washington journal continues. host: joining us about topics happening in congress and washington, d.c. is alayna treene and lisa mascaro, from the ap. thank you for joining us. immigration was a big topic last

week, especially in the house. some voted and some did not. lisa mascaro, where are we in this? guest: a big week for immigration in the house. the house republicans have been trying to pass this bill on their own without democratic input. onpresent something immigration that trump could sign into law. of course, they got close last week. two were set to vote on bills. one was a more conservative measure favored by conservatives. and they were supposed to do, also, a compromise measure, something negotiated between the house conservatives and the more moderate republicans. is whatpened last week often happens on immigration measures amongst republicans. they just can't get to it on their own. they have been struggling with immigration for years and last

week was no different. so they voted in the house on the conservative measure and failed which was it. it didn't receive the majority threshold which was needed. this was hanging in the balance. they wanted to see if they could take one more swing at it. try to craft different provisions to bring on more support. that onoon as they did friday, trump jumped in and said, you know, quit wasting your time. does the gentleman from new york seek recognition? >> i move that the house suspend the rules and pass h.r. 5094, enhancing suspicious activity act as amended. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: h.r. 1594 a bill to direct the secretary of homeland security to improve suspicious activity prere-part -- reporttology prevpbt acts of terrorism and for other

purposes. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from new york, mr. king, and the gentleman from rhode island, mr. langevin, each will control 20 minutes. the chair recognizes the gentleman from new york. mr. king: i ask unanimous consent that all members have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. king: mr. speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. king: thank you, mr. speaker. i rise in strong support of h.r. 5094, enhancing suspicious activity reporting initiative act. i have been a longtime proponent of the see something, say something campaign which was begun in new york city in 2002 by the metropolitan transportation authority this program along with the suspicious activity reporting initiative helped federal, state, and local enforcement piece together sometimes seemingly disparate pieces of information to predict, detect and interdict terrorist threats

to the homeland. in nt subcommittee hearing a witness from the new jersey state police explained that a saw triggered a law enforcement investigation where a company of spy magazine was found in a residence, in particular, with an article about how to make a pressure cooker bomb. this was instrument ideal -- instrumentall in thwarting a terrorist attack against the nation. while the f.b.i. reviews saws for leads, d.h.s. manages the effort to provide training to state and local law enforcement and others. h.r. 5094 strengthen this is effort by requiring the secretary of homeland security to develop a strategy designed to improve the operations and activities of the nationwide suspicious activity reporting, n.s.i.

it includes training, outreach, including law enforce. officers, fusion centers, emergency response providers and the private sector. h.r. 5094 also empowers the secretary to establish an n.s.i. working group that includes representation from state and local stake holders, the private sector and privacy experts thism working group will provide advice and recommendations to the secretary on improvements to the saws initiative. additionally the reporting requirement to congress promotes transparency in these efforts and rigorous oversight by my subcommittee and others. last week, secretary of homeland security noted that d.h.s. was in the midst of, quote, refreshing the saws initiative. while i'm pleased to hear that d.h.s. is moving to enhance see something, say something and saw the legislation before us today will ensure the reflesh is done strategically and includes input from the stake holders responsible for investigating

and reporting saws. shortly after an attack or tragedy in our nation, leaders of both parties encouraged citizens to be vigilant. it's important to turn public statements of support into legislative action this bill received strong bipartisan support in committee. the passage of this legislation will demonstrate congress' commitment to provide commonsense legislation to help d.h.s. continue to provide important saws training and outreach. i would also like to emphasize that a secret service detail to my subcommittee was instrumental in working other staff members and putting this legislation together. i urge my colleagues to support this bill and reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. the gentleman from rhode island is recognized. mr. langevin: thank you, mr. speaker. i rise in support of h.r. 5094, enhance suspicious activity initiative act and yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. langevin: thank you, mr.

speaker. h.r. 5094 would require the department of homeland security to develop a strategy to improve the training, outreach and information it provides on suspicious activity reporting to prevent acts of terrorism. since the september 11 attacks, we've seen that sharing information regarding suspicious activity can help local, state and federal law enforcement connect the dots about threats in the communities that they serve. while it's important that ordinary citizens say something when they see something, there could be a threat to -- that could be a threat to their community, we must recognize there have been ince stance -- instances where there have been abuses. we've seen allegations of suspicious activity made against individuals solely based on biases regarding race, ethnicity or religion. h.r. 5094 seeks to prevent such discriminatory report big directing d.h. stomplet disseminate examples of reporting that meet the

guidelines for action. further, it instructs d.h. stomplet outline the types of suspicious activity reporting, include regular porting based on race, religion and nationality that's prohibited. more broadly, h.r. 5094 seeks to build numerous safeguards for privacy, civil lib everyities and civil rights in the suspicious activity reporting regime. it requires the establishment of an outside working group to provide advice to the d.h.s. secretary of matters such as outreach, information share, protecting personally identifiable information, protecting privacy and civil rights and training for emergency response providers and the -- in the private sector. additionally h.r. 5094 enhances congressional oversight of privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties by requiring the department to furnish congress with copies of the materials that disseminate to stake holders. so i urge my colleagues to support this security measure and i reserve the balance of my

time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. the gentleman from new york is recognized. mr. king: i have no more speakers, i'm prepared to close once the gentleman does. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. the gentleman from rhode island. mr. langevin: i have no further speakers as well and i'm prepared to close. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. langevin: thank you, mr. speaker. mr. speaker, as the terrorist threats evolve so too must our counterterrorism efforts. since the september 11 attacks we've seen that raising public awareness about reporting suspicious activity can be effective at detect, deterring and combating to terrorism in the homeland. i encourage my colleagues to support h.r. 5094 tone sure that d.h.s. strategically engages stake holders to improve suspicious activity reporting. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from new york is recognized. mr. king: thank you, mr. speaker. again want to thank my

colleague, mr. langevin, for his work on this and so many other pieces of bipartisan legislation and the outstanding work he does on the subcommittee and the committee. i urge my colleagues to support this bill and i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. the question is, will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill h.r. 5094 as amended. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, 2/3 being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed and without objection the motion to reconsider is laid on the table.

for what purpose does the gentleman from new york seek recognition? mr. king: i move that the house suspend the rules and pass h.r. 5081. the surface transportation security and technology accountability act of 2018. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: h.r. 5081, a bill to amend the homeland security act of 2002 to establish within the transportation security administration the surface transportation security advisory committee and for other purposes. -- the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from new york, mr. katko thearninged gentleman from rhode island, mr. langevin, each will control 20 minutes. the chair recognizes the gentleman from new york. mr. katko: i ask unanimous consent that all members have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. katko: i yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the ntmais recognized. mr. katko: i rise in support of

h.r. 5081, the surface transportation security and technology accountability act of 2018. america's transportation secretary has long been and continues to be a top target for terrorism. in addition to persist ebt threats to aviation, terrorists continue to see surface transportation as soft targets which can yield high numbers of casualties. as chairman of the subcommittee on transportation and protective security i've held numerous hear, briefings and round tables dedicated to providing congressional oversight of the t.s.a.'s role in surface transportation security. the u.s. surface transportation system is a dynamic interconnected network of passenger and freight railroads, mass transit systems, over the road bus operators, motor care yore operators, pipelines and maritime facilities. these systems are the bedrock of the american economy and way of life. which is precisely why they are such attractive targets for

terrorists. in addition to our number -- to a number of horrific attacks against surface targets by terrorists overseas, we have recently experienced an attempted suicide bombing at new york's port authority bus terminal. this was the first attempted suicide bombing on american soil and represented a startling shift in the threat landscape. luckily, this incident yielded only injury to the would-be attacker, however, it served as an important reminder that we must be prepared to respond to threats in all modes of transportation. while t.s.a. is responsible for securing all of america's transportation systems, surface transportation security has been consistently overshadowed by the amount of attention and resources dedicated to aviation security. this imbalance is aptly illustrated by the glaring absence of surface transportation in t.s.a.'s five-year investment plan and the biennial refresh. the plan is a key communication tool for t.s.a. to help stake

