Lucille Roybal-Allard

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, on April 16, 2021, I was unavoidably detained by a meeting with the U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator, and was not present for one roll call vote on a bill considered under suspension of the House rules. Had I been present, I would have voted: Aye on Roll Call 119, on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 1482, the 504 credit Risk Management Improvement Act of 2021. Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress Allred (Wexton) Babin (Fallon) Barragan (Beyer) Buchanan (LaHood) Cardenas (Gonzalez, Vicente) Crenshaw (Fallon) Gomez (Pressley) Gottheimer (Panetta) Graves (MO) (Wagner) Greene (GA) (Gosar) Grijalva (Garcia (IL)) Jayapal (Pocan) Johnson (TX) (Jeffries) Keating (Clark (MA)) Lawrence (Kildee) Lawson (FL) (Evans) Lieu (Beyer) Lowenthal (Beyer) McHenry (Banks) Meng (Clark (MA)) Mfume (Wexton) Moore (WI) (Beyer) Moulton (Underwood) Napolitano (Correa) Neal (Lynch) Nehls (Fallon) Norcross (Pallone) Omar (Pressley) Payne (Pallone) Porter (Wexton) Rush (Underwood) Sewell (DelBene) Sires (Pallone) Steube (Timmons) Trahan (Lynch) Walorski (Wagner) Wasserman Schultz (Soto) Watson Coleman (Pallone) Wilson (FL) (Hayes) Wilson (SC) (Timmons)

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, as a co-author of H.R. 6, I rise in strong support of the American Dream and Promise Act. I thank Speaker Pelosi for making the American Dream and Promise Act one of the top 10 Democratic priorities in the 117th Congress. I also thank Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren and the Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee for their invaluable hard work on this bill. Today, this House has another opportunity to pass H.R. 6 and, once and for all, end the fear and uncertainty that have plagued the lives of our Nation's Dreamers, who have become an integral part of the fabric of American society. According to the Center for American Progress, each year Dreamers contribute over $17.3 billion in Federal taxes, nearly $9.7 billion in State and local taxes, and their households have $75 billion in buying power. Over the course of this deadly corona pandemic, an estimated 202,500 DACA recipients have risked their lives to protect the health and safety of Americans. Yet, in spite of the critical role they play in our society, over 2.1 million Dreamers live in a state of limbo, doubt, and anxiety of being deported to a country most do not know. H.R. 6 eliminates the ambiguity in their lives and recognizes the talents and indispensable contributions Dreamers make to our country. While their individual stories may vary, they share the common denominator of embracing and exemplifying American values and love for this country, the only country they call home. The American Dream and Promise Act has the support of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents, as well as businesses, organized labor, faith groups, educators, health professionals, former cabinet officials, and the majority of the American public. This unprecedented coalition of support highlights that protecting our Dreamers and providing them with a path to citizenship is not a partisan issue. It is an issue about who we are as Americans, and what is in the best interest of our country. By passing the American Dream and Promise Act, we will live up to our American values of fairness, justice, and compassion. And these incredible young Dreamers, like generations of immigrants before them, can continue to play their vital role in the well-being our Nation. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the American Dream and Promise Act today. Mr. Speaker, as a co-author of H.R. 6, I rise in strong support of the Dream and Promise Act. I thank Speaker Pelosi for making the Dream and Promise Act one of the top ten Democratic priorities in the 117th Congress. I also thank Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren and the Judiciary Immigration sub-Committee for their invaluable hard work on this bill. During the last Congress a similar version of the Dream Act passed the House with bipartisan support. But unfortunately, the Senate failed to take up the bill. Today this House has another opportunity to pass H.R. 6, and once and for all end the fear and uncertainty that has plagued the lives of our nations Dreamers who have become an integral part of the fabric of our American society. According to the Center for American Progress, each year Dreamers contribute over $17.3 billion in federal taxes, nearly $9.7 billion in state and local taxes, and their households have $75 billion in buying power. During this health emergency they also demonstrated the vital role they play in American society. Over the course of this deadly Corona pandemic, an estimated 202,500 DACA recipients have risked their lives to protect the health and safety of Americans. Dreamers are amongst the essential workers helping to package and stock our food, the teachers of our children, and the doctors, nurses, and caregivers who daily have sacrificed their lives to save the lives of others. Yet inspite of the critical role they play in our society, over 2.1 million Dreamers live in a state of limbo, doubt, and anxiety of being deported to a country most do not know. H.R. 6 eliminates the ambiguity in their lives and recognizes the talents and indispensable contributions Dreamers make to our country. I have the privilege of representing the 40th Congressional district, home to 24,000 Dreamers--the largest number in any congressional district. Since I co-authored the original Dream Act twenty years ago, known then as the Student Adjustment Act, I have met many of them and hundreds more, from all over the country, who have traveled to our nation's capital to tell their personal stories of hope, fear, exclusion, and heartbreak. While their individual stories may vary, they share the common denominator of embracing and exemplifying American values and love for this country, the only country they call home. They are American in every way, except on paper. They are Dreamers like Gabriela Cortes who was brought here at age two and will graduate in May with a Bachelor of Science degree. She says the Dream Act gives her hope because quote,'' This is the only way I can fully contribute to my country, the only home I know.'' They are Dreamers like Sheila Salinas Navarro who is a first year PhD student at USC Leonard School of Gerontology. She says, quote, ``We need permanent solutions so that folks like me can contribute to this nation. All I ask is an opportunity to do so.'' And they are Dreamers like Marvin Perez, brought to this country at age five and now attending Glendale Community college. He says he wants the opportunity to continue working on becoming a physician.'' H.R. 6 will give them and all our Dreamers the opportunity to reach their full potential, contribute to their community, and help ensure America remains the strongest and greatest nation in the world. The Dream and Promise Act has the support of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents, as well as businesses, organized labor, faith groups, educators, health professionals, former Cabinet officials, and majority of the American public. This unprecedented coalition of support highlights that protecting our Dreamers and providing them with a path to citizenship is not a partisan issue. It is an issue about who we are as Americans and what is in the best interest of our country. By passing the Dream and Promise Act, we will live up to our American values of fairness, justice, and compassion. And these incredible young Dreamers like generations of immigrants before them, can continue to play their vital role in the well-being of our nation. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on the Dream and Promise Act today.