Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Dr. Francis Bonner of Nashua, New Hampshire, for his forty-six years in education and enriching the minds of his students. Dr. Bonner has served as a professor and advisor for the last thirty-one years at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, where he begins an emeritus faculty position this month.

Dr. Bonner was born in Wilmington, Delaware and received his education from the city's Catholic schools. He remains an active alumnus of the Salesianum School, from which he graduated in 1951. He earned a Bachelor's of Science in Chemical Engineering in 1955 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a Master's of Science in Chemical Engineering Practice in 1956. He went on to earn a Doctorate in Chemical Engineering from the University of Delaware in 1964. He then moved to Uppsala, Sweden with the intention of completing a post- doc, but stayed on, completing a PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Uppsala in 1967.

Dr. Bonner began his teaching career at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland, where he taught from 1972 until 1981. He and his family then moved to Nashville, Tennessee where he joined the faculty of Vanderbilt University. He remained there until 1987, when he relocated to New England to teach at what was then the University of Lowell, which later became a part of the University of Massachusetts system.

Dr. Bonner is an expert in his field, holds a number of intellectual properties, and has been published in several technical journals. In addition, he is the recipient of numerous awards, fellowships, and grants.

As Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori observed, ``We discovered that education is not something which the teacher does, but that it is a natural process which develops spontaneously in the human being.''

As a lifelong student, himself, Dr. Bonner knows this best. I know my colleagues join me in extending our deep gratitude and appreciation to Dr. Bonner for his exemplary service in education. We wish him well the best for his well-deserved retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance.

For years, the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance has worked to transform the future of our state by protecting our history and our culture. They have saved barns in our countryside, Main Street communities in our valleys, and preserved countless historic locations. I am so grateful for the benefits our community has reaped from the stewardship, rehabilitation, and restoration efforts of the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance.

On behalf of my constituents across New Hampshire's Second Congressional District, I want to thank the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance for all they have done to preserve the integrity of our Granite State. I look forward to our continued work together.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and remember the life of Ken Roos. A passionate activist, humanitarian, and volunteer, Ken was known to love a good protest and dedicated himself to social and economic justice through countless amounts of service to help hard working Granite State men and women. Ken, affectionately known as Uncle Kenny, also served with distinction in the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, and as the Vice President of the local Service Employees International Union.

Through his career in public service, Ken promoted the health, safety, and well-being of the citizens of New Hampshire. His volunteer work with the Red Cross ameliorated families' lives after difficult times such as 9/11, New Hampshire home fires, and Hurricane Katrina. Ken literally gave a part of himself to those whose lives he touched, including donating hundreds of pints of blood throughout his life. Ken advocated for many whose voices didn't always have a seat at the table.

On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's Second Congressional District, I express my profound gratitude for Ken and his many years of devoted service to the Granite

State and its people. He will be greatly missed but his memory will live on through the kindness of everyone he touched and the lasting impact of the causes for which he fought. I am honored to recognize Ken and extend my condolences to his family. May he deservedly rest in peace.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Congresswoman for yielding and for hosting this Special Order on this important issue.

Every single day, we ask the men and women who serve our Nation in uniform to make incredible sacrifices on behalf of our Nation, and they never fail to deliver for us.

These brave Americans and their families know the true meaning of service, but that service often comes at a price. Our men and women in uniform, our veterans, cannot be cast aside once they have returned home. The prevalence of suicide among servicemembers and veterans is a stain on our collective conscience.

Servicemembers throughout the history of our country have had harrowing experiences in their service to defend this country and protect our way of life.

But it has only been recently that the scope of the trauma of war has been truly understood. Since the time of Abraham Lincoln, we, as a country, have made a solemn vow to care for those who have borne the battle, a vow that has made caring for veterans one of the few bipartisan issues in this era of divisiveness in Washington.

Today, we must ensure that our solemn promise to veterans extends to effective mental healthcare. No veteran should ever have to wait for this type of care, which can be just as crucial for recovery as physical health services.

My father, Malcolm McLane, flew fighter planes during World War II. He was shot down in the Battle of the Bulge, and spent 6 months in a German POW camp. When I was a child, he rarely spoke about his experiences during the war, but now, in hindsight, I believe that he was experiencing what we now know to be PTSD.

We understand so much more today about the brain and the impact of trauma that so many of our servicemembers endure, and it is critical that the VA and our society use that knowledge to improve care for veterans when they return home.

