mr. torres? >> chairman lamp, ranking member weber, thank you for this opportunity to discuss grid modernization and cyber security and the research needed to create a more resilient us power system. i serve as the associate laboratory director for energy systems integration at the department of energy renewable energy laboratory or nral in golden colorado. i've been affiliated with federal research in our system for more than 29 years and my current position, i direct the efforts of nral to strengthen resilience and security of the nation's electric grid. in addition, i'm cochair of the laboratory consortium and team lead for security and resilience research. i commend the committee for its timely discussion giving that every aspect of the economy, national security and critical infrastructure in the us is repentant dependent on the operation of electrical system. i'm often asked when will you be finished modernizing the grade? the answer is that modernization is adjourning. it's not a single de

mr. torres, do you want to comment on that? >> i concur with assistant secretary evans. i would add to it the fact that just about any tool, any weapon can be used for good or for bad. so this is why it's an imperative for us to maintain that leadership in the advancements of these technologies so we are the ones that are using these for the right purpose and can actually deter any negative use or any attacks on these systems. >> i'm concerned about the attack on march 5th on the utility system. there wasn't much damage done, but what would be the potential damage if attackers had access to the system, real access? >> the attack that you refer to was, i believe, a denial of service attack on the system of a utility out west. my understanding is that it basically blinded or the operators may have lost control or visibility from some of the devices. so the attack was on the supervisory control and acquisition system is used to monitor and control elements of the power grid. so if somebody were to gain access, they could potentially disrupt operation of the grid and maybe e

mrs. torres: mr. speaker, painting this greedy picture of union bosses who mismanage funds and overpromise benefits, doesn't get us anywhere. and that is simply not true. but i'll tell you what is true. at is true is that 399 retirees in texas 19, congressional district 19, will lose. but guess what? democrats got your back. in texas 19. know that. now i would like to yield one minute to the gentleman from california, mr. ruiz. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman from california is recognized for one minute. mr. ruiz: i rise in support of the rule for h.r. 3239, the humanitarian standards for individuals in c.b.p. custody act my legislation to ensure c.b.p. upholds basic standards to meet the humanitarian needs of children, women, and families. my bill is an american values based basic public health approach to prevent the deaths of children and c.b.p.'s -- under c.b.p.'s custody and responsibility and to develop a professional, humane response to the humanitarian challenges at o

mrs. torres: i have an amendment at the desk. the clerk: amendment number 10 printed in part b of house report 116-14 , offered by mrs. tores of california. the chair: pursuant to house resolution 476, the gentlewoman from california, mrs. tores and a member opposed each will control five minutes. the chair recognizes the gentlewoman from california for five minutes. mrs. torres: i yield myself such time as i may consume. my amendment would maintain congressional oversight over weapons and ensure that dangerous weapons do not independent up in the wrong ends. whatever our view on firearm policy may be, we should be able to agree that putting more firearms in the wrong hands would make the world a lot more dangerous. since the passage of the arms export control act in 1976, the state department has overseen licensing authority for exporting deadly weapons, supported by congressional oversight authority. under republican presidents and democratic presidents alike, this has been the system in place. so the experts who spend their liv

mrs. torres: i worked as a 911 dispatcher for 9 1/2 years. i coordinated police vehicle and foot pursuits, talking to suicide callers, negotiating with barricaded suspects and talking to their victims. one call that has stayed with me, a call that change midlife and threw me into a political world that i never wanted to be a part of. i answered a call from a little girl who was murdered at the hands of her uncle. i was her only witness. i heard her scream. i heard her head being bashed against the wall. i heard five shots that ultimately took her life. her last words, uncle, please don't kill me, it is not my fault. this work required a lot of training and tough attitude to deal with critical emergencies. unfortunately, the federal government currently classifies 911 dispatchers as clerical workers. secretaries. my amendment would finally recognize the critical work they do by reclassifying them as protective service occupations. this provision costs nothing, zero. but it would bring 911 professionals, civilian workers, primarily single mom t

mrs. torres, you came in a little late. we are in the process of questioning mr. jordan with reference to his amendment. i don't know if you heard them at all. i assume you don't have any questions with reference to his amendments. all right. with that in mind, we will go to the questioning of both of our witnesses, starting with -- >> we are going to leave this portion of the house rules committee meeting on a contempt resolution against attorney general william barr and commerce secretary wilbur ross. the house will take up that measure this afternoon along wan impeachment resolution of president trump -- with a

the clerk: amendment number 10 rinted in part b of 116-143, offered by mrs. torres of california. the chair: recorded vote has been requested. those in support of the request for recorded vote will rise and be counted. a sufficient number having arisen, aed recorded vote is ordered. members will record their votes by electronic device. this is a two-minute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc., in cooperation with the united states house of representatives. any use of the closed-captioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u.s. house of representatives.] the chair: on this vote the yeas are 225. the nays are 205. the amendment is adopted. the unfinished business is a request for recorded vote on amendment number 11 printed in part b of house report 116-143 by the gentleman from virginia, mr. connolly, which further proceedings were postponed and on which the ayes prevailed by voice vote. the clerk will designate the amendment. the clerk: amendment number 11, printed in part b of

