Brad Schneider

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, in Illinois' 10th District, one doesn't have to look far to see America's strength in advanced 21st century manufacturing. In fact, my district has the fourth highest concentration of manufacturing jobs of any district in the Nation. Manufacturing is still key to our Nation's future prosperity because it creates a multiplier effect that generates economic growth and jobs throughout our economy. Last week, I visited 12 local manufacturers as part of my Made in Illinois 10 Tour. I had three key takeaways from my visit: First, innovation is alive and well in Illinois 10. I saw new applications and design, additive manufacturing, robotics, and more. And at every turn, innovation is creating new, quality, well-paying jobs. Second, we have to close the skills gap. We need more teachers, parents, and especially young, smart talented people to recognize that working in manufacturing can be a stimulating and rewarding career. Third, when the global market is a fair and level playing field, American companies not only can compete, we can win and we can prosper. We need to hold bad actors like China accountable. The President's shoot-from-the-hip actions risk sparking a destructive cycle of retaliatory tariffs. The companies I visited are worried about that and, indeed, are already feeling the impact of a prospective trade war. Mr. Speaker, I was encouraged by the ingenuity and drive of our local manufacturers, and I remain committed to supporting this crucial sector of our economy.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in support of the Boots to Business program. Running a small business requires a wide variety of skills. One day you are the company's accountant, the next day you are researching marketing strategies. Many of our servicemembers have the temperament and experience to excel as small-business owners and entrepreneurs, but they lack the industry-specific skills to turn their dream into a reality. The Boots to Business program helps bridge this gap by offering exiting servicemembers and spouses a 2-day in-person course on business ownership, followed by more in-depth instruction through an 8-week online course. Since the program launched in 2013, more than 50,000 servicemembers and spouses have participated, learning how to start and grow businesses and, thereby, grow our economy. This month, I introduced the bipartisan Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act with my friend from Iowa, Congressman Rod Blum. The bill would codify the Boots to Business program. Our veterans serve our country with honor. They deserve our support as they transition from military to civilian life. I urge my colleagues to join me on this bipartisan effort.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Madam Speaker, yesterday marked 1 month since the gunman at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School cut short the lives of 17 students and teachers. These tragedies have become so common that the response of this Congress is practically routine: thoughts and prayers are offered, moments of silence held, and then we move on with no specific action on gun violence. Madam Speaker, this is not enough. We need to heed the call of thousands of students across the country who organized walkouts and events with a simple message for us: It is time to act. We need to be able to look these students in the eye and say: ``We are doing everything we can to protect you.'' But for too long, this institution has refused to do just that. We are not considering legislation to pass universal background checks. We have not debated restricting the sale of military assault weapons, bump stocks, and high-capacity magazines, or even lifting the ban on preventing our government from researching gun safety solutions. Yesterday we did pass a bill with important resources for school safety, including a bipartisan provision I introduced with Representative Mike Bost to help schools install panic buttons. That is an important first step, but really protecting our children is not possible without concrete measures to reduce gun violence. I urge my colleagues to listen to the wisdom of the young people in our districts, and let's all find the courage to pass sensible gun safety laws and, finally, to save lives.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4909, the STOP School Violence Act. Mr. Speaker, we have a fundamental responsibility to protect our young people from violence, and this package of school security improvements is an important step. In particular, this bill includes a bipartisan provision that I introduced with my friend and colleague from Illinois, Congressman Mike Bost, to help schools acquire and install panic buttons in classrooms for use in emergency situations. Mr. Bost and I first introduced the Securing Our Schools Act in January, and I am proud of the support we have built from both sides of the aisle which helped get this provision included in today's school safety package. This technology will ensure students and teachers have a more immediate method of notifying law enforcement and first responders in case of a medical emergency, active school shooter incident, or natural disaster. All congressional offices have similar emergency buttons. If this technology is good enough for Members of Congress, we should be doing the same to keep our young people safe where they learn. While this bill represents progress, it is far from an adequate solution to the threat of gun violence. We now need to build on this bipartisan momentum for other urgent solutions to improve gun safety and reduce gun violence. This includes universal background checks; restrictions on the sale of bump stocks, assault weapons, and high- capacity magazines; and research into the causes of gun violence. Here in this Congress, we have the ability to save lives with commonsense legislation. We must act, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. It is a good start.