Thomas Suozzi

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, I just want to clarify, again, that premium cigars are already subject to a Federal excise tax, and there is no carve-out for the taxes on premium cigars. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney), a good friend, the chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, every Democrat, every Republican in this House knows there is a problem with youth vaping in the United States of America. Every single one of us recognizes that something must be done, and today we are taking important action. I want to point out that this is not a new debate. It is pretty much the same debate we went through with smoking years ago. I used to serve as the Nassau County Executive in New York State when the smoking issue was a massive debate in this country, and we heard the same arguments about Big Government. We heard the same arguments about taxing. We heard the same arguments about choice. And we can't fall for it again. We saw it happen in this country with smoking, that for so many years we ignored the fact that smoking was the number one killer in this country, and it took us decades to act. Now that we see youth vaping growing in this country every single day, efforts that are being made to market specifically to young children every single day, we must act to try and protect our families and to try and protect our children. Again, I want to point out that the Protecting American Lungs Act, which is part of this bill, has the support of over 50 public health, medical, and education organizations, including the American Academy of Nursing, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, the American Medical Association, and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Madam Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Neal. I want to thank Chairman Pallone. I want to thank all of the leaders, such as Donna Shalala, former-Secretary Shalala, and Raja Krishnamoorthi and all of my colleagues who have spoken here today. I urge my colleagues, both Democrats and Republicans, to act now on behalf of the children of our country. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Mr. Speaker, I have spoken in this Chamber before about my father's American success story as an Italian immigrant. Today, I rise to tell the story of another Italian immigrant success story, the story of my constituent's mother, Rosa Naccarato. Rosa died unexpectedly this past Christmas, only 2 weeks shy of her 95th birthday. In 1955, Rosa left Italy with her husband and six children, leaving behind her friends and family, all in pursuit of the American Dream. Think of the tears that were shed as family and a way of life were left behind and as they faced the unknown. The Naccaratos arrived in America with only $200 in their pocket. They worked hard and experienced tremendous hardships and personal affronts because they didn't speak English. But they refused to believe that they were second-class citizens. They persevered, and their children all achieved tremendous success. Their son, Anthony Naccarato, my constituent, was recently installed as the New York State president of the Sons and Daughters of Italy. Anthony asked me to speak up on behalf of his mother and all immigrants who make the leap of faith to leave everything behind and come to America to try and live the American Dream. Hopefully, Rosa Naccarato's story will inspire others to persevere through the hardships, the discrimination, and the outright disrespect. Mr. Speaker, today, we honor Rosa Naccarato. God bless her, and God bless the United States of America.

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4331, the bipartisan Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2019. By voting for this legislation, we are standing with the Tibetans and their religious and cultural way of life that the Chinese Government is seeking to eliminate. Since President Nixon went to China in 1971, most Americans have believed that with increased exposure to our economic system and to our system of democracy, the Chinese Government would become more like us. That simply hasn't happened. Whether it is the Hong Kong students, Uighur Muslims, Christians, or Tibetan Buddhists, China does not support our way of life. It does not support religious liberty. Freedom of religion is a fundamental freedom. We must raise our voices loud and clear for all that are harassed, imprisoned, tortured, persecuted, or killed seeking to live out their faith. An attack on religious freedom anywhere is an attack on religious freedom everywhere. Chinese officials in Tibet continue to severely restrict religious freedom, speech, movement, and assembly. They continue to restrict access to the unique cultural environment of Tibet. In July 2018, authorities displaced over 200 under-18-year-old monks from at least two monasteries in Tibet and forced them to attend government-run schools. In October 2018, Chinese Communist Party officials opened a new political education camp to train Tibetans in Chinese Communist Party ideology, particularly grassroots party-building and antiseparatism. International journalists have said that the isolation of Tibet is worse than that of North Korea, allowing the Chinese Government to conceal human rights abuses. The aspirations of the Tibetan people for dignity and freedom are viewed by the Chinese Government as a direct threat to their existence as an authoritarian state. Reeducation and surveillance methods pioneered in Tibet are being used to target the Uighurs in Xinjiang, where the Chinese Government has created a surveillance state unlike anything the world has ever seen. The Chinese Communist Party's repugnant campaign to destroy the cultural and religious identities of Tibetans and Uighurs requires more than just words of condemnation. We must stand up to any country that restricts individual liberty and religious freedom. This legislation would urge the administration to place economic or visa sanctions against Chinese officials who interfere with the process of recognizing the next Dalai Lama. Chairman McGovern and I hosted a townhall in Queens, New York, this past summer with the largest Tibetan diaspora community, and we learned of their inability to visit their families in Tibet. This legislation will also direct the Department of State to establish a United States consulate in Lhasa, Tibet, to enable U.S. citizens better access to Tibet. I am proud to be part of a legislative body that continues to advocate for Tibetans, for Uighurs, and for human rights and the rule of law in China.

