Symbols of suppression. White supremacy, racism ngs and other toxic beliefs exist in our ranks impacting how black soldiers advance, their assignments, career fields, and how they are treated and assessed. Africanamericans comprise just a single digit percentage of Fighter Pilots and navigators, only 5 of army green berets, 2 of navy seals, and only 0. 6 of the air forces rescue jumpers are black. Structural racism still exists in our military formations. 43 of Minority Service members report they have seen examples of White Nationalism or racism within the ranks. These issues didnt happen suddenly but festered unchecked by a culture of indifference or intolerance. This culture extends to gender disparities we still see in our armed forces. We have made progress and this year witness historic barrier breaking firsts. Chief Master Sergeant joanne bass was selected as the first woman to serve as the highest ranking noncommissioned officer in a Service Components. Lieutenant junior grade swayingle became the navys first black female tactical jet pilot and the u. S. Army just welcomed its first female green beret. There is more work to be done. Women have never exceeded 27 of nominations made by members of congress to the prestigious Service Academies. In 2019, more than 6,000 cases of Sexual Assault in the military were reported, depending on estimates these reports amount to just 30 of assaults, primarily against women. Women and men whose trust in their fell soldiers has been shaken, need our support and for this congress to step up. This years ndaa takes important steps to create a more diverse and inclusive military. It builds on the work in 2008 of majority whip jim clyburn, representative hank johnson, and former members of this chamber Elijah Cummings and kendrick meek. As members of the Congressional Black Caucus they recognized years ago that the military was not living up to the potential unlocked in 1948 when president truman signed the executive order removing racial segregation in the armed forces. Together mr. Clyburn, mr. Johnson, mr. Cummings, and mr. Meek led the effort to create the military Leadership Diversity Commission whose recommendations in 2011 are the basis for many of the diversity and inclusion provisions found in this years ndaa which are some of the most significant steps towards diversity and inclusion that congress itself has taken since the desegregation of the armed forces in 1948. It seeks to foster opportunities for women and minorities. We bring new visibility to congressional nominations to our Service Academies to train a more diverse next generation of leaders. We brought in a trained investigator to investigate Racial Disparities in the military system. A special prosecutor for sex assault committed at our military academies. We tap into the talent at our historically black colleges and universities and another minority serving institutions, and we hold the secretary of defense and Service Component leader accountable for progress and give them the tools to make it happen. This package updates workplace and climate surveys to include experiences with supremacists and extremist activity, antisemitism and racism, allowing leadership to understand the full extent of these beliefs and better tailor responses. Finally after decades of inaction, we reckon with one of the darkest periods of our countrys history, the institution of slavery. This ndaa bans a display of the Confederate Flag on department of defense property and directs the removal of names from military installations of those men who betrayed their country, our country, and who fought a war to defend the institution of slavery. The culture we create in our Armed Service matters. Diversity and inclusion in our Armed Services matters. It enhances unit cohesion and improves military effectiveness. We have known this since 1950. Our work is long far from finished but this years ndaa represents an important step towards this pivotal moment. Thank you. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes gentleman from georgia, mr. Carter, for five minutes. Mr. Carter mr. Speaker, i rise today to remember and honor the life of Major General bill bland of georgias first Congressional District who passed away peacefully at his home surrounding by family at 84 years old. General bland is the former adjutant general for the state of georgia and beloved husband, father, and good friend. He enlisted in the Georgia Air National guard in 1958 and received his pilots wings in 1962 at Moody Air Force base. General bland served faithfully in a variety of assignments which took him all over the world. He was a command pilot with more than 8,000 hours flying in nine different types of aircraft. He also served in the position of adjutant general until his retirement in 1999 after more than 40 years of service in the u. S. Air force and air national guard. I had the honor and privilege of attempting church with general bland and his lovely wife at wesley monumental United Methodist church. It was evident jesus christ was the lord and savior of bills life and he used all the gifts god gave him to serve others and bring glory to god. He was an active and faithful member of the church where he served on the board of trustees for 17 years. General bland will surely be missed by his