Brad Schneider

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from New York for yielding. The rise of racially motivated violent extremism is a serious threat to Americans across the country. We, in Congress, can't stop the likes of Tucker Carlson from spewing hateful, dangerous replacement theory ideology across the airwaves. Congress hasn't been able to ban the sale of assault weapons. The Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act is what Congress can do this week to try to prevent future Buffalo shootings, prevent future California shootings, future El Paso shootings, future Charleston shootings, future Pittsburgh shootings, or future Wisconsin shootings. We need to ensure that Federal law enforcement has the resources they need to best preemptively identify and thwart extremist violence wherever that threat appears. In 2020, this House passed the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act on a voice vote with overwhelming support on both sides of the aisle. I thank my colleagues, Democrats and Republicans, who saw the benefit of this legislation and sent it to the Senate. It didn't get a vote in the Senate in 2020, which is why we are here today. I am grateful that this legislation is being brought forward today in this moment. To those who are considering voting against this bill, I ask them the following: What has happened in the 2 years since that they no longer support this legislation? What has changed that they no longer support giving the FBI, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Homeland Security, the resources they need to keep Americans safe, to make sure kids in their schools don't fear the threat of terrorism, that people shopping in a grocery store, going about their business, don't have to worry about someone coming in and killing them simply because of the color of their skin. What has changed in 2 years that after sending this to the Senate on a voice vote, without any opposition from Republicans, today, we are not there? Following the vote in 2020, we introduced this bill on January 19, 2021; three Democrats, three Republicans leading that with me. It was bipartisan. We have added nearly 200 Democrats to the list, and the Republicans stand silently by. The only thing that has changed in 2 years is that the risk of violence, the risk of domestic terror has gone up. Madam Speaker, I am calling on my colleagues, I am pleading with my colleagues, join us in this legislation. Let's join together and send a message that we stand with Federal law enforcement, we stand with American communities, and we stand against domestic terrorism.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise in support of H.R. 350, the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2022. I thank the Speaker of the House and House leadership for their support in taking action to address the very real and present threat of domestic terrorism and, specifically, racially motivated violent extremism. I am grateful for the leadership of my colleague and friend, Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, in helping to bring forth this bill, and my fellow Illinoisan, Senator Dick Durbin, who has been my partner in shepherding this legislation since 2017. Our Nation is reeling. Just this weekend, in California, a true hero, as well as being a father, husband, and physician, a true hero saved countless lives by sacrificing himself to wrestle down a hate-driven gunman inside a church. In Buffalo, 10 people were murdered by a deranged white supremacist whose hate was fueled by the racist, anti- Semitic great replacement conspiracy theory. I can't go back in time and stop past events. There will be more Buffalos; there will be more El Pasos; and there will be more Tree of Life synagogue-type shootings. Though the shooters may have acted alone, these tragedies past are a harbinger of what is to follow. As Amy Spitalnick with Integrity First for America has put it, each attack inspires the next one. Whether it is a live-streamed assault or a screed posted on the dark web, the goal is not just to kill fellow Americans but to inspire like-minded haters to act in kind. We cannot sit idly by while domestic violence extremism spreads across our country. We must give Federal law enforcement the resources and the tools they need to actively identify threats and to preemptively act to stop violence before it happens. To my colleagues considering voting against this bill, especially those who supported this very same legislation in the last Congress, I ask them: If not this bill, then what? And if not now, then when? Their inaction only gives cover to the next domestic terrorist planning an attack. Let me be clear: This legislation does not create any new statute or establish any new penalties. It doesn't threaten civil liberties. In fact, it further protects First Amendment rights, and it helps the FBI, DOJ, and DHS do their job. In testimony this February before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security, Seth Jones of CSIS noted there were 73 terrorist plots and attacks in the U.S. just last year, spanning 18 States and the District of Columbia. He stated: ``Government, military, and police locations and