will allow transit security grant program grantees to use the funds designated for security-hardening projects more efficiently and within a more reasonable timeframe. I urge my colleagues to support this important measure. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 584, the Cyber Preparedness Act of 2017, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, since I became ranking member of the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications 4 years ago, States have repeatedly expressed concern about the ability to confront the cyber threat and have rated cybersecurity among the core capabilities in which they had the least confidence. Last Congress, the subcommittee held a hearing on State and local efforts to counter the cyber threat where State emergency managers and chief information officers testified about activities they were undertaking to secure their networks and infrastructure. For example, my home State of New Jersey has begun developing its own cyber information-sharing capability, similar to DHS' National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center. Since the subcommittee held its hearing last year, the Federal Government has made significant progress in providing cybersecurity guidance to Federal, State, and local stakeholders. In December of 2016, the Department of Homeland Security issued its national Cyber Incident Response Plan, which describes roles and responsibilities among stakeholders with respect to preventing, disrupting, and responding to a cyber event. Additionally, the plan also provides guidance on information sharing related to cyber threats. H.R. 584 would help facilitate implementation of the National Cyber Incident Response Plan by promoting the sharing of cyber threat indicators and information, as well as cybersecurity's best practices, with State and major urban area fusion centers. The bill also designates ``cybersecurity'' as an allowable use of State Homeland Security grants and Urban Area Security Initiative funds, which would help other States replicate the cyber threat information-sharing capabilities developed in New Jersey. This is commonsense legislation, passed by the House last Congress, and I urge my colleagues to support the measure once again. Mr. Speaker, last fall, the range of cyber threats we faced came into focus when a foreign government attempted to interfere and undermine the integrity of our Presidential election by hacking into the campaign and political party databases. H.R. 584 includes language to address this threat by directing DHS to share cyber threat information regarding election equipment and technology with fusion centers. H.R. 584 seems to secure our critical cyber networks by improving cyber information sharing with fusion centers on the full spectrum of cyber threats. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 584, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, Donald Trump has stained the American Presidency with his unAmerican values. His Muslim ban has caused the suffering of countless families seeking the American promise of a better life, and it has put the safety of the American people at risk by providing fodder for extremist groups who wish to do us harm. I condemn this ban and the unfit President behind it. I ask my Republican colleagues who have stood by and said nothing: How can you remain silent? The American people are sending a clear message that they will not remain silent. I have received a large volume of calls from constituents in opposition to the Muslim ban. It is unfortunate that these calls are necessary, but I am glad the American people are paying attention and are committed to holding this administration accountable. I want to add that hundreds of Syrian refugees have settled in New Jersey. Many have settled in Jersey City, which is part of my district, and I am proud to be their Member of Congress. These refugees have escaped chaos at home and went through a rigorous screening process before entering the United States. They are respectful of America's values. The same cannot be said of this President.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, first let me thank the gentleman from Fort Worth and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands for heading these Special Order hours. It is an honor that I had prior to them, and I am sure that they see the importance of being able to spearhead topics that are important for today. Mr. Speaker, President Trump's claims of widespread voter fraud are unsubstantiated. Officials in both parties have said that there is no evidence of large-scale voter fraud. A comprehensive investigation found only 31 possible cases of impersonation fraud out of 1 billion votes cast in all elections between 2000 and 2014. President Trump lost the popular vote by 2.8 million, and it looks like he is looking for an excuse. What is worse is that President Trump's unfounded claims will encourage Republicans to double down on their assault on voting rights. There is no significant evidence of fraud, but President Trump's claims will be used as cover to suppress the vote. He is already talking about launching a major investigation into nonexistent voter fraud. The only thing that would come from such an investigation would be further restrictions on voting rights. If President Trump wants to investigate anything, he should investigate the real voter fraud talking place--the Republican-led attempts to suppress minority votes. The strategy of Republican legislatures in some States has been to suppress votes by instituting voter ID laws, reducing hours for early voting, and closing polling places. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, in 2016, 14 States had new voting restrictions in place for the first time in a Presidential election. This Presidential election was the first in 50 years without the full protections of the Voting Rights Act. As a country, we should make it as easy as possible for people to exercise the right to vote. Election officials should not erode our democratic principles. They should make sure that every American citizen has an equal voice in the democratic process. Protecting every person's right to vote is essential to a fully functioning democracy. The countless men and women who have risked their lives to defend that right knew our system of government only works when it is inclusive and fair, when it enables all voices to have a say in the future of our country.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I was not present for the following Roll Call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``YEA'' on Roll Call No. 60 (H.R. 423 Anti-Spoofing Act) and ``YEA'' on Roll Call No. 61 (H.R. 582--Karis Law Act).