Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my sincere congratulations to Summercrest Assisted Living in Newport, New Hampshire on its 20th anniversary.

Summercrest provides vital programs to seniors across the Lake Sunapee Region who need care services but are limited by income. I am so thankful to the healthcare professionals, caregivers, leadership and staff at Summercrest for their essential role in improving the lives of Granite Staters every day. I remain committed to doing all that I can to guarantee retirement security, healthy aging and long-term services for our elder population.

On behalf of my constituents across New Hampshire's Second Congressional District, I thank Summercrest Assisted Living for the great service it provides to the Granite State and congratulate the facility again on 20 years of operation. I look forward to our continued work together in making New Hampshire an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor United States Marine Corps 1st Sergeant David Quinn of Temple, New Hampshire for his service and sacrifice to our country during World War

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to speak as a cosponsor of the VA MISSION Act. I appreciate the work of Chairman Roe and Ranking Member Walz in putting this bill together. This bill is almost unanimously supported by the veterans service organization community.

I am proud to cosponsor this legislation because it will enact needed reforms to the Veterans Choice Program and finally extend benefits to family caregivers for veterans of all eras.

I am pleased that the committee retained provisions that Senator Sullivan of Alaska and I fought for that would recognize the unique access issues for States that lack a full-service VA hospital. While I will continue to fight for improved and expanded facilities at our Manchester, New Hampshire, VA Medical Center, it is important to recognize that we have unique challenges in New Hampshire where we do not have a full-service hospital.

I also want to speak to this: the provisions that expand the caregiver benefits provided to post-9/11 veterans to veterans of all eras are necessary and long overdue.

I have heard repeatedly from Granite State veterans of eras prior to the global war on terror that the differences and benefits are simply unfair. The way these benefits are currently structured essentially pits veterans against veterans. That is unacceptable.

I thank Chairman Roe for working with us on finding a way forward for family caregiver benefits. I am sure thousands of Granite State veterans will agree.

While this bill embodies the kind of bipartisanship for which our committee is well known, it is not perfect. As the ranking member of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, I believe it is important to acknowledge parts of the bill that will need continued oversight. I remain committed to ensuring that the VA follows through in a manner that befits the veterans they serve.

Number one, the asset infrastructure review portion of the bill is promising, but I have concerns that it will be insufficient to accomplish its goals. The VA is in desperate need of improved facilities and a realignment of facilities to better serve veterans' needs.

In my own State of New Hampshire, the veterans of the North Country must rely on the Veterans Choice Program, rather than have ease of access to services they would prefer. I am encouraged by the continued work to improve our existing facilities, but Granite State veterans need more, and I hope this bill will further empower the VA to expand services in Manchester and across our State.

Recent experiences has shown that the VA's ability to accurately assess the needs of the veterans' population is in doubt. I remain committed to ensuring that the VA can paint an accurate picture of veterans' needs, especially veterans living in rural America. Too often, our veterans in rural America have seen promised infrastructure expansion stripped away from them. I urge the veterans service organizations community to continue to work with us to keep the VA honest.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 2 and to express my profound disappointment in the process that has led us to where we are today.

As the first New Hampshire Representative to serve on the Agriculture Committee in decades, I am humbled by the responsibility to fight for New Hampshire's small family farms.

When we last considered the farm bill in 2014, I supported the legislation because, while not perfect, that bill provided long-term certitude to our Nation's farmers and represented a compromise between Republicans and Democrats.

The farm bill has always been a bipartisan piece of legislation, but the bill we vote on this week represents a complete departure from that bipartisan process. Democrats were pushed away from the negotiating table by an extreme ideological agenda that would increase food insecurity for millions of Americans, slash mandatory spending on critical rural development and conservation programs, and lead to 265,000 children losing access to free and reduced school lunch.

Mr. Speaker, during the week of Monday, May 7, 2018, I missed Roll Call votes 167 through 179. Had I been present for these recorded votes, I would have voted as listed below:

Roll Call Vote 167: AYE (Suspension Bill);

Roll Call Vote 168: AYE (Suspension Bill);

Roll Call Vote 169: NAY (Previous Question);

Roll Call Vote 170: NAY (Rule);

Roll Call Vote 171: NAY (Passage of S.J. Res. 57);

Roll Call Vote 172: NAY (Motion to Table);

Roll Call Vote 173: NAY (Previous Question);

Roll Call Vote 174: NAY (Rule);

Roll Call Vote 175: NAY (Passage of H.R. 2152);

Roll Call Vote 176: AYE (Motion to Recommit);

Roll Call Vote 177: NAY (Passage of H.R. 5645);

Roll Call Vote 178: NAY (Titus Amendment);

Roll Call Vote 179: AYE (Passage H.R. 3053).

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Heidi Welch who will retire this spring after serving for 20 years as music director at Hillsboro-Deering High School.

