Mikie Sherrill

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Speaker, on this sixth day of SALT, my constituents have said to me that they want me to read a resolution from the New Jersey State League of Municipalities. In a unanimous, bipartisan resolution signed this month, the mayors of New Jersey urged Congress to act on SALT. Today, I would like to read part of this resolution into the Record. New Jersey State League of Municipalities Conference Resolution Number 2019-14: Whereas, our tax obligation is an issue that concerns all residents in every municipality in the State of New Jersey; and Whereas, many New Jersey families relied upon the Federal SALT deduction to ensure tax fairness, and capping the SALT deduction has placed an unfair burden on New Jersey homeowners; and Whereas, the SALT deduction cap presents a barrier to affordable homeownership in New Jersey, impacting the ability of new, young families to prosper in the future, Now, therefore, be it resolved that the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, in conference assembled, urges Congress to restore the full SALT deduction and provide more equitable taxation once again to residents of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, it is time to listen to our local elected officials, and I thank Committeewoman Amalia Duarte of Mendham Township for leading this resolution.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Speaker, on the fifth day of SALT, my constituents have said to me that the SALT cap has hit the values of their homes and forced them to even sometimes sell their property. A constituent recently shared that, when he bought his home, his father-in-law patted him on the back and told him he had done a great job, but last year he had to sell that home where he had raised his three children because he could no longer afford it. Not only did my constituent have to move, but he had to sell his home for less than it was worth. He drew a direct link to the 2017 tax bill's SALT deduction cap. This constituent is not alone. A Moody's economist found that the SALT cap has taken a trillion-dollar hit to home values. And nowhere is that felt more than in my district. Mr. Speaker, Essex County is the most impacted county in the entire country, with an average 11.3 percent drop in home values. But counties in Texas, New York, Illinois, and Connecticut all rank in the top 30. Homeownership is the pillar of the American Dream. The Federal Government should not be putting up barriers to owning a home. We need to get rid of this SALT cap and stop punishing homeowners.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, on this fourth day of SALT, my constituents have said to me that the SALT cap has impacted their ability to engage in charitable giving. Capping SALT deductions will substantially reduce the number of itemizers and, therefore, will reduce the number of households that will benefit from the tax incentive for charitable giving. The Tax Policy Center estimates that only 8 percent of all households will take the charitable gift deduction in 2018, compared to 21 percent in 2017. While people give generously to charities for many reasons, studies clearly show a positive relationship between the existence of a tax incentive and the amount donated. The reductions in giving that will result from this bill will be devastating to charities and to the people, communities, and causes that depend on them. New Jersey's charities and nonprofit organizations provide critical services to our community that range from providing support services to individuals suffering from addiction to providing shelter for battered women and their children and providing disaster relief. Additionally, New Jersey charities employ almost 10 percent of the State's private workforce. The programs, services, and economic benefits provided by nonprofits are critical factors in making New Jersey an attractive place to live, work, or start a business. The SALT cap puts all of this at risk.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, on this third day of SALT, my constituents have said to me that they think the holiday season is the perfect time to eliminate the SALT marriage penalty. The 2017 tax law violated more than 100 years of Federal tax policy, capping the State and local tax deduction at $10,000. That means married couples filing jointly are constrained to the same $10,000 level that applies to individual filers. This penalizes tens of thousands of couples in my district. In Morris County alone, there were more than 52,000 middle-class joint filers in 2016, and well over half were above the $10,000 cap. They are now likely subject to a marriage penalty simply for filing their taxes jointly. I am a member of the SALT task force, and my bipartisan bill, the SALT Relief and Marriage Penalty Elimination Act, should be the basis for righting this wrong done to families. It will raise the SALT deduction across the board and restore incentives for charitable giving and homeownership.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor and recognize the history of the Lobosco Association, which will celebrate the 60th Lobosco Association Christmas Party on December 8, 2019 in Fredon, New Jersey. Four generations will gather to celebrate the strength of their family. They remain bound by the ideals of the first Loboscos who immigrated to this great nation and, through their sacrifices, enabled their descendants to attain the American Dream. The Association has helped the Loboscos support one another, gather together, and strengthen the bonds of family. Family has been a constant throughout the years. The Association's dedication to Italian- American history and culture has kept its members deeply-rooted to their shared ties and able to continue growing towards the future. The Association began on April 28, 1957, when the descendants of Michele and Vincenza Lobosco first organized the group. They formed the Lobosco Association to strengthen the bonds of family and lend support to one another. The family's journey to Paterson, New Jersey, began with the early death of the family's patriarch, Michele. From their humble beginnings in Sala Consilina, Italy, seven of the ten surviving children came to Paterson to