Kathleen Rice

Miss RICE of New York

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my wholehearted support for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. As my good friend, Mr. Jeffries, just said, I spent the first 20 years of my career as a prosecutor in the criminal justice system. I have seen where it works and, more often, I have seen where it doesn't work. I can say without a doubt that police accountability is one of the areas that is fundamentally broken, but we need to do more than just hold individual officers responsible. We need to address the institutions that protect them and perpetuate systemic racism. That is why I am proud to cosponsor this bill, which will make critical changes to this broken system, like reforming the qualified immunity standard, banning the use of chokeholds, creating a national police misconduct registry, and modifying the mens rea standard to hold officers accountable. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus and continue to listen to local Black leaders and activists back in my district on Long Island as we continue to root out injustice and discrimination from our society. Black lives matter, Mr. Speaker, and it is about time our laws and policies reflect that.

Miss RICE of New York

Miss RICE of New York. Madam Speaker, I was necessarily absent from votes Tuesday, February 11, 2020. Had I been present, I would have voted: ``yea'' on rollcall No. 57, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 58, and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 59.

Miss RICE of New York

Miss RICE of New York. Madam Speaker, I was necessarily absent from votes on Monday, February 10, 2020. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call No. 55, and YEA on Roll Call No. 56.

Miss RICE of New York

Miss RICE of New York. Madam Speaker, I was necessarily absent from votes on Friday, February 7, 2020. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 52, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 53, and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 54.

Miss RICE of New York

Miss RICE of New York. Madam Speaker, I was necessarily absent from votes on Wednesday February 5, 2020. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 35, YEA on Roll Call No. 36, and YEA on Roll Call No. 37.

Miss RICE of New York

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Chair, I am prepared to close. Mr. Chair, I want to thank Chairman Pallone for supporting the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Chair, my amendment would expand the PFAS Infrastructure Grant Program by 25 percent and designate the increased funds for reimbursing water districts that have already started to address the PFAS water crisis. Like many communities across the Nation, Long Island, my district in New York, played a major role in the industrialization of America. Industrialization brought unparalleled economic growth, innovative new technologies, and transformed society as we know it. But with these great societal gains also came unintended consequences, like PFAS drinking water contamination. PFAS are toxic chemicals found in paint, cleaning products, packaging, and countless other products; and too often, they find their way into our drinking water systems. According to a May 2019 study by the New York Public Interest Research Group, Long Island has the most contaminated drinking water in New York State, and Nassau County has the highest number of water systems with detected emerging contaminants, including PFOA and PFOS. For years, water districts across the country have had to invest millions of their own dollars on technology to secure impacted wells and keep their residents safe. These costs have crushed our local communities, and that is why I have offered this amendment today. Communities that could not wait for Federal action and that quickly redirected resources to address this immediate health threat should not be punished. The Federal Government failed to address this threat for decades. The least we can do now is help reimburse the costs incurred by local water districts that acted when Congress failed to do so. Without this Federal reimbursement, costs could be unfairly transferred to residents in the form of higher water utility bills. We cannot let this happen. Residents should not be left with the bill when they had no responsibility for the crisis. I would like to thank my colleagues from Long Island, Representatives Peter King and Tom Suozzi, for coleading this amendment with me, and our other bipartisan cosponsors, Representatives Fitzpatrick, Grijalva, Cisneros, and Stevens, as well. This is a commonsense bipartisan priority, and I urge all of my colleagues to support my amendment to help these communities. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Miss RICE of New York

Miss RICE of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the founding of my hometown, Garden City, New York. As the first planned suburban community in the United States, the village of Garden City is steeped in history. Home to Mitchel Air Force Base, Garden City has played a critical role in our Nation's aviation industry. It was here where our Nation's first fighter pilots trained during World War I. During World War II, the airbase played a pivotal role in defending our Nation's Eastern seaboard and later served as a staging ground for the European air campaign against Nazi Germany. Garden City is also at the epicenter of countless cultural and tourist attractions on Long Island, including the Garden City Hotel, which today continues to serve thousands of visitors attending thoroughbred races at Belmont race track. On a more personal note, Garden City is also a community that welcomed my family with open arms. It was in Garden City where my father, the eldest son of an Irish immigrant, ran a successful construction company, where my parents raised me and my nine brothers and sisters, and where I first learned about the importance of public service and civic engagement. Garden City is a wonderful community filled with wonderful people. I am proud to join my friends, family, and neighbors in celebrating its 150th anniversary.

