April 9, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3141 The loss of wildlife diversity the bill and amendments thereto to final Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, for the wouldn’t just be a tragedy for our envi- passage without intervening motion except purpose of debate only, I yield the cus- ronment in , but also one motion to recommit with or without in- tomary 30 minutes to the distinguished structions. for our economy that relies on tourism. SEC. 2. At any time after adoption of this gentleman from Georgia (Mr. That is why I am committed to ad- resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to WOODALL), my friend, pending which I dressing climate change. clause 2(b) of rule XVIII, declare the House yield myself such time as I may con- House Democrats recently introduced resolved into the Committee of the Whole sume. During consideration of this res- the Climate Action Now Act, which House on the state of the Union for consider- olution, all time yielded is for the pur- would require the Trump administra- ation of the bill (H.R. 2021) to amend the Bal- pose of debate only. anced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control GENERAL LEAVE tion to remain in the Paris climate ac- Act of 1985 and to establish a congressional cord and to establish a plan on how we budget for fiscal year 2020. The first reading Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I ask will meet our commitments to reduce of the bill shall be dispensed with. All points unanimous consent that all Members carbon pollution. of order against consideration of the bill are be given 5 legislative days to revise and waived. General debate shall be confined to extend their remarks. f the bill and shall not exceed one hour equal- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION ly divided and controlled by the chair and objection to the request of the gen- OF H.R. 1644, SAVE THE INTER- ranking minority member of the Committee tleman from ? on the Budget. After general debate the bill There was no objection. NET ACT OF 2019; PROVIDING shall be considered for amendment under the FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. five-minute rule. It shall be in order to con- Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, on 2021, INVESTING FOR THE PEO- sider as an original bill for the purpose of Monday, the Rules Committee met and PLE ACT OF 2019; AND FOR amendment under the five-minute rule an reported a rule, House Resolution 294, OTHER PURPOSES amendment in the nature of a substitute providing for consideration of H.R. consisting of the text of Rules Committee 2021, the Investing for the People Act, Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, by di- Print 116-11. That amendment in the nature under a structured rule. The rule pro- rection of the Committee on Rules, I of a substitute shall be considered as read. vides 1 hour of debate equally divided call up House Resolution 294 and ask All points of order against that amendment in the nature of a substitute are waived. No and controlled by the chair and rank- for its immediate consideration. ing member of the Committee on the The Clerk read the resolution, as fol- amendment to that amendment in the na- ture of a substitute shall be in order except Budget. The rule makes in order three lows: those printed in part B of the report of the amendments, each debatable for 10 H. RES. 294 Committee on Rules accompanying this res- minutes. Resolved, That at any time after adoption olution. Each such amendment may be of- The rule also provides for consider- of this resolution the Speaker may, pursuant fered only in the order printed in the report, ation of H.R. 1644, the Save the Inter- to clause 2(b) of rule XVIII, declare the may be offered only by a Member designated net Act. The rule provides 1 hour of de- in the report, shall be considered as read, House resolved into the Committee of the bate equally divided and controlled by Whole House on the state of the Union for shall be debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking member of the consideration of the bill (H.R. 1644) to re- Committee on Energy and Commerce. store the open internet order of the Federal the proponent and an opponent, shall not be Communications Commission. The first subject to amendment, and shall not be sub- The rule makes in order 12 amend- reading of the bill shall be dispensed with. ject to a demand for division of the question ments, each debatable for 10 minutes. All points of order against consideration of in the House or in the Committee of the Additionally, the rule deems as the bill are waived. General debate shall be Whole. All points of order against such passed House Resolution 293, which will confined to the bill and shall not exceed one amendments are waived. At the conclusion immediately put in place an enforce- hour equally divided and controlled by the of consideration of the bill for amendment able top-line discretionary spending chair and ranking minority member of the the Committee shall rise and report the bill to the House with such amendments as may level so that the Appropriations Com- Committee on Energy and Commerce. After mittee can begin its work. general debate the bill shall be considered have been adopted. Any Member may de- mand a separate vote in the House on any Finally, the rule provides standard for amendment under the five-minute rule. amendment adopted in the Committee of the recess instructions through April 26. In lieu of the amendment in the nature of a Whole to the bill or to the amendment in the Mr. Speaker, the Investing for the substitute recommended by the Committee nature of a substitute made in order as origi- on Energy and Commerce now printed in the People Act is a 2-year budget bill that nal text. The previous question shall be con- bill, it shall be in order to consider as an will raise the defense sequestration sidered as ordered on the bill and amend- original bill for the purpose of amendment caps for defense and nondefense discre- ments thereto to final passage without inter- under the five-minute rule an amendment in tionary spending for fiscal year 2020 vening motion except one motion to recom- the nature of a substitute consisting of the mit with or without instructions. and 2021. text of Rules Committee Print 116-10. That SEC. 3. House Resolution 293 is hereby I believe my colleagues from both amendment in the nature of a substitute adopted. sides of the aisle fully understand the shall be considered as read. All points of SEC. 4. On any legislative day during the devastating effects of sequestration. order against that amendment in the nature period from April 11, 2019, through April 26, Across-the-board, mandatory cuts to of a substitute are waived. No amendment to 2019— every Federal program are not a suc- that amendment in the nature of a sub- (a) the Journal of the proceedings of the stitute shall be in order except those printed previous day shall be considered as approved; cessful path to fiscal responsibility. in part A of the report of the Committee on and Without taking action to lift the Rules accompanying this resolution. Each (b) the Chair may at any time declare the caps established by the Budget Control such amendment may be offered only in the House adjourned to meet at a date and time, Act, nondefense discretionary funding order printed in the report, may be offered within the limits of clause 4, section 5, arti- will be cut by $54 billion. Such drastic only by a Member designated in the report, cle I of the Constitution, to be announced by cuts threaten public health, the envi- shall be considered as read, shall be debat- the Chair in declaring the adjournment. ronment, access to education, job SEC. 5. The Speaker may appoint Members able for the time specified in the report training, and lifesaving social services equally divided and controlled by the pro- to perform the duties of the Chair for the du- ponent and an opponent, shall not be subject ration of the period addressed by section 4 of like food and housing assistance. to amendment, and shall not be subject to a this resolution as though under clause 8(a) of Cuts to nondefense discretionary demand for division of the question in the rule I. funding would also impact our national House or in the Committee of the Whole. All SEC. 6. Each day during the period ad- security. Nearly one-third of invest- points of order against such amendments are dressed by section 4 of this resolution shall ments in this area fund veterans’ pro- waived. At the conclusion of consideration of not constitute a calendar day for purposes of grams, homeland security initiatives, section 7 of the War Powers Resolution (50 the bill for amendment the Committee shall diplomatic operations, foreign aid, and rise and report the bill to the House with U.S.C. 1546). SEC. 7. Each day during the period ad- Justice Department activities. such amendments as may have been adopted. dressed by section 4 of this resolution shall If an agreement on lifting the cap is Any Member may demand a separate vote in not constitute a legislative day for purposes not reached, defense programs also the House on any amendment adopted in the of clause 7 of rule XIII. Committee of the Whole to the bill or to the stand to lose $71 billion. In a dangerous amendment in the nature of a substitute The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. world, those cuts would be, in my view, made in order as original text. The previous BLUMENAUER). The gentleman from harmful to national and global secu- question shall be considered as ordered on New York is recognized for 1 hour. rity.