holders understand the agency's priorities and to enable them to align investments and protect development initiatives accordingly. t.s.a. is responsible for securing all of america's transportation systems and they have surface transportation is a key and integral element of that mission. t.s.a. does not procure technology for surface transportation operator bus does set the standards for viable security technologies for that environment. therefore investments related to research, development, testing, and evaluation of scufert technologies for surface transportation systems should be included in t.s.a.'s five-year technology investment plan. my legislation will enhance the viz thovelt surface transportation sector and ensure that t.s.a.'s positioned to address emerging threats to this critical train structure which serves over 10 billion riders in the united states annually. my bill authorized the establishment of a surface

transportation security advisory committee that will provide stake holders the opportunity to coordinate with t.s.a. and comment on policy and pending regulations. surface transportation security advisory committee is a necessary and long overdue complement to the aviation security advisory committee which has been a critical resource for the agency and stake holders and has led to a number of improvements in aviation security as well as t.s.a. processes. additionally this bill explicitly directs t.s.a. to expand the scope of its technology investment plan to incorporate investments related to surface security and cargo security. this will signal to t.s.a. that the committee takes the oversight of ail transportation modes seriously and the security of surface transportation modes should be a higher priority for the agency. i would like to thank the ranking member of the transportation committee, mrs. watson coleman, for co-sponsoring this legislation

and for her dedication for securing all modes of transportation. i would like to thank chairman mccal for his support of this bill. whether we -- mccaul for his support of this bill. whether you talk about mass transit, freight rail or pipelines, i understand surface transportation is of critical importance to all our communities including my home district in central new york. for that reason, i urge all my colleagues to support the bill. i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves. the gentleman from rhode island is recognized. mr. langevin: i rise in support of h.r. 5081, the surface transportation security and technology accountability act of 2018. i yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. langevin: thank you, mr. speaker. every day millions of americans engage with surface transportation across various modes including passenger and freight trains, commuter rail, mass transit and buses and these systems which so many of us rely on are often viewed as soft

targets so it is more important than ever that we intensify efforts to secure these critical systems. h.r. 5081 is a step in the right direction. i want to commend my colleague from new york, mr. katko, for his hard work and dedication in putting this bill together and seeing that it gets to the floor this evening. this bill authorizes the transportation security administration to form a surface transportation security advisory committee to advice on the surface transportation security matters including the development and implementation of policies and security directives. this committee will include stake holders from each mode of surface transportation, including pipelines, as well as representatives frolabor organizations, law enforcement and the first responder ommunity. it requires t.s.a. to consult with the advisory committee in the development of its investment plan to ensure it develops new and effecttive technologies for surface

transportation and investing in the right technology at the right time and right place. with that, i urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan piece of legislation. and i commend the gentleman from new york, mr. katko, for his hard work on this bill. and with that, i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. the gentleman from new york. mr. katko: i thank my colleague from rhode island about his kind words on this bill and the bipartisan that pervades our committee. we could use more of it. the bipartisan we have on this committee is helping to keep america safer. i have no more speakers and i'm prepared to close once the gentleman does. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from rhode island is recognized. mr. langevin: i have no further speakers and i'm prepared to close. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. langevin: thank you, mr. speaker. and i just wanted to echo the words of my colleague from new york and there is great

bipartisan on the homeland security committee. it is one place we are going to find bipartisan when it comes to protecting the homeland and our national security and it has een evidenced by this bill and other bills we have before us this evening. it will enhance security of mass transit and other surface transportation modes. this is needed and i thank the chairman the chairman, mr. katko, for his efforts. i encounseling my colleagues to support h.r. 5081 and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from new york is recognized. mr. katko: i urge my colleagues to support the bill. and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the question is will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill h.r. 5081. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, 2/3 being in the affirmative, the

rules are suspended, the bill is passed and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. for what purpose does the gentleman from new york seek recognition? mr. katko: mr. speaker, i move the house suspend the rules and pass h.r. 5730, the transportation security technology innovation reform act of 2018 as amended. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: h.r. 5730, a bill to require testing and valuation of advanced screening technologies related to the mission of the transportation security administration and for other purposes. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from new york, mr. katko, and the gentleman from rhode island, mr. language vin, each will -- mr. langevin. mr. katko: i ask unanimous consent that all members have five days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. katko: i yield myself such time as i may consume.

the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. katko: mr. speaker, i rise today in strong support of h.r. 5730, the transportation security technology innovation reform act of 2018. this legislation represents a combination of years of bipartisan oversight efrlingts by the homeland security committee and more specifically, the subcommittee on transportation and protective security, which i chair. my committee colleagues and i have seen the challenges facing t.a. in delivering advanced security technologies to the front lines. technologies such as credential authentication are years behind where they should be in deployment due to unnecessary delays while taking time lines and capacity challenges at t.s.a. what is more frustrating, these technologies made by american companies are deployed at a number of airports in foreign

count tries while they can test these proven technologies. we have seen the public wait for cutting-edge technologies while bureaucracy while they plague their testing and valuation process. the house has the opportunity to pass a solution to this problem. h.r. 570 will galvanize efforts to bring efforts to security challenges facing the transportation systems. this legislation will authorize the core functions of the t.s.a. systems integration facility. it will be charged with conducting efficient and transparent critical technologies that is responsive to stakeholders and the needs of the traveling public. one key problem i hear from stakeholders is t.s.a. does not have the band width or resources to couct testing and valuation of new screening technologies in

a timely manner. this legislation will ensure that adequate staffing are allocated and that t.s.a. is authorized to collaborate with outside laboratories and stakeholders to expedite the much needed technologies. this legislation requires t.s.a. to share test plans with original equipment manufacturers in order to ensure the integrity and consistency othe processes. the bill includes metrics of reporting to congress on delays in testing so there is eater visibility into bings bureaucratic hiccups. administrator to have acquisition procses and identify processes that can be streamlined and iproved. this legislation emphasizes the agency's need t engage in leverage of government agencies,

transportation stakeholders and small businesses tomore effectively and expeditiously to deploy critical technologies. the transportation security technology reform act of 2018 cuts straight to the heart of the problems plagued in t.s.a. and directly addresses these issues identified by stakeholders. as many of my colleagues can tell you, the threats facing transportati security now are more severe and more troubling than ever and our ability to mitigate these threats with advanced technoly is of the utmost importance. i thank my friend, the ranking watson coleman. i would like to thank the full comttee chairman, mr. mccaul and getting it through the committee process. i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves the balance

of his time. the gentleman from rhode island is recognized. mr. langevin: i rise in support the transportation security technology innovation reform act of 2018 and i yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. langevin: thank you, mr. speaker. h.r. 5730 authorizes t.s.a.'s transportation security administration systems' integration facility. the threats against the transportation system are constantly evolving and demand that they be proactive in developing new technologies. will orizing, h.r. 5730 evaluate tests and deliver advanced screening technologies. h.r. 5730 includes language to ensure that they have the necessary staff and resources to develop the best and most cutting edge technology. the bill includes language authored by the ranking member, r. thompson, to en-- enhance the level of support that t.s.a.