Mr. SUOZZI. To quote the Dalai Lama: ``Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength. No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose hope, that's our real disaster.'' The United States' strength is in our values, and our policies should not be separated from them. We must not lose hope.

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 943, the bipartisan Never Again Education Act, of which I am a cosponsor. Never again is, sadly, not assured. Today, as we mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and honor the memory of 6 million Jews murdered in the Holocaust, it is more important than ever that we come together to fight anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism is real, and it is growing. I have seen it in my own community. Overall crime is down dramatically, but hate crimes are rising. Anti-Semitic graffiti was found sprayed not once but twice at the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center in my hometown of Glen Cove in Nassau County. Why is it happening? Divisive rhetoric is one cause. Nefarious use of social media by the haters and by our foreign adversaries who wish to foment civil unrest is another. But most important is ignorance. The ignorance regarding the Holocaust is shocking, with over 50 percent of Americans ignorant of the fact that over 6 million Jews were killed during the Holocaust. We must recognize that education is the best tool to fight ignorance. That is why the Never Again Education Act is so very important. I recently traveled to Belgium to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. In preparation, I read the book ``Band of Brothers.'' In the book, it described how soon after the Battle of the Bulge, literally miles away from the concentration camps they were about to liberate in just a few weeks, the soldiers were debating whether the Holocaust was real. Or, ``Was it just propaganda?'' Think of it: literally miles away from the camps just weeks before liberation, after millions of people had already been killed, and they were questioning whether or not it was real. Imagine how more dangerous the ignorance is 75 years later, how much scarier that ignorance is 75 years later. If we do not use the lessons of history to make enlightened moral choices, we risk turning a blind eye to the same hatred and anti- Semitism that formed the permissive foundation for genocide in the first place. Let's teach our children about the dreadful consequences of hate and intolerance. We can help ensure that ``never again'' is assured for future generations. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important, bipartisan legislation.

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5671, the Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act, introduced by Representative Garamendi. This act will award a Congressional Gold Medal, an extremely high honor, to the merchant mariners who served our country during World War II. This legislation is particularly timely, as the Board of Visitors of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, of which I am a member, is meeting on campus next week in Kings Point, Long Island, in my district. The United States Merchant Marine Academy is the only service academy whose students engage in combat during times of war. In fact, over 7,000 of these students answered our Nation's call to duty. Six hundred are still alive today, but 142 of them did not make it back from World War II. Edwin J. O'Hara was one of those students. In 1942, Edwin O'Hara was just another 19-year-old cadet and signed on aboard the newly delivered Liberty ship SS Stephen Hopkins in San Francisco, California. On one foggy, hazy night aboard the ship, a German raider appeared out of the mist and began firing at close range. Bullets rained down on the crew, wounding the armed guard commander and taking him out of action. O'Hara, just a student, who was nearby, rushed forward to take his place, firing the shells left until being mortally wounded by enemy fire. Only 19 of the 60 men aboard O'Hara's ship made it to the lifeboat that night. O'Hara was not one of them. For his brave sacrifice, Edwin O'Hara was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. Brave men and women like O'Hara at the Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, as well as the mariners who served across the country, deserve the highest recognition. Sadly, many of these midshipmen did not even receive veteran status until 1988. But it is not too late. It is time we recognized their sacrifice and award them this much-deserved Congressional Gold Medal. I applaud my colleagues, all of them, for supporting this and Congressman John Garamendi, especially, for his leadership, and I ask my colleagues to support our brave merchant mariners.

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Mr. Speaker, I wasn't going to speak today on the rule, but I am just so outraged when I hear people attacking States like mine and other States. My State, the State of New York, is the largest single net donor to the Federal Government of any State in the United States of America. We send $48 billion a year more to the Federal Government than we get back. And to hear this talk about irresponsible States that are really subsidizing these other States of the speakers who have spoken from the other side today is just so irresponsible and so divisive in our Nation. We talk about this bill, about restoring tax fairness, that is exactly what it is: tax fairness. It is not fair that people are taxed on the taxes they have already paid. It is not fair that State and local governments who pick up the garbage and plow the roads and protect our people and educate our children are being forced to have to worry about more money being used to subsidize the rest of the country. It is not fair that this has been in place since 1913, and they want to try and change this covenant that has existed since the beginning of the Federal tax code. They want to change it at this time, and it is completely unfair. Let me point out, with one last point, that 100 percent of this bill is paid for by the highest earners in the United States of America. One hundred percent is paid for by the highest earners.

