Transcripts For CSPAN US House Of Representatives Special Orders 20160615

Before we can hold them under the laws of war we ought to have some sort of review to find that out. And its not true that all the people left are the most dangerous. Some are, some are not. We owe it to our own traditions to figure out the difference, not to mention the fact that to hold them in the United States costs 34,000 a year testimony to the they would them in guantanamo costs 5 million a year, each. And who is the fiscally responsible party today . I yield back. The chair the gentleman yields. The gentleman from florida is recognized. If we could have paid that money, i would pay it every day, every single day. Mr. Desantis we would reward people who were picked up in combat zones who are not wearing uniforms, this is wearing and to give them, to someone who followed the laws of war and to me, that excused. I think it is a good amendment and i yield back. The chair the gentleman yields. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from florida. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it. The amendment is agreed to. Mr. Nadler i ask for a roll call vote. The chair further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from florida will be postponed. It is now in order to consider amendment number 35 printed in house 114623, for what purpose does the gentleman from washington seek recognition . The clerk will designate the amendment. The clerk amendment offered by mr. Reichert of washington. The chair the gentleman from washington, mr. Reichert and a member opposed each will control five minutes. The chair recognizes the the gentleman from washington. Mr. Reichert and what we saw in san bernandino, we are living with recent threats. This leaves our Law Enforcement officers and First Responders with the responsibility of fighting on the front lines against the war on terror. Not only are they being asked to undertake the tasks with fewer and fewer resources. Otherwise agency, known as the 1033 program has been critical for First Responders throughout the country and necessity to keep our cities and neighborhoods safe. The name 1033 comes from a section of the 1997 National Defense authorization act that made that program personal in the event. The Law Enforcement officers who might be listening to this presentation tonight know that 1033 and the 10 code means officer needs help and as a former Law Enforcement officer to useyears, i had keags the 103 call and mr. Chairman, we are in a world where our First Responders irsaying 103 , we need help, we support. We need you to stand by us and provide us with the tools to protect this country. This allows Law Enforcement officers to acquire equipment to respond to the threats. For example, during the san bernandino attack in 2015, december, the local police used an arm our vehicle for officers to take cover while the attackers were shooting hundreds of rounds and they were able to move the vehicle and eventually take down the attackers. Firefighters have used 1033 program, back in my own district, search and rescue team as acquired a light tactical vehicle that can access the district where wildfires affect. The fire and rescue agency spent 65,000 for 250,000 machine that will be used to save lives in our community. The president s executive order, 13688 prohibits our Law Enforcement officers. And mr. Chairman, i have said, i have served in Law Enforcement for 33 years and i know from my own experience and speaking with members of the Law Enforcement community, we expose the American People and we cant be there to help them. Right now, i reserve the balance f my time. Mr. Frelinghuysen Law Enforcement in my community, sheriffs and Police Chiefs are grateful or appropriate for defense equipment to do the jobs. It is all about protecting the public, Public Safety and allowing our Law Enforcement people to do their job. Im proud to support your amendment. Mr. Reichert i reserve. The chair the gentleman from washington reserves. The gentleman from indiana. Mr. Visclosky i rise time tom claim opposition. I dont think any of us are in disagreement that anything we can do particularly as excess military he equipment is the right thing to do. Relatively recently, we were successful in helping the community secure a wield arm red tactical vehicle to help people egress a dangerous a dangerous situation. I do think we need to make a distinction to some of the type of help to be going to local communities. And in the president s order allows it to take place that those vehicles continue to be transferred or that with justification specialized firearms and ammunition be transferred or that explosives can be transferred under the executive order to local communities or that rioting equipment can be transferred toll local communities. Order. Broad launchers. Nade what cant be transferred are bayon ets. And there has to be ol limit and im opposed to the gentlemans limit and i would reserve. The chair the gentleman from indiana reservings. Mr. Reichert with respect to your comments, i think its important for us to remember that this equipment is required to be demilitarized. You cant acquire this and still maintain a military component. You cant mount machine guns on top of the arm oured vehicles. I dont know of any police chief or she have sheriff in the country that has asked for explosives, mr. Chairman. These are reasonable requests. And there is a very restrictive thought provides that has been in place. And the problem is that the president s executive order has created so much restriction now that it has essentially prevented Law Enforcement agencies and Fire Departments and rescue agencies from acquiring the needed equipment that they so need to protect our communities. So i would continue to reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman from washington reserves. Mr. Visclosky i have the right to close. Mr. Reichert i think this is a commonsense amendment that really spells out the need to for Law Enforcement to have this equipment and been used properly in the past and i have used this equipment as the sheriff in king ounty and as a s. W. A. T. Team commander. The chair the gentlemans time has expired. Mr. Visclosky we should be discerning and under the executive order that things like ammunition and explosives can be transferred and i would yield back my time. The chair the gentleman from indiana yields. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from washington. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the igse have it, the amendment is agreed to. It is now in order to consider amendment number 36 printed in for what t 114623, purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . Mr. Rohrabacher i have a bill at the desk. The clerk amendment number 36 114623. N house report the chair punt to House Resolution, the gentleman from california, mr. Rurek and a member opposed each will control 20 minutes. Mr. Rohrabacher and i thank you for all of the hard work they are putting into this very important piece of legislation and part of the job we must do in congress. My amendment prohibits the bill, money from the funds of this bill from being used to provide assistance to pakistan. Since 9 11, we have given pakistan well over 308 billion, the majority goes to military and Security Services and pakistan has used those services to what . To murder and and oppress their own people and the people who are struggling for their freedom against ar pakistani oppression. It is a grotesque to suggest at our aid is buying their cooperation in the war on islamic terrorism. The pakistani government is neither our friend nor shares a common interest with our country. They are hard cor, twofaced enemies of our country. Ok at what has happened to a pakistani medical doctor and continues to languish in a pakistani written. Helped us bring to justice, Osama Bin Laden. Last year, i came here to speak on the same issue, this is something we have been calling on. If they wanted to show a sign of good faith, they would have released him a good time time. He continues to remain in prison. And we provide weapons and cash. Keeping him in prison is a slap in the face and insult of the families that died on 9 11. Given the miserable human rights track record, the pakistani government as well as its ongoing struggle for people the ongoing struggle for the people of pakistan were seeking their own selfdetermine nation, this is morally wrong for us to continue to give weapons and assistance to this corrupt government. Unless my amendment passes, our id will bolster a government that has committed crimes against their own people and we will be giving money to a government that will not only represses its own people but through terrorist organizations and threatens the people of the United States. I would ask my colleagues to vote for this amendment. And i reserve the bral answer of my time. Mr. Frelinghuysen i recognize the gentlemans passion and perseverance on this issue. The chair does the gentleman seek time in opposition . Mr. Frelinghuysen yes, i do. Thank you. I do want to pay tribute to the gentlemans perseverance and strong feelings. We engage in the elevator since we share the same third floor, i just want to recognize his passion about this issue. Let me say, whatever the failings of pakistan, they have been one of our allies for over 30 or 40 years. And the Coalition Support fund does remain a critical tool to enable pakistan to effectively deal with present and future challenges. That are coming, quite honestly, as a result of our drawdown. It is a more costeffective tool than putting more of our troops on the ground. I respect the gentlemans passion. But i strongly oppose his amendment. And reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentleman from california is recognized. Mr. Rohrabacher how much time do i have left . The chair 1 3 4 minutes. Mr. Rohrabacher ok. Let me just note, i respect the chairmans leadership and the hard work that youre putting in on this. And as well as the Ranking Member. This is a needed piece of legislation and i respect that. This is our primary job, to watch out for the security of our country, and this bill is supposed to address that. And that is one reason why ive decided that unless the pakistanis prove to us that im wrong by simply releasing dr. Fredy, it is basically they are insulting us, they are insulting the victims and the families of 9 11 and the fact is they cant even do this. You know, if they cant even do this, how do we expect them to not be supporting