establish new roots and provide their children with greater opportunities. Angelo came in 1912 at age 19, followed by Rosario, Michele, Luigi, Giuseppina, Attilio, and Emilio. They overcame language barriers and limited resources in a country that considered them foreigners. Their family cohesion, drive, and determination helped them to persevere and lay a foundation for a prosperous future for their descendants. As the family grew, the Association was formed to help maintain the close ties they shared. To keep the family together, the Association has organized various festivities, picnics, and trips, the most enduring of which is now the annual Christmas Party. Since the first one on December 21, 1958, the Lobosco Association Christmas Party has been an opportunity for generations of Lobosco family members to share in the joy of the season and family company. For 60 years, the descendants of Michele and Vincenza have continued the tradition of a Christmas Party to instill in younger generations an appreciation for the meaning of family. They come to connect with seldom-seen family members, meet new ones, celebrate their heritage, instill pride, and keep the family spirit alive. As Members of Congress, we have the deeply rewarding opportunity to learn about and recognize groups like the Lobosco Association. They represent great American stories. Their contributions have strengthened this country for many years and will continue to strengthen it for many years to come. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in this chamber to join me in recognizing the members and friends of the Lobosco Association and wishing them a joyous 60th Lobosco Association Christmas Party this holiday season.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, on the second day of SALT, my constituents have said to me that they send more money to Washington and get back less than almost any other State in the country. The SALT cap compounds the attack on New Jersey, forcing our residents to send even more money to Washington without a return on that investment. For every dollar New Jersey sent to Washington in 2017, we got back only 82 cents. That puts us in 49th place, almost dead last in State return on Federal tax dollars. And this was before the Federal Government stripped the full SALT deduction. Meanwhile, States like Kentucky got back $2.35 for every dollar they sent to Washington. That is nearly three times what New Jersey gets. The 2017 tax bill unfairly targets States like mine that pay more than their fair share. We fund projects in Kentucky and do not see that same investment, say, on things like infrastructure, for example, in our State. We need to restore the SALT deduction cap and keep money in the pockets of New Jerseyans so we can continue to power the Nation's economy.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the taxpayers of New Jersey. There are 12 days left in the legislative calendar, and I urge the House to close 2019 by lifting the cap on the State and local tax deduction cap, or SALT. I will be here on the floor every day this holiday season highlighting the impact of SALT on my constituents and on Americans across the country for the 12 days of SALT. And on this first day of SALT my constituents have said to me that SALT is the number one concern they have. I meet teachers, firefighters, homeowners, and small business owners who owed thousands more on their taxes this year as a result of the $10,000 deduction cap. Capping SALT deductions is an attack on New Jersey residents, businesses, homeowners, and unfairly imposes a marriage penalty on couples filing jointly. It is an attack on States that invest in their communities--investments in roads, libraries, schools, first responders, and teachers. So I urge my colleagues to pass SALT legislation immediately and to stop double taxing hardworking Americans.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Chair, I rise today to offer an amendment to strengthen protections from deceptive practices in Federal elections. We know that in the lead-up to the 2016 election, our adversaries employed multiple systematic efforts to spread disinformation and sow confusion among American voters. In one particularly egregious example, Russian bots used social media to mislead voters and tell them that they could ``vote from home'' by simply texting a code or going online. On the eve of the 2018 election, Facebook deleted many accounts-- including those with links to the Russian Government--that were engaged in coordinated, deceptive behavior. Today, we know that our adversaries are not only working to hijack our political system just before an election, they are interfering in our democracy on a continuous basis. Madam Chair, election security is not about Democrats or Republicans. Election security is about all Americans coming together to defend our shared democracy--our democracy--enshrined in our Constitution. I have prioritized election security since arriving in Washington 10 months ago. As chairwoman of the House Science Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, I held a hearing on disinformation and the threat posed by online imposters and deep fakes. I have worked with a group of colleagues on both sides of the aisle on election security, and we have heard over and over again from experts on the need for more robust protections to combat this new era of coordinated disinformation efforts. As a proud Representative of the great State of New Jersey, I will always defend our right as Americans to have a spirited debate, particularly when it comes to what matters to us in the run-up to our elections. One of the things I love about my district is, while we don't always agree on the path forward, we agree on the need for honest and respectful debate. That is what our democracy is all about. It is what I signed up to defend when I joined the United States Navy. So it is essential that we stand together as Americans to strengthen our laws and to ensure that our foreign adversaries are not able to dictate the outcomes of our elections. I offer this amendment to prohibit any attempts to deceive voters 90 days before a Federal primary and general elections. This includes knowingly providing false information about the time or