personnel were the most frequently targeted by domestic terrorist attacks regardless of perpetrator orientation.'' He continued: ``These perpetrators identified with a range of ideologies and movements, including the QAnon conspiracy, the sovereign citizen movement, militia groups, anarchism, antifascism, environmentalism, and other antigovernment and antiauthority philosophies.'' And he continued: ``In addition, white supremacists and other like- minded extremists have targeted individuals because of their racial, ethnic, religious, or political makeup, such as African Americans, immigrants, Muslims, and Jews.'' FBI Director Christopher Wray, in testimony before the Senate last year, stated that: ``The top threat we face from DVEs,'' domestic violent extremists, ``continues to be those we identify as racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists, RMVEs, specifically those who advocate for the superiority of the White race, and who were the primary source of ideologically motivated lethal incidents and violence in 2018 and 2019.'' Mr. Speaker, the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act we are voting on today is the right bill for this specific moment. The threat is real. It is growing, and if we don't act, more people--people praying in their houses of worship, children playing in their schoolyards, police officers serving in our communities--will die. We must pass this bill because the American people deserve to feel secure in their schools, in their supermarkets, and in their churches, synagogues, temples, and mosques. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support and in defense of women's reproductive freedom and equal rights to comprehensive healthcare. The leaked Alito opinion shows the Supreme Court is likely to overturn Roe v. Wade, the critical precedent that has protected a woman's right to bodily autonomy for nearly 50 years. Suddenly, millions of women across America are on the brink of being denied their fullness of rights, and America is about to become less free. Undeterred, Republicans are now publicly talking about a national abortion ban, States rights notwithstanding. We are staring down an emergency. I was a young teen when the Supreme Court ruled on Roe v. Wade. That remarkable ruling meant that my generation would not have to suffer the cruel and dangerous world where abortion was illegal. My generation, and all who have come after, have benefited beyond measure from ensuring that women have control over their bodies and are able to make their personal healthcare decisions in private counsel with their families and their doctors, without having to risk their safety or their lives. In the House, we passed the Women's Health Protection Act to codify Roe. Across the Capitol yesterday, 51 Senators turned their backs on women's rights and voted against this legislation. It is shameful. I am calling on the Senate to work together to protect women across the country. We cannot afford to backslide. We must preserve access to safe medical procedures and respect women's bodily autonomy. Mental Health Awareness Month

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month. As President Biden declared in his proclamation this month, each May we raise awareness about the importance of mental health and its impact on the well-being of all Americans, including children, adults, families, and communities across our Nation. We also give thanks to the dedicated mental health providers whose service and support improve the lives of so many Americans. We stand in solidarity with those who are experiencing mental health conditions, renewing our commitment to providing them with the support they need and deserve. Madam Speaker, every day Americans bear a tremendous mental health burden, exacerbated by COVID-19. The pandemic has increased daily challenges for all of us and for so many have pushed us to our limits. Frontline workers, seniors forced into isolation, parents juggling work and teaching our kids from home, and especially our young people navigating life's decisions, often without the basic support systems they deserve and need. We feel the impact of our daily interaction with family, friends, neighbors, and even strangers, and we see the impact in the numbers. Increased demand for mental health services, rising incidents of domestic violence, and far too often stories of people, old and young, losing all hope and dying by suicide. I have heard from the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago about the severity of the pediatric mental health crisis. Prior to the pandemic, Lurie Children's used to get 50 calls per week for new appointments for mental health services. They are now getting 50 calls a day. Their emergency department treated a prepandemic two to three suicide attempts each month. That number has jumped to two or three attempts each day. Countless teachers have come to me telling me about the struggles their students are facing and the increasing difficulties they endure simply managing their classrooms. A study found that the mental health of colleges students declined between 2013 and 2021, with 135 percent increase in depression, and 110 percent increase in anxiety. According