terrorism behind the scenes, which many of us believe the pakistanis are guilty of . I suggest that, what more can they do, who will trust us around the world if we let our friends like dr. Freddie linger and let them sit there in a dungeon . So heres the man who helped us get Saddam Hussein Osama Bin Laden and the pakistanis wont even let him out of jail. Hes an american hero, for gods sakes. Anyway, what more can they do to us before we cut them off from all the billions of dollars of aid weve given them . I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution, this moral resolution, and thank you very much, mr. Chairman. The chair the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from new jersey is recognized. Mr. Frelinghuysen i yield the rest of my time, before i yield o the Ranking Member visclosky, dr. Freddie needs to be freed. We want to go on Public Record that pakistan needs to free this man who did remarkable things. He needs to be recognized for his courage, he needs to get out of prison or jail, wherever he is, and i think all members of congress feel very strongly that he needs to be released. Please to yield to mr. Advice clossity. Mr. Visclosky i would associate mr. Mr. Frelinghuysen pleased to yield to mr. Visclosky. Advice i have i appreciate the gentlemans passion, his search for mr. Visclosky i appreciate the gentlemans passion, his search for justice in this world. I believe the amendment is overly broad. The chairman of the committee certainly recognizes the difficulties we face in pakistan. Hence the inclusion of section 9017, that prohibits funds to be spent unless our certain certifications are made. For that reason would be opposed and join with my chairman against the amendment. Thank you for yielding. Mr. Frelinghuysen i yield back, mr. Chairman. The chair the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from california. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the noes have it. The amendment is not agreed to. Rohrabacher on that i can mr. Rohrabacher on that i request a recorded vote. The chair pursuant to clause 6 of rule 18, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from california will e postponed. It is now in order to consider amendment number 37 printed in ouse report 114623. For what purpose does the gentleman from michigan seek recognition . Mr. Walberg mr. Chairman, i have an amendment at the desk. The chair the clerk will designate the amendment. The clerk amendment number 33 printed in house report 114623 offered by mr. Walberg of michigan. The chair pursuant to House Resolution 783, the gentleman from michigan, mr. Walberg, and a member opposed each will control five minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from michigan. Mr. Walberg thank you, mr. Chairman. I thank the chairman of the committee, Ranking Member, for the work thats been done. Look forward to supporting this important appropriations. But i rise to offer a bipartisan amendment with mr. Cohen of tennessee, mr. Jones of north carolina, mr. Cicilline of rhode island, mr. Massie of kentucky, mr. Welch of vermont, mr. Rigell of virginia, and mr. Nolan of minnesota, that works to ensure the appropriate use of american taxpayer dollars in afghanistan. This amendment is in keeping with the clear position of the house. As we have voted several times in bipartisan fashion to limit funds for the Afghanistan Infrastructure Fund, a program which has been poorly run and is lacking in oversight. Last year the house passed my bipartisan amendment that would have prevented the department of defense from redirecting 50 million in funds from the Afghanistan Security forces fund to the Afghanistan Infrastructure Fund. Unfortunately the fiscal year retain the did not house language and provided d. O. D. The authority to obligate funds for the Afghanistan Infrastructure Fund through the end of fiscal year 2017. My current amendment would turn off this authority. Mr. Chairman, we have spent billions of dollars toward rebuilding the infrastructure of afghanistan. In fact, congress has provided 1. 3 billion to the Afghanistan Infrastructure Fund, it was created in 2011. However, funds that have been slow to be spent, ass and as of and as of march 31, 2016, 488 million of these Infrastructure Funds have yet to be expended. Reservations have been expressed about the afghans ability to even operate and maintain these projects upon completion. Mr. Chairman, i ask with almost 50 of funds remaining to be expended, why take away from other programs and give to this one . I reserve. The chair the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. For what purpose does the gentleman from new jersey seek recognition . Mr. Frelinghuysen mr. Chairman, i rise in opposition claim time in opposition to the gentlemans amendment. The chair the gentleman is recognized for five minutes. Mr. Frelinghuysen let me thank the gentleman for his amendment and his thoughtfulness and his concerns, which we share, about a lot of projects weve investigated invested in in afghanistan. I understand the gentlemans intentions are well placed. There are a few projects that were initiated on the Afghanistan Infrastructure Fund that ran into hurdles, as Construction Projects do, and are yet to be completed. The construction hurdles are by and large complete. The kandahar bridging solution, this is a plan to provide electrical power to kandahar, should be completed soon. This was a top counterinsurgency priority. Initiated in fiscal year 2011, the Afghanistan Infrastructure Fund funded Infrastructure Projects in afghanistan to lock in security gains and main stain stability by providing maintain stability by providing basic essential infrastructure to the people of afghanistan. Our appropriations act enacted last year was not to extend funding or add any new projects, but merely to have the authority to respond to out of scope adjustments on existing projects so they can be completed and functional for the afghan people. We of course realize we have infrastructure needs here at home in the United States, but what message does it send to the afghan people, yet to the world, that we would leave nine major Power Generation projects unfinished, including a dam . Six of these projects are estimated to be completed by the end of the year, and only three with only three completions remaining. May i say the committee opposes the bill, likes to see these projects through, so we can give the afghani people a fighting chance. I remain opposed to the bill and recognize mr. Visclosky for any time he may wish. Mr. Visclosky i thank the gentleman. I do appreciate the sentiments of the gentleman who offered the amendment. As i said earlier in our debate this evening, it is very hard at times to measure progress in afghanistan. But id agree with the chairman that after the sacrifice that has been expended, were toward the end, we ought to give them a chance to stand on their own and join with the chair in opposition to the amendment. Thank you for yielding. Mr. Frelinghuysen reserve the balance of my time. The chair the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentleman from michigan is recognized. Mr. Walberg thank you, mr. Chairman. I appreciate the chairman and Ranking Members concerns, but 50 of the funds still remain to be used. Theyre there for that purpose. I think thats sufficient, 233 of us last year voted in favor of this amendment in a bipartisan fashion. I think that directs also the will of the house. Having said that, i want to yield two minutes to my good friend, a colleague from rhode island, mr. Cicilline. The chair the gentleman is recognized for two minute. Mr. Cicilline i thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, i rise in strong support of this amendment offered by the gentleman from michigan. We have enormous infrastructure needs here in our own country and in fact the federal Highway Administration estimates that we have 106 billion of work to be done to our nations deteriorating bridges. And as a country the absolutely critical that we make investments in repairing our own nations infrastructure. And instead we continue to invest taxpayer money in the afghan Infrastructure Fund and to make matters worse, the Afghanistan Infrastructure Fund is notorious for inefficiencies and shortfalls. Several government watchdog groups have said that projects under this account have lagged significantly behind schedule, have lacked proper oversight, and have been poorly administered. There have been documented serious waste and fraud in this program. When this program was established in 2011, it was intended to identify a handful of Infrastructure Projects that were shovelready and able to be completed by the middle of 2013. According to the special Inspector General for afghanistan reconstruction, projects funded under this account have been consistently over budget, and behind schedule. And since 2003, the United States, the taxpayers of this country, have spent 1. 3 billion rebuilding afghanistan. As of april of this year, the department of defense has yet to disbers nearly 500 million for this program. And with so much funding still waiting to be spent, why should we in fact provide additional programming additional funds for this program in light of that . The time that we put the needs of our own the time that we t the needs of our its time we put the needs of our own roads and bridges first. I urge my colleagues to support this so we can really refocus our attention on rebuilding our own country and put an end to this wasteful, inefficient program that has been fraught with fraud and waste. I thank my colleague for allowing me to cosponsor the amendment. I strongly urge my colleagues to support the amendment. I yield back. The chair the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from michigan is recognized. Mr. Walberg i thank the chairman. How much time of do how much time do i have remaining . The chair 15 seconds. Mr. Walberg i guess i will close. I ask my colleagues to support this. I appreciate the sentiment and the concern of the Ranking Member and the chairman of the committee. But this is an issue that has weighed concerns for too long. Its time to give the Infrastructure Improvements our direction. Afghanis understand that, i believe. I ask for support of my amendment and i yield back. The chair the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from new jersey. Mr. Frelinghuysen mr. Chairman. I yield back. The chair the question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from michigan. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the noes have it. The amendment is not agreed to. Mr. Walberg mr. Chairman. Id ask for a recorded vote. The chair a recorded vote has been requested. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule 18, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from michigan will be postponed. It is the understanding of the chair that amendment number 38 will not be offered. It is now in order to consider amendment number 39 printed in house report 114623. For what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition . Kyte kyte mr. Cartwright mr. Chairman, i have an amendment at the desk, amendment number 39. The chair the clerk will designate the amendment. The clerk amendment number 39 printed in house report 114623 offered by mr. Cart riot of pennsylvania cartwright of pennsylvania. The chair pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Cartwright, and a member opposed will each control five minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from pennsylvania. Mr. Cartwright with my compliments, the gentleman from new jersey and the Ranking Member and the gentleman from indiana, i rise to offer a bipartisan amendment which would prohibit the department of fense of conducting new a76 stuties that both the gao concluded could not demonstrate any savings to the taxpayer and has been subblet to a moratorium. Specifically the a76 process uses faulty Methodology Since 2002 to determine whether civilian jobs should be outsourced. The report netted, it fails to keep track this a life 76 priest and fails to keep track. A76 is unmoored from fact and for federal employees and Inspector General concluded that the decisions are based on a fact not supported by. Ata unless d. O. D. Has a rate the results of future competitions will be questionable. Unquote. Making decisions is an irresponsible use of taxpayer dollars and it is particularly important to the bipartisan caucus and rsenal hile statutory law shields the have this process could noncore work. Absent the protections of my amendment, significant deppo work load and munitions plants and the base operations will be pen to these flawed a7 studies. Risk isk, this putting at and interrupting work flow when our military is inflate fluke. This could lead to delays to our our ghters and weakening organic base and reducing jobs. This body, this house, owes a duty to our war fighters and the taxpayers to move forward. I urge my colleagues to vote yes and maintain the moratorium on he studies, shieldic our revision. I would like to thank don buyer as well as walter jones and rob bishop for their support on this important amendment and i would like to thank the Government Employees for their support as army d the toby hanna depp oy. Mr. Visclosky it is a good one and i rise in support of it. The chair the gentleman from pennsylvania reserves. Any member seek time in opposition . Chairman pennsylvania recognized. I urge my colleagues to vote on this. The chair the question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from pennsylvania. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair the ayes have it, the amendment is agreed to. The chair for what purpose does the gentleman from seek recognition . Mr. Conyers i have a an amendment at the desk. Cherkcherk amendment number 40 printed in house report 114623 offered by mr. Conyers of michigan. The chair the gentleman from michigan, mr. Conyers and a member opposed each will control five minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from michigan. Mr. Conyers thrm amendment is to block the transfer of americanmade cluster bombs to saudi arabia. This amendment is endorsed by the United States conference of catholic bishops and the human ights wash of watch and a american manufacturer cluster bombs are used by the sawed youyled. That has caused the deaths of over 900 children, 3,000 civilians and has forced 2. 8 Million People from their homes in violation of american law, e saudis have used cluster bombs endangering civil yabs and threat yrning agriculture. Since the United States is supplying cluster bombs to the saudis and is a member of the Coalition Led by the saudis, the United States could be held response i will for actions in this widely criticized campaign. The Obama Administration took action to stop the sale of sole cluster bombs to the saudis. This amendment would put that prohibition into law and make it more transparent and accountable. I urge my colleagues to pass this reasonable amendment. And i reserve. The chair the gentleman from michigan reserves. The gentleman from new jersey is recognized. Mr. Frelinghuysen i rise to claim time in opposition of the gentlemans opposition. The department of defense strongly opposes this amendment. Hey advise it would legitimate weapons and are effective weapons providing weapons against a range of targets and in less collateral damages. The United States should be encouraging other states such as the kingdom of the vibe to update rather ng making it more difficult for new sales and transfers, advancements in september try fallujah technology to select and engage individual targ et cetera that re not in those types. The chair the gentleman from new jersey reserves. Mr. Conyers im pleased to yield to the gentleman from georgia, mr. Johnson, one minute. The chair the gentleman is recognized for one minute. Mr. Johnson we have seen horrific reports from the groups in yemen and innocent bystanders and attacking. Earlier this year, the coalition dropped cluster bombs, specifically targeting neighborhoods. Has a he those and school for blind children. E tr children was unbearably gruse some. This highlights their complete disregard for the welfare. These actions are unacceptable and wrong with preaching civil rights while we exploit. We cannot ignore our basic human rights. Unfortunately, as lopping as we see the mune missions, these violations will concht to occur and with that, i yield back and i ask my coloogs to support this amendment. The chair the gentlemans time has expired. L the gentlemans time has expired. The gentleman from michigan. I yield to mr. Visclosky. Advise advice i rise in strong support. I applaud the administration for as of cent suspension, may 23, the gentlemans amendment would add certainty to the administrations possession and i do support him in his effort and i do support him. And i thank him for yielding. The chair the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. The gentleman from new jersey. Mr. Frelinghuysen i continue to oppose the amendments and relating to the munitions, Human Rights Watch stated that and i ote and perhaps the greatest greatest technological advance, known as air force tank busters are capable of sensing and attacking specific targets. Without the saudi order, this is what this is focusing on, this will close in 2017, significantly impacting the Industrial Base and prevent future u. S. Procurement. 85 suppliers in 30 states will be shuddered. If the United States blocks the sale, saudi arabia will purchase cluster mune missions from china d others and will have unexploded munitions and further opposeding civilians as to manufactured munitions. I strongly reject this amendment and i yield back. Charmente the gentleman yields back. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from michigan. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, the knows have it and the amendment is not agreed to. Mr. Conyers ma may i ask for a recorded vote. The chair pursuant to clause , rule 18, further proceedings on the the gentleman from michigan offered will be postponed. For what purpose does the gentleman from new jersey sook recognition sne mr. Frelinghuysen i move that the committee do now rise. The chair the question is on the committee. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. The ayes have it. And the motion is adopted. And the committee rises. The speaker pro tempore mr. Speaker. The committee of the who wheel house of the stathe of the union having had under consideration directs me to report that it has come to no resolution thereon. The speaker pro tempore the chair of the committee of the committee of the heel reports that the committee has had under has deration h. R. 5293 and ome to no resolution thereon. The chair will now entertain requests for oneminute speeches. For what purpose does the gentlelady from ohio seek recognition . Without objection, the gentlelady is recognized for one minute. Ms. Kaptur mr. Speaker, earlier today i noted with particular joy that the house energy and Commerce Committee moved through by unanimous vote and complete bipartisanship the helping families in Mental Health crisis act. H. R. 2426. Without question, it is one of the most important pieces of legislation to address the serious Mental Illness crisis that has plagued our nation since deinstitutionization turned millions of seriously ill citizens out on our streets, assuming they could function in community in the second half of the 20th century. That proved not to be possible for millions of our fellow citizens, lacking effective treatment, many froze to death in back alleys, sat in their own ex countryment on the sidewalks of our cities, sought refuge on bridges and doorways, became victims of use and disappeared into the vapors of life, propelled by the force of their own unquiet minds. Let me thank profusely and recognize congressman murphy of pennsylvania, a psychology, who relied on his three decades of experience, and congresswoman johnson of texas, a psychiatric nurse with two decades of experience and practice, for their visionary and unrelenting efforts to move the polite of the mentally ill into the plight of the mentally ill into the main arena of this congress. Let us do something in our time and generation worthy to be remembered. This bill is it. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleladys time has expired. For what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . Mr. Speaker, i ask unanimous consent that when the house adjourns today it adjourn to meet at 9 00 a. M. Tomorrow. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Under the speakers announced policy of january 6, 2015, the gentleman from california, mr. Mcclip tock mr. Mcclintock, is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader. The gentleman from california is recognized. Mr. Mcclintock thank you. Mr. Speaker, the terrorist attack on orlando should bring into sharp focus the growing threat that our nation faces from islamic terrorism. And that begins with realizing that although islam is a religion, it is often accompanied by a poisonous political ideology that is antithetical to everything that our country stands for. That ideology now poses a direct threat to the liberty and safety of our people and we have every right to defend ourselves against it. We knew for years that the terrorists father was broadcasting protaliban and antiamerican rhetoric aimed principally at a large and growing Afghan Islamic population within the United States. We knew that the terrorist himself had traveled repeatedly to saudi arabia under mysterious circumstances, associated with known terrorists and islamic radicals in the United States, and expressed the most antiamerican views. And we took no action because there are far more instances of such threats than we can begin to assess or address. This administration has drastically increased the admission of refugees from regions where overwhelming majorities believe in imposing sharia law. Those who are fleeing sharia law and islamist political ideology should be welcome in this country. But those who are coming here to impose it are a direct threat to our constitution and they have no business being admitted to our shores. This administration makes no distinction between the two. Earlier this year, when governor rick scott of florida, acting on behalf of Law Enforcement, requested information on the islamic immigrants being inserted into his state, he was refused that vital Public Safety information. While seeking to rapidly increase the number of islamists being admitted to this country, this administration has failed not only to enforce our immigration laws, but it has actively undermined those laws. As a result of these deliberate government policies, we are enduring islamist attacks within our borders that will continue to increase in both frequency and severity. There is no blinking at the fact that these policies have encouraged a large and growing fifth column that is violently hostile to our country and it has become deeply embedded within our communities. San bernardino and orlando were just the first bloody foretaste of what is to come until and unless these policies are stopped and reversed. Last year the house passed the safe act, thats an acronym for safety against foreign enemies. It was the first tentative step toward properly screening refugees from hot beds of islamic extremism. It merely required affirmative verification of a refugees lack of hostile intent if they were coming from islamist strong holds in iraq and syria. Strongholds in iraq and syria. 135 democrats in this house opposed the safe act and Senate Democrats killed it in january at the behest of their president. Who ery same politicians will not allow us even to confirm the intent of islamists entering america are at the same time using the orlando atrocity as an excuse to disarm loyal and lawabiding americans. Within minutes of the attack the left began to use this terrorist atrocity to justify more restrictions on the rights of americans to defend themselves. They would have us believe that terrorists who are bent on destroying our country by violently killing americans will somehow make one exception to their contempt for our nation by meticulously obeying our gun control laws. The leftists tell us to leave it to the police. Really . In orlando it took three hours for police to secure the scene and confront the attacker while hostages were being shot and the wounded were left to bleed to death. Three hours. In san bernardino, the terrorists had already fled before police even arrived at the scene. The first line of defense against an armed terrorist is an armed american. Yet the democrats seek to make it harder for americans to arm themselves while increasing the threat posed by Mass Immigration from those countries where islamist ideology is rampant. Is it possible that they dont understand that there is an International Arms market and that terrorists can get their hands on any kinds of weapons they want as effortlessly as teenagers can buy pot . While the orlando terrorist got his guns legally, he could just as easily have gotten them illegally. But thats not the case of lawabiding american citizens. Lawabiding citizens obey our laws. Terrorists do not. The lefts vision for our country is one in which americans cannot shoot back and must helplessly wait to be rescued while theyre being terrorized by islamic extremists who should never have been in this country in the first place. And that is going to continue in this country until it wakes up to the danger that it faces and takes Decisive Action at the ballot box. That is ultimately the choice before us. We can either suffer increasingly Violent Attacks on increasingly defenseless americans, or we can choose to finally take seriously the nature of the enemy we face and finally demand leaders who will secure our borders, empower americans to defend themselves, and act to defend our country. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. Under the speakers announced policy of january 6, 2015, the gentlelady from california, ms. Speier, is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader. Speier speier thank you, mr. Speaker ms. Speier thank you, mr. Speaker. We are doing something tonight thats never been done before on the house floor. We will read the entire gut wrenching statement of a Sexual Assault survivor who was attacked on the stanford campus last year. The sexual predator received a sentence of six months in county jail, of which he will serve only three. For committing a violent crime. We are not moved by the felons excuse of alcohol, we are not moved by the judge who said a longer sentence would have a, quote, severe impact, unquote, on the offender. We are not moved by the felons father who said that his son should not serve jail time for, quote, 20 minutes of action, unquote. Emily d. O. E. Is a survivor in every doe is a survivor in every sense of the word and her worded deserve to be amplified. Mr. Speaker, i words words deserve to be amplified. Mr. Speaker, i ask unanimous conentent consent that we read the statement in its entirety without yielding by name to each member to preserve the continuity of the reading. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Ms. Speier your honor, if its all right, for the majority of this statement, i would like to address the defendant directly. You dont know me. But you have been inside me. And thats why were here today. On january 17, 2015, it was a quiet saturday night at home. My dad made some dinner and i sat at the table with my younger sister who was visiting for the weekend. I was working full time and it was approaching my bed time. I planned to stay at home by myself, watch some tv and read. While she went to a party with her friends. Then i decided it was my only night with her. I had Nothing Better to do. So why not . Theres a dumb party 10 minutes from my house, i would go, dance like a fool and embarrass my younger sister. On the way there, i joked that undergrad guys would have braces. My sister teased me for wearing a beige cardigan to a frat party like a librarian. I called myself big mama. Because i knew id be the oldest one there. I made silly faces, let my guard down and drank liquor too fast. Not factoring in that my tolerance had significantly lowered since college. The next thing i remembered, i was in a gurney in a hallway. I had dry blood and bandages on the backs of my hands and elbows. I thought maybe i had fallen and was in an admin office on campus. Ms. Clark he was very calm and wondering where my sister was. A deputy explained i had been assaulted. I still remained calm, assured he was speaking to the wrong person. I knew no one at this party. When i was finally allowed to use the restroom, i pulled down the hospital pants they had given me, went to pull down my underwear and felt nothing. I still remember the feeling of my hands touching my skin and grabbing nothing. I looked down and there was nothing. The thin piece of fabric, the only thing between my vagina and anything else was missing. And everything inside me was silenced. I still dont have words for that feeling. In order to keep breathing, i thought, maybe the policeman used scissors to cut them off for evidence. Then i felt the pine needles scratching the back of my neck and started pulling them out of my hair. I thought maybe the pine needles had fallen from a tree onto my head. My brain was talking my gut into not collapsing. Because my gut was saying, help me, help me. I shuffled from room to room with a blanket wrapped around me, pine needles trailing behind me, i left a little pile in every room i sat in. I was asked to sign papers that said, rape victim. And i thought, something has really happened. My clothes were confiscated and i stood naked while nurses held a ruler to various abrasions on my body and photographed them. The three of us worked to comb the pine needles out of my hair. Six hands to fill one paper bag. To calm me down, they said, its just the flora and fauna. I had multiple swabs inserted into my have a jigea and anus nikon na and anus, had a pointed right into my spread legs. My vagina smeared with cold, blue paint to check for brasions. After a few hours of this, they let me shower. I stood there examining my body beneath the steam, and the sided i didnt want my body anymore. I didnt know what had been in it. I wanted to take off my body like a jacket and leave it at the hospital with everything else. That morning, all that i was told was that i had been found behind a dumpster, potentially penetrated by a stranger, and i should get retested for h. I. V. Because results dont always show up immediately. But for now, i should go home and get back to my normal life. Imagine stepping back into the world with only that information. They gave me huge hugs and i walked out of the hospital into the parking lot wearing the new sweatshirt and sweat pants they provided me, they only allowed me to keep my necklace and shoes. My sister picked me up, face wet with tears and contorted in anguish. Immediately and instinctively i wanted to take away her pain. I smiled at her and said look at me, im right here, everything is ok. My hair is washed and clean they gave me the strangest shampoo, calm down and look at me. Look at these funny new sweat pants and sweatshirt, i look like a p. E. Teacher. Lets go home, lets eat something. She didnt know that beneath my sweat suit i had scratches and bandages on the skin. My vagina was sore, my underwear was missing and i felt too empty to continue ospeak. I was