friends, family, our church community, and all who knew and loved him. His legacy of selfless devotion to our country and those in need will remain for countless years to come. Mr. Speaker, i rise today to celebrate the federal Law Enforcement training center, or fletc, 50th anniversary. Since the consolidated federal Law Enforcement training septre created in 1970 before becoming the federal Law Enforcement training centers, they have continued the mission of safeguarding our homeland and serving as the resource for federal Law Enforcement training. In its first year, fletc graduated 2,200 students. Last year fletc welcomed more than 67,000 students. They have grown to manage more than 850 Training Programs across the training sites, including one in brunswick, georgia. For the past 50 years fletc has been a Critical Program to ensure our officers of tomorrow receive the proper training to protect the communities in which they serve. Fletc has done a great job at adapting throughout their existence from hurricanes, government shutdowns, to a worldwide pandemic. Whatever they have face the fletc has done a remarkable job of getting federal Law Enforcement personnel to the frontlines. Now more than ever its an important time to honor their five decades as the nations producer, resource, and steward of federal Law Enforcement training. Thank you to all who work tirelessly at fletc, especially those at glynco in the first Congressional District. Mr. Speaker, i rise today to remember and honor the life of mr. Kyle steven huginan. Friends, family, and members recently recognized the oneyear anniversary of his passing at the youthful age of 30. He was from savannah in georgias first Congressional District, and was an outstanding, kind, and loving individual who was a friend to all. Kyle was employed by the industrial Conveyor Belt services for 10 years and worked hard in all he did. While reminiscing on kyles abundance of joy he brought to all member, friends, and others, he recalled that he had one of the best smiles ever. He represented what it looks like to truly live life to the fullest and not take any day for granted. Yle was a 2007 graduate of ben particular teen military school. Ben particular teen military school. My thoughts and prayers go out to all who loved him in this time. I rise today to recognize the Brunswick Golden Isles Chamber of congress. Accreditation is the only program of its kind that defense excellence in Chamber Planning and recognizes chambers for outstanding contributions towards positive change in their communities. There are currently only 204 chambers across the country that have earned the aed considered as read days and only 128 are five star. The Brunswick Golden Isles Chamber of congress has been a voice among the community. I applaud all members of the chamber for their hard work throughout the years to excel above other chambers throughout the nation in their efforts to lead by example. In part due to the chambers hard work and dedication, our community is an exceptional place to live, work, and visit. I look forward to seeing the positive future of the chamber and communities they serve and grow. Thank you, mr. Speaker, and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentleman from rhode island, mr. Cicilline, for five minutes. Mr. Cicilline thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the house passed h. R. 6395, the william m. Thornberry National Defense authorization act. The passage of this years ndaa in the house was a bipartisan achievement done under extremely difficult circumstances and id like to congratulate chairman adam smith, particularly Ranking MemberMac Thornberry as this will be his final ndaa before his retirement at the end of this year. Wanted to take a few moments to highlight some of the provisions in this legislation which im grateful were included. These include provisions which will strengthen manufacturing in my home state, protect the Employment Rights of our nations Service Members, help improve maternal and Mental Health care for them and their families. The southern new england Regional Commission, h. R. 35124, which this bill included, establishes a Regional Commission that will facilitate the investment of federal funds in southern new england, including my home state of rhode island, to build upon our regional strength such as defense manufacturing, shipbuilding, and renewable energy. This initiative will generate critical Economic Growth in the region to reduce poverty, unemployment, and out migration by countest hit by the Great Recession and now covid19. The could recognize he sponsors and thank them for their support of this critical initiative. It also includes the justice for Service Members act, h. R. 2750, which i authored clarifying the statutory rights of Service Members and their families under the Service Members civil rights civil relief act cannot be waived through forced arbitration unless its agreed to after a dispute arises. American Service Members, veterans, and their families have sacrificed much in service of our country. They fought to protect the fundamental idea we are a nation of laws and institutions that guarantee the rights and prosperity of every american. Since the second world war, congress has created many laws, including the Service Members