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, the threat of foreign interference in our elections is real. Our intelligence chiefs are sounding the alarm that Russia views the 2018 election as a target for additional interference. And finally, yesterday, President Trump at last acknowledged Russian meddling and vowed to guard against it, saying: ``We won't allow that to happen.'' But, Mr. Speaker, actions speak louder than words, and time and time again, this administration has proven unwilling to confront this threat. We learned this week that the State Department is not using any of the resources they have been given to counter election interference. U.S. Cyber Command Chief Admiral Mike Rogers said the President has not granted him authority to disrupt Russian hacking operations. And we are still waiting on the administration to impose sanctions on Russia passed by an overwhelming bipartisan majority in this Congress. This isn't a future concern. Americans voted in Texas primaries yesterday, and they are already heading to the polls in my State, Illinois, where early voting began on Monday. I urge the administration to get serious about this threat and support funding for the Election Assistance Commission and resources for State election officials on the front lines of this battle. This is not a partisan issue. It is about protecting our democracy and ensuring the integrity of every American's vote.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, our hearts are heavy grieving for the 17 innocents murdered in Parkland. We are praying for their families and friends. I cannot begin to fathom the sorrow of parents who must bury a child. From the time our children are born, we instinctively understand it is our responsibility to protect them; but, increasingly, as a nation, we are failing our children and allowing them to be gunned down in schools, at concerts, and in houses of worship. Still, in this darkest of time, I see reason to hope. I am inspired by the eloquence of the survivors and the young people across the country who are speaking out for positive action. We all know there are commonsense actions that would curb gun violence in our communities and save lives: universal background checks; banning military-style assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, and bump stocks; and funding mental healthcare, to name but a few. These measures have the overwhelming support of the American people. All that is missing is the political will from Congress. Hopefully, this moment will be different. I urge my colleagues to listen to the voices of our young people. Let's have the debate and vote on real actions to reduce gun violence in our schools, our neighborhoods, and our country.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, today, the heads of our intelligence agencies are testifying in the Senate with a unanimous and stark warning: Russia's meddling in 2016 was not an isolated incident, our midterm elections remain vulnerable, and Putin is targeting the 2018 elections. ``The United States is under attack,'' said Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats. Russia's actions demand a serious response, both to hold our attackers accountable and to deter future interference. Remarkably, President Trump and his administration have proved unwilling to act. We must do better. I am proud to join with my friend and colleague, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, to introduce the DETER Act in the House. This bicameral, bipartisan legislation, introduced in the Senate by Chris Van Hollen and Marco Rubio, will improve our monitoring of foreign interference and impose immediate and severe sanctions when such actions are identified. It is an important step to ensure the integrity of every American's vote. Protecting our elections is a national concern superseding party and politics. As we approach the next national election in less than 9 months, we must work together and we must act now. I urge my colleagues to support the DETER Act to secure our elections this year and beyond.