H484 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE January 18, 2018 some progress. But what we are lack- Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, as we in the Trump administration’s proposal ing is the Federal component. Congress are faced with another con- to lift a decades-old ban on offshore oil It is essential that we build a trans- tinuing resolution, I cannot help but and gas drilling on our country’s At- portation and water infrastructure sys- think about the wasted lives and lantic and Pacific Coasts. tem to meet the 21st century system money in Afghanistan. This proposal has to be one of the needs, not only of California, but of our On Sunday night’s 60 Minutes, I most irresponsible actions of the entire Nation, and the valley I have the watched, with great interest, a seg- Trump administration. Currently, 94 honor and privilege to represent. ment about the 16-year war in Afghani- percent of the Outer Continental Shelf We need a more reliable water sys- stan. The title was: ‘‘Kabul under siege is off limits to drilling, and rightly so, tem to supply our farms and cities that while America’s longest war rages on.’’ given the importance of protecting the are growing, and with climate change, During the interview, Correspondent economic and cultural value of the we know we have to take that into ac- Lara Logan detailed the growing dan- country’s coastlines. count. We also need a better 21st cen- ger in Afghanistan and interviewed The Trump administration has of- tury system of transportation. General John Nicholson, commander of fered a staggering reversal, proposing What is missing? I will tell you what American forces in Afghanistan, as to open up over 90 percent of the Outer is missing: Federal funding; Federal well as Afghanistan’s President Ghani. Continental Shelf to oil and gas drill- participation. To make this happen, we While I do not have the time to go into ing. While Governors and lawmakers in Congress should incentivize States detail, this segment made it very from both parties have risen to voice and local governments like in Cali- clear—and I think anyone watching their opposition to this plan, this ad- fornia and the counties I represent that would agree—that Afghanistan con- ministration is moving forward at a have already raised funds for these tinues to be a failed policy. breakneck speed. It has given a mere 60 projects, with a Federal funding stream days for the public to comment. In my that will complement these State and b 1045 home State of Maine, which has much local efforts. At one time, Lara Logan stated to to lose from this plan, we don’t even California and the San Joaquin Val- Nicholson: ‘‘A lot of people at home get a full public hearing. ley are already doing their part, and we just don’t buy that terrorists are com- This proposal’s lack of transparency need, here in Washington, to do our ing from Afghanistan to attack them and fairness couldn’t have been more part to invest in our country’s future. at home. They are worrying about the apparent than when Governor Rick This will require Democrats and Re- guy going to rent a truck from Home Scott of Florida somehow earned an ex- publicans to work together to engage Depot and drive into a crowd of civil- emption for his State. Everyone can in a serious bipartisan deliberation and ians.’’ see that this was less about protecting negotiations this year to make this na- In General Nicholson’s response, Florida’s pristine beaches and coast- tional infrastructure project a reality. there was a sentence that caught my line, as Governor Scott said, than a po- Last week, we in the Problem Solvers attention, where he said: ‘‘We need to litical favor from President Trump. Caucus released a report to the State defeat the ideology.’’ Mr. Speaker, I absolutely have noth- of our Nation’s infrastructure and I was amazed and astonished by his ing against the Florida coast. But the made bipartisan recommendations on response. It has been said that you can- State shouldn’t have to be home to how we get there. These recommenda- not kill an ideology with a bullet or a Mar-a-Lago to earn an exemption from tions can serve as a foundation for con- bomb. So why are we still trying? this awful plan. All coastal States de- sensus on which bipartisan collabora- This is why I am calling on Speaker serve this protection. tion can build the policy that repairs, My home State of Maine is one of RYAN, once again, to permit the House advances, and invests in America’s in- them. If you measured every inch of of Representatives to have a policy de- frastructure. our State’s jagged coastline and is- Although we have not seen a lot of bate on Afghanistan. lands, it would measure an incredible bipartisan deliberative policymaking Mr. Speaker, I have beside me a post- 3,500 miles. Those miles include some here lately, I am urging my colleagues er of a young woman whose husband of the most beautiful places in the on both sides of the aisle to show some was killed in Afghanistan. It is so pa- world and critical habitat for hundreds profiles in courage. We must come to- thetic because the woman and the of species of fish and wildlife. gether to invest in America’s infra- mother of the little girl sitting in her That coast is also dotted with dozens structure if we expect to have the ca- lap is crying, yet the little girl is look- of small towns filled with hardworking pacity for the economic development ing at the Army officer with a look people who depend on a beautiful, and innovation for the future