provides to small businesses through the technology testing and procurement process. so greater participation of small businesses is where innovation happens, is the in the security marketplace will not only help ensure that technologies are pursued but lp t.s.a. move away from enhancing. i urge my colleagues in the house to support this measure, and i reserve. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. the gentleman from new york is recognized. mr. katko: i would like to note, i thank my colleague from rhode island andetting it through the process here today on the floor. i will note, we went on a congressional delegation and i led that delegation to europe and the middle east several months ago and it was a bipartisan effort to get the technology in use in airports. and it was stunning to go to those airports and see

american-made 3-d scanners on the front lines doing the job and making those airports much suffer than ours are today and those products are made in the united states. it is maddening we have this bureaucratic bolt neck of testing and procedures while the front lines are not being addressed. this bill attempts to address that backlog and i'm glad to be a sponsor of it. i'm prepared to close once the gentleman from rhode island does. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from rhode island is recognized. mr. langevin: i have no additional speakers and i'm prepared to close as well. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. -- angevin: mr. langevin: thank you, mr. speaker. h.r. 5730 is focused on closing security capability gaps and streamlininging the technology

acquisition processes at t.s.a. when everything is said and done, t.s.a.'s mission is to ensure the safety and security of the traveling public and h.r. 5730 would do just that. i commend the gentleman from new york for his work on ts legislation. i think it will make a difference in keeping the traveling public safe. and with that, i urge my colleagues to support h.r. 5730 and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from new york is recognized. mr. katko: thank you, mr. speaker. to use an old saying as i would like to use, t.s.a. is engaged in the practice of polishing the brass while the fire bell is ringing. and trying to get scary technology in order to do harm to the american people. the technologs that are already existing out there are not being put out there in the front line. this bill attempts to do that. i yield ck. the speaker pro tempore: the

gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the question is, will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill h.r. 5730 as amended. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, 2/3 being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. for what purpose does the gentleman from new york seek recognition? mr. katko: i move that the house suspend the rules and pass h.r. 5766. 9 securing areas of public transportation facilities act of 2018. the speaker pro tempore: the clearing will report the title of the bill. the clerk: a bill to improve the security of public areas of transportation facilities and for other purposes. the speaker pro tempore: purget toe the rule, the gentleman from new york, mr. katko, and the gentleman from rhode island, mr. langevin, each will control 20 minute. the chair recognizes the gentleman from new york. mr. katko: i ask unanimous consent that all members have

five legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include he can eggs extraneous material on the bill under consideration. i yield myself such time as i may consume. i rise in support of h.r. 5766 securing public facilities act of 2018. this legislation will improve security coordination among transportation stakeholders by accomplishing a working group between the department of homeland security and public and private stakeholders to develop recommendations to enhance public area facilities of transportation facilities. h.r. 5766 directs that the working group focus on key areas including information sharing, interoperable communications, incident response and prevention of terrorist attacks through strategic planning and security exercises. taking steps to improve upon these components and resiliencey

is correlated to america's ability to mitigate the threats to our transportation system. the traveling public must be secure in all modes of transportation security and th millions of americans who utilize transportation networks every single day to travel to work and school rely upon strong, federal, state and local collaboration. over the last several years, we have seen an increase to attac to public transportation losorks like airports go in angeles, istanbullondon, madrid and belgium, we have witnessed scenes of attack in crowded public transportation systems. this bill improves about the preparedness and overall infrastructure of these networks which are crucial to our economy and the american way of life. the free movement of people and

goods across the united states .ust never be stymied we must ensure homeland security and t.s.a. are doing all they can to promote effective collaboration among the stakeholders charged with protecting the traveling public. i thank mr. payne for his work on this issue and i thank mr. mccaul for seeing this bill through the markup process. i urge my colleagues to support this bill and i resevere. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. the gentleman from rhode island is recognized. mr. langevin: i rise in support of h.r. 5766 the securing public areas of transportation facilities act of 2018 and i yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. langevin: mr. speaker, h.r. 5766 was introduced to address the growin risk of terrorist attacks in the public areas of transportation facilities. in recent years, there has been

a growing appreciation that public areas of at airports and transportation facilities where crowds tend to gather have become soft tarts for terrorists. we have seen that internationally and domestically as there have been violent incidents in public airport areas in brussels, los angeles, new orleans and fort lauderdale. stear there was an attempted attack on new york's transit system as well. h.r. 5766 seeks to bolster protection on the transportation systems. it does so in part by authorizing a working group to streamline communication and collaboration between the department of homeland security and key stakeholders. additionally, it directs d.h.s. to have technical assistance and cybersecurityuidelines. h.r. 5766 requires t.s.a. to review its regulations, policies

and procedures regarding the transportation of firearms and ammunition and submit a report to coness on its findings and any planned modifications. the presence f firearms and ammunition in public areas facilities is a timely concern. in january of 2017, an arriving airline passenger in fort lauderdale retrieved a gun and ammunition from his checked bag and opened fire upon travelers in the baggage claim area killing five people and injurying six others. in 2017, t.a. presentence reported that its officers discovered 3,957 firearms at security check points, 84% of which were loaded. mr. speaker, given the prevalence d availability of guns in this country,he very least we can do is evaluate t.s.a.'s policies in transporting them and ensure

they are sensible. with that, i urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan leslation and i reserve. . . the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is reognized. mr. cat coe: i have no more speakers, and am prepared to close once the geneman does. the speaker pro tempore: the geneman i recognized. mr. langevin: any of more speakers a am prepared to ose. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. langevin: h.r. 5766 is a piece of legislation with strong support on both sides of the aisle. it directs meaningful, sensible action to help enhance the security of public facing areas. as such i encourage my colleagues to support.r. 5766 and i yild back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. the gentleman from new york is recognized. mrkatko: mr. speaker, my time on theomeland secury over the past 31/2 years has been a

true testament to bipartisanship, trying to get the right things done, putting aside political differences to keep the country as safe and secure as we possibly can. i'm honored to support the bill of my lleague from new jersey, mr. payne, and i urge my colleagues to support t bill and i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker proempore: the gentleman yields. the question is will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill h.r. 5766? those in favor say aye. those opposed,o. in the opinion of the chair, 2/3 being in the affirmative,he rules are suspended, the bill is passed d witut objection the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. for what purposedoes the gentleman from nebraska seek recognition? >> i move that the house suspend the rules and pass h.r. 5733,

the d.h.s. industrial control stems cabilities enhancement act of 2018 as ameed. thker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: h.r. 5733, a bill to amend the homelandecurity act of 2002 tprovidfor the preresponseability of the national cyber security and communications integration center to maintain capabilities to identify threats to industrial control systems and for other purposes. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to the rule, the gentleman fr nebraska, mr. bac, and the gentleman from hode iland, mr. langen, each will control 20 minutes. the chair recognizeshe gentleman from nebraska. mr. bacon: i ak unanimous consent that all members have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks ad include extraneous material on the bill under consideration. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. bacon: mr. spear, i yid myself such times i may csue. the speaker pro tempore: e gentman vebling niced. mr. bacon: i re in support h.r. 5733, the d.h.s. industrial

contro systems capabilities enhancement act of 2018. industrial control systems are the critical inrface between digital controls and a physical process. the systems are ubiquitous in our modern society and are utized in all 16 sectors of our nation's critical infrastructure. whether they're used in mnaging the operations of electric power generators, watetreatment cilities, manufacturing facilities or transportation networks, destrtion or dage to the systems ve the potential to cae catastrophic and cascading consequences for nations -- for our nation's national security, economic security a public health and safety. the partment of homeland security's national cybe security and communications integration system has a key role in addressinghe role o infoation technology and operational technogy including the industri control systems. s. currently provide

operators of systems acrs itical intrastructures with suprt. eyo it with mall wear -- malware and threat response and other facities. this bill directs them to idntify and addres threats to ulnerable vulnerabilities in products intended for critical control and it renforce their role to allow them tprovide security to i.s. end users, productanufactures and other urs to mitigat and entify vulnerabilities. d.h operates a central hub for exchange. operational partnershipand implet c.s. focused cyber security capabilities. i urge my colleagues to support h.r. 5733 to codify the work that d.h.s. perfoin mitigating industrial control

system vulnerabilities while ensuring that privatindustry has a permanentlace for assistanc to address cyber security risk. i wantto thank chairman mccaul and chairman ratcliffe for their support othis legislation as well as congman langevin for his amendmenin committee. s that bipartisan effort. i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the geleman reserves. the geneman from rhode island is recognized. mr. langen -- lgevin: i rise in support of h.r 5733, the d.s. industrial control systems control act and i yield myself such time as iay consume. the eaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. langevin: thank you, mr. speaker. this would cofy the department's rin leading industrial control sysms and i commend the gentleman from braska, mr. bacon for hisard work on this, i've enjoyed collaborating th him on it. and appreciateis suort of my amendment in committee to make the act en better. we demend on control systemso

deliver basic necessities like clean r instead --, a steady energy supply, and medical care. this is n a new role for d.h.s.hich has been working on control system security since 2004. however, enactment of h.r. 5733 will help provide clarity to d.h.s. and its federal paners at a critical moment in our nation's history. cyber threats, mr. speaker, to critical infrastructure have ne been greater yet adership -- leadership from the white house is dangerously cking. over the past few mont we hav seen top ber officials at the white house leave, resine or in the case of the cyber security coordinator have the position liminated altogetr. what more, the president appears to be making major foreign policy decisions without w litting or any regard f cyber security. ignored warnings from the cyber security committee when he direcd the commerce department

to save the bitual sanctions offender, chine company.t at the same time news bre that chinese governmen hacked into the networks a u. navy contractor an shoned off sensitiv mility data. this month d.s. officials reported that the nth korean governme raing up its cyr intrusis on critical infrastructu ithe u.s. and around t world. so with respect to russia, we kno that the kremlin has the pabilio turn off the lights with a cyber intrusion as it done in the ukraine. wealso know that russia s been ale to successfully infiltrate the networksf a wide range of u.s. critical inasucture operators inclung power plants. h.s., through the national cyber security and communicationsintegration center provides critical infrastructure owners and operators wit valuablcyber assistance andesources tohelp secure their stems.