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, in the traumatic year since the COVID-19 pandemic attacked our country and the world, countless families have experienced heart shattering personal losses. Parents, children, friends, neighbors, and colleagues have lost their lives fighting the virus. Businesses have shuttered, schools have closed, and our way of life with family and friends has nearly disappeared. President Biden's American Rescue Plan is a courageous and positive step to address the destructive tragedy of the coronavirus pandemic. I applaud my democratic colleagues who crafted this bold and unprecedented response in support of the American people. I am proud to vote for the American Rescue Plan on behalf of my constituents and the nation as a whole. This bill will provide individuals and families, including those of mixed status, with an economic impact payment of $1,400 dollars to help pay for essentials such as food, utilities, rent, medicine and other life-saving essentials. This bill will ensure unemployed workers can continue to receive unemployment benefits during our emergency economic shut down. And it will ensure the continuation of critical food assistance for those in need. The legislation also will provide much needed assistance to homeowners struggling to make their mortgage payment and it provides resources to help families pay their backrent to prevent eviction and homelessness. And finally, The American Rescue Plan, recognizes the dignity of work by raising the national minimum wage to 15 dollars an hour by 2025. This wage increase is critical to ensuring all working families are earning a living wage to meet their most basic of needs. Beyond vital pocketbook issues, the legislation also reinforces the primary responsibility of our federal government to respond effectively to the pandemic by activating the Defense Production Act to ensure a more prolific means by which to guarantee the materials we need to manufacture the vaccine and the hardware needed to inject it into the arms of individuals to prevent further spread of the virus. To address the weaknesses in our public health infrastructure's ability to respond to the crisis, the legislation also provides funding to support critical community health centers, so vital to meet the health care needs of my constituents and all residents of the United States. This pandemic is unlike anything our world has encountered in over a hundred years. This robust package is a testament to the strength of our country and its responsibility and ability to meet the challenge of any crisis. I heartily commend President Biden and my colleagues in the House and Senate who have worked so hard on behalf of the American people to address the catastrophic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic which has taken the precious lives of over 500,000 Americans.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, last week, we experienced a tragic day in American history when President Donald Trump incited insurrection with irresponsible aggressive rhetoric that encouraged and incited a mob of his supporters to violently breach and defile the United States Capitol Building. This attack was a supreme act of domestic terrorism that ultimately led to bloodshed and death in the sacred temple of our democracy. I take no joy in voting to impeach President Trump, but the president has blood on his hands in the wake of this attempted coup. The fact remains no one, including the president of the United States, is above the law. And this president has sadly violated his oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. As members of Congress who have taken that same pledge, it is our duty to take this action. His constant bombardment of false information alleging widespread voter fraud and his repeated attempts to delegitimize the 2020 presidential election has deeply divided an already fractured nation and has violently turned American against American. As this unprecedented attack on American democracy and our Constitution transpired, President Trump was reported to gleefully watch on television the attempted destruction to our nation's capitol while ignoring repeated pleas for him to call on his supporters to stand down. Trump continues to reject any responsibility for the violence and has shown no remorse or concern for those who have died because of his insurrection. A heartbreaking example was his initial failure to honor the fallen Capitol Police officers by lowering the White House flag to half-staff. At a time when thousands of Americans are dying of an insidious virus, which demands effective presidential leadership and unity of purpose to defeat, the president continues to be focused solely on himself. Defeating this pandemic cannot be undertaken while we have a president who denies its existence and is actively encouraging violence to overturn a well-documented free and fair election. Even after the tragedy of January 6th, Trump continues to fuel the fire of his supporters with his self-serving and dangerous rhetoric and to incite violence and distrust across America. He still refuses to denounce the insurrection and unequivocally call on his supporters to stand down from carrying out their armed threats against our nation's capitol and state capitols across the country. This lack of leadership and concern for the lives of our countrymen and women is one more example that confirms Donald Trump is unfit for office and poses a true danger to America and American democracy. To protect our country and our democracy, he must be impeached and barred from holding federal office again. This lack of leadership and concern for the lives of our countrymen and women is one more example that confirms Donald Trump is unfit for office and poses a true danger to America and American democracy. To protect our country and our democracy, he must be impeached and barred from holding federal office again. I cast my vote today for the safety of my constituents and all Americans nationwide, and for the survival of our democracy in the days, months, and years to come. In good conscience, I simply have no other choice.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I take no joy in voting to impeach President Trump, but this President has blood on his hands in the wake of this attempted coup. The fact remains, no President of the United States is above the law, and this President has sadly violated his oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. As Members of Congress who have taken that same pledge, it is our duty to take this action and impeach this unfit and dangerous President.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Donald E. LaPlante, a long-time resident of the City of Downey who is retiring from his service as a member of the Board of Education of the Downey Unified School District representing Trustee Area No. 4. Donald served on the Board since December 1979. He was elected to ten terms on the Board, in years 1979, 1983, 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, and 2015. During his tenure on the Board of Education, Donald has served six times as president of the board; six times as vice president and six times as clerk. He has been a member of both the Budget and Audit Committees and has served on each for over 15 years. Mr. LaPlante has also been actively involved in school board organizations during his time on the Board. In 2012, he was elected by his colleagues in the southern part of Los Angeles County as director for Region 24 of the California School Boards Association. Previously, he served as a member of the Delegate Assembly for the California School Boards Association for 28 years. From 1997 to 1998, he served as president of the Los Angeles County School Trustees Association, representing all of the almost 500 school trustees in the county. Prior to that he served as vice president, secretary/treasurer and as a director of the Los Angeles County School Trustees Association. He continues to serve as a member of the Executive Board as a Past President. Professionally, Mr. LaPlante is retired from teaching English and United States history for the Duarte Unified School District. He taught at the seventh and eighth grade level for more than twenty years. He received three awards from the PTSA at Northview Intermediate School in Duarte for his service to the school and the students, including a Continuing Service Award. He holds credentials for the teaching of English and social science and is certified to provide instruction to limited-English speaking students. Donald also holds a credential in school administration. A graduate of the University of Southern California with majors in political science and journalism, he also holds a master's degree in educational leadership from Point Loma Nazarene University. He did work for his teaching credential at California State University, Long Beach. Prior to becoming a teacher, Mr. LaPlante held a managerial position in the printing industry for over twelve years. He has lived in Downey for more than 55 years and is a graduate of Warren High School in Downey. He was honored by the Downey Unified School District in 2007 when it named the new science building on the Warren High School Campus as ``Donald E. LaPlante Hall.'' Donald E. LaPlante will officially retire in December after more than 41 years as a member of the Board of Education of the Downey Unified School District. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing and thanking Mr. Donald E. LaPlante for his many years of exemplary leadership and outstanding service to the education of our youth and their families.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate October as National Spina Bifida Awareness Month; and to pay tribute to the numerous individuals and their families across our country living with this condition. Spina Bifida is the nation's most common permanently disabling birth defect compatible with life. According to the March of Dimes, about 1,645 babies are born with this condition in the United States each year, with the prevalence beinq highest in the Hispanic population. Known as a neural tube defect, Spina Bifida stems from a hole in the spinal cord that occurs because the spinal column fails to close properly during development in the womb; and, therefore, this condition impacts virtually every major organ system in the body. Children born with Spina Bifida typically undergo dozens of surgeries before they become adults. Adults living with Spina Bifida face a myriad of physical and mental health complications, as well as other challenges, such as unemployment and limited access to quality primary and specialty care. Over the last three decades, we have made some strides in preventing the birth defect and managing the care of those born with this condition. In response to research that showed the incidence of Spina Bifida could be reduced by up to 70 percent with the addition of folic acid in a woman's diet, the United States Public Health Service recommended that all women of childbearing years should take 400 micrograms of folic acid daily to prevent having a pregnancy affected by a neural tube defect. Based on this recommendation, I introduced the Folic Acid Promotion and Birth Defects Prevention Act, which was passed into law as part of the Children's Health Act of 2000. This Act authorized a program within CDC to provide professional and public education for folic acid awareness. In 1998, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration required that folic acid be added to enriched grain products such as bread, pasta, rice, and cereal to increase the likelihood that women would have sufficient folic acid in their diet before becoming pregnant. And, in 2016, after years of advocacy with the FDA and the corn masa industry, folic acid fortification of corn masa flour was finally begun to target Hispanic communities that consume more corn masa products than grains. But there is still much work to be done to ensure adequate consumption of this critical nutrient that can prevent neural tube defects. There are currently an estimated 166,000 individuals in the United States living with Spina Bifida, approximately 65 percent of whom are adults. This disease is now witnessing its first generation of adults, an incredible milestone, considering that the original designation of Spina Bifida as a childhood condition meant that the vast majority of children born with this condition did not experience life beyond youth. And while a generation of adults is an achievement worth celebrating, unfortunately there remain many unmet needs and additional health challenges affecting this medically fragile population. As individuals develop, their clinical needs change, as should the type of care, and often the type of medical professional they see for that care. One of challenges faced by adults with this condition is that while we have a coordinated system of care designed to treat children with Spina Bifida in the United States, there is no equivalent for adults. Thus the ``graduating child'' enters into a very fractured medical system where individuals struggle to find physicians willing to provide treatment. Unfortunately, many of these physicians lack basic knowledge of this complex condition, and hence thousands of young to middle-aged adults are left with few options other than to seek care in the emergency room, while some continue to see their pediatric care team at Spina Bifida Centers, which are designed for children. In recent years, the Spina Bifida community has seen a growing incidence of sudden death in its over 25 population. There is speculation that this sudden loss of life has something to do with the central nervous system, but the cause or causes remain unknown. There has been much energy and resources devoted to ensuring that people with Spina Bifida can experience full lives that are not cut short by this condition. As such, we must explore and understand this sudden death phenomenon so we can reverse this troubling trend. Moreover, we must support--and expand investment in--research to address other issues related to Spina Bifida and associated secondary and co-morbid conditions, such as hydrocephalus, latex allergy, neurogenic bladder, developmental delay, and impaired executive functioning. The CDC's National Spina Bifida Program is the sole federal program tasked with improving the care and outcomes for people with Spina Bifida. In 2008, the Spina Bifida Program created a National Spina Bifida Patient Registry (NSBPR) to collect the scientific data needed to evaluate existing medical services for spina bifida patients, and to provide clinicians, researchers, patients, and families a ``window'' into what care models are effective and what treatments are not making a measurable difference. Building on this in 2014, the Spina Bifida Program funded the development of a Spina Bifida Collaborative Care Network (SBCCN) to identify and to disseminate ``best practices'' for the care of people with Spina Bifida at all ages. These programs are continuing to improve quality-of-life and outcomes for people with this birth defect, but their full potential has been constrained due to flat federal funding over the last six years. Additional funding could expand the number of clinics participating in the registry, and increase the amount of information reported, which in turn, will provide further insights into how to continue to improve care and outcomes for people with Spina Bifida. People with Spina Bifida deserve no less than the rest of us as we age. During a lifetime, someone with Spina Bifida will face at least a $1,000,000 in medical expenses, including multiple surgeries, and most can expect to spend much of their lives in a wheelchair or walking with braces. We must ensure that adults with Spina Bifida can receive evidence-based medical care tailored for their condition and receive that care in age-appropriate, non-emergency settings. I call upon my Congressional colleagues to prioritize increased funding for the CDC Spina Bifida Program to ensure that it will be poised to best guide the health care community in optimal treatment options for people living with Spina Bifida.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act. This legislation is an important first step to ensure our Postal Service is not undermined by the reckless and political actions undertaken by President Trump's hand-picked postmaster general. The United States Postal Service is enshrined in our Constitution and is a critical thread of the fabric of American life. Our postal workers and letter carriers work six days a week and often long hours to support business and provide Americans with essential services that keep us connected to our family, friends, and the world at large. We celebrate our heritage and accomplishments through designs on postage stamps. Young men enroll in our Selective Service at the post office. When we drop a birthday card, a bill, or a mail-in ballot into the mailbox, we know it will be delivered on time. And for many Americans, the USPS is a vital lifeline. For example, millions of seniors depend on the USPS for their Social Security check, for the delivery of their essential medications, for their ability to vote, and to stay connected to their family and the world. For many seniors, a Social Security check is their only source of income. It pays for their food, their rent, and other essential needs, including paying for their life-saving medications. Twenty percent of Americans over forty with a chronic disease receive their medications through mail order, and over half are over the age of sixty-five. Fifty-four percent of this group take more than four types of medications. For these Americans, including millions of veterans, the collapse of our USPS would be literally a matter of life or death. Currently, with our nation and the world in the midst of a deadly pandemic, without the postal service, it would be impossible to live our lives as we would normally. We must have safe and secure ways to continue to participate in community life, which includes the ability to exercise our most fundamental right as American citizens: the right to vote. More than ever, with the approaching national election, it is critical for Americans to be able to trust their mail-in ballots will be safely delivered in time to be counted. It is unconscionable that instead of expanding and securing our mail- in voting, President Trump's postmaster general is deliberately trying to undermine and destroy trust in our postal service. Mr. Speaker, I share the concern and outrage expressed by my constituents about delays in their mail, reduced accessibility to postal services, and efforts to weaken or destroy the USPS. H.R. 8015 will prevent the president, and his postmaster general, from weakening or destroying our U.S. Postal Service and the essential services it provides to the American people. I am proud to vote for the Delivering for America Act to protect the millions of Americans whose very lives depend upon the Postal Service, and to stop the president's insidious plan to sabotage it.