to the CDC, during the pandemic 18- to 24-year-olds became 25 percent more likely to report they had seriously considered suicide. In my district, Dylan Buckner, a star quarterback due to graduate with honors in mere months, was lost to suicide in January of 2021, devastating his family, friends, and community. More recently, my community lost a shining light, Orli Sheffey, to suicide this spring. She was a wonderful young woman I had the privilege of knowing her entire life. Her parents, Steve and Timna, her sisters, Ariel and Ayelet, are heartbroken but are also committed to helping others get the mental healthcare they need. Steve specifically asked that Congress take up the issue of mental health on college campuses. Another of my constituents lost their son, Washington Metropolitan Police Officer Jeff Smith, due to physical and mental injuries incurred on January 6. Officer Smith's father shared with me that the stigma around mental health and the lack of access to care contributed to his tragic loss. Orli's, Dylan's, and Jeff's stories, like everyone's, are specific to their individual circumstances, but the tragedy of young lives cut short and the incidence of people of all ages not able to get the care they need reflect our national failure to meet this mental health moment. As a Nation, we desperately need more mental health awareness, education, and better mental health services. We need more mental health providers and residents available to both adults and to children to address the access gap that so many families confront. Getting America healthy requires that we get those facing these challenges the resources they need, or if we as a Nation are going to achieve our greatest potential, then we must help the sickest among us get healthy so they can reach their full potential. In Illinois, you can use the Call4Calm text line. If you or a loved one are struggling with stress related to the COVID pandemic and need emotional support, text ``talk'' to 552020. It is free, and it is anonymous. Veterans can call 1-800-273-8255 or text 838255. The number for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 800-273-8255.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Nick Helmer, the late, beloved mayor of Prospect Heights, and someone with whom I was proud to have a friendship. Mayor Helmer was a dedicated public servant, serving as mayor since 2011. His tenure transformed Prospect Heights. He led the city out of a lingering recession into what he lovingly called Prosperous Heights. Throughout his 79 years of life, Mayor Helmer shaped Prospect Heights, building a home with his wife, Gail Ann Helmer, and raising their two children, son Nick Helmer, Jr., and daughter Rebecca. Through his work, he literally built both Prospect Heights and Chicago with a career and a passion for real estate. He was recognized as Chicago's Certified Property Manager of the Year. One of my favorite memories was joining Mayor Helmer for the Fourth of July parade in the parade marshal car. Over the course of the parade route, I got to see firsthand his passion for his community, his love of his constituents, and the mutual love they shared for him. Mayor Helmer leaves a huge hole in Prospect Heights and a hole in all of our hearts. He will be sorely missed. May his memory be a blessing. In Support of Ukraine

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to affirm Congress' resolute support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people in their defense of the unprovoked, unlawful Russian invasion. The world will hold Vladimir Putin accountable for his invasion and the actions of his armed forces. He is solely responsible for this war, its devastation, the senseless deaths of thousands of Ukrainian forces and civilians, and the forced migration of millions more. Putin's war is an affront to every nation and to all people that respect international law and self-determination. I commend the administration's swift and strong response to unite NATO and other allies against the Russian aggression and for heeding Congress' call to ban imports of Russian oil. In Congress, our bipartisan support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people and for isolating and sanctioning Putin and his regime is rock solid. The United States, together with our allies, must do all we can to compel Putin to end this unwarranted, illegal war. We must do all we can to help the Ukrainian people in their struggle and their fight for their independence and their freedom. Putin must know that Americans and people of conscience around the world stand with the people of Ukraine; and that we will stand strong until Ukraine is again free.