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:38 Apr 10, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K09AP7.016 H09APPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with HOUSE H3142 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 9, 2019 Only a few months ago, the American for violations of the Communications net Act. I can’t speak for everyone people felt the harsh effects of a gov- Act. else’s internet, but my internet is still ernment shutdown. It is time to come The bill also provides pathways to thriving. I haven’t seen any nefarious together to take decisive action to internet access for every American, es- internet shortages or blockages in re- avoid another blow to essential Federal pecially those in rural communities cent days. programs that help hardworking Amer- who are being left behind by modern, For the millions and millions of icans in every State. This legislation high-speed internet infrastructure. Americans trying to livestream C– ensures working families will be able The Save the Internet Act would SPAN right now, they are having no to rely on continued Federal funding once again allow the FCC to fund rural problems whatsoever. It is going right for the programs that keep them safe, broadband through the Connect Amer- through the pipes the way it always support their jobs, and invest in their ica Fund. has, Mr. Speaker. And, if it is in need children. Additionally, this legislation revives of saving, it is certainly not in need of In fiscal year 2020, defense spending the Lifeline program, created under the saving from this institution. would be capped at $664 billion, with Reagan administration to subsidize I understand, Mr. Speaker, that my nondefense discretionary spending phone service for low-income families. friends on the other side of the aisle capped at $631 billion. Under this legislation, the FCC would are upset with the Trump administra- The Investing for the People Act again have authorization to use the tion’s FCC. would also provide up to $8 billion, an- Lifeline program to expand access to You will recall that the Obama ad- nually, for nondefense overseas contin- broadband for low-income Americans, ministration and its FCC took the reg- gency operations, OCO, activities that especially seniors, students, veterans, ulations that had governed the inter- do not count against the spending caps, and disabled Americans. net from its inception through its ex- while limiting OCO designation of de- In response to concerns raised by our plosion of productivity and innovation, fense spending in 2020 and 2021 to no Republican colleagues, the Save the all the way through 2015, and threw all more than the fiscal year 2019 level of Internet Act also ensures that the FCC those rules out entirely, replacing it $69 billion dollars. has the power to protect access to the with a command-and-control govern- In his budget, President Trump pro- internet but does not have authority to ment structure. posed continued spending on defense make decisions over internet content In its wisdom and with my great sup- port, the Trump administration and measures but massive cuts to domestic or the power to impose taxes and fees the FCC threw those new rules out, programs like public health research, for internet access. taking us back to those rules that pro- infrastructure investment, and support This legislation forbears the FCC vided the foundation for the internet for low-income families. from applying more than 700 regula- Even as our Nation draws down from tions under the Communications Act and all of the productivity that it has provided. our overseas war operations, domestic that are unnecessary to protecting an It is unfortunate, Mr. Speaker, that spending remains at a historic low as a open internet, such as rate setting. so many folks are afraid of internet percentage of our economy. H.R. 2021 b 1230 freedom that we need to try to find a provides a pathway for improving the Internet service providers have long way to clamp down on internet free- lives of Americans in every community claimed that they were hamstrung by dom and bend the internet to the will and renews our commitment to spend- net neutrality protections and that of the government. ing to meet the needs of our commu- strong consumer protections were pre- I would argue that the Wild West in- nities and invest in our economy. venting them from investing in higher novation style that has driven the In addition to protecting Americans speeds and advanced broadband infra- internet and tech companies from day from spending cuts, the House will be structure. one shouldn’t be boxed in by the gov- considering protections for a product In reality, ISPs actually increased ernment and certainly shouldn’t be re- all of us here today rely upon to do our speeds and invested huge amounts in placed with a 1930s-era, Ma Bell tele- jobs and live our lives, just like mil- improving their broadband during the phone regulatory scheme. lions of Americans: the internet. This time when net neutrality protections That is what we are talking about rule also provides for consideration of were enforced by the FCC. Moreover, here today with this bill, Mr. Speaker, essential protections for American con- many of the largest providers have is turning over regulation of the inter- sumers who use the internet. failed to keep their promise of in- net to title II of the Communications The Save the Internet Act would re- creased investing after the Trump FCC Act. instate the Open Internet Order of 2015 repealed those protections, with invest- If you have not looked at title II re- that classifies broadband internet serv- ments actually shrinking in recent cently, Mr. Speaker, it is almost 100 ices as common carriers that are pro- years. years old. It was created to govern that hibited from preferentially treating or Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to wonderful emerging technology called discriminating against groups of per- vote for this rule and for both pieces of the landline telephone and the monopo- sons. legislation underlying it, and I reserve listic telephone companies that existed An overwhelming 86 percent of Amer- the balance of my time. at that time. icans opposed the FCC’s rollback of net Mr. WOODALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield I don’t know how many of your staff- neutrality protections. All this legisla- myself such time as I may consume. ers still have landline telephones, Mr. tion does, Mr. Speaker, is restore those I thank my friend from New York for Speaker. I know your grandchildren protections. yielding me the customary 30 minutes. probably don’t even know how to oper- Fair and reliable internet access is And, at the risk of opening this debate ate one these days. absolutely essential to millions of like I opened so many others in 2019: We certainly should not be relying on working families and small business Mr. Speaker, we have taken an oppor- those regulations to bring us forward owners. Practices like blocking, throt- tunity to do something very productive with innovation. The heavy hand of tling, and paid prioritization harm the and very bipartisan and we have turned government regulation always takes us ability of every American to experi- it into something that is going to be backwards. ence the internet in the same way, re- very partisan and wholly unproductive. The good news, Mr. Speaker, is that, gardless of provider or how much Neither of the bills we are consid- if you see legitimate challenges out money you pay. ering in this rule today are going to be there, we do have some bipartisan solu- The Save the Internet Act includes moving through the Senate. Neither of tions to help address those: Former enhanced transparency protections and the bills we are considering today are Chairman WALDEN’s H.R. 1101, one such enacts specific rules against throttling, going to be signed by the President. bill that could have been on the floor blocking, and other violations of net But the good foundation in both of today; Mr. LATTA’s H.R. 1006, another neutrality. The FCC would be empow- those bills could have been, and we bill that could have been on the floor ered to investigate consumer and busi- have missed yet another opportunity. today; Mrs. MCMORRIS RODGERS’ H.R. ness complaints and impose necessary Let me start with H.R. 1644, Mr. 1096 could have been on the floor today, fines against internet service providers Speaker, the so-called Save the Inter- just to name a few.