José Serrano

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2420, the National Museum of the American Latino Act. This legislation would establish a National Museum of the American Latino within the Smithsonian Institution on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. dedicated to celebrating the significant historical, cultural, and artistic contributions of Latinos in the United States. With a population of more than 60 million, Latinos are the largest minority ethnic group in the United States and the territories. They have accounted for nearly half of the Nation's population growth since 2010. However, Latinos continue facing systemic underrepresentation in the halls of Congress, Hollywood, academia, corporate America, and nearly every aspect of American life. This disparity also exists within our nation's cultural institutions, including the Smithsonian. We must not forget that Latinos were here before the founding of our country. They have fought in every American war since the Revolution. They have also been at the forefront of every historical moment that has helped shape our way of life, from the fight for labor rights to the fight for gay rights. These stories are nearly absent from our textbooks and classrooms, but they are essential to learning who we are as a Nation. Simply put, Latino history is American history. It has been 26 years since the Smithsonian acknowledged its own lack of Latino representation with their 1994 report, Willful Neglect. It has been 17 years since former Representatives Xavier Becerra of California and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida introduced the first bill to create a commission to study the potential creation of a Latino Museum and 12 years since it became law. It has been more than eight years since the 23-member National Museum of the American Latino Commission presented a detailed plan to President Barack Obama and the U.S. Congress laying out the blueprint to get us there. We cannot wait any longer. It is time for Congress to act. Latinos deserve a dedicated space in the heart of Washington, D.C. where our experiences can be shared with the world. Today, we finally begin the process of setting that plan into motion. I am proud to have led this effort in the House of Representatives during the 116th Congress and my final term in office, along with my colleague Will Hurd of Texas. This was a true team effort. I also want to thank my colleagues from California, Tony Cardenas and Pete Aguilar, for their tremendous efforts. From building record support with 295 bipartisan cosponsors to leading today's debate on the House floor. I want to thank Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Joaquin Castro and all my colleagues with the CHC for their steadfast support of this project from the very beginning. I want to thank Natural Resources Committee Chairman Raul Grijalva, Ranking Member Don Young, and Subcommittee Chair Deb Haaland for their leadership in holding the first legislative hearing on the bill last October. I want to thank House Administration Chairperson Zoe Lofgren and Ranking Member Rodney Davis for favorably reporting the bill out of committee. Finally, I would especially like to thank Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer for their commitment in bringing this bill before the full House of Representatives for a vote today. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2420 and help get us one step closer to turning this dream into a reality.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Madam Speaker, I was unable to cast votes on April 23, 2020, on the following legislative measures. If I were present for roll call votes, I would have voted AYE for the following votes: Roll Call No. 103: H. Res. 938: Providing for the adoption of the resolution (H. Res. 935) establishing a Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis as a select investigative subcommittee of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and Roll Call No. 104: On Agreeing to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 266--Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Madam Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I rise in strong support of this emergency supplemental, which will help Puerto Rico recover from damage caused by the ongoing earthquakes that have struck the island. It will help an island that is still struggling to recover in the wake of Hurricanes Maria and Irma. Since December 28, Puerto Rico has experienced thousands of earthquakes, including numerous powerful ones. These earthquakes have caused significant damage to the island's roads and schools and left many individuals' homes structurally unsound. Many residents are fearful and uncertain of what comes next. Thousands of Puerto Ricans are in need of assistance to repair the damage to their homes and lives. Many have once again left the island for New York, Florida, and elsewhere, and need help there, also. This bill provides the island with the support necessary to help repair damaged infrastructure, allow students to continue learning, and assist in its economic recovery. It provides nutrition assistance to the most vulnerable members of Puerto Rican society. This bill also puts in safeguards to ensure that the administration spends the money as instructed by Congress so the island's recovery is not hindered by a further man-made disaster. We all know what happened to our fellow citizens of Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria and how our government's inadequate response hurt the response and recovery efforts. I am thankful that my colleagues here in the House are determined not to let that happen again. I hope our Republican colleagues in the Senate will act quickly to help Puerto Rico, and I urge strong support for this bill in the House. I usually do not comment on any comment made by another Member. The person who made these comments is a person I have the utmost respect and admiration for, but our ranking member to the committee said that the bill is premature. How can it be premature to try to help American citizens still recovering from two hurricanes? How can it be premature to help American citizens? It is never premature. The time is right.