Juan Vargas

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Madam Speaker, like many of my colleagues, I rise today in support of National Gun Violence Survivors Week. Every year, over 36,000 Americans are killed in acts of gun violence, and almost 100,000 more are shot and injured. This includes nearly 3,000 children and teens who are shot and killed and nearly 15,600 who are shot and injured. Firearms are the second leading cause of death for children and teens and the first leading cause of death for African American children and teens in the U.S. Gun violence overly affects people of color. African Americans represent most gun homicide victims and are 10 times more likely than White Americans to die from gun violence. Gun violence continues to bring agony every day to communities and families around the country. While we cannot bring back the many loved ones lost to gun violence, we must act to prevent more casualties. It is past time for the Senate to act to save American lives.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the migrants and asylum-seekers who have been sheltered by Jewish Family Service of San Diego. On October 1, 2018, Jewish Family Service, along with other members of the San Diego Rapid Response Network, heeded an important call. These organizations were alerted that, due to a drastic change in policy, women and children were being left on the side of the road. They were released with nowhere to go and no resources to get to their final destination. These nonprofits decided that they would not stand idly by and would assist these deserted families. Despite all the obstacles the organizations faced, they dedicated themselves to welcoming the stranger. Jewish Family Service Shelter is now in its seventh location, where it has served 21,000 individuals. The shelters have provided a safe and welcoming place to sleep, fresh new clothes, warm meals, and travel assistance. I have had the opportunity to tour some of the facilities and believe they follow the teaching of Leviticus 19: ``You shall treat the alien who resides with you no differently than the natives born among you. . . .'' I thank Jewish Family Service and the organizations of the San Diego Rapid Response Network for their efforts.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Madam Speaker, I rise to speak on the impeachment articles introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to impeach Donald John Trump. Earlier this week over 750 historians published a statement condemning Donald Trump for his flagrant abuses of power and urged the House to impeach him. In just a couple of days that number has quickly doubled, with a total of 1,507 signatures. These historians highlighted that one of our Founding Fathers, Alexander Hamilton, wrote impeachment was created to deal with the ``misconduct of public men'' which involves ``the abuse or violation of some public trust''. This exactly what Donald Trump has done, time and time again. Our Constitution was written to ensure there are checks on our power as elected officials. It ensures that we cannot become kings; that we remain public men and women. That is the foundation upon which our country was built. In a democracy, our rulers are the people, the citizens, our constituents, and we were chosen to stand in public office to serve them. The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution, but it is our actions in high office that give those great words meaning and power. As public servants we are trusted to abide by the law and to only use our positions in office to protect and support our country. Donald Trump has used the power of the presidential office for his own personal gain, violating the trust of the American people. He has withheld from our ally, Ukraine, $391 million in military and security assistance. That $391 million was approved for Ukrainian assistance by Republican and Democratic members in legislation that passed the House and the Senate. Congress, finding common ground in our American values that compel us to support our ally, provided this money. But Donald Trump put it on hold. To leave our ally's civilians and soldiers to struggle as they fight against our shared adversary and dangle this congressionally-approved aid in front of them, is alone bad leadership. It is the behavior that stains our country, tarnishing our name in the eyes of countries who look to us as leaders of the free world. But leaving our allies without support is an offense Trump tends to repeat, and it alone is not the impeachable offense. Trump used his trusted power over congressionally-approved money, our constituents' money, not to protect our ally or our constituents, but to bolster his chances in winning our next presidential election. The United States Ambassador to the European Union testified that Donald Trump would release this aid and meet with the Ukrainian president in person only if Ukraine publicly announced an investigation into Trump's political rival, Former Vice President Joe Biden. He abused his trusted power. That is the first impeachable offense. Congress moved to seek out the truth for the American people, but Donald Trump continued to block this co-equal branch of government. Following the orders of Donald Trump, nine witnesses from the White House have defied congressional subpoenas, included in twelve White House officials who have refused to testify. Despite congressional requests and legal subpoenas, no documents have been released from the White House for the congressional inquiry. The single transcript that was released prior to the inquiry has been defined as a ``rough'' transcript, its omissions flagged by a trusted national security official who