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize PIH Health Downey Hospital on its upcoming 100th anniversary. On September 14, 2020, the hospital will proudly celebrate and reflect on the 100 years of service and care that its facilities and its staff have provided. Through the years, the hospital has been a cornerstone of the Downey community, caring for generations of local residents. From its beginnings as Virginia Hospital in 1920, with six beds and two doctors in rooms on the second floor of a former hotel on what is now Downey Avenue, this hospital's history has been eventful and full of advances. Within two years of its opening, an explosion in the city made the hospital's value clear and showed the need for larger facilities. Two years later, a new 15-bed hospital opened on East 5th Street. In the 1930s, a group of five physicians purchased the hospital and renamed it Downey Community Hospital (DCH). Growth before and after World War II added operating rooms, modern X-ray equipment, maternity and obstetrics wards, and an emergency department with round-the-clock care. By 1956, the same year the city of Downey became incorporated, DCH reorganized as a nonprofit hospital with 49 beds. In the mid-1960s, construction began on a new 152-bed facility at the current location on Brookshire Avenue. The day after this facility opened in 1969, eight surgeries were performed. Within a week, the hospital was full. Over the subsequent decades, DCH continued to grow its facilities, resources, and services to meet the health care needs of the growing community. In 1999, Downey Community Hospital became Downey Regional Medical Center (DRMC), a total health care system that included a 199- bed hospital and DRMC Insurance Services. Downey Regional Medical Plaza opened in 2003. In 2013, a Management Services Agreement signed between DRMC and PIH Health created an opportunity for greater collaboration between the two mission-based nonprofit organizations. Downey Regional Medical Center, with the approval of the California Attorney General's office, became part of the PIH Health family as PIH Health Hospital--Downey on October 1, 2013. The hospital was renamed PIH Health Downey Hospital in 2019. This new partnership has been crucial to meeting Southern Californians' expanding health care needs. Over the last century, PIH Health Downey Hospital has changed and evolved, but it has always been driven by a mission to provide the best care for its patients and our communities and making enhancements and updates to achieve this goal. It is now the second hospital of a vastly growing health system that services more than three million people. As PIH Health Downey Hospital looks to the future, the hospital and its staff remain committed to honoring a legacy of healing and hope. By prioritizing the needs of its patients and dedicating itself to meeting their needs and expectations for generations to come, the hospital will continue to have a positive impact in the community for the next 100 years and beyond. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to please join me in thanking and congratulating PIH Health Downey Hospital, and its more than 5,100 compassionate and valued staff, on the hospital's celebration of 100 years providing high-quality health care, and contributing to the health and well-being of our communities in an ethical, safe, and fiscally prudent manner.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7617, and I commend the chairs of the subcommittees who worked so hard to produce funding bills that reflect our ``For the People'' vision for America. The appropriation bills in this minibus provide critical resources for our wide range of vital domestic and defense priorities. As vice chair of the Labor-HHS Subcommittee, I will focus on that title of the bill which, thanks to the efforts of Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro and Ranking Member Cole, upholds our promise to Americans by investing in our workers' needs, supporting the education of our children, and ensuring all our families and communities have access to quality health programs during this pandemic and beyond. For example, the bill makes strong investments to strengthen the ability of our public health system to overcome the current COVID crisis, and equally important, to have the resources to build the infrastructure critical to our ability to successfully address public health challenges in the future. Robust investments are also made to address the health disparities COVID-19 has intensified, and the bill commissions a National Academies of Sciences study on the most promising solutions to advance health equity in the years ahead. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased the Labor-HHS bill contains substantial funding for many of my requests to support mothers and babies during this pandemic and the months to follow. This includes large increases to the Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant and the Healthy Start program, as well as strong investments in breastfeeding support and a maternal mental health hotline. Today, our children and families are suffering from the prolonged isolation of school closures and the challenges of learning remotely while parents try to work. As we fight the pandemic, this bill makes critical investments to ensure our children safely receive a high- quality education. During a time when so many Americans have lost jobs due to the economic impact of this pandemic, the strong outlays in job training and apprenticeships will help American workers gain the skills needed to get well-paying jobs. Mr. Speaker, Vice President Biden has said, ``Don't tell me what you value. Show me your budget, and I will tell you what you value.'' I thank Chairmen Visclosky, Serrano, Quigley, and Price, and Chairwomen Kaptur and DeLauro, for outlining those values so clearly in their appropriations bill, and I urge passage of this minibus.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7608, and I commend and thank the chairman and chairwomen who worked very hard to produce funding bills that reflect our ``For the People'' vision for America. This mini-bus composed of the State and Foreign Operations, the Agriculture, Interior and the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bills provides critical resources for a wide range of our important domestic and international priorities. While there is much to be thankful for in this mini-bus, I would like to highlight a few of the many critical protections I requested for vulnerable animals which these subcommittee chairs graciously included in their bills. This bill defunds dog testing at the Veterans Administration and prohibits notorious Class B dealers from selling illegally acquired pets into research. It also provides emergency shelter options for domestic violence survivors with companion animals. It prevents horses from being slaughtered in America for human consumption and cracks down on the painful practice of horse soring. It pushes FDA to reduce primate testing and to retiree these animals to sanctuary. Finally, the mini-bus combats wildlife poaching and trafficking around the world and provides recovery funding for endangered species like the California Condor. Madam Speaker, Mahatma Gandhi once said the greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated. I thank Chairman Bishop and Chairwomen Lowey, McCollum and Wasserman Schultz for demonstrating what that greatness looks like. I urge my colleagues to support animal welfare and our many ``For the People'' priorities and vote YES on H.R. 7608.