[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 13, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H1531-H1532]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Costa) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, last month we commemorated Holocaust 
Remembrance Day. It is important that we always take note because, 
sadly, genocide and anti-Semitism continues to exist in the 21st 
century. As the philosopher George Santayana once explained: Those who 
do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.
  Yes. An important episode in the history of the Holocaust is the 
story of Aristides de Sousa Mendes, a Portuguese diplomat, who was the 
consular general in Bordeaux, France, in the late 1930s, 1940, and 
1941. As a Portuguese diplomat in Bordeaux, France, at the outset of 
the Second World War, Sousa Mendes is credited with saving the lives of 
tens of thousands of European Jews fleeing the Holocaust.
  As a proud Portuguese American and the co-chair of the Congressional 
Portuguese Caucus, I am glad that later this year we will be hosting a 
screening of the film, ``Disobedience: The Sousa Mendes Story,'' in 
partnership with the Sousa Mendes Foundation.

                              {time}  1045

  We must learn from our history so that the atrocities of the past are 
never repeated in the future. We remember, and we pledge to never, ever 
forget.
  Speaking of atrocities, sadly, they do continue to exist around the 
world. This week, we will have an opportunity, as Congress, to go on 
record to discuss the challenges of the civil war going on in Yemen and 
America's participation in that effort.
  It is high time Congress reassert itself in terms of our checks and 
balances. We have abdicated our role far too often in terms of 
declaring what America's actions and interventions will be like around 
the world. This week, we will have an opportunity to go on record on 
the atrocities that are taking place in Yemen and, hopefully, be a 
positive force for change.
  In addition to our efforts this week, a looming deadline on February 
15 is before us, and that is whether we will reach an agreement on 
proposed border security and continue to fund this government to the 
end of our fiscal year. It is wrong, and it is irresponsible to ever 
shut down government.
  In the 14 years that I have been a Member of Congress, I have never 
voted to shut down government. It is not just the hundreds and 
thousands of Federal employees who are at risk, who have home payments, 
car payments, and other obligations, but all the other contractors and 
people who do business with the Federal Government or who are 
indirectly impacted.
  We have held hearings throughout my district. I hope that before the 
end of this week, we will reach a bipartisan agreement on border 
security. I hope that we will continue to ensure that

[[Page H1532]]

government is not shut down and that we go about the business of 
working on this year's budget, hopefully, reaching an agreement to 
reduce the cost of prescription drugs; to reduce the cost of 
healthcare; to protect people's insurance for preexisting conditions; 
and maybe, just maybe, reach an agreement on a bipartisan 
infrastructure package. That is the business at hand, and that is what 
we ought to be focused on.


            Congratulating University of California, Merced

  Mr. COSTA. Finally, on an upbeat note, Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
recognize the University of California at Merced in my district being 
named one of the country's universities of the year by Education Dive, 
which honors education's top innovators.
  One of the newest research universities in the entire country, it is 
a testament to UC Merced's forward-thinking approach, which has been 
integral in increasing opportunity to improve the quality of education 
for California's San Joaquin Valley and the entire system of the 
University of California.
  UC Merced prides itself in having the largest share of low-income, 
first-generation, and underrepresented students among all the 
University of California's campuses. It is the first minority-majority 
campus in California, with over 8,000 students.
  It has been a pleasure to watch the university grow over the last 13 
years and an honor to meet its educators, students, and alumni who make 
up a tight, close-knit community.
  Go Bobcats.

                          ____________________