also afraid, i was also devastated. That day we drove home and for hours , in silence , my younger sister held me. My boyfriend didnt know what happened but called that day and said, quote, i was really worried about you last night you scared me. Did you make it home ok . End quote. I was horrified. Thats when i learn id had called him that night in my blackout, left an incomprehensible voice mail that we had also spoken on the phone but i was slurring so heavily he was scared for me and he repeat think told me to go find my sister. Again he asked me, what happened last night . Did you make it home ok . I said yes and hung up to cry. I was not ready to tell my boyfriend or parent that i may have been raped behind a dumpster but i dont know by who or when or how. Fi told them id see the fear on their faces and mine would multiply by tenfold. So i pretended the whole thing wasnt real. I tried to push it out of my mind but it was so heavy, i didnt talking didnt eat, didnt sleep. I didnt interact with anyone. After work, i would drive to a secluded place to scream. I didnt talk, i didnt eat, i didnt sleep, i didnt interact with anyone and i became isolated from the ones i loved most. Ms. Tsongas for over a week after the incident i didnt get any calls or updates about what happened to me. The only symbol that proved it hadnt been a bad dream was a sweatshirt from the hospital in my drawer. One day i was at work, scrolling through the news on my phone and came across an article. In it, i read and learned for the first time about how i was found unconscious with my hair disheveled, long necklace wrapped around my neck, bra pulled out of my dress, dress pulled over my shoulders and pulled above my waist, that i was butt naked all the day way down to my boots, legs spread apart and ben traited with a foreign object by someone i didnt recognize. This is how i learned what happened to me. Sitting at my desk, reading the news at work. I learned what happened to me at the same time everyone else that the world learned what happened to me. Thats when the pine needles in my hair made sense. They didnt fall from a tree. Hed taken off my underwear, his fingers had been inside me. I didnt know this person. I still dont know this person. When i read about me leek this, i said, this cant be me. This cant be me. I couldnt digest or accept any of this information. I could not imagine my family having to read about this online. In the next paragraph i read something i will never forgive. I read that according to him i liked it, i liked it. Ms. Waters again, i do not have words for these feelings. Its like if you were to read an article where a car was hit and found dented in a ditch, but maybe the car enjoyed being hit. Maybe the other car didnt mean to hit it, just bump it up a little bit. Cars get in accidents all the time. People arent always paying attention. Can we really say who is at fault . And then, at the bottom of the artic, after i learned about the graphic details of my own Sexual Assault, the article listed his swimming times. She was found breathing, unresponsive, with her underwear six inches away from her bare stomach, curled in fetal position. By the way, hes really good at swimming. Throw in my mile time if thats what were doing. Im good at cooking. Put that in there. I think the end is where you list your extracurriculars to cancel out all the sickening things that have happened. The night, the the night the news came out, i sat my parents down and told them that i had been assaulted. To not look at the news because its upsetting. Just know that im ok, im right here, and im ok. But halfway through telling them, my mom had to hold me because i could no longer stand up. The night after it happened, he said he didnt know my name. Said he wouldnt be able to identify my face in a lineup. Didnt mention any dialogue between us, no words, only dancing and kissing. Dancing is a cute term. Was it snapping fingers and twirling dances . Or just bodies grinding up against each other in a crowded room . I wonder if kissing was just faces sloppily pressed up against each other. When the detective asked if he had planned on taking me back to his dorm, he said no. When the detective asked how we ended up behind the dumpster , he said he didnt know. He admitted to kissing other girls at that party. One of whom was my own sister who pushed him away. He admitted to wanting to hook up with someone. I was the wounded animal of the herd. Completely alone and vulnerable, physically unable to fend for myself. And he chose me. Sometimes i think if i hadnt gone this never would have happened, but then i realize it would have happened, just to somebody else. Youre about to enter four years of access to drunk girls and parties and if this is the foot you started off on, then it is right you did not continue. The night after it happened, he said he thought i liked it because i rubbed his back. A back rub. Never mentioned me voicing consent, never mentioned us even speaking of back rubs. One more time in public news, i learned that my ass and vagina were completely exposed outside. My breasts had been groped, fingers had been jabbed inside me along with pine needles and debris. My bare skin and head had been rubbing against the ground erect a dumpster while an freshman was humping my half naked, unconscious body. But i dont remember. So how do i prove i didnt like it . I thought theres no way this is going to trial. There were witnesses. There was dirt in my body he ran but he was caught. Hes going to settle. Formally apologize. And we will both move on. Instead, i was told he hired a powerful attorney, expert witnesses, private investigators, who are going to try to find details about my personal life to use against me. Find loopholes in my story to invalidate me and my sister in order to show that this Sexual Assault was in fact a misunderstanding. That he was going to go to any length to convince the world he had simply been confused. I was not only told that i was assaulted, i was told that because i couldnt remember, i technically couldnt prove it was unwanted. And that distorted me, damaged me, almost broke me. It is the saddest type of confusion to be told i was assaulted and nearly raped blatantly out in the open, but we dont know if it counts as assault yet. I had to fight for an entire year to make it clear that there was something wrong with this situation. When i was told to be prepared in case we didnt win, i said, i cant prepare for that he was guilty the minute i woke up. No one could talk me out of the hurt he caused me. Worst of all i was warned because he now knows you dont remember, hes going to get to write the script. He can say whatever he wants and no one can contest it. I had no power. I had no voice. I was defenseless. My memory loss would be used against me. My testimony was weak, was incomplete, and i was made to believe that perhaps i am not enough to win this. His attorney constantly remind the jury the only one we can believe in is brock because she doesnt remember. That helplessness was traumatizing. Instead of taking time to heal, i was taking time to recall the night in excruciating detail in order to prepare for the attorneys questions that would be invasive, aggressive and designed to steer me off course, to contradict myself, my sister, freased in ways to manipulate my answers. Ms. Chu instead of his attorney saying, did you notice any abrasions . He said, you didnt notice any abrasions, right . This was a game of strategy, as if i could be tricked out of my own worth. The Sexual Assault had been so clear, but instead here i was at the trial, answering questions like, how old are you . How much do you weigh . What did you eat that day . What did you have for dinner . Who made dinner . Did you drink with dinner . No. Not even water . When did you drink . How much did you drink . What container did you drink out of . Who gave you the drink . How much do you usually drink . Who dropped you off at this party . At what time . Where exactly . What were you wearing . Why were you going to this party . What did you cowhen you got there . Will you sure you did that . What time did you do that . What does this text mean . Who were you texting . When did you urinate . Where did you urinate . With whom did you urinate outside . Was your phone on silent when your sister called . Do you remember silencing it . Really, because on page 53 id like to point out that you said it was set to ring. Did you drink in college . You said you were a party animal. How many times did you black out . Id you party at frats . Are you serious with your boyfriend . Are you sexually active with him . When did you start dating . Would you ever cheat . Do you have a history of cheating . What do you mean when you said you wanted to reward him . Do you remember what time you woke up . Were you wearing your cardigan . What color was your cardigan . Do you remember any more from that night . No . Ok. Well. Well let brock fill it in. I was pummeled with narrow, pointed questions that dissected my personal life, love life, ast life, family life, inane question, accumulating trivial details to try and find an excuse for this guy who had me half naked before even boston toring ask for my name. Ms. Eshoo after a physical assault, i was assaulted with questions designed to attack me. To say see, her facts dont line up. Shes out of her mind. Shes practically an alcoholic. She probably wanted to hook up. Hes like an athlete. Right. They were both drunk. Whatever the hospital stuff she remembers, its after the fact. Why take it into account . Brock has a lot at stake so hes having a really hard time right now. And then, it came for him to testify and i learned what it meant to be revictimized. I want to remind you the night after it happened , he said he never planned to take me back to his dorm. He said he didnt know why we were behind a dumpster he got up to leave because he wasnt feeling well. When he was suddenly chased and attacked. Then he learned i could not remember. So one year later, as predicted, a new dialogue emerged. Brock had a strange new story. Almost sounded like a poorly written young adult novel with kissing and dancing and hand holding and lovingly tumbling onto the ground and most importantly in this new story, there was suddenly consent. One year after the incident, he remembered, oh, yeah. By the way, she actually said yes. To everything. So, he said he had asked if i wanted to dance. Apparently, i said yes. He asked if i wanted to go to his dorm. I said yes. Then he asked if he could