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the selfless leadership and advocacy of Waukegan resident Reverend Henderson ``H.D.'' Darby, who was instrumental in securing the right to vote for Black people in the Jim Crow South. Rev. Darby first tried to cast his vote in Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi in the early 1950s. As NAACP records show, before he could register he was required to pass an oral examination where he was asked obscure questions about the Mississippi and Federal constitutions. Although Rev. Darby answered these unfair questions to the best of his ability, but was simply told, ``You did not qualify.'' Rev. Darby did not give up. Instead, he sued the county circuit clerk, James Daniel, for access to the ballot box in the 1958 case, Darby v. Daniel. His case was among the first federal court attempts to secure voting rights for Black voters. During the suit he was called ``extremely radical. if not dangerous'' and ``bitter for trying to exercise his constitutional right. With help from lawyers from the NAACP's Legal Defense Fund--including future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall--Rev. Darby prevailed with his case. Rev. Darby's landmark win granted all African Americans the right to vote without obstruction, such as having to take an oral examination. His lawsuit is estimated to have helped secure voting rights for approximately 1,300 African American voters in Jefferson Davis County, according to Jet Magazine. Thanks to the fearlessness of civil rights leaders like Rev. Darby, millions of African Americans have the right to vote today. At a time when voting rights are once again under attack across the country, we are all served well by learning the stories and honoring the sacrifices of civil rights figures like Rev. Darby. The legacy of these great American heroes, such as Rep. John Lewis, Fannie Lou Hamer, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and so many others must be protected with unwavering commitment to protecting the right to vote. Rev. Darby's pioneering activism made him a leader before his time. I am honored that he came to call Waukegan, Illinois his adopted home later in life. He lived in our community until he passed away in 1993. Today, his legacy lives on through his loved ones, including his grandson, Christopher ``Brotha'' Blanks, who is known in Waukegan for his moving poetry, social activism and advocacy, and the work he does through his nonprofit, Black Abolition Movement for the Mind. It is my privilege to recognize Rev. Henderson ``H.D.'' Darby for his fearlessness, strength and patriotism. I know that his legacy will continue to live on through his family, friends and all those who learn and are inspired by his shining example.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to reflect on the remarkable progress of our Nation's economy over the previous 12 months in what I suspect history will label the Biden boom. The progress achieved in 2021, helped along by the American Rescue Plan, is unmatched in American history. Our economy is growing at its fastest rate in 40 years. The Nation added 6.4 million new jobs, and unemployment is now at 3.9 percent, representing the sharpest ever 1- year decline. J.P. Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon recently said: ``The consumer balance sheet has never been in better shape,'' predicting continued extraordinary growth. A Bloomberg analysis found that President Biden's first year is ranked either first or second among Presidents for, among other things, GDP growth, S&P 500 performance, nonfarm payrolls, manufacturing jobs, and business productivity. I recognize we still have real challenges, including worker shortages, supply chain disruptions, and inflation. But working together, Congress and President Biden are positioned to move our economy forward and get us through this pandemic stronger than when we went in. Whether Republican, Democrat, Independent, or anything else, every American should be celebrating the resilience of the American spirit.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Build Back Better Act that will make transformative investments in the lives of everyday Americans, all without adding to the deficit. This bill is good for our country. It will unquestionably enhance the future for our children, but also improve the here and now for their parents and grandparents creating opportunities like universal pre-K. It takes on national challenges by lowering the cost of prescription drugs and, critically important, giving working families a tax cut. I have said from the start that I want a bill that will address four things: climate change, kids and education, healthcare, and economic growth. This legislation checks every box. I am proud of the work of all the House committees, and particularly our Ways and Means Committee. I am also proud that several initiatives I have long championed are included in this bill, including sustainable aviation fuel to fight climate change, Health Profession Opportunity Grants and graduate medical education to make healthcare more accessible, onshore wind manufacturing tax credits to bolster domestic energy supply chains, and, significantly, tax cuts through the child tax credit and State and local tax deduction.