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:49 Apr 10, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K09AP7.017 H09APPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with HOUSE April 9, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3143 But none of those bipartisan options on a caps deal. But this is not a caps I think the thing that we all want to were seriously considered. Instead, we deal. This is not a caps bill that had avoid in the greatest possible way is a are left with a single option, in true input from Republicans in the House. shutdown. We saw that happen, and government, monopolistic fashion, and This is not a caps deal that had con- 2018 made history. that option is to support the Obama sultation with the Senate. This is not a Although the House, the Senate, and administration’s failed government caps deal that has been done in biparti- the White House were all controlled by takeover of the internet. sanship with the White House. the same party, we ended Congress for Mr. Speaker, I oppose that. I oppose This is a caps deal that is just a deal the first time in U.S. history in a gov- the legislation. I hope my other col- among warring factions of a divided ernment shutdown, an inglorious end leagues will as well. Democratic Caucus, and that bill has to the 115th Congress. It did not have to be this way. This come to the floor today—again, a bill We need to do anything we can. This could have been a productive partner- that will not be considered in the Sen- starts that process, creates a safety ship discussion about how to take what ate and a bill that will not be signed by net, and jump-starts the budget proc- is obviously a productive and innova- the President. ess. So this is a completely appropriate tive tool fueling, not just urban Amer- We can normalize partisan failure in and, in my view, mandatory way to ica, not just suburban America, but this institution, Mr. Speaker. We can. start this process. And I will perhaps, if rural America, and we could have We can also normalize bipartisan co- I get a moment or two, talk about the talked about how to grow it together. operation. budget that the President submitted to But we chose a different path, digging I don’t fault the other side for the us. partisan ditches even deeper early in struggles that are, inevitably, going to I also want to just mention for a mo- 2019. happen when a new majority takes ment, if I can, the comments raised by If that is not disappointing enough, over in the U.S. House of Representa- my colleague relative to the net neu- Mr. Speaker, there is a second bill that tives. Leading is a very difficult, dif- trality bill. This, under the current this rule makes in order. That is H.R. ficult thing to do. rule, has enormous exposure to con- But, at the end of the day, the major- 2021. That bill comes out of another sumers and businesses. It does not im- ity is tasked with doing exactly that— committee that Mr. MORELLE and I pede innovation, what we are attempt- leading. The Budget Committee should serve on, the House Budget Committee. ing to do. In fact, in my view, it will produce a budget. The United States of I love serving on the House Budget spur innovation, and it provides pre- America should have a budget. Committee, I have to tell you, Mr. dictably for all users, consumers and It is not easy to do. It is not easy to Speaker. It is a wonderful committee pass this House floor. It is not easy to businesses alike. I do note that the rule that we re- on which to serve. Mr. MORELLE and I pass through a committee. But it is ported out last night ensures that we are both lucky to be on it, and we have what the law requires us to do; it is do everything we can to reaffirm that two fabulous leaders on that com- what we have the right leaders on the commitment to fair access. mittee: Mr. YARMUTH of Kentucky Budget Committee to do; and it is what The rule made in order 12 amend- leading the Democratic side of the every single Member in this institution ments, both from Democrats and Re- aisle and Mr. WOMACK of knows in their heart that we should do. leading the Republican side of the Mr. Speaker, I urge defeat of this publicans. It is a structured rule. Some aisle. rule, and I reserve the balance of my of those amendments I agree with, If you were going to task two leaders time. some of those I disagree with, but in this institution with crafting the Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield every single one is worthy of debate on kind of budget that I talked about from myself such time as I may consume. the floor. I am very proud, and I want the well earlier, Mr. Speaker, a budget Mr. Speaker, let me just make a few to also congratulate the chair of our that would protect Social Security, brief comments, and I always appre- committee, Mr. MCGOVERN, for making protect Medicare, protect Medicaid, a ciate the passion that Mr. WOODALL, sure that we have amendments from budget that would lay out priorities for my distinguished friend and colleague, both sides to discuss on this floor. America, talk about where it is that we brings to this discussion. I do want to just mention a couple of want to see our children and our grand- I do want to say what this is. First of them. Several amendments aim to children go in the 21st century, those all, the rule before the House has both strengthen access to broadband inter- are the two leaders who could have a resolution, which I talked about, net in rural and underserved commu- brought us together for the first time which is really the safety net, it estab- nities. Mr. BRINDISI, for instance, has in a long time around a unified vision. lishes the $1.295 trillion for discre- an amendment which we will take up But, instead, the order came down tionary spending and, in addition, al- which requires the GAO to produce a from on high, Mr. Speaker. There was lows us to do IRS enforcement—$400 report about the ways the U.S. govern- to be no budget. I assume that is true. million is in the resolution—and the ment can promote the deployment of We have considered absolutely no budg- census 2020, which is upcoming and broadband to rural communities. et in the so-called Budget Committee. which will take thousands and thou- Representative WEXTON has an We have had no budget markup in the sands of people to conduct the census amendment requiring the FCC to sub- Budget Committee. We have had no in the way that the Framers identified mit to Congress a plan on how the discussions of budget in the Budget it to be. Commission would address problems in Committee. It also has a budget bill. And I do collecting data on deployment of Instead, what we have before us want to just mention just a few points broadband. By fixing these problems, today is a bill that is sometimes re- that relate to what Mr. WOODALL said. we can have a better understanding of ferred to as a caps deal. You have heard The major components of the budget those communities that are served by ‘‘caps deal’’ before, Mr. Speaker. are in the budget bill. It provides a top broadband and ensure every commu- It is those times in years past where line for discretionary spending, pro- nity has access. we have taken what are those discre- vides allocations to the authorizing We have an amendment by Rep- tionary caps, those limits on how much committees, provides a revenue floor, resentative WATERS asking the Comp- Federal money we can spend, and we enforces all these 302 allocations, and troller General to submit a report on have adjusted those so that we can in- sets new caps for discretionary spend- how net neutrality helps ethnic and ra- vest in some shared priorities on the ing, gives allocations to authorizing cial minorities and how those rules will one hand while reducing spending in committees, all of these things which help disadvantaged groups, rural popu- some other, lower priority places. will match the CBO’s baseline, I might lations, individuals with disabilities, We have done that in a bipartisan add, and enforcement through regular and the elderly. Without that full in- way not once, not twice, but three Budget Act points of order. formation, we cannot ensure that ev- times. We could have been here today, So this does have a budget bill. What eryone is receiving the same treat- Mr. Speaker, for a fourth time. we do with the resolution, however, is ment. If we are not going to actually do a critically important because it makes We have an amendment from Rep- budget, we still could have been here sure that we begin this process. resentative DAVIDS directing GAO to