listened in to the call that the transcript describes. Finally, Congress has invited Donald Trump to engage in the inquiry, yet he has rejected that invitation. Donald Trump is keeping the American public in the dark, knowing that if light were fully shed on his actions, he would hold much less influence and power over their judgement. There has been no president before Donald Trump who has so completely defied congressional oversight or sought to impede it. When he wholly blocks the availability of information to a duly elected co-equal branch of government responsible for oversight and investigations into the executive branch, he holds an unprecedented amount of control. That is the second impeachable offense. Since the founding of our great nation we have celebrated public servants who put their country before themselves, and rejected kings and tyrants, who put themselves before their country. The great women and men in our past that stood on this floor upheld the words of the Constitution and shielded our democracy from those who attempted to exploit it. Few times in history have we had such a historic vote. We ask ourselves today, will we stand with the man that believes Article II of the Constitution allows him to, quote, ``Do anything I want''? Will we stand with the man who said nothing would happen to him if he shot someone of Fifth Avenue in New York City? Will we stand with the man who abuses the same laws our constituents abide by, the laws we have pledged to protect, and the laws he swore under oath to faithfully execute? Or will we stand up as protectors of our Constitution, and of our nation? Our names will be tied to our votes. I urge my colleagues to support both articles of impeachment and hold Donald Trump accountable for his flagrant abuses of power.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, along with my colleagues, Susan Davis, Scott Peters, Mike Levin, and Chairwoman Maxine Waters, to honor Mrs. Fahari Jeffers, who passed away on October 30, for her outstanding actions as a tireless civil rights and labor leader and motivator and as the cofounder of the United Domestic Workers of America. In 1977, Fahari Jeffers and her husband, Ken Msemaji, formed the United Domestic Workers organizing committee under the mentorship of Cesar Chavez. It was the first known labor organization for domestic workers in the United States of America and only the third labor union in U.S. labor history to be founded by Latinos or African Americans. Additionally, Mrs. Jeffers served as United Domestic Workers' secretary-treasurer and first general counsel until 2005. Ms. Jeffers worked tirelessly as lead negotiator for all union contracts throughout the State of California, pursuing life improvements that helped millions of Americans in the State and nationwide. Her model collective bargain rights law of 1999 is patterned across California and the Nation, where over 2 million home care workers enjoy union rights. Fahari regarded writing this legislation as one of her proudest accomplishments. Asserting rights for our Nation's domestic workers gave way to the passage of the first-ever Federal Domestic Workers Bill of Rights in 2013. Mrs. Jeffers used her skills and experience to represent and defend the rights of one of the most underrepresented and underpaid working groups in our society: our home care workers, who clean, cook, and provide personal care assistance to the sick and disabled. In 2018, Fahari was inducted into the San Diego County Women's Hall of Fame. At home in National City, the devoutly Catholic couple adopted 16 children over the years. Survivors include her husband of 44 years, Ken Msemaji; her siblings, Rose Glasford of Bermuda, Karama Broach of North Carolina, Joe Jeffers of Colorado, Vickie Jeffers of North Carolina, and Dr. Adam Jeffers of the United Arab Emirates; and her adopted children. We would like to honor Fahari Jeffers for her dedication and lifelong commitment to civil rights, the labor movement, and the community. I ask that Members and guests in the gallery rise for a moment of silence.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York for yielding. I rise today on behalf of hundreds of thousands of Dreamers. Yesterday, the Supreme Court heard arguments over the future of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or, as you heard, DACA recipients. This decision will determine whether nearly 800,000 Dreamers will lose their legal protections to live and work in the United States. The average DACA recipient came to the U.S. as a young child and has called our country their home for nearly 20 years. Denying their legal rights or rescinding the promise made to them 7 years ago would be immoral and wrong. They are students, teachers, first responders, entrepreneurs, and community organizers who make our country stronger and contribute to it every day. Approximately 27,000 DACA recipients are currently employed as healthcare workers and support staff. Rescinding DACA would be a direct threat to the public health, as we heard from our colleague, Dr. Ruiz. We rely on these people. So, at this moment, it would be a disaster to not give them the legal status they need to remain in our country. DACA recipients and their households hold a combined $24.1 billion in spending power each year. In addition, DACA recipients boost Social Security and Medicare through payroll taxes. Many DACA recipients have completed high school, entered 4-year colleges and universities, and graduated. College enrollment rates have dramatically increased for DACA-eligible individuals, and completion rates have skyrocketed. Dreamers are our brothers and our sisters and our neighbors. They don't know any other