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to call on my colleagues to act on the opioid epidemic roiling our Nation. Today, we learned that between May of 2020 and April of 2021, more than 100,000 Americans died of drug overdoses, a grim, grim record. Drug overdoses now surpass deaths from car crashes and gun violence. Fentanyl alone was responsible for more overdoses than there were in all of 2016, just five years ago. We must expand access to medications like naloxone, which reverse an opioid overdose, and mental health services to crack down on overdose deaths from synthetics and opioids. Congress cannot do it alone. In every community across the country, there are dedicated public servants and committed groups working to combat these figures and help individuals and families. Groups like the Lake County Opioid Initiative in my district, cofounded by Mike Nerheim and Chelsea Laliberte-Barnes. After 8 years, Mike is stepping down as chair, and Chelsea is stepping up. I thank Mike for his leadership, and as the cofounder and advocacy strategist for Live4Lali. I know Chelsea will continue the great work of LCOI at this critical time. Now Congress must help Mike, Chelsea, and the countless others around the country for whom this fight is so personal.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Madam Speaker, I rise today regarding a vote I missed on November 4, 2021. Had I been present for Roll Call Vote 362 on H.R. 3709, the Preliminary Damage Assessment Improvement Act of 2021, I would have voted yes. I believe this sensible, bipartisan legislation would help improve the Federal Emergency Management Agency's preliminary damage assessment process.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairwoman and the ranking member for helping bring this bill today. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as we mark Veterans Small Business Week in support of the Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act of 2021, an important bipartisan bill I was proud to introduce with Congressman Roger Williams to help build our economy by giving veterans the tools they need to successfully start and grow their own businesses. Just as our Nation's security rests on the shoulders of the men and women serving in our armed services, our Nation's economic growth relies on small businesses and American entrepreneurship. U.S. small businesses generate 44 percent of our total economic output annually; they employ almost half of all working Americans; and they produce almost 65 percent of all new jobs. Small business owners exemplify the American Dream. According to the SBA, self-employed people, on average, earn more and have more net worth than the non-self-employed. Perhaps best of all, Mr. Speaker, owning your own business is the chance to do something you love and to control your own destiny. We also know that many veterans have the self-motivation, experience, and valuable acquired skills to be successful entrepreneurs and small business owners. America's veterans have gained extraordinary experience and learned vital lessons, including planning, leadership, team building, problem-solving, and adapting to constantly changing situations. The Boots to Business Program offers veterans a training curriculum to help them transfer their service experiences to the business world and expand their skill set with the know-how to succeed and prosper. Since being launched in 2011, more than 50,000 veterans and their spouses have benefited from the Boots to Business Program, learning everything from strategic planning, marketing, basic accounting, and even financing for a new business or new opportunity. As we beat back the pandemic, one of the best things we can do to help rebuild our economy is to unleash the ingenuity and entrepreneurship that can power our Nation into the post-COVID, 21st century global economy. The bipartisan bill before the House today builds on proven outcomes by formally codifying the Boots to Business Program into law. I want to thank all of our veterans. I am pleased that this bill passed out of the committee with strong bipartisan support, and I am happy we are bringing it to the House floor today for a vote. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support the Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act of 2021.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of a bold build back better agenda that invests in addressing climate change, grows our economy, invests in children and education, and makes sure that every American has healthcare. We face a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we have to move forward. We have to invest in our children, and we cannot allow for an obstinate few to threaten to squander any of this for their own vanity. We have to come together to find a center path forward. It is not this side or that side, but it is, rather, let's work together for progress that improves the security and the prosperity of the people we represent. Already, we have seen the immense good that policies like the expanded monthly child tax credit can do. The child tax credit is slashing child poverty. I recently spoke with Amanda Douglas, a single mother in my district with two young children, Axel and Avery. With the child tax credit, Amanda said that she no longer feels unbearable stress on a daily basis, that she is able to pay her bills and provide for her sons. So for Amanda, Axel, and Avery, for every family striving to realize the American Dream, we need to be investing in our families and young people to ensure that every child has the opportunities they deserve, not playing political games or holding people's futures hostage.