Mr. SUOZZI. If my colleagues are concerned about the wealthy getting too much, then have them increase the progressive tax even higher if that is what they really mean.

Mr. SUOZZI. Mr. Speaker, I won't take a full minute. Mr. Speaker, I want to first start by saying how much I respect and admire Mr. Cole, and I have worked closely with him on many issues. I just want to make one point, though. So many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have been boasting about the fact that people are leaving States like mine to move to their States. That has been one of the effects of this tax bill by eliminating the State and local tax cap. What happens when people leave my State and move to the Southwest or the Southeast? They leave behind lower- and middle-income-tax people to pick up the bill. They are trying to boast about the fact that our States, which are mature, industrial States that have old roads, old bridges, old sewers, old schools, and old hospitals, when we get money from the Federal Government, we have got to fix up those legacy issues. We have got to deal with pockets of poverty because we have been around for a longer time. Their States are growing when they get money from us. We are subsidizing the rest of the country. When they get money from the Federal Government, what are they using it for? New sewers, new roads, new bridges, new hospitals, and new schools. They are growing, and they are bringing in new sales and new property taxes. They are trying to take credit for it when really it is because of the progressive income tax and the money that has come from our States that has helped their States to succeed. It is hypocrisy to suggest that our States are somehow irresponsible. It is hypocrisy to suggest that they are concerned about the wealthiest Americans.

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Thompson, Chairman Neal, and Bill Pascrell for all of their hard work. I thank Peter King, my Republican colleague from Long Island who is retiring next year, who is standing up for his constituents, as he always has. I thank the 50 cosponsors of this bill, bipartisan cosponsors, who realize that we have to be, as someone mentioned before, intellectually honest. We need to be intellectually honest and recognize, number one, that 100 percent of this bill is paid for by the wealthiest Americans. One hundred percent of this bill is paid for by taxpayers who make over $440,000 a year. It is inaccurate to suggest that other people are subsidizing this other than the wealthy. This is being paid for 100 percent by the wealthy. This is called the Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act. That name is exactly what this is about: restoring fairness. It is not fair. It is not fair that people are paying taxes on taxes they have already paid. It is not fair to State and local municipalities that relied on this tax deduction since the beginning of the tax code in 1913 that are now getting a punch in the gut and trying to change the rules. There is a reason that this has been endorsed by so many different groups. It has been endorsed by teachers. It has been endorsed by firefighters, by police officers.

Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, it has been endorsed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors. It has been endorsed by the National League of Cities, endorsed by the National Association of Counties. It is not fair, Madam Speaker, that my colleagues on the other side are boasting that people are leaving places like my State and moving to their States. What happens? The people who are left behind, low-and moderate-income people who can't afford to move away, get left behind holding the bag. My State and so many other States that are hurt by this existing GOP tax cut are subsidizing the other States in this Nation. My State sends $48 billion a year more to the Federal Government than we get back. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to please support this.

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, tonight, I will vote for impeachment. The President threatened to withhold Congressionally approved military aid to an ally under Russian attack unless the ally, a foreign government, agreed to help the President with his campaign. That is an abuse of power. The President refused to cooperate with Congress's constitutional duty to provide oversight. That is obstruction. As drastic and unwelcome as this is, inaction would not only give this president a license to further abuse power and obstruct, but set a dangerous precedent for all future presidents, that their misdeeds are immune from consequences. Inaction would also seriously undermine our system of government by relegating the Congress to a less than co-equal branch of government. As difficult as this is for our country, I believe this is the right thing to do for our country.

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Chair, I thank Chairman Neal for yielding me time. Madam Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3. I think this is one of the most important issues facing America today. The American people are hungering for a solution to this problem. On January 11, 2017, President-elect Trump said, when referring to the pharmaceutical companies, ``these guys are getting away with murder.'' For too long, Big Pharma has cashed in because our government, the largest purchaser of prescription drugs in the world, has been prohibited from negotiating lower drug prices. Americans pay nearly four times as much for prescription drugs as people in other countries. H.R. 3 will finally give the United States Government the power to negotiate lower prices. It will stop unjustified price hikes and put a cap on Medicare part D beneficiary out-of-pocket costs. The $500 billion in cost savings will be used to create historic Medicare improvements, such as dental, vision, and hearing benefits. This bill will also provide financial support for more Medicare beneficiaries, will boost funding for scientific innovation, will invest in community health centers, and will provide more money to fight the opioid epidemic. I thank Chairman Neal for also including a provision I wrote to help protect seniors that will require Medicare prescription drug plans to publicly disclose information about when beneficiaries are denied at the pharmacy counter. I want to thank Congressman Reed for helping in that legislation. I am honored to cosponsor this historic piece of legislation.