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Philip Carrigan, a dear friend and extraordinary community leader, for his dedicated service to Lake County as a lifelong advocate and volunteer. It is hard to find a community organization or charity in Lake County not touched by Phil's tireless activity. He worked closely with the Waukegan Township-based transitional housing programs for people experiencing homelessness at Eddie Washington Center House and Staben House. He was also particularly dedicated to his regular Friday shift at the PADS Lake County homeless shelter, and one year even threw his birthday party there rather than miss a week. Phil was an active volunteer with local prison reform groups, the John Howard Society and Prisoner Visitation and Support, and worked with the Coalition to Reduce Recidivism to help former inmates reintegrate into and succeed in society after serving their time. In 2005, Phil was elected as a trustee of the College of Lake County Board, where he served two six-year terms. CLC board Chairman Richard Anderson described Phil as, ``a dedicated supporter of CLC's students, a strong advocate for the Waukegan community and a person of extreme integrity.'' The Faith Food Pantry in Zion, the Lake County Community Action Project, the CEASE FIRE Advisory Council, the Lake County NAACP board, and many other organizations benefited from Phil's activism as well. Professionally, Dr. Carrigan began his career as a pharmacist in Boston. He later moved to Lake County in 1974 to begin work with Abbott Laboratories, where he worked for 30 years, primarily in pharmaceutical research and development. In recognition of his important contributions to the field, Dr. Carrigan was inducted into the Volwiler Society at the company. Phil will be remembered for his big heart and sage wisdom, and as a friend and supporter of all those in the Lake County community. He will be missed by the many people whose lives were touched by his service. I extend my sincerest condolences to Phil's wife Mary Clare Jakes; daughter Erin Carrigan; and the many other family, friends, and colleagues who were changed by his life and now mourn his loss.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to join me in the urgent effort to address the dramatically rising threat of domestic terrorism. From a church in Charleston where worshippers were engaged in Bible study on a Wednesday night to a peaceful counterdemonstration in Charlottesville, our national consciousness has been seared by the violence of white supremacist and other extremist domestic terrorist groups. In fact, a recent FBI-Department of Homeland Security joint intelligence bulletin found white supremacist organizations were responsible for 49 homicides and 29 attacks from 2000 to 2016, more than any other domestic extremist movement. In response to this threat, today I am introducing the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act, which makes smart changes to ensure our Federal agencies are effectively coordinating on monitoring these terrorist organizations and better able to prevent acts of violence. This is companion legislation to the bill introduced by Senator Durbin in the Senate. I thank him for his leadership, as well as my colleagues in the House, Ranking Member Bennie Thompson, Representatives Robin Kelly, Lou Correa, and Vicente Gonzalez, for joining me in this effort. Working together, we can crack down on these domestic terrorist organizations and ultimately save lives.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor John Kevin Hauber for his dedicated service to Buffalo Grove as a firefighter and paramedic for more than two decades. For the past four years, Kevin continued to protect the people of Buffalo Grove while he fought a heroic battle against cancer. He sadly passed away last month, surrounded by his wife and four young daughters. Born and raised in Buffalo Grove, Kevin and his twin brother dreamed of becoming firefighters, inspired by a 1970s show about a California fire station. They both went on to become Buffalo Grove firefighters and paramedics, Kevin starting his full-time career in 1994. After a decade as a dedicated firefighter and paramedic, Kevin joined the Associated Firefighters of Illinois Honor Guard in 2004. The Honor Guard provides final honors to fallen firefighters in the state, a job that Kevin took very seriously. Friend and colleague, Buffalo Grove Fire Chief Mike Baker, said Kevin deeply believed in the mission of the honor guard, and always made himself available to serve at events that honored fallen comrades. Kevin's dedication earned him the 2018 Donald J. Bower Commitment to Excellence Award. His commitment will be missed, alongside his caring and upbeat nature. Chief Barker recalled that Kevin ``was always happy and never had anything bad to say about anyone, even when he was sick.'' Kevin will be remembered for his indomitable spirit and passion for protecting the people of Buffalo Grove, and honoring the lives of his fellow firefighters. We in the community are forever grateful for his service. I extend my sincerest condolences to Kevin's wife Kimberly; daughters, Kaitlyn, Brooklyn, Nicole, and Megan; and all other family, friends, and colleagues who mourn his loss.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor James ``Jim'' Carney for his selfless service to residents of the 10th District as a firefighter in our communities for more than 2 decades. Sadly, Jim passed away last month after a heroic 3\1/2\-year battle with cancer. Jim was a native of the 10th District, born in Waukegan, grew up in Wadsworth, and attended Warren Township High School. After studying at Columbia Southern University, Jim returned home to serve as an on-call member of the Newport Township Fire Protection District in Wadsworth and received his paramedic license. Later, in 2000, he joined the Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District and eventually earned the rank of lieutenant. Jim was both respected and beloved by his fellow firefighters. They remember him for his calm under pressure and for the welcome he extended to the new members of the department. ``Jim was the kindest person you could ever meet, and he showed everyone respect,'' recalled his close friend and colleague, Steve Shetsky, in the Lincolnshire Review. Jim's memory is one of willingness to put his own life in danger to save those of his neighbors, and our communities are incredibly grateful for his service. Mr. Speaker, I offer my most sincere condolences to Jim's wife, Janelle; to his children, Peyton and Brett; and to many family, friends, and colleagues who mourn his loss.