country as home. They were brought here as children and, many times, as infants. They built their lives here since they were little kids. They grew up here in America learning our history and loving and celebrating our culture and freedoms, just like any other American. They work, they pay taxes, and, like millions before, they dream of serving, too. Turning our backs on them is against our American values. The choice is clear: We must keep our promise to Dreamers. We must protect the dream and uphold DACA in the highest court of the land. We heard here very recently from a friend on the other side how we should open our hearts this holiday season to children who need adoption, and he is correct. At the same time, we should open our hearts to these children who came here, oftentimes, when they were infants--no fault of their own; their parents brought them here. They grew up in our country. In fact, many of them thought they were American citizens until they became older. Madam Speaker, in the words of our great colleague who recently passed, Elijah Cummings: We are better than this. We are better than deporting these children who have never known another country other than our own. We are better than this, and hopefully the Supreme Court is better than this.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor my departing Chief of Staff, Tim Walsh, and his years of dedication to our country and the communities of California's 51st Congressional District. After eight years of service as my Chief of Staff, first at the California State Senate and later in the United States House of Representatives, Tim Walsh is departing my office with a track record of success and leaving behind an unparalleled team reflective of his dedicated leadership. Tim Walsh is a native of California and a proud San Diegan. His professional experience spans the public and private sector as the founding member of two companies at the highest levels of public management as well as an adjunct university professor. Coincidentally, we are both Magna Cum Laude graduates of the University of San Diego with Bachelors of Arts in Political Science. Tim is also a graduate of the inaugural class of the Master of Arts in Peace and Justice Studies Program of the University of San Diego, where he was awarded a Gandhi Fellowship, as well as a graduate of the Price School of Policy, Planning and Development at the University of Southern California. As you may know, in 2016, I was named one of the ``Hardest-Working Members of Congress.'' While I am proud of that recognition, every Member of Congress relies on a dedicated team. I would not have received this award, garnered nearly one billion dollars of infrastructure funding for my district, or accomplished many other things for this wonderful country and my district, without Tim's dedicated leadership. If asked, Tim will share that his greatest source of pride is his family. As the youngest of six children in a proud Irish Catholic clan, he credits his parents, Bill and Penny Walsh, with providing a secure foundation leading all his brothers and sisters to lives of great opportunity. As a new father, he is excited about the opportunity to spend more time with his baby girl, his remarkable wife, and the rest of their loving family. Madam Speaker, I would like to echo the teachings of John Wooden who said, ``It is amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit.'' Tim truly lives by this motto. I am certain that Tim Walsh's future success will eclipse his significant past accomplishments. On behalf of California's 51st Congressional District, I would like to formally honor Tim Walsh on his years of dedicated service to the nation and California's 51st Congressional District.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Until recently, recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA program, have been able to secure mortgage insurance from the Federal Housing Administration, or FHA. In 2018, lenders began reporting to news sources such as, HousingWire and BuzzFeed, that officials from the Department of Housing and Urban Development had informed them that DACA recipients were not eligible for FHA insurance. HUD's conflicting responses to public inquiries on the matter left uncertainty in the market over the past year. Then HUD sent a letter to Representative Pete Aguilar 2 weeks ago confirming they had stopped providing FHA insurance for DACA recipients' mortgages. DACA recipients are individuals living in the U.S. under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, DACA, program. They were brought to the United States as children. They were children. As individuals even within this administration have expressed, the United States is the only place many of them know. It is their home. DACA recipients are taxpayers, students, teachers, and soldiers. They are our neighbors. They contribute to our economy and are pillars of our communities. Yet, individuals now seek to deny DACA recipients access to owning a home. Our government insures mortgages through FHA to help low- and middle- income individuals buy a home. This program allowed DACA recipients to buy their first homes. HUD's move to deny these young people access to Federal insurance has already blocked people from homeownership. That is why my colleague, Representative Pete Aguilar, and I have offered the amendment here today. This amendment simply prohibits HUD from using funds to deny DACA recipients access to FHA-insured mortgages. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support the amendment and provide these individuals with access to homeownership. Mr. Chair, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Aguilar).

