John Ratcliffe

Mr. RATCLIFFE

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, as the American people do their part to stop the spread of coronavirus, they've made enormous personal sacrifices on behalf of the entire country's health and safety. Over the past few weeks, this deadly pandemic has taken over 1,000 lives in the United States and infected tens of thousands more, with a negative ripple effect plaguing nearly every family and individual to some degree. During this time, I've heard from business owners in Northeast Texas who are worried about how they'll pay their employees and the possibility of being forced to close up shop for good. I've heard from mothers and fathers who are unable to bring paychecks home to feed their children. I've heard from health care providers who are struggling to gain access to the medical equipment they need to treat the patients exposed to this highly infectious disease. They asked for their elected representative to step up to the plate and help. It's no secret that I don't ordinarily support sweeping legislative packages that cost trillions of dollars. But this pandemic presents us with dire and sweeping circumstances on a level I hope we'll never have to face again in our lifetime. Due to the gravity of situation that the coronavirus pandemic has placed us in, I support the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. While this bill is certainly far from perfect, it contains critical relief for the people I represent in Northeast Texas and throughout the country, which will help ensure we successfully defeat this invisible enemy in the days, weeks and months ahead. I'm grateful this critical legislation will finally head to President Trump's desk. Let's get the American people the relief they need, as we continue fighting this battle together.

Mr. RATCLIFFE

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Neguse and Ranking Member McClintock for their leadership on this committee. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2819, the Gold Star Families National Monument Extension Act. I was very pleased to have the opportunity to introduce this bipartisan bill, along with my Democratic colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey, Congressman Kim, on behalf of our Nation's Gold Star Families. The term ``Gold Star Family'' dates back to World War I, when flags were displayed bearing a blue star to represent a family member serving abroad and gold stars used to designate family members who had been lost in combat. As the Representative of a congressional district in northeast Texas with more than 50,000 veterans, and thousands and thousands of active duty servicemembers, this bill very much hits home. My home State of Texas is home to 1 of every 10 U.S. servicemembers, and nearly 25,000 Texas families have joined the National Gold Star Family Registry since World War II. The families of all the individuals who serve our country know the great sacrifices that are made when a loved one answers the call of duty because, unfortunately, all of our heroes don't always make it back home; and it is their families who will forever bear the burden of that ultimate sacrifice when they don't return home. As a grateful Nation, it must be our constant priority to honor our fallen heroes and their families. After all, we owe our freedom to their great sacrifice. I am confident that the Gold Star Families National Monument will help ensure that we honor our fallen heroes and their families on a national scale by extending the authorization for the establishment of a national monument located right in here in Washington, D.C. The Gold Star Family Monument will be constructed at no cost to taxpayers, as all of the funds that are being raised are being raised by the Gold Star Mothers National Monument Foundation. I am grateful for the opportunity that the Gold Star Family Monument will provide to all of our citizens to pause and honor the ultimate sacrifices made by our fallen servicemen and servicewomen on our behalf as they visit our Nation's capital. Despite the often polarized political climate in Washington, this is an issue that people across the political spectrum should all be able to stand behind. Again, I thank my Democratic colleague, Congressman Kim, for his leadership on this important effort, and I urge the rest of our colleagues for their strong support on the floor today.

Mr. RATCLIFFE

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Madam Speaker, do you know who doesn't think the Democrats have presented enough testimony or evidence to impeach President Trump today? It is the Democrats. Sure, here in the House, Democrats running this inquiry have declared they have done everything needed and they have all the testimony and evidence necessary to impeach right now. But right now, down the hall, Democrats in the Senate are saying the exact opposite. They are complaining they need more evidence and more testimony, because Senate Democrats know that House Democrats have built them a house-of-cards impeachment, an impeachment built by the same Democrats who told America: Trust us, President Trump committed treason; he is a Russian agent, and we have got evidence--which, of course, proved to be totally false. To quote the favorite catchphrase of one Member of this House, they got caught. Along the way, those same Democrats said: Trust us, the FISA law and court weren't abused by the Obama administration using a Democratic opposition research dossier against the Trump campaign and President Trump--again, totally false, and, again, they got caught. When Democrats started this latest impeachment inquiry, they said: Trust us, we have not yet spoken to the whistleblower. Again, totally false, and they got caught. Sadly, my Democratic colleagues have placed their own credibility in the hands of Members of this body who have no credibility left, Members whom nobody trusts because they keep getting caught betraying America. Unless a bolt of courage and integrity strikes that side of the room in the next hour, history will reflect that Donald Trump is the third President to be impeached. History may also shortly reflect that he will be the first President to be reelected after being wrongfully impeached. If that happens, Democrats won't be able to hide behind a pretend veneer of caring about the Constitution. History will record the Democrats' legacy as a betrayal of the Constitution because the Founders meant for impeachment to be used for actions so extraordinary and so rare that it has happened three times in two and one-half centuries. It wasn't meant for congratulatory phone calls where there is no crime alleged, where there is no victim, and where the Democrats themselves couldn't even decide what to accuse the President of doing wrong before ending up with this embarrassment of a grab bag of an abuse of power article. An obstruction of Congress? To even allege it is an admission of constitutional illiteracy. The Founders had a term for what the Democrats call the obstruction of Congress. The Founders called it the separation of powers. The funny thing about obstruction is every time Democrats get caught trying to frame this President for some crime he didn't commit, they follow up by accusing him of obstructing their efforts to frame him for the things he never did in the first place. The Founders warned and feared today might come when impeachment was used politically by the party that had the most votes. Today the Democrats are the Founders' worst nightmare come true. I think most Americans are probably wishing they could impeach the Democrats. To them I say: You can next November.

