E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 115 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION

Vol. 163 WASHINGTON, TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 2017 No. 100 House of Representatives The House met at 10 a.m. and was Afghanistan is the biggest waste of floor of the House to have that kind of called to order by the Speaker pro tem- life and money I have ever seen in my debate on Afghanistan. pore (Mr. COMER). life. I have beside me two little girls Again, it is almost like it doesn’t f who, at the time, lived in my district: exist, but it does exist when we bring Eden Baldridge and Stephanie bills to the floor to continue to spend DESIGNATION OF SPEAKER PRO Baldridge. Their daddy, Kevin, was billions of dollars over there. And John TEMPORE sent from Camp Lejeune, which is in Sopko, the inspector general for Af- The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- my district, along with Colonel Ben- ghan reconstruction, has testified that fore the House the following commu- jamin Palmer, who serves at Cherry waste, fraud, and abuse is worse in Af- nication from the Speaker: Point, which is also in my district. ghanistan today than it was 16 years WASHINGTON, DC, They were sent to Afghanistan 3 years ago. June 13, 2017. ago to train Afghanistans how to be po- Mr. Speaker, again, I want to say to I hereby appoint the Honorable JAMES licemen. the families of the three servicemen COMER to act as Speaker pro tempore on this Well, the tragedy of this story is that who I read their names—I will one day. Corporal Baldridge emailed his wife, more time—Corporal Dillon Baldridge, PAUL D. RYAN, Amy, and said: ‘‘Amy, I don’t trust Sergeant William Bays, Sergeant Erick Speaker of the House of Representatives. them. I don’t trust any of them.’’ And Houck: God be with you. We in the f the very next day, he was shot, along House of Representatives, both parties, MORNING-HOUR DEBATE with Colonel Palmer, and killed. send to you our sincere condolences. Yet we in the Congress have never I thank the good Lord that they were The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- had a debate since 2001 on the future of willing to give their life for this coun- ant to the order of the House of Janu- America’s involvement in Afghanistan. try. It is just a matter of why in the ary 3, 2017, the Chair will now recog- That is why JOHN GARAMENDI and some world do we continue to be in a coun- nize Members from lists submitted by on my side and his side—he is a Demo- try known as the empire of graveyards, the majority and minority leaders for crat—have put in a bill, H.R. 1668. All since so many countries have been morning-hour debate. we are asking is that we have a debate. there and failed? And that is all we are The Chair will alternate recognition You can be for the bill that Mr. doing, is failing, too, by wasting life between the parties. All time shall be GARAMENDI and I have put in or you and money. equally allocated between the parties, can be against it, but give us a chance f and in no event shall debate continue to have a debate. beyond 11:50 a.m. Each Member, other In 16 years, we have spent over $850 THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HAS than the majority and minority leaders billion, over 2,000 Americans have been OVERSIGHT OF THE JUSTICE DE- and the minority whip, shall be limited killed and 20,000 severely wounded, yet PARTMENT to 5 minutes. it seems like the leadership in Con- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The f gress does not understand that we have Chair recognizes the gentleman from a constitutional responsibility, and Illinois (Mr. GUTIE´ RREZ) for 5 minutes. AMERICAN SOLDIERS KILLED IN that responsibility is to debate, espe- Mr. GUTIE´ RREZ. Mr. Speaker, the AFGHANISTAN cially when we are asking our young saga continues, and there seems to be The SPEAKER pro tempore. The men and women to go overseas and no end in sight for the Trump adminis- Chair recognizes the gentleman from give their life for this country. tration’s growing legal and ethical North Carolina (Mr. JONES) for 5 min- Yet again, we have not had a debate problems. Every day another shoe utes. since 2001. There are 300 members of drops, or at least another foot is in- Mr. JONES. Mr. Speaker, sadly, I Congress sitting on the floor today serted into the administration’s come to the floor to remind the Mem- from both parties who were not here in mouth. bers of the House, as well as the Amer- 2001 and who have never been part of a The testimony of James Comey be- ican people, that three Americans were debate on Afghanistan. I don’t know fore the Senate Intelligence Committee killed last week in Afghanistan: Cor- what else we can do. We have written last week showed us that this is no poral Dillon Baldridge, Sergeant Wil- the Speaker of the House individually, longer just a matter of foreign intel- liam Bays, Sergeant Eric Houck. They myself included, and as a group, Repub- ligence and the Russian meddling in were killed by the Afghans they were lican and Democrat, asking the Speak- American elections. While that is very training. er to permit a new AUMF to get to the important and we need to address the

b This symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., b 1407 is 2:07 p.m. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor.

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VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:34 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A13JN7.000 H13JNPT1 H4858 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2017 foreign intelligence and security as- 100 Senators as well, regardless of their ing our valued veterans one step closer pects of that matter, the very impor- party affiliation. to the care they deserve. tant question of how we keep Russia At least one senior senator called KINSLEY, KANSAS, SUMMER FOOD SERVICE from hacking our elections in the fu- this policy opposing congressional PROGRAM ture, what is clear is that the inves- oversight nonsense. To his credit, the Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, last tigations into the Trump administra- Republican chairman of the Judiciary weekend I was honored to join the tion are now matters for the Judiciary Committee in the Senate, Mr. GRASS- Kinsley, Kansas, Summer Food Service Committee. LEY of Iowa, is not impacted by the Program at the Kinsley-Offerle Junior- The gentlewoman from California, Trump administration policy because Senior High School. It always makes Senator FEINSTEIN, and I were on CNN he is a chairman, but he spoke out my day when I walk into a room filled this weekend, and we made the point forcefully against the Presidential ob- with children I delivered in the past that the Judiciary Committee has the struction. See, my friends, that is how decade and their moms. oversight responsibility for the Justice you do it, the way Mr. GRASSLEY did it. Like those programs in communities Department, therefore, it is time for Follow his example. in my district and around the country, the committee to do its job. And then there is our old friend, the these folks serve free breakfast and That was the theme of my speech former Speaker and an adviser to the lunch, and the program is sponsored by here last week, and nothing has hap- President, Mr. Gingrich, who is now ad- the school district. It is great to see pened. It is also the reason I wrote to vising the President to terminate Mr. this local partnership, this community Judiciary Chairman BOB GOODLATTE Mueller, the former FBI Director in- coalition coming together to help their last week to request that he take ac- vestigating the President and his sub- children. tion, hold hearings, begin preparations ordinates, including the family mem- We live in the most prosperous coun- for the hearings that will come—and bers of the President. Mr. Gingrich said try in the world, where we have annu- they will come—because the silence of Mueller was a superb choice with an ally produced a tremendous abundance the Judiciary Committee has been impeccable reputation for fairness just of food, yet it continues to amaze me deafening so far. a couple of weeks ago, but now he says that we have the level of hunger that As soon as President Trump said on there is no way Mueller can be fair. He we do, especially among our own chil- Friday he was willing to testify under wants the President to fire Mueller and dren. oath 100 percent, I wrote Judiciary he wants a political fight against the Good nutrition is too important for Chairman GOODLATTE to say the com- very idea of special prosecutors. the development of these young minds mittee should schedule a hearing and Now, Mr. Gingrich has been joined in not to ensure, through the commu- take the President at his word. this chorus by a Trump confidante and nities and programs like these, that Now, I don’t think the chairman will golf buddy, the president of Newsmax, they are well fed. Whether you are in invite the President, a man he cam- who says the President is contem- the largest ag-producing district in the paigned for, because the role of the plating firing Mueller. country, like mine in Kansas, or a city House Judiciary Committee right now Mr. Speaker, if you want to see the on the coast, we have no excuses. is to protect the President at all costs, President on a fast track to impeach- I thank programs like these for their shielding the President from tough ment, then he should take this advice role in raising a healthy generation. questions instead of representing the and fire Mueller. If you want to see NATIONAL TEACHERS HALL OF FAME people’s interest. this President in the express lane to Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, in the In doing so, Judiciary Republicans impeachment, no ifs, ands, or buts, last 21⁄2 centuries, 119 of our Nation’s and House Republicans in general are then go for it. We dare you. educators have tragically lost their getting deeper and deeper into bed with Even the Judiciary Committee, lives while serving both their students this President. You see, they have a which has shown no interest in doing and their communities, a terrible sac- whole agenda, and they are counting anything other than rubber stamping rifice they didn’t expect when they fol- on this President to help them cut this administration’s agenda, would be lowed their calling to help our young taxes for people with trust funds while forced to take action. people. cutting healthcare, education, child f The National Teachers Hall of Fame care, civil rights and voting rights for in Emporia State University, in my people who work for a living. VETERANS AFFAIRS ACCOUNT- Mr. Speaker, the House Judiciary ABILITY AND WHISTLEBLOWER district, built a memorial honoring Committee ought to be in the middle of PROTECTION ACT those who have lost their lives while congressional examinations of the The SPEAKER pro tempore. The pursuing their educational calling. Trump administration, and so far they Chair recognizes the gentleman from Founded in 2014, the memorial was have been on the sidelines. Kansas (Mr. MARSHALL) for 5 minutes. built to honor those who had taught Is it no longer the practice of the Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I students, ranging from kindergarten to House of Representatives to hold over- would like to take a moment and rec- 12th grade, and has now been expanded sight hearings? Is it no longer the prac- ognize an important piece of legisla- to honor fallen educators at all aca- tice of this body to hold the executive tion that is scheduled for a vote on the demic levels. branch and the White House account- House floor today, the Veterans Affairs While the National Teachers Hall of able? Accountability and Whistleblower Pro- Fame is regionally recognized, our I have never seen an administration tection Act. country still lacks a national memo- more in need of congressional oversight This bipartisan legislation will re- rial for those that have lost their lives than this one, yet the Congress does form the VA by allowing the Secretary while serving our students. By recog- not dare do anything that might cause to fire underperforming employees, en- nizing this memorial, we don’t have to the President to call someone out in sure appropriate protections for whis- spend a dime of Federal funding, but one of his dawn Twitter rants. tleblowers, and authorize the Secretary we have a place to remember these men We know that the administration has to directly appoint folks to critically and women. a policy now—this administration—of important positions that need filled I have introduced a bill, H.R. 2711, not cooperating with congressional quickly. This legislation has already that will do just that. I encourage my oversight, instructing agencies not to passed the Senate, and I look forward colleagues to support this bill. comply with inquiries from members of to its passage in the House, and to send f Congress unless they are a committee it to the President for his signature chairman, all of whom happen to be this week. COVFEFE Republican. Those that serve our Nation are hon- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Mr. Speaker, I am sorry, but the ored heroes. Unfortunately, the VA bu- Chair recognizes the gentleman from President and his administration are reaucracy hasn’t always provided the Illinois (Mr. QUIGLEY) for 5 minutes. accountable to over 320 million Ameri- care, respect, and honor they deserve. I Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, a few cans, all 435 Members of this body and look forward to this vote and to bring- weeks ago, the President tweeted the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:34 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.002 H13JNPT1 June 13, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4859 word ‘‘covfefe.’’ We still don’t know at the White House, Trump Tower, or of dollars through higher utility bills what it means, why the President his southern Florida home. If regaining and taxes, well, of course, politically tweeted it, or if it was simply an inno- the public’s trust is the first step, then connected green energy companies will cent typo, something we are all guilty taking action to maintain that trust do very well, but at enormous expense of making. But what is more important for the long term is the next. to the overall economy. than the creation of a random, now in- Standalone transparency legislation Those 374,000 solar jobs we hear about famous, word in a tweet is that the is absolutely necessary, but it is not generate just 1 percent of our elec- President deleted the post less than 12 enough. We must stop treating trans- tricity. The 187,000 coal, oil, and gas hours later. This is just 1 of 18 tweets parency and accountability as periph- jobs remaining in this country gen- the President has deleted since his in- eral issues and proactively incorporate erate 65 percent of our electricity. auguration, and, each time, the ques- them into everything we do. tion is raised whether or not he can le- Going forward, I will continue to pro- The wide historical fluctuations in gally do that, because when the Presi- mote efforts to increase public access both carbon dioxide and global tem- dent deletes a tweet, it is equivalent to to the Federal Government and ensure perature suggest that natural influ- him destroying a record. that all elected officials are being held ences vastly outweigh human causes. That is why I have introduced the accountable for their words and their Paleoclimatologists tell us that atmos- COVFEFE Act, Communications Over actions. pheric CO2 levels were five times high- er during the Jurassic Period, and glob- Various Feeds Electronically for En- f gagement. It is a silly name, but a seri- al temperatures were 13 degrees higher THE PARIS CLIMATE ACCORD ous issue. By expanding the Presi- during the Pleistocene-Eocene Thermal dential Records Act to include social The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Maximum. That is long before humans media, it would ensure that all tweets Chair recognizes the gentleman from or SUVs. posted by the President from his per- California (Mr. MCCLINTOCK) for 5 min- In 2016, President Obama came to Yo- sonal account are archived and pre- utes. semite Valley to warn that the last of served and would finally answer the Mr. MCCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, Yosemite’s surrounding glaciers would question on whether or not the Presi- President Trump’s most important soon disappear. Ironically, if he stood dent can delete tweets. mandate is to revive America’s strug- on the same spot 20,000 years earlier, Although the bill’s name is a little gling economy. This simply cannot be he would have been buried under about tongue-in-cheek, the focus of the legis- done under the terms of the Paris cli- 2,000 feet of glacial ice. lation is more important now than mate accord. The first IPCC report in 1990, sound- According to The Heritage Founda- ever. If the President is going to take ing the alarm over global warming, tion, adhering to that agreement would to social media to make sudden public gives us some practical experience with have destroyed 400,000 American jobs policy proclamations, we must ensure its climate modeling. Actual global and forfeit $2.5 trillion in lost produc- that these statements are documented temperatures are now well below the tivity by 2035. That is about $20,000 in and preserved for future reference. As lowest of the forecasts that the IPCC lower annual earnings for a family of Sean Spicer has said, each made 27 years ago. And 20 years before four. @realDonaldTrump tweet should be that, the scientific consensus warned There is a reason we suffered the taken as an official White House state- that pollution was about to trigger an- slowest economic growth of the post- ment. other Ice Age. war era under Barack Obama: bad deals b 1015 and bad policies like this. The fact is the current state of Tweets are powerful, and the Presi- President Obama bound America to science is a long way from under- dent must be held accountable for the Paris accord by executive fiat. He standing the intricate natural forces every post, from commenting on committed billions of dollars of taxes and interrelationships in global clima- NATO, to the Paris Agreement, to his paid by American families to an inter- tology, let alone being able to accu- Muslim travel ban, and his response to national slush fund for developing rately predict temperature changes the devastating terror attack in Lon- countries, and then he set his agencies over hundreds of years within fractions don. And on Monday, we learned that loose to suppress American industry, of a degree. That is perhaps why many the appellate court cited the Presi- regardless of the costs imposed on prominent and respected climatolo- dent’s tweet in ruling against the trav- working Americans. gists continue to challenge and debate el ban. And for what exactly? The EPA’s own the question, despite claims that 97 The President’s frequent unfiltered modeling predicts that if the accord percent of the scientists agree and de- use of his personal Twitter account as were fully implemented by 2030, it spite calls to silence them as heretics. a means of official communication is would reduce global temperature in- As the fable of ‘‘The Emperor’s New unprecedented, and we must respond creases by 17/100ths of 1 degree by 2100. Clothes’’ illustrates, nothing is more accordingly. Sometimes it takes a cre- Its advocates have recently dismissed menacing to a flawed consensus than a ative acronym to drive attention to a this inconvenient truth by explaining: single dissenter. Thanks to our politi- much larger issue. Well, it would at least send a powerful cally incorrect President, the United This is the second bill I have intro- signal. States has just stepped forward from duced this Congress to address the lack Well, we can already see the cost to the crowd and pointed out the obvious. of transparency in the administration. average families of sending this power- The Paris accord points the way to a Back in March, I introduced the aptly ful signal. European energy prices are future of skyrocketing energy prices, named ‘‘Mar-a-Lago Act’’ to require more than twice as high as the United lower productivity and wages, a mas- the White House visitor logs, or visitor States, and their economies lag far be- sive wealth transfer from America to logs from any other location where the hind even the anemic growth under nations like China and India, and a per- President conducts official business, to Obama. manently declining quality of life for be made public to the American people. California has adopted many of these our children. Unlike the Obama administration, policies and now bears one of the high- the current administration stated they est energy costs in the country, along Fortunately, President Trump has a are unwilling to do so. For these rea- with the highest poverty rate. Without different vision, a future in which fami- sons, it is critical that we push com- the high-tech wealth of the bay area, lies can enjoy the prosperity that monsense policy that promotes govern- California’s economy would trail well abundant energy provides and the qual- ment accountability and transparency, behind the national growth rate. ity of life that comes from that pros- because in order to maintain public Paris apologists promise a new era of perity. We can’t get there from Paris. trust in government, elected officials green energy jobs. Well, as long as con- But whichever course we take, one must answer for what they do and say. sumers are coerced into buying over- thing is certain, the Earth will con- That includes 140-character tweets and priced green products and struggling tinue to warm and cool as it has for records of who has the President’s ear families are forced to fork over billions billions of years.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:34 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.004 H13JNPT1 H4860 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2017 FREE NABEEL RAJAB ministration to review its relations The government has gone after me not The SPEAKER pro tempore. The with authoritarian regimes like Bah- only for my comments on Yemen, but also for my domestic activism. One of my Chair recognizes the gentleman from rain. ECORD charges, ‘‘insulting a statutory body,’’ con- Massachusetts (Mr. MCGOVERN) for 5 I include in the R these two ar- ticles so this House can see for itself cerns my work shedding light on the torture minutes. of hundreds of prisoners in Jaw Prison in Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I rise the kinds of opinions that the Bahraini March 2015. The State Department has high- today to call for the immediate and un- Government considers so dangerous. lighted the same problem, but last year lift- conditional release of Nabeel Rajab, [From the New York Times, Sept. 4, 2016] ed the arms embargo it had placed on Bah- the prominent Bahraini human rights LETTER FROM A BAHRAINI JAIL rain since the repressions that followed the defender who remains in custody in (By Nabeel Rajab) 2011 Arab Spring protests, citing ‘‘meaning- ful progress on human rights reforms.’’ Real- RIFFA, BAHRAIN.—I write this from a Bah- Bahrain after being arrested a year ly? ago. He is currently being detained in a raini jail cell where I have been detained, After I met Mr. Kerry, I was interrogated hospital. largely in isolation, since the beginning of at the Interior Ministry by the chief of the Nabeel is a leading human rights ac- summer. This is not new to me: I have been cybercrimes unit, the one who later ordered here before, from 2012 to 2014, in 2015, and tivist known across the region and be- my arrest. He wanted to know everything now again, all because of my work as a about my conversation with the secretary of yond for this peaceful views. His work human rights defender. is internationally recognized, and he Nor am I alone: There are some 4,000 polit- state. That official interrogated me again in has won several major human rights ical prisoners in Bahrain, which has the April after I signed an open letter, with 25 awards. highest prison population per capita in the other activists, calling on President Obama to discuss human rights and the plight of ac- Nabeel has been unjustly imprisoned Middle East. This is a country that has sub- jected its people to imprisonment, torture tivists in the Middle East when he visited several times since 2011, when he par- Saudi Arabia earlier this year. ticipated in protests against the Gov- and even death for daring to desire democ- racy. My close colleague Abdulhadi al- The Bahraini government tried to pressure ernment of Bahrain and joined calls for Khawaja was tortured and sentenced to life me into publicly disavowing the letter. I re- democratic reform. in prison in 2011 for his human rights work. fused. In April 2015, he was arrested fol- No one has been properly held to account Recent American statements on Bahrain’s lowing tweets criticizing the Saudi-led for systematic abuses that have affected human rights problems have been strong, coalition airstrikes in Yemen and the thousands. In 2015, I was arrested on new and that is good. But unless the United charges of ‘‘insulting a statutory body’’ and States is willing to use its leverage, fine treatment of detainees in Bahrain’s words have little effect. America’s actions, Juw Prison. He was released after 3 ‘‘spreading rumors during a time of war’’ for posts on Twitter. The police held me from on the other hand, have emboldened the gov- months, but prosecutors ordered his re- April to July last year. I was released only ernment to detain me and other rights advo- arrest in June of 2016. He is being held after the king of Bahrain issued a pardon in cates: Its unconditional support for Saudi on numerous charges and is on trial in an earlier case, also related to views I had Arabia and its lifting of the arms ban on two separate cases for his human expressed. Bahrain have direct consequences for the ac- rights work. If convicted on all Despite the pardon, the 2015 charges and a tivists struggling for dignity in these coun- charges, he would face up to 18 years in travel ban remained in place, and I was tries. Instead of fanning the flames in Yemen by jail. threatened with further action. The head of the cybercrimes unit at the Criminal Inves- supplying arms to the Saudi coalition, Mr. So what kinds of charges are we talk- tigation Directorate in Bahrain summoned Obama’s administration should use its lever- ing about? He is accused of insulting me and my family to a meeting, where—in age to resolve the conflict. Working to se- national institutions, spreading ten- front of my children—he warned me that if I cure the release of people who call for peace, dentious rumors, and offending a for- didn’t stop my advocacy work, I would face and are trying to build democracy in the re- eign country. In other words, he is ac- up to 15 years in prison. gion, would serve that aim. cused of exercising his right to freedom That threat became reality when I was ar- Update: After this Op-Ed essay was pub- of speech. rested in June. The warrant came from the lished, Nabeel Rajab was charged with pub- same cybercrimes unit chief who threatened lishing ‘‘false news and statements and mali- Last December, a court ordered me last year, and I now face prosecution for cious rumors that undermine the prestige of Nabeel’s release on bail, but he was im- my work exposing human rights abuses. The the kingdom.’’ mediately rearrested for making ‘‘false authorities even added a third charge of ‘‘in- Nabeel Rajab is the president of the Bah- or malicious’’ statements in TV inter- sulting a neighboring country,’’ meaning rain Center for Human Rights and an advi- views where he criticized Bahrain’s re- Saudi Arabia. They have also laid a new sory committee member for Human Rights fusal to allow journalists and human charge against me of spreading ‘‘false news,’’ Watch’s Middle East and North Africa Divi- rights groups access to their country. in relation to interviews I’ve given to the sion. news media. It’s quite the rap sheet. I have experienced that, by the way. My supposed ‘‘insult’’ to Saudi Arabia re- In August of 2014, I was denied permis- [From the New York Times, May 17, 2017] lates to tweets I posted calling for an end to DON’T PROFIT FROM ABUSES BY BAHRAIN sion to visit Bahrain with Brian the war in Yemen, a war escalated by the (By Nabeel Rajab) Dooley, who works with Human Rights Saudi-led coalition to which Bahrain belongs First. and for which the United States provides Yemen has entered its third year of war, Since his arrest last year, Nabeel has support, The United States has authorized and war crimes are being committed at an undergone two operations, suffered multibillion-dollar arms sales to the Saudis escalating rate. For Yemen’s children, facing a man-made famine, this conflict between heart palpitations, required emergency since the war began last year. From the beginning, I was against the war. Houthi rebels and a coalition led by Saudi medical care, and developed other med- The civilian death toll was immediate and Arabia has begun a new phase of horrors. ical conditions. After the first oper- catastrophic, and I spoke out against the un- Despite that, President Trump is planning ation, he was returned to prison with folding humanitarian crisis, calling for to make Saudi Arabia the destination of his an open wound and had to be rushed peace. Now, I am paying the price. first state visit this week. Meanwhile, his ad- back to the hospital 3 days later to I met Secretary of State John Kerry on his ministration already decided to lift all treat the resulting infection. visit to Bahrain earlier this year and was human rights restrictions on arms sales to His trials have been postponed more glad to talk with him about our difficult sit- my country, Bahrain, which is a partner in than a dozen times since his arrest last uation. Mr. Kerry criticized the boycott of the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen. the 2014 election by opposition parties, al- This reckless pursuit of profit without any year, most recently yesterday. Nabeel though the opposition’s demand was simply strings attached—including a lucrative deal has spent most of the last 10 months in for a constitutional monarchy in place of for 19 F–16 fighter jets worth $2.8 billion— solitary confinement after The New Bahrain’s autocratic system. Since that elec- will aid and abet the destruction of Yemen, York Times published an op-ed by him tion, the leader of the largest opposition intensifying the country’s humanitarian dis- last September. In that piece, Nabeel group, the Wefaq National Islamic Society, aster. urged the Obama administration to use was sentenced to nine years for ‘‘promoting It fills me with shame that my country, its leverage to resolve the conflict in violence,’’ and the society was suspended and Bahrain, is bombing Yemen, with United its assets frozen. States support. And while the Saudi-led coa- Yemen instead of fanning the flames by I would like to ask Mr. Kerry now: Is this lition continues its air assault on Yemen, supplying arms to the Saudi coalition. the kind of ally America wants? The kind Bahrain is also trying to crush civil society A second New York Times piece by that punishes its people for thinking, that back home. This other, domestic campaign is Nabeel appeared just last month on prevents its citizens from exercising their aimed at people who, like me, cannot abide May 17, where he urged the Trump ad- basic rights? injustice and are willing to speak out.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:58 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.006 H13JNPT1 June 13, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4861 Even so, we look to our friends in United so that was embarrassing for the govern- volatile dangerous place for our mili- States for strength and a united vision for a ment. Then, my trial was rescheduled for tary personnel. We should not enable better future. Americans expect to have a May 3. But that happened to be World Press the Bahraini Government’s repression. government that is accountable, and that re- Freedom Day, so the authorities pushed the I call for the immediate and uncondi- spects and protects its people’s rights. That date back again, to this week. is our great ambition, also, in the Gulf. My detention has entered its 11th month. tional release of Nabeel Rajab and oth- We know we risk much in calling for this. My health has declined. I’m recovering from ers jailed for their peaceful political Some of my fellow activists have been tor- a painful surgical procedure, yet the authori- views, and I urge the Trump adminis- tured, sentenced to life imprisonment, even ties have made every part of my detention as tration to join me. I thank my col- killed. But I believe that respecting human difficult as possible. My lawyers have been leagues for listening. obstructed from providing me the best pos- rights and fundamental freedoms is the way f to attain peace, stability and prosperity in sible defense. But what I have endured is a any nation; I have devoted my life to that small fraction of what the people of Yemen APPLAUDING THE WORK OF THE ideal. have suffered, largely because of the mili- NATIONAL YOUNG FARMERS CO- Criticizing war crimes and torture on tary intervention of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain ALITION Twitter, speaking to journalists about our and their allies. dire situation in Bahrain and the Gulf, and For my part, I will not stand idly by. I The SPEAKER pro tempore. The writing this newspaper: For these actions, I urge Americans not to do so, either. They Chair recognizes the gentleman from now face a total of 18 years’ imprisonment. must all call for an end to the Trump admin- Pennsylvania (Mr. THOMPSON) for 5 I’ve already spent more than 10 months in istration’s unconditional support for my minutes. jail, mostly in solitary confinement. One of country’s misdeeds at home and abroad. Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. the charges against me derives from my tak- Nabeel Rajab is the president of the Bah- Mr. Speaker, last week, I met with rain Center for Human Rights and an advi- ing a stand against the war in Yemen—not members of the National Young Farm- only because it causes misery and tragic loss sory committee member for Human Rights Watch’s Middle East and North Africa Divi- ers Coalition. This nonprofit was of life, but also because it fosters violence founded just 8 years ago by three farm- and terrorism across the region. sion. Does the Trump administration know that Mr. MCGOVERN. Under Obama, the ers in upstate New York. They gath- former Bahraini soldiers have left the coun- State Department repeatedly called on ered around a farmhouse table to talk try to join the Islamic State? Does Wash- Bahrain to release Nabeel and drop the about the challenges facing them and ington know that Bahrain allows no Shiite charges against him. It also tied the their peers: difficulty securing loans, citizens in its military even though Shiites sale of F–16s to Bahrain to improve- access to affordable farmland, and stu- are a majority of the population? Does the ments in human rights. dent loan debt. White House know that the Bahraini Army is In contrast, the new administration They decided that they and other a sectarian force that publishes books en- young farmers needed to step up and dorsing the murder of Shiites who do not has lifted the hold on the F–16 sales ‘‘repent’’? and failed to call for Nabeel’s release. fight for the future of farming as a When I criticized the fostering of extre- When President Trump met with the united front. Across the country, other mism in the Bahraini Army, I was tossed King of Bahrain on May 21, he told young farmers were also coming to the into prison for six months. Bahrain’s king, him: We are going to have a very, very same realization, and the coalition was Hamad bin Isaal-Khalifa, has just approved a long-term relationship. I look forward born. constitutional amendment allowing military to it very much—many of the same It works in conjunction with farmers, courts to try civilians on unspecified charges things common. consumers, organizations, and govern- of ‘‘terrorism.’’ It is a law so vague and It was Trump’s quote. ment to tackle the many challenges sweeping that my act of criticism could now I am not sure what the President had result in a military prosecution. that young, independent, and sustain- This same Bahraini military, newly em- in mind, but let’s review what has hap- able farmers face in their first years of powered, will soon be awarded its new Amer- pened in Bahrain this year. On January operating a farm business. ican-made jets to fly over Yemen. 5, the government restored arrest and Young farmers include all people who Bahraini citizens recognize that the United investigation powers to its national se- are kicking off a career in agriculture. States is a superpower, but that status curity agency notorious for torturing Typically, in their first 10 years of should not depend solely on its military ca- detainees in 2011. This reverses one of growing, this includes anyone from a pacity. American power should also be built the few security sector reforms out- first-year farm apprentice to someone on respect for justice, equality and human rights—the core principles upon which the lined in the Bahrain Independent Com- pursuing a midlife career change to ag- United States was founded. It is these values mission of Inquiry that the govern- riculture. that should dictate American foreign policy, ment carried out. Mr. Speaker, rural America is strug- not the profit margin of Lockheed Martin, On January 15, Bahrain carried out gling. But rural areas offer unique con- maker of those F–16s destined for Bahrain. its first execution since 2010, killing tributions to our Nation, often in the The Trump administration must review its three men who were allegedly tortured form of agriculture, raw materials, and relations with authoritarian regimes like into making false confessions. naturally occurring commodities. Bahrain’s. These problematic alliances cost On February 21, Bahrain’s constitu- As more and more young people pur- the United States far more in the long term tion was amended to allow military sue fast-paced careers in cities and than any gain it makes from arms deals. courts to try civilians. Human rights and justice should be a con- urban centers, the size and composition sistent priority in American foreign policy, On May 31, the government dissolved of populations in rural America is rap- not applied in one case, ignored in another. the secular opposition political party idly changing. American agriculture, All our destinies are tied together. What Wa’ad, and it was the last major oppo- in particular, is facing a crisis of attri- will happen to Bahrain if everyone who sup- sition party still operating in the coun- tion. ports peace, democracy and the rule of law is try after the al-Wefaq party was dis- Two-thirds of our farmland is on the in jail? To whom will Bahrain’s solved last summer. cusp of transition as farmers grow disenfranchised youth turn to for support On June 4, the government ordered older and retire, and there are fewer and guidance? These are the questions the al-Wasat, the country’s only inde- young farmers positioned to manage Trump administration must ask itself before pendent newspaper, to be suspended in- it sends my jailers another batch of fighter this resource. definitely. jets. b 1030 I am realistic about what to expect. After Mr. Speaker, Bahrain is headed down all, President Trump recently played host in an increasingly authoritarian path. It Farmers over the age of 65 out- Washington to Saudi Arabia’s deputy crown is closing off all avenues for peaceful number farmers under the age of 35 by prince and Egypt’s president for life without dissent. a margin of 6 to 1. The number of farm- bringing up human rights. But I have faith in But the President of the United ers under the age of 35 grew by only 1 the American people and civil society, as States does not get it. Could that have percent from 2007 to 2012. In order to well as the lawmakers who continue to chal- to do with the income he earned when fix this problem, we must help lenge these shortsighted, morally unsound the Bahraini Government held its Na- incentivize more young people to pur- policies. Meanwhile, my trial date kept being tional Day celebration at Trump Inter- sue careers in agriculture. moved. First, it was set for April 16. But this national Hotel last December? That is why, together with Rep- was the day of Bahrain’s Formula One Grand What I know is that appearances resentatives JOE COURTNEY of Con- Prix, the biggest sports event in the country, matter, and Bahrain is an increasingly necticut and JOHN FASO of New York, I

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:34 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A13JN7.003 H13JNPT1 H4862 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2017 introduced the Young Farmers Success Ross, Dayton Wienjes, and Jordan Wil- You will be active in your commu- Act, which aims to accomplish this by liams, who all played exceptionally nities. You will build families and be adding farmers to the existing Public well. While the individual accomplish- incredible assets to the great State of Service Loan Forgiveness Program. ments were important, it was a team Minnesota. Your possibilities are limit- After making 10 years of income- effort, with all 16 players giving it less, and I hope you will always think based student loan payments, a young their all and leaving everything they big and never give up on your dreams. farmer would see the balance of his or had on the field. We wish you the best of luck as you her student loans forgiven, just as The tournament was intense, with take the next step in your journey, and other public servants who utilize this St. Cloud coming from behind to win we look forward to watching you suc- program currently do. It is my hope the first game. St. Cloud scored five ceed and thrive. that the enactment of this legislation runs in the top of the seventh to beat I also want to thank your parents will lead to the continued enhancement Chaska 17–14. and the teachers of these wonderful of our Nation’s farms. We are proud of all the players from scholars for guiding them along and Agriculture is the number one indus- around the State for their effort in the helping them achieve this great goal. try in Pennsylvania, Mr. Speaker, and tournament, and we are especially An education is the key that opens all as such, many of the rural commu- proud of our St. Cloud Area team for of life’s doors, and we thank you for nities in the State depend on agri- their success and their hard work over handing these students the key. culture in some form. Unfortunately, this past season. RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF MARK J. SIZER USDA released its first farm income YOUNG LEADERS IN STEM Mr. EMMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise forecast for 2017 and predicted that net Mr. EMMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and thank Stearns farm income is expected to decline for today to recognize two high school stu- County Human Services Administrator the fourth consecutive year. dents from my district for being chosen Mark Sizer for his dedicated service to Declining farm income coupled with to represent the great State of Min- our community. After 40 years of pub- low commodity prices over the past few nesota in two prestigious science, tech- lic service and 23 years dedicated to years have adversely impacted farmers nology, engineering, and math, more Stearns County, Mark is heading into and rural communities across the Na- commonly called STEM-based, pro- retirement. tion. I have met with farmers in and grams. Since he was appointed to the human outside my district who are facing Alex Nutt, of Princeton High School, services administrator position in 2011, tough decisions about the future of has been selected to participate in the Mark has dedicated himself to the their farms. Congress of Future Medical Leaders; many programs and employees in his As vice chair of the Agriculture Com- and Michael Dehmer, of Buffalo High department and to the cities of Stearns mittee and chairman of the Nutrition School, has been selected to partici- County. Under Mark’s leadership, Subcommittee, I know our Nation pate in the Congress of Future Science Stearns County has offered some of the needs a robust agriculture sector so and Technology Leaders. best services and programs in Min- that we can continue to provide our These programs were specifically de- nesota. Stearns County is one of the largest Nation and nations across the world signed to inspire high school students and most densely populated counties in with nutritious food and fiber. In order who are at the top of their class and Minnesota’s Sixth Congressional Dis- to do so, we need to find ways to cul- hope to pursue a science-based career. trict, and we are fortunate to have had tivate the next generation of farmers. Once they have successfully completed such a dedicated public servant and Now, I believe that the Young Farmers their congress, Alex and Michael will strong leadership at the helm of this Success Act does just that by taking continue to receive mentoring to help them successfully pursue their chosen incredibly important department. away one of the barriers that can deter Thank you for your service, Mark. I careers. young and beginner farmers from en- wish you a happy and relaxing retire- The career paths that Alex Nutt and tering into agriculture. ment with those you love. You cer- Michael Dehmer have chosen to pursue Mr. Speaker, our farmers feed this tainly deserve it. Nation. Farmers are stewards of the are not easy, but they are incredibly The SPEAKER pro tempore. Mem- land and cornerstones of our rural com- important to our country. In order for bers are reminded to address their re- munities. They provide the country our Nation to remain both competitive marks to the Chair. with a safe and affordable food supply. and successful, it is vital that today’s f But we need to do more to cultivate students take an active interest in the future generation of farmers. They STEM fields. That is why I am proud to RECOGNIZING THE SERVICE OF face tough odds by the very nature of honor both Alex and Michael and to EDWARD PLATH the business, and this legislation will thank the National Academy of Future The SPEAKER pro tempore. The provide incentives for those who would Physicians and Medical Scientists and Chair recognizes the gentleman from like to pursue a future in the agri- the National Academy of Future Sci- Pennsylvania (Mr. FITZPATRICK) for 5 culture industry, which aids our na- entists and Technologists for working minutes. tional security and the long-term sus- to ensure that the future of our Nation Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, the tainability of our country. is bright. motto of the United States Coast Investing in our Nation’s ability to MINNESOTA’S FUTURE Guard is Semper Paratus—‘‘Always put food on the table for our neighbors Mr. EMMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise Ready’’—and throughout its history, is not a partisan issue. I encourage today to congratulate all the recent the members of our Coast Guard have every Member of this House to cospon- high school graduates in Minnesota’s stood ready to protect our homeland sor this important legislation. Sixth Congressional District on com- from all threats. I rise today to recog- f pleting a major milestone in their nize the important work of our Coast young lives. Guard as well as its members through- CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ST. This milestone represents the begin- out history, including those like Ed- CLOUD AREA ADAPTED SOFT- ning of the rest of your lives. And ward Plath. BALL TEAM while we celebrate your achievement, Edward, like so many Americans of The SPEAKER pro tempore. The we are also excited for your future, and his day, answered the call to service at Chair recognizes the gentleman from there is so much to be excited about. the onset of World War II. Despite Minnesota (Mr. EMMER) for 5 minutes. Many of you will go on to further being turned down by the Army over Mr. EMMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise your careers in education, travel and medical concerns, he soon joined the today to congratulate the St. Cloud see the world. Some of you might go to Coast Guard and served honorably in Area adapted softball team for winning medical school, and one of you might New Jersey, protecting the region’s the State championship earlier this actually cure a disease. Some of you coastline and its vital ports from the month. might run for public office, and one of ever-present danger of Nazi attack. Coach Mike Bakken led the team to you might even become the President But for Edward, the Coast Guard dur- victory with the help of Tyrell Franck- of the United States. ing the war meant more than just duty

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:34 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.008 H13JNPT1 June 13, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4863 to country. It was on a blind date with this heinous, terrible, dangerous, dev- ary Committee to begin an investiga- a fellow sailor that he met the woman astating bill, it would go away. The tion of the facts. It warrants it because he said he would marry. A year later, Senate now is going to pick up the we have to clear the air before we can they married, and for over six decades same TrumpCare bill that will provide sit down at the table and do the work Edward and his wife lived as a loving higher costs with less coverage; that that needs to be done. couple and raised three daughters, in- will include 23 million people losing In the midst of all of this, a destruc- cluding my constituent, Elizabeth Don- their coverage; and as well, that will tive bill is being prepared in the Senate aldson. gut the priorities and the protections that is going to kill the healthcare of Mr. Plath passed away in 2010, just a for preexisting conditions. If you have all Americans. It is time for all of us to couple months after his wife. But on asthma, if you are pregnant, you won’t wake up and take our government May 17 of this year, he was buried at be covered. And then, of course, there back. sea with full military honors off the is a crushing age tax where those who The SPEAKER pro tempore. Mem- coast where he served in New Jersey. are 50 and older may be paying $12,000 bers are reminded to address their re- I am grateful for Mr. Plath’s service or more for their coverage in marks to the Chair. to our Nation, and I am proud our team healthcare; and as well, it steals from f in Bucks County could assist his Medicare and jeopardizes the Medicare daughter in honoring his final wish. trust fund. b 1045 Mr. Speaker, we owe a debt of grati- Let it be very clear: that is the same PASS VETERANS AFFAIRS AC- tude to Edward Plath and to all those pathway of the Senate bill, which is COUNTABILITY AND WHISTLE- who serve and continue to serve, and then going to come back to the House. BLOWER PROTECTION ACT we must always be ready to support The Republicans continue to under- them in any way we can, consistent mine the very needs of the American The SPEAKER pro tempore. The with the motto of the U.S. Coast people. Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Guard. Now, let me explain why insurance Alabama (Mrs. ROBY) for 5 minutes. Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, today we f companies are closing in various States like Ohio. have an opportunity to send to the DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR IN THE It is not ObamaCare. It is the Repub- President’s desk legislation bringing UNITED STATES CONGRESS licans refuse to come together with unprecedented accountability to the The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Democrats and fix it. It is the dev- VA and badly needed protections for Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from astating, destructive executive order whistleblowers who expose wrongdoing. Texas (Ms. JACKSON LEE) for 5 minutes. from the administration that refuses to Mr. Speaker, as someone who has Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I pay subsidies. The subsidies allowed worked with whistleblowers to shed believe it is important when we have working and middle class Americans to light on negligence, abuse, and even an opportunity to discuss issues in a have insurance. And the insurance in- criminal activity within the Central more deliberative manner to rise to the dustry, the health insurance industry Alabama VA, I can tell you that this floor to remind Americans, who every said, it is too unstable a market—not reform legislation is long overdue. day get up and work and provide the because of Americans, not because of When it comes to the VA scandal that engine to this economy, of the destruc- people who are buying insurance, but erupted a few years ago, most Ameri- tive behavior that is about to begin in because, directly from the White cans probably remember Phoenix, Ari- the United States Congress. House, they have undermined it by zona, and the horrendous activity that The Affordable Care Act, ObamaCare, stopping the payment of subsidies be- happened there. Phoenix became the took 3 years-plus to engage with every tween the White House and the Sec- epitome of a nationwide VA account- health professional, Americans across retary of Health and Human Services. ability problem, and rightly so. the Nation, tens upon tens upon tens of What kind of mercy is that? Where is However, in many ways, the Central hearings, and individual engagement the kindness and the love and the hon- Alabama VA could also be considered a with people who were sick and families oring of the pact we make with the poster child for the need of reform of who had lost loved ones because of lack American people that we will stand as the Department of Veterans Affairs of insurance. their protectors? Where is the basis for from top to bottom. It might not have I remember hearing from parents how we fought so hard under President garnered as many headlines as Phoe- whose children had died because they Obama and finally got what had not nix, but the nature and extent of the had no insurance, one mother of a been secured in a century: health in- abuse inside the Central Alabama VA young professional lawyer who had, un- surance for Americans? was every bit as bad, if not worse. fortunately, steered toward drugs but Yet we also face a devastating, un- My staff and I worked with coura- had gotten himself rehabilitated but stable government. The firing of Direc- geous whistleblowers and dedicated had developed hepatitis. Because he tor Comey, the testimony under oath journalists to pull back the curtain had no insurance, he wound up dying in that says, by Director Comey, that he there. Here are just a handful of exam- the emergency room. There were end- felt directed to end the Flynn inves- ples of what we found: less stories like that. tigation. I know that doesn’t put food More than 900 X-ray cancer But the Affordable Care Act came in on the plates of Americans or their screenings, some showing malig- and provided dollars for preexisting children, but it is the integrity of gov- nancies, were lost and unread for years. conditions. It set a table of essentials ernment. When alerted to the problem, top ad- that no health insurance could deny Where are the investigations in this ministrators tried to cover it up. you the right to be covered, whether House? Where are the fact-finding in- A VA pulmonologist manipulated you were pregnant, whether or not you vestigations in this House? more than 1,200 patient records, but had a preexisting condition. They The rumor that is now proliferating even after being caught twice, was still couldn’t deny you hospital coverage. that a distinguished professional like give an satisfactory review. I don’t know if Americans are real- Mr. Mueller, a former Director of the Perhaps the most disturbing is a Cen- izing or our colleagues know that in FBI who served Republican and Demo- tral Alabama VA employee took a re- days past, before the Affordable Care cratic Presidents, there is a rumor that covering veteran to a crack house and Act, you could be sold an insurance the special counsel will be fired. bought him drugs and provided him boondoggle that, when you got to the We are always told in our neck of the prostitutes in order to extort his VA emergency room or the hospital and woods in Texas that where there is payments. And even when caught, this had to be admitted, they would say you smoke, there is fire. Mr. President, are employee was not fired, not until 11⁄2 have no coverage. That is the life- you going to begin Watergate all over years later, when we exposed it in the saving aspect of the Affordable Care again? The Saturday Night Massacre? newspaper. Act. This House needs to begin its inves- The crack incident stands out in my I don’t want anyone to be disabused tigation now, and this is a need to mind for many reasons. First, it still of the fact that, after the House passed begin to move on directing the Judici- haunts me to my core just how callous

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:34 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.009 H13JNPT1 H4864 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2017 and uncaring a person could be to do Mr. DUNCAN of Tennessee. Mr. 43,000 Tennesseans—unless Blue Cross such a thing to a veteran patient. Sec- Speaker, ObamaCare has created a Blue Shield can come back into the ond, it illustrates just how complacent healthcare crisis for the people in my area, which they are considering— the bureaucracy had become to let that district. Not long ago, I received this there will be no exchange plans avail- behavior slide. And third, it is chilling letter from one of my constituents in able after December. to think that we would never have even Knoxville: ‘‘I just read where Humana But it is not just in Knoxville. Mil- known about it if not for a brave VA Insurance Company will not offer lions of Americans have only one in- employee who walked into my Mont- health insurance in any of the ex- surer left in the exchange, if any. gomery office and handed us a copy of changes in 2018. This puts my wife in a ObamaCare’s regulations are driving the police report. predicament, as there will be no health out more and more insurers every day, Thankfully, under the 2014 reform insurance companies offering health leaving Americans with less choice and law, the director of the Central Ala- insurance in 2018 in Knoxville at this ultimately no choice. bama VA was fired in the wake of these time. We need help with this mounting Throwing more taxpayer money at exposures. That law took an important issue, as I am sure there are a lot more this problem won’t solve it. This will step toward speeding up the termi- of us in the same boat. When we first continue to happen all across this nation process for top officials. But did signed up for ACA insurance 3 years country as long as we have you know that he remains the only ago, her monthly premium was $245. ObamaCare’s harmful regulations on senior official fired as a result of the The second year it was $660. This year the books. VA scandal? it is $963 a month. This is absolutely ri- Knoxville, Tennessee, is the canary Mr. Speaker, we all know that law diculous for a person on a limited in- in the ObamaCare coal mine. Mr. did not go far enough. For one thing, it come.’’ Speaker, President Trump says he did not extend the strict account- Many thousands in Tennessee and wants to repeal ObamaCare. He should ability standards to rank-and-file em- across the Nation have very similar send his healthcare people to Knox- ployees. Senior managers aren’t the stories. My constituent was right. It is ville, talk and listen to our people, only ones responsible for the failures at ridiculous. Now, even this expensive in- share my constituents’ stories, show the VA. There has been a culture of surance will disappear, and there are a the American people that ObamaCare’s complacency up and down the chain of lot of people in the same boat as my regulations are the cause of our Na- command for a very long time, and the constituent and his wife. tion’s crisis and are limiting access to complicated process for disciplining or Because there has been so much pub- healthcare. removing problem employees only licity about how the Republicans now If President Trump goes before the makes it worse. control both Congress and the White Nation on national television and ex- That law also didn’t go far enough to House, it seems a great many people do plains in understandable detail what is protect whistleblowers. There is no not realize that we are still totally and going on with ObamaCare now and how question in my mind that without the completely under ObamaCare. A bill he is trying to fix it, the American peo- courage of those who came forward to was passed in the House, but a different ple will rally once again to repeal tell the truth, very little would have version is being discussed in the Sen- ObamaCare’s harmful government reg- changed at the Central Alabama VA, if ate. So Republicans have not yet done ulations. anything at all, yet those whistle- anything to change ObamaCare. So if Mr. Speaker, I include in the RECORD blowers were the very targets of retal- someone is still having trouble getting this Wall Street Journal article writ- iation from supervisors and other offi- health insurance or is still paying too ten by Michael Cannon, director of cials. much for their insurance, it is still be- health policy studies at the Cato Insti- Mr. Speaker, today we have the op- cause of ObamaCare. tute. Just today, in the nonpartisan Cap- portunity to take that next step on be- [From the Wall Street Journal, Feb. 28, 2017] half of our veterans and those who are itol Hill newspaper, The Hill, is this HOW OBAMACARE PUNISHES THE SICK working to serve them. S. 1094, the De- headline, ‘‘Insurer exits bolster GOP partment of Veterans Affairs Account- case for ObamaCare repeal.’’ Insurance (By Michael Cannon) ability and Whistleblower Protection companies are still pulling out right Republicans are nervous about repealing Act, grants the VA Secretary the and left all over the country because of ObamaCare’s supposed ban on discrimination against patients with pre-existing condi- power to fire, demote, or suspend any ObamaCare. ObamaCare is still implod- tions. But a new study by Harvard and the VA employee no matter their rank. ing all over the country. University of Texas-Austin finds those rules The bill also increases protections for ObamaCare’s allegedly compas- penalize high-quality coverage for the sick, whistleblowers who put themselves at sionate regulations were supposed to reward insurers who slash coverage for the risk to improve the lives and care for guarantee access to healthcare for the sick, and leave patients unable to obtain veterans. sick. Instead, they have made access adequate insurance. Let me say that most VA employees worse. Current propaganda seems to be The researchers estimate a patient with care a great deal about veterans and persuading some people that multiple sclerosis, for example, might file ObamaCare is really protecting the $61,000 in claims. ObamaCare’s rules let MS work very hard to provide the best patients buy coverage for far less, forcing in- service. It is not fair for the hard- people it claims to be, but Harvard and surers to take a loss on every MS patient. working employees of the VA that a others are finding otherwise in their That creates ‘‘an incentive to avoid enrolling few bad actors get to evade punish- studies. They are finding that the people who are in worse health’’ by making ment. The Secretary of Veterans Af- ObamaCare regulations literally penal- policies ‘‘unattractive to people with expen- fairs, Dr. David Shulkin, has said he ize insurers who offer quality coverage sive health conditions,’’ the Kaiser Family wants greater authority to remove bad for the sick. This motivates insurers to Foundation explains. employees as he sees fit. It is time for offer only unattractive plans to people To mitigate that perverse incentive, with expensive medical conditions. ObamaCare lobs all manner of taxpayer sub- Congress to give him that authority sidies at insurers. Yet the researchers find and to let him know what we expect The insurance company who offers insurers still receive just $47,000 in revenue and that we expect him to use it. the best plans ends up with the most— per MS patient—a $14,000 loss per patient. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to and the sickest—enrollees, and so the Predictably, that triggers a race to the do the right thing by our veterans, to highest costs. Sadly, this is causing a bottom. Each year, whichever insurer offers pass this legislation today and send it race to the bottom. The ObamaCare the best MS coverage attracts the most MS to the President’s desk. regulations are causing everyone, in- patients and racks up the most losses. Insur- ers that offer high-quality coverage either f cluding people with preexisting condi- tions, to have low-quality coverage or leave the market, as many have, or slash their coverage. Let’s call those losses what CANARY IN THE OBAMACARE no insurance options at all. COAL MINE they are: penalties for offering high-quality ObamaCare’s harmful government coverage. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The regulations have driven every insurer The result is lower-quality coverage—for Chair recognizes the gentleman from out of the marketplace exchange in 16 MS, rheumatoid arthritis, infertility and Tennessee (Mr. DUNCAN) for 5 minutes. counties in the Knoxville region. For other expensive conditions. The researchers

