E898 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks July 11, 2019 about the horrendous treatment of immigrants HONORING THE LIFE OF JOSH Cyberattack on OPM Victims Emergency Re- at detention facilities. A community-based or- HARDY sponse Act of 2019 (the RECOVER Act), ganization in my district, Immigrant Families which would require the Office of Personnel Together (IFT), has been helping immigrant HON. ELAINE G. LURIA Management (OPM) to make permanent the families settle in the United States. They have OF VIRGINIA free identity protection coverage that Congress required OPM to provide for 10 years to indi- provided legal aid, food, shelter, clothing, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES viduals whose Social Security Numbers were household goods and other assistance. In the Thursday, July 11, 2019 potentially compromised during the OPM data course of their work, they have collected some Mrs. LURIA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to breaches. In 2015, OPM reported that the per- horrific stories from the people they have honor and recognize the late Josh Hardy, who sonally identifiable information of as many as helped. was senselessly murdered in the Virginia 25.7 million current, former and prospective The stories range from inadequate medical Beach Municipal Center shooting. Virginia federal employees and contractors was stolen treatment to sexual abuse to refusal to provide Beach lost Josh far too soon. in two data breaches. I appreciate that Rep- food, water and blankets. There are reports of Josh worked as an engineering technician resentative C.A. DUTCH RUPPERSBERGER is co- adults and children being denied necessary for the Department of Public Works for the leading on this bill. City of Virginia Beach for over four years. After OPM announced that it would offer medication, including a girl who suffered sei- Josh was a fun coworker, was never too identity protection coverage of limited duration zures who was put on a bus without her medi- stressed to crack a joke, and always wore a and value, Senator BEN CARDIN and I intro- cation. Women at a facility in Elloy, Arizona smile. Loved ones described Josh as a father duced the RECOVER Act in July 2015, which were reportedly given one meal a day and ten figure and as a kind-hearted man. He was would have provided affected individuals life- minutes to eat. There are also reports that dedicated to his faith and shared it with oth- time protection and at least $5 million in iden- women at this facility were denied water for 3 ers. Josh’s life of hard work and service to the tity theft insurance. Congress subsequently in- days. Women at this facility also claim that community, as well as his kind heart, will for- cluded a version of our bill in an enacted ap- their laundry was done in unsanitary condi- ever be remembered. propriations bill, but limited the duration of the tions that allowed lice to infest their clothing. Josh will be missed by all his loved ones. protection. Under current law, OPM is only re- Hampton Roads significantly benefited from quired to provide identity protection coverage One four-year-old boy was held in Immigra- his presence; he made our community a better through fiscal year 2026. Under the bill we are tion and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody place. Today we remember and honor his life. introducing today, OPM would be required to in Dallas, Texas for roughly two months during f provide coverage for the remainder of the lives the summer and fall of 2018. On his way to of affected individuals. the U.S. border he had broken a femur and RECOGNIZING MEMPHIS MATH The current coverage is inadequate, particu- dislocated a hip. Although the boy was clearly TEACHER BERNELL JONES larly considering that there is no limit to when injured and ICE took him to the hospital for the thieves (or those they have shared the examination, ICE refused to pay for his sur- HON. STEVE COHEN stolen data with) may exploit the data. There- gery. Reportedly, ICE simply gave him Tylenol OF TENNESSEE fore, there should be no limit on the duration of the coverage provided to affected individ- for two months until he was released. Fol- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES uals. This bill would give current, former and lowing his release, IFT paid for his surgery. Thursday, July 11, 2019 prospective federal employees and contractors In Texas, a mother and her one-year-old in- Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today who were affected both some peace of mind fant were held first in the ‘icebox’ for two days to commend Bernell Jones, a seventh grade and protection. OPM failed to protect these and later in the ‘Dog Pound’ for four days. The mathematics teacher at the White Station Mid- people. It follows that the government must do mother and child were given one aluminum dle School in Memphis for the last 16 years, the right thing to make up for its mistake. blanket for the two of them. When the mother who was recently nationally recognized as an I urge my colleagues to support this impor- inspiring educator. asked for a second blanket, an ICE officer tant bill. Before he became a math teacher, Mr. f screamed at her. The infant became very sick Jones was a computer specialist in the Ma- on their third day in the ‘Dog Pound,’ with rines, which explains his effectiveness in IN RECOGNITION OF THE 85TH vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration. An ICE keeping discipline in his classroom. ‘‘Class- BIRTHDAY OF MR. PAUL ROJAS doctor examined the child. Rather than pre- room management from a military perspective scribing treatment, he recommended release. is fairly easy,’’ Mr. Jones told The Commercial HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER IFT believes that they were released so that Appeal newspaper. ‘‘You’re just so used to OF MISSOURI the baby’s condition would not be ICE’s re- telling people what to do. These are young IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES kids, and at school they will do the right sponsibility. The mother and child were put on Thursday, July 11, 2019 a bus for New York City, but the baby nearly thing.’’ Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, I proudly died in New Jersey and was taken to an Mr. Jones earned a master’s degree in teaching at Christian Brothers University he rise today to celebrate the 85th birthday of the emergency room where he was given fluids began teaching at White Station Middle Honorable Paul Rojas and to recognize his that enabled him to survive. School. An innovator in the classroom, he said numerous contributions to Missouri’s Fifth A pregnant teenager was released from Of- he seeks to make mathematics fun with ‘‘pi’’ Congressional District. Mr. Rojas’ life has fice of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) custody days and a waffle festival. He has changed been dedicated to the betterment of those in California one week before giving birth. the minds of many students who didn’t initially around him and it is an honor to have the op- After she gave birth, it was discovered that like math—one became a math teacher her- portunity to recognize his service. she had a urinary tract infection that was so self. Paul Rojas was born in 1935 in the Westside Neighborhood of Kansas City, Mis- severe that she had a kidney infection. Mr. Jones is an inspiration to his students and to our whole community, and I congratu- souri. Mr. Rojas is the youngest of six boys One father related that his six-year-old late him for this recognition. and a son of immigrant parents. Growing up, daughter was sexually assaulted by a boy at f he and his family frequented Guadalupe Cen- an ORR facility in Casa Glendale, Arizona. ters and relied on their services after the She reportedly was told it was her responsi- INTRODUCTION OF THE RECOVER death of his mother. Their kindness and gen- bility to stay away from him and was told to ACT erosity showed Mr. Rojas the effect that a sign a document asserting that she under- community organization such as Guadalupe stood her obligation. A couple of weeks later, HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON Centers can have on a person’s life. Commu- the same boy assaulted her again and hit her. OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA nity organizations provide not only tangible as- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES sistance, but they also teach the importance of Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join helping one’s neighbor. me in condemning a system that treats immi- Thursday, July 11, 2019 After attending Guadalupe Grade School, he grants with such brutality and lack of compas- Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I rise to in- attended De La Salle High School. He worked sion. troduce the Reducing the Effects of the in the fields, as a busboy, on the railroads, in VerDate Sep 11 2014 09:01 Jul 12, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A11JY8.001 E11JYPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with REMARKS July 11, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E899 packing houses, and as a machinist for Wish- HONORING WESTERN FARM sity. His friends described him as a great guy bone and Honeywell. Each of these positions CENTER and a good friend. Alexander’s life of hard offered a unique point of view on the needs of work and service to the community, as well as the worker. This gave Mr. Rojas a clear view HON. MIKE THOMPSON his faithful friendship, will forever be remem- of the blue-collar community in Kansas City OF CALIFORNIA bered.