Mr. RATCLIFFE

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and thank a truly great American, my District Chief of Staff, Jason Ross. After five years of dedication to our country and the communities of Texas' Fourth Congressional District, Jason is departing from my office to return to the private sector with a record of extraordinary achievement and the gratitude of thousands of Texans whom he has served faithfully. Madam Speaker, I don't have the words to accurately or adequately convey my gratitude for Jason's commitment, dedication, devotion and loyalty to this endeavor over the past five years. Since Day 1 in January 2015, I have trusted Jason with charting a course for our district operations to the more than 700,000 Texans across 18 counties. Now, almost 5 years later, there has never been a single day where I have not been rewarded for that decision. Along the way, I've been witness to and credited for so many great and wonderful things that have transpired in our district--but always knowing that the credit belongs to and has resulted from the work of everyone on staff, under Jason's inspiring leadership. Personally, I could never have expected or deserved a better supporter, defender, confidant and friend than Jason Ross. I was once told that if the only prayer you ever say in your life is ``thank you,'' but if you say it with genuine praise and glory to God, then you've both said and prayed enough. So, on behalf of Texas' Fourth Congressional District, I would like to formally honor Jason Ross on his years of dedicated service to our constituents and this nation by saying . . . Thank you, Jason.

Mr. RATCLIFFE

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Madam Chair, the United States' relationship with Taiwan is an indispensable component in our efforts to maintain peace and stability in Asia and across the globe. And in today's digital age, this relationship should include a strong and robust partnership on cybersecurity. Over the past few years, China has clearly demonstrated its capability and willingness to conduct cyber-attacks against our country, such as the state-sponsored economic espionage that led to the indictment of Beijing-linked hackers last year. On top of implementing strict retaliatory measures to deter this malicious behavior, we should work proactively with our allies to establish preventative defense plans that leverage cybersecurity sharing strategies. Taiwan is uniquely positioned to partner with us on our efforts to combat Chinese cyber-attacks, and this amendment will help us move closer to enhancing our collaboration in this space so that we stay ahead of our adversaries.

Mr. RATCLIFFE

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Madam Speaker, due to an illness that required medical attention, I was unable to vote during many of last night's roll call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted: NAY on Roll Call No. 264; NAY on Roll Call No. 265; YEA on Roll Call No. 266; YEA on Roll Call No. 267; NAY on Roll Call No. 268; YEA on Roll Call No. 269; NAY on Roll Call No. 270; NAY on Roll Call No. 271; NAY on Roll Call No. 272; NAY on Roll Call No. 273; NAY on Roll Call No. 274; YEA on Roll Call No. 275; NAY on Roll Call No. 276; YEA on Roll Call No. 277; YEA on Roll Call No. 278; YEA on Roll Call No. 279. NAY on Roll Call No. 280; YEA on Roll Call No. 281; NAY on Roll Call No. 282; NAY on Roll Call No. 283; YEA on Roll Call No. 284; YEA on Roll Call No. 285; YEA on Roll Call No. 286; NAY on Roll Call No. 287; NAY on Roll Call No. 288; YEA on Roll Call No. 289; NAY on Roll Call No. 290; YEA on Roll Call No. 291; NAY on Roll Call No. 292; YEA on Roll Call No. 293; and NAY on Roll Call No. 294.