We must ensure that the unseen wounds of war receive the attention they deserve. Many of us today voted to fund veterans' mental health and suicide prevention programs. And while it is commendable that Congress is taking important steps to address this issue, much more needs to be done to ensure that no veteran is left behind.

As a member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, I fight for the men and women who fight for us. During National Suicide Awareness Prevention Month, we should all pledge to work together to ensure that no veteran ever has trouble accessing the mental health services that he or she needs and deserves.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from Arizona, Kyrsten Sinema, for her commitment to this issue. She was very effective in the testimony that she brought to the Veterans' Affairs Committee, and I appreciate her perseverance.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and remember the life of Gene Connolly, the beloved former Concord High School Principal, who inspired his community through his unmatched strength and grace in the face of adversity. Connolly epitomized the slogan ``Connolly Strong''. Despite his diagnosis with ALS in 2014, Connolly constantly showed persistence, humility and courage, continuing to greet his students every morning as they arrived at school. Even after retiring in 2016, Connolly remained an educator at heart, dedicated to teaching and serving as a trusted mentor to many Concord High students.

While Connolly commonly cited the Concord community and schools as sources of consistent and loyal support throughout his battle with ALS, I know that his fighting spirit and openness about his struggle also inspired and elevated the entire Concord community. The 2017 documentary, Mr. Connolly has ALS, highlights how Connolly inspired his students, colleagues and friends. The documentary, revolving around questions submitted by his students, tells a powerful story of how disabled members of our society can still live fulfilling lives and give so much to their communities.

As a proud alumna of Concord High School and the Concord public schools, I express my profound gratitude for Connolly and his many years of devoted service to New Hampshire's students. He will be greatly missed, but his memory and spirit will live on in the students and the community he loved so deeply. I extend my deepest condolences to his family and wish them and the entire Concord High School community comfort during this difficult time. May he rest in peace.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and remember the life of Ken Roos, the beloved first vice president of SEIU Local 1984 in New Hampshire. A passionate activist, humanitarian, and volunteer, Ken was known to love a good protest and dedicated himself to social and economic justice through countless amounts of service to help hardworking Granite State men and women.

Through his career in public service, Ken promoted the health, safety, and well-being of the citizens of New Hampshire. His volunteer work with the Red Cross improved families' lives after difficult times such as 9/11, New Hampshire home fires, and Hurricane Katrina. Ken literally gave a part of himself to those whose lives he touched, donating hundreds of pints of blood throughout his life. Ken was a staunch advocate for working families and organized labor, advocating for many whose voices didn't always have a seat at the table.

On behalf of people across New Hampshire's Second Congressional District, I express my profound gratitude for Ken and his many years of devoted service to the Granite State. He will be greatly missed, but his memory will live on through the kindness of everyone he touched and the lasting impact of the causes for which he fought. I am honored to recognize Ken, and I send my condolences to his family. May he rest in peace.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Alice Vartanian King, a resident of New Hampshire's Second Congressional District who spent her life dedicated to the youth of New Hampshire, especially in her hometown of Rumney.

Before settling in New Hampshire, Alice lived in the Boston area and fought to reform the juvenile justice standards under the Carter Administration. She then worked for the Massachusetts Civil Liberties Foundation before

moving her work to the New Hampshire ACLU and the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium Foundation, where she worked extensively on grants and fundraising, bringing a national spotlight on New Hampshire. Alice took great pride in her hometown of Rumney and used her grant writing skills to start a summer lunch program for the community's children.

From her work at the Planetarium and the ACLU, to helping her husband Wayne, in his State Representative, State Senate, and Gubernatorial races, to ensuring that her community was well fed, Alice truly was a selfless public servant who embodied what it means to be a Granite Stater. I am proud to honor her great life, and I extend my deepest condolences to her family at this difficult time. Alice will never be forgotten and will be fondly remembered for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Gary Szalucka, who is retiring as President of the Perkins Pond Protective Association after nearly two decades of service.

New Hampshire is a state endowed with tremendous natural beauty, and Mr. Szalucka has been instrumental in efforts to ensure that our state's natural environment is maintained over generations, especially at his beloved Perkins Pond. Among his achievements during his time as President, Mr. Szalucka played an important role in lobbying for a new sewage system to replace antiquated septic systems around the Pond. In addition, he has remained an active member of the Volunteer Lake Assessment Program, taking samples of Perkins Pond for over 20 years.