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Sires for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the bipartisan H. Res. 585, which I introduced along with my Republican colleague Peter King. This resolution reaffirms the United States' support for the Good Friday Agreement and other agreements in order to ensure a lasting peace in Northern Ireland. I want to start by thanking Chairman Engel for his support of this bipartisan resolution and for his decades-long commitment to bringing a lasting peace to the island of Ireland. I also thank, again, my fellow Long Islander Peter King, my lead Republican cosponsor of this resolution, who has been a staunch advocate for the Good Friday Agreement and the peace process for the length and breadth of his entire career in public service, over 30 years. I thank all of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and from the Congressional Friends of Ireland who cosponsored this resolution. Particularly, I thank my friend Bill Keating, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, Energy, and the Environment. Mr. Speaker, the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 was a momentous achievement that marked the official end of The Troubles, a dark period in history that saw communities torn apart, thousands of people killed, and the island of Ireland literally divided by a hard border. While the Good Friday Agreement has been largely responsible for the relative peace on the island of Ireland over the last two decades, recent events have created uncertainty and put the agreement at risk. The collapse of the key power-sharing agreement in early 2017 has created a roadblock to continued progress on several important issues. Furthermore, the uncertainty created by Brexit has led to fears of instability and even the reintroduction of a hard border separating the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Next week, the people of the United Kingdom will go to the polls in a crucial election that will determine the outcome of Brexit. While it would be inappropriate for any American elected official to interfere in another country's electoral process, it is important that the United States makes our position clear on policies in which we have a vested interest. This resolution reiterates the United States' full support for the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. It also urges the parties to continue their dialogues in the hope that the governing institutions created by the agreement can once again operate. This resolution also makes it clear that as the United Kingdom continues to work through the Brexit process, all parties should ensure that the final outcome supports peace on the island of Ireland, as well as all the principles, objectives, and commitments of the Good Friday Agreement. In particular, this resolution expresses strong opposition to the reintroduction of a hard border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. A return to a hard border, as Congressman Boyle has repeatedly pointed out, could do immense damage and must be avoided at all costs. I am pleased that in Brexit negotiations so far, all parties seem to agree that a hard border is unacceptable, and I urge continued adherence to this position. Finally, this resolution makes it clear that should the United States and the United Kingdom pursue a bilateral trade agreement in the aftermath of Brexit, that any such deal will be contingent on meeting the obligations of the Good Friday Agreement. As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, which I would have jurisdiction over any such deal, I promise to ensure that this clause of this resolution is strictly enforced. I know that my good friend Richie Neal, who has cosponsored this resolution and who serves not only as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee but also as co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Friends of Ireland, feels exactly the same way. Mr. Speaker, I also want to take a moment to thank my good friend and constituent Marty Glennon for his years of activism in support of the peace process. His wisdom and support of this resolution as it made its way through the legislative process has been extremely valuable. During these difficult times of often partisan and divided government, it is gratifying to see such overwhelming bipartisan support to ensure that Brexit and other political challenges do not threaten the Good Friday Agreement or the peace process. When my great-grandfather, Jeremiah Holmes, first emigrated from the Emerald Isle in the late 1800s, leaving his home in Bweeng outside of Malllow in County Cork, little did he know that his son would go on to work for IBEW, putting lights on the Empire State Building. Little did he know that, one day, his great-grandson would be a Member of the House of Representatives and work to continue the United States' important role in preserving peace on the island of Ireland. Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge the passage of this important bipartisan legislation.

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Sires for yielding me this time. I rise in strong support of the bipartisan Senate bill 178, which holds the Chinese Government accountable for their truly horrific treatment--let me say that again--truly horrific treatment of the Uighur Muslim minorities, including the mass internment of over 1 million people who are subjected to systemized brainwashing, sexual abuse, and forced labor in western China. I want to start by thanking Chairman Engel and Subcommittee Chairman Sherman for bringing attention to this issue and supporting this legislation to penalize China for its egregious human rights violations against the Uighurs. I am proud to have worked with Representative Chris Smith from New Jersey and Senator Marco Rubio from Florida to help write part of this truly bipartisan legislation. Mr. Speaker, Uighur families are prohibited from practicing their Muslim faith. They are often separated from their family members and prohibited from reading the Koran, making their daily prayers, and in some instances are forced to eat pork even during Ramadan, which, of course, violates their religion. The so-called reeducation camps in China where Uighurs are forced to work in food, textile, or manufacturing jobs in or near the mass internment camps are, of course, repugnant to our values and violate human rights. The brutal religious-based persecution of the Uighurs in China is alarming, but it is not new. China has continued to repress anyone who does not conform to their system, including Tibetans, Christians, and, of course, the people of Hong Kong, as we have seen in recent events. Since President Nixon went to China in 1971, most Americans have believed that with increased economic integration and exposure to our system of democracy in the west, the Chinese Government would some day adopt some of our fundamental values. This clearly has not happened. Not only does the Chinese Government reject any real steps towards democracy, continue its unfair trade practices, and cheat by stealing our intellectual property, but it also continually violates human rights. The United States must hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable for its repression of the Uighurs and active disregard for international law. I urge my colleagues to support the passage of this important and, again, truly bipartisan legislation.