civil relief act, to provide essential protections and guarantee every veteran and active duty service member, including the reserves and national guard, the right to be free from workplace zrimmings on the basis of their military service antiright to their day in court to enforce these protections. But for too long forced arbitration has eroded these fundamental protections by funneling Service Members claims into a private system set up by corporations without the same procedural safeguards of justice system. Buried deep within the contracts forced arbitration clauses block the brave men and women in uniform as well as their family members from having their day in court to hold exorpgses accountable for breaking the law. This bipartisan provision ends this practice by clarifying they are enforce only if agreed to by Service Members and their families after a dispute arises. I want to thank congressman congresswoman susan davis. Also included in this years ndaa is a provision which will require the department of defense to provide a report to congress available to our nations Service Members as well as the spouses and Service Members. One in eight women nationwide experience symptoms of postpartum depression and some states that percentage can be as high as one in five. Yet according to the what to expect project data related to instances of postpartum depression and other Mental Health conditions associated with pregnancy and childbirth is not widely available. The eport is required by department of defense to the Service Members and their spouses. Timely this years ndaa will include a provision which will encourage greater investment and tried between the United States and portugal. Last year introduced 565 which makes portuguese nationals for nonimmigrant visas have the government provides similar status for u. S. Nationals. Legislation which passed the house without opposition in december of last year. Access to these will allow portuguese investors to support projects in the u. S. Benefiting our economy as well as portugal. As one of the first countries to recognize the United States after the revolutionary war, portugal someone of the clowest Economic Partners and ally. Today the United States maintains that relationship as the fifth largest export market for portugal. The amigos act will strengthen the partnership and strengthen ties with our nato ally portugal. I want to thank chairman smith and Ranking Member thornberry for supporting these provisions and for their work on the authorization. E with that, mr. Speaker, i yield time. The balance of my the peaker pro tempore jormt chair recognizes the gentlewoman from North Carolina, ms. Foxx, for five minutes. Ms. Foxx thank you, mr. Speaker. Speaker, its time yet again to correct the record. Or years my colleagues across the aisle and the Mainstream Media have been spouting youoff that republican statues that me mo morializes people emorializes people with statues. They are the ones responsible or the statues in the first place. Since 1870s, statues have been present in the capitol and since retained the majority in the house 39 times. Hat ample they had ample opportunity to remove controversial statues from the capitol, yet, they did nothing. It taken this time for them to broach the issue . E can all agree that racism in any shape or form must be rejected. And but its odd that my colleagues across the aisle want to skew do everything they possibly can to rewrite history, and insert themselves a conversation where they lean on conjecture more than facts. On for years i advocated that both f North Carolinas staff statu statues be removed based on confess s to the rasii confederacies. I suggested that two people be put in their place. The first hat republican majority in north arolinas legislature in the 140 years voted in 2015 to acox statue with the graham. F reverend billy or years they used former governor acox names and held meetings in names buildings him. After where was the initiative them . Then . Sidestepped questions. Instead, she pivoted to his education in ic North Carolina. Again, i say, where was the to remove the statues then . Even in 2007, in a democrat for governor in North Carolina, it was said that addressing controversial statues the answer and that, quote, the issue of equality is ne that North Carolina must deal with on a more broader level. If our colleagues across the a meaningful have discussion on this issue with us, we welcome it. Replace these statues goes beyond bipartisan collaboration. Doing what is right. As n expeditious manner, opposed to exploiting something score cheap political points. Mr. Speaker, describing the vote ell hold today as political showmanship will be an understatement. Maybe its to compensate for the are that democrats responsible for the statues, having them placed in the and the times democrats failed to act in the past. Be the judge. Back. D the speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentleman from connecticut, mr. Himes, for five minutes. Mr. Himes thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last saturday david, a istopher veteran of the United States aveny, was navy, was walks in portland when he came upon an sight. People intactcal gear, looking operators like we were in afghanistan, patrolling the streets of an amer