Transcripts For CSPAN U.S. House Of Representatives U.S. House Of Representatives 20240712

Mr. Espaillat i rise in support of this bill, one month ago george floyd was murdered. As i said in the days following, his daughter said daddy changed the world. And there is a manifest to, the harlem advocates for a ban on chokeholds and ends qualified immunity. The harlem manifesto includes a provision that Police Officers can be held accountable for excessive force. The standard should not be willful intent but reckness intent. We must pass this bill. The best anticrime policies are antipoverty policies. We must continue this fight. Black lives matter. Thank you, mr. Chair. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from north dakota. Mr. Armstrong we reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady from california is recognized. Ms. Bass i yield one minute to the gentleman from texas, mr. Green. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Green thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker. For those who are not sure as to why we are here today, please allow me to explain it to you. We are here today because all awed murder was cap furnished nd ms. Coopers murder was captured a black man assaulting a white woman to summon the police. We are here because eight minutes and 46 seconds demise was captured on video and the American People dont like what they see and dont agree what they see. They know they have been lied to. And if they havent been captured on video, we wouldnt be here today. Dr. King is right, the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends to justice and we are here to bend the arc to go to moral justice. The gentleman yields back the balance of his time. Mr. Armstrong i reserve. Ms. Bass mr. Speaker, i yield one minute to the gentleman from maryland, newest member of the ongressional black caucus. Mr. Mfume thank to my friends on the other side of the aisle, every now and then, we find ourselves at a sing did you lar and see him national moment, a moment such as this, whether it was the great debates of the 1960s in the civil rights bill or granting the women the right to vote or the debates of war and peace which predates all of us, this is our moment. And we need to do the right hing on behalf of faceless men and women who lost their lives. So that when future generations peer through the telescope of time and look back on us and this day, let them say of us that when it came to addressing the issue of racist, ugly, violent criminal actions by bad Police Officers, that we did not waiver, and did not flinch or shirk our responsibility to do the right thing and the right thing is passing the George Floyd Justice and policing act and to do so on behalf of all those who are not here to pass it and to vote and speak for themselves. I strongly urge passage. This is the moment that we have to act in and it will be a fleeting moment. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore scrabt. The gentleman from north dakota is recognized. Mr. Armstrong i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady from california is recognized. Ms. Bass i yield one minute to the the gentleman from new sf mr. Norcross. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Norcross i rise today on the importance of George Floyd Justice and policing act and im horpped to stand with my colleagues and certainly with the Congressional Black Caucus to combat the epidemic of Racial Injustice. This bill creates unprecedented reforms, needed reforms, but the first step is to admit we have a problem and apparently we havent done that as a chamber in whole. This is not a standalone issue but one that continues today. It is about ending racial profiling and transferring the culture of policing. My hometown of camden city, 10 years ago had the highest murder rate in north america. We reinvented the police department, not alone, but together. Changed their culture. How can we do this better. 63 , thats murders. 73 drop in the crime rate. It can be done. But we have to do it together. The president and Senate Republicans seriously should. They merely are suggestions and insult to us in this house. I urge my colleagues to vote yes. And i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from north dakota is recognized. Mr. Armstrong i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentlelady from california is recognized. Ms. Bass i yield one minute to the gentleman from california, mr. Levin. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Levin our country is in crisis. We are broken by generations of systemic Racial Injustice and its clear only real change and action will allow us to put the fragments back together. Millions of americans are demanding accountability and reform to a structure that has allowed Police Brutality against people of color for far too long. As we continue to hear new names that lost their lives, thoughts and prayers have never been enough and not enough now. E cant by not acting. The justice and policing act will bring about the changes we need and strengthen transparency and accountability in our Law Enforcement and we need to ban excessive uses of force and end the militarization of local Police Departments. And we begin the first of many steps towards a more just system ensuring george floyd and Breonna Taylor and countless others are not forgotten. And i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from ohio is organized. Mr. Jordan we reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady from california is recognized. Ms. Bass i yield one minute to representative from new york, representative velazquez. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is reckniesed. Recognized. Ms. Velazquez mr. Speaker, in nearly every city and town across this country, the American People are raising their collective voice for change. Our nation is having a long overdue conversation of our race and policies and we are timely acknowledging that black lives matter. But it takes more than words. It American People want true reforms. This bill takes tangible steps in that direction. It ends qualified immunity. The bill bans chokeholds and noknock warrants will become a thing of the past. We are outraged of the murders Breonna Taylor and eric garner. Anger is not enough. The American People are demanding action. This bill offers change, not lip service or half measures being floated by the president and Senate Republicans. The time is now. History will judge us on how we respond to this moment. Vote yes. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady yields back. The gentlelady the gentleman recognized. Mr. Jordan we reserve. Ms. Bass i yield myself such time. The justice and policing act establishes a bold vision of policing in america. Never again should the world witness of what we saw in the streets of minneapolis, the slow murder of an individual by a fune formed Police Officer. The world is witnessing this movement and spread to many nations around the world with thousands marching and hearing the cry i cant breathe. People marching to demand change that ends Police Brutality and cial profiling and denying americans to sue and and black communities have been sadly marching for over 100 years against police abuse and for the police to protect and serve our communities like they do elsewhere. Exposed 0, cameras horror segregation and they exposed the brutal treatment of people who dared to challenge the system. Plaque people did not have the same constitutional protections that freedom of the speech, the right to assemble and protests were not rights extended. Cell phone camera has exposed the continuation of violence against black americans and the right of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness is not guaranteed to africanamericans. The movement for Police Accountability is a rainbow movement. And the power of this movement will help move congress to act. And increases transparency but assists Police Departments to change the culture sm i know that change is hard but im certain Police Officers, professionals who risk their lives every day are concerned about their profession and do not want to work in an environment that requires their silence when a fellow officer is abusing the public. Police officers would like to intervene and stop an officer from using deadly force when it is not necessary and im certain Police Officers want to be trained in the best practices in policing. A profession where you have the power to kill should be a profession that requires highly trained officers who are accountable to the public. I am so proud to be here on this historic day for the first time and i have no idea how many years the house of representatives will pass the George Floyd Justice and policing act. I yield. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady yields. The gentleman from ohio is recognized. Mr. Jordan i would yield to my good friend from north dakota as much time as he might use. Mr. Armstrong thank you, mr. Speaker. I sat through this through a Committee Hearing and markup, and rules committee and all day today and i have heard a lot about now is the time for bold action and now is the time for change but we dont talk about what we are doing and what we are passing is actually good policy, whether this policy will work in as Diverse Communities that we have from one end of this nation to another. If there was ever a subject that requires deliberation, Police Reform is this this. We are incommable in this town at this time. The American People want reform and that reform has to start with recognition with the basic recognition that two million out of 2. 3 Million People incarcerated are incarcerated in state and local prisons and this becomes a community action. Law enforcement is mostly a local function and when we are talking about reform we must recognize that these laws must work at 2 30 a. M. In a dangerous, unpredictable and often vial ent significance. And whether that officer is patroling washington, d. C. , or rural north dakota road. We can move quickly and thoughtfully. We can work towards policies that hold bad officers and departments accountable without making it difficult for good cops to do their jobs. We need to recognize uncomfortable truths. Systemic Racial Disparities exist and not just in Law Enforcement but throughout, whether in pretrial release programs, and decisions in determining sentence and enhancements that have disparity decisions. When we talk about these things, we have been talking about them for years and long before President Trump was elected. If your claim is historical and stemic racism, it is hard to believe it started when President Trump took office. This bill no not chase bad cops hroughout the business but it will dissway good people from going into Law Enforcement and that will make our communities less safe. Makes it easier to sue Law Enforcement. It makes it easier to prosecute just bad cops, not cops. It ensures there it is a public database of all complaints, theyre completely frivolous or not. And it takes away their ability o use equipment, whether they need it or not. It takes away the ability for to use lifesaving tools whether they need it or not. On ined with what is going and a combination between eaceful protests and violent rioting, i have a friend, an officer in minneapolis just this week have responded to calls spit on andre being have bottles thrown at them while they are responding to murders. These types of policies and this type of rhetoric is not going to chase this out ut of of this profession is just not true. In the Judiciary Committee did offer substandive substand tiff and to enhance the use of body cameras by federal officers. Considered hat i reasonable collective bargaining reform so that bad cops can ctually get fired from their jobs. We exempted our Border Patrol from the ban on the purchase of surplus military equipment. We asked we also even offered banff no on the ban of noknock warrants. Say to say we were everything we offered and what we tried to accomplish either side was he other was not relevant to the onversation just simply isnt true. But there are things we agree on. With body cameras for Law Enforcement. We agree that more transparency thing. Best congresswoman bass has talked a lot and i think this is actually accurate. We wouldnt know a lot about things without cell phone cameras and what has gone on. Nd thats the reality that exists. But the other reality that exists is that we all are unctioning in a digital society, and asking our federal Law Enforcement to come into the 21st century along with us is terribly not a irrelevant nor unreasonable request. With making sure we have a way to track officers. We dont necessarily agree on but theresecifics, a way to get there. I think everyone agrees that is deescalation training incredibly important and that doesnt matter if you are in a Diverse Community or not. Talked to law s enforcement knows they deal with way too Many Mental Health issues. Resources. Th those we all want to hold bad cops accountable and bad and that have too many accountable. Many of us on our other side agree with qualified immunity reform. With congressman roy when he said we want significant reform. Id also argue we need to with something. The problem with noknock warrants isnt that theyre there. Theyre overused. The problem with military equipment isnt that its its that in some departments its overused. If we continue to paint a broad all of these things and have it effect every department, regardless how urban rural in nature, regardless if they have a history, a all,ory of abuse or none at then we run a real risk of alienating the people who are closely and most want reform. And ill end on something i think is fairly hopeful. I do have hope because i think this is the most criminally Justice Reform seen. Ss weve ever there are members on both sides of the aisle that are serious about marijuana legislation, and want to talk about a system in the criminal code that not racial impact, i am sure you need to go a whole lot further than marijuana reform. We have people on both sides of that have done the juvenile justice act, the ustice reinvestment act, trial undoly s, clemency for harsh unduly harsh prisons. Repeating. Bears i just truly, truly mean this. The First Step Act, which was assed by the last congress which was bicameral, bipartisan, and advocated for by this most ent is the single important criminal Justice Reform thats probably come out of this congress. And i dont say that from being politician. I say that from practicing federal criminal defense under both the Bush Administration and the obama administration. So in three years at a federal at the federal level, we have gotten more done. But its called the First Step Act for a reason. Theres a second step. And i have add the opportunity through all the rhetoric and all partisan fighting and everything, ive also got to thoughtful people on both sides of the aisle. People on my side of the aisle of time t as short ago as several years ago didnt believe in some of these things now. Ve in them its no not just at the federal government. States from colorado to new to texas north dakota are doing criminal Justice Reform. And theyre doing it houghtfully and moving it forward. I find it unfortunate that were going to be here and that we couldnt have this conversation we are going to do what we do so well in this town is talk and then fail lk to have action on anything that has a realistic chance of law and i think, unfortunately, that is where this is going. But i do have hope because i of people are a lot on both sides of the aisle that truly want to work on this. Go very ont have to far. 350 members on both sides of the isle have already cosponsored bills related to criminal Justice Reform. So we will get this done. Aybe not as soon as we could have. But im hopeful we will rise to the moment. With that i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentlelady from california is recognized. Ms. Bass mr. Speaker, i ask that the consent gentleman from new york, the distinguished chair of the democratic caucus, be permitted the remainder of the time on the majority side. The speaker pro tempore without objection. The gentleman from new york is recognized. I thank the gentlelady from california on George Floyd Justice in policing act and this important legislation forward. Mr. Jeffries let me yield one distinguished gentleman from california, representative davis. The peaker pro tempore gentlelady is recognized. Mrs. Davis thank you, mr. Speaker. Weeks people or across the country have been protesting in the streets, george g justice for floyd, for Breonna Taylor, and for countless number of people police. Y adly, these incidents like these are something our communities of color no too well. Well. Know too this moment, this moment begs us o ask, to be bold, to capture this opportunity for change. I commit and i urge all my to be allies in this voices. D amplify our recognizing that once again its color who will take the lead in assuring justice for all. Vote yes on this bill. Back. D the speaker pro tempore the gentlelady yields back. The gentleman from ohio is recognized. R. Jordan thank you, mr. Chair. I yield to my good friend, the minority whip from the great much timeouisiana, as as he wants to use. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Scalise thank you, mr. Speaker. Thank my colleague and friend from ohio for yielding and for this issue andon also want to thank my friend and colleague from california, ms. For her work over years on this issue as well. Stand on a we moment in time thats so important in our countrys where we can ent actually come together and solve a problem that weve seen thats gone on for a long time. Something thats come to light over years butys George Floyds death, a death happened, should have really did awaken and create a we can n time where actually get something done on this issue. Nd i hope that we rise to this moment. I hope that we Work Together to ddress the problems that weve seen while making a careful and important distinction not to important work that Police Officers do every day risking their lives to keep safe. And thats really the thing that on. E got to focus the most because we know there are bad cops like there are bad people profession. But to paint everybody with the same brush is not only unfair, actually does a disservice to he work that they do in every community on a daily basis. Thats unheralded. What i would first say is that while the bill thats a bill that ay is has some components that we support but some components we would create even more problems. There can be work done to come together. There were mmittee many opportunities to bring that forward, to bring other amendments forward. That every single republican amendment was shut down. Single amendment was shut down in committee. Every single amendment that we was shut down on this house floor. Thats not going to solve this problem. Know that. All were here to make law, which i think a lot of us. Means both sides coming together to bring their best ideas forward and to address the problem. Very disappointed yesterday to watch on the senate floor our former house colleague friend, tim scott, whos worked on this for a long time, actually been a victim of racial profiling closely with a lot of people to bring a bill to the floor that had a lot of support. N and, yes, maybe some people had differences with the bill, but coming together and working through those differences, the democrats in the senate voted down the even bring the bill on the floor. The motion to proceed is the debate on to start the issue. They voted it down. How is that going to solve the even want you dont to debate the problem . At least here on the house floor were having a debate. An open amendment process where we can try to settle these differences here. Hats not going to happen, unfortunately. But i, as my colleague, mr. Armstrong, dont give up hope, we present the opportunity to solve this problem. Nd if you look at the bill, h. R. 7278, the justice act, by stauber, who served as a Police Officer for over 20 years. In aw the good and the bad policing. And he brings that unique perspective as somebody who problem. Solve the he will tell you that the person who doesnt want a bad cop more cop. Anybody is a good you dont want to go on a call with a bad cop. While t to root them out not undermining the important work that Law Enforcement officers do every day. R. Speaker, ive seen it firsthand. I would not be here today if it and t for the bravery heroism of Law Enforcement. Seen them risk their lives for myself and for other people. Maybe not knowing if theyre home that ke it night. And they do that every day. And if theres a bad cop, lets out. Them but we also need to make sure we dont undermine the ability for all ood cops that are around our communities, keeping us safe every day, they have a ight not only to keep us safe but they have a right to make it back home to see their families at the end of that night too. When were ke sure striking this important balance we dont forget about those two competing sides. This problem. We need to Work Together to get this done. Do that ully we will before this moment is lost. With that, mr. Speaker, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from new york is recognized. Mr. Jeffries i now yield to my classmate, and distinguished gentleman from the great state of california, representative peters. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Peters thank you very much. Thank you for yielding. H. R. Today in support of 7120, the George Floyd Justice in policing act. Comments flect on the from the gentleman, my colleague from louisiana, we all believe people who e good became most cops are good people who became officers to serve their communities. The provisions in todays bills will help us support the good cops by rooting out the bad ones. Fundamentally, the culture of policing in this country must change. Nd theres a tremendous amount of support nationally, and i believe in this body, for better raining, transparency, and accountability. Its devastating were acting too late to save the lives of floyd and Breonna Taylor and eric garner and the many ther victims that havent even made headlines. But theres hope that this bill can save lives and protect black forward. Ing and we may not finish today, but this is an important start. Colleagues toe my support this legislation. Vote yes. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the back. Man yields the gentleman from ohio is recognized. Mr. Jordan thank you, mr. Chairman. I yield to the republican good friend from the great state of california, one minute. The speaker pro tempore the recognized. Mr. Mccarthy i thank the gentleman for yielding. Thent to thank his work and work of his committee. I want to thank congresswoman bass. I served with her in the state assembly. One month, one month since george floyd was tragically killed. We all agree jorm floyd and countless others should be alive today. Republicans have listened to calls for justice and responded proactively. Leading our response has been senator tim scott. We could not ask for better to work on this. A black senator who has faced discrimination. A retired Law Enforcement officers wounded on the job in the state of minnesota, now serving in the house. The thoughtful efforts have produced something rare in this town, a bill that tries to solve a problem and not just score political points. It is truly a bipartisan plan with over 80 of the policies in the bill supported by democrats. The bill is a previous civil rights effort, such as when we did opportunity zones and school choice. In fact, it could be on its way to becoming law today. In a more sensible environment. It would pass on the merits with overwhelmingly bipartisan support. But we dont live in sensible times. When i looked at george when i looked George Floyds brother in the eye and told him george would not have died in vain, i meant it. To those on the other side of the aisle, i believe you meant it too. But theres questions that arise. Did you work in good faith across the aisle . Or did you choose to go it alone . Did you choose to make a point rather than make a difference . All while putting politics before people and slandering epublicans in the process. First you dismiss the justice act as ineffective before one single word was read. I never once said the Democrat Bill is a nonstarter, not once. I was asked at a press conference to name one thing that i oppose. I went back to the reporter and said no, i will not. Because this is a moment in time the country expects us to rise to the occasion. Im not going to point something i disagree with because i believe we could get to the point together. I had hoped that on this floor we would be debating amendments. Not one single amendment was allowed. Not one single amendment was allowed. I listened to the democrats on the other side because theyre in the position the republicans are here in the minority. They were offered 20 amendments. They felt they shouldnt go forward. Not to vote on the bill but not even to debate it. Would it be too much to offer . He minority one vote then you try to diminish its author. One Senate Democrat who is white went so far to say on the floor of the senate that senator scott, a black republican, was taking a token approach. I dont know if youve ever served with tim but theres no one who has higher character than the man i know. I dont know what its like to walk in other eems lives but tim is a good friend. Hes told me the story. Tim did not start working on this bill a month ago. Hes been working on it his entire life. Like others as well. Tim did not ask to do the bill on the senate side with no input if the other side of the aisle. Tim offered amendments and others but cant even move the bill forward. Now, youre defaming its supporter, saying as Speaker Pelosi absurdly claims that we are trying to get away with murder. The murder of george floyd. She know she is should have apologized but she doubled down on her remarks yesterday. That was a very sad state of affairs. Think for one moment, the speaker of the house, second in line to the president of the United States. That job is too big for words so small. Especially in this moment and in this opportunity. So much for meeting the moment and working together to solve a problem. Weve reached a new low in this body. Its not one i wanted to be part of. Democrats in the senate had the opportunity to add 20 amendments to address their concerns about the justice act but chose to walk away. Meanwhile, in the house hasnt given the republicans an opportunity to offer a single amendment on the floor. Ive been in the position of being majority leader. I understand you let a few make a decision. But i do not believe its the will of the other side of the aisle to shut out voices on this side. I do not believe that you think you have all the answers or are afraid to have a debate. When you know this is an issue that all americans on the street are rising up and want to have a voice heard. I dont understand why anybody is afraid to have amendments. We didnt stop for participating even though weve been shut out. Weve been to every hearing. Weve been to every place. We want to make law. Worse yet. Democrats are trying to distract from the partys failures in governing major american cities. While we stall serious reform allies and left wing mob are engaging in destruction and violence, attacking public property and monuments to heroes. There wasnt it was in the city of madison, wisconsin, not a republican stronghold but a democrat, for decades. There, local officials stood by as a mobber to down several statues that are publicly owned and entirely unoffensive. The first statue they tore down was of lady ford. A symbol of progress in the womens suffrage movement. Next theyer to down the sta child abuse of hands christian e. G. , an abolitionist who died fighting to end slavery in the civil war. But it wasnt just statues they attacked that night. The mob also ais alled a sitting state senator, a selfdescribed supporter of the protesters. This lawless and unjustified iolence must be stopped. But their own wisconsin Lieutenant Governor seemed too surprised by this act to do anything about it. The fatal mistake is to assume that democrats would be safe because as the Lieutenant Governor said, theyre on the proper side. But heres the reality. Mobs dont care about your political affiliation. Mobs wont draw any lines, because they cant draw any lines, because they are mobs. They dont want peace, justice rereform. They want obstruction, upheaval and control over you, over others and over our past, present and future. In this country no one is above the law no matter how proper the coastal elites or Mainstream Media deem their cause. It is our responsibility to respond with force and moral clarity. It happens in the speak ears district. Just a few short years ago, the pope spoke from these chambers. As he left, the leadership stopped at st. Sara and parade together. There was a statue in San Francisco that the mobber to own. Mob tore down. Im not sure but i havent seen any comment from the individual who represents that district. In fact, there socalled solution such as dismantling and disfunding police would only make the problem worse. Especially for our vulnerable communities. By giving left wing allies a pass, democrats are giving the mob more power. More license. And more ambition. That is a recipe not for justice but for more chaos. Mr. Speaker, Abraham Lincoln knew riots, mob rule and defunding the police present serious threats to the american way of life. As a young man he warn tad lawlessness in spirit quickly becomes lawlessness in practice. He knew if it was proper, and you ignored it, it would become a practice. Today we are witnessing the situation that lincoln feared, a war of Civil Society that is quickly escalating. We must summon the courage to protect lawabiding citizens against lawlessness. Our choice is clear. Civil society or chaos. Those are our only options. Republicans know which side we stand on. We will stand up, hold the line and fight until the mob is stopped. Enough is enough. Today on this floor, one month ago, i thought wed show the country that we are worthy of the office they let us serve in. We may be of different parties, im proud of mine. I was not born into the republican party. I came from a party of democrats. In my office i keep portraits. I keep a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, the