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:42 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.011 H13JNPT1 June 13, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4865 find these patients face higher cost-sharing Give them patience and civility to by the congregation through reaching (even for inexpensive drugs), more prior-au- listen compassionately, to show re- out to the lost and the least. thorization requirements, more mandatory spect for each other, and to work to- A highlight of this ministry of hope substitutions, and often no coverage for the gether for the common good. at Dulin: over 60 homeless persons each drugs they need, so that consumers ‘‘cannot be adequately insured.’’ And, O God, give them hope. For Sunday morning are served a break- The study also corroborates reports that though the path may seem perilous and fast, attend a worship service, and are these rules are subjecting patients to higher the hurdles high, may hope sustain given toiletries and assistance cards to deductibles and cost-sharing across the these public servants that they might purchase items at Giant Food. board, narrow networks that exclude leading accomplish the more perfect union that Dulin is engaged in several local min- cancer centers, inaccurate provider direc- our forebears dreamed of: a more per- istries, such as Homeless Shelter, tories, and opaque cost-sharing. A coalition fect union of justice, freedom, and lib- Homestretch, Rebuilding Together, and of 150 patient groups complains this govern- Meals on Wheels; and he also supports ment-fostered race to the bottom ‘‘com- erty for all. pletely undermines the goal of the ACA.’’ I pray this in Your Almighty name. a child rescue center in Sierra Leone. It doesn’t have to be like this. Employer Amen. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to wel- plans offer drug coverage more comprehen- f come Pastor Dave today to the House sive and sustainable than ObamaCare. The THE JOURNAL of Representatives, and I personally pre-2014 individual market made comprehen- thank him for offering the opening sive coverage even more secure: High-cost The SPEAKER. The Chair has exam- prayer. patients were less likely to lose coverage ined the Journal of the last day’s pro- than similar enrollees in employer plans. ceedings and announces to the House f The individual market created innovative his approval thereof. ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER products like ‘‘pre-existing conditions insur- Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Jour- ance’’ that—for one-fifth the cost of health nal stands approved. PRO TEMPORE insurance—gave the uninsured the right to Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. enroll in coverage at healthy-person pre- HUIZENGA). The Chair will entertain up miums if they developed expensive condi- Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I tions. demand a vote on agreeing to the to 15 further requests for 1-minute If anything, Republicans should fear not Speaker’s approval of the Journal. speeches on each side of the aisle. The SPEAKER. The question is on repealing ObamaCare’s pre-existing-condi- f tions rules. The Congressional Budget Office the Speaker’s approval of the Journal. predicts a partial repeal would wipe out the The question was taken; and the FORT JACKSON CENTENNIAL individual market and cause nine million to Speaker announced that the ayes ap- lose coverage unnecessarily. And contrary to (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina peared to have it. asked and was given permission to ad- conventional wisdom, the consequences of Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. those rules are wildly unpopular. In a new dress the House for 1 minute and to re- Speaker, on that I demand the yeas Cato Institute/YouGov poll, 63% of respond- vise and extend his remarks.) ents initially supported ObamaCare’s pre-ex- and nays. Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. The yeas and nays were ordered. isting-condition rules. That dropped to 31%— Speaker, this month marks the Fort The SPEAKER. Pursuant to clause 8, with 60% opposition—when they were told of Jackson Centennial, a celebration of rule XX, further proceedings on this the impact on quality. 100 years of military service and oppor- Republicans can’t keep their promise to re- question will be postponed. tunity at that extraordinary post. peal ObamaCare and improve access for the f sick without repealing the ACA’s penalties As the largest initial entry training on high-quality coverage. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE facility for the Army, Fort Jackson f The SPEAKER. Will the gentleman has been a leader in training in mili- from South Carolina (Mr. WILSON) tary readiness. Indeed, Fort Jackson RECESS come forward and lead the House in the recently achieved a remarkable mile- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Pledge of Allegiance. stone, having trained an estimated five ant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair Mr. WILSON of South Carolina led million soldiers. declares the House in recess until noon the Pledge of Allegiance as follows: I know firsthand of the dedication today. I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the and capability of Fort Jackson. As a Accordingly (at 10 o’clock and 55 United States of America, and to the Repub- member of the Army Reserve and the minutes a.m.), the House stood in re- lic for which it stands, one nation under God, South Carolina Army National Guard cess. indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. and a graduate of the Adjutant General f f School, I trained at Fort Jackson. Ad- b 1200 WELCOMING REVEREND M. DAVIES ditionally, three of my four sons have served in the South Carolina National AFTER RECESS KIRKLAND Guard, receiving world class training The SPEAKER. Without objection, The recess having expired, the House at Fort Jackson. was called to order by the Speaker at the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. I have also seen how Fort Jackson noon. BEYER) is recognized for 1 minute. supports the Midlands community, pro- f There was no objection. Mr. BEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise moting civilian and military jobs, pro- PRAYER today to honor Pastor Dave Kirkland, viding strong leaders and volunteers Reverend M. Davies Kirkland, Dulin who led us in the opening prayer. Pas- for our community, drawing millions of United Methodist Church, Falls tor Kirkland is appointed as the pastor visitors. This is why the Midlands has Church, Virginia, offered the following of Dulin United Methodist Church in worked hard to become the most mili- prayer: Falls Church, Virginia, where he has tary-friendly community in America. Congratulations to General Pete Gracious and loving God, we offer been the pastor for the last 17 years. thanks for this day that You have Previously, he was appointed to Del Johnson for a strong command at Fort given us, a day full of new beginnings, Ray United Methodist Church in Alex- Jackson. I look forward to continued opportunities, and potential for our andria, Virginia, for 6 years and asso- success for American families. Victory country. ciate pastor at Asbury United Meth- starts here. In conclusion, God bless our troops, We ask Your blessings upon these odist Church in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and may we never forget September Representatives, their staffs, and all for 4 years. here who work through government to Dave’s passion in ministry is related the 11th in the global war on terrorism. serve people of varied traditions, to the great Commandment: to love f faiths, and races. God with all your heart, soul, and Give them guidance and strength as mind, and to love your neighbor as COST-SHARING REDUCTION they debate, deliberate, and make dif- yourself. PAYMENTS ficult decisions on laws which will gov- This is articulated in preaching, rais- (Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas asked ern our country. ing money, and good deeds performed and was given permission to address

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:28 Sep 20, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD17\JUNE\H13JN7.REC H13JN7 H4866 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2017 the House for 1 minute and to revise House Agriculture Committee and age Month, I wanted to highlight and and extend his remarks.) chairman of the Nutrition Sub- congratulate a native Virgin Islander Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. committee, I wish everyone a happy who is now the new commander of the Speaker, last week, Secretary Price re- National Dairy Month. USS Gabrielle Giffords, which was com- fused to say whether the administra- f missioned this past weekend in Texas. tion would fulfill its obligation to The USS Gabrielle Giffords, the 16th make cost-sharing reduction payments. RED SQUARE PROTEST BY YOUNG RUSSIANS ship to be named for a woman and only This is the latest in a string of actions the 13th ship to be named for a living (Mr. HIGGINS of New York asked and to sabotage the individual health in- person since 1850, is, in fact, com- was given permission to address the surance markets and ultimately leave manded by Keith Woodley, a native of House for 1 minute.) people paying more for their insurance St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, a Mr. HIGGINS of New York. Mr. premiums. graduate of Florida A&M and the Flor- Speaker, yesterday, thousands of Rus- President Trump and the Republican ida Institute of Technology. majority have said that the Affordable sians took to the streets of Moscow’s Care Act is collapsing as a justification Red Square to protest President At the commissioning of the ship, of taking away insurance from 23 mil- Putin’s party of crooks and thieves. Commander Woodley stated: ‘‘This is lion Americans, but the truth is they The protesters chanted that they want not just a new ship. This is a new class are taking active measures to drive un- to make Russia free and that they of ship. . . . They have risen to that certainty and undermine the law. want to live in a modern democratic challenge and performed exceptionally Insurers have little time left to final- state. They want democracy. well in getting this ship ready for serv- ize their rate filings for 2018, and with- Today, in America, here in the Na- ice.’’ out certainty as to whether or not tion’s Capitol, another Trump official I would be remiss in not also ac- cost-sharing subsidies will be paid, is testifying before Congress on Rus- knowledging, during Caribbean-Amer- they will significantly raise their rates sia’s interference with U.S. elections ican Heritage month, Alton Adam, or exit the marketplaces altogether. for the fourth time in as many weeks. born in 1889, who was also from St. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to There is no doubt that Russia inter- Thomas and the U.S. Navy’s first band- cut out the games and make the cost- fered. This we know. Did Russia inter- master. His music was performed by sharing reduction payments, and to fere in coordination with Trump offi- numerous bands and continues to be stop actively trying to undermine cials? With whom and to what extent? performed. Americans’ access to affordable, qual- This is what the American people de- I also, of course, want to wish my ity health insurance. serve to know. Even my friend from Texas (Mr. Today, in America, the talk is how parents a happy 58th wedding anniver- sary today. We love you. God bless you. BRADY), chairman of the Ways and Putin tried to dishonor American de- Means Committee, called for the fund- mocracy to do one thing, to keep his ing of insurer payments in order to people from wanting it, the very de- f help stabilize the insurance market mocracy that is uniquely America’s. and help lower premiums for Ameri- And yesterday, in Moscow, was about TAKE ACTION ON A COMPREHEN- cans who rely on these subsidies. what Putin couldn’t do. He couldn’t SIVE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL There is simply no excuse for delay. keep young Russia from taking to the (Mr. O’HALLERAN asked and was f streets of his capital city denouncing him as a crook and a coward and de- given permission to address the House NATIONAL DAIRY MONTH manding American democracy. for 1 minute.) (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania f Mr. O’HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, I asked and was given permission to ad- rise today to address an issue impact- dress the House for 1 minute and to re- NEW AMERICANS CAUCUS’ CALL ing communities throughout Arizona’s vise and extend his remarks.) TO VOTE First Congressional District and the Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. (Mrs. TORRES asked and was given country. We must take action on a Mr. Speaker, June is National Dairy permission to address the House for 1 comprehensive infrastructure bill. Our Month, and, personally, I can’t think of minute.) crumbling roads and bridges pose a a better way to start the summer. Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise greater threat to safety with every car, From calcium to potassium, dairy today not only as a Member of Con- truck, and school bus that crosses products, like milk, contain nine es- gress but as an immigrant and a proud them. sential nutrients which may help to American, and I and my fellow mem- Our pilots land on runways long over- better manage your weight, reduce bers of the New Americans Caucus took due for repairs, and rural and travel your risk for high blood pressure, the step to not just become naturalized communities, without access to mod- osteoporosis, and certain cancers. citizens and exercise our right to vote ern technology, lose their competitive Whether it is a protein to help build but also to get involved in our commu- advantage in business and education. and repair the muscle tissue of active nities and eventually run for office. bodies or vitamin A to help maintain This is why, today, I want to encour- In Arizona, flood control projects in healthy skin, dairy products are a nat- age all of those who can to do the Winslow, essential broadband access in ural nutrient powerhouse. Those are same, become a citizen and get in- Tuba City, and transportation infra- just a few of the reasons that we should volved. Your vote is your voice. It al- structure in rural Gila County are all celebrate dairy not just in June, but all lows you to use that voice to better in need of attention. year long. your community and to speak up for This is something that impacts every National Dairy Month started out as those who still can’t. State, every district in this country, National Milk Month in 1937 as a way Citizenship is a security. Citizenship and I believe we can find broad bipar- to promote drinking milk. It was ini- is power. These days, too much is at tisan support on this issue in Congress. tially created to stabilize the dairy de- stake, so don’t wait until it is too late. Ensuring that our communities have mand when production was at a sur- f plus, but has now developed into an an- adequate resources to repair their nual tradition that celebrates the con- CONGRATULATING COMMANDER roads, invest in technology, and pro- tributions the dairy industry has made KEITH WOODLEY tect their residents is of paramount to the world. (Ms. PLASKETT asked and was given importance. I call on my colleagues to Proudly, the Commonwealth of Penn- permission to address the House for 1 continue working on this. sylvania is one of the largest milk-pro- minute and to revise and extend her re- We cannot push this issue aside any ducing States in the Nation, certainly marks.) longer. We must come together and the largest agriculture commodity in Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, with pass a bipartisan infrastructure bill Pennsylvania. As vice chairman of the this being Caribbean-American Herit- that invests in our rural communities.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:42 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.015 H13JNPT1 June 13, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4867 b 1215 I would like to give special recogni- RESIGNATION AS CHAIRMAN OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE tion to the Philadelphia Orchestra’s di- COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND TERRIFIED OF TRUMPCARE rector, the chairman, as well as the GOVERNMENT REFORM woman who brought it all together, Al- (Mr. KILDEE asked and was given The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- lison Vulgamore. fore the House the following resigna- permission to address the House for 1 I am proud to represent a city that minute.) tion as chairman of the Committee on boasts some of the most iconic music Oversight and Government Reform: Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, the Amer- heard around the world. I welcome ican people are speaking up, and they HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, back our well-traveled Philadelphia Or- COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND are absolutely terrified of the Repub- chestra and look forward to the next lican healthcare plan, TrumpCare. Ac- GOVERNMENT REFORM, symphony. Washington, DC, June 13, 2017. cording to a FOX News poll, two-thirds DEAR MR. SPEAKER: I, Jason Chaffetz, am of Americans disapprove of TrumpCare. f submitting my resignation as the Chairman That’s a FOX News poll. of the House Committee on Oversight and Why? Because it will take away VA ACCOUNTABILITY Government Reform effective immediately. healthcare from 23 million Americans. (Mr. YODER asked and was given It has been the privilege of a lifetime to For those who still have the good for- permission to address the House for 1 serve in this position, and I look forward to tune of being able to get insurance, minute and to revise and extend his re- continuing to serve as a member of this his- they will pay more for worse care. If marks.) toric committee for the remainder of my time in office. you are age 50 to 65, fasten your seat- Mr. YODER. Mr. Speaker, I rise Sincerely, belts; you are about to pay five times today to highlight Congress’ making JASON CHAFFETZ, what others will pay for health insur- more important strides on behalf of our Chairman. ance and for prescription drugs. Nation’s veterans. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without Of course, in the Senate, they are The last few years, we have all heard objection, the resignation is accepted. crafting their version of TrumpCare in stories about employees at the VA who There was no objection. secret, behind closed doors. Nobody failed in their duty to serve and pro- knows what is in it. Why? Because they tect our Nation’s heroes. It is true that f know the American people will reject most VA employees are hardworking ELECTING MEMBERS TO CERTAIN it. and dedicated, but as we have come to STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE We know we have got issues we have find out, there are bad actors who must HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES to deal with in healthcare. No law is be held accountable. Our veterans de- Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, by direction perfect, and the ACA is one of those. serve nothing less. of the House Republican Conference, I But my goodness, you cannot do this Strangely, as the VA has tried to dis- send to the desk a privileged resolution behind closed doors. We have to do this cipline these bad actors, the existing and ask for its immediate consider- in public. People need to understand bureaucracy and red tape has stymied ation. what Congress is doing. We have got to the Secretary’s ability to do so. That is The Clerk read the resolution, as fol- get it right, and we have to do it in the why the House today will pass the De- lows: open. partment of Veterans Affairs Account- H. RES. 381 f ability and Whistleblower Protection Act, to create a more efficient and ef- Resolved, That the following named Mem- SALUTING THE PHILADELPHIA OR- bers be, and are hereby, elected to the fol- fective system to remove, demote, or lowing standing committees of the House of CHESTRA ON ITS HISTORIC suspend any VA employee for poor per- ASIAN TOUR Representatives: formance or misconduct. COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY: Mr. Ruther- (Mr. EVANS asked and was given Our bill still ensures due process and ford. permission to address the House for 1 actually expands protections for whis- COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT minute.) tleblowers, but, importantly, it will let REFORM: Mr. Gowdy, Chair. Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, today I the VA Secretary do his job and clean Resolved, That the following named Mem- rise to support the Philadelphia Or- up the Department and protect our Na- ber be, and is hereby, ranked as follows on chestra on a historical tour through the following standing committee of the tion’s veterans. House of Representatives: Asia. Mr. Speaker, protecting those vet- COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT I have had the privilege of working to erans isn’t a political issue; it is a REFORM: Mr. Chaffetz, after Mr. Jordan. support them over the years during my cause we must all champion. I encour- The resolution was agreed to. time in the Pennsylvania Legislature age a bipartisan vote on today’s bill. A motion to reconsider was laid on and now here in Congress. I can’t think the table. of a better cultural ambassador for our f f country, the Commonwealth, and our COMMUNICATION FROM THE great city than the finely tuned Phila- CLERK OF THE HOUSE PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION delphia Orchestra. OF H.R. 2581, VERIFY FIRST ACT, The historical tour started in Shang- The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- AND PROVIDING FOR CONSIDER- hai, China, where they serenaded the fore the House the following commu- ATION OF S. 1094, DEPARTMENT visitors of the new Shanghai Disney nication from the Clerk of the House of OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AC- Resort. They continued on to Beijing Representatives: COUNTABILITY AND WHISTLE- and Mongolia. OFFICE OF THE CLERK, BLOWER PROTECTION ACT OF Philadelphia’s magnificent orchestra HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 2017 Washington, DC, June 13, 2017. marked a historical first when they be- Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, by direction came the first Western orchestra to Hon. PAUL D. RYAN, The Speaker, House of Representatives, of the Committee on Rules, I call up play at the people-to-people exchange. Washington, DC. House Resolution 378 and ask for its The President of Mongolia and I met DEAR MR. SPEAKER: Pursuant to the per- immediate consideration. last year in the city of Philadelphia. mission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of The Clerk read the resolution, as fol- The orchestra then continued on to the Rules of the U.S. House of Representa- lows: Seoul and to Hong Kong. In Seoul, the tives, the Clerk received the following mes- orchestra participated in a master sage from the Secretary of the Senate on H. RES. 378 class with the Heart to Heart Orchestra June 13, 2017, at 11:23 a.m.: Resolved, That upon adoption of this reso- and Korea United College Orchestra. In Appointment: lution it shall be in order to consider in the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff House the bill (H.R. 2581) to amend the Inter- Hong Kong, the Philadelphia Orchestra Commission on Native Children. nal Revenue Code of 1986 to require the pro- concluded with a coaching session for With best wishes, I am, vision of social security numbers as a condi- the Hong Kong Youth Orchestra and a Sincerely, tion of receiving the health insurance pre- well-earned reception. KAREN L. HAAS. mium tax credit. All points of order against

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:58 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.018 H13JNPT1 H4868 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2017 consideration of the bill are waived. The In 2014, we learned that the Phoenix retary and Congress more tools to hold amendment in the nature of a substitute rec- VA concealed extremely long wait employees accountable because if we ommended by the Committee on Ways and lines for patients and that up to 40 vets are holding employees accountable, Means now printed in the bill shall be con- sidered as adopted. The bill, as amended, may have died while waiting for care at then we are protecting our veterans shall be considered as read. All points of the facility; from abuse. order against provisions in the bill, as Just last year, we discovered that a This bill is one small way to say amended, are waived. The previous question VA Hospital in Colorado Springs also thank you to those men and women shall be considered as ordered on the bill, as falsified wait time records. The major- who have served our country. We can amended, and on any further amendment ity of patients at that hospital faced never adequately repay them, but we thereto, to final passage without intervening wait times over 30 days, and 28 patients can do our best to provide them with motion except: (1) one hour of debate equally had an average wait time of 76 days. sufficient medical care. divided and controlled by the chair and rank- ing minority member of the Committee on One veteran is even thought to have I urge you to support this important Ways and Means; and (2) one motion to re- committed suicide because he wasn’t legislation, and I reserve the balance of commit with or without instructions. referred for mental healthcare, even my time. SEC. 2. Upon adoption of this resolution it though he had been deemed at risk for Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield shall be in order to consider in the House the suicide. myself such time as I may consume. bill (S. 1094) to amend title 38, United States That is why Congress needs to act. S. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, the Code, to improve the accountability of em- 1094, the Department of Veterans Af- gentleman from Colorado, for yielding ployees of the Department of Veterans Af- fairs, and for other purposes. All points of fairs Accountability and Whistleblower me the necessary and customary 30 order against consideration of the bill are Protection Act of 2017, allows the Sec- minutes for debate. waived. The bill shall be considered as read. retary of the VA to hold all employees Mr. Speaker, I am here today to de- All points of order against provisions in the at the agency accountable for their bate the rule for consideration of two bill are waived. The previous question shall conduct. separate pieces of legislation: S. 1094, be considered as ordered on the bill and on We desperately need this legislation, the Department of Veterans Affairs Ac- any amendment thereto to final passage not because all the employees at the countability and Whistleblower Protec- without intervening motion except: (1) one VA have problems. Quite the opposite. tion Act; and H.R. 2581, the Verify hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member Most VA employees show up to work First Act. of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs; and every day because they are passionate I begin with S. 1094, legislation aimed (2) one motion to commit. about serving our Nation’s veterans. at bringing enhanced accountability at The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- But there are bad apples, people who the Department of Veterans Affairs tleman from Colorado is recognized for put our veterans in danger. These peo- and improving the care we provide to 1 hour. ple must be held accountable, and, our Nation’s veterans. Among other Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, for the pur- frankly, many of them must be fired. things, this bill codifies in law the Of- pose of debate only, I yield the cus- This bill empowers the Secretary to fice of Accountability and Whistle- tomary 30 minutes to my friend, the reprimand, suspend, or remove VA em- blower Protection at the VA and gentleman from Florida (Mr. HAS- ployees who have engaged in mis- streamlines the process to demote, re- TINGS), pending which I yield myself conduct. It also permits the Secretary move, or suspend VA employees if evi- such time as I may consume. During to recoup bonuses if an employee per- dence proves they engaged in mis- consideration of this resolution, all formed poorly or conducted themselves conduct or poor performance. time yielded is for the purpose of de- inappropriately and to recoup reloca- Mr. Speaker, last night at the Rules bate only. tion expenses for fraud, waste, or mal- Committee, we had the opportunity to GENERAL LEAVE feasance. hear from the chairman and ranking Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unani- The bill also bolsters protection for member of the Veterans’ Affairs Com- mous consent that all Members have 5 whistleblowers, creating an office with- mittee about this legislation, Dr. ROE legislative days to revise and extend in the VA devoted to protecting those and Mr. WALZ. They discussed the bi- their remarks. who expose wrongdoing. Supervisors partisan nature in which they have The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there will be taught how to protect whistle- worked on this issue, along with the bi- objection to the request of the gen- blowers and will be held accountable partisan work done in the Senate, to tleman from Colorado? for how well they do. craft legislation that they hope can There was no objection. And the bill requires reporting to achieve strong bipartisan support in Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today Congress on the performance of senior this body. in support of the rule and the under- executives at the VA and on the out- It is because of this display of bipar- lying legislation. This rule provides for comes of disciplinary actions at the tisanship and cooperation and a sem- debate on the final negotiated bill be- agency. blance of regular order that I am dis- tween the House and the Senate. This You may be wondering why Congress mayed that I must now address the process began last Congress and re- has taken such an in-depth interest in process and substance by which we are sulted in the House passing H.R. 1259 in an executive branch agency, and I will considering the second bill encom- March of this year. tell you why. It is our job. passed in this rule, H.R. 2581, the The Senate introduced and passed The legislative branch was designed Verify First Act. the version of the bill we have before to oversee the executive branch. We ap- b 1230 us today by voice vote. It mirrors the propriate the funds used to pay the sal- reforms contained in Chairman ROE’s aries of everyone working at the VA. Let me connect the dots for you on bill that the House has already passed These funds come from the taxpayer. how we got to this point, and bear with by a bipartisan vote. For the sake of the taxpayer, we must me. The Republican majority’s path to Mr. Speaker, we often talk about vet- ensure that the VA is serving its pur- take healthcare from 23 million Ameri- erans in this country: We thank them pose. cans has been as convoluted as it has for their sacrifice; we applaud them at But this bill also empowers the Sec- been chaotic. sporting events; we tell ourselves that retary of the VA, allowing him or her Mr. Speaker, as I am sure you and we must take care of them, must repay to take immediate action to protect my colleagues should remember, first, them for the service to our Nation. But veterans. We can’t wait for long ap- the Republican mantra was repeal. in the past few years, we have discov- peals processes when a bad employee Then it was repeal and replace. Then it ered that America’s care for our vet- on the front lines of a VA hospital is was repeal and delay, followed by ac- erans has been wholly inadequate. The harming our veterans. cess to coverage, and then, patient cen- Department of Veterans Affairs has This legislation should not be con- tered. failed them. troversial. Both Democrats and Repub- Finally, my colleagues on the other Shameful misconduct at the VA has licans want the best for our veterans. side of the aisle settled on a three- been rampant, and it has hurt our vet- This legislation, the legislation we are bucket strategy. The first bucket of erans: discussing today, gives the VA Sec- this strategy was the Republicans’

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:42 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A13JN7.007 H13JNPT1 June 13, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4869 American Health Care Act. The major- vide the necessary documentation, cov- ents are the hardest cases they work on be- ity brought their first iteration of this erage and financial assistance are ter- cause the process for verifying citizenship bill to the floor after working on it for minated. and immigration status is a time-consuming 17 days, and, with no hearings, only to This provision ensures that individ- exercise in dealing with inefficient govern- ment processes. have it go down in flames in the most uals are not left in a position of having public and spectacular fashion. to wait potentially months to be Rather than protect American taxpayers, So they went back to the drawing verified before they can afford cov- H.R. 2581 would strip from American tax- board—not to improve the bill, or im- erage, and it provides the proper guard- payers important protections that are need- ed to overcome deficiencies in federal gov- prove healthcare for the American peo- rails to terminate assistance if an indi- ernment databases. Immigrants who are not ple, mind you, but to garner enough vidual is deemed ineligible. There is no lawfully present are categorically barred Republican votes for a bill that ulti- evidence to support the majority’s from enrollment in health insurance on the mately had 17 percent approval ratings. claim that this process is not working. Affordable Care Act marketplaces, and for And they added a manager’s amend- H.R. 2581 would repeal this 90-day the subsidies that make that insurance af- ment to get support, then they added verification period, setting up an un- fordable. Moreover, safeguards protecting another manager’s amendment, then necessary barrier for eligible individ- taxpayers are already built into the ACA; in- another, and another. uals to receive the credits they need to dividuals whose citizenship or immigration Then with a bill patched together afford lifesaving healthcare. Repub- status cannot be verified already are re- with the wants and wishes of powerful quired to pay back all of their subsidies licans themselves acknowledge that when they file their taxes and ‘‘reconcile’’ healthcare lobbyists and tax breaks for the verification process could take their premium tax credits. the superwealthy, with no CBO score, months, but, nevertheless, they are and with no way for the American peo- Supporters of this bill cite a sloppy Senate bringing forth today’s bill knowing full Homeland Security and Governmental Af- ple, let alone their own Members, to well that it will make it harder for vul- fairs Committee report that arrived at a actually know what was in the bill, the nerable people to access healthcare made-up number of supposed ‘‘fraud.’’ It’s majority pushed the bill through the when they need it most. just not true. The committee assumed that House of Representatives. It would disproportionately hurt low- every person who lost coverage for failure to What did my Republican friends do income Americans, especially natural- verify their citizenship and immigration sta- after passing this inexplicably bad bill? ized Americans from immigrant fami- tus was undocumented. In the experience of They got on a couple of buses from lies since they can have a harder time our organizations and organizations we work with, this is false. These reports describe the here at the Capitol and went to a rose producing documentation needed to garden ceremony hosted by President first year of the marketplaces, and it is well verify their citizenship. But don’t just documented that system outages and under- Donald John Trump to celebrate up- take my word for it. staffing, among other technical problems, ending one-sixth of the American econ- Mr. Speaker, I include in the RECORD contributed to the federal Marketplace’s omy and taking away healthcare from a letter signed by dozens and dozens of failure to verify consumers’ status promptly. 23 million people. national, State, and local civil rights The Department of Health and Human Serv- That was certainly the Republicans’ and advocacy groups strongly opposing ices Inspector General reported in 2014 that a most recent mission-accomplished mo- this legislation, such groups as the cause of the delay in verification was the agency’s lack of prioritization of this issue. ment, and it must have been some cele- NAACP, the Children’s Defense Fund, bration because it will be another 2 the National Association of County and Despite huge gains since then, problems weeks before the majority would actu- City Health Officials, the American still persist. The Social Security database holding many citizens’ information may not ally get around to sending their Friends Service Committee, the Asso- healthcare bill to the Senate, due to reflect common changes, such as when a per- ciation of Asian Pacific Community son marries and changes their last name, or the fact that they were not sure if it Health Organizations, the League of when someone naturalizes and gains U.S. complied with the Senate rules or, United Latin American Citizens, the citizenship. People lose their coverage be- more specifically, the Byrd rule in the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy, and I cause they receive notices in languages they U.S. Senate. could go on, and on, and on, but in the cannot read. Immigrants are required to sub- Then there is the second bucket of interest of time, I thank the Speaker mit documents multiple times, or wait while this plan, which involves the Trump for allowing it to be made a part of the the Department of Homeland Security finds paper files, a result of deficiencies in their administration rolling back regula- RECORD. tions. Should the work associated with databases affecting groups like asylum appli- JUNE 12, 2017. the second bucket proceed as it has cants and some survivors of domestic vio- DEAR MEMBER OF CONGRESS: As national, lence. These are among the many issues con- with the other two, then I am sure it, state, and local organizations concerned sumers face. too, will be a disaster, benefitting the about immigrant rights or access to afford- wealthy at the expense of hardworking able health care, we are writing to strongly Congress has already deprived undocu- mented immigrants from the ability to buy Americans. urge you to VOTE NO on H.R. 2581, the ‘‘Verify First’’ Act. This bill is an attack on coverage, even at full price, so they can see Mr. Speaker, this brings me to the a doctor when they are sick, but this bill Republicans’ third bucket. According people’s ability to see a doctor and on immi- grants and people of color. It is not the would go a step further to delay or put out to Senator TED CRUZ, this bucket is ‘‘a ‘‘common sense’’ taxpayer protection bill of reach affordable health insurance for sucker’s bucket.’’ Indeed, some like that its supporters would have you believe. many citizens and lawfully present immi- Senator TOM COTTON have referred to H.R. 2581 is a dangerous bill that puts up grants. Our organizations firmly believe that all of this bucket talk as simply a roadblocks for both citizens and immigrants this would be detrimental to the people we bunch of political spin. Whatever it is, to obtain timely, affordable health insur- represent and to all of our communities as a it is an empty bucket. ance. It would strip away provisions that whole. We have seen that when health insur- ance is unaffordable, people are effectively The most recent bill the Republican provide for a person to obtain subsidies for enrollment in an Affordable Care Act (or the prevented from obtaining access to the care majority has decided to dump in this they need to be healthy. sucker’s bucket is H.R. 2581, the Verify contemplated American Health Care Act) plan while they work with Department of This bill is not just an attack on our First Act. Under current law, premium Health and Human Services to verify their health care system, it is also an attack on assistance tax credits are available for U.S. citizenship or immigration status. The immigrants and people of color, which our eligible individuals and families to sub- people most impacted are U.S. citizens who organizations stand firmly against. In his sidize the cost of health insurance. In- were born abroad or naturalized. The bill statements when introducing this bill, Rep. dividuals are not eligible for these also affects many immigrants, especially Lou Barletta focused the bill as part of his credits unless they are U.S. citizens or those newly arrived or certain victims of do- effort to ‘‘stop illegal immigration.’’ Rep. are living in the country legally. mestic violence and trafficking survivors. Barletta has a long history of anti-immi- Currently, applicants have 90 days to The fact is that when individuals are not grant rhetoric, from trying to prevent immi- provide documentation or otherwise able to immediately verify their citizenship grants from leasing a residence to stating or immigration status on an Affordable Care that they should be denied life-saving serv- address any issues with citizenship and Act Marketplace, it begins an often months ices in hospital emergency rooms. This bill immigration status, and are presumed long, strenuous process of sending in docu- is simply a vehicle for scapegoating immi- eligible to enroll in marketplace cov- ments that must be physically inspected. grants and people of color and will keep eli- erage. If an individual is unable to pro- Health care assisters routinely say these cli- gible people from accessing health care.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:42 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.023 H13JNPT1 H4870 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2017 We the undersigned organizations urge you east Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC); ity of the Incarnate Word, Houston; Sisters to vote NO on H.R. 2581 and the continued as- The Leadership Conference on Civil and of St. Dominic of Blauvelt, NY; Sisters of the sault on immigrants and the health of our Human Rights; United Sikhs; United We Most Precious Blood; Social Justice Com- communities. Dream; Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk, U.S. mittee St. Patrick Church; South Asian Net- Sincerely, Province; We Belong Together; API Wellness. work; Southwest Women’s Law Center; St. NATIONAL STATE AND LOCAL Francis St Vincent de Paul Society; Ten- Advocates for Youth; African American Academy of Medical & Public Health Serv- nessee Justice Center; Thai Health And In- Ministers in Action; American Federation of ices; Advocates for Children and Youth; formation Service. The Children’s Partnership; The Latino Teachers (AFT); American Friends Service AgeOptions; Almost Home, Inc.; Anti-Hunger Health Insurance Program, Inc.; Turning Committee; American Intercession; Amer- & Nutrition Coalition; Arkansas Advocates Points; United Way Bay Area; URI Feinstein ican Society on Aging; Asian & Pacific Is- for Children and Families; Arlington Part- Center for a Hunger Free America; Vermont lander American Health Forum; Asian Amer- nership for Affordable Housing; Asian Ameri- Affordable Housing Coalition; Virginia Pov- icans Advancing Justice | AAJC; Asian Pa- cans Advancing Justice—Los Angeles; Asian erty Law Center; Voices for Vermont’s Chil- cific Institute on Gender-Based Violence; Community Alliance—Cincinnati OH; Asian dren; Voz Hispana Cambia Comunitario; Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment, Law Alliance; Asian Services In Action, Inc.; Washington Community Action Network; Advocacy & Leadership (APPEAL); Associa- Baltimore Jewish Council; California Health Washington Healthcare Access Alliance; tion of Asian Pacific Community Health Or- Professional Student Alliance; California Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO; ganizations (AAPCHO); Autistic Self Advo- Immigrant Policy Center; California Latinas West Chester Food Cupboard; West Side cacy Network; Black Alliance for Just Immi- for Reproductive Justice (CLRJ); California Campaign Against Hunger; Westlake Chinese gration; Breast Cancer Action; Center for OneCare; California Pan-Ethnic Health Net- Culture Association; Wisconsin Council of Law and Social Policy (CLASP); Center for work; California Partnership; California Churches; Wisconsin Faith Voices for Jus- Medicare Advocacy, Inc.; Child Welfare Physicians Alliance; CASA. tice; Women’s Action Movement Washtenaw League of America; Children’s Advocacy In- Center for Southeast Asians; Chicago His- County, MI; Worksite Wellness LA; Xaverian stitute; Children’s Defense Fund; Church panic Health Coalition; Child Care Resources Brothers; Young Women United. World Service (CWS). of Rockland; Children Now; Children’s De- Coalition on Human Needs; Columbian fense Fund—CA; Chinatown Service Center; Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, ‘‘This Center for Advocacy and Outreach; Con- Chinese-American Planning Council; Coali- bill,’’ that letter says, ‘‘is an attack on gregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good tion for Humane Immigrant Rights people’s ability to see a doctor and on Shepherd, US Provinces; Conscious Talk (CHIRLA); Collaborative Center for Justice; immigrants and people of color.’’ Radio; Detention Watch Network; Disability Colorado Center on Law and Policy; Colo- ‘‘H.R. 2581 is a dangerous bill that Rights Education and Defense Fund; Domini- rado Center on Law and Policy; Columbia puts up roadblocks for both citizens can Sisters; Dominicans of Sinsinawa; Fam- Legal Services; Community Health Councils; and immigrants to obtain timely, af- ily Equality Council; Farmworker Justice; D.C. Hunger Solutions; DuPage Federation First Focus Campaign for Children; Food Re- on Human Services Reform; Empower Mis- fordable health insurance.’’ search & Action Center; Franciscan Sisters souri; Ensuring Opportunity Campaign to If this is what we are in store for of the Poor IJPC; Friends Committee on Na- End Poverty in Contra Costa; Erie Bene- with the Republican’s third bucket, tional Legislation; Generations Inc.; GLMA: dictines for Peace; Esperanza Health Cen- then it is even worse than a sucker’s Health Professionals Advancing LGBT ters; EverThrive Illinois; Farmworker Asso- bucket. It is callous, and it is cruel, Equality; Immigrant Legal Resource Center; ciation of Florida. and someone described the Vice Presi- Indivisible; Institute of the Sisters of Mercy Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC); Give dency once many years ago as a warm of the Americas; Interfaith Worker Justice. for a Smile; Greater Kansas City Coalition to bucket of spit. Irish Apostolate USA; Jobs With Justice; End Homelessness; Having Our Say Coali- As my colleague, Congressman RICH- Justice in Aging; Justice, Peace and Rec- tion; Health Access California; Health Care onciliation Commission, Priests of the Sa- for All—WA; Health Law Advocates; Healthy ARD NEAL, said last night at the Rules cred Heart, US Province; Lambda Legal; House Within A MATCH Coalition; Hmong Committee, bad process leads to bad Leadership Team of the Felician Sisters of Ohio of Tomorrow; Hunger Action Los Ange- product. I agree with Mr. NEAL, and North America; League of United Latin les; IHM Sisters, Immaculata, PA; IL Hunger this bill is a perfect example of his sa- American Citizens (LULAC); Medical Mis- Coalition; Illinois Coalition for Immigrant lient insight. The provisions in this sion Sisters; Mi Familia Vota; MomsRising; and Refugee Rights; Indivisible Mountain legislation are contingent upon enact- NAACP; NAPAFASA; National Advocacy Home, Idaho; Interfaith Movement for ment of the American Health Care Act. Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd; Human Integrity; IRIS—Integrated Refugee If the American Health Care Act is National Asian Pacific American Women’s & Immigrant Services; Islamic Civic Engage- enacted, this bill would not go into ef- Forum; National Association of County and ment Project; Jewish Family & Children’s City Health Officials; National Association Service; Kansas Appleseed; Kentucky Equal fect. That means we are now consid- of Social Workers; National Black Justice Justice Center; Korean Community Services ering legislation amending a bill that Coalition; National Center for Transgender of Metropolitan NY; La Fe Policy Research we have already sent to the Senate, Equality; National Council of Asian Pacific and Education Center. and that the Senate has made clear it Americans (NCAPA); National Council of La Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program; has no intention of taking up. Churches. Legal Council for Health Justice; Legal Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of National Council of La Raza (NCLR); Na- Services of Southern Piedmont; Maine Con- my time. tional Education Association; National Em- sumers for Affordable Health Care; Make the Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 ployment Law Project; National Health Law Road New York; Maryland CASH Campaign; minutes to the gentleman from Texas Program; National Hispanic Medical Asso- Maryland Hunger Solutions; Massachusetts ciation; National Immigrant Justice Center; Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (Mr. MCCAUL), chairman of the Com- National Immigration Law Center; National (MIRA); Massachusetts Law Reform Insti- mittee on Homeland Security. Justice for Our Neighbors; National Latina tute; Maternal and Child Health Access; Ma- Mr. MCCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I want to Institute for Reproductive Health; National ternity Care Coalition; National Association thank the gentleman from Colorado as Network of Abortion Funds; National Orga- of Social Workers, CT Chapter; National well. nization for Women; National Women’s Tongan American Society; Nationalities I rise today in strong support of H.R. Health Network; Network for Environmental Service Center; NC Child; New Mexico Center 2581, the Verify First Act. I helped in- & Economic Responsibility of United Church on Law and Poverty; New York Immigration troduce this legislation with my good of Christ; NETWORK Lobby for Catholic So- Coalition; New York Legal Assistance Group; friend and colleague, Mr. BARLETTA cial Justice; NMAC; OCA—Asian Pacific NICOS Chinese Health Coalition; NJ State American Advocates; Our Revolution; Peace Industrial Union Council; NOELA Commu- from Pennsylvania, to ensure illegal and Justice Office of the Congregation of nity Health Center; Northern NJ Chapter, immigrants are not able to use Notre Dame; Physicians for Reproductive National Organization for Women. healthcare tax credits to purchase Health; PICO National. Northwest Health Law Advocates; North- health insurance. Planned Parenthood Federation of Amer- west Immigrant Rights Project; Office of the Under ObamaCare, the Federal Gov- ica; Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Health Care Advocate at Vermont Legal Aid; ernment paid these tax credits up front Campaign; Prevention Institute; Project In- OneAmerica; Pacific Islander Health Part- on a temporary basis to people before form; Racine Dominicans; Raising Women’s nership; Pitkin County Human Services; verifying their immigration status. Voices for the Health Care We Need; Refuge Public Justice Center; Puget Sound Advo- This created a pay-and-chase system Ministries; Sargent Shriver National Center cates for Retirement Action (PSARA); Rain- on Poverty Law; Service Employees Inter- bow Center; Reformed Church of Highland where the Federal Government would national Union; Sisters of Charity; Sisters of Park; RESULTS—Santa Fe (NM); Salaam seek repayment only after it found it Charity of Nazareth; Sisters of Mercy of the Cleveland; Services, Immigrant Rights, and had paid out benefits to an illegal im- Americas—Institute Justice Team; South- Education Network (SIREN); Sisters of Char- migrant.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:42 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A13JN7.010 H13JNPT1 June 13, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4871 This bill puts an end to this taxpayer mium tax credits under the Affordable my amendment, along with extraneous abuse by requiring the Social Security Care Act, or under the American material, immediately prior to the Administration, or the Department of Health Care Act, to those individuals vote on the previous question. Homeland Security, to verify the im- who are eligible for those tax credits. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there migration status of every tax credit ap- Under the ACA, an individual who is objection to the request of the gen- plicant before the Treasury Depart- not lawfully present in the United tleman from Florida? ment issues a credit. States is ineligible from receiving a There was no objection. Texans and hardworking taxpayers premium credit. Unfortunately, the Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, what around the country already struggle to ACA also allows the government to we have here today is a rule with one pay for their healthcare. Their hard- hand out the tax credit first and verify bill that really was worked on in a bi- earned dollars should not be used to later. partisan manner—sort of like regular foot the bill for those who broke the This pay-and-chase scheme means order like we were promised by the law to come here. My constituents in taxpayer money is flowing out the door Speaker at the outset of this session of Congress—and another bill, which is Texas and American taxpayers deserve to people who don’t meet the require- just more of the same from this major- better. ments for premium tax credits, and ity: creating problems where none ex- I want to thank Congressman much of these funds may not be re- isted before. BARLETTA for his dedication and con- couped. In fact, under the ACA, over The fact remains that the Repub- tinued leadership on this issue, and, half a million people who were ineli- licans’ healthcare bill and overall Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to gible for coverage and tax credits re- bucket strategy is a disaster for the join me in supporting this legislation. ceived credits. American people, and no amount of Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield H.R. 2581, the Verify First Act, re- Rose Garden backslapping is going to 2 minutes to the gentleman from Mary- quires the Secretary of the Treasury to change that fact. land (Mr. RASKIN). ensure that any department disbursing Under the Republican plan, 23 million Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank payments have first verified the recipi- Americans will be kicked off of their the gentleman for yielding me the ent’s legal presence with information health insurance and $800 billion will time. like Social Security numbers. By re- be cut from Medicaid. Footnote right I rise only to express my real dis- quiring this verification, we can con- there, we hear that the Senate is tak- appointment in the way that this bill firm that, under both the ACA and ing up something. We don’t know has been brought to the floor. Had the AHCA, those who receive credits de- where and who is doing the taking up, majority not insisted on a closed rule, serve credits. but what I read today is that they are preventing the House from voting on With that confirmation, we will en- considering a glide path of some kind any and all amendments to repair and sure that these laws are used as they to cut Medicaid. improve S. 1094, I would have offered an were intended; that the wishes of the Mr. Speaker, cutting Medicaid hurts amendment to ensure that it applies in American taxpayer are followed. I urge poor people. Whether you glide it or a way that respects the due process Members to support this important leg- run it over them, either way you look rights of Federal workers, and that it islation. at it, it hurts them, and we need to pay would apply only to collective bar- Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of attention to that, particularly if we gaining agreements ratified on or after my time. are doing it to provide for those of us enactment. that are better off in our society. I support the goal of improving ac- b 1245 Seventy-five billion dollars will be countability at the VA, but I want to Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield cut from Medicare, insurance pre- make sure it is not done in a way that myself such time as I may consume. miums would increase for people ages prejudices and undermines the collec- Mr. Speaker, earlier this year, Don- 60 to 64 by more than $3,000 a year, and tive bargaining rights and the due ald John Trump issued an executive protections for those with preexisting process rights of the workforce. order placing a hiring freeze on Federal conditions will be eliminated. There are real problems at the VA civilian employees across the executive I read about a 63-year-old lady who now, we know. There are 45- to 49,000 branch. This executive order, like said that all of her conditions are pre- vacancies there. There is bureaucratic many of the executive orders this existing and she can’t afford insurance. dysfunction in a lot of places, and all President has issued, failed to take H.R. 2581 only adds to this pain by set- that this bill would do is to change the into account the effects it could have ting up an unnecessary barrier for eli- evidentiary standard of proof from the on our most vulnerable communities. gible individuals to get access to preponderance of the evidence to sub- Veterans make up one-third of all healthcare. But not to worry, under the Repub- stantial evidence in leveling sanctions Federal workers. I am very pleased lican plan, the 400 highest income fami- and discipline against employees. that one is in my office. She is prob- lies would ultimately get tax cuts aver- That is a tiny detail. It is an irrele- ably smiling because sometimes Char- aging around $7 million a year, and vant distraction from the massive ity probably doesn’t think I even know that information comes from the Ways problems that actually are facing the that she is in the office. But she is and Means Committee’s fact sheet. VA today. So we should be filling these there and does incredible work. Mr. Speaker, I and others here very vacancies. We should be improving the The Department of Veterans Af- frequently have pointed out that what function of the VA, but we should not fairs—a severely understaffed agency the Republicans want to do is to cut use this or that problem as an excuse serving those veterans—cannot afford a benefits for poor people—the most vul- to undermine the due process rights of hiring freeze. nerable in our society—and to provide the workforce. That sets a terrible ex- This week, Republicans are bringing for the better-off tax cuts—those peo- ample for the Federal workforce, gen- to the floor bills they claim would im- ple in our society who least need them. erally, and it does nothing to repair prove veterans’ lives. If the President It occurs to me that if we were to the underlying problems and inadequa- and my Republican colleagues are have an opportunity to ask the 400 cies that are taking place at the VA. truly committed to our veterans, then wealthiest families in this country Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield my- they should ensure that reckless hiring whether or not they really need a tax self such time as I may consume. freezes do not harm them in the future. cut, my belief, based on the four bil- In response to my friend from Flor- Mr. Speaker, if we defeat the pre- lionaires that I have known person- ida’s statement about the second piece vious question, I am going to offer an ally—two are deceased now—but in my of legislation that we are dealing with amendment to the rule to bring up conversations with all of them, their in this rule, I believe it is our responsi- Representative SCHRADER’s bill, H.R. position was that they didn’t need a bility to the American taxpayer, and 696, which would prohibit any hiring cut. To the man, each one of them said we are fulfilling that responsibility. We freeze from affecting the Department that, if they were to receive tax cuts, are expected to be good stewards of of Veterans Affairs. they would prefer that they go to edu- taxpayer dollars. This bill ensures that Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous con- cation, particularly education for kin- the government only disburses pre- sent to insert in the RECORD the text of dergartners and prekindergartners.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:42 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.024 H13JNPT1 H4872 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2017 If my Republican colleagues can this country before someone can re- being made by the Member in charge.’’ To move past throwing red meat to their ceive a tax credit. It is only fair to the defeat the previous question is to give the base—a group of people, mind you, who American people that we pass this leg- opposition a chance to decide the subject be- fore the House. Cannon cites the Speaker’s are most certainly disadvantaged—one islation. ruling of January 13, 1920, to the effect that day they are going to wake up and rec- The other bill in this rule, S. 1094, ‘‘the refusal of the House to sustain the de- ognize that much of what we are doing protects our veterans from harm. We mand for the previous question passes the here, even though they support it, all have a commitment to repaying the control of the resolution to the opposition’’ many of the persons who are doing it, men and women who have served this in order to offer an amendment. On March they, too, are caught up in this down- Nation in the military. These brave in- 15, 1909, a member of the majority party of- ward spiral that is involving dividuals have put much on the line fered a rule resolution. The House defeated healthcare in this country, the game and sacrificed so much time and oppor- the previous question and a member of the opposition rose to a parliamentary inquiry, that we are playing. tunity. They deserve the best asking who was entitled to recognition. If we are willing to work in a serious healthcare. Speaker Joseph G. Cannon (R-Illinois) said: manner to address the issues in our This legislation holds the VA ac- ‘‘The previous question having been refused, healthcare system, then I know that countable. We need to empower the VA the gentleman from New York, Mr. Fitz- Democrats are ready to work with Re- Secretary to quickly fire employees gerald, who had asked the gentleman to publicans. But whatever is going on in who put our veterans in danger. We yield to him for an amendment, is entitled to the other body, I assure you, no Demo- also need the VA to report to Congress the first recognition.’’ The Republican majority may say ‘‘the crats in the other body are involved in. so that the legislative branch can ful- vote on the previous question is simply a Last night I asked the chairman of fill its oversight duties. vote on whether to proceed to an immediate the Ways and Means Committee wheth- I thank the sponsors of these impor- vote on adopting the resolution . . . [and] er or not he knew what this bill looked tant bills—Senator RUBIO for S. 1094 has no substantive legislative or policy im- like, and his answer was that he did and Representative BARLETTA for H.R. plications whatsoever.’’ But that is not what not. 2581. they have always said. Listen to the Repub- I also said what I repeat here, that Mr. Speaker, I urge a ‘‘yes’’ vote on lican Leadership Manual on the Legislative Process in the United States House of Rep- people are hurting in this country. the resolution, and I urge a ‘‘yes’’ vote resentatives, (6th edition, page 135). Here’s Whether it is ObamaCare that the Re- on the underlying bills. how the Republicans describe the previous publicans, I believe, are going to find The material previously referred to question vote in their own manual: ‘‘Al- that it is going to be hard to fix, or by Mr. HASTINGS is as follows: though it is generally not possible to amend whether it is the Affordable Care Act AN AMENDMENT TO H. RES. 378 OFFERED BY the rule because the majority Member con- that is in some phantom hole over in MR. HASTINGS trolling the time will not yield for the pur- the other body, somehow or another, At the end of the resolution, add the fol- pose of offering an amendment, the same re- my friends on the other side are going lowing new sections: sult may be achieved by voting down the pre- vious question on the rule.... When the to be held accountable for all of what is SEC. 3. Immediately upon adoption of this resolution the Speaker shall, pursuant to motion for the previous question is defeated, necessary to be done. The only way control of the time passes to the Member that is sensible—and I believe that clause 2(b) of rule XVIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the Whole who led the opposition to ordering the pre- every American is imploring us to un- House on the state of the Union for consider- vious question. That Member, because he dertake—is to sit down together. ation of the bill (H.R. 696) to prohibit any then controls the time, may offer an amend- I cannot believe that the 435 people hiring freeze from affecting the Department ment to the rule, or yield for the purpose of plus 6 here in the House of Representa- of Veterans Affairs. All points of order amendment.’’ In Deschler’s Procedure in the U.S. House against consideration of the bill are waived. tives and the 100 United States Sen- of Representatives, the subchapter titled General debate shall be confined to the bill ators do not have the ability to do all ‘‘Amending Special Rules’’ states: ‘‘a refusal and shall not exceed one hour equally di- of the things that are necessary in to order the previous question on such a rule vided and controlled by the chair and rank- order for Americans to receive ade- [a special rule reported from the Committee ing minority member of the Committee on on Rules] opens the resolution to amend- quate healthcare and to lead with pro- Oversight and Government Reform. After ment and further debate.’’ (Chapter 21, sec- tecting the most vulnerable in our so- general debate the bill shall be considered tion 21.2) Section 21.3 continues: ‘‘Upon re- ciety. for amendment under the five-minute rule. jection of the motion for the previous ques- It is ridiculous to talk about cutting All points of order against provisions in the tion on a resolution reported from the Com- bill are waived. At the conclusion of consid- Medicaid when more than 60 percent of mittee on Rules, control shifts to the Mem- eration of the bill for amendment the Com- the people on Medicaid are seniors that ber leading the opposition to the previous mittee shall rise and report the bill to the are in nursing homes. question, who may offer a proper amendment House with such amendments as may have What are we going to say to those or motion and who controls the time for de- been adopted. The previous question shall be families? How are we going to address bate thereon.’’ considered as ordered on the bill and amend- them when it comes to the reality that Clearly, the vote on the previous question ments thereto to final passage without inter- on a rule does have substantive policy impli- they are confronted with while we are vening motion except one motion to recom- up here jaw jacking back and forth cations. It is one of the only available tools mit with or without instructions. If the for those who oppose the Republican major- about whether or not it is ObamaCare Committee of the Whole rises and reports ity’s agenda and allows those with alter- or whether or not it is the Affordable that it has come to no resolution on the bill, native views the opportunity to offer an al- Care Act that we can’t seem to find. then on the next legislative day the House ternative plan. shall, immediately after the third daily Somewhere along the lines, we need Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield back to sit down and work together. Failure order of business under clause 1 of rule XIV, resolve into the Committee of the Whole for the balance of my time, and I move the to do so is to our own peril and to the further consideration of the bill. previous question on the resolution. peril of the citizens of this great coun- SEC. 4. Clause 1(c) of rule XIX shall not The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. try of ours. apply to the consideration of H.R. 696. YODER). The question is on ordering Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance THE VOTE ON THE PREVIOUS QUESTION: WHAT the previous question. of my time. IT REALLY MEANS The question was taken; and the Mr. BUCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield my- This vote, the vote on whether to order the Speaker pro tempore announced that self such time as I may consume. previous question on a special rule, is not the ayes appeared to have it. Mr. Speaker, we are here discussing merely a procedural vote. A vote against or- Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, on that two important bills. One of them ful- dering the previous question is a vote I demand the yeas and nays. fills the congressional duty to steward against the Republican majority agenda and The yeas and nays were ordered. taxpayer dollars well. We shouldn’t be a vote to allow the Democratic minority to The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- handing out tax credits to people with- offer an alternative plan. It is a vote about ant to clause 8 and clause 9 of rule XX, out first checking their eligibility for what the House should be debating. this 15-minute vote on ordering the Mr. Clarence Cannon’s Precedents of the their tax credits. This is common House of Representatives (VI, 308–311), de- previous question will be followed by 5- sense. scribes the vote on the previous question on minute votes on adopting the resolu- H.R. 2581, the Verify First Act, will the rule as ‘‘a motion to direct or control the tion, if ordered, and agreeing to the require verification of legal presence in consideration of the subject before the House Speaker’s approval of the Journal.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:42 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.025 H13JNPT1 June 13, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4873 The vote was taken by electronic de- Crist Khanna Price (NC) Bucshon Hollingsworth Posey vice, and there were—yeas 229, nays Crowley Kihuen Quigley Budd Hudson Ratcliffe Cuellar Kildee Raskin Burgess Hultgren Reed 189, not voting 12, as follows: Davis (CA) Kilmer Rice (NY) Byrne Hunter Reichert [Roll No. 302] Davis, Danny Kind Richmond Calvert Hurd Renacci DeFazio Krishnamoorthi Rosen Carter (GA) Issa Rice (SC) YEAS—229 DeGette Kuster (NH) Roybal-Allard Carter (TX) Jenkins (KS) Roby Delaney Langevin Abraham Gibbs Olson Ruiz Chabot Jenkins (WV) Roe (TN) DeLauro Larsen (WA) Aderholt Gohmert Palazzo Ruppersberger Chaffetz Johnson (LA) Rogers (AL) DelBene Larson (CT) Allen Goodlatte Palmer Rush Cheney Johnson (OH) Rogers (KY) Demings Lawrence Amash Gosar Paulsen Ryan (OH) Coffman Jones Rohrabacher DeSaulnier Lawson (FL) Amodei Gowdy Pearce Sa´ nchez Cole Jordan Rokita Deutch Lee Arrington Graves (GA) Perry Sarbanes Collins (GA) Joyce (OH) Rooney, Francis Dingell Levin Babin Graves (LA) Pittenger Schakowsky Collins (NY) Katko Rooney, Thomas Doggett Lewis (GA) Bacon Graves (MO) Poe (TX) Schiff Comer Kelly (MS) J. Doyle, Michael Lieu, Ted Banks (IN) Grothman Poliquin Schneider Comstock Kelly (PA) Ros-Lehtinen F. Lipinski Barletta Guthrie Posey Schrader Conaway King (IA) Roskam Ellison Loebsack Cook King (NY) Barr Harper Ratcliffe Scott (VA) Ross Engel Lofgren Costello (PA) Kinzinger Rothfus Barton Harris Reed Scott, David Eshoo Lowey Cramer Knight Rouzer Bergman Hartzler Reichert Serrano Espaillat Lujan Grisham, Biggs Hensarling Renacci Crawford Kustoff (TN) Royce (CA) Esty (CT) M. Sewell (AL) Bilirakis Herrera Beutler Rice (SC) Culberson Labrador Russell Evans Luja´ n, Ben Ray Shea-Porter Bishop (MI) Hice, Jody B. Roby Curbelo (FL) LaHood Rutherford Foster Lynch Sherman Bishop (UT) Hill Roe (TN) Davidson LaMalfa Sanford Frankel (FL) Maloney, Sinema Black Holding Rogers (AL) Davis, Rodney Lamborn Scalise Fudge Carolyn B. Sires Blackburn Hollingsworth Rogers (KY) Denham Lance Schweikert Gabbard Maloney, Sean Slaughter Blum Hudson Rohrabacher Dent Latta Scott, Austin Gallego Matsui Smith (WA) Bost Huizenga Rokita DeSantis Lewis (MN) Sensenbrenner Garamendi McCollum Soto Brady (TX) Hultgren Rooney, Francis DesJarlais LoBiondo Sessions Gonzalez (TX) McEachin Speier Brat Hunter Rooney, Thomas Diaz-Balart Long Shimkus Gottheimer McNerney Suozzi Bridenstine Hurd J. Donovan Loudermilk Shuster Green, Al Meeks Swalwell (CA) Brooks (IN) Issa Ros-Lehtinen Duffy Love Simpson Green, Gene Meng Takano Buchanan Jenkins (KS) Roskam Duncan (SC) Lucas Smith (MO) Grijalva Moore Thompson (CA) Buck Jenkins (WV) Ross Duncan (TN) Luetkemeyer Smith (NE) Gutie´rrez Moulton Thompson (MS) Bucshon Johnson (LA) Rothfus Dunn MacArthur Smith (NJ) Hanabusa Murphy (FL) Titus Budd Johnson (OH) Rouzer Emmer Marchant Smith (TX) Hastings Nadler Tonko Burgess Jordan Royce (CA) Estes (KS) Marino Smucker Heck Neal Torres Byrne Joyce (OH) Russell Farenthold Marshall Stefanik Higgins (NY) Nolan Tsongas Calvert Katko Rutherford Faso Massie Stewart Himes Norcross Vargas Carter (GA) Kelly (MS) Sanford Ferguson Mast Stivers Hoyer O’Halleran Veasey Carter (TX) Kelly (PA) Scalise Fitzpatrick McCarthy Tenney Huffman O’Rourke Vela Chabot King (IA) Schweikert Fleischmann McCaul Thompson (PA) Jackson Lee Pallone Vela´ zquez Chaffetz King (NY) Scott, Austin Flores McClintock Thornberry Jayapal Panetta Visclosky Cheney Kinzinger Sensenbrenner Fortenberry McHenry Tiberi Jeffries Pascrell Walz Coffman Knight Sessions Foxx McKinley Tipton Johnson (GA) Payne Wasserman Cole Kustoff (TN) Shimkus Franks (AZ) McMorris Trott Johnson, E. B. Perlmutter Schultz Collins (GA) Labrador Shuster Frelinghuysen Rodgers Turner Jones Peters Waters, Maxine Collins (NY) LaHood Simpson Gaetz McSally Upton Kaptur Peterson Watson Coleman Comer LaMalfa Smith (MO) Gallagher Meadows Valadao Keating Pingree Welch Comstock Lamborn Smith (NE) Garrett Meehan Wagner Kelly (IL) Pocan Wilson (FL) Conaway Lance Smith (NJ) Gibbs Messer Walberg Kennedy Polis Yarmuth Cook Latta Smith (TX) Gohmert Mitchell Walden Goodlatte Moolenaar Walker Costello (PA) Lewis (MN) Smucker NOT VOTING—12 Cramer LoBiondo Stefanik Gosar Mooney (WV) Walorski Crawford Long Stewart Brooks (AL) Higgins (LA) Napolitano Gowdy Mullin Walters, Mimi Culberson Loudermilk Stivers Cummings Johnson, Sam Pelosi Graves (GA) Murphy (PA) Webster (FL) Curbelo (FL) Love Tenney Granger Lowenthal Taylor Graves (LA) Newhouse Wenstrup Davidson Lucas Thompson (PA) Griffith McGovern Weber (TX) Graves (MO) Noem Westerman Davis, Rodney Luetkemeyer Thornberry Grothman Nunes Williams Denham MacArthur Tiberi Guthrie Olson Wilson (SC) Dent Marchant Tipton b 1321 Harper Palazzo Wittman DeSantis Marino Trott Mses. JAYAPAL and WILSON of Harris Palmer Womack DesJarlais Marshall Turner Hartzler Paulsen Woodall Diaz-Balart Massie Upton Florida changed their vote from ‘‘yea’’ Hensarling Pearce Yoder Donovan Mast Valadao to ‘‘nay.’’ Herrera Beutler Perry Yoho Duffy McCarthy Wagner So the previous question was ordered. Hice, Jody B. Pittenger Young (AK) Hill Poe (TX) Young (IA) Duncan (SC) McCaul Walberg The result of the vote was announced Duncan (TN) McClintock Walden Holding Poliquin Zeldin Dunn McHenry Walker as above recorded. Emmer McKinley Walorski The SPEAKER pro tempore. The NOES—190 Estes (KS) McMorris Walters, Mimi question is on the resolution. Adams Clay Eshoo Farenthold Rodgers Webster (FL) The question was taken; and the Aguilar Cleaver Espaillat Faso McSally Wenstrup Barraga´ n Clyburn Esty (CT) Ferguson Meadows Westerman Speaker pro tempore announced that Bass Cohen Evans Fitzpatrick Meehan Williams the ayes appeared to have it. Beatty Connolly Foster Fleischmann Messer Wilson (SC) RECORDED VOTE Bera Conyers Frankel (FL) Flores Mitchell Wittman Beyer Cooper Fudge Fortenberry Moolenaar Womack Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, I de- Bishop (GA) Correa Gabbard Foxx Mooney (WV) Woodall mand a recorded vote. Blumenauer Costa Gallego Franks (AZ) Mullin Yoder A recorded vote was ordered. Blunt Rochester Courtney Garamendi Frelinghuysen Murphy (PA) Yoho Bonamici Crist Gonzalez (TX) Gaetz Newhouse Young (AK) The SPEAKER pro tempore. This Boyle, Brendan Crowley Gottheimer Gallagher Noem Young (IA) will be a 5-minute vote. F. Cuellar Green, Al Garrett Nunes Zeldin The vote was taken by electronic de- Brady (PA) Davis (CA) Green, Gene vice, and there were—ayes 229, noes 190, Brown (MD) Davis, Danny Grijalva NAYS—189 Brownley (CA) DeFazio Gutie´rrez Adams Brady (PA) Cicilline not voting 11, as follows: Bustos DeGette Hanabusa Aguilar Brown (MD) Clark (MA) [Roll No. 303] Butterfield Delaney Hastings Barraga´ n Brownley (CA) Clarke (NY) Capuano DeLauro Heck Bass Bustos Clay AYES—229 Carbajal DelBene Higgins (NY) Beatty Butterfield Cleaver Abraham Barletta Blackburn Ca´ rdenas Demings Himes Bera Capuano Clyburn Aderholt Barr Blum Carson (IN) DeSaulnier Hoyer Beyer Carbajal Cohen Allen Barton Bost Cartwright Deutch Huffman Bishop (GA) Ca´ rdenas Connolly Amash Bergman Brady (TX) Castor (FL) Dingell Jackson Lee Blumenauer Carson (IN) Conyers Amodei Biggs Brat Castro (TX) Doggett Jayapal Blunt Rochester Cartwright Cooper Arrington Bilirakis Bridenstine Chu, Judy Doyle, Michael Jeffries Bonamici Castor (FL) Correa Babin Bishop (MI) Brooks (IN) Cicilline F. Johnson (GA) Boyle, Brendan Castro (TX) Costa Bacon Bishop (UT) Buchanan Clark (MA) Ellison Johnson, E. B. F. Chu, Judy Courtney Banks (IN) Black Buck Clarke (NY) Engel Kaptur

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:42 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.028 H13JNPT1 H4874 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2017 Keating Meeks Schneider rollcall No. 302 (Previous Question on H. Res. Titus Walters, Mimi Williams Kelly (IL) Meng Schrader 378), and ‘‘yea’’ on rollcall No. 303 (Adoption Torres Walz Wilson (SC) Kennedy Moore Scott (VA) Trott Wasserman Wittman Khanna Moulton Scott, David of H. Res. 378). Tsongas Schultz Womack Kihuen Murphy (FL) Serrano Vela´ zquez Webster (FL) f Yarmuth Kildee Nadler Sewell (AL) Walden Welch Young (IA) Kilmer Neal Shea-Porter Walker Wenstrup Zeldin Kind Nolan Sherman THE JOURNAL Walorski Westerman Krishnamoorthi Norcross Sinema The SPEAKER pro tempore. The un- Kuster (NH) O’Halleran Sires NAYS—166 Langevin O’Rourke Slaughter finished business is the question on Aguilar Gosar Nolan Larsen (WA) Pallone Smith (WA) agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of Amash Graves (GA) Norcross Larson (CT) Panetta Soto the Journal, on which the yeas and Barraga´ n Graves (LA) O’Halleran Lawrence Pascrell Speier nays were ordered. Barton Graves (MO) Pallone Lawson (FL) Payne Suozzi Bass Green, Gene The question is on the Speaker’s ap- Paulsen Lee Perlmutter Swalwell (CA) Beyer Grothman Payne Levin Peters Takano proval of the Journal. Biggs Gutie´rrez Perry Lewis (GA) Peterson Thompson (CA) This will be a 5-minute vote. Blum Hastings Peters Lieu, Ted Pingree Thompson (MS) The vote was taken by electronic de- Bost Herrera Beutler Peterson Lipinski Pocan Titus Boyle, Brendan Hice, Jody B. Pittenger Loebsack Polis Tonko vice, and there were—yeas 238, nays F. Holding Poe (TX) Lofgren Price (NC) Torres Brady (PA) Hoyer 166, answered ‘‘present’’ 2, not voting Poliquin Lowenthal Quigley Tsongas Brownley (CA) Hudson 24, as follows: Price (NC) Lowey Raskin Vargas Buck Hurd Ratcliffe Lujan Grisham, Rice (NY) Veasey [Roll No. 304] Burgess Jackson Lee Reed M. Richmond Vela YEAS—238 Capuano Jayapal Luja´ n, Ben Ray Rosen Vela´ zquez Carbajal Jenkins (KS) Renacci Lynch Roybal-Allard Visclosky Abraham Duncan (TN) McMorris Ca´ rdenas Jenkins (WV) Rice (NY) Maloney, Ruiz Walz Adams Dunn Rodgers Carter (GA) Johnson (OH) Rohrabacher Carolyn B. Ruppersberger Wasserman Aderholt Emmer McNerney Castor (FL) Jones Rokita Maloney, Sean Rush Schultz Allen Engel Meadows Clark (MA) Jordan Ros-Lehtinen Matsui Ryan (OH) Waters, Maxine Amodei Estes (KS) Meehan Clarke (NY) Joyce (OH) Rosen McCollum Sa´ nchez Watson Coleman Arrington Esty (CT) Meeks Coffman Keating Rouzer McEachin Sarbanes Welch Babin Ferguson Meng Cohen Kennedy Roybal-Allard McGovern Schakowsky Wilson (FL) Bacon Fleischmann Messer Collins (GA) Khanna Ruiz McNerney Schiff Yarmuth Banks (IN) Fortenberry Mitchell Comer Kihuen Sa´ nchez Barletta Foster Moolenaar Conaway Kilmer Sanford Barr Frelinghuysen NOT VOTING—11 Mooney (WV) Connolly Kind Sarbanes Beatty Gabbard Moulton Brooks (AL) Higgins (LA) Pelosi Conyers Kinzinger Schakowsky Bergman Garamendi Mullin Cummings Huizenga Taylor Correa Knight Schiff Bilirakis Garrett Murphy (FL) Granger Johnson, Sam Weber (TX) Costa LaHood Schrader Griffith Napolitano Bishop (GA) Goodlatte Nadler Costello (PA) Lance Bishop (MI) Gottheimer Newhouse Scott, Austin Courtney Langevin Sewell (AL) ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE Bishop (UT) Gowdy Noem Crist Latta Black Green, Al Nunes Sinema The SPEAKER pro tempore (during Crowley Lawrence Smith (MO) Blackburn Guthrie O’Rourke Curbelo (FL) Lawson (FL) Soto the vote). There are 2 minutes remain- Blumenauer Hanabusa Olson Davis, Rodney Lee Stivers ing. Blunt Rochester Harper Palazzo DeFazio Levin Swalwell (CA) Bonamici Harris Palmer Delaney Lewis (GA) Thompson (CA) b 1327 Brady (TX) Hartzler Panetta DeSantis Lieu, Ted Thompson (MS) Brat Heck Pascrell Doyle, Michael LoBiondo So the resolution was agreed to. Bridenstine Hensarling Pearce F. Loebsack Thompson (PA) The result of the vote was announced Brooks (IN) Higgins (LA) Perlmutter Ellison Lofgren Tipton as above recorded. Brown (MD) Higgins (NY) Pingree Espaillat Lowenthal Turner Buchanan Hill Pocan Upton A motion to reconsider was laid on Evans Lowey Bucshon Himes Polis Farenthold Lynch Valadao the table. Budd Hollingsworth Posey Faso MacArthur Vargas Stated for: Bustos Huffman Quigley Fitzpatrick Maloney, Veasey Mr. HUIZENGA. Mr. Speaker, I was un- Butterfield Huizenga Reichert Flores Carolyn B. Vela Byrne Hultgren Richmond Foxx Maloney, Sean Visclosky avoidably detained. Had I been present, I Calvert Hunter Roby Franks (AZ) Matsui Walberg would have voted ‘‘yea’’ on rollcall No. 303. Carson (IN) Jeffries Roe (TN) Fudge McGovern Waters, Maxine Mr. HUIZENGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today Carter (TX) Johnson (GA) Rogers (AL) Gaetz McKinley Watson Coleman Cartwright Johnson (LA) Rogers (KY) regarding a missed vote due to a meeting with Gallagher McSally Wilson (FL) Castro (TX) Johnson, E. B. Rooney, Francis Gallego Moore Woodall constituents on the House steps. Had I been Chabot Kaptur Rooney, Thomas Gibbs Murphy (PA) Yoder present for rollcall vote No. 303, H. Res. 378, Chaffetz Katko J. Gonzalez (TX) Neal Young (AK) Cheney Kelly (MS) Roskam The Rule providing for consideration of the bill Chu, Judy Kelly (PA) Ross ANSWERED ‘‘PRESENT’’—2 H.R. 2581—Verify First Act and S. 1094—De- Cicilline Kildee Rothfus Rice (SC) Tonko partment of Veterans Affairs Accountability Clay King (IA) Ruppersberger and Whistleblower Protection Act, I would Cleaver King (NY) Rush NOT VOTING—24 Clyburn Krishnamoorthi Russell have voted ‘‘yea.’’ Bera Grijalva Royce (CA) Cole Kuster (NH) Rutherford Brooks (AL) Issa Sires PERSONAL EXPLANATION Collins (NY) Kustoff (TN) Ryan (OH) Cummings Johnson, Sam Slaughter Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I was ab- Comstock LaMalfa Scalise Eshoo Kelly (IL) Taylor Cook Lamborn Schneider Frankel (FL) Labrador Tiberi sent during rollcall votes No. 302 and No. 303 Cooper Larsen (WA) Schweikert Gohmert Napolitano Wagner due to my spouse’s health situation in Cali- Cramer Larson (CT) Scott (VA) Granger Pelosi Weber (TX) fornia. Had I been present, I would have voted Crawford Lewis (MN) Scott, David Griffith Raskin Yoho Cuellar Lipinski Sensenbrenner ‘‘nay’’ on the Motion on Ordering the Previous Culberson Long Serrano b 1334 Question on the Rule providing for consider- Davidson Loudermilk Sessions Messrs. RENACCI and CURBELO of ation of both H.R. 2581 and S. 1094. I would Davis (CA) Love Shea-Porter Davis, Danny Lucas Sherman Florida changed their vote from ‘‘yea’’ have also voted ‘‘nay’’ on H. Res. 378—Rule DeGette Luetkemeyer Shimkus to ‘‘nay.’’ providing for consideration of both H.R. DeLauro Lujan Grisham, Shuster So the Journal was approved. 2581—Verify First Act and S. 1094—Depart- DelBene M. Simpson The result of the vote was announced ment of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Demings Luja´ n, Ben Ray Smith (NE) Denham Marchant Smith (NJ) as above recorded. Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017. Dent Marino Smith (TX) Stated for: PERSONAL EXPLANATION DeSaulnier Marshall Smith (WA) Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I DesJarlais Massie Smucker Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I Deutch Mast Speier was unavoidably detained. Had I been wanted to report my absence on the vote of Diaz-Balart McCarthy Stefanik present, I would have voted ‘‘yea’’ on rollcall the H. Res. 378, the combined rule providing Dingell McCaul Stewart No. 304. Doggett for consideration of H.R. 2581 and S. 1094, as McClintock Suozzi PERSONAL EXPLANATION Donovan McCollum Takano well as the vote on the previous question. Had Duffy McEachin Tenney Mr. TAYLOR. Mr. Speaker, I was absent for I been present, I would have voted ‘‘yea’’ on Duncan (SC) McHenry Thornberry the initial vote series due to my attendance of

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:25 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A13JN7.013 H13JNPT1 June 13, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4875 the funeral of Kyle Milliken. Had I been individual’s status as a citizen or national of the gentlewoman from California (Ms. present, I would have voted ‘‘yea’’ on rollcall the United States or a qualified alien (within SA´ NCHEZ) each will control 30 minutes. No. 302, ‘‘yea’’ on rollcall No. 303, and ‘‘yea’’ the meaning of section 431 of the Personal Re- The Chair recognizes the gentleman sponsibility and Work Opportunity Reconcili- from Texas. on rollcall No. 304. ation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1641)) using a process f that includes the appropriate use of information GENERAL LEAVE related to citizenship or immigration status, Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I VERIFY FIRST ACT such as social security account numbers (but ask unanimous consent that all Mem- Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, not individual taxpayer identification num- bers may have 5 legislative days within pursuant to House Resolution 378, I bers).’’. which to revise and extend their re- (c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT ON CONTINUOUS marks and include extraneous material call up the bill (H.R. 2581) to amend the HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE PROVISION.—Sec- Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to re- tion 2710A(b)(1) of the Public Health Service on the bill currently under consider- quire the provision of social security Act, as added by section 133 of the American ation. numbers as a condition of receiving the Health Care Act of 2017, is amended by adding The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there health insurance premium tax credit, after subparagraph (C) the following: objection to the request of the gen- and ask for its immediate consider- ‘‘In the case of an individual who applies for tleman from Texas? ation. advance payment of a credit under section 1412 There was no objection. of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care The Clerk read the title of the bill. Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I Act and for whom a determination of eligibility yield myself as much time as I may The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. for such advance payment is delayed by reason MITCHELL). Pursuant to House Resolu- consume. of the requirement for verification of the indi- Last month House Republicans took tion 378, the amendment in the nature vidual’s status in the United States under sec- of a substitute recommended by the tion 1411(c)(2) of such Act, the period of days a significant step to return patient- Committee on Ways and Means, print- beginning with the date of application for ad- centered healthcare to the American ed in the bill, shall be considered as vance payment and ending with the date of people. We passed the American Health adopted, and the bill, as amended, is such verification shall not be taken into account Care Act. The American Health Care in applying subparagraph (B). The Secretary considered read. Act begins our step-by-step process to shall establish a procedure by which informa- repeal ObamaCare and replace this col- The text of the bill, as amended, is as tion relating to this period is provided to the in- follows: lapsing law with a 21st century dividual.’’. healthcare system that truly works for H.R. 2581 (d) DELAY PERMITTED IN COVERAGE DATE IN CASE OF DELAY IN VERIFICATION OF STATUS FOR American families, job creators, our Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- INDIVIDUALS APPLYING FOR ADVANCE PAYMENT States, and our taxpayers. resentatives of the United States of America in OF CREDIT.—Section 1411(e) of the Patient Pro- Now, as work on the American Congress assembled, tection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. Health Care Act moves forward in the SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 18081(e)) is amended— Senate, we are moving forward on a This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Verify First (1) in paragraph (3), by inserting after ‘‘appli- parallel track to deliver more solutions Act’’. cant’s eligibility’’ the following: ‘‘(other than for the American people. One of those SEC. 2. VERIFICATION OF STATUS IN UNITED eligibility for advance payment of a credit under STATES AS CONDITION OF RECEIV- section 1412)’’; and is the Verify First Act, sponsored by ING ADVANCE PAYMENT OF HEALTH (2) by adding at the end the following new Congressman LOU BARLETTA of Penn- INSURANCE PREMIUM TAX CREDIT. paragraph: sylvania. (a) APPLICATION TO CURRENT HEALTH INSUR- ‘‘(5) DELAY PERMITTED IN COVERAGE DATE IN This legislation takes important ac- ANCE PREMIUM TAX CREDIT.—Section 36B of the CASE OF DELAY IN VERIFICATION OF STATUS FOR tion to protect taxpayer dollars from Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as in effect for INDIVIDUALS APPLYING FOR ADVANCE PAYMENT waste, fraud, and abuse. It prevents the months beginning before January 1, 2020, is OF CREDIT.—In the case of an individual whose amended by redesignating subsection (g) as sub- eligibility for advance payments is delayed by American Health Care Act’s monthly section (h) and by inserting after subsection (f) reason of the requirement for verification under tax credits and ObamaCare’s current the following new subsection: subsection (c)(2), if, for coverage to be effective subsidies from being dispensed until ‘‘(g) VERIFICATION OF STATUS IN UNITED as of the date requested in the individual’s ap- the legal status of an eligible recipient STATES FOR ADVANCE PAYMENT.—No advance plication for enrollment, the individual would can be verified. payment of the credit allowed under this section (but for this paragraph) be required to pay 2 or Under ObamaCare, people who are in with respect to any premium under subsection more months of retroactive premiums, the indi- the United States illegally are prohib- (b)(2)(A) with respect to any individual shall be vidual shall be provided the option to elect to ited from receiving taxpayer-funded made under section 1412 of the Patient Protec- postpone the effective date of coverage to the subsidies to help purchase health insur- tion and Affordable Care Act unless the Sec- date that is not more than 1 month later than retary has received confirmation from the Sec- the date requested in the individual’s applica- ance; but like so many aspects of retary of Health and Human Services that the tion for enrollment.’’. ObamaCare, there is a major defect. Commissioner of Social Security or the Secretary (e) EFFECTIVE DATES.— ObamaCare starts by assuming a per- of Homeland Security has verified under section (1) APPLICATION TO CURRENT HEALTH INSUR- son is a legal resident and sends the 1411(c)(2) of such Act the individual’s status as ANCE PREMIUM TAX CREDIT.—The amendment money right away even if the verifica- a citizen or national of the United States or an made by subsection (a) is contingent upon the tion process is still incomplete. enactment of the American Health Care Act of alien lawfully present in the United States using As we have seen with so many Fed- a process that includes the appropriate use of 2017 and shall apply (if at all) to months begin- information related to citizenship or immigra- ning after December 31, 2017. eral programs, it is all but impossible tion status, such as social security account (2) APPLICATION TO NEW HEALTH INSURANCE to get fraudulently claimed money numbers (but not individual taxpayer identifica- PREMIUM TAX CREDIT.—The amendment made by back after it is already out the door. tion numbers).’’. subsection (b) is contingent upon the enactment This flaw of ObamaCare is no different. (b) APPLICATION TO NEW HEALTH INSURANCE of the American Health Care Act of 2017 and It has resulted in taxpayer-funded sub- PREMIUM TAX CREDIT.—Section 36B of the In- shall apply (if at all) to months beginning after sidies being spent on people who are ternal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended by the December 31, 2019, in taxable years ending after not in the United States legally and, such date. American Health Care Act of 2017 and in effect therefore, not eligible to receive them. for months beginning after December 31, 2019, is (3) CONFORMING AMENDMENT ON CONTINUOUS amended by adding at the end the following HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE PROVISION.—The My constituents in Texas and yours new subsection: amendment made by subsection (c) is contingent around the country work too hard to ‘‘(h) VERIFICATION OF STATUS IN UNITED upon the enactment of the American Health see their tax dollars wasted by Wash- STATES FOR ADVANCE PAYMENT.—No advance Care Act of 2017 and shall take effect (if at all) ington’s carelessness. The best solution payment of the credit allowed under this section as if included in such Act. to protect taxpayer dollars from waste, (4) FLEXIBILITY IN COVERAGE DATE IN CASE OF with respect to any amount under subparagraph fraud, and abuse is to stop it before it DELAY IN VERIFICATION OF STATUS.—The amend- (A) or (B) of subsection (b)(1) with respect to occurs, and that is what the Verify any individual shall be made under section 1412 ment made by subsection (d) is contingent upon the enactment of the American Health Care Act First Act by Mr. BARLETTA will do. of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care This bill strengthens existing verifi- Act unless the Secretary has received confirma- of 2017 and shall apply (if at all) to applications tion from the Secretary of Health and Human for advance payments for months beginning cation tools by making a commonsense Services that the Commissioner of Social Secu- after December 31, 2017. change. Rather than sending the rity or the Secretary of Homeland Security has The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- money first and confirming legal sta- verified under section 1411(c)(2) of such Act the tleman from Texas (Mr. BRADY) and tus later, it verifies legal status up

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:25 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A13JN7.019 H13JNPT1 H4876 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2017 front. So if you want to receive finan- a million illegal immigrants received ed to overcome deficiencies in federal gov- cial support for health insurance, this $750 million in healthcare subsidies.’’ ernment databases. Immigrants who are not bill simply requires that you first pro- Well, I have that report right here in lawfully present are categorically barred vide a Social Security number or an- my hand, and nowhere does it say that from enrollment in health insurance on the Affordable Care Act marketplaces, and for other form of acceptable information 500,000 undocumented immigrants re- the subsidies that make that insurance af- to validate citizenship or immigration ceived millions of dollars in healthcare fordable. Moreover, safeguards protecting status. subsidies, as Mr. BARLETTA’s press re- taxpayers are already built into the ACA; in- This commonsense change will apply lease claims. What the report says is dividuals whose citizenship or immigration to ObamaCare beginning with next 500,000 individuals, and not 500,000 un- status cannot be verified already are re- year’s open enrollment period, and documented individuals or any other quired to pay back all of their subsidies after ObamaCare is repealed, it will term that Republicans like to use to when they file their taxes and ‘‘reconcile’’ apply to the tax credits offered in the disparage immigrants. their premium tax credits. American Health Care Act when they Supporters of this bill cite a sloppy Senate b 1345 Homeland Security and Government Affairs take effect. This helps ensure that tax- Committee report that arrived at a made-up payer-funded assistance for the pur- There is no evidence to suggest that number of supposed ‘‘fraud.’’ It’s just not chase of health insurance is only dis- immigrants without authorization to true. The committee assumed that every per- tributed to people who are eligible, not be here would take the risk of signing son who lost coverage for failure to verify to those who are in our country ille- on to a government website to fraudu- their citizenship and immigration status was gally. lently get healthcare coverage. undocumented. In the experience of our orga- I want to thank Congressman So what are the unintended con- nizations and organizations we work with, BARLETTA for his leadership on this im- sequences of this bill? this is false. These reports describe the first portant legislation. The Verify First I hate to break it to my colleagues, year of the marketplaces, and it is well docu- mented that system outages and under- Act is a much-needed solution to safe- but the people most impacted are U.S. staffing, among other technical problems, guard taxpayer dollars from waste, citizens who were born abroad or natu- contributed to the federal Marketplace’s fraud, and abuse both now and in the ralized, not undocumented individuals. failure to verify consumers’ status promptly. future, and that is crucial as we con- This bill is yet another example that The Department of Health and Human Serv- tinue our efforts to repeal and replace the Republican majority will do any- ices Inspector General reported in 2014 that a the failing ObamaCare law. It is vital thing to demonize even the smallest cause of the delay in verification was the to improving America’s health system subsection of immigrants in order to agency’s lack of prioritization of this issue. for the long term. gut healthcare for Americans and get Despite huge gains since then, problems I urge all my colleagues to join me in their billionaire buddies a big, fat tax still persist. The Social Security database holding many citizens’ information may not supporting the passage of the Verify break. Whether that means sowing fear reflect common changes, such as when a per- First Act, and I reserve the balance of in communities by raiding homes in son marries and changes their last name, or my time. order to hunt people down or denying when someone naturalizes and gains U.S. Ms. SA´ NCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield access to care for legal immigrants citizenship. People lose their coverage be- myself such time as I may consume. who are entitled to care, no excuse is cause they receive notices in languages they Mr. Speaker, I can’t believe we are too ridiculous for Republicans to at- cannot read. Immigrants are required to sub- here today attempting to pass such a tack the immigrant community. mit documents multiple times, or wait while the Department of Homeland Security finds blatantly discriminatory bill. Under Mr. Speaker, I include in the RECORD the guise of fighting fraud, Republicans paper files, a result of deficiencies in their a letter signed by 226 organizations in databases affecting groups like asylum appli- are attempting to pass a bill that will opposition to H.R. 2581. cants and some survivors of domestic vio- put additional barriers to care for all JUNE 12, 2017. lence. These are among the many issues con- Americans—all this in exchange for DEAR MEMBER OF CONGRESS: As national, sumers face. one Member’s vote for TrumpCare, state, and local organizations concerned Congress has already deprived undocu- which guts healthcare for 23 million about immigrant rights or access to afford- mented immigrants from the ability to buy Americans, and the Republicans barely able health care, we are writing to strongly coverage, even at full price, so they can see passed that bill out of the House. urge you to VOTE NO on HR 2581, the a doctor when they are sick, but this bill This bill fails to recognize the diver- ‘‘Verify First’’ Act. This bill is an attack on would go a step further to delay or put out sity of American families; instead, it people’s ability to see a doctor and on immi- of reach affordable health insurance for grants and people of color. It is not the many citizens and lawfully present immi- forces a single approach for all those ‘‘common sense’’ taxpayer protection bill grants. Our organizations firmly believe that who need financial help to get the care that its supporters would have you believe. this would be detrimental to the people we that they need. HR 2581 is a dangerous bill that puts up represent and to all of our communities as a I don’t know if everyone on the other roadblocks for both citizens and immigrants whole. We have seen that when health insur- side of the aisle knows this, but there to obtain timely, affordable health insur- ance is unaffordable, people are effectively are already measures in place to pre- ance. It would strip away provisions that prevented from obtaining access to the care vent advanced premium tax credits provide for a person to obtain subsidies for they need to be healthy. from going to ineligible people. There enrollment in an Affordable Care Act (or the This bill is not just an attack on our contemplated American Health Care Act) health care system, it is also an attack on is already a mechanism in place for plan while they work with Department of Treasury to reconcile tax credits, and immigrants and people of color, which our Health and Human Services to verify their organizations stand firmly against. In his any undocumented individual found to U.S. citizenship or immigration status. The statements when introducing this bill, Rep. have received a subsidy must repay people most impacted are U.S. citizens who Lou Barletta focused the bill as part of his them in full. were born abroad or naturalized. The bill effort to ‘‘stop illegal immigration.’’ Rep. The other side will also try to make also affects many immigrants, especially Barletta has a long history of anti-immi- the argument that this measure will those newly arrived or certain victims of do- grant rhetoric, from trying to prevent immi- help fight fraud in the healthcare sys- mestic violence and trafficking survivors. grants from leasing a residence to stating The fact is that when individuals are not that they should be denied life-saving serv- tem, that there is somehow over- able to immediately verify their citizenship whelming amounts of evidence that ices in hospital emergency rooms. This bill or immigration status on an Affordable Care is simply a vehicle for scapegoating immi- immigrants are the main perpetrators Act Marketplace, it begins an often months grants and people of color and will keep eli- of fraud. Beneficiaries struggling to ac- long, strenuous process of sending in docu- gible people from accessing health care. cess care are not the perpetrators of ments that must be physically inspected. We the undersigned organizations urge you fraud. These are good people trying to Health care assisters routinely say these cli- to vote NO on HR 2581 and the continued as- do right by their families and by their ents are the hardest cases they work on be- sault on immigrants and the health of our country. cause the process for verifying citizenship communities. Of course, my colleagues over there and immigration status is a time-consuming Sincerely, exercise in dealing with inefficient govern- are going to cite a Senate Committee ment processes. NATIONAL on Homeland Security and Govern- Rather than protect American taxpayers, Advocates for Youth; African American mental Affairs report, written by a Re- HR 2581 would strip from American tax- Ministers In Action; American Federation of publican majority, that found, ‘‘a half payers important protections that are need- Teachers (AFT); American Friends Service

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:45 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.035 H13JNPT1 June 13, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4877 Committee; American Intercession; Amer- & Nutrition Coalition; Arkansas Advocates Points; United Way Bay Area; URI Feinstein ican Society on Aging; Asian & Pacific Is- for Children and Families; Arlington Part- Center for a Hunger Free America; Vermont lander American Health Forum; Asian Amer- nership for Affordable Housing; Asian Ameri- Affordable Housing Coalition; Virginia Pov- icans Advancing Justice/AAJC; Asian Pacific cans Advancing Justice—Los Angeles; Asian erty Law Center; Voices for Vermont’s Chil- Institute on Gender-Based Violence; Asian Community Alliance—Cincinnati OH; Asian dren; Voz Hispana Cambio Comunitario; Pacific Partners for Empowerment, Advo- Law Alliance; Asian Services In Action, Inc.; Washington Community Action Network; cacy & Leadership (APPEAL); Association of Baltimore Jewish Council; California Health Washington Healthcare Access Alliance; Asian Pacific Community Health Organiza- Professional Student Alliance; California Washington State Labor Council, AFL–CIO; tions (AAPCHO); Autistic Self Advocacy Immigrant Policy Center; California Latinas West Chester Food Cupboard; West Side Network; Black Alliance for Just Immigra- for Reproductive Justice (CLRJ); California Campaign Against Hunger; Westlake Chinese tion; Breast Cancer Action; Center for Law OneCare; California Pan-Ethnic Health Net- Culture Association; Wisconsin Council of and Social Policy (CLASP); Center for Medi- work; California Partnership; California Churches; Wisconsin Faith Voices for Jus- care Advocacy, Inc.; Child Welfare League of Physicians Alliance; CASA; tice; Women’s Action Movement Washtenaw America; Children’s Advocacy Institute; Center for Southeast Asians; Chicago His- County MI; Worksite Wellness LA; Xaverian Children’s Defense Fund; Church World Serv- panic Health Coalition; Child Care Resources Brothers; Young Women United; of Rockland; Children Now; Children’s De- ice (CWS); Ms. SA´ NCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I re- Coalition on Human Needs; Columban Cen- fense Fund-CA; Chinatown Service Center; ter for Advocacy and Outreach; Congregation Chinese-American Planning Council; Coali- serve the balance of my time. of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shep- tion for Humane Immigrant Rights Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I herd, US Provinces; Conscious Talk Radio; (CHIRLA); Collaborative Center for Justice; yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Detention Watch Network; Disability Rights Colorado Center on Law and Policy; Colo- Pennsylvania (Mr. BARLETTA), the au- Education and Defense Fund; Dominican Sis- rado Center on Law and Policy; Columbia thor of the Verify First Act, and as ters; Dominicans of Sinsinawa; Family Legal Services; Community Health Councils; chairman of the House Ways and Means Equality Council; Farmworker Justice; First D. C. Hunger Solutions; DuPage Federation on Human Services Reform; Empower Mis- Committee, I am proud to advance this Focus Campaign for Children; Food Research bill. & Action Center; Franciscan Sisters of the souri; Ensuring Opportunity Campaign to Poor IJPC; Friends Committee on National End Poverty in Contra Costa; Erie Bene- Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I Legislation; Generations Inc.; GLMA: Health dictines for Peace; Esperanza Health Cen- thank the gentleman for yielding and Professionals Advancing LGBT Equality; Im- ters; EverThrive Illinois; Farmworker Asso- working with me on this important migrant Legal Resource Center; Indivisible; ciation of Florida; issue. I also thank leadership for recog- Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC); Give nizing this issue and working with me for a Smile; Greater Kansas City Coalition to Americas; Interfaith Worker Justice; to fix the problem. Irish Apostolate USA; Jobs With Justice; End Homelessness; Having Our Say Coali- tion; Health Access California; Health Care I am proud to rise today in support of Justice in Aging; Justice, Peace and Rec- my bill, H.R. 2581, the Verify First Act. onciliation Commission, Priests of the Sa- for All-WA; Health Law Advocates; Healthy cred Heart, US Province; Lambda Legal; House Within A MATCH Coalition; Hmong My bill is intended to stop fraud in Leadership Team of the Felician Sisters of Ohio of Tomorrow; Hunger Action Los Ange- the distribution of healthcare tax cred- North America; League of United Latin les; IHM Sisters, Immaculata, PA; IL Hunger its and protect taxpayer dollars. It is American Citizens (LULAC); Medical Mis- Coalition; Illinois Coalition for Immigrant simple: the American people expect sion Sisters; Mi Familia Vota; MomsRising; and Refugee Rights; Indivisible Mountain that we are verifying that someone Home, Idaho; Interfaith Movement for NAACP; NAPAFASA; National Advocacy qualifies for taxpayer money before Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd; Human Integrity; IRIS—Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services; Islamic Civic Engage- that money goes out the door. National Asian Pacific American Women’s This is about the Federal Govern- Forum; National Association of County and ment Project; Jewish Family & Children’s City Health Officials; National Association Service; Kansas Appleseed; Kentucky Equal ment being good stewards of the money of Social Workers; National Black Justice Justice Center; Korean Community Services our constituents send to Washington. Coalition; National Center for Transgender of Metropolitan NY; La Fe Policy Research Every Federal dollar that goes to Equality; National Council of Asian Pacific and Education Center; someone committing fraud is a dollar La Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program; Americans (NCAPA); National Council of Legal Council for Health Justice; Legal that is not going to a person who truly Churches; needs and deserves assistance. National Council of La Raza (NCLR); Na- Services of Southern Piedmont; Maine Con- sumers for Affordable Health Care; Make the No one should be allowed to commit tional Education Association; National Em- fraud at the taxpayers’ expense. No ployment Law Project; National Health Law Road New York; Maryland CASH Campaign; Program; National Hispanic Medical Asso- Maryland Hunger Solutions; Massachusetts business would give a refund without ciation; National Immigrant Justice Center; Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition first verifying a receipt. National Immigration Law Center; National (MIRA); Massachusetts Law Reform Insti- Yet this is exactly what is happening Justice for Our Neighbors; National Latina tute; Maternal and Child Health Access; Ma- under our current healthcare system. Institute for Reproductive Health; National ternity Care Coalition; National Association of Social Workers, CT Chapter; National The law claims that taxpayer money Network of Abortion Funds; National Orga- will only go to people who qualify for nization for Women; National Women’s Tongan American Society; Nationalities Service Center; NC Child; New Mexico Center it. Yet no one is being held responsible Health Network; Network for Environmental for making sure that that happens. My & Economic Responsibility of United Church on Law and Poverty; New York Immigration of Christ; NETWORK Lobby for Catholic So- Coalition; New York Legal Assistance Group; bill does that. cial Justice; NMAC; OCA—Asian Pacific NICOS Chinese Health Coalition; NJ State Under current law, the Federal Gov- American Advocates; Our Revolution; Peace Industrial Union Council; NOELA Commu- ernment pays tax credits to individuals and Justice Office of the Congregation of nity Health Center; Northern NJ Chapter, without first verifying that they qual- Notre Dame; Physicians for Reproductive National Organization for Women; Northwest Health Law Advocates; North- ify to receive them. If individuals can- Health; PICO National; west Immigrant Rights Project; Office of the not verify their legal status, the IRS is Planned Parenthood Federation of Amer- Health Care Advocate at Vermont Legal Aid; then forced to chase after the money. ica; Poor People’s Economic Human Rights OneAmerica; Pacific Islander Health Part- Campaign; Prevention Institute; Project In- This pay-and-chase model of distrib- nership; Pitkin County Human Services; form; Racine Dominicans; Raising Women’s uting tax credits has greatly increased Public Justice Center; Puget Sound Advo- Voices for the Health Care We Need; Refuge costs to the taxpayers. A 2016 Senate cates for Retirement Action (PSARA); Rain- Ministries; Sargent Shriver National Center report revealed that, under bow Center; Reformed Church of Highland on Poverty Law; Service Employees Inter- ObamaCare, $750 million in taxpayer- Park; RESULTS-Santa Fe (NM); Salaam national Union; Sisters of Charity; Sisters of Cleveland; Services, Immigrant Rights, and funded healthcare subsidies went to Charity of Nazareth; Sisters of Mercy of the Education Network (SIREN); Sisters of Char- people who did not qualify for those Americas—Institute Justice Team; South- ity of the Incarnate Word, Houston; Sisters benefits. east Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC); of St. Dominic of Blauvelt, NY; Sisters of the The Leadership Conference on Civil and We could fix this problem and save Most Precious Blood; Social Justice Com- Human Rights; United Sikhs; United We time and money so that IRS agents are mittee St. Patrick Church; South Asian Net- Dream; Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk, U.S. helping people, instead of trying to re- work; Southwest Women’s Law Center; St. Province; We Belong Together; API Wellness; cover improper payments by verifying Francis St Vincent de Paul Society; Ten- legal status first. STATE AND LOCAL nessee Justice Center; Thai Health And In- Academy of Medical & Public Health Serv- formation Service; My bill simply requires the IRS to ices; Advocates for Children and Youth; The Children’s Partnership; The Latino work with the relevant Federal agen- AgeOptions; Almost Home, Inc.; Anti-Hunger Health Insurance Program, Inc.; Turning cies to verify that an individual is a

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:25 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A13JN7.031 H13JNPT1 H4878 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2017 citizen, national, or lawfully present in verification procedures in the American is considered on the House floor, FAIR will the United States before tax credits go Health Care Act (AHCA) would result in the include the vote in our voting report. out the door. This can be done by payment of health care tax credits to illegal Sincerely, verifying an applicant’s Social Secu- or otherwise ineligible aliens. DAN STEIN, President. rity number or other immigration doc- The Verify First Act will require the So- cial Security Administration (SSA) and the Mr. BARLETTA. Additionally, this uments. Again, the American people Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to expect that we are already doing this. legislation is supported by Citizens actually verify the citizenship or immigra- Against Government Waste and Ameri- Under my bill, everyone who applies tion status of every applicant for a credit for the advance premium tax credit under the AHCA before the Treasury Depart- cans for Tax Reform. will be verified for legal status. Most ment issues the credit. Both SSA and DHS Finally, I include in the RECORD a people won’t even know that this is have established, proven methods of Statement of Administration Policy happening because the verification verifying status in a timely and efficient noting that the President would sign check is so quick. manner, including the E-Verify system, this bill into law. which relies on data from these two agencies My bill also includes protections that STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY to verify work authorization, and the Sys- ensure that individuals who are legally tematic Alien Verification for Entitlements H.R. 2581—VERIFY FIRST ACT—REP. BARLETTA, entitled to these tax credits are not pe- (SAVE) system, which uses DHS data to es- R-PA AND 14 COSPONSORS nalized if there is a delay in verifying tablish welfare eligibility. The Administration supports H.R. 2581, the their documents. I first raised this Hard-working Americans and legal resi- Verify First Act. Under Obamacare, millions issue last year with the previous ad- dents already are struggling to pay for their of dollars in advance payments of the pre- ministration. I am raising it again this own health care. There is simply no excuse mium tax credit may have been paid on be- for the Federal government to force them to half of individuals who were likely ineligible year because there is no evidence that beneficiaries, including illegal immigrants. anything has been done to address it. subsidize health care for illegal aliens through taxpayer-funded credits. By eliminating the practice of providing ad- Nobody wanted to take responsibility vance payments while an applicant’s immi- For this reason, NumbersUSA is delighted for mismanaging $750 million of tax- gration status is being verified, this bill to support your Verify First Act and we look stems the flow of payments to ineligible in- payer money. Everyone pointed fingers forward to working with you to make sure it dividuals under Obamacare and strengthens at other people. My bill holds people is enacted into law. We also applaud House the ability of the Administration to ensure accountable. Republican Leadership and the House Ways premium tax credits will be appropriately While I received assurances from the and Means Committee for working with you provided to eligible individuals under the current administration that it would to close this expensive loophole in our health American Health Care Act of 2017 (AHCA). care system. implement and follow a process to By protecting the integrity of Federal funds, Sincerely, verify legal status, my bill would re- this bill furthers the President’s vision of a ANNE MANETAS, quire it in law. This issue is too impor- more efficient Federal Government that re- Vice President, NumbersUSA. tant to be left to the changing posi- spects taxpayer dollars. tions of unelected Federal bureaucrats. H.R. 2581 would prohibit advance payments FEDERATION FOR AMERICAN The American people deserve to know of premium tax credits to individuals under IMMIGRATION REFORM, current law and the AHCA, unless the Sec- that their representatives are doing ev- Washington, DC, May 24, 2017. erything in their power to protect tax- retary of the Treasury receives confirmation Hon. LOU BARLETTA, that the individual is a citizen or a national payer money. Washington, DC. of the United States, or is lawfully present The Verify First Act provides that DEAR CONGRESSMAN BARLETTA: On behalf in the United States. H.R. 2581 would also certainty and upholds the integrity of of the Federation for American Immigration strengthen the AHCA, as passed by the the health insurance premium tax Reform’s (FAIR) nearly 1.5 million members House of Representatives on May 4, 2017, credit by putting an end to fraud and and supporters nationwide, I am writing to which the Administration continues to sup- abuse. thank you for introducing the Verify First port strongly. Mr. Speaker, I thank the cosponsors Act. This important piece of legislation If H.R. 2581 were presented to the President would deny health care tax credits to illegal of my bill for their support. They in- in its current form, his advisors would rec- aliens and ensure that Americans’ hard- ommend that he sign the bill into law. clude DIANE BLACK, MO BROOKS, JEFF earned tax dollars only go to those with a DUNCAN, JIMMY DUNCAN, MIKE KELLY, valid Social Security number (SSN). Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I DOUG LAMBORN, MIKE MCCAUL, DAVID strongly urge passage of my bill. As you know, federal law explicitly pre- ´ MCKINLEY, KRISTI NOEM, JIM RENACCI, vents illegal aliens from receiving tax cred- Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I would MIKE ROGERS, LAMAR SMITH, JASON its. Despite this, a recent report by the Sen- like to remind the majority that the SMITH, G.T. THOMPSON, and JOE WIL- ate Homeland Security and Governmental IRS would be able to do their job if SON. Affairs Committee found that nearly 500,000 they didn’t spend the last 8 years de- illegal aliens received approximately $750 Mr. Speaker, I include in the RECORD monizing the IRS and cutting their million in taxpayer-funded health care sub- letters of support from NumbersUSA budget year after year. sidies as of June 2015. Under Obamacare, the Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he and FAIR, two groups that have been federal government pays health care tax working with me to protect the inter- credits on a ‘‘temporary basis’’ to individ- may consume to the gentleman from ests of the American worker and legal uals who are unable to verify their citizen- Michigan (Mr. LEVIN), my colleague on immigrants. ship. If an individual is ultimately unable to the Ways and Means Committee. (Mr. LEVIN asked and was given per- NUMBERSUSA, verify their immigration status, the funding Arlington, VA, May 23, 2017. is suspended and the Internal Revenue Serv- mission to revise and extend his re- Hon. LOU BARLETTA, ice (IRS) attempts to recoup overpayments marks.) House of Representatives, from the individuals who were wrongly cov- Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, this act Washington, DC. ered. This challenging practice—known as jeopardizes American families’ ability DEAR CONGRESSMAN BARLETTA: ‘‘pay and chase’’—is costing taxpayers mil- lions. to afford health insurance. NumbersUSA, on behalf of our more than 8 The so-called Verify First Act would As a complement to the recently passed million activists, applauds you for intro- require a new verification process of an ducing the Verify First Act to ensure that American Health Care Act, your legislation health care tax credits are not paid to illegal ensures that the IRS has verified that an in- individual’s Social Security number aliens or other disqualified aliens. As you dividual is a citizen, national, or lawfully before he or she can receive any tax know, NumbersUSA opposed the ineffective present in the United States before the ad- credit for health coverage, either under verification provisions in the Affordable vance health insurance premium tax credit the ACA or under the disastrous House- Care Act because we knew they would result is disbursed. This will be done by checking passed TrumpCare bill. in taxpayer-funded subsidies being sent to il- an applicant’s SSN or other immigration This bill does nothing to address the legal aliens. Our concerns, unfortunately, documents. Additionally, your legislation reality that more than 23 million prohibits the use of the Individual Taxpayer were confirmed by the Senate Committee on Americans would lose health insurance Homeland Security and Governmental Af- Identification Number (ITIN), which are fairs, which reported that more than $700 issued without verification of legal status. under the Republican healthcare legis- million in Obamacare subsidies had been For the aforementioned reasons, FAIR ap- lation; nor does it address the harm paid to ineligible aliens by 2015. Like you, we plauds you for introducing the Verify First caused by cutting $800 billion from recognized that these same ineffective Act. When this important piece of legislation Medicaid by eliminating the expansion

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:45 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.037 H13JNPT1 June 13, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4879 for moderate-income workers and by vote on March 21, 2010. And I would just and go to section 1411—this is your lan- imposing per capita caps on program tell some of my colleagues: Take a guage, by the way. As I said, I wasn’t spending; and it does nothing to ad- look because some of your names are here at the time. I did read it, and I am dress higher premiums for older work- very prominent there—and you can see still scratching my head to say: Do you ers and discrimination against Ameri- it. The piece that we are talking about know what, this is probably a good pol- cans with preexisting conditions that is the piece that was included in the icy; you should probably read it before will occur under the TrumpCare bill Affordable Care Act. This isn’t some- you pass it. that this legislation is amending. thing that we dreamed up overnight; But it says exactly what it is that Instead, this bill takes that one step this is something that was actually you expect people receiving these sub- further by making it harder for chil- part of the Affordable Care Act. sidies to go through. dren, including newborns and survivors And now we are saying: My goodness, It is amazing me today that, all of a of domestic violence and sex traf- we are allowing these subsidies to be sudden, this is Potomac amnesia: I ficking, to obtain a tax credit for pur- out there. And then what we are saying don’t remember that part of the law. chasing their own health coverage. is: Well, we are going to presume that So, look, there could be nothing more Under the legislation, Social Security whoever it is who applied for these sub- sensible—commonsensical—than mak- numbers would be required before re- sidies actually is entitled to them. ing sure that before we issue subsidies, ceiving a tax credit, and it prohibits Now, that only works in Washington, that are funded by hardworking Amer- the use of an individual taxpayer iden- D.C. In the private sector, you usually ican taxpayers, that we actually verify tification number, which those without have to verify before you do anything, who it is that is getting them; rather a Social Security number use to file as opposed to saying: Well, do you than going ahead and putting it out their tax returns. know what, somebody said that they there and then saying: Do you know Mr. Speaker, as has already been were entitled to this, so we ought to what, maybe they don’t qualify. said, there are already protections just go ahead and pass this on. Well, how do you get the money built into the law to ensure that tax I have got to tell you: It is a lot easi- back? credits are issued to qualifying individ- er when it doesn’t come out of your This pay-and-chase idea, to me, uals. Under current law, eligibility for pocket. But, when it comes out of hard- would never work in the private sector tax credits is verified when an indi- working American taxpayers’ pockets, because we actually have to be respon- vidual applies to enroll in coverage. I think it is incumbent upon us, as sible for what we do. Now, I don’t want you to get all The eligibility is then subject to a sec- elected representatives, to say that wrapped around the axle and think ondary verification process that identi- there is something that doesn’t make that somehow we are coming after peo- fies ineligible individuals and termi- sense here. ple in a way that doesn’t make sense. nates their coverage. This system When over half a million people re- Here is what I want you to think strikes a balance between rigorously ceive over $750 million in subsidies, about: I want you to think about the verifying eligibility, while also ensur- somebody, somewhere, should be say- people who actually pay the tab, the ing that eligible individuals are not ing: How did this happen? people who actually pick up the check, subject to financial hardship because of I think it is interesting that neither the people who actually pay taxes, the red tape. HHS or the IRS has any method in people to who we are the most respon- Mr. Speaker, this bill would make it place to actually go out and recoup sible. these dollars that were wrongfully more difficult for American families to And to somehow come up with an awarded. This just doesn’t make sense. access affordable healthcare. I oppose idea that it is mean-hearted to verify Mr. BARLETTA is doing something that this bill, and I urge my colleagues to who is getting these subsidies, to me, is is common sense. do the same. tomfoolery. If you want to do some- Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I And I know that when the act was thing, and you want to make it hard yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from passed, the most famous quote of all is: for people to understand what we are Pennsylvania (Mr. KELLY), a key mem- We have to pass it to find out what is doing, do this: I would love to go back ber of the Ways and Means Committee. in it. home and tell people what you folks Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Well, we did pass it. I wasn’t here. I just don’t understand. You sent the Speaker, I have a chart that I am going was in the private sector. But these are money to us, we decided how we are to put up here in a minute, but there is all of the folks who passed it. This is going to spend it, we decided that we something that I think we all need to actually your policy. This is LOU can give it to anybody we want, and, by realize: Our positions here not only are BARLETTA’s policy. This isn’t a Repub- the way, if they don’t qualify, that as representatives but also stewards of lican policy. This is a policy that was shouldn’t bother you. taxpayer money. part of the Affordable Care Act. Now, let’s just do something that Now, a lot of people sometimes be- Why in the world would we ever, as makes sense. come confused as to whose money it is taxpayers, expect people to verify this that we are talking about, and what we type of activity? b 1400 are talking about is hardworking We should just say: Listen, they seem The SPEAKER pro tempore. The American taxpayers. like pretty good folks, and they are time of the gentleman has expired. The definition of a steward is pretty going to eventually get back to us. Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I simple: It is someone who manages an- We have no way of recouping this yield the gentleman an additional 1 other’s property or financial affairs; money. minute. one who administers anything as the Now, we can rail about people not Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Well, agent of another or others. having hearts; we can rail about people you know what? I really don’t need a The oath we take makes us respon- who don’t like immigrants; and we can full minute to talk about something sible for every single penny that we rail about taking this out on hard- that is common sense, but I have been spend or allocate because it came out working families and making it dif- here now a little bit over 6 years, and of the pocket of a hardworking Amer- ficult for them to get by. it is hard for me to believe that this ican taxpayer. I would just say this: We are trying act was passed back on March 21, 2010, So it just seems to me that Mr. to protect taxpayer money. We are try- and the language we are talking about BARLETTA’s idea makes sense: this idea ing to protect something that is so today is the actual language that was that somehow actually making sure basic. We are trying to protect some- in the bill that we had to pass before that people qualify for a subsidy is thing that is actually part of the law we could find out what was in it. somehow being mean-hearted and not that was passed as part of the Afford- Maybe at that time somebody should being actually a steward of these dol- able Care Act. This isn’t a foreign idea. have read this, and it was a good idea lars. This just makes sense. to actually verify these things. That I just wanted to point this out. This So I would just ask my friends: Lis- would have saved a whole lot of time, a is H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and ten, please go to H.R. 3590, the Patient whole lot of money, and a whole lot of Affordable Care Act. It was the final Protection and Affordable Care Act, irresponsible spending.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:25 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.039 H13JNPT1 H4880 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2017 Again, whether you want to agree Our Republican colleagues celebrate Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I with the study or not agree with the this Immigrant Heritage Month, June. am proud to yield 2 minutes to the gen- study, when half a million people re- They celebrate the fourth anniversary tleman from Florida (Mr. BILIRAKIS). ceive over $750 million in hardworking of 68 Members of the United States Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise American taxpayer money, and then Senate, in a bipartisan way, approving today in support of H.R. 2581, the we are told: Geez, I can’t believe you comprehensive immigration reform. Verify First Act. This legislation is are that mean that you want to go They do it with this ‘‘Vilify First Act.’’ part of our continued focus on improv- back and recoup money from people And while I want to protect tax- ing the Nation’s healthcare system be- who didn’t deserve it—no. What we are payers and think we have a responsi- yond the passage of the American saying is let’s verify first. Let’s make bility to ferret out and prevent every Health Care Act. The bill ensures those sure of every single penny that goes dime of fraud that might be out there, who receive help to purchase health in- out of this House—the people’s House, I also feel a responsibility to struggling surance are truly eligible. What is by the way—and let’s do what is the re- families that I represent who already wrong with that? sponsible thing to do as stewards of have so many barriers in the way of Under the Obama administration, an every single taxpayer penny. getting medical coverage to their chil- estimated $750 million in tax credits Ms. SA´ NCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I would dren. have been awarded to over 500,000 indi- just remind my colleagues that under Not everyone is as fortunate as viduals who were later determined to the ACA, there is also a verification Jimmy Kimmel, although he had the be ineligible. For the sake of hard- process for subsidies. But I would just misfortune of a child born with serious working Americans everywhere, we raise the issue that for newborn chil- medical needs, he at least had the abil- need to be better stewards of taxpayer dren, most of whom don’t have a Social ity to do something about it. And folks dollars. That means verify first. Security number when they are new- need to be able to access promptly and Why not? The Verify First Act pro- born—and this includes children of our immediately, sometimes, a family doc- tects taxpayer dollars from waste, military members serving overseas—if tor. fraud, and abuse under ObamaCare and, they have a severe health problem, We should fight fraud wherever it oc- in the future, under the American curs. I do wish we had the same level of Health Care Act. This bill is good for then delaying verification, which can enthusiasm about protecting taxpayers taxpayers and good for America’s be up to 6 weeks for them, can mean from Medicaid fraud by big pharma- healthcare future. It is as simple as the difference between life and death. ceutical manufacturers, for offshore that. And I am talking about a situation tax dodging that denies us billions of Ms. SA´ NCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, it is such as that experienced by Jimmy dollars, as they voice for taking on the now my pleasure to yield 3 minutes to Kimmel, if you take the time to see his poor. We don’t have that, but we do the gentlewoman from California (Ms. response to what happened with his need to analyze carefully what the JUDY CHU), a colleague from the Ways newborn. Government Accountability Office that and Means Committee. With that, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased provides the basis for this legislation Ms. JUDY CHU of California. Mr. to yield 4 minutes to the distinguished really said. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to gentleman from Texas (Mr. DOGGETT), They found a need to address $750 this misguided bill. This bill will pre- also a member of the Ways and Means million. Under the program, they did vent people who have a legitimate Committee. not find one dollar, one red cent that right to healthcare from accessing it Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, this so- an immigrant had taken improperly and will harm them, and it is for rea- called American Health Care bill is a from this program. They did not docu- sons that are completely unjustified. real Titanic of a sorry piece of legisla- ment any immigrant fraud. There may Currently, taxpayers must provide a tion: It would sink 23 million Ameri- be some out there, but you can’t rely Social Security number or tax I.D. cans losing their health coverage; mil- on this study to find it. number in order to qualify for a pre- lions more who have a preexisting con- We were asked: Well, why do you mium tax credit for healthcare. While dition would face great barriers; it think this has anything to do with im- the taxpayer’s citizenship and immi- would undermine Medicare; it would migrants? Well, I can tell you why. Be- gration status are verified, they are provide price-gouging, Big Pharma cause the sponsor of the amendment, given a 90-day grace period in which to manufacturers with a huge tax wind- who is here on the floor, when he intro- prove their legal status. fall, all as part of almost a trillion dol- duced this piece of legislation, said he This grace period was put into place lars in a tax cut—which is what their was after what he called illegal immi- to ensure that people do not lose crit- bill is really all about, not healthcare— grants; and he said that he would not ical healthcare coverage and continue those benefits going to a few corpora- vote for TrumpCare, that sorry Titanic to have it while their paperwork is tions and the superrich among us. of a bill, he would not vote for it unless cleared. This bill would remove this Most every healthcare professional this provision was adopted. safeguard and make it more difficult group in the country along with the The SPEAKER pro tempore. The for numerous people to obtain health AARP and the vast majority of Ameri- time of the gentleman has expired. insurance. That could be a matter of cans reject this bill. We would have Ms. SA´ NCHEZ. I yield the gentleman life or death. even more people rejecting if it hadn’t an additional 1 minute. This bill would certainly create bar- been hidden, if even one administration Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, I per- riers for immigrants who are here le- official had had the courage to come sonally represent San Antonio, San gally. It would also create barriers for and be held accountable for this bill in Marcus, Lockhart, and Austin families U.S. citizens who have complications a public hearing. But, apparently, we that already face barriers to getting with their Social Security numbers. will not have that anywhere in this their children medical coverage, and This includes people who recently Congress before this huge bill is ap- adding an additional requirement just change their name after marriage, have proved. means they are that much less likely, an error in their records, were born The American people are locked on in the event of an emergency, to be abroad, or were victims of human traf- board this sinking ship. Our insurance able to get coverage. We need to pre- ficking. It would also affect newborns, markets are already taking on water vent fraud. This is not the way to do it. who do not get their Social Security from Trump sabotage, and disaster What we need is comprehensive im- number right away. looms in front of us. migration reform to deal with these Republicans claim that reports re- This is not a Verify First bill that we immigration issues just like the Sen- leased by the GAO and the Senate take up today; it is a patch on this ate approved 4 years ago—make im- Homeland Security and Government sinking Titanic ship. provements on it; debate it; consider Affairs Committee were proof of immi- It is not a Verify First; it is a ‘‘Vilify it—sink this sorry piece of legislation, grants defrauding the government, but First’’ our immigrants, and it is really try to raise up the antifraud provisions neither of these reports back up this just the next chapter in Trump’s anti- and the comprehensive immigration re- claim. immigrant crusade, which he tweets form that we so desperately need, and First of all, the GAO report was actu- about on a regular basis. to grow this economy. ally a test to identify vulnerabilities

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:45 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.042 H13JNPT1 June 13, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4881 for fraud in the system. They did not order to get the votes for it, and passed Instead, we are having a sideshow. I find instances of immigrants commit- through on a narrow party-line vote— don’t know that it goes anywhere, but ting fraud for healthcare subsidies. The actually, a number of Republicans it certainly isn’t the issue that Ameri- Senate report found that 500,000 indi- voted against it—lodged in the Senate, cans could focus on, should focus on, viduals did not complete their verifica- no public hearings. In fact, we are told that is going to imperil their tion process and were, thus, deemed in- that they are not enabling people to healthcare for tens of millions of eligible for subsidies. actually get ahold of the documents to Americans if the Republicans have The author of today’s bill takes this know what is going on. their way. information and leaps to the conclu- You know, it is stunning to me to That is exactly why we are debating sion that all those who did not com- have heard some of my Republican this today, to deflect attention, occupy plete the process were undocumented friends complain about the process of time, and prevent doing the job that we immigrants and were attempting to the Affordable Care Act. I was in the should have done right here, and allow commit fraud, but there is nothing in middle of that. We took a year. Three the Senate to be able to continue this either report to substantiate this. In committees in the House had multiple unfortunate process. fact, the ACA requires undocumented hearings, work sessions. There were ac- Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I immigrants or anybody who does re- tually some Republican amendments am proud to yield 3 minutes to the gen- ceive subsidies in error to pay back adopted out in the open. CBO scored tleman from Ohio (Mr. RENACCI), a col- every cent on their tax return at the the bill so people knew. Now we are on league of mine on the Ways and Means end of the year. the verge of, we are told, having that Committee. This bill seeks to address a problem sneak through the Senate without the Mr. RENACCI. Mr. Speaker, I rise that does not exist. Instead, it would glare of publicity, without an open today in support of H.R. 2581, the harm people by denying or delaying public process, which will deny Verify First Act, introduced by my health insurance subsidies to people healthcare to millions of people—mil- good friend and colleague, Congress- who need them. This is wrong. I urge lions of people—and shred much of the man LOU BARLETTA. This legislation my colleagues to vote ‘‘no.’’ good work that has been done through seeks to remedy one of the many over- Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I the Affordable Care Act. sights of the ACA that it failed to ad- dress—an oversight at the expense of am proud to yield 2 minutes to the gen- b 1415 tleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. the American taxpayer. We have been told and we acknowl- Under the current system, the Treas- MARINO). edge there are little things that we ury disburses credits to individuals be- Mr. MARINO. Mr. Speaker, I rise could do to fine-tune it, but in 7 years fore their application has been verified. today in support of H.R. 2581, the of Republican crow and crow, we have In the real world, where I come from, Verify First Act, which was introduced never had an opportunity to do that. that just doesn’t happen. If the IRS by my colleague, good friend, and fel- Instead, this administration and my then finds out that this individual is low Pennsylvanian LOU BARLETTA. This Republican friends consistently made not eligible, they have to try to get the is a simple piece of legislation that en- it worse, destabilized, sent conflicting money back. It is almost impossible to sures no American taxpayer dollars are signals to the healthcare industry, to recover that money. used to fund healthcare for those who the insurance companies. And you This legislation closes a loophole are here undocumented. don’t have to take my word for it. simply by requiring an individual be Congress, the American people, and News accounts quote people in the in- verified as lawfully present before the my constituents were told that, under dustry about what the Republicans Treasury releases the money. It is im- ObamaCare, illegal immigrants would have done to destabilize it and try to portant to understand that the issue at not be eligible for tax credits. Instead, make it fail. hand is about poor stewardship of hard- the Senate Homeland Security and There was a reason that virtually ev- earned tax dollars. That is what the Government Affairs Committee issued erybody in the healthcare space was American people sent us down here for. a report detailing that, as of June 2015, opposed to the Republican approach. It The sole intent of this credit was for over half a million people without legal is not thoughtful. It is not fair. It is the credits to be used lawfully, and this status have received up to $750 million not effective. It is not necessary. But legislation helps ensure just that. in taxpayer-funded subsidies. No record today we are looking at some provi- At a time when our national debt is can be found if any of this was ever re- sions that will make it a little more $19 trillion and counting, it makes no covered. burdensome. sense for the Federal Government to It is time that we ensure our tax- The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. continue to write these checks. My payers that their dollars are only going SIMPSON). The time of the gentleman constituents in Ohio depend on me to to those with legal status. I urge my has expired. ensure responsible stewardship of their ´ colleagues to vote ‘‘yes’’ on this legis- Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield hard-earned tax dollars. lation. an additional 2 minutes to the gen- Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to ´ Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I am tleman from Oregon. commit to the same responsibility and pleased at this time to yield 3 minutes Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, support the Verify First Act. to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. there may be some people that will be Ms. SA´ NCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield BLUMENAUER), my colleague on the swept up who had gotten care that they myself such time as I may consume. Ways and Means Committee. didn’t, but there will be people who My colleagues on the other side of Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, it will be swept up who were entitled to the aisle are calling this bill and the is always a privilege to share the care who could not jump through the two other healthcare bills on the floor Chamber with my fellow Northwest- hurdles or, at a minimum, had their this week ‘‘fixes’’ for TrumpCare. But erner. care delayed. We haven’t properly ana- what exactly is it that you are fixing? We have gone through this in the lyzed that. But as I say, it is beside the This bill does nothing to address the Ways and Means Committee with one point. more than 23 million individuals who of the least productive hearings I can There are tremendous opportunities will lose their coverage or the $800 bil- remember, and that says a lot in my 10 for us to work together on a bipartisan lion cut to Medicaid under TrumpCare. years on the committee. We do it good agenda that we have in the Ways and Nothing in this bill will do anything to natured, but, frankly, it is beside the Means Committee, of things that we fix the waiver allowing insurers to dis- point. And my friends from the Ways could move forward and agree upon to criminate against individuals with pre- and Means Committee have docu- make healthcare better, that doesn’t existing conditions by jacking up their mented the fact that this is a solution depend on shredding the guarantees of rates, and nothing in this bill will do in search of a problem. the ACA; that doesn’t depend on gut- anything to roll back the massive tax The real outrage ought to be what is ting Medicaid, which more Americans cut that they are handing out to the happening now behind closed doors to rely upon for their healthcare than any top 400 households in America. take a flawed bill that came from the other program in the country. We Instead of addressing the real issues House, was actually made worse in wouldn’t have to mess with that. with our healthcare system, you bring

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:45 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.043 H13JNPT1 H4882 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2017 a racist bill to the floor that you use to place where only citizens and people worked for 7 years to oppose what we buy a vote, literally, for your lawfully present in the United States knew would be a failing law. We held TrumpCare bill. can enroll in marketplace coverage and more than 200 congressional hearings. Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, get subsidies to help them pay their We had 65-plus hours of open debate on the rules of the House are very clear premiums and cost-sharing charges. the American Health Care Act, and 37 about imputing the character of law- This bill doesn’t fix anything. It just bills passed the House that were ulti- makers, and I would warn the gentle- seeks to further demonize immigrants mately, in one form or another, in- woman, she is treading on the rules. as criminals and people with my last cluded in the Republican bill. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is the name out of the healthcare system. The bottom line is this, Mr. Speaker: gentleman attempting to raise a par- Instead of wasting our time on a bill Our Democrat friends are in denial. liamentary inquiry? that is in search of a problem to solve, ObamaCare is collapsing. Prices have Mr. BRADY of Texas. I am consid- a problem that doesn’t even exist, let’s more than doubled. They haven’t gone ering. work together to make sure that other down. They have more than doubled for The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- Americans are not caught up in the un- most Americans; in some States more tlewoman from California has the intended consequences of this bill and than tripled, and those rates aren’t time. aren’t denied coverage when they are going down. They are skyrocketing. Mr. BRADY of Texas. I will monitor actually eligible for those subsidies People aren’t getting more choices of the remainder of the remarks. and that coverage. healthcare plans. They are dis- Ms. SA´ NCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I was Let’s actually work on a better way appearing. addressing a racist piece of legislation for the American people. Texas has seen nine insurers abandon that was used to buy a vote for the Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance our State—I think more than any other State—and it is getting fewer and TrumpCare bill. But the problem is of my time. that this bill doesn’t do anything that Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I fewer. It is occurring across the coun- try. it says it does. It is based on a bla- yield myself such time as I may con- You are not able to see more local tantly partisan Senate report that sume. doctors and go to more local hospitals; doesn’t even say what my colleagues Let’s make sure we fact-check some just the opposite. It is fewer, and that on the other side of the aisle claim things here. Nothing in this bill is hurting everyone in America. that it says. changes the eligibility of the Afford- ObamaCare is a sinking ship, and it is It is baffling how many of my Repub- able Care Act and who is eligible for it. taking some very good Americans lican colleagues believe that this re- In fact, the Republican healthcare bill down with it. port that they keep citing actually that passed the House, according to the The question is: Do we begin to give said anything about undocumented im- American Action Network, there will people a lifeline to truly affordable migrants. Did you ‘‘read’’ this report in be roughly 5.3 million more Americans care? the same way that you ‘‘read’’ the that will be eligible for help for their With this bill, Mr. BARLETTA insists AHCA and all of its amendments? healthcare under the Republican plan in a commonsense way that your tax If you actually read the report, you than under the Affordable Care Act. dollars go to those we are trying to would know that it does not state that Let’s fact-check a couple of other help: those who can’t get healthcare at these individuals were undocumented issues. We are told that this has all work; those who don’t get it through immigrants, but only that they did not come about because the IRS has not government programs like Medicare or complete the verification process. The funded properly, but I would remind the VA; those small-business people; hurdles might have been too big, it our Democrat colleagues that the ma- those folks coming out of college; might have taken too much time or too jority of our Democrat colleagues sup- those entrepreneurs who are at home much effort, and they dropped out of ported the spending levels, which starting a new business or raising their the verification process without com- President Obama signed into law re- families; even those early retirees. pleting it. garding the Internal Revenue Service. Those are the people we are trying to The report also doesn’t say that hun- Secondly, they have raised the issue help, and every dollar counts. dreds of thousands of undocumented that there are no Social Security num- Mr. BARLETTA’s bill, which I am immigrants enrolled and received pre- bers available. But in truth, nearly 96 proud as chairman of the Ways and mium credits. The report states that percent of children born in America re- Means Committee to bring to you, ‘‘as of September 30, 2015, CMS awarded ceive their Social Security numbers makes a commonsense requirement: approximately $750 million in advance within 2 weeks. There is an expedited that you be verified to get those sub- premium tax credits to individuals en- process going forward to achieve the sidies before you receive them; to rolled through healthcare.gov who others as well. make sure those precious dollars actu- CMS later determined to be ineligible. We are told, listening today: there is ally go to the Americans we are trying . . .’’ no fraud in ObamaCare; there is no to help. It is funny that the daughter of Mexi- fraud to worry about; there is no need I strongly support the Verify First Act. If you stand for stopping waste, can American immigrants is able to for this bill by Mr. BARLETTA. read and understand the distinctions But I remind our colleagues that and fraud, and abuse in protection of made in this report better than some of twice the Government Accountability your tax dollars, I would urge your sup- port for this bill. my native-born colleagues can. Office looked at eligibility within the Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance Mr. Speaker, I want to close by beg- Affordable Care Act. In 2014, they used of my time. ging my Republican colleagues to fake identities to see if they could ob- Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of prove to me that this bill isn’t about tain ObamaCare coverage on the ex- H.R. 2581, the Verify First Act, which will put shutting out immigrants from access change, and in 11 out of 12 applica- important safeguards in place to ensure that to care: legal immigrants or children of tions—some with no data at all—the federal tax dollars are not fraudulently used to those born overseas to our military or GAO was granted subsidies for people pay for illegal immigrants to enroll in newborn children or victims of domes- who don’t even exist. Obamacare. tic violence or victims of human traf- So you say: Well, that is 2014. Cer- Right now, the federal government provides ficking. tainly, things got better. Obamacare premium tax credits to individuals Prove to me that you care about the Well, last year, they ran it again in before fully making sure that these individuals health and wellbeing of all Americans, the special enrollment period, and in rightfully qualify for these benefits. regardless of the color of their skin or this test, the GAO was able to obtain For example, the federal government has their economic circumstances. coverage for imaginary people in 9 out wrongfully issued hundreds of millions of dol- I am actually in agreement with you of 12 cases. lars in tax credits to individuals without first that ineligible individuals should not We are told today that our taxpayer verifying their immigration status. After the see a single penny of the subsidies pro- dollars aren’t being wasted. Well, the money goes out the door, the Internal Rev- vided by both the ACA and the AHCA, American public knows better, and enue Service must attempt to track down but there are protections already in they know this because we have these individuals to recoup the money.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:45 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.044 H13JNPT1 June 13, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4883 Last year the Senate Committee on Home- cally because they don’t have Social now to prove to me that they care land Security and Government Affairs reported Security numbers yet when they are about the well-being of newborn chil- that more than $750 million in taxpayer dollars born. In order to verify their child’s dren. went to 500,000 people who did not meet the status, parents have to send a copy of Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to qualifications for those benefits. their child’s birth certificate, which vote for the Democratic motion to re- H.R. 2581 addresses this issue by requiring can take anywhere from 1 to 6 weeks to commit, and let us write a bill that that the Social Security Administration, the De- obtain, depending on the State, and will actually help all U.S. citizens get partment of Homeland Security and the De- that is the best-case scenario if the the coverage that they need and are en- partment of Health and Human Services to parents throw a perfect game in docu- titled to. certify that an individual is a citizen, national, menting and planning for the arrival of Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance or legal immigrant before they receive a health their newborn. Just like any perfect of my time. care tax credit. game, a little luck is involved in that. Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I Given that our nation is nearly $20 trillion in That luck includes having the Social rise in opposition to the motion to re- debt, we cannot afford to hand out hundreds Security Administration process your commit. of millions of dollars in Obamacare tax credits child’s Social Security number as soon The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- to individuals who do not qualify. as they receive it, that the Administra- tleman is recognized for 5 minutes. This bill is a common-sense measure that tion doesn’t make a mistake in the Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, puts the interests of hardworking taxpayers spelling of your child’s name, and that this isn’t about verifying for infants. first and ensures that health care dollars will you have the financial resources and Ninety-six percent of children receive be directed only at those who are eligible. education to know exactly what steps their Social Security numbers within 2 I hope that the Senate will soon take up and you need to take to ensure that your weeks after they are born in a hospital, pass this commonsense bill. newborn has coverage the moment and many of them have parents who The SPEAKER pro tempore. All time they come out of your womb. are eligible for these credits as well, so for debate has expired. When most people are anticipating it is immediate care. Even without all Pursuant to House Resolution 378, the birth of a child, that is not what that, they can achieve and receive the previous question is ordered on the they are thinking about. The birth of a healthcare immediately as they proc- bill, as amended. child is one of life’s most precious mo- ess the premium support. The question is on the engrossment ments. The joy you feel when you hold In the American Health Care Act and third reading of the bill. your child for the first time should be that passed the House, there are more than $1 billion set aside to help further The bill was ordered to be engrossed the only feeling going through your the verification process to make sure and read a third time, and was read the mind. Filling the paperwork out to en- that we are providing timely credits— third time. sure that your child is covered shouldn’t even be something that you but for those who are eligible. In truth, b 1430 should have to worry about. our friends across the aisle want to de-

MOTION TO RECOMMIT But the Verify First Act, as cur- tract from the challenge today, which rently drafted, would give you another is that ObamaCare is a sinking ship. Ms. SA´ NCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I have a thing to worry about and add an unnec- Today’s bill is about the taxpayers. motion to recommit at the desk. essary barrier for newborns to receive Congress has to do all in its power to The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is the the care they need. God forbid if your ensure the money taken from hard- gentlewoman opposed to the bill? ´ child needs extra care after they are working taxpayers is actually used for Ms. SANCHEZ. I am opposed to the born but doesn’t have coverage because programs that improve their lives in bill. your plan is waiting to verify your this country and are not frittered away The SPEAKER pro tempore. The child’s status. on fraud and abuse. Clerk will report the motion to recom- A child’s life should not hang in the That is why this bill is so critical. It mit. balance because of paperwork and red doesn’t change eligibility. It simply The Clerk read as follows: tape. For all the claims that Repub- says that we are not going to pay first Ms. Sa´ nchez moves to recommit the bill licans are the pro-life party, they sure and chase later, which always is a los- H.R. 2581 to the Committee on Ways and know how to make life difficult for a ing approach for taxpayers. Not a dol- Means with instructions to report the same newborn as soon as they are out of the lar of taxpayer money should go out back to the House forthwith with the fol- womb. They claim to protect the lives the door until citizenship or legal sta- lowing amendment: of the unborn and crusade against life- tus is verified, period. Page 4, line 5, insert after the first period the following: ‘‘The preceding sentence shall saving institutions such as Planned Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to not apply in the case of a delay in Parenthood. But where are their mor- defeat the Democrats’ motion to re- verification of such status of an individual als and love of life after the child is commit and stand on behalf of tax- who has not attained the age of 1.’’. born? It somehow magically dis- payers who want those dollars to go to Page 5, line 4, insert after the first period appears, and they will throw every ob- Americans we are truly trying to help the following: ‘‘The preceding sentence shall stacle up to ensure that newborns don’t for the first time get truly affordable not apply in the case of a delay in receive the care that they need and healthcare. verification of such status of an individual that they are entitled to. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance who has not attained the age of 1.’’. Whether it is through the unintended of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- consequences of a poorly drafted bill The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without ant to the rule, the gentlewoman from such as this one, or gutting the pro- objection, the previous question is or- California is recognized for 5 minutes gram that covers half the births in the dered on the motion to recommit. in support of her motion. U.S., Republicans will do everything to There was no objection. Ms. SA´ NCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, this is gut access to care or place obstacles in The SPEAKER pro tempore. The the final amendment to the bill, which struggling people’s paths. That’s right, question is on the motion to recommit. will not kill the bill. by cutting over $800 billion out of Med- The question was taken; and the If adopted, the Verify First Act will icaid, Republicans are endangering the Speaker pro tempore announced that proceed to final passage as amended. health and welfare of all newborn chil- the noes appeared to have it. The Democratic motion to recommit dren. Ms. SA´ NCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, on that simply amends the Verify First Act to Earlier I asked my Republican col- I demand the yeas and nays. ensure that our most vulnerable— leagues to prove to me that they care The yeas and nays were ordered. newborns and infants—do not experi- about the health and well-being of all The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- ence a delay in health coverage. Americans regardless of the color of ant to clause 8 of rule XX, further pro- We know that the citizenship of their skin or their economic cir- ceedings on this question will be post- newborns can’t be verified electroni- cumstances. Well, I am asking them poned.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:45 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.041 H13JNPT1 H4884 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2017 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF- Sec. 210. Assessment and report on effect on ‘‘(H) Receiving, reviewing, and inves- FAIRS ACCOUNTABILITY AND senior executives at Depart- tigating allegations of misconduct, retalia- WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION ment of Veterans Affairs. tion, or poor performance involving— Sec. 211. Measurement of Department of ‘‘(i) an individual in a senior executive po- ACT OF 2017 Veterans Affairs disciplinary sition (as defined in section 713(d) of this GENERAL LEAVE process outcomes and effective- title) in the Department; Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I ness. ‘‘(ii) an individual employed in a confiden- ask unanimous consent that all Mem- TITLE I—OFFICE OF ACCOUNTABILITY tial, policy-making, policy-determining, or bers have 5 legislative days to revise AND WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION policy-advocating position in the Depart- ment; or and extend their remarks and include SEC. 101. ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE OF AC- COUNTABILITY AND WHISTLE- ‘‘(iii) a supervisory employee, if the allega- extraneous material on S. 1094. tion involves retaliation against an em- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there BLOWER PROTECTION. (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 3 of title 38, ployee for making a whistleblower disclo- objection to the request of the gen- United States Code, is amended by adding at sure. tleman from Tennessee? the end the following new section: ‘‘(I) Making such recommendations to the Secretary for disciplinary action as the As- There was no objection. ‘‘§ 323. Office of Accountability and Whistle- sistant Secretary considers appropriate after Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, blower Protection substantiating any allegation of misconduct pursuant to House Resolution 378, I ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established call up the bill (S. 1094) to amend title or poor performance pursuant to an inves- in the Department an office to be known as tigation carried out as described in subpara- 38, United States Code, to improve the the ‘Office of Accountability and Whistle- graph (F) or (H). accountability of employees of the De- blower Protection’ (in this section referred ‘‘(2) In carrying out the functions of the partment of Veterans Affairs, and for to as the ‘Office’). Office, the Assistant Secretary shall ensure other purposes, and ask for its imme- ‘‘(b) HEAD OF OFFICE.—(1) The head of the that the Office maintains a toll-free tele- diate consideration. Office shall be responsible for the functions phone number and Internet website to re- The Clerk read the title of the bill. of the Office and shall be appointed by the ceive anonymous whistleblower disclosures. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- President pursuant to section 308(a) of this ‘‘(3) In any case in which the Assistant title. Secretary receives a whistleblower disclo- ant to House Resolution 378, the bill is ‘‘(2) The head of the Office shall be known sure from an employee of the Department considered read. as the ‘Assistant Secretary for Account- under paragraph (1)(C), the Assistant Sec- The text of the bill is as follows: ability and Whistleblower Protection’. retary may not disclose the identity of the S. 1094 ‘‘(3) The Assistant Secretary shall report employee without the consent of the em- directly to the Secretary on all matters re- ployee, except in accordance with the provi- Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- lating to the Office. sions of section 552a of title 5, or as required resentatives of the United States of America in ‘‘(4) Notwithstanding section 308(b) of this by any other applicable provision of Federal Congress assembled, title, the Secretary may only assign to the law. SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. Assistant Secretary responsibilities relating ‘‘(d) STAFF AND RESOURCES.—The Secretary (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as to the functions of the Office set forth in shall ensure that the Assistant Secretary has the ‘‘Department of Veterans Affairs Ac- subsection (c). such staff, resources, and access to informa- countability and Whistleblower Protection ‘‘(c) FUNCTIONS.—(1) The functions of the tion as may be necessary to carry out the Act of 2017’’. Office are as follows: functions of the Office. (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of con- ‘‘(A) Advising the Secretary on all matters ‘‘(e) RELATION TO OFFICE OF GENERAL COUN- tents for this Act is as follows: of the Department relating to account- SEL.—The Office shall not be established as Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. ability, including accountability of employ- an element of the Office of the General Coun- TITLE I—OFFICE OF ACCOUNTABILITY ees of the Department, retaliation against sel and the Assistant Secretary may not re- port to the General Counsel. AND WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION whistleblowers, and such matters as the Sec- ‘‘(f) REPORTS.—(1)(A) Not later than June retary considers similar and affect public Sec. 101. Establishment of Office of Account- 30 of each calendar year, beginning with trust in the Department. ability and Whistleblower Pro- June 30, 2017, the Assistant Secretary shall ‘‘(B) Issuing reports and providing rec- tection. submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Af- Sec. 102. Protection of whistleblowers in De- ommendations related to the duties de- fairs of the Senate and the Committee on partment of Veterans Affairs. scribed in subparagraph (A). Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representa- Sec. 103. Report on methods used to inves- ‘‘(C) Receiving whistleblower disclosures. tives a report on the activities of the Office tigate employees of Depart- ‘‘(D) Referring whistleblower disclosures during the calendar year in which the report ment of Veterans Affairs. received under subparagraph (C) for inves- is submitted. TITLE II—ACCOUNTABILITY OF SENIOR tigation to the Office of the Medical Inspec- ‘‘(B) Each report submitted under subpara- EXECUTIVES, SUPERVISORS, AND tor, the Office of Inspector General, or other graph (A) shall include, for the period cov- OTHER EMPLOYEES investigative entity, as appropriate, if the ered by the report, the following: Assistant Secretary has reason to believe the Sec. 201. Improved authorities of Secretary ‘‘(i) A full and substantive analysis of the whistleblower disclosure is evidence of a vio- of Veterans Affairs to improve activities of the Office, including such statis- lation of a provision of law, mismanagement, accountability of senior execu- tical information as the Assistant Secretary gross waste of funds, abuse of authority, or a tives. considers appropriate. Sec. 202. Improved authorities of Secretary substantial and specific danger to public ‘‘(ii) Identification of any issues reported of Veterans Affairs to improve health or safety. to the Secretary under subsection (c)(1)(G), accountability of employees. ‘‘(E) Receiving and referring disclosures including such data as the Assistant Sec- Sec. 203. Reduction of benefits for Depart- from the Special Counsel for investigation to retary considers relevant to such issues and ment of Veterans Affairs em- the Medical Inspector of the Department, the any trends the Assistant Secretary may have ployees convicted of certain Inspector General of the Department, or identified with respect to such issues. crimes. such other person with investigatory author- ‘‘(iii) Identification of such concerns as the Sec. 204. Authority to recoup bonuses or ity, as the Assistant Secretary considers ap- Assistant Secretary may have regarding the awards paid to employees of De- propriate. size, staffing, and resources of the Office and partment of Veterans Affairs. ‘‘(F) Recording, tracking, reviewing, and such recommendations as the Assistant Sec- Sec. 205. Authority to recoup relocation ex- confirming implementation of recommenda- retary may have for legislative or adminis- penses paid to or on behalf of tions from audits and investigations carried trative action to address such concerns. employees of Department of out by the Inspector General of the Depart- ‘‘(iv) Such recommendations as the Assist- Veterans Affairs. ment, the Medical Inspector of the Depart- ant Secretary may have for legislative or ad- Sec. 206. Time period for response to notice ment, the Special Counsel, and the Comp- ministrative action to improve— of adverse actions against su- troller General of the United States, includ- ‘‘(I) the process by which concerns are re- pervisory employees who com- ing the imposition of disciplinary actions ported to the Office; and mit prohibited personnel ac- and other corrective actions contained in ‘‘(II) the protection of whistleblowers with- tions. such recommendations. in the Department. Sec. 207. Direct hiring authority for medical ‘‘(G) Analyzing data from the Office and ‘‘(v) Such other matters as the Assistant center directors and VISN di- the Office of Inspector General telephone Secretary considers appropriate regarding rectors. hotlines, other whistleblower disclosures, the functions of the Office or other matters Sec. 208. Time periods for review of adverse disaggregated by facility and area of health relating to the Office. actions with respect to certain care if appropriate, and relevant audits and ‘‘(2) If the Secretary receives a rec- employees. investigations to identify trends and issue ommendation for disciplinary action under Sec. 209. Improvement of training for super- reports to the Secretary based on analysis subsection (c)(1)(I) and does not take or ini- visors. conducted under this subparagraph. tiate the recommended disciplinary action

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:25 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.049 H13JNPT1 June 13, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4885 before the date that is 60 days after the date (5 U.S.C. App.), shall provide to each em- Secretary for Accountability and Whistle- on which the Secretary received the rec- ployee of the Department training regarding blower Protection,’’; and ommendation, the Secretary shall submit to whistleblower disclosures, including— (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘through the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the ‘‘(1) an explanation of each method estab- (F)’’ and inserting ‘‘through (E)’’; and Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Af- lished by law in which an employee may file (2) by adding at the end the following new fairs of the House of Representatives a de- a whistleblower disclosure; subsection: tailed justification for not taking or initi- ‘‘(2) the right of the employee to petition ‘‘(d) WHISTLEBLOWER DISCLOSURE DE- ating such disciplinary action. Congress regarding a whistleblower disclo- FINED.—In this section, the term ‘whistle- ‘‘(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: sure in accordance with section 7211 of title blower disclosure’ has the meaning given ‘‘(1) The term ‘supervisory employee’ 5; such term in section 323(g) of this title.’’. means an employee of the Department who ‘‘(3) an explanation that the employee may SEC. 103. REPORT ON METHODS USED TO INVES- is a supervisor as defined in section 7103(a) of not be prosecuted or reprised against for dis- TIGATE EMPLOYEES OF DEPART- title 5. closing information to Congress, the Inspec- MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. ‘‘(2) The term ‘whistleblower’ means one tor General, or another investigatory agency (a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 540 who makes a whistleblower disclosure. in instances where such disclosure is per- days after the date of the enactment of this ‘‘(3) The term ‘whistleblower disclosure’ mitted by law, including under sections 5701, Act, the Assistant Secretary for Account- means any disclosure of information by an 5705, and 7732 of this title, under section 552a ability and Whistleblower Protection shall employee of the Department or individual of title 5 (commonly referred to as the Pri- submit to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, applying to become an employee of the De- vacy Act), under chapter 93 of title 18, and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the partment which the employee or individual pursuant to regulations promulgated under Senate, and the Committee on Veterans’ Af- reasonably believes evidences— section 264(c) of the Health Insurance Port- fairs of the House of Representatives a re- port on methods used to investigate employ- ‘‘(A) a violation of a law, rule, or regula- ability and Accountability Act of 1996 (Pub- ees of the Department of Veterans Affairs tion; or lic Law 104–191); and whether such methods are used to retali- ‘‘(B) gross mismanagement, a gross waste ‘‘(4) an explanation of the language that is ate against whistleblowers. of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substan- required to be included in all nondisclosure (b) CONTENTS.—The report required by sub- tial and specific danger to public health or policies, forms, and agreements pursuant to section (a) shall include the following: safety.’’. section 115(a)(1) of the Whistleblower Protec- (1) An assessment of the use of administra- (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section tion Enhancement Act of 2012 (5 U.S.C. 2302 tive investigation boards, peer review, 308(b) of such title is amended by adding at note); and searches of medical records, and other meth- the end the following new paragraph: ‘‘(5) the right of contractors to be pro- ods for investigating employees of the De- ‘‘(12) The functions set forth in section tected from reprisal for the disclosure of cer- partment. 323(c) of this title.’’. tain information under section 4705 or 4712 of (2) A determination of whether and to what (c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of title 41. degree the methods described in paragraph sections at the beginning of chapter 3 of such ‘‘(b) MANNER TRAINING IS PROVIDED.—The (1) are being used to retaliate against whis- title is amended by adding at the end the fol- Secretary shall ensure, to the maximum ex- tleblowers. lowing new item: tent practicable, that training provided (3) Recommendations for legislative or ad- ‘‘323. Office of Accountability and Whistle- under subsection (a) is provided in person. ministrative action to implement safeguards blower Protection.’’. ‘‘(c) CERTIFICATION.—Not less frequently to prevent the retaliation described in para- than once every two years, the Secretary SEC. 102. PROTECTION OF WHISTLEBLOWERS IN graph (2). DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF- shall provide training on merit system pro- (c) WHISTLEBLOWER DEFINED.—In this sec- FAIRS. tection in a manner that the Special Counsel tion, the term ‘‘whistleblower’’ has the (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 7 certifies as being satisfactory. meaning given such term in section 323 of of title 38, United States Code, is amended ‘‘(d) PUBLICATION.—The Secretary shall title 38, United States Code, as added by sec- by— publish on the Internet website of the De- tion 101. partment, and display prominently at each (1) striking sections 731, 732, 734, 735, and TITLE II—ACCOUNTABILITY OF SENIOR facility of the Department, the rights of an 736; EXECUTIVES, SUPERVISORS, AND employee to make a whistleblower disclo- (2) by redesignating section 733 as section OTHER EMPLOYEES 731; and sure, including the information described in paragraphs (1) through (5) of subsection (a). SEC. 201. IMPROVED AUTHORITIES OF SEC- (3) by adding at the end the following new RETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO HISTLEBLOWER ISCLOSURE E sections: ‘‘(e) W D D - IMPROVE ACCOUNTABILITY OF SEN- FINED.—In this section, the term ‘whistle- ‘‘§ 732. Protection of whistleblowers as cri- IOR EXECUTIVES. blower disclosure’ has the meaning given teria in evaluation of supervisors (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 713 of title 38, such term in section 323 of this title.’’. United States Code, is amended to read as ‘‘(a) DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF CRITERIA (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—The table of follows: REQUIRED.—The Secretary, in consultation sections at the beginning of such chapter is ‘‘§ 713. Senior executives: removal, demotion, with the Assistant Secretary of Account- amended— or suspension based on performance or ability and Whistleblower Protection, shall (1) by striking the items relating to sec- misconduct develop criteria that— tions 731 through 736; and ‘‘(a) AUTHORITY.—(1) The Secretary may, ‘‘(1) the Secretary shall use as a critical (2) by adding at the end the following new as provided in this section, reprimand or sus- element in any evaluation of the perform- items: ance of a supervisory employee; and pend, involuntarily reassign, demote, or re- ‘‘731. Adverse actions against supervisory ‘‘(2) promotes the protection of whistle- move a covered individual from a senior ex- employees who commit prohib- blowers. ecutive position at the Department if the ited personnel actions relating ‘‘(b) PRINCIPLES FOR PROTECTION OF WHIS- Secretary determines that the misconduct or to whistleblower complaints. TLEBLOWERS.—The criteria required by sub- performance of the covered individual war- ‘‘732. Protection of whistleblowers as criteria section (a) shall include principles for the rants such action. in evaluation of supervisors. protection of whistleblowers, such as the de- ‘‘(2) If the Secretary so removes such an in- ‘‘733. Training regarding whistleblower dis- gree to which supervisory employees respond dividual, the Secretary may remove the indi- closures.’’. constructively when employees of the De- vidual from the civil service (as defined in (c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 731 partment report concerns, take responsible section 2101 of title 5). of such title, as redesignated by subsection action to resolve such concerns, and foster ‘‘(b) RIGHTS AND PROCEDURES.—(1) A cov- (a)(2), is amended— an environment in which employees of the ered individual who is the subject of an ac- (1) in subsection (c)— Department feel comfortable reporting con- tion under subsection (a) is entitled to— (A) in paragraph (1)— cerns to supervisory employees or to the ap- ‘‘(A) advance notice of the action and a file (i) by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B) propriate authorities. containing all evidence in support of the pro- and inserting the following: posed action; ‘‘(c) SUPERVISORY EMPLOYEE AND WHISTLE- ‘‘(A) making a whistleblower disclosure to ‘‘(B) be represented by an attorney or BLOWER DEFINED.—In this section, the terms the Assistant Secretary for Accountability ‘supervisory employee’ and ‘whistleblower’ other representative of the covered individ- and Whistleblower Protection, the Inspector have the meanings given such terms in sec- ual’s choice; and General of the Department, the Special tion 323 of this title. ‘‘(C) grieve the action in accordance with Counsel, or Congress;’’; and an internal grievance process that the Sec- ‘‘§ 733. Training regarding whistleblower dis- (ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) retary, in consultation with the Assistant closures through (F) as subparagraphs (B) through Secretary for Accountability and Whistle- ‘‘(a) TRAINING.—Not less frequently than (E), respectively; and blower Protection, shall establish for pur- once every two years, the Secretary, in co- (iii) in subparagraph (B), as redesignated poses of this subsection. ordination with the Whistleblower Protec- by clause (ii), by striking ‘‘complaint in ac- ‘‘(2)(A) The aggregate period for notice, re- tion Ombudsman designated under section cordance with section 732 or with’’ and in- sponse, and decision on an action under sub- 3(d)(1)(C) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 serting ‘‘disclosure made to the Assistant section (a) may not exceed 15 business days.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:25 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A13JN7.030 H13JNPT1 H4886 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2017 ‘‘(B) The period for the response of a cov- if the Secretary determines the performance retary to remove, demote, or suspend an em- ered individual to a notice under paragraph or misconduct of the covered individual war- ployee under subsection (a) if the decision is (1)(A) of an action under subsection (a) shall rants such removal, demotion, or suspension. supported by substantial evidence. be 7 business days. ‘‘(2) If the Secretary so removes, demotes, ‘‘(B) Notwithstanding title 5 or any other ‘‘(C) A decision under this paragraph on an or suspends such a covered individual, the provision of law, if the decision of the Sec- action under subsection (a) shall be issued Secretary may— retary is supported by substantial evidence, not later than 15 business days after notice ‘‘(A) remove the covered individual from the administrative judge shall not mitigate of the action is provided to the covered indi- the civil service (as defined in section 2101 of the penalty prescribed by the Secretary. vidual under paragraph (1)(A). The decision title 5); ‘‘(3)(A) The decision of the administrative shall be in writing, and shall include the spe- ‘‘(B) demote the covered individual by judge under paragraph (1) may be appealed to cific reasons therefor. means of a reduction in grade for which the the Merit Systems Protection Board. ‘‘(3) The Secretary shall ensure that the covered individual is qualified, that the Sec- ‘‘(B) Notwithstanding section 7701(c)(1)(B) grievance process established under para- retary determines is appropriate, and that of title 5, the Merit Systems Protection graph (1)(C) takes fewer than 21 days. reduces the annual rate of pay of the covered Board shall uphold the decision of the Sec- ‘‘(4) A decision under paragraph (2) that is individual; or retary to remove, demote, or suspend an em- not grieved, and a grievance decision under ‘‘(C) suspend the covered individual. ployee under subsection (a) if the decision is paragraph (3), shall be final and conclusive. ‘‘(b) PAY OF CERTAIN DEMOTED INDIVID- supported by substantial evidence. ‘‘(C) Notwithstanding title 5 or any other ‘‘(5) A covered individual adversely af- UALS.—(1) Notwithstanding any other provi- provision of law, if the decision of the Sec- fected by a decision under paragraph (2) that sion of law, any covered individual subject to retary is supported by substantial evidence, is not grieved, or by a grievance decision a demotion under subsection (a)(2) shall, be- the Merit Systems Protection Board shall under paragraph (3), may obtain judicial re- ginning on the date of such demotion, re- not mitigate the penalty prescribed by the view of such decision. ceive the annual rate of pay applicable to Secretary. ‘‘(6) In any case in which judicial review is such grade. ‘‘(4) In any case in which the administra- ‘‘(2)(A) A covered individual so demoted sought under paragraph (5), the court shall tive judge cannot issue a decision in accord- may not be placed on administrative leave review the record and may set aside any De- ance with the 180-day requirement under partment action found to be— during the period during which an appeal (if paragraph (1), the Merit Systems Protection ‘‘(A) arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of dis- any) under this section is ongoing, and may Board shall, not later than 14 business days cretion, or otherwise not in accordance with only receive pay if the covered individual re- after the expiration of the 180-day period, a provision of law; ports for duty or is approved to use accrued submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Af- ‘‘(B) obtained without procedures required unused annual, sick, family medical, mili- fairs of the Senate and the Committee on by a provision of law having been followed; tary, or court leave. Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representa- or ‘‘(B) If a covered individual so demoted tives a report that explains the reasons why ‘‘(C) unsupported by substantial evidence. does not report for duty or receive approval a decision was not issued in accordance with ‘‘(c) RELATION TO OTHER PROVISIONS OF to use accrued unused leave, such covered in- such requirement. LAW.—Section 3592(b)(1) of title 5 and the dividual shall not receive pay or other bene- ‘‘(5)(A) A decision of the Merit Systems procedures under section 7543(b) of such title fits pursuant to subsection (d)(5). Protection Board under paragraph (3) may be do not apply to an action under subsection ‘‘(c) PROCEDURE.—(1)(A) The aggregate pe- appealed to the United States Court of Ap- (a). riod for notice, response, and final decision peals for the Federal Circuit pursuant to sec- ‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: in a removal, demotion, or suspension under tion 7703 of title 5 or to any court of appeals ‘‘(1) The term ‘covered individual’ means— this section may not exceed 15 business days. of competent jurisdiction pursuant to sub- ‘‘(A) a career appointee (as that term is de- ‘‘(B) The period for the response of a cov- section (b)(1)(B) of such section. fined in section 3132(a)(4) of title 5); or ered individual to a notice of a proposed re- ‘‘(B) Any decision by such Court shall be in ‘‘(B) any individual who occupies an ad- moval, demotion, or suspension under this compliance with section 7462(f)(2) of this ministrative or executive position and who section shall be 7 business days. title. was appointed under section 7306(a), section ‘‘(C) Paragraph (3) of subsection (b) of sec- ‘‘(6) The Merit Systems Protection Board 7401(1), or section 7401(4) of this title. tion 7513 of title 5 shall apply with respect to may not stay any removal or demotion ‘‘(2) The term ‘misconduct’ includes ne- a removal, demotion, or suspension under under this section, except as provided in sec- glect of duty, malfeasance, or failure to ac- this section. tion 1214(b) of title 5. cept a directed reassignment or to accom- ‘‘(D) The procedures in this subsection ‘‘(7) During the period beginning on the pany a position in a transfer of function. shall supersede any collective bargaining date on which a covered individual appeals a ‘‘(3) The term ‘senior executive position’ agreement to the extent that such agree- removal from the civil service under sub- means— ment is inconsistent with such procedures. section (c) and ending on the date that the ‘‘(A) with respect to a career appointee (as ‘‘(2) The Secretary shall issue a final deci- United States Court of Appeals for the Fed- that term is defined in section 3132(a) of title sion with respect to a removal, demotion, or eral Circuit issues a final decision on such 5), a Senior Executive Service position (as suspension under this section not later than appeal, such covered individual may not re- such term is defined in such section); and 15 business days after the Secretary provides ceive any pay, awards, bonuses, incentives, ‘‘(B) with respect to a covered individual notice, including a file containing all the allowances, differentials, student loan repay- appointed under section 7306(a) or section evidence in support of the proposed action, ments, special payments, or benefits related 7401(1) of this title, an administrative or ex- to the covered individual of the removal, de- to the employment of the individual by the ecutive position.’’. motion, or suspension. The decision shall be Department. (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section in writing and shall include the specific rea- ‘‘(8) To the maximum extent practicable, 7461(c)(1) of such title is amended by insert- sons therefor. the Secretary shall provide to the Merit Sys- ing ‘‘employees in senior executive positions ‘‘(3) The procedures under chapter 43 of tems Protection Board such information and (as defined in section 713(d) of this title) title 5 shall not apply to a removal, demo- assistance as may be necessary to ensure an and’’ before ‘‘interns’’. tion, or suspension under this section. appeal under this subsection is expedited. (c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of ‘‘(4)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B) and ‘‘(9) If an employee prevails on appeal sections at the beginning of chapter 7 of such subsection (d), any removal or demotion under this section, the employee shall be en- title is amended by striking the item relat- under this section, and any suspension of titled to backpay (as provided in section 5596 ing to section 713 and inserting the following more than 14 days under this section, may be of title 5). new item: appealed to the Merit Systems Protection ‘‘(10) If an employee who is subject to a Board, which shall refer such appeal to an collective bargaining agreement chooses to ‘‘713. Senior executives: removal, demotion, administrative judge pursuant to section grieve an action taken under this section or suspension based on perform- 7701(b)(1) of title 5. through a grievance procedure provided ance or misconduct.’’. ‘‘(B) An appeal under subparagraph (A) of a under the collective bargaining agreement, SEC. 202. IMPROVED AUTHORITIES OF SEC- removal, demotion, or suspension may only the timelines and procedures set forth in RETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO be made if such appeal is made not later subsection (c) and this subsection shall IMPROVE ACCOUNTABILITY OF EM- PLOYEES. than 10 business days after the date of such apply. removal, demotion, or suspension. ‘‘(e) WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION.—(1) In (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 7 ‘‘(d) EXPEDITED REVIEW.—(1) Upon receipt the case of a covered individual seeking cor- of title 38, United States Code, is amended by of an appeal under subsection (c)(4)(A), the rective action (or on behalf of whom correc- inserting after section 713 the following new administrative judge shall expedite any such tive action is sought) from the Office of Spe- section: appeal under section 7701(b)(1) of title 5 and, cial Counsel based on an alleged prohibited ‘‘§ 714. Employees: removal, demotion, or sus- in any such case, shall issue a final and com- personnel practice described in section pension based on performance or mis- plete decision not later than 180 days after 2302(b) of title 5, the Secretary may not re- conduct the date of the appeal. move, demote, or suspend such covered indi- ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) The Secretary may ‘‘(2)(A) Notwithstanding section vidual under subsection (a) without the ap- remove, demote, or suspend a covered indi- 7701(c)(1)(B) of title 5, the administrative proval of the Special Counsel under section vidual who is an employee of the Department judge shall uphold the decision of the Sec- 1214(f) of title 5.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:25 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A13JN7.030 H13JNPT1 June 13, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4887 ‘‘(2) In the case of a covered individual who ‘‘714. Employees: removal, demotion, or sus- graph (B)(ii), not later than five business has made a whistleblower disclosure to the pension based on performance days after receiving the response of the indi- Assistant Secretary for Accountability and or misconduct.’’. vidual; or Whistleblower Protection, the Secretary (2) CONFORMING.—Section 4303(f) of title 5, ‘‘(ii) in the case of a proposed order to may not remove, demote, or suspend such United States Code, is amended— which an individual does not respond, not covered individual under subsection (a) (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘or’’ at later than 15 business days after the Sec- until— the end; retary provides notice to the individual ‘‘(A) in the case in which the Assistant (B) in paragraph (3), by striking the period under subparagraph (B)(i). Secretary determines to refer the whistle- at the end and inserting ‘‘, or’’; and ‘‘(2) Upon the issuance of an order by the blower disclosure under section 323(c)(1)(D) (C) by adding at the end the following: Secretary under paragraph (1), the individual of this title to an office or other investiga- ‘‘(4) any removal or demotion under sec- shall have an opportunity to appeal the tive entity, a final decision with respect to tion 714 of title 38.’’. order to the Director of the Office of Per- the whistleblower disclosure has been made SEC. 203. REDUCTION OF BENEFITS FOR DEPART- sonnel Management before the date that is by such office or other investigative entity; MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS EM- seven business days after the date of such or PLOYEES CONVICTED OF CERTAIN issuance. ‘‘(B) in the case in which the Assistant CRIMES. ‘‘(3) The Director of the Office of Personnel Secretary determines not to the refer the (a) REDUCTION OF BENEFITS.— Management shall make a final decision whistleblower disclosure under such section, (1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 7 with respect to an appeal under paragraph (2) the Assistant Secretary makes such deter- of title 38, United States Code, is amended by within 30 business days of receiving the ap- mination. adding at the end the following new section: peal. ‘‘(f) TERMINATION OF INVESTIGATIONS BY OF- ‘‘§ 719. Reduction of benefits of employees ‘‘(c) ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS.—Not FICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL.—(1) Notwith- convicted of certain crimes later than 37 business days after the Sec- standing any other provision of law, the Spe- retary issues a final order under subsection ‘‘(a) REDUCTION OF ANNUITY FOR REMOVED cial Counsel (established by section 1211 of (a) or (b) with respect to an individual, the EMPLOYEE.—(1) The Secretary shall order title 5) may terminate an investigation of a Director of the Office of Personnel Manage- that the covered service of an employee of prohibited personnel practice alleged by an ment shall recalculate the annuity of the in- the Department removed from a position for employee or former employee of the Depart- dividual. performance or misconduct under section ment after the Special Counsel provides to ‘‘(d) LUMP-SUM ANNUITY CREDIT.—Any indi- 713, 714, or 7461 of this title or any other pro- the employee or former employee a written vidual with respect to whom an annuity is vision of law shall not be taken into account statement of the reasons for the termination reduced under subsection (a) or (b) shall be of the investigation. for purposes of calculating an annuity with entitled to be paid so much of such individ- ‘‘(2) Such statement may not be admissible respect to such individual under chapter 83 ual’s lump-sum credit as is attributable to as evidence in any judicial or administrative or chapter 84 of title 5, if— the period of covered service. proceeding without the consent of such em- ‘‘(A) the Secretary determines that the in- ‘‘(e) SPOUSE OR CHILDREN EXCEPTION.—(1) ployee or former employee. dividual is convicted of a felony (and the The Secretary, in consultation with the Di- ‘‘(g) VACANCIES.—In the case of a covered conviction is final) that influenced the indi- rector of the Office of Personnel Manage- individual who is removed or demoted under vidual’s performance while employed in the ment, shall prescribe regulations that may subsection (a), to the maximum extent fea- position; and provide for the payment to the spouse or sible, the Secretary shall fill the vacancy ‘‘(B) before such order is made, the indi- children of any individual referred to in sub- arising as a result of such removal or demo- vidual is afforded— section (a) or (b) of any amounts which (but tion. ‘‘(i) notice of the proposed order; and for this subsection) would otherwise have ‘‘(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: ‘‘(ii) an opportunity to respond to the pro- been nonpayable by reason of such sub- ‘‘(1) The term ‘covered individual’ means posed order by not later than ten business sections. an individual occupying a position at the De- days following receipt of such notice; and ‘‘(2) Regulations prescribed under para- partment, but does not include— ‘‘(C) the Secretary issues the order— graph (1) shall be consistent with the re- ‘‘(A) an individual occupying a senior exec- ‘‘(i) in the case of a proposed order to quirements of section 8332(o)(5) and 8411(l)(5) utive position (as defined in section 713(d) of which an individual responds under subpara- of title 5, as the case may be. this title); graph (B)(ii), not later than five business ‘‘(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: ‘‘(B) an individual appointed pursuant to days after receiving the response of the indi- ‘‘(1) The term ‘covered service’ means, with sections 7306, 7401(1), 7401(4), or 7405 of this vidual; or respect to an individual subject to a removal title; ‘‘(ii) in the case of a proposed order to for performance or misconduct under section ‘‘(C) an individual who has not completed a which an individual does not respond, not 719 or 7461 of this title or any other provision probationary or trial period; or later than 15 business days after the Sec- of law, the period of service beginning on the ‘‘(D) a political appointee. retary provides notice to the individual date that the Secretary determines under ‘‘(2) The term ‘suspend’ means the placing under subparagraph (B)(i). such applicable provision that the individual of an employee, for disciplinary reasons, in a ‘‘(2) Any individual with respect to whom engaged in activity that gave rise to such ac- temporary status without duties and pay for an annuity is reduced under this subsection tion and ending on the date that the indi- a period in excess of 14 days. may appeal the reduction to the Director of vidual is removed from or leaves a position ‘‘(3) The term ‘grade’ has the meaning the Office of Personnel Management pursu- of employment at the Department prior to given such term in section 7511(a) of title 5. ant to such regulations as the Director may the issuance of a final decision with respect ‘‘(4) The term ‘misconduct’ includes ne- prescribe for purposes of this subsection. to such action. glect of duty, malfeasance, or failure to ac- ‘‘(b) REDUCTION OF ANNUITY FOR RETIRED ‘‘(2) The term ‘lump-sum credit’ has the cept a directed reassignment or to accom- EMPLOYEE.—(1) The Secretary may order meaning given such term in section 8331(8) or pany a position in a transfer of function. that the covered service of an individual who section 8401(19) of title 5, as the case may be. ‘‘(5) The term ‘political appointee’ means the Secretary proposes to remove for per- ‘‘(3) The term ‘service’ has the meaning an individual who is— formance or misconduct under section 713, given such term in section 8331(12) or section ‘‘(A) employed in a position described 714, or 7461 of this title or any other provi- 8401(26) of title 5, as the case may be.’’. under sections 5312 through 5316 of title 5 (re- sion of law but who leaves employment at (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of lating to the Executive Schedule); the Department prior to the issuance of a sections at the beginning of chapter 7 of such ‘‘(B) a limited term appointee, limited final decision with respect to such action title is amended by inserting after the item emergency appointee, or noncareer ap- shall not be taken into account for purposes relating to section 717 the following new pointee in the Senior Executive Service, as of calculating an annuity with respect to item: defined under paragraphs (5), (6), and (7), re- such individual under chapter 83 or chapter ‘‘719. Reduction of benefits of employees con- spectively, of section 3132(a) of title 5; or 84 of title 5, if— victed of certain crimes.’’. ‘‘(C) employed in a position of a confiden- ‘‘(A) the Secretary determines that indi- (b) APPLICATION.—Section 719 of title 38, tial or policy-determining character under vidual is convicted of a felony (and the con- United States Code, as added by subsection schedule C of subpart C of part 213 of title 5, viction is final) that influenced the individ- (a)(1), shall apply to any action of removal of Code of Federal Regulations, or successor ual’s performance while employed in the po- an employee of the Department of Veterans regulation. sition; and Affairs under section 719 or 7461 of such title ‘‘(6) The term ‘whistleblower disclosure’ ‘‘(B) before such order is made, the indi- or any other provision of law, commencing has the meaning given such term in section vidual is afforded— on or after the date of the enactment of this 323(g) of this title.’’. ‘‘(i) notice of the proposed order; Act. (b) CLERICAL AND CONFORMING AMEND- ‘‘(ii) opportunity to respond to the pro- SEC. 204. AUTHORITY TO RECOUP BONUSES OR MENTS.— posed order by not later than ten business AWARDS PAID TO EMPLOYEES OF (1) CLERICAL.—The table of sections at the days following receipt of such notice; and DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF- beginning of chapter 7 of such title is amend- ‘‘(C) the Secretary issues the order— FAIRS. ed by inserting after the item relating to ‘‘(i) in the case of a proposed order to (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 7 section 713 the following new item: which an individual responds under subpara- of title 38, United States Code, as amended

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:25 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A13JN7.030 H13JNPT1 H4888 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2017 by section 203, is further amended by adding ‘‘(1) the Secretary determines that reloca- SEC. 208. TIME PERIODS FOR REVIEW OF AD- at the end the following new section: tion expenses were paid following an act of VERSE ACTIONS WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN EMPLOYEES. ‘‘§ 721. Recoupment of bonuses or awards fraud or malfeasance that influenced the au- (a) PHYSICIANS, DENTISTS, PODIATRISTS, paid to employees of Department thorization of the relocation expenses; CHIROPRACTORS, OPTOMETRISTS, REGISTERED ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any ‘‘(2) before such repayment, the employee NURSES, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS, AND EX- other provision of law, the Secretary may is afforded— PANDED-FUNCTION DENTAL AUXILIARIES.— issue an order directing an employee of the ‘‘(A) notice of the proposed order; and Paragraph (2) of section 7461(b) of title 38, Department to repay the amount, or a por- ‘‘(B) an opportunity to respond to the pro- United States Code, is amended to read as tion of the amount, of any award or bonus posed order not later than ten business days follows: paid to the employee under title 5, including following the receipt of such notice; and ‘‘(2) In any case other than a case described under chapters 45 or 53 of such title, or this ‘‘(3) the Secretary issues the order— in paragraph (1) that involves or includes a title if— ‘‘(A) in the case of a proposed order to question of professional conduct or com- ‘‘(1) the Secretary determines that the in- which an individual responds under para- petence in which a major adverse action was dividual engaged in misconduct or poor per- graph (2)(B), not later than five business not taken, such an appeal shall be made formance prior to payment of the award or days after receiving the response of the indi- through Department grievance procedures bonus, and that such award or bonus would vidual; or under section 7463 of this title.’’. not have been paid, in whole or in part, had ‘‘(B) in the case of a proposed order to (b) MAJOR ADVERSE ACTIONS INVOLVING the misconduct or poor performance been which an individual does not respond, not PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OR COMPETENCE.— known prior to payment; and later than 15 business days after the Sec- Section 7462(b) of such title is amended— ‘‘(2) before such repayment, the employee retary provides notice to the individual (1) in paragraph (1)— is afforded— under paragraph (2)(A). (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph ‘‘(A) notice of the proposed order; and ‘‘(b) APPEAL OF ORDER OF SECRETARY.—(1) (A), by inserting ‘‘, within the aggregate ‘‘(B) an opportunity to respond to the pro- Upon the issuance of an order by the Sec- time period specified in paragraph (5)(A),’’ posed order by not later than 10 business retary under subsection (a) with respect to after ‘‘is entitled’’; days after the receipt of such notice; and an individual, the individual shall have an (B) in subparagraph (A)— ‘‘(3) the Secretary issues the order— opportunity to appeal the order to the Direc- (i) by striking ‘‘At least 30 days advance ‘‘(A) in the case of a proposed order to tor of the Office of Personnel Management written notice’’ and inserting ‘‘Advance which an individual responds under para- before the date that is seven business days written notice’’; graph (2)(B), not later than five business after the date of such issuance. (ii) by striking ‘‘and a statement’’ and in- days after receiving the response of the indi- ‘‘(2) The Director shall make a final deci- serting ‘‘a statement’’; and vidual; or sion with respect to an appeal under para- (iii) by inserting ‘‘and a file containing all ‘‘(B) in the case of a proposed order to graph (1) within 30 days after receiving such the evidence in support of each charge,’’ which an individual does not respond, not appeal.’’. after ‘‘with respect to each charge,’’; and later than 15 business days after the Sec- (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of (C) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘A retary provides notice to the individual sections at the beginning of such chapter is reasonable time, but not less than seven under paragraph (2)(A). further amended by inserting after the item days’’ and inserting ‘‘The opportunity, with- ‘‘(b) APPEAL OF ORDER OF SECRETARY.—(1) relating to section 721, as added by section in the time period provided for in paragraph Upon the issuance of an order by the Sec- 204(b), the following new item: (4)(A)’’; retary under subsection (a) with respect to ‘‘723. Recoupment of relocation expenses paid an individual, the individual shall have an (2) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting on behalf of employees of De- the following new paragraph (3): opportunity to appeal the order to the Direc- partment.’’. tor of the Office of Personnel Management ‘‘(3) After considering the employee’s an- (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Section 723 of title before the date that is seven business days swer, if any, and within the time period pro- 38, United States Code, as added by sub- after the date of such issuance. vided for in paragraph (5)(B), the deciding of- ‘‘(2) The Director shall make a final deci- section (a), shall apply with respect to an ficial shall render a decision on the charges. sion with respect to an appeal under para- amount paid by the Secretary of Veterans The decision shall be in writing and shall in- graph (1) within 30 business days after re- Affairs to or on behalf of an employee of the clude the specific reasons therefor.’’; ceiving such appeal.’’. Department of Veterans Affairs for reloca- (3) in paragraph (4)— (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of tion expenses on or after the date of the en- (A) by striking subparagraph (A) and in- sections at the beginning of such chapter, as actment of this Act. serting the following new subparagraph (A): amended by section 203(a)(2), is further SEC. 206. TIME PERIOD FOR RESPONSE TO NO- ‘‘(A) The period for the response of an em- amended by inserting after the item relating TICE OF ADVERSE ACTIONS AGAINST ployee under paragraph (1)(B) to advance to section 719 the following new item: SUPERVISORY EMPLOYEES WHO written under paragraph (1)(A) shall be seven COMMIT PROHIBITED PERSONNEL ‘‘721. Recoupment of bonuses or awards paid business days.’’; and ACTIONS. (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘30 to employees of Department.’’. Section 731(a)(2)(B) of title 38, United (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Section 721 of title days’’ and inserting ‘‘seven business days’’; States Code, as redesignated by section 38, United States Code, as added by sub- and 102(a)(2), is amended— section (a), shall apply with respect to an (4) by adding at the end the following new (1) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘14 days’’ and award or bonus paid by the Secretary of Vet- paragraphs: erans Affairs to an employee of the Depart- inserting ‘‘10 days’’; and ‘‘(5)(A) The aggregate period for the resolu- ment of Veterans Affairs on or after the date (2) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘14-day pe- tion of charges against an employee under of the enactment of this Act. riod’’ and inserting ‘‘10-day period’’. this subsection may not exceed 15 business (d) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this Act or SEC. 207. DIRECT HIRING AUTHORITY FOR MED- days. the amendments made by this Act may be ICAL CENTER DIRECTORS AND VISN ‘‘(B) The deciding official shall render a de- construed to modify the certification issued DIRECTORS. cision under paragraph (3) on charges under by the Office of Personnel Management and (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 7401 of title 38, this subsection not later than 15 business the Office of Management and Budget re- United States Code, is amended by adding at days after the Under Secretary provides no- garding the performance appraisal system of the end the following new paragraph: tice on the charges for purposes of paragraph the Senior Executive Service of the Depart- ‘‘(4) Directors of medical centers and direc- (1)(A). ment of Veterans Affairs. tors of Veterans Integrated Service Net- ‘‘(6) The procedures in this subsection shall SEC. 205. AUTHORITY TO RECOUP RELOCATION works with demonstrated ability in the med- supersede any collective bargaining agree- EXPENSES PAID TO OR ON BEHALF ical profession, in health care administra- ment to the extent that such agreement is OF EMPLOYEES OF DEPARTMENT OF tion, or in health care fiscal management.’’. inconsistent with such procedures.’’. VETERANS AFFAIRS. (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section (c) OTHER ADVERSE ACTIONS.—Section (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 7 7404(a)(1) of such title is amended— 7463(c) of such title is amended— of title 38, United States Code, as amended (1) by inserting ‘‘(A)’’ before ‘‘The annual’’; (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘the same by section 204, is further amended by adding and notice and opportunity to answer with re- at the end the following new section: (2) in subparagraph (A), as designated by spect to those charges as provided in sub- ‘‘§ 723. Recoupment of relocation expenses paragraph (1)— paragraphs (A) and (B) of section 7462(b)(1) of paid on behalf of employees of Department (A) by inserting ‘‘and 7401(4)’’ after ‘‘7306’’; this title’’ and inserting ‘‘notice and an op- ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any and portunity to answer with respect to those other provision of law, the Secretary may (B) by adding at the end the following new charges in accordance with subparagraphs issue an order directing an employee of the subparagraph: (A) and (B) of section 7462(b)(1) of this title, Department to repay the amount, or a por- ‘‘(B) Section 5377 of title 5 shall apply to a but within the time periods specified in para- tion of the amount, paid to or on behalf of position under section 7401(4) of this title as graph (3)’’; the employee under title 5 for relocation ex- if such position were included in the defini- (2) in paragraph (2)— penses, including any expenses under section tion of ‘position’ in section 5377(a) of title (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 5724 or 5724a of such title, or this title if— 5.’’. (A), by inserting ‘‘, within the aggregate

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:25 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A13JN7.030 H13JNPT1 June 13, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4889 time period specified in paragraph (3)(A),’’ (B) trends in quit rates of individuals in position’’ has the meaning given such term after ‘‘is entitled’’; senior executive positions at the Depart- in section 713 of title 38, United States Code. (B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘an ment; SEC. 211. MEASUREMENT OF DEPARTMENT OF advance written notice’’ and inserting ‘‘writ- (C) rates of transfer of— VETERANS AFFAIRS DISCIPLINARY ten notice’’; and (i) individuals from other Federal agencies PROCESS OUTCOMES AND EFFEC- (C) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘a rea- into senior executive positions at the De- TIVENESS. sonable time’’ and inserting ‘‘time to an- partment; and (a) MEASURING AND COLLECTING.— swer’’; and (ii) individuals from senior executive posi- (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans (3) by adding at the end the following new tions at the Department to other Federal Affairs shall measure and collect informa- paragraph (3): agencies; and tion on the outcomes of disciplinary actions ‘‘(3)(A) The aggregate period for the resolu- (D) trends in total loss rates by job func- carried out by the Department of Veterans tion of charges against an employee under tion. Affairs during the three-year period ending paragraph (1) or (2) may not exceed 15 busi- (4) With respect to disciplinary processes— on the date of the enactment of this Act and ness days. (A) regarding individuals in senior execu- the effectiveness of such actions. ‘‘(B) The period for the response of an em- tive positions at the Department who are the (2) ELEMENTS.—In measuring and col- ployee under paragraph (1) or (2)(B) to writ- subject of disciplinary action— lecting pursuant to paragraph (1), the Sec- ten notice of charges under paragraph (1) or (i) the length of the disciplinary process in retary shall measure and collect information (2)(A), as applicable, shall be seven business days for such individuals both before the regarding the following: days. date of the enactment of this Act and under (A) The average time from the initiation of ‘‘(C) The deciding official shall render a de- the provisions of this Act described in sub- an adverse action against an employee at the cision on charges under paragraph (1) or (2) section (a)(1); and Department to the final resolution of that not later than 15 business days after notice is (ii) the extent to which appeals by such in- action. provided on the charges for purposes of para- dividuals are upheld under such provisions as graph (1) or (2)(A), as applicable.’’. (B) The number of distinct steps and levels compared to before the date of the enact- of review within the Department involved in SEC. 209. IMPROVEMENT OF TRAINING FOR SU- ment of this Act; the disciplinary process and the average PERVISORS. (B) the components or offices of the De- (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Vet- length of time required to complete these partment which experience the greatest erans Affairs shall provide to each employee steps. number of proposed adverse actions against of the Department of Veterans Affairs who is (C) The rate of use of alternate disciplinary individuals in senior executive positions and employed as a supervisor periodic training procedures compared to traditional discipli- components and offices which experience the on the following: nary procedures and the frequency with least relative to the size of the components (1) The rights of whistleblowers and how to which employees who are subject to alter- or offices’ total number of senior executive address a report by an employee of a hostile native disciplinary procedures commit addi- positions; work environment, reprisal, or harassment. tional offenses. (C) the tenure of individuals in senior exec- (2) How to effectively motivate, manage, (D) The number of appeals from adverse ac- utive positions who are the subject of dis- and reward the employees who report to the tions filed against employees of the Depart- ciplinary action; supervisor. ment, the number of appeals upheld, and the (D) whether the individuals in senior exec- (3) How to effectively manage employees reasons for which the appeals were upheld. utive positions who are the subject of dis- who are performing at an unacceptable level (E) The use of paid administrative leave ciplinary action have previously been dis- and access assistance from the human re- during the disciplinary process and the ciplined; and sources office of the Department and the Of- length of such leave. (E) the number of instances of disciplinary fice of the General Counsel of the Depart- (b) REPORT.— action taken by the Secretary against indi- ment with respect to those employees. (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than December viduals in senior executive positions at the (b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 31, 2017, the Secretary shall submit to the ap- Department as compared to governmentwide (1) SUPERVISOR.—The term ‘‘supervisor’’ propriate committees of Congress a report on discipline against individuals in Senior Exec- has the meaning given such term in section the disciplinary procedures and actions of utive Service positions (as defined in section 7103(a) of title 5, United States Code. the Department. 3132(a) of title 5, United States Code) as a (2) WHISTLEBLOWER.—The term ‘‘whistle- (2) CONTENTS.—The report submitted under percentage of the total number of individ- blower’’ has the meaning given such term in paragraph (1) shall include the following: uals in senior executive positions at the De- section 323(g) of title 38, United States Code, (A) The information collected under sub- partment and Senior Executive Service posi- as added by section 101. section (a). tions (as so defined). SEC. 210. ASSESSMENT AND REPORT ON EFFECT (B) The findings of the Secretary with re- (5) With respect to hiring— ON SENIOR EXECUTIVES AT DEPART- spect to the measurement and collection car- (A) the degree to which the skills of newly MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. ried out under subsection (a). hired individuals in senior executive posi- (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than two years (C) An analysis of the disciplinary proce- tions at the Department are appropriate after the date of the enactment of this Act, dures and actions of the Department. with respect to the needs of the Department; the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall— (D) Suggestions for improving the discipli- (1) measure and assess the effect of the en- (B) the types of senior executive positions nary procedures and actions of the Depart- actment of this title on the morale, engage- at the Department most commonly filled ment. ment, hiring, promotion, retention, dis- under the authorities in the provisions de- (E) Such other matters as the Secretary cipline, and productivity of individuals in scribed in subsection (a)(1); considers appropriate. senior executive positions at the Department (C) the number of senior executive posi- (3) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CON- of Veterans Affairs; and tions at the Department filled by hires out- GRESS.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘appro- (2) submit to the Committee on Veterans’ side of the Department compared to hires priate committees of Congress’’ means— Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on from within the Department; (A) the Committee on Appropriations and Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representa- (D) the length of time to fill a senior exec- the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the tives a report on the findings of the Sec- utive position at the Department and for a Senate; and retary with respect to the measurement and new hire to begin working in a new senior (B) the Committee on Appropriations and assessment carried out under paragraph (1). executive position; the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the (b) ELEMENTS.—The assessment required (E) the mission-critical deficiencies filled House of Representatives. by subsection (a)(1) shall include the fol- by newly hired individuals in senior execu- lowing: tive positions and the connection between The SPEAKER pro tempore. The bill (1) With respect to engagement, trends in mission-critical deficiencies filled under the shall be debatable for 1 hour, equally morale of individuals in senior executive po- provisions described in subsection (a) and an- divided and controlled by the chair and sitions and individuals aspiring to senior ex- nual performance of the Department; ranking minority member of the Com- ecutive positions. (F) the satisfaction of applicants for senior mittee on Veterans’ Affairs. (2) With respect to promotions— executive positions at the Department with (A) whether the Department is experi- the hiring process, including the clarity of The gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. encing an increase or decrease in the number job announcements, reasons for withdrawal ROE) and the gentleman from Min- of employees participating in leadership de- of applications, communication regarding nesota (Mr. WALZ) each will control 30 velopment and candidate development pro- status of applications, and timeliness of hir- minutes. grams with the intention of becoming can- ing decision; and The Chair recognizes the gentleman didates for senior executive positions; and (G) the satisfaction of newly hired individ- from Tennessee. (B) trends in applications to senior execu- uals in senior executive positions at the De- Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I tive positions within the Department. partment with the hiring process and the yield myself such time as I may con- (3) With respect to retention— process of joining and becoming oriented (A) trends in retirement rates of individ- with the Department. sume. uals in senior executive positions at the De- (c) SENIOR EXECUTIVE POSITION DEFINED.— Mr. Speaker, this is a historic day. partment; In this section, the term ‘‘senior executive You and many Members of this body

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:25 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A13JN7.030 H13JNPT1 H4890 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2017 are well aware that bringing real ac- servants who are dedicated to pro- ployee I speak to tells me the exact op- countability to the Department of Vet- viding quality healthcare and benefits posite. erans Affairs has been a goal of mine for veterans. Good employees want to work in an and many of my colleagues for many But for far too long, the failures of environment where they know every- years. That is why I am proud to rise bad actors have tarnished the good one can be held accountable for their today to support S. 1094, which passed name of all VA employees. Unfortu- actions. I believe the current status the United States Senate last week via nately, despite the tireless efforts of quo hurts the morale of the employees voice vote. our courageous whistleblowers, the ex- who are doing the right thing each and This bill is heavily modeled off of my tensive reporting on a lack of account- every day. bill, H.R. 1259, which passed out of the ability by the media and the outrage of This is the same for employees of the House with bipartisan support earlier the American public, we still see far Department who are veterans. I know this Congress, and I am proud to have too many instances of VA employees that some have said that this would worked with Senators ISAKSON, not living up to the standards America hurt veterans who are employed at the TESTER, and RUBIO to craft this vital expects. Most importantly, they are VA since they make up a large percent- piece of legislation. not living up to the standards that the age of our VA employees. But as a vet- The Department of Veterans Affairs men and women who have served this eran myself and as my fellow veterans Accountability and Whistleblower Pro- great Nation deserve. here today would agree, we don’t serve, tection Act of 2017 would provide the This isn’t a political issue. This is a whether in uniform or civilian clothes, Secretary of the Department of Vet- veterans’ issue. I can’t imagine how because we prioritize our individual erans Affairs with yet another tool to any Member of this body can defend protection. The mission always comes instill accountability at VA by giving not standing for veterans to vote for first, and at VA, the mission is our vet- him the authority to expeditiously re- this bipartisan legislation. The lack of erans. move, demote, or suspend any VA em- accountability isn’t specific to any one b 1445 ployee for poor performance or mis- area of the Department. It is systemic. conduct while still preserving an em- In the last few years, the committee Veterans want to work alongside col- ployee’s rights to due process. discovered an instance of a VA nurse leagues they know are working hard This bill would create an expedited scrubbing in drunk for a veteran’s sur- for the men and women who they procedure for all VA employees to re- gery—I found that unbelievable—and a served alongside. spond and appeal to proposed removals, care support specialist in the agency’s Mr. Speaker, before I close, I want to demotions, and suspensions for per- drug and addiction program taking a acknowledge some individuals who formance or misconduct, or in the case recovering addict to a crack house to have made this bill become a reality. of title 38 employees, which are our buy him drugs and a prostitute, a VA First and foremost, I want to thank healthcare providers, for a question in- medical center clerk participating in the 18 veterans groups representing volving direct patient care or clinical an armed robbery, and a practitioner millions of veterans and their families competence. watching pornography at work while who are supporting this bill and real The prenotification and response they were supposedly treating a pa- accountability at the VA. Many of process would have to be completed tient. them are in the gallery today, and I within 15 business days, and the em- What is more, it has been proven that can’t thank them enough for all they ployee would be entitled to an expe- some senior managers have retaliated have done and all they continue to do dited appeal to the Merit Systems Pro- against whistleblowers, costing VA for our Nation’s heroes. tection Board where the first step at and, in turn, taxpayers hundreds of Many of these groups took a coura- the administrative judge level would be thousands of dollars in restitution. geous stand in support of VA account- limited to 180 days. All of these acts in and of themselves ability, even when it wasn’t a politi- Additionally, either party would be are egregious, but they are just the tip cally popular idea. And I especially able to appeal the administrative of the iceberg. They have one thing in want to thank Concerned Veterans for judge’s decision to the full MSPB and common: none of these employees were America, The American Legion, and would be provided the opportunity for held accountable in a reasonable time- Paralyzed Veterans of America for limited judicial review. frame, if at all. being some of our earliest and staunch- This bill would also provide improved There are many factors that con- est supporters. protections for whistleblowers by cre- tribute to this failure, but an anti- I also want to thank someone who, ating a new office and an Assistant quated civil service system and a com- this Congress, has been with us from Secretary position specifically for ac- plicated grievance process have left VA day one, and that is the Secretary of countability and whistleblowers. It unwilling—and sometimes just un- the Department of Veterans Affairs, would allow the Secretary to reduce an able—to jump through the many hoops Dr. David Shulkin. We have worked employee’s Federal pension if they are to do what is right. This is not an issue with Secretary Shulkin and his team convicted of a felony that influenced unique to VA. Too often it is nearly to draft the bill that is before us today, their job at VA. It would provide the impossible to remove a poorly per- and I am thankful for his and President Secretary with the authority to recoup forming government employee. Trump’s support. a bonus provided to an employee who Officials on both sides of the aisle President Trump and Secretary engaged in misconduct or malfeasance have expressed their concern about the Shulkin have endorsed this legislation, prior to receiving the bonus, and would current process to remove or discipline not because they want to punish or allow the Secretary to recoup any relo- subpar employees. Just last year, Mr. make it harder to recruit employees, cation expenses that were authorized Speaker, VA’s then-Deputy Secretary but because they see this change is for a VA employee only through the Sloan Gibson sat before our committee needed if the Secretary is going to employee’s ill-gotten means, such as and admitted that it was too difficult meet the President’s goal of truly re- fraud, waste, or malfeasance. to fire a substandard VA employee. forming the VA. Lastly, it would also provide the Sec- Further, the Government Account- I also want to thank the bipartisan retary with the direct hiring authority ability Office studied the government’s group of Senators who we worked with he has been asking for so that he can ability to hold low-performing employ- in crafting this bill, including Senator hire medical center directors and VISN ees accountable and found that it took ISAKSON; Senator TESTER; and the pri- directors in a more expedited manner 6 months to a year on average, and mary sponsor, Senator RUBIO. Senator and fill the leadership vacancies across sometimes significantly longer, to fire RUBIO and his staff have been with me VA. a poorly performing government em- every step of the way, and I am thank- Mr. Speaker, as I have always said, I ployee—6 months to a year. ful for his and his staff’s efforts over agree with all of my colleagues that I have heard concerns that the bill the years. the vast majority of VA employees— will hurt the Department’s ability to I also want to thank a good friend of many of whom I know personally and recruit and retain good employees. I mine, Ranking Member WALZ, and his call friends—are hardworking public don’t buy this argument as every em- staff for their support and leadership.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:25 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.050 H13JNPT1 June 13, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4891 They have been fantastic. I also want contained things that were pretty ideo- maintaining those constitutional-man- to thank Speaker RYAN and Majority logically polarizing. dated workplace rights. Leader MCCARTHY and their staffs for Chairman ROE, through his leader- At this point, I would say that Sec- helping us bring this bill to the floor. ship and with the professional staff, retary Shulkin has earned the trust of, Lastly, I would like to single out was able to navigate to get to that certainly, this committee, certainly of former Veterans’ Affairs Committee point that the top priority and focus the veterans service organizations, and Chairman Jeff Miller, a good friend, was care for veterans—making sure I would say, if you don’t know, the great leader of this committee, and my that care is delivered in a timely man- American people. He has asked for chairman for 6 years. His leadership ner; making sure those delivering the some of these things. I take that very got the ball rolling on this issue, which care are the best possible; and, as the seriously. If he says this will add to ac- led to House-passed legislation twice chairman said, if they are doing their countability, if he says this will make last Congress and kept the spotlight on job, they are afforded their constitu- his job better in delivering care for vet- accountability issues at VA through tional rights and appeals. If they are erans, that weighs heavily. his dogged oversight. not, I agree with the chairman, they He asked us for these things. He Finally, I would like to thank my should be removed as quickly as pos- asked and was part of making that. We staff, and especially the professional sible. They should certainly not be re- should be grateful that he is willing to and communications staff of the House warded for that. That strengthens the work with Congress. Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for VA. That strengthens those good em- It also requires VA to evaluate super- their years of hard work on this issue. ployees. visors based on their protection of Mr. Speaker, today, we have a bipar- Again, keep this in mind: This is the whistleblowers. This commonsense pro- tisan, bicameral bill that makes mean- second largest agency in the Federal vision aligns the incentives for super- ingful change to VA’s civil service sys- Government. It has a $190 billion budg- visors to protect whistleblowers when tem, while maintaining due process et. It has 350,000-plus employees. It is they shed light on dangerous situations rights. an issue that unites us and that Ameri- and problematic employees at the Today, we have the opportunity to cans are passionate about. agency. make real and lasting changes to a bro- So we stand before you today with an I want to be clear: we don’t support ken system. issue that is unified, as Americans, as collective bargaining rights just be- cause it is a union issue that we think Today, we can stand together with accountability. Certainly, the exam- should be there, those of us who ideo- veterans against the status quo that ples that Chairman ROE mentioned, no logically believe workplace protections has failed them for far too long. They one is going to defend those. I am allow for a larger voice and protect deserve better. pleased because I think the chairman good employees who are pointing out I hope all of you will join me, and the clearly understands that every time bad behavior from being arbitrarily 18 veterans organizations that support one of those issues goes unaddressed in fired without a collective will to fight this legislation, to do what is right and a timely manner, it hurts the morale of back. send this bill to the President’s desk. the entire agency and erodes trust in One person in a manager’s office with Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of the system by Americans. no support or no legal right is a very my time. Those veterans who use the VA sys- dangerous situation. One employee Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield my- tem know they are getting quality being backed by workplace guarantees self such time as I may consume. care. On any given day, tens of thou- and their union collectively bargained I would like to associate myself with sands of appointments and procedures rights helps make us stronger. the chairman’s remarks, especially the are being carried out in the most pro- The bill requires the VA to improve thanks of all the people involved in fessional manner. All of that is under- its training regarding whistleblower this. I think, Mr. Speaker, this is the mined if a bad employee is allowed to disclosures. This is a really key piece. third time we have come to this body not live up to those standards. We want to ensure there are no excuses this Congress, as the chairman and the So I am pleased to say that I am in for employees at the VA to not know ranking member of the VA Committee, full support of this piece of legislation. how to handle protected disclosures. as fellow veterans, as friends and The way this was done is the way we Proper training will be a key to ensure American citizens, on issues of utmost are taught in school how it is supposed all employees and not just supervisors importance to our veterans. We do to work. We debate, we send something understand the importance. have a constituency. We do have a spe- there, we don’t agree, then we let the No matter what this bill does, it cial interest group that we look out Senate do that. We all work together would be hard to support if it didn’t do for: America’s veterans. to get something. We bring back that the things the chairman said. It does Those 18 groups, plus millions of little, I am just a bill sitting on Capitol protect those constitutional rights. It Americans across this country, their Hill. Now it is back over here. It is not maintains all existing due process pro- collective voices through their organi- perfect in everyone’s mind, but it is tections in current law by ensuring zations, through the Disabled Amer- certainly perfect in terms of how legis- there is notice and an opportunity to ican Veterans, through The American lation is done and reaching those goals. respond before an employee is fired. Legion, articulate every Congress in Everyone compromised. The bill even improves the appeals front of us what their top priorities I think the chairman needs to be sin- process by requiring the VA to provide are. This year, they came in front of us gled out on this. I thank him for com- an employee with the complete evi- and said the three things that Congress menting about Chairman Miller. We dence file when they are fired, thereby needs to get done, needs to get right, had Mike Michaud on our side work on empowering them to appeal sooner. If and needs to get moving as soon as pos- that, too. Others have been here and someone is wrongfully accused of sible in this 2-year period that we have done it, but we needed someone to get wrongdoing, now they are going to see is: appeals reform, choice extension of it over the line. and have the entire file. We are just care in the community, and an ac- The three pieces I mentioned—ap- asking that they do it sooner. countability bill. peals, choice, and accountability—are If someone commits one of the acts Well, I am proud to say this is the certainly things that were on that the chairman talked about, it is third of those three. The other two everybody’s mind. All three are going indefensible for it to take 6 months or have moved here in a bipartisan man- to pass through this House. a year to have it adjudicated. We cer- ner. Just a couple of notes on this. This tainly want them to have a fair due In the climate that we are in, and the does maintain due process protections process, but, again, if we are waiting to uncertainty that the American public for employees, and I support that. I get that done, that is holding a posi- is feeling—quite honestly, probably the hope we can come together and pass tion for someone else that could be frustration they feel with this body—I the compromise piece. serving veterans. It also keeps an em- think it is important to note that none The bill promotes accountability by ployee under the cloud of not getting it of those things were easy lifts, none of giving the VA the tools it needs to hold done and moving on. If they are inno- them were locked in, and many of them bad employees accountable, while cent, we want to move it on as quickly

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:25 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.052 H13JNPT1 H4892 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2017 as possible. We do not jeopardize or Mr. Speaker, the VA is steeped in a and numerous institutional issues change any of their appeal process to culture of ambivalence, coupled with a raised by accountability bills pre- come back. lack of accountability, and our vet- viously advanced in the House. Now is the time to bring real, long- erans suffer as a result. Fixing the cul- Passing this bill today will accom- lasting constitutional accountability ture at the VA requires us to acknowl- plish several important objectives: measures to the Department of Vet- edge the great work of the many, with- We will fulfill the repeated requests erans Affairs. I would hope we could out leaving them tainted with the in- from veteran service organizations and come together to pass this. Again, the competence and scandal of the few. It the VA itself for a stronger account- entire goal of all of the people involved requires removing the bad apples. ability system. with this was to improve the care for So I am glad that we are finally send- We will support the VA’s continuing this Nation’s veterans, ensuring peo- ing this bill to the President’s desk. effort to create a culture of excellence. ple’s rights to be heard, and a fair due The House passed a similar bill in 2015, We will provide veterans greater con- process if they are accused of some- but the Senate did not act. We passed fidence that the VA is prepared to meet thing, but with the intention that if another in the new Congress earlier their needs. you are not serving our veterans in the this year. Finally, by passing this bill, we can manner that you should, then there are Now that our Senate counterparts shift our focus from who is fired from other places you should work. This en- have voted, we will take our final step the VA to who is hired at the VA. sures that those tools are there. today to send this legislation to the As I stand here today, there are near- Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of President’s desk. Once President ly 50,000 vacant jobs at the VA. This is my time. Trump signs this into law, I predict we a significant and urgent challenge. Ul- Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I will begin to see the culture change at timately, the success of the Depart- yield 1 minute to the gentleman from the VA and our veterans will get the ment of Veterans Affairs will depend California (Mr. MCCARTHY), the major- care we promised them and they de- on recruiting, training, and retaining ity leader. serve. the highest quality talent available. Mr. MCCARTHY. I thank the gen- Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 I look forward to working with my tleman for yielding. minutes to the gentleman from Cali- colleagues on the Veterans’ Affairs Mr. Speaker, first and foremost, I fornia (Mr. TAKANO), my good friend Committee to streamlining the hiring want to thank Chairman ROE and the and the vice ranking member of the process and ensuring that the VA has House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs full Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. the staff and expertise it needs to pro- for their work on this legislation and Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I thank vide veterans the care and support they their focus on reforming the VA. I the ranking member for yielding time. have earned. know they and the Secretary are all And I want to thank Ranking Member I applaud the Senate for forging this committed to making sure our vet- WALZ and Chairman ROE for their work compromise, and I again want to recog- erans get the best—and only the best— on the issue of accountability and their nize Chairman ROE and Ranking Mem- no excuses. tireless commitment to our Nation’s ber WALZ for their important work. The Department of Veterans Affairs veterans. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my col- has an honorable task to care for and Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support leagues to support this legislation. heal our veterans. We made a promise of the Department of Veterans Affairs Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I in this country that, if you serve, your Accountability and Whistleblower Pro- thank my friend from California (Mr. fellow citizens will take care of you. tection Act of 2017. TAKANO) for his support. That is through the employees of the Throughout the debate over account- I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman VA that we as a nation fulfill the ability at the Department of Veterans from Florida (Mr. BILIRAKIS), my good promise. It is for this reason that we Affairs, I have advocated for legisla- friend and vice chair of the Veterans’ cannot accept the failures and backlogs tion that holds VA employees account- Affairs Committee. in our veterans’ programs. able, without violating their constitu- Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise We all know that there are thousands tional right to due process. today in support of the Department of of great employees at the VA who con- Veterans Affairs Accountability and sider their duty to care for the vet- b 1500 Whistleblower Protection Act. erans as much bigger than just a job. This legislation strikes that balance As a grateful nation, we must imple- But the few bad apples are spoiling the far better than previous accountability ment meaningful VA reform. Every day whole barrel. proposals. This compromise respects veterans contact my office seeking as- We know how this works. You can current grievance procedures, main- sistance in dealing with the agency. have an office or a team committed to tains existing due process protections, Like many of my colleagues here, I doing the best job possible. But when and improves the appeals process by re- have full-time staff specifically dedi- one isn’t pulling their weight; when quiring managers to present employees cated to helping veterans with VA somebody is breaking the rules and with all of the evidence before they casework. I hear from veterans every getting away with it; when bad people move on a disciplinary action. day who are waiting for care, waiting get transferred or promoted, instead of Today we are voting to strengthen for an answer, or simply waiting to fi- fired; that totally destroys the whole whistleblower protections. This bill nally be heard and recognized. organization. It undermines morale, codifies the Office of Accountability These are true American heroes, Mr. makes the team ineffective, and allows and Whistleblower Protection, and it Speaker. We must do all we can to help for failures to continue or get worse. mandates that its Director is a Senate- them. The VA should be rolling out the Failures at the VA have life-or-death confirmed position instead of a polit- red carpet for our veterans and treat- consequences. ical appointee. It also offers training ing them like the heroes they are. This has happened for years—years, on how to handle whistleblowers cor- The VA Accountability and Whistle- where a person who was jailed got rectly, which will encourage employees blower Protection Act is good, com- leave to serve time and then returned to come forward if they witness mis- monsense legislation. If a VA employee to the VA; years, where an employee conduct. is involved in misconduct, they should showed up drunk to work and partici- Do I have concerns about this bill? be demoted, suspended, or fired—cer- pated in a surgery; years, where a psy- Absolutely, I do. This is not the ac- tainly not promoted or given a bonus. chiatrist watched deeply inappropriate countability legislation that I would If a VA employee sees misconduct and videos with a veteran in the room; and have written. We must always remem- wants to report it, they should not fear after years of all this and none of them ber that a third of VA employees are repercussions. getting fired, the good employees be- veterans themselves, and they deserve Of course, the vast majority of VA come dispirited, the culture of the VA the workplace protections afforded to employees are hardworking and dedi- will decline, and too many of our vet- them in the Constitution as well as the cated professionals. At the end of the erans receive low-quality care, if they respect of this Congress. But my con- day, this bill is about holding the bad can get care at all. cerns pale in comparison to the serious actors accountable and protecting the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:45 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.053 H13JNPT1 June 13, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4893 whistleblowers and refocusing the VA Time and time again, I have called to Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I on its mission to serve our Nation’s he- reform the VA, an organization that yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from roes. With the passage of the VA Ac- has been mired in a culture of corrup- Maine (Mr. POLIQUIN), my good friend countability and Whistleblower Protec- tion and bureaucratic incompetence. and a member of the Veterans’ Affairs tion Act, we are turning the page to a The VA has consistently failed to meet Committee. fresh start for the VA. our Nation’s obligations to veterans, Mr. POLIQUIN. Mr. Speaker, I appre- Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the men and women who have sac- ciate the opportunity to address the Chairman ROE for doing such an out- rificed so much in the protection of our Floor on this important issue. standing job and also the ranking freedoms. Gentlemen, it was our first Com- member for working in a bipartisan This act also provides the necessary mander in Chief, George Washington, fashion. I appreciate it so very much. protections for those who do the right who said something to the effect that This is the way Congress should oper- thing and come forward to report we can never expect our young men ate. wrongdoing. This legislation makes it and women to step forward and fight God bless our veterans. possible to fire the bad VA employees for our country unless those who have Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 who have failed our Nation’s veterans. already returned from the battlefield minutes to the gentlewoman from Cali- Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues, are taken care of. fornia (Ms. BROWNLEY), the ranking along with those in the Senate, for This is a solemn oath that we all member of the Subcommittee on their hard work and support of this leg- have to honor. It is critically impor- Health. islation. I look forward to getting it to tant. I will tell you, Mr. Speaker, in Ms. BROWNLEY of California. Mr. the President’s desk for his signature the State of Maine, we have about Speaker, I rise in support of this bill to and to finally bringing accountability 125,000 veterans, and we love our vet- hold bad actors accountable and make to the VA. erans. We understand what it is like to the VA a stronger system for our Na- Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 fight for our freedom and to stand up tion’s veterans. minutes to the gentleman from Cali- for our way of life. Since the unacceptable wait time fornia (Mr. PETERS), a friend of all of In the State of Maine, we have Togus scandal came to light in 2014, the our veterans and a member of the Vet- Medical Center, which is the first vet- House Veterans’ Affairs Committee has erans’ Affairs Committee. erans hospital in the country, about 150 worked diligently to fix the long-term Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, for every- years old. We understand this. They thing our veterans have given in serv- problems at the VA and to ensure we have great employees, and many of ice to the country, they have earned are serving our veterans as well as they them are veterans themselves. have served us. their benefits and access to timely, However, a couple of years ago our From top to bottom, the number one quality healthcare at the VA. That is country was shocked to learn that the promise that was made to them priority for almost every VA employee there were and are some bad actors in when they volunteered to serve. That is serving our veterans. But when an this whole process. A few years ago, we is the promise that we in Congress are employee does not live up to this mis- learned that some of the folks at the obligated to keep. sion, engages in misconduct, or puts Honoring this promise is not just a veterans facility in Phoenix, Arizona, veterans at risk, we must ensure that matter of resources; it also depends on were cooking the scheduling books in the VA is able to hold them account- changing the actual culture at the VA. order to get paid more money through able. From the Secretary of Veterans Affairs a bonus program when, in fact, they It is critically important that we ac- to the doctors and nurses, to the ad- did not and had not scheduled mental knowledge that the vast majority of ministrators who deal with the flood of health appointments for some of our the 350,000 VA employees, a third of appointments that come in, it has to be veterans who were at risk, and, as a re- whom are veterans themselves, are about serving the veteran, not about sult, a number of those veterans died. hardworking individuals who have serving the bureaucracy. This is absolutely unacceptable. dedicated themselves to serving our For as long as I have been in Con- There is nobody who has fought for country and our Nation’s veterans. By gress, improving VA accountability has this country on the front lines who being able to hold accountable the few been a bipartisan goal. I am glad to see comes home, who needs help, that bad actors in the VA, we not only serve us working across the aisle once again should be denied help; and it certainty our veterans, but we make the job of on this legislation that builds on the shouldn’t be those who are supposed to the rest of the workforce easier to per- progress we made in 2014. take care of them who are cooking the form. This bill strengthens whistleblower books for their own benefit. Because we need a world-class, 21st protections, which encourages employ- Mr. Speaker, that is why I am asking century VA, this bill also provides the ees to call out careless or criminal be- every Republican and Democrat here in Secretary with direct hiring authority havior that we have unfortunately seen this Chamber to support the Senate’s for senior management so that we can too often at VAs around the country. It bill, 1094. This is a good bill that holds bring on the talent we need to properly gives the Secretary greater authority the VA employees accountable for im- serve our veterans. to remove or discipline poorly per- proper behavior. And, yes, sir, it does This is an important example of what forming and negligent employees, and give, Mr. Speaker, management at the we can get done when we work in a bi- it provides a reasonable and efficient VA the opportunity to replace, fire, or partisan manner. I want to thank appeals process for VA employees that otherwise, those who are supposed to Chairman ROE and Ranking Member is the subject of compromise. care for our veterans who have chosen WALZ, both the chairman and ranking The bill won’t solve all the problems not to do so. Please support S. 1094 member of the Senate for working with at the VA, but by holding bad actors Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, may I in- our VSOs and the VA to find a com- accountable and protecting the hard- quire how much time I have remaining. promise on this issue. working employees who care for our The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Mr. Speaker, I support this com- veterans, this bipartisan legislation RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois). The gen- promise. I ask my colleagues to vote will improve on the service that our tleman from Minnesota has 151⁄2 min- ‘‘yes.’’ This is a very good bill. veterans receive. utes remaining, and the gentleman Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the work from Tennessee has 14 minutes remain- yield 11⁄2 minutes to the gentleman done by my colleagues on both sides of ing. from Colorado (Mr. COFFMAN), an Army the aisle, the administration, and the Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I have no and Marine veteran deployed to Iraq. veterans service organizations to craft further speakers, and I am certainly Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, my col- this important piece of legislation, and willing to yield some of my time to the leagues and I rise today in support of I urge my colleagues to vote ‘‘yes.’’ gentleman from Tennessee if there are the Department of Veterans Affairs Let’s send this bill to the President’s other speakers who would like to speak and Whistleblower Protection Act, desk and help veterans in my district on this if the gentleman’s time runs which the House of Representatives in San Diego and across the country short. If I could save myself 3 minutes will consider today. get the care that they have earned. for my closing, I would certainly be

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:57 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.055 H13JNPT1 H4894 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2017 willing to do that. I am not certain their best to our country, and they de- In my time serving on the Veterans’ what the parliamentary procedure is to serve the very best from our country. Affairs Committee, I have seen how do so. Having almost half a million delin- Congress and the leadership of the VA, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of quent disability claims is not our very in partnership with veterans service or- my time. best; having veterans wait in line for ganizations, are working to create the months to see a physician, not our b 1515 culture of service and accountability best; having hundreds of billions of dol- that our veterans truly deserve. Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I lars in improper payments is not our As Secretary Shulkin has often said, yield 1 minute to the gentleman from best; waiting 6 months to a year to ter- the VA needs changing, and I believe Florida (Mr. DUNN), a veteran and a minate somebody for misconduct and this bill is a huge step in that direc- member of the committee, to speak on poor performance is definitely not our tion. this issue. best. I would like to thank Chairman ROE Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today People all over this country, hard- for his leadership, and Senator RUBIO. in support of the Department of Vet- working Americans, get up every day; This issue is crucial to the 150,000 vet- erans Affairs Accountability and Whis- they work hard; they perform; they de- eran men and women of northeast Flor- tleblower Protection Act of 2017. This liver results; and if they don’t, they ida, and I thank them for their leader- important legislation will streamline lose their job. If they are small-busi- ship, and I urge my colleagues to sup- the arduous process to remove, demote, ness owners, they go out of business. port the bill. or suspend any VA employee for poor We ought to have no less expectation Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I continue performance, negligence, or mis- for our Federal Government and its to reserve the balance of my time. conduct. employees, especially those who serve Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I We all know the list of scandals: vet- our veterans. yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from erans dying on wait lists, intoxicated The VA Accountability and Whistle- Michigan (Mr. BERGMAN), the Oversight surgical staff, armed robbery, grossly blower Protection Act gives the Sec- and Investigations Subcommittee chair mismanaged construction projects. Yet retary the tools he needs to hold his and a lieutenant general in the Marine the civil service rules allow bad VA employees accountable for serving our Corps. employees to stay on the public pay- veterans and to change the culture Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise roll. from one that accepts mediocrity to today in support of S. 1094, the Depart- Our veterans deserve better. one that expects excellence. ment of Veterans Affairs Account- I applaud Chairman ROE and Ranking Today we take a bold step toward re- ability and Whistleblower Protection Member WALZ for helping our country versing that failure. This legislation Act. take a big step towards delivering on will allow Secretary Shulkin to imme- Anyone who has been responsible for our promises to our veterans. diately remove bad employees as he the success of a business or organiza- Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I continue works to restructure and improve vet- tion knows that the most important erans’ care. It also ensures that whis- to reserve the balance of my time. Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I part of the equation is the people. It is tleblowers are protected from retalia- no different with the Department of yield 11⁄2 minutes to the gentleman tion. The bottom line is that it imple- from Florida (Mr. RUTHERFORD), a Veterans Affairs. ments real accountability at the VA, member of our committee and, for Our veterans have given their all, accountability to the men and women many years, who was in the process of and they deserve our all; but, unfortu- who have bravely served this country. protecting us in law enforcement. nately, vulnerabilities in the VA’s ad- The Veterans Affairs Accountability Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I ministrative processes have led to in- Act is an important first step in ad- rise today in strong support of S. 1094, competence, neglect, and even un- dressing poor performance and mis- the Department of Veterans Affairs Ac- checked illegal activity on the part of conduct at the VA, and I urge all of my countability and Whistleblower Protec- a small number of VA employees. colleagues to support this much-needed tion Act of 2017. Unfortunately, lack of oversight and legislation. As we have all seen from various re- accountability in the hiring and reten- I thank the chair and the ranking ports and news stories, increased ac- tion process mean that the VA is still member very much for their work on countability at the VA is long, long failing our veterans. Even in the few this. overdue. For far too long, the leader- instances where the VA has tried to Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I continue ship in the Department of Veterans Af- discipline employees for wrongdoing or to reserve the balance of my time. fairs has been unable to make firing de- neglect, it has been foiled by a complex Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I cisions that would be common sense in and lengthy administrative process yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from any other setting. that rarely yields results. Texas (Mr. ARRINGTON), chairman of The VA Accountability and Whistle- S. 1094 addresses the VA’s adminis- the Economic Opportunity Sub- blower Protection Act gives the Sec- trative shortcomings by providing the committee. retary the authority to fire the bad ac- Secretary with the authority to re- Mr. ARRINGTON. Mr. Speaker, it is tors and creates a removal process that move, demote, or suspend any em- my highest privilege to serve with is more in line with the private sector. ployee for poor performance or mis- Chairman ROE and Ranking Member It also gives the Secretary the ability conduct while, at the same time, en- WALZ on the VA Committee, and I am to punish poor performers by recouping hancing protections for whistleblowers. grateful for the honor to serve as chair- bonuses and relocation expenses. We As a leader of marines and a Vietnam man of the Subcommittee on Economic must ensure that employees who fail to veteran, I know what our servicemen Opportunity. do their jobs are not rewarded but are, and -women across generations and I want to thank Chairman ROE for instead, held accountable. conflicts have sacrificed for our free- his leadership on an issue that I believe Another part of this legislation is the doms and our country. They don’t just gets at the root cause of many of the enhanced protection for whistle- deserve quality care; they have earned problems, maybe most of the problems blowers. These are employees who are it. that plague the Department of Vet- doing the right thing and advocating We made a commitment to defend erans Affairs: the lack of account- for our veterans. They should not be our veterans just as they have defended ability. Where you don’t have a culture faced with retribution by their leader- our way of life, and that starts with re- of accountability in an organization, ship. forms that restore efficiency and ac- you have mediocrity; and mediocrity One of the most important jobs of countability at Veterans Affairs. and excellence in service do not and this Congress is working to improve I would like to thank Chairman ROE cannot coexist. the lives of our Nation’s veterans. and the committee for all their hard We are talking about serving our vet- When our fellow Americans bravely put work. I strongly urge my colleagues to erans, the men and women who are on the uniform and serve, we must en- support. willing to sacrifice everything for our sure that that sacrifice does not go un- Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I freedom and security. These folks gave noticed. yield 11⁄2 minutes to the gentlewoman

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:25 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.056 H13JNPT1 June 13, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4895 from Puerto Rico (Miss GONZA´ LEZ- protect us, the least we can do is fight ability and Whistleblower Protection COLO´ N), a new member of our com- for them and ensure that they get Act is so important. The bill estab- mittee, who is doing a great job. high-quality care. lishes whistleblower protections so Miss GONZA´ LEZ-COLO´ N of Puerto Mr. Speaker, I urge support of the that we can ensure veterans get the Rico. Mr. Speaker, since the day I was bill. best possible care and make sure that elected to Congress, I pledged to do ev- Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I no veteran is ever dishonored twice by erything in my power to help veterans yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from the same person. receive the care and attention they de- Florida (Mr. MAST), a combat-wounded I want to thank you again for yield- serve. S. 1094 will ensure that persons veteran, Bronze Star winner, Purple ing me time. I want to thank you on hired to care for the health and the Heart winner, Defense Meritorious behalf of every single veteran across well-being of our veterans do so accord- Service and Army Commendation this country for this great bill. ing to VA regulations, and those who Medal winner. Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I continue fail in their duties are held account- Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I want to to reserve the balance of my time. able. Moreover, this bill protects whis- thank the chairman for yielding me Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I tleblowers from retaliation when they time, and the ranking member, both of thank Congressman MAST for those alarm us of VA misconduct. the gentlemen, for their leadership, kind words and words spoken for every Currently, Puerto Rico has one VA and also our Senator from Florida, American veteran. regional benefit office, one VA hos- Senator RUBIO, for his leadership on Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the pital, and a few outpatient clinics. this bill. gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. This is a great bill, and that is why I These facilities provide all the VA FITZPATRICK). couldn’t be more happy than to rise services to the island’s veterans. This and speak about this bill. For a long b 1530 bill will help ensure places with lim- time, our veterans have deserved bet- ited VA facilities, like Puerto Rico, Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I ter, and this bill is exactly that: It is will be efficiently administered and thank the chairman, the ranking mem- better. make certain that the VA’s employees ber, and Senator RUBIO for their leader- Veterans across the board—Army, ship. adhere to the standards of excellence Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast that our men and women in uniform Mr. Speaker, scandal after scandal Guard—they have common experiences has caused heightened distrust between expect. and common healthcare challenges as a I thank Senator RUBIO for sponsoring veterans and the VA. For far too long, result of certainly combat, but also as veterans nationwide have been this bill, but I need to thank Chairman a result of just simply the austere life ROE for guiding this important legisla- disrespected by those who are supposed of being in the military. Whether it is to be advocates for them, sometimes tion on the House floor the same way a daily life of jumping out of planes or he did with H.R. 1529. with deadly consequences. roping out of helicopters or kicking in Be it in regional offices—like the one Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, doors or jumping off the back end of how much time do I have remaining? in Philadelphia, which my office has trucks, you live an austere life. worked closely with—or medical cen- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- Oftentimes, I hear people say a year 1 ters, from Phoenix to Florida, we have tleman has 6 ⁄2 minutes remaining. in the military can be like a dog-year. seen the devastating impact of the cur- Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I It is tough on you, and that is why the rent culture of mismanagement and yield 1 minute to the gentleman from VA is so critical. It is so critical that distrust, and its impact on backlogged Indiana (Mr. MESSER), my good friend the VA maintain an expertise in pro- claims and lack of care for those who who I have served with for 6 years on viding for our unique healthcare needs. the Education and the Workforce I get my healthcare from the VA. I devoted their lives to serve our coun- Comittee. know many VA employees who are try. Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, I appre- hardworking and certainly unyielding The legislation before the House ciate the gentleman’s leadership on in their dedication, but I have also en- today institutes the needed reforms this important issue. countered many who are not, plain and throughout the Department of Vet- Mr. Speaker, our veterans deserve simple, many who lack the hunger or erans Affairs by granting the author- high-quality healthcare. They have who lack the appropriate mentality or ity, and the expectation, that the Sec- earned it. That is why I rise today to the decorum to care for our men and retary remove, demote, or suspend any urge support of S. 1094, the Veterans women who are willing to give their VA employee for poor performance or Affairs Accountability and Whistle- last breath in defense of our country. misconduct. blower Protection Act. This is land- This is the reality. Rebuilding this trust between Vet- mark, bipartisan legislation to reform Every single veteran needs to be erans Affairs and those who had served the VA and improve care for our vet- treated like the most important pa- us must be a priority. The Department erans after years of poor performance tient ever to be seen every single time of Veterans Affairs Accountability and and scandal. they walk into the VA. Anything less Whistleblower Protection Act is cru- My grandfather is a World War II vet- is a failure. cial to reforming this trust, and I am eran who regularly attends the VA in In the past several years, this bu- proud to support it. I urge my col- Indianapolis, so I know firsthand that reaucracy of rules, it has obstructed leagues on both sides of the aisle to do the vast majority of employees at the the VA’s ability to go out there and the same. We must serve our veterans VA are honest and hardworking public fire employees who have been charged as well as they have served us. servants. Lack of accountability at the with armed robbery, who have been ac- Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield my- agency, though, has allowed a few bad cused of being drunk while performing self such time as I may consume. actors to damage the VA and harm our surgeries, and this simply cannot Mr. Speaker, you heard it from a vets, from manipulating wait lists to stand. wide range of folks here on the floor. letting calls to the suicide hotline go There should never be somebody al- This is the way Congress is supposed to unanswered, to theft and wrongful pre- lowed to service our veterans who work and this is what is expected of us. scribing of opioids. would receive a dishonorable discharge This is what my constituents in south- Our veterans deserve better. in the military for what their actions ern Minnesota expect, and this is what The Veterans Accountability Act will are. They shouldn’t be allowed the the gentleman from Tennessee’s or the hold bureaucrats accountable for honor of serving people who served this gentleman from Florida’s constituents wrongdoing, make it easier to dismiss country in World War II or Korea or expect: look at a problem, assess it, bad employees, and strengthen protec- Vietnam or Panama, Kosovo, Bosnia, come up with some different solutions, tions for whistleblowers. These are Somalia, the Gulf war, Iraq, Afghani- and debate those out. commonsense reforms and long over- stan. Folks shouldn’t be given that I want to be clear, as I said earlier, due. honor lightly. these are tough issues. There was de- Because our military men and It is exactly why this bill, the De- bate—heated debate. We may even have women, our Hoosier heroes, fought to partment of Veterans Affairs Account- raised our voices a few times doing

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:25 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.060 H13JNPT1 H4896 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2017 this, but that is the way the world’s Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance The bill imposes unreasonable timelines on greatest democracy is supposed to of my time. the ability of employees to respond to allega- function. Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I tions that may lead to discipline and eliminates Again, three of the most pressing yield myself such time as I may con- the ability of the Merit System Protection issues, three of the top priorities of sume. Board to mitigate penalties that may have this Nation’s veterans, all addressed in Today is a proud day, I think, for this been overly harsh and raise due process con- the first 6 six months of this Congress, Nation. The United States of America cerns. all addressed to the satisfaction of a does more for its veterans than all The bill prohibits the use of administrative wide, bipartisan VSO community that other nations in the world combined; leave for employees challenging demotions. is grateful for it. and I don’t think that, on some days, This provision could also force employees to I think, in trying to find these chal- that is even enough for these heroes use their accrued sick or annual leave while lenges and understanding them, people that have served us and many of whom on appeal, which Courts have considered a are trying to get at the heart of this. I have spoken this afternoon. taking in violation of the Constitution. do think there are great frustrations, I want to express my appreciation to While S. 1094 is a bipartisan compromise and I have said, totally indefensible of the minority and the majority staff, aimed at dealing with a specific and troubled the examples given. and to Sergeant Major WALZ for walk- department, a number of its provisions are But when we had this debate before, ing hand in hand. As he said, this was problematic and would not serve as an exam- there were some examples of bad man- not an easy process. There were a lot of ple for future civil service-related legislation. agers inadvertently firing people who difficult issues that we both dealt with. The SPEAKER pro tempore. All time were pointing out things that the man- I also want to thank our friends on for debate has expired. ager was doing; and the due process the Senate side who also went through Pursuant to House Resolution 378, considerations got that person their the same process and brought a bill to the previous question is ordered. job back, and we got rid of the man- the floor that we can all, I think, en- The question is on the third reading ager. thusiastically support. of the bill. I think that when we first started de- The Secretary said when he was first The bill was ordered to be read a bating this, I made the case that this chosen—and I might add, 100–0, Sec- third time, and was read the third could be a right-to-work bill in dis- retary Shulkin was a bipartisan agree- time. guise. This bill is not that. This bill, as ment in the Senate. I think he is a The SPEAKER pro tempore. The the chairman said, was not the inten- leader to transform the VA. He asked question is on the passage of the bill. tion. The intention was accountability. for accountability. He said: I cannot do The question was taken; and the The intention of the bill was to stream- my job as Secretary if I don’t have this Speaker pro tempore announced that line the process while protecting those piece of legislation. the ayes appeared to have it. So he was very supportive, along due process rights. Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, with President Trump, so we gave him I am grateful that the chairman, as on that I demand the yeas and nays. always, kept his word. He followed that. The yeas and nays were ordered. We also protected due process rights through and he negotiated that. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- for the employees who work for the The thing that I would say before ant to clause 8 of rule XX, further pro- VA—a very important issue. closing here, Mr. Speaker, is that I ceedings on this question will be post- agree with the majority leader. I think Whistleblower protections. We could not do our job, Mr. Speaker, if we did poned. the combination of many things that f we are doing possesses the potential to not have these whistleblowers. There see real reforms moving in the right di- are 350,000 employees, 154 medical cen- ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER rection. Something that I think hasn’t ters, and over 800 outpatient clinics. PRO TEMPORE There is no way that we could monitor been mentioned here—that the Sec- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- that without their help. So their pro- retary did with consultation with the ant to clause 8 of rule XX, proceedings tections are there. chairman, myself, and others—was will resume on questions previously Mr. Speaker, I want to encourage that he took the action of streamlining postponed. both sides of the aisle to support S. the medical record procedure between Votes will be taken in the following 1094, and I yield back the balance of my the DOD, and the VA added to that. order: time. There is transformational, genera- Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I strongly The motion to recommit on H.R. tional-type change happening at the support increased accountability and whistle- 2581; VA, but none of this will matter. And blower protection at the Department of Vet- Passage of H.R. 2581, if ordered; and the majority leader said he expects to Passage of S. 1094. erans Affairs. And I recognize that S. 1094 see that. We must ensure that it hap- The first electronic vote will be con- represents a compromise approach that was pens. We must ensure the account- ducted as a 15-minute vote. Remaining crafted specifically to address severe, long- ability, we must monitor, we must ask electronic votes will be conducted as 5- standing problems at VA hospitals. that it is happening, and we must come But a number of S. 1094’s provisions con- minute votes. back at this again. If there is a glitch cern me. As Vice Ranking Member of the f that was unintended, let’s come back Committee on Oversight and Government Re- VERIFY FIRST ACT at it again in this same manner of form, these concerns would be amplified if The SPEAKER pro tempore. The un- reaching an outcome. these provisions were applied to other con- This is a positive day, Mr. Speaker. I finished business is the vote on the mo- texts or across the federal government in fu- would hope that those folks paying at- tion to recommit on the bill (H.R. 2581) ture legislation. tention to this and watching—cer- A partial list of problematic provisions in- to amend the Internal Revenue Code of tainly the veterans, but everyone— cludes: 1986 to require the provision of social know that Congress can work together; The bill requires a lower standard of evi- security numbers as a condition of re- Congress can take on pressing issues; dence that would allow removal, demotion, ceiving the health insurance premium Congress can come up with bipartisan and other disciplinary actions even if the ma- tax credit, offered by the gentlewoman solutions; and Congress can agree that jority of evidence is exculpatory. from California (Ms. SA´ NCHEZ), on the thing that defines us most is not The bill supersedes existing collective bar- which the yeas and nays were ordered. Republican or Democrat—it is U.S. cit- gaining agreements. The Clerk will redesignate the mo- izen, it is veteran, and it is care for The bill provides for the clawback and for- tion. them. feiture of bonuses and pensions under a The Clerk redesignated the motion. Today I am proud to get this through standard that is broad and susceptible to The SPEAKER pro tempore. The here. Let’s send it on to the President, abuse. question is on the motion to recommit. and let’s all celebrate the Administra- The bill denies senior executives of the right The vote was taken by electronic de- tion signing this into law and moving to appeal to the Merit Systems Protection vice, and there were—yeas 193, nays forward. Board, which they have under current law. 231, not voting 6, as follows:

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:25 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.062 H13JNPT1 June 13, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4897 [Roll No. 305] Graves (MO) Massie Royce (CA) [Roll No. 306] Grothman Mast Russell YEAS—193 Guthrie McCarthy Rutherford AYES—238 Adams Gabbard Nolan Harper McCaul Sanford Abraham Gohmert Olson Aguilar Gallego Norcross Harris McClintock Scalise Aderholt Goodlatte Palazzo Barraga´ n Garamendi O’Halleran Hartzler McHenry Schweikert Allen Gosar Palmer Bass Gonzalez (TX) O’Rourke Hensarling McKinley Scott, Austin Amash Gowdy Paulsen Beatty Gottheimer Pallone Herrera Beutler McMorris Sensenbrenner Amodei Graves (GA) Pearce Bera Green, Al Panetta Hice, Jody B. Rodgers Sessions Arrington Graves (LA) Perry Beyer Green, Gene Pascrell Higgins (LA) McSally Shimkus Babin Graves (MO) Peterson Bishop (GA) Grijalva Payne Hill Meadows Shuster Bacon Grothman Pittenger Blumenauer Gutie´rrez Pelosi Holding Meehan Simpson Banks (IN) Guthrie Poe (TX) Blunt Rochester Hanabusa Perlmutter Hollingsworth Messer Smith (MO) Barletta Harper Poliquin Bonamici Hastings Peters Hudson Mitchell Smith (NE) Barr Harris Posey Boyle, Brendan Heck Peterson Huizenga Moolenaar Smith (NJ) Barton Hartzler Ratcliffe Hultgren Mooney (WV) F. Higgins (NY) Pingree Smith (TX) Bergman Hensarling Reed Hunter Mullin Brady (PA) Himes Pocan Smucker Biggs Herrera Beutler Reichert Hurd Murphy (PA) Brown (MD) Hoyer Polis Stefanik Bilirakis Hice, Jody B. Renacci Issa Newhouse Brownley (CA) Huffman Price (NC) Stewart Bishop (MI) Higgins (LA) Rice (SC) Jenkins (KS) Noem Bustos Jackson Lee Quigley Stivers Bishop (UT) Hill Roby Jenkins (WV) Nunes Butterfield Jayapal Raskin Taylor Black Holding Roe (TN) Capuano Jeffries Rice (NY) Johnson (LA) Olson Blackburn Hollingsworth Rogers (AL) Johnson (OH) Palazzo Tenney Carbajal Johnson (GA) Richmond Thompson (PA) Blum Hudson Rogers (KY) ´ Jordan Palmer Cardenas Johnson, E. B. Rosen Thornberry Bost Huizenga Rohrabacher Carson (IN) Jones Roybal-Allard Joyce (OH) Paulsen Brady (TX) Hultgren Rokita Katko Pearce Tiberi Cartwright Kaptur Ruiz Tipton Brat Hunter Rooney, Francis Castor (FL) Keating Ruppersberger Kelly (MS) Perry Bridenstine Hurd Rooney, Thomas Kelly (PA) Pittenger Trott Castro (TX) Kelly (IL) Rush Turner Brooks (AL) Issa J. Chu, Judy Kennedy Ryan (OH) King (IA) Poe (TX) Brooks (IN) Jenkins (KS) Upton Ros-Lehtinen Cicilline Khanna Sa´ nchez King (NY) Poliquin Buchanan Jenkins (WV) Roskam Valadao Clark (MA) Kihuen Sarbanes Kinzinger Posey Buck Johnson (LA) Ross Wagner Clarke (NY) Kildee Schakowsky Knight Ratcliffe Bucshon Johnson (OH) Rothfus Walberg Clay Kilmer Schiff Kustoff (TN) Reed Budd Jones Rouzer Walden Cleaver Kind Schneider Labrador Reichert Burgess Jordan Royce (CA) Walker Clyburn Krishnamoorthi Schrader LaHood Renacci Byrne Joyce (OH) Russell Walorski Cohen Kuster (NH) Scott (VA) LaMalfa Rice (SC) Calvert Kaptur Rutherford Walters, Mimi Connolly Langevin Scott, David Lamborn Roby Carter (GA) Katko Sanford Webster (FL) Conyers Larsen (WA) Serrano Lance Roe (TN) Carter (TX) Kelly (MS) Scalise Wenstrup Cooper Larson (CT) Sewell (AL) Latta Rogers (AL) Chabot Kelly (PA) Schweikert Westerman Correa Lawrence Shea-Porter Lewis (MN) Rogers (KY) Chaffetz King (IA) Scott, Austin Costa Lawson (FL) Sherman LoBiondo Rohrabacher Williams Cheney King (NY) Sensenbrenner Courtney Lee Sinema Long Rokita Wilson (SC) Coffman Kinzinger Sessions Crist Levin Sires Loudermilk Rooney, Francis Wittman Cole Knight Shimkus Crowley Lewis (GA) Slaughter Love Rooney, Thomas Womack Collins (GA) Kustoff (TN) Shuster Cuellar Lieu, Ted Smith (WA) Lucas J. Woodall Collins (NY) Labrador Simpson Davis (CA) Lipinski Soto Luetkemeyer Ros-Lehtinen Yoder Comer LaHood Sinema Davis, Danny Loebsack Speier MacArthur Roskam Yoho Comstock LaMalfa Smith (MO) DeFazio Lofgren Suozzi Marchant Ross Young (AK) Conaway Lamborn Smith (NE) DeGette Lowenthal Swalwell (CA) Marino Rothfus Young (IA) Cook Lance Smith (NJ) Delaney Lowey Takano Marshall Rouzer Zeldin Costello (PA) Latta Smith (TX) DeLauro Lujan Grisham, Thompson (CA) Cramer LoBiondo Smucker DelBene M. Thompson (MS) NOT VOTING—6 Crawford Long Stefanik Demings Luja´ n, Ben Ray Titus Cummings Griffith Napolitano Cuellar Loudermilk Stewart DeSaulnier Lynch Tonko Granger Johnson, Sam Weber (TX) Culberson Love Stivers Deutch Maloney, Torres Curbelo (FL) Lucas Taylor Dingell Carolyn B. Tsongas Davidson Luetkemeyer Tenney Doggett Maloney, Sean Vargas b 1603 Davis, Rodney Lynch Thompson (PA) Doyle, Michael Matsui Veasey DeFazio MacArthur Thornberry F. McCollum Vela Messrs. VALADAO, GOHMERT, RUS- Denham Marchant Tiberi Duncan (TN) McEachin Vela´ zquez SELL, Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER, Dent Marino Tipton Ellison McGovern Visclosky DeSantis Marshall Trott Engel McNerney Walz Messrs. WITTMAN, WALKER, DesJarlais Massie Turner Eshoo Meeks Wasserman BROOKS of Alabama, GROTHMAN, Donovan Mast Upton Espaillat Meng Schultz YOUNG of Alaska, and WENSTRUP Duffy McCarthy Valadao Esty (CT) Moore Waters, Maxine changed their vote from ‘‘yea’’ to Duncan (SC) McCaul Wagner Evans Moulton Watson Coleman Duncan (TN) McClintock Walberg Foster Murphy (FL) Welch ‘‘nay.’’ Dunn McHenry Walden Frankel (FL) Nadler Wilson (FL) Mrs. LAWRENCE, Ms. ROSEN, Mr. Emmer McKinley Walker Fudge Neal Yarmuth Estes (KS) McMorris Walorski HASTINGS, Mses. SLAUGHTER, Farenthold Rodgers Walters, Mimi NAYS—231 KELLY of Illinois, and FRANKEL of Faso McSally Webster (FL) Abraham Bucshon DesJarlais Florida changed their vote from ‘‘nay’’ Ferguson Meadows Wenstrup Aderholt Budd Diaz-Balart to ‘‘yea.’’ Fitzpatrick Meehan Westerman Allen Burgess Donovan Fleischmann Messer Williams Amash Byrne Duffy So the motion to recommit was re- Flores Mitchell Wilson (SC) Amodei Calvert Duncan (SC) jected. Fortenberry Moolenaar Wittman Foxx Mooney (WV) Womack Arrington Carter (GA) Dunn The result of the vote was announced Babin Carter (TX) Emmer Franks (AZ) Mullin Woodall Bacon Chabot Estes (KS) as above recorded. Frelinghuysen Murphy (PA) Yoder Gaetz Newhouse Yoho Banks (IN) Chaffetz Farenthold The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Barletta Cheney Faso Gallagher Noem Young (AK) Barr Coffman Ferguson question is on the passage of the bill. Garrett Nunes Young (IA) Barton Cole Fitzpatrick The question was taken; and the Gibbs O’Halleran Zeldin Bergman Collins (GA) Fleischmann Speaker pro tempore announced that Biggs Collins (NY) Flores NOES—184 Bilirakis Comer Fortenberry the ayes appeared to have it. Adams Brown (MD) Clarke (NY) Bishop (MI) Comstock Foxx Aguilar Brownley (CA) Clay RECORDED VOTE Bishop (UT) Conaway Franks (AZ) Barraga´ n Bustos Cleaver Black Cook Frelinghuysen Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Bass Butterfield Clyburn Blackburn Costello (PA) Gaetz Speaker, I demand a recorded vote. Beatty Capuano Cohen Blum Cramer Gallagher Bera Carbajal Connolly Bost Crawford Garrett A recorded vote was ordered. Beyer Ca´ rdenas Conyers Brady (TX) Culberson Gibbs Bishop (GA) Carson (IN) Cooper Brat Curbelo (FL) Gohmert The SPEAKER pro tempore. This is a Blumenauer Cartwright Correa Bridenstine Davidson Goodlatte 5-minute vote. Blunt Rochester Castor (FL) Costa Brooks (AL) Davis, Rodney Gosar The vote was taken by electronic de- Bonamici Castro (TX) Courtney Brooks (IN) Denham Gowdy Boyle, Brendan Chu, Judy Crist Buchanan Dent Graves (GA) vice, and there were—ayes 238, noes 184, F. Cicilline Crowley Buck DeSantis Graves (LA) not voting 8, as follows: Brady (PA) Clark (MA) Davis (CA)

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:25 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00041 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A13JN7.037 H13JNPT1 H4898 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2017 Davis, Danny Kilmer Price (NC) Gerald Ford has disclosed his tax re- Trump, publicly confirmed that the DeGette Kind Quigley Delaney Krishnamoorthi Raskin turn information to the public; Bureau has been investigating poten- DeLauro Kuster (NH) Rice (NY) Whereas, the Chairmen of the Com- tial ties between President Trump’s DelBene Langevin Richmond mittee on Ways and Means, Joint Com- campaign and Russia since July and Demings Larsen (WA) Rosen mittee on Taxation, and the Com- that the Russian President Vladimir DeSaulnier Larson (CT) Roybal-Allard Deutch Lawrence Ruiz mittee on Finance have the authority Putin favored a Trump electoral vic- Diaz-Balart Lawson (FL) Ruppersberger to request the President’s tax returns tory; Dingell Lee Rush under section 6103 of the Internal Rev- Whereas, President Trump’s son-in- Doggett Levin Ryan (OH) enue Code of 1986; Doyle, Michael Lewis (GA) Sa´ nchez law and senior advisor, Jared Kushner, F. Lieu, Ted Sarbanes Whereas, pursuant to Article I, sec- met during the Presidential transition Ellison Lipinski Schakowsky tion 7, clause 1 of the Constitution, at the behest of the Russian Ambas- Engel Loebsack Schiff often referred to as the Origination sador with Sergey N. Gorkov, a grad- Eshoo Lofgren Schneider Espaillat Lowenthal Schrader Clause, the House of Representatives uate of a school run by the successor to Esty (CT) Lowey Scott (VA) has the sole authority to initiate legis- the KGB and who was appointed by Evans Lujan Grisham, Scott, David lation that raises revenue for the na- Vladimir Putin to head a Russian Foster M. Serrano tional government, and the Committee Frankel (FL) Luja´ n, Ben Ray Sewell (AL) state-owned bank that is on the U.S. Fudge Maloney, Shea-Porter on Ways and Means is considering a sanctions list; Gabbard Carolyn B. Sires comprehensive reform of the Tax Code; Whereas, Mr. Kushner proposed es- Gallego Maloney, Sean Slaughter Whereas, according to media reports Garamendi Matsui Smith (WA) tablishing a secret back channel of Gonzalez (TX) McCollum Soto analyzing President Trump’s leaked communications directly to Vladimir Gottheimer McEachin Speier 2005 tax return, we know that had his Putin, even considering the use of Rus- Green, Al McGovern Suozzi own tax plan been in place, he would sian embassy facilities to do so; Green, Gene McNerney Swalwell (CA) have paid an estimated mere 3.48 per- Grijalva Meeks Takano Whereas, Attorney General Jeff Ses- Gutie´rrez Meng Thompson (CA) cent rate instead of a 24 percent rate, sions falsely stated during his Senate Hanabusa Moore Thompson (MS) saving him $31.3 million; confirmation hearing that he ‘‘did not Hastings Moulton Titus Whereas, according to The New York have communications with the Rus- Heck Murphy (FL) Tonko Times, the President used a legally du- Higgins (NY) Nadler Torres sians,’’ when in fact he met at least Himes Neal Tsongas bious tax maneuver in 1995 that could twice during the campaign with Rus- Hoyer Nolan Vargas have allowed him to avoid paying any sian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak; Huffman Norcross Veasey Federal taxes for 18 years; Whereas, former Director Comey tes- Jackson Lee O’Rourke Vela Whereas, President Trump holds ‘‘in- Jayapal Pallone Vela´ zquez tified before the Senate Intelligence Jeffries Panetta Visclosky terests as the sole or principal owner in Committee that President Trump had Johnson (GA) Pascrell Walz approximately 500 separate entities,’’ asked him in the Oval Office about Johnson, E. B. Payne Wasserman according to his attorneys, and the Keating Pelosi Schultz ‘‘letting Flynn go,’’ referring to the in- Kelly (IL) Perlmutter Waters, Maxine President’s tax plan proposes to cut vestigation into former National Secu- Kennedy Peters Watson Coleman the tax rate on such ‘‘pass-through’’ Khanna Pingree Welch rity Advisor Michael Flynn’s business entities from 39.6 percent to 15 percent; ties to Russia; Kihuen Pocan Wilson (FL) Whereas, one analysis estimated that Kildee Polis Yarmuth Whereas, President Trump stated on President Trump would personally save May 11, 2017, that he had decided that NOT VOTING—8 $6.7 million from two tax breaks in- he was going to fire Comey because of Cummings Johnson, Sam Sherman cluded in the Republicans’ first tax Granger Lewis (MN) Weber (TX) ‘‘this Russia thing’’; Griffith Napolitano cut, which they misleadingly call the American Health Care Act; Whereas, former Director Comey, on b 1610 Whereas, without the President’s tax June 8, 2017, testified that Special So the bill was passed. returns, the American people cannot Counsel Robert Mueller could inves- The result of the vote was announced determine how much he will personally tigate whether President Trump’s ac- as above recorded. benefit from proposed changes to the tions with regard to Director Comey A motion to reconsider was laid on Tax Code; and the Flynn investigation con- the table. Whereas, an ABCNews/Washington stituted obstruction of justice; Stated against: Post poll found that 74 percent of Whereas, in 2013, President Trump Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I was un- Americans would like President Trump said, ‘‘Well, I’ve done a lot of business avoidably detained. Had I been present, I to disclose his tax returns and the with the Russians. They’re smart and would have voted ‘‘nay’’ on rollcall No. 306. most-signed petition on the White they’re tough,’’ and President Trump’s f House website calls for the release of son, Donald Trump, Jr., told a news NOTICE OF INTENTION TO OFFER the President’s tax return information outlet in 2008 that ‘‘Russians make up RESOLUTION RAISING A QUES- to verify compliance with the Emolu- a pretty disproportionate cross-section TION OF THE PRIVILEGES OF ments Clause, with more than 1,097,000 of a lot of our assets’’; THE HOUSE signatures as of date of this resolution; Whereas, against the advice of ethics Whereas, disclosure of the Presi- attorneys and the nonpartisan Office of Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, pursu- Government Ethics, the President has ant to clause 2(a)(1) of rule IX, I rise to dent’s tax returns could help those in- vestigating Russian influence in the refused to divest his ownership stake in give notice of my intent to raise a his businesses; question of the privileges of the House. 2016 election better understand the The form of the resolution is as fol- President’s financial ties to the Rus- Whereas, the Director of the non- lows: sian Federation, Russian businesses, partisan Office of Government Ethics Expressing the sense of the House of and Russian individuals; said that the President’s plan to trans- Representatives that the President Whereas, after breaking his pledge to fer his business holdings to a trust shall immediately disclose his tax re- make his tax returns available, Presi- managed by family members is ‘‘mean- turn information to the House of Rep- dent Trump instead presented a one- ingless’’ and ‘‘does not meet the stand- resentatives and the American people. page letter from a law firm giving him ards that . . . every President in the Whereas, President Nixon explained a clean bill of health on any business past four decades has met’’; that ‘‘People have got to know whether dealings with Russians, but failed to Whereas, the Emoluments Clause was or not their President is a crook’’ when note that the very same law firm included in the Constitution for the ex- he invited the Joint Committee on boasted of the ‘‘prestigious honor’’ of press purpose of preventing Federal of- Taxation to audit his returns after the being named ‘‘Russia Law Firm of the ficials from accepting any ‘‘present, Internal Revenue Service gave him an Year’’ for 2016; Emolument, Office, or Title . . . from unwarranted tax discount; Whereas, former Federal Bureau of any King, Prince, or foreign state’’; Whereas, according to the Tax His- Investigation Director James Comey, Whereas, the Trump International tory Project, every President since before he was fired by President Hotel in Washington, D.C., has hired a

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:25 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A13JN7.038 H13JNPT1 June 13, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4899 ‘‘director of diplomatic sales’’ to gen- DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF- Lawson (FL) Palazzo Sherman erate high-priced business among for- FAIRS ACCOUNTABILITY AND Lewis (MN) Palmer Shimkus Lieu, Ted Panetta Shuster eign leaders and diplomatic delega- WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION Lipinski Pascrell Simpson tions; ACT OF 2017 LoBiondo Paulsen Sinema Loebsack Pearce Sires Whereas, the Joint Committee on The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without Taxation reviewed the tax returns of Lofgren Perlmutter Slaughter objection, 5-minute voting will con- Long Perry Smith (MO) President Richard Nixon in 1974 and tinue. Loudermilk Peters Smith (NE) made the information public; Love Peterson Smith (NJ) There was no objection. Whereas, the Committee on Ways and Lowenthal Pingree Smith (TX) The SPEAKER pro tempore. The un- Lowey Pittenger Means used the authority under sec- Smucker finished business is the vote on passage Lucas Poe (TX) Soto tion 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code Luetkemeyer Poliquin of the bill (S. 1094) to amend title 38, Speier of 1986 in 2014 to make public the con- Lujan Grisham, Polis Stefanik United States Code, to improve the ac- M. Posey Stewart fidential tax information of 51 tax- ´ countability of employees of the De- Lujan, Ben Ray Price (NC) Stivers payers; MacArthur Quigley Swalwell (CA) partment of Veterans Affairs, and for Maloney, Ratcliffe Whereas, the Committee on Ways and Takano other purposes, on which the yeas and Carolyn B. Reed Means has now voted three times along Taylor Maloney, Sean Reichert nays were ordered. Tenney party lines to continue to cover-up Marchant Renacci The Clerk read the title of the bill. Thompson (CA) President Trump’s tax returns; Marino Rice (SC) Thompson (PA) The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Marshall Roby Whereas, the House of Representa- Thornberry Massie Roe (TN) tives has now refused nine times to act question is on the passage of the bill. Tiberi Mast Rogers (AL) This is a 5-minute vote. Tipton on President Trump’s tax returns; Matsui Rogers (KY) Titus Whereas, the American people have The vote was taken by electronic de- McCarthy Rohrabacher vice, and there were—yeas 368, nays 55, McCaul Rokita Tonko the right to know whether or not their Torres not voting 7, as follows: McClintock Rooney, Francis President is operating under conflicts McCollum Rooney, Thomas Trott of interest related to international af- [Roll No. 307] McGovern J. Tsongas fairs, tax reform, Government con- McHenry Ros-Lehtinen Turner YEAS—368 Upton tracts, or otherwise; McKinley Rosen Abraham Comer Gonzalez (TX) McMorris Roskam Valadao Whereas, the House of Representa- Adams Comstock Goodlatte Rodgers Ross Veasey tives undermines its dignity and the Aderholt Conaway Gosar McNerney Rothfus Vela integrity of its proceedings by con- Aguilar Connolly Gottheimer McSally Rouzer Visclosky Allen Conyers Gowdy Wagner tinuing the cover-up of President Meadows Roybal-Allard Amash Cook Graves (GA) Meehan Royce (CA) Walberg Trump’s tax returns: Now, therefore, Amodei Cooper Graves (LA) Meeks Ruiz Walden be it Arrington Correa Graves (MO) Meng Ruppersberger Walker Resolved, That the House of Rep- Babin Costa Green, Gene Messer Rush Walorski Bacon Costello (PA) Grothman Mitchell Russell Walters, Mimi resentatives shall, one, immediately Banks (IN) Courtney Guthrie Moolenaar Rutherford Walz request the tax return and return infor- Barletta Cramer Harper Mooney (WV) Ryan (OH) Webster (FL) mation of Donald J. Trump for tax Barr Crawford Harris Moore Sanford Welch Barton Crist Hartzler years 2006 through 2015, as provided Moulton Sarbanes Wenstrup Beatty Cuellar Heck Mullin Scalise Westerman under section 6103 of the Internal Rev- Bera Culberson Hensarling Murphy (FL) Schiff Williams enue Code of 1986, as well as the tax re- Bergman Curbelo (FL) Herrera Beutler Murphy (PA) Schneider Wilson (SC) turn and return information with re- Biggs Davidson Hice, Jody B. Neal Schrader Wittman Bilirakis Davis (CA) Higgins (LA) Newhouse Schweikert Womack spect to the President’s businesses of Bishop (GA) Davis, Danny Higgins (NY) Noem Scott, Austin Woodall each business entity disclosed by Don- Bishop (MI) Davis, Rodney Hill Nolan Scott, David Yarmuth ald J. Trump on his Office of Govern- Bishop (UT) DeFazio Himes Nunes Sensenbrenner Yoder Black DeGette Holding ment Ethics Form 278e, specifically O’Halleran Sessions Yoho Blum Delaney Hollingsworth O’Rourke Sewell (AL) Young (IA) each corporation and each partnership Blumenauer DeLauro Hudson Olson Shea-Porter Zeldin within the meaning of subchapter K of Blunt Rochester DelBene Huffman Bonamici Demings Huizenga NAYS—55 chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code Bost Denham Hultgren of 1986 where he is listed as an officer, Barraga´ n Hastings Raskin Boyle, Brendan Dent Hunter Bass Hoyer Rice (NY) F. DeSantis Hurd director, or equivalent, or exercises Beyer Jackson Lee Richmond Brady (PA) DesJarlais Issa working control; and Brown (MD) Jayapal Sa´ nchez Brady (TX) Deutch Jenkins (KS) Carson (IN) Jeffries Schakowsky Two, postpone consideration of tax Brat Diaz-Balart Jenkins (WV) Clarke (NY) Johnson (GA) Scott (VA) reform legislation until the elected Bridenstine Dingell Johnson (LA) Clyburn Johnson, E. B. Brooks (AL) Doggett Johnson (OH) Serrano Representatives of the American peo- Cohen Kelly (IL) Smith (WA) Brooks (IN) Donovan Jones Crowley Lee ple in this House have obtained Presi- Suozzi Brownley (CA) Doyle, Michael Jordan DeSaulnier Levin dent Trump’s tax returns and return Thompson (MS) Buchanan F. Joyce (OH) Ellison Lewis (GA) Vargas information to ascertain how any Buck Duffy Kaptur Engel Lynch ´ changes to the Tax Code might finan- Bucshon Duncan (SC) Katko Espaillat McEachin Velazquez Budd Duncan (TN) Keating Wasserman cially benefit the President. Evans Nadler Burgess Dunn Kelly (MS) Fudge Norcross Schultz The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under Bustos Emmer Kelly (PA) Green, Al Pallone Waters, Maxine rule IX, a resolution offered from the Butterfield Eshoo Kennedy Grijalva Payne Watson Coleman floor by a Member other than the ma- Byrne Estes (KS) Khanna Gutie´rrez Pelosi Wilson (FL) Calvert Esty (CT) Kihuen Hanabusa Pocan Young (AK) jority leader or the minority leader as Capuano Farenthold Kildee a question of the privileges of the Carbajal Faso Kilmer NOT VOTING—7 ´ House has immediate precedence only Cardenas Ferguson Kind Blackburn Griffith Weber (TX) at a time designated by the Chair with- Carter (GA) Fitzpatrick King (IA) Cummings Johnson, Sam Carter (TX) Fleischmann King (NY) Granger Napolitano in 2 legislative days after the resolu- Cartwright Flores Kinzinger tion is properly noticed. Castor (FL) Fortenberry Knight b 1635 Pending that designation, the form of Castro (TX) Foster Krishnamoorthi Chabot Foxx Kuster (NH) So the bill was passed. the resolution noticed by the gen- Chaffetz Frankel (FL) Kustoff (TN) The result of the vote was announced tleman from Texas will appear in the Cheney Franks (AZ) Labrador as above recorded. RECORD at this point. Chu, Judy Frelinghuysen LaHood A motion to reconsider was laid on Cicilline Gabbard LaMalfa The Chair will not at this point de- Clark (MA) Gaetz Lamborn the table. termine whether the resolution con- Clay Gallagher Lance Stated for: stitutes a question of privilege. That Cleaver Gallego Langevin Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Speaker, I was un- determination will be made at the time Coffman Garamendi Larsen (WA) able to record my last vote due to ineffective Cole Garrett Larson (CT) designated for consideration of the res- Collins (GA) Gibbs Latta card. Had I been present, I would have voted olution. Collins (NY) Gohmert Lawrence ‘‘yea’’ on rollcall No. 307.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:45 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A13JN7.023 H13JNPT1 H4900 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2017 PERSONAL EXPLANATION thrill to watch. We saw basketball at School girls softball team who late last Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I was ab- its best—incredible talent and a real month reclaimed their crown as L.A. sent during rollcall votes No. 305, No. 306, passion from both sides. Thank you to City Section Division I champions. and No. 307 due to my spouse’s health situa- the Warriors team for making our On the night of Friday, May 19, the tion in California. Had I been present, I would dreams of another championship a re- Pirates won their first city title in 8 have voted ‘‘yea’’ on the Democratic Motion to ality. years and 17th overall. Star pitcher Recommit H.R. 2581. I would have voted This remarkable team has made his- Cindy Robles persevered through ill- ‘‘nay’’ on the Passage of H.R. 2581—Verify tory as one of the best ever, winning a ness to throw a four-hitter with three First Act. I would have also voted ‘‘nay’’ on the record 15 straight games in the playoffs strikeouts, illustrating her toughness Passage of S. 1094—Department of Veterans and clinching a 16-to-1 postseason after coming down with a 102-degree Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Pro- record. fever earlier in the day. tection Act of 2017. Thank you to Coaches Steve Kerr Her teammates were behind her f and Mike Brown, the entire Warriors every step of the way, always making staff, and all of the talented players on the key play at the necessary moment. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT their well-deserved victory. By rallying together and continually A message in writing from the Presi- Throughout this journey, Warriors picking each other up, the Pirates girls dent of the United States was commu- fans have stayed loyal and faithful, and softball team represents the true spirit nicated to the House by Ms. Mariel they deserve this victory as well. of California’s 44th Congressional Dis- Ridgway, one of his secretaries. My dear late mother, Mildred trict. f Massey, was the Warriors’ biggest fan, No matter what adversity we might and I know she is smiling from above. face individually, our community al- RECOGNIZING OPHELIA GAINES I can’t wait to celebrate with all the ways finds a way to rally together in (Mr. CARTER of Georgia asked and Warriors fans and players back in Oak- pursuit of our common goals. Mr. was given permission to address the land. Go Warriors, go Oakland, go Dub Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute House for 1 minute and to revise and Nation. to these strong young women and all extend his remarks.) f they represent. Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speak- f er, I rise today to recognize the re- CREATING ACCOUNTABILITY AT markable career of Mrs. Ophelia DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF- EXPORT AMERICAN LIQUIFIED Gaines, who will retire as executive di- FAIRS NATURAL GAS rector of Concerted Services on June (Ms. TENNEY asked and was given (Mr. POE of Texas asked and was 30, 2017. permission to address the House for 1 given permission to address the House Mrs. Gaines’ career with Concerted minute.) for 1 minute. Services, a nonprofit action group that Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, last focuses on fighting poverty throughout today to applaud the passage of the De- week, Cheniere Energy, headquartered 28 counties in southeast Georgia, has partment of Veterans Affairs Account- in Houston, Texas, delivered its first spanned nearly 44 years. ability Act. This important legislation liquified natural gas shipment out of Mrs. Gaines began her work with the will create a culture of accountability the Sabine Pass terminal to northern company in 1973, traveling door to door at the VA and begin the process of re- Europe, to the Netherlands, and to Po- in low-income communities, educating storing the VA’s sole mission of pro- land. This follows shipments to south- families on how to enroll in programs viding high-quality care for our Na- ern Europe from earlier this year. like Head Start, Energy Assistance, tion’s veterans. Put simply, this is a tremendous and Senior Nutrition. For far too long, the VA has been game changer. Exporting LNG is not Mrs. Gaines’ altruistic career contin- plagued with scandal. From years’ long just an economic issue, it is a geo- ued with her decision to teach social wait lists to out-of-control bonuses, political security issue. These ship- work classes at both Georgia Southern the VA needs real reform. ments help thwart Russian aggression University and Savannah State Univer- In their selfless service to our great and weaken Russia’s stranglehold over sity, enabling young people to carry on Nation, our veterans have sacrificed so Europe, and it is about time. her work throughout southeast Geor- much to protect us. They shouldn’t be Under Secretary Perry’s leadership, gia. plagued with difficulty accessing the the Energy Department is finally ap- I am proud to rise today to recognize care that they need and deserve. proving licenses for LNG terminals to Mrs. Gaines, and thank her for all of As the mother of an Active-Duty U.S. ship LNG overseas. her outstanding contributions to our Marine, I am sympathetic to the needs Our natural gas is cheaper and more local communities and to the lives of of our veterans. It is among my top pri- abundant in supply than anywhere in our fellow Georgians. orities to make sure that we advocate the world. Harnessing our domestic en- f for a better, more accountable VA. On ergy resources and exporting some of it behalf of the veterans of the 22nd Dis- to our friends and to our allies around WARRIORS CHAMPIONSHIP WIN trict of New York, I am pleased to see the world makes sense for our economy (Ms. LEE asked and was given per- this legislation pass with bipartisan and for our national security. mission to address the House for 1 support. We should apply the Blue Bell ice minute.) Today, we are correcting a wrong cream philosophy to our domestic en- Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, last night the that has hurt too many of our Nation’s ergy resources. It is: Use what we can world watched my home team, the heroes. I look forward to seeing the and sell the rest. Golden State Warriors, end a historic President sign this measure into law And that is just the way it is. season by bringing home their second and have full confidence in VA Sec- f national championship in 3 years. retary Shulkin’s ability to implement STUDENT LOAN DEBT BURDEN The Warriors, led by unanimous the important reforms contained in Finals MVP Kevin Durant and leg- this critical piece of legislation. (Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Penn- endary players Steph Curry, Draymond f sylvania asked and was given permis- Green, and Klay Thompson, showed the sion to address the House for 1 minute power of teamwork both on and off the RECOGNIZING SAN PEDRO HIGH and to revise and extend his remarks.) court. SCHOOL GIRLS SOFTBALL TEAM Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsyl- The team is an example for young (Ms. BARRAGA´ N asked and was vania. Mr. Speaker, today, Americans people, showing that if you can work given permission to address the House are more burdened by student loan together and trust one another, you for 1 minute and to revise and extend debt than ever. The statistics are truly can accomplish anything. her remarks.) stunning. They owe over $1.4 trillion in Mr. Speaker, these finals against the Ms. BARRAGA´ N. Mr. Speaker, I rise student loan debt spread out among 44 talented Cleveland Cavaliers were a today to recognize the San Pedro High million borrowers. That is about $600

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:25 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A13JN7.034 H13JNPT1 June 13, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4901 billion more, or double the total United minute and to revise and extend his re- tinue to pose an unusual and extraor- States credit card debt. marks.) dinary threat to the national security And the problem is only getting Mr. SMUCKER. Mr. Speaker, I rise and foreign policy of the United States. worse. The average class of 2016 grad- today to congratulate the Avon Grove For this reason, I have determined that uate has more than $37,172 in student Red Devils men’s lacrosse team on it is necessary to continue the national loan debt, which is up 6 percent from their State championship victory. emergency declared in Executive Order the previous year. Yet President The Red Devils finished the season 13405 with respect to Belarus. Trump just proposed gutting the best with a 23–2 record, beating Philadel- DONALD J. TRUMP. lifelines and safeguards that these bor- phia area powerhouse Conestoga in the THE WHITE HOUSE, June 13, 2017. rowers have. PIAA Class 3A title game with a thrill- f The Trump budget cuts the Public ing 5–4 victory. THE PEOPLE’S NIGHT Service Loan Forgiveness Program, Sophomore Zach Augustine was one which makes public interest and non- of the heroes, scoring the game-win- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under profit work attainable for students, de- ning goal in double overtime, a mo- the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- spite their debt loads; it consolidates ment that he described as ‘‘unbeliev- uary 3, 2017, the gentleman from North income-based repayment programs able.’’ Carolina (Mr. WALKER) is recognized that are critical to managing repay- This redeeming victory for them for 60 minutes as the designee of the ment; and it completely scraps sub- comes 3 years after a heartbreaking majority leader. sidized interest on some student loans. loss for the Red Devils in the 2014 State Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, many Mr. Speaker, we cannot profess to title game. Senior midfielder Doug times as our Members in the House stand for the middle class, for Amer- Jones, a freshman on that 2014 team, travel throughout our districts, we are ican workers, and for American values said: ‘‘I remember as a freshman saying often asked: What is being done in the while pulling the rug out from under 44 to myself that I wanted to get back House? What is being accomplished? Well, this afternoon we are going to million borrowers bearing the weight here. We knew we had one goal: to win take a few minutes and allow you to of what is the greatest systemic threat this. It means the absolute world to hear directly from the Members, some- to our economic stability. us.’’ thing that we like to call the People’s f I applaud the commitment displayed Night. This is the people’s House, so by these young men, both to each other AMERICANS’ RIGHT TO LIVE IN from time to time we like to bypass and to their community. Congratula- FAITH any of the outlets and talk directly to tions to the Avon Grove Red Devils (Mr. BIGGS asked and was given per- the American people. team, the coaches, their families, and mission to address the House for 1 Now, a lot of people might not know the faculty, staff, and students that minute and to revise and extend his re- specifically what has been going on in marks.) made this championship so special. the House. Well, I think these visuals Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Speaker, during his f may aid in specifically talking about confirmation hearing to become Presi- CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL some of the things that we are accom- dent Trump’s Deputy Director for the EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO plishing. Office of Management and Budget, THE GOVERNMENT OF For example, if you will see the Russ Vought faced inappropriate and BELARUS—MESSAGE FROM THE chart, this chart lists the House-passed unconstitutional lines of questioning PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED bills to date. It also includes the last from two of the Budget Committee’s STATES (H. DOC. NO. 115–47) four Presidents. As you can see, the Democratic Senators directly relating House of the 115th Congress has passed The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. to his Christian faith. 158 pieces of legislation; 158 bills we FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida) laid before A Senator took direct issue with an have sent to the Senate or to the Presi- the House the following message from article Mr. Vought wrote last year de- dent. scribing a core tenet of the Christian the President of the United States; The House isn’t the only one that has faith that salvation comes through which was read and, together with the been busy. Our President has been faith in Jesus Christ. After attempting accompanying papers, referred to the busy. In fact, if you will notice this to twist that belief into a claim that Committee on Foreign Affairs and or- chart behind, you will notice that we Mr. Vought is hateful and discrimina- dered to be printed: are also at a record pace if you look at tory toward non-Christians, Senator To the Congress of the United States: the last four, five Presidents. Of these Section 202(d) of the National Emer- SANDERS said: ‘‘This nominee is really bills, the President has signed 37 bills gencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides not someone who this country is sup- into law, compared with the next most, for the automatic termination of a na- posed to be about. I will vote ‘no.’’’ which was George Herbert Walker Bush Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vought’s qualifica- tional emergency unless, within 90 many years ago, with 35. tions are excellent. To take the view of days of the anniversary date of its dec- That is what the House is working Senator SANDERS that is clearly tied to laration, the President publishes in the on; it is what we are working with the a disagreement over a religious tenet is Federal Register and transmits to the Senate, we are working with the Presi- discriminatory in and of itself. Congress a notice stating that the dent. Article 6 of the U.S. Constitution emergency is to continue in effect be- But this afternoon I want you to hear states ‘‘no religious test shall ever be yond the anniversary date. In accord- directly from some of the Members required as a qualification to any office ance with that provision, I have sent to themselves who have been very instru- or public trust under the United the Federal Register for publication the mental not only in what we have ac- States.’’ enclosed notice stating that the na- complished, but also some of the things Mr. Vought’s Christian faith should tional emergency with respect to the that we are looking forward to accom- not have been the subject of this harsh actions and policies of certain mem- plishing over the next few months. questioning, and no excuse should ever bers of the Government of Belarus and The first person I would like to intro- justify a public official putting some- other persons to undermine democratic duce to you is our chairman of the Fi- one’s faith on trial. We should not ig- processes or institutions of Belarus nancial Services Committee, JEB HEN- nore this episode but, rather, stand in that was declared in Executive Order SARLING. Representative HENSARLING is defense of Mr. Vought’s right to live 13405 of June 16, 2006, is to continue in from Texas’ Fifth District and has been his faith as we defend the religious effect beyond June 16, 2017. instrumental in doing something that freedom of all Americans. The actions and policies of certain we have been promising and trying to f members of the Government of Belarus accomplish for many years. and other persons to undermine demo- Mr. Speaker, with that, I yield to AVON GROVE RED DEVILS WIN cratic processes or institutions of Chairman JEB HENSARLING, my good STATE CHAMPIONSHIP Belarus, to commit human rights friend. (Mr. SMUCKER asked and was given abuses related to political repression, Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, I permission to address the House for 1 and to engage in public corruption con- thank the gentleman for yielding to

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:45 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.071 H13JNPT1 H4902 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2017 me, and let me thank him for his lead- all of America, economic opportunity fighting to fundamentally change ership of the Republican Study Com- for all, bank bailouts for none. Washington and to return power to the mittee and what that committee It replaces the era of bank bailouts American people where it really be- means to the conservative movement with bankruptcy for these large finan- longs. and what it means to the cause of free- cial institutions. It replaces Wash- We have been doing this against a dom and opportunity for so many ington micromanagement with market strong headwind of obstructionists, working men and women. discipline. That is how we help to grow sometimes from colleagues across the I especially want to thank the gen- this economy. It will create more cred- aisle, sometimes from certain in the tleman from North Carolina for his it for more people. media more interested in a liberal work on the American Health Care Act There is a whole part of this legisla- agenda than in accurate reporting, and and what that means to so many of our tion that is totally devoted to our sometimes from embedded bureaucrats constituents to truly be able, after this small banks and credit unions because and special interests within the gov- rise of premiums where people are pay- it is our small community financial in- ernment industrial complex who really ing more to get less in healthcare, to stitutions that help finance our small don’t want to see the Washington really bring us to a moment where we businesses. It is our small businesses swamp drained. But in spite of that, we can have patient-centered healthcare. I which are the job engine of America. are succeeding. just want to thank him for that. That is what has been choked off by b 1700 These are actually hopeful times for this heavy hand of Obama regulation. And while many of these conserv- the American people. Regrettably, as So I was proud to play a very small ative winds have gone unreported and, we know, working America hasn’t re- role in the House to bring the Finan- therefore, flown under the radar, the ceived a pay increase in almost a dec- cial CHOICE Act to the House so that truth is that we are indeed steering the we can indeed, as the acronym sug- ade. Their savings have remained deci- ship in the right direction, we are gests, create hope and opportunity for mated since the financial crisis. So to steadily undoing the damage done by investors, for consumers, for entre- get this economy moving again, our out-of-touch policies by the Obama ad- preneurs. We want the animal spirits in President knows, this Congress knows ministration. that, number one, we do have to return the American economy to move again. Case in point is a fact that has not to patient-centered healthcare, not for We want that budding optimism that garnered a lot of headlines, but should what that means just to our families, tomorrow can be a better day, that you have, something that Congressman but what it means to our economy. can be your own boss, that you can WALKER pointed out earlier: the fact We have to have fundamental tax re- start your own small business. We want that in the first 100 days of this 115th form as well, and I know that our that opportunity to flourish yet again Congress, we have passed more bills— House Ways and Means Committee is in America. That is what we managed 158 to be exact—than were passed dur- working on that assiduously, but we to do with the Financial CHOICE Act. ing the first 100 days of any and all of also have to have fundamental reform I am very happy that we have now the four prior administrations: the of our regulations. There is no regula- sent it over to the Senate. We look for- Obama, Bush, Clinton, and H.W. Bush tion that has imposed more burden on ward to having the Senate act upon administrations. And as proof of our our economy than the Dodd-Frank Act. this. The American people can’t wait productivity, we have signed more of In fact, it is more burdensome to our to get this economy moving again. those bills into law than in any of the economy than all Obama-era regula- Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the other administrations’ first 100 days as tions combined. It is simply that bad. chairman for highlighting this for the well. When they passed this bill in the American people, and I want to thank But it is not just the quantity of the wake of the financial crisis, they told him again for his leadership of the Re- bills that we are turning into laws. It is us that it would lift the economy. But publican Study Committee. Without about the quality and the substance. instead of lifting the economy, we are this august group, the Congress’ larg- We are passing legislation that is mak- mired in the slowest, weakest recovery est caucus, the caucus of conservatives, ing government smaller. We are pass- in the postwar era. this would not have happened, and I ing legislation that is making govern- They told us that it would end bank want to thank him for that. ment less costly. We are passing legis- bailouts, but cynically, it codified Mr. WALKER. Thank you, Chairman lation that is making the government them into law and backed it up with a HENSARLING. Most people would not de- finally more accountable to the people. taxpayer bailout fund. scribe your role as a small part in mak- We are dismantling the enormous bu- They told us and they promised us it ing sure that people have more oppor- reaucratic overgrowth and underbrush would make the economy more stable, tunities in our financial industry. that spun out of control under former but instead, the big banks have gotten Not that we are showing Texas any President Obama. bigger and the small banks have gotten partiality this evening, but our second As a former prosecutor, I believe you fewer. Representative is a former Federal have got to win your case with They told us and promised us it prosecutor from the great State of verifiable facts and evidence, so let me would help the consumer, but instead Texas, and many would consider one of give you some. In the last 20 years, of helping the consumer, free checking the top conservatives in all of the prior Congresses have successfully used at banks has been cut in half. Bank United States Congress, the gentleman the Congressional Review Act one fees have increased. Has anybody with- from Texas (Mr. RATCLIFFE), my friend, time. Just once in the prior 20 years in earshot tried to get a mortgage re- is here to talk about the CFPB, among has Congress used the CRA to undo cently? They are harder to come by. some other issues. So without further midnight regulations passed at the 12th They cost hundreds of more dollars to ado, I yield to Mr. RATCLIFFE. hour in the dead of night as adminis- close. There are fewer credit card offer- Mr. RATCLIFFE. I would like to trations were walking out the door. ings. thank my colleague and friend from But in the first 4 months of this Con- What has happened here is, under North Carolina, the gentleman, Con- gress, Republicans have united to use Dodd-Frank, those who are seeking gressman WALKER, for yielding to me the CRA 14 times to overturn 14 of credit are now paying more and receiv- and for hosting this Special Order to- President Obama’s most harmful mid- ing less. This is hurting not only our night, which is fittingly titled, ‘‘The night regulations, and in so doing, we families, but it has hurt our economy. People’s Night.’’ After all, there is a have saved the American people, the Small business lending hasn’t recov- reason that the United States House of United States taxpayers, billions of ered, entrepreneurship is at a genera- Representatives is often called the peo- dollars in the process. tional low. ple’s House. It is because our job is to Now we are in the process of finally So that is why it was so important fight for the priorities of the people saving America from arguably the that on Thursday of last week this that we are privileged to represent most disastrous piece of legislation in body, this House, took action and here. our Nation’s history: ObamaCare. passed the Financial CHOICE Act. The Over the past 6 months, Republicans If anyone needs any further evidence Financial CHOICE Act represents, for have been fighting for the people, of its implosion into a death spiral,

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:25 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.073 H13JNPT1 June 13, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4903 just yesterday CMS announced that 2 However, even though we are going fear tactics about this bill, erroneously million Americans dropped off of the to talk tonight a little about what we saying it will increase crime and arm ObamaCare exchanges in just the first have done and what we look forward criminals. 3 months of this year. to, we are not stopping with 158, we are First of all, under this law, an indi- The ObamaCare house is on fire, and not stopping with the 37 that have been vidual who travels to a different State rather than waiting for it to burn to signed into law. We are looking for- has to follow the laws of that State. In the ground with American families ward to doing some new things. the same way with a driver’s license, still inside, Republicans in the peoples’ I think one of the best people to talk when you drive into another State, House have acted now. Republicans about something that we are excited they recognize that you are a legal won’t let Americans suffer in the face about is certainly somebody that I call driver, but you have got to follow their of such inevitable continuing adversity a friend, a fellow member, a colleague laws. when it comes to our healthcare. So as from North Carolina, someone who al- Second, every single person who ObamaCare continues to dissolve in lows me to tag along into NASCAR wants to buy a firearm still has to go front of our eyes, we have already country from time to time, a real through the Federal background check. taken action by sending an ObamaCare friend of the people, someone who I My bill does nothing to change that. repeal bill over to the Senate. have learned that will tell you the Further, statistics have shown that All of this work makes me incredibly truth no matter what you ask. It is my violent crime has decreased as gun optimistic about the results that we privilege to yield to the gentleman ownership and concealed-carry permits are continuing to deliver on the peo- from North Carolina (Mr. HUDSON). have increased. Since 1991, 25 States ple’s behalf, just as we did again last Mr. HUDSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank have adopted right-to-carry laws. The week when we passed a House bill that the chairman very much for yielding. I number of people with carry permits tackles a key issue that I have been thank the chairman also for orga- has risen to over 12 million people, and sounding the alarm about since my nizing, once again, an opportunity for the Nation’s violent crime rate has de- first day in Congress: ending the reck- us to speak directly to the American creased 51 percent. less overreach of ELIZABETH WARREN’s people, and for his tremendous leader- Also, if a criminal with malice intent Consumer Financial Protection Bu- ship on the values that we conserv- wants to get a gun, I can guarantee you reau. atives hold very dear. that he or she isn’t worried about fol- I was so grateful for the opportunity Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the oppor- lowing the laws that are on the books. to support the House’s passage of my tunity to talk about a piece of legisla- Unfortunately, we can’t change that, fellow Texan, JEB HENSARLING’s, Fi- tion tonight that we plan to bring to but we can ensure that law-abiding nancial CHOICE Act last week, which the floor of the House this fall. The citizens can legally carry concealed puts an end to the days of the Obama- right to defend yourself doesn’t end firearms to defend themselves. era CFPB as we know it, because the when you cross State lines, which is As a shock to no one, big city liberal Financial CHOICE Act legislation con- where my Concealed Reciprocity Act of Michael Bloomberg has promised to verts the CFPB into the Consumer Law 2017, also known as H.R. 38, comes into spend $25 million to stop this legisla- Enforcement Agency, which is tasked play. We currently have 196 cosponsors tion. He could spend all the money he with promoting competition rather from both sides of the aisle. wants, but our gun rights are not for than stifling it, tasked with enhancing My bill simply provides law-abiding sale. consumer choice rather than elimi- citizens the right to carry concealed With a groundswell of support from nating it, all the while ensuring con- and travel freely between States with- Americans across the country and a gressional oversight that has been out worrying about conflicted con- pro-Second Amendment President, we missing for far too long. cealed carry State codes or onerous will make national concealed carry Mr. Speaker, every Federal agency civil suits. reciprocity a reality this Congress. needs to have someone grading its As it stands, the patchwork of agree- More and more States are recognizing paper, and the Financial CHOICE Act ments is confusing for even the most the rights of law-abiding citizens to will allow the CFPB’s paper to be grad- cautious concealed-carry permit hold- carry a concealed handgun without ed for the very first time. er, and it has caused law-abiding citi- permission from government, including I am incredibly excited about the zens, like Shaneen Allen, a single two this year, bringing that total to 12. economic opportunities that our Na- mother from New Jersey, to unwit- In my home State of North Carolina, tion is going to continue to be afforded tingly break the law and suffer arrest lawmakers in the House voted in favor as we continue here to wipe away and detention. of House bill 746 to make a concealed- President Obama’s sweeping govern- Now, the Constitution’s very clear. If carry permit no longer necessary in lo- ment mandates and regulations so we you look at Article IV, section 1, it cations where it is currently permis- can get our country back on track and says: ‘‘Full Faith and Credit shall be sible to openly carry a handgun. It is a back working for all Americans. given in each State to the public Acts, commonsense bill. I am proud of the There is a lot more to be done to en- Records, and judicial Proceedings of leadership of the folks in Raleigh. It sure that America’s brightest days every other State. . . . ’’ just demonstrates that all across this truly are ahead of us, but with so many That is why a driver’s license is rec- country, the American people are rec- committed conservatives as we have ognized in other States. That is why a ognizing that our right to keep and here tonight, I am optimistic that we marriage license is recognized in other bear arms shall not be infringed. are going to continue to deliver results States. That is why divorce pro- So I would just offer this very simple for the people here in what finally, ceedings are recognized in other piece of legislation, following the Con- once again, can be appropriately re- States; in the same way the concealed- stitution that says a law-abiding cit- ferred to as the peoples’ House. carry permit or the right to carry con- izen trying to do the right thing is not Mr. WALKER. I thank Representa- cealed should be recognized. going to be criminalized because they tive RATCLIFFE for his comments. In the Senate, Senator JOHN CORNYN have crossed an invisible line in the Mr. Speaker, once again, if people are introduced companion legislation. Sen- ground. watching at home or are gathering ator CORNYN has long been a champion I am pleased to be here today to talk here today, I want to remind them for our Second Amendment rights, and about it, and I am thankful for having that, many times—Members of Con- I am pleased to work with him as he this opportunity and support. gress, when you go back home, you continues his strong leadership on na- Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank hear a lot of times: Do your job; get tional concealed carry reciprocity. Representative HUDSON for his passion things done. I have already received a tremendous about that. And as I reflect your attention again amount of support from my colleagues Speaking of passion, in the 21⁄2 years to our chart here this evening, we can on both sides of the aisle who recognize that I have served in the United States talk a little bit about what we have our constitutional right to keep and Congress, there are Members who work passed in the House: 158, the most in bear arms. However, the left continues on different projects, different con- several different administrations. to spread misinformation and employ cerns, different issues. I will tell you

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:25 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.075 H13JNPT1 H4904 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2017 someone who I have really grown to landing because there was so much un- credible poll of the American people love and appreciate, someone who has certainty about what was causing shows that they are overwhelmingly in lived it out on the battlefield as he has death to so many people. This patient favor of protecting them. Yet we have worked to literally put veterans back was very sick. I learned so much from given these little babies less legal pro- together as a surgeon on the battle- this one patient because there were so tection from unnecessary cruelty than field, someone who understands and many things wrong, but it didn’t com- the protection we have given farm ani- has worked well into the life arena, and pare to what I learned when I finished mals under the Federal Humane that is Dr. BRAD WENSTRUP, a fellow that exam and he looked at me and Slaughter Act. steering committee member on the Re- said: You just examined me more than But thankfully, Mr. Speaker, the publican Steering Committee. anyone. winds of change have finally begun to blow, and the tide of blindness and Without further ado, I yield to the b 1715 gentleman from Ohio, Dr. WENSTRUP, blood is finally turning in America. to please share what is on his heart I have never forgotten, throughout The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protec- today. my entire medical career, the value of tion Act has already once passed in Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I human life and what it must feel like this body, and it will again, Mr. Speak- thank the chairman for yielding, and I to be discarded. He died the next day. I er; and these little babies now have a appreciate the opportunity to talk still know his name. And he taught me new and very powerful friend and pro- about this. a valuable lesson on his very last day tector in President Donald J. Trump. You know, as a physician, we take an of life: Healthcare is about cures, it is No matter how it is shouted down or oath. We say: Do no harm. about caring, it is about compassion, what distortions, deception what-ifs, And today in America and here in and society should be about the same distractions, diversions, gotchas, twist- Washington, D.C., we are debating phy- thing, and the ideal that every person ing of words, changing the subject, or sician-assisted suicide, where we are has value until their very last breath. blatant falsehoods the abortion indus- authorizing physicians to take some- I am pleased to say that the Presi- try hurls at this bill and its supporters, one’s life—to assist in taking some- dent’s budget addresses this issue, and it will remain a deeply sincere effort, one’s life. To me, this undermines the we will, too, here in the House because beginning at the sixth month of preg- very thing that healthcare is all about. you and your loved ones matter. nancy, to protect both mothers and Who is most affected in this situa- Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank their pain-capable unborn babies from tion? Representative WENSTRUP. I appreciate this torturous atrocity of late-term Our most vulnerable citizens: the dis- his passionate plea. abortion on demand. Ultimately, it is abled and the poor. Speaking of life, one of the most out- one all humane Americans can support As a doctor, I can tell you, what has standing voices that I have gotten a if they truly understand it for them- always been in my heart is this is chance to meet, someone who, without selves. about care and about comfort, and compromise, unashamedly talks about So the question that now remains is those are our priorities. the value and the worth of an unborn whether the Republican leader in the Physician-assisted suicide does not child is Representative TRENT FRANKS Senate will find the courage to prevent provide comfort. It merely ends life. from Arizona. He is here today to talk pro-abortion Democrats from once In Washington, D.C., a doctor can de- about a future bill, hopefully one that again using the Senate filibuster to cide that you may be going to die with- we can add to this total of 37 in the not prevent this bill from even coming to in 6 months if you have a terminal dis- too distant future. the floor in the Senate for debate. ease—a terminal disease if you are un- Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to Mr. Speaker, it is time for all Ameri- treated. Many terminal diseases would yield to the gentleman from Arizona cans to open our eyes and our souls and be terminal if they are not treated. (Mr. FRANKS), someone who is a war- recognize the humanity of these help- With that, the doctor can write a pre- rior in Congress. less little babies and the inhumanity of scription. There is no tracking of that Mr. FRANKS of Arizona. Mr. Speak- what is being done to them. Protecting prescription once it is given and there er, I thank Mr. WALKER for this oppor- these little children of God and their is no witness of the patient taking this tunity. mothers is not a Republican issue; it is prescription. They can simply go home It is so appropriate on People’s Night not a Democratic issue; it is a decisive to die alone. to talk about the very littlest people in test of our own humanity and who we In one State where there is physi- America, isn’t it? are as a human family. cian-assisted suicide, they have had an Mr. Speaker, the United States of Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank increase in suicides outside of physi- America is a unique nation that is pre- Representative FRANKS as he continues cian-assisted suicides. I think that mised on that bedrock foundation that to stand year after year in fighting and what we are saying to too many people we are all created equal, and that each standing up for the unborn child. is: You are not needed. of us is endowed by our Creator with Many times you get to meet some Again, this undermines what I think the unalienable right to live. wonderful people here in the United we are all about and what healthcare That is why it is so important for States Congress. And someone asked should be all about. Members of Congress to remind our- me the other day: Who is a strong I think of the movie, ‘‘It’s a Wonder- selves from time to time that pro- Member? Who is someone who is will- ful Life,’’ which so many people watch tecting the lives of all Americans and ing to stand up? every Christmastime. Mr. Potter says their constitutional rights is why we I guess they might have thought I to George Bailey: ‘‘George, you are are really all here. It is our sworn oath would have said the Speaker or the ma- worth more dead than alive.’’ before God and the people of this Na- jority leader, as well they do in their Is that really who we want to be? tion. own right. When I think of somebody As a resident in Chicago in the 1980s, Yet today, a great shadow looms over willing to engage, it is the gentle- one of our responsibilities was to do America. More than 18,000 late-term woman from Tennessee (Mrs. BLACK). physical exams on everyone admitted abortions, very late-term abortions, She is not just known in the Sixth Dis- to the hospital regardless of what they are occurring in America every year, trict; she is known throughout all of were admitted for. I can remember a placing the mothers at exponentially Tennessee as far as being willing to doctor coming up to me and saying: We greater risk and subjecting their pain- stand up for those who cannot stand up just admitted our first AIDS patient, capable unborn babies to torture and and protect themselves. but you don’t have to go see him. death without anesthesia—this, in the Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentle- And this is a time when people didn’t land of the free and the home of the woman from Tennessee (Mrs. BLACK). know what was going on, what was brave. It is the greatest human rights Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, I thank causing this, how it was being spread. atrocity in the United States today. the gentleman from North Carolina And I thought that was wrong and I Almost every other major civilized (Mr. WALKER), my colleague and friend, went in anyway to examine this pa- nation on Earth protects pain-capable the chair of the RSC, for hosting this tient. I had to go in like it was a lunar unborn babies at this stage, and every Special Order tonight to highlight

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some of the recent victories that this It wasn’t long after I arrived 21⁄2 aged me because I think he is an ad- Republican-controlled Congress has se- years ago that I had a chance to meet ministration that is very sincere in im- cured to ensure that every American someone. Now, as a former pastor, you proving care. enjoys freedom and opportunity for can always tell the character and in- And, Mr. Speaker, it is not money. which our Nation was founded. tegrity of someone when they have When I came here in 2009, you, the tax- I rise today to thank my colleagues gone through a hardship. payers, were spending about $97 billion in the House and the Senate for passing I met Dr. PHIL ROE after he had lost on VA care, on benefits, and on ceme- my resolution of disapproval, H.J. Res. a loved one in his life. He could have teries. Today, that number is going to 43, which used the authority of the gone home, but he had a mission to be $186 billion. We have gone from Congressional Review Act to overturn complete, and that is to stand up for 260,000 employees in the VA to over the Obama administration’s eleventh those veterans who needed standing up. 360,000 employees. There is enough hour rule forcing States like mine, A former physician himself, he was money and personnel to take care of Tennessee, to fund abortion providers. willing to come back and continue to the problems. Mr. Speaker, I also rise to thank Vice fight. What a privilege it is to serve When the President was sworn in and President MIKE PENCE, who cast that with the chairman of the House Vet- he selected his Secretary of the VA, Dr. tie-breaking vote in the Senate. Ten- erans’ Affairs Committee, Dr. PHIL David Shulkin—I believe is now the nesseans appreciate his courageous ROE. man for the job—he was approved 100– leadership. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman 0 by the Senate. Dr. Shulkin said: The Now, abortion is not healthcare, and from Tennessee (Mr. ROE). first thing I need is accountability leg- vulnerable women seeking true com- Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I islation that allows me to terminate prehensive care deserve better than thank Mr. WALKER for yielding. bad employees. abortion-centric facilities like Planned I would like to associate my remarks At the VA, the vast majority—and Parenthood. with Mr. HUDSON, Dr. WENSTRUP, Mr. many of them are personal friends of For over 45 years, States like Ten- FRANKS, and my good friend DIANE mine that I have worked with in nessee had the authority to direct their BLACK. healthcare—are good people taking the family planning funds to the I am a concealed carry permit hold- very best care they can of veterans. healthcare providers that best suited er—full disclosure—and what Mr. But there are some bad apples there, their needs. Yes, they had that decision FRANKS said: I am an OB/GYN doctor and they cannot be terminated. It al- to decide what is best for their unique by training. I have delivered 5,000 ba- most could not happen, Mr. Speaker. communities. Sadly, in a parting gift bies in my lifetime, and every single So what this legislation does is it to the abortion industry, President one of them I view as valuable. I have protects the whistleblowers who call Obama stole this freedom and flexi- watched these young people that I have these people out. It provides due proc- bility and forced his own political delivered grow up and become very pro- agenda on States across the country ess rights for employees so that they ductive citizens not only in my com- don’t have those trampled on, but it al- like my very own State of Tennessee. munity, but around the country. While I am unapologetically pro-life, lows the Secretary to terminate these Mr. Speaker, 44 years ago, I was a this bill is simply about states’ rights. bad apples and, hopefully, improve the Mr. Speaker, when President Trump young soldier in southeast Asia. When morale of the entire VA. This is only signed this bill, he put the American we came home from the military, we phase one. people, not the bureaucrats here in were advised not to wear our uniforms We also have passed out of this body Washington, back in the driver’s seat when we traveled because of basically and over to the Senate—I want to of empowering States like Tennessee what was going on in the country: the thank our Senate colleagues, Senator to steer their title X dollars away from opposition to the Vietnam war. That ISAKSON; Senator RUBIO, who is a lead abortion-centric facilities like Planned left a very deep, indelible mark on me, sponsor in the Senate; and Senator Parenthood and to give the right back and I thought that is no way we should TESTER, the minority leader. I also to the State to make that decision be treating our men and women who want to thank the minority leader on about which facilities provide the most protected us and gave us the freedoms our side of the aisle, Sergeant Major comprehensive care for women in their that we have and live by to this day. Walz, who worked hand in hand. This State. When I got the privilege of being was a bipartisan bill, which is how leg- It was an honor to work with Senator elected—when I retired from my med- islation should be passed. We passed it ERNST and the pro-life community to ical practice in northeast Tennessee in the House and it went to the Senate. help this life-affirming legislation and ran for Congress and was fortunate They reformed the bill. It came back, reach the President’s desk. enough to win—I was asked to be on and we now await the President’s sig- Mr. Speaker, I want to once again the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, nature. thank President Trump for his leader- which I have served on for the past 8 We are also doing repeals reform. We ship on this matter. years. passed that out of here. We have, now, Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank We know that 3 years ago there was 470,000 backlog claims of veterans wait- Chairwoman BLACK. a scandal in Phoenix, Arizona. Then we ing for their appeals. Hopefully, we are When we talk about what is getting realized it was not just Phoenix, Ari- going to address this problem. done, I want to remind our audience zona. It was all across the country The Secretary, we have just extended this evening, Mr. Speaker, that our where veterans were not being served, the Choice Program for veterans who President, even without a full Cabinet, and, actually, veterans were dying want to choose care outside of the VA, has been busy taking time to make while they were waiting for care at a and also a new electronic health sys- sure that what the House and the Sen- VA. That is as wrong as it gets. tem. So we have a lot of work to do. ate are sending him is being signed So, what we elected to do in our com- It is a true privilege to do what I get into law. mittee, when we discovered this, was to to do, which is to help the 21 million As you can see on my chart this try to get some legislation up that ac- men and women who have served this evening, 37, that is the most. You have tually did something about this. And country, who allow us to be free. to go back. In fact, the last four Presi- one of the things that touched me—I I thank the gentleman for the privi- dents haven’t equalled that total. And watched late into the evening, like lege to be down here tonight to share 158 bills from the House have been many of you all probably around the this with the American people. passed. country and in this gallery watched— One of the things that has been was the election results. It was around b 1730 promised by this administration and by 3 or 3:30 in the morning when then Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Members of Congress is to make sure President-elect Trump gave his elec- Chairman ROE and appreciate his con- that we are doing everything we can to tion speech. tinued service. It is a privilege to cer- take care of a very important segment Very shortly into it, not a minute or tainly work with him in the House. of our population, and that is our vet- two into that speech, he mentioned our One of our newest Members who erans. veterans. And it really, really encour- came in the 115th class, a gentleman by

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:25 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00049 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.078 H13JNPT1 H4906 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2017 the name of JIM BANKS—in fact, he is nally see real accountability in the VA Well, there is an apparatus, a firearm the only new Member serving on the with passage of the Department of Vet- accessory, that you can add to a fire- Republican Steering Committee. Some erans Affairs Accountability and Whis- arm to muffle or suppress that sound. would describe him as a quick study, I tleblower Protection Act. With passage It is commonly called a suppressor or a guess, but he is here this evening to of this bill, there will be a new and ex- silencer, but it does anything but si- specifically talk about continued VA pedited process to remove employees lence a weapon. accountability and the Department of who are failing to properly serve our America, you need to realize that Defense readiness. veterans, while maintaining the due Hollywood has glorified suppressors for Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman process rights of VA workers, as well firearms. You can see it in your mind— from Indiana (Mr. BANKS). as their right to appeal. James Bond taking out his concealed Mr. BANKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, It would also implement stronger weapon that he couldn’t conceal with a I thank the gentleman for his leader- protections for whistleblowers, ensur- suppressor on it because the suppressor ship of the Republican Study Com- ing that no employee is intimidated adds another 8 inches to the length of mittee. It is one of the great honors into silence. the barrel—screwing the suppressor on that I have in this Congress to serve Mr. Speaker, we now have a chance to commit a crime. with him and others to advocate for to make sure our Armed Forces have Hollywood has made you believe that conservative principles to move our the means to protect our country and that suppressor silences that weapon country forward. ensure all veterans receive the quality when, in actuality, a suppressor on any With a new Republican administra- of care they deserve. sort of firearm drops the decibels about tion, many of the innovative ideas Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank 30 decibels. Most firearms would be coming from this House now have a Representative BANKS, and I appreciate louder than a jackhammer, and no one chance to become law and achieve real this is such an important issue that he would say that a jackhammer is silent. results for the American people. The is battling. So we have got a bill that would contrast between this administration Once again, this evening, Mr. Speak- allow suppressors to be sold, like they and the last one is most clear when it er, we are reminding that tonight is are sold in Europe, but with a little comes to prioritizing readiness for our the People’s Night here in the people’s more American restrictions. In Europe, Department of Defense and caring for House. We are focusing in on the work as restrictive as their gun laws are, our veterans. of the Members of Congress. you can go to the hardware store and As those veterans in Congress know As you can see in our chart this buy a suppressor across the counter, firsthand, shortchanging readiness on evening, 158 bills have been passed just like you could buy a scope, a sling, the front end will have long-term im- through Congress. So many times we or a magazine for a deer rifle. It is gen- plications in the years that follow. tlemanly to hunt or shoot in Europe We have the moral imperative to en- continue to hear: What is Congress working on? with a suppressed weapon to keep the sure that our young men and women sound down, but it doesn’t silence it, as who go into harm’s way are never in a Well, not only have we passed these 158, we are still working on passing we mentioned before. fair fight. We have an obligation to en- Depending on the caliber of ammuni- things in the future. sure that our forces are the best- tion, a typical hunting rifle is 160 to 180 One of the great Members from South trained, best-equipped, and best-led decibels—suppressed would be about 125 Carolina, Mr. JEFF DUNCAN, is someone fighting force in the world. This obliga- to 145 decibels. tion starts with prioritizing a stable who has a genuine heart and passion The bill we have would allow you to and predictable budget and appropria- for others, but also has a wonderful go in and purchase a suppressor from tions process. heart for the outdoors, as he is cur- your Federal firearm license-holder, do Our leaders in the Department of De- rently chairman of the Sportsmen’s a background check, just like you have fense must be able to forecast and an- Caucus. to go through to purchase the firearm ticipate training needs, and that means Without further ado, I yield to the itself—background check, and purchase ending the trend of continuing resolu- gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. a suppressor to help the hunting and tions that offer neither good fiscal dis- DUNCAN). the hearing health of the hunters and cipline nor the ability to plan that our Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina. Mr. the shooting sports enthusiasts across military leaders desperately need. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from the country. Consider that two-thirds of our Army North Carolina. I hope we can get this bill passed to are not ready to deploy. Our Navy is I want to talk to America today help the hearing health of so many peo- smaller than it has been in 99 years, about the Hearing Protection Act. Con- ple in America and dispel all the ru- and our Air Force is the smallest ever sequences of firearms exposure: Noise- mors. I thank the gentleman for let- and losing pilots at an alarming rate. induced hearing loss is a major health ting us speak to the American people These are not the marks of a ready problem for hunters and recreational tonight. force, and the work to rebuild must shooters. Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank begin right now. Now, I started hunting at an early Representative DUNCAN. However, it is important to look at age with my father; and in the field Many times in Congress you hear prioritizing the needs of our service- and hunting activities, I learned a lot sometimes maybe big words or crazy members holistically. Just as we would about life, a lot about myself. Most im- words, words like ‘‘appropriations’’ or not send them into harm’s way without portantly, I got time to spend with my ‘‘appropriators.’’ We have one of those the training they need, we have an ob- father, who has now passed away. appropriators with us tonight, a strong ligation to care for the injuries they But we enjoyed the outdoors gen- conservative from the State of Georgia, sustained when they return home. Our erally in the shooting sports, whether my friend, Representative TOM veterans deserve and have earned the that was over a brace of bird dogs, GRAVES, who is going to talk a little highest quality of care and to have quail hunting, shooting doves, hunting bit about his proposal and an idea that that care delivered in a timely and effi- ducks, or deer hunting. And I can tell I believe helps us continue adding to cient manner. you, with my own experience, that fir- this number of 158. Unfortunately, too often the VA does ing multiple firearms—shotguns, rifles, Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman not have the power to remove sub- handguns—risks your hearing health. from Georgia (Mr. GRAVES). standard employees who are failing our Men and women in our United States Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Speak- veterans. The overwhelming majority military experience hearing loss or er, I could not be more excited to be of VA employees are hardworking and tinnitus. That is a large expenditure here tonight and to experience what we dedicated to their jobs, and it is simply for the VA. Tinnitus accounts for are experiencing here. not fair to these employees that the around 1.45 million disability-related You know, when this President was VA cannot hold substandard employees instances for veterans. The most preva- elected, he made a promise: He was accountable. lent disability compensations are based going to drain the swamp, he was going But with a Republican President in on that. to shake things up, and he was going to the White House, our veterans will fi- So what can we do about it? make government work again.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:25 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00050 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.081 H13JNPT1 June 13, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4907 I have got to highlight real quickly Street. We are going to invest in roads b 1745 though, before I talk about appropria- and infrastructure. We are going to So we proposed to bust up the IRS tions, what really has happened. Here streamline or eliminate a lot of agen- and redesign it into a 21st century in the last—in this under 5 months, cies, and we are going to do all that agency focused on you, the taxpayer. 600,000 new jobs have been created. Un- while cutting spending. But that is These are the reforms included in the employment is at the lowest it has only if we are willing to make govern- House Republican blueprint. We are ex- been in nearly a decade, at 4.3 percent. ment work again. cited to work with President Trump He has put a plan forth to help rescue Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank and the Senate to deliver on pro-grow Americans from a healthcare plan that Representative GRAVES. tax reform, bold, that leapfrogs Amer- has been failing. It doesn’t take you long, around the ica back to the front and returns jobs The largest increase in defense spend- Halls of Congress, to see someone who back to the United States—manufac- ing in nearly 10 years has already been has a genuine heart for service, some- turing, research and headquarters jobs. passed and signed into law and is part one who can quickly give up his chair, It is a tough challenge. We will need of your display there. or someone who sees someone that is your input. I encourage you to come to He has presented a budget to this without. Sometimes I think that is a the Ways and Means Committee Congress that balances in 10 years, re- person who has served in faith many website, learn more, speak out, be part builds our military, reforms our Tax years, and sometimes I just think that of changing and reforming this horrible Code, and empowers the taxpayers, is part of the natural tendency of a per- Tax Code. while not empowering government. son who certainly has a heart, not only Mr. WALKER, thank you again for And he has also put the American for God but to serve others. your leadership of this Special Order people and the American workers and I can think of nobody who better fits and our efforts. American businesses first by pulling us that description than our chairman of Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank out of that Paris accord. He has been the Ways and Means Committee, here Chairman BRADY for his comments. It shaking things up and draining the to talk a little bit about his passion is an honor to have him with us this swamp. and his vision for tax reform. evening. So what is next? For us, it is, we Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman We have talked a little bit about vet- have got to reform this appropriations from Texas (Mr. BRADY). erans tonight. Former veteran, chap- process. Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I lain, and pastor, Representative COL- Let me read you some statistics here. thank Representative WALKER. And LINS, we would love for you to talk The current process that we operate first let me thank him for not just about something that is part of that under to fund the greatest Nation on hosting this evening, People’s Night, 158 pieces of legislation that has been the globe has only worked four times but his leadership of the Republican passed, what we called the REINS Act. in the last 40 years. The last time we Study Committee and how he is lead- Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman passed all 12 appropriations bills that ing our efforts to truly move this coun- from Georgia (Mr. COLLINS). were enacted by the start of the new try back in the right direction. Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speak- fiscal year was in 1996 is the last time. As a friend, and from someone who er, I thank Congressman WALKER for And, in fact, a more stunning sta- admires him so much, I thank him for yielding, and I appreciate him offering tistic: Since 2009, not one appropria- his leadership. It has already made a this. It is providing a different take tions bill has passed this House, passed huge difference in issues like repealing that we are not getting in the meeting the Senate, and been signed into law by ObamaCare. anywhere. the President before its time was due. So how many of you are pleased with Go back real quickly: a few months That is zero for 96. the way you are taxed in America? Not ago, the first week of the session, the So I have just got a simple idea, a many Americans are because the code House comes in and does what it prom- simple concept. Let’s just change what we have got, it is so complex and so ised. It says it is going to take on regu- is not working. Let’s change the proc- costly, it is just unfair. latory reform. It is going to take on ess. Let’s design a process that actu- So House Republicans are working the burdens, and one of the first bills ally works for the American people and with this President and the Senate to out of the chute was the REINS Act. funds the government in a very respon- deliver the first pro-growth tax reform The REINS Act is very simple. It has sible, fiscally responsible way that be- in a generation. We know this is a a $100 million impact on the economy. gins streamlining government; that is once-in-a-generation opportunity, and It comes back to the people’s House, eliminating agencies; that is empow- the goals we set out from the House is, into the Senate for approval. Instead of ering the American people; and, ulti- first, we want a Tax Code not designed bureaucrats in cubicles down the street mately, showing a responsible House of merely to wring money from you. We thinking they know what is best for Representatives and a Republican vi- have that Tax Code. We want a Tax our districts and for our country, it is sion forward. Code built for growth, designed to grow back to the people that were elected. And it is real simple. Let’s run it jobs, your wages, and the U.S. econ- You see, when it was first brought through the committee. Let’s do 12 omy. up, they said: Well, this is going to put bills, all through their different sub- In doing that, we want to leapfrog a burden on our bureaucrats, our gov- committees. Let’s combine them in full America from nearly dead last among ernment workers. They are doing all committee, and let’s bring them to the our global competitors back into the these things. House floor for everybody to have an lead pack as the best place on this Well, if they want to run for Con- opportunity to vote on, to amend, to Earth for that next new job, that next gress, then pay the fee and run for Con- engage in the debate. new investment. gress. I believe, if we do this, we are going What we propose is a Tax Code with The REINS Act puts it back where it to save time. We are going to have three big reforms: The lowest rates for is supposed to be. This is an accom- more time for tax reform. We are going our local businesses in modern history, plishment that I am proud of. The Sen- to have more time for infrastructure and redesigned so our local companies ate just recently passed their version. investment. We are going to have more can compete and win anywhere in the This is something that President time for finishing out the healthcare world, especially here at home. Trump has said he would sign. This is bill. But it is going to be transparent. Secondly, we are proposing for fami- about moving forward on the promises Everyone can see it. It is going to be lies and individuals a code so fair and we have. effective. We are going to get it done. simple that 9 out of 10 Americans will Congressman WALKER does a great At the end of the day, we are going to be able to file using a simple postcard job highlighting where we have been be able to rebuild our military to system, and it works. and where we are going. This is a prom- where we know it needs to be. We are And the final reform is because we ise kept. If anybody wants to know going to be able to secure our border. propose a much fairer and simpler Tax what the American agenda looks like, We are going to protect the innocent Code; we propose a fairer and simpler look to the Republican majority, look unborn. We are going to reform Wall tax collector. to the past 5 months. And all I can say

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:25 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00051 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.082 H13JNPT1 H4908 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2017 is that the promises are being kept, football, great to have you here to- Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I thank and there is more to come. night talking about a very important the gentleman from Texas for yielding Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank issue, the Agency Accountability Act. and allowing me to complete my re- Representative COLLINS for his com- Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman marks on this Special Order organized ments. from Alabama (Mr. PALMER), who will by Congressman WALKER. As we continue to talk about some of close us out this evening. As I was saying, if you recall the 2014 the things that have been accomplished Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I thank debate over funding for the Depart- and also things that we are looking for- Congressman WALKER for arranging ment of Homeland Security, the Obama ward to, it is a wonderful opportunity this Special Order. administration made it clear that they to introduce my friend, Representative Looking ahead, H.R. 850, the Agency would contravene the will of Congress JODY HICE from the great State of Accountability Act, would be a game with regard to President Obama’s am- Georgia, a fellow former pastor who changer for government run amuck. In nesty order and would fund his am- still enjoys those opportunities, I am 2015, Federal agencies collected over nesty program using fines and fees. sure, when you have a few. But tonight $530 billion—that is billion dollars—in The Department of Homeland Secu- I want him to talk about the Free fees, fines, and other revenue inde- rity had over $400 million that the De- Speech Fairness Act. pendent of the appropriations process. partment could spend outside of what Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman Article I, section 9, clause 7 of the Congress appropriated. It is unaccept- from Georgia (Mr. JODY B. HICE). Constitution grants Congress the able for agencies to ignore the will of Mr. JODY B. HICE of Georgia. Mr. power of the purse. This assigns to Congress by funding programs outside Speaker, I thank the gentleman for Congress the role of final arbiter of the of the typical appropriations process. yielding. It is an honor to be here with use of public funds. Allowing agencies The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau gets all of its funding outside of you. to have slush funds outside of the nor- Congress through transfers from the I think by this time most people are mal appropriations process is a recipe Federal Reserve and from fines im- familiar, at least they have heard for bad acting. posed on financial institutions. The about the Johnson amendment. It For instance, during the Obama ad- CFPB does not get one dime appro- came about in 1954, when Lyndon John- ministration, the Department of Jus- priated from Congress, meaning they son barely won a race for Senate be- tice would send money collected are not subject to congressional over- cause many people thought he was soft through fees and settlements to polit- sight. When it comes to the CFPB, on communism. So one of the first ical activist groups aligned with the Congress has no power of the purse to things he did when he got here was, be- administration policies; many times in ensure that that agency is accountable hind closed doors, without any vetting, contradiction to Congress’ will. Nearly without any debate, had inserted into to Congress. 15 percent of the Department of Jus- One of the top priorities in the Re- the IRS Code a statement that basi- tice’s entire budget is from alternative publican Better Way agenda is our cally says that nonprofits cannot ad- funding sources, not Congress. How- commitment to reclaim our Article I dress political issues, or they could po- ever, DOJ isn’t a lone wolf. authority. The Agency Accountability tentially lose their tax-exempt status. The Department of Labor has raised Act would direct all fines, fees, and set- That now, for 60 years-plus, has be- over $1.3 billion from fines and fees and tlements to the Treasury, making come a target for pastors, for churches, the Environmental Protection Agency them subject to the normal appropria- for nonprofits using tax-exempt status collected over $600 million, just to tions process. This would end the un- as leverage to prevent them from name a few. constitutional slush funds that allow speaking, addressing political issues. It Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank programs to operate independently and is political correctness at its worst. Mr. PALMER and all the Members for outside the purview of Congress. Most When our government becomes the coming out this evening and listening importantly, it would allow for Con- gatekeeper of free speech, then we ac- to our presentation on the passage of gress to fully account for how much tually have no free speech at all. And 158 bills. money the government actually col- in this process, they also are influ- Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance lects and where that money is coming encing what religious institutions can of my time. from. The House should take up the and cannot be. f Agency Accountability Act and pass it. Our Founders believed that our coun- Mr. Speaker, again, I thank the gen- try should not establish a State REPORT ON RESOLUTION PRO- VIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF tleman from Texas for yielding. church. They also believe that govern- Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, I just H.R. 1215, PROTECTING ACCESS ment should not dictate the religious want to thank my friend for pointing TO CARE ACT OF 2017 practices of its citizens, or abridge the out the Consumer Financial Protection free speech of Houses of worship. That Mr. BURGESS (during the Special Bureau. is what is taking place. Order of Mr. WALKER) from the Com- One thing about that group, when I As a result of this, my good friend, mittee on Rules, submitted a privi- was a judge, or assistant DA, if you Whip STEVE SCALISE, and I introduced leged report (Rept. No. 115–179) on the needed somebody’s banking records, H.R. 781, the Free Speech Fairness Act, resolution (H. Res. 382) providing for then you would have to get sworn evi- which creates a carve-out for 501(c)(3) consideration of the bill (H.R. 1215) to dence—normally in affidavit form—and organizations to address political dis- improve patient access to health care take it to a judge, and there had to be course as long as it is within the nor- services and provide improved medical sufficient detail in the affidavit to es- mal course of business with de minimis care by reducing the excessive burden tablish—again, under oath—that a associated expenses. I am pleased that the liability system places on the crime had probably been committed the President has also been extremely health care delivery system, which was and that the person whose banking vocal on this issue, but we really need referred to the House Calendar and or- records we were seeking had probably this codified because the unfairness dered to be printed. committed the crime. must stop. f If that could be done, then the judge I know our time is running short, but would sign the warrant. Like my years I urge our colleagues to support this, ISSUES OF THE DAY as a judge handling felony cases, there and I deeply appreciate the gentleman The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. were some warrants I turned down. providing me the opportunity to speak RUTHERFORD). Under the Speaker’s an- There is just not enough particularity on this Johnson amendment. nounced policy of January 3, 2017, the here. There is not probable cause that Mr. WALKER. I thank Representa- Chair recognizes the gentleman from this person committed the crime, or I tive HICE and I appreciate his courage Texas (Mr. GOHMERT) for 30 minutes. don’t see probable cause that a crime in being willing to stand and speak out. Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, at this was committed. But, normally, law en- My great friend, Representative time, I yield to the gentleman from forcement was good about making sure GARY PALMER, from the home of the Alabama (Mr. PALMER) to finish his that probable cause was there, and the University, Crimson Tide Alabama statement. DA office would help them.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:25 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.084 H13JNPT1 June 13, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4909 But the Consumer Financial Protec- hearing, Comey admitted that he in- great patriot who served this country tion Bureau has come in and it has ba- tentionally gave a memo to his friend in the Vietnam war, Bronze Star for sically begun to challenge the Internal hoping it would lead to appointment of courage and bravery—but he got into Revenue Service for acting in the most a special counsel. government, and he apparently wanted unconstitutional ways. It may be a ‘‘’I asked a friend of mine to share nothing but yes-men. He wanted yes- toss up now which one uses more un- the content of the memo with a re- men and -women. He didn’t want peo- constitutional authority than the porter,’ Comey told lawmakers. ‘Didn’t ple who had been around for a while other. do it myself for a variety of reasons, that could point out when he had a sug- For the CFPB to gather people’s fi- but I asked him to because I thought gestion that was going to lead to trou- nancial records when there is no evi- that might prompt the appointment of ble. He would rather have the trouble dence that they committed a crime, no a special counsel. And so I asked a than have anybody point out such evidence that any crime had been com- close friend of mine to do it.’ things. So he created a policy he called mitted—they just gather evidence, pur- ‘‘What Comey is admitting to under the 5-year, up-or-out program. portedly, to make sure nobody is tak- oath cannot be overlooked here or un- We have FBI offices all over the ing advantage of people—well, that is derstated. His end goal was the ap- country and local law enforcement not the way our Constitution works. It pointment of the special counsel, which that I have worked with so many times is supposed to be that if a bank or a just so happens to turn out to be his through so many years. And, as people lender takes advantage of an indi- longtime friend, Robert Mueller. know, you will have bad apples in every crowd, but I would submit that vidual, then the individual can com- ‘‘By leaking information, Comey when you are talking about law en- plain; then their banking records can could be putting himself again in seri- forcement, the percentage of bad ap- be obtained. ous legal trouble. If those memos were ples is dramatically lower than you But for a governmental entity to just classified—and several legal experts find in the general population at large. gather people’s financial records, it is are arguing they are—Comey may have We are greatly blessed in that respect. not just Orwellian; it is outrageous, broken the law. Comey created those But with all of the massive number of and it needs to stop. And as my col- memos on government computers in a employees with the Department of Jus- league, Mr. PALMER, was pointing out, government truck, making it property tice, Mueller has this 5-year, up-or-out they have gotten—it was set up back of the U.S. Government, not James policy. Comey. In addition to that, there are when the Democrats had the majority, So if you were in a supervisory posi- nondisclosure agreements that the FBI and they intentionally set up this gov- tion of any kind for 5 years anywhere ernmental entity that would basically rules that exist that Comey also could in the country, then at the end of the be beyond control by the Congress. have violated. 5 years, you had to uproot your wife ‘‘Leaks aside, Comey’s relationship They intentionally set up a group that and your children—your family—and with Mueller is a massive conflict of could make a living hell for individuals you had to move to Washington and be or for banks, for others, because it is interest. It is why it is time to now a minion among minions in the office the government and it is gathering shut down this political witch hunt here at the Department of Justice; or, people’s records. that is really aimed at stopping the if you weren’t willing to uproot your And then along comes—you had President, delegitimizing him and family in the communities where they ObamaCare get passed. Well, in order hopefully, in the minds of some, mak- had gained so much credibility and to help people, just like the CFPB—and ing sure he gets thrown out of office. It were considered such an important for my liberal friends, that is sar- is that serious. part of law enforcement in the area, casm—well, you are going to get ‘‘We have a guy, Comey, who is be- then you had to get out of the FBI. It everybody’s healthcare records, that yond disgruntled and angry after being is not that you weren’t absolutely way the government can help people fired by the President and now one of priceless and invaluable to law enforce- better because they will have all of Comey’s closest friends is leading the ment, it is that Bob Mueller did not their records. investigation as the special counsel. I want your experience where you might Well, some people, some liberal left- don’t care if you are left, right, Repub- ever question him. leaning folks would say: Well, we call lican, Democrat, does that sound fair, So as an article—I believe it was in that helping people. We gather all of honest, objective to you? Of course not. The Wall Street Journal—years ago their medical records and we gather all ‘‘Conflict of interest rules disqualify pointed out, under his leadership, the of their financial records so we can Mueller from being special counsel in a FBI lost thousands upon thousands of help them. But those who are Liber- case involving his pal. And if that is years of experience. So we keep having tarian, Conservative, we don’t consider not bad enough, four members of people get killed around the country, that helping; we consider that abusive, Mueller’s team have donated to Demo- and people wonder: How did the FBI and we don’t need it. crats. not pick this up? How did the FBI not ‘‘Not to mention, why did James b 1800 recognize this? Comey wait until his hearing last week Well, I recall when I got out of law One of the great honors and develop- to actually mention the fact that Lo- school and I was an assistant DA, I ments since I have been in Congress retta Lynch, the then-Attorney Gen- would see criminal defense attorneys. I has been the development of a friend- eral, tried to interfere with an FBI in- would think in my head—I would know ship with just an absolutely great pa- vestigation? He testified that she in- in my head—I knew a whole lot more triotic American. He is a friend of structed him to soft-pedal his inves- law than they did. Heck, I had won mine, and he has come twice to sit in tigation by calling it a ‘matter.’ This moot court; won a trip to London, Eng- my seat in the gallery, most recently on top of her infamous meeting on the land; at Baylor Law School, I won an to hear President Trump deliver a tarmac with Bill Clinton. award for best brief award—for that I State of the Union Address. ‘‘The real collusion that Mueller is had a partner. I won an award for a Here is a story by Sean Hannity. It is never going to probe is not with Presi- Law Review article on torts that I did. entitled, ‘‘Pull the plug on the Mueller- dent Trump and the Russians, it ap- Gee, I was coming up against lawyers Comey witch hunt.’’ pears to be between the Clinton cam- who hadn’t won awards in law school It says: ‘‘Special Counsel Robert paign, the Obama administration, Lo- like I had. So I am going: gee, this Mueller’s investigation is turning into retta Lynch and James Comey.’’ ought to be pretty easy. They are not a witch hunt and it needs to be shut And I would add Mueller himself. near as smart as I am when it comes to down immediately. ‘‘Let’s pull the plug on this witch the law. ‘‘Ex-FBI Director James Comey, who hunt and go after the real What I learned rather quickly in admitted sparking the probe by leaking lawbreakers.’’ courtroom work is that knowledge of information to The New York Times, is So that is from FOX News. the law is extremely helpful, but expe- nothing more than a calculating, cun- Mr. Speaker, it is extraordinary what rience is even more helpful: getting a ning partisan political hack at home in has come out. I already knew before all feel and an understanding of human na- the D.C. swamp. During last week’s of this started that Robert Mueller—a ture, learning to pick up different signs

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:25 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.086 H13JNPT1 H4910 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2017 from people, what they think about dif- and show people. Once again, the dam- we don’t know they are radicalized be- ferent things, when they are holding age that FBI Director Robert Mueller cause FBI Director Robert Mueller pre- something back; when you are cross- did to the FBI was basically incalcu- vented our FBI from being trained to examining somebody, when to know to lable. I mentioned before, one of our in- recognize radical Islam. keep going or when to know to stop. telligence guys said: We were blinded I know there are some people who— There are a lot of things you pick up of our ability to see our enemy. not because they are aware of his vir- over questioning thousands of people. We have Robert Mueller to thank, or tues, but have heard other people say Somebody right out of law school CAIR, the Council on American-Is- he is a great guy—just extoll his vir- that knows every bit of the law is lamic Relations, that is always there tue, not realizing the kind of damage going to have a hard time competing to rush in and have a press conference that has been done. with somebody that has a tremendous after violence and say: We don’t sup- As I mentioned last night, Mr. amount of experience in the courtroom port this kind of violence. Speaker, you look at the damage that with human nature. Though, clearly, when the evidence is James Comey and Robert Mueller— That is true of law enforcement. I reviewed, the Council on American-Is- really tight friends—have done to the have known law enforcement that just lamic Relations—individuals involved country to an extent I didn’t even real- had an incredible knack for just know- in CAIR—ultimately wants to see ize until we started looking at the arti- ing when people were lying. It is amaz- sharia law as the law of the land. There cle by Mollie Hemmingway in The Fed- ing to see some of our great law en- are principals that should have been eralist, which is rather breathtaking, forcement at work, as I have through prosecuted as supporting terrorism. and I had no idea until I read that. my career. According to the article, Comey b 1815 But FBI Director Robert Mueller talked a very fine man, John Ashcroft, didn’t want them around. After you There were scores of people that were into recusing himself so he would not have been in a supervisory position for listed as co-conspirators in supporting appoint a special prosecutor to find out 5 years or more, you either come to terrorism. Instead of pursuing those who leaked the fact that Valerie Plame Washington and take up your little cu- after the Holy Land Foundation trial was a CIA agent. He commits to bicle or get out. Again, Robert Mueller convicted the principals involved—I Ashcroft: Recuse yourself and I will did incalculable damage to the FBI, to think it was over 100 counts of sup- find somebody good. its experience, to its ability to root out porting terrorism—instead of being Mr. Comey likes to talk about con- and find criminals. That experience alerted and being more on his guard, flicts of interest, unless they apply to that he ran off from the FBI was abso- FBI Director Mueller bent over back- himself. lutely incalculable. It is just priceless. wards more and more to accommodate So Ashcroft recuses himself, and Mr. He also spent millions on a software those who want to see Sharia law take Comey, who convinced him to do so, program. Many tried to tell him: Wait, over America and be the law of the looks high and low: Who could we pos- you have got us inputting stuff in a land, scrapping our Constitution. sibly find to investigate and prosecute system that is not going to work. It At one time it was considered trea- whoever it was that leaked information doesn’t fit our needs. son to want to scrap the Constitution about Valerie Plame? Oh, how about I don’t know if he had some relative and replace it with anything, but in my very dear friend, Patrick Fitz- there he got it from, why he was so Bob Mueller’s America, people that gerald, who happens also to be the God- sold on this terrible program. People wouldn’t mind seeing the Constitution father of my child? tried to tell him, but those are the peo- go away and be replaced by Sharia law, So he likes to talk about conflict of ple he wanted out. He didn’t want any- you want to develop an outreach pro- interest and chummy relationships, un- body questioning his brilliant intellect. gram for those people. less they are his chummy relation- As a result, they wasted a massive So instead of going to the Boston ships, in which case he just puts them number of hours by FBI employees and mosque, where the Tsarnaevs surely in places which appear to be clear con- wasted the millions that were spent on had to have indicated and shown signs flicts of interest. Which is no surprise the program trying to make the pro- of being radicalized, Robert Mueller that he was supportive and even ma- gram work. Later they had to scrap it. and his FBI went to the mosque as part nipulative in creating what appeared to Why? Because he was talked into a bad of an outreach program to make merry be a need for a special prosecutor, program, and he wouldn’t listen to and play patty cake with people who which actually there was not a need for anybody that tried to tell him about could have established, if they were a special prosecutor at all. He just the problems. honest, that the Tsarnaev brothers had leaked information. There was a good We also know that one of the reasons indeed been radicalized, the informa- chance he probably violated the law. we continue to have people who were tion from Russia was correct. He certainly should have violated his on the radar of the FBI—even ques- Yet because, under Bob Mueller’s FBI employment agreement. tioned by the FBI—continue to get leadership, the training materials were Memos that he prepares as part of his away with murder, literally, or be able purged, FBI agents didn’t know what job regarding meetings he had as part to commit murder in America and they were looking for. They didn’t of his job, those should belong to the commit terrorism involving murder, is know what scriptures in the Koran FBI under an employment agreement. I because Robert Mueller tried to make were referred to, were quoted by people am sure that he has seen Presidents for radical Islamists who hate America who had been radicalized. whom he has worked take their own and who want to overthrow our way of They had no idea what to look for in memos and take them back and use life feel better. So he brought in people speaking to Kim Jensen, who prepared them to write books. Perhaps that is to purge our training material in the over 700 pages of training materials so what he is thinking: I will take my FBI so that we wouldn’t offend radical people in the FBI could learn radical memos that I personally prepared and I Islamists who want to kill us. Islam. His training materials were will be like a President and I will save Michele Bachmann and I reviewed banned. They were supposed to have my memos and use them to write a much of the material that was purged. been destroyed, but after it became book. Lynn Westmoreland viewed some of it clear that the FBI could not recognize Of course, it turns out, with regard to and he had to go, but it involved hours radical Islamists, that Mueller had this one memo that he wrote about his going through. done so much damage in regard to conversation with President Trump, he Unfortunately—and obviously it was training FBI agents, it was finally de- consulted with other members of the intentional—but the FBI, under cided that we kind of need to get some- Justice Department, who all need to be Mueller, classified the purged mate- body back in here and get some mate- fired, and colluded with them to figure rials so I couldn’t have a blowup poster rials back in here so maybe we don’t out what should be done. here to show something very important keep getting people killed in the coun- There is no question these people are that FBI agents would need in order to try after we are alerted to somebody smart, or they wouldn’t be where they understand radical Islam. So they clas- who has been radicalized as an Islamic were. They knew that if there was an sified that so I can’t bring it down here terrorist and we let them go because obstruction of justice in which Trump

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:25 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00054 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.088 H13JNPT1 June 13, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4911 had engaged, then they would have to 1632. A letter from the Director, Regu- Commission, transmitting the Commission’s report it. Failing to report it would be latory Management Division, Environmental final rule — Review of the Commission’s a crime. They didn’t. So we know there Protection Agency, transmitting the Agen- Part 95 Personal Radio Services Rules [WT was no crime. What we know is they cy’s final rule — Triclopyr; Pesticide Toler- Docket No.: 10-119]; Petition for Rulemaking ances for Emergency Exemptions [EPA-HQ- of Garmin International, Inc. (RM-10762); Pe- were conspiring and colluding to hurt OPP-2017-0036; FRL-9961-29] received June 7, tition for Rulemaking of Omnitronics, L.L.C. the President of the United States. 2017, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public (RM-10844) received June 8, 2017, pursuant to So we don’t need a special pros- Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. ecutor. We certainly don’t need Committee on Agriculture. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on En- Mueller. He has done enough damage. 1633. A letter from the Acting Under Sec- ergy and Commerce. It is time to let the special prosecutor retary, Acquisition, Technology, and Logis- 1641. A letter from the Acting Chief Execu- go that Comey needlessly created. tics, Department of Defense, transmitting a tive Officer, Corporation For National and Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance notification of an increase in the Program Community Service, transmitting the Cor- Acquisition Unit Cost for the Chemical De- poration’s Semiannual Report from the Of- of my time. militarization — Assembled Chemical Weap- fice of Inspector General for the period Octo- f ons Alternatives program, pursuant to 10 ber 1, 2016, through March 30, 2017, pursuant LEAVE OF ABSENCE U.S.C. 2433(d)(3); Public Law 97-252, Sec. to the Inspector General Act of 1978, as 1107(a)(1) (as amended by Public Law 110-417, amended; to the Committee on Oversight and By unanimous consent, leave of ab- Sec. 811(c)); (122 Stat. 4522); to the Com- Government Reform. sence was granted to: mittee on Armed Services. 1642. A letter from the Acting Chief Finan- Mr. GRIFFITH (at the request of Mr. 1634. A letter from the Under Secretary, cial Officer, Department of Homeland Secu- MCCARTHY) for today on account of Department of Defense, transmitting the rity, transmitting the Department’s Annual family matters. semiannual report titled, ‘‘Acceptance of Performance Report for FY 2016-2018, and the Contributions For Defense Programs, Department’s Annual Performance Plan, f Projects, and Activities; Defense Coopera- pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 1115(b); Public Law 111- ADJOURNMENT tion Account’’, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2608(e); 352, Sec. 3; (124 Stat. 3867); to the Committee Public Law 101-403, Sec. 202(a)(1) (as amended on Oversight and Government Reform. Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, I move by Public Law 112-81, Sec. 1064(7)); (125 Stat. 1643. A letter from the Secretary, Depart- that the House do now adjourn. 1587); to the Committee on Armed Services. ment of Labor, transmitting the Depart- The motion was agreed to; accord- 1635. A letter from the Chief Counsel, ment’s Semiannual Report to the Congress ingly (at 6 o’clock and 23 minutes FEMA, Department of Homeland Security, from the Office of Inspector General, for the p.m.), under its previous order, the transmitting the Department’s final rule — period October 1, 2016, through March 31, House adjourned until tomorrow, Suspension of Community Eligibility (New 2017, pursuant to the Inspector General Act Haven County, CT, et al.) [Docket ID: of 1978, as amended; to the Committee on Wednesday, June 14, 2017, at 10 a.m. for FEMA-2017-0002; Internal Agency Docket Oversight and Government Reform. morning-hour debate. No.: FEMA-8479] received June 5, 2017, pursu- 1644. A letter from the Director, General f ant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104- Counsel and Legal Policy Division, Office of 121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee Government Ethics, transmitting the Of- EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS, on Financial Services. fice’s final rule — Technical Updating ETC. 1636. A letter from the Deputy Assistant Amendments to Executive Branch Financial Under clause 2 of rule XIV, executive Administrator, Diversion Control Division, Disclosure and Standards of Ethical Conduct communications were taken from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Depart- Regulations (RINs: 3209-AA00 and 3209-AA04) ment of Justice, transmitting the Depart- received June 8, 2017, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. Speaker’s table and referred as follows: ment’s final order — Schedules of Controlled 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 1628. A letter from the Acting Adminis- Substances: Placement of Acetyl Fentanyl Stat. 868); to the Committee on Oversight trator, Agricultural Marketing Service, Spe- Into Schedule I [Docket No.: DEA-413] re- and Government Reform. cialty Crops Program, Department of Agri- ceived June 8, 2017, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 1645. A letter from the Chairman of the culture, transmitting the Department’s in- 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Board, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corpora- terim rule — Sweet Onions Grown in the Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and tion, transmitting the Corporation’s Semi- Walla Walla Valley of Southeast Washington Commerce. annual Report to the Congress by Office of and Northeast Oregon; Decreased Assess- 1637. A letter from the Director, Regu- Inspector General and the Corporation’s ment Rate [Docket No.: AMS-SC-16-0116; latory Management Division, Environmental Management Response for the period October SC17-956-1 IR] received June 5, 2017, pursuant Protection Agency, transmitting the Agen- 1, 2016, through March 31, 2017, pursuant to to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, cy’s final rule — Approval and Promulgation the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amend- Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on of Implementation Plans; State of Cali- ed; to the Committee on Oversight and Gov- Agriculture. fornia; Coachella Valley; Attainment Plan ernment Reform. 1629. A letter from the Administrator, Ag- for 1997 8-Hour Ozone Standards [EPA-R09- 1646. A letter from the Administrator, ricultural Marketing Service, Specialty OAR-2016-0244; FRL-9962-54-Region 9] re- Small Business Administration, transmit- Crops Program, Department of Agriculture, ceived June 7, 2017, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. ting the Administration’s Office of Inspector transmitting the Department’s affirmation 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 General Semiannual Report to Congress, of interim rule as final rule — Almonds Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and covering the period of October 1, 2016, Grown in California; Change in Quality Con- Commerce. through March 31, 2017, pursuant to the In- trol Requirements [Docket No.: AMS-SC-16- 1638. A letter from the Director, Regu- spector General Act of 1978, as amended; to 0047; SC16-981-3 FIR] received June 5, 2017, latory Management Division, Environmental the Committee on Oversight and Govern- pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law Protection Agency, transmitting the Agen- ment Reform. 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Com- cy’s direct final rule — Approval and Pro- 1647. A letter from the Chief, Regulations mittee on Agriculture. mulgation of Implementation Plans; Texas and Standards Branch, Bureau of Safety and 1630. A letter from the Acting Adminis- Control of Air Pollution from Motor Vehicles Environmental Enforcement, Department of trator, Agricultural Marketing Service, Spe- with Mobile Source Incentive Programs the Interior, transmitting the Department’s cialty Crops Program, Department of Agri- [EPA-R06-OAR-2014-0497; FRL-9962-47-Region final rule — Oil and Gas and Sulphur Oper- culture, transmitting the Department’s final 6] received June 7, 2017, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. ations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Lease rule — Tomatoes Grown in Florida; In- 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Continuation Through Operations creased Assessment Rate [Docket No.: AMS- Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and [17XE1700DX EX1SF0000.DAQ000 EEEE50000] SC-16-0088; SC16-966-1 FR] received June 5, Commerce. (RIN: 1014-AA35) received June 7, 2017, pursu- 2017, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public 1639. A letter from the Director, Regu- ant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104- Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the latory Management Division, Environmental 121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee Committee on Agriculture. Protection Agency, transmitting the Agen- on Natural Resources. 1631. A letter from the Administrator, Ag- cy’s direct final rule — Approval and Pro- 1648. A letter from the Acting Director, Of- ricultural Marketing Service, Fruit and Veg- mulgation of Implementation Plans; Texas; fice of Sustainable Fisheries, NMFS, Na- etable Programs, Department of Agriculture, Revisions to the General Definitions for tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- transmitting the Department’s Major final Texas Air Quality Rules [EPA-R06-OAR-2016- tion, transmitting the Administration’s tem- rule — National Organic Program (NOP); Or- 0464; FRL-9962-23-Region 6] received June 7, porary rule — Fisheries of the Caribbean, ganic Livestock and Poultry Practices 2017, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper- [Docket No.: AMS-NOP-15-0012; NOP-15-06 Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Grouper Resources of the South Atlantic; FR] (RIN: 0581-AD44) received June 5, 2017, Committee on Energy and Commerce. Commercial Trip Limit Reduction [Docket pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 1640. A letter from the Deputy Chief, Mo- No.: 130312235-3658-02] (RIN: 0648-XF290) re- 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Com- bility Division, Wireless Telecommuni- ceived June 6, 2017, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. mittee on Agriculture. cations Bureau, Federal Communications 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:25 Jun 14, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00055 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K13JN7.089 H13JNPT1 H4912 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 13, 2017 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Natural Re- 121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee H.R. 2890. A bill to amend the Federal sources. on the Judiciary. Home Loan Bank Act to permit captive in- 1649. A letter from the Acting Deputy As- 1656. A letter from the Chief, Border Secu- surance companies that were members of a sistant Administrator for Regulatory Pro- rity Regulations Branch, U.S. Customs and Federal Home Loan Bank prior to September grams, NMFS, Office of Sustainable Fish- Border Protection, Department of Homeland 12, 2014, to continue to be eligible to be mem- eries, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad- Security, transmitting the Department’s bers of such a Bank, and for other purposes; ministration, transmitting the Administra- final rule — Merchandise Produced by Con- to the Committee on Financial Services. tion’s final rule — Atlantic Highly Migra- vict, Forced, or Indentured Labor; Con- By Mr. BISHOP of Georgia (for himself tory Species; Atlantic Shark Management forming Amendment and Technical Correc- and Mr. DENT): Measures; Final Amendment 5b [Docket No.: tions [CBP Dec. No. 17-04] (RIN: 1515-AE22) H.R. 2891. A bill to amend title 38, United 130417378-7331-02] (RIN: 0648-BD22) received received June 5, 2017, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. States Code, to clarify the eligibility of chil- June 5, 2017, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 dren of Vietnam veterans born with spina Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to Stat. 868); to the Committee on Ways and bifida for benefits of the Department of Vet- the Committee on Natural Resources. Means. erans Affairs; to the Committee on Veterans’ 1650. A letter from the Acting Deputy Di- 1657. A letter from the Board Chairman and Affairs. rector, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, CEO, Farm Credit Administration, transmit- By Mr. ENGEL (for himself and Ms. NMFS, National Oceanic and Atmospheric ting the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2018 ROS-LEHTINEN): Administration, transmitting the Adminis- Proposed Budget and Performance Plan, pur- H.R. 2892. A bill to amend chapter 329 of tration’s temporary rule — Fisheries of the suant to 31 U.S.C. 1115(b); Public Law 111-352, title 49, United States Code, to ensure that Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Pol- Sec. 3; (124 Stat. 3867); jointly to the Com- new vehicles enable fuel competition so as to lock in Statistical Area 620 in the Gulf of mittees on Agriculture and Oversight and reduce the strategic importance of oil to the Alaska [Docket No.: 160920866-7167-02] (RIN: Government Reform. United States; to the Committee on Energy 0648-XF253) received June 5, 2017, pursuant to 1658. A letter from the Acting Under Sec- and Commerce. 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. retary, Bureau of Legislative Affairs, De- By Mr. GRIFFITH (for himself and Mr. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Nat- partment of State, transmitting a deter- GOODLATTE): ural Resources. mination to suspend the limitation on the H.R. 2893. A bill to amend the Natural Gas 1651. A letter from the Acting Deputy Di- obligation of State Department Appropria- Act to bolster fairness and transparency in rector, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, tions contained in Secs. 3(b) and 7(b) of this consideration of interstate natural gas pipe- NMFS, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Act for six months, pursuant to Public Law lines, to provide for greater public input op- Administration, transmitting the Adminis- 104-45, Sec. 7(a)(1); (109 Stat. 400); jointly to portunities, and for other purposes; to the tration’s temporary rule — Fisheries of the the Committees on Foreign Affairs and Ap- Committee on Energy and Commerce. Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlan- propriations. By Mr. KEATING: tic; 2017 Commercial Accountability Measure 1659. A letter from the Labor Member, and H.R. 2894. A bill to amend the Public and Closure for Coastal Migratory Pelagic Management Member, Railroad Retirement Health Service Act to provide for education Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Board, transmitting the Board’s report on and outreach with respect to the prevention Atlantic [Docket No.: 001005281-0369-02] (RIN: the actuarial status of the railroad retire- and treatment of tick-borne illnesses; to the 0648-XF218) received June 5, 2017, pursuant to ment system, including any recommenda- Committee on Energy and Commerce. 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. tions for financing changes, pursuant to 45 By Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Nat- U.S.C. 231u(a)(1); Aug. 29, 1935, ch. 812, Sec. New York (for himself, Mr. CICILLINE, ural Resources. 22(a)(1) (as amended by Public Law 107-90, Mr. TAKANO, Mr. CARBAJAL, Mr. 1652. A letter from the Acting Director, Of- Sec. 108(a)); (115 Stat. 890); jointly to the SWALWELL of California, Mr. CARSON fice of Sustainable Fisheries, NMFS, Na- Committees on Ways and Means and Trans- of Indiana, Ms. NORTON, Ms. LEE, Mr. tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- portation and Infrastructure. BLUMENAUER, Ms. SHEA-PORTER, Ms. tion, transmitting the Administration’s tem- 1660. A letter from the Labor Member, and BROWNLEY of California, Mr. porary rule — Fisheries of the Exclusive Management Member, Railroad Retirement KEATING, Ms. CLARK of Massachu- Zone Off Alaska; Pollock in Statistical Area Board, transmitting the Board’s 2017 annual setts, Ms. TITUS, Mr. PETERS, Ms. 630 in the Gulf of Alaska [Docket No.: report on the financial status of the railroad ESTY of Connecticut, Mr. POCAN, Mr. 140918791-4999-02] (RIN: 0648-XF200) received unemployment insurance system, pursuant KILDEE, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. ESHOO, June 5, 2017, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to 45 U.S.C. 369; Public Law 100-647, Sec. 7105; Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. MOULTON, Mr. NAD- Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to (102 Stat. 3772); jointly to the Committees on LER, Mr. AL GREEN of Texas, and Mrs. the Committee on Natural Resources. Ways and Means and Transportation and In- CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York): 1653. A letter from the Acting Director, Of- H.R. 2895. A bill to provide a requirement frastructure. fice of Sustainable Fisheries, NMFS, Na- to improve data collection efforts; to the tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- f Committee on Energy and Commerce. tion, transmitting the Administration’s re- REPORTS OF COMMITTEES ON By Mr. NOLAN: apportionment of tribal Pacific whiting allo- H.R. 2896. A bill to amend title II of the So- cation — Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; PUBLIC BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS cial Security Act to provide a midyear cost- Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Under clause 2 of rule XIII, reports of of-living increase to account for an insuffi- Coast Groundfish Fishery; 2016 Tribal Fish- committees were delivered to the Clerk cient increase for 2017, to apply the Con- ery Allocations for Pacific Whiting; Re- for printing and reference to the proper sumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E) to apportionment Between Tribal and Non- calendar, as follows: future Social Security COLAs, and for other Tribal Sectors [Docket No.: 160126053-6398-02] purposes; to the Committee on Ways and (RIN: 0648-XF230) received June 5, 2017, pur- Mr. BURGESS: Committee on Rules. House Means, and in addition to the Committee on suant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104- Resolution 382. Resolution providing for con- Education and the Workforce, for a period to 121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee sideration of the bill (H.R. 1215) to improve be subsequently determined by the Speaker, on Natural Resources. patient access to health care services and in each case for consideration of such provi- 1654. A letter from the Acting Deputy Di- provide improved medical care by reducing sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the rector, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, the excessive burden the liability system committee concerned. NMFS, National Oceanic and Atmospheric places on the health care delivery system By Ms. NORTON: Administration, transmitting the Adminis- (Rept. 115–179). Referred to the House Cal- H.R. 2897. A bill to authorize the Mayor of tration’s temporary rule — Fisheries of the endar. the District of Columbia and the Director of Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Re- f the National Park Service to enter into co- allocation of Pollock in the Bering Sea and operative management agreements for the Aleutian Islands [Docket No.: 161020985-7181- PUBLIC BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS operation, maintenance, and management of 02] (RIN: 0648-XF262) received June 5, 2017, Under clause 2 of rule XII, public units of the National Park System in the pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law bills and resolutions of the following District of Columbia, and for other purposes; 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Com- titles were introduced and severally re- to the Committee on Natural Resources, and mittee on Natural Resources. in addition to the Committee on Oversight 1655. A letter from the Deputy Assistant ferred, as follows: and Government Reform, for a period to be Secretary for Policy, Department of Labor, By Mr. WELCH (for himself and Mr. subsequently determined by the Speaker, in transmitting the Department’s final rule — HARPER): each case for consideration of such provi- Department of Homeland Security and De- H.R. 2889. A bill to amend title III of the sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the partment of Labor Federal Civil Penalties Public Health Service Act to limit the or- committee concerned. Inflation Adjustment Act Annual Adjust- phan drug exclusion under the drug discount By Mr. O’HALLERAN (for himself and ments for the H-2B Temporary Non-agricul- program under section 340B of such title; to Mr. WESTERMAN): tural Worker Program [CIS No.: 2585-16] the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 2898. A bill to amend the Secure Rural (RIN: 1615-AC10) received June 5, 2017, pursu- By Mr. HULTGREN (for himself and Schools and Community Self-Determination ant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104- Ms. MOORE): Act of 2000 to modify the appointment and

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composition of resource advisory commit- Article I, Section 8, Clause 3; and H.R. 978: Mrs. MURPHY of Florida. tees; to the Committee on Agriculture, and Article I, Section 8, Clause 18. H.R. 1022: Ms. JAYAPAL. in addition to the Committee on Natural Re- By Mr. GRIFFITH: H.R. 1046: Mr. PETERS. sources, for a period to be subsequently de- H.R. 2893. H.R. 1057: Mr. VELA, Mr. SWALWELL of Cali- termined by the Speaker, in each case for Congress has the power to enact this legis- fornia, and Mr. MULLIN. consideration of such provisions as fall with- lation pursuant to the following: H.R. 1058: Mr. CARSON of Indiana. in the jurisdiction of the committee con- This bill is enacted pursuant to the power H.R. 1062: Mr. SANFORD. cerned. granted to Congress under Article I, Section H.R. 1098: Mr. O’HALLERAN. By Mr. SENSENBRENNER (for him- 8, Clause 18 of the United States Constitu- H.R. 1148: Mr. RICE of South Carolina. H.R. 1164: Mr. DESANTIS. self, Mr. GOODLATTE, Mr. DANNY K. tion. H.R. 1171: Mr. GOTTHEIMER, Mr. KIND, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. CONYERS, Ms. By Mr. KEATING: VALADAO, Mr. TAKANO, Mr. LIPINSKI, and Ms. JACKSON LEE, Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of H.R. 2894. BROWNLEY of California. Illinois, Mr. COLLINS of Georgia, Mr. Congress has the power to enact this legis- H.R. 1225: Mr. SCHIFF. WALKER, Mr. MARINO, Mr. SCOTT of lation pursuant to the following: H.R. 1267: Mrs. WAGNER. Virginia, Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio, Mrs. Article 1, Section 8 of the United States H.R. 1291: Mr. SOTO and Mr. FOSTER. LOVE, Mr. TAYLOR, Mrs. COMSTOCK, Constitution. H.R. 1298: Mr. LOEBSACK, Ms. ROSEN, Mr. and Mr. JEFFRIES): By Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of MARSHALL, and Mr. MOULTON. H.R. 2899. A bill to reauthorize the Second New York: H.R. 1307: Mr. DELANEY. Chance Act of 2007; to the Committee on the H.R. 2895. H.R. 1316: Mr. MARSHALL. Judiciary. Congress has the power to enact this legis- H.R. 1361: Ms. CASTOR of Florida and Mr. By Mr. BUCK: lation pursuant to the following: CONYERS. H. Res. 381. A resolution electing Members Article 1 Section 8 H.R. 1393: Ms. ROSEN. to certain standing committees of the House By Mr. NOLAN: H.R. 1406: Mr. LEVIN, Mr. JONES, Mr. STIV- of Representatives; considered and agreed to. H.R. 2896. ERS, Mr. MARINO, and Mr. RUIZ. By Mr. HECK (for himself, Mr. KILMER, Congress has the power to enact this legis- H.R. 1415: Ms. BASS. Ms. DELBENE, Ms. JAYAPAL, Mr. lation pursuant to the following: H.R. 1421: Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia, Mr. SMITH of Washington, Mr. BLU- Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. TAKANO, Mr. GARAMENDI, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. MENAUER, Ms. LEE, Mr. TED LIEU of By Ms. NORTON: REICHERT, and Mr. PETERS. California, and Mr. LARSEN of Wash- H.R. 2897. H.R. 1422: Mr. WILLIAMS. ington): Congress has the power to enact this legis- H.R. 1438: Mr. RUIZ. H. Res. 383. A resolution to express support lation pursuant to the following: H.R. 1441: Mr. CARTER of Texas, Mr. for recognition of June 2017 as National Orca clause 2 of section 3 of article IV of the KNIGHT, and Mr. BABIN. Protection Month; to the Committee on Constitution and clause 17 of section 8 of ar- H.R. 1444: Mr. COLE and Mr. COHEN. Oversight and Government Reform. ticle I of the Constitution. H.R. 1447: Mrs. LOWEY, Mr. BLUMENAUER, and Mr. MOULTON. f By Mr. O’HALLERAN: H.R. 2898. H.R. 1456: Mr. YOHO, Mr. GARAMENDI, Mr. CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY Congress has the power to enact this legis- RUIZ, and Mr. BUDD. STATEMENT lation pursuant to the following: H.R. 1475: Mr. SUOZZI and Mrs. TORRES. H.R. 1494: Mr. VELA, Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN Pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII of Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 By Mr. SENSENBRENNER: GRISHAM of New Mexico, and Mr. CLEAVER. H.R. 1515: Mr. MOULTON. the Rules of the House of Representa- H.R. 2899. H.R. 1529: Mr. LABRADOR. tives, the following statements are sub- Congress has the power to enact this legis- H.R. 1542: Mr. CARSON of Indiana. mitted regarding the specific powers lation pursuant to the following: granted to Congress in the Constitu- H.R. 1552: Mr. MARSHALL. Article I , Section 8 H.R. 1558: Mr. MESSER. tion to enact the accompanying bill or f H.R. 1566: Mr. CARSON of Indiana. joint resolution. H.R. 1626: Mr. BOST and Ms. BROWNLEY of By Mr. WELCH: ADDITIONAL SPONSORS California. H.R. 1635: Mr. ROSKAM. H.R. 2889. Under clause 7 of rule XII, sponsors H.R. 1655: Mr. BLUMENAUER. Congress has the power to enact this legis- were added to public bills and resolu- lation pursuant to the following: H.R. 1661: Mr. SOTO. Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18: The Con- tions, as follows: H.R. 1697: Mr. HUIZENGA, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. gress shall have Power To . . . make all H.R. 15: Mr. PERLMUTTER. MCHENRY, Mr. MCCAUL, Mr. BRIDENSTINE, Laws. which shall be necessary and proper H.R. 112: Mr. CRIST and Mr. DUNN. Mr. HUDSON, Mr. BACON, Mr. SMITH of Ne- for carrying into Execution the foregoing H.R. 169: Mr. VARGAS. braska, Mr. RUSSELL, Mr. GARRETT, Mr. GON- Powers, and all other Powers vested by this H.R. 233: Mr. PALLONE. ZALEZ of Texas, and Mr. COLE. Constitution in the Government of the H.R. 242: Mr. DEFAZIO, Mr. SARBANES, Mr. H.R. 1698: Mr. HUIZENGA, Mr. VARGAS, Mr. United States, or in any Department or Offi- SUOZZI, and Ms. LOFGREN. MULLIN, Mrs. LAWRENCE, Mr. PERLMUTTER, cer thereof.. H.R. 373: Mr. ROKITA. and Mr. RUSSELL. By Mr. HULTGREN: H.R. 392: Mr. GALLAGHER, Mr. MEEHAN, and H.R. 1711: Mr. SOTO. H.R. 2890. Mr. RENACCI. H.R. 1739: Mr. MOULTON. H.R. 1777: Ms. TENNEY. Congress has the power to enact this legis- H.R. 422: Mrs. WAGNER, Mr. YODER, Mr. H.R. 1811: Mrs. COMSTOCK and Mrs. LOVE. lation pursuant to the following: BABIN, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. MESSER, Mr. HILL, H.R. 1821: Mr. ALLEN. Article I, Section 8, Clause 18: To make all and Mr. LABRADOR. H.R. 1825: Ms. BROWNLEY of California, Mr. Laws which shall be necessary and proper for H.R. 468: Mr. SWALWELL of California. TONKO, and Mr. CRAMER. carrying into Execution the foregoing Pow- H.R. 489: Ms. SEWELL of Alabama and Mr. H.R. 1828: Ms. ROSEN. ers, and all other Powers vested by this Con- FOSTER. H.R. 1832: Mr. RICHMOND. H.R. 535: Mr. LAMALFA. stitution in the Government of the United H.R. 1838: Ms. BONAMICI. H.R. 553: Mr. ROUZER. States, or in any Department or Officer H.R. 1864: Mr. CARSON of Indiana. H.R. 564: Mr. PALAZZO. thereof. H.R. 1865: Mr. ROSKAM, Mr. ROUZER, Ms. H.R. 586: Mr. COLE. Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3: To regulate MOORE, and Mr. SHIMKUS. commerce with foreign nations, and among H.R. 631: Mr. LAHOOD. H.R. 1874: Mr. KATKO and Mr. STIVERS. the several states, and with the Indian tribes H.R. 632: Mr. GALLAGHER. H.R. 1911: Mr. FOSTER, Mr. Bost, Mr. By Mr. BISHOP of Georgia: H.R. 638: Mr. SHERMAN. SUOZZI, Mr. BISHOP of Michigan, Mr. LIPIN- H.R. 2891. H.R. 664: Mr. BOST. SKI, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, and Mr. PAS- Congress has the power to enact this legis- H.R. 721: Ms. STEFANIK and Mr. PERL- CRELL. lation pursuant to the following: MUTTER. H.R. 1928: Ms. TENNEY, Mr. MCCAUL, Mr. The commerce clause, Article 1, Section 8, H.R. 747: Mr. OLSON and Mr. RUSH. UPTON, and Mr. POSEY. Clause 3. H.R. 750: Mr. COHEN. H.R. 1951: Mr. RUIZ. By Mr. ENGEL: H.R. 769: Mr. ROKITA. H.R. 1955: Mr. PEARCE. H.R. 2892. H.R. 828: Ms. SINEMA. H.R. 2002: Mr. FRANCIS ROONEY of Florida. Congress has the power to enact this legis- H.R. 830: Mr. KING of New York. H.R. 2059: Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of lation pursuant to the following: H.R. 837: Ms. MATSUI. Texas. The bill is enacted pursuant to the power H.R. 849: Mr. NEWHOUSE, Mr. BACON, Mr. H.R. 2069: Mr. COLE and Mr. HASTINGS. granted to Congress under the following pro- SHIMKUS, Mr. LATTA, Mr. DUNCAN of Ten- H.R. 2077: Mr. BACON and Ms. ROSEN. visions of the United States Constitution: nessee, and Mr. GOWDY. H.R. 2106: Mr. REICHERT, Ms. STEFANIK, Ms. Article I, Section 1; H.R. 852: Mr. FOSTER. ESHOO, Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania, and Mr. Article I, Section 8, Clause 1; H.R. 878: Mr. POE of Texas. COOPER.

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H.R. 2119: Ms. LOFGREN and Mrs. BEATTY. H.R. 2482: Mr. BACON, Mr. GARAMENDI, Ms. H.R. 2857: Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. H.R. 2141: Ms. ROSEN. LEE, Mr. CLEAVER, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. H.R. 2859: Ms. BONAMICI. H.R. 2148: Mr. TIPTON. LAWSON of Florida, and Mr. VALADAO. H.R. 2866: Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania, Ms. H.R. 2150: Mr. ALLEN and Mr. FORTEN- H.R. 2506: Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. BISHOP of Geor- BASS, and Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. BERRY. gia, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. EVANS, Mr. THOMAS J. H.R. 2867: Ms. NORTON. H.R. 2158: Mr. RUSH and Mr. SMITH of New ROONEY of Florida, and Ms. KUSTER of New H.R. 2881: Mr. HARRIS. Jersey. Hampshire. H.R. 2884: Mr. TED LIEU of California, Ms. H.R. 2215: Mr. BEYER, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. H.R. 2595: Mr. VALADAO. SINEMA, and Mr. CAPUANO. H.R. 2616: Mr. JONES and Mr. O’HALLERAN. CLARKE of New York, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. H.R. 2224: Mr. MARSHALL, Mrs. WALORSKI, H.R. 2620: Mr. BABIN, Mr. BUCSHON, and Mr. DEFAZIO, Mr. MEEKS, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. Mr. HOLDING, Mr. ROUZER, and Mr. TIPTON. ROKITA. SOTO, Ms. LEE, Mr. COHEN, and Mr. CLAY. H.R. 2232: Mr. ROKITA. H.R. 2641: Mr. CA´ RDENAS, Mr. KILMER, Mr. H.R. 2887: Mr. ROHRABACHER. H.R. 2240: Ms. SINEMA and Mrs. MURPHY of MOULTON, Mr. CONNOLLY, Miss RICE of New H.J. Res. 51: Mr. NEWHOUSE, Mr. SHIMKUS, Florida. York, Mr. PETERS, Mr. DESAULNIER, and Ms. Mr. DUNCAN of Tennessee, and Mr. BACON. H.R. 2248: Mr. WELCH, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, BLUNT ROCHESTER. H.J. Res. 104: Mr. GRIJALVA. Mrs. DEMINGS, Ms. ESHOO, Mr. KILMER, Ms. H.R. 2651: Mr. MEEKS, Mr. LANGEVIN, Mr. H. Con. Res. 13: Mrs. MCMORRIS RODGERS, WILSON of Florida, and Mr. SERRANO. CLAY, Mr. KNIGHT, Mr. DEFAZIO, and Mr. Mr. THORNBERRY, and Mr. CURBELO of Flor- H.R. 2306: Ms. PINGREE. MACARTHUR. ida. H.R. 2308: Ms. KAPTUR. H.R. 2652: Mr. TAKANO. H. Con. Res. 49: Mr. BLUMENAUER. H.R. 2315: Mr. POE of Texas. H.R. 2662: Mr. CRAMER. H. Con. Res. 63: Mr. GARAMENDI, Mr. KIL- H.R. 2317: Mr. FITZPATRICK. H.R. 2670: Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD and Mr. DEE, Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New H.R. 2318: Mr. HECK. MEEKS. York, Mr. MEEKS, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Ms. H.R. 2352: Mr. WALKER. H.R. 2704: Ms. BROWNLEY of California. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico, H.R. 2358: Ms. MCCOLLUM. H.R. 2723: Mrs. ROBY and Mr. ROUZER. H.R. 2371: Mr. GALLEGO. H.R. 2742: Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania and Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, Mr. COHEN, and H.R. 2383: Mr. PETERSON. Mr. RENACCI. Mr. CROWLEY. H.R. 2396: Mr. SHERMAN and Mr. LUETKE- H.R. 2745: Mr. SCHIFF and Mr. SERRANO. H. Res. 15: Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. SMITH of MEYER. H.R. 2790: Ms. MENG, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. Washington, Mr. MOULTON, and Mr. H.R. 2401: Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. DESAULNIER, AGUILAR, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. PRICE of GOTTHEIMER. Ms. PINGREE, Mr. LARSEN of Washington, Mr. North Carolina, and Ms. ESTY of Con- H. Res. 30: Mr. KIND. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. DELBENE, Mr. necticut. H. Res. 136: Mrs. LOWEY. ENGEL, Mr. RUSH, and Mr. BOST. H.R. 2801: Mr. SERRANO, Miss RICE of New H. Res. 218: Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. H.R. 2408: Mr. MAST and Ms. KAPTUR. York, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Mr. BRADY H. Res. 257: Mr. MEEKS. H.R. 2426: Mr. CAPUANO. of Pennsylvania, and Mr. SUOZZI. H. Res. 285: Mr. PALLONE. H.R. 2434: Mr. FERGUSON. H.R. 2825: Mr. FITZPATRICK, Ms. MCSALLY, H. Res. 313: Mr. MAST. H.R. 2435: Mr. RASKIN. Mr. KING of New York, and Mr. GALLAGHER. H. Res. 316: Mr. POE of Texas, Mr. H.R. 2476: Mr. MOULTON. H.R. 2826: Mr. RATCLIFFE, Mr. CRAMER, Mr. SCHWEIKERT, and Mr. GOSAR. H.R. 2480: Mr. HARRIS, Mr. DUNCAN of SENSENBRENNER, and Mr. BROOKS of Ala- South Carolina, Mr. KELLY of Mississippi, bama. H. Res. 317: Mr. COLE. Mr. GIBBS, Mr. WEBER of Texas, Mr. H.R. 2827: Mr. COHEN. H. Res. 332: Mr. ESPAILLAT, Mrs. DAVIS of LAMALFA, Mr. ISSA, Ms. TENNEY, Mr. ADER- H.R. 2834: Ms. BASS. California, Mr. PERLMUTTER, and Ms. CLARKE HOLT, Mr. FLORES, Ms. JAYAPAL, Mr. H.R. 2836: Mr. DIAZ-BALART. of New York. JEFFRIES, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, and Mr. H.R. 2847: Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. H. Res. 351: Mr. BLUMENAUER and Ms. RASKIN. H.R. 2855: Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. MENG.

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