Norma Torres

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Lieutenant Veda Fleeton of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) for her 25 years of service. The calling to be a peace officer is one of the highest vocations of public service. An individual who accepts this calling is worthy of the highest respect and honor from their community, the State, and our nation. Lieutenant Fleeton's career with the California Highway Patrol began on November 6, 1995, and after successfully completing her Academy training, she reported to the East Los Angeles Area as a CHP officer. She was later assigned to the Southern Division, where she excelled in connecting with the public in her many roles. As part of the Southern Division Recruitment Unit, she was dedicated to recruiting the best candidates to protect and serve our communities. While at Southern Division, she also contributed to the Public Information Unit through her interactions with the news media and to numerous Dignitary Protection details where she provided security for top-level dignitaries from around the world. Lieutenant Fleeton also dedicated her time and skills to the Southern Division Background Investigative Unit, a temporary assignment that occurred during her road patrol tenure at Baldwin Park that began in 2003. Within this unit, Lieutenant Fleeton conducted thorough and comprehensive backgrounds for hundreds of applicants who were later chosen to begin their careers with the State highway patrol. Because of her deep engagement with the community in these assignments, Lieutenant Fleeton received multiple accolades for her hard work. Lieutenant Fleeton was promoted to Sergeant on August 1, 2007 and was assigned to the Morongo Basin Area, later transferring to Rancho Cucamonga Area. As Sergeant, she focused on providing her field officers with invaluable direction and guidance. On July 1, 2013, Lieutenant Fleeton was promoted to Lieutenant and was assigned to the Santa Fe Springs Area for two years before transferring to the San Gorgonio Area. In March 2016, Lieutenant Fleeton was appointed Lieutenant Commander of the CHP's Inland Communications Center in Fontana, where she provided unwavering leadership and guidance to over 75 dispatch and Transportation Management Center (TMC) personnel, including the Riverside and San Bernardino County Freeway Service Patrol programs. Lieutenant Fleeton's unequivocal passion to mentor and develop field officers shined throughout all these roles. Lieutenant Fleeton officially retired from her service with California Highway Patrol on November 17, 2020. For her remarkable accomplishments and 25 years of commitment to public service as a peace officer in the greater Inland Empire, it is my honor to recognize Lieutenant Veda Fleeton on this day.

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today in support of the legislation before us, the ``Indian Community Economic Enhancement Act,''--the Senate companion to my bill in the House. For too long, lack of access to credit and community development have hampered the entrepreneurial spirit of Native American tribes. Yet, across the country, Native American entrepreneurs are ready to start new businesses, create jobs, and lift up their communities. My bill is a first step to change that. It updates and provides new resources to the Department of Commerce's Office of Native American Business Development. It ensures the Department of Health and Human Services is using Native American labor and industry products when appropriate. And, it authorizes the Administration for Native Americans to provide key financial assistance to Native American community development financial institutions. I want to thank my friend Congresswoman Haaland for co-leading this bill with me, and Senator Hoeven, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, for introducing and shepherding this bill in the Senate. The American people and Native communities, should be reassured that there is bipartisan commitment to improving lives in Indian Country. I urge my colleagues, to vote yes and join us in empowering the Native American entrepreneurs and communities who are building solutions for a better tomorrow.

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of World War I and II veteran Exiquel Iglesias De Leon and his unquestionable dedication to family and country. At only nineteen years old, Exiquel courageously enlisted in the Navy during the height of World War I. Twenty-six years after his honorable service, he subsequently re-enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve to serve during World War II. Exiquel continued his service for another eight years with the Naval Reserve, stationed at the Eleventh Naval District. For nearly the remainder of his life, he put in hard work as a rigger at the Mare Island Navy Yard in Vallejo, California. A native Guamanian, Exiquel became a naturalized United States citizen on November 3, 1944, following his decades of honorable service to our country. Never forgetting his roots, he made frequent trips to Long Beach to participate in community events to celebrate the Guamanian people. He believed strongly in celebrating his culture's traditions and the diversity of American culture. As a new American citizen, Exiquel proudly became a California homeowner, residing in Compton, California with his family for the remainder of his life. His family remembers him as a great cook who always ``cooked with love'' and as an avid boxing fan. Exiquel and his family frequently took the ``Red Car'' out on weekends to the Grand Central Market in Los Angeles to enjoy time together and with their community. For his exemplary life of service, Madam Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Exiquel Iglesias De Leon on the House floor. As demonstrated by his commitment to American values, service in two World Wars, admirable work ethic, and tenure as an upstanding citizen, Exiquel is the American Dream personified. May he rest in peace.