the nkk and the itrial contlystem computer response team has long-standing relationshipwith critical infrastructure stake holdd th expertise hewners and operators tighten their defenses. exertise and operatal technology, o.t. srbling harder to com by than in the more traditionformatn and communications teclogy o c.t.,pace and all of my colleues kno how much of a work ssue callenge we're fesing there. so cgress wise t recognize the amazing resourcee have in i.c. by formally authorizing it with mr bacon's bill. security solutions in the i.c.t. sp don't always map well onto operational tecology and being conversant in the nuances is essential if twore protect the systems that we soeavily rely

on. souring the committee consideration was also proud to offer an treatment codify i.c.s. certs disclosure proam that ensures i.c.s. vulnerabilities can be reported securely, pmptly, and responsibly. throu this proam, manufacturers are ensure -- assured of a chance to catch vulneralities before they're ubliclynnounced and security researchers are assured th the voices will b heard. so i.s cert iso be commended r running a pr agressive program at recnizes that most security researers want to help make the internet nd the scary deviceshat are connected to it a safer place. and the coordinated vuerability pr does st th by helping critical train structure owrs and operators who receive notices from i.c.s. cert about security vulnabilits beformalicious

actors have a chance to eloit flaws. the bill would empower i.c.s. to carry out this mission fully d effectively nd i want to mmend e gentmafor his w this important pie of leglationnd with that, i urge my colleagues toupport the asure and i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro teore: t gentleman rs. the gentleman from nebraskis ecognized. . bacon: i want to sy it's been a pleure to work mr. langev,e've rtnered on a few thgs. reserve back. eakers, i the speaker pro tempo:he gentlemareservesk, the gentlan yields to the gentleman from rhode isnd. mr.angevin spb likewise i have no further speake i'm prepared to cle. the speaker pro tempor the gentleman i recognized. mr. lgevin: mr. speaker, ere's no tion that dustrial contr syems are a high value target for our adversaries. critical infrastructure owners and operators use the systems to

deliver the services that underpin our day-to-dayives an destruction to one of those systems coulave tmendous econoc ramifications or even the differece between life and death. we know that our advearies, most notably russia,hina, iran and north koa targeu.s. criticalnfrasture and the erional technology employed icross theector. it's iornt that weolidify d.'s long-standing leadership role paricly with respecto industria conol systems. it's been aleasure working with my colleague,r. bacon, the geneman fm nebraska, on th bill. ink we appreciate his service to the country awell as his contribuons boh in the armed rvice committees and the mend security comttee. likewiset's been a pleasure working with him er the years. with that, i encoure my colleagues to suort h.733 and yieldack the lance y

timeful the spker prtempore: the geneman yields, the gentleman from ecognized. mr. bac i yieldyself such time as iay consume. e eaker pro tempore: t gentleman mr. bacon: i want to thank the gentleman for his work on this the russians and chinese are working to be able to attack our energy grid amongst other parts of our infrastructure. we need to be prepared. it doesn't start on day one of a war, it starts now when we have time to prepare. next december 7 will not be like pearl harbor with ampes and torpedo and bombs coming to attack our fleet. it's going to be preceded by a cyber attack, trying to shut down our energy grid and infrastructure. this bill starts that process so we're prepared. with that, mr. speaker, i urge my colleagues to support this bill and i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields. the question is, will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill h.r. 5733 as amended.

those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, 2/3 being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed, without objection the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. for what purpose does the gentlewoman from arizona seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, i move the house suspend the rules and pass h.r. 5206, the office of biometric identify management authorization of of 2018 as amended. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: h.r. 5206, a bill to amend the the homeland security act of 2002 to establish the office of biometric identify ty management and for other

purposes. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman from arizona, ms. mcsally, and the gentleman from rhode island, mr. langevin, each will control 20 minutes. the chair recognizes the gentlewoman from arizona. ms. mcsally: i ask unanimous consent that all members have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. ms. mcsally: i yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman is recognized. . ms. mcsally: terrorists are constantly coming up with new ways to cross our borders. we used to rely on biographic information such as names and birth dates to identify and prevent these threats from entering our country, but new technology allows us to more quickly and effectively confirm people, that they are who they say they are. the use of biometric technology to positively identify individuals who seek entry into the united states is a 21st century solution to multiple homeland security problems. the technology enhances the security of our citen facilitates legitimate travel

and trade, and bolsters the integrity of our immigration system. my bill authorizes the office agency.tric observe imauthorizes the -- obim authorizes the data base of identities. it processes more than 300,000dale daily biometric transactions, reviewing more than 360 known or suspected terrorist records for resolution on a daily basis. obim also supports d.h.s.'s effort to -- efforts to complete a biometric entry-exit program. putting this biometric exit system in place is, as a 9/11 demigs noted, quote, an esession investment in our national security, end quote. more than 15 years later, large numbers of foreign nationals

continue to overstay their visas or disappear into the united states. just as four of the 9/11 hijackers did. congress has passed multiple laws since 2004 mandating the creation of the biometric exit system. though we are still waiting for it to come to fruition. it's a key element of our national security but has not been authorized by statute. this bill, will finally codify this into law. in the current-risk environment, it's vital we place greater emphasis on biometrics as a counterterrorism tool and provide obim with the resources necessary to further protect the homeland in the face of an evolving threat. i ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in supporting this legislation. thank you, and i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman reserves the balance of her time. the gentleman from rhode island is recognized. mr. langevin: mr. speaker, i rise in support of h.r. 5206. the obim authorization act of 2018. and yield myself such time as i

may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. langevin: thank you, mr. speaker. first i want to begin by commending the gentlelady from arizona for sponsoring this piece of legislation. it's very thoughtful and certainly very timely. of course i'm not surprised she would come up with such a great idea, knowing that she originally hails from rhode island and comes from a great root. so not surprising she would come up with great idea like. this with that, mr. speaker, for the past decade, the department of homeland security has collected biometric data from foreign nationals and u.s. citizens for a wide range of purposes, including counterterrorism, border security, credentialing, national security and public safety. over that time, the office of biometric identity management or obim has become a repository for more than 240 million biometrics such as fingerprints in photo -- and photographs collected by d.h.s.