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Madam Speaker, today is my dad's 88th birthday. As a CPA he taught me about financial responsibility. He taught me about paying our bills on time. I am sure he never could imagine our Congress would or could possibly put the full faith and credit of the United States at risk, but that is exactly the path my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are advocating today. The stakes could not be higher. Secretary Yellen has said that it would be catastrophic for the United States to default on its debt. There would be chaos in the financial markets, higher interest rates, slowed economic growth, an estimated 6 million lost jobs, and $15 trillion of people's wealth disappeared. For the last 4 years the Republicans have run up our Nation's debt. The bill is now due, and the Republicans want to tear up the statement and throw away the checkbook. Burying our heads in the sand won't solve our problems, and it won't keep our creditors at bay. It will, however, cause catastrophic damage to our Nation's credibility, damage to our Nation's economy, damage to our Nation's future, to our children's future. I urge my colleagues to put the partisanship aside, put the country first. Let's vote ``yes'' on this bill and make sure that our country pays its debts.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Madam Speaker, I rise today regarding a vote I missed on September 23, 2021. Had I been present for Roll Call Vote 284 to H.R. 4350, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, I would have voted no. I do not believe that a 10 percent across the board reduction in funding, as this amendment proposed, is a responsible way to reduce spending.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, including my three amendments included in this legislation. The FY 22 NDAA authorizes critically important funding and programs for our Armed Forces who put their lives on the line to protect our nation and our people. The legislation ensures our servicemembers and their families have the resources they need and deserve to continue serving our country. As a parent to two adult sons, nothing is more important to me than my children being safe and healthy. I had the pleasure of watching them grow up and become the men they are today. I think we can all agree that a parent's worst nightmare is losing a child. Any parent that has to bury to their child deserves the time and dignity to cope with that grief--a hole in the heart that doesn't heal, but around which one must build anew and move forward however possible. I hope that someday time to fully mourn a child is available for everyone in America, but at least my amendment to the FY 22 NDAA would guarantee paid bereavement leave for federal employees. This is an important step forward and I hope that we can show even more compassion in the future. My second amendment would codify the Boots to Business program into law. Boots to Business is an established, successful training program that has helped servicemembers transitioning into civilian life to start their own businesses. It has already trained more than 100,000 servicemembers on the essential skills of entrepreneurship and this amendment would ensure that many more can benefit from it. My final amendment would have the Department of Defense create a U.S.-Israel Operations-Technology Working Group. This working group will enable further sharing of information vital to combating current and future threats and enhance our mutual security and the security of the Middle East as a whole. I appreciate the inclusion of my three amendments in the FY 22 NDAA and support its passage.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Madam Speaker, I rise today regarding a vote I missed on September 23, 2021. Had I been present for Roll Call Vote 284 to H.R. 4350, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, I would have voted no. I do not believe that a 10 percent across the board reduction in funding, as this amendment proposed, is a responsible way to reduce spending.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, 30 years ago in the Gulf war, Israel endured 31 scud missile strikes from Iraq; its population effectively defenseless. Fifteen years ago in the second Lebanon war, Hezbollah fired 4,000 rockets at Israel in 34 days. Again, Israel had no active defense. Five months ago over the course of just 11 days, Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza launched more than 4,500 rockets at Israel, but because of Iron Dome, Israel is no longer defenseless. Iron Dome has saved lives both Israeli and Palestinian. America's commitment to Iron Dome is rock solid. Today's vote will make that clear in spite that some on both sides of the aisle will seek to make Israel and our unyielding support for the U.S.-Israel relationship a wedge issue. There are so many reasons for hope in the region. Israel has a new government with the broadest imaginable governing coalition, including Arab parties. Israelis and Palestinians are talking to each other again. The Abraham Accords are changing the dynamic between Israel and her Arab neighbors. Progress in all these areas starts with and depends on security.