New Hampshire's natural beauty is dependent on citizens taking an active role, and Mr. Szalucka has certainly answered the call. On behalf of my constituents across New Hampshire's Second Congressional District, I applaud Mr. Szalucka for his dedication to our community and for being an important part of what makes the Granite State so special. I am honored to recognize and congratulate Mr. Szalucka on his retirement, and I wish him all the best.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the retirement of the Honorable Judge Thomas A. Rappa, Jr. and to thank him for his dedicated services to the New Hampshire Judicial Branch and the people of New Hampshire for the past 30 years.

After graduating from Franklin Pierce Law Center in 1986, Judge Rappa began a long career in the New Hampshire judicial system. He first worked for the Honorable Karl T. Bruckner in Woodsville, New Hampshire before taking on his own practice. As a lawyer, Judge Rappa served the people of New Hampshire in his work on the interdisciplinary coordinating council for domestic violence, in teaching legal and paralegal classes at Plymouth State College and in the College for Life Long Learning, and in instituting a Teen Court in his Plymouth, New Hampshire court. He also served for six years on the Pro Bono Advisory Board, where he received the L. Jonathan Ross Award in 1989, and on the Board of Governors from 1991 to 1993.

Throughout his impressive tenure, Judge Rappa has truly been a leader in his community and the Granite State as a whole, demonstrating the compassion, wisdom, and fairness that is the hallmark of a great judge. I am proud to rise today in acknowledgement of his achievements and wish him the best upon his retirement.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, my amendment to the fiscal year 2019 Defense Appropriations bill will fund the first-ever study of a subject the Department of Defense has identified as ``one of the most significant barriers to sexual assaults being reported.''

The amendment carries with it bipartisan support, and I would like to thank Republican Representative Mia Love and Democratic Congresswoman Jackie Speier for joining me in cosponsoring this amendment, because they recognize its importance.

For far too long, servicemembers have survived sexual assaults only to suffer in silence. They have refused to bring their assailants to justice and receive medical attention not because they fear their attacker, but, rather, they fear a military policy which requires that their commanders punish them for minor violations. These transgressions are brought to light during the investigation of their assault. Consequently, many survivors decide against reporting their attacks and bringing their assailants to justice.

A RAND survey of military members who survive sexual assaults but refuse to report the attacks found that 22 percent feared being punished for collateral misconduct. The list of survivors who have had their military careers ruined because they demanded justice is also lengthy, but the only facts I can offer you are a survey and anecdotal evidence.

Not a single branch of the military systematically tracks this collateral misconduct. Our only previous effort to examine an aspect of the subject came in 2016. The FY 2017 NDAA, which passed with bipartisan support, directed the Pentagon's inspector general to review the cases of survivors who were separated from the service after reporting their assaults.

The IG reported 22 percent of these survivors couldn't have their cases reviewed because their military records had gone missing. Moreover, 67 percent of the records were incomplete.

This funding will support a first-ever study to be conducted by the Defense Advisory Committee on Investigation, Prosecution, and Defense of Sexual Assault in the Armed Services, otherwise known as DAC-IPAD. That study was introduced by my bill required by the fiscal year 2019 NDAA, which the House passed earlier this year. The funds would pay for the lawyers needed to fund a long-overdue, in-depth, and independent review of collateral misconduct.

We know that collateral misconduct is an issue, but we need to know just how pervasive it is and gather information on when and how it manifests to empower our commanders to, hopefully, solve this problem. We owe it to our men and women in uniform to study and review collateral misconduct.

Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Barton amendment. This amendment would require the FDA to create high- quality, evidence-based opioid prescribing guidelines for acute pain. These would complement prescribing guidelines for chronic pain created in 2015 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Taken together, these guidelines would finally provide providers evidence-based recommendations on best practices for all types of pain.

While the opioid epidemic has many origins, it is universally agreed upon that the treatment of pain over the latter half of the 20th century is a significant contributing factor. In recent years, efforts by this Congress and the public to reconcile addiction and chronic pain has had a real and positive impact.

One of the most impacted communities are veterans, and in just the last few years, the VA has reported a remarkable decline in opioid prescriptions.

Yet, the focus until very recently has been on chronic pain. Acute pain impacts more people and is responsible for a massive share of opioid prescriptions. The country needs evidence-based guidance on treatment of acute pain.

FDA is armed with a trove of data on acute pain prescription rates and patterns. They are uniquely positioned to provide this needed guidance.

FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb told my colleagues on the Energy & Commerce Committee that this is something he wants to do and he underscored the importance of evidence-based opioid prescribing guidelines at the 2018 National Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit.

While these guidelines are focused on the prescriber practices and patients, given the nature of pain management as team-based, we intend these recommendations to inform better practices by providers that have collaborative working relationships with prescribers.