obim is charged with analyzing biometric data, sending updates to critical terror watch lists, and sharing information with trusted partners inside and outside the federal government, to support law enforcement, public safety, national security and homeland security. give be the sensitivity of this type of biometric data -- given the sensity of this type of biometric data, i'm pleased that h.h.s. 35206 requires this office to comply with privacy policies and procedures established by the d.h.s. privacy office. this is a good bipartisan bill and i again commend the gentlelady for sponsoring this bill and getting it through committee. i enjoyed working with her on the homeland security committee and i again commend her for her work. i urge my colleagues to support h.r. 5206. and i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. the gentlewoman from arizona is recognized. ms. mcsally: mr. speaker, i have no more speakers and am

prepared to close once the gentleman does. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from rhode island is recognized. mr. langevin: likewise, mr. speaker. i have no further speakers and i'm prepared close to. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. langevin: mr. speaker, h.r. 5206 authorizes the department's existing office of biometric identity management, which is charged with collecting and ensuring biometric -- cleblingting -- collecting and using biometric data to enhance counterterrorism, border security and national security operations. increasingly federal agencies see the value of adopting biometrics as an additional security measure. as more and more federal programs make use of such personal data, it is absolutely vital that privacy be baked in from the start. importantly, h.r. 5206 requires a privacy-forward approach to all that obim does. for these reasons i support this measure. i commend the gentlelady from rhode island, who is now from

arizona, for her sponsorship of this legislation. and i urge my colleagues to support this bill as well. with that, i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. the gentlewoman from arizona is recognized. ms. mcsally: i yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman is recognized. ms. mcsally: thank you, mr. speaker. i appreciate my colleague from rhode island's support on this bill. and the longstanding relationship we have, as we grew up in a similar relationship. before i fell in love with arizona and never wanted to see another winter again. but anyway, i digress. mr. speaker i once again urge my colleagues to -- mr. speaker, i once again urge my colleagues to support this bill and i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady yields back the balance of her time. the question is, will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill as amended. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, 2/3 of those voting having responded in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed and, without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. for what purpose does the gentlewoman from arizona seek

recognition? ms. mcsally: mr. speaker, i move the house suspend the rules and pass h.r. 5207, the immigration advisory program authorization act of 2018, as amended. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: h.r. 5207. a bill to amend the homeland security act of 2002, to establish the immigration advisory program, and for other purposes. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from arizona, ms. mcsally, and the gentleman from rhode island, mr. langevin, each will control 20 minutes. the chair recognizes the gentlewoman from arizona. ms. mcsally: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all members have five legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. ms. mcsally: mr. speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman is recognized. ms. mcsally: thank you, mr. speaker. a major part of keeping the homeland safe is making sure we prevent bad actors from ever reaching our shores. in order to do this, we must continue to push out our borders, the programs that utilize a combination of vetting and interviews conducted by experienced law

enforcement agents. the customs and border protection immigration advisory program or iap accomplishes just that. the i.a.p. program deploys special trained officers to major last point of departure airports that offer direct flights to the united states. it is the responsibility of ese officers who make sure this program enhances our national security, by preventing high-risk individuals from boarding an airplane bound for our homeland. in fiscal year 2017, there were a total of 4,328 no-board recommendations made across 12 different i.a.p. airport locations. i.a.p. is especially important in countries with significant terrorist screening data base hits. the i.a.p. program is not currently authorized by statute, but h.r. 5207, the immigration advisory program authorization act of 2018, will

finally codify this important safety and security program into law. i ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to please join me in supporting this commonsense legislation and i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady reserves the balance of her time. the gentleman from rhode island is recognized. mr. langevin: mr. speaker, i rise in support of h.r. 5207. the immigration advisory program authorization act of 2018. i yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. langevin: mr. speaker, h.r. 5207 authorizes an important function within u.s. customs and border protection, the immigration advisory program, or i.a.p. c.b.p. this program, deploys officers to overseas airports to advise law enforcement partners about certain passengers before they board u.s.-bound flights. this important program seeks to essentially push out our borders, to prevent travelers from w.h.o. may pose a threat to the u.s. -- who may pose a threat to the u.s. from ever

boarding an in-bound flight. importantly, beyond simply authorizing the program, the bill requires c.b.p. to notify congress whenever a new agreement is put in place, with a foreign partner. it also requires c.b.p. to assess how the overseas deployment of officers may effect officer coverage at u.s. ports of entry. while i certainly appreciate the sacrifice made by officers serving abroad, i would note that this authorization is coming at a time when c.b.p. has acknowledged that it's currently 4,000 officers short of what it needs to carry out current operations. both domestically and abroad. but with that, mr. speaker, i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. the gentlewoman from arizona is recognized. ms. mcsally: mr. speaker, i have no more speakers and am prepared to close once the gentleman does. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from rhode island is recognized. mr. langevin: likewise, mr. speaker. i have no further speakers and i'm prepared to close. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. langevin: thank you, mr. speaker. mr. speaker, there is continued bipartisan support for c.b.p.

to push out our borders, to prevent individuals who pose a threat from making their way here to our country. h.r. 5207 authorizes an existing d.h.s. program that is prove -- has proven helpful to our foreign partners in carrying out a shared interest of preventing terrorism and reducing the burden of deploying individuals who would be denied entry into the u.s. upon landing here. and i'm sorry, i want to repeat that. that reduces the burden of deporting individuals who would be denied entry into the u.s. upon landing here. i commend the gentlelady for responsering the bill and glad to support it and with that i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentlewoman from a arizona is recognized. ms. mcsally: i yield myself such time as i may consume. mr. speaker, i want to thank the gentleman from rhode island for his support and -- on this bipartisan legislation. i want to urge my colleagues to support this bill and i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the

gentlewoman yields back the balance of her time. the question is, will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill, h.r. 5207, as amended. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair, 2/3 of those voting having responded in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed and, without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. the chair will now entertain requests for one smivepbs. for what purpose does the gentlewoman from north carolina seek recognition? ms. foxx: i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute, mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. ms. foxx: thank you, mr. speaker. i rise to congratulate thal

ghani lady trojan softball team on winning north carolina's a-1 state championship. these young women deserve the championship for their hard work and talent. but they're also champions of humility. giving gratitude to god, their parents and coaches, and the community fan base that supported them throughout their season. algainey has a unique softball history. last winning state in 1996, as three-peat champions. six of this year's team are related to past champions, which shows the passion and drive passed down from generation to generation. even coach weaver is a former state m.v.p. striving to instill in her team the determination and confidence that she developed as a high school athlete. congratulations to the lady trojans and the community that shares in this victory.

it is an honor and a blessing to represent such a great community. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? mr. poe: mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. speaker, the rain came down and the bayous and creeks rose and the winds blew. it was if it was never stop raining. it was hurricane harvey last september. after it was over, 55 inches of water had hammered the houston area. but in the rainy haze, officer norman appeared. officer raymond, 55-year-old officer of the houston police department, was sick. he had stage four colon cancer.

he was undergoing treatment. and doctors said he had only a few years to live. however, the 24-year veteran of the houston police department jumped into the flooded aftermath of the hurricane, despite his cancer. officer raymond sloshed throh bacteria-filled water, putting his own life at risk. and over the course of four days, he rescued 1,500 houstonians stranded in the floods. he said, my main concern was to help the citizens, nothing else was on my mind. i didn't worry about me or anything. as the waters receded and the texas sun came out through the blue sky, mr. speaker, officer raymond headed back to the hospital, returning to his treatment. despite a hard-fought battle, officer raymond lost his fight against the cancerous invader. taps sounded today, mr. speaker, as hundreds of peace officers and citizens of houston honored the life of one of houston's finest.

officer for this better raymond stood houston strong. mr. speaker, they don't make them like this anymore. and that's just the way it is. i yield back. . the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition? without objection the gentleman is recognized for one minute. >> today i want to recognize the selfless work the austin habitat for humanity is doing in the 25th district of texas they proudly represent. over the past 30 years they have built more than 425 homes, repaired another 280 and provided financial advice to over 10,000 texans. just last month i had the opportunity to visit this organization and meet with the great folks who operate it. the work they do here is so important and i was inspired by their spirits and selfless attitudes. mr. williams: hearing about the remarkable work they do day in and kay out was extraordinary. they put gods love into action by bringing people together to build homes and communities and

give home to those who need it most. those who work and volunteer for habitat for humanity are special people. they are compassionate, kind and we need more americans like them. every single person deserves a decent and affordable place to live. this organization is there to help those who are less fortunate. i encourage each and every person listening to get out there and do something for your local community. together we can make this world a better place. with that being said, god bless texas. god bless habitat for humanity. and god bless the united states of america. in god we trust, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from washington seek recognition? without objection the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. >> thank you, mr. speaker. i rise in support of the blue water navy vietnam veterans act that just unanimously passed the house. i was proud to support it this bill recognizes the sack officialer is sthroifs 7,000 plus service men and women who

received a purple heart after being wounded in battle and continue to serve in active duty my bill included in this pass abbling, takes the rightful step to waive the funding fee on all v.a. home loans for active duty purple heart recipients. with this bill we'll save service members thousands of dollars and help their families achee the dream of home ownership. u.s. marine corps major byron owen, who was wounded twice in iraq and once in afghanistan, explained it best when he shared his experience with my office he said, and i quote, i was medevaced out of iraq and had to undergo months of therapy to return to service. why should i pay $20,000 to get v.a. loan when someone a noncombat disability gets it waived? some of my friends are amputees still serving in uniform and are paying the fees does that seem

right? i hear you and that doesn't seem right. that's why i voted with my colleagues to support active duty purposele heart recipients with psage of h.r. 2899. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition? without objection the gentleman is recognized for one minute. >> thank you, mr. speaker. i rise today to recognize two high school honors state of the unions from pennsylvania's fifth congressional district. mr. thompson: chosen to recognize the commonwealth of pennsylvania as delegates a at the congress of future science and technology leaders. the following students were selected to attend the event which will take place june 29 through july 1 in lowell, massachusetts. jacob pulse and brett kelly. these outstanding students were required to achieve a 3.5 g.p.a.