Mr. RATCLIFFE

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, at age 19, Ralph Hall jumped at the chance to join the Navy, to fly Hellcat fighters during World War II in defense of this Nation. Seventy years later, at the age of 89, he jumped again out of an airplane to honor America's veterans on Memorial Day. At age 11, Ralph Hall was working at the Rockwall, Texas, drugstore when he served two Coca-Colas, two packs of Old Gold cigarettes, and a stack of newspapers to two customers known simply to the rest of the world as Bonnie and Clyde. Eighty years later, at the age of 91, Ralph was still working and serving the folks in Rockwall, in north Texas, as the oldest Member ever to cast a vote in the history of the House of Representatives. From beginning to end, Ralph Hall lived one of the most extraordinary and remarkable lives of anyone ever to serve in Congress. In his 34 years in this Chamber, Ralph spent some of his time sitting over here as a Blue Dog Democrat. For some of his time he spent it sitting over there as a conservative Republican. Ralph liked to joke that was because ``the Republicans never much wanted me, and the Democrats never much liked me.'' Neither of those was true, but it was that self-deprecating humor that made Ralph Hall beloved to everyone who knew him. In the Science, Space, and Technology Committee room, Ralph Hall's picture hangs alongside other past chairmen. But Ralph was the only chairman to have Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Gene Cernan, and every then-living Apollo-era astronaut come to his home to celebrate one of his birthdays. When asked why, Neil Armstrong, the first man on the Moon, who famously took a giant leap for mankind, said it was because Ralph Hall was a giant to our space program. Ralph Hall, he said, was a giant among men. Mr. Speaker, to those on the floor who knew Ralph Hall, thank you for allowing me to remember him for the Representative that he truly was. And for those of you who did not have the privilege of serving with Ralph Hall, thank you for letting me remember the man who was the kind of Representative that we should all hope to be. When Ralph Hall passed away last Thursday at the age of 95, he left this Earth, went right past the Moon--and our loss became Heaven's gain. Godspeed, Ralph Hall. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask all Members to rise and observe a moment of silence to honor the extraordinary life of Congressman Ralph Hall.

Mr. RATCLIFFE

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Senate amendments to H.R. 251, the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program Extension Act. This bill reauthorizes the Chemical Facilities Anti- Terrorism Standards program, more commonly known as CFATS, for a period of 15 months. CFATS is a vital national security program that makes Americans safer by helping chemical facilities secure dangerous substances. Under CFATS, security and industry stakeholders must work together to identify high-risk facilities and ensure appropriate security measures are in place to mitigate these risks. I look forward to working with my colleagues across the aisle and in the Senate to develop a long-term reauthorization to protect our Nation and provide certainty to industry. I thank my colleagues in the Senate for taking up this urgent matter to prevent this program from expiring, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus). (Mr. SHIMKUS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this bill to allow this program, which protects and secures our chemical facilities, to continue, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RATCLIFFE

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5759: the 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act--also known as the ``21st Century IDEA.'' Mr. Speaker, I first want to thank my colleague, Representative Ro Khanna, for his leadership on this important legislation This bill is bipartisan. Because if there's one thing we can and should agree on--it's the federal government's duty and obligation to serving the American people as best we can. It's been a privilege to co-lead on this effort to help make sure we do a better job. We all know that there's a lot of room for improvement when it comes to meeting the needs of the constituents we were sent here to serve. But the 21st Century IDEA homes in on a particular area where our federal government lags staggeringly behind: digital modernization and technology. Why's this such a big issue? Because it's hurting our ability to ensure folks get timely and efficient help from agencies like the IRS or VA. And even though the technology we need to mitigate this problem is already available-we aren't using it. But as times change, and as citizens' needs transform, it's our job to ensure we evolve the services we provide. In today's world, this means ensuring that when citizens engage with the government, that interaction mirrors other modern, cost-effective experiences in their everyday lives. With everything from hailing a cab, buying groceries, or ordering a pizza, we've shifted away from phone calls, walk-ins, or pickups, toward online orders and mobile apps that save us time and, often, money. The same is true when it comes to federal agencies: Digitization increases the quality of service, promotes efficiency, and improves cost-effectiveness. In fact, recent data from the IRS shows that it costs an agency about $42 to help a customer on the telephone, and about $54 to respond to letters sent through the mail. The same assistance costs only 22 cents when conducted online. The 21st Century IDEA takes steps to catapult our federal government into the 21st Century by requiring specific efficiency-boosting and cost-saving improvements to government websites and digital services. These improvements include, for example, ensuring that consumers can connect to government sites through a secure connection, that sites offer search functions, that sites provide consumers a personalization option, and that sites consolidate redundant material These changes will be overseen by a responsible agency official to ensure compliance. On top of this, agencies will be required to make paper-based forms available digitally within one year, to provide a digital option as an alternative to in-person government services within two years, to submit a plan to increase the use of electronic signatures on contracts and related documents within 180 days, and to modernize their public- facing websites within one year. Consumers will no longer be required to print and fill out forms that must then be either faxed or mailed in. These digital improvements will drastically improve the way our federal agencies provide critical services to folks all across the country, including people with disabilities or those who live in rural areas with limited access to traditional, in-person assistance services all while saving countless taxpayer dollars. I cannot stress it enough that the federal government is supposed to work for the American people. And we owe it to them to do a better job. The tools we need to restore the United States' global leadership in technology and digital government are already at our fingertips. Now it's time to act. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on H.R. 5759: the 21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act.