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to pay tribute to Reverend Martha R. Overall, known to all as Mother Martha. As she retires from her position as Priest In Charge of St. Ann's Episcopal Church in my district, I want to take a moment to honor her for her decades of compassionate service and tireless work to improve the lives of our Bronx residents. Rev. Overall was born in 1947. She received a Bachelor of Arts with Honors from Harvard University, a J.D. from New York University, and was admitted to the Bar in 1976. She practiced law with prominent trial attorney, Louis Nizer, for several years. She retired from her legal career in the mid-eighties to attend Union Theological Seminary and was ordained an Episcopal priest in 1991. Rev. Overall began serving as the Priest of St. Ann's Episcopal Church in 1993. Built in 1841, the Parish is the oldest continuously used church in the Bronx and it has a storied history. During her tenure as priest, Mother Martha has expanded upon that legacy. The church holds weekly services in English and Spanish, and members of the church help serve meals to homeless seniors and families in the surrounding community. The food pantry program operates twice a week and feeds over 6,000 people a month. The church also has an after- school program to enhance skills for children and provide them healthy meals and nutritional education. Reverend Overall also provided job opportunities to young adults interested in teaching through the Children's Defense Fund Freedom School at St. Ann's Episcopal Church. Many of these programs, and Reverend Overall's work, have been featured in books and in the press. Through all of this, Mother Martha has been a passionate advocate for our community, from children to seniors. She has worked every day to improve our borough, and the lives of those who live here. Her compassion and dedication have positively affected the lives of thousands of people. The Bronx is a better place because of the work Rev. Overall has done over the years. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring The Reverend Dr. Martha R. Overall for her extraordinary work and her lasting legacy.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Madam Speaker, as a result of an ongoing need to address health issues related to my Parkinson's diagnosis, and other recent health concerns, I was absent from votes yesterday, Wednesday, December 18, 2019. Had I been present, I would have voted AYE on House roll call votes 695 and 696, the two articles of impeachment against President Donald J. Trump. President Trump's actions with regard to Ukraine have undermined our national security, our democratic processes, and our Constitution. He has abused his office and betrayed the trust that the American people placed in him. Impeachment is the only recourse to hold this president accountable for his actions.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to honor Sports Foundation, Inc. on their 50th Anniversary of tireless advocacy to improve the lives of Bronx residents. This organization is a great example of extraordinary contributions that community based groups and outstanding individuals have made in my district in the Bronx. Mr. Robert Williams and Mr. Claude ``Buddy'' Young founded Sports Foundation, Inc. in 1969. Mr. Williams was born and raised in the Bronx, attended Theodore Roosevelt High School and was captain of NYU's basketball team while earning a bachelors in education from there. Mr. Williams was also the first African-American assistant basketball coach at NYU. Throughout his career, basketball and scholarship were two of his biggest priorities. Mr. ``Buddy'' Young was one of the first black men to play pro football. He started playing at the University of Illinois, and then was drafted into the Armed Services, and played with one of the service teams. At the end of his military service, Mr. Young played for ten years in the All-America Football Conference and National Football League. The dedication of Sports Foundation, Inc. to promote social responsibility to disadvantaged and at-risk youth has facilitated their ability to foster, develop and encourage positive youth development using sports as a method of change. Their work has created a lasting impact in my community and participants have been all the better for it. The variety of programs such as prevention counseling, sports and fitness activities, music/entertainment, and educational and community service, has helped to develop healthy bodies and strong minds in the youth from this community. Their location in the South Bronx placed this organization on the front lines in the war against poverty, obesity, hunger, drugs, and violence. Sports Foundation, Inc. is now focused on transforming the foundation into the premier youth services provider capable of reaching an ever-expanding and greatly underserved youth population. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Sports Foundation, Inc. for their steadfast dedication and years of service to our Bronx residents, and for their long-standing commitment to improving our community.