Heidi's dedication and enthusiasm for music and the arts has inspired generations of students in the Hillsboro-Deering community. In 2013, she was recognized as New Hampshire's Teacher ofthe Year and served as the Granite State's representative as a finalist for the National Teacher of the Year. Through Heidi' s leadership, the Hillsboro-Deering band and chorus consistently wins accolades at national competitions. Heidi is also civically engaged as music director for ``HillCat Summer Theatre'', as an adjunct professor at Keene State College, and soon will be receiving a Ph.D. in her field of music education. Heidi was once even selected as a guest conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra.

On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's Second Congressional District, I thank Heidi for her many years of service and being a part of what makes the Granite State's public schools so special. Her legacy of teaching will continue through the countless students she has inspired. I am honored to recognize and congratulate Heidi on her retirement and wish her the best of luck in the years ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lupus Awareness Month. An autoimmune disease, Lupus impacts more than one million Americans and many in communities across our Granite State. Those living with Lupus often experience significant symptoms such as fatigue, cognitive issues and physical challenges.

While Lupus affects millions of individuals worldwide and there are 16,000 new diagnoses each year, two-thirds of Americans are unaware of it. Through Lupus Awareness Month each May, advocates will ``Go purple for Lupus'' with local and national events to encourage understanding, research and support of the disease. I will continue to champion and support public health efforts in Congress. I encourage my colleagues to honor individuals living with Lupus through annual awareness programming each May and throughout the year.

Mr. Speaker, during the week of Monday, April 23, 2018, I missed rollcall votes 148-166. Had I been present for these recorded votes, I would have voted as listed below: Rollcall Vote 148: ``aye,'' rollcall Vote 149: ``aye,'' rollcall Vote 150: ``nay,'' rollcall Vote 151: ``nay,'' rollcall Vote 152: ``aye,'' rollcall Vote 153: ``nay,'' rollcall Vote 154: ``aye,'' rollcall Vote 155: ``aye,'' rollcall Vote 156: ``nay,'' rollcall Vote 157: ``nay,'' rollcall Vote 158: ``nay,'' rollcall Vote 159: ``nay,'' rollcall Vote 160: ``aye,'' rollcall Vote 161: ``aye,'' rollcall Vote 162: ``nay,'' rollcall Vote 163: ``nay,'' rollcall Vote 164: ``aye,'' rollcall Vote 165: ``aye,'' and rollcall Vote 166: ``nay.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great pride and admiration that I offer my sincere thanks to Ms.

Sharlene M. Labore for her three decades of service to the United States Postal Service (USPS).

Whether it was her work with the National Post Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) and the New Hampshire AFL-CIO, or her dedicated activism for workers' rights and social justice, she has made meaningful contributions to our community and our state. It is Granite Staters like Sharlene who make New Hampshire such an incredibly special place to live, work, and raise a family.

On behalf of New Hampshire's Second Congressional District, I thank Sharlene again for her distinguished public service. I wish her the best in her future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my sincere congratulations to the Plymouth Regional Senior Center on its 25th anniversary.

The Plymouth Regional Senior Center gives people across Grafton County a place to come together and share experiences, and it provides valuable resources and programs that help our elder citizens maintain their health and wellbeing. I remain committed to doing all I can to ensure that seniors in the Granite State have the resources and support they need.

On behalf of my constituents across New Hampshire's Second Congressional District, I thank the Plymouth Regional Senior Center for the great service it provides to the Granite State and congratulate the Center again on 25 years of operation. I look forward to our continued work together in making New Hampshire an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my good friend Mark Scarano as he steps down after nearly three years as Federal Co-Chair of the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC). Through his service on the Commission, Mark has continued his life's work as a community economic developer serving areas that are most in need of support. Mark got his start in this field in Millinocket, Maine, and later in Piscataquis County. We in New Hampshire were fortunate that he came next to Grafton County, where for eight years he led its Regional Development Corporation and significantly expanded workforce development and entrepreneurship programs.

In 2015, I was tremendously proud to support President Obama's nomination of Mark to co-chair the NBRC, and his unanimous confirmation by the Senate was a testament to his stellar reputation and achievements. He has proved more than worthy of that honor, as he has been a tireless leader, steward, and advocate of the Commission's important work during a period of tightening budgets and the emergence of new challenges, like the opioid epidemic, which are threatening our rural economy and its development.

Ten years after it was first authorized, the Northern Border Regional Commission continues to play a critical role in driving the economic growth and community development in some of New Hampshire's most economically distressed communities. It supports projects that create and sustain jobs, tackle workforce development, infrastructure, telecommunications, healthcare, culture, and much more. Mark has worked diligently during his tenure to streamline processes and procedures and maximize the impact of the Commission. Through his excellent leadership, Mark has been an invaluable resource to the Granite State and improved the lives of thousands who have relied on projects championed by the Commission.

On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's Second Congressional District, I thank Mark for his many years of dedicated service to the Granite State and the Northeast. His achievements will continue to benefit our state for years to come. I am honored to recognize and congratulate Mark, and wish him the very best of luck in the years ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my sincere gratitude for Jennifer Frizzell as she moves on after fifteen years from her role leading public policy work for Planned Parenthood of Northern New England.