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, this shutdown is an unnecessary, self- created crisis driven by an unwillingness to compromise. The American people deserve better. There are bipartisan solutions available, solutions that responsibly fund our government and address the urgent priorities, from children's health and community healthcare centers, to DREAMers, to disaster relief. I have been meeting with Members on both sides of the aisle, including the Problem Solvers Caucus, and I know there is a real willingness to get this done. What we need is congressional leadership and a President willing to negotiate and allow a vote. We are almost 4 months into the fiscal year with no budget. We passed three continuing resolutions since September, but we cannot continue with these endless short-term patches. They are irresponsible, hurt our Nation, and hamper our military's ability to plan for the future. The Navy's Secretary likened it to putting $4 billion in a trash can, pouring lighter fluid on it, and setting it on fire. The clock is ticking. The last shutdown in 2013 cost our economy $24 billion. This won't be resolved by one side going it alone. Let's end the political games, stop the finger-pointing, and do the work the American people sent us here to do. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 4872, the End the Shutdown Act of 2018, a continuing resolution that would immediately reopen the government while negotiations can continue on a budget agreement that adheres to parity and on other critical issues.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Madam Speaker, we are 111 days into the current budget year and yet no closer to a budget than we were 4 months ago. We face a long to-do list, including funding our military, funding the Children's Health Insurance Program and community health centers, protecting DREAMers, repealing the medical device tax, supporting disaster relief, and the list goes on. We simply can't continue kicking the can down the road with irresponsible temporary fixes like the ones this House passed last night. They hamper rather than help our military and other government agencies by forcing them to function in uncertainty, unable to make key strategic decisions and investments. This is no way to run our government. Three times in the past year I crossed the aisle to vote for these short-term extensions, but I have seen no willingness to work with Democrats, no evidence of progress, and no reason to believe we won't be in the exact same position 1 month from now after yet another CR. Enough is enough. That is why last night I voted ``no.'' It is not too late. I urge my Republican colleagues to reach across the aisle and work with Democrats to find a long-term funding solution that addresses our country's needs. Madam Speaker, I am committed and ready to work with my colleagues as long as it takes to achieve that responsible resolution.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the bipartisan resolution, H. Res. 676, offered by my friends, Chairman Ed Royce and Ranking Member Eliot Engel, of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. I thank my friend from Florida and my friend from California for leading us in this conversation today. Less than 2 weeks ago, on December 28, protests began in towns and villages throughout Iran. These quickly and organically grew to become the largest antigovernment demonstrations the country has witnessed since those remarkable demonstrations in the summer of 2009. Iranian citizens have taken to the streets to decry the regime's corruption, economic mismanagement, and destabilizing activities abroad, including support for such terrorist groups as Hezbollah. The Iranian people, the good men and women seeking relief from the failings of the current regime, deserve our support. Their voices deserve to be heard. Not surprisingly, the response of the regime in Tehran to these protests have been predictably draconian. News reports suggest dozens of Iranians have been killed in the crackdown on protests and more than 1,000 Iranians have been arrested. In an effort to silence the protesters, the Iranian Government has blocked access to social media platforms used to organize and spread word of the demonstrations. This most recent crackdown is part of a long history of human rights abuses by the Iranian Government, both at home through violent oppression and abroad through funding of groups that support terror. Mr. Speaker, I am proud that last month the House passed my amendment to the Iranian Leadership Asset Transparency Act to help crack down on Iranian human rights abusers and ensure U.S. sanctions are best positioned to improve the human rights situation in Iran. This is but one step. We need to do more to stop Iran's repression and persecution of different religious faiths, including Sunni Muslims, Christians, and Baha'is. We need to do more to stop the regime's arbitrary and unlawful killings. We must do more to protect the Iranian people's right to freedom of expression.