Miss RICE of New York

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4334, the Dignity in Aging Act of 2019, which includes key provisions from our bill, the Younger Onset Alzheimer's Act. This critical legislation will amend the Older Americans Act to ensure that the hundreds of thousands of Americans living with younger- onset Alzheimer's disease receive the care and support that they desperately need and deserve. The Older Americans Act was originally enacted in 1965 and supports a range of home and community-based programs for Americans age 60 and older. These programs include nutritional services like Meals on Wheels, in-home and adult daycare, transportation services, legal aid, elder abuse prevention, and vital assistance and support for family caregivers. These programs have become absolutely essential to people living with Alzheimer's disease and their families. However, today 5 percent of Americans living with Alzheimer's disease, approximately 250,000 people, are living with younger-onset Alzheimer's, a disease that has a particularly devastating effect on families, with diagnoses coming in individual's thirties, forties, or fifties, when they still have young children, new homes and growing careers. They are in the prime of their lives, and they don't always have the financial stability to leave the workforce, which is usually inevitable. And because of their young age, they are currently ineligible for all OAA-funded programs. Virtually overnight, these families face unimaginable and unforeseen financial and emotional strain; and yet they are denied access to critical OAA programs, programs that we know work, and that so many people with Alzheimer's rely on every day. By including major provisions from our bill, the Dignity in Aging Act will ensure that younger Alzheimer's patients and their families have access to critical programs and support. Before I conclude, Mr. Speaker, I want to take a moment to acknowledge two of my constituents who helped bring this issue to my attention, Karen Henley and Connie Wasserman. Karen lost her husband, Mike, to younger-onset Alzheimer's in 2012. He was diagnosed at the age of 36 and passed away at 47. Karen, Mike, and their two children, Brandon and Courtney, experienced firsthand how challenging it is for people with this disease to find affordable and quality care. Connie Wasserman is the Associate Executive Director of Social Services of the Sid Jacobson JCC in East Hills, New York. For years, she has played a crucial role in supporting people and families living with younger-onset Alzheimer's right on Long Island, families like the Henleys, who had nowhere to go. But because the government does not fund Alzheimer's programs for people under the age of 60, Connie has had to start her own. And right now, she relies almost entirely on private funding. Connie and Karen have become tireless advocates for those living with younger-onset Alzheimer's, and they worked closely with my office on this bill. As fate should have it, today is Karen and Mike Henley's wedding anniversary and, in honor of them, I ask all of my colleagues to support the Dignity in Aging Act of 2019.

Miss RICE of New York

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 1833, which would rename a postal facility in Floral Park, New York, after FDNY Lieutenant Michael R. Davidson, who tragically lost his life in the line of duty a year and a half ago. My district on Long Island has a long and proud tradition of service in the New York City Fire Department. For generations, young men and women from New York's Fourth Congressional District have joined the FDNY, following in the footsteps of their parents and grandparents. They choose a life of service and sacrifice and dedicate their lives to protecting others. Lieutenant Michael Davidson was a part of that tradition. Lieutenant Davidson joined the FDNY in May of 2003. Assigned to Harlem Engine Company 69, Michael had the opportunity to serve side by side with his father, Robert, who spent most of his 26-year career at that same firehouse. Michael was known among his colleagues for his bravery and lifesaving actions, and he received four citations for valor during his career. As a ``nozzle man,'' he fought fires from the front of the hose and was often the first sent into burning buildings. On March 22, 2018, Lieutenant Davidson was called to battle a five- alarm fire on a movie set in Harlem. And, as usual, Davidson was the point man on the team that entered the building's basement to fight the blaze. Conditions quickly became too dangerous for the firefighters to withstand, and, though the unit was ordered to retreat, Lieutenant Davidson was separated from his team in the thick smoke. His colleagues later found him unconscious, and he tragically passed away the next day at Harlem Hospital. Lieutenant Davidson's death was a devastating and unshakeable loss for the FDNY; for Engine Company 69; for Floral Park; but, most of all, for his family and friends. That is why this bill is not just about honoring a fallen hero. It is also about honoring a highly respected member of our community; a beloved neighbor; and, above all, a devoted husband to his wife, Eileen, and a loving father of four young children. Renaming our post office in Floral Park will ensure that Lieutenant Davidson's treasured memory is always in our hearts and minds and that his service and sacrifice are never forgotten. I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in honoring a hero and supporting H.R. 1833.