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Thomas Haughey and his countless years of dedication to the Inland Empire on the occasion of his retirement from the Chino City Council and his position as Mayor Pro Tem. Tom served as Mayor Pro Tem of Chino and, since 2001, as a member of the Chino City Council, where he participated on the Economic Development Committee and as Vice Chairperson of the Public Financing Authority. He also served on the Chino Planning Commission in 2001. Tom represented Chino across several critical boards to the community, including the Chino Basin Desalter Authority, Ontario International Airport InterAgency Collaborative, and as an alternate on the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority. A major win for the region, Tom championed the multimillion-dollar Pine Avenue Project, which will offset traffic congestion on the major freeway, Highway 71, and improve Chino's commuter access to the Inland Empire. Tom is committed to the service of others. He is a Charter Member of the Rancho del Chino Rotary Club, an organization dedicated to service, and has held many offices in the club, including President from 1993 to 1994. He began the Interact Club at Don Lugo High School in 1996, a Rotary International-sponsored high school service club, and served as its advisor for twelve years. In 1998, the Rotary Club recognized Tom's distinguished service with the Rotarian of the Year Award. Throughout the years, Tom has been exceptionally active throughout the Chino community. He has supported young people for many years as a Board Member of The Chino Valley YMCA, where he served as Vice-Chair of the Board and Chairman of the Chino Valley YMCA's Annual Sustaining Campaign. He was Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Chino Valley Medical Center's Hospital Advisory Board and Chino's Chair for the 2015 Special Olympics. He was also a member of the Chino Valley Unified School District's Bond Steering Committee and the Substandard Housing Appeals Board. From his many leadership roles across several boards and all his service in between, the list of Tom's contributions to Chino is endless. Tom moved to Chino in 1977, and is the owner of Haughey Insurance Agency, which has been in Chino since 1980. He is a dedicated husband to his wife, Karen, and father to two sons, Christopher, 40, and Patrick, 36. In his spare time, Tom is a Civil War enthusiast and collects Civil War memorabilia, lectures on Civil War history, and campaigns to preserve Civil War battlefields as a devoted member of the Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War. For his leadership over the decades, we honor Thomas Haughey and thank him for his unyielding commitment and service to the Chino community.

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today in honor of Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind and the Native American women missing and murdered with no justice in sight. Savanna was just 22, a member of the Spirit Lake Tribe. She was 8 months pregnant and expecting her baby any day when she was murdered in August of 2017. A neighbor in her apartment building lured her next door and attacked her. When her body was found, the coroner could not determine if the cause of death was the loss of blood from the vicious wounds on her body or strangulation from the rope around her neck. Instead of getting to hold her brand-new baby in her arms and imagining a bright future for herself and her little one, Savanna's future was cut short. Savanna's death shines a light on a horrific reality in this country where Native American women face a murder rate 10 times higher than the national average. The statistics should shock everyone listening to this debate. Eighty-four percent of Native women experience some form of violence in their lifetime--84 percent. Think of your 50 closest friends and family members, and now imagine 42 out of those 50 experiencing some type of violence. We cannot stand silent. We stand together, heartbroken, disgusting, and horrified, but we cannot stand back and do nothing. I introduced the House version of Savanna's Act to address the disturbing rates of missing and murdered Native American women, and I was very honored to have the opportunity to work with my good friend, Ms. Haaland, across the aisle with Mr. Newhouse, and with Senator Murkowski and Senator Cortez Masto on the Senate version. We came together as Democrats and Republicans. We met many, many, many times to ensure that this was a bill that all of our colleagues could stand for and support and right a wrong for Native American women. To date, there is no reliable way of knowing how many Native women go missing each year because the databases that hold statistics of these cases are outdated. A lack of coordination between law enforcement agencies only adds to the confusion, and, as a result, murderers get away with killing Native American women. This bill will finally ensure the Department of Justice, State and local law enforcement agencies, and our communities can work together to address this violence. Because of this bill, the Department of Justice will develop regionally appropriate guidelines for response to cases of missing and murdered Native Americans, and the DOJ will provide training and technical assistance to Tribes and law enforcement agencies for implementation of the developed guidelines. In addition, this bill will authorize grants to ensure that all members of our community are effectively working together to stop the kidnapping and murdering of Native women. Native women have endured horrific rates of assault, rape, and murder for far too long, and I hope this bill brings some closure to Savanna's family and the countless family members in Native communities who live with the pain of a lost loved one every day. Let me be clear: It is their unwavering advocacy that made this day a reality, and an untold number of lives will be saved as a result.