of Amer- like: Why am I here? Why is there a healthy ocean to make their living. ica in the 21st century. flag-draped coffin? Why is my mother Two of my State’s largest industries I have made this a priority through- crying? are tourism and fishing. Tourism in out my years of service in the San Joa- The little girl is too young to really Maine is a $5.6 billion industry, 71 per- quin Valley, both in Sacramento and understand what is happening. cent of which comes directly in from now in Washington, D.C. I invite my Mr. Speaker, I call on Speaker RYAN the Maine coast. Millions of people colleagues to join me in investing in to let us have a debate on the policy visit our State to experience our beau- America’s infrastructure; work with issue of Afghanistan and its future. tiful coastline, snug harbors, and stun- the President; work on a bipartisan I will close with the words of the 31st ning landmarks, like the Marshall basis. Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen- Point Lighthouse in Port Clyde. After all, that is what we are sup- eral Chuck Krulak, who said: ‘‘No one Our fishing industry and businesses posed to do in investing in America’s has ever conquered Afghanistan, and that support it have even more to lose infrastructure and, therefore, our fu- many have tried. We will join the list from this proposal. Thirty thousand ture. This has been our tradition in the of nations that tried and failed.’’ Mainers make their living in marine past and how we have gotten great Mr. RYAN, the Speaker of the House, industries. They include boat builders, projects completed, and this is the kind it is your time to call for this House to ground fishermen, clammers, seaweed of investment we need to make today debate the future of Afghanistan. harvesters, oyster and mussel farmers, for America’s infrastructure. Please make that call to the House of and, of course, lobstermen. Let us work together. It is the right Representatives that we will have that Our world-famous lobster fishing in- thing to do. debate. dustry alone brings in $500 million an- f f nually. I have had so many discussions with the lobster fishermen who tell me AFGHANISTAN CONTINUES TO BE OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS DRILLING about all the difficulties their industry A FAILED POLICY The SPEAKER pro tempore. The already faces. They want to pass their The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from businesses on to their sons and daugh- Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maine (Ms. PINGREE) for 5 minutes. ters, but they worry about the future. North Carolina (Mr. JONES) for 5 min- Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Speaker, I rise Will the Gulf of Maine, which is al- utes. today to voice my strong opposition to ready warming faster than 99.9 percent

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:32 Jan 19, 2018 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K18JA7.009 H18JAPT1 January 18, 2018 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H485 of the world’s ocean waters, remain freedom or liberty. Steve Mayfield not lation last year. It is time for the prime habitat for lobster? Will ocean only had to fight ALS, he also had to House to do the same, thereby restor- acidification harm the lobster popu- fight the Food and Drug Administra- ing freedom, liberty, and hope, and giv- lation and shellfish in ways we don’t tion before he could try experimental ing terminally ill patients across already know about yet? but potentially lifesaving treatments. America a better chance to live. Do we really need to add the poten- Sadly, Steve Mayfield lost both f tial of an oil spill to the list of things fights. Steve Mayfield was barred by that already keep them up at night? the Federal Government from trying DACA In Maine, we know the risk because possibly lifesaving treatments and, not The SPEAKER pro tempore. The we have seen the consequences. In 1996, long ago, passed away. Steve Chair recognizes the gentleman from a tanker named the Julie N. spilled Mayfield’s son, Brooks Mayfield, from Illinois (Mr. LIPINSKI) for 5 minutes. about 200,000 gallons of heating oil in Florence, Alabama, was with his father Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, DACA Maine’s Casco Bay. It cost over $40 mil- when he passed away. must be fixed for the good of these lion to clean up and it caused lobster It is in that vein, Mr. Speaker, that I young immigrants and for the good of prices to plummet. call on the House to have a floor vote our Nation. About 200,000 gallons of spilled oil is on Senate bill S. 204, the Right to Try In September, Leaders Pelosi and a drop in the bucket when you talk Act, which passed the Senate last year, Schumer and President Trump agreed about the spilled oil from the Deep- that restores the right of terminally ill to protect DACA recipients and im- water Horizon, which spilled 200 mil- patients to try experimental treat- prove border security. Since that time, lion gallons into the Gulf of Mexico. ments that may save their lives. I have worked in the 48–Member, bipar- The result on the marine environment Brooks Mayfield’s father might be tisan House Problem Solvers Caucus to was devastating. Shrimp, crab, oyster, alive today if the Right to Try Act had come up with a plan that would do just and other fisheries in those States may been the law of the land. that. never fully recover. Mr. Speaker, we must remember who I thank Senators DURBIN, GRAHAM, The risks of this proposal to my we are as