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Huffman for allowing me this time. I rise today in support of this bill that I have sponsored, a bipartisan bill, H.R. 263, which, as has been mentioned, would rename the Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge as the Congressman Lester Wolff Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Grijalva. I want to thank, again, Congressman Huffman and my colleagues on the Natural Resources Committee for their work on this bill, as well as the members of the New York delegation, all of whom are cosponsors of and support this legislation. Congressman Lester Wolff, who represented my district for 16 years, is our Nation's oldest living former Congressman, and, in January, he will turn 101 years old. The renaming of the Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge in his honor is in recognition of his monumental contributions to the preservation and protection of our environment. These precious wetlands, at Congressman Lester Wolff's urging, were protected in 1968. It was in 1967 that the New York State Legislature, at the insistence of then-Governor Nelson Rockefeller and the master planner, Robert Moses, authorized a bridge across the Long Island Sound. Lester immediately saw the bridge would despoil this pristine and precious resource of the Long Island Sound and soon found himself at the center of an enormous political fight. Lester eventually won this fight, and the Oyster Bay Wildlife Refuge was born. Today, it covers over 3,200 acres of one of the most important areas for natural refuge anywhere on the north shore of Long Island and is home to many endangered species. Not only was Lester a champion for our environment, he also served our Nation honorably in our military. Lester served in the Civil Air Patrol during World War II and commanded the Congressional Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, rising to the rank of colonel. In 2014, Wolff received the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to also support this legislation so we may honor this great Congressman whose efforts were an important part of our Nation's environmental history.

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a constituent dedicated to a life of service, Dr. Bobby Kumar Kalotee. Dr. Kalotee has, for decades, worked tirelessly to serve people in his community, both locally and abroad. Dr. Kalotee has lived the American dream. Born to a poor family in India, Dr. Kalotee came to America at the age of 21. After years of hard work as a bus boy and shoe shiner, Dr. Kalotee was able to save enough money to start his own business and truly embrace his entrepreneurial spirit. Though successful in business, Dr. Kalotee felt unfulfilled without performing service to support those around him. For decades, Dr. Kalotee has promoted health and science on Long Island and has served on the Board of Directors of the Nassau University Medical Center and the Board of the New York Institute of Technology, where he received an honorary doctorate in science in 2001. He also was the Chairman of Spartan Health Science University Saint Lucia, where he received a doctorate in philosophy in 2016. Dr. Kalotee is the International Chairman of Friends for Good Health, a charitable organization with a mission to bring healthcare professionals to places in need all over the world. On a recent mission to El Salvador, he and the Friends for Good Health team served over 5,000 people in 4 different cities. For all his good work, Dr. Kalotee has been recognized or received awards from over 300 organizations. Dr. Kalotee is very active in politics in New York. Dr. Kalotee was Chairman of Nassau County Independence Party, Vice-Chairman of New York State Independence Party and National Executive Director of Independence Party of America. Dr. Kalotee was National Chairman of Reform Party from 2007 to 2010. Dr. Kalotee's commitment to serving others is representative of the Indian-American community at large here in the United States. Throughout my time in public office, I have seen the Indian-American community in my district pull together to raise up everyone around them. In discussions with fellow Members of Congress, such as my friends Raja Krishnamoorthi from Illinois and Carolyn Maloney from New York, we have marveled at the true dedication of people like Dr. Kalotee to make our country a better place for all, and I count myself lucky to have such a man call my district home. Dr. Kalotee has been married to his wife for over 30 years and has 5 children, all of whom inherited the patriotism of their father. I commend Dr. Bobby Kumar Kalotee for everything he has accomplished and wish him well in all his future endeavors.