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, in 1954, Brown v. Board of Education unequivocally asserted that segregated schools are inherently unequal. When Thurgood Marshall argued this landmark case before the Supreme Court, he thought it would take just 5 years to integrate schools nationwide. Sadly, 60 years later, schools are more segregated now than any time since the early 1970s, and school segregation is occurring at alarming rates nationwide. In order to address increased school segregation, we must address one of the root causes of the problem: residential segregation. Housing segregation leads to school segregation. That is why I am taking an initial step to address the link between housing and school segregation by offering an amendment to the Strength in Diversity Act to prioritize grant recipients that coordinate with local housing agencies to integrate schools. My amendment will make sure that all grants have a meaningful reduction in racial and economic isolation for children in schools. Segregation in schools is propagated by housing segregation, and my amendment will work to address this underlying issue. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, no child should receive a lesser education because of the color of their skin or the neighborhood where they live, and I am proud that my amendment will address school segregation holistically by supporting coordination between schools and housing agencies. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this amendment and pass this legislation to fight discrimination and secure the future for all American children, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to decry a tragedy that has pierced the heart of my community, a tragedy that continues to cut deeper with each passing day because we still don't know what happened. We still have no answers. All we know is that one of our very best, one of our brightest, is dead. Our hearts are broken, and we demand answers. Army specialist Enrique Roman-Martinez was a Chino native who makes the whole Inland Empire proud. He joined the Army before he was even old enough to vote. He begged his mother to sign the release forms. That is how committed he was to our country and to others. He was stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina and went camping in the Outer Banks over Memorial Day weekend with seven other soldiers. We don't know what happened that night on May 22, but what we do know is it cost Enrique his life, and the seven people who would seemingly have a lot of explaining to do, remarkably, had nothing to say. When a police officer walked up to their campsite the next day and asked those seven soldiers to move their illegally parked vehicles, not a single one thought it was important enough to mention that someone who had been camping with them, their friend and their fellow soldier, was missing from the night before. It took a full 17 hours before they spoke out and reported Enrique gone. When they did so, they said they were worried that Enrique was suicidal. It is hard for me to imagine why anyone would hesitate to tell a police officer that their fellow camper, their friend, and their fellow soldier was missing if they thought he was suicidal. A week later, Specialist Roman-Martinez's remains were found washed ashore not far away. The question of whether or not he was suicidal was settled by the simple fact that they only found a severed head--his head. That is it. He was just 21 years old. He had just started out in life. He had dedicated his few short years as an adult to a cause much greater than himself. He was only 3 months away from completing his duty and coming home as a veteran. Someone like that deserves better than this. His family deserves better for the son and brother that they have loved and lost. I would like to take a moment to talk about Enrique's family, his mother, Maria, and sister, Griselda, because one of the most solemn and sacred duties our military has is their commitment to leave no one behind on the battlefield. It is their duty to inform the family when something goes wrong. Mr. Speaker, as the mother of an Air Force veteran, I can tell you the fear of receiving a notice like that was with me every single day my son served. It is an ongoing unease in the back of your mind that never goes away. It is something I can still feel today. Now, imagine if Enrique were your son. The only thing worse than a conversation like that is if that conversation never happens--never. That is what happened to Maria and Griselda. The Army was so slow to inform the family that they learned through media reports their son had been mutilated--through media reports. The medical examiner ruled Enrique's death a homicide on that Monday, and it took the Army until Friday to reach out to the family. The lack of notice was bad enough, but the lack of answers is still far worse. It is time to hear more from the seven individuals. Their silence isn't acceptable. It is time to hear from the community in North Carolina. If they know something, say something. As a mother, I plead with them, if it were their son, if they are the mother of one of those seven young soldiers, male or female, say something. They need to talk to their son or daughter and demand that they speak out. Lawyering up is not enough. Lawyering up is not enough. They deserve to bury their son and brother.