finger me. And i said yes. Most guys dont ask, can i finger you. Usually theres a natural progression of things unfolding consensually. Not a q a. But apparently, i granted full permission. Hes in the clear. Even in his story, i only said a total of three words. Yes, yes, yes. Before he had me half naked on he ground. For future reference, if you are confused about whether a girl can consent, see if she can speak an entire sentence. You couldnt even do that. Just one coherent string of words. Where was the confusion . This is common sense. Human decency. According to him, the only reason we were on the ground was because i fell down. Note, if a girl falls down, help her get back up. If she is too drunk to even walk and falls down, do not mount her, hump her, take off her underwear and insert your hand inside her vagina. Tack tack if a girl mr. Takano if a girl falls down, mr. Takano if a girl falls down, help her up. If shes wearing a cardigan over her dress, dont take it off so you can touch her breasts. Maybe shes cold. Maybe thats why she wore the cardigan. Next in the story, two swedes on bicycles approached you. And you ran. When they tackled you, why didnt you say, stop, everythings ok, go ask her, shes right over there, shell tell you . I mean, you had just asked for my consent, right . I was awake, right . When the Police Arrived and interviewed the evil swede who tackled you, he was crying so hard he couldnt speak because of what he had seen. Your attorney has repeatedly pointed out, well, we dont know exactly when she became unconscious. And youre right. Maybe i was still fluttering my eyes and wasnt completely limp yet. That was never the point. I was too drunk to speak english, too drunk to consent way before i was on the ground. I should never have been touched in the first place. Barack stated, at no time broc kstated, at no time did i say that she was not responding. If at any time i thought she was not responding, i would ave stopped immediately. Heres one thing, if your plan was to stop only when i became unresponsive, then you still do not understand. You didnt even stop when i was unconscious anyway. Someone else stop you. Two guys on bikes noticed i wasnt moving in the dark and had to tackle you. How did you not notice while on top of me . You said you would have stopped and gotten help. You say that, but i want you to explain how you would have helped me step by step, walk me through this. I want to know if those evil swedes, if those evil swedes had not found me, how the night would have played out. Im asking you, would you have pulled my underwear back on over my boots . Untangled the necklace wrap around my neck . Closed my legs . Cover me . Picked the pine needles from my hair . Asked if the abrasions on my neck and bottom hurt . Would you then go find a friend an said and say, will you help me get her somewhere warm and soft . I dont sleep when i think about the way it could have gone if the two guys had never come. What would have happened to me . Thats what youll never have a good answer for. Mrs. Dingell thats what you cant explain, even after a year. On top of all of this, he claimed that i orgasmed after one minute of digital penetration. The nurse said that there had been abrasions, lass rations and dirt in my genitalia. Was that before or after i came . To sit under oath and inform all of us that, yes, i wanted it, yes, i permitted it, and that you are the true victim attacked by swedes for reasons unknown to you is appalling, it isdy meanted, is demented, is selfish, is danieling. It is enough to be suffering damaging. It is enough to be suffering. Its another thing to have someone ruthlessly working to diminish the gratitude of vappedity of this suffering validity of this suffering. My family had to see pictures of my head strapped to a gurney full of pine needles, of my body in the dirt with my eyes closed, hair messed up, limbs bent and dress hiked up. And even after that, my family had to listen to your attorney say the pictures were after the fact, we can dismiss them. To say, yes, her nurse confirmed that there was redness and abrasions inside of her, significant trauma to her genitalia, but thats what happens when you finger someone, and hes already admitted to that. To listen to your attorney attempt to paint a picture of me, the face of girls gone wild , if somehow that would make it so, that i had this coming to me. To listen to him say, i sounded drunk on the phone because im silly and thats my goofy way of speaking. To point out that in the voicemail i said i would reward my boyfriend and wed all know what i was thinking. I assure you, my rewards program is nontransferable. Especially to any nameless man hat approaches me. Ms. Kaptur he has done irreversible damage to me and my family during the trial. And we have sat silently, listening to him shape the evening. But in the end, his unsupported statements and his attorneys twisted logic fooled no one. The truth won. The truth spoke for itself. You are guilty. 12 jurors convicted you guilty. Of three felony counts, beyond reasonable doubt. Thats 12 votes per count. 36 yeses confirming guilt. Thats 100 unanimous guilt. And i thought, finally, its over. Finally he will own up to what he did, truly apologize, and we will both move on and get better. And then i read your statement. If you are hoping that one of my organs will implode from anger and i will die, i am almost there. You are very close. This is not a story of another drunk College Hookup with poor decision making. Assault is not an accident. Somehow you still dont get it. Somehow you still sound confused. I will now read portions of the defendants statement and respond to them. You said, being drunk, i just couldnt make the best decisions and neither could she. Alcohol is not an he can cuse. An excuse. Is it a facter . Yes, but alcohol was not the one who stripped me, fingered me, had my head dragging against the ground with me almost fully naked, having too much to drink was an amateur mistake that i admit to. But it is not criminal. Everyone in this room has had a night where they regretted drinking too much. Or know someone knows someone close to them has had a night where they regretted drinking too much. Regretting drinking is not the same as regretting Sexual Assault. We were both drunk. The difference is, i did not take off your pants and underwear, touch you inappropriately and run away. Thats the difference. You said, if i wanted to get to know her i should have asked for her number rather than asking her to go back to my room. Im not mad because you didnt ask for my number. Even if you did know me, i would not want to be in this situation. My own boyfriend knows me, but if he asked to finger me behind a dumpster, i would slap him. No girl wants to be in this situation. Nobody. I dont care if you know their phone number or not. You said, i stupidly thought it was ok for me to do what everyone around me was doing, which was drinking. I was wrong. Again, you were not wrong for drinking. Everyone around you was not Sexual Assaulting me. You were wrong for doing what nobody else was doing. Ms. Gabbard which was pushing your erect dick in your pants against my naked, defenseless body, concealed in a dark where arey party goers could no longer see or protection me protect me and my own sister could not find me. Sipping fireball is not your crime. Peeling off and discarding my underwear like a Candy Wrapper to insert your finger into my body is where you went wrong. Why am i still explaining this . You said during the trial, i didnt want to victimize her at all. That was just my attorney. And his way of approaching the case. Your attorney is not your scapegoat. He represents you. Did your attorney say some incredulously infuriating, degrading things . Absolutely. He said you had an erection because it was cold. You said, youre in the process of establishing a program for high school and College Students in which you speak about your experience to, quote, speak out against the College Campus drinking culture and the sexual promiscuity that goes along with that. End of quote. Campus drinking culture. Thats what were speaking out against . You think thats what ive spent the past year fighting for . Not awareness about campus Sexual Assault or rape or learning to recognize consent, campus drinking culture. Down with jack daniels. Down with sky vodka. If you want to talk to people about drinking, go to an a. A. Meeting. You realize, having a drinking problem is different than drinking and then forcefully trying to have sex with someone . Show men how to respect women. Not how to drink less. Drinking culture and the sexual promiscuity thatty that goes along with that. Goes along with that. Like a side effect. Like fries on the side of your order. Where does promiscuity even come into play . I dont see headlines that read, brock turner, guilty of drinking too much and sexual promiscuity that goes along with that. Campus Sexual Assault. Theres your First Power Point slide. Rest assured, if you fail to fix the topic of your talk, i will follow you to every school you go to and give a followup resentation. Mr. Poe lastly, you said, i want to shee people that one night of drinking can ruin a life. One life, a life, yours, you forgot about mipe. Let me rephrase it for you. I want to show people that one night of drinking can ruin two lives. You and me. You are the cause, i am the effect. You have dragged me through this hell with you. Dipped me back into that night again and again and again. You knocked down both of our towers. I collapsed at the same time you did. If you think i was spared, came out unscathed, that today i ride off into the sunset while you suffer the greatest blow, you are mistaken. My independence, my natural joy , gentleness and steady lifestyle that i had been enjoying became distorted because of recognition. Became closed off, angry, selfdeprecating, tired, irritable, empty, the isolation at times was unbearable. You cannot get me back the life i had before that night either. While you worry about your shattered reputation, i refrigerated spoons every night so that when i woke up and my eyes were puffy from crying, i could hold a spoon on my eye to lessen the swelling. So i could see. I showed up an hour late to work every morning and excused myself to cry in the stairwells. I can tell you all the best places in that building to cry where no one can hear you. The pain became so bad that i had to explain the private details to my boss to let her know why i was leaving. I needed time because continuing day to day was just not possible. I used my savings to go away as far as i could. I did not return to work fulltime because full time because i knew id have to take weeks off in the future for the hearing and the trial. That were constantly being rescheduled. My life was put on hold for over a year, my structure had collapsed. I cant sleep alone at night without having the light on. Like a 5yearold. Because i have nightmares of being touched where i cannot wake up. I did this thing where i waited until the sun came up and i felt safe enough to go to sleep. For three months i went to bed at 6 00 in the morning. Nobody wins. We all have been devastated. We all have been trying to find some meaning in all of this suffering. Your damage was concrete. Stripped of your titles, degrees, enrollment. My damage was internal. Unseen. I carry it with me. You took away my worth, my privacy, my energy, my time, my safety, my intimacy, my confidence, my own voice. Until today. See, one thing we have in common is that we are both unable to get up in the morning. Im no stranger to suffering. You made me a victim. In newspapers my name was unconscious intoxicated woman. 10 syllables, nothing more than that. For a while i believed that, thats all i was. I had to force myself to relearn my real name, my identity, to relearn that this is not all that i am. That im not just a drunk victim at a frat party. Found behind a dumpster while you are the all american swimmer at a top university. Innocent until proven guilty, with so much at stake. I am a human being. Who has been irreversibly hurt. My life was put on hold for over a year. Waiting to figure out if i was worth something. I used to pride myself on my independence. Now im afraid to go on walks in the evening, to attend social events with drinking among friends where i should be comfortable. I have become a little barnacle, always needing to be at someones side. To have my boyfriend standing next to me, sleeping beside me, protecting me. It is embarrassing, how feeble i feel, how timidly i move through life. Always guarded, ready to defend myself, ready to be angry. You have no idea how hard i was worked to rebuild parts of me that are still weak. It took me eight months to even talk about what happened to me. I could no longer connect with friends, with everyone around me. I would scream at thinkmy boyfriend , my own family whenever they brought this up. You never let me forget what happened to me. At the end of the hearing, the trial, i was too tired to speak. I would leave drain, silent. I would go home, turn off my phone and for days i would not speak, you bought me a ticket to a planet where i lived by myself. Every time a new article came out, i lived with the paranoia that my entire hometown would find out and know me as the girl who got assaulted. I didnt want anyones pity and im still learning to accept victim as part of my identity. You made my own hometown an uncomfortable place to be. You cannot give me back my sleepless night the way i have broken down sobbing uncontrollably if im watching a movie and a woman is harmed. Mr. Swalwell to say it lightly this experience has expanded my empathy for victims. I have lost weight from stress. When people commented, i said im running a lot lately. There are times i dont want to be touched. I have to relearn im not fragile, im capable, im wholesome, not just livid and weak. When i see my younger sister hurt, when she is unable to keep up in school, when shes deprived joy, when shes not sleep, when shes crying so hard on the phone shes barely breathing, telling me over and over again shes sorry for leaving me alone that night. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. When she feels more guilt than you. Then i do not forgive you. That night i had called her to try to find her but you found me first. Your attorneys closing statement began, in quotes, her sister said she was fine and who knows her better than her sister, end quote. You tried to use my own sister against me. Your points of attack were so weak. So low. It was almost embarrassing. You do not touch her. You should have never done this to me. Secondly, you should have never made me fight so long to tell you you should have never done this to me. But here we are. The damage is done. No one can undo it. And now we both have a choice. We can let this destroy us, i can remain angry and hurt and you can be in denial. Or we can face it head on. I accept the pain, you accept the punishment, and we move on. Your life is not over. You have decades of years ahead to rewrite your story. The world is huge, it is so much bigger than pa la alto an stanford. And you will make a place for yourself in it where you can be useful and happy, but right now you do not get to shrug your shoulders and be confused anymore. You do not get to pretend there were no red flags. You have been convicted of violating me, intentionally, forcibly, sexually, with malicious intent and all you can admit to doing is consuming alcohol . Do not talk about the sad way your life was upturned because alcohol made you do bad things. Figure out how to take responsibility for your own conduct. Now, to address the sentencing. When i read the probation officers report, i was in isbelief, consumed by anger. Which eventually quieted down to profound sadness. My statements have been slimmed down to distortion and taken out of context. I fought hard during this trial and will not have the outcome minimized by a probation officer who attempted to evaluate my current state and my wishes in a 15minute conversation. Ms. Sanchez the majority of which was spent answering questions i had about the legal system. The context is also important. Brock has yet to issue a statement and i had not read his remarks. My life has been on hold for over a year. A year of anger and anguish and uncertainty. Until a jury of my peers rendered a judgment that validated the injustices i had endured. Had brock admitted guilt and remorse and offered to settle early on, i would have considered a lighter sentence. Respecting his honesty. Grateful to be able to move our lives forward. Instead, he took the risk of going to trial, added insult to injury, and forced me to relive the hurt as details about my personal life and Sexual Assault were brutally dissected before the public. He pushed me and my family through a year of inexplicable, unnecessary suffering. And he should face the consequences of challenging his crime, of putting my pain into question, and of making us wait so long. Issue so long for justice. I told the probation officer that i do not want brock to rot away in prison. I did not say he does not deserve to be behind bars. The probation officers recommendation of a year or less in county jail is a soft time out. A mockery. A mockery of the seriousness of his assault, an insult to me and all women. It gives a message that a stranger can be inside you without proper consent and he will receive less than what has been defined as the minimum sentence. Mrs. Davis probation should be denied. I also told the probation officer that what i truly wanted was for brock to get it. To understand. And admit to his wrongdoing. Unfortunately, after reading the defendants report, i am severely disappointed and feel that he has failed to exhibit sincere remorse or responsibility for his conduct. I fully respected his right to a trial. But even after 12 jurors unanimously convicted him guilty f three felonies, all he has admitted is doing all he has admitted doing is ingesting alcohol . Someone who cannot take full accountability for his actions does not deserve a mitigating sentence. It is deeply offensive that he would try and dilute rape with a. Uggestion of promiscuity by definition, rape is not the absence of promiscuity. Rape is the absence of consent. And it perturbs me deeply that he cant even see that distinction. The probation officer factored in that the defendant is youthful and has no prior convictions. In my opinion, hes old enough to know what he did was wrong. When you are 18 in this country, you can go to war. When you are 19, you are old enough to pay the consequence for attempting to rape someone. He is young. But he is old enough to know better. As this is his first offense, i can see where leniency would beckon. On the other hand, as a society, we cannot forgive everyones first Sexual Assault or digital rape. Mr. Gosar it doesnt make sense. The seriousness of rape has to be communicated clearly. We should not create a culture that suggests we learn that rape is wrong through trial and error. The consequences of Sexual Assault needs to be severe enough that people feel enough fear to exercise good judgment even if they are drunk. Severe enough to be preventive. The probation officer weighed the fact that he has surrendered a hardearned swimming scholarship how much fast brock swims does not lessen the severity of what happened to me and should not lessen the severity of his punishment. If a firsttime offender from an underprivileged background was accused of three felonies and displayed no accountability for his actions other than drinking, what would be his sentence . The fact that brock was an athlete at a private university should not be seen as an entitlement to leniency but as an opportunity to send a message. That Sexual Assault is against the law, regardless of social class. The plobation officer has stated that this case, when compared to other crimes of similar nature may be considered less serious due to the defendants level of intoxication. It felt serious, thats all im going to say. What has he done to demonstrate that he deserves a break . He has only apologized for drinking and has yet to define what he did to me as Sexual Assault. He has revictimized me continually, relentlessly. He has been found guilty of three serious felonies and its time for him to accept the consequences of his actions. He will not be quietly excused. He is a lifetime sex registrant. That doesnt expire. Just like what he did to me doesnt expire. Doesnt just go away after a set number of years. It stays with me. Its part of my identity. It has forever changed the way i carry myself the way i live, the the way i live the rest of my life. To conclude, i want to say thank you to everyone from the intern who made me oatmeal when i woke up at the hospital that morning, to the deputy who waited beside me, to the nurses who calmed me, to the detective who listened to me and never judged me. Ms. Kuster to my advocates who stood unwaveringly beside me. To my therapist who taught me to find