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my greeting to my friends in the Sikh community who are celebrating the 550th anniversary of the birth of Guru Nanak Sahib, the founder of the Sikh religion. ``Sat Sri Akal.'' According to Sikh tradition, Guru Nanak's birth and many events in his life demonstrate that he had been marked with divine grace. During his life, he traveled to many places proclaiming the message of one God who dwells in each and every one of his creations and constitutes eternal truth. Guru Nanak set up a unique spiritual, social, and political platform based upon equality, fraternal love, goodness, and virtue--attributes we could use more of in our world today. The anniversary of Guru Nanak's birth is the perfect time to reflect on the contributions of the Sikh community to world peace and understanding. The strength of the United States lies in our rich diversity. We are truly blessed with the people of many faiths and cultures, including the Sikhs, who have contributed so much to the fabric of our American communities and the entire world. Mr. Speaker, ``Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguruji ki Fateh.'' Purity belongs to the Creator, all victory belongs to Him.

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, I rise to welcome Bishop Robert Barron, who gave the opening prayer today, here to the Chamber. Bishop Barron is the second-most followed Catholic on social media after the Pope. He is a remarkable man who has inspired me and my wife and my family for many years, and I am honored to have brought him here to the Nation's Capital where, yesterday, he addressed several dozen Members of Congress, as well as their staff members. Bishop Barron was ordained as a priest in the Archdiocese of Chicago 33 years ago. In July 2015, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Barron to be the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. He is the founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, an innovative new hub for spiritual and intellectual formation, where he produces daily meditations, weekly homilies, movies on pivotal players in Catholic history, reviews of movies, and debates with sometimes-controversial thought leaders of today's culture. Bishop Barron, as I said, is the second-most followed Catholic on social media, second only to the Pope. His regular YouTube videos have been viewed over 40 million times, and he has over 1.7 million followers on Facebook. He is a number one Amazon bestselling author and has published 16 books. He has created the groundbreaking documentary ``Catholicism,'' which aired on PBS. He has eight other films and study programs. He is a religious correspondent for NBC and has appeared on FOX News and CNN, as well as other stations. He has been invited to speak about religion at the headquarters of Facebook, Google, and Amazon, and, now, the United States Congress.

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and legacy of Giuseppe ``Joe'' Petrosino, NYPD Badge No. 285. 110 years ago, Lt. Petrosino was assassinated in Sicily while investigating organized crime and became the first NYPD officer killed overseas in the line of duty. Born in Padula (Sa.), Italy on August 30th, 1860, Lt. Del. Petrosino rose to fame in New York for cracking down on organized crime throughout the city. ``The Detective in the Derby'', as he was known in Little Italy, was the architect of the Bomb Squad, the Canine Squad, and the Undercover Squad and his techniques are still used by law enforcement today. Petrosino and his family immigrated to the United States from Padula (in the province of Salerno, Campania) in the 1870s. In 1883, he joined the NYPD and became the first native Italian-language speaker in the department's history. During his service, Petrosino grew close to then-police commissioner Theodore Roosevelt and rose through the ranks of the service. In 1895, he was promoted to Detective Sergeant and was placed in charge of the department's Homicide Division, making him the first Italian-American to lead this department. Petrosino's career reached it pinnacle in 1908 when he was promoted to Lieutenant and placed in charge of the Italian Squad, an elite corps of Italian-American detectives specifically assembled to deal with the activities of organized crime groups. Unfortunately, Lt. Petrosino's life was cut short by an assassin in Piazza Marina, Palermo, Italy on March 12, 1909, while he was collecting evidence to be used against the mafia. Lt. Petrosino's body was returned to New York and a funeral was held on April 12, 1909; over 250,000 people were in attendance. New York City declared the day of his burial a holiday to allow its citizens to pay their respects. A small plaza just north of the old NYPD Headquarters at 240 Center Street in Manhattan was renamed in his memory, but his true legacy lives on in the hearts and minds of his surviving family members: granddaughter Susan Burke, grandnephew Assistant District Attorney Joseph Petrosino, NYPD Officer Joseph Petrosino, and, in Italy, grandnephew and founder of the Joe Petrosino International Association Nino Melito-Petrosino. Lt. Petrosino's mark extends far beyond New York City. Over 100 years after his death, The Lt Det. Joseph Petrosino Association in America continues the tribute to an NYPD and Italian icon by forming a trinity with the Joe Petrosino International Association in Padula (Sa.) Italy and the Joe Petrosino Association in Sicily, Italy; this trinity continues to perpetuate his memory, his values, and his fight against crime. I would like to thank the board members of the Lt. Det. Joseph Petrosino Association in America for their tireless advocacy for New York police departments; Cav. Joseph Mattone, Dr. Joseph Scelsa, and James Lisa, Chairman of the Lt. Joseph Petrosino Association in America. I would also like to recognize Robert (Bob) Fonti, President of the Lt. Joseph Petrosino Association in American, Vincenzo Lamanna, President of the Associazione Internazionale Joe Petrosino, Padula (Sa.) Italy, and Anna Maria Corradini, President of the Association ``Joe Petrosino'' Sicilia, Palermo, Italy. Fighting crime, unfortunately, sometimes requires the sacrifice of an untold number of men and women in blue. We thank them and their families for putting themselves in harm's way on our behalf.