to be nominate nrd prestigious honors only program by their teachers for the academy of future science and technology leaders. the program aims to encourage and guide the top students in the country who wish to devote their lives to science and technology. chosen delegates represent all 50 states and puerto rico. mr. speaker, i congratulate jacob an brett on this tremendous achievement and wish them the best of luck as they continue their career paths to be future leaders in the science and technology field. thank you, mr. speaker, i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the chair lays before the house the following personal requests. the clerk: leaves of absence requested for mr. cuellar of texas until 6:50 p.m. today, mr. curtis for today and tuesday, june 26. mr. donovan of new york for monday, june 25. and for tuesday, june 26. and mr. payne of new jersey for today. the speaker pro tempore: without objection the requests are granted.

under the speaker's' announced spoifl january 3 20, 17, the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. evans, is recognized for half of the remaining time until 10:00 p.m. as the designee of the minority leader. mr. evans: thank you, mr. speaker. mr. speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all members have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of the special order. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. evans: thank you to my colleagues for allowing me to lead this critical special order to speak about the lack of family values demonstrated by the trump administration and the g.o.p. their choice to mismanage to offer a counternarrative to the

way we're -- to the wayward attern they're leaving us dun. people have no permanent friends, no permanent enemies, s so stated by lacy clay sr. mr. speaker, t president asked black americans what do you have to lose? the congressional black caucus responded with a document that was hand delivered to him. that is titled we have a lot to lose. over the course of the 2016 presidential election, time and time again, then-candidate donald trump asked the black community a larger question, what do you have to lose? the inquiry presupposes that the experience of all

african-americans is destitute, that we live in fear. in fact, president trump declared some african-american communities are worse than war zones. demonstrates a lack of understanding of both constituents. the election as come and gone. and the time for the campaign calls is over. now president trump represents all americans. and must govern this nation. for the good of all americans. whether they are black or white, rich or poor. conservative or liberal. so after -- so at the conscience of the congress, the voice of the 78 million americans and 17 million african-americans the congressional black caucus is obligated to answer president trump's question.

the answer, the african-americans have a great deal to lose under the trump administration and we have already lost a lot. just think, mr. president. mr. president, i want to thank our chairman, chairman richmond, for allowing me this opportunity to conduct this special order. over the next hour, we will speak about some of the issues that have faced the congressional black caucus and black people in this nation. i say that to you because this document i have in my hand, we have a lot to lose. and in this document that was presented to the president of the united states, it outlines those various issues. what are we losing? based on last week's passage of the farm bill, here in the house, we have lost benefits under the snap program.

thank god for the senate, mr. speaker, because the senate has passed a different version. and i hope, mr. speaker, that that version will be the version that becomes law of this land. the senate passed the version 20-1 out of committee and they will bring that up for vote. because mr. speaker, i believe that represents better the views and the values of members of this body. i d not believe the version that we passed in the farm bill represents this body. i'm disappointed that the g.o.p. leadership had the unmitigated gall to bring this highly partisan and warped bill to the house floor for a second vote. posing as a farm bill. nothing changed in the bill since the last time it came to the floor. so you have to wonder, what was

said to those members who voted no just a month ago to change their votes? the partisan a i proach of the majority has pr deuced a bill that will -- produced a bill that will hurt thousands of people in the city of philadelphia and the commonwealth of pennsylvania. mr. speaker, as a member of the agriculture committee, i submitted letters from the mayor of the city of philadelphia and in that letter, the mayor of the city of philadelphia laid out specifically the impact that that particular bill that came out of the house agriculture committee would have on the people of the city of philadelphia. you're talking about affecting over 200,000 to 300,000 people in the city of philadelphia. in the commonwealth of pennsylvania, 1.8 million people could be affected. in montgomery county, the county i represent, 50,000 people would be affected. so mr. speaker, it's clear that

that bill that passed this house by only two votes was misguided or was heading in the wrong direction. t's also ea mr. speaker, that people who are on snap do not fight to be on snap, they understand clearly about the challenges that they face. 42 million americans are on snap no, mr. speaker, those people are not fearful of work. they understand if there's a great opportunity available for them, they will take advantage of that opportunity. i think it's clear to me, mr. speaker, that again this administration and the g.o.p. was lacking some sense of connection to what people's values are. and as a result, you saw that vote that took place last week.

it again sends us in the wrong direction. it raises serious questions about the lack of family values from a party that's always talking about family values but now all of a sudden, mr. speaker, seems like family values are gone out the window. thunder version of the farm bill, people will go ling in my city and around think nation. that it's the cent -- as the center for budget and policy priorities notice, the house bill breaks with the long history of bipartisan efforts to improve and reform snap. it is clear, mr. speaker, there were 23 hearings on the issue of snap. and not one single time when it was 23 hearings did they suggest that this should be a -- that there should be a different direction in terms of snap. mr. speaker, democrats are for work. we're very clear that members of the congressional black caucus, we understand the importance of

work. we know what it means to work. but to me, mr. speaker, that was a wrong-headed policy in terms of the farm bill. it did not justify that action. and it should not have even gone anywhere. but as usual, mr. speaker, some people don't realize the election is over. e need to work together. democrats, republicans, conservatives, liberal, whoever it may be, because hunger is a problem, mr. speaker. it is not a problem just for certain communities. it's a problem across this nation. in spite of the pliment numbers, in spite of what's told -- in spite of the employment number in spite of what's told to us about the economy, there's a lot of people who are hungry. there's a lot of people left out of the process. this is not something we should take lightly. sms something we should recognize and this is something that we should work together. so mr. speaker, i say to you today, it's clear to me that the

republicans in the trump administration have gone in the wrong direction. this is not about family values when you talk about the issue of families and what needs to take place. i stress to you, mr. speaker, at the end of the day, millions of americans who receive snap are consumers and they are important parts of the economy which are -- which our farmers and ranchers depend on as part of our farm and food economy. mr. speaker, i've consistently said that food is medicine, mr. speaker. food is medicine and food policy is foreign policy. it is not something, mr. speaker, we should take lightly. so today the congressional black caucus is going to talk about the importance of values. and particularly family values. and how all of a sudden there's amnesia when it comes down to questions of values. we're saying to you today, mr. speaker, we want to make sure that people understand that

there are 42 million people that are on snap across this nation. they're of all colors. all races. it can happen to any of us. it is not something that we should sit back and all of a sudden think that this couldn't appen to anyone. this could happen to our brothers and our sisters and we are our brothers and sisters' keerps. yet the g.o.p. not only failed them they failed america last week. in addition, health care is one of the most important issues for our country. as seen by the mass rejection of the efforts by the g.o.p. to repeal the affordable care act last year. think about it, mr. speaker. health care, everybody has the right to a healthy life regarding age, race, gender,

pre-existing conditions. medical issues are personal matters. whether it effects physical or mental health should not result in financial ruin. we all should know and recognize that any of us can have a health episode. no one is above it. it is something that we should not take lightly. mr. speaker, we as the congressional black caucus know and understand and that's why we have fought so hard for health care. we have stressed over and over again that this too can happen to you. we understand that with pre-existens can -- conditions, with the challenge -- pre-existing conditions, with the challenges we have in our community of high blood pressure, diabetes and other types of diseases, that this is something we should address. we should make sure that people know and can take advantage of a health care system that is open and available. we should not be bankrupting people, mr. speaker, on the issue about health care.