mr. torres. he spoke about the commenters that showed up saying quote can't we just approve the motion so they can go home end quotes and i'll remind you those people were there because a member of their community died 10 days prior. and at the october 16th meeting which the project was approved last year, when discussing this project and the sixth street project he discussed widening the sidewalks would lead to more homeless encampments and we heard him speak over a public. it's unbecoming of a member of this board and someone who a acts in this way has no reason to be. >> may i respond? >> i mean, this is technically unfortunately not -- >> i will respond later. >> next speake speak -- >> good afternoon. board directors. two weeks ago, supervisor peskin legislative aid impressed how much she likes -- she's her office called her own tee and aunt tee rose has been so nice to them. we respect her affections towards another person. loving someone is always a positive emotion. please, don't mess wit

speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman from -- the chair recognizes the gentlewoman from california, mrs. torres, for five minutes. thank you, mr. speaker. i rise today as the first person born in gaut -- guatemala to serve in the united states house of representatives. i know the guatemalan people have lived through many difficult times. and i know this because i was born there during the civil war. my parents made the heartbreaking decision to send me to live with my uncle in the united states when i was a little girl. but through it all, the people of guatemala have not given up. they have continued to work to make a better life for their children and for their children's children. they have worked for justice, r democracy, and they have won important victories. in 1996, the efforts of the guatemalan people ended the civil war. and in 2007, their search for justice led to the creation of the international commission against impunity in guatemala. an innovative institution whose mission, to help rid the country of corruption and organized crime. ring -- working with brave guatemalan judges, an

mr. torres, i have no questions. >> we have no questions. >> so we can go to more questions. >> the dialogue, it answered the questions i had, i appreciate that and i yield back.>> thank you mr. chairman, i appreciate what he said, he and the dialogue mr. jordan had about going to court to soon and undermining the institution, in a bipartisan way we've done to me thing to undermine the power of article 1, generally to the advantage of article 2, i don't have the benefit of doing the study that you two gentlemen have done on this issue. i have not asked the chairman, but i will stipulate on the chairman's behalf, this is not a political exercise, but it is a serious attempt to expand and enforce the rule that article one has under the united states constitution. my question to you, mr. jordan, i believe that you also share that desire to ensure that article one is not eroded, and article 2 does not benefit to the detriment of article 1, these papers that the chairman has talked about, the redacted documents, and emails he wished had been produced, are there documents out there that your concl

mrs. torres, you came in a little late. we are in the process of questioning mr. jordan with reference to his amendment. i don't know if you heard them at all. i assume you don't have any questions with reference to his amendments. all right. with that in mind, we will go to the questioning of both of our witnesses, starting with -- >> we are going to leave this portion of the house rules committee meeting on a contempt resolution against attorney general william barr and commerce secretary wilbur ross. the house will take up that measure this afternoon along wan impeachment resolution of president trump -- with an impeachment resolution of president trump, and members will begin debate on raising the minimum wage. now to live coverage of the u.s. house here on c-span. the speaker: the house will be in order. the prayer will be offered by our guest chaplain, the reverend john p. fitzgibbons, regis university, denver, colorado. god, plain: most holy please unite and guide the leaders in this house to recognize, to speak for, and to safeguard the vulnerable and the

mr. chairman? all right. >> thank you very much. actually the dialogue we had answered questions i had. i appreciate that and i yield back. >> thank you. ms. torres? mr. -- >> thank you mr. chairman. i appreciated what mr. cole said, the dialogue you and mr. jordan had to going to court too soon and undermining the institution. i think we have, in a bipartisan way, done too many things to undermine the power of article one, generally to the advantage of article two. i do not have the benefit of doing the study that you gentlemen have done on this issue. i have not asked the chairman but i will stipulate on the chairman's behalf that this is not a political exercise but that it is a serious attempt to expand and enforce the role that article one has under the u.s. constitution. my question to you mr. jordan, i believe you also share that desire to ensure article one is not eroded. article two is not to the detriment of article one. of these papers that the chairman has talked about, the redacted versions he wished was not redacted, emails he wished had been produced, are there documents out there that your conclusion is that the administration is

mr. chairman, thank you for your indulgence. >> thank you, sir. next we will hear from the gentle lady from new mexico, chairwoman torres small. >> thank you, mr. chair. mr. kamoie, i really appreciate you noting fema's role both before, during, and after disaster. and i want to touch on fema's communication and coordination challenges with state and local governments, something that all of you have touched on during your testimony. the community i serve, the village of ruidoso, new mexico, has been struggling for more than ten years to negotiate federal assistance for extensive flooding that occurred back in 2008. based on guidance from fema, the village awarded contracts for bridge replacements and is in the process of awarding contracts for extensive sewer repairs. as i understand it now, after a significant part of the work is complete, fema has decided that some of the projects are no longer eligible for federal assistance. after ten years of slow correspondence, challenging regulations and employee turnover, we're seeing local officials that have been given a june 2020 deadline to complete all remaining construction. mr. kamoie, i don't e