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and legacy of Lieutenant Detective Giuseppe ``Joe'' Petrosino, who, 110 years ago, was assassinated in Sicily while investigating organized crime. He was the first NYPD officer killed overseas in the line of duty. Born in Padula, Italy, in 1860, Petrosino arrived in America as a teenager. In 1883, he joined the NYPD and became the first Italian- language speaker in the department's history. Lieutenant Petrosino was a passionate crusader against organized crime, and he eventually rose to lead the Italian Squad, an elite group of officers tasked with taking down organized crime groups in the city. While on a special mission to infiltrate the Italian Mafia in Sicily, Lieutenant Petrosino was assassinated. His memory still lives on. Today, the Lieutenant Petrosino associates in New York, Padula, and Sicily continue to preserve his values and dedication to the NYPD. We welcome the delegates of the Lt. Det. Joseph Petrosino Association in America to the Capitol and thank them for all they do to sustain his memory of this New York City police detective and great American. Fighting crime requires the sacrifice of an untold number of men and women in blue. We thank them and their families for putting themselves in harm's way on our behalf.

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Waters for yielding to me today. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 550, the bipartisan Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act. I want to express my deep gratitude to Representative John Garamendi, Representative Don Young, and Representative Susan Brooks for carrying this message forward. This act will award this body's highest honor, the Congressional Gold Medal, to midshipmen who fought on behalf of our country during World War II. This is particularly important to me because I represent the district that is home to the Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy, and the Congressional Gold Medal will be housed there at that location. This is so wonderful that this is finally being done. I am a proud member of the Board of Visitors at the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point. Kings Point, I want everyone to know, is the only service academy whose students engage in combat during times of war. In fact, during World War II, over 7,000 of these students answered our Nation's call to duty, and 142 students gave the supreme sacrifice. Today, only 600 of these veterans are still alive. Ralph Crump is one of those veterans. In 1941, Mr. Crump went on his first cruise as a freshman cadet at the United States Merchant Marine Academy. He was quickly promoted to third assistant engineer. After his first cruise, Ralph was prepared to return to Kings Point to finish his schooling when his captain told him there was no replacement engineer and he needed to sail cargo for Russia. Over the next 8 months, Ralph and his convoy suffered heavy casualties in the Mediterranean, China, Burma, and India. Crump later sailed ships taking exiled U.S. diplomats back to Asia, returning with prisoners of war liberated from a Japanese camp near Shanghai. Ralph finally graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy a year later, in 1946. Today, there is a Ralph Crump wing in the National World War II Museum in New Orleans named in his honor. This is just one example of so many merchant mariners who did so much during this time, but I especially want to point out the students who served during wartime from the Merchant Marine Academy. Brave men and women like Ralph at the Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, as well as the mariners who served across the country, deserve this highest recognition. It is not too late. It is time we recognize their sacrifice and award them the much-deserved Congressional Gold Medal. Madam Speaker, I applaud my colleagues again for their leadership, and I ask the whole House to support our brave merchant mariners.

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Jayapal for yielding me time. Today I rise in support of H.R. 2134, the Helen Keller National Center Reauthorization Act of 2019. The Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults is located in my district in Sands Point, Long Island. It is a national organization and, really, the only one of its type. I want to thank my colleagues, Representative Pocan, who is the author of this bill, and Congressman Peter King, Congressman Bobby Scott, Congresswoman DeLauro, Congressman Cole, and Congresswoman Lowey, for championing the authorization of the Helen Keller National Center. Think about it: This was formed in 1967, and it is a unique facility in that it serves a population that is both deaf and blind, combined. Imagine how important this organization is in the lives of these folks who are confronting being deaf and blind at the same time. It is estimated that there are 2.4 million deaf and blind youths and adults in America, and that number is going up dramatically as the population ages. Mr. Speaker, this organization services adults who are over 16 years of age. They travel from all over the country to come to this facility, as well as having regional centers, which have been mentioned already, that provide what you would characterize as outpatient services. In my second week in office, in 2017, I visited the Helen Keller National Center in my district. I met with deaf and blind individuals in the program. I learned about their experiences and how Helen Keller services made a difference in their lives and the lives of their families. Many described how they had gained skills in order to live independently and to be successfully employed in a career of their choice. We must all recognize the critical importance of this group, and the reauthorization of the Helen Keller Act is one significant way that Congress can collectively convey to the deaf-blind community that we are all committed to ensuring quality services are available to promote their empowerment and their success, not only the work they have done in the past, but that they will do in the future as well. I want people to know that, since coming to Congress in 2017, after years of no increases in their funding, my colleagues and I have helped increase funding at the Helen Keller National Center from $10.3 million a year to $13.5 million for the Helen Keller National Center. It is really a modest investment, but with this funding, they have been able to provide a wider array of critical services to deaf-blind individuals by building a network all across the Nation among professionals and service providers with 11 regional offices located across the country. This year's appropriations bill package passed by the House included $16 million and is awaiting action in the Senate. Again, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank all of my colleagues who have done so much for such an important organization.