Mr. SCHNEIDER. This resolution is an opportunity for the American people to stand with the peaceful Iranian protesters and condemn the maligned activities of the oppressive Iranian regime. In the days ahead, I urge this administration to hold the Iranian regime accountable to its international human rights obligation as well as work with our allies at the United Nations to condemn and sanction Iran for its ongoing human rights violations. The Iranian Government is seeking to silence its people. Today's resolution shows we are watching and that we stand with the people of Iran. I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and thank Mr. Richard Lee, a dedicated public servant and dear friend. Mr. Lee is retiring this January from his position as executive director of the Waukegan Public Library after fifteen years of extraordinary service on behalf of our community. Under his leadership, the Waukegan Public Library has become an indispensable resource for our local community, a place where residents can gather to learn, collaborate on school homework, or even just hang out with Lizzy, the library's bearded dragon. Throughout Mr. Lee's tenure, the library expanded its programs to offer literacy classes covering everything from English language learning to computer skills to basic reading, writing, and math skills for adults. Mr. Lee also oversaw a $1.2 million renovation that finished in 2015, to modernize the facilities and increase cooperative working spaces. And the library even hosts a summer concert series. The library's inspired initiatives and incredible progress were recognized by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which awarded the Waukegan Public Library with the National Medal in 2013, the highest national recognition for libraries. In fact, it was at the White House award ceremony hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama that I first met Mr. Lee and his team. Since then, the Waukegan Public Library has been an important partner in my work for our community, including allowing us to host regular Neighborhood Office Hours to serve residents closer to home, as well as graciously providing the venue for a recent ceremony honoring local Vietnam Veterans. In closing, I want to again thank my friend, Mr. Richard Lee, for his dedicated leadership, creativity, and passion over these last 15 years. I wish him the very best in his well-deserved retirement with family and friends.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Children's Health Insurance Program that so many of our vulnerable young people depend on for their healthcare coverage. Across the country, 8 million young people use CHIP, more than 300,000 people in Illinois alone. But their coverage and, consequently, their health and future are now in jeopardy because this House has failed to reauthorize the program for the first time in 20 years. Yesterday marked 100 days since the authorization lapsed. Before the new year, Congress temporarily extended limited funding, but the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is already warning that some States won't have funding to make it through the month of January. It is beyond shameful that this House can pass trillions of dollars in tax breaks for those with the most security but not see its way to provide health insurance for the children most in need. This is a vital program. This is a popular program. This is a program that traditionally enjoys bipartisan support. There is no reason to continue to extend the uncertainty. I urge my colleagues to act and reauthorize the CHIP program as soon as possible to offer much-needed stability to families and their children depending on this coverage.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Maryland for organizing this special hour this evening and for leading the conversation. Mr. Speaker, I share my colleagues' concern about the unfounded attacks on the special counsel and the need to make sure that the investigation is allowed to proceed to its conclusion. But, Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues tonight in also raising grave concerns about the unwillingness of our present administration, including not only the President, but the Justice Department as well, to take seriously the threat of foreign interference in our elections. It is the unanimous assessment of our intelligence community that the Russian Government launched a focused campaign, at the direction of Vladimir Putin, to interfere in our elections last year. Irrespective of President Trump's refusal to accept this objective reality or his ongoing efforts to obfuscate the truth, the ongoing threat to the integrity of our elections is real and only likely to increase in 2018. As the Russians sought to disrupt our elections last year, and as they have done so in elections around the world, we can be certain that they will be back next year. That is why we, as Congress and as a country, need to be urgently focused on how to prevent in future elections the kinds of foreign interference we saw in 2016. Mr. Speaker, the first primary elections are barely 3 months away and Americans will collectively head to the polls in less than 11 months. The clock is, quite literally, ticking. Without a serious effort to