Throughout Jennifer's long career as an advocate for reproductive rights and improved access to family planning resources, she has helped support women across New Hampshire in obtaining well-deserved quality healthcare. Whether it's been advocacy to protect buffer zones outside of clinics or fighting against a lawsuit to prevent the opening of a Planned Parenthood in downtown Manchester, Jennifer has made invaluable contributions to our state and the country. Her commitment and compassion have improved the lives of countless women in need, and she has cultivated a better future for Granite State women and families.

On behalf of New Hampshire's Second Congressional District and all those who have benefitted from Jennifer's work, I thank her for her incredible service and congratulate her on all that she has accomplished. I wish her the best of luck in the years ahead, and I look forward to our continued work together to make New Hampshire an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Stan Judge for his decades of service to Wildcat ski area and skiing across New England.

In 2007 Stan was presented the Sherman Adams award, which is given to a person from an Eastern ski area who has significantly influenced the ski industry. This award, named after former New Hampshire governor and Loon ski area founder Sherman Adams, recognizes Stan's lifelong commitment to Wildcat and the ski industry at large. Stan also played a vital role in developing the American Standards Association Tramway Safety Code, and his leadership here brought standardized safety codes for all ski areas to use. This year as Wildcat Ski Area celebrates its sixtieth year in operation, I wanted to take the time to thank Stan for all of his work making Wildcat a safe and family-friendly place for winter recreation.

On behalf of New Hampshire's Second Congressional District and all those who have benefited from Stan's work, I thank him for all his passion and dedication, and I wish him the best of luck in his next step.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my sincere gratitude for Jennifer Frizzell as she moves on after fifteen years from her role leading public policy work for Planned Parenthood of Northern New England.

Throughout Jennifer's long career as an advocate for reproductive rights and improved access to family planning resources, she has helped support women across New Hampshire in obtaining well-deserved quality healthcare. Whether it's been advocacy to protect buffer zones outside of clinics or fighting against a lawsuit to prevent the opening of a Planned Parenthood in downtown Manchester, Jennifer has made invaluable contributions to our state and the country. Her commitment and compassion have improved the lives of countless women in need, and she has cultivated a better future for Granite State women and families.

On behalf of New Hampshire's Second Congressional District and all those who have benefitted from Jennifer's work, I thank her for her incredible service and congratulate her on all that she has accomplished. I wish her the best of luck in the years ahead, and I look forward to our continued work together to make New Hampshire an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me.

Mr. Speaker, in New Hampshire and all across this country, people are dying every day. Communities have been devastated by the heroin and opioid epidemic. Last year, we lost nearly 500 people to substance abuse disorder in my small State of New Hampshire.

Helping families, first responders, treatment providers, law enforcement officials, and activists in the Granite State confront this crisis has been one of my top priorities in Congress.

Our communities need our help, and there is strong bipartisan commitment here in the House to respond effectively to this crisis.

While we have passed effective legislation over the last 2 years, including the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, the most important thing that we can do is to provide the funding to help those on the front lines of this crisis do their jobs.

While I and my Democratic colleagues welcome the President's declaration of an opioid public health emergency, the lack of corresponding funding means that this commitment has been little more than empty rhetoric.

We need leadership from Congress and the President to save lives across the country by providing real solutions to the opioid epidemic, and I call on my colleagues to act now.

During the State of the Union, the President, once again, expressed his commitment to working to address the opioid and heroin epidemic, but, unfortunately, his actions have fallen short of his rhetoric.

I have come to the floor today so we can defeat the previous question and bring up for consideration my legislation, the Respond NOW Act.

This critical legislation creates a $25 billion opioid epidemic response fund to provide $5 billion annually over 5 years targeted to numerous key initiatives involving agencies such as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institutes of Health.

This includes $18.5 billion for SAMHSA grants to States, particularly those targeted at expanding medication assistance treatment, which opioid experts agree is among the most critical ways to help those suffering from substance use disorder.

My bill also provides funding to increase the number of substance use treatment providers and to expand medical research related to the opioid epidemic.

Additionally, it provides $2.5 billion for critical CDC initiatives, such as expanding and strengthening evidence-based prevention and education strategies.

Finally, the bill includes funding specifically to support children and families impacted by this opioid epidemic, including $250 million to support the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, which can help address the risk of adverse childhood experiences, a known driver of this epidemic.

We need to break the cycle, and these programs are ideally suited to support substance abuse treatment services to help families stay together and keep children in safe and stable homes.

The opioid crisis is a multifaceted challenge, and we are fortunate that so many amazing researchers, first responders, law enforcement officials, community activists, and others are doing amazing work in communities all across our country. But they need the resources to effectively meet these challenges. We must stop playing political games and act immediately to provide emergency funding to help stop this crisis in New Hampshire, in Florida, and all across this country.