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Chair, I do thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart) for his kind words. I appreciate my good friend. Mr. Chair, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price).

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Chair, again, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. I thank the gentleman from North Carolina, the gentleman from California, and, again, my friend from Florida for their comments. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Chair, I would just close with saying this: Remember, these are children who were brought to the United States through no decision of their own. It was their parents'. So many of us have children, and they don't get to make their own decisions. We make the decisions when they are children on where they go, where they live. Mr. Chair, let's show some heart. Let's show some love to these young people and allow them to pursue the American Dream. I urge its support. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Immigrant Heritage Month and the millions of immigrant families living, working, and thriving within the United States. For centuries, our country has welcomed those in search of a better life and has benefited from their meaningful contributions. As a proud Mexican American, it is a special honor to celebrate my family's immigrant heritage and our Nation's entire immigrant community. Like countless others, my parents came to the United States looking for hope and opportunity for themselves and for the generations to follow. Thanks to their courage and sacrifice, my siblings and I were able to pursue our American Dreams, an opportunity that is currently, unfortunately, slipping away for far too many. Today, we are witnessing the devastating effect of President Trump's cruel anti-immigrant agenda, where immigrants are demonized and treated as outsiders; migrants are denied their legal rights to asylum and safety; children are ripped apart from their parents; and adults and children are dying while in U.S. custody. This is not who we are. Immigrants from far and wide help build and better our Nation. They have and will continue to be a source of strength to inspire us. I stand with immigrants today, and I think we all should.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Calexico Carnegie Library on its 100th anniversary. The library has served as a center of the community for a century. It was built in 1919 with a grant provided by the Carnegie Foundation to be the centerpiece of a planned ``intellectual park.'' When it was threatened with demolition in 1993, the citizens of Calexico united to preserve this historical landmark for future generations. On September 28, 2005 the library was added to the National Register of Historic Places, honoring its cultural significance and Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. Today, the Calexico Carnegie Library is a public technology center that serves the community daily. The library hosts classes for seniors and reading sessions for children. I would like to honor the Calexico Carnegie Library for their contributions to the community of Calexico over the past 100 years.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairwoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support H.R. 502, the Fight Illicit Networks and Detect Trafficking Act, or, as you heard, the FIND Trafficking Act. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Waters and Ranking Member McHenry for their support and their guidance of this legislation. I also especially thank my colleague, Representative Wagner, for her leadership on this issue and for agreeing to co-lead this commonsense, narrowly tailored legislation. I thank her for her guidance and her leadership. As you may know, a virtual currency is a digital representation of value that can be digitally traded. Since the creation of bitcoin, the first and most widely known example of a cryptocurrency, thousands of cryptocurrencies have emerged that are designed to serve a variety of purposes. Some forms of virtual currency provide a digital alternative to cash that lacks the oversight of a government or a central bank, and, potentially, offers greater anonymity than conventional payment systems. Just as virtual currencies have grown in use in legitimate commerce, as we heard from the ranking member, they have also, unfortunately, become an increasingly popular financial payment method for criminals. Virtual currencies have been, and continue to be, exploited to pay for goods and services associated with illicit sex and drug trafficking. These are two of the most detrimental and troubling illegal activities sold online. According to the DEA 2017 National Drug Assessment, transnational criminal organizations are increasingly using virtual currencies, due to their ease of use and the anonymity they provide. While evidence points to a growth of virtual currencies as a payment method for illicit sex and drug trafficking, the true scope of the problem and potential solutions have not been fully established. According to the International Labour Organization, in 2016, 4.8 million people in the world were victims of forced sexual exploitation, and, in 2014, the global profit from commercial sexual exploitation was $99 billion. Unfortunately, virtual currencies are also being used as a payment method for transnational drug traffickers. As we all know too well, and as was stated here, the United States is struggling to combat the rising number of lives cut short