address these varied and increasing threats, we as a nation remain vulnerable. Over the past month, I have had the opportunity to ask both the number one and number two official at the Department of Justice, as well as the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, about our efforts to secure our elections. Their answers have been far from satisfactory. In November, Attorney General Jeff Sessions came before the House Judiciary Committee. Three weeks prior to that, in testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, he admitted to Senator Sasse that his Department had fallen short in addressing election security. I was, therefore, surprised when I asked Attorney General Sessions about the actions he had taken to secure our elections subsequent to his Senate hearing. He could not name any single specific step taken by the Justice Department. He admitted: ``I have not followed through to see where we are on that.'' And then he committed: ``I will personally take action to do so.'' Nevertheless, when Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appeared before the committee a month later, he could not demonstrate that the Department had even formally reviewed the matter. It is clear to me that the administration is not handling this threat with the seriousness it deserves. Last month I led a letter with 15 of my Judiciary colleagues to the Attorney General, calling on him to make good on his commitment to urgently brief Members of Congress on the Department's efforts to secure our elections from foreign meddling. The deadline for this request has come and gone, and there is still not one--no commitment from the Department of Justice to work cooperatively with Congress on this critically important issue. This inaction is unacceptable. The clock is ticking until our next election, and we need to act and we need to act now. Our Nation needs-- and the American people are right to expect--this administration to urgently and aggressively take measures to protect our elections. Mr. Speaker, this is not a partisan issue. The very foundation of our democracy depends on the integrity of our elections. I urge my colleagues to join us in our efforts to defend against foreign interference and hold this administration accountable for doing all it can to prevent any interference in the future.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in honoring our home, the great State of Illinois, on its bicentennial anniversary of its statehood in 1813. Over the next year, we are celebrating all that Illinois has contributed to American history, culture, innovation, and more over the past 200 years. On December 3, 1818, Illinois became the 21st State to join this Union. From humble beginnings with only 34,000 people, today, Illinois is the fifth most populous State, with almost 13 million people. Then a frontier prairie State, Illinois now sits firmly at the center of our national life, playing an indelible role in fueling, building, and transporting America's rise. We are proud of our history as the Land of Lincoln, where, arguably, our greatest U.S. President began his career, raised his family, and first ran for office. As we have talked about, Abraham Lincoln was not the only President with roots in Illinois. President Grant and President Obama all called Illinois home, and President Reagan was the only President who was actually born in Illinois. Illinois is my home, too, and like those Presidents, I wasn't born in Illinois. I moved to Illinois 35 years ago--hard to believe it has been that long--to attend college at Northwestern University, immediately falling in love with this great State. At Northwestern University, I met my wife. She grew up in Glencoe, we settled in Deerfield. We have raised two boys, made our career and our home in Illinois, and, most importantly, made our family in Illinois. Some of the interesting things to share about Illinois: Illinois had the first aquarium built in Chicago in 1893. The very first skyscraper in the entire world was built in Chicago in 1885. The tallest building in North America, formerly the Sears Tower, now the Willis Tower, is in Chicago. Evanston, home to Northwestern University, is also the home to the ice cream sundae. Illinois has a lot to be proud of, and will continue to be. Illinois has offered me and my family a tremendous opportunity, but now the task before us--the 18 members of the Illinois delegation who stand before you today thank you for organizing this. Our task now is to make sure that Illinois continues to work to create the same and better opportunities for the next generation. Personally, I am incredibly lucky to represent the 10th District of Illinois, which stretches from the edges of Cook County all the way north along Lake Michigan to the borders of Wisconsin, from the lake all the way west to Fox Lake. It is an incredible district. It is one of the most thoughtful, engaged constituencies in all of Congress. My constituents reach out and talk to me about what matters, what they care about. They freely share their opinions, and I welcome the opportunity to hear what is important, to hear their priorities and values, and I have the greatest privilege in my life to represent them in this great body. What I hear about from my