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act. This sweeping legislation brings together some of the best policy ideas in transportation, infrastructure, water, energy, housing, and education. This House can be proud of supporting these priorities which deliver a positive vision for the future of our great country. I would like to focus on this bill's incorporation of two important factors in the decision-making process for infrastructure projects: equity and environmental justice. Equity is part of social justice. It means communities have opportunity to make the decisions about projects built in their neighborhoods. For far too long, marginalized communities, like those in my Los Angeles district, have been shut out of decisions that directly impact their health and safety. This legislation would prioritize projects that are built with community input. Environmental justice and the impact of climate change are key factors that must be considered when determining how to invest in our infrastructure. Every decision must be aimed at reducing greenhouse gasses and our carbon footprint for the future of every child in every community. H.R. 2, would require the Secretary of Transportation to consider equity and environmental justice in its grant making decisions, including those under the Community Climate Investment grant program and the Active Transportation Connectivity grant program. H.R. 2 would invest 105 billion dollars in transit programs. It doubles the money designated for urban areas and specifically directs transit agencies to serve areas with low income populations. This directive will help ensure places like Los Angeles and other urban areas, will build transit systems that serve every community. I'm very pleased my local transit partners at LA Metro have endorsed this legislation, stating that ``this much needed federal legislation is a bold, thoughtful and visionary proposal that will undeniably bolster the expansive work we are doing here in Los Angeles County to enhance the mobility of our ten million residents.'' I am glad to have their endorsement on this legislation. Equity also means equal access. Our experience during the COVID-19 shutdown demonstrates that businesses and schools can operate remotely, only when there is a reliable access to the internet. The Moving Forward Act will invest 100 billion dollars to expand and deliver high- speed broadband internet access to all regions of the country, especially in communities which are unserved, underserved or experiencing persistent poverty. This expansion of access to broadband will help ensure students and businesses can reach resources, regardless of their zip code. This includes urban centers like those in my Congressional district. I am proud to support H.R. 2, The Moving Forward Act, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to work with us to pass this important legislation for the American people and our American economy.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, ten years ago, this March, I proudly cast my vote in support of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The ACA built on the promise that was begun with the passage of Medicare in 1965, which represented a milestone in our nation's history by framing healthcare as a universal right for all Americans. Like many of my colleagues at that time, I would have preferred to see the bill go much further towards granting universal access to health care for every man, woman, and child in this country. Nevertheless, it was an important first step to improving the quality and affordability of health services, prioritizing prevention and the reduction of health disparities, and taking the necessary albeit difficult steps to rein in the escalating costs of health care in this country. The intent of the Democrat Majority in the 111th Congress was always to build on the ACA and modify and improve its programs and policies. Instead, what followed was at least 70 Republican led attempts over the next 8 years to defund benefits, dismantle programs, and repeal parts, or all, of the Affordable Care Act, with no serious effort to fix problems or replace the critical law with a viable alternative. For the last three years, Democrats have watched in frustration as a series of misguided and meanspirited Presidential executive orders have slashed funding, delayed implementation of programs, and limited benefits for consumers. And when President Trump's ``Repeal and Replace'' efforts failed, his administration turned to the courts to declare unconstitutional all, or parts, of the ACA. Today, with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act, we say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. This important legislation will strengthen and expand the Affordable Care Act by including provisions to reduce the cost of prescription drugs, reduce the number of uninsured Americans, expand access to quality and affordable health coverage, and protect people with pre-existing conditions. The bill expands Marketplace tax credits to lower health insurance premiums and allows more middle-class individuals and families to qualify for subsidies. It expands Medicaid coverage for states who have not taken advantage of this provision and reverses the Trump Administration's expansion of junk health insurance plans that discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions. The bill also requires the federal government to negotiate certain drug prices to ensure consumers have access to affordable and fair prices for drugs they depend upon to live healthy and productive lives. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), this bill would reduce the number of uninsured by 4 million below the current law, and it would lower individual market premiums by 10 percent and drug prices by up to 55 percent. Americans have overwhelmingly told us their number one concern is access to high quality and affordable health care. H.R. 1425 builds on the ACA and takes the next critical step towards reducing health disparities and providing more families with affordable and comprehensive health insurance. I am proud to vote YES for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 7120, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. I thank my colleague from Los Angeles, the Chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, Karen Bass, for her tireless work and leadership on this bill. The murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor were a devastating tragedy. My heart breaks for their families and all the families who have lost loved ones as a result of abuse of power at the hands of law enforcement. We expect members of law enforcement to protect us and help keep our communities safe. When we lose people like George and Breoanna in senseless and bizarre acts of violence, that trust understandably disappears. Rightfully horrified and angered against displays of police brutality, Americans across the country, of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, are marching in the streets to declare the fundamental truth that Black Lives Matter, and to demand justice for all the lives lost at the hands of police brutality. The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is a bold bill that will help address racial injustice and police brutality, head on, for all Americans. Also important is that it will help rebuild the trust between the majority of good, decent law enforcement officers and the communities they have sworn to protect and to serve. The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act will help to save lives. It will ban chokeholds, like the one used to murder George Floyd as he cried out for his mother. It bans no-knock warrants, like the one used by Louisville police officers which resulted in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor while she was sleeping in her home. This bill will bring transparency to law enforcement practices by mandating the use of body cameras and holding officers who abuse their power accountable. Furthermore, this bill ends qualified immunity, a legal protection that makes it nearly impossible for victims of police brutality to hold their abusers liable. This bill also reduces the ability of corrupt police officers to work in new jurisdictions by creating a national database on police misconduct. In response to the militarization of our police force, this bill will also stop the transfer of military weapons to law enforcement agencies in our communities. Weapons of war have no place on our streets. And finally, H.R. 7120 closes the law enforcement consent loophole, making it a crime for law enforcement to engage in any sexual activity with individuals in their custody. This bill is not the end-all solution. It will not end the root causes of systemic racism and police brutality. Nor will it address the systems of oppression that have affected communities of color for centuries. Creating an equal, just, and inclusive America is critical work we all still have ahead of us. The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is a positive step in the right direction. And it is firm declaration by Congress that Black lives matter. I look forward to working with Representative Bass and my colleagues to continue to combat racial injustice throughout our nation. I urge my colleagues to support this vital bill.