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Madam Speaker, we are now in the midst of a humanitarian crisis at the border created by the policies of the Trump administration. Like many of my colleagues, I have been shocked by the conditions at our border stations and the lack of basic services and necessities available to migrant families and especially to minors. This crisis has been aggravated by the anti-immigration policies of this President. He has once against created a disaster that undermines our Nation's standing in the world and our basic American values. No one should doubt why we are here today, but the question for me is not who is at fault but, rather, how do we as a body, how do we as a party, respond? We have a responsibility to these children now. We have an obligation to these families now. They cannot wait. That is what this bill does. It provides the resources to alleviate the crisis and ensures that we have the money to provide migrants, especially minors, with the shelter, food, medicine, and legal services that they need. The funding in this bill is not a blank check, however. The legislation includes numerous conditions to ensure this money is used for its intended purposes, to make sure that individuals are receiving the care and services they need, and to prevent the administration from creating further chaos and harm. This bill takes the right steps to address the crisis and to stop what the administration is doing. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. If we cry out against the crisis, then we have a responsibility to provide the funds to alleviate it. The bill does just that, and I urge my colleagues' support.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise in strong support of this bill, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act. Mr. Chair, I want to start by congratulating my good friend and colleague, Chairman Mike Quigley, for his leadership in bringing our tenth appropriations bill to the House floor. Speaking from experience, I know this is no easy task, and I am sure that the relationship between he and Mr. Graves will have a final product that we can all vote for. I am proud that the work that has been accomplished here takes care of so many issues. This bill provides $24.95 billion to assist elderly and low-income taxpayers; support our entrepreneurs and grow our small businesses; ensure the products of our store shelves are safe for children and families; protect our economy by policing Wall Street; protect and strengthen the integrity of our election systems; and provide a 3.1 percent pay raise for Federal employees; and, once again, empower the District of Columbia to handle its own local affairs. The administration has proposed to eliminate the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, risking the public-private investments that are generating economic growth in places like my district in the South Bronx. In response, Congress is investing $300 million for this invaluable program, an increase of $50 million over fiscal year 2019. This bill also provides $600 million in Election Assistance Commission security grants to help State election officials improve the security and integrity of our elections. Our election systems remain vulnerable, and additional investments like this can give voters the peace of mind that, when they cast their ballot, their vote will count and be counted correctly. As we approach elections this fall in several States across the country and the Presidential election next year, we must be ready to combat any attempts to disrupt our democratic institutions. The Small Business Administration will receive nearly $1 billion to continue providing technical assistance and other services our Nation's businessmen need to help get their business ideas off the ground. Out of the total amount, $150 million will go to the Small Business Development Centers Program, $35 million will help provide Microloan technical assistance, and $30 million will go toward supporting and investing in women-owned businesses through the Women's Business Centers. These investments will help create jobs. Last but not least, this bill once again restores home rule to the District of Columbia. I cannot think of anything more insulting than telling any city across our country how they can spend their locally raised funds or requiring congressional approval to implement laws their duly elected government officials enact. The intrusive policy riders the bill removes will ensure D.C. can govern itself without congressional meddling and address the challenges it faces in serving its residents. This is now our 10th bill on the floor. Our Appropriations Committee is doing the work of the people, and I congratulate, once again, Mr. Quigley for his work. I stand ready to vote for this with great enthusiasm.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chair, I rise to support the amendment. When, in March, the Justice Department broke with the principle that its core mission should be to defend, not sabotage, the law of the land, it went too far. The White House is entitled to push its own policy position on healthcare--it has made no secret of its hostility to the Affordable Care Act, despite never offering an alternative of any kind--but it cannot pick and choose which laws to support. My friends across the aisle criticized the Obama administration for its use of prosecutorial discretion. In this case, the Department is not just neglecting to defend the law, it is using appropriated funds to directly attack it. This amendment will, hopefully, stop that, and that is why I strongly support it.