by tragic opioid use. In 2016 alone, the CDC estimated that there were 64,000 deaths in the U.S. related to drug overdose, and the most severe increase in drug overdoses were those associated with fentanyl and fentanyl analogs. Fentanyl is an extremely deadly opioid, about 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. Fentanyl is being illicitly manufactured in China and Mexico, with most of the illegal fentanyl in the United States originating primarily in China, and it is readily available to purchase through online marketplaces. If we are to craft effective regulatory and legislative solutions to combat these transnational criminal organizations, we need to fully study and analyze how virtual currencies and online marketplaces are used to facilitate sex and drug trafficking to determine how to best eliminate their use. H.R. 502, the FIND Trafficking Act of 2019, requires the Comptroller General of the United States to: one, carry out a study on how virtual currencies and online marketplaces are used to facilitate sex or drug trafficking; and, two, make recommendations to Congress on legislative and regulatory actions that would impede the use of virtual currencies and online marketplaces in facilitating sex and drug trafficking. It is my sincere hope that this bill is a first step, as we heard, toward crafting bipartisan legislation to impede and, eventually, eliminate the use of virtual currencies by transnational criminal organizations to facilitate drug and sex trafficking. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for the bipartisan nature of this bill--in particular, again, Representative Wagner--and I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Col. Tony Jack Buckles, U.S. Army (Ret.) and his years of dedication to our country and the communities of California's 51st Congressional District. Col. Tony Jack Buckles, of Pensacola, FL passed away at the age of 69 on December 5, 2018 following a heroic battle with cancer. He is survived by: his wife of 49 years, Nancy C. Buckles; his children: Jonathan (Lauren) Buckles; and Elizabeth (James) Deck; his six beautiful granddaughters: Brenton, Madeline, Catherine, and Elizabeth Buckles and Emilia and Enslie Deck and his mother, Billie Buckles. Tony was born on November 5, 1949 to Jack and Billie Buckles in Elizabethton, TN. Tony was an alumnus of East Tennessee State University. He was commissioned in June of 1971 as an Armor Officer and after graduating the Armor Officer Orientation Course, Airborne School, and Ranger School, Tony began his distinguished service assigned to the U.S. Army's Third Armored Division in the Federal Republic of Germany. Tony graduated from many courses, including the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, the United States Marine Corp's Command and Staff College, and achieved the status of distinguished graduate of the National War College at Fort McNair, Washington, DC. Tony's esteemed service led to the fulfillment of a career-long goal of being selected as the Battalion Commander for 1/70 Armor, in the U.S. Army's 5th Mechanized Infantry Division, at Fort Polk, LA, where his battalion was selected as the first in the Division to field the Army's newest battle tank at the time, the M1 Abrams. Tony went on to serve honorably as the Garrison Commander for the U.S. Army's III Armored Corps at Fort Hood, TX, with his military career ultimately concluding with the privilege of serving the U.S. House of Representatives in the U.S. Army's Congressional Liaison Office. Over the course of Tony's career, he received numerous awards and recognition for his service, culminating with being awarded the U.S. Army's Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in duties of great responsibility. Following his retirement, after 30 years of service, Tony became the Chief of Staff for U.S. Congressman Bob Filner, 51st District, California from 2001-2012. On behalf of California's 51st Congressional District. I would like to formally honor the memory of Col. Tony Jack Buckles on his years of dedicated service to the nation and California's 51st Congressional District.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support my amendment to H.R. 6147, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2019. This amendment would increase funding for the U.S.-Mexico Border Water Infrastructure Program by $5 million. As a Representative of California's entire U.S.-Mexico border, I have seen firsthand the positive impact these programs have on communities in my State and across all of the communities along the U.S. border. The Tijuana River Valley is a beautiful transboundary watershed on both sides of the border with a mixture of agriculture, preserved habitats, and rural housing developments. Periodic rain in the region produces a steady stream of cross-border flows of wastewater, trash, and sediment from Tijuana into San Diego County. This has a devastating effect on border communities, including Imperial Beach, San Diego, and other residents in the Tijuana River Valley. Last year, millions of gallons of sewage was discharged in the Tijuana River Valley after a heavy rain. This resulted in prolonged beach closures, which affected the quality of life and the public health of the people in these communities. Border Patrol agents also experienced very severe health complications from exposure to sewage and to chemicals and toxic waste along the border. San Diego County-based military installations are also at risk of continued disruptions, which would affect their readiness to combat threats. Residents across San Diego County have grown increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress on viable solutions. All too often, Tijuana's wastewater infrastructure is unable to handle the heavy rains, which result in sewage ending up on the U.S. side of the border. The EPA's Border Water Infrastructure Program provides resources for communities to build and enhance current long-term protections and rehabilitation projects all along the entire U.S.