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Progress in all these areas starts with and depends on security, and security starts with and relies on Iron Dome funding. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this critical funding and hope the Senate will take it up immediately.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Congressman Suozzi, I am grateful for you holding this Special Order. I am grateful for your friendship in Congress and the work we do together on many things, but, in particular, on our efforts to repeal the onerous cap on the SALT deduction. In 2017, the Trump administration raised taxes for middle-class families in Illinois and across the country by capping the State and Local Tax deduction at $10,000. The decision was both bad policy and bad politics. Capping the SALT deduction raised the tax burden for Illinois working families and small business owners. In the 10th District, my district, 42 percent of families rely on the SALT deduction. Statewide in Illinois, one in three taxpayers file using the SALT deduction affected by this cap. And this deduction is not a tax break on the wealthy. Eighty-five percent of Illinois filers who take the SALT deduction are middle- income individuals and families. I have heard from constituents, and some of them want to move out of Illinois because their taxes are simply too expensive. I see everything our communities have to offer, from our schools, our parks, our public places, communities that make a difference and make a great place to raise family; and it breaks my heart that someone would choose not to live in the 10th District just because of an unfair decision made to increase the tax burden to punish States like Illinois. The SALT cap also makes it harder for our cities to provide essential services, like police departments, fire services, fire protection services, libraries and public health. These services and the workers performing them are the backbones of our community. The pandemic has already strained their budgets, and we do not need to strain them any further. Finally, it is no accident which States are most affected by the SALT cap. These are the States most affected: Illinois, New York, New Jersey, and California. These States have made the decision to invest in their communities, to invest in their people. They have invested in their children, their schools, their infrastructure. We should not be double-taxed just because we have decided that we want to continue to pay to make our communities stronger. Reinstating the full SALT deduction is a decision about fairness and responsibility. A Federal tax on income already paid to State and local governments is, quite simply, double taxation. We have the responsibility to stand up for our families, our small businesses, and our communities. We need a tax system that is fair, lifts our Nation, and gives our children the future that we all want them to have. It is critical that we reinstate the full SALT deduction and reduce the tax burden for middle-class families across the country.

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Absolutely. As you know, when the income tax was put in place more than 100 years ago, it was a decision that communities, that States that decided to invest in their people, would not be double taxed. Yet, in 2017, the decision of the Republicans was to specifically attack these States, these blue States like Illinois and New York. It is unfair to these communities that are investing in schools, public services, fire departments, police departments, making the decision to responsibly pay for them, and then have their residents told they have to pay a second time with the Federal tax. To add on top of that, these are the States, like New York and Illinois, who pay more to the Federal Government than they get back. So not only are we getting double taxed, we have a burden of subsidizing the States that are attacking us now. So this is absolutely unfair. It is unfair to the States. But, more importantly, it is unfair to the families we represent.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Madam Speaker, as we reach the middle of 2021, this House has made incredible progress, including fighting the global pandemic by passing the American Rescue Plan. Already, more than 300 million vaccine shots have been administered. Communities are opening up, and business is picking up, creating jobs and opportunity. Next month, parents will begin receiving their monthly child tax credit, legislation that will cut the Nation's child poverty rate in half. We have a pathway to recovery and transformation that offers real promise to every American. But underneath all of this, our country faces a deep divide that threatens to undo the foundations upon which our country rests. These divisions reached an apex on January 6, when our Capitol came under attack and five people died. The immediate threat to the Capitol may have receded, but the threat across the country still simmers. It is therefore imperative that we fully understand the events leading up to and including the siege on the Capitol on January 6. As someone who was here in the gallery during the attack, someone who watched in horror as they rushed the Speaker off the floor, who took cover as the Capitol Police barricaded the door against the mob, who fully understands the cost to our Nation and the implications of simply moving on, I am personally, deeply invested in preventing such an attack on our Capitol from ever happening again. The divide in our Nation threatens the prospects of our recovery and the potential for America to lead on the global stage. Congress must now work in unison, Democrats and Republicans, to institute the policies we need to prevent future acts of domestic extremism. For years, I have worked to pass legislation like the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act that would invest in the types of programs built to spot and intervene in this type of extremism. When my friend Republican Congressman John Katko negotiated a bipartisan committee to investigate January 6, he did it because he knew the stakes we faced as a Nation. The work of the Select Committee will be essential to history's understanding of what took place on January 6 and protecting the future of our Republic. My hope is that the members of this committee will be committed to the sober and relentless pursuit of the truth so that such a crisis never happens again.