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Madam Speaker, during Roll Call Vote Number 163 on H.R. 7608, I mistakenly recorded my vote as Nay when I should have voted Yea.

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, while the Moving Forward Act is not perfect, I am glad the bill includes my amendment, the American Infrastructure Opportunity Bonds Act. This amendment would take advantage of times when interest rates are below the rate of inflation, making borrowing essentially free. The amendment would direct the Treasury to issue government bonds, in effect borrowing at these low interest rates. The amendment then directs the proceeds to the Highway Trust Fund to support infrastructure investment, creating jobs. This amendment is a smart investment taking advantage of unique interest rates to fund infrastructure in a responsible way. During severe recessions, my amendment will provide crucial support for necessary infrastructure projects helping both those who build and those who rely on roads and public transportation. Mr. Speaker, I urge its adoption.

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Madam Speaker, with one word--one word-- George Floyd spoke to the conscience of this Nation in a way that countless cries for justice were met with deaf ears before. When George Floyd called out, ``Mama, Mama,'' he activated every mother who saw that horrible video. We saw our own child with a police officer's knee on their neck. We saw our own child being murdered slowly, painfully. As someone who spent 17\1/2\ years as a 911 dispatcher for LAPD telling people, ``Don't worry. It will be okay. The police are on their way,'' as someone with that background, my disgust is palpable for any police officer who would harm the very same people they have sworn to protect. This was not an isolated incident. We don't have just a few bad apples. We know the names of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Philando Castile, and Michael Brown because George Floyd was far from the first. And we know Rayshard Brooks' name because George Floyd is far from being last. So the Justice in Policing Act is long overdue and urgently needed. It reforms qualified immunity so everyone who faces discriminatory policing or excessive force has an avenue for recourse. It creates a national police misconduct registry to track officer misconduct. It improves training and practices to make sure that officers are properly prepared for the situations that we ask them to address, and much more. I commend my colleagues for delivering this bill, and I thank Chairman Nadler for working with me to strengthen the misconduct registry included in it. We have a long way to go as a country to heal the wounds that cut back for generations. The Justice in Policing Act is an important first step. I look forward to seeing it passed today and to the many steps that will follow in the march for justice.

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor World War II veteran and Rialto community leader Mary H. McCombs. A graduate of University of Redlands, Mary began her decades of community service as a social worker with the Riverside County Welfare Department. Shortly after President Roosevelt's signing of the Navy Women's Reserve Act into law in 1942, she answered the call to serve her country and enlisted in the U.S. Navy WAVES program. Mary's tenure in the WAVES program resulted in travel to New York, Norco, California, and the San Francisco Bay where she trained to serve the Navy in a medical capacity. Until the end of World War II, she was stationed at the Naval Hospital on Treasure Island where her primary duties involved tracking all the admissions and discharges for the hospital. Upon discharge from the Navy, Mary married Ray McCombs and moved to Rialto, California, where she served as First Lady of Rialto from 1952 to 1954. A loving mother of five children, she always sought opportunities to improve the lives of others. In 1962 she returned to work for the San Bernardino County Adoption Service, where she placed hundreds of children into loving homes throughout the county. Mary's beloved husband sadly passed in 1983. Mary continued to remain active in the community and with her local church. She was a member of the American Association of University Women, the Rialto Symphony Guild and other civic organizations. In June 1995, she served on the task force to build the Rialto Senior Center and subsequently served on their board. Within education, Mary contributed to the establishment of the Morrow-McCombs Memorial Lecture Series at Cal State University, San Bernardino, which had a focus on fostering better understanding among Christian, Jewish, and Muslim people. An avid traveler, Mary visited sites around the world and accomplished many feats in her travels, such as climbing the Great Pyramid of Giza in her late seventies. She enjoyed exercise, as demonstrated by her frequent 3-mile walks to Trapp Elementary School. Mary remained active throughout her retired life, until she peacefully passed away on June 6, 2020. For her decades of commitment to our community and country in so many ways, we honor Mary H. McCombs on this day and thank her for the legacy she left in the City of Rialto and the greater Inland Empire. May she rest in peace.