first republican president. I love what he stood for. I love what he stood against. Malice toward none. I wonder what this nation would be had he not been assassinated. Would we ever have had jim crow laws or the k. K. K. . Would we even be standing here today . But i think george floyd would be. So would pat underwood. In my office in my chambers, i have fred lick douglass as my newest portrait. A man born into slavery, worked his way out, even though every reason to criticize this nation, loved it. For its bruises and sores and all. Because he believed in a more Perfect Union. Advisors to a president. And believing tomorrow would be better than today. Inside my Conference Room i keep a very big portrait of Washington Crossing the delaware. If the mob was allowed in theyd probably tear it down. You see, in that portrait, its painted not by an american but by an immigrant who lived here. Because america is more than a country. America is an idea. An idea about liberty and freedom. He thought if he painted this painting hed inspire others to believe in the freedom that we stand for. He gets it historically incorrect. He puts washington in a row boat with 3 people but only shows you 12 faces. You look at washington, hes in a ceremonial uniform with his hand on his chest, bigger than life. You think that man had never lost a battle but history tells us he had never won one yet. That was the night we surprised the hessians with our first victory. If you look at the portrait and see who is in it, you look at the second rower, a black american. The one next to him is scottish. Down in the red is a woman, in the back is a native american. I do not know if they were in the boat that night. But to this young immigrant thats who he believed, having lived in america, would be there. To the back you see this man, a farmer, with his hand across his face. The hand of the 3th person that nobody sees. O this young artist, he said here we are, not even a nation, but an idea. An idea based upon that we are all equal. Having never won a battle, willing to risk everything people would say on our holiest night, well go to a challenge in rough water and cross that wed never won before. Heres a hand would you get in and join us . Its as true today as it was then. In that portrait they didnt say only one party to join. They wanted all. They didnt say one had all the ideas. They said we were collected. And they were willing to do thing to do things they hadnt done before. They knew they were not perfect but strived to become a more Perfect Union. I had hoped that thats what we would see today. Today, that will not be the answer. But that can also not be the end. I would hope both of us would rise up on both sides and ask us to go to conference. Lets not miss this window of opportunity to show that we are worthy of the cause we strive and the responsibility people give us. Lets not call each other names of murderers and others. Lets believe in the goodness of one another. And lets understand that we can solve this problem once and for all. With that, i yield back, mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from new york is recognized. Mr. Nadler mr. Jeffries despite the representation just made, Speaker Pelosi, as she does, has risen to the occasion. The question is, will you . The republican minority leader just said that we have put politics over people. Thats insulting. Because its our children, our sons, our daughters, our brothers, our sisters, our fathers, our mothers, our husbands, our wives are the ones who are being killed. This is not about politics. Its not about politics. Racism has been in the soil of america since 1619. We need transformational action. The time to talk the talk is over. Its time to walk the walk. That is why we are moving forward with the George Floyd Justice and policing act. I now yield to my good friend, distinguished member of the new york delegation, a former federal prosecutor and district rninge of one of the largest offices in the nation, kathleen rice. Miss rice i offer my support to this bill. As my good friend, mr. Jeffries just said i spent the first 20 years as a career prosecutor and i have seen where it works and i have seen where it doesnt work sm the Police Accountability is one of the areas that is fundamentally broken but we need to do more than hold individual officers but address the system that protects them. Thats why im proud to cosponsor this bill that will make critical canges by banning the use of chokeholds and creating a registry and modifying the standard to hold and continue to listen to local black leaders back in my district on long island as we continue to root out injustice and discrimination. Black lives matter, mr. Speaker and about time that our laws and policies reflect that. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from ohio is recognized. Mr. Jordan we just heard the conference chair that Speaker Pelosi rose to the occasion calling republican senators murderers is rising to the occasion . We have had all new kinds of definitions. We heard from the Committee Chair fert Judiciary Committee that antifa is imaginary and the conference chair said and oh, by the way, it wasnt just republicans that voted but two democrats and an independent and we get somehow that language, the speaker of the house as the republican leader said that the individual second line of the president rising to the occasion using language like that preceded by the chairman of the Judiciary Committee and focused on the constitution saying an organization that the president of the United States has called terrorists is imaginary. Thats what we hear on the house floor . I appreciate the Republican Leaders remarks and i thought they were right on target. And he we will reserve the remapeder of our time, mr. Chairman. Mr. Thompson as someone who has been both a victim of police incense activity and someone who has spent his entire life in an area known for police mistreating people and somebody who represents the area where emmet teele was killed and his accuser wore a badge. So therl notion that somehow Law Enforcements activities just started is not true. But you know, you have to walk in my shoes. And the shoes of the Congressional Black Caucus to know what we are talking about. I hope at some point we can get there. Im a grandfather. The story that my father told me about Law Enforcement, this date, im telling him that same story 50 years later, Law Enforcement hadnt changed. And what we have to do if we are committed to it and we have to support this bill. And the notion that the system how broken is operating it was designed. So we have to fix it. And we physical it by supporting this bill. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from ohio is recognized. Mr. Jordan we reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentleman from new york is recognized. Mr. Jeffries how much time do we have . The speaker pro tempore 17 minutes. Mr. Jeffries i yield to a representative bustos. Mrs. Bustos thank you, mr. Speaker, i rise today as a wife of a sheriff and i rise in support of the justice and policing act. I have listened to so many people throughout the strict the i have heard who are hurting, so many stories of people who are in pain. A woman whose cousin died that a Police Officer used a neck restraint and that was in 2010. Her family has been fighting for justice ever since. I recognize that i as a white woman cannot fully understand the pain that black america caps feel, but i know that if we are going to make real and lasting change to end systemic racism, i must care just as much and i must be just as motivated as those in the communities who are hurting most. Today, i lift their voices. America will hear you. For this familys decadehong quest for justice, we can, we will and we must act. I yield back. Ism the gentlelady yields back. Mr. Jordan we reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentleman from new york is recognized. Mr. Jeffries i yield to a great new member of the freshman class, distinguished the gentleman from from the great state of new jersey, tom mallin now sky. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Rs. Maloney i will proudly mr. Malinowski and because i believe what we need right now before above all is trust, trust between Law Enforcement and the people, all the people they are sworn to protect. Trust is not built by police who use force as a first resort and not built by police that look like they are the 82nd airborne parachuting or hiding problems so abusive officers get fired for misconduct and get rehired. It is built from training, accountability that every Public Servant welcomes. This bill is surely the start ofal process that will make us better. And so please, lets get this process started. And if you want to fund the police, if you want to support the good cops who are out there, then please, ask the senate to support the heroes act along side Police Reform, the whole point of which was to help our state and local governments keep our First Responders on the job. Thank you. And i yield become. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from ohio is recognized. Mr. Jordan i reserve. Mr. Jeffries i yield one minute to the gentlelady from state of california, judy chu. Ms. Chu the lynching of george floyd shocked our nation. That one of countless man was murdered. After centuries of inequality and prejudice and discrimination, people are crying out for justice. Today we are taking action. The just is and policing act urbs the Police Brutality, chokeholds would be banned. Eadly force would be banned. And body cameras would be mandatory. It limits qualified immunity which protects police. But reform is not enough. We must change the culture of policing which this bill does for funding of states and communities. George floyd was not the first black man killed by police. But with this legislation he can hopefully be amongst the last. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from ohio is recognized. Mr. Jordan i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york. Mr. Jeffries i yield one minute to the gentleman from florida, representative soto. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Soto mr. Speaker, in my florida if kissimmee, joined local protests. We came together, members of the naacp, black lives matter, local Police Chiefs and multitude of our puerto rican brothers and sisters and we condemned hate and stood houston fide for change. I led a conversation on justice and equality with plaque civil rights leaders, Law Enforcement and local officials. I listened intently and voices were clear. Black lives matter and support the George Floyd Justice and policing act of 2020. We see you, and hear you and honor those we lost with action. And with that. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from ohio. Mr. Jordan i reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york. Mr. Jeffries i yield one minute o the distinguished gentlelady from commonwealth of massachusetts. Ms. Trahan we have long encountered excuses why we cant tackle this in america. Excuses that prevented equality in health care and classroom, housing, in the workplace and yes in the way Police Interact with communities they are sworn. That approach led to a deadly reality where black lives are equal on paper, but not in real life. We know this because the data shows it. Black americans are more likely to die to a trip to the hospital ap likely to be killed while unarmed by the police. We know that george floyd should alive and brie owna taylor, tamir rice and eric garner. And it is long overdue and we owe it to make this bill law and get to work fixing the injustice that has been in our country and create a truly equal and just america for everyone to call home. I yield become. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady yields back. The gentleman from ohio. Mr. Jordan we reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york. Mr. Jeffries i yield to the gentlelady from the debate state of new york, ms. Clarke. Ms. Clarke i thank our conference chair i rise in support of the George Floyd Justice and appliesing act. Breonna taylor, george floyd, eric que, sand dra bland, garner, sean bell, patrick, how many more black lives must be hashtagged . I heard my colleagues make every excuse under the sun for maintaining the status committee. Not today. When americans are tying and have been doing so for generations enough is enough and Congress Must act. This legislation will make Police Accountable for their acks. 1976, randall evans, unarmed black boy shot down. 1978, Arthur Miller choked to death. Ooklyn, new york, my first protest. Breonna taylor shot dead in her home. George floyd choked to death. Only crime being black. The only black women in congressional delegation and it will remain true, black lives matter, no justice, no peace. I choose justice. Mr. Jordan we reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york. Mr. Jeffries i yield two minutes to the gentlelady from michigan, ms. Tlaib. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized. Tlaib 70yearold 17yearold Ayana Stanley jones would have graduated high school if she had not been killed when police raided her home, the wrong home. Who killed george floyd should be the focus but also what killed george floyd. We are talking centuries of dehumanizing black folks in our country and it must end now. We cannot stop here, we are again failing our neighbors when it comes to Public Safety, education, poverty, structural racism, which is deadly and its up to us to tear it down. So its not enough for us to just say black lives matter. We in this chamber have the power for real policy change and implementation that truly free ours black neighbors. So iana, george, breonna, we failed you but your murders may be the way not to continue the injustice we see in our country. We have to stop it now. Thank you and i yield back the remainder of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlewoman yields. The gentleman from ohio is recognized. Mr. Jordan welcome mr. Jordan we reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york is recognized. Mr. Jeffries i yield to the gentleman from the great state of colorado, an army ranger, a patriot and a great member of the United States house of representatives, representative jason crow. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Crow i rise in honor of elijah, mcclain, a young of elijah mcclane, a young block man who died in police custody. Skid elijahs mother what she wanted to tell the world about her son. Here are her words. He spread joy wherever he went, he was a lover of all blings, he dedicated his energy to healing others in his work as a massage therapist and playing his violin at the Animal Shelter to keep them from being lonely. Colorado was blessed by elijahs legacy and last week we passed the most prans formative police bill in the country. Tonight it is congress turn to do the same. I urge my colleagues to join me in passing the George Floyd Justice in policing act. The time for talk in congress is over. My vote ninety will be cast for elijah mcclane. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from ohio is recognized. Mr. Jordan we reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york is recognized. Mr. Jeff reese i yield to the gentleman from the great state of texas, chair of the congressional hispanic caucus, joaquin castro. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Castro for far too long, too many people have lost their lives to Police Brutality and for far too long the government failed to protect the people. That changes today. This is a first significant step to save lives, especially black lives. In my hometown of san antonio, Police Violence has existed for generations. In just the last few years, marquise jones was killed by an offduty officer during routine fender bender. Tony scott was killed by an officer who thought his cell phone was a gun. Charles roundtree was killed by police, he was only 18 years old. The Latino Community has also suffered from Police Brutality. Carlos lopez the latest to be killed. 40 years ago in san antonio, hector was killed by a Police Officer who had also killed a black man, bobby joe phillips, in 1968. The cases we see on video are only a frack of the misconduct and abuse that occurs every day leaving long lasting physical, mental and sose yo logical damage. The good, lifesaving work of police is undercut by the blue code of secrecy, officers who refuse to tell on each other, Police Unions who never admit when theyre wrong and politicians who have been afraid to take on Police Unions. This Congress Must have the courage to tact now and pass this legislation. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yield back. The gentleman from ohio is recognized. Mr. Jordan reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york is recognized. Mr. Jeff reese i yield one minute to the distinguished gentleman from the great state of illinois, raja krishnamoorthi. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Krishnamoorthi i rise in support of the justice in policing act. In 2019 the usa today published the largest public database of disciplinary records for Police Officers. They found that fewer than 10 of officers in most Police Forces have been investigated. But of those who are investigated, most have 10 or more misconduct charges and worse, some faced more than 100 allegations. Almost all still had their still have their badges today. To address this issue the justice in policing act includes a National Registry to bring transparency to disciplinary decisions. To brick disciplinary to Police Misconduct and to bring transparency to the high cost of irresponsible individuals to taxpayers. The george floyd act is about transparency and sunlight. We need that now more than ever. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from ohio is recognized. Mr. Jordan reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york is recognized. Mr. Jeff reese how much time do we have left on our side . The speaker pro tempore 7 1 2. Mr. Jeff reese thank you. One minute to the distinguished gentleman from the great state of oregon, mr. Blumenauer. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Blumenauer im honored to stand for the justice and accountability act an important step for racial justice. I hope our approval will soften the hearts in the senate because there is much to do. Im honored to work with another champion for justice, congresswoman barbara lee whose marijuana justice act would be the next step repealing nixons blatantly racist prohibition of marijuana with its selective enforcement against young black men. Which continues to enshare ensnare tens of thousands of young black men every month for something that americans think should be legal. Lets approve the more act, already passed out of the Judiciary Committee, the next tritt crith call step in racial Justice Reform and protecting young black men from oppression. Thank you and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from ohio is recognized. Mr. Jordap we reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. This gentleman from new york is recognized. Mr. Jeff reese i yield one minute to the distinguished gentleman from the great state of maryland, the former head of the naacp as well as the Congressional Black Caucus, representative mfume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Mfume i thank the chair of our caucus for yielding. I listened intently with the litany the minority leader chose to deliver and i watched and looked through a lens of history about his admonitions about our 16th president , Abraham Lincoln and they were all well stated. I think the bottom line though is in any debate there ought to be real context. So there are other things that lincoln said that are relevant to this debate as well. In 1848, in a speech delivered in edwardsville, illinois, he spoke these words to his countrymen, and i quote. He said when you have succeeded in dehumanizing the negro, when you have put him down and made it but for him to be but as the beast of the field, when you have extinguished his soul in this world and placed him where the ray of hope is blown out, as in the darkness of the damned, are you quite sure that the dehuman will not turn and rend you . Lincoln went on to say derek stroy the negres spirit and you would have planted the seeds of despotism at your own doorstep. He said ignore the chains of bondage and you prepare your own limbs to wear them. And finally he said, accustomed to trample on the rights and the freedoms of others, and you would have lost the Creative Genius of your own independence and then become the fifth subject of the first cunning fit subject of the first cunning tyrant who rises among you. While i appreciate the minority leaders comments i think its important that we have context in this debate and we have driven here and been driven here by the actions of people all across this country who want justice, who want an to end Police Violence, who want an end to rogue cops and want to be able to live, work and breathe in a society like anyone else. Thank you, mr. Speaker, i thank the distinguished leader, and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from ohio is recognized. Mr. Yordan we reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new york is recognized. Mr. Jeffries we are prepared to close, we have no additional speakers. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from ohio. Mr. Yordan thank you, mr. Speaker. It seems to me four principles should frame our work in putting together policies that help the country. First and foremost we need to recognize, as we all do, the tragedy that took place in minneapolis. The taking of George Floyds life was just that, a tragedy, never should have happened, its as wrong as wrong can be and his family deserves justice. As do others. Republican leader mentioned pat underwood. His death was as wrong as wrong can be. His family deserves justice as well. Second, we should condemn violence and also the creation of any type of autonomous zone separate from our great country. There is a big difference between peaceful protests and some of the things we have seen. People protesting, thats First Amendment. Weve all engaged in it. Thats apple pie. Thats america. But peaceful protest is different than the rioting we have seen. Peaceful protest is different than the looting we have seen. Peaceful protesting is different than the violence we have witnessed, the attacking of people the taking of peoples business and destroying them. Peaceful protest is different than different than chas and chop and these autonomous zones that are forming. The vast, vars majority of Police Officerses are good. Good people. Doing great work. Risking their lives every time they put the uniform on and serve their shift, do their duty. Theyre the guys who protect us here on capitol hill. Theyre the folks who rushed into the twin towers on 9 11. Theyre the guys who gals back home, men and women back home who protect our community. We should remember that. Fourth. Defunding the police is crazy. One of the most crazy ideas ive ever heard. Youve got the mayor of new york the mayor of new york is going to cut the police 1 billion. The super majority on the city council of minneapolis want to abolish the police. So many other major cities saying the same thing. This congress started with democrats saying abolish i. C. E. Now we have democrats in big cities around our country saying defund the police and get rid of Police Departments. Makes no sense. Those four principles should seem to me to be commonsense. Should form the framework to Work Together. Unfortunately the democrats tnt want to Work Together. Didnt want to Work Together. Saw it yesterday in the senate. Saw it last week in the house. In the committee. Amendments offered last week, none accepted. No amendments allowed on the floor today. Couldnt move to debate in the United States senate. The only bipartisanship weve seen on this issue was yesterday in the senate when two democrats and one independent voted to move forward on senator scotts legislation. Lets hope on this issue, this important issue and others that we can begin to working to for the gad of the American People. For the gd of this great country. Greatest nation, not perfect, greatest nation ever though. And when you live in the greatest nation ever, i think the people of this great country want us to Work Together to find the solution that makes sense that makes good commonsense fit within those principles i talked about. Thats what i hoped ewe could do over the last few weeks. Thats not the course the majority has taken. I urge a no vote and yield back the balance of our time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from new york is recognized. Mr. Jeffries let me begin by thanking the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and prime sponsor of this legislation, karen bass, for her extraordinary leadership on such a critical issue during such a critical moment in time. I also want to thank the distinguished chair of the house Judiciary Committee, congressmannierry nadler, for his tremendous leadership in ushering this bill through committee and to the floor of the house of representatives. I want to thank Speaker Pelosi and the entire House Democratic caucus for rising to the occasion at this particular moment in time. I want to thank my colleagues on the other side of the aisle for participating in debate and sharing their ideas. Though i will note that many of my republican colleagues spent this debate talking about antifa. Talking about the autonomous zones. Talking about abolishing the police which appears nowhere within the four corners of this legislation. They know what this bill is really all about. It criminalizes the choke hold. Because its about george floyd. Who was strappingled to death with a knee to his neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds while handcuffed. Its about being handcuffed while black. About george floyd. They know this bill is really about tamir rice. A 12yearold who was gunned down while playing in a cleveland park. Its about tamir rice because the bill will establish a registry for brutal officers. So that jurisdictions will have some visibility into who they are hiring. He officer who murdered the officer has been fired by a Neighboring Department for brutal behavior. And then he was hired by the Cleveland Police department with tragic consequences because they had no visibility into his record. This bill is about tamir rice. They know this bill is about Breonna Taylor, sleeping while black, gunned down because of a noknock warrant in a drug case that was falsely executed in louisville. And now a husband has lost his wife. About Breonna Taylor. They know that. Its about countless individuals. And in this great country of ours, killed by Police Officers without justification. Yes, we know that the majority of Police Officers certainly, the ones i interact with those in palestinian are hardworking individuals who are in the community to protect and serve. But there are violent officers. There are brutal officers. There are abusive officers. And far too often, they are not held accountable because of a toxic culture that exists and that cannot be denied. Not month after month. Not year after year, but decades after decades after decades. We know the names. Many of those names were called today from the floor of the house of representatives, but he names are too numerous to mention. Thats why we are here, to do something transformative about it. Im thankful for those peaceful protestors who gone out in four rners of america, yes led by africanamerican men and women, but joined by every other race. Ack, white, lat tino, asia yabamerican, multi rasheal, multi generational, coming together saying enough, we need to deal with systemic racism and start with the cancer of Police Brutality. That is what the George Floyd Justice and policing bill is all about. Some about antifa or autonomous or defunding the police that doesnt appear in this bill. But lets have a real debate. You are entitled to your own opinion, but not entitled to your own facts. Those words ring true. That president john adams. Im thankful to the House Democratic caucus for rising to the cage. We have said to the protestors of every race throughout america, we hear you, we see you , we are you. Death you know that the of george floyd was not called to my attention by a fellow member of congress, by my chief of staff or legislative director but called to my attention by my young son who said dad, its happened again. What are you going to do about it . And those words ran straight through to my heart. And i say to him and say to all those other black children in america, we are here today as House Democrats to do something about it. Pass the George Floyd Justice and appliesing act. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman is recognized. He gentleman will suspend. All time for debate has expired. Pursuant to House Resolution 1017, the previous question is ordered on the bill as amended. The question is on engrossment and third reading of the bill. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. The ayes have it. The third reading. The clerk and improve transparency through Data Collection and improve Police Training and policies. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from minnesota seek recognition . I have a motion to recommit at the desk. The speaker pro tempore is the gentleman opposed to the bill. I am in its current form. The clerk mr. Move to dispense with the reading. Is there objection . Mr. Speaker, i rise today to talk about two stories, two parallel stories that are not conflicting but coexist in our world today. The first story is that of a Police Officer in any town u. S. A. The Police Officer who swore a solemn oath to protect her community who puts on the badge and goss to his or her job. She has a family and kids who she wants to see graduate. She still puts on the bg every cares deeply. I know this story well from my 23 years as a Law Enforcement officer. It is a narrative of pride that eeds to be known and heard and narrative that deserves respect sm the second story is of a black teenager also in anytown u. S. A. Who watched walter scott get shot in the back in south carolina. Mr. Stauber who saw awe berry and saw george floyd murdered at the hands of police. And who is germly afraid and uncertain if he leaves his home and goes out to the store for his mother, he may not come become. These communities feel abandoned. They feel left behind by their government. And by sitting in this chamber today in bringing up a bill that so partisan that it will go nowhere after its consideration here. You are proving them right. You are telling that black teenager and that officer that heir concerns can wait until afflecks day. Mr. Speaker, my motion to recommit asks that we reconsider both stories, both perspectives. My motion to recommit, which is the justice act, was a product of senator tim scott and i sharing two different stories and finding solutions that senator inhofe expire real change. The justice act make the necessary reforms that should have been made a long time ago. I know when it comes to hiring an officer, there is no room for mistakes. This justice act improves access to prior discipline area records ensuring that officers who continuously act outside of their policies, procedures and training, can never move from department from department to department. It emphasizes community reneglect tive recruitment and ensuring the makeup of Police Departments that resemble the communities they serve. It restores investment in community policing. This is the philosophy that you dont police your community, you police with your community. It inhe investigates in improved Police Training with a focus on deescalation techniques and duty to intervene and body camera usage which identify bad officers and exonerate good officers. I ask that you vote for real change for reforming our Law Enforcement. For implementing commune policing best practices and for more body cameras and deescalation training and duty to intervene and Mental Health training. And i ask that you vote for that officer who wants to come home to her kids and for that black eenager who today feels left behind. At a time when so many at a time when so many feel divided and our nation needs healing, let us be the shining city upon the hill. Let us stand together as one congress. S leaders of this nation, we must advance real and much needed Police Reform. Vote yes on this motion to recommit. And i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. For what purpose does gentlelady california rise . Ms. Bass i rise today in opposition to the motion to recommit. Plaque people have battled Police Brutality since policing began. The times have changed. Our country has changed. We had to explain that racism exists despite the election of barack obama twice. And americans consider this as a big problem. Thats progress. A few years ago we explained why we say black lives matter. 7 support the black lives Matter Movement and we saw the frustration unfolding in the streets. 67 of registered voters supported the peaceful protests. This is a powerful movement in our nation. A rainbow movement. Protests have taken place in over 60 countries and every continent and thousands are screaming i cant breathe and screaming for change, change that ends Police Brutality. The movement is calling us to act. What is your answer . I will vote to passage of the George Floyd Justice and policing act and it will be to the parents of tamir rice because today is his 18th birthday. I ask my colleagues on both sides to oppose this motion to recommit. I yield to the balance to the most senior member, representative he jackson lee. Ms. Jackson lee i rise today to ask the question where is the party of lincoln . Where is the moment of courage when the slaves were freed in that moment in 1863 . This senate bill, the m. T. R. , does that rise to the occasion of those who are in the streets . It fails the moment. It does not require anything. It does not ban, require or create. The senate bill is lacking in substance and doesnt provide a baseline for appropriations or hold Law Enforcement officers accountable for their misconduct and a standard that should be the standard for due process is allowing Law Enforcement to evade criminal liability. It is imperative that any maintains accountability. Tim scott introduced the walter scott bill many years ago and yet to see the light of day. Where is the party of linchingon . It does little to do with the urgent need to cry about people floyd e people, george and said what does this bill do . Will it do anything . As i told them, unlike this george floyd act which repurposes grant monies, i let them know that this bill will give money to Community Groups and not butches of dollars to those who will continue the same pattern. For too long, the misconduct of officers who pose a knowing threat to Public Safety have been shielded to the public that has resulted in great harm to the communities they are entrusted to. Our bill shines a light. The senate bill does nothing to close the door and says nothing about black lives matter. It is a system it encourages the collection of records. Members of the c. B. C. Have prioritized and made sure that the issues of the are important. Let me be very clear. Theres some of the notable distinctions between the two proposals. The house justice in policing develops National Policing standards. It is a friend to police. It gives and deals with professional organization. It has a National Rental industry. It is not private, it is public. It is systemic racism and so we must be prans tarrant transparent. This fails the moment. The policing act takes a multipronged approach to eliminating the use of choke holds. In this bill, george floyd would not have lived. In the justice and policing act justice in policing act we could have saved his life and the life of eric garner. We have no time for studying. It must be accountable time now. Now is the time. Can you believe that the justice bill, senator scotts bill this bill, does not have anything in it about use of force in nothing about banning racial profiling. Nothing about federal prosecution standards. Nothing to roll back qualified immunity. No limits on military hardware. I ask you where is the party of lincoln in where is the party of the constitution that says we create a more Perfect Union to create justice . This bill hears the cry of those who have never been heard. It gives us a pathway for success and i am glad to stand with the Congressional Black Caucus and the justice department. This bill has to pass, the justice in policing act named after george floyd. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore without objection. The previous question is ordered on the motion to recommit. The question is on the motion. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. The noes have it. The motion is not agreed to. The gentleman from minnesota. I ask for a recorded vote. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to section 3 of House Resolution 965, the yeas and nays are ordered. Pursuant to clause of rule 20, further proceedings on this this question are postponed. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, the chair will postpone further proceedings today on motions to suspend the rules on which the yeas and nays are ordered. The house will resume proceedings on postponed questions at a later time. For what purpose does the gentleman from georgia seek recognition . Mr. Speaker, i move to suspend the rules and pass h. R. 7259, the patents for Humanity Program improvement act. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report the title of the bill. The clerk h. R. 7259, a bill to allow acceleration certificates awarded under the patents for humanity to be transferable. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman mr. Johnson and the gentleman from minnesota, mr. Kline each will control 20 minutes. Mr. Johnson thank you, i ask unanimous consent that all members have five ledge slathe legislative days to rhett retheir remarks an include extraneous material on the bill under consideration. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Johnson i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Johnson thank you, mr. Speaker. Rise in support of h. R. 7259 which strengthens the u. S. Patent and trademark offices patents for humanity awards competition by allowing the competitions prize to be transferable to third parties. Introduced by my colleague lucy mcbath, representative from the great state of georgia, h. R. 7259 has bipartisan support. As chame of the Judiciary Committees intellectual property subcommittee, im proud to cosponsor this legislation alongside representative martha roby, Ranking Member of the subcommittee and our subcommittee colleague representative ben kline. Intellectual property and innovation are what help our country flourish. In congress weve been committed to ensuring that the intellectual property system incentivizes innovation to the greatest extent possible. Through its support for the u. S. P. T. O. s patents for Humanity Program this bill accomplishes that goal. I want to read a little bit from the u. S. P. T. O. The uspto. Gov website about the patents for Humanity Program. How do patents help improve lives globally . Through inspired innovators making a difference. Ill quote here, patents for humanity is the usptos awards program for those using gamechanging technology to address global challenges. It provides business incentives for patent holders who find ways to reach underserved communities. These Success Stories can help others learn how to harness innovation for human progress. All patent holders can participate, it says. Since 2012, the program has given 21 awards, not just to big companies, but also small and mediumsized enterprises. Startups. Universities. And nonprofits. Together, their work has improved millions of lives around the globe. In addition to receiving public recognition of their work, winners will be issued certificates entitling them to expedite select proceedings at the uspto. I believe that do we have a list of some of those winners thus far . If i could look at that i would love to read those names into the record. And while shes doing that, the patents for Humanity Program highlights the ways that innovation and intellectual property can help solve global humanitarian challenges. Past award recipients have created lowcost photo therapy devices to treat infants with jaundice and distributed chemical packs that remove contaminants from drinking water, to name just a few. Winners receive a certificate that allows them, as i said, to accelerate certain patent atters at the uspto. Id like to read some of those Award Winners to you. In 2018, Russell Waugh trord crawford won the award for creating tools for lowcost drilling of water wells to reach deep aquifers free from soil contaminants. The organization Brooklyn Bridge to cambodia incorporated won in 2018 for creating an affordable rice planting device that helps cambodian farmers improve their crop yields and which minimizes the number of farmers, mostly women, who have to work in the most exhausting and unhealthy conditions. Also the firm solight design won he award in 2018 for designing a portable solar light that has been distributed to over 200,000 people worldwide including many in refugee camps. Sanivation, l. L. C. , for developing a Processing Plant that transforms human waste into sanitaryberry debts that replace wood and charcoal for sanitary iquets for cooking and heating. Nd also in 2018, a company won for distributing 100,000 pairs of resizable shoes in over 95 countries with local manufacturing taking place in ethiopia and plans for haiti and kenya. There are a number of others that have won this prestigious patents for humanitarian humanity award. Ll the way back to 2013. American standard, sunpower corporation, nutriset. Golden rice. Grip Global Research innovation and technology, also nokara, Dupont Pioneer and last but not least intermark partners Strategic Management l. L. P. All should be commended. For winning this prestigious award and contributing to the betterment of humanity. Under h. R. 7259, Award Winners will be able to transfer this acceleration certificate to third parties. This will strengthen participation in the patents for Humanity Program and further encourage the use of innovation and intellectual property for critical humanitarian purposes. The usptos program and this legislation reflect our countrys strong commitment to intellectual property and our understanding of the important ways that innovation can do good and solve hard problems. Im pleased to cosponsor this legislation which is sponsored, as i said, by my colleague lucy mcbath from georgias sixth Congressional District, and im pleased to cosponsor this legislation and i urge my colleagues to support its passage. And with that, i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman is recognized. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as i may consume. I want to thank the chair for his leadership and for the patron of the bill, congresswoman mcbath, from the sixth district of virginia, the sixth district of georgia, i want to commend her for her leadership on this important issue. Mr. Cline american technological leadership is critical to the health and competitiveness of our economy and the wellbeing of people throughout the world. American researchers and Biotechnology Companies are leading the charge for a covid19 vaccine. Patents are a key factor in our Technology Lo technological leadership. Since 2012, the patents for Humanity Program has helped the u. S. Patent system encourage innovation in key areas such as medicine, nutrition and energy. Mr. Speaker, the chairman eloquently listed several of the past Award Winners. And the description of the acceleration certificate they have been awarded that encourages them to keep innovate big providing there acceleration of the Patent Applications examination at the p. T. O. This bill supports the admiral work at the pat epts for Humanity Program, the inventors it promotes and ensures that transferability of their certificates empowers inventors who are recognized by this program and grans them greater flexibility to bring their inventions to mark and continue working toward the next great invention. Proud to cosponsor this bill in support and support the inventors powering Technology Technological leader shep. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan measure and reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves. The gentleman from georgia is recognized. Mr. Johnson thank you, mr. Speaker. Im pleased at this time mr. Johnson thank you, mr. Speaker. Im pleased to yield to the gentlelady from georgia, the sponsor of this legislation, my colleagues, congresswoman lucy mcbath, such time as she may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized. Mrs. Mcbath thank you, mr. Chairman. Id like to thank my colleague and good friend from the great peach state of georgia, representative johnson. Thank you so much. And, mr. Chairman, i rise in support of my bill, the patents for Humanity Program improvement act. I was pleased to introduce this Bipartisan Legislation with my republican colleagues, congressman cline. We are also joined in leading the bill by my good friend, congressman johnson, who is the chair of the house judiciary subcommittee on courts, intellectual property and the internet, and congresswoman roby of alabama, who is the Ranking Member of the subcommittee. I thank each of you for your support and for your leadership. Im also thankful for the work of senator Patrick Leahy and senator grassley, each former chairs of the senate Judiciary Committee. Who have long championed this legislation in a bipartisan effort in the senate. This bill takes two important steps to promote innovation. First, it codifies the patents for Humanity Program of the u. S. Patent and trademark office. A program that recognizes those who are using creative thinking to address our worlds biggest challenges. Patents for humanity winners receive acceleration certificates that enable them to get expedited review of their next big idea when they bring it to the u. S. P. T. O. The second part of this bill strengthens the patents for Humanity Program by making those acceleration certificates transferable. This makes the prize more meaningful to the recipients, whether they are ready to tackle a new challenge or pursue investments that can help them bring their innovation and their invention to those that are in need. I am so very proud to be able to support the patents for Humanity Program. It recognizes the achievements of innovators from across the public and private sectors, including startups, established companies, universities and nonprofits. Its truly important that we uplift those who use their skills to develop technology and ideas that benefit our world. This legislation encourages inventors to pursue lifesaving ideas and solutions to the worlds global humanitarian challenges. Its passage today is a wonderful example of all of us coming together in a bipartisan manner to help solve problems that impact millions across the globe. And i am proud that we can do our part to expand this program and give innovators more freedom to support one another. I thank the scientists, researchers, engineers, inventors and problem solvers who look for ways that they can improve the lives of others. From curing disease to ending hunger to raising the quality of life for people across the globe. These innovators are truly doing good work. I thank them for their efforts and i urge my colleagues to support them by supporting this legislation. Thank you, and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady yields back the balance of her time. The gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Cline mr. Speaker, i have no further speakers, im prepared to close. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from georgia is recognized. Mr. Johnson thank you, thank you. Ill reserve. And were ready to close. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from virginia is recognized. Mr. Cline thank you, mr. Speaker. Again, i want to thank the patron, thank the chairman and Ranking Member of the subcommittee, and the full Judiciary Committee, for their work on this bipartisan bill. An important measure which supports the inventers empowering technological Leadership Today and in the future. I urge its passage and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from georgia is recognized. Mr. Johnson thank you, mr. Speaker. H. R. 7259 is a straightforward but important bill that will encourage additional innovations that address humanitarian challenges. I urge my colleagues to support the bill 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 question is, will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill, h. R. 7259. 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. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, the Unfinished Business is the question on agreeing to the motion to recommit on h. R. 7120. Offered by the gentleman from minnesota, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. The clerk will he the clerk will designate the motion. The clerk motion to recommit on h. R. 7120 offered by mr. Stauber of minnesota. The speaker pro tempore the question is on agreeing to the motion to recommit. Members will record their votes by electronic device. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from virginia seek recognition . As the member designated by mr. Lowenthal of california, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Lowenthal will vote nay on the motion to recommit. As the member designated by mr. Lieu of california, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Lieu will vote nay on the motion to recommit. As the member designated by ms. Moore of wisconsin, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that ms. Moore will vote nay on the motion to recommit. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from new york seek recognition . Mr. Jeffries as the member designated by chairwoman Eddie Bernice johnson, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that chairwoman johnson will vote nay on the motion to recommit. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition . Thank you, madam speaker, as the member designated by ms. Lofgren of california, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that ms. Lofgren votes nay on the motion to recommit. As the member designated by mr. Garamendi of california, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Garamendi votes no on the motion to recommit. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition . Madam speaker, as the member designated by mr. Lawson of florida, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Lewson votes no. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . Madam speaker, as the member esignated by congresswoman grace napolitano, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform congresswoman napolitano will vote nay on the motion to recommit. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from new york seek recognition . As the member designated by mrs. Lowey, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mrs. Lowey will vote nay on the motion to recommit. As the member designated by mr. Serrano, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the serrano will vote nay on the motion to recommit. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from tennessee seek recognition . Thank you, madam speaker. As the member designated by mr. Lipinski, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Lipinski will vote no on the motion to recommit. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from california seek recognition . Thank you, madam speaker. S the member designated by mr. Desaulnier, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Desaulnier will vote no on the motion to recommit. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from New Hampshire seek recognition . As the member designated by representative lois frankel, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that ms. Frankel will vote no on the motion to recommit. As the member designated by representative chellie pingree, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that ms. Pingree will vote no on the motion to recommit. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from michigan seek recognition . Thank you, madam speaker. As the member designated by mr. Lewis of georgia, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Lewis will vote nay on the motion to recommit. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from virginia seek recognition . As the member designated by mr. Kind of wisconsin, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Kind will vote nay on the motion to recommit. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from arizona seek recognition . As the member designated by representative kirkpatrick, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that representative kirkpatrick will vote nay on the motion to recommit. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from massachusetts seek recognition . Madam speaker, as the member designated by the honorable James Langevin of rhode island, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Langevin will vote nay on the motion to recommit on h. R. 7120. Thank you. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does think gentlewoman from connecticut seek recognition . As the member designated by mrs. Wilson, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mrs. Wilson of florida will vote no on the motion to recommit. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from massachusetts seek recognition . Mr. Mcgovern as the member designated by mr. Welch of vermont, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the welch will vote nay on the motion to recommit. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from california seek recognition . As the member designated by ms. Sanchez, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that ms. Sanchez will vote no on the motion to recommit. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from florida seek recognition . Ms. Wasserman schultz madam speaker, as the member designated by mr. Pape of new jersey, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Payne will vote no on the motion to recommit. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . As the member designated by mr. Cardenas, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Cardenas will vote nay on the motion to recommit. As the member designated by mr. Khanna, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Khanna will vote nay on the motion to recommit. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from new york seek recognition . As the member designated by mr. Deutch of florida, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Deutch will vote nay on the motion to recommit. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from new jersey seek recognition . Mr. Pallone madam speaker, as the member designated by mrs. Bonnie watson coleman, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mrs. Watson coleman will vote no. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from maryland seek recognition . Mr. Raskin thank you, madam speaker. As the member designated by mrs. Axne of iowa, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mrs. Axne will vote nay on the motion to recommit. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from nevada seek recognition . Titistitis madam speaker, as the member designated by ms. Titus madam speaker, as the member designated by mr. Engel, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Engel will vote no on the motion to recommit. The speaker pro tempore this te, the yeas are 180 and the nays are 236. With no answering present. The motion is not adopted. The question is on the passage of the bill. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the nos have it. A recorded vote. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from california seek recognition . Ms. Bass i would like a final ote final passage. The speaker pro tempore the the yeas and nays are ordered are in order. Members will record their votes by electronic device. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from new york seek recognition . As member designated pursuant to i inform the house ont mr. Deutch will vote yea h. R. 7120. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from tennessee seek recognition . Mr. Lipinski eg ill vote yea to h. R. 7120. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from california seek recognition . Ms. S a member designated by sanchez, fours that ms. Sanchez 7120. Ote yea on h. R. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from florida seek recognition . Madam speaker as a member designated by mr. Pape of new rsey pursuant to h. Res. 965, mr. Payne will vote yea on h. R. 7120. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition . Madam speaker, as a member designated by mr. Lofton of florida purn to House Resolution 65, mr. Lawson will vow yes. Will vote yes. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from maryland seek recognition . As a member designated by ms. Axne of iowa, i inform the house will vote aye on h. R. 7120. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from virginia seek recognition . As a member designated by ms. Moore of wisconsin pursuant to House Resolution 965 i inform the house, she will vote iowa. Pursuant to House Resolution 965 yea. Mr. Kind will vote i mr. Lowenthal of chaffle inform the house, he will vote yea. As a member designated by mr. Li emp u of california and i inform the house that mr. Lieu will 7120. Ea on h. R. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from michigan seek recognition . Thank you, madam speaker as smeg designated by member of john lewis, i inform the house that mr. Lewis will vote aye on h. R. 7120. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does purpose the gentlewoman from seek recognition . Lowe member designated by s frankel, frouse that ms. Frankel will vote iowa. As member designated by representative pen agree i inform the house that ms. Ingree will vote yea on h. R. 7120. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from new york seek recognition . As a member designated by mrs. Lowey pursuant to h. Res. 965, mrs. Lowey will vote yea. As a member designated by mr. Serrano, i inform the house that mr. Serrano will vote yea on h. R. 7120. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . Madam speaker as member esignated by grace napolitano, i inform the house that congresswoman napolitano will vote aye on h. R. 7120. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition . Madam speaker smeg by mrs. Love green of california pursuant to h. Res. 9 5, i inform the house mrs. Love green will vote iowa. Smeg, pursuant to house res. 965, i wish to inform the house that mr. Garmeppedy will vote drgarmeppedy, will vote dr garamendi will vote for what purpose does pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that ms. Wilson of florida votes yea on h. R. 7120. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from new york seek recognition . Mr. Jeffries as the member designated by chairwoman Eddie Bernice johnson, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that chairwoman johnson will vote aye on h. R. 7120. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . As the member designated by mr. Cardenas, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Cardenas will vote aye. N h. R. 7120. As the member designated by mr. Khanna, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Khanna will vote aye on House Resolution 7120. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from massachusetts seek recognition . Mr. Mcgovern as the member designated by mr. Welch of vermont, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Welch will vote aye on h. R. 7120. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from california seek recognition . Ms. Matsui as the member designated by mr. Desaulnier, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Desaulnier will vote yea on h. R. 120. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from massachusetts seek recognition . Mr. Lynch as the member designated by mr. Langevin of rhode island, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mr. Langevin will vote yes on the final passage of h. R. 7120. Thank you. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from arizona seek recognition . Mr. Gallego as the member designated by representative kirkpatrick, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that representative kirkpatrick will vote aye on h. R. 7120. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from new jersey seek recognition . Mr. Pallone madam speaker, as the member designated by ms. Bond mrs. Bonnie watson coleman, pursuant to House Resolution 965, i inform the house that mrs. Watson coleman will vote yes. Tifment for what purpose does the gentlewoman from nevada seek recognition . Pursuant to House Resolution 965 i inform the house that mr. Engel will vote yea on h. R. 7120. The speaker pro tempore owe this vote, the yeas are 236, the ays are 181, the bill is passed. Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. 1 the speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from georgia seek recognition . Mr. Woodall i ask unanimous consent to insert the text i would have offered if the house rejected the question along with extraneous material into the congressional on h. Res. 1017. The speaker pro tempore without objection, so ordered. The speaker pro tempore the chair will entertain requests for oneminute speeches. For what purpose does the gentlewoman from ohio seek recognition . Without objection. Gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Speaker, i rise in strong support of chairman waters resolution disapproving of President Trumps to deput the act and support the underserved communities across our nation. The administrations immoral rule change will roll back critical probings when millions of america caps are facing dire covid19 cries sees. Their credit has been an elusive goal. And this is a plag in countless communities. And the communities investments act says your money belongs to u and not to loan sharks sucking the wealth out of your neighborhood. We must strengthen the c. R. A. And build our coastal platforms to stepped credit to those who need it most. I urge swift passage and i urge my colleagues to support it and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition snr i request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. The gentleman is recognized for one minute. Thank you, mr. Speaker. As pennsylvanias 12th Congressional District continues to emerge from the covid19 virus panama, we can recognize the people pandemic, we can recognize the people in our community who have played a uniquely outstanding role in this unprecedented time. Today i want to recognize the work of a doctor, the head of the Infectious Diseases at upmc williamsport. In the early days of the pandemic, the doctor, along with the administration of upmc williamsport, provided a critical roadways of reason, calm and thoughtfulness in reassuring our community of local Health Providers ability to deal with covid19. Mr. Keller the doctor was a participant in a rural Health Round Table our team held in march that discussed covid19 testing capabilities, surge capacity, and what government can do to ensure the medical community has the tools it needs. Dr. Dilal later joined me for a telephone town hall on covid19 where he spoke to over 10,000 residents in central and northeastern pennsylvania about how to protect themselves in the pandemic and answered their questions. Throughout the pandemic, dr. Dilal has spoken with many area lawmakers, Community Leaders and others while maintaining his hospital responsibilities on the front lines of fighting this terrible virus. For his work, professionalism and expertise, dr. Dilal is truly a covid19 hero. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from maryland seek recognition . Without objection, the gentleman s recognized for one minute. Mr. Speaker, for too long we have not had the courage as a nation to say black lives matter. Well, now its a new day. Anguished and outraged by the killings of ahmaud arberry, arbery, Breonna Taylor, george floyd and so many others whose families have been left grieving, we are finally beginning to speak truth and take action. These killings have left us despondent and deeply angry that america cannot rid itself of the disease of racism and violence and that police and prosecutors too often inflict pain on the very communities they are charged with serving. Mr. Sarbanes but we are also determined. Determined not to let this moment pass without an uncompromised demand for justice on behalf of the victims families and on behalf of a nation in search of its soul. For the sake of our future, we must overcome this legacy of violence and ensure that the civil and human rights of every person in our country are protected. I am proud to support the George Floyd Justice in policing act of 2020. And i yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition . Seek unanimous consent to address the house for one minute, revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Speaker, what started as a tragedy, then turned disturbingly into our streets, resulted with tonights vote, with a partisan bill to nowhere. The people weve been elected to serve have asked in fact demanded, that this congress do something to calm the unrest in our communities. Congress was asked to lead. Instead this house has decided to bring forth another partisan bill to nowhere. Senator tim scott and others work tirelessly in an encollusionary manner and developed the justice act, a bill that would bring law and order and justice to communities. Mr. Meuser this bill will not become law this bill that has been passed in the house will not become law because it was not inclusionary and would not reform the police, but by eliminating qualified immunity and noknock warrants, it would put people and police into dangerous and costly scenarios. This bill is another lost opportunity to serve the people we serve. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from texas seek recognition . Without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. Ms. Jackson lee mr. Speaker, i want to say to my community in houston, that i know that they are celebrating the idea that the George Floyd Justice in policing act has passed. I look forward to going home and engaging with them and indicating that we are Reimagining Police and that were building on policecommunity relations. I also want to make mention of the fact that, as i left houston, the state of texas had 5,000 new covid19 cases. Today we have counted 900 cases in the houstonHarris County area. People are dying. People are being tested positive. And we need help. It is important that we pass the heroes act, but more importantly, that we keep our testing sites open. On saturday, i will open another oneday testing site, my 11th, working with local health professionals. The city of houston and Harris County need our help. And we must continue these testing sites, we must keep them open and i encourage, and houston, get tested. If you are positive, give us your blood for antibodies. After you have cured, but more importantly, wear your mask, watch your hands and socially wash your hands and socially distance. We have to save lives. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from michigan seek recognition . For what purpose does the gentlewoman from North Carolina seek recognition . Ms. Foxx thank you, mr. Speaker. I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. Ms. Foxx thank you, mr. Speaker. Over the past few months, weve seen remarkable progress in the fight against covid19. Our small businesses, manufacturers and even schools have stepped up to produce necessary p. P. E. For their communities and front line providers. As of last month, Wilkes Community college ash campus located in my district delivered over 741 3 h been printed face shields to various locations in the high country. Originally this 3d printing endeavor was going to support ash memorial hospital. But now it has turned into a regional resource for Health Care Providers across western North Carolina. To the two engineering instructors at Wilkes Community college, and their colleagues who are spear heading this effort, thank you and keep up the good work. I yield back, mr. Speaker. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from michigan seek recognition . Mrs. Lawrence thank you, mr. Chair. Today im so hopeful after the vote for the George Floyd Justice in policing act. I can now look those little children, those little black boys and girls, and they say, am i safe . And does anyone care about my future . And i am so proud that this was a bipartisan bill. I strongly encourage the senate to come to the table and lets continue to do our job and ensure that the future of america is one that is inclusive, that is one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from ohio seek recognition . Without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. Mrs. Beatty thank you, mr. Speaker. I stand here today on the United States house floor to say thank you to my colleagues who voted for house bill 7120. Justice in the policing act 2020. Tomorrow i go back home to the third Congressional District and i say to them, this is what we did for you. Mr. Speaker, it was worth me marching. It was worth me kneeling for so t minutes and 46 seconds many times in my district. And now today i can say that i was speaker pro tempore when this bill came to the floor. It sends a great message home to my district. It tells them, if we can do this at the federal level, then we can do this at the state, the county and the city level. So it is my honor to stand here and say, from agony to action. Thank you, and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore under the speakers announced policy of january 3, 2019, the gentleman from texas, mr. Gohmert, is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader. Mr. Gohmert thank you, mr. Speaker. At this time its my honor to provide or yield such time as my friend from North Carolina may consume. Mexico foxx. Ms. Foxx ms. Foxx. Ms. Foxx i want to thank my colleague from texas. My classmate, for yielding time to me this evening. Mr. Speaker, at such a Pivotal Moment in the history of our country, democrats are choosing posturing over progress. Yesterday Senate Democrats blocked consideration of the justice act, and claimed it did not go far enough to address their issues with regards to Police Reform. One of the most puzzling pieces to this story is that even after senator scott offered to increase the allotment of amendments on the bill, Senate Democrats turned around and walked out of the room. They had the opportunity to work in the spirit of bipartisanship. But they ignored it. Are they genuinely afraid of bipartisan collaboration . Or are they more focused on securing scoring political points with their own base . You be the judge. Over the past few weeks, weve heard dangerous rhetoric regarding the defunding of Law Enforcement. And it is down right concerning. Downright concerning. The men and women of Law Enforcement lay down their lives every day in the line of duty. And this course of action that democrats are championing is an affront to health, safety and security of our communities. Law and order are fundamental tenants of a free society. But when anarchy is assigned a higher value than protecting the American People, the lines become blurred and discord will prevail. Mr. Speaker, i would be remiss if i did not address imprudent comments made on tuesday by the speaker of the house. She asserted that republicans are, quote, trying to get away with the murder of george floyd. Let her words sink in for a moment. Two weeks ago democrat leadership called passing Police Reform a life or death situation. But now that we have introduced legislation that addresses this issue, they have changed their tune entirely. Republicans stand at the ready to deliver this reform, while Speaker Pelosi is looking for the next media sound bite. Her rhetoric is nothing short of disgraceful. Instead of sewing seeds of division and resword sorting to crafting legislation behind closed doors, it is time that she and our colleagues across the aisle came to the table to work alongside of us. Maybe its too daunting of a task for them. For saking bipartisanship forsaking bipartisanship in favor of a my way or the highway approach will not move us closer to enacting meaningful Police Reform. Were ready to work with our democrat colleagues and all they need to do is pull a seat up to the table and join us. Mr. Speaker, i yield back to my olleague from texas. Mr. Gohmert im proud to call Virginia Foxx my classmate. Weve been through a lot together. But nothing like is currently going on in this country right now. Extraordinary. And were hearing from people back home. And from those who are not from my district that have called my office or called my wifes phone and left nasty, vicious messages , so that earing people who saw the subterfuge going on in the Judiciary Committee yesterday, they need to understand. Back before i became a district judge in texas, handling major civil litigation and felony criminal cases, up to and including Death Penalty cases, i tried a lot of cases, a lot of different courts, federal, state. Nd time to time you would and from time to time youd see judges who were not fair and they played their partisan games. Sometimes it was just a power thing. But i determined when i was a judge, nobody was going to be treated like that. And we didnt do that. And there were time limits on opening statements, closing arguments. As there were when i was chief justice of the court of appeals and i enforced the times. And i made sure that both sides had those times followed. Because to me, what a plied in Court Applies here. One of the last bastions of civility in the country. And even when there are riots and protesting going on, as long the legislature and courts are acting civilly, and that doesnt mean you condition yell at each other, sometimes the base gets very, very emotional. And some of us get very passionate about the things we feel. But it should never lead to violence. We had those arguments. Everybody gets treated fairly. I got to say, ive been unhappy with some Republican Committee hairs in the past. But at least they treated both sides the same way. But we have seen in the Judiciary Committee that has a storied history with strong, freedomloving patriots like daniel webster, possibly the leading advocate against slavery of his day. And certainly the most articulate. Articulate advocate against slavery in this country. Strong, christian, ethical, moral man. But we have seen such incredible partisanship in our committee. And i meep by that, unfair enforcement of the rules. And yes, i get passionate about it. Because i still believe in fairness. And you shouldnt treat people the way republicans have been treated in the Judiciary Committee. Why is that important . For one thing, it sets an example to the rest of the country, that its ok to just run over, ignore, threaten, create havoc for the people that you disagree with. That message goes out loud and clear. Im screwing over the other side by the rules, by using, flaunting my authority, and so what . If you agree with me, join me. In abusing our discretion. Were seeing that abuse go across the country. And what are we seeing across the country . We have seen democratic governors, some of them, and in our biggest cities with the biggest problems where the biggest problems are occurring and black lives that matter are being shot in record numbers as and were in chicago, stead of using our system to address the problems that have statements like , from the headline black lives matter leader, quote, if this country doesnt give us what we want, we will burn down this system. Well, this system has had millions of americans suffer and over a million die in the service of our country so that we would have the freedoms we do. And one thing has been very clear to me from studying history, really got into it in high school, majored in it, never stopped studying it. One thing is very clear. This country is an anomaly. Jesus said, remember, theyre going to hate you they hated me first. We were told youll suffer for christs sake. This was a country where you didnt suffer for being christian. That is an incredible little bubble in time and in space in the history of the world. This is an unusual country. And as alexis de tocqueville inted out about the churches and the amazing, yes, there are ther religions, and we respect that. Respect those. As long as theyre peaceful and they dont want to tear down the ystem or burn down the system. But de tocqueville pointed out that this country seems to have adopted christian principles throughout their government. Theyre more at play in whats happening in america than anywhere else. Thats paraphrased. I dont have his quotes. But there are many of them. Some of them that he was given credit for saying he didnt say. Ut he certainly observed that. But this little anomaly of selfgovernment in time and space is in grave risk. And anybody thats studied World History understands that. And there are people all over the country that weve heard from that understand that. And so when people are allowed even without burning down the system to burn down minority communities, burn down other peoples property, destroy businesses, tear down statues that reflect history, good and bad, without going through the system, the right way, the peaceful way, the way available, theyre already figuratively burning down the system. You want a statue removed, or you want a name changed, you do what theyre doing in tyler, texas. Where they petitioned, as i understand it, the school board, im not sure if theyve taken tion yet, but thats the way you do it. You go make your case. And if you dont like what is going on, then you simply run for office and replace those people who are not doing what you believe is the right thing. Thats the way it goes. Thats the way its supposed to go. And thats the way people that ant to destroy america are not doing it. But if theres an offensive statue, go get it changed. But we might want you to pay for replacing that with something else. And those who refuse to learn from history, as we know are destinned to repeat it. Its good to talk about people that made big mistakes in our history. Instead of doing like the marksist leaders of the crime wave across the country are trying to do. Now there are some that arent marksist, they dont know theyre being used by marksists, but the things going on are right out of the marksist playbook. And seen in 1917 in around what became the soviet union. It was seen by chavez in venezuela. Its been seen in many places. It was seen by the chies knee y the chinese under mao. Hitler was a monster. Attempted der, the genocide of the jewish people, should never be forgotten. But some people are denying it even happened. It did happen. You have two basically, totalitarian socialist forms of government. I know my friending, my colleague, he probably wouldnt call me his friend, from the as chairman of the judiciary, he immediately reacts when you mention that the fascists were really socialists. It was National Socialist workers party. In germany. Thats what the nazis were. And they believed in the same ind of totalitarian socialist government that soviet leaders believed in. And they created in the soviet union with their communist government and in china with their communist government what so many want to drive us to right now, they killed more people than any form of government in the history of the world. 20 million is only the estimate of what stalin starved to death in ukraine when there was actually plenty of food. But he intentionally starved them to death. 40 there was probably million, 60 million, depending on who you believe, that he killed. Determined to make the country better. And if you look at how many people the coronavirus has killed, they came that came from china, you can give them credit for killing millions more, im sure, before this is all over. Although we do have some in u. S. Overnment that have an interest, maybe its pecuniary, some kind of interest, in defending china and condemning the United States. Kind of tells you where their heart is. This country as ron maxwell said some years back, from its beginning its been about liberation. Government George Washington over there, people are trying to tear down his statues. And when you travel the world, people know the good about that man more so than American Students do anymore. Because the bill ayers of the country, the terrorists of their day, terrorist in another way now, but they realize blowing were up, sitins, riots not getting it done so they went into our colleges and universities, many of them, and began to teach their socialist marksist ideas that have never worked and led to more death and suffering than any other type of government. But theyve taught them this is the way to go. Many millenials have bought into that. Because they dont know true history. This is serious stuff. I talked to parliamentarians, members of parliament in europe, members of government in other parts of the world, including australia, and there are things about america that bug them. Some think were too arrogant. But when it comes down to it, wise people in other countries that have freedom at this time, ey know if the United States freedom is destroyed by marksists or anybody else there will be no other safe place in the world that americans can go to find the freedom that is at risk right now. If americas freedom goes down, theres no other place to go. And i know Ronald Reagan said, you know, no generation thats ever lost freedom ever got it back in the same generation, im telling you, if we dont stop the insurrection that is being allowed to occur under liberal then , liberal governors, were going to lose the country. And donald trump is determined not to let that happen. But under our constitution, theres some places that the mayor or the governor wont request help, the president is going to have difficulty getting it there to protect things. The way it is. There are consequences to electing feckless leaders who are afraid to do what needs to be done to protect this greatest bastion of freedom thats ever xisted. This has been a history in this country of liberation. Slavery should never been allowed to get started here. This country despite the liberal garbage it wasnt founded on the basis of slavery. Jefferyou look at thomas sons organization words in the Organization First draft, he knew slavery was bad and it was destructive to this country. And perhaps its the longest grievance against king george, not the longest, but one of the longest, he lays at the feet of king george ofening lapped the horrible thing that was going on in america, the atrocity called slavery. And king george should never have allowed to get started here or legal here, but it was and people in virginia at the time were not supposed to free their slaves. George washington, he knew it was wrong as well. All of is will, freed wifes s upon his death. Now there are some things that dont make accepts to some of us here because we werent living in that day, but the thing that we can be absolutely certain about is that no human being, only one, has ever been perfect. And anything that involves humans is going to be imperfect. But again, our history has been one of setting freedom as the goal, recognizing that freedom is a gift of god but like any inheritance, if you dont fight for it, you arent going to have it. So slavery, we had a revolution after the first great awakening and that was in the 1700s, pursuit of freedom and freedom of choice, second grade awakening in 1800s was followed by a horppedous civil war. Hat lincolns words that are inscribed in the Lincoln Memorial is and you can tell, he is trying to get a grip on this. He knows there is a god and believes in god and steve mansnled has a great book documenting linchingons days and not pleesk in god from the time he was elected president , and unless there was a god that allowed it to be. But in that egg second inaugural speech, a month before he was assassinated and it is inscribed there and he is trying to work through how this horrible war could occur when there is a good and just god. And he works through it. And he understands and he quotes scriptures like three places, in that part. Nd he says the world be to the person by only come egget. He knew it was an atrocity and wanted to end it. And he goes on, he talks about, though, both the north and south, both read the same bible god anded onto the same prayers couldnt be fully answered. But he combose on to point out that if it be gods will that every drop of blood drawn by the lash is going to have to be drawn by the sword and still has to say, 3,000 years ago, the are ents of the lord righteous all together. Im joined by my friends here on e floor ap chairman of the reedom caucus, he is a freedom lover. Ap mr. Biggs from arizona. Mr. Biggs i thank you for yielding time and i thank the gentleman and i appreciate his staunch ap relentless pursuit of freedom and defense of our liberty and our tremendous country and thank you, mr. Gohmert. I want to say things that need to be addressed and as we look upon these things and consider the direction of this nation, i feel like i need to quite rankly express my gratitude to that thin blue line that spends so much time working, training and macking sacrifices on our behalf. The men and women of the Police Agencies local and state, federal, every day that they put on the uniform, every shift they put on their uniform, they understand that it could be they could be called to sacrifice the full measure of who they are on our behalf and i thank them. I was recently talking to a friend of mine who is Police Officer and he expressed to me his concerns because what we are eeing is inex politicable to the rational mind. We understand protests. We appreciate protests. The First Amendment guarantees us that right. We get to stand up and get to against our government and i think back to Thomas Jefferson and he was asked why he refused to task action against a particular individual. And he said you know what . My friends know the truth and my enemies will never believe me and this individual can say what they want to say. We believe that to be true. We understand protests. What we dont understand so much is when it becomes lawless rioting or imperil somebodys right to life, interest or the pursuit of happiness. That is the problem that we are going through touchdown today. So tonight today. So tonight, one of the statues is going to be dragged town tonight and rescheduled the spontaneous the teardown for tomorrow ap see how it goes for them tomorrow. The point is, we recognize that we have godgiven freedoms and set many of those set forth in the constitution of the United States and spent 200 years to defend those and move towards a more Perfect Union. And so, i give my gratitude to the membership and women of our Police Agencies. You may be wearing plus or green like the Border Patrol, but you all sacrifice for us to have our freedoms and i want to talk briefly if it is ok with my host about the bill that was passed out of the house earlier this evening and a i had the privilege of serving on the Judiciary Committee and we got to hear the markup and the efforts to run that through and we got to offer amendments. I know the good gentleman offered an amendment ap i offered appear amendment ap they were not sbraped. In fact, we were ridiculed for offering amendments. The implications by the committee by offering an amendment to that bill that we were racist. That was the implication of what hey said and it is unfortunate because nothing could be further from the truth and we wanted to make a viable bill. But one of the things i find most intriguing is the elimination of qualified immunity and i will tell you why. We grant qualified immunity to many who work in government. We do that because they are asked to do a hard job and wont be able to do that job without taking personal risk. Qualifiedimination of limiteded immunity means that not only those who are criminally reckless or criminally culpable, but those who are merely neg lent or those who follow the procedures to the letter who dont violate a constitutional right or dont violate a law will be exposed, not just them, but all of their finances will be subject tore garnishment, execution, houses can be lost, their families left in ruins and december lation. I pause at that because when we were trying to offer amendments to provide reforms that we think we thought would be good and necessary and yet provide some protections, we were buffed that we nonsensical and then on the other hand if we could grant them passage of the bill, maybe they would allow us to amend it later. Of course, we couldnt stop the passage of the bill. The majority body. Heres what it means. If you are a Police Officer with 19 years in and you know what that he means for you . That means you are sitting in your car when somebody needs help. Why would you get out and rick your family and everything you to ed for for 19 years, potential liability . There will be those who make the sacrifice because those are who the men and women are. They have to make an rm of almost are riskreward situation every time it calls for police contact. So thats what happens. There will be many younger on who will do the same. Others will say, you know what . Im going to change careers. I can go somewhere elsewhere i dont expose my family. What this will ultimately means is more vack cap cyst in the cities. N the big cities and in my state, they have hundreds of vacancies. So you wont fill them because you cant recruit. You cant recute and cant train. You cant train, you cant retain. Seriously ng to have decimated Police Forces certainly in the big cities. One of our colleagues said, they should get insurance like lawyers and doctors. But not really viable. They say the department will remain liable, will so is the individual. If you have jointcivil liability and have a department with five officers in it, they captain afford insurance nor can they afford to take care of this situation. Departments will be decimated large and small. What are you going to see . You going to see higher crime rates that is what this bill will produce, mark my words. And right now we are having unrest throughout the nation. Im grateful for the police from the agencies, state and local and federal who are willing to stand. Call upon our f. B. I. Director o make arrests and i call upon our u. S. Attorney general to prosecutor prosecute, charge and prosecute those who have engaged in criminal conduct. The number the number one call i get is restoration of law and order. Thats what my constituents want. And it doesnt matter the political party, thats across the board. I conclude with these marks. This country is at a