place of voting, what qualifications a voter must have in order to vote, or public endorsements of candidates. Expanding the provisions in the Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Act from 60 days before an election to 90 days will better protect our democracy from hostile foreign actors trying to disrupt the voices and votes of Americans. It also protects against longstanding efforts to disenfranchise communities of color, women, and other marginalized groups. In my home State of New Jersey, early voting can occur up to 45 days before an election. In fact, 39 States across the country have some form of early voting. That is why we need this critical amendment to extend protections and prohibit disinformation before any American casts their ballot. I urge my colleagues to pass this important amendment, safeguard our democracy, and ensure that the American people, not our foreign adversaries, determine the results of our elections. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Bruce Springsteen, the New Jersey legend who turned 70 years old this week. There is so much this Jersey Girl could say to honor Bruce Springsteen on his birthday. I could remind you of his 19+ albums, 15 world tours, sold-out Broadway shows, best-selling autobiography, countless Grammys, an Oscar, Kennedy Center Honors, Presidential Medal of Freedom, and membership in the New Jersey Hall of Fame. I could recount his lyrics that are poetic stories of everyday people just trying to get by. I could tell you of his epic concerts and the way he connects with each audience member in sold-out stadiums and how he makes them feel as though he's singing directly to them. If you're lucky enough to experience it as I have, a live Springsteen show is not something you watch, but nearly 4 hours of power, raw beauty, and sweat that you actively participate in. Or maybe, to best honor him for his 70th birthday, I should proudly say that Bruce Springsteen is the unofficial spokesperson and ambassador of our great state. He sings for the underdog, for the quiet hero, and for every New Jerseyan who has dared to dream of a better life for themselves. He sings about what is possible when we truly connect with each other and work to better the lives of our neighbors. Bruce represents not only the best of New Jersey, but the best of America. He reminds us that this great nation of ours is indeed The Promised Land, and that each of us has a responsibility to make it so. Happy Birthday, Bruce.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Bruce Springsteen, the New Jersey legend who turned 70 years old this week. There is so much that this Jersey girl could say to honor Bruce Springsteen on his birthday. I could remind you of his 19-plus albums, 15 world tours, sold-out Broadway shows, best-selling autobiography, countless GRAMMYs, an Oscar, Kennedy Center Honors, Presidential Medal of Freedom, and membership in the New Jersey Hall of Fame. I could recount his lyrics that are poetic stories of everyday people just trying to get by. I could tell you of his epic concerts and the way he connects with each audience member in sold-out stadiums, and how he makes them feel as though he is singing directly to them. If you are lucky enough to experience it, as I have, a live Springsteen show is not something you watch, but nearly 4 hours of power, raw beauty, and sweat that you actively participate in. Or maybe, to best honor him for his 70th birthday, I should proudly say that Bruce Springsteen is the unofficial spokesperson and ambassador of our great State. He sings for the underdog, for the quiet hero, and for every New Jerseyan who has dared to dream of a better life for themselves.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to oppose the motion to recommit. As a veteran and as an American, I urge all of you to put the political games aside, put our troops and our country first, and pass this defense bill. For 58 years straight, this Congress has come together across party lines to pass a bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act. This critical piece of legislation ensures Congress has a say in the mission of our military, the policies of our Department of Defense, and the safety and security of our women and men in the field. Madam Speaker, I am honored to serve on the House Armed Services Committee, and I thank the chairman, the ranking member, all the leaders, and all of my colleagues for their dedication to our military and to our national security. As a U.S. Navy veteran who served for almost 10 years, I am proud to be part of the new class of veterans and national security professionals who have worked on this bill in committee. We know what it is like to rely on Congress to execute our mission and to keep our country safe, so we must pass the National Defense Authorization Act in this House. We must make sure that the vitally important priorities included in this House bill make it to the President's desk, and we must show the country that our disagreements are nothing compared to our tradition of crossing party lines and supporting the National Defense Authorization Act. And don't take my word on the importance of this bill. Take it from a Republican and a fellow Naval Academy graduate, who said: How do we explain to Americans who are risking their lives for us that we could not summon the courage to take some hard votes? How do we explain that we could not come together and work together when it mattered most? The fundamental purpose of this legislation, which has united Members from both sides of the aisle, is to provide our Armed Forces what they need to do the jobs we ask of them. Madam Speaker, John McCain knew this must be an area of bipartisan support, and this MTR is an attempt to strip away that bipartisanship, to inject the broken politics of Washington into a bill that should be bigger than your political party. The NDAA fully funds a 3.1 percent pay raise for U.S. military personnel, exactly what the President asked for. Madam Speaker, this is the largest pay increase since 2010, the last time the Democrats were in power. My colleagues had almost 10 years and, more recently, 21 hours of markup and 28 hearings to discuss this very issue, but not one of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle brought this issue up in committee. This last-second partisan motion undercuts the hard work of the House Armed Services Committee, which passed the largest pay raise for our troops in years. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, today I rise today in support of the en- bloc amendment, and to thank the Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee Chairwoman, Ms. McCollum, for including the Sherrill Amendment No. 191 in the en-bloc package. My amendment ensures that the EPA will continue to provide adequate funding, $8 million, for the Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Centers. The Children's Centers have made profound contributions to our scientific understanding of how exposures to chemicals and pollutants uniquely impact children and pregnant women. Researchers working in the Children's Centers study how environmental exposures are linked to adverse health outcomes such as poor birth outcomes, behavioral and learning deficits, respiratory issues, and childhood cancers. All children deserve a healthy environment where they can grow and thrive. It is imperative that we support the research necessary to understand how our environment impacts children and families' health and wellbeing. I am concerned that the grants that currently fund thirteen Children's Centers are set to expire in July and that no announcement has been made to indicate renewed funding. To ensure that these valuable programs can continue, I am offering an amendment and asking the House of Representative to vote in strong support of the Children's Centers and their important work. I thank Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee Chairwoman McCollum and Ranking Member Joyce for their leadership in adopting this important provision.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor our colleague, Representative Bill Pascrell, for whom the fire headquarters in his hometown of Paterson, New Jersey, is being named. Representative Pascrell has been a tireless champion of our country's firefighters. In 2000, he led the passage of the FIRE Act, the only Federal program to deliver grant funds directly to local fire departments. In 2015, he helped secure a $7.5 million grant for the Paterson Fire Department, which prevented a dangerous reduction of forces. He is co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus. Just this month, I proudly cast my vote for Representative Pascrell's amendment to increase funding for the Firefighter Cancer Registry to ensure our firefighters can get the care they need. As a representative of New Jersey and as an American, I am grateful for all the work the Congressman has done to ensure protection and care for the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe. Though I regret I cannot be there with him this morning in Paterson, I congratulate Representative Pascrell on this well-deserved honor.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Chair, I rise today in support of the en bloc amendment, and to thank the Defense Subcommittee Chairman, Mr. Visclosky, for including the Sherrill Amendment 58 in the en bloc package. My amendment reduces the Surface and Shallow Water Mine Countermeasures program by $5 million in order to add $5 million for the Navy to advance the qualification and certification of Advanced Manufacturing processes for the integration of 3-D printed components into undersea warfare platforms. This amendment furthers the Navy's goal of embracing cutting-edge technologies. 3-D printing reduces the cost of manufacturing parts for which there is limited supply. It also creates unique parts that would otherwise be prohibitively expensive to make with traditional manufacturing. I am very proud of the work Marotta Controls in Montville, New Jersey, is doing to support this very effort. Marotta is a family-owned business, now in its third generation of ownership. President and CEO Patrick Marotta is proudly carrying on the work his grandfather began when he founded the company during WWII. I thank Marotta Controls for their work to ensure efficiency and quality control to enable our Navy's submariners to continue to play their critical role in defense of our nation. I thank Defense Subcommittee Chairman Visclosky and Ranking Member Calvert for their leadership in adopting this important provision.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, this week, we will commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day, and I rise to honor two of our New Jersey residents who participated in Operation Overlord. William Brodish worked at Picatinny Arsenal for 3 years. He joined the Army and was assigned to the 27th Ordnance Bomb Disposal Squad. On the morning of June 6, Private Brodish landed on Omaha Beach and got to work removing projectiles and rockets from the shoreline. He was only 22-years-old when he died on the beach as a German artillery projectile exploded over his position. Herbert Terner enlisted in the Army in 1942, and on D-Day, he parachuted into Normandy with the 101st Airborne. As a radio specialist, he alerted troops of landing positions, and he continued to fight after D-Day in the Battle of the Bulge, and, eventually, helped to liberate prisoners from the concentration camps. I had the great honor of meeting Herb, now 98 years old and a resident of Montville, over Memorial Day weekend. Tonight, I honor William, Herbert, and all the New Jersey residents who put their lives on the line to defend democracy and free Europe from the grasp of the Nazis and totalitarianism.