constituents is hope for the future, the belief that Illinois, Chicago, the 10th District, is going to lead this Nation. My district is a district that focuses on education because we know that educating every one of our children, from kindergarten all the way through high school, to college and even grad school, to making sure all of our kids have the skills and lessons they need to succeed, is the way we are going to continue to lead in a global economy. When it comes to economy, my district has the fourth largest concentration of manufacturing jobs of any district in the entire country. We have innovation, we have manufacturing, we have transportation, because we know, if we are going to grow our economy, we are going to invent things in America, make them in America, and ship them around the world; and Illinois and the 10th District of Illinois is leading the way. Our district has a great focus on the environment. I have the privilege of representing the largest part of Lake Michigan in the Illinois delegation; Lake Michigan that provides fresh water to 30 million people. But Illinoisans know that we need to protect our environment to invest in our future, to make sure that our children have clean air, fresh water, and a good, healthy future. That all comes out of Illinois. For 200 years, Illinois has been a place where people could achieve the promise of a better future. Looking to the future, we will continue to succeed by offering high-quality education, good, well-paying jobs, and a secure, dignified retirement for all our citizens. I am proud to represent this great State. I am proud to have the privilege to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, fighting for the priorities and values of Illinois. I am proud of the history our State has provided; of the example we have given not just today, but for 200 years. 2018 is going to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of the State of Illinois, but I know that our best days still lie ahead of us. I know that, together, we are going to work to make our future solid and our kids' opportunities secure.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, on this day in 2012, we watched together in horror as news broke of a shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. Twenty innocent children and six brave educators were gunned down at Sandy Hook Elementary School. In the 5 years since, this House has paused 40 times for moments of silence to recognize the victims of mass shootings. The names are now familiar: Emanuel AME, Pulse nightclub, Las Vegas, and Sutherland Springs. Since Newtown, there have been more than 1,700 mass shooting events, nearly one every single day. Across the country, there have been nearly 170,000 gun deaths--let me repeat that figure--170,000 gun deaths since Newtown. But in those 5 years, this House has taken no significant action to improve our gun safety laws. We are not debating universal background checks or restricting assault weapons or even banning the bump stock used 2 months ago in Las Vegas, the worst mass shooting in our history. I have met some of the parents of Newtown. We all grieve for them and their loss. But our moments of silence are not enough. The 26 who lost their lives deserve more. We must honor them with action. I urge this House to end the obstruction and finally consider legislation that would improve safety for all of our communities.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

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

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of this bipartisan amendment to H.R. 1638, the Iranian Leadership Asset Transparency Act. I would like to thank my colleague from Texas, Judge Poe, for joining me in this effort. Iran is a bad and dangerous actor in a volatile region of the world, which is why Congress has enacted sanctions in response to Tehran's dangerous ballistic missile program and support for terrorist proxy groups, including Hezbollah. We must hold senior Iranian leadership accountable for destabilizing actions in the region and around the world. The legislation on the floor today is an effort to shine a light and focus our efforts on assets held by top Iranian officials, including the Supreme Leader, members of the Council of Guardians, members of the Expediency Council, and high-ranking military leaders. Specifically, the bill requires the Secretary of the Treasury to report to Congress information on the assets held by senior Iranian leaders. Included in this report are recommendations on how to improve the effectiveness of U.S. sanctions to prevent these assets and funding from being used by Iranian officials to further develop Iran's ballistic missile program. My amendment simply, but importantly, expands this requirement to include Iran's human rights abuses. We should be using every tool in our toolbox to make clear to Iran that its human rights abuses are unacceptable. The human rights situation in Iran is appalling, and abuses permeate many aspects of Iranian society. In Iran, repression and persecution of members of different religious faiths, including Sunni Muslims, Christians, and Baha'is is pervasive. The State Department's International Religious Freedom Report of 2016 cites at least 103 