Americans. Our ancestors BENNET, GARDNER, MENENDEZ, and State and others are simply too great. fought the Revolutionary War over lib- FLAKE, who have put together a com- And for what? Our Nation is already erty and freedom, yet, today in Amer- promise bill in the Senate, which is the top producer of oil and gas in the ica, patients who are 100 percent cer- gaining momentum. After working on world, and with fuel prices currently tain to die are denied the freedom, the this for 5 months, I know just how hard low, this proposal would not boost the liberty, the right to decide for them- it is to come up with a compromise, so economy. I just want to thank these Senators for If this administration is really wor- selves whether to try experimental treatments that may save their lives. what they have done. ried about remaining internationally The Problem Solvers Caucus con- competitive in the energy market, it Every day in America, terminally ill patients and their families are told tinues to work on a plan, and I am should throw its support behind devel- hopeful that we will have one immi- oping alternative energy sources in- there are no options but death. By way of background, fewer than 3 nently because time is running short. stead of abandoning them. I was very happy to hear Congress- percent of terminally ill patients in This proposal is unacceptable and ir- man GUTIE´ RREZ right here from this America have access to investigational responsible. I will continue to fight podium a few minutes ago endorse the treatments through clinical trials. back against the environmental and idea of a compromise even though it is While the Food and Drug Administra- economic harm it threatens for Maine not what he wants, but we need to pro- tion grants compassionate use waivers and the Nation. I am proud to cospon- tect these DACA recipients. meant to allow terminal patients ac- sor legislation with my colleagues in We have to break the status quo in cess to experimental drugs, only about New England to prohibit drilling off Washington—the bickering and the 1,500 waivers were granted in 2016. our States, and another bill to keep the gridlock—which gets in the way of What are other terminally ill Ameri- drilling ban in place entirely along the good solutions for our country. This so- cans to do? Nothing? Just waste away Atlantic and Pacific Coasts. I encour- lution on DACA can and should get and die without a fight? age all my colleagues to do the same done if only we can get away from the Patients shouldn’t have to give up and to stop this terrible plan before it rhetoric and use some common sense. is too late. their liberty, their freedom, their fight against terminal illness merely be- b 1100 f cause the Food and Drug Administra- Unfortunately, common sense is not HOPE FOR TERMINALLY ILL tion says so. Terminally ill patients common in Washington. I call on my PATIENTS shouldn’t have to beg the FDA for a colleagues to get past the bickering The SPEAKER pro tempore. The waiver, forcing patients to fight the and the rhetoric. Do what is right for Chair recognizes the gentleman from Federal bureaucracy, when they are al- the American people. Fix DACA, and Alabama (Mr. BROOKS) for 5 minutes. ready fighting for their lives. let’s move on and do great things to- Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Mr. Speak- The Right to Try Act gives termi- gether for our Nation. nally ill patients access to treatments er, roughly 4 years ago, Steve Mayfield f was a respected high school football that have successfully completed the coach at Central High School in Lau- FDA’s phase one approval requirement RECOGNIZING DR. TIMOTHY M. derdale County, Alabama, who, in Oc- but not yet completed the FDA’s BLOCK tober 2014, was diagnosed with ALS. lengthy and complex full approval The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Steve Mayfield bravely fought his process that can take decades. Chair recognizes the gentleman from terminal disease and kept a smile on Sadly, sometimes when treatments Pennsylvania (Mr. FITZPATRICK) for 5 his face throughout his lengthy 3-year and drugs reach final approval, it is too minutes. battle and ordeal. late for too many patients and their Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I In a land of freedom and liberty, families because the terminally ill pa- rise today to recognize my constituent Steve Mayfield would have had two tient has already died. Dr. Timothy M. Block, president of the choices. On the one hand, he could Mr. Speaker, given the stark con- Hepatitis B Foundation, Baruch S. abide by Food and Drug Administra- trasts between life and death, between Blumberg Institute of Living Science, tion regulations and recommendations freedom and Federal dictates, between and the Pennsylvania Biotechnology and die; or on the other hand, Steve hope and hopelessness, the House Center in my district in Doylestown, Mayfield could try experimental treat- should take up and pass the Right to Pennsylvania. ments that gave some hope of beating Try Act, thereby giving a chance for Dr. Block was recently named as a ALS and extending Steve Mayfield’s life to terminally ill patients and their fellow of the U.S. National Academy of life. families. Inventors. Being elected as a NAI fel- Unfortunately, when it comes to ter- The United States Senate over- low is the highest professional recogni- minal illnesses in America, there is no whelmingly passed Right to Try legis- tion for academic inventors who have

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