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chair, I rise to support the amendment. My colleague sends an important message by calling attention to the misuse and overuse of solitary confinement in Federal correction and detention. In 2016, the National Institute of Justice issued a detailed study of the use of restrictive housing in U.S. detention. In addition, the Office of Inspector General in 2017 reported on the use of restrictive housing for mentally ill persons in the custody of BOP and included 15 recommendations to improve how BOP treats such inmates. While solitary confinement represents a small percentage of restrictive housing, it is particularly concerning because of evidence that its use can be harmful and even counterproductive to correctional objectives. Mr. Chair, I encourage the Department to take note of the concerns expressed here, and I ask that the amendment be adopted.

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of my colleague from the Bronx's amendment. Opioids are a serious threat to the health and well-being of our communities, and we must do everything we can to combat this epidemic. Within the Department of Justice grant programs, the bill provides $501 million in funding, an increase of $33 million for grants to combat the crisis. This funding includes drug and veterans courts, residential treatment, and for the first time, a grant program for Law Enforcement Assistance Diversion, or LEAD, which seeks to get individuals into treatment and out of the criminal justice system. The addition of this amendment further strengthens a bill that increases grants for treatment and prevention. Mr. Chair, I support the amendment, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman from California for yielding. Mr. Chair, I recognize what my friends from Maine are attempting to do to help an important industry in their State, but I must oppose them in favor of supporting the critically endangered Atlantic right whale. The decision support tool that this amendment would block is used by States to determine how they can ensure they are taking steps to protect these whales. Preventing its use would, therefore, remove the ability of the States to make their own determination. Consequently, NOAA would be forced to set a national standard. Additionally, given the way it is drafted, this amendment would block NOAA's conservation work on right whales, not just in the Atlantic, but also in the Pacific. Other agencies that rely on this tool include the Coast Guard and Navy, who rely on it to ensure that they are in compliance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act. As I said earlier, I understand my friend's concern, and I would support funding to help develop new and more whale-friendly fishing gear and other mitigation options. I cannot, however, support an amendment that removes a scientific tool to make informed natural resource management decisions. It would only further endanger these majestic animals. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose the amendment.

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chair, I rise in very strong support of the gentlewoman's amendment. The zero-tolerance experiment has been a tragic mistake. It has swamped U.S. Attorneys, U.S. Marshals, and district courts with low level nonviolent cases previously handled by DHS and, if necessary, immigration courts. It has also separated thousands of families and traumatized children and parents. Children may remain with parents in DHS custody, but they cannot follow them into jail, even for such misdemeanor charges. DOJ should focus on criminal gangs, human trafficking, and smuggling, most of which passes through, not between, the ports of entry. The zero-tolerance policy restricts seasoned prosecutors from pursuing serious crime and distorts priorities by requiring an unbalanced and inflexible approach. It is clearly not improving things at the border. Mr. Chair, I urge the House to adopt this very important amendment.

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I rise in strong support of this amendment. The Commerce Department has not answered basic questions related to the purpose behind its sharing agreement with the Department of Homeland Security. Although I am not suggesting the Census Bureau will use the information for something other than statistical purposes, I think it is important to remind the Department we are mindful of how individuals' information will be handled. Ensuring the public trust in the Census is vital to getting an accurate count, and this amendment helps in that goal.

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time. Amendment No. 65 Offered by Mr. Crow

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Foster).

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chair, I rise as the designee of Chairwoman Lowey, and I move to strike the last word.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow for morning-hour debate and 10 a.m. for legislative business.

Mr. SERRANO

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chair, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of the amendment. The Commerce Department has illustrated that it requires additional oversight. This increase to the inspector general will restore critical positions that will provide transparency to Congress on what Secretary Ross is up to. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment, even though I am not opposed to it.

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, very briefly, in closing, we get folks on the floor who tell us how much money we have to cut from the budget, from the appropriations, but they really never take time to ask their constituents how they feel about new roads, about hospital help, about education, about climate change, about other issues. You would be surprised how many people who may not scream out in support or against a certain amendment would feel the pain of our cutbacks and would not be for them. So I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, the amendment, if adopted, would pose serious risks to our economic and national security. It would undermine our efforts to help create jobs, address the deadly opioid crisis, and increase critical scientific research and legal services for underserved communities. A 14 percent decrease would, for the Department of Commerce, close over 30 foreign commercial service posts and 10 domestic field offices and lead to the dismissal of hundreds of Commerce personnel who support and create U.S. jobs by leveling the playing field for U.S. businesses in overseas markets; cut over $1 billion from the U.S. Census Bureau, which undermines the Census Bureau's ability to invest in critical information technology infrastructure to safeguard Census data as it moves to an online platform; and limit Census' flexibility to conduct important outreach and follow-up activities in hard-to-count communities, including rural parts of the country. This amendment would also cause massive cuts in an array of agencies and programs critical to national security, anticrime efforts, and the constitutionally required 2020 Census. It would slash funding for efforts to create jobs, fix aging infrastructure, and respond to the reality of climate change. I urge a ``no'' vote, and I reserve the balance of my time.