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the motion to recommit offered by the gentlewoman from North Carolina. There are few things that define us as a country more distinctly than the idea of the American Dream: the idea that anyone can make it here through hard work and dedication. That dream rests on giving people a fair shot. Right now, too many people in this country just aren't getting a fair shot, and women in this country face additional barriers because they simply are not paid equally for their work. Madam Speaker, this bill, H.R. 7, supports paycheck fairness because equal pay for equal work is about respect, and in New Jersey we know respect. I know what paycheck fairness looks like because we just passed it in New Jersey. It is high time that Congress ensures these commonsense values for the rest of the women across this country. I have listened to objections raised today that women already have protections for equal pay. Well, let me assure you that the protections in our laws are not adequate. I rise today, Madam Speaker, for women who are earning just 80 cents on every dollar. I rise for our African American women who are only earning 61 cents on the dollar. I rise today for Hispanic women who are only earning 53 cents on the dollar. Madam Speaker, I rise today for American women and for their families so we can give them a fair shot, like a woman in my district who, despite being a single mom helping to pay off her children's college debt, was passed over for a raise because her male coworker had a family to support, or another who found that she was being paid less than her male coworkers after years of performing the same job and with the same seniority. And, Madam Speaker, I am fighting today for my two daughters so they have the same opportunities and the same rights as my two sons. In the House, we know what our coworkers are making. We can look it up. We need our constituents to have that same opportunity. Madam Speaker, I have joined my colleagues on the other side of the aisle in the past on their motions. I believe deeply in the need for this body to come together today to focus on issues that matter to our families. It is time for my colleagues to now join me, because supporting women, supporting families, and supporting the American Dream is a shared value. I know in New Jersey the equal pay bill passed with broad bipartisan support. In fact, in the entire State senate and assembly, there were only two people who voted against it. If there were ever a moment, if there were ever a bill, if there were ever a time to put obstruction aside, it is now. The motion put forth has nothing to do with equal pay, and I urge my colleagues to reject it.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York, as I like to call it the suburbs of northern Jersey. But as my colleagues before me have made clear, this Congress must honor the first responders and survivors of 9/11 and make the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund permanent. For 8 months and 19 days after September 11, police officers, firefighters, first responders, FBI agents, and Federal officers from across the country came together in New York. In a gesture of national unity that we have not forgotten, they stayed, sometimes far away from home, to help. Firefighters like Gerry Lynch from the Bloomfield Fire Department in my district. Gerry and the Bloomfield firefighters were assigned to help Ladder 105 Engine 219 in Brooklyn because they were at Ground Zero looking for their brothers. After being told that they could go home to Jersey, Gerry didn't think twice about what he would do next. He went down to help on the bucket brigades at Ground Zero working with men and women on the line. Madam Speaker, we now know that first responders, as well as students, residents, workers, and business owners of Lower Manhattan were exposed to toxic fumes in the aftermath of the attack. What some have called a toxic soup of mercury, dust, silica, lead, fiberglass, benzene, and many other substances, were pulverized and released into the air. These victims have developed cancers, pulmonary disease, respiratory disease, and sleep apnea, among many other ailments. Those suffering from 9/11-related illnesses include Mike, a firefighter from New Jersey, who lugged, by hand, the equipment that his firefighters brought from New Jersey into Ground Zero. Mike worked from 7 a.m. through the next morning, and by the time he was finished, he was so exhausted that a human chain had to carry him off the pile. His feet never hit the ground. Mike told me that a lot of firefighters, including himself, didn't want to come forward. They didn't want to admit that they might need help. But luckily for him, his captain made sure that they went forward for monitoring, and so he started that in 2004. Since 9/11, Mike has developed breathing problems, sleep apnea, and precancerous cells. He asked me to let people know how hard the firefighters worked for us and that we need to do whatever we can for those who have fallen sick. Madam Speaker, we are here tonight to let Mike and all those suffering know that we consider it our responsibility and our duty to get this done. We established the victim compensation fund in 2011 to provide care for Mike and all those suffering from health issues after 9/11. There are 8,614 New Jerseyans who have registered for the victim compensation fund, and nearly 4,000 have submitted claim forms. That is 500 residents in my district alone. If anyone thinks this is just a New York-New Jersey issue, consider that the victim compensation fund helps Americans from 434 out of 435 congressional districts. The fund is running out, Madam Speaker. As my colleagues said, benefits are being slashed by 70 percent and thousands of claims go unpaid. To let the fund go broke or give another temporary extension and force our heroes and their families to worry about the rug being pulled out from under them is simply unacceptable. It is embarrassing that we would have to fight for this, that people who are ill cannot concentrate solely on getting the treatment they need or seeing the right doctors. Firefighters like Mike and Gerry were the ones who didn't run away from the crisis, but ran right into it. People who have displayed this bravery and courage need to be taken care of. They should not be made to feel guilty that they are asking for help when they have medical issues related to their service. Madam Speaker, I believe in this country. I believe in our values and that as a Nation we know that when we step up and when we take care of our own, we are helping those people to whom we owe the most to. We need to give these first responders and survivors the peace of mind that their sacrifice for this country is recognized and valued by the rest of America. I call upon each and every Member of this Congress to join us and to make the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund permanent. Go Navy.