but, mr. speaker, when the president and the g.o.p. talks about family values, they seem to forget that when it comes down to the question of health care, that is something that we all should be assuring that everybody has. that is not a democrat or a republican issue. that is an american issue. that is something right up there that we all should recognize, that health care should be available to everyone. when we look at it and think about it, this is something that we have to work toward. there is no simple answer to dealing with the question of health care. but we do believe the affordable care act is a great foundation. we believe that the affordable care act basically laid a tone and a foundation for this entire country. as we all know, we have health care here in this house, in the united states senate, and the president of the united states has health care. and that is provided by the taxpayers of this country. so it's not something that we should take lightly. it's something that we should

all understand that health issues can affect us all. because when you really think about it, how can you, in terms of getting a job, if you're not healthy? how can you help take care of your family if you're not healthy? snu? how can you do anything if you're not healthy? this is something that we believe is a family value and this is something we all have said over and again. i believe health care is a fundamental right and not a privilege. no one should ever be afraid that taking care of their physical or mental health will cause financial hardship or be inaccessible for them for any reason. i want to repeat that again, mr. speaker. i believe that health care is a fundamental right and not a privilege. no one should ever be afraid that taking care of their physical or mental health will cause financial hardship, to be inaccess to be them for any reason at all -- inaccessible to them for any reason at all

tpwheesm -- we need to think about that. we need to carefully think about what that means. when we talk about in this day and age of family values, what's more important to a family than the health of the bread winner? may it be male or female. what's important to someone who is looking for an opportunity and when they go on that job, that they prepare to go on that job. it is very important, mr. speaker, that under the affordable care act, it allowed people to stay on the health care until age 26. and the part about pre-existing conditions. don't take that lightly, mr. speaker. that is something that we all can be affected. and it seems to me in this house over and over again we seem to neglect to think about the conditions that we all face. you know, mr. speaker, in health care and, you know, we have those moments where it can

be with anyone and any condition that they can be under, it is something that we should really understand and recognize. it is something that we shouldn't take lightly. and health care is to me the most essential issue we face today. it is something that we all should be fighting for. no matter what party we come from, no matter what part of the country we come from. we should all understand what it means. i will continue to be a voice for the voiceless, to ensure adequate health care for all. that is something i believe is extremely essential, mr. speaker, and when i started out with giving these words, i basically said again, we're going to speak about the lack of family values demonstrated by the trump administration. because the trump administration and the g.o.p. talks about family values a lot. how can you talk about family values when you want to eliminate the snap program? how can you talk about family values when you want to reduce people's health care?

you can't talk about family values when in the very same breath you're talking about destroying people's health care and access to food. there is something fundamentally wrong with that. so, mr. speaker, i stress to you today that this is not a partisan issue. feeding people and taking health care is not democrat or republican, it's not conservative or liberal. it is something that we all need to be concerned with. if we talk about moving america forward, then we will move it forward. when we bring others along. this is something that we all should be concerned with and i stress that. turning to more hypocrisy from the party of family values, the trump administration unilaterally -- decision to separate migrant children from their parents at the southern border is just the latest example of the majority party refusing to practice what it

preaches. just think that. migrant children, migrant children, migrant children, migrant children. i've said this four times. and i said that four times because i think it hasn't gotten through. when you talk about separating children from their families, there is something wrong with that, mr. speaker. when you talk about using that for a political purpose, and you talk about using them as an example of children and families, there is something wrong with that, mr. speaker. we clearly -- that is not the kind of america we want. we do not want an america where we're going to separate children and families. children and families should be united. we should bring them together. and, mr. speaker, when we hear this statement that democrats want to basically just let anybody in the country -- we know, mr. speaker that's just

for -- mr. speaker, that's just for political rhetoric. remember i said earlier, going back to when we passed this book out that says we have a lot to lose, we said, mr. speaker, in the very beginning of this book, that the election is over. i understand in 132 days there will be an election. let the election speak for itself, mr. speaker. let the results speak for themselves. but there's no way you can talk about separating families. there's no way you can talk about separating children. 2,500 way the 2,300, the children that are spread wherever they may be, that is not the kind of america we want. that is not family values. so if you talk about reducing snap and you talk about reducing health care and you talk about separating families, there's something wrong with that, mr. speaker. there's something wrong when we are now at a point where we are separating families.

mr. speaker, there's been a number of members who have gone to the various borders and seen for themselves firsthand what is taking place. this is not the kind of america we want. for a party that professes to understand the importance of advancing policies that promote family values, we now have a preponderance of evidence to the contrary. just ticked it off. snap, health care, and now separating families. if you take those three areas, there is something wrong with the context of talking about family values. it's clearly that whether it's an excessive punitive immigration policy, changes free lunch program eligibility, propose to cut supplemental security income, or to refuse to adopt comprehensive criminal justice reform. the republican policy agenda

targets families, especially those in underserved ommunities of color. mr. speaker, we are in my view a very challenging time. and we are probably in my lifetime the most challenging time i've ever seen. that requires a different kind of leadership. it requires the leadership that we put america first and in order to put america first, that means we must work together. we must work together on a farm bill that is bipartisan, that doesn't reduce snap, we must work to ensure health care is available, and we must be clear, mr. speaker, that we have an opportunity to ma these things happen. so i stress to you with the things that i have just stressed that it's clearly that we got a chance to do something about. these problems persist, even in the wake of the administration immigration poim reversal and the executive -- im-- policy

reversal and the so-called executive order. several members of the c.b.c. have expressed concerns about the republicans' inability to device a coherent reunification plan for the children and parents separated under the president's misguided policy. an american crisis is happening right now front of us. children, the toddlers of the border, to dreamers, the loss of daca. the american-born children of immigrant parents have become the victims of trump america. let me repeat that. an american crisis is happening right now in front of us. children from toddlers at the borders to dreerms, to the loss of daca, to american-born children of immigrant parents have become the victims in the trump america. this is not what should be happening in america. mr. speaker, yes, we have our challenges. but the fact of the matter is

that we need to work together. so as a member of the congressional black caucus, i stand here, mr. speaker, saying to you, that the congressional black caucus is ready. to work together. to make a difference. the practice of punishing parents who are trying to save their children's lives and punishing children for being brought to safety by their parents, by separating them is fundamentally cruel and un-american. that should not be accepted, mr. speaker. so we as members of the congressional black caucus for this next hour are standing up to shine light on this situation. we're determined to make sure, mr. speaker, that people under that no longer should this be acceptable. we should not, mr. speaker, continue to pit this section against that section and that we all understand when it's all said and done, we're in this together. although, as dr. king said, we may have come over here on

different boats, we're in the same boat now. and that's called america. america, where it's inclusive. the department of homeland security denied that they were breaking the sacred bond between parents and children until "the new york times" reported that more than 700 children have been separated from their moms and their dads since october. family unity is recognized as a fundamental human right enshrined in international law. the trump administration proposal and action to separate immigrant families flies in the face of this norm. it must stop. it must stop, mr. speaker. the practice of separating children from parents as a deterrent to seek asylum is inhumane and cruel. seeking asylum is not illegal. in fact, it is written into u.s. immigration law. to ensure that with a credible

fear of persecution, that they can present their case. the american academic of pediatrics opposes d.h.s.'s proposal that would separate mothers from their children. arriving at the border saying that at any time of anxiety and stress, children need to be with their parents and family members and caregivers. as i stand here tonight in the six-month anniversary of the tax bill, but before i speak on that, i have a colleague of mine from the great state of texas. she's been in the forefront. i've watched her in the short period of time i've been here and when she speaks, there's a lot who listen to her. nd she is relentless, i've she's relentless, i've watched her be relentless, driven, purposeful and focused, the great lady from the great state

of texas, congresswoman sheila jackson lee. ms. jackson lee: i thank the distinguished gentleman from pennsylvania and there is no one that he can take a back seat to in terms of his freshman term for his engagement and involvement and the most eloquent statements he's made on the floor which shows his commitment to the people of this nation and the people of his district. tonight is certainly an example of that was we've come to the floor to really speak about children and i hep hope that my friends, my colleagues, will fully appreciate the fact that as we speak about children, we're speaking about everyone's children. we're speaking about a young boy