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues for their consistent support of tribal governments. I also want to thank Speaker Pelosi and Chairwoman Lowey. They have demonstrated a deep commitment to these important issues. Without their personal attention and support, this historic investment in Indian country would not be possible. This is an issue that is deeply important to me because Covid-19 has taken a disproportionate toll on Native American communities. Historic inequities in health and infrastructure have resulted in extremely high infection rates on many reservations across our country. We must act, and I am proud to say, we are voting today to support Indian Country through the HEROES Act. As a member of the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee, I want to highlight four of the most significant tribal provisions in this bill that fall under our jurisdiction. First, we doubled down on the investment in tribal governments by adding an additional $20 billion to the Coronavirus Relief Fund for tribes. This additional relief will provide the necessary funding to support tribal governments as they cope with the devastating effects of the pandemic. Next, we made sure that the funding allocated to tribal governments actually goes to tribal governments. We did this by clarifying that only federally recognized tribal governments listed in the Federal Register are eligible for this funding. This was critical, and it was done to ensure compliance with a recent court order. We also made sure that tribes--as well as state and local governments--had the discretion to use this funding flexibly. This will ensure that tribal governments can cover any cost and revenue losses associated with Covid-19. Finally, we made sure that 100 percent of the funds appropriated for tribes from the Corona virus Relief Funds will stay in Indian Country. We did this by clarifying that the Department must reallocate any funds it claws back through enforcement action to other tribal governments. A year from now, we don't want the administration to balance their budget on the backs of Indian Country. There is one other critical provision that I want to highlight. This bill rejects the allocation formula used by Treasury thus far. It requires a new consultation with Interior and Tribal Governments. That's because the Department has so far only relied on a deeply inequitable formula that ignores the economic impact of Covid-19. In California, this resulted in many of the smallest allocations going to the tribal governments that have spent the most to support their employees and fight Covid-19. Comparatively, many of those tribes that are least impacted economically received the highest allocations. This must be remedied as soon as possible, and it is my hope that after additional consultation, Treasury will understand that future funds must be allocated to tribal governments primarily based on economic factors such as total governmental and enterprise expenditures in 2019 or wages paid to employees as measured by quarterly IRS Form 941s. Mr. Speaker, in this unprecedented time we face a question: will we use this pandemic as an excuse to walk away from our treaty and trust obligations to the indigenous peoples of this country? Or, will we rise to the occasion and make a clear statement that this country values our diversity and our commitments, and invest in the communities that need it most. I am proud to stand with our tribal nations in this difficult moment, and I urge my colleague to support this bill.

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this bill and to highlight the need for reliable testing. Last week, Pastor Joseph Owes succumbed to COVID-19. He was a pillar in our community, hosted food banks, health fairs, job and financial literacy workshops to help his community. He tried repeatedly to get tested but was denied time and time again because testing hasn't been available in my community. If he had been tested and treated earlier, he would still be here with us today. Without tests, we don't know who has COVID and we can't open up our economy.

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I stand here today to announce that on April 2, we lost Pastor Joseph Owes of Pomona, California, to complications with COVID-19. Pastor Owes devoted 20 years of his life to providing hope and inspiration to the people of Pomona. A Georgia native, Pastor Owes spent his formative elementary and junior high school years in the South, experiencing desegregation firsthand. As difficult as those times were, they taught Pastor Owes to ``outlast the enemy'' and forgive quickly. He immersed himself in football, earning an MVP award and 27 college scholarship offers. Eventually he landed on Texas Southern University, where he majored in mechanical engineering. After graduating, Pastor Owes worked hard in sales and management for five Fortune 500 Companies and married the love of his life, Michele Lipkins, in 1986. Together they raised four loving children. Eventually, Pastor Owes found his way to preaching in 1989 and completed his ministerial training, receiving his ordination under the leadership of his mentor and friend, Pastor Reuben L. Monmouth II. Pastor Owes used his talents of bringing people together to start a church inside a maximum-security prison in Texas. There he mentored trustees and helped prepare them for the outside world. He later established a church and Christian School in Southwest Houston. In February of 2000, Pastor Owes accepted an assignment to pastor From the Heart Church Ministries of Pomona, serving as a pillar of inspiration and guidance for the community. During the economic crash of 2009, he was instrumental in bringing badly needed service to the Pomona Valley, using his church to host food banks and health fairs, and provide job and financial literacy workshops for those struggling with foreclosures. I was fortunate to have met him and partner with him in providing these services to our community. Pastor Owes enjoyed the outdoors and working with his hands to create things like slingshots and bow and arrows. He often played racquetball, rode his bicycle, and participated in competitive bowling with his sons. His friends and family called him the ``Grill Master'' as he often cooked large meals for his loved ones. One of his greatest joys was spending time with his family and having all the children and grandchildren together under one roof. For his exemplary life, Madam Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Pastor Joseph Owes. His decades of service and contributions to our community are worthy of admiration, and his memory will live on through the countless lives he has impacted. Pastor Owes is survived by his wife of 22 years, Michele, their four children, six grandchildren, and a host of other family and friends. May he rest in peace.