Miss RICE of New York

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, six children have died in DHS custody over the past year. On Christmas Day in 2018, 8-year old Felipe Alonzo Gomez died in the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. He was the second child that month to die in CBP custody. And after his death, CBP implemented a new medical screening process for young children in their care. However, as we soon learned, this process was not adequate, because four more children died in CBP custody from preventable illnesses and substandard living conditions. Even after these new screening processes were put in place, both CBP personnel and their facilities along the southern border remained completely ill-equipped for months. That is why this past July, the House passed H.R. 3239, the Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in Customs and Border Protection Custody Act. This bill would require DHS to improve screening processes and utilize professional medical staff. And it allocated other necessary resources to conduct effective initial medical screenings for all people in CBP custody. Today, I am proud to support Congresswoman Underwood's effort to build on that legislation. I was honored that, in her first few months in office, Congresswoman Underwood joined me on two separate trips to the southern border. She drafted this bill as a direct result of what she witnessed on those trips. H.R. 3525 directs DHS to consult with medical experts to improve its medical screening process and to finally establish an electronic health record system for people in CBP custody. DHS has always been on the cutting edge of innovation, leveraging the latest in technological advances to fulfill its critical mission of protecting our homeland. And I believe it is now vital that DHS use that same approach when caring for the individuals and families in its custody. The Department has a long, successful history of working with the private sector to achieve its counterterrorism, emergency response, and cybersecurity goals. This bill would require DHS to consult with national and medical professional associations who have the expertise in emergency medicine, nursing, pediatric care, and other relevant medical skills to make sure that DHS is providing appropriate medical care to migrants in its custody. It specifically instructs DHS to research innovative approaches for screening vulnerable populations, including pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. CBP is long overdue for an electronic health records system. In 2019, there is no good reason why an agency under as much strain as CBP is still using paper records. An electronic health record system would improve CBP's internal operations and expedite coordination when children and adults are transferred to other agencies. I would hope that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle agree that not one more child should die in the custody of the Federal Government. This bill should not be controversial. It is bipartisan; it offers commonsense solutions; and it will help save lives. I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 3525 today.

Miss RICE of New York

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I was necessarily absent from votes on Thursday September 12, 2019. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 526; ``nay'' on rollcall No. 527; ``nay'' on rollcall No. 528; ``nay'' on rollcall No. 529; and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 530.

Miss RICE of New York

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome Rabbi Mark Getman of Temple Emanu-El of Canarsie, Brooklyn, and thank him for leading us in prayer this morning on the House floor. I was proud to invite Rabbi Getman to give the opening prayer today, and I am even more proud to call him a constituent of New York's Fourth Congressional District. Rabbi Getman is a military veteran, a cancer survivor, a community leader, and a man of deep faith. He embodies the strength, leadership, and patriotism that we look for in every American. I can't express how grateful I am to Rabbi Getman for making the trip down to Washington today to represent our community and to deliver a message of harmony and compassion. I believe that is a message that our country needs to hear, perhaps now more than ever. Rabbi Getman graciously reminded us today that we are a country united under God, in our pursuit of prosperity and peace for all people, and he reminded us that this shared purpose is more powerful, more important than any political division we may have, and I couldn't agree more. As a member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I am beyond appreciative that Rabbi Getman paid such a touching tribute to the brave men and women who wear our uniform today and to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our great Nation. As a veteran himself, I know that Rabbi Getman understands that sacrifice better than most. I want to thank Rabbi Getman once more for his service to our community and to our country and, above all, for taking the time to be here with us today and delivering a much-needed message of unity.