Mr. RATCLIFFE

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6443) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a continuous diagnostics and mitigation program at the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, earlier this year, the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Homeland Security released a report on the cybersecurity risks faced by Federal agencies. Among the findings of that report was that almost 75 percent of our Federal agencies are vulnerable to cyber threats, in large part due to their inability to understand cybersecurity risks and, therefore, to properly prioritize resources. Mr. Speaker, it is statistics like this that should make the state of our Nation's cyber readiness and resilience deeply troubling to all of us. And it is one of the main reasons that DHS' Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation, or CDM, program has been one of my top priorities during my time as chairman of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee. That is because CDM has the potential to provide solutions to this problem by dramatically increasing visibility across Federal networks, thereby dramatically improving the ability of DHS, OMB, and agency security officers to better understand the technology assets being utilized across their agencies. Mr. Speaker, at the end of the day, looking across all networks and systems the Federal Government owns and operates, it comes down to fingers on government keyboards, whether they be laptops, desktops, tablets, servers, or in data centers. We need to know what we have before we can try to defend it. That is why the CDM program is so crucial to the cybersecurity posture of our Federal Government. Through its phased rollout, CDM requires DHS to provide agencies with the capabilities to collect the cybersecurity risk information necessary to make better decisions. It not only allows the ability to combat our enemies in cyberspace, but also to help Federal CIOs manage information technology. The security data that CDM capabilities and tools collect will help Federal CIOs and DHS make smarter choices about where taxpayer dollars are going and to understand some of the most basic questions a cybersecurity expert faces, including what devices are on the network. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6443 is necessary to codify the CDM program at DHS and ensure that these authorities will exist to allow the continued progress of this essential cybersecurity program. Making sure that Federal agencies have access to the tools and capabilities they need to defend their networks and getting DHS the data to understand cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities, and to coordinate our Federal network defenses, are paramount concerns in this technological age. My goal, and the goal of the bipartisan group of cosponsors supporting H.R. 6443, is to help boost the long-term success of the CDM program. This bill also ensures that this program keeps pace with the cutting- edge capabilities being developed in the private sector, thereby avoiding the type of vendor lock that has previously been a problem. In that way, this bill ensures that we will be modernizing and updating our systems before they become legacy technologies unsupported by vendors and at even greater risk of being exploited by our digital adversaries. It is DHS' CDM program that will help Federal agencies and the whole of the Federal Government to understand the threats they face and the risks that these vulnerabilities pose in real time. Authorizing the CDM program will further DHS' role in the cybersecurity mission throughout our government and will continue to strengthen and elevate this important program. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RATCLIFFE. I reserve the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my friends across the aisle, Ranking Member Thompson and Congressman Langevin, for their support of this bill. I would like to thank the ranking member of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee, Mr. Richmond, for cosponsoring this bill. Mr. Speaker, this is, very simply, commonsense legislation that will strengthen our Nation's cybersecurity posture and thereby strengthen our Nation's national security. Mr. Speaker, once again, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6443, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RATCLIFFE

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Chair, I would like to thank Chairman Carter and Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz for their hard work on behalf of the 63,000 veterans in my district, as well as servicemembers and veterans across the country. Mr. Chairman, I am grateful to once again have the opportunity to offer this important amendment, which would simply prohibit any funds made available in this act from being used to propose, to plan for, or to execute a new or additional round of BRAC. Mr. Chairman, I am privileged to represent the Fourth Congressional District of Texas, which is home to the Red River Army Depot. The Depot has supported the warfighter since 1941; and although the Depot community has weathered a lot of changes over the years, its commitment to mission has remained the same. On the placards inside of every vehicle are the words ``We build it as if our lives depend on it. Theirs do.'' The Depot is a vital job creator in northeast Texas, and it is a critical component, Mr. Chairman, of our national defense. In this fiscal environment, we have to be careful stewards of taxpayer dollars and focus our limited resources on addressing critical national security objectives and our military readiness. Having another round of BRAC simply won't help us achieve this goal. To that point, the Government Accountability Office said that the last round of BRAC back in 2005 cost the American taxpayers over $35 billion, which was 67 percent more than the original cost estimate. Starting another round of BRAC would weaken our capabilities while increasing our vulnerabilities in the face of critical threats facing our Nation right now. I would like to thank my colleagues who have supported this important amendment for the past 3 years, and I look forward to having this amendment included in the MILCON-VA appropriations bill. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Chair, I yield to my colleague from Texas, Chairman Carter.