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the Senate Amendment to H.R. 748, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. This bill will provide emergency relief to millions of Americans as we fight the coronavirus outbreak. I want to highlight Title VI, which establishes a Coronavirus Relief Fund that provides $150 billion for the Secretary of Treasury to disseminate to States, Tribal Governments and units of local government in fiscal year 2020. Tragically, in recent days I've heard from many tribal nations in California, and they are really struggling. That's because they did the right thing to help our country combat this virus by closing their businesses. It is worth noting that they did so proactively and were under no obligation to take such drastic steps. But, as we have come to expect from our leaders in the tribal community, they did the right thing because it was the right thing to do. These closures have been nothing short of catastrophic. The very resources that had been used to fund the tribal government and provide services virtually evaporated overnight. These governments run, for the most part, on these tribal funds. The funds provided by the federal government via the Indian Health Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and other federal programs, often only make up a very small percentage of the total cost of running Tribal governments. So, when these businesses closed, the Tribes knew that doing so would compromise their ability to serve their people during this time of crisis. I heard these stories and knew that Congress had to respond. This $8 billion fund will address the decrease in revenues, and we have mandated that the Secretary of Treasury work with the Secretary of Interior, to make sure that these decreased revenues are into their determination when making funds available to tribes.

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I am glad that President Trump is meeting with his team to figure out how to save corporate America from the economic fallout of the coronavirus outbreak. After the worst economic collapse in over a decade, I would expect nothing less. But a corporate bailout doesn't help the everyday workers I represent. What about the independent contractors working two or three jobs just to get by? Or the warehouse workers who are laid off because China is exporting fewer goods to the Port of LA or Long Beach? Or the Uber drivers who lose business when a convention is canceled or are forced to self-quarantine? These workers don't have workplace benefits such as paid sick leave. The option to self-quarantine isn't an option at all when you have to work and live every day paycheck to paycheck. Mr. President, these are the stories of real Americans who are bearing the brunt of this crisis, and they deserve relief, too. They deserve your attention, too. I urge you to work with Democrats in the House to pass a real plan to help all Americans.

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the retirement of Detective II Sharen S. Stallworth and the dedication to duty and professionalism with which she has served the City of Los Angeles for 32 years and 6 months. Detective II Sharen S. Stallworth was appointed to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) on November 16, 1987, and upon completion of her time in the academy, reported to the Wilshire Division. She provided leadership on a variety of coveted assignments in the Division including the Mental Evaluation Unit, Burglary Special Section, and Youth Program Unit and Abuse Child Section. Detective Stallworth was also a member of the board of the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators, the California Financial Crimes Investigators Association, and the Los Angeles Organized Retail Crime Association. With her immense experience, she is considered a subject matter expert (SME) regarding Pawn Brokers and Financial Crimes Investigations. Additionally, over the past 15 years, Detective Stallworth served as a Peer Counselor for LAPD, giving back to her community by mentoring detectives and younger officers. Her devotion to the City of Los Angeles and beyond will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact. Detective Stallworth is the daughter of the proud parents Luther Scales and Mary Stallworth of Pomona, California. For her remarkable accomplishments, it is my honor to recognize Detective II Sharen S. Stallworth on the House floor today. Her decades of commitment and contributions to the City of Los Angeles are worthy of admiration.