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:38 Apr 10, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K09AP7.019 H09APPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with HOUSE H3144 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 9, 2019 submit a report examining the FCC’s deem what the budget is going to be. In I appreciate my good friend, the gen- efforts to assess competition. Col- other words, our friends are telling us: tleman from Oklahoma’s comments. leagues are worried about how net neu- We may not have the votes, even Those on the other side may say this trality rules will impact competition, though we have a substantial majority, is messy, but do you know what is but they have no data to back up their to pass our own caps bill. But just in messier? Another government shut- claims, so let’s collect the data we case, the rule vote, which is a partisan down. need. Good policy is always backed by vote, we are going to put it in here. We just endured, earlier this year, a good evidence. Now, that doesn’t speak to a high de- 35-day government shutdown, the long- We also made in order an amendment gree of confidence that my friends will est shutdown in our history. In this by Representative MCADAMS which have the votes, which they should committee, we are committed to doing would affirm that ISPs can still block have, on their caps deal. I would argue everything in our power to prevent unlawful content, such as child pornog- it is technically legal, but it is not a that from happening again. raphy. Some content has no place on very seemly practice to actually ex- We want to make sure we can move the internet, nor anywhere in our press your distrust of your own major- forward with appropriations legisla- homes, and we want to make sure that ity that directly. tion, and this provision is a safety net ISPs block this, as they should, and Second, let’s talk a little bit about to assure that process can begin. When- that nothing in the bill will prevent the underlying legislation. There is a ever a budget bill comes up, whenever them from doing so. lot here I don’t agree with, but I want we begin that appropriations process, There are several other amendments to focus on one thing in particular, Mr. we will have a path forward. made by Democrats that will be on the Speaker, and that is the ‘‘budget’’ My good friend raised the question of floor. I won’t go into them any further. itself, because it is not a budget. It is the President. I have to admit I am But I do want to acknowledge, also, a caps bill. new here, haven’t been here very long. that we have amendments in order sub- It is not even a caps deal. It hasn’t I have been involved in the budget mitted by Republican colleagues as been negotiated with the Senate. It process in the State of New York for well. hasn’t been negotiated with the admin- many years. Frankly, watching the budget and Mr. LATTA submitted an amendment istration. It is an arbitrary number. It looking at the budget submitted by the requiring the FCC to share the list of has no chance of becoming law. There President, I would be embarrassed. I 700 rules that will be permanently is no way a Republican Senate will think it is no wonder that my friends forborne once this bill becomes law, have double the amount of increase for on the other side of the aisle didn’t which makes sense to me. We had this domestic programs as it has for de- fense. It is just not going to happen. submit, as an amendment, the Presi- conversation in rules yesterday, to ask dent’s budget. the question what those 700 rules are. So, now, the Appropriations Com- mittee—and I am always happy to have The President’s budget is dev- The FCC has determined them to be astating. I look to how it would dev- numbers as an appropriator—will now unnecessary and burdensome. astate the people in my home State of move on down with a set of numbers Let’s look at them and see what they New York: repeals the Affordable Care that we know will not survive negotia- are. Let’s see the list. Let’s show the Act, eliminates health insurance for 2.2 tions with the Senate or with the American people that the government million New Yorkers, abolishes protec- President. So we are going to mark up was not regulating for the sake of regu- tions for people with preexisting condi- a lot of bills, but they are going to be lating and that, when those regulations tions, substantially increases pre- the numbers that are a fantasy. are no longer appropriate, we will re- miums for older Americans. Finally, in this caps deal, we ought move them. If the budget that Donald Trump sub- Finally, my colleagues on the Rules to point out, our own rules require the mitted became law, a 60-year-old living Committee made Representative BUR- majority to present a budget. We in New York making $25,000 a year GESS’ amendment in order. It directs couldn’t even get a budget out of the could see their healthcare premiums the GAO to initiate a study to examine Democratic Budget Committee. Now, increase by up to $5,000 annually, from the virtuous cycle of the internet eco- that is a failure to govern. $1,600 to $6,300 in 2020, a quarter of system and the effect of net neutrality The Speaker, herself, said on one oc- their income. on that ecosystem—again, an amend- casion: Show me your budget, and I It cuts funding for New York’s Med- ment which was made in order to make will show you your values. icaid program by $159 billion over the sure that we have bipartisan discussion It suggests that you don’t want to next 10 years. Nationally, the Trump here on the floor. show the American people your values, budget proposes to cut Medicaid by $1.5 Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of because you certainly aren’t showing trillion over the next 10 years, 36 per- my time. us a budget in this legislation. cent in 2029 alone. Mr. WOODALL. Mr. Speaker, I would So the rule, frankly, is a backdoor College would be more expensive for like to respond to my friend from New way to enact some sort of caps legisla- 179,000 New Yorkers by completely York, but I just have too many speak- tion, caps legislation that will not be eliminating the Direct Subsidized Loan ers who have come down to the House accepted by the Senate, that will not Program and taking away grants for floor today to speak about this. be accepted by the President of the 108,000 students by abolishing the Sup- Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the United States. plemental Education Opportunity gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. COLE), The underlying legislation doesn’t Grant program. At a time when people a member of the Rules Committee, our have a budget, which our own rules re- need to have knowledge more than at ranking member on the Rules Com- quire that it have. It has a mere state- any other time in human history to mittee, a member of the Appropria- ment of spending levels that, again, are safeguard their economic future and tions Committee, and one of the most not going to be accepted by the other those of their families, to cut college thoughtful Members of the Republican Chamber or by the President of the programs is reprehensible. Conference. United States. But I don’t care just about New And, finally, our friends have abdi- Yorkers, Mr. Speaker. My friend from b 1245 cated their most important responsi- Georgia, I have a brother who lives in Mr. COLE. Mr. Speaker, I want to bility, which is showing the American Georgia. His children live in Georgia. I thank my good friend, a member of the people their view and their vision of care a great deal about the people in Budget Committee, for yielding, and what the budget ought to shape. Georgia as well. my colleague on the Rules Committee. The rule ought to be rejected; the un- The Trump budget: I rise to oppose the rule and oppose derlying legislation ought to be re- Eliminates after-school programs for the underlying legislation. Now, I op- jected; and our friends ought to chal- 41,000 Georgia students by zeroing out pose the rule because it is not really a lenge themselves to bring us a budget the 21st Century Community Learning rule at all. It is really legislation that they can support, that they can Centers program; masking as a rule. put in front of the American people. Takes away high-quality childcare Buried in this rule is a measure that Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield and early education for 4,200 low-in- will, what we call self-execute, but myself such time as I may consume. come Georgia children by cutting Head