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the House Majority's Heroes Act which is a critical and urgent response in our fight to defeat the COVID-19 catastrophe. As the unimaginable toll of this virus continues to mount, an economic disaster is also unfolding in every corner of our country. The Heroes Act is crucial to our ability to address these unprecedented crises. The bill includes new protections for working and middle-class families during this economic catastrophe by providing for a second round of direct payments of up to $6,000 per household. And it ensures economic stimulus payments for everyone who files a tax return, regardless of immigration status. Our bill also provides $175 billion to help homeowners and renters make their mortgage and rent payments and new payroll protection measures to keep 60 million workers connected to their jobs. The bill also extends through January 2021, the weekly $600 federal unemployment payments and it requires OSHA to develop standards to make workplaces safe from the virus. As we keep fighting COVID-19, the Heroes Act provides an additional $75 billion for testing, contact tracing, and treatment that is essential to our ability to save lives, curb the spread of the virus, and reopen our economy. Furthermore, the Heroes Act provides our frontline heroes with the support and protection they need as they fight COVID-19 to save lives, and protect our communities. This legislation invests over $1 trillion into our states, cities, and towns, to ensure they can continue to pay our frontline personnel, including health workers, police officers, firefighters, transportation workers, farmworkers, and teachers. The bill also establishes a Heroes' Fund to ensure our frontline workers receive hazard pay, and it protects our Postal Service workers who are making deliveries on their routes every day. In addition, the bill protects many immigrant families by automatically extending work authorization for DACA and TPS recipients. And it protects the health of the public at large by ensuring everyone, regardless of immigration status, has access to free testing, treatment, and services related to COVID-19. The bill also protects essential workers, such as our nation's farmworkers who pick the crops that feed our families, from deportation and it allows undocumented students to access higher education financial relief and it permits naturalization oath ceremonies to be administered remotely. Our small businesses also get additional support in the Heroes Act. The bill strengthens the Paycheck Protection Program to ensure it reaches underserved communities and nonprofits of all sizes and types. And the bill provides $10 billion for COVID-19 emergency grants through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. I am concerned however with the inclusion of the controversial GROW Act. And I hope this issue can satisfactorily be resolved during our negotiations with the Senate. Nevertheless, once again, House Democrats are leading the way during this crisis of COVID-19 with legislation that will save lives and put families and workers first. We have no time to lose. Nearly 90,000 Americans have died from this pandemic. 36 million Americans have filed for unemployment. And as Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said earlier this week, Congress must act now to prevent a deeper and more painful recession. I urge the Senate and the President to do the right thing and join the House in supporting the Heroes Act to protect the American people, help American workers, and bolster America's economy.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, as we continue the fight to help our constituents and all Americans as they face the devastating coronavirus crisis, I am voting today in strong support of H.R. 266, The Paycheck Protection Program and Healthcare Enhancement Act, to help protect American families, workers, and small businesses. Democrats successfully fought to improve today's interim emergency relief package by ensuring greater access for small businesses in underserved areas, and by successfully adding billions more in funding for testing, hospitals, and the PPE for health care workers who are caring for those infected by the coronavirus. For small businesses, this final agreement strengthens the Paycheck Protection Program with $310 billion in additional funding, more than the $250 billion initially requested. Democrats were able to set aside $60 billion to help unbanked and underserved businesses get access to PPP funding, including minority-owned businesses, urban and rural businesses, small ``mom-and-pop'' businesses, and smaller nonprofits. This $60 billion includes $30 billion for community-based lenders and small banks and credit unions, and another $30 billion for medium-sized banks and credit unions. The agreement also expands small business support beyond PPP by securing $50 billion for Small Business Administration disaster lending, which translates into more than $350 billion in loans, and $10 billion in SBA disaster grants. For hospitals and health care workers, Democrats secured $75 billion to help pay for Personal Protective Equipment and other resources. The Trump Administration has also agreed to key improvements to be made in CARES 2, including significantly lowering the interest rate on advance payments, lengthening the repayment schedule, and distributing payments from general revenues instead of the Hospital Insurance Fund. For all Americans, we added $25 billion for testing, which is pivotal to reopening the economy and resuming our lives. The Trump Administration has agreed to a national strategic testing policy focused on increasing domestic testing capacity, including testing supplies. I am also voting today to establish a bipartisan House Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis, which will help ensure we fight this pandemic with an efficient, effective, and science-based federal response which saves lives and spends taxpayer dollars wisely. The legislation we pass today will protect countless American lives and livelihoods. However, we have much more to do. Next, we must pass a CARES 2 Act that builds on the bipartisan CARES Act we passed last month, so we can keep helping our families, workers, and small businesses to stay safe, stay healthy, and make ends meet. And because the Trump Administration made the unconscionable decision to reject more funding for state, local, and tribal governments so they can pay their essential workers, we must redouble our commitment to include that funding in CARES 2. If governments cannot pay first responders, transportation personnel, and other crucial workers, we are all put at grave risk. In these troubling times, the American people are looking to Congress for support, guidance, and leadership in the fight against the insidious COVID-19 virus. Today, tomorrow, and every day, I will continue to do all I can to keep my constituents and my country safe, and to provide the resources needed for the development of a vaccine that will defeat this virus for good.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 86.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Chair, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 63.