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RATCLIFFE

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate and celebrate the life of ATF Senior Special Agent Scott Ragsdale from Fate, Texas, who tragically passed away on May 24, 2018, at just 41 years of age during an ATF training exercise. Agent Ragsdale is survived by his wife, Erin, and his two children, Aidan and Riley; his mother and father, Patti and Roy Ragsdale; his sister, Kelly Novikoff, her husband, Lee, and their two children; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins who loved him dearly and will miss him. Those who knew Agent Ragsdale best say that he will most be remembered for his incredible sense of humor and, of course, for his 17 years of dedicated service to his fellow man. He will be greatly missed in our northeast Texas community for his brave and selfless service as a member of our law enforcement. On behalf of the three-quarters of a million Texans whom I represent across the Fourth Congressional District of Texas, I offer my most sincere condolences to his family and loved ones. I wish you Godspeed, Special Agent Scott Ragsdale.

Mr. RATCLIFFE

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Republican Conference, I offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. RATCLIFFE

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act of 2017. Mr. Speaker, we are here today to take action on what I believe is the defining public policy challenge of our generation: the cybersecurity posture of the United States. We have seen cyber attacks hit every sector of our economy with devastating impacts to both government agencies and to the private sector alike. It is our duty to ensure that we are doing our very best to defend against the very real threats that our cyber adversaries now pose. The Department of Homeland Security is the Federal Government's lead civilian agency for cybersecurity. Within it, the National Protection and Programs Directorate, or NPPD, leads our national effort to safeguard and to enhance the resilience of our Nation's physical and cyber infrastructure, helping Federal agencies and, when requested, also helping the private sector to harden their networks and to respond to cybersecurity incidents. As the cyber threat landscape continues to evolve, Mr. Speaker, so should the Department of Homeland Security. H.R. 3359 elevates the cybersecurity and the infrastructure security missions of NPPD to strengthen the Federal Government's ability to act and react to the changing threat landscape. The cybersecurity mission today is extremely challenging due to a number of factors: the ability of malicious actors to operate from anywhere in the world now, the linkages between cyberspace and our physical systems, and the difficulty of reducing vulnerabilities and consequences in complex cyber networks. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Act of 2017 rises to this challenge and prioritizes the Department of Homeland Security's vital role in cyberspace. By authorizing the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency within the DHS, this bill establishes the structure, the nomenclature, and the flexibility to best serve the American people. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency will be structured to best work with partners at all levels of government, from the private and the nonprofit sectors, to share information and to build greater trust in order to make our cyber and our physical infrastructure more secure. This bill provides the necessary overarching structure and the interdepartmental flexibility to best allow the DHS to execute its mission in both cybersecurity and the infrastructure security space. Mr. Speaker, we consider this legislation at a great time of transition and opportunity for the DHS. Just last week, Kirstjen Nielsen was sworn in as the Secretary of Homeland Security. In addition to an impressive record of public service, Secretary Nielsen brings unprecedented cybersecurity experience and savvy to the agency, qualifications fitting the threat landscape that she now inherits. We owe it to her and to the dedicated women and men working alongside her to ensure that DHS has the proper organization and resources to carry out its mission as the lead civilian cybersecurity agency in our Federal Government. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman McCaul for his leadership and his dogged determination in this effort and getting this bill to the floor, as well as the other committees of jurisdiction who worked closely to craft this compromise. Mr. Speaker, the cybersecurity challenges we face are about more than protecting bottom lines or intellectual property or even our Nation's most sensitive classified information. Ultimately, our obligation as lawmakers to be protective cybersecurity stewards stems from a fundamental obligation to safeguard the American people. This is what we aim to do with this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting it.

Mr. RATCLIFFE

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 1616) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize the National Computer Forensics Institute, and for other purposes, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment.

Mr. RATCLIFFE

Mr. RATCLIFFE. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.