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, to my colleague and my neighbor from Illinois (Mr. Casten), I thank him for his leadership on this issue, his experience in sharing his perspective, and his call to action. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to continue to raise the alarm about the rapidly accelerating consequences of the climate crisis. Mr. Speaker, 30 years ago in 1989 I married the love of my life. When we got married, we looked to the future. We thought about having a family. We have two sons who are today 28 and 26. We still look to the future and hope they will have a chance to raise a family. But that is in doubt because we face a climate crisis. The climate crisis is the most pressing threat to our children's future and our grandchildren's future. It is a threat to our Nation and to everything we hold dear. It is an existential threat to our way of life, and we have to take urgent action now. We are already seeing the consequences of climate change throughout our country in our local communities, whether it is the case of more intense forest fires that are starting earlier in the year, 100-year rainstorms that cause floods, not every 100 years but every other year, or more intense hurricanes and also droughts that are devastating much of our West. These are the consequences we are facing today, and they are putting our Nation at risk. We have to do everything we can to protect our communities, to protect our Nation, to protect our world, and to protect our children's future. That is why it is so important that we pass the President's American Jobs Plan, that we invest in infrastructure, and that we do it in a way that builds resiliency against a changing climate but plans for a future to address and protect our climate. There are many sources of the greenhouse gases causing global warming, everything from industry to industrial and commercial buildings, our residences, but, of course, transportation is the greatest source, and among that is air travel. Airline travel is a growing part of our future, but it is contributing up to 2\1/2\ percent of our total emissions of carbon. Air travel has changed the world. It has brought us closer together. It is necessary for us to continue to have the hope for a 21st century global economy. But it is imperative that we work to address the impact. That is why, among the many other bills I have helped work for and support in this Congress to address climate change, I am proud to have introduced the Sustainable Skies Act, legislation that will cut the carbon of greenhouse gas emissions of airline fuels by as much as or more than 50 percent. It will boost the use of sustainable aviation fuel to make airline travel something that will be a part of a sustainable future. This legislation is the single most important step in the aviation industry that they can take to lower carbon emissions and to fight climate change. At the same time, sustainable aviation fuel will also enable more travel and commerce. It is, as Mr. Casten said, a win-win. It is good for everybody. It is good for our present, it is good for our future, and it is good for our children. The facts could not be clearer: climate change is a serious threat to our economy, our national security, the planet, and the future that we pass on to our children. We must take action before it is too late.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the bipartisan national commission to investigate the January 6 siege on the Capitol. I was in this Chamber that day. I took cover in the gallery as police barred the door and drew their guns. I escaped with my colleagues to watch from a secure location to watch the last vestiges of the attack play out. I was proud to return to this Chamber that night to complete our constitutional duty. The events that transpired on January 6 on these grounds were not just an attack on the building and the people who work here. It was an effort to undermine our democracy and steal an election. The immediate threat to the Capitol was repelled, but the threat to our democracy remains. Every American who believes our Constitution is the bedrock of our Nation should demand this commission, demand that we understand what conditions led up to and enabled the January 6 insurrection, and ensure that nothing like it happens again. It is now up to the Senate to pass the bill for the good of our country. If not, the House must be prepared to proceed on its own.

Mr. SCHNEIDER

Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, tonight, because of Hamas terror rockets, millions of people in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank, including frail seniors and young children, are huddled in fear, worried about their loved ones, and uncertain about what tomorrow will bring. Hamas and other terrorist groups are relentlessly attacking Israel, launching more than 1,500 rockets just since Monday, targeting Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Be'er Sheva, and every community in between. Israel is rightfully responding to these attacks, protecting its citizens and defending its borders. Civilians are dying, Arabs and Jews. My heart breaks for all innocents killed and injured. It is true that more have died in Gaza, but Israel goes out of its way to minimize civilian casualties. Hamas, conversely, goes out of its way to target civilians in Israel, while launching its rockets from civilian areas in Gaza. Israel has overwhelming resources to defend herself, yet shows restraint. Hamas has rockets intended only for death and terror. Thankfully, with Iron Dome, Israel has the technology to protect the lives of its citizens, which, in turn, protects Palestinian lives as well. The U.S. stands with Israel, and we must do all we can to end Hamas' terror attacks and swiftly restore calm to the region.