E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 116 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 165 WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2019 No. 187 House of Representatives The House met at 9 a.m. and was I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY HAS NO called to order by the Speaker. United States of America, and to the Repub- FACTS lic for which it stands, one nation under God, f indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. (Mr. KELLER asked and was given PRAYER f permission to address the House for 1 minute.) The Chaplain, the Reverend Patrick ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, we J. Conroy, offered the following prayer: The SPEAKER. The Chair will enter- are now in week 2 of the ‘‘public phase’’ Eternal God, we give You thanks for tain up to five requests for 1-minute of Speaker PELOSI’s and Chairman giving us another day. Send Your spirit speeches on each side of the aisle. SCHIFF’s impeachment inquiry. of peace and calm, that all might have f What comes to mind is a song from confidence in Your faithfulness to us, 1980 by REO Speedwagon. I am not HOUSE DEMOCRATS WORK FOR and that no matter what lies ahead, going to do this any justice, but here it THE PEOPLE Your grace is abundantly available. is: ‘‘I heard it from a friend who heard Now we approach a week during (Mr. CICILLINE asked and was given it from a friend who heard it from an- which all Americans will gather to re- permission to address the House for 1 other . .’’ member who we are: a nation gener- minute.) That is the evidence that has been ously blessed not only by You, our God, Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, I presented in private and in public: no but by courageous ancestors, faithful rise today to highlight the tremendous substance. In fact, Mr. Morrison and allies, and the best good wishes of peo- progress House Democrats have made Ambassador Volker, both of whom ple everywhere who long for freedom, to get government working for the peo- claimed to have firsthand knowledge, who would glory in the difficult work ple. testified they witnessed no bribery, no In less than a year, we have passed of participative government, and who quid pro quos, and no illegal actions by nearly 400 pieces of legislation, includ- do not enjoy the bounty we are privi- President Trump. ing more than 275 bipartisan bills that leged to possess. Yesterday, Ambassador Sondland are currently sitting on MITCH MCCON- Bless the Members of this assembly, said: ‘‘I never heard from President NELL’s desk. and us all, that we would be worthy of Trump that aid was conditioned on an the call we have been given as Ameri- We passed legislation to protect cov- erage for preexisting conditions, to announcement’’ of investigations. cans. Help us all to be truly thankful Here is what it is: We are talking and appropriately generous in our re- build on the progress of the ACA, and to drive down the cost of prescription about innuendos, thoughts, and feel- sponse. drugs. ings, but no facts. That is what is hap- May all that is done this day be for We fought to get hardworking folks pening. That is what has happened in Your greater honor and glory. the good-paying jobs they need to put the SCIF when it was rehearsed, and Amen. food on the table by passing legislation that is what is happening in the public f to raise the minimum wage; to ensure performance this past couple of weeks. THE JOURNAL equal pay for equal work; and to invest f more than $70 billion in green, job-cre- DELAY MEDICAL DEVICE TAX The SPEAKER. The Chair has exam- ating infrastructure projects. ined the Journal of the last day’s pro- We fought to clean up corruption in (Mr. BRINDISI asked and was given ceedings and announces to the House Washington by passing the most com- permission to address the House for 1 her approval thereof. prehensive anticorruption bill since minute.) Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Jour- Watergate. Mr. BRINDISI. Madam Speaker, I nal stands approved. Yet MITCH MCCONNELL would rather rise today in support of the advanced f tout himself as the grim reaper than manufacturing that is happening in New York’s medical device industry. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE vote on these bills that will help his constituents and the American people. Medical device companies across New The SPEAKER. Will the gentleman I have a message for you, Senator York employ nearly 20,000 people, pay- from New York (Mr. BRINDISI) come MCCONNELL: Do your job, or your con- ing good wages, helping patients live forward and lead the House in the stituents will pick someone who will. healthier lives, and making products Pledge of Allegiance. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. here in the United States. Mr. BRINDISI led the Pledge of Alle- JACKSON LEE). Members are reminded Companies like Welch Allyn and giance as follows: to address their remarks to the Chair. ConMed are expanding manufacturing 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. H9125 . VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:24 Nov 22, 2019 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A21NO7.000 H21NOPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with HOUSE H9126 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE November 21, 2019 in upstate New York and creating hun- This issue is personal for me. My That is why, earlier this week, I in- dreds of new jobs. But this growth grandfather served in Vietnam, was ex- troduced the Green Energy for Federal could be hurt if we see the return of posed to Agent Orange, and died from Buildings Act. My legislation would re- the medical device tax. lung cancer. Sadly, his story is not un- quire the Federal Government to in- The current suspension of the device common. crease the share of electricity it gets tax expires on December 31. Allowing I refuse to stand by and let other vet- from renewable sources. this tax to return could erode gains in erans die because they didn’t get the Under current law, the Federal Gov- employment in the med-tech sector healthcare they need. That is not who ernment is required to utilize only 7.5 from the last 4 years, ultimately hurt- we are. percent renewable energy for its elec- ing innovation and patient access to Our veterans fought to keep us safe, tricity needs. My bill would up the new technology. and many sacrificed life and limb. The ante, raising the requirement to 35 per- Madam Speaker, I hope we can work last thing they should have to do is cent by 2030, 75 percent by 2040, and 100 together this year as Democrats and come home to fight another battle for percent by 2050. Republicans to delay this tax and keep the healthcare they earned. This crisis is upon us. We must have supporting American manufacturing. There is still time to turn this the strength and the foresight to act f around, Mick, and I beg you to recon- decisively, creatively, and boldly. SUPPORT SERVICE ORGANIZATION sider. There is no time to waste. CAUCUS The SPEAKER pro tempore. Mem- f bers are reminded to address their re- (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania marks to the Chair. CELEBRATING NATIONAL BIBLE asked and was given permission to ad- WEEK f dress the House for 1 minute and to re- (Mr. BUDD asked and was given per- vise and extend his remarks.) PRIORITIZE TREATMENT FOR ALS mission to address the House for 1 Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. (Mr. CURTIS asked and was given minute and to revise and extend his re- Madam Speaker, service plays an im- permission to address the House for 1 marks.) portant role in communities across the minute.) Mr. BUDD. Madam Speaker, I rise Nation. From small acts of kindness to Mr. CURTIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 78th anniversary grand gestures, we can all do our part today to share my concerns with pa- of National Bible Week. to make a difference. It is something I tient access to groundbreaking and In this very Bible, the Apostle Paul am personally passionate about, having lifesaving ALS treatments. This is a tells us in 2 Timothy, Chapter 4: served as a volunteer firefighter for very personal issue to me as some of For the time is coming when people will many years and being involved in my close friends and neighbors have not endure sound teaching, but have itching scouting my entire life. been affected by this difficult disease. ears, they will accumulate themselves teach- Nobody embodies this mission better I applaud the enactment of the Right ers to suit their own passions and will turn than the countless volunteers and serv- to Try Act, allowing some people an- away from listening to the truth and will ice organizations that can be found na- other option to receive the treatments wander off into myths. tionwide. That is why I am honored to they need. However, this should not be Even as I look behind me at the co-chair the Congressional Service Or- the end of the conversation. words ‘‘In God We Trust,’’ I wonder if ganization Caucus with my colleague, It is important to acknowledge that we as a nation are succumbing to what Congressman PANETTA from California.