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Chamber today in support of H.R. 8. Americans have been waiting for Congress to catch up to them. It isn't often that we hear that 70, 80, or 90 percent of Americans agree on something, but when it comes to universal background checks, 97 percent of Americans think it is a good idea. In my own district, I have seen that unity. After Parkland, we had 13,000 people in Morristown, New Jersey, at the student-led March for Our Lives demanding gun safety legislation. After the horrific shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue, members of the community came together to denounce gun violence. The 11th District of New Jersey understands that universal background checks are a responsible way to address the gun violence epidemic in this country. It is a way to keep our communities safe. Here in New Jersey, we know that successful, responsible gun ownership looks a lot like the legislation we have on the books. We have good gun safety laws, but they are constantly undermined by States with weak gun safety laws. As a Federal prosecutor, I worked on cases where we traced illegal guns to neighboring States with weak gun safety laws. That is why it is so important that we have stronger Federal gun safety laws. Gun violence is a national problem, and it deserves a national response. Mr. Speaker, I grew up in a culture of gun safety. My father is a hunter, and he taught me how to shoot. I went on to serve in the United States Navy, and I was qualified as an expert shot in the M16, the Colt 45, and the 9-millimeter Beretta. I am joined today by a fellow freshman veteran, the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania, and we have been trained and know the power of these weapons and the damage that they can do. Universal background checks are an easy step that we can take to improve gun safety in this country. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Houlahan).

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained this afternoon immediately following the vote on final passage of H.J. Res. 37. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 83. personal explanation

Ms. SHERRILL

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Chair, I rise as the designee for the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Allred).

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer and speak in support of the amendment by my colleagues, Congressman Allred from Texas and Congresswoman Torres from California. Our amendment directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to notify veterans of the expanded, cost-free childcare services in this bill, and perform outreach to veterans and their families. Each of us have heard from the women and men who have served and sacrificed in uniform about the challenges that come from seeking access to the benefits that veterans have earned. Last year, at a veterans' roundtable in Woodland Park, I heard from women veterans that it is not enough for Congress to enact a new provision and think our job is done. We must direct the VA to find the veterans who need help and make sure they know and fully utilize these services. This straightforward amendment requires the VA Secretary to provide public notification on VA.gov about the program, and to perform outreach to inform eligible veterans. The VA has significant and specialized resources for our veterans. Veterans in my district rely on services at the Morristown VA Outpatient Clinic as well as nearby Lyons and East Orange facilities. I had the opportunity to visit the Morristown Clinic last week and speak with caregivers and patients at the facility. I want every veteran, including the more than 25,000 veterans in New Jersey's 11th Congressional District to know that these VA facilities are there for them. These specialized treatment facilities are part of systems worth strengthening and saving. Mr. Chairman, we must make sure that childcare resources reach their intended recipients as we work to improve care for our veteran community. Only then will we see veterans coming forward to seek counseling and other medical services, secure in the knowledge that their children have a safe place during their appointment. Simply put, this important childcare program will not work as intended or have the reach that it could without informing our servicemen and -women that it exists in the first place. I thank the gentleman from Texas for this amendment, and I wish him and his wife--who is from Montclair, New Jersey--well as they welcome their first child. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano), the chairman of the committee.

Ms. SHERRILL. Mr. Chair, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from California.