Miss RICE of New York

Miss RICE of New York. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Miss RICE of New York. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I was pleased to see that my bill, the Stop Terrorist Use of Virtual Currencies Act, was included in the base text of the Intelligence Authorization Act. This bill requires the Director of National Intelligence and the Secretary of the Treasury to develop and submit a threat assessment report on the use of virtual currencies by terrorist organizations. My amendment would simply include the DHS Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis into this report and require that this report be disseminated to State and local law enforcement officials. In the 18 years since the deadliest terrorist attack in American history, the United States has led the global campaign to combat terrorism, thwarting plots and preventing attacks on American soil, identifying and disrupting terrorist networks around the world, hunting down terrorists wherever they hide, and proving that they can and will be brought to justice. But we also know that the threat of terrorism is not the same as it was 18 years ago; it is a threat that constantly evolves, and we need to evolve with it. We need to evolve ahead of it. That is why I have offered this amendment. In recent years, we have seen instances in which members of terrorist groups have turned to virtual currencies to finance and support their operations. For example, in December of 2017, a woman in New York was arrested and pled guilty after she obtained $62,000 in bitcoin and other virtual currencies to send to ISIS. Using those virtual funds, she was able to send the money via shell entities in Pakistan, China, and Turkey that were fronts for ISIS. In early 2017, Indonesian authorities reported that a Syria-based Indonesian with ties to ISIS used bitcoin and other virtual currencies to fund attacks in Indonesia. The same things that make virtual currencies appealing to everyday consumers, speed and convenience, make these currencies appealing to those who want to finance illegal activities. And many forms of virtual currencies also offer their users anonymity, making them particularly attractive to those seeking to circumvent American law enforcement and financial institutions. In order to effectively confront this threat, we need to fully understand it. We need a comprehensive assessment of how virtual currencies might be abused for illegal and nefarious ends. That is why it is critical that we act now to assess and understand this emerging threat. There is no denying it. Virtual currencies have exposed deep vulnerabilities in our counterterrorism efforts. And unfortunately, right now, our government lacks a comprehensive response and strategy to address this threat. Passing this amendment will give counterterrorism and law enforcement officials at all levels the information and strategies they desperately need to confront this threat head-on with 21st-century solutions. This is a commonsense, bipartisan priority, and I urge all my colleagues to support this amendment. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff).

Miss RICE of New York. Madam Chair, I want to thank Chairman Schiff and Ranking Member Nunes for supporting the amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Miss RICE of New York

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2109, the Boosting Rates of American Veteran Employment Act, which I introduced along with Paul Cook from California. The BRAVE Act is commonsense, bipartisan legislation that will authorize the VA Secretary to give preference to contractors with high concentrations of full-time veteran employees when awarding Federal contracts. First, this bill will reward companies that actively hire and invest in veterans, companies that seek out veterans and give them opportunities to bring their unique skills and training and experience to the civilian workforce. Second, it will create an incentive for other companies to do the same, which in turn will help bring more veterans into the workforce, and with good-paying jobs at that, the types of opportunities that give veterans and their families the stability they need as they transition to civilian life. Most importantly, as more and more companies hire more and more veterans, they will ultimately see that investing in veterans is just good for business. That is what the real incentive should be, not just an advantage in securing Federal contracts, but getting the benefit of employees who have worn the uniform, who have been trained by the greatest military in the world, and who have learned to get the job done no matter what the job is or how tough it may be. What business wouldn't want to have employees like that? Lastly, it bears emphasizing that this bill will cost taxpayers absolutely nothing. We need more businesses in the private sector to recognize the value of investing in the men and women who have served our country. To be clear, this isn't an act of charity. Veterans are not looking for a handout. They just need an opportunity to show what they can do. That is what this bill will help accomplish. The BRAVE Act will help ensure that more veterans have those opportunities. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Takano and Ranking Member Roe for supporting this bill and for helping to bring it to the floor today. This legislation passed unanimously in the last Congress, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to once again give it the bipartisan support it deserves.