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will soon bid farewell to its Senior Advisor for Congressional Appropriations, Mr. Brian Wheeler. Mr. Wheeler has been the TSA's liaison to the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee for the past 17 years, and will be retiring from the federal government after nearly 30 years of dedicated service. He will be greatly missed by his TSA colleagues, as well as by the members and professional staff of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee. As chairwoman of this subcommittee, and as a member of the subcommittee since its creation, I am grateful to Mr. Wheeler for his diligent and reliable work to relay key financial and security matters to our subcommittee. He has accurately addressed our requests, and consistently met tight timelines. The information he has provided to us has been invaluable in our subcommittee's efforts to mitigate future threats to our nation's transportation systems, including our work to fund such TSA needs as more advanced detection equipment and crucial increases in personnel at airport checkpoints across the nation. Our Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee has greatly benefited from Mr. Wheeler's commitment, dependability, and experience. He has provided invaluable insights into the operations of a complex transportation security system managed by a large domestic agency sourced with both appropriated funds and mandatory fee revenue. He also has a keen awareness of the kinds of information appropriators need as we make informed judgments and decisions about the TSA. Mr. Wheeler's superb analytical skills, including his graphic and chartmaking talents, have been essential to our subcommittee's review of the TSA's annual budget requests, which now exceed $8 billion worth of budget authority. He translates several hundred pages of budget submissions into concise summaries. He has built detailed spreadsheets that have synthesized funding issues into easily understood programmatic rationales, which has put the subcommittee in a position to optimize our use of taxpayer dollars by ensuring that only critical requirements are funded. Mr. Wheeler has given outstanding service to our subcommittee, the House, the TSA, and the nation. His professionalism, perception, superb analytic focus, and technical skills have been invaluable to us. On behalf of all of us at the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, I wish him all the best as he moves into retirement and the next phase of his life's journey.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 60th anniversary of the City of Commerce, which I have the honor of representing as part of my 40th Congressional District. The City of Commerce was incorporated on January 28, 1960, because area residents were finding it difficult to obtain basic government services such as garbage pickup, recreation facilities, and infrastructure development. By the start of 1962, a Los Angeles Times article about Commerce reported that ``In little more than two years, the city has made remarkable strides.'' Over the years, Commerce has continued to evolve into a local economic leader, a popular destination for shoppers, businesses, and prospective residents, and a community known throughout America as the ``Model City.'' Even before its official incorporation, the area that eventually became the City of Commerce housed various manufacturing businesses. As the city grew, the need to create and maintain its infrastructure became crucial. In 1962, the Commerce City Council approved $1.5 million to construct streets, which increased connectivity to neighboring cities and the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. With Commerce's location by two of Los Angeles County's major transit corridors--the I-710 and I-5 freeways--products from around the world are transported through the city every day, and building and maintaining city roads remains one of Commerce's main priorities. Commerce's rich transportation legacy extends to other matters as well. In 1963, Commerce became the first city in the United States to offer regularly scheduled, free bus service to its residents. Commerce buses were also the first in California to be equipped with two-way radios. Today, Commerce's bus system remains free to residents and connects to other municipal bus lines, MetroLink (the region's community rail service), and the emerging network of light and heavy rail lines of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Currently, Commerce buses operate on 100% Clean Natural Gas. Eventually, like other systems in California, they will be 100% electric and/or hybrid. The Model City also prides itself on its other services, including four libraries, scholarships for college-bound residents, a Community Job Fair, lunches for children during the summer, and an annual book festival and comic book convention. Early in its history, the city also built four neighborhood parks that have included baseball fields, basketball courts, and the Aquatorium, which has been the home of world-class Olympic swimmers and water polo players, including Olympic gold medalist Brenda Villa. Commerce is home to commercial icons including the Citadel Outlets, whose historic facade is modeled after an Assyrian castle. Every year, the Citadel brings in millions of visitors from around the world to shop and dine. The city also boasts the Commerce Casino and Hotel. The casino is the world's largest card club, and has donated $50,000 in scholarship money each year for the past thirty years to help students pursue their college educations. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to please join me in celebrating Commerce's 60th anniversary, and wishing the city residents and leaders many more years of success in the Model City.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of Rosa Porto, who passed away on December 13, 2019, at the age of 89. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, and lived a joyous life filled with the love of family and friends. To the people of Southern California, she was also the beloved founder of Porto's Bakery. Rosa was born in Cuba, and as a young girl, the kitchen was her favorite place to be. Her mother, who came from the Galicia region of Spain, created many sweet treats, and the kitchen was always filled with scents of cinnamon, sugar, and vanilla. Rosa's life took an unexpected turn when the Portos' attempt to leave Cuba resulted in her being fired from her job, and her husband, Raul Sr., being sent to a labor camp. In 1960, in search of a way to support her family, Rosa turned her passion for baking into an underground business by selling cakes to her friends and neighbors out of her home's small kitchen. Before she knew it, she had built her business into a thriving enterprise with a loyal customer base. In 1971, Rosa and her family were finally able to emigrate to the United States, and they arrived in California with little more than Rosa's exceptional baking skills, Raul Sr.'s strong work ethic, and their dream to build a better life in America. Soon afterwards, Rosa began baking and selling cakes to friends and family who had heard about the fabulous cakes she had baked in Cuba. In just a couple of years, Rosa built a new base of devoted customers, and it was common to see buyers lined up outside her little home to pick up their orders. By 1976, Rosa's home could no longer accommodate the increased demand, and she opened Porto's Bakery, a small 300-square-foot business on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles's Echo Park neighborhood. Raul Sr. would help when he was not working at another local bakery, and after several years, he was able to join Rosa as her business continued to grow. Rosa's three children, Beatriz, Raul Jr., and Margarita, also helped at the bakery after school and on weekends. The children were greatly inspired by their mother's love of preparing the delicious foods she served, and they took on larger roles in the business after they graduated from college. As Porto's has grown, it has remained faithful to Rosa's motto that ``quality is the number one ingredient in everything we do.'' From its beginning in Echo Park, Porto's grew to a 2,000-square-foot facility in Glendale, and then one twice the size a few years later. In the 1990s, with the effort of the entire Porto family, their business expanded to a 20,000-square-foot facility, and later added a cafe. While Porto's began as a bakery that only sold cakes and Cuban pastries, its menu has evolved and expanded to feature a broad array of international sweet and savory items, including such signature items as Cheese Rolls, Refugiados (guava and cheese strudels), and the famous Potato Balls. Today, Porto's serves thousands of customers and employs hundreds of team members at five Southern California locations, including Downey in my 40th District, as well as in Glendale, Burbank, Buena Park, and West Covina. Rosa Porto will be missed by Angelenos of all ages and from all walks of life, but we know her gracious and gentle spirit will live on, both in the family she loved and in the culinary legacy she leaves behind. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in sending our deepest condolences to Rosa's family, including her husband Raul Sr.; their daughters Beatriz and Margarita; their son Raul Jr.; and their seven grandchildren.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of today's impeachment proceedings. I include my statement in the Record. Madam Speaker, today, the House of Representatives will vote to impeach the President of the United States. In America's 243-year history, he is only the third president to be impeached. The rarity of this process reminds us impeachment is an extraordinary remedy and should be taken only against a president if their actions are simply beyond the pale. When Congress learns a president may have committed an impeachable act, it is Congress's constitutional duty to investigate whether the president's actions are impeachable. Our House did just that when we learned the president may have undermined the Constitution in his dealings with the Ukrainian government. I disagree with President Trump on almost every issue. I do not agree with the way he runs his government. I do not agree with his spending priorities. I do not agree with his treatment of migrants seeking asylum in this country. I believe he is temperamentally ill-suited to his office, to put it mildly. But I have had disagreements, of one kind or another, with every president with whom I have served. However, disagreements over policy, tone, and style are simply not enough to justify impeaching a president. The voters of our country placed incredible trust in this president when they elected him. He now holds the most powerful office in the most powerful country in the world, the United States of America. As president, he has a duty to use that power to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law. Sadly, this president has violated that trust by soliciting and pressuring a foreign nation to interfere in the 2020 U.S. presidential election and by obstructing Congress's impeachment investigation. His actions undermine our Constitution, our system of government, and the rule of law. Today, the House is considering two separate articles of impeachment. The first is that the president abused his power and second, that the obstructed Congress. Both of these charges needed substantial evidence in order to be proven, and the investigations of the House Intelligence and Judiciary Committees have given us that evidence. Having reviewed that evidence, I will vote to impeach the president. I take no partisan joy in doing so. No American should take joy in the impeachment of a president. But as Members of Congress, we took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. Today we are living up to that responsibility. My impeachment vote is also a signal to future presidents that they are not above the law and will be held accountable if they violate our Constitution. When our children and grandchildren look back on this historic time, I hope they will know we did not shy away from our oath of office and that we fought to protect our democracy and to preserve our Constitution for them and for future generations.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I want to begin by thanking the Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Mr. Fleischmann, for his professionalism and partnership in putting this bill together. I don't believe either one of us is satisfied with all aspects of the bill, but I am confident that he and our staffs put their best foot forward in trying to find compromise and resolution. When excluding major disaster funding and funding for overseas contingency operations by the Coast Guard, Division D of H.R. 1158 appropriates $50.5 billion for the Department of Homeland Security. That total is $1.2 billion below the budget request and $1.1 billion above the FY2019 enacted level, including an increase of $325 million for cybersecurity and infrastructure security. This bill significantly enhances oversight of our immigration and detention enforcement activities, including increases of: $10 million for a new Office of Immigration Detention Ombudsman to conduct unannounced inspections of detention facilities and investigate and resolve complaints about misconduct by DHS personnel; $20 million for the Inspector General for oversight of detention and enforcement activities; and $14 million for ICE' s Office of Professional Responsibility to increase the frequency and rigor of detention inspections. The bill increases funding for the Office of Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention, including $10 million for a grant program to help communities develop strategies and programs to prevent targeted violence. For CBP, while the bill is $43.7 million below the FY2019 enacted level, it continues to invest in smart border security technologies, the hiring of customs officers to facilitate trade and travel at the border, and humanitarian assistance for migrants in CBP custody. For ICE, the bill increases resources for Alternatives to Detention to ensure immigrants can remain in our communities while awaiting their fair day in immigration court, but does not increase detention beds above the FY2019 level. There are no increases to hire new Border Patrol Agents, or Immigration enforcement personnel, and no funding above FY2019 for border barriers. The bill provides resources for: TSA to manage increased passenger volume and to procure advanced detection technologies to make our airports safer and more efficient; the Coast Guard to meet increased mission requirements, including a down payment on a new Polar Security Cutter to advance our national interests in the Arctic; the Secret Service to manage candidate protection for next year's presidential election; and increased resources for FEMA grant programs, including a total of $90 million for nonprofit security grants. The bill also includes multiple oversight and reporting directives related to immigration enforcement and detention, and it authorizes members of Congress to make unannounced oversight visits to detention facilities. The other bills included in this minibus also include priorities I support, including $7.6 billion for a fair and accurate census; a 3.1% pay raise for our servicemembers and civil servants; $425 million for election security grants; and grant funding to address the sexual assault kit and DNA evidence backlogs. Unfortunately, the bill does not reclaim Congress's constitutional power of the purse. House and Senate Republicans refused to include House bill provisions that would have prevented the President from once again diverting other funds to augment appropriated levels of border barrier and detention bed funding. To be clear, this bill is better for the Department and for congressional oversight than if we had turned to the only other alternative, a year-long Continuing Resolution. Nevertheless, it is an abdication of congressional authority for this bill to continue allowing the President to routinely ignore and circumvent congressional funding decisions. Despite the many good things in this legislation, I cannot legitimize ceding that authority once again to the President by voting for the bill.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at noon tomorrow.

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I am proud to be voting today for the passage of the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, a bill to lower healthcare costs by allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices for certain high-cost drugs. I am even prouder that H.R. 3 will reinvest the savings from these drug negotiations into a transformational expansion of Medicare benefits, which includes routine vision, hearing, and dental care. I have fought for years to include these critical services in my Seniors Have Eyes, Ears, and Teeth Act because they will prevent healthcare costs and suffering due to senior accidents, falls, cognitive impairment, oral cancer, and increased chronic conditions. Most importantly, giving our older adults the gift of hearing, vision, and oral health would go a long way to helping them enjoy their golden years free from depression and social isolation. It is time to recognize total healthcare for our seniors must include adequate access to vision, hearing, and dental services. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 3.