that was killed running away from law enforcement. not running toward, not creating a threat, retreating, thinking about children who need a better education, children who need to have supplemental nutrition program or children who need to be safe from human trafficking. we're talking about children. just a week ago, mr. speaker, a week ago monday and sunday, i was in mcallen and brownsville. i was in the detention centers tinsel silver blankets in a cage-like atmosphere where human beings are kept. human beings of course that had fled their country and come across the border and some might make the point that they came across illegally. but they came across and

presented themselves to officials. here turnover that action was not -- heretofore that action was not a criminal action. so i saw those individuals. i saw the most potent memory of what is wrong about what we're doing. mothers who were crying their hearts out for having not been table see their children. stories that would break your heart. stories where you were told to go into court and your children cowl not go with you and you came back and your children were gone. what father, what mother could even live with themselves to know that their child has been -- had been snatched with no information and in a, how should i say, deceiving manner. not a manner where you can sit and explain to jose or maria or little roger that i held in my hands, 9 months old, fleing with his sister because his mother is

deceased. what do you think that sister feels? her mother is deceased, the 9-month-old she was bringing, her mother's baby take ain way from her and roger cannot speak. 1-year-old leah nnot speak. anyone of them can speak and they have been taken away. how dastardly, how insensitive, our government appears to be. a nation founded upon the values of humanity. freedom of religion and speech and due process. which we all know the law provides anyone within our boundaries the right to due process. but no, we are in fact doing what bishop daniel d. flores of the diocese of brownsville said, we are acting bicep rating immigrant parents and children as a deterrent, as a cruel and reprehensible policy.

reverend bishop michael curry said for christians, jesus of nazareth is the standard of conduct for your life he tells us to love god and to love thy neighbor. i would say almost every religion speaks about love. speaks about family. not in the way that the united states attorney general used and abused the new testament by citing romans 13 to submit to rulers, to justify the child separation policy before he was completely undermine and embarrassed by a fake executive order signed by the president of the united states. and i say that because it has become that term -- because that term has become part of the language. i have never used it before but it was an appropriate description of an executived orer that will last only 20 days and will not have any answer for us going forward.

we don't have any legislation. our legislation that was to solve this problem, introduced by mr. nadler and the judiciary committee democrats and all of us, welcome anyone else that would like to sign, would get to the immediate concern of not having a separation of these children and also ending the zero tolerance program which has created this unjust situation. let me indicate to you that all of the medical professionals, including alicia liberman with the early trauma treatment network at university of california, said decades of studies show early separations can cause permanent emotional damage. children are biologically programmed to grow best in the care of a parent figure. members who have visited have said they walked into rooms with 300 children and they were absolutely silent. they were frightened. toddlers. who of us have had toddlers in

our home, from our own children to those of us fortunate to have grandbabies like mine, like roy iii and ellison, have ever seen them sit still? these children were in total fear and apprehension. this is what we are creating. this is not the america we love. and it is noted that the activity in the children's brains were much lower than expected. if you think of a brain as a light bulb it is as though there was a dimmer that is reduced them from 100 watt bull to be 30-watt bulb: -- bulb. this is what happens. children separated from their parents in the first two years, like little roger, their i.q. may go down. so year here on the floor today and i'm glad chairman richmond, the congressional black caucus, we believe in speaking out when the -- on the issues that impact all of humanity. and this is the sin that we are in the midst of. do you realize that the only

number that these children and parents are getting are the a number? some say there's a number to health and human services, none of us have seen it. i'm demanding a full inventory of every single child that we allege that we have that is separated and snatched from their family members that are in foster care or some detention center as well as though the 10,000 unaccompanied children. mr. speaker, do you realize that i've been here long enough that i have -- i was down in the border four years ago when the massive numbers of unaccompanied children have come to the united states and then we put these boys and girls and unaccompanied children in this vast industry of foster care and centers where they are still there. can anyone who believes in a higher power want to accept that even as clean as these places may be, mr. speaker, do you know

that these care takers working in these nonprofits, they cannot touch the children. they cannot hold the children. they cannot comfort a crying ddr. they are told not to touch these children. do you realize that we're in one of the worst or the largest refugee crisis in the world. that's why we're receiving these people. it's gone up 67%. all over the world. because people are fleeing devastation and crisis in their countries. that is what's happening in honduras, that the largest number of murders in the world. el salvador. quat ma la has a million people displaced. and yet our government would suggest they cannot seek asylum for domestic violence or gangs or fleeing a place that has a volcano ash that's displaced a million people in a small country? where is our mercy?

and that is why we're on the floor today. we're on the floor today because as i indicated, the horrible, horrific impact on children, reuniting and detaining migrant families pose new mental health risks, says "the new york times." then i want to just add these points. to your discussion that we have faced. some of these children, mr. speaker are in foster care. we know there are american children in foster care. we know there are family whors trying to get back on their feet. they want their children. there is a love for those children. but they've had to be moved out. the worst thing i've had these calls to my office is a mother's parental rights to be extinguished unfairly when she was trying to get herself together. maybe economically, maybe trying to get off drugs. and we feel the pain of that mother. that american mother. how would you like to be a gaut ma lan mother, happened in 2012, who was arrested on immigration charges, lost custody of her

son, was then -- who was then adopted by a missouri couple over her objection. the judge who originally terminated the mother's rights, found should she be deported the chances she'd to return get her child would render her an unfit parent. your child is snatched away from you at the border they go into foster care, some good-intending people, i don't want to -- condemn the adoptive parents, some good-intended people, i don't know who gave them the authority that this was an available child, these children are in foster care around the nation. they're everywhere. we don't know where they are, to be honest with you. but they get in foster care, some, maybe i'll say well-intentioned foster care notifies someone and says, we have a child for you to adopt. and your rights are quashed. i'm feeling pain right now. i can't even imagine it. i've fallen upon hard times.

my state, children's protect i services, take mischild, i make a commitment to get my life back together and my child is lost to me forever. this is an amazing scenario that we're in. so i want to read this last thing and then speak very quickly about our family values. this is from an immigrant mother. i have been able, my child was natched -- snatched from me and taken from me one day after i was arrested. again, i want to end the arrest, the zero tolerance, they're presenting themselves for asylum they should have the right to go through the legal process. and then they should have the right to counsel. due process. and they should have the right to be able to be released. now there will be a great deal of ire and humor of some on this point. that's because they don't understand. we had a case management program

positive on plus the return of those individuals, those families, for their court date. but this administration defunded it. case management program followed those families, put them on electronic bracelet and they returned. they did not escape. they did not remain in the united states without coming to court and getting a determination. so this mother was separated. i've been able to speak to my child only, and this is a court case, thank goodness that was filed on june 22. i have been able to speak to my child only three times, only for approximately five minutes each time since we were separate mismed son isn't able to give me much information about his circumstances. because he's too young and too upset to understand what is happening. she doesn't know where he is. he doesn't know where she is. every time we talk he only wants to know, when will he see me again? so it's hard for him focus on

anything else. just like i said, we are diminishing his capacity, we are creating a situation of undermining his intellectual growth, his psychological growth, all of this. there are many -- there have been a few time he is said that he had a nosebleed. i told him tell someone if he is feeling sick but he's too scared to tell anyone. that's why he went into a room of toddlers and nobody moving. no toddler was moving. he said he's scared to report any type of mistreatment or health issue because the other children have told him that children who report things get sent to other places. i have legislation that i'm introducing and i hope my colleagues, republicans and democrats, will extend the temporary protective status for el sal var -- el salvador ran, hondurans and as well gaut ma lans. help on theive them

basis of the volcano. why? this administration has ended it, it will end in 2019. these people are fleeing violence. you'll be sending those here who are work, contributing, paying taxes, before we can try to regularize or find a way for them to access status, you'll be sending them back. to murderous countries. in the largest crisis of refugee movement in the history of our time. you'll be sending them back. where is our mercy? and then you want to add to the fact that we have an administration and a congress that is cutting, making changes to school free lunch. these are for our children lready here. making cuts to s.s.i., many children, that is their lifeline and they have s.s.i., retuesdayal to adopt comprehensive