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Madam Speaker, as the mother of an air force veteran, my heart goes out to every military family right now living on pins and needles over what President Trump set in motion. We still don't know what threat was so dire that President Trump needed to risk a conflict with Iran to kill their second-most powerful leader. What we do know is American lives are our nation's most precious treasure, and this president cannot be trusted to keep us safe. I was unavoidably detained during the vote and regret that I was not able to cast my vote tonight, but I wholeheartedly support the War Powers Act (H. Con. Res. 83) and would have voted in favor of it as reflected in my YEA vote and testimony in the Rules Committee the day prior. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call No. 7.

Mrs. TORRES of California

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 772 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, the Rules Committee met and reported a rule, House Resolution 772, providing for consideration of H.R. 5377, the Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act, under a closed rule. The rule provides 1 hour of debate, equally divided and controlled by the chair and the ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means. Mr. Speaker, SALT has been in law since the 16th Amendment was passed in 1913 with few minor adjustments, that is, until 2017, when Republicans passed the tax scam law. In 2017, the Republicans gave away almost $2 trillion in tax cuts to corporations and the wealthy. They paid for this tax scam on the backs of hardworking American families. Thirty-six million middle-class families saw their taxes increase. The average American deducted $12,500 in State and local taxes, or SALT, from their Federal taxes before 2017. However, the Republican tax bill capped SALT deductions at $10,000, therefore, not fully covering what the average American deducts in State and local taxes. This cap means that Americans are paying taxes twice on the same dollar earned. Our tax system is based on the principle of federalism and acknowledges that the Federal Government should not do everything. State and local taxes provide funds for critical infrastructure and services, such as ensuring quality schools for our kids, fixing our roads, and supporting our local law enforcement. Local governments know how to meet the unique needs of their communities, and the implementation of a SALT deduction cap threatens the ability of our local governments to provide these critical services. The SALT deduction is not a Democratic or Republican issue. Taxpayers across the country in both red and blue States benefit from the deduction. Midwestern States like Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin are known for their State and local tax contributions. In fact, Wisconsin ranks among the top five States in the country, higher than California, for the average proportion of a resident's income tax that goes toward State and local taxes. Whether from California, Wisconsin, or New Jersey, getting rid of the SALT cap will benefit Americans across the country. Mr. Speaker, that is why I am supporting H.R. 5377, the Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act. This legislation will raise the SALT cap for 2019 to $20,000 for married couples. Under the Republican tax bill, the SALT cap is set at $10,000 for a household regardless if that household consists of an individual or two people filing jointly. Mr. Speaker, I don't think taxpayers should be punished for being married. This legislation will completely repeal the SALT cap for 2020 and 2021, ensuring that Americans are not taxed double on their hard-earned money. Included in H.R. 5377 are investments in our teachers and law enforcement officers. I have heard from southern Californian teachers who are working two or three jobs to make ends meet, but they still buy supplies for their students: notebooks, chalk, pencils, markers, whatever they need. Across the country, nearly all teachers report buying school supplies for their students with their own money, spending almost $500 on average. Currently, the tax credit for out-of-pocket expenses for educators is $250. This legislation will double the tax credit to $500, matching what is actually spent, what teachers spend for their students. It also creates a new tax deduction for law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs related to expenses for uniforms and for tuition fees for professional development training. As a former 911 dispatcher, I can testify to the importance of having well-trained first responders. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5377 is about restoring fair tax policies for the middle class that have been suffering under the Republican tax bill, and I am proud to stand here in support of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. TORRES of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, school districts across America are struggling to recruit and hire teachers. In the Fourth District of Oklahoma, for example, there are 8,680 teachers who currently receive the education expense deduction. This legislation doubles the above-the-line deduction for educators' out-of-pocket expenses to $500. Mr. Speaker, I can imagine that these teachers would greatly appreciate being able to claim up to $500 out-of-pocket for the school supplies that they buy for their students. I want to tell a story from Debra Deskin. Debra is a teacher in Oklahoma, and she has been a faithful public servant for 15 years. She teaches gifted students. She says: ``I literally had to choose whether to purchase items for my classroom and students or pay bills. Honestly, the bills get put on the back burner.'' These are the type of public servants who this bill is tasked to support to ensure that they are not having to choose between paying their bills or buying supplies for their students. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell).