Session. We will bring you gaveltogavel coverage as we always do. Its go to the house floor. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2019] the speaker pro tempore the house will be in order. House ir lays before the a communication from the speaker. He clerk the speakers room, washington, d. C. , october 17 2019. I october 17, 2019. Hereby appoint the honorable Henry Cuellar to act as speaker pro tempore on this day. Pelosi, speaker of the house of representatives. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to the order of the house of january 3, 2019, the chair will now recognize members from lists submitted by the majority and minority leaders for morning hour debate. The chair will alternate recognition between the parties. All time shall be equally allocated between the parties and in no event shall debate continue beyond 11 50 a. M. Each member other than the majority and minority leaders and the minority whip shall be limited to five minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from maryland, mr. Minutes. R five mr. Hoyer thank you, mr. Speaker. I have the sad task of announcing what probably most of know. Ready great american. A decent american. A wonderful member of this body. Elijah cummings, who died early of illnesses he suffering from for a time. Icant period of members of the house, the people people of the e United States of america woke up and shocking news that we had lost this dear a devoted public patriot whoedicated reflected courtesy and respect for all. Confrontation and and, yes,nt and anger beacon s hate, he was a of ivility, of fairness, justice. He was chairman of the oversight reform committee. Too early. Way at 68 years of age. Of us who served with him justice, passion for his sharp intellect, having kappa from i beta howard university, where he was president of the Student Government association. We knew his wit. We knew his devotion to the cause of making government work the people. Will be surely said of elijah that he worked hard until the very end. Was on a telephone call with on sunday talking about how we ought to proceed ith the heavy duties that confronted him, his committee, and the congress. E never waivered in his dedication to the cause he made, career, marks of his even in recent days when, as i said, his health was waning. Causes were quality, for all. Ty the son of a sharecropper who to be a great leader in this country. Voting rights, civil rights, alleviating establishing justice, ensuring that those entrusted ith high office are held accountable and carry out their esponsibilities lawfully and ethically. Elijah cummings was, of course, of baltimore, a city of grit and hope, a city of and hard work. In the city of baltimore. At a time of great distress in baltimore, it was lijah cummings in the streets ringing calm and peace to that city. His life will forever be an example to all of us of striving to better ones community and of passion and service to ones fellow man and perseverance in the face of adversity while in ursuit of making this country and the world a better place. Henever he believed we were falling short of the vision of founders and many of you ill hear this resonate in your ears he would say to all of throughout our state, at a time of trouble and difference, he would say to all loving way, we are better than this. Conflict, as we see people disparaging one ought to think to urselves, we are better than this. And think of Elijah Cummings, a great faith, of great great humanity, of great service. Cummings. Iss elijah we are a lessor place for losing him. Like the prophet for whom he was amed, he was taken from us too suddenly. O soon, too e can say from shakespeare, he should have died hereafter. Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow. Elijah will not have those not have and we will them with him. Dearly. Miss him my thoughts are with his wife, three children, and i offer my condolences to the people of marylands seventh district who loved their congressman. Their d confidence in ongressman, and they knew that better, and they service. Er for his ay god bless Elijah Cummings, is family, all of us, and this great country. And i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentleman from south dakota, mr. Johnson, for five minutes. Well, mr. Speaker, since i joined this body in darnedest ve done my to steer clear of the political circus that we see on a daily washington. Instead, i worked with so many of you to pass legislation preventing child abuse, that makes it easier for americans to save for school their retirement. Weve made progress. ve been a key part of that progress on usmca, in welfare reform, in implementing the farm bill. But, mr. Speaker, the impeachment proceedings going on chamber in the last few weeks have given me pause and to every d give pause member of this chamber and to all the american people. We all know that some of you are for impeachment and of us are opposed. We should all admit that by its nature, impeachment is motional, it is taxing, it is divisive. Youre talking about removing office. Ident from this is no small thing. The trajectory of this country. How contentious, given how important that an eeding is, we have obligation to play by the rules, open, a process that is that is sound, that is fair. We are failing at that special obligation. Speaker has launched impeachment without a vote of this body, and that is unprecedented. Members had been denied their authority, their voice, their the record to be on in that matter. O let us be clear, under the constitution, the authority to launch impeachment rests with house of representatives, not with the speaker and not with the chair intelligence. Second, this proceeding has not been open and transparent. Instead, members have been denied access to witness estimony and kicked out of committees. Theres no livestreaming, weves no tv coverage, as seen in past impeachments. The result is that americans important access to facts because they cant get them. Notlly, this proceeding has been fair. In the past, president s have had n opportunity to have counsel present. Counsel has had an opportunity to crossexamine witnesses. They have been given an review the to evidence and to prepare a defense instead of battling accounts of closed door testimony, selectively media. To the 228 members of this body have announced that they are for impeachment. Even though the evidence is not yet, and in any reviewed it. Ve not how is that fair . Speaker, elections matter, due parency matters, process matters, faith in this constitution, in our onstitution and in institutioninstitutions matters. This aid, it is time that body lives up to its special obligation. Deserves nothing less. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentleman carolina, mr. Cunningham thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise today to honor the heroic actions of captain limpella, Senior Airman chris bowers, Airman First Class timothy hinn, and nick who broke diplomatic protocol and fought near zero visibility to save the life of a u. S. Navy sailor who was wounded in combat. Base charleston crew was flying a critically injured from to walter reed germany, halfway through their a turn the sailor took for the worst and needed immediate surgery. Limpella,der, captain ade the decision to turnaround and make a landing in shannon, ireland, in dense fog and clearance. Lomatic in an incredibly stressful situation, the team fell back on a life aining and made and death decision that ultimately saved the life of fellow service member. Them. Nored to commend with that id yield back. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. Thompson, minutes. Thompson thank you, mr. Speaker. Today to r, i rise recognize Warren County, ennsylvanias recent bicentennial in march, 1819, the assembly ia general established Warren County. On october 1, later that year, became official and Warren County became part of the commonwealth of pennsylvania. Occasion was celebrated earlier this month at the Warren County courthouse with local live entertainment, including the youngville high school band. And dition to the remarks performances, a type capsule was buried underground. Avid outdoorsman, im proud to call Warren County part of their rict because beautiful landscape, part of the allegany national forest. County has beautiful outdoor space that rival much of the commonwealth. Excitingntennial is an occasion. Id like to congratulate warren milestone. His i wish them continued success in the next 200 years. You, mr. Speaker. I yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentlewoman mrs. Hayes, cut, for five minutes. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise today to commend the hairman of the committee on education and labor for his steadfast leadership of the higher rization of the education act and introduction of the College Affordability act. Do that without first recognizing my colleague elijah riend, chairman cummings, whose family was from clearedon ina, to be exact, one of the first cases of segregation. E understood the power of a highquality education, and i know he would be so incredibly proud of this remarkable piece legislation thats being introduced this week. This is an achievement that of the the priorities entire democratic caucus, to make opportunities and College Affordable and accessible for all students. Am proud that this bill embraces and reflects my priorities in congress, ncluding the pell grant restoration act, the teacher ebt relief act, the teacher diversity and retention act and the jumpstart on college act. These bills would prospect stuned aid of vulnerable students who have been defrauded. Provide educators with much needed Student Debt Relief so they can stay in the classroom. Reinforce critical programs that help develop a diverse educator work force, and provide a robust investment in dual ep rollment classes that will lower the cost of a degree for students that need it most. This bill is a years long effort to level the Playing Field for every demographic of students across the country from vet rap students, to working parents. From small family farmers to public servants. Its for students hoping to become the first in their family to go to college and afford it. This bill is for families who struggle to put enough in the bank for their childrens education. This bill is for students who struggle to fill out the overly complicated fafsa, who struggle to earn degrees and keep the lights on while working and raising children. Who utilize the pell grant and other federal aid to make it through and still find themselves in debt. My own journey reflects the challenges of navigating a system that simply is not built for everyone. Of jumping through untenable hurdles to complete a degree. So it is deeply gratifying today to be part of the change that i so desperately needed as a student, to give a new more diverse generation of students the support they need to succeed. The College Affordability act would immediately lower the cost of college for students and families across the country, expanding pell grants, incentivizing Free Community college, and driving states to substantially reinvest in their public institutions. The bill invests in teachers by fixing a broken Public Student Loan Forgiveness Program and teach grant system, and permanently funding historically black colleges and universities and minority serving institutions, all proven incubators of diverse educators. The bill raises the quality of Higher Education by holding creditors and schools accountable and weding weeding out bad actors. It includes the Completion Rate for underserved communities through moreau bust and flexible student