members of minority religious groups imprisoned for their religious activities. Since 1979, Iran has executed more than 200 Baha'i leaders and, over the past 10 years, has conducted more than 850 arbitrary arrests of Baha'i individuals. Sexual orientation and gender identity are not protected categories from discrimination under Iranian law, and same-sex acts are punishable by flogging and possibly even death. Arbitrary and unlawful killings are numerous. The State Department's annual Human Rights Report says the Iranian Government announced 114 executions by August of 2016 and that unofficial reports suggest a total of 469 executions by the end of that year. The U.N. puts this number even higher at 530 executions in 2016. Freedom of speech is limited, media is censored, and publications have been banned and closed by the government. Harassment and detainment of journalists continue, and Iran's citizens are not allowed to criticize the government, Supreme Leader, or official religion. The electoral system in Iran is neither free nor fair. In 2016, 79 percent of the candidates running for the Assembly of Experts and 58 percent running for the Islamic Consultative Assembly were disqualified by the Guardian Council. And we cannot forget about the Americans and other foreigners who Iran has unjustly detained and continues to hold on fabricated charges, including the following individuals whose family members testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee earlier this year: Baquer and Siamak Namazi, Nizar Zakka, and, of course, Robert Levinson, who has been held for more than 10 years. These are just a handful of examples of egregious human rights abuses by the Iranian Government. This amendment helps ensure that funds held by senior Iranian leaders do not contribute to these human rights abuses and that U.S. sanctions are best positioned to improve Iran's human rights situation. I hope that my colleagues will join me in supporting this important amendment. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Chair, I thank my colleague, Judge Poe, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, protecting the right of every American to practice their religion is a fundamental tenet of our Constitution. That includes defending the security of churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and other religiously affiliated institutions where Americans gather together to follow their faith. This year, we have seen the troubling rise in anti-Semitic incidents in the United States, including bomb threats, vandalism, and cemetery desecrations. One of the most frequent targets have been Jewish community centers, or JCCs, including in my home State of Illinois, including the one in my very own community where my kids attended and played basketball and other sports to connect with their community. These despicable threats aim to sow fear in families and communities. And they target our most vulnerable children in preschool, Hebrew school, or teens simply coming together to make friends. Mr. Speaker, no parent in America should have to worry about the safety of their family because of their faith, yet current Federal law does not consider threats against community religious centers as hate crimes. It is unacceptable to limit the consequences faced by the perpetrators of this terror to misdemeanor charges. We need to fix this. I am proud to have cosponsored this bipartisan legislation, to allow individuals, who make bomb threats and other credible threats of violence against community religious centers, to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for committing a hate crime. I thank my colleague from Washington for conceiving this important idea and inspiring this bill. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues in the House to follow the example of the Judiciary Committee and pass H.R. 1730, the Protecting Religiously Affiliated Institutions Act, with overwhelming bipartisan support.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, this year we are again experiencing terrible gun violence that destroys lives, tears apart families, devastates communities, and is leaving a stain on our Nation. Sadly, after thousands of senseless deaths, after Sandy Hook, after the Pulse nightclub, after Las Vegas, and after so many more, this body has taken no action, just the now tragically routine moments of silence and then back to business as usual. But this week Congress will, in fact, take action, action making it easier for dangerous people to carry concealed guns throughout the country. It is inconceivable to me that this bill is what comes to the floor from the debate about gun safety. Concealed carry reciprocity allows people from States with the loosest safety standards or no safety standards at all to carry a firearm across the country irrespective of local laws. I will give one example. In my State of Illinois, people who have two DUIs within 5 years cannot get a concealed carry permit. But this bill would override our State law, rendering our and every other State legislature virtually helpless to protect their own citizens. I rise today in strong opposition to the reckless and dangerous concealed carry reciprocity bill, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.