Mr. SUOZZI

Mr. SUOZZI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak about immigration in America. My father was born in Italy. He came to the United States as a young boy. I am a first-generation American, and I don't like the hateful and divisive rhetoric being used about immigrants today. I am appalled at the way my country is treating the children and families of immigrants. My dad came to America in the early 1920s. He was the first of his neighborhood to graduate from college. During World War II, he served as a navigator on a B-24 and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with three oakleaf clusters. He returned home and graduated from Harvard Law School on the GI Bill. As a young, Harvard-educated lawyer and Italian immigrant, however, my dad couldn't find a job. Italians were not respected, and after Hitler teamed up with Mussolini during the war, Italian Americans were not trusted, either. My dad decided to return to Glen Cove, where he teamed up with another Italian lawyer, ran for city court judge, and became the youngest judge in the history of New York State. My father achieved many other great successes, and he would always say, ``What a country.'' His life was the very essence of the American Dream. Our American Dream, however, is at risk. It may soon be the American nightmare. Well, I still believe in my father's American Dream, and I am committed to keeping it alive. Immigration has been an issue for decades, yet after all these years, Congress has yet to pass immigration reform. President Trump's cruel, divisive, and simply unworkable positions have made things worse. His policies and rhetoric have exacerbated the problem, permeating a culture of fear that forces many immigrants further into the shadows. I have been an advocate for fair and reasonable immigration policies for more than 25 years. As mayor of my hometown of Glen Cove, New York, in 1994, I created the very first shape-up center on the East Coast of the United States of America. It gave newcomers from Central and South America a safe place to get hired and made sure they got paid for the work they did. If they didn't get hired, they could stay and learn English or new job skills. As county executive, in 2007, I refused to let ICE work with my Nassau County Police Department because ICE was acting like cowboys, drawing guns and knocking down doors, intimidating children and families who were not even subject to their raids and all of who together presented no risk of violence whatsoever. Today, those same guys who gathered on the street corners of Glen Cove now own their own businesses and own their own homes, and their kids attended school with my kids. But now, President Trump's heartless immigration actions are separating parents from their children, and children are being housed in cages. I have seen it with my own eyes. This past July, I traveled to McAllen and Brownsville, Texas, to personally inspect the detention and relief centers, visit points of entry, speak with migrant families, and meet with humanitarian aid organizations. My visit to the detention centers along our southern border was heartbreaking. I saw men, women, and children being held in awful conditions. Our system is broken. These centers are overcrowded, unsanitary, and clearly ill-equipped to care for people in great numbers. Meanwhile, the administration continues to promulgate more callous and mean-spirited decisions aimed at further attacking immigrants. Deporting children with cancer and diverting funds from military programs to build the wall, including money that was meant to go toward building schools for military families, and keeping immigrant children locked in indefinite detention are unconscionable. These decisions endorsed by this administration are not consistent with American values. America is founded on the fundamental principle that ``all men and women are created equal.'' It is not that everyone with a green card or U.S. citizenship is created equal; it is that every man and woman is created equal and should be treated with human respect and dignity. We must continue holding congressional hearings on forced family separation; the detention of children for prolonged periods of time; the decision to end TPS and DACA, the Dreamer plan; and the overwhelming backlog in U.S. immigration courts. We must also defund hate, as my friends at Bend the Arc are advocating, and set a floor for refugee admissions at 95,000, as my friends at the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society are advocating. In addition to defunding the hateful policies of this administration, we must also strive for comprehensive immigration reform that treats people like human beings, lives up to the American Dream, gives a path of citizenship for TPS recipients and Dreamers, gives protection to millions of others, and secures our borders. Robert F. Kennedy once said, ``When we tolerate what we know to be wrong, when we close our eyes and ears to the corrupt because we are too busy or too frightened, when we fail to speak up and speak out, we strike a blow against freedom and decency and justice.'' We need to restore truth and compassion to the debate over immigration in America, and we need to do it now, because the promise of the American Dream demands it.