-Mexico border. The EPA investments in these wastewater projects are a key factor in significant water quality improvements in U.S. waterbodies, such as the Rio Grande, Santa Cruz River, the New River, and the Tijuana River. The program's funding has made significant progress addressing public beach health and the environmental impact of inadequate drinking water and wastewater infrastructure along the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2,000-mile border between the United States and Mexico is one of the most complex and dynamic regions in the world, with a growing need to address the transborder environmental issues; so I would urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman for those words, and I know that he wants to continue to work with us, and I look forward to that. I would just add that the situation is getting much worse, and I would also add that a number of these military installations that we are placing right along the border, especially the Special Forces that we have, the SEALS, I think are going to become more and more affected by this sewage that crosses the border. Mr. Chair, I look forward to working with the chairman and the ranking member to see if we can find more money because this is a real problem in San Diego, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support my amendment to H.R. 6237. By adding the use of virtual currencies to section 1505, we will ensure it is included in the assessment of threat financing related to Russia. This assessment includes officials of the government of Russia, persons subject to sanctions with respect to Russia, Russian nationals subject to sanction, and Russian oligarchs or organized criminals. Mr. Chairman, as you may know, a virtual currency is a digital representation of value that can be digitally traded. Since the creation of Bitcoin, the first and most widely known example of a cryptocurrency, thousands of cryptocurrencies have emerged that are designed to serve a variety of purposes. Just as virtual currencies have grown in use in legitimate commerce, they have become an increasingly popular financial payment method for criminals and other transnational bad actors. Virtual currencies have been and continue to be exploited to pay for goods and services associated with illicit activities and as an effective tool to launder money or avoid sanctions. If we are to craft effective solutions to combat Russia's threat finance, we need to fully understand how virtual currencies may be used to finance activities against the United States and our allies, especially NATO. By including the use of virtual currencies in the report, we will ensure a robust analysis that will help us to impede Russian financing of cyber operations. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Murphy).

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Chairman, I would simply then urge my colleagues to support the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Delores Jacobs for her outstanding career spent dedicated to empowering local San Diego LGBT community members, as well as her inspirational drive to impact public policy. These policies encourage the improvement and preservation of the LGBT community and allies. Dr. Jacobs launched her momentous career in 1998 when she began serving at The San Diego LGBT Community Center, ``The Center,'' as the Director of Behavioral Health Services. In 2001, she was selected as the Chief Executive Officer of The Center and served this position until June 30, 2018. Thanks to her strong leadership and far-reaching efforts, this facility is now recognized as one of the nation's oldest and largest LGBT Centers, as it now offers over 60,000 services to 25,000 people annually. Throughout her career of 20 years spent at The Center, Dr. Jacobs' efforts led to the development of progressive, one-of-a-kind programs; Dr. Jacobs assisted in creating the Hillcrest Youth Center, the country's first Latino services department at an LGBT center, as well as the establishment of the 23-unit Sunburst Youth Housing program, which seeks to provide aid for formerly homeless LGBT youth. Dr. Jacobs' mission did not stop at community involvement, she also sought to impact public policy through the establishment of The Center's Get Out The Vote (GOTV) organization, as well as leading the charge towards the defeat of California's unjust state constitutional amendment, Proposition 8, that banned same-sex marriage. Dr. Jacobs' proven dedication and leadership has not gone unnoticed, and she remains an inspiration to us all. Delores was chosen as the inaugural recipient of the, ``Local Heroes'' Award from KPBS and Union Bank, as well as the LEAD San Diego's Visionary Award for Diversity and the Equality Leadership Award from Equality California. On behalf of California's 51st Congressional District, I would like to formally extend my sincere congratulations to Dr. Jacobs on her retirement and career of effecting change for a marginalized community, I wish her all the best in her future endeavors.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.