more robust and flexibility student support. This tackles the default crisis by making Student Loans cheaptory take off, simpler to understand, and easier to pay off. With the passage of the ffordable care act, forprofit colleges Affordable College act, forprofit colleges can no longer shut people out. It protects students from forprofit institutions and creates more guardrails to ensure every student can have the peace of mind that the degree they are investing in as value upon graduation. Because thats all americans want. The opportunity to get an education that opens the doors to a life of achievement. Filament and economic power, to be selfsufficient. The College Affordability act is a down payment on the success and Financial Stability of students in my district and across the country. I am proud to have contributed to it and support it here today. Thank you, mr. Chair with that i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentleman from new york, mr. Katko, for five minutes. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise today to honor a village of hanible mayor Ronald Greenleaf who was recently named veteran of the year by the oswego veteran county service agentcy. He has spent the vast majority of his life in public service, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to his country and community. In 1967, he entered the United States navy serving in vietnam on the u. S. S. Harnet county. An electrician by trade, he assisted with maintenance while contributing to the ships Overall Mission of providing tactical assistance to american and vietnamese forces. In recognition of his service, he was recommended to receive the combat action ribbon. Following the deployment he returned to Central New York to pursue a career as an electrician, to raise a family, and to continue his service in the navy reserves. Hes been married to his wife, dawn, for 47 years and together they have two daughters. He is known for his commitment to his family, attending countless practices, games, dance recitals, and plays of his grandchildren. Following his retirement, he ran for hanible village board, a position he was elected to in 1994. And served in for 10 years. He then ran for the position of town supervisor where he served seven terms, leaving this position in 2017. Mr. Greenleaf went on to be elected as mayor a role he still hold today of of his many accomplishments as an elected official, mr. Greenleaf has worked to improve infrastructure and promote recreation in hannable. Hannible. Aside from his work in public service, he has found many other ways to serve his community. A member of the v. F. W. , hanible American Legion and chairman. 2013 wounded boir benefit, hes worked to assist and support his fellow veterans through adversity and hardship a deeply patriotic man, he has given several speeches at memorial day and veterans day ceremonies in and around hanible. On several occasions he donated his skills as an electrician to assist for repairs in needed neighborhoods. Devoted to his faith, for many years he was been an active participant in the United Methodist church, serving as a trustee an youth group leader. Mr. Speaker, i ask my colleagues and the house join me in honoring ronald k. Greenleaf, serving in the milltary, contributing as an elected official o, and volunteering in Central New York. He has spent the majority of his life serving others. Our nation and Community Need more people like him and we are inspired by and thankful for his commitment to public service. Mr. Speaker, i rise today to honor the life of and passing of my friend, Elijah Cummings. When i first came to congress a few terms ago, i teamed up with mr. Cummings to honor to introduce a bill honoring the life and legacy of harriet tubman. When i approached mr. Cummings about this bill, he didnt ask me what party i was in, he didnt ask my what my political philosophies were, he didnt care about partisanship. He cared we had a common interest. I appreciated that antiyears since then we continued to cosponsor that bill and continue to push it. Im sad to hear of his passing. And i offer my prayers to his wife and family. And i pray that hes united with god right now and i think Going Forward we can all be happy and proud of the legacy he set for us here in congress. With that, mr. Speaker, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentleman from north carolina, mr. Budd, or five minutes. Mr. Budd thank you, mr. Speaker. I rise today to discuss second chances. Across our nation one in three adults has an arrest or conviction that makes it difficult to find a job. Take kevin miller, for example, who was incarcerated for eight onths in 1992 after a mine minor altercation with police officers. He was 19 at the time. More than a quarter century later kevin has not been able to get a steady job because he must disclose his arrest on every job application. Michael faced similar hardships. He lost his job as a verizon technician after he pled guilty to resisting arrest after disagreement of chile support payments. He faced foreclosure of his home and as the economy improved and more jobs became available he was unable to find a permanent job and start rebuilding his life. Mr. Speaker, stories like kevins and michaels are all too common n fact, more than 70 million americans have minor criminal records that they must disclose on job applications. As a result, millions of americans have been turned down from countless jobs for mistakes made decades ago. The reluctance of employers to hire people with criminal records combined with job applications that contain check the box measures has detrimental effects on the economy and prevents millions of americans from becoming productive members of society. In addition, excluding people with minor criminal records from the work force often results in return to crime and dru