courage in vulnerability. To my boss, for being kind and understanding. To my incredible parents, who teach me how to turn pain into strength. To my grandma, who snuck chocolate into the courtroom throughout this to give to me. My friends, who remind me how to be happy. To my boyfriend, who is patient and loving. To my uncomparable sister, who is the other half of my heart. Alaila, my idol, who fought tirelessly and never doubted me. Mr. Gohmert thank you to everyone involved in the trial for their time and attention. Thank you to girls across the nation that wrote cards to my d. A. To give to me. So many strangers who cared for me. Most importantly, thank you to the two men who saved me. Who i have yet to meet. I sleep with two bicycles that i drew taped above my head bf my bed to remind above my bed to remind myself that there are heros in this story, that we are looking out for one another. To have known all these people, to have felt their protection and love is something i will ever forget. Ms. Speier and finally, to girls everywhere, i am with you. On nights when you feel alone, i am with you. When people doubt you, or dismiss you, i am with you. I fought every day for you, so never stop fighting. I believe you. As the author anne lamott once wrote, lighthouses dont go running all over the island looking for boats to save they just stand there shining. Although i cant save every boat, i hope that by speaking today, you absorb a small amount of light, a small knowing that you cant be silenced. A small satisfaction that justice was served. A small assurance that we are getting somewhere. And a big, big knowing that you are important. Unquestionably. You are untouchable. You are beautiful. You are to be valued, respected, undeniably, every minute of every day, you are powerful and nobody can take that away from you. To girls everywhere, i am with you. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady yields back the balance of her time. Under the speakers announced policy of january 6, 2015, the chair recognizes the gentleman from tsca, mr. Gohmert, for 30 minute. Texas, mr. Gohmert, for 30 minutes. Mr. Gohmert thank you, mr. Speaker. I want to first thank my friend , very grateful to my friend from california, congresswoman speier, for having the idea and doing this. Powerful. As a former judge who hurd cases like this heard cases like this, its a powerful reminder of the evil, or as the poet said, the inhumanity of mantoman. It is such an outrage. This was a special evening to bring attention to a grave injustice. Im very grateful that congresswoman speier did just hat she did. It also brings to mind the fact that there is grave injustice. Nobody should get six months in prison for what was done in that case. In texas, the minimum would be five years. But i saw judge poe, former district judge also, reading part of the statement of the victim in the case. I just cannot imagine judge poe or i giving a sentence anywhere close to five years. We would have been heading for the top, if not the top. Just so outrageous. In considering an appropriate , we were judge taught and the rule was, you considered punishment just for what was done. You considered deterrence to the individual who committed the act. You considered general deterrence to the public at large. And the message that would be sent with the sentence that was assessed. And you considered the protection of the general public. And the sentence in this case is just outrageous, beyond measure. Its no deterrent to the defendant, criminal actor, the no general deterrent to the public at large. Somebody thinks they can get away with what he did and get the kind of light sentence he did, its no deterrent at all. Certainly didnt protect the public. If he had done 30, 40 years in prison, the public would have een protected all that time. It certainly wasnt much punishment for punishments ake. Want to turn now to the issue. F the orlando shooting theres an article from the daily caller from june 12, did f. B. I. Training material purge cause agency to drop the ball on orlando shooter . I would submit that it absolutely did. The f. B. I. Agents who questioned or investigated this matter i do not believe are at fault. For shortcomings, i dont see them. Because i know, Michele Bachmann knows, Lynn Westmoreland knows, as we were going over and were going through material that the f. B. I. Had classified, i thought it was ridiculous, the public should know the documents about radical islam that had been purged from the f. B. I. Training. Some were ridiculous, cartoon this or that. But they classified them so hat none of us could tell you, r. Speaker, or anyone publicly howry dick louis some of the purging howry dick louis some of the purging how ridiculous some of the purging was. But according to this administration and Homeland Security, the council on American Islamic relations, cair, is an honorable organization. So are they all, all honorable organizations, the Islamic Society of north america, all organizations that were named in the holyrators Land Foundation trial. They were coconspirators named nd the judge found plenty of vidence to keep the name coconspirators in the pleadings. Though some of them tried to have them removed. But they say theyre offended. And they convinced people in this administration that omehow the fact that nothing emboldens isis more than seeing a weak america and a weak merican response is made to be somehow false. Though it is absolutely the truth. And somehow, with the help of some of the media, some in this administration have been able o convince a lot of people at somehow if you describe radical islamist terrorists as what they are, you somehow are the reason that there is terrorism. , bill get so quickly clinton, as president of the United States, did more to try to help muslims around the orld, eastern europe, than most any president. And what happened . They tried to bring down the World Trade Center in 1993 on his watch. And not only that, it turns out they were plotting the whole time president clinton was sacrificing American Life and limb and treasure to protect muslims, they were plotting to try again to bring down the World Trade Center. , mr. Speaker, calling radical islam is not what evokes terrorism. There are a number of factors, but weakness is definitely one of them. Its a paraphrase, but Ronald Reagan pointed out that in his lifetime there was no war that because the country was too strong. That prevents wars, it doesnt cause them. It doesnt cause terrorist attacks. I go again and again back to e comment from the african women, my wife and i were visiting mercy ship there, and the good they were doing treating the thousands and thousands there in west africa who didnt have proper medical care. This wonderful Charitable Institution was doing great things. There for a week. Washed dishes, assisted any way i could in surgery, anything i could do. But it was the africans at the end of the week, wanted to meet with me and told me, look, we were so excited when you elected your first black president. But we have seen since hes been president youve gotten weaker and weaker in america and when america gets weak, we suffer. Basically, we know where were going when we die, but our only chance of having peace in this life is if america is strong. And this country has been weakened, as Muslim Leaders have asked in the middle east, north africa, asia, how do you not understand the Muslim Brotherhood has been at war with you since 1979 . We dont understand. You placate, you help the Muslim Brotherhood and you turn on your muslim friends. We dont understand it. All around the world they dont understand it. Iran is an enemy of the United States, they continue to say continue to say that they lied and they would never submit to the terms that this administration said they agreed to. And its one more thing that akes the radical islamists orris lambists that are thinking of or islamists that are thinking about radicalizing, it helps them realize americas weak and theyre stupid and they need to e wiped off the map. So what does this administration do . Well, mr. Speaker, ive spoken from the floor here about a elibiary, who r. As a featured speaker at the th century man of peace, ayatollah khomeini, big closed door event, he was a feature speaker to honor the ayatollah khomeini. When the convictions came through for supporting terrorism in the largest, most important terrorist case in merica, he took up for the defendants, said they were wrongly treated. We know that Osama Bin Laden said that the writings of the muslim brother qutb, thats how its spelt, that qutb, especially his booklet, milestone, helped radicalize him, mr. Elibiary was online, encouraging people to read milestone, that it was a great thing to read, it was very helpful. And Osama Bin Laden said it sure helped radicalize him. With all of the warning signs, Janet Napolitano didnt care. She wanted to show the muslim world that she was so above the fray and above these silly mortals, what fools these mortals be. She was above all of that. That she could bring someone the med his foundation same name as the Political Party of the Muslim Brotherhood in egypt. And he never would disclose, as far as last ive seen, he still has not disclosed where he got all the money. For what he did. And yet she made him part of the countering violent extremism Advisory Committee. And then promoted him to the Homeland Security Advisory Committee or council, and gave him a classification so he could get online and review. Assified information and Janet Napolitano, as secretary of Homeland Security, testified falsely before our Committee First that she didnt know anything about what i was talking about, him downloading documents and trying to offer specific, s media, National News medium, to publish. Thankfully they turned down. She said, she didnt know anything about it. Yet the night before her chief told the director of the department of Public Safety in texas, because he called me right after like, oh, i just got a call from napolitano, he says hes just finished fully briefing secretary napolitano on what elibiary did on his own laptop at his home, downloading this information. And she said the next day, i have no idea by as i basically what youre talking about and the next time i ask her, you said would you investigate, she said, we investigated, theres nothing to it, none of that was true. There was no ngs. She was testifying falsely about hat as well. What are radical islamists upposed to take from all this . Youve got an admin