Miss RICE of New York

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Chair, my amendment supports the Federal Aviation Administration Airport and Airway Trust Fund. This program is responsible for the research, engineering, and development of aircraft technologies that reduce aviation noise. In my district, communities near JFK Airport and La Guardia Airport must endure the constant noise of overhead aircraft, and other communities farther away are beginning to experience significant airplane noise as a result of newly developed flight plans. I am disappointed that the FAA recently announced it would postpone important minimum altitude regulations for certain flight patterns coming into JFK Airport, and I call on the FAA to implement these regulations as soon as possible. While changing flight paths are no silver bullet to solving airplane noise, we must continue to adequately fund Federal efforts to discover new technologies that can retrofit existing airplanes to be quieter for the benefit of communities not just on Long Island, but airport communities across the country.

Miss RICE of New York

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 542) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory, and for other purposes.

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 542, the Supporting Research and Development for First Responders Act. Terrorism poses a serious threat to our country, especially to the New York City metropolitan area. Recently, a man was arrested in New York for plotting to use guns, grenades, and a suicide vest to attack police officers and innocent people in Times Square. Given the complexity of the current terrorism threat environment, it is critical that we prioritize the research and development of first responder technologies. That is why I introduced the Supporting Research and Development for First Responders Act. This bill would permanently authorize the New York City-based National Urban Security Technology Laboratory, commonly referred to as NUSTL. H.R. 542 directly supports first responders in New York City and across the country by authorizing the testing and evaluation of new technologies and systems for counterterrorism work and emergency response. NUSTL is constantly developing and testing new tools for our brave first responders to use in the event of a terrorist attack, industrial accident, or natural disaster and closely collaborates with law enforcement agencies like the FDNY, the NYPD, and the Nassau County Police Department in my district. NUSTL organizes simulated scenarios with first responders to test new emergency systems, sponsors research for cutting-edge technology, and works with first responders in the field to evaluate and assist with new tools. It is the only Federal lab in this country that is focused entirely on helping first responders carry out their mission, wherever it may be. In each of the last two budgets, the Trump administration has proposed closing down NUSTL. Fortunately, Congress has rejected this shortsighted move, as it would make my community and so many others less safe and less prepared in the face of an emergency. Looking ahead, in addition to enacting H.R. 542, Congress needs to prioritize funding for NUSTL so that it has the stability it needs to continue its critical work, not just for New York City but for urban areas in all 50 States. I want to thank Congressman Peter King for co-leading this legislation, and I thank the chair and ranking member for their support in committee. Mr. Speaker, I urge my House colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time. Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, June 10, 2019. Hon. Eddie Bernice Johnson, Chairwoman, Committee on Science, Space and Technology, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairwoman Johnson: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 542, the ``Supporting Research and Development for First Responders Act.'' The Committee on Homeland Security recognizes that the Committee on Science, Space and Technology has a jurisdictional interest in H.R. 542, and I appreciate your effort to allow this bill to be considered on the House floor. I concur with you that forgoing action on the bill does not in any way prejudice the Committee on Science, Space and Technology with respect to its jurisdictional prerogatives on this bill or similar legislation in the future, and I would support your effort to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate conference involving this legislation. I will include our letters on H.R. 542 in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of this bill. I look forward to working with you on this legislation and other matters of great importance to this nation. Sincerely, Bennie G. Thompson, Chairman.

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 542 represents a bipartisan effort to support the needs of State and local first responders. It is critical that the Federal Government have the capacity to develop, test, and transition the best new technologies to the first responder community. It bears repeating that NUSTL is the only Federal lab in the country that is focused entirely on helping first responders carry out their mission. As the tactics and weapons of terrorists evolve, NUSTL will continue to play a key role in ensuring that our first responders are not just prepared but that they remain one step ahead. Mr. Speaker, before I close, I would note that a similar version of this bill passed the House in June 2018 by a voice vote. I would ask my colleagues to pass it again today and send it to the Senate, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Miss RICE of New York

Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security be authorized to file a supplemental report on the bill, H.R. 2621.