I am committed to working with all stakeholders to improve this amendment as Congress continues to consider opioid legislation to ensure that these guidelines are considered consistent with law while still providing effective pain care for all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great pride and admiration for Mr. Wayne Alterisio, and I offer my sincere thanks to him for his years of service to our state as the former President of the New Hampshire Letter Carriers Association.

Through his work with the New Hampshire AFL-CIO, the `Stamp Out Hunger' Food Drive and the Nashua Central Labor Council, Wayne has made meaningful contributions to our community and our state. It is Granite Staters like Wayne 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 Wayne again for his distinguished public service, and I wish him the best.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize State Senator Bette Lasky, who will retire from the New Hampshire Senate after nearly two decades of service to her hometown of Nashua.

During her time at the Legislature, Senator Lasky has been a leading champion for voting rights, marriage equality, and the fight to bring commuter rail to New Hampshire. She has been a friend to local business and labor, assisted students and schools, and worked to ensure equal pay for women. In addition, she has been an active volunteer in her hometown community, serving as the Chair of the Nashua City Planning Board, a member of the Nashua City Selectboard, a board member of the New Hampshire Association for the Blind, and so much more.

On behalf of my constituents across New Hampshire's Second Congressional District, I thank Senator Lasky for her many years of service and for being a part of what makes the Granite State so special. Her legacy will continue through the work she has been able to accomplish as a representative. I am honored to recognize and congratulate Senator Lasky on her retirement and I wish her the best of luck in the years ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

I oppose the bill in its current form.

Mr. Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill, which will not kill the bill nor send it back to committee. If

adopted, the bill will immediately proceed to final passage as amended.

As a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, I have made robust funding for veterans' healthcare and benefits a top priority.

New Hampshire is one of only three States without a full-service VA Hospital, which creates unique challenges for Granite State veterans' access to care, particularly in the rural parts of my State.

Thankfully for the veterans of New Hampshire and the Nation, this Congress came together to pass historic bipartisan reform for the VA Community Care program, known as the Veterans Choice Program.

That program provided veterans a choice to see their preferred healthcare provider within their community. However, in the wake of the Phoenix VA scandal, the implementation of this program fragmented veterans' care, according to GAO reports, and even extended wait times for veterans using the Choice program.

Reform was much needed, and I was proud to cosponsor the bill known as the VA MISSION Act that would streamline healthcare and ensure continuity of care for those who have ``borne the battle.''

VA has some of the best healthcare in the country, healthcare that is specialized for the unique wounds of war, both seen and unseen, and healthcare that is provided by physicians experienced in understanding veterans. Integrating it with the rest of our Nation's healthcare is paramount to improving veterans' quality of life.

Yet, despite this historic act of Congress, the Trump administration has indicated that they would not only spurn the will of Congress, but undermine the very system of integrated healthcare that veterans have demanded. This last week, the administration has deemed it necessary to purposefully underfund portions of the reform because it did not meet their desired outcomes.

In other words, and let's be frank, the administration wanted to privatize the VA and was displeased that the Senate, the House, and a near unanimous group of veterans service organizations had worked together to create a commonsense, integrated healthcare system to ensure that veterans received the best care possible.

The possibility that the administration undermines the VA's Community Care program should not be taken lightly. And since the start of this administration, we have seen leaked memos that show the true intent to circumvent the will of Congress and, most notably, to slash homeless veterans' funding at a time when homelessness is on the rise.

My motion to recommit will provide additional funding to the VA medical services account, will ensure that VA hospitals will have the funding to help address the persistent provider shortages that stymie the delivery of quality medical healthcare for our veterans and will provide the resources they need to give veterans the healthcare they deserve.

It is unconscionable that this administration would purposefully pull the rug out from underneath our veterans by denying them access to convenient care and preferred medical providers. It is time we put partisan politics aside and come together to ensure that all veterans can go to the VA medical centers and receive the care they need.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Marcy Rawitscher, who will retire this spring after teaching for 28 years at Souhegan High School in Amherst, New Hampshire.

Marcy is a resident of Amherst, and is a distinguished graduate of both Middlebury College and Harvard University. Marcy has served as a mentor and inspiration for countless students during her years at Souhegan High School. Through Marcy's leadership, she founded the Eastern Studies elective program and the World Studies Program for Souhegan 11th grade students. Marcy was once even a contestant on ``Who Wants to be a Millionaire'' television program during Teachers' Week.

On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's Second Congressional District, I thank Marcy 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 Marcy on her retirement and wish her the best of luck in the years ahead.