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:38 Apr 10, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K09AP7.021 H09APPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with HOUSE April 9, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3145 Start by 17 percent in the final year of impose heavy-handed, top-down regula- bipartisanship, made his amendment in this budget; tions that would box the internet into order. I believe it is the first amend- Eliminates nutrition assistance for outdated rules written in the 1930s. ment in order, and I certainly expect up to 395,000 Georgians, 90 percent of Why is the Democratic majority sup- that it will get broad consideration on whom live in households with at least porting a bill that will take the inter- both sides of the aisle. one child, elderly person, or a person net backwards? Mr. Speaker, I include in the RECORD with a disability, by cutting the Sup- This bill is the quintessential solu- a letter from over 120 businesses and plemental Nutrition Assistance Pro- tion in search of a problem. If we want startups urging Congress to support gram by $220 billion, nationally, over 10 to protect constituents, promote in- net neutrality. This letter says: ‘‘Pass- years; vestment, and encourage innovation, ing H.R. 1644 will provide certainty for Takes the food out of the mouths of H.R. 1644 is not the solution. businesses and startups and would en- 4,000 pregnant women, new moms, ba- If my colleagues across the aisle are sure critical consumer protections for bies, and toddlers in Georgia by cutting serious about protecting consumers all internet users.’’ the Women, Infants and Children pro- and ensuring access to a free and open Hon. NANCY PELOSI, gram by 13 percent in the final year of internet, then we need to find bipar- Speaker, House of Representatives, this budget. tisan consensus on net neutrality prin- , DC. I could go on and on, Mr. Speaker, ciples that address blocking, throt- Hon. KEVIN MCCARTHY, but I will spare my colleagues a long tling, and paid prioritization. We need Republican Leader, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. dissertation on the Trump budget, a modern framework that allows for DEAR SPEAKER PELOSI AND LEADER MCCAR- other than recognize that this House is continued American innovation and in- THY: We are writing in support of H.R. 1644, moving forward. We are beginning this vestment, not another Federal Govern- the Save the Internet Act, to fully restore process. We have established a safety ment regulatory takeover. the strong net neutrality protections for net. H.R. 1644 is not a serious solution to Internet users that were adopted through the This is what Americans want. They protecting our constituents and ad- FCC’s 2015 Open Internet Order but later re- pealed. don’t want another shutdown. And we vancing American ingenuity. I urge my Net neutrality is fundamental to guaran- are going to do everything in our colleagues to oppose this effort and teeing that every American has power—together, I hope, in a bipartisan send a clear message that we need to unencumbered access to the Internet. This way—to make sure that we continue to move the internet forward, not back- access is also essential to a competitive, free move forward in the years to come. ward. I hope they will oppose this rule market for the technology economy to Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of and the underlying legislation. thrive as well as entrepreneurship in this my time. Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I con- country. The benefits of these protections Mr. WOODALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield tinue to reserve the balance of my are not confined to technology companies and startups. Main Street businesses across myself 30 seconds just to say that my time. numerous sectors increasingly rely on unfet- friend’s criticisms of the Trump budget Mr. WOODALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield tered Internet access to run their operations are perfectly legitimate. What he failed 2 minutes to the gentleman from and to reach customers. to mention, though, is the reason he (Mr. BURGESS), a member of the Energy Net neutrality has been critical to the can make those criticisms is because and Commerce Committee and the Internet’s explosive growth, creating an open the law required the administration to Rules Committee. platform on which companies large and Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I thank small can grow. We urge members of Con- offer a budget, and it did. The law also gress to stand on the side of consumers and requires this House to offer a budget, the gentleman for yielding. Internet users to quickly pass a clean, and we have not. As you know, the difficulty is, when unamended version of H.R. 1644. This bill We are better than that. This is not we take away the managing of a busi- would restore strong rules prohibiting block- an Article II responsibility. This is an ness operation from that underlying ing, throttling, and paid-prioritization while Article I responsibility, and we will rue business, the incentive to innovate and reinstating ex-ante enforcement and over- the day that we decided that we would to serve consumers is likely to dis- sight by the FCC to prevent net neutrality- rather talk about what Article II was sipate. related harms from happening in the first place. doing instead of doing the work our- The internet, for decades, has thrived Passing H.R. 1644 will provide certainty for selves here at Article I. because it was not under the heavy businesses and startups and would ensure Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the hand of government. Because of this critical consumer protections for all Inter- gentleman from (Mr. freedom, we are now on the brink of ac- net users. MEUSER), a new Member of this institu- cessing the fifth generation of Sincerely, tion and a member of the Budget Com- broadband technology that, when fully 1Huddle, Ad Hoc Labs (dba Burner), Adapt- ive Energy, AlleyWatch, Applemon, Atten- mittee. implemented, will eliminate the need tive, Inc, BetaDefense, Binary Formations, Mr. MEUSER. Mr. Speaker, I rise for net neutrality regulations because LLC, Bitly, Bloomers Island, Blue Ocean today in opposition to this rule and to latency for all content will be almost Technology, Bluebell Advisors, Inc/Gilbane H.R. 1644, also known as the govern- zero. Advisor, BusBot Incorporated, CapSen Ro- ment-controlled internet act. I don’t think you find any disagree- botics, Chartbeat, CitiQuants Corporation, Once again, House Democrats are ment that blocking, throttling, and Cogent Communications, Cole House LLC, putting Federal Government control paid prioritization are not practices Concourse Markets, Contextly. Creative Action Network (CAN), over freedom and bringing to the floor that anyone wants as a part of the open CredSimple, D3FY.COM, Darling, Inc., DART yet another partisan, central command internet. But classifying broadband Technologies, Digital4Startups Inc., DLT government bill. internet as a telecommunications serv- Education, EarnedCard, Educreations, Elucd, H.R. 1644, or the government-con- ice under title II of the Telecommuni- Etsy, Inc, Expa, Fan Guru, Filament, trolled internet act, which, fortu- cation Act of 1934 will limit the ability FinToolbox (Screener.co), FluentStream, nately, has no chance of being signed of service providers to respond to con- Founder Academy, Foursquare, Friends, G. into law, goes against everything that sumer demands and potentially result A. Hensley Company Inc. General Assembly Space, Inc., GitHub, made the internet what it is today. in disruptions due to content neu- Inc., Globig Inc., goTenna, Grey Horse Com- There is a reason the United States is trality requirements. munications, Gust, Gusto, Haute Huab, High home to the top internet companies in Republicans have introduced three Fidelity hobbyDB, HOGARU, Hoola Hoop the world. This doesn’t happen by acci- proposals to preserve a free and open LLC, InnovateEDU, Inwage LLC, JOOR, dent. It is because of the laissez faire internet. I hope we can work together, JustFix.nyc, Karavan App, Karma+, Laconia approach that allows for an environ- going forward, to achieve that laudable Capital Group, Launch Pad. ment of economic growth, competition, goal. Loxo, LR, Makeo Company LLC, Mapbox, and innovation. Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield Market Mic LLC, Martech, Mavatar Tech- nology Inc., Medium, Meta, LLC, Instead of building on the pro-inno- myself such time as I may consume. MetaProp.vc, Minibar Delivery, Mozilla Cor- vation approach that has revolution- I do note for my friend, Mr. BURGESS, poration, Music to, Neighborland, Neta ized how we communicate, work, and whom I serve on the Rules Committee Collab, Netsyms Technologies, Onfido, stay connected, this legislation would with, that we, in an effort to enhance Onfleet, Inc., Outdoor Project, Patreon, Inc.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:38 Apr 10, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K09AP7.023 H09APPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with HOUSE H3146 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 9, 2019 Postmates, Promogogo, Rainmakers, and I ask every Member in this body to If the previous question is defeated, Reddit, Inc., Rentify, Rex Ag Labs, Routific, defeat the previous question so that we it will be a first step in making some Sandwich.Net, LLC, Shotwell Labs, Inc., can immediately bring up legislation meaningful progress for victims of all Shutterstock, Inc, Simply Made Apps, to deliver on our promise of passing the 2018 disasters. It will bring the Dis- SlidesUp, Snaps Media Inc., Spoonful, SpotHero, Starsky Robotics, Stealth Com- disaster assistance prior to leaving for aster Tax Relief Act of 2019 to the munications, Stripe, Stylaquin, Svaha LLC, the Easter break. floor. I am a proud cosponsor of that bill with TOM RICE and AUSTIN SCOTT. Tampa Bay Wave. b 1300 Tenpin, textile.io, Tinybeans USA Ltd, This bill includes a set of common, Tostie Productions, LLC, Troops.ai, Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield routine tax breaks victims of virtually TrueAbility, Tunesync, Twitter, Uncork myself such time as I might consume. every disaster over the last decade Capital, Venrock, Via, Vimeo, Inc., WayUp, Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the senti- have been entitled to, things like ac- Wellthy, White Lioness Coaching®, Women ments of the gentleman. We certainly cess to retirement savings without pen- 2.0, WorkHound, Yapp, You Got Listings, Inc, agree. alty, a tax credit for employers who Zyper. The House has passed disaster relief. continue to pay employees while shut Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I re- We await Senate conferees, so we can down, suspending tax limitations on serve the balance of my time. move that process forward. But what charitable contributions for relief ef- Mr. WOODALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield strikes me is how troubling it is to forts, and allowing hardworking fami- myself such time as I may consume. have this conversation. lies to use earned income from the pre- My friend from New York is right: The reality is that the President of vious year to calculate their earned in- They did make a number of amend- the United States has chosen which come tax credits and child tax credits. ments in order, but not enough amend- Americans to provide aid to. The island It is a shame that we have to resort ments to solve some underlying prob- of Puerto Rico, American citizens, has to a procedural trick to ask for a vote lems. suffered disasters, calamities, as a re- on this very bipartisan, commonsense One amendment they didn’t make in sult of Hurricane Maria, yet the Presi- legislation that we have passed many order was an amendment to provide dent shows no indication that he un- times before. disaster funding to so many of our derstands the plight of the people on Mr. Speaker, it is time we take ac- communities that have been waiting on Puerto Rico. That is why it is nec- tion to help those suffering from the disaster funding—not for a day, not for essary for the House and Senate to 2018 disasters. For this reason, I urge a a week, not for a month, but, now, into come together to provide relief, be- ‘‘no’’ vote on the previous question. the new year. cause the President, frankly, has cho- Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield If we defeat the previous question sen not to do it. myself such time as I may consume. today, we can correct that injustice, We welcome the comments by the Mr. Speaker, I would just reiterate and I will bring up an amendment to gentleman. We look forward to the what I said earlier, which is that all the rule to make this disaster funding Senate establishing members of a con- Americans need help in times of dis- possible. It is critically important. ference committee, so we can work out aster. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the differences that we may have and move Despite the fact that some would try to ignore the fact that climate change gentleman from Georgia (Mr. AUSTIN this forward. We continue to hope for exists and has created natural disasters SCOTT) to talk about that, one of the that day and hope that the President greatest advocates for that language will gain some enlightenment about that we could not have predicted years here in the House. how we help and protect all American ago, the fact is that those disasters Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. citizens. continue to happen. All Americans—I don’t care whether Speaker, I rise today to urge my col- Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of you live in New York or , leagues to defeat the previous question my time. Mr. WOODALL. Mr. Speaker, as we , Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin so the House can immediately bring up have heard so often on the House floor, Islands—all Americans need help. meaningful disaster relief. hopeful wishes are not enough for our One of the first bills we passed under I want to thank my friends and col- constituents. We need to deliver re- a structured rule in this Congress was leagues from across the aisle, Rep- sults. to provide that relief, yet it sits in the resentative WOODALL, obviously, Chair- Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the Senate because they seek to choose man MCGOVERN, Ranking Member gentleman from Florida (Mr. DUNN), which Americans get benefited by the COLE, and others on the Rules Com- who has been working hard in that di- Federal Government’s relief efforts and mittee, for allowing me to speak last rection. which do not. night on behalf of the amendment. I Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today We are going to stand firmly in the also want to thank them for their help to demand that critical natural dis- corner of all Americans getting the in previously passing very similar leg- aster relief be voted upon. support from the Federal Government islation. Tomorrow will be the 6-month anni- that they deserve. We are not going to My amendment is quite simple. The versary of Hurricane Michael, 6 months pick and choose. text contained the same dollar-for-dol- with absolutely no disaster supple- Mr. Speaker, I certainly hope that lar amounts from H.R. 268, the House- mental funding, no serious action on my colleagues here across the aisle are passed disaster assistance bill. the part of Congress except the polit- going to march across to the other This bill was a work of compromise ical farce in the House and two failed Chamber and insist to the United and work that many of us representing cloture votes in the Senate. States Senate that it takes up that districts that have been hit by disas- Both Chambers have refused to ex- bill, that we establish a conference ters in 2018 worked on. It includes a bi- tend even routine tax relief to ensure committee, and that we send this to partisan amendment that I and many that people have access to their money the White House. others sponsored, which raised the crop when they need it most. With tax day Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of and livestock loss assistance to $3 bil- just around the corner, this is unac- my time. lion, from approximately $1 billion. ceptable. Mr. WOODALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield That is included in the final text. Floridians are tough, but they need myself the balance of my time, and I Unfortunately, my amendment was help and deserve help. would say to my friend from New York, not made in order; but, if we defeat the Six months ago, Hurricane Michael we do not have any further speakers re- previous question, it will be included in devastated the South, damaging more maining, so if he would like to get this an amendment, along with other im- than 90 percent of the structures on show on the road, I am prepared to portant provisions, to help those af- Tyndall Air Force Base, decimating close if he is. fected by the natural disasters of 2018. our agricultural industry, and destroy- Mr. Speaker, I have great respect for Disaster relief has never been a par- ing entire communities. Yet, here we my friend from New York on the Rules tisan issue in the United States of are with only 1 day left in the legisla- Committee, and I really do enjoy serv- America, and it should not be a par- tive calendar before Easter and no tax ing with him on the Budget Com- tisan issue today. I urge my colleagues relief in sight. mittee.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:38 Apr 10, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A09AP7.005 H09APPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with HOUSE April 9, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3147 It is neat to be on the Budget Com- The problem is not the Rules Com- We need to move forward, nonethe- mittee as a freshman because you are mittee, Mr. Speaker. That is not why less, Mr. Speaker, and that is what we working with the biggest issues that we need to defeat the rules today. The are doing today. we have in this country. We all care problem is the leadership decision that I do know that, for me, the amount about healthcare and how it gets im- has been made to bring up these two of discretionary investments we make plemented, but we can’t implement it flawed products that were created in a will say a great deal about where we if we can’t pay for it, so the Budget partisan way when we could have are going as a country and what our Committee grapples with those issues. brought to the floor two positive prod- priorities are. We all want our seniors to be pro- ucts created in a collaborative way. I think we need to make greater in- tected. They have been paying into We have to make a decision in this vestments in education and in public Medicare and Social Security their en- Chamber. Either we are in the business health, highways and transit, veterans tire lives, but we know those programs of making a point or we are in the busi- healthcare, agricultural research, are headed toward bankruptcy. We ness of making a difference. So far, the workplace safety, K–12 education sup- can’t solve those problems except in first 4 months of this year, we have port, national parks, housing assist- the overarching look of a Federal budg- been great at making a point, but we ance and mortgage insurance, small et process. It is what the law requires. have been struggling to make a dif- business assistance, Head Start, food We get to talk about those big ideas. ference. safety, scientific research and space ex- We get to think those big thoughts. We Like it or not, we have a Senate that ploration—God knows, as a percentage get to come together to make big and, has to pass this legislation and a Presi- of GDP, we need to continue to invest yes, Mr. Speaker, difficult decisions. dent who has to sign it if we are to dramatically in those—embassy secu- President Trump, in his budget, made make it the law of the land. The two rity, Pell grants for higher education difficult decisions. I dare say I could go products today fail that test. students, hazardous waste cleanup, wa- Member to Member in this Chamber Let’s not waste another moment on terway maintenance for commerce and and find 435 people out of 435 who them, Mr. Speaker, not another mo- recreation, weather forecasting, hurri- would find at least one flaw in the ment. Let’s reject this rule. Let’s not cane-proofing communities, forest and President’s budget. I bet I could. bring these two pieces of legislation to wildlife habitat management, con- It is hard to write a budget for the the floor. Let’s go back to the drawing servation resources, patents and trade- United States of America, but the law board collaboratively, as we know we marks, consumer protections, and avia- requires that we do it. More impor- can. Lock any bipartisan group of tion safety. tantly, even if the law didn’t require Members into a room together, Mr. The list goes on and on for the kind that we do it, Mr. Speaker, we know Speaker, and they will craft a better of investments we need to make to con- that we should. We know the Constitu- solution. We have the right leaders in tinue to make sure that America leads tion lays out that responsibility, the this Chamber for this time. We just in the 21st century. That is what this power of the purse, for the House. We need to free them up to lead. does today. That is what this rule will have constituted an entire committee Defeat this rule. Defeat the previous do. That is what the resolution budget called the Budget Committee. question. I don’t want to wow you, Mr. Speak- Mr. Speaker, if we defeat the pre- process starts today. er, with my eloquence, but do you vious question, I ask unanimous con- Mr. Speaker, I thank all my col- know what the responsibility of the sent to insert the text of my amend- leagues for their words of support for H.R. 2021, the Investing for the People Budget Committee is? It only has one: ment in the RECORD, along with extra- write the budget. neous material, immediately prior to Act. I especially thank Chairman YAR- For years, there was a time when the the vote on the previous question. MUTH and Ranking Member WOMACK for Senate was not taking up budgets in The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there their work on our Nation’s budget. its Budget Committee. I wondered why objection to the request of the gen- I also thank Chairman PALLONE and they didn’t disband the Budget Com- tleman from Georgia? Ranking Member WALDEN and all those mittee because the only job the Budget There was no objection. who have worked on H.R. 1644, the Save Committee has is to write the budget. Mr. WOODALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield the Internet Act. We know we need to do that to- back the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ‘‘yes’’ vote on gether. We know we do, but we are not. Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield the rule, and I urge a ‘‘yes’’ vote on the The second bill this rule makes in myself such time as I may consume. previous question. order is the government takeover of Mr. Speaker, I always appreciate the The material previously referred to the internet bill. Again, if you think passion that Mr. WOODALL brings to by Mr. WOODALL is as follows: the internet is broken and the benevo- conversations, both here on the floor as At the end of the resolution, add the fol- lent hand of government can fix it, this well as in the two committees on which lowing: is the bill for you. If you think the we are privileged to serve. I thank him SEC. 8. Immediately upon adoption of this internet is not broken and perhaps gov- for that and thank him for his concerns resolution the Speaker shall, pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XVIII, declare the House ernment ought to stay where govern- about how we move forward. resolved into the Committee of the Whole ment is, and the freedom of the inter- I believe this is moving forward. House on the state of the Union for consider- net should continue, this is not the bill Today, we are moving forward. We set ation of the bill (H.R. 2145) to provide dis- for you. the tone of how we move forward. We aster relief. The first reading of the bill shall We need to defeat both of these bills, establish our discretionary amount. We be dispensed with. All points of order against and we need to defeat the rule. end the sequestration caps. We begin to consideration of the bill are waived. General I do want to point out, for the Rules move forward, and I think that is what debate shall be confined to the bill and shall Committee, we were working just be- we want to do. not exceed one hour equally divided and con- yond those doors last night, Mr. Speak- It is fascinating. I note that Mr. trolled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and er, and I think the Rules Committee WOODALL, in his comments, mentioned Means. After general debate the bill shall be did the best it could with the material you can’t get all 435 Members to agree. considered for amendment under the five- that it had to work with. I see the staff I certainly understand that, and I ap- minute rule. All points of order against pro- director of the Rules Committee sit- preciate it. We couldn’t get one Mem- visions in the bill are waived. No amendment ting over there. He has a tough job. ber to offer the President’s budget as shall be in order except the amendments I think the chairman did the best he an amendment. specified in section 9 of this resolution. Each could. You cannot solve the problem of The truth is that there is a failure of such amendment may be offered only in the a flawed, partisan committee process leadership here. This is a process that order specified, may be offered only by the with the inclusion of amendments in is new to me, but I certainly expected Member designated, shall be considered as the Rules Committee. You just can’t do that the President would provide great- read, and shall be debatable for 10 minutes equally divided and controlled by the pro- it. But they tried as hard as they pos- er leadership on how to move forward. ponent and an opponent. All points of order sibly could, making in order as many We have seen none from the White against such amendments are waived. After amendments as they could to try to House, which I find troubling and I find the conclusion of consideration of the bill for satisfy as many concerns as they could. puts us at a considerable disadvantage. amendment, the Committee shall rise and

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:22 Apr 10, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K09AP7.025 H09APPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with HOUSE H3148 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 9, 2019 report the bill to the House with such SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Unemployment benefits are a vital amendments as may have been adopted. The Congress finds the following: lifeline for Americans who have lost previous question shall be considered as or- (1) The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (Pub- their jobs, helping them keep the lights dered on the bill and amendments thereto to lic Law 115–123) improved program account- on and pay the rent while they search ability for effectively serving unemployed final passage without intervening motion ex- for work. But unemployment benefits cept one motion to recommit with or with- workers and made a significant new invest- out instructions. If the Committee of the ment in reemployment services. replace less than half of a worker’s Whole rises and reports that it has come to (2) Research shows the longer workers are paycheck, on average. Especially for no resolution on the bill, then on the next out of work, the harder it can be to maintain lower paid workers, who may not have legislative day the House shall, immediately their skills, professional network, and stable any savings to fall back on, the best after the third daily order of business under home life. outcome is to find a new job as quickly clause 1 of rule XIV, resolve into the Com- (3) Reemployment services give workers as possible. mittee of the Whole for further consideration who might otherwise struggle to find new When you lose your job, it can be dif- of the bill. jobs the tools that they need to get back to ficult to find a new one, especially if SEC. 9. The amendments referred to in sec- work—such as individualized career coun- you are older, haven’t looked for a job tion 8 of this resolution are as follows: seling and job search help as well as local in a long time, or have made mistakes (1) A proper amendment, if offered by the labor market information—and they can chair of the Committee on Ways and Means serve as an entry point to the workforce de- in the past. Reemployment services or his designee; and velopment system. give people looking for help the per- (2) A proper amendment, if offered by the (4) Reemployment services have been dem- sonal help they need to overcome those ranking minority member of the Committee onstrated to reduce the number of weeks barriers. on Ways and Means or his designee. that program participants receive unemploy- For instance, States might provide SEC. 10. Clause 1(c) of rule XIX shall not ment benefits by improving their employ- assistance targeted to a claimant’s apply to the consideration of H.R. 2145. ment outcomes, including earnings. needs, things like customized career Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield (5) Unemployment benefits replace less and labor market information, help than half of working income, on average, so back the balance of my time, and I with application materials, or allowing workers who find new jobs quickly suffer less them to practice for tough job inter- move the previous question on the res- financial hardship. olution. (6) Combining targeted reemployment views. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The services with unemployment benefits helps Last year, we passed important legis- question is on ordering the previous keep people attached to the labor force who lation to improve reemployment serv- question. might otherwise become discouraged and ices and eligibility assessment grants, The question was taken; and the drop out. or RESEAs. Our legislation added im- Speaker pro tempore announced that (7) The Congressional Budget Office esti- portant worker protections, gave mates that, over time, investments in reem- the noes appeared to have it. States incentives to improve the qual- ployment services create savings for tax- ity of the services being provided for Mr. MORELLE. Mr. Speaker, on that payers and unemployment trust funds by re- I demand the yeas and nays. workers, and ensured that sufficient ducing spending on unemployment benefits. funding is available in every State and The yeas and nays were ordered. (8) Many different types of workers can territory. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- benefit from reemployment services. Reem- When I asked how RESEA grants ant to clause 8 of rule XX, further pro- ployment services should be used to shorten the duration of unemployment for workers were being used in my home State of ceedings on this question will be post- , they told me about Tara, who poned. even if they are not projected to fully ex- haust their unemployment benefits. struggled to find a new job after she f SEC. 3. ELIGIBILITY FOR REEMPLOYMENT SERV- was laid off, both because her skills b 1315 ICES. weren’t up to date for the current labor Section 306(a) of the Social Security Act market and because she had a criminal ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER (42 U.S.C. 506(a)) is amended— record. The Illinois RESEA helped her PRO TEMPORE (1) by striking ‘‘individuals referred to re- upgrade her job skills and find a job employment services as described in section The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- 303(j)’’ and inserting ‘‘claimants for unem- with an employer willing to take a ant to clause 8 of rule XX, the Chair ployment compensation, including claimants chance, a chance on someone who had will postpone further proceedings referred to reemployment services as de- made mistakes. She is now working today on motions to suspend the rules scribed in section 303(j),’’; and and going to school to get an associ- on which a recorded vote or the yeas (2) by striking ‘‘such individuals’’ and in- ate’s degree in welding, so she will and nays are ordered, or votes objected serting ‘‘such claimants’’. have better pay and benefits in the fu- to under clause 6 of rule XX. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- ture. The House will resume proceedings ant to the rule, the gentleman from Il- The BRIDGE for Workers Act would on postponed questions at a later time. linois (Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS) and the add important and needed flexibility to allow States to serve all workers who f gentlewoman from (Mrs. WALORSKI) each will control 20 min- could benefit from reemployment serv- BUILDING ON REEMPLOYMENT IM- utes. ices, not just those who are expected to PROVEMENTS TO DELIVER GOOD The Chair recognizes the gentleman run out of benefits before finding work. EMPLOYMENT FOR WORKERS from Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I include in the RECORD ACT GENERAL LEAVE a letter from the National Association Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. of State Workforce Agencies endorsing Speaker, I move to suspend the rules Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the BRIDGE for Workers Act. and pass the bill (H.R. 1759) to amend all Members have 5 legislative days to NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE title III of the Social Security Act to revise and extend their remarks and in- WORKFORCE AGENCIES, extend reemployment services and eli- clude extraneous material on the bill Washington, DC, March 13, 2019. under consideration. Hon. STEPHANIE MURPHY, gibility assessments to all claimants House of Representatives, for unemployment compensation, and The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there Washington, DC. for other purposes, as amended. objection to the request of the gen- Hon. JACKIE WALORSKI, The Clerk read the title of the bill. tleman from Illinois? House of Representatives, The text of the bill is as follows: There was no objection. Washington, DC. H.R. 1759 Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Hon. XOCHITL TORRES SMALL, Speaker, I yield myself such time as I House of Representatives, Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- Washington, DC. resentatives of the United States of America in may consume. Hon. DARIN LAHOOD, Congress assembled, Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1759, the BRIDGE for Workers Act, continues our com- House of Representatives, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. mittee’s bipartisan work to help Amer- Washington, DC. This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Building on DEAR REPRESENTATIVES MURPHY, Reemployment Improvements to Deliver icans who are receiving earned unem- WALORSKI, TORRES SMALL AND LAHOOD: We Good Employment for Workers Act’’ or the ployment insurance benefits to get are writing on behalf of the National Asso- ‘‘BRIDGE for Workers Act’’. back to